Atlanta Intown - February 2017

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Editorial

Collin Kelley

INtown Editor

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Contributors

Sally Bethea, Julie E. Bloemeke, Kathy Dean, Joe Earle, Grace Huseth, Isadora Pennington, Clare S. Richie, Tim Sullivan, John Ruch, Megan Volpert, Michelle Wiseman

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Go

Waze and means

EDITOR’S LETTER

I recently started using the WAZE app to help me navigate Intown’s traffic. For those who aren’t smartphone savvy, WAZE is a community based app where motorists submit travel times and route details (such as accidents or road work) to help other drivers find the quickest way to their destinations. It’s very cool, and yet I can’t shake an existential feeling of guilt.

First let me say that I hate driving a car. I was never one of those teenagers hankering for an expensive car; I wanted to live somewhere that made owning a car obsolete – like London, Paris or New York. I have hopes that before I move on to the next plane of existence Atlanta’s public transportation will rival those aforementioned international cities. It’s getting there, but not quite yet. I can walk to restaurants, shops, the supermarket, etc. but I still need a car to go see family on the southside, get to INtown’s main office up by the Perimeter and to parts of the city that don’t require multiple train, bus, Uber rides before reaching the final destination.

Collin Kelley collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

So, for now, I’m still driving and I’m always looking for something to help me find the quickest route through Atlanta’s terrible traffic. I had been using Google Maps, but all of my fellow driving friends kept talking about WAZE offering more real-time information and alternate routes to avoid traffic jams.

The first time I used WAZE was over near Emory when I was running late to a dinner date and was stuck in a tailback on Clairmont Road.

I clicked on WAZE and it routed me down several small residential streets and had me to the restaurant in 10 minutes rather than 20. Cool beans!

A couple of weeks later, I was stuck on westbound DeKalb Avenue during rush hour as all the cars try to turn left at Arizona Avenue. Again, WAZE directed me to the nearest side street and took me on a twisty but quick route through Lake Claire and Candler Park. Other cars were ahead of me and behind me, no doubt also taking a shortcut through these quiet, neighborhood streets. This is where my guilt set it.

I started noticing the “Slow Down” signs in yards, a look of dismay from a woman walking with her toddler as the line of cars passed her on the sidewalk. Neighborhood streets have long been used as cut throughs between main arteries, but WAZE has upped the ante by showing drivers how to do it so easily.

And then, once again, I was stuck on Clairmont Road and WAZE directed to me on to quiet Clairmont Circle to help get me over to North Decatur Road. Except in this case, I was stuck in another jam as so many cars had turned onto the neighborhood street. I felt badly for the homeowners simply trying to back out of their driveways or park on the street. I can only imagine the noise level both inside and outside their homes.

I vowed to stop using WAZE, but I haven’t yet. What I am doing is leaving a little earlier, avoiding rush hour meetups and finding my own alternate routes that might add a few more minutes to my drive, but help me avoid traffic. Unless, it’s an emergency or your boss is on the verge of firing you for being tardy again, being 10 or 15 minutes late, while a social faux pas, isn’t the end of the world.

And please – PLEASE! -- start using your turn signals and learning how to use a four-way stop. This is learner permit 101 stuff, y’all. If we all work together we can… ahem… make Atlanta traffic great again.

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The Neighborhood

Another Look

Georgia State University (GSU) and its development partners, Carter and Oakwood Development, released new renderings last month showing what Turner Field will look like once it becomes a mixed-use development. GSU closed on the $30 million purchase of The Ted in early January and plans to transform the current venue into a football stadium for the Panthers. A new baseball stadium will be built on the site of the former Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, which is now a parking lot.

Around the sports complexes will be student housing, office buildings, retail/restaurant space and apartment buildings.

New renderings reveal redeveloped Turner Field City hands over Adair School deed to Atlanta Public Schools

By Collin Kelley

The City of Atlanta has transferred the deed of the former George W. Adair Elementary School site to Atlanta Public Schools (APS). Atlanta City

Councilmembers Andre Dickens and Joyce Sheperd introduced legislation last month that authorized the city to execute a quick claim deed to transfer the property. The move comes after APS adopted a policy requiring affordable housing when it sells the property for a mixed-use development.

The fate of nine other school deeds held by the city remains uncertain. Last year, Mayor Kasim Reed said he would not turn over the properties until APS adopted the affordable housing policy similar to the city’s own. Still pending is a lawsuit filed by APS to determine ownership of the properties.

Adair Elementary, located in the Adair Park neighborhood, has been closed since the early 1970s. The circa-1911 Gothic Revival two-story building sits just three

blocks from the Atlanta Beltline’s Westside Trail.

“The redevelopment of the Adair Elementary School building has been something the community has been seeking for a long time,” said Sheperd, who represents the Adair Park neighborhood. “Kudos to the Reed Administration, Atlanta Public Schools and the City Council for coming to the table to do what is best for our community and its future in terms of redevelopment.”

The proposed redevelopment of the Adair property will include residential and retail space. The developer is committed to “restoration” in addition to renovation, concentrating on preserving the historical character and context of the building, Sheperd said.

Development company Pullman Historic District LLC has proposed more than 4,000-square-feet of retail on the ground floor of the building and residential spaces on the first and second floors. A new building on the site would contain 10,500 square feet of additional

residential and 5,500 square feet of retail space. The company has indicated it wants to include affordable “micro-housing” on the site as well.

New renderings of the redeveloped Turner Field site show gathering spots and, at right, a reimagined Capitol Avenue complete with streetcar.

George W. Adair Elementary Schoool has been abandoned since the early 1970s. It’s slated to become part of a mixed-used development.

Work continues on restoring African American Grounds at Oakland Cemetery

Historic Oakland Foundation (HOF) has a goal to completely restore Oakland Cemetery’s historic African American Grounds, and is now one step closer. This month HOF will finish a restoration project at the final resting place of one of Georgia’s first black female doctors.

Last October during the Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours, attendees donated a recordbreaking $7,500 to help restore the final resting place of Dr. Beatrice Thompson and her sister Estella Henderson. Dr. Thompson graduated from medical school in 1901 before establishing a practice in Athens, a rare accomplishment at the time for a woman, much less a woman of color. Estella Henderson, who was a lawyer and professor at Morris Brown College, is buried next to her sister.

“This year we begin a concerted focus on restoring the African American Grounds and the work on the Thompson lot is a monumental first step for the Foundation,” said David Moore, executive director at HOF. “We want to keep the momentum around this project going and in order to do so, we need support in the form of both community involvement and financial backing from public and private donors.”

An additional $300,000 is needed to complete the African American Grounds restoration project.

The Thompson lot contains nine recorded burials, four of which have monuments associated with them. HOF’s Preservation, Restoration, and Operations (PRO) Team restored each of these monuments, which were uneven, broken and unstable due to the passage of time. HOF’s gardens team will in turn improve the lot with period-appropriate landscaping.

A new headstone will be erected for Dr. Thompson and her husband, Sidney J. Thompson, who was a probation officer with the Fulton County juvenile court and founder of the first Atlanta Boys’ Club. The markers will be laid at a private dedication ceremony in the spring.

Throughout February, HOF will offer free guided walking tours of the African American Grounds during Black History Month. Visit oaklandcemetery.com for more information.

Can

Courtesy Historic Oakland Foundation

Top photo: Gloria Elder portrays Dr. Beatrice Thompson at a cemetery tour.

Bottom photo: The Thompson gravesite before restoration.

ON THE AGENDA

MEETINGS

The Atlanta City Council meets Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. For agendas and more information, visit citycouncil.atlantaga.gov.

The Midtown Review Committee meets the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the fifth floor conference room at 999 Peachtree. For more information and to see agendas, visit midtownatl.com.

Neighborhood Planning Unit- N (NPU-N), Cabbagetown, Candler Park, Druid Hills Civic Association, Inman Park, Lake Claire, Little Five Points, PonceyHighland and Reynoldstown, meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Little Five Points Community Center, 1083 Austin Ave.

NEWS

The U.S. Justice Department is investigating alleged bribes at Atlanta City Hall for construction contracts. Elvin Mitchell Jr. is accused of paying more than $1 million to secure City of Atlanta contracts.

CHRIS 180

New name reflects nonprofit’s transformative services

By Clare S. Richie

CHRIS 180, formerly known as Chris Kids, recently updated its name to more accurately identify the people they serve and how they serve them.

The 36-year-old nonprofit helps anyone who has experienced trauma change the direction of their lives to become more self-sufficient. According to experts, untreated trauma can result in physical illness, depression, poor school and work performance, and other issues. CHRIS 180 responds with mental health counseling, training, and by providing safe housing and real-world skill building.

“The old name was a barrier to adults who may otherwise access our mental health services and our young adults and teens didn’t like to be referred to as kids,” CHRIS 180 President & CEO Kathy Colbenson shared.

The new name keeps the CHRIS acronym – Creativity, Honor, Respect, Integrity, and Safety – but shifts the focus to its transformative services.

“180 is a turnaround – it’s a change in the direction in your life,” Colbenson said. “Everyone who comes to us wants to make a change. We are a mental health organization at our heart. The old name focused on the who. It was time to talk about the what and how.”

The name change was a pro bono effort by Bright Blue Consulting and former Board Chair Sheila Weidman of Georgia Pacific. Both conducted market research by interviewing former and current clients, staff, supporters and people unfamiliar with the nonprofit.

At its founding in 1981, the nonprofit focused on children with mental health and behavior problems in the state foster care system, providing the first specialized group homes. Today the nonprofit has grown into so much more.

Two programs make up 80 percent of its services. CHRIS Counseling Center’s mental health counseling is available to the public through a sliding fee scale and insurance or to referred clients. Keeping Families Together is a wraparound service program that helps families so they can become stronger and stay together.

The nonprofit also provides a supportive housing program for single and parenting youth, ages 17-24, who are homeless or have aged out of the foster care system.

Top photo: CHRIS 180 youth enjoying a day at summer camp.

Bottom photo: The Play Therapy room at CHRIS Counseling Center.

not necessarily being ‘bad’. We all have triggers. We teach staff to be curious, to be compassionate. Then we follow that with proven therapeutic evidence based researched practices that work,” Colbenson explained.

shared.

This approach works. Two years after leaving the supportive housing program, 97 percent of former clients are safely housed and 90 percent are working and/or in school.

Mayor Kasim Reed issued a statement in January offering his support for a controversial pedestrian bridge over Northside Drive at the new MercedesBenz Stadium. The Atlanta City Council has authorized up to $12.8 million for design and construction of the bridge.

CNBC/Glassdoor has placed Atlanta at number 15 on its list of “15 cities where you can live well on $60,000.”

The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership has received a $10,000 grant for Art on the Atlanta BeltLine from the National Endowment for the Arts.

CHRIS 180 has always served Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth, but in 2000 established the first program in the Southeast to target a disproportionate percentage of LGBTQ homeless youth. Today this population is integrated into all service programs.

To reduce barriers to treatment, CHRIS 180 provides school based mental health services in 14 schools in Atlanta Public Schools and DeKalb County. “Parents can attend a school meeting and schedule therapy during the same visit,” Colbenson said.

To extend its reach even further, CHRIS 180 trains nonprofits, state workers and human service professionals on Trauma Informed Care. “We understand that someone exhibiting difficult behavior is

CHRIS 180’s approach is to withhold judgment and listen to what each person needs.

“You are the best informant on your life and personal goals,” Colbenson said. “We listen to each individual’s dreams and challenges to help them make a realistic plan. We may get a referral from DFCS but ask: what do you want our help with?”

Like when a school referred a family because of their children’s poor hygiene. Turned out the family didn’t have a washer, dryer or hot water heater. CHRIS 180 connected the family to donated appliances before moving on to other issues.

“What do you need help with? That’s a lot different than saying you’re sending your kids to school dirty. The ‘R’ (in CHRIS) is, after all, respect,” Colbenson

CHRIS 180 donors help raise $2.5 million each year, $1.7 million of which directly helps foster care and homeless youth succeed.

“When you make an investment in a young person’s life or help a family develop strengths they need to function well – it pays off,” Colbenson stressed.

For example, a young mother who grew up as third generation foster care is now working and going to college while raising her two children.

“It can be done. No child should be written off. People can heal. With treatment, trauma is the most recoverable of all mental health issues,” Colbenson explained.

To found out more, visit chris180.org.

Opening Celebration

Mercedes-Benz Stadium announces first events

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS) will open its doors with a month-long series of events that include Atlanta Falcons pre-season football games, Atlanta United regular season soccer matches, high-profile college football games, concerts and an opening celebration event.

Atlanta United is scheduled for a home match on Sunday, July 30, the first-ever sporting event in the stadium, and will then play two more home matches at MBS in the middle of August as part of the inaugural month of opening events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. These matches will showcase the stadium’s purpose-built MLS configuration and FIFA-regulation pitch. MLS will announce its entire 2017 schedule this week, including start times and opponents.

The Atlanta Falcons will play two

pre-season games at the stadium during August. The exact dates for the Falcons preseason and regular season games, including the team’s regular season home opener, have not been determined and will be announced per the NFL’s normal schedule release this spring.

A grand opening celebration event is being planned for the last week of August and will be followed in the days after by two concerts. The first of two Chickfil-A Kickoff games, featuring national championship contenders Alabama and Florida State, is slated for Saturday, Sept. 2. Two days later on Monday, Sept. 4, an SEC vs. ACC battle between Tennessee and Georgia Tech will usher in a college football season at the stadium that will culminate with the College Football National Championship game on Jan. 8, 2018.

Ga. 400 park could include amphitheater, garden

By Collin Kelley

A 2,000-seat amphitheater, a garden and an area for markets and events could be included in the proposed park over Ga. 400, the executive director of the Buckhead Community Improvement District told members of the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods recently. Calling the park a priority, BCID Executive Director Jim Durrett said the organization is halfway through a year-long study on the half-mile-long greenspace and gathering spot, which would stretch from the Atlanta Financial Center on Peachtree Road to the Lenox Road/Ga. 400 interchange.

The park would cost anywhere from $195 million to $245 million to build and another $2 million per year to maintain, Durrett said. He said BCID would be looking for federal and state dollars, as well as corporate, foundation and private contributions to build the park. Durrett told BCN members during the group’s Jan. 12 meeting that the BCID is talking with officials at the Atlanta Botanical Garden about maintaining the garden portion of the park.

Originally proposed by BCID, the park is now part of the “BUCKHEAD REdeFINED” master planning effort for the central commercial district’s streetscape, which is overseen by Livable Buckhead. As part of the process, the park’s feasibility and funding sources are being examined.

The BCN also heard an update from GDOT area manager Brad Humphrey on the timeline for improvements to the Moores Mill and Northside Parkway intersection. The project is scheduled to be complete by November.

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A rendering of the completed Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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By Grace Huseth

Inhale, exhale and flip upside down. At Virginia-Highland’s Inspire Aerial Arts, even newbies can fly off the ground as aerial artists within minutes.

Inspire offers group aerial classes, private lessons and private parties in various apparatuses such as aerial silks and aerial hoops. Owner Kimberly Snede, who has trained with countless professional aerialists and Cirque du Soleil artists from around the world, opened the high-ceiling studio space on Amsterdam Walk in 2015.

“One of my favorite things about aerial is that it allows you to express yourself creatively, but also gives you the added benefit of a great workout. If you’re like me and you get bored at the gym, you’ll love aerial because it’s like playing for adults,” Snede said.

Most start with the Intro to Aerial Dance class, which teaches beginners how to balance, transition in and out of poses and go upside in a 60 minute class. From there, aerial artists can progress to aerial fitness classes and flexibility series or drop in for open practice.

Instructor DeAndrea Clark warmed up the intro class with some jumping jacks and light stretches and then briefed the students about special ropes and how to tie them. Aerial fabric is designed to hold a maximum of 2,000 puonds and the rigging will hold at least 10,000 pounds.

“I started aerial arts by accident. It found me. I passed an aerial gym, saw the silks, took an intro class and the rest is history. I love being in the air and I’ll climb as high as I can,” Clark said.

Clark has a background as a dancer and said dancing translates well to aerial arts. She has been instructing for a year, and said the best secret to mastering the ropes is grip strength. While your arms may be solid, strong hands are often overlooked. If you are just starting off with a fitness routine, you can see progression in a few months with aerial art. If you are an athlete, you can challenge yourself in a new way by applying different muscles and skills.

“Some people may be intimidated by aerial art, but you build your strength. It definitely takes upper body strength, but it also takes core, leg and muscles that you didn’t even know you had. Everyone should try it at least once,” said Clark.

For more information about classes, visit inspireaerialarts.com.

Grace Huseth, Sarah Brechin and Merry Rowe practice the reverse fly standing pose at Inspire Aerial Arts.

– Mike & Stephanie H.

By Joe Earle

Growing up in southeast Georgia, Bradford Bailey learned to respect his elders. His mother was a social worker, and he says she taught him to look up to senior citizens as she worked with them in their small, rural community.

When Bailey moved to metro Atlanta in 2006, freshly minted exercise physiology diploma in hand, he was surprised to find few exercise classes were offered that had been designed specifically for older participants. So he started his own program. Now his company, SeniorFitAtlanta, works in 25 to 30 senior facilities spread from Forsyth County to Palmetto to Stone Mountain, he said.

One recent afternoon, the 41-year-old Bailey worked with 13 clients in a senior living community in Brookhaven. He led the group of seniors as they worked through a series of exercises designed to focus on different muscle groups and to make them stronger.

“That’s our main concept,” Bailey said before class began. “We work on strengthening exercises. Out of all the components of fitness, that’s the one seniors benefit most from.”

Strengthening exercises help improve his clients’ muscle mass and increase bone density, he said. That, in turn, helps improve their quality of life, and helps protect them against disease and injuries in falls. If seniors are physically strong, Bailey explained, they are able to live more independent and productive lives.

He also promotes exercise as a “magical pill” against illness. “Regular exercise and physical activity can help prevent and treat all of the common deadly diseases,” he wrote recently. “For example, a 30-minute session of exercise helps to lower blood pressure, reduce blood sugar and strengthen your heart and lungs. ... No population benefits more from exercise than the senior population.”

Bailey’s classes last about 30 minutes apiece and he uses weights, rubber balls, resistance bands and other devices in his workouts. He tells his clients that the best exercise for their cardiovascular systems is simply to take regular walks. “I just ask residents to walk as much as they can,” he said. “If they can’t, they can wheel in their wheelchairs.”

His clients seem to enjoy their regular workouts. “Exercise gets the muscles going,” said Art Mongagne, who’s 95. “You’ve got to do that to keep going. If you don’t keep going, you stop. It keeps all your muscles and your body feeling active. Consequently, you feel good.”

Bailey regularly works with clients aged 85 to older than 100, he said. “The lady I just left was 93,” he said. “Eighty percent of our clients are in the 90s.”

He also is working on a line of video and on-line classes. “My ultimate goal,” Bailey said, “is to make professional fitness training available to all seniors.”

Bradford Bailey

Courtesy of seniorfitatlanta

Residents at Sunrise Huntcliff Summit participate in strength exercises.

By Collin Kelley

The ongoing Westside/West Midtown development boom has prompted the Atlanta Humane Society (AHS) to pursue the potential sale of its campus at the corner of 10th Street and Howell Mill Road. The 2.29 acres of land that the current campus sits on, which includes an animal shelter and veterinary center and administration offices, has been owned by AHS since the 1930s.

According to a statement from AHS, the property is anticipated to be highly sought after as it is located in the heart of West Midtown, between several of Atlanta’s most popular retail nodes. A number of major development projects are currently underway nearby, including Stockyards Atlanta and additions to the popular Westside Provisions District. Atlanta Humane Society is being advised on the sale by Cushman & Wakefield.

The AHS said funds from the sale, alongside continued support from the community, would help facilitate the opening of a charitable animal hospital in the southwest side of the city, several neighborhood animal welfare centers across Atlanta and a specialized behavioral and medical rehabilitation center.

“With this potential property sale comes many great opportunities to advance the welfare of animals and to invest more deeply in our mission within the city of Atlanta,” said Cal Morgan, President and CEO at the Atlanta Humane Society. “We are committed to embracing and driving change within our industry, and the potential sale of our Howell Mill property has great promise to make an immense impact on animals in Atlanta.”

If the sale were completed, the AHS would also pursue the construction of a new facility in West Midtown.

PETS

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BROOKHAVEN’S BRIGHTEN

Pet Pick

Meowmadaeus is a 13-year-old Nebelung Mix who is spayed, declawed, up-to-date on her vaccinations and ready to go home with you. She has lived in a foster home with dogs and other kitties, and she did great with everyone in the household. Don’t let her age throw you – she is healthy and has a lot of love to give. She is also very playful and loves chasing a laser pointer more than anything. She just needs to find a loving and secure home to retire in. To adopt Meowmadaeus or any of the other available cats and dogs, visit pawsatlanta.org or the PAWS Atlanta shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Save Money, Make Money, Shop Smart

The Medical Arts Building in Downtown Atlanta has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The dilapidated building at 384 Peachtree Street is one of a few surviving examples of the expansion of Atlanta’s central business district north of Five Points during the first three decades of the 20th century. As one of the first buildings in Atlanta to include a covered parking garage, it also represents the increasing influence of the automobile on the city. The building, developed by local doctors Cliff Sauls, Grady E. Clay, James E. Paulin and Malvern D. Huff, is an excellent example of an early 20th-century midrise office building, utilizing Neoclassical elements of pilasters, decorative cornice and clean lines. The building is also the work of noted Georgia architect G. Lloyd Preacher, who designed many buildings in Atlanta, including Atlanta City Hall and the WynneClaughton Building. Construction on the Medical Arts Building began in May 1926, and was completed in 1927. Global X, which provides capital to adaptive reuse projects for historic buildings, announced last month that it will refurbish the long-decaying structure.

E. College Avenue Twin Oaks Shopping Center

Rooting for the good guys

TIMMY DADDY

By Tim Sullivan

The 5th District is having a moment.

Congressman John Lewis is having a moment. Sixty thousand Atlantans marched through a downpour the day after the inauguration to have their moment.

MVP

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons marched all over the Green Bay Packers and punched their ticket to the Super Bowl in a moment of their own! It feels like the good guys are on something of a streak, doesn’t it? Somebody make sure Bill Belichick isn’t snooping around Flowery Branch this week.

When Boston College played at Clemson University in 2005 some fellow BC alums and I fastened our school flag to the side of a rented Econoline van and trekked up I-85. A friend of a friend who was a Clemson guy tagged along and supplied the parking pass. I can’t remember his name, but he must have been Clempson Von Clemson IV or something because our tailgate spot was literally marked #1, right alongside Memorial Stadium. In the sea of orange and white we were, umm, noticeable.

BC’s starting quarterback had an ankle injury, so our hopes were pinned on this skinny sophomore named Matt Ryan. He took a shot to the sternum from Clemson linebacker David Dunham that was the hardest hit I had ever witnessed. The entire stadium gasped, making sure it was only Matt’s helmet that popped off. He sat one series and came right back in. The kid from Philly showed tremendous moxie and carried BC to their first ever ACC victory, 16-13 in overtime.

Perhaps what struck me more than

anything though, were the Clemson fans after the game. Had they wanted to chase us out of there they could have done so easily. They call the place Death Valley, don’t they? But that wasn’t the case. So many of the Tiger faithful approached us just to say congratulations and to welcome us to the ACC. They were the epitome of class and sportsmanship so not only did I gain a new favorite football player that day, I adopted a pet team, too. Unless they are playing against BC, I’ll always root for Clemson.

Naturally, I was thrilled for Clemson when they won the National Championship game this year. Turns out that Deshaun Watson, Clemson’s star quarterback, was raised in a house in Gainesville, GA that his mother Deann earned through the Habitat for Humanity program. Falcons legend Warrick Dunn stepped in to fully furnish the home before the Watsons moved in, the story goes, right down to a fully stocked refrigerator. We met Matt Ryan at an alumni event after his rookie season and asked how he was liking Georgia (loved it) what car he was driving (Ford F150) and what he was doing in the offseason (played Augusta, shot an 80). He was humble, genuine and nice. He seemed less like a celebrity athlete than a cousin you were just catching up with. It’s no surprise how dedicated he has been to charity work, most notably with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Come to think of it, I don’t have any cousins who are quite this nice.

So the superstitious fan in me is hopeful for some symbiotic, Clemsonto-Falcons-good-guy-Championshipmojo. I want it to deliver a Super Bowl to the City of Atlanta, where we love football but find glory in the pursuit of what is right, just and good. For the game-watch, Elliott will wear both his Matt Ryan and Julio Jones jerseys. I’ll wear my Falcons shirt over a BC shirt over a Clemson shirt. Kristen and Margo can wear their pink hats from the Women’s March and we’ll nervously snack on peanuts in a nod to Jimmy Carter. Unless…my old buddy Clempson can score us some tickets to the game.

Go Falcons! Rise up!

RIALTO SERIES HIGHLIGHTS

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.

Matt Ryan

Folclórico da Bahia (Brazil)

Reeves

Dance Company (Cuba) Sat, February 11, 8pm

Sweet Honey in the Rock® Sat, February 18, 8pm

HIGH

ART CAM ART CAMP

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART ATLANTA

Registration Now Open!

Join one of our camps for children ages 6–8, 9–11, and 12–14 to explore art, get messy, and have a blast! Sign up now for your chance to flex your art muscles in one of our awesome weeklong workshops.

For more information or to sign up, visit high.org/camp.

music camp on your schedule

Who wants to plan months in advance? Our camp passes allow you to make music with us whenever you want. Led by expert music educators, for ages three and up. Join us!

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guitar folk

ukulele Broadway winds classical drums pop/rock voice ...and more!

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eclecticmusicatlanta.com/summer

2017

General Assembly Tech training company transforms thinkers into creators

By Grace Huseth

Ever thought about changing careers and embarking into the ever growing fields of technology, business and design?

General Assembly provides innovative training and helps individuals make strategic career connections in the in-demand fields of today’s rapidly changing technological economy. The company, which has 20 campuses worldwide, opened at Ponce City Market because of Atlanta’s reputation for having one of the most aggressive startup cultures in the country.

“Atlanta has seen a huge growth in terms of the startup scene, with the number of startup incubators and a lot more visibility into that world. It’s a nationwide trend, but it has been accelerated here in Atlanta in the course of the past five years,” said regional director Peter Franconi.

In addition to small startups, larger Atlanta companies are pushing for more tech savvy employees. Franconi said Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies that have not been historically tech driven, are going through a transformation to figure out how to stay relevant when it comes to technology. For instance, the Delta’s Fly Delta app provides quick access to boarding passes and Home Depot’s mobile app views store maps and checks inventory.

Students seek out General Assembly’s events, workshops and classes as a bridge to get jobs with these top startups and companies. Some are free meetups, where General Assembly becomes a gathering space for industry leaders to exchange ideas, while complete courses can change a student’s career path entirely.

General Assembly prepares classes in technology and design by consulting existing

Happy Valentine's Day

hiring partners to make sure they are teaching the skills companies are seeking. Franconi said that the classes are then structured with the end objective in mind and build a streamlined curriculum that will help students meet goals much more quickly. The hands-on approach is based on the philosophy, “I as the instructor do, we as the class do, and then you as the individual do.”

Full time programs at General Assembly are an investment in education. A 10 week-course runs just under $14,000, but includes special attention to job placement upon graduation. General Assembly is the first company of its kind to go to a Big Four accounting firm and have results independently audited and verified. The organization has a 99 percent placement rate within 180 days of graduation. Here in Atlanta, they have seen more accelerated results with a 90 percent placement rate within 120 days.

Corey Landers, a User Experience Design student, is making a career change from an advertising brand strategist to UX designer. After attending an info session at General Assembly, he found the UXD course to be much more fitting for his goals than getting a master’s degree from Georgia Tech. He is now applying his advertising background to analyzing business goals from a user’s perspective-without having to learn as much coding as he originally thought.

“UX is about research and being strategic with prioritizing different features. When building an app, the first thing of doing is code and development, but it is more important to first consider how it will be user friendly,” Landers said.

Free information sessions and workshops at General Assembly are the best way to get a feel for the kind of opportunities the company offers. For more information, visit generalassemb.ly.

General Assembly’s campus at Ponce City Market is one of 20 around the world to provide training for individuals who want to get a leg up in technology, business and design.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the CEOs of 10 of Atlanta’s leading corporations recently announced the launch of Engage, a mentorship-driven accelerator program and venture fund.

The Atlanta-based Engage accelerator is open to startups across the country, with a focus placed on mentoring and market access strategies. Applications will be available in early 2017, with programming scheduled to begin in the spring. Up to 48 startups could go through the program in the first three years.

The founding companies contributing capital, expertise, time and resources in support of Engage include AT&T, Chick-fil-A, Cox Enterprises, Delta Air Lines, Georgia-Pacific, Georgia Power, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), Invesco Ltd., The Home Depot and UPS. Executives from these firms will serve as mentors to the companies receiving financial support from Engage.

Reed proposed the fund following his 2013 visit to Silicon Valley, where he met with venture capital funders and tech sector entrepreneurs.

“Atlanta is the Southeast’s technology, innovation and entrepreneurship capital, with the third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the country,” said Reed. “We must take advantage of these unique assets to further stimulate our growing ecosystem of start-ups and

growth-stage companies, connecting them to capital, talent and mentorship. This new venture fund and accelerator program will offer an unmatched opportunity for entrepreneurs in Atlanta and the region, and I am confident its success will lead to greater interest and investment in our emerging technology companies.”

The 10 corporations have committed a total of $15 million to the venture fund and will actively support the accelerator through mentoring, education and collaboration. Engage will offer programming and other services through its affiliation with the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), which was established at Georgia Tech by the state of Georgia in 1980 to launch and build technology companies.

Following the trip to Silicon Valley, Reed asked for the support of the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP), a coalition of leading CEOs and university presidents which supports important mayoral initiatives. The ACP focuses on critical issues facing the city, and one of its key priorities is furthering Atlanta’s development as a leading technology hub with increased access to funding for startups in the area. In addition to getting direct support from the founding companies, Engage entrepreneurs will be connected to more than 30 companies that are ACP members.

For more information about Engage, visit engage.vc.

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

Virginia-Highland boutique celebrates 20 years

By Clare S. Richie

Dakota J’s, a clothing boutique that also specializes in locally made art and jewelry, celebrates 20 years in Virginia-Highland after recently moving a few doors down to a larger space.

“It’s a special place for women to come for unique styling and clothing. We build relationships with our customers and connect them to that unique design,” owner Terri Hill said.

Two decades ago, Hill purchased Veronica’s Attic and renamed it Dakota J’s – after her son Dakota and daughter Jordan. Jennifer Wamsley Gross joined in July 1997. One month later, she was store manager. The two have seen Dakota J’s retail neighbors change hands multiple times during their tenure.

Hill credits Dakota J’s continued success with stocking the boutique with mostly up-and-coming artisans – both local and from across the country – that are harder to find online. Stop in and you’ll likely buy a piece of Caro jewelry or Mindy Apple’s $20 earrings.

Dakota J’s caters to customers ranging from teenagers to seniors, each seeking an updated stylish look that Hill and Gross find at boutique shows in NY, LA and ATL from familiar lines (like Free People, Sanctuary and French Connection) and from new designers. Men have found the shop to be perfect for last minute gifts for the women in their lives, while custom jewelry pieces are also available to be made on request.

“Plus Jennifer and I are always at the store – a constant for 20 years,” Hill said.

Settled in at 1038 N. Highland Avenue “we’re here to stay – part of the neighborhood,” Hill said.

Tech

Success Atlanta Tech Village marks big 2016

Atlanta Tech Village, the co-working and office environment for emerging technology companies and tech startups, is celebrating a successful 2016.

The Village is only as successful as the companies we support and host,” said David Cummings, the founder of The Village. “We are so proud of our Villagers’ accomplishments and really the accomplishments of the Atlanta startup community as a whole in 2016. We fully expect to see this momentum continue in full force in 2017.”

The Buckheadbased hub experienced tremendous growth last year, bringing 2,781 jobs to Atlanta and raising more than $325 million in capital. In addition, a number of companies experienced so much growth and success that they were graduated out of the Village, including growing brands such as IO Education, Terminus and Salesloft.

In 2016, The Village hosted two intern fairs that connected more than 1,238 students with job opportunities at 107 tech companies. The Village also housed more than 430 events and meetups – including 46 Startup Chowdown’s where 12,144 meals were served to

entrepreneurs; five hacks including the Braves App Challenge, the Goodie Ideation Hack, the re:imagineATL Hack, BetterCloud’s BetterHack and the BSides Atlanta Hack. At the helm of these events were innovative partners including Microsoft, Honeywell, the Atlanta Braves and CocaCola – all relationships sparked in the past year.

“As the numbers show, 2016 was another year of growth for the Village and our Villagers,” said Cummings. “We look forward to the promise 2017 holds for both our Villagers and the growing startup community in Atlanta. It’s our mission to dream big and foster growth in and outside of our walls.”

For more information, visit atlantatechvillage.com.

Jennifer Wamsley Gross and Terri Hill.

David Cummings

The Atlanta Tech Village campus, located on Piedmont Road in Buckhead, offers co-working and collaborative space for tech startups.

Go Green

A Cause for Hope in Downtown Atlanta

On Thursday afternoons in Atlanta, hope falls from the sky to the waiting arms of men and women who live on the margins of our society.

From a fire escape balcony off the fourth floor of the pastel-colored Atlanta Recovery Center (the Center) on Trinity Avenue, volunteers drop plastic bags of clean clothes to members of the city’s unhoused population: our fellow Atlantans who sleep in shelters, under bridges and on the streets. Most end up here due to mental and addiction challenges, traumatic events, family violence and/or extreme poverty.

On a chilly day in November, I learned about the Center from a man I met while walking down Pryor Street; he’d been living on the streets for just a few days. His name was Michael and he told me some of his story: a college graduate, a good job and a family, but for reasons not stated he no longer had a place to live and was unable to find work.

Now destitute, Michael was struggling daily to find food and enough money to stay at the Center, a 175-bed facility that has been housing men since the late 1960s. He was clearly frightened: people had spit on him and called him names.

In the days that followed, I kept thinking about Michael and wondered how he was faring. I decided to visit the Center to learn more about it and see if I could help.

In the lobby, I met Meg Sparger, an engaging woman who looks more youthful than the age she claims. With her friend Jane Elliott, she co-founded a nonprofit organization six years ago and named it simply Cause for Hope.

Meg’s first question for me: could I climb four flights of stairs? There is no elevator to the fourth floor space that the Center provides free of charge to Cause for Hope for its clothing closet, an imaginatively organized and well-stocked room filled to the brim with jeans, jackets, shoes, toiletries, blankets and positive energy.

This is the place where bags of clothes are individually prepared for the 65 people, on average, who appear every Thursday to catch the bags that are dropped to them. In 2016, more than a thousand individuals were served.

Most of the volunteers at the clothing closet are in recovery –

What You Can Do:

■ Visit causeforhopeatlanta.org to learn more.

By Sally Bethea

Sally Bethea is the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (chattahoochee.org), a nonprofit environmental organization whose mission is to protect and restore the drinking water supply for nearly four million people.

■ Make a tax-deductible donation to Cause for Hope (PO Box 9012 Atlanta, GA 31106) to help provide food, transportation, housing assistance and clothing items including backpacks.

■ Bring used clothes, still in good condition, to the Atlanta Recovery Center at 169 Trinity Ave. Americans discard 85% of unwanted clothing and shoes annually; that’s eleven million tons of textiles that are dumped into landfills instead of being reused and recycled.

from a few months to many years – and every one of them has been provided assistance, advice and friendship by Meg and Jane. A longtime volunteer named Gary said: “I love those two women; I tear up when I think about what they’ve done for me.”

Wearing a t-shirt with a Gandhi quote (“Live simply so others may simply live”), Meg told me that she has been lucky in life and wanted to give back. For years, she looked for charitable work that would fit her skills and fill her heart. With encouragement from Jane, she began to provide assistance to the unhoused, which is where she met Johnny, a mentally ill man who was sleeping outside. Meg found housing for Johnny and lifechanging work for herself.

Cause for Hope does much more than provide clean clothes. In a room at The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception near the State Capitol, the organization hosts Common Ground of Hope Recovery meetings on weekdays. Last year, more than 16,000 people benefited from the 12-step program, which is led by the attendees: they tell their personal stories, celebrate recovery and find spiritual guidance.

In partnership with Good Samaritan Health Center, Meg and Jane are able to provide free medical, psychiatric and dental care to this uninsured, unhoused population. Last year, Cause for Hope was accepted as a charter partner of Compassionate Atlanta whose trainers teach mindfulness skills and yoga movements monthly at the recovery meetings. Another partner, Ignatius House, provides recovery-oriented retreats free of charge.

With their significant personal investments of time and money, Meg Sparger and Jane Elliott are changing lives and providing hope: one plastic bag of clothes, one meeting and one relationship at a time.

Top: A volunteer drops a bag of clean, recycled clothes to waiting arms below. Right: Meg Sparger and her right-hand volunteer Dan keep hand-written client records.

1761

1206 McLynn Avenue

Elementary District, Walk to Morningside & Virginia-Highland shops and restaurants Offered for $1,249,000

59 The Prado New construction in Ansley Park Offered for $1,795,000

By Michelle Wiseman Director forWaste Diversion, City ofAtlanta Mayor's Office of Sustainability

Atlanta is on the rise. New buildings are sprouting up across the city -- from offices to multi-family housing. Over half of the city’s residents live in multi-family units and this is where the bulk of city’s residential growth is projected for years to come.

The City of Atlanta’s multi-family residents will soon get a little greener, thanks to the enforcement of a 2008 ordinance requiring all multi-family buildings with six units or more to offer recycling service to its residents. Property owners and managers were notified that in addition to offering trash service, they had to set up separate containers for recycling at the beginning of the year.

Expanding recycling sounds pretty simple but it’s not as easy as putting a few blue bins out near the current trash dumpsters. The bins aren’t worth much without promoting recycling awareness and education. While haulers will help set up a building’s recycling area with clearer labeling, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability team will be out in the community to support stronger recycling in single and multi-family households. Atlanta’s recycling works best if everyone pitches in.

Recycling right is the key. A few bags of trash comingled in recycling can contaminate an entire load. The Office of Sustainability wants to help residents, particularly those in multi-family housing, understand which items belong in the recycling bin: flattened cardboard, paper, magazines, newspaper, junk mail, aluminum cans, metal cans and plastic containers including water and detergent bottles. Cartons are now acceptable because they are made of 80 percent paper, but glass is out.

While glass is highly recyclable, most multi-family recyclers are private companies and do not allow glass as part of co-mingled material. For now multifamily residents can take their glass to CHaRM (the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) located at 1110 Hill St., SE in order to properly recycle glass, plastic bags, Styrofoam and other non-traditional items, including Christmas trees.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us via recycling@ atlantaga.gov.

Glass bottles are highly recyclable, but should not be included with other items like cardboard, paper, metal cans and plastic.

Recycling bins have become the norm at most multi-family properties.

The Studio

Love, Atlanta

Things to do for Valentine’s Day around Intown

By Collin Kelley

If you’re looking for something to do with your significant other on or around Valentine’s Day, we’ve rounded up some unique ideas for you to try around Intown.

Dining Out

Many of Atlanta’s restaurants will be offering Valentine’s Day special menus, including the iconic Polaris at Hyatt Regency (pictured below), Nikolai’s Roof, Dantanna’s, Barcelona, One.midtown kitchen, Rathbun’s Steak and many more. Check OpenTable.com for even more dining suggestions.

Vixen’s Valentease Vaudeville and Variety Show

Syrens of the South will host an evening of burlesque on Feb. 11 at 11 p.m. at 7 Stages in Little Five Points. For more information, visit syrensofthesouth.com.

Oakland Cemetery

Perfect for lovers, families and friends, Love Stories of Oakland will feature 25 tour stops through Oakland’s Victorian garden cemetery as storytellers recount the loves, lives and losses of Atlantans of days past. The special tours will be held Feb. 11 - 12. Visit oaklandcemetery.com for more information.

Lauryn Hill and Diaspora Calling

Ms. Lauryn Hill will perform in this special concert featuring special guest performances by artists from throughout the African diaspora. The show will be Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at The Tabernacle in Downtown. For tickets visit tabernacleatl.com.

Valentines in the Garden

Enjoy an elegant evening of music, dancing, cocktails, desserts and orchids at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Feb. 13 from 7 to 11 p.m. Take a stroll through the tropical conservatories and experience the only nighttime opportunity to see Orchid Daze. For tickets and information, visit atlantabg.org.

Keeping Blandtown Alive Local artist revives name of historic community with art

By Collin Kelley

Artist Gregor Turk is keeping the name of one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, Blandtown, alive.

Turk recently installed a large sign on the small lawn of his studio on English Street that reads “Welcome to the Heart of Blandtown.” It’s part installation, part reminder as new homes are literally springing up all around the tiny white house that is one of only three remaining original structures in the neighborhood.

Blandtown has slowly been absorbed into what is now called West Midtown, while Brock Built Homes has named the new development around Turk’s studio West Town.

Turk’s studio, a tiny white cottage he guesses was built in the late 1950s or

early 60s, is dwarfed by the two-story, single-family half-millon dollar homes that have sprung up on both sides, behind and across the street.

“This neighborhood has a history and I think people will embrace the name – like they have with Normaltown in Athens or Boring, Oregon – if they know more about it,” Turk said.

The neighborhood was named after Felix Bland, a freed slave who settled in the area after the Civil War. For many years, it was a thriving African-American community, but it has slowly been erased, Turk said. As a matter of fact, looking at an original map of the area, part of the Westside Provision District, which includes restaurants like Bacchanalia and JCT Kitchen, and trendy fashion and interior design shops all lie in what was

once Blandtown.

Turk moved into his Blandtown studio in 2002 when English Street’s most notable address was a crack house. “They would put a Tweety Bird piñata in a tree when they got a new shipment in,” Turk recalled. A half- dozen other homes in the neighborhood were occupied by residents and vagrants alike.

Turk – whose art has appeared in multiple Art on the BeltLine installations, at the airport, Metropolitan Library and is in the permanent collections of the High Museum and JP Morgan Chase – said neighbors who have purchased homes have dropped by the studio to bring wine and say hello, and ask more about Blandtown.

Curiously, Turk’s Blandtown sign looks like an old television test pattern

– the kind networks used to run when stations went off the air for the night.

“Blandtown is off-the-air right now,” Turk said of the design inspiration. “As the area adjusts its frequency and comes back on-the-air, I hope it will create a dialogue about the neighborhood’s name and history.”

Artist Gregor Turk stands outside his studio on English Street with the "Welcome to the heart of Blandown" he erected last year. Turk's studio is one of only three original structures left in the historic community, which has become known as West Midtown. The studio is also surrounded by new single-family homes in a community that has been marketed as "West Town."

Photos by Collin Kelley

Your family’s most comprehensive online guide to arts and cultural entertainment Visit AtlantaPlanIt.org for more upcoming events.

VISUAL ARTS

Puppy Love Juried Exhibition 2017: This exhibit of loveable dogs supports local animal rescue organizations. Opens Feb. 4. Free. hathawaygallery.com

Wild Weather: Fly through the eye of a hurricane, create a mini-tornado and dance up a storm as the weather responds to your movements. Opens Feb. 4. $16 to $18. fernbankmuseum.org

Mickalene Thomas: Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities: Combining historical, political and pop cultural references Thomas tells a complex vision of what it means to be a woman in this exhibit. Opens Feb. 9. $3. museum.spelman.edu

Orchid Daze: Step into a warm, fragrant tropical oasis of flowers during this annual orchid extravaganza. Opens Feb. 11. $12.95 to $18.95. atlantabg.org

Portfolio 2017: Atlanta Photography Group Gallery’s prestigious annual exhibit features submissions from

around the world. Closes Feb. 11. Free. www. apgphoto.org

Traces: Whitespace presents Stephanie Dowda’s first solo exhibition about exploring existence. Closes Feb. 11. Free! whitespace814.com

From Here to There: Kids explore the science of how things move by land, sea and air with hands-on exhibits. Thursday through Tuesday. $14.95. childrensmuseumatlanta.org

Hattie Saussy: Rediscovery of an Artist: This exhibit is the first major retrospective of American painter Hattie Saussy (1890-1978) in more than 30 years. Tuesday through Sunday. $5. museum.oglethorpe.edu

Interiors: The new photography exhibit features work by Marlene Hawthrone, Shoccara S. Marcu and Shoccara Marcus. $5. Wednesday through Sunday. hammondshouse.org

Threads of History: Two Hundred Years of Fashion: Take a voyage through style and time with rare European and American garments from the 18th through 20th centuries. Tuesday through Sunday. $5 to $10. scadfash.org

An Evening with Natasha Tsakos

Saturday, February 11 8:00pm

Enjoy a dessert and coffee reception and a behind-the-scenes look at the work of resident art and technology innovator Natasha Tsakos, creator of Billion Billions, premiering at Arts@ Tech in 2017. Tsakos, a Swiss conceptual director and interactive designer now living in the U.S., combines eye-popping visuals and interactive live performance.

Vijay Iyer Trio

Friday, February 17 8:00pm

Jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and his award-winning trio (Marcus Gilmore, drums; Stephan Crump, bass) bridge the avant-garde with the mainstream, making a name with two tremendously acclaimed albums, Accelerando (2012) and Historicity (2009). Iyer is a MacArthur Fellow and GRAMMY nominee, described by The New Yorker as one of “today’s most important pianists…extravagantly gifted.”

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: The breathtaking and beloved dancers return to center stage at The Fox Theatre with premieres, new productions and “Revelations.” Feb. 15 to 19. $21.50 to $75.50. foxtheatre.org

PERFORMING ARTS

Le Petit Prince: When a pilot is stranded in the desert, he meets a mysterious child whose journey has made him wise beyond his years. Performed in French with English supertitles. Feb. 1 through 12. $18.50 to $27.50. theatredureve.com

Sea of Common Catastrophe: When two people are displaced from their new home by rising waters, will they find a new way of living? Feb. 2 to 12. $22.50. 7stages.org

David Bintley’s Carmina Burana: Atlanta Ballet presents a lush, modern reimagining of the classic parable in which the pleasures of the flesh challenge the resolve of three young seminarians. Feb. 3 through 11. $20 to $128. atlantaballet.com

The One and Only Ivan: An enthralling adaptation, with movement and puppetry, of the Newbery Award-winning novel based on the true story of Zoo Atlanta’s Ivan the gorilla. Feb. 3 through 26. $11 to $26. synchrotheatre.com

Romeo and Juliet: Atlanta Shakespeare Company celebrates their 17th anniversary of performing this play about young lovers and a Friar with good intentions. Feb. 3 through 26. $15 to $36. shakespearetavern.com

The Adventures of Mighty Bug!: This science-filled, comic-book-style adventure is also available in a sensory-friendly performance on Feb. 5. Tuesday through Sunday. $20.50. puppet.org

Lost In The Cosmos: The Last Self-Help Seminar: Tom Key re-imagines Walker Percy’s opus as a soul-searching seminar where cheeky group leaders hilariously suggest alternatives to our everyday behavior. Feb. 9 to 26. $20 to $48. theatricaloutfit.org

The Phantom of the Opera: Newly reinvented staging, stunning scenic design plus a cast and orchestra of 52 reinvent this timeless musical. Opens Feb. 22. $30 to $150. foxtheatre.org

Million Dollar Quartet: The smash-hit musical was inspired by the recording session that brought together Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. Feb. 10 through 26. $33 to $58. tickets.atlantalyrictheatre.com

Hari Kondabolu: The Brooklynbased comic has had his own Comedy Central Presents special, made his rounds on late-night talk shows, and has been lauded by the New York Times. Feb. 17. $17 to $25. centerstageatlanta.com

Exit Strategy: Teachers launch a last minute battle to save their Chicago school from an impending shut-down. Opens Feb. 21. $20 to $50. truecolorstheatre.org

The Temple Bombing: This world premiere play tells the story of the 1958 bombing of Atlanta’s oldest synagogue. Opens Feb. 22. $20 to $72. alliancetheatre.org

Balé Folclórico da Bahia: For nearly three decades, this Brazil group has electrified stages around the world with its exuberant interpretations of traditional Brazilian folk dance. Feb. 24 and 25. $38 to $70. rialtocenter.org

Taj Express: This show explodes with the sounds of India and Bollywood, capturing the vibrant spirit of the world of Bollywood movies. Feb. 26. $35 to $100. cobbenergycentre.com

Unique Party Places

Intown venues for your next celebration

If you’re looking for a venue for your next celebration – whether it be a wedding, birthday, bar mitzvah – check out these unique, unusual and historic places.

Zoo Atlanta

If you want a little wildlife at your celebration, Zoo Atlanta offers year-round daytime and evening events for 20 to 5,000 people. Birthday parties, weddings, family reunions and company picnics are just some of the events the zoo can handle. For more information, visit zooatlanta.org.

The Center for Civil and Human Rights

The Downtown museum provides a range of unique spaces to accommodate your next event. Whether you are planning a corporate meeting or training, a holiday gathering, wedding reception or dinner party, The Center offers a one-of-a-kind experience in the midst of history. For more information, visit civilandhumanrights.org.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

The Downtown interactive museum and play place offers parties for children ages 2 to 8. Not only will kids get to explore the museum, but also “make-and-take” a science or art project and more. For more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Academy of Medicine

The historic Academy of Medicine at Georgia Tech in Midtown is one of the city’s premier venues for weddings, receptions, conferences and other special events. The 230-seat theater has six breakout rooms for conferences, while wedding parties will enjoy the private bridal suite. For more information, visit academy. gatech.edu.

Centennial Olympic Park

The 21-acre legacy from the 1996 Summer Olympics is available for fundraisers, festivals, corporate receptions and more on the lawns, in the pavilions or amphitheater. For more information, visit gwcca.org/park.

Piedmont Park

The Midtown park has venues and areas perfect for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, anniversary parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, corporate meetings and charitable events. Whether you want to be on the dock at Lake Clara Meer or inside Magnolia Hall, the park might just be the place for a unique celebration. For more information, visit piedmontpark.org.

Buckhead Theatre

The restored 1930s movie house in the heart of Buckhead Village has an updated state-of-the-art lighting and sound system, modern catering kitchen, event space

Continued on page 34

Academy of Medicine

Center for Civil and Human Rights

You’ve made the perfect match, now let us help you create the perfect day

and other amenities. The venue can host performances and events, including lectures, comedy, Broadway plays, rock-and-roll acts, and private and public events. For more information, visit thebuckheadtheatre.com.

200 Peachtree

The historic former home of Davison’s and Macys’ department stores, the elegant space now hosts weddings, corporate meetings,

Continued from page 33

conferences and more on the city’s most famous street in the heart of Downtown. For more information, visit 200Peachtree.com.

Fox Theatre

The Midtown icon not only hosts big concerts, Broadway shows and films, but it’s also available for private events in the elegant Egyptian Ballroom, Grand Salon, main auditorium and the soon-to-open Marquee Club. For more information, visit foxtheatre.org.

College Football Hall of Fame

If you’re looking for some pigskin flavor at your event, the College Football Hall of Fame in Downtown has 50,000 square feet of event space that can house up to 3,500 people for conventions, receptions, weddings, presentations and other special occasions. For more information, visit cfbhall.org.

Fox Theatre Egyptian Ballroom

Piedmont Park

News You Can Eat

Restaurants � Reviews � Events

Hot Chocolate!

Local chocolatiers have sweet treats for Valentine’s Day

By Isadora Pennington

Love and chocolate, it’s a match made in heaven. The sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of modern day chocolates makes it a popular gift for sweethearts, especially around Valentine’s Day. There are plenty of ways to enjoy chocolate, whether presented in a heart-shaped box, mixed into hot drinks, baked into a cake, or individually wrapped and on the shelves of your local convenience store.

Though the history of chocolate is not without its blemishes, its popularity has only grown since its humble origins. The earliest records of cocoa-based beverages trace all the way back to the Mayans, who made bitter, frothy beverages using ground cacao seeds mixed with spices and wines. This drink has evolved into the drink we know as “Chilate” and is thought to be an aphrodisiac. Mayans also believed that cacao seeds were a gift from the gods, and would bestow wisdom and strength upon those who drank it. The seeds were so valuable that they even were used as currency.

These days, chocolate is virtually everywhere. It’s accessible and affordable, which has made it a staple for many special occasions such as holidays. For those among us who share a deep affinity for all things chocolate, one of the best places to visit is a chocolatier. This month, I visited a few of my favorite local makers, who have great sweet gift ideas and are also perfect for a day date.

Xocolatl Small Batch Chocolate

Kissed Mermaids Bar – dark coconut milk chocolate with vanilla-infused sea salt and crunchy cacao nibs, $9.50 99 Krog Street NE xocolatlchocolate.com or (404) 604-9642

diAmano Chocolate

Mango Passionfruit Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, $4 each, $18 for six, $36 for 12, also available in dark, milk and white chocolate. 1100 Hammond Drive NE, Sandy Springs diamanochocolate.com or (770) 730-9770

Jardi Chocolates

Forever Love – chocolate, cherry, with a cordial center – and Bleeding Love –chocolate, blood orange and caramel. $11 for four, $20 for eight, or $28 for 12. 3400 West Hospital Ave. #102, Chamblee jardichocolates.com or (470) 240-8353

Cafe

(From left) Antica Strawberry, Sea Salt Tequila, Cayenne Passion Fruit and Bourbon Espresso are part of the Epiphany Collection, $18 for six pieces, $36 for 12 pieces. 1046 North Highland Ave. NE cacaoatlanta.com or (404) 892-8202

By Megan Volpert

Welcome to a new interview series where I discuss food with citizens of Atlanta who are prominent for non-food-related reasons. Let’s get to know our most high-profile residents a little more personally, shall we? For this inaugural installment, I spoke to Alicia Philipp, President of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

Since 1951, the Community Foundation has provided trusted, expert philanthropic services to connect donors with knowledge, issues and services. Philipp has led the Foundation’s grant-making, fundraising and collaboration efforts for almost 40 years. Under her leadership, the Community Foundation has grown from $7 million in 1977 to more than $919.8 million today.

How do you like your eggs cooked?

►Scrambled, well, with cheese

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

►Peas and hot dogs (at the same time)

Where’s a good place to go for a business lunch?

►The Commerce Club

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

►None, sparkling water with lime

What is your favorite food city, other than Atlanta?

►Baltimore - I love the crab cakes!

What is your guilty pleasure snack food?

►Utz’s Potato Chips, to my knowledge only sold at the Kroger in Decatur (and select others) – a Baltimore/Philadelphia delicacy!

What are your feelings about red velvet cake?

►It’s not my favorite, but I don’t hate it. It’s a necessity for Valentine’s Day.

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

►Raw oysters. I’ve tried to like them, but I just don’t.

Are you any good at gardening?

►I am learning and doing more of it on my daughter’s organic farm in Portugal.

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

►Growing up, my father did most of the cooking. I rarely have to cook because I’m out for most meals. When my daughter was younger someone asked what her Mom did for a living and she said “eat” because I was always talking about breakfast, lunch or dinner meetings. The amazing array of Decatur restaurants are my go-to choices.

How is the Community Foundation impacting what we eat in Atlanta?

►We are establishing a for-profit, social enterprise known as Better Life Growers in the Mechanicsville community. It’s an aeroponic lettuce and herb growing operation that will provide living-wage jobs for 25 local residents and will supply local institutions like hospitals, universities, wholesale distributors and retailers. Currently, 98 percent of the lettuce consumed in Georgia travels 2,500plus miles from California or Arizona.

Tupelo Honey Café

Tasting Intown

By Megan Volpert

Maybe it’s because everybody who lives there is getting up early to go hiking and biking, but Asheville has an incredible breakfast game. At the undisputed top of the heap is Tupelo Honey Cafe, where lines at the no-reservations downtown location usually stretch on to a two-hour wait on Saturdays, whether you like pancakes at 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. or noon. As a result, I have never eaten at THC because I’m impatient.

At long last, my wait is over, for Tupelo Honey Cafe has come to Sandy Springs. THC has been spreading slowly across many metro areas in the Southeast, with a total of 13 locations running from Arlington to Charlotte to Myrtle Beach to Knoxville. Here, you’ll find THC in the multi-use Gateway complex behind Chastain Park.

They slow roast it for 14 hours for a protein that melts in your mouth but falls short on smoke. Though the pork doesn’t pick up any wood flavor, THC is banking on two solid BBQ sauce options, a Western North Caroline smoked jalapeño and a South Carolina tangy mustard. Both sauces bring the heat and the flavor. If you’ve got kids in tow, note that Thursdays after 7 p.m. you can get four kinds of bottomless mac ’n’ cheese for 10 bucks. If you walk in a little early, enjoy $3 craft brews and $5 cocktails.

If you like Flying Biscuit or OK Café, THC was made for you. Order up the fried green tomatoes and you’ll immediately see why. Above all else, an establishment wishing to garner respect for its Southern cuisine must possess the ability to do a good fry, on the level of OK Cafe. Doesn’t matter whether it’s fried chicken or fried potatoes, fried avocados or fried green tomatoes – there’s got to be a golden brown color on a crispy outer shell that doesn’t break apart just trying to get the food onto the fork.

I sampled all four of these menu items at THC, and dang, they’re nailing it. The chicken was plenty tender inside but firmly crispy outside; what they call potato cracklins are a crunchy, chunky delight way beyond regular french fries; if you have never eaten a fried avocado, you simply haven’t lived.

The fried green tomatoes showcase the fryer skills of this place, but moreover, the goat cheese grits underneath got my attention.

I think they can give those “creamy dreamy” white cheddar grits at Flying Biscuit a real run for their money, and as those are the hometown favorite for most of us, it’s not a point of comparison that I make lightly. You can find goat cheese all over the menu, most obviously in the pecan-crusted goat cheese – a spread for people who normally won’t touch the cheese plate. Here it’s so sweet and so soft, thanks to finely chopped pecans and a pear-onion marmalade, there’s no problem piling it high on expertly thin and super salty crostini for a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

They do a pretty good pulled pork, too, which you can get on top of the johnny cake appetizer or as a meat-and-two entree plate.

Know why Tupelo Honey Cafe is truly great? Whiskey, y’all. Can’t get whiskey at Flying Biscuit or OK Cafe, plain and simple. THC has just as much ability to fry up all your Southern favorites and is equally full of all-day breakfast options even though they’re going by other names after sunset. But a proper bar sets it a cut above the rest. Have you ever tried that sake bloody mary at Flying Biscuit? It’s an abomination. THC doesn’t just have a decent bloody mary made with pepper vodka and a house mix, it’s even got a couple cocktails on tap, including a Kentucky Mule, an Aviation and a moonshine daiquiri.

If the liquor license doesn’t make you leap with joy, the coffee will – it’s Counter Culture. Based out of Durham, they get that smooth, chocolately mountain flavor that’s the only thing you want to wash down your buttermilk cheesecake or banana pudding. Welcome to town, THC!

Tupelo Honey Café is located at 4600 Roswell Road, #110. For more information, visit tupelohoneycafe.com.

A. Biscuits and blueberry jam

B. Fried chicken, mac n cheese, brussels sprouts

C. Fried green tomatoes on a bed of goat cheese grits

D. Johnny cake with pulled pork

E. Coffee and dessert

F. House bloody mary

Megan Volpert lives in Decatur, teaches in Roswell and writes books about popular culture.

QUICK BITES

Linton Hopkins’ eponymous restaurant at the Atlanta Botanical Garden has been rebranded as Longleaf. Hopkins will continue to serve as chef advisor while Jason Paolini remains as executive chef. A media release indicated that Hopkins would be focusing on new ventures and Paolini would play a larger role in menu decisions for the “plant-to-plate” concept.

Buckhead’s first Ayurveda-inspired restaurant concept, {SAMA} Food for Balance is now open in Buckhead’s newly renovated, rebranded Andrews Square, formerly known as the East Andrews Entertainment District. The establishment features savory Balance Bowls, cold-pressed cocktails, smoothie bowls, an espresso bar, a 500-square-foot meditation studio and a shop featuring consciously curated products that promote balance in the home and body. The concept comes from entrepreneur, yoga teacher and Maharishi Ayurvedic wellness consultant, Shannon Salter Sliger, who made her foray into Atlanta’s clean-eating scene with Dtox Juice in 2011. For more information, visit samafoodforbalance.com.

Papi’s Cuban & Caribbean Grill has opened in Emory Point across from Emory University on Clifton Road. The menu includes Cuban sandwiches, pollo vaca frita (shredded chicken breast grilled with Spanish seasoning and green and red pepper), mofongo con camarones (stir-fried shrimp with red and green peppers) and arroz con pollo (a traditional Cuban dish of marinated chicken and rice). For more information, visit papisgrill.com.

As the original Chick-fil-A, we pride ourselves on pioneering true southern comfort, going above and beyond customer expectation, and serving our guests with delicious food and warm smiles, every day except Sunday.

Yumbii, which operates a popular food truck, has opened its first brickand-mortar restaurant at 1927 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. The 1,440-square-foot taqueria offers counter service for easy takeout and seating for dine-in guests.

HEART OF BUCKHEAD STUNNING NEW CONSTRUCTION!

Award winning J. Patrick O'Donnell Inc., is proud to present two new exquisite homes.

Coffee at 200 Peachtree is serving up Lavazza Coffee, sweet treats and other goodies in the heart of Downtown on Peachtree Street. The space has retained the high ceiling and a giant chandelier that represents the building’s former occupant, Macy’s department store. Starting Feb. 22, the coffee house will launch a new poetry open mic at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit 200peachtree.com.

Craft Izakay at Krog Street Market has rebranded itself as Makimono and is now a fastcasual, take-way sushi bar.

Lenox Square in Buckhead is now offering food delivery service, Lenox Delivered, from its restaurants and eateries through Zifty. The new amenity offers food delivery service from Bantam + Biddy, California Pizza Kitchen, Which Wich and more. For a full list of eateries, visit zifty.com/zifty/lenox.

Banjo Cold Brew Coffee will open its first-ever storefront location, coming soon to 38 North Avondale Road in Avondale Estates. Banjo’s store location will be a firstof-its-kind in the metro, with a focus on the cold brew side of the business featuring several selections on tap. For more information, visit banjocoldbrew.com.

www.flyingbiscuit.com

Breakfast,

yard with room for pool. Top rated Sara Smith school.

Home & Real Estate

Design Trends

Interior designers offer ideas for more personal spaces

The team at Candler Parkbased Balance Design has been exploring the latest trends as they work with clients. What has emerged is more sustainable materials, more personal spaces and paying more attention to overlooked areas, like ceilings. Here are some of the trends Balance Design (balancedesignatlanta.com) hopes to see take off in 2017.

The Fifth Wall

Though often forgotten, the ceiling is a great place to bring some daring personality into a room. The use of wallpaper or mural will bring the eyes up and add interest in an otherwise overlooked space. Especially eyecatching with clean neutral colors and monochromatic palettes, the fifth wall is one to be embraced and utilized.

– Melody Richardson

Backsplash Backlash

My weakness is a beautiful and functional kitchen. I love the bespoke nature that kitchens are taking on recently, and an edited, clean design is always timeless. Sometimes the dominant, geometric nature of a tile backsplash can take the focus away from great custom cabinetry. Luckily, we’re seeing more and more home do away with the backsplash by either completely removing them, or pulling the countertop slab up the wall for a seamless look. Either way, the focus is on the beautiful custom work and not grout lines. –

Shelby Adamson

Modern Moulding

Conversation Pit

Don’t get any shag-covered 1970’s flashbacks – modern sunken sitting areas (or “conversation pits”) are streamlined enough that they are comfortable without sacrificing style. This year my focus is on the comfort of design and not just the aesthetic, and sinking into a nest-like area such as this is just what I’ve got in mind. –

Danielle Clockel

Naked Floors

We’re always looking for green, sustainable building solutions, and remodeling with wood floors is typically a smelly, messy process involving sanding, staining, and polyurethane. Rubio Monocoat, however, is a plant-based, 0 percent VOC flooring solution with a one-coat oil finish. We have been using it to achieve a more natural Scandinavian look, but there are many different finishes available. –

Stephanie Andrews

A recent trip to Charleston challenged my “less is more” tendencies. This geometric wall moulding satisfies a historical desire to ornament your wall without terribly faking it. This monotone moody trim and wall color doesn’t hurt either. Consider taking your walls, ceilings, and doors to a daring level of embellishment. –

Elisabeth Paulson

Bolder and Brighter

Outdoor living space, more color in new design trends

By Kathy Dean

Atlanta residents have a style all their own and, today, they’re expressing their individuality through bold designs in their homes. The city’s mild climate, greenspace and beautiful views allow them to blur the line between indoors and outdoors.

Homeowners are treating the outdoors as part of their living space these days, according to Tiffany Barcik, Architect at Moon Bros. Inc. Architects & Craftsmen. “Screened-in living rooms have become extremely popular. They expand the footprint of the house by incorporating outside space, and they include traditionally interior amenities – stone or brick fireplaces, large screened TVs, comfortable couches, dining tables, kitchenettes and bars.”

She added that there also has been an increase in the desire for courtyard spaces that create a private outdoor experience. Considering Atlanta’s weather, screened-in living rooms and courtyards can be used 10 to 12 months of the year.

that can’t be found online by everyone.”

One of the ways to make an individual statement is to take more of a risk with color, LaFalce noted. Navy is hot right now, she said, but the tone is brighter, so the color falls between a navy and ultramarine with almost a blueberry look.

“We’re still seeing a lot of orange and pink, though the pink is now softer, more of a blush, and it’s often mixed with gold accents,” she added. Gold remains popular for metals, and many items feature a gold leaf or brass finish. However, the brass is more matted and yellow than the brass of the 1970s.

LaFalce said that she’s been noticing interesting applications of wallpaper to add drama to spaces like hallways, stairways and powder rooms. While barnwood and wide planks are still being used in flooring, they tend toward a more refined, less rustic look. “The floors have gotten lighter, too,” she continued. “We’re seeing pale blonde and grey washes, more of a Scandinavian look, as people move away from the deep dark colors like espresso.”

Innovative products, like dimmable LED lighting tape are adding depth to rooms, when installed inside bookshelves or under cabinets. “Homeowners are starting to layer their lighting,” LaFalce stated. “A large light feature, like a chandelier, becomes a focal point, a piece of art, and ambient light is added and layered throughout the room.”

When investing in furnishings, clients are willing to incorporate pieces that are a bit more unusual into their homes, she said. “For example, a bench made of Lucite and leather. In fact, there’s a lot of interest in Lucite right now, but it’s always mixed with something – like leather, hide or sheepskin – to make the Lucite more comfortable.”

Shagreen, a faux material made to mimic the texture of a skate, or stingray, is gaining interest. The textured, leathery material is often seen mixed with other materials, LaFalce explained.

“A reclaimed wood coffee table may have its sides covered with shagreen. Actually, we see a lot of fine textures mixed with rough stone or reclaimed wood,” she said. “While there’s still some interest in the heavy, reclaimed items that have been popular, more refined and luxurious pieces are being mixed into the farmhouse/industrial interiors to create a unique look.”

Bathrooms have become a focal point in the blending of exteriors and interiors. “A specific trend in bathrooms is to establish a connection with the outdoors through features like exterior showers and hot tubs, expansive windows, French doors to outside patios, and transom windows that lighten and open up a usually bound-in space,” Barcik explained.

Overall, design trends seem to be shifting toward modern and contemporary lines. Barcik noted that it’s unusual for Atlanta residents to embrace contemporary design, even though there are more and more modern infill houses.

“While the architecture design may not be moving toward modern, there is more focus on modern details and materials – less trim and more texture – especially in interior design,” she said. “Textures are rising in prominence, and architecture is being enhanced by the interplay of textured materials.”

As far as trending colors, Barcik pointed out that white is being replaced by subtle, neutral tones with color accents and accessories. Natural wood is also making its way into the material palette, not just on floors, but as accents and design focal points in architectural spaces.

“Today’s biggest trend in home décor is the bolder use of materials and color,” said Jessie LaFalce, Design Director and Lead Designer of Nandina Home & Design in Atlanta. “Our clients are looking for furnishings and design elements that are unusual and make their living spaces unique. They want something

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Antiques & Interiors

46th annual Catherdal Antique Show is Feb. 5-12

The Cathedral Antiques Show returns for a 46th year of art, antiques and floral and interior design, Feb. 5 - 12. The annual event features a speaker series, antiques show, flower festival and home tours.

The show kicks off Feb. 5 with a Young Collectors’ Home Tour showcasing five homes and their use of antiques, while the main Tour of Homes on Feb. 12 will present five private residences, featuring distinguished architecture and design.

The antiques show itself opens with a special patron preview gala on Feb. 8. While enjoying drinks and canapés, patrons will get a first glimpse of the show’s mix of new dealers and old favorites and their collections of period furniture, jewelry, art and accessories from the past four centuries, including mid-century modern. The show opens for general admission Feb. 9 - 11.

“We are excited to announce our partnership with The Antiques Council, a professional nonprofit association of antiques dealers that advises leading US antiques shows,” says Cathedral Antiques Show cochair Laura Cullen. “New highlights this year include contemporary art, a gardening boutique, and a Young Collectors' Booth. These exciting additions, combined with our phenomenal speaker line-up, promise to enhance this year’s show and broaden its appeal to a variety of audiences.”

This year’s Cathedral Antiques Show speaker series features talks and book signings from seven authors and industry leaders in the fields of interiors, architecture and floral design. Speakers include Alexa Hampton, Rebecca Vizard, Chuck Chewning, Laura Dowling, Margot Shaw, Cathy Kincaid and James Farmer.

The 2017 show also features a flower festival where guests will see the best in floral design and examples of the latest trends. Spaces throughout the Cathedral Antiques Show will be adorned with the work of local garden clubs, and sacred spaces in the Cathedral of St. Philip will feature designs from Atlanta flower guilds.

The Cathedral Antiques Show is organized by the Episcopal Church Women of The Cathedral of St. Philip, and, aside from the home tours, all show events are held at the Cathedral in Buckhead.

The show has raised more than $5 million to benefit Atlanta-area human services charities. This year, The Cathedral Antiques Show has selected First Step Staffing as its beneficiary. The Atlantabased nonprofit organization is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by helping to secure sustainable income for individuals transitioning from homelessness. For ticket information and additional event details, visit cathedralantiques.org.

A condominium at the Mandarin Oriental in Buckhead sold for $3,888,000, making it the highest-priced sale of 2016. Karen Rodriguez, founder of Group KORA, which merged earlier this year with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, was the listing agent for the residence. Encompassing an entire floor of the Peachtree Road high-rise, to condo features 4 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths and skyline views.

Bill Rawlings , Vice President of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, has been elected as the 2017 President of the Atlanta Realtors Association at the recent annual meeting and installation ceremony held at the St. Regis Hotel.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry's Atlanta Chapter recently honored Brad Cruickshank, CR, founder of metro Atlanta-based Cruickshank Remodeling, for his longtime service to the chapter with the presentation of the first Brad Cruickshank Leadership Award. Going forward, the award will be presented annually to one member who has demonstrated strong leadership skills and who carries the torch for NARI Atlanta.

John Barnes, Senior Vice President and Managing Broker of John Barnes of Harry Norman, Realtors Buckhead Chastain office hosted a celebratory breakfast party at the Chastain American Legion post to present an abundance of gifts collected by agents for Toys for Tots

Design Awards

Medallions given in honor of renowned architect

The Southeast Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) recently handed out the 2016 Shutze Awards, named after renowned Atlanta architect Philip Trammell Shutze.

The honorees received specially designed medallions at a party at the SubZero and Wolf Showroom in Buckhead.

Winners included Jackye Lanham (who was also given a lifetime achievement award); James L. Strickland; Rhonda Price; Ken P’Pool; James F. Carter; C. Brandon Ingram; Aaron Daily; D. Stanley Dixon; Susan Ferrier; William B. Litchfield; Graham S. Wyatt; Kevin Smith; Alec Michaelides; and

Shutze designed some of the city’s most notable buildings including the Swan House, The Temple, Academy of Medicine, Grady High School and the East Lake Golf

Chuck Chewning and Rebecca Vizard will be guest speakers at the 2017 Cathedral Antiques Show.

Kenneth Lemm.

Southeast Chapter President Judy Talley, Marty Dawe and Kevin Grisso reveal The Shutze Award medallion.

(Left) Honorary chairs and 2016 and 2017 Lifetime Achievement award winners Jim Strickland (2016) and Jackye Lanham (2017) celebrate a great evening.

(Right) Alec Michaelides, Partner, Land Plus Associates and Jon Bernsden, Bernsden Custom Homes and SE Chapter Founder, proudly display their new medallions.

Mandarin Oriental Atlanta Residences Mandarin Oriental Sold Codominium

Bill Rawlings

Club Clubhouse, among many others.

Price Adjusted

New Listing

Under Contract

We’d like to welcome three new outstanding

If

contact

Under Contract

Coming Soon

ABOVE: More than 60,000 people took part in the peaceful March for Social Justice and Women from the Center for Civil

Rights to the

Capitol on Jan. 21. (Photo by Julie E. Bloemeke).

TOP RIGHT: A new rendering for the proposed pedestrian bridge to connect the PATH trail over Moreland Avenue at Freedom Parkway has been released. Residents who live in the surrounding neighborhoods want the bridge as traffic congestion continues to grow at the intersection, but there is no timeline or funding source at the moment for the project.

BOTTOM RIGHT: An official ribbon cutting was held Jan. 19 for the new Metro Atlanta Chamber offices located in the 191 Peachtree building in Downtown. Gov. Nathan Deal and Mayor Kasim Reed were on hand for the event. The MAC moved to the new 26,000 square foot space after more than 30 years at it Centennial Olympic Park location, but moved to make way for expansion of the park.

BUCKHEAD - Spectacular living top of Sovereign. Three separate private covered balconies, upgraded counters, appliances, flooring, custom lighting, custom closets, front and rear entry, open floorplan, grand entrance.

2Bed/2.5Bath $1,990,000

FMLS: 5756028 Bru Krebs 404-984-0243

MORNINGSIDE - Walkable Morningside! Coveted open floor plan, incredible kitchen with oversized island. Enormous Master Suite, beautiful bath and grand closet. 2 BRs up, each with ensuite BA. 5Bed/5 Bath $1,179,999 FMLS: 5787115

Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845

DECATUR - New construction! Finish choices still available! New Stoney River Home offers great floorplan, huge lot with finished basement to include additional family room, bedroom and full bath! 5Bed/4.5Bath $949,900 FMLS: 5762240

Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

COTTAGES AT COLLIER - Open floorpan includes kitchen w/granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Overlooks living room w/fireplace. Separate dining room. Heart of Pine floors throughout home.

4Bed/4.5Bath $764,000 FMLS: 5745286

Mike Kondalski 404-234-9379

PARK PLACE SOUTH - New construction craftsman style home. This gorgeous home features 9’ ceilings and hardwood floors, granite countertops in kitchen and master bath, 100% financing available to qualified buyers. $219,900 FMLS: 5791877

Kirby Young 404-660-2468

DURAND MILL - Brick Executive home, 2 story foyer, separate formal living and dining rooms, updated kitchen w/granite countertops, s/s appliances, 5 burner gas cooktop, 2 story great room with stacked stone fireplace. 5Bed/4.5Bath $740,000 FMLS: 5771867

Nicole Davis 404-358-6252

OLD FOURTH WARD - Bike/walk to the BeltLine. Renovated 1 BR features brand new wood floors, gorgeous kitchen, stone countertops & never used stainless appliances. Private patio and parking space. 1Bed/1Bath $100,000 FMLS: 5776496 Sherry Warner 404-784-8848

DRUID HILLS - Classic 1926 bungalow. Fully renovated and expanded with today’s luxuries. Bright open floorplan. Huge kitchen overlooks family room & so much more. 3 bedrooms up with amazing master suite, and 2 bedrooms with Jack and Jill bath. 4Bed/3Bath

$750,000 FMLS: 5762195 Ed Woods 404-759-9680

MORNINGSIDE - Morningside charmer on corner lot. 3BR/2BA up with a huge 1BR/1BA inlaw suite below. Huge .635 acre lot. Taxes not homesteaded.

4Bed/3Bath $499,000

FMLS: 5759395

Ed Woods 404-759-9680

HENDERSON CREEK - Mid-century French Provincial home on 3/4 acres. 2 masters; walk in closets each w/ private laundry, spa tubs & heated flrs. True chef’s kitchen. Walkable to schools. 4Bed/3.5Bath $549,900 FMLS: 5790097 Jen Falk 678-793-4263

LULLWATER PARK - Open soft contemporary townhouse with numerous upgrades. Brazilian walnut floors, Georgia Quartz countertops, and designer lighting add to sleek look. Walk to VA-HI shops/restaurants.

3Bed/3.5Bath $559,900 FMLS: 5758218

Michael Kondalski 404-234-9379

WILDCLIFF ESTATES - Minutes to Emory, CDC & VA!

Multi levels of gracious living space features 3br/2ba up, family room w/fireplace & balcony, dining room, large chef’s kitchen. 4Bed/3.5Bath $514,900 FMLS: 5772849

Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

DURAND MILL - 4 sides brick newer construction situated on a cul-de-sac, minutes from Emory/CDC. Hardwood floors & guest suite on main. Two-story family room, SS appliances & marble countertops in kitchen.

6Bed/5Bath $819,000 FMLS: 5761525

Nicole Davis 404-358-6252

EDGEWOOD - Perfect opportunity to own retail/ commercial CONDO / Dynamic Metal Lofts, in historic Old Fourth Ward. High loft exposed ceilings, concrete floors, storefront windows, small breakroom/backroom.

$260,000 FMLS: 5752572

Kay Goldstein 404-784-0937

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND - Extraordinary charm. Completely updated w/a kitchen, plenty of space to entertain guests! Master suite has renovated bathroom. Move-in ready. 2Bed/2 Bath $655,000 FMLS: 5792331

Lisa O’Connor 404-307-5700

BROOKHAVEN - Lovely community of higher end townhomes. Open plan for easy entertaining plus deck, just re-carpeted in the BRs and freshly painted for immediate move-in, short stroll to the MARTA station. 4Bed/4.5Bath $499,000 FMLS: 5768821

Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845