Atlanta Intown - January 2018

Our mission: Published monthly since 1994, Atlanta INtown provides its readers with hyperlocal news and information that helps foster a sense of community in a dynamic urban setting. Live, work and play—we cover everything that makes our city home.

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Editorial

Collin Kelley INtown Editor

collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

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Contributors

Evelyn Andrews, Sally Bethea, Kathy Dean, Grace Huseth, Anna Jones, Isadora Pennington, Clare Richie, Shandra Hill Smith, Tim Sullivan, Megan Volpert

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Article queries and calendar submissions should be emailed to collin@ atlantaintownpaper.com.

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Designed for little kids, big kids, and the whole family, Second Sundays are for everyone. Visit us each month and experience new interactive, innovative family activities inspired by our collections and ever-changing exhibitions.

Half the man I used to be

As 2018 begins, I’m nearly two years on from being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In that time period, I’ve lost more than 100 pounds and put my diabetes into remission thanks to diet and exercise. My A1C level is now 5 (down from 8.1), my blood pressure is normal and I regularly walk four to five miles a day. And while I’m still constantly told I’m “half the man I used to be,” adjusting to the slimmer me has had its challenges.

When I look in a mirror, I sometimes don’t recognize myself or, even more disorienting, I see myself from long ago when I was slimmer. It’s like a weird visual echo. This sensation is coupled with a nearly life-long recurring dream of looking into a mirror and seeing someone else staring back at me. Now that it’s happened in real life, it almost feels like a form of depersonalization disorder. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve walked into my own bathroom or a fitting room to try on clothes (more on that in a moment) and thought someone else was in there with me.

Ah, yes, buying clothes. It’s been so long since I could walk into Target or Macy’s and buy clothes off the rack, I only recently realized that was an option again. Most of my clothes came from the big and tall offerings from Amazon. Going from a size 46 to 34 is fantastic, but relearning to wear “normal-size” clothes has also been a challenge. After years of wearing loose fitting, baggy t-shirts and jeans, I have to keep searching my memory bank to remind myself how clothes are supposed to fit and feel on my body.

Perhaps the most jarring thing about weight loss is how people react to you. At my heaviest (300 pounds), I felt both hidden and exposed at the same time. I was often concerned that people were looking at me because of my size, but came to realize I was also being ignored because of it. When I first started losing weight, a couple of acquaintances assumed I must be deathly ill; one even asked outright if I had cancer. While getting a compliment on your appearance is always nice, I spent at least a year having to grin and bear it, hearing variations of “how much better you look now that you’re not fat.” I didn’t think I was terribly unattractive when I was heavier, but people have made it clear that was not the case. The scrutiny – from the fit of my clothes to the slimness of my face and arms to the way I walk – made me feel more exposed than ever.

There is a myth sold by gyms, diet programs and the media that once you’ve lost a large amount of weight, you are a happier, sexier and more fulfilled person. I felt those things before I lost weight. If you’re in the process of losing weight, don’t listen to the voices that tell you that you will be a better person in the end. You already are. Lose the weight for you and no one else.

Before I close out this month’s letter, a few small housekeeping notes. You’ll notice that our sections have a new running order inside the magazine. We think it’s a more natural progression from news to features. You’ll also notice that our Go Green section is now called Sustainability. We thought this change better defines the things we’re writing about in this section every month. In the coming months, we’ll be rolling out new features on food, interior design and gardening. Stay tuned!

Photo by Jacob Nguyen

The Neighborhood

Midtown Milestone

Midtown Alliance prepares for 40th anniversary in 2018 with celebration

By Anna Jones

Midtown Alliance is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2018, marking four decades of progress, innovation and literal groundbreaking achievements. The organization shows no signs of slowing down with plans bettering public transportation, park expansion and more interactive art.

“We want Midtown to offer an exceptional urban experience in every dimension, and to get even better as it continues to grow,” Midtown Alliance CEO Kevin Green said. “[We want] more pedestrians, to create connected bicycle networks, and to leverage transit, as well as create different activation ideas in terms of what you can do beyond just sitting on the grass at the park.”

While the Midtown Alliance of today is certainly different from the Midtown Business Association it once was, its mission to unify the community has not wavered.

Green said that the Midtown of the 1970s was “unrecognizable from what we see today.” With decrepit sidewalks, disinvested residents that were consistently relocating to the suburbs, and unfrequented retail areas, Midtown was a sea of abandoned surface parking lots and wasted potential. But with the dedication of a group of business leaders and previous financial support from Central Atlanta Progress, the Midtown Alliance has been able to enhance the pedestrian realm, put the breaks on surface parking, complete 15 linear miles of mature tree planting, bury utilities underground, implement special zoning, and has encouraged more business and residential growth.

Through photos and interviews, Midtown Alliance plans to share stories about the neighborhood’s transformation online and at events throughout the year. The staff is sorting through thousands of historical images and old VHS tapes to create a history of the organization. INtown readers who have cool photos or an interesting story to share about Midtown or an important figure in the neighborhood’s history should contact marketing@MidtownATL.com.

Plans for 2018 include not only the aforementioned initiatives, but also the annual meeting at the Fox Theatre on Feb. 13. The meeting was created as an opportunity to celebrate the group’s achievements, both past and present, as well as all of the Midtown Alliance’s partners, who, according to Green, “got us to where we are today.” Approximately 1,000 guests are expected to attend, among which are investors and other officials. Janette Sadik-Khan, author of “Streetfight: Handbook for Urban Revolution” and the former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, will be the keynote speaker at the event.

For more information, visit MidtownATL.com.

Courtesy Midtown Alliance

Before and after photos show Midtown’s transformation over the past 40 years.

Massive Project

$750 million development could rise along BeltLine

Renderings have been unveiled for a massive new development at the former Georgia Power operation center on the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail in the Old Fourth Ward. The 10-acre project would be built by development firm New City LLC. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the $750 million project at 760 Ralph McGill would sit alongside Historic Fourth Ward Park and possibly include two 12-story office towers, boutique hotel, 700 residential units and 200,000 square feet of retail space. New City is the same company redeveloping the former “Murder Kroger” site just up the BeltLine at 725 Ponce with an office tower and new Kroger supermarket on the ground floor.

OFFICE, HARDWOODS, CUSTOM BUILT-INS, TONS OF STORAGE, EXTRA PLUS 1 OF 8 PATIO UNITS IN 1010. THIS UNIT LIVES BIG... COUPLE OR SINGLE WANTING UNIQUIC & OUTSIDE SPACE.

Renderings courtesy Perkins+Will

ON THE AGENDA

MEETINGS

Decatur City Commission will meet Jan. 2 and Jan. 16 at City Hall, 509 North McDonough St., at 7:30 p.m. Visit decaturga.com for more.

Old Fourth Ward Business Association will meet Jan. 24, 6 p.m. at Dad’s Garage, 569 Ezzard St. Visit ow4ba. com for more.

Midtown Alliance will hold its annual meeting on Feb. 13, 7 a.m. at the Fox Theatre with keynote by transportation expert Janette Sadik-Khan. Tickets are available now at midtownatl.com.

NEWS

Emory University, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will officially become part of the City of Atlanta on Jan. 1. The Atlanta City Council approved the annexation at its December meeting.

A second implosion at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 20 took down Gate B and the East Wall there were still standing after the initial implosion on Nov. 20. Cleanup is underway and expected to be completed by winter’s end.

The Atlanta City Council has incorporated the Buckhead master plan, branded as “BUCKHEAD REdeFINED,” into the city’s official development plan after a vote last month.

The city has adopted the eCitation device, a wireless mobile application that allows Atlanta Police officers to create, print and electronically transmit traffic citations to the Atlanta Municipal Court.

By Collin Kelley

There will be a multitude of events to mark the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Jan. 15. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination in Memphis. Be sure to visit AtlantaINtownPaper.com for even more events related to the holiday.

The King Center

The annual commemorative service will take place on Monday, Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Horizon Sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The guest speakers for the event had not been announced at press time. The King Center will also host the annual “Salute To Greatness” gala on Jan. 13 at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown. For more information, visit TheKingCenter.org.

The MLK March & Rally

The King Day March, also set for Monday, Jan. 15, will begin at 1:45 p.m. The march will begin at Peachtree Street and Baker Street before heading south on Peachtree to

Auburn Avenue and on to Jackson Street. Leading up to the event, the MLK March Committee will observe King Week from Jan. 7 to 15 with a series of worship services, youth conference and more. See the full schedule at mlkmarchcommittee.com.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

The Downtown museum will mark the King Holiday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with events including a reader’s theater, science show, storytime, art studio and build it lab. Visit childrensmuseumofatlanta.org for full details.

MLK Day 5K

The annual walk/run will be held Jan. 15 starting at 8 a.m. in Piedmont Park with the start and finish at 10th Street near Park Tavern. The USATF certified race course and Peachtree Road Race qualifier will be run on grass, road, gravel, wooden bridge and dirt paths through the park. There will also be a 3.1-mile drumline all along the race course. To register and for more information, visit mlkday5k.com.

Atlanta History Center

There will be free admission to the Atlanta History Center and the Margaret Mitchell House at Atlanta History Center Midtown in honor of Martin Luther King Day, and featuring special programming that highlights the contributions of African-Americans in Atlanta. This year features a special film

Fitness and fellowship at MLK Day 5K Drum Run

By Clare S. Richie

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, don’t sleep in. Lace up your running shoes and join more than 2,000 Atlantans at the MLK Day 5K Drum Run in Piedmont Park. The walk/run, which starts and finishes near Park Tavern across 10th Street from Grady High School, has a motivating vibe from more than 200 drummers and is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Music starts at 8 a.m. with the 5K line-up at 8:45 a.m. and a roaring post-race party.

“It’s about inspiring fitness and fellowship. People want to do something positive to celebrate this holiday,” said race co-founder Chip Owens. “With the day off from work and school, this is a perfect opportunity to bring the community together and great jump start to the New Year.”

The idea sprang from Owens’ Peachtree Road Boot Camp, which always drew its largest crowd on MLK Day. Owens was surprised to learn there was no other race that day.

“I grew up in Atlanta and ran my first Peachtree Road Race in 1977. There’s a race for everything – Fourth of July, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day – we can go on and on. But there was no MLK race,” Owens reflected.

So, Owens and Herman Mannings III co-founded the race in 2012 with 800 participants and 20 drummers at the finish line. This year, the 200-plus student drumline promise to propel runners forward.

The idea for including drums came to Owens when he saw Grady High School student drummers, led by their band director Brian Cook, perform on the Atlanta BeltLine.

Cook and his Grady student drummers have participated in the race since the beginning.

The drums were fitting “because Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a drum major for justice and peace,” Mannings III said. Once word spread that the race provided a donation to band booster clubs, the race soon boasted drummers from Atlanta Public Schools, Gwinnett and DeKalb.

“Grady expects to have 40 kids come out this year. I want the community to know that we are here to support the neighborhood. The kids love it because they can mingle and play with other drumlines,” Cook said. He’ll use the race funds to buy more equipment, like drumheads that cost $50 a piece.

Drummers aren’t the only ones with whom Owens and Mannings III share race proceeds. Each approved “team,” such as a school, church or community organization, receives $5 per registrant linked to their team.

“In other words, if 100 people register under Team X, we will send a check for $500 to Team X’s organization,” Owens explained. “Turner bought 100 registrations in one phone call. And $500 went to Back on My Feet,” a nonprofit that helps homeless Atlantans through running and support services.

Rather than pay thousands of dollars for an email list to promote the MLK Day 5K Drum Run, Owens generates interest through this innovative fundraising model. Since 2012, the race has redistributed $25,000 to “teams” and $20,000 to school drum boosters clubs.

The race also provides volunteer opportunities for individuals and community

screening and conversation about “A Trek to the River’s Edge” with the filmmaker and student leaders of the Atlanta Student Movement at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. For the full schedule of events and activities, visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

Alliance Theater

The Dream Lives On A guide to Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday events around Intown Bang On

The Alliance will present “Native Guard,” an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of poetry by former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey. This production, which will be held at the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead, juxtaposes Trethewey’s experiences with her African-American mother and Caucasian father living in 1960s Mississippi with that of the African-American Union troop in the Civil War. The production runs Jan. 13 to Feb. 4. Visit alliancetheatre.org for tickets and information.

Atlanta Symphony

Renowned soprano Kathleen Battle will give a performance of “Kathleen Battle: Underground Railroad – A Spiritual Journey” with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Conductor Chelsea Tipton II will lead the celebration of the life and legacy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., featuring the Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs. The event will be held Friday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall in the Woodruff Art Center. Visit atlantasymphony.org for tickets and information.

groups. “We are able to produce this race every year with a dynamic corps of race day volunteers,” Mannings III stated.

Swag for the runners/walkers include longsleeved shirts, free professional photography, free ice skating at Park Tavern’s Southwest Rink and other goodies.

Mannings III, a Morehouse College graduate who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama with a family deeply involved in the civil rights movement, expanded the MLK Day 5K Drum Run to his hometown last year.

“I felt honored to bring the race to Birmingham’s historic Civil Rights District,” Mannings III said. “It’s the first race of the year in Birmingham, bringing together diverse participants and providing resources to local school bands and community organizations.”

The race now has a good foothold in two Southern cities.

“In the spirit of this holiday, we’re building a legacy within our beloved communities to inspire people through fitness and fellowship. Chip and I are a product of the dream Dr. King envisioned,” Mannings III said.

For more information, visit MLKDay5K. org.

The City of Atlanta, in partnership with the PATH Foundation, Turner, The Coca-Cola Company and Georgia Institute of Technology, has opened the PATH Parkway at Georgia Tech.

The 1.5-mile path separates cyclists and walkers from vehicles and connects West Midtown to Georgia Tech, The Coca-Cola Company Atlanta Office Complex and Downtown.

“Mayor Reed set the goal to make Atlanta the most bikeable and walkable city in the Southeast,” said Dan Gordon, Chief Operating Officer for the City of Atlanta. “The completion of PATH Parkway at Georgia Tech brings us one step closer to that goal and represents the kind of connectivity that benefits a world-class city like Atlanta. I want to thank all of the organizations that have made this project a reality.”

Tim Keane, Commissioner of the Department of City Planning, said the goal is to connect the people of Atlanta to the city in the most safe, convenient and fun ways.

“PATH Parkway represents how the connections we make through infrastructure enhance how people experience their community, providing them the opportunity to explore the many ways the city continues to grow.”

The city has also installed four Relay bike share stations along the 1.5-mile path to complement the infrastructure and provide people better access to bikes.

BeltLine Update

New extensions and connectors are coming soon

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. is seeking bids for construction of the remainder of the Eastside Trail’s southern extension to Memorial Drive.

The project represents the second phase of a two-stage project to extend the trail from the prior terminus at Irwin Street, originally completed in 2012. The first phase of the project extended the trail beneath Hulsey Yard to Kirkwood Avenue in Reynoldstown and was officially opened this month.

Like all newly-built Atlanta BeltLine trails, this project will include lighting, security cameras and ADA access points as appropriate. The project will also include the construction of vertical connections at the Mauldin Street/Fulton Terrace Bridge, streetscape improvements along Mauldin Street/Fulton Terrace, and pedestrian intersection improvements at Memorial Drive and Bill Kennedy Way.

Bids are due on Jan. 18.

Officials broke ground on the Northwest BeltLine Connector Trail on Dec. 12. This will mark the official beginning of the project that will bring a multiuse path to the northwestern end of Atlanta Memorial Park.

The project will include construction of a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail along the north side of Peachtree Creek on Woodward Way west of Northside Drive. A new bridge over the creek connecting to the existing Northwest BeltLine Corridor at Dellwood Drive and Colonial Homes Circle will also be constructed, according to the Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy.

The trail is planned to connect with other sidewalks and BeltLine trails in and near the park. The Northside BeltLine Trail has already been built on the south end of the park. The project is being funded by the city of Atlanta’s TSPLOST and the PATH Foundation.

PET BRIEFS

Pet Pick

Margaret is killing us with her sweet one-eared salute. At 5, she’s an extremely chill lady. She likes relaxing with her people and told us to tell you she requires “daily snuggling.” Margaret prefers those who enjoy relaxing and exploring and spending quiet time with the ones they love. She would like to go to a home with someone who will let her nap in the sunny spots and enjoy a few belly rubs and scratches behind her magnificent ears. To adopt Margaret or any of the other pets available from PAWS Atlanta, go to pawsatlanta.org or visit the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Photo by Christopher T. Martin

Sandy Springs Place Offers Compassionate Care That Seniors Deserve.

SERVICES

• Assisted living

• Memory care

• Short-term stays

• Respite care

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CARE

• Medication management

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AMENITIES

• Three meals served daily

• Housekeeping and laundry

• Transportation

• Enrichment programs

• Pet friendly

Sandy Springs Place

In our garage there is a 4-foot doorway to a 10foot deep storage space that holds all things Christmas. In addition to the ornaments, lights and trinkets I counted some 16 snowman figures and 21 Santa Clauses of varying size, shape and material. The weekend after Thanksgiving we dragged the storage boxes from the cubbyhole. It’s a yearly tradition of scraping my spine along the doorframe and dinging my head on the ceiling more times than I’d like to admit for the sake of being festive.

TIMMY DADDY

By Tim Sullivan

I was already sore because two days earlier I had gone to “Parent’s Day” at Margo’s hip-hop dance class. I figured we’d watch the kids dance and maybe partake in the Electric Slide or something. Noooo. They had us doing ALL the hipping and hopping. It didn’t help my hamstrings much that my dance partner was just a few inches over four feet tall either. Mostly it was moms in attendance and a couple of them were really good, like they had been practicing or something. There was one other dad and, of course, he was smooth as silk. What a jerk. With the mirrors in there, I could see my forehead was glistening with sweat. This guy was wearing a sweater and jeans and had nary a hint of perspiration. And when I felt a sharp tug in my calf muscle while train-wrecking my way through a particularly bouncy sequence I thought, Okay great, now the jerk is going to have to carry me out of here. Thankfully, it was just a tug and not a pull or a pop or a tear (sadly, I know them all too well) because I had a lot of work to do that weekend. And since I am a sucker who feels as if Christmas magic can be harnessed for the right price, I bought a huge tree. We wound the light strands around and around and around again until I felt comfortable enough to declare, “this tree is so lit.” Kristen chuckled at least. The kids rolled their eyes.

It took all of the Georgia vs. Auburn game to hang the ornaments. The kids enjoyed it for about an hour, but their enthusiasm waned. Elliott asked why we were even decorating since we wouldn’t be here on Christmas Day. I gently explained that it was because we were creating memories, damn it! And sometimes the chore of Christmas decor goes on long after the thrill of decorating is gone.

So after the tree, it was pretty much a solo mission. There were the light-up figures for the front yard – the penguin and Santa and a fox with a top hat returned from last year. This year we added a schnauzer with an elf hat just because. The porch needed wreaths and lights and its own mini-tree. The stockings were hung by the chimney and several other places because we have way more stockings than people. I scraped up my forearms trimming and lighting the holly tree. When I finished, it looked just good enough to momentarily suppress the thought that all this stuff would need to be packed back into that little cubby hole in a few weeks.

By the time we got around to inviting some friends over to bask in the holiday merriment with us, we were pooped. I spent the bulk of the evening complaining about the referees in Elliott’s basketball game that day. Oh, well. When we do pack everything away again, the house will feel naked for a while. It’s like Greece going from being all OPA! to austerity measures. There will be a lot less chocolate and wine in January and it wouldn’t surprise me if not a single cookie was baked all month. But at least I have a goal for 2018. Team Sullivan has eleven months to build up their holiday season stamina. These memories don’t just make themselves.

Tim Sullivan grew up in a large family in the Northeast and now lives with his small family in Oakhurst. He can be reached at tim@ sullivanfinerugs.com.

Mall Talk

Despite changes in buying habits, Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza continue to thrive

Belk will be demolished mid-2018 and the expansion will be opened in phases throughout 2020, she said. One of the city’s fire stations is located near the Belk and will be relocated closer to the center of the mall, Suggs said.

The overall trend of increased residential properties and hotels in the Buckhead area also has helped draw traffic to the malls, Suggs said. Rates to rent space in both malls are among the top 10 percent in the country, she said.

Malls across the country are bringing in more entertainment venues, including restaurant and video arcade Dave & Buster’s, concert venues and movie theaters to compliment the retail section, Suggs said. Phipps plans to join this trend by adding a raised stage in a planned outdoor common area that will be built during the expansion, Suggs said.

“The trend in the shopping center business is to develop an experiential opportunity — a reason for you to come to the mall and spend time with us,” she said. “It’s the wave of what’s to come.”

The stage is planned to be used to host concerts during the lunch hour or after business hours and for business events, she said.

Despite the decrease in malls’ popularity and the fact that several have closed across the country in recent years, Suggs said both Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza are performing well. She said she still believes people prefer to buy things at physical locations.

“The majority of people want to see it, want to feel it, want to try it on and be around other people,” she said.

By Evelyn Andrews

The planned Phipps Plaza expansion is ushering in the “next generation” of malls by bringing a hotel, Robin Suggs, who manages its sister mall Lenox Square, said at a Buckhead Business Association breakfast Dec. 7.

Simon Property Group, which owns both malls, announced last month its plans to expand Phipps Plaza, located at 3500 Peachtree Road, with a Nobu hotel and restaurant, expansive fitness center and office tower. The expansion will be built where the current Belk store is located.

“When opportunity arises such as this where you can redevelop an anchor store, hotels have proven a very good investment,” Suggs said.

Hotels work well with malls because they bring visitors into the mall ecosystem and they are more likely to spend more time at the mall, she said.

“You’re bringing in the visitor and affording them the opportunity to spend as much time as they want in the shopping environment,” Suggs said.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Gamma Real Estate has announced a $4 million renovation to one of Downtown’s iconic office buildings, The Hurt Building. Renovations will add an amenity floor to the building’s penthouse and revitalize the lobby’s original marble details while introducing a modern touch to the century-old property. Atlanta-based architects Plexus Research + Design are behind the renovation plans. Designed in 1913 by architect Joel Hurt, the 18-story building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Renovations are expected to be complete by first quarter 2018. In addition to a new Starbucks and Relay bike share station, Gamma is pursuing additional retail options to activate the building’s main level.

Re-usable packaging provider Tosca has relocated to Colony Square. Formerly located in Downtown, the company has moved its corporate headquarters to occupy an entire floor at Colony Square in Midtown.

Old Fourth Ward’s Ponce City Market and the award-winning HowStuffWorks podcast company have teamed up to launch the Question Booth. Every week, HowStuffWorks will

Even retailers that first existed only online are beginning to move into malls, including Amazon, which has opened a kiosk in Lenox Square, Suggs said.

In response to a question about how this expansion may cause an increase in traffic, especially in the Wieuca Road and Phipps Boulevard intersection, Suggs said several initiatives are in the works.

Suggs works closely on these projects through her positions with the Buckhead Community Improvement District and Livable Buckhead.

In addition to other traffic calming measures, a roundabout has been proposed for the Wieuca/Phipps intersection. It has been met with some pushback from the community and may not ultimately be the chosen project.

“I’m not sure we’ll finally land on the roundabout, but there are initiatives in place because everybody recognizes there is tremendous gridlock in that particular area,” Suggs said.

The malls have just as much to lose as residents would if traffic worsens because increased gridlock could decrease visitors to the malls, Suggs said.

“If we are in gridlock, we’re all feeling the pain,” she said.

Courtesy Simon

A rendering shows the planned hotel, office and fitness center expansion at Phipps Plaza.

Hurt Building

post a different big question at the booth, collecting dozens of diverse answers from the public as part of a project to face our big dilemmas and celebrate our differing opinions. Producers from HowStuffWorks will be on hand at the booth to drive the conversation with thought-provoking prompts and follow-up questions, while large viewing windows on every side of the booth will allow visitors a peek into the live recording. The booth is free and open to the public.

Hudson Grace has opened in the Westside Provisions district, 1210 Howell Mill Road #105A, offering modern dinnerware, glassware, table linens, napkins, flatware, candles, interior scent and other serving and entertaining products. The orginal San Francisco location was founded in 2012 by friends and cofounders Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton.

Capital Analytics annual business review guide, Focus: Atlanta, is out now. The yearly business guide reviews the business climate of metro Atlanta, analyzing the area’s top industries and interviewing leading local CEOs. The 160-plus page report is Atlanta’s first comprehensive yet concise view of the region’s ever-diversifying economy. To purchase a copy, visit capitalanalyticsassociates.com.

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, one of the nation’s leading auction houses, will expand its regional reach to Atlanta. With headquarters in Chicago, this will be the firm’s eighth location in addition to Denver, Milwaukee, Naples, Palm Beach, Scottsdale and St. Louis. Mary Calhoun, who spent seven years at Sotheby’s New York, has been hired as director of business development for the location.

Family time WITHOUT PAIN.

Hudson Grace

Home & Real Estate

Trends � Development � City Living

Robust Market

By Shandra Hill Smith

When it comes to emerging trends in Intown’s real estate market, robust is the buzzword for 2018.

Industry professionals point out that buyers – seeking easy access to work, shops, restaurants and recreation – will find just that in Intown’s hot neighborhoods.

“The Summerhill community is set to explode with activity as more parts of the redevelopment plan start to take shape with the new [Georgia State University] stadium,” said Christopher Burell, managing broker and chief motivation officer, Ansley Atlanta Real Estate. “Continued infill occurring around Decatur and the potential completion of annexation of Emory could have major impacts on neighborhoods like East Lake, East Atlanta, Woodland Hills and Lenox Park.”

Other booming areas include the Atlanta BeltLine area, Reynoldstown, Cabbagetown, parts of south Grant Park and Westside, Burell said.

What will prove more challenging to buyers who’ll have new home construction, high-rise condominiums and renovation projects to choose from, however, is finding a

surplus of inventory or low prices, thanks to a housing shortage that reared its head in 2017.

“I believe that you will see more discussions in 2018 about the challenge of affordable housing options as prices continue to rise along with building costs,” added Burell.

Burell shared data from a First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) statistical report from November 2017 that shows a drop of roughly 16 percent year-over-year in single-family detached residential inventory and an inventory drop of nine percent yearover-year in attached singlefamily residential.

The FMLS report, according to Burell, “also pointed to a fourpercent increase year-over-year in the number of closings for detached single family and an increase of three percent year-over-year for attached single family. Published reports also have shed light on concerns over a shortage of singlefamily homes nationwide.

“This means that while demand may continue

Chris Burell

Mark Camp

to be high, the supply is less for buyers to choose from, and, as we all know, when the demand is high but supply is low, it continues to drive prices up.”

Mark Camp, associate broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Georgia Properties, also notes an increase in price in Intown’s housing market. “Prices are up just over five percent from 2016 to 2017, according to TrendGraphix,” said Camp. “The lack of homes for sale has caused bidding wars in some cases, along with some homes selling for over asking price.” He added that “homes that are priced right and in ‘show-ready’ condition are selling the first week, if not the first day the home goes on the market.”

In such a competitive market as this, developers and homeowner associations are making sure to enhance the amenities from which buyers will have to choose.

“Outside spaces continue to lead the way as a sought-after amenity for which consumers are willing to pay top dollar,” said Burell. “These range from larger patios and terraces in condos to whole rooftop oases for townhomes and single-family residences. Conciergetype services, including a front desk concierge, access to pet walkers and housekeeping services are big on the list as well.”

Buyers are also after spa-like amenities, he adds, to include saltwater pools, wellequipped gyms and steam/ sauna facilities. Updated common areas and security are also large selling points. Some of the high-end condo and townhome sales even have such amenities as guest suites and cigar rooms.

In one particular booming area, Old Fourth Ward, properties spend “minimal days on the market,” according to Amy Faulkner, managing broker, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Intown Office. That’s largely due to its location, charm and amenities – such as the style options available.

“The neighborhood has everything from beautifully restored bungalows with a modern mix of both old and new to contemporary newly constructed homes,” said Faulkner.

She added, “rooftop features with views of the city are especially chic and sought-after in the townhomes in this area.

“With all of the new development, Old Fourth Ward is sure to be one of the hottest places to live in 2018.”

For other must-have amenities, Camp points to updated kitchens with stainless steel appliances, granite or quartz countertops and gas cooking, along with a master suite with hardwood floors, large closets and a spa-like bath.

It all adds up to a market in many ways resembling that of 2017, particularly considering an interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve in December 2017, and around three other Fed increases expected for 2018. That’s according to Scott Askew, owner, Engel & Volkers Intown Atlanta and Engel & Volkers Brookhaven.

“As long as the economy is thriving, we’re going to be fine,” said Askew. With the shortage of inventory being a reality, he added, “buyers just have to buckle up. If you see what you want, buy it.

A heated market, a higher demand and lower supply causes prices to go up.”

Scott Askew

Before starting your search, be sure to “get approved by a lender,” Askew advised, “because when you go out looking, if you see something you want, you’ve got to jump. If you hesitate, you lose.”

Still, it’s an exciting time in real estate for Intown and the mero area. “I see 2018 being a robust year for housing,” said Burell, “especially in our Intown neighborhoods. It truly is a historic time to be living in a city of such synergy and economic development.”

Amy Faulkner

Architecture and landscape firm TSW recently invited five local organizations to participate in the firm’s first-ever Open Studio design workshop.

The firm divided its architects, planners and landscape architects into multidisciplinary teams that worked in partnership with each of the organizations on a particular design/planning challenge during an intensive, full-day session.

The organizations participating in this year’s event were: Central Atlanta Progress (Auburn Avenue programming and site design); City of Decatur (Avary-Fulton House

Historic renovation and site planning); Georgia Tech (Rich Complex renovation and space planning); Georgia Trust for Public Land (Chattahoochee River ecological project); and Newport US RE, L.P. (Broad Street design and placemaking). Some of the ideas generated included:

■ Designing multiple points of access to the Chattahoochee River between I-285 and Mableton Parkway with parking, trails and handicap access. Proposed structures, including a “statement pedestrian bridge” over the river would be designed with an industrial feel to complement the nearby structures.

■ Transforming the 1947-era Rich Building on Georgia Tech’s campus into a state-ofthe-art robotics lab and creating a multi-purpose gathering place and robotics testing area outdoors. The under-utilized rooftop plaza could be redesigned into a destination for social events.

■ Honoring the historical significance of Decatur’s Avary-Fulton House by designing a small courtyard community of inter-generational small homes behind the historic house. The new homes would bridge the site’s former rural setting and the current emerging urban area and would strike a balance between what has been and what could be.

■ Establishing an urban edge for several blocks of Auburn Avenue through the temporary installation of art, structures, gathering places, retail and outdoor dining. Vacant lots could be transformed into activity centers that will draw people in and create an identity for the area prior to new, permanent redevelopment.

■ Generating a number of short and long-term ideas to make Broad Street the new Main Street of South downtown Atlanta.

“Every year TSW focuses our time and talents on public service projects, and we were especially excited about the Open Studio idea,” said Bryan Bays, RLA and senior principal of TSW. “We spent a lot of time researching potential design and planning projects that will have a positive impact on our city and region before we extended invitations to the five participating organizations. I think the format sparked a new kind of creative thinking and led to some exciting results for our participating organizations.”

Sponsors for the Open Studio included ABC Imaging, Kompan Playground Solutions, Cherokee Brick, Forms+Surfaces, Sesco Lighting, ForeverLawn, Ameristar Fence Products and USA Shades & Fabric Structures.

Under Contract

A team works during the TSW Open Studio brainstorming session.

American Home & Garden Expo makes debut in January

A new home and garden show in Atlanta is ready to be a one-stop shop for builders, decorators and landscapers. Whether it’s new home construction or a remodel, an upgrade to new energy efficient appliances or a landscaping makeover, the American Home & Garden Expo will have ideas and solutions.

The inaugural event will be held January 18-21 at the Atlanta Expo Center, 3650 Jonesboro Road SE. The expo will be open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 at the door or in advance at AmericanHomeandGardenExpo.com. There will be free parking and a shuttle service.

“We are all excited about this show and so are the exhibitors signing up for what we anticipate being one of the top home shows in the country,” said Don Scott, show founder.

Scott said the expo will host numerous exhibitors as well as local and national craftsmen in all fields of home and garden improvement. There also will be experts on hand to answer questions about every step of the building or renovation process.

“There will be window people, flooring people, banks to help with financing and landscapers,” Scott said. “There is a diverse group of people to help homeowners.”

Homes Available for Immediate Closings!

Landmark Properties and CityLife Development Partners have purchased a 1.1acre site at Spring and 10th streets in Midtown Atlanta to build a 28-story mixed-use student housing development. At 425,000 square feet, The Mark at Atlanta will feature over 780 beds, 281 apartments and more than 7,000 square feet of commercial space. Scheduled completion is August 2020. Amenities at The Mark will include an on-site parking garage, a rooftop pool and hot tub, fitness center, yoga room, bike storage center, clubhouse, study lounges, computer lab, golf simulator, sky lounge with adjoining outdoor terrace, sauna and tanning beds.

Biznow reports that Crescent Communities has broken ground on NOVEL O4W, a 233-unit apartment project at 525 North Ave. The project is slated to include 10,500 square feet of creative office space and expected to be complete by mid-2019.

Bill Murray has been elected as President of the Atlanta Realtors Association. The senior vice president and managing broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties’ Buckhead office, Murray was applauded for his long-time service to the Realtors Board at the organization’s annual business meeting on Dec. 8 at the Whitley Hotel in Buckhead.

South City Partners will build new student housing for Georgia State University in Downtown, according to a report at Curbed Atlanta. The 26-story tower, called 120 Piedmont , will rise at the corner of Piedmont and John Wesley Dobbs avenues with beds for 685 students and 8,200 square feet of retail. Amenities will include a pool and clubhouse, Internet cafe, rooftop deck with grilling area, and a library.

The Atlanta Realtors Association recently presented Ken Covers, Engel & Volkers Intown Atlanta, with the 2017 Good Neighbor Award. The award annually honors the member whose ongoing efforts are making exceptional contributions to improve the quality of life in their community.

Award recipient, Ken Covers (at right), with Scott Askew, President of Engel & Volkers Intown Atlanta (at left).

Sustainability

Restoring the trust in state government

o man’s life, liberty or property are safe when the legislature is in session,” goes the (very) old saying.

Starting on Jan. 8, when the Georgia General Assembly convenes, it will be time again to pay attention to the shenanigans of our elected officials, as they focus on matters of major and minor consequence to the citizens of our state. Your legislators need to hear from you regarding your concerns and interests during the 40-day session, which typically ends in late March.

If you don’t know who your state legislators are, it’s easy to find out at openstates.org/ find_your_legislator/. Go to this link, type in your address and you’ll see the names of your representatives. These are the people who will make decisions on your behalf (ostensibly) in the next few months, so keep their contact information handy and email, call or visit them at the State Capitol in Downtown. It’s their job to meet with you and hear your views.

“NABOVE THE WATER LINE

By Sally Bethea

One of the bills that I will be following this year has to do with a law passed in the early 1990s whose implementation has been problematic, affecting the environment, public health and safety, and property values. The bill imposed a fee of $1 on every new tire sold to support

Recycling on the rise at

multi-family residences in Atlanta

the Georgia Solid Waste Trust Fund, charged with funding the cleanup of abandoned scrap tire dumps and the remediation of contaminated landfills. Undoubtedly, you have paid the tire fee on numerous occasions, whether you realized it or not.

The problem is that 40 percent of the funds collected since 1993 – nearly $200 million – has been redirected by the state legislature to fund unrelated portions of the state budget. While the state has removed 15 million tires from illegal dump sites over the past 25 years, many abandoned tire sites remain untouched in the city and statewide; the number of improperly discarded tires is unknown.

The Georgia Constitution, as currently written, does not allow state legislators to “dedicate” fees to their intended use – whether to clean up environmental waste sites, fund teen driver programs or support training for peace officers. The fees collected are placed in the state general fund for allocation by state legislators as they deem fit, even though the bill creating the fee may say differently.

If a private company charges a fee to perform a certain service, but fails to do so, it is considered fraud. Unfortunately, if the Georgia legislature does the same thing, as it has done repeatedly with the redirection of fee monies collected to clean up waste

By Michelle Wiseman City of Atlanta Office of Resilience

The City of Atlanta is on the rise. As a top-tier city and consistently ranked among the most desirable places to live, Atlanta continues to grow and evolve. Everywhere you go, new buildings are coming up, especially multi-family complexes. People want to live inside the perimeter with easy access to transit, fresh food and more sustainable living. Over half of the City’s residents live in multifamily units, and this is where growth is projected for years to come.

The City of Atlanta’s multi-family residents will be getting a little greener thanks to the enforcement of an ordinance requiring that all 6+ unit multi-family buildings offer recycling services to their residents. Multi-family properties around

In early December, DeKalb County discovered more than 20,000 illegally dumped tires at Fork Creek Mountain Park.

sites, it’s considered business as usual. When the state collects fees for a specific purpose, those funds should be used for that purpose; otherwise, they can become de facto taxes.

Introduced last year, House Resolution 158 proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would ensure fees dedicated to a specific purpose are annually appropriated for that purpose. If the resolution passes, the amendment will be placed on the election ballot in November 2018 for consideration by state voters.

Let’s help restore trust in our government and ensure that important state programs are properly funded by passing House Resolution 158 during the

the City are now being required to set up separate recycling service for their residents.

Starting a new recycling program sounds pretty easy, but it’s not as simple as putting a few blue recycling bins out near the current trash dumpsters. Awareness and education are key. For example, multifamily recycling initiatives should include a clearly identified recycling area with labeling to explain what items can and can’t be recycled. Designate an internal recycling ambassador to encourage 100 percent participation in the complex’s recycling program.

Recycling right is critical. Initially focus on the basics; flattened boxes, paper, cans, bottles and plastic containers. Please no plastic bags, no food items & no Styrofoam. Plastic bags are the number one contaminant. They pose a special problem at the recycling center by getting caught

2018 session of the General Assembly. To read this bill, see legis.ga.gov/ Legislation/20172018/166121.pdf. Then, make your voice heard by contacting your state representatives and participating in our democratic process!

You can also make a personal New Year’s resolution to take your tires, holiday lights, electronics, household hazardous waste, bulky trash and other items to The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) in southeast Atlanta. A permanent drop-off facility that recycles and diverts thousands of pounds of waste from metro Atlanta landfills, CHaRM is holding its annual Holiday Cleanup from Jan. 2-13. For more information, visit livethrive.org/charm/.

in machinery. Please return plastic bags to retailers or CHaRM -the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (“CHaRM”), located at 1110 Hill Street, SE. Please note that while the City of Atlanta residential curbside program accepts glass for recycling, most multi-family buildings in Atlanta do not accept glass as they are serviced by private commercial haulers. However, glass is accepted at CHaRM. Several private entities will be expanding into Atlanta for glass collection by spring of 2018.

Recycling is on the rise in Atlanta, but we need every citizen to be engaged to meet our goal of 90 percent waste diversion by 2020. Please reach out to me at mlwiseman@atlantaga.gov if you want more information or to get involved or register your building at atlantaga.gov/ multifamily.

Sally Bethea is the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and current board president of Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy whose mission is to build a community of support for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Smart Recycling

The City of Atlanta has launched the new Bigbelly recycling program, which will transform a core city service by embracing smart technology for waste and recycling collections.

The new program places smart, double-station waste and recycling bins in 160 locations in Downtown Atlanta, the Westside and Little Five Points.

“I am pleased to announce the launch of the new Bigbelly recycling program in Downtown Atlanta, the Westside and the Little Five Points neighborhood,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “By deploying 160 smart Bigbelly units, the City of Atlanta is moving forward with smart city technology that supports sustainability and efficient government operations. I am also pleased that the city has been able to partner with Green City Solutions in a public-private partnership to finance the purchase of the new Bigbelly units, demonstrating how we can adopt innovative approaches to funding city programs and initiatives.”

Atlanta will now join the ranks of other leading cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Dublin and London that use Bigbelly’s smart waste system.

Bigbelly units are solar-powered and compact waste to hold five times as much waste as a traditional trash bin. Through smart sensors, the units communicate to a centralized dashboard to alert crews when stations are ready for waste and recycling collection. The program has been financed through an innovative public-private partnership.

Green City has subsidized the majority of the capital investment through the sale of advertising on the units. As part of the city’s agreement with Green City, artwork from local artists and public service messages will be displayed on the front sides of some Bigbelly units.

“The City of Atlanta is a vibrant, progressive community with a commitment to making their spaces cleaner and more enjoyable,” said Brian Phillips, CEO of Bigbelly. “We welcome Atlanta to the ranks of other metropolitan cities transforming public space waste and recycling with Bigbelly. The city’s adoption leads to an enhanced urban environment that is cleaner, greener and more connected for the community.”

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has implemented the national standardized recycling label in its terminals and has been an early adopter of the Bigbelly bins. The new standardized label is designed to make it easier for the public to know which materials can and cannot be recycled, promoting higher levels of recycling.

“Atlanta continues to set the bar high for recycling and waste diversion,” says Stephanie Stuckey, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Atlanta. “Today we celebrate not only

the launch of the Bigbelly program but also the considerable accomplishments of the Reed Administration, which has established Atlanta as a top-tier city for environmental initiatives.”

By providing advertising space on the Bigbelly units, the city is able to promote major public events such as the Atlanta Jazz Festival to more than 1.6 million people per day. The advertisements also generate revenue for the city’s solid waste program. Founding advertisers include the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Up-TV, Invest Atlanta, Peach State Health and Georgia Pacific.

The City of Atlanta plans to expand the Bigbelly program to more neighborhoods over the next year.

·

Previously McDaniel and Durrett

962 Glen Arden Way Offered for $1,295,000

News You Can Eat

Restaurants � Reviews � Events

New Food Resolution

Add these newly opened and coming soon restaurants to your 2018 must-eat list

By Collin Kelley

It’s a new year, so why not try some of Intown’s new restaurants? A slew of them opened in the fall and more are on the way during the first quarter of 2018. Check out this list.

PEACHTREE CENTER

The Downtown mixed-used development has announced five new eateries as part of a project to renovate and modernize the retail center that serves the complex’s six office towers and multiple connecting hotels. Salata, Bep!, Southern Candy Company, Taste of India and Beni’s Cubano will join the restaurant line-up. The restaurants are opening on a rolling schedule in early 2018.

GOLDEN EAGLE AND MUCHACHO ▼

The new eateries are now open in the historic train depot at 904 Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown. Golden Eagle serves up cocktails and “throwback continental classics” like garlic knots, crab Rangoon and tavern steak, while Muchacho has a 70’s Southern California vibe and offers breakfast and lunch tacos, toasts, grain bowls, poke, pastries, coffee and drinks. Visit goldeneagleatl.com for more information.

ALLORA ▼

Now open in TWELVE Hotel Midtown under the direction of Executive Chef Chris Maher, the Italian restaurant offers house-made pastas, specialty pizzas, creative insalatas, small plates and more. For more information, visit alloraatl.com.

WHISKEY BIRD ►

The Morningside eatery opened in late spring of last year, but is now up to full steam offering weekend brunch favorites like “bubble waffles,” a Hong Kong street food featuring fried chicken and sweetened with Nutella and fruit. For more information, visit eatwhiskeybird. com.

GENUINE PIZZA

The pizzeria opened its first Atlanta location at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead last month. The restaurant offers quick-fired pizza, soups, salads and entrées. For more information, visit genuinepizza.com.

STEEL CITY POPS

It might be winter, but a cold treat is good any time of the year. Steel City is serving up gourmet popsicles in Decatur at 312 Church Street. Visit steelcitypops.com for more information.

MANNY’S GRANT PARK PUB

The grandson of Manuel Maloof, who opened iconic Manuel’s Tavern in Poncey-Highland, will open this new pub at 588 Woodward Ave. Manny’s will feature a “family-friendly” dining room and carry an extensive wine list and 20 plus beers on draft.

THE COLLECTIVE

A group of restaurants and eateries has been announced for the Coda development at Technology Square in Midtown. The Collective will include eight to 10 chef-driven spaces featuring a sampling of cuisines from across the world in a communal seating area opening up into a 20,000 square foot outdoor “living room.” The dining area is expected to open in February 2019.

EAST POLE COFFEE CO.

The roaster’s first brick-and-mortar coffee shop is open at Armour Yard, the new loftoffice development between Buckhead and Midtown at 255 Ottley Drive. The shop will also serve as East Pole’s headquarters and roastery, with active processes visible daily behind glass doors just behind the cash register. For more, visit eastpole. coffee.

BLAZE PIZZA

The fast-casual pizza concept specializes in build-your-own pizzas at 2131 N. Decatur

Road in Decatur. You go down the line, pick your toppings from a variety of meats, cheeses, veggies and sauces, and the “pizzasmiths” cook your 11-inch personal pizza in under three minutes. Visit blazepizza.com for more information.

Decatur, the restaurant is serving up a menu of beef brisket and pulled pork along with Southern sides (green beans, hush puppies, collards, to name a few). For more information, visit citybbq.com.

BAR MERCADO

The latest addition to Krog Street Market in Inman Park – from the folks who brought you The Iberian Pig and Cooks & Soldiers – is offering up Spanish tapas, meats, cheeses and traditional bar bites. For more information, visit barmercadoatl. com.

FETCH PARK AND ICE HOUSE

City red tape has forced the combo restaurant/bar and dog park to delay its opening, but it’s expected soon at 520 Daniel Street in the Old Fourth Ward. Fetch Park will feature a large, off-leash dog park with a full-service converted Airstream bar. The second phase, Fetch Ice House and Shipping Yard, will be made up of an indoor restaurant, a dog-friendly patio and a rooftop bar atop a converted shipping container. For more information, visit fetchparkatl.com.

CITY BARBEQUE

Now open at 2511 Blackmon Drive in

YOUR PIE

This new Grant Park pizzeria just opened in The George, 275 Memorial Drive, offering customizable, hand-tossed pies and local brews. For more information, visit yourpie.com/stores/atlanta-grantpark.

BAR AMERICANO

Located in Andrews Square in Buckhead (formerly known as the Andrews Entertainment District), the restaurant serves a contemporary mix of Italian classics alongside craft cocktails. Visit facebook. com/BarAmericanoAtl for more details.

AL FORNO’S

This Midtown joint at 1080 West Peachtree delivers handmade crust and locally sourced ingredients to your door so you can finish a pizza at home. You choose from a menu of classic pies

or create your own, then bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes. Order online for delivery or pick-up at alfornos.com

DEEP END

The new Tex-Mex eatery in the former 4th & Swift spot in the Old Fourth Ward has a 1970s skateboarding by way of Palm Springs vibe. The menu has a heavy focus on both traditional and reinvented tacos along with plenty of cocktails. Deep End will also be a late night destination, staying open until 2 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/thedeependatl.

Grilled Cheese, Please

By Isadora Pennington

If I was on my deathbed and I had to pick my last meal, it might be a grilled cheese. That might sound a little dramatic, but it’s true. I freaking love grilled cheese sandwiches. I mean, it’s right there in the name. Grilled. Cheese. Sandwich. Hot, melty cheese between buttery, fried bread?! You just really can’t go wrong with a combination like that. Considering how humble your standard grilled cheese sammie (only the cool kids call it a ‘sammie’) can be, with just three simple ingredients, there is a lot of variety and room for innovation. But sometimes a classic, something not-so-complicated, is just what I’m looking for.

Grilled cheese sandwiches, to me, represent a kind of innocence. They remind me of home, of my family and of being a kid who was a seriously picky eater. You may also recall a story I once told about almost accidentally burning down my grandparents’ house with one of these bad boys. Yes, indeed, the grilled cheese was one of young chef Isadora’s earliest attempts at feeding herself.

For me, it’s mostly in these colder months that all I want is comfort food. Give me a grilled cheese and some tomato soup on a cold winter’s day and I’m a happy camper. Below are a list of some of my favorites, ranging from the standard combinations to more decadent takes on the concept. Stay cheesy, friends!

FOLK ART RESTAURANT ▼

465 N. Highland Ave. NE folkartrestaurant.com or (404) 537-4493

Craft “5” Grilled Cheese — cheddar, provolone, gruyere, Swiss and creme brie, served with tomato soup, $9.50

QUICK BITES

MIDWAY PUB ►

552 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, themidwaypub.com or (404) 584-0335

Grilled Cheese — Swiss and cheddar cheese, tomatoes, basil, balsamic reduction on French sourdough, $7

MAJESTIC DINER

◄RIGHTEOUS ROOM

1051 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, stayrighteous.com or (404) 874-0939

Fatty Grilled Cheese — white cheddar, tomatoes and sunflower sprouts on Texas toast, served with a cup of soup, $9

The 2nd annual Atlanta Winter Wine Fest will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20 at City Winery in Old Fourth Ward. Due to overwhelming popularity last year, there will be two sessions: noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. There will be more than 50 wines, a selection of beer , live music and a DJ, and food will be available for purchase. Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 after Jan. 11 at atlantawinefestivals.com.

The 8th annual Atlanta Winter Beer Fest will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the event space behind Atlantic Station. There will be more than150 beers as well as a selection of wine and cider to choose from. There will also be live music, fun and games, and food will be available for purchase. Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 after Jan. 18 and $55 the day of the event. For tickets and information, visit atlantawinterbeerfest.com.

After nearly a decade away, McCray’s Tavern has reopened in the high-

1031 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, majesticdiner.com or (404) 875-0276

Grilled cheese with American cheese, served with a side of French fries, $7.49.

rise apartment community Atlantic House at the corner of 13th and West Peachtree streets. Scott McCray opened the original McCray’s Tavern on Peachtree Street in 2004. After two successful years, Novare Group purchased the property for a future development. With the proceeds from the sale, McCray opened a new McCray’s Tavern in Smyrna, and added a second location in 2007 in Lawrenceville. For more information, visit mccraystavern. com.

Red Brick Brewing Co. is marking its 25th anniversary in Atlanta with the release of new crafts beers, including the Hype Whale Imperial Stout and Sea Otter Stout and Journey Without Maps DIPA. For more about Red Brick, visit redbrickbrewing.com.

Everybody Eats: Gary Reedy

By Megan Volpert

For the past year, the Everybody Eats interview series has discussed food with citizens of Atlanta who are prominent for non-food-related reasons. This allowed readers to get to know some of our high-profile residents a little more personally. This series is coming to an end, but something new is coming very soon. For the final installment, I spoke to Gary Reedy, CEO of the American Cancer Society.

How do you like your eggs cooked?

► Fortunately, I love eggs and the various ways they are cooked. However, I usually have them “over easy” or scrambled, depending on my mood.

What are your two favorite things to put in mac and cheese, other than the mac and the cheese?

► As a purist, I prefer traditional mac and cheese, but if additions were made it would be bacon.

What are some of your favorite spots for brunch?

► Brunch is one of the meals I enjoy most with my family and close friends. We typically enjoy Rise n’ Dine at Emory Village or Highland Bakery in the Old 4th Ward. My “go to” dish at Highland is the Fried Chicken Benedict.

The American Cancer Society Center is headquartered in downtown, near Centennial Olympic Park. What’s the best place to walk to for a meal?

► Typically I am on the run and will grab a quick salad in the café located in our building. Ruth’s Chris and Legal Seafood are convenient for dinner meetings.

Are you any good at gardening?

► I enjoy gardening and I’ve had some success. Growing up in Virginia with four siblings, we managed household expenses by growing all our vegetables. So, as a teenager, I took what I learned as a kid and started working for a landscaping company and paid my way through college.

Wine and beer, or the hard stuff, or none at all?

► I’m classic with my beverages too...give me a good Malbec or Cabernet and I am good to go.

What is your guilty pleasure snack food? Favorite food for a tailgate?

► Doritos are my guilty pleasure. It’s something about the crunch of the chips along with the overpowering nacho cheese flavor that puts a smile on my face. Tailgate food is a love as well. On the rare occasions when I get to indulge at a tailgate, I love the normal fare — sliders, wings, loaded hot dogs and pretzels with mustard.

What are your feelings about red velvet cake?

► Over the years, I’ve heard many debates about the quality of the actual cake in red velvet cake. Honestly, I prefer German Chocolate Cake, so I will leave red velvet for others to enjoy.

Is there any food so disgusting to you that you just won’t eat it?

► I just can’t stomach tartar sauce. I like mayonnaise and I like pickles, but for some reason, I can’t get past the texture of tartar sauce.

Who does most of the cooking in your house? Who cooked while you were growing up?

► My wife is a great cook and handles the cooking for our house. Now that we are empty-nesters, she has become a wiz at ordering out. On the weekends I love to grill out while watching sports on television. Growing up, my mother did the cooking. She was an amazing cook and made the best fresh-baked breads and fried chicken.

Seems like every day there’s a new scientific study or social trend regarding cancerfighting foods. What information should people truly be considering if they want to eat in a way that may strengthen immunity?

► I strive to abide by the American Cancer Society’s dietary guidelines. Adhering to a diet that consists of a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fish or poultry and fewer red and/or processed meats has been shown to help reduce cancer risk along with living a healthy lifestyle overall.

Fried Chicken Benedict at Highland Bakery

Sweet Tea Just Add Honey lets Atlantans bond over a cup

By Grace Huseth

Brandi Shelton orders 100 pounds of chamomile at a time. When you produce, and drink, as much tea as she does, it’s a necessity to have a good stock.

Shelton is founder and owner of Just Add Honey, a tea company at Sweet Auburn Curb Market celebrating two years this February.

Over the years, the tea lady has blended enough tea for all of Atlanta to bond over a cup.

Shelton drinks two or three cups of Holy Basil every morning, using her own blend, which includes ginger, peppermint, cinnamon and black pepper. “It allows me to read the Bible or meditate and gives me a quiet moment,” Shelton said. “You can create a mood, or feeling, with a cup of tea.”

Just Add Honey’s café is the first stop before the expanse of the bustling market. They greet visitors with small samples in the shop’s doorway to draw them into the world of tea. The walls of the café are dedicated to drinking tea — from fun facts about the health benefits of certain varieties to steeping instructions for just the right cup. Plus, every tea blend at Just Add Honey is made with natural flavors that can be traced back to family-owned farms.

“So many people want to know where their food comes from, but then they drink a Diet Coke. We want to let you know and educate you on exactly where your cup comes from,” Shelton said.

The shop’s spot in Sweet Auburn Curb Market has allowed Shelton to interact with many different customers, whether they’re Grady Hospital doctors replacing former coffee addictions with a cup of yerba mate or Georgia State University law students seeking to escape the library. For years, Shelton preferred the flexibility of festivals and tea expos, but now can’t imagine life without the café. “The connection that the retail café gave us was something I didn’t anticipate and now I love it,” she said.

When Shelton lost her mother to breast cancer in 2005, she wanted to create a tribute to her memory and thus created Just Add Honey. The initial logo for the company was designed using the elegant script her mother, Jean, used to sign her name. Brandi has kept her mother’s signature style and love for entertaining alive with springtime parties served with full tea sets and linen napkins to echo her mother’s motto “paper is for picnics.”

Touches of Jean’s flair can be seen around Just Add Honey. Shelton applied her fashion design and marketing degree and background in designing movie sets to decorate the teashop. Glass walls are decorated with bright orange and yellow honeycombs. A large blackboard at the front announces seasonal teas in calligraphy. Shelves are filled different blends of tea sorted by type: herbal and fruit teas, green and white teas, and black teas. There are also simple but sweet teapots, French presses and teaspoon infusers to be found.

Shelton has a full “TEAm” of about a dozen employees. Some steep tea for customers at the shop, while others manage a commercial kitchen in Tucker to keep up with all the ways Just Add Honey distributes tea, including monthly subscription boxes. Coffee shops and restaurants that also stock Just Like Honey include Inman Perk, Grant Park Coffeehouse, Hodgepodge Coffeehouse, The Beehive, the Piedmont Park and Peachtree Center farmer’s markets, Ladybird and Wrecking Bar.

For more information, visit justaddhoney.net.

Brandi Shelton

The Studio

Into the Groove

Poet and author Amena Brown discusses her new music-inspired book

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta author and poet Amena Brown is an unabashed lover of vinyl records. While vinyl has made a decidedly big comeback in the last few years, Brown held on to her collection from the 80s and has continued to add to it by frequent visits to local record shops. Her love of music and pop culture also helped define her latest book, “How To Fix A Broken Record: Thoughts on Vinyl Records, Awkward Relationships and Learning to Be Myself.”

The “memoir-esque” book, out now from Zondervan/Harper Collins, mixes all of Brown’s touchstones: music, her faith and poetry. She credits her father as the impetus behind the book.

“I was talking to my dad about some issues I was having and he said I was stuck like a needle in the groove of a record, constantly repeating,” Brown recalled. “I was stuck in the groove and needed to pick up the needle and skip ahead. It made me start thinking about how many other broken records I had in my life.”

While “How To Fix A Broken Record” offers up an inspiration and guidance for those

SAT, JAN 20 / 8 PM

Tango Fire

It may take two to tango, but it takes 15 to Tango Fire!

The Tango Fire dance Company features five couples bringing the fire, a stellar musical quartet and singer Jesus Hidalgo.

who need to get unstuck, Brown uses her own life story to propel the book, writing candidly about growing up, her belief in God, finding love and her marriage. And, of course, about music.

“Music informed how I grew up and continue to grow,” Brown said, noting that the first record she ever bought for herself was Stevie Wonder’s seminal “Songs in the Key of Life.”

You can often find Brown flipping through the wax at Sunbrimmer Record in Avondale Estates, Moods Music and Wax ‘n Facts, both in Little Five Points.

Brown also remains active in the city’s spoken word poetry scene, hosting a regular open mic at Urban Grind and returning to her stomping grounds at Java Monkey Speaks at the Decatur coffeehouse on Sunday nights. She said attending open mics not only helped hone her own voice, but also helped make her a better listener when it comes to other people’s stories.

“I believe you should do more listening than talking,” Brown said. “Poetry and spoken word is being part of something bigger than yourself – it’s a communal experience.”

The stories she tells in “How To Fix A Broken Record” were a long time coming. “I had to learn to be vulnerable in the work,” she said. “It took me a long time to understand the value of my voice and to tell these stories.”

For more information, visit amenabrown.com.

Grab the Popcorn!

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival returns Jan. 24

The 18th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) returns Jan. 24 for 23 days of movies.

More than 70 narratives and documentaries representing more than 25 countries are on the roster, which will be released in full on Jan. 4. Tickets go on sale Jan. 17 via AJFF.org.

“These are not your typical Hollywood films, where many times you have a predictable ending or know the director. While we do show all genres that moviegoers come to love through commercial films, part of the delight of AJFF is the unexpected, the surprise elements, and buying into an experience and enduring this journey not knowing exactly where it will take you,” said Kenny Blank, executive director of Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.

Some of the already announced movies include “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” and “The Cakemaker,” both of which received multiple awards at previous festivals; “An Act of Defiance,” where Dutch filmmaker Jean van de Velde explores Nelson Mandela and the segregation era of South Africa; a 25th anniversary screening of “Schindler’s List;” and for the holiday season, the musical “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas.” Screenings will include discussions and the opportunities to socialize with filmmakers, celebrity guests, community leaders and other experts.

Blank added, “This experience is so different from the conventional festivals; we are diving into the subject matter of these films because, for our audience, the subject matter is just as important as the film artistry. We get into many important topics, timely issues, and current and historical events that need some unpacking and exploration, and perhaps further expertise and context. Just as often as we have filmmakers engaged in the Q&As, we also have academics or authors who have written on the subject and who bring further perspective.”

Amena Brown

Your family’s most comprehensive online guide to arts and cultural entertainment

Visit AtlantaPlanIt.org for more upcoming events.

Visual Arts

¡NUEVOlution!: This major exhibition at the Atlanta History Center explores the surprising ways that Latinos are shaping the South and the South is shaping Latinos. Opens Jan. 6. Free to $21.50. atlantahistorycenter.com

Line & Form: “Line & Form” features works by Melissa Mason and John Barandon at TEW Galleries. Closes Jan. 7. Free. tewgalleries.com

Reverence: “Reverence” is an exciting group show of five artists working in diverse mediums and aesthetics presented at Kai Lin Art. Closes Jan. 12. Free! kailinart.com

Siren’s Call/Fresh Produce/

Puzzling World: Visit HATHAWAY | Contemporary Art Gallery to see three separate themed exhibits. Closes Jan. 13. Free! hathawaygallery.com

Amy Elkins: Black is the Day, Black is the Night: The High Museum of Art presents this exhibition featuring seven works from a multi-layered photographic project that explores the effects of longterm solitary confinement. Tuesday through Sunday. Free to $14.50. high.org

Coiling Culture: Basketry Art of Native North America: This exhibition at Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum explores the intersection between material, making and meaning in the fragile basketry art of the Southeast to the Southwest and up into the Arctic. Tuesday through Sunday. $6 to $8. carlos.emory.edu

Text Me: How We

Live in Language: Delve into the many ways in which text influences art, design, literature, music and all forms of visual communication in culture today in this exhibit at Museum of Design Atlanta. Tuesday through Sunday. Free to $10. museumofdesign.org

The Soul of Philanthropy Atlanta: Groundbreaking in its focus and depth, Auburn Avenue Research Library presents an exhibit of stories of an unsung legacy of Black philanthropists, centuries-old cultural customs, and beliefs about ingenious givers carving a way out of no way. Closes Jan. 21. Free. afpls.org/aarl

Waves: Through mediums including painting, drawing, installations, artist books and mixtapes, Michael Hubbard composes a vibrant constellation of artwork in this exhibit at SCAD Atlanta.

Monday through Friday. Free. scad.edu/ atlanta

A Grand Affair: For the annual “Grand Affair” show, Huff Harrington Fine Art artists offer new works that are priced $1,000 and under. Opens Jan. 19. Free. huffharrington.com

Ancient Blue Ornament: In this exhibit at Atlanta Contemporary Art Center Kamrooz Aram utilizes painting, sculpture, and photography to examine the intersections between ornamental non-Western art that has often been deemed “minor” throughout Western art history, and Modernism with its great phobia of the ornamental. Opens Jan. 19. Free. atlantacontemporary.org

Performing Arts

Dancing With The Stars: Live!: The hottest dance show on TV comes to the Fox Theatre this winter showcasing many of your favorite professional dancers performing ballroom and contemporary dances from ABC’s hit show. Jan. 2. $56 to $121.50. foxtheatre.org

Henry Rollins: Join Henry for an intimate evening at Variety Playhouse as he tells the stories behind the photos he’s taken, from Baghdad to Timbuktu. Jan. 7. $35. variety-playhouse.com

The Lion King: Giraffes strut, birds swoop, gazelles leap: marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by a cast of more than 40 actors in this show at the Fox Theatre. Jan. 10 through 28. $46.50 To $165.50. foxtheatre.org

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill: Pull up a chair and grab a drink for an intimate and epic evening at Theatrical Outfit with one of the greatest jazz and blues vocalists of all time – a riveting portrait of the life, the icon and the unforgettable music of Billie Holiday. Opens Jan. 11. $18 to $51. theatricaloutfit.org

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Harvin Greene

404.314.4212 Cell | 404.352.2010 Office harvingreene@dorseyalston.com

Stephanie

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Native Guard: Alliance Theatre’s “Native Guard,” performed at Southwest Arts Center, juxtaposes the deeply personal experiences of former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, a child of a then-illegal marriage between her African-American mother and Caucasian father living in 1960s Mississippi, with the experience of a soldier in the Native Guard, the first African-American Union troop in the Civil War who was charged with guarding white Confederate captives. Opens Jan. 13. $10 to $42. alliancetheatre.org

Menopause The Musical®: Now celebrating 14 years of female empowerment through hilarious musical comedy, “Menopause The Musical®,” presented at The Strand Theatre, has evolved as a “grassroots” movement of women who deal with life adjustments after 40 by embracing each other and the road ahead. Jan. 16 through 21. $39 to $49. earlsmithstrand. org

Cody Johnson: Cody Johnson and his band blend county and rock, creating something new while still respecting the roots of both genres and styles. See him at Variety Playhouse. Jan. 20. $20 to $23. variety-playhouse. com

Jurassic Park: For this show at Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall, audiences can experience this ground-breaking film as never before: projected in HD with a full symphony orchestra performing John Williams’ magnificent score live to picture. Jan. 20 and 21. $39 to $150. atlantasymphony.org

Tango Fire: The Tango Fire Dance Company of Buenos Aires features five couples, a stellar

Rainforest Adventures: Prepare for a wild adventure beneath a Brazilian treetop canopy, courtesy of toucans, anacondas, sloths and more presented at Center for Puppetry Arts! Opens Jan. 23. $19.50. puppet.org

musical quartet, and singer Jesus Hidalgo in a performance at Rialto Center for the Arts. Jan. 21. $41 to $69. rialtocenter.org

The Jason Bishop Show – Double Levitation: From his breathtaking Double Levitation to his cutting edge Op-Art and Plasma illusions, Jason Bishop features stunning and original state of the art magic in this show at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Jan. 21. $17 to $27. cobbenergycentre.com

In The Mood: Presented at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, “In The Mood,” a 1940s musical revue, creates a nostalgic atmosphere that transports the audience back in time – a time when everyone was singing and dancing to the same kind of music. Jan. 26. $32 to $62. cobbenergycentre.com

Big Apple Circus: The full lineup of global artists and acts, including 10-time world record-holding high wire artist Nik Wallenda and fan favorite Grandma the Clown will play in Alpharetta at Verizon Amphitheatre for a total of 50 performances. Opens Jan. 26. $25 to $93. vzwamp.com

UNDER 20

Honoring students who give back to the community

Adecade ago, INtown was looking for a way to bring awareness to young people who were giving back to the community through volunteerism and philanthropic work. With the publication of our 10th annual 20 Under 20 this month, we will have profiled 200 local students doing extraordinary things to better the city. We asked public and private schools along with service organizations and the general public to nominate students who have been active volunteers in their communities. As always, we are astounded at how much time and effort these students have put into their volunteer work. The 20 students you will meet here have collectively donated thousands of hours of their young lives, traveled to other countries, created nonprofits and worked with the underprivileged and disadvantaged as part of their service.

And we are, once again, delighted that the spirit to give back starts at such a young age, like Lilah Didier-Sober, a 9-year-old who conceived a bake sale to help refugees, and Cayden Edwards, a third grader who already has his own foundation that helps furnish the rooms of underprivileged children. You’ll also meet Will Milling, who created a senior class project to build prosthetic hands for landmine victims, and The Scalise Sisters, three young women dedicated to raising money to help breast cancer survivors.

As usual, picking just 20 honorees each year is an incredibly difficult decision, so we have also selected 18 runners-up because we felt their service also deserved recognition.

We hope these uplifting stories will inspire you to give back to the community. And thank you to the businesses and schools whose advertising support makes this section possible every year.

Asenior in Ben Franklin Academy’s Work/Study Program, Adele works with the children of the refugee community in Clarkston, Georgia. She volunteers several days a week at the Willow Branch Apartments’ free after-school program and summer camp. She helps refugee children, many of whom have parents who speak little or no English and have fled violence from around the world. Because of her dedication to her volunteer work with this refugee community, Adele was awarded the International Relations Scholarship by the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta. She was also selected for participation in the ACLU’s summer advocacy institute in Washington, D.C., where she was able to learn new skills to support and advocate for refugee communities. “One of my favorite memories is of a Congolese girl. She spoke little, probably because she was not very fluent in English, but I helped her and her friend with their homework fairly often. When Valentine’s Day came, she presented me with a beautiful Valentine and gave me a hug. That day showed me just how big of an impact I can make on someone through actions as simple as helping with homework or spending time together.”

After volunteering with Friendship Circle, an organization that provides companionship to children and adults with special needs, Daniel created Serve It Up Tennis Camp. He collected tennis rackets at his school and raised more than $1,200 for the camp, which was held last summer at donated courts at the Sandy Springs Tennis Center. “I was excited about organizing the tennis camp this past summer for children with special needs but what I did not realize until the camp was over was the impact the camp had on the campers’ entire families. I knew the special needs kids were having a great time, as we (the volunteers) all were, but when the parents came up to us afterwards and told us how much the camp meant to them seeing their kids so happy, I realized how being involved impacts more than just the people you are working with directly.”

ADELE MCLEES, 17 Ben Franklin Academy

DANIEL S. STERN, 17 The Weber School

Barry has participated in shoe drives, has helped build a playground for an elementary school and volunteers in Grant Park for cleanup days. “One moment that greatly impacted me was when I volunteered with my cousin and his friends at a shoe drive known as “A Foot in the Right Direction.” While there, my mom and I were fortunate enough to be able to donate 24 pairs of shoes. The moment that will stay with me forever is how excited one of the boys got over my shoes. I was confused at first and didn’t understand why he was so excited — to me, they were just my old shoes. But I came to realize that to him they were much more. That moment made me realize how lucky I was to have a stable family and that many other kids are not as fortunate. That moment was bittersweet — I was happy I could help him, but I felt guilty that he had to wear my old shoes. That moment made me want to work harder for my community and those in need.”

BARRY MAJOR, JR., 18

Maynard H. Jackson High School

New Year. New Look.

Same Exceptional Epstein Experience.

Samantha is working towards her Girl Scout Gold Award on a project that would provide an educational curriculum regarding testing for sexually transmitted diseases to teen girls in lowincome communities. She has partnered with Spelman College, the Hope Education Project, and the Westside and Peoplestown communities to get the project off the ground. Her goal is to create a sustainable program that would provide “health equity” throughout Atlanta. She was inspired to launch the initiative as a result of her work tutoring and mentoring at the Rick McDevitt Community Center in the Peoplestown neighborhood. In her role, Sam recruits students to participate in the program and tutors three afternoons per week throughout the school year. She also serves as a tutor and counselor for Keeping Pace, an academic summer program at Pace for underserved youth from Peoplestown and other neighborhoods. Among other organizations, Samantha also helped launch The Universal Language, a group that collects equipment for Kick4Life, which uses soccer as a forum for HIV/AIDs education. “Working at Keeping Pace led me to become engaged and passionate about the issues in the Peoplestown community, and I am so thankful for the opportunity.”

As part of her internship with the Center for Civil and Human Rights last summer, Kaylan became engaged with work of Back on My Feet and still regularly meets at the Inman Park MARTA station at 5:45 a.m. to run with local area homeless residents. She has continued to stay engaged in her work from the internship, singlehandedly initiating and leading a human rights program at Atlanta International School last fall. In December, she returned to the Center to plan a program for elementary students in the Atlanta area. Kaylan’s memorable moment as a volunteer came while organizing a cheering section during a recent Back on My Feet race. “While cheering, I started talking with an alum of the Back on My Feet program who, not too long before the event, was recovering from being struck by a car on the sidewalk. His story humbled me because the least I could do was be there to support Back on My Feet by waking up early, while he was there shortly after a shocking incident. His story encouraged me to give back and not allow any excuse to hinder me from volunteering in the future.”

KAYLAN JONES, 18 Atlanta International School

SAMANTHA DELMAN, 17 Pace Academy

The Epstein School offers integrated, dual-language learning that cultivates lifelong skills, inspires Jewish curiosity, critical thinking and creativity.

“ School should be a place one looks forward to going in the morning and is somewhat reluctant to leave at the end of the day .”

Dr.

Matthew is a current member of the Teen Leaders program at the Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA where he volunteers weekly in the childcare department interacting and engaging with the children. Matthew helped to spearhead a teen-led clothing drive and is currently working on a survey project to gather feedback that will help provide a consistent way to measure the growth, progress and impact of the YMCA’s programs.

“One of the most memorable moments I have had while volunteering was my first day in the playcenter at the YMCA. When I first decided to help, I had no clue what to do or how the children would react to having me in their room. Upon walking in, the staff directed me to ‘go play with the kids,’ so I chose to sit at a large table towards the back of the room. Amazingly, several of the children began to surround me, asking me questions and giving me toys to play with. When I was asked to read, they sat quietly and gave me their full attention. Now they are excited to see me. Overall, this has taught me how to relate and understand younger children.”

After their mother battled with breast cancer, the sisters decided to organize a fundraising walk called Strides for Survivors. The event supported TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, where their mother received treatment. Nearly 150 people participated in a fundraising walk last year, which raised over $6,000. Another walk is planned for February. “Spending this tremendous amount of time with my family to support something that hits so close to home was the best feeling that you could imagine,” Emilie said of organizing the walk. “Knowing that the donations of the participants of the Strides for Survivors walk helps more women rebuild their strength during their battle with breast cancer drives my sisters and me to want to grow our organization and to raise more money for Turning Point,” Samantha said. “Other kids just like me could look into their mother’s eyes and see them as the strong confident woman that they are and it would be because of our donations,” Lauren said.

THE SCALISE SISTERS: LAUREN, 15; EMILIE, 13; SAMANTHA, 17 The Galloway School

MATTHEW CELECIA, 16 North Atlanta High School

Anationally recognized competitive table tennis player, Albert created the Student Table Tennis Activists Foundation (STTAF) to address health and educational issues in the community through ping pong. With the help of friends and family, Albert raised more than $2,000 and attracted 66 players to a recent tournament. Along with mission trips, tutoring, taking part in Relay For Life and creating public art, Albert has won a raft of awards including a Congressional Gold Medal and the Teen Ink Service Award. He likens the success of STTAF, which he hopes to take national, to creating a work of art. “Like clockwork, we register entrants, collect donations, arrange matches. I never thought it possible until drawing it out. STTAF, our elaborate conception, generates $2,200 we use to buy tables and 150 paddles for the children’s center. Composition becomes a way of creatively modeling visions into reality.”

Both Kira and Nicole focused their service on the residents of the Edgewood Court Apartments. As leader of the Spread Science Club, Kira made regular visits to the community to spread science learning and enrichment as part of an after-school program for the children who are residents at the complex. After attending the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s Youth Summit on Hunger and Poverty, Nicole created a community garden and planted fruit trees at the apartment complex. The recent sale of Edgewood Court saw the new owners shut down the after-school program. Kira said one of the children thanked her by coming to quietly sit in her lap. “It was a very bittersweet moment. I knew I was going to really miss teaching these kids, I was sad about their program closing, and I was thankful to think that I had been able to be a part of their lives,” Kira said. Nicole said watching the children learn about growing their own food would remain with her. “From their excitement at finding green cherry tomatoes on the vine to their surprise at the sour taste of the unripe tomatoes captured the simple joy shared by all.”

ALBERT ZHANG, 17 The Westminster Schools

KIRA HARRIS, 18 NICOLE POZZO, 17 The Paideia School

Full-immersion preschool and dual-immersion primary programs in French, Spanish, German and Mandarin

A welcoming community with local roots and global reach, composed of families from over 90 countries.

Explore, connect, create change for a better world.

KATHLEEN PAHL, 17

Mount Vernon Presbyterian School

Starting her freshmen year, Kathleen completed a yearlong project called Happiness in a Bag where she collected donated necessities like toiletries, gloves and granola bars for homeless people in Atlanta. During her sophomore year, she started an anti-bullying club at the high school called No Place For Hate. Last year Kathleen helped created and promote the Hurricane Harvey Relief fund, which raised more than $3,00. Kathleen is also working on a year-long project where she volunteers her time every Thursday at the Mount Vernon Towers assisted living home. “My most memorable moment occurred during my sophomore year collecting donated items from the community to be given to the homeless. For me the most gratifying part of the experience was meeting with individuals and hearing their stories as they thanked us for the bags full of necessities that we shared.”

In 2015, Courtney created the nonprofit “Supply Circle” after visiting her mother’s family home in Jamaica and seeing how difficult it is for children there to learn without school supplies. She organized a drive to collect supplies for the Heartsease Primary School in Mandeville, Jamaica such as pencils, notebooks, backpacks and pencil sharpeners, and they were delivered last September. Courtney was inspired to help underprivileged children in Jamaica because she says, “education is important and the key to success. We have to focus on the youth of the future and realize that every community is affected by another. I believe when those students feel confident, then they will succeed in and out of the classroom.” In addition, Courtney is a 2018 GivingPoint fellow, and she is participating in entrepreneurial training that teaches students about launching community projects and nonprofit organizations.

Glenn School for Young Children

Jamil visited Lovett’s 825-acre cloud forest property in Ecuador, called Siempre Verde, for the first time two years ago. Struck by the beauty and challenges facing the people of the region, he gathered a group of Lovett students, organized a trip to Siempre Verde last summer, and met with local residents to talk about their successes and failures in selling their products. The goal was to figure out a way to sell their goods at Lovett on a long-term basis. During the trip, Jamil and his group made a documentary to market the products the local farmers and artisans grow and make. They brought back enough of the products to make 50 gift baskets containing coffee, raw sugar, honey, soap and aloe moisturizer. The baskets sold out and all monies will go back to the local famers and artisans in Ecuador. More baskets will be made in 2018 with new items collected by students who visit Siempre Verde. “It was interesting to see how labor intensive it is to produce the goods that are so commonplace to me. In our everyday lives, we don’t really think about how something on our dinner table got there, and it was fascinating to see the process.”

COURTNEY COPELAND, 17 The Galloway School

JAMIL ATKINSON, 17 The Lovett School

The freshman has created The Books For Miles Foundation, which collects and donates used books to local organizations. Through his foundation’s literacy events, Miles has donated over 8,000 books to local enrichment centers, day care centers, elementary schools and shelters that serve disadvantaged children and families. He has assisted over 300 families through the Southwest Ecumenical Emergency Assistance Center (SWEEAC) by providing at-home libraries, children’s book bags for back-to-school, clothing for men in transition and food for needy families. “My ambassadors and I have served over 300 families through my partnership with SWEEAC. The most memorable experience was the “SWAG for a Cause” fashion show I planned and hosted for the purposes of filling the Men’s Closet at SWEEAC. We filled a room to capacity with clothes and my parents had to rent a storage truck just to transport the clothes to SWEEAC. Our efforts helped to put smiles on the faces of men in need and promoted dignity and confidence for them when going on interviews to enter the workforce.”

MILES JACKSON, 14 Maynard H. Jackson High School

Sydney has been an active member of the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation Leadership Program since her junior year, as well as 1st Tee of Atlanta and Grady Hospital’s Each One Reach One Program, an intensive program for highperforming students from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in pursuing medical careers. A memorable moment came at Thanksgiving when she was volunteering at Trinity A.M.E. Church to help feed the needy. “As I walked around ensuring everyone had condiments, napkins, beverages or any items they needed, I felt more connected to community and experienced a deeper sense of gratitude in giving back. Watching people enjoy food probably not often accessible was a very humbling and satisfying experience. I also appreciated having conversations with different people, and I made the most of that time being present and listening to them.”

Photo by Kim Kenney.

SYDNEY RAGLAND, 17 Benjamin E Mays High School

Lilah first visited Friends of Refugees, a Clarkstonbased non-profit, in the fall of 2016 with her second grade class as part of an expedition inviting her class to “walk in the shoes” of a refugee. A few months later, as the debate over allowing refugees into the United States came to dominate the news, she felt called to take action to help those fleeing to this country. She decided to have a bake sale on the Atlanta BeltLine to raise funds to donate to Friends of Refugees. This first bake sale was a success, yielding over $600, while a second one brought her total to $2,000. More bake sales and fundraising events for local organizations are planned this year. “During one of our bake sales, an elderly guy came up to our table and said that he had come to America a long time ago as a refugee and that he was happy to see that people were still supporting them. I also was happy that we raised so much money for Friends of Refugees.”

As early as his bar mitzvah, Rem chose to have guests buy One World Futbols (indestructible balls made for any kind of surface) rather than get him gifts, and partnered with Atlanta’s Soccer in the Streets to distribute the dozens of balls to refugee kids in Clarkston. He was chosen by the National Center for Civil & Human Rights and the Museum of History & Holocaust Education at Kennesaw State University to participate in a four-part dialogue titled “Changing Landscapes: Conversations on Human Rights.” Rem was also selected to be on the Fulton County Youth Commission, participate in Morehouse College’s Coca Cola Pre-College Leadership Program and The Great Jewish Books summer program at the Yiddish Book Center in Massachusetts. He said his time on the youth commission has been life-changing. “I remember the first time being in a van with my fellow youth commissioners, driving from place to place for the sole purpose of connecting with the homeless, providing them with the basics for their holidays, and inviting them to our Thanksgiving meal. Despite their obvious hardships, the gratitude we received was palpable. This taught me that although it’s important to give charity, just reaching out and interacting with others is often equally appreciated.”

Inspired by his uncle (former NFL all-pro running back Warrick Dunn) and his mom, the fourth grader has founded his own charitable organization, Cayden’s Way, which is dedicated to supporting the dream of homeownership and helping to furnish the rooms of children in need. The organization has raised more than $23,000 and Cayden received the Community Angel Award for his efforts. Instead of receiving birthday gifts, Cayden accepts donations for the charity. He said seeing a child’s excitement of having his own room for the first time has been his most exciting moment. He says the quote, “when you know better, you do better,” has been instilled in him and makes him strive harder to help the community. “I want to help people get food, shelter and a job,” he said.

Wesley has been volunteering with MedShare, the nonprofit that distributes medical supplies and equipment around the world, since 2015. He started his service by sorting donations, but has since participated in fundraisers, compiled a costsaving summary that wound up in the organization’s annual report and created a report on building new partnerships with volunteers. Wesley said the everyday experiences at MedShare are what keeps him engaged. “After my 20th visit I decided to retake the orientation tour of the facility, a simply awesome warehouse full of ready-to-beshipped medical supplies and equipment. During the tour, Alvaro, the perpetually smiling volunteer manager, mentioned off handedly that over half of the warehouse was powered by the solar panels on the roof. Wow. I had been going to MedShare for months and they still continued to surprise me. While yes, Medshare’s mission to both help those in need and reduce landfill waste is what brought me in, it’s their constant dedication to doing what’s right that brings me back every Saturday. With all the divisiveness around the world, it’s very humbling to help with a nonprofit like MedShare.”

LILAH DIDIER-SOBER, 9 Oakhurst Elementary School

CAYDEN EDWARDS, 9 Beecher Hills Elementary

JEREMY “REM” HELLMANN, 17 The Weber School

WESLEY HARDIN, 17 The Galloway School

Rather than the usual senior orientation, Will Milling proposed something dramatically – and philanthropically – different. He developed and raised money for a team-building program called BuildA-Hand, which resulted in the senior class building 35 prosthetic hands that are now being delivered to landmine victims around the world. “After the class had learned about the project and been working on assembling the hands in teams, I had each person place a koozie over their dominant hand. This resulted in each student only being able to construct a prosthetic hand with one hand – simulating the physical situation of someone who has lost a hand. Although this can be viewed as a serious teaching moment, it also created some awkward moments, even leading to some laughs. It was difficult for some of the students and some struggled with a few of the smaller pieces, but they all seemed to learn about something bigger than themselves. We were all very proud of helping those victims around the world in such a life-changing way.”

WILL MILLING, 17 Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School

A Catholic Education Honor Roll school in Chastain Park, forming students 6 months-12th grade. holyspiritprep.org

TALLULAH GRACE SCHLEY-RITCHIE, 18 Atlanta Girls’ School

Tallulah has been an active member of Scouting Bridges: Uganda, an affiliation of co-ed Venturing Crew 370 of the Boy Scouts of America. She has been to Uganda three to learn much about medicine and mental health. She is particularly interested in women’s health, and has assumed an active role in the Menstruation Matters initiative, which educates young Ugandan women on the importance of safe monthly hygiene. She has participated in educational clinics in Uganda, and has helped with the distribution of re-useable sanitary kits to women who have little or no access to appropriate supplies. “As a person interested in scientific disciplines as well as women’s education and health globally, participating in a project that so directly helps girls my age has been rewarding to such an extent I find it hard to fully articulate.”

refugee community of Clarkston. Lauren has framed and hand-delivered over 150 family photos to families who have none, and cannot afford the luxury of framed photography of their growing children and families.

BRIDGET SILVERT, 17

In the wake of a Woodward Academy teacher losing her young son to mitochondrial disease, the senior created a new service project in the child’s honor, Graham’s Grams. Bridget led the donation drive of toys, gift cards and art supplies to be donated to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

ANALLA REID, 18

LAUREN HUTSON, 17

Lauren, senior at St. Pius X Catholic High school, formed a charity foundation called People Not Projects, which provides complimentary framed family portraits to the

Beyond spending over 200 hours in the elementary classrooms at The Paideia School as part of the Cross Age Teaching program, Analla also volunteers at Cumberland Academy, a private autism school in Atlanta. While at Cumberland, Analla served students there as a basketball coach but more

impressively, she successfully introduced the practice of mindfulness to help prepare her students for games and practices.

ALEXANDRIA JORDAN, 17

The Booker T. Washington High School student has committed her high school career to the Army JROTC program. As a fourth year member, she demonstrates her leadership skills daily when guiding and training the younger cadets.

JORDAN JONES, 18

Jordan has participated in numerous service projects during his high school career, including “SING,” a Lovett Schoolsponsored inner-city volunteer activity. He also works with RAFT-Chattahoochee River Clean-Up, the Metro Atlanta Project and Habitat for Humanity at St. Phillips Cathedral and at Christ School.

SHAUN MOONEY, 7

The Holy Spirit Preparatory School secondgrader submitted one of his many jokes for inclusion in a book published by United Healthcare Children’s Foundation. Proceeds from the book support grants for children and their families who need assistance covering their medical bills. Shaun went on to become a promoter for the book, including appearing on local news shows.

ANDREW ZACH, 17

Andrew, a student of the Marist School, works as a legal aid for the DeKalb County Teen Court. In this role, he helps minors who have committed a crime by providing an alternative to Juvenile Court. He hears and argues cases and makes recommendations for restitution, such as community service or referral to county programs.

NAIMA TURBES, 16

The Westminster student is a board member of the Fulton County Youth Commission, and is president of the organization’s health committee. She’s also part of Circle of Women, a student-run nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to secondary education for girls around the world.

LAUREN BROWN, 17

Lauren has been part of the Westminster Service Corps, a student member of the school’s fundraising committee and community engagement team leader. She’a also volunteered with Odyssey, the nonprofit that provides education opportunities to disadvantaged kids via summer camps.

STEPHANIE WILLOCK, 18

A senior at The New Schools at Carver, Stephanie is not only her class’ vice-president and parliamentarian, but also part of the district-award winning reading bowl team, a prolific speaker and poet who uses her writing to inspire other students.

TITUS CARTER, 17

Titus joined L.E.A.D. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct), the nonprofit that empowers at-risk youth through baseball, as an ambassador during his freshman year at Douglass High School, but was later removed for lack of commitment. However, Titus recommitted himself by becoming a mentor at Harper-Archer Middle School and was allowed to return to the L.E.A.D. program and is driven to become a better leader for the community.

IZZY PITMAN, 17

The Paideia School senior is an accomplished ultimate frisbee player and has taken her love of the sport to the Middle East and coached for an organization known as Ultimate Peace. The nonprofit takes children from Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths and has them

participate together on the ultimate frisbee field.

CATE O’KELLEY, 17

A senior at Holy Innocents, Cate works with the director of the school’s Program for Global Citizenship and members of their leadership team to bring Refuge Coffee to campus to educate students and faculty about local refugee-led social enterprise initiatives. She is also working to create an organization to enable Atlanta students to collaborate on community engagement projects.

SOPHIE GREENE, 18

Sophie has pioneered a relationship between The Paideia School and The Connections School of Atlanta by establishing and teaching a class on using the searchand-discovery app Foursquare. She saw Foursquare as a great connecting tool for autistic teens looking to be understood by their peers and neurotypical students looking to expand beyond themselves.

KAT LABENSKI, 16

Kat is an active leader of the Green Club at Academe of the Oaks, where she also volunteers her time working with the school’s animals and dedicating her weekends to working with Syrian refuges in Project Hope.

PATRICK SCHULMAN, 18

Patrick, a senior at Holy Spirit Preparatory, created a new version of the school’s Classics Club that works with Solidarity School, a Hispanic mission and school for low-income families in Sandy Springs. Every Sunday, Patrick teaches classics to a devoted group of elementary students.

ANDREANNA

KITAS, 13

An 8th grader at Annunciation Day School, Andreanna led the efforts of the National Junior Beta and National Junior Honor Societies to collect toiletries, blankets and essentials for Hurricane Irma victims. Because of Andreanna’s persistent efforts and leadership, the organizations collected enough items to fill the entire lobby of the Dekalb County Police headquarters, plus an additional $500 to be donated to the Red Cross.

OLIVIA SILVA, 17

For the past two years, Olivia has worked tirelessly and collaboratively to design, plan and execute Woodward Academy’s Canned Food Drive. From the theming of the drive to the educational programming involved, Olivia’s efforts have resulted in hugely successful drives.

60% OF OUR SCHOOL DAY IS SPENT OUTSIDE. COME SEE WHY WE ARE GEORGIA’S OLDEST COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL.

PROSPECTIVE PARENT MEETINGS:

SATURDAY JANUARY 20TH, 9AM - 11AM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 6:30PM - 8:30PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD AT 9AM - 11AM

PLEASE RSVP ON OUR WEBSITE

Top Right: “Working at the car wash... sing it with feeling now.” The Kirkwood Car Was marked its 20th anniversary in December. The car wash has become a mainstay of the neighborhood and is often the center of events like the Kirkwood Wine Stroll. (Photo by Colin Potts)

Bottom Right: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden throughout the holiday season. The garden’s Storza Woods and other flora and fauna are festooned with millions of colorful, dancing lights. The event continues through Jan. 7. (Photo by Collin Kelley)

Top Left: Mayor Kasim Reed shows some the renderings for the future iVillage project at the Hamilton E. Holmes MARTA station. Shipping containers will be repurposed into a retail and office complex.. (Courtesy Invest Atlanta)

COLDWELL BANKER

DECATUR - Original brick with sunrm, covered porch, huge kitchen & butler’s pantry, add’l fin space with BR, flex rm and full bath above the detached parking.

Excellent finishes! All certified Earthcraft homes. Outstanding floor plan. $1,125,000

FMLS: 5925279 Kathleen Sickeler 404.368.3234

DECATUR - Iris floorpan features sunrm, finished bsmt w/additional rms and full bath, large kitchen with breakfast area & butler’s pantry, beautiful master suite, 2 car garage and stand out finishes! 5Bed/5Bath

$1,199,000

FMLS: 5925323 Kathleen Sickeler 404.368.3234

ST MARLO COUNTRY CLUB - Offers 2 story foyer, 2 story great room w/wall of windows overlooks golf course. Sep living room/study & banquet sized dining. Kitchen w/breakfast area/bar and keeping room w/ stone fireplace. 5Bed/4.5Bath $684,900

FMLS: 5932823 Helene DeLoach 404.210.6250

THE RESERVE AT CITY PARK - Steps from the Path, a tranquil sanctuary with new hardwood flooring, a bright kitchen with soapstone countertops and subway backsplash, Pottery Barn lighting, renovated bath, gas fireplace. Quick access to interstates. 3Bed/2.5Bath $449,900 FMLS: 5942319 J Dunn 404.992.8142

entertaining, gas fireplace with limestone surround, south facing windows. 2Bed/2.5Bath $444,900

FMLS: 5942328 J Dunn 404.992.8142

HIGHLAND TOWNHOMES - Near Beltline, Inman Park, Downtown. New floors, carpet, appliances, & shower. Added granite in the kitchen and bathroom! Generous walk-in closet, separate shower/garden tub, 1 car garage! 1Bed/1Bath $199,900

FMLS: 5938205 Matt Domenick 404.276.0061

EMORY - Large Split Level Home, just minutes from Emory/CDC or Downtown Decatur. 2 story screened porch, glass sun room w/8 sky lights, plus sitting room off master - overlooks private fenced backyard, hardwood floors, full family room w/fp. 5Bed/3Bath

$479,000 FMLS: 5875118 Ann Hudson 404.307.9902

NORTH DECATUR HEIGHTS - House built on 2 lots, 12 & 13, as per original plat plan. May be purchased and existing house may be renovated. Or house may be torn down for construction of new house. 3Bed/2Bath $499,000

FMLS: 5935558 Barney Hill 678.644.2784

TWELVE CENTENNIAL - Condo offers floor to ceiling windows, and walk-out balcony with a skyline view of Midtown. Open kitchen, breakfast bar with granite counters, SS appliances, hardwood floors, and more.

2Bed/2Bath $310,000

FMLS: 5879134 Lamar Golar 404.643.1888

AQUA - Corner unit with SE views to Stone Mountain. Private elevator, large open floor plan w/floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors, Lutron automated blinds, Viking appliances and hi-end finishes & fixtures throughout. 2Bed/2Bath $525,000

FMLS: 5939549 Erin Fye 404.771.9822

BRADFORD ON PEACHTREE - This unit comes w/ hardwood floors, family room w/fireplace opens to a balcony with views of Buckhead. Galley kitchen with straight line cabinetry, SS appliances. One deeded parking space & storage space. 1Bed/1Bath $179,000

FMLS: 5932155 Lamar Golar 404.643.1888

DECATUR - Master on the main, bsmt w/stained concrete floors and media rm, large flex space and storage rm up, two car drive under garage, abundance of SF - The Edna floorpan has it all! 5Bed/6Bath

$1,250,000

FMLS: 5925329 Kathleen Sickeler 404.368.3234

BEVERLY HILLS - Home features original hardwood floors, covered parking, large fenced-in yard, and basement. Updates include S/S appliances, newer kitchen cabinets, tile backsplash, and tile floors.

3Bed/2Bath $139,999

FMLS: 5899166 Helen Nicole 404.610.3535

MORNINGSIDE - Restored Morningside Tudor, original hardwood floors and architectural details throughout. Private backyard w/multi-tiered decking. Partially finished basement offers more room for expansion.

4Bed/3Bath $774,000

FMLS: 5925163 Fred McFarlin 404.518.6710

ANSLEY PARKSIDE - All brick end unit townhouse with skyline view. Open floor plan w/granite and stainless steel appliances overlooking LR w/gas fireplace, built-ins, and French doors to deck. Hardwoods on main. 3Bed/3.5Bath $584,900 FMLS: 5941843 Mike Kondalski 404.234.9379

EDGEWOOD - EarthCraft award winner, stylish and sophisticated detail, along with all of the high performance features providing greater comfort, indoor air quality, functionality and energy efficiency make this a truly unique offering. 5Bed/3Bath $650,000

FMLS: 5929695 Clarke Weeks 404.932.0391