Heavenly Gourmet Popcorn

Well-regarded in Atlanta as the most desirable neighborhood of the city, Virginia Highland is a quaint, but lively area of Atlanta. This neighborhood is located just north and slightly east of Atlanta’s city center, with its heart on the corner of Virginia Avenue and North Highland Avenue. Here, you will find a wide selection of gift shops, high-end boutiques, delectable cafes and highly respected restaurants. Although every shop is worth a stop, there are a few places that must be highlighted. Paper Source This beautiful store has locations all over the U.S., but is certainly a favorite in Virginia Highland. The vibrant and colorful store is immediately aesthetically appealing with intricate detailing in the window displays. A step inside the door transports one to the colorful world of endless possibilities. Paper Source truly utilizes the multiple uses of paper to create stunning stationary, gifts, fun crafts and more. Cacao Atlanta Chocolate Company The name really says it all. Cacao focuses on one thing: the universally loved chocolate. From truffles (over 20 flavors of it!) to confections, this Atlanta Chocolate Co. takes the cake in the sweet treats department. Not only is their chocolate made from locally grown cacao beans to create the freshest, most deliciously enticing chocolate, but they also clearly put care in the packaging and presentation of their goods. Everything about Cacao’s chocolate is truly divine, making them the perfect delectable gift. Dakota J’s This cute store proudly boasts their title as Virginia Highland’s longest standing boutique. Since 1997, Dakota J’s has been selling stylish clothing, cute gifts and locally handcrafted jewelry. With a little bit of everything and not a lot of anything, this eclectic boutique offers something unique for each of their myriad of customers.  From baby clothes to coffee mugs, Dakota J’s is your one stop shop in Virginia Highland. 310 Rosemont When looking for an upscale, perfectly curated boutique in Virginia Highland, look no further than 310 Rosemont. This contemporary boutique offers high quality clothing, premium denim and remarkable customer service. Carrying well-known brands alongside independent labels, 310 Rosemont offers the best selection for your outfit styling needs. Head down the street to check out 310 Rosemont’s daughter boutique, Winter Wren. This fun and vibrant store is Virginia Highland’s newest boutique and offers a special Free People shop and a trendy selection of designer goods. Virginia Highland certainly offers a wonderful selection of shopping destinations. This charming neighborhood is the perfect place to spend a day full of laughter and fun with loved ones. Take a stroll down the welcoming streets and enjoy the beautiful weather Atlanta brings year round. All Photos by: Johnny Cheng Photography

One facet of Atlanta that may be surprising to some is the enthusiastic and friendly creative community that thrives here. Never in my life have I personally experienced such a positive, enriching community that genuinely wishes success on every single member. The creative community in Atlanta is where Southern Hospitality meets savvy business smarts; it’s where free-spirited ideas meet innovative execution. And through all the mutual uplifting and collaboration comes success to many of these makers-turned-small-business-owners. One of the successful crafters in Atlanta is Courtney Weil of Crafts and Love Jewelry. Her one-of-a-kind pieces are beautiful and dainty, yet stand out to make a subtle statement in a very unique way. “I create simple pieces of jewelry, but I try to do so with interesting or unusual materials, whether it's a unique cut of gemstone, or a vintage finding, I probably spend the majority of my time shopping and scavenging for materials. ” Courtney shares. After growing up in Montreal and North Carolina, Courtney’s family settled in North Georgia, which led her to continue her education at Georgia Tech. “Since then,” Courtney shares, “I have fallen slightly in love with Atlanta's big city/small town feel and still haven't had the heart to leave.” So it was a no-brainer for Courtney to start her business in Atlanta. Courtney has become a staple in the creative community and has even gained close friends through the various market shows and creative events around town. “I adore meeting like-minded creatives in Atlanta! This year was the first year I really partnered with other blogs and brands, and had so much fun working with other creatives,” she says Courtney started Crafts and Love in 2012 and says she wouldn’t have been this successful without such an inspiring and supportive community. “As soon as I decided to seriously pursue selling jewelry beyond friends and family, there were opportunities waiting for me around every corner. Those opportunities started small, with local craft shows, but the small victories at those shows gave me time to grow and eventually opened more and more doors in town.” Crafts and Love jewelry has had success in Atlanta, not only due to Courtney’s hard work and eye for design, but also for her fair price point. Courtney says she wants her jewelry accessible to women like herself. “As a 20-something, affordability is an extremely important part of business for me. I want my customers to be able to fall in love with a piece and not be turned away after looking at the price tag.” Crafts and Love offers one-of-a-kind pieces that are both on trend and exclusively designed—all for an affordable price. Crafts and Love’s newest collection, Versailles, was revealed on January 27, 2013. Shop the collection at www.CraftsandLove.com or stop by The Beehive ,where Courtney works, to shop the collection in person. All Photos by Johnny Cheng Photography.

Here in Atlanta, the creative community thrives on the support of each other. Not only do creative entrepreneurs and makers promote each other, but they also help each other make sales and long lasting customers. Atlanta is a unique city in that sense. It’s not a competition; it’s a community. And when it comes to shopping, what’s better than something that no one else will have? The following are three community-driven creative spaces open to the public for shopping and inspiration. The Beehive Located in Edgewood, The Beehive is unique in concept. The store opened in 2004 as the first ever co-op concept boutique in Atlanta. The idea is that designers and creators rent space in the store in exchange for a high commission on their sales. What I find extra special about The Beehive is that the designers/creators can work in the store for eight hours per month for a discounted rental rate, creating an even bigger sense of community. In addition to a wide selection of locally handcrafted goods, The Beehive also offers creative classes on site. The options include sewing, jewelry making, knitting and crochet, photography, screen-printing and more. And if you’d like to get your kiddos started in the crafting world young, they also offer kids craft classes. Young Blood Boutique and Gallery As the name reveals, Youngblood is more than just a boutique; it is a gallery of art and local beauty. A local establishment for 15 years, Young Blood boutique is very well known in Atlanta. In fact, in 2012 the original owners made the decision to close Young Blood. But local Atlantans Rebecca Hanna and Jessie White wouldn’t let that happen and bought the beloved Young Blood Boutique and Gallery in January 2013 “with the spirit of the founding principles in mind and the goal of presenting a curated collection of the country's most inspired and highly crafted art and goods.” The shop and gallery houses art and handcrafted goods from all over the country, but has a strong focus on the local Atlanta creative community. In addition to offering creative a space to sell their goods, Young Blood also regularly holds local events both on site and off, enriching the creative community that loves the well-known boutique and gallery. Pop Marché at Paris on Ponce Although it is more of a huge warehouse made up of boutiques, Paris on Ponce is certainly a great place to shop for locally made goods. The 46,000 square foot warehouse is a great place to spend the day perusing both handmade items and carefully curated vintage collectibles. With everything from clothing to furniture, Paris on Ponce is a go-to for many Atlanta locals. Within Paris on Ponce, you will find Pop Marché, “a chic and unique collection of boutiques, representing several dozen independent curators, collectors, and designers.” These Atlanta-based boutique owners work hard to curate—and sometimes create—the perfect collections for Pop Marché shoppers. An added plus: Paris on Ponce is located on the Beltline, making it the perfect stop on a leisurely Atlanta walk. They also welcome events and photo shoots to be held in their Moulin Rouge-esque Ballroom.