First Metro Atlanta Online Magazine for German/ US Expats
Atlanta Expat Expat Taxes
Tips for Expat Managers that need to pay income tax in Germany and the USA.
#1 #1
August 2012
Roswell Mill A historical walk around to Roswell Mill.
Atlanta Expat Magazine by Caroline Porsiel www.cpcon.biz
Content Metro Atlanta Relocation Checklist Metro Atlanta Housing German Expat Tax Atlanta moves Living Walls Google+ Photowalk Roswell Mill Lake Alatoona Rivermont Golf & Country Club Along the Hooch Wild Flowers Helpful addresses
Atlanta Expat by Caroline Porsiel www.cpcon.biz
Atlanta runs... Published September 2012, Issue #1 (c) Caroline Porsiel 5445 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd Atlanta, Georgia 30342, USA info(at)cpcon.biz Photos by Caroline Porsiel, Alexander Koloskov Design Template by Erick Ragas All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher Caroline Porsiel. Request for permission should be addressed to the contact address above. The publisher makes a great effort to ensure accuracy of information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not be responsible for errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, which results from its use, and make no warranty of claims as to the qualtiy or competence of business or professionals mentioned. Usersrs are adivised to take care when selecting professionals mentioned. Readers are advised to use common sense when adjusting to a new life in a new country and to take care when selecting professinal services.
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elcome to Atlanta! Arriving in Atlanta can be somewhat overwhelming and facinating by the city: With almost 6M people living and working in Metro Atlanta, the city is ranked the eighth-largest economic center in the U.S. In the first weeks of your arrival Expats need to adjust to several intercultural topics that might be different from their home country such as i.e. driving, renting an apartment, supermarkets, products, companies, organisations, restaurants, taxation and social networking. This magazine is addressed to all newly arriving Expats to benefit from the experience and network of the German Expat Community in Atlanta.
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Historic Atlanta
Modern Atlanta
The city from the ashes
Center of the German Business Triangle
Atlanta was officialy established in 1847 at the intersection of two railroad lines. There are conflicting tales about how the city was named. Some believe that the city is named after the goddess Atalanta, and others came to believe that it was the middle name of Martha Lumpkin Compton. The reality is much simpler: The name was suggested by J. Edgar
ATL
Thomson, chief engineer of the Georgia railroad, when he was asked to come up with a name for the city he said: “Eureka—Atlanta, the terminus of the Western and Atlantic Railroad—Atlantic masculine, Atlanta feminine—a coined word, and if you think it will suit, adopt it.”
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Atlanta is the transportation hub of the Southeastern U.S. via highway, railroad, and air, with Hartsfield–Jackson Airport being the world’s busiest airport since 1998. With a gross domestic product of about $270 billion, Atlanta ranks 16th in the worlds’ largest cities and eighth in the nation. Atlanta’s economy is considered diverse, including logistics, business services, media operations, government, and higher education. With the establishment of German car production facilities in the South, Atlanta has become the center of the so called “German Triangle” between South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama.
arthasville (today Atlanta) was named after Martha Lumpkin Compton, the daughter of Georgia Gov. Wilson Lumpkin. According to Thomas H. Martin, one of the builders of Atlanta, the people wanted a “bigger” name than Marthasville.
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tlanta rose from the ashes after being burned to the ground by William T. Sherman’s Union Army at the end of the Civil War in 1864. Even though more than 70% of Atlanta was destroyed by fire, the city became one of the most important cities in the world.
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Relocation Checklist Social Security No.
The SSN# can be applied for 10 days after arrival at the closest Social Security office. It lasts normally 1-2 weeks to get a SSN#.
Finding a home
Different than in Germany the real estate agents are paid by the seller. Realtors are very helpful in finding the best areas to live in/ best school districts for your budget.
Setting up your home Landlords/ Homeowners normally provide you with the information on gas, electricity and water. Phone, TV and Internet can be chosen in several different packages, one big provider in Metro Atlanta is AT&T.
Explore your area
Basic orientation needs some time: Start with the closest supermarkets, mall, restaurants, laundry service and rental car agency for your basic needs.
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VISA LAW
Finding a lawyer of your trust is important to cover all of your personal VISA and working permit issues for you and your family depending on your needs and independent from your employers viewpoint.
C
ontact Ms. E. Scofield, Alston & Bird
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BANKING
A checking account can be opened at any bank close. If you plan to buy a house in Metro Atlanta there a few banks that offer a specialized service for Expats.
C
ontact Mr. A. Porsiel Steuerberater
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TAX Consultancy
Expats need to coordinate their German and U.S. taxation issues with their consultants. Independent if you already are working with conultants in both countries or are looking for a new consultant an additional interface for solving common as well as special Expat taxation issues is needed.
C
ontact Mr. A. Porsiel Steuerberater
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Golf
Parks
For outdoor adventurer Georgia is a paradise! Georgia’s borders encompasses a very diverse and beautiful landscapes that offers a variety of eco-friendly outdoor adventures for everyone. Exciting outdoor adventures like hiking, hang-gliding, mountain biking, horseback riding and white-water kayaking and with a short driving distance from Altanta. Georgia has 45 state parks, three state historic parks and 15 historic sites, stretching from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. The state has a variety of geographic areas: The coastal Okefenokee National Wildlife
Wildlife
Hiking Trails
Refuge is one of the oldest freshwater areas in the country as well as a famous swamp in the southern part of the State. In the north Georgia hosts the starting point of the famous Appalachian trail, one of the longest hiking trails in the world, leading its way up to Maine, with approximately 2,184 miles (3,515 km). The first major golf tournament of each year in the U.S., The Masters, is hosted in Augusta, GA. This tournament is one of the most prestigious in the sport in addition Georgia has more than 400 golfcourses and due to its mild climate golfers can play year round.
Stone Mountain Park with view to Atlanta
home search? Steve Boyce
Boyce Real Estate Group www.BRGP.co
Take advantage of our complete relocation service! Not ready to buy? We will be happy to assist you in renting a home while you learn the city. In today’s competitive real estate market, timing is everything. Many good homes are sold before they are ever advertised. If you have any general questions about buying or selling real estate in Metro Atlanta, please contact us directly by Phone: 678.525.9950 or write an EMail.
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German Expat Taxes Solutions for Expats that need to pay taxes in Germany and the US
Service is
personal, fast, fair priced and a direct contact to your tax consultant/ Steuerberater/ CPA Germany.
L
ocated in the Northside of Atlanta in Sandy Springs, the office can be accessed via GA 400 or I-285/ Exit Glenridge Connector. Parking, in front of the building is available.
A
ddress
5445 Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30342 Phone 404-771-4332 Skpye andreas.porsiel Email
Why Atlanta
Fortune Magazine ranks Atlanta fourth in the number of Fortune 500 Company Headquarters in the U.S. and in the Top 10 for Global 500 Company Headquarters in the world. •
Least expensive Major City in which to do business in the U.S. (KPMG, 2006)
•
Ranked #2 U.S. city for low HQ costs (The Boyd Company, 2007)
•
Most Business-Friendly city of North American Cities of the Future (fDi Magazine, 2008)
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Center of the Automotive Triangle (BMW Greenville SC, VW Chattanooga, TN and MBUSI, Vance AL)
Ask today Receiving a U.S. Greencard effects your taxation in Germany
Ask today The double taxation treaty offers not a solution for Expats
New Atlanta Office! Andreas-A. Porsiel Steuerberater/ CPA Germany
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etro Atlanta is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. with a population of almost 6M people with an estimated community of 3,800 - 5,000 German Expats.
Due to the close business relationship between D端sseldorf and Atlanta, there are many advantages to opening a business in Atlanta. And the market shows German Steuerberater/ Tax experts are rare to find, with most consultants working in international audit firms, few people are focusing on the specialized needs of the employees working abroad. Andreas-A. Porsiel Steuerberater/ German CPA with more than 20 years of experience in international tax is now filling this gap by opening an office in Atlanta.
German Tax Representation Advantage package for Expats for a mailing address in Germany
Self-employed Expats Consulting packages for international freelancers/ expats
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Transportation
Movement in Atlanta
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ARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system. MARTA operates almost exclusively in Fulton and DeKalb counties, with bus service to two destinations in Cobb county and a single rail station in Clayton County at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. outes & schedules: www.itsmarta.com
riving in the U.S. differs from driving in Germany: i.e. “taking a red turn on red”, how to behave if a police car stops you (stay in your car, remain calm and put your hands on the steering wheel) or how to behave in case of a car accident. ules in Georgia: www.dds.ga.gov
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er Pedes: The 4th of July Celebration in Atlanta, the Peachtree Road Race is an amazing event in Atlanta that starts in Buckhead near Lenox Square Mall and ends in Piedmont Park after 6.2 miles. Today it is the world’s largest 10K with 60,000 runners and walkers.
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JC Peachtree Road Race: www.peachtreeroadrace.org
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International Executive Coaching Emory Mulling, Mulling Corporation
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COACHING BY FORMER SENIOR CORPORATE EXECUTIVES Our mission for International Executive Coaching is to provide your leaders with the skills and training necessary to work more effectively in a multi-cultural environment and assist them to understand and adapt to the U.S. business culture. Emory Mulling, Author of “The Mulling Factor - Taking Control of Your Career” and host of “Today’s Workplace with Emory Mulling, Your at Work Expert”, a weekly Radio Program. www.mulling.com
“Living Walls, The City Speaks”
SAM3 - Madrid
is an annjual conference on street art and urbanism in Atlanta since August 2010 Mónica Campana and Blacki Migliozzi founded Living Walls in 2010 to encourage discussion about street art and urbanism in Metro Atlanta. Is Graffiti a vandalism or art and what about murals? How do you draw the line beween the to? The idea of Living Walls seeks to create a more intimate relationship between the invited artists and the community receiving the art. The intentions of the artists are simple: to intodruce a wide spectrum of ideas about public space, hoping that everyone leaves the event looking differently at the city, its walls, and how we interact with space. This year the twenty-six artists participating are all women, making the Living Walls 2012 the very first all-female street art conference, ever. More photos of this year artists will follow in November edition. More information online: livingwallsconference.com Archive Photos / Living Walls Conference 2011
Tip!
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a Pandilla - a street art duo of Alexis Diaz and Juan Fernandez from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The two were featured in Complex Magazine’s The 50 Greatest Street Artists Right Now.
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rek Matthews, Wisconsin-raised Atlantian creates murals combining nature topics with geometric forms criticising the destruction of nature by man. His fox is in Cabbagetown, Atl.
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OA Street Artist from Belgium. ROA was in Atlanta for the Living Walls 2011 Conference. The Belgian artist created this monumental piece with this upside down alligator.
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reddy Sam, South Africa Freddy Sam participated in the Living Walls 2011 and was featured in Complex Magazine’s The 50 Greatest Street Artists Right Now. His Mural is in Decatur.
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Photo by Alex Koloskov
Despite the Atlanta heat on June, 30th, 2012 photographers and photo amateuers gathered to walk together in the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District in downtown Atlanta. The walk started at Centennial Olympic Park across from the CNN building and ended after three hours in a get-together in a nearby restaurant. It was a great experience and it was inspiring to see how the same places can be visualized in many different ways. An online stream of the best photos is on google+. The “Atlanta Google Plus Anniversary Photowalk” was part of a global google+ event. Photo by Alex Koloskov
Photo by Alex Koloskov
google+ Photo Walk with Alex Koloskov www.koloskov.com Photo by Alex Koloskov
Intelligence-Photography and Visual Storytelling is the motto of Alex Koloskov. The Metro Atlanta based photo artist is completely self taught and has an amazing portfolio. “I don’t follow the herd. I do it my way. That turned out to be invaluable in what I do.” Alex Koloskov ‘s out of the box thinking created a unique and stunning photography style that is crisp, sharp and crystal clear. For more information see also www.photigy.com
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Flatiron Building 1
Three interesting facts about an Atlanta historic building in the Fairlie-Poplar district.
This building was completed in 1897 and is located at 84 Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It was completed five years before the New York’s Flatiron Building, and shares a similar prominent flatiron shape as its famous counterpart.
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Architect Bradford Gilbert, a Chicago school contemporary of Daniel Burnham, was the designer of the building in Atlanta as well as the Flatiron Building in New York. The Atlanta building has 11 stories, neo-classical style, and is the city’s second and today oldest standing skyscraper.
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Originally the building was named the “English-American Building”, due to the fact that is was designed for the EnglishAmerican Loan and Trust Company. Because of the popularity of the New York’s Flatiron Building, the name Flatiron Building was adopted between 1916 and 1920, and again during the 1980s.
Success in the U.S. is based on three main factors. A product that is needed and wanted in the U.S. market, a comprehensive market entry strategy and a strong sales network. “From experience, I know that most companies manage the first two steps but have difficulties to build up a stable sales network in the U.S.” One reason is that they often remain in their “German Networks” and do not localize as fast and as much as needed. Caroline Porsiel is a sales specialist in Atlanta, GA.
CPCon Business Development & US Market Entry with Caroline Porsiel
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Stone Mountain Park www.stonemountainpark.com
Also called “Our Granite Mother”. It is a quartz monzonite dome monadnock in Stone Mountain, GA. The largest bas-relief in the world is encarved on its north face, showing the leaders of the Confederate States of America: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. Park Entrances: U.S. Highway 78 East, Exit 8, Stone Mountain, GA 30087 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
STONE MOUNTAIN HIKING TRAIL A 1 mile trek to the top of the mountain
Parking at the Confederate Hall, the trail starts right acroos the railroad tracks on the west side of the mountain. The summit is at 1,686 feet (514 m). Alternatively the summit can be reached by the Skyride aerial tram. The view of the surrounding areas including the skyline of Atlanta, Kennesaw Mountain, and on very clear days even the Appalachian Mountains are especially beautiful. The lower slopes of Stone Mountain are wooded. The rare Georgia oak and several other specimens grow along the walking trail and in the woods around the base of the mountain. The summit used to be encircled by a rock wall which disappeared over time. The wall is believed to have been built by early Native American inhabitants of the Stone Mountain area. The purpose of that wall remains unknown.
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Red Moss (Elf –Orphine) The Red Moss is not a moss at all, but a succulent plant which prefers the sunlight and warmth of the exposed granite at Stone Mountain.
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Prickly Pear Cactus: This plant is found throughout North American deserts. The cactus spines are modified leaves. Fruits and the green pads are cooked as vegetable.
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The Western Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio rutulus is a common swallowtail butterfly of western North America. It has the “tails” on the hind wings that are found in swallowtails.
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The clear freshwater pools on the summit are home to unusual clam shrimp and fairy shrimp. The tiny shrimp appear only during the rainy season.
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Wild Flowers
of the Georgia Mountains
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ountain Laurel - Kalmia latifolia, commonly called Mountain-laurel or Spoonwood, is a species of flowering plant in the blueberry family, Ericaceae, that is native to the eastern United States. It is called Spoonwood because native Americans used to make their spoons out of it. The plant is poisonous to several animals such as dogs, cats and cattle. That is why it is also called Lambkill.
aywing - Polygala paucifolia is a perennial plant in the family Polygalaceae. Easily mistaken for an orchid, this little flower is always a delight to stumble across. Its bloom time is spring to early summer. There are over 60 different kinds of Gaywings in the United States, with the greatest diversity is in the Southeast.
iola pedata (Birdsfoot violet, Bird’s-foot violet) is an ornamental plant in the Violaceae family. This violet is also known as the “mountain pansy” and is endemic to eastern North America. It is difficult to cultivate in typical garden environments because of an intolerance to rich, organic garden soils as well as excess to moisture.
oison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is found east of the Rocky Mountains. It is an adaptable, woody perennial weed. All types of poison ivy have three leaves, two leaflets grow on opposing sides and the third stands by itself at the end of the stalk. It can grow as a shrub or form a vine. It may carpet the ground while other poison ivy climb tree trunks, stone walls, and fences.
ris verna var. smalliana: Upland Dwarf Violet Iris. It occurs in the Eastern U.S. from New York south to Georgia. It is deep blue to violet or sometimes a white spring wildflower with a golden yellow signal on the spreading sepals. The flower prefers growing in nutrient poor acid soils and in semi-shaded mesic to dry woodland slopes.
rumpet creeper, Trumpet vine, Common trumpet creeper, Cow vine, Bignoniaceae. A high-climbing, aggressively colonizing woody vine can gro upto 35 ft high, climbing or scrambling over everything in its path by aerial rootlets. This vine is often cultivated for its attractive, reddish orange flowers. Escaped cultivation, it is colonizing so densely that it is also called Hellvine and Devils Shoestring.
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Roswell Mill
Formally the largest cotton mill in north Georgia
Roswell Mill was best known for producing finished textiles originating from raw materials grown on nearby plantations. The mill was part of a series of mills located along the Vickery Creek in Fulton County, GA. The original mill was constructed in 1839 but was burned down by Union Forces in 1864. Hydropower from Vickery Creek powered the mill also remnants of various buildings are still visible. The covered bridge spanning the Vickery Creek has been rebuilt and is part of a hiking trail in the Chattahoochee River Recreation Area.
H
ike at Roswell Mill
The hiking trails start behind the mill main buildings. Free parking is available. The hike down to the hydropower ruins and the Vickery Creek dam is about 2 miles long. It is little downhill and an “in-and-out trail” but over all easy to walk . Stairs must be taken to visit the hydropower ruins and the dam, the covered bridge is wheel chair accessable.
See also: Roswell Mill Ruins in Old Mill Park Roswell founders cemetery Roswell’s historic cemeteries
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The Founders Cemetery of Roswell is located on Sloan Street close to Roswell Mill. Parking is available in front of the cemetrery. The cemetery was used from 1840 to 1860. Among the distinguished dead
who rest here are Roswell´s founder, Roswell King; Major James Stephens Bulloch, grandfather of president Theodore Roosevelt and grandson of Archibald Bulloch, first president of Georgia; and
John Dunwoody, Esq., builder of Mimosa Hall and his wife, Jane Bulloch Dunwoody. Slaves of the families were also buried in Founders´ Cemetery where there are many unmarked graves.
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www.allatoonalake.org
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Lake
Allatoona
The lake covers more than 12,000 acres and has 270 miles of shoreline
Attractions include fishing, camping, boat rentals and hiking.
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Hole 1
Rivermont Golf & Country Club hosts the 2013 Possum Tour, Georgia German Golf Club
Par 4 Hcp 9 446 yards
Opening hole with creek.
S
ince 1973, Rivermont Country Club has been challenging both to scratch golfers as well as higher handicap players.
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n 2007, after a $3.6 million dollar course renovation completed by Michael Riley Design, Rivermont hosted sectional qualifying for the USGA’s Womens’ Mid-Amateur Championship.
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n 2008, Rivermont also hosted the sectional qualifying for the USGA’s Women’s and Men’s MidAmateur Championships as well as the 2008 Atlanta Amateur Championship.
Rivermont
Private Golf & Country Club Located in Johns Creek, Georgia, the club was built in 1973 and designed by Joseph L. Lee. The course is a 7,005 yard, par 72 course with a USGA Rating of 74 and USGA Slope of 138. The course has maintained the integrity of the natural environment and is designed to be a continuous challenge for all handicaps. Photos by Rivermont Golf Club
Photos by Rivermont Golf Club
Golfing
Rivermont Golf & Country Club www.rivermontcountryclub.com
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Along the “Hooch” An Ancient River in a Modern City
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
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he Chattahoochee offers 48 miles of recreational area for floating, fishing, hiking or playing. There are picnic areas as well as bike riding trails in Cochran Shoals and horseback riding trails on Bowmans Island.
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he annual park pass for $25 is valid for one year and a great alternative to daily park passes. It admits to the park all persons traveling in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle to all park parkings at the river.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area of Georgia
The Chattahoochee River starts in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The native Americans called the river Chattahoochee and is thought to mean “River of Painted Rocks.” The Chattahoochee area was referred to as the Enchanted Land by the Cherokee. Today the river attracts us with 48 miles of recreational area that is north of Metro Atlanta. People float down the river to shoot the “hooch”, as it is called, or to hike the trails, fish in its cold waters, or just simply relax. The Chattahoochee Nature Center offers guided trail hikes and detailed information on the area. Chattahoochee River Recreation National Park Information Chattahoochee
The Varsity Cult The Varsity is the World’s largest Drive-in Restaurant. Since1928 in Downtown Atlanta. On days of Georgia Tech football games up to 30,000 people visit The Varsity. “What’ll ya have?” 61 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308 404-881-1706
www.thevarsity.com
Fireworks
In Metro Atlanta by law firecrackers, torpedos, skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs, and sparklers are not allowed for private usage. Boiled Peanuts are one of the strangest dishes of the South tasting like potatos.
Boiled Peanuts
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F
ire/ Police / Ambulance
call
911
P
R
oison Control
ailroad Emergencies
call 404-616-9000 call 800-232-0144
F
ish & Wildlife Commission
call 770-717-3333
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A. Porsiel Steuerberater 5445 PeachtreeDunwoody Road Atlanta, Georgia 30342 404-771-4332 Alston & Bird LLP One Atlantic Center 1201 West Peachtree St. Suite 4200, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404-881-7000
Mulling Corporation 5445 PeachtreeDunwoody Road Atlanta, Georgia 30342 770-395-3131 Atlanta Track Club
Chattahoochee Nature Center 9135 Willeo Road Roswell, GA 30075 (770) 992-2055 Rivermont Country Club
3097 E Shadowlawn Ave Atlanta, Georgia 30305 404-231-9064
3130 Rivermont Pkwy Johns Creek GA 30022 770-993-2124
Steve Boys Real Estate 3777 Peachtree Rd. #221, Atlanta, Ga. 30319 678.525.9950 CPCon Caroline Porsiel 35445 PeachtreeDunwoody Road Atlanta, Georgia 30342 404-771-4332
Free Online Visitor Guide with lots of addresses for attractions, dining, shopping, sport and events including maps from the Atlanta Convention & Visitor Bureau:
Atlanta NOW Magazine
next edition November 2012
Buckhead
The Beverly Hills of the South
Oktoberfest in Georgia Impressions from the German Community
Portrait Christoph Sander Welcoming the new Genral Consul of Germany
2012 (C) Caroline Porsiel AtlantaExpat@cpcon.biz