Wondering what would make your Metro Music Makers teacher smile? We asked them to tell us some of their favorite things (and the date of their birth!), and thought you might want to know too!
Abigail Sykes • 10/24
Loves sage green or peach, and hydrangeas are her favorite flower to display. She loves to snack on fruit or Peanut Butter M&Ms, and her favorite drinks are Diet Coke or grapefruit sparkling water. She’s not a coffee drinker, but does enjoy summertime teas from Starbucks. A big thrifter, she loves shopping at Target, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods. For fast food, she chooses Chick-fil-A or Taco Bell. She enjoys interior decor/design, reading, hiking, and camping.
Adele Williams • 6/5
Her favorite snacks are Wavy potato chips, Twix, and Kit Kats, and her favorite drinks are coffee and peach iced tea. She likes the color light blue, and her favorite flowers are light blue hydrangeas. She loves to shop at Aerie, H&M, and T.J. Maxx, and to eat at The Cheesecake Factory and Zaxby’s. If you’re bringing her Starbucks, grab her a cold brew with caramel syrup and half & half. In her free time, she loves singing, listening to music, puzzles, and swimming. Target, Chipotle, and Chick-fil-A are her favorite gift cards. (Allergic to tree nuts.)
AK Skillin • 5/25
Her favorite colors are black and purple, and her favorite flowers are red roses, hyacinth, lavender, black dahlia, and red azaleas. Black forest gummies, pistachios, cheddar sunchips, and ranch veggie straws are their go-to snacks, and they love Boba, cranberry juice, coffee, tea, and La Croix. She loves seasonal drinks from Starbucks, but otherwise she orders a nitro with cinnamon-infused foam or a London Fog. Barnes & Noble, Michaels, and Ulta are their favorite places to shop. If they were to receive a gift card, Barnes & Noble, Michaels, Starbucks, Ulta, Lush, La Parrilla, or Kura Revolving Sushi would be appreciated. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, Dungeons & Dragons, reading, trivia, drawing, and collaging. (Allergic to strawberries and sensitive to any fruit produced under birch pollen.)
Alek Gayton • 7/25
His favorite places to shop are Target, Clothing Warehouse, and vintage stores/flea markets. He loves to snack on Chex Mix and Oreos, and his favorite restaurants are Hai, Las Brasas, Oz Pizza, and Community BBQ. He loves bottled Coke, and his favorite Starbucks order is a mocha. His hobbies are yard work, building, hiking, and biking, and his favorite color is blue. His favorite gift card is Target.
Alex McKeel • 8/21
His go-to snacks are Oreos, and Passion Fruit juice or any other tart-y juice. His favorite restaurants are Ok Yaki in East Atlanta Village and Scotch Bonnet Jamaican in Fairburn, and he enjoys shopping at antique and thrift stores. His hobbies are cooking, running, reading, and writing. Likes the color orange, and camellias are his favorite flower. His favorite gift card is for Sweetwater.
Allison Thacker • 2/28
She loves the color yellow, and daisies and sunflowers are her favorite flowers. Her favorite snacks are Sour Patch Kids, Cheez-Its, and chocolate. She enjoys lemonade and herbal teas, and her Starbucks order is an iced matcha latte. Chick-fil-A, Cheesecake Factory, and Panera are her favorite restaurants. Her favorite stores are Bath and Body Works, LUSH, Old Navy, and American Eagle, and she’d appreciate a gift card from Bath and Body Works or LUSH. Her hobbies are painting, playing Animal Crossing, and gardening.
Camille Carmichael • 11/03
Orange is her favorite color, and she loves posies and roses. Her favorite snacks are popcorn and dark chocolate–covered pretzels. Her drink of choice is lemonade, and at Starbucks, it’s a salted caramel cold brew. Her favorite restaurant is Flower Child, as well as any Mediterranean restaurant. Her favorite places to shop are Lululemon, SKIMS, Nike, and Amazon, which are also great places to grab her a gift card. Even though theatre and dance are her jobs, they are also her hobbies, along with drawing.
Canangela Boyd-Robertson • 10/13
She loves all kinds of flowers and the color royal blue. Her favorite snacks are Little Debbie cakes or any other kind of cake, and her drinks of choice are Mountain Dew and a peppermint mocha from Starbucks. Her favorite restaurant is Olive Garden, and her favorite places to shop are Amazon (gift cards from here are always appreciated!), ALDI, and Kroger. (Allergic to pistachios and cashews.)
Chris Hernandez • 12/26
His favorite snacks are Flipz White Chocolate Pretzels, peach rings, and Vero Mango Lollipops, and his favorite drinks are Orange Fanta, Arizona Green Tea, and Peñafiel Lime Soda. His go-to Starbucks order is matcha latte (hot in winter; iced in summer). He likes the color black, and his favorite flowers are chrysanthemums. He loves to shop at Barnes & Noble and Target and to eat at American Deli, Zaxby’s, and Cozy Coop. In his free time, he loves writing, cooking, and origami. Amazon is his favorite gift card.
Eric Zheng • 9/29
His favorite color is orange, and his favorite flowers are daisies. His go-to snack is cashews, and he loves bubble tea and a matcha frappuccino from Starbucks. His favorite restaurant is Chick-fil-A. Costco is his favorite store, and Amazon is his choice for a gift card. His hobbies are reading, playing the piano, cooking/baking, and gaming. (Allergic to fresh apples, pineapples, peaches, and cherries. Lactose intolerant.)
Garrett Kephart • 8/25
Green is his favorite color, and tiger lilies are his favorite flower. His favorite snacks are Sour Punch Straws, Trufru (Mango and Strawberry), Jalepeno Chips, Cheddar Sour Cream Chips, and Takis, and his favorite drinks are Hi-C Fruit Punch, Mango Peach Jumex, and Gatorade of any flavor. His favorite restaurants are Jerusalem Bakery, Tasty Bakery, Rio Stakehouse & Bakery, Shake Shack, Tacos La Villa, Velvet Taco, and Blue India. His favorite stores are REI, Target, Amazon, Walmart, and he’d welcome a gift card from Amazon, Sweetwater, Guitar Center, Chick-filA, or REI. His hobbies are camping, backpacking, hiking, music production, and going to concerts, and he’s a big fan of the NBA and anime.
Glenn Anthony • 5/19
His favorite snacks are pineapple, jackfruit, and pretzels, and he enjoys drinking bubbly water. His restaurant of choice is Mediterranean Grill, and his hobbies involve rocks and fossils and antiques. He likes the colors green and purple. If he were to receive a gift card, he’d prefer Amazon. (He’s allergic to cats.)
Hanlee McCart • 5/20
Her favorite color is purple, and she loves all kinds of flowers. Her favorite drink is Ultra Fantasy Ruby Red Monster, and her go-to snacks are Fuego Takis and Reece’s Take 5s. Her Starbucks order is an iced brown sugar oatmilk shaken espresso. Her favorite restaurants are Chipotle and McDonald’s. Her hobbies are puzzles, running, crafting, playing music, and hanging with friends and family. Her favorite places to shop are Target, Publix, and H&M, and Target is her favorite gift card.
Justin Mosteller • 5/26
Jade green is his favorite color, and his favorite snack is his mom’s pecan pie. His favorite drink is coffee, and if it’s from Starbucks, he prefers a plain iced coffee. His favorite places to shop are bookstores and comic book shops. Eddy’s Place is his favorite restaurant, and his hobbies are video games, reading, and writing. If he’s receiving a gift card, he’d prefer one from MicroCenter, Barnes & Noble, or AMC Theaters.
Krystal Worrell • 10/13
She loves pink and purple, and her favorite flowers are orchids. Her favorite snacks are Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn and pineapple lemonade. Her favorite restaurants are King Claw, Pages Okra and Grill, Royal American (wings only), 82 Queen, and Swamp Fox, and a vanilla flat white is her go-to Starbucks order. Marshalls, T.J. Maxx. Macy’s, Dillard’s, Ulta, and Sephora. Her hobbies include singing, dancing, acting, writing, composing, and rollerblading. Marshalls is her favorite store to shop with a gift card.
Macy Ellis • 6/20
Bluish pink and sage green are her favorite colors, and she loves sunflowers. Her favorite snacks are Dots Pretzels, White Cheddar Cheeto Puffs, and Twix. Her favorite drink is Pamplemousse & Lime La Croix, and Brown Sugar Oat Milk Shaken Espresso with Cold Foam is her Starbucks order. Her favorite restaurants are Patria Cocina, El Tesoro, and Ziba’s Bistro, and she loves to shop at thrift stores and book stores. Her hobbies are watercolor painting and reading. If you’re getting her a gift card, you can go with Sephora or Barnes & Noble.
Mark Grundhoefer • 3/7
Loves green, Kettle Chips, donuts, sweet tea, and cold brew coffee at Starbucks. Enjoys Chick-fil-A and Shake Shack, and shopping at music stores, especially reverb.com. Besides playing music, he enjoys playing disc golf and video games (PS4). (Allergic to flowers and cats.)
Mike Brown • 12/23
Blue is his favorite color, and he loves ice cream, chocolate cake, and sweet tea. His Starbucks order is a venti white chocolate mocha, and his favorite restaurants are The Cotton Calf, Jack’s Public House, and Tea Garden. Walmart is his gift card of choice, and his hobbies are working on guitars, working in his yard, and writing music.
Naomi Israel • 4/7
Her favorite color is tangerine/orange, and her favorite flowers are gerbera daisies and lantana. Her favorite snacks are trail mix, anything chocolate, Milano cookies, berries, and celery. Her beverages of choice are hot chocolate, fruit smoothies, and coffee. Speaking of… she loves anything coffee, any flavor, and she loves trying new orders and combinations. (She has a preference for oatmilk.) She doesn’t have a specific favorite restaurant, but she loves Asian (Thai/Chinese) and Mediterranean/Greek cuisine. She enjoys shopping at thrift stores, Target, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s. Her hobbies are swimming, hiking, rock climbing, reading, and doing crossword puzzles. Amazon or any coffee shop would be her choice for a gift card.
Obai Alabyad • 1/6
He likes the color cyan and his favorite flowers are gardenias. His favorite snacks are sour candies, veggie straws, and Belgian chocolate, and he enjoys drinking water and coconut water. Chick-fil-A is his favorite restaurant, and Amazon is his store of choice. His hobbies are songwriting and producing music, gaming, and fitness. His favorite gift cards are for PlayStation or Steam. (He is allergic to shellfish and tree nuts—mainly pistachio, cashews, and pine nuts.)
Stephen King • 7/01
Favorite snacks are cereal and PBJs, with sweet tea to drink. His Starbucks order is “just normal” coffee, and his favorite restaurant is Willy’s Burritos. His go-to pastimes are the tabletop games Warhammer 40 and Magic the Gathering. His favorite places to shop are Sweetwater and Warhammer 40, and if you’re picking a gift card for him, Sweetwater (music gear retailer) is the way to go. His favorite color is blue, and black lotus is his favorite flower.
Tony Gibson • 7/23
Loves blue and tulips, but maybe not blue tulips. Favorite snacks are coffee ice cream and chocolate-covered espresso beans. He loves espresso, and his favorite Starbucks order is dopio espresso. His favorite places to shop are Express Men, Buckle, and Nadeaus, and he loves to eat at Pappasito’s Cantina, Ipps, and Pure. His hobbies are mountain biking, water skiing, paddleboarding, and motor biking. His favorite gift cards are from Pappasito’s Cantina, Buckle, Stephen David Leonard, and Amazon.
Victor Ezquerra • 6/26
His favorite snack is ice cream, and he enjoys fancy juices and a Starbucks vanilla latte. He likes the color blue and tulips. His favorite stores to shop at are Amazon and Lululemon. His favorite restaurant is Waffle House. His hobby is painting, and if he were to receive a gift card, he’d prefer Amazon.
Walter Whelchel • 10/1
His favorite color is blue, and his favorite flower is tulips. Gummy worms and gummy bears are his favorite snack, and his drinks of choice are orange juice and — from Starbucks — an iced caramel macchiato. His favorite restaurant is Juicy Crab, and Walmart is his favorite place to shop. A gift card to a seafood restaurant or Amazon is always a win. His favorite hobby is relaxing by a body of water.