Atlanta Intown - April 2016

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

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Editorial

Collin Kelley INtown Editor

collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

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Contributors

Sally Bethea, Wendy Binns, Sue Collins, Joe Earle, Asep Mawardi, Martha Nodar, Isadora Pennington, Clare Richie, Kitsy Rose, Tim Sullivan, Megan Volpert, Diane L. Wynocker

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

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Collin Kelley

collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Go Green

This is our ninth annual “Go Green” issue where we devote a significant portion of the magazine to features and news about sustainability. Local food, clean water and recycling remain important issues for Intowners as the city of Atlanta continues its mission to be one of the most sustainable cities in the country.

Our contributor and photographer Isadora Pennington was busy putting together some of our big feature stories this month, including a visit to two of Intown’s favorite comic book stores to find out about their lasting appeal. She also wrote our cover feature about SoulShine, a pre-school and afterschool program with a sustainable mission.

I also put on my reporter hat and picked up the camera for an exclusive tour of the new Water Tower Stacks townhomes in the

Old Fourth Ward. The modern, cool homes sit in the shadow of the historic water tower, and the owners are a bunch of lovely folks who are as enamored of the neighborhood as I continue to be. I moved into the Old Fourth Ward more than a decade ago and have watched its transformation with fascination and excitement. Also in this issue, specifically on Page 22, you’ll find our new history feature. As you may remember, our longtime contributor and historian Ann Boutwell retired in January. She had been writing the monthly “A Look Back” feature since INtown’s inception 20 years ago. With her blessing, we’re launching the photo driven History Repeating, which will feature historic images of people, places and things from the city’s storied past. We kick off with nifty photos of the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Downtown, which is marking its 40th anniversary.

We’ve also been quietly working on a “refresh” of INtown, which we will be debuting this summer. There will be an updated logo, new layouts, more photos and a cleaner, more modern, look. What won’t change, however, is our hyper-local content with stories from Intown you won’t find anywhere else. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts after we roll it out.

While Earth Day is officially observed on April 22, events and happenings are taking place all month long around the city to mark the 46th anniversary of the day set aside to focus on the environment.

For our annual Green Issue, we’ve rounded up a list of Earth Day events, parties, cleanups and activities the whole family can get involved in. We also have some recommendations on organizations that can use your help all year long.

EarthShare of Georgia

The nonprofit that helps raises funds for state environmental organizations is hosting three big events for Earth Day 2016. This year’s theme is “Land Conservation.” For more information, visit earthsharega.org.

■ Corporate Green Day Challenge: This year’s event will be held April 2, 9 a.m. at various sites. This volunteer day brings together hundreds of employees who team up to work on a range of projects, including cleaning up parks and

GREEN SCENE

Events, parties, cleanups mark Earth Day 2016

stream banks, building trails, collecting trash, planting gardens and mulching trees. The winning team of the Corporate Green Day Challenge will be announced at the Leadership Breakfast.

■ 14th 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 keynote speaker is urban planner and Atlanta BeltLine visionary Ryan Gravel, who will discuss his new book, “Where We Want to Live.”

This breakfast is April 14, 8-10 a.m. (networking begins at 7:30 a.m.) in the Stave Room at American Spirit Works. Registration at earthsharega.org/earthday/tickets/.

■ 21st Annual Earth Day Party: The party will be held April 21, 7 p.m. on The Roof at Ponce City Market. Guests will be some of the first to see the

amusement rides and games atop PCM, plus get a tour of a Tiny House courtesy of Tiny House Atlanta. There will be giveaways, an auction, food from Sun in My Belly and much more. Tickets are available online at earthsharega.org/earthday/tickets/.

Disco Party for the Planet

The Captain Planet Foundation returns to The Tabernacle on April 1 at 8 p.m. to host the Disco Party for the Planet. Single tickets are $100 and include three drink tickets; VIP tickets $500 and include VIP reception and open bar. Guests will mingle with celebrities and civic leaders, enjoy live musical entertainment, bid on stellar silent auction items featuring one-of-a-kind trips and eco-luxury experiences, and enjoy premium cocktails. The charitable evening continues the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Series and raises funds for the Foundation’s programs, which promote and support hands-on environmental education projects in K-12 schools in all 50 states and 25 other countries. For tickets: captainplanetfoundation. org/2016atlantaevent.

Trees Atlanta Native Wildflower and Vine Sale

The 4th annual Native Wildflower and Vine Sale will be held Saturday, April 2, from 8 a.m. to 1p.m. at Freedom Farmers’ Market at The Carter Center. The sale features more than 1,700 plants of native wildflowers and vines. Included are great bird-and-butterfly-friendly species such as milkweed, native lilies, aster, jack-in–the-pulpit and goldenrod.

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Center Plant

There’ll be many species of vines, ferns and grasses for sale, too. All proceeds benefit Trees Atlanta’s youth education programs. All major credit cards, as well as checks and cash accepted. For more information, visit TreesAtlanta.org.

Sweep the Hooch

Wylde Center Plant Sale Festival

Savvy planters and backyard enthusiasts will find a big selection of vegetables, herbs, trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials and much more at the annual event at the organization’s Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road in Decatur. This year’s three-day event is presented by Cummin Landscape Supply and will take place Friday-Sunday, April 15-17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Wylde Center members are invited to shop at a preview evening, Thursday, April 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. Proceeds from the Plant Sale Festival will benefit the numerous educational offerings at the Wylde Center and help support the nonprofit organization’s four public greenspaces.

For more information, visit wyldecenter.org/plant-sale/.

Sweep the Hooch

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper will conduct its 6th annual Sweep the Hooch on April 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cleanup will include 38 sites with more than 500 volunteers expected. Last year, volunteers removed 7.26 tons of river refuse. To register, visit sweepthehooch.org.

On Top of the World

The Nature Conservancy of Georgia’s 22nd Earth Day fundraiser takes place 7 to 11 p.m. on April 22 on the rooftop of Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE. One of Atlanta’s premier springtime benefits, this annual event has raised more than $4 million over the past 21 years to protect Georgia’s forests, waters and coast. Guests will enjoy a sustainable, Georgia-based menu, a live performance by Yacht Rock Schooner, and the opportunity to meet community environmental leaders. Tickets are $150 and available at nature.org/GAearthday or by calling 404-253-7212.

Earth Day Canoeing:

Shooting Stars on the River

The Chattahoochee Nature Center hosts this special event on April 22

Wylde

Sale

from 5 to 9 p.m. Mark Earth Day with a 2 ½-hour paddle down the Chattahoochee River with experienced and knowledgeable canoe guides. After the paddle, there will be a campfire to watch for “shooting stars” during the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower. Feel free to bring a picnic dinner. The event is for ages 21 and up. Tickets are $40 and advanced registration is required at chattnaturecenter.org.

Georgia Tech’s Earth Day Celebration

The annual event is set for April 22, 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 Wylde Center, in partnership with the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association, will be holding its annual Earth Day Festival on Sunday, April 24, 12-4 p.m. at both Harmony Park and the Oakhurst Garden at the corner of Oakview and South McDonough, Decatur. This bee-themed celebration of Earth Day is a fun and festive way for more than 400 members of the community to join the bee ranks in protecting our natural world on the 46th anniversary of Earth Day. There will also be a costume parade, bike ride, yoga, arts and crafts for kids, live music, bee-oriented demonstrations and food from local restaurants. For details visit wyldecenter.org.

Get Involved

Piedmont Park: The Piedmont Park Conservancy has numerous volunteer opportunities, including working to clean up 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 cleanups, 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.

GOIN’ SOUTH

Atlanta Streets Alive returns April 17 with new route

The first Atlanta Streets Alive (ASA) of 2016 is headed south for a nearly 5-mile trek on Sunday, April 17, from 2 to 6 p.m.

The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition will expand the West End route all the way to Grant Park via Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and Georgia Avenue. Neighborhoods include, from west to east: Westview, West End, Adair Park, Pittsburgh, Mechanicsville, Summerhill and Grant Park.

The streets will be closed to cars, so bring your bicycle, skateboard, rollerblades or just your feet and explore these southside neighborhoods. As usual, there will be food, entertainment, informational booths and more along the route.

Also happening during ASA will be the The Great Bicycle Parade organized by Chantelle Rytter – the creator of the Beltline Lantern Parade. The parade will begin at Zoo Atlanta in Grant Park and end at Westview. Participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite animals and decorate their bikes. Line up will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Georgia and Cherokee avenues. Take a look at the map to see where the other ASA events are this year and visit atlantastreetsalive.com for more information.

WATER ADVOCATE

Meet Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth

By Clare S. Richie

Jason Ulseth’s lifelong passion, studies and experience are why he was tapped as the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) lead advocate, spokesman and river patrol captain in 2015 and why he’s thriving in the role.

“My first memory is catching my first fish. Ever since then I’ve been hooked on fishing,” Ulseth shared. He spent his youth fishing in creeks, the Chattahoochee River or Lake Lanier.

He studied Environmental Health at the University of Georgia and started his career in state government. While at the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and Georgia Soil and Water Conservation, Ulseth observed how underfunded and understaffed agencies struggled to protect water resources.

Through the lens of a state employee, Ulseth admired the CRK’s effective approach of advocacy, education, research, communication, cooperation, monitoring and legal actions for the Chattahoochee and its watershed.

So, he jumped at the chance to serve as CRK’s Technical Programs Director in 2007 and took over as Riverkeeper in 2015, charged with carrying on the legacy of one of strongest environmental organizations in the state.

His first year as Riverkeeper “was incredible with huge milestones.”

Ulseth is most proud of the asphalt manufacturer American Sealcoat case.

It is “one of the largest environmental penalties against a horrible industrial river polluter for one of the worst violations I’ve ever seen,” Ulseth noted. The $10 million judgment sends a message that “industrial polluters will not be tolerated.”

What’s more, M&K, the property owner who leased to American Sealcoat, agreed to cooperate with CRK and spent more than $500,000 to reverse the damage and prevent future contaminants. This is how CRK prefers to reach resolution, through communication and negotiated agreements, while reinforcing that water quality law compliance is not optional.

Ulseth shared his thoughts on the main water issues in Atlanta. “Right now we are in a period of large amounts of rain that has resulted in increased storm water run off, localized flooding, high rates of erosion, high bacteria levels and threats to water quality. Atlanta must prepare for extremes, both rain and drought.”

During one week in February, CRK stopped three sewer spills. One sewer line at Riverside and Azalea drives spilled 12 million gallons of raw sewage into the river because the sewer line was

overwhelmed by storm water. Ulseth is working with Fulton County on how to prevent sewer overflows. CRK also fields hundreds of calls about construction site storm water runoff.

Fortunately, the Municipal Option Sales Tax (MOST) was extended, since it has already led to significant improvements in the Chattahoochee River and tributaries. “But more work lies ahead and infrastructure improvements need to be maintained,” Ulseth said. MOST revenue can be used for storm water improvements including addressing localized flooding.

Another long-term challenge is the lack of water quality compliance education and enforcement. EPD has only two staff people to monitor and educate thousands of potential industrial polluters across the state. CRK not only

advocates for more resources at the state level, but also has engaged in a fundraising capacity campaign to beef up its own. The nonprofit is adding resources, both staff and technology, for water quality testing and compliance across the watershed.

Ulseth is also excited about “Get Out with CRK in 2016,” which includes spring dates for paddling, outings, cleanups and festivals, in order to put Atlantans back in touch with their river. Find details at chattahoochee.org and their mobile app.

For 2016 also look for CRK’s continued vigilance, with Ulseth leading the charge.

“Now more than ever, we need a Riverkeeper organization to keep tabs on this precious river so we have enough clean water for now and future generations,” Ulseth said.

At left, Jason Ulseth on river patrol. Above, Ulseth investigates an overflowing sewer clogged by baby wipes and cooking grease.

WELLS FOR HOPE

Sudanese ‘Lost Boy’ brings water back to his country, publishes memoir

By Clare S. Richie

Each day, women and girls in South Sudan walk four to six miles one way for clean water. Access to clean water means less disease, more time for education, and makes it possible to deliver health services. It costs $9,000 to build a well and change their lives.

Majok Marier, Sudanese refugee and founder of Wells for Hope, returned last month to South Sudan to oversee the drilling of a second well.

“I’m very excited to build this well in my friend’s village and to see my children,” Marier said.

Proceeds from his memoir, generous donors and events like last month’s Walk to Water, where students and adults walked 5 miles in Stone Mountain Park to symbolize a water gatherer’s one-way trek, have made that possible.

Marier is a survivor and a now a life-changer for South Sudan. His extraordinary journey began in 1987, when the Sudanese Civil War reached his village. Central government soldiers bombed and burned his village while he was away tending to his family’s cattle. He fled from the violence and to escape induction into the northern army. Marier was only 7 years old.

“We didn’t have food, no one to protect us,” he recalled.

Without any food, supplies, or their parents, Marier and tens of thousands of other boys walked barefoot for more than 1,000 miles, half of them dying before reaching Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp. To the world they became known as the Lost Boys of Sudan.

After nine years in the Kakuma refugee camp, while the boys were growing to adulthood with no better prospects as the Civil War raged on, the U.S. government invited Marier and nearly 4,000 other Lost Boys to rebuild their lives in America. Marier arrived in Atlanta in February 2001.

“The weather was cold. Our rent was covered for three months and we had to go to work. We hoped to go to school and get an education so we could go back to Sudan and help our people,” Marier reflected.

By 2005, Marier had made contact with his mother. He wanted to travel back to Sudan to reunite with her, but his travel documents didn’t arrive in time. Instead, he set about writing his story with the hope that one day he’d return and share it with the young people in his country. He wrote 100 pages.

Three years later, Marier finally reunited with his mother in his home village. Though he wanted to build a clinic, Marier saw firsthand that clean water had to come first. His sister-in-law woke each morning at 4 a.m., leaving her infant to collect water. The breastfeeding baby cried the entire time she was gone. Before he left, Marier promised the villagers, “I will bring the water.” That meant raising money back in the U.S. and finishing his book – both which took several years.

In 2011, he returned to South Sudan for his wedding and is now the proud father of a daughter and baby son. His family lives in South Sudan and he provides for them by working as a plumber’s assistant, ironically helping Atlantans access water in their homes.

But he never forgot his promise. With the help of co-author Estelle Ford-Williamson, fellow parishioner and former UPI reporter, he published, “Seed of South Sudan: Memoir of a ‘Lost Boy’ Refugee.” He used his book to raise awareness and funds for Wells for Hope, the nonprofit he started with fellow Lost Boys and concerned friends.

In June 2015, Marier fulfilled his promise and drilled the first well in his home village of Billing, Daldiar. Now he can explore building a clinic to honor the memory of his sister Lela, who died of a miscarriage because the closest clinic was 25 miles away.

“If I can get more donations, I can bring more wells,” Marier said. “We will bring our village back, then a different village, until we bring the whole country back. They will finish what we start.”

For more information and to contribute, visit wellsforhope.org.

You may be eligible if you:

■ Are a healthy adult between 18 - 65 years of age.

■ Are unable to have children (e.g., vasectomy, tubal ligation, hysterectomy or post menopausal) or have no sexual behavior that could result in conception (e.g., gay men or lesbian women; or only sexually active with someone unable to have children).

■ Not a smoker and willing to not use alcohol, caffeine, and grapefruit products for 2 weeks.

■ Are not taking medications that cannot be stopped for 25 days.

The Study Involves:

■ 1 screening visit.

■ Taking an oral research medication once daily while in the hospital for 8 nights.

■ 5 Follow-Up clinic visits.

■ Compensation for time & travel; $50 for screening visit; $200 for each hospital day & $75 for follow-up visits.

For more information, call the The Hope Clinic at 404-712-1371

Top, Majok Marier with his memoir co-writer Estelle FordWilliamson. Above, Marier helps build a well in his village in South Sudan.

GREEN EDUCATION

SoulShine programs teach sustainability to children

By Isadora Pennington

You are what you eat. It’s a familiar adage, and a cornerstone of the mission for SoulShine – an unorthodox preschool and afterschool program.

Located in the heart of Kirkwood, the property features rows of crops cultivated by local farmer Bremen James and maintained by homesteading after schoolers. In that small space, they are able to grow bananas, strawberries, ginger and kiwis along with rotating seasonal vegetables.

On a recent visit to SoulShine, Andrea Zoppo, the homesteading instructor affectionately known as Ladybug, was out in the sun transferring plants to a new bed with a group of students. The kids were enjoying getting their hands dirty, learning about how to care for the plants, and then later how to rinse and prepare the veggies for consumption.

Founder and owner Shannon Smith said SoulShine is a nontraditional organization that offers daycare, preschool, afterschool classes and seasonal camps with an emphasis on connection to the earth. The organization was founded 11 years ago by Smith and a group of dedicated parents who came together to bring the concept to reality. “The community started SoulShine,” Smith said.

At the time, Smith had been working at another local afterschool program, and when she decided to part ways and start her own school, a group of roughly 25 parents and their kids followed suit. Over the course of one winter break they

came up with the name, found a space and worked with the city to gain the appropriate permits. The outpouring of support enabled Smith to have a program ready almost immediately, and it was an instant boon to the success of the school.

Many of those first students have returned to work at the school as teenagers and on breaks from college. “The community here is what brings them, what draws them, what keeps them,” Smith said, indicating that the sense of togetherness is not only good for the students but also for the parents. “People forget how much they really need their neighbors.”

SoulShine also places a heavy emphasis on homesteading, with a sustainabilitybased learning program that encourages self-reliance and an understanding of conservation from a very early age. While the school is still beholden to meeting state standards and FDA regulations, their efforts have been to localize and streamline the process of farm-to-table food processing for their kids.

It was thanks to the school’s partnership with the nearby Lake Claire Land Trust that SoulShine became such a leading force in the community. In 2009, the school took up residence on the Land Trust, and from there it was a natural progression toward homesteading and sustainability education. Their programs began to incorporate home economics, farming, gardening and even animal husbandry.

With the help of her husband, the aforementioned local farmer Bremen James, Smith that her newfound passions for understanding the origin of the food she feeds her students has become one of her

biggest causes.

“I mean, it’s my soap box,” she said. “It really matters to me what they put inside themselves. We are what we eat, we are who we hang out with, everything is an extension of our soul.”

Smith, James and their two young children actually live in Rydal, Ga., where they have created SoulFood Family Farm. They are growing fruits and vegetables for the students, but also hope to house livestock for meat production in the future. Chefs and administrators of the school incorporate regular trips to the farm into their schedule.

Smith hopes to expand SoulShine, and not just in small ways. She is especially eager to purchase more land outside of Atlanta for growing food. With more farms and more output, Smith hopes to offer food to local schools as well as develop a SoulShine CSA program, a term that stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Subscribers would pay a monthly fee to receive a box of freshly harvested vegetables, in an effort to make eating local and healthy foods easier for parents outside of school hours as well.

SoulShine currently offers a preschool program called Sprouts for kids as young as six weeks to age 4; the homesteading afterschool program for ages 4 to 12; and summer camps for ages 4 to 12 during school breaks throughout the year. You can find out more information about the school and their programming by going online to their website at makeyoursoulshine. com.

Ntozake teaches students how to plant seeds.

Shannon Smith

Chef Germaine Appel

Food from the garden.

Chickens and horses at the SoulFood Family Farm.

AT PIEDMONT is in the heart of the beautiful Ansley Park neighborhood. These threestory luxury townhomes each feature an elevator, private courtyard, a guest suite located above the two-car garage, a kitchen with all Wolf appliances and the finest finishes throughout.

Our contributing photographer Asep Mawardi stopped by Woodruff Park to check out the daffodils, which are just coming into bloom. Central Atlanta Progress, in conjunction with Am Yisrael Chai, launched the Downtown Daffodil Project as part of an effort to build a Living Holocaust Memorial by planting 1.5 million daffodils around the world to remember the one and a half million children who died in Nazi-occupied Europe. The Downtown Daffodil Project contributes to the worldwide effort by creating a “ribbon of consciousness” between the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the King Center. In 2016, over 175,000 daffodil have been planted to date.

Above the Waterline

Sally Bethea

My two sons spent formative summers working in national parks.

Our adventures in these spectacular landscapes provide memories that I hold particularly dear: paddling through Hance Rapid on the Colorado in Grand Canyon, meeting our Appalachian Trail thru-hiker in Shenandoah, sitting beside the Merced River in Yosemite with night approaching the granite face of Half Dome, catching a glimpse of wolves in Yellowstone, tubing the Virgin River in Zion and exploring the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde.

The invention of the national park system, said author Wallace Stegner, was America’s best idea: “absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.”

In his six-part documentary, filmmaker Ken Burns told the story of this big idea, noting that we take for granted this unique American thing called national parks, just as we take for granted the air we breathe and the water we drink.

“Great sections of our natural landscape set aside not for kings, or the very rich,” wrote Burns, “but for everyone, for all time.”

For the past century, people have shared experiences with family, friends and strangers in the more than 400 park units (totaling 84 million acres) that make up the national park system: passing on a love of land and place to the next generation.

On August 25, 2016, the National Park

Service – the federal agency charged with managing and protecting park units throughout the United States – will turn 100. A centennial celebration has already kicked off a second century of stewardship of America’s national parks with a focus on engaging people through recreation, conservation and historic preservation.

Georgia is blessed with 10 national park units: three historic sites, three monuments, one recreation area, one seashore, one battlefield park and one military park.

In 2012, about 5.8 million people visited the three national parks in metro Atlanta: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (NRA), Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

Ranking in the top 30 most-visited national parks in the country, the Chattahoochee River NRA annually offers recreation to 3.2 million people. With 6,500 acres, it also provides two-thirds of all the protected green space in metro Atlanta.

America’s “best idea” should never be taken for granted, nor should it be overlooked that our parks must have adequate funding to operate, maintain and protect these national treasures. Park friends groups, such as the Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy, help build a community of support by raising funds and

public awareness, and providing volunteers for needed projects.

One hundred years ago, the great conservationist Teddy Roosevelt could imagine all of us when he protected millions of acres for future generations. While we enjoy the fruits of his vision, we must do all we can to ensure that these places will continue to provide inspiration and connections for the next century.

During this year of centennial celebration, I hope that you’ll visit as many

national park units as possible, here in Atlanta and throughout the country. For more information about Atlanta’s national parks, visit nps.gov/ chat, nps.gov/kemo and nps.gov/malu. To learn about Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy and get involved, visit chattahoocheeparksconservancy.org.

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A Q&A WITH BELTLINE VISIONARY RYAN GRAVEL

By Wendy Binns

The BeltLine, the 22-mile loop connecting our city, was the graduate thesis of Ryan Gravel in 1999 while a graduate student at Georgia Tech. Now he says that he is “living the dream.” His idea of the BeltLine is coming to life. As we celebrate Earth Day this month, I sat down with Ryan at his office in Ponce City Market to talk about his recent projects, the future and striking that balance between nature and urban life.

Congratulations on your book, “Where We Want to Live,” which came out last month. For those not living in Atlanta or too young to remember as the BeltLine was becoming a reality, this is a good history. What are your goals with publishing this book?

I wanted to do two things. One is I wanted to share the story of the BeltLine for people, especially young people. I believe very strongly that the only reason we’re building the BeltLine is because the people of Atlanta fell in love with it. And they made it happen. They empowered and even obligated the city leadership to put the nuts and bolts together to make the project come to life. Otherwise, it’s just too hard. It created a political context in support of a very expensive and enormous political undertaking. And, that’s why we’re doing it. Because people love it and they wanted it. Our movement was in 2001-2004. That’s when we built that base of the support and obviously the support has grown since then, too. That was the beginning where people really felt a sense of ownership and authorship of the project. That idea itself expanded beyond what we ever could have imagined. And so that sense of ownership was really clear at the time, but today – if you’re 25 now, you weren’t even a teenager at the time, so you weren’t paying attention. It’s important going ahead that people still feel that sense of ownership so that we make sure we get the best version of the BeltLine, the best outcome. We are in the very early stages of implementation.

We have a long way to go. And, how it gets built really matters. People need to remain vigilant and make sure that it happens in the best possible way. And that everybody is included in that. That’s one piece, is to remind people of that and tell that story. The other that I really wanted to say is that I have a unique view of the project. I get to travel a lot and share our story abroad, all over the country and increasingly internationally. And the world is watching us. This is part of a much larger story. These projects like the BeltLine are in every city I go to. But the BeltLine is definitely a leader. It’s big geographically. It’s broad programmatically. We’ve made a lot of progress. It’s doing what we said it’s going to do. And so it’s important that we locally think of it in those kinds of terms that the world is watching. If we saw the importance of it in terms of a larger national story, that maybe we’d find some other revenue sources to build it faster.

This month you are the keynote speaker at EarthShare of Georgia’s Earth Day Leadership Breakfast on Thursday, April 14, with an audience of environmental, business and other community leaders. Attendees will be part of a discussion focused on the event’s theme of land conservation, including green space, urban agriculture and sustainable building. How do you think these conversations could inspire attendees to collaborate and create results for a more sustainable environment for Georgia? If anything, the BeltLine story proves that we can accomplish more together than we can individually. And, part of the appeal of the BeltLine is that it has meaning and value for lots of different people who have lots of different perspectives and different interests. You can like it for the trail, you can like it for the transit, you can like it for the parks, you can like it for the economic development, community revitalization, health, art. There are all these different layers of reasons you can love it. And the reason why it is so broad in that way is because there were a lot of people at the table and that the vision was basically built around a table. I call it a table of ideas. And people get to share what they’re doing and see their interests align in strategic ways that actually supports each other

Continued on page 14

“Saint Anne’s Terrace has a beautiful se ing with waterfalls, a sh pond and ower gardens. e sta is professional, iendly, courteous, which creates a family atmosphere. I’m very happy to be a part of this community. .”

Ryan Gravel

A Q&A WITH BELTLINE VISIONARY RYAN GRAVEL

and makes the larger outcome better. In the early days with the BeltLine and the movement, we would have meetings when there was nobody really in charge of the BeltLine at that time. But, we had these monthly discussions and we would just share what each of us was doing individually. It not only set the framework for an expanded vision for the project, but also the organizational relationships that would carry it out. That type of table collaboration is essential to accomplishing big things.

What does it feel like walking or riding your bike on the BeltLine? Is it becoming what you envisioned?

Yeah, it’s better than I ever imagined. I use it everyday. I ride my bike six minutes to get to work. I live on Krog Street and I work at Ponce City Market. My ulterior motive really was always to create the kind of life that I want and

there are no complaints. I’m living the dream. This is what I always wanted. We do have a long way to go to finish it. I wrecked my bike a couple of weeks ago and today was the first day I could ride again. It proved a point that not everyone can ride bikes and that transit is really important if the BeltLine is going to be for everybody. So, if you’re injured, physically disabled or just too young or too old or carrying a load or it’s raining… there are lots of reasons why the trail isn’t always the answer. But, if we’re going to generate all this growth and change, then we’re really going to need the transit, otherwise we’re going to be just stuck in traffic. It’s important that we make steps in that way. It’s happening. It’s coming, for sure.

What could be another transformative project for the city? Are the streetcars transformative?

In that the same way we think of the

Among the fascinating people who live and work at Canterbury Court:

BeltLine very broadly, in all of those terms, not just as a transportation project, but also as an economic development project as a community revitalization project, as an art project or health project, that we should think of our entire infrastructure in that way. And I think that if we did, that we would do things a little bit differently. And, you can see us building big, expensive infrastructure projects all over the region and none of them really have that level of detail and they’re not inclusive of people sort of outside of cars. And, there’s really very little discussion around the impact of those projects on our lives in terms of affordability, equity, development or anything like that. I’d love to have that conversation around everything. I think it would change the kind of projects that we build. So, when you look at the streetcar network, we need to have that conversation around the development of streetcar, for MARTA expansion. We need that conversation because it’s critical, it’s essential for the success of transit. But, frankly it’s also critical to the success of roads and highways, and we should be having the same conversation around the new highway interchanges and the other projects that we’re spending billions of dollars on.

Mattie

Running 17 exercise classes each week, plus private sessions with people recovering from injury or surgery, would surely exhaust an average person. Of course, Mattie’s far from average. She’s a bundle of energy who loves to dance, works a variety of music into her classes, and joins Canterbury’s walking club whenever she can, especially when they’re training for the annual Peachtree Road 10k. She says residents and staff are so much like family that she’s always encouraging people to move here.

Mattie invites you to discover her Canterbury Court.

Mayor Kasim Reed announced that you will lead the Atlanta City Design Project. What does this appointment mean to you and what are your goals?

I’m super excited. It’s a dream job. We know that the city is going to grow significantly. The city of Atlanta is only a 10th of the regional population that

is going to take on a larger percentage of the share than it has historically because the future is really wanting a more urban trans-oriented, compact, walkable lifestyle than it did before. We’re targeting a number right now; we’re working on that. We’re going to grow from half a million to probably a 1.2-1.5 million in the next 20 years. As we do, we want to make sure that Atlanta becomes more of what Atlanta is and not some other place that we don’t like or recognize. So the idea with the City Design is to ask people and ourselves: what Atlanta is; what are the physical characteristics that make it special. And, then embed those in the decisions we make about the city so that, as we grow, we become more of what we are. That’s a thing like the tree canopy, which is an invaluable resource not only from an environmental standpoint but also from an identity standpoint for the city. Often it’s in conflict with development. We know we want to grow and we need urbanization, but that tension and that balance between nature and city life is not only critical to figure out, but that’s the beauty. The beauty is in that sort of balance so that we can live lives that are both walkable and urban, but also have access to nature, fresh air and biodiversity. The idea is to strike that balance.

Ryan Gravel is the keynote speaker at the EarthShare of Georgia Earth Day Leadership Breakfast on April 14 at the Stave Room at American Spirit Works. The 21st Annual Earth Day Party on the Rooftop at Ponce City Market is April 21. To purchase tickets and for more information about the Earth Day events, visit EarthShareGA.org.

CITY OF ATLANTA ENCOURAGES RESIDENT RECYCLING

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Those are what three sides of the chasing arrows logo found on every recyclable item represent. That logo informs the consumer that the item is recyclable where allowed.

Atlanta’s premier non-profit continuing care retirement community

Recycling is just portion of the larger effort that goes into saving our natural resources. The big picture approach includes a fourth R; refuse, as in, refuse to accept single-use items. Bring a reusable shopping bag and refuse the single-use plastic bag. Bring a travel mug for beverages, and refuse a single-use coffee cup, wrapper and lid. Up to 52 billion paper coffee cups per year are used once, then thrown away. Due to health regulations, the cups must be made almost entirely of virgin – not previously used – paper.

The city of Atlanta accepts the following recyclables curbside: cardboard, carton board, paper, glass, plastics #1-5 & 7, metal cans and juice cartons. All recycling should be clean and dry, and placed loosely in the bin, not bagged. Lids and caps should be removed and placed with recycling bins.

The city of Atlanta hosts Recycle Day at 850 Oak St., SW, 30310. This event is held the third Saturday of each month, except in December, between 9 a.m. to noon. Acceptable items include: paper for shredding, clothing, tires, #6 polystyrene, electronics and all items accepted curbside.

For more information, visit atlantaga.gov/recycling.

My motto is exercise AND socialize. IT’S ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN!

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Residents, officials disagree on how to fix park’s floods, spills

By Joe Earle and Collin Kelley

Some city officials and Buckhead residents are prescribing widely divergent fixes for flooding and sewage overflow problems in Atlanta Memorial Park.

City watershed management officials say they plan to spend about $400,000 over the next three to nine months to raise five manholes on a sewer line through the park. They also seek to speed up plans and soon do more than $30 million in other repairs, including repairing and lining a 90-inch pipe that was installed in 1910 and now runs beneath the park.

“We have accelerated the work on the Peachtree [Creek] watershed,” Watershed Management Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina told members of the City Council’s utilities committee meeting at City Hall on March 9, the day after Mayor Kasim Reed, other city officials and residents of the area toured the Buckhead park to discuss the flooding and sewer leaks.

Raising the manholes by about 2 feet should keep water from flowing into the sewer line and causing future sewage leaks

like those reported during heavy rains in December, Macrina said. City watershed employees also said they are asking parks officials to consider moving a playground in the park out of the flood plain.

“Our work is not done,” Macrina told the committee. “We have reduced the number of spills. The main problem in Memorial Park is spills.”

But residents and at least one council member seemed to think the city’s plans didn’t go far enough.

Resident Justin Wiedeman, an engineer who studied the city’s system, told committee members that ending sewage flooding in the Peachtree Creek basin could require a large relief tunnel or finding ways of taking more stormwater out of the system. “Unfortunately,” he said, “this is something that would cost a lot of money to fix.”

City Councilwoman Mary Norwood questioned why the city shouldn’t install a new underground storage system, similar to the one built in the Nancy Creek watershed, that could hold overflows during heavy rains.

“Why wouldn’t we do the relief

tunnel?” she asked. “With Nancy Creek, we decided to go deep and do a relief tunnel. … Why wouldn’t we put a similar system for Peachtree [Creek]? Why wouldn’t we do a long-term fix for Peachtree Creek.”

Macrina said the two areas weren’t comparable. “It is a very different situation than Nancy Creek,” she said. “You can’t use the same solution. … We don’t want to spend between $500 million and $2 billion on a storage system where it would not be effective.”

Norwood told the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods at its March 10 meeting that she was frustrated and was “heated” about the lack of answers at the utilities committee meeting that went on for more than three hours.

Dist. 8 City Councilmember Yolanda Adrean said she was also pressing for more answers and a long-term solution.

“I’ve asked Watershed Management to give us a 30-year solution,” Adrean said. “I keep hearing ideas for repairs, but what we need is modeling for a 30-year solution.” Adrean acknowledged the lawsuit brought by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and its founder Sally Bethea in 1995 that forced Atlanta to sign a consent decree promising to fix its sewers and remove

COLLIN KELLEY

Resident Justin Wiedeman presents his study of park flooding to the board of the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods.

trash from 37 miles of city streams. “We had a federal judge force us to address our issues. We’re lucky, because other cities haven’t been forced to the table yet, but they will be. Look at what’s happened in Flint, Mich.”

The city is still under that decree, and Adrean said the EPA had recently extended a deadline to give Atlanta more time to clean up its system. Adrean said the extension of the 1 cent sales tax by voters on March 1 for water and sewer infrastructure repairs would go far to address issues.

“But we won’t ever be finished,” Adrean said about the city’s ongoing water and sewer issues. “Anyone who owns a house – how many times have you replaced an air conditioner or refrigerator?

We’re never going to be done. But it’s important that we understand where the hot spots are in the city and we prioritize toward solutions.”

Adrean said that as more construction takes place in Midtown and Buckhead that means less impervious services and more potential for flooding and sewer issues.

She and Councilman Howard Shook have asked for a study to see what Peachtree Street and Road will look like when completely built out so the city can know what sort of future water and sewer issues it faces.

During the March 8 tour at the park, residents pointed out to Reed and Macrina places they had seen sewer lines break or spew sewage during floods in recent years. About 45 people took part in the tour.

One participant, Anne Barratt, said she lives across the street from a sewer line that broke and had to be replaced. “It was messy. There was an odor. It was just an unpleasant time around here,” she said.

“The people who live in the neighborhood want to know what they’re

going to do ...,” she said. “It was great to see the mayor here. His face time gives us confidence they are taking it seriously.”

Reed said city officials will fix the park’s problems and will involve representatives of the neighborhoods in developing a plan to address the leaks and overflows. “The biggest mistake we could make is to spend millions of dollars and not involve the neighborhood,” he said.

PHOTOS BY JOE EARLE

Garth Peters, left, City Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean, center, and city Watershed Management Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina check sewer lines during a tour of Atlanta Memorial Park.

Kirk Billings, president of the Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy, left, and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed field questions before touring Atlanta Memorial Park on March 8.

Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood, who took part in the tour, argues the city needs to do more to reduce flooding at the park.

carmen pope real estate activity

Piedmont Heights

Piedmont Heights adopted the motto “Small Town in the Big City” last year to cement the work the community has been doing since 2007 to position itself for future growth and opportunities. The Piedmont Heights Civic Association organized the Greater Piedmont Heights neighborhood coalition, which includes five adjoining communities, for better planning purposes, and the Greater Piedmont Heights master plan won an Urban Design Commission Award. More than 100 businesses provide shopping, dining, goods and services to Piedmont Heights. It’s a far cry from when the area was settled in 1822 and was called Council Bluff. For more information, visit PiedmontHeights.org.

1 Smith’s Olde Bar

The iconic bar and music venue on Piedmont was threatened with closure when its longtime building was sold, but an agreement was reached and the music will keep on playing.

2 Two Minit Car Wash

The locals call it the Gorilla Car Wash, thanks to the big, mechanical gorilla that swivels and rotates along Piedmont Road. Folks stop just to have their photo made with him, but be sure to get your car washed, too.

3 The BeltLine

Although this portion of the BeltLine remains unpaved, it’s still a popular hiking trail as it passes behind Ansley Mall and alongside Clear Creek. Eventually, the trail will link up with the Northside Trail as the 22-mile loop is completed.

4 Ansley Mall

Many Atlantans – event natives – think Ansley Mall is part of Ansley Park, but it’s actually in Piedmont Heights. Home to dozens of small businesses and local restaurants like Bantam & Biddy and more well-know chains like LA Fitness, Pier 1 and Starbucks, the mall at the corner of Piedmont and Monroe is always busy.

5 Rock Springs Presbyterian Church

Founded in 1870, the current sanctuary was built in 1923 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The church still has a thriving congregation.

6 Ansley Forest Apartments

Built in the 1970s, the big complex became home to artists of all kinds – from strippers to writers – but a complete renovation in 2014 has given the complex a quirky new charm.

MILE MARKER

Morningside Mile raises funds for fire station

The 6th annual Morningside Mile is set for Sunday, April 17, from noon to 2 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit the restoration of historic Virginia-Highland Fire Station 19, and the continuing campaign to raise funds for the landmark and its firefighters.

The 1-mile race kicks off in Virginia-Highland on the corner of Lanier Boulevard and Virginia Avenue, and will conclude in Morningside at Doc Chey’s Noodle House, which hosts the yearly fundraiser. The runners will be greeted at the finish line with a fun-filled block party featuring music, food from Doc Chey’s, and a noodle eating contest with prizes ranging from $25 gift cards for children and $100 for adults. Runners will receive either a complimentary SweetWater beer or a sweet treat from Alon’s Bakery with race number. Registration is open through Thursday, April 14, or 1,000 runners, whichever comes first.

“Fire Station 19 is one of our neighborhood’s most historic and beloved treasures,” says Doc Chey’s owner Rich Chey. “We aim to bring the community together to not only enjoy the company but also give back to an organization that has done so much for

Located on Highland Avenue in the heart of the neighborhood, Fire Station 19 has been a city landmark for more than 90 years and is the city’s oldest fire house. Based on its age, Station 19 was on the city of Atlanta’s replacement list for 2016. Thanks to grassroots support of Morningside Mile and other local efforts, the station is no longer

on the chopping block, but renovations cannot begin until all fundraising goals are met.

To date, nearly $80,000 has been raised with an additional $220,000 necessary to keep Station 19 operating in a safe and efficient manner for another 50 years. A neighborhood committee featuring architects, historians, preservationists, contractors and community leaders have come together to lead the charge.

For more information and to register, visit morningsidemile.com.

Morningside Mile

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Health Briefs

Visiting Nurse Health System will hold its 25th annual BIG-TO-DO on April 24 at Zoo Atlanta. The event benefits the organization’s Pediatric Hospice Program, which is the only nonprofit pediatric program in the state of Georgia. For more information, visit bigtodo.org.

Registration is now underway for the Atlanta Women’s Foundation second annual Yogathon on May 21 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chastain Horse Park. This day of yoga will focus on raising support and awareness for programs that benefit the 320,000 metro Atlanta women and girls living in poverty. In this twist on a traditional walk or run fundraiser, 500-700 participants will roll out their mats in the morning under an open air, covered arena for opening remarks by internationally known yoga teacher Seane Corn, followed by nine of Atlanta’s top yoga instructors leading an energizing day of yoga. The event will conclude with a keynote speech from Corn about the links between yoga and social change. Individual tickets for the event are $81. To learn more or register as a participant, visit atlantawomen.org.

Dr. Naima Lewis will be leading a unique yoga/ fitness program called Shaping Shades of Gray for active seniors, healthcare providers and yoga teachers. The program focuses on selfempowerment and rekindling vitality of the rapidly growing population of 55-75 year olds using age-specific exercises. Classes begin April 23 at Calvin Court Senior Center, 479 East Paces Ferry Rd. For more information, call 678-565-8800.

The Georgia Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is now registering walkers for the annual Great Strides fundraiser on May 21 at 8 a.m. at Georgia Tech. In addition to the 5K walk there will also be children’s activities, food and festivities. For more information, visit greatstrides.cff.org.

Yogathon

Meetings

The Atlanta City Council will be in spring recess from April 4-15, meaning only one meeting will be held this month: April 18 at 1 p.m. Meetings are held at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. For agendas and more information, visit citycouncil.atlantaga.gov.

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

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

The Decatur City Commission meets in open session on the first and third Mondays of each month at City Hall, 509 North McDonough Street, at 7:30 p.m.

News

INRIX 2015 Traffic Scorecard

Guide to congestion in the U.S.

Fueled by continued economic growth, higher employement rates and declining gas prices, the U.S. still faces large challenges to solve congestion

At press time, Gov. Nathan Deal had still not made a decision on whether he would veto or sign House Bill 757, the so-called “religious liberty” bill approved by the Georgia Legislature. Deal has until May 3 to sign or veto the bill. Opponents of the bill – originally designed to protect clergy or churches from performing same sex weddings, but morphed into a bill that would allow faith-based organizations to deny service based on religious beliefs – say the legislation would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians, unwed couples, single mothers and those who follow other faiths. Local, national and international backlash has been swift with more than 400 businesses (including Delta, Home Depot, Coca-Cola and Salesforce) urging veto of the bill. The NFL said passage of the legislation could jeopardize the Super Bowl being held in Atlanta. Mayor Kasim Reed said the legislation would “irreparably damage our economy and diminish the city of Atlanta’s standing as the business and cultural center of the Southeast.” The Human Rights Campaign urged a boycott of the state’s booming film production economy if the bill becomes law.

Transportation analytics company Inrix released a new “Traffic Scorecord,” (above) ranking the Top 10 cities with the worst traffic. It might come as little shock to motorists that Atlanta is at number 9 with an average of 59 hours wasted in traffic in 2015. Los Angeles, as usual, topped the list.

Mayor Kasim Reed and the Invest Atlanta Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to issue up to $150,000,000 in lease purchase revenue bonds to finance major renovations to the GeorgiaPacific building in downtown Atlanta. GeorgiaPacific will reconfigure 23 floors of its headquarters building. The company cited the ability to acquire, reconstruct and install the improvements as a major factor in its decision to maintain 2,600 employees in Atlanta and add up to 600 new jobs.

BeltTour , a new iPhone app, has been launched for the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta BeltLine. The location-aware app offers audio tours of points of interest along the1.5 mile route from Piedmont Park to the Old Fourth Ward. The audio tour features local artists like muralist Kyle Brooks, artist Dan Hagerty (aka King Ping) Tiny Doors ATL director Karen Anderson and Greg Levine from Trees Atlanta. Visit BeltTour.com for more.

Mayor Kasim Reed

HISTORY REPEATING

Pet Pick

Tink is a beautiful and exceptionally sweet three-year-old Border Collie mix. She is fairly mellow for such an active breed, and loves to be close to people and snuggle. When you take her for a walk, she has a permanent smile, and is happy to meet new people and animals. She would be a great family dog as she is loyal, intelligent and well-mannered. To adopt Tink, visit PAWS Atlanta at pawsatlanta.org or the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Toothless is such a laid-back lady. Her foster mom has done a great deal of work with her. Toothless now walks on a leash like a champ, and has learned her basic commands and manners through her training classes. She is also crate-trained and housebroken. Even though she is so laid back, she still loves to play with other pups. If you are interested in Toothless, then please email Laura at mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com with any questions or to schedule an appointment.

Pet Briefs

PAWS Atlanta will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a free event at Historic Fourth Ward Park on April 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. The event is open to the public (and their dogs) and will feature food trucks, Creature Comfort beer, artists, vendors, live entertainment, music and a parade on the Beltline.

The Atlanta Humane Society (AHS) and the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine are partnering to provide veterinary students experiential learning opportunities in a shelter medicine setting. The agreement allows fourth-year UGA veterinary students an elective shelter medicine rotation at the AHS, during which the students may perform spays, neuters, other basic surgeries and dental procedures, all under the supervision of the AHS veterinarian.

Open

The iconic Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. The John Portman-designed hotel officially opened on Feb. 27, 1976 and was, at the time, the tallest hotel in the world. The futuristic, glass-clad cylinder towered over Downtown for years and quickly became a tourist destination in itself. Visitors zoomed up 73 floors in the exterior glass elevator to the revolving Sun Dial restaurant and bar or marveled at the now long-gone lobby lagoon. The hotel was damaged in the 2008 tornado that swept across the city with many of its windows being blown out. In 2014, the hotel underwent a $70 million renovation to make it ready for its next 40 years.

Engel & Völkers Intown Atlanta announced as 2015 North America Award Recipient

Engel & Völkers Intown Atlanta has been named the recipient of the Engel & Völkers, Community Service Award. The award was presented to the Engel & Völkers shop that has consistently created a positive impact within the community through their leadership and/or participation in philanthropic organizations, volunteerism, and overall goodwill.

“Scott Askew, the owner of Engel & Völkers Intown Atlanta and Engel & Völkers Brookhaven Atlanta, and his team is driven by a passion to give back to the communities they serve,” said Anthony Hitt, CEO of Engel & Völkers North America. “This is the second, consecutive, year we have recognized Engel & Völkers Intown Atlanta with our Community Service Award. Their unrivaled passion and commitment to so many organizations who work tirelessly to make the world a better place to live is an inspiration to us all.”

The award was announced during an exclusive ceremony at Engel & Völkers’ annual Exchange event, this year hosted at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Dallas at Colinas.

The elite team at Engel & Völkers Intown Atlanta consistently showcases its success in creating a positive impact in the community through their leadership and involvement with Special Olympics Georgia, Northside Hospital, One Warm Coat, Habitat For Humanity, Morningside Elementary, Inman Middle School, Atlanta Humane Society, Autism Speaks, Lead Atlanta, Literacy Action, P.A.L.S., Senior Connections, Smart Lunch/Smart Kid Through Sweet Grace, Winship Cancer Center, Virginia Highland Tour of Homes, and many other outstanding organizations.

“We are honored and proud to receive the Engel & Völkers Community Service Award and I accept it on behalf of our hard working, caring, Advisors who put the needs of their clients and the communities we serve before their own desires”, said Askew. “To be able to have the support of the Engel & Völkers network to raise awareness of these important causes demonstrates the brand’s commitment to the communities in which we serve, everywhere.”

Would you like to work with a company where giving back to the communities in which we live and work is a high priority? Give us a call!

TimmyDaddy

By Tim Sullivan

People are shocked when I tell them that my wife Kristen is actually older than me. Shocked! Granted, this is untrue by a couple years but mostly it is because she’s been using this Rodan and Fields skin care regimen and looks amazing. But when she said she was thinking of joining the team and selling the products, too, I winced a little. There’s a short but embarrassing chapter from my college days that has to do with skin care products and multi-level marketing. So let’s just keep this between you and me, OK?

I had a high school friend named Fred who was a year ahead of me at Boston College. So when I and another friend from high school, Arun, enrolled at BC we were lucky to have Fred around to take us to things like off-campus parties that typically excluded freshman nerds. Fred was gregarious and popular, and had a way of elevating the most mundane aspects of college life into something spectacular. ‘You gotta see this! Look how neatly Dave folds his laundry. It’s incredible!’

So when Fred started selling a product called NU SKIN and thought that it would be a great opportunity for me and Arun as well, we agreed to listen. Fred bubbled over with the same excitement he had the first time he took me to Nick’s Beef and Beer House. He

YOUTH FOR SALE

so Arun and I agreed to purchase the starter kits.

I probably should have thought it through some more. I practiced my spiel, figuring I could start with neighbors. “Hello, Mrs. Kornfeld. Again, I’m really sorry my friend parked his car in your pachysandra bed Saturday night. Now, let’s talk about those pesky crow’s feet around your eyes.” I just wasn’t sure it was a good fit for me. That and my buddies Schulzie and Huge ripped me mercilessly for it. I was too uncomfortable to make an actual sales call so I didn’t even sell a stick of lip balm.

went on and on about how fantastic the products were. I marveled that Fred indulged in such thorough skin care. Who knew? My regimen at the time was a bar of Irish Spring and a tube of Clearasil.

My understanding of how multilevel marketing (pyramid schemes)

worked was even less sophisticated. Essentially, Fred would be making a percentage of whatever Arun and I sold. In turn, we could bring our own “associates” on board as well. Seemed kind of scammy, but the thought of making money over winter break without shoveling snow was enticing,

Kristen, however, is faring very well with Rodan and Fields. For starters, it’s a waaay better name than NU SKIN, but unlike 19-year-old me, she actually has a confident command of the product line. And in the age of the Internet, it seems a whole lot less shady too. She’ll post something to Facebook and her phone starts buzzing with messages from potential customers. If I had that kind of technology maybe Mrs. Kornfeld would have blown her retirement fund on moisturizer? So far Kristen is wisely reinvesting her profits into brunch items to keep the customers happy throughout the pitch.

I don’t know how much they attribute to NU SKIN but both Arun and Fred have gone on to do very well. I think Arun is one of those guys that starts businesses and then sells them for lots of money so he can travel the world and compete in triathlons. Fred has his own law firm that may or may not be entitled to 20 cents of every dollar I’ve ever made. Hopefully Kristen will make up for the 25 years I’ve squandered by not building my own pyramid. She’s identified the male gender as a largely untapped market demographic so I’m back in the business as her Chief Product Tester! This is fortunate because with all of the biscotti I’ve eaten this past month, I’ll need some good skin care products.

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

Margo Sullivan contemplates adding skin care salesperson to her resume.

Million-Dollar Marketing for Homes in All Price Ranges

Summer Camps and Classes Offered

Start Code is an after-school, weekend, and summer program that teaches computer programming and technology to

music camp on your schedule

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

piano jazz

guitar folk

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

Summer

Camps

at Woodward Academy

Woodward Academy offers Summer Odyssey Day Camp as well as a wide variety of specialty camps including athletic, academic, and enrichment camps.

If you want your child to have fun, make friends, and learn something new this summer, Woodward Academy’s Summer Camps offer a broad range of experiences at two locations, Main Campus in College Park and Woodward North in Johns Creek.

• Bus service available (seven metro Atlanta stops).

• Swimming in a heated, indoor pool on Main Campus.

• Camps feature weekly themes and entertainment.

www.woodward.edu/camps

May 31 - July 29, 2016 Atlanta

Pony Pals Summer Camp

Chastain Horse Park - convenient Buckhead location!

Developing skills and understanding the importance of safety are important themes for our youngest riders (ages 4-7/8 yrs), as well as fostering a love of horses and riding. Camp includes daily riding lessons, games, and crafts! Space is limited so please sign up now to reserve your child’s week of fun! Enrollment is limited to 10 campers per session. Advanced Horse Camp is available for riders 8 yrs. and older who have had prior horse and riding experience. We are offering this one week this summer.

Contact Margie at (404) 252-4244 ext: 1 or lessons@chastainhorsepark.org

Creativity rules at the High!

www.chastainhorsepark.org

404-252-4244

Atlanta Rocks! Indoor Climbing Gym’s Summer Climbing Camp

Atlanta Rocks! Climbing Camp, for youngsters ages 8-16, provides unparalleled adventure and fun climbingskills training. Campers will learn climbing basics, including: how to put on a harness; tying safety knots; proper belay procedures; and introductory climbing technique. Call to receive a free brochure or download it at www.atlantarocks.com.

Atlanta

3914 CLUB DRIVE Offered for $3,595,000

2815 W ROXBORO ROAD Offered for $1,195,000

4020 STOVALL TERRACE Offered for $1,995,000

1010 MIDTOWN #1702 Offered for $650,000

3058 PLYMSTOCK LANE Offered for $1,699,000 2204 MONTICELLO STREET Offered for $1,750,000

1100 VIRGINIA AVENUE Offered for $1,425,000

4917 CHIMNEY OAKS DRIVE Offered for $450,000

1380 SYLVAN CIRCLE Offered for $775,000

2175 VIRGINIA PLACE Offered for $640,000

3641 PACES VALLEY ROAD Offered for $5,100,000

8200 JETT FERRY ROAD Offered for $5,750,000

4238 W CLUB LANE Listed for $999,000

$1,150,000

1600 NOTTINGHAM WAY Listed for $1,999,000

702 ROSALIA STREET Offered for $669,000

1055 REGENCY ROAD Offered for $1,475,000 612 WINDSOR PARKWAY Offered

CHOOSEATL Business initiative makes a splash at SXSW

ChooseATL, a regional initiative focused on attracting and retaining top talent to grow the economy, made a splash at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas this week.

“With more than 300 recording studios, 60 music venues and 30 annual festivals, Atlanta’s music scene has launched hundreds of artists from all genres,” said Kate Atwood, vice president of the ChooseATL initiative, on the music focus of the event.

The Speakeasy bar in downtown Austin was transformed into the ChooseATL House for two days to present up-and-coming artists like Kick the Robot, R. City and Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics as well as a talk with hip-hop star Killer Mike.

The city’s booming film industry was part of the mix with talks from the makers of “The Walking Dead,” while the tech sector was showcased with a discussion by the founders of social media service Yik Yak. For more about ChooseATL, visit chooseatl.com.

Shanti Das talks with hop-hop star Killer Mike in the ChooseATL House at SXSW.

Yik Yak founders Brooks Buffington, left, and Tyler Droll, center, speak on the journey of their company.

Mayor Kasim Reed

R. City performs at the ChooseATL House. Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics get into the groove.

Tom Luse, left, and Michael Satrazemis, center, from “The Walking Dead.”

Women InitiativeEntrepreneurs selects inaugural class

Picturesque Tudor

Perched on a lush deep lot and close to Emory/CDC and VAHI, this home has a floor plan that flows perfectly for entertaining. Renovated kitchen open to den and onto a screened porch. Exquisite master suite with balcony. Both overlook a backyard oasis that adjoins Callanwolde Forest. Picture yourself perfect – relaxing and enjoying intown living at its best.

Fifteen women entrepreneurs will comprise the inaugural class of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative. The group of women, selected through a rigorous competitive process in the fall of 2015, will have the opportunity to operate their small businesses in an incubator environment, with designated workspace, for 15 months.

The 15 women-owned businesses are: Lynn Lilly, CraftBox Girls; Melanie Rhodes, MelanCo. Enterprises/DSS Experts; Samantha Hodgkins, SparkFire Active LLC; Joanna Douglas, Parketing; Dawn Belisle, Delights by Dawn; Jeannell Darden, Cococurls; Jennifer Bluemling, Borrowed By Design; Sherry Popovic, cME compete; Cicely Gay, Amplifiers Inc.; Logan Williams, Rapid Parking Solutions; Adrienne Brown, Adrienne J. Media; Tiffany Ray, Generation Infocus, Monica Hooks, m-oracle; Sheila Woodhouse, DoxMed; and Tonya Hicks, Women Do Everything.

The businesses are all for-profit, and represent information and communication technology, productbased retail, digital media and marketing, education and training, beauty and healthcare, transportation technology, and food and beverage service.

WEI will be housed on the 11th floor of the Downtown’s iconic Flatiron Building – the city’s oldest standing skyscraper. The 40,000-squarefoot landmark will be a unique collaborative space and serve

as a technologically-advanced backdrop to Atlanta’s emerging and existing entrepreneurs.

“Announcing the 15 women selected for the inaugural WEI class is an important step forward in strengthening our city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Mayor Kasim Reed during last month’s State of the City address. “This initiative will assist women who aspire to entrepreneurial excellence by providing them with the resources they need to grow a successful business. With the help of Microsoft and other partners, these women entrepreneurs will receive mentorship, business coaching and access to technology and office space at no cost to them.”

Along with providing space, WEI will provide seasoned mentors and consultants, technology resources via Microsoft, and post-incubation support to reinforce business longevity and success once back in the community.

Applications for the next class of entrepreneurs will be available in early 2017. For more information about the program, visit weiatlanta.com.

Atlanta oil painter Joel Barr is known for his surprising and bold use of color, his fascination with the surreal and mysterious, and for the narratives imbedded in his works. For him, art is about discovery and that’s what comes through with each work."Life Line" incorporates all of these elements along with a story and a quiet spirituality which flows from painting to painting. This new series and other of his recent works will be exhibited and available. April 8th through 29th.

Flatiron Building

The inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative class.

SKY HIGH

Renovations, runway coming to Hartsfield-Jackson

A $6 billion, 20-year capital plan to revamp and expand Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was officially announced in March. The capital plan, named ATLNext, will feature substantial renovations to the Domestic Terminal (atrium, ticketing area and a dramatic new canopy), a sixth runway, new cargo structures, a new 400-room hotel with travel plaza and a new concourse.

Renderings of upgrades to the Domestic Terminal were unveiled during last month’s inaugural State of the Airport address. Above is the main atrium and at left is the new ticketing area. Below is a new canopy that will cover the pick up and drop off area outside the terminal.

UP ON THE ROOF

Ponce City Market set to unveil final phase

After more than four years of restoration, Ponce City Market in the Old Fourth Ward is set to unveil its final a phase – The Roof.

One of the building’s original freight elevators will whisk visitors to the rooftop where they will find an 18-hole miniature golf course, boardwalk-style games, a slide built into the iconic marquee facing North Avenue and food vendors.

Officially opening to the public mid-2016, The Roof at Ponce City Market pays homage to the Ponce de Leon amusement park, often referred to as the “Coney Island of the South,” which was originally built on the site where the mixed-use development currently resides.

Those attending the April 3 Putt! Putt! Putt! fundraiser for the Kyle Korver Foundation, which works to end the poverty cycle, will get their first look at The Roof and a chance to play a round of miniature golf along with food and entertainment. For tickets and information, visit putt-putt-putt.com.

For more about Ponce City Market, visit poncecitymarket.com.

Atlanta Hawks’ Kyle Korver plays putt-putt on the roof of PCM.

Business Briefs

The Midtown Development Review Committee is reviewing two major, mixed-use projects that will be located at Technology Square. Georgia Tech’s High Performance Computing Center mixed-use development consists of three buildings: a 21-story, 620,000-squarefoot office tower; a three-story, 100,000square-foot data center; and the existing facade of the historic Crum & Forster building, which will be transformed into a restaurant space. Located on the east side of Spring Street, between Armstead Place and 4th Street, the project will also have 46,500 square feet of streetlevel retail and 600 parking spaces. The Standard, a proposed mixed-use student housing development by Landmark Properties and Selig Enterprises, would sit on the southwest corner of Spring Street and 4th Street. The 19-story project would include 280 furnished residential units for students and 11,200 square feet of street-level commercial space, including a Starbucks. Parking would be located in a 10-story precast parking deck that is wrapped with residential units on the streetfronting façades.

Downtown’s iconic Candler Building will be transformed into a Curio hotel, a luxury brand from Hilton. The former office building will have 265 guest rooms, a restaurant and bar. Built in 1906, the Candler Building was Atlanta’s first steel skyscraper. It was developed by Coca-Cola’s Asa Candler, and at 17 stories tall, was one of the tallest buildings in the city. The hotel is set to open in late 2017.

SRS Real Estate Partners (SRS) has announced the first retail tenant for the 675 N. Highland mixed-used development in Poncey-Highland. Trashy Diva will have two storefronts at the project, a 1,600-square-foot dress boutique and 1,500-square-foot lingerie boutique. Both shops are scheduled to open in summer of 2016. Trashy Diva, a boutique women’s clothing store providing vintage and retro-inspired clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories and lingerie, has five locations in New Orleans. This will be their first location in Atlanta. Owner/designer

The 3,595-square-foot shop has classics like T-shirts, blazers, jeans, dresses and more, for any season. Also recently opened at the development: luxury clothing brand Tom Ford and Ferguson Bath, Kitchen, & Lighting Gallery

Expected to open in April and May are NARS Cosmetics, fitness center Flywheel, men’s clothier Lindberg and athletic apparel brand Kit & Ace

Zone of Light Studio, 1202 Zonolite Road, now has 9,200 square feet of space for meetings, creative space for an auction or parties. The warehouse is equipped with a kitchen, a large art

with Acuity Brands that will employ outdoor LED lighting systems to monitor parking lot vehicle counts and occupancy data to facilitate the efficient management of traffic and parking at Lenox Square in Buckhead. The second phase of the program will focus on using the occupancy data to create a parking app to help customers visiting the mall.

Atlanta-based Set Free at Sea is offering an alternative to scattered cremated ashes of loved ones called “Ashes to Corals.” The company sculpts ashes into coral reefs that are then placed for marine life to thrive on. For more information, visit setfreeatsea.com.

Jarod and Keith Stentiford recently purchased the Mr. Appliance of Greater Atlanta franchise. The company provides fullservice appliance service and repair to both commercial and residential clients. For more information, visit MrAppliance.com/GreaterAtlanta.

and rising fashion star, Candice Gwinn, is an Atlanta native. More retailers are expected to be announced soon.

Now you can get a massage as easy as ordering a ride from Uber. Atlantabased Zeel is a “massageon-demand” app for your smartphone that launched in March. Zeel therapists are available seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and can be booked anywhere from an hour to a month in advance. All therapists are licensed, background checked, experienced and vetted inperson.

COS opened its first Atlanta store at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. The store offers clothing for men, women and children.

and meeting room, a board game room and an 1,800-square-foot black light room along with over 4,000 square feet of open space for a big event. The industrial space has a touch of whimsy from the chandeliers draped in feathers and baubles, to the jukebox in the corner or the lounge couch for 15. For more information, visit zoneoflight.studio.

Children’s shoe store Sprong has moved from Pharr Road to 3716 Roswell Road in Buckhead, doubling the space of the previous storefront. Call 404-846-8506 or visit sprongshoes.com for more information.

Simon announced that it is conducting a pilot program in conjunction

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) recently awarded Split with the FinTech Innovation of the Year Award. Split allows restaurant and bar customers to pay for their food and drink directly from the phone, instantly split the check among friends and order takeout food. The app is available for iPhone and Android. For more information, visit payandsplit.com.

A rendering of The Standard at Technology Square in Midtown.

The historic Candler Building will become a Curio hotel.

Trashy Diva is the first retail tenant signed at the mixed-use 675 N. Highland project.

COS has opened at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta.

A rendering of the Georgia Tech High Performance Computer Center.

Drawn to Success

Local comic book shops continue to thrive in digital age

Criminal Records in Little Five Points and My Parents’ Basement in Avondale Estates.

Criminal Records, a staple of Little Five Points since 1991, is a laid-back shop that carries an extensive selection of records, CDs and comics. Zano Ludgood, who heads up the comics department at Criminal, works at a small counter stacked high with comics that overflow into boxes on the floor and a nearby table. Posters and artwork plaster the walls, music plays over the sound system, and shelves are lined with products as far as the eye can see.

Ludgood has been working at Criminal for more than nine years, and is, as would be expected, a lifelong fan of comic books and comic culture. “I don’t even have a first memory of comics,” he said.

As a young man growing up in Acworth, he frequented Dr. No’s in Marietta, a comic shop established way back in 1977. When he later moved to Downtown Atlanta, he came across Criminal Records, and he quickly became a

regular at the shop. “I started working here because I shopped here a lot,” he laughed. “When I found Criminal it was kinda like, ‘OK, this is my shop. When you shop for comics that’s a kinda big deal – finding a shop that’s a good fit for you.”

Indeed, the following at Criminal is almost cult-esque in their fervor for all things comic and vinyl. The subscriber list that numbers around 250 members is a solid endorsement for the lasting appeal of the shop. Being on the list as a subscriber means that the shop will pull and hold your desired new releases as they become available, and qualifies you for a discount.

Criminal Records hosts regular events that encourage the community to come out, meet one another and discuss comic books. The shop currently has three clubs: one that features a different graphic novel every month, another called the #1 club that features the top single issues from the previous month, and an all-ladies club. You

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

By Isadora Pennington

Vinyl records are making a big comeback. Cassettes still have that “mix tape” nostalgia. The death of printed books was greatly exaggerated. While the way we listen to music and read stories continues to change and evolve, the affinity for comic books and graphic novels has not faded over time.

In fact, it would appear that as the average fan grows older, they often rediscover their passions for the comics that they grew up reading. There’s something that’s special about seeing and holding a physical, printed comic, something that just can’t be replicated with e-readers and tablets.

This month I was able to meet with the folks who run two popular comic spots –

More Shops to Explore

Oxford Comics 2855 Piedmont Road NE (404) 233-8682 or oxfordcomics.com

Teahouse Comics 5920 Roswell Road, Suite #B-107, Sandy Springs (404) 252-3994 or teahouse-comics.com

Titan Games and Comics 2585 Spring Road, Suite C, Smyrna (770) 433-8226 or titangamesandcomics.com

Book Nook 3073 N. Druid Hills Road, Decatur (404) 633-1342 or booknookbookstoredecaturga.com

Isadora Pennington

Zano Ludgood heads the comics department at Criminal Records.

Local comics and ‘zines at Criminal Records. A selection of new titles at Criminal Records. Signed graphic novels at My Parents’ Basement.

A table full of graphic novels at Criminal Records in Little Five Points.

Batman #48 at My Parents’ Basement.

Drawn to Success

may even have a celebrity encounter in the store if you’re lucky, as Steven Yeun from “The Walking Dead,” comedian David Cross and actor Sasha Baron Cohen have all been spotted perusing the aisles.

In addition to popular titles, Criminal also stocks small-scale and indie publications. Ludgood is thoughtful about the display and manner of presentation for these underdogs of the comic world, and by putting the independent works on the same display as the bigger name, he hopes to encourage sales of work by local artists.

“For someone who maybe has only ever heard of Marvel or DC, it puts them on an equal footing subconsciously; that way I can easily recommend it to them,” Ludgood said.

On the other side of town, My Parents’ Basement co-owners Dave DeFeo, Tim Ensor and Lawson Wright have built

something a bit different. The restaurant/comic shop/bar concept opened last summer in the building that was once James Joyce Pub. The space features a woodpaneled bar, internal dining space, an expansive and covered patio with two fireplaces, and of course, shelves packed with comic books.

Die-hard comic fans can revel in their selection of classics and new releases, and parents can bring their kids to enjoy a meal and a drink while little ones tinker on the row of freeto-play arcade games.

“The real thing that got us started is me and Tim both worked at Leon’s [restaurant] together,” said Dave DeFeo. “He came in one morning and said, ‘Man, I had this crazy dream last night. We owned a comic book store, and there was a bar in it. It was called ‘My Parents’ Basement’ and it was awesome!’”

DeFeo agreed, and shortly after that fateful conversation, a friend of Ensor’s from high school announced that his comic book store had gone under and he was left

with boxes upon boxes of comic books in storage. “His comics, coincidentally, had just been sitting in his parent’s basement,” DeFeo laughed. “And they said, ‘If you guys come and get them, you can have them.’ So we went and picked up 110 long boxes of comics, about 25,000 comics altogether.”

My Parents’ Basement began as an eBay store, and Lawson Wright was in charge of it. He found himself constantly on his phone and said he “giggled” at how successful they were just as an online entity. It wasn’t a quick transition from online to brick-and-mortar for the trio, however, and they spent three long years at pop-up shops and focusing on the web store as they built their brand and put together a business plan. Once the physical shop opened, My Parents’ Basement was embraced by the community, who made it a mission to support local and indie works. However, it’s not only members of the

immediate community that frequent the barstools of My Parents’ Basement; the shop has also brought in some high-profile guests. “There’s this whole scene of ‘nerd bars’ popping up,” Ensor said, noting that the fanbase for comics and graphic novels is mostly comprised of adults these days, as having expendable income is a must for making fun purchases like comics and collectibles.

While their extensive comic book selection, recurring nerd trivia, and community events are enough to garner some initial interest, the shop didn’t hold back on developing a menu to keep their fans coming back for more. Guests can enjoy bar food like Lawson’s nachos, a rotating selection of vegan/vegetarian options and handmade hot pockets. Top those dishes off with a full bar and an array of 32 locally sourced taps, including two craft sodas and one iced coffee. Criminal Records, 1154 Euclid Ave. NE, (404) 215-9511 or criminalatl.com. My Parents’ Basement is located at 22 N. Avondale Road. Find out more at myparentsbasementcbcb. com or (404) 292-4607

Isadora Pennington

The founders of My Parents’ Basement, from left, Lawson Right, Tim Ensor and Dave DeFeo.

Classic arcade games at My Parents’ Basement.

Bins full of comic books at Criminal Records.

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566 Cresthill Avenue NE Virginia

FESTIVAL TIME

Art, music, food and more around Intown

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 2 - 13 in 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 80th annual event will take place April 8 -10 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, Eco-Village 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.

Festival on Ponce

Sandy Springs Artsapalooza

The Artsapalooza will be held April 16 – 17 along Lake Forest Drive between Mount Vernon Highway and Hammond Drive. The event includes a children’s play area, local musicians and interactive art stations, plus up to 150 arts and crafts participants in every discipline. Visit sandyspringsartsapalooza.com for more.

Sweetwater 420 Festival

The annual music and beer festival returns to Downtown’s Centennial Olympic Park on April 22 - 24. This year’s music line-up includes Kid Rock, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Bastille, Ludacris, Disco Biscuits, Cypress Hill, The Roots, AWOL Nation and many more. The 420 Disco line-up includes

Paper Diamond, Emancipator and Minnesota, while Judah Friedlander will headline the comedy stage. For full details about the weekend and to buy VIP tickets, visit sweetwater420fest.com.

Atlanta Arab Festival

The 11th annual celebration of Arab culture will be held April 23 - 24 at the Alif Institute, 3288 Marjan Drive. There will be music, food, art and more. Details at alifinstitute.org.

Inman Park Festival

The 45th annual Inman Park Festival is set for April 30 – May 1 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, beginning at Edgewood and Euclid, and running to Austin Avenue. Enjoy two days of live music on three stages, a Kidzone

at Springvale Park, a dance festival at the Trolley Barn and food 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, bike, walk or use Uber or Lyft. For more, visit inmanparkfestival.org

High Museum opens children’s illustrator exhibition on April 2

Spanning decades, the exhibit consists of more than 80 original handpainted illustrations made out of a collage of pieces of paper that Carle would prepare ahead of time to use as needed. These delicate and priceless illustrations have been specifically loaned to the High by Carle’s own museum – the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Massachusetts.

“Each page is a work of art,” Shearer added.

Influenced by Picasso and Matisse, and considered by many a collage connoisseur, Carle grasps what children want to read – simple stories with simple words told in colorful pictures.

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» Plus Aesthetic Services

By Martha Nodar

A desire to enrich children’s understanding of different art techniques motivated two employees of the High Museum to come up with the idea of showing the work of renowned children’s picture book writer and illustrator Eric Carle, the creator of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

Virginia Shearer and Ginia Sweeney are co-managing curators of the High’s current exhibit: “I See a Story: The Art of Eric Carle,” running from April 2 to Jan. 8, 2017.

“Art is empowering,” Shearer said. “Picture books are a great way to introduce children to art.”

Originating from a French expression, the word collage means to glue together. A collage is a form of creative process that may include utilizing and recycling different materials that may otherwise be discarded.

The museum will hold the “Eric Carle Family Funday” on April 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. This event is free with the price of museum admission.

Another Eric Carle-themed activity, planned by the High for the summer, includes a collaboration between the High and the Alliance Theatre for the presentation of “Pancakes, Pancakes!” a musical adaptation of Carle’s book by the same title. For more information, visit high.org.

Main O ce: Piedmont

Satellite

Nichols,

Obiamaka Mora, M.D.

Lynley S. Durre , M.D.

Ludacris

Eric Carle

ART IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Reynoldstown and Cabbagetown have become haven for artists

shown in exhibitions at MOCA-GA, Swan Coach House, Beep Beep Gallery, MINT Gallery, Gallery 72. I’ve done murals with Forward Warrior, Living Walls, the Atlanta Beltline, W Hotels in Midtown and Buckhead, Bantam + Biddy, 1 Kept Restaurant, Yoga Collective and more. I also designed a label for Orpheus Brewing’s Sykophantes beer. Currently, I’m teaching a public art class for high schoolers at

Wylie at Tennelle in Cabbagetown and an underpass in Piedmont Park off Westchester Road. Follow Freeman at mollyrosefreeman.com, and on Twitter and Instagram @mollyrosefree.

Peter Lalor Ferrari

Cabbagetown

I’ve lived in Cabbagetown on and off for five years and my medium is paint – mostly acrylic and spray. I’ve been making art since I was about 5. I’ve shown work at Kai Lin, Faye Gold, ABV, Beep Beep, Nelson St. and a few others. I’m the founder of Forward Warrior, an annual mural arts event in Cabbagetown. We paint the big wall along Wylie once a year. I’m a big believer in arts as activism, and I’m hoping to get more involved with nonprofits and socially beneficial projects in the future. I’ve done a few murals around town. Most notably, the

By Isadora Pennington

Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown share some common ground on the south side of the CSX rail line, bordering one another at Pearl Street. The area first saw development back in the 1860s when the Georgia Railroad began attracting freed slaves and rail workers to the area, while the Fulton Bag & Cotton Mill (now converted into trendy lofts) employed hundreds of laborers. Row upon row of small houses, quaint and utilitarian, were built, and the area soon blossomed into a vibrant community.

The decline of the railroad industry in the 1950s, and later the closure of the mill in 1977, led to a distinct downturn for the area, but artists began flocking there looking for inexpensive homes and space to work. A sudden influx of artists in the 1980s, including the immensely popular photographer Panorama Ray, quickly transformed the area into an artlover’s paradise.

CSX also contributed to the art scene in these two post-industrial communities thanks to the building of bridges and walls. Krog Street Tunnel has become internationally known for its graffitied walls and appearances in countless music videos and fashion shoots.

The high retaining walls that run along Wylie Street have also blossomed into the perfect canvas for giant murals. The walls have not always been regulated, but many are now managed by a group called the Wallkeepers Committee of the Cabbagetown Neighborhood Improvement Association, and have most recently served as a home for the Forward Warrior festival in 2015, a live painting event that provided wall space to a number of hand-selected artists, all curated by local artist Peter Ferrari.

Sometimes you need a few neglected walls, a dark tunnel and a bit of anarchy to bring new life to a neglected neighborhood. Living in these communities is like being in the middle of a living, breathing art gallery. We talked to some of the artists who call these neighborhoods home.

Joshua StephensRay

Reynoldstown

I’ve lived here for around three years, but I’ve been making art longer than I can remember. I’ve shown my work nationally and internationally (California, Georgia, Michigan, New York, Italy, Japan, Singapore and more). I did a mural for Living Walls 13, participated in Free Comic Book Day at Criminal Records and exhibited work at Octane. Right now, I have a large mural in progress at Lang Carson Park in Reynoldstown and books available at Criminal Records and Oxford Comics, with hopefully more on the way. Follow Stephens on Instagram @jehosephatsunrays and visit thursdaycity.com.

Molly Rose Freeman

Reynoldstown

I’ve been making art for fun since I was a kid, professionally for about six years. My mediums are painting, drawing, cut-paper and installation. I’ve

the New School and making a new body of work at my studio in the B Complex. You can see the large mural pieces I’ve done in an underpass at Whitefoord and DeKalb Avenue, Memorial Drive near Boulevard (on the Livery building),

“Cabbagetown” mural with Sam Parker at the corner of Krog and Wylie, and the underside of Collier Road bridge in Tanyard Creek Park. Follow Ferrari on Instagram and Twitter @peterferrariart

Isadora Pennington

Joshua Raye Stephens at Lang Carson Park, standing in front of his mural, currently in progress.

Isadora Pennington

Molly Rose Freeman in front of her mural at a private residence on Memorial between Boulevard and Berean Avenue.

Isadora Pennington

Peter Ferrari in front of one of his pieces along Wylie.

Peter Ferrari mural on Wylie near Estoria.

Joshua Raye Stephens’ mural details at Lang Carson Park.

Molly Rose Freeman and Travis Smith collaborated for this mural on Wylie as part of the 2015 Forward Warrior festival.

IN THE OPEN AIR

Painters will converge on Olmsted Park for annual event

On April 16, Historic Oakland Foundation’s Arts at Oakland program returns for one evening only with Illumine: Art and Light in the Gardens. The cemetery’s Victorian-era gardens will transform into an outdoor gallery aglow with light installations made by artist and gardener Cooper Sanchez, as well as a trio of local artists.

The twilight tour begins at the cemetery’s main gate and is a self-guided jaunt through the gardens. Sanchez’s light boxes and backlit molds use pressed plants, beeswax, cyanotype prints, drawings and glass to reflect the architecture, botanicals and history of Atlanta’s oldest municipal burial ground.

Performances from The

Proceeds from Illumine will benefit Historic Oakland Foundation, which works to preserve, restore, enhance and share Oakland Cemetery.

The second annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational returns to Olmsted Linear Park in Druid Hills from April 25 to May 1.

Plein air painters produce art from life “in the open air,” (as opposed to in the studio). Master artists from across the United States and internationally are invited by a selection jury to compete for The Olmsted Award and a generous purse.

This year, 36 highly recognized artists will paint at locations around Atlanta, including the Atlanta History Center, The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park, then culminating in Olmsted Linear Park. The resulting

original works of art will be on display as the jury chooses winners.

Programming for this year’s event also includes demonstrations, workshops, exhibits, lectures, a Maypole Celebration, plein air-inspired poetry readings and more.

The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational Paint Quick is open to any artist with $20 and ambition on May Day. For two hours participants will paint original work in Olmsted Linear Park. The Quick Paint event culminates in an outdoor exhibition and sale. For details about invited artists and a schedule of events, visit olmstedpleinair.com.

The tour culminates at Oakland Cemetery’s recently erected Beaumont Allen Greenhouse, which will serve as a pop-up gallery featuring works from Macon-based painter Charles Ladson; Elizabeth Ingram, Design Director of Chef Ford Fry’s restaurants; and filmmaker Steve Bransford.

Gates open at 6 p.m., and general admission tickets to Illumine are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. A VIP “Illuminati” package for $75 includes admission for one, a limited-edition event poster, two drink vouchers and a specially prepared box dinner from Chef Brian Horn of JCT Kitchen & Bar. Tickets must be purchased in advance at ticketalternative.com.

Painters take over Olmsted Linear Park at last year’s Plein Air Invitational.

Shoal Creek Stranglers round out the evening.

Visual Arts

Creatures of Light: Explore the natural phenomenon of “living light” with an array of organisms - from the flickering fireflies in the backyard to the deep-sea fishes in the oceans’ darkest depths - at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Daily. $16 to $18. Fernbankmuseum.org

Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum & Hall of Fame/Turner Field Tours: This museum features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team’s history and is the starting point for guided tours of Turner Field. Daily. $5 to $17. mlb.com/atl/ ballpark/tours

Performing Arts

The Light In The Piazza: Themes of sacrifice, destiny and the effervescence of first love ripple through this lush period musical performed by Theatrical Outfit. Starts April 14. $20 to $50. theatricaloutfit.org

Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story: As BeBe and CeCe Winans encounter fame, fortune, and even a young Whitney Houston, BeBe must learn to balance his desire for success with his true calling in this show by Alliance Theatre. Starts April 13. $20 to $68. alliancetheatre.org

The New South: The aim of this exhibit at Kai Lin Art is to bring attention to the hub of artistic activity currently happening in the South, and to celebrate the largely versatile and exciting medium of paper. Opens April 8. Free. kailinart.com

Talking Drum: Visit the Center for Civil and Human Rights to see this exhibit by Fahamu Pecou that showcases the intersection of black popular culture and social justice. Daily. $10 to $15. civilandhumanrights.org

Fashion in Good Taste: The elegant and historic Swan House provides a unique backdrop to this fashion exhibition showcasing examples from the extensive textile collection of the Atlanta History Center. Opens April 7. $11 to $16.50. atlantahistorycenter.com

Reciprocity: This exhibition by Atlanta-based South African artist Erika Hibbert includes selected works from three different series on view at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Monday through Saturday. $5. callanwolde.org

Negative Space in Handmade Paper: Picturing the Void: A collection of 19 compelling artworks by 22 artists, this portfolio on view at Robert C. Williams Paper Museum investigates an intriguing concept: Negative Space. Monday through Friday. Free. ipst.gatech.edu/amp

To Pass through and Be Gone: Works from Private Collection of William Arnett: Visit Hammonds House Museum to see this exhibit of works by vernacular artists. Wednesday through Sunday. $5. hammondshouse.org

Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Troy Davis Project: In this play at Synchronicity Theatre, playwright Lee Nowell explores conflicts surrounding the Troy Davis case through the diverse experiences of her characters. Starts April 8. $23 to $38. synchrotheatre.com

Tracy Morgan - Picking Up The Pieces Tour: Multi-talented comedian Tracy Morgan is back at it, and the audience for this show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre can look forward to him doing what he does best: making people laugh. April 30. $35 to $55. cobbenergycentre.com

Beauty & The Beast: Center for Puppetry Arts presents this fun and funky adaptation of the classic tale in which trash is turned into treasure and true love prevails in a modern day city complete with alley cats, beauty shops and exercise videos. Starts April 7. $20.50. puppet.org

Twyla Tharp’s The Princess & the Goblin: Take the family on an incredible adventure into the kingdom of the goblins where a young heroine must call upon friends, family and her own courage to perform a daring rescue in this performance by Atlanta Ballet. April 15 through 17. $20 to $127. atlantaballet.com

A Night with Janis Joplin: This show at the Fox Theatre is a musical journey celebrating Janis Joplin and her biggest musical influences. April 17. $35.50 to $76. foxtheatre.org

Bill Cain’s Equivocation: In this show by Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Shagspeare and his actors are confronted with a moral dilemma when they are commissioned to write the “true historie” of a 1605 terrorist plot and discover a coverup by the King. Starts April 23. $15 to $39. shakespearetavern.com

Ragtime: Set in turn-of-the-century New York, the stories of an upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician unfold in this performance at the Cobb Energy Centre. April 23 and 24. $41 to $61. cobbenergycentre.com

Serial Black Face: Set in 1979 amid the Atlanta Child Murders, Actor’s Express presents this story of a single mother coping with the disappearance of her young son and struggling to move on with her teenage daughter when a handsome stranger enters her life. April 2 through 24. $20 to $40. actorsexpress.com

Poliça: An offshoot of Minneapolis, Minnesota’s prolific Gayngs collective, electro-pop outfit Poliça features singer Channy Leaneagh and producer Ryan Olson as

its core members in this concert at Terminal West. April 29. $16. terminalwestatl.com

Designing Women Live: OnStage Atlanta’s “Designing Women Live #10” episodes include “Big Haas and Little Falsie” and “The Candidate.” April 1 through 10. $25 to $28. onstageatlanta.com

Emory Dance Company Spring Concert: Under the direction of George Staib, student choreographers create new group works showcased in this dance performance at Emory. April 14-16. $6 to $10. dance.emory.edu

SweetWater 420 Festival: Sponsored by SweetWater Brewing Company, this threeday event features bands from all around the country, tons of vendors and delicious food at Centennial Olympic Park. April 22 through 24. $89 to $138. sweetwater420fest.com

Sex With Strangers: Presented by Horizon Theatre, this sensuous and provocative comedy about fame, cyber identity and big ambition asks: what would you do, and who would you become, to get what you want? April 1 through 24. $15 to $35. horizontheatre.com

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: Celebrating 40 years as an international dance sensation, this all-male troupe blends humor with athletic artistry in this performance at the Ferst Center filled with parody and virtuosic technique. April 9 and 10. $22 to $46. arts.gatech.edu/ferstcenter

KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities: Step into the curio cabinet of an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him in this Cirque du Soleil show at Atlantic Station. Tuesday through Sunday. $35 to $295. cirquedusoleil.com.

A Night With Janis Joplin

Beauty & The Beast

Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story

Cirque du Soleil’s Kurios

FROM GARDEN TO CAFETERIA

Captain Planet Foundation and APS plant seeds for community collaboration

the table is going to be amazing.”

She and her peers helped plan the new plot (their second), till the land, spread the compost donated by local homeowners, plant seeds and tend the crops. The project was led by managers from the Atlanta-based Captain Planet Foundation’s Garden-to-Cafeteria program, members of the nonprofit, FoodCorps, and a coordinator from APS’s school food service vendor Sodexo Jackmont.

By Sue G. Collins

Budding gardeners in 50 Atlanta Public Schools are growing food to help feed the district’s 45,000 students thanks to grants, community volunteers and the support of the APS nutrition department.

Last month, students in the Maynard H. Jackson High School garden club planted carrots, spinach and pollinator flowers

while harvesting radishes from the sunny 3,000-square-foot plot behind the football stadium on Glenwood Avenue.

“I can’t wait to see my friends in the lunch room eating our radishes,” said MJHS senior, Caston Noorullah, who founded the garden club last year to fulfill a graduation requirement in her International Baccalaureate Diploma program. “It’s so much work, and to see the food actually on

C REATE P ERFECT P LATES FOR EASTER WITH EASE

“This is a true collaboration, and we are proud to be a convener,” said Kyla VanDeusen, Captain Planet Foundation’s learning gardens program manager. “With fresh initiatives from the APS superintendent, momentum from chefs at Sodexo and an understanding with the APS director of nutrition Dr. Marilyn Hughes and her team, the kids are motivated to try eating what comes out of the gardens at their schools.”

The CPF Project Learning Garden program launched the Garden-to-Cafeteria pilots at Beecher Hills Elementary School, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and MJHS with funding partners Sodexo and Kaiser Permanente. There are already more than 50 school gardens planted in the district with the help of CPF, but these three schools’ plots are being beefed up, coordinating crops for their lunch room menus and showing students exactly where their food is coming from – land right outside their classroom windows.

Ashley Rouse, Farm to School Director for Sodexo Jackmont, is the garden guardian at MJHS and is equally as vigilant about food safety as she is passionate about the soil and engaging students in the process. She was onsite recently, dressed in a bright skirt printed with carrots, peas and cabbage.

Bagel Basket | Deviled Eggs | Quiche | Frittata

Garlic Rosemary Lamb Shoulder | BeefTenderloin

Orange Glazed Carrots

Duck Fat-RoastedYukon Gold Potatoes

Mini Crab Cakes | Pan Seared Salmon

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip | Beet Salad

Macaroons | Easter Pastry Baskets

One minute, she was explaining why it was important to plant sunflowers near the fence (for support), shorter pollinators like zinnias in the front (they need more sun) and in the next breath, she was encouraging club members, brothers Tate and Reid Rosbotto, not to give up in their task of repairing the tiller.

“Also, one of the more rewarding results of the project is teaching the kids about the importance of community partnerships to make all this happen,” Rouse said.

Love is Love Farm in Decatur is fermenting recently harvested cauliflower for tacos for one school event. The Preserving Place in West Midtown will help can tomatoes from the school garden for cafeteria lunches in the fall. Chef Linton Hopkins will be bringing cooking demonstrations to schools, and he named CPF as his charity of choice this year.

Bang Tran has been working with young APS gardeners for FoodCorp, a nationwide team of AmeriCorps leaders who connect kids to real food and help them grow up healthy. He and garden clubbers from Maynard Jackson recently cooked up eggs and bright green spinach from their garden for Burgess-Peterson Elementary School students on Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

“These students have made so much progress and the excitement is growing,” Tran said of the Garden-ToCafeteria program. “With Captain Planet’s classroom curriculum kits, tastings and infrastructure is now in place with a few of the schools, the movement is viable.”

Rouse says Sodexo wants more meal participation in schools, and this program is one way to make that happen.

“We took spinach from the garden to D.H. Stanton Elementary School for a taste test. Of the 262 kids who ate the raw spinach, only seven said they didn’t like it, and most had never even tried fresh spinach!”

From left, Caston Noorullah, Ashley Rouse, Tate Rosbotto, Bang Tran and Reid Rosbotto.

Bang Tran, left, with MJHS Garden Club members.

EATING GREEN

Local farmers’ markets reopen for the season

Freedom Farmers’ Market

The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round 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 are also regular guest chefs in the restaurant popup tent. Information: freedomfarmersmkt. com.

Green Market at Piedmont Park

The annual Green Market at Piedmont Market opened mid-March, and continues every Saturday through Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the 12th Street gate. More than 40 vendors, including local farmers, bakers, sauce makers, crafters, chef demonstrations, canning workshops, live music and history tours of the park. Information: piedmontpark.org.

East Atlanta Village Farmers Market

The market reopened on March 31 and continues through mid-December on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. at 561 Flat Shoals Ave. You’ll find fresh produce, locally made food and products, chef demos and much more throughout the season. Information: farmeav.com.

Morningside Farmers Market

Open year-round, this neighborhood market at 1393 N. Highland Ave. has been a Saturday morning favorite for more than 20 years. Check out organic produce, freshly prepared foods, baked goods, artisan crafts, flowers and more. Market hours are 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Information: morningsidemarket.com.

Grant Park Farmers Market

The market reopens April 3 and will be open

on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Cherokee and Milledge avenues. There will be locally grown fruits, vegetables, artisan-produced breads, cheeses, and celebrity chef demonstrations. Information: grantparkmarket.org.

Peachtree Road Farmers Market

Located in the parking lot at Cathedral of St. Phillip, 2744 Peachtree Road in Buckhead, the market reopens for the season on April 2 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and continues every Saturday through mid-December. There will also be a new Wednesday night market April 13 to Oct. 26 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Information: peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.

Decatur Farmers Market

Held on the front lawn of the First Baptist Church of Decatur at the corner of Commerce and Clairemont, the market is open 4-6 p.m. on Wednesdays through December, and on Saturdays starting April 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each week. cfmatl. org/Decatur.

Westside Farmers Market

Located at Westside Provision District at 14th Street and Howell Mill Road, the market opens April 10 and will be held Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free parking is available in the WPD parking garage. cfmatl.org/westside.

Ponce City Farmers Market on the BeltLine

Debuting May 3, this market will be located directly on the BeltLine at “the Shed,” a location easily accessible by the popular pedestrian and bike path, along with nearby car parking. The market will be held seasonally on Tuesday evenings, and will host urban farmers, artisanal food makers and pop-up chefs. Check cfmatl.org/ pcfmbeltline for updates and details.

Freedom Farmers’ Market

Tasting Intown

By Megan Volpert

I can barely keep count of all the positive changes that signing up for a Fresh Harvest subscription has brought to my life.

The good people of FH deliver a giant box of extremely local and entirely organic produce to my front door every two weeks. It’s just my wife and I at home, so we get their smallest basket: $26.78, including taxes and delivery. There are no hidden fees and no items I’m forced to eat if I don’t like them. I get an email reminding me to customize my basket and another letting me know when I’ve been billed.

Beyond what’s in my basket, I can add all kinds of other local products. Yes, Holeman + Finch baked goods can now be had in your own home. Yes, you can add that juice cleanse package from Press Together Juices you’ve been wanting to try.

You can try a pound of ground beef or a threepound rump roast or experiment with bone marrow. Get your milk and eggs. Do you like granola? Do you know what raspberry kombucha tastes like?

Are you running low on

chia seeds, or coffee beans, or ground turmeric, or brown rice?

Like women everywhere, I do not have time to work all day and then hit up two different grocery stores for all my ingredients, prep an amazingly fresh dinner with those, then sit down to try to enjoy it before doing the dishes before going to bed to get up in the morning and do it all over again.

The more time I can save – by delivery, by automation, by reminders – without going over budget, the happier I am and the more time I have to actually enjoy my food and my family. By my count, the $55 I spend on Fresh Harvest every month saves me about $10 in gasoline and six hours of shopping time.

The baskets come with cute notes, happy thoughts, recipes, pictures, profiles on local farmers, information on charitable endeavors, and so on. The FH people themselves are always looking for ways to improve community and health through food. I’ll skip the rant on

food deserts, because we all know Atlanta has several. I mean, how close do you personally live to the nearest Trader Joe’s, let alone the nearest farmer’s market? If you can see it out your front window, good for you, but most of us can’t. FH is reasonably priced enough to help bridge some of those neighborhood grocery gaps.

The baskets themselves have all been so terrific, each in different ways. There’s the one that caused me to call my mother and ask what I should do with shallots. There’s

the one that caused my wife to jump up and down, squealing that parsnips are her favorite thing ever. There’s the one that finally got me to learn how to peel a mango. There’s the one where I bartered a bunch of fennel with a neighbor for two lemons from her own delivery.

And often there are presents! Freebies I’ve gotten so far: juice, granola, coffee, red cabbage, lemon. I’ve been preaching Fresh Harvest to basically every caring-but-busy person I know. I know about a lot of things, but I have no real idea what good produce looks like in the dead of winter or when fruits are precisely at peak of their season. Fresh Harvest is so awesome because these people – who are just over in Clarkston –save me time and money, educate me and improve my health through access to better quality food, and encourage me to support local farmers and to be more neighborly. Fresh Harvest delivers to Intown, so give it a try at freshharvest.deliverybizpro.com.

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

A delivery of veggies from Fresh Harvest.

Fresh Harvest delivers.

are included in each delivery.

Quick BItes

Dining Out for Life to benefit Open Hand Atlanta is set for April 20 at more than 100 restaurants around metro Atlanta. Participating restaurants will donate 25 percent of the customer’s bill for breakfast, lunch or dinner to Open Hand. Proceeds will help the organization and its thousands of volunteers continue to prepare, pack and deliver over 5,000 healthy meals every day to underserved, chronically ill individuals across 19 north Georgia counties. Participating restaurants range from local favorites who have participated for over 15 years, such as The Colonnade, Agavé, Taqueria del Sol, Eclipse di Luna and Nicola’s, to more recent additions to the restaurant lineup, including Table & Main, Century House Tavern and White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails. For more information on Dining Out for Life and Open Hand, as well as to stay up-to-date on events and volunteer opportunities, visit diningoutforoh.org and openhandatlanta.com.

Mark your calendars for The Tasting on April 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mason Fine Art Gallery, 415 Plasters Ave. Participating restaurants include 1KEPT, Aveune Catering Concepts, Buckhead Diner, Brezza Cucina, Food 101, Corso Coffee, Davio’s, Dolce Italain, Haven, La Grotto, Lure, Saltyard, Sotto Sotto, South City Kitchen and many more. There will also be wines from around the world. The event raises funds for the Zimmerman Horowitz Independent Living Program. Tickets are $100 in advance, $125 at the door. For more

information, visit thetasting.org.

The 1st Atlanta Taco Festival will take place May 1 at Candler Park from 1 to 7 p.m. There will be local bands –Gringo Bingo, Salsa Dancing, Lucha Libre Wrestling – and food from Rio Bravo, El Myriachi, Yumbii, Willy’s, On the Border, bartaco, Pure and more. A donation will be made to CHRIS Kids with proceeds from the festival. For more information, visit atlantatacofestival.com.

Food & Wine magazine has put three Atlanta restaurants on its list of America’s

Best Brunch Spots. Making the cut: Cakes & Ale in Decatur, Holeman & Finch Public House and One-Eared Stag However, we heard from the folks at Cakes & Ale that Food & Wine actually made a mistake since they don’t serve brunch. The brunch honor should have gone to Cakes & Ale Cafe, located next door at 151 Sycamore St.

Chris Edwards has been named executive chef of Restaurant Eugene Edwards was originally sous chef at the restaurant before leaving to helm the kitchen at Holeman & Finch Public House.

gusto!, the fast-casual concept that started in Brookwood Hills, will open its second Atlanta location at 782 Ponce de Leon Ave. in early summer. gusto! has a three-step menu starting with a grilled protein (including vegetarian options), a base of mixed greens, brown rice or flatbread, and a “gusto”— bold flavor profiles created daily from the freshest ingredients.

The Tasting

Cakes & Ale Cafe

Weekend Events

SOUP’S ON!

Souper Jenny moves to Atlanta History Center

Souper Jenny’s flagship café is slated to open April 2 on the Atlanta History Center campus in Buckhead.

The new Souper Jenny is part of a 4,017-square-foot space that also includes an expanded bookstore and gift shop. After 16 years, owner Jenny Levison closed the original Souper Jenny location on East Andrews Drive on March 26.

The café-bookstore can be accessed through its own West Paces Ferry Road entrance or, steps away, the AHS’s redesigned main entrance. Souper Jenny and bookstore customers will be able to make use of the free parking deck, and museum admission is not required for

dining or shopping.

Open seven days a week, the menu will still feature fresh soups, salads and sandwiches that change daily according to what is fresh in the local market. Patrons will enjoy dinners to-go, organic juices and gluten-free desserts from Juicy Jenny, as well as a full coffee bar featuring Batdorf & Bronson coffees and sweets from local purveyors.

Souper Jenny hours will be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 2 p.m. on Sundays. The bookstore will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

A rendering of the new Souper Jenny space at Atlanta History Center.

By Kitsy Rose

Urban Tree Cidery has planted itself in West Midtown and encompasses over 4,500 square feet of unique space that includes Atlanta’s first cider manufacturing facility, a tasting room called “the Cidery,” and an event space at 1465 Howell Mill Road. A familyowned and operated business, Urban Tree Cidery plans to open its doors this month.

The Resuta family has been rooted and growing in Atlanta since 2003. Inspired by their experiences and enjoyment of California wine country, Maria and Tim, both avid wine and cider enthusiasts, turned their attention to the possibilities within the North Georgia Mountains.

“Tim and I were elated to discover that this major apple

TAKING ROOT

Urban Tree Cidery set to open in West Midtown

growing region was known for producing fruit of exquisite quality, flavor, texture, color and shape in our very own backyard,” said Maria Resuta. “I can honestly say that this is when the idea for Urban Tree Cidery was born.”

And from this point, both Maria and Tim began extensive training in the production of handcrafted, artisan cider. Studying at the Cider and Perry Academy in Gloucestershire, England, they received the finest and most respected cider training in the industry.

“Urban Tree Cidery is a passion project that branches into our family tree,” said Tim Resuta, who is head cider maker as well as orchard manager. “My wife, her sister, Jackie, and our three children are all involved in the growth of our business.”

Utilizing the resources of The Mountain City Orchard, also a familyowned and operated business located in the Blue Ridge Divide, the Resutas are able to use only the finest varietals in their ciders. The orchard produces over 3,000 bushels a season, making full use of the 15 acres and 1,300 trees. Urban Tree’s ciders are created from a mixture of Yates, Stayman-Winesap, Grimes, Gala and Ozark Gold apples.

Urban Tree Cidery produces three flagship ciders: a Classic, which is a semi-sweet cider that is both crisp and refreshing; an Original, which is a European-style, semi-dry cider crafted with the hearty subtle notes of apple sweetness; and a Barrel-Aged, which is robust with hints of oaky vanilla aromas gained from time spent in Nicaraguan rum barrels. Seasonal and

Artisanal Reserve varieties will also be available to capture the season. These will range from a selection infused with Cascade Hops, ginger and habanero peppers, and other bold ingredients. The Cidery tasting room hours will be Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday from noon until 4 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The entire facility will accommodate approximately 300 people and is designed for cider tastings, tours and special events. For more information, visit urbantreecidery.com.

Tim Resuta picks apples at Mountain City Orchard.

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF A LANDMARK

First residents move into O4W’s Water Tower Stacks

By Collin Kelley

The water tower at the corner of Irwin Street and Auburn Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward is a landmark. Built in 1906 to store water for the cotton mill next door (which is now known as the mixed-use Studioplex), the concrete cylinder rises 100 feet in the air, casting a historic shadow over this bustling neighborhood. The tower also has new neighbors – a row of townhomes called, appropriately enough, the Water Tower Stacks.

When Epic Development first announced plans to build a row of a dozen townhomes literally underneath the historic water tower, concern rippled through the O4W. The water tower and its surrounding green space have long been a gathering spot for events, dog walking, picnics, Frisbee playing and photo shoots. What would

happen when homes were built on the tower’s western perimeter?

Surprisingly, in a city full of pedestrian and uninspired developments, the Water Tower Stacks are actually cool – inside and out. The water tower keeps its place of prominence rather than being overpowered by the townhomes. The modern, four-story brownstone style (the units have elevators and stairs) fits organically onto the property, and the view of the tower from the expansive windows in each home keeps the icon front and center. And the other big plus: the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail is, basically, just across the street.

In mid-March, after a year of construction, the first residents began moving into their townhomes. When INtown interviewed the three homeowners, they were still arranging (and buying) furniture and figuring out where to hang photos and artwork. But they were all already excited about their neighborhood and in awe of the property and its history.

Susan and David Levy

The Levys downsized from East Cobb after their children left the nest. “We weren’t looking at this area,” Susan recalled. “Some of our friends moved down here and invited us for dinner. We loved the positive vibe, the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood and the BeltLine. The Levys have been enjoying walking to Ponce City Market for shopping and dinner, and all the way to Piedmont Park on the BeltLine.

Bunny and Bob Lenhard

The Lenhards lived in Sandy Springs for 37 years, but grew bored of suburbia. “We were always coming to the city for shopping and dining, and I’d always wanted to move Intown,” Bunny said. The Lenhards said moving into the modern, contemporary townhome was a bit of a shock after living in a traditional home, but they’ve already fallen in love with the windows and light. The rooftop patio also offers a stunning view of the Downtown and Midtown skyline. They also love being able to walk “everywhere,” including Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market. Bunny is also an avid runner and enjoys the flat expanse of the BeltLine trail.

Fred and Donna Duncan

The Duncans moved from Dunwoody a decade ago to another up-and-coming community, Glenwood Park, before buying their new townhome. “We fell in love with the BeltLine because we like to ride our bikes and with the neighborhood itself,” Donna said. They’ve also been enjoying Irwin Street Market, dining at Rathbun’s Steak and Serpas Restaurant -- all outside their front door. “The windows are amazing,” Fred commented. “We love watching all the activity outside and knowing it’s right at our doorstep.”

OPEN HOUSES

Annual home and garden tours bloom around Intown

If you want to explore interiors and exteriors of some of Intown’s most beautiful homes, there are a number of tours coming up in April and May. Here’s a round up.

Junior League of DeKalb Tour of Kitchens

The annual Tour of Kitchens will be held April 23 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The self-guided tour will feature functional designs from CSI Kitchen & Bath, Home ReBuilders and Splice Design, as well as the historic Mary Gay House in Decatur,

BUCKHEAD NEW CONSTRUCTION!

with a patio remodel by Steve Brewer Landscaping. There will also be culinary demonstrations by chefs Farm Burger, Revival, The Marlay House and more. Proceeds from the Tour of Kitchens support the Junior League’s mission to provide leadership training, resources and support to empower women to create change in the community. Tickets to the tour are $15 at jldekalb.org/tok.

Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens

The Druid Hills Civic Association hosts the 48th annual event April 22-24, which features the theme “History Happens Here.” This year’s tour features six homes, a garden, plant sale, artist’s market, live music and the Patch Dash 5K Fun Run/Walk and Tot Trot. The tour events take place Friday from 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets may be purchased in advance on the website at druidhillstour.org. Proceeds from the tour and events benefit the Druid Hills neighborhood, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Inman Park Tour of Homes

The 2016 Tour Of Homes is part of the annual Inman Park Festival on April 29-30 and May 1. The tour will

feature 10 homes and points of interest in the community. Homes featured this year include an American Foursquare, Victorians, lofts, bungalows and Inman Park United Methodist Church. 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.

Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour

Celebrate Mother’s Day by exploring 10 breathtaking gardens featured on this annual tour, Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8. Benefiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the tour spotlights private home gardens in metro Atlanta, including Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven and Midtown. 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. Tickets for the self-guided tour, held rain or shine each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at atlantabg. org, at the Garden, and at select area retailers. They are $28 in advance (Garden member $22) and $35 on days of the tour, and are valid both days.

GARDEN HILLS 425 SPRINGDALE

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FOR $1,375,000 6BR/5BA. Renowned Atlanta builder J. Patrick O’Donnell Inc. Inviting open plan with attention to detail in this exceptional home to be built with finished terrace level on quiet cul-de-sac. PINE

Sara Smith School District fantastic new home coming soon by renowned Atlanta builder J. Patrick O’Donnell, Inc. Three finished levels. Private wooded setting on beautiful lot.

The inteiror of a home on the Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens.

Junior League Tour of Kitchens

A stop on the Gardens for Connoisseurs Tour.

A loft on the Inman Park Tour of Homes.

One of the homes on Inman Park Tour of Homes.

Real Estate Briefs

Atlanta development company JPX Works has released new renderings for its new condo tower at Peachtree Battle. The 21-story building at 2520 Peachtree Road will be called Emerson. The tower’s unique design is an homage to Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous “Fallingwater,” with cascading levels of glass and outdoor terraces. There will be 44 homes in the building with up to three homes per floor, each serviced by a private elevator. The fan-shaped building allows for unit combinations up to 7,200 square feet. JPX Works is expected to open an Emerson sales gallery at ADAC West in Peachtree Hills in May, with groundbreaking anticipated this fall. Burma Weller and Kevin McCarthy of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty will lead residential sales for the project.

Curbed Atlanta reports that work has begun on a 38-story tower at the corner of 14th and Spring streets that should be the tallest addition to Midtown’s skyline since the recession. The 22 14th St. project by Florida-based The Related Group will be called Spring Midtown, with 390 apartments and ground-level retail, including Whole Foods with pub, microbrewery, cooking school and a variety of food venues.

Condominiums at The Residences at The Mandarin Oriental Atlanta in Buckhead are approaching a complete sellout. Because of this demand, the owners have decided to repurpose four floors of the

building that were originally earmarked for expansion of the five-star hotel and instead build-out seven additional luxury condos for The Residences. The homes, which are now under construction, will be released later this spring. Like all of the luxury condominium homes atop the hotel, they will be equipped with high-end amenities such as Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, 360-degree views of the Atlanta skyline and secure biometric keyless entry. The new Residences will feature floorplans unique to the building. KORA Real Estate Group’s Karen Rodriguez is the exclusive listing broker at The Residences.

Avenue Realty has announced that father and son team Jim and Justin Walsh of Walsh Design are creating new homes along or near the Atlanta BeltLine. Upcoming projects include two large attached homes under construction in Reynoldstown at 1083 Hardee Street, which feature four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths. These farmhouse style homes are adjacent to the Reynoldstown MARTA station and within walking distance to Little Five Points, the BeltLine and Edgewood Retail District. Walsh Design is also building five homes in the minimal farmhouse style at 219 South Howard Avenue. These four bedroom, three-bath homes sit on lots that are 250 to 300 feet deep and are two blocks south

of Kirkwood Village. All three new builds in Grant Park feature classic exteriors and modern farmhouse interiors. The home at 654 Woodward Avenue has three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths and is walkable to the Memorial Commercial Corridor.

907 Boulevard has four bedrooms, three baths and a detached two-car garage. For more information, contact Shane Little with Avenue Realty at 404-861-2701. To learn more about Walsh Design, visit walshdesignatl.com.

Internationally renowned garden designer Louis Benech traveled from Paris to Atlanta to present his new book “Louis Benech: Twelve French Gardens,” at an illustrated lecture for the French Heritage Society. At an elegant Fête des Jardins luncheon, sponsored by Travis Reed of Harry Norman, Realtors, French Heritage Society Chairman Suzy Wasserman greeted Francophiles and garden enthusiasts. Louis Benech showed scenes of gardens he has created or re-fashioned, including at the Château de Villandry, the Palace of Versailles, the Château de Chaumont in the Loire Valley and the Tuileries Gardens in Paris

Kim Link

From left, Sponsors Travis Reed and Michael Kriethe of Harry Norman, Realtors joined French Heritage Society Chairman Suzy Wasserman in welcoming honored guest from Paris, garden designer Louis Benech, as did Betsy Franks, Senior Vice President of Harry Norman, Realtors.

A rendering of the Emerson.

Parting Shots

Right: INtown editor Collin Kelley’s new novel, “Leaving Paris,” will be published April 15. He’ll be reading from and signing the book on April 19, 7:15 p.m. at the Decatur Library for Georgia Center for the Book. Find out more at collinkelley.com.

Left: Colony Square has unveiled an art installation of gigantic letters spelling out Midtown at the corner of Peachtree and 15th streets.

Bottom: Glen Iris Drive in Old Fourth Ward is transforming rapidly with The Square townhomes under construction, foreground, and a 260+ apartment complex from JLB Partners at Ralph McGill Boulevard.

River Homes! Amazing home to feature rear entry drive under 2 car garage, full finished

DECATUR - Work with the best in

w/mudroom, sunroom off master, open kitchen, great room w/ fireplace. 5Bed/4Bath $799,900 FMLS: 5636278 or 5636283 Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

LAKE CLAIRE - 4 sided brick with open floor plan, hardwood floors, garage, bonus room, cathedral ceilings in living/dining rooms, basement with tons of storage, back deck overlooking fenced yard.

4Bed/2Bath $399,900 FMLS: 5630705

Mike Kondalski 404-234-9379

WEST MIDTOWN - Gated community. Open floor plan. 2 car garage. Private fenced garden area. Low HOA fees. Polished concrete and wood floors. 2Bed/2Bath $254,500

FMLS: 5654298 Mike Kondalski 404-234-9379

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND - This double porch home w/stepless entry through rear 2 car garage looks and lives like newer construction. Timeless design w/ gracious room sizes & open, flowing floor plan. 5Bed/4.5Bath $1,049,000 FMLS: 5647052 Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845

OLD FOURTH WARD - One of a kind commercial space on Glen Iris Drive. Great road frontage exposure. Lots of windows. Mezannine office spaces and 2 gated/garaged parking spaces. $990,000 FMLS: 5629873 or 5629867 Bru Krebs 404-984-0243

MORNINGSIDE - Classic 4-sided brick home. Morningside school district. Updated kitchen. Spacious foyer. Fenced back yard. 1 car drive-under garage. 3Bed/2Bath $475,000

FMLS: 5651344

Michael JW Smith 404-786-2057

INMAN PARK - Live and play on the Beltline. Fantastic corner unit. Gorgeous hardwood floors. Gourmet kitchen. Entertainer’s dream w/spacious living and dining area. Private patio is steps from saltwater pool. 1Bed/1Bath. $269,000

FMLS: 5642942 Stephen Simonson 404-326-0876

EAST ATLANTA VILLAGE - Artist’s own cottage w/ lots of updates & extraordinary features not found anywhere else. Tin roof. Potting shed. Wrap-covered back porch. Custom ironwork. Easy walk to village restaurants. 2Bed/1Bath $249,900 FMLS: 5659195 Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND - Priceless location. One of Highland’s most desirable streets. Brick bungalow features high ceilings, hardwoods, and is lightfilled throughout. Private yard and brick patio.

3Bed/3Bath $699,000 FMLS: 5630542

Bonnie Smith 404-406-1993

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND - Spacious brick home on wide low-maintenance lot. Just a short stroll from Morningside Elementary. Tastefully updated and renovated. 5Bed/3.5Bath $749,000

FMLS: 5649861 Erin Fye 404-771-9822 or Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845

DOWNTOWN - W Residences. Beautiful spacious unit with incredible views. Hardwoods. Custom window shades. Designer touches throughout. Fully furnished. Barely lived in. 2Bed/2Bath $699,000

FMLS: 5642103 Bru Krebs 404-984-0243

EMBRY HILLS - Immaculate home nestled on a quiet street. Renovated home features hrdwds throughout, new interior paint, updated kit & baths. Professionally maintained ½ acre+ lot that includes a beautiful gazebo overlooking creek. 3Bed/2Bath $319,900 FMLS: 5658352 Julie Duffy 678-570-4290

EAST ATLANTA - Amazing opportunity. 1925 bungalow with 60x200ft lot. Perfect for renovation/ new construction. Original hardwoods. Private screened front porch and deck overlooking huge yard. 2Bed/1Bath $174,900 FMLS: 5659164

Sammie Williams 404-797-0012

Atlanta, GA 30306

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND - Elegant living on 3 full floors. Stunning craftsman w/open floor plan. Cook’s kitchen. Hardwood floors. Guest bedroom on main floor. 2 Wrap-around porches. Private fenced yard. 5Bed/5Bath/1Half Bath $824,900

FMLS: 5604959 Mike Kondalski 404-234-9379

MIDTOWN - Beautiful 1 bedroom with den in the highly coveted Atlantic Station. Showcase home boasts hardwood floors, walk-in closets and amazing views of Atlantic Station to Buckhead. Transferable leasing permit included. 1Bed/1.5Bath

$315,000 FMLS: 5645523 Sean Carter 404-981-0639

Sunbelt Lending Services

Intown Tanya Arnold 678.777.0815

CLARKSTON - Incredible craftsman. Spacious kitchen w/newer stainless appliances and solid surface counters. Hardwoods. High ceilings. Tons of storage. Private backyard with deck. 2 car garage. 3Bed/2.5Bath $239,900

FMLS: 5658800 Mike Kondalski 404-234-9379