As I finish my fifth year writing Two-Sided Southern, I am still having such an incredible time. I continue to delight in telling stories about the South and its people. The kind of people who embrace being both high-brow and down home as shown in these top 10 blogs of 2025. I never could have imagined how many of you “get it” and feel exactly like me. You are unafraid to express your affinity for a range of experiences and tastes.
First, I began Two-Sided Southern because in the fabulous words of Christy Plott, whose story made No. 1 on this list in 2021, I felt five-star AND dive bar and I wanted to express that through stories.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 blogs of 2025, with No. 1 being the most viewed blog this year. And also if you like this content, SUBSCRIBE here. It takes two secs.
Top 10 Blogs of 2025 on Two-Sided Southern
1. HARVIN GREENE HAS A COLORFUL LIFE IN REAL ESTATE, DESIGN AND THE NEW SOUTH
If you don’t already know Harvin Greene, let me introduce you to your new design crush, real estate idol, and cocktail hour muse. She’s equal parts color queen, businesswoman, tailgate enthusiast, and Southern steel magnolia—just with better shoes. Harvin’s got roots in Sumter and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, but don’t let that coastal sweetness fool you.
2. 7 NEW ATLANTA RESTAURANTS SERVING UP SOUTHERN HIGH-LOW MAGIC
Atlanta’s food scene? Honey, it’s hotter than a cast-iron skillet in July. Whether you’re dressed to the nines and looking for white-tablecloth service, or just need a quick bite that’ll bless your soul, the city’s newest restaurants are bringing serious flavor to the table. From hush-hush omakase bars in old tour buses to show-stopping Parisian-style brasseries…
3. ULTIMATE DERBY DAY SNACK: KENTUCKY HOT BROWN DIP RECIPE
If there’s one thing my mother-in-law’s Kentucky roots have taught me, it’s how to do Derby Day right. She and her whole family hail from the Bluegrass State, and when that first Saturday in May rolls around, it’s like a national holiday in their world. Hats are fluffed, mint juleps are flowing, and every TV in the house is tuned to Churchill Downs. And at the center of our spread is always this Kentucky Hot Brown Dip recipe.
4. HOW SHENA SIMMONS BUILT THE ULTIMATE SOUTHERN GAMEDAY BRAND
You know I love me a fall Saturday. A cooler in the trunk, a dip to share with friends in the passenger seat, and red and black on my back. It’s not just about football—it’s about the whole feeling. The energy, the loyalty, the “Go Dawgs” screamed at strangers who instantly feel like family. That’s why I just had to sit down with Shena Simmons, the founder of Stewart Simmons—a Southern-rooted, female-led brand that’s redefining how we show up for our teams.
5. GRITS MEET HUANCAINA: CHEF ARNALDO CASTILLO IS TWO-SIDED SOUTHERN TO HIS CORE
You ever meet someone who says “y’all” with a side of ají verde? Let me introduce you to Chef Arnaldo Castillo. Atlanta’s own culinary shapeshifter and a living, breathing example of what it means to be Two-Sided Southern. Born in Peru, raised on Buford Highway, and now redefining what Peruvian-Southern cooking can look (and taste) like, Castillo is the kind of chef who straddles cultures and cuisines.
6. HOW A BROOKLYN GIRL SHAPED ATLANTA SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
There are some people who walk into your life like a Fourth of July sparkler: bright, warm, impossible to forget. And then there’s Mama Gale Parker, who struts in like the whole fireworks show. Much like the decor in her Inman Park restaurant Amore e Amore.
7. INSIDE ATLANTA’S MOST EXCLUSIVE OMAKASE: M @ UMI’S HIDDEN EIGHT-SEAT EXPERIENCE
Tucked quietly above Atlanta’s iconic Umi restaurant, M @ Umi is one of the city’s most exclusive dining experiences—an eight-seat omakase that redefines luxury through intimacy. With only one seating each evening, guests step into a minimalist, light-filled space where Chef Yoshida curates a breathtaking 19-course Japanese tasting menu.
8. THE SOUTHERN HEALERS: SOUND BATHS IN ATLANTA SALON BRING HIGH VIBES
If any two people embody the two-sided nature of the South, it’s the men that performed that sound bath at my house: David Whaley and his husband Steve Hightower. The pair go to church regularly and even sing in the choir every Sunday. Then every other Sunday at 5:30pm they conduct sound baths for a growing clientele.
9. 10 ICONIC SOUTHERN DISHES WITH A GOURMET TWIST IN ATLANTA
In the South, we’ve always known the power of a paper plate and a cast iron skillet. But these days, the region’s top chefs are proving that you don’t have to choose between down-home comfort and high-end culinary flair. Whether it’s cornbread topped with caviar or hushpuppies drizzled in spicy sorghum, these 10 Two-Sided Southern dishes walk the line between homestyle tradition and refined indulgence.
10. HOLY HELL! SCARIEST THEATER PERFORMANCE NOW AT THE ALLIANCE THEATRE
Covenant is a haunting Southern Gothic ghost story, written by York Walker and directed by Tinashe Kajese-Bolden. It will have you clutching your pearls one minute and crossing yourself the next. If you’re looking for a post-Halloween outing that’s more spine-tingling than a haunted walk in the woods alone at night and a whole lot smarter than your average slasher flick, bless your heart and get to the Alliance.
For those stories that just missed the top 10 blogs of 2025, thank you for being amazing tales. Most importantly, I’m so grateful to those who let me write about you.
Finally, thank you for another amazing trip around the sun. It has been a fantastic fifth year at Two-Sided Southern. In other words, I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings. If you like this content, I hope you’ll SUBSCRIBE here.