ATL Life Magazine

ATL Life Magazine SUMMER 2021 | ISSUE 4 | VOLUME 1

Publisher's Note Summertime is officially here and what a great feeling it is!

Although typically not my favorite time of year, it truly is one of the best seasons. There's so much to do outdoors! We've come a long way as a country and we're now starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel!

In this issue we highlight some amazing hotels and attractions in Atlanta.

If you're looking to take a break and have a "stay-cation" or if you're visiting Atlanta for the first or the fifth time, there's a little something for everyone.

A lot has changed in the past year with Covid protocols and making sure that everyone stays healthy and safe, and the companies and brands that we highlight in this issue spare no expense to keep their customers and employees safe. We hope that you are able to find a new place to explore on the outside... in Atlanta. As always, please enjoy!

Cheers TO

THE

SUMMER!

Teia Hill Publisher ATL | Miami | LA Life Magazines

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CONTENTS [ What's Inside ] www.ATLLifeMag.com

Pg 2 Publisher's Note Pg 4 Four Seasons Hotel AtlantaUnparalleled Luxury Pg 11 Atlanta Dream history-making all female broadcast Pg 16 Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta

For Advertising Inquiries, Content, Subscriptions or Story Submission Publisher@ATLLifeMag.com | 770-940-0606

Pg 19 Sugar Factory Atlanta Pg 23 Dr. Fatu Forna of Kaiser Permanente Pg 29 The City of East Point teams up with Tesla Pg 31 The Moxy Midtown Atlanta Hotel 3

UNPARALLELED LUXURY

As I pulled to the entrance I was immediately greeted by a warm smile from the valet who helped me into the lobby- where I was then greeted by the valet host and a glass of ice cold water on a hot Tuesday afternoon in June. While I awaited my meeting with Ashley SvarneyFour Seasons Atlanta’s Public Relations and Marketing Manager- I took in the beauty and ambiance all around me. From the amazing chandeliers, to the warm and friendly smiles and greetings, to the happy and relaxed guests, the Spanish accents on the marble floors and the wonderful smells coming from Bar Margot the hotel’s infamous restaurant, I knew I was right where I belonged.

Ashley greeted me and it felt like I was meeting an old friend from college or high school.

Ashley took me on a tour of The Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, and I just didn’t want to leave.

Her knowledge of the history of the building, from the structure and architecture, to the artists who’s eclectic and hip paintings cover the walls of the lobby and common areas of the hotel, to the guest rooms with touches of Sweden and Spain all throughout the hotel’s design, it just doesn’t get any better than The Four Seasons.

We explored several spaces on the property- the guest rooms and suites, Park 75 the property’s breakfast and brunch restaurant as well as Bar Margo- a beautiful space for a date night or cocktails with the girls (or guys). We ventured to the 19th floor luxury suite and on up to the 53rd floor where private residences dominate the floor. The views were amazing and I was able to see an area of the hotel that is popular for weddings, along with the hotel’s very own garden that the Executive Chef , Sous chef and bartenders use in the recipes daily.

The spa, the fitness room complete with a few Peleton bikes- which at a guests request can easily be brought to their own room or suite. The indoor heated pool with a Jacuzzi was the cherry on top of this wonderful tour along with amazing views of Downtown and Midtown Atlanta and even Stone Mountain from the top floor. No stone is left unturned on this stunning hotel property, top tier in every way. It’s an absolute must for relaxation, recharging and just an overall feeling of great, positive energy!

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Ashley Svarney- Public Relations and Marketing Manager Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta How has the event planning and event space gatherings changed during covid?

Event planning at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta continues to be a personalized process that is tailored to each meeting or wedding planner. In October 2020, the Hotel completed a complete refresh of its Fourth Floor, which is all dedicated meeting and event space. It was coincidental that the renovation included significant technological upgrades to host hybrid meetings and events, as well as design upgrades.

Although some elements, like self-serving buffets, were avoided during the height of the pandemic, the experienced events team was able to easily make adjustments that delivered the same desired outcome.

This period also encouraged our leadership and events team to think more creatively than ever before; looking at our venues with a new lens. For example, Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta has two outdoor terraces, one that typically served as a smaller coffee or cocktail reception location before moving into the grand ballroom. Given the increase in micro-weddings and small, intimate celebrations, the team began to coordinate small wedding ceremonies and private dinners on this smaller terrace, with the same level of detailed service our guests have come to appreciate and expect at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta.

Now that vaccines have rolled out, we are seeing the return of corporate groups, as meeting planners are interested in bringing back “in-person” activity for those who are comfortable to do so. With the technological upgrades, we have hosted several hybrid events, where meeting attendees are socially distanced with cameras and microphones, to easily include and connect to meeting attendees who were not able to physically attend in-person.

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The Boardroom

The Ballroom

Terrace Suite

Presidential Suite

One Bedroom

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How has Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta maintained and refreshed or upgraded the hotel and it’s rooms over the years?

The hotel was originally built in 1992, and was Atlanta’s first mixed-use skyscraper, incorporating a hotel, corporate offices and condominiums into one building. The 53-story skyscraper is a Neoclassical design, which is primarily recognizable by symmetry and simple geometry. The grand entrance at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta is striking, with its grand dual-sided wrought-iron staircase with large circular glass-details, Spanish Rojo Alicante marble and 500-light chandelier. The Spa and indoor, heated saltwater pool have never faltered as favorites among guests – as they are quite literally a hidden oasis in the city.

While the hotel regularly updates elements of the property, like the Meeting and Event space update in late 2020, all guest rooms were most recently updated in 2018 by New York-based interior design firm Meyer Davis. The transformation included careful attention to luxurious textures, balanced, modern finishes and was described as “…an aesthetic born from tradition, but with timeless intent.” Not only has Meyer-Davis been recognized with prestigious awards for their restaurant interiors, Meyer Davis is the designer of Oscar de la Renta's worldwide boutiques. Given that Will Meyer and Gray Davis are from southeastern states but based in New York City, they have a unique take on chic, sleek modern Southern elegance.

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Let’s talk about one of my favorite subjects.. Food. Tell me about the restaurants and bar and food here at The Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta.

Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta is home to two restaurants – Park 75 and Bar Margot. Park 75 is our signature breakfast restaurant that is open from 7am-11am everyday. The menu, curated by Executive Chef Edgar Kano, is reflective of his culturally diverse culinary team and their interpretation of Southern classics from the region. Utilizing the freshest seasonal ingredients, recipes are infused with unexpected flavor combinations that celebrate the worldly approach his culinarians bring to their craft. For example, the restaurant serves Shrimp and Grits made with an adobo chili, crab eggs Benedict on top of cornbread, and chicken and waffles infusing vanilla, spiced blueberry and curry. Bar Margot is a Ford Fry-concept restaurant. Bar Margot opened in 2015 and serves a seasonal, rotating menu of eclectic dishes and craft cocktails. The name of the restaurant is inspired and named after Margot Tenenbaum, Margot being the lead character of The Royal Tenenbaum movie. The menu ranges from original favorites like Crab Avocado Toast, Oysters, Deviled Eggs and Cacio e Pepe, to new additions like Seared Scallops, Korean Chicken, Pork Belly Bites, Hamachi Poke, and the famed Bar Margot Burger.

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In your opinion, how has the “labor shortage” affected the hospitality industry as a whole and specifically here at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta?

I can speak anecdotally, with a perspective from my almost 20 years in the hospitality industry in Florida – a state where travel and tourism is the leading economic driver and jobs producer.

Hospitality is a human action… a warm smile with kind eyes, intuitive observations that lead to harmonious comforts and personalized experiences that become long-lasting memories. Most often, it takes a team of dedicated individuals each owning minute details to deliver the type of magical encounters that become long-lasting memories. If done right, this can lead to the foundation of new loyal customers and ambassadors. There is no doubt that a labor shortage can negatively impact the human interaction quintessential to the hospitality industry. However, I’ve personally witnessed the genuine passion of individuals whose dream job is to work at a prestigious company, like Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta – and any job opening has been met with dozens if not hundreds of qualified applicants wanting to begin their own career journey, here.

At Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, our team has always prioritized the guest experience with a genuine passion. In order to ensure our guests continued to receive the superior quality experience they had come to expect from the Hotel, our leadership worked with Four Seasons properties that had not yet re-opened to welcome their team members to Atlanta. This process allowed us to have key positions filled with Four Seasons team members from other cities across the country, who are already familiar with the high-standards of the brand, and train those who were hired to permanently fill those roles before returning to their home properties. Unless, they decided to move to Georgia – which some did!

When I moved to Georgia in October 2020, it was a time of great transition and uncertainty in the world. Pre-vaccines, elections, and on a personal level, moving my husband and two toddlers to a new state. While I have been told seemingly nostalgic stories of the grand events and special experiences from pre-pandemic days, I have been pleasantly surprised by how many guests were still visiting the hotel and hosting intimate gatherings. I think a lot of it had to do with Georgia being “open for business.” With that said, the Hotel took great action to ensure the comfort and safety of our guests by following the policies set forth in the brand’s Lead With Care guidelines.

From my point of view, I observed that our guests trusted the brand and the people at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta to deliver a quality experience for their weddings, events and business meetings.

Is there anything additonal that you'd like our readers to know?

At Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, we welcome our guests as if they are family – with a friendly hello and genuine smile. “The Golden Rule,” defined as treating others as we wish to be treated ourselves, is the foundation of the Four Seasons brand. We genuinely love to make our guests feel welcome by connecting to our community and people and sharing our craft with others to enjoy. When visiting the Hotel, I invite you to strike-up a conversation with our teamembers. They are approachable, brilliant people with interesting stories, who love to create magical memories.

Nothing brings us more joy than delivering an exceptional guest experience.

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LaChina Robinson, Tabitha Turner, Angel Gray and Autumn Johnson join the Dream for 2021

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ATLANTA – Every Atlanta Dream home game will be called by an all-female broadcast team this season, as LaChina Robinson, Tabitha Turner and Angel Gray all return to the organization. They comprise the first all-Black, all-female broadcast group in the Dream’s history.

“As the Atlanta Dream experiences new beginnings we are extremely excited to announce our new broadcast team for the 2021 season,” said Renee Montgomery, Dream co-owner and vice president. “This broadcast team of all women is another positive step in our goal of providing empowerment to the diverse Atlanta community. It’s exciting knowing that moments such as these will create momentum, and we plan to keep that same level of energy moving forward.”

LaChina Robinson returns to the Dream for her 12th season after serving as the primary color analyst for the franchise’s first 11 seasons. An award-winning basketball analyst, her work around the sport as both an analyst and reporter spans a wide range of collegiate and WNBA events as she enters her 14th season of basketball coverage.

“When Renee called me about coming back to the Dream it was a no-brainer,” Robinson said. “There is a palpable energy around the WNBA and the city of Atlanta that is undeniable. I’m honored to be a part of what the Dream is building under new leadership in this historic 25th season of the league.”

Tabitha Turner started as a four-year letter winner with Georgia Tech women’s basketball before her career as an analyst and reporter took off here in Atlanta. She has covered her alma mater, ACC men’s and women’s basketball, the Georgia Swarm professional lacrosse team and the NLL draft, along with the Atlanta Dream in 2017 and 2018.

“Excited is an understatement for me,” Turner said. “I truly feel blessed to be back with such an amazing, talented team that led the way in the fight for social justice and equality throughout the pandemic. Between the leadership of everyone involved and the high level of talent on this team, waiting to get started is the hardest part and I’m glad to be along for the ride!”

Angel Gray also joins the Dream for her third season in 2021 after serving as a sideline reporter and color commentator for the franchise in 2015 and 2016. Gray was a four year letter winner at Florida State before going on to cover collegiate basketball, the WNBA and the NBA on a number of national and regional networks.

“It’s really exciting to get the opportunity to go back home and cover such a young, talented and explosive team,” Gray said. “Their speed is their strength and it will be fun to cover not only the speed and athleticism of this team, but how they lead off of the floor and in the Atlanta community as well. These women are true game changers on and off the court.”

Autumn Johnson is currently a host and sideline reporter for the NBA 2K League and the women’s college basketball digital beat reporter for NCAA Digital. She also serves as an executive producer and host for the 2K League’s weekly IGTV series, NBA 2KL Story Mode. Johnson most recently earned the 2020 GameHERs ESPORTS Top Analyst of the Year award.

“I’m beyond excited to join the Atlanta Dream’s broadcast for opening night,” Johnson said. “Being a Georgia native, the Dream was the first professional team I covered when I started my journalism career, so this is a full-circle moment to have the opportunity to call my first WNBA game for my home team.”

The Atlanta Dream’s regional broadcast schedule will be announced in the coming days.

The Atlanta Dream will tip-off their 14th season in the WNBA in May 2021. The organization, who will play its home games at the Gateway Center Arena @ College Park, has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in nine of its first 13 seasons. Season tickets for the 2021 season are available now by calling 877-977-7729 or visiting www.atlantadream.net.

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YMCA of Metro Atlanta CEO Lauren Koontz

I had an inspiring conversation with YMCA of Metro Atlanta's CEO Lauren Koontz. Our conversation was my first meeting of the day that day. The vibes were good, the information was flowing and I felt inspired as I started the rest of my day after our conversation. Here's what Lauren spoke to me about:

Tell me about your background and how you ultimately became the CEO of YMCA Metro Atlanta...

I’m a Georgia native that graduated from the University of Georgia with a business degree. I moved to Atlanta after the Olympics,

like so many others, and I was starting the MBA program at Georgia State University while working full-time and jumped into the

world of sports marketing. I’d also previously worked as an intern for a non-profit and it really got me interested in working more in

the non-profit space. I finished my MBA at Georgia State and moved over to the non-profit side of things and worked for the

Leukemia and Lymphoma society for the State of Georgia and ultimately in the national office. I just fell in love with the idea of

doing something that was going to truly impact the community in a positive way as I’m very drawn to the idea of leaving something

better than you found it. I wanted to focus on the Metro Atlanta area because it is my home and where my kids are being raised.

I’ve enjoyed working with all sorts of non-profit clients over the years and getting to know them and the community here in Atlanta.

One of my greatest opportunities was being on the team that raised significant funding to save Grady Memorial Hospital. That was

one of the first opportunities I had to see how the philanthropic, civic and corporate communities could all come together to do

something that would have such a tremendous impact on so many people’s lives and on Atlanta. At the time, Grady Memorial

Hospital was the only level-one trauma center in Atlanta. If you lost Grady, think about all the things that go with that. You can’t

host big conferences, you can’t have Super Bowls, and major events if you don’t have a level-one trauma center. It was an amazing

opportunity to be a part of that team. I came to the Y and have been a part of the organization for over nine years, I started as a

chief development officer and after four years moved into the executive vice president role that had more operational and program

oversight in addition to development and marketing. Ultimately, in 2019 after a national search was conducted, I was part of an

interview process as an internal candidate and I took on the role of CEO of YMCA Metro Atlanta in July of 2019. It hasn’t been a

traditionally conventional path. If you’d told me ten years ago that I’d be the CEO of YMCA Metro Atlanta, and especially the first

female CEO in its 163-year history, I’m not sure I would’ve believed you, but I care deeply about this organization. I love that the

mission of the organization is to build a healthy mind, body and spirit and it hasn’t fundamentally changed in 163 years. We look

every single day how to bring that mission to life, especially given the current times that we live in, whether those are challenges or

opportunities. My team here in Atlanta, we talk about “relevance”. We want to be a relevant YMCA. We ask ourselves if we are living

the mission and staying true to the mission in the times in which we live.

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What is the mission for YMCA Metro Atlanta?

Our mission is to help build a healthy mind, body and spirit. Before the 1970’s and 1980’s when wellness really exploded across the globe, if you looked at the programs theY offered, they were still pretty balanced. We were offering workforce development programs for young women and men back in the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s. We were doing youth programming as early as the 1920’s. A really neat story, the Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution - which were two separate newspapers at that time - came together and asked the Y to form The YMCA Newsboys Club.

Numerous kids that were selling newspapers at that time were homeless and abandoned youth. We created a program where the kids would come in and get a hot meal in the morning, go out on their route and come back and get another hot meal and enjoy all sorts of educational and enrichment activities. That’s what’s so interesting about this organization, the way that we look at programming through the lenses of mind, education, workforce development and body. All while focusing on holistic wellness, mental and physical health and community health as well as health equity.

Also from a spirit standpoint, we try to put it in terms of the times we’re living in today, how are we thinking about inclusion and empowerment for all people to feel that they can be a part of the Y and have access and opportunities.

We’re really focused on making sure the programs we offer are balanced with the needs of the communities we serve.

A lot of people don’t know that we’re the largest provider of early learning in the state of Georgia. We serve more than 3,000 children everyday through Early Head Start, Head Start Georgia Pre-K program, and traditional early learning.

We also have 50 different after school sites.

How has the pandemic affected the programs provided by The YMCA Atlanta?

On March 10, 2020 - we went from business as usual to a week later having everything closed. All of our YMCA’s, all of our early learning centers, all of our after-school sites, everything was closed. We really had to think, “how are we going to serve our communities with our doors closed?” We decided two things, the first one was we turned our YMCA’s into a food distribution network. We ended up working across the 13-county metro region with 65 different regional partners ranging from churches, to community centers, to local governments, to food pantries. We served more than 600,000 meals at a YMCA between March through December 2020. The second thing we did was build up our knowledge of childcare. That’s one of the main things we do in early learning and day camp. We started a program called “Childcare for Emergency Workers.'' By the end of March 2020, even though we were closed, we’d worked with the state of Georgia to get licensing to provide childcare - of course children were wearing masks and practicing social distancing, and there was proper use of PPE. We opened this program at seven different Y locations for those who work in healthcare, grocery stores, warehouses and didn’t have the luxury to work from home.

We wanted to make sure they had a safe place where their children could go and be cared for while they did the work on behalf of the community. We took our core capabilities and used our resources, all of the local partnerships we had, and used our abilities to provide childcare across all different age ranges and adapted through all of that during the pandemic so that we’d still have a chance to serve the community in a way that was really needed and relevant.

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What does the immediate future look like for YMCA Metro Atlanta?

Our strategic plans in the past were 10-year plans. We decided our next strategic plan would be a “five years. It’s a plan that’s all about people, investing in our team members, investing in those we serve and investing in our communities. We will continue to be agile and adaptive and we’re really focused right now on how we continue to look at our mission and continue to meet changes and challenges within the community. We know there has been significant learning pauses and losses across communities because of the pandemic, so we are committed to using our out of school time - whether it’s summertime, spring break, after school, to step in and adjust our programming and curriculum to add in support to combat learning loss. Everyday we’re going to be looking for fun ways to build in learning around literacy, math and other skills, making it fun for the kids. It’s needed and we’re so fortunate the YMCA is a large community-based organization. We engage with so many families and youth and have an opportunity and responsibility to address some of the things we’ve seen. We’re really going to be infusing our day camps and after school programs moving forward to help address learning loss, to help boost kids confidence and to help with skills needed to stay on track. The other thing we are seeing and trying to get in front of is mental health. There is a huge mental health challenge we’re facing as a community and the pandemic has been hard for adults to process. But, oh my goodness, just think about the kids and how much their worlds have changed. Their worlds have been turned upside down and they don’t have those same years of coping mechanisms to navigate this and we see that when kids show back up. Sometimes they act out or show their frustrations in improper ways, sowe’re providing more training for our staff across our youth serving program in trauma informed care, to help recognize those moments and how to have healthy conversations while helping kids redirect their thoughts. I think all youth serving organizations are going to have to think about how they step into gaps that have been created from the pandemic, whether it’s learning loss, or mental health challenges, and really band together for the community. Another area we’re focused on is lifting up health equity. We just opened up a new wellness center called the YMCA at Morehouse School of Medicine. The YMCA has always been focused on fighting chronic diseases, and helping people live healthier lives if they have chronic diseases, but we really feel there’s an opportunity that’s been highlighted through the pandemic to help with health equity. Our partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine and Good Samaritan Health Clinic has helped the Y within the community to be a place of health education and promotion that reaches into the community. I think you’ll be seeing The Y come out of the pandemic in a much bigger way and become more focused on those determinants and focused on how we can help people live healthy lives from a mind, body and spirit component.

s there anything additional that you’d like my readers to know?

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If people are looking for a way to volunteer, if they’re looking for a place to belong, the Y is different and special. I know that I’m partial… but it is. It’s a true place of gathering in the community and anyone and everyone is welcomed at The Y to come and be exactly who they are. Come see us! If you left because of the pandemic, come back, we miss you. If you’re looking for a place where you can make an impact in the community or volunteer, you can do that at The Y.

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I spoke briefly with LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta's General Manager Laciana Sargeant- and Marketing Manager Nikki O'Brien about how LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta has changed during the pandemic.

They gave me some great updates to procedures and health policies while visiting...

Laciana Sargeant- General Manager LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta

Nikki O'Brien- Marketing Manager LEGOLAND

How does LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta differ from other attractions in Atlanta?

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta is the ultimate indoor LEGO playground for families.

We have over 12 different themed zones for families to enjoy, including a 4D Cinema, Master Model Builder Academy, multiple LEGO themed rides, and a 1.5 million LEGO Brick replica of the city of Atlanta. – Nikki O’Brien

How has Covid-19 impacted the business and operations at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta?

Due to health and safety restrictions, we have reduced the capacity in our attraction, so that we can enforce social distancing and keep both our guests and staff safe and happy. We have also implemented various Bricktastic Safety measures and enhanced cleaning procedures for all LEGO bricks inside the attraction.

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What new safety measures and protocols have been implemented to keep guests and employees safe while visiting LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta?

We worked with our corporate safety task force to enact various safety measures, including new signage to inform guests of the safety procedures. We have also added additional hand sanitizing stations throughout the attraction.

– Laciana Sargeant

What are some of the most popular things to do at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta?

Our most popular attractions are our rides, including The Great LEGO Race, a virtual reality ride where you can steer clear of flying objects, and Kingdom Quest. On The Great LEGO VR Race, guests can soar high in the air and fly into lava caves on the most incredible, exhilarating and fun LEGO race ever created! On Kingdom Quests, guests aim for the most targets to score and save the princess.

We also have different themed events throughout the year for our guests to enjoy. Our next upcoming event is Pirates Ahoy, setting sail May 10-June 20. – Nikki O’Brien

What are the short and long term goals for LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta?

In the short term, we are looking to provide a place for families to create amazing memories with each other, especially during the difficult times that our country has endured over the past few months. Long term, we are always looking to expand what we offer on site, both in variety of rides, LEGO additions to MINILAND, and educational offerings to our guests through out Master Model Builder Academy. – Laciana Sargeant

How does LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta partner within the community?

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta is always looking for community partners to assist and enhance the Atlanta community. Some our recent partners included the Wednesdays Child and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We also recently partnered with the Humane Society of Atlanta to promote Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. During the holidays we partnered with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, to donate mini LEGO builds, and we hosted a child for adoption from Wednesdays Child in partnership with FOX 5, in hopes of getting the young man noticed and adopted–Nikki O’Brien 17

Is there anything additional that you’d like to add or let my readers know?

We are a family themed LEGO Indoor playground, open seven days a week.

We are conveniently located on the third floor of Phipps Plaza, in the heart of Buckhead. Our next upcoming family event is Pirates Ahoy, taking place May 10-June 20. We are always adding new events and promotions, and for the most up to date information, please check out us out on social and our website at LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com/Atlanta – Laciana Sargeant

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If you haven't visited the Sugar Factory in Atlanta, you're missing out on quite the treat! After hosting a birthday celebration at the Sugar Factory.. I got some insight from Bryan Ogden, the Corporate Executive Chef of Sugar Factory American Brasserie. Here's what Chef Ogden told me about the Sugar Factory....

How did the Sugar Factory land in Atlanta?

It was always a goal to bring Sugar Factory’s Instagram-worthy offerings to the Atlanta restaurant scene. We opened in the heart of Midtown right on Peachtree Street in September 2019.

What makes this location for the Sugar Factory so unique?

Atlanta has a thriving music and film scene, making Sugar Factory Atlanta a celebrity hotspot! Since opening, our restaurant has served Nick Cannon, 50 Cent, Tammy Rivera and Waka Flocka, Eva Marcille, Ne-Yo, Future, Michael K. Williams, Idris Elba, Blacc Chyna, John Travolta, Lil Scrappy, Karlie Redd, Jeremy Renner, Alani "La La" Anthony, Kash Doll and T.I. & Tiny (to name a few).

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What's on the menu?

It’s not just desserts and candy! Sugar Factory’s menu features signature items such as appetizers, soups, salads, pastas and monster burgers.

Guests can indulge in elaborate dishes including The Big Cheesy, made with certified black angus beef, topped with creamy mac & cheese, tomato, shredded lettuce, pickles,

Where do you get your inspiration from to create your dishes?

We try to bring that wow-factor to every dish. Not only does it have to taste great, but it has to look great too. All of our creations play up the restaurant’s high energy, family friendly

American cheese, applewood bacon and served with BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun; the Black Angus Filet & Lobster Surf and Turf, made with Buckhead prime filet and fresh baked lobster tail, warm melted butter, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and green

atmosphere.

beans almondine; and the Cajun Chicken

What is the most popular dish on the menu?

Our world-famous Rainbow Sliders –classic

Alfredo made with penne pasta, blackened chicken, garlic, butter, cream, Parmesan cheese and garlic crostini.

mini burgers with rainbowcolored buns served with

The real showstopper is our famous King Kong

American cheese, crispy

Sundae, made with 24 scoops of ice cream

onions and signature sauce.

Sugar Factory’s logo is represented in the color of the buns and the dish comes with a signature rubber duck for guests to

covered with dark chocolate and caramel sauces, caramelized bananas, marshmallows, chocolate chip cookie chunks, a glazed donut, a red velvet cupcake, gummy bears, waffle cones, unicorn pops and candy necklaces.

take home.

Tell me about Sugar Factory’s drink menu?

Sugar Factory is known for its signature alcohol-infused smoking candy goblets. We can serve them with or without alcohol, so if you have kids with you, the whole family can enjoy them. Some celebrity-approved goblets include The Candy Shop Goblet, made with Branson Cognac Phantom by 50 Cent; The People's Watermelon Cadillac Margarita, made with Teremana Tequila Blanco by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; the Strawberry Hustle Goblet, made with Strawberry Cacti Spiked Seltzer by Travis Scott; the Strawberry Lemonade Smash, made with Indoggo Gin by Snoop Dogg and the Classic Watermelon Pina Colada, made with SelvaRey Rum by Bruno Mars.

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What is your favorite dish to prepare? What is your favorite dish to enjoy and indulge?

My favorite dish to prepare, just because they’re so iconic, are the Rainbow Sliders.

We make our buns in house. My go-to is the Waffle Burger, made with certified black angus beef, classic vanilla bean waffles, fried egg, melted cheddar cheese, hash browns, country sausage, applewood bacon and gravy served with warm maple syrup. Perfect for brunch or dinner!

Does the menu rotate or does it stay the same with staple items on the menu?

You can always find Sugar Factory’s famous bites, over-the-top drinks and extravagant desserts on the menu, but we occasionally add seasonal insane milkshakes for national holidays including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more.

Is there anything additional that you’d like to add or let my readers know?

Sugar Factory is the perfect destination to celebrate bachelorette, 21st birthday and sweet sixteen parties, baby showers, anniversaries and more. Guests are strongly encouraged to book a reservation in advance on OpenTable.com

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Dr. Fatu Forna, PHYSICIAN PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF PERINATAL SAFETY AND QUALITY AT KAISER PERMANENTE OF GEORGIA,

Dr. Fatu Forna provides clarification around the most common myths surrounding maternal mortality, risk factors to be aware of and how to ensure mother and baby's long lasting health.

Dr. Forna also addresses racial disparities regarding higher maternal mortality incidence rates in African American 23 mothers than Caucassian mothers.

Maternal Mortality: Knowing your risk factors can save your life The United States is known as a world leader in healthcare, yet we fall tragically behind in taking care of expectant mothers. Among developed countries, the United States has the highest rate of maternal mortality and Georgia has the second-highest rate in the country, according to WorldPopulationReview.com. It's no wonder a large percentage of women express fear associated with pregnancy.

One positive is these staggering numbers can be corrected. Although there are many contributing factors we cannot control, including age and pre-existing conditions, hospitals today have made great strides to increase public understanding of maternal mortality and educate women about steps they can take to protect themselves.

Know your risk factors If you're pregnant, or planning to be, now is the time to understand potential risk factors. If you, or your family have a history of high blood pressure (hypertension) or diabetes, speak with your doctor about your risk factors to ensure a smooth pregnancy and healthy baby.

The social determinants of health (where you live and work, socio-economic conditions, access to healthcare and other non-medical factors) in addition to family history, play a significant role in your health status before and during pregnancy. For example, African American women are at a higher risk for complications and dying during pregnancy, when compared to white women. According to the American Heart Association, black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. One way to combat this reality is to work to optimize your health before pregnancy and to attend regular prenatal visits, ensuring your doctor is aware of and treating pre-existing conditions and new health issues during pregnancy.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle Once pregnant, a woman's top priority should be keeping herself and her new baby healthy.

Maintaining a healthy diet, staying active and getting plenty of sleep are important routines for expectant mothers. Depending on a woman's age, these routines become even more important. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maternal mortality for women age 40 and over is nearly eight times that of women under age 25. As we age, risk of developing gestational diabetes and high blood pressure increases along with the potential risk of chromosome abnormalities and the need for a C-section delivery.

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Even so, older women, and younger women with higher risk, can take care of themselves and their baby by focusing on a few key areas:

Regular prenatal care: Regular appointments offer time to discuss necessary lifestyle changes and ongoing care makes it possible for your doctor to closely monitor a mother and baby's health.

Maintaining a healthy diet: An expectant mother's diet should include folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin D and other essential nutrients. Additionally, monitoring sodium intake and taking daily prenatal vitamins is also encouraged.

Be smart about your weight: There is no getting around weight gain while pregnant. Rather than trying to avoid extra weight, expectant mothers should focus on gaining weight wisely.

Staying active helps prepare a mother's body for inevitable changes and increases strength and stamina – both of which will be needed during and after delivery.

Prioritize mental health Maternal health doesn't end when a mother leaves the hospital. Fourth-trimester care is critical to the health of both mother and baby and mental and emotional health plays a huge role in how well a family transitions to a newborn. A study published in the National Library of Medicine concluded that mothers who received both emotional and practical help (e.g., housework and childcare activities) after coming home from the hospital saw lower rates of postpartum depression and complications. Even so, one in nine women experience postpartum depression with black and Latinx women about half as likely to receive postpartum depression care as white women. Women need care and support during and after pregnancy to provide emotional support, to identify problems early and to provide psychosocial support when needed.

Hospitals that have started incorporating social workers into their care teams have seen great success. For example, at Kaiser Permanente of Georgia, our emotional support staff is brought in early and stays connected to mothers during and after delivery of the baby. We are working to provide a cocoon around pregnant women – to provide both clinical and psychosocial support that women need to have a healthy and safe pregnancy.

Hope for the future While hospitals are introducing better ways to combat maternal morbidity and mortality, expectant mothers can take control of theirs and their baby's health. Knowing risks, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and prioritizing mental health is imperative. The single greatest way to ensure a baby ends up happy, healthy and safe is to take care of and support the mother first.

Fatu M. Forna, MD, Physician Program Director of Perinatal Safety and Quality with the Southeast Permanente Medical Group of Kaiser Permanente Georgia 25

Atlanta Dream and NIKE, Inc. Announce New WNBA Uniforms

Photos credit: The Atlanta Dream

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The Dream shares the unique characteristics of Atlanta and its story through three new special uniforms.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Dream unveiled their brand-new uniforms, joining forces with the WNBA and NIKE, Inc.

The Dream’s three new uniforms represent Atlanta’s rich and vibrant history, pulling inspiration from the city, the Civil and Human 󿵊hts Movement, and the city’s iconic music scene. The three uniforms have been given the names Atlanta Dream Nike Heroine Edition, Atlanta Dream Nike Explorer Edition and Atlanta Dream Nike Rebel Edition to highlight the power, potential and attitude of the WNBA athlete.

“Nike partnered with the Atlanta Dream to honor the city’s past, present and future with the release of the team’s new uniforms,” says Tania Flynn, VP, Women’s Apparel Design at NIKE, Inc. “From celebrating the Georgians who championed the Civil 󿵊hts Movement to highlighting Atlanta’s music industry, the Atlanta Dream’s uniforms speak to the vibrancy of the city.”

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Atlanta Dream’s Nike Heroine Edition in white and Atlanta Dream’s Nike Explorer Edition in red uniforms capture the passion, courage and heart of the Georgians who championed the Civil 󿵊hts Movement. The belief in a more equitable tomorrow is amplified, represented by shimmering rays cast over a striking, bold red field — details that symbolize hope.

The colorful Atlanta Dream’s Rebel Edition pays homage to the sound of Atlanta, defined by the city’s unmatched impact on Hip-Hop and R&B. The legacy of the scene’s legendary female recording artists is celebrated with vibrant colors, strapping side-striping, and confident lettering—a salute to the swagger, creativity and iconicity of ATL’s most influential female musicians. The large ATL wordmark represents the city, while the side-panel design lines invoke vinyl records of the past and the ever-evolving sound of today’s female artists. The subtle hints of silver in the uniform – such as the silver star and logo detailing – are symbolic of the platinum and gold records produced by the women of the city.

“This is the most comprehensive WNBA apparel offering in history,” said Sonja Henning, VP, North America League Partnerships at NIKE, Inc. “In such an empowering time for women’s basketball, Nike will deliver more innovation and storytelling for the players and bring more fans closer to the game.”

Each uniform will feature one of Inspire Brands’ properties, making the Dream the first team in league history to feature multiple patches on their uniforms in a single season. The white Atlanta Dream Nike Heroine Edition uniform top will display the Arby’s logo, the red Atlanta Dream Nike Explorer Edition uniform will carry the Jimmy John’s logo and the Atlanta Dream Nike Rebel Edition uniform will bear a Sonic logo.

The Atlanta Dream will play its home games at the Gateway Center Arena @ College Park, has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in nine of its first 13 seasons.

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East Point Unveils Tesla Superchargers Installed at Camp Creek Marketplace Partnership between Tesla, Target and the City of East Point to promote clean energy

EAST POINT, GA- Tesla drivers can now plug in and charge up their vehicle while they are on the go at the Target parking lot inside the Camp Creek Marketplace. Tesla installed 12 Supercharger stations for Tesla drivers and four ChargePoint EV chargers for other electric vehicles. Tesla decided to partner with the Target at the Camp Creek Marketplace due to its proximity to the world’s busiest airport, HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport.

“We are excited that Tesla has selected us as the “City of Choice” to promote clean energy and improve the quality of life in our community,” said Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham. “The Camp Creek Marketplace is the number one Tax Allocation District in the state and is a prime destination for electric vehicle owners to recharge their vehicles while exploring what our City has to offer. This collaborative partnership will serve as a catalyst for other communities to follow suit towards improving our environment.”

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The unveiling of the Tesla Superchargers in East Point comes days after President Joe Biden announced his push to build a national EV charging system under a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, promising to have at least 500,000 devices installed across the U.S. by 2030. Tesla originally approached East Point’s Power Department in 2019 to assist with the project, but the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alicia Persons, East Point Power Project Manager, says Tesla approached East Point Power again at the beginning of 2021 and her team was able to complete the project within a month.

“Tesla’s team installed the Superchargers, but East Point Power assisted with running conduit, installing meters and transformers,” said Alicia Persons, East Point Power Project Manager. “The charging stations are a win-win for both the City of East Point and Tesla drivers."

For more information on pricing to use a Supercharger, visit Tesla.com

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I visited The Moxy Atlanta Midtown Hotel in late spring of 2021 for a few days. It honestly was one of the best weekends I’d had in a long time. The Moxy Atlanta Midtown Hotel contributed to that time. Every detail from parking, to check in, to the complimentary cocktail hour, to the beautiful artwork in the lobby and common areas.

I haven’t even begun to talk about the rooms. My stay was relaxing, efficient, functional and calming, as I was also working during my stay. The hallways and entrances to the room floors felt more like your own apartment and escape or getaway in a different world. The modern touches in the rooms which included everything I could ask for and needed in modern conveniences of today, topped off with amazing views of bustling Midtown Atlanta right from our window. The Moxy Atlanta Midtown Hotel got it right.

Shortly after my stay I spoke with the General Manager of The Moxy Atlanta Midtown Hotel- Tim Dahlen to find out about the hotel operations and what his team does to 31 keep guests safe during these unprecedented times. Here’s what Tim had to say:

How long has the Moxy hotel been in Atlanta?

The hotel opened in January 2019.

What safety measures and health precautions has the hotel taken to keep its guests and staff safe and healthy?

At Moxy we're seriously into raising our already super-detailed cleaning protocols. We've made adjustments to the amenities, services and facilities available - all in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – to keep our guests and crew safe. We take hygiene and cleanliness standards very seriously.

Enhancements to our normal practices throughout the hotel include: Enhanced Public Space and Guest Room Cleaning, Social Distancing Practices, Wellness Checks & Use of Masks for all crew and the addition of Electrostatic Spraying to our cleaning protocols. We wear because we care - and we require all guests to do the same. The proper use of masks/face coverings is mandatory in all public areas of the hotel. Through the Marriott BonvoyTM mobile app, we are able to provide our guests with the exceptional experience they expect, with minimized contact.

Marriott Bonvoy members can use App to take full advantage of our "Contact Lite" service options, including: Mobile Check-In, Mobile Check Out, Mobile Key, Chat and Guest Requests.

How has the hotel maintained its business during the pandemic?

We've continued to do quite well with weddings, sports groups and even small corporate meetings. For groups that required higher levels of exclusivity, we customized buy-out and "bubble" opportunities to add additional peace of mind. Groups had the opportunity to customize their experience including exclusive and private access to lobbies, bars, elevators and full guestroom floors.

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What are the short- and long-term goals for the hotel?

The temperatures are heating up and we're excited to re-open High Note, our Rooftop Bar and Restaurant. It's extremely popular with locals and hotel guests and we're thrilled to be back open. Our ultimate goal is to provide our guests and crew with a safe and comfortable environment that gives them the confidence to get back on the road. Times like these remind us of the tremendous power travel has to rock our world and change our lives. The measures we are taking are part of our unwavering commitment to taking care of our guests during their travels.

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What is the idea behind the concept of The Moxy Hotel (being connected to AC Hotel, its offerings to its guests)?

AC Hotel Atlanta Midtown and Moxy Atlanta Midtown is the first-ever combination of an AC Hotel by Marriott and Moxy Hotel under one roof.

Each hotel appeals to both business and leisure travelers, but they are quite unique. Moxy is a playground that attracts Fun Hunters and is designed to give guests everything they need and nothing they don't while AC celebrates the beauty of classic modern design with its European soul and Spanish roots.

We find that our guests enjoy experiencing a little bit of each throughout their stay.

Are there any changes that the hotel has implemented during the pandemic that it plans to keep long term (room service, housekeeping, restaurant / bar, etc.)?

Your guest room is your sanctuary throughout your stay with us. To minimize contact, we offer housekeeping services only upon request. We anticipate this will stay around for a while. Outside of that, we anticipate getting back to as close to normal as soon as possible.

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What amenities does the Moxy hotel offer?

Super-fast / Super-free Wi-Fi TVs equipped with streaming service such as HBO and Netflix Bluetooth enabled TVs so you can stream the playlist to your life Glass enclosed shower featuring residential Muk bath amenities Steamers in every guestroom Pet-Friendly Bar Moxy / Check-in at the Bar High Note Rooftop Bar Outdoor pool Fully equipped 24/7 Gym Coffee in lobby 4,643 sq ft of total event space

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