Atlanta Intown - July 2018

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Morningside : 1960 Windham Park. Handsome Home with Open Floor Plan, 4 Upstairs Bedrooms. Private Backyard & Pool, Finished Basement 5BR/4.5BA $899,000

Morningside: 1651 North Pelham Road. Architecturally Rich with Center Atrium & Light-Filled Rooms. Generous Motor Court & Coach House 5BR/4.5BA $1,295,000

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CONTACT US

Editorial Collin Kelley INtown Editor collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

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Contributors

Evelyn Andrews, Sally Bethea, Kathy Dean, Joe Earle, Jordan Johnson, Grace Huseth, Asep Mawardi, Annie Kinnett Nichols, Isadora Pennington, Clare Richie, Tim Sullivan, Megan Volpert

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EDITOR’S LETTER

I’ve been the editor of INtown for 16 years (gulp!) and, in all that time, we never submitted the magazine for any of the local journalism awards. Of course, we think INtown is the best publication in the city, but our commitment has always been to the readers and not collecting accolades for providing a service to the community. That changed this year.

INtown was nominated in a number of categories for the Georgia Press Association Awards, and while we only took home one trophy it was a big one!

Columnist and contributor Sally Bethea won first place for magazine commentary/opinion for her Above the Waterline column titled “Is Houston’s flooding a cautionary tale for Atlanta?” from the Oct. 17 issue. Be sure to visit AtlantaINtownPaper.com to read the winning column.

Sally, the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and current board president of Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy, has been writing about sustainability and the environment in her column for three years.

In addition to Bethea’s win, our sister publications Reporter Newspapers brought home 12 awards for excellence.

From all of us at INtown, congratulations, Sally! We are honored and thrilled to have you as part of our family.

The Neighborhood News & Features

Atlanta City Council approves $661 million budget for 2019

By Collin Kelley

The Atlanta City Council has approved a $661.4 million fiscal year 2019 budget for the city.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ first budget in her tenure includes public safety, economic development, equity, transparency and quality of life needs.

Highlights of the approved budget, which does not propose any tax increases or rely upon the city’s reserve funds, include:

■ A 3.1 percent pay increase, plus a one-time $500 bonus for the Atlanta Police Department and the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department to assist with both retention and recruitment.

■ A one-time, $1,000 bonus for the Atlanta Department of Corrections.

■ Funding to support city employees including a one-time bonus of $500 for all non-sworn employees and increase of the city’s living wage increase to $14 per hour.

■ A $1 million increase in funding for the arts and $2.6 million for upgrades throughout the citywide system of parks, recreation and cultural facilities.

■ Funding to support the new One Atlanta Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, which is charged with ensuring access to opportunity and oversees efforts including homelessness, criminal justice reform and LGBTQ affairs.

■ The budget includes $400,000 for the Atlanta/Fulton County Pre-Arrest Diversion Initiative, which will expand diversion hours, capacity and diverting agencies. Additional funding has also been allocated for the Public Defender.

■ The budget also earmarks $100,000 in HIV program resources to begin tackling the city’s HIV/AIDS crisis.

■ Increased funding for the City’s Board of Ethics and Citizen Review Board as well as the City Auditor’s Office to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility and adherence to all City policies.

■ Investments in city services including $1.6 million to increase the number of pothole crews, support clean-up crews and fund transportation maintenance needs.

■ $3.5 million for upgrades to the city’s IT security and infrastructure.

“I am grateful to the City Council for their support of this budget, which was designed to ensure that the City of Atlanta is operating as a sound steward of public funding while delivering the services, programs and opportunities our residents deserve and our community needs to grow jobs and expand opportunity,” commented Mayor Bottoms. “I look forward to a continued partnership as we implement the measures this budget will fund.”

City could have role in World Cup

By Collin Kelley

North America will host the 2026 World Cup, and Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is likely to be part of the action.

North America’s bid beat rival Morocco in a vote by FIFA association members on June 13. In the unified bid for the tournament, America will host 60 matches, while Mexico and Canada will host 10 each.

FIFA officials recently paid a visit to Atlanta to tour Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which has been suggested to host a semifinal match and be the location for national broadcast center for the event.

A final list of host cities in North America won’t be announced until 2021.

“The news that FIFA has chosen North America as the site for the 2026 World Cup is exciting both for our nation and for our city. Now that this decision has been made, I am hopeful that our incredible Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s ability to accommodate the thousands of fans who will attend, and Atlanta’s undeniable and growing excitement about soccer will ensure that we are offered the opportunity to once again host one of the world’s largest sporting events,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said.

Bottoms touted Atlanta’s past track record for hosting major sporting events including the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, a third Super Bowl in 2019, five Final Fours and more.

“We look forward to working with FIFA’s leadership, the Atlanta Sports Council, the Atlanta United and all those who have been involved in the bid process to bring the semifinal game to our city,” Bottoms said.

MARTA takes over streetcar; rapid buses coming to GA 400

The MARTA Board of Directors voted Friday to keep the existing $1 fare to ride the Atlanta Streetcar. Other operational decisions such as service frequency and route expansion will come after MARTA assumes ownership from the City of Atlanta on July 1.

The four-car light rail system will be part of MARTA’s new Office of Light Rail Operations. This office will handle daily operations, maintenance and technical inspections. Communications, human resources, policing, as well as other support services for the streetcar will be provided by staff within current MARTA departments.

The transition will also allow the streetcar to be integrated into the area’s larger transportation system, which received a boost this legislative session with the passage of House Bill 930.

The operating budget will be underwritten by More MARTA, the 2016 half-penny sales tax referendum.

In other transit news, Gov. Nathan Deal has announced $100 million in bond funding for new bus rapid transit connections on Georgia 400 to kick-start a regional transit expansion.

The high-capacity buses would run in dedicated lanes on other side of Georgia 400 between the North Springs MARTA station in Fulton County and McFarland Parkway in Forsyth County – around 16 miles.

The funding makes the stations part of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s controversial plans for new toll lanes on Georgia 400 and may help sort out local concerns that the project doesn’t leave enough room for useful transit options.

Running for Her Life

ON THE AGENDA

MEETINGS

The Atlanta City Council meets July 2 and June 16 at 1 p.m. at City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. For agendas and more information, visit citycouncil.atlantaga.gov.

The Atlanta Board of Education is in recess for the month of July. The next meeting will be Aug. 6 starting at 2:30 p.m., 130 Trinity Ave. Information: atlantapublicschools.us.

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

NEWS

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order on June 20 that prohibits the City of Atlanta Jail from accepting any new detainees apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The DeKalb County School District has sued the City of Atlatna to void the annexation of Emory University over lost tax revenue.

Mayor Bottoms has named Jon Keen, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Curtis Bailey as Director of Constituent Service and Keith Whitney, as new Director of Communications.

By Clare S. Richie

Heather King recently became the first African American woman in Georgia to earn the Six Star Major Marathon Medal, well before her 50th birthday goal.

King is a running community rock star, known for encouraging more than 500 African Americans to join Team Take Down Publix Marathon 2017 (#TTDPM2017) and other “parties on the pavement.” Behind the medals and the parties, she is humble and reverent for the sport that gave her an escape, focus and grace to move forward.

“My story is filled with broken pieces but also a major comeback and peace in my soul,” King said during her recent photo exhibit, Running with No Filter – A Six Year Journey, held at Peter Street Station in Castleberry Hill.

In high school, during a difficult time for her mother, King lived with her aunt and ran cross-country for a break from babysitting her three younger cousins. In 2012, thanks to Black Girls Run Atlanta, she rekindled her love of running as she coped with her oldest leaving for college.

“I met amazing women and have led the ‘Midtown get-down run’ every Thursday for the past four years,” King said.

For her first marathon, King chose the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon to pay tribute to the Marines in her life – her then husband, brother and deceased cousin. But it was Tony Reed’s book “Marathon Adventures on all Seven Continents” that inspired King to dream bolder.

“I wanted to do what he did, especially because no one in my family ran or had a passport. I am a planner, a dreamer and a doer,” King said.

Heather King racing to finish marathons on seven continents

was on track for her seven continents until she literally hit a wall in Beijing.

The Great Wall Marathon is a challenging course with 5,164 steps, cobblestone paths, unpaved terrain in small rural villages and steep elevation changes.

“There were no training plans, so we started one and put out a call to join us,”

first DNF [did not finish]. I cried a lot,” King shared.

Other runners consoled her and told her to find another race. By faith or by fate, King saw a “Tokyo 3” shirt in the mall.

“It spoke to me because that would be my third continent. I bought that shirt and let that be my focus,” King said.

That’s when she learned about the six major world marathons: Boston, Chicago, New York, Berlin, London and Tokyo. After Tokyo, she needed three more. This new goal would see her through the loss of her mother and the end of her marriage.

As with #TTDPM2017, she put out the call for Berlin, dubbed #BerlinBlackish.

“We were rolling 52 deep. Ain’t no party like a Heather King party cause a Heather King Party don’t stop,” King mused.

Only Boston and London remained. “Two marathons in one week in two different countries – I could do it right?

I had nothing to lose but everything to gain,” King said.

In Boston, King faced heavy rain, severe wind and freezing temperatures.

The Atlanta Board of Education voted to extend the contract of Superintendent Meria J. Carstarphen until 2020.

She would tackle one marathon per year per continent before age 50 with two years of wiggle room.

With North America in the bank, she headed to Europe for the 2014 Paris Marathon and, while “trained up,” ran the Chicago Marathon six months later. She

King said.

As she trained on Clayton County’s public stadium bleachers, King’s stair challenge spread.

“People started posting their steps and creating memes. It became a party,” said King, who awarded medals to standouts. She left for China pumped up after a pre-race party with head-to-toe gear from Phidippides.

Race day was hot with horrible air quality. Runners tackle The Great Wall east to west after 5km and west to east after 34 km if they reach it within six hours. King missed that deadline by 17 minutes and was not allowed to finish.

“I would get a 2015 medal but not a marathon finishing time. It wasn’t going to count. I came all this way and failed. My

“Boston broke me all the way down to my core,” she recalled. “I arrived in London three days later sore, limping, dehydrated…you name it, I had it. But I believed in myself.”

London’s race would be one of the hottest on record. At mile 21, she could barely walk. That’s when she saw Roosevelt, a friend she had met in Beijing during the Great Wall Marathon, and together they made it to the finish line.

“When they put that Six Star finisher medal around my neck, I couldn’t wait to bring that baby back to Atlanta,” King said.

“We all fall in life, but it’s how you get back up that counts. Give yourself a pity party. Sit for a second. You will get up a lot stronger than you went down,” King said.

Her story continues with four more continent marathons to go.

In Trump era, a Democratic women’s group thrives

By Joe Earle

This is not your father’s political group. It doesn’t raise funds or hand out contributions to candidates. Its founders don’t deny their partisanship, but they don’t see themselves as practicing politics in the usual way, either. They call their group a “salon,” the Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon.

“We didn’t know what else to call it,” cofounder Joanie Shubin said.

“We don’t mean a hair salon,” co-founder Valerie Habif quickly added.

No, their salon would be one of the old style, a place for talking and for learning about issues and politics. “It was really to gather like-minded people,” Habif said. “We were really frustrated about what was happening to people.”

But their salon has developed a newfangled spin: it has taken off on the internet. The group that started with a few dozen women gathered in the meeting room of a Buckhead condo now claims more than 1,100 members who interact regularly through an invitation-only Facebook page.

And they believe they offer a sign of change in local politics since the election of President Donald Trump. The women behind the salon say Trump’s presidency has convinced waves of other progressive and Democrat-leaning women to join the political seas. Even, the salon’s organizers say, in traditionally Republican suburbs such as Sandy Springs.

Members of the salon actually started meeting back in 2012, when Barack Obama

was president and the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed “Obamacare,” seemed to be all anybody wanted to talk about. Habif, a clinical psychologist who’s now retired, and Shubin, who volunteered with nonprofits, were trying to figure out just what the fuss was all about.

“We didn’t understand the opposition,” Habif said during a recent chat at a Sandy Springs coffee shop. “What we did was to better understand the other side. Why would people be opposed to everyone having access to the same healthcare they have? What was so scary about healthcare?”

Habif and Shubin, who both live in

Sandy Springs, regularly talked to one another about issues, but they decided they needed to hear more points of view. They invited some friends to get together and invited an expert to speak. Soon, the women were meeting regularly to discuss issues of the day and to hear from experts on those issues. The idea was to educate and empower likeminded women in the area, the founders said, and to get them engaged in political issues. “We mean [to attract] women, other Jewish women, who were going through the same things we were going through,” Habif said.

The group grew slowly, through word of mouth at first. Once 29-year-old member Kate Kratovil of Brookhaven, who works with nonprofits as a professional, established the group on Facebook in 2016, however, membership really took off. It was about the time of the current president’s election, she said, and suddenly progressive women wanted new ways to get involved in politics. “Donald Trump was the catalyst,” Kratovil said.

Regardless of what motivates members, its founders say the salon focuses on local issues. “We’re all about local,” Habif said. “This is about having local voices.”

“We are a true grassroots group,” Kratovil said.

The group focuses its attention on a half-dozen issues its members see as driving women’s political discussions here. Topics include gun violence, women’s health and reproductive rights, refugee and immigrant rights, education and child protection, hate crime legislation and resisting “religious liberty” laws in Georgia.

The founders say the salon defines itself as a women’s group created for and run by women and that it keeps its discussions women-only. The only time men have been invited to participate is when the salon hosted forums in which local candidates came in to debate. Kratovil said in an email that it “comes down to a sense of camaraderie and being able to have a true safe space, especially with women’s health and access to healthcare as a main focus of JDWS.”

Now that the organization is up and running, the founders say they intend to keep going.

“We started with an idea and look what we’ve accomplished,” Habif said. “This is what happens when like-minded people come together. … We will never go back. Once you understand your responsibility, you can never go back. It was a delusion to leave it to others to do the right thing … “Complacency is not an option,” she said.

JOE EARLE

The Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon leaders include, from left, Valerie Habif, Kate Kratovil and Joanie Shubin.

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TIMMY DADDY

By Tim Sullivan

I took Elliott to play nine holes of golf and noticed he was hunched over his junior clubs in a manner that resembled a bear riding a tricycle. So for verification, we consulted the very official marks on our kitchen wall, which told me he had grown 2.5 inches between March and June. Sharing a hotel bed with him a couple nights ago I realized this once cuddly smush of a human is now a gangly sack of elbows and knees that steals covers and snores. I may need to re-trace my steps to figure out exactly what happened. He had recently spent his first ever week at sleepaway camp. I sent them a 10-year-old and they gave me back a full-blown pre-teen. He did celebrate his 11th birthday while there, but can someone slow this train down a bit? Months back when camp was being planned, Elliott needed a little prodding, but I needed A LOT of convincing. Kristen comes in handy in these situations. Without her influence I might be online shopping for the XXL Baby Bjorn. She chose Gwynn Valley camp, which is tucked away in Brevard, N.C. Any designs I may have had on helicopter parenting would be thwarted by the mountain terrain. As the time approached we relished the idea of a week of YouTube and Fortnite detox. But I was grappling with the memory of my first week away at a CYO basketball camp when I was about Elliott’s age. My counselors were Tommy from the Bronx and Mikey from a different part of the Bronx. I remember Tommy welcoming me by saying, “choose any bunk you want—they’re all crappy.” Mikey showed up with a big bag of candy. “You guys like candy? Have some friggin’ candy.” He tossed Reeses peanut butter cups and Gobstoppers to us as he marched down the center of the cabin. What seemed implied was that this was the first and last nice gesture we should expect from him.

Thankfully, there was a different vibe at Elliott’s camp. His counselors were Wasam from Israel and Josh from Ireland. Neither had any candy, but Wasam was a cutup and kept the boys in stitches all week. Josh was a gentle soul who shepherded us all through the experience. He pulled me aside at drop-off to discuss any anxiety Elliott might be feeling. I explained that Elliott had never been away from home for a week and asked him to encourage Elliott to try things that might be a little out of his comfort zone. Of course, what I really needed was for Josh to assure me in his comforting lilt, “Everything will be just fine, dad.”

Extraordinarily basic details ate at me like—will Elliott remember to change his underwear? Will he eat? What if it is the middle of the night and he has to go to the bathroom? Kristen and I scoured the camp photos each night for signs of life. Sure enough, there he was learning archery or gearing up to scale the giant climbing wall or blacksmithing. Blacksmithing! The kid made me a hook!

He hiked, swam and kayaked. He rode a horse, played soccer and basketball. He made great friends and learned about farming. There is a working farm on the site that yields 70 percent of the food they eat throughout the week. Josh closed out each evening by reading an Irish fable to the boys. The only problem with this place was that they don’t accommodate would-be campers in their forties. I’m considering a petition.

Elliott came home a little more confident and relaxed. And despite his strongest impulses, he’s even a smidge more self-sufficient. If I could slow it all down, I probably would. But I can’t. Middle school starts in a month and this train keeps rolling along. So for the moment, I am just enjoying the heck out of eleven.

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

Photos by Asep Mawardi

Architectural Upgrade

New Midtown hotel aims to improve urbanism

By Collin Kelley

Plans for a bland, boring hotel at the historic corner of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue have received a serious upgrade.

The Department of City Planning in collaboration with the Midtown Alliance and Noble Investment Group released a rendering of the hotel, which will share the intersection with landmarks The Fox Theatre, Georgian Terrace Hotel and Ponce Condos.

In March, the city began working with Noble Investment Group to bring the Marriott-branded property to the site of an existing surface parking lot. The proposal addressed design recommendations presented by the Midtown Development Review Committee, and in two months the collaboration resulted in a new façade design.

“It is critically important that Atlanta expect more from its designers and more of its buildings,” said Commissioner Tim Keane, Department of City Planning. “City Planning is focused on design at every scale, so we can make a more vibrant public realm in Atlanta. Buildings are essential to this.”

“We wanted a building that represented the fabric of Midtown, and one that our community would be proud of,” said Ben Brunt, Principal and Executive VP of Noble Investment Group. “This collaborative approach benefited all of us. We are thrilled with the result.”

Ginny Kennedy, Director of Urban Design for Midtown Alliance, also took note of the success of this partnership.

“Recently we made important improvements to our zoning to reflect our community’s priorities, yet regulations are only a starting point,” said Kennedy. “We like to work with developers early in the process and strive to raise the bar to achieve buildings that stand the test of time. The hotel project proposed on this prominent site was a perfect chance to work together with City Planning and the developer to design a building that people will admire today, tomorrow and 100 years from now.”

Atlanta’s Department of City Planning is confident that the success of this project can serve as a model for future projects. “Zoning can only take you so far,” said Commissioner Tim Keane. “Regulations don’t make great buildings, only design can do that. We intend to work in a productive way with developers like we did with Noble to improve the architecture in all of Atlanta.”

Cousins Properties proposes 31-story office tower in Midtown

Cousins Properties presented plans for a 31-story office tower at the June 12 meeting of the Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC).

The tower, called 8th at West, would be located 901 West Peachtree Street between 7th and 8th Street.

Designed by Pickard Chilton and HKS, the project would sit on a piece or property which is now home to The Daiquiri Factory near Tech Square and a threeminute walk to the Midtown MARTA station.

The base of the building would have 6,000 square feet of retail space and a lobby lounge, as well as “a series of rooftop balconies with striking views of the skyline,” according to the DRC meeting recap from Midtown Alliance.

The committee voiced support for the project, with some questions still to be answered about egress, onstreet parking and pedestrian access. The development team will address these questions and provide additional information about streetscape details in a follow-up submittal.

Cousins recently completed the first phase of the NCR headquarters campus in Midtown and is at work on the second.

A proposed hotel for the corner of Peachtree and Ponce in Midtown has received a serious architectural uprade (above) from the plain facade originally proposed the developers (left).

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Lincoln Property Company Southeast will handle management and leasing for 881 Midtown, a mixed-use development under construction in Midtown. 881 Midtown offers up to 40,622 rentable square feet of office space, 12,673 rentable square feet of retail and 6,977 rentable square feet of roof space, totaling 60,272 square feet. The development also features 342 luxury residential units above retail and office space. The project is set to deliver in December.

Fast on the heels of the popular Bird scooters, Lime has launched its rentable electric scooter service in Atlanta. Lime-S scooters cost $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute of riding. Lime has partnered with local businesses to distribute the scooters on their private properties, not in the public right of way or obstructing any sidewalks. The scooters are collected a daily basis for cleaning, charging and redistribution the next day. The scooters are GPS and 3G-enabled, making it simple for riders to find, unlock and pick up using their smartphone. For more information, visit limebike.com.

Continued on page 18

West Elm has opened its third Atlanta area store in the heart of Buckhead’s shopping district at Shops Around Lenox, 3400 Around Lenox Road. The 11,879 sq. ft. store offers products made by 14 Georgia-based makers and designers alongside the brand’s assortment of home furnishings and decor.

Topstitch, a “modern fabric shop and sewing studio,” will open on the second floor of Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall in August, next door to forthcoming Root Baking Co. Previously located in Decatur, the shop will offer apparel fabrics, sewing tools, kits, crafty gifts and more.

Regus Spaces, a global leader in providing shared workspaces, has signed a 56,121 square foot lease at Star Metals Offices, the commercial office space component of the mixed-use Star Metals Atlanta development on Howell Mill Road. Spaces will occupy the building’s 7th and 8th floors, and includes a 5,642 square foot ground floor reception area and private Business Club.

Emory Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente will collaborate to develop a new care model that provides Kaiser Permanente members with healthcare at Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

Luxury fitness and lifestyle brand SoulCycle has opened a new studio in the Around Lenox shopping center in Buckhead. The 3,128 square foot studio has 56 bikes and boutique performance and athletic/leisure collections.

Over $2.5 million of renovations have been completed at 1355 Peachtree Street in Midtown. A 62,000 sq.-ft. block of contiguous space on the seventh, eighth and ninth floors has just become available in the 20-story office building. Best known tenants at the property include law firm Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers and the National Headquarters of The Arthritis Foundation.

Horizons Atlanta has appointed former Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan to the position of executive director. Horizons provides academic enrichment programs to low-income children from kindergarten into high school, and currently assists 800 students.

Home & Real Estate Inside Out Design trends extend homes into the outdoors

By Kathy Dean

One of the joys of living in Atlanta is the climate — plenty of warm weather, a long growing season and short, mild winters. Residents can enjoy the great outdoors for much of the year, especially when they don’t need to leave the comfort of their homes. Many Intown homeowners are choosing to simply extend their homes into the outdoors.

Outdoor Living Rooms

“The screened-in porch has become a screened-in living room,” said Mark Fosner, Architect/ Owner, Moon Bros. Inc. Architects & Craftsmen.

“It has become like any other room in the house,” he said. “There are lots of products on the market to make it great, and it can become anything you want. Some people extend the décor of their home, while others get playful and do something very different.”

“Outdoor grills and kitchens are currently popular due to the extended outdoor season we have here in Atlanta,” said Rick Goldstein, Owner and Registered Architect, MOSAIC Design+Build. “We’re finding more and more creative ways to extend the indoors outside, whether by paver or stone patios, spas, covered and screened porches and even pergola shade structures.”

Goldstein said that Intown properties can sometimes have smaller lots, which require more careful design and planning. “Outdoor living rooms seem to be one of the most popular spaces we design and build. But they take special skills and experience to do right.”

He explained that some of the issues that designers need to understand are how to integrate the design with the house, proper lighting, structural considerations, building codes and zoning restrictions and the proper materials to create a long lasting, low maintenance beautiful space.

Fosner said that homeowners are looking for higher end finishes for their porches. “For example, the flooring is more like what you find on the home’s interior,” he said. Options include high-end exterior-grade carpeting and specially-treated woods stained in natural, deeper tones.

“We also light the screened-in living rooms as we would the interior of the home, with different levels of lighting,” Fosner continued. “Lamps give pools of light closer to the floor, while soft, indirect lighting along vaulted ceilings heighten the room and add a soft glow at night.” Perimeter lighting, pendant lighting, sconces and chandeliers are a few more ways to incorporate light, drama and character.

Higher-end furniture like couches and chaises — and more of it — bring additional comfort to the screened-in living rooms. “We always do a furniture layout for our clients,” he said, “and cabinetry for storage, a little or a lot,” depending on the clients’ needs.

“Some people like to Include refrigerators to make it convenient to get a cold drink or snack,” Fosner said, “while others opt for entire kitchenettes so they can have all the fun of cooking outdoors while under a roof.”

Combining 40+ years of Intown Atlanta expertise with the largest international luxury real estate company in the world!

An outdoor room project from Mosaic Design+Build

Goldstein agreed that while the trend for covered porches and cabanas with fireplaces has been on the increase, “they’re not always screened and are usually part of a more extensive backyard makeover. These outdoor spaces usually are combined with an extended patio for entertaining and grilling,” he said. “Several recent projects have also combined a pool to create a complete backyard oasis.”

He added that outdoor kitchens are perfect for entertaining and can create a great area to engage the chef while grilling.

“Outdoor fireplaces have maintained their popularity here in Atlanta and a wonderful way to create memories,” Goldstein said. “There’s nothing like sitting outside on a chilly night by the crackling of the logs burning in the outdoor fireplace!”

Randy Glazer, Owner, Glazer Design & Construction said that he too sees a lot of interest in outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, especially gas fireplaces.

“Nana doors are also in high demand,” he said “Essentially, they’re folding glass doors that open up the living space to the outdoors.” The bifold doors come in a variety of styles.

According to Fosner, one of the big benefits of outdoor fireplaces is that they extend the usefulness of the screened-in living room. “With a fireplace, there are more opportunities to use the room on chilly days.” Infrared heating is another way to achieve the same thing, he noted.

Fosner said that he is sometimes asked to include panels that can be added or removed over the screening, so the room is usable year-round. “We can do that, but it’s easier to accept that there are times you can’t use the room, like during the heavy pollen season or the dead of winter,” he advised. “Putting up the panels is difficult and time-consuming. No one does it more than once.”

Environmentally Friendly Landscapes

Tastes in landscaping are making some shifts as well. Joe Lavallee, Design-Build Manager with Plants Creative Landscapes, said that the Intown area has seen some very definite trends over the last five years. The company is based in Decatur and serves the Intown community.

Lavallee reports a strong trend moving toward organic and pollinator plants for landscaping. “People want to incorporate plants that are beneficial to the environment,” he said.

He explained that Decatur became Georgia’s first Bee City USA in July 2016. Currently, there are 70 Bee Cities across the U.S, seven of them in Georgia, including Atlanta and Decatur…or “Beecatur,” as Lavallee calls it.

“Many of our clients want pollinator gardens to feed the birds, bees and butterflies,” he said, adding that Plants Creative has a variety of plants that attract bees, including Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), a brilliant blue flowering pollinator.

Russian Sage also fits with the other growing trend of using edible ornamentals in gardens. Some other choices include rosemary, thyme and blueberry shrubs, all which add beauty and culinary usefulness.

“Fruit trees are making a comeback, too,” Lavallee said. He explained that many homeowners like the concept of the traditional English garden, but they tend to want a tidier version of it.

Water features remain popular, and there are a lot of options these days. Lavallee said that Plants Creative recently custom-designed a water feature for a client that was 18 feet long by 12 inches wide with 17 bubblers, all LED lit and self-adjusting.

“We start by presenting design ideas to the client,” Lavallee said. “And we’re the one primary contact. We handle everything from attaining the work permits to bringing in any subcontractors that may be needed. We see the project through to completion.” And beyond. Plants Creative also offers maintenance services to keep the landscaping healthy and looking good.

Courtesy Moon Brothers

Plants Creative Landscapes

West End Charmer Restored home wins historic preservation award

By Julie Herron Carson

The Atlanta Urban Design Commission has given its annual Award of Excellence for Historic Preservation to the William R. McClelland Home in West End.

The circa1902 home on Peeples Street has been meticulously restored by owners Caleb Racicot and Daniel Vasquez, along with a renovation team that included Jerry Davis of Park Atlanta Homes and Thomas Portis, Jr. of Southwest Paint.

Racicot, a LEED-accredited planner with local architecture firm TSW, is no stranger to historic preservation. Throughout his career, he has been involved in writing preservation ordinances and guidelines for various cities. He also currently serves as co-chair of his neighborhood’s preservation and urban design committee.

Nevertheless, he and Vasquez were not specifically seeking an historic home in need of renovation when they found the McClelland home.

“We were looking for an older house that was within walking distance of MARTA’s north-south rail line and was located in a walkable historic neighborhood,” said Racicot. “After looking at several houses that had been updated, we realized we wanted something with true historic character – dings, tiny bathroom, scarred floors and all. The moment we walked into the McClelland Home and saw its intact plaster walls, fireplaces, stained glass, hardware, woodwork, etc., we fell in love, despite the fact that it needed a lot of work to make it livable.”

Racicot and Vasquez did many of the small restoration projects themselves, then hired Jerry Davis with Park Atlanta Homes as the contractor for the larger projects.

The home is one-story, blending design elements of both the New South Cottage and Bungalow house types. The home’s first owner, William R. McClelland was a partner at the J.M. High Dry Goods Company. In later years, J.M. High’s widow, Harriett “Hattie” Harwell Wilson High, donated the family’s Peachtree Street mansion to the city to found the museum that would eventually become Atlanta’s High Museum of Art.

The house’s entry hall features a stained glass back wall – a unique feature of the home. Multiple sources plus an examination by two glass conservators suggest its abstract design is original, despite being dated from 1902. In order to complement the stained glass, Racicot and Vasquez have incorporated original wall treatments into the dining room, parlor and entry hall.

BEFORE AFTER

“We appreciate that this house was never stripped of its character,” said Racicot. “The same family owned the home for almost 70 years, and apparently they never saw a need to rip out the late Victorian details. We love the original, unpainted pocket doors, the fireplaces and, of course, the beautiful stained glass windows.”

A major component of the renovation process included discovering and restoring the home’s original colors. Thomas Portis, Jr., used original paint chips to reproduce both interior and exterior paint colors and even reached out to Benjamin Moore Canada to obtain paint codes for authentic porch decking.

“It was very exciting to discover the home’s original colors,” said Racicot. “We were able to uncover and restore the original wall coverings in several rooms, revealing how beautifully the stained glass, paint and wallpaper all complemented each other. It was also extremely gratifying to remove the Masonite siding that had been applied to the home’s exterior decades ago. Its beautiful to see how the home’s interior and exterior design and color were carefully designed all those years ago to create a balanced, unified whole.

“We are proud that we were able to bring this historic home back to life, and honored to receive the Award of Excellence for its restoration.”

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Columbia Residential has reopened the Tenth & Juniper high-rise in Midtown as affordable housing. The Atlanta Housing Authority engaged developer Columbia Residential as manager and developer of the Tenth & Juniper project to preserve and renovate the building in 2015. Tenth & Juniper, which was built in 1974, was rehabilitated into 149 loft-style apartments to serve low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. Thirty apartments have been reserved for residents earning 50 percent of area median household income, and 119 units will be reserved for residents earning 60 percent of area median household income.

The Providence Group of Georgia has announced a new townhome community Grant Park. Pratt Stacks will feature luxury townhomes priced in the $390,000s. Comprised of 16 buildings, the four-stories of stacked townhomes will feature open concept and flexible spaces just steps from the Atlanta BeltLine’s Southside Trail. For more information, visit theprovidencegroup.com/pratt-stacks.

The Huntley, a new apartment tower from Wood Partners, is nearly complete in Buckhead. The 23-story building next door to Phipps Plaza has 260 one-, two- and threebedroom apartments with rents ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 and penthouse prices expected to be around $10,000, according to a report at Curbed Atlanta.

Progress is underway on a new condominium project on Airline Street in the Old Fourth Ward, just a block away from the Atlanta BeltLine.

Designed by Atlanta-based TSW, the 29-unit complex will be developed by Washington-based Capital City Real Estate in partnership with Historic District Development Corporation, a local non-profit focused on revitalizing the area around the King Historic District. The condominiums will be built by Capital City Construction and marketed by City Haus and should be completed in summer 2019. Units will range from 640-1,400 square feet and will be priced from $300,000-$600,000+. Amenities will include a rooftop gathering space with a firepit, outdoor kitchen and commanding views of the Atlanta skyline, a pet washing area and bicycle storage.

Harry Norman, Realtors has announced an exclusive affiliation with Mayfair International Realty, an international luxury real estate firm based in London. As an affiliate, Harry Norman will have increased reach into the international real estate market through print and digital advertising and direct contact through their London office. Harry Norman has also launched a Luxury Leasing Division to assist film and entertainment talent and business executives with their short and long-term luxury leasing needs. For more information, visit harrynorman.com/luxurylease.

Cushman & Wakefield has secured $37.8 million in construction financing for a new 271-unit apartment community, Vue at the Quarter, to be developed at 2048 Bolton Drive on the Westside. The project will have 359,000 rentable square feet, and will include five four- and five-story buildings. Completion is slated for May 2020.

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Proctor Creek Greenway: Take a walk on the wild side

By Sally Bethea

My new granddog, Randy, and I pulled into the large parking lot at the Bankhead MARTA Station on Donald Hollowell Parkway in northwest Atlanta on a beautiful, but scorching hot, Friday afternoon in June. Our mission: walk on the Proctor Creek Greenway, which officially opened to the public in early May.

From the Gary Avenue Trailhead (accessed on the opposite side of the MARTA station from the parking lot), we walked a few hundred yards past abandoned industrial buildings, rounded a curve on the 12-foot, multi-use path and found ourselves in another world.

Standing on a bridge over Proctor Creek, we gazed at what could have been a mountain stream rushing over and around rocks; blue sky and clouds were reflected in the water and mature trees lined the banks of the creek. City noise disappeared and bird sounds were noticeable. It was shockingly peaceful.

Winding through a mature forest and past meadows of wild bergamot and other wildflowers, we crossed impressive bridges spanning the creek, its tributaries and low-lying areas. Overhead power lines prevail in one exposed area, sewer manholes dot the landscape, and a few older residences can be seen in one place while construction is in process in another. Otherwise, nature dominates on the Proctor Creek Greenway.

Being respectful of the day’s heat, Randy and I turned around at Johnson Road, having traveled about half of the three mile section of trail completed to date; ultimately, it will extend a total of seven miles to the Chattahoochee River and include 400 acres of greenspace. Along our way, we encountered nine other visitors, most of whom who were exploring the greenway for the first time: strolling, walking dogs, biking and jogging.

Originating in Downtown near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Proctor Creek flows nine miles through neighborhoods, parks and industrial areas to the river. Despite its reputation as one of the most polluted streams in Atlanta, the waterway’s beauty and its cleanliness in some areas wasn’t a complete surprise to me. As the director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) for two decades, I saw the many faces of this urban stream and its tributaries.

The historic split-personality of the Proctor Creek watershed has long been evident in its raging floodwaters (thanks to the highly impervious upstream watershed), sewage overflows, erosion, trash and cement-lined ditches – coupled with stretches containing deep pools of clear water, small waterfalls, wildlife, mature forests and, today, much-improved water quality.

ABOVE

THE WATER LINE

from each other was obvious to early watershed advocates, notably Na’Taki Osborne Jelks and Darryl Haddock of the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance; they and other local leaders have worked heroically for years to successfully raise the profile of the area.

In the late 1990s, the creek received additional help when CRK settled its lawsuit against the city of Atlanta for chronic sewage overflows, including those impacting Proctor Creek from the city’s dilapidated sewer system. Under the settlement, $112 million was spent for system upgrades, completed a decade ago, and 132 tons of trash was removed. Yet, despite a significant reduction in pollution levels, water quality problems continued. An increasing array of partners began to engage in new projects and strategies.

By Sally Bethea

Sally Bethea is the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and current board president of Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy whose mission is to build a community of support for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Proctor Creek’s potential to become an amenity connecting neighborhoods now isolated

ECO BRIEFS

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream has recognized Paula Heer, water quality monitoring volunteer with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, with the 2017 Red Flag Award. This award goes to the group or individual who has taken action to address a water quality issue at their monitoring site. Heer was nominated for her detection of high bacteria counts in Ansley Creek following a sewer line break.

Atlanta Audubon Society is now accepting proposals for bird-friendly improvements to one eligible project through the recently created Habitat Restoration Fund. Examples of suitable projects include, but are not limited to, removal of invasive, exotic plant species, installation of bird-friendly native plants, garden/habitat design services, bird monitoring and/or community programs. For more info, visit atlantaaudubon.org/habitat-restoration-fund.

Five years ago, Proctor Creek was designated to be among Priority Urban Waters by a federal partnership that strives to empower underserved communities by reconnecting area residents to their local waterways. In addition to the city’s ongoing financial commitment, significant federal resources and technical expertise have been brought to bear and are making the huge difference that can now be seen in the area.

Continuing its commitment to the Proctor Creek watershed, CRK has been monitoring water quality weekly for years – currently at eighteen locations with nine community volunteers. Working with the city, nearly two-dozen illegal sewer connections have been located and stopped – most recently, an eight-inch line discharging untreated sewage from West End Mall into the creek. Along with Park Pride, Conservation Fund and local groups, CRK is also focused on managing excess storm runoff using green infrastructure in a new community park. The resources being invested in the Proctor Creek watershed are nothing short of phenomenal. Literally, dozens of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, foundations and neighborhood associations have come together to prove that this urban stream and its environs can be restored, can generate economic activity and can instill real community pride.

The Proctor Creek Greenway – a place where my granddog and I can “walk on the wild side” in the middle of the city – is one of the best results to date from these extraordinary partnerships.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the City of Atlanta and the Decide Development Authority of DeKalb County will each receive $500,000 for cleanups of contaminated brownfield sites.

South Fork Conservancy celebrated its 10th birthday recently by holding the annual Creek Rising fundraiser. The event was held at Zonolite Park, a reclaimed brownfield near Emory University, and raised $74,000. Over 200 supporters gathered to look back at 10 years of protecting and connecting the creekbanks of the tributaries of Peachtree Creek.

Atlanta BeltLine visionary Ryan Gravel also received the organization’s Trailblazer Award.

Sally Sears announced Ryan Gravel as the winner of the South Fork Conservancy Trailblazer.

Pulling the Plug City launches pilot electric vehicle rideshare program

By Jordan Johnson

Remember when electric vehicles were a thought of the future? We’ve come a long way since the EV1 popped on the scene in 1996. Weird in structure and awkward in style, the two-seater wasn’t a fan favorite. But, the EV1 not only influenced vehicle design for the industry, it also introduced mainstream consumers to the idea of electric cars.

Electric vehicles are an ever-evolving technology that produces zero emissions and is showing no signs of slowing down. While the majority of the United States isn’t taking advantage of the benefits of these vehicles, the City of Atlanta is.

The City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Department of Corrections have partnered with nonprofit Common Courtesy, Inc., a nonprofit that provides transportation to those with low mobility access, to provide services using zero emission vehicles to a population that is often overlooked. The City of Atlanta Department of Corrections is identifying ways to reduce recidivism through enhanced public safety and partnerships in the community. It has been proven difficult for recently released inmates to complete court mandated requirements, treatment for addiction, opportunities for longterm employment, or to retrieve their possessions due to lack of transportation.

The city gave a one-time $80,000 donation to Common Courtesy for a six-month pilot of this program to remove a major barrier to those who need access. Common Courtesy is utilizing their ride-share suppliers and infrastructure to host this program while supporting those leaving the City of Atlanta Detention Center. The rideshare program used the Environmental Protection Agency’s environmental justice map and the Shared Use Mobility Center’s first/last mile map to determine the environmental and transportation benefits in the city.

The goal for this program is first, providing transportation, second, cost savings for the users, and third, environmental benefits in a city with emissions from transportation sources. The hope is that through Common Courtesy and their networks, we can assist in removing a barrier for recently released inmates as they work to better their outcomes and increase exposure to clean and rapid technology.

In May, the program launched with the support and collaboration of several rideshare partners and The Cute Shuttle, a system that transports persons in need from their work or homes to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and four West Side Atlanta community boot-strap programs. This allows riders to go and return to their homes with free personal transportation along with The Cute Shuttle’s unique short route vehicles.

The founders of the nonprofit organization Common Courtesy, Bob and Anne Carr, are dedicated to providing transportation to the most underserved communities in the Atlanta area. The Carrs consistently provided transportation to an elderly couple, Ella and James Rowland, for more than five years. This prompted their commitment to service.

Residents interested in signing up for Common Courtesy rides have to go through a registered chapter, which includes the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Atlanta City Detention Center, Iwi Fresh, Truly Living Well’s Collegetown Farm, Promise Youth Center, On the Rise Financial Center, and Westside Works. Those interested in becoming a driver can contact Common Courtesy, Inc. for more details.

For more information visit commoncourtesyrides.org or email admin@ccrides.org.

gardens provide the perfect backdrop for this fabulous home. Gated entry for total privacy. Spectacular finishes include 12 foot ceilings, radiant heated floors, 4 fireplaces. French doors from first floor master suite open to the pool. Three car garage. Quality abounds!

511RockSpringsRoad.com

Jordan Johnson is the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Resilience Communications Manager.

Bob and Anne Carr of Common Courtesy.

News You Can Eat

What’ll Ya Have?

Celebrating 90 years of The Varsity

By Annie Kinnett Nichols

This summer Atlanta’s favorite fast food icon, The Varsity, is celebrating its 90th birthday. That’s 90 years and millions of hot dogs, hamburgers, onion rings and the famous Frosted Orange served from the original recipes. This comfort food staple is served up with its own lingo: walk a dog –a hot dog to go; strings – an order of fries; heavy weight – hot dog with chili; and steak – a hamburger with ketchup, mustard and pickles). And, of course, customers are always greeted with a smile and the famous question, “What’ll ya have?!”

When Frank Gordy opened the doors on his hot dog joint in a tiny house at Peachtree Street and North Avenue in 1928, he knew it was going to be a success. With just a sixstool counter and a walk up window, he served 300 people on his first day. Even through the Great Depression, Gordy managed to turn a profit thanks to low prices and fresh food.

In the 1930s, The Varsity moved to its current location at North and Spring in Midtown. Always a forward thinker, Gordy created a drive-in that by the 1950s was known as the World’s Largest Drive In, a record they still hold today. Gordy continued to expand his original Varsity with space for 630 cars. The restaurant now occupies two full city blocks and can seat 800 people in various dining rooms.

Dames & Dregs

When Gordy died in 1983, his daughter, Nancy, took over and The Varsity remains a family affair. It’s also become a favorite local chain with locations in Athens (a favorite for UGA fans since 1932), Kennesaw, Norcross, Dawsonville, the Atlanta airport and at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The original location just steps from the Georgia Tech campus, and still packed on game days, has been visited by a host of dignitaries including Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Muhammad Ali, Elvis Presley, Burt Reynolds have all dropped by, and so did Clark Gable during the premier of “Gone With the Wind” in 1939 when he was served by iconic carhop John “Flossie Mae” Raiford, who worked at The Varsity for 50 years.

To mark the 90th anniversary, The Varsity is donating $90,000 to the Shepherd Center and SHARE Military Initiative, which provides help to veterans who struggle with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. In July and August, The Varsity is selling a special anniversary cup for $5.99 and offering free refills until Dec. 31 and 90 cent refills on Frosted Orange, vanilla and chocolate milkshakes. One hundred percent of those purchases will go toward the special fund.

The Varsity will cap off its festivities with a 90th anniversary party on Saturday, Aug. 18, where all menu items will be priced at just 90 cents all day at its various locations.

For more information, visit thevarsity.com.

Beer festival at Underground Atlanta will highlight role of women in brewing

Tickets are on sale now for Dames & Dregs Beer Festival, a unique event that will honor women in the brewing industry.

The event will be held Aug. 11 at The Masquerade at Underground Atlanta. Early bird tickets are $25, while VIP are $45 at damesanddregs.com.

According to founder Luis Martinez, the festival is designed to recognize the history of women in brewing. At this writing, 35 breweries that are owned, operated or have

significant roles held by women are included in the festival’s lineup. There will also be panels on entrepreneurship, arts, crafts, live music, DJs and more.

“This is going to be more than just your usual beer festival,” Martinez said. “We will bring diversity, inclusiveness and highlight the women who work in brewing.”

Martinez said 10 of the breweries were creating special beers specifically for the festival.

Proceeds from the event will go to International Women’s House, a nonprofit that aids women and children who have been victims of physical and sexual abuse and trafficking.

Martinez said he hopes Dames & Dregs will become a national event, with other versions popping around the country. He said plans for 2019 including expanding the event to another city.

Food for Thought: C hef Christina Conde

By Megan Volpert

Food Forethought is our ongoing Q&A feature with local chefs, mixologists, servers and restaurateurs. This month, we talk with Chef Christina Conde of Gather at Grant Park Market, 519 Memorial Drive. Find out more at grantparkmarket.net.

Q: Gather has an open kitchen, which guests often like because they can see all the cooking going on. What are the pros and cons of an open kitchen from a chef’s point of view?

A: I never worked in an open kitchen before Gather. I never really understood the value of being hidden in the back cooking. The kitchen life is a very different life. There is a lot of pressure and a lot of moving parts going on at all times. We laugh, we play, we yell, we say things that sometimes could offend the public, so it was an adjustment for sure. But having an open kitchen it is an excellent way to connect with our guests and that to me is the most important thing.

must in a kitchen. However, because we are an open kitchen, we have to be a little more mindful of our tunes and how loud we play them. So it’s usually just headphones.

Q: In addition to the open kitchen, the entire Gather restaurant is right inside the space of Grant Park Market with just a blue velvet rope between them. Do you have pretty good peoplewatching opportunities from the market side?

A: Absolutely, although I am usually in back and don’t get to do it often enough, but I usually get the good stories from my staff.

Q: Gather has three menus—breakfast, lunch and dinner. A lot of the lunch stuff is also on the dinner menu, but what are your feelings about breakfast for dinner?

A: Truth is, breakfast is my least favorite meal of the day. Just give me my Yeti full of coffee and I am good until late afternoon, when I finally remember I haven’t eaten yet. I realize that there are a lot of people who still eat in the mornings, so we created a breakfast menu for them, but dinner is my baby. It is where I get to be most creative and showcase my passion for food. I guess if there’s a way to make a deconstructed breakfast at dinner that is not so breakfast-like, I would, but otherwise I keep those two separate.

Or vice versa?

A: Our menu is a combination of the menu at our sister store, Candler Park Market Deli, for lunch, but we also wanted to showcase food thwat would pair well with beer and wine. That’s why tapas work so well. The owner, Greg Hutchins, is quite the wine connoisseur, so we try to choose foods that pair nicely with wine and beer drinkers.

Q: What’s the difference between how you cook at home versus at work? Are there things you’d never cook for yourself at home? Do you use your own kitchen as a lab, or save experiments for the restaurant’s kitchen?

A: I always cook with passion and love in both kitchens. It’s my love language. I do try, however, to get a little more creative and think outside the box a little at work. I am constantly looking for new ideas and trying to challenge myself. I also try to empower my team and encourage them to try to create new and excit ing dishes for our specials.

Q: Where do you get food inspiration? Do you study other restaurants or particular chefs, certain books or magazines?

A: All of the above. Its funny because I don’t watch TV, but if I do, it’s cooking shows or food channels or documentaries. I feel like you can never stop learning. A friend of mine just recently asked me if I am a picky eater when I go out to eat. I said “no, I love trying new things and love all food.”

Q: Kitchens are an intense atmosphere. What does your kitchen sound like? Is it deadly silent, does somebody pick a radio station or playlist, or do you just fling witty banter?

A: Heck no, we are far from quiet! We definitely fling the witty banter. We have an awesome team with all types of personalities, and we all love to laugh and joke around with one another. I don’t have much tolerance for drama or negativity. We try to keep it a positive place to work. Music is a

Q: The dinner menu emphasizes Spanish tapas. What is one thing you wish everybody understood about a meal made of small plates?

A: It says it all in the name itself. Gather. Gather is a place for friends and family to come together in your local neighborhood. Tapas are a great way for friends and family to gather and share great food, drinks and laugher.

Q: Some of the beer and wine served at Gather is also available to buy in the market. Does the market side influence your menu?

Edible Neighborhood

Chosewood Park plants fruit trees for the community

Chosewood Park, an Atlanta BeltLine neighborhood, has an open secret: Dozens of fruit trees by the sidewalks for all the neighbors. And now the Edible Neighborhood program in Chosewood Park is partnering with a 501c3 nonprofit, Bare Hands Bear Fruit Inc., to take the neighborhood’s unique amenity to the next level.

Chosewood Park already has fruit trees, berry bushes and grapevines along the sidewalks. The new program adds culinary herbs and a gardener to help neighbors care for their plantings. Plus more plantings of fruit trees.

The Edible Neighborhood program was started four years ago by Clay Preston. Preston’s investment group has renovated over 30 homes in Chosewood Park since 2008. In 2014, he started planting fruit trees in the front yards of their rentals.

“This is a very cool neighborhood. They are very nice people who were working hard together to pull Chosewood out of the recession,“ Preston said. “These trees will give the neighbors a connection for years to come.”

Frank Bailey, director of Bare Hands Bear Fruit Inc., happens to be a Chosewood resident. When Preston introduced him to the Edible Neighborhood theme, Bailey saw an opportunity for his nonprofit to help.

“We are so excited to add this new dimension to Edible Neighborhood,” Bailey said. “With our own gardener, we’ll have a resource to help all the interested neighbors participate and a greater variety of edible landscaping.”

Preston initially planted apples, plums, persimmons, pears, figs and cherries. They are now growing along sidewalks of throughout neighborhood, which lies along the southeast quadrant of the BeltLine, just south of Grant Park. The fruit is there for any neighbor to collect when ripe.

Bailey said, “When Clay told me about this program, I could hardly believe it. We go to Guatemala to do this every year and I am so excited to help it happen in my own neighborhood.”

Over the last couple of years Preston and his investment group, SE Atlanta LLC, have added grapevines, berries and culinary herbs to the mix. “It has been fun to have the small children join us as we tend the plantings,” said Preston. “With this new expansion of the program, well, Chosewood Park is going to be cooking.”

For more information, visit EdibleNeighborhood.com.

QUICK BITES

South African restaurateur and entrepreneur Justin Anthony will open his fifth Georgia restaurant, Biltong Bar, at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta in September. As the first concept of its kind in the world, Biltong Bar will feature organic, house-cured South African beef jerky (also known as biltong), South African street fare, hand-crafted cocktails, wine and more.

Street Taco is set to open in late summer at 1523 Howell Mill Road on the Westside. Owner Jason Sherman was inspired by the tacos he found on many street corners in Mexico City. Street Taco will be quick-serve during lunch hours, while dinner will be a seated service. For more information, visit streettacoatl.com.

Revelator Coffee Company has closed its location at 641 14th Street and transformed it into a hub for the company’s brand, education and training teams. The 14th Street team will help open new locations in the city, including a new space in Downtown at 101 Marietta Street later this year. 14th Street patrons are being directed to Revelator’s sister location, Octane Coffee, located just a few blocks down the road at 1009 West Marietta Street.

Salata is now open Peachtree Center in Downtown offering up lettuces, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, seeds, nuts, chicken, seafood and vegan proteins. For more information, visit salata.com.

Atlanta-based Treehouse Milk has gone nationwide offering an array of raw, unpasteurized and nutrient-rich nut milks, which are made in small batches and are free of any preservatives, powders, syrups, fillers and carrageenan. For more information, visit treehousemilk.com

On Sunday, July 29, Cooks & Soldiers will halt regular service to celebrate the French side of its Basque roots during Fêtes De Bayonne, one of France’s largest annual festivals. From 4 to 9 p.m., Cooks & Soldiers invites guests to eat, drink and celebrate for an evening of traditional French dishes, music and entertainment. Executive chef Matthew Ridgway will be curating a special menu featuring mousse de foie poulet, aubergine barbajuan and gateau d socca. For tickets, visit fetesdebayonne2018.splashthat.com.

Cousins Maine Lobster is now open at Lenox Square in Buckhead. Founders and cousins Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac have taken their small LA-based food truck business and built it into a national franchise with brick and mortar locations in 15 cities. Fans of the hit TV show “Shark Tank” might remember that Barbara Corcoran invested $55,000 in the company to take it national. The menu includes lobster rolls, shrimp tacos, fried clams and more. For more information, visit cousinsmainelobster.com.

The Studio

Powerful Art

Artists add decorative touch to Old Fourth Ward power boxes

If you frequently walk, bike or drive through the Old Fourth Ward, you might have noticed that the neighborhood’s power boxes have been getting a colorful makeover.

The Fourth Ward Alliance initiated the project after seeing the success of a similar project in Decatur. The call for artists went out and funding was secured from the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, The Neighborhood Fund Grant and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

Artists were chosen to paint 19 of the bland boxes during the month of May at various intersections along Glen Iris Drive, Boulevard, Edgewood Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue.

For more photos, visit the Fourth Ward Alliance’s Instagram @fourthwardallianceboard.

The Artists:

• Matthew Evans

• Adam Crawford

• Amol Saraf

• Britt McDermott

• David Barios

• Sachi Rome

• Krista Jones

• Lauren Pallotta

• Kacie Rushton

• Squshipuss

• Ruby Chavez

• Shannon Willow

• Adam Podber

• Elaine Stephenson

• Greg Mike

• Fabian Williams

Tattoo Removal

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Locations:

• Wabash & Boulevard

• Angier & Boulevard

• Ralph McGill & Boulevard

• Glen Iris & Ralph McGill

• Glen Iris & Morgan

• North & Boulevard

• Boulevard & Rankin

• Edgewood & Randolph

• Irwin & Glen Iris

• John Wesley Dobbs & Boulevard

• Dallas & North Ave

• Highland & Boulevard

• Boulevard & Edgewood

• Boulevard & Auburn

• Boulevard & Ponce De Leon Ave

• Ponce De Leon Ave & Glen Iris

• Highland & Glen Iris

• Glen Iris & North Ave

• East & Boulevard

• Boulevard & John Wesley Dobbs

Britt McDermott

Fabian Williams

Amol Saraf

Sachi Rome Elaine Stephenson

Matthew Evans

Kacie Rushton

Wuthering Heights Day

Kate Bush fans to recreate iconic music video

By Collin Kelley

Out on the wiley, windy moors of…ummm…Grant Park, something particularly English will be happening on July 14. The third annual “Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever” will see fans of iconic British musician Kate Bush don read dresses to recreate the music video for her most famous song.

More than 20 cities around the world partake in this bit of fun, and 2018 is particularly special since it’s the 40th anniversary of the tune, which was inspired by Emily Bronte’s novel of obsessive love.

The event will take place in the park, 840 Cherokee Ave., and is free and open to the public. The morning begins with a practice session at 9:30 a.m. (there are numerous videos on YouTube to help you get started on the choreography, as well). The official dance begins at 10:30 a.m. Red dresses are encouraged and all ages, genders and abilities are welcome to take part.

Previously held in Candler Park, this performance art idea came from Intown resident Kim Manning, a former DJ at Georgia State University’s Album 88, who is a fan of Bush’s music. Manning spotted a number of videos on YouTube showing similar recreations of Bush’s music video in the UK, Australia and other parts of the world.

“Atlanta is kind of a nerdy town and people like to dress up and be goofy,” Manning said. “After seeing the videos online, I thought we should try and do it here.”

Kate Bush shot to stardom as a teenager in 1978 upon the release of “Wuthering Heights” and went on to release avant grade albums through the 80s, 90s and 00s. Her most well-known album, “Hounds of Love,” spawned her only hit single in the U.S., “Running Up That Hill.” Her song “This Woman’s Work” was featured in John Hughes’ “She’s Having A Baby” and later became a hit for Maxwell.

Atlanta’s

Comic Con

Comic, sci-fi fans will flock to Atlanta for debut event

As Atlanta’s film and TV industry continues to boom it’s only natural that the city should get is own version of Comic Con, especially with all the superhero films being shot here.

Atlanta Comic Con debuts on July 13-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center with a host of celebrity guests and special events.

The guest list includes some pretty cool names including Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura from Star Trek), Ray Park (Darth Maul from Star Wars), Lea Thompson (Back to the Future), Henry Thomas (E.T.) and Sean Young (Blade Runner). There will be opportunities for autographs and photos.

The three-day event will also feature panels and lectures and exhibitors offering comic books, toys, games, artwork, apparel and more. Cosplay is encouraged, too.

Comic Con International, held annually in San Diego, has become the biggest con (that’s short for conference) in the world with previews of anticipated sci-fi films, big celebrities and more.

For tickets and more information, visit atlantacomiccon.com

Sean Astin

Sean Young

Visual Arts

Interiors and Props: Collected from a variety of projects, the sculptures, drawings and textiles in “Interiors and Props,” on view at Georgia State University’s Ernest G. Welch School of Art and Design, reflect Knoxvillebased artist Lauren Sanders’ recent work as a DIY designer and interdisciplinary collaborator. Monday through Friday. Free. artdesign.gsu.edu/artgallery/

Thank You

for your support and vote on May 22, 2018. We were able to win 49 percent of the vote in the primary election and almost win the election without the need of a run off election. Please vote for me again on July 24, 2018. You can vote in the Run-Off Election even if you did not vote in Primary. Early voting days are July 2-20, 2018.

My legal career of twenty-two years has afforded me a broad range of experience which includes private practice, Assistant Solicitor for the City of Atlanta, and most recently, supervising the largest division of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney. Each of these positions were in service to Fulton County Citizens, resulting in a wealth of knowledge, understanding and respect for the great people of Fulton County. I am equipped with the years and variety of legal experience to ensure my ability to serve as your next Fulton County Superior Court Judge with wisdom, fairness and a work ethic that has gone unmatched.

I am asking you to vote for me on July 24, 2018.

Fani Willis

Judicial Candidate

Fulton County Superior Court

• Howard University, Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, December 1992

• Emory University School of Law, 1996

• Law and Justice Award, Woman of The Year, Georgia's Most Powerful and Influential Attorneys 2017- 2018

• Lewis R. Slaton Award, 2005, 2006, and 2011 (only three time winner in history)

• Member, Georgia Bar Association

• Member, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers

• Member, We All Value Excellence (WAVE)

No Limits 2018: This group show is a statewide juried exhibition of art by artists living with disabilities presented by VSA Arts of Georgia at Mason Fine Art. Opens July 12. Free. vsaartsga.org

Permanence & Impermanence: Iceland: Alan Avery Art Company presents painter Jean Larson in her latest exhibition of abstract work inspired by the vast and everchanging landscapes of Iceland. Closes July 14. Free. alanaveryartcompany.com

A day dream will last long into the night/Visions: HATHAWAY | Contemporary Gallery presents two exhibits this month: a two person exhibition of new works by Amelia Carley and Ally White and a solo exhibition by Brenda Rehrig. Closes July 21. Free. hathawaygallery.com.

Seeking Eden: A Collection of Georgia’s Historic Gardens: Through photographs, postcards, landscape plans, and manuscripts, “Seeking Eden” at Atlanta History Center highlights the importance of historic gardens in Georgia’s past as well as their value and meaning within the state’s 21st-century communities. Daily. Free to $21.50. atlantahistorycenter.com

Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic: The High Museum of Art is the premiere U.S. venue for “Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic,” a playful exhibition celebrating the magical world of one of the most adored literary characters of all time. Tuesday through Sunday. Free to $14.50. high.org

Performing Arts

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Two pairs of lovers (one requited, one ...not so much) and a rag-tag group of thespians find themselves lost in the woods right as the fairy kingdom is turned on its head by its quarreling leaders in this show at Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse. Closes July 29. $15 to $42. shakespearetavern.com

How Black

Mothers Say I Love

You: From the creator of the popular “‘da Kink in my Hair” comes a powerful and touching tale of immigration, family and sacrifice presented by Horizon Theatre Company. Opens July 13. $25 to $35. horizontheatre.com

Indigo Girls: While they came into prominence as part of the late-’80s folky singer/songwriter revival, the Indigo Girls had staying power where other artists from the same era quickly faded. See them at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. July 19. $35.50 to $100. classicchastain. com

The Book of Mormon: Visit the Fox Theatre to see this outrageous musical comedy that follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. July 17 through 22. $34 to $139. atlanta.broadway.com

Peter Pan: Get ready to sail to the second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning and go on a magical adventure with Serenbe Playhouse and the boy who refuses to grow up, Peter Pan! Thursday through Sunday. $13 to $30. serenbeplayhouse.com

Culture Club & The B-52s: Visit Chastain Park Amphitheatre to see Culture Club and The B-52s along with Thompson Twins and Tom Bailey. July 22. $35 to $166. classicchastain.com

The Color Purple: Celebrating the very best of the human spirit, Actor’s Express’ “The Color Purple” tells the uplifting story of Celie, a woman who struggles through adversity to find strength, love and the power of her own voice. Closes July 29. $21.60 to $43.20. actors-express.com

A SPECIAL SECTION

Pine Mountain Panorama

Callaway Gardens, Little White House, Warm Springs perfect for historic weekend getaway in the southern hills

By Kathy Dean and Collin Kelley

Amountain getaway usually means heading to North Georgia, but why not head south instead? Pine Mountain and nearby attractions like Callaway Gardens, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Little White House, the historic towns of Warm Springs and Manchester are perfect for a weekend away from the city.

Located around 80 miles south of Atlanta, Pine Mountain is both scenic and activity-filled whether you’re an outdoor or history enthusiast. There’s also plenty in the way of accommodations, from resorts to campgrounds.

WARM SPRINGS

The town of Warm Springs takes its name from the nearby springs – 88 degrees Fahrenheit and full of minerals – that edge Pine Mountain. Creek and Iroquois Indians used the springs to heal their sick and wounded, and in 1832, David Rose built the area’s first resort around them.

The town’s original name was Bullochville, and today, tight alleys lead visitors to Old Bullochville, a reconstructed homage to Warm Spring’s past, found behind Bulloch House and the many shops

on Broad Street.

Warm Springs gained national recognition in 1924 when President Roosevelt visited the area to treat his poliorelated paralysis. The springs are no longer open for public use, but they are used therapeutically by the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, founded by FDR.

Since the invention of the polio vaccine, the institute provides Vocational Rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities. The pools were recently refurbished by Georgia State Parks and a touch pool allows visitors to feel the warm spring waters and learn about its history.

Also be sure to check out the Warm Spring National Fish Hatchery, which was established in 1899 to restore and manages fish such as striped bass, alligator gar and lake sturgeon. It’s also used to recover species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act and restore freshwater fish habitats.

The hatchery includes a public aquarium and visitors’ area with walkways amid a beautiful, natural environment.

LITTLE WHITE HOUSE

Built in 1932 by then-Governor of New York Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Little White House became FDR’s home while

he visited the area to take advantage of the springs. The people he met and experiences he had in Warm Springs prompted some of his programs once he became president, such as the Rural Electrification Administration.

In 1945, while posing for a portrait, FDR suffered a stroke and died shortly afterwards. The “Unfinished Portrait” is one of the many exhibits in the museum, as is his 1938 Ford convertible with hand controls.

The Little White House has been carefully preserved much as FDR left it. Visitors are welcome to visit the home, museum and pools.

F.D. ROOSEVELT STATE PARK AND MANCHESTER

Georgia’s largest state park is set among the Pine Mountain Range. The 9,000-plus acre park offers more than 40 miles of trails, winding through pines and hardwood trees, over creeks and past small waterfalls.

Dowdell’s Knob offers a breath-taking view. It’s a spot that FDR was known to sometimes picnic and ponder national and international issues. He was so fond of the spot, he had a brick oven installed for barbecues. The overlook now features a lifesize sculpture of the president gazing out over the mountains.

Dowdell’s Knob is located just of State

190, a winding and scenic roadway that begins just south of Manchester and takes you all the way to Callaway Gardens. There are plenty of places to stop and stretch your legs as well as snap more of those fantastic views from atop Pine Mountain.

Speaking of Manchester, it’s a fine example of a mountain town with a delightful main street full of shops and the historic President Theatre, originally built in 1935 as movie house. It was recently restored with the help of a grant from the Fox Theatre Institute and is now home to regular community events, theatre productions, films and more.

A fun fact for the literary-minded: Manchester is the hometown of bestselling author Stuart Woods, who fictionalized the city as Delano for his novel “Chiefs.”

CALLAWAY RESORT & GARDENS

Founded in 1952 and set on nearly 7,000 acres, Callaway Gardens has become a favored weekend getaway spot, especially for golf lovers and nature enthusiasts. One of the main attractions is the giant Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, which has the distinction of being the largest enclosed

Dowdell’s Knob Little White House

Calloway Gardens

Continued from page 36

tropical conservatory in North America. Thousand of butterflies from 50 different species flutter over a vast array of flowers and plants.

There are also 10 miles of walking and biking paths, the white sand Robin Lake Beach and two 18-hole golf courses. Regular events are held, such as the annual Sky High Hot Air Balloon Festival and Fantasy Lights, which see the gardens decked out in millions of twinkling bulbs for the holiday season.

An array of accommodations are onsite, including The Lodge, villas, cottages and more affordable Mountain Creek Inn. You won’t go hungry either, with 10 restaurants and bars to choose from, including the down-home southern delights of Country Kitchen located inside the rustic Callaway Gardens Country Store.

For more about all that Pine Mountain has to offer, visit pinemountain. org, gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt and callawaygardens.com.

The Bulloch House rises from its ashes in Warm Springs

By Kathy Dean

The Bulloch House has a well-earned its reputation of delicious, down-home cooking that draws people to Warm Springs. The current owners, since 2009, are Peter and Sandy Lampert, and they’ve not only kept the business going strong, they’ve built upon it — or rather, the ashes of it.

The original Bulloch House was built in 1893 by Benjamin F. Bulloch, co-founder of the town of Bullochville. After the town changed its name to Warm Springs, the building held onto its original name and in 1990, it was renovated and turned into a restaurant.

Unfortunately, in June 2015, lightning stuck the original building, smoldered in the wiring and burnt the structure to the ground during the night.

“When it erupted, thankfully, no one was in the building,” Sandy said. “It was so old, that it was like fat lighter [kindling]. The fire department tried to enter but had to rush out because the fire was taking hold so quickly and completely. It took less than 10 minutes for the old part of the building to burn down completely. The sky was glowing, and the flames were higher than the trees.”

The Lamperts had planned to rebuild on the same spot but found that the cost was prohibitive. They thought about moving the restaurant to another town.

“After the fire, we considered a move to Hampton or Columbus,” Peter said. “But in the end, we felt that Bulloch House belongs to Warm Springs.”

They located a building on Broad Street that could be renovated, and after some negotiation, the owner agreed to lease it to the Lamperts while the insurance claim was being processed. Renovations got underway and the Bulloch House reopened on

December 1, 2015.

The spacious two-story restaurant has an elegant feel with high windows and white chandeliers. The walls are decorated with black and white photos of local history, and the menu, which changes weekly, features favorites like fried chicken, baked ham and catfish. There are also fried green tomatoes, collards, homemade biscuits and cornbread. Dessert includes six-layer chocolate cake, old fashioned pecan pie and banana pudding.

“A lot of people like this location better,” Peter said. “The parking can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s easier to find and it’s surrounded by shops.”

One of those shops is the Lampert’s own Fireflies Gift Boutique, just a few doors down. Shoppers delight in a wide selection of women’s jewelry and adorable baby gifts as well as collegiate gear and must-have housewares.

The name of the shop has special meaning for Sandy and goes back to the fateful night of the fire. “We got the phone call in the middle of the night, and my husband rushed right over. He called me crying, ‘It’s gone…it’s all gone!’”

When she got there, Sandy watched the embers burning and floating up into the trees. “To me, they looked fireflies, what we call lightning bugs,” she said.

The original restaurant had a gift shop attached to it, and the shop also suffered from the fire. “When we reopened our gift shop in this new location, it just made sense to name it Fireflies,” Sandy said.

Recently, the Lamperts have added a bakery/cafe behind the gift boutique, offering coffee, fudge and cookies as well as specialty cakes and pies, all baked on premises. And they’ve named it Lightnin’ Bugs.

For more about the Bulloch House, 70 Broad Street in Warm Springs, visit bullochhouse.com.

Summer Escape

New water park and resort Great Wolf Lodge opens

By Grace Huseth

Summer bucket lists should include road trips, amusement parks, water activities and outdoor picnics. If you’re headed down to Pine Mountain, a short detour to Great Wolf Lodge near LaGrange will tick off all those boxes and then some.

Great Wolf Lodge is like going back to summer camp, but on a much bigger scale. The resort’s campus has over 450 guest suites and dozens of entertainment and lodging amenities for families, yet the main attraction is a water park the size of a city block featuring water slides, a lazy river and a huge wave pool. Did we mention this is all located indoors? No worries about the inevitable afternoon thundershower hindering play.

General Manager Keith Furnas said the indoor facility is one Great Wolf Lodge’s greatest assets and the water park is heated to a comfortable 84-degrees all season long.

“There’s something new and different around every corner, which makes Great Wolf Lodge incredibly enjoyable to just walk around and explore,” he said. “The resort is actually one massive facility, so one can experience all that Great Wolf Lodge has to offer without stepping outside during your stay.”

Everything from upscale eateries, mini-golf, a live-action game called MagiQuest and, of course, the water park can all be found within steps of each other. There are many other adventure experiences at the lodge, including the Howlers Peak Ropes Course, Ten Paw Alley family bowling, Northern Lights Arcade and a multi-story rock wall. Two-day access to the indoor waterpark and activities is included in the nightly rate at Great Wolf Lodge.

Adults are also catered to with an outdoor pool, an adjacent “adult swim” only lagoon for sunbathing in chaise lounge chairs and soaking in private hot tubs. Parental palates can be satisfied as well at the Barnwood, a restaurant that sources everything on their menu from within a 100-mile radius of Great Wolf Lodge for peak freshness and seasonal diversity.

For more about the resort, visit greatwolf.com/Georgia.

LUXURY CABINS IN HELEN, GA FOR YOUR DREAM GETAWAY TO THE MOUNTAINS

Many Mountains

By Collin Kelley

If you want to go visit the mountains, you don’t have to go far from metro Atlanta. You don’t even have to go north. Check out these state parks and heritage areas that lie to the south, east and west. For more, be sure to visit gastateparks.org.

SWEETWATER CREEK

Only minutes west of Atlanta in Douglas County, the hills, outcrops and rolling rapids of Sweetwater Creek make for a great afternoon hike. The centerpiece of the park is the ruin of the New Manchester Textile Mill, which was burned during the Civil War. Park rangers lead informative hikes through the park and too the old mill. There’s also plenty of fishing opportunities in the 215-acre George Spark Reservoir. The park is located at 1750 Mount Vernon Road in Lithia Springs.

PANOLA

MOUNTAIN

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Just 15 minutes south of Atlanta, Panola Mountain is a100-acre granite outcrop similar to Stone Mountain, but smaller and much more pristine. Park visitors will see the outcrop and its rare ecosystem just as Native Americans did centuries ago. Reservations are required for ranger-led hikes that teach about the rare plants and animals found at the park. There’s plenty of activities in the park, too, including a playground, archery, birding and tree-climbing programs. A paved trail is open for biking, roller blading, jogging and dog-walking, while forested fitness trails are open for hiking and running. 2620 Highway 155 SW in Stockbridge.

Located near Lithonia southern DeKalb County, this national heritage area is also a granite outcrop similar to nearby Stone Mountain and Panola Mountain. The best way to see the park is on foot or by bike, and you can even get there using the PATH system of trails. The area is also dotted with historic homes and cultural buildings that have been preserved. For more information, visit arabiaalliance.org.

ARABIA MOUNTAIN

In the Heart of Downtown Blue Ridge

Things To Do

Balloons, beaches, trains and much more on tap

If you’re heading down to the Pine Mountain region for a weekend – or longer – getaway, you might want to time your trip around some of these fun festivals and events.

JULY 4TH STAR SPANGLED BEACH PARTY

Callaway Gardens hosts a big Independence Day event at the beach with food, live music, watersports, contests, circus performances and the annual fireworks display. Info: callawaygardens.com.

SKY HIGH HOT HAIR BALLOON FESTIVAL

Set for Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, dozens of hot hair balloons take part in the event – including the spectacular Friday Nigh Balloon Glow –along with music, food and more at Callaway Gardens. Info: callawaygardens.com.

OLD CHIPLEY TOWN FAIR

Head to Pine Mountain on Sept. 29 for local crafts, pottery, metalwork, woodwork, food and entertainment. Spend the day strolling down Pine Mountain’s picturesque streets or shopping in downtown Pine Mountain’s and Chipley Village’s shopping centers, each filled with unique shops and boutiques. Information: pinemountain.org.

WARM SPRINGS

HARVEST HOE

DOWN Enjoy the changing of the fall colors with the Annual Harvest Hoe Down Festival on Oct. 13 in downtown Warm Springs. Arts, crafts, food vendors, kids’ activities, entertainment throughout the day, kiddie train rides, fruit and vegetable stand, hands-on crafts for children, and more are planned. The parade will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Information: exploregeorgia.org.

MANCHESTER RAILROAD DAYS

Calling all railroad fans! Come out and see the personal collection displays, model layouts, outdoor display, and view trains from Railfan Observation Deck. The event will take place Oct. 19-20. Information: exploregeorgia.org.

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