Atlanta Intown - September 2014

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

CONTACT US

Editorial

Collin Kelley INtown Editor collin@atlantaintownpaper.com (404) 917-2200, ext. 102

Contributors

Ann Taylor Boutwell, Beth Clark, Kathy Dean, Joe Earle, Benjamin Getz, Art Huckabee, Phil Mosier, Clare S. Richie, Tim Sullivan

Submissions

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

Advertising

For information call 404-917-2200 ext 130.

Senior Acount Executive

Janet Porter

Acount Executives

Jeff Kremer

Susan Lesesne

Sales Consultants

David Burleson

Linda Howell

Circulation/ Subscriptions

Each month, 35,000 copies of Atlanta INtown are mailed to homes and distributed to businesses in and around ZIP codes 30306, 30307, 30308, 30309, 30324 and 30329. For delivery information, call (404) 917-2200, ext. 110.

PUBLISHED BY Springs Publishing LLC

Atlanta INtown • Reporter Newspapers

6065 Roswell Road, Suite 225 Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Phone: (404) 917-2200

Fax: (404) 917-2201

Steve Levene Founder & Publisher stevelevene@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 111

Amy Arno Director of Sales Development amyarno@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 112

Chris North Director of Creative & Interactive Media chrisnorth@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 117

Isadora Pennington

Graphic Designer

isadora@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 123

Joe Earle Managing Editor joeearle@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 122

Deborah Davis

Office Manager deborahdavis@reporternewspapers.net

(404) 917-2200, ext. 110

© 2014 With all rights reserved

Publisher reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertising for any reason. Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Atlanta INtown or Springs Publishing, LLC.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Collin Kelley collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Dancing in September

I have a tradition that’s been going on since I was a teenager: on the first day of September, I put on the song “September” by Earth Wind & Fire. I had the 45 rpm , then cassette, then I had it on a greatest hits CD and now I just stream it off Spotify.

I’m turning 45 in September, which isn’t really a milestone birthday, but along with flying off to London to see Kate Bush (not once, but twice!) and read poetry, I decided to buy myself a new record player so I could listen to the 100 or so vinyl records collecting dust in my closet.

I bought the record player cheap on eBay and it’s one of those retro, briefcase looking portables with two built-in speakers. It’s ridiculously low-fi, but I love it just the same. I love the ritual of unpacking an LP from the sleeves, admiring the artwork, reading the lyrics and that satisfying little pop and crackle when you put the needle on the record.

I hauled out my record collection, which ranges from Billie Holiday and Miles Davis to Dusty Springfield and Fleetwood Mac (and lots of 80s one-hit wonders), and spent an afternoon spinning the platters. I was also editing copy for this issue and had to keep getting up to turn the record over, nudge the needle when it hit a scratch, and adjust the volume. Spotify, which seemingly has every song or album ever made, judged me silently from my desktop. But you can’t beat the sound of record, and I’m not ashamed to admit I was boogying back and forth to my desk. Time to stop in Wax ‘n Facts and Wuxtry for some new LPs. Dig it!

And what was I editing between flipping those records? The new restaurant roundup, a list of hip and happening festivals, the world premiere of my poetry pal Natasha Trethewey’s Native Guard at Alliance Theatre, the bounce back of the condo market, a special back-to-school section and much more.

Stay groovy!

ABOUT THE COVER

Rob Garish shot this month’s cover photo at last year’s Candler Park Fall Festival. That’s the Seed & Feed Marching Abominable delighting festival-goers. To find out about more festivals happening this month, turn to page 40.

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Thousands of cyclists, walkers, joggers and skaters are expected to turn out Sunday, Sept. 28, for the next Atlanta Streets Alive (ASA) event in VirginiaHighland, Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward.

According to Keisa Bruce, events manager for ASA organizer Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, the popular “Highland Plus” route will close down parts of Highland Avenue, Boulevard and, for the first time, North Avenue to motorized vehicles from 2 to 6 p.m.

“We wanted to include North Avenue so people could see everything that’s going on along there, especially Ponce City Market,” Bruce said.

And while the route creates a five mile loop, the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail will act as another part of the route, or maybe a shortcut. The new Gateway connecting the Eastside Trail to Historic Fourth Ward Park will also be open allowing for more exploration.

“We’re working with Ponce City Market and The Masquerade [night club and concert venue] to make sure there are fun and engaging events happening

along North Avenue and that part of the BeltLine,” Bruce commented.

As in years past, there will be all sorts of activities along the route, including games, exercise stations, performances, information booths and more. The annual Bike Parade will roll out at 2 p.m. from Virginia Avenue at North Highland and encompass the whole route, Bruce said.

Last year’s ASA on the Highland map drew 82,000 people.

For more about the event, visit atlantastreetsalive.com.

Special

The spring event in West End was a hit. Special The route for the Sept 28 Atlanta Streets Alive event.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed was on hand for the ribbon cutting for the Gateway, a paved path connecting the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail to Historic Fourth Ward Park. Top picture, from left: Charlie Shufeldt, Beltline board member; Amy Phuong, Parks Director; Mayor Reed; Dist. 2 City Councilman Kwanza Hall; Rob Browner, interim executive director and program director; Paul Morris, CEO of the Beltline; and John W. Somerhalder II Chairman of the Beltline board.

BeltLine is now on your smartphone

Looking for an easy way to navigate the Atlanta BeltLine’s growing loop of trails and parks? There’s an app for that.

The new app, available in the iTunes and Google Play store, conveniently pinpoints parks, trails, access points, art, transit, and even parking using an interactive map feature. There’s also a function that guides users on walking, running, or biking tours of the paved and interim trails, as well as highlighting park amenities and other nearby entertainment using geotagged location information. Users can also key in to other information about tours, health and fitness, and Art on the Atlanta BeltLine.

“With over a million visitors projected to enjoy the Atlanta BeltLine each year, we want to ensure users have digital resources to maximize their experience,” said Paul Morris, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “This app is a big step in that direction.”

The new Atlanta BeltLine app is available for the iPhone and Android devices.

Civic Center property plans concern O4W residents

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Film and television studios surrounded by a performing arts center, a hotel, and a mix of residential, office and retail could transform the Atlanta Civic Center property in Downtown/ Old Fourth Ward into a regional tourist destination.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the mixed-use proposal is one of the more ambitious concepts to emerge so far as the city prepares to put the 19-acre Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center site on the market. Local real estate development firm Carter is proposing the concept.

In June, the Atlanta City Council voted to sell the Civic Center, turning the 380,000-square-foot space over to its economic development arm, Invest Atlanta to seek bids from developers. Despite recent upgrades, the 47-yearold building at the corner of Piedmont Avenue and Ralph McGill Boulevard has been a drain on city resources.

Residents who live near the Civic

Center property are concerned about the scope of the proposal and plan to meet with city officials. Tim Hollis, president of Fourth Ward West Neighborhood Association said he and many residents believe plans for the property need to be scaled back.

“There are apartments and condo buildings that are six and seven stories tall around the Civic Center,” Hollis said. “Twenty-story buildings don’t fit in the neighborhood and a 4,000-seat performing arts center isn’t necessary.”

Hollis said the community would welcome more residential, office, retail and park space on the site.

And even as the city prepares to divest itself of the Downtown Civic Center, Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond has floated the idea of putting a new Civic Center at the city-owned Bellwood Quarry (you’ll recognize it from The Walking Dead). The 350-acre quarry site with its dramatic, sheer rock faces and blue-green water is supposed to be transformed into Westside Reservoir Park on the Atlanta BeltLine.

Courtesy Carter

One of the renderings of the redevelopment of the Atlanta Civc Center site.

City commission on veterans affairs holds first meeting

The Atlanta Commission on Veterans

Affairs held its first meeting in August at city hall.

The commission serves in an advisory capacity and will provide policy and legislative guidance to the Atlanta City Council regarding the many crucial issues affecting veterans such as elderly services, disabled services, homelessness, affordable housing, healthcare, job training, business development, spousal assistance and the need for a community liaison commission to advocate for the veteran community.

The commission will also review current veteran services offered at the federal, state, county, and city levels. Members will also discuss methods to better communicate those services to the veteran population and their families.

Commission Chairman Chris Balch is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. He said the commission’s challenge will be providing information about services available to Atlanta’s veterans, especially those who are homeless.

“Much of the challenge for many veterans is socioeconomic,” McCoy said. “Our challenge will be reaching the people who have been overlooked in the community. We need to identify those people and empower them.”

Each year, thousands of United States Military personnel return home from active duty. Many of these individuals face challenges reintegrating into civilian life, among them physical and mental health issues, job training and placement, homelessness, and other challenges.

“Atlanta is the proud home to thousands of veterans,” said Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell.

Atlanta City Council President

“The challenge for veterans is getting access to information,” Balch said. “As a community we not only need to let them know what’s available to them but also provide accurate information. We also need to be proactive in providing information as opposed to being passive by letting veterans come to us.”

Commission Vice-Chair BriGette McCoy is a veteran of the U.S. Army and was homeless in Atlanta sporadically for 10 years.

“We owe them every measure of respect and service that the City can provide. To that end, The Atlanta Commission on Veterans Affairs will serve in an advisory role to the City Council on how we can better meet the needs of our veterans.”

Mitchell said the first meeting of the commission included a discussion about which resources are currently available and which resources are needed to the city’s veterans.

The Commission falls under the purview of City Council’s Community Development/Human Resources Committee.

The Commission will meet at least monthly, and the next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Sept. 3 in Committee Room No. 1 at Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Avenue. The meetings are open to the public and public comment is welcomed.

Special

Atlanta Commission on Veteran Affairs Co-chair BriGette McCoy and Chair Chris Balch.

“We owe them every measure of respect and service that the City can provide.”

– Ceasar Mitchell

LIVING WALLS 2014

Photos By Isadora Pennington

Top left: Australian artist Fintan Magee’s gravitydefying mural in O4W off Ralph McGill.

Top right: Alex Brewer, also known as “Hense”, pauses while painting his mural Downtown near Centennial Park.

Middle left: Faith McClure painting her mural in O4W at Randolph and Irwin streets.

Middle center: Spanish artist Borondo’s mural highlights the urban decay evident on Auburn Avenue.

Middle right: Ernest Zacharevic created this Mondian-esque mural on a soon-to-be-daycare in Downtown.

Bottom left: Hundreds of pariticipants took part in bike ride to visit murals around Atlanta.

Bottom right: Caroline Caldwell paints an otherworldly scene on the side of the historic Trio building on Edgewood Avenue.

Pet Briefs Pet Pick

The 5th annual Humane Event benefitting the Atlanta Humane Society at the Westside Cultural Arts Center is Sept. 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. Guests will enjoy signature cocktails, delicious food, live music, dancing, a silent auction and adoptable puppies. Tickets are $55 per person and include two drink tickets. For open bar access, guests can purchase tickets for $75. VIP tickets, which include access to a VIP bar and food selection, are available for $125.To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit atlantahumane.org.

The Splish Splash Doggie Bath will take place Oct. 4-5 at Piedmont Park’s Aquatic Center. There will be a doggie swim, music, raffles, giveaways and more. Times are 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. or 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. Children under 12 are not allowed at the event because of safety concerns. Register at piedmontpark.org.

Captain Hook

Captain Hook was abandoned by his owner after getting into some fishing tackle in the garage. The owner could not afford to have a hook removed from his lip. A staff member paid to have it removed, and everyone immediately fell in love with Hook’s goofy personality and playful demeanor. He lived in a foster home and was very well mannered, but now you can visit him at the shelter. He would love to take a walk with you. To adopt Captain Hook or any of the other dogs and cats, visit pawsatlanta.org or stop by the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Lifeline Animal Project has marked a major success in managing the DeKalb County Animal Services shelter. Since it took over the shelter in July 2013, pet adoptions have increased by more than 300 percent and reduced the euthanasia rate to an all-time low of 13 percent. New

NEIGHBORHOOD SNAPSHOT: CANDLER PARK

Candler Park is named after Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler, who donated the 55-acre parkland to the city in 1922. Since that time, a neighborhood full of bungalows, cottages, retail shops and restaurants has taken shape around the park.

Clockwise: Han Vance snapped this photo of Maria Nagy of Palacsinta making Hungarian crepes at her stand near the park; crowds gather in the park for regular movie nights during the spring and summer months; the shops and restaurants along McLendon Avenue; stop in for pancakes and other goodies at the original Flying Biscuit Cafe; one of the neighborhood’s adorable cottages.

AERICA SUMMERS, MD, MPH

Dr. Summers is a family medicine practitioner and her office sees children and adults. She has extended hours for flu shots and walk-ins (7:15-8:15 a.m. on Tuesday)

New Hours:

Monday & Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tuesday 7:15 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Flu vaccinations available.

Location: 240 North Highland Avenue Suite E Atlanta, GA 30307 404.524.2424

Public Safety Briefs

The Atlanta Police Department has named Officer Eric King as a new LBGT liaison . King joins Officer Brian Sharp as the two LGBT liaisons for the department. King has been with the Atlanta Police Department for five years and was recently assigned to Zone 4 where he was a bicycle officer in the West End and Greenbriar Mall areas.

Atlanta Police

Chief George Turner was recently sworn in as the 1st Vice President of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP) at the 2014 Annual Summer Training conference. In 2015, he will ascend to the

presidency and become only the second AfricanAmerican to hold the position in 53 years.

The Center for Public Safety Excellence through its Commission on Fire Accreditation International has announced that Atlanta Fire Rescue has retained its accredited status. The department initially received accreditation in 2002. Its first renewal was in 2008. “This achievement places the department among only 200 fire departments in the world that are accredited and re-establishes it as a model for innovative public fire protection practices,” said Commission Chair Allan Cain.

The Atlanta Police Department is seeking participants for the Fall 2014 Citizens Police Academy. The course will begin Oct. 1 and will take place every Wednesday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. through Nov 12. Classes are held at the Herbert T. Jenkins Atlanta Police Academy, 180 Southside Industrial Parkway. The Citizens Police Academy will include over 30 hours of instruction with classroom courses in crime scenes, 911, criminal procedure, K9 demonstration, identity theft, a department overview and a zone ride-a-long. Participants must be a resident of the metropolitan Atlanta area, be at

least 21 years old, and have no felony or misdemeanor convictions within one year of application. A standard background check will be completed. Interested citizens can request an application by emailing Atlantacops@atlantaga.gov The deadline for application is Sept. 19.

The Atlanta Police Department Narcotics Unit was featured in the television series Drugs, Inc . last month on the National Geographic Network. Viewers got a small glimpse into the work of the department as it works to stop the manufacturing and sale of MDMA, also known as “molly” and ecstasy.

Officer Eric King

{sacred} thread yoga in Old Fourth Ward is hosting regular events every month at The Wrecking Bar in Little Five Points. Combining yoga and beer has been a big success for the studio. Check out the website at sacredthreadyoga.com for the next event.

The health and fitness event Wanderlust will take place Sept. 28 at Piedmont Park from 6-8 p.m. on The Promenade. The event will kick off with a 5K fun run followed by an inspirational talk from former NFL Football player Keith Mitchell, who will lead the crowd in meditation and yoga. There will also be music from DJ Sol Rising and MC Yogi and a marketplace featuring local vendors showcasing unique apparel, jewelry, and handcrafted

goods. Local food purveyors will provide an eclectic mix of healthy organic food options, including vegan and vegetarian fare. lululemon will present The Front Yard, an expansive area dedicated to post-run fun including retro lawn games for guests to play or take in the spectacle. For information and tickets, visit atlanta. wanderlustfestival.com.

My City Bikes, the national campaign creating local solutions to address obesity, heart disease and community wellness with its localized biking apps, is expanding the content of its local Atlanta Bikes app to cater to families and children. With its new “Family and Children” section currently in development, My City Bikes is encouraging families to bike together with kid-friendly rides, family group rides like those led by Atlanta Bikes cosponsor Fresh Bike Service, and a guide to “bikepooling” in their local neighborhoods. The “Family and Children” section on the Atlanta Bikes app will be available by Jan. 1, 2015. To download the free Atlanta Bikes app, search “Atlanta Bikes” in the iTunes or Google Play app store, or visit mycitybikes.org.

Indoor cycling method Cyc (cycfitness. com) will open its first studio in Atlanta this month. Cyc will be located inside the Forum Athletic Club - Buckhead and will feature a 50-bike, 2,000 square foot studio.

404.824.5151

Residents discuss long-range plans for improving north Buckhead

By Joe Earle

Greg Hill and his wife chanced upon a flier announcing a community planning session for their north Buckhead neighborhood. They decided to check it out.

So, one recent Saturday morning, they joined about two dozen of their neighbors in an elementary school gym/auditorium to talk about what north Buckhead should be like in 25 years or so.

resident who works with Atlanta City Councilman Howard Shook. “It’s like the red-headed stepchild out here. Peachtree and Piedmont getting taken care of ... but from the Buckhead Village to the city line, it’s a hodgepodge.

“If something doesn’t happen soon, it’s going to be one of those places no one goes because you can’t get anywhere.”

Licensed in 2004, Brandon offers 10 years of proven negotiating and client relations experience. He is also a Veteran and understands and appreciates the complexity of VA loans. An Intown resident since 2009, Brandon is keenly aware of the Atlanta market, neighborhoods and future development. Real estate is his main passion, but closely followed by CrossFit, running, yoga, live music, volunteering and a spicy Blood Mary. Call him today and let him put his 10 years of real estate experience to work for you!

“We’re always complaining about traffic,” Hill said. “We don’t like to be complainers. We like to be fixers. This is an opportunity to get involved.”

Hill seemed impressed by what he heard and saw as members of the North Buckhead Civic Association met with planners for a 3-hour discussion Aug. 16 at Sarah Smith Elementary’s Intermediate Campus.

“I think it’s a great way to inform the community of what’s going on and also to get great input from people who are invested in the community,” Hill said. “There’s a lot going on, and a small group of people seem to be doing all the legwork.”

Residents gathered around tables for discussions of Roswell Road, Piedmont and Peachtree roads, transportation, parks and the neighborhood’s residential core. Residents debated traffic problems and issues with future development and drew colorful lines on maps as part of a process through which the North Buckhead association intends to develop a long-range plan for the community.

The finished plan will be adopted by the association and then given to Atlanta city officials for adoption by the city, planners said. A draft of the plan is to be presented in a public meeting Sept. 30 at St. James United Methodist Church.

During discussions Aug. 16, residents identified places that might be used as future parks, proposed a trail or sidewalk system to connect the existing parks and the North Buckhead neighborhood to Chastain Park and outlined areas where future development needed controls.

“I really think this master plan process is going to put Roswell Road on the map,” said Sally Silver, a Buckhead

Residents also proposed converting parking garage roofs to green spaces and convincing the city or neighbors to develop new parks in the community.

North Buckhead association president Gordon Certain mapped a triangular parcel he said was cut off by surrounding homes and could not be developed. “It’s just trees,” he said. “Nobody can get there [by road], but if we could [make it a park], it would be really cool.”

Some residents worried about the pace of development in Buckhead. Graham Carter, for instance, questioned whether his father could afford the increase in taxes if his home were zoned commercial. He said planners needed to take care with how they propose changes to older neighborhoods now near highrises.

“This area is sensitive,” Carter said, and a substantial increase in real estate taxes “would say you effectively taxed him out of his home. That would be counter to what historically this neighborhood association has wanted to do, to build into a study like this the means to stick it to people who have lived there 40 years.”

Other residents called for measures to slow down traffic, improve crosswalks and sidewalks and to protect the community’s trees. “The fact you have neighborhoods so green, so forested within a few blocks of downtown densities is remarkable,” senior planner Caleb Racicot of planners and architecture firm TSW told the residents.

Hill welcomed proposals he heard, especially about the PATH400 trail now being built along Ga 400. He had seen signs of the construction, he said, “but now I know where it goes.

“I’m going to have buy a bike,” he said, “because I’ve got somewhere to ride it.”

Photo by Joe Earle Residents look over plans at a recent planning session for the future of Buckhead.

A LOOK BACK

This Month in History

Ann Taylor Boutwell

Sept. 5, 1917: During World War I, Camp Gordon, a temporary housing and training camp for new soldiers opened, where DeKalbPeachtree Airport is located today. Its namesake was John Brown Gordon, Confederate general, Georgia governor and senator. At the end of the war in 1918, the total number of soldiers passing through the camp included 6,153 officers and 227,312 enlisted men.

Sept. 6, 1897: Under shade trees near today’s 1015 Edgewood Ave., the Inman Park United Methodist Church congregation, founded in 1866, sat on wooden benches and sang hymns. That Monday afternoon at 5 p.m., they witnessed the laying of the cornerstone for the new church. Pastor Henry J. Ellis named each item placing it in a metal box. After Dr. Warren Akin Candler, tenth president of Emory College, delivered the address, he secured his manuscript in the box. The building’s architect, Willis Franklin Denny II, and contractor, George E. Murphy, lowered and set the stone. The small historical landmark church, made of grey Stone Mountain granite, was dedicate April 17, 1898.

Sept. 7, 1988: The Castle, the historic home at the corner of 15th and Peachtree in Midtown once called a “hunk of junk” by Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, is saved by AT&T. The communications company signed an agreement not to demolish the 12,000-squarefoot, five-story home, also known as Fort Peace, built by Ferdinand Dallas McMillan and wife, Lucy Reagan, in 1908. The couple bought the land in 1904 for $2,190 for their retirement home. In December 1989, the Atlanta Urban Design Commission deemed it an Atlanta Landmark and presented Surber, Barber, Choate and Hertlein Architect in 1991 an Award of Excellence for its extensive and careful exterior restoration. The Castle recently received yet another new lease on life by being renovated and transformed into a restaurant and entertainment space.

Sept. 11, 1966: Led by Coach Norb Hecker, the Atlanta Falcons took to the now demolished Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium as the newest member of the National Football League. In 1965, owner Rankin Smith, Sr., invited football fans to select the team’s name. “Falcons” was suggested by Julia Elliott, a high school teacher from Griffin, and became the moniker. Gov. Carl E. Sanders and Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. wished the players well. A crowd of 54,418 attended the Falcons opening game to watch them get beaten by The Rams, 19-14.

Sept. 14, 1985: The Atlanta Botanical Gardens in Piedmont Park dedicated the Gardenhouse, its first permanent structure. Atlanta architect Anthony Ames modeled his $2 million, 24,000 square-feet building after the 16th century Villa Giulia in Rome. Mayor Andrew Young, Fulton County Commissioner Michael Lomax, Mrs. (Louise) Ivan Allen Jr., and Mrs. Deen Day Smith

launched the celebrated ribbon cutting ritual. Docent guided tours followed as well as an exhibit of Frederick Law Olmstead, Sr. (1822-1903) concept of the urban park, which premiered at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1980.

Sept. 22, 1991: Mayor Maynard Jackson welcomed guests to a tribute honoring city historian Franklin Garrett’s 85th birthday (Sept. 25, 1906) at the Fox Theater. All proceeds for the event benefitted the restoration of the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum effort.

Sept. 24, 1999: Elton John performed at the grand opening of the new Philips Arena in Downtown, which replaced the old Omni Coliseum, which opened October 14, 1972 and was demolished in July 1997.

Sept. 23-25, 1906: During the race riot in Atlanta, James Wesley Edwards Bowen, the first African American president of the Gammon Theological Seminary, and William H. Crogman, the first African American president of Clark University, protected the community’s terrorstricken women and children. The institutions were located at the south end of Capital Street. Both presidents agreed that the guilty should be punished and the innocent protected. Four months earlier, the south Atlanta community suffered a devastating fire, which swept over 40 aces destroying 40 dwelling and leaving 400 residents homeless.

Historian Ann Taylor Boutwell is a docent at the Margaret Mitchell House & Museum. Contact her at annboutwell@bellsouth.net.

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Atlanta Public Schools’ new superintendent, Dr. Meria Carstarphen, arrived at last month’s Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods meeting early to introduce herself individually to each member of the audience.

“Hi, I’m Meria,” she said, extending her hand and offering an easy smile to parents and community members.

She’s probably already tired of being called a “breath of fresh air,” but Carstarphen’s combination of friendliness and frankness is a refreshing change of tone and demeanor after years of the old guard that aided in ruining APS’s reputation after the cheating scandal, which is still playing out in Atlanta’s courtrooms.

As the new and very public face of APS, Carstarphen knows she has a mountain to climb in restoring faith in the school system. Her turnaround of the Austin, Tx. school district – in attendance numbers, innovative programs, graduation rates – has given Carstarphen the surely unwanted moniker of “savior” of APS. But the Selma, Ala. native has been lauded for her track record in Austin, St. Paul, Minn. and Washington DC, while

also gaining a reputation – if you believe all the press accounts – for her demanding and sometimes confrontational style of leadership.

“Austin was gracious enough to understand the challenges facing APS and let me come out early,” Carstarphen said about her arrival this past spring in Atlanta.

Although she didn’t officially begin work until July, Carstarphen was given full access to APS, had meetings with outgoing interim Superintendent Erroll Davis, a retreat with the Atlanta School Board, zeroed in on the district’s most pressing issues and also started pressing the flesh by showing up at schools and meetings around the city.

Before opening day on Aug. 4, Carstarphen was also dealing with transportation, hiring, vendors, safety, security and a laundry list of other issues that needed quick solutions. “We wanted to open this school year with more cohesiveness and less craziness,” she said. “That’s part of building trust back with the community.”

One of her top priorities was hiring new principals since there was a two-thirds turnover in school leadership. Carstarphen was candid about the sorry state of hiring when it came to principals at APS.

“We brought more rigor to the principal selection process,” she said, “because it was

clear that background checks hadn’t been performed and there was a disconnect between finding principals that had vision and direction for the school we were hiring them to lead. There was this looseness about hiring and accountability. Those days are over.”

With principals in place, Carstarphen said the dismal job APS had done in the past of recruiting teachers early would also be a thing of the past. “This has been a problem that has plagued APS,” she said. “We’re going to begin looking for teachers early in the year instead of a month before school starts.”

Carstarphen was also able to shake loose money to hire more teachers over the summer so that when classes resumed on Aug. 4 there were only a handful of openings left. Rather than hire unqualified teachers, Carstarphen frankly said there were longterm substitutes who were better qualified than some of the teaching candidates, so those subs would be in place until more talented teachers could be found.

“This might have been the smoothest opening day APS has had in a long time,” Carstarphen said. “We had so few calls about concerns and issues that I thought our phone system was broken.”

While there are many short-term fixes

that need to be made, Carstarphen is also looking ahead. While fielding questions from the audience, she again spoke candidly about her opinions and feelings on everything from early learning and charter schools to high stakes testing and classroom size.

It’s widely known that Carstarphen is a firm supporter of early learning, but she said funding and a commitment from the state and community would be big factors in expanding the opportunities. One potential funding source: the Georgia Lottery.

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen speaks.

CRADLE-TO-COLLEGE Drew Charter School expansion looks to future

When school resumed last month, students at the new Charles R. Drew Charter School Junior and Senior Academy got their first look at sparkling new buildings and facilities.

The new Charlie Yates Campus in the East Lake neighborhood allows the Drew Charter School to expand to include high school grades, completing the school’s “cradle-tocollege” education mission, a goal since the East Lake Foundation began its work in the community in 1995.

“The Drew community has been dreaming of this day for a long time,” said Don Doran, Head of Drew Charter School. “Drew’s successes can now be extended through the high school years, completing the vision for an educational pipeline in East Lake.”

The new facility, designed by local architecture firm Perkins + Will and built by JE Dunn Construction, is located adjacent to the current Drew Charter Elementary Academy campus on East Lake Boulevard and will ultimately serve 1,000 middle and high school students, bringing Drew’s total student population to almost 2,000 by the 2022-23 school year.

The building is on the former “back nine” holes of the public Charlie Yates Golf Course. Notably, it engages neighborhood residents through creative use of recreational spaces that make the school a center for community. The 205,800-square-foot building includes:

• Flexible learning suites to nurture Drew’s STEAM focus (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics)

• Project-Based Learning labs for each grade level

• State-of-the-art science, engineering and design labs

• Integrated performing and visual arts studios

• 525-seat performing arts center serving students and the community

• Two gymnasiums and a full-size track and field for athletics and community wellness

• The building is projected to earn LEED Gold certification

“Possibility takes place, and we are creating infinite possibilities for our students and community with the addition of the Drew Charter School Junior and Senior Academy,” said Daniel J. Shoy, Jr., president, East Lake Foundation. “The Drew Charter Senior Academy will prepare our students for college and life. Higher education breaks the intergenerational cycle of poverty, and a high-quality, seamless cradle-to-college pipeline is an essential component for East Lake to sustain the success of its revitalization.”

Drew Charter School opened in 2000 as Atlanta’s first charter school. Over the last 14 years, Drew has made great strides in improving academic outcomes as well as providing students with access to arts, technology, sports and other co-curricular experiences.

Students returned to Drew Charter School last month to find new buildings and educational opportunities.

IN SESSION

Blank Family Upper School opens at Pace Academy

Arthur Blank wielded a sword on Aug. 18 to cut the ribbon on Pace Academy’s new $32 million Blank Family Upper School. More than 150 Pace supporters, including Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, gathered at the school’s West Paces Ferry Road campus for the opening of the 75,000-squarefoot building, which includes classrooms, a library and science labs.

“It’s magnificent,” Blank said. “But what’s most magnificent is what happens inside for our young folks. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

In the top photo, Blank, who co-founded Home Depot and now owns the Atlanta Falcons, was joined for the ribbon-cutting by, left to right, Tim Walsh, former chairman of the Pace board; Robert Sheft, co-chair of fundraising campaign for the upper school building and current board chair; Elizabeth Richards, co-chair of the fundraising campaign; and Fred Assaf, head of school.

– Joe Earle

Photos Courtesy Pace Academy

3984 Foxglove Road

ROBIN MEADOW | $259,900

Updated 5BR/3BA with open floor plan & four sides brick.

Craig Mihaly ● (404) 234-9098

Luxury experience at every price.

under contract

under contract

471 Pine Tree Drive

GARDEN HILLS | $670,000

3BR/2BA renovated hilltop bungalow with an extra large landscaped lot.

Rodney Hinote ● (404) 786-9562

1158 Virginia Avenue

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND | $499,900 Duplex with two 2BR/1BA units in the heart of Virginia Highland.

Keating & Craig ● (404) 966-3949

1024 Clairemont Avenue

DECATUR | $725,000

1910 3BR/2BA, huge lot, two story garage, City of Decatur schools.

Diane Aiken ● (404) 819-4619

sold

Lot 4 Alma Street

ALMA | $350,000 3BD/3BA cottage modern homes. www.ModernAlma.com.

Butch Whitfield ● (770) 630-6668

under contract

2811 Hawthorne Drive

BRIARMOOR MANOR | $625,000

Entertaining dream home near Emory & CDC with 5BR/5.5BA.

Barbara Giardina ● (404) 564-5560

1270 Monroe Drive

MORNINGSIDE | $579,000

3BD/2BA renovated intown retreat between Pied. Park & Amsterdam Walk.

Butch Whitfield ● (770) 630-6668

115 W. Peachtree Place #605

CENTENNIAL HOUSE | $135,900

1BR/1BA loft convenient to GA State. Amenities include concierge & fitness.

Brenda Shaw ● (404) 379-4924

128 N. Fourth Avenue OAKHURST | $799,900

4BD/3BA new farmhouse revival home on cul-de-sac.

Butch Whitfield ● (770) 630-6668

sold

871 Penn Avenue

MIDTOWN | $639,000

Midtown 3BR/2BA bungalow with sleek kitchen & new master bath.

Rodney Hinote ● (404) 786-9562

under contract

sold

Metropolis METROPOLIS | $179,900-$244,900

Four units available. City views, salt water pool, concierge, fitness center.

Ashley J. Webb ● (770) 653-6517

3102 Kingscliff Way

KINGSCLIFF LAKE | $949,000 6BR/6.5BA lakefront beauty with gourmet kitchen & vaulted family room.

Rodney Hinote ● (404) 786-9562

Lofts of Belvedere

THE BELVEDERE | $190,000-$219,900

Easy access to Piedmont Park, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, & The Beltline. Sherry Hoger ● (404) 921-9510

HARRY NORMAN, REALTORS ® the intown office

Mike Wright, Sr. VP/Managing Broker

1531 Piedmont Avenue NE • Suite B Atlanta, GA 30324

715 Wildwood Place

MORNINGSIDE | $724,900

Beautifully renovated 4BR/3BA with hardwoods & beautiful backyard.

Rob Vogel ● (404) 281-7295

3387 Glenrose Point

GLENROSE | $274,900

Two story 4BR/2.5BA in Lakeside High district with huge master suite.

Michael Hoskin ● (678) 428-8737

Plaza Midtown

PLAZA MIDTOWN | $289,900-$349,900

Six 2BR/2BA units avail. Amenities include concierge, pool, & fitness.

Todd Hale ● (404) 822-0230

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Georgia Tech students fight hunger and food waste

By Clare S. Richie

e Campus Kitchen at Georgia Tech, a student-run organization that transforms surplus food from oncampus restaurants into healthy meals for Atlantans in need, is set to resume operations this month.

It’s part of e Campus Kitchens Project national network, which operates on 36 campuses including football rival University of Georgia. Since the network’s 2001 start, student volunteers recovered 3.7 million pounds of food and prepared 2.2 million meals.

“We are delighted that the Campus Kitchen at Georgia Tech is part of our growing national network,” said Laura Toscano, director of the project. “Georgia Tech students now have the opportunity to ght both hunger and food waste in Atlanta, while developing valuable leadership skills.”

It was the dedication of students, Sophia Rashid and Olivia Pan, over a two-year period that helped bring the Campus Kitchen to Georgia Tech. Today the two serve as student organization o cers, responsible for recruiting student volunteers to sta the kitchen. Grant Grimes, a dining services student intern when the planning started, also played a key role. Today post-graduation he is employed by dining services as a sustainability coordinator to provide oversight to the kitchen.

A er more than two years of planning among four university departments, student leaders, Sodexo, the local community, and the national nonpro t– it was a video competition last January that brought the project over the nish line. In just three weeks, Georgia Tech produced a video explaining why their community would bene t from a Campus Kitchen. e video captured the attention of the entire campus, receiving 5,000 votes from students and sta and winning $5,000 to help launch operations last spring.

e Campus Kitchen at Georgia Tech has capacity to collect le over food from on-campus restaurants and food courts. By working with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, students also help identify food recipient partners like the Atlanta Mission.

“Due to the size of our operation at Georgia Tech, we can provide hundreds of meals per week to local shelters at no cost to them. We hope our kitchen will encourage the Georgia Tech population to become more involved in their community and help ful ll our motto of ‘progress and service,’” said Grant Grimes, Dining Services Sustainability Coordinator.

You can join the movement by referring an organization in need of meals or by making a donation. Contact Grant Grimes at grant.grimes@sodexo. com for more info.

Student leaders, Sodexo staff, and Tech administration join together to celebrate the opening of the Campus Kitchen at Georgia Tech.

TimmyDaddy

By Tim Sullivan

Who knew Pre-K could be so hard?

Margo started Pre-K this year at College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center in Decatur, so things just got real. Time to step up our game! Her teacher called me a few days before school started to ask me a few pertinent questions:

Teacher: Will Margo have breakfast at school or at home?

Me: I think we’re going to shoot for school. You know, get the day going early, fuel up, beat the rush… Honestly though, we’re really unsure of how we’re ever going to get this kid to school on time. That’s a big worry of ours. She has one speed, Margo-speed, and 8 a.m. is errr-lee! So, actually, let’s switch that and say she’ll eat at home.

Teacher: Ok, then. Will she be picked up in the afternoon or will she be going to aftercare?

Me: Well, at first she will be picked up by a babysitter – Amanda something or other. My wife set it up. That will be for a couple of weeks until Grandma Patty can get down here from New Jersey after cataract surgery. Then Grandma will pick up for a month or so until Margo turns five and then she’ll be eligible to take the shuttle bus to Camp Scene. Phew!

Teacher: It’s really best to stick with one pickup plan.

Me: I bet!

Email sent after Day 1: Dear Teacher, Margo had a great first day! Except for the pickup part. That really freaked her out. Margo says she wants to be picked up by one of us, so I’ll pick her up tomorrow. Maybe Amanda what’s her name can run the rug shop for me…heh, heh.

Carpool is a monster lineup like Aerosmith was playing the jungle gym or something. Is President Obama here again? I look down the street. I could easily just drive down there, pull over and park for one minute to get her. Is that cool? Better not. Last thing I need are a bunch of annoyed PTA-types whipping Gogurt at my car.

I stay in line and inch forward. It’s taking forever! It is 90 degrees out and Margo’s second biggest complaint was that it took so long to get picked up. School staffer sees my carpool number and instructs me to stay in the left lane. I fork left but then see Margo over far right. I park haphazardly and run over.

Me: Hey Sweetie! How was school?

Margo (angry): Dad-deee! You were supposed to pick me up right

here. I told you!

Me: Yeah, but that line was crazylong.

Teacher: So, should I switch Margo to a walker now?

Me: What? Oh no, I’m driving. That’s my minivan right there.

Teacher: Yes, but you aren’t supposed to park there. My suggestion is that if the carpool line is too slow then you should park on the street and walk up. I can change you to a walker right now. Do you happen to have a pen?

Me: Sure! Here you go. I’m not sure what Grandma will want to do though, that’s a pretty big hill ya know? But I’m picking up tomorrow anyway so go ahead and change her to a walker for now.

Teacher (crossing out a crossout and writing furiously): Again, it’s really best to have a consistent pickup plan.

Me: It sure is! Can I have my pen back?

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

Photo by Tim Sullivan

Margo is ready for Pre-K.

New Superintendent Carstarphen’s vision for Atlanta’s schools

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

“We are looking at how to do it for APS, but I think it could expand statewide,” she stated. “We need a commitment from the Georgia Legislature on expanding early childhood education and we need parents locally and across Georgia to get behind it.” As for charter schools, the new superintendent said the conversation should center more on parent choice.

“Parents know more than the teachers or board or superintendent about what their child needs,” she commented. “We live in a democracy, so we need to o er alternatives and choices and charter schools are just one of those.”

She was adamant that charter schools should not be where you “escape” when one of the traditional public schools isn’t performing as well as it should. Carstarphen also wants to set up advisory councils and oversight committees to give parents and the community more of a voice in the district.

Carstarphen isn’t a fan of so-called high stakes testing, calling it demoralizing and limiting the education process. When asked about the low math rates on the End of Course Testing (EOCT) that Georgia’s ninth through 12th graders must take, Carstarphen – in another instance of complete openness –said she didn’t have the answer yet.

“We know there needs to be more rigor in the classroom to get results, but we’re not even

sure what that rigor is, and neither do the teachers. We have no model for it. I need time to gure it out.”

Carstarphen turned the conversation about classroom size back to the need for recruiting the best teachers. She believes that there should be smaller classrooms for early grades, but once students move to middle and high school, having a quality teacher in the classroom is more important than class size.

Carstarphen closed the meeting by addressing the divide of north and south in the district. ere’s an o en unspoken opinion that the schools in north Atlanta are better than the ones in the south, and the new superintendent is not having it. She faced a similar racial and socioeconomic divide between east and west schools in Austin school district and worked hard to erase those invisible barrier lines.

“ ere’s a lot of misunderstanding and judgment about north and south in APS – a tension that shouldn’t exist,” Carstarphen said. “ e district will never be as great as it can be until we make thoughtful decisions so that all families are equal.”

She said APS should feel like a system and not individual schools.

“We need to embrace a fully-functioning school system,” Carstarphen said. “We are all APS, and what we have to ask ourselves is how do we make the entire system strong.”

New Catholic high school opens

e newly opened Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School in Midtown started o the school year with a “dra .” Nearly 160 ninth-graders at the school are taking part in the Corporate Work Study Program, which pairs up students with top Atlanta businesses for an entry-level job within the country for the entire school year.

Representatives from 40 businesses, including e CocaCola Company, Cox Communications, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot and UPS,were at the school for “dra day” on Aug. 15. Teams of four students were selected by each company and given a company t-shirt, hat and photo with the company executive.

e Corporate Work Study Program is a core component of the Cristo Rey model, allowing each student to work ve full days a month in a corporate work setting, in addition to carrying a full load of classes. Earnings from the Work Study Program pay for the majority of students’ education costs, and students also gain invaluable

experience and mentorship by college-educated adults. e students’ con dence grows because of their success on the job, and they begin to believe in their own potential.

“Like in professional sports, our ‘dra day’ is a time of excitement, and beginnings that are full of promise,” said Bill Garrett, President of Cristo Rey Atlanta. “ rough working with these wonderful corporate partners, our students will learn workplace skills, gain job experience, and make valuable connections with other professionals.”

Students began a two-week training program for their corporate jobs on at the school’s Business Training Institute on the rst day of school, learning computer and other workplace skills in preparation for their placement with an Atlanta business.

For more information about Cristo Rey, visit CristoReyAtlanta.org.

Special

Students meet with company executives during “Draft Day” at Cristo Rey High School.

NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN

Each January, we feature students from Intown’s public schools, private schools and colleges who have given back to their community in a signi cant way. Over the last six years, we’ve featured students who have created their own nonpro ts, have given up summer vacation to work domestically and abroad

to help the less fortunate and one even helped build a library by collecting books.

e 7th annual 20 Under 20 will appear in our January 2015 issue and we are now seeking nominations of students ages 19 and younger who have committed themselves to service to the community.

Nominations are welcome from teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, siblings, fellow students or community leaders. Here’s the information we need:

• Nominator (name, relationship to nominee and contact information)

• Nominee (Name, age, grade, school, parent or guardian names, contact information)

• Characteristics and service: Please provide a paragraph describing why this nominee deserves recognition. Include service projects, goals, interests and areas of interest to help illustrate your point.

e deadline for nominations is Oct. 31. Please email your nominations to editor Collin Kelley at collin@ atlantaintownpaper.com.

Which Test: SAT or ACT?

As founder of Applerouth Tutoring, I often help parents navigate the complicated world of college admissions testing. Parents know the ACT is an alternative to the SAT, but they often do not know how to help their student choose between the two tests. Recently announced changes to the tests have contributed to the uncertainty.

Students tend to feel more comfortable with one test format over the other. Over the past thirteen years, I’ve seen time and time again how that extra comfort can translate into a significantly higher score to send to colleges. It’s important to make as informed a decision as possible about your student’s test preparation.

Making an Informed Decision

Students become familiar with the SAT format when they take the PSAT in 10th grade, but not all students take the ACT equivalents, the PLAN/ ASPIRE. Parents often ask me how they can use just a PSAT score to make this important decision.

The easiest way to make this decision is to have your student take a mock ACT so that they can compare their PSAT/SAT score equivalents to the ACT scores in order to make the best choice. If it’s been a year or more since they last took the SAT, they may additionally want to sit for a mock SAT test. Compare your student’s percentile rankings on the two tests, and then put your energy into the test your student more naturally excels at.

There is zero risk and a lot of benefit to using meaningful data to make the right decision early on because when students find out early which test is a better fit, they can avoid a lot of unnecessary stress and frustration down the road!

Find Out More

You can speak with me and learn more about these tests, including the “new” SAT, at one of our upcoming FREE EVERYTHING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SEMINARS:

October 4th

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Roam Dunwoody

Atlanta, GA 30338

October 25th

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Second Ponce Baptist Church

Atlanta, GA 30305

October 22nd

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Wyndham Powers Ferry

Atlanta, GA 30339

To view more information about locations or to preregister, go to applerouth.com/calendar or call 404-728-0661.

Summer Shade Festival 2014

It was a beautiful weekend for the annual Grant Park Summer Shade Festival on Aug. 23 and 24. Our photographer stopped by the park to snap the photos you see here.

Top left, Abigail Thompson with sister Virginia Thompson. At right, Chris Neuenschwander of Noosh Studios with his hand carved block printing t-shirt designs.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Top left, Thompson Galetovic (L) and Hugh Green (R). Right, sisters Lauren Wiggins (L) and Audrey Wiggins (R). At left, artist Joseph Busch with his artwork.

Well-known business family opens

By Kathy Dean

A new fitness concept has been brought to Buckhead by a family long associated with business in Atlanta.

Moss Robertson and his wife, Dr. Tricia Robertson, opened the Buckhead location of The Exercise Coach in February, while Robertson’s daughter, Katie Sanders, and her husband, Jason, opened a second location in Johns Creek in May. If the names sound familiar, there’s a good reason. They are active members of the well-established and highly respected Boomershine family that has sold automobiles to Atlanta families as far back as 1929.

“While selling cars was wonderful, and a muchneeded service, we’re blessed as a family to become franchise owners of The Exercise Coach,” Sanders said. “It’s been a life changing experience for all of us…and our clients tell us that it’s life changing for them, too.”

For 31 years, Robertson ran Moss Robertson CadillacMazda in Gainesville. He considered retirement after selling the dealership, but said that upon discovering The Exercise Coach, “it really energized me thinking about going into the future in the health and fitness field.”

The Exercise Coach has become a positive quality of life change for the Robertson and Sanders families. They’re excited to be working together to help individuals in their community find better health.

Sanders listed out some of the major points that urged the entrepreneurial family to take on their new venture. Each studio serves up to 150 members and features special exercise equipment that conforms to the

strength level of the individual, offering both protection and challenges. The machines, available only through The Exercise Coach, adapt to the individual.

She explained that The Exercise Coach is for people of all ages and fitness levels, but especially for people who don’t like to exercise, who don’t like the gym scene, who are injured or concerned about injuries, and – most importantly – who don’t have the time to exercise.

“These days, everyone is busy. No one has the time to dedicate 45 minutes to an hour a day to exercise,” added Robertson. “And they don’t have to. With The Exercise Coach, clients participate in two 20-minute intense training workouts each week – and they’re done. That’s

all it takes for them to get fit and strong.”

Another critical key to the program’s success is the one-on-one coaching. For the entire 20-minute workout, a coach oversees the client’s workout, encouraging and supporting them. The reason the program works so well is that every time a client comes in, they push their muscles to the point of fatigue so the muscles break down. Then the muscles are allowed to build back up so clients get the full benefit of the intense workouts.

“The most important aspect of The Exercise Coach is the relationships we build with our clients,” Sanders stated. “It’s those relationships that make the difference. We consult with our clients and discuss their goals, measure their progress and help them reach their goals.”

With the rise of obesity and diabetes in the US, exercise and diet have become important to everyone. Sanders reported that most clients want to lose weight, and The Exercise Coach helps them do that because when a person’s muscles are strong and healthy, their metabolism is more efficient.

The Exercise Coach requires no gym fees or longterm contracts. Clients join and pay month-to-month at a rate that is about one-third the cost of personal training in Atlanta.

“I tell people to try it for a month, and if it doesn’t work for them, they shouldn’t continue,” Sanders said. “But people see the improvements in how they look and feel, and they stick with it! Our clients are motivated and held accountable, and it doesn’t take long for them to see real positive quality of life changes.”

Photo by Isadora Pennington Head Coach Mark Grable, left, leads a workout.

ARC report: Population grows as economic recovery continues

By Collin Kelley

According to the latest Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) population estimates, the 10-county Atlanta region added some 52,700 people between April 1, 2013 and April 1, 2014. While not as robust as growth during the boom years of the 1990s and early 2000s, this growth is greater than last year’s, and puts the region’s total population at 4,272,300, a number that is larger than the populations of 24 states.

“The Atlanta region’s job growth is on the rise,” said Mike Alexander, manager of ARC’s Research & Analytics Division. “Because the Atlanta region is an attractive place for employers and employees, we tend to attract people from all over the country, creating more in-migration than out-migration.”

Gwinnett County, long a growth leader in the region, grew the fastest at a rate of 1.9 percent. Gwinnett added a total of 11,900 new residents. Fulton County, the largest in metro Atlanta, added the most, with 12,700 new residents, a growth rate of 1.3 percent.

Gwinnett and Fulton’s population increase was followed by Cobb (9,600) and DeKalb (6,300) counties.

All 10 counties experienced growth during the year. Cherokee County added 4,200, Henry County 3,200, Douglas County 1,300, Fayette County 1,300, Rockdale County 1,200 and Clayton County 1,000. The City of Atlanta’s growth trend also continued, with the city adding 4,100 people, driven in large part by new multi-family developments and an influx of young professionals.

Feel Good Again.™

•

•

“More than a third of men aged 45 and over had low

Potential benefits of treatment include:

•

•

•

•

Kroger announced for controversial Glenwood development

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Homeowners’ fears of a Walmart store being built along Glenwood Avenue near the Glenwood Park project have been quelled after it was announced that a Kroger supermarket will become the anchor tenant in a new development.

The rumor that a Walmart would open along the Atlanta BeltLine at the mixed-use center from Fuqua Development has persisted for several years, but was never confirmed or denied until now.

Developer Jeff Fuqua told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he had been negotiating with Walmart, but the big-box retailer had decided to pursue other locations. Fuqua said they were “very close” to an agreement

with the Kroger Corporation to serve as the anchor tenant for the Glenwood project.

In May, it was announced that the Glenwood Avenue project would provide senior housing, a nine-story office building, a five-story residential building with ground floor retail and a lot for food trucks.

The big-box retail store would be hidden from Glenwood Avenue by the residential and street front retail. The property, currently the site of a concrete plant is near the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Bill Kennedy Way.

The compromise should spell the end of a lawsuit filed by Fuqua and the property owner after the Atlanta City Council voted last year to retroactively rezone the property to prevent a bigbox retail store from being built on the site.

Special

This tentative plan for the Glennwood Avenue development along the Atlanta BeltLine shows retail, office space, resdential and a big box store space for a Kroger Supermarket. A Walmart store was originally envisioned for the property.

Business Briefs

MBIKES, an Atlantabased based designer and producer of single speed, fixed-gear bicycles, has officially launched its business. Crafted for urban transit and featuring a simplified, retro design, MBIKES are for sale at Peachtree Bikes in Buckhead, Gear Revival on the Westside and Paris on Ponce on the BeltLine. The bikes are also available at mbikesusa.com.

The Kroger shopping center at 725 Ponce de Leon Ave. will soon have a bike/ pedestrian ramp to the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail. The new connector will coincide with exterior upgrades to the 30-year-old supermarket and its parking lot. Along with the ramp, Kroger is also installing bike racks, a bike repair station, new curbs and sidewalks (including paved sidewalk access to Ponce), new trees and landscaping, a “water quality pond” in the parking lot to filter runoff, new LED parking lot lighting and repaving the front and back parking lots. Construction is expected to be complete in November. The store itself, which originally opened in 1984, will get a new paint job, new lights and signage to reflect the recent interior upgrade completed in March.

A second Feather Baby (featherbaby.com) retail store is now open in Buckhead at 3096 Roswell Road. Made from Peruvian pima at a small factory in Lima, the handmade baby and toddler clothing is made to be handed down to siblings, family and friends. There is also a Feather Baby store in Decatur.

The McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority (MILRA) board approved a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding on the sale of part of Fort McPherson in southwest Atlanta to Tyler Perry Studios. The tentative $30 million agreement will allow Tyler Perry Studios to expand its production operations on 330 acres of the property, while allowing MILRA to retain over 144 acres for economic development purposes. No city funds would be used to close the transaction. Tyler Perry Studios will build 15 or 16 sound stages on the decommissioned Army base, which is expected to add over 8,000 new jobs to Atlanta, including the relocation of 350 jobs. Additional green space, new streetscapes and transit improvements are also being negotiated. Shortly after the announcement, another studio, Ubiquitous Entertainment, filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the sale to Perry stating that it had been negotiating for more than three years to build on the site.

Salesforce.com, the cloud computing and customer relationship management company, has moved into expanded offices at Atlanta Plaza in Buckhead. Salesforce.com now occupies the top two floors of the 34-story building and offers its employees sit or stand desks, treadmill desks and scooters to zip to and from meetings.

Brown & Company Jewelers is marking 40 years in business. The jewelry store has locations in Buckhead and Roswell. The Buckhead location, which opened just five years ago, is getting remodeled and unveiling two brand new watch boutiques: Rolex and Breitling.

Gerald Thomas, a partner at Morris, Manning & Martin in Buckhead, has received the National Bar Association’s 2014 Tax Leadership Award. The executive board of the NBA’s Tax section annually chooses an attorney who is proficient in tax law, mentors and encourages minorities to consider tax as a specialty, and has outstanding moral character.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) will host a celebration honoring architect John C. Portman, Jr. for his contributions to MODA during its early history. The event will be held Sept. 4 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The rankings of the 25 Design Achievements voted on by the public will also be revealed exclusively to event attendees during the celebration. Tickets are $75 and are available at museumofdesign.org or by calling (404) 979-6455. Gerald Thomas

Reason #1: Exceptional Patient Satisfaction

Greening Buckhead Atlanta

Local media got a chance to go behind the construction fences at Buckhead Atlanta last month to see the hive of activity taking place in the run-up to the opening of its first shops and restaurants in mid-September. Developer OliverMcMillan is spending a whopping $10 million on landscaping for the live/work/ play mecca that stands in the heart of Buckhead Village. Workers were busy with landscaping, including the creation of colorful flower beds and the arrival of the first of four 35-foot tall oak trees being planted around the property. The first tenants at the Buckhead Atlanta development set to open on Sept. 18 include Brunello Cucinelli, Canali, diptyque, Hermès, L’Occitane, Moncler, Scoop NYC, theory and Warby Parker. Restaurants planning to open include Corso Coffee, Gypsy Kitchen, Shake Shack and Thirteen Pies.

Photos by Phil Mosier

EDIBLE GARDENS

Growing your own food is nutritious, thrifty and green

By Beth Clark

Remember that moment in the movie Clueless when Cher Horowitz reaches out of her window and plucks a lemon from a tree for her tea? As laughable as a reference to that ‘90s hit movie may sound, the truth is most of us would love to have that kind of relationship with our food: fresh, within arm’s reach, flavorful and free of charge.

Well, you can have that kind of experience by creating an edible garden.

The farm-to-table movement isn't just for restaurants; it's an experience you can have at home. Indeed, some of the food on your table could come from your farm. Does that seem a little farfetched? Jason Starnes and Moe Hemmings believe that creating an edible garden at your home is easier than you think.

Hemmings is a senior horticulturist at the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG), and Starnes is the executive chef at Sundial Restaurant at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Downtown. What do these two have in common? The ABG has teamed up with influential chefs around Atlanta, like Starnes, to host the demonstration series Fresh Plates and the Well-Seasoned Chef, aimed to both feed you and change the way you relate to food.

Harvesting in-season vegetables and fruits from ABG's 11,520 square foot edible garden, these four-course events take place throughout the summer and fall, and offer an intimate chance to watch and interact with chefs as they prepare creative dishes for you. You soon come to realize how much of the meal was grown a mere few feet away.

Edible gardens focus on plants of all kinds that you can eat: examples include herbs like rosemary and basil, vegetables like peppers and kale, bushes of raspberries and muscadines, and trees like persimmon and fig. If you want to start your own garden, here are a few tips from Starnes and Hemmings:

• Start small. Consider your time and space available and then select edibles that fit what you are able to take on.

Eco-Briefs

The Blue Heron Nature Preserve will host Second Saturday Safari: Identifying Amphibian Species in Metro Atlanta on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at the preserve in Buckhead, 4055 Roswell Road. RSVP to (678) 315-0836. The cost is $10 per person, and registration forms are available at bhnp.org.

Mark Mandica from the Atlanta Botanical Garden will help visitors spot the local amphibians, plus there will be a chance to learn about volunteer opportunities with the new Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program. Anyone interested in frogs and salamanders, and learning how to identify frogs by call is encouraged to attend.

Tailgate for Trees will be held on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Trees Atlanta Kendeda Center, 225 Chester Ave. SE. At the event, you will find your favorite tailgating activities, catering by Ibiza Bites, and silent auction featuring rare and unusual plants and trees. The auction will also feature woodcrafts and art pieces by local artist. Tickets are $50 for individuals.

• Grow what you'll eat. Don’t grow radishes if you hate them.

• Get creative with recipes. Harvest your edibles for pasta dishes, smoothies, ice cream, sauces – whatever you can think of!

Special

The benefits to your nutrition, budget and stress levels – not to mention cooking skills – could be huge. And think of how enjoyable it will be to have friends over for a dinner filled with ingredients lovingly grown by you.

For more about the edible gardens demonstration series, visit AtlantaBotanicalGarden.org.

Beth Clark is a writer and dancer living in Atlanta. Curiosity is her compass, and this city has irrevocably stolen her heart. Find more of her explorations at thecitydweller.me.

The Atlanta Audubon Society (AAS) will host its annual Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Tour on Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tour will feature five properties located along an 18.5-mile route between Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake. Tickets may be purchased online at AtlantaAudubon.org. Tickets are $15 for AAS members and $20 for non-members. The tour is free for children aged 12 and under accompanied by a paying adult. Once purchased online, you can pick up your tickets at any of the sites you visit. You can also purchase tickets the day of the tour at any of the tour sites. All proceeds will support the education and conservation efforts of Atlanta Audubon Society.

Park Pride will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with The Picnic for Parks in Historic Fourth Ward Park on Sept. 18. The Picnic will commemorate all the corporate partners, volunteers, funders, and community members that have been allies to both Park Pride and to Atlanta’s greenspace since 1989. Join Honorary Co-Chairs, Frank and Liz Blake and Michael and Lovette Russell as we enjoy a Southern Picnic Supper by Chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holman and Finch Public House. Tickets are on sale now at parkpride.org.

Jason Starnes, executive chef at The Sun Dial Restaurant examines the Edible Garden’s herb wall at the Atlanta Botanical Garden during a scouting trip to prepare for the Well-Seasoned Chef Series. The series – which runs through Oct. 21 – features local chefs who prepare a four-part tasting at the Outdoor Kitchen using items freshly-harvested from the Edible Garden.

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine returns this fall for its fifth year and will feature nearly 100 works of visual and performing art from Sept. 6 through Nov. 15. Selected installations include works of sculpture, dance, murals, theater, outdoor concerts, parades, performance art and more to be featured along the paved and interim trails of the BeltLine.

The exhibition kicks off with Lantern Parade on Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Thousands will line up along the BeltLine between Irwin Street and DeKalb Avenue, where a tailgate party will also be going on. The parade will step off at 8:30 p.m. with The Seed & Feed Marching Abominables leading the way. Along the 2-mile route to Piedmont Park, more people and music will join in including the Black Sheep Ensemble, Mausuki Scales & Common Ground Collective and Wasted Potential Brass Band.

The full schedule of performers and events for the run of Art on the BeltLine hadn’t been released at press time, so visit art.beltline.org to find out everything happening for this year’s event.

Clockwise from top: “A Resting Place” mural by Kyle Brooks; “Moving Elements” by Ana Maria Paramos; residents take part in the Lantern Parade along the Eastside Trail; “Dual Nature” by Cecilia Lueza.

Photos by Kwadwo Atta/ Atlanta BeltLine

LIGHTS, ACTION, EAT!

Monthly mixer connects local film industry

By Beth Clark

For those of you wanting to enter Atlanta’s booming film industry, networking events like Eat, Drink, & B-Indie should be on your monthly calendar.

Hosted by the Atlanta Film Festival and sponsored by Stella Artois, this casual monthly mixer is free and offers spirited discussion with Atlanta and Georgia filmmakers on trending industry topics. The mixer is held at Manuel’s Tavern, 602 North Highland Ave., on the third Tuesday of every month from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The event includes panel discussions, guest speakers, and new film equipment demonstrations, as well as opportunities to network and make connections.

Last month’s Eat, Drink & B-Indie was well attended, as evidenced by the packed room at Manuel’s. The fact that entrance is free and there’s complimentary beer to the first 40 attendees doesn’t hurt either.

But it’s more than just beer and a full menu at Manuel’s. Eat, Drink, & B-Indie is educational, even if you’re already entrenched in the industry. For instance, it would be too big a task to attempt to educate everyone on all the ins and outs of being a film director, but Eat, Drink, & B-Indie invites a working director to an event to answer audience questions and provide insight. This kind of access to working industry professionals is what you’d expect to find at an annual festival, but at the mixer you could get it every month. For free.

August’s Eat, Drink, & B-Indie was technical, focusing on the tools that cinematographers use to create moving shots with cameras by using a wheelchair,

skateboard, helicopter or even a drone.

Discussing such niche topics benefits the entire filmmaking process; by learning about the advancing drone technology, for example, indie filmmakers can create aerial shots that previously required an expensive crane or helicopter to achieve. Panelists Nolan Lunsford and Brent Bouthiller even brought one of the “Octocopters” they designed with their company, Unmanned Imaging, to show the audience.

Half the fun of Eat, Drink, & B-Indie is striking up conversation with the person sitting next to you. You never know if they’ve got just the skills you need to complete your film or partner for a game-changing invention. So show up, be social, ask questions, and share what you know.

Check out the Atlanta Film Festival website at atlantafilmfestival.com for upcoming topics and speakers. Arrive early to get a parking space and a seat at the event, because it fills up quickly.

Nolan Lunsford shows the “Octocopters” to writer Beth Clark at last month’s mixer at Manuel’s Tavern.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Poet Trethewey’s ‘Native Guard’ premieres at Alliance

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

How do you take a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of personal and historical poetry and turn it into a theatrical event?

The Alliance Theatre’s Artistic Director Susan V. Booth thinks she has the answer, and the results will premiere on the Hertz Stage this month as former U.S. Poet Laureate and Decatur resident Natasha Trethewey’s Native Guard transitions from page to stage.

“First of all, I want people to know we are not deconstructing poetic form and reconstructing it as theatrical play,” Booth said. “Form is an important part of Natasha’s work - there’s a structural elegance in each individual poem. The last thing I wanted to do was damage that structural integrity.”

Trethewey’s lauded collection is an elegiac series of poems about her mother, racial strife in the Deep South and a connecting thread about the Louisiana Native Guards, one of the first black regiments pressed into service during the Civil War.

Booth said the challenge of the production was to create an environment so the poems could be experienced by more of the senses including musically and visually, so the performances are more than just a reading of the work divvied up between actors.

To achieve that goal, Booth and her team worked with photographer John Burger, filmmaker Adam Larson and have picked a soundtrack of music – including Nina Simone, which is referenced in the work – to make the poems come alive.

Booth described herself as an “obsessive reader of poetry” and said she was blown away by the “velocity and dramatic narrative arc” of Trethewey’s work.

“I met Natasha at a dinner party hosted by [WABE host] Lois Reitzes and I just went there - I asked her if she had ever considered her poetry living on the stage,” Booth recalled.

Booth said the Hertz Stage space will look completely different for the production. A memorial wall that will give the audience a chance to write messages to departed loved ones is part of the experience.

“I want the audience to encounter words, images and music as soon as they walk into the space,” she said. “I’m not interested in having actors on a stage with the audience at a remove.”

After each show, there will be a

guest facilitator to start discussion with the audience on how the work resonated during that specific performance.

Booth is also up front about her agenda behind Native Guard: “I intentionally want people to come and hear poetry. That’s the intent by design.”

Native Guard will run Sept. 26 to Oct. 19 on the Hertz Stage of the Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff Arts Center. For tickets and more details, visit alliancetheatre.org.

special

Natasha Trethewey

THE BIG READ IS BACK

Atlantans encouraged to curl up with a good book

Comprehensive Women’s Health

Lynley S. Durre , M.D.

The Atlanta History Center and Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System are teaming up to present The Big Read, a campaign to get adults (and kids) reading, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

This year’s book will be Luis Alberto Urrea’s Into the Beautiful North, and there will be related programs in September and October including a keynote address by the author on Sept. 17, 7p.m. at the Atlanta History Center.

In conjunction, younger readers are encouraged to participate in The Little Read with I Love Saturdays y domingos by Alma Flor Ada, while middle school ages can read Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan.

For a complete calendar of events, visit AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/BigRead.

Obiamaka Mora, M.D.

State of the art Pelvic & Bladder Surgeries

Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

daVinci Robotic Surgery

Bio Identical Hormone erapy

Services offered

»Incontinence Testing & Treatment

»Abnormal Bleeding Treatment

»Annual Exams & Contraception

» Nutrient Deficiency Screening & Counseling

» Saliva Testing & Pellet Hormone Therapy

» Plus Aesthetic Services

Great News!

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

Julie Sayers, PA-C

Jessica Guilfoil Killeen, WHNP-BC

Main O ce: Piedmont Hospital Campus 105 Collier Rd NW, Suite 1080 Atlanta, GA 30309 404-352-2850

Satellite O ce: Northside Hospital Campus 960 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 336 Atlanta, GA 30342 404-352-2850

www.mcdanielanddurre .com

Music Midtown

Music Midtown will rock Piedmont Park on Sept. 19-20 with two days of acts including Eminem, Jack White, Zac Brown Band, John Mayer, Lana del Ray, Lorde, Iggy Azalea, Bastille, Run DMC, Gregg Allman, B.o.B, Banks and many more. For tickets and details, visit musicmidtown.com.

Sandy Springs Arts Festival

The 2013 Sandy Springs Festival is Sept. 20-21 on Heritage Green featuring a children’s area, artists market, 10K and 5K races, food, and a pet parade. For more information, visit sandyspringsfestival.com.

Atlanta Arts Festival

Returning to Piedmont Park for its eighth year on Sept. 13-14, the event features a juried show of 200 of the country’s finest painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craftsman, glass blowers and more. The festival will also have live music (including Mudcat, Georgia Flood, Hannah Onley and Today the Moon, Tomorrow The Sun), food and beverages, kids activities and much more. For more information, visit atlantaartsfestival.com.

Wheelbarrow Festival

Organizers cancelled what would have been the 19th annual festival, but expect to return next year. However, the Reynoldstown 5K-Race Through R-Town long associated with the event will go on as planned on Sept. 13 at 8:30 a.m. You can sign up for the race at Active.com.

East Atlanta Strut

Come on out and strut your stuff at the annual music and arts festival held in the heart of East Atlanta Village at the intersection of Glenwood and Float Shoals avenues. This one-day extravaganza will take place on Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Attractions include a market with 100 artists and crafters, live music, a comedy stage, kids village, food and beverages, and the famous Strut Parade, which steps off at 2 p.m. All funds raised will benefit community projects and organizations. For more information or to volunteer, visit eastatlantastrut.com.

Candler Park Fall Fest

The Candler Park Neighborhood Organization presents the 14th annual festival on Sept. 27-28 with live music, local food vendors, 5K race, kids zone, and more than 150 artist booths. A tour of homes will be held on Sunday. Musical acts will include Francine Reed, The Backyard Birds, Guru Fish and more. Find more information at fallfest. candlerpark.org.

404.261.6300 | www.beacham.com

“Consistent Results” In Atlanta’s Intown Neighborhoods

NEW LEASE ON LIFE

WonderRoot to open new art center in former school

Atlanta-based non-profit arts and service organization WonderRoot has reached an agreement with Atlanta Public Schools (APS) to repurpose the former Tech High Charter School building at 1043 Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown for use by artists, performers, students, teachers, families, and the community. Under a 20-year agreement with APS, the 54,000 square foot space will allow WonderRoot to expand on its current resources with a larger Open Access Studio Program, gallery, performance

and community event spaces, dance studio, education space to supplement school programs, offices, as well as a restaurant and community event space. Currently, more than 40 percent of the studios, which are rented at $1.50 per square foot, have been pre-leased by a variety of working artists and organizations. The development, which WonderRoot is set to begin later in the year, will be called the WonderRoot Center for Arts & Social Change. For more, visit wonderroot.org.

The former Tech High Charter School on Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown will become the new home of nonprofit arts group WonderRoot.

Your family’s most comprehensive online guide to arts and cultural entertainment

Visual Arts

American Byway: Selections from U.S. Highway 80: SCAD professor and photography chair Rebecca Nolan documents rural America’s Highway 80, which was made obsolete by the modern freeway, in her latest exhibition at SCAD’s Gallery See. Monday through Friday. Free. scadatlanta.edu

Mark English in Atlanta: Thomas Deans Fine Art exhibits the work of artist and illustrator Mark English, one of the most honored illustrators of the last 50 years and Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame member since 1983. Monday through Saturday. Free. thomasdeansfineart.com

A Visual History of AIGA: 19142014: Andy Warhol, Paul Rand, Saul Bass and Michael Vanderbyl are just a few of the famous talents responsible for the American Institute of Graphic Arts’ groundbreaking designs over the last century. Tuesday through Saturday. $5 to $10. museumofdesign.org

God Spoke the Earth: Stories of Genesis in Prints and Drawings: Albrecht Dürer’s famed 1504 engraving “Adam and Eve” is showcased in this exhibit that explores the stories of Genesis from the first days of creation through the fall of man. Opens September 12. $6 to $8. carlos.emory.edu

Brides of Anansi: Fiber and Contemporary Art: Spelman College Museum of Fine Art uses the idea of a spider (anansi) and its ability to spin silk as a symbol of women of the African Diaspora telling their stories through fiber. Opens September 4. $3. museum.spelman.edu

ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Jon Stewart” and currently produces his own podcast, “Judge John Hodgman.” September 6. $25. facebook.com/

TheGoatFarmArtsCenter

Montana Skies: This guitar and cello fusion duo combines elements of classical technique, jazz improv and the power and energy of rock ‘n’ roll at the Ferst Center’s outdoor amphitheatre. September 11. Free! ferstcenter.gatech.edu

The Protégé: The Jason Marsalis Quartet: Called “a master of the vibes” by older brother Wynton Marsalis, Jason Marsalis brings his vibraphones, bass, drums and piano quartet to Variety Playhouse as part of the National Black Arts Festival. September 11. $20. nbaf.org

Cloth: Choreographer Lauri Stallings collaborates with Atlanta Symphony Conductor Robert Spano, the filmmaking team of Micah and Whitney Stansell, artists and musicians for this gloATL dance performance and exhibition at The Goat Farm Arts Center. September 11 through 14. $10. gloatl.org

The Book as Art: Expanding the Limits: Artists from 20 states, Canada, Israel and Germany reinterpret books as tangible art in this Decatur Arts Alliance juried exhibit at the Art Institute of Atlanta – Decatur Gallery. Closes September 19. Free. decaturartsalliance.org

Performing Arts

Bull Durham: America’s two favorite pastimes – baseball and romance – meet in this world premiere musical based on screenwriter Ron Shelton’s experiences on and off the field with a minor league baseball team. Opens September 3. $30 to $75. alliancetheatre.org

Les Liaisons Dangereuses: Two rivals and ex-lovers play a dangerous game of sexual conquest in pre-revolution France in this play based on the 1782 novel and Oscar-winning film. “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” is a stunning slow burn of

carnal scheming. Opens September 3. $20 to $30. actors-express.com

Asphalt Orchestra: This radical street band brings together some of the most exciting rock, jazz and classical players in New York City, who the New York Times called “12 top-notch brass and percussion players.” September 5. $20. arts.emory.

edu

The Merry Widow: Capitol City Opera Company presents this light-hearted operetta at the Conant Performing Arts Center about a prince from a small kingdom who courts a wealthy widow in order to keep her money in the country. September 5 through 7. $30 to $40. ccityopera.org

John Hodgman: John Hodgman brings his unique brand of situational humor to The Goat Farm’s Erikson Clock. Hodgman is a frequent contributor to “This American Life” and “The Daily Show with

Choral Silver Celebration: The Atlanta Opera opens their season at Emory’s Schwartz Center celebrating Chorus Master Walter Huff’s 25th anniversary. Program includes operatic choral music by Verdi, Mozart, Wagner and Puccini. September 12 and 14. $40. atlantaopera.org

Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend: Elmo, Grover and Abby Cadabby welcome their new friend Chamki to Sesame Street all the way from India in this live stage show about friendship and celebrating cultural similarities. September 12 through 14. $5 to $37. foxtheatre.org

Doxology Ring Shout: A Praise Dance for the Doxy: A National Black Arts Festival commission and world premiere at Spelman College, “Doxology” draws back the curtain on the ring shout tradition through live dance, music and video. September 13 and 14. $5 to $15. nbaf.org

Detroit: Named a Pulitzer Prize finalist and one of The New York Times Top 10 Plays of 2012, “Detroit” is a dangerously funny show about neighbors stuck in a crumbling suburban dream. Opens September 19. $20 to $40. horizontheatre.com

Music Midtown 2014: Atlanta’s music festival returns to Piedmont Park with headliners Eminem, Jack White, Zac Brown Band, John Mayer, Lorde and more than 15 others. September 19 and 20. $125. musicmidtown.com

Shake a Tail Feather with Mother Goose: Tour guide Mary Mary guides young audiences through nursery rhymes as they find clues to lost Mother Goose’s whereabouts at this Center for Puppetry Arts production for kids ages 2 to 5. Closes September 21. $16.50. puppet.org

Julian Sands: A Celebration of Harold Pinter: With personal anecdotes, British actor Julian Sands combines

Harold Pinter’s poems and political prose to create a fresh look into the Nobel laureate’s literary legacy. September 22. $20. arts.emory.edu

Opening Night with Jeremy Denk: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra opens its 70th season with Strauss’ “Don Juan” followed by a performance from pianist and MacArthur Fellow Jeremy Denk on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20. September 25 through 28. $24 to $109. atlantasymphony.org

Robert Glasper Experience: American jazz pianist and record producer Robert Glasper won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2013 for “Black

Radio,” in which he explores fusions of jazz and hip hop. September 26. $26 to $51. ferstcenter.gatech.edu

Concerts on the Square: Take a break at the Decatur Square with a night of live music from Atlanta’s Michelle Malone Band at the Community Bandstand. September 27. Free. decaturba.com

The Head and the Heart: These Seattle indie folk rockers released their debut album in 2011, quickly moving from playing open mic nights to selling out headlining shows across the country. Their sophomore album, “Let’s Be Still,” was released in 2013. September 28. $24 to $37. cobbenergycentre.com.

NEW RESTAURANTS GALORE

Intown’s dining options continue to grow

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

For every restaurant that closes, it seems three open to take its place. Intown’s dining options continue to grow at a breakneck pace, and there is literally something for every taste. Whether you like a simple burger or something more adventurous, there’s an eatery with your name on it. Here’s a rundown of what’s recently opened and what’s on the horizon. Be sure to turn to Page 46 to see what’s hot and happening in Decatur.

OPEN NOW

Krog Street Market

Restaurants at Inman Park’s new destination for dining are opening on their own schedules, but sushi and tapas bar Craft Izakaya and French-American brasserie

The Luminary are already serving eager diners. Opening soon: burger and sandwich purveyors Fred’s Meat & Bread, kebabs and falafel from Yalla, dumplings and noodles from Gu’s Dumplings, Grand Champion BBQ, Asha Gomez’s Spice Road Chicken stall, charcuterie from The Cockentrice, seafood from Off the Dock and Tex-Mex from Superica. 99 Krog Street, krogstreetmarket.com.

Last Word

At press time, the contemporary American restaurant by former Woodfire Grill owner Bernard Moussa was supposed to open in the old P’cheen space at Highland Walk, 701 Highland Ave. in the Old Fourth Ward. Moussa said the menu will be similar to a trattoria, but with contemporary cuisine. For more, visit lastwordatl. com.

Spice to Table

The long-awaited new dining concept by Chef Asha Gomez is now open at Studioplex in the Old Fourth Ward. Open for breakfast and lunch daily excluding Mondays, Gomez describes the new restaurant as an “Indian patisserie” with menu items like spiced oatmeal, samosa pockets, caramelized onion and spiced cashew crostatas and quiche for breakfast. While lunch will feature tomato pies, vegetable rice pulao, pork vindaloo sandwiches, curried chicken stuffed bread, soup of the day and a salad of the day. 659 Auburn Ave., Suite 503, spicetotable.com.

The Pig & The Pearl

Chef Todd Richards is serving up brisket, pork shoulder, duck and sausage alongside fresh raw and smoked seafood and shellfish at Atlantic Station. 1380 Atlantic Ave., thepigandthepearl.com.

Terminus City

Kevin Gillespie’s long-awaited second restaurant has opened in the Gunshow space at 924 Garrett St., Suite C. in Glenwood Park. The “takeover” of Gunshow will continue until Gilliespie finalizes the location for Terminus City. The menu is a hybrid barbecue joint meets meat and three family-style restaurant. Find out more at gunshowatl. com.

MAX’s Wine Dive

Located in the 12th & Midtown development, MAX’s is offering “gourmet comfort food” (Southern fried chicken, oysters, mac ‘n cheese) with a selection of wines from around the world. 77 12th St., Suite 6B, maxswinedive.com.

TRACE

Head over to the W Atlanta-Midtown to try the “farm-to-hotel” menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner with a healthy take on classic Southern dishes and cocktails. 188 14th St., traceatlanta.com.

TRACE

Smokebelly

This new Buckhead spot features a menu of “chef crafted barbecue” inspired by different regions. The restaurant also offers craft beer and cocktails. 128 East Andrews Ave., smokebellybbq.com.

Bellwoods Social House

Pizza, wings, burgers and cocktails are on the menu at this new Westside eatery, which was slated to open Aug. 28. 1000 Marietta St., Suite 200, facebook.com/bellwoodssocialhouse1.

COMING SOON

Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall

You’ll be able to walk right off the Eastside Trail onto the patio of this new eatery at 684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. (or mile marker 9.25 from the BeltLine) in the Old Fourth Ward. Expected to be open any day now, the menu is “modern campfire cuisine” with burgers and cocktails. ladybirdatlanta.com.

Le Fat

Guy Wong, the chef behind Miso Izakaya, was expected to launch his new Vietnamese restaurant on the Westside at the end of August or early September. It could be open by the time you read this, so find their Facebook page for an update. 935 Marietta St.

Diner

Chef Ron Eyester’s latest concept is slated to debut this month at Atlantic Station with modern takes on the class diner menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner. 261 19th St, facebook.com/dineratlanta.

Victory Sandwich Bar

The Inman Park location closed to make way for the Inman Quarter development, so fans of their sandwiches, tacos and world famous Jack & Coke slushie have had to trek over to Decatur. A new

Spice to Table

The Pig and THe Pearl

Smokebelly

Victory Sandwich Bar

Le Fat

Craft Izakaya

Buckhead Atlanta

Last Word

Buckhead Atlanta

There’s going to be plenty of dining options at the swanky new Buckhead Atlanta development and a few of them have announced they will open for business on Sept. 18, including Italian-style coffee bar Corso Coffee, Spanish fusion restaurant Gypsy Kitchen, burgers and shakes from Shake Shack and pizza joint Thirteen Pies. Coming in the next few months: American Cut, AF+B, Doraku Sushi, Fado’s Irish Pub, Georgetown Cupcakes, Le Bilboquet, Lugo Cucina Italiana, The Southern Gentleman Gastropub and Qing Mu Noodle Company. buckhead-atl.com.

Cooks & Soldiers

Castellucci Hospitality Group’s latest concept will open on the ground floor of the Elan Westside apartment building this fall. Drawing inspiration from the Basque regions of Spain and France, the restaurant will offer guests a modern approach to the rustic cooking style of southwestern Europe. 691 14th St., facebook.com/cooksandsoldiers.

Burger 21

A new franchise founded by the owners of The Melting Pot, has signed a multiunit franchise agreement to develop three restaurants in the Atlanta area: Buckhead, Cumberland Mall and North Druid Hills. The Buckhead location is expected to open sometime in 2015. burger21.com.

Atlas

Chef Gerry Klaskala has announced he will open Atlas a new dinner-only restaurant inside The St. Regis Atlanta in Buckhead. Featuring American cuisine with the freshest local ingredients, Atlas will open in late fall 2014. 88 West Paces Ferry Road, atlasrestaurant.com.

Katana

Set to open in October in Buckhead, this new restaurant from Mali Hu will feature a sushi bar and teppanyaki, which means food cooked on iron griddles. 3345 Lenox Road.

The Castle

Your guess is as good as ours about what is going on with the historic home at the corner of Peachtree and 15th Streets in Midtown. The space was to re-launch as a restaurant at the end of August, but there has yet to be any news on a chef, menu or…well… anything. Stay tuned.

Burger 21

Inman Park location at 913 Bernina Ave. is expected to open this month. vicsandwichbar.com.

Atlanta’s Only Option for Creative Southwestern Fusion

EATING DECATUR

These new restaurants will make your mouth water

By Benjamin Getz Yelp Atlanta Community Manager

There’s no question that Decatur is burgeoning with, and constantly adding, tons of locally founded new eateries – fit for the hippest of the hip to the fancy-schmancy, business-y type. Thus, for September, we’ve brought a few to INtown – replete with Yelper-approved highlights for you to chew on.

Makan

Get your fix of Asian streetfood and an array of Hong Kong, Seoul and Taipei comfort foods. Yelpers are especially gravitating towards the Ramyun, Beef Noodle Soup and Pork Belly Buns. 130 Clairemont Ave., Suite 100.

Butter & Cream

Touting flavors such as “Butterscotch Brownie” and “Freckled Chocolate,” this little scoop shop just hit the square at the right time. Great touch with real spoons for all of your tasting needs. Emma G notes, it’s “seriously fresh ice cream.” 416 Church St.

Wild Heaven Craft Beers

The brewery and taproom are just down College Avenue and along the railroad tracks for these local heroes. Check out their brews, onsite, Friday through Sunday during taproom hours. Pro Tip: Check out the “Civilization” barley wine. Huge flavors and it packs a punch. 135B Maple St.

The Imperial

Meg C deems these guys a “perfect neighborhood place to be” and the menu has something for everyone – wings, burgers, and the Le Poutine de Georgia, which seems to be the clear showstopper of all appetizers. 726 W. College Ave.

BONUS - Kimball House

Though these guys may be the veterans of this list, opening in late 2013, you need to have them on your radar if you haven’t paid your first visit just yet. For the cocktail enthusiast to the oyster aficionado, Kimball House’s vibe and deft hands behind the bar will make them one of your Decatur mainstays in no time. Plus they were just named the number one best new Southern restaurant by Southern Living magazine. 303 E. Howard Ave.

Benjamin Getz is the Community Manager for Yelp in Atlanta. Follow his reviews at benjamingetz.yelp.com and follow all of the Yelp adventures on Instagram & Twitter at @ YelpAtlanta.

WINE TIME

Kirkwood, BeltLine hosting wine strolls this month

If you’re an oenophile or just like to have the occasional glass with dinner, two wine events this month will have plenty to offer.

The Kirkwood Business Owner’s Association will hold its annual Kirkwood Wine Stroll on Sept. 26 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. (check-in time will be between 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.) in the historic neighborhood.

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste wines from around the world at over 30 pouring stations and enjoy the sounds of Beatles’ tribute band Abbey Road. Tickets can be purchased at kirkwoodwinestroll2014.eventbrite.com for $25 in advance, $35 within two weeks of the event and $40 at the door. Tickets are limited and may sell out in advance. For more information visit facebook.com/KirkwoodWineStroll.

The second annual BeltLine Wine Stroll is set for Sept. 27 from 1 to 6 p.m. The milelong wine tasting event will take place along the Eastside Trail from 1 to 5 p.m. Attendees will visit more than a dozen restaurants and businesses, from Poncey-Highland through Inman Park to the Old Fourth Ward, while enjoying sips of various vinos and discovering new venues along the iconic BeltLine.

Tickets for the event are $40 and are available online by visiting the ticket link at the stroll’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ BeltLineWineStroll.

Proceeds will benefit Friends of Inman Park and its mission to support phase two improvement projects at Springvale Park as well as the Inman Park Security Patrol.

TASTING INTOWN: Bella’s Best Organic Gourmet Restaurant Review

By Art Huckabee

In this Top Chef crazy restaurant town, can Aunt Bella make it? “Aunt who?” you ask. That would be former University of Georgia professor and now restaurateur, Dr. Kim Grady’s aunt, the woman who helped raise her and gave her the inspiration for Bella’s Best Organic Gourmet, a newly opened bakery restaurant tucked among the boutiques, art galleries and antique shops on Bennett Street in south Buckhead.

As Kim tells the story, while working on her doctoral dissertation, she would bake nightly to relax. The next day she would bring her baked goods to class. Kim’s students were the first to urge her to consider going into the baking business.

Kim reconnected with her childhood friend, now husband, Ray Grady, several years ago. Ray, a big, soft-spoken man, and Kim’s number one fan, likes to tell of the first time he sampled Kim’s baked goods. He says, “The first time I tasted (it), I cussed… It was that good.” You can tell that Ray doesn’t cuss very often.

Kim and Ray began selling their all-organic vegetarian baked goods and other goodies at local farmer’s markets in Sandy Springs, Emory and Tucker. Even now, with the demands of their new

restaurant, they still have a stall at each market.

It was a reader, who suggested that I visit Bella’s Best. They had been open just a month and a day when I stopped in with two friends for lunch. It’s a space with lots of potential and is clearly a work in progress. Ray was behind the baked goods counter. Save for him and Kim in the kitchen, we were the only others in the place.

In addition to the sweet baked goods, the savory offerings consisted of a spinach quiche, a stuffed red pepper, a vegetable pie and a pastry Kim calls “strucla” which on this day was filled with portabella mushrooms. All are individually sized so we chose to share one of each.

Strucla is Kim’s pièce de résistance. Originally made by her Aunt Bella as a treat at Christmas time, this pastry has its roots in Polish baking. The dough has cream cheese in it but remains light with a firm, chewy texture. Kim fills each pastry with a variety of homemade organic fruit preserves and vegetables. The portabella strucla was excellent and with a side salad, would make the perfect lunch for those well-heeled shoppers who frequent Bennett Street. On other days a tomato basil strucla and a spinach artichoke strucla are in the offerings.

Savor Sandy Springs

The stuffed red pepper was filled with cooked grains, red onion, corn and peas. It was the perfect doneness with all of the veggies still having a brightness and toothsome crunch.

The spinach quiche and the vegetable pie were also quite good. Kim uses the same dough for these as she does her strucla. The lack of a side or garnish makes it feel like you’re dining in a bakery more than a restaurant. Kim later explained that when their traffic picks up she will have the ability to include more garnishes and sides but for now, she tries to limit her perishables. All of her baked products are made fresh each day.

For dessert, we tried Kim’s signature strucla, a “classic” apricot. As Ray

explains, “It has apricots, walnuts, golden raisins, coconut and some hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.” It was gooey and not too sweet. We also tried a fig strucla, a ginger cookie and the pecan shortbread. All were very good with the ginger cookie packing a spicy punch.

Kim emerged from the kitchen to inquire how we liked our lunch. It’s clear that she and Ray have big plans for this restaurant even talking of eventually opening a kid’s baking school and a meals-to-go section. It’s also clear that those plans are firmly rooted in values that honor family and community.

Making it in the restaurant business is tough. Kim and Ray have already fielded offers to sell their products through grocery chains and other restaurants, but have resisted, fearful that they would not be able to maintain the quality and high standards that are the bedrocks of their business.

As to the original question, will Aunt Bella make it? It’s clear that she already has.

Bella’s Best Organic Gourmet is located at 25-D Bennett St. For more information, call (404) 603-4733 or visit bellasbestcookies.com.

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

B’s Bistro is a neighborhood restaurant with a casual, yet elegant ambiance where everyone is welcome. It’s the place to enjoy food and drinks among friends. Our menu is “food you know and love with a twist” classic continental cuisine, with a signature flare. We source the freshest local items prepared daily.

B’s Bistro 6010 Sandy Springs Circle www.BsBistro.com

There are more than 100 full-service fine dining restaurants in Sandy Springs. Reserve a table and enjoy a delicious meal in our community!

For more information about dining in Sandy Springs, please visit: www.VisitSandySprings.org

Buz & Debra Psathas

Photos by Art Huckabee

Ray and Kim Grady show off some of their delicious baked goods in the photos above, while a stuffed red pepper, right, was a highlight of a meal at the new Buckhead restaurant. See more photos in the online review at AtlantaINtownPaper.com.

Quick Bites

The 2nd Annual Decatur Dinner Party will be held Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Decatur Cemetery to benefit Decatur’s Kitchen Garden, where refugee families grow thousands of pounds of fresh food each season. This limited attendance event will feature a multi-course farm-to-table meal, live music, beer, wine and a live auction. Auction items will include VIP access to local festivals, a wine and craft beer event package, and more. Tickets are $125 each, or reserve a full table for a party of 8 at $1,200, globalgrowers.net.

The 5th annual Southern Chefs Potluck to benefit Wholesome Wave will be held Sept. 7 at 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Inn at Serenbe in southwest Atlanta. Guests will dine family style with the chefs and their families to raise money to provide fresh food for Georgia Nutrition Assistance Recipients and for local farmers. Just some of the participating chefs are Drew Belline from No. 246; Shaun Dotty from Bantam + Biddy; Todd Ginsberg from The General Muir; Asha Gomez from Spice to Table; Josh Hopkins from Empire State South, Anne Quatrano from Bacchanalia; and Jay Swift from 4th & Swift. Tickets are $125 per person and available online at brownpapertickets.com/event/775981. For more information, please visit WholesomeWaveGeorgia.org.

Party in the Kitchen to benefit Open Hand, the nonprofit that delivers meals to critically and chronically ill people, will be held Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at King Plow Arts Center. Led by some of Atlanta’s best chefs, including co-chairs Gerry Klaskala and Kevin Rathbun, the event will showcase their signature cuisine. Cocktails, music and live and silent auctions will also be part of the evening. Some of the other chefs representing their restaurants at the event will include Chris Hall of Local Three, Lisa and Fuyuhiko Ito of Umi, Craig Richards of St. Cecilia, Brent Banda of La Tavola Trattoria, Ted Lahey of Table & Main, Shaun Doty of Bantam + Biddy, Jeff Varasano of Varasano’s Pizza and Gary Donlick of Bistro Niko. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit partyinthekitchen.org.

KR SteakBar in Peachtree Hills has begun construction on its new private dining room with completion expected to be in mid October, 2014. The new private dining area will add 45 additional seats to the dining area and will be used as private dining during the week and a la carte dining on the weekends.

Shi ing Chefs: Chef Zeb Stevenson (formerly of Livingston, Proof and Provision) is now in charge at the newly rebranded The Brasserie and Neighborhood Café at Parish in Inman Park. Executive Chef Mark Alba will oversee STK’s kitchen on Peachtree Street in Midtown.

Chick- l-A has opened its newest restaurant next door to the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience at 246 Marietta St. in Downtown. The restaurant has vintage inspired decor including a community table made of reclaimed timber, light fixtures made from recycled peach baskets and wall sections made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles. Football fans will be able to keep up with all the action on the restaurant’s four flatscreen televisions.

Team entry for the 3rd annual Brookhaven Chili Cook O is now open at www.BroohavenChiliCookOff.com. The event will be held Oct. 11. The neighborhood festival will feature over 60 local restaurant and amateur teams competing for bragging rights, plaques, medals, cash and prizes.

Midtown Restaurant Week Returns

Midtown Restaurant Week returns for its ninth year beginning Sept. 6 and continuing through Sept. 14. With more than 40 participating restaurants this year, gourmet prix-fixe menus will range from $15, $25 or $35 and include brunch, lunch and/or dinner options. Prices are per person and exclude alcohol, tax and gratuity. Some of this year’s participating restaurants: 4th & Swift, 10th & Piedmont, Abattoir, Apres Diem, Article 14, Atlantic Grill, Atmosphere, Ecco, HOBNOB, Hudson Grille Midtown, Livingston Restaurant & Bar, Meehan’s Public House, Nakato, ONE. Midtown Kitchen and Serpas True Food, For more information, visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/ midtownrestaurantweekatlanta.

CONDOS & TOWNHOMES

Desire to live near amenities spurs new development boom

By Kathy Dean

Before the global recession, condo developments were being built so quickly around Atlanta that it was nearly impossible to keep up with them. With real estate in full recovery mode, condos and townhomes are becoming desirable again as Intowners look for more city amenities.

Potential homeowners want to enjoy the shopping, restaurants, arts, culture, parks and the Atlanta BeltLine, which has spurred new high-end condos and townhomes in the city. Decatur is also getting in on the act, too.

Seventh Midtown, a new nine-story boutique condominium optimally situated at the corner of Peachtree & 7th, will offer residences that start in the $700s. Thirty percent are already under contract, although the ground breaking is scheduled this fall, with plans to begin closing in late October 2015.

Anne Schwall, Vice President SkyRise/New Homes Group, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty said, “Interest in Seventh Midtown has been exciting. Midtown residents are eager to be part of such a cutting edge condominium building. With only 20 homes available, residents appreciate and understand the exclusive opportunity to own at Seventh, and buyers want to take advantage of the current presale pricing.”

She said that the build-out is almost complete for the temporary placement of the 7th Street Starbucks in the Shops at Viewpoint. Once Starbucks is relocated, the area will be cleared for construction to begin on Seventh Midtown. Starbucks will move back to become the building’s corner retailer after the building is completed.

“Our residents are looking for more square footage than Midtown condominium buildings generally offer, and they appreciate the luxury finishes and features Seventh Midtown will provide,” Schwall explained. “They also want a lock-and-go lifestyle and walkability to fine dining and shopping, with easy access to Piedmont Park, the Fox Theater and the High Museum.”

The spacious open floor plans feature top-of-the-line designer finishes, such as Italian custom-designed Pedini cabinetry, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, Silestone countertops and Waterworks fixtures throughout the home. The homes are also equipped with the latest smart home technology, including a Control4 home automation package.

It’s hard to imagine a more central, exciting location in Atlanta than 15th Street, just across the street from Piedmont Park. That’s just where development is underway for Ansley Green, a condo community of six homes. The project is a collaboration of Miller Lowry Developments and King Real Estate Advisors.

Excavation began in mid-August, and the condos will be finished in Spring 2015, according to Miller Lowry,

President of Miller Lowry Development. He said that people got excited about Ansley Green as soon as the project was announced.

“We have had interest from day one, at our preview party that was held at the Piedmont Driving Club,” Lowry reported. “Currently, four units are under contract and one unit is reserved.”

While the location is a huge draw, potential residents also respond to the exclusive, smaller building and low HOA fees. Lowry added that Ansley Green is particularly attractive to empty nesters and professionals -- sophisticated buyers who appreciate quality but are not interested in larger buildings.

Ansley Green will be surrounded by landscaping and existing hardwoods, which will frame gorgeous city views, all visible from the rooftop terrace, which also features a lounge and bar for residents. Floor plans are open and spacious with abundant natural light. Residents will be able to customize their homes, and the high-end finishes include items from vendors such as Circa Lighting and Renaissance Tile & Bath.

Linden Place Townhomes were designed to bring value and convenience to Intown residents. Currently under construction on Lavista Road near Emory University and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Linden Place will be completed this fall, and will feature 26 townhomes priced from the high $300s to mid $400s.

“This is a very sought after real estate opportunity for young professional couples wanting to live near Intown neighborhoods and close to shopping, entertainment,

Left: One of the luxurious bathrooms, featuring spa tubs and hardwood floors, at Seventh Midtown.

Below left: SkyHill Townhomes on North Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward will be a short walk to the Atlanta BeltLine.

Opposite

restaurants and work,” said Allen Snow, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Midtown. “Sales have just started and we’re seeing extraordinary interest.”

Linden Place’s three-story townhomes range from 2,000 to 2,400 square feet with several different floor plan options, but all the plans are open with wonderful natural lighting. Other features include an oversized owner’s suite and exterior traditional/craftsman style with brick, stone and siding.

Snow pointed to the Atlanta-located developer, Minerva Homes USA, as a prime reason for the value that Linden Place offers. “They have over 30 years of experience building high-end housing with unique architectural elements for the Intown real estate market,” he said. “Linden Place Townhomes are competitively priced in the market, and have a triple protection home warranty.”

Atlanta’s Historic Old Fourth Ward will become home to The Water Tower Stacks, a community of ten luxury townhomes. Epic Development plans to break ground on the project this month, and to deliver the units, eight attached and two detached, in the second quarter of 2015.

Jim LaVallee, Director of Marketing & Development with Epic Development, said: “Most of the units will be greater than 2,800 square feet, so we’re targeting the discriminating Intown buyer looking for the perfect combination of location, quality and style. The response has been overwhelming and we consistently have potential buyers adding their names to the VIP emails.

Above: The Water Tower Stacks will be built next to the iconic water tower at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Irwin Street in the Old Fourth Ward.

page: The townhomes at Linden Place on Lavista Road near Emory University.

While we have not yet released any units for sale, we anticipate a rapid sell-out.”

Of course, location is the number one draw of The Water Tower Stacks. Being a half block from the Beltline and strategically located in the Old Fourth Ward at the edge of Inman Park places the project in the center of neighborhood activity. Residents will be able to reach over 30 restaurants with a half-mile walk.

The project boasts historic modern architecture, too. Epic Development worked with the creative professionals at Gamble and Gamble Architects to design historic exteriors that blend with Studioplex and other older buildings in the neighborhood. Modern elements come into play in the interiors with open floor plans and clean lines. Other interior features include elevator shafts, two-car garages, hardwood floors and custom chefs’ kitchens.

“In addition to the excellent location and compelling architecture, the units will have rooftop terraces facing downtown Atlanta,” said LaVallee, “offering views that have been described as everything from ‘dramatic’ to ‘fabulous’.”

LaValle added that the Old Fourth Ward and the Beltline’s Eastside Trail are the most dynamic and rapidly changing area in Atlanta right now, and have become a core market for Epic Development. The company has already acquired its next townhome site –adjacent to the restaurant and bar district that has emerged along Edgewood Avenue, and halfway between the Georgia State University and the Beltline’s Eastside Trail.

“Construction on that project will begin in 2015, and we continue to search for our other opportunities in the neighborhood,” he said. “To round out our offerings in the Old Fourth Ward, we also have a handful of single family lots where we are building semi-custom homes.”

Construction is now underway at Seven Twelve Oakview in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur. The first homes will be completed in the coming months and people are lining up to get in the community.

“With only fifteen of these extraordinary townhomes available in Oakhurst Village, priced from the mid $400s, interest has been extremely

high,” reported Kirstin Hobday, Chief Operating Officer at Thrive Homes.

“Seven Twelve Oakview is already a success. We’ve sold one-third of the homes thus far and will continue to offer pre-construction pricing on the remaining home sites.”

With its prime location in the highly sought-after Oakhurst Village, Seven Twelve Oakview is a community like none other in the area. The townhomes showcase a stunning blend of contemporary features with glass, metal, wood and textures that evoke rich character and sophisticated style. The homes also boast two-car garages, rooftop terraces and top-of-the-line finishes.

“Our buyers appreciate exceptional craftsmanship and fresh, inspirational architecture,” Hobday explained. “And people who love the walkable neighborhood lifestyle of Oakhurst Village in Decatur are also attracted to it.”

Seven Twelve Oakview is less than five miles from Emory and the CDC, and less than 1.5 miles to the Decatur Square. Residents can take a short stroll to the Oakhurst Community Garden, dog parks, coveted City of Decatur Schools, restaurants, boutiques, and various festivals and concerts in the neighborhood. Hobday also noted that the City of Decatur was recently named a “Great Neighborhood” by USA Today, and has been designated by the American Planning Association as a Top 10 Great Neighborhood in 2013.

The SkyHill Townhomes sit in the center of downtown Atlanta, at the corners of North and Bonaventure Avenues. The development has tended to attract urbanites seeking close proximity to the best restaurants and retail the City can offer, as well as Beltline access.

“SkyHill’s modern design includes open, spacious floorplans, features that are very attractive to buyers,” said Beth Fore, Vice President of Cablik Enterprises. “The entire building was presold before construction began, but one townhome has come back on the market and is currently for sale.”

Fore said that they anticipate closing six of the twelve units in 2014, and that Cablik Enterprises is working on developing additional modern townhomes to help satisfy the demand.

Real Estate Briefs

Courtney Rogers, a senior project designer with Renewal Design-Build of Decatur, has been selected as one of the 40 Under 40 class of 2014 members by Professional Remodeler, a business publication for the remodeling and home improvement market.

Back in January, national real estate brokerage firm Redfin released its Top Ten Hottest Neighborhoods of 2014 list and the Morningside-Lenox Park neighborhood ranked number one in the Atlanta market and third nationwide. Seven months into 2014 and Morningside-Lenox Park remains hot, according to Redfin, with homes selling for $500,000-plus and 15.2 percent over list price. Another Atlanta neighborhood, Inman Park, is now making national waves as Redfin ranks it fifth nationwide on its 10 Neighborhoods at Are Warming Up list. The median list price for a home is $365,000 in the neighborhood and Redfin agent Will Fassinger said the combination of historic and new homes along with amenities are drawing more attention.

GROUNDFLOOR, the first microlending community for real estate, has opened its headquarters at Atlanta Tech Village. This comes immediately after the company raised $1 million in seed round funding from angel investors including Michael Olander, Bruce Boehm, Mark Easley Sr. and Inception Micro-Angel Fund. The company selected Georgia as its new home to grow its business due to the state’s progressive stance on crowdfunding policies and citizen-backed real estate development.

Curbed Atlanta reports that development company Inland Atlantic wants to build a new apartment complex at the northeast corner of Glen Iris Drive and Ralph McGill Boulevard in the Old Fourth Ward. The project may include up to 217 units made up of studios, one bedrooms and townhome-style apartments.

One of the churches that sold its property to make way for the new Falcons stadium is partnering with a developer to not only build a new sanctuary, but an entirely new part of Downtown. According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Friendship Baptist Church envisions turning the community around the new stadium into a revitalized are dubbed Downtown West. Friendship is partnering with national development firm McCormack Baron Salazar to revitalize at least 22 acres around the new stadium. The new development would include affordable and market-rate housing, retail, community amenities and a new home for Friendship Baptist Church.

The Midtown Development Review Committee recommended approval of new mixed-use projects at 1010 West Peachtree and at 1330 West Peachtree. Urban Realty Partners is seeking to convert the Arthritis Foundation’s five-story office building at 1330 West Peachtree into a mixed-use restaurant/retail and apartment building. There would be 98 apartment units and approximately 5,000 square feet of street-level retail/ restaurant space. The Hanover Company wants to build a 6-story mixed-use project known as Hanover Midtown at 1010 West Peachtree. The proposal includes 328 residential units and 14,600 square feet of retail fronting on 10th Street.

Real estate company Homestead Atlanta has opened offices in Virginia-Highland at 867 Greenwood Ave. The principals are President Susan G Schlittler and Michael J Fischer Managing Broker, Vice President. For more information, visit homesteadatlanta. com.

Millions of people experience tinnitus, a frustrating noise or ringing in the ears, and the number continues to rise. However, few are aware that real relief is possible through a combined management approach.

To learn more about tinnitus and the scientifically proven method of gaining relief, take action today.

Gain connection. Be a part of it all.

What sets us apart

Dr. Carrie Hornberger-Dunn, Au.D Doctor of Audiology

Atlanta Hearing Institute is proud to welcome audiologist, Dr. Carrie Hornberger-Dunn. Dr. Hornberger-Dunn received her undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Georgia and Doctor of Audiology degree at East Tennessee State University. She has worked in both private ENT practices and university settings specializing in hearing healthcare of adult and geriatrics patients. Atlanta Hearing Institute offers the most comprehensive hearing evaluation and the latest state of the art hearing aid technology. She is now accepting new patients in the Buckhead office.

Bees Buzz & Inman Park grows

Right: Students at the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design at Georgia State University created an 18-foot rooftop mural on top of the Hyatt Hotel in Downtown visible from the recently reopened Polaris restaurant. The mural celebrates the Polaris Bee Garden, which provides fresh honey and veggies to the restaurant.

Below: Inman Quarter, the mixed-use development at the triangle created by Highland and Lake avenues and Elizabeth Street is nearing completion. Apartments, retail and restaurants are on the way.

Monumental Ball is Sept. 26

The Swingin’ Medallions, pictured right, will be headlining this year’s Monumental Ball at Piedmont Park, the annual social event and fundraiser hosted by the Morningside-Lenox Park Association. There will be dancing, food and fun from 7 to 11 p.m. at the park’s Magnolia Hall. Get your tickets at mlpa.org now.

BUCKHEAD - Quintessential Georgian home has ideal floor plan with vast casement openings, barrel ceilings, novel pocket French doors that open onto rear courtyard. 4Bed/6.5Bath $2,499,000 FMLS: 5279099

Sally Westmoreland 404-354-4845

VIRGINIA HIGHLAND - Walking distance to Va Hi on a quiet one way street. Enjoy living in a historic bungalow already renovated to include an owner’s suite and an updated kitchen. 2Bed/2Bath $524,900 FMLS: 5325899 Rachael Blatt 404-285-9059

KIRKWOOD - New construction. Open floor plan with master on main. Details and craftsmanship galore. Gorgeous hardwood floors and stainless appliances. Move in ready. 4Bed/3Bath $439,900 FMLS:5254571

Melissa Stratton 404-713-5850

GRANT PARK - All brick bungalow, perched high on a hill. Has a big front porch. 14ft vaulted ceilings & skylights, a spacious kitchen w/stainless appliances & butcher block countertops. 2Bed/2Bath $299,000 FMLS:

OAKHURST - The best of the best! A truly must see home located within easy stroll to Oakhurst Village. Finest craftsmanship and attention to detail. 4Bed/3Bath $775,000

FMLS: 5317016

Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

ANSLEY PARK -  Double lot in Ansley park! Overlooks the golf course with alley access.

2Bed/2Bath $1,250,000

FMLS: 5308674

Ed Woods 404-759-9680

CANDLER PARK - Great location! Property currently consists of 3 level lots. Large two story multifamily, small single family, & a vacant residential lot. Approx. 38 acres. $479,900

FMLS: 5278018

Sherry Warner 404-784-8848

INTOWN - Top floor unit! 04W. Concrete Floors. Stained cabinets. Granite countertops. Great amenities! Convenient to Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market.

1Bed/1Bath $159,900 FMLS:5317107

Tonya Marlatt 404-518-8787

INTOWN - Rare top floor location. Fantastic unit w/large storage rm. Freshly painted. Concrete floors, stained cabinets. Roof top deck w/amazing views. Best pool in town!

2Bed/2Bath $280,000 FMLS: 5327909

Tonya Marlatt 404-518-8787

MIDTOWN - Large loft w/plenty of room for office/den. 10’ ceilings. New windows. Upgraded kitchen. Hardwoods. Gated/ covered parking. Close to everything!

1Bed/1Bath $169,222 FMLS: 5329085

Drew Cockrell 404-323-2273

MIDTOWN - Steps from Atlantic Station. Immaculate condition. Hardwood floors. Romeo & Juliet balcony. Walk-in closet. Quick access to GT & Downtown. 1Bed/1Bath

$135,000 FMLS: 5331314

Patrick Jones 404-680-9534

MIDTOWN - Sought after NE facing condo in 1010 Midtown. Spacious and open floor plan. Hardwoods, custom closets, s/s appliances. Amazing views. 2Bed/2Bath $434,900

FMLS: 5281101

Allen Snow 404-931-1176

NORTH BUCKHEAD - Brick and stone French Normandy inspired home. No expense spared! Designer chef’s kitchen w/commercial grade appliances. Flag stone terrace overlooks formal gardens. 6Bed/5.5Bath $1,649,000

FMLS: 5294601 Marc Castillo 404-449-6862

MIDTOWN - Exceptional all brick home. Like new condition. 4 finished levels. Wood floors. 10’ ceilings. Enormous level fenced-in back yard. Walking distance to Noble Park and shopping. 5Bed/6.5Bath $1,099,000 FMLS: 5177482 Marc Castillo 404-449-6862