Atlanta INtown, April 2011 by Atlanta Intown

5th annual

Atlanta by Bike Cycling lifesyle & safety 14

Festival Fever Inman Park, Dogwood, 420 24

Mansions to Bungalows Home tours welcome visitors 42

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What you should H2knOw

AtlantaINtownPaper.com PiEdMonT BARK yAPPy HouR PRESEnTS

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2011 PET CoTiLLion iT’S REigning CATS & dogS — EnTER youRS TodAy! MAy 1, 2011 H 3–6 PM $20 donATion To BEnEfiT PALS Open Bar H Hors d’oeuvres H Silent Auction

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Elizabeth P. Holmes PRODUCTION/GRAPHIC DESIGN (404) 586-0002 x312 elizabeth@atlantaintownpaper.com

Go Blue for Earth Day .............................4 Filling the Water Gap ................................6 The TriState Water War .............................7 Spirit of the Gulf Coast .............................8 Earth Day Event Guide ...........................10 Eco-Briefs ...............................................11 Moving in the Spirit ................................12 Letter from the Editor .............................12 The Joy of Biking ....................................14 Helmets Save Lives ................................15 Charity in the City ...................................15 7 Day Plastic Challenge .........................15 Street Fashion: Bike Chic .......................16

ADVERTISING INFO (404) 586-0002 x 302

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Intown Datebook ....................................17 Pet Briefs ................................................18 A Look Back ...........................................19 Intown Runaround ..................................20 Health & Wellness Briefs ........................22

Wendy G. Binns PUBLISHER (404) 586-0027 wendy@atlantaintownpaper.com Collin Kelley EDITOR (404) 586-0102 collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Janet Porter REAL ESTATE ADVERTISING (404) 501-0090 janet@atlantaintownpaper.com David Burleson (404) 918-0285 david@atlantaintownpaper.com Linda Howell (404) 586-0002 x320 linda@atlantaintownpaper.com CLASSIFIEDS 404-586-0002 x302 classifieds@atlantaintownpaper.com INTERN April McFadden Grady High School CONTRIBUTORS Cameron Adams, Kate Atwood, Sally Bethea, Ann Boutwell, Tina Chadwick, Tyson Deal, Patrick Dennis, Farmer D, Brigette Flood, Jim Hackler, Melody Harclerode, Walt Harrison, Alice Lovelace, Annie Nichols, Elizabeth Patrick, Julia Roberts, Polly Sattler, Todd Semrau, Rebecca Serna, Laura Turner Seydel, Tim Sullivan, Brandon Sutton DISTRIBUTION (404) 586-0027 SUBSCRIPTIONS Send a $15 check to Subscriptions, Atlanta INtown, 154 Krog Street, Suite 135, Atlanta, GA 30307 or read our free e-Edition online at AtlantaINtownPaper.com. SUBMISSIONS Queries about freelance articles can be made to Collin Kelley, collin@atlantaintownpaper.com Atlanta INtown, 154 Krog Street, Suite 135, Atlanta, GA 30307.

Who We Are and Why

For 15 years, Atlanta INtown’s mission has been to publish local news that helps foster a sense of community. Live, work and play – we cover everything that makes our city home.

FIND US AT:

THE STUDIO Spring Festival Guide ....................... 24-25 Atlanta PlanIt ..........................................27 The Thinking Artist ..................................28

IN BUSINESS Property Tax Advice ................................29 Office Green ...........................................29 Mediation Instead of Litigation ...............29 Making Sense of Social..........................30 Earth Day on the BeltLine.......................31 Business & Retail Briefs .........................32

NEWS YOU CAN EAT Sustainable Eating .................................34 Worthwhile Wine .....................................36 Quick Bites .............................................38 Markets Open for Spring ........................39 Don’t Fret the Food Trucks .....................39

Atlanta is budding to the max and there is likely nothing icy on your mind other than perhaps a Paolo’s Gelato. But, it was only a few months ago that the ice storm hit and local businesses rallied to save us all from cabin fever. I had one of those “a-ha moments” walking to work that week when I noticed local businesses braving the conditions to open for their customers. I remember smiling ear-to-ear watching them open their doors and become a social outlet and reprieve from an empty pantry. What a relief. Restaurant consultant Todd Semrau told me, “Local restaurants take care of their community. In difficult times people want to gather and share experiences and restaurants are the perfect place to do that.” Yet another reason to love where we live and support local. Moving on from ice, let’s think green – or, blue as our columnist Laura Turner Seydel encourages on page 4. This is our 5th annual Go Green issue, so you’ll see that there is plenty to do, like grabbing a canoe on April 16 for Sweep the Hooch (page 7) and plenty to discover, like sustainable restaurants and farms on page 34. Of course, with spring there are also a host of awesome festivals, home tours, artists markets and more. We’ll tell you about them here. As always, there are philanthropic messages throughout INtown. On that note, I want to offer congratulations and a big thank you to Rich Chey and his company HomeGrown Restaurants (homegrownrestaurants.com). Rich is an inspirational local business owner who once told me that he manages his company by the laws of karma – what goes around, comes around. Well, does $100,000 for local non-profits sound like good karma? You bet and he’s done it. They’ve raised the money over the past three and a half years with fundraisers and special events. Rich, if you are reading this, thank you for all you do!

LET’S PLAY! I took each of these photos in a local park or garden. Can you identify where they are? If you can, you could win a $20 gift certificate to Doc Chey’s or Osteria. Just email your answers (number of photo and name of park) to play@atlantaintownpaper.com by Monday, April 18 at 5pm. Submissions with all 5 correct answers will be submitted for a random drawing. Have fun and enjoy the oudoors!

REAL ESTATE Realtors Go Green .................................40 Real Estate Briefs ...................................41

IN YOUR HOME Spring Home Tours ................................42 Perspectives in Architecture ...................43 Gardening ..............................................43 Before & After .........................................44 Renovation Coach..................................46

Table of Contents Printed with soy-based ink on 100% recycled paper.

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Dear INtown Readers,

GO GREEN SCOTT LOWDEN

ATLANTA INTOWN MEDIA, LLC

Here are some clues for you. 1) See page 31. 2) Part of Atlanta’s ‘Common Ground’. 3.) The flag in this photo is a clue. 4) The late Sally Wylde was the co-founder and first executive director of this community garden project 5) This park is named after the first president of the Virginia Highland Civic Association. Have the answers? Email and you could win! Visit our Facebook page for a closer look at the photos.

ON THE COVER: Cour tesy of photographer Alan Kendall and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

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April 2011 | IN

Go Green

YOUR GUIDE FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE

GO BLUE TO PRESERVE OUR RIVER Laura Turner Seydel Last year we spent Earth Day distraught over the monumental oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This tragic event, resulting in over 4.9 millions of barrels being emptied into our precious coastline eco-system, was a big eye-opener for many, but truth of the matter is that various forms of pollutants and chemical toxins threaten our rivers, lakes, streams and oceans on a daily basis. Being an essential element to life – water covers two-thirds of our planet and makes up 75 percent of our bodies – it is more important than ever that we join the scientists, ecologists and environmentalists in “going blue” this Earth Day to help keep our planet’s water healthy and thriving. Here in Atlanta we have over 71,000 miles of rivers and streams, which sounds like an abundance of water, but according to The Atlantic magazine, Atlanta is one of the 10 metro areas in the country most likely to run out of water. And to top it off, over 1,000 miles of rivers and streams in Metro

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Atlanta fail to meet water quality standards and many waters have yet to be tested. To help improve the quality of our water, take your lawn into consideration and reduce the amount of chemicals and pesticides you use in your yard, as rain creates a runoff that leads these chemicals to our rivers and streams. Choose toxin-free pest control and lawn management products like those from EcoSMART (ecomart.com), the only pesticide on the market labeled as “safe.” A great resource to help you create your own toxic-free lawn is the Sustainable Sites Initiative (sustainablesites.org), a voluntary set of guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices that you can apply to your own backyard. Just recently our home, EcoManor (ecomanor. com), became one of the initiative’s pilot projects after we took the toxic-free, green garden pledge for our lawn.

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During her 14,500 mile trek across America to investigate global water issues, Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of water-pioneer Jacques Cousteau, stopped in Atlanta to explore the issues in our own backyard. Alexandra is pictured with Laura Tuner Seydel.

Also, adhere to all city and state water regulations when it comes to when and how often you water your lawn (visit atlantawatershed.org/WaterRestrictions for the most up-to-date information). In Georgia we are dependent upon groundwater, as it is the majority of our population’s drinking supply. It is important that we become conscious of the water we use on a daily basis and conserve where possible. Did you know that by simply turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth you can save almost 5 gallons of water per day? Think about installing EnergyStar rated appliances and water-saving faucets and showerheads throughout your home and program your thermostat to reduce the amount of energy you consume. It takes about 800 gallons of water to produce 1-megawatt hour of electricity and, on average, the typical American household uses 936-megawatt hours of electricity per month. Lastly, build a relationship with our river – join Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper on one of their many summer Paddle Trips (Chattahoochee.org/paddletrips), volunteer on one of their river clean ups (Chattahoochee.org/cleanups) or simply signup for their eNewsletter, RiverFLASH, to be in-the-know with the issues, news and events surrounding the river. You can also party the night away at the River Revival on Thursday, May 19, at Park Tavern in Midtown, where a lineup of bands and SweetWater Brewery come together to raise funds for our river (chattahoochee.

org/river-revival). The more you become connected with the river the more inspired you will be to save it for future generations. So this month, as you recommit yourself to reducing, reusing and recycling to “go green,” become inspired also “go blue” to conserve and preserve our precious waterways. For more eco-living tips, visit LauraSeydel.com.

Seydel’s home, EcoManor, was built eco-friendly and she continues to find new ways to live green.

Read about Spirit of the Gulf Coast on page 8. w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

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H O M E

S E R V I C E S

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FILLING THE WATER GAP upper chattahoochee Riverkeeper outlines region’s pressing needs Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s report, Filling the Water Gap, released last month. The information for the report was compiled and analyzed by Laura Hartt, UCR’s Water Policy Director. Hartt wrote the report with the assistance of other UCR staff including Mary O. Harrison, Bonny Putney and Sally Bethea. A region of 4.5 million people, Atlanta is facing a water crisis that has been decades in the making. The metro region relies most heavily on the Chattahoochee River, including its largest major impoundment, Lake Lanier, for water supply. Given an extremely small watershed available to fill the lake (a serious problem during drought) combined with ongoing legal challenges that threaten the future use of Lanier for water supply, the economic prosperity of the region is at stake. Add to these facts an increasing uncertainty over the seasonal reliability of rainfall, growing water demand, and the needs of downstream communities, and it becomes clear that in metro Atlanta, water conservation practices must be embraced as a way of life. We must all become more efficient in our homes and at work. While most large metropolitan areas depend on relatively large watersheds to supply their needs, metro Atlanta is among the major exceptions. In fact, the Chattahoochee River watershed is among the smallest in the nation acting as the primary water supply source for a large metropolitan area. Lake Lanier’s watershed covers a meager 1,000 square miles and provides drinking water for 3.5 million people today. For comparison, consider the City of Dallas, with the Trinity River watershed spanning 18,000 square miles and supplying 11 millio people with drinking water. By our calculations, Dallas has nearly six times as much land area as Atlanta available for capturing and storing water needed to supply its population. Compounding our water crisis is the growing uncertainty surrounding our rainfall. In north Georgia we experienced an “exceptional” drought from 20062009, but we also had extreme droughts in the late 80s and the late 90s when there were millions fewer people in metro Atlanta.

April 2010: UCR Launches New Bacteria Monitoring Program aiming to improve water quality in urban streams and protect human health, upper chattahoochee Riverkeeper (ucR) launched its new neighborhood Water Watch Program. Working with community volunteers and local governments, ucR monitors levels of fecal coliform and e. coli bacteria in local waterways on a weekly basis; this contamination typically enters streams from broken and overﬂowing sewers, failing septic systems and urban runoff.

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In the fall of 2009, the region experienced a 500-year flood event. Climate scientists agree that in the future, we can expect these extreme weather events to be more intense and to occur more frequently without any greater predictability, and we can be assured that we will see another drought in four to six years, given past trends. There is simply no choice but to use these limited water supplies wisely and efficiently. However, state leaders have been largely negligent in their failure to provide firm guidance and resources so that local governments can realize their conservation goals. The 2010 Water Stewardship Act was a good first step, but much more can and must be done to lessen the impact of metro Atlanta on stressed local waterways and provide for future growth that is sustainable. Three key conservation measures can reduce metro Atlanta’s water demand by as much as 160 million gallons per day (MGD), or four times the daily yield expected from the recently completed Hickory Log Reservoir in Cherokee County which cost $120 million to build. These savings cannot be realized, however, unless and until state leaders are willing to put cost-effective conservation and efficiency measures first, and focus last on expensive, engineered water supply solutions that threaten to further limit funding available to taxpayers and local governments during these tough economic times. Our key recommendations: •Fix System Leaks – establish annual benchmarks and help fund leak detection and repair through a state matching grant program. •Replace Outdated Plumbing Fixtures – pass legislation requiring retrofit on reconnect and the sale of high-efficiency appliances (e.g., clothes washers and dishwashers); offer low-income assistance for retrofits. •Price Water Right – evaluate current residential tiered pricing structures and revise as needed; develop and implement tiered pricing for commercial users.

TOP: Paddlers enjoy a day out on the chattahoochee. ABOVE: atlanta gets the majority of its drinking water from the chattahoochee River and lake lanier, one of the smallest watersheds in the nation. LEFT: the chattahoochee is susceptible to sewer spills and chemical runoff, so regular testing is a must. (Photos courtesy of upper chattahoochee Riverkeeper)

To read the entire Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper report, visit chattahoochee.org and download Filling the Water Gap as a PDF.

June 2010: West CSO Tunnel Wins Project of the Year atlanta’s West combined sewer overﬂow (cso) tunnel was named Project of the year at the georgia chapter of the american society of civil engineers’ annual awards luncheon. the project, a component of the consent decree that settled ucR’s 1995 lawsuit against the city, was completed in 2008 and has helped reduce the volume of sewage spills in the city by 97 percent.

July 2010: Bellwood Quarry Becomes Reservoir atlanta’s Watershed Management Department announced the purchase of the Bellwood Quarry in Downtown atlanta to serve as a reservoir that will serve as a 30-day water supply during periods of drought or when there are issues with our river or lake lanier. the purchase also included a surrounding 100-acres which will be become Westside Park. w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

Water Conservation Pledge

THE WATER WAR By Sally Bethea Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper For more than two decades, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida have waged a legal war over the use of water in the ApalachicolaChattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin stemming largely from the operation of Lake Lanier’s Buford Dam by the Corps of Engineers. Lanier lies within the Chattahoochee’s headwaters, just upstream of Atlanta. The Corps built the lake in the 1950s with Congressional authorization for flood-control, navigation, and hydropower. Over time, however, Lake Lanier has become the primary source of water supply for metro Atlanta, and Alabama and Florida have argued that Georgia withdraws too much and isn’t sharing the water fairly with downstream communities. In July 2009, a federal judge ruled that water supply is not an authorized use of Lake Lanier, and gave Georgia three years to work out a solution to the water supply problem. Georgia appealed this decision and a hearing was recently held with a decision expected by summer. Regardless of the outcome of Georgia’s legal appeal, metro Atlanta must do much more to embrace water conservation and efficiency measures for our region’s long-term sustainability. It’s the smart thing to do for our pocketbooks and for the health of our river systems. The Chattahoochee is the most heavily-used river in the state of Georgia, stressed by competing demands that threaten its ability to continue to serve multiple masters in three states, while remaining a healthy ecosystem. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s (UCR) mission is to protect and preserve the Chattahoochee River, its lakes, and tributaries for all those who depend upon it, upstream and downstream. With technical, policy and legal expertise, UCR has invested significant resources to help Georgia chart a new course for water security, while protecting the Chattahoochee River Basin for current and future generations. Details can be found at our website at chattahoochee.org.

SALLY BETHEA

I pledge to become a “Conservation Ambassador” and to use water wisely by following these tips: • I will take a shower rather than a bath. • I will turn off the water while I brush my teeth or while I wash my hands and face. • I will use a bucket of water and a sponge rather than a hose to wash my bike or my pet. • I will not use the toilet as a trashcan. I will throw tissues away rather than flushing them. • I will water the plants outside only in the early morning or late evening. • I will catch water from washing fruits or vegetables in the sink and use this water to water the plants around my house. • I will use a broom rather than a hose to clean leaves off the driveway. • I will remind my parents/siblings to use water wisely.

Signature

Sally Bethea is the Executive Director of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

You can help! This pledge is courtesy of Fernbank Museum of Natural History, visit fernbankmuseum.org. How can you conserve water in your garden? Read Farmer D’s tips on page 43.

Sept. 2010: Alexandra’s Expedition Blue Planet Visits Atlanta During her 14,500 mile trek across america to investigate global water issues, alexandra cousteau, granddaughter of water-pioneer Jacques cousteau, stopped in atlanta to explore the issues in our own backyard. During her time in atlanta, she met with ucR and spoke about her work as a global water advocate and her current expedition at ucR’s 16th annual Patron appreciation Dinner. w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

Oct. 2010: Mayor Kasim Reed Announces “Power to Change” Sustainability Goals With his sights set on making atlanta a top 10 city for sustainability, Mayor Reed announced his aggressive goals for creating a healthier, greener and cleaner atlanta.

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will host Sweep the Hooch on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 18 different sites. Volunteers are needed to help clean up trash along the Chattahoochee. Volunteers will receive a Sweep the Hooch t-shirt. To register as a volunteer, visit chattahoochee.org.

March 2011: First Phase of Historic Fourth Ward Park Opens to Public local activists worked with atlanta Beltline inc. and the city’s Department of Watershed Management to achieve a green solution to the problem of urban storm runoff by creating a new water feature near city hall east as part of a new public park.

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SPIRIT OF THE GULF COAST atlantan reﬂects on oil spill and continuing impact By Brandon Sutton On April 20, 2010, life along the Gulf coast changed dramatically due to the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion and ensuing oil spill. One year later, it can seem like a distant memory in the collective psyche. However, this oil spill and its impacts are ongoing and far-reaching. My passion for understanding oil dependence and alternative energy sources called me to service on this issue. The first images of oil erupting into the Gulf horrified me, and I knew I had to do something to help. I worked with Hub Atlanta to form a team of volunteers that visited the Gulf coast to document the oil spill and its impacts on local communities who depend on the health of the Gulf for survival. Photographer Terrell Clark, videographer/ film maker Nathan Black, communications director Kim Campbell, and research/ planning director Andy Cleary came onboard to help tell this story. The work is not done. Members of the team are working on a series of events, exhibits, and a return trip to the Gulf coast this month to continue documenting the spill’s ongoing impacts

along the coast. For those of us who do not live on the coast or have a direct connection to the area, it may be easy to move on. After all, we’ve stopped being bombarded by the horrific images of oil erupting into the Gulf that went on for 3 months in a row last summer. But just because the oil stopped flowing does not mean the spill is over. Stories of oil washing up on shore, public health concerns, increased dolphin mortality, and general unease with the situation down in the Gulf are emerging in a steady stream of articles, news reports and scientific studies from across the Gulf coast. As much as we would like to believe that everything has been returned to normal, it just isn’t that simple. We continue to document the stories of the affected communities through blog posts, still photography and video recordings from the region. Our original expedition in August 2010 allowed us to get a sense of how the residents in small coastal communities were handling this unprecedented disaster. The recordings ultimately became a fine art photo exhibit and a 30-minute documentary film that has been shown at local universities and other community organizations here in Atlanta. We are taking this foundation and

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building upon it with additional footage and imagery so that the evolving story is available for everyone to access. When we went to the coast last summer, we were welcomed into the communities with kindness and generosity that is often lacking in the urban environment where we live. Josie Cheramie of the Grand Isle, Louisiana Port Commission helped us find lodging on the island when all the rooms were booked due to the cleanup operation. She connected us with a man who opened his beachfront home for our team to stay in at the last minute. He didn’t ask for a deposit, or even know my full name. He left the key out and told me where to find it. This openness and generosity was incredibly humbling, and it felt that we were there for a higher purpose. Atlanta resident Cameron Beach (aka the Mountain Man) connected me with Katrina survivors in Pearlington, Mississippi who were also gracious and happy to share their stories with us. And in Coden, Alabama, we met Lori Bosarge, an incredible woman who was disturbed by the use of dispersants in the cleanup operation and actively sought to raise awareness of the adverse impacts of this aspect of the spill. Nearly everyone we met was willing to share their stories with us, and we stay in touch with many of them on a regular basis. There are still stories that are yet untold, and lessons that are yet unlearned, which keeps me pursuing this cause today. When the spill first began, the knee-jerk reaction for many people was to boycott BP. I felt that this approach was over-simplifying the problem and there was an opportunity to have a larger conversation about our insatiable demand for oil. I believe that there are important lessons for us to learn from the oil spill and that we can all play a part in the rebuilding of not only the Gulf, but of the system that led to the spill in the first place. It begins with awareness of the issues. For me, it started with a neighbor handing me a stack of books on oil dependence in 2008. I researched and studied the issue, and saw how oil permeates essentially every aspect of our lives. Once I started to learn what a big problem this was, I made changes in my own behavior. I wanted to be part of the solution, and I still do. This April, I hope you will take a few minutes to reflect on what happened last year in the Gulf and follow along as we continue to document this developing story. For photography lovers, our photo exhibit is currently on display at Hub Atlanta with receptions planned for April. On April 14, there will a photo exhibit featuring images from our 2010 expedition with photographer Terrell Clark, and also a panel discussion on “What Is the True Cost of Oil’ at 6:30 p.m. at Hub Atlanta (HubAtlanta.com), 1375 Spring St.

Visit www.SpiritOfTheGulfCoast.com to read, watch, and listen to the voices of the people of the coast and stay abreast of updates and upcoming events. If you’re ready to take the steps in your own life, there are resources on the site to help get you started. Thanks for being part of the solution!

1) Brandon sutton at base camp. 2) volunteers set out from grand isle to test the water. 3) a gulf oil rig. 4) the spirit of the gulf team confer before leaving port. 5) taking water samples alongside a berm designed to stop the spread of oil. Photos by terrell clark (terrellclark.com) 3)

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will be held on thursday, april 21, from 7 to 10 p.m. at summerour studio, 409 Bishop st. the earth Day Party, presented by Kaiser Permanente, brings together a diverse group of grassroots environmentalists, devoted philanthropists and business professionals whose collective goal is to integrate sustainable practices and policies wherever we work, live or play. enjoy live music, food by Bold american catering, and an eco-silent auction with deals on eco-friendly products, unique getaways, outdoor gear, and jewelry. tickets are $60 per person. Register online at earthsharega.org.

will hold its spring Plant sale april 8 – 10 with 50 varieties of tomatoes, 30 varieties of peppers, 20 varieties of eggplants, plus over 200 varieties of herbs, fruit trees, perennials, annuals, natives and

succulents. the oakhurst garden Member Preview is friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and the sale is open to the public saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the garden is located at 435 oakview Road in Decatur. oakhurstgarden.org

the city of Decatur Recycling trailer. new this year is a community phone book recycling project sponsored by Pitstop. for more information and a complete schedule, visit oakhurstgarden.org.

on sunday, april 17, join the Decatur community to celebrate

hosted by West atlanta Watershed alliance and national Wildlife federation is saturday, april 2, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate atlanta’s urban forests. the festival is free to the public and will feature educational exhibits, tours of the 26-acre urban forest, food, giveaways, and hands-on activities and demonstrations by WaWa, nWf’s earth tomorrow program and their partners. transportation to 1442 Richland Road is easily accessible via MaRta. wawaonline.org.

presented by latham home sanitation, from 12:30 to 4 pm. the event begins with the earth friendly Parade, which begins at harmony Park in the center of the oakhurst Business District. Join the feed and seed Marching abominable Band and decorate your bike, wagon, stroller or yourself and march in the parade. once at the event, there will be a cake contest, crafts for the children, a Raptor show, food vendors, the community pavilion, live music and more. this year’s event features over 30 earth friendly vendors and nonproﬁts in the community Pavilion including

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is Wednesday, april 13 from 5 to 9 p.m. at environment furniture, 1170 howell Mill Road #P-18. Join sustainable lifestyle expert laura turner seydel and fashion trend expert and meet atlanta’s top sustainable fashion, jewelry, accessory, footwear and handbag designers. shop for great deals and enjoy a tour of the environment furniture showroom. open to the public and free to attend. environmentfurniture.com/atlanta

will take place on april 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the chattahoochee nature center. the captain Planet foundation is teaming up again with the center to present this event with unique hands-on, environmental education experiences including live

2617-B Talley Street Decatur, GA 30030 Phone: 404.687.9911 Fax: 404.687.9177 www.AtlantaGymnasticsCenter.com

10 INtown | April 2011

animals, arts and crafts, canoeing, ecoeducation and much more. $8 for adults, $5 for kids. chattnaturecenter.org

in celebration of earth Month, HartsﬁeldJackson Atlanta International Airport will display the eco-fashion exhibition from santa fe artist nancy Judd. the exhibition, which includes 18 eco-trash couture garments, will be on display in nine cases throughout international concourse e from april 1 through april 2012. each outﬁt took between 100 and 450 hours to create and re-uses loops of cassette and videotape, junk mail, dry cleaning bags, crushed glass and more. RecycleRunway.com

will be held friday, april 22, featuring a day of live entertainment, interactive vendor displays and activities in celebration of going green on earth Day. the events will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in central Park. Dave fM will receive call-ins during the event and will also offer games and giveaways. there will be live entertainment from atlanta-based “Minutes to live” – the event will also feature a Runway images fashion show. coca-cola’s Rev – Recycling education vehicle – will be onsite offering interactive games and fun recycling tips to attendees. the earth Day celebration will additionally feature more than 25 environmentally-friendly vendors to educate consumers about their sustainable products, free samples, games and giveaways. atlanticstation.com.

The BeltLine celebrates Earth Day, too! See page 31.

oakhurst community garden in Decatur will host its annual earth Day Party on april 17 and its Plant sale april 8-10. find out more about the events above. (Photos courtesy oakhurst community garden) w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

Eco-Briefs To mark its 20th anniversary, PATH Foundation is launching a new website that uses the latest mapping technologies from Google for trail maps, including mobile maps for smart phones. “While we still have great downloadable trail maps on our website, we’re also using new technology so people can get maps on their smart phones while they are on the trail,” said Ed McBrayer, Executive Director of PATH Foundation. “The new mapping technology is incredibly useful and shows parking areas, rest stops and restaurants.” Users can text ‘PATH’ to 99699 to receive a list of trail maps available to view. pathfoundation.org Fashionable Notes is offering its hugely successful line of Jute Market Bags in a variety of new colors. Now, along with the natural color, the bags are available in tangerine, lime green, brown, pink, and violet. The bags are created by designer Aubrey Lenyard and feature quotes like Eco-Chic, It’s a Green Thing, and Recycle Reduce Reuse. fashionablenotes.com. EcoSense for Living as a PSA series in 2005 with tips on how to save money and be green simultaneously. It got such positive feedback, she created the first episode which features Clark Howard, green cleaning experts and 30 minutes chock full of environmentally friendly ways to save money around the house. Episode

1 will premiere in Georgia on Tuesday, April 5 at 7:30 pm. Highlights of the programs include a visit savings guru Clark Howard, green buildings and schools, and how businesses are becoming more knowledgeable about the environment. MODA Floors & Interiors in the West Midtown Design District has an ecofriendly window display created by Lori Sturgess, an Atlanta “green” artist, using leftover carpet, tile and other raw materials from MODA’s warehouse. The mannequin was brought back to life after previous service in a local department store. This year, Green Seal evaluated the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel and determined that it complies with the environmental and performance requirements of the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties – Bronze designation. For 2012, the hotel is hoping to earn a silver designation. Some of the initiatives include energy and water conservation such as energy efficient lighting, low-flow faucet aerators and computerized building management systems, which control the HVAC. There is a waste minimization initiative including single stream recycling of all cardboard, paper, plastics, aluminum and glass; composting; recycling of linen, towels and soft goods; elimination of Styrofoam; paperless check-in; charitable food donation; sustainable food and beverage menu offerings; bottled water alternatives; fryer oil recycling; and battery florescent bulb recycling.

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Moving in the Spirit, a nationally recognized youth development program that uses dance to positively transform the lives of children and teens, will present Between Worlds on Thursday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. Alice Lovelace will act as the storyteller for this evening of dance and performance. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, artists and children ages 13 and under. Children under the age of 3 may attend free of charge. More information can be found at movinginthespirit.org under “News and Events.” 1/14/11 12:18 PM

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Letter from the Editor Collin Kelley, Editor We’ve made living green and eco-friendly a going concern for five years. Not only do we have a monthly Go Green section, but every April we devote the majority of the issue to environmental concerns. This year, it’s water, and it couldn’t be more timely. With the ongoing tri-state water war still ongoing at press time, the future of metro Atlanta’s liquid assets hang in the balance. There is sobering information in the report published by Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (Page 6), most notably that Atlanta has one of the smallest watersheds in the country. We hope you will take a moment to read all the stories in this issue and find out about how you can take steps to conserve water, recycle, dine out at restaurants that are committed to sustainability and alternative transportation, like biking. Now that spring has sprung, that means a season of festivals and home tours. You can check out our festival guide on Page 24 and see the home tour line-up on Page 42. Atlanta INtown is printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink. We hope that once you’re finished reading and enjoying this issue that you’ll remember to recycle it. - collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

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THE JOY OF BIKING Riding for transportation, ﬁtness and the environment By Rebecca Serna Atlanta Bicycle Coalition My family’s Atlanta-by-bike lifestyle began when my car broke down. Rather than replace the last in a string of clunkers, and always running late for the bus, I bought a cute blue hybrid at a local bike shop. Living Intown made my decision possible, with destinations close and a nascent bike community. A few of my female friends were riding and making it look good, wearing regular clothing – even skirts and dresses. They arrived glowing and fit, getting accidental exercise while getting places. Inspired and determined, I jumped on the bike and set out for the train station to keep my initial trips short. I made many mistakes when I started, and felt intimidated by all the cars. Riding with more experienced friends and a class with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (ABC) set me straight and gave me confidence. Two years later, married to a bike commuter (who started after seeing how much fun it was for me), and working as the Executive Director of ABC, I had a baby on the way and a decision to make.

Should I keep biking to work? Could I? I elected to stick with it and I’m so glad I did. Drivers gave me extra space as they passed, waving and smiling. Towards the end of my pregnancy, it was actually easier on my hips to bike than walk. The first year of my son’s life, we didn’t

REBECCA SERNA AND HER FAMILY bike as a family. Babies’ necks can barely support their heads, much less a helmet. We took turns driving the baby to daycare while the other got to ride to work. As we approached his one-year birthday, we started getting excited. And nervous. Which streets could we take to daycare that would be safe? I set out with the

empty trailer for a few test rides and found a meandering route that avoided major streets. We rode it together, all three of us, the first few times. As with the pregnancy, drivers responded positively, many rolling down their windows to ask about the trailer, “what kind of contraption is that, and where can I get one?” A few wagged their fingers, but once we pointed out that cars carry their own risks (who doesn’t know someone who’s been in a serious car crash?) the doubts seemed to subside. Biking with my child made me a stronger, more alert, and more assertive rider. The baby weight I carried for a year melted away, our son loves the ride, and we have the joy of knowing we’re helping prevent things like childhood asthma through cleaner air. While we don’t always get to where we’re going by bike, my favorite trips are when we do. Rebecca Serna is the Executive Director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (atlantabike. org) and a board member of Earth Share of Georgia and Georgia Bikes.

More about cycling on pages 15-16.

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Charity in the City Kate Atwood

How we can help Japan I use this space regularly to write about how you and I can help our most vulnerable neighbors here in Atlanta. This time, however, I am going to turn our focus on helping those suffering in Japan. Disaster relief often sparks a charitable generosity amongst us, but the sustained efforts to help are really what will impact the nation’s future. Japan presents a unique challenge for aid and relief efforts because of the nuclear catastrophe that followed the earthquake and tsunami. One US naval officer even went as far to say just days after the earthquake that the radioactivity releases from damaged nuclear reactors in Japan have created “one of the most challenging humanitarian operations ever conducted.” The good news is that online giving is at an all-time high, increasingly convenient and can ultimately be the most successful tool for helping during such times, as long as you are giving to the most systemic and sustainable efforts. Here are three organizations I encourage you to support: Aid for Everyone: The Red Cross operates 92 hospitals in Japan and has deployed more than 1,000 medical relief volunteers across the country already. You can text REDCROSS to 90999 and make a $10 donation from your phone or visit redcross.org and make a donation. Aid for Children: It is estimated that more than 100,000 children have been displaced from their homes in Japan. As a result of its initial on-scene assessments, Save the Children has developed a three-year strategy to bring aid and relief to the countries youngest victims. To support their effort, make a donation savethechildren.org Aid for Animals: We must not forget our furry friends. The International Fund for Animal Welfare will deploy its own team to assess needs regarding animal rescue, as soon as the situation stabilizes and ensures responder safety. In the meantime, IFAW needs our help to provide local animal groups with funding for food, shelter, medicines and whatever else is needed. Head over to ifaw.org to support their efforts. While such disasters as Haiti and Katrina allowed for everyday citizens to roll up their sleeves and help, Japan’s aftermath excludes this possibility in a lot of the devastated areas, leaving us to find more remote ways to get involved. This frustrates no one more than the citizens of Japan themselves, who culturally are some of the most nationalistic citizens in the world. Our support thousands of miles away can help those displaced by the earthquake and tsunami get back to their homes, back to their community, and back to their loved ones as soon as it’s possible. For more about Kate Atwood, visit katesclub.org.

HOW A HELMET SAVED MY BUTT By Jim Hackler The Urbane Environmentalist I gave up my car six years ago and get around Atlanta almost exclusively on my bicycle. While the U. S. Department of Transportation advocates that biking reduces emissions and lessens traffic, I’m here to tell you that the biggest benefit is a bodacious butt. I’m only 10 days younger than President Obama, but still fill out a pair of jeans on par with a back-up dancer from High School Musical 3. I have to admit I like to show it off in my black bicycle shorts, but I draw the line at wearing those nylon jerseys that mimic a mutant kangaroo (the pockets are on the back) and have more garish graphics than a fully-sponsored NASCAR race car that was designed by a color-blind drag queen. I know it’s a good idea to be visible to traffic, but I don’t think we mean airplanes. Another fashion challenge for cyclists is the helmet. I upgraded from one that looked like I was wearing an enormous blue M&M to an aerodynamic model that reminds me of the monster from the Alien movies with Styrofoam “teeth” jutting out of the back of my head. Its air vents do a good job at keeping my head cool but they crimp my hair making me look like a flapper from The Great Gatsby when I take my helmet off. Why is it that when a motorcyclist wears a helmet, he either looks tough like a Hell’s Angel or she looks incredibly sexy in that slow motion, flipping your long hair back and forth when she

FOR MORE CYCLING HUMOR, WATCH JIM’S VIDEO ON INTOWN’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

takes it off sort of way? In contrast, bicyclists look more like a mobile fleet of giant bobble heads. Maybe that’s why more than half of Americans who ride bikes say they never wear a helmet according to a survey by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Personally, I think it would be safer for Charlie Sheen to administer my anesthesia during brain surgery than to cycle the streets of Atlanta without a helmet. My own experience of literally “hitting the pavement” happened when a minivan of Dunwoody housewives illegally turned into my right of way on Peachtree Road in front of Houston’s restaurant (a waiter working the patio actually ran down with a bag of ice – I just wish he would have brought a pitcher of margaritas to go with it because I needed it). I ricocheted off the van landing flat on my back in the middle of the street so hard that my helmet broke in half like a paper shell pecan. Fortunately, my head didn’t. The truth is the road rash and the three hour wait in Piedmont Hospital’s emergency room was the biggest pain. I honestly believe that if I hadn’t been wearing a helmet I’d be hooked up to a machine with a head full of gazpacho. I encourage any Atlanta cyclist to embrace unflattering fashion and bad hair to sport a CPSC-approved helmet because in the end, all the attention will be focused on your great butt. For more about Jim, visit his website at TheUrbaneEnvironmentalist.com.

What’s your helmet survival story? Post a photo of the helmet that saved your head on INtown’s Facebook page ... just to show it off.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE greenPlate encourages reduction of plastic use Local nonprofit GreenPlate, which exists to promote the better use of plastic where we live, work and play, is asking people to participate in the 7-Day Plastic Challenge April 18 – 24. The Challenge is a fun way to raise awareness about how much plastic we use on a daily basis. Sign up at www.GreenPlate.org. The use of plastic has made life much more convenient and safer in many ways. Yet, when you start to look around, plastic is everywhere. Plastic is made to last forever and using it for one-time single use items like a straw, plastic wrap or a coffee lid, is not a good use of a material like plastic. In 2001, the plastic to plankton ratio in the North Pacific Ocean was 6:1. In 2008, the ratio grew exponentially to 28:1. Single use plastics are becoming an epidemic for our environment – fast. As Georgia’s government looks for ways to reduce costs, trash pick up along roads and public areas is being reduced. As a result, our roads are becoming covered with waste, particularly plastic including bags, fast food containers and water bottles. The good news is that everyone can make a difference by reducing their use of single use plastic and recycle more. – Polly Sattler, Executive Director of GreenPlate w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

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April 2011 | IN

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The convergence of street fashion and city cycling was first noted in the Copenhagen blog, Cycle Chic (copenhagencyclechic.com) Mikael Colville-Andersen’s romantic images of everyday folk going about their business on two wheels have captured the world’s imagination. American blogs like San Francisco’s Vélo Vogue (velovogue.com), Chicago’s Let’s Go Ride a Bike (letsgorideabike.com) and Boston’s Lovely Bicycle! (lovelybike. blogspot.com) are embracing the movement, sharing their experiences with and advising a burgeoning audience of urbane commuters. Please meet some of your Atlanta neighbors who express their personal styles through bicycling.

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Photographer Cameron Adams is documenting Intown’s style trends on his blog, www.atlantastreetfashion.blogspot.com. w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

April 2

VSA Arts of Georgia presents No Limits, a statewide, juried exhibition of visual arts on saturday, april 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. Works will include paintings, drawings, collages, photography, sculpture, video and mixed Media. no limits will be held at Mason Murer fine art, 199 armour Drive. vsa arts of georgia is a nonproﬁt providing access to the arts for people with disabilities. vsaartsga.org

one hundred companies participated in our event. for a full line up of events, visit. ferialatinaonline.com.

April 23

The Magic of Life 5K inaugural run and walk through virginia highland starts at 9 a.m. on saturday, april 23, at virginia and greencove avenues. Race proceeds beneﬁt the Magic of life foundation, whose mission is to celebrate, educate and support cancer survivors. to register, visit active.com or molﬁ.org.

April 25

April 17

atlantic station will host Feria Latina 2011 on sunday, april 17, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. the event is a celebration of the diversity of latin american culture with a day of performances by some of the best latin artists, contests, giveaways, company exhibitions, arts and crafts and international food. last year, over 35,000 people in attendance and over

HomeAid Atlanta’s 10th annual Essentials for Young Lives Drive takes place april 25 to May 2 in honor of Mother’s Day. the drive is a community-wide effort to collect essentials such as diapers, baby wipes, baby food and formula for homeless infants and toddlers in metro atlanta. Businesses, community organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate in the drive by donating essential baby items. all donated items will be distributed to local shelters serving homeless mothers and their children. for more information, including drop-off locations, visit homeaidatlanta.org/dropoff.

April 28

the Piedmont Park conservancy will hold its 15th annual Landmark Lunch on thursday, april 28, 11

a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Promenade. attendees will dine on locally-sourced food and get an up-close look at the park’s new legacy fountain, which features 70 jets and leD lights. tickets are $125. piedmontpark.org

April 30

Atlanta BeltLine Running Series kicks off with the atlanta Beltline northside 5K on saturday, april 30, starting at 8 a.m. this 5K is a run/walk on the atlanta Beltline northside trail through tanyard creek and howard Parks and along streets of collier hills, collier hills north, and ardmore Park neighborhoods. for more information and to register, visit run.beltline.org.

May 1

happens on the sunday of the inman Park festival and is bound to be the most festive and funkiest footrace ever. to register, visit marylinfoundation.org.

MORE HAPPENINGS!

The 2011 Rocket Run & Caterpillar Cruise 5K is sunday, May 1 at 8:32 a.m. Put on your running shoes and your most creative running garb. this year’s 5K, organized by and beneﬁting the Mary lin education foundation, will include a costumed Runner Prize and a caterpillar team prize (seven or more runners tethered together in costume or not). the race

•Earth Day Event Guide, pg 10 •Pets, pg 18 •Health & Wellness, pg 22 •Arts & Culture, pg 24 •Quick Bites, pg 38 •Home Tours, pg 42 ... and, atlantaintownpaper.com every day!

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April 23

The Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt will be held saturday, april 23, 10 a.m. to noon at callanwolde fine arts center, 980 Briarcliff Road. the eggstravaganza features thousands of candy-ﬁlled eggs to ﬁnd (including three golden “prize” eggs), atlanta Braves games & prizes, and a chance to meet the easter Bunny. there will be baked goods for sale, arts and crafts for kids, as well as a live performance to entertain kids and grown-ups alike. egg hunts will be set up for three age groups, with newborns to age 2 hunting at 11:15 a.m.; ages 3 to 5 at 11:30 a.m.; and ages 6 and up at 11:45 a.m. Bring your own easter basket. no parking onsite, but free parking and shuttle bus service will be available beginning at 9:30 a.m. at emory university Briarcliff campus, 1256 Briarcliff Road. tickets for eggstravaganza are $10 for children 12 and under if purchased online or $12 at the door. callanwolde.org. Avery Bed $1199 Queen / $1325 King

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April 2011 | IN

Pet Briefs

The 2011 K9 Pet Cotillion cocktail reception and fundraising event featuring owners and their dogs to benefit Pets Are Loving Support (PALS) will be held Sunday, May 1, 3 to 6 p.m. at Piedmont COTILLION Bark, 501 Amsterdam Ave. At the event, Celebrity emcee celebrity emcee Vikki Vikki Locke (top) of B98.5 will crown the Locke of B98.5 will it’s Reigning CAts & dogs — 2011 PALs spokescrown the 2011 PALS pet. Victoria stilwell, enteR YouRs todAY! Spokespet. Special renowned dog trainer, author, and tV host guest Victoria Stilwell mAY 1, 2011 H 3–6 Pm of Animal Planet’s $20 copies donAtion to book, Benefit will sign of her It’sPALs Me or The Dog, It’s Meand or themeet Dog willfans. All for bookon the Open Bar are H Hors d’oeuvres H Silent Auction attendees welcome to bring their pet(s) be toavailable afternoon signing and photos. For tickets information: town in an oreffort to raisewww.palsatlanta.org much-needed funds in support of PALS mission. A silent auction will feature trips, jewelry, home artwork, Rents accessories andtLCmore. Tickets are $20 per person and available at palsatlanta.orgINor by calling (404) 876-7257. Enter your pet into town the contest to become the 2011 PALS SpokesDog by visiting the website. Dogs and their owners compete to be the next PALS SpokesDog by raising funds for PALS. The dog that raises the most money will be crowned the 2011 SpokesDog and represents PALS for the next year. . palsatlanta.org Piedmont BARK YAPPY HouR PResents

High quality food, treats, toys, beds and collars for your pets. Private & group training classes for your dog & you. Visit us online or in-store today! 1186 N. Highland Avenue Atlanta GA 30306 404-892-5900 Info@HighlandPet.com

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competing in Olympic-style events such as Dog Diving, Freestyle Flying Disc, 30-Weave Pole Race, Jack Russell Hurdles and Agility. Local dogs will have the chance to compete with the best canine athletes in the country by way of an open “Dog Diving” qualifier on Friday afternoon. Trainers interested in qualifying their dogs for the competition on Saturday should arrive for the open qualifier by 9 a.m. on Friday, April 1. The finals begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 2. For more information, visit barknetwork.com The Atlanta Humane Society’s No Ball At All Patron Party is Friday April 22. Sip cocktails and enjoy fabulous hors d’oeuvres in a lovely setting as you mix and mingle with other animal lovers. The No Ball At All Patron Party is our way of celebrating and giving thanks donors. To purchase tickets to this event, contact Deborah Marshall at (404)974-2878.

ALeCiA LAuRen PHotogRAPHY

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The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge is coming to Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park on Saturday, April 2. This one-of-a-kind canine sporting event features top dogs from around the country

Register now for the 21st annual Pet Parade – A Walk for Animals on Saturday, May 7, at Piedmont Park. This year’s goal is to raise $300,000 for the Atlanta Humane Society in support of the shelter’s programs and services. Walkers are required to register and are encouraged to sign up in advance for $30 per person. There is no alternate date scheduled and the walk will proceed rain or shine. Registration fees are non-refundable.To register in advance visit atlantahumane.org or atlantapetparade.org.

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18 INtown | April 2011

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A Look Back

Piedmont BARK YAPPY HouR PResents

Ann Boutwell April 1, 1912: George and Cara Hinman reported that the newly formed Atlanta Story Tellers’ League had met with continuous success since forming in January at the Atlanta Carnegie Library. More than 60 women volunteered in an outreach to promote storytelling to children. The Hinman’s old family home – Stonehurst Place – is now a popular Midtown bed & breakfast at 923 Piedmont Ave. stonehurstplace.com COTILLION

April 9-13, 1939: For five days, Atlanta audiences had the rare opportunity to see Hollywood’s highest paid female star, Mae West, in person. The Mae West Revue played at the Paramount Theater on Peachtree Street. On a Wednesday evening between shows, City Councilmember Howard Haire and Lillian Everett of the Atlanta Parks Department invited West to the “Battle of Atlanta” show in the Cyclorama at Grant Park. “It is the best history lesson I ever had,” said West, “and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. If there had only been something like this in Brooklyn, I might have been more interested in history when I went to school.” April 17, 1931: Family and friends gather at the Inman family home on Andrews Drive to pay a last tribute to Edward Hamilton Inman, an auto race enthusiast and one of the first people in the city to own an automobile. With partners he formed the first local automobile agency, representing the Cadillac Company. The Inman home in Buckhead was placed on the National Register of Historic Places is now called the Swan House. April 19, 1922: Radio history was made between 6 and 10 p.m. as hundreds of Northside residents gathered to hear a free public radio concert at Stephens & Hawks drugstore. It was the first of many to be transmitted from the newly installed radio receiving station at West Peachtree and Fourteenth streets. Recognized faces in the crowd were former Gov. Hugh Dorsey and Ivan Allen, Sr. and 11-year old son, Ivan, Jr., a destined future mayor of the city (1962-1970). April 20 & 21, 1990: The Druid Hills Civic Association featured eight stops on its 22nd annual home and garden tour. The stop at 822 Lullwater – a 12-room, two-story, red brick – was the centerpiece for the filming of Driving Miss Daisy. Co-producers Richard and Lili Fini Zanuck leased the home for $30,000 from 83-year-old Georgann Tatman and began filming Driving Miss Daisy during the summer of 1989. Jessica Tandy went on to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Daisy. For more about the 2011 Druid Hills Home and Garden Tour, see page 42. April 22, 1906: Atlantans donated $14,000 for victims of the San Francisco earthquake and fire.

it’s Reigning CAts & dogs — enteR YouRs todAY! mAY 1, 2011 H 3–6 Pm $20 donAtion to Benefit PALs Open Bar H Hors d’oeuvres H Silent Auction For tickets or information: www.palsatlanta.org tLC Rents

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Celebrity emcee Vikki Locke (top) of B98.5 will crown the 2011 PALs spokespet. Victoria stilwell, renowned dog trainer, author, and tV host of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog will be available for book signing and photos.

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April 2011 | IN

INtown Runaround Tim Sullivan

Swing Thoughts It’s April in Georgia and the lush, green fairways, blooming dogwoods and magnolias on this side of I-20 are all accented in plaid. Ormewood Park resident Greg Schulz readies himself and the Atlanta golf scene at large for the 12th annual Schulzie Invitational. Some argue that golf is not a sport but a hobby and my editor may need convincing that this interview fits the strict “sport and fitness” guidelines of the Intown Runaround. Well, I once told my wife, Jenny, that I didn’t think she was a strong enough athlete to be a good golfer. She now has one holein-one to my zero. It’s a miracle I’m married, and now I steer clear of this debate. A miracle indeed. Let me steer it this way: you are a terrific golfer but the bulk of your participants are decidedly not. How does it work? The format is a scramble, so as long as the group has one decent player, the more challenged golfers don’t have to worry. This works well because even as the event has grown, the talent level has not. How did the retro golf gear become an integral part of the event? I thought it would be cool to get a bunch of people to dress like a plaid clad Johnny Miller from the 1970s and go make a scene on the golf course. That was 12 years ago, and now of course I can take credit for the trend of PGA pros dressing like Schulzie participants on Tour.

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I love the PGA, but watching Ricky Fowler is like staring at the sun. Anyway, what are some of the best outfits/costumes you’ve seen over the years at the Schulzie? My brother-in-law, Kevin Wuornos, was the first to break out the kilt, and he wears it well. The Easter Bunny has made a couple of appearances. Impressive short game, that bunny. How many times have you won your own tournament? Does it make you feel kind of jerky? Three times. But I haven’t won since 2006. I don’t like the idea of winning my event every year, but now it’s getting ridiculous. Have there ever been any exciting finishes? My sister Megan made a 25-foot putt on the 18th green to win for her team one year in front of 50 people. It’s probably the greatest golf moment in Schulz family history. Then there was the Joel Borgman/ Martin Sullivan 6 hole playoff. They raised the level of play for the Schulzie.

Retro golf gear is integral IN The shultzie Invitational HELD at charlie yates golf course

And to the winners go… The retro plaid jackets. They get to take them home for a year, to wear at dinner parties, or as pajamas. Sounds like a statement in both fashion and hygiene! Talk to us about the charity component of your event. Mulligans sell faster to this crowd than hot doughnuts. The host course is home to the First Tee program, which teaches the game and values of golf to inner city kids. The event has also supported FitWit (thefitwitfoundation. org) and the Clearwater Initiative (clearwaterinitiative.org), two very cool organizations started by friends. You’ve partnered with Charlie Yates Golf Course in East Lake every year – would you recommend others use them for their outings? It is a short course with mostly par 3s, so it’s perfect for a laid back event with folks that only break out the sticks once or twice a year. But it’s also well designed, with great shot making holes for the more seasoned players. The staff is very accommodating, and seems to get a kick out of my group. I wonder if the staff would paint the scene in a similar light? What year do you expect your kids, Eva and Henry, to make their Schulzie Invitational debut? At 2 years and 5 months old, they’re still working on honing their swings. But the Schulzie is a ploy for getting family and friends to come in from out of town, and who can resist a toddler in knickers. Any predictions for this year’s event? The returning champions are comprised of an ex-pro, a dentist near retirement and two ladies that can swing the clubs pretty well. The rest of us may never see the plaid jackets ever again. Tim Sullivan heads up the Cabbagetown Running Club and is a Buckhead business owner. Look for his column every month and visit his blog at www.timmydaddy.com.

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April 2011 | IN

Health & Wellness Briefs The American Diabetes Association EXPO returns to the Georgia World Congress Center on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. EXPO Atlanta includes cooking and exercise demonstrations, free health screenings, workshops, mini-seminars, an interactive Family Fun Zone for youth of all ages, exhibitors and free samples. For more information, visit diabetes.org/expoatlanta.

inaugural Grief Awareness Day, a day for the entire community to support the thousands of grieving children in Georgia, shine a light on the issue, and share resources available for healing. Kate’s Club is a nonprofit organization that empowers children and teens facing life after the death of a parent or sibling. katesclub.org (Read Kate Atwood’s monthly INtown column on page 15.)

On Sunday, May 1, at the Solarium in Decatur Sisters in Spirit will host the Transcend Self Limitations Symposium 2011, an empowering “day-treat” to reconnect to self, renew and revitalize participants. Four master teachers will educate and enlighten. Go to sisters-in-spirit. net for more information or call (678) 629-0069. Vendors are also welcome.

The Isha Foundation presents Inner Engineering, a combined online and in-person program fro self-empowerment and personal growth derived from Yoga. The event will be held May 14-15 in Atlanta. To register and for more information, visit innerengineering.com.

Last month the Georgia General Assembly commended Kate’s Club for its outstanding service to youth and recognized March 1, 2011, as Kate’s Club’s

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Building Hope for Today’s Homeless

The Essential for Young Lives Drive, April 25-May 2 Adding a few extra items to your grocery list can be a quick and meaningful way to give back this month. A container of formula or a box of diapers for The Essential for Young Lives Drive will help local non-profit HomeAid Atlanta’s community-wide drive to collect critically needed items for infants and toddlers who are part of our homeless population. HomeAid Atlanta is a nonprofit organization that builds and renovates multiunit transitional housing facilities for homeless service agencies serving homeless families and individuals in the metro Atlanta area. Research indicates there is a critical need for support: • The average age of a homeless person is 9 years old. • Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. • 42 percent of homeless children in Georgia are under the age of 6. Essential items needed: diapers (sizes 1 and up), baby wipes, baby food, formula, and other baby products (e.g. bottles, pacifiers, lotion, soap, etc.) Some of the drop-off spots include State Bank & Trust locations (Midtown, Chastain and Buckhead) and Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors. For more information, homeaidatlanta.org.

First Person: The Gift of Life By Julia Roberts I couldn’t believe my ears as I was holding my 3-day-old daughter and the doctor said, “With kids like these, you have to take them home and love them as long as you have them.” Quinnlin and her then 3-year-old brother Gage were diagnosed with a rare recessive form of Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD). Kidney failure started around age 4 and by age 6 we found ourselves needing donors. Two women were willing, matched and approved to donate kidneys to our kids. In 2007 and again in 2009, we kissed our kids – both 8 –goodbye as they were wheeled away from us to receive the “gift of life” at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston and Emory University Hospital. At the same time, two families were kissing their loved ones as they were unselfishly giving a piece of themselves to help our kids get and stay off dialysis. Jody Sauls and Cheryl Thomas were saving my kids’ lives, but their gifts are reflected in the everyday joys; the little things people take for granted. Like having enough energy to finish a school day and play afterwards or having the ability to sleep restfully through the entire night or living without needing a machine to survive. Kidney donation is the largest gift that permeates through the smallest details of our family’s life, and we’re forever grateful to Jody and Cheryl for following their hearts.

Jody Sauls, above, with Gage Roberts and Cheryl Thomas, below, with Quinnlin Roberts after the two women donated their kidneys to save the children’s lives.

Julia Roberts blogs her family’s story at kidneysandeyes.com.

22 INtown | April 2011

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H&F Bottle Shop Happy Feet Hollywood Tan Izzy Maternity Joe May Valet Jalisco’s Junko Hair Design Keller Williams LaRo Jewelers Master Shoe Repair Mint Julep Mori Luggage & Gifts nadeau furniture with a soul Nail Shadow Natural Body Spa Paper Affair Pasta Vino Peachtree Battle Antiques & Interiors

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April 2011 | IN

the Studio ARTS & CULTURE

Spring Festivals in bloom this month

continues up Edgewood and Euclid to Austin Avenue. The parade will honor the late festival organizer Holly Mull, who passed away last year. There will also be two days of live music on three stages, including the Joe McGuinness Trio, 10 Degrees Off, Darryl Rhoades and YoMama, The Usual Suspects, Gwen Hughes, Our Better Nature, Roxie Watson and many more. There will also be a Kidzone at Springvale Park, a dance festival at the Trolley Barn and food of all kinds from local restaurants. The annual Tour of Homes will also take place that weekend. See Page ?? for details. Parking for the festival will be nearly nonexistent, so visitors are strongly encouraged to take Marta to the Inman Park station, bike or walk to the festival.

Lordy, lordy, look who’s 40! Yes, the Inman Park Festival and is celebrating four decades of art, merriment, food and wacky parades on Saturday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This year’s parade – with floats, bands, local nonprofits and residents – will be on Saturday and steps-off at 2 p.m. (rain or shine) from near Krog Street and

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Springtime in Atlanta means blooming dogwoods everywhere and for over 75 years the Atlanta Dogwood Festival has been one of largest and most

anticipated springtime festivals in the Atlanta area. This year’s festival will be held April 15 – 17 at Piedmont Park. Virtually every type of art is represented at the festival, along with live music, a kid’s village with huge inflatables and the popular 24-foot tall rock-climbing wall. And there will be plenty of food available, too, including funnel cakes, gyros, crab cakes, onion rings, kettle corn and much more. Also returning this year is the International Village with cultural performances from around the globe and “edutainment” booths. La Fête, an evening ticketed party held on Friday, April 15, will launch the 2011 International Village. If you need more food, the Friends of Dogwood Pavilion will be open Saturday w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

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Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Company will host the annual SweetWater 420 Fest April 15 – 17 at Candler Park. This year’s event has been expanded to three days to accommodate more bands and, of course, more beer. Scheduled to perform over the weekend: Galactic, Railroad Earth, 7 Walkers Featuring Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead, GreenSky Bluegrass, Anders Osborne, Dead Confederate, The Pimps of Joytime, DejaBlue Grass Band, The Broadcast, Deep Blue Sun, Rollin in the Hay, Gimme Hendrix and Bitteroots. Kids will also have their own stage featuring Fear the Silence and The Taask. A comedy tent will feature Clayton English, Matt Phar and more to be announced. Since the festival is geared toward Earth Day, there will be dozens of booths in the park from local environmental groups offering information about what you can do keep Atlanta green. The Artist’s Market will also have a sustainable feel, with local artists and crafters selling and exhibiting everything from eco-friendly handbags and recycled glass jewelry to handmade toys and candles. The annual SweetWater 5K Race to benefit the Chandler Park Neighborhood Association will be held on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. The first 2,000 runners will be accepted. To register, visit candlerpark. org/420. For more information about the festival, visit sweetwater420fest.com.

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nday. The Pavilion pairs fare from l restaurants with wines and beers mfortable, private setting. Tickets to of Dogwood can be purchased in e at dogwood.org. sical acts scheduled to perform Ken Ford, Moon Taxi, The Sophisticates, School of Rock, illiams Band, Blair Crimmins & okers, Stokeswood, Emily Lynch, Angelo and many more. ouple of visitor notes: Parking will ed in the Sage Deck and there will ing allowed in the surrounding orhoods, so take MARTA to the n station, walk or bike. Absolutely will be allowed in the park during val.

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April 2011 | IN

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THE STUDIO

A guide for arts and cultural entertainment for the entire family. Visual Arts & Museums Motion Pictures: Change by Degrees: This exhibit at Lumiere Gallery features documentational photos by Stephen Lawson that he took of the same place at the same time of day for periods as long as a year. Closes April 16. Admission is free. lumieregallery.net ZAP! POW! BAM! The Superhero: The Golden Age of Comic Books, 1938 – 1950: This exhibit at The Breman Jewish Museum explores the genesis of cultural icons such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman and the ways that those figures shaped popular opinion. Closes May 8. $4 to $12. thebreman.org Eudora Welty: Exposures and Reflections: The Atlanta History Center displays photographs by the famous writer of the Depression-era South and demonstrates the relationship of her literary works to scenes from the photos. Closes May 8. $11 to $16.50. www.atlantahistorycenter.com Goddess, Lion, Peasant, Priest: Modern and Contemporary Indian Art: This exhibition at Oglethorpe University Museum of Art includes more than 50 works from some of India’s most famous artists. Closed Monday. $5. museum.oglethorpe.edu

Performing Arts Happy Days: This family-friendly musical at the Center Theatre at the MJCCA is based on the television series and is presented by Jerry’s Habima Theatre, Georgia’s only theatrical company directed and produced by professionals featuring actors with developmental disabilities. March 31 through April 10. $12 to $32. centertheatreatlanta.org Spoon Lake Blues: Two burglars leave no stones, stereotypes or septic tanks unturned in this bold World Premiere comedy on the Hertz Stage at the Alliance Theatre. April 1 through April 24. $25 to $30. alliancetheatre.org Bravo! A Night at the Opera: This concert by Atlanta Freedom Bands at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta features the music of popular operas, including selections from “Madame Butterfly.” April 3. Free! atlantafreedombands.com Concert with Helen Kim: Violinist Helen Kim joins the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra at Georgia Perimeter College’s Marvin Cole Auditorium to perform works by Bizet and Ravel, among others. April 5. $10 to $22. dekalbsymphony.com Beauty and the Beast: The classic fairytale is brought to life in a delightfully hip and humorous fashion using the “found object” style of puppetry at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Opens April 7. $16. puppet.org w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

May 14 & 15 CHASTAIN PARK

Barenaked Voices: Eighth Annual Emory Student A Cappella Celebration: This annual concert showcases Emory University student- and faculty-led a cappella groups at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. April 8. Free! arts.emory.edu Little Shop of Horrors: Georgia Tech’s DramaTech Theater presents this rock musical at the Ferst Center for the Arts about a florist who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a taste for blood. April 8 through April 23. $10. dramatech.org Legacy of Light: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in this comic quest for self-discovery, knowledge and love at the Horizon Theatre. Opens April 8. $20 to $30. horizontheatre.com Los Muñequitos de Matanzas: These musicians and dancers performing at the Rialto Center for the Arts have long been recognized as some of the most vital and dynamic proponents of rumba and the African roots of Cuban culture. April 9. $31 to $57. rialtocenter.org Cosi fan tutte: The Atlanta Opera presents this brilliant Mozart opera that is a masterpiece of comedy and a favorite the world over at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. April 9 through April 17. $25 to $140. atlantaopera.org Travelin’ Black: This celebratory World Premiere presented by Theatrical Outfit combines dance, poetry, story and song to explore how the legacy and evolution of African-American music has defined the nation’s identity. Closes April 10. $15 to $35. theatricaloutfit.org Puccini’s Madame Butterfly: Georgia State University School of Music presents Puccini’s passionate tale of heartbreak and tragedy, sung in Italian with English subtitles, at the Rialto Center for the Arts. April 15 through April 17. $19 to $51. music.gsu.edu Kiss of the Vampire: In this play presented by The Process Theatre at OnStage Atlanta, Arthur and Vince are the perfect gay couple, until Vince is bitten by a vampire bat, and Arthur must save him before it’s too late. Closes April 16. $11 to $20. theprocesstheatre.org The Two Noble Kinsmen: This romantic tragicomedy by Shakespeare presented at the New American Shakespeare Tavern is based on Chaucer’s “A Knight’s Tale.” Closes April 16. $12 to $32. shakespearetavern.com The Colour of Her Dreams: This unique performance presented by 7 Stages explores artist Keturah Curbow’s obsessive illustration of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” books and features body puppets, dance, animation and an original score. Opens April 21. $20 to $25. 7stage.org

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April 2011 | IN

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JOE LOVANO Jazz Saxophone Fri, Apr 22, 8 pm with the GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY JAZZ BAND Gordon Vernick, director Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano performs in concert with the renowned Georgia State University Jazz Band! www.music.gsu.edu

I am an artist and I’ve been thinking… Of course all us crazy artists know that we are on the bottom rung of the economic ladder, which has been steadily sinking into the mire, meaning we are really about three feet deep in doo doo if that’s how we make our living. But have you ever known an artist to give up trying? Hang up their brushes? Smash their camera? Bust up their kiln? Well, if you have it is definitely not a pretty sight plus it makes a mess. Artists are fearless creative fighters, innovators and survivors. You wouldn’t want to see your artist friends suffer like being left in the kennel to face the gas would you? Of course not! We help them out any way we can because all us crazy artists know that you “regular people” out there can’t really live without us. If you tried, your homes would be all beige, your hair would be a mess and you wouldn’t have any good stories to tell at your parties. Recently I received a letter from an artist I haven’t heard from in awhile. He had sold paintings at Atlantic Station Market, featured at Eyedrum (eyedrum.org) and worked as painter on three movies filmed here in Atlanta. Unfortunately, he hasn’t worked in three months and he was seeking my advice on where an artist on a shoestring budget where he might showcase and sell his work. My first reaction was that this artist has done pretty well for himself! My second reaction is that he’s only had two months of searching, but that is the equivalent of about two years for “regular people,” which is sort of like dog years because artists live on less, and it’s an eternity when the rent is due or you’re waiting to be let out. My third reaction was that Atlanta is huge, so there should be a wide range of opportunities for artists here, am I right? My fourth thought was how I could land a set painting gig, but that made me feel a little guilty since naturally I was obliged to do what I can to help a struggling artist, plus I was getting a little disoriented from all these reactions so I went back to reaction number three and what to do about it. As it turns out, options for artists to “get work” on a regular basis are more limited

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than ever at the very same time they’re more needed than ever. That conundrum felt queasily close to a Star Trek topic, so before I started wandering too far off the path, I did some serious thinking about the need for regular weekend artist markets. Not just for my artist friend, but for all you non-artist folks who teeter dangerously close to the brink of tastelessness, or at least blandness without us. Weekend artist markets are essentially a requirement for a prosperous, progressive city. Artist markets draw visitors, encourage people to get out of their cars, breathe life and color into the neighborhood economy while reducing crime. Here are the options I’ve sent to my friend, a couple of which I’m involved in. The Atlantic Station Market (atlanticstationmarket.com) has operated for five years every weekend from March to November, bringing an eclectic mix of art and craft to this outdoor shopping center. It’s one of the main reasons to go there besides getting two hours of free covered parking and the movies. The Midtown Pop Up Shops and Artist Market (facebook.com/ MidtownArtistMarket) opened with a bang during the holidays and is poised to be open at the 805 Peachtree St. building each month until a permanent tenant discovers this luxury space. The Dashboard Co-Op (dashboardcoop.org) event on Brady Street in January was an innovative and daring way to show art in an empty warehouse. They plan to keep their proverbial (or possibly literal) artistic ball rolling with future events at secret locations like a ‘90s rave scene. The 2nd Friday Art Stroll on Castleberry Hill (castleberryhillartstroll.com) was voted “best neighborhood art walk” in a recent publication, so surely they will expand to include more artists and safely attract pedestrians. And my observations about the Bennett Street Galleries (bennettstreet.com) is that they really need an outdoor artist market on the weekends to draw visitors since it’s hard to see their turn off Peachtree Street when one is dodging traffic at 70 miles per hour and can’t turn in. The best solution is to round up all of my favorite artists and get them to support and overwhelm the few weekend artist markets we have, so we’d create a demand and competition for our art that would drive up our prices which would make us happy and give you other folks, whom we love by the way, another good story to tell. Patrick Dennis is an artist, gallery owner and President of the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces. Email him at Patrick@affps. com.

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IN Business RETAIL | MONEY & FINANCE | DEVELOPMENT

Office Green EarthShare hosting two

Filmmaker, photographer and president of Red Sky Productions will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Earth Day Leadership Breakfast.

special eco-friendly events EarthShare of Georgia is organizing events this month to promote environmental stewardship to leaders from the business world, both sponsored by Kaiser Permanente. This year’s Corporate Green Day Challenge on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon allows employers in both the public and private sector to match employee teams to community environmental projects. More than 1,000 volunteers participated in the 2010 Corporate Green Day Challenge at 25 locations throughout Atlanta and beyond. These corporate volunteers exchanged their suits for work boots and garden gloves, to clean up parks, pull privet and clean streams. All participants must be employees of Earth Day 2011 Sponsor Companies. To sign up, download the Earth Day Sponsorship Packet at earthsharega.org. On Wednesday, April 20 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Georgia Aquarium, business and non-profit leaders from metro-Atlanta will gather to celebrate innovations in sustainable business practices at the Earth Day 2011 Leadership Breakfast. Organic fare will be provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering and Whole Foods Market. The year’s keynote speaker is Rhett Turner, filmmaker, photographer and president of Red Sky Productions, a state of the art international film production company focusing on

documentary films for global television audiences and private corporations. Turner’s most recent project is a documentary - Chattahoochee: From Water War to Water Vision - highlighting the longstanding conflict about the 20-year-old struggle between Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The program will also include the annual Earth Day awards program to honor and recognize EarthShare’s outstanding community partner, campaign leader, member organization, and the winning Corporate Green Day Challenge company green team. A limited number of individual tickets are available for $100 each. Register online at earthsharega.org.

The Pursuit of Truce Mediation can often avoid costly legal fight By Heather C. Wright The Wright Firm, LLC

To a hammer, the entire world is nails. As an attorney, I often tell people this when asked for cocktail party legal advice. “Do I have a claim for this?” “Can’t I sue for that?” To a clever lawyer, all disputes can be solved through a lawsuit. Thus, nails. The truth is that an answer as to your legal “rights” depends a lot upon whom you ask. The law is open to interpretation based upon the facts. This inconsistency drives people crazy. It drives some of us lawyers crazy, too. The legal issue, however, is only part of a lawsuit. Too often, we forget the larger picture of what we really want or need when faced with a legal issue. Harping only on the legal issue can lead to a real mess in people’s lives, ignoring what is best for you, your family, your business or your property. Good lawyers weigh the uncertainty and the practical realities of litigation (cost, stress, business disruption, etc.) and include options related to “alternative dispute resolution” or ADR in their advice to clients. ADR is simply lawyer-speak for “let’s stay out of court and pursue a truce.” It comes up in arbitration with professional athletes and in mediation with celebrity w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

estates. But, you don’t have to be a celebrity to use ADR, a little known secret. People use mediation or arbitration to privately resolve disputes, either during litigation or without litigation. Why? With respect to mediation, which involves facilitated negotiations, the process is cheaper than litigation, less public, voluntary, done on your schedule and you don’t have to pay to hang out with lawyers forever. In family disputes or issues, such as divorce, same-sex family dissolution, and elder care/probate disputes, mediation is particularly effective. Due to the emotions and relationships involved, mediation is well-suited to positive and successful resolution. Families have the freedom to craft workable, ongoing solutions, with or without attorneys, and move forward without exhausting their financial resources or being placed at the mercy of the courts’ processes. Thus, the pursuit of truce through ADR may be preferable to becoming a nail. To learn more about ADR, go to onemediation.com or thewrightattorneys. net and look for future articles on how ADR can be effective in specific areas of dispute or disagreement.

town 29

April 2011 | IN

Making Sense of Social Brigette Flood

Why Charlie Sheen is #Winning

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Hard to believe there was a time when I didn’t think of Charlie Sheen much. But with his new promotional sponsorship with the Ad.ly marketing agency and a mid-life maniacal meltdown well-suited for media coverage, Sheen has been everywhere in the media since early March. Being the highest paid TV celebrity with a grievance against his bosses at Two and a Half Men gave him a reason to start, but his even quicker upstart on social media deliberately brought the circus of his situation into the center of public media, we can all reach and see. While the sanity of what Sheen is saying is up for debate, he has become a social media monster of impressive degree. First, he set the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to reach 1 million Twitter followers, accomplishing it in 25 hours and 17 minutes. Heck, he got 60,000 followers before even sending one Tweet (how do you do that?). At the time of writing this article, Sheen was inching closer to 3 million followers. It hasn’t even been a month. Turns out, many of Sheen’s posts (like #tigerblood and #winning) turn into trending topics on Twitter. Which means The Sheen Machine might turn out to be the highest profile example of a celebrity being

Follow me @brigflood. Follow The Sheen Machine @charliesheen. Follow Candace @ candacemcc.

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paid to tweet. Sheen hasn’t been aligned with a brand yet, partly because Ad.ly execs are having a hard time figuring out what that’s worth. And my professional guess is: it’s going to be a lot. The Sheen Machine is interesting because it highlights where lots of companies are spending a lot of time, intelligence and money: influence. Just returned from SXSW Interactive conference and influence seemed to be the most trending topic there. Like always, companies want to sell you things. It’s certainly not a new idea (just think Air Jordan), but the channels of communication are changing and companies are scrambling to figure out who the new “celebrities” are. There will always be the Kardashians and the Charlie Sheens, but there are more niche bloggers, tweeters and Facebook pages where people gather, listen and chat. So while you might not think much of Charlie Sheen, think of his #winning and why he won. For more social media info, check out MakingSenseofSocial.com. Candace McCaffery, Senior Vice President of Cookerly Public Relations, and I discuss influencers, SXSW and the Atlanta Social Media Club.

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Progress on the Atlanta BeltLine, the 22-mile loop of paths, parks and future transit, continues to make progress and volunteers are needed on Earth Day to help with a special clean-up project. The BeltLine is looking for 150 to 200 volunteers from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 16, to help clean up along the BeltLine trail in West End. Volunteers will meet at Kroger City Center, 590 Cascade Ave. Officials said this fifth annual cleanup event for Earth Day will focus on a stretch of the BeltLine that been the site of extensive illegal dumping and is overgrown with kudzu and other invasive plants.

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Volunteers should wear sturdy, close-toed shoes, long sleeves and pants, bring work gloves and a bottle of water. Sunscreen is also recommended. You can register to volunteer at beltline.org.

More Updates • If you haven’t walked along the BeltLine lately, especially in the eastside, then you probably haven’t seen the new Historic Fourth Ward Park, which is now open to visitors. With paths, amphitheaterstyle seating and a lake, it’s a great place to gather for picnics, to read a book or chill out. Located off North Avenue behind the Masquerade, this is just the first phase of Old Fourth Ward Park. It will eventually be 30 acres stretching from near Freedom

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Business & Retail Briefs Womenetics, a business platform to help women achieve success in their professional and personal lives, will honor innovative female leaders at its 2011 POW! Awards. This annual awards event takes place on Tuesday, April 26, at 11 a..m. at the Loews Hotel in Atlanta. Tickets are available now at the Womenetics website, womenetics.com.

Global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments will build a $12 million LEGOLAND Discovery Center on the top floor of Phipps Plaza in Buckhead in Spring 2012. Based on the ever popular LEGO brick, this indoor theme park provide a range of interactive play areas including 4D cinema, master classes from the LEGO Master Model Builder, rides, special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations; as well as the popular Miniland exhibit designed to reflect the iconic buildings and skyline of each individual attraction’s location.

Thomas “Tommy” M. Holder, Chairman and CEO of Holder Construction Company has been named the new Chair for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Board of Trustees. choa.org

Life Branded presents a “Brandinar” from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at Twelve Centennial Park. The all-day event will feature speakers from BlueMed Spa, Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, Armchair, Jay Fletcher Photography and many others. For tickets and information, visit brandinar.com. Debi and William Lamb have opened The Art House Gallery at 3193 Paces Ferry Place in West Buckhead Village

Decatur-based boutique Boogaloos has opened a new location in the Town Brookhaven development. Owner Penny Scheetz said the new boutique would carry everything from dresses to vintage inspired tops, designer denim and tons of locally-designed jewelry and accessories. boogaloosboutique.com

Atlanta-based jewelry designer Amy Bubes has taken her handcrafted bangles and expanded to a full jewelry line, which are now being sold in Atlanta, New York and Washington, D.C. Locally, you can buy Bubes jewelry at Tassels and Beth Ann’s. AmyBubesJewelry.com Luxury menswear purveyor Ermenegildo Zegna has opened a 2,800 square foot store at Lenox Square in Buckhead. zegna.com

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The Jonathan Adler Store has opened its 14th location in the United States at Westside Urban Market in a reclaimed building next to Taqueria del Sol at 1198 Howell Mill Road. The 3,000-square-foot store will carry Jonathan Adler’s “Happy Chic” home accessories and gifts. jonathanadler.com Duane Morris partner William D. Barwick has received the 2011 Atlanta Bar Association Leadership Award. This honor is presented to members who “inspire by their example, challenge by their deeds and remind us all of our debt to our profession and our community.”

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Pamela Prayor Culbreath and her sister, Caroline, have opened Bargain Books Are Us at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. The shop features best sellers, new releases, novels, self-help books and children’s book section. sweetauburncurbmarket.org. Susan B. Green, president of Georgia’s Center for the Visually Impaired, was recently elected as Chair of VisionServe Alliance, a national not-forprofit organization comprised of private agencies serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Atlanta Habitat for Humanity has announced that Melinda Kelleher is the organization’s new vice president of resource development. Most recently, Kelleher was with Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, where she led all development and marketing initiatives. atlantahabitat.org

The Georgia State University Beta Alpha Psi chapter, an organization for accounting honors students, partnered with the Imbako Public Health Organization. Imbako is a non-profit working to reduce poverty in rural Kenya through healthcare, education and sustainability with the Global Impact Project. Last semester, GSU’s Beta Alpha Psi students raised over $15,000 for the Global Impact Project, which funds five Kenyan students to attend college. The chapter continues to fundraise this semester. For more information or to make a donation, please visit bapgsu.com.

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April 2011 | IN

News you can Eat EATING OUT | EATING IN | FOOD NEWS | WINE

GreenPlate highlights farmers & restaurants committed to green By Polly Sattler & Krista Webb Green Plate, Inc.

My family has deep roots here and will have deep roots in this place for many, many years to come so making a living off the land means using sustainable, natural methods that will leave this land rich and fertile long after I am gone, exploiting the land and then leaving it was never an option. Plus, I want to grow what I want to eat; it’s really as simple as that.

Teri Rogers is the owner of Feast and Farmstead 303 in Decatur. Farmstead is located at 303 E Howard Street in the old train depot and Feast is right across the street. Teri opened Feast in 2005 and Farmstead last year. Why did you decide to open Farmstead 303? Well, I wasn’t really looking to open a second restaurant but it seemed like such a great opportunity. All of the renovations of the depot had already been done and since it was right across the street from Feast, it seemed to make sense. What is your vision for the Farmstead? I felt there was a need for a more value-oriented farm to table restaurant in Decatur. I wanted to offer to the community food that is affordable and fresh and comforting. What’s different between Feast and Farmstead? Feast is American continental with a little Mediterranean twist. Farmstead is more comfort food – meat loaf, mashed potatoes. The decor is more rustic elegance. Feast is more romantic bohemian/shabby chic. What have you done to reduce Farmstead and Feast’s environmental footprint? We offer bio-based take out, recycling our glass and have our grease turned into bio-diesel. In general, we recycle as much as possible. In regard to our food, we build our menus around what is in season and we purchase as much as we can from local sources. Our focus is more on local than organic. We also started our own garden. I’ve worked with my staff not to automatically put a straw in every drink and to ask people if they want one.

How long have you been farming? I have worked on a few farms including Rise N Shine Farm in Rome, GA and Harmony Fields Farm in Louisville, KY but this is my first year farming on my own. Why did you decide to go into farming? Several reasons I guess. I love the lifestyle, waking up early and working until dark playing in the dirt all day, there is not much better than that, and it’s a great feeling to make people happy giving them something that I grew from scratch. Also, it’s a great means of pursuing my other interests including philosophy and instrument building; we have a porch that is made for picking a banjo on and watching the sunset. And because this is my favorite place to be in the whole world and this is a way that I can stay here the rest of my life. Tell us about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Why are you offering that service? CSAs are sort of a partnership with the farm. It allows a CSA member to be a participant in the farm and to be intimately connected to the source of their food and it allows me to have a connection with the people who are passionate about what I grow. Members pay in advance to help the farmer offset the cost of getting crops in the field. Then the subscriber gets to share in the weekly harvest. We have a number of locations where the weekly produce can be picked up. Ours is sort of a special arrangement in that you can be a part of the CSA for one month at a time or for the whole growing season. Georgia Organics and another organization, Local Harvest provides a lot of great information about farming, CSAs and where to locate local farmers.

What have you learned? It’s really important to have the right team of people who care about the environmental impact and look for ways to make improvements.

George Frangos is one of the owners of Farm Burger, located at 410B W. Ponce de Leon in Decatur. With rave reviews and lines often out the door, we asked Frangos about how Farm Burger is working to be more sustainable.

What’s your dirty plastic secret? Well, we provide food for our employees and their take out is still Styrofoam. We encourage employees to bring their own containers. The health code requires that when employees take a drink at work, that they must be from cups with lids and straws! We encourage them to bring their own cups from home as well.

Why did you decide to open in Decatur? For the most part, we have found that people in Decatur value the kind of things we are doing with the restaurant. Their values match our values. Why is Farm Burger the burger place to go? Because we really care about the animals that we raise. They are grass fed, given no hormones or antibiotics and beyond that – there is just good treatment.

Oak Grove is a fifth generation farm owned by Josh Davis located in the heart of West Georgia. It has been a working farm for over 100 years. Oak Grove offers sustainable grass fed beef, farm fresh eggs and certified Naturally Grown produce.

Where does the meat come from? Well, Jason Mann has helped to start Moonshine Meats, a cooperative partnership of farmers and ranchers, who are engaged in providing ethically raised meat sold under one label. Some of the other producers are White Oak Pastures, Moore Family Farms and Gum Creek Farms to name a few. Jason also runs Moonshine Farms.

What kind of farm was it originally? My family has lived on the land for several generations and has raised cattle. A hundred years ago this operated as a self-sufficient community of farmers with its own blacksmith shop, general store and more. They grew everything from cotton to tomatoes to tobacco to a seed corn variety created by my grandfather.

There are concerns about global climate change and the production of meat contributing to greenhouse gases - how do address that? It’s true that meat production does contribute, but our meat is locally produced so there aren’t the impacts from transportation. Because our meat is grass fed, there is less carbon related to their food production and they produce less methane.

Why and how did you decide to switch to organic farming? You can’t use the term “organic’ anymore. We are “Certified Naturally Grown.” So you can say, ‘switched to pesticide-free or natural farming.’

What are some of the other steps you’ve taken to reduce your environmental impact? We use compostable, bio straws and cups and we want to switch to wood so that things are reusable. We really see this as an opportunity to guide and educate our customers

34 INtown | April 2011

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April 2011 | IN

NEWS YOU CAN EAT

for

Dining Out Life April 27, 2011

a benefit for Open

Hand

Presented by

Join us on Wednesday, April 27th in support of those we serve in your community and throughout Georgia. Simply dine out for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at any participating Dining Out for Life restaurant, and at least 20% of your bill will be donated to support Open Hand’s community nutrition programs. Visit DiningOutforOH.org for more information and a current list of participating restaurants. Atlanta

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town for their generous support.

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Local wine distributor imports sustainable South African vino By Tina Chadwick Bring a glass of South African-imported Worthwhile Wine to your lips and you’re not only tasting one of the mostly highly-rated wines on the market, but you also be sure it was harvested, made and transported in the most responsible way possible. Founder Tom Lynch operates the Atlanta company based on the “Triple Bottom Line,” which means simultaneously creating profit, while protecting the environment and improving the lives of those involved. When asked about how his rapidly-growing start up balances the three, Lynch explains, “It has to be profits first or we can’t operate, but not in a greedy way. We have to be successful so we can make responsible choices as we grow.” Success doesn’t seem to be a problem; more that 20 wines in the Worthwhile portfolio are rated “best buy/best value” and dozens have won gold medals in major international competitions. So, how much does it cost Worthwhile to compete with everyone else but operate like very few others? “The amount of profit we give up to operate like we do is actually very little,”

Lynch said. “When you’re doing the right thing, you make choices that may shave a percentage here and there but you make lots of little adjustments to off-set those costs.” Lynch, who has 25 years of wine and consumer good marketing experience, said his long-term goal was “happier employees and happier wineries that makes better wines.” Worthwhile Wine distributes to Georgia, Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Nevada and Massachusetts. So next time you’re out for dinner or stocking up for a party, it doesn’t matter if it’s red or white as long as it’s Worthwhile. Cheers. For more information, visit worthwhilewine.com.

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NEWS YOU CAN EAT

CONTINuED FROM PAGE 34

about better options. Another thing we do is compost our left over foods. We work with a local guy, Scott, who picks up our food waste and composts it and partners with the City of Decatur to take their yard waste to mix in. We also recycle. What has the response been? It’s been fantastic. We were really surprised at how much people have appreciated what we offer. One customer said he liked the selfservice because it’s a way to lower waste. What is the best thing on the menu? The good thing is that the best thing on the menu changes all the time. Right now, I think it’s the Number 4 burger with feta and pesto.

WisTeria Wisteria at 471 N. Highland Ave. in Inman Park is also working hard to reduce its environmental footprint. Owner and chef Jason Hill tells us how. Why did you open Wisteria? I wanted to open a neighborhood restaurant with staying power. The concept for Wisteria

is gourmet southern style food. Everyone thought I was crazy. What’s your favorite dish? Fried chicken, collard greens and corn pudding. I thought it would be the first item off the menu because I thought people wouldn’t respect higher-end southern style food. But, it’s still on the menu and it’s the one item that has been featured the most in writeups. Why have you started implementing sustainable practices into your restaurant? If the sustainable practices are easy to implement and cost effective, why wouldn’t you make the changes? It’s the right thing to do. What changes have you made so far? We have installed low-flow water devices to cut down on water and heating consumption. We hope to reduce our water use by about 40,000 gallons per year. We have also switched our to-go containers to bio-based products from EcoOrchards that are fully biodegradable, and we are planning to work with Southern Grease to have our spent grease converted locally to bio-diesel. What’s your dirty little plastic secret? We are still using plastic bags for to-go items. But we are looking for price competitive alternatives.

The Green Bean Coffee Cart What was “put together on a whim” is now a successful business created, owned, and run by students at Emory University. The Green Bean Coffee Cart is a not-for-profit organization run by 19 students. The cart sells five varying types of coffee, several flavors of tea, and an assortment of pastries underneath the Cannon Chapel Archway. What makes it unique is that everything that it sells is organic, and the coffee is fair trade and shade-grown. The idea for the organic and fair trade cart was developed by two former students – Sally Mengel and Addie Davis – for the Sustainability Fair in 2008. The sustainability initiative supported the cart’s emergence into the Emory community through a large grant. All of the containers, including the cups and tops, are either compostable or recyclable. The implications of fair trade are significant. Certified fair trade products are part of a market-based approach and movement to help farmers and

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April 2011 | IN

NEWS YOU CAN EAT

Quick Bites

and grits. globalconcessions.com Sugar-Coated Radical at 680 Drewry St. in Midtown has expanded into an adjoining space and offering baked goods to go along with its artisan chocolates. sugarcoatedradical.org

News & Happenings Ford Fry’s forthcoming Italian-inspired restaurant will be called No. 246, inspired by the restaurant’s land plot number in Decatur. The Ponce de Leon Avenue space was formerly Eruasia.

Fifth Group Restaurants will open a chefdriven Mexican restaurant in Downtown’s One Ninety One Peachtree Tower (formerly Il Mulino) this fall. ﬁfthgroup.com. Pure Knead bakery now has retail hours on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at 186 Rio Circle, Suite C in Decatur, the allergy-friendly baker is offering buns, hoagie rolls, rosemary bread braids, olive boules, baguettes and croutons. pureknead.com The long-delayed H&F Bottle Shop (created by the Holman & Finch team) opened last month at 2357 Peachtree Road selling only wine as it wrangled with the city over its liquor license. Hopefully, by this reading, you’ll be able to buy your boutique wine, spirits and mixes all in one shot. hfbottleshop.com Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint has opened a new outpost inside the old Macy’s department space at 200 Peachtree. The menu features fried chicken, catfish, greens, mac-n-cheese, smoked brisket and shrimp

Gekko Sushi has opened at 620 Glen Iris Drive at the corner North Avenue in Midtown (formerly Repaste). gekkosushiandlounge.com The Coffee & Bagel Company is now open at 2000 Cheshire Bridge Road, Suite F serving breakfast and lunch, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. @coffeebagelco on Twitter. Alon’s Bakery & Market is donating 20 percent of proceeds on its signature chocolate bar to the Marcus Austism Center, April 1-30. alons.com Osteria 832 in Virginia Highland celebrates its 8th anniversary on Saturday, May 7, noon to 4 p.m. with $1.50 pizza slices, cheap beer, live music and giveaways. Proceeds benefit new Highland Park and Firehouse 19. osteria832.com.

Dining Out for Life

The 19th annual Dining Out for Life to beneﬁt Open Hand is set for Wednesday, April 27. More than 100 metro Atlanta restaurants will donate 20 percent or more from diners’ total checks to support the community nutrition programs of Open Hand. Last year, participants raised nearly $150,000 for the organization, which provides nutritious meals to homebound seniors and those struggling with chronic, critical or terminal illness. Some of this year’s participating restaurants include MetroFresh, Murphy’s, Agave, ecco, Livingston and West Egg Café. For a full list of participating restaurants, visit DiningOutforOH.org.

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The 40th Annual Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes April 29-30 & May 1, 2011 InmanParkFestival.org | Hotline: 770.635.2711 Parking is limited. Please take MARTA. No pets per city ordinace.

38 INtown | April 2011

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Eat Local, Buy Local Intown farmers markets opening offer fresh, sustainable food By Annie Kinnett Nichols Atlanta has finally bloomed into a thriving farmers markets paradise. Not too long ago, the only option was a co-op and one or two markets scattered here and there. Intown is now teaming with choices when it comes to buying local food. Some markets are open year-round, others are about to start begin the season and some are mobile. Check out our guide. Morningside Farmers’ Market Open year-round, this neighborhood market has become a Saturday must. Local chefs, farmers and neighbors gather together on Saturdays and the early bird gets the eggs. This market was the first of its kind and never disappoints. Get there early cause certain things go fast. You’ll see local chefs buying the food as well as offering cooking demos. Morningside features fresh breads, handmade soaps, gorgeous flowers and organic veggies and meats. Kids and dogs welcome. 1393 N. Highland Ave. Open Saturdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. morningsidemarket.com. Farm Mobile Riverview Farm’s wonderful truck hits several different places on Mondays and Thursdays, including Oakhurst Village, Virginia Highland and East Atlanta Village. They feature homemade breads, farmstead cheese from Sequatchie Cove Farm, organic veggies, pork chops, roasts, sausage, grassfed beefsteaks and more. There are also fresh eggs that feature golden yolks and eggshells with beautiful hues of blues. For a list of stops, visit grassfedcow.com/farmmobile.html. East Atlanta Village Farmers Market The market opens May 5 and runs through Nov. 17 on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be chef demos, educational classes, music, local artists and kid activities. With lots of fresh fruits, veggies and meats they’ll also have w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

prepared food, artisan cheeses and breads, southern delicacies and unique hand crafted items from 30 vendors. 561 Flat Shoals Ave. farmeav.com Grant Park Farmers Market Details on this new market were still be hammered out at press time, but is expected to run Sundays from May 15 to Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Grant Park near the intersection of Milledge and Cherokee avenues. Like its sister market in East Atlanta, there will be local farmers, chef demos, artisan goods and more. grantparkmarket.org Decatur Farmers’ Market Open year-round on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the corner of E. Trinity Place and N. McDonough Street. There is plenty of free parking in the Calloway Building lot at the corner of Trinity Place and Commerce Drive. The market features local, organic and sustainable produce, flowers, handmade breads, organic meats and veggies. A Wednesday version of the market is open now through October from 4 to 7 p.m. decaturfarmersmarket.com

Green Market at Piedmont Park The Piedmont Park Conservancy opens the popular market every Saturday starting May 7 and continuing through Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the 12th Street gate. Locally grown produce, fresh meats, cheeses, flowers, baked goods, coffee, tea and more are featured at this family-friendly market. There’s also chef demos, live music and kids programs. piedmontpark.org Peachtree Road Farmers’ Market The market opens April 9 and runs through December from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday in the Cathedral of St. Philip’s parking lot, 2744 Peachtree Road. For more information on this year’s mix of venders, check the website at peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com. East Lake Farmers’ Market The market will open May 7 and will be held every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Second Avenue and Hosea L. Williams Dr. elfmarket.org.

Do not Fret Food Trucks By Todd Semrau

I was conversing with a chef friend of mine the other day who owns a popular restaurant here in Atlanta. We were talking shop when I mentioned that I was developing a food truck concept for one of my clients. His face got red and his words curdled like bad milk. “Man, I tell you this whole food truck thing’s got me pissed off. They’ll steal my business, park where ever they want, they don’t need a permit, don’t pay taxes and don’t get inspected by the health department It isn’t fair! Me and my partners are thinking of raising a stink to the GRA [Georgia Restaurant Association] about this!” Ok, so chefy was a little threatened, but he’s probably not the only brick and mortar operator singing that same tune. In Atlanta, where the food truck phenomena is only beginning to take off, there are a lot of unknowns and misconceptions out there about food trucks and their impact on existing restaurants. As the industry matures a lot of those fears will subside. Until then, the brick and mortars shouldn’t fret food trucks. The fact is food trucks have plenty of uphill battles to fight before they begin to impact anything let alone existing restaurants. First, the existing local ordinances, laws and regulations pertaining to food service were written decades ago, long before anyone had ever heard of a food truck. Most cities and counties do not even acknowledge the existence of “food truck” in their code, which poses a sortie of permitting delays and expenses for the modern day food truck warrior. Second, the costs involved in fabricating a food truck, or buying one prefabricated, are significant. Today’s food truck operators must bring more than an umbrella and a hot dog cart to have play in the game. Customers will want an experience along with their food. A colorful, gleaming, fully equipped food truck can cost upwards of $120,000. Add to that the graphics wrap, menu development, gas, maintenance,

insurance, truck storage, permitting fees, biz licenses and suddenly what some may consider a weekend hobby is now a full-on investment. And, yes, they do have to pay sales tax. Then there is the requirement that all food truck operators must have a home base commissary. In other words, a fully functional kitchen permitted by the local health department. Consider the costs of leasing a catering kitchen on top of operating a food truck and one begins to understand the commitment and capital investment involved in this burgeoning niche business. Now back to the chef and his concerns. He should understand that the food trucks are creating their own business segment, something I have coined “cracker jack” dining; while the food truck fare is good the prize is even better. It’s the adventure of the unknown that draws crazed foodies to food trucks. Where brick and mortar restaurants offer stability the food truck is a one-night stand. Chef, and his brick and mortar buddies at the GRA, should leverage that distinction for everything its worth. Or chef could ratchet up his game and develop his own food truck. Food trucks are, pardon the pun, an amazing promotional vehicle. They are a natural extension of a restaurant’s brand. A food truck can introduce a restaurant’s food and concept to a larger market base of consumers. Consider that a food truck can drive to a captive target market. For instance, if your restaurant’s business model is based on attracting the Gen Y demographic segment take the food truck to wherever those twentysomething’s live and work. It’s like fishing with a net. Lastly, food trucks operators are urban pioneers. They can bring excitement and attention to forgotten urban sectors, like downtown Atlanta…Central Atlanta Progress are you reading this?) The Midtown Alliance, for instance, is well into the planning of a series of food truck events along the Midtown Mile. The underlying philosophy being that food trucks act as marketing tool and a change agent for the neighborhoods they visit, building a consumer mass that will patronize future restaurants and retail in those areas. Local municipalities would do well to heed this theory, too. So, chef, do not fret food trucks. Rather reach out and embrace your newfound half sister. Just keep thinking, WWOD – what would Oprah do?

What do you think about food trucks? Post your comment at AtlantaIntownPaper.com.

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April 2011 | IN

real estate CITY LIVING | NEIGHBORHOODS | DEVELOPMENT

Green-Minded Realtors sell eco-friendly homes and live the lifestyle, too

They spend their working hours as ambassadors steering their clients toward more “green” choices when it comes to real estate. But for these Realtors – some with EcoBroker certification positioning them to market energy efficient and environmentally sensitive properties – the green-mindedness doesn’t end in the

Shandra Hill Smith

office. For them, green living is a full-time opportunity.

Carson Matthews Carson Matthews not only has taken strides to make his home more energy efficient; outdoors, he says he uses rain barrels for irrigation. “Being green-minded,” he adds, “means paying attention to how you live your life and constantly learning how you can do a better job and be less impactful on the environment. My family is the most important thing in the world to me and I want to ensure my children and grandchildren have a nice environment to grow up in. The way things are going today with all of the waste and chemicals and utter destruction of our

natural resources, it’s hard to believe much will be left in 100 years.” To help educate others, Matthews – associate broker and a certified EcoBroker, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty – writes a green homes and lifestyles blog, Green to the Scene (greentothescene. com) and produces a quarterly report, Atlanta Green Home Sales Report, that’s included on the site. “This report consistently shows that certified green homes sell faster and closer to list price than their standard Cameron Matthews, left, of Atlanta Fine Homes new construction counterparts,” says Sotheby’s International Realty (with Matt Hoops) Matthews. “As home building returns in the Atlanta market I hope both builders and consumers will take note of this data and make green home building a priority going forward.” After all, he says, while going green can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be. “It doesn’t cost more to conserve,” says Matthews. “It doesn’t cost more to make a rain barrel and use the water that comes down your gutters. It doesn’t cost more to walk or ride your bike, or use public transportation. It takes time and effort.” CarsonMatthews.com

peter bade Ansley Park. $1,195,000 111 Beverly Road 3BR/3.5BA FMLS:4169962 Heather Steiner 404.754.8000

Buckhead. $8,200,000 4327 East Conway Drive 5BR/5Full 2half BA FMLS:4126121 Kay Quigley 404.933.6637

Buckhead. $475,000 1909 Ardmore Road 3BR/2BA FMLS:4185757 Heery Brothers 404.974.4379

Buckhead. $300,000 2734 Peachtree Road #B104 2BR/2BA FMLS: 4187435 D.Harnell Cohen 404 313.7300 Sandra Storrar 404.310.3558

Buckhead. $174,900 2156 Medfield Trail 3BR/1.5BA FMLS: 4195291 Chase Mizell 404.835.9595

Buckhead. $620,000 526 Echota Drive 4BR/3BA FMLS: 4190358 Carmen Pope 404.625.4134

Candler Park. $415,000 327 Josephine Street 3BR/2BA FMLS: 4181519 Jared Sapp 404.668.7233

Glenwood Park. $540,000 473 Hamilton Street 4BR/4BA FMLS: 4191220 Carmen Pope 404.625.4134

At least two eco approaches are top of mind for Peter Bade: respecting the earth and recycling. Bade, of Sadlier, D’Aprile & Bade, The Intowners at RE/MAX Metro Atlanta Cityside, says he has been active in Virginia Highland and supportive of the area’s neighborhood parks since 1980. Additionally, “I am a founding member of Friends of Orme Park (FOOP), wrote the winning grant for Park Pride’s Visioning Program, which created the Master Plan for the restoration of Orme Park, and am on the board of the Virginia Highland Conservation League.” For Bade – who has lived and worked primarily in Virginia Highland for 30 years – being eco-minded is a no-brainer. “The more open, green space and parks a neighborhood has, the better the community and the quality of life for its residents,” Bade says. “The more parks a neighborhood has the more likely neighbors meet neighbors, which creates stronger ties and a sense of community.” theintowners.com

Sara lee parker

Midtown. $235,000 77 Peachtree Place #415 1BR/1BA FMLS: 4185467 Patti and Adam Ellis 770.355.0549

Midtown. $157,000 1074 Peachtree Walk 2BR/2BA FMLS: 4186603 Chase Mizell 404.835.9595

Morningside. $465,000 1329 Edmund Park Drive 3BR/3.5BA FMLS: 4192138 Carson Matthews 678.595.9286

AtlantaFineHomes.com

Serenbe. $78,500 9061 Selborne Lane LOT. FMLS: 4160069 Sandra Storrar 404.310.3558 D. Harnell Cohen 404.313.7300

404.237.5000

© MMXI Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Yellow House by Josephine Trotter used with permission. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

40 INtown | March 2011

As a co-owner and broker for Sanctuary Real Estate in Inman Park, Sara Lee Parker helped to lead Sanctuary in adopting a segment of the Beltline. Sanctuary’s official Beltline cleanup day is April 16 and the organization is hosting Beltline 101 sessions the first Thursday of each month, while Parker herself also is involved with the formation of a Beltline Chamber of Commerce. “The Beltline is, of course, a huge example of sustainability and redevelopment and will shape the way w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

Atlanta grows over the next decade,” says Parker, who believes in recycling, reclaiming or repurposing furniture and growing her own tomatoes. “It is just part of my daily routine,” she says. “I plan to live a long life and I really want to be able to enjoy a healthy, thriving planet, breath clean air and drink clean water! Surely the basics aren’t too much to ask for? “There are plenty of people who are doing much more than me, but if every person just takes the time to do something small, it will make a big difference! We can all help pay it forward for generations to come!” yourownsanctuary.com or soldbysaralee.com

JiM GetZinGer Everyone can do his part, believes Jim Getzinger, founder of Getzinger Group, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, which serves Buckhead and Intown neighborhoods. “It’s important for all of us to be conscious about how we impact the environment,” says Getzinger. “Each of us can make small changes that will have an overall large impact in protecting our environment. By changing out light bulbs to using an iPad instead of stacks of First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) sheets, we are making changes both at home and in the office.” Led by the efforts of team member Jared Sapp, From left, Jared Sapp, Jim Getzinger, J.W. Getzinger and Getzinger and Sapp adopted the Woodrow Wilson Dawn Slowikowski of the Getzinger Group, Atlanta Fine Memorial traffic island in Morningside and have Homes Sotheby’s International Realty maintained the green space for roughly five years. “By adding new landscaping and seasonal flowers, we can assist in preserving the beauty of our neighborhood,” Getzinger adds. getzingergroup.com.

Do you know an eco-friendly Realtor? Tell us all about them, we want to know! Post on our website at AtlantaINtownPaper.com or our Facebook page and you could win a Doc Chey’s gift certiﬁcate.

Commercial & Real Estate Briefs

Ladies of the Lake

GARDEN PARTY a May Day Benefit at

the Peachtree Heights East Duck Pond

May 1st, 2011 4 - 7 p.m.

featuring LIVE MUSIC~ FANTASTIC FOOD~ COCKTAILS WINE AUCTION~ SILENT AUCTION BEST HAT CONTEST and POTTING SHED

provided by HABERSHAM GARDENS

Tickets may be purchased at www.ladiesofthelake.org $35 in advance, $40 at the door Net proceeds benefit Duck Pond Parks and Ladies of the Lake

The former RetailWorks realty team is back together at Grubb & Ellis Company. Michael Dahmer, principal of RetailWorks, joined Grubb & Ellis last year as senior vice president for retail and has now been joined by Michael Woodruff and Kellie Scrogum. Law firm Alston & Bird has signed a deal to lease an additional 134,000 square feet at One Atlantic Center. Acadia Homes & Neighborhoods has opened model homes at The Reserve at City Park located at Peachtree Road and 26th Street in Brookwood adjacent to Ardmore Park. The three-and-four-story homes with brick and stone facades feature two and three bedrooms with two-car garages, large decks and luxury interior features and are priced from the $200,000s. acadiahomes.us. Serrano, the luxury condominiums on Abernathy Road in Sandy Springs, has sold 77 of the 150 homes in the community. The homes sold for an average price of $142,605 over the five-month period from August 26, 2010 through the end of January 2011. Serrano is one of six condominium communities launched by ST Residential last year. serrano-atlanta.com.

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April 2011 | IN

IN Your Home

HOME IMPROVEMENT | RENOVATION TIPS| HOME DECOR | BEFORE & AFTERS

Rolling Out The Spring tours offer peek inside Atlanta’s eclectic homes

By April McFadden The perennials are in bloom, spring rain makes grass and trees green, the smell of dogwoods pierces the air and some of Atlanta’s finest homes will be opening their doors for spring tours. Whether you are looking to renovate, to move or studying architecture and interior design home tours are a great way to see a well designed home or garden. We have compiled a list of tours that are worth your time.

Buckhead in Bloom The Atlanta Preservation Center’s Buckhead in Bloom features five revival style homes and their gardens. The tour is Sunday, April 17, from noon to 5 p.m., with houses varying from a 1910 Tudor-style to a 1952 Southern Classical revival home on display. The homes have historic significance, but have been carefully renovated to fit modern lifestyles and maintain its historic design. The tour also offers a lecture from the director of architectural restoration at Thomas Jefferson’s private retreat, Popular Forest, Travis McDonald in the Gould Room at the Cathedral of St. Phillip on Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m. The tickets are $40 for non-APC members and $30 for APC members and can be purchased at any of four Harry Norman Realtors offices that can be found on preserveatlanta.com. Lecture tickets are $10, visit the website or call (404) 6883353, ext.11. The proceeds will support the APC’s effort to protect the city’s historic neighborhoods, buildings and landscapes.

ASA Decorator’s Showhouse Opening its doors to the public on Saturday, April 16, the Atlanta Symphony Associates presents the “Lotus House,” a Bill Baker design. The home has an interior garden courtyard with a lotus pond, rooftop terrace, two kitchens, a wine cellar, a home theater, spa and golf simulation room. The home was influenced by the owners’ Indian heritage and English and American architectural styles. The Collectors’ Market offers a broad selection of home décor and accessories, along with book signings and a trunk show. The “Lotus House” at 1945 West Wesley Road will be open to the public until May 8. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For information about parking or where to purchase tickets call (404) 733-4935 or visit decoratorshowhouse.org.

Druid Hills Home Tour & Artist Market

Inman Park Tour of Homes As part of the annual Inman Park Spring Festival (see Page 24 for festival details), this tour features home ranging from Victorian-era Painted Ladies to loft conversions. The 40th anniversary tour includes four homes that were in the very first tour in 1971, including the home now known as The Wrecking Bar on Moreland Avenue. The tour will be held Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, with a tour preview on Friday, April 29. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the weekend of the tour. Purchase online at inmanparkfestival.org.

42 INtown | April 2011

The Druid Hills Home and Garden Tour returns this spring with six homes – from mansions to bungalows – that have historical aspects as well as modern innovations. The will be open to the public on Friday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday May 1, 1 to 5 p.m. The tour homes include “The Quaker House” built in 1928 on Fairview Road; one of the few historic estates in the metro area, the lush Cartor Woolford Gardens; and a Colonial Revival home on East Clifton Road. The seventh annual Druid Hills Artist Market will have work from 45 artists from around the region, as well as entertainment. Lunch and trolley transportation will be available. Tickets for the tour are $20 in advance, $25 on the day of the tour or $10 for a single house visit. Visit druidhillstour.org or call (404) 525-8687 for more information.

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Gardening

Midtown Tour of Homes The Midtown Neighbors’ Association has announced the combination of two its two signature events to create a unique 10-day experience called, Celebrate!Midtown Atlanta, which kicks off on Friday, April 8, with the 5th Annual Midtown Atlanta Shop & Dine and concludes the weekend of April 16 and 17 with the Midtown Tour of Homes, an event now in its 4th decade. This year’s Midtown Tour of Homes will anchor the weeklong event. The 2011 Tour features both single-family homes and condominiums. The theme highlights Midtown, Old to New – historic homes, new condominiums and conversion condos. Midtown Atlanta Shop & Dine showcases not only the many casual and fine dining options in Midtown, but also shopping, health and beauty and arts and entertainment venues. All participants offer specials incorporating a “25” theme - $25 menus, $25 discount or 25 percent off. To round out Celebrate!Midtown Atlanta, there will also be an art contest called “I ART Midtown” celebrating the work of Midtown area students and a scavenger hunt called “Explore Midtown” focuses a spotlight on the homes, businesses and lifestyle of the neighborhood. For more on all the events, visit celebratemidtownatlanta.com.

Perspective in Architecture Melody Harclerode

The Art and Science of Building Architecture can be defined as the “art and science of building.” A design by an architect may express one aspect of that definition more strongly than the other. The historic Candler Building in downtown Atlanta by architects George Murphy and George Stewart and Fox Theatre by architect Olivier J. Vinour embody the art of building with their rich exterior and interior materials and details. The public can experience the science of a building with a walk through the 2005 High Museum of Art Expansion. Architects traditionally avoided the use of natural light in gallery spaces to prevent damaging artwork, yet Architect Renzo Piano applied scientific innovation to add 1,000 miniature skylights in the roof system and provide filtered northern light into his galleries. This year, architects, engineers, design professionals, and building and facility managers have a tremendous opportunity to explore the science of building with the AIA + 2030 Professional Series underway at the old city council chambers in Atlanta City Hall. Guest speakers from around the country will help professionals to design super efficient buildings and meet the ambitious environmental goals of the 2030 Challenge including the elimination of fossil fuel energy in the operations of a building. AIA Atlanta has partnered with the City w w w. A t l a n t a I N t o w n P a p e r. c o m

of Atlanta to host this innovative program on the third Friday of each month until November 2011. High school students in the state of Georgia are also delving into the science of building with the ongoing High School Design Competition sponsored by the Home Depot Foundation, architectural firm Cooper Carry, and Brick Southeast, Inc. Young people must design a shelter to serve as temporary housing for a minimum of eight people after a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti using the highest environmental standards. Among the requirements, the shelter shall be made of durable materials, sized to fit into a shipping container, and operate using alternative energy sources like solar or wind. Meet future architects and designers and see their creative and innovative work when the Awards Ceremony is held on April 21 at 6 p.m. at the Woodruff Arts Center. Melody L. Harclerode, AIA, a local architect, promotes the power of architecture and design as a Board Member of the Atlanta chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Principal of Harclerode Architects (harcarch.com). For more information about these programs, check out aiaatlanta.org.

A gardener’s dirty secret Walt Harrison Riding or walking around Atlanta you may have noticed trees planted along our streets and roadways in town. According to Mid-Georgia Nursery’s Bill Inabinet, the life expectancy of a street tree in a typical urban environment is about 15 years. This is due to a number of factors: mechanical damage (getting hit by cars, trucks and shopping carts), pollution, and probably most important, a limited growing area and poor soil conditions in the root zone. You can see the damage such as scars on the trunk and broken branches, but also the trees rarely look as vigorous as trees in parks and other tree-friendly environments. Through the years, I’ve kept my eye on several huge and beautiful Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) trees along Boulevard very near Freedom Parkway (a tough urban environment for trees) thriving in a sidewalk planting. These trees have since been cut down, but it was interesting to note they continued to survive with little or no care whatsoever.

You may have thought Bald Cypress only grew in swamps, and that is the environment they truly prefer naturally, but they have evolved over generations to thrive in very adverse conditions. However, there is now one environmental factor that is threatening our beautiful cypress forests throughout the lower south. Huge forests of cypress trees are being clear cut and literally ground up to provide mulch for our shrubs and flower beds. Ironic, isn’t it? Gardeners are unknowingly and directly contributing to the destruction of our beautiful forests. This is a secret that the big box stores and garden center chains are not sharing. As gardeners and consumers in general, it is important to know the environmental impact of the products we use. This is not an easy task but we need to do the research in order to gain an understanding of where the products come from, what resources are used and what processes are needed to produce these products. Cypress mulch is a perfect example. Now that we know, let’s spread the word and let the retailers know this is not okay. Walt Harrison has been planting trees for 30 years and is the owner and founder Habersham Gardens Garden Center & Landscape Services. habershamgardens.com

10 Tips for water conservation Farmer D. & Tyson Deal Even though it comes from the tap on demand, clean, potable water is one of the most precious things on Earth, and irrigation claims highest usage of water in the U.S. How can we conserve water in our landscapes? Let us count the ways:

1. Organic matter matters. Adding compost to

your landscape will increase the water holding capacity of your soil.

much mulch around your plants to reduce 2. Use evaporation and hold water in the soil. Be intentional with your irrigation and convert 3. to drip irrigation to deliver water directly to plants’ root systems. Overhead irrigation wastes up to 50% of water. Don’t be shallow. Water less frequently and

4. more deeply to encourage plant roots to grow deep in search of water.

Use the water that Mother Nature gave you and

5. collect rain to water your gardens.

Plant varieties of plants that are Southern

6. natives because once established, they naturally grow without additional water.

7. Grow veggies like southern peas, tomatoes,

okra, sweet potatoes, melons and corn because they aren’t so thirsty. Southern heirloom varieties can be especially drought tolerant because they were developed before the advent of modern irrigation systems.

8. Go on a lawn diet and reduce your

property’s waste line! Lawns are thirsty. Turn it into vegetable, shrub or perennial beds and be the first in your ‘hood to loose a little lawn. Get organized and group plants according to

9. water use so you can water efficiently.

Create raised beds that are water-wise because 10. you can get up out of the clay and grow in soil where water stays longer. For more about Farmer D,visit farmerd. com or his store at 2154 Briarcliff Road.

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April 2011 | IN

IN YOUR HOME

Before & After

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Atlanta architect Robert M. Cain helped reclaim historic Early Branch Farm, built in 1868 on the Georgia coast from old growth heart pine salvaged from a house Sherman destroyed during the Civil War. The owners purchased the property in 1991 with the goal of retaining the historic character of the site and buildings while, over time, renovating the structures and integrating modern conveniences. The master plan for the site became a mechanism to expand on the 19th century farm life necessities with strategically located additions, well thought-out demolitions and the reorientation of space from the early survival-oriented focus to a more expansive and contemporary connection with the environment. Cain created the original master plan for the site and has been involved in all subsequent renovations and additions, including the The Cottage and Tea House.

The Cottage was converted from its previous life as a garage during the original 1994 renovation of the main farmhouse as temporary quarters for the homeowners. After the renovation, by popular demand of the farm’s visitors, these temporary quarters became a much-needed guesthouse. The Cottage now has the addition of a screened porch with sun louvers and tabby patio as well as a glass and wood folding wall system. The folding wall allows the compact studio-style living quarters to expand visually and physically into the courtyard garden of the farm. An existing utility shed was also converted in 1994 into the Tea House, a simple free-standing room without closets, windows, a folding wall system and a tabby walk. The environmentally amenities or systems adjacent to the main house used casually to serve tea on balmy days and as sleeping facilities friendly renovation was completed with locally harvested wood products, oyster shells and reclaimed handmade bricks. for guests willing to “rough it.” The recent renovation To see more of Robert M. Cain’s work, visit robertmcain.com. presented here adds a bath, a deck, storage cabinets and

Steiner Construction www.SteinerConstructionAtlanta.com Remodeling and restoration of Intown and Buckhead fine homes since 1980

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References Available State Licensed & Insured

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Remodeling and restoration of Intown and Buckhead fine homes since 1980.

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References Available State Licensed & Insured

FrontPorch was founded to provide homeowners with the highest level of customer service and value. To date, our owners have built over 250 custom homes and completed over 100 renovations in the intown Atlanta market. •GUARANTEED PRICE & COMPLETION DATE •UNIQUE DESIGN APPROACH •PERSONAL DEDICATED TEAM •SMOOTH CONSTRUCTION PROCESS •CUSTOMER SERVICE FOCUSED

404-357-2225 www.YourFrontPorch.com 44 INtown | April 2011

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2011 April Events

Saturday, April 2

• Dr. Allan Armitage 11am

Friday, April 8

• Spring Open House 6-9pm

Saturday, April 9

• Annual & Perennial Walkabout 11am

Saturday, April 16

• Erica Glasener: Plant This with That 11am

Saturday, April 16

• Reggie Pollnitz - All About Natives 1pm

Saturday, April 30

• Container Garden Workshop 11am

Saturday, April 30

•Trees & Shrubs Walkabout 1pm

We've got a great line-up of horticultural experts ready to share all they know with you this spring! Grab a gardening buddy and join us for these FREE and FUN educational events out in the glorious fresh spring air!

Landscape Services:

Jerry Bell 404-873-4702, ext. 2302 jerry@habershamgardens.com

Garden Center:

2067 Manchester Street 404-873-2484, Tues-Sat 10-6 Sun 11-6

www.HabershamGardens.com

Look for Signs of Renewal All Around Your Neighborhood For kitchens, baths, master suites and more, our award-winning team of designers and builders makes your project easy from design through construction. Ready to start? Contact us today to set up a consultation.

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April 2011 | IN

DIRECTORIES

404-586-0002 ext 302

CARPET

LANDSCAPING

Wrinkled carpet?

GREEN DRAGON GARDENS

Carpet Restretch Specialist call david for Quote 404.217.5547

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Experienced and Honest Handyman Team - BEST RATES IN TOWN

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Electrical, Carpentry, Plumbing, Landscaping, Yard Clean-up, YOU NAME IT! Great neighborhood references! No Job Too Small! Call Jacob Franklin today for a FREE ESTIMATE!

Refinishing • Repairs • Touch-ups

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Opening Soon

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(404) 915-1976 2179 Cheshire Bridge Road

INSURANCE

Auto - Home - Commercial

404-863-7657 Painting Services

Jack’s Painting Service Exterior/Interior Painting Pressure Washing Insured

JackPaint@msn.com 770-978-9462 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATES

(404) 876 3180

wkelly@allstate.com 1776 Briarcliff #B, Atlanta, GA 30306

Been declined for health insurance in the past? Now available in Georgia a truly “guaranteed issue” No health questions asked- medical policy. Covers hospital-surgical, accidents, critical illness and doctor visits. call for more information:

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Jesse Morado

Need a new roof? Make it a cool one. Replacing a roof is something that many homeowners will encounter at some time during homeownership either due to storm damage or normal wear and tear. But many homeowners will simply install a similar roofing material when replacing their roof and are unaware of the “cool roof ” products on the market that help to reduce heat gain, save energy, and have a life expectancy of 25 to 50 years when installed to the manufacturers specifications. If you have ever been in your attic during the summer you understand how hot it can get. Temperatures can reach in excess of 120 degrees, which can effect cooling equipment, recessed fixtures, wiring, and other materials located in your attic. This reduces product life expectancy and causes equipment to work harder to cool your home. A “cool roof ” can help to reduce these high temperatures. A variety of shingle manufacturers offer “cool roof ” products that have a reflective coating on the granules. These roofing products work to reduce the level of heat gain by reflecting the suns rays and then reducing the radiant heat that is absorbed through the roof shingle and transferred to your attic.

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The Cool Roof Rating Council studies show that cooler buildings can see cooling costs reduced between 7 to 15 percent. Cooler buildings save energy, create an opportunity to downsize cooling equipment, reduces carbon emissions, and reduce “thermal shock” (the expansion and contraction of building materials) to exterior construction materials. A variety of colors are available depending on the manufacturer and a variety of architectural styles as well. If you are in need of a new roof due to sustained storm damage, you may consider supplementing the insurance companies payment for replacement and go to a cooler shingle. Many of these products may be eligible for tax credits making it easier to cover the cost for a roof that is good for your home and the environment. Next time you are in need of a new roof ask your roofing contractor for a cool one.

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April 2011 | IN

ATLANTA INTOWN OFFICE

Building the blocks of Atlanta’s best neighborhoods since 1979! 404-874-2262 Intown@ColdwellBankerAtlanta.com

Over 87% of homebuyers start their search online. Start yours at www.ColdwellBankerAtlanta.com. www.ColdwellBankerPreviews.com

DECATUR. Fantastic 4 sided brick w/2 fireplaces, lrg screen porch overlooks beautiful backyard w/ .75 acres. 3Bed/2Bath $299,000 Derek Scheidt 404-593-4754 Stephen Simonson 404-326-0876 FMLS: 4193179

BRIAN WOODS. Traditional elegance meets modern style. Hardwoods, new kitchen, 2 car garage, sunroom. 4Bed/2.5bath $399,900 Amber Mason 678-637-3530 FMLS: 4185841

Luxury Properties need Previews Marketing

MIDTOWN. Best price in The Dakota! 10’ ceilings, corner unit, wrap around balcony, new hardwoods, new kit cabinets. 2Bed/2bath $264,900 Michael Smith 404-786-2057 FMLS: 4177951

CASTLEBERRY POINT. Oversized living area w/huge center island, hardwoods, custom blinds, granite & SS, soaring ceilings. 2Bed/2Bath $199,000 Michael Smith 404-786-2057 FMLS: 4176791

Agent of the Month

ANSLEY ANNEX. Wonderful brick home w/amazing kitchen/family room addition and rental cottage. Private backyard. 4Bed/3Bath $429,000 Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845 FMLS: 4188384

SAGAMORE HILLS. All new chef’s kitchen w/SS appliances & gigantic granite island, large tiled deck off family room, full basement. 3Bed/2bath $349,000 Wilma Richardson 404-327-4199 FMLS: 4186138

SAGAMORE HILLS. 3BR/2BA brick Traditional situated on low traffic quiet street, beautiful new hardwoods, full daylight basement. $299,900 Wilma Richardson 404-327-4199 FMLS: 4179612

LAKE CLAIRE. Features updated kitchen, open floor plan, spacious front screen porch, walk-in closet, back deck. 2Bed/2Bath $225,000 Linda Jones 404-484-1144 FMLS: 4182522

Bradford Smith

MIDTOWN. Super 3 unit investment property w/2BR upstairs for owner to occupy or convert to huge single family home. Great income producer. $439,000 Fred McKeithen 404-217-8855 FMLS: 4181638

LAVISTA PARK. Tastefully renovated 3BR/2.5Bath Traditional, 3 fireplaces, full basement, hardwoods, banquet size dining room. $480,000 Nelson Brown 404-276-8928 FMLS: 4191710

DECATUR. Large pristine home, like new construction, 80K in amazing high quality upgrades, outdoor fireplace on back deck. 5Bed/4Bath $539,900 Bradford Smith 404-210-4141 FMLS: 4191999

EAST LAKE. Gorgeous newer construction w/10’ coffered ceilings, hardwoods, gourmet kitchen, great backyard & patio. 3Bed/2.5Bath $309,900 Erin Fye 404-771-9822 FMLS: 4189108

MORNINGSIDE. Features new bath, new systems, newer roof, hardwoods, generous sized rooms, gorgeous sunroom w/vaulted ceiling. 2Bed/1Bath $314,900 Rachael Blatt 404-285-9059 FMLS: 4182819

Any House • Any Where! Lindsay Yonadi 404-602-2861

Whether you’re moving across the state or across the country, we can help. We are networked with superior real estate professionals throughout the US. Give us a call and we’ll find you an agent. 404-874-2262

... We never stop moving!

404-210-4141

Careers in Real Estate:

There’s never been a better time to pursue a career in Real Estate! Whether you’re a new agent or had your license for years, Coldwell Banker can help you! For more information call 404-874-2262. ... We look forward to having you on our team!

Atlanta’s #1 Coldwell Banker Ofﬁce - 2006, 2007, 2008 Intown Ofﬁce - 1370 North Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30306 - (404) 874-2262 Lisa Johnson, Managing Broker ® Ow ne d & Ope r a te d by NRT, L L C , – G A R E LI C # 5 9 7 3 0 – A l l I n f or m a t i on i s b el i ev ed ac c u r a t e b u t n ot war ran ted – E q u al Hou s i n g O p p ortu n i ty

48 INtown | April 2011

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