Jess Graves: FACES of Atlanta

StyleBlueprint Atlanta has been growing lately, and today we gleefully introduce you to our newest team member. Meet Jess Graves, our Atlanta City Editor. 

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How long have you been living in Atlanta, and how did you make your way here?

I’ve been living in Atlanta for about three years now. When people ask what brought me here, I usually just say it was a well-defined sense of impulse. There wasn’t a guy, there wasn’t a job. There was just optimism. I had friends here, plus lots of family nearby, so it seemed like as good a place as any to put down some roots. A few months after I moved here, I got a job offer in New York, and considered moving there. But something in my gut told me to stick it out here even though I didn’t really have a “good” reason to stay. As soon as I committed to Atlanta, it opened itself up to me. Living here has been a hell of a good time.

As a writer, what are some of your favorite stories to tell?

I love the South, its people, its food … it’s where I was raised and what I know. It’s such a complicated, dichotomous place, and I could rattle on forever exploring the high/low mix of ugliness and gentility that defines life here. Most importantly, I love Southern women. I hope that, ultimately, people think of me as someone who speaks to Southern women with the reverence they deserve. It bums me out when I see them stereo-typified.

What’s on your personal reading list?

I’ve been doing a lot of regional reading on the Florida Panhandle. I was raised there, and it gets no respect for being “Southern,” which ticks me off a little. Let me tell y’all, Tallahassee’s clay is as red as Atlanta’s, we’ve got just as many chiggers in our Spanish moss and oysters are a hell of a lot cheaper.

What drew you to StyleBlueprint?

It’s all about Southern women! It strikes a happy balance between the fun, light things we like to browse and substantial storytelling. It speaks to me the way I like to be spoken to as a reader.

As City Editor of StyleBlueprint Atlanta, what are you most excited to explore?

Obvious as it may be, I’m looking forward to exploring the city even more. There is always somewhere new to go, someone cool to meet, something opening, someone throwing their front door open to you. I look forward to expanding our content more into food and dining, celebrating new women from all walks of life, and approaching everything with an eye for what’s beautiful and well-imagined. I want to service our readers in a way that feels simultaneously fresh and familiar.

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Do you have a personal hero? Who are your mentors and what advice do you treasure?

My heroes are the women in my family, especially my mom and aunt. They are stylish, smart, tough as nails — and they all have a healthy respect for family, history and the South. My mom is a small business owner and a terrific cook and undoubtedly where my love for food began. She’s also where I get all my bravery. Her best advice? Always cook collards in a pressure cooker, or you’ll be there all day long. Oh, and always use Duke’s (mayonnaise) or it isn’t going to be any good. My aunt has the biggest heart in the world. If she could save every stray animal and wayward kid out there, she genuinely would. She’s shown me that it’s okay to be vulnerable, both in your life and in your work. As a writer, the approval/vulnerability battle is one I’m always fighting. She taught me to stare it down.

Give us a peek at your agenda, What’s a typical day or week like for you?

There’s no such thing as a typical week! I wouldn’t have it any other way, either. This week started with a magazine shoot at my house … got to work with Amanda Greene, who is an incredible photographer. Had a bunch of lunch meetings, a dinner date, cooked out with some friends. Writing deadlines for Southern Living and emails flying back and forth sourcing product for my column in Atlanta Magazine. Worked on getting myself acclimated at StyleBlueprint. Phone time with my aunt and Mama. This weekend, a big group of girlfriends is going to dinner at The Luminary, and on Sunday I’m cooking a thank-you dinner party for everyone who helped out with Monday’s shoot. Next week, I’m looking forward to a day of shooting with my friend Caroline, a beer-pairing dinner at Southbound and my friend’s housewarming party.

Lightning Round! Give us your:

• Candy or junk food splurge: French fries and a fountain Coke
• Guilty pleasure song: Kind of hating-yet-not-hating myself for loving the new Taylor Swift album
• Tearjerker movie pick: Forrest Gump
• Standby nail polish color: I like a good, almost-black/navy blue right now. Feels right for the weather.
• Favorite cocktail: That one is tough! Can I do a few? I love pretty much everything Tom has made me at Craft Izakaya, but my favorite is his hilarious (-ly awesome) Milwaukee Champagne cocktail. And nothing is better than oyster happy hour at Kimball House, with their eponymous cocktail. But my go-to anywhere is a good Hanky Panky. You just can’t do better than gin and Fernet.
• Cartoon alter-ego: Veronica Lodge from Archie comics. My friend Ginny Branch is Betty. If I can also have a cartoon boyfriend, I choose Agent Sterling Archer.

Where can we find you hanging out around town?

Lately, I’ve been at Krog Street Market a lot, sometimes for work and sometimes for play. I live in Buckhead though, so if I need something close by, I like Cafè Anis and St. Cecilia. I love the live music at Northside Tavern when I’m in the right mood, and you can never, ever go wrong ending your night on the dance floor at Johnny’s Hideaway.

What’s your bucket list travel destination?

I went to a really great supper club before the holidays called Dogwood Table, and the guys putting it together were very into the Basque country in Spain. I’ve been reading up about it a lot since then, and Spain has quickly moved to the top of my travel wish list.

Name three things you just cannot live without — other than faith, family and friends.

It sounds horrible, but my iPhone. It gets me around town, it connects me with my friends, it makes reservations and even sends a nice guy over with a pickup truck when I need my Christmas tree recycled (the app’s called Tote — try it!). Too bad I kill about three of them a year. I’m a notorious klutz. This is why I can’t have nice things. I’d say my journal is another one. I’ve been keeping a handwritten diary since I could form a coherent sentence. Last, my dog, Maggie. She’s my snuggle buddy.

Special thanks to Caroline Fontenot for all of today’s fabulous photos! See more of her work at carolinefontenot.com.