Atlanta Intown - April 2015

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

CONTACT US

Editorial

Collin Kelley

INtown Editor

collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

(404) 917-2200, ext. 102

Contributors

Julie Bookman, Ann Taylor Boutwell, Kathy Dean, Joe Earle, Annie Kinnett Nichols, Art Huckabee, Phil Mosier, Martha Nodar, Clare S. Richie, Ann Marie Quill, Tim Sullivan

Submissions

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

Advertising

For information call 404-917-2200 ext 130.

Senior Account Executives

Jeff Kremer

Janet Porter

Account Executive

Susan Lesesne

Circulation/ Subscriptions

Each month, 37,000 copies of Atlanta INtown are mailed to homes and distributed to businesses in and around ZIP codes 30306, 30307, 30308, 30309, 30324 and 30329. For delivery information, call (404) 917-2200, ext. 110.

PUBLISHED BY Springs Publishing LLC

Atlanta INtown • Reporter Newspapers

6065 Roswell Road, Suite 225 Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Phone: (404) 917-2200

Fax: (404) 917-2201

Steve Levene Founder & Publisher stevelevene@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 111

Amy Arno Director of Sales Development amyarno@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 112

Chris North Director of Creative & Interactive Media chrisnorth@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 117

Isadora Pennington

Graphic Designer isadora@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 123

Joe Earle Managing Editor joeearle@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 122

Deborah Davis Office Manager deborahdavis@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 110

© 2015 All rights reserved. Publisher reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertising for any reason. Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Atlanta INtown or Springs Publishing, LLC.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Collin Kelley collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

STITCH & TRIM

You might notice that this month’s issue of INtown looks a little trimmer than usual and that it’s now stapled along the fold. We also hope you’ll find the photos, advertising and artwork more colorful.

These changes are courtesy of Walton Press in Monroe, Ga., which is now printing INtown every month. We took a fieldtrip to the press a couple of months ago and were impressed by what we saw there. The process known as “stitch and trim” means to staple the pages and cut off the excess paper around the edges to give the publication a neater, more magazine feel.

Walton also uses state-of-the-art printing presses with more options for color, paper size and even glossy cover wraps. You might see one of those on a special edition of INtown one day soon. We are constantly striving to improve INtown both in appearance and content. Let us know what you think!

This sleeker, sexier look coincides with our annual Green Issue, and you’ll see special features throughout the April edition about Earth Day events, the return of Atlanta Streets Alive, the reopening of the city’s varied farmer’s markets and much more. “Going green” means much more than recycling these days and has become a fullfledged sustainability movement, and that includes transportation. Be sure to check out the news on the Atlanta Bike Share, which will see 500 rentable bikes on the streets later this year.

This issue also features some fun stories, including Annie Kinnett Nichols’ discovery of the Tiny Doors ATL movement (too cute!), Isadora Pennington’s profile of the beloved Candler Park Market and a preview of upcoming home and garden tours.

Spring has sprung, y’all, so get out there and enjoy it!

ABOUT THE COVER

Our Creative Director, Chris North, came up with the nifty Go Green logo you’ll see throughout the April issue to highlight eco-friendly and sustainability features. Also pictured on the cover are (top row, from left) a photo from last year’s Inman Park Festival and Mandy O’Shea from 3 Porch Farm at the Freedom Park Farmer’s Market. On the bottom row (left to right) is the delicious-looking quinoa burger from Farm Burger and kids gather for a performance by The Art Barn collective, which will be featured at this year’s Back To Your Roots Farm Fair at the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

By Collin Kelley

INtown Editor

While Earth Day is officially observed on April 22, events and happenings are taking place all month long around the city to mark the 45th anniversary of the day set aside to focus on the environment.

For our special Green Issue, we’ve rounded up a list of Earth Day events, parties, clean-ups and activities the whole family can get involved in. We’ve also got some recommendations on local green organizations that need volunteers yearround.

EarthShare of Georgia:

The nonprofit that raises funds for state environmental organizations is hosting three big events for Earth Day 2015. For more information, visit earthsharega.org.

• Corporate Green Day Challenge

This year’s event will be held April 11, 9 a.m. at various project sites.This day offers an opportunity for employees of Earth Day event

sponsors to experience first-hand the work of EarthShare’s environmental member organizations and area parks that “do green” every day in caring for our air, land and water. The winning team of the Corporate Green Day Challenge will be announced at the Leadership Breakfast.

• 13th Annual Leadership Breakfast

Each year, EarthShare of Georgia honors and recognizes its outstanding community partner, campaign champion, member organization and the winning Corporate Green Day Challenge company team. This year’s breakfast is April 17, 8-10 a.m. in the Grand Atrium of 200 Peachtree. Registration at earthsharega.org/ earth-day/tickets/.

• 20th Annual Earth Day Party

The party will be held April 22, 7 p.m. at The Garden at Community Smith (rooftop of the Renaissance Midtown Hotel). Guests will enjoy music, an eco-silent auction and

a locally sourced menu created by Chef Scott Keefer. The open-air rooftop terrace features an herb garden and lemon trees. Tickets are available online at www. earthsharega.org/earth-day/tickets/.

Perennial Wild ower and Vine Sale: Trees Atlanta will host the third annual event on April 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (rain or shine) at its headquarters, 225 Chester Ave. The sale will feature more than 1,800 native, pollinator-friendly species like milkweed, native Lilies,

Aster, Solidago, and Jack in the Pulpit, as well as multiple species of vines, ferns, and grasses. All proceeds from this plant sale will benefit the nonprofit’s youth education programs. For more information, visit treesatlanta.org.

Back To Your Roots Farm Fair: This fun event is April 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for children (under 2 get in free). There will be plenty of hands-on activities, games, a plant sale, composting and

Get Involved

Piedmont Park: The Piedmont Park Conservancy has numerous volunteer opportunities, including working to cleanup the park, becoming a park docent, volunteering at the seasonal Green Market and with the Dog Park Patrol. Information: piedmontpark.org.

Park Pride: The nonprofit is looking for seasonal volunteers to help with park cleanups and greenspace maintenance. Information: parkpride.org

Trees Atlanta: Most volunteer opportunities are on Saturday mornings, 9 a.m. until noon year-round. Please bring gloves and a bottle of water. Trees Atlanta provides all tools and instruction. There are also some weekday needs at the organization’s headquarters. Information: treesatlanta.org.

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: From working all day at a festival, to assisting with river clean-ups, to helping out for a few hours in the office, there’s something available for everyone. Information: ucriverkeeper.com/volunteer.

Wylde Center: The Wylde Center has weekly volunteer opportunities at the gardens it manages around the city including Oakhurst Garden in Decatur, Sugar Creek Garden in East Lake, Hawk Hollow and Edgewood Community Learning Garden. Information: wyldecenter.org.

Bone marrow transplants that result in world travel.

natural dye demonstrations, farm animal visits from The Art Barn, exploring the Unity Garden, music by Farmer Jason and much more. For more information: chattnaturecenter.org.

Sweep the Hooch: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will conduct its 5th annual Sweep the Hooch on April 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cleanup will include 30 sites with more than 500 volunteers expected. Last year, 580 volunteers removed 7.275 tons of river refuse with more than half-a-ton of trash recycled. To register, visit sweepthehooch.org.

Georgia Tech’s Earth Day Celebration: The 19th annual event is set for April 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tech Walk. The event is free, open to the public and features more than 70 exhibitors. There will also be eco-friendly

giveaways, recycling opportunities, a clothing swap, an office supply exchange, live music, and more. For more information visit earthday.gatech.edu.

Decatur Earth Day Festival: The event will be April 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wylde Center at the corner of Oakview and South McDonough. The festival is gnome-themed this year and will include a parade, bike ride, yoga, arts and crafts, live music, reptile exhibit and more. For details visit wyldecenter.org.

e Hoochie: The Nature Conservancy’s 21st annual gathering will be held April 24 from 7 p.m. to midnight at Tophat Soccer Field. There will be art, live performances, gourmet food and a silent auction. Tickets are $125 each. The annual event has raised more than $4 million for The Nature Conservancy since it began. For more information, visit nature.org/ hoochie.

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s survival rates are among the highest in the country for bone marrow transplants. That’s for both related and unrelated donors. It’s one reason why so many people from across the country trust Northside with their cancer care. Northside has seen thousands of cancer survivors walk out their doors. And then, go just about anywhere. For help finding a cancer specialist, call 404-531-4444.

CanCer InstItute

Where the Extraordinary Happens Every Day

Atlanta helps state make national sustainability list

Atlanta has helped propel the state of Georgia into eighth place on the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual ranking of the Top 10 states in the nation for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system.

The per-capita list highlights states throughout the country that are making strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation. LEED-certified spaces use less energy and water resources, save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce carbon emissions and create a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“Georgia has so many committed business and community leaders, policy makers and green building professionals who are using LEED to transform their built environment, producing many innovative spaces that will improve the health of our shared planet, as well as the health of the people who use those buildings every day,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC.

The per-capita list is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects that were certified throughout 2014. Georgia certified 87 projects representing 17,748,781 square feet of real estate, or 1.83 square feet per resident, in 2014.

A sample of notable projects that certified in Georgia in 2014 include:

• The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, LEED Silver

• The Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, LEED Gold

• Smyrna Area Elementary School in Smyrna, LEED Silver

• The Biological Science Building at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, LEED Gold

• The Hurt Building in Atlanta, recertified LEED Platinum

• One Atlantic Center in Atlanta, LEED Gold

There are more than 326 USGBC member organizations with a headquarters in Georgia and more than 6,810 LEED credentialed professionals in the state.

USGBC calculates the list using percapita figures as a measure of the human element of green building, allowing for a fair comparison of the level of green building taking place among states with significant differences in population and, accordingly, number of overall buildings.

“Georgia’s inclusion in the Top 10 demonstrates that our building owners and operators have come to recognize the importance of LEED certification and the triple bottom line,” said David Freedman, executive director, USGBC Georgia Chapter. “We will continue to build on the momentum generated by the diverse range of public, private and non-profit projects certified in Georgia last year, and we hope to see more states from the Southeastern region join us on this list next year.”

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor Atlanta Streets

Alive is back for a third year and will kick off on April 19 with a return to the West End. The 3.5 mile route – encompassing Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Lee Street, White Street and Peeples Street – will be closed to cars and vehicles giving pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers free rein to explore the historic district.

“There will be a slightly modified route this year highlighting Lee Street,” said Rebecca Serna Woiderski, executive director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, which organizes Atlanta Streets Alive each year. “There’s going to be a pop-up bike lane near the West End MARTA station and we’re also working with the senior center in the neighborhood to encourage more participation.”

Woiderski said last year’s West End event brought out 16,000 and many more were expected for 2015. “The community was very excited and has so much pride in the neighborhood and Atlanta University Center,” Woiderski stated. “They want to show off what they call home and all the hidden gems West End has to offer.”

The West End route is also conveniently along the Atlanta BeltLine trail and visitors are encouraged to use

the route. Visitors will also have a chance to visit local businesses and historic sites, like the Wren’s Nest, and parks on the route, including Gordon White Park, Howell Park and Adair Park.

Woiderski is also looking ahead to the fall when two more events are planned: The popular Highland Avenue route (which brought out a record 106,000 last year) on Sept. 27 and Peachtree Street on Nov. 1.

Since Atlanta Streets Alive began in 2010, Woiderski said it’s been satisfying to see how it has become such a popular and anticipated annual event.

“We’ve tapped into this vein in the city and showing people they have options beyond their cars,” she said.

“It also demonstrates how much demand there is for safe, bikable, livable streets.”

Woiderski said plans are in the works to take Atlanta Streets Alive to new neighborhoods, including Lakewood and a community in northwest Atlanta, and eventually making it a monthly event.

R E V I E W S

“Service is always GREAT! They complete the work in a timely manner. The technicians are always very friendly & willing to help! I recommend Medlock

Gulf to everyone!” - S & M Clark, Decatur

“Paul did a great job explaining what needed to happen, performed the repair quickly, and at a great price.” - E Putinsky, Atlanta

$32.95

Service Package

BIKE SHARE

500 bicycles will be available for rent later this year

Mayor Kasim Reed has signed the contract with CycleHop and its partners Social Bicycles, Center Forward and Iconologic to roll out the city’s bike share program. The program will launch with 500 bicycles and 50 rental stations throughout the city later this year.

“Over the past three years we have achieved several major milestones for citizens to enjoy bicycle riding along city streets, paths and trails,” said Mayor Reed. “With the signing of the contract today, we’re able to accomplish another major step forward to become a top U.S. city for bicycling.”

Atlanta’s bike share system will use the latest ‘Smart Bike’ system known as Social Bicycles (SoBi), which are equipped with an integrated GPS-enabled locking mechanism that gives riders the flexibility to return a bike at a hub location, or any public bike rack. Users will be able to find and rent bikes through the Web, a mobile application, or using the interface on the bike. “Our bike share program will be a convenient transportation option that will connect with other modes of transportation,” said Deputy Commissioner, Terri Lee, Department of Planning and Community Development.

The bike share program is a private-public partnership, and the business model relies on corporate sponsorship. Business and property owners may participate and support the program through sponsorships, adopt-a-station, and the purchase of memberships.

“Over the next few months we will be working with our partners to identify potential bike rental station locations in the city’s core,” said Office of Planning Director, Charletta Wilson Jacks. “Our bike share program is yet another transportation option we can offer to residents and visitors who wish to get around the city with more safe, affordable, and convenient options.”

The public is invited to participate in the program by purchasing a membership and by riding once the system is launched. To learn more about the program, stay up to date on progress, or suggest locations for bike stations, visit atlantabicycleshare.com. ALJYEDNLM 13-Jan-2014 03:49

Locals go green, preserve memories

By Martha Nodar

A desire to go green inspired an Atlanta artist, her neighbor, and a local business owner to get creative in their individual recycling efforts.

Not a stranger to recycling, members of the Atlanta Collage Society (ACS) have been reusing plastic bags from their grocery shopping, junk mail, security envelopes, newspapers, magazines, broken jewelry and more before going green became a cool thing to do.

“The patterns inside the security envelopes are very pretty and can be used in a collage,” said ACS member and Sandy Springs resident Roxane Hollosi. “I have recruited my husband and children in not throwing things away.”

Grounded in a French expression, a collage is a kaleidoscope of memorabilia pasted and juxtaposed together to highlight meaning.

Collages need a thick, hard surface to be built on, Hollosi said. That is why she jumped at the chance to reuse small leftover pieces of high quality matboard paper donated by Digital Arts Studio, a local multipurpose facility that provides custom framing and features periodic shows from community groups, such as ACS, in its art gallery.

Robin Zelizer, one of Digital’s coowners, said that several years ago she reached out to different groups in the community including ACS to find out if they wanted to receive donated boxes of matboard scraps leftover from custom framing projects that otherwise would have been thrown out.

“The response was overwhelming,” she said. “We do this all year long, which benefits schools, churches, and community groups such as ACS. It is very exciting to be able to re-purpose this paper.”

“An important component of collage is to re-purpose discarded items, change the context, and create a beautiful piece of art that has its own history,” Hollosi said.

With that in mind, Hollosi’s neighbor Stephanie Spalding, a selfdeclared “big recycler,” commissioned Hollosi to do two collages for her out of multiple cards she had received and had been collecting over a span of three decades, such as birthdays, Christmas and thank-you cards.

“I had completely filled-up two large chest drawers with these cards when I thought of an idea to save room but not at the cost of throwing the cards away,” Spalding said. “The thought of how to save these mementos occurred to me after I saw a similar collage at an ACS exhibit.”

Spalding said she was moved by the way Hollosi had recaptured a moment-in-time by pasting together the handwritten sentiments and signatures of relatives and long-time friends, some of whom have passed away.

“This is a beautiful way to preserve the memories,” Spalding said.

To find a recycling center in your area, visit recyclingcenters.org and enter a zip code.

Photos by Martha Nodar

Artist Roxane Hollosi used recycled materials (above) to create the artwork pictured at right called With Gratitude.

Eco-Briefs

The new Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville has set its opening day for May 2. As an extension of the original garden in Midtown, the $21 million initial phase, developed on 168 acres donated in 2002 by Gainesville philanthropists Charles and Lessie Smithgall, will include a contemporary visitor center, 2,000-seat amphitheater, a train garden, and five acres of display gardens featuring nationally recognized plant collections. Future plans call for an interactive children’s garden, a native plant conservation nursery, and a student training and education center. “The opening of this garden marks a dream come true for so many – from our donors and supporters to our staff and the Smithgall family,” said Garden President & CEO Mary Pat Matheson. For more information, visit atlantabg.org/visit/Gainesville.

Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is hosting the Super Kids Save the World exhibit through May 3. Based on the British children’s book, George Saves the World by Lunchtime written by Jo Readman and illustrated by Ley Honor Roberts, the book was developed by the Eden Project, an educational charity located in England, which is dedicated to showing the importance of taking care of our world. George Saves the World by Lunchtime features an ordinary family, who in the course of their day save the world simply by making responsible choices. George, Flora and Grandpa demonstrate that by taking simple steps, families can become eco-friendly superheroes in their own communities. For more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

The James M. Cox Foundation announced a $250,000 grant to Georgia Organics in support of the organization’s Farm to School (F2S) program. F2S is a nationwide movement that connects schools and local farms to serve healthy meals in school cafeterias, improve student nutrition and promote farm or gardening educational opportunities. Georgia Organics founded the state’s first F2S program in 2007 and has since implemented the program in 30 school districts. The organization currently has a three-year fundraising

campaign that will deepen the existing F2S programs with an anticipated impact on 900,000 students statewide. The F2S program increases children’s exposure to fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as provides positive economic benefits. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, agribusiness is the state’s leading industry and contributes $71.1 billion to Georgia’s economy. However, much of what Georgia grows is sent out of state. The F2S program allows farmers to sell closer to home and introduce children to Georgia’s rich agricultural heritage.

The Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy (AMPC) has received a $50,000 Legacy Grant from Park Pride, which will be matched with $50,000 of community raised funds, to officially kick off AMPC's restoration efforts within the passive greenspace of Atlanta Memorial Park, commonly known as Memorial Park. The first project is a public/private partnership with the City of Atlanta's Office of Park Design for park-way finding and signage. The second project is a Feasibility Study to explore sidewalks and trails within Memorial Park's boundaries.

“Light the Night” is the theme of this year’s Rockin’ at the River Gala to benefit the Chattahoochee Nature Center. The event will be held May 9 at 7:30 pm with a gourmet dinner and live auction in Kingfisher Hall. Dessert and dance music performed by the Stephen Lee Band wrap up the evening at the Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion, after guests have finished bidding on the silent auction in the Discovery Center.

Individual Patron Tickets are $250 and general tickets are $125 per person. Visit chattnaturecenter.org for more information.

Getting ready for the Rockin’ at the River event are the Chattahoochee Nature Center Board of Directors including (front row from left) Lisa Hyde, Kathi Wurzel, Harriette Hoyt (back row from left) Chris Nelson, Executive Director, Seth Chapman, Bob Hagan and Dutch Earle.

Infrastructure bond approved, but final list of projects still to come

By Collin Kelley and Joe Earle

Atlanta voters on March 17 overwhelmingly approved a $250 million bond issue to pay for infrastructure projects across the city.

The money – to be raised without a tax increase, according to Mayor Kasim Reed – is to be used to repair bridges, provide new traffic signals, fix city buildings and pave streets.

But the final list of projects hasn’t yet been set in concrete by the city. While the great majority of the projects have been publicly identified, members of Atlanta City Council are to vote on the final list this month. The current list is available on the city’s website at infrastructuremap. org.

“It’s a work in progress,” City Councilman Howard Shook said. “I’m hopeful the day is not far off when we’re going to wrestle with the list and get all this nailed down.”

City Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean told the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods on March 12 that she was frustrated that a final list of projects wasn’t available before the vote.

“I apologize to the voters,” Adrean said. “It’s been very frustrating to me. We have reached agreements on projects and the council members have their own

internal lists of projects, but those were not updated on the [bond infrastructure] website for voters.”

But final list or not, voters overwhelmingly approved the plan, which includes money to repair city buildings. Turnout was low – only 20,762 voters, or about 7.5 percent of those registered, cast ballots – but on each of the two bonds, more than 85 percent of the voters cast “yes” ballots.

Reed welcomed the vote, saying the results “demonstrate that Atlanta residents are ready to improve the look, feel and experience of our city above the ground.”

“The infrastructure bond will be the most consequential single investment

we will make to repair our city’s roads, bridges, sidewalks and greenspaces without raising taxes,” Reed said in a statement issued by the city.

“I look forward to working with the Atlanta City Council to ensure that our essential projects get started right away. Today, for the first time in nearly 20 years, we have decided that we will do the hard things necessary to be first to the future.”

Shook said he felt confident the council would hammer things out.

“I’m an optimist,” he said. “I think we’re going end up with a good list and get projects done that will really improve things for people.”

City officials have said the bonds are

expected to be the first of several needed to address nearly $1 billion backlog in projects.

Voters saw two items on the March 17 ballot: one for $187 million in bonds for transportation projects, and a second for $64 million in bonds to upgrade municipal facilities.

Adrean said each councilmember would get $5.2 million in their discretionary fund from the bonds to help with projects in their districts.

“There’s an opportunity to leverage dollars and partner on projects,” Adrean said.

At its March 16 meeting, the city council voted unanimously to create an oversight committee for the $250 million bond package. The 13-member committee will hold public hearings at least once per quarter to review the status of projects. The council also voted for an independent audit of the projects to be conducted throughout the 20-year lifespan of the bonds.

“I look forward to our city completing critical infrastructure projects and I appreciate the city council authorizing the Renew Atlanta 2015 Oversight Committee which will provide important oversight and assistance to the city's administration, ” said Councilmember Mary Norwood.

“The infrastructure bond will be the most consequential single investment we will make to repair our city’s roads, bridges, sidewalks and greenspaces without raising taxes.”

– MAYOR KASIM REED

Lynley S. Durrett, M.D.

Obiamaka Mora, M.D.

State of the art Pelvic & Bladder Surgeries

Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy daVinci Robotic Surgery

Bio Identical Hormone Therapy

Comprehensive Women’s Health Services offered

» Incontinence Testing & Treatment

» Abnormal Bleeding Treatment

» Annual Exams & Contraception

» Nutrient Deficiency Screening & Counseling

» Saliva Testing & Pellet Hormone Therapy

» Plus Aesthetic Services

Great News!

For the convenience of our patients, we have a new office location at Northside Hospital Campus. Appointments being accepted now! Call to schedule for either office today: 404-352-2850

Julie Sayers, PA-C

Road improvements being planned for Buckhead Village

By Collin Kelley Intown Editor

Road widening, restriping and bike lanes are coming to a number of Buckhead’s busiest streets.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is working on the widening of Piedmont Road north of the Buckhead Loop to Habersham Drive.

The widening is intended to create a continuous center left-turn lane from Habersham to the signal intersection at Piedmont Center.

“This will get turning vehicles out of the travel lanes and free up the bottleneck there, especially in the afternoon,” Jim Durrett, executive director of the Buckhead Community Improvement District, told members of the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods on March 12.

“Utility relocation is a mess right now, but the work is scheduled to be finished late summer,” he added.

Durrett also outlined several other projects that are proposed in or near Buckhead Village. They include:

• A plan to restripe West Paces Ferry between Slaton Drive and Peachtree Road. Durrett said a recent reconfiguration of the road created lanes that confused drivers. The new design will return the road closer to the way it was before, with two travel lanes in each direction and a two-way left turn lane. The westbound bike lane will be removed, Durrett said, and the eastbound bike lane will be improved.

The changes also would help drivers turning right from West Paces to get out of the through-traffic lane more

quickly, he said. The new design also adds a mid-block crossing at Whole Foods to the Buckhead Plaza 1 building. The crossing will have a pedestrian refuge at the center and a rapid flashing beacon to warn motorists of people in the crosswalk.

• New lane configurations created by restriping the roads are planned for Pharr Road between Peachtree and Piedmont roads.

• GDOT also is close to approving plans for improvements to Peachtree Road from Maple Drive to Shadowlawn Drive through Buckhead Village.

“You’ll see a new Peachtree along that stretch in 2017,” Durrett said. One plan proposes two lanes in either direction with a center turn lane and bike lanes on each side. The other plan proposes a combination two-lane and three-lane road, with the number of lanes in each direction likely switching at West and East Wesley. “GDOT is still refining these plans. There will be meetings where the plans will be shown and to get public feedback,” Durrett said.

One person attending the meeting pointed out that some plans create bicycle lanes, and asked why more bike lanes were needed. Durrett responded that drivers and cyclists were going to have to learn to share the road.

“We are collectively adolescent when it comes to sharing the road and how streets are used,” he said. “Cyclists need to learn to behave, people who drive cars need to learn to behave. Bikes as a mode of transportation are here to stay and growing.”

Jessica Guilfoil Killeen, WHNP-BC

Main Office: Piedmont Hospital Campus 105 Collier Rd NW, Suite 1080 Atlanta, GA 30309 404-352-2850

Satellite Office: Northside Hospital Campus 960 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 336 Atlanta, GA 30342 404-352-2850

www.mcdanielanddurrett.com

New lane configurations, created by re-striping, are planned for West Paces Ferry (in green above) and Pharr (in blue above) roads.

Freedom Barkway

The Freedom Barkway off-leash dog park officially opened on March 21 in the Old Fourth Ward. Located on statedonated land at the corner of Freedom Parkway and Boulevard, the gated greenspace has space for large and small dogs to romp and socialize. Coming soon will be splash pads, more seating and other amenities for dogs and their humans.

Top left: Old Fourth Ward resident Savannah Elder walks in with her dog, Roxanne.

Middle left: Attending the opening ceremony ribbon cutting was (from left) Wayne Reimer, Georgia State Sen. Nan Orrock, and R.J. Morris, COO of Freedom Barkway.

Bottom left: Patrick Looney, 9, with his dog Stella at the opening day event.

At right: Old Fourth Ward resident Natalia Castells gets plenty of kisses from Taco.

Photos by Phil Mosier

Erskine Fountain Grant Park rallies to restore historic landmark

By Julie Bookman

Many a visitor to Grant Park has perhaps wondered about the dried-up and decayed fountain located at the park’s Ormond Street entrance off Cherokee Avenue.

This is the Erskine Memorial Fountain – the city’s first public fountain. Named for Federal Judge John Erskine, the fountain was a gift to the city in 1896 from the prominent Georgia lawmaker’s daughter.

Designed by John Massey Rhind, a popular memorial sculptor in the late 19th century, the fountain initially adorned the intersection of Peachtree and West Peachtree streets. But just 16 years after its installation, the city reconfigured that area and the fountain had to go. It was moved to Grant Park, where it was in working order only briefly. For a hundred years, it has been an inoperable eyesore and a regular target for vandalism.

Now, Grant Park neighbors, together with local preservationists, are on a mission to restore the Erskine Fountain to its working glory. “Biscuits & Martinis

Mixer” is a community-wide event on April 18 to raise funds. The long-term goal is to fully restore the bronze-bowl fountain and its surrounding elements, which include a large curved marble bench and granite entryway walls.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a brief talk at the fountain, then continues 7-10 p.m. at the Atlanta Preservation Center’s LP Grant Mansion, 327 St. Paul Ave. SE. The $40 donation includes two martinis (or beer or wine), plus appetizers provided by neighborhood cafés Stone Soup Kitchen and Ria’s Bluebird.

“This effort will show that apathy now has an enemy,” says David Mitchell, president of M.H. Mitchell, Inc., a nonprofit for support of Southern history. Along with that organization, Grant Park Conservancy and History Atlanta are leading this restoration effort.

Tickets for the April 18 gala will be sold at the door. For more information on that event, the fountain’s history, and also to donate to the Erskine Fountain Fund, visit historyatlanta.com/erskinememorial-fountain/.

“St. Anne’s Terrace is the best place for retirement living. Take a tour and see for yourself. We did!!

The Neighborhood Hot List: Inman Park

1. Inman Park Festival

The 44th annual festival, parade and home tour returns April 24-26. Find out more on Page 34.

2. Parish

Stop by for an informal drink or meal at The Brasserie upstairs, or enjoy a sandwich at the picnic tables along the BeltLine at The Neighborhood Cafe.

3. Eastside Trail

The Atlanta BeltLine’s paved walking, jogging and biking path runs from Inman Park all the way to Piedmont Park.

4. Krog Street Market

A mixture of restaurants, food stalls and retail goods, KSM has proven to be big hit with the locals. Two hour waits for a table at Superica, Chef Ford Fry’s new Tex-Mex restaurant, aren’t uncommon.

5. The Collective

A historic home on Lake Avenue turned into a boutique filled with work by local artists, vintage goods and much more.

6. Inman Quarter

The new mixed-use development of apartments, retail and restaurants is filling up fast with Bartaco, MF Sushi and another Chef Fry concept on the way.

7. Victory Sandwich Bar

A triumphant return of the sandwich joint - famed for its Jack and Coke slushies - is opening any second in its new home on Bernina Avenue in the former Park’s Edge space. Big patio, ahoy!

8. Barcelona

The big patio along N. Highland Avenue is the hip place to see and be seen on the weekends, along with its menu of shareable Spanish plates and wine list.

9. Inman Perk

Grab a cup of joe and surf the web to your heart’s content at this popular coffee house on N. Highland.

10. Julianna’s Crepes

Homemade Hungarian-style crepes made with local fruit in a vintage 1901 house on Lake Avenue.

Tell us about new restaurants, attractions, shows, concerts, businesses or o -the-beaten path places in your favorite neighborhood. Submit your favorite local spots (and pics!) to us at collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Rebecca Kidd at Parish

Education Briefs

Hunton & Williams LLP litigation and intellectual property partner Rita A. Sheffey has been appointed to the newly created position of Assistant Dean for Public Service at Emory University. Sheffey, who has worked for Hunton & Williams for more than 27 years and was named partner in 2004, spearheaded the development of the firm’s Pro Bono program, highlighted by her founding of the Southside Legal Center and countless other contributions. She will join Emory later this month.

The 300th Primrose School has opened in Brookhaven. Franchise owners Olivia and Jarrad Vaughn educated their own children at Primrose. The 13,000-square-foot, two-story school is poised to serve more than 180 local children and families and will eventually add approximately 40 full- and parttime jobs to the community.The school will offer Primrose’s Balanced Learning curriculum, which blends teacher-guided and child-initiated activities with a special emphasis on character development, for children 6 weeks to 6-years-old. For more information, visit PrimroseBrookhaven.com.

The Afterschool Alliance presented the first Dollar General Afterschool Literacy Award to the Atlanta-based New American Pathways’ Bright Futures Afterschool Program . The program was honored for its success in building the literacy skills of middle school children. The Afterschool Alliance presented the award, made possible by the generous support of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, at its 14th annual Afterschool for All Challenge in Washington, D.C. Peter Epstein, Education and Youth Manager, and Mary Kathryn Tippett, Middle School Youth Coordinator of the Bright Futures Afterschool Program, and students Bishal Mager (eighth grade) and Paler Mar (sixth grade) accepted the award, including $10,000, on behalf of the program.

Rita A. Sheffey

Eco, health event back at GWCC May 2-3

Alive! Expo returns for an 11th year to the Georgia World Congress Center in Downtown on May 2-3. The expo features natural and eco product companies plus health and wellness industry experts, fitness and cooking and fitness demonstrations, live health lectures and nearly 150 vendors.

“One of the most exciting aspects of producing this event year after year, is seeing more and more Atlantan’s growing interest in natural, organic and eco products for improving their health and lifestyle,” said Alive! Expo founder Patrycja Siewert-Towns.“With that continued growth, we’ve been able to attract some of the best and brightest brands and wellness leaders in their respective industries and expect for 2015 to be a greatly educational and fun event for the whole family.”

At the event, eco and natural product companies will interact with attendees by offering wellness advice and sampling plus selling their products. Guests will enjoy lectures by wellness experts, complimentary wellness treatments plus cooking and fitness demonstrations throughout the weekend. Additionally, many local and national wellness experts will be among guest speakers throughout the weekend.

Attendees are encouraged to bring canned food items to the event, which will be donated to the Atlanta Food Bank and Hosea Feed the Hungry; the organizations for which Alive! Expo collected over 30,000 pounds of food over the past years.

Hours for the expo are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10 at the door or $5 in advance online at AliveExpo.com.

Health & Wellness Briefs

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been ranked among Fortune magazine’s elite list of “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America. It is the 10th consecutive time the not-for-profit pediatric health care system has been named to the list. Children’s is one of only two health care systems in Georgia to appear on the list, and one of only four companies headquartered in Georgia. Children’s also received recognition for being a top employer for women and ranked No. 2 on the “Best Companies for Women” list.

Atlanta Medical Center Primary Care Physicians at Virginia Highland has opened in Amsterdam Walk, next to Piedmont Park. Same-day appointments are available. Dr. Lekeshia Jarrett, a board-certified family medicine physician, is accepting new patients – from newborns to centenarians. Services offered by the center include preventive screenings and physical exams, chronic disease management, prenatal care, acute illness management and in-office procedures. To make an appointment, call (404) 479-5708.

DeKalb Medical in Decatur is the first hospital in Georgia to achieve international “Baby-Friendly” Hospital Initiative (BFHI) designation from Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. In addition to the “Baby-Friendly” designation, the hospital was also awarded a 5-STAR Hospital Recognition from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Common Courtesy is a newly formed nonprofit helping homebound or disabled Atlantans with transportation needs to visit doctors, clinics, shopping for food and household supplies and contact within the community. Founders Bob and Anne Carr initiated a meeting with Uber executives to ask for their assistance of Atlanta’s under-advantaged, and their response was “wonderful.” Bob added that, “Today, through Uber’s generosity and support, we place these Atlantans in need with drivers who conduct them to medical and doctors’ visits and trips to neighborhood grocery and drug stores.” The organization recently held a fundraiser, Rides for Ricky, at Adrienne’s Boutique in Buckhead for a blind man who needed assistance with transportation.

More than 800 attended last month’s annual White Coat Grady Gala, which raised over $1,555,000 for the Grady Health System through the Grady Health Foundation. The event also honored Grady’s Healthcare Heroes at a dinner and awards ceremony held at the Georgia Aquarium. Recipients included: Dr. James Reed, a groundbreaker in the field of endocrinology; Dr. Guillermo Umpierrez for his work in diabetes research; Dr. Raul Nogueira, for his work with stroke victims; and Concerned Black Clergy for their work in the community.

Photo Courtesy Ninh Chau Richard Lee, Thi Gunter and Solomon Olabiyi attended the White Coat Gala.

2014 Top Performers — Individuals and Teams

Sally Westmoreland Agent of the Year

Debbie Heaton Michael JW Smith

Nicole Davis Sherry Warner

Erin Fye

Beth Smith Hallie Chasen

Julie Duffy Kurt Harvell

Ed Woods

Robert Echols

Rhonda Morgan

Lamar Golar

Joyce Carmichael

Helen Simmons Wilma Richardson

Bobby Wess Rookie of the Year

Faith Stratton Top Leasing Agent

Ann Hudson Team of the Year

Helene DeLoach

Cindy Hulbert Rookie of the Year

Patrick Peyer

Amber Mason

Mike Kondalski

Kathleen Sickeler

Melissa Stratton

Public Safety Briefs

Realtor Collette McDonald of Collette McDonald & Associates arranged to have a dilapidated house on Colebrook Circle in Decatur used by the DeKalb County Police Department’s SWAT team for training exercises prior to demolition. McDonald contacted builder Kelly Rei, who gave permission for the house to be used for the training event.

The City of Decatur Fire Department encourages parents to utilize the Youth Fire Setting Prevention and Intervention Program If you have any questions or concerns about fire safety and prevention, email Captain Violante at ninetta.violante@decaturga.com or call her at (404) 947-0522.

The Atlanta Police Department has trained more than 100 officers in the Zone 1 area of Atlanta in the use of Naloxone, commonly referred to as Narcan . Atlanta Police Officers will carry the nasal form of Narcan, which is a drug that can reverse a heroin or opiate overdose instantly in cases where the overdose is apparent and medical help has not arrived yet. Police are often the first to arrive at the scene, and in many cases those first few minutes are key to saving a life.

Decatur has announced that its Smart911 system can now give community members the option to opt-in to receive emergency and general notifications from the city. For more information, visit Smart911.com.

The Atlanta Police Department’s Homicide Unit was recently featured in the documentary series e First 48 on A&E. The show’s crew filmed alongside the Homicide Unit as well as other key units in the department such as Fugitive, ID and throughout the zones as they investigated and solved homicides in the City of Atlanta.

Pet Pick

Butternut is the most lovable 5-year-old boxer you will ever meet. She enjoys every second of every day, and we know she will quickly spread that joy to her adoptive family. She has lived with another dog who was smaller than her, and she seems to like her cohorts at the shelter too. She is smitten with children and would be wonderful for a family of any size. Butternut is healthy, happy, and waiting for you at PAWS Atlanta. To adopt Butternut or any of the other dogs and cats available, visit pawsatlanta.org or the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Pet Briefs

LifeLine Animal Project has been awarded $100,000 from the Petco Foundation to continue its lifesaving work. LifeLine took over management of DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services in 2013, and in less than a year, has reduced euthanasia rates by more than 50 percent at both shelters and achieved record numbers of pet adoptions. The organization has also performed over 80,000 free and low-cost spay neuter surgeries at its two low-cost spay/neuter clinics in addition to providing rehabilitative care for animals at their own no-kill shelter.The Petco Foundation’s Lifesaving Impact Grant will help LifeLine save more homeless animals by providing the critical funding needed to run its lifesaving programs.

Good Mews Animal Foundation will be holding its annual Spring Flea Market starting April 17 and continuing weekends through May 17. Hours on Opening Day, Saturdays, and Friday, May 15, are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours on Sundays are noon to 5 p.m. New merchandise will be on display each weekend. The Flea Market will be held in Sandy Springs at 6317 Roswell Road, Suite 6331, behind BB&T Bank and in the same shopping center as Hudson Grille. For more information, visit goodmews.org.

e Atlanta Dog Jog one-mile run or walk and 5K run will be held May 2 at Piedmont Park. The event supports VetHeart of Georgia and Canine Companions for Independence. To register and get more information, visit atlantadogjog.org.

1065 MIDTOWN

A LOOK BACK

This Month in History

Ann Taylor Boutwell

April 1, 1910: The Atlanta Georgian newspaper’s front page carried the story of the arrival of the new police wagon called “Black Maria.” It caused a great deal of attention as it sped through city streets with its first passengers, the city’s police commissioners. That day the wagon went out Whitehall Street to West End, Peachtree to the Piedmont Driving Club and out Edgewood to Inman Park. The “Black Maria” could accommodate 12 or 15 prisoners.

April 4, 1997: The Atlanta Braves played their first game at the newly reconfigured Turner Field, which was built as the stadium for the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Braves beat the Cubs, 5-4.

April 8, 1974: Baseball fans go wild as Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruth’s record by hitting home run number 715 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

April 16, 1925: Mayor Walter A. Sims signs a five-year lease on an abandoned auto racetrack and commits the city to developing it into an airfield. As part of the agreement, the 287 acres of land is renamed Candler Field after its former owner’s family, including Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler. The airfield would later be known as Atlanta Municipal Airport and eventually Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

April 19, 1936: Walter Rich, founder of Rich’s department store, sought to make Atlanta internationally known for the blooming of the dogwood trees during a week-long event called the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Trees were planted in all parts of Atlanta under the sponsorship of the garden clubs and citizens interested in the beautification of the city. Pageants, parades and carnivals sponsored by the Junior League, along with performances by the Metropolitan Opera (its first appearance in the city in five years), Philadelphia Symphony, and choruses from local colleges, were featured.

April 12, 1916: Talented, vivacious and witty stage and silent screen actress Gladys Hanson married Charles Emerson Cook, playwright and producer. The Georgia native was a member of the Henry Miller theatrical company, and at age 26 played Ophelia in “Hamlet” on Broadway. Some of her stage credits include “Evensong,” “Mary Goes to See,” and “Brown Danube.” From 1914 to 1916, Hanson appeared in the films “The Straight Road” and “The Evangelist.” She also appeared in the film “The Havoc” with famous actor, Lewis Stone. She died February 23, 1973 and was buried in Westview Cemetery.

April 13, 1945: After his death from a cerebral hemorrhage at Warm Springs, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s funeral train stops in Atlanta to change engines on its way to Washington D.C. Thousands turned out to pay their condolences as the train arrived and departed the city.

April 20, 1868: In the aftermath of the Civil War, Atlanta is made state capital by order of the military governors overseeing reconstruction. Many had called for an election in 1847 to move the capital from Milledgeville but it was opposed by those who believed the seat of power should be more centrally located in the state.

Located on the top 11 floors of the Loews Atlanta Hotel, these homes are exquisitely designed with great attention to detail. Boasting unrivaled views, 1065 Midtown is located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta with close proximity to all of Midtown’s popular attractions. Prices start in the high $900s. Contact Lonnie for more information on this one-of-a-kind property.

Hank Aaron

Atlanta Municipal Airport

By Tim Sullivan

Excuses, excuses!

There are only a handful of words and phrases that Margo still bumbles now that she’s 5 ½ but I adore them and hope they hang around a while longer. She says “decides” when she means besides and we don’t go to festivals we go to “festibulls.” When putting something together it’s important to follow the “constructions” and her favorite fruit is “canvalope.” Stuff like that. The Monday morning after daylight savings when I woke her up to get ready for school, she hit the trifecta of cute, sassy and borderline inappropriate: “Daddy, it’s not even morning yet. It’s bitch black outside.”

Unlike the freewheeling days of preschool, the rules and regulations of Pre-K are firm and tardiness is not tolerated but we never learn. Every weekday morning in our household features two frantic adults waking, preparing, feeding and readying at a pace that would indicate that we overslept by an hour. Our children on the other hand more closely resemble the offspring of molasses and a yawn. So it’s something of a miracle that Margo has only been late for school a handful of times this year (Kristen and I probably deserve a trophy).

When the 8 a.m. cutoff is not met however, there is protocol that needs

following. The reception desk has a form with a section where we explain why we are late. I’m always tempted to say “because she’s 5” because really, that pretty much covers it. But I think they want something more specific. There is what I assume to be an O ce Use Only section where a box is to be checked next to Excused or Unexcused and I always think that if I word this just perfectly, a pass may be granted. So the other day I thought better of writing “because it’s bitch black outside” and substituted “daylight savings protest.” Not sure if it was deemed excusable.

You have to be quick on your feet though because there are usually other truants waiting to fess up behind you and the parent-child dynamic might not be enjoying a peak moment. So I’ve gone ahead and banked a few solid excuses to call upon quickly and keep her record as blemish free as possible: the milk tasted spicy; shirt sleeve felt kunky; couldn’t nd other wristband; pants are scratchy; string cheese was broken. Feel free to borrow!

I never went to Pre-K. Was it even invented yet? Probably. Probably it was a thing that existed and perhaps I could have learned something about punctuality or other valuable lessons but I deferred those two more years to first

grade. Because to me, even Kindergarten was more of a meet and greet anyway—an open house if you will. Stop by if you can. I walked to school solo and along the way puddles were jumped, birds were fed and chestnuts were collected. All in a day’s work right? One time I came home and regaled my mother with how I actually got to school before the bell rang. So apparently I was late every day except for that one.

This is where I might jump in and say something annoying like “and I turned out okay, didn’t I?” But the truth is my wife has this gigantic brain and both my kids seem to have inherited it so I want them to turn out better than me. Is that wrong? And Pre-K has been awesome for Margo. She learns, she laughs, she plays in the dirt. If it’s the first step towards a rewarding career as an author or artist or astrophysicist, then we’ll do what it takes to get her there on time. That being said, as long as these precious

mispronunciations might linger you won’t ever catch me correcting her. Decides, who better than a 5 year old to put things perfectly anyway?

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@sullivan nerugs.com.

Photo by Tim Sullivan Please excuse Margo Sullivan’s tardiness - she was busy being a Harlem Globe Trotter.

Summer Camps

Atlanta International School Summer Camps 2015

Purpose. PLAY. Passion.

Whether your camper is a budding scientist, a theater enthusiast or a social entrepreneur, The Children’s School has a camp that satisfies every interest!

Visit http://tinyurl.com/TCSSummer or call 404-873-6985 to find out where your adventure begins!

Language

Register

Summer Horse Camps

Chastain Horse Park - convenient Buckhead location!

Summer Camps

Be spontaneous this summer.

Who wants to plan months in advance? Our camp passes allow you to create your schedule as you go. For ages three and up, beginners & experienced players.

piano jazz guitar pop winds Broadway strings classical drums rock voice ...and more!

Summer Arts Camps Visual Arts Camp (ages 5-9 or 10-16)

Story-Making Camp (ages 5-9)

Summer Math Camp

Making math fun using computers, games, robotics and more! (multi-ages)

For more information, dates and registration, please visit www.friendsschoolatlanta.org.

Candler Park Market

A country store with city appeal

By Isadora Pennington

The Candler Park Market is a cornerstone of the neighborhood, housed in a relatively unassuming building on McLendon Avenue. A row of tables lines the side of the building under the awning and it’s common to see kids hanging out after school or locals catching up over lunch.

I came to know the market when I was staying in a drafty attic apartment next to the Lake Claire Land Trust. At the time I was living out of a mini-fridge and I relied heavily upon the market for my daily or weekly groceries. Years prior, I worked at Doctor Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party across the street, and I had become familiar with the friendly staff of the market. The impact of the market on the community was evident by the constant influx of customers and tokens of appreciation on display for all to see.

The board above the cash registers is plastered with photos of children and parents who have been sending Christmas cards to the market for years. Robin

Graham, manager of the deli, told me about the experience of getting to know these families.

“We get the news they’re pregnant, then we feed them through their pregnancy, then we see the kids grow up and they start sending us cards,” she said. It’s clear that the staff of the market feel deeply tied to the community they serve.

Ricky Johnson, store manager, has been working at the market for more than 23 years. Starting off as a stock boy, he worked his way up to his current role. “With the bus stop in front of the store for junior high and high school, I know most of the parents and I’ve seen the kids grow up,” Johnson said. He has been the friendly face at the counter almost every time I have gone to the market, and if you’re looking for something in particular chances are very good that he will know exactly where it is.

Greg Hutchins, general manager and partner, has been with the market since 2004 when his brother-in-law, Dirk, asked him to come on board. It was in 2006 that Greg took over full management with a big influence in the direction of

the market’s evolution. In these last two decades, Candler Park Market has become well known for their vast beer and wine selections as well as their locally sourced produce, goods, extensive deli and a large selection of candy (personally, this is my favorite aisle). In addition to sourcing from local businesses like Alon’s and Holeman & Finch, the market often works with individuals who make products on a much smaller scale.

“There’s this one guy called Lion Tamer who started off renting a commercial space making this incredible sourdough,” Greg told me. “That’s all he makes, and he delivers it daily.” Robin nodded in agreement. “It’s really good,” she said with emphasis.

“As far as I can tell there has been a market in Candler Park as long as there has been a business district,” Greg said of the establishment. The market originally began as an A&P supermarket located in the row of retail fronts across the street. The business was purchased by “Mac” McMichael, who built the current market on what was at the time a vacant plot of land. The store has gone through several owners and has changed names since that time, constantly evolving to meet the everchanging needs of the neighborhood.

A regular described the market as a “country store meets Whole Foods,” a phrase that Greg thinks is fairly accurate for their scope of services and goods.

It’s clear that Greg feels strongly about the market’s ties to the neighborhood in listening to him speak about his experiences there. As an example of their dedication, he told me that the market remains open on Christmas and Thanksgiving as “our way of saying thank you to the neighborhood.”

“It’s a point of pride to stay open, because we feel like we are a resource to the neighborhood,” Greg said. “We really

believe in supporting the local economy. That’s an important aspect of helping the Atlanta economy grow, and as the Atlanta economy grows, we grow.”

The deli, under Robin’s direction and vision, has undergone the most significant changes in recent history. Tucked into the back of the store, the counter was pretty small and cramped. Knowing that he would need someone to take the helm to get the renovation and revitalization underway, Greg found his solution in Robin.

“When we first hired Robin it quickly became apparent that she was that person,” Greg said. “Whatever success we have there is mostly due to her and her team.” Indeed, the deli has a team, and they’re known as the Deli Babes.

“We have a lot of creative individuals back there, so that makes it easy,” Robin said of the deli staff. Recently the deli began offering catering and prepared meals in addition to their full-service sandwich bar. Boasting Southern favorites like pimento cheese, buttermilk cakes and egg salad, the coolers alongside the deli are packed to the brim with handmade, locally sourced foods to take home as well.

Another recent addition to the deli is the selection of baked goods, ranging from chipwiches to brownies, which are made by Ashley Daxton, one of the deli employees. In the two years since Ashley came on board she started her own baked goods company and has begun to sell them via the deli. It’s just another example of how the market continues to encourage and support the successes of their community.

At the end of the day, the market is an incredibly well-rounded and communityminded shop, providing a valuable resource to the neighborhood it serves. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, stop in and meet the market crew or grab a bite from the deli. “It’s very likely you’re going to find everything you need,” Greg said.

Photos By Isadora Pennington

From left, manager Ricky Johnson, deli manager Robin Graham and partner Greg Hutchins. Center clockwise from top left, the Cali Veg two bean veggie burger with garlic fries, locally sourced produce, a wide selection of candies and Deli Babe Katie Doyle displays a pin for sale at the counter. At right, the shop’s extensive wine selection has been attracting attention for years.

Christmas cards and family photos on display above the front counter at the market.

Atlanta’s largest Whole Foods Market could come to the site of a planned mixed-use tower at the corner of 14th and West Peachtree streets in Midtown, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. The 60,000 square foot store would anchor the The Related Group’s two-tower project, the first of which would have 400 residential units.

Local entrepreneur Amanda Dossey has opened Painting with a Twist, a place where friends come together to paint, drink wine and discover their inner artist, at 2140 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Led by local art instructors, guests paint on bare 16” by 20” canvases using paint and brushes provided by the studio. The artwork ranges from landscapes, abstracts and cityscapes, to creative renderings of animals, iconic buildings and florals. With the Painting with a Purpose program, Painting with a Twist of Buckhead donates 50 percent of their proceeds to local organizations and charities. For more information, visit paintingwithatwist.com/atlanta-buckhead.

Phipps Plaza has unveiled its new chandelier as part of the mall’s multi-phase renovation. The former chandelier, which hung in the mall’s Court of the South since 1992, was removed to make way for a new lighting installation – a sixteen-feet wide by 7-feet tall chandelier composed of an illuminated core, surrounded by 88 stainless steel spears and featuring over 2,600 acrylic spheres throughout the fixture.

Local fitness studio Pure Barre is opening a location at 515 Church St. in Decatur this month. Locals Ashley Goot and Katy Bayless Gibson, who also operate a location in Virginia Highland, own the studio. The barre-based workout utilizes small, isometric movements to target areas women struggle with most: hips, thighs, seat, abdominals and arms. For more information, visit purebarre.com/ga-decatur.

PGi, a developer of virtual meeting and collaboration software, held a ribbon-cutting last month for its newly renovated Innovation Lab at the Terminus complex in Buckhead. More than 75 percent of Fortune 100 companies use technology created by PGi and the company recently released a new calendar app, Agenday, that has received high marks from users of Android and iPhones.

The 14th annual Eventeract will be held May 12-13 at AmericasMart in Downtown. The event will feature 90,000 square feet of education, innovation and networking covering a variety of disciplines, including corporate and association events, food & beverage, meeting design, décor & event design, meeting planning strategies, technology, sales, revenue management and more. GaMPI will host its signature charity event “The Gathering” on May 12 to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank. For more information, visit eventeract.org.

The Ellis Hotel in Downtown has announced the creation of a “Women’s Only Floor,” and partnership with The Chelko Foundation, a nonprofit organization that empowers women through art and education. From arrival to departure, women guests will enjoy the “princess” treatment, on a floor that can only be accessed by a special keycard in the elevator. Perks include a L’Occitane gift bag of toiletries, a miniature keepsake painting from The Chelko Foundation, robes, slippers, video call capability and services like inroom massage and facial treatments. For more information, visit ellishotel.com.

Hosted by the Ladies of the Lake Garden Club and the Ladies of the Lake Foundation, Inc. Benefiting the Duck Pond and Parks, proceeds will help promote horticultural practices, urban beauty and the conservation of this historic natural resource.

SMALL BEGINNINGS, BIG THINGS

Tiny Doors ATL opens up new world for miniature art

gave me a tour of the tiny doors. There are currently five and a ribbon cutting for the sixth is set for April 18. Because of its location, the opening will feature a teeny, tiny banquet of food.

Tiny doors have become popular around the world, including England where they are known as “fairy doors.” The painstaking detail of the doors, figures and objects around them are intriguing to both children and adults. Karen and her “partner in tiny,” Sarah Meng, have managed to create an imaginary world where everyone creates their own story about what’s going on behind the door. They’ve also created a huge buzz in just four months.

Tiny Doors ATL is a nonprofit organization that wants to make free public art. Their motto is: Big wonder. Tiny Spaces. They felt the doors were a unique way to take Atlanta’s active art community and bring a dash of adventure and whimsy to the city. Social media has played a big part in the fun of finding the doors, with photos and clues posted on Instagram (@tinydoorsatl) and Facebook (facebook.com/tinydoorsatl).

By Annie Kinnett Nichols

I’m tiny, so it’s no surprise I’ve always been drawn to small things, but even I couldn’t fit through the tiny doors that are popping up around Intown.

If you happen to be looking for a children’s book in Decatur, visiting the

park around the Carter Center, biking or walking along the BeltLine Eastide Trail, whizzing through the graffiti tunnel that connects the Old Fourth Ward and Cabbagetown, or buying a treat for your pet in Inman Park, then you might have stumbled upon a tiny door.

The exact location of the tiny doors is not revealed, and that’s part of the fun, according to artist Karen Anderson of Tiny Doors ATL. Karen has been making miniature pieces since she was 7, including all her own dollhouse furniture.

On a blustery March day, I met Karen and happily walked through Intown as she

Taking me on an exclusive door tour, I got to see Rosie, their tiny mascot, hard at work scrubbing the entryway of the missing Door #5, which has been getting repairs from water damage at Rosie’s tiny workshop. By press time, the door will be back in place, nestled at the base of a great American Elm near the Carter Center. Oops, I might have said too much.

When you see the doors, there’s a level of perfection that makes it more than craft. It’s actually a mathematical equation which makes everything you see perfectly in proportion. Karen and Sarah started their exploration of where doors could take people in the famous graffiti tunnel. They installed the tiny door and waited and watched as people took notice. Soon, things started appearing at the door: a tiny letter, a tiny newspaper, tiny pumpkins and a tiny Christmas wreath. Since then, an invisible community of guardians has formed to help keep the tiny doors clean, repaired, and to leave little gifts.

Tiny Doors makes no profit, but they do accept donations for helping create the next door. A gallery show and fundraiser is being planned for August, which will feature local artists who want to exhibit their work. Half the money will go to the artist and the other half to Tiny Doors ATL. If you want to get involved with the event, email knocknock@tinydoorsatl. com. We’ll have more details in a forthcoming issue.

It’s really wonderful to experience something so tiny that has already made a huge impact on my life as well as Atlanta’s ever-growing art scene. Two tiny thumbs

up for Tiny Doors.

Photos by Annie Nichols

A tiny door at the Krog Street Tunnel.

Tiny Doors ATL mascot Rosie works on a door near The Carter Center..

Artist Karen Anderson created Tiny Doors ATL.

A tiny version of Inman Bark in Inman Park.

Courtesy Tiny Doors ATL Rosie repairs a door in her tiny workshop.

Festival Mania

Spring is here and that means festivals all month long

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Atlanta loves a festival. The month of April is teeming with events, whether you love arts and crafts or food and music. Clear out your weekend calendar, put on some comfortable shoes and explore Intown’s neighborhood festivals.

Festival on Ponce

The spring version of the festival will be held April 11 – 12 in the Olmsted Linear Park along Ponce de Leon Avenue. Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, folk and “outsider art” from more than 125 artisans, a children’s area, live acoustic music and a line-up of some of Intown’s favorite food trucks. For a full list of artists and events, visit festivalonponce.com.

Atlanta Dogwood Festival

The 79th annual event will take place April 10-12 in Piedmont Park. Hundreds of artisans will be on hand along with live music, a kid’s village, food and more. The Backyard Barbecue & Brews will be Saturday and Sunday featuring ‘que, stew and beer from local restaurants and vendors. Also returning this year is the International Village with cultural performances from around the globe. The annual Disc Dogs Southern Nationals, a 5K Race and the Atlanta High School Art exhibition will also be part of the festival. For full details on all the weekend’s activities, visit dogwood.org.

Sandy Springs Artsapalooza

The Artsapalooza will be held April 18 – 19 along Lake Forest Drive between Mount Vernon Highway and Hammond Drive. The event will include a children’s play area, local musicians, interactive art stations, plus up to 150 arts and crafts participants in every discipline. Visit sandyspringsartsapalooza.com for more information.

Sweetwater 420 Festival

The annual music and beer festival returns to Downtown’s Centennial Olympic Park on April 17-19. Along with all the brew, the music line-up includes Snoop Dogg, 311, Gov’t Mule, Thievery Corporation, Primus, Cage the Elephant and many more. The Not-So-Silent Disco will feature Anna Lunoe, Black Boots, Cassian, DJ Babey Drew, among others.The Relapse 420 Comedy Tent will feature comics from around the city. For full details about the weekend and to buy VIP tickets, visit sweetwater420fest.com.

Inman Park Festival

The 44th annual Inman Park Festival is set for April 24 - 27 with more than 150 fine artists lining the tree-shaded streets of the neighborhood. The centerpiece of the festival is the annual parade – floats, bands, local nonprofits and residents – which steps off at 2 p.m. (rain or shine) on Saturday and begins at Edgewood and Euclid and runs to Austin Avenue. There will also be two days of live music on three stages, a Kidzone at Springvale Park, a dance festival at the Trolley Barn and food of all kinds from local restaurants. The annual Tour of Homes will also take place that weekend, starting on Friday. Parking for the festival will be very limited, so visitors are strongly encouraged to take Marta to the Inman Park station, bike, walk or maybe take Uber or Lyft. For more, visit inmanparkfestival.org.

Atlanta Arab Festival

This 10th anniversary celebration of Arab culture will be held April 18-19 at the Alif Institute, 3288 Marjan Drive. There will be music, food, art and more. More details at alifinstitute.org.

The Rooster Crows! New website helps festival-lovers find events

Former Atlanta INtown publisher Wendy Binns has launched a new online endeavor called FestivalRooster.com. The colorful website lists festivals – arts, music, food and specialty events – happening around the southeast, including Atlanta.

A work-in-progress for more than a year, there are literally hundreds – soon to be thousands – of

events to choose from. Whether you love bacon, Elvis, cars or crawfish, there’s something for every interest.

“Everyone loves a festival and there seems to be more and more every year, but there wasn’t a comprehensive site for those wanting to find or promote a festival. FestivalRooster.com is the solution,” Binns, a Poncey-Highland resident, said. The social media element of the site – Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter – will allow festival-goers to post photos from the events, while a regular rotating list of “Rooster Picks” will spotlight upcoming, unique events.

Spring has sprung and that means festivals will be popping up around Intown all month long. Pictured above (top to bottom), visitors to the Festival on Ponce pause to enjoy the sunshine and a picnic; the colorful parade is the highlight of the annual Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes; thousands are expected to stroll Piedmont Park for the annual Dogwood Festival.

ART AT PCM

Weekend performances, sneak peek at market progress

Ponce City Market will offer a sneak peek at its renovation progress and welcome a three-day performance from Flux Projects and guest artist Nick Cave.

From April 24-26, Up Right Atlanta will transform the not-yet-open Central Food Hall into a space filled with movement, sound and intricate costumes. The performance will also feature choreography by T. Lang, founder and artistic director of local performance company T. Lang Dance.

A performance artist, sculptor and educator, Cave is best known for his “Soundsuits,” elaborate, wearable sculptures that come to life and make noise through movement. Cave is widely recognized for his public art performance Heard-NY, which took place in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal in April 2013

Cave has been commissioned by Flux Projects to introduce Atlantans to his captivating work through Up Right Atlanta. The artist said the performance is a “call to arms, head and heart” featuring dancers, actors and musicians.

There will be two performances each day with shows on Friday, April 24, at 4 and 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at 3 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 26, at noon and 3 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. To ensure space availability, guests can pre-register at uprightatlanta.eventbrite. com.

JAMES PRINZ PHOTOGRAPHY

Performance artist Nick Cave.

Photo Courtesy Ponce City Market

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

Visual Arts

Designing Healthy Communities: Explore the theory behind “active design” in this hands-on, multimedia exhibit. Opens April 19. $5 to $10. museumofdesign.org

The Animals I Sleep With: Kate Javens celebrates the creatures that have inspired her work as an artist through these exquisite and haunting paintings. Tuesday through Saturday. marciawoodgallery.com

Beyond the University Art Annuals: Acquisitions from 1980 to 2014: Visit this exhibit to see a continuum of Clark Atlanta’s vision that began in 1942 to give African-American artists a national forum. Tuesday through Friday. Free. cau. edu

Ephemeral Eternity: Memory, Ritual and Myth in a Time of Dissolution: Artists including Robin Bernat and Wendy Phillips reflect on the power of myth and memory and how it shapes an individual

in this Gallery 72 exhibit. Monday through Friday. Free. ocaatlanta.com

Imagining New Worlds: José Parlá and Fahamu Pecou: See how two contemporary artists, one from Brooklyn and one from Atlanta, interpret the work of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam, from colorful art to hands-on DJ sample pad controllers. Tuesday through Sunday. $10 to $19.50. high.org

Pareidolia: Artist Ryan Coleman dives into the phenomenon of pareidolia – interpreting vague happenings as significant – at this Sandler Hudson Gallery exhibit. Tuesday through Saturday. Free. sandlerhudson.com

BLUE MAN GROUP

Randall LaGro Exhibit: Alan Avery Art Company exhibits the largest collection of works on paper to date by well-known New Mexico artist Randall LaGro. Tuesday through Saturday. Free. alanaveryartcompany.com

Performing Arts

Cargill/Fly/Proia: Three dance companies share the stage for a night of innovative and eclectic dance. April 3 and April 4. $15 to $20. cargillflyproia. brownpapertickets.com

The Marriage of Figaro: Exciting young stage director Tara Faircloth makes her Atlanta Opera debut with Mozart’s infamous upstairs-downstairs comedy of love, infidelity and redemption. April 4 through April 12. $26 to $140. atlantaopera.org

Blue Man Group: Though no language is spoken throughout the entire show, Blue Man Group combines comedy, music and technology into a wildly entertaining show. April 7 through

April 12. $30 to $100. broadwayinatlanta. com

Storefront Church: Theatrical Outfit takes on the final part of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” trilogy with this production. April 9 through April 26. $20 to $35. theatricaloutfit.org

Thornton Wilder’s O ur Town: The Tavern stage becomes small town America this spring with this modern classic that relies on the actors to mime all sets and props. April 9 through April 26. $15 to $39. shakespearetavern.com

Rounding Third: Follow the tumultuous journey of two Little League coaches through an entire season, from their first tentative meeting to the climactic championship game. Closes April 12. $15 to $39. stagedoorplayers.net

Jeff Foxworthy: The highest selling comedy-recording artist in history comes to The Fox Theatre for a hometown show. April 18. $45 to $150. foxtheatre.org

THE WALKING DEAD HIT TV SHOW BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO SENOIA

By Ann Marie Quill

Before AMC’s hit show The Walking Dead shuffled into the metro Atlanta area about five years ago, the town of Senoia contained little more than a hardware store and a coffee shop.

Today, the town where the show is filmed is an international tourist destination is less than an hour’s drive from Downtown.

In October during a recent “staycation,” I decided to take my mother and a visiting family friend – all of us are avid fans of the TV show -- down to Senoia to see what all the fuss was about.

The daytrip didn’t disappoint.

The Woodbury Shoppe on Main Street was our focal destination. The shop, started by the show’s producers in 2013, sells Walking Dead memorabilia – anything from posters, key chains and coffee mugs to stuffed character dolls and T-shirts. The shop’s downstairs is a

road trip

How to get there:

Senoia is a little less than an hour’s drive from Intown. Take I-85 South through downtown Atlanta. After it splits from the Connector, go about 25 miles before turning right onto Seavy Street. Go another half mile and a take a slight right onto Johnson Street. After another half mile, turn left onto Main Street, and the Woodbury Shoppe will be on the right. Numerous other shops and restaurants are located on Main Street. To see The Walking Dead set from afar, walk to the southern end of Main Street and look south. Lots of production trailers will be visible if the show is currently filming.

museum containing set pieces, props and the actors’ signatures on the walls.

Store manager Rhodena Buck says some 2,000 visitors, on average, come through the store each week. “We’ve had visitors from all over the place -- Peru, Korea, Denmark, Germany and Canada,” she said, adding that one couple from Alaska took a week to drive down, just to spend one day in the store and town in between the driving to and from their home.

What we weren’t expecting on our trip was a visit from one of the show’s stars, which Buck says occasionally happens when the show is in production, usually from May to November.

As we were looking for a parking space on Main Street, a commotion was taking place in front of the shop.

Upon arrival, we learned the crowd had gathered as Norman Reedus, a.k.a. Daryl Dixon on the show, was paying the store a visit. Slash, the guitarist of Guns n’ Roses fame, accompanied him. The actor graciously signed autographs and allowed the taking of “selfies,” not leaving until every fan had their turn.

“During [the show’s] filming, the whole town fills up,” Buck said, adding that so far celebrity visits have remained “sane and safe.”

Buck said the shop in December hosted an autograph signing with Robert Kirkman, the show’s producer and creator of the comic book series that The Walking Dead is based on.

“A couple of things like that are in the works,” Buck said, adding that details will be posted on the store’s website at www. woodburyshoppe.com.

If you want to experience more than Walking Dead fandom in Senoia, Main Street is full of antique and gift shops and unique restaurants.

We dined just a few shops down

at Southern Grounds, a Tex-Mex style restaurant and bar owned by singer Zac Brown. Proceeds from that restaurant support Brown’s Camp Southern Ground, an outdoor camp for children of all abilities.

Buck says that’s her favorite restaurant in town, but she also recommends the Irish pub Maguire’s and Small Town Pizza.

Also located near downtown are Veranda Bed & Breakfast on Seavy Street. According to the city’s website, that’s where Margaret Mitchell interviewed Civil War veterans when she was researching Gone With the Wind. While my guests and I didn’t venture too far off Main Street, Atlanta Movie Tours offers bus tours of filming locations, with stops in Atlanta and Senoia. For more information, visit www. atlantamovietours.com.

Special Downtown Senoia’s Main Street is filled with shops and restaurants.

special

The author takes a shot of her mother and Norman Reedus.

special

The tracks seen in the show are south of Main Street.

Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), star of The Walking Dead, can often be seen around Senoia.

ATLANTA VETERANS FARMER’S MARKET OPENS

By Clare S. Richie

The Atlanta Veterans Farmer’s Market, located at 307 Walker Street on 2.3 acres in the Castleberry Hill community, opens April 25.

This market and organic training farm for participating veterans is the inaugural endeavor of The 3x3 Project. It also honors Army Spc. Jamaal R. Addison, the first Georgian who sacrificed his life for his county in the Iraq war.

Executive Director Markus Gaffney is a veteran and son of a career military father who served in Vietnam. Throughout their lives, both Markus and his father turned to horticulture for therapy. In 2013, Markus donated produce grown in his backyard to The Trinity House, a homeless shelter in Midtown, but he felt called to do more. He decided to bring healthy food to urban areas and help fellow veterans.

“Each day in Georgia, three veterans take their own lives,” Markus said with tears in his eyes. And the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that 6,600 displaced veterans are on Atlanta streets every night.

The 3x3 Project seeks to address these alarming facts by working alongside veterans, some of who may choose to earn an Organic Farming Certification. It plans to split harvest proceeds between a Veterans Help Fund and the Jamaal R. Addison Motivational Foundation. The site will also commemorate each veteran lost to suicide in Georgia with an American flag.

The newly formed nonprofit transforms vacant industrial lots into thriving community gardens and markets to bring fresh produce to urban food deserts. This site was formerly the old livery stables for the Atlanta Street Car Company and is in the shadow of the new Georgia Dome.

Markus’ low-cost, efficient milk crate gardening system can grow anywhere, but he seeks concrete pads on industrial lots to provide better access for the disabled and seniors. One square foot milk crate is lined with landscaping fabric and

then filled with soil and seeds. It is placed on top of another milk crate, empty except for a cut wet t-shirt that serves as a supplementary water source. Stacking minimizes exposure to bugs and weeds. Nine of these comprise the modular 3’ x 3’ garden, which can yield roughly 13 pounds of fresh produce every month.

“Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive when you use recycled materials,” Markus explained. He uses old windows, provided by North Georgia Placement Windows for greenhouses and trellises. Markus is working with Whole Foods to receive their discarded milk crates. Greenscapes in Calhoun gives “end runs” from large rolls of fabric to line the crates.

Donations and volunteers help too. Scott’s Miracle Gro provided truckfuls of soil and a pallet of seedpod “gro-ables”. Volunteers have come from The Home Depot, Hands On Atlanta, and more.

“Our goal is to convert the market to a veteran’s park within the next five years,” Markus shared. He’ll move the portable milk crate system farm to another location. Shouldn’t be too hard to find a spot, since the Atlanta Regional Commission identified 4,000 acres of vacant concrete land in Atlanta.

A more ambitious goal is to have a Veterans Farmer’s Market in each state capitol within the next three years. In 2015, three are already scheduled – Atlanta in April, Columbus, Ohio in June and Sacramento, California in August. “I want to be the Johnny Appleseed of urban gardens to improve health, create jobs, help veterans, and reduce crime,” Markus said.

Come check out the weekly community farmer’s market starting this month and cooking demonstrations planned for later this summer. In addition to flowers and produce, items for sale will include cut milk jugs or crates with plants like patio tomatoes, cilantro, and basil, so you can create your own portable garden.

For more information, visit The3x3Project.org.

Intown Market Guide

Freedom Farmers Market: The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. now through Dec. 19 at the Carter Center in Poncey-Highland. Expect to find fresh produce, meats, baked goods, cheese and dairy, handmade preserves and honey, fresh coffee and more. There will also be regular pop-up restaurants for those who want to grab a bite. Information: freedomfarmersmkt.com.

Green Market at Piedmont Park: The 12th annual Green Market at Piedmont Market opened at the end of March and has more than 40 vendors including local farmers, bakers, sauce makers, crafters, chef demonstrations, canning workshops, live music and history tours of the park. The market is open every Saturday now through midDecember from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the 12th Street entrance. Information: piedmontpark.org.

East Atlanta Village Farmers Market: The market reopens on April 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. and will continue every Thursday through Dec. 17 at 561 Flat Shoals Ave. There will be fresh produce, locally-made food and products, chef demos and much more throughout the season. Information: farmeav.com.

Morningside Farmers Market: Open yearround, this neighborhood market at 1393 N. Highland Ave. has been a Saturday morning favorite for 20 years. Check out organic produce, freshly prepared foods and baked goods. Market hours are 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Information: morningsidemarket.com.

Grant Park Farmers Market: The market reopens April 19 and will be open on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through Dec. 20 at the corner of Cherokee and Milledge avenues. There will be locally grown fruits, vegetables, artisan produced breads, cheeses, and other delicacies. Information: grantparkmarket.org.

Peachtree Road Farmers Market: Located in the parking lot at Cathedral of St. Phillip, 2744 Peachtree Road in Buckhead, the market will reopen for the season on April 11 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and continue every Saturday through Dec. 19 (hours change from 9 a.m. to noon in October). There will be 50 weekly vendors, regularly scheduled chef demonstrations, live music and kids’ activities. Information: peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.

Special Atlanta Veterans Farmer’s Market executive director Markus Gaffney (above) and some of the fresh vegetables grown in milk crates at the garden space near the Georgia Dome.

Isadora Pennington Freedom Farmers Market

INTOWN:

Farm Burger Restaurant Review

By Art Huckabee

Spring has sprung. It’s time to get back in tune with nature. It’s time to get healthy. What say we do both by having a burger and fries?

Never has the classic all-American combo made one feel so environmentally friendly and downright healthy, than does the one at Farm Burger, the local chain that combines the everlasting gourmet burger craze with the ever trendy farm-to-table craze. This place is craze-ee popular. Who knew that there were so many health nuts eating burgers?

There’s usually a line. You’ll need the time to scan the five or six menus that adorn the walls. Paper menus are available which make it easier to navigate the array of choices. The basic premise is build a burger. Choose from 100 percent grass-fed beef or chicken or veggie quinoa and top it with over thirty condiments ranging from roasted garlic to oxtail marmalade. If that’s too many choices there are six pre-decided “Blackboard Burgers” as well.

Order at the bar, get a number, and find a table. The food arrives quickly.

Our burger purist ordered a plain cheeseburger. He pronounced it as awesome. He’s 12. The grass-fed beef is very lean, so if you’re a medium well to well done carnivore, you might want to dial the level of doneness back a notch to avoid arid burger syndrome.

We tried the “Blackboard Burgers.” The No.1 Farm Burger had aged Vermont white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and FB sauce, a riff on thousand island dressing. The beef held up surprisingly well under the flavor bomb of cheese and sweet. Dry aged beef has a beefier slightly funky note.

The No. 6 was another beef patty adorned with bacon, a sunny side up egg, pepper jack cheese and Salsa Verde. The

egg and the green sauce made the burger, adding moisture and flavor.

The No. 4 chicken burger was the hit of the meal. A juicy chicken patty was dressed with smoked Gouda, kale coleslaw, crispy onions and a sherry-date barbecue sauce. The flavors from the cheese and barbecue sauce and the textures from the slaw and onions made this a memorable dish.

The No. 2, veggie quinoa burger was a slightly dry patty, soft in texture and lacking that satisfying chew that one associates with a burger. The mixed greens, marinated beets, balsamic onions and garlic aioli helped both texture and flavor, but the letdown was palpable from the burger lover in our crowd who had gone veggie for the cause.

There are a myriad of sides, salads and soup. The fries had good crunch and the right amount of seasoning. The onion rings were more breading than onion; only three came in an order of fries ‘n rings. Thank goodness they weren’t a hit. The sweet potato fries were limp, begging for texture.

The Farm Burger Soup was an amalgam of lentils, carrots, potato, sweet potato, squash, onion, Swiss chard with a dollop of sour cream. It had a nice homey taste and would be a good choice on a cool spring day.

The Superfood Salad was lacinato kale, also known as black kale, beets, pecans, roasted carrots, caramelized onions, dried cranberries, tahini dressing and nutritional yeast which is often used as

a cheese substitute. You know this dish is good for you from the first bite and it was surprisingly tasty as well needing perhaps a little more tahini dressing and a dash more acidity.

There’s an interesting beer selection and a handful of wines. Milkshakes and floats made with Morelli’s gourmet ice cream are also available. We didn’t order any as we were there for only the healthy stuff.

Farm Burger has locations in Decatur, Dunwoody and Buckhead. For more information, visit farmburger.net.

Art Huckabee is one of Yelp’s Elite Reviewers, as well as a pilot and food lover. Send feedback to TastingIntown@ AtlantaINtownPaper.com.

No. 1 The Farm Burger

Photos by Art Huckabee Fries and onion rings.

No. 2 The Veggie Quinoa Burger.

The blackboard menu at Farm Burger.

Quick Bites

Buckhead Restaurant Week will be held April 18-26. Brunch, lunch and dinner cuisine from participating restaurants will be available on $15, $25 or $35 prix fixe menus. Prices are per person and exclude alcohol, tax and gratuity. Visit atlantarestaurantweeks.com to see a full list of participating restaurants.

By the time you read this, Abattoir in the Westside Provision District will have closed its doors after a seven-year run. “We have loved our seven-year run with our great team at Abattoir. We have been proud to present great food, a fabulous atmosphere and the talents of several notable chefs” said owner/operator Anne Quatrano. “It’s time we let another concept take over this awesome space as we work on the opening of our Fish Camp at Ponce City Market this Spring.” Many staff have already been slated for future roles in the upcoming W. H. Stiles Fish Camp, opening in Ponce City Market this spring and the opening of “a little restaurant downstairs at Bacchanalia” soon.

New Japanese restaurant Doraku Sushi is open at Buckhead Atlanta offering a “refined twist” on traditional Japanese fare, drawing inspiration from Asian and Latin flavor profiles. For more visit, buckhead-atl.com.

Gu’s Dumplings is now open at Krog Street Market in Inman Park. The menu features Szechuan dumplings and noodles. For more information, visit GusDumplings.com.

SweetWater Brewery and United Distributors recently presented a check for $55,547 to The Giving Kitchen. The brewery’s partnership with The Giving Kitchen dates back to 2013 when the two organizations came together to brew Second Helping, a juniper IPA to raise funds for the organization. The Giving Kitchen is a nonprofit dedicated to assisting restaurant industry workers who have experienced some sort of unanticipated emergency or hardship. For more, visit thegivingkitchen.org.

Chef Ron Eyester (Rosebud, Timone’s) has opened Diner in Atlantic Station offering up a menu of classic American favorites with a twist, such as burgers, brisket, pork chops, salmon, ice cream, cakes and pies. Diner is located at 264 19th Street. Opening hours are currently 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit dineratlanta.com.

Fifth Group Restaurants has announced plans to open new locations of South City Kitchen and La Tavola Trattoria. South City Kitchen will occupy 6,000 square feet on the first floor of the 3350 Peachtree building facing Peachtree Road. An opening date has not been set. The company is also looking to open a new 4,500 to 6,500-square-foot La Tavola Trattoria location in a yetto-be-decided “metro-Atlanta neighborhood.”

Sisters Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne have opened Georgetown Cupcake Buckhead at 267 East Paces Ferry Road. For more, visit georgetowncupcake. com.

Southern Roots Café is now open on the campus of the Georgia World Congress Center in Downtown. The café is offering house made pastries, breakfast sandwiches, flatbreads, panini’s, coffee, beer and wine.

Shifting Chefs: Ecco in Midtown has named Joshua Perkins as its new executive chef. Prior to joining Ecco, Perkins served as chef-partner of Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar in his hometown of Memphis. Stuart Tracy, founder of Charleston’s Butcher & Bee, has been named executive chef of both The Brasserie and The Neighborhood Café at Parish in Inman Park. Concentrics Restaurants has hired Chef Wesley True to take Richard Blais’s place at The Spence. Blais now lives in San Diego where he operates Juniper & Ivy.

Jay Adkins

HOME & GARDEN TOURS

Explore interiors and exteriors around Intown this spring

Inman Park Tour of Homes

The 2015 Tour Of Homes is part of the annual Inman Park Festival on April 24-26. The tour will feature 12 homes and points of interest in the community. Homes featured this year include Victorians, Craftsman-style, Arts and Crafts, condos, Inman Park United Methodist Church and the historic Trolley Barn. Advance tickets are $15 at inmanparkfestival.org or $20 at the sales booth located at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Elizabeth Street during the festival. Tour hours are noon to 4 p.m. on Friday and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

ASA Decorators’ Show House & Gardens

The 45th annual event takes place April 18 through May 10. This year’s

artists include two designers from popular HGTV shows, a cadre of students from a local design school, and a group of prominent designers from Atlanta and the Southeast. Each will grace “Château Soleil,” a French style estate designed by renowned architectural designer William T. Baker at 4701 Northside Drive. The designers will showcase their individual talents and design styles while incorporating creative trends in this 14,500 square foot grand estate with a sunny, golden façade. Celebrity designer and television host, Vern Yip, will serve as the 2015 Honorary Chair and all proceeds benefit the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its education and community outreach initiatives. Tickets will be available at multiple advanced ticket locations and onsite for $30 each. Visit DecoratorsShowHouse.org for more information.

Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens

The Druid Hills Civic Association will host the 47th annual event May 1-3, which features the theme “History Happens Here.” This year’s tour features five homes, a garden and a plant sale. New this year, the tour will feature a series of free events open to the public at Emory Village including an artists market, nightly entertainment, a lecture from the Institute of Classical Architecture on the firm Ivey & Crook (with guided tours of buildings designed by the firm on the Emory University campus), and the Patch Dash 5K Fun Run/Walk and Tot Trot. Tickets may be purchased in advance on the website at druidhillstour. org. Proceeds from the tour and events benefit the Druid Hills neighborhood,

SUSTAINABLE SPACES

Creating green living and working spaces

By Kathy Dean

Interior design is about more than looks, more than functionality, more than comfort, it’s about reflecting the aesthetics and the values of the people who inhabit the space. While that sounds simple enough, designers may be challenged to come up with suitable ideas for the work and living spaces of people who have a strong commitment to the environment.

It turns out that it’s easier than you’d think to add substance to style. Caryn Grossman, Associate ASID and owner of cg creative interiors, said that when she attended a trade show about 15 years ago, she was introduced to an amazing set of materials – all eco-friendly and all truly beautiful.

“I started to research further and found the materials palate expanded exponentially

when you looked outside the norm. There are so many materials that are sustainable, everything from river-harvested logs to 100 percent recycled countertops offered by a company that uses solar power to produce them (and they do it with zero waste!). It’s fascinating, and my curiosity is what always drives me.”

She warned not to let a ‘green’ veneer fool you; an eco-friendly label can be slapped onto many products and projects that don’t necessarily merit it. For a building or design project to be truly sustainable, it should use renewable materials that are available locally and rely on natural energy for climate control and lighting to limit its footprint. It also should be built to last and adapt over many years, since the greatest environmental impact occurs during the construction phase.

“I think it’s really important to know

that to truly design sustainably you need to evaluate products and materials from a lifecycle standpoint,” Grossman added. “To do it right, you should think about the impact of the manufacturing process, the transportation required to get the material to the job site, the sustainability of the source.”

Brand Fever, a premier ad agency formerly known as The Jones Group, contracted cg creative interiors to create a custom, eco-sensitive design of their new corporate headquarters, located in two early 1900s warehouses in the historic Pioneer Mills area.

The warehouses were carefully combined, using low-impact fabrication and construction. Features like exposed brick, timber beams, concrete and hardwood floors were incorporated – even the peeling plaster walls became a design

which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour

The 31st annual garden tour is May 9 – 10. Benefiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the tour spotlights 12 private gardens in metro Atlanta. Featuring a range of styles and sizes – from tranquil woodland settings to intimate urban oases, the professionally designed to “gardener’s gardens” – the event will delight both green thumbs and the “garden curious” alike. At one tour site, Atlanta architect Norman Askins will be signing copies of his newest book, Inspired by Tradition, which includes the tour garden. Tickets for the self-guided tour, held each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will go on sale April 1 online, at the Garden, and at select area retailers. They are $25 in advance (Garden members $20) and $30 on days of the tour, and are valid both days.

element. Individually dimmable light fixtures made from recyclable steel were brought in to provide energy efficient lighting.

“If you start with the imperative that the design be ‘green’, I do think it opens you up to a myriad of possibilities,” Grossman said. “Again, it’s about the palate of materials, which can be far-ranging and cost-effective – and it’s great to step outside what’s expected.”

Special ASO Decorator’s Show House & Gardens Special Gardens for Connoisseurs JJ Ortega Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens

Special Brand Fever’s office loft space.

Atlanta Daily World building reborn

The historic Atlanta Daily World buildng on Auburn Avenue has been turned into a boutique mixed-used development with two apartments upstairs and a new location of Condesa Coffee and Arden’s Gardens on the groundfloor. The circa-1912 building was the former home to the oldest African-American newspaper in the country. Pictured above is developer Gene Kansas and at far right is Condesa co-owner Octavian Stan.

Photos

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Hundreds of Atlantans will join Holocaust survivors, descendants, and friends on April 19, 11 a.m. (rain or shine) to mark the 50th anniversary of Atlanta’s Holocaust Remembrance at the Memorial to the Six Million at Greenwood Cemetery, featuring keynote speaker and native son, Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat. For more information, contact The Breman Museum, (678) 222-3700 or visit TheBreman.org.

The Atlanta Hunger Walk was held on March 15 to raise funds for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. From left: Gordon Singer (Hunger Walk chair), Marni Bronstein, Jewish Federation, Bill Boling, CEO of Atlanta Community Food Bank and Rebecca “BeBe” Kaplan (Hunger Walk Chair).

Shade Pavilion Opens

The new shade pavilion at Historic Fourth Ward Park was officially opened on March 20 with a ribboncutting ceremony. The pavilion has recently been constructed as a contribution from the Historic Fourth Ward Park Conservancy to the park. The open-air structure features a canopy of black locust wood louvers and galvanized steel tube purlins supported on galvanized steel girders and columns. “Park Pride awarded the conservancy a $16,000 grant for the installation of a shade structure in the playground area of the park. Pictured above at the ribbon cutting is Dist. 6 Fulton County Commissioner Joan P. Garner.

Isadora Pennington

Photo Courtesy of Anneke Moerenhout

OAKHURST - City of Decatur schools! Whole house renovation completed in 2009 features craftsman charm with modern conveniences.

6Bed/4Bath $935,000

FMLS: 5382032

Melissa Stratton 404-713-5850

EDMUND PARK - Best location within Edmund Park! Faces a private cul-de-sac off Edmund Park Dr. with the most guest parking available in the neighborhood! 3Bed/3.5Bath $599,900 FMLS: 5505816

Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845

OAKHURST - Gorgeous new home on huge fenced lot! Not your usual run-of-the-mill new construction! Well thought out house placement on lot leaves vast backyard totally unencumbered! 4Bed/3Bath $949,900 FMLS: 5397207 Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

OAKHURST - Well under way for the latest Stoney River Home! Premium street, stroll down to Oakhurst. This home has fabulous features and a great floorplan you come to expect from one of the best. 5Bed/4Bath $899,900 FMLS: 5400291 Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

WOODLAND HILLS - Perfect 10! You won’t believe the space or finishes. Great floorplan with open space, nice sized rooms and the eye to detail in each & every upgrade! 4Bed/2Bath $439,900 FMLS: 5507605

Michael JW Smith 404-786-2057

KIRKWOOD - Located on quiet dead-end street and short walk to Kirkwood Village! Spacious home features renovated kit, large LR, sep DR and 2 BRs on main level. 4Bed/2Bath

$375,000 FMLS: 5510239 Patrick Peyer 404784-7936 Amber Mason 678-637-3530

ALEXANDER ESTATES - Beautiful craftsman bungalow. Open floorplan, lots of light,

MIDTOWN - 1010 Midtown Luxury. Panoramic High Rise City Views From Full Length Balcony. Faces NE. Open Floor Plan. Custom Closets, Hardwoods. Close To Everything. 2Bed/2Bath $439,900 FMLS: 5396274

Allen Snow 404-931-1176

WEST MIDTOWN - White Provision - Large Guest Room. Fantastic Views. Floor-to Ceiling Windows. Hardwood Floors. Exquisite Finishes. Major Tax Abatement. 2Bed/2Bath $410,000 FMLS: 5386387 Rea Kelly 404-428-9929

INTOWN - Kirkwood - Stunning Bungalow. Completely Renovated. Original Fireplaces. Front Porch and Back Porch. Lots of Natural Light. Perfect for Entertaining. 3Bed/2Bath

$355,000 FMLS: 5505857

Patrick Jones 404-680-9534

MIDTOWN - Renovated Mid-Century Landmark Jewel. Entertainer’s Home w/Chef’s Kitchen. Whole-House Audio System. Soaring Ceilings. Romantic Courtyard. 3Bed/3Bath $974,900 FMLS: 5382896

Marc Castillo 404-449-6862

EMORY/CDC - Linden Place Townhomes

- New Construction. Two-Car Garage. Gourmet kitchen. Granite c-tops. S/S Appliances. Open Floor Plan. 3&4 Bed/3.5Bath Starting at $401,750. FMLS: 5312128

Allen Snow 404-931-1176

INTOWN - The Stacks Lofts. Stunning Home w/Custom Bonus Room. East/West Views. Upgrades & Designer Touches. Concrete Floors, Granite, Stained Cabinets. Walk to the Beltline. 2Bed/2Bath $459,000 FMLS: 5393789 Tonya Marlatt 404-518-8787

MIDTOWN – Stunning Southwest Corner Unit. 2 Balconies. Amazing Western Views. Upgraded Hardwoods, Kitchen and Baths. Only Seconds Away From Everything! 2Bed/2Bath

$279,500 FMLS: 5503868

Ben Harris 404-509-1181