2018 is quickly winding down, so the time has arrived to start planning your New Year’s Eve. Although there’s nothing wrong with a casual affair at home, some years just call for something more upscale and special. If you feel that the last day of 2018 should be spent in a luxurious environment with good music, tasty food, and stylish decor, check out these three events happening in Atlanta on Dec 31.

1. Atlanta’s 14th Annual Downtown Countdown at Southern Exchange

Come dance the night away at Southern Exchange, located at 200 Peachtree, this New Year’s Eve. The 14th annual Downtown Countdown will offer its guests a premium open bar, a gourmet supper, and a complimentary glass of champagne at midnight to celebrate the new year’s arrival. If you purchase a VIP ticket, you will gain access to the mezzanine balcony area and will be enjoying bottle service at your reserved seats.

Music will be provided by DJ Suspense, who will be playing a variety of your favorite beats, including hip-hop, house, and dance tunes, on a state-of-the-art sound system. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the dress code is casual or cocktail attire. Tickets are available from $89 to $169.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Community, Local | No Comments »

Although you may not be a mechanic or know much about cars, problems with your car brakes can easily be detected by being aware of a few warning signs. A car braking system is, of course, a complex process, but it might help to know the basic parts and understand how they relate.

Most modern cars make use of two metallic discs, called rotors, placed behind each of the two front wheels. When you push your brake pedals, a clamplike device called a caliper, placed above each of the rotors, starts closing and slowly clamping the rotor. This causes the rotation to slow down until the wheels come to a complete stop. Inside each caliper is a removable brake pad that makes direct contact with the rotors. Over time these pads will wear thin because of friction and will need to be replaced.

There are, however, also other elements in the braking system that might need replacement — brake fluid, for instance. Here are a few warning signs you should pay attention to.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Chestatee Ford Service, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »

Eating healthy does not mean eating boring, tasteless food. In Atlanta, there are many restaurants that offer wholesome, nutritious food that also tastes great. If you want to invest in a healthier, more energetic you, drop in at these restaurants and try some of their delectable, healthy dishes.

Cafe Sunflower

Cafe Sunflower has been a popular spot with vegan and vegetarian locals, as well as their carnivore cousins, for over 20 years. Cafe Sunflower offers fresh and original vegan dishes, served from two different locales in Atlanta that feature varied and exciting menus.

At Cafe Sunflower, you can enjoy tasty starter dishes like spring rolls or artichoke and spinach dip with vegan cheese and organic corn chips. On the entree menu are delectable vegan dishes, such as spicy basil tempeh, featuring broccoli, shitake mushrooms, onion, chili peppers, peanuts, and organic brown rice, or spicy pad Thai noodles, with a variety of fresh vegetables, baked tofu, coconut-tahini sauce, and crushed peanuts. The Buckhead venue serves fresh juice cocktails, craft beers, and a selection of fine wines, while the Sandy Springs venue serves tea, coffee, and freshly prepared juices.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Community, Local | No Comments »

One of the most obvious ways one can go greener is to buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Apart from doing your bit for the environment, such vehicles will also save you on gas.

If you’re in the market for a green vehicle, the new and exciting 2019 Ford Fusion Energi is a very viable option. Let’s take a closer look at the eco-friendly features this plug-in hybrid offers.

SmartGauge With EcoGuide

This system, which functions with dual LCD screens, provides you with real-time information in regard to your driving, in order to assist you in using your Fusion Energi as efficiently as possible. It enables you to monitor powertrain operations, such as hybrid and electric drives, gas engine, and fuel economy, as well as maximize efficiency by, for instance, accessing the Brake Coach screen. If you’re driving at optimal efficiency, you will see leaves and vines growing on the right-side display screen.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in New Ford Models | No Comments »

The Ranger is Ford’s compact pickup truck, and it’s been that way for over 10 years. However, for much of that time, the company didn’t sell the Ranger in the United States and focused on the F-Series full-size pickups instead. Now that’s changed again: the Ranger is back in North American markets for 2019 and a lot has changed about its design in the years since Ford discontinued sales.

A Ford-Tough Design

Some companies switch their compact pickup trucks to a unibody design, but the Ranger uses the same body-on-frame design as a full-size truck. That decision gives the Ranger extra towing strength, up to 7,500 pounds, plus it comes with frame-mounted steel bumpers, bash plates, and tow hooks. The payload limit is also high — up to 1,860 pounds. The Ranger might be smaller than the F-150 or the rest of the F-Series, but it still manages to do its big brothers proud by offering some impressive numbers for the class.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Chestatee Ford, New Ford Models | No Comments »

Mother Nature often supplies a beautiful backdrop for a mountain town, and the area around Dahlonega is no exception. Home to the tallest waterfall in Georgia, North Georgia has it all. Bring your camera to capture the falls in action.

Amicalola Falls

The Amicalola Falls are located in Amicalola Falls State Park. You can reach the highest falls east of the Mississippi River via an eight-mile long trail. After you are done taking pictures along the falls, you don’t have to leave the park. Instead, set up camp and enjoy nature’s beauty at various locations throughout the park. There are 24 campsites available that can fit six people each. ADA-accessible and RV back-in or pull-through campsites are also available.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Local, Outdoor Fun | No Comments »

As a large crossover, the 2019 Ford Explorer offers plenty of interior space, three rows of seats, and a powerful set of engine options. It’s not quite as big as the full-size Expedition, but in exchange, the Explorer is more efficient and comes with a lower starting MSRP. Aside from that, the Explorer has plenty of features to love.

1. Three Excellent Engines

Depending on the trim, a 2019 Explorer can come with one of three engines. The first is an ordinary V-6, an engine that can offer 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque. It can tow up to 5,000 pounds, a good figure for the class. You can also swap in a smaller I-4 engine, and thanks to a turbocharger it gets 280 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. However, its towing limit drops to 3,000 pounds. Then there’s the turbo V-6 engine — it gets 365 horsepower, 350 pound-feet of torque, and the 5,000-pound towing max.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Chestatee Ford, New Ford Models | No Comments »

When it comes to taking great pictures to share on your social media profiles, picking the right photo location is key. A bad location can be boring, have inadequate natural light, and lack focus. If you’re in the Dahlonega, Georgia, area, you’re in luck. Dahlonega is a beautiful spot with waterfalls, rivers, and superb architecture. There are many beautiful, natural places to take amazing photos that are sure to get many likes. Here are four Instagram-worthy sites worth visiting in Dahlonega.

1. Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge 

If you are looking for natural wonders for pictures, then you’ll want to start at Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge. Off the beaten path, you can find Amicalola Falls, which is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Southeast. It stands at 729 feet, which means there is plenty of falling water for bright, glistening, and moving pictures.

In the area, you’ll find a restaurant and places to stay. For many, Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge marks the beginning or the end of a long trip through the Appalachian Trail as it ends nearby. If you are lucky, you may find several hikers coming down off the trail to star in your pictures too.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Local, Tips and Tricks, Travel | No Comments »

Researchers suggest that driving while tired is similar to driving drunk. You lose some control of your vehicle and may not be able to drive defensively to prevent accidents from taking place. To stay safe on the road, it’s important that you try to avoid driver fatigue whenever possible. Here are some tips to help you avoid driver fatigue and promote a safer driving environment on the road for everyone.

1. Avoid Driving When You’re Tired

This may seem obvious, but you should avoid driving when you’re tired. This means that you should avoid driving at night during times you’re normally sleeping, as well as driving when you’re in that 3 p.m. tired slump during the workday. If driving through the night to miss traffic on a long road trip seems like a good idea, consider that it’s more dangerous to drive while you’re sleepy. Try to avoid driving during these times, even if it means taking a break for 30 minutes to rest.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Tips and Tricks | No Comments »

Dahlonega, Georgia, is often called the Napa of the South. Just as Napa is famous for cabernet sauvignon, so is Dahlonega. If you are into wines and you want to explore new options in the Dahlonega area, here are three great Dahlonega wineries famous for their wine selections worth exploring, even if it is just for a taste.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery

One of the first places that should be on your list is the Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery. It is located at 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega. Wolf Mountain follows the French style of winemaking but focuses on blending European ingredients to create new wines. The result is the Estate Grown wine series, which won awards for its multiple varieties. So far, Wolf Mountain has won over 100 awards. The wines focus on providing a unique flavor profile that pairs well with other foods, but can also stand on its own.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Local, Travel | No Comments »