Thursday, June 07, 2007 | Quick
SP 06/10/07 QUICK: Good news on tap

Good news on tap
By Caren West

After a day of back-to-back client meetings, I slipped into Estoria 97 for a quick bite and to put down my thoughts while everything was still fresh in my mind. As I feverishly jotted down notes and million dollar ideas over a $5 quesadilla, I kept losing my focus thanks to the television hanging over the bar. CNN was on and every time I glanced away from my notebook, I caught another distracting headline out of the corner of my eye. Here are a few of the more notable news items:

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Zingo to the rescue: Though these ladies are by no means damsels in distress, they do have a designated driver at their service hailing from Zingo Transportation.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Zingo Transportation

Good news on tap
By Caren West

After a day of back-to-back client meetings, I slipped into Estoria 97 for a quick bite and to put down my thoughts while everything was still fresh in my mind. As I feverishly jotted down notes and million dollar ideas over a $5 quesadilla, I kept losing my focus thanks to the television hanging over the bar. CNN was on and every time I glanced away from my notebook, I caught another distracting headline out of the corner of my eye. Here are a few of the more notable news items:

After “Michigan Raises Beer Keg Deposit” flashed on the screen, I packed up my notebook, paid my check and started thinking about Daryn Kagan, the former CNN anchor, who, via her Web site www.darynkagan.com, has set out to change the face of news by featuring inspiring and positive stories.

Lately, the more I watch the news, listen to talk radio and read the paper, the more I find myself agreeing with Kagan that, while it’s important to be informed, it’s equally as important to be inspired. I wonder if it’s as simple as making a decision to switch our focus away from the Paris Hiltons of the world and train it on subjects that can actually help us become better people. So in the spirit of Kagan, here are a few interesting tidbits of the non-depressing kind.

I met P.X. Head, the president of Zingo Transportation, an Atlanta-based designated driving service, while planning the one-year anniversary bash for Skirt! magazine. Dig this: Say you have one too many cocktails while catching up with friends over dinner, so you grab your cell and call Zingo to come pick you up. A driver arrives on a motorbike. He folds it, stows it in your trunk and then drives you and your car home. After retrieving his motorbike and unfolding it, he’s off—all for a mere pickup fee of $20 plus $2 per mile and tip. A considerably more affordable and safe option than getting a DUI. Get the skinny at www.callzingo.com.

I also happened to crash a friends and family night at Tap, a brand-new gastropub located on the corner of 14th and Peachtree Streets in Midtown. Thankfully, I was welcomed with open arms by Concentrics Restaurants’ Todd Rushing. A private tour ensued and I found out that Chef Todd Ginsberg has whipped up a delicious array of tasty eats for brunch, lunch, supper and take-out—a much-needed brew and noshing spot in Midtown that will surely become an ATL favorite. I quickly fell for some delicious beers, including Corsendonk, Sweetwater Hummer and Numbers Ale. I can’t wait to go back.

Finally, did you know that the Brick Store Pub in Decatur hosts beer dinners? For anyone who is a suds lover, this is a must-attend event. Chef Eric Ottensmeyer pairs beers with appetizers and a five-course dinner. You sign up and they randomly seat you. I was lucky enough to sit next to the folks from Victory Brewing Company, who introduced me to my new favorite beer, Prima Pils.

I also spotted the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s resident beverage expert, Bob Townsend, at the dinner. A huge fan of his writing (and subject matter), I immediately tapped him for any and all information about his favorite haunts and libations. Fast friends, he even gave me a sip of his Donnybrook Stout and then let me in on the best tip ever: Turns out that the first Monday of each month, the Brick Store features five beers paired with five delicious cheeses for $25. Now that’s some news that I can actually use.

When not attending Atlanta's hottest parties, tracking down celebs or shopping for shoes, Caren West runs her own PR firm. E-mail her at carenwest@sundaypaper.com.