Atlanta Intown - December 2014

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Collin Kelley INtown Editor

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Pamela Berger, Ann Taylor Boutwell, Benjamin Getz, Melody Harclerode, Art Huckabee, Phil Mosier, Annie Kinnett Nichols, Martha Nodar, Clare S. Richie, Tim Sullivan

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Go Green

Collin Kelley collin@atlantaintownpaper.com

Christmas Memories

The response to last month’s 20th anniversary edition of INtown was overwhelming. We received tweets, emails, phone calls, Facebook comments and even handwritten letters thanking us for the trip down memory lane.

As I suspected, our most popular stories were about the creation of the BeltLine, the recollections of the 1996 Summer Olympics and the ode to long-gone Oxford Books. A number of former customers and employees got in touch about Oxford, including one who mentioned the years of having to work on Christmas Day. That stirred up quite a few more memories for me.

Oxford Books and the also much-missed Tower Records were both open on Christmas Day. After you had unwrapped the ugly sweater you didn’t want and stuffed yourself with turkey and dressing, you could head to the city and buy a book or the latest record.

I have fond memories of finishing up with family and then

meeting up with friends to go shopping at both stores on Christmas afternoon. That would usually be followed by a movie and then a midnight stop at Waffle House.

In the last couple of years, retail stores have started opening on Thanksgiving Day, so folks can get a jump on those Black Friday sales. But since Oxford and Tower closed, there’s nowhere to shop and hang out on Christmas Day. That bums me out. Big time. Buying music and books on Amazon just doesn’t have the same appeal. I was pleasantly surprised to see that many Intown restaurants will be open on Christmas Day (turn to page 41) for those who have no interest in cooking. Not every family is into gathering around the tree and the usual holiday trappings, so some alternatives are welcome.

This year, in lieu of Oxford and Tower, I’ll be in North Carolina with my mother gambling away my inheritance on Christmas Day. We’ve never done anything like that before, but this year we decided to break out of the Christmas mold. If you happen to be in Cherokee, I’ll be feeding the nickel slots.

However you decide to spend the holiday, I wish you happiness and peace. I’m looking forward to 2015 and kicking of INtown’s next 20 years.

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

The Westside Trail, the next major milestone for the Atlanta BeltLine’s network of trails, transit, parks and green space, broke ground last month hoping to be a revitalization catalyst just like its Eastside forerunner.

The three-mile Westside Trail will run from University Avenue in Adair Park to Lena Street at Washington Park.

“This is a historic moment for southwest Atlanta and the entire City,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “The Westside Trail represents an unprecedented $43 million investment in the future of southwest Atlanta, and its construction will move us closer to our goal of fully building out the Atlanta BeltLine to connect every corner of our city. It is a game-changer, and it will bring new vitality and investment to the Westside’s historic neighborhoods.”

The design of the Westside Trail project was led by Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation and support from a design team led by Kimley-Horn and Associates. The initial phase of a project this complex

normally takes two years to complete. Yet the process took only nine months with the help of a unique partnership between the City of Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the USDOT Federal Highway Administration, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and its design team. Construction of this project is expected to take approximately 24 months.

When completed, the Westside Trail will have a 14-foot wide concrete multi-use trail along the former railroad corridor. The project will also include the construction of 14 access points, 11 of which are ADA-accessible, along with lighting, security cameras, signage, way-finding, mile-markers, and underground infrastructure.

An expansion of the Atlanta BeltLine arboretum will blend with hundreds of large, native trees and integrate more than 30 acres of inviting and usable new green space. The project will be constructed in preparation for future transit that is currently is the planning stages. The Westside Trail connects four schools and four parks, as well as the residents of 10 southwest Atlanta neighborhoods to public transit, existing community businesses and future economic development sites.

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the City of Atlanta

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Atlanta BeltLine Westside Trail on Nov. 12 near Adair Park.

Handling the shovels were (l-r) Jamie Kennedy, a Board Member at Cox, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Paul Morris, President of BeltLine, and Atlanta Police Chief George Turner.

Photo by Phil Mosier

an $18 million TIGER V grant to help fund construction of this $43 million phase of the Atlanta BeltLine. The grant significantly expedited the construction of the Westside Trail. The Georgia Department of Transportation enabled the purchase of the land via a $9.5 million local match. The remaining costs are funded by both public and private sources, including a lead gift of $5 million from Jim Kennedy, honorary co-chair of Atlanta BeltLine Capital Campaign Committee, through the James M. Cox Foundation and PATH Foundation.

“This groundbreaking represents the fulfillment of a long-held promise to the neighbors of west Atlanta, made possible through a remarkable public and private partnership at the local, state, and national levels,” said Paul Morris, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.

West End resident Danielle Carney said she hopes the new trail will spur more economic development and housing, just as the Eastside Trail has done for the Old Fourth Ward.

“The BeltLine is only two blocks from my home, so I’m excited about it and so are my neighbors,” Carney said. “The Westside Trail is going to expose people to neighborhoods they didn’t know anything about.”

Carney said she’s also looking forward to the transit aspect of the BeltLine.

“I don’t take MARTA very often, because it doesn’t stop exactly where I want to go, but if I could hop on a streetcar and take it to the Target

on Moreland Avenue, that would be amazing,” she said.

Another Westview resident, Ayana Gabriel, said she bought her home in the neighborhood specifically for access to the BeltLine. Her property borders the future Enota Park and she can see the trail from her back deck.

“I’d never heard of the BeltLine until I came over here and started looking for homes,” Gabriel said. “When I found out about it, it spurred me to buy my house. I started attending Enota Park planning meetings before my house was even under contract.”

Gabriel was so taken by the idea of the project, that she eventually joined the board of the BeltLine Task Force Allocation District.

She wants to see more homeowners in the neighborhood and better housing options for people of all ages.

“We all love our neighborhood and we want people to come, buy homes, raise families and open businesses,” she said.

“We’re excited.”

For more about the Westside Trail project, visit beltline.org/ westsidetrail.

Photos by Phil Mosier

ABOVE: Dist. 6 Fulton Commissioner Joan Garner (black and white checked jacket) shows her neighborhood unity by holding hands with fellow attendees for the Westside Trail groundbreaking event. BELOW: New homeowner in the Capital View neighborhood Joe Miller rode his bike to event. He was the first bicyclist to arrive and secure his bike on the racks provided for the ceremony.

In the Nest

The Atlanta Falcons have released a new set of renderings for the stadium that will not only house the football team, but the new MLS soccer franchise. Located near the current Georgia Dome and World Congress Center, these renderings show the plaza (upper left), street elevation (bottom left) and a view from The Gulch, the below ground area tipped to be the city’s new transportation hub (above). The stadium is slated for completion in 2017.

Atlanta Memorial Park gets repairs, rejuvenation

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

The Atlanta Memorial Park Conservancy (AMPC) has reached 49 percent of its fundraising goal for its operations budget, the organization’s executive director says.

The Conservancy plans major renovations and upgrades to Bobby Jones Golf Course and Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, part of a long-range Master Plan. While the final draft Master Plan is under review with the city, AMPC is moving forward at the request of the Department of Parks and Recreation to make a difference on the greenspace west of Northside Drive.

While big changes are still to come, smaller, significant ones are happing on a regular basis, including the ongoing repair of the sewage pipe that crosses over Peachtree Creek in Memorial Park.

The pump station along Woodward Way has been removed and the second pump station along Wesley Drive was removed last week, according to a report in the AMPC monthly update.

The temporary pipes and rocks in the creek bed allow for the crews to work in the creek to make the repairs, thereby reducing the impact to the trees along the upper bank. No new footings will go in the creek bed. Instead, the new sewage pipe will be supported by concrete piers along the slope.

More than 150 employees from accounting firm Bennett Thrasher volunteered at the park on Oct. 30 and removed invasive plants, installed a planting bed that extends down into the park from the nature trail at Howell Mill, and built four park benches along Peachtree Creek.

For information or to make a donation, visit atlmemorialpark.org.

Courtesy AMPC

Crews repaired the sewage pipe that crosses over Peachtree Creek at the park.

Georgia Tech students envision revitalized Memorial Drive

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

A group of students studying urban design at Georgia Tech are putting finishing touches on a final report for the City of Atlanta about the redevelopment of the Memorial Drive corridor from Downtown to Stone Mountain.

Residents and stakeholders got their first look at the bold plans, dubbed Imagine Memorial, at a public information session at the end of October.

The plan calls for major street improvements for motorists and pedestrians, transit routes, parks and identifies vacant and abandoned property that could be redeveloped. Atlanta City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong is supporting the effort to finally see the corridor revitalized.

The students in professor Mike Dobbins’ class have harnessed the power of social media to continue and update the Imagine Memorial plan since the public meeting, giving residents the opportunity to sound off on Facebook at facebook. com/groups/memorialdrivestudio. The students also created a Flipbook of plans

and renderings you can see at the Facebook page.

Like the rest of Fulton and DeKalb counties, some parts of Memorial have faired better than others. In the city, the Capitol Homes slum was bulldozed and replaced with modern, affordable housing. New condos, restaurants and office buildings were constructed, especially along the Grant Park portion of the street at historic Oakland Cemetery.

Further east, the Atlanta BeltLine has been acting as a catalyst for regrowth, including tentative plans by Jamestown (the company behind Ponce City Market) to redevelop the old Atlanta Dairies complex into apartments, retail and offices. Developer John Wieland is planning townhomes near the BeltLine, while nonprofit WonderRoot will soon be moving into the old Tech High/Hubert Elementary and bringing classes and support for local artists.

A linear park called Capitol Gateway was supposed to stretch up Memorial from historic Oakland City to the Gold Dome, but the plan is on hold, since much of the property is currently operating businesses, including Daddy D’z barbecue.

SUNSHINE ON A RANNEY DAY

Making a Difference: Couple gives dream room makeovers to kids with long-term illnesses

By Clare S. Richie

This holiday season let a little sunshine into your heart. That’s what Holly and Peter Ranney did in 2012 when they co-founded Sunshine on a Ranney Day (SOARD), a nonprofit that creates dream room makeovers in the greater Atlanta area for children with long-term illness and injury.

As Holly worked for Rooms to Go Kids in design and product development, she knew she could use her skills and industry connections to reach children in need. Her husband Peter, an accountant by day, grew up learning about construction from his father and developed an aptitude for custom design projects. He agreed to manage the projects and volunteer alongside licensed professionals.

“We decided to focus on children with long-term illnesses or injuries because these children face challenges each day and deserve a special place where they can heal, both physically and emotionally,” Holly said. “We try very hard to ease the burden on these children and their families.”

SOARD thoughtfully selects each child to serve based on need, location and project size. The child’s wishes and needs drive the design process and then the family lets SOARD takeover until the big reveal.

The Brain Tumor Foundation for Children referred Mathew for the first makeover. Since Mathew aspired to join the military, Holly designed his bedroom to look like a bunker. SOARD connected with nearby Robins Air Force Base, which donated military paraphernalia, arranged for Mathew to fly in a small plane, and gave Mathew a full military salute at his reveal.

“I cry at every reveal,” Holly said. After weeks working tirelessly nights and weekends (in addition to her day job), these were likely tears of relief, joy, and hope.

By the time Holly and Peter embarked on their fourth makeover, they wanted to do more. Gavin battled the

physically and mentally debilitating Mitochondrial disease. By day, he attended numerous therapy sessions. At night, he slept with his parents to keep him safe when his muscles shook with spasms.

“After meeting the family, we decided to convert their unfinished basement into a therapy space in addition to redoing Gavin’s and his sister’s bedrooms,” Holly said. “We had $2,000 in our account but decided to go big or go home!”

Thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers, SOARD completed a $40,000 makeover and Gavin could sleep easy in his own custom-made bed in his baseballthemed room.

“The makeover for Tripp Halstead was another turning point for us,” Holly reflected. “We connected with people around the world, who were touched by his story and our mission.”

Young Tripp suffered multiple skull fractures when a huge tree limb fell on his head as he played outdoors.

After many surgeries, his parents were preparing to bring Tripp home to a ranch-style house they planned to remodel. SOARD stepped in to transform their home into a comfortable, functional and fully-accessible home.

“This time we had $5,000 to start with, and completed a $200,000 makeover thanks to the support of businesses, sponsors, donors, and hundreds of volunteers,” Holly shared. More than a million people watched Tripp’s reveal on WSB’s live stream.

A $50,000 donation followed from Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies, giving Holly the confidence to leave her corporate job in 2014 and work full-time for SOARD. With her full focus, SOARD doubled its makeovers this year reaching more than two-dozen families since its inception.

Countless partners join and stay with SOARD. Rooms to Go has donated furniture since the beginning. Muralists, interior designers, and graphic designers return to share their time and talent. Reliable Heating & Air first helped out on a makeover for an employee’s son, Charlie, who is wheelchair bound and unable to move freely throughout his house and access the bathroom on his own. Reliable donated electric, plumbing, and HVAC services to give Charlie independence and accessibility and is now a partner for life.

SOARD families also pay it forward by engaging with new families, helping on makeovers, fundraising, and supporting each other.

The future looks bright for this inspirational nonprofit. SOARD just moved into its new office in historic Roswell. Holly and Peter plan to increase the number of makeovers and expand the geographic area served, spreading more sunshine.

Support SOARD and buy a Sunshine Chair for a loved one or donate to Toys for Tots at www. sunshineonaranneyday.com/shop.

Special

Peter and Holly Ranney.

Neighborhood Snapshots: BUCKHEAD

Celebrating 20 Years INTown

Celebrating 20 Years INTown

We wrap up our year-long photo feature on Intown’s most vibrant neighborhoods with Buckhead. Clockwise from top left:

The historic Swan House on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center has gained international attention thanks to being featuring in The Hunger Games films.

The leafy grounds of the History Center are perfect for a stroll.

One of Buckhead’s many mansions.

Work continues on the $2.5 million renovation of Loudermilk Park in the heart of Buckhead Village.

The rings of this tree on the grounds of the History Center trace Atlanta’s past. Buckhead Theatre has become a favorite spot for concerts, films and events.

Photos by Isadora Pennington

Competing cityhood initiatives merge to form LaVista Hills

The Lakeside and Briarcliff cityhoood initiatives in North DeKalb have fully merged under the new name of LaVista Hills. If created, the city will be the largest in DeKalb County with approximately 72,000 residents.

“Cityhood is about giving communities and citizens a choice,” said Mary Kay Woodworth, formerly of Lakeside. “We have spoken at well over a hundred community meetings in the last two years, and we continue to listen and respond to what residents and businesses tell us and to community’s desires. We are thankful to our volunteers and appreciate the continued community support and input shaping the new city’s vision.”

“I’m happy to see that Briarcliff and Lakeside could meet the House Governmental Affairs committee imposed deadline and look forward to helping them with their bill when they get to the Senate,” said State Sen. Fran Millar.

A three-party agreement with the Tucker 2015 cityhood movement was unsuccessful by the Nov. 15 deadline.

“We have made multiple offers to the Tucker cityhood movement and we’re still hopeful we can reach agreement on the boundaries,” said Allen Venet, formerly of the City of Briarcliff Initiative. “After merging the vision of Lakeside and Briarcliff, and presenting neighborhood survey and petition preference input to Tucker, we are disappointed that the groups were unable to reach an agreement by the November 15th deadline.”

In the coming weeks the combined group will continue work towards readying LaVista Hills for the 2015 legislative session.

Committee will explore Bellwood Quarry redevelopment

The Atlanta City Council has approved the creation of a 16-member advisory committee to make recommendations on the redevelopment of Bellwood Quarry, a site in northwest Atlanta bought by the city in 2006.

The site, located between Johnson Road and Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, lies between Bankhead and west Midtown. It will be used as both a park and recreational space and as a raw drinking water storage facility.

“The property has enormous potential to be redeveloped in a number of ways consistent with the purposes for which it was purchased,” said Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond, the sponsor of the resolution.

Plans are to eventually create a 300-plus acre park with a 45-acre lake, which would also serve as a drinking water reservoir. The plan is a portion of the extensive Belt Line project to construct a ring of parks, trails, and transit surrounding the core of Atlanta. The proposed park will be nearly twice the size of Atlanta’s current largest city park, Piedmont Park.

“The sooner we get this project underway, the better,” said Bond. “This park will provide city residents and visitors an alternative to Piedmont Park and will serve as a venue for large events. I envision it being a world-class public green space and it will be the largest public park in the southeast.”

Health & Wellness Briefs

The Atlanta BeltLine Running Series fourth annual Atlanta BeltLine Eastside 10K will take place on Dec. 6 A Peachtree Road Race qualifier, the race will kick off at Stoveworks at 112 Krog St. at 10 a.m. Race day activities include the highlypopular College Alumni Tailgate Challenge and the Neighborhood Challenge. There will be no race day registration this year, so runners and walkers are encouraged to register online by Wednesday, Dec. 3 at beltline.org.

Kroger customers and associates throughout the Atlanta division donated more than $461,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and more than $213,000 to Kroger’s “Sharing Courage” campaign, for a total of $674,000 – surpassing the division’s $450,000 goal by more than $224,000. The multifaceted campaign ran from Oct. 5 – Nov. 1, and gave customers the opportunity to purchase pink paper ribbons for $1 at Kroger checkout.

Atlanta-based MedZed (mymedzed.com) is bringing back the concept of home visits by nurses to treat sick children. MedZed’s team of pediatricians and pediatric nurses operate after hours, seven days a week to provide a convenient healthcare option for parents when their children’s illness strikes at an inconvenient time. A registered nurse comes to the home and uses secure live-streaming video and advanced medical technology so that pediatricians can evaluate, diagnose and treat symptoms.

Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and Taqueria del Sol teamed up for Foxeria del Sol, a collaborative food festival that celebrated the seasonal Hatch Green Chile and raised $21,400 for pediatric brain cancer support via Hogs for the Cause. Founded in New Orleans in 2008, Hogs for the Cause raises money for pediatric brain cancer through competition barbeque.

Two hundred volunteers helped create a new playground at the Atlanta Mission – My Sister’s House facility in October. Volunteers from Delta Air Lines, Hands on Atlanta and KaBOOM! built the playground based on drawings by children who had been sheltered at the facility.

Public Safety Briefs

The Decatur Police Department has released its first data since it began tracking the demographics of persons stopped by the police on Aug. 1. The first quarterly report shows that the racial make-up of those involved in police-initiated stops mirrors the racial make-up of Decatur, DeKalb County and the City of Atlanta, which shares a border with Decatur. Quarterly reports will be released and posted to decaturpolice.com.“It is still very early, but the police department’s tracking of demographic data of persons stopped by the police, whether on foot, bicycle or in a motor vehicle, seems to be working well,” said Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett. “The City Commission believes this and all the data collected by the Decatur Police Department are key to ensuring our city’s police department remains the responsible team of dedicated professionals that Decatur expects and deserves.” In addition to recording the race of individuals stopped by the police, the Decatur Police Department tracks citizen complaints, use of force by officers and police pursuits of suspects. This week, all Decatur Police officers and the city’s management team completed a diversity program led by trainers from the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference Institute (ADL.org).

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner was recently elected as one of the Eastern Region Representatives of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). Turner’s two year term, which begins in January, will see hime work alongside Chief Jane Castor from Tampa, as they co-serve as Eastern Region Representatives.

The Atlanta Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit have graduated O cer Vrndavana Holden and O cer Christopher Pellegrino after 12 weeks of rigorous training, which took place at the APD Mounted Patrol Barn in Grant Park. The officers learned the basic fundamentals of horsemanship, how to care for the horses and barn facilities, as well as understanding and working with the temperament of the horses. They have also learned to navigate all types of terrains and environments throughout the city.

Thunder tasted the sweet life at PAWS Atlanta’s summer camp. He was groomed, walked, shampooed, petted, tickled and the kids couldn’t get enough of him. Thunder wants that again: to be special, and wanted. He is an eager, intelligent, affectionate and playful dog. Thunder likes kids and dogs, though he can be a little “chatty” on walks. All he needs is a chance. To adopt Thunder or any of the other available dogs and cats searching for a home, visit pawsatlanta.org or stop by the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

David York has opened the sixth Barking Hound Village (barkinghoundvillage.com) location in Inman Park at 745 Edgewood Ave. featuring grooming and daycare. Future plans include a boarding facility. Along with grooming services, the location also offers specialty dog foods, treats and toys for every canine on your holiday gift list.

The seventh annual Reindog Parade will be held on Dec. 6 – the only day of the year that four-legged pals are allowed to set paw in the Atlanta Botanical Garden. During the event, which begins at 11 a.m., pups clad in their finest holiday attire will parade across a stage before a panel of judges to compete for prizes – or just to show off for fun. Categories include Best Puppy, Best Adult, Best Botanical, Best Dog-Owner Dress-alike, Best Dog Pack, and ultimately, Best in Show. Emceeing the competition will be Atlanta resident Victoria Stilwell, host of the Animal Planet cable TV show “It’s Me or the Dog,” and Atlanta TV and radio personality Holly Firfer. A Doggie Expo will offer canine-related products, services and information, warm refreshments will be available under the Pup Tent, and participants may have photos of their dogs made with botanical Saint Nick. Pre-registration is encouraged by Dec. 2. The cost, in addition to regular Garden admission, is $15 per dog, or $18 at the door (maximum two dogs per owner). For more information, visit atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

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A LOOK BACK

This Month in History

Ann Taylor Boutwell

Dec 1. 1977: Dr. Alonzo Crim, Atlanta’s first African American superintendent of schools, informed the Atlanta Public School Board that Georgia Tech had made a firm offer to purchase the O’Keefe Middle School. It was located at the corner of 6th Street and Techwood Drive. The original building, built as a junior high school, opened in October 1923. It sold at the end of 1977-78 school session, and Georgia Tech incorporated it as part of the college campus where it remains today.

Dec. 4, 1912: After a month’s delay, Dan Carey, Atlanta’s general manager of parks, received authorization for the $350 he requested to relocate the Erskine Memorial Fountain. A few days later, as Carey promised, it was placed in Grant Park, where it remains today. Honoring her late father, Mrs. Ruby Erskine Ward of New York commissioned New York sculptor John Massey Rhind to design the piece as a gift to Atlanta. It was originally located in Hardy Ivy Park at the junction of of Peachtree, Baker, and West Peachtree.

Dec. 9, 1971: The Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta was listed on National Register of Historic Places. The giant painting is currently located in Grant Park, but will move in 2017 to the Atlanta History Center campus in Buckhead.

Dec. 14, 1988: Mayor Andrew Young received a telegram from Paris, France. It read: Very deeply hope that the report is not true regarding your having granted permission to destroy the structure in which Margaret Mitchell wrote the great American classic Gone With the Wind. It would be a great credit to your administration if you were to assure the preservation of this landmark, which means so much to millions of people all over the world. The telegram was signed by Olivia de Havilland, who played Melanie in the film. The Margaret Mitchell House & Museum still stands today at the corner of 10th and Crescent in Midtown.

Dec. 15, 1939: Gone With the Wind had its world premiere at the Loew’s Grand Theatre in Downtown Atlanta.

Special

ABOVE: The world premiere of Gone With the Wind was held at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Downtown Atlanta (the theatre burned in 1978 and the Georgia Pacific building now occupies the site) on December 15, 1939. BELOW: A monument to philanthropist Alice Dugged Carey on Auburn Avenue in Downtown.

Dec. 19, 1921: The high-class apartments at Parkview opened on the northwest corner of 14th Street and Piedmont Avenue in what is now known as Midtown. The three buildings had a scenic view of the entrance to Piedmont Park and the Peace Monument. J. S. Whisenat & Sons were the owners. An advertisement for the apartments noted it had 21 units ranging from three to six rooms each. Atlanta architect. E. C. Seiz designed the building in an “L” shape.

Dec. 24, 1908: Philanthropist Alice Dugged Carey held a Christmas dinner for the African American newsboys of the old Atlanta Georgian newspaper at Big Bethel Church on Auburn Avenue. Carey would host the dinner every year from 1908 to 1918 in an effort to “benefit her race.” Carey was an educator and excelled in pedagogy, literature, and economics attending Harvard University, Morris Brown College, and Wilberforce University.

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

By Tim Sullivan

My C aching Debut

Coaching youth sports is a little like joining the conga line at a wedding. You’re pretty sure it’s something you don’t want to be a part of, but if you go to enough weddings, you will eventually be dragged in.

We signed Elliott up for the City of Decatur 6-7 year old fall soccer league, and Jaume, the dad of Elliott’s buddy, Albert, said he’d coach if I did it with him. Hailing from Barcelona and a lifelong player, Jaume’s familiarity with the game extends beyond mine (which essentially boils down to having watched some of the World Cup) so I deferred to his expertise.

At the first practice Jaume laid out cones for a footwork drill while I pleaded with the children to stop tackling each other. The exercise was to be done without any ball so, as the dutiful assistant, I collected the balls and was subsequently attacked like the only house on the block with any Halloween candy. Okay then, no more drills without a ball! There was a lot of giggling and an extraordinary amount of instances where a child attempted to kick the ball but instead stepped on top of it and wiped out, which incited more giggling and tackling.

We lost our first two games to the tune of about 10-0 but our third game was magical. We were trailing 4-1 at halftime and, until that point, we had stressed the importance of knowing one’s position. The kids listened a little too well. What I observed, because I am a coaching genius, was that the other team had five kids around the ball at all times and we had two at best. Positions were scrapped and the Falcons attacked the ball en masse up and down the field. We stormed back to take the game 5-4 and celebrated wildly while soccer purists everywhere cringed.

We went on to win a second game and battled another good team to a tie so we like to count that as a win, too. It was such a great group of kids and the parents

Comprehensive Women’s Health

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were the perfect combo of laid back and encouraging. Everyone improved and had oodles of fun. In one of the last games, Elliott took a corner kick and passed it to Oliver. Oliver deftly controlled it and passed it back to a charging Elliott who bent the ball into the far corner of the goal. It was beautiful and just enough to sucker me into volunteering to coach basketball as well.

A week later I’m sitting in a conference room at the Decatur Recreation Center with 20 or so other coaches and we’re conducting a sophisticated draft to create teams for the 7-8 year old basketball league. It’s a little tense. Imagine a fantasy football draft with your buddies minus the smack talk and the beer and computer generated minutiae to guide you.

The guy next to me, who I learn has coached in the league for a decade, ranked all 150 of the players in order of ability. I scan my own notes from the skills assessment the week before and find some razor sharp insights like “nice kid,” “great smile” and “coachable,” but the soccer season taught me that this is all that matters.

That being said, everyone wants to be competitive right? I was proud to hear that one coach gave Elliott very high marks at the assessment, but quickly muffled that pride to sandbag my own kid’s abilities. I needed the league administrator to slot him in as a fourth round pick instead of first or second. The kid has a sweet shot, but he’s one of the smaller kids on the board so I don’t feel terrible. Plus it freed me up to spend my first pick on an 8-year-old girl named Lily who was listed at 65 inches tall! It might have been a typo, but I just couldn’t risk it.

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.

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Toco Hills’ Nearly New Shop offers bargains, great location

By Martha Nodar

Enjoying a prime location as a new tenant in the Toco Hills Shopping Center, the Nearly New Shop – an upscale thri store owned and operated by the Junior League of Atlanta – is a hit among bargain shoppers in the area.

“We thought that Toco Hills with its vibes and energy would make a great central location for everyone,” said Ursula Reynolds, the league’s current vice president of marketing. “ is is a very stable area with long-time residents of di erent ages.”

Reynolds said all the proceeds from the shop bene t the league, whose mission is to train its members to serve in the community with sensitivity.

Atlanta natives and local residents mother and daughter Donna and Leslie Mitchell are bargain shoppers and frequent customers of the shopping center.

“We came to this store as soon as the sign was up,” Donna Mitchell said. “We shop here to support the league’s mission. is is an upscale thri store with a great location. It has ample parking, good selection, nice clothes, and name brands.”

League member Vanessa Cheatham of Buckhead said the store has received “fantastic donations” from her fellow members. “Our merchandise includes designers such as Lily Palmer and Michael Kors,” she said.

Donations are also accepted from the general public.

Marilyn Benjamin, the store manager, said the shop is maintained by the league’s volunteer members. Although she has noticed repeat customers since the store opened, she said she has also seen many people who are now just learning about the shop’s location.

at was the case with Cheryl Myers of Duluth who learned about the store by word-of-mouth, through a coworker. She decided to check it out and brought along her sister.

“Today is my rst time in this shop,”

Myers said. “ is is a great location in a thriving area.”

Cheryl Gri n, a Druid Hills resident and repeat customer agreed with Myers.

“ e rst time I visited this shop I bought a dress for $10 and received multiple compliments,” Gri n said. “I just had to come back.”

is new kid on the block has clothing for the entire family, shoes, jewelry, books, furniture, artwork, toys and more at a ordable prices. Some bargains include a black leather/patent Kate Spade bag for $15

and women’s slacks for less than $12 all in excellent condition.

Shoppers can expect to nd a 50 percent o sale of everything in the store in December and around every major holiday the rest of the time, Benjamin said. Featuring a neighborly ambiance (check out the comfy couch at the entrance) and open every day, this shop o ers an option to crowded malls and Internet sur ng. For more information about the hours of operation, donations, and JLA, visit nearlynewshopatl.org.

Special

The store is located in Toco Hills.

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Customers check out the latest fashion donated to the Nearly New Shop.

C’EST MAGNIFIQUE!

Paris on Ponce offers antiques and oddities

By Annie Kinnett Nichols

One of my favorite Intown haunts is Paris on Ponce and Pop Marché, which is just steps from the Eastside Trail. You know the place: there’s a big Eiffel Tower with King Kong holding Fay Wray at the top.

PoP will mark its 20th anniversary in 2015, and it’s built a reputation for offering an eclectic range of antiques and oddities. If you’re looking for a unique holiday gift, there are more than 30 unique boutiques located inside PoP.

I also love Le Moulin Rouge, the rentable nightclub space where I’ve witnessed weddings and a performance by King Sized, and the annual Bastille Day party. It’s like walking onto an ever-changing movie set when you step through the door. And, yes, they do rent props to moviemakers.

PoP’s Holiday Extravaganza is coming the weekend before Christmas, Dec. 20-21, featuring free libations, an aerialist, burlesque girls and more.

Partners Skip Englebrecht and Nicolette Valdespino have made PoP a true destination, and a place I like

to take my friends when they come to visit. With a mix of galleries and vendors it’s a neat place to hang out for a couple of hours.

One of my favorite vendors is Absinthe, which specializes in the oddball and quirky including an entire moose. Relics has typewriters, Hollywood lights, an antique bingo roller and neon signs. Altar-ed features vintage wedding pieces.

There’s a guy who specializes in World War II items, while one of my favorite antique dealers, Claudia Thompson, former owner of Providence in Morningside, continues to find amazing collections and unusual individual pieces.

I thought Kong and Fay were looking a little chilly so I knitted scarves for both of them and Skip kindly put them up to keep them warm this winter.

Paris on Ponce & Pop Marché is located at 716 Ponce de Leon Place in Virginia-Highland. For more, visit parisonponce.com.

“Now that I'm living at Park Springs, visiting with my daughter and grandkids is easier than ever.”

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Militaria is one of the unique shops inside Paris On Ponce/Pop Marche.

By Benjamin Getz Yelp Atlanta Community Manager

Having someone in your life and no idea what kind of gift to buy them can cause holiday strife. Hey, even that coworker you’re supposed to pick up a gift for is no small feat.

Well, look no further… or at least before you decide on which color gift card you’re settling on. This time ‘round, Yelp has some stellar choices for classy gifts that will wow even the lowest person on your shopping list.

The Merchant - Westside

Tucked in between businesses on Howell Mill is this shop with seriously laidback owners who will let you peruse to you heart’s content. Great selection of bowties and other dapper items for the gents and plenty of stationery and artful pieces for ladies. Whether it s cleverly wrapped present for grandma or a thank you for your boss, you’ll be in good hands.

993 Marietta St. NW

SimplyPut – Westside

Provisions District

Should you find yourself gallivanting about at WPD or decide to do a bit of shopping after a fine meal at JCT Kitchen, SimplyPut has a everything from soap to books and everything fun. Their selection of cards will provoke the most guttural of laughs for even the grinchiest of folks.

1170 Howell Mill Road, Suite 104.

GIFTS

Young Blood – Poncey-Highland

Gill B deems it is “THE place to go for unique, well-made local gifts.” And she sure has a point – This Poncey spot is chock a block full of art, jewelry, cards, and other items that will give the recipient that reaction you’re looking for.

632 N. Highland Ave. NE

Heliotrope – Decatur

The cool shop owners know how to outfit a store. Almost tuned to anyone and everyone in the market for a cool gift for that someone with an “edge, too.” Their selection of cool kitchen items will please even the least savvy cook and the collection of journal items spans all levels of gifting wares.

248 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.

The Beehive – Edgewood

What is better than one business and brands to choose from? How about a handful? A collection even! The Beehive is a perfect recipe for anyone in the “buying a gift for someone I don’t know all that well” zone. They carry everything from apparel, to paper goods, and even gifts for dogs.

1250 Caroline St., Suite C120.

Follow Ben Getz’s reviews at benjamingetz.yelp.com and all the Yelp adventures on Instagram and Twitter @ YelpAtlanta.

Courtesy Yelp

The Merchant at Howell Mill has stationery, bow ties and other cool gifts, especially if you need to buy a gift for the man in your life.

Courtesy Heliotrope

Beautifully-scented candles are just some of the goodies to be found for the home at Heliotrope in Decatur..

Photo Courtesy Molly S. from Yelp Young Blood Boutique in PonceyHighland has a unique selection of handmade gifts.

Business & Retail Briefs

The 30th annual Bowlers Journal International Magazine Architecture and Design Awards were recently announced with honorees from Germany, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Las Vegas and more. Buckhead’s The Painted Pin received the magazine cover spot and the award for “The Best New Boutique Center” beating out competitors from across the globe.

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) presented its annual Developments of Excellence and Great Place awards to seven outstanding recipients. The awards are given to developers, local governments and others who are making the 10-county Atlanta region a better place. Awardees include: The Commons at the Imperial Hotel in Downtown (2014 Development of Excellence), Oakland Cemetery (2014 Great Place), Atlanta Tech Village (Exceptional Merit for Innovation and Adaptive Reuse), National Center for Civil & Human Rights (Exceptional Merit for Cultural Impact in Development), Collier Heights Community Association (Exceptional Merit for Community and Historic Preservation), and East Lake Foundation (Exceptional Merit for Partnerships in Community Redevelopment).

Ann Wilson Cramer is the first recipient of the Harry West Visionary Leadership Award presented by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) . After a 33year career with IBM, Cramer is now a senior consultant with Coxe Curry & Associates, providing guidance to nonprofit organizations in the critical areas of board development, volunteer engagement, corporate relations and fundraising. She also provides guidance to the business community on the issues of corporate citizenship and social responsibility. She chaired the selection committee for the Atlanta Public Schools superintendent and has devoted the past year to chairing the education subcommittee of the Regional Economic Competitiveness Strategy Implementation Subcommittee, coordinated by ARC, as well as chairing the board of the Atlanta Partners for Education and the advisory councils for four other organizations. Cramer currently serves on 11 other boards, including the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development and the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta.

Boston Proper has opened a 1,418 square-foot store at Lenox Square in Bukchead offering clothing and accessories for women. The upscale boutique has been designed like a dream walk-in closet with soft lighting, luxurious settees and even a personal armoire filled with items hand-selected for customers.

Howard Feinsand , principal of Feinsand Business Advisory LLC and volunteer Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee of the Woodruff Arts Center, has been named Chair of the Board of The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Feinsand succeeds Gerald R. Benjamin as Chair of the not-for-profit Federation, which serves the 100,000 member Jewish community of metropolitan Atlanta and is supported solely through donations. Immediately following his installation, Howard Feinsand and his wife Ellen embarked on the Federation’s Community Mission to Israel, which the new Chairman noted was his first visit to the Jewish homeland.

Uniquely Virtual , an Atlanta-based virtual executive assistant firm, is now offering a host of services to companies, non-profits and retired executives. Some of these services include email, phone, contact and client management, travel planning and itineraries, managing expenses, processing invoices, writing letters and memos and meeting set up.

©Harry Norman, REALTORS® The Intown Office | 1531 Piedmont Avenue NE, Suite B | Atlanta, GA 30324 Mike Wright, Sr. VP/Managing Broker | www.harrynorman.com

Ann Wilson Cramer

Howard and Ellen Feinsand

GOING FOR GOLD

PEDS hands out awards for making metro more walkable

PEDS (Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety), metro Atlanta’s pedestrian advocacy organization, recently presented its 15th annual Golden Shoe Awards to honor people, projects and places that have contributed this year to making metro Atlanta communities more walkable.

The event also recognizes programs, projects and places that have had a transformational impact on the region during the past 15 years.

2014 Golden Shoe Award winners:

Pedestrian-friendly Access: MARTA, for the pedestrian bridge that provides access to the Buckhead MARTA Station to thousands of residents and commuters and is inspiring increased transit-oriented development.

Pedestrian-friendly Event: Chantelle Rytter, for creating the Atlanta Beltline Parade, a fun, community-building event that now attracts tens of thousands of marchers and observers.

Pedestrian-friendly Legislation: The City of Doraville, for adopting a Livable Community Form-based Code that will guide the transformation of the former GM site into a walkable mixed-use town center around the Doraville MARTA station.

Pedestrian-friendly Activism: Inman Park Neighborhood Association and City

of Atlanta for working together to develop the Krog-Lake-ElizabethNorth Highland Transportation Strategy, which helps ensure that future transportation projects serve the needs and values of the community.

Pedestrianfriendly Journalism: The Atlanta JournalConstitution, for in-depth coverage of pedestrian safety issues, including rising fatalities, inadequate data, and lack of safe crossings near the proposed Cobb County Braves stadium.

Pedestrianfriendly Suburban Retrofit: Cumberland Community Improvement District for the Akers Mill Trail East , which connects the Bob Callan Trail to the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area and provides safe midblock crossings for residents and transit users.

Golden Shoe Awardees, from L-R: Knox O’Callaghan (MARTA), Ryland McCLendon (MARTA), Caleb Racicot (TSW), Atlanta City Councilmember Kwanza Hall, Danny Feig-Sandoval (Inman Park), Malaika Rivers (Cumberland CID), Tom Sabulis (Atlanta-Journal Constitution), Tammy Thompson (Perimeter CID), Sally Flocks (PEDS), Jennifer Harper (Perimeter CID), Sharon Shahan (BeltLine Lantern Parade), Joe Henslee (BeltLine Lantern Parade), Jim Durrett (Buckhead CID), Doraville Mayor Donna Pittman, Andrew Baker (DeKalb County), Joe Cooley (City of Doraville), Patrece Keeter (DeKalb County), Sylvia Smith (DeKalb County)

Pedestrian-friendly Streetscapes: Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, for installing sidewalks, landscaped medians and crossings that increase pedestrian access and safety on Perimeter Summit Parkway, Lake Hearn Drive and Parkside Place.

Pedestrian-friendly Public Engagement: DeKalb County , for intense, multi-lingual outreach that engaged diverse communities throughout the county in developing a Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

Ground broken for hard to recycle materials facility

Live Thrive Atlanta in partnership with the Atlanta City Council held a groundbreaking ceremony last month for CHaRM, a Center for Hard to Recycle Materials.

The CHaRM facility, located at 1110 Hill Street in Chosewood Park, will serve residents by providing a permanent drop-off facility for recyclables and harmful items that are not accepted in the current curbside recycling program. These types of items include paint, polystyrene (Styrofoam), pesticides, chemicals, light bulbs, clothing, shoes, mattresses, tires, batteries, carpet, etc. CHaRM will also collect single stream recyclables.

CHaRM will offer educational

opportunities to community organizations about the importance of proper disposal/recycling of hard to recycle materials. Schools will also be targeted to explain the impact that these items may have on the environment if not properly handled.

Councilmember Carla Smith, who jointly sponsored legislation with Councilmember Alex Wan, said “I have been a long time champion for the proper disposal of hard to recycle materials in District 1 and Atlanta. I am happy to partner with Live Thrive on this project. Live Thrive has worked with us for years during my annual Electronic Recycling events. I know that this partnership will do well for Atlanta residents.”

The CHaRM facility is expected to be operational in January and will a “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling event on Jan. 3. Residents

can also bring cardboard boxes, styrofoam and used electronics. For more about CHaRM visit livethrive.org/charm.

Todd Burford

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Community leaders and city officials break ground on the new recycling facility.

A Really Good Strut, Westside Provisions District’s fall fashion show, raised $10,000 to support Friends of Atlanta Waterworks , a Park Pride “Friends of the Park” group working to re-open the Waterworks Preserve greenspace on the city’s Westside. The park was closed before the Olympics as a security measure because of its proximity to the water treatment facility, but was never reopened. In addition to providing locals and visitors more outdoor space to enjoy in the rapidly growing Westside neighborhood, this effort encompasses a variety of other improvement projects. The plan includes initiatives to renovate the nearly centuryold Waterworks facility as well as implement a system to increase the city’s water supply to ensure quality drinking water for years to come. With this new system, water will be pumped from the Chattahoochee River to the new connection at the Bellwood Quarry, with an extension through the Waterworks property, increasing the city’s water supply from the current seven-day reserve to more than 30 days. For more information, visit facebook.com/AtlantaWaterworksPark.

In partnership with GreenPrint, LLC, Trees Atlanta is encouraging Atlanta drivers to join a new consumer-friendly program, ZERO Clean Driving , with the aim of generating more environmentally conscious drivers and planting more trees in Atlanta’s urban forest. GreenPrint’s initial pilot program will provide consumers with the ability to fill their tanks with the world’s first Carbon Neutral Gasoline, ZERO. Atlanta is the first city in which this patent-pending product will be tested. The ZERO Clean Driving program will plant trees locally and invest in other green and alternative energy projects in order to neutralize the carbon emissions from Atlantan’s vehicles. The metro BP stations participating in the pilot are located at 610 Spring St. (at North Avenue), 5018 Peachtree Industrial, 1465 Holcomb Bridge Road and 3700 Old Alabama.

MARTA is installing three bike maintenance and repair kiosks at local stations, starting with Five Points station. According to Creative Loafing, MARTA partnered with ioby, which helps fundraising campaigns, to help pull secure cash for the project. The kiosks will give cyclists the option to fix flat tires, loose handlebars, broken chains and other problems. The location of the other two kiosks will be announced soon.

Rendering of Atlanta Waterworks

INTOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

An eclectic guide for events all month long

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Parades, concerts, shopping bazaars, ice skating and the dropping of a giant peach to welcome in 2015 are all on tap as the holiday season moves into overdrive. Here’s a rundown of upcoming events around Intown.

The Children’s Christmas Parade

Presented by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the 34th annual event begins at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 6 along Peachtree Street from 16th to 5th streets in Midtown. There will be floats, giant helium-filled balloons and marching bands and, of course, Santa Clause. If you can’t get out to the parade, it will be aired on WSB-TV. For more information, visit choa.org/parade.

Rink is also open daily through Jan. 19 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thrusday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $12 per person for a 90-minute session, including skate rental. For a full schedule of operating times, visit centennialpark.com.

Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker returns to the Fox Theatre Dec. 11-28. The whimsical holiday tale takes 20 pounds of snow, eight tons of scenery, lighting, and props, and a 38-foot-tall Christmas tree to make the magic of Clara’s unbelievable story come to life. More than 200 of Atlanta’s young dancers will join the Atlanta Ballet professional company for the extravagant production live with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and the Georgia Youth Choir. For tickets and information, visit atlantaballet.com.

Global Gift Market

Christmas with the ASO

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra marks the season with a series of special events, starting with Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 4-5; Christmas with the ASO featuring more than 400 musicians to create Robert Shaw’s “Greatest Story Ever Told” on Dec. 11 and 13; A Very Merry Holiday Pops featuring holiday classics and a visit from the Grinch on Dec. 1920. For a schedule and to buy tickets, visit atlantasymphony.org.

purchase and visit one of several cash bars for your favorite libation. For more, visit atlantahistorycenter.com.

Winter GlassFest

Janke Studios in the Old Fourth Ward will host the 14th annual GlassFest on Dec. 13 from noon to 6 p.m. at Studioplex. There will be glassblowing exhibitions, flameworking demos, live music, kid’s area, refreshments and market for unique glass gifts. For more information, visit jankestudios.com.

Or VeShalom Hanukkah Bazaar

Or VeShalom Synagogue, 1681 North Druid Hills Road, will host its 39th event on Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Sephardic/Mediterranean cuisine and booths featuring local art, jewelry, crafts, used books and much more. Admission is $3 at the door.

Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert

Ring in the holidays with the AGMC’s 34th annual holiday concert at Buckhead’s The Cathedral of St. Philip on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. and 2 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 6. This year’s theme is “Tied Up With Strings,” and will feature string quartet accompaniment for traditional carols, up-tempo holiday favorites and more. Tickets are $45 at voicesofnote.org.

Holiday In Lights/ Ice Rink at Centennial Park

The Downtown park will be decked out in thousands of lights and decorations through Jan. 19. The Ice

On Sunday, Dec. 7 and 14, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Buckhead will host its annual Global Gift Market in the church’s Fellowship Hall. Beautiful, hand-crafted gifts from Haiti and around the world will be offered for sale, along with gift cards and fair trade food products and baskets. In addition, women served by Thistle Farms in Nashville will offer natural body care products. The Global Gift Market will be open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7 and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. Proceeds from the Global Gift Market will support the efforts of Ten Thousand Villages and the LaGonave Haiti Partnership. For more information, visit covenantpresbyterian.us.

Christmas at Peachtree Road UMC

Experience Christmas at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church with two free events beginning Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. with Carols by Candlelight: A Christmas Sing-a-long and The Many Moods of Christmas on Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. featuring the Chancel Choir, The Georgia Boy Choir, soloists and orchestra. On Dec. 19-20 at 7 p.m., the church will host Christmas with The Georgia Boy Choir. Visit georgiaboychoir.org for more information and to purchase tickets. The

Atlanta Santa Speedo Run

Strip down to your Speedos or skivvies for the sixth annual event on Dec. 13. The starting line is at Hudson Grille, 942 Peachtree Street in Midtown, at 2 p.m. (registration and merry-making begins at noon). The year’s beneficiary is Everybody Wins Atlanta, a nonprofit that helps children learn to improve their reading skills. To register, visit atlantasantaspeedorun.org.

Atlanta History Center’s Candlelight Nights

Step back in time and experience Christmas past with a candle-lit stroll on Dec. 4 and 18. Visit each of the three historic houses to experience how Southerners celebrated Christmas during the pioneer days, the Civil War era, and the 1930s. Guests experience holiday traditions of years past with interpreters and special activities. Enjoy food for

Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta

More than 175,000 people are expected at Underground Atlanta for the 26th annual New Year’s celebration. Activities begins at 11 a.m. on New Year’s Eve with music and family events, including carnival rides, music and an arcade. The main event, the dropping of the 800-pound peach at midnight, will be followed by fireworks, and other festivities until 4 a.m. For a full schedule of events, a list of musicians playing on the different stages, and a live countdown to 2015, visit peachdrop.com.

church is located at 3180 Peachtree Road. prumc.org.

Christmas at Callanwode returns Dec. 1-16

The Callanwolde Fine Arts Center will once again host Christmas at Callanwolde on Dec. 1-16.

Atlanta’s top interior and floral designers have decorated the former home of Coca-Cola magnate Asa Candler at 980 Briarcliff Road for the season. There will also be daily events including family activities, evening musical entertainment, seasonal workshops and holiday shopping.

Hours are weekdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Admission is $20 (children 3 and under get in free) or $15 for groups of 20 or more.

Highlights of the 16-day event include:

The Artisan Market: Held in the Petite Hall Gallery throughout the event,

Callanwolde instructors and students will showcase and sell their unique works of fine art and crafts, including ornaments, scarfs, jewelry, pottery, photography and painting.

LEGOLAND Breakfast With Santa: This event features a kid-friendly breakfast, LEGOLAND activities, as well as photos with Santa. All children receive a special gift bag from Santa to take home. Tickets by advance reservation only.

Build-A-Bear Tea: Enjoy tea, hot cocoa, tea sandwiches, desserts, and holiday sing-a-longs at the Build-A-Bear Teddy Bear Tea. Santa will make a special visit. Reservations are required with only four children per adult and age 4 and above.

To see the full line up of events, visit callanwolde.org.

Books By Local Authors

Give the gift of reading this holiday season by picking up (or downloading) one of these books written by a local author. We’ve rounded up the latest fiction, nonfiction and poetry for you to check out.

Scar Tissue by Debra McDonald (CreateSpace) A highly respected heart surgeon faces unresolved childhood, self-destructive choices, romance, and mystery in this medical drama.

Joshua’s Battle by Joe Johnson (Archway Publishing) A Detroit lawyer uncovers a land swindle then finds himself framed for murder and his family in danger in this debut thriller.

Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn Dingman (Harper Paperbacks) Olivia travels to her mother’s tiny Georgia hometown to scatter her ashes, only to find out that mom has a secret past that threatens Olivia’s future.

Supposedly Broken by Tanya Harris (Delphine Publications) An unexpected death resurrects the trauma shared by two cousins who thought they had put their past behind them.

Unstoppable, Nature of Grace, Book 3 by SR Johannes (Coleman & Stott). The trilogy of young adult novels concludes with Grace being kidnapped by a ruthless hunter of exotic animals. She’s set loose deep in the Everglades, and soon discovers she is the hunter’s next prey.

Shorter’s Way by Grace Hawthorne (Deeds Publishing) A political romance set in a small Georgia town in the 1920s chronicles a young attorney’s run for governor and his ascension to power and run-in with the establishment who has no time for interlopers.

Beethoven in Love by David Ryback (Tiger Iron Press) How Beethoven’s muse, Antoine Brentano, inspired his most romantic and passionate compositions.

Shadows in the Shining City by John D. Cressler (Sunbury Press) The love affair between a Muslim princess, Rayhana, and a freed slave is set against the backdrop of the epic rise to power of Rayhana’s ruthless father, a man history will come to both celebrate and revile for the role he plays in dooming the bright future of Moorish Spain.

Anne Byrn Saves the Day! Cookbook by Anne Byrn (Workman Publishing) The bestselling author of The Cake Mix Doctor is back with this new collection of 125 recipes for every occasion.

The Elf on the Shelf Must Die by Norman Twisted (CreateSpace) In this adult take on the holiday tradition, a sensitive boy trying to live up to Santa Claus’ unreasonable expectations finally snaps.

ATL Fire: New & Selected Poems by Han Vance (Silver Stone Press) Winner of the Harriette Austin Poetry Award, Vance explores the city as a pedestrian and in various forms of transit.

Midtown artist, colleagues show plein air paintings in Buckhead

By Martha Nodar

Cheryl D’Amato of Midtown unveils her passion for painting outdoors by bringing her interpretation of a blue bird to the 10th annual Plein Air Exhibit at the Buckhead Library.”

The exhibit, which consists of 70 pieces by D’Amato and fellow members of the Buckhead-based Atlanta Artists Center (AAC) and its subgroup, the plein air painting group, takes wing Dec. 2 through Jan. 12.

Rooted in a French expression, plein air means in the open air. A piece is considered plein air when most of it is drawn or painted outdoors.

Frequently found painting in her condominium’s balcony near Piedmont Park, D’Amato said that plein air painting suits her personality because of the sense of freedom associated with painting outside.

“To paint plein-air is to free the soul in a beautiful location,” she said.

That is exactly what happened when D’Amato painted the “Bird Feeder” at an Atlanta garden during a garden

tour sponsored by the High Museum for different groups of artists including plein air artists. The piece depicts a blue bird poking through the opening of a wooden bird feeder.

“I was attracted to the simplicity of the scene,” she said. “I wanted to show the brushstrokes and multiple colors as a way to define the shadows.”

A sense of playfulness comes across in D’Amato’s piece through her “use of whimsical colors and active brushstrokes,” said fellow AAC member Jane Springfield, who is also participating in the exhibit.

“The painting reflects the lighthearted experience Cheryl must have had in the garden that afternoon,” she said. “Vines and flowers curl around the feeder and lead the viewer’s eyes around the painting in much the same way the bird might have circled it earlier.”

Expressing her own experience, Springfield said that when painting outside the senses become more akin.

“I become aware of the sound, the smell, the mood,” she said. “It is as though I am recording a place-in-time.”

Springfield said a lot of planning is involved in plein air painting, such as knowing what to take to the scene, and choosing the time of day as the sun moves quickly.

“We anticipate the direction of the sun,” she said. “It’s almost a science.”

Mikki Dillon, Clyde Draughon, Erin Durham, Lee Jordan, Lorraine Kimsey, Tuyet McDonald, Kay Summers, and Ujjagar Singh Wassan are among AAC members and plein air artists also partaking in the show.

A reception is open to the public on Dec. 6, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Located at 269 Buckhead Ave., the Buckhead Library is now open every day Monday through Saturday but at different times depending on the day. For hours of operation call (404) 814-3500 or visit afpls.org/buckheadbranch.

Special Cheryl D’Amato works on a new painting.

Special

“Bird Feeder” by Cheryl D’Amato is one of the pieces in the plein air show.

Gallery and Museums

The Wren’s Nest Victorian Holiday Party: Stop by the home of Bre’er Rabbit author Joel Chandler Harris for a Victorian-era celebration of the holidays. December 7. Free. wrensnest.org

Christmas During the Civil War at Smith Plantation: Experience Christmas at Smith Plantation, as told by soldiers and civilians of the era in this interactive tour and storytelling event. December 12. $6 to $8. archibaldsmithplantation.org

Stars Fall on Atlanta: The Premiere of Gone With the Wind: This Margaret Mitchell House and Museum exhibit highlights the events and people in involved in the world premiere of “Gone with the Wind” in 1939 Atlanta. Closes December 31. $8.50 to $13. atlantahistorycenter.com/mmh

American Sabor: Latinos in Popular U.S. Music: The Atlanta History Center explores how Latin music genres have profoundly influenced American

popular music, from the 1940s to the present. Daily. $11 to $16.50. atlantahistorycenter.com

Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair: “Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair” The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) honors the traveling fashion show that brought European couture fashions to the AfricanAmerican community. Tuesday through Saturday. $5 to $8. museumofdesign.org

Make A Joyful Noise: Renaissance Art and Music at Florence Cathedral: Three Renaissance marble panels from the great dome of the Florence Cathedral make their U.S. premiere at the High Museum. Tuesday through Sunday. $12 to $19.50. high.org

tahoe hybrids: Katherine Sandoz documents her adventures at Lake Tahoe in this multidisciplinary SCAD Atlanta exhibit that she calls a “bridge in her trek to minimalism.” Monday through Friday. Free. scad.edu/atlanta

Teen Paranormal Romance: Sculpture, photography and video take on the new pop culture fascination with the genre of Teen Paranormal Romance at this Atlanta Contemporary Art Center exhibit. Tuesday through Saturday. $5 to $8. thecontemporary.org

Performing Arts

gestures that soon will disappear: THE ROMANTIC BODY: gloATL presents the final live performance of this site-specific work at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA). December 4. Free. gloatl.org

John Oliver: John Oliver brings the timely humor of his show “Last Week Tonight” to the live stage in this standup show at the Cobb Energy Centre. December 4. cobbenergycentre.com

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: Laugh and sing along with Alexander’s misadventures in this hilarious musical with lyrics by Judith Viorst, author of the best-selling classic book. December 4 through December 14. $12 to $20. atlantajcc.org

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas

Carol: A holiday tradition at the Tavern, Atlanta Shakespeare Company transports audiences to Scrooge’s London counting house for a fateful meeting with three ghosts. December 4 through December 23. $15 to $39. shakespearetavern.com

The Gifts of the Magi: Back for a third season by popular demand, this musical about a penniless husband and wife in 19th century New York City is based on two of O. Henry’s timeless stories. December 4 through December 23. $20 to $35. theatricaloutfit.org

A Charlie Brown Christmas with David Benoit: One of the great contemporary jazz pianists performs the classic Vince Guaraldi Christmas tunes at the Ferst Center for the Arts. December 5. $37 to $62. ferstcenter.gatech.edu

Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker: Atlanta Ballet transports audiences to a magical world of dancing dolls, mischievous mice, and sparkling snowflakes with this time-honored classic at The Fox Theatre. December 11 through December 28. $18 to $124. atlantaballet.com

IT’S A WONDERFUL LAUGH

Libby’s at the Express: Cabaret master Libby Whittemore joins the hilarious Connie Sue Day in one of Atlanta’s favorite holiday music shows at Actor’s Express. December 12 through December 21. $40. actors-express.com

Handel’s Messiah: The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra and the Cathedral Schola of the Cathedral of St. Philip perform the traditional holiday “Messiah” with four guest soloists, who are all specialists in Baroque performance. December 13. $10 to $25. atlantabaroque.org

Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure: This new live show brings Disney characters from “Sofia the First” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” to the stage for a live adventure. December 13 and December 14. $20 to $80. cobbenergycentre.com

Christmas with Atlanta Master Chorale: Atlanta Master Chorale celebrates its 30th Christmas together with this annual holiday concert of peace and glad tidings at Emory’s Schwartz Center. December 13 and December 14. $30. atlantamasterchorale.org

Rising Appalachia: This sister duo performs their unique mix of global sounds rooted in Appalachian tradition at The Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom. December 19. $27. foxtheatre.org

AMERICAN SABOR

GIFTS OF THE MAGI

GESTURES THAT WILL SOON DISAPPEAR

MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE CELTIC CHRISTMAS

Marvel Universe LIVE!: More than 25 Marvel characters come together for one epic quest in the Marvel Universe at this live arena show. December 19 through December 22. $45 to $170. philipsarea.com

It’s a Wonderful Laugh: Dad’s Garage Ensemble parodies “It’s a Wonderful Life” in this audience-driven show at the Alliance Theatre that will be

different each night. Closes December 20. $18. alliancetheatre.org

Atlanta Celtic Christmas: The Celtic Company celebrates the solstice season with fiddling, dancing and singing from the Celtic and Appalachian traditions at the Rialto. December 20 and December 21. $25 to $65. thecelticcompany.com

Lyle the Crocodile: In this musical, the Primms and their son Joshua are in for a shock when Lyle the Crocodile turns up in the bathtub of their new apartment and tries to become a part of the family. Closes December 28. $10 to $40. synchrotheatre.com

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Center for Puppetry Arts’ beloved holiday adaptation is back in town once again, this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of the stop-motion animated special. Closes December 28. $16.50 to $20.50. puppet.org

NEW EATS & TREATS

A roundup of recently-opened restaurants around Intown

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

The holiday season is in full swing, which means hectic shopping sprees and guests from out of town. It’s the perfect time to eat out, and there are a number of newly-opened restaurants worth check out around Intown.

The Café at Linton’s

While you’re visiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see the gorgeous holiday lights, be sure to stop Chef Linton Hopkins’ placeholder while the new full-service Linton’s in the Garden is under construction (expected to open in late 2015). The café offers a menu based on natural meats and fresh, local produce, including fruits, vegetables and herbs grown at the Garden. For more information, visit atlantabontanicalgarden.org.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

521 Kitchen & Que

Drew and Roma Kirkland have opened their new restaurant at 4365 Roswell Road, Suite 4367, in Buckhead serving up freshly smoked barbecue and homemade sides. For more information, visit 521kitchenandque. com.

Ribalta

A touch of Naples in Midtown from this new pizzeria that offers both Neapolitan pies and a twice-baked extra crispy style called “pala.” There are also gluten-free options. The restaurant is located at 1080 Peachtree St. For more information, visit ribaltapizzarestaurant. com.

The Southern Gentleman

Asante Restaurant & Lounge

The fast-casual, Pan Asian sushi and juice bar is open at the Pencil Factory Flats & Shops at 349 Decatur St. near Downtown. Menu items include rice bowls and a classic bento box with beef yakiniku and chicken katsu. Also at the juice bar: smoothies and bubble tea. For more information, visit thebentohut.com.

Condesa Coffee

Celebrity chef Marvin Woods brings his “coastal soul” cuisine to this new spot in Downtown’s Luckie Marietta District at 250 Park Ave. Woods has developed a signature style that blends ingredients and techniques of South America, the Caribbean, the Low Country and Southern United States and Africa. For more information, visit asanteatl.com.

Illegal Foods

Illegal Food’s first full-service restaurant is scheduled to open this month in the former Bar Meatball space at 1044 Greenwood Ave. Illegal Food will serve its critically acclaimed burgers in addition to a full menu of appetizers, sandwiches, entrées, desserts and a custom cocktail program. For more information, visit illegalfoodatlanta.com.

Bento Hut

The artisan ice cream company has opened a new location at 545 N. McDonough St. in Decatur. The shop features grass-grazed ice creams, frozen yogurts and sorbets. This is the third Jeni’s to open in the past year, with locations in Westside Provisions and a new location coming to Krog Street Market soon. For more information, visit jenis.com.

One of Buckhead Atlanta’s most anticipated openings, the new restaurant from the creators of Gypsy Kitchen, Smokebelly BBQ and The Big Ketch, The Southern Gentleman offers a modern, regional spin on chef-created, locally sourced gastropub fare and classic cocktails. Visit the restaurant’s Facebook page at

Here’s something to watch out for in January: the second out post of awardwinning Condesa Coffee 145 Auburn Ave. in the Atlanta Daily World Building. Condesa, which offers fair trade coffee and cocktails, was named one of the 10 Best Coffee Shops in the country by The Daily Meal. Find out more about the opening at condesacoffee.com.

Le Bilboquet

The French eatery is now serving lunch and dinner at the Buckhead Atlanta development. The bistro and bar, which opened its first outpost in New York City in 1986, is the only freestanding restaurant on the property. Signature dishes include Cajun chicken, steak au poivre, salmon tartare and chocolate mousse. For more information, visit buckhead-atl.com.

Local restaurants serving up Christmas Day dinner

Back in the day, the only restaurant open on Christmas Day was the Waffle House (and it still is if you prefer your holiday meal scattered, smothered and covered), but Intown restaurants also know that many people would rather enjoy more time with friends and family and less time in the kitchen.

Here are a few suggestions for your Christmas Day meal. Find more at OpenTable. com. Reservations are recommended.

Astor Court at The St. Regis

Buckhead

A brunch buffet will be served on Christmas Day. Be sure to get a West Paces Bloody Mary to wash it down. 88 West Paces Ferry Road. stregisatlanta. com/Astor-Court

Cowtippers

Midtown

Funky, fun and LGBT-friendly, Cowtippers will be serving up a traditional holiday feast with all the fixings. 1600 Piedmont Road. cowtippersatlanta.com

Legal Sea Foods

Downtown

Trade in that turkey and ham for a lobster and shrimp feast on Christmas Day. 275 Baker St. legalseafoods.com

The Melting Pot

Midtown

If it’s fondue you seek then check out The Melting Pot on Christmas Eve and Day as the staff serves up seasonally-inspired fondues in addition to its regular menu. 754 Peachtree St. meltingpot.com

Park 75 Midtown

Sample the holiday brunch buffet featuring live culinary stations, a variety of homemade desserts, and even a visit from Santa at the Four Seasons. Seatings are 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. upon availability. 75 14th St. fourseasons.com

Poor Calvin’s

Midtown

Try some Thai fusion for your Christmas dinner. 510 Piedmont Ave. poorcalvins.com

Rosa Mexicano

Atlantic Station

Chips, salsa, tacos and margaritas are a spicy alternative to the usual holiday dinner. 245 18th St. rosamexicano.com

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

Downtown and Midtown

Both locations are open Christmas Day serving up their classic sizzling steaks. 267 Marietta St. and 3285 Peachtree Road. ruthschris.net

TASTING INTOWN: Sun In My Belly

By Art Huckabee

I’m intrigued by restaurant names and what they say about a restaurant. Some are self-explanatory like The Atlanta Fish Market or Fox Brother’s Bar-B-Q. Some are iconic like Bone’s or Bacchanalia. Some allude to history or literature like Ink and Elm and King + Duke. Some are just whimsical like Sun In My Belly.

Located in a former hardware store in Kirkwood, Sun In My Belly is a neighborhood café that serves brunch, lunch and dinner. If you don’t live in the area it’s a little hard to find the first time as there’s minimal signage and, in typical Atlanta neighborhood fashion, there’s minimal parking.

There’s a patio for those warm weather Sunday brunches and just inside the door there’s a pastry/ coffee counter if you just happen to want a quick bite. As is this the case with many old buildings that are converted into restaurants, the seating is that European banquet style with rows of tables only separated by the slimmest of margins that turn everyone into involuntary eavesdroppers. The piercing “High C” screams of a nearby baby further reaffirm that this isn’t necessarily your date night destination.

The menu is extensive. From soups to salads, to “Lite Bites” to “Big Bites,” to even a Kid’s menu in the evening, chances are there’s something for everyone. There’s a 4-course “Supper Club” menu that’s available from Thursday through Sunday for $35. There’s a decent wine selection and they offer craft beers as well.

As an appetizer, we tried the fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese. The unripe tomatoes were lightly battered and fried to an al dente doneness with just the

Restaurant Review

right dab of pimento cheese. We could have eaten another serving.

We sampled a variety of salads. They were freshly assembled with good ingredients. The Wedge was very good with crunchy romaine, grape tomatoes, bleu cheese, house honeyglazed bacon, roasted walnuts and a housemade Green Goddess dressing. The Lucy was crunchy, tart and refreshing with kale, red apple, Spanish onion, avocado, toasted pumpkin seeds in a lemon vinaigrette. Even the Caesar, oft an afterthought at many places, was very good with garlic croutons, shaved Parmesan and an authentic dressing.

For entrees, we ordered the fried chicken, the meatloaf and the Fez burger. The chicken was hot and crispy; the meat moist and tender. The accompanying mac ‘n cheese had a smoky Gouda taste and the mojo collard greens were spicy but a bit too vinegary. The meatloaf with tomato jam had good flavor but was dry as if it had lingered under a heat lamp. The accompanying Parmesan mashed potatoes affirmed my hunch as they had the consistency of spackling compound.

The Fez burger was undercooked. To its credit, the kitchen re-fired a new one rather than attempting to remedy the mistake in a microwave. The second iteration was properly done… hot and juicy on an onion Challah roll. It needed just a little more mint aioli to balance the lamb.

There were lots of sweet offerings. The pumpkin crème brûlée was the perfect holiday sweet and the S’mores parfait was a good riff on the traditional

nighttime campfire treat.

As to the service, our experience, and those of many diners around us, suffered from long pauses in-between courses, miscommunications between the kitchen and the front of the house and a general flurry of activity that came across as flailing. There’s a team effort at play here but the players don’t know their individual roles. It’s a bit like watching a bunch of little kids first learning to play baseball. When the ball is hit, they all chase it into the outfield.

On a positive note, the hostess did inquire about our experience at the end of the meal and seemed genuinely interested in our feedback.

Sun In My Belly may be a whimsical name and some of the food is pretty sunny, but the service is mostly cloudy with a chance of rain.

Sun In My Belly is located at 2161 College Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30317. For more information, call (404) 370-1088 or visit suninmybelly.com.

Art Huckabee

The fried chicken and mac ‘n cheese.

Quick Bites

Ray Schoenbaum, original owner of Rio Bravo and founder of Ray’s Restaurants, has announced he will open a Ray’s Rio Bravo (raysriobravo.com) in Sandy Springs in the former Peter Chang’s space by Cinco de Mayo 2015. Schoenbaum made the decision to open the restaurant after high demand from customers requesting the return of the restaurant’s iconic dishes.

You don’t have to drive to Decatur anymore for chicken schnitzel now that Seven Hens (7hens.com) has opened a second location at Abernathy Square Shopping Center, 6615 Roswell Road, in Sandy Springs. “The fact that schnitzel is hugely popular in Europe and around the world but not so much in the United States is mind-boggling to me… Because it’s so good! I love how satisfying it is and love the crunchy and soft texture,” founder Michael Gurevich said.

Famed Atlanta chef Kevin Gillespie will profess his devotion to swine in a new 240-page cookbook, Pure Pork Awesomeness, which will be published by Andrews McMeel in March 2015.

Meals On Wheels Atlanta and the Peachtree Road Farmers Market at The Cathedral of St. Philip in Buckhead have partnered to bring locally grown vegetables to its clients. Meals On Wheels Atlanta purchases – at a discounted rate – vegetables left at the end of the Saturday market and delivers them to senior citizens. The farmers market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon through Dec. 13. For more information, visit peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.

Fox Brothers Restaurant Group closed Big Tex Decatur last month to focus on expansion of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q , which was recently named the official barbecue of the Atlanta Falcons. The barbecue joint is currently building a new catering/ commissary facility on Ottley Drive. “The new commissary will really be a game changer for us and help meet the needs of our restaurant in Candler Park and future Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q restaurants,” said Jonathan Fox, Partner and Pitmaster of Fox Bros Bar-B-Q.

Esquire has named Gunshow (gunshowatl.com) in Glenwood Park as one of the country’s best new restaurants in its first annual American Food and Drink Awards Here’s what the magazine had to say: “Gunshow may just be the manliest restaurant in America. If not for the giant painting of a boar that serves as the place’s only decoration, it would look like an abandoned factory. You don’t know what to expect, other than a kitchen so ballsy and hypercreative – pork-skin risotto, foie gras with figs and Coca-Cola reduction – that you can’t figure on ever getting the same thing twice.”

Meals On Wheels Atlanta and the Peachtree Road Farmers Market at The Cathedral of St. Philip in Buckhead have partnered to bring locally grown vegetables to its clients. Meals On Wheels Atlanta purchases – at a discounted rate –vegetables left at the end of the Saturday market and delivers them to senior citizens. The farmers market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.

Real Estate

PASSION PROJECT

John Wieland envisions One Museum Place as Intown’s own Dakota

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

One Museum Place has been a passion project for John Wieland for nearly a decade, surviving the economic recession to be reborn as what the developer hopes will be Atlanta’s answer to the famed Dakota building in Manhattan.

The address for OMP is certainly prestigious: it sits across the street from the Woodruff Arts Center complex on Peachtree Street in Midtown and many of the units will have dramatic views of the High Museum’s iconic façade and the city’s skyline and green canopy of Ansley Park.

The property will feature three five-story buildings consisting of 45 units priced from $900,000 to $3 million. At press time, eight of the units have already been reserved and construction has yet to begin.

But the modern brick and wood façade, which will have ivy growing up the walls, is not what Wieland had originally envisioned for the prime piece of real estate. Before the recession, Wieland had hired noted UK architect Sir David Chippenfield to design two glass towers – one 16 stories, the other 20 – with nearly 100 units.

“It was a gorgeous design, but I’m very glad we didn’t build it,” Wieland said. “The new design is more respectable to this very special block in Midtown. lt makes One Museum Place iconic – people will wish that they lived there. It’s the Dakota for Atlanta.”

The Dakota is one of New York City’s most exclusive addresses on the Upper West Side at Central Park, with a roster of artistic residents including Lauren Bacall, Lillian Gish, Leonard Bernstein, William Inge and John Lennon.

Wieland clearly sees OMP as

a destination for art lovers, which includes himself. He’s already planning to move into a fifth floor unit with a view of the High, which has a wing bearing his name.

“We went back to the fundamentals with One Museum Place,” he said. “The recession brought a bit of sobriety to the real estate market and it gave us an opportunity to look at why other projects in the city didn’t do well.”

Wieland said the recalibration of the market has seen homebuyers looking to live in a condo or loft-style building, but with a “front yard experience.” There will be plenty of that at OMP with a central courtyard, dog park and communal areas with seating and fireplaces.

There will also be some hightech amenities, including a clicker for each resident that open private garage doors and call the private elevator that will whisk you to your floor. There will also be a lounge area for owners, a catering kitchen, a flexible commons area that can be reserved for parties, outdoor terraces, fitness center and a guest apartment that owners can reserve for visitors.

OMP Principal Randy Shields said the project is set to break ground in early 2015 and be completed in 2016.

And while OMP is getting under way, Wieland has also had his eye on the Atlanta BeltLine. He’s already built the luxury Highland Park townhomes along the Eastside Trail on the border of Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park and he’s got his eyes set on Reynoldstown.

He just purchased 1.3 acres on Memorial Drive between the BeltLine trail and the new home of WonderRoot in the old Tech High School building. The 28 townhomes will begin at $400,000. For more about One Museum Place, visit ompatlanta.com.

A drone equipped with a camera was used to show the elevation of One Museum Place and the views prospective buyers would have from their particular unit.

John Wieland

HOLIDAY HOMES

Residents open their doors for festive tours

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

If you’re looking for decorating inspiration or just like the idea of wandering through some beautifully decked out homes, Intown has an array of tours on tap this month.

Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes

The 20th annual Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes is set for Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. The tour features seven homes, plus the Church of Our Saviour. Homes include a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Prairie-style, an expanded 1935 bungalow, and a Tudor Revival home that got an Arts and Crafts style makeover. Local restaurants will provide food tastings at each of the homes on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., including Atkins Park, El Taco, Fontaine’s, Highland Tap, La Tavola, Murphy’s, Moore Farms & Friends, Noche, Tapa Tapa and Timone’s. Tour tickets are $25 in advance at vahitourofhomes.org.

Home for the Holidays

The annul home tour began in mid-November and continues through Dec. 7, benefitting the Southeastern Horticultural Society’s Children’s Learning Garden and Farms. This year’s show house is at 2865 Habersham Road and has been decorated by some of the city’s most noted interior designers. The home is open for tours Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information visit, atlantaholidayhome.com.

The 2014 tour will feature four distinctive Buckhead homes on Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The homes are located on Peachtree Battle Avenue, Habersham Road, Blackland Road and Old Plantation Road. Tickets are $25 in advance at peachtreegardenclub.org or $30 the day of the event.

Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes

The 34th annual tour will feature a variety of homes in this historic neighborhood, including the Burns Mansion, on Dec. 13-14 from 6 to 10 p.m. There will also be other events happening that weekend in conjunction with the tour, including a Winter Wonderland with activities, crafts and visits with Santa on Saturday from 4-6 p.m., and a Candlelight Christmas Concert on Sunday at 5 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. An Artists’ Market and Bake Sale will be open both nights, too. Tour tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 at CandlelightTourOfHomes.com.

Cross Creek Christmas Tour

Ten of the condominiums in the Cross Creek community in Buckhead will be decorated for the holidays and open for tours on Dec. 7 from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 the day of the tour. Proceeds benefit Snap To It Dog Rescue and the Atlanta Community Food Bank. For tickets and information, call (404) 351-7600.

Peachtree Garden Club Christmas Home Tour

The 2014 tour will feature four distinctive Buckhead homes on Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The homes are located on Peachtree Battle Avenue, Habersham Road, Blackland Road and Old Plantation Road. Tickets are $25 in advance at peachtreegardenclub.org or $30 the day of the event.

Avondale Estates Tour of Homes & Holiday Market

The Avondale Estates Tour of Homes and Holiday Market will be held on Dec. 14 from 3 to 8 p.m. (the market is open noon to 6 p.m. at 58 Lakeshore Drive). This year’s tour features six homes – from contemporary to classic. Once again, a trolley will be taking visitors to each home and the market. For more information, visit avondaletourofhomes.com.

Real Estate Briefs

Realtor Sandy Epstein with Engel & Völkers Buckhead Atlanta was named Salesperson of the Year during the 34th annual event hosted by the Atlanta Sales and Marketing Council and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association that recognizes excellence in sales and marketing in the greater Atlanta housing industry. Epstein was honored with a Gold OBIE for her success on Jim Chapman Fine Homes’ 55+ community, Brookhaven at Johns Creek.

Curbed Atlanta is reporting that Old Fourth Ward music and concert venue The Masquerade might be transformed as part of a mixed-use development along the Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park. The property fronts North Avenue and is just across the street from Ponce City Market. According to the report, the Atlanta Beltline is working with Southeast Capital Companies, which wants to create a five-story, multifamily building with 238 units and 6,148-square-feet of commercial space. The historic mill, which dates back to the 1890s, would not be demolished but would be incorporated into the project in some unidentified way.The mill made excelsior – wood shavings used as packing material – into the 1960s. Afterwards, the site became a pizzeria and a blues hall before becoming The Masquerade in 1989. With its three level entertainment space – Heaven, Purgatory and Hell – The Masquerade still packs in audiences for shows by up-and-coming alternative bands. The Masquerade’s future has been in question since 2004, when the former owner announced he was going to sell the site to a developer for a mixed-use project featuring restaurants and condos.

Construction has begun on a new 20-story apartment tower at the 12th & Midtown development. Located at 60 11th St., the building is expected to be completed sometime in 2016.

Harry Norman, REALTORS won a prestigious real estate award at the 19th Annual Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate’s Fall Conference recently held in Boston. The conference is one of the largest luxury specific real estate conferences in the world. Harry Norman was honored with the Best Mobile App award, which is given to the Luxury Real Estate member creating the most cutting-edge technology to help market their company.

Special

2865 Habersham Road is the address for this year’s Home for the Holidays.

Photo credit

Caption

Special

Two homes on the upcoming Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes.

The Residences at W Atlanta in Downtown are offering a sky-high incentive to buyers interested in the four remaining penthouse suites – free helicopter service to Hartsfield-Jackson or DeKalb Peachtree airports for a year. The building has its own helipad. Ranging from 3,289 to 4,154 square-feet, the homes start at $1.5 million.

Perspectives in Architecture

Melody L. Harclerode

Assisting a New Generation

By Melody Harclerode

The acronym can mystify a person with its odd spelling, but its meaning can bring a smile. SORTAA stands for the Slate of Ready To Assist Architects. This committee with the Atlanta Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Atlanta) was started in 1989 by architects Rocky Rothschild and Cecil Alexander, along with Sally Price.

Rothschild and Alexander led the firm called FABRAP, which designed the iconic AT&T Headquarters in

Midtown, the demolished Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and the Coca-Cola Headquarters off North Avenue. Price served as the Executive Director of AIA Atlanta. These professionals could have spent their retirement time solely focusing on traveling and relaxing after their years of hard work, but they were drawn to another endeavor.

The trio organized SORTAA to create fellowship and networking opportunities for elder architects. Although Rothschild, Alexander and Price died years ago, SORTAA moves forward with current leaders such as John Busby and Stanley Daniels. Busby, Daniels and the late Henri Jova founded the Atlanta-based architectural firm Jova Daniels Busby in 1966. Their firm designed such landmarks as Colony Square and the round, futuristic bank building on Monroe Drive at Piedmont Road (it’s since been a number of restaurants). The founders of the firm personified leadership with their design accomplishments and positions as Past AIA Atlanta Presidents. Busby even served as AIA National President in 1986.

Established in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) faces a wonderful opportunity as it seeks

to broaden its appeal to younger members. With the average age of an AIA member at age 52 in 2012, the national organization thirst for more young people to join its membership and become more involved in committees. Young professional members can provide new ideas and creativity to energize an organization. They also give the organization more assurance of its long-term stability. However, retired professionals like the ones in SORTAA can also help the professional associations through their expertise and experience.

Knowing the tendency of people to segregate by age, professional organizations around the country should work to bring together its young and elder members for more initiatives that benefit both groups. Through initiatives such as panel discussions, mentoring programs and scholarships to foster collaboration between different age groups, the slate

of architects like Busby and Daniels can actually assist a new generation of leaders.

Melody L. Harclerode, AIA, a local architect, promotes the power of architecture and design as the PresidentElect of the Atlanta chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Principal of Harclerode Architects (harcarch.com). For more information, check out aiaatl.org.

Special Stanley Daniels, left, and John Busby.

From left, the late Henri Jova, Daniels and Busby.

Colony Square in Midtown.

SPRINGDALE HEIGHTS - Huge new home on nicely landscaped large lot! Fabulous floorplan, details & finishes! Ready for move in! Must see! 4Bed/3.5Bath $669,000

FMLS: 5361120

Kathleen Sickeler 404-368-3234

BRIARCLIFF WOODS - Hard to find true 4 bedroom ranch with basement in Oak Grove Elem. Desirable Briarcliff Woods neighd, this home has spacious rooms and lots of natural light. 4Bed/2.5Bath $425,000 FMLS: 5359549 Helene DeLoach 404-210-6250

BERKELEY PARK – Completely renovated 2/2 bungalow in Berkeley Pk (intown). Best deal in school district - Hurry! Home on National historic registry. 2Bed/2Bath $369,900

FMLS: 5363233 Bradford Smith 404-210-4141

MORNINGSIDE - Incredible space and potential. Expanded 1930 tudor.

REYNOLDSTOWN - Fantastic newer home in HOT Reynoldstown! Walk to neighborhood Coffee/Cocktail shop, Dog Park, Restaurants and only steps to the Beltline! 3Bed/3.5Bath $359,000 FMLS: 5351467

Erin Fye 404-771-9822

RIVER VALLEY ESTATES - Spacious ranch home on huge private wooded lot features handsome new kitchen and fireside den with sunlight. Fully functioning terrace level apartment. 4Bed/3.5Bath $320,044

FMLS: 5337817 Amber Mason 678-637-3530

SOUTHLAND - This beautiful 4-sides brick home in prestigious Southland shows like a dream. The dining rm opens to a lg. kitchn w/ brkfst area, formica cntrtps and stained cabs. 6Bed/4Bath $295,900 FMLS: 5345980

Gary Langley 404-245-7539

INTOWN - Refinished Hardwood Floors. Freshly Painted. New Carpet. Large Kitchen w/Stained Cabinets & Granite Ctops. Quaint Front Porch. Convenient to Edgewood Retail.

4Bed/3.5Bath+Loft $364,900 FMLS:5304016

Tonya Marlatt 404-518-8787

WEST MIDTOWN - Prime Location. 2 Bedroom w/Office-Den. Open Living Space. Hardwood Floors. Exquisite Finishes. Pool, Fitness Center & More. 2Bed/2.5Bath $577,780

FMLS: 5184353 Rea Kelly 404-428-9929

BUCKHEAD - Sophisticated City Home. Turn-Key Opportunity. Completely Furnished! Walls of Windows. Hotel Amenities w/ Unrivaled Finishes Throughout.

2Bed/2.5Bath $599,000 FMLS: 5327908 Marc Castillo 404-449-6862

MIDTOWN - Full scenic views. Overlooks Green Space. Hardwood Floors. 2 Adjacent parking spaces. Storage Unit. Amazing Location. 2Bed/2Bath $235,000

FMLS: 5359447

Patrick Jones 404-680-9534

MIDTOWN - Large Penthouse Unit w/2 Master Suites. Midtown Views Through 20’ Floor-to-Ceiling Windows. 2 Balconies. Gourmet Kitchen. Storage Unit. 3Bed/3Bath $739,900 FMLS: 5335472

Allen Snow 404-931-1176

INTOWN - Rare Top Floor Unit w/Great City Views. Huge Laundry/Storage Room. Gated community. Lots of visitor parking. Great amenities. 2Bed/2Bath $285,000

FMLS: 5345672

Tonya Marlatt 404-518-8787

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