About the special anniversary cover

right path.

We could have easily used old covers, graphic fonts or some other hackneyed idea for this issue, but I wanted something bold, fun and original. That’s how I –and Kyle – see the Intown neighborhoods we cover.

Since that cover in 2012, Kyle’s work has become iconic around Intown, not only in murals along the BeltLine and in Cabbagetown, but in favorite restaurants and local businesses who have commissioned him to bring some fun and flavor to their establishments.

enamored of the people and stores we profiled that he packed up and moved to 30306. We were thrilled to see clips of our articles on refrigerators all over town years later.

In the first issue, we reported on the 12 new coffee houses opening in the ‘hood and profiled neighbors who had built and lived in their original houses from the 1920s. As the years rolled on, we liked to think we had a small hand in stitching together what has become some of the most popular neighborhoods in the city.

Just last month, I took a trip through the early years as we organized a complete collection of the numerous newspapers we printed, and delivered them to the Atlanta History Center to be part of its permanent collection.

Many stores and houses have changed names and owners since then, but the sense of community is only getting stronger.

Atlanta native Chris Schroder founded this newspaper from his Morningside home. Today, he owns a PR firm in Midtown and publishes The Atlanta 100 eNewsletter.

In 2012, INtown asked Atlanta artist Kyle Brooks, who works under the name blackcattips, to create a special cover for our September issue featuring art on the Atlanta BeltLine. It turned out to be not only one of our favorite covers, but also a hit with readers and fans of Kyle’s whimsical work.

In the spring, I reached out to Kyle about creating a painting for our 20th anniversary issue. I gave him some very basic parameters about size and shape, but told him to just have fun and create a piece that not only celebrated our two decades covering the community, but also included his hallmark characters. Over the summer, Kyle emailed me a rough sketch of the birthday cake, and I knew he was on the

If you’ve been to Fox Bros. BBQ, had a cocktail on the rooftop lounge at the Renaissance Hotel in Midtown, picked up sweet treat at Sublime Doughnuts, or popped in for a beer at the Midway Pub, you’ve seen his work. He’s created the signs and logos for Grant Central Pizza and Atlanta Progressive School, painted murals for kids at WestSide Atlanta Charter School and for parishioners for Village Church in East Atlanta.

His work is also sought after by collectors, who buy his pieces or have commissioned him to paint murals in their homes. Recently, he even gave an “automobile tattoo” to someone’s van.

We hope you’ll love this month’s cover as much as we do. If you want to find out more about Kyle and his work, visit blackcattips.com.

– By Collin Kelley

North by Northwest

After the success of Atlanta 30306, a new publication focusing on Buckhead called Atlanta 30305 was launched in 1996. In this July issue, all eyes were on the Summer Olympic Games, which would bring thousands of athletes and millions of visitors to the city for two weeks. There was also a story on new places to party in the club strip that was known as Buckhead Village.

Celebrating Two Decades

Above: The Atlanta City Council honored Atlanta INtown with a special proclamation on Oct. 6 marking its 20th anniversary. City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong, right, presented the proclamation to, from left, Senior Account Executive Jeff Kremer, Director of Sales Amy Arno and editor Collin Kelley. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)

Below: The entire Springs Publishing staff recently took a mental health day to go bowling and play laser tag at Stars and Strikes on Roswell Road. Pictured standing, from left, Amy Arno, Collin Kelley, Chris North, Ann Marie Quill, Jeff Kremer, Ellen Eldridge, Curt Cochran, Deborah Davis, Joe Earle, Janet Porter and Steve Levene. Kneeling from left are Susan Lesesne, Jenna Goff, Isadora Pennington and Phil Mosier. (Special)