Atlanta Intown - June 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.

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Editorial

Collin Kelley

INtown Editor collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

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Ann Taylor Boutwell, Robin Conte, Kathy Dean, Art Huckabee, Dena Mellick, Martha Nodar, Clare S. Richie, Holly Roberson, Tim Sullivan

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Collin Kelley collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Summer in – and out – of the city

The year is, shockingly, half gone but there is plenty to keep you busy as the temperatures soar and schools are out for the summer. With the real estate market surging again, Intowners are looking at homes in the mountains for weekend retreats and retirement. We have a special section called “Head for the Hills” in this issue that features some of the hot areas for second homes in North Georgia and North Carolina. With the mountains just a couple hours drive away from Intown it’s easy to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You’ll also find a feature on the North Georgia wine country and a calendar of upcoming events and activities to make your weekend home search more interesting.

We’re also spotlighting Decatur again in the June issue with the help of our partners at Decaturish.com. You’ll find features on the budding EcoArts District in downtown Decatur, a farewell piece to a beloved bowling alley, Suburban Lanes, and a roundup of news and events coming this month.

You might have noticed “On the Agenda” that launched in May. In an effort to bring you more news about local government happenings and meetings, this new feature will be a one-stop shop for city council updates, NPU meeting alerts and other community

Correction:

news.

And since it’s summer, we’ve got a big guide to fun events happening around Intown, including film festivals, music, bike events and much more. Our photographer and graphic designer Isadora Pennington also had the tough job of sampling margaritas on some of the city’s hottest patios. Hey, someone has to do it! We’re also excited about the opening of Staplehouse restaurant in the Old Fourth Ward. The eatery will be unlike any other in the city, with part of its profits going toward helping others in the restaurant industry who find themselves out of work due to illness and injury.

While you’re exploring Downtown this summer – splashing in the ring fountain at Centennial Park, ogling the fish at the Georgia Aquarium or getting a history lesson at The King Center – be sure to hop on the Atlanta Streetcar. If the city has its way, the 2.7mile loop will expand to 50 miles with streetcars crisscrossing the city and following the 22-mile Atlanta BeltLine. To say it would transform Intown is an understatement. There’s no timetable or funding in place – many of us might be in our dotage or moved on to the next existence by the time the project is complete – but take a look at the maps on pages 4 and 5 and dream a little.

Stay cool!

In the Rufus Rose House piece in the May issue of Atlanta INtown we incorrectly listed Liliana Bahktiara as Liliana Bakharti. Inquiries regarding the project and the building can be sent to liliana@rufusrosehouse.com.

Special

The historic Blue Ridge power plant and reservoir makes for a scenic outing.

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Imagine being able to hop on a streetcar and go just about anywhere inside the 22-mile loop that makes up the Atlanta BeltLine.

That’s the proposal laid out by the BeltLine in April during two community talks that showcased the “priority” lines for the Atlanta Streetcar System Plan. The study would expand the Atlanta Streetcar’s 2.7-mile loop around Downtown to 50 miles of lines around the metro.

Officials did not release a timetable or cost for the expansion, however it’s easy to extrapolate costs with the Downtown loop costing $98 million that it run into the billions to complete.

Here’s a closer look at each of the proposed lines.

Crosstown Peachtree Line: Streetcars would travel between the MARTA stations at Lenox Square and Fort McPherson (future home of Tyler Perry’s film studio) along Peachtree, West Peachtree, Peters Street and Lee Street. Key stops:

Downtown, Midtown, Fox Theatre, Woodruff Arts Center, and Piedmont Hospital.

Crosstown Midtown Line: This line would connect the BeltLine’s east and west sides with a route running along the Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and North Avenue corridors. Key stops: Bankhead MARTA station, Georgia Teach, North Avenue MARTA station, Midtown, Historic Fourth Ward Park and Ponce City Market.

Crosstown Crescent Line: The route would connect the west and southeast portions of the BeltLine with streetcars running on Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard and the Georgia Avenue corridors. Key stops: Ashby MARTA station, Atlanta University Center, West End MARTA station, Turner Field, Grant Park and Boulevard Crossing Park.

BeltLine Central Loop: The line would encircle the 22-mile BeltLine loop. Key stops: Westside Reservoir Park,

The latest iteration of the Atlanta Streetcar System Plan highlights 50 miles of “priority” lines crisscrossing the city and following the 22-miles loop of the Atlanta BeltLine.

Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Park, Historic Fourth Ward Park, Boulevard Crossing Park, Murphy Crossing, Enota Park and Maddox Park.

Crosstown Inner Loop: This one-way line would follow the Central Loop and create a bi-directional connector line to connect the east and west BeltLine along Fair Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Luckie Street, Auburn Avenue, Edgewood Avenue and Irwin Street. Key stops: Atlanta University Center, Centennial Olympic Park, Downtown, Georgia State University and the King Center.

Crosstown Outer Loop: Another one-way line following the central loop, but there would be a bi-directional connector line to connect the northwest and southeast portions of the BeltLine along Northside Drive, Luckie Street, Capitol Avenue and Hank Aaron Drive. Key stops: Atlantic Station, Georgia Tech, Centennial Park, Downtown, Georgia State and Turner Field.

This isn’t the first time a streetcar route between Buckhead and south Atlanta has been on the table. When the idea of resurrecting streetcars in Atlanta began in earnest back in 2003 and before the great recession struck in 2008, there were meetings, debates and renderings of a streetcar gliding down Peachtree.

The BeltLine’s senior transportation project manager Marcus Arnold told the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods at its May 14 meeting that construction of the Crosstown Peachtree Line, as well as other lines, would “come down to available funding and interest from the community in getting that line in.”

Beth McMillan, the BeltLine’s director of community planning, told the BCN meeting that the business community is very interested in seeing a streetcar on Peachtree because of the development

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impact that streetcars have had in other cities, like Portland, where they have been constructed.

The Atlanta BeltLine project jumpstarted the streetcar discussion again and there has always been a plan to incorporate transit around the 22-mile loop of what is now walking/biking trails encircling the city.

The expanded Atlanta Streetcar plan creates a system that hasn’t been seen in the city since 1949 when the city pulled up the tracks and decided buses and automobiles were the future.

While costs haven’t been finalized, officials said they would be seeking federal funding. The current streetcar project received $47 million in federal grants in 2010.

Nathan Soldat, the BeltLine’s engagement advocate, told the BCN that 16 of the proposed 50 miles of streetcar lines are currently undergoing environmental assessment, a first step toward receiving federal funding.

The success of the Downtown streetcar route is still uncertain. After months of delays, it finally opened to riders on Dec. 30. Costs to operate the loop have increased from $3.2 million a year to more than $4.8 million, and the city decided to make riding the streetcar free for the rest of the year as it works out fare integration with MARTA.

To all the maps visit www. beltline.org/

The Crosstown Inner Loop would feature a bi-directional line connecting the east and west portions of the BeltLine with streetcars running along Edgewood Avenue, Irwin Street and on to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard with key stops Georgia State University, Centennial Park and Atlanta University Center.

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Gomera

Charlotte

The Crosstown Peachtree Line would connect Buckhead with Fort McPherson (the future home of Tyler Perry Studios) traveling mostly down Peachtree Street and Peachtree Road.

DOWNTOWN CONNECTORS

Winners chosen in the Atlanta Bridgescape Competition

The winners of the Atlanta Bridgescape Competition were announced May 15 at the American Institute of Architects National Convention. Two winning designs – one for the 10th Street Bridge in Midtown and one for the Courtland/McGill Bridge in Downtown – were selected blindly by a panel of design professionals who are considered experts in their respective fields. The winners:

• sin(uosity) Designed by Max Neiswander and Luke Kvasnicka of Atlanta for the 10th Street Bridge. A series of undulating steel ribs clads the bridge in a sculptural form while leaving the structure of the overpass intact. The sweeping curves of the ribs fold over into a canopy on each side, which shield pedestrians and then peel away to allow views of the Midtown and Downtown skylines.

• Organic Canopy Designed by Roger DeWeese, AIA, with Peachtree Architects of Atlanta for the Courtland/ McGill Bridge. The bridge would be reimagined as an organic canopy

constructed of a steel frame with a tensile structure covered in an open stainless steel netting ‘mesh’ that is landscaped to create a sculptural shroud. The lower portions of the structure create a gateway tunnel on the Connector while the top would provide shade to pedestrians.

“I’m so pleased with the winning selections of the Atlanta Bridgescape Competition, and incredibly excited that Central Atlanta Progress, Midtown Alliance, and American Institute of Architects are engaging the design community and the public in a creative competition on this scale,” said Courtney Hammond. “It’s provoked some great conversations about the future shape our city, our infrastructure and the care for artistic improvement.”

In addition to the official competition winners, nearly 3,000 people voted in the People’s Choice Award online for each bridge. The winners were “Green City Spectator” by KAMJZ Architects for 10th Street and “Organic Canopy” Courtland/ McGill.

An open house was held in Midtown in late May for members of the community to get an up-close look at the various bridge designs entered into the Atlanta Bridgescape Competition, as well as meet the designers.

The Downtown winner is called “Organic Canopy” and will reimagine the Courtland/McGill Bridge as a green, vibrant and shaded crossing for pedestrians.

The design for the 10th Street bridge makeover uses “steel ribs” to create a structural canopy over pedestrians walking along the landscaped sidewalks.

Garden Hills: ‘People are involved in this neighborhood’

By Holly Roberson

Nicole Ott moved from Austria to Garden Hills a year ago with her husband and son. They chose the Buckhead neighborhood sandwiched between Peachtree and Piedmont roads because of the tree-lined streets, walking trails and general genteel ambiance of this historic place.

On a recent sundrenched morning, she and her dog trainer, Karen Smalley, of Doggie Du Good, worked with the family dogs, Amy and Daisy, in a field next to the neighborhood pool.

“People are just so nice,” Ott said as she corralled Daisy back to working on “sit.”

It’s a sentiment shared by many in this quiet, affluent Atlanta enclave. Garden Hills is a mix of early 20th century homes dating back to the 1920s, four parks, landscaped traffic islands and a neighborhood pool/ recreation center – all close to shopping, restaurants, schools and churches.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes in Garden Hills, said Carl Sanders, who’s not related to the former governor of the same name. Sanders, a strategic consultant, is the former president of the civic association.

The group wants to improve the sidewalks, put stone paths in the parks, do more landscaping and improve lighting and security. But in the last four years, its work has been all about the pool. The 750home community last year completed an $800,000 project to rehab the pool house and surrounding area.

According to a study by the Pool and Park Association, the Garden Hills pool attracts more than 500 patrons daily from May through September. The pool generated $357,200 in revenue in 2012.

The original pool house was built in 1979, according to the study. In 2011, pipes burst in the men’s bathroom and put the Pool and Park Association on the path to rebuilding the house.

The pool house and the pool are an important part of the neighborhood’s identity. Every year, teenagers from the neighborhood start their first summer jobs working there. They are affectionately known as the “pool rats” by the neighborhood.

The pool, however, is not the only attraction.

Squeals of laughter and running toddlers filled the pool’s playground on a recent morning. At a picnic table sat a group of women watching the children

intently. Not residents, they said. Just nannies doing their jobs.

As she pushed her 2-month-old son in a swing at the playground, Jennifer Rogers said she and her husband were looking for a house in Garden Hills because of the close proximity to all the private schools.

Atlanta International School is located in the Garden Hills neighborhood. It is an IB World School serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Other Buckhead private schools include Christ the King, Pace Academy, Westminister, Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool and Atlanta Girls’ School.

Garden Hills was developed beginning in 1925 by Phillips Campbell McDuffie, a prominent Atlanta lawyer. He formed the Garden Hills Corp. and advertised the area as “Beautiful Garden Hills.” The development was planned in three phases.

Today, the Garden Hills neighborhood comprises single-family homes plus some multi-family units on the streets near commercial and institutional properties.

There is vacant commercial land around the neighborhood, but the civic association has a good working relationship with the owners, said Bob Schneider, a software consultant, and member of the civic association.

The nearby Garden Hills Cinema closed in 2006. There was talk of resurrecting it, 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.

Schneider said his group is in contact with the owners about what might go there.

In addition to the Garden Hills Civic Association, the Garden Hills Garden Club is a service organization which maintains several community green spaces in the neighborhood.

The Garden Hills Neighborhood Foundation is a nonprofit that raises money to fund the Heart of Garden Hills project, which has long-term goals of establishing a signature look for the area near the pool.

“People are involved in this neighborhood,” Sanders said. “I feel at home before I even reach my house.”

Holly Roberson

From left, Bobby Wolf, Chris Sanders and Bob Schneider in front of one of the neighborhood’s landscaped areas.

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FINDING PLACE

EcoArts District to offer affordable housing, sustainability

By Collin Kelley

Four blocks of open spaces and vacant buildings along East Howard Avenue in Decatur were transformed last month for a dance event designed to promote the proposed Decatur EcoArts District.

danceDanceDANCE! took place on May 2 on the stretch of East Howard between Trinity Avenue and the Ice House Lofts – the focal point of the EcoArts District. The goal of the district is to build inclusive communities by shaping neighborhood redevelopment so that it is environmentally sustainable with built in opportunities for creative expression.

Attendees at the dance performances were able to explore models of sustainable artist housing, the first step toward the creation of an EcoArts District that would provide affordable housing for artists.

The district is the brainchild of Amanda Thompson, who is not only the city of Decatur’s planning director but also a choreographer for Zoetic Dance Ensemble. Thompson approached artist, architect and professor Amy Landisberg with the idea, who used the district as part of her studio class at Georgia Tech to generate ideas from the students.

Thompson wrote in a blog post on the National Arts Strategies blog that “the beauty of this collaboration was that the students had a real world experience of interacting with a client, developing an idea that will actually be used and sharing their work outside of the classroom walls.”

Thompson said the neighborhood response to the EcoArts District has also been “very positive.”

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At left: The Rhythm Keepers dance troupe, from left, Salena Sandford Staub, Teri Hammond, Amanda Broyles, Jenny Greene and Jessica Williams.

At right: Kathleen Banks Everett, Director of the Decatur School of Ballet and Decatur City Dance with nephew Nathan Banks, swing dancer.

Photos by Isadora Pennington Dirlene Reis Carr of Dance Brasil, foreground, was one of the performers at dancDanceDANCE!

ONE LAST BOWL

Suburban

By Dena Mellick Decaturish.com

Suburban Lanes Bowling Alley quietly closed its doors on a Sunday night in early May. Trisha Walker, owner of Suburban Lanes, along with her husband Thomas Walker Jr., confirmed the closing in an email, saying Sunday was their last day of business.

Owners Trisha and Thomas Walker had petitioned to keep Suburban Lanes in Suburban Plaza, which is being redeveloped by Selig Enterprises. However, in February, the Walkers lost their lease and began looking for a buyer for the bowling alley.

When asked if a buyer had come forward, Trisha Walker said in an email, “there is an interested party. However, nothing has been finalized.”

Bill Stogner, Senior Vice President with Selig Enterprises, also told Decaturish, “We’re potentially working with another group to take over the bowling alley,” but he said there was not a deal yet.

On that final Sunday evening, about 15 people were in Suburban Lanes for one last round, but generations of families have bowled strikes since it opened in 1954.

Assistant manager Jaime Meredith said he was staying until the end of the night to close the bowling alley for the last time.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much. But before I lock up, I’m going to throw one last ball down there, just to say I got to bowl before we closed. That will be pretty cool,” said Meredith.

Bowler Regina Mansfield was there with a friend.

“We didn’t even know it was the last night. We just wanted to come bowl, and this is where we come,” she said. “I feel a little sad, because this is the bowling alley we know.”

The closure of Suburban Lanes means a number of bowling leagues are without home along with a handful of dedicated employees.

Stogner previously said the developer had worked to keep the bowling alley, but a financial agreement couldn’t be reached.

The redevelopment of Suburban Plaza had a rocky start with community groups fighting the proposed Walmart, but eventually backing down.

The Walmart is now well under way, and Stogner said it would open this fall. He confirmed leases have been signed with other anchor tenants including Ross, Home Goods, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, and LA Fitness.

Stogner also said Moe’s and Pizza Hut are staying, along with the uniform shop and the hearing aid company. Starbucks, a nail spa, and a barber shop will be added to the center.

However, another current business won’t make it into the new development. Stogner said despite attempts to work out a deal with Cozy Burger, the restaurant will not remain in Suburban Plaza.

Stogner said Selig is still working to bring in more retailers and businesses. He said he expected other shops would open in early 2016.

Atlanta VA opens outpatient clinic in Decatur

The Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center has opened an outpatient clinic in Decatur on Arcadia Avenue.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held later this summer for the new clinic, which opened to patients in March. The clinic houses dental offices, mental health services, sleep medicine, a women’s clinic and a radiology clinic. A shuttle service is available from the main campus of the Atlanta VA on Clairmont Road.

“The Atlanta VA Medical Center

continues to expand as we improve access to care for our Veterans,” the VA Medical Center said in its announcement.

The 21-acre property the clinic sits on was formerly the DeVry University campus. The site had been considered for a mixed-use development and briefly as an expansion site for the City Schools of Decatur.

Decaturish.com contributed to this report.

Special

Bowlers of all ages flocked to Suburban Lanes for more than 60 years.

Photo by Dena Mellick

Johnny Worthem, 69, bowled at Suburban Lanes for 25 years.

Photo by Dena Mellick

Bowler Regina Mansfield came to Suburban Lanes the final day before the bowling alley closed.

Decatur Briefs

The City of Decatur has been named a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by The League of American Bicyclists. The city earned Bronze Level BFC distinction in the League’s report on state bicycle friendliness

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Decatur Business Association, the DBA along with the City of Decatur has decided to shake up its traditional summer event, the Decatur Beach Party, with a much bigger splash. For one day only, there will be a 1,000 foot long water slide in the middle of W. Ponce de Leon Avenue, stretching from Clairemont to just past Ponce de Leon Place. The event is called Slide the City and will be held July 25. Mark your calendars and be sure to keep an eye on The Decatur Minute (decaturminute.com) for tickets and details this month.

Decatur has placed colorful new Adirondack chairs around the square for those who want to sit in the sunshine, enjoy lunch outdoors or watch a concert on the bandstand. The chairs are not nailed down so they can be easily moved for events, but don’t try and steal one or the long arm of the law will find you. And if you see anyone trying to nab one or tag it with spray paint, call (404) 373-6551.

Decaturish.com reports that Dairy Queen has signed a lease and could reopen in the project formerly known at Trinity Triangle on East Trinity Place. The Dairy Queen was demolished to make way for The Arlo mixed-use development of apartments and retail. Fingers crossed for 2016.

Emory University professor, local novelist and playwright Jim Grimsley will read from his new nonfiction book, How I Shed My Skin: Unlearning the Racist Lessons of a Southern Childhood on June 15, 7:15 p.m. at the Decatur Library, 215 Sycamore Street. The event is being hosted by Georgia Center for the Book and copies will be available for sale and autograph.

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Slide the City Special

What is Guidance?

Students at last year’s Youth Summit on Hunger and Poverty learned how to prepare nutritious food using locally-sourced fruits and vegetables.

Special

COMBATING HUNGER

Food bank creates awareness about fresh food

By Collin Kelley

The Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) is collaborating with other organizations to create awareness about the need for fresh, local food and to combat hunger and poverty.

Food Well Alliance, an incubator established by the ACFB thanks to a $1 million grant from the James M. Cox Foundation, has just launched a website (foodwellalliance. org) where food movement supporters can obtain information about food production, processing and distribution, funding sources for local food businesses and stories of “opportunity makers” contributing to the movement.

Food Well Alliance’s goal is to find better and more ways to get fresh, local food into the hands of people and families by facilitating greater collaboration and deeper engagement across public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Visitors to the website, created by Virginia-based Siteworx, will be able to connect with like-minded individuals and sign up for Working Well Groups that identify needs, share data, align priorities, make recommendations and promote action. Visitors can also stay up to date on local food and environmental-related

events such as educational gardening workshops and grant writing seminars for farmers and local food advocates.

ACFB is also partnering with the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center for the 2015 Youth Summit on Hunger and Poverty. During this weeklong course July 20-24, students (rising 9th to 12th graders) from around metro Atlanta will explore the intersections between contemporary art and food justice and how artists have addressed questions pertaining to both topics by creating projects such as seed banks, community gardens, cookbooks, and free restaurants.

As a week-long project, the group will create a selfpublished newspaper or zine presenting documentation of the things they’ve learned and engaged with throughout the week. In addition, the week will culminate in a dinner at The Contemporary’s outdoor pavilion. The dinner will be an opportunity for students to present their work to family and community members, and a time to enjoy community-building through food.

This year’s summit is full, but be sure to visit acfb.org/youth-summit to find out more and bookmark for next year’s event.

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Tea for a Cause

By Isadora Pennington

Doctor Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party has been a cornerstone of the Candler Park commercial district on McLendon Avenue since 2005. Relatively unknown to tourists and non-locals, the cozy cafe is known for its wide variety of hand-selected teas sourced from all over the world. The shop also makes and sells baked goods along with ice cream for the kids, small sandwiches, and of course, coffee.

The decor is vintage,and fantastical, with parasols and origami birds hanging from the ceiling, old paintings on the

walls, and shelves overflowing with used books. Long, communal style tables occupy one half of the space, a piano rests by the window, and there’s a private garden patio in the back of the building down a narrow hallway.

Katrell Christie, owner of Doctor Bombay’s, has pushed the shop to evolve through the years. “I dont know what it is about this place, but it is the mecca of love,“ laughed Katrell, remarking on the romantic nature of the shop.

From first dates to engagements, the environment has hosted a variety of momentous occasions in some of her customers’ lives. Katrell even met her

husband in the cafe. Cafes are “the heart of small communities,” she said, “I see kids grow up over the ice cream cooler.”

But there’s more to this cafe than just pastries and drinks. It was on a trip to Hyderebad, India in 2009 that Katrell initially encountered young, orphaned women, their subpar living conditions, and lack of opportunities. Seeing these women’s struggles and hardships as they fought to attend school, get jobs, and have fulfilling lives struck a chord with Katrell.

“I thought it would be buying books,” she said. In reality, the girls needed much more than that.

At first she helped only three girls who were about to be kicked out of their orphanage. Without any safety net or family to fall back on, their future was in jeopardy. “Most likely they would have been trafficked or been out on the streets,” said Katrell. She made a promise to come back in six months, and the Learning Tea program was born.

In the months that followed, Katrell placed a fishbowl on the counter for donations toward the initiative. “Through change donations over the six months, I was able to rent them an apartment,” she said.

It was the first major step on a lifechanging and consuming journey for her and the young women she now cares for. “It’s been an amazing project and it’s an amazing community that makes this project happen.”

The Learning Tea is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing, tuition, clothing, food, opportunities and a supportive family environment for young orphaned women in India, and Katrell has made

the cafe a conduit for the organization. For many years, the cafe has accepted book donations from the community. Now the proceeds from the book sales to customers also go toward the Learning Tea project.

The project has grown since those first three girls. Instead of an apartment, Katrell now rents a building at the top of a hill in a small town near Nepal. Her policy? “We pay for everything.” In addition to covering basic living expenses, rent, food, clothes, books, toiletries, and medical expenses, the program also funds computer classes and music classes for the girls.

“I call it a life scholarship,” she said. In order to keep the scholarship the girls must contribute 15 hours per week of volunteer work within their community.

The experience of being involved with the Learning Tea has been transformative, quite literally, for the girls who have gone through the program.

One young woman around the age of 18 had been crippled for more than two years due to malnutrition when she met Katrell. After becoming involved with the Learning Tea, the woman has recovered the ability to walk and has been accepted out of 1,500 applicants to train for Mt. Everest.

Another young woman whose parents died within a year of each other due to Tuberculosis is now applying to medical school intending to cure the disease. “I could tell you an amazing story about each one of these girls,” Katrell said.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Katrell Christie, owner of Doctor Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party and founder of the Learning Tea.

It’s not just financial aid that has opened the doors for these girls, however, but also the emotional support provided by the program. “There’s a lot of love involved,” said Katrell, who sees herself as kind of a camp counsellor to the girls.

To succeed, she said, you don’t just need things and funds, but also active involvement with the girls on a familial level, by doing hair or nails, going to the park and being silly together.

“It’s one part funding, another part love,” she said.

The program employs a house mother who stands in during parentteacher conferences at school, helps with homework and ensures that the girls are comprehensively cared for in Katrell’s absence.

While it’s a role Katrell did not anticipate undertaking when she initially went to visit the orphanage, it is one that she has grown to love.

“At first, I didn’t think I would be in it this deep,” she said, “but I am. And I get just as much out of it as I give. It’s like having a family on the other side of the ocean.”

The Learning Tea does not rely on corporate sponsorships or donors, instead opting to fundraise through “A Taste of India” dinners hosted at the cafe on the last Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m., donations from partnering organizations in town and direct fundraising through the cafe.

For more information on the program, visit thelearningtea.com.

A picture of Katrell with the scholarship recipients sits on the counter of the cafe alongside prepackaged Learning Teas.

DIVERSITY IN ACTION APD officers act as liaisons to LGBT community

By Clare S. Richie

These days, the news is full of police departments that lack diversity and clash with their communities. However, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) strives to have a force that reflects all members of the community, including openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members, in order to keep everyone safe.

Since 2002, two APD officers –Courtney Murphy and Eric King – have served in the LBGT Liaison Unit, which seeks to promote communication and cooperation between LGBT community and the police force. It’s a busy job. The liaisons provide information and follow-up on suspected LGBT hate crimes or bias incidents. For other situations that target the LGBT community, like cyber dating, they host public safety talks. They also conduct LGBT diversity training for all APD officers, local jurisdictions (e.g. East Point police department) and even international groups.

Equally important, the LGBT Unit is there to listen, including meetings with business owners, residents, community activists and officials from their neighborhood precinct. They also partner with local groups such as the Rush Center, Someone Cares, Lost-n-Found Youth, and more.

“We take time to listen to their

concerns and reach outside the box for solutions,” said Officer Murphy. “Our successes include increased communication between the LGBT community and APD, events that benefit the LGBT community, and reaching LGBT youth in need of help.”

Earlier this year, the community voiced concerns about the difficulty some transgender individuals have finding a job. In March, the LGBT liaisons partnered with Someone Cares to host a LGBT friendly resume

workshop and job fair.

Prior to the fair, prospective employers participated in a training session to learn about being transgender, what is ok and not ok to ask someone in transition and, most importantly, that “being transgender doesn’t mean you can’t perform job duties like everyone else.” Vendors at the job fair included AMC, Atlanta Hawks, Best Buy, Home Depot, Delia’s Chicken Sausage, Atlanta Fire, APD and others.

In response to the increasing number of Atlanta youth suicides, APD produced a video in 2012, “It Gets Better,” where openly gay officers, lieutenants, sergeants, detectives, majors and deputy chiefs

shared their “coming out” stories and provided encouragement for youth facing the same.

Up next, the LGBT Liaisons will train Atlanta Public School district level then school level staff. “So kids have someone at each school to go to who knows how to advise them and their families so they feel safe and supported,” Murphy said. Plans also include starting a mentorship program with LGBT police and firefighters as mentors.

“We are trying to do a lot,” Murphy stated. “It takes time to make changes but we are on our way and ahead of a lot of places already.”

Public Safety Briefs

PetArmor, a flea and tick brand of Perrigo Animal Health, is helping to protect the Atlanta Police Department’s K-9 unit by donating five bullet- and stab-protective vests. In most cases, law enforcement agencies do not have the budget to purchase K-9 protective vests because they cost $950 As a result, police dogs are left unprotected while fighting crime. “Our K-9 officers are as beloved and valued as our human officers,” said Atlanta Police Department Chief George Turner. “We are thrilled that PetArmor is helping to protect five of our K-9 ‘s. This donation will allow us to provide our K-9s with a higher level of protection.”

Candace Walker has been named the new Atlanta Police Crime Lab Director. Walker, a Loyola University graduate, previously worked as an investigator for the Army, including training forensic experts in Afghanistan, and with the GBI.

The City of Atlanta Department of Corrections has named Officer LaShonda Jones as the 2015 Correctional Officer of the Year. Jones, who joined the department in 2007, was recognized for her commitment to assisting with the care of mentally and physicallydisabled elderly inmates at the Atlanta City Detention Center. She took on that responsibility in addition to her normal workload of monitoring and safely securing the other disabled inmates in the unit she patrols, relying on training she received through DOC as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Eight officers in the Decatur Police Department were recently recognized for their promotions. Three officers were promoted from sergeant to lieutenant: Jennifer Ross, Eric Jackson and Billy Woodruff. Five officers were promoted from police officer or police investigator to Sergeant: Dan Bellis, John Bender, Amy Hall, Phillip Nembheard and Kim Parks.

Special LGBT Liaison Officers Courtney Murphy, left, and Eric King.

Special

Front Row, from left, Sgt. John Bender, Lt. Eric Jackson. Middle row, from left: Sgt. Phillip Nembheard, Lt. Billy Woodruff, Sgt. Dan Bellis. Back row, from left: Lt. Jennifer Ross, Sgt. Amy Hall, Sgt. Kimberly Parks.

Special Officer Brittney Fisher with Ruckus

Decatur Police Department

Meetings

The Atlanta City Council will meet June 15 at 1 p.m. at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave., to vote on the 2016 fiscal year budget. Find out more at www. atlantaga.gov.

The Midtown (SPI-16) and Piedmont (SPI-17) Development Review Committee will meet June 9, 5:30 p.m. in the fifth floor conference room at 999 Peachtree. The meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of each month.

Community meetings, news & events

Neighborhood Planning Unit-F, which includes Virginia-Highland, Piedmont Heights and Morningside-Lenox Park, meets June 15, 7 p.m. at the Hillside Center, 1301 Monroe Drive. NPU-F usually meets the third Monday of each month.

The Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods is taking the months of June and July off. Meeting are scheduled to resume Aug. 13, 6:45 p.m., at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Road. Be sure to check out and “like” the organization’s new Facebook page at facebook.com/buckheadcouncil.

News

The second and final phase of the 10th Street Cycle Track is under way, according to an update from the Midtown Alliance. Construction is expected to be completed later this summer. The city-funded project will see the two-way cycle track extended along the northernmost lane of 10th Street between Charles Allen Drive and Myrtle Street; shared lane markings to and across Piedmont Avenue to the existing 10th Street shared lanes; a new pedestrian/bicyclist-activated crosswalk flashing beacon at Myrtle Street; and new bulbouts with bike parking and a bike maintenance facility.

The Atlanta City Council voted 14-0 at its May 4 meeting to approve a list of infrastructure repairs and improvements that will be paid for with $250 million in bonds. Voters approved the infrastructure bonds in a special election in March. The list of projects includes improvements to streets and bridges, resurfacing of roadways, new traffic signals, new bike lanes, upgrades to facilities and money for public art. Each council member will receive more than $5 million in their discretionary fund from the bonds to help with projects in their districts. To see the updated list of projects, visit infrastructuremap.org.

The Carl Vinson Institute of the University of Georgia has released its study of the proposed city of LaVista Hills. The report projects that LaVista Hills can provide public safety, parks, planning, zoning, business development, and road maintenance with no tax increase and a substantial annual surplus of over $1.7 million. Read the full study and find out more at lavistahillsyes.com.

The City of Atlanta is hiring its first Chief Bicycle Officer (CBO), a full-time bicycle planner, engineer and advocate for the city’s ambitious bike transportation goals. The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation is supporting the position through a five-year $250,000 challenge grant to the city through the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition. The CBO will be responsible for a wide range of activities related to bicycle transportation in the City of Atlanta, including engineering and planning bicycle projects to completion, public outreach, project development, grant writing, oversight of the city’s bike share program and ensuring new development is consistent with bike elements of the city’s existing plans.

Atlanta Public Schools is considering re-opening David T. Howard High School in the Old Fourth Ward to help alleviate overcrowding at Inman Park Middle School. According to Creative Loafing, Howard would be used for sixth, seventh and eighth graders while Inman would be turned into a “ninth grade academy” to help with overcrowding at Grady High School. The derelict Howard building, which fronts along John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, Randolph Street and Irwin Street, would require $40 million in renovations. Nearby, APS is considering razing the old Walden Middle School building to make way for sports fields.

Isadora Pennington

The David T. Howard High School

ATLANTA GYMNASTICS

Sign up now for Summer Camp and Fall Programs.

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

The Neighborhood Hot List: Buckhead

1. Buckhead Atlanta

The mixed-use development of luxury retailers, restaurants and homes has quickly become a must-visit destination.

2.Shake Shack

The often long lines are worth it for a taste of these burgers, shakes and fries from New York City.

3. Lenox and Phipps

Known by their first names, these malls at the corner of Peachtree and Lenox roads have been drawing customers for decades.

4. Buckhead Theatre

The old movie palace continues to rock as a favorite venue for concerts and events in the heart of the Village.

5. Atlanta History Center

Explore the grounds, buildings and museum that hold the city’s rich history.

Pet Pick Rico

When Rico first arrived, he didn’t know what to make of the shelter or why he was suddenly homeless. Rico is still bewildered by the commotion of shelter life. He needs a moment to warm up, but he relaxes into a great dog. To adopt Rico 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.

Pet Briefs

P.A.L.S. (Pets are Loving Support) will hold its 25th anniversary celebration on June 7 from 2-5 p.m. at Park Tavern at the corner of Monroe Avenue and 10th Street. There will be free admission, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, silent auction and more. PALS has been providing support for people and there pets living with critical illnesses. For more, visit palsatlanta.org.

The Atlanta Humane Society’s young professionals group, 1873 Society Club, will host the annual Ales for Tails fundraiser on June 23, 6-9 p.m., at Sweetwater Brewery. Tickets are $35 per person and includes six tasting tickets and food samples from some of Atlanta’s best restaurants and a commemorative SweetWater glass. Buy your tickets at atlantahumane.org/ales-for-tails/.

LifeLine Animal Project , the nonprofit that operates the DeKalb and Fulton County animal shelters, has been awarded the $100,000 Lifesaving Impact Grant from the Petco Foundation . LifeLine took over management of the county’s 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. LifeLine has also performed over 80,000 free and low-cost spay neuter surgeries in addition to providing rehabilitative care for animals at its own no-kill shelter.

Education Briefs

Henry W. Grady High School senior and valedictorian Carter Lewis Guensler is the 2015 State PAGE STAR Student. With this honor, Guensler had to select a teacher as his state PAGE STAR Teacher. He chose to share his recognition with Lee Pope, chair of the Grady Social Studies department as well as instructor of Advanced Placement European history and theater. Guensler and Pope were recently recognized at the state PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) STAR Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta.

rooms

• Life celebration services

• Beautiful chapels

• Urns, paw print impressions, and memorial jewelry

• Free monthly Pet Loss Support Group

Atlanta International School (AIS) has appointed Kendyl Moss to the role of Head of Development. In this capacity, she will oversee the development/fundraising and alumni relations department as well as sit on the school’s Senior Leadership Team. Moss joins AIS from the Atlanta Falcons, where she most recently served as the club’s Vice President of Community Relations.

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School has two students making movies with celebrities: Third-grader Owen Vaccaro is playing the son in “Daddy’s Home” with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlburg. And fourth-grader Katie Fryburger, who has done TV work, is making a movie in Atlanta with Melissa McCarthy. Katie plays a scout in McCarthy’s character’s troop.

Mark your calendar for the first districtwide Atlanta Pubic Schools Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Atlanta Metropolitan College Conference Center. The bash is for all incoming and returning APS students and their families to learn about everything your child will need in preparation for Day One APS on Aug. 5. This free event includes health screenings, education and afterschool resources, a free backpack stuffed with school supplies, activities for children, and much more. Free roundtrip shuttle bus transportation will be available from several APS schools starting at 9 a.m. For more information about the APS Back-to-School Bash, visit apsbacktoschool.com or call (404) 802-2879.

Special

Pictured, from left, PAGE Foundation President John E. Varner; PAGE Foundation Chair Howard Morrison; Carter Lewis Guensler; Grady High Principal Timothy Guiney; PAGE Executive Director Dr. Allene Magill; and AT&T State President Beth Shiroishi.

A LOOK BACK

This Month in History

Ann Taylor Boutwell

June 4, 1869: The traveling Ames Circus on its way to Charleston remained in Atlanta to give two extra performances. The Atlanta Intelligencer newspaper said, “It is a better exhibition of its kind than we have seen since the war.” Senorita Ella Eugenia, wife of circus owner C.T. Ames, was the star attraction. The professional lion tamer thrilled the sold out audiences with her intrepid feats in the cage. Ames contributed the proceeds to the decoration of the graves of Confederate soldiers in Atlanta.

South newspaper’s classified section. It noted that 46 spaces were available for new students. In addition to shorthand the school offered commercial law, bookkeeping, telegraphy, drawing, typewriting, grammar, mathematics, and spelling. “Our graduates are in demand at salaries from $600 to $1,800 a year.”

June 18, 1958: Canadian beer company Carling broke ground for a new brewery in the city. The multimillion dollar brewery opened later in the year on Atlanta’s South Expressway. The building was bought by the Coca-Cola Company in 1971. Carling sponsored the first Peachtree Road Race.

June 16, 1878: Crawford W. Long, the Georgia surgeon and pharmacist best known for his use of inhaled sulfuric ether as an anesthetic, died on this date. He is now recognized as the first physician to have administered ether anesthesia for surgery. In 1931, a sanatorium on Peachtree Street was renamed Crawford W. Long Hospital (it’s now Emory University Hospital Midtown).

June 18, 1892: The Southern Shorthand and Business College, one of the leading commercial colleges in the south placed an ad in the Sunny

June 18, 1953: Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King, Jr. were married in the Scott family garden in Marion, Alabama. Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. performed the ceremony.

June 23, 2003: Atlanta lowers the flag for the late Mayor Maynard Holbrook Jackson. His interment was at Oakland Cemetery.

June 26, 1977: Rising musical star Natalie Cole, daughter of singer Maria Hawkins and crooner Nat King Cole, was the hit of the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

June 30, 1979: MARTA opened rail service to Avondale station.

TimmyDaddy

By Tim Sullivan

The (video) games people play

I bet the guy in your life might like a 10-pack of daydreams for Father’s Day. Because even dads enjoy fleeting moments where they forget they are running 10 minutes late, driving a kid to a soccer game, in a minivan…

Yesterday Sirius was tuned to 1st Wave and “Oliver’s Army” by Elvis Costello was playing and even though I’ve heard the song a thousand times it struck as me as pretty fantastic and poignant in the kind of nostalgic conjuring that only XM radio can pull off. I lost myself in thought trying to remember how old I was when I first heard that song and then I drifted off to thinking I need to start seeing more live music and then there were the lyrics “…and I would rather be anywhere else THAN here TOODAYYY!” Then a salty seven year old torpedoed the moment from the back seat: “This is probably the worst song I’ve heard in my entire life.”

Elliott would live in my shirt pocket if I allowed it, but occasionally an activity where we can have some space is a good thing, too. Take video games for example. He loves them and I’m not exactly what you’d call a gamer. When I was young we didn’t have Atari like everyone else. We had Intellivision, the maker of Pong. The

controller was a stovetop dial on a box that allowed you to move a single line to hit a ball (unless you got nutty and played doubles). If my parents’ goal was to swiftly lead me to the sanctimonious position that video games were a waste of time, they succeeded.

Studies show children who spend time playing video games are reaping cognitive benefits and are generally more tech savvy than their peers (and parents). I don’t want a pale, zombie kid with early onset carpal tunnel just so he can get into Georgia Tech, but some degree of gaming is inevitable. Elliott liked playing Minecraft on the IPad which is a bizarre, world-building game with graphics that seem to be an homage to the Dire Straits “Money For Nothing” video. But it was fine and quiet at least.

Then we met Stampy Cat. This is the Nom-de-Game of some Brit who narrates his every move in a cheerful lilt while playing Minecraft and posts them to YouTube. Apparently kids devour these videos. Who knew? I made sure Elliott wasn’t somehow feeding dollar bills into the iPad for the YouTube machine to dispense to Stampy Cat on the other side, but why would a kid want to watch a grown man play video games? Elliott put it to me

Just THE BEST

this way: “Mommy watches TV shows of people trying to decide which house to buy.” This is true.

But Stampy was becoming the fifth member of our family who never seemed to shut up. In a desperate maneuver to stop the weirdness, we caved and bought an Xbox and set it up in the basement playroom. At least this way Elliott would be the one actually playing the game. It’s freaky because in the FIFA soccer game Cristiano Ronaldo looks more like an actual human being than he does in real life, but I’m almost certain the gaming overlords aren’t watching us.

So far so good. Elliott can only bear to

be apart from us for so long, so it keeps the screen time in check. I might even start playing with him when he gets a little older and is less attached to my hip. For now though if he asks me to join him I close my eyes, cover my ears and flop on the ground chanting “Tinker Toy! Tinker Toy! Tinker Toy.” That affords me a few reflective moments where I can ask my Magic 8 Ball if the Talking Heads will ever do a reunion tour.

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.net.

Photo by Tim Sullivan

Elliott Sullivan, left, and his buddy Ryan Villanueva play video games.

Inman Park Festival

Street Scenes

Kirkwood Spring Fling

Top photo: Margot Sullivan bought a wooden puzzle that was made right in front of her eyes by woodworker Hans A. Meier II.

Bottom left: AC Smallwood and her boyfriend Jackson McDonald.

Bottom right: Rodney Briggs with his pup, Bijou.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Main center photo: David Broughton enjoys a corndog from the Pallookaville food truck.

Center left photo: Donna Janney and Priya Desal listening to live music on the grass.

Center right photo: Ashley Hartman plays in Bessie Branham Park during the festival.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Business & Retail Briefs

Email marketing service provider Mailchimp officially opened its new offices at Ponce City Market on May 15. Also coming to the mixed-use develoment later this year is Industrious, a collaborative workspace for entrepreneurs. The company will have 27,981 square feet on the 8th floor of the former Sears & Roebuck building in the Old Fourth Ward. Also announced: Q Clothier, men’s apparel; Rye 51, men’s apparel and whiskey bar; Lily Rain, women’s apparel and accessories; Onward Reserve, men’s apparel and home goods; Karoo, South Africaninspired eyewear: and CorePower Yoga

Mailchimp

Southern California-based lifestyle and fashion brand Planet Blue has announced it will open its first store in the Southeast at Buckhead Atlanta. Beginning 20 years ago in Malibu as a tiny shop of organic cotton clothing, Planet Blue has grown into an international designer and retailer. Planet Blue will open a 3,200 square-foot boutique on Buckhead Avenue at a date to be announced. Just opened at Buckhead Atlanta is Tod’s, an Italian luxury brand specializing in clothing and accessories for men and women.

The Merchant will open its second location in Inman Park at Krog Street Market later this year, offering a wide range of greeting cards, stationery and books, candles, bedding, tabletop décor and dinnerware. The Merchant will open in the 3,000 square-foot space, also known as Building A, located at the corner of Krog and Lake.

Merchant

The 27-year-old Buckhead Coalition has placed 10 new business leaders on its roster. The 100-member coalition has added the following: W. Millard Choate, President and CEO of Choate Construction Co.; Steven DeFrancis, Chief Executive Officer of Cortland Partners; Kevin Greiner, President and CEO of Gas South; Mark Kauffman, President of Kauffman Tire, Inc.; Meredith Leapley, Chief Executive Officer of Leapley Construction; Jonathan D. Rodbell, Partner of Atlanta Property Group, LLC; Tony R. Smith, President of Simmons Bedding Co.; Carol B. Tomé, CFO and Executive VP Corp. Services of The Home Depot; R. E. (Ted) Turner, Chairman of Turner Enterprises, and Jeremy Wing, Founder and President of Payscape Advisors.

Turner Construction has moved to a new 10,000 square foot office at 3495 Piedmont Road, Suite 700. The company’s new offices occupy the seventh floor at Eleven Piedmont Center.

CorePower Yoga will open its first Atlanta location this month at the Shops Around Lenox in Buckhead. The studio will feature two spacious yoga rooms where students can enjoy a variety of classes offered at different levels. The studio will also feature changing rooms, showers, private lockers and a full retail boutique. In addition to the daily class schedule, the Shops Around Lenox studio will offer special programs including boot camps, retreats, wellness cleanses and a Yoga Teacher Training program.

Intown Expert Realty has been announced as the anchor tenant of The Berthold Building, a fully renovated co-working space located at the corner of Monroe and Ponce de Leon. Features of The Bert include a variety of office and co-work configurations, open common space areas, broadband Wi-Fi networking, a conference room reservation system, free visitor passes, white noise sound cancellation systems, designer furniture, 24-7 building access, and the ability to host evening meet-ups. The Bert is currently seeking aspiring entrepreneurs to join the community. Membership starts at $120/month. More information at bertholdbuilding.com.

The Berthold Building

The

June 2015

Yard of the Month Winners

Morningside: Level yard w/lush gardens, orchard, & landscape lighting. 4-car garage. Gourmet kitchen. Amazing master. Fully-equipped media room. 6BR/ 5BA/ 2HBA

Ken Covers kencovers@engelvoelkers.com

Spring Trace: New kitchen w/tile floors, espresso cabinets. Original knotty pine paneling, refinished hardwoods, bonus room & full basement. Two-car garage. 3BR/ 2BA Nancy Guss nancy.guss@engelvoelkers.com

East Atlanta: Craftsman w/tremendous detail, natural light. High-end kitchen appliances. Walk-ins & jacuzzi tub in master. Fully finished basement w/tile floor. 5BD / 4.5BA

College Park: 11+ acres w/immediate access to I-85, <8mi from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l. airport w/~750 feet of road frontage. Endless possibilities for smart developer.

Ryan Lewis ryan.lewis@engelvoelkers.com $425,000

Sherwood Forest: Cherry paneled library, Venetian Plaster, inlay flooring, heated & saltwater pool, hot tub and outdoor kitchen. Whole house audio and 3 car garage. 6BR/ 7.5BA

Michael Gaddy michael.gaddy@engelvoelkers.com $2,695,000

Virginia Highland: Vintage industrial chic decor, Tudor mantles, vintage sinks. Enchanting front yard. 5BR/ 5BA

Mandi Robertson & Michael Gaddy mandi.robertson@engelvoelkers.com michael.gaddy@engelvoelkers.com

principles of the Fair Housing Act.

Manford Road, Capitol View Manor Wildwood Road, Morningside

Trees Atlanta to open new education space in O4W

Trees Atlanta will open an office in Stove Works to serve as a new education and research center called “Trees Atlanta TreeHouse.”

Located on the Atlanta BeltLine at 112 Krog Street, across from the popular new Krog Street Market in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, the TreeHouse is set to have its grand opening in August.

The 3,800 square-foot facility will be the non-profit’s second office and will provide a venue for Trees Atlanta’s many youth and adult educational programs. The newly designed space will feature flexible multipurpose areas for educational classes and lectures that pertain to its mission of protecting and improving the city’s urban forest.

Innovative features will include seasonally changing exhibits and interactive play zones for all ages. A backdoor will open directly onto the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, which will serve as an outdoor classroom and laboratory.

The TreeHouse has been funded by a capital campaign, with support from foundations, corporations, board members, universities, and individuals.

For more information about the Trees Atlanta TreeHouse, visit treesatlanta.org.

The SweetWater 420 Festival made sure it left Downtown a little cleaner and more sustainable than it was before their annual event in April. Working through Downtown Green Source, the sustainability program of Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), SweetWater 420 Festival donated a Bigbelly solar trash compactor and hosted Earth Day Work Day as part of its eco-friendly focus.

The Bigbelly compactor donated by the SweetWater 420 Festival is prominently placed on Broad Street, one of the city’s busiest lunchtime dining destinations, and is adorned in Sweetwater’s familiar, colorful tie-dye print.

Downtown Green Source recently launched the Bigbelly program to make waste collection and recycling efforts more efficient and environmentally friendly. Automatic compaction provides Bigbellys with five times the capacity of a standard trash bin. Prior to the installation of the compactor, ADID’s Clean Team serviced the standard bin at least three times during each weekday lunch hour.

“The new Bigbelly on Broad Street will significantly reduce the amount of man power required to maintain the trashcans during busy lunches, while realizing some cost savings for supplies, such as trash bags,” said Dave Wardell,

CAP’s Vice President of Public Safety and Operations.

In addition to the compactor donation, SweetWater 420 Festival partnered with Downtown Green Source to host Earth Day Work Day in April. More than 50 volunteers painted flower planters in Centennial Olympic Park, which will now glow in the dark, and trimmed plants and flowers in Woodruff Park.

The new Trees Atlanta TreeHouse space at the Stove Works in Inman Park will offer classes, lecture, exhibits, play zone and direct access to the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail when it opens later this summer.

SweetWater Brewing donated a Bigbelly solar trash compactor to Downtown Atlanta.

It all begins with water

By Isadora Pennington

“If you want to talk about helping a community, the starting point is always water,” said Joshua Sanders, executive director and cofounder of Atlanta-based Trashwater.

Trashwater is a nonprofit dedicated to providing clean drinking water to impoverished urban communities. The organization is currently operating in the Los Brasiles and La Chureca neighborhoods of Managua, Nicaragua.

Worldwide, more than 840,000 people die each year from water-related diseases and over 750 million people lack access to clean water. It was during a humanitarian mission trip to Cairo, Egypt that Joshua and his travel companion, Colin Denlea, first encountered the problems that unclean water can cause when Joshua fell ill.

“I knew I wanted to do something that was geared towards serving people, I just didn’t know what exactly,” Joshua explained. Being in the hospital from drinking impure water gave him an insight into the importance of clean water. “That was the epiphany moment.”

Joshua and Colin founded Trashwater in 2010, initially focusing their attention on a boy’s orphanage in Cairo. “We saw a need in Egypt,” said Joshua. “We were just a couple of guys who saw a problem and wanted to fix it.”

The two lacked formal experience in starting and running a non-profit, and they relied heavily on Google and their background in church mission trips to grow the organization.

In their research, Joshua and Colin discovered a niche. While most similar clean water initiatives were focusing efforts on drilling wells and purifying river water, there were still many people in urban environments who had no clean water solution. The Trashwater program set out to provide continued support, education and communication in addition to the filters themselves to these communities.

Trashwater had to halt their work in Cairo when the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 erupted in violence throughout the city. “The political turmoil in Cairo made it impossible for us to work there for quite some time,” Joshua said. “Cairo is always a wait and see kind of situation for us. We all have families and partners and we want to be cautious.”

While the unrest stalled the initiative’s work in Egypt, they remained committed to their cause. Joshua conferred with a friend who was connected within the nonprofit world about their mission and need for a new community to serve. In turn they were introduced to former Peace Corps worker Coburn Murray, who had started an initiative to provide food and education in Los Brasiles.

“We talked for almost an hour,” said Joshua of the conversation. “He shared with me that at any given time a large portion of his students would ill with water related parasites and diseases.” In the years that followed, Trashwater’s partnerships with these local communities have all but eradicated those waterborne illnesses.

Originally, Trashwater provided ultraviolet water purification systems, but they have recently made the shift to a terracotta bucket filtration system that is made locally in Nicaragua. “We try to source everything from Nicaragua as much as possible,” Joshua said, emphasizing the importance of empowering the local community without creating a dependency on the outside support. “At some point, you do have to let the community take it over,” said India.

There has also been a focus on training people in the communities to make repairs to the water filtration systems.

“We look for people in the community with a sense of leadership,” said Joshua.

“We encourage them and equip them to take over the projects.” By keeping the local relationships intact, the organization has a much better chance of affecting long-term positive change.

As part of the company’s commitment to evolving with the times and the needs of their community, they have also started offering clay stoves, or “rocket stoves” that drastically reduce cook time, prevent crosscontamination and conserve resources.

As Trashwater continues to grow, change, and adapt, they hope to expand their aid into other communities and will host fundraising events in Atlanta. They are also planning to host a Latin American themed block party in September to celebrate the Nicaraguan national holiday that commemorates the Battle of San Jacinto.

To learn more about the organization, visit trashwater.org.

Baumann Group

Isadora Pennington

From left, Joshua Sanders, Suzanne Harrity and India Hayes of Trashwater.

Annual “Hoochie” Fundraiser Draws Hundreds

More than 400 were in attendance for The Nature Conservancy’s annual “Hoochie” fundraiser in April at Tophat Soccer Fields in Buckhead. The event raised more than $4 million for conservations projects in Georgia.

Above: Ashley Gravlee, Mary Richardson, Kelley Anne Smaha, Brook Beadle and Quin Ryan enjoyed the Hoochie event.

Above center: Pamela Isdell of Buckhead bids on an item during the silent auction.

Above right: Deron Davis, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Georgia, and Jeannie Wright, honorary Hoochie event chair, of Brookhaven.

Bottom right: Freddie the Falcon wowed the crowd with his keyboard skills.

Beverly Luke Bobby Patel Brian Srikanchana

Chanelle White Christin Pulver

Joe Daniels

Dianne King Jackie Goodman

Jerry Thurman

John Spickerman Kay Baxter

Tracy Queen Tom Sands Sim Turner

Ronnie Hinton

Nita Scott

Kendria Clark

Pints for Parks is June 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Piedmont Park to benefit Park Pride's Volunteer Program. This fundraiser will be a fun evening of tasting unique beers at Orpheus Brewing, enjoying the views of Piedmont Park from the patio, a silent auction, and networking Tickets are $30. For more information, visit parkpride.org/getinvolved/events.

The Wylde Center’s annual Beer Garden Silent Auction and Fundraiser is June 28 in the Oakhurst Garden, 435 Oakview Road, Decatur. The popular event brings together 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 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. VIP tickets are $75 and are available at www. 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.

EarthShare of Georgia held a successful Corporate Green Day Challenge to Mark Earth Day in April. More than 400 volunteers from Accenture, Bank of America, Cox Enterprises, Delta Air Lines, Hannah Solar, Interface, Kaiser Permanente, Mohawk Group, NewFields and SCANA Energy participated in projects throughout Georgia. Cox Enterprises won the Corporate Green Day Challenge Award for the team with the greatest number of volunteers per capita, team spirit and project accomplishments. Also picking up awards from EarthShare were Tomorrow Pictures (Outstanding Community Partner), Chattahoochee Nature Center (Outstanding Member Organization); and Interface (Outstanding Campaign Partner).

The City of Atlanta has adopted a comprehensive energy policy that aims to significantly reduce citywide commercial energy use by establishing a framework for energy performance monitoring and systems maintenance. Authored by the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, the ordinance aims to reduce the city’s energy footprint while creating jobs. The City projects that the ordinance will drive a 20 percent reduction in commercial energy consumption by the year 2030, spur the creation of more than 1,000 jobs a year in the first few years, and reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent from 2013

Hot Entertainment!

Summer of diverse art, community & music events on the way

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Intown’s summer calendar runneth over with events for all ages and interests – from film and art festivals to concerts and variety shows.

We’ve rounded up some of the must-see events and maybe a few that might be just under your radar. As always, be sure to visit AtlantaINtownPaper.com for the latest updates on arts and culture happenings around town.

The Atlanta Fringe Festival

The festival returns to East Atlanta for the fourth consecutive year, bringing hundreds of local and national performers together for a celebration of live performances from all over the theatrical spectrum. This year’s productions run a wild gamut, from familyfriendly cabaret to puppetry, modern dance, aerial acrobatics, satirical comedy and everything in between, featuring a dozen companies from the Atlanta area. The festival is set to run June 4-7, with every act performing a 3-minute excerpt from their show at a free preview party Wednesday, June 3 at 7 Stages. More information, including advanced ticketing opportunities and company information for the 20 productions in this year’s festival, can be found at AtlantaFringe. org.

Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at The Fox

This year’s movie fest kicks off June 4 with 80s classic The Goonies, which won the Fox Facebook fan vote. Also on the schedule: Back to the Future - 30th Anniversary (June 6); Beetlejuice (June 18); The Princess Bride (June 20); Jaws - 40th Anniversary (July 16); The Breakfast Club - 30th Anniversary (July 18); Ghostbusters (July 30); The Sound of Music - 50th Anniversary Sing-Along (Aug. 2); Saturday Morning Cartoons (Aug. 15); Braveheart - 20th Anniversary (Aug. 15); Legends of Silent Film with The Mighty Mo and Ken Double (Aug. 16); and Frozen Sing-Along (Aug. 29).

Movies In Central Park at Atlantic Station

Atlantic Station in Midtown has a summer-long list of recent hits and classics. All movies start at dusk on Thursdays (weather permitting) and admission is free. Blankets, chairs and picnics are welcome, while surrounding restaurants will be offering special takeout menus. The schedule includes: Jaws (June 4); Heavyweights (June 11); The Lego Movie (June 18); Super 8 (June 25); Independence Day (July 2); Dirty Dancing (July 9); Casablanca (July 16); 101 Dalmatians (July 23); Airplane! (July 30); Ferris Buller’s Day Off (Aug. 6); and The Wizard of Oz (Aug. 13). For more information, visit atlanticstation.com.

Virginia-Highland Summerfest

The weekend festival is June 6-7 with art, food and plenty of music. The Saturday lineup includes Sans Abri, The Georgia Flood, Cicada Rhythm, Heavy Chevy, Halem Albright Band and Southern Gothic. The Sunday roster features Taylor & Ciara, Nathan Angelo, Sailing to Denver and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk. For more information, visit vahisummerfest.com or facebook.com/vahisummerfest.

Good Gracious Show

The old-fashioned variety show with a modern twist is back June 7, 5 p.m., at Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points. This edition will have a “foodie” bent with Spice to Table chef Asha Gomez, Kimball House mixologist Miles MacQuarrie and members of Captain Planet’s Learning Garden on stage to talk food and drink. Also on the bill is comedy from Dad’s Garage, poetry from Kodac Harrison and music from Doria

Roberts, Mr. Blue Sky and Takenobu. Tickets are $18 ($50 family of 4 package) at the box office or online through Ticketmaster. More details at goodgraciousshow.com.

Tunes from the Tombs

Historic Oakland Cemetery will be rocking out on June 13 with a line-up of Georgia and Atlanta-based musicians headlined by Matthew Sweet. The roster includes Michelle Malone Band, Little Tybee, Eliot Bronson, Blair Crimmins and the Hookers, Sweet Auburn String Band, Caleb Warren and the Perfect Gentlemen, Blood On the Harp, Sourwood Honey, Max & Maggie, Atlanta Sacred Harp Singers and more. There will also be food from local food trucks. General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the gates. Tunes From the Tombs runs from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and gates open at noon. This is a rain or shine event, and lineup is subject to change. No outside food, drink or coolers permitted. Attendees are allowed to bring blankets and low beach chairs only. Tickets are available online only at ticketalternative.com. For event updates, visit oaklandcemetery.com.

Atlanta Cycling Festival

Details and events were still being worked out at press time, but this year’s event will be June 13-20 and feature bike rides, classes, parties and more. More than 2,000 cyclists took part in last year’s event. Find out details at atlantacyclingfestival.com.

Atlanta Moon Ride

Returning for its third installment, Atlanta Moon Ride invites cyclers to hit the streets on June 19 for a 6.5-mile bike ride through Atlanta’s coolest neighborhoods. Participants are encouraged to ride with flair – dressing in costume, decorative helmets, glow sticks, bullhorns – anything goes. The nighttime cruise will start and end at Piedmont Park, taking participants safely through a scenic and traffic-free route through Virginia-Highland, Little Five Points, Inman Park and finishing on the Eastside BeltLine Trail. The event will conclude with a private, festival-style after-party featuring a wide variety of vendors to enjoy, including eats from the city’s top food trucks, premium selections of cocktail and brews, live entertainment and more. The fee is $25 per rider and includes an Atlanta Moon Ride t-shirt and entry to the kick-off party starting at 6 p.m. Proceeds benefit Bert’s Big Adventure. For more, visit atlantamoonride.com.

Westview Summer Solstice Celebration

The 8th annual event is June 20 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Westview Village on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard (between Lucile and West Ontario avenues). The festival will feature a day of food, music, art and games. Neighborhoods will compete in the Best of the BeltLine BBQ grill-off, while DJs spin tunes. Tickets are $10. Visit westviewatlanta.com for more information.

Concerts in the Garden

This year’s series at the Atlanta Botanical Garden splits acts between the Midtown greenspace and the new garden opened in Gainesville. The Atlanta lineup includes: Josh Turner (June 20); Smashmouth, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Tonic (July 23); The Beach Boys (July 24); Colbie Caillat (Aug. 7); John Hiatt & The Combo and The Taj Mahal Trio (Aug. 21); Melissa Etheridge (Aug. 22); and The Mavericks and Los Lobos (Aug. 28). If you want to take a drive up to Gainesville, you can see Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell (June 13); The Temptations (July 11); and Scott McCreery (July 17). Ticket prices and times vary, so visit atlantabg.org for more information.

Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival

This year’s festival will be held June 27-28 in Historic Fourth Ward Park. There will be fine arts and crafts, a children’s play area, local food, live acoustic entertainment in the amphitheater and a new “emerging artists” pavilion. For more details, visit oldfourthwardparkartsfestival.com.

The Atlanta Fringe Festival

Concerts in the Garden

JAZZ ON THE LAWN

Concerts bring big crowds to Callanwolde

By Martha Nodar

It is that time of the year again when some Atlantans look for activities to do al fresco and flock to Callanwolde Fine Arts Center to enjoy an evening of summer jazz. Now in its 15th season, the Jazz on the Lawn Concert Series runs from June to August.

Beginning last summer, the jazz events now take place in the mansion’s amphitheater on the side lawn of the campus instead of in the front lawn. Patrons may still bring their picnics and chairs just like they did before.

Kicking off this year’s series on June 12 is Karla Harris with the Ted Howe Trio. Following, on June 26, singer and trumpeter Joe Gransden returns to the mansion with his band.

“I love the atmosphere at Callanwolde,” Gransden said. “This is one

of the most beautiful spots in Atlanta. I love performing outdoors and seeing the enthusiastic crowd.”

Gransden said he enjoys the Callanwolde’s amphitheater because it lends itself to a more concert-like setting. His singing style has been somewhat loosely compared to Frank Sinatra’s, but with a flavor of his own.

Rounding-up the rest of the jazz players are Richard Smith on July 10, Theresa Hightower on July 24, and Gwen Hughes closing the series on Aug. 7. Running concurrently with the concert series is an art exhibit in the mansion’s art gallery by Morningside artist Tim Hunter. “Gold Leaf and Encaustic” is in display through July 10. Encaustic is a rich and ancient type of painting that involves hot wax and pigment and dates back to the 2nd century.

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Special

Callanwolde Jazz on the Lawn concerts will once again be held in the mansion’s amphitheater.

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48 Hour Film Project set for June 12-14

By Clare S. Richie

What did you do last weekend? Eat out, run errands, and read the paper? The weekend of June 12-14, hundreds of Georgia filmmakers will write, shoot, edit, score and master a completed movie. They’re competing in the 14th Annual Atlanta 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) designed to encourage filmmakers, from newbies to veterans, to show their stuff.

At the Friday evening kick-off hosted by production sponsor PC&E, teams receive the three required elements that must be included in each of the 48HFP films: a character, prop and line of dialogue. Elements for 2014 were included a character named Dr. Oliver or Olivia Sandman, the prop was a peach and the line of dialogue was “I’m gonna tell you a secret.” After each team draws a genre (like comedy or sci-fi), it’s on. Teams must submit their 4-7 minute films Sunday evening.

“Our goal for 2015 is one hundred teams, ” said Paula Martinez, co-producer of the project. This is nearly double what she and co-producer Gabe Wardell started with in 2009. Atlanta is now the 4th largest 48 HFP out of 130 cities in the world, trailing only Paris, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

The competition relies on key sponsors like Atlanta Movie Tours, All About Props, NorCostco, Tunewelders,

and the Georgia Office of Entertainment – “who recognize that the local crews and actors making short 48HFP films will be staffing the big-budget Hollywood films and TV shows being shot here,” Martinez said.

Unlike other film festivals, every completed film will premier on the big screen at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, June 22-25. The screenings are open to the public, appropriate for tweens and older and cost regular movie-ticket prices.

Audiences vote for their favorites then a jury of industry professionals meet to identify the winners of various categories. On July 16, at the Best of Show and Awards Ceremony, the results are revealed and the winning films are re-shown to filmmakers and fans. Best Film winners advance to the International Finals at Filmapalooza in Los Angeles to compete against winners from around the world.

“The 48 Hour [Film Project] was a beautiful whirlwind of a weekend!” said Kristina Adler, Jump Cut Collective director and producer. Her team’s film, “Backtrack,” took home the 2014 Best Film honors.

Adler recalled scrapping their dramatic, dark route halfway through the shoot and went for something unexpected and funny with a time travel scenario instead. The film was submitted with about 15 minutes to spare until the deadline.

“After we won the audience award in our first round, one of the biggest production companies competing reached out saying that even outside the competition they wanted to help support female directors and writers, which really meant the world to me,” Adler said. Backtrack went on to be screened at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles at Filmapalooza. “It felt like we managed to magically skip some steps and years to screen there,” Adler commented.

“If you think you want to make a film, the 48 Hour Film Project is the perfect entry way, because it’s accessible to everyone,” Martinez said.

For more, visit 48hourfilm.com/atlanta.

Special

48 Hour Film Project co-producers Gabe Wardell and Paula Martinez.

AVENUE Q

Visual Arts

War from the Victims’ Perspectives: Swiss photographer Jean Mohr depicts the drama of civilians trapped by war in honor of the 150th anniversary of the First Geneva Convention. Closes June 28. $6 to $8. jimmycarterlibrary.gov

Filming the Camps: See rare film footage, photographs and director’s notes from the Hollywood directors who filmed the liberation of WWII concentration camps. Daily. $11 to $16.50. atlantahistorycenter. com

Eighteen Artifacts: A Story of Jewish Atlanta: Explore the history of Jews in Atlanta through 18 powerful artifacts, as well as images and oral histories at The Breman. Sunday through Friday. $4 to $12. thebreman.org

Los Trompos (Spinning Tops): Spin along with the High Museum at this outdoor installation of “spinning tops” from two contemporary Mexican designers. Daily. Free. high.org

Hudgens Prize Finalists Exhibition Awards Ceremony: See which finalist takes home the $50,000 Hudgens prize, one of the largest for visual arts in the nation. June 13. $3 to $5. thehudgens. org

GYRE: The Plastic Ocean: Explore how the world’s culture of consumerism affects the U.S. coastlines and environment at this exhibit. Closes June 19. Free. cdc.gov/museum

Brain: The Inside Story: Discover the workings of the most complex and fascinating biological structure the

human brain. Opens June 6. $16 to $18. fernbank.edu

Bruce Munro: Light in the Garden: Light is the medium for this nighttime outdoor exhibition featuring hundreds of miles of fiber optics. Wednesday through Sunday. $13.95 to $22.95. atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Performing Arts

Season Finale: Robert Spano Conducts Saint-Saëns’ Samson Et Dalila with All-Star Cast: Celebrate the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s season finale with the story of Samson and Delilah performed by a powerful trio and the ASO Chorus. June 4 and June 6. $20 to $99. atlantasymphony.org

Soul Makossa: DJ Kemit spins a night of world music, where Puerto Rico meets the jazz and funk of Lagos, every first Friday at The Sound Table. June 5. $5. thesoundtable.com

Good Girls Gone Bad: From fairytale princesses to Broadway villains, this show by the Atlanta Women’s Chorus is a fun romp through classic and popular music. June 5 and June 6. $15 to $35. voicesofnote.org/awc

DeKalb Symphony Orchestra Free Community Concert: This annual free concert features Susan Welty on horn performing Strauss’ Horn Concerto No. 1 at the First Baptist Church of Decatur. June 9. Free! dekalbsymphonyorchestra.org

Song of the South Music Series at Canoe: Canoe’s seasonal outdoor music series returns to the banks of the Chattahoochee River with eclectic bluegrass performers Smokey’s Farmland

BRUCE MUNRO - BEACON

Band. June 10. Free! canoeatl.com

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type: Cows that type? Chickens on strike? Join the barnyard fun in this new adaptation of the award-winning children’s book of the same name. Opens June 11. $16.50. puppet.org

Avenue Q: Smart, hilarious, risqué and full of heart, this is Broadway’s smash-hit upbeat musical for grown-ups. Opens June 12. $15 to $40. horizontheatre.com

Jazz on the Lawn: Karla Harris and The Ted Howe Trio continue Callanwolde’s outdoor summer concert series with a live concert of Dave and Iola Brubeck songs in the amphitheater. June 12. $20 to $25. callanwolde.org

Barnum: Follow the legendary showman’s life under the big top as he teams up with J. A. Bailey to create Barnum and Bailey’s circus. June 12 through June 28. $30 to $50. atlantalyrictheatre.com

Concerts in the Garden: Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell: Atlanta Botanical Garden begins a new season of outdoor concerts with Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell opening the series at the new Gainesville garden location. June 13. $58.50. atlantabg.org

Tunes from the Tombs: Matthew Sweet headlines this festival of rock, folk, Americana and jazz music set among historic Oakland Cemetery’s mausoleums and gardens. June 13. $15 to $20. oaklandcemetery.com

Clibber Jones Ensemble + A/B Duo: These two contemporary ensembles join up for a night of rock and roll chamber music fantasy, including the premiere of a new work. June 14. $10. eyedrum.org

MACE HIBBARD

Community Calendar June 2015

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

Open Mic Mondays at Java Monkey - June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 7-10 p.m. This weekly open mic night offers stage time for 3 songs max per performance, no house guitar or amps available. Free and open to the public. Java Monkey, 425 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030. For more information, go to javamonkeydecatur.com.

Spellabration - June 4, 6-8:30 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for Literacy Action, Georgia’s oldest provider of adult education. The event will feature competitive rounds of spelling bees and speed scrabble. 100 Edgewood Avenue, NE, Suite 650, Atlanta, GA 30303. For more information and to get involved, go to literacyaction.org/spellabration.

Good Girls Gone Bad - June 5, 8 p.m. and June 6, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Atlanta Women’s Chorus (Voices of Note) presents a series of performances featuring strong female leads from fairytale princesses to Broadway villains and pop stars. Tickets start at $30, see the website for pricing info. Druid Hills Presbyterian Church, 1026 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. For more information go to voicesofnote.org/events/good-girlsgone-bad.

Festival of Chariots - June 6, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. The Festival of Chariots, also known as Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra, is a longstanding tradition in India dating back more than 2,000 years. The Atlanta festival is sponsored by the ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple and will feature live music, local artists, food, mantra meditation, yoga, face painting, henna, cultural displays and kid’s activities. There will also be a walk-in parade open to the public from 12-2 p.m. beginning at Woodruff park and circling Centennial Olympic Park. Olmsted Linear Park, 1788 Ponce de Leon Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307. For more information, go to festivalofchariotsatl.com.

Collage Workshop at Murmur - June 6, 4 to 4:30 p.m. Hosted by Murmur intern and multimedia artist Melody Thomas, this workshop will combine art history with hands-on instruction and assistance. Supplies are provided, and the event is open to the public. Kids welcome, but participants must be comfortable using scizzors. $5 suggested donation. Hodgepodge Coffee House and Gallery, 720 Moreland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30316. For more information, email info@murmurmedia.org or go to murmurmedia.org.

Summer ICE - June 6 and 7, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Indie Craft Experience presents Summer ICE, the 10th anniversary indoor pop-up market featuring 100 craft & vintage vendors, local foods, music by DJ Zano, swag bags for the first 250 attendees each day and

Water by the Spoonful: This Pulitzer Prize-winning drama finds veterans and addicts on the brink of redemption. Closes June 20. $10 to $26. pnotheatre.org

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical: Using live actors and beautiful projections, this play tells a tale about what happens when Daddy’s in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong. Closes June 21. $8 to $15. alliancetheatre.org

The Secret Garden: This world premiere adaptation from Rachel Teagle introduces audiences to the timeless story of Mary Lennox and her English Garden. Friday through Sunday. $10 to $20. serenbeplayhouse.com

more. Admission is $5 per person, free for children 12 and under. Georgia Freight Depot, 65 M.L.K. Jr Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30303. For more information including vendor applications, go to ice-atlanta.com.

Water Balloon Fight - June 6, 3 p.m. This annual event is presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon and Sasha Couture and offers a family-friendly environment for a giant water balloon fight. Some balloons will be available, but it is recommended to BYOBalloons. 21+ afterparty to be held at Star Bar starting at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. Candler Park, 585 Candler Park Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. For more information, go to facebook.com/ events/331556613716801.

Fox Theater Block Party - June 7, 12 to 6 p.m. The Fox Theater will take over Midtown for the first ever street festival in honor of the Atlantans who saved the Fox 40 years ago. The event will feature a Rock the Block parade, music from DejaBlue Grass Band, Orquestra MaCuba, Francine Reed, Tribute, Bogey & The Viceroy, tours of the theater, food trucks, adult beverages and family-friendly activities. Free and open to the public. The Fox Theater, 660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. For more information, go online to foxtheatre.org.

The Big Pop Up! - June 11, 6 to 9 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Decatur Arts Alliance, this event will feature art, live music, food trucks, and beer discounts, gallery show and tours at Three Taverns Brewery. Free and open to the public. East Decatur Station at the corner of E College Ave and New St, 111 New St, Decatur, GA 30030. For more information, go online to facebook.com/popupdecatur.

Southern-Fried Gameroom Expo - June 19, 4 to 11 p.m., June 20, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and June 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Player One presents this family-friendly pinball, classic arcade and console gaming event will feature more than 200 games set to free play. The event will also feature panels, a pinball tournament and movie screenings. 3-day weekend passes are $50 for adults, $30 for kids, general admission prices vary per day and start at $15 for adults, $10 for kids. Atlanta Marriott Century Center, 2000 Century Blvd NE, Atlanta, GA 30345. For more information, go online to southernfriedgameroomexpo.com.

Honoring Our Fathers Jazz Brunch - June 20, 9 a.m. Morehouse ATL Alumni present the fifth annual Jazz brunch and fundraiser celebrating fatherhood, mentorship and service. The event seeks to recognize strong fathers and mentors in the community as well as fund the Fill the Gap Scholarship program for Morehouse students. Tickets are on sale for $35 through Wednesday, June 17. The Grand Atrium, 200 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303. For more information, go to morehouseatl.org/hof.

LawJam 2015 - June 27, 7 p.m. The sixth annual LawJam will take place at the Variety Playhouse in Little 5 Points. Presented by the Atlanta Bar Foundation, this charitable event features a competition between bands which must all include at least one Atlanta lawyer. Proceeds go towards pro-bono legal services and youth programs. General admission tickets are $10 each. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307. For more information, go to atlantabar.org or call 404-524-7354.

Mace Hibbard: Grammy Award-winning saxophonist, composer and educator Mace Hibbard comes to the MJCCA for a night of live music. June 14. $15. atlantajcc.org

BreeAnne Clowdus

Staplehouse will offer delicious food, support for those in need

By Clare S. Richie

Atlantan’s love to eat out and love to help one another.

Staplehouse restaurant, which opens this summer in the Old Fourth Ward, speaks to both passions. It will feature refined healthy creations for sharing in an intimate setting.

More importantly, the restaurant fulfills a couple’s dream and provides the nonprofit they founded, The Giving Kitchen, with another stable funding source to assist restaurant workers who experience unexpected hardships. All after-tax proceeds from the restaurant will go directly to The Giving Kitchen.

The Staplehouse dream began in 2009 when chef Ryan Hidinger and his wife

Jen launched an underground supper club of five-course seasonal meals in their home. Four years later, with their bricks and mortar restaurant in sight, Ryan was diagnosed with Stage IV gall bladder cancer. The devastating news triggered an outpouring of love and support that would take their dream in a new direction.

In early 2013, when culinary

colleagues raised $275,000 at a tasting fundraiser to support the Hidingers, Ryan and Jen decided to pay it forward. Their restaurant would exist to help others in need in the restaurant industry. Before Ryan passed away in January 2014, he had created a legacy of healing.

Family and friends are now carrying the dream forward. Jen Hidinger, Chef Ryan Smith (previously of Empire State South), and Kara Hidinger (Smith’s wife and Ryan’s sister) are cofounders and operators. You’ll find Chef Smith in the kitchen, Kara on the floor as General Manager, and Jen handling administration and serving as spokesperson for the restaurant and

nonprofit.

Square Feet Studios and Choate Construction are bringing Ryan Hidinger’s vision to life.

After a lengthy permit process, construction began in March is on track for a summer opening.

Chef Smith describes Staplehouse’s offerings as “a seasonal, sourced locally when available, constantly changing

menu...But for me those are just things we do.” Adding, “We will have a main dining room which will focus on food that is technique driven at a slightly more formal setting while maintaining a casual sense. Our outside patio will be a much more casual setting with food that’s meant to be shared.” A mid summer menu would include beautiful fresh shrimp and “of course tons of tomatoes.”

As you clear your plate, you will also help The Giving Kitchen reach more Atlanta restaurant workers in need.

Since it’s inception two years ago, the nonprofit hired four full-time staff and distributed $350,000 in grants to 250 grateful recipients. Carlin was battling breast cancer and unable to work when she received her grant. “I didn’t realize how relieved I would be,” Carlin shared. For Cameron, who was struck by a car while riding his bike home from work, “the grant allowed me to recover physically, emotionally and mentally. It gave me a sense of community I hadn’t experienced.” Canyon’s manager called The Giving Kitchen on her behalf once he learned of her accident. The grant enabled Canyon to take care of her children while she was out of work. It showed her, “You’re not alone. People actually still love people.”

“In Atlanta there are 200,000 restaurant workers with 1 to 2 percent in crisis at any given moment,” Jen explained. While proud of The Giving Kitchen’s work, she is mindful of the staggering need that remains. “My calling is to encourage potential grant recipients to ask for help.”

So this summer, visit Staplehouse to dine in your community for your community.

As Jen says, “We get to lend a hand and that is healing for all of us.”

Photo courtesy CatMax Photography Jen Hidinger and her late husband, Ryan, conceived Staplehouse, which will be opening soon in the Old Fourth Ward.

Margaritas on Deck

By Isadora Pennington

Summer is patio season, and what’s a better way to spend a hot evening in Atlanta than sipping a cold, delicious margarita? This town has plenty of amazing options for Mexican fare and margaritas, and I decided it was high time to go on a little tour of some of my favorite Intown spots. Whether frozen or on the rocks, with salt or without, these delicious beverages will get you feeling right this summer.

Elmyriachi elmyriachi.com • 1950 Hosea L. Williams Drive NE, 30317 • (678) 705-9902

Pure Taqueria puretaqueria.com • 300 N. Highland Ave. NE, 30307 • (404) 522-7873

Superica supericaatl.com • Krog Street Market, 99 Krog St., 30312 • (678) 791-1310

Across The Street acrossthestreetatlanta.com • 668 Highland Ave. NE, 30312 • (404) 781-0931

El Taco eltaco-atlanta.com • 1186 N. Highland Ave. NE, 30306 • (404) 873-4656

Photos by Isadora Pennington

TASTING INTOWN:

La Petite Maison Restaurant Review

By Art Huckabee

Frequent readers might be aware that I have been on a quest for Atlanta’s quintessential French bistro for quite some time. Friends recommended La Petite Maison.

We visited most recently on a Tuesday, one of the slowest nights of the week for restaurants, but were surprised to find a good-sized crowd. They take reservations, which earns high marks from me.

The space is configured in such a way such that it can easily accommodate couples, large parties and business diners with its assortment of seating arrangements. There’s even a covered outdoor patio where you can pretend you’re dining in Paris on the Champs-Élysées; admittedly a stretch for Roswell Road.

There’s a small bar that “greets” you when you first walk-in that also does double duty as a hostess stand. The owner and hostess extraordinaire was not on-premises this night, but the front of the house was expertly manned by two gents right of out of central casting for John Turturro’s butler role in “Mr. Deeds.” These two were everywhere at every time; one was a magician at pouring water which was quite entertaining to watch. Neither asked if they could change our socks; watch the movie.

Monday thru Thursday the restaurant offers a prix fixe menu featuring choice of a soup or salad, entree and dessert for $32. Not necessarily cheap, but the portion sizes guarantee leftovers for lunch the next day.

Only wine and beer are served. There’s a decent selection of French wines that are reasonably priced by the glass or bottle.

A plate of crisp French bread slices, a good olive tapenade and whole pitted olives are waiting at each table. Individually sized French bread loaves quickly appear and disappear just as quickly.

We ordered mussels in white wine. They were juicy, firm and plump but the sauce lacked seasoning. Our plan for sopping up this seafood “potlikker” was spoiled by its lackluster flavor.

The French onion soup (is it just onion soup when ordered in a French bistro?) was quite good with a cheesy crouton topping.

The salads are large dinner-sized portions that could easily stand-in for an entrée. In fact, on future visits, my plan will be to split a salad and split an entrée; there is that much food. The ingredients were fresh and the dressings were well made. Both the salad Verdi and the warm goat cheese salad were excellent.

The veal Normandy was the highlight dish. The veal was tender and the mushroom cream sauce, while rich, would make a shoe taste good. A side of stewed tomatoes and sautéed green beans

was the perfect contrast. The “Gratin Dauphinois” was also crusty, creamy, “potatoey” good.

The sole “Chex Nous” was fried sole paired with arugula, Parmigianino cheese, tomatoes, basil and olive oil served with a side of fries. It’s an example of how those sneaky French can make you think you’re eating something healthy when it’s really just fish and chips; a good dish.

The steak frites “Parisien” was the single biggest disappointment of the meal. This simple dish can rival the best of beef. This version was “Plain Jane” and forlorn-looking lacking the juiciness and seasoning that usually makes this dish shine. The sauce on the side could not resuscitate the poor fella; it was DOA.

Ending on a sweet note, everyone enjoyed the Crème Brulée and the Profiterolles.

La Petit Maison, or “LPM” as the regulars call it, is a very good rendition of its Provencal cousins with just a minor hiccup or two. The restaurant is located at 6510 Roswell Road, NE. Call (404) 303-6600 or visit lapetitemaisonbistro. com.

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

Photos by Art Huckabee Selections from the La Petite Maison menu, top to bottom, salad verdi, mussels in white wine and filet de sole “chez nous.”

ABOVE ATLANTA BEYOND DELICIOUS

Dine around Dunwoody during the fourth annual Dunwoody Restaurant Week, June 20-27. Restaurants from around town will showcase their best dishes and desserts for seven days of delicious dining! For participating restaurants and prix-fixe menus visit DunwoodyRestaurantWeek.com | #DRW15

Quick Bites

Westside Provisions District has launched the Westside Provisions District Farmers Market in partnership with Community Farmers Markets. The outdoor market, held along the lane between Kayce Hughes and lululemon, will be open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through Sept. 27, and will feature fresh produce, baked goods, flowers and more from local farmers and artisans as well as District tenants. For more information, visit westsidepd.com.

The Atlanta Margarita Festival will be held June 20 at Atlantic Station with a day devoted to food, music and more in honor of America’s favorite tequila-based concoction. The event will include a chance to vote on Atlanta's best margarita. The festival will offer limitedadmission VIP Taste of Tequila from 1 to 4 p.m. Guests will be able to sample dozens of premium tequilas and mezcals and savor gourmet appetizers from top Atlanta restaurants. From 1 to 5 p.m., the Margarita Grand Championship offers the chance to taste and judge over 25 delicious drinks. The main festival will offer shopping, live music, Mexican and traditional festival foods, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and, of course, many different flavors of margaritas from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets range in price from $90 for VIP tickets to $25 for regular admission. Vist atlantamargaritafestival.com for more information.

Chef Calavino Donati and Doria Roberts, founders of Urban Cannibals in East Atlanta Village, have announced the opening of three restaurants: Urban Cannibals Midtown, Madre + Mason and Tipple + Rose Tea Parlor + Apothecary . All three set to arrive late summer 2015. The Midtown location of Urban Cannibals will be located at 368 5th Street and feature a bodega and dining room serving up brunch, lunch and dinner. Tipple + Rose, 806 N. Highland Ave., will be a full-service tea shop and Madre + Mason, 560 Dutch Valley Road, will be a restaurant on the Atlanta BeltLine serving up Donati’s Southern Latin meat-and-three favorites for brunch and dinner.

The team behind Buckhead Pizza Company has opened Pizza Crosta at 5590 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. The new concept offers a dipping station for the pizza crusts. The station, similar to a salsa bar, features fresh spices, a variety of oils, dips and more so guests can enjoy the crust as much as the cheese-covered pizza itself. For more information, visit pizzacrosta.com.

Mary S. Moore , founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse , has closed the Brookhaven location of the retail outlet with plans to relocate it elsewhere. Moore said, “We opened our second store in Brookhaven in 2002. This location has not kept up with the growth of our other stores – Midtown, Decatur and East Cobb. With a growing need for additional retail and teaching space, as well as increased demand for parking with better ingress/egress, I determined it best to not resign our lease.

Simple Abundance cooking classes to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank continue on June 8 with Chef Eric Roberts of Iberian Pig preparing traditional Spanish flavors at The Cook’s Warehouse, 180 West Ponce de Leon Ave., in Decatur from 7 to 9 p.m. On June 15, Chef Matt Marcus of Portofino will show how to cook up American-Italian cuisine, from 7 to 9 pm. at The Cook’s Warehouse Midtown, 1544 Piedmotn Road, Suite 403-R. The cost is $55 per person per class. To register, visit acfb.org/simple-abundance.

The Atlanta Summer Beer Fest is June 20, 4 to 9 p.m. at The Masquerade Music Par. This beer-centric event featuring more than 200 beers, ciders, and wines will also feature live music on two stages and a DJ. Patrons must be 21-plus with valid ID, no children or pets allowed. Advance tickets bought before June 11 are $40, increasing to $45 after that date, and day-of tickets are $55 each. For more information and to buy tickets, visit atlantasummerbeerfest.com.

The inaugural Family Food Festival will be held June 21, 3-6 p.m. featuring more than 100 dishes from celebrity chefs, cooks, caterers and restaurants as well as live entertainment, a kids zone and DJ. Adult tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets for children aged 12 and under are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313. For more information familyfoodfestatlanta.com or call (404) 344-6594.

By Kathy Dean

Just north of Atlanta, the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains offer a relaxed lifestyle, scenic views and friendly communities – all within a two-hour car ride from the city. It’s the perfect place to unwind, and that’s made the area a popular choice for second homes and vacation hideaways.

“The attraction of the North Georgia Mountains is definitely the mountain life atmosphere – little traffic, a small town feel, friendly people, an easy commute to Atlanta and Chattanooga,” said Nathan Fitts of Nathan Fitts & Team, REMAX Town & Country in Blue Ridge. “Outdoor enthusiasts come here for the natural beauty and outdoor attractions, like recreation on Lake Blue Ridge, hiking and mountain biking trails.”

Springer Mountain, in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range, is the beginning point of both the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Hiking Trail. The Toccoa River offers trophy trout fishing, kayaking, canoeing and tubing. The Ocoee River, the site of the 1996 Olympics whitewater course, has rafting and nearby waterfalls, horseback riding trails, zip lines and canopy tours.

“Blue Ridge has a strong arts community, too,” Fitts added. “The Blue Ridge Community Theatre is superb, and there are many yearly festivals. Some of the most popular are the Blues & BBQ Festival, Arts in the Park, Paws in the Park, Jazz & Wine Festival, Taste of Blue Ridge and Fire & Ice Chili Cook Off.”

According to Jennifer Blake, Brokerin-Charge at Highlands Cove Realty at Old Edwards Club in Highlands, NC, people enjoy Highlands’ small town elegance, dining and shopping, but mostly the cool summer temperatures. She explained that the area owes its cooler weather to its altitude and gentle summer breezes.

“At just over 4,100 feet on the Eastern Continental Divide, Highlands is one of the very rare locations at this latitude with an average high of only 78 degrees in July, far lower than the rest of the South,” Blake said. “We also have Harris and Cliffside Lakes, as well as the

Head for the Hills

MOUNTAIN LIFE

Outdoor living, small town charm draw homebuyers

Ben L. Torrey, Broker & Realtor, Torrey Mountain Properties, Inc. “Bent Tree has a lake, world-class 18-hole golf course, indoor and outdoor tennis and two swimming pools.”

The 110-acre swimming and fishing lake (no gasoline engines allowed) is well stocked each year with trout and crappie. Bent Tree also has stables that board and rent horses for picturesque mountain trail rides.

Below: Checking out the shops in Highlands, NC. Bottom

Cullasaja and Chattooga Rivers – it’s a fishing paradise.”

Known for its rainbow, brown and brook trout, Cliffside Lake is an especially popular destination. The Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests offer miles of hiking trails, and many provide access to the amazing waterfalls of western North Carolina.

The Old Edwards Club, set along one of the East’s highest ridges, features an 18-hole, Tom Jackson-designed championship golf course. Other amenities include clay tennis courts, outdoor heated mineral pool, fireside patio and panoramic views from the Grill Room Restaurant and Clubhouse Bar. Members enjoy year-round privileges and discounts at the Four-Star Old Edwards Inn and Spa – a world-class retreat known for its European-style luxury and peaceful, rustic setting.

“Both Highlands and Cashiers, NC offer shops that specialize in antiques, arts, jewelry, home décor and more,” Blake noted. “In Highlands, the Scudders Galleries auction season begins each June. These two communities offer the grace and allure of yesteryear, with placid streets and well-manicured landscaping.”

The Highlands Playhouse, Bascom Art Center and Performing Arts Center feed the artistic souls of visitors, as do the art galleries, home and garden tours, culinary weekends and breathtaking leaf season.

“There are multiple reasons for coming to North Georgia,” said Kim Knutzen, Managing Broker, Harry Norman Realtors, Blue Ridge Office. “We have the National Forest and many rivers and lakes for the outdoor amenities that draw people for hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking,

tubing and boating. A new golf course is now on target to be finished this year, which will add that last component this area was missing.”

She added that there’s a slower pace in North Georgia, much more laid back than Atlanta. The atmosphere attracts a sector of high wealth that wants to escape the pressures of their everyday work and unplug for a while. Being just 90 minutes from Atlanta, it’s convenient for a day, weekend or weeklong getaway.

“The quaint downtowns, as in Blue Ridge, feature high-end restaurants, wineries, boutiques and art galleries,” Knutzen said. “There’s also the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, and the area hosts many festivals, like the Blues & BBQ Festival, Apple Festival, Arts in the Park, Fire & Ice Festival, Adventure Races, Triathlons and 4th of July Fireworks on the Lake.”

The peace and quiet of a mountain home is nearby in Jasper, Georgia’s First Mountain City. Situated in beautiful Pickens County, Jasper is only one hour from Atlanta via I-575/515. It’s home to Bent Tree Community, a gated neighborhood that’s owned and governed by property owners.

“For folks interested in a second or vacation home that won’t be occupied full time, it’s highly recommended to select a gated community for security,” advised

“One Bent Tree home on the market has four bedrooms, three and a half baths, two bonus rooms and a twocar garage. It’s situated within walking distance to the golf course pro shop and 19th-hole restaurant, and is a bargain at $250,000,” Torrey said.

Another example of the type of property available in Jasper is a 20-acre Gentlemen’s Horse Farm, fully fenced and pasture ready for horses, cattle or both; it includes a two bedroom and two bath log cabin with a two car garage and a 12x24 tractor barn and workshop. With the exception of personal items, the property is being offered for $379,000 with furniture, appliances and shop tools included.

Knutzen noted that the Blue Ridge office services multiple counties including Gilmer, Fannin, Union and Towns as well as sections of Tennessee and North Carolina. “We have a good mix of vacation and second homes. The area lacks in hotels but thrives in cabin rentals. Some investors are looking for a return on their money while having the opportunity to also enjoy it when it’s not rented.”

Blake has also seen strong interest from investors looking for vacation rental properties, and said that their market covers approximately 80% second homes to 20% vacation. In fact, Highlands boasts the #14 slot in Barron’s Top 20 Places for Second Homes.

According to Fitts, a large percentage of the market is the Atlanta-based crowd, but there’s also a huge vacation market from south Florida since the Appalachian foothills are the closest mountains to them. “Historically, our market has been primarily vacation homes,” he explained. “Approximately 70 percent of our sales were vacation or second homes vs. 30 percent primary and retirement homes.”

Over the last 24 months, however, he has watched those numbers change. Now about half of the market is second homes and the other half is retirement and primary homes. He reported that there are plans in development for masterplanned communities and retirement ‘active adult’ communities.

“Many more people are looking to move to our area full-time, and many of the homes that people bought previously as second homes are becoming their primary residences as they retire. All these things add up to an economic growth forecast over the next few years that’s expected to be great.”

At left: A view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from inside a mountain retreat.

left: Drifting down the Conasauga River.

Head for the Hills

Mountain Events & Activities

If you’re headed to the mountains to look for that perfect vacation retreat or retirement home, why not coincide your visit with some of the many events and activities happening this summer around the region. Here are a few suggestions.

Blairsville Scottish Festival

Bagpipes, drums, games food and fun bring the Scottish Highlands to Blairsville June 13-15. Admission is $10 per day or $15 for both days. Children under 12 get in free. For more information, visit blairsvillescottishfestival.com.

Tallulah Gorge Hikes

Explore the rim of Tallulah Gorge in the moonlight during these 1-mile hikes set for June 1-2, July 1 and 30 and the Holiday Gorge Hikes on July 3-6, a strenuous 3.5 mile trek to the bottom of the gorge to scamper over rocks, water, trails and stairs. For more, visit n-georgia. com/tallulah-gorge-state-park.html.

Georgia Wine Country Festival

The festival will be held every weekend in June at the Three Sisters Vineyard & Winery in Dahlonega. The event features a wine garden with samples from wineries from around the state, jazz music, barbecue and more. For more, visit threesistersvineyards.com.

12th Annual Simply Homegrown

Head up Highway 76 to Clayton City Hall Complex for this giant farmers market which is held every Saturday in June, July and August from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Find out more details at facebook.com/SimplyHomegrownFarmersMarket.

Rabun County Music Festival

A summer of music is planned in the jewel box Rearden Theatre on the campus of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. The lineup: Atlanta Symphony (June 21); Simply Diamond: A Tribute to Neil Diamond (July 5); Jason Coleman (July 19); Joe Grandsen and His Big Band (Aug. 2); and Satisfaction: A Tribute to the Rolling Stones (Aug. 16). For tickets and information, visit rabunmusicfestival.com.

Highlands Village Square Art & Craft Show

Held in the Kelsey-Hutchinson Park in the picturesque town of Highlands, NC, the June 20-21 event will feature art, live music, food and more. For information, visit facebook.com/villagesquareshow

Georgia Mountain Fair

The 65th annual event will be held July 17-25 at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawasee. Rides, live music (Brenda Lee, Neal McCoy and Herman’s Hermits are on the bill this year), food and much more attracts thousands of visitors each year to the fair. georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.

It’s within easy reach – only 90 minutes from Atlanta. A place to relax. A place for fun. A place to call your own in the welcoming mountains of North Georgia. Blue

Ridge, Cherry Log, Morganton, Ellijay, Mineral Bluff

Jasper, GA 7BR/6+BA $870,000

Custom home on 8.4 acres. 6247SF with panoramic mtn views. Heated pool.

MLS 241887 Call 706.276.1254

Blue Ridge, GA 5BR/3BA $675,000

5 Ac - Year- round mountain and Lake Blue Ridge views. Many upgrades.

MLS 245249 Call 706.632.7311

Morganton, GA 5BR/3BA $624,900

Gorgeous 3 level log home - 2.4 acres. Many amenities. Gated community. MLS 243358 Call 706.632.7311

Custom home with every upgrade!

MLS 245130 Call 828.835.8500

Murphy, NC 3BR/3BA $339,000

Pre-construction Prow Front. Long-range mountain views on 2+ acres.

MLS 239685 Call 706.632.7311

Murphy, NC 2BD/3BA $235,000

Custom chalet - upscale community. Long range views, finished basement.

MLS 247356 Call 828.835.8500

Blairsville, GA 3BR/3BA $234,500

Cabin in walking distance to Lake Nottely. Large, finished lower level.

MLS 245604 Call 706.745.3500

Blairsville, GA 3BR/3.5BA $209,900

Chalet with gorgeous mountain views – minutes from town.

Oversize garage.

MLS 246732 Call 706.896.3132

Ellijay, GA 3BR/2.5BA $178,500

Cabin style home in gated, river access community. Great family amenities.

MLS 245700 Call 706.276.1254

Head for the Hills

Exploring North Georgia’s vineyards and wineries

By Robin Conte

If “wine is sunlight held together by water,” as Galileo observed, then North Georgia has the ingredients for a good bottle of grape. In the last two decades, about two dozen wineries and vineyards have developed in the northeastern corner of the state -from Jasper to Toccoa and northward -- practically all of them less than a two-hour drive from Atlanta. Most of them hold individual events or combined festivals throughout the year, which makes for an excellent day trip or weekend getaway.

Cartecay Vineyards in Ellijay, for example, features live music from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. each Saturday throughout the year. For $10, visitors can enjoy the music along with five tastings of their choice of vineyard wines or hard ciders from Mercier Orchards, and then take home a souvenir wine glass.

Sitting neatly in the Southern Appalachian Mountains and not far from the banks of the Cartecay River, Cartecay Vineyards was the first vineyard in Gilmer County. Owner Larry Lykins bought the property in 2007 after several years of researching the process of wine making. He rebuilt the original chimney of the old homestead with Georgia red clay and uses it as the focal point of an outdoor patio and bandstand; a rendering of the chimney serves as the vineyard’s logo. He also transformed the barn into a tasting room with the upstairs loft area functioning as an events venue and a winter location for the live music. Lykins now has about thirteen acres of vines and says he’s involved in every aspect of the business, “from fixing door handles to washing dishes to planting grapes.”

The president of the newly formed Georgia Wine Producers, which is a statewide organization, Lykins has a straightforward philosophy. “Wine making is making wines that people enjoy drinking,” he says. The same elements that make Ellijay prime apple growing country, such as elevation and a relatively cooler climate, make it amenable to vineyards as well. As Lykins puts it, “If you can grow an apple, you can grow a grape.” Specific to the northeastern corner of the state is the ability to produce the vitis vinifera grapes, or those traditional and commonly recognized European grapes, such as merlots and cabernets. Twenty of the North Georgia vineyards and wineries are members of the Winegrowers Association of Georgia, a non-profit corporation that helps in marketing and promotion, and many of them host collaborative wine tours. Many are also collaborative with their communities, donating portions of their event proceeds to local charitable organizations.

This weekend marks the first “Plein Air at the Vineyards” event in Ellijay. The four Gilmer County vineyards, Cartecay Vineyards, Chateau Meichtry, Ellijay River Vineyards, and Engelheim Vineyards have partnered with the Gilmer Arts & Heritage

Association for a three- day winery tour that begins at 7 a.m. on June 12 and runs through 7 p.m. on June 14. Each vineyard will feature artists painting “in open air,” and will also have the artists’ works on display and for sale. A Plein Air Passport costs $25.00, entitling the holder to wine tastings at each vineyard, a souvenir wine glass, and admission to the special events, including an artists’ reception and a live auction. Some of the proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Ellijay. For more information, go to ellijaywinecountry.com or call (706) 635-WINE.

On the other side of the Chattahoochee National Forest, in the pastoral countryside of Rabun County, lies Stonewall Creek Vineyards. The five acre vineyard produces about 3,000 vines, all of which are the vitis vinifera variety. The land was purchased by Carl and Carla Fackler, former residents of Brookwood Hills, who originally intended to simply produce and sell grapes.

They harvested their first grapes in 2005, and then opened their own winery in 2012. The Facklers now produce two labels: Stonewall Creek Vineyards, which uses their own grapes exclusively, and Standing Deer Cellar, composed of grapes from neighboring vineyards. Carl is a retired surgeon, however Carla is quick to explain that their current lifestyle is “definitely not retirement.”

On June 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Stonewall Creek celebrates the longest day of the year with a festival that includes a live band, wine tastings, and their specially created Skywalk wine cooler. Tickets are $15, and visitors are encouraged to pack a picnic.A neighboring organic market and deli will have some food for purchase. A portion of the event proceeds will benefit Richard’s Kids, a local non-profit that ministers “to the health, wealth, and self-esteem of children in need in Rabun County, Georgia.”

For information about all of the WAG North Georgia vineyards and wineries, and various events, visit georgiawine.com.

Photo by Robin Conte The vineyards and the view at Cartecay in Ellijay.

Parting Shots

During last month’s American Institute of Architects national covention, the local chapter announced a national competition to design a pavilion for the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail. Details can be found at aiaatl.org/paviliondesigncompetition. The deadline is Sept.15 and first place wins $10,000.

Up Right Atlanta

Flux Projects partnered with Tracy Lang, assistant professor of dance at Spelman College, and fabric artist, scuptor and performance artist Nick Cave to host a weekend of lively performance art. The project brought in local dancers and musicians and took over the still-under-construction Ponce City Market food hall. For more information, go online to fluxprojects.org.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

KIRKWOOD - Gorgeous home in Hist Kirkwood on quiet street. Open Floor plan, hardwood flrs, granite counter tops, multi-storage spaces, dbl vanities. 4Bed/3Bath $445,000

FMLS: 5527725

Febe Leiva 404-435-4184

MORNINGSIDE - Incredible space. Huge public spaces, gorgeous new kitchen, renovated baths, newly refinished hardwood floors and freshly painted inside and out. 5Bed/3Bath $899,900 FMLS:5529810

Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845

KIRKWOOD- Better than new! This spacious home is located on a dead end street near all the shops and restaurants of Kirkwood Village and multiple parks! 5Bed/3Bath $599,900

FMLS:5532493 Patrick Peyer 404-784-7936

Amber Mason 678-637-3530

LAKE CLAIRE - Home features an open floorplan with a cathedral ceiling in the living/dining room to kitchen with solid surface counters.

4Bed/2Bath $465,000

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Mike Kondalski 404-234-9379

EAST LAKE / OAKHURST - Much larger than it appears! Formal LR w/fireplc, separate DR, private office, bright kit w/bar open to breakfast/keeping rm & deck perfect for entertaining. 3Bed/2Bath $399,900 FMLS: 5535804

Sherry Warner 404-784-8848

PARKSIDE WALK AT EAST ATLANTA - Open, airy and bright Craftsman with 2-car garage on a professionally landscaped, private lot. Loaded with upgrades. 3Bed/3Bath $365,000

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DECATUR - Latest home underway by Stoney River Homes! Features 6br/5ba with finished lower level. Large sunny lot! Plans and specs available! 6Bed/5Bath $899,900 FMLS: 5538765

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

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Warren Lambert 404-403-4255

INTOWN - Private Oasis Inside the Perimeter. Serene Backyard w/In-Ground Pool. Hardwoods in Living Areas. Updated Kitchen. Master on Main Level. 4Bed/2.5Bath $372,900

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Retta Christoforatos 770-597-3054

WEST MIDTOWN - Howell Station. Immaculately Maintained. Private Location. Hardwoods. Upgraded Kitchen Counters. Rear Alley Access w/Room for 2 Car Garage. 3Bed/2.5Bath $269,900 FMLS: 5537631

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EMORY/CDC - Linden Place Townhomes

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