Atlanta Intown - May 2015

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

CONTACT US

Editorial Collin Kelley

INtown Editor collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

(404) 917-2200, ext. 102

Contributors

Ann Taylor Boutwell, Joe Earle, Ellen Eldridge, Benjamin Getz, Melody Harclerode, Art Huckabee, Phil Mosier, Annie Kinnett Nichols, Clare S. Richie, Tim Sullivan

Submissions

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

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Collin Kelley collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Remembering the legendary Ms. Ann

As we were going to press for the May issue, which features a big section on new restaurants and other gastronomic delights, I learned that one of Intown’s most iconic restaurateurs had passed away. Ann Price, owner of Ann’s Snack Bar and creator of the world-famous “Ghetto Burger” died on April 18 at the age of 72.

Ms. Ann, a she was known to countless customers, rose to national attention in 2007 when the Wall Street Journal named the “Ghetto Burger” (a double cheeseburger with bacon, grilled onions, ketchup, mustard and chili) the best in America. Ms. Ann had operated her Snack Bar on Memorial Drive in Kirkwood since 1971.

Along with the legendary burgers, Ann’s Snack Bar was infamously known for the long wait for service and the proprietor’s rules (No cursing in the snack bar, no feet on the counter and you better not even think about talking on your cell phone). Since only eight people could sit at the counter at one time, the wait could be two hours or more – even for a take-out order. Ms. Ann called customers in as seats opened up, and anyone trying to break that rule was given a sharp rebuke. But Ms. Ann was also charming and attentive to the customers sitting at her counter and enjoying her food.

Watching Ms. Ann make the burgers and fries from a seat at the counter was part theater and part throwback to an era when what is now considered “fast food” was prepared with attention to taste and detail rather than watching the clock. You might have to take a three-hour lunch break to experience Ann’s Snack Bar – and it was an experience – but it was worth the wait. At press time, the future of the Snack Bar was uncertain.

I am lucky enough to have visited the Snack Bar on several occasions and was planning another trip soon, but time, as it often does, caught up with me. Those burgers truly were the best in Atlanta. And judging from the thousands of you who visited the INtown website that weekend to pay tribute and leave your memories of Ms. Ann thought so, too.

ABOUT THE COVER

Eating good in the Intown neighborhoods! The May issue features a big roundup of new restaurants and those that are coming soon. Featured on this month’s cover are 1. bartaco; 2. Grindhouse Killer Burgers; 3. King of Pops; 4. Chef Ford Fry outside Superica; 5. Varuni Napoli; 6. American

Cut; 7. Atlas; 8. Gu’s Dumplings.

Courtesy the Price Family 2 3

4 5

6 7 8

By Isadora Pennington

The Rufus Rose House may not look like much from the outside, nestled amidst the commercial SoNo district of Peachtree Street just across from Emory Hospital, but appearances can be deceiving. The building, just steps away from Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated as a Landmark Building. Built in 1901 by Dr. Rufus Mathewson Rose,

the Victorian era building was home to the Rose family until 1921.

Rose was a former druggist and Civil War doctor who relocated to Atlanta in 1867 and founded the R. M. Rose Co. Distillery, also known as Mountain Spring Distillery. The distillery, originally located in Vinings, was eventually relocated to Tennessee. The business was hit hard by Prohibition which began in 1919 and lasted through 1933.

“It is a stroke of luck and a blessing that this house is still standing today,” said Liliana Bahkarti, who has taken over management since her father, Gholam Bakharti, purchased the property at auction in 2011. Liliana fell in love with the building and the story. Ambitious and energetic, she has definite ideas for the best use of the space.

“I’ve decided that the 5,200 square foot home should be redesigned into an arts space and entrepreneurial startup,” she said.

In the years between Rose’s ownership of the

property and the more recent purchase by the Bakhartis, the house fell into the hands of a variety of owners, including James H. Elliot who in 1945 turned the house into an antiques shop and museum that was open to the public, an action that is deemed by many as the building’s saving grace. For a short time, the Atlanta Preservation Center utilized the building as their headquarters prior to relocating to Grant Park. Since that time the building has fallen into a state of disrepair, sitting vacant and lonely as the last remaining Victorian building from Peachtree’s residential period.

Liliana plans to completely renovate the property, repairing decades of structural damage while highlighting the architectural and historic elements that make the building so unique. “The idea is to make it as fluid as possible, and a space that is accessible for all different ideas,” Liliana said. Each floor is set to hold something different, from a venue space for performance arts in the attic, startup space for local art businesses on the second floor, a food or beverage concept on the first floor, to reinvigorating the overgrown yard to provide much-needed greenspace for the neighborhood.

Recently, Dist. 2 City Councilman Kwanza Hall visited the property to discuss the necessary steps of the renovation, address logistical concerns, and connect the dots to get this project fully underway. Hall provided invaluable information about the regulations of working with this historic property and expressed his hopes for the plans that are now being set in motion.

Dist. 2 Atlanta City Councilman

Kwanza Hall discusses the renovation project with Liliana Bakharti. While the house has fallen into serious disrepair, many of its original achitectural elements remain intact.

To see more images from our tour of the property, go online to atlantaintownpaper.com

Photos by Isadora Pennington

“This opens a new chapter in the preservation and adaptive reuse of such a dynamic asset in the center of town,” Kwanza explained. In addition to cleaning up the physical aspects of the property, Liliana will also need to pursue zoning changes and will have to meet the standards set by the National Register of Historic Places, details of which are yet to be determined.

With big plans like these, there is without doubt a long list of challenges to overcome before the house can be opened to the public. “The years have taken their toll, and this home has been neglected for quite some time,” said Liliana. “The potential and possibilities are endless.”

Unusual opportunity

Colonial bungalow meticulously maintained by energy conscious architect owners with handcrafted details on 3/4± acres of serene gardens and koi pond plus separate studio; classic architecture complemented by an open light-filled floor plan, high ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, custom kitchen cabinetry/soapstone countertops and high-end appliances.

3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms plus Studio

Liliana Bakharti has big plans for the neglected Victorian home on Peachtree Street.

The Rufus Rose House, as viewed from the back, is dwarfed by Emory University Hospital.

SCALY SLIMY SPECTACULAR

New reptile house opens at Zoo Atlanta

By Isadora Pennington

If you love creepy-crawly things, the new Scaly Slimy Spectacular at Zoo Atlanta should be right up your alley.

The new facility replaces the World of Reptiles, which opened to the public in 1967, and was home to hundreds of salamanders, lizards, turtles, tortoises, frogs, toads and snakes, including black mambas, king cobras, and reticulated pythons. Over time, antiquated technology and an aging climate control system became a danger to the reptile population and prompted a full overhaul of the property.

Renovations on the reptile house began in 2013 and were recently completed in March of 2015. Construction took approximately18 months to complete and the zoo invested an estimated $18 million into the expansion. The 14,000 square feet building will house more than 70 different species of reptiles.

The exhibit features a 45-foot tall glass dome ceiling in the main exhibition space, 60,000 gallons of water in the aquatic displays, and 9,700 square feet of customdesigned rockwork. The building has taken a distinct leap into the future with interactive touchscreens replacing name plaques and digital educational games that allow visitors to learn more about the reptiles in a fun, engaging way.

“It’s really art when you get right down to it,” Zoo Atlanta president and CEO Raymond B. King said of the construction.

The tall glass ceiling is impressive both

Melanoma cancer treatment that results in Salsa dancing.

inside and out, and the overall feel of the building is far more naturalistic than the dark, low-ceilings of the previous World of Reptiles. Impressive, too, are the massive waterfalls and large glass windows into the underwater worlds of the exhibits. “I’m a water guy,” King said about his favorite feature of the new facility. “I really love water features.”

The Scaly Slimy Spectacular is open during normal Zoo hours To learn more about the facility and for ticket prices visit, zooatlanta.org.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s physicians are leaders in melanoma diagnoses and treatment, which is why people from across Georgia trust Northside with their melanoma care. In fact, Northside has one of the fastest growing melanoma programs in the state—helping more and more people get past their cancer and onto the dance floor. For help finding a cancer specialist, call 404-531-4444.

CanCer InstItute

Where the Extraordinary Happens Every Day

Raymond B. King, Zoo Atlanta president and CEO

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Top photo, the impressive glass dome ceiling dwarfs patrons on opening day. At left, the glass walls and high tech displays give the facility a futuristic feel. At right, a zoo employee showcases a new resident of the Scaly Slimy Spectacular. To see more photos, go online to atlantaintownpaper.com

Lynley S. Durrett, M.D.

State

Obiamaka Mora, M.D. Great

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

Meetings

Atlanta City Council: The Atlanta City Council will meet April 4 and 18, 1 p.m. at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. Meeting agendas are available online at citycouncil.atlantaga.gov and if you can’t make it Downtown, watch the meetings live on Channel 26.

Midtown Blueprint 3.0 Open House: The Midtown Alliance seeks the input of residents, businesses and other community stakeholders for new projects in the district. May 6, 8 a.m., at 800 Peachtree St., Suite D. RSVP at MidtownAtl.com.

Community meetings, news & events

Atlanta Bridgescape Design Competition Exhibit & Reception: Get a first look at the designs for enhancements to the 10th Street and Peachtree Street bridges over the Downtown Connector. May 12, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at 800 Peachtree St., Suite D. RSVP via eventbrite.com by searching for BridgeXscape Competition Exhibition.

May With Mary: Atlanta City Councilmember Mary Norwood is hosting a weekend of park tours/meet and greets throughout the month. There will be activities and entertainment for children and refreshments for all. The schedule: Historic Fourth Ward Skate Park (May 9, noon-2p.m.); Brownwood Park (May 9, 4-6 p.m.); Little Nancy Creek Park (May 10, noon-2 p.m.); John Howell Memorial Park (May 10, 3-5 p.m.); DH Stanton Park (May 16, noon2 p.m.); Perkerson Park (May 16, 4-6 p.m.); Tanyard Creek Park (May 17, noon-2 p.m.); Whittier Mills Park (May 17, 3-5 p.m.); Collier Park (May 23, noon-2 p.m.); Adams Park (May 23, 4-6 p.m.); Adair Park #1 (May 24, noon-2 p.m.); and Washington Park (May 24, 4-6 p.m.).

Neighborhood Planning Units: Looking for a complete list of NPUs and meeting dates for your local NPU? Visit atlantaga.gov and click on the Residents tab and scroll to Neighborhoods.

News

The Atlanta Streetcar will remain free to ride through the rest of 215. Mayor Kasim Reed made the announcement during last month’s Central Atlanta Progress annual meeting. A $1 fare was expected to begin in April. The city will take the additional time to review system attributes and determine how the Streetcar’s fare system can best interface with the MARTA Breeze system. The city is looking at smartphone apps that would include tripplanning tools. In the future, riders should expect to access alerts and schedule information, check real-time arrivals and find information about Streetcar-accessible activities and events.

Get ready for some road paving headaches on the Downtown Connector this summer. Although completely resurfaced in 2008, portions of the I-75/85 merge through Downtown are already crumbling due to traffic volume and weather conditions. The Georgia Department of Transportation said it will begin patching deteriorating asphalt this summer.

The Atlanta Department of Public Works has closed part of Mitchell Street in Downtown until August to continue improvements to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge and to accommodate construction of the Falcons stadium. Infrastructure improvements including street widening, installation of sidewalks, curbs and gutters, signal improvements, streetlights and restriping will occur during the closure. The improvements are part of the realignment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive (east of Northside Drive) to accommodate construction on the new Atlanta stadium. Be sure to follow posted detour signs.

Satellite

Grady Hospital opens new paramedic training facility

By Clare S. Richie

Looking to work in an industry with a lot of opportunity, growth and flexibility? Consider registering for Grady Emergency Medical Services (Grady EMS) Paramedic Program at its new 30,000 square foot education and training facility on 2284 Marietta Boulevard NW.

Grady EMS, the hospital-based emergency care component of the Grady Health System, recently expanded to provide education courses at three levels: Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced EMT (AEMT), and Paramedic.

At the scene of an emergency, an EMT provides basic life support, an AEMT has extra training to perform some procedures (e.g., start an IV), and a Paramedic serves as a link to the emergency room doctors, by diagnosing and treating the patient in the field.

The program includes classroom lectures, skill development labs, and supervised clinical field experiences. Student Jason Hewell gives the program high marks. “Thus far, I’m personally impressed with the education that has been provided. The equation is simple. Experienced instructors that care about learning, along with beyond adequate clinical/lab resources, equals a high quality program.”

Grady EMS is looking for others to follow in Jason’s footsteps. “We need a constant pipeline of employees for Grady EMS, because we are always growing,” shared Michael Colman, Director of Education and Staff Development.

Grady EMS provides emergency ambulance services to anyone within the City of Atlanta-Fulton County. It’s one of the busiest 911 providers in the

southeast, handling approximately 110,000 emergency requests annually, frequently responding to car crashes and difficulty breathing.

Grady EMS also provides service to Downtown sports arenas, high school games, and other large events.

The work is intense but comes with a flexible schedule. “We’re open 24 hours a day 365 days per year, ”explained Jeff Asher, Education Manager and instructor at the new facility. You can schedule your three 12-hour (or four 10-hour shifts) for nights, weekends, off-peak commute times, and around childcare needs.

And to promote professional development, a current Grady EMS AEMT with one year of experience can attend the Paramedic 13-month program for a small fee and agreeing to an 18-month work commitment. This is a $4,000 savings for the employee.

The training is also open to the community. “Training can be used to stay with Grady EMS or to go elsewhere,” per Jeff Asher. AEMT training prepares you for any EMS position and for other jobs, like a firefighter. The newest Paramedic training cohort includes 11 Grady employees and 4 community members.

“There’s a big interest in a supercondensed summer EMT program from nursing, physical therapy, and medical students,” Jeff shared. It’s good preparation for students pursuing their degrees and some choose to work as an EMT while in school.

In response, Grady EMS is offering an EMT licensure class for 10 weeks, instead of the usual 20 weeks. Starting mid-May, Grady EMS is offering an accelerated and a regular EMT class. As of early April, there is still room in both classes. If they fill up quickly, Grady EMS now has the space and flexibility to consider adding more classes.

When considering an EMS career, student Preston Jeanis wants you to know. “It isn’t for everyone. It’s hard work, with an emphasis on handling emergencies and continual critical thinking. However the reward is unlike any other because what we do makes a difference. It’s all about giving back, because we were all in need at one point in our lives.”

Go to www.grady-ems.org for more info on classes, tuition/fees, and application process. Contact Takiesha Bankston, Registrar’s office at (404) 616-7414 or tgbankston@gmh.edu.

The Atlanta Police Department has graduated 40 new officers, including 32 men and eight women. According to a report from APD, 10 of the graduates have military experience and 21 are college graduates. More than 20 of the graduates moved to Atlanta specifically to join APD. The new officers competed 22 weeks of rigorous training at the Atlanta Police Academy, along with 12 weeks of field training with veteran officers. The training includes classroom courses in constitutional law, APD policy and procedure, hands-on defensive tactics, arrest techniques and daily physical fitness.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners has approved the purchase of three new fire trucks for the Fulton County Fire Department at a cost of $1.2 million. The Board also approved the lease purchase of 10 Police Pursuit Vehicles and four Parks & Recreation vehicles.

City of Decatur dispatcher Jeremy Pickett was voted the Southeast Regional Honoree in the annual Smart Telecommunicator Awards. The awards recognize and reward 911 operators for leadership, performance, compassion for callers, ability to inspire co-workers.

Fulton County Police Chief Cassandra Jones retired from office in April. “Her work was a key part of our crime prevention efforts in this county,” said Fulton County Commission Chairman John H. Eaves. “Due to her emphasis on community oriented policing, burglaries in our unincorporated area decreased by more than 22 percent during her tenure.” Jones served with the Fulton County Police Department for 36 years and is the only female to serve as chief.

Dr. Eric Lawton

Dr. Danielle Greene

Special Jeremy Pickett

BOYS SOCCER CAMPS at Emory University

Eagle Full Day, boys ages 7-14, Session I June 8-12, includes lunch

Eagle Full Day, boys ages 7-14, Session II June 15-19, includes lunch

Emory Elite Residential/Commuter, boys ages 14-18, July 10-12

www.EagleBoysSoccerCamps.com

Contact: Sonny Travis

Emory Men’s Head Soccer Coach

sonny.travis@emory.edu

404-727-0597

The Neighborhood Hot

List: Candler Park

1. Paper Ghost Studio

This tiny neighborhood studio and gallery space is run by four local artists and is a great place to find new artwork and gifts.

2. Doctor Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party

This coffeehouse has a huge selection of teas and freshly-baked pastries. The walls are lined with books for sale, all proceeds go to The Learning Tea.

3. Flying Biscuit Cafe

There’s always a line for this popular breakfast and brunch spot.

4. Gato Bisco

This hole-in-the-wall spot has delicious breakfast and lunch food and is a favorite of the local community.

5. Music & Food Festival

Drive by Trucker and Shovel & Rope will headline this year’s event on May 29-30.

6. Candler Park

The neighborhood’s namesake features a golf course, swimming pool, basket ball court and lots of greenspace for picnicking.

7. Fall Fest

Mark your calendar for Oct. 3-4 when the annual music and food festival plus road race and home tour returns.

3

PART-TIME PERSONAL ASSISTANT WANTED (Intown)

Looking for an organized, self starter person to assist in local work related activities. Duties could entail office work, bill paying, filing, errands and miscellaneous responsibilities. Hours can be flexible and may vary.

Fax Resume to 404-478-8465

4

pics!) to us at collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Education Briefs

The journalism program at Grady High School in Midtown has won the 2015 Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Gold Crown Award for its student newspaper, The Southerner, and its culture magazine, Nexus. It’s been a banner year for The Southerner, which also brought home the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Award and the Quill and Scroll Gallup Award.

The International Community School (ICS) in Decatur has been doing a lot of its learning inside a truck in the parking lot. Called STE(A)M Truck, this innovative mobile lab inspires children to learn science, technology, engineering, arts and math by bringing the tools, equipment and mentors directly to their school. The first truck was launched last year with a grant from the Blank Foundation, Home Depot Foundation and Cognizant Inc. For 20 days during March and April, ICS students in third through fifth grades learned about sustainability through activities such as recycling materials into artwork, creating games and building a working radio.

The Lovett School recently hosted the second annual Father/Son Dinner for Upper School boys and their fathers/guests. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the distinctive importance of the father/son relationship and the importance of cross-generational relationships. Five seniors shared personal testimony about their relationship with their fathers and the guest speaker was former NFL quarterback Archie Manning. Manning spoke to the boys and their guests about the importance of leadership and lessons learned over a lifetime in football and as a father to three boys.

Special Sarah Lashinsky, a STE(A)M Truck industrial designer, teaches third graders at International Community School in Decatur how to build a Rube Goldberg machine.

Special Tom Tindall, right, and his son Brady, a 10th grader at Lovett, attended the annual Father/Son Dinner.

An independent Catholic school on two campuses near Chastain Park, serving students age 6 months-12th grade.

A LOOK BACK

This Month in History

May 3, 1911: Adeline Mayer and Victor Hugo Kriegshaber hosted an informal dance for their out-of-town guests at their home “Marianna’’ located at 66 Moreland Ave. located on the eastern fringe of the Inman Park neighborhood. In 1970, Wilma Stone adapted the Kriegshaber home into the Wrecking Bar, a business that salvaged woodcarvings, mantels, doors and other restoration treasures from older homes. The new owner, Bob Sandage, bought the site in March 2010 from Inman Park Properties and opened the Wrecking Bar Brew Pub in March 2011.

May 5, 1993: Atlanta native Gladys Knight – singer, songwriter and actress – emceed the Kids’ Celebration, a free concert at the Omni (now Philips Arena) sponsored by the Atlanta Project Immunization Children’s Health Initiative. The special guest for the evening dressed in black, donning a wide-brim hat and shades was Michael Jackson. After his introductory walk on stage, he took a front row seat and remained in the audience for two

75-minute shows. Knight called to the stage former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, Gov. Zell Miller and Mayor Maynard H. Jackson, noted hip-hop trio TLC and a host of other performers. Kids’ Celebration was an effort for the immunization of 17,000 Atlanta children in five days.

May 8, 1910: Although not official, the Mother’s Day Movement at the Wesley Memorial Church invited the city’s young people to wear a white carnation and attend a 3 p.m. reception with their mothers. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation setting aside the second Sunday in May as a national American holiday to honor mothers. The idea for Mother’s Day was credited to Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis, who both suggested a holiday dedicated to a day of peace. Many individual states celebrated Mother’s Day by 1911, but it was not until Wilson lobbied Congress in 1914 that Mother’s Day was officially set.

May 13, 1976: Piedmont Park is added to the National Register of Historic Places. The land, originally a farm and residence, became the site of fairs and expositions, most notably the Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895.

May 15, 1872: Kimball House manager S. E. Crittenden published the Ponce de Leon Springs summer omnibus (a forerunner of the streetcar) schedule in the Atlanta Daily Sun. The six-story, 317-room Kimball House hotel had opened Oct. 17, 1870 in Downtown. The shuttle-car drawn by four horses accommodated 12 passengers at a time. Round trip single tickets were 50 cents or 12 tickets for $3. Ponce de Leon Springs – now the site of the Ponce City Market development – used to be a favorite attraction in the city.

May 30, 1922: The

imposing Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. Georgia Marble supplied the 28 pieces to create the colossal 19-foot seated statue of President Abraham Lincoln. Sculptor Daniel Chester French had begun the design for the statue in 1915.

North Pelham Road Morningside | $799,000

672 Linwood Avenue Poncy Highland | $539,000

Manor Park Drive Decatur | $675,000

contract

Gladys Knight

Lincoln Memorial

Piedmont Park

Pet Pick

We call this good-looking little firecracker Marcus, in homage to the complicated father figure in the young-adult Divergent book series. But this Marcus is more charming than complicated. We asked a staffer about him, and the first word out of her mouth was “awesome!” Marcus is strong, healthy and so puppy-like for a grown up boy. He is a 2 year old Rhodesian/ Hound Mix who is hankering for a home with you. To adopt Marcus or any of the other available dogs and cats searching for a home, visit pawsatlanta.org or stop by the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Paws for the Cause

“Paws for the Cause,” an event sponsored by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office to promote animal cruelty awareness, was April 18 at Glenlake Park in Decatur. The event included pet adoption, vaccines, microchipping, and a fashion show.

At left, Isabella Leon, 2, pets “Bono” who is looking for a home.

At right, Cary Caramelo, a volunteer for Canine Cellmates, and Fancy, who has worked with inmates in the Fulton County Jail. As part of the program, inmates in local jails help train pets before they adopted at local shelters.

Photos by Phil Mosier

Now Open! Uniquely Restored Home Treasures % Proceeds benefit Animal Rescue Furniture Showroom in Amsterdam Walk RescuedTreasuresATL.com

404-884-4743

VetHeart of Georgia and Canine Companions for Independence will host the 28th annual Atlanta Dog Jog on May 2 at Piedmont Park. The popular community event features a one-mile run or walk with dogs at 9 a.m. and a 5K at 9:30 a.m. Registration is available online at active.com (keywords Atlanta Dog Jog) or at atlantadogjog.org.

Children are infamously good at begging for a new pet. Whether it’s an adorable new puppy or sweet little kitten, sometimes parents know that their children just aren’t ready for that responsibility. For parents concerned with their children’s readiness to care for an animal, or parents simply wanting to satiate their child’s desire to interact with adorable furballs, PAWS Atlanta’s PALS camp is the perfect summer solution. PAWS Atlanta PALS provides young animal lovers an opportunity to interact with their favorite furry friends while learning key responsibilities of pet ownership. Each camp day will include a lesson on humane education, a workshop from a veterinarian or animal expert and several hands-on animal lessons designed to foster a special appreciation for animals. Camp dates are June 15-19, June 22-26, July 13-17 and July 20-24. The cost is $250 per week. Visit pawsatlanta.org for more details.

Pets Are Loving Support Atlanta (P.A.L.S.) will mark its 25th anniversary on June 7 from 2 to 5 pm at Park Tavern’s Piedmont Room. Founded in 1990 by two Atlanta businesswomen, P.A.L.S. supplies ongoing care and support to the pets of Atlanta area people living with critical illness, disabilities, and the elderly. City Councilman Alex Wan will speak at the event and there will also be food provided by Dennis Dean Catering, a cash bar, a silent auction, and DJ Jen Peer-Rich. The event is free of charge, however a suggested donation of $20 will be appreciated and assist P.A.L.S. in continuing their heartfelt mission. For more information, visit palsatlanta.org.

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LifeLine Animal Project has been awarded $100,000 from the Petco Foundation. The organization took over management of DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services in 2013, and in less than a year, has reduced euthanasia rates by more than 50 percent at both shelters and achieved record numbers of pet adoptions. The organization has also performed over 80,000 free and low-cost spay neuter surgeries at its two lowcost spay/neuter clinics in addition to providing rehabilitative care for animals at their own nokill shelter. The Petco Foundation’s Lifesaving Impact Grant will help LifeLine save more homeless animals by providing the critical funding needed to run its lifesaving programs. For more information about LifeLine Animal Project or the Petco Foundation, visit lifelineanimal.org or petcofoundation.org.

Doing good deeds while making mother-daughter memories

By Ellen Eldridge

by making six-year commitments to serving others in the community.

The main mission of the National Charity League, which started in California in 1925, is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences, said District Specialist Sharla Calloway.

“I think I have a better relationship with both my daughters because of this,” Kay Stueve, of Buckhead, said. “It’s something not about shopping or makeup or boys. We have a relationship built on serving others.”

The national organization spread in 1996 from its roots in California to Texas and Georgia, with the RoswellAlpharetta chapter, said Calloway, who is also a past president of the RoswellAlpharetta chapter.

Women of “The “Roaring Twenties” had more of a chance to speak up about what they wanted and what they wanted for their daughters, Calloway said.

“I think it had a lot to do with the fact that there were society and debutant balls, and some women in California who were part of that scene in the ‘20s wanted their daughters exposed to doing more good in the world,” Calloway said. “The original chapters were all about creating opportunities and a philanthropic thrust for their daughters.”

Kay Stueve and the elder of her two daughters, Rebecca, were invited by a sponsor to join their local Texas chapter in 2007, when Rebecca was going into the seventh grade. Younger daughter Kathleen joked that she got pulled in even before she was old enough to join officially.

“I was in third grade, involved with a lot of at-home activities,” Kathleen said. “I was just a tag-along. I needed

Whitney Frank, center, with daughters Olivia, left, and Addie, right, at the 2013 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Whitney joined the Dunwoody chapter of the National Charity League in 2009, when her eldest daughter Addie, was going into seventh grade.

member of the organization.”

Kathleen Stueve estimates her family averages 200 hours a year at 17 different philanthropies.

When the Stueve family moved from Texas to Georgia, they worried their work with NCL might end, but an “expansion chapter” started in Buckhead in 2002, Stueve said. She is now involved with creating an expansion chapter in Macon, which would add to the existing eight chapters in Georgia.

Calloway said each chapter could form its own identity in the national structure, so the Buckhead chapter does things a bit differently than the Dunwoody chapter.

“Not everyone who applies or is sponsored gets in,” Calloway said. “We keep it small so the leadership is meaningful, and we do ask people to commit for six years.”

Whitney Frank joined the Dunwoody chapter of NCL in 2009, when her eldest daughter was going into seventh grade. “To be eligible to join, you must have a daughter going into seventh grade,” she said.

Frank said that though she didn’t fully know what they were getting into at the time, she looked forward to serving needs in their community while spending time with her daughters. Her involvement at the girls’ school led naturally to her finding a sponsor for NCL work.

“It’s not for everybody because it is a time commitment, and our daughters have so many opportunities to do things,” Kay Stueve said, “but, yes, you see a mother-daughter and you see friends who are like-minded and think this would be a great opportunity, so you write a letter of recommendation.”

When they moved to Buckhead, Stueve and her daughters focused on charity work rather than lament the friends they missed in Texas.

“Moving when Rebecca was in eighth grade was hard, but NCL gave us the opportunity to spend time together instead of focusing on our woes and missed friends,” Kay Stueve said.

Calloway said that NCL

membership benefits mothers and daughter in more ways than just the time they get to spend bonding.

“Through cultural experiences in the community, the National Charity League exposes mothers and daughters to different areas of the arts,” Calloway said.

The Stueve family concentrates most of its time with the CFY organization, which distributes computers to children during workshops.

In the Frank family, mother Whitney and daughters Addie and Olivia help 12 philanthropic organizations in the area, which includes Sandy Springs and North Fulton. “We prepare food, and then serve the homeless and working poor [at the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church’s ‘Feed and Seed’ program held every other week],” Frank said.

In addition to serving at the Community Assistance Center, Frank and her daughters have delivered Meals on Wheels, and provided snacks for clients of Senior Services of North Fulton.

“We have ushered at theater productions for Christian Youth Theater and have packaged food for Stop Hunger Now,” Frank added. “My girls have also spent multiple summers as volunteer camp counselors for the Dunwoody Nature Center and Spruill Art Center.”

They have also sorted donations and ‘shopped’ for foster families at Foster Care Support Foundation, spent time cheering up elderly residents at Mt. Vernon Towers and been responsible for the Survivors Tent at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Frank said.

“The impact has been multilayered,” Frank said. “My girls have not only been exposed to the needs of the community around us, but they have learned to be leaders, they have learned to be team players, they have learned to be compassionate and generous, and they have seen the difference a helping hand can make.

“My girls are now 18 and 16, and I know that NCL has made a difference in how they see the world. I am so grateful to be a part of this organization.”

From left, Rebecca, Kathleen and Kay Stueve were active in NCL while living in Texas, and then joined the Buckhead chapter after relocating. somewhere to be and something to do, and mom said, ‘Oh you can just go with your sister.’ But now I’m an active

By Joe Earle

Let the real campaign begin.

In the final hours of the 2015 General Assembly, state lawmakers approved public votes on whether to create new DeKalb County cities called LaVista Hills and Tucker. Supporters of the new cities, who have been lobbying for their creation for years, now turn to winning public support in a Nov. 3 referendum.

“The hard part is ahead of us,” former LaVista Hills Yes co-chair Mary Kay Woodworth told a crowd gathered April 13 in a Lavista Road restaurant to celebrate the legislative win and distribute new yard signs for the coming campaign.

Allen Venet, now sole chair of the LaVista Hills Yes group, said the supporters would begin raising money, distributing their message and organizing community meetings to try to convince their neighbors to approve the new city.

The legislative effort “is behind us,” Venet said. “It’s a whole new ballgame.

Now we have to work hard to get our message out.”

He said the group planned “to hold as many neighborhood meetings as people will let us in to talk.”

If voters in the area approve it, LaVista Hills would take in nearly 70,000 people and stretch from neighborhoods near Emory University to ones outside I-285. It would become the most populous city in DeKalb County and would share a border with the proposed city of Tucker. Much of the last-minute legislative bickering over the new cities’ proposals was about where to draw that line.

Venet said that if LaVista Hills wins approval at the ballot box Nov. 3, voters would return to the polls to elect members of its new city council on the day set for the 2016 Georgia presidential primary.

Venet said campaigns for the proposed new cities already face organized opposition.

“We have a difficult task,” he told the

With legislation passed, proponents of new cities go back to work

Joe Earle

Stan Mislow points out his home on the map of the propposed city of LaVista Hills.

crowd. “Very few people like change. We can make the case that this is a better form of government [than DeKalb County]. We have reasons we have cities all around us that are better at spending their tax dollars and better at serving their citizens. Not perfect, but better. The opposition just says no.”

Not everyone at the gathering was convinced that the new city was needed. “I’m trying to make up my mind,” Jim Reagan said. “I think it may be a good thing because most of the people are so fed up with DeKalb County’s corruption they want something different.”

Jack Riggs said he moved into a DeKalb County neighborhood in 1994 “specifically not to have city taxes.” He said he wanted to see proponents and opponents on the same stage, arguing the same points, before he made up his mind.

And Rhea Johnson, who said he supported the concept of the new city, worried that not enough preparation had gone into it. “I am absolutely in favor of it, but there are serious issues,” he said. “There is no plan. ... It has to be well-planned, well-organized and wellexecuted. It needs to have a plan.”

But others were eager to see the new

local government created so they could join Dunwoody and Brookhaven among the “new cities” created in Georgia since Sandy Springs won legislative and voter approval nearly a decade ago.

Bill Kushner said he was so eager to live in the not-yet-created city of LaVista Hills that he moved. His house had been in a disputed area that might have ended up in the proposed city of Tucker, he said, so he bought a new home a few blocks away that was safely within the boundaries of the proposed LaVista Hills.

Nearby, Stan and Betty Mislow reviewed a map of the proposed city boundaries posted on the wall of the restaurant. They said they’d lived in their home, located in the center of what could become LaVista Hills, for 42 years.

They support the city proposal. “I think it’s wonderful, a great idea,” Stan Mislow said.

Betty Mislow said she had friends who lived in other newly created cities, such as Sandy Springs. “They seem to thrive,” she said. “Why shouldn’t we? I think it’s a great opportunity to voice our opinions when they don’t seem to be heard by anybody else.”

Below, the proposed city of LaVista Hills would take in nearly 70,000 people and stretch from neighborhoods near Emory to ones outside I-285

Health & Wellness Briefs

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has announced a new partnership funded by The Elton John AIDS Foundation to educate Atlanta’s youth about HIV and AIDS through two local nonprofits, Moving in the Spirit and VOX Teen Communications. These organizations will use the funding to develop innovative teen programming that utilizes dance, dialogue, print and social media to reach young people at risk for HIV. According to data from the Center for Disease Control, the metro Atlanta region is experiencing an uptick of new HIV infections among young people ages 13-24 at rates higher than averages noted in other areas across the nation. To learn more about The Community Foundation’s efforts around HIV and AIDS, visit cfgreateratlanta.org.

Action Cycling Atlanta will host the 13th annual AIDS Vacccine (AV) 200 on May 16-17. The two-day, 200-mile bicycle event travels from Emory University to Eatonton, Ga. in the Oconee National Forest and back to Emory. Participants include individual riders and relay teams, with support from a volunteer crew. Riders, teams and donors can register and contribute by visiting ActionCycling.org. This year’s fundraising goal is $275,000. Action Cycling has raised more than $1.7 million for the Emory Vaccine Center, Jerusalem House and Positive Impact.

Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) has been awarded $1.2 million in grant funding and in-kind support by United Health Foundation and Optum to help support its Patient Centered Medical Home and Neighborhood Project. The project provides an innovative primary-care delivery model and a series of community engagement programs to improve health in and around Atlanta’s East Point area, a largely African-American community with high rates of poverty and complex chronic diseases. The grants will help MSM create a patient-centered medical home at its department of family medicine clinical site, the Comprehensive Family Healthcare Center at Buggy Works in East Point.

The Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s first-annual Yogathon will be held June 6 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park in Downtown. The event will bring together yoga enthusiasts from across the region for a day of yoga, health, community and fun. Headliner, Seane Corn, and nine of Atlanta’s top yoga teachers will lead a day of yoga with 500-1,000 attendees. It will conclude with a keynote presentation from Corn, followed by music and entertainment. The event is open to all, but previous experience with yoga is recommended. Funds raised from the event will support programs, policy, and awareness campaigns for women and girls living in poverty in the five metro counties of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett. For more information, visit atlantawomen.org.

TimmyDaddy

By Tim Sullivan

Retirement Plan

After chronicling Margo-isms last month I might be seen as riding my daughter’s coattails, but I’d be remiss if I neglected to also detail Margo’s burgeoning business career. According to Margo, she has “six businesses to keep track of.” For a kid who isn’t yet 6 years old, that’s a start even Warren Buffett could admire. But I feel selfish keeping this retirement plan to myself so allow me to introduce a handful of startups that you may want your financial advisor to keep tabs on:

Margo’s Art Gallery: The cornerstone of Margo’s empire is conveniently located in what used to be our breakfast room. The ambience is thick with Crayola creativity and the artist is prolific (perhaps even more prolific than her handlers might endorse). The artwork invites would-be collectors and unprepared houseguests to be tempted into adding to their own private collections. Margo numbers each piece not to represent its place in a series but rather to advertise a price. For example, her work entitled “Rainbow Butt” is numbered “11”. Quoting the artist: “It is eleven dollars. Or eleven cents. I don’t really care as long as it’s eleven.”

been privy to any board meetings. Thus I am unsure of what the exact business endeavors of Girl’s Club may be but I’d be ill-advised to underestimate them. Girl power!

Kids Rockalot: Margo’s musical itch is scratched by fronting her band, Kids Rockalot. It features Margo on lead vocals and two drummers. Brother Elliott lays a steady beat on a football helmet and a matchbox car case. His friend Ryan lends additional percussion via a tennis ball can filled with beads and an empty Tinkertoy container. Lately though, Margo has been really into Sleater Kinney. Her favorite lyric is “You’re no rock and roll fun, like a party that’s over before it’s begun.” So if I had to guess, the band may be taken in a direction that would allow the boys to pursue other creative endeavors while bringing in new talent (see Girl’s Club). Either way, this band is poised for superstardom and superstardom as we all know, is big business.

Margo’s Ball Washing Business:

5502832

Renee Hutchinson 404.386.8202

Downtown. $239,900 285 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, No. 1606 1BR/1BA FMLS: 5512074

Thome 404.213.8035 Jack Truett 404.625.7626

Margo’s Popcorn Business: While Margo is the first to credit her mother with the idea to buy a retro popcorn maker, it was definitely her idea to start selling the popcorn. The business is in nascent stages while Margo works through labor and supply side negotiations with mom and zeroes in on who exactly her customer base will be. She’s considering a local rollout so neighbors especially should be on alert. Organic growth is certain to follow. But the model of using other people’s money to make money is brilliant. Not sure if this idea has ever been thought of before.

Margo noticed that Elliott’s soccer ball and basketball that had been left out in the yard had gotten pretty dirty, so she grabbed a recycling bin and began filling it with water. Necessity is the mother of invention and this is not lost on our young entrepreneur as she explained her latest venture to me: “I’m starting a business to wash people’s balls.”

As you can imagine, I’m very proud.

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.

Old Fourth Ward. $649,900 455 Glen Iris Drive

FMLS: 5510335 Jack Truett 404.625.7626

Margo’s Tooth Loss Business: This one is pretty straightforward. Jiggle tooth until it comes out, place under pillow and get money. After moving only two units this business is already well in the black. And with many more baby teeth to go, the profit potential is huge. Sometimes the simplest ideas are best.

Underwood Hills. $459,900

Seaboard Avenue NW 3BR/2.5BA FMLS: 5515383

Rachael Blatt

Girl’s Club: The first rule of Girl’s Club is that No Boys Are Allowed! (except daddy). They are still working on the second rule. Margo, her cousin Fiona and friend Winslow founded the group but they are open to growing the association within the guidelines as stated in the first rule. While I have received a special exemption to the club (for which I am duly humbled) I have not

Tim Sullivan

Margo Sullivan, left, and cousion Fiona are budding entrepreneurs.

Streets Alive in the west end

Rainy weather didn’t dampen the ensthusiasm for the first Atlanta Streets Alive event of 2015 held on April 19. Cyclists, skateborders and walkers descended on West End for an afternoon of events and activities taking place on the closed streets of the neighborhood.

Pictured clockwise from top left: Patty Lacrete rides her bike; the West End Academy marching band strikes up a tune; cyclists get ready to ride; singer Kameron Corvet leapt from the stage to perform in the street; Shannon Thompson and her son Talé Thompson enjoy the afternoon; Emma Davis, Lucy Jones and Stella Jones sold lemonade; Local musician Sky Hy also performed during the event; and Angel Poventud takes a break.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Dogwood Fest 2015

Thousands descended on Piedmont Park on April 11-12 for the annual Dogwood Festival. With arts, crafts, food, live music, kids activities and the Disk Dog competition, there was something for everyone.

Pictured clockwise from top right:

Sisters Grayson and Victoria Klein have the festival spirit.

Maurice Meyers and Jocelyn Registe take camera phone photos.

Marina Simonet and Areli Paez pause for liquid refreshment.

Chelsey Horn and Stephen Martin share a moment.

From left, Alvinette Patterson, Nigel McClure, Michael Bell, Shannon Banks, Sam Bryant, JD Bruner and Brian Hudley enjoyed the afternoon in the park.

Marlhy Patino and Valeria Zelaya were all smiles at the Dogwood Festival.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Tunewelders creates music for tv, film & theater productions

By Clare S. Richie

Next time you watch television, close your eyes and really listen to the commercials. If the spot is for the Braves, Hawks, Krystal hamburgers, or Baskin Robbins — what you’re hearing is the audio work of Tunewelders, a music creation and sound production company. Their projects include commercials, films, musicals, theme songs, video games and more.

“There are a lot of music and audio challenges our clients don’t know how to solve, but we help them figure it out,” explained Ben Holst, Tunewelders producer and creative director.

Housed at the iconic Atlanta Southern Tracks studio on Clairmont Road, where artists from Bruce Springsteen to Pearl Jam have recorded, Tunewelders continues to produce sonic perfection. With beautifully tuned rooms, an amazing collection of microphones, musical instruments, and both vintage and modern recording technologies, Tunewelders is more than a studio, it’s a service.

The four-man team – executive producer Jeremy Gilbertson, producer and creative director Ben Holst, composer and technologist Jason Shannon, and chief engineer and sound designer Vic Stafford ¬– are sought after in music, film, television and advertising industries due to the depth and breadth of their expertise. If you’re one of 200 million viewers who watched the 2013 Super Bowl, you’re sure to remember the standout Doritos spot, GOATS4SALE, in which Pogo Pictures vision was enhanced by Tunewelders sound.

Most projects start with the client’s idea. “Sound design is often recording

something on the fly and manipulating it. Instinct takes over,” Ben said. Once, to create the sound of a skim boarder 50 yards away for a Weather Channel piece, Ben recorded the light scraping of a credit card across the top of his arm to be in sync with the action on screen.

“Ice cream doesn’t make a distinct noise,” Ben joked, but Baskin Robbins’ agency 22 Squared wanted audio to evoke a “Spidy sense” of amplified hearing as the viewer seemingly flew over large images of scooped ice cream. Ben recorded the sound of dropping ice

cubes into a hot cup of coffee to simulate freezing motion. Jason then layered this sound into a convolution reverb to draw out the requested sense of cold space.

To hear Tunewelders’ latest project, check out Dad’s Garage Theater Company’s new musical, King of Pops: A Post-Apocalyptic Musical. The show is performed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening through May 30 at the 7 Stages Theatre in Little Five Points.

Mike Schatz of Dad’s Ensemble has created a whimsical musical about Atlanta’s popsicles and rainbow cart. It’s

approved the main idea and then gave Mike space to spin this fantastic tale.

Outside of the theater world, Mike is the creative director for Blue Sky Agency.

“Ben and I collaborate on a lot of commercial projects,” Mike said. So, he reached out to Ben and Jason to compose and produce the music for his play. This was an easy choice since “Tunewelders also pursues what they love.”

“Mike would sing his original lyrics into his iPhone, and we would take it from there,” Ben explained. Ben and Jason would build the songs layer by layer and continually tweak them to suit each character, then each cast member, and finally the stage.

“Jason transformed my songs into symphony pieces, giving them depth and size they needed for the show. He made my humming sound much better,” Mike reflected.

For Tunewelders, each project is often a “walk of faith” from idea to the actual produced music. It’s a process in phases that always includes client collaboration and pride in the final production. With the growing entertainment industry in Atlanta, these guys are sure to stay very busy.

For more about Tunewelders, visit tunewelders.com.

Special

The Tunewelders crew, from left, Vic Stafford, Jason Shannon, Jeremy Gilbertson and Ben Holst outside Southern Tracks studio

Business Briefs

Kaiser Permanente will expand its presence in Atlanta by opening a new information technology (IT) campus in Midtown. The new IT campus is expected to create approximately 900 high technology jobs by 2019 and an estimated total economic impact of more than $363.9 million. The new IT campus in Midtown will consist of 157,000 square feet and will anchor the building located at 1375 Peachtree St. This expansion brings Kaiser Permanente’s total presence in Georgia to more than 4,000 employees and physicians. Individuals interested in applying for a position with Kaiser Permanente should visit kp.org/jobs.

The number of independent bookstores in Atlanta continues to dwindle as Bound to Be Read Books in East Atlanta Village was expected to close its door early this month. Owner Jeff McCord has been trying to sell the store since 2013 and said a group of literature lovers had banded together last year to try and purchase the store, but were not able to get financing in order. Bound the Be Read opened 10 years and has since played host to hundreds of signings, book club meetings, poetry readings, fundraisers and had become a destination for book lovers from around the city.

Metro Atlanta has new access to ultra high speed Internet with last month’s launch of AT&T GigaPower. The network features speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. AT&T home and small business customers in Atlanta and surrounding cities in the metropolitan region, including Decatur and Sandy Springs, can sign up for the service now. AT&T’s announcement comes on the heels of Google announcing it will bring ultra high speed Internet to the metro area, while Comcast is also planning to upgrade its network. The cost of AT&T GigaPower isn’t cheap: $120 per month for standalone service. U-Verse customers will have options to bundle and will also get faster Wi-Fi. For more information, or to check availability, visit att.com/gigapower.

Southern Co. has announced it will open a research and development innovation center at Georgia Tech. The utility holding company will open a 6,000-square-foot “Energy Innovation Center” at Tech Square in Midtown, where employees will work on next-generation energy technologies and products.

The City of Atlanta Department of Procurement has launched ATL Procurement, a new website developed to simplify the vendor registration process and make it easier for anyone interested in doing business with the city to quickly identify contract opportunities online. For more, visit atlantaga.gov/procurement.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Georgia (SVdP) has opened the Lakewood SunTrust Community Outreach Center at 1700 Lakewood Ave. in southeast Atlanta. Through a generous donation from SunTrust, the center will help meet the needs of local residents by offering many resources, including job training, job search skills, and economic and financial strategies for greater success and self-sufficiency in the new facility’s Family Support Center. The Community Outreach Center will also feature a Thrift Store and donation center, in addition to a Client Choice Food Pantry, which provides clients the opportunity to shop for their own food much like they would in a grocery store.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that developers want to build a 165,000-square-foot office building on North Avenue between Boulevard and Glen Iris Drive. The building, called 525 North, would be built of glass and terracotta stone as a nod to the mixed-use Ponce City Market just down the street. There would be belowgrade retail to match the elevation of the hill as well as a rooftop terrace.

On-demand delivery service Postmates has launched in Atlanta allowing customers to order in from any store or restaurant for delivery in under an hour. This means breakfast from Highland Bakery, Smokebelly BBQ without leaving home, groceries from Whole Foods at the touch of a button, prescriptions from the pharmacy delivered in minutes, you get the idea. The initial delivery zone covers Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Emory University, Morningside-Lenox Park, Westside, Virginia-Highland, Druid Hills, Edgewood and Little Five Points. Deliveries start at $5 and customers pay for everything within the app – including tip – so you never have to run out and get cash. Download the app for iPhone or Android.

alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet has opened its 16th retail location in the Buckhead Atlanta development. The new store carries the brand’s complete offering, including gowns, shoes, handbags, accessories as well as hand-selected special products.

The Atlanta regional office of American Jewish Committee will honor Eliot M. Arnovitz, President and CEO of M&P Shopping Centers, with its prestigious Selig Distinguished Service Award. It will be presented on May 4 at 6 pm at The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. For more information about American Jewish Committee or to attend the event, visit AJCAtlanta.org/Selig2015.

DeskHub, a collaborative entrepreneurial workspace, has opened in Buckhead. At just 10,000 square-feet, the Atlanta location offers various amenities for those who need a workspace away from home. DeskHub is at 3565 Piedmont Road, Building 4, Suite 200. Visit DeskHub.com for more information.

May 1–10

Pictured are, from left to right: John Berry, CEO and executive director, Society of St. Vincent de Paul; Ceasar Mitchell, president of the Atlanta City Council; Jenner Wood, SunTrust’s Atlanta Division chairman and CEO; and Kevin Barbee, COO, Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

SMART GARDEN

Edgewood Community Learning Garden built for kids

By Annie Kinnett Nichols

Community gardens are starting to flourish around Intown, but Edgewood Community Learning Garden in partnership with the Wylde Center is not just a garden – it’s a destination.

Located at the corner of Hardee Street and Mayson Avenue, the greenspace might be mistaken for a local park with its playground, benches and gazebo. But take a closer look and you’ll spot chickens, bees and tidy gardens growing all sorts of tasty vegetables. I met up with Monica Ponce, the manager of the garden, and got schooled on what the Edgewood Garden is up to.

Ponce said each busload of students that visit the garden brings new opportunities to educate kids about things they are already learning in the classroom. For instance, if students are studying George Washington Carver they can tie in his background of botany and inventions to the garden. History, science, politics and the weather can also be tied with a visit to the garden.

Meanwhile, Ponce said the garden also educates kids on where there food

comes from. School field trips to the garden yield awareness that carrots come from under the ground and chicken eggs come from a chicken not a carton.

“Today’s city children don’t always understand that they can easily grow a garden of their own and eat fresh veggies that they planted,” Ponce said.

The Edgewood garden uses all natural resources including two beehives that are located in the chicken coop. The chickens help the bees survive by eating beetles that get into the hive and destroy it. The healthy bees then pollinate the garden and keep it growing. They also make yummy honey and the kids can see that honey comes from bees instead of the grocery store.

Ponce said everything in the garden is used as a tool to teach eager kids. “They all have a blast and get to plant and visit again to see their food harvested,” she said.

The beautiful garden has also brought the neighborhood together as a place to relax and have fun. The playground was built to entice moms and wee ones to come to the garden as well. It’s open from dawn to dusk and most mornings you will see Ponce pulling weeds, watering chickens, and working the garden.

Grab your brood and come out and see for yourself on Sunday, May 17, when the garden will host the Spring Sprout Festival from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will feature games, crafts, a DS, pizza and popsicles from King of Pops.

To learn more about the Edgewood Garden, visit wyldecenter.org/edgewoodcommunity-learning-garden.

Photos by Annie Nichols

At left, Edgewood Community Learning Garden manager Monica Ponce with one of the chickens. Above, vegetables and flowers take root at the garden space.

EcoBriefs

Park Pride’s Community Garden Tour is May 30 from 1 to 5 p.m. Join Park Pride to get inspired by what’s growing in Atlanta and to network with local garden enthusiasts Whether you are an experienced or novice gardener or interested to learn more about community gardens, this tour will provide plenty of insight and inspiration. Members of each garden will be on site to provide an overview of their garden and to answer your questions. Come fall in love with our growing community, cycling and our city. The cost is $10 if you bike to the event or $25 for the bus option. For more information and registration parkpride.org/get-involved/ events.

Stephanie Stuckey Benfield has been appointed as the new Director of the Office of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta. Benfield, a former state representative from DeKalb County and long-time environmental advocate, will lead the city’s sustainability efforts as former director Denise Quarles transitions back to a career in the private sector. “I am excited to have another capable, experienced leader join the Office of Sustainability,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “Stephanie Stuckey Benfield has distinguished herself in her advocacy for sustainability and our environment from her time in the Georgia General Assembly to her leadership at GreenLaw. I look forward to working with Ms. Benfield to keep Atlanta on the path to being one of the top sustainable cities.” Benfield has served as the executive director of GreenLaw for the past three years, an Atlanta-based organization providing legal and technical assistance to environmental and community groups statewide.

Tickets go on sale May 1 and are expected to go fast for the Wylde Center’s Beer Garden Silent Auction and Fundraiser on June 28 in the Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road, Decatur. The popular event brings together a number of local brews, food and music for a casual evening outdoors. A VIP Happy Hour begins at 4:30 p.m., while the main event lasts from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. VIP tickets are $75 and are available at wyldecenter. org/beer-garden. The Beer Garden is presented by Chip Wallace of Keller Knapp and all attendees must be at least 21 years old.

Taking green meetings to the next level, The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Downtown is launching the Green Tour. This new on-site specialty event for meeting attendees provides a behind-the-scenes look at the sustainability, conservation and environmental efficiency efforts in the John Portman-designed, iconic AAA Four Diamond hotel. Guests will get a look at how the hotel handles recycling, environmental practices in the kitchen and room cleaning.

Canterbury Court , an independent retirement/assisted living community off of Peachtree Road in Buckhead, has won a GIPPY Trailblazer Award from Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) for Canterbury’s recycling program, which kept more than 45 tons of recyclable materials out of Atlanta’s landfills in 2014 alone. GIPL is a non-profit interfaith group promoting sustainability among Atlanta’s religious community. Other winners were Central Presbyterian for an environmental retro-fit of their building, St. Phillips AME Church for offering annual recycling events and a fresh food market on their property, and Young Israel Synagogue for building the first EarthCraft certified house of worship in the Southeast.

Open for Business

The Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market in Buckhead officially opened for the 2015 season on April 11 at the Cathedral of St. Philip. The market will continue on Saturdays through December 19.

At Left, Meredith Hopkins and her son Knox buy Simply Fresh juice from vendor Dolores Svensson.

At right, Yasir Araya represents Eden Easy Beds, a company that sells succulents in handcrafted cedar planters.

The Office of Sustainability today announced that the City of Atlanta and metropolitan region rank third on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) seventh-annual list of the top 25 U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings in 2014. The 328 Energy Star labeled buildings in Atlanta achieved significant reductions in their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. These buildings represent more than 69 million square feet and will save more than $55 million annually in energy costs while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions of 48,700 homes a year. Find out more on the 2015 top cities at energystar.gov/topcities.

Atlanta’s first permanent facility for the recycling of all those objects that are too harmful or bulky to place at the curb is officially open. CHaRM – the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials – encourages reuse while diverting thousands of pounds of household hazardous waste, bulky trash and other hard to recycle items from local homes, water supplies and landfills. CHaRM, located at 1110 Hill Street, is open Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

ISADORA PENNINGTON

MAY FESTIVAL GUIDE

Arts and crafts abound around Intown

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

If you didn’t get your fill of arts and crafts festivals in April, don’t worry – there are plenty more happening around Intown. From Sweet Auburn to Buckhead and Decatur to Kirkwood, keep your weekend’s open all month long.

Decatur Arts Festival

The 27th annual festival will be held Memorial Day weekend in and around downtown Decatur. The event kicks off May 22 with an ArtWalk around Decatur and the Oakhurst neighborhood to participating galleries and businesses. The giant artist market downtown will be open May 2324 featuring vendors from all over the region. There will also be live music, dance, performing arts, literary events, a kid’s area, food and much more. See the full schedule at decaturartsfestival.com.

VirginiaHighland Summerfest

Looking ahead, the 32nd annual Summerfest will be held June 6-7 on Virginia Avenue between North Highland and Park Drive. There will be arts, crafts, a 5K road race, children’s area and live music. For more, visit vahi.org/summerfest.

Sweet Auburn Springfest

The 31st annual festival will be held May 8-10 along Downtown’s historic Auburn Avenue, featuring three days of food, entertainment and information. Details were still be worked out at press time, but expect a kids’ fun zone, international food court, zip line and plenty of live music. Visit sweetauburn.com for more information.

Fire in the 4th

The Old Fourth Ward Business Association, Atlanta Fire Foundation and the Imperial OPA Circus will host the inaugural Fire in the 4th Festival on Edgewood and Auburn Avenues on May 2 from 2 to 10 p.m. An homage to the historic Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, there will be fire awareness activities, street performances, music, art installations and much more. Information: fireinthe4th.com.

Kirkwood Spring Fling

The 13th annual Kirkwood Spring Fling and Tour of Homes is set for May 16 at Bessie Branham Park. The day begins at 8 a.m. with a 5K road race along Hosea Williams Drive, while the artist market will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There will be live music, a kids’ area, food from local vendors and a Barbecue Cookoff are also on tap. On May 16-17 is the Kirkwood Tour of Homes, featuring classic Victorian cottages to modern lofts and everything in between. Tickets for the home tour are $20 and available online. Admission to the festival is free, while proceeds from the home tour benefit the Kirkwood Neighbors Organization. For more, visit kirkwoodfling.com.

PUPPETS IN THE PARK

Horizon Theatre brings Avenue Q to Piedmont Park

Okay, so it’s not Shakespeare, but you’re sure to have a laugh when Horizon Theatre brings the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q to Piedmont Park on June 3-7.

Thousands of free tickets will be available to the public beginning May 1 for the special “PG-13” edition of the musical featuring some decidedly adult puppets.

Thanks to a major grant from The Charles Loridans Foundation, a supporting grant from the Mark and Evelyn Trammell Foundation and a partnership with the Piedmont Park Conservancy, Horizon continues the tradition begun by Georgia Shakespeare of bringing free professional theatre to Piedmont Park this summer, giving new audiences a chance to experience Horizon.

Park performances will be Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 PM, and audiences will provide their own blanket or low beach chair. Grounds open for picnicking at 6 p.m. Free and $15 reserved seating section tickets are available online at horizontheatre. com beginning May 1.

Following the Piedmont Park run, Avenue Q goes straight to the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University. At the Conant, Horizon will present both the original adult version of Avenue Q and a few performances of the PG-13 edition in rotating repertory. The production will run June 12 through July 12.

Chastain Park Arts Festival

The festival formerly known as the Buckhead Arts & Crafts Festival has transformed into a spring edition, May 9-10, of the popular November event. There will be 185 artists representing all disciplines, a children’s play area and local food vendors. There will also be live acoustic music from Dara Niemi, Courtney Dickson, Larry Griffith, Sarah Miles, The First Stone, Adam Clifford and more. For more, visit chastainparkartsfestival.com.

Chris Phelam Deb Stephens

Francine Allen Greg Williamson

Kerry Loftis Lexa King

Lisa Crowder Pam Handler Rebecca Feldstein Art Auerbach

Brian Guffey Sierra Nobles

Constance Daniels Greta Holland

John Eder Kim Artis Robert Tindall Thom York

MOVIE MEMORIES

A requiem for the demolished Garden Hills Cinema

By Collin Kelley

The first movie I ever saw at Garden Hills Cinema was “Howards End’ in 1992. I was giddily in love, desperate for my first trip to the UK and utterly charmed by the fading glory of the old theater with its tattered velvet curtain and creaking seats.

The love affair lasted a year, but my love for Garden Hills continued until it closed its doors in October 2006. I saw what are now some of my favorite films there: “Orlando,” “All About My Mother,” “Welcome to the Dollhouse,” “Like Water for Chocolate,” Kieslowski’s “Three Colors” trilogy, “Ghost World,” “Requiem for a Dream,” and Derek Jarman’s “Edward II,” to name a few.

This was when George Lefont owned the cinema and screened foreign and indie films while multiplexes and mindless Hollywood blockbusters slowly encroached on the little movie palaces. Before Lefont, the cinema was operated by Affiliated Theaters and later the Weiss theater chain, when it was known as the Garden Hills Fine Art Theatre.

There was talk of resurrecting the cinema, but that ended in December 2013 when a fire gutted the Atlanta Bike shop and caused significant water and smoke damage to the other businesses in the Peachtree Road strip. On March 16, the wrecking ball arrived to begin demolition. The only thing that remains at the corner of Peachtree and Rumson is the part of the strip that houses La Fonda and Fellini’s restaurants.

The loss of Garden Hills Cinema hit me just as hard as when Lefont’s other indie theaters closed: The Silver Screen in Peachtree Battle Shopping Center, Toco Hills Theater, Ansley Cinema in Ansley Mall and The Screening Room in the old Lindbergh Plaza. Lefont also owned The Plaza Theatre and Tara Cinema – both,

thankfully, still in operation under other owners – but all that remains of his indie cinema empire is Lefont Sandy Springs. Cinema hasn’t been the same since in Atlanta. Sure, Garden Hills could be a pain in the neck. Parking in the tiny lot behind the building was often impossible; there was a single ticket booth and concession stand line; the circa-1939 cinema had a distinctly musty smell (although I would argue that was part of the charm) and you could feel every one of the springs in those seats. Yet, the minor hassles were worth it once the lights dimmed and the curtain opened. In the 90s, my weekends revolved around the also long-gone Oxford Books, coffee and dessert at Café Intermezzo and a movie at Garden Hills.

What will happen to the spot where Garden Hills Cinema once stood is unknown. Brand Properties, which owns the site, said it does not have a timeline for redevelopment, but has promised it will engage with Garden Hills’ residents about what is appropriate for the space.

A new building, whether it’s for retail or restaurants, will eventually rise there, but when I pass the spot where Garden Hills Cinema once stood, I’ll remember being young and in love, Emma Thompson’s lilting accent and the way the English rain sounded so deliciously close. Garden Hills transported me to other worlds, and I am forever grateful.

Courtesy Cinema Treasures

At left, ticket stubs from the old Lefont Garden Hills Cinema. Above, a historic image of the cinema when it was known as the Garden Hill Fine Art Theatre.

Spinning Around

The High Museum has installed interactive art sculptures around Midtown as part of its new exhibition, “Los Trompos.” The sculptures, created by Mexican designers Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena, compliment the 40 others created for the show. The motion of the kinetic art pieces imitate a spinning top—the Mexican toy from which the designers drew their inspiration.The “Los Trompos” exhibit pieces are located at Selig Enterprises, 12th & Spring Street; Midtown Alliance/Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, 11th and Peachtree Street; Midtown Alliance Art District Plaza, 15th and Peachtree; Bank of America Plaza, North and Peachtree; The Office of the Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology, Clough Commons on the Tech campus; Cousins Properties, 1230 Peachtree Street; and Franklin Street Properties, 999 Peachtree Street. For more about the exhibition, visit high.org.

Visual Arts

Endless Road: A Look at Nexus Press: For 26 years Nexus Press brought the world to the South and the South out to the world through its artists’ books, and now Atlanta Contemporary Art Center reflects on that innovative work. Opens May 1. $5 to $8. thecontemporary.org

Mona Kuhn: Private: Artist Mona Kuhn turns her attention to minutiae in the heart of the American Desert in both Mojave and Arizona at this Jackson Fine Art exhibit. Closes May 8. Free. jacksonfineart.com

Archaeomancy: Signature collage artist Mike Germon explores the relationship between science and mythology - with items like periodic table Ouija boards - in this Beep Beep Gallery show. Closes May 9. Free. facebook.com/ beepbeepgallery

The Old Gods and Their Crumbling City: Matt Haffner combines the mythology and oral narratives of failing gods that live amongst us in this exhibit of salvaged and scavenged urban materials. Closes May 9. Free. whitespace814.com

We Had Arrived in Georgia: The von Reck Sketchbook: Von Reck’s sketchbook of his time exploring the colony of Georgia went undiscovered for nearly 250 years, and now the Atlanta History Center has these drawings on display in the Kenan Resarch Center. Opens May 28. Free. atlantahistorycenter.com

There Will Come Soft Rains:

Matthew Day Jackson uses Sara Teasdale’s 1920 poem in this collection of photographs that merge his own personal history with relics and markers of America’s natural history. Monday through Friday. Free. scad.edu

Performing Arts

Arts at Oakland: The Cryptophonic Tour: The Arts at Oakland program debuts with Callosum Collective’s ROAMtransmissions, an interactive installation featuring more than a dozen sound, multimedia and performance artists. May 2. $10 to $15. oaklandcemetery.com

Chamber Music at the Tavern — GRAND FINALE: The Atlanta Chamber Players presents its season finale concert featuring noted French and American composers, such as Philip Glass and Debussy. May 5. $15 to $24. atlantachamberplayers.com

Pippin: Broadway’s high-flying, death-defying hit musical comes to the Fox Theatre for a week of extraordinary acrobatics and songs from the composer of “Wicked.” May 5 through May 10. $30 to $80. broadwayinatlanta.com

The Molly Blank Jewish Concert Series: Ester Rada: Israeli-Ethiopian singer

Ester Rada brings her Ethiopian, American and Israeli influenced music to The Breman for this concert series. May 7. $50. thebreman.org

Musical Jokes: Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta presents this concert of lighthearted music at the Carlos interspersed with jokes about music and musicians. May 8. Free! arts.emory.edu

Shaky Knees Music Festival: Atlanta welcomes back its popular music festival, this year at Central Park in the Old Fourth Ward, with headliners The Avett Brothers, Wilco, James Blake and more. May 8 through May 10. $99 to $250. shakykneesfestival.com

Once Upon a Time: The Georgia Philharmonic season finale takes audiences through a storybook with Stravinsky‘s

ATLANTA JAZZ FEST PHAROAH SANDERS

“Firebird Suite,” Saint-Saens’ “Danse Macabre” and more. May 9. $10 to $30. georgiaphilharmonic.org

Peter Pan: Fabrefaction Theatre Company brings this story of lost boys and pirate captains to the stage in a collaboration between student artists and Atlanta’s young-at-heart professionals. Closes May 10. $20 to $30. fabrefaction. org

Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally: Married comedy couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally share stories of their yearslong love affair in this modern variety show. May 13. $39.50. tabernacleatl.com

The Whale: Actor’s Express Artistic Director Freddie Ashley ends his four year absence from the stage with this show about a man who’s isolated and hungering for redemption. Opens May 13. $20 to $32. actors-express.com

Xperimental Puppetry Theater (XPT): Every year, dozens of artists come together for this program of experimental puppet theater for adults. May 14 through May 17. $15. puppet.org

PIPPIN

NICK OFFERMAN AND MEGAN MULLALLY

MATT HAFFNER

ESTER RADA

SHAKY KNEES FESTIVAL AVETT BROTHERS

MAYhem: This explosive program from the Atlanta Ballet looks at the future of dance with new choreographic voices, live music, and bold displays of dance. May 15 through May 17. $23 to $124. atlantaballet. com

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike: In this hilarious comedy, Vanya and his sister, live a quiet life in the Pennsylvania farmhouse, until their movie star sister arrives unannounced with her 20-something boy toy. Opens May 15. $25 to $35. horizontheatre.com

Magnifical & Mighty: Experience the magnificence of choral music from the Queen’s country in this program centered around composer Benjamin Britten. May 16. $20. atlantamasterchorale.org

Atlanta Jazz Festival: Saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, jazz vocalist Diane Schuur, and New York City’s The Rad Trads lead the 38th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park. May 22 through May 24. Free! atlantafestivals.com

Coriolanus: An Achilles-like character, disdain for democracy, and disloyalty lead this bloody tale of Shakespearean betrayal at Atlanta Shakespeare Company. Opens May 28. $15 to $39. shakespearetavern. com

Three Decembers: The Atlanta Opera returns to Midtown in collaboration with the Alliance Theatre for a new, contemporary chamber opera about a Broadway diva and her two unhappy children. May 29 through May 31. $50. atlantaopera.org

King of Pops, The PostApocalyptic Musical!: After taking Atlanta by storm, the next stop for the King of Pops is on the Dad’s Garage comedy stage with the (fictional) origin stories behind popular flavors and one man’s dream to bring popsicles to the people. Closes May 30. $12.50 to $20.50. dadsgarage.com

APO Late Spring 2015 Concert: TEN!: Celebrate the 10th season of the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra with special guests from the Atlanta Symphony in a program including works by Elgar, Beethoven and Rossini. May 31. $10. atlantaphilharmonic.org

Community Calendar

May 2015

To submit your calendar listings, please email details to calendar@atlantaintownpaper.com

Family Story Time - Mondays, May 4, May 11 and May 18, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Ponce de Leon Branch Library hosts a weekly story time for toddlers. The event features stories, songs and puppets for toddlers and preschoolers ages 2-5. Free and open to library members. Ponce de Leon Branch Library, 980 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. For more information, go to the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System website at afpls.org/events or call 404-885-7820.

Pick’n in Grant Park BBQ & Music Festival - Friday, May 8 through Saturday, May 9. The Grant Park Conservancy presents the first annual BBQ and music fest featuring a professional and amateur BBQ competition, live local music, vendor street market, and kid friendly Family Fun Zone. Free to attend, cost for tastings TBD. Grant Park, 840 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. To learn more about the event and to compete in the BBQ competition, go online to their website at grantparkbbq.org/home.

Made Again

Green Drinks at Made Again - Wednesday, May 13, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Made Again, a community of Atlanta artists, designers and furniture celebrates the opening of their flagship store at Inman Quarter. The Green Drinks event will feature live demos of green processes by local artists, wine, free beer from Athens craft brewer Creature Comforts, and a chance to browse the Made Again gallery. Free and open to the public. Made Again, 280 Elizabeth St Suite H.2, Atlanta, GA 30307. For more information, go online to their website at madeagainatl.com.

Decatur Lantern Parade - Friday, May 15, 8:30 p.m. The Color Wheel Studio, Decatur Arts Alliance, Decatur Education Foundation and Indie-Catur are coming together to host the second annual community Lantern Parade. The line up begins at sunset and will wind through the neighborhood. Meet at the Color Wheel Studio, 112 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030. For more information, go online to the website at decaturartsfestival.com/festival-events/lanternparade.

East Atlanta Craft Beer Festival - Saturday, May 16, 12 p.m. through 5 p.m. at Brownwood Park. This entirely volunteer-run craft beer event will feature more than 230 amazing beers, a shady park setting, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the East Atlanta Foundation nonprofit organization. VIP advance tickets are $75 each, general admission advance tickets are $40 each, VIP day-of tickets are $85 each and general admission day-of tickets are $50 each. Brownwood Park in East Atlanta, 1247 Portland Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. For more information and to buy tickets, go online to their website at eastatlantabeerfest.com.

Vintage Spring Fling on Ponce - Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kiwi Vintage partners with the Lucky Exchange to present a one day pop-up market in Midtown. 16 vintage vendors and local artisans will have goods for sale, featuring The Taste Vintage ice-cream truck, a polaroid picture contest sponsored by Electric Revival Vintage and a raffle sponsored by Kiwi Vintage and Move Loot. Free and open to the public. The Lucky Exchange, 212 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. For more information, go online to their website at kiwivintage.com.

Play Day - Sunday, May 17. Play Day is a free day of sports, fitness, and health initiatives including soccer, softball, ultimate, lacrosse, tennis, basketball, hockey, skating, rugby, flag football, golf, kickball, lacrosse, dodgeball, dance, gymnastics, relay races, fitness classes, yoga, and more. The event is sponsored by Atlanta Contact Point and the first 100 participants will receive a commemorative Play Day shirt. Adair Park, Atlanta, GA 30310. For more information and a lineup of events, go to their website at atlcp.org/play-day.

Reynoldstown Cornhole Tournament - Saturday, May 23, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Teams of two cost $40 each, solo players $20 each, all proceeds benefit Friends of Lang-Carson Park (FOLC), an organization of community volunteers. Food and beer included. Lang Carson Park, 100 Flat Shoals Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. For more information, go to the FOLC website at langcarson.org.

MomoCon: Animation, Gaming, and Comic Convention - Thursday, May 28 through Sunday, May 31 at the Georgia World Congress Center. MomoCon is an all ages anime convention featuring celebrity voice talent, designers, and writers behind fan favorite shows, games, comics and more. See website for pricing details. 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30303. To learn more and purchase tickets, go online to their website at www.momocon.com.

Candler Park Music & Food Festival - Friday, May 29 through Saturday, May 30 at Candler Park. This music and food festival offers dozens of Atlanta food trucks and festival food favorites, an artist and craft market, and a Saturday morning Gallop & Groove 5k run to benefit Atlanta Contact Point. Tickets range from free admission to a $40 VIP experience, see website for pricing details. 1500 McLendon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. To learn more and purchase tickets, go online to their website at candlerparkmusicfestival.com.

20th Annual Hambidge Art Auction - Saturday, May 30, 5 p.m. Co-presented and hosted by the Goat Farm Arts Center, this art event features a curated silent art auction, performance gala and series of Field Experiment installations. This year’s new performances and installations will showcase five finalists from a new public art initiative jointly launched by the Goat Farm Arts Center and Hambidge in February 2015. All proceeds go to the Hambidge Center, which for 80 years has provided residency fellowships to distinguished artists and scientists at a 600-acre creative sanctuary in the Blue Ridge Mountains. General admission tickets are $50 in advance or $55 at the door. Goat Farm Arts Center, 1200 Foster St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. For more information or to purchase tickets go online to their website at hambidge.org/the-auction or call 706-746-7324.

Hambidge Art Auction

Decatur Lantern Parade

NEW RESTAURANTS GALORE

Atlanta’s dining scene continues to explode with options

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Atlanta’s boast of being an “international city” gets a boost from the diverse and eclectic restaurants that call the city home. There is, literally, something for every palate, especially in the crop of newly opened restaurants and those on the immediate horizon. As spring rolls on and summer approaches, we’ve done a roundup of eateries for you to check out. Don’t see your favorite on this list? Let us know at AtlantaINtownPaper.com.

Now Open

Atlas

A new chef-driven restaurant developed by restaurateur and consulting chef Gerry Klaskala and Tavistock Group, is now open at The St. Regis Atlanta, 88 West Paces Ferry Road, in Buckhead. The dinner-only restaurant features a menu of fresh ingredients from local farms with American and European influences. Information: atlasrestaurant.com.

Chama Gaucha

The Brazilian steakhouse concept has opened its first location in the southeast in Buckhead. Slow-roasted beef, marinated chicken, pork sausage, antipasto and charcuterie are all on the menu. The restaurant is at 3365 Piedmont Road, Suite 1350. Information: chamagaucha.com.

Community Smith

Chef Micah Willix is serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails at this “modern meatery” on at 866 West Peachtree in Midtown. Information: communitysmithatl.com.

Illegal Food

Originally began as a pop-up in the Joystick Gamebar on Edgewood Avenue, Illegal Food now has its own space in the former Bar Meatball space at 1044 Greenwood Ave. in Virginia-Highland. The restaurant is serving its award-winning burgers in addition to a full menu of appetizers, sandwiches, entrées, desserts and custom cocktails. Information: illegalfoodatlanta.com.

Diner

Ron Eyester reimagines the classic American diner in his latest concept at Atlantic Station. You can get biscuits and gravy or steak and eggs for breakfast, while the lunch menu has pork chops, beef tips, meatloaf and smothered chicken. Information: dineratlanta.com.

Doraku Sushi

The newly opened Japanese restaurant at Buckhead Atlanta draws inspiration from Asian and Latin flavors and is served family style. Information: dorakusushi.com.

Gu’s Dumplings

The latest addition to the eclectic mix at Krog Street Market in Inman Market is the Gu family’s fresh and fragrant menu highlighting Szechuan dumplings and noodles, many of which are a staple at Gu’s Bistro. Information: GusDumplings.com.

Hi-Five Diner

Villains sandwich shop might be gone temporarily, but fans of Alex Brounstein can check out his new diner at 903 Peachtree in Midtown, which serves up all day breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a full coffee and espresso counter and a fully stocked bar with cocktails, craft beer and wine. Information: hifivediner.com.

Little 5 Corner Tavern

A fire in early 2013 caused major damage to the watering hole at 1174 Euclid Ave., but its back in business serving burgers sandwiches, along with pool, karaoke, trivia and weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas. Information: thecornertavern.com.

Saltwood

Located inside the Loews Atlanta Hotel in Midtown, the small-plate-style restaurant features a charcuterie-driven menu and craft cocktails. The casual dining concept – named for its emphasis on salted, cured meats and classically rustic presentation on wood blocks – merges the former Restaurant eleven and Bar eleven into one open space filled with reclaimed wood communal tables and modern, mismatched seating. Information: facebook.com/ SaltwoodAtlanta.

Kabob Land

Grilled skewers of meat, fish and vegetables served over salads, in wraps, atop flatbreads or heaped on platters, the new fast casual eatery is open at 3137 Piedmont Road in Buckhead. Information: kaboblandatl.com.

Le Fat

Guy Wong's Vietnamese restaurant in the former Yum Bunz space on the Westside is finally open after a nearly year of delays. Be sure to check out Art Huckabee’s review on Page 40 of this issue.

Red Martini

This upscale lounge is offering up small plates, sushi and martinis in the heart of Buckhead at 3179 Peachtree Road. Information: redmartiniatlanta.com.

Superica

Chef Ford Fry is a force of nature on the Atlanta restaurant scene and his concepts continue to be big hits with diners. Twohour waits at the “Mex-Tex” (tacos, enchiladas, fajitas) sitdown in Krog Street Market in Inman Park aren’t uncommon. Ford is also planning a new concept at Inman Quarter (rumored to be a sister restaurant to his Westside hit, The Optimist) and recently announced he’s taking over the old Abbatoir space at Westside Provision District. Information: supericaatl.com.

Scales 925

Rap star T.I. (Clifford Harris to his mama) has opened his upscale Southern restaurant in the former French American Brasserie space at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Boulevard in Downtown. The menu includes shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, short ribs, triple duck meatloaf and much more. Information: scales925.com.

Victory Sandwich Bar - Inman Park

After its original space was bulldozed to make way for the Inman Quarter development, it’s been a long drive to Decatur for a sammie and Jack & Coke slushie waiting for Victory’s return. The wait is over. The local favorite has taken over the old Park’s Edge space on Bernina Avenue and was expected to open this month. Information: vicsandwich.com.

Coming Soon

American Cut and Lugo Cucina Italiana

The Manhattan “new American steakhouse” from LDV Hospitality and Iron Chef Marc Forgione will open a second outpost in the Buckhead Atlanta development soon. The team also plans to open Lugo Cucina there as well, offering up its own lines of prosecco, chianti and pino grigio along with homemade pastas. Information: buckhead-atl.com.

Grindhouse Killer Burgers - Decatur

Ground was broken in March on North McDonough (just next door to the Chickfil-a) for the new outpost of Grindhouse. In the meantime, get your burger and crinkle-cut fry fix out the original location at Sweet Auburn Curb Market or on Piedmont Road in Morningside. Information: grindhouseburgers.com.

Hampton & Hudson

Billy and Jenn Streck, creators of Cypress Street Pint & Plate and GRAIN) have their eyes set on Inman Park this fall. The “community driven bar and restaurant” will be located in Inman Quarter on North Highland.

Highland Bakery - Decatur

The Old Fourth Ward breakfast, lunch and brunch favorite has seen a fairly rapid expansion in the last few years with locations in Midtown, Buckhead and the Emory and Georgia Tech campuses. Decaturites will get their chance to see what the fuss is all about later this summer when the 3,000 square foot restaurant opens in the mixed-use The Place on Ponce development. Also planned for the development, according to Tomorrow’s News Today, are Taziki’s Mediterranean Café and I Love Juice Bar.

Linton’s in the Garden

Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch creator Linton Hopkins is planning to open this “plant-to-plate” restaurant on the grounds of the Atlanta Botanical Garden in the fall.

Revival

Top Chef favorite Kevin Gillespie has his sights set on Decatur and plans to open Revival in the old Harbour House space on Church Street in June. In a recent interview with Decaturish, Gillespie said the menu will honor the cooking traditions of his grandmother and offer up family-style Southern meals.

Staplehouse

Created by Ryan and Jen Hidinger to support The Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that supports members of the restaurant community in their time of need, is set to open this summer. Ryan lost his battle with cancer last year, but the restaurant is on track for a summer opening on Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward.

Urban pL8

Chef Betsy Pitts will bring her “healthconscious new American food” to Krog Street Market in Inman Park this fall. Urban pL8 will offer a wide variety of prepared meals in addition to their popular Paleo offerings, which are part of her popular Paleo 2 Go meal delivery service. Information: urbanpl8.com.

Pallookaville Junior

Pallookaville Junior

Jim Stacy, owner of Pallookaville Fine Foods in Avondale Estates, is currently renovating a former hair salon space in Little Five Points at 1107 Euclid Avenue. The new take-out only spot will offer an abbreviated version of Pallookaville’s original menu and is set to open sometime in May. Information: pallookaville.com.

bartaco

The restaurant group behind the popular Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park plans to open bartaco just across the street in the new Inman Quarter mixed-use development later this year. The menu features tacos, rice bowls and an impressive drinks selection. If you can’t wait, check out the recently opened bartaco in Chastain Park or the one on West Marietta Street near Downtown. Also in the works: a second Barcelona Wine Bar on Howell Mill Road in the Westside Ironworks development. Information: bartaco.com.

Central Food Hall at Ponce City Market

The restaurants and food stalls in the renovated Sears & Roebuck building in the Old Fourth Ward will be opening soon including Dub’s Fish Camp from Anne Quatrano, H&F Burger from Linton Hopkins, Sean Brock’s Mexican concept called Minero and Guy Wong’s Japanese restaurant Ton Ton. Keep an eye on poncecitymarket.com for opening dates.

MF Sushi

Brothers Chris and Alex Kinjo will revive MF Sushi this month in the Inman Quarter development on North Highland Avenue in Inman Park. There were previous incarnations in Buckhead and Midtown. Let’s hope this one sticks. Information: mfsushiusa.com.

Intown Food Festivals

Taste of the Nation:

The 27th annual culinary event is set for May 7, 7:30-10 p.m., at the Georgia Aquarium and will benefit No Kid Hungry. Some of Atlanta’s most celebrated chefs and mixologists will be on hand for the event including 4th & Swift, Chops, Davio’s, 10 Degrees South, Holeman and Finch, KR Steak Bar, Bacchanalia, Rosebud, See, Canoe and many others. To purchase tickets for Atlanta’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, visit NoKidHungry.org/Atlanta.

Atlantic Station Restaurant Week:

The second annual event is set for May 9-17 with lunch menus from $10-$15 and dinner menus from $25-$35. A list of participating restaurants had not been released at press time, so visit atlanticstation.com for details.

Downtown Steak Week:

If you’re hankerin’ for a hunk of meat, then Downtown Atlanta is the place to be May 11-17. Diners will find creative interpretations of steak dishes at participating restaurants: Alma Cocina, Café 458, Cuts Steakhouse, Fire of Brazil, Jalapeño Charlie’s, McCormick and Schmick’s, Nikolai’s Roof, Polaris, Prime Meridian, Ray’s in the City, ROOM at TWELVE, Sway, Thrive, Trader Vic’s, Truva and Twenty-Two Storys. For more information, visit DowntownSteakWeek.com.

A Taste of the Highlands:

The annual benefit for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will be held May 16, 2-5 p.m., in John Howell park in Virginia-Highland. Participating restaurants include Alma Cocina, Alon’s, Atkins Park, Chow Baby, DBA Barbecue, The Family Dog, Rosebud, El Taco, Ecco, Flip Burger, Last Word, La Tavola, Lure, Mi Cocina, Noche, Osteria 832, San Francisco Coffee, Timone’s, The Warren, Woody’s, Mali, Murphy’s, Genki, Barcelona, Fontaine’s, Highland Tap, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Cato Family Vineyards, Cypress Street Pint & Plate, Doc Chey’s, Black Stallion Winery, Grain and Belle Ambiance Vineyards. For details visit, tasteofthehighlands.com.

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival:

The fifth annual event returns May 28-31 to the streets of Midtown. The festival will lead attendees on journey through the Southern region with an extensive schedule of programs, classes, events and guest appearances. Chefs from around the southeast will converge on Atlanta to prepare and talk about food. Tickets are $100 per person for entrance to the Tasting Tents. A day pass, which includes three Learning Experience events, is $185. A three-day pass is $575 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

Summer Staple

King of Pops continues to grow –one handmade popsicle at a time

By Isadora Pennington

We have all been there before: you’re at a festival or walking through your neighborhood and the sun is beating down on your back, the atmosphere thick and humid. You look around for some refreshment, some oasis from the heat, and then you catch a glimpse of a glimmering rainbow umbrella in the distance. Salvation looms in the form of frosty, handmade popsicles sold from a small, three wheel cart.

King of Pops is a staple of summers in Atlanta. Brothers Steve and Nick Carse came up with the concept back in 2009 while on vacation with their brother, Ashley, in Central America. During their trip, the brothers fell in love with the fresh fruit ice pops called paletas sold from roadside carts. When the brothers returned home they continued to talk and dream about one day starting a pop business of their very own. It was after mass layoffs at AIG, Steve’s employer, that they decided to bring their idea to life.

With the help of friends and family, the duo decided on the name King of Pops (not a reference to Michael Jackson, for the record) and started experimenting with creating the icy treats which Steve then sold at the corner of North and N. Highland avenue. Throughout the years, the company has expanded, grown, and accumulated a fanatical devotion and support from the community. The company has now opened kitchens and markets in Athens, Charleston, Charlotte, Greenville, Richmond and Savannah.

King of Pops is not only a company devoted to staying cool, they also have a desire to keep business local and use only fresh ingredients. For flavor combinations like Grapefruit Mint, Strawberry Lemonade and Raspberry Lime, the company has traditionally sourced fruits and veggies from smaller farms nearby and uses natural sweeteners like agave. The flavors often come and go with the seasons, a causality of their commitment to using fresh ingredients and, at times, a challenge for pop fans with less readily available favorites. “Popsicles are an easy medium for people to attach themselves to and we can ease them into local and sustainable foods,” said Steve.

On the opposite end of the pop spectrum from the light fruity pop is the creamy pop, one of which is arguably the most requested fan favorite of all flavors: the Chocolate Sea Salt. This rich and sweet chocolate pop is reminiscent of classic fudge pops with a taste of salt for added perk. Several of the creamy favorites include interesting textures, like Banana Puddin’ which contains chunks of fresh bananas, or the Key Lime Pie which features a graham cracker crust.

In addition to the initial corner spot of the Buddy’s lot in Poncey-Highlands, King of Pops can now be found at a variety of regular locations throughout the city. You can get your popsicle fix during hot months at spots like Decatur Square, the Window at King of Pops headquarters on the Atlanta BeltLine in Inman Park, and during most

festivals and outdoor events or concerts. From outposts as obscure as the Georgia Renaissance Festival (complete with appropriate period clothing) to catered weddings, fundraisers, and corporate events, these pops are all over the place. You can even special order alcoholic Poptails in your favorite flavor combination or customize the popsicle sticks to fit the occasion.

In 2014 the Carse brothers embarked upon a new undertaking and bought their very own farm west of Douglasville dubbed “King of Crops.” The 68-acre property currently hosts nurseries, greenhouses, open farmland and horses. “We’ll be able to control what we’re using for our popsicles a bit better,” Steve explained. “Using fresh fruit ingredients are key, the farm is an extension of that.” Eventually the company hopes to incorporate an event space and possibly dairy of some kind, and they plan to incorporate smaller and more accessible farm plots near each of the major kitchens throughout the Southeast.

While Steve has made cultivating the farm his priority, Nick has turned his attention to another element of the pop business: distribution. As a small brand, the King of Pops company has had to learn the hard way about getting optimal results from wholesale distribution and how easy it is to get lost among the larger scale products in the market. Nick is currently working on Perfect 10, a small brand distribution center. The new endeavor will focus on merchandising, selling and distributing effectively for no more than 10 brands at any given time. “We are going to focus mostly on urban markets,” Nick said. Though they are not opposed to larger outlets like certain mainstream grocers, their focus is more on fast-casual restaurants and neighborhood shops. “Those are our best customers,” he said.

What makes King of Pops special goes beyond the implementation of local foods and smart distribution. It is also the commitment to providing a fun atmosphere. Equipped with bright slinger tees and the classic rainbow umbrella, the team stands apart from first glance. “We want to make something that tastes great and uses the best ingredients we can find,” Matt explained, “but beyond that we want to have a good experience to go with it.”

The Carse brothers are certainly doing something right. King of Pops reigns supreme among local handcrafted treats in Atlanta, and there are plenty of ways to get involved. Just last month on their 5 year anniversary the team paired up with Mailchimp to offer free pops at all locations as a thank you, recently they began selling during Braves games at Turner Field, and they also host a free yoga class at the Old Fourth Ward skate park on Tuesday evenings at 7. For more information including ingredients, a list of seasonal flavors, catering, fundraising and updates on current cart locations, go to the King of Pops website at atlanta.kingofpops.net. Stay cool, Atlanta!

Top left, Steve Carse stands in the fields at the King of Crops farm.

Above, top to bottom, brother Nick Carse manages the distribution and has started the company Perfect 10. Tim Pethel stops by the window on the Beltline for a Raspberry Lime pop. Sales manager Matt Tanner poses at KOP headquarters in Inman Park. Creamy pops in production in the kitchen. Long-term employee Mac Herring slinging pops at the corner of North and North Highland.

PHOTOS BY ISADORA PENNINGTON

Seven Slices in Heaven

By Isadora Pennington

I remember the first time a classmate told me that they didn’t like pizza, I could hardly believe it. Everyone loves pizza! Despite being an incredibly picky eater as a child, I have always had a soft spot for the Italian classic. Thin crust or thick crust, sicilian or pan, it’s rare to come across a pizza I don’t like. Atlanta has a variety of beloved and respected neighborhood pizza joints, each with their own personality and following. In this series, I tasted and photographed pizzas from some of my favorite local spots.

Varuni Napoli, King of Napoli • Ansley Mall, 1540 Monroe Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 • varuni.us • (404) 709-2690

TASTING INTOWN: Le Fat Restaurant Review

By Art Huckabee

I want to like Le Fat.

This newest of Chef Guy Wong’s growing restaurant empire, occupying the same space as his short-lived Yum Bunz in bustling West Midtown, bills itself as a Vietnamese brasserie. I like that they offer reservations and valet parking, the lack of both, can make a Saturday night restaurant visit as stressful as trying to change a flat tire on Spaghetti Junction in rush hour.

The 3,330 square foot space designed by the same folks who did The Optimist, Watershed and JCT Kitchen, features an opulent bar, lots of cozy, “meet the strangers next to you” seating and a bakery counter that while forlorn at night probably bustles by day. There’s a good restaurant vibe but the underlying, unidentifiable music creates a distracting cacophony similar to the thumping music that car next to you at a red light thinks you want to hear.

I want to like Le Fat, despite our waiter’s snarky and impolite comments to one in our party who interrupts him during his welcome spiel; or the seeming fastidious manager, who with great flare refolds the napkin of one in our party who has stepped away, only to lay it obliviously upon a dirty tabletop.

There’s a variety of signature and classic cocktails, some requiring a UN interpreter to decipher the ingredients. There’s also an interesting list of beers by the bottle and wines by the glass.

The “crispy” spring rolls contain chicken, shrimp and wood ear mushrooms but their wrappers are allowed to languish in oil. The PEI mussels are plump and nicely cooked with lots of tasty sake lemongrass broth to sop up if only it didn’t require an act

of Congress to get another slice of country-charred bread. The soft-shell crab on a mantou-style steamed bun with crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato and Sambal mayo was a contrast in textures with the crispy crab and bacon playing against the pillowy soft Chinese-style bun. It was a good dish needing just a little more spice from the Sambal.

Unfortunately several of its specialty dishes lack just that, anything to make them special. The Bo Luc Lac, or Shaking Beef, a reference to the wok preparation, was tender Angus

Art Huckabee

Bo Luc Lac, or Shaking Beef, prepared in a wok.

beef lacking the promised sear and served over wilted Romaine lettuce, missing the contrast of watercress that the more traditional preparation provides. The Cà Ri Gà or Vietnamese Curry Chicken was moderately spicy with a meager amount of chicken, potato and carrot. The Madras curry sauce had good flavor but was unremarkable and similar to many found elsewhere. The “Drunken” Pan Noodles were bits of chewy beef, sautéed onions and wide flat rice noodles that were overly oily and needing a touch of salt. The Chicken Clay Pot was the shining redeemer of the lot with bits of perfectly cooked, tender, yet crisp, chicken and sautéed onions in a delicious sauce; it was worth the 15-minute additional wait.

Rice is the life’s bread of any good Asian cookery. Theirs is a seeming forgettable afterthought that comes to the table as a starchy, gummy, crusty snowball, barely on par with what most takeout places serve in those little red and white cardboard boxes.

I want to like Le Fat and like all burgeoning endeavors, I hope it succeeds. For now, it’s mildly disappointing, arguably over-priced and bested by many Asian restaurants all over town.

Le Fat is located at 935 Marietta St. For more information, visit and lefatatl.com.

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

Quick Bites

The Southern Gentleman at Buckhead Atlanta is now offering lunch service daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. featuring a variety of field green salads, Southern sandwiches and larger plates for leisurely lunches. For more information, visit thesoutherngentlemanatl.com.

Fast food franchise Wingstop has opened its first location at 2941 North Druid Hills Road. Wings are cooked to order with sauces like teriyaki, lemon pepper and garlic parmesan. For more, visit wingstop.com

Restaurant reservation website OpenTable has named its Top 100 Hot Spot Restaurants in America, which includes three in Atlanta: Cooks & Soldiers, do Restaurant at The View and UMI. See the full list at opentable.com/m/hottest-restaurants-in-america.

Agave in Cabbagetown is hosting The Dine-Out for Autism Speaks on May 19. A portion of the evening’s sales will directly benefit the organization. For information or reservations, visit agaverestaurant. com or call (404) 588-0006.

Restaurant deliver service Caviar has expanded to Atlanta offering food direct to your door from Intown’s independent restaurants including Bell Street Burritos, The Pie Shop, 7 Hens, Empire State South, Makan, The Nook, Chai Pani, Le Metro Creperie, LottaFrutta, Doc Chey’s Dragon Bowl, BLT Steak, Mix’d Up, Smoke Ring, The Warren City Club, Spoon, NaanStop, Dave’s Cosmic Subs, Panbury’s Double Crust Pies and Stone Soup Kitchen. More options will be coming soon. Order online at trycaviar.com or download the free app for iPhone or Android.

Sawicki’s of Decatur and the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University have partnered with North Georgia’s Springer Mountain Farms through Harvest 4 Health to provide fresh, nutrioious meals for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments and need nutritional support. For more information or to place an order visit sawickisfoods.com/harvest-4-health.

Le Bilboquet at Buckhead Atlanta has opened a Bilbo To-Go, a walk-up window at the corner of the building with health focused, ready-to-eat food and drink options.

Zoo Atlanta will launch Nourish Events, a Sodexo Leisure and catering brand, that offers full-service planning and execution of special events of all sizes including meetings, dinner parties, fundraisers and other special events.

Fadó Irish Pub has opened a new location at the Metropolis building at 919 Peachtree Street in Midtown. The pub occupies the former La Tagliatella space at the corner of 8th and Peachtree.

“Service is always GREAT! They complete the work in a timely manner. The technicians are always very friendly & willing to help! I recommend Medlock Gulf to everyone!” - S & M Clark, Decatur

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

$32.95

Soft shell crab on a mantou-style steamed bun.

ATLANTA GYMNASTICS

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Brunch spots for a special day out with mom

By Benjamin Getz Yelp Atlanta Community Manager

Mother’s Day is May 10 and, more than likely, you’re planning a meal with your sweet mama. If cooking isn’t your thing, but you want to treat mom to a nice meal, we’ve got five quintessential Mother’s Day Brunch spots that are, of course, both Yelper and mother-approved.

4th & Swift

If you’re eating off a plate that has the mark of Jay Swift, you’re bound to have a great (albeit memorable) meal and one that surely wow all moms being celebrated. Do a quick search for “Mother’s Day” on their Yelp page and you’ll see why this spot is at the top of so many lists for special occasions. 621 N Ave., Old Fourth Ward.

South City Kitchen

Easily one of the most notable Midtown Brunch spots and one that serves up all of the southern faves – fried chicken, she-crab soup, and fried green tomatoes. Their Mother’s Day Brunch is a prix fixe menu. Looking for that favorite son/daughter award? Taking mom here will make you a shoe-in. 1144 Crescent Ave., Midtown.

Two Urban Licks

Show off your “cool kid” prowess for mommy dearest with a sunshine-y brunch date on the patio overlooking the Atlanta BeltLine with the Downtown skyline off in the distance. These cool cats are doing a menu for dinner as well. Hey, moms eat dinner, too! 820 Ralph McGill Blvd., Poncey-Highland.

Murphy’s

If you haven’t had brunch… or lunch… or wine… or, well, anything from Murphy’s (Ahem – Tollhouse Pie!) then you’re not truly living. Take mummy here for a brunchy Sunday and maybe for a quick tour of shopping for a new fancy hat through a few shops along Highland Ave. Brownie point, folks. 997 Virginia Ave, Virginia-Highland.

One Midtown Kitchen

2617-B Talley Street

Decatur, GA 30030

Phone: 404.687.9911

Fax: 404.687.9177

Another fantastic concept from the folks at Concentrics and another fancy-schmancy spot for a delightful brunch. The bonus? Once you’ve finished your meal and a few mimosas, take a quick cruise through Piedmont Park and grab a swing overlooking Lake Clara Meer with those pretty Midtown buildings in the background. 559 Dutch Valley Rd., Piedmont Park.

Follow Ben Getz’s reviews at benjamingetz.yelp.com and all the Yelp adventures on Instagram and Twitter @ YelpAtlanta.

The Atlanta Gymnastics Center offers fun classes that encourage self-confidence, discipline, teamwork, new friends and of course physical fitness!

ARCHITECTURAL IMPACT

AIA National Convention comes to Atlanta May 14-16

The American Institute of Architects’ 2015 National Convention will be held in Atlanta May 14 – 16 at the Georgia World Congress Center featuring tours and events taking place in and around the city.

The convention will bring 15,000 architects, exhibitors, and allied professionals to the city will highlight local architectural gems, innovation and accomplishments in both architecture and urban re-development.

“It is a unique and special opportunity for Atlanta to host the 2015 National Convention of the American Institute of Architects,” said convention chair Mark Levine, AIA. “The theme is IMPACT, and promotes the impact that both architects and the profession of architecture have on our lives. Through significant urban redevelopment efforts such as the Atlanta BeltLine, and Ponce City Market projects, we are re-purposing, re-defining, and re-creating 21st century livable communities. It is exciting for AIA Atlanta to be able to showcase these and other architectural endeavors on a national

platform.”

President Bill Clinton will be this year’s keynote speaker, along with addresses by Cirque du Soleil’s executive creator director, Welby Altidor, and Julie Dixon, research director of National Journal’s Communication Council. There will be 400 other speakers throughout the event.

There will be over 125 tours showcasing the diversity of Atlanta’s architecture including John Portman’s Polaris Room atop the Hyatt Hotel, the BeltLine, to the Historic Herndon Home and the nearby Serenbe community. New architectural landmarks to be featured include the new Porsche World Headquarters, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The AIA Tailgate Experience will held at the new College Football Hall of Fame on Centennial Park.

More information and local convention information is available at aiaatl.org/2015convention.

A TOUCH OF MODERN

Design expo, architecture tour coming May 30 - June 7

Modern Atlanta (MA) will host the 9th annual Design is Human Week and Architecture Tour from May 30 to June 7 celebrating international design excellence from the U.S. and around the world.

The MA Architecture Tour will be a main highlight of the week with more than a dozen homes and spaces on view, along with satellite tours in Athens and Asheville and Raleigh-Durham, NC. The Atlanta tour is June 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while the satellite events are is May 30-31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at modern-atlanta.org.

Design Is Human week will feature guest talks, panel discussions, workshops, films and other design-related events. More than 50 international brands will have new, innovative products at the MA Design Expo.

Industries represented at the expo include architecture, interiors, furnishings, ecodesign, lighting, mobility, contract, workplace, bath, kitchen and lifestyle.

For a complete schedule of events, visit MA-designishuman. com.

Special

Homes on this year’s Modern Atlanta Home Tour include those designed by Plexus R+D (above), Lightroom (above left), Godfrey Gaisie for Beaman & Sears (bottom left) and SkyHill townhomes from Cablik Enterprises.

Perspectives in Architecture

Melody L. Harclerode

A Convention Builds on History

The responsibilities of an architect have shifted over the centuries. During ancient times, the architect was heavily involved with the construction of a building or structure. In fact, the word ‘architect’ comes from the Greek word arkhitekton meaning “master builder.” Renaissance masters in the 1500’s, such as Andrea Palladio, contributed to the perception of the architect as the professional who focused on the design of the building by adhering to principles of beauty. Today, the role of the architect is increasingly following ancient practices on projects in which one entity, a design-build team, works under a single contract with the owner to provide design and construction services.

On May 14, architect Krista Dumkrieger AIA with the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Atlanta) will unveil the winner of the

10Up Competition at the 2015 AIA National Convention in the Georgia World Congress Center. Approximately 12,000 to 17,000 architects around the county will convene in our city for the first time in twenty years for a magnificent line-up of tours, seminars, speeches, and receptions. Former President Bill Clinton will welcome attendees with a keynote address. Reinforcing the design-build practices of today and ancient times, the 10Up Competition called for architects and design professionals to build their design for a provocative structure conveying the convention theme, Impact, at the floor of the Georgia World Congress Center. The finalists offer differing, yet highly inventive solutions to express this theme. In his design called City in a Forest, Bryan Alcorn uses structural members to represent the city limits of Atlanta in 1915 and its subsequent growth. Finalist Travis Cook, the founder and designer of the Cookshop Design, describes his proposal Material Impact as an exploration of the expanded metal mash to “produce a dynamic and enigmatic experience of the material and form.” Shawna Hammon defines her design Solid/Void as “an interactive spatial installation that encourages active participation in the creation of this

changing spatial composition.” The competition winner will receive $1,000, two full registration passes to the 2015 AIA National Convention, and media exposure.

Plans are underway for the 10Up Competition winning design to be dismantled and reassembled at a local civic institution. Through this display, the public will have the opportunity to see an imaginative project from the 2015 AIA National Convention, appreciate the multidimensional talents of architects, and gain better insight into the evolving role of architects as leaders with the design and construction of projects.

Melody L. Harclerode AIA, a local architect, promotes the power of architecture and design as the President of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Principal of Harclerode Architects (harc-arch.com). For more information, visit aiaatl.org.

City in a Forest by Bryan Alcorn

Solid Void by Shawna Hammaon

Just reduced! Luxury two story 3BR/3.5BA penthouse. Chef’s kitchen, wine cellar, four fireplaces, and deeded parking. Grand outdoor patio for entertaining.

$1,495,000 imonique reller (404) 310-2200

Beautiful studio unit with custom handcrafted light fixture. $174,900 ashley j. webb (770) 653-6517

1100

1BR/1BA in trendy White Provision with sleek modern finishes. $239,900 todd hale (404) 822-0230

108 shirewood park

Peachtree City 4BR/2.5BA with pool and great curb appeal. $265,000 rodney hinote (404) 786-9562

Garden Hills charmer! Spacious back yard with creek opens to lush landscaping with private access to Frankie Allen Park. Renovated kitchen and bathrooms.

$649,900 christine o’neill (404) 857-7058 buckhead aTlanTa

Enjoy breathtaking views of Buckhead from this large corner unit loft with exposed brick walls and gorgeous arched windows.

Sagamore Hills 4BR/3BA on large lot in Lakeside School district. $409,900 linda kyles (404) 403-5780

$535,000 sherry hoger (404) 921-9510

Well cared for 1BR/1BA featuring large balcony with skyline views. $115,000 brenda shaw (404) 379-4924

Northeast facing 3BR/3BA corner unit with two balconies. $685,000 randall loehrig (404) 234-9261

Penthouse 2BR/2BA with Downtown skyline views. $389,900 lane barr (404) 213-2035

4104 club drive 4BR/4.5BA in Historic Brookhaven on large ± .773 acres. $1,275,000 michael connelly (404) 964-8009

2297

Smoke Rise traditional 5BR/3.5.5BA with master on main. $325,000 joe herget (404) 502-7147

1772

Beautifully renovated 6BR/4BA with separate workshop. $433,500 pam heisler (404) 388-0076

Tilling way

oxbow circle

3040 peachTree road #1504

howell mill road #515

1820 peachTree sTreeT #1207

1033 mcgill park avenue

under contract

1934 innwood road

923 peachTree sTreeT #917

3180 maThieson drive #507

2861 lookouT place

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Real Estate Briefs

Ursula Henry, a Phoenix Award recipient and a 13-year veteran of Atlanta residential real estate, has joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices as a Broker Associate in the firm’s Buckhead office. Named a member of the firm’s Luxury Collection Council, Ursula is among the Atlanta Board of Realtors Top 5 Percent Individual Agents and is a designated EcoBroker.

Virginia Place, a collection of 23 townhomes, are being built in VirginiaHighland.The Charlestonian design features brick exteriors, hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings, gourmet kitchens, gas fireplaces, spa-style tubs with walk-in showers, tile floors and designer cabinets with granite tops. Buyers will have a choice of four floor plans: the Rosedale, the St. Charles, the Virginia and the Hudson, each including at least 2,300 square feet of living space. Each of the 23 three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath town homes will also have a two-car garage with plenty of storage. Located near the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Briarcliff Road, Virginia Place is priced from the low $500,000s. For more information, visit virginiaplacetownhomes. com.

Columbia Senior Residences at Forrest Hills, a redevelopment of the former Forrest Heights Apartments complex near Decatur, is now open. The 5.119 acre property is located on two sides of Forrest Boulevard, with access to MARTA bus and mixed uses in the Belvedere Plaza Shopping Center. For more visit columbiares.com.

Shirley Gary, Managing Broker of Engel & Völkers Buckhead Atlanta, received three top 2014 North America Awards during the recent Engel & Völkers’ annual Exchange Event hosted in Las Vegas. Lisa Robinson, Sandy Epstein, Scott Payne and Trina Grimes, top real estate producers with Engel & Völkers Buckhead Atlanta, were also recognized for their outstanding efforts during 2014. This was the first year that Engel & Völkers, the European-based premium real estate brand, has presented the North America Awards.

Real estate developer Hines plans to build a 220,000-square-foot development at Atlantic Station targeted at technology companies and others who seek “creative” office space. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Hines’ seven-story development, described as a new “old” office building, will be located on a 1-acre parcel, currently a surface parking lot, near the Millennium Gate on 17th Street.

To salute Harry Norman, Realtors stellar agents, honored as members of the Atlanta Board of Realtors Multi-Million Dollar Club, company President and CEO Dan Parmer hosted a private Reception to toast the agents, prior to the Atlanta Board’s annual gala Dinner. From the firm’s Buckhead office, Bonneau Ansley’s team, the Ansley Atlanta group, captured the Atlanta Board of Realtors’ #1 Large Team Award.

The Providence Group of Georgia is selling new townhomes at The Bluffs at Lenox in Buckhead. When complete, the community will offer 29 two- and three-story luxury townhomes priced from the $520,000s. There will be several floor plans to choose from, but homes will feature gourmet kitchens, owner’s suite, two-car garages and more. For more information, visit theprovidencegroup.com/the-bluffs-at-lenox.

Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty honored the firms “Top Performers” at an elegant formal dinner held at the Cherokee Town Club in Buckhead. Jenny Pruitt, CEO and founder, and David Boehmig, President and founder, congratulated award-winning Intown office agents including Jim Getzinger of the Intown office for the #1 Large Team Volume and Units Sold Award; Kevin McBride as #1 New Homes agent for Volume and Units Sold; Chase Mizell, #1 Individual Agent, Units Sold; and Burma Weller, once of the Top 10 Agents.

Ursula Henry

Shirley Gary

ISADORA

Partner Andy Long of The Fry Guy was working the food truck during the Beltline Boil in the Old Fourth Ward on April 4. The event drew huge crowds with live music and tastings from local businesses.

City Councilman Kwanza Hall met with the Major League Soccer Atlanta president Darren Eales, Soccer in the Streets board member Sanjay Patel and Chief Development Officer Jason Longshore to give them a tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District.

ISADORA PENNINGTON

PENNINGTON

GREYSTONE NORTH - Beautiful, four bedroom, four bath, brick home in quiet community. Spacious home with vaulted ceilings that is move-in ready! 4Bed/3.5Bath $375,000

FMLS: 5517543

Julie Duffy 678-570-4290

MORNINGSIDE - Morningside Elementary School an easy walk from this charming brick bungalow on fabulous flat lot.

Updated kitchen and flexible floorplan. 4Bed/2Bath $619,000 FMLS: 5512085 Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845

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

6Bed/4Bath $915,000

FMLS: 5382032

Melissa Stratton 404-713-5850

KIRKWOOD - Construction scheduled to be completed in April! Gorgeous newly expanded and renovated bungalow in Kirkwood.

4Bed/3.5Bath $450,000 FMLS: 5390166

Patrick Peyer 404-784-7936

Amber Mason 678-637-3530

DRUID HILLS - Look no further! Classic all brick traditional Druid Hills home in immaculate condition. So clean and well maintained. You can move right in!

4Bed/2Bath/2HalfBath $1,195,000 FMLS: 5520879

Nicole Davis 404-358-6252

EAST LAKE - An exquisite rebuild by ParcLife Homes! Beautiful cottage style home with amazing details and fine craftsmanship.

4Bed/3Bath $599,900

FMLS: 5521985

Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

RIDGELAND PARK - Beautiful new construction by Stoney River Homes now ready! Awesome ‘Candler’ floorplan w/4 bedrooms and 4 full baths up! 4Bed/4.5Bath $739,900

FMLS: 5520191

Kathleen Sickeler

BUCKHEAD - Beautifully Renovated. Over 1600 sf. 2 Separate Bedroom Suites. Gourmet Kitchen. Great Balcony Views. Huge Deeded Storage Room. 2Bed/2Bath $214,900

FMLS: 5519398

Warren Lambert 404-403-4255

INTOWN - Private Oasis inside the Perimeter. Serene Backyard w/In-Ground Pool. Hardwoods in Living Areas. Updated Kitchen. Architectural Roof. 4Bed/2.5Bath $377,900

FMLS: 5519604

Retta Christoforatos 770-597-3054

MIDTOWN - Chic City Living. Loft w/Separate Den/Office. Numerous Upgrades. Top Floor Space w/Abundance of Large Windows.

1Bed/1Bath $279,000

FMLS: 5502412

Patrick Jones 404-680-9534

MIDTOWN - Renovated Mid-Century Landmark Jewel. Entertainer’s Home w/Chef’s Kitchen. Whole-House Audio System. Soaring Ceilings. Romantic Courtyard.

3Bed/3Bath $974,900 FMLS: 5382896

Marc Castillo 404-449-6862

EMORY/CDC - Linden Place Townhomes

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

Allen Snow 404-931-1176

INTOWN - Tribute Lofts. Fantastic Corner Unit. Views of Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead. 2 gated covered parking spaces. Easy walk to Beltline and Krog St Mkt. 2Bed/2Bath $249,000 FMLS: 5398205

Tonya Marlatt 404-518-8787

MIDTOWN – 1010 Midtown. Luxury High Rise. Perfectly Maintained. Floor-to-Ceiling Windows. Incredible Western Views. Granite Counters. S/S Appliances. Large Master Bath.

2Bed/2Bath $489,900 FMLS: 5522910

Ben Harris 404-509-1181