OPEN STREETS MACON
You may remember our fine-feathered friend, Rachel Hollar, from our 2015 post on Bike Macon. Now, Rachel and her crew, along with the City of Macon-Bibb, are coordinating the first-ever Open Streets Macon, which will take place April 17th. Open Streets Macon takes a valuable public space – our city’s streets – and opens them up for people to play, walk, bike, breathe, and make their own. Modeled on tremendously successful events from around the world, including Bogotá, Colombia’s Ciclovia; Paris, France’s Paris Plage; and San Francisco’s Sunday’s Streets, Open Streets Macon will be part bike tour, part block party, and a great time for getting active, interacting with your neighbors, and enjoying our amazing city. Bring your bicycle or just your feet, and get ready to explore your community in a safer, healthier, more livable way.
“Imagine a street full of people of all ages and backgrounds, walking, biking, creating and laughing, together. A street temporarily closed to cars, but open to people. Imagine residents safely enjoying their city, socializing with neighbors, and engaging in healthy activities. Imagine if all of this were free, with absolutely no barriers to participation. By the people, for the people. Sound good yet? Bike Macon is turning this vision into a reality by organizing the first-ever Open Streets Macon event.”
Here are some things you need to know before April 17:
It’s FREE!
It’s not a race and you don’t need a bike to participate. You can walk or skate to your heart’s content.
There’s no beginning or end. Start and end anywhere!
It’s from 2 PM – 6 PM.
The flow of participants goes both ways, just like regular traffic.
For more information about this event, visit bikemacon.org/openstreets
FOUNTAIN OF JUICE
Here at IFF, we can personally attest to the fact that Fountain of Juice (or FOJ, as the cool kids call it) is a breakfast, lunch and (now) dinner staple in Macon, Georgia. Most mornings we found ourselves starting the day off with a detox smoothie and returning at noon for a savory salad or their famous Grown-up Macaroni. Due to the overwhelming success at Mercer Village, they recently expanded their location to The Prado. The green juice + beautiful bounty of food was incentive enough, but a gorgeous new locale that features an after-5 menu was a deal-sealer for IFF to capture the handiwork of owner and entrepreneur, Natasha Phillips. I could go on, but I'll let her charming Q&A do all the talkin'.
QUICK ABOUT: The Del-Basso-Orsini family has become synonymous with Macon’s finest epicurean offerings for almost thirty years, and Fountain of Juice maintains the standard set forth by family inspiration. The skills of Natasha Phillips, who grew up in her mama’s kitchen, reflect the impeccable taste and unmistakable flair of her Italian family heritage. Teamed up with husband, Carl, she is carrying on the family tradition and introducing new and inventive ways to create good food.
Name: Natasha Phillips, Owner, Fountain of Juice and FOJ – an Eatery.
Inspiration for starting your own biz? I moved back to Macon from the big city of Atlanta and saw how Macon was lacking in good healthy eateries. Having grown up in the business, I jumped right on it and created such a place for initially selfish reasons.
What makes you tick? The smell of cilantro and fresh corn tortillas inspires my palate to create. Also, the smell of cloves in the fall and white chili, tomato jam, or anything pumpkin. Seasonal soothes the soul!
Personal mantra: Teamwork makes the dream work. No one is more important than the other when it comes to the final outcome! It takes a village with most things in life.
Pick a Superfood: Dragon Fruit… my newest obsession.
Favorite indulgence: French fries and cold beer 'cause ya can’t take the South out of the girl!
Health trend you are loving: B-12, I take it via inhaler. As a wife, mother of 2, and owner of 2 stores, I need all the extra energy I can get.
Favorite form of exercise: I love mixing cardio and weights - I’ve been on that ride a while. Plus, yoga!
Preferred yoga pose: Childs pose. After a butt-kicking Hot Yoga session, I crawl into that pose and exhale!
Photo: Owner Natasha Phillips and husband Carl // All images (c) of Haley Sheffield.