Coronavirus: Covering a global story with an Intown focus

This is not quite the issue of INtown we expected to be publishing in April. And this isn’t the letter I expected to be writing to you. As the staff began gearing up to produce our annual “Go Green” issue – jampacked with editorial about sustainability, Earth Day, spring events and home tours – the coronavirus pandemic arrived in Atlanta.

Sophisticated and tastefully updated, enjoy historic charm and bespoke cabinetry throughout this immaculate and move-in ready home. Details include a gracious entertaining living room and dining room, a welcoming foyer and staircase, a custom kitchen open to the family room with a fabulous walkout porch and fireside terrace, perfect for parties or relaxing.

Once the first two cases of COVID-19 in Georgia were diagnosed in Fulton County, what had seemed to be a faraway concern was suddenly on our doorstep. Overnight, our coverage at AtlantaINtownPaper.com and on social media switched almost exclusively to the impact of coronavirus. There were days when the situation was so fluid that we’d post news and minutes later have to update it. To say that the barrage of emails, phone calls, press conferences, event cancellations, and closure notices was overwhelming would be the understatement of the new decade.

You’ll find quite a few mentions of COVID-19 in this abbreviated April issue, but we also wanted it to be a distraction from the boredom and uncertainty of being homebound. There are inspiring stories about the ever-evolving Blue Heron Nature Preserve, Trees Atlanta’s commitment to our canopy, and the lifesaving work of Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Missing from this issue is The Studio, our monthly section on arts and culture happenings around Intown. In less than a week, every story we had planned fell apart due to event cancellations and venue closures. Similarly, the News You Can Eat section was rejiggered in light of restaurants shuttering or switching to take-out. The businesses and organizations that make up the fabric of Intown’s arts and culture community need your support now and in the future. If you can, please make a donation or patronize these organizations and businesses financially struggling due to the pandemic.

The cliché about the road ahead being uncertain doesn’t seem like such a cliché as I’m writing this. What I am certain about is that INtown will be here to shine some light through the fog. I encourage you to bookmark AtlantaINtownPaper.com, follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@ATLINtownPaper), and sign-up for our alerts. We will get through this, and INtown will do our part to help weather this crisis.

And to slightly modify a slogan made famous by the Brits: Keep Well and Carry On.

A Note from Jim

These are truly uncharted times as we navigate COVID–19. Kindness, family, community and selflessness have never been so paramount. Take this time to pause, reflect and support your neighborhood restaurants and small businesses—they need all the help we can give right now. Stay healthy and safe, and know that we are all in this together.