Atlanta Intown - September 2019

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Editorial

Collin Kelley

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

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Sally Bethea, Kathy Dean, Melody Harclerode, Lauren Leathers, Asep Mawardi, Clare Richie, Tim Sullivan, Megan Volpert

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

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In the June issue, I suggested the City of Atlanta follow in Nashville’s footsteps by decreasing the number of electric scooter and bike vendors to halt the proliferation of the shareable, dockless devices. Now it’s happening, along with other regulations that have met with cheers and jeers from Intown residents.

There are now eight vendors operating e-scooters/bikes in the city, with anywhere between 10,000 to 12,000 of the devices licensed or on the street. The city council passed legislation in August that halts the licensing of any additional devices and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that steps are being taken to reduce the number of vendors operating in Atlanta. I believe those two actions are key to getting a handle on the e-scooter problem. And, yes, whether you love them or hate them, the e-scooters especially have been an issue ever since they started zooming along the sidewalks last year.

While the electronically enforced speed limit on the Atlanta BeltLine was a smart move, I’m not sold on the nighttime ban that prevents the renting and riding of the scooters and bikes between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. I’ve read numerous accounts of people who are using the e-scooters to get to work, run errands and connect with other transit. While I understand the motivation after four e-scooter deaths since Spring, the ban throws up a roadblock for some residents’ livelihoods who work and need to travel overnight.

The mayor has also pledged that barriers and markings will begin appearing in the coming weeks to create temporary bike/scooter lanes on many of the city’s streets. They need to be permanent. If Atlanta is going to fully embrace being a sustainable city, then providing permanent and safe lanes of travel is essential.

Bottoms said she doesn’t want to ban the e-scooters and bikes, and I agree. However, there needs to be a serious push by the city and device vendors to educate riders and make them less “dockless.” Maybe it’s time to embrace a company like Charge, which recently introduced the first docking/charging station for the e-scooters in Woodruff Park and has plans to expand them throughout the city. This would give the scooters a “home” and would, in theory, decrease the number of devices blocking sidewalks or piled in random heaps.

I know there are passionate voices on both sides of the e-scooter issue. I think they are vital to the so-called “last mile connectivity” for getting Intowners where they want to go easily and effortlessly. But what’s really going to make a difference is the city committing to transforming our streets into equitable thoroughfares for cars, pedestrians, scooters and cyclists.

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The Neighborhood

Going South

Atlanta BeltLine set to begin paving first Southside Trail segment

By Collin Kelley

The concrete is barely dry on the final segment of the Eastside Trail, but the Atlanta BeltLine is ready to head south.

Atlanta BeltLine Inc. (ABI) announced that it has funding for the first 0.750-mile paved segment of the Southside Trail, which will stretch from the southern terminus of the Westside Trail at University Avenue to the Annie E. Casey Foundation site at Pittsburgh Yards, just west of the I-75/85 overpass. BeltLine officials said they chose to begin there because of three open and emerging job centers at Pittsburgh Yards, Murphy Crossing and the Lee + White development.

“We are thrilled at this opportunity to invest in communities in south and southwest Atlanta and to spur economic investment between key developing job centers,” said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “We look forward to building on this initial segment to connect the Atlanta BeltLine to all neighborhoods and businesses in the southern crescent.”

At a July community meeting, ABI outline plans for the four-mile Southside Trail, which will extend from the Westside Trail at University Avenue to the Eastside Trail at Memorial Drive. Officials said they anticipate completing pre-construction design and real estate acquisitions for the entire four-mile length of the 14-foot paved multi-use trail over the next several months.

The build-out of first 0.75 mile segment, currently known as Southside Trail–West, will have ADA-accessible access points at Allene Avenue and Metropolitan Parkway with appropriate crosswalks and signalization, environmental remediation of the corridor, lights, security cameras, utility relocations, storm water drainage, retention walls, and full landscaping. Construction of this first segment is slated to begin fall of 2019 and expected to take approximately 12 months to complete. ABI plans additional community meetings during the construction process.

The rest of the unpaved Southside Trail was slated to open in August as an “interim trail” with regrading of the former rail corridor, access to 11 public

streets, environmental remediation, bridge handrails, crosswalks in at-grade crossings with appropriate signage and signalization, and lighting in tunnels. The opening of the interim trail was funded through contributions to the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership’s Opening the Corridor capital campaign, including a lead gift from The Coca-Cola Foundation.

Plans are also in the works to create interim trail connection between the Southside and Eastside Trails along Bill Kennedy Way. ABI is also partnering with the City of Atlanta and the Georgia

Department of Transportation to create a 10-foot-wide path over I-20, protected from vehicular traffic by a concrete barrier. Between I-20 and Glenwood Avenue, the continuation of the 10-foot-wide path would be protected from vehicular traffic by a low, planted median. These interim improvements are expected to be complete by mid-2020. A wide trail that runs along the nearly-complete Madison Yards development from I-20 to Memorial Drive is already in place.

While the Southside Trail is about to get underway, funding is still being sought

to complete paving of all the segments. The City of Atlanta applied for a $16 million federal BUILD Grant in July on behalf of ABI, which combined with local funds would allow construction to begin on 1.5 miles of the Southside Trail-East from I-20 over Bill Kennedy Way to Boulevard. The funding would also support the construction of a new pedestrian bridge over I-20 alongside Bill Kennedy Way. If ABI gets the BUILD grant, construction would begin in late 2021.

City cracks down on e-scooters, implements nighttime ban

By Collin Kelley

After four deaths, numerous accidents and untold numbers of complaints from residents, the City of Atlanta has taken steps to decrease the number of dockless electric scooters and electric bikes on the streets.

On Aug. 19, the Atlanta City Council passed legislation to stop the issuing of new permits for sharable, dockless mobility devices. This comes on the heels of a nighttime ban on the renting and riding of e-scooters/ bikes from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. that went into effect on Aug. 9.

One report suggests that the city has more than 10,000 dockless devices and a myriad of companies – Bird, Spin, Jump, Lime, Bolt and others – dispatch a fleet of e-scooters/bikes to the sidewalks on a daily basis. Residents have complained about the e-scooters blocking sidewalks, roadways and being stacked in heaps.

“It is evident that immediate action is necessary to keep Atlanta’s residents and visitors safe,” Mayor Keish Lance Bottoms said in a statement on the nighttime ban. “Sadly, we have seen a pattern in the recent and tragic fatalities involving scooters – they all occurred after sunset. Having a variety of mobility options is critical to any city, but safety must be our top priority. This nighttime ban, while we continue to develop further long-term measures, will ensure the safest street conditions for scooter riders, motorists, cyclists, those in wheelchairs and pedestrians.”

The administration said it working on additional measures to ensure road safety, including an accelerated plan to create dedicated spaces for cyclists and scooter riders on city streets and a revised selection process that will allow the city to choose a limited number of dockless vendors to operate devices on the streets. The expected selection process is anticipated to be completed by February 2020.

Earlier this summer, the Atlanta BeltLine imposed a geofenced speed limit on the e-scooters along the Eastside Trail so the top speed is only 8mph.

“As a major city, we believe there is potential in engineering the smart integration of this popular mode of transportation,” said Department of City Planning Commissioner Tim Keane. “The devices go a long way in providing last-mile connectivity and

convenience to residents, students, businesses and visitors. But it is vital that we pause and assess how we move forward in a responsible way, with public safety always being the top priority.”

In light of the recent changes, vendor Gotcha, which held a license for 500 devices, said it would be leaving the Atlanta market.

The City of Nashville in Tennessee recently voted to decrease the number of dockless vendors in the city after an e-scooter rider was killed and residents complained of reckless behavior by riders and too many of the devices blocking sidewalks.

News Roundup

MARTA has been awarded a $2.6 million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the purchase of six zeroemission battery electric buses to replace six diesel models.

Dr. Angelica

Geter Fugerson has been appointed as the first ever Chief Health Officer for the City of Atlanta. The CHO will focus on combating the leading causes of illness and disability in Atlanta, improving health literacy rates, and assessing emerging health needs to improve community health.

Exterior work to the Central Library in Downtown is underway as part of a $50 million renovation project to the 1980 building designed by famed architect Marcel Breuer. The first six floors of the library are being renovated to include all new mechanical equipment, flooring, restrooms and lighting. A new grand staircase will lead patrons from the lobby to the new technology center on the second floor. A new fifth-floor indoor/ outdoor conference center and event space will be one of the highlights of the new library design. A series of concrete panels will be replaced with new windows looking out over the city that will allow additional natural light to flood the interior of the renovated library. Renovations are expected to complete by late 2020.

A Fulton County judge issued a stop work order on Aug. 8 to prevent further demolition of a historic building at 152 Nassau Street in Downtown.

The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing demolition of the building, which is associated with early country, blues, jazz and gospel artists. Work has already begun on th site to make way for a 21-story Margaritavillebranded hotel.

Animal Kingdom

New African Savanna habitat opens at Zoo Atlanta

By Collin Kelley

The new African Savanna habitat is now open at Zoo Atlanta in Grant Park. The zoo’s elephants, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, warthogs and meerkats are all still adapting to their new home, according to officials.

“We are thrilled to be able to introduce an experience that will re-set the anticipation of what the people of Atlanta and Georgia can expect from their Zoo. Many people will never get the chance to take a trip across the world to Africa, but the opening of the African Savanna brings that opportunity here to all of us,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “If people don’t feel connected to these animals and to their ecosystems, they have little reason to want to save them. We want our visitors to walk away inspired and empowered by an experience that shows just how interconnected we are with the natural world.”

The new elephant environment more than triples the size of the Zoo’s former habitat and is designed with elephant well-being in mind. Elements include Abana Pond, the largest of the complex’s three water features, a pond with 360-degree access and a gentle slope for ease of use by multiple elephants. Additional features include Chishimba Falls and Kalambo Falls, two waterfalls named after falls in Africa, and a feeder enrichment activity wall. Handcrafted rockwork is designed to replicate an African river basin.

The indoor Zambezi Elephant Center has the capacity to house seven elephants and features a special observation area for visitors to get a behind-the-scenes look at the elephants’ care.

Female African elephants Kelly and Tara moved to their new environment in June. Msholo, an adult male African elephant from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, arrived at Zoo Atlanta in July. It is hoped that Msholo will be a social companion for Kelly and Tara, who have lived at Zoo Atlanta since 1986.

The new warthog habitat for Eleanor and daughter Shirley is also an upgrade in size and special features, including burrows and plenty of opportunities for wallowing – a favorite natural behavior for warthogs. In another new habitat on the opposite side of the Savanna, Blaze the meerkat will soon be joined by a new group of meerkats, known as a mob.

All of the animals who will live in the giant habitat are being acclimated at their own pace and comfort level. Once they are comfortable in their new surroundings, the animals will be re-introduced to one another so that they may share the habitat in a mixed-species setting.

An all-new interpretive experience focused on conservation is presented in four main themes – Be the Animal, Be the Animal Care Specialist, Be the Conservationist and Be the Change. The educational experience also includes two other Zoo species native to the savanna, African lions and kori bustards. As part of the experience, visitors will also learn more about Zoo Atlanta’s partnership with Conservation South Luangwa, a nonprofit organization based in Zambia that works to protect African elephants and many other species from illegal wildlife trafficking and human-wildlife conflict.

The African Savanna is the first completed phase of the Zoo’s three-part Grand New View project, the result of a capital campaign launched in 2014. Zoo Atlanta has since

raised more than $50 million for the project. Future elements will include Savanna Hall, a special event space that will overlook the new African Savanna from the former Cyclorama building, and a new grand entry plaza. Both Savanna Hall and the grand entry plaza will open in early 2020.

For more information, visit zooatlanta. org/africansavanna.

Pet Pick

Ricktore is a 3-year-old, gentle, sweet terrier-mix guy. He looks like he might have some miniature schnauzer in there, too. Ricktore has lived in a home with another dog and seems house-trained and very polite. He is a little overwhelmed in a shelter environment and is patiently waiting for his forever family. To find out more about adopting Ricktore, visit PAWSAtlanta.org or drop by the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

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Exterior work on controversial library renovation underway

By Collin Kelley

Controversial work to the exterior of the Central Library in Downtown is underway as part of a $50 million renovation of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library’s main hub.

The altering of Bauhaus-movement architect Marcel Breuer’s final work to add windows has been a sore point with architects and preservationists. The Brutalist structure was built in 1980 and the waffling over its future earned it a spot on the World Monuments Watch List of Most Endangered Sites in 2010.

The first six floors of the library are being renovated to include all new mechanical equipment, flooring, restrooms and lighting. A new grand staircase will lead patrons from the lobby to the new technology center on the second floor. A new fifth-floor indoor/outdoor conference center and event space is also being built.

A series of concrete panels on the exterior will be replaced with new windows that will allow additional natural light into the interior of the renovated library.

Workers with Winter Johnson Group are scheduled to have a crane maneuvering along Forsyth Avenue and Carnegie Way in upcoming days. The crane will be used to remove the five-ton panels from the Carnegie Way side of the building. Workers removed several panels from the Williams Street side of the 40-year-old building last month.

As part of the construction, four trees along Forsyth Avenue in front of the library and one tree in the plaza will be removed. Once the panels are removed and construction completed, four Aeryn Trident Maple trees will be planted, as well as five Green Shadow Sweetbay magnolia trees in the renovated front plaza. Work at the Central Library is expected to continue through next summer, with a late fall 2020 re-opening date.

Work on the exterior is underwway to install windows in the facade of the Central Library, as shown in this rendering. (Photo courtesy Friends of the Central Library)

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T his Month In Atlanta History

Editor’s Note: In honor of Atlanta INtown’s 25thanniversary and in memory of our late historian, Ann Taylor Boutwell, we’re bringing back her column every month in 2019.

Sept. 1, 1864: Union General William T. Sherman and his troops captured Atlanta. during the Civil War. That Thursday, Carrie Mabry Berry, the 10-year-old daughter of Harriet Key and Maxwell Berry, wrote in her personal diary: “We did not get home until twelve o’clock. We had a very pleasant time and everything seemed quiet. Directly after dinner Cousin Emma came down and told us that Atlanta would be evacuated this evening and we might look for federals in the morning. It was not long till the whole town found it out and such excitement there was. We have been looking for them all the evening but they have not come yet.” On Friday she wrote: “About twelve o’clock there were a few federals came in. They were all frightened. We were afraid they were going to treat us badly. It was not long till the Infantry came in. They were orderly and behaved very well. I think I shall like the Yankees very well.” Carrie’s original handwritten diary can be found in the Carrie Berry Collection at the Atlanta History Center’s Kenan Research Library.

ANN TAYLOR BOUTWELL’S A LOOK BACK

Sept. 8, 1871: The first street railway car ran on the West End Line. It started on Whitehall Street and extended out Whitehall to Mitchell Street, to Forsyth Street to Peters Street and across the railroad tracks terminating opposite what is is now the entrance to Spellman College.

Sept.13, 1934 ► : Cab Calloway and The Cotton Club Orchestra performed for an all-black audience at the old Atlanta Municipal Auditorium/Armory at the corner of Courtland and Gilmer streets.

Sept. 17, 1884: The body of President Abraham Lincoln’s brother-in-law, Brigadier-Gen. Harden Helm, a Confederate soldier of the first Kentucky brigade, was exhumed from Oakland Cemetery and reburied in Elizabethtown, Ky. Helm’s wife, Emilie Todd Helm, daughter of the late Robert Todd, was a half-sister of Mary Todd Lincoln, the president’s wife. The 21-year-old was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863.

Sept. 18, 1990: Atlanta was officially selected as host of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Sept. 24, 1889: The Decatur Female Seminary opened to students. It’s now worldrenowned Agnes Scott College.

Sept. 29, 1986 ▲ : Designing Women, a comedy about a group of interior designers set in Atlanta, first aired on CBS.

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Doggy Con

Pets and their people paraded through Woodruff Park for the DragonCon precursor. Photos by Asep Mawardi.

Morning Jolt!

Free breakfast series CreativeMornings inspires businesspeople,

artists

By Clare S. Richie

Do you collaborate, think differently, or try to solve problems? If so, CreativeMornings Atlanta invites you to find inspiration and network with other creatives, such as staff from large corporations, small design firms, the mayor’s office, Atlanta United and more at their free breakfasts held the last Friday of each month.

“We believe Atlanta is a hotbed of creative talent. Our mission is to be the instigator or cheerleader of the creative community – to encourage everyone that our work really matters and that our city benefits when we apply our gifts and skill sets,” said Blake Howard, CreativeMornings – Atlanta host and founder of branding agency Matchstic.

Attendees to the monthly series can

grab a cup of coffee from rotating vendors like Refuge or Firelight and breakfast by beloved Atlanta staples like Little Tart Bakery and Revolution Doughnuts. There’s plenty of time to mix and mingle before the program kicks off with a fun activity on stage like a local musician performance, a spoken word poet, or interactive games. A local creative leader then gives a 20-minute talk based on each month’s theme, followed by a Q&A.

Howard discovered CreativeMornings at a friend’s urging while in Chicago for a design conference in 2010.

“I was way more inspired by the local event than the five-day mega design conference,” Howard said. “There was a map of the CreativeMornings’ chapters, with cities you’d expect – like London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles. I remember thinking, I want Atlanta to be

on that map because Atlanta deserves to be on that map.”

As fate would have it, the CreativeMornings founder was at the same Chicago breakfast and was receptive to Howard’s idea to bring the lecture series to Atlanta.

“A few months later we had our first event,” Howard said. Atlanta became the 10th chapter of CreativeMornings, which now boasts more than 200 chapters worldwide.

Looking over the past eight years, several talks stand out. Howard’s personal favorite was the fourth talk with Ben Chestnut, founder and CEO of MailChimp.

“Five minutes before the talk was about to start, we couldn’t get the audio/video system to work. Our biggest sponsor was about to speak and the CreativeMornings CEO was in attendance. In the final minutes, the mics started working. Ben Chestnut’s talk about starting MailChimp and the insights and learnings of that process ended up being one of the most amazing talks,” Howard said.

Howard’s second favorite was a talk given by Miya Bailey, a graphic/tattoo artist.

“His talk wasn’t a fancy TED talk. It was a heartfelt authentic story of how art saved his life and has the power to change socio-economic tension and adversity. It was so moving and so transparent you almost wanted to question – are you ok with this being recorded?” Howard recalled.

Another favorite was artist Greg Mike Mensching speaking to 500 creatives at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in July, and the recent August talk on justice by artist and

muralist Fabian Williams may end up top of the list, too.

“Williams painted a mural of Colin Kaepernick when Super Bowl LII came to town. Just two to three days before the game, the building was knocked down. It sparked the artist community to paint eight more around Atlanta,” Howard said.

The upcoming CreativeMornings event will feature Center for Civic Innovation Founder & Executive Director Rohit Malhotra speaking about “muse” at the Woodruff Arts Center on Sept. 27.

Curiosity peaked? Tickets are free, but “sell out” minutes after registration opens on CreativeMornings.com at 9 a.m. the Monday before the event. Howard encouraged interested creatives to join the mailing list in advance for details on upcoming speakers and reminders.

“If you’re looking for a place to get inspired or connect with the creative community, then come to a CreativeMornings event. It’s completely free, it’s only an hour and a half of your day and it’s a really great experience,” Howard said.

CreativeMornings-Atlanta founder Blake Howard is shown in the top and bottom photos, while artist Greg Mike Mensching spoke at Mercedes -Benz Stadium in July.

Topping Out

Colony Square makes progress on massive redevelopment in Midtown

By Collin Kelley

North American Properties (NAP) and Hoar Construction have reached new milestones in the redevelopment of Colony Square in Midtown, including the topping out of Buildings 200 and 300.

Building 200 is the future home of the Main & Main food hall and IPIC, a dine-in movie theater. Building 300 features street-level retail and 87,500 square feet of Class A office space, which will be anchored by the regional headquarters of Whole Foods Market.

“Our construction site is surrounded by a hotel, two office towers and three condo towers; it’s like we are building a ship in a bottle,” said John Kelley, partner and senior vice president of commercial development at NAP. “Peeling the layers back on a 50-year-old development located on an incredibly dense corner while it continues to operate 24/7 with office users, hotel guests and residents requires

A rendering of Building 300

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Continued on page 18

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A rendering of Building 200 behind The Grove at Colony Square as seen from 14th Street.

North American Properties officials at the topping out ceremony.

Continued from page 17

intense planning and flexibility. While this is a very complex project, the end result will be transformative for Midtown.”

The demolition of the former enclosed mall was particularly complex as Hoar had to reinforce the legacy structure before it could be demolished. Unlike traditional demolitions, the construction team surgically dismantled the building, removing each part piece by piece. When renovating the street-level of the two existing office towers, Hoar reinforced and expanded the weight of the structure to support a new and more modern streetfacing design. Other nontraditional efforts included shoring the parking garage to support a 100-ton crane as well as installing pile caps and micropiles three floors below Buildings 200 and 300 to allow for vertical construction.

“Considering the complexity and massive scale of Colony Square’s

redevelopment, we’re proud of the speed and efficiency in which our team has reached this topping out milestone,” said Michael Ohlson, superintendent at Hoar.

“We’re excited to be one step closer to the completion of the reimagined destination.”

The shells for Building 200 and 300 will deliver later this year, at which point tenant build-outs will begin. Construction on Building 500, a 135,600-square-foot office building occupied by Jones Day, will kick off this fall, and is expected to go vertical early next year.

Upon completion in 2020, the reimagined Colony Square will feature 940,000 square feet of Class A office space, 160,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, 262 residences and a 466-room W Hotel.

To stay up-to-date on construction progress and announcements, visit colonysquaremidtown.com.

A view of the renovated Colony Square from Peachtree.

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Thanks to HotelierCo, affordable hotel ownership may now be a reality for anyone suitable in the crowd—not just accredited, institutional investors. The Vinings-based start-up, founded by Atlanta resident Nathan Kivi, began accepting investors in June. HotelierCo aims to bring investors early-stage hotel development opportunities, with a specific focus on boutique luxury lifestyle hotels. Once an investor invests in a HotelierCo property, he or she will own part of that hotel and can receive a discount on stays at that property—as well as any potential financial gains from his or her investment. Visit HotelierCo.com to learn more.

Atlanta-design firm Morse Design has relaunched with a new website, AndiMorseDesign. com, making design accessible with an upscale aesthetic. Their website includes insider blog content, an easy-to-browse portfolio, and more. “I am committed to providing comfort, style and elegance, delivering a world class experience with an end result being a thoughtful and successful collaboration with timeless grace that can be enjoyed for years to come,” said Andi Morse, founder of Morse Design.

▲CBRE has opened its new, state-of-theart Workplace360 office at Three Alliance Center in Atlanta. At almost 100,000 square feet, it’s the largest CBRE Workplace360 office in the world and features technology and flexible space. The new office consolidates two former offices into one, with employees from both the former CBRE office at Terminus 100 and CBRE | Heery’s former office at 999 Peachtree. Spanning four floors, the new office provides employees with 12 spaces to work from and

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No18, an aspirational members’ club and serviced office brand backed by International Workplace Group (IWG), has opened at The Shops at Buckhead Atlanta where it occupies nearly 30,000 square feet. The Atlanta club is the first No18 location in the U.S. and is the launching point for the brand’s forthcoming global expansion. No18 members have access to customizable workspaces, conference rooms and members’ lounges, as well as the No18 Bistro and Bar. On Sept. 19, No18 will host a grand opening event in partnership with Atlanta International Fashion Week. For additional information, go to no18.com.

▲Colliers International Atlanta has brokered the $24.8 million sale of Midtown Atlanta’s Silhouette Building from Dau Global, which purchased the building in 2014, to Silver Spirit Global of Marietta, Ga. Silver Spirit was founded by retail technology entrepreneur Sid Mookerji. The firm provides guidance and support services to help establish, operate and grow successful startup companies. The Colliers International Investment SalesOffice team of Hayes Swann and Aman Gaur represented Dau Global in the transaction. Wayland Swann and Bennett Gottlieb of Capital Real Estate Group represented Silver Spirit Global.

After 33 years on Huff Road, Lewis and Sheron Textiles, a four-generation family business, has moved to its new Atlanta location. In honor of serving Atlanta for 75 years, Lewis and Sheron Textiles has upgraded to a new showroom on 1017 Collier Road. “It’s an honor celebrating 75 years in such a diverse and special city,” said Mr. Sheron. Go to lsfabrics.com for more info.

Skanska USA, a leading global development and construction firm, is moving its Atlanta office to Peachtree Center’s Marquis One at 245 Peachtree Center Avenue. Taking 15,004-square-feet on the 25th floor, the company is relocating from 55 Ivan Allen Jr.

Blvd. Skanska will take occupancy of the new space in Q2 of 2020. Colliers International handled both sides of the deal, with Senior Vice Presidents Deming Fish and Jessica Doyle as the landlord representatives for Banyan Street Capital and Senior Vice Presidents Drew Levine and Bob Ward as the tenant representatives for Skanska. PDR is the interior architect and Skanska will complete the build out.

Cushman & Wakefield has arranged the sale of North Decatur Station to Weingarten Realty Investors. The 86,164-square-foot shopping center in Decatur, Ga. is anchored by a Whole Foods Market 365. Fain Hicks, Lane Breedlove and Tyler Anderson of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, S.J. Collins, in the transaction. The 290-unit Solis Decatur Apartments, part of the mixed-use development, were not included as part of the transaction.

Home & Real Estate

Design Discoveries

ADAC and AmericasMart hosting interior decorating market, events

By Collin Kelley

ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts

Center) and ADAC West will host its annual Discover ADAC

Sept. 24-26 with nearly 30 events featuring keynote presentations, salon-style talks, product launches, book signings, cocktail parties, and pop-up shops.

According to ADAC general manager Katie Miner, the event is designed to connect a national audience of design authorities, allied professionals, and members of the media to explore new perspectives and the future of the creative world. Events will span a variety of themes including inspiration for creating an inviting home and international influence. Attendees can look forward to hearing from design tastemaker Timothy Corrigan, who has design firms in Los Angeles and Paris; Los Angeles-based designer and selfproclaimed style icon Madeline Stuart; Michigan-based designer Jean Stoffer; New York-based design duo Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller; James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Hastings from North Carolina; Rush Jenkins and Klaus Baer of WRJ Design in Wyoming; and many more.

One of the highlights of the event will be a panel called “Female, Fierce, and Fabulous Design” with Fawn Galli, Laura Kirar, Janie Molster, and moderator Katy Olson about lessons learned and their best advice for building a successful business.

Another will focus on essential elements of Southern hospitality at “Hospitality at Home: The Inviting House” with Susan Sully, Susan Bozeman, Norman Askins, and moderator Kaitlin Petersen. Then find inspiration from across the pond at “Modern English” with Beata Heuman, Aldous Bertram, Stewart Manger, and moderator Ellen McGauley.

In celebration of ADAC and AmericasMart’s fall market collaboration, interior designer Steve McKenzie of McKenzie Design LLC will curate luxuriously livable vignettes at both venues using trending products from a variety of showrooms to highlight how both venues are a one-stop shopping destination. A free shuttle will be provided on September 24-25 for easy transportation between both venues on days with concurrent programming.

AmericasMart’s Fall Design Week will be held from Sept. 23-25, welcoming designers and buyers to spend the threeday event attending educational seminars and networking opportunities while sourcing designs from the showrooms.

AmericasMart, located in Downtown, has nearly 2,000 lighting, accent furniture, rugs, wall décor, casual furniture, and linens brands presented in 300 showrooms.

For more information, visit adacatlanta.com and americasmart.com.

At Engel & Völkers our passion is exceeding client expectations, so it's only natural we align ourselves with exceptional real estate professionals to serve clients across the globe. It's why we don't simply have agents, but rather, Trusted Advisors to guide clients through their home journey with bespoke knowledge, and distinguished care.

Book Nooks

Stylish storage ideas for your beloved classics

How many books you have in your home has been a hot debate ever since tidyingexpert and bestselling author Marie Kondo suggested on her Netflix show that 30 books was a good number to keep a spare, uncluttered look. Book lovers were, to say the least, outraged at the suggestion.

Of course, book storage is often an issue in the home, especially if you live in a small space. Our friends at Candler Park-based Balance Design (balancedesignatlanta.com) have some unique and stylish solutions for housing your precious collection. If your reading materials are getting out of control, the Balance Design team suggests making the storage solution part of the presentation.

Whether you’ve got enough space to build your own custom library, or need something a little more compact, your bookshelves don’t have to be boring.

Book Nook

Sometimes you just want a spot to steal away and lose yourself in a good book. Such was the case for a Balance Design client in the historic Druid Hills neighborhood. The upstairs landing was the perfect spot for a cozy reading nook, complete with a custom built-in for her collection of books. A mid-century chair and ottoman atop a colorful sari silk rug inspired the client to arrange her books by color, creating a cheerful rainbow effect.

Space Saving

We wouldn’t ordinarily tell you to keep your books on a staircase, but there’s no danger of tripping over them in this design that uses the protruding edges as shelves. This staircase/bookshelf is clean, modern, space saving, and honestly pretty genius.

Whimsical

If you’ve got the height, a ceiling bookcase is whimsical and orderly all at once, keeping the daily workspace free of clutter while creating a magnificent focal point. This is author and photographer Wade Davis’ writing studio.

Minimalism

Minimalists, do you struggle to find a way to store your books that doesn’t make your head want to explode? These floating shelves are symmetrical and geometric, and don’t involve stacks and stacks of visual clutter. You can build them yourself, too, or buy something similar at IKEA.

Non-Linear

Then again, maybe you like a little non-linear fun! This mandala bookcase is part storage solution, part full wall art, and all awesome. You can try your DIY skills and build some to fit your space.

Live on the Park!

This 1930’s brick charmer is right across from Sydney Marcus Park and 2 blocks to the Beltline! Flooded with natural light, this home is graced with high ceilings, period moldings, French doors & gleaming hardwood floors. Great floorplan with master on the main. Brand new screened-in rear porch for alfresco dinners & relaxation. Professionally landscaped, fenced backyard. It doesn’t get better than this!

The Library Chair

It’s a lounge chair, it’s a bookcase, it’s the perfect all-inclusive reading nook! Don’t let the small footprint fool ya — this guy packs 27 square feet of storage space (plus a hidden compartment). It’s available on Etsy from Alexander Love Designs for $2,950.

Suite Vıew.

The Suites. Singular service, style and peace of mind.

There’s an elevated and CARF® accredited version of assisted living that can be found in only one incomparable place: The Suites at The Piedmont at Buckhead. Imagine all the comforts, services and amenities of a luxury address combined with attentive, expert support when the need arrives. Call 404.369.7523 today to schedule a complimentary lunch and personal tour.

Two apartment proposals would add towers in Midtown

The Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC) got a second look at two projects at its August meeting which would add significant towers to the district’s skyline.

Streetlights Residential’s 26-story apartment project at the southwest corner of Juniper and 5th Street would sit directly behind historic Saint Mark United Methodist Church, built in 1902 in the Gothic Revival style. When the DRC saw the project initially in

June, the committee recommended a collaborative work session with the Department of Planning’s Atlanta City Studio to address concerns about the overall design, its relationship to the neighborhood and to the church.

Although the committee was disappointed that the developer chose to eliminate all street level retail from the project, the improvements to the building design were positive. However, several refinements along the ground floor were requested including enlarging the canopy above the main entrance to create a more welcoming sense of arrival on Juniper. More importantly, the DRC stressed that maintaining the minimum building setback along Juniper was essential and thereby requested that the building footprint shift 4 feet west to accommodate the full required streetscape.

The second project, a combined student housing and apartment development by Toll Brothers, underwent refinements since first being presented in July to address feedback from the committee related to pedestrian connectivity and parking deck screening. Located at 1018-1032 West Peachtree Street, the project has frontage both on Spring and West Peachtree streets with a private street connecting the two.

The architects, Brock Hudgins, incorporated additional pedestrian facilities along the new street and added screening to the south facing parking deck façade. Circulation through site was also improved to create an internal motor court and to provide convenient facilities for passenger drop-off and loading. These improvements were well received and the committee recommended similar screening on the north facing façade of the deck.

With more than $62.6 MILLION SOLD IN 2018 , Jared Sapp is Virginia-Highland and Morningside’s No. 1 REALTOR® , with more homes sold, under contract and listed than any other agent.

Sustainability

Recycling • Resources • Lifestyle

By Sally Bethea

The November sky was beginning to darken, as evening approached. We had finished setting up our tents on a wooden platform surrounded by tea-colored water: naturally pure freshwater, stained by tannins released by decomposing vegetation. As the darkness deepened, I could see what appeared to be tiny lights a few hundred yards away, just above the waterline; the lights were in pairs and glowing red. Although there were no barriers, our guide reassured me that the alligators would not crawl onto our camping platform. I don’t recall sleeping much that night.

dioxide along the eastern ridge of the wildlife refuge. According to The New York Times, Mr. Babbitt rejected in advance all arguments that the swamp and its wildlife and forests would not be harmed by mining 38,000 acres for the whitening pigment used in paint, paper products, toothpaste and even Oreo cookies.

The great Okefenokee Swamp is threatened, again ABOVE THE WATER LINE

“You can study this, you can write all the documents in the world,” Mr. Babbitt said, “but they are not going to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there will be no impact. It isn’t going to happen.”

By Sally Bethea

Sally Bethea is the retired executive director of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and current board president of Chattahoochee Parks Conservancy whose mission

is to build a community of support for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

The next day was beautiful, as we continued to paddle our way through the Great Okefenokee Swamp, the largest intact, blackwater wilderness swamp in North America, which has been protected as a national wildlife refuge since 1937. The water was very low and, in some places, we had to pole through dense clusters of water lilies and floating peat mats to deeper water. Although it was more than thirty years ago, I still remember massive cypress trees and hardwoods hung with thousands of sparkling spider webs that caught the morning dew. In the distance, we could hear the bugle calls of sandhill cranes, migrating through Georgia to warmer climates.

A decade later, U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt stood on the edge of the Okefenokee in southeast Georgia and took an “unequivocal public stand” against a proposal by DuPont to strip mine titanium

Jerry McCollum vividly remembers the years in the late 1990s, when, as the head of the Georgia Wildlife Federation, he and other conservationists fought the existential threat to the nearly 700 square-mile wetland. Along with the biologists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency that manages the Okefenokee, Jerry worried that the huge mining operation could impact the swamp’s hydrology – its little-understood water balance – by disrupting the soil and sand ridge next to the refuge.

Now retired, Jerry told me recently about the endless meetings, late night negotiations and steadfast persistence that were required to force DuPont to agree – through what was dubbed a “corporate collaborative” (read: a process to wear out the opponents) – to satisfy the environmental concerns or terminate the mining project. Ultimately, DuPont was forced by the public and federal resource agencies to take its mining equipment elsewhere, after donating thousands of acres and funding local projects.

Jerry isn’t surprised that another mining company is threatening the Okefenokee today. More than a year ago, a company named Twin Pines Minerals (formed by failing coal mining interests) began buying

land near Trail Ridge, a geological structure formed nearly 250,000 years ago that serves as a natural barrier to keep water in the swamp depression. In July, Twin Pines applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Georgia to begin strip mining 2,400 acres of land to an average depth of fifty feet: phase one of a larger project that would impact a total of 12,000 acres over thirty years – a smaller footprint than the DuPont proposal, but just as potentially devastating.

Earlier this year, the Fish and Wildlife Service outlined its concerns of “substantial risks for significant affect to the environment.” The written comments noted that it’s unknown how mining deep into the sandy soil might alter Trail Ridge’s water holding and movement characteristics. Mining could impact water levels in the swamp and the St. Mary’s River, which begins in the Okefenokee.

Although Twin Pines has conducted environmental studies, government agencies, local businesses, residents and environmentalists say that the company must conduct more thorough evaluations through an environmental impact study, prior to any permitting consideration. They note that the internationally-famous swamp is too precious to be risked for short-term

gain to produce minerals that are located elsewhere.

We cannot assume that federal agencies, such as Fish and Wildlife Service and EPA, will be allowed to follow the recommendations of their scientists and oppose the Okefenokee mining permits under the current Administration. Just last month, EPA caved in to pressure from the White House and reversed its opposition to a massive open-pit copper and gold mine that endangers one of the world’s most important salmon fisheries in Bristol Bay, Alaska.

Please speak up and make your concerns known, even if you have never been to Pogo’s iconic swamp. Do it so your grandchildren may camp in the Great Okefenokee and see red eyes glowing in the night, as the sun fades over the tops of cypress trees.

WHAT

YOU CAN

DO: No later than Sept. 12, submit your comments to: US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah Division, Attention: Ms. Holly Ross, 1104 North Westover Boulevard, Suite 9, Albany, GA 31707 – or by email to holly.a.ross@ usace.army.mil.

Behind the Curtain

Southface partners with Fox Theatre on sustainability & efficiency efforts

Southface Institute and the Fox Theatre have partnered to further strengthen the venue’s sustainability efforts, save on its operating costs and make the theater an example of resource-efficiency for older buildings.

By implementing Southface’s BIT Building program, gives facility operators and managers the opportunity to implement performance improvements no matter the structure’s age, the Fox’s operations team will identity and implement changes to make the building even higher performing.

“In addition to the theater’s presence as an artistic hub, we have a robust history of commitment to sustainability and building efficiency in our previous work with Southface,” said Scott Christopher, director of operations for the Fox Theatre.

“In 2011, we joined the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge, in 2012, the Midtown Greenprints program and in 2014, Southface worked for us through Grants to Green. When we heard about BIT Building, we recognized it as an opportunity to further raise the bar.”

BIT Building’s Best Practices include improving water and energy use, improving indoor air quality and reducing waste through data tracking and auditing. As a participant of BIT Building, the Fox will be supported by a team of experts, and it will join the ranks of other participants who have implemented the practices, such as the Chicago Housing Authority, Google offices in four countries, Atlanta’s own Blue Heron Nature Preserve and Atlanta Community ToolBank.

There is a lot more activity at a theater than what is seen on stage, and BIT will help the Fox function at its most efficient, whether on low-use weekdays or busy weekends. At the initial BIT Building meeting, the team began defining possible solutions to help the building work smarter and healthier, such as tweaking the automatic flush functions in the bathrooms to reduce water usage and ionizing water, rather than chemically treating it.

The Fox Theatre’s past experience with efficiency upgrades, like LED lightbulbs in the iconic 5,000-bulb marquee or a replacement chiller in the basement, resulted in a 15 percent drop in electricity usage and 9 percent decrease in electric bills between 2009 and 2013.

City to conduct air testing after toxic chemical leak

The Atlanta City Council has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Smyrna and Cobb County to conduct air testing for toxic emissions.

The legislation is in response to reported elevated emissions of ethylene oxide – classified as a cancer-causing carcinogen by the Environmental Protect Agency – being produced by Smyrna-based Sterigenics, which produces sterilization solutions for a variety of industries. The agreement allows the city to proceed with conducting and monitoring air testing for ethylene oxide levels, which the city is directing out of an abundance of caution given the adjacency of the facility.

Sterigenics is located less than a mile from the City of Atlanta and borders the districts of Councilmembers Dustin Hillis and Councilmember J.P Matzigkeit, co-sponsors of the legislation.

ECO BRIEFS

Mulberry Fields Gone Wylde – the annual fundraiser for Mulberry Fields Garden – is Sept. 7 from 6-11 p.m. at 1301 Iverson St. NE. Hosted by Wylde Center and Friends of Mulberry Fields, this year’s event will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the community garden in Candler Park. Tickets: wyldecenter.org/mulberry-fields-gonewylde.

Wylde Center’s Fall Plant Sale is Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring vegetables, herbs, and flowers available for purchase. There will also be presentations on fall planting tips, live music and more from 2-5 p.m.

Park Pride is hosting its 30th anniversary Green Tie Gala on Sept. 19 from 6 – 9:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Backyard. Guests will enjoy fare from Chefs Holly Chute (Georgia Grown), Deborah VanTrece (Twisted Soul), Nick Leahy (TinTin) and Christian Rodriguez (High Road Ice Cream), and a special beer from Orpheus Brewing crafted specifically for park lovers. Tickets are on sale at parkpride.org/gala.

On Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 40 parking spaces in the Lenox Square parking lot along Peachtree Road will be transformed into mini-parks as part of PARK(ing) Day. The event also includes activities for the Buckhead lunch time crowd. Each of the mini-parks will have interactive elements as well, and visitors will be asked to vote for their favorites. Sign up before Sept. 20 to build your own mini-park. For more information visit livablebuckhead.com/parkingday.

Atlanta Audubon Society has officially recognized Pine Lake in DeKalb County as a Certified Wildlife Sanctuary. The certified area includes the 17-acre lake, park, two adjoining wetlands, and a bio-retention area. For more information on certifying a property as an Atlanta Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, visit atlantaaudubon.org/wildlifesanctuary-certification. For more information on Pine Lake, visit pinelakega.com.

Chastain Park Conservancy has announced installation is complete for Phase II of capital campaign, Play Chastain, funded by a Legacy Grant they received from Park Pride in the amount of $100,000. Play Chastain includes a climbing structure, sensory tunnel, additional musical equipment, toddler playhouses, and shade structures.

MARTA gets $2.5 million grant for electric buses

MARTA has been awarded a $2.6 million grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the purchase of six zero-emission battery electric buses to replace six diesel models.

Removing the 2005 diesel versions from the fleet will reduce MARTA’s emissions by 935 short tons of greenhouse gases and reduce energy consumption by 14.3 terajoules.

The energy saved by the deployment of the zero-emissions buses is equivalent to nearly 250 years of gas for the average American car driver. Zero-emissions vehicles also prevent the release of fine particulate matter – atmospheric pollutants suspended in the air in the form of minute solid particles or liquid droplets that can be hazardous to health and the environment.

“Receiving the Low-No grant will help MARTA put technologically advanced buses with low-to-no emission in densely populated areas with high ridership routes,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker. “This welcomed first step toward making our bus fleet environmentally friendly will have community-wide impact. We are grateful to the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) for their partnership and support in the application process and as we plan for installation and ongoing support of the fleet.”

CTE is a nonprofit organization focused on the advancement of clean, sustainable, innovative transportation and energy technologies. Since its inception in 1993, the organization has helped more than 200 companies improve their transportation technologies and fuels to reduce environmental impact.

The new buses, expected to be deployed by July 2021, will run on Routes 2 (Ponce de Leon/East Lake) and 102 (Ponce de Leon/Little Five Points). The routes share a common western terminus at North Avenue Station. On the eastern end, Route 2 is anchored at East Lake Station while Route 102 terminates at Candler Park/Edgewood Station. Destinations along the routes include Ponce City Market, the Fernbank Museum and a variety of retail and grocery destinations.

News You Can Eat

New Restaurant Roundup

Vietnamese, tacos, burgers, dessert on the menu at new eateries

By Collin Kelley

This is INtown’s third roundup of the year of new restaurants that have opened – or soon will – as the city’s dining options continue to grow. The announcement of new concepts and menus by local and international chefs keep arriving monthly as Atlanta’s reputation as a food destination continues to gain traction.

Le Colonial ▲

The famed restaurant that introduced fine French Vietnamese cuisine to America in New York more than 25 years ago has opened an outpost at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. The chic restaurant and lounge has 8,100-square-feet of space with an expansive terrace and private dining spaces. The sharable menu showcases “heirloom” Vietnamese recipes alongside contemporary takes on classic dishes featuring seafood, meats, and exotic herbs and spices from around the globe. Information: lecolonialatlanta.com.

Aziza

After opening the successful Italian market and wine bar Bellina Alimentari in Ponce City Market, Oliva Restaurants is paying homage to owner Tal Baum’s Israeli roots with the opening of this modern Israeli restaurant. Information: Aziza-restaurant. com.

VIȇTVANA Ph Ò ►

Noodle House

Modern Vietnamese fare is on the menu at this new restaurant opened by husband and wife team Dinh Tran and Khanh Dang at 2831 E. College Ave. in Avondale Estates. PhÒ noodles and banh mi bread are both prepared fresh inhouse daily. Information: vietvana.com.

◄ Sugar Factory American Brasserie

Satisfy your sweet tooth at the new two-story location in Midtown at 1080 Peachtree St. when it opens this month. The 8,000-square-foot restaurant will include a full-service café (crepes, salads, burgers) and confectionary shop, retail store, indoor and outdoor dining areas, two full-service bars and a private dining room, as well as a-one-of-akind Gummy Bears Chandelier over the main dining room. Information: sugarfactory.com.

Velvet Taco ▼

This Buchead joint at 35 West Paces Ferry Road is offering creative, playful tacos made with eclectic array of spices and flavors from around the world. Information: velvettaco.com.

▼Farm Burger Midtown

The burger joint has opened a location inside the new Whole Foods Market in Midtown at 22 14th St. The menu includes 100 percent grassfed beef burgers, as well as chicken and pork burgers, vegan offerings, fresh salads and more. Information: farmburger.com.

MetroFresh

Uptown

Mitchell Anderson’s new location of his popular soup and sandwich restaurant is now open at One Midtown Plaza, 1360 Peachtree St. Information: metrofreshatl.com.

Junior’s Pizza ►

Husband-and-wife team Alex and Jennifer Aton started Junior’s Pizza as a pop-up before deciding to open a traditional shop in Summerhill at 77 Georgia Ave. Along with homemade pizzas and sauces, the menu includes Greek salads, beer and wine and vegan-friendly pizza. Information: juniorspizzaatl.com.

Food Forethought: Jennifer Martin with Square Feet Studio

By Megan Volpert

This autumn, Food Forethought is taking a break from talking to food and beverage creators. Instead, we’re conversing with people who connect to the Atlanta restaurant scene in other ways – through architecture, photography, décor – to get a grander, more well-rounded sense of what our culinary scene is all about these days. This month, we’re in conversation with Jennifer Martin, an interior designer at Square Feet Studios who has helped shape the vibe of some of our favorite places to eat.

As a Georgia native and longtime resident of Atlanta, what are some of your favorite buildings with restaurants in them?

There aren’t really a lot of great pieces of architecture in Atlanta that also house restaurants coming to mind…but I really enjoy unexpected moments, so one of the first things that popped in my head is the Octane that BLDGS designed at the Woodruff Arts Center. That building is such a behemoth and has been modified so much over the years. The coffee shop is just this tiny, weird wedge on the inside that completely distorts your experience with mirrored ceilings, lighting, and acoustical treatments. But we do have a lot of great old buildings in Atlanta with amazing restaurants and bars in them. There’s an example in every neighborhood, and it’s one of the things I love most about this city.

You worked on several projects for the Castellucci Hospitality Group – Bar Mercado and Recess in Krog Street Market, the new Iberian Pig in Buckhead. Does it somehow help your design sense to repeatedly work with one client and get to know them well, or does designing a restaurant actually have more to do with the place’s prospective customers?

Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for the new Iberian Pig! But the space is truly stunning…I love the deep palette, and it makes me happy to see some of the same fabricators that we work with showing up in the space. One of my favorite things about what I do is the community I get to be a part of, from the folks that build the spaces and the things that fill them to the restaurant owners and their teams. It was great working with the Castelluccis on two restaurants back-to-back because we could develop a shorthand with each other and develop a deeper understanding of each other’s process and values. It’s different with every client, so the more you can deepen that relationship the better. I think the Castelluccis do an exceptional job understanding the markets they are moving into, so they made our job easy in that sense. But more and more we are brought on board because our process always starts with the big questions first. Even if we are hired to focus on an interior space we’re still thinking about the broader context, which includes the community that will be served and narrows down to how the bartender mixes a drink or pours a beer.

How is decorating a standalone restaurant different from decorating for a food hall or in a mixed use development?

One of the things that drew me to Square Feet Studio is that we intentionally approach every project from multiple scales. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach, and each of us in the studio thinks about different aspects

Continued on page 36

of the projects from different perspectives. There is a lot of creative tension, and we work collaboratively across the entire studio. It’s one of the things that our clients don’t see a lot of because they are typically interfacing with 1-3 members of the studio, but we apply the same brain power and multi-scaled approach to every project we work on. Probably the main generative starting point for me is materiality, even if I’m looking at a site plan…I want to know if it’s a granite curb or a concrete curb! I let that inform how I move across scales. Of course, this isn’t the same for everyone in the studio, but that’s the beauty of working with this group.

What’s the one restaurant in Atlanta whose design you’re in love with even though you had nothing to do with it?

My favorite restaurant design is the most unassuming…Global Grub Collective in East Atlanta. It’s not really “designed” at all, but the atmosphere is perfect. There are a few little food stalls, which are really nothing more than residential appliances and metro shelves. The seating is a row of picnic tables against the wall. But the vendors are all so friendly and have so much personality. They’re busting out incredible food in these tiny spaces and keeping the money in their pockets instead of spending it on bells and whistles. It gets to the heart of what foodservice is all about: community and hospitality. And delicious food. I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.

The Square Feet Studio offices are right on the BeltLine in Inman Park. Where do you like to go for lunch?

I have an addiction to Recess. I order it online, walk up there, and it’s ready. I usually bring it back to eat on our office patio. I’m so glad the Castelluccis opened this concept at Krog Street Market, because we really didn’t have many healthy options in walking distance for a while. I also love LottaFrutta, which has been around for such a long time and is still great.

Psychologists say that red makes you hungry. Have you found this to be a useful idea, or what other kinds of things do you take into account when picking colors for a food place?

For me, color usually develops out of the materials: woods, fabrics, stones, metals, wallcoverings, etc. I don’t necessarily differentiate my approach based on the type of project. I will say that I’m having a lot of fun thinking about paint right now, which I used to hate. I always thought you couldn’t really do much with just paint, but I’m questioning that and am having a lot of really great conversations with my colleague Carolyn about paint palettes. I’ll probably start testing some of this out on my house and see what happens…

Can you tell whether a restaurant will be good just by looking at it? Beyond the menu, what really makes a new customer walk in the door of a place they don’t know?

It may be different for me than for someone that doesn’t design for a living, but I think everyone appreciates authenticity. It can be hard to balance that when designing a restaurant, because often restaurants are trying to create a specific experience. So how do you inject a little bit of escapism and theater without it feeling contrived? I think lighting is critical and is probably the most powerful tool to create an atmosphere that sets the tone without relying on gimmicks. I don’t like being hit over the head with a “theme” unless I’m going to Trader Vic’s or something like that.

You’re working with Chef Joey Ward to design his two new spaces, Southern Belle and Georgia Boy, side-by-side in the Plaza Theater complex. Does one space inform the other, or are the two vibes totally separate?

There’s a small area where the two spaces converge and pull design cues from each other. I think transitional spaces (“seams”) are very important, and they emphasize the intentionality of the design of each space. But aside from that, the two concepts are completely different.

How does designing for the showmanship of the 16-seat chef’s counter at Georgia Boy require different considerations than designing for a restaurant dining room where the kitchen is usually hidden?

The chef’s counter is all about the energy and presentation of the dishes that Joey will be preparing. I’ve been thinking about the painting technique chiaroscuro, where significant elements of a painting are foregrounded by a light source and the periphery is enveloped by darkness. So we’ve focused the drama on this sort of “stage” and on the dining surfaces to make the food and the production really stand out. I’d love it if you can’t even see the walls in the space. I have a feeling we’ll be playing around with the dimmers and directing the lights a lot once it all comes together to get it just right.

You’ve been working on interior design for the Alderwood, in Santa Cruz. How does your Southern sensibility translate to California?

I love working on projects in Atlanta, but it’s also a nice break to be in a different setting. It opens your eyes to new things and inhibits you from taking things for granted. I felt like we had a whole new palette at our disposal, and Chef Jeff Wall (who we worked with previously at Kimball House) was such a great collaborator. I feel like we were able to keep things fresher and simpler than what people are geared towards in Atlanta and the Southeast (in general). The project just feels like Santa Cruz to me…And Jeff is an incredible photographer, so really his photos clued me into a sensitivity he possesses that we tried to capture in the space. He is very attentive to detail, so we kept the palette very simple, but elevated and authentic. His contractor did an amazing job and put a lot of care into the build-out.

You live in an old shotgun house on the south side, so kitchen space is probably tight. Any tips for how to make a tiny kitchen more useful or more welcoming? Always have music playing, and keep it simple. I love the section in Anthony Bourdain’s book Kitchen Confidential where he outlines what you need in a kitchen…It’s about being intentional. No extra silly things that have one job or a million kinds of knives. I like to take things slow when I’m cooking, and it’s one of the ways that I unwind and spend time with my boyfriend during the week. I think it’s important not to treat anything too preciously. I have a white marble countertop that I cut lemons on, spill wine and coffee on, and generally abuse. It’s worn-in and wellloved, not pristine. I wish people wouldn’t be afraid to let their spaces age and patina through use and time.

QUICK BITES

Black Restaurant Week will showcase Atlanta’s hottest restaurants, food trucks, executive chefs and mixologists from Sept. 1 - 15 while calling attention to minority inequality in the food and beverage industry. BRW will partner with local, blackowned restaurants and food trucks to offer prix fixe menus for customers starting at $10. In addition to the restaurant offerings, BRW will host a variety of events designed to expand awareness and increase support for Atlanta’s community of black culinary professionals. For more information, visit ATLBRW.com

► The 13th annual Kirkwood Wine Stroll is on Friday, Sept. 20, 7 to 10 p.m. in downtown Kirkwood. There will be more than 80 wines to sample, craft beer, food and music. Food vendors will include Urban Pie, Kirkyard Public House, Poppa Corns Gourmet Popcorn and Artistic Soul Catering. The music lineup includes Elegant Bachelors, Cosmic Debris, PRINCE: A Celebration of the Genius, Bonaventure Quartet, Will Scruggs, The Bullfrogs, Brian Revels, and Vivian Slade. Proceeds from the event are used to enhance the downtown business district and help fund other Kirkwood nonprofit organizations and events. The event is for those 21 and older and photo ID is required. Tickets are $40 at kirkwoodwinestroll. com.

The PopUp Tour, featuring shipping containers transformed into a German beer garden and more, is coming to Midtown Sept. 24-28 between 12th and 13th streets. There will be a Bauhaus-themed beer garden featuring hot pretzels and Haufbrau beer; decked-out tour bus equipped with virtual reality tours of German cities; giant screens for viewing soccer matches, food trucks featuring German fare; and an interactive kids’ lab. The PopUp Tour is the official roadshow of Wunderbar Together, a yearlong celebration of US-German friendship across the United States. Find out more at events. wunderbartogether.org.

Blood, Sweat & Beers 2019, the inaugural Beer Pong Challenge presented by Marketwake, will be held Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. at New Realm Brewing. There will be beer, food, music, silent auction, yard games and, of course, beer pong. Proceeds benefit New Story, a nonprofit that creates 3D printed houses for the homeless. Tickets are available by searching for the event at Eventbrite.com.

The Atlanta Bourbon Fest will be held Sept. 7 at City Winery, 650 North Ave., from 1 to 4 p.m. with VIP starting at noon. There will be over 50 bourbons and whiskeys to sample as well as a few beer and

wine options. There will be live music upstairs and DJ Aetii downstairs. Food will be available for purchase from a select menu from City Winery. The list of bourbons and whiskeys will be posted on the website once they’re confirmed. More information and tickets can be found at atlantabourbonfestival.com.

The Atlanta Craft Cocktail Fest will also be held on Sept. 7 from 6 to 10 p.m. at City Winery. There will be a wide variety of specialty cocktails available to sample as well as a small selection of beer and wine. Live music will be upstairs and DJ Aetii will be downstairs playing your favorite dance music. Food will be available for purchase from a select menu from City Winery. More details about the event will be posted on the website as they are finalized at atlantacraftcocktailfestival.com.

Meals On Wheels Atlanta will host its fourth annual Power Luncheon on Sept. 6 at 11:30 a.m. at Flourish Atlanta in Buckhead. This year, the local nonprofit welcomes acclaimed costume designer, Ruth E. Carter, as guest speaker. The first African American to win an Oscar for “Best Costume Design” for her work on the Marvel film Black Panther earlier this year, Carter will be moderated by SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace for an intimate conversation at MOWA’s Power Luncheon. For more information about MOWA and this year’s event, visit www. mealsonwheelsatlanta.com.

The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm will host the biggest community initiative in the team’s history, Million Meal Pack, on Oct. 5 at State Farm Arena. More than 5,000 volunteers are needed to help assemble the meals that will be distributed throughout the Atlanta metro area under the direction of Feeding Children Everywhere, an

organization dedicated to creating a hunger-free world. The food assembly will require six 90-minute shifts with 700 to 900 volunteers each to reach the target number of meals. Volunteer now at hawks.com/mealpack.

This fall, James Beard Award-winning chef Linton Hopkins will open an outpost of H&F Burger in Asheville, North Carolina. This will be Hopkins’ first restaurant to open outside of his hometown of Atlanta.

The winners of the 2019 Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards were announced recently at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta. The GRACE Awards Gala is the Georgia Restaurant Association’s (GRA) annual black tie event honoring Georgia’s restaurant industry. The winners included: Regynald Washington, President of Paradies Lagardère Dining Division (Lifetime Achievement); Retail Data Systems (Industry Partner of the Year); Georgia Mountain Food Bank (Distinguished Service); Meherwan Irani, CEO Chai Pani Restaurant Group (Diversity Leadership); Doug Turbush, Seed Hospitality Group (Restaurateur of the Year – Small/Independent); Taco Mac (Restaurateur of the Year – Large/ Corporate); Donte Jenkins, Dantanna’s (Employee of the Year); and Andres Loaiza, Aria (Manager of the Year).

Regynald Washington

The Studio

A Decade of Art

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine marks 10th anniversary

2019 Participating Artists

A City for All (sculptures)

• Mike Wsol

• James Davis

• D’Andre Brooks

• Matthias Neumann

• Van Jensen & Wilfredo Torres

• Allen Peterson

• William D. Massey III

• Atlanta Celebrates Photography

• Joni Younkins-Herzog

• Julia Hill

• Ben Pierce

• Nathan Pierce

BeltLine Walls (murals)

• Maite Nazario

• Eugene V Byrd III

• Mr. Fangs

• Ndubisi Okoye

• George F. Baker III

• Danielle Brutto

• Mikhaela Cherry

BeltLine After Dark

• Andrew Catanese, Eddie Farr, S. Shayne

• Chiwuzo Ife Okwumabua & Sunni Williams

• City Gate Dance Theater

• Liquid Sky

• Mausiki Scales & The Common Ground Collective and Wordsmiths of the West End

• DeKalb School of the Arts Jazz Band

• TxLips

• Pete Peterson and the Blues in the House Band

• Grand Prize Winners from Last Year

• Sister Sai

• Kimberlin Bolton & Terp Vairin

BeltLine Flow

• Cannupa Hanska Luger

• Throckmorton Uke Band

• Kinetic Light

• Duncan Shirah

• ATL TVHEAD

Special Projects

• Arbitrary Living x #ChopItUpATL (Quianah Upton)

• TILA Studios x Soap Goods Creative

• The Atlanta Opera

• Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective

Artist in Residence Program

• Scholar – Benae Beamon

• Artist – Dr. Fahamu Pecou

• Curator – Courtney Brooks

By Collin Kelley

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine is marking its 10th anniversary with new sculptures, murals, events and performances along the Eastside, Westside and Northeast Trails.

This year’s celebration actually began in July with the return of BeltLine Walls, where muralists painted on the Northeast Trail behind Mason Fine Art gallery for two weeks.

At press time, more art was being installed along the trail and events and performances were being finalized, so be sure to visit art.beltline.org for the full schedule.

One event that is set is the beloved Lantern Parade, which returns Saturday, Sept. 21, at dark on the Eastside Trail. More than 70,000 took part in last year’s event, which steps off in the Old Fourth Ward and marches to Piedmont Park. There will be many opportunities during September for participants to make their own colorful lanterns during a series of workshops. More details can be found at art.beltline.org/lantern-parade.

“Art on the Atlanta BeltLine is an intersection of community, public art and diverse self-expression,” said Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine Inc. “For ten years, we’ve brought the exhibition to the neighborhoods along the Atlanta BeltLine corridor, reflecting the culture of each community and presenting art that is accessible and varied.”

Support and funding for this project is provided by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the National Endowment for the Arts. Northside Hospital, Georgia Natural Gas, 10th and Monroe LLC, and Ponce City Market are presenting sponsors for the 2019 exhibition.

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Sunday in the Park

Oakland Cemetery plans

41st annual festival on Sept. 29

On Sept. 29, Historic Oakland Foundation will welcome visitors to its 41st annual Sunday in the Park festival, a free event that celebrates the local communities that make Oakland what it is today and explores how historic Oakland Cemetery, surrounding neighborhoods, and the city of Atlanta have changed over time.

From noon to 6 p.m. there will be living history theater performances, performances by the Atlanta Opera, Big Bethel AME Heaven Bound choir and others, cemetery tours, food trucks, live music, storytelling, a kids’ zone, a historical costume contest, and more. The event also includes a market with one-of-a-kind wares from local artists.

“This year Sunday in the Park features a variety of new highlights, including the grand opening of the cemetery’s newly restored Women’s Comfort Station and an impressive lineup of author meet-and-greets,” said Mary Margaret Fernandez, Special Events & Volunteer Coordinator at Historic Oakland Foundation. “These experiences, combined with the return of our children’s play area, tours, musical performances, and costume contest make for a fun and family-friendly event that is not to be missed!”

Oakland’s fall event season begins with its Fall Plant Sale, held Sept. 27 and 28. After Sunday in the Park, the cemetery hosts its 10th annual Run Like Hell 5K on October 12, followed by two weekends of the acclaimed Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours, which sold out in July.

“Sunday in the Park is our longest-running event and every year we find new ways to explore Oakland’s amazing history and welcome thousands of visitors to the cemetery for free. We’re so excited about the Atlanta Opera being a part of our fall festivities as we combine two distinct Atlanta institutions and bring new life to Oakland Cemetery,” said Richard Harker, Co-Executive Director at Historic Oakland Foundation.

Thirty percent of historic Oakland Cemetery has been restored in the Foundation’s 43-year history. Proceeds from Sunday in the Park and other fall events benefit the preservation efforts.

For more information, visit oaklandcemetery.com/SIP.

Deloitte pledges $45k to raise profile of The Wren’s Nest

Deloitte recently kicked off a long-term partnership with the home of Joel Chandler Harris – The Wrens Nest – to raise the home’s profile in the West End community and make it a more valuable resource for its neighbors. The investment will total about $45,000 and will include beautification efforts as well as storytelling technologies and improvements to allow the home to serve as an education destination for area schools.

In June, about 60 employees from Deloitte’s Atlanta office volunteered at The Wren’s Nest as part of the company’s Impact Day performing beautification work and doing pro bono consulting on improving the home’s outreach to the community.

But this was more than a “one-and-done” visit of volunteer service. Deloitte that day was launching a summer-long community collaboration to help transform The Wren’s Nest into a more connected, impactful and education-focused asset for the West End.

As the former home of author Joel Chandler Harris, compiler of the Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit folktales, The Wren’s Nest is channeling its storytelling past by creating an outdoor education facility that will enable students from the surrounding communities to participate in interactive, values-based experiences such as the importance of creative thought, social inclusion and the environmental sciences.

On Impact Day, Deloitte volunteers enhanced the 2.5-acre pocket park behind the home, bringing back to life a garden storytelling circle and connecting the circle to the historic home with a new gravel path. They also developed a dedicated picnic table area that can accommodate more than 150 students and planted a community garden that includes some of Brer Rabbit’s favorite treats, including strawberries.

Over the summer, the Wren’s Nest will commission a local artist to incorporate character sculptures from the Brer Rabbit tales. QR-code enabled technology within the storytelling circle and garden also will be implemented. This technology will preserve the African-American folklore that Harris celebrated and introduced to the country.

Deloitte professionals also are working with the organization’s leadership to develop a strategic marketing and communications plan for the nonprofit using casebased studies and visioning activities.

“This home has been part of the West End community for over 100 years,” said Maxwell Collins, a consultant with Deloitte Tax LLP, who led the volunteering efforts at The Wren’s Nest. “It’s an institution, but it could do even more to help address the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods, to be a true resource for the community.”

In all, Deloitte’s contributions are valued at about $45,000, which includes materials (mulch, gravel, soil, etc.) for the Impact Day work in addition to the pro bono consulting services for the marketing plan and a $20,000 grant to complete the outdoor transformation.

Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s most admired brands, including nearly 90 percent of the Fortune 500 and more than 5,000 private and middle market companies.

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Jazz It Up! Callanwolde concert series is back for the fall

Jazz on the Lawn is back at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for a series of fall concerts featuring local and internationally known artists, including the legendary Francine Reed.

In partnership with Fidelity Bank, The Amphitheater at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is hosting concerts by Eddie Lopez & Orquesta MaCuba (Sept. 6), Bob Baldwin (Sept. 20), Joey “Papa J” Sommerville (Oct. 4) and Joe Gransden with special guest Francine Reed (Oct. 11).

Guests are invited to bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy the concerts surrounded by the natural beauty of the Callanwolde Amphitheater. Fox Bros. barbecue and beverages (soda, water, wine, beer) will be for sale at the concert, as well.

General admission tickets are $25 online via Eventbrite.com or $30 at the door. Season tickets and VIP tables are also available. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. for all shows, rain or shine.

Free parking is available onsite for VIP guests and first-come, first-serve basis for general admission ticketholders. Additional parking will be available across the street at Metro City Church.

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The Play’s The Thing

Actor’s Express artistic director receives Kennedy Center award

Actor’s Express Artistic Director

Freddie Ashley has been awarded the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Medallion of Excellence. He was presented with the honor on Aug. 4 at the conclusion of the 2019 MFA Playwrights’ Workshop at the Kennedy Center.

Each year KCACTF honors individuals or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theatre and who have significantly dedicated their time, artistry and enthusiasm to the development of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Most importantly, recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to the values and goals of KCACTF and to excellence in educational theatre. It is the most prestigious award given by KCACTF and is considered one of the great honors in theatre education.

Ashley, who serves as the Vice President of the National New Play Network and is an Assistant Professor of Acting at Kennesaw State University, received the award in honor of his contributions to KCACTF’s annual MFA Playwrights’ Workshop. He has worked both as a director and dramaturg for this workshop since 2009, having collaborated with such playwrights as Michael Lew, Lindsey Ferrentino and Amy E. Witting.

“It feels somehow greedy to receive an award for doing something that brings me such joy,” Ashley said. “Working with the MFA Playwrights’ Workshop and the National Dramaturgy Intensive is something I have found meaningful because it brings me into contact with powerful new work, as well as with the artists who will shape the American theatre to come.”

‘Revival’ concert will benefit Fox Theatre Institute Sept. 13

The Fox Theatre Institute will mark 10 years of preservation efforts and supporting historic theatre spaces with a special benefit concert, “Revival,” on Friday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. at the Fox.

Hosted by Kevn Kinney, the evening will feature performances by Drive-By Truckers, Drivin N Cryin, Dodd & The Councilmen featuring Bill Berry of R.E.M. and Michelle Malone.

There will also be live and silent auctions featuring music memorabilia, getaways, dining packages and more. Participants can access the silent auction portal by texting “REVIVAL” to 243725. Everyone who registers will be automatically entered to win a pair of tickets to see the Avett Brothers in November with Marquee Club presented by Lexus access and a stay at the Georgian Terrace the night of the show. The silent auction will end Sept. 13 at 11:59 p.m.

Tickets to ‘Revival’ start at $35 and are available for purchase at FoxTheatre.org, the Fox Theatre Ticket Office at 660 Peachtree St. and by calling (855) 285-8499. Access to the Marquee Club presented by Lexus is also available as an add-on for $55 per person or free for Marquee Club members.

Concert attendees will also be invited to participate in a live “Fund-A-Mission” driven by a Rocktioneer from the Fox’s stage. This live component will help raise money for FTI’s educational arm, “Fox in a Box,” a program that directly benefits students throughout Georgia. Regions Bank will match what the audience is able to raise in this interactive, five-minute fundraiser. Patrons are encouraged to set up their accounts in advance of the show in order to participate with ease the night of the event by again texting “REVIVAL”to 243725.

For more information about the work of the FTI, visit foxtheatreinstitute.org.

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Your family’s most comprehensive online guide to arts and cultural entertainment Visit AtlantaPlanIt.com for more upcoming events.

VISUAL ARTS

A Route Campagne - Impressionist Works From The Melamed Family: This exhibition will feature more than thirty-five original works of art by late 19th and early 20th century artists. Daily. Free-$5. museum.oglethorpe.edu

Change - Centennial Of The 19th Amendment: This exhibition explores the decadeslong struggle for women’s suffrage as well as the key groups, their strategies, and their leaders. Daily. Free-$21.50. atlantahistorycenter.com

Eva Magill-Oliver - Art Over Dinner: Magill-Oliver creates delicate, meditative collages, drawings and paintings that reflect and explore different elements of the natural world. Sep 22. $85. artfarmatserenbe.com

Form And Function - Shoe Art By

Chris Francis: ► Francis blurs the line between art and fashion, implementing unconventional techniques and materials.- Tues-Sun. $5-$10. scadfash. org

Kaleidoscope Katrantzou: An exhibition celebrating the 10th anniversary of the coveted designer’s eponymous label Mary Katrantzou. Closes Sep 22. $10. scadfash. org

People Of The World: A group exhibition by the art students at Decatur’s Academe of the Oaks High School. Mon-Fri. Free. differenttrainsgallery.com

◄Something Over Something Else: The first exhibition to bring dozens of works from Romare Bearden’s eminent “Profile” series together since its debut nearly 40 years ago. Tue-Sun. Free-$14.50. high.org

The Pursuit Of Everything - Maira Kalman’s Books For Children: The High premieres this colorful exhibition exploring the extensive catalog of Kalman’s imaginative stories and illustrations. Tue-Sun. $14.50. high.org

Wire & Wood - Designing Iconic Guitars: Explore the basics of guitar design while also considering how some guitars have become icons and how they reached that status. Tue-Sun. Free-$8. museumofdesign.org

PERFORMANCE ART

12 Angry Jurors: Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an innercity teen. Sep 13-29. $19-$24. act3productions.org

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Two pairs of lovers (one requited, one... well, it’s complicated) and a rag-tag group of thespians find themselves lost in the woods in this Shakespeare play Closes Sep 11. $15-$45. shakespearetavern.com

Your family’s most comprehensive online guide to arts and cultural entertainment Visit AtlantaPlanIt.com for more upcoming events.

Continued from page 46

Becoming Nancy: A huge-hearted new musical that weaves a story of family bonds, first loves, and the courage it takes to find your own spotlight. Daily. $10-$85. alliancetheatre. org

Buddy Guy: One of the most celebrated blues guitarists of his generation performs. Sep 11. $35.50-$275. atlantasymphony.org

Dusty’s Ragtime & Novelties: Ragtime piano genius and part-time peddler of healing tonics, Professor Dusty Bottoms keeps the turn-of-the-century spirit alive with his RagPop stylings. Sep 8. $10. redlightcafe.com

Flowers: The stories of five women whose lives intertwine as they deal with the tense situations life bestowed on them. Sep 7. $25. atlantaworkshopplayers.com

▲Gipsy Kings: The band largely responsible for bringing the joyful sounds of progressive pop-oriented flamenco to the world. Sep 6. $28-$187. classicchastain.com

Kevin James: The comedian began his career as a stand-up on the Long Island scene before being discovered at the 1996 Montreal Comedy Festival. Sep 26. $42-$82. cobbenergycentre.com

King Crimson: If there is one group that embodies progressive rock, it’s this band. Sep 29. $49-$120. cobbenergycentre.com

Kingdom Hearts Orchestra: An unforgettable score and new thrilling video sequences are in store for both video game and music fans alike. Sep 14. $59-$115. foxtheatre.org

◄ Love Fear Loss: Brazilian choreographer Ricardo Amarante’s ballet follows the love story of the late songstress through her classic works. Sep 20-22. $20-$130. atlantaballet.com

Mark Knopfler: One of the most celebrated British guitar heroes to emerge in the late 1970s and ‘80s. Sep 4. $64-$359. classicchastain.com

Maxwell: Enormously important in defining and shaping the neo-soul movement that rose to prominence over the latter half of the ‘90s. Sep 27. $45-$165. classicchastain.com

Paul Anka: The crooner honors Frank Sinatra, who influenced his career. Sep 10. $49.50 to $149.50. atlantasymphony.org

Progpower USA XX: This festival gives bands that have never performed in the States a chance to test the waters. Sep 4-7. $95.centerstage-atlanta.com

Roald Dahl’s Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: The perfect recipe for a delectable treat with songs from the original film. Sep 24-28. $31-$125. foxtheatre.org

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Six Kids Improv: An Atlanta-based improv troupe composed of six young adults who refuse to grow up. Sep 6. $10. relapsecomedy.com

The B-52s: The Athens band became one of the biggest success stories

emerge from the underground in the late ‘70. Sep 7. $40$450. classicchastain. com

Vanessa Williams: The singer, actress and fashion designer is slated to perform alongside the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Sep 14. $29.50-205. atlantasymphony.org

Star Wars And More - The Music Of John Williams: Experience the family-friendly symphonic event featuring beloved scores from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and more. Sep 28. $19.50-$89.50. atlantasymphony.org

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Midtown Lantern Parade

The second annual Parliament of Owls stepped off from Colony Square with plenty of colorful lanterns and enthusiastic participants. Photos by Asep Mawardi.

Focus on Education Journey of Transformation

By Lauren Leathers

Under the watchful eye of Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, Atlanta Public School’s continuous improvement in Georgia Milestone test scores and graduation rates are a sign the district’s “Journey of Transformation” is working. This year, APS achieved its highest ever rates of proficiency on the Milestone tests since first implemented by the state in 2015.

However, Carstarphen said there is still work to be done. The graduation rate for 2018 was 79.9 percent, an all-time high, but still below the state average of 81.6 percent and other local school districts’ rates. Additionally, the Milestone exams, which are given at the end of each school year to measure how well students have learned the skills outlined in stateadopted content standards in English, math, science and social studies, show progress, but Carstarphen said they do not provide an accurate examination of a child’s growth as a whole.

“In my professional career, we’ve been raised in our national conscious around high-stakes accountability,” she said. “That’s proven to be good for some, but what we’ve learned over time is that these assessments are one measure of what a child has learned, but they don’t tell the whole story.”

Since APS’ cheating scandal in 2009, in which 3,728 APS students were potentially impacted by teacher and administrators correcting answers on the Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT), Carstarphen has made strides to redeem the district. She’s put safeguards into place to ensure a scandal of this capacity never happens again including ethics training, lowering the high-stakes testing environment and creating an accountability department.

“There’s a component of this work that is about making sure that we are holding people accountable to a more balanced scorecard around our work,” she said. “Yes, it’s about

academics, but it’s also about the culture of the school, leadership and professional development. We just want to put together a bigger package that isn’t unnaturally focused on the outcome of test scores at one time in any given year.”

Carstarphen said the district provides tutoring and wraparound services for student victims of the cheating scandal called Target 2021, which aids support with individual learning plans and postsecondary options.

According to Carstarphen, research studies show that Atlanta is the most unequal city in the United States when it comes to income disparity. She says many schools in APS are incredibly poor and have been trapped in intergenerational poverty for decades.

“In my work, I feel like we are lightyears away from lifting barriers of intergenerational poverty for kids in Atlanta,” she said. “We’ve had a balanced budget the last five years and we have one for this year too. We want to be able to address that and we believe the resources for those schools need to be increased. While we have access and collectible digest covers that, we’ve found there is a challenge in our ability to control how much of that digest comes to APS.”

After having her contract extended three times, Carstarphen is nearing her sixth year as superintendent. That being said, her five year plan coming to an end. In the next year, she plans to focus more on equity and protecting that collectible digest.

“I’ve made it clear to the community that I want to stay in APS,” she said. “ I believe in the work we are doing and we haven’t fully finished the job that I was recruited to do. Atlanta is still recovering from the cheating scandal – it takes a longer time to turn around a district with these kind of deep issues from broken infrastructure to corruption. We talk a lot about intergenerational poverty too, but when it comes to what the system has to overcome, the struggle is real.”

APS Milestone scores and graduation rates are up, but there’s still work to be done

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen (Courtesy APS)

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Duda|Paine Architects have completed the new Emory University Student Center project. The 130,000-square-foot facility includes spaces for dining, multipurpose rooms for events and gatherings and socializing. The historic Alumni Memorial University Center and its marble façade are preserved and integrated into the new design.

Recent studies show that teachers spend an average of $564/year of their own money on school supplies for their classroom, even though the pay gap between teachers and other professionals is now the largest on record. To help alleviate this burden, Georgia-Pacific’s paper towel brand Sparkle teamed up with The Kids in Need Foundation and Dollar General for a new initiative – Operation: Stock the Classroom – to provide more than $450,000 in cash and in-kind product donations over the next three years to recognize and support deserving teachers and their students. The initiative will help provide free school supplies, such as paper towels, to classrooms across the country and students most in need. Barack and Michelle Obama Academy second grade teacher Johneita Cohens was selected from hundreds of applicants as one of the initiative’s Featured Teachers and will be rewarded with a school supplies for the 20192020 year.

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has launched a new online customer service tool called Let’s Talk! The tool is designed to make it easier for the public to connect and engage with APS, ask questions, offer feedback, or share ideas. Let’s Talk! can be accessed through the district’s website at atlantapublicschools.us or through the APS Mobile App using a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. Download the APS mobile app from the Google or Apple store. Users can access topic areas, including transportation, safety and security, school nutrition, facilities, Go Teams, individual schools, special education, human resources, Board of Education, general inquiries and much more.

Addison Jurin Dascher was awarded the 2019 Joseph P. Reed Alumni Scholarship by the Lakeside High School Foundation. The award includes $1000 to be used at the college or university of her choice. The scholarship ¬– named in honor of a former Lakeside principal – is given annually and recognizes a graduating student who has excelled in academic and extracurricular activities and has served the Lakeside community.

photography by Edie Butler ‘21

Johneita Cohens

Education Alternatives

New private schools offer choices for parents and students

By Collin Kelley

For parents and students looking for more focused, private education, Intown has many options, including new schools and expansions of existing facilities to offer even more choices.

New Schools

Primrose School of Atlanta Westside

The 400th Primrose School has open on the city’s Westside. At full capacity, the new school, which is located on Marietta Boulevard, will create more than 40 full-time jobs and provide high-quality early education and care for more than 205 children and their families. “As parents ourselves, we know firsthand the importance of high-quality early education and care,” said Natalie Williams, Primrose School of Atlanta Westside franchise owner. “Research shows early education contributes to a lifelong passion for learning, so we’re thrilled to offer this experience to more families in Atlanta who may be struggling to find quality care just like we did.” For more information, visit PrimroseAtlantaWestside.com.

Buckhead Preparatory School

A new Intown campus is opening in September at Grace Lutheran Church, 1155 N. Highland Ave. in Virginia-Highland. The academic program will serve children ages 2-6 years. For more information, visit buckheadprep.com.

School Expansions

CONNECTING LEARNING TO LIFE

The Weinberg Early Learning Center

WELC at The Temple in Midtown kicked off its 16th year with an expansion that includes a brand-new infant room for 3 to 12 month old children, a young toddler classroom for 12 to 18 month old children, a state-of-the-art STEM lab, renovated interiors and a new director. The new infant room features a low 3:1 student-teacher ratio, a warm and nurturing environment and a stimulating and age appropriate play based curriculum. Focused on play-based learning, WELC’s curriculum blends secular and Judaic studies to provide a balanced educational environment for its students. For more information, visit the-temple.org/welc.

Atlanta Youth Academy

Atlanta SunTrust Community Capital, a subsidiary of SunTrust Banks, Inc., is providing $3.5 million of New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) equity, coupled with a $5.1 million bridge loan to support the expansion of the Atlanta Youth Academy’s (AYA) private school campus which serves Pre-K – 8th grade students. The 45,600 square foot expansion project will help provide high-quality primary education to low-income students across the Atlanta region, and is located in the Norwood Manor/Thomasville Heights neighborhood in southeast Atlanta. The project will result in the expansion of the current school staff from 25 to 35. The new school facility will also allow enrollment to grow from 150 students to 225 students. Construction is anticipated to be complete in time for the 2020-21 school year. For more information, visit AtlantaYouthAcademy. com.

Ron Clark Academy

The Ryan Marshall Performing Arts Center, named in honor of the late RCA alumnus from the class of 2013, will allow the school to increase the capacity for its educator training program, explore additional opportunities for customized workshops, and train an estimated 150,000 educators over the next 10 years. The performing arts center will add a 42,000 square foot multipurpose facility, which features a large auditorium, grand rotunda and multiple classrooms. With the additional excitement of adding 4th graders to the student body this fall, RCA expects the new center to open next spring. For more information, visit ronclarkacademy.com.

for college for life forever

BEYOND CURIOSITY

At Galloway, students are inspired to be fearless learners, to embrace challenges, and to discover more about themselves and the world around them.

An independent Catholic school in Chastain Park, forming students 6 months-12th grade. holyspiritprep.org

Holy Spirit Prep embraces the traditions of Catholic education to form students of deep faith, advanced intellect, and heroic virtue.

COME VISIT RSVP for a weekly tour at holyspiritprep.org/visit.

Healing Children and Families

Nonprofit CHRIS 180 opens new education center

CHRIS 180, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to healing children and families with holistic, trauma informed health services, recently hosted a grand opening for its Center of Excellence for Training, Education and Connections.

Founded in 1981, CHRIS 180 (an acronym for Creativity, Honesty, Respect, Integrity and Safety) has transformed more than 70,000 lives through its programs.

The 20,000 square foot center, located at 1030 Fayetteville Road SE, will serve as an updated, multi-purpose facility for CHRIS 180’s CHRIS Training Institute, Adoptions and Keeping Families Together programs, a ropes course for therapeutic activities as well as corporate team building, and administrative offices. As a result of the center, CHRIS 180 will expand counseling through the CHRIS Counseling Center and more than double its footprint from serving 6,500 people in 2016 to over 14,000 in 2020.

“We believe every person should be treated with dignity and respect and that each individual should have access to high quality trauma informed services, so being able to more than double our capacity and extend our services to those with need is a huge achievement and very exciting,” said the organization’s CEO Kathy Colbenson. “We are so very grateful to the philanthropic community for their investment in our mission.”

The EarthCraft Platinum certified Center of Excellence was completed thanks to the Turning Point Capital campaign, which raised over $15 million dollars to expand trauma training, professional development for the human service workforce, counseling, and other services in the metro area. The campaign enabled CHRIS 180 to not only complete the construction of the center, but to provide homes for high need youth – including siblings – in foster care; a duplex to focus on innovative family preservation services to strengthen families and to provide assessments for high need children in foster care; upgrades to CHRIS 180’s Summit Trail Apartments for young adults who are homeless or aging out of foster care; and an integrated health clinic in partnership with Mercy Care to provide physical and behavioral health services in the area, which is expected to open later this year.

“In the state of Georgia alone, there are 10,000 children in foster care who also have a sibling in foster care and only 30 percent of these siblings live together,” said Colbenson. For more information, visit CHRIS180.org.

Tomorrow calls for a new kind

Back to School Commute

Six tips for making the school run faster & safer on the environment

Georgia’s Clean Air Force, in partnership with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), offers six easy tips for back-to-school drivers looking to save time and money, while contributing to cleaner air in metro Atlanta.

■ Be Cool and (Car) Pool: Utilize social media networks like Facebook to set up a back-to-school carpool with your neighbors. More families willing to contribute to carpooling means fewer trips to and from school. Looking to super-size your savings? Consider carpooling to work with nearby colleagues on the days you don’t lead the kids’ carpool.

■ Break From Tradition: To avoid traffic congestion, try breaking free of the traditional 9-to-5 by staggering your commute. Ask your boss if you can arrive for work later in the morning to avoid traffic or if telecommuting is an option, work from home to be more productive.

■ Steer Clear of Idling: Although idling in the pickup line at school might be the most convenient option, it is not environmentally friendly. Not only does idling waste gas and money, it’s also extremely harmful to the environment. Every 10 minutes of idling cut from your daily driving saves one pound of carbon dioxide from entering and damaging the atmosphere. Need to idle for more than 30 seconds? Turn off your engine.

■ Use an App as a Map. Avoid school traffic by using a smartphone app to reroute your drive and bypass trouble areas. With endless options for driving and mapping apps on Apple and Android products, every driver can discover the most efficient way to arrive at his or her destination. Many apps have an added bonus of in-navigation traffic updates that will redirect motorists to a less congested route.

■ Lighten Up: Carrying around unnecessary cargo? Summer is the best time to see what may be hiding in your trunk or under your seats. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fuel economy can be increased by 1 to 2 percent for every 100 pounds removed from the trunk of a vehicle.

■ Even Cars Need Checkups: Check in with a local mechanic to have a car tuneup. Mechanics can check for malfunctioning oxygen sensors, underinflated tires, clogged filters, and other factors that can reduce fuel economy over time. Getting in the habit of regular maintenance can help identify issues that may cause a failing emissions test in the future.

For additional information, visit cleanairforce.com.

Improv camp and other end of summer tales

TIMMY DADDY

By Tim Sullivan

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

Margo’s big takeaway from the first day of 4th grade was that that her teacher Ms. Olson’s sense of humor was exactly the same as that of her Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Phillips (“Like, literally the same jokes!”). I said they must both attend the same Teacher Jokes Seminar over the summer. Margo was aghast that there would ever be such a convention. “That’s a really dumb idea, Dad.”

Ms. Phillips was a fantastic teacher, though, so I’m optimistic about this schoolyear and thrilled that it is underway. Even though it ends with the last day of July, Summer vacation finds a way to get a little long in the tooth. Aug. 1 comes around and we post the First Day of School pictures to social media with a celebratory nod to our fellow parents. Predictably, it horrifies our friends up North: “That’s cruel!” “It’s the middle of Summer!” The best reply I saw was on my friend Andisheh’s page where he explained, “once the crops are harvested, there’s nothing else for them to do.”

What they don’t understand is that the singular goal of the sweltering Atlanta summer vacation is to get through it: air conditioning, pool time, ice pops and travel if you can. We pass longer car rides vying to be the first to scream out “Chicken!” when a yellow car is spotted. Or we keep our minds sharp by guessing the next song on the radio. I scored the first point of our 10-hour drive to the Outer Banks with “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers. It was an educated guess since Hits 1 played it once every 23 minutes or so. The only way I could tolerate that station all day was to dominate the game. My family has never been as impressed with me as when I scored with “Sweet but Psycho” by Ava Max.

Margo closed out Summer with a joke seminar of her own, the Whole World Theater Improv camp. They hold a performance on the last day, which is cute, I suppose. But Improv makes me uneasy when talented adults are performing, so watching kids is peak discomfort. The director calls out something like “You’re a penguin applying for a mortgage!” and these kids are supposed to just blurt out the first thing that comes to mind? I mean, I’ll probably re-write this sentence three or four times before you ever read it so you can imagine how difficult an hour that was for me. Margo’s first skit had something to do with broccoli. She delivered a few decent lines while her cohort simply convulsed on the ground as if he had been poisoned. Margo looked down and finished the scene with, “You good, bro?” I wasn’t.

Not surprisingly, some of the performances devolved rather quickly. Homicide and cannibalism were recurring themes, but in a Hansel and Gretel sort of way, I guess? Kids are weird. There was one girl who delivered “like poor people” as a punchline, multiple times. I cringed so hard it was an abdominal workout. Maybe Mime Camp would be better for her next summer. In between acts the director would remind the audience that these are your kids, by the way.

Luckily for the business side of Improv, most of the parents weren’t as tortured as me. Other than overusing the dab technique, Margo did great. And she loved it, which is basically 1,000 percent of what we look for in a summer camp. A few kids were legitimately talented, too, although I’d still love to see their agents steer them towards something with a script. Or just back to school to broaden their knowledge base before next year’s show. Either way, in my opinion school is a wonderful place for kids to spend the month of August. We can leave the Improv to Ms. Olson for a while.

Perspectives in Architecture

By Melody Harclerode

Commitment to education renews historic building

Melody L. Harclerode, AIA, promotes significant historical, cultural, and natural sites as an organizational leader, architect and writer.

Vibrant portraits of Edward Asa Ware, Bishop Frederick Douglas Jordan, and Dr. Ruth Hall Hodges

adorn the entry to the new YMCA Leadership and Learning Center. This site for the headquarters for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta in the Historic Westside once served as the location for the Edmund Asa Ware Elementary School, the first elementary school for African Americans in Atlanta. The building was later acquired by Morris Brown College, and renamed Jordan Hall in recognition of Bishop Frederick Douglas Jordan, a champion for the college and other African American institutions of higher education. Dr Hall Hodges, an accomplished artist and Morris Brown College professor, established an acclaimed art gallery in the basement of the Jordan Hall.

These educators championed quality education for all regardless of background, a philosophy shared by the YMCA of Metro Atlanta and reinforced in the design of its headquarters by Collins Cooper Carusi Architects. When the renovation of Jordan Hall proved to be cost prohibitive, the architects and consultants incorporated part of the historic building and stunning new signage at the recently opened, state-of-the-art learning center stimulating dynamic, educational experiences for adults and children inside and outside the building.

In the building wing designed for YMCA staff, flexible spaces with an abundance of natural sunlight encourage employee collaboration, promote professional development, and offer rooms

for community meetings. A delightful common area accented with colorful teaching tools on the walls centers the other building wing. Four spacious classrooms adjacent to this common area provide easy access to two “messy” rooms where children can sharpen their artistic skills. The YMCA Leadership and Learning Center cradles an ingenious Outdoor Exploration Center designed by Cynthia Gentry of Play Atlanta. Comprised of finely crafted playhouses, a series of trellises, and sand pits, this play area inspires curiosity, educational play, and an appreciation for nature.

A pathway stamped with leaf motifs connects the Outdoor Exploration Center to an outdoor classroom and stage, a structure comprised of a portion of the exterior walls from the former gym at Jordan Hall. While the former school is no longer in operation, Collins Cooper Carusi architect Don Whitten shares his excitement for the incoming students at the YMCA Leadership and Learning Center saying, “the YMCA’s new headquarters brings a renewed energy and continues the commitment to education for this community.” Although ownership has changed over the years, the commitment for quality education remains firmly rooted in this historic site.

Dismantling Racism

Nonprofit Elevating Equity helps educators to examine race in the classroom

By Clare S. Richie

About six in ten Americans say race relations in the U.S. are bad, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey. Yet it’s a topic often avoided in schools, despite being a factor in how students are treated. That’s where Elevating Equity comes in. Award-winning-educator-turned-entrepreneur Rachel Wills works to create spaces for educators and community members to examine race and ensure every child receives an equitable education.

“Every single day – whether we realize it or not – we are making a decision to dismantle or reinforce systems of racism in our country,” Willis said. “It is our responsibility as educators or community members to make sure we are learning how racism reinforces itself and actively choosing to be anti-racist. Elevating Equity is an organization that makes that easy for educators to do that work.”

Educators turn to Elevating Equity to receive professional development focused on how to be anti-racist personally and professionally. In addition to designing and facilitating workshops, the organization conducts equity audits to provide recommendations on how schools and education-based companies can implement equitable practices.

Willis has more than a decade of teaching experience. A product of Atlanta Public Schools, Willis was named the 2009 APS Elementary Teacher of the Year as a 3rd grade Morningside Elementary School teacher. At age 28, Willis received the prestigious Milken Educator Award, known as the “Oscars for Teaching,” for her innovation and impact.

“I’d been given a platform. I asked myself, how can I be an ambassador and make sure that education is truly respected?” Willis recalled.

She pledged to earn that honor every single day. After serving as a 2004 Metro Atlanta corps member, Willis returned to Teach For America in 2012. This time she joined their staff in Washington, D.C. to share her “secret sauce” with new members teaching in Title 1 schools.

“My task was to break down how to be a culturally responsive teacher – how to build relationships, create content relevant to students and use teachable moments,” Willis said.

As those teachers realized, ‘I might need to stop math to have a conversation about the George Zimmerman verdict because this is where my students’ minds are,’ their principals worried about being “too political.”

This inspired Willis to return to another alma mater - Columbia University, Teachers College. There she led a pilot program for principals to become racial justice leaders around issues from hiring practices to interactions with parents and staff. The culmination of this educator and principal work created a spark.

“It led me to become an entrepreneur and start Elevating Equity in 2016. I wondered, what would it look like if we were helping districts, systems and organizations?” Willis said.

Willis works with national groups with a presence in Atlanta, as she breaks into the local market. She helped Food Corps, whose service members teach students

Rachel Wills

in classroom and garden spaces about healthy food and lifestyles, with lesson development and member training.

“Rachel provided valuable feedback about how each lesson could reflect the lived experience of students, and how our service members could empower students to make change in their communities,” FoodCorps Director of Education Erica Curry said.

“Instead of simply telling service members what they should do, Rachel modeled the tools and techniques, emphasizing the importance of building strong relationships with students,” FoodCorps Associate Director of Training Olivia Webster said.

Willis designed her training around comments service members might hear and how to handle them, like this one: “A service member was building a rock wall garden bed with students, when one said, ‘We’re building Donald Trump’s wall to keep out the crazy Mexicans.’ Then a girl responded, ‘I am a Mexican.’ All of the students nervously looked at the service member for a response.”

Willis’ response: “If you don’t say anything, you are implying that this is something you agree with or that it is an acceptable comment. So, it has to be publicly addressed in that moment. How you address it depends on your own style. This service member said, ‘We don’t put people down in this space. Everyone is welcome in this classroom.’”

Elevating Equity’s trainings teach educators how to respond to this scenario and other racial incidents that may occur in their classroom or broader community. Educators also are given the space to reflect on their own history with race and racism, identify their unconscious biases, and understand how this influences their mindsets and actions towards students.

This year, Willis was awarded a seed investment from The Sara Blakley Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Civic Innovation. As a CCI fellow, she is formulating how Elevating Equity can best support the needs of the Atlanta community to answer the question, “How can we create a generation of racial justice leaders?”

Opposite page: Elevating Equity held a workshop for Food Corps service members last month in Portland, Oregon.

ABOVE: Artist and muralist Kyle Brooks, better known as BlackCatTips, launched his first children’s book, “Smile A While,” featuring his quirky characters at a special event in August at Colony Square. (Courtesy Kyle Brooks)

LEFT: Inspired by the angles of the Downtown skyline and painted “Woodruff Park green,” Tiny Door #17 is now ready for visitors with big imaginations. The Tiny Door, created by Karen Anderson Singer, was unveiled during last month’s Doggy Con event in Woodruff Park. (Photo courtesy of Central Atlanta Progress)

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