Thank you for such a great, respectful piece about the show. I was afraid that all the media outlets who were so interested in what happened back in April wouldn’t be interested in following through to come back and cover the positive part of the story. It is very much appreciated.
[...] Just got a (very vague) press release from The Coca-Cola Company explaining what they intend to do with all those thousands of Atlanta Braves jerseys, bats and mitts that went into the old 42-foot Coke bottle they retired after 12 years of fireworks displays over Turner Field. (Here are photos of both bottles.) [...]
The Coke memorabilia giveaway on Thursday…the Maddux number retirement ceremony on Friday. And hopefully a 4 game sweep of the Mets culminating on Sunday.
I was at a Hot Topic last night and overheard the two clerks talking about the movie. One of them had admitted to not having read any of the books, and only watched the movies. I chided him and told him he needed to get all the books, sit down, and read them. There are a lot of things in the books that were left out of the movies, some that were minor and didn’t really affect the story when left out, and others that were cruicial to the story. For example, in the fifth book (”Order of the Phoenix”) Harry and his friends encounter all sorts of obstacles before getting to the room with all the prophecies, and Harry retrieves the prophecy. It also left out some of the cruelty that Umbridge inflicted upon the students, especially Harry, like when she injured Hedwig’s wing. I forget what she did in the book, but I remember one time yelling “you *****!” at the book. When a book can get a reaction like that from the reader, you know it’s good.
I hope too much wasn’t left out in this movie. I really couldn’t see anything that could be left out, but some things could have been changed around a bit.
I’m with you, Patrick, on the books. I read and enjoyed all of them, but haven’t been nearly so dedicated to the movies. They have their moments — love Quidditch on a big screen — but I didn’t even see “Half-Blood Prince” last night. (Too many photos to file, too many blog posts to write…) For those that just can’t sit still through a book, though, seems like they’re a solid entry into a cultural phenom.
Of course the movie butchered the book, I’m not about to sit through six hours of Snape’s detention, Moanin’ Myrtle’s well, moaning over Draco Dobby’s moodiness or the non-lovefest between Molly and LeFleur.
That said, they did a decent job with the bones of the book and the added scenes. The romance scenes were too slow, a hint really would’ve been enough in most cases although the audience around me hooted and hollared over anything.
I have a reccomendation though, while you may love your light-up wand please do not wave it in the air during the movie. Save it for the lines waiting outside the theater.
AJC…i hope you keep this daily segment: “What to Do on (weekdays)”…this tool is so helpful to me because it gives me a glimpse of the life and happenings of ATL on each given day. it also helps for when family are in town and this is a simple reference to things to do while they are visiting ATL. Thanks again for this segment.
[...] sells movie tickets, two for $15.99, for Regal and AMC theaters. I was thinking of seeing Harry Potter, but I, for one, am not a big fan of spending big bucks for cinema blockbusters. I called a few [...]
Great! Glad it helps! I’ll keep it up in this blog on weekdays, and on weekends, too. If you’ve ever got ideas or recommendations, feel free to share them, too, by commenting here, e-mailing me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com or shooting me a message on Twitter at http://twitter.com/insideaccess. Thanks!
Art, if it has to be subsidized thru donations or the govt and they can’t make it on their own thru selling their “art”, then obviously not enough people care about it and its time to get a real job!!
Even thought I never really went to eyedrum, it’s sad to see the ignorance of the south shining here in these comments. Way to stereotype yourselves guys as a bunch of culturally ignorant, backwoods cretins.
To “the Captain”, let me draw you a picture with a person playing a violin with tears in his eyes about the sad news. You’ll just have to image the sound.
I think the variety of perspectives on art are revealing themselves in this thread, John and Bushwacker. Of course there are those who look at it as a business on which to make money, but for many others, it’s to learn, educate or entertain, to affect the space or people in the areas where we live or, in the case of an arts space, a way to connect with the community. Eyedrum, for its part, is a volunteer operation.
A decline is civilization is precipitated by a decline in the creative arts. It’s creativity that keeps this economy going to begin with. Take that away and you have a bleak horizon.
How about trying this…go through the place and start charging the “artists” that are living there some rent? Yeah, they are there…been there and seen them and walked in on them.
Eyedrum is a great space, but it’s way too big. Rent on Memorial Drive / Cabbagetown has got to be going through the roof with all of the recent improvements. They should move out to the next cool (and cheap) district.
Haters are proof you’re famous. Keep it going, Eyedrum.
John, yes, image the sound. Why would you even read an article about something that you have nothing positive to add (and make incredibly retarded grammatical errors in the midst of your hating)….you’re a genius, and your energy is so well spent.
i’m an artist, have a real job (so that i can afford to pursue creative endeavors), and i love art.
You see, John is a closet homosexual who thinks if he speaks out against culture, free expression and creative thoughts, no one will know he is gay…….BUSTED.
So if someone thinks the art there is mostly not very good, childish, and not worth paying to see they are a closet homosexual? Maybe John is just a blue collar open homosexual. Like you need to be into art to be into man on man loving. I like the place for a show but the art there is not very marketable. Sometimes things have to close because people do not care enough to fork over money to keep it open. The high stays in bussiness because people want to go there and see the art. Eyedrum had a great spot there for awhile but the area is being built up and the land is worth money now.
Just call Washington and ask for taxpayer cash to bail out this artsy organization! They’ve got plenty of coin from taxpayers to do what they need! It’s just a phone call away—taxpayer money: it just keeps on giving!!!!
What a shame. The eyedrum is more than just a place to see art. They host great bands and have always been a point of pride for residents such as myself in the area. A friend of mine just opened and art gallery in Savannah. There is kind of a twist to it though. The upstairs is a tattoo parlor while the downstairs is a gallery. Its a great idea. This way money is always coming in. And lastly, pay no attention to the “Johns” of the world. He is bound to a life of suburban nothingness with either a horrible construction job or an entry level loan officer with a generic degree in date rape er, i mean business from UGA.
Markets are wonderful things, great at setting the price of widgets and spreading prosperity. But market forces are inadequate to provide some of the things which make life enjoyable, including museums, symphony orchestras, opera, ballet, and much theatre (beyond a narrow band of work, such as big musicals and a few light comedies). It’s not just small nonprofits like Eyedrum which depend, in part, on contributions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, generally considered one of the 2 or 3 finest on the planet, doesn’t stay open due to ticket sales – in fact, the entrance fee is voluntary, although most choose to pay it. The bulk of their budget comes from donors. The finest performing arts organization in the South, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, does better than most at selling tickets, but still at least half their budget is donations – which help keep the ticket prices lower than they would otherwise happen to be.
Nonprofit arts organizations go through an application process to the IRS to qualify for tax-exempt status (I’ve helped several through this process), making their donors’ gifts deductible against their taxes. Most people understand this, but there are always a few people who haven’t thought this through. For them, the Market is God, the great god Market will provide all we need, and there’s no need to think beyond that article of faith.
“Commercial Viability of Art” is almost a contradiction in terms.
Mainstream cultures will embrace art that represents their own perspectives, or that they can relate to enough to affect their perspectives, and incorporate them. Perspectives that represent alternative cultures, communities, lifestyles, etc. are less likely to be embraced by the larger numbers of people. That doesn’t make them irrelevant; it just makes them unpopular. They don’t enlighten, nor broaden, nor add, subtract or edit; they present something foreign, difficult to interpret or assimilate. That translates into lack of value for the patron.
If one chooses to be unpopular in order to stay true to their muse(s), then the associated lack of public support and funding goes with the gig. There’s not much room to complain. Presenting art that represents one’s muse in such a way that maximum numbers can relate to it is the optimal challenge to any artist, regardless of medium or genre.
some of these comments are straight from the movie, “deliverance”. what a bunch of hicks. maybe a smaller space will help preserve the whole idea of eyedrum. peter street has available space and its opened up a whole new approach to the presentation of up and coming artist and craftsmen. these are trying times for everyone and benefactors are not clamouring to support the arts like they once were. i hope these artist find a viable location and to those naysayers; “here piggy, piggy…”
Never heard of them? Who the heck are they ??? Sounds like a group with good intent but can’t maybe they seek funds like others do and have a car wash, auction, beg on the side of the road? Really I can only say they must not have a great Board to be in this fix.
I’ve lived in Atlanta since 1985, and it seems that the ugly attitudes exhibited by folks like John are becoming more the norm than the exception. It’s too bad. Atlanta used to be a great town, ready to embrace new forms of art and full of interesting characters and places. It now seems to be becoming just a big city full of yahoos who pride themselves on their own ignorance and intolerance. That’s nothing to be proud of, but I’m sure John, Bushwacker and the whole gang will read it as high praise.
I’ve been to Eyedrum a few times years ago. A great space with some nice shows. I hope the manage. Perhaps a less expensive place might be an idea. Remember, it is not really the space, but what is put in it that makes it.
And let me thank John and company. You never disappoint! You lift people up- if only by making them happy they are not like you!
Benton, don’t believe it. In my experience, Atlantans are more educated, sophisticated, and open to new forms of art than ever. We have more, and better art collectors than ever. Theatre companies that didn’t exist 25 years ago are now nationally respected, with loyal audiences. Robert Spano is making Atlanta one of the leading centers for contemporary classical music – and selling tickets.
The internet lets a few loudmouth soreheads set the tone – if we let them. So don’t let them.
You’re right, BPJ — the best way to keep the conversation honest and productive is for the commenters to move it in that direction. Not all comments will be positive, nor should they be, but I hope the tone of these conversations, at least, will be thoughtful and helpful.
I went to eyedrum a couple of times. In theory, a great place for art and music; in practice, it was just a bunch of GSU hipster-than-thou kids sitting around drinking PBR, making noise on an old drum set and some tin cans. Not surprised that this urban collective wasn’t able to pay the bills. But fine if that’s what you’re looking for I guess. And lay off the rednecks, dangit, we wuz here first.
Oh yeah, someone (Edgewood Adam) has to throw in the old go back to the suburb comment. Not to defend John or anything….since he never said he lived in the burbs… but the art scene is thriving in Alpharetta so bite me. Matilda’s anyone? That place is PACKED every weekend.
You ITP people are so cool bashing the burbs and all. Why don’t you try going outside your comfort zone? It’s not all Chili’s and Fridays up here.
Even the Fox can’t survive on ticket sales alone, even though they have among the top, if not the top ticket sales in historic venues in the nation. The Fox relies upon private donations and benefactors.
Private support is appropriate for arts groups such as Eyedrum. Certainly, taxes should never support them. Inability to attract private funding, designed as a tax write-off for the donors, indicates clearly that either the organization isn’t sufficiently managed, or that their output isn’t of sufficient value.
what a person intends to realize and actually does realize is like a mathmatical correlation between the unexpressed but intended and the unintentionally expressed.
Atlanta is a city dependent on tax revenues derrived from convention business and tourism. The theory behind public finance for the arts is that the arts contribute to the financial welfare of the city by making it a more attractive cultural destination for tourists and conventions, and for corporations looking to relocate.
The theory simply put is that the tax revenues gained will exceed the taxpayer money spent, or not collected from non profits.
Public art often has the greatest cultural impact, but fails to meet the Bushwacker test for economic viability.
Atlanta is in he midst of a full blown arts crisis. Major galleries and performing arts organizations are disappearing, making Atlanta a less attractive cultural destination.
Many private donors are tapped out because of the economy and guys like Madoff.
Yes we have the world of Coke, the Aquarium and a bunch of strip clubs. But the longterm picture is that cities like Miami and even Nashville will be kicking our butts soon because they are commiting to culture.
[...] 11-year-old community arts organization’s financial trouble quickly picked up headlines on blogs and discussions on listservs. It’s not debt that finally spiraled out of control, Eyedrum [...]
Hey “Art, if it has to be subsidized thru donations or the govt and they can’t make it on their own thru selling their “art”, then obviously not enough people care about it and its time to get a real job!!”
I’m with you, I’d much rather my shoes get made by slave labor. Let the market decide everything!
I feel the same way about highways! All road should be toll roads.
And little kids that can’t afford to build their own swimming pools? Well screw them! I’m not paying for them to go swimming.
The the market drove everything, we wouldn’t have the woodruff arts center, the second largest arts center in north america. Nor would you have public parks, swimming pools, stone mountain or state parks.
Charlotte, NC decided to become the second largest banking capitol of the US. As soon as they did that, they decided to invest heavily in arts and culture to draw industry and it completely worked. As Atlanta arts funding and its major and minor institutions start dying it will be fun to hear you complain then about why you don’t have a job and why industry is moving elsewhere.
Though Charlotte, Denver and other growing cities also managed to get their act together on mass transit.
Woodruff isn’t supported by taxes. They’re supported by private and corporate donations, some bond issues. Stone Mountain was originally developed as a private enterprise, not public works. Comparing physical infrastructure like roads, parks and pools to arts funding is just plain stupid. You don’t really think that’s a very valid argument, do you? Really?
For the relatively small amount of funding that Eyedrum needs, go get some corporate sponsorship. There’s a political buzz about upcoming limits on how much corporations can write off for donations (thanks for the tax reform, Mr. President), but all that would do is increase competition for those funds. It’s part of their financial planning, all you have to do is go talk to them, sell them on supporting your non-profit enterprise, and give them enough lead time to dedicate their budget.
Eyedrum is a great alternative art space, but it was an unwise move to take on a space bigger than they were willing or able to market successfully, especially since the artists involved dislike even the concept of marketing.
Oh and to John: Ignore the haters, you have every right to your opinions on art. Ridiculous how people who are for free speech are so ready to slam you for expressing yours. The fact that you even bothered to comment on the arts shows you have some interest. And that can develop over time into a rich experience for you. It can be the art of flyfishing, or painting. Just because someone says it is art doesn’t mean it is art to everybody!
I hope eyedrum survives, it offers anyone interested a very interesting experience. They just need to evolve with the times. It really is a strong economy that allows all that free expression! The government can only do so much, and they are more unethical that the majority of companies that get so much grief for trying to survive as well!
People don’t schedule conventions in Atlanta to attend mediocre art galleries in the city. They come because of the airport and cheap convention space at the GWCC. But, atlanta’s lost a lot of convention business because of all the homeless downtown and crime, which the city never changes. Instead, atlanta cops spend time looking for jaywalkers, too afraid to deal with the drug / crime problems.
Pragmatist,
Other cities have airports and convention centers. People come to Atlanta because of the cultural attractions- MLK Center, World of Coke, The High, The Aquarium and yes, a vibrant art scene.
That is why we are in the process of getting beaten by Miami, Charlotte Nashville and other smaller but smarter cities.
I agree that crime is a problem but it is a problem in most big cities. Do you think Miami is crime free?
I look at this and it gives me chills, the most chilling thing is that our young minority men still don’t get it. A prison will be built for them before a house. They can go there and remain the slave that our civil rights leaders gave their time and many times their lives to change. We need to wake up as a people and stop dreaming. The nightmare has to end.
[...] the news about how Braves fans could get a piece of the old 42-foot Coke bottle adorning left field, it seems only right to let you know how the new [...]
I saw an article today in the AJC (”Gallery Walks”) that I wanted to send to a friend out of town. I could not find it online. Was I not looking hard enough or is the “AJC Lving & Arts” Section not avalable online?
Most content of this type actually lives on our entertainment portal site, http://www.accessatlanta.com, rather than AJC.com. We’re in the process of switching content management systems — AJC.com went live last week, and Access goes this week — and I hear that navigation and searching will be simpler then.
Regardless, AccessAtlanta.com is the better place to look first for entertainment, to-do etc. type stories.
Aww, thanks! As always, feel free to share your ideas, too, whether in the comments, on Twitter @insideaccess or by e-mailing me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com.
The new one seems very slick, but I’m still kind of waiting to see what else it does. I want there to be more. Maybe I just need more flashing lights and genuine artifacts to make me happy.
[...] I was just feeding my blog addiction when I stopped one of my new favorite blogs (Inside Access with Jamie Gumbrecht) and was surprised to learn that WonderRoot was burglarized las week. WonderRoot is a kick-ass non-profit community arts center. The good news is that a suspect is in custody and several of the computers have been recovered. Please click here to read the full article. [...]
I think people should be asking what the Atlanta did with the millions that the panda’s have already earned during their tenure here. When Mei Lan was born, they raked in the money left and right! Where did it all go?
I think people should be asking what the Atlanta ZOO did with the millions that the panda’s have already earned during their tenure here. When Mei Lan was born, they raked in the money left and right! Where did it all go?
I liked the panda exhibit. The problem with the zoo is that they only have 1/10 of the amount of animals they had 30 years ago. The only exhibit that is as big as it used to be is the reptile house, which I guess is the easiest/cheapest to care for. In the 1970’s the zoo had an amazing number of monkeys/apes, exotic cats, and birds. The conditions now may be better for the animals that are left, but there is not nearly as much variety. Would you rather watch a high definition documentary about apes or go to the zoo and see a black speck 75 yards away at the top of a hill? You used to be able to see the massive Willie B. in his cage, and it was quite an impressive and amazing site to see. Now you just see some black dot at the top of a hill.
I agree. I think some of that missing money should have gone to upgrades b/c to be honest, our zoo SUCKS. I mean, these animals are literally walking around on gravel. The restaurants have terrible food. The appearance of the zoo is circa 1975. I think some big wigs up top took the money and just didnt care about the zoo as long as people are coming. Sad…..
I found a 2006 story in our archives, too — sorry, I couldn’t find a URL — that talked about the financial trouble the zoo was in pre-panda cub. It mentioned specifically that the non-profit that runs the zoo expected a spike in visits and dollars because of Mei Lan, but “the birth of the cub does not significantly alter the financial outlook.”
Thanks Jamie,
Sorry, I don’t buy it. I have season passes and have had so for years. I know what the crowds look like, especially after Mei Lan was born.
The raked in money hand over fist. Where did it all go?
DH and John, if you are members at Zoo Atlanta, then you should know where the money raised from the pandas goes. It goes to the conservation of these beautiful giant pandas..read up a bit before you blurt out stupid comments. The zoo is wonderful compared to seeing Willie B. in a cage! I loved Willie B and miss him, but pls don’t say you would rather see a large gorilla in a cage over seeing them in a natural setting, like they would be in the wild. Geez!!!!!!!!
John – Zoo Atlanta is about animal conservation and well being, NOT placing an animal in a cage for human enjoyment, I visited in January and got to see the Gorillas close up, and found the staff exceptionally friendly and willing to do all they could to allow me to see Ivan, If you know anything about Willie B then you would have seen the documentary that is for sale in the zoo store, the reaction when he walked on grass for the first time was priceless, how can you compare that to your views??
The pandas are part of a breeding programme that ZA are doing exceptionally well with, or would you rather see them only on your HD TV, as without zoos like ZA offering the dedication and support that is the only place they would be in the future, i know what i would prefer!
I live in IL and make a point to travel to Atlanta to see the pandas and the other animals at Zoo Atlanta. I am member of the zoo even though I don’t live there. I believe in supporting the animal conservation efforts of the zoos. The pandas are a huge expense for the zoos that have them.
Cheryl, my understanding is the zoo leases the pandas from China for a large amount of money. That money goes to panda conservation. If you have any figures on how much more money other than the panda lease money went to panda conservation lets hear it.
Sir real, the only thing in the zoo that is like 1975 is the reptile house, and that is the most impressive exhibit there and probably has over half the zoos animals.
Well, for starters, all four USA zoos with pandas raised money after the 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake in 2008 to help after the one of the two main breeding and research centers was destroyed. I believe in excess of $200,000 was raised.
In addition, each USA zoo is involved at its own expense in research that is beneficial to the pandas. Each zoo has an area it concentrates in. Memphis Zoo, for example, concentrates on nutritional issues related to pandas. What I find interesting is that Atlanta doesn’t seem to regard the pandas as anything special, nor does it seem to support its zoo. Visit the Memphis Zoo sometime and everywhere you look is a donor’s name, and there are also new exhibits coming online all the time. This fall Memphis will open a Grand Teton exhibit with elk and 5 orphaned grizzly bear cubs complete with a waterfall and stream the bears wade in to catch their fish dinner. After that opens, a new Hippo Camp will be built. San Diego’s Zoo just opened their huge Elephant Odyssey. When San Diego needed a new $100,000 bamboo cooler for their pandas, their supporters raised the money in about two weeks through an online appeal.
I am sure there are annual reports available from Zoo Atlanta that outline how funds are spent. Their Administration Building is right up front at the parking lot and you can drop by and ask there. But I bet that’s too much effort in a town that seems so disinterested in such a valuable asset.
[...] the non-profit Cabbagetown gallery and music venue that can’t afford to pay its rent, sent word tonight that it hasn’t gotten a decision yet from its landlord. For now, a benefit [...]
Most of the money for the Pandas goes to China. The actual conservation is supposed to take place there, but most of the Pandas in China are in captivity. As for Zoo Atlanta, it is land-locked and cannot expand. It seems to me they are trying to crowd more animals in the inadequate space they have – Warthogs, MeerKats, etc. Good luck trying to get copies of their finanacial records. The Open Records Laws in the State of Georgia are very restrictive.
i am wondering why/where the article is opining how the concert went?
i was there. where were you? customarily there would be some type of write up regarding the local take on the world traveled “star”. while i enjoy your interview, where is the acclaim, or the critism of the songs, the presentation, the stage presence, the fact that the precussionist is her son? i guess it was a busy news night in mid town atlanta, i missed the crime, punishment, wrecks, hold ups, and saw a pretty nice lady present a pretty good song table and was wonderful.
bobby c.
Hi Bobby! Alas, I wasn’t at this show. I was working on another story last night, which should be posted later today. I should point out, too, that this wasn’t my interview, but rather an interview completed and written by an AJC freelancer as a preview to the show. (If I do the interview, it’s typically announced in the headline with capital letters.) I hear, though, that we’ll soon be launching music and arts blogs, so hopefully those folks will be able to focus more of their time on criticism and music-specific discussions. Meanwhile, what was the best moment of the show? Anything that particularly got to you? Wish I could have been there.
What about the Fire/Police Mayoral Forum? Maybe we should check out important events as they happen instead of worrying about whats on TV tonight or where to get drunk and have a good time.
Hi AH! As always, the daily to do list is open to ideas. The best way to get the info out in this blog is to add events to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar before the day of an event. (There’s a link to the “add a listing” page in every “to do” post.) Community meetings and forums have certainly been mentioned before. Getting people outside the house and into the community is part of what I hope this blog will do.
For those who are interested, here’s a link to more information about the forum AH is talking about: http://tr.im/tHQl
John, I don’t have the figures, but they are probably held in the offices of Zoo Atlanta..as clm said, not sure how easy it would be to get them. BUT in regards to the reptile house..it’s old and outdated in the least. Why would you want the animals to be in places that were “appropriate” in 1975 anyway? That’s the reason zoos have changed so much in the last few decades..Please continue to support the zoo as long as you can, but also try to enjoy the animals in the natural settings they belong in, or as close as possible in the space Zoo Atlanta has.
Being critically endangered, attention is what they need…they do need help.
Seems like a tough task to fundraise for animals during an economic low, especially when the prospect of things getting better seems a long way off. But just a small donation by many people can make a huge difference. They are worth the price of admission.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, everybody. Really interesting variety of perspectives. The (deeply unscientific) poll results are an interesting mix, too. As always, will keep you updated.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
gloATL’s outdoor performance last night at the Woodruff Arts Center was a multi-media extravaganza of dance. The performance repeats tonight (Saturday 7/25) at 8:30 pm. It’s a rare free event conducted under even rarer Atlanta temperate summer skies. My only advice is GO GO GO!
Scottish singer Paolo Nutini is playing the Variety Playhouse tonight – he puts on a great show. Starts at 8, ticket prices are around $30 including additional fees.
The problem is, the zoo wants to raise money to keep the pandas here, but they are having more serious budget issues. They have cut back on medical and food supplies for the other animals; they have laid-off employees; and they have put hiring freezes on keeper positions. This is an atrocity that zoo management is attempting to raise money to keep pandas and yet they are not taking adequate care of the other animals. This is a sentiment that is shared by the majority of the keeper staff. Yes, the zoo answers to the USDA, but the USDA is understaffed. Inspections are infrequent, the inspector shows up at the zoo office and phone calls are placed to all departments to let them know the inspector is on grounds, the veterinary staff escorts the inspector around, thus taking them to certain areas first and allowing the animal areas to straighten up to prepare for the visit. If an inspection were to take place today, the keeper staff would not dare raise the issues of medicine or food to the inspectors for fear of losing their jobs. So, should the pandas stay? You be the judge, but the majority of the keepers I have spoken with at Zoo Atlanta don’t think so.
Ken, sounds like you don’t get out much. There’s danger everywhere. A tree could fall on your house for God’s sake. Take some risk and get out there and enjoy life. Life is uncertain and tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Besides that, you’ve exaggerated. Most of those places are pretty decent. Grow some “balls”!
no one ever gave me a free backpack but now you can just show up begging and get all the stuff for free for your kids (all nine of the kids) and they want me to give up my money for a mother who is not stopping herself from over population of the earth so it this not rewarding folks for having children just to get stuff for free
Chris: Though I agree with your comment in general, I’m not sure any woman (though I could be wrong) would have additional children JUST to get stuff like a backpack for free. Though that is probably not on their mind in the backseat of some beater car that in 6 years, they can send kiddies to school with backpacks bought with someone else’s dime.
It’s not worth going out into the insanity to save the $4.23 I might save on taxes. On the other hand, it we could go to the fair tax plan, then I’d have enough money to buy my kid’s school stuff without a “tax free holiday.”
Hey folks, we’re not discussing crime or your opinion on who goes shopping. Nobody is going to force anyone to buy stuff, to watch “Hotel for Dogs” or to donate a backpack. This post is obviously meant to inform willing shoppers about fun to be had during the tax-free holiday. Stay on topic. Many thanks to those who are, and to those moving the conversation forward!
what’s wron with you people. This list even incues Phipps Plz and you think it a thug hang out. This article is so different than the posts. Nobody has more children for backpacks. We are living in a tough economy. Every little bithelps a struggling family. But do know the increased sales help RETAILERS. There are almost 300k unemployed Georgians. For those of us not having he sam experience, ponder this. The un-educated\under-educated children of today could be the burden of society tomorrow.
I watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last Monday. I was so thrilled to go see it in the theater, watched all other’s at home on DVD. I was soooo disappointed………I expected much more than I got. The movie was boring, not what we are used to see when watching a Potter movie. To all who read this, SAVE your money, this movie is not worth the expense, go buy yourself something nice and do not waste your time. I have never been more disappointed in a movie that is being advertised as the best Potter ever, I am sorry I disagree, it was awefull.
Thanks Jamie- that really needed to be said!!!
This is a great website. I am always look for things to do around town. I have never taken advantage of tax-free weekend but this year is an exception. I need a new laptop and I have a daughter graduating this year and the expenses of that are really adding up. I only wish I could get a discount on her pictures this weekend
Jamie, I hope and pray you NEVER, EVER get robbed at gun or knife point at one of these Atlanta-area shopping malls like my family and I have. If you ever have to look and see the look of horror and tears in your child’s eyes when a rude & vicious lowlife thug is holding a knife to your throat and demanding your purse and your car keys and whatever is in your shopping bags, I doubt you will have such a condescending or flippant attitude to those of us who have. It just isn’t worth losing everything you have including your life or your child just to get something for free or save a few dollars on sales tax. Life is too short and too precious. Bless you and have a blessed day, Jamie.
[...] The National Black Arts Festival is shorter this year — from 10 days down to five — but the calendar is jam-packed with cultural, artistic and musical gems. And a lot of it is free, or inexpensive. Inside Access blogger Jamie Gumbrecht runs down a wealth of activities every day. [...]
Not Being a Victim Ever Again: I’m so sorry to hear what happened to you, and I’m sorry if I came across as flippant or condescending, but I wholeheartedly believe that readers relying on this post for entertainment info can make their own decisions about where they’re going and whether they think it’s safe — without negative stereotypes playing out in the comments. This is not an appropriate forum for the topic. Unfortunately, crime happens everywhere — at shopping centers, but also in homes, schools and neighborhoods. Like you, most of us have experienced it, or someone close to us has. We can’t always live in fear; I hope this post, rather, will give people more information to have a fun, easy weekend of shopping, if they choose. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
Kids Museum Ball Mover… I don’t remember seeing a name on it, but it has cranks & pullies to move balls from one location to another with a large hopper that fills up & then they can dump.
ImagineIt Museum across from Centennial Park and The Georgia Aquarium @Baker St….It’s the Ball Mover that I can never get my kids to stop playing to leave the darn place…LOL..Ok Vanna, What’ d I Win?…LOL
I don’t think it’s enough background info. As large as Atlanta is that could be any number of things. Maybe we can narrow it down to a general area in the city or whereever.
Yep, it looks exactly like that ball transportation system at Imagine It, which is a fantastic place to take your kids to play. You just need enough adults to keep track of the kiddies, as they will go in all different directions.
$12.50 for a child 2 and up? That’s absurd, especially with the economy the way it is! I’m sure to the wealthy and upper class, it’s just a drop in the bucket for them, but when you have two adults and 2-3 kids 3 and up, that’s $100 and up(not to mention transportation, food, etc.). maybe you shouldn’t start charging kids til they’re school age-like 6,for example. Why 6? I took a couple of kids to Sci Trek once and only the two older kids understood it well enough to participate in the events. The younger two cried too much,were crying for food constantly,and I had to stop to take them to the bathroom every 15 minutes or so.There were no free tickets for us like the Atlanta family behind me (I guess they assumed we could afford it because we were not black). No wonder they went out of business.
Also, it’s common for museums and cultural institutions offer free days or discounted admission for residents of their city or county. (The High Museum has one this weekend, for instance.) To be clear, it has nothing to do with race.
How about the other 360 days a year! You don’t have to be a minority (I’m not…) to understand that majority culture gets the majority of air time by definition.
Virginia, I was in agreement with you until I read your comment about “guess they thought we could afford it, since we were not black”.
Not all black families expect things to be free, nor do all black families get everything free..
If you have 2-3 kids, then you and your husband need to figure out what y’all want to do without in order to take your children places that you have to pay to get in..That’s what me and my husband do in order to take our 2 greandkids places…Oh, and by the way, I’m not black..
I am a single parent who loves taking my kid out on adventure days (Zoo atlanta, fernbank, krispy kreme, Cleveland Ga, etc). I dont expect things to be always be free. I give up getting my nails done, buying new jeans, Starbucks (that was hard to do) and other things I WANT just to afford the oh so pricey adventure days my son has grown accustom to. I know how hard it is with one child, but Virginia, I did myself a favor, I stopped at one child. You choose to have more than one child, and you knew that taking care of them and providing for them was not going to be free. So suck it up. Shop around for the best deals, take advantage of online coupons, and certain offers/discounts your credit card company give away. Oh, and just in case you havent notice, I am BLACK
Your White arts festival and other events, activities, etc. is 365 days a year, 24/7, we’re all exposed to your history, your culture, your everything everyday, that’s why other cultures represented in the United States of America have to do their own thing, otherwise, there will be no representation.
Actually the “National White Arts Festival” occurs everyday at any major museum or festival – have you ever been to the High Museum or Dogwood festival?
Hey Chris, and everybody: Inside Access is a blog about fun things to do in Atlanta. This can be a good discussion, so let’s keep it civil and on-topic. This is not the place for race-baiting or hurtful stereotypes. Thanks for reading.
tee hee….wow Chris actually had an impact. People, people. you scoop trash, place in dumpster and keep moving you don’t disect and attempt comprehension.
Virgina- Come to my house with the museum manager and lets settle all of this over a beer. After all- Obama is teaching us that we can solve the worlds longest hatred over a 12oz draft (as long as the white house media is there to take the photos) PS- Virgina, I bet may even chip in the $1.75 for the beer so you could enjoy it.
Stated perfectly by Reign, “Your White arts festival and other events, activities, etc. is 365 days a year, 24/7, we’re all exposed to your history, your culture, your everything everyday, that’s why other cultures represented in the United States of America have to do their own thing, otherwise, there will be no representation.”
Sorry Jamie…this is supposed to be about fun things to do in the ATL. However, until people overcome their fears and lack of knowledge about other races and also seek more exposure to other ethnic groups and traditions, there will be very little racial change in this country. I didn’t see anything in your blog stating that this festival was only for black people…
Wow while this does sound pricey just look for coupons. Everyone take a deep breath and laugh at Stephen Hawkins comment b/c I’m sorry thats just funny. While it may be expensive it may be one of the best times your kids have this summer. You never know.
Viginia’s ignorance aside, there’s no law that says that you have to take your child some place that costs too much. Part of being a responsible parent is teaching your child how to spend money wisely. It’s a good idea to show them that they don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to have fun. There are parks and festivals that are free, and there are other museums where the admission is a lot less.
Besides being a biggot, Virginia is not very good at math. A family of 4 with everyone older thatn 2 years costs $50. If it is too much for you, don’t go. Or, go on a discounted day as others have pointed out. This is a great activity place for kids, but is better for 4-7 year olds than toddlers.
WoW…I’m white and I’m so sick of the black/white & white/black race cards….I personally love color so mine is red/white and blue!!! Proud to be an American
Okay, I am a Black American(proud to be) and I have two teenage boys. I am also a housewife. When I ask my husband, if we could have more children, he said,”You can with your new husband because, I can not afford anymore”. Being that, I do not want a new husband, I settled for the two, I have. Back on point, my children only go places and do things that we can afford w/o pulling money from mortgage,car payment insurance, you know, the things we need. In other words, if we can not afford it, we do not do it. In closing,will this country ever get over race?
[...] had a busy but wonderful weekend at The National Black Arts Festival. Although I volunteered throughout the weekend at the festival, I found the time to partake in the [...]
OK, enough everyone. It’s a Children’s Museum. Let’s keep it clean. If you want to pay you can pay. If you want to come when it’s free-come when it’s free.
Mark… no shootings took place during the event or around the event. NBAF is a cultural celebration of art and culture. Those who would carry guns and use them aimlessly won’t be found at NBAF events. And I guess those who don’t realize that miss out on a wonderful experience.
Did you click on the link about the mole rat pups? I wouldn’t want them living in my house or anything, but the babyfied version incites a little “Awwww…” out of me.
Mark: I sent you an e-mail as well, but to be clear, the comments section is a place for conversation, not taunts or put-downs. You seem bent on moving the discussion away from what people do for fun around Atlanta. Diversity of opinions are welcome, but we must be respectful of others and treat this like a discussion. If you’d like to talk more about this, please feel free to email me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com. Thanks.
“So ugly they’re cute.” Oh, I do know. Greatest cat I ever had wasn’t cute on first glance, but then became so cute I couldn’t look at him without squealing.
Race, gender and sexuality are serious issues in America…indeed, around the world. Myself being a non-hetero black male, I can certainly attest to that. And yet there are those from every walk of like who have something worthwhile to say, something much needed to give. This article was written by a white woman who clearly understands this dynamic. She has risen above the fray, attempting to enlighten us all with good news–doing us proud. We all have our crosses to bear, but if you’ve got time to judge, you’ve got time to love.
i predicted this when the concert was first announced. i respect sir paul, and would love to see the show, but $100 for an oversold lawn ticket at piedmont part is simply too much. it has nothing to do with the economy, it has to do with the fact that this ticket is overpriced for what it is. anyone who was at the ABB/DMB show in 2007 knows that the long bathroom and beer lines, coupled with the sheer pack of people on the lawn means that this show just isnt worth $100 (after ticketmaster gets done “conveniently” charging me $15 to take my money and print the ticket)
best of luck to the piedmont park conservatory, but i think they are destined to undersell this event.
if it was $50 + charges it would be a different story.
Not surprised by this at all…$100 is way too much for most people given the hassles of the crowd (and getting there early enough to actually get a decent spot on the lawn), the heat, and waiting 15 minutes to buy a beer or take a leak…
People learned that you can hear the music from outside the park anyway. The DMB show was simply to many people. You were just looking at a big screen. I enjoyed watching the show 2 months later in HD at home.
Very good points, el jefe and TK. Still, even if it remains undersold, this will be a huge crowd of people who are apparently game for the crowds, heat, waits etc. I got tickets for my little sister and her boyfriend — huge fans who needed a bribe with a date on it to spur the trip south — and I have no idea how to tell them to navigate the area. I fear any advice I give will be useless when faced with a crowd of 40,000.
I would love to see Sir Paul but G.A. seats in the middle of August in Atl. don’t add up for a splendid time guaranteed for all. It will be hot and sticky. Then throw in 30,000 of your favorite new friends and you hope the people near you practice good hygiene habits.
Keep in mind that this event is a BENEFIT for the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Yes, the tickets are pricey, but the PROFITS from the concert will help expand the new north area of the park.
Plus, it’s going to be a hugely fun party, no matter what.
You have a chance to see a living legend. One of only 2 living beatles (along with Ringo). Google his setlist from Coachella. It is a greatest hit selection from McCartney solo, Wings and above all the Beatles including Lennon and Harrison tributes. It is an immense and intense list. Don’t miss out on the chance. And for those complaining about the price. Give me a break. Have you ever donated any money in your life to a worthy cause? Not only are you making a donation that will help that city of Atlanta by supporting the “Central Park” of our city (and increasing your property value by the way..) but you will be getting to see a legend for your investment. Instead of giving to a charity buy a darn McCartney ticket. You will be helping promote green living and paying to expand the size of public park that we all use for free. $100 isn’t that much out of your total bank account when you think of it that way is it? -Tommy M.
$100 for a ticket to watch a washed up old singer at the crummy Piedmont Park? Are you serious? I wouldn’t pay $1 to see that old guy. They should bring in some rappers instead and let everyone in free.
This is the set List from Coachella show a few monts ago for all you cheapskates complaining about the cost of your donation This was part of a festival so expect at least this many but possibly more. By the way, I have to be out of town for this show so I can’t make it and it is KILLING ME.
Main set: Jet / Drive My Car / Only Mama Knows / Flaming Pie / Got to Get You Into My Life / Let Me Roll It (with a coda of Purple Haze) / Honey Hush / Highway / The Long and Winding Road / My Love / Blackbird / Here Today / Dance Tonight / Calico Skies / Mrs. Vanderbilt / Eleanor Rigby / Sing the Changes / Band on the Run / Back in the U.S.S.R. / Something / I’ve Got a Feeling / Paperback Writer / A Day in the Life > Give Peace a Chance / Let It Be / Live and Let Die / Hey Jude
First encore: Birthday / Can’t Buy Me Love / Lady Madonna
Second encore: Yesterday / Helter Skelter / Get Back / Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) > The End
Paul has sold out something like 88 of the last 90 concerts. They went on sale in Dallas at 10AM and 70,000 tickets were sold in eight minutes. NYC and Boston are all sold out as was Halifax. They had the same problem last week in DC, so promoters should consider the fan base of the city and what they support. I would bet Atlanta and DC would sell out regardless of price for a hip hop show. The fan base of the Falcons and Hawks are not McCartney fans.
I think another factor is that there were already other “major” shows scheduled that night. I know of several folks who were excited about the possibility of getting to see McCartney, but already had tickets to either the Def Leppard/Cheap Trick show at Lakewood or the Steely Dan show at Chastain.
Speaking of “washed up”. Def Leppard? Saw them a few years ago. HORRIBLE? Joe Elliot’s voice is gone. And Steely Dan? Sure after they initially made their comeback in the late eighties but now they are resigned to making the easy buck playing Chastain and the Alpharetta amphitheatre going through the motions for 50+ year old Buckhead and OTP dorks that still think they are cool.
Error above in my last post. Steely actually made their comeback around 1994. Now they just take the money. I have seen them 4 times since their comeback and every year they get worse and make less of an effort. Funny thing is the ticket price (along with their egos-Becker and Fagen) go up with each year gone by. I would NEVER pay another cent to see them again. Sell your ticket on Craig’s list and go see McCartney and support your free public Piedmont Park (and Atlanta).
The DMB show @ PP 2 yrs ago was The Longest Day of my life. Hothouse, stupid redneck drunks, stupid frat-boy drunks, thieving cab drivers, people saving “seats” amidst the dirt & tree roots. So, this time I paid for 2 VIP tix @ $400 each. It’s worth it for decent bathrooms and a spot on the hillside. Sir Paul won’t take the stage before 9 p.m., so why would I want to arrive at 4 p.m. and broil for hours?
Awwww, thanks, Macca! I think we’ve come to a solution: spend the morning and early afternoon wandering the Center for Puppetry Arts, then hand-delivering them to the proper entrance. Of course, if you live two blocks from where thousands of people are gathering, I imagine you’ve got good strategies for moving around in the area.
The Beatles have always been my favorite band and I’d love to see McCartney for the first time. But an August show where you have to claim a seat in the afternoon sun/heat? No way.
I REALLY DO NOT CARE HOW MANY SHOW UP…I WILL BE CAMPED AT THE GATE AT NOON WAITING TO GET IN. $100 IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE TO KEEP YOU COBB COUNTY PANSIES AT HOME.
Melvin you are one sick puppy! Paul is a beautiful, talented, amazing legend. This hiphop crap will be long gone in another 40 years, but the legend of the Beatles, and especially Paul, will still be going strong. It’s not only young black men who live in Atlanta, in case you have forgotten!
I will be there ready to be entertained royally, as I have in the previous 16 times I’ve seen Paul, with the Beatles, Wings, and on his own. I am worried about the heat and access to restrooms, as well as standing for hours on end before the show even starts. Would have prefered an indoor venue, or even across the street at Grady Stadium, but when Paul arrives on the stage, all pains and aches will be forgotten.
I have been waiting for Sir Paul McCartney to return to Atlanta. His divorce delayed touring for a year –and that was a disappointment. So when I heard McCartney was coming to Atlanta I was elated –for about 10 seconds. Then I found out he was playing Piedmont Park.
I do not mind at all paying $100 for the show and it would be well worth it if the concert were being held at a proper venue like GA Dome, Philips or Encore Park. But I will not be going to Piedmont Park.
I run the Peachtree Road Race every year and realize how difficult it is getting out of the area with 50K other people. I’m holding out, hoping that McCartney will return for a show in a proper venue. However, if this doesn’t sell out I doubt there will be a return trip during this tour. I may be waiting another two or three years again.
I’ve seen McCartney before and he does put on a great concert. But honestly, when I saw the price of the tickets, coupled with the fact that you have to arrive 4 hours before the concert, and no lawn chairs or even water is allowed, so you’re forced to sit on the ground and then fight the lines to get something to drink – it just wasn’t worth it to me. If it were priced a little more reasonably, and we were allowed to bring in chairs and our own drinks, I think they would have gotten a better response. I’d rather just donate $25 to the Piedmont Conservancy and be done with it. (Not all people going to the concert are Atlanta residence. I personally would have to drive in about 40 minutes. And there’s no Marta near me.)
To Tommy M. – not nice to insult people who want to see Steely Dan – calling the band washed up, and the patrons old – when you’re soliciting a Beatle who’s been around since the 60’s! Everyone has their own preference. Respect that.
Sir Paul who? He must be another guy trying to pawn a ponzi scheme. If he ain’t American I ain’t interested. I might open me a mobile geritol and viagra stand on ponce and make me a killing with of all these old geezers.
Y’all gonna have cancer after this concert. Bring your sun tan lotion.
Paul will put on a great show, no doubt. Saw him on the Flowers in the Dirt tour (which wasn’t called that), and it was fantastic. But this un-venue stinks. The Dome would have been much better…
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but I think Live Nation is offering 1/2 price tickets to the show today only. If you’re looking for an excuse, now’s the time to buy!
[...] “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf” sold out its entire 29-show run at the 400-seat Southwest Arts Center. Quite a feat, but not a surprise, given the star power of actresses Nicole Ari Parker, Crystal Fox and Robin Givens, and director Jasmine Guy. (Here’s an earlier blog post with links to interviews about the show.) [...]
Paul McCartney in concert = you bet. Paul McCartney + the middle of downtown + the middle of August + porta potties + no lawn chairs + not enough vendors + nowhere to park = no thank you.
am i the only person that doesn’t think marta is going to be utilized for this show? dmb was a different crowd, young hipsters. paul is gonna attract a wider variety of people,but primarily suburban whiteys. call me crazy, i just don’t think they’ll be interested in using marta. a lot of people think marta is dangerous, not to mention marta doesn’t go out to east cobb.
not to mention, btw, dmb tickets were like $40 with service fees. i will pay $100 per ticket to see U2 in october, with a seat close to the stage and everything. but $90 services fees included for sir paul in the park, general admission style? paaaass.
“For Colored Girls” is now running on much more than the star power of Crystal Fox, Nicole Ari Parker, and Robin Givens; it is running on the word-of-mouth from so many of us who have informed others that Jasmine Guy has assembled one of the most talented casts in True Colors Theatre history.
It would be a mistake not to acknowledge the other cast members: Danielle Deadwyler, Yakini Horn, and Nevaina Rhodes, along with Omelika Kuumba on drums. As someone who has witnessed this piece several times, it is damn near impossible to pick a specific favorite lady in this ensemble. Yes, they all are just that good which is just more proof of Guy’s deftness as a director and her unique abilities as a performance artist.
It is also beyond me why someone from AJC has not reviewed “For Colored Girls” with the same intensity that Wendell Brock reviewed “Blood Knot.” While “Blood Knot” deserved all the superlatives it received, Jasmine Guy and the entire cast of “For Colored Girls” deserve more critical attention. Of course, the show does not need the critical attention to sell tickets!! The audiences have spoken.
[...] volunteer activates that I do. I’ll be assisting the Piedmont Park Conservancy in presenting Paul McCartney to the city of Atlanta as part of the conservancies green awareness [...]
Agreed A White. Well said Leslye. Absolutely inspring and enjoyable. I was fortunate enough to have seen the original on Broadway and this version does Ms. Shange and Ms. Guy real proud.
If you move quickly, you can get 1/2 price tickets to the show tonight. Check out the details on the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?1wrb
I’ll be checking throughout the extended show dates to see whether the half-price deal will apply to those as well.
Is it from the Wren’s Nest? Looks like the thing that holds the pieces of string that had to be undone as punishment. Don’t remember the full story – is that right?
Just walked down to buy my tickets. Gone. This is an unbelievably popular show. The folks at AtlanTix told me that a FEW tickets will be available tomorrow, but you have to move hastily to get them. No word yet on whether they will be available for half-price for the extended shows. Let’s hope so!
Dee. I have seen Steely Dan 5 times. They aren’t that good anymore. Sorry but they get worse ever year. They are 2 guys, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and they sleppwalk through their sets for people that think they know good music and want to pretend they are hip jazz fans. And Def Leppard? You have to be kidding me. Maybe in 1984.
I got to the Dave Matthews show 2 years show at around 6. An hour before the Alman Brothers came on. We had fine seats, a little back but the screens are HUGE. We went with 2 others friends and had a fantastic time. The lines were not theat big for the beers or the toliets. I really can’t believe that so many people thought it was so inconvenient to see the show there. Once again…think I should state since no one seems to get it. It is a BENEFIT show. If you don;t have the money to donate on behalf of benefitting the free public park the stop by Subway and grab your 3.99 meal of the day and go home and watch tv.
Great! These three-day posts will be buried a bit by end-of-the-week posts, but it will still be online, and linked directly from our newsletters, AccessAtlanta.com and AJC.com, if you need to check back. Thanks for reading!
There are plenty of places to park. The parking deck at 14th and Juniper is advertising parking and there is a parking deck in the park now that will be open. http://tinyurl.com/greenconcertparking
[...] McCartney will be at the park on Aug. 15 for a show. (Inside Access reported earlier this week that there are still thousands of tickets are left, more than some [...]
[...] pm August 6, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht Were you able to identify what was in this week’s Access Points picture game? Access Points: It's the String Man at The Wren's Nest! Jamie [...]
[...] What is this? And where is it? Those are the questions for this week’s Access Points game. (UPDATE 8/6: Want to know the answer? Here it is.) [...]
SweetWater has added Saturday tours from 2:30 – 4:30 – to the schedule. Great afternoon trip for those over 21. The tour is free and there is a plastic tasting cup for free as well – or you can get a souvenier pint glass for $8 – either way you receive 6 sample tickets to try all of the beers available.
195 Ottley Drive, Atlanta GA 30324 – 404.691.ALES – http://www.sweetwaterbrew.com
I’ve been meaning to get back to this round of comments — apologies for being so behind — but I just wanted to thank you for such thoughtful, helpful comments. You make good points about what the AJC has and hasn’t done, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to fix it. (We don’t have a theater critic on staff anymore, and I’m certainly not the person who makes those decisions.) Moreso, sharing your experience with “For Colored Girls…” may help others, too. So keep your ideas and comments coming.
Can you explain the low distribution for movie “The Hurt Locker”? We have been searching for it in local theaters for 5 weeks. Why is it not being played? We see it eventually moved to 3 theaters, but all are much too far away.
Hi Wendy — I have no specific knowledge about this, other than that it was produced outside a major film studio, which can easily keep it from theater ubiquity, and in general, the reception toward Iraq war movies has been lukewarm-to-cold the last few years. This has gotten great reviews and buzz, though, which can change things. I’ll ask around, and if I hear more about it, I’ll let you know. Where in the area were you hoping to find it?
All: I understand where you are coming from. I just saw Paul’s concert at FedEx Field (Washington, D.C.) and the folks at FedEx field screwed things up royaly–parking nightmares (the show started 1 1/2 late to accomodate late arriving fans) and there was no water on the ground floor of the stadium for about an hour (so no colas or any food that required water for preparation, also bathroom situation was then complicated), but having to put up with all of that–the show was truly spectatular, magnificant, and completely wonderful in all respects. It may be the best concert I’ve ever been to–so, it’s worth it and I recommend that you attend, you won’t regret it I promise.
The problem is not Paul McCartney. The problem is the disaster that was the 2007 concert and the hot GA. Summers- with NO ice chest allowed. Making someone who is donating to the park stand in long lines and pay high prices for bad food, and a bathroom, WHILE missing the concert is just wrong. I am going but am contemplating deliberate dehydration- just hope I don’t pass out from the heat.
One of these days, I need to go there NOT for work. If they haven’t gotten sick of all my questions already, surely they won’t mind them during the official tour?
Thanks Amy! I’ve heard nothing but happy comments from readers so far, so I think the weekend format is here to stay. Check back during the week, too, for a daily update of things to do!
I’ve never been to a concert at Piedmont park, so I’m just trying to get an idea of what to expect. I’ll be staying at Regency Suites. Looks like a mile or so walk. Is there anyway of knowing when McCartney will be taking the stage. Do you take a blanket and scope out an area? I’ve never seen McCartney or the Beatles and figured this was my best chance.
I have tickets that allow entry at 4:00. Should I really go that early? Any tips on where to put the blanket? How far are the vendors from the viewing area?
Thanks to those of you who went in the past for answering Q’s!
I’m going I bought pre-buy tickets, now I’m kind of wishing I didn’t because of the economy, the tickets are expensive. I have paid tickets for dragon-con for 80$ before but it lasts 4 days, that makes it worh it. I have always wanted to see a ex-beatle and I don’t think he’s going to come around too many more times. So’ I’m going.
I remember when I saw Jefferson Starship and the Black Crowes at Piedmont park, its a SWEAT FESTIVAL plus waiting in lines to Pizz and waiting in lines for about anything plus how much does overpriced beer and food costs. Wish You could bring a cooler into this place but I bet you can’t. I am going with the nephew whose 20 and never seen a concert like this, especially a sweat fest, I have been to those above and Lakewood and midtown music festivals I know what their about you lose about 5 pounds in one day. Swear you will never go again, then a band comes and your right there. I love music.
Last thing though, I have had alot of friends that have seen Paul play before, they said hands down that paul is in their top 5 of the best concerts they have ever seen. Thats why I’m going.
What the yell is convenient about a $14.10 Convenience Charge PER TICKET? The amount just keeps going up. If it is a single purchase for multiple tickets, how is it a per ticket charge? How long is Tickemaster going to get away with this?
Hurry, hurry. As of 4:00 PM Monday, August 10, 2009 the Tuesday (8-11) and
Thursday (8-13) performances of “For Colored Girls” at 8:00 PM are sold out!! Wednesday’s 8:00 PM performance is almost sold out. The best remaining seats
are for the 2:30 PM Thursday (8-13) performance. But please be quick!!
While it’s under less-than-ideal conditions (outdoors in the August ATL heat, general admission, pricey tickets, etc…), my husband and I are driving 6 hours for this show. Why? Who knows if an opportunity to see a musical legend such as Paul McCartney will come our way again. We’re big Beatles fans; we’re big McCartney fans, so it’ll be worth it for us. Totally understand if people don’t want to pay that much for a ticket, though. Kinda bummed that cameras aren’t allowed (but we’d probably be so far back that we wouldn’t get any good pics anyway).
Guys, this is PAUL McCARTNEY…you know, like one of those dudes with the hair from the Ed Sullivan Show…like 45 years ago. The dude still ROCKS!
There are NO excuses not to go. If sitting on the grass in the park, drinking beer and hearing the equivilent of “Jesus reading from the Bible” is not something to look forward to – then get busy writing your will.
Cool, i’m glad there’s still a couple places left to see outdoor movies this summer. I love outdoor movies, i go to them whenever i can! in fact, i found a whole listing of them here, check it out: http://blog.openaircinema.us/blog/tag/georgia/
And i’ll see you at the movies!
Jamie, thanks for the link regarding what can and can’t be taken into the concert. I have my ticket and wouldn’t miss it for the world. I guess I’m pushing the limits with this question but I have a bad back and just can’t stand or even sit on the ground without back support. Do you think I can take in a cushion that sits directly on the ground but offers back support — especially if I don’t carry in the allotted one blanket per person. Who made up these crazy rules — the one thing you don’t need in GA in the middle of August is one blanket PER person!
I won free tickets and I’m still not sure if I will go…Yes I would like to see Paul but I know it will be a living he ll ….. They have made it hard in every way…ok , so you charge a lot for your tickets…you’ve made your money…don’t be so damn greedy , let us bring our own food a nd water and at least make it a little fun….money, thats what I want….mooooooney, thats what I want….
but what I really don’t understand is they kicked the arts festival and dogwood out of the park because they didn’t want people touching the grass. sooooooooo, how do you justify 50,000 people stomping on the grass all day long? mooooney, thats what I want….(”money” sung by the Beatles) sing with me now….Mooooooney, that’s what I want….
I wonder if we will be among several thousands of middle-aged folks having a hard time standing up from the ground when Paul takes the stage. And don’t even mention sitting on someone’s shoulders…that would take 2 hours and an act of God. Our backs and bottoms will probably pay for it afterwards, but it will be great.
[...] When Piedmont Park officials told me a week ago that there were still thousands of tickets left for the August 15 Green Concert, plenty of you seemed surprisd to learn that superstar Paul McCartney hadn’t yet sold out. [...]
It sounds like Thursday and Friday should be pretty calm — most of the unloading and building should be done. I fear for the folks coming into town on Saturday for something other than Paul McCartney.
A new beginning for the really old or (young at heart)
175 years old and new again! Evergreen, as it was named long, long , ago (1834)
has been renovated and standing proud while visitors return and enjoy again.
(A two YEAR process to renovate Anderson’s oldest historical mansion)
A get away from the chaos of our busy stressful lives, To slow down and relax and marvel at an era long ago thru the doors of TWO old beautiful antebellum mansions.
Once a National Award winning Restaurant for a quarter of a century (1982-2007)
Chef Peter and the Eleven-O-Nine Restaurant still has the homey good feel but is now a
Unique Day Spa specializing in R&R and skin care (open since 1999)
Next door is the beautifully renovated Evergreen Bed & Breakfast. The refinished original heart of pine floors, fresh paint and new kitchen will delight overnight guests.
An overnight stay for business, romance, friendship, rekindling, wedding or anniversary.
Have an unforgettable time and memory waiting for anyone who wants to experience something out of the ordinary and feel new again!
Life’s short…enjoy it !
Overnight at Evergreen with breakfast 108.00 (includes tax)
Day Spa services from 15.00!
Packages for couples R&R massage, facials, overnight too…228.00!
You’re Invited…….Open House August 27th. 2009….. 5-7 p.m.
RSVP… 864- 375-9064
Hi Coop! Those should fall in the medical supplies category, so you’re good to go. For your own comfort, I’d recommend avoiding the ultra-super-jumbo-sized bottles of either.
You people lost the Civil War…enough please find something else to write or talk about. This topic is really old I don’t care what type of spin you put on it
Professor, perhaps it wasn’t clear, but this is a work of fiction about a girl growing up in Georgia in the 1960s. While the title has the word “Confederate” in it, if you took time to read the post or the book itself, I think you’d see that it has nothing to do with putting a spin on the Civil War. You might actually enjoy it.
You should be fine bringing a small camera, the no camera rule is aimed at cameras with detachable lenses.
Everyone will be entering the same gates, but the people with pre-sale tickets will be moving through the gates and the regular GA ticket holders will have to wait until 5pm. I recommend going to the part of the line that is moving forward. There will be people around to help you get in on time without confusion.
—- there is so much inconsistent info about this event!
I bought my tickets on the pre-sale date but nothing on the printed out ticket from ticketmaster says pre-sale or early entry on it. How are they able to tell who bought what and how can you tell for sure so you can plan on when to arrive? It sounds like it could be mass confusion at the event. Thanks!
Hmmm…I’ll check that out, Mike B. I received two e-mails and a phone call from Ticketmaster saying that my tickets could get in at 4 p.m. Have you heard anything from them?
Once you enter Piedmont for early entry, do the tickets allow you to go in and out? Meaning, can you leave to revisit your hotel before the show and still get back in to Piedmont?
Ashley’s Pal: You’re totally right. Piedmont Park Conservancy folks say point-and-shoot cameras will be fine, it’s really detachable lenses, lights — camera equipment that can get a high quality image from far away — that’s the problem.
Mike B.: The bar code on your pre-sale ticket should say that it is a pre-sale ticket, which will allow you to get in at 4 p.m. Pretenders will have to wait till 5 p.m.
Leona’s girls: Once you’re in, you’re in. If you exit, there is no re-entry.
Thanks Jamie. Yes I did get an email from Ticketmaster Wed Aug 5th saying…
“Hello, this is Ticketmaster Customer Service with an important alert for your upcoming event. Paul McCartney scheduled at Piedmont Park Conservancy, on Saturday, August 15, 2009, with a door time of 3:00pm, has changed times. The door time now will be at 4:00pm. Original tickets will be honored for the new time.”
My tickets were purchased the first day of the pre-sale, June 25th via ticketmaster but nowhere on the ticket does it say pre-sale. It just says general admission and “DRS 4pm”, never a mention of the 3pm referenced in their email to me. Since most people aren’t fluent in bar code, I’m guessing a bunch of confused people might try to get in early only to be turned away via the scan and thus slowing up the line for those who legitimately purchased early. Hopefully it will all run smoothly! Let us know if you hear any other helpful info. Thanks!
[...] Points games within the first few responses. Matt Scofield’s childhood-memory-turned-guess on last week’s Access Point was rewarded by The Wren’s Nest with free passes to the West End house [...]
There must be a good reason tickets are not sold out, but it certainly has nothing to do with Paul’s unrivaled talent. If he’s getting old and doesn’t sing as beautifully as before, he’s still pretty good and his legend and all that he represents are good enough reasons for us to go to this concert. C’mon, $100 is nothing. I’m flying 4,6 miles from São Paulo to Atlanta just to see him.
Junkman’s Daughter in Little Five Points, *NA* did you get lost? You clicked the wrong article. Political responders go under the politics page not the Inside Access.
Do we know exactly what time 10th Street will be closing and at what junction? I’ll be driving in around 10 pm on Friday and my hotel is on 10th Street, Hotel Midtown. Just wondering. Thanks!
Hi Gary! The folks at PPC said a seat that stays on the ground — no arms, no legs — is fine. Back supports were fine, too. It sounds like you should be OK!
Hi Andy! Piedmont Park says the streets will close only on the day of the concert, so you should be fine at 10 p.m Friday. They’ve also said that it will be 10th Street around the park, so I wouldn’t expect to be able to drive between Monroe and Piedmont. Hope that helps!
And, for Andy: Piedmont Park says the streets will close only on the day of the concert, so you should be fine at 10 p.m Friday. They’ve also said that it will be 10th Street around the park, so I wouldn’t expect to be able to drive between Monroe and Piedmont. Hope that helps!
No car. Great, what are the rest of us supposed to do to get there? People need to stop assuming MARTA is always an option. It’s not, especially for out of towners. Yeah, i might be able to find a park and ride but that’s going to add another hour and a half. Wasn’t a parking garage just built out there for this reason?
EXPECT A HUGE MESS BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE TO PRINT THE “GATE OPENING” TIME ON THE PRE-SALE TICKETS AND THEN THE EARLY ENTRANCE TIME CHANGE. I HAVE A VIP TICKET AND CALLED TICKETMASTER TO GET STRAIGHT ON WHAT TIME I COULD GET IN. TICKETMASTER RESPONDED WITH “ALL GATES OPEN AT 5″.
OF COURSE, THIS IS FALSE…BUT HEY, I ONLY PAID $36 FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THIS $400 TICKET. IDIOTS!
This article says that point and shoot cameras are fine, but the link to the full list says that cameras of any size are strictly prohibited. Since every cell phone has a camera I’m sure they can’t do anything about that, but is there a definitive word on point-and-shoot cameras? Since it’s miles from possible parking there won’t be much chance to go back to a car to drop off a camera if they stop you at the gate.
Not a local resident: The parking garage at Piedmont wouldn’t come close to accommodating the number of people that will be at this show. What direction are you coming from? I’m happy to help you find a convenient MARTA station with free parking. (Plenty of the stations closer than the the end-of-the-line stations have parking, too.) Feel free to e-mail me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com, too.
[...] just in case you weren’t sure, this week’s Access Point photo game was outside Junkman’s Daughter in Little Five Points. Tim was the first commenter to identify [...]
Do you know how crowded the so-called “VIP” area will be? My husband and I are Paul’s age and probably not nearly as nimble as he is. Should we be there at 4 or do you think there will still be a good area for our blankets if we come in closer to 6 when it is a little cooler? BTW, this is my second concert — the first being on August 18th, 1965 when my best friend and I saw the Beatles at the Atlanta Coliseum.
Thanks!
Im bringing a friend who is in a wheelchair.Will there be a hadicapped section where he will be able to see or should we just try to get there early as possible to get up front?Please help.I cant find any handicapped information.
LynnMargaret: I haven’t asked specifically about scooters, and while you’ll probably be able to find an easy enough place to lock it up, you won’t be able to bring it in the pedestrian-only area.
Others: I’ll check on your questions Friday and post what I can!
1. ADA accessible seating is located near the Charles Allen Drive Gate. VIP ADA access is at 10th and Monroe Drive.
2. There is ADA seating for General Admission, VIP and Patron ticket holders
3. Many people were not aware of the online application for ADA seating.
4. Canine companions allowed.
5. A ticket holder may be denied entry to, or removed from, the accessible seating area if he or she is not disabled.
6. Handicap portable bathrooms are conveniently located near each seating area.
7. 1 companion can join each ADA concert attendee, if space is available.
8. Additional wheelchairs will be available for emergencies only.
9. MARTA is the best mode of transportation to the Green Concert. MARTA does provide ADA shuttles to the Park. Each train has a special wheelchair space at one end of each rail car. MARTA Accessibility
10. There will be volunteers located in designated handicap area.
11. Although not anticipated, if the area fills up the companion/guest is asked to move outside of the ADA seating.
12. No reserved spots in designated handicap area.
13. ADA MARTA buses will able to drive through h 10th street barricades.
14. MARTA’s last Southbound train leaves midtown at 12:45am and the last Northbound train leaves at 1:10am. Point out ADA seating on a map if someone wants to know the distance.
15. There is no ADA parking. MARTA has ADA buses. ADA taxi will be available.
MARTA riders: “Please be aware that rail service will end at 1 a.m.” – This is posted on the Marta website – check out their Press Center – Press Releases. They discuss the Green Concert… I keep seeing 1:10am, but I’d get to your station by 1:00, just to be sure…
Hey Josh! Piedmont Park says the ADA area will be signed, and guards at the gate will direct you there. Check out Nancy’s comment above for full info! And, there’s no official time to start lining up — just a time when they’ll start letting folks in.
Nancy: I’m not sure how crowded the VIP area will be, but you can see it on the map. Sorry I don’t have better advice on this one.
Sharon: VERY good tip about MARTA service ending at 1 a.m. Many, many thanks.
Stage: “Sweeny Todd” High School Production put on by an all teen cast members of FCFT Inc., Wonderfully done dark comedy recommended for all 10 y/o and up. Held at the YMCA Community Center Friday and Saturday @ 7:30 pm and Sunday @ 2:30 pm. Advance tickets are purchased via fcft.net for $8 or $10 at the door if seating is available. Directions to the “YMCA” are: Take Huiet Road, off of Hwy 54 between PTC & Fayetteville, thru stop sign and turn right onto “YMCA” property; building is on the right at u-turn in parking lot.
[...] Artspalooza is from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29. The Woodruff is located at 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. Interested in more activities this weekend? Check out Jamie Gumbrecht’s InsideAccess blog. [...]
Does anyone know how to tell whether tickets were bought through the Park Conservancy (and give you early admission)? I can’t remember whether I bought through the Amex pre-sale or the conservancy.
My Dad braved an Atlanta Stadium full of screaming Beatles fans to take me to the August 1965 concert for my birthday. A once-in-a-lifetime memory from one of the first “Cool Dads” !!!!! 44 years later – we’ll be sharing my birthday this Thursday – and this memory always comes up! Thanks, Daddy !!!
HELP- I am wondering about ticket entrance times; early admission for conservancy & amex is at 4pm, general admission is at 5pm. I bought discounted tickets off craigslist but there is some confussion about the entrance times.
The guy that I bought these tickets from, said that entrance times had been changed around a bit. Can anyone tell me when the REAL admission times are and how to tell if you have that actual ticket in hand because so many of us purchased them through a third person broker. Thanks!!!!
We are also bringing our teenage kids with us. One who has no idea of who Sir Paul is and doesn’t care for the Beatles And our other child who doesn’t show interest in most music, is a fan of Paul McCartney and willing to pay for his own ticket and by the way already had a fav song before I asked him I can’t figure out my kids but we are in this together, attending a concert as a family. My husband & I are used to hearing our kids whine about all kinds of needless things. Tomorrow, they will have justifable cause and its our intention to give our standard answer of the day, ALL day long,”Just deal with it.” This is Paul McCartney, Dad & I really want to see and enjoy this concert and YOU are going to allow us to enjoy this concert”. These kids have been instructed to not bother us unless they are truly in dire need of medical attention- are you bleeding? Who died?
Is the house on fire? So we are going to have fun and our kids are not allowed to ruin it; no matter how unentertained they find themselves. Good bless, smile and enjoy it. If not, good bless, smile, deal w/ it and complain to your therapist when you get home. We are planning a happy day.
When gates open, will it be a mad dash for the seats, or is there some order (lines, etc.). I have regular (non-Presale). How early should I get there to avoid seeing Paul as a little ant on stage. Thanks, guys!!
FINALLY…. I live in the north Buckhead area by Chastain Park and its the perfect setting for a Fine Arts Festival. I’ve also been to the markets at Atlantic Station and Virgina Highlands,, and I LOVE THEM, all the great cities have little markets like that, and knowing that these guys are behind it..well frankly makes sense. I often go down to Atlantic Station with my girlfriend for lunch and walk around. Its great that people in our community are investing back in our community. I’m going,, and I’m telling as many of my neighbors as I can,, even thou I would love for it to be my little secret. GOOD LUCK!
Atlanta Artist: the deadline to apply was July 4, but check out the festival Web site linked above. The organizers may well have some other opportunities, given all the other markets they run. Thanks for reading!
We brought staduim seats with no arms and legs, but there was metal in them so they took them at the VIP area. Yet, we’ve seen tons of our exact seat on the field.Go figure. Glad we could support Piedmont – we love Piedmont!! – but the VIP area is awash in complaints. We may just move to the field. Folks are having more fun there.:) If are in VIP and looking for different food cross over and go to the back of the field. We brought a pizza back from there.
I’m about as big a Paul McCartney and Beatles fan as there is in Atlanta but I didn’t go to the concert. None of my friends, no one I even know for that matter, are Beatle fans or had any interest in going. I tried to find anybody I knew who might have been attending but not a one.
I wasn’t really about to go by myself.
Anyway, around 10:15 or so I saw a report on Fox 5 from the concert saying that it would go on until about 11 or 11:30. I eventually decided to drive down to the Ansley area. I got to Piedmont and Monroe, pulled into the parking lot and heard the last couple measures of the guitar solos from The End in my car with the window rolled down.
Just as Paul would have wanted it I’m sure, idling in a parking lot for five minutes.
I’m glad I did it though. My timing was, all things considered, pretty good.
I have seen Paul McCartney the last three times he was here and this to me wasn’t his best show. He was very good, but there were times the show seemed to be in a real lull. At one point, the woman behind me yelled play something we know. Cant believe some of the song choices. I realize he cant do every hit he has had but how bout…All my lovin, cant buy me love, i wanna hold your hand, Help, She Loves you…How do you leave these out and put in Flaming Pie, Only Mama Knows, Mrs Vandebilt and Calico Skies…. Still a good show but nowhere near his best
All in all a great show. I did find that since the crowd was of an older generation, they were somewhat testy with each other as they couldn’t take the heat(before the rain) nor could they get their bodies around as easy as the more agile folks. And they complained because people were standing. They must not remember being 20. Vendors were great, not too few or too many. Could have used more porto potties. And designated pathways to get to the potties and vendors. People making their own paths got old! But I had a blast in spite of them.
I thought the McCartney show tonight was fantastic. The sound system was probably the best I’ve ever heard. It was a show full of nostalgia, but it wasn’t entirely nostalgic. McCartney played a substantial number of newer songs, all of which were quite good. Unfortunately, some don’t like to be challenged whatsoever. That want to be spoon-fed nothing but the familiar. So kudos to McCartney for challenging the audience a bit. One of the new songs was called “Sing the Changes” and it’s near Beatles quality in my opinion.
I just got back from the concert. I have to say that it was great. I was one of the youngest people there (15) which felt pretty good. My family and I were supposed to get in the ADA (Americans with disabilities) entrance for personal reasons other than actually having a disability. The security guard wouldn’t let us through, even though we’d already called someone who worked at Piedmont Park. This person called the head of Live Nation (the group that puts on all of Paul’s shows) and he said it was okay if we wen’t through. We were also told that there’d be free water once we got in, but once again, that wasn’t the case. I was one of the lucky people that got to take advantage of the presale, but unfortionatly, it was so disorganized that everyone got in at the same time. There was only one entrance, which was crazy. In the 6 hours I spent waiting there, and the time that Paul was performing, I must have second hand smoked 3 packs of cigarettes, and countless doses of marijuana. The guy standing next to me was blowing smoke in my face the whole time. That said, it actually was a fantastic concert. The rain started pouring during “Blackbird,” and got even stronger during “Here Today,” but really, I thought it just added to the moment. I was willing to sit through the pouring rain to see Paul McCartney. When Paul started playing “I’ve got a feeling,” my mother inquired as to whether that was one of my favorite songs (she asked because I’d mentioned it before). I replied that it was my favorite, at which point, the guy next to me said “Mine too.” I didn’t know weather to hug him or to punch him (for blowing his smoke in my face), so I compromised and didn’t do anything. Paul played some great songs. It was nice to hear him change it up. Lou is obviously a fan of the early Beatles. Paul’s had other good stuff since then. I think that the biggest disapointment was that Paul didn’t play “Maybe I’m Amazed.” Too bad.
And no, Mitchell. I’m the biggest Paul/Beatles fan in Atlanta.
Also, yesterday I unintentionaly met Rusty Anderson in Guitar Center. I was returning a defective bass and the guy at the counter said “Hey, you know that Rusty Anderson’s in the next room.” I was in disbelief and asked him to repeat that several times. Finally, I walked in there. I just kind of stared at him for 5 minutes. He probably thought I was deranged. Eventually, I worked up the courage to ask him for an autograph, which he game me. This has been the best weekend of my life!
Lou: maybe because McCartney still has a vital solo career and his recent stuff is actually very good? If people in the crowd don’t know the newer stuff, that’s their loss. McCartney is more than a nostalgia act. If you want to hear all those songs, there are many great Beatles tribute acts around.
Great show! My first time seeing Paul, and I really enjoyed it. The rain cooled everything off for sure. I was surprised that Paul mentioned Shea Stadium during his comments. Some people booed, so I guess he figured out that we’re all Braves fans. I liked the setlist, and was floored when they did Day In the Life into Give Peace a Chance. Definitely didn’t expect that. The fireworks during Live and Let Die were amazing. Great job Paul! I’ll go see you whenever I get the chance.
This is my 3rd time seeing Paul, and it was absolutely fantastic. Im 23, so im rather young for a McCartney fan, but I grew up loving The Beatles! Im glad he added some songs he hasnt done in the previous couple of years, it was a good change. I think his voice was wonderful and his ability to entertain a crowd has not diminished at all over the years! I agree about the cigarette smoke and the weed at the park-it was pretty extensive. Not to mention the vendors were going through the crowd selling beer during “here today.” I missed a touching song that meant a lot to me because the guy was screaming “Who wants a cold beer” right in my ear. Good thing Ive heard Paul play it twice before.
Did anyone else have trouble with stadium chairs? On the Piedmont Park website they changed it to where Stadium chairs were allowed-they even had a picture of it on the site! As soon as we tried to get in, they told us they werent allowed! I think a lot of it was unorganized and going to the bathroom/getting refreshments was virtually impossible. You could barely get through without someone bitching at you for stepping on their blanket. Gosh, get a life!
But really, even with the rain, the show was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it and I PRAY that Paul will tour again!
Oh and I have to disagree-I think my twin sister and I are the biggest fans in Atlanta. But of course everyone thinks the same thing about themselves. You should see my Beatles tattoo?
Oh, did anyone else hear Paul say that the Shea Stadium was 45 years ago? Its only 44 though, because it was in 1965. Oh well. Hes Sir Paul McCartney-he can say whatever he wants for all I care. I love that man!
It was 1963, I was almost 10, and The Beatles came into my life and have been present ever since. My 29 year old daughter and her 30 year old boyfriend had family over for a ‘listening party’ from their home down the street from the Park. It started to rain and then lightning, we went inside and started talking. I stood up and said, I am going to the Park – I want to hear Paul! Katie and Mike said they wanted to go too, so we made a mad dash down the street to the Park. We walked in, no tickets, and enjoyed the concert from the sidelines! Best concert of my life! The Beatles have BEEN my life. Rain,Peace,Love, Family,My Life’s Music. Thank you LORD. Thank you Sir Paul .
A living legend just rocked the house tonight in Piedmont Park! Paul was AMAZING! He looked great, his band was awesome, the stage was incredible. I thought the crowd was one of the best I have been in – no one was complaining around us, the lines weren’t too long (10 minutes or so), food was good, beer was cold, and the music blew me away. This was my 2nd Macca concert and by far the best of the two. Live and Let Die was phenomenal and A Day in the Life into Give Peace a Chance was truly memorable. By far, even with the rain, crowded trains and long walks, the best concert I have ever been to! I will never forget it.
My first Paul McCartny concert and it was awesome! My husband and I were older than most of the people around us (57 & 61) but everyone was friendly. Food, beer, and port o potty lines weren’t bad at all, you just needed to scope things out and not be a lemming (go where everyone else goes). Marta was great except for the far too few North Springs trains. Overall fab experience, Paul is a great entertainer and still sooooo cute!
Toyed with not going….live a few blocks away….close walking distance the deciding factor. Knew I would always regret being that close and not taking the opportunity to see Sir Paul. After all, he’s the first guy I ever had a crush on back in 1963. Other two sisters claimed John and George. Sorry Ringo.
Anywho, the concert was fantastic. Cool breeze…..a little water never hurt anybody. Great crowd even down to the triangle heads and the plastic cloud people. Amazing what will work in a rainstorm! Lots of happy people everywhere. Hubby and I able to relive a little of the “give peace a chance” era. It felt good to go back there. Wish everybody could have felt it. But back to the concert…top of the line, a-one, well done. A wonderful memory.
Thanks Sir Paul. Thank you so much. I’ll still always regret you didn’t marry me. (I was only 8 at the time so you’re forgiven!)
The performances were great. I was not familiar with the Script before the concert, but the band put on a great show. McCartney was awesome. Highlights: Something as tribute to George Harrison, Blackbird (in the rain), Back in the USSR, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band.
I have never experienced a more disorganized entry into a concert. As mentioned above, the promised early entry did not happen. Police and volunteers gave conflicting instructions. People who walked up got in before people who had been line for hours.
The crowd ranged from very friendly to a voluntary manslaughter case waiting to happen. Some apparently didn’t hear the word “green”: trash covered the ground.
So I bought VIP tickets to support the cause – love Piedmont!! – with the side benefit of what I thought would be a little less chaotic journey as I was traveling solo with kids under 15. It was a trip – if you want a play book of how not to treat your donors… VIP entrance far, far away from main hotels; disorganized, long line that had limited staff; they took our armless, legless stadium seats because there was some metal in the support – boo; by the time we got in the field was 1/4 full, so those who anticipated early entry to get a field seat would have been better off going through the main entrance; food and drink were “free,” but the food choices were limited; only one vendor area and the line was always long; and by the time we got around 5 there were few seats left in the VIP area that were not obstructed by trees. What all this did was get folks complaining to the point that it was taking away from our good day. It was a trip and really borderline punishment to be in the VIP area. What were those good Conservency folks thinking?
But on the subject of good… with my sweet kids surrounded by endless voices of digruntled adults,however justified those adults were, we decided to use Piedmont Park for one of its favorites uses – walking! We crossed over to the field and found all the food!! The kids did a dance for sweet tea and pizza! We then ditched that VIP hill again and trekked in the field entrance near the stage. Found a hand-squeezed lemonade booth – heaven – and a vendor line so short that we were able to have time to try on shirts before we bought them. And we loved that Irish band! But best of all, around 7:30 we just casually walked our way to within a few feet of the stage. No kidding! The kids were mesmerized and so was I. There was Sir Paul! And we danced and sang, with an incredible beach- like breeze blowing. And everyone around us was happy!! There are moments that occur in live that you never forget – and watching those kids laughing and singing Blackbird with Paul McCartney in the pouring rain, just feet from the stage, is one of those moments for me.
In the end, what paying 400 per ticket did was contribute to our beloved park, test our ability to say Let it Be, and utimately triggered us to embark on one of the most amazing concert adventures of our lives.
Following up Brett, Paul has been releasing solo records for 39 years now, maybe two of which were not top-forty hits, and maybe one of which (Press to Play) isn’t packed with fantastic songs. If you don’t know “Mrs Vandebilt,” the album’s been out for better than three decades and has gone triple platinum. Maybe you should stop by Decatur CD or Criminal Records today and do a little catching up?
Not my all-time favorite concert but definitely a top lifetime memory for me. Been a Beatles fan for 45 years and have never seen Paul. Compared to the other bazilllion shows I’ve been to this crowd was pretty stiff where I was sitting (nothing a little Geritol can’t cure I suppose). Great set list; really liked the new stuff too! The rain was a minor annoyance but added to the experience. The sound was pretty clear, but I think the visuals could have been more psychedelic, given the era of the songs, the earthy “green” event and the fact that it’s the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Sir Paul: what can you say about a legend! He was energetic, charming and his voice sounded strong and fresh. Of all of the songs for some reason I can’t get Drive My Car out of my head. Finishing up with Sgt. Peppers/The End was perfect! Thanks Paul for all of your talent and music over the years! What a great night for the Park, the city and me!
There were many angry folks who had bought their tickets at pre-sale and had thought they were getting in an hour before general admission. My family wasted hours walking around trying to locate an entry for the pre-sale tickets. The AJC had a map of the park on Aug.7 plainly stating that gates will now open at 4pm for VIP and park pre-sale tickets. There was even a map showing a separate entrance for VIP/patron. There was a line for VIP but nothing for pre-sale. Park officials just kept telling us that there was only one entry time for everyone now, 4pm. We walked back down to the main entrance to find a small crowd of disgruntled pre-sale ticket holders complaining loudly about the park entry changes. The VIP ticket holders I talked to were also not happy that they spent $400 on a ticket that would gain them entrance the same time as general admission. A last minute effort by park officials at 4pm to appease the complaining pre-entry ticket crowd let those holders who happened to be standing at the gate skip the long general admission line and enter in a separate line along with all the general admission at 4. Needless to say we were so frustrated by the time we entered the park but hours later when Paul took the stage we were in heaven! We have been fortunate to see Paul seven times beginning in 1976 with Wings and were amazed at the age of 67 he still has the same vigor and love for entertaining as the young man we first saw in his early thirties. A comment for Lou…you may not have liked some of the songs selected to play but remember everybody has there favs and Calico Skies happens to be one of ours. It brought tears to my 27 year old daughter’s eyes! We love you Paul and God bless you! Hope we have the good fortune to spend and evening with you again someday.
I can’t add anything to the comments above, other than it was my first show, loved it, and it was an awesome first concert experience for my 13 year old son, who was blown away by it. A great bonding experience!
My biggest negative: the exit plan, or lack thereof. How did they expect 40,000 people to exit at one time through the same 3 narrow gates that took hours for them to enter? It freaked me out to be caught in the massive jam of humanity. Other exits should have been opened, gates/fences taken down, ANYTHING, to let the people free!!
I think that concert was the best night of my life… And I don’t think I’ll have one that’s better! I’m saying that and I’m only 11. Apart from John Lennon, I don’t think anyone could compare to Paul McCartney’s shows- not that I know what John Lennon would be like, but he’s still my favorite. I think the best part of the concert was when he sang Live and Let Die. That was amazing! I hope I’ll get a chance to see him again!
First Paul McCartney concert I ahve ever been to, and I definatley would go again. I am a little behind on his new releases but they were all good. Paul was fantastic. “Live and let die”, and “Something” were awsome. “I saw her standing there” was great, and “Jet” and “Band on the run” were killer. As far as Paul goes he was great, awsome act, definatly in my top 10 concerts that I have ever seen and would glady go again. I’m 40 and have listened to the beatles and Paul most of my life. My friends had always said he was great to go see and he was.
Now as far as the Green thing, it was a chinese fire drill, I have been to 2 other concerts at Piedmont park, The Black Crowes and Jefferson Starship, those were free concerts and the way they set the stage up I thought was it was smart where they put it on the opposite side. Getting into the event, we bought pre-buy tickets, it didn’t matter they were letting people in period. Whats the point of pre-buying? Walking around between everybodys blankets was like a version of “Human Tetris”, if you got drunk you were screwed. The rain sucked but oh well, it happens in outdoor concerts, it cooled people off more than anything. As far as being a green concert, I gurantee there will be garbage there the next day, how may trash containers they had was very few. They could have set it up better with lanes for people to walk in and some garbage cans. As another poster said, bathrooms and vending wasn’t that bad if you didn’t go to where everybody else went. There was ciggerette and Pot smoke, didn’t bother me but alot of people it did.
One thing that wasn’t that bad. Marta, they acttually had their act together was very controlled.
Lastly I have been to those Piedmont shows and midtown music festival several times. I really don’t think I’m going to go to another outdoor show, I like indoor shows, the seats and all. I think outdoor shows are really a younger persons thing like Bonnaroo, i would love to go but I don’t want to be outdoors the whole show, standing room only. My feet were killing me.
I hope if Paul McCartney comes again that he will play at the Ga Dome or Phillips arena, i will be there in a second. I have no complaints on Sir Paul he was fantastic, on Piedmont park, ya’ll need to think about this a little harder before you do it again.
Sir Paul’s performance was a shining highlight to a day of disorganization and mahem. It would be difficult to find more ways to make this a poor experience for the concertgoer. From the rude vendors (25 minutes in a line for wine, while the “lady” in the beer tent next door was selling it to her friends without a wait) to the bizarre setup (sticking vendors in the middle of the audience to block as much of the view as possible,) this was a lesson in how to infuriate your patrons.
Hopefully, the Conservancy raised enough money from this concert so they can erect a wall around the entire park. That would help keep out all those pesky people who want to go walk on their beloved grass. How about a glassed-in observation room so that you can see the grass without really touching it?
Maybe the best concert I have ever seen in 35 years. Why? McCartney/Beatles’ songs are the songs of 2 generations. Most of his tunes are so familiar, we have heard them a thousand times minimum.
McCratney’s dialogue was great. Unlike John, he never really takes himself too seriously outside the music. GREAT reference to George Harrison and Paul’s version of “Something”. I got chills during A Day In The Life when they broke into “Give Peace A Chance”. Hey Jude, Back in the USSR, Get Back, Live and Let Die (awesome!) the list goes on. I felt my life flashing before my eyes. Paul sounded great, he was so enthused about being there and playing his wide range of tunes. And he did them so well.
67 years old, almost 3 hours without a break-except for waiting for his 2 encores. Incredible. Scratch another thing off my bucket list!
Note to Paul-thanks for not playing Say, Say, Say and Let ‘em In.
Living in midtown a block from the park a group of us went. We did everything midtown, coctail party at a home on Myrtel, strolled to concert around 7:30 after a quick drink at Blakes when all the burb’s crowd were safley inside the park. Found a great spot on the hill,near a bar and had an evening that a lifetime of memories are made of. Atlanta and Piedmont Park were so lucky to have this concert. Outdoor park concerts such as this put us on the map as a world class city and concert venue. If this had been in the Dome, it would of been just another mediocre concert up there with Brittney and Blue Man Group. Of course he is going to play new music also, anyone going thinking they were to hear a Beattles set all night, well, I pity them. I am glad to of been a part of Atlanta history last night and thank the PPC for bringing this event to our great city and thrilled this concert closes the gap on the 52 acre park expansion, that we will all be able to enjoy in the future!
Have to add that I would not like to see McCartney at an outdoor venue again. I actually know of several people that did not come because the venue was Piedmont Park. Who ever thought an outdoor concert in Atlanta in the middle of hot as hell August must be crazy!
What a great concert. Went with my sister and a friend. What a great trip down memory lane. My sister saw the Beatles at the old Atlanta Stadium and still has her ticket so I think she may qualify as one of the biggest fans. She has every single album they made framed and hanging on the wall. Paul is just as cute now as he was in 1964.
The music set was good and yes I enjoyed his new music. You have to expect that he would want to introduce new things. Even Jimmy Buffet does that. I found it somewhat strange that there were tons of beer and wine vendors but the food was far, far away. As for checking for cameras, food being brought in, lawn chairs, etc. the security failed miserably. Everyone had their cameras. I saw sandwiches from Publix and other food items obviously not bought inside the venue. I also wondered about the pre-ticket entrance but honestly we had such a great view it didn’t matter. Lots of pot and cigarettes which surprised me. Parked in Ansley Park at a friend’s house and walked in thru the Botanical Garden’s back entrance saved us about 1/2 mile of walking. Overall, a great evening with a living legend. Aside from sore legs from standing for 4 plus hours and being soaked, I would rate this as one of the best concerts I have seen and I have been to many concerts throughout the years.
Angie, simply put, you are an idiot. I could go through your posts, line by line, and point all the truly stupid and inaccurate things you said. But, I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m just going to say that any confusion and discomfort you experienced were of your own making. Learn to read, learn to process information, and then learn to apply it, as any moderately intelligent human being can. I went to the concert (my second @PP and 4th time to see McCartney), and the only moderately unpleasant aspect was the rain, which is an Act of God.
GREAT show. GREAT music. In my opinion, Paul made up for the rainstorm by playing a really long show full of great song choices. I was especially happy to hear Something (on ukelele), Eleanor Rigby, Got to Get You Into My Life, Hey Jude, Let it Be, and gosh- just SOOO many other wonderful Beatles tunes I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to see played live. My first Paul show, and Im SO glad i went! It was awesome… and the rain was very ironic to me since it was the 40th anniversary of woodstock, i almost felt like it was fated. It was actually kinda nice…
Not-so great food selection for vegetarians/vegans which was pretty disappointing considering Paul is a vegetarian himself… (we waited 2 hours for a falalfel pita and then they ran out on us – also the veggies were cooked on same grill as meat – which personally i think is yucky!). Hopefully in the future, we will see more veggie choices at EVERY concert… especially ones promoting green living.
Also, being a green concert, i was surprised at the amount of trash, although, I have to say, there werent ANY trash/recycling cans on the field to use… but i figure with the amount of volunteers they had, MAYBE they did that on purpose to avoid trash and recyling getting mixed together… I mean, lets face it, when a bunch of drunk people are having a good time (seeing PAUL McCARTNEY for cryin out loud), they may not read whats on the can (trash vs. recycling) – the volunteers had quite a back breaking job of picking up smashed beer cans for a few hours after the show! Maybe that was the plan… IM just glad i didnt bring a blanket to have to carry around after it was trampled and soaked after the rain!
That being said, I had a fabulous time. it was a great show and I LOVE YOU DEARLY PAUL! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! I hope i get the opportunity to see you again. Rain OR shine.
I’m 9 years old and I love the Beatles! Paul is my favoite. My favorite song is “I Saw Her Standing There.” I did have to wait for a while in the sun, but it was worth it. I love the Beatles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Drove from Birmingham,Alabama to see Paul McCartney for the first time ever, and we enjoyed every second. Ages in our group ranged from 24-56. Of course ther were songs I would have loved to hear, but honestly, there just wouldn’t have been enough time to to satisfy all…just too many great songs out there. There will always be people that will search for and focus on the negative details (glass 1/2 empty vs 1/2 full), but the truth is, IT WAS A FANTASTIC CONCERT. Paul had a wonderful sense of humor, told some great stories, gave tribute to Jimmy Hendrix/anniversary of woodstock, the fireworks were awsome, AND came back for 3 encores! The atmosphere was suitable for all ages – no raunchy jokes or filthy language – just great music.He was a true gentleman!
Clarke, any moderately intelligent human being can go to the Aug.7th Atlanta Journal, page D6, and read what was advertised for the entry into this concert….there is no confusion. By the way, intelligent people don’t resort to name-calling. I will not waste anymore time on your post.
What a fab-ulous experience! Yes, it was hot, but that is Georgia in August! I am 56 and I was able to handle the heat and the crowds! The fact that this was an outdoor concert added to the mood and the magic. My one teensy distress was that we did “follow the rules” and wait in the long line to get in the gate, and then saw others just walking up the street and walking in.
I will always remember singing “Hey Jude” and the segue from “Day in the Life” into “Give Peace a Chance”gave the experience a little of the Woodstock vibe (along with the rain!). I am so glad I went to this concert!
Great music, and I had great company as always (my gorgeous girlfriend). But this was by far the worst concert venue ever and it was hard to let it overshadow enjoyment of the music. Waiting more than 4 hours in the blazing sun on a blanket for PM was about as fun as that description reads – it really sucked. Drunk morons next to us who thought their dance floor included every blade of grass they could reach whether there was anyone (like us) already in place or not. Lots of bad information from this blog about when gates opened, what you couldn’t bring in (saw plenty of stadium seats with arms that this blog said were prohibited) and getting there. Wish I’d paid heed to the comments left on one of this blogs earlier posts warning what a bad concert venue Piedmont Park is. And, of course, it rained during PM’s performance, couldn’t have come hours earlier when it could’ve helped with the heat. Script sucked, too. All in all, you couldn’t pay me to go to another outdoor concert especially at Piedmont. The homage to “green” was more classic liberal BS – the trash that was left by this “environmentally-friendly” crowd was appalling and disgusting.
I am surprised, that people seem to be surprised that there were cigarettes & pot being smoked. Thanks for the good buzz! I thought the show was very well organized. Never had to wait to get a beer, and the lines for the portopotties were reasonable. Even everyone in line for the pottys were singing and dancing and having a great time.
I hope Piedmont Park makes this an annual tradition of having a major concert in the park. How about the Stones next year!
Probably the best McCartney show I’ve seen – I think this was my 6th one. A range of music from Beatles to Wings to Fireman – band has really gelled after playing together for several years. Loved the fireworks! They can’t do that in Phillips… so yes, it was worth the unorganized staff, ATL PD giving out different info from the volunteers/staff, the not getting in @ 4 if u had presale, the people who got territorial about their blankies, the couple who got directly in front of me, the people who unknowingly dumped their tarp water on my feet, & the people who got there to wait “@ 7 am” & yelled “Go to the end of the line!” like a deranged mob & cheered as the dejected people who had been directed by APD to “another gate” @ the opposite end of the Park had to walk all the way back to Charles Allen again…. sorry about the run-on sentence there. All that being said, we had quite a show & I would go again! But only for Paul. I wouldn’t go through that for anyone else. Peace y’all.
Angie, any times and details of entry that were changed were well publicized, and notifications via telephone and email were sent out. Bottom line, dear, I knew EXCACTLY what and when was going on and you didn’t. I knew exactly where to enter and did so exactly when I wanted to. I guess you had an $80 ticket and wanted to be treated as if you paid $400. Try a little common sense, honey, and perhaps next time you won’t be so disappointed and whiny. You thought that was “hot”? I guess you didn’t attend the Allman Bros./DMB double-bill on Labor Day 2007. And, as for you ignorant people complaining about he didn’t play such & such, well (a) the Beatles have a large catalogue and (b) back in 1990, it was a big deal when he’d play even a couple of Beatles songs. Just be glad that he now embraces them in concert
I loved seeing McCartney in Piedmont Park last night. As always, he was brilliant. I was particularly impressed with The Script who opened for him. In fact, I liked them so much, I blogged about them on the 60 Second Marketer website in a posting called “I have seen the future of Rock N Roll and its name is The Script.” Cool.
Easily the best concert I’ve experienced. I didn’t have any of the negative experiences that are on this blog. Heat?…um, August=hot weather. It was 100 in Chicago for Lollapolooza last week. This was the best weather you could hope for.
I loved the Piedmont Park venue too. The audio was perfect. We also read online that the entrance was at Ch Allen/10th Street. Guess what…that’s where we got in! We waited for an hour before the doors opened, but then dashed for a spot near the front (and well in front of the VIP seats). Kudos to the PPC and their VOLUNTEERS for doing the best they could and throwing a memorable concert.
Oh yeah…this ‘Paul McCartney’ seems to have some potential. Keep your eye on him. He might go places.
Marta was surpisingly organized and full of police and felt safe. Not a big fan of walking miles to get to and from a venue however. They really need to approximate the time Paul was coming on since it ended up being 3.5 hours after the gates opened but then I suppose people would come in later and later . Rain sucked and was not a big fan of the newer songs. Wanted to hear more Wings songs like “Silly little love songs” but overall was good show seeing a living legend and someone who basically started it all with the Beatles.Liked the Hendrix stories etc… Food was decent and lines were not too bad.. people were cleaning garbage all thru the show. It seemed pretty coordinated.
What a horrible experience I had at McCartney’s Piedmont Park concert. I am outraged at how poorly Piedmont Park and McCarthey’s producers handled the VIP section. I quickly scanned previously posted comments and saw some agreement with my experience.
I waited 45 years to see a Beatle, so I decided to splurge for the high-priced tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event. After TicketMaster’s surcharge, shipping, handling, and taxes, my $400 tickets cost me $650 each. But hey, for that price I should get reserved seats close to the stage, and perhaps some special treatment. When I got to the Park, I found out that the seat number printed on my tickets meant nothing, and was told so by a surley park volunteer. The VIP section was a hill side about 1/4 mile from the stage with no seating. We had to find an empty patch of grass in the dirt to park our butts. I would have felt better if someone had just placed a gun in my face and demanded my money. Instead, I not only feel like a victum, but I also feel like a a chump for allowing myself to be ripped off. Please don’t waste your money on VIP tickets, the cheap seats are far better. For that matter, McCarthey sounds better on CD, so use the money to upgrade your system, buy the CD’s you don’t have and have a great time. I was at the Dallas TV Cast 30 year reunion, which became notorious for how poorly it was organized. This event was just as bad for the VIP section. No show producer or entertainer will ever again get one penny of my money, and I will never again set foot in Piedmont Park!!!
This was a special treat for my wife (over 50) and my son (15). Not real impressed by the lack of organization by the promoters (conflicting entry time) and a few rude people who broke line. Not a big fan of the genral free for all admission venue but it did allow me the chance to purchase tickets at a reasonable price. Having said that, it was everything I had expected-I got to see a legend! To get to see someone who had so much influence over my generation is something I never expected to experience! the show was good, his set was fine (how could you pick what to play and please everyone out of such a long career?), sound was good and the park was a cool place to be for a concert. I know the concert had some warts but overall I would do it again.
This concert was grueling for Paul’s 60ish and not so agile fans. First of all the directions on getting in were horrendous and wrong! We walked from one end of the line, found out we needed to be at the other side of the park,and had to walk another very long way to get in that gate. As a matter of fact, my best friend ended up dehydrated and collapsed before getting into the gate and had to be hauled away by ambulance. She missed the concert, and Paul has been her idol since 1964. Sitting on the ground was terrible, old bones can’t take it, and I was miserably uncomfortable sitting there all those hours. The rain, altho nothing we could do about it, was dreadful, soaking wet all nite. The process of getting in was so poorly executed, and wrong information was given at every turn. Now Sir Paul, he was incredible, as always, and if it wasn’t him on stage I would have left. Next time, I’ll see him only in an airconditioned arena WITH SEATS
Paul was fantastic as usual. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to see him! I also want to thank the MARTA people for keeping things moving fast. The park organizers however should have done a better job and directed people into separate lines. Why advertise early entry when there is no attempt made for that to happen? Also, at one point the main line was detoured down a side street as if going to another gate and then made to loop back up on the opposite side of the road. This was a confusing mess and many people were simply crossing the road and breaking line and police officers were giving us conflicting stories on where to line up. I don’t blame the police however, it was just poor organization. Also, it would be helpful if the organizers had somehow mapped out at least a few paths for people going on and off the field for refreshments/bathrooms instead we got drunk people almost stepping on you (if you were sitting) or almost knocking you down if you were standing. Still despite all that and the rain it was a magical show and Paul still has IT after all these years.
Still despite all that and the rain it was a magical show!
Paul put on one heck of a show…despite being in line and waiting for Paul for HOURS, I would do it all again to see his stellar performance. Ticketmaster and Piedmont Park on the other hand should be slapped for their performance.
The venue was wide-open, and it permitted large numbers of people to enjoy the experience. Paul and his band were great! The Script was also enjoyable to listen to! The only down-side to the whole experience was the mess that people left behind after the concert! There were enough beer cans, water bottles, and food containers to fill a semi trailer several times over. Perhaps the “green” concert was more about money than any environmental concerns!
As a visitor to Atlanta I think it was a great concert, Sir Paul was in fine voice and very giving and appreciative of the audience. Kudos to the overwhelmed staff and emergency workers who were always nice and professional. I knew the concert would be interesting when I read that it was the promoters biggest show. There was a complete lack of organization in waiting for entry and in the set up of the field with no access or exits for pedestrians or emergency personnel. There was however enough food, drink, and restrooms for all. Exactly how big was the attendance number and how much beer was consumed by the 30 to 40 thousand in attendance?
To those of you who were not allowed to bring in your stadium seats, what, if any, provisions were made for you — did they hold on to your seats for you, and were you able to retrieve them after the concert?
I’ve got a feeling that I get back in my life every time the band is on the run, I was standing there (in Piedmont Park) as day tripper yeah, it was yesterday. Hey dude, I said, look at all the lonely people trying to live and let die, give peace a chance since I can’t buy me love, you don’t need to go back in the USSR nor pray Lady Madonna to drive my car, we are lonely hearts, kind of blackbirds in a state of helter skelter and I am just a paperback writer trying to get you into my life. The end.
Gracias Pablo.
There was room for improvement concerning not having signage and more entry points to make it a smoother experience for the concertgoer. That being said, Piedmont Park itself turned out to be a beautiful space to host this event, with lush grass everywhere to plant one’s self for a few hours. I didn’t see any bare spots.
This was a concert for the ages. I saw Paul in Columbia, S.C. in 1993 and he was even better on 8/15/09. It simply defies imagination that a man Paul’s age could have as much energy as he did, playing so many songs without a break – a true Energizer Bunny he was. We experienced not only a fantastic show from THE legend of rock legends, but an astonishing display of human and vocal endurance. One got the sense that Paul played so many songs after the first encore because he wanted to pay the fans back for having been rained on. No spirits were dampened that I saw. The one song that most aptly summarized everyone’s mood was one of his more recent hits – “Dance Tonight” – a simple and catchy tune that lightened all moods despite the downpour then occurring.
What made the concert most special for me was that I was able to take my daughter, who hadn’t seen Paul live before. I sang Beatles love songs as lullabies to her when she was an infant and toddler, and she has grown up loving Beatles music. She was enthralled by Sir Paul and his music last night. This was in all likelihood a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The both of us will remember last night for the rest of our lives, and it is sure to be among our most cherished memories as we both grow older.
Since people who complain probably post their views more than those who simply appreciated and enjoyed Sir Paul’s show, I want to thank the Piedmont Park Conservancy for bringing this tremendous inter-generational experience to our city. Had Paul played just another Philips Arena show, so many families who made memories in the Park together last night would have lost out. Obviously, the Park is not set up for every-day concert-going — and if you expected perfection you’re more than a little naive. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event for Atlantans and Beatles fans, and we owe the Conservancy and their volunteers gratitude for this event and everything else getting accomplished for our Park.
My wife and I made the trip from Ohio to see the show. This was my 8th McCartney show, her 4th. Well worth the trip, the entire thing was an adventure! From our first experience with MARTA (which turned out to be pretty good, when we’re back in town I would probably use MARTA again) to the experience with Piedmont and waiting in line since 11:30 to use our presale early entry tickets (haha, right?) to the most incredible performer and concert!
As for the show, what can I add that hasn’t already been said. The new material was incredible, love “Only Mama Knows” live! “I’m Down” was a great addition to the set, and one I did not expect to hear. And “Day Tripper?” All I can say is “WOW!!!”
I popped the big question to my wife at Paul’s concert in 2005, so this was a great chance for us to remember that night and had yet another special memory to our scrapbook of life together! (And Paul, if you read this … Melissa and I want to thank you for that great night in Detroit! And thank you again for reading my sign and making me get down infront of 20,000 people!)
I survived the concert last night, and lived to tell the story. Thank God for Paul McCartney. Only Paul McCartney could take a perfectly horrible misery marathon like Atlanta’s concert preparation, and still make you feel glad to be alive. The people in the Atlanta audience were fantastic, considering that a huge number of them received such lousy, inconsistent info, about the event that by the time Paul took the stage we were dehydrated, exhausted, sunburned, and broke. Paul still saved the day.
I drove from Tennessee with my 18 year old daughter to see Paul McCartney and I would drive to Alaska to see him again!! I am 42 and have been a Beatles/PM fan as long as I can remember. This was the ultimate concert experience! What a magical night!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Sir Paul for beautiful music and beautiful you…
Looooove reading your comments and takes on the Paul McCartney shows. Definitely a diversity of opinions, although most of you seem pretty happy with how it turned out. A reminder: please keep it civil and push the conversation forward. I’ll be compiling some of these comments into a post on Monday, too!
What a great show! There are words I am sure to express appropriately, however I don’t know what they are. For all the problems expressed, I did not see any, perhaps you all are just not experienced concert goers and lacking in navigational skills.
Being in my mid thirties I came to know and appreciate the Beatles about the same time as everything else that was popular at the time, U2, REM and The Cure. Very quickly I recognized how much these bands owed to the Beatles and McCartney especially. I have seen concerts all over the world. My job made this possible, but seeing the Macca in my hometown in our park again I don’t know the words. I was happy to see kids at this show, perhaps this show will be the beginning of their musical journey and what a way to start.
I have to agree with Pentagon Cowboy about how bad the VIP section and organization was but P.M. made me forget it all. It was a great show …. There could also have been more done to make it a true green event.
Had a blast at the McCartney show. We flew down to Atlanta from Rock Island, Illinois. It’s part of the Quad Cities, which includes Moline, IL – home of John Deere, for reference. Anyway, my wife and I were the ones about 8 rows back that had the sign that read “BABY’S FIRST MCCARTNEY SHOW – DUE FEBRUARY 10TH” that he read during the concert! It was a surreal experience. He read the sign and then commented, wondering if the baby could hear the music because “they say that they can”. He then strummed a few notes and did a little opera singing as a joke. It’s something we’ll never forget!!! I could tell that he had read the sign a few songs earlier. He made eye contact with us and nodded and smiled. Then, at the end of the concert he referenced our baby again during his goodbye’s and did a little baby holding motion! Finally, as he exited the stage I was thinking about throwing the little Beatles onesie we’d bought onto stage, but there were some pyrotechnics going off. He looked back at my wife and I and gave us both a big thumbs up. Truely a remarkable experience! If anyone knows of any bootleg of the audio or even better, the video of the concert please let me know!! Does any think Piedmont will make a video of the concert similar to what Dave Matthews did a couple years ago?
Fantastic Show! Drove down with my 21 year old from St. Louis, who is a huge Paul McCartney fan. We were not disappointed. We had no idea where/what Piedmont Park was, but did some checking before purchasing tickets. If you had researched the park on the website, you should have known what the $400 tickets were going to get you – up on the hill – with the stage clearly marked. Buyer beware – do your research. We bought the cheapest tickets, waited in line from 1:00 on, (only because there were already people there & my daughter wanted to get the “best spot”) and once we got in, we made it close to the stage. We knew in advance what to expect. The money we saved from the VIP tickets we spent on a hotel within walking distance(actually less than $400 for two nights). The park was wonderful – the music great, and the rain just made for some fantastic memories. It was all worth it to see my daughter’s excitement and we can’t believe that Paul sang for as long as he did. Also, we didn’t mind sharing our blanket with strangers who just walked in at 7:00 pm. We had room. Could things have been done better- hey, I’ve been volunteering in the school system for over twenty years, and have learned there is a system for getting things done, but, they didn’t ask me. I was there for the show and they certainly put on a great one. The volunteers did the best they could, all were friendly – they just needed a few hundred more! Hats off to the “Vitamin Water” people – they saved us from dehydrating in the line.
Has there been an “official” count on the number of spectators?
I like it that the general tone to the comments is ’so what – it was Paul McCartney’. Yes, it was disorganized, hot and it rained. Who cares? I went in with no expectations and found the back entrance by chance. Got in line at 3:56 – they let us in 4 minutes later. WooooooHoooooo.Stood about 10 feet in front of the mixing board – perfect! I think they call what happened to me and my friend “Instant Karma”. Great awesome incredible show. Thanks JPM.
[...] of astute observations and critiques are mixed in, along with the usual argument and name-calling. Give ‘em a read, or get the abbreviated version below. (These are copied straight from the posts, shortened, but [...]
I have always been one to tell it like is! Here is what the Sir Paul concert was like. We had to drive a long distance to get to Marta, then we had to wait in line to buy tickets at Marta, then we had to wait for the train, then we had a ride on the train to down town. After we got off of the train we had to walk about a half mile to stand in line in the blazing hot sun for a couple of hours before we got in. Then we stood up for six hours in the hot sun before the first horrible band played. I now have a wonderful sunburn! Then after the first band played Sir Paul had us waiting a whole hour before he finally came out to play. By the time he came out there were so many drunk people throwing up etc. It was so impossible to even see the screens it became a complete waste of the day.
Sir Paul, you have lost total touch with your fans, that was the concert from hell! Sir Paul, you made my dream turn into a nightmare. I was Sir Pauls number one fan, but after this there is no way I would ever go to see him again if this is the way he treats his fans. After what we had to go through for hours I learned a lesson not to do it again! Sir Paul, I think it is now time to put the guitar pic away and enjoy your retirement!
Alexandra, if you expected VIP treatment, you should have purchased a VIP ticket. I was on my feet a total of 12 hours without sitting down that day, but it was totally worth it. You waited in line for 2 hours? Big deal. My wife and I were there near the gate at 11 a.m. and managed to get right up to the stage when the gates opened — many people camped out the night before, I was told. These are the true fans, unlike those who write off a musician just because things didn’t go your way that day. And I guess you never took public transportation before, eh? Yes, you have (gasp) stand in line, especially when you take your sweet time to get to the concert. Wake up; there were 40,000 people at this concert. What did you think it would be like?
Paul was great, but we should be getting some refunding from the Park/Ticketmaster. We paid a lot of money for VIP which was suppose to include admission to the park one hour earlier than everyone else. Everyone was confused and didn’t know where to go (especially VIPs) when the gates opened for all. There also were no air conditioned bathrooms like were promised from what I saw. Isn’t this a breach of contract?
I was awake and the fact that they made all of those people wait in the hot sun is so unfair, in fact that as you say Aaron made it even worse. You wake up and smell the roses. No entertainer should treat their fans that way. next time you can go and do the same thing again, I fact be my guest if you are that dam dumb! You were probably one of the drunks and di not even pay attention to the concert when he was playing! you sound like one of the hilbillys from here that have never been anywhere else in the world or know how to treat other human beings! I have the right to express my experience just like anyone else! Get real, but better yet get a real life! Some of us do have lives and taking 12 hours from leaving the house to getting back home is almost impossible for those of us who do own businesses and have families. Our time needs to be respected just as Sir Pauls time is respected. Just because a person is an entertainer do not give him the right to put us all through hell just to see a flash of him on stage. by the way the VIP tickets were no different or anymore comfortable than the general admission tickets! Really Aaron, you should be ashamed of yourself!
Alexandra, Aaron: Clearly you’ve got different perspectives on how the concert went, and that’s probably not going to change, and that’s fine. But please keep your responses under control. This blog isn’t about name-calling, and certainly not about making assumptions about each other based on stereotypes. Keep your comments respectful. Thanks.
Thank you Aaron… well said! Alexandra, maybe you should just stay home & NEVER go to a concert again! Give me a break! When there are 40,000 fans at a concert, you wait in line (for food, drinks, merchandise, restroom, etc.) – get over it! If you don’t like crowds, don’t buy a ticket! Poor you… waiting an hour until Paul came out. Uh, in case you’ve never been to a concert before, they need to set up in between bands. Hello! And how dare you blame Sir Paul McCartney for your bad experience. What does he have to do with the hot sun, long lines, MARTA, & drunk people?!? Seriously, do us all a favor & take a happy pill. ; )
P.S. I suggest sunscreen so you don’t get a sunburn & glasses so you can see the big screens. They were as big as a building. How could you not see them?? Please…
Thanks for minding the ship! We did get carried away, but it was still hell at the concert! We appreciate being able to voice our feelings on Access Atlanta! TKS, Alexandra
Sir Paul McCartney’s show is one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen! What amazing talent & energy! I’m thrilled to say that I’ve seen a Beatle live! We could have cared less about the rain. Ponchos from the dollar store worked just fine. The big screens & sound were great!! It was a night I’ll NEVER forget!! ; )
The only negative for me was seeing all of the trash on the grounds. It took me about 5 seconds to pick up our cans/water bottles & drop them off in a recycle bin.
Absolutely loved Paul and his band — they were tight and energetic the whole evening!
Now, about the Piedmont Park Conservancy and its “Green Concert” — they receive a grade of about an “F-” for lack of security and crowd control, and lack of recycling bins and marked pathways throughout the meadow… they should have learned more from previous events that have been held at the Park in the past, especially regarding what it takes to accommodate a crowd of this size!
Tracy, I said I will not buy a ticket again! Do you honestly think Sir Paul knew nothing about how the concert was run? He created most of the Green concert. There is still no reason to wait an entire hour betwen bands, ( which pay for the tickets) are out there waiting! As Jamie Gumbrech said, we will not agree on the event. I do however have the right to tell it like I experienced the concert, being we live in a free country and have the right to do so. I was at the original Woodstock so I do know how concerts are. I have traveled all over the world and have been taking the transit for years. You have the right to go back and experience the concert the way you experienced and I have the right to not go which I will not be going again. We moved so many times just to try to see the screens on the sides but the crowd was so out of control after having six hours to get drunk we could not enjoy it. You have your rights and so do I. It is great to know there are some that had a great time. I was not one of them! Good luck to all of you who will be putting up with this type of treatment! After reading about the VIP tickets on here there was no difference between the general admission or VIP. Good wishes and good luck to all!
I am such a Beatles fan that I named my dog George Harrison, so as you can see I love Paul and have loved him for years but after this concert I changed my feeling about him. I felt he was like God, which no man is. I guess what it did was open my eye’s to reality!
My husband and I, in our early 50’s, had a blast. We went in knowing the day would be long, hot and possibly wet. We made the best of it and with good food, drinks and plenty of people-watching it was not difficult. Paul gave the audience everything they wanted (BEATLES) and more. It was awesome to see the middle-agers and teenagers, even little ones, so excited, singing and chanting (”Give Peace a Chance”)…our only regret was not bringing our own teenagers.
I completely agree with the complaints about the confusion regarding presale entry time and location and folks breaking line. My 7YO called a couple out about it and they shamefacedly retreated, but lots of others didn’t. (Could have used more volunteers to police that, I think.) Yes, it was hot (duh, it’s Atlanta in August) and, yes, it rained (ditto). But that just made it all the more Woodstock-y! Some of us were there, too. Perhaps in altered states of mind, but that’s another story. In any case my kids and husband and I had a GREAT time. Macca put on a fantastic show — sprinkled new with old, rock and mellower tunes. Definitely worth every penny and the relatively minor inconveniences. Thanks to the Conservancy for bringing him here and to such a fab venue.
Alexandra, your series of posts is one of the most pathetic whinefests I’ve ever read. All of the things you complained about were either already announced beforehand or out of Paul’s control. He and his team had nothing to do with the way the park ran the concert. He was responsible for his performance and the production of his performance. That’s it. If your time was so precious perhaps you shouldn’t have bought a ticket in the first place. There were many people who waited in line since early in the morning, and they all seemed to have a blast.
Alexandria, please shut the hell up. Best concert of my life and I think that Paul treated his fans great as in 3 encores. I saw no drunks, saw the screen very well, was in no lines at all except for the Marta ride afterwards and that was expected.
Thx to Peidmont park for putting on such a great show!!!!
Loved the concert — wow, what a show! — but not the logistics. Some failures I noted:
I saw no volunteers nor any directional signage for the concert when I exited the Midtown station at 2:00 PM. In fact, I rarely saw a volunteer the whole time. Funny, since as a Conservancy member I had offered to be one but had been turned down.
There was no designated line or gate for presale ticketholders. If there was one, it wasn’t publicized anywhere in advance nor created by volunteers on site. Most presales got stuck in the same long line as the later entries: A major mishandle that caused great animosity among those patrons. The few volunteers who passed by the blocks-long line on 10th had no knowledge to share or any apparent way to ask a question or get answers from someone in charge.
The no food or water ban was a serious health concern for the many older people who had arrived early for the presale entry and then had to stand in line a lot longer than expected in 90+ degree heat. Also, there was no way to handle a medical emergency created by those conditions except with a 911 call.
That same ban created a huge windfall for the food and drink vendors, provided you could get to them. Three dollars for one small bottle of water? That’s price gouging, people. (Where were the water fountains?) Even the kids selling them outside the park asked for just a buck. IMO the producer and food vendors should be fined for overcharging the captive audience for that necessity. In the future, bottled water prices inside the park should be set by the City for future concerts.
No aisles were created or maintained for emergency vehicles, security personnel or easy patron access to vendors and the toilets. IMO this was a major breach of public health and safety guidelines for such events. Suppose there had been a lightning strike during the rainstorm? (N.B. I sat right next to the Kaiser Permanente First Aid station, so I saw and heard about the difficulties people were having in getting there for help.)
Why didn’t the Conservancy present a short talk or program about its work and goals between the two acts? IMO it missed a golden opportunity in not doing that, and in not asking patrons to haul out their trash and/or place recyclables in designated receptacles after the concert was over. This was The Green Concert, right?.
IMO these logistical failures were caused by a lack of coordination and communcation between the organizations involved, both before the event and on the day. IMO an experienced large-event planner needs to be put in charge of each area to see that everything runs smoothly.between the professionals and the volunteers. Also, the Conservancy and its co-sponsors should recruit enough volunteers, provide advance training for them, and provide those at critical points with radios and bullhorns so they can ask questions and get answers in in real time, and handle crowd problems promptly. There also should be a central command center that can be called by other volunteers with their cell phones for informational Q&A.
I hope my comments will be read as constructive criticism that is intended to help make future concerts at Piedmont Park more pleasurable for everybody.
I understand your frustration about some aspects of the concert performance, but at least some of your frustration is misplaced.
As mentioned above the 2 things McCartney and his management are in charge of are his performance and the staging. Everything else is the responsibility of the promoter (in this case Live Nation) and the venue (in this case the Piedmont Park Conservancy).
Most people I talked to actually had good experiences with MARTA (which surprised me somewhat). The whole ticket entry and waiting had 0 to do with McCartney and his team. This is the responsibility of Live Nation and Piedmont Park. Unfortunately a number of us were e-mailing/phoning Piedmont Park about the entry and were really concerned it was going to be a huge mess because they didn’t seem to have a plan to separate the early entry from the non-early entry tickets. Unfortuantely this turned out to be true.
I thought the Script was fine as an opening act – nothing special, but easy to listen to and didn’t overstay their welcome. McCartney took the stage 42 minutes after the Script finished (I was checking my time on my phone) this was actually slightly faster than previous shows. it takes about 45 minutes for the stage hands to remove The Script’s equipment, set up McCartney’s and test all the sound and lighting.
I was obviously closer up then you were as I was very close to the soundbooth. I will say there the people were largely very upbeat and enjoying themselves, even during the rain.
Also, don’t blame others for things that might not be their fault. if you got a sunburn – you should have used sunscreen – I did, i’m a redhead and did not get burned at all. I drank alot of water before the show knowing I would be out in the heat for hours. I had a poncho and a plastic tarp (that ended up with 15 people under it during the rain) for that possibility. knowing it was an outdoor concert you do have to prepare for it – and i’m not saying that you didn’t.
if you had problems with sound or lighting that would fall under McCartney’s team.
It’s disappointing to see someone have a bad experience and i hope your next one is better.
I journeyed with my family: sister, husband, two daughters and my sister’s girlfriend to Atlanta, and despite the long trip, sitting on the grass and the painful walk to MARTA- we truly LOVED the show! It was such a thrill for me to experience Paul’s show with my teenaged daughters who have grown up listening to him since they were in the womb. My oldest daughter, Michelle, was so hoping to hear him sing “her song” to her, but alas, he could not cover every song in the Beatles, Wings, and his solo catalogues. If it were left up to the audience we would have kept him there singing for 24 hours straight.
I thought it was a beautiful night despite the rain. (Thank you, God, for no lightning.) Piedmont Park is a lovely place and I thought it was pretty well organized (as well as could be expected for 40,000+ fans.
For those of you who missed this concert (or did not enjoy it)I am sorry but it was one of the best nights of my life. All of the Beatles oldies and new Paul songs struck a good balance and Sir Paul is still spry and rock the house at 67. We love you Paul! You only get better with age!! The Murphy family
p.s. Kudos to MARTA for moving that huge crowd out of there quickly and efficiently!!
Having loved Paul (and the rest of the Fab 4) for most of my life, and having seen Paul 18 times, both with the Beatles and after, missing a concert in ATL was not imaginable! The hours of standing and sitting on rock-hard ground have left me a mess only my Chiropractor may be able to fix up, but the alternative, missing the man who has made by far the greatest impression on my life for the last 45 years was unimaginable.
The small number of people who complained about the actual performance make me terribly sad. Paul has so much great music to pull from, he certainly wasn’t going to do only Beatles music. Paul is the greatest legend ever, and there will never be a greater performer, writer, person on this earth!
Wull love you forever Paul! Please come back (to an arena with seats, I hope!).
Awesome show!!! Paul amazes me by the mere fact he plays at such a high level at 67 years of age. I know at 67 i could never have his energy (LOL)!!!! His stage presence is incredible and has the best eye movements when singing than any artist on earth.
This was my fourth time seeing Sir Paul. He is just such a great performer and a great musician. This concert was nothing but spectacular. I really enjoyed both Beatles and Wings music. The crowd was great. It rained for about 30 minutes which was good because it was over 90 in the heat.
The only bad thing was that ticketmaster ripped us off again. There was suppose to be early enterance for America Express/Mccartney fan club and conservitory members and the crowd got so big they let everybody in at once. Also, waiting in line was complete disorganized. We sat in line for hours and hours to be first at the stage and again the crowd got so big in front of the gates that people who only waited 15 minutes before the gates opened ran right in and never went to the end of the line. I was extremely angry about it. My friend and I still got a pretty good spot, we were very lucky I can run fast.
[...] about the origin of the Junkman’s Daughter sign. It’s a cool story written up on the AJC Insider blog by Jamie Gumbrecht. Also, related to the recent Paul McCartney concert in Piedmont park, she [...]
[...] blog by Jamie Gumbrecht. Also, related to the recent Paul McCartney concert in Piedmont park, she pointed to a great story about how an Atlanta hifi store pioneered a sound engineering technique in the mid-60s that is [...]
By far the best show I’ve ever seen. I’ve always enjoyed the music of the Beatles and McCartney but never was an avid fan. Half way through the show I thought to myself “now I understand”. What a performer. It’s like he was determined that everyone have a good time. Thought the sound was incredible. Great show!
I really don’t understand this woman and her comments. How could she expect anyone to control the sun or provide shade for the entrance line which was at least three quarters of a mile long.
FYI, this was my 16th time seeing Paul (Beatles three times) and I’m older now and knew my limitations so I arranged to arrive at 3:30, expecting to be no where near the stage. I waited in line for approx 1 hour and yes, it was very hot at times. But the line moved pretty well (except for the cheaters cutting in line)once the gate opened and when I got in the park I found a perfect place on the hill in the shade, right of the stage. If this woman was so hot, why didn’t she moved to the largely shaded hill on the right. The temp never got unpleasant under the shade. Now, I would have loved to be near the stage and this was the first MACCA concert EVER that I couldn’t see his pretty face up close, but I knew I’m not physically able to withstand the heat. This woman (if she was REALLY at Woodstock) is older than me so why didn’t she seek shade give way to the youngsters who don’t care about the heat? I could see the stage and the screens perfectly.
To say she is a huge fan and then blame Paul for the heat, the lines and the rain is absurd and she apparently has no understanding of the time required to set up his equipment. Oh, and the Irish band was fab – I loved three of the five songs they performed. MARTA ran great for the huge crowds, no problem there either. The only problem I had was the people staggering up the hill throughout the concert – the Conservancy should have created a couple of roped off passage ways so that we didn’t get continually stepped on.
Paul was great as usual and any problems with the venue were not of his doing. He looked fab, sounded beautiful and his energy is amazing for anyone, but especially for a 67 year old man. The fact that he donated his time for the concert seems to completely have gone over the head of this woman. He made no money and donated his time for a grat cause. Clearly he doesn’t need fans like this who claim to love him and then bad mouth him for things that were not within his control when she should be on her knees thanking him for being such a generous human and such a generous and brilliant performer.
Bank of America’s Museums on Us program allows customers in free on Sept. 5-6, Oct. 3-4, Nov. 7-8, Dec. 5-6, Jan. 2-3 and more 2010 dates they haven’t yet posted. You can find more info here: http://museums.bankofamerica.com/
That program gets you into the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, but not the IMAX movie. You can also get in to the High Museum of Art, Zoo Atlanta, Millennium Gate, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Atlanta History Center.
Paul was amazing…totally killer and the night was a “once in a lifetime thrill”. Sadly, the Piedmont Park Conservancy botched the entire VIP process for everyone who paid $400. The Piedmont Park Conservancy advertised early admission for the VIP ticket. It took 30 minutes to get the first 500 people (I counted…I was about the 500th person in line.)through the “ONE TICKET TAKER” entrance on Monroe…while we could see hundreds of people streaming down the hill on the other side of the park at the St Charles entrance. My girlfriend was directly in front of Paul’s microphone about at 4:02…WHERE HE WAS STILL PERFORMING HIS SOUNDCHECK (IN PERSON)…and she paid $80 for a non-early admission ticket. Explain that one to me!! People in the VIP line were furious. Once inside the VIP area, I waited in a line of only 14 people (I counted.)for another 30 minutes to buy a t-shirt…the VIP area sold out of all XL shirts one hour after the gates opened…I had to go buy one in the general admission area. They had schwag beer…Bud, Bud Light, and Bud select…and they were lukewarm until after 7 or so meaning that that had not been properly iced down. In the end I must say not even the major downer caused by the clearly unprepared PPC could diminish the PAUL McCARTNEY experience. Paul is the pinnacle of music, their is none higher.
[...] told you last week about an interview with Decatur author Amanda C. Gable, and her upcoming events at the Decatur Book Festival and Blue Elephant [...]
Will this “trust” become a partner in future profits? Or will the reconstruction donations primarily benefit Mr. Greene with only his word that he will do good in the community? While historic trusts are good for publically owned property, and commercial venues are good when maintained buy the business owner… non profit donations should not be made for the primary benefit of the commercial enterprise.
What kind of “open book” cooperation is there between the trust and Mr. Greene? How much insurance was there and how much is going in his pocket due to “lost business”?
Too many questions to just crack open my wallet to save a bit of nostalgia.
I agree with David. This was intended, prior to the fire, as a “for profit” venture. How has that changed, if so, and what happens to the operation going forward in terms of ownership, control, etc.. This is the same thing on the surface, if Burger King had a fire and the public contributed to the restoration. Too many questions yet.
The trust is to ensure the building gets saved. No private business could support the debt that it will take to rebuild to modern codes. The only two options are that we get help from the public via a nonprofit, or the Georgia Theatre goes away forever. Sounds like you prefer the latter David.
Let me clarify something. I feel this facility enjoyed some success as a venue for music. However, Athens if full of “venue’s for music”. I would be glad to help with the restoration, but do I give something small, or will I consider something of consequence?
To answer Wilmot … there are two choices to end up with a sole owner, the non profit buys the pile of ashes and rebuilds it and operates as a non profit OR the commercial entity foots the bill.
But for people to donate to a business with nothing in return except the fact that the building survives is preposterous.
If the business owner cannot do it, or was underinsured, that simply means his business has failed. Step aside if you can’t do it on your own.
If the trust wants to rebuild the building, sign the deed to the trust and the business owner can operate the business in a partnership deal.
The building has some nice history but for those that give will only be able to say “Hey I gave some good money so that guy could make a lot of money.”
What is the payoff for the donaters … in writing, other than “nice building, huh?”
Paul was great, the stage was great, the sound was good.
My girlfriend and I walked in, without waiting, at about 6:30. We stood probably 100 feet from the stage. There needs to be a “no blankets past this point” rule enforced next time Piedmont tries something like this. I witnessed a few verbal altercations between people trying to walk and those who felt ENTITLED to all the room that their blankets covered. Give me a break.
In response to David and “Maybe, Maybe Not,” people who donate to this cause can feel good about their donations on two fronts: (1) They’re contributing to the preservation of an historic building. I can’t remember the exact numbers, but I believe the Georgia Theatre building is over 100 years old; and (2) they’re helping to restore a bit of nostalgia from the many wonderful memories they may have formed through events and concerts they attended at the Georgia Theatre. With the Georgia Theatre partnering with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, folks can now make tax deductible donations towards a legitmate philanthropic cause (See # 1 above). I think this is great, and I wish the Georgia Theatre and Wilmot Greene all the luck in the world.
Sorry David, but you are wrong. The payoff for the donators is that they get to live in a community with a Georgia Theatre. This is what people in Athens want, and they are the ones driving the fundraising. Your comment about ’so this guy could make a lot of money’ shows your lack of understanding of the situation. The owners will pay for the majority of the expense of rebuilding. The public is simply trying to help with the difference between what the business can make and what it will cost to rebuild. The public risks nothing except living in a town with less music if they don’t give. The numbers just don’t make sense for any type of ownership (profit or nonprofit) unless a big chunk is taken off the top via donations, and the public trusts the current owners, because of years of goodwill, to run the club in a manner that best represent the interests of the community. This is why we live in Athens! If they eventually make a profit,,, good for them!
Hey folks: there are some good questions in this discussion. I just talked with Mark McDonald at the Georgia Trust, who explained more why they decided to partner with a for-profit group, how the Georgia Theatre fits into their non-profit mission and how the arrangement works. Thanks for reading!
To those claiming it will save an old building … once the building is burned and gutted any rebuild only nets a “new” building made to look old. It is sad it burned, I lost many brain cells in the building in its “cinema draft house” days. You might as well level it, build a state of the art new building and slap the old marquee on it. When something dies a natural death, you cannot bring it back.
Great show!! I drove up from Florida and this was my second McCartney show. This shows was fairly organized compared to the other hundred outdoor shows I have been to.i.e. Bonnaroo, Phish @ Big Cypress. among others. Having been to a lot of GA shows I was kind of curious as to how the early entry was going to work. Thankfully I just got a regular ticket. I thought it was kind of a joke to have to early entry times, I mean it is general admin show. So lets say you got in an hour early, you still can’t stop others from getting to the front when they “let em’ in”. My only complaint was the people with the blankets. At a general admin show, the only spot you paid for is the spot your feet are in. Not where you blanket is. If you want to sit down and have you own space go to the back not the front row. I have also saw a few people complain about cigarettes and pot smoking. You went to a rock concert, outdoors, not the opera. They kind of go hand in hand.
THANK YOU Piedmont park, THANK YOU PAUL, and THANK YOU ATL.
Suggestions are always welcome, and concerts at Centennial Park get a nod in the daily to do lists pretty frequently. (And, of course, it’s always easy to find in the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.) It’s important to me, though, to showcase a wide variety of events.
It looks like the inside of the whale sharks colon, and I would know, cause I was there and I swam with them. If you didn’t know that, read the paper, apparently my arrival is a big story. I got my picture on the front page, not like that missing Blairsville woman, or that goofy health care thingy.
Oh, Miley, sorry, but you must have seen some other paper — you weren’t on the AJC’s front page any time in the last few days. I’m sure your arrival did well on AJC.com, but even then, it hasn’t cracked the most popular stories. Hope you’re having fun!
Had a wonderful time at Paul McCartney Saturday in Piedmont Park. Seeing my favorite artist, in my favorite part of my favorite city was a dream come true. I thought the show was fantastic! I am probably a bigger Paul McCartney fan than I am a Beatles fan, so the first half of the show was my favorite. I’m thrilled he plays some new songs and Wings songs. I do wish he’d play some of the huge Wings hits that he leaves out every time he tours; but I know what to expect and am happy with what I get. I know most everyone there is wanting Beatle songs and that’s what he delivers…he ain’t no dummy. But I just marvel over how great he is. My thought is how lucky we are that he’s had a good head on his shoulders, has taken care of himself, still makes music and tours. He didn’t end up like Michael Jackson. Thank you Paul…you’re the Man!
Have you tried using http://ZoToDo.com? I don’t think its really used for this sorta thing in general, but you could create a public To Do List and put up your weekend events there.
If you live in the Canton area, there is a chili cookoff, corvette car show and live bluegrass music at noon on Saturday FREE!! Right off the square downtown Canton.
Check out the Attractions section on http://www.mapyeti.com … it’s a great resource for finding/posting sales or specials for Atlanta businesses and attractions.
Chi Walking, Meditation Workshop and Labyrinth Walking Meditation all start the week of Sept. 7 at the Wellness Center at DeKalb Medical. Call 404.501.2222
Definitely, SUNMAN. I post the weekend to do list every Thursday, and daily to-do lists during the rest of the week. Till then, check out the searchable calendar on AccessAtlanta.com. You can narrow it down to the type of stuff you’re interested in and the area around Atlanta that you’re visiting, among others things. Does that help?
[...] Mozart 3 pm WCRB-FM (99.5) Piano Concerto No. 11, with pianist Mitsuko Uchida. … Tax-free weekend shopping center events:Tommy Emmanuel performs: 8 pm July 30 at The Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave NE. Grupo Fantasma [...]
Finally!! Someone was thinking,, I mean who wants to sit and watch a movie while its hot out.
I visit the market area often with friends and family on the weekends, I mean lets face it there isn’t a whole lot to do in Atlantic Station unless your going to eat and buy something at Old Navy. But when the market area is set-up, I can walk around and find interesting things to look at and speak with some of the most interesting people and my friends and I can look around and just enjoy our day. We often make an afternoon about.
When the market isn’t set up,, we’re in,, we’re out. I can go to a mall anytime. Its not like Lenox or anyone else.
I’ve been to the movies there (twice: Shopaholic and GREASE) and enjoy the fact that its not overly crowded and now that the weather is getting cooler, it will be more pleasant, and my girlfriends and I look for interesting jewlery and things in the market place,,they have some of the “coolest artist”. and NO ONE in Atlanta does this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE MARKET!!!!
So FINALLY,, A.S. has two gold stars.. One for the market and one for the movie series… I can’t wait for Audrey Hepburn…
I hope they don’t mess it up. PS: Jamie,, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog.
We will be moving on, but really, a few thousand people had a swell time, and the nature of a blog means info gets posted as it’s available, even if it’s staggered. Onward to new things on Monday!
Jamie, I’m Hope’s Dad and believe me, I enjoyed watching my Daughter
as much as she did watching the Beatles. That is one date I’ll always cherish, as she said that was 44 years ago but she’s still my baby.
Thanks for printing her comment of that wonderful evening.
Bill Pritchard
There was nothing “dumb” about this. The proceeds benefited an excellent cause – camp for children with disabilities. Read about the cause here and educate yourself: http://www.camptwinlakes.org/
99X and Door44 did a great job organizing the event! We had a great time and i know i will be looking for this event same time next year! Thanks to all those involved. PS: inflatable water slides rock!
On Wednesday night, make sure you check out the “Max the Hero” cartoon, which was produced & directed by Mike Salva; written & performed by Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson. (You might know them from Rifftrax or Mystery Science Theater 3000.)
[...] This Michael Jackson-themed community walk will benefit community arts center WonderRoot. (Yep, I wrote about them earlier this week.) Come dressed in your best Michael gear, even if it’s just a lone white [...]
My first guess was CD’s making up a fish, and thus probably at the GA Aquarium. But since I work there, and don’t recall ever having seen it, I’m thinking those guys who said CNC’s new facility might be on to something.
Isn’t the fish at the Fish Market made of copper? These are obviously CDs … possibly covering a wall in a music venue? The Tabernacle or Variety Playhouse??
[...] Night at the Museum event, 1-9 p.m., Barrow County Museum, Winder. FREE. Movies: “WALL-E” shows for Movies & The Market, 8:45 p.m. Atlantic Station’s Central Park, Atlanta. [...]
Hey Jeff! You might’ve missed it, but the Red Bull soapbox races is listed under Saturday’s items to do.
Meanwhile, ChippersLoveChild, I didn’t mention Motley Crue because I had a feeling that their fans are the passionate variety that know about it well before I’m going to tell them.
Good news, Wes! You can search the AccessAtlanta.com calendar only for music events, or you can check out our Atlanta Music Scene blog. It has a list of live music picks: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/
[...] of creative guesses on this week’s Access Point, but just a few of you knew it was a fish in the watershed exhibit at the Chattahoochee Nature [...]
I thought the place was insured. I guess the investigators found something a little fishy and then suddenly Wilmont was all “OMG lol donations pls”. I heard Tim Bryant on the radio specifically say that the building was insured and when investigators were done it would be fully restored. Oh it was under-insured you say?A major historical landmark and it was “under-insured”? You’re joking right? All this “invest in Athens history because it feels good k” feels like a bunch of smoke & mirrors.
@truth: Bands usually had to pay a high price if they were unknown and wanted to play the Theater. If anything there will be just as much if not MORE music now that it’s gone.
What about Marshall Tucker Band tonight at Mable House Barnes ampitheater (sp)? Rain is diminishing, not super hot out…great night for great southern rock and roll.
Thanks for the suggestion, ATLGirl! Not everything gets on this list — we’ve got the calendar that lists everything, and I only have so much time to trim it down — but readers (and me!) always appreciate an endorsement from someone in the community.
I’ve got no specific information on that; race organizers say they’re following Piedmont Park rules, and weapons are on their list of items not to bring. That seems to be the typical list of banned items for events there.
We did a walking audio tour of this exhibit as a podcast back when it was at the Civic Center. Cheryl Muré, the director of education then (and I think now), was very gracious with her time. It sounds like a lot of the interactive stuff is new.
Name says it all, weapons, beer, never go good together. And before you go off spouting I am some left wing liberal gun hating nut..
I am a NRA member, have a conceal carry permit, and own more than a few myself.
I didn’t see the first one, but I’ve been trolling the AJC archive for a comparison. They say the Aquarium exhibition has 40 objects that have never appeared before. I also read a few stories out of the Civic Center exhibition that clearly aren’t in this one. So there we go!
OMG! This is about good clean or fairly clean fun and the first thing out of somebody’s mouth is some gun gripe. Ridiculous! Please stay out of my neighborhood and spend your day defending your second amendment right at home! Geez. Get a friggin grip people!
“Why would need weapons for this?” You may not be a liberal gun hating nut but you don’t read very well. Alcohol is on the no-no list. GA does not issue a conceal carry permit. Not carrying means staying out of trouble to you???
Crazy!!
Yes you can carry at a public gathering, store, just about anywhere now. But if you are asked not to bring one you cant. That is part of the law now alos, If you are are asked to take to our vehicel and you refuse you get a new pair of shiny braclets.
Before this conversation gets too crazy, just a reminder: please be respectful and keep the conversation moving forward. I hope we all have a wonderful, safe time!
Thanks Red Bull for bringing good times and fun to Atlanta. It was awesome to see so many folks gathering on the street to have a good time. Blocking off Tenth Street should happen again soon for
a nice block party with dancing and some good cooking.
“Block party.” Not sure how traffic feels about it, but it sounds like a great idea, Chris. The neighbors seemed to be good sports about a soapbox strip in front of their houses. Maybe it’ll happen!
Fun! Thanks for sharing, Nancy! What was it like? (Was there cake? Yes, I totally have a cake hangup.) Meanwhile, here’s an interview with Alton Brown from my colleague Rodney’s Radio-TV Talk blog: http://bit.ly/RQhtv
how did team clermont do? so tired of trying to save the pandas – they have a nice home in china… we need to save the clermont lounge! h8 foreclosures/mortgages/the concept of money.
Conventions book fun places. International draws do not roll up the sidewalks at 3AM. Without more night life, Atlanta is as exciting a draw as Dallas, or St Louis or Topeka. Everything was fine with the 4AM closing, until a few bad apples spoiled it, compounded by the fumbled attempted monopoly of night life that was created with the disaster known as Underground.
Midtown is the PERFECT place, IF an entertainment district is firmly established in the commercial area. Residents: You should be remained that YOU are the intruders into the commercial zone. If you want peace and quiet move to the suburbs, where the zoning forbids night clubs. Do not move next to the airport, and expect everyone to keep YOUR interpretation of ‘peace and quiet’. That complaining residents live in a box with 1000 other people suggests you don’t REALLY care about ‘noise’.
DISCLOSURE: I reside within the SPI-16 commercial zone, 150 feet from an all-night “club”, on one of the busiest streets in Midtown Atlanta, and have just learned to DEAL with the noise.
I don’t criticize grammar in comments, but I think a journalist is fair game — it is hay bales, not BAILS. How’d that get past the writer AND the editor???
Seriously…the bloggers don’t have editors. Everything you’re seeing here has generally passed through my eyes only, and we’re all human. After many hours in the hot sun, everybody makes mistakes! However, it’s corrected now! Thanks!
I lived across from the last vision. I’m ok with clubs. I used to live on Crescent with all the clubs. The difference between the clubs on Crescent (with the exception being Opera as they had a shooting there) and Vision is the shootings that happened associated with vision patrons- and the boom boom cars oh and the public urination, trash, screeching harpies hanging out in the parking lot after the club closed. I can see the clubs close down on Crescent from my balcony. They close down clubs clear out and people go home. With Vision the clubs closed down people went and lolly gagged in the parking lot and turned on their bass – then they cruised around the block a few times to impress the “ladies” with said bass.
Midtown is not the place for this club as they’ve already shown they cannot control their patrons. Put this club in Underground where it belongs. Maybe a 4 million dollar club would entice people to actually go to Underground.
Rick Day, wouldn’t full disclosure be you telling everyone that you ***OPERATE*** a Midtown club (activity center, goth bar, alternative liftstyle venue or whatever you want to call it)? Your views can hardly be consider objective since you chose to open a business in the area in question.
The clubs were here before the yuppies moved “intown.” I would much rather go back to the days of Backstreet and Kaya than have most of these new residents of Atlanta here.
If they didn’t like the nightclubs, they shouldn’t have moved into the neighborhoods with nightclubs. It’s just another form of gentrification.
Long before any of the guys who want to operate this megaclub were born, Peachtree Street had horse stables. Horses are frightened by loud music. If someone wants to bring back horse stables to Peachtree, can they demand all the clubs shutdown because stables were there first? Vision closed and went away and condos moved in. Now they want to move back in and dictate the character of the neighborhood.
Most cities put megaclubs like these in light industrial areas so they don’t bother anyone. Cities evolve over time. Only boring old people whose best days have passed them by pull out the “it was so much more fun when I was younger” card. Backstreet is gone. Kaya is gone. Vision is gone. If they want to reopen, there area hundreds of places they can do so where they won’t bother anyone. You’ll get use to the new locations… or perhaps not since they’ll now be populated with young whipper snappers who are flexible enough to adjust when things change rather than insist everything remain just like it use to be.
Do note that no one is opposing smaller bars and lounges. The opposition is to the hyped up megaclubs that pull in people from all over the metro who don’t want to have their own neighborhoods treated this way. If the Gidewon brothers just must have a location in Midtown, they need to make it appropriately scaled to the area. Mixed residential and commercial is not the place for huge megaclubs. Industrial areas and abandoned shopping centers in strictly commercial areas are.
How classy can this joint be if the clientele will have to be frisked at the doorway for weapons? I’m sure NeNe and her gal pals from the real housewives of the ATL will feel right at home here.
A “high end destination” is only as high-end as its patrons, and a drunk is a drunk. And none of them care about marble counters.
Am I the only one here who remembers the Buckhead bar scene of 10 years ago when residents could not even leave their houses because of the traffic and the noise? A murder every Sunday morning at 2am? Why won’t this happen again in Midtown?
I was in Midtown long before Velvet, Cotton, Vision, the clubs on Crescent, or the yuppies. Trust me – the yuppies are far better. The only people in Midtown that this is good for are the Gidewons and landlord John Dewberry. Take the party, noise, traffic, beatings and shootings somewhere else … please.
Neighborhoods evolve. Midtown has evolved from a party-filled, somewhat gritty area into a higher end, classier area. The entertainment needs to transition with the neighborhood, not the other way around. We’re the ones paying the bills. And don’t come back with the sales tax revenue. Property tax from high density residential blows that number away.
Leigh had it right. We’re not objecting to clubs that cater to patrons that do their thing and leave. Vision’s history has shown us who they’re targeting– people who leave the club, thump-thump their music, urinate in the street, and cruise around. Seriously– if you paid an enormous amount of money for a house, would you want that in your front yard?
Jamie — thanks for being cool about it, and correcting the error! I’m surprised the on-line content of the AJC doesn’t go through an editor. Is that for the whole site, or just the blogs?
As a resident living on Peachtree, I’m in favor of a nightclub(s) in Midtown. Just NOT on Peachtree and NOT by this owner. First, the SPI Club capacity is 1300+. There are only 250 designated parking spots. There will be hundreds of cars simply seeking a place to park. Local residential parking will certainly effected. Second, SPI Club will hire 10 off duty police officers. Only 2 of them will keep traffic on Peachtree moving in front of the club. Imagine if 2 officers tried to move traffic on Peachtree in Buckhead at midnight a few years ago. Thirdly, SPI Club has no clear plan to clean up garbage in the area. Just a few years ago when Vision was running, the NPU-E made frequent requests to Vision to address all of the signage and fliers in area generated by the club. These and many other requests by the NPU-E were simply ignored.
I don’t think that anyone is naive to think that Gidewon won’t get his liquor license. He spent $4M to build out a nightclub without any community input (nor some building permits) before he even received a liquor license. His own website shows pictures of him and his family with Mayor Franklin and Kasim Reed. Clearly he’s not dumb enough to build $4M club and just hoping to get a liquor license. This is the only time to have him agree to some simple neighborhood standards before he resumes his history of ignoring the NPU and the midtown residents.
Find out more and why the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance and hundreds of other residents are concerned…
Atlanta NEEDS this club . . . more than ever. People (read: conventions and those who plan them) go to cities where there is actually something to do . . . something unique . . . Atlanta once had this distinction with 24 hours clubs (something any city of 5 million people should have — this is not supposed to be Mayberry folks). I have friends from Alabama who used to come to Atlanta for a long weekend of entertainment in the South’s capital city who do not come here anymore because we roll up the sidewalks at 2 am. This is an economic decision. Fewer visitors means fewer hotel rooms, less taxes (gasoline, room, liquor); less business for taxi drivers, etc. It should not take a genius to figure out that more entertainment options means more revenue — for EVERYONE! I have lived in Atlanta for over 35 years and I have never seen the nightlife at such a low ebb.
In addition to conventioneers, there are singles; people who work as bartenders, waitresses, who need a place to go after work hours. WE have a young professional workforce that needs social outlets in the central city. People move into the city for the nightlife . . . not for the peace and quiet . . . for that, you can move to the mountains, or perhaps Dacula. Atlanta needs unique entertainment options. Right now, we really have none. For those who do not want to see these type clubs on Peachtree, move back to the suburbs, please. A city is defined by it’s nightlife. When you drive into Atlanta from Alabama on I-20 from Birmingham, for example, and see those bright lights of Atlanta skyscrapers it suggests a “happening place” and literally brings you to life with expectations. . . as it is now, you arrive and realize you are actually in Mayberry — everything is closed. This is not as it should be.
Perspective: I am a retired, professional, 62 year old white male.
Don’t get mad. You made that choice to live in a major city. So you have to deal with the noise, the crowd, sometimes the crimes of an urban city. Name one major city that does not have those issues. I’m not saying it’s OKAY. `Name one city that doesn’t have clubs or theaters on it’s main thoroughfare or in the heart of the city.
What the “City” of Atlanta doesn’t need are more hulking condo or condo/hotel buildings. Aren’t there enough shadows looming over the streets during the day? To answer the question(s) at hand however, it seems to me there are enough clubs within the perimeter. And besides, why spend money on capital improvements on a building if you don’t own the building anyway?
Well, well, well. Thanks to “Pepper” and the snide remark about NeNe (of RHOA), it appears we have our very first color comment of the evening. Now I could say, “why does Midtown need another club that would be a happy hangout spot for the likes of Paris, Britney, or Lindsay,” but why should I?
So if I understand the arguments for the club correctly, Atlanta needs this club because (1) economic growth comes from drunk people who stay out until 4 am and not people who sleep at night and go to work in the morning, (2) people from Alabama will drive to Atlanta attracted by the bright lights and be disappointed with the clubs we have now, and (3) an area dominated by homes and high rise office buildings such as Midtown Atlanta is not a live-work area but an all-night drunken party destination. Now I understand.
Seriously… It’s a mix. The blogging and breaking news teams were created to get good information posted online as quickly as possible. That means that writers take on more responsibility for getting it right the first time, but problems inevitably slip through. Thankfully, it’s also pretty simple to update info and to correct errors and typos. If it’s a particularly complicated or tense issue, we’ll toss the post or news burst to an editor, just to be safe. (Stories by the beat writers and Sunday staff are usually created with a print-first, online-second philosophy, and those usually go through an editor or two. Not as many as we once had, but it’s something.) Thank you for understanding! I do the best I can, but it can be a lot. I guess the system works: my last AJC blog was lucky to get three posts a week. I’m doing that in a day now. Even now, my fingers are feeling a bit like jelly.
Dang folks – nobody thinks that there shouldn’t be mega-party, mega-clubs in Atlanta. 12th and Peachtree is just not the appropriate location. The serious taxpayers – homeowners, and small and large businesses have a huge investment in the quality of life in the neighborhood. Most of the patrons of this club (and the owners) won’t give a s**t about Midtown or the people that live and work there. There are a hundred other appropriate locations for this club.
Hi Ka Pow mom! Sorry, no live Webcast, but the winners and the drawings that got their cars started are posted online: http://www.redbullsoapboxusa.com
If this were another gay bar opening in Midtown there would be nothing said. Midtown residents know that gay bars don’t draw people who want to shoot each other, nor do gay bars attract people who want to hang out in parking lots and blast ghetto boom boxes and circle the block wanting to be seen trying to impress others with loud, loud, loud music rattling windows. Gays aren’t people who drive cars that have music arriving two blocks ahead of the car. Gay bars are welcome in Midtown, but hetro bars that attract certain elements are not. It’s just that simple. People, it’s not about how you look. It’s about how you behave. Peace!
[...] Mccartney Piedmont Park What to know before you go: Red Bull Soapbox RaceThe Red Bull Soapbox Race will take over Piedmont Park on Saturday, and organizers are expecting a [...]
[...] to do in Atlanta before the game- from AJC What to know before you go: Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Inside Access __________________ "I don’t like Mondays"- Brenda Ann [...]
The moral of this story is You can’t please everybody. The Gidewons have owned the most popular club in Atlanta in Midtown before and people have complained, the Gidewons will AGAIN own the most popular club in Atlanta, and people will continue to complain. Meanwhile the people who welcomes the new establishment will enjoy it to the fullest so the other people who are unhapppy about it will just have to find a way to deal with the issues as they unfold. Bottom line, end of story. Congrats in advance to the brothers for yet another success, and thanks for all that you do in the community. I’m looking forward to the new venue
This is why Atlanta is the best city in the world. I’m going to the 790 the zone Football party on Thursday, Braves game on Friday, Tech game and then Alabama game on Saturday, race on Sunday, then recover on the holiday Monday. I love it.
Will there be a lot of obnoxious, inarticulate, chest-thumping, ill-mannered THUGZ downtown for the game and festivities on Saturday as is usually the case with Falcons games?
I do not want this club to be opened in this location. I live on Peachtree in South Buckhead and do not want the cruisers from the burbs (b/c that’s usually who it is) driving up and down Peachtree in the middle of the night with their music blaring (don’t even get me started on the stupid motorcycles with no mufflers!). WE are paying the taxes to live there and deserve to be able to sleep at night.
Build your club…but build it some where else! We don’t want you in our neighborhood! Kevin was RIGHT ON!
Jimh: Did you see the list of weekend events? There’s soooo much going on. http://bit.ly/1b3ZHk
Thinking About Going: This blog isn’t a place for bullying, wild generalizations or snide commentary in the form of a question. If you go, I hope you have fun, but please don’t ruin the fun on this blog.
[...] Books: AJC Decatur Book Festival gathers authors, readers, musicians and others together for a family-friendly weekend of literature loving through Sept. 4-6, downtown Decatur. Know Before You Go info. [...]
[...] Sports: Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game between Alabama and Virginia Tech, 8 p.m., Georgia Dome, Atlanta. “What to know before you go” event info. [...]
1) What does it matter what other cities have and do? Atlanta needs to do what is best for Atlanta and it’s citizens. Do you think those cities became what they are because they followed the same pattern?
2) For all those people who say “don’t move to midtown if you don’t want the noise” or “the clubs where there first”, forget that not all the people living in midtown or the condos that have gone up are as old as they are. I’m sure the residents who spent hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to move into midtown did so during the time when Vision or any other “mega-club” was not in business. As far as they are concerned, the noise, litter, and traffic were not what they paid for nor was it a foreseeable problem on such a scale. I, for one, moved into a condo within the last year a block far where SPI will be located and had no idea such a club was in the works. I moved there expecting the the loud sirens, occasional car honking, and human banter walking down the sidewalk. I expected noise… to a degree. I am not willing to give up the atmosphere I have paid for, learned to appreciate, and expect just because people who don’t pay the same taxes I do and who don’t appreciate the city I live in because they came from the ‘burbs want to come into my city to live a night of lower standards then they would expect in their own neighborhoods.
3) I agree that Atlanta needs a little more nightlife. As a “yuppie” as y’all so fondly refer to us as, I want to be able to go out and have fun with my friends. I just don’t want my “neighbor” to be the one throwing the party every weekend and most week nights. There are much better locations for this club. Why not DOWNTOWN? Nobody from out of town talks about visiting “Midtown Atlanta” anyways.
4) I also think this nightclub would be okay if the patrons actually kept to their standards that they want out of a club. A club cannot be high-end or “grown and sexy” unless the people going inside or waiting in line are. The club must also be concerned if they find a need to have metal-detectors at the doors. Unfortunatly that’s only good for inside the club. What about the people that get turned away? As previously stated, there will be 2 cops to help with traffic outside of the club. Well that’s only going to help the 250 people who are lucky enough to get a parking spot in the club’s lot. What about the guaranteed to be needed overflow lots? After looking over the materials presented to Midtown Neighbors’ Association Board of Directors, I noticed that there are people to help with the overflow street lot planned but no one is set up to help with the overflow parking deck. Not to mention, who is actually going to pay to park in that deck when there are free spots lining Piedmont and Juniper. I am very concerned by this fact and the fact that my window looks out at that overflow deck. Who is even going to be responsible for all those people going back to their cars?
5) I understand you can’t please everyone. Sadly it sounds as if the Gidewons have only worried about pleasing themselves. Maybe if they had been a bit more considerate of their neighbors their first go around, people would be more considerate of their efforts now.
[...] Buck and I — “Westy” has other duties this weekend — will be doing the show live from Centenniel Olympic Park. In case you haven’t heard, there will be quite a few things going on there Saturday. ESPN’s College Game Day will be there and 680 The Fan, along with Bud Light, Q100, Rock100.5, 99X and Jezebel magazine, is sponsoring the “Bud Light Downtown Touchdown Free Concert” featuring Collective Soul at 3 p.m. The AJC’s Jamie Gumbrecht runs down the lineup of events going on Saturday HERE. [...]
[...] Labor Day Weekend! So much to do and such little time to do it!! Oh yea…. it is the Labor Day weekend and Atlanta is packed with events all around. Here is a quick run down of a few items thanks to the Jamie G. with the AJC. [...]
Shatner is going to be at this years Dragon-Con, it should be great. This event brings a lot of money into the city and I have never heard of any violence or anything bad happening. And…it’s a great place for all your old math and chess club buddies from high school to get together again! Seriously, it’s very cool to go to. Check it out.
I was journalism staff, Science Olympiad, colorguard, French Club, drama… This will be my first time dropping in on DragonCon, but I believe these are my people, Maleman and Tony. (By the way, I think Rodney Ho is covering the Shatner-Nimoy event on the Radio-TV Talk blog!)
[...] Museum of Natural History. This fiberglass cast gets dragged out for all kinds of events, like the “Night at the Museum” sleepover last month, but it’s been around the museum longer than most of its [...]
Naive questions about DragonCon (and I couldn’t figure this out from their site). Can you just walk up & buy tickets for the day? Is it sold out? Where is the main venue (they list 4 hotels but I’m not sure where registration takes place). Any basic information appreciated!
I’ll be publishing a “What to know before you go” guide for DragonCon late tonight or early tomorrow, but I’m missing some of the details, too, like which door, exactly, gets you to the one-day passes. My understanding is that you should look for the reeeeealllly long line.
thank you Jamie! very helpful. I just walked over there & one thing i discovered is that you buy the single day tickets at the Sheraton (that’s a change for this year) and that a one-day pass costs $50 or you can buy a 2-day pass for $50 (yeah, I know…LOL….but Friday was the only cheaper day….so Sat & Sun together cost $50….one idea they gave me is to buy the sat/sun package on Friday afternooon….)
[...] busy weekend. Programs will be canceled, or they will move. Downtown will be busy, too, with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and all the free, public cookoffs and concerts surrounding it, a Georgia Tech football game and [...]
It’s only because it’s Labor Day Weekend Duluth, GA. I don’t particularly care for DragonCon, but great for others. Hubby and I are season ticket holders for GT, so that’s where will be.
GT will put the smackdown on Jacksonville St. Saturday 1pm @ The Historic Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Alabama will beat Va Tech Saturday night 8pm @ Georgia Dome.
If you don’t go out, you can sit at your homes and watch some other football games, like Oklahoma State beating UGA @ 4pm LOL
Also, to everyone, especially all the Virgo’s, there’s a Virgo Day party at the Lucky Lounge off of Peachtree and 12th St. from 3pm – 8pm. FREE FOOD!!!!
Y’all pray for Joe Cox now he’s got likely the H1N1 and may not be able to travel to Stillwater for the Okie St game…trouble brewing for the Dawgs tomorrow…
Experience jazz and blues like never before through a dazzling new film! “Sita Sings the Blues” is a spunky animated retelling of the ancient Hindu epic the Ramayana. Told from the virtuous Sita’s point of view, the film features the vocals of jazz legend Annette Hanshaw, whose plaintive lyrics and sensual, bluesy voice perfectly capture Sita’s steadfast devotion to her husband Rama. This gorgeously animated film is now available to rent or own on DVD through Netflix and Amazon
Ellie: good news! Nobody will be paying you to attend, so you don’t have to go. You also didn’t have to leave such a disrespectful comment on my blog. Dragon*Con isn’t for everybody, but why reach out with so much vitriol? I hope you have a lovely weekend of fun ahead, but in the future, please respect other reader while they have fun, too.
[...] I doubt print-on-demand will solve all of journalism’s troubles, nor do I think every open-information agenda is evil. Evans began more than one sentence with “Young people today…” which always makes me a little nervous about where the conversation is going. Optimism is still priceless. I could listen to that man talk all weekend. Alas, Evans has already left Atlanta, but there are still days of programming left at the book festival. Here’s info about what to know before you go. [...]
Liked the parade. Missed seeing Buffy & Angel or Mr. Spock. Too many of a couple things. such as limney Snickets and League of extraordinary gentlemen.
[...] BEST PLACE TO WATCH WITHOUT A BADGE? DRAGON*CON PARADE You can go hang out in the Peachtree Center foodcourt and have a grand time, but better yet, head downtown around 10 a.m. Saturday morning — that’s when the annual Dragon*Con Parade gets started. It will go from Woodruff Park at Auburn Avenue, head north along Peachtree Street to the Hyatt, then down Baker Street to the Marriott. It’s not a long parade, but it does involve thousands of people in costume. Watch out for street closings in the area around that time. UPDATE 9/5: Here are AccessAtlanta.com photos from the parade, shot by a photographer and some by me! [...]
[...] Popular Culture: Dragon*Con, a multi-media convention for science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art music and film opens and continues Sept. 4-7, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta and Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. Know before you go info. [...]
sorry folks – I have been here 27 years and it is booorrriiiing. Seriously, when have the arts, theatre, museum (s) and overall cultural things to do (besides clogging) been either supported or reinvented?? In fact, anything that smacks of culture is usually the first to go., – you know it’s liberal communism/socialism stuff tha does not belong in the precious christian south. If this sound angry it is because I am. How much shopping and playing tennis/golf can one do?? Education and culture make a city and all the emphasis that is put on sports has still not made one great team here yet. I know I will get hell for this but really., -think about what has made Chicago and San Fran, Boston and NYC great cities?? Not picnics or parades. We need to really support the arts.
I am a newby. Didn’t know this was happening this weekend. I like to people watch, but need something else besides big costumes. Staying at the Marriot Marquis. Any “pride” stuff going on? Im thinking it will hard to distinguish between queens and idk…some dragon con characters.Help.
You are clearly misguided. What no Sorority party this weekend? Is a fun SAFE event in Atlanta where people enjoy a hobby. Sure beats the 3 drunken fraternity boys pounding bud lights a cussing up a storm in the bathroom yesterday. Clearly nobody asked for you to go, and nor your opinion. Go back to Alpharetta where your belong!
Other wise Dragon Con was GREAT yesterday. The hotel staff was great. About the only play I feel safe with my 11 year old and 15 year old to wonder around with out parents.
Correction — “palm tree” not pantry!
I enjoyed Sir Harold Evans’ keynote address on “The Vital Future of the Printed Word” Friday evening. I understood Sir Harold Evans’ quote in relation to hurricane season to be “Why not just get a wind machine and a PALM TREE in the back?” Having survived hurricane Andrew and witnessed many TV hurricane reports, I don’t remember that any of them featured a PANTRY blowing in the wind behind the reporter!
I am an original member of DAGR from 1987 when Dragon*Con was just getting started, and I live in Alpharetta. Ellie probably has close friends that are affiliated with Dragon*Con. They ditch her to go to the convention, and she doesn’t even know it. They are weirded out by the fact that she doesn’t read, but they are too nice to say anything that might hurt her feelings. A lot of the Stargate celebrities were there this weekend, and everyone looked like they had a great time. There were a lot of families there as well. It is amazing how much time and effort people put into their costumes. It really makes it an amazing experience.
It’s funny but that family (the Gidewons) should be sent packing. They jumped out onto the scene out of nowhere. I wonder where they got all the money to start these clubs. These clubs are more than likely a front for someone’s drug money. People need to investigate that family. Something doesn’t seem right I bet there’s a BIGGER STORY waiting to be uncovered.
Hey folks, just a reminder: please stay on the topic of whether neighborhoods and nightclubs can coexist. Informed: please don’t throw anonymous accusations around in the comments.
Lame. Any attempts to do a large group Thriller dance, in order to be cool, must be done OUTDOORS in a PUBLIC PLACE where random onlookers may stumble upon it and be stunned. Hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT, and besides, no way will this attempt come anywhere near the over 12,000 who danced in Revolution Square in Mexico City on Michael Jackson’s August 29, 2009.
These people look more like they are into dressing up like ghouls than they are into dance, flash mobbing, or MJ. No precise movements. Sad.
Talk about missibg the point. It would probably be a waste of tme to point out the irony of using the terms lame or sad while trashing the earnest efforts of a large group of people bringing allthis together on short notice. And yes it is safe to say that a convention of 30,000+ people coming together to celebrate pop culture where many dress up in costumes, would indicate that they are into dressing up like ghouls.
The 12,000 in Mexico City did not count. They didn’t complete the dance, so it’s not going into the book. This dance was from start to finish, 4:49. And it doesn’t matter whether or not we had the most over all. We had more people in costume doing the dance than anyone who’s ever tried.
ps: there were 17 M.J.s in the crowd. THE M.J. that will be starring in the version sent to Guinness was up on stage with a group who knew it well.
How about you stop nay-saying and try to find 907 people to do it with you in some random open place. Don’t forget to invite Guinness to the party, I’ll applaud you if you get it done.
In a response to Ginny’s comment, I must say that as far as I understand it, the number of people is only a fraction of the equation of getting into the world records. Proper procedure must be followed and paperwork must be filed in order for the record to be awarded.
One more thing. As a Dragon*Con attendee, I can say that the costumes were encouraged to be worn during the dance, because that’s showing the spirit of Dragon*Con as well as having fun in the process. So to say those things about them only shows your ignorance. Please, don’t make fun of that which you don’t understand.
Also, best of luck to the people who were in the record attempt! I’m rooting for ya!
Ok, good for them for doing it, but I still say outdoors in public places, where randomness, such as spectators, rain or police are possible, is superior.
To be fair..I agree with Ginny and I was there. But the Atlanta PD probably wouldn’t allow us to block off all of downtown Atlanta..But had we gone outside. We’d have had 2500+ dancing. So we went with what was allowed. You should also know some folks had 2 hours of training others only 30 minutes. Still, we look better than the William and Mary bunch by a mile.
Ginny…I would like to see you find a suitable large outdoor spot in downtown Atlanta that EVERYONE involved could easily get to that wouldn’t get the entire thing shut down by police or fire marshals. Speaking as one of the many who stayed in extremely cramped, hot corridors in the hotel in question for over 2 hours to learn the darned dance, I will not lie and say that I don’t take great offense to your rather petty comments. We didn’t have a huge breadth of options on where and made do with what we could rather nicely I thought.
The record we went for is the most number of people doing the dance in ONE place. Which is for the ENTIRE LENGTH of the song from the album (5min58secs). Not the radio version, and not the video version either. the paper work is being taking care of and months of preparation went into this.
One more thing, if I’m going for a world record, I don’t want cops or spectators coming up on it, getting in the way and messing it up either. Oh, wait a min, I am one of the people in that video and I can tell you it was a load of fun and one of the highlights of Dragon*Con.
All I have to say is kudos to those who honored MJ and tried to break the record. I had friends in the dance and I think that anyone who bashes the attempt is the one who is lame. If I could have stayed for the entire Con I would have been right in the middle of it. GOOD JOB DRAGON CON DANCERS.
For those of you wanting to belittle the huge effort it took at DragonCon to break this record, shame on you. There were those of us that did indeed practice for months in advance. I have to give a nod to those who were not that good, since most of those people signed up for this attempt watching us practice right before the event. This was not thrown together at the last minute, and hotel ballrooms do most certainly count. If you think you can do better, check out the Thrill the World website. I believe they are looking for participants for a new record attempt in October.
Oh God, but I must admit, you’re soooo right about the whole ballroom nonsense. We should have been outside. Most definitely. “Hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT.” You know what? You’re so right. I do recall reading the Guinness guidelines and it must have just slipped my mind. Allow me to go get those and double check. Huh, you’re right. It says here right on page six:
“Rule IV: No dancing indoors. You look dumb. It should be outside, because dancing outside is far superior and wiser….Especially if you are competing for this dance world record in the southern states, specifically Georgia over Labor Day Weekend. If you do not follow this, your record attempt, regardless of how many people you have and how expert your dancing may be, hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT.”
Damnit. I really dropped the ball on this one. You’re absolutely right. I hate that I forgot that Guinness rule. Looks like all of that charity fundraising and having fun one afternoon was in vain. Which….is just quite a shame, considering that I spoke with Atlanta Police Department in June at length about doing it in the streets.
Oh, and, since we’re debating it: We’re so “sad” because we failed to have “precise movements” – but not only that, our attempt “DOES NOT COUNT” (I can’t forget the caps. Has to be in caps.) because we were indoors? And we didn’t have 12,000 people? Gosh. Because, by looking at Mexico, we really did fail. They were so sharp and so crisp. I mean, if I could sway about and clap for a little bit and be as PERFECT and sharp and precise as they are, then this would have been a much better video for you to watch while you sat at your computer picking your nose, realizing to yourself that you just wished you could leave you parent’s basement just long enough to be silly with your friends (assuming you have some) while raising money for charity.
Not to be cliche, but I feel as if I must say to you, Ginny, that your argument is… highly illogical.
Thanks for playing and have a wonderful, wonderful day. =D
Until you’ve poured your heart into something, with so many other people doing the same, I highly doubt you’ll be able to truly read the previous post. This event is something that all 900+ involved will take with them for the rest of their lives, and never forget. Of course it wasn’t perfect, or in the perfect venue, or at optimum efficiency. But that’s the glory of being human. We aim high, hit lower than we thought we would, and love it all the same. Even now I’m hesitant to post that last sentence, with the feeling that to me, this event couldn’t have gone any better.
Thanks to the one who dreamed, the few who planned, and all who got involved.
I think we were courageous, not lame. You have to be really comfortable with yourself to dress in costume in front of thousands of people and dance a dance you stink at(me anyway as I can’t dance at all). It was something unique and fun to be involved in. I’m proud of all the DRAGON CON DANCERS. We rock! As for the naysayers, go back to your own limited world. I’m sure you are well known there.
I started planning this back in May. I know more about getting into the Guinness record book than I should, and although the trendy “flash” dancing can be fun, this had to be controlled for our log book.
When you’ve spent four months organizing an event like this via the internet and phone calls, get over 900 people to learn a 6 minute dance, spend almost four hours of precious DragonCon time listening to me and my fellow organizers, directors from D*C, and our wonderful volunteer captains yell out dance steps and rules, dance in costume (did you see our Alien who came from England to attend the con and dance?), spend hours doing paperwork, blow out your knee/ankle/other body parts running between the Hyatt and Sheraton, and missing the whole con to make history, you get back with me, Ginny, and let me know how lame it is.
I spent over $1,000 to go to this con, which I LOVE, and gladly didn’t do much else except gather people, paperwork, and dancers. I missed every panel, Terry Gilliam, shopping, hanging with my friends, costuming…every wonderful nerdy, geeky thing that is DragonCon to bring this lame bit of history to a community I love and did so gladly because WE MADE HISTORY!
I think Ginny sounds a bit bitter not to be a tweet-head that could have come upon our “little” flash mob. Too bad for her. Those Storm Troopers dancing for 6 minutes in full armor was a SIGHT to behold. We Rock on, Rock on, Rock on, Rock on- not to mention- grab pull in, punch punch punch down!
Ok, I am sorry I dissed you guys. I applaud people doing this. I don’t live in Atlanta but I have been there once, so I am not super familiar with all the outdoor areas. Isn’t that big park that was built during the Olympics still there?
People putting effort into learning this dance and doing it together and having fun and showing spirit and recognizing the talent of Michael Jackson is due respect.
I guess I have just been partial to flash mobs, because of how they cause ripples in the reality of ordinary people.
I take inspiration from the huge outdoor events around the world on August 29, including in front of the Eiffel Tower, near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Trafalgar Square in London, and the ones in Moscow and Mexico City.
You guys did a good job too.
I *am* training for Thrill the World on Oct. 25/24.
P.S. And, according to my preference, I will be Thrilling the World at a large, outdoor, public event. It’s not about spectating for me — it’s about participating.
Cool thriller dance. Was there anyone named Billie Jean doing it? Those that put them down but don’t bother to try it can beat it. http://www.thriller-michael-jackson.com
Good for you, Ginny. Many of us will be a part of Ines’ Thrill the World, too.
I believe, though, you have your language mixed up. Being outside doing a public event is for spectators, whereas what we did was just for participation since we couldn’t have spectators. You want to be watched, but we just wanted to be together in a history-making DragonCon event.
As far as why we had to do it like we did was because of Guinness’ guidelines, and we did not want to lose a record for a technicality. I think if you organize an event with TTW, you’ll see Ines is going to be just as particular. I’m still confused as to why you think it has to be outside, but then I guess you just don’t understand what we had to do for Guinness and almost 1,000 people.
Ginny, there really aren’t any words to say to you that haven’t been said already by Lauren, Kimber and a boat load of other people here. Having been the lead MJ on stage I’ve just got two words.
It’s true — I would say that the besides learning the dance to perfection (to the degree I can) and the fun of doing it together with a mass of others, I am less interested in breaking a record than creating a phenomenon. It’s not so much about *me* being seen than the *event* being witnessed by the world.
Whether Thrill the World makes or breaks a record, I don’t care that much, but the fact that it happens is important to me.
That’s why I love what happened in Mexico City — whether it becomes the record or not.
Also, I posted a comment here at 9:57 p.m. central time which is still “awaiting moderation” possibly because I included some youtube links. I guess you’ll all see it tomorrow. I am done here.
Ginny, you post on this for the past 6.5 hours? That’s lame! So you can realize how lame your life is and act like you are no longer reading this or sit and ponder a response. Either way you look like a fool.
Douchebagette… sounds kinda yummy. Assuming it is wrapped in chocolate and served with some Ice Cold water. Sorry Folks, still trying to re-hydrate from doing 4 hours of dancing!
How about finding some 12 year-olds to learn the barber’s trade? They could partner with, say, the Bronner Brothers Hair Show or a local barber shop (maybe the really old one in the bottom of the Hurt Building).
Or what about offering an Executive MBA Camp for 8 year-olds? I heard law camp at Little Shop of Stories is a lot of fun. Plus, I’m sure there are plenty of well-connected executives (African American or otherwise) who’d open their doors for a lunch with kids eager to learn about business.
Or what about hosting a town hall discussion on health insurance reform? Sure, health insurance isn’t the same as life insurance, but what matters is that they’d be doing something that’s meaningful in the community.
There are plenty of things the Herndon Home could do, but it has to do more than merely tell the story of the Herndons. Powerful and remarkable though Alonzo Herndon’s story may be, it’s gotta compete with dozens of other Atlanta stories. Worse, the home (as its mission is interpreted now) has to compete with everything from the Aquarium to the Falcons to the internet.
The article made it seem like the board members were open to tinkering with a new mission — why not tinker with it a little more to make a direct impact for folks in the neighborhood? My bet is the home rooted within a community has a much better shot at survival than the “house on Diamond Hill.”
I would like to criticize Ginny’s comment for not being in haiku form. When trolling on the internet, haiku poetry is far superior for delivery of your point in cutting and stylish fashion.
That makes just as much sense as complaining that an organized world record attempt was not a random outdoors flash mob instead.
Also, re: Mexico, it looks like that crew had a lot of fun. But it was hardly a flash mob either! Their organizers had been recruiting people on Facebook for weeks, but simply failed to read up on GWR requirements.
I totally applaud Mexico, England, Barcelona, William and Mary, and DragonCon. What all of us did was amazing, and even if Kevin from W&M is the only one to ever hold the record, I wouldn’t trade what we did this weekend for the world. What Ines is plotting for October is amazing, and I hope she gets her record and those of us that live in GA can find a central area and help her out.
You don’t live here so let me tell you how hot it is down here. We were in air conditioning and still sweating. An outdoor event that would embody the spirit of DragonCon, which a bunch of nerd dressing up in costumes, would cause heat stroke.
When I brought this up to D*C, I didn’t want just zombies dancing. I wanted the people that ARE DragonCon: Alien, Stormies, Darth, giant glove, cross-genre Captain Hammer, fairies, and everything else that make my “home” on Labor Day weekend truly Dragoncon.
Since it was a DragonCon event, it had to be on site, which is why we couldn’t go to Centennial. We had the cameras and sound system there at the ballroom so that’s where it happened. It was the first event D*C has ever had like this, so we learn, try new things, and hopefully we’ll do it even better next year.
I’m still thinking the gorilla suit wearing in one room record. We could have a gorilla ball one night, dress up our suits, and have us a party…all while breaking a record.
Lighten up on Ginny. She’s taken a step back to see we did what we did because we had to.
Ginny, just be ready for the ear worm…shuffle, back, hop, hop, forward, turn look, stare, stare, down ha, down ha, down ha…if you’re doing TTW, that is the most blessed and evil ear worm that lasts for days.
Anything and everything about Dragon Con rocks, there is no knocking the CON that’s why its the best party around its all positive and excellent FUN, enough said…..
Hey everybody, I appreciate the enthusiasm you’re bringing this conversation, but let’s keep this respectful and on-topic. This is a place for conversation, not anonymous insults. Thanks!
JTK and Ginny are the last of a dyeing race of lamers and jock rednecks that are completely unaware of the hotties and parties that are Dragoncon. Which is fine, we don’t want you at our party anyways.
Ginny, They are more into dressing like gouls. IT’S DRAGON CON! Not a Michael Jackson festival. Although I do agree it was pretty lame and also should have been done a Woodruff, Piedmont or Centennial Park.
Three of my friends were at DragonCon this weekend, in fact one of them is in the first video at the top of the page dancing (she’s also in one of the pictures). It looks like they had fun, including the giant silver hand… Wish I could have been there. They look pretty coordinated for being a group of 900 and some people, lol.
This past weekend Atlanta hosted College football games, Braves game, and major Nascar race. And let’s not forget the Dracon*Con fair……there’s always something to do in Atlanta area!
Jamie Gumbrecht – your article is trollish. Atlanta makes the top ten and you start by saying, “Apparently we’re not the most fun city in the United States, nor are we among the top five cities. Atlanta isn’t even the best spot in the southeast to have a good time” Silly woman you are!!!
Apparently Forbes forgot about the DUI factor present in any sort of fun in this sheet hole that pretends to be a city. What good are all the bars and nightclubs if you have to teetotal for the drive home? We need to stop treating public transportation as poor-only transportation. Build it everywhere and it increases petty crime nowhere. Even with some potentially added petty crime, wouldn’t it be worth the lives saved from our almost daily traffic fatalities?
The thing is that Atlanta isn’t supposed to be New York or Chicago (and never will be!) That’s why I love Atlanta so much – because it’s NOT either of those places; it’s distinct and different in its own right. If I want to experience what Chicago or New York or Los Angeles is like, I can just go there.
@Ginny
This is at a convention. the only space outside is in the middle of the streets of Atlanta. I mean they could, but I’m sure the police that are already trying to control the mass of 30,000 people between the 4 hotels would stop them promptly.
I’ve lived in Atlanta since 1986. If you are young (and mostly single) and don’t mind driving most places, Atlanta is a blast. Once you get older and develop more mature taste though…there’s just not that much to do.
@JTK Lol, wow, virgins huh? You must not know anything about this little con of ours at all… or what happens at night… Or maybe you’ve heard about the parties and are just sad that we would never let someone like you come close to touching any of us. I mean, you do realize a large percentage of Dragon*Con attendees are really hot women wearing leather or super revealing costumes, right? Oh, I guess not…
@ Pretty much everyone else, you all rule! I was unfortunately too busy as staff to join you all and will forever be jealous! You all rock!
I went downt to Dragon with my son and he is the BIGGEST Star Wars fan I know – he had a BLAST! We took pictures with Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, R2D2, Darth Maul and some more Star Wars characters I cant even name.We cant wait fo next year!!
JohnF – there is plenty to do. Ever been to the High Museum? Fernbank for the movies? Woodruf? Atlanta History Museum? Then there are things like Dave & Busters, Andretti, bowling, movies, parks, nature trails. If you enjoy eating out there are hundreds of restaurants of just about every ethnic food.
Atlanta nightlife is not it used to be before all the muggings and shootings in Buckhead. We used to have one of the most unique nightspots in the country but then people started to move in town in great numbers and didn’t like the traffic and noise. Mayor Franklin changed the 24 hour rule and made everyone else shut down earlier didn’t help either. We are years removed from the clubbing section of Buckhead, yet out of towners always want to go down there.
This is hilarious! Atlanta a fun city? What is fun about it now that the thugs ruined it? Decatur was nice back in the day, that is long gone. Buckhead as we know used to be fun, but they invaded Buckhead, caused crime, and screwed that up. Underground used to be cool but now is a gathering for the thugs. Midtown is OK but can get very dangerous at night. The only thing left for us normal people are The Highlands. I am sure it is only a matter of time before the thugs screw that up as well. They are doing a great job at Tech and GSU!
We rocked
We rocked HARD!
(Some of us old folks hurt body parts)
I was next to Storm (Marvel Comics), 4 bodies to the left of me was Alien rocking the dance floor, Super Mario wasn’t far away, and the Stormtroopers…IN FULL ARMOR…amazing.
Links to Thriller training were available online, but I think most of us took advantage of the 2 training sessions held in hallways & meeting rooms, taught by volunteers (we had MJ himself…if you read this, you were GREAT) who were as excited as we were. Hotel air conditioning systems couldn’t keep up with the thousand of us training, training, training. (”Shoulder-step-shoulder-shoulder”)
stepping on each other
(”walk walk roar-turn roar-turn roar-turn”)
laughing hysterically, sweating and giving it all we had to learn our part and be a part of this attempt.
For the rest of my life I’ll remember the browncoats bustin’ a move, Progressive’s Flo in her white outfit shakin’ it down and Michael Jackson up on stage thrillin’ us all
…and to all the haters, I agree with Patterson…BEAT IT!
I moved here in 1983. Without sounding like a an old geezer, back then Atlanta was THE place to be: young, clean, fresh, and poised for greatness. How many people – residents and visitors alike – think of Atlanta in those terms now?
Debbie,
hun, seriously…have you ever tried a very physical activity…outdoors…literally for hours? It took a solid 2-3 hours of practice/practice/practice…then ANOTHER practice session before the attempt (would have been 2 practices, but we were so psyched after the first we went for it). Also, none of the parks were on *Con grounds.
I think all of us would have preferred more elbow room, but the rules were the rules.
Oh I remember the days, when Buckhead was fun. Backstreet was open, then hurricane Katrina came and sprayed all the trash to Atlanta and hasn’t been the same since. Shhhhh about the V.Higlands, don’t want that to be ruined as well. Oh and Philly is the pits to Philadelphia Phil!!
Atlanta with its big-city anonymity, its gentrification, and huge population base has some serious problems taking root that seem to be about to run away like fertilized kudzu. How many more students need to be robbed at Ga Tech or Ga State? How many innocent people should die from stray bullets? I think for ATL to even be in the midst of the rankings of some of these great cities is skewered.
Steve0 – I try to have an open mind about people and really make an attempt to treat everyone fair and equal, until I read stuff like what you posted. Then I realize what the point in trying so hard. We’ll never change our perception or your view. You take a small portion of blk people and blame it on us all. I see plenty of white crack-heads and meth-heads downtown, but I guess you’re not scared of them, only the black ones? I understand some white people are afraid how “there” country changes and most minorities what the place to continue changing! With that said I can’t wait until 50, 60, 80 years down the line when white people WILL be the monitory, let’s see if you can take it as much as you can give it!
I am 40 and lived most of my life in Atlanta, its a fun town, all the sports, concerts and all. But if you lived most of your life in one place, you get burned out on it. I want the beach I’m burnt if people just moved here, I’m sure they love it, after 40 years it gets old.
I lived in boston i lived in orlando i lived in nc i lived in chattanooga, and miami. Atlanta has gone down hill i am only 30, but too many robbies , and traffic is horrible. There way too many black people and there no diversity at all here. Highlands is ok , it the only safe place, but way too far to drive from john’s creek even when i dont drink anymore it the other people on the road. i am leaving soon prob off to chitown for work. Th job situation here sucks too that big thing women come, and go you can find them in chattanooga, nc anywhere, so that not a big deal. i am from here and atlanta is not great city anmymore.
Mike/Weezie – pretty sure I read a lot of sarcasm dripping throughout Steve0’s comment. I don’t usually give all that much credit to these comments, but I think he’s making fun of those who drive 45 minutes from the suburbs to come to party in the “safe” areas intown and scurry right back out there as soon as possible.
Also, Harold, though I like where you’re going with the public transportation argument, the assumption that transit brings crime is a little off-putting. Do people really take the bus to go break into houses? Or hop on after a little late-night mugging?
Me, I love Atlanta, ride my bike to the bars, see all sorts of options for fun and varied things to do here. Great city. You’ve just gotta remember that the cities OTP are not Atlanta…
Hey folks: this is a blog about fun in Atlanta. We’re not talking about race, and we’re absolutely not tossing around stereotypes of entire groups of people. Stay on topoic, be respectful in the comments or take your hate somewhere else.
Wow…I challenge ALL of you who have said negative things about Atlanta so say 2 positive things about city….if it was THAT bad, then why don’t you leave? It’s people like you that give Atlanta the reputation it has….
For all of you who have something negative to say about Atlanta, I challenge you to come up with 2 positive things to say about the city. Everyone can always complain and blame the other person, but never want to do anything about that problem. if you hate it so much, what’s stopping you from leaving?
I think Atlanta is a a fun city-if you know where to look.
correcting- I’m glad someone got it. Personally, I’m glad that suburban dorks only go to the Highlands. It keeps them away from the cool stuff. I liked it better when they were isolated in Buckhead, but then the Buckhead money used the SCARY SCARY NEGROES to shut down the bars. It’s hilarious that the easily scared and the stupid fell for the ruse.
So the Buckhead club people pushed into Midtown (although Midtown always had a club scene, it used to be more fun), the aging fratboys pushed into the Highlands, and the black people moved to Castleberry Hill. The aging fratboys pushed the Highlands people into L5P, which pushed the L5P hipsters into Cabbagetown and East Atlanta.
And Decatur and Poncey Higlands really hasn’t changed in 10 years, except for the loss of Trackside. It’s the circle of party life.
And what’s with every fratboy wandering into the Clermont and jacking up the price. The cover has been going steadily up for at least 7 years. It used to be free on Friday, damnit!
What happened to “The Midtown Mile” idea – to raise Peachtree Street to world class status like Michigan Avenue in Chicago or Park Avenue in New York?
Does opening Vision Nightclub on Peachtree Street help to raise Peachtree to world class status?
I am from Chicago and Michigan Avenue is the place you go for world class shopping, dining, and lodging… not for nightclubs. You go to Rush Street for that.
Atlanta doesn’t have anything that truly separates itself from other cities. Sure, it has all of the normal big city amentities you would expect, but Atlanta is seriously lacking a unique factor.
The best thing about Atlanta is that you can easily fly to other cities or drive 5 hours to Florida and SC beaches.
Oh look there, somebody through in a race card. Too Many Black People. I’m white and that’s horrible for somebody to say something like that. No diversity here? Go WALK down Buford highway and there will be your diversity. Makes no sense for somebody to say that. In response to the message board. I feel Atlanta is still a fun and great city for visitors as is NY, LA, Miami. I will never ever live in those cities. Too much going on, not good for a family, way to expensive. N.O. is fun as well, but I never live there, they’re still recovering. This is a great list though.
To all who were a part of the Dragon*Con event, y’all looked great! I’m really proud of our little *Con family coming together to have fun and honor the man himself. Anyone who’s never attended something like Dragon*Con really can’t be blammed for how they see us as an outsider. I hope some day those of you who’re putting all of us down, can attend and see the spectical for your selves.
And also speaking as a D*C Security Team member, getting that many people to do ANYTHING in a large group is pretty amazing! We’re all entitled to our opinions, and that’s what makes this a great place to live; Where else can 30,000 people come together to celebrate their “Inner Geek”, honor “The King Of Pop”, AND have others shake their heads in disbelief at us all…and no one be killed or sent to prison over it?
So, speak out if you must and don’t feel ashamed of who you are! I’m proud to say that the lead MJ, aka Patterson, is one of my dearest friends; I’m also thankful that there are people out there who’re confidant enough to point out to us how silly we are…that’s what makes it fun!!
MiamiDolphins2010SBowl!!!, I believe you just want some attention. Go stand in a corner or something. Anyway, I believe Atlanta is a great place and it definately is a fun city. I have been to many cities in the U.S and I personally believe that Atlanta is ranked correctly (# 6). If you cannot find anything to do in this city, then something is wrong with you!
Wow – I am ready to chip in for your ticket out of town.
MiamiDolphins2010SBowl!!!
“There way too many black people and there no diversity at all here.”
Are there too many Asians in San Francisco?
How can you take this list seriously when San Fran made list and Vegas did not. Anyway, Atlanta has pro sports (that are finally improving go Falcons, Hawks are young and good) College sports, great colleges / universities (yes great despite the North East bias in ranking schools) good music / arts scene, nice sky line, good restaurants and friendlier people than any city ahead of Atlanta on the list. I appreciate Atlanta more now that I do not live there anymore. Crime and traffic are problems. Expanded MARTA and tougher / smarter policing and dynamic leadership in the office of the mayor is what is needed.
Truth, this is how they came up with the rankings, “In the story, Forbes said it calculated the rankings using metropolitan statistical areas and stats from AOL City Guides for bars, restaurants, nightclubs, live theater venues, museums and sporting venues, then added in sports teams and previous Best Cities for the Outdoors rankings. These aren’t per capita rankings, so it favors more populous cities, but also points out that, hey: New York is big, there’s a lot going on and you get to pick from all of it, not just your statistical allotment of sports bars and community theaters.”
i missed most of D*C despite having a membership this year due to sitter emergencies (did make it for a couple hours friday!) and missing this especially has left me heartbroken out of all the scheduled events. are we doing it again next year? even without the joy of a world record attempt, i would SO love to do this! heck just showing my daughter the video she caught on to a couple moves, so i might even drag her along for more then the parade and the costumes and art!
Duluth – Thanks for the info (informative and civil, much appreciated) . I am of the opinion that the only thing Atlanta really lacks is proximity to water. (I also must admit I do not get the appeal of San Francisco. Nice yes, fun I would need to see more. I know they have some odd festivals)
I guess I have a problem with the methodology – New York is big, there is a lot going on, true. If there are 3000 good places to eat in NY and lets say 750 in Atlanta, that is still a two year supply of places to eat without going back to any of the ones you have already tried and really liked. More can sometimes equal better but at a point more is just more. That said, I have no REAL problem with the rankings. Almost all major shows / concert tours eventually some to Atlanta. I love NY but there are a significant number of people who would never feel comfortable in NYC just because of the sheer size (Some people LOVE NYC for that very reason and for them there is no substitute and I definitely understand that). How can those other people have fun if they don’t even feel comfortable. Atlanta is on a scale most people can handle and it also less expensive. You can also head into Atlanta grab a hotel room hit some bars / lounge visit a museum or two it does not cost a fortune.
I wish I was in Atlanta. I live in Dallas now because of job. Atlanta is a great city with many nice people. Just look at the front page and entertainment section of the local paper and decide for yourself.
Duluth – Thanks for the info (informative and civil, much appreciated) . I am of the opinion that the only thing Atlanta really lacks is proximity to water. (I also must admit I do not get the appeal of San Francisco. Nice yes, fun I would need to see more. I know they have some odd festivals)
I guess I have a problem with the methodology – New York is big, there is a lot going on, true. If there are 3000 good places to eat in NY and lets say 750 in Atlanta, that is still a two year supply of places to eat without going back to any of the ones you have already tried and really liked. More can sometimes equal better but at a point more is just more. That said, I have no REAL problem with the rankings. Almost all major shows / concert tours eventually some to Atlanta. I love NY but there are a significant number of people who would never feel comfortable in NYC just because of the sheer size (Some people LOVE NYC for that very reason and for them there is no substitute and I definitely understand that). How can those other people have fun if they don’t even feel comfortable. Atlanta is on a scale most people can handle and it also less expensive. You can also head into Atlanta grab a hotel room hit some bars / lounge visit a museum or two it does not cost a fortune
i love atlanta! i’m from the midwest, and have been here for about 15 years. what i love is there is always something to do. i love live music, and atlanta is known for having a thriving music scene. it’s a shame that buckhead (or buckhood as it turned out to be) is gone, because it was fun to go out and bar hop with friends. but the place got downright trashy, especially some of the bars – bar and mako’s anybody? – and all the sunday/monday night shootings. that hasn’t stopped me from hitting up east atlanta, midtown, grant park, little five, va-hi, all great parts of town in their own right.
who doesn’t like sitting at turner field on beautiful sunny afternoon and clear night and taking in a braves game? we have professional football, basketball, and hockey as well. choose one or all of them. i’ve never had a bad time at any of them.
but i live in the city. most people don’t, and a lot of people commenting here don’t live in atlanta – JOHN’S CREEK IS NOT ATLANTA. there are events every day and night of the week here. i chose city life over suburban life for the career, cultural and social opportunities, and i haven’t been let down.
I was there and it was really something amazing to participate in! Thanks to all the volunteers and everyone who put this together. Can’t wait to do it again next year.
If you weren’t there, then you just don’t understand the amount of work, effort and practice the whole event took!
TI, either you are a moron or have never been to Philly. There is much more history, culture, art, theater, etc. than there is or ever will be in this sunbelt city.
MiamiDolphins2010SBowl!!! – Too many black people?? You have issues and should probably leave. That’s cool, go on up to Chicago. There will be some black people waiting to welcome you…..
I was working it; blocking a light tower because people kept running into it.
It was fun, even for the short time I was there.
If we attempt it next time, I’m definitely taking time out of my busy shifts to actually participate.
=D
Don’t even tell me this won’t count! I have never learned a dance routine in 3 hrs! I had “Evie” as my instructor and even though I danced into the pillar infront of the elevator (I was the one dressed as Dorothy), I would totally do this all over again! (with a change of clothes though…)
@Tony — Yes, yes we are. I say let’s out record Mexico! Go nerds!!
And I have to ROFLMAO off on the “virgin” comment. Um, yea, google for some pics and you’ll see why the kids are put to bed early and we have a track called DragonCon After Dark.
I’m already plotting for next year. I just hope my crew from this year will be with us again.
[...] and performances. If you need a break from the downtown-version of crazy, check out the lit-crazy Decatur Book Festival, just a few MARTA stops away — most events are free and open to the public. Some even involve [...]
I also participated in the Thriller record attempt at Dragon*Con. Regardless of what the results are, I feel bonded to the other 902 people who participated as we worked our butts off to learn that dance. It was a great tribute to MJ, and I will never forget it! Nobody has the right to rain on that, nor can they because it was just too monumental to be destroyed by one whiny individual.
It’s such a shame that our early space program is marred by sexism. Female pilots such as Jerrie Cobb were outperforming the men in 1961’s astronaut training. They were highly qualified, but they were all summarily fired from the program with no explanation. Congress held hearings on it–but Congress at that time was still a boys’ club. Quotes like this one ruled the day: “The fact that women are not in this field is a fact of our social order.” That quote, of course, is from John Glenn’s testimony.
Always remember the Mercury 13. For me, it forever taints the achievements of the early boys who made it into space and walked on the moon. They didn’t trust themselves to compete against women, so they went behind the scenes and had the women taken out.
The worst travesty, of course, was sending Glenn back instead of Cobb in 1998 (Cobb made a strong push for the opportunity that had been denied her).
Yes, Ginny is uninformed. But she is allowed her opinions.
Me? I would have loved to have done it ourdoors. But we didn’t. No big deal. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. If you look in that video I would hazard that very few are trained dancers and some of us look like we have no clue on what we are doing. Especially me…I’m the uncoordinated dork with the white pith helmet and Jumanji outfit. (Just my luck. The bit of footage with me in it is the bit of the dance that our instructor didn’t get around to teaching. Oh well, fake it till you make it.)
But, I had great time. It was hot. It was humid. It was frustrating at times. But most of all it was fun. Lots and Lots of fun. Which is what this was about for me.
I forgive the unknowing for their bashing of D*C. The poor fools know not what they are missing. Unless you’ve been, it’s like describing the sky to a blind person. Virgins? heh… until they’ve had a gorgeous girl in a Slave Leia outfit (Or insert suitable male refence for you wonderful women, here) drag them to a hotel room and commit unspeakable sin with them. You haven’t lived..
To them we’re a bunch of silly nerds that have no lives and live in our parent basements.
To us? These people are of the worst ilk and I label them with the worst insult I could pin upon a person….
Normal
and I pity them….how boring life must be…
To Kimber and the crew…Kudos for your vision and tenacity. You are all models and visionaries. Thank you for allowing us to join you in your journey I am truly honored.
(Ps… the dang ear worm is still in my head… roarturn,roarturn…)
Honestly, I don’t think you can talk about anything in Atlanta in any depth without talking about race, and that would include entertainment. Neighborhoods are still largely segregated, churches are *extremely* segregated, and even many entertainments are (voluntarily) segregated.
I believe Atlanta may have made the list because it’s a vibrant place for people of color.
Kimber, forgot to say thank you for organizing this. My brother and I participated and it was a blast. If you try this or something else next year, you have your first volunteer. Anyone who can pull this off is someone I want to work with. Oh yeah, and booty, bounce…booty, bounce.
AH, there isn’t a list of vendors or map that I can link to online, but as I said above, this is the first year there will be a program that lists vendor names and locations. They’ll be available at the festival!
Not Going To Use My Usual Name — you make a very good point, but unfortunately, the blog comment areas on AJC.com and AccessAtlanta.com haven’t proven themselves to be an effective forum to discuss race. Perhaps this is because we allow anonymous comments, or because we don’t have enough time or people to engage in a weightier conversation. Regardless, my choice is to keep the discussion on a level more appropriate to this venue, and in other posts, we’ve seen interesting ideas about entertainment emerge by keeping race and politics out of the discussion. Thanks for the thoughtful points, though!
[...] For families: “Adventures of Little Noodle” enters its final weekend of performances, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta. REVIEW. [...]
Did you get this idea from the Today Show, Where am I? On the show the will show pictures and you have to guess where they are…very original…but fun. That’s just my opinion.
Ha, I’m not a Today Show watcher, Jonas Sisters, but I know plenty of outlets do similar games and contests. I just started doing this so we’d have another outlet to talk about interesting places around Atlanta.
I have to apologize to you. I responded to the thread without reading it first and as a participant in this event I’m a bit protective of it.
I’m glad that you finally saw our point and what we were trying to do.
THere are a few others on here that need to possibly attend Dragon*Con and see what a giant party it is for themselves before dismissing us as nerds and virgins.
It’s flattering for Atlanta to be ranked No. 6, but let’s face it, rankings like this are useless. Forbes aggregated the attractions in metro areas, and that type of methodology doesn’t really capture the essence of a city. Atlanta is very fragmented – you have to drive wide distances to have fun (ie go to a restaurant in Midtown, drive to Buckhead for shopping, then back to Little Five Points or the Highlands for nightlife). Unlike true cities, like Chicago and San Francisco, there’s no density in Atlanta. There are just small pockets of activity. For instance, go to Midtown and walk a block from Peachtree Street and it thins out so fast that you’re already out of the city!
Shirley Franklin single- handedly took the Hot out of Hotlanta. Abbreviated bars hours diluted our night life and made the city less attractive to conventioneers (25% off this year). For a city that is usually begging for money (discounting, of course, those federal grants that went unspent), those convention dollars are sorely missed. And what about the tens of millions of dollars lost from throwing all major events out of Piedmont Park. It takes YEARS to build attendance at any sort of annual festival. At least we have a fantastic airport so that those of us who enjoy “fun cities” can fly to them.
It is man’s jacket ~ notice the buttons on a white shirt to the left, then the jacket’s lapel followed by a pocket scarf and finally, the arm of the jacket. I can’t place the painting. But perhaps since it is appears to be historical clothing, it could be found in a museum? Can anyone build on this hypothesis?
Fun in Atlanta includes Horizon Theatre, Actors’ Express, Theatrical Outfit, the (Tony-winning) Alliance, 7 Stages, TWO Shakespeare companies (Atlanta Shakes Downtown and Ga. Shakes in Buckhead), PushPush, Synchronicity, True Colors, Theatre in the Square, and Dad’s Garage! Unlike the other cities on the list, we even have a French-language theatre, Theatre du Reve.
Check out the High (not just the high-profile exhibits), the Carlos, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Spelman Museum, MOCAGA, Oglethorpe Museum, MODA……….and galleries such as Marcia Wood, Solomon Projects, Sandler Hudson, Saltworks, Kiang, Jackson (for photo), Lumiere (also photo), and Barbara Archer.
Check out the superb symphony, and the best-on-the-planet ASO Chorus.
Listen to jazz at Churchill Grounds and blues at Blind Willie’s. Eat at any of the 100 best restaurants around town. Stroll through Piedmont Park in the spring, or hike the Chattahoochie Nat’l Rec. area in fall. Visit the world’s largest aquarium, and one of the nation’s best zoos.
And if you’re frightened by fellow citizens because they’re black, please move to Alabama.
haha, LilAz, you must have been near me. The ones in the front had very little room to dance because the first move is four steps to the front! Having you there made it easier for us to take little steps though because the people behind us stopped pushing up once you came over.
also, I owe Ginny an apology too for not seeing the later notes. Just as a side note, a true flash mob Thriller (as opposed to a GWR attempt!) would be easier for you to assemble once you have a large pool of people who know the choreography…just sayin’!
Not Going To Use My Usual Name -Honestly, I don’t think you can talk about anything in Atlanta in any depth without talking about race, and that would include entertainment. Neighborhoods are still largely segregated, churches are *extremely* segregated, and even many entertainments are (voluntarily) segregated.
This is not unique to Atlanta race permeates even light weight fun discussions in other cities too. Some jerk messes up a fun / cool debate with a classless comment. Just like a few knuckleheads take areas that used to be fun and ruin it with their poor behavior (Underground, Buckhead, now Atlantic Station). The loud obnoxious guy at the bar, rude teenagers are allowed to ruin the good time for the majority. Anyway I think the heading is misleading, or the comments have veered of the subject matter. Is the city supposed to be fun or is it supposed to be a great place to live. New Orleans / Vegas are fun but necessarily places most want to live. A truly fun city probably has international appeal (NYC, Miami, Vegas) and has appeal across the racial and socioeconomic spectrum (Vegas).
I cannot believe they’re showing “Zardoz.” That’s the most whacked-out movie I’ve ever seen. It’s hands-down the dumbest movie John Boorman ever did, and it’s got Sean Connery is a big, red diaper for 90 minutes.
[...] Maybe this week’s Access Points photo game was a little too detailed. Interesting guesses — it is, indeed, a painting that involves a man’s jacket — but nobody was able to correctly identify it as the Zell Miller portrait hanging at Manuel’s Tavern. [...]
I got a vendor list and booth space number on a pdf brochure from my “newsletter” from Stone Mountain Park. Sorry, I don’t have it with me, but I found it last week. None of that info was sent to me by Yellow Daisy, although that would have been nice,..it was an accident finding it.
I’m a semi-regular there. Shocking. I know. I remember the missing Miller scandal. Also, originally there was only one picture of a naked lady. it was directly behind the bar and unless you know where to look, you’d probably miss it. That’s the one that the story goes a bar fly used to pay off his tab. It was a portrait of his wife. I noticed that after Manuel died, suddenly there were many more pictures of nekkid women on the walls. It’s fun to walk around and see all the different pictures. They keep old Hurman Talmedge by the ATM. Seems fitting.
To my fellow D*C peeps: AMAZING JOB!!!! I had to leave for a few hours Sunday so I couldn’t be in the event, but I was bragging about it to all sorts of people! I’m linking this video all over the place to show folks what this group can do.
Breaking the world record? It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of people.
To all the haters and naysayers: Back off. You obviously have never been remotely close to D*C or else you would realize your statements are utterly and completely false. (e.g joking that all 903 of those people have never been on dates. I personally know at least a dozen married couples that danced, and that’s not even the start of that)
And you know what? We *are* nerds. Not geeks. Know why? “Nerds are smart.” Beat it.
Sadly, the enormous group that danced in Mexico danced the short version of the song- therefore, while impressive did not qualify for the Guinness world record.
In this economy and these days, it’s not so much about where you live as it is about making the best of what you have and making the most of it. Every city is unique and gifted with different qualities and attractions that are unique to them and define who they are. For example, ATL is extremely blessed to have Stone Mountain and have a close proximity to the Flordia beaches. Environment, people, attractions, climate, etc. all play a role in defining a region, as well as the fact that every city or region has certain types of people that are attracted to that particular area.
At the end of the day, it’s what you make of it. I’ve been to every city listed above Atlanta on the list, and you can have just as much fun in Atlanta (if not more fun) as you can in any city on the list. It’s not called Hotlanta for nothing. NO, it’s not utopia, but no place is. And yes, crime and traffic are issues, just as they are in any city on that list, and any major city. However, our music scene is second to none, and many movies are starting to be made here. It is becoming the “Hollywood of the South.”
Just for the record the official word is…..ATL still is and will always be “the place to be.”
Sorry, Shannon, but the Mercury 13 were not fired from any NASA program. Their training was privately funded and they were never employed by NASA as astronaut candidates.
As a 59 year old participant (proof available upon request for both age and participation), I would love to say thank you to Kimber and the dance captains for herding us toward a great time. Shoulder step, nothing step, shoulder step, shoulder step. Went to Michael’s today and got a shadow box for my DragonCon badge and thriller ribbon. Used a piece of my costume as the background. Come on, folks. Come up with ways to secure this memory for yourselves as well.
i watched the slave trade dvd in my class, i was touched to see what our african fathers and mothers went through.what touched me the most was “the doors of no return”,because mostly people left through those doors never to see their families and their countries again.
On my next trip to South Georgia my great-grandchildren will have the opportunity to visit the new museum to experience the excitement of seeing these pre-historic relics up close. This should develop into a must-stop tourist attraction for people passing by on nearby I-75.
Who’d have thought that Cartersville would have TWO Smithsonian museums? Make sure to check out the Booth Western Art Museum in downtown Cartersville as well. Lots of things for both adults and children.
Yellow Daisy is SO MUCH FUN!! The vendors are friendly, the festival designers try to vary the content and mix up the pattern, so there’s not too much of any one category (although it is heavy on the jewelry this year) in any one area. There are Venus flytraps, pirate maps, firestarters, dursy and other semi-precious or artistically rendered earrings, art metal glass, pendants, necklaces, paintings, chairs, step stools, kids clothes, dress-up, fairy wings, yard art, mirrors, metal work, birdhouses, weather vanes . . . . Watch for “Ashley & Mom” next year- our shirts match (they’ve got big daisies on them) and the vendors know us. If you want to know the best, best-priced, friendliest vendors- find us; we know them! (And they know us!) ;0)
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dragon Con rocks. This was my first year attending although I’ve wanted to go for years but had not had the opportunity. I didn’t get to dance but I think the people that did were just great. I had the best time I’ve had in a long time and plan to make it back next year hopefully for the full four days. And yes I am called a geek or a nerd by my fellow co-workers but you know what. I’m proud of it. I’d rather not be normal, It’s too boring.
[...] wrote earlier this week about what to know before you go to the Yellow Daisy Festival. Now that I’ve wandered the grounds of Stone Mountain Park myself, I have a few things to [...]
I have taken my grandchildren and my self there twice. A very fun experience for all. Don’t miss the Booth Museum while you are there. Some wonderful art and letters from every President, very cool.
Tellus and the Booth are two outstanding attractions that help make the small town of Cartersville a cultural center in Georgia. What a shame that Etowah Mounds, one of the most important Native American sites in the country, has suffered from neglect from the state parks dept. which has reduced the opening hours to just three days a week while cutting back tours, programs and other services.
I am responding to the Ginny; September 8th, 2009; 4:23 pm post.
I don’t think we could have done this outdoors without a lot of additional precautions. The space had to be closed off so that the dancers entering the dance space could be counted. There was a LOT of prep done before anyone was allowed to enter the room and during the process of getting dancers into the space.
It was also hard for anyone past the first couple rows to display their dance skills because each person was approximately 2 feet away from the next person in any direction.
I am also not completely sure on this, but I think that the Thriller dance records may have indoor and outdoor categories. Anyone else know?
I do know that there were a lot of specifics and a lot of paperwork to take care of in coordination with Guinness.
I bought the grandparents membership the very first time I went last February, just after they opened. I have taken my grandchildren at least 6 times and every time we go, they do not want to leave! The museum is for everyone — from grandparents to small children! We love it and enjoy every visit!
Ha, Becky and others: when I reported this story, I spent some time in the chlidren’s area, and for my first walk through, there were ONLY adults in there, not a child in sight. The “museum for everyone” tag seems to be holding up!
I live out of state but i am from Atlanta and i went last year and bought some things from a man that personalized name plaques for kids rooms, bullitien boards for kids rooms, and yard signs and stuff like that. I didn’t get to go this year but I know he said he does it all year round and will accept orders. I didn’t know if someone knew him and had some info or knows where i could possibly find it..i’ve been trying to find the vendor list and can’t find it…
We love Tellus. On Saturday Sept. 26, Tellus is part of the Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Free Day. You can also check out the Booth Western Museum and Bartow Museum of History as part of the deal that day as well. Here’s a review of the museum that I did when it first opened last spring. http://www.fieldtripswithsue.com/2009/01/rocks-trucks-stars-spaceships-dinosaurs.html. The video isn’t as good as your photos, but it does give a different perspective.
[...] those left wondering the videos in last week’s post, “Dragon*Con ‘Thriller’ dancers might break world record,” were shot by the AJC during the performance and participants during [...]
“Place of a lifetime” Are you kidding me. Atlanta?? Traffic, crime, corruption, poor leadership. I have travel all around this world and Atlanta is not even in the top 100 places that I have gone to. How much did they pay off these guys to be listed.
I was never happier than the day I left Atlanta. This must be some kind of joke. Atlanta is the one of the most racist, meanest cities I’ve ever lived in.
Ha ha ha. How funny. Let them spend a weekend downtown or in SW Atlanta and see how they like it. The only decent places in Atlanta are the park (in the daytime), most of Buckhead, and VA Highlands. The thugs have ruined the rest of it.
I too could not believe my eyes when I read this essay in NG Travler. Atlanta on a list of the 50 best places to visit around the world?!?! But, there we are. I suppose we made the list becasue Atlanta is a place to experience over time but, not one that delivers unique experiences to the traditional touristy traveler. I hope Alabama and Florida read this article so they can see the beauty they are now attempting to destroy and will not be able to replace on their own.
I’ve been in Atlanta 20 years and the city has been nothing but kind to me. I live in the East Village and adore my neighborhood for it natural beauty and convenience to everything a city should offer. If you are not happy in Atlanta, you are not trying!
Suzie…if you were so happy to leave Atlanta, then why the h*ll are you still reading Atlanta news websites like this one? Go read the news site in you own town now.
Yeah, Atlanta’s got traffic, crime and corruption…name me one large city that doesn’t have these. Traffic is just as bad in Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc… Crime…go check out local tv websites in other cities, particularly Chicago lately…seems you cannot walk around Lincoln Park there without getting mugged lately. Corruption…do Richard Daley, Marion Barry, David Dinkins, Kwame Kirkpatrick, the former mayor of San Diego (whatever his name is) come to mind?
Yeah, we are not perfect. But it is nice to ready something positive about Atlanta after what seems like a year’s worth of negative this and negative that.
Wow…I’m hearing a lot of negative things about Atlanta from previous posts….if it is so bad, why are you all still here that are complaining? Get over it.
I’ve gotta say, I wasn’t happier than the day I returned to Atlanta (6/3/09) after living near Los Angeles for 3 years. Every day since I’ve been back has been awesome. Events, parks, shops, food, music, people, history, sports – hooray!
Atlanta certainly has strengths and faults as does any city, but its home for me. Where else but Atlanta does a light rail train come out of a subway and when you look out you see skyscrapers pooping out what looks like a vast forest. There is a unique and signature beauty in that I think. In fact the lack of trees is one of the first things i notice when i go elsewhere. Does Atlanta has its faults? yes. Does its metro and city center cooperate for the good of all? not really. But whos fault is that? is this not a republic? quit bitching about what is wrong and start moving to make things right. I have no time for those who bitch but never leave their homes after 5.
@KW – You are absolutely right. Every large city has mad corruption, crime, etc. For all of those out their, if you do not like it – get out. There are many of us that are working to make the city great. Embrace it or get the (&^$^ out.
I moved to Atlanta 15 years ago from NYC because I followed my job. I agree that this metro area has tremendous potential and is physically beautiful. What’s holding this city back is the total lack of leadership at all levels. Everybody’s looking out for themselves without regard for the big picture at the state and local levels. People used to be nicer here – no longer. Don’t mention you’re from anywhere North – you’ll be treated negatively. Too bad because this city has so much potential. This could be one of the world’s great cities if the people that live here and the people that govern weren’t so selfish.
“KW” You prove my point. I wouldnt list Chicago, Los Angeles or any other major US city. To list Atlanta as a top 50 place to hit in this entire world is a joke. I will be honest I havent read the article, but I bet most of the fun things they list, is not even in Atlanta.
I want the people in this metro to stand up and change the way things are. Treat each other with respect. If you’re in business, stop trying to rob consumers by charging top dollar for substandard service. State goverment, stop all the bickering and fighting and find a way to fund mass transit so people can get around. We need to get the rest of this country and this world to admire Atlanta again.
New York, Chicago, San Fran, Seattle, Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, Minneapolis, all have a downtown, nice, mostly safe, with lots to do. Tell me what downtown Atlanta has besides the aquarium which will be run down in no time. Who wants to be in downtown Atlanta at night? All of the other cities have so much more to offer.
Uh, Call it…I just read the article and EVERYTHING they list except for the Cobb Energy Centre is IN the city limits of Atlanta.
Chris…okay, we don’t have the best downtown in the US, but it has gotten a lot better in the 17 years I have lived here. Besides the Aquarium, you have the entire Centennial Park area which 15 years ago was an empty area of sketchy warehouses. Now, we go down for dinner at places like Legal Seafoods, Stats, etc… at least once a month. And we go at night, and no, we don’t feel threatened. Yeah, you might get panhandled…so what, I’ve been panhandled everywhere from SF to London. And the neighborhoods to the north and east of downtown have lots of unique restaurants, shops, etc…
Presumably, the Natl Geographic author of this article is not a resident. And that leads me to this hypothesis: Atlanta makes a great impression on VISITORS – especially those that are visiting friends or family (as opposed to coming here alone on business or a convention). That’s what gets us on these lists. I know in the late 80’s, when I first started visiting Atlanta in college, I got hooked on “the lifestyle.” So much so that I moved here. Now, 20 years later, I’ve come to know all the troubles we have that a 4-day visitor wouldn’t see. But I still love it here and plan to stay the rest of my life. And my parents (who live in FL) love coming to visit. They think Atlanta is a really great place.
Macon man here but I love Atlanta for all the events (some free or cheap) it offers. I now live in Madrid, Spain for work and love it because the weather is nice and I have never seen a better transit system. Like Atlanta it offers festivals or events in some part of the City every weekend and I try to enjoy them. I say this to express the need for some people to turn off the TV and get out of the house and to also get involved in some constructive activity in your City; be it one of the six art centers of the World (Madrid), Atlanta, or Macon. I would like to see the transit system expanded out to Turner Field and the people more united in Civic causes. You can make up your mind as soon as you get out of bed to be unhappy and bitter OR to have a good, happy day. I am one who believes the glass is half full and I am thankful for it daily. Just a though.
Enjoying the predictable onslaught of nay-saying here, which illustrates what makes Atlanta such a fascinating case among cities and underscores its appeal as much as any list of attractions or laundry lists of virtues ever can. One of the most confounding things about of Atlanta, aside from the basic fact that it’s impossible to define the place (just where does it stop and start? is it really a place of just 400 thousand or is the famous ‘Atlanta population now’ sign the more accurate measure?), is how it utterly lacks anything that the city snobs hold so dear as being vital to a city’s personality – history, cutting-edge sophistication, grandeur, grittiness, density, breathtaking natural features. Like a Jody Foster among cities, it lacks the classical beauty that make people swoon for San Francisco or the grandeur that make Americans utterly slavish lovers of their great and (justifiably) prized New York City, but nonetheless unapologetically takes its place on the big stage.
Here’s an idea: just call Atlanta the anti-Austin (Austin being the city that no one has ever said anything bad about and anyone who visits it apparently is instantly transmogrified into a natural born booster for life): the city where everything is engineered (’imagineered’) and manufactured, yet somehow pulls it all off.
Be fair on this article now — this grouping of 50 spots is the SECOND group of 50 that the magazine has published. And, if you go to the magazine’s website, you’ll find the cities that preceded Atlanta in the first 50 include New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and Dallas, among others…so don’t get too excited here.
Hey Chris: I graduated from Tech. I go to all the football games. My wife works at Tech, as do a couple of friends. I don’t feel threatened. When is the last time you have been to Tech (day or night) or anywhere in the city? Stop trolling around.
bunch of haters.. if you dont like it move out! Born and raised here, Gwinnett and now Atlanta, best place in the world.. go move to mayberry if you are looking for utopia
While Im not crazy about everything in the ATL,I’m happy to be here.
I agree with those that say if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem and should move.
There is nothing wrong with the ATL that a few less unproductive, will complain anywhere they go folks wouldnt fix. The only reason most of these types are here is because they cant afford to be anywhere else.
KW, apparently you do not watch the news. How many attacks have happened around your dork school this year? Obviously, during a football game, there will not be any problems. Even though you guys only fill half the stadium for each game. Sure is sad.
I have to say, there are some people with miserable lives trolling these blogs. Sure the city has problems, some major ones. But the city is headed in the right direction and has a lot of upsides.
Name me a city that doesn’t have a jail or police force because they don’t have any crime for cryin’ out loud. Some people can’t enjoy anything, it doens’t make you cooler than NatGeo or “more in the know” to crap on their article or the city.
I moved from ATL 12 years ago, to sunny southern California. Great weather, beautiful country, but arrogant mean people. For that, I miss the good ol’ south, with your gorgeous spring flowers, hot humid summers and occasional crisis that a 2″ snowfall can bring.
By the way, Tony’s right. The National Geographic feature is really just a case of magazine list-itis, the fetish that magazines make of lists in an effort to sell magazines, list mongering if you ask me. Nowhere does it say anything about “best”. This tendency to conflate significance with best is a knee-jerk Atlanta trait, practiced ad nauseam by both its defenders and detractors.
Chris: You just showed your redneck biases. “Dork school” “half-filled stadium” yeah, you pretty much just invalidated every argument you were making.
I watch the news. Yeah, the muggings concern me. You think there is no crime around other college campus, including your (I’m guessing) UGA? The key is to realize you are in a big city and be aware of your surroundings. Good advice for any big city.
Chris and others. You don’t get out much do you? I have lived in the City of Atlanta since 1969 when I arrived to go to GT and in Inman Park since 1975. What a great place to live! My profession would allow me to go most anywhere, and I travel a lot, but I have never found anyplace that I would rather live – total package compared to total package. Could Atlanta be improved? Certainly. Does city, county and state govenments leave soemthing to be desired? Sure. Is there a lack of leadership in the city and the region? Absolutely. But after 40 years, I have not found a place that I would rather live.
i moved to atl from london nearly 2 years ago and while i miss certain things (pubs, pubs, pubs), i’ve never regretted it for a second. london is stressful & lonely. atlanta is warm & inviting. and full of leafy, interesting neighbourhoods like virginia-highlands, ansley park, decatur, east atlanta… if you don’t like where you live then MOVE.
Okay, fine some of you love this city, Yea! But to put Atlanta in the top 50 in the world for places in a lifetime??? Can any of you Atlanta homers tell me you can’t think of at least a 100 or more different places that would leave Atlanta in the dust. Come on get real. The article is a joke.
I’m not exactly a world traveller, but the few major cities that I have been to, New York, Miami, Washington DC, Montreal, Toronto and even Hartford CT, have something that Atlanta does not, a decent and attractive downtown, a reason to go downtown. Most of these cities’ downtown are the reason people go there to visit. When you go downtown Atlanta, there is a sense of fear and neglect almost all around. The metro area should also improve their transportation system. Their rail and bus system with MARTA is extemely limited as in comparison to other major cities. It appears there is still some growth into Atlanta, but there does not appear to be a good solid plan for transportation access or a handle on the crime blight. Beautiful trees and rolling hills are not everything.
Greetings from Atlanta: City of Peace, Inc.
Our nonprofit believes that Atlanta’s destiny is to become a global capital of peace (I agree that we are far from this when you look at the FBI’s Uniform Crime Statistics, however WE focus on our possibilities and NOT our circumstances). Atlanta has a GREAT, yet undeveloped asset and we call it: “The Gandhi-King Global Peace Connection.” Would you like to help us develop it? If so, then contact us through Myspace or LinkedIn: http://www.myspace.com/ATLpeace http://www.linkedin.com/in/atlpeace
To seizing: “The Peace Millennium”
John R. Naugle
Chris….you are an ignorant doofus. I have lived in Cal, N Car and FL but have lived the longest in various parts of ATL. The happiest view I had of CA was in the rear view mirror when leaving and got happier and happier each mile closer to ATL. I now live in SW ATL and have never once been bothered by a thug Chris, not in over 20 years.
This place has become the biggest joke. No real identity of the people….too many people from other places invading this once proud and beautiful state and area…..Traffic terrible and the people too….
Pure joke…
If you can’t appreciate what Atlanta has to offer, get out, so there’s more room for the rest of us who do. I could have never bought a brand new home in the North where I’m from, period. I live in East Atlanta and love it. I wouldn’t live in Buckhead if it was free (bleached and tanned posers). There’s plenty to do here if you get off your couch. If you’re looking for a crime-free, thug-free, corruption-free, racism-free environment, you’ll need to move to Mars because on earth it doesn’t exist so snap out of your fairy-tale mind-set and get real. All cities have problems, why shouldn’t Atlanta, it’s a city isn’t it?? For those who don’t know, Utopia was created in a BOOK.
On the surface Atlanta is nice but when you dig down it’s rather bland. Sure, Buckhead has some nice buildings and restaurants but its depressingly fragmented. One minute you’re looking a beautfiul new (but empty) building and the next minute you’re looking at a run down strip mall.
Don’t get me started on the quality of the roads here. You would think Atlanta gets hit with heavy snow and ice in the winter with the condition these roads are in.
I have just moved back to ATL since being gone for 10 years. Traveled all over the country, lived in NC, Sweden, and most recently (and regrettably) S. Fla. The S. Fla bit I will be recovering from for some time. The day I moved back I was able to sleep, eat, laugh, sigh, and be happy for the first time in three years. Atlanta has grown in such great ways – the east side villages, the in town living. We have amazing food every where we go. And cheap! Taquiera del Sol, Figo, Fellini’s, Rathbun’s, etc, etc. Everyone we have run into has been really nice and people actually have manners here! I am so glad to be home. And proud that Atlanta made that list! I agree that it should be on that list.
As soon as Atlanta gets a new mayor and police chief serious about tackling crime, she will be restored to her former glory. I remember reading in the AJC several years back that Atlanta is so beautiful in the spring, it is like a beautiful lady who is wearing all of her jewelry at once. I agree.
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Atlanta has such a bad rap…it is one of the largest cities in the country and never gets a lick of press. everyone who has visited me here has had a fabulous time…from touristy Coca-Cola and Aquarium to the pubs of the Highlands, to swanky Buckhead, and vibrant Midtown. We eat good, enjoy the parks and museums, watch shows, shop, drive through beautiful intown neighborhoods with historic homes, etc.
I have lived all over, including London and I agree with Joe…London is lonely and its a hard, hard life. Atlanta is the only big city I have been in where its easy to live here. I am from youngstown, ohio area orginally…crime and corruption are everywhere. If we concerned about it, we need to work to fix it and I think Atlanta has done a good job and continues to improve itself.
Tori: Atlanta has such a bad rap…it is one of the largest cities in the country and never gets a lick of press.
I don’t know, I think Atlanta gets a pretty fair amount of attention. This NG magazine piece is a case in point. What I think Atlanta does NOT get is much respect from the city snobs. And probably one reason it does not is that life here is not as hard as it is in other places. As I once overheard somebody who’d just moved to LA say: “the harder it is to live in a place, the more exciting it is” (he was speaking of LA and NY). So there’s a romanticism of urban grittiness. For those with little patience, Atlanta is too big to have any mid-size charm (a la Denver, Austin) but too small for true big city sophistication. Meanwhile, the actual city that falls through the cracks in this way gets overlooked and dissed, and that’s a shame.
I’m reading and there are a lot of A town haters out there. I live in NC and I can’t wait until I can have a chance to move to Atlanta. The people are nice and it has everything you want. A big city feel in downtown, midtown, and Buckhead and still some southern charm in some of the surrounding area’s. And if you want a suburbian feel just go outside of I-285 and commute into the big city. How many cities can say that? How many cities have a heavy rail system especially in the south. Not light rail folks because there is a difference. Most cities don’t have heavy rail because it can’t be supported. Light rail are smaller, shorter trains that are more like a trolley. Heavy rail is used in major cities because it has it’s own exclusive right of way. Unfortunately it is not extended where it needs to be 1) because there is no state support for MARTA and 2)there are people that don’t want a rail stop in their area because it attracts crime…one of the dumbest things I’ve heard. Every rail stop I’ve seen on MARTA was clean and most had nice high end development around it, including on the South line! Why are so many stars moving to ATL… black and white? How many cities have natural beauty like Stone Mountain and man made like the skyline of the city? Why were the Olympics set here? People… the OLYMPICS!! What is keeping on the haters here? Someone said they probably can’t afford to leave. Probably true. Every city has crime and traffic. That is just part of a big city. I love the A town and can’t wait to get down there. It has everything I need.
Seems like there are intelligent geographers and lucky people.
The single “dog” I have in the “fight” is wanting only the best for myself and my family. Born in D.C., I’m from America, travelled all the world, driven in almost all of our major cities, and lived in some: for twelve-month-a-year living, raising a family and being around the best America has to offer, amidst the closest bloodstock and Spirit to those who created America, there is no place equal to Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta’s drivers and roads are the best. This is a “magic” town: the New Jerusalem.
A thousand feet above sea-level, without the humidity of D.C. or NY: of the top fifteen U.S. metro areas in population Atlanta is second in altitude only to “The Mile-High City,” Denver, whose region’s backwardness and heat inversion air pollution is legendary – and days from a beach.
The Mafia and the Roman Catholic Church, or their Big Oil fronts, control Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, SanFran, Miami, New Orleans, and Texas. Seattle gets rain all year and is miserable waiting for the next Big Tsunami.
D.C. is Babylon on the Potomac…all aligned with the “New York/L.A. Sodom and Gomorrah axis.”
Anyone doesn’t love Atlanta, Georgia, and particularly North Georgia, needs to look in the mirror. Shape up, or ship out.
There’s good reason this is Dr. King’s hometown. Come to Atlanta to find G-d. If one can’t manage that try a little harder.
It’s all up from here without the fascists in the White House, a homegrown girl will do well as mayor, and American Civilization will be pivoting on our urban culture.
Atlanta is true America’s only hope and, thank G-d, Obama is Atlanta’s president.
P.S. East Atlanta is “electric.” Atlanta’s the “happenest” spot in the world: the Center of the Universe. If it “ain’t” right for you, get to where you can be happy.
people(and i’m talking men) talk about crime and fear in downtown atl! maybe that’s what your problems are, a lot of you so-called men have no backbone, and fear your own shadows. for a grown man to not go outside or participate in life, less this or that happens to him is mind-boggling. if you guys have a woman, how do u keep them?? actually, the only thing wrong about atlanta is too many sensitive(??)men, not willing to stand up for themselves. if u did that, u wouldn’t fear anyone or anything. sure be careful, but don’t cower!!!
Blah blah blah. I hate Atlanta. Get out then? I have lived in Charlotte, Dallas, San Jose, San Diego twice, and I love it here. So much to do. Festivals all over the place, like Other Sound in Lil 5 this weekend and the EAV Strut. Beer festivals, parades, etc. Great lil neighborhoods like EAV, Castleberry Hill, Lil 5, VA-HI, etc. And lots of stuff for tourists as well.
Also, you are a short drive from a lot of stuff. Beaches, gorgeous mountains, raging rivers, wineries. Great restaurants. Great airport, decent mass transit that takes you to another of my favorite areas ITP – Decatur. Love this place.
Yes, we have a crime problem, but what major city doesn’t? I have friends getting broken into in San Diego. Its everywhere. We do lack good leadership, but let’s hope that is coming soon.
For those that don’t like it, this is a free country, you can say what you want. And you can leave whenever you want to head to your utopia. I have traveled all over the Northeast, and I do like a lot of cities up there, but only Chicago would I live in, and it definitely has its share of issues.
I love the person who said they’d never even been to Atlanta, and called the article a joke. For those of you who have only seen Downtown and Centennial Olympic Park, you have been sadly deprived. ATLANTA IS one of the most diverse, charming and eccentric cities. If you haven’t explored anywhere outside the Perimeter, or even the outlying neighborhoods within, you haven’t really visited Atlanta. As some who has lived in Miami, Alaska, and Atlanta, I LOVE THIS CITY!!!!!
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I’m not going to say whether or not Atlanta should have been chosen as one of NG’s “50 Places of a Lifetime”, but as a former resident and citizen of Atlanta for more than 45 years, I will say that there was a time in Atlanta’s past that it was as special of a place to live and work as described in the article. Today? I don’t think so.
Today, it is the most racist and vitriolic city I’ve ever known and I’m not speaking of the attitudes of whites towards blacks, but rather just the opposite. It’s crime rate is through the roof — it has become one of the very top drug centers of the U.S. It’s government is more than corrupt, it is reprehensible. The veneer and facade of a gleaming skyline and self-pompous promotion can’t hide the ugly warts and such that have overtaken and sought to kill the life of the city.
I admit to missing Atlanta’s beautiful changing of the seasons there, from it’s crown and glory of Spring to the wistful and crisp times of Fall. There are certain other things I miss, too. But, even these special individual momentos and treats of a place I once loved are not enough to ever lure me back there. Like authors Anne Rivers Siddons and Pat Conroy (both native area Atlantans and left for similar reasons) there is a time to go…and go they did and I did, too. But, we’re all sad we had to.
I left Atlanta in 2008 for San Diego, California. I used to LOVE Atlanta with a passion. It’s physical beauty nothwithstanding, it was a delight to tell others that I was from Atlanta. When we moved here in the mid-1960’s, it was much smaller and, therefore, had a lower crime rate, fewer traffic problems, etc. But, as Atlanta grew, so did it’s problems. One of them
First, would the Atlanta-bashing trolls please follow through with their rhetoric and MOVE? (And once you have moved, there’s probably not much reason to keep reading a column on “fun stuff to do in Atlanta and beyond”, unless I guess if you live in beyond.) Once y’all move, traffic should ease up somewhat, although some of the Atlanta-bashers don’t seem to get out much.
Here’s what I posted last week, when some of the same people were outraged that Atlanta had been mentioned as one of the ten most fun US cities (we placed 6th):
“Fun in Atlanta includes Horizon Theatre, Actors’ Express, Theatrical Outfit, the (Tony-winning) Alliance, 7 Stages, TWO Shakespeare companies (Atlanta Shakes Downtown and Ga. Shakes in Buckhead), PushPush, Synchronicity, True Colors, Theatre in the Square, and Dad’s Garage! Unlike the other cities on the list, we even have a French-language theatre, Theatre du Reve.
Check out the High (not just the high-profile exhibits), the Carlos, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Spelman Museum, MOCAGA, Oglethorpe Museum, MODA……….and galleries such as Marcia Wood, Solomon Projects, Sandler Hudson, Saltworks, Kiang, Jackson (for photo), Lumiere (also photo), and Barbara Archer.
Check out the superb symphony, and the best-on-the-planet ASO Chorus.
Listen to jazz at Churchill Grounds and blues at Blind Willie’s. Eat at any of the 100 best restaurants around town. Stroll through Piedmont Park in the spring, or hike the Chattahoochie Nat’l Rec. area in fall. Visit the world’s largest aquarium, and one of the nation’s best zoos.
And if you’re frightened by fellow citizens because they’re black, please move to Alabama.”
I would like to know whether any of the trolls have been to 5 or more of the places on that list.
To clarify a few points: the city population isn’t 400,000; since 1990 it has increased to over 500,000, the highest ever.
And contrary to some comments here, the city and the metro area, through the ARC, have excellent transportation plans. Such plans have existed for over a decade. The problem is: (a) the state underfunds metro Atlanta, raking off our tax dollars to fund projects in the rest of the state, and (b) the state will not even let us VOTE to tax OURSELVES to fund transit.
Enter your comments here I love that Kudzu AND the Big Chicken made it into a 10-question quiz! To me, one of the best things about Atlanta is watching us all assemble at Piedmont, not really to watch the old movies, but just because we like being together. Piedmont Park, the Starlight, any neighborhood fair any time of year…just bring out the food and we’ll be there, fixin’ to shoot the breeze!
I’m not a hater, just an observer. Many of the most vocal supporters of Atlanta on this thread are from somewhere north (yes, that includes South Florida). It’s a delight to have you, but to keep Atlanta the place we love, please pass along the word to any less courteous transplants you may know: we walk and drive on the right; don’t block supermarket aisles with your carts while we chat; seldom find ANYTHING important enough to justify cutting in line or interrupting; and use the horn as a warning instrument, not long-distance profanity. Humoring our little quirks will keep your stay and our city much more pleasant. Just saying…
Ha! Lily, the one I ALMOST answered incorrectly had to do with The Varsity potatoes. I really had to think about just how many cars are pulling in and just how much each one orders.
Atlanta ahead of Boston ,San Francisco ?? PLease ! At one time Atlanta was a wonderful city but over the last 30 years it has become a city lacking in everything except hip hop. There is no downtown to walk through and enjoy without fear . Our major attractions are the World of Coke ,The Aquarium ,CNN,Stone Mountain and the Fox . Would I visit this city to visit those attractions ? NO ! I can’t wait to move from this crime infested ,corrupt ,hip hop city with nothing to do .What we call attractions are a joke !
I moved here from the north to take the jobs the Georgia educational system can’t fill (as it ranks 46th) and to introduce myself to the beautiful women the southern gentlemen can’t satisfy.
I figure it took Yankees to burn Atlanta down… and ya’ll we’re waiting for the Yankees to build it back up.
You gotta be kidding! I was born and raised (as a caucasian) in Washington, D.C. Moved to Atlanta 41 years ago, and if it wasn’t for my kids being born here and living here, I’d be back in D.C. in a flat N.Y. second! Washington D.C. has it all over Atlanta.
Dear Chris:
Atlanta is an awesome place to live. The city is new, exciting, and full of entertainment for the whole family. The homes are beutiful and the neighborhoods are diverse. Sure there is crime like any other major city, but that doesnt negate the fact that all people are welcomed and enjoy the experience. I lived in several other major cities and they are like concrete jungles. Atlanta has an awesome skyline with a very green backdrop. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
Atlanta is a cesspool of corrupt leadership, black racism, traffic, poor architecture, crime, rap music, MLK’s descendants fighting in court,Cynthia McKinney, Wayne Williams, and moral decay. Don’t ask me why I don’t leave. I did, and now I hate to even drive through Atlanta or go through the airport. Imagine how wonderful Georgia would be if we could get rid of Atlanta.
What’s the old saying???? Something about “seeing the glass half full or half empty??” dependent on your own frame of mind.
Look for the beauty and it’s there before you; live in negativity and that’s what you get.
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Piedmont park is not accessible to most. There is not enough parking, and it is so congested I avoid the area. It’s a great park if you live within walking distance, but it is a turn off, not a draw, to those who live in other parts of the city or suburbs. Locals view Piedmont Park as “theirs,” and do not welcome “outsiders” to “their park.” As a Chicago native, parks are designed to be accessible (lots of parking, public transportation that’s safe and accessible) a huge draw to local, suburbanites, and out of state visitor–and locals are proud of this. There’s a very different attitude in Atlanta.
I relocated from NYC because my job came to Atlanta. Overall, the city isnt all that bad. What impressed me the most was the amount of trees around the city. Overall, its relatively clean too. There are alot of things to do around town. I do like the weather better down here too.
The negatives are the city government,( alot of potential going to waste), No Marta train to Turner Field, (a no-brainer to have a stop there, whats up with that??), Downtown not to safe at night. I feel safer in downtown NYC than I do here. This city needs more of a police presence so the folks visiting have a sense of security. Just my take from a northerner….
Oh yeah Jim. If you would check the latest census reports the city of Atlanta population has grown in the last five years. That includes alot of people returning to the city. Besides, I there is no other place in metro atlanta like Piedmont Park.
I moved here 16 years ago from Ohio. Atlanta and the metro area is so vast and varies so much from area to area. But the one thing I loved that you cannot get anywhere up north is the newness to everything. I love new and hate old. I grew up with old. Knew no different. Besides everyone is moving here. From all over the north to here. Why? Weather and beauty. The mountains, hills, trees and scenery do make it awesome. Visitors come down and tell me how every subdivision has such pristene well maintained landscape. I know people who moved here and moved back thinking the grass was greener and then reversed course. Now everyone regretted it. The drought was just a cycle. Look the weather now. Another cycle. Change is good. Same o same o is boring. Unless you have been other places like I have you have no clue. The cost of living here is very affordable. Traffic? Yeah I had a problem for 7 years. Then I changed jobs to where I drove the opposite of traffic. No my commute is 20-30 mins and loving it. No stress. That’s my take on this anyway.
First and foremost let me emphasize the fact that no U.S. metro city is perfect! One thing I can say is that while ATL has it’s faults like every other city ATL does provide you with the ability to live an affordable life. Having lived in both LA and now the God forsaken city these infidels call Beantown by far ATL has these cities beat when it comes to cordial ethics, cost of living, and overall cleanliness! As far as the traffic goes, traffic in the ATL has gotten worse because the infidels that move there for the likes of LA and Beantown that don’t have the common sense to move over when someone is trying to merge onto the highway (Ooops my bad, you infidels know this as being the Interstate). Common sense bottom line is the difference between persons that were born in ATL and have seen ATL become the present day city that it still is now know what the city is and is still beautiful in regards to its mystique and captivating charm that made NGC place it on its list. Now if all of these infidels that wrote their opinions about the city and are not originally from ATL take a deep breath, click your heels twice and take your infidel behinds back to where you came from!
And I love the diversity here….Black White Indian Asian Mexican…yes Mexican. I am White. I love all these different foods they all bring here. I have tried them all. Indian has become one of my favorites. Life without all these different cultures would get boring.
I moved here a decade ago for school, never expecting I’d stay but here I am. I love this city and I’ll gladly take the bad parts with it. For all of you who were looking for Mayberry, I’m sorry you didn’t find it here. Good luck with that.
To answer the question posted. It’s got to be all the parks and festivals that are spread throughout the year. Atlanta is such a wonderfully social city. And it’s a beautiful city.
Everyone that thinks this city is scary…turn off the news and go outside and meet your neighbors.
Hey Mactown Marvel, do you have a moment to get out of your trailer and tell me why nothing changed in Atlanta until the “infidels” showed up and started cleaning your town up?
Is this a joke? Piedmont Park is a dump compared to REAL parks. It’s just a bunch of grass with a ‘lake’ and a splattering of trees. NatGeo must have been desperate to complete their list.
Atlanta is a joke of a city. St. Louis has a city park that is 12 MILES around and it is beautiful. It makes Piedmont look like somebody’s backyard. The art museum here suffers from a lack of art, and the zoo is about 50 years behind the times. The Botanical Garden isn’t much bigger than gardens in many private homes–again, St. Louis has a Garden about 20 times larger. Maybe Atlanta suffers from lack of civic interest in all these things. What Atlanta does have is traffic and nasty, rude people.
One of the main reasons that Atlanta is unappealing to so many people is that it tries so hard to be something, usually the _____ of the south. For example, there was an article yesterday asking if Atlanta was the LA of the south (really?). When I moved here, I heard people call it the NY of the south (not even close). Little Five Points is made up to be a slice of San Francisco and Buckhead is supposed to be like Beverly Hills. I don’t know what Atlantic Station is supposed to be – perhaps an experiment in kitsch.
It is really annoying because if this place wasn’t too obsessed with trying to be like somewhere else its optimistic and friendly people could create a place more interesting and unique.
I just moved to Atlanta from Charlotte last weekend and am definitely liking it so far. I lived in Virginia-Highlands and have yet to experience any of the bad things people mention.
My goodness, what negativitities amongst our very own population…I, for one, happen to agree with the list. Atlanta is one beautiful city-full of diversity, culture, amazing entertainment, shopping, world class culinary cuisine, one of a kind parks, historical Vistorian homes on expansive tree-lined streets, mini ‘neighborhoods’ where there is literally something for everybody, countless Fortune 500 companies headquartered here,just hours from the mountains or the ocean, live music galore, art exhibits, and tons of Civil War history!?? I didn’t even mention Hartsfield-where we can literally jump on a non-stop flight to Seoul, Korea. Ladies and gentlemen, coming from a world travelled native Atlantan (born and raised right here and still here), I suggest some of you start seeing the beauty and intrigue of this fascinating city…
To chuck allison: why do you even read the paper online then if you’re so happy to be done with Atlanta? Let me guess, you probably wish Atlanta were South Carolina or Alabama with no real major cities and you probably were rooting for Joe Wilson when he made his outburst in Congress. Am I right?
Atlanta is AWFUL! I thought a city with this much crime, traffic, corruption was the norm for a large city. I was so upset when my company transferred me to the Chicago branch but I couldn’t be happier here in Chicago. Even the “windy city” has less corruption than Atlanta. And for the previous poster who mentioned mayor Daley as corrupt, you obviously don’t know anything about him. And for those of you who are going to tell me to “read my own town’s newspaper” and “stop worrying about Atlanta”. I just want you to know that the only reason I read the AJC is to keep up with my alma mater in sports.
There are negative people in this world who see only problems.
There are positive people in this world who see the beauty.
Thank goodness an unbiased, well-respected magazine can see the truth.
Atlanta is what you make it. There are hundreds of beautiful places to go and things to do. I’m highly suspect of anyone who derides it to the contrary. Some folks must not get out much. Or maybe you live in the suburbs. It may not be a top 50/100 “city of a lifetime” but it’s wonderful all the same. And the people here are easily the friendliest I’ve encountered of any place I’ve visited in the world.
And some of the comments here are really off the deep end! Atlanta as “racist” and “mean” and not having an “attractive downtown” (NYC, DC, Orlando, Nashville – haha, are you people serious?!). Plenty of people with an apparent axe to grind. Atlanta isn’t perfect, but every city has crime, traffic, etc.
moot: “It is really annoying because if this place wasn’t too obsessed with trying to be like somewhere else its optimistic and friendly people could create a place more interesting and unique.”
Read my post above from yesterday where I address this tendency of Atlanta to ‘pose’ among the elite cities, which infuriates the city purists and people like you but nonetheless Atlanta mostly pulls it off.
By the way, I think you’re dead wrong about Atlanta not being the LA of the South. I actually have always found that to be a pretty good description of what Atlanta is with the immense similarities between the two places.
You go Vince. Negative people suck. They are less happy and less productive. And they live a shorter life. You have to look at Atlanta and the metro area as a whole. Examining one aspect gives you no insight. Have you checked out all the aspects of the areas? All cities have certain parts that are not good. So don’t go to them.
To Chris: “I just want you to know that the only reason I read the AJC is to keep up with my alma mater in sports.”
I’m ROFL now. That may be the case, but you obviously can’t resist stopping over to a forum about Atlanta being featured in National Geographic to weigh in, can you?
Piedmont Park is stunning. Except when it gets turned into a fairground several times a year with the festivals. Portal potties, crowds, litter, trampled ground are the order of the day. Va-Hi is quaint.Inman Park is nice. Grant Park would be wondetful except for the continued crime. Atlanta is a mixed bag of good and bad.
I agree with Get Real, DC is a much better city than Atlanta ever will be. Yeah there is crime, but at least it rarely bleeds over into the areas people want to be. I never felt threatened walking Cap. Hill, downtown, Georgetown, Adams Morgan or any other similar neighborhood at night. I loved living there and am trying to move back right now. Oh and the Metro system actually gets you to most places in the city you need to go. I drove my car about twice a month when I lived there.
Why do we get upset because the article expresses the good in Atlanta and does not tell us what we already know about traffic, etc.?
One of the oldest “Southern Hospitality” traditions is:
Just smile, and say Thank You
I love living in the metro-atl area but I can’t for the life of me understand why piedmont park would make the top 50 places on the earth. Just off the top of my head, I don’t think I’d rate it in the top 50 in GA.
I love Atlanta and I’m glad it’s been recognized as a great city to visit. For those of you who hate it, and have left and/or are planning to why are you still reading the AJC? I’m just saying…..morons.
I’ve been many places in my life time, and lived a couple as well Chicago, Miami,and Roanoke,VA and originating from Oklahoma City, I came here in the early 80’s fell in love with it and it has been an affair every since. The reason for the haters they look for the bad and not the good. Don’t like just get to steppin but don’t try and distort some one else who may be thinking of visiting this great city, way to go NG.
Trash/Litter on the street every 20ft High weeds and grass. Have you all seen most of the on-ramps with all of the over grown weeds and trash not to mentioned someone or organizations asking for a hand out. Come to five points and have lunch then tell me what you think?
As a resident of West Atlanta, I can tell you with all assurance that you are dead wrong. You might have gone to Tech, but you don’t live near here. I live in one of the newly “gentrified” neighborhoods on the West side (or Midtown West…whatever you want to call it) and crime is definitely out of control. We had to hire private security because of day-time home invasions. Car-break ins and pedestrian robberies are a common occurrence.
So if you don’t know what you are talking about (and it is obvious from your rosy red picture of intown life…a life it would appear that you don’t even live) then please don’t call others out.
That being said I feel that Atlanta DOES deserve to be on this list. Things are taking a positive turn in this city because the people moving in are working hard to make things better. Crime is ever present, but facing up to it and combating it with every tool available will make the good things about this charming city even better. I love the Fall with its festivals (Candler Park, Arts, L5P Halloween, etc…) most of all!
My work and studies have taken me to far flung places over the past thirty years. I have lived in the most modern and metropolitan cities on earth and I have lived in third world countries. Without exception, every place on earth has is charms and challenges. I take the best from any place and make it my own. And, I feel sorry for people who can’t see beauty except for a narrowly defined ideal. I get the feeling that the negative posts in this thread are simply the work of narrow-minded simpletons. So be it, they deserve their place and have their voice.
As for me, I plan to finish my journey in Atlanta. I like to save the best for last.
I’ve lived here for most of my 56 years, and I have a pretty strong love/hate relationship with the place. I love the region, but sometimes find what people are making of the place–especially when they try to remake it in the image of some beloved somewhere else–is pretty saddening.
People who live in Atlanta may take for granted how extraordinarily green the city is. By contrast, it’s really pretty nice to see newcomers look with amazement at how completely the city is nestled in a forest. More and more, I also find the architecture is getting more interesting, though it strikes me that, regarding architecture, what the city needs most is more grand public spaces like the Woodruff Arts Center–not just grand buildings, but entire spaces that feed the spirit.
Piedmont Park and, to a lesser extent, Grant Park, are beautiful places, truly great places for people and for nature. Thinking about how wonderfully these parks work, I can’t help but think that much of what’s wrong with the city stems from the fact that planners have literally ripped its heart open by staging I-75/85 and I-20 in the middle of the city. Imagine what kind of city this would be if, instead of the downtown connector, we had a vast public park or, if not that, at least a network of forested neighborhoods matching the surrounding area. I think the fact that we live in a city with a damaged heart is part of what makes the city so inclined to identity silliness and flux.
As for crime and racism, I don’t think in either case we have problems anywhere near as bad as you find in other parts of the country. Large cities like Chicago and Miami are horribly polarized along racial lines, and the violence you find there and in other cities is largely worse than what you find here. Granted, the abject poverty in some parts of Atlanta is shocking and saddening, but there are far worse places.
I hope the city will grow more great public places like the Woodruff Center and Piedmont Park–and maybe that is what the Beltline will bring, if it ever gets built. I’m convinced that what makes cities great is the public spaces they offer; while we have a few wonderful public spaces, we have much to do to cultivate what we could here to make a really great city.
I have lived in Atlanta since 1989 and Atlanta is a great place to live with lots to do. Read the newspapers, listen to the radio, go to the mountains, lakes, parks, etc. Yes – there are lots to do here. However, since after the Olympics, Atlanta did change a bit. We have had an influx of over 350,000 people move in a matter of a three year span and continuing to move. Traffic is very bad but hopefully, plans are in the workings to change in the future. When it comes to mass transit, we need bus service expansion. We need more officers to patrol neighborhoods. But you know what! I love Atlanta. This is my home and no matter who says negative things about it, I still love it to life. Who don’t like it could leave it. This is a “free” country and you can move elsewhere.
I was never so glad to get out of Atlanta, lived there 10 years and it was not a plesant experience, traffic, red necks, Republicans, and the government is so corrupt. It’s like a 3rd world country.
Who ever selected the top 50 places obviously did not spend much time in Atlanta! What a joke – we don’t even have sidewalks here! Traffic is horrendous. The economy sucks. Corruption runs rampid in city government. And the city is devoid of culture!
And, I agree with some of the comments, I have lived in several major metropolitan areas, including NYC. I have NEVER encounted the level racism and hate that is in this city.
i want to know how long these Atlanta bashers have lived here.
it must be difficult to live in Atlanta when it is not “perfect” like the city you lived in before.
yes, the traffic has become worse over the years and one solution is for you people to GO BACK TO WHERE EVER YOU CAME FROM.
Are they kidding — “place of a lifetime” if you like crime, traffic, poor air quality, poor public schools, poor local government and leadership — corruption, steel plate covered roads, poor infrastructure, way too many people, thugs, rap, humidity, trees everywhere, poor public transportation, etc….
The obsession with place is an interesting phenomenon. Many people search for a place to live that will make them happy, while ignoring that place often has little to do with happiness. Relatedly, many of these posts tell you much more about the poster than they do the city of Atlanta.
And for the record, I’m a lifelong resident of Atlanta. I love Atlanta, and I think it has a lot going for it. It needs a lot of work and more people like me who will love it.
When I saw the piece was headlined in this morning’s online edition I figured we’d see a fresh batch of trolls – and I wasn’t disappointed. Good morning Allie F. Good morning Will. Let me ask you, why are you guys so angry about Atlanta? Do you think you might be projecting your hurt and frustration over unfortunate incidents you’ve experienced onto the city perhaps?
Look, Atlanta does have crime, traffic and racism. But what major city doesnt. Just start at the beginning of the list. Amsterdam?!? That city is known world wide as a filthy city (in many meanings of the word). Almost every major city on the list has terrible crime and most have an awful political atmosphere. Im not saying that New York or Chicago shouldn’t have been on that list with Atlanta, but let’s remember the criterion for the list. It is a list of wonderfully unique places to visit and soak in sights and culture you can’t find anywhere else in the world. It is not saying that Atlanta is perfect, far from it. Some of the “flaws” contribute to the uniqueness that put Atlanta on the list in the first place. So let’s not bash it because you didn’t enjoy your time here or have had a few bad experiences in traffic or downtown, and let’s remember that despite everything, Atlanta has a great deal to offer.
If every notable “guide” or “survey” points out how valuable an asset our tree-cover is, why do the politicians insist on sucking up to developers who want to cut down every tree in sight?
For all of the City of Atlanta haters….MOVE or if you don’t already live in the City of Atlanta…don’t move here!!!!
I just wish there were more green spaces within the city like Piedmont Park. Yes, there is definitely room for improvements overall, but Atlanta is still a great city. I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world and there are only a few places that can compare and/or better. The majority of those places are definitely outside of the US as oppose to being in the US.
I thought Atlanta could qualify for the list until I saw all of the negative comments on this post. Get a life and move along! Atlanta would certainly improve without your award-winning attitude.
I love Atlanta. I have been here since November 95. If it had a beach it would be perfect. Every city has crime and corrupt politicians. When I go back to the north after 3 days I am ready to return to my Atlanta. Hey maybe it is not for everybody(so leave!!!!!) The most beautiful woman live here and the good weather last longer. Hey traffic sucks, but hey I can live with that. I love the melting pot is has become.Yes there is old school racist here, but that is the few. I have a problem with the confederate flag, but I feel eventually a change is coming.
I have lived in Atlanta for 32 years. Many times, I have thought about leaving for greener pastures but I realized every major city has similar negative issues. Our biggest challenge has consistently been the overriding perception that it is unsafe to be out and around, particularly at night, in the downtown/city center. This MAY be slowly changing, but not nearly fast enough for our own good. While common courtesy in this country seems no longer to be common enough, at least here that doesn’t seem to be as big an issue (except I-85 at rush hour).
Skyscrapers piercing an emarld canvas from downtown to Midtown to Buckhead to Sandy Springs and Perimeter/Dunwoody. There is really no other place like it. Yes, we do have too many bad actors, but all major cities do. If you are overly fixated with YBMs(Young Black Males),yes, you will miss out on great things this city has to offer.
I would bet that the majority of the petty little folks ripping on our fair city haven’t done or seen much beyond their own big box shopping centers and wouldn’t know what to do with a visitor beyond driving by the Big Chicken.
I’ve lived in several big cities and spent considerable time in others (Washington, Chicago, NYC, San Fran, etc). While I enjoyed my time visiting/living elsewhere and took advantage of what those towns had to offer, I can promise that they have more than their share of rude people, racism, poverty, crime, drugs, and all other social ills that plague metro areas.
Get out and SEE your city. Piedmont is a lovely place to visit, and not just for festivals. Been to the Botanical Gardens? Taken a tour of Oakland Cemetery? News flash – the Cyclorama has nothing to do with bicycles…check it out.
I’ve lived in Atlanta since the mid-70s, and I have to say that for me, except for the trees, most of what was absolutely wonderful and charming about the city is gone, mostly by way of the wrecking ball. The result of “progress” in this town appears to be rows of corporate cookie-cutter establishments that I can barely make out as I drive by, because there’s always someone driving right on your butt, wherever you are. The road traffic and congestion is insufferably stressful, and basically makes me want to just get where I’m going, which is usually out of the city as fast as possible. Have to agree with other posters here about the city government though. I think Shirley has tried, but the conditions she was left by the criminal who preceded her with are more than one person can change overnight or over eight years. The city government is deep in nepotism, and needs someone who is willing to clean house to really bring on positive progress.
These people who live in ATL and are making cracks on it just need to leave. I’ve been trying to move to ATL now for several months.
Atlanta has a lot to offer. It is a green city, has wonderful weather, great parks, not 1 or 2 but 3 skylines, world class shopping, a subway system, hundreds of concerts a year, Fox Theater, UnderGround, Lenox, Perimiter, Midtown and the list goes on and on! I LOVE ATLANTA and I can not wait to move there! ATL ROCKS!
I’m sorry to sound smart-assy, but “ghetto of a lifetime” might be a more appropriate title for the City these days. Atlanta has taken a steady decline over the 20+ years I’ve lived here. Sprawl, traffic, smog, and the daily round of teens in SUVs who think sticking an AK47 in someone’s face is a “fun” way to make some money. Calling Atlanta the “Place Of A Lifetime” is like calling Detroit “Mayberry, USA”. Sorry. I just want some of whatever it is they’re smoking at National Geographic.
I moved to Atlanta in 1982, from the North. I thought it was the most beautiful, friendliest city I’ve ever seen or lived in. Trees, green grass, blue skies, friendly people, beautiful skyline downtown, and that sweet southern tea. (nothing like it) but somewhere after the Olympics, the city seem to change. I didn’t mind the change that much, except for the southern hospitality seemed to start fading. Unfortunately, 2.5 years ago, the economy forced me relocate back north. I do miss it. I still read the AJC everyday.
Atlanta’s best features are its weather, terrain, affordability and skylines (notice I didn’t say hospitality). Those you can find in many other places. Yes, there’s more to do here than in Akron or Boise or any other 3rd-rate city, but Atlanta doesn’t compare to the world-class cities in this list. It is a second-tier city that needs to grow in cultural, political and social ways. Why do I live here? Because for me the mix is better than just about any other place, yet I see it growing too much in the wrong ways as it aspires to be on these “best international” lists. I fear we’ve thrown out the baby with the bath water.
Again, the usual Atlanta-bashers are out, and revealing their lack of knowledge about the city. One complains that Piedmont Park is not accessible, due to lack of parking and transit access. I thought everyone had heard by now about the large new parking deck which opened several months ago, after considerable public controversy. As for transit, it’s easy. Take MARTA to the Midtown station, walk east 3 blocks (passing some excellent restaurants on the way), and there you are.
Then we are told that Atlanta’s botanical garden is not as large as the one in St. Louis. Size isn’t everything, and when it comes to quality, the ABG is considered one of the nation’s leaders, especially for its orchid center (funny, if we had the largest botanical garden, and bragged about it, these same people would be sternly lecturing us on our obsession with “bigness”!). The ABG is also one of only two gardens in the US featuring the Henry Moore exhibit (the NY botanical garden was the other). See it.
We’re told “the art museum suffers from a lack of art”. Well it’s true the High got started late, and lacks the volume or quality of European paintings found in many other US cities. That is a source of disappointment to me. But to peddle that as the entire story of visual art in Atlanta is misleading. The High’s collections are continuing to grow, with smart acquisitions in contemporary art, photography, and folk art. Its exhibition schedule leans a bit too heavily on blockbusters, but there are smaller, more scholarly shows there as well – you just have to pay attention. But the most revealing phrase was “the art museum” -as if the High was the only art museum in Atlanta. I’ve met a number of people who think that. I take them to the Carlos Museum, and they always say “I had no idea there was anything in Atlanta like that!” There are superb shows at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, MOCAGA, Spelman, Oglethorpe, MODA, and several galleries. Atlanta is also an important theatre town. There’s an energy here that’s lacking in some older American cities, which may explain why the population of some (e.g., St. Louis) has decreased, while the city of Atlanta’s population has increased by 25% in the past two decades (from 400,000 to over 500,000).
This population increase in the CITY will come as a surprise to anyone who believes that “everyone has moved 35 minutes north of the city”.
I liked the comment by Matt C.: “Everyone that thinks this city is scary…turn off the news and go outside and meet your neighbors.” Community involvement makes a big difference in one’s appreciation of the city. There’s plenty of work to be done here, on transportation, on expanding the park system, on improving arts facilities, etc. – get involved.
I’ve grown up around Atlanta my whole life. I personally think that Atlanta and the metro area has been making a comeback the last 6-7 years. Howell Mill, Highlands, Atlantic Station, Mid-town are all cool places. Crime is a problem, but there is also some really nice homes within the perimeter. I think three things have hurt Atlanta:
1.) it’s infrastructure is ill equipped to handle the massive growth that has taken place in the last 20 years( hence the problem with traffic etc.)
2.) White Flight in the 1970’s and early 1980’s and the birth of surburbia, which has done nothing but plunge the city and metro suburbs into decay.
3.) the influx of transplants from the north( although to be fair, Atlanta has been known as a “Carpet Bagger” City ever since reconstruction).
I too have visited some great cities. But at the end of the day, Atlanta is home to me and I really can’t imagine living anywhere else.
and see how long you last.
This is not a top city. Yet. It will take a major shift in thinking on the part of a lot of folks to earn that merit badge.
I’ve lived here since ‘64 and it’s better, but it’s not that great.
Was an Atlanta resident for six years, now just the occasional tourist. Liked it at first, but then the glow quickly wore off, so I moved on. I can understand why NGT saw it the way they did. Tourists have no concept of the high taxes and fees the residents pay for substandard services, the oppressive traffic, the ever-struggling public school system, latent racism, homophobia, and the ineptness of both the administrative and legislative arms of the city government. Plus considering how much of the city’s strained resources are being expended to make the visitor experience positive, it’s good to know that somebody noticed. It may be the one thing in Atlanta that is working, but tourists don’t vote on election day.
I think Piedmont Park would be a lot nicer if it didn’t have a new multi-story parking lot in it’s center. The eastern entrace to the park is more like a fortress than a park. The Conservancy and the Botanical Gardens have comandeered a portion of the park for their own use against the practically universal wishes of all residential stakeholders.
I agree with the article that Atlanta is a great city to see and visit. Every large city has its share of problems so I would suggest to the people complaining to quit watching the local news. There is a lot of good going on in this city that you will never hear about. Your negative views are controlled by your thoughts so look for the good going on in Atlanta and again, turn off the negative news.
National Geographic Traveler recognizes Atlanta (the city and metro area) as one of the “50 Places of a Lifetime.” That’s funny. I remember my friend joking, “Atlanta is a good place to live, not to visit.” Anyway, the essay that accompanies the NGT recognition is problematic. Aren’t others tired of these essays and comments on Atlanta that continue to preserve the false notion of “a city too busy to hate,” especially given the well documented racial and class disparities? Atlanta is a good place to live but it defies logic and reality to rank it among great places in the world.
I love Atlanta and will always love this city. Yes, Atlanta does have some problems just like every other place in the world, but it is not as bad as some are claiming it to be. As it has been mentioned, stop being so negative and some of you will begin to see the positives in this city. It is never too late to start being positive.
I have traveled to many places around the world and I believe that when you consider everything Atlanta has to offer, it’s not such a bad place to live. It does have it’s problems…politics, crime, transportation, differing cultural opinions…but most major cities struggle with these. I enjoy the vibrancy of large cities but, I don’t believe any other cities in the US are worth the costs, hassles or climate extremes. Cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam truly have so much more to offer than American cities but, like others have mentioned in this blog, they can be very difficult places to actually live. The cost of living in Atlanta is so reasonable that I can afford a great, quality lifestyle. At one point in my life I lived in a penthouse in central London but, I still felt as if I had a poor standard of living. I loved the diversity and culture the city had to offer but, again, it was such a hard, fast-paced life.
What Atlanta needs is more focus on the city center. This has already begun in Midtown and to some extent in the downtown area. I just hope it doesn’t take another 20 years to reach its potential. The city has changed so much during the time I have spent here and even if I move (most likely to Paris), I will always follow its progress. If and when that happens, I’m sure I will look back at my time here and remember how comfortable life was.
To be clear, a single MARTA fare is $1.75, but I don’t want to surprise people who are Breeze card-less with the 50 cent fee. When the fare increase begins on Oct. 1, they’ll jump to $2 per fare, or $2.50 with the card fee.
Any time you meet a payment. – Good Times.
Any time you need a friend. – Good Times.
Any time you’re out from under.
Not getting hassled, not getting hustled.
Keepin’ your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.
Just lookin’ out of the window.
Watchin’ the asphalt grow.
Thinkin’ how it all looks hand-me-down.
Good Times, yeah, yeah Good Times
Keepin’ your head above water
Makin’ a wave when you can
Temporary lay offs. – Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs. – Good Times.
Scratchin’ and surviving. – Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line – Good Times.
Ain’t we lucky we got ‘em – Good Times.
I am looking for events geared toward teenagers and youth above 13 for my radio program on WRFG. It seems that we often have events for kids and adults, but the 15-20 age group is left out. Have events been listed for teens in the past? Thank-you!
Meanwhile, akure imes: I do list teen and young adult events sometimes, but you’re right, there’s not as much out there explicitly for that group. A few ideas — a lot of local libraries have teen activities, generally met for those still in high school. Neighborhood festivals are great because they’re not age specific it all. Local theater — think Synchronicity, Horizon, 7 Stages, PushPush, the Center for Puppetry Arts or any number of other community groups — often puts on performances interesting and relevant to those age groups, and with a student discount. (Some of those groups have teen-specific workshops and performances, too.) Art walks are a great — free, dynamic and in every area from Marietta to Castleberry Hill. Does that help at all?
This article is just hilarious, not as funny as the posts responses lol The best of all is when Sunshine said that “we are too busy here to hate” ROFL (since this is the capital of the prejudice of the United States) How clueless someone can be to rate a city that they don’t live at… Atlanta is even pretty but a huge small town, in mentality and things to offer… crime, drug scene and not related to the night life that the government killed…. The positive feedbacks are clearly from people that doesn’t know other places, or are too afraid or old to do it.
Marc – Clearly you’ve chosen to throw-in with us. Your English is ESL, is it not? Why second-guess yourself? With Bush’s Anti-Christ faction being beaten back, whose foreign branch probably runs whatever country you left, America shall once more be a Light to the nations, and Atlanta, “America’s Town,” is far and above the best.
I’ve been to essentially all “other places” in the U.S., and many around the world, so I know for a fact: It’s all downhill from here.
After Bush committed 9/11 and restarted the Afghan heroin trade Atlanta was turned into “the Wal-Mart for heroin for the Southeast U.S.,” with complicity of local corruption. My hope is that Mayor Borders won’t be a party to it and with the righteous president in the White House we now have, Atlanta will be the prime beneficiary of restored America following Dr. King’s Dream.
That you found your way here might just be Grace and you should relax and accept your good fortune, but “the Devil” has plans for us all and you might just need to meet your destiny elsewhere. Some place you think is “better?” Perhaps, like a scout, you could go there and report back?
All G-d’s chillun got wings and this is a Freedom Town for those who can be cool.
Our “Well” is pure and good. You try to put something else in Atlanta’s “Well” and you’ll find “the curse causeless shall not come” unto you.
I don’t understand why everyone trys to act like Atlanta is the worst place ever. like many people have already stated it’s going to have it’s problems just like any other city. but spending my whole life in Atlanta all I have is good memories of the place. Braves games, Centenial Olympic Park, Coke city, riding Marta, the Varsity. As bad as this sounds I enjoyed seein the bums they made our city too. I do find it kinda funny how a listing in the worlds 50 prettiest places or whatever got people arguing politics. I do also agree that the city has crazy potential. Also in Utah people aren’t nearly as nice as they were back home in Ga.
[...] remember, there are plenty of good indoor events this weekend, too, from museums and libraries to For Sisters Only to a lot of events on the Weekend To-Do [...]
Indigo Girls are still on, rain or shine. If we do hear of a cancellation, I’ll post it asap! Meanwhile, let’s keeps the comments respectful toward each other, please!
Anybody know where to look for if the Braves Game is canceled tonight? I am on there site and if doesn’t have any info, leading me to believe that it is still on.
thank you for covering the atlanta dream. this team works hard and always plays hard and I hope the fan base grows bigger. come on atlanta!! support the dream!!
I just returned home from the America I Am exhibit in Atlanta. I cried when I saw the Doors of No Return. To actually see with my own eyes what my parents taught me about my history was amazing. I could feel the energy of my ancestors. Its a shame how far we’ve come, and yet we remain ‘captive’.
Top 100 places to live – yes. One of the more liveable metro areas in America with tons to do and see.
Top 100 places to visit in a lifetime – that is a stretch. Great place to visit, but I can’t say top 100 in the world in a lifetime. The south with Atlanta as a destination point yes, but just the city – no. Chris and Suzie must be shut-ins – clearly they didn’t get out and about in the city.
Enter your comments here
If you save the paper MARTA ticket you can add a fare to it and save the 50cents you paid for the paper ticket. You can do this over and over.If you don’t have a Breeze Card and plan to use a bus to a train, you have to pay twice unless you have the paper ticket to begin with. No transfers available from bus to train without a Breeze card. So a bus to train without a Breeze card can cost 4.00 one way. Train to bus is still only 1.75/ after 1 Oct 2.00. Confusing? yes.
I saw the preview last night and must say I was disappointed. Naturally the music was wonderful and the dancers were talented. However, the staging and choreography lacked cleverness. I expected something smart and simple, not crowded and over done. There were too many leaps and fake falls. The stage action was ackward in its attempt to tell a story; it didn’t work. The music demanded dancing that was clever and simple; we got crowded and confusing.
Hi Gregory! At this point, the Braves game is still on, with no delays. They suggest that folks keep an eye on Braves.com for cancellations due to weather, but it seems the bad weather would have to be much more serious than the steady rain we’ve had lately. There’s always a chance the game could be delayed by rain at the start, or after it has started, but that’s the chance we take, I suppose.
I saw it Friday night and couldn’t disagree with you more. My daughter is a ballerina and she couldn’t rave about it enough, either. We were very impressed wtih the choreography-as she said, “How do you even IMAGINE bodies doing that”, much less them actually doing it. The music, the band, the lights were all wonderful. It was a lovely tribute to Sinatra and amazing dance as well. The house was packed and the performance earned a standing ovation.
As a Georgia native having to endure the Dallas metroplex, here is one that appreciated the beauty and uniqueness while living in Atlanta, but who appreciates it all the more while living elsewhere.
Haters are everywhere and best ignored. I love that others have seen and recognize that Atlanta is truly a unique city with a million treasures to be found within its huge scope.
I really do hope that Atlantans will step up and support their Zoo Atlanta in their efforts to keep these amazing pandas. They are one of only 4 zoos on this Hemisphere with giant pandas.
This show really needs an “adult” warning label to let the potential audience know what they are going to see. As the show progressed, more and more clothing came off the dancers. At one point, the male dancers began taking the cloths off the female dancers as well as taking off their own. Then the make-out scenes, then they threw in a lesbian encounter. At that point I just had to walk out of the theater. This had such great potential. The music was fantastic, the dancing extraordinary, but the show was so objectionable morally I could never recommend.
I can do nothing but recommend this show! I went to the Saturday night preview with some friends and we had a blast. There was nothing more “adult” than what you would see on tv, no foul language, no nudity, just bodies in motion. Found the show to have so many different layers and details that I’m going to go again so I can catch something new that I may have missed before. I found it to be very clever, smart and a wonderful evening at the theater.
Once again, when it comes to the subject of “geeks” and “nerds”, all of the asshats in Atlanta come out and show their ugly, immature faces. I couldn’t participate due to a leg injury, but I have friends who did and I think it is AWESOME that so many people came together to participate and have fun.
And for the record, I’m a 34-year old, attractive, geeky female and have ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS getting laid. Neither do my male friends who attend. You know those costumed fantasies most of you men dream about but never get to see? That’s DragonCon.
Mexico didn’t do the 6 minutes like we did. Seems obvious they wouldn’t get it for that but, I guess the easiest rules to break are your own (Guinness). It’s so funny to me that these narrow minded rednecks can still only come up with “nerd” to call us. Never get laid, psshh. Try going to D*C and NOT getting laid. Anyway, it’s probably a nerd that cuts your check at the carwash every week, so you have a good time with your squeegie and I’m gonna go see if I can find some more Slave Leia’s. Open your mind fellas, life’s a lot more fun when it’s not in tunnel vision.
I was in town for the Virginia Tech-Alabama game and stumbled upon this GEM of an event! I must say my sorrows from Tech losing were quickly erased when we wandered around Dragon Con for a night! Wow……getting wasted around 73 thousand weird ass people dressed in all kinds of costumes was alot of fun!
John, I’m glad to hear you had fun. A lot of con-goers had really bad experiences being abused by VATech fans (not so much Alabama, cause they were here with it last year), so it’s nice to hear someone who actually enjoyed the whole thing!
Oh, good LORD will you people KNOCK IT OFF with the NERD thing! First off, nerds are hot. Second, you’ll find more body appropriate spandex at a Dragon*Con then you’d ever see anywhere else on the friggin’ planet and IN that body appropriate spandex are individuals that are MORE than inclined to use the bodies they were given and/or worked for. Remember, that spandex contains breasts THAT AREN’T YOURS! Third, the nerds aren’t the ones hiding behind their keyboards slinging insults. And finally, didja ever see Carrie? Be careful who you make fun of. You never know who has the power. In this case, the nerds are the ones with the power to EASILY trash your credit rating. Chill, already.
whenever i think of dragon*con, i think of guys that don’t have a chance in hell of moving out of their parents’ basement. for every bill gates and george lucas, there are millions of comic book collectors that live at home and have no social skills.
I have a college degree from a top 25 school, a good job with a nice salary, and I’m married to a beautiful woman that teaches special needs kids…
I think you people are effin nuts. Not b/c of dragon con, but b/c you actually find this record important enough to involve a lawyer. Insanity. And you wonder why the “cool” people STILL make fun of you.
“I’m just sayin’”? That’s because you’ve never gone to Dragon*Con. I’m not saying that we don’t have our share of unbathed slackers, but most people are just normal. OK, relatively normal in light of the costumes.
Ward. Thriller wasn’t a waste of time at all. I’d do it again and again because it’s fun. The record is kind of at the bottom of the list of priorities concerning the dance itself. The best part was just being part of something that huge and making new friends in the process.
JoeV and BS? This doesn’t involve the court system as of yet. The appeal is strictly with Guinness. There is no legal action taken at this time.
It is funny (sarcasm intended) how some people try to tear down what other people do only to make themselves feel better. Sounds a lot like…HIGH SCHOOL! Grow up!
The wife and I had a great time at D*C and this event. Granted, I have two left feet and no sense of rhythm,but it was fun just the same. It was great to hang with a lot of really fun and enthusiastic people and try to do something different for a change.
LOL, I enjoyed watching all the Con chicks dissing the jockboys at the Hyatt. (grin) but don’t worry they weren’t laughing at you,boys. they were laughing with you…honest.(grin) payback is a hot bitch in a spandex costume sometimes….
JoeV: The lawyer was not “called”. He’s the husband of one of the organizers and was instrumental in making sure that all of Guinness’ rules were followed to the letter. In doing so, he has every right to be involved with this appeal process with Guinness because they appear to have not used their own guidelines in deciding which attempt to accept as the record-holder.
The guidelines were as follows:
1. The number of people who are hoping to constitute the record must all be well versed in the dance moves.
2. A loud start and finish signal recognized by all participants must be used. Two experienced timekeepers (e.g. from a local athletics club) must time the attempt with stopwatches accurate to 0.01 seconds.
3. All participants must dance from the start to the end of the song.
4. The original Michael Jackson’s Thriller (USA) music must be played loud enough for all participants to hear.
5. The original dance movements from the Thriller movie must be performed by all participants.
6. Participants may be in a single line; any number of lines or in any other arrangement.
7. All participants must be performing the same routine simultaneously, thus all participants must be able to either see instructors or follow their movements on a video screen.
8. The chosen dance area must be large enough to not only hold the people but to allow them to dance unrestricted the required steps.
What’s in question are guidelines 3, 5 and 7. Not everyone in Mexico danced to the whole song (their MJ impersonator danced to more than half and the rest only performed to about 3 minutes of the video choreography) and the music from the video was played rather than the 6 minute album version which is what we were told by Guinness to use.
We do not, in any way, want to diminish what Mexico did, but we feel that they should be granted a separate record based on the guidelines we were given.
There will be no court involved. This is between the organizer and Guinness. It’s not important enough to anyone to fight it in the court system, not to mention it would be England’s court, so we’re not even going there. Get your panties out of the wad, k?
I’ve spoken to three other people that have attempted this very record, two of which held it, and they had the very same requirements we were given. I don’t care if people don’t think this is important, but I think it is to a certain point. Technically, the event in Leicester, England should hold the record right now with 475 dancers since that beats Kevin Dua’s record of 242. It’s not fair to Kevin or Anand (the English organizer), and it’s really not fair to the original holder of the record, Ines Markelle, who first made the record in Toronto of 2006. All three of them followed Guinness’ guidelines, as we did, and that’s how Mexico and Barcelona should be judge (Barcelona also attempted it on August 29th with 700 but also did the wrong version).
Why make rules if they’re not expected to be followed? How would Georgia fans feel if during the Georgia/Florida game the rules were changed to reflect something the Gators did that hurt the Bulldogs’ chance to win the game, but didn’t give the Bulldog’s the same option? Same thing regardless if it’s a bunch of nerds or mundanes. Changing the rules in the middle of a competition isn’t fair no matter what, and that’s the point we’re trying to make. If we can’t get Guinness to see they’ve made a mistake, we’ll move on to something else. We all know who holds the record in truth, though, and that’s us with 903 dancers.
And really? Nerds not getting laid? Are we still in high school? Grow up, and thanks for playing.
Sorry to be jumping into this so late — lots of news to keep us busy in Atlanta today — but please keep the comments respectful, and move the conversation forward. I welcome a variety of perspectives, but we can share those perspectives without insulting each other. Thanks, everybody!
I was dancer #618 and had the honor of being a dance captain for the Dragon*Con event. It was a fantastic experience, a wonderful tribute to MJ, and created inumerable new friendships among the participants, so even if Guinness won’t follow their own rules, we gained far more than we lost. BUT (and this is mostly addressed to those rolling their eyes at us having a lawyer involved) why would we NOT fight for something we worked so hard for? And to truly fight we must have someone meticulous and versed in the legal system. It would be a slap in the face to all the participants to not fight for their record, and sheer stupidity to do it without a lawyer backing us. I’m sorry if there are some that cannot understand what a cool thing this was, but everyone that was there knows, and there are thousands more who went to Dragon*Con who are kicking themselved for not participating. I’m looking forward to dancing again next year, for a Guinness record or not!
Brooke (hot nerd & Evey Hammond [V for Vendetta] in the offical video)
Seems the issue to discuss here would be Guinness World Records and their requirements and how seriously those requirements should be taken. Sure it’s pretty silly to go for a record in anything if you think about it, but Guinness is a money making business with an old reputation for having high standards. If they aren’t sticking to those standards, then what are their records worth really?
Seems appropos Dragoncon would pick a song by Michael Jackson to dance to, given their founder’s predicament.
Oh, and the prison in the Philippines did it better. And with 400+ more dancers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o
And, for the record, D*C attendees aren’t geeks or nerds.
They’re dorks.
Dragon con definitly isn’t my thing, but I am SO proud to see my fellow citizens come together like that and pull off something so good! I was AMAZED at how together everyone was and how well they all did!
Their problem was requiring attendees to be registered for the convention, the costumes, and the small amount of space they had. I understand “containment” for better control, but it obscured the point. Face it, the pictures of the feat look puny compared to the Mexico version. With as many fans as Jackson has here in Atlanta, the Dragon*Con version shocks in it’s lack.
They should try again next year. Or better yet, some other group should try in Centennial Park on the one-year anniversary of his passing. Keep Dragon*Con, nerdiness, lawyers, and too many restrictions out of this. They sucked the fun out of “Thriller”. C’mon!
Nerds, geeks, dorks. All of which invent all the devices in which you “normals” wouldn’t be able to live without. They teach your children, run the companies you work for and in essence rule the world. SO before you go giving “virtual wedgies” to people who appear different than you, maybe you should look around first and make sure the nerd, geek or dork who signs your paycheck isn’t dressed in a Stormtrooper costume getting his groove on with a hot Lara Croft costumed vixen. You might be surprised at what you find. Oh, and I am sure there are several “normals” out there who geek out in their own way. Pass judgment, do not, young Padawan, for the GEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH!
I just think it’s funny how people who play fantasy football think they can make fun of people who play DnD. If you’re a football fan, you go to lots of games, you tailgate, and you paint your face/chest/dye your hair, you’re a geek… just about something slightly more mainstream. It’s no different from people who choose to dress up as stormtroopers, and a good deal less expensive. Just saying.
Either way, it was a lot of fun for the participants, and I do think that Guinness is being a bit lax with their own rules- I think the separate records is a good, and fair to everyone idea.
As to the people who are insulting the people who attend DragonCon? No one will be safe until nerd persecution ends.
13,000 people… Much respect. I love dragon con, liked MJ, and the guy died tryin. I gotta give it up for Mexico, though, they came out in force! And for anyone who thinks otherwise; see Brock upstairs from me. It’s fame on the internets precedes it to a far greater fame than Guinness and trivial bashering about the internet about numbers and form. I’d give the record for Conventions to Atlanta, record for volume to Mexico, and record for best performance to the Philippines (thanks Brock).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o
(Checked to be sure, yep, that’s the one. And as hmr mentioned, Dragon Con isn’t about the awards, it’s about geek lovin. People don’t die at our parties… Roger Rabbit always gets saved
@Katie: We all had about 3 hours of rehearsal time together in spread-out groups just prior to the attempt. Some of us used the thrilltheworld.com videos to practice beforehand and there were small groups that got together at random points over the course of the weekend but we only had one run-through all together right before the attempt. By that point we figured we had it as well as we were gonna have it.
All in all, world-records and lawyers and Guinness craziness aside, it was still the most awesome thing I have ever done and I will never forget it
As is obv., many people who attend this “convention” are incredibly thin-skinned when a wee bit o’ sport is made of crowd of people who glue pointy ears to themselves. It’s also worth noting that d*c was founded by an oddball who takes oatmeal baths and sits indicted as a child molester. Do they still sponsor fund-raisers for the wheezing freak? Does he get under-the-table income from d*c?
First off I was one of the D*Con Thriller dancers, I am married with 3 children (so much for the nerds don’t get laid comments) and I give a huge congrats to Mexico for the shear number of people who came out to show their love for MJ, but if they danced the correct version required by Guinness should they not have a full length version of this posted on the various video websites like youtube? All us good, fun-loving D*Con Thriller people have a FULL LENGTH video showing our attempt for the record! And to all you haters out there: Karma is a bitch and she will get you!!!
Ha ha. Nice to see that hate is alive and well among many of these responders. Hope that works out for you. Realy, I do. Meanwhile, people who want to get off their butts and have some fun are busy making other plans. They party with friends and dance to “Thriller.” Way to go!
@i’m just sayin – I went to Dragon*Con. I do not live in my parents basement, but rather have my own apartment where I live. I work as a Regulatory Attorney by day. I regularly go out with friends and participate in a myriad of Social activities.
I think you need to re-think your opinion of Dragon*Con attendees. Your claims are more correct for certain Star Trek Groups, but Dragon*Con is above that.
The prisoners are awesome, yes, but this isn’t about performance abilities. If we had all day every day to practice, and nothing else to do, we all could dance like that. This is about Guinness changing the rules in the middle of the game. Step away from the prisoners because they’re not even contenders in this discussion (although I do recommend their other videos…they do all sorts of dances not just Thriller).
@Maya — It was a DragonCon event, so anyone that participated had to have a membership. Just like if you wanted to go to see Shatner and Nimoy or Terry Giliam, you would have to have a membership. There’s no getting around that.
It was done in a ballroom this year because that’s how it had to be done. Sorry you disagree, but it had to be done on-site, and ballrooms are what we have to work with. If you disagree on how it had to be done, then you are more than welcome to organize an event yourself in the park or where ever.
The whole point of our argument is NOT who looked better, but who followed the rules. I think Mexico deserves the recognition for getting that many people out there, but not the Guinness record. Just like the William and Mary students, the Thrill the World people, and Leicester, England participants, we followed the guidelines set by Guinness themselves, and Mexico did not. And since I was the organizer and the one involved with Guinness since May (we started this going before MJ died), I can answer any questions as to what those guidelines are.
And again I ask to please get over this whole middle-school name calling. I know the internet is anonymous and many people feel they can just hurl insults (White Republican Male, you have been reported, btw), and that goes for both sides. We enjoy our weekend at DragonCon for many different reasons. We see old friends, drink, costume, go to panels, play games, hook up, and *gasp* even watch football on Saturday afternoon. Grow up, already.
Oh, and as far as the person that started DragonCon, he hasn’t been a part of this for many, many years. I would even go so far to say that most of the people that attend wouldn’t know who he is. Moving on…
Wow. It’s amazing how anonymity of the internet brings out the worst in some people. Tsk. Tsk. I must comment on one thing… for those who choose to bash DragonCon attendees as being nerds.. please keep in mind that we are ALL nerds, dweebs or geeks in some aspects of our lives. Dance. Sports. Art. Gaming. Fitness. Choices of career. What is an amazing experience and/or lifestyle for one person is a complete drab for another. Sometimes, it is even incomprehensible.
With all that being said – if DragonCon isn’t your thing, that’s cool. However, to attempt to discredit the intelligence or passion of any of those who chose to dance in the routine, rather shows a lack of education and consideration for anyone other than yourself.
For those of us who did dance: We met new friends. We overcame challenges. We bonded with strangers. We participated in something very few people will ever do. We had a blast. Regardless of what Guinness finally rules, we have memories that petty people will never diminish.
We ARE the 2009 DragonCon Thriller dancers. Hear us roar. (roar-turn?)
Well put Ailarie. I for one will never understand the allure of sports. Do I bash them? No. I think it’s great that people can get together for sporting events, it’s exciting to share something with so many people that you don’t even know.
Now look at it from the other side. Are we really so different? You paint yourselves, wear wigs, dress up for your team etc. This year, I painted all exposed skin (face and neck), wore a wig, and armor. Showing enthusiasm is showing enthusiasm no matter how you look at it.
I’d love to see a day where the football fans make their way into the hotels to join us after their game and have a drink with us, hell buy a ticket for Sunday and actually DANCE Thriller with us. I can’t guarantee it’ll change your life but, if you just let go, forget about all those misconceptions and everything you thought you knew about us, I think you’d be in for one of the most (no pun intended) thrilling events of your life. It’s all about fun.
Hi, I’m Emory and Preston’s grandmother. I’ve brought them to the Nature Center three times. I am so impressed with this wonderful place! The concept is marvelous as a learning center for all of us. Thank you for making this available to all of us. Keep up the good work.
Just that urbane, open-minded sophisticates feel it’s okay, even admirable to mock anything the least bit traditional, rural or wholesome in life. That’s all.
No “Giant Stove” like the Michigan State Fair of yesteryear but make sure you get some of the roasted corn on the cob from the boy scouts. It’s the best!!!
Why does everything here need to be compared to up north where ya’ll come from? Just enjoy what there is at the fair and stop the “Oh, it was better where we came from”…
This year they have a booth where they try to guess the # of natural teeth you have. If they miss by more than 3, you get a UGA t-shirt and hat. That way you will fit in with the rest of the University of Georgia rednecks on gameday. Now you can say you know Jack Schitt.
Jamie, ignore the ignorants. We were army and when we were in SC for just four short months, we were there September and October and for one day, the kids get out of school and are given free tix to get in to the state fair. The sights and aromas that are distinctly that of fair fare have indelibly left the connection of fair time and autumn for me.
I was sad when we moved here with our kids and found Ga didn’t give the day off from school or the free tix for school kids, but other than that the fair is a fun time full of nostalgia and the official start of autumn for us!
Wow, I was just trying to confirm the Mexico Thriller record and see all this. I can’t believe this childish insanity. “Nerds” have the most money, most power… Think Bill Gates was a social butterfly??? …and if you want to get biblical, “the meek shall inherit”…oh wait, I guess that already happend? God or Darwin, either way, join us or get your paychecks from us, it doesn’t matter.
Now as the intellectually superior here, let me state simply… Rules are rules… In a game of football, if a team broke the rules…say, had identical triplet running backs that they switched out during game time. They didn’t play by the rules, but they had the most people, so they should win? Just as you bullies who THINK you are the majority would fuss over a bad call or a broken rule in sports, this is something we had passion about, we did it within the rules, and we were not recognized. Maybe simpler for discrimination, maybe due to stupidity, it doesn’t matter.
I could go into the whole ‘omg why get a lawyer’ talk, but analyzing the lack of comprehension hurts my head. I have lawyers deal with ebay sellers who send me the wrong item…but it’s simply cheaper to have him deal with it, then deal with it myself. *shrug* Tis life.
Hi Becky! I don’t know all the paths they considered, but was told the walls and buildings around Sifly Piazza were, in some cases, just shy of safely getting the horse into the space. (To be clear, this is the courtyard area that opened with the expansion in 2005, has the restaurant seating etc. It was always intended to include outdoor sculpture, although they obviously didn’t plan for a 24-foot horse and its base.)
Why is it some people have to make an inane comment about everything they see? If you have nothing constructive to add to the conversation when asked, just move along. Find something nice to say about something or anyone. It won’t embarrass you nearly as much as you think.
Jamie, welcome to the Atlanta area. Please disregard the twitterheads, I think most of us appreciate the simpler sights, sounds, and even tastes of our daily planet. We won’t remember that expensive trinket, but we will remember an unexpected kind gesture.
[...] we’re all aware that I’m a big fan of the dinosaur fossils at Fernbank and Tellus, but I’m not geeking out when I say it’s even cooler to see those creatures [...]
[...] we’re all aware that I’m a big fan of the dinosaur fossils at Fernbank and Tellus, but I’m not geeking out when I say it’s even cooler to see those creatures moving [...]
@Common Sense – First of all, you rock. Thank you.
Secondly, to the people who are still crying “omg why get a lawyer” – Shut up.
Nobody got a lawyer. The husband of one of the organizers is a lawyer. All he did was write a letter to Guinness, pointing out that they are screwing up their own rules. So, basically, it was a request to give Mexico their own, separate record and give the Dragon*Con attendees the one that they competed for and executed 100% to the Guinness guidelines. That’s all.
The Fair this year will most likley be the same, with the exception of entertainment. These names are familiar, however not the the usual big name or popular artists as in the past. This is no doubt an indication of the Fair going downhil a tad. I am sure most will agree.
Prices are about the usual. Look for coupons and special bargain days!!
Any newcomers worried about safety, kids ect don’t worry a whole lot. There will be more than enough of Cobbs Law Enforcemnt on hand to put you at ease and for those who wish to act like a fool, harrass, or otherwise attempt to ruin everyone elses time..you might want to give it a differnet approach this year. Your behavior shall be delt with swiftly.
Hope you all have a great time this year. If you get hungry, which i’m sure you might, visit one of the food concessions that are trying ot raise money for a schoo, charity ect. The folks there are volunteering, the prices are usaully cheaper, the service def more friendly and you are really helping a worthy cause to generate some funds.
The fair was fun last year. The scent of funnel cake. The ferris wheel. and genuine good people. With that said, why are there morons like UGAfan101, jimbo, Jack eats Schitt wasting space in life? Good luck with kicking your dawg, and washing off the stench you emit.
If you attend the fair on Wednesday, Sept. 30th and stay around to catch Joe Nichols in concert, you will discover that the fair organizers have booked a real gem. Joe is the real deal and you will be amazed at his voice, his ease on stage and ability to help you have a good time. By golly!
RT, Jack loves to troll the sites and crap them up – pun intended. But, if you can look past him and his kind you will find that there are some great folks around. And the fair – go for the food and the rides. If you don’t ride, just walk the Midway. What a treat. And there is nothing like fair food. Yummm… See you there!
I wonder if the KKK is still allowed to have a booth there? When I grew up going they always had a booth handing out flyers dressed in their white robes. Can you imagine being black and having to walk past that?
This fair is truly AWFUL. We’ve been 3 times over a 12 year period and NOTHING changes. Never again!!! Its a rip off. The exhibit halls were never full and its the same old same old every year!! And they blatantly discriminate against non-christians every time we’ve attended. If you DO NOT have a copy of some misbegotten church newsletter you don’t get a discount. This is outrageous, bible thumpers get different treatment from everyone else. The food is absolutely awful – mostly its smug church groups and their like offering vile fast food, or the disgusting fair ground stalls ripping you off for their greasy/sugary slop. Its $13 for two adults with parking. The covered arena events were a joke every time we went. Listening to christian music is mind numbingly boring – like going to your local Chik-Fila. Who exactly are these artists listed? The annual fair up in Hiawassee has vastly better concerts, with performers you’ve usually heard of – Patty Loveless among others – vastly superior exhibits and on the occasions we’ve attended – vastly better food. It is well worth the long drive north.
Southern Fried Smackdown Rollerderby Regional Tourney: Today (Sunday) is the last day to see teams battle it out for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th places in the South Central Region. These are some of the best teams in the nation! Only the top 3 teams go on to the National Tournament in Philly in November to face the best teams in the nation.
It was totally awsome!!! Two hours of captivating wonder and oh yes, the chronicle history of the evolvement of earth while walking with the dinosaurs!!! The narrator is superb!!!
A fabulous exhibit at Fernbank Musuem (the one with the IMAX) opened Saturday called GOLD. It is all about gold, not just the mineral, but the uniquely human abstraction of it that makes us lie, cheat, steal and obsess about possessing it. Additionally, there is a side gallery, “The Local Connection,” that explains how Georgia was shaped by its own gold rush in 1828–the nation’s first, predating the California rush by twenty years. Lastly, this side gallery also includes various awards won by Georgian’s from Andre’ 3000 of Outkast to Brenda Lee. Don’t miss it!
Without a doubt, my favorite part was “The Local Connection.” After all the science, history and eye candy, the room full of local artifacts made the entire thing more relevant. Glad you enjoyed, too!
Thank you for the article! My husband and I just moved to Alpharetta from California and we were hoping to find a fair to go to during fall! I see there are idiots that are just plain rude anywhere you go.
[...] than three months since Eyedrum put out the message that financial trouble could force it to close, the non-profit gallery and community arts center is safe through the end of the year — and [...]
Don’t be fooled by the negative posts here. It’s a FAIR. Not an amusement park. If you want to spend 75.00 a person and drive 7 hours to Orlando…the FAIR is not for you. The N.GA State Fair is everything it’s supposed to be. It’s got a local flavor, has Christian and Country Music Concerts, and greesy, sweet, non healthy foods. I’m not sure what people expect from the fair? And for those non-Christian/Country music fans….there is plenty of extremely loud Rock and Hip Hop Music playing all over the Midway. Relax…..It’s the Fair…not Disney World.
Jaime, I need a date to the fair. Will you go with me please? I will meet you at the Varsity at 7:00 Friday night! I would like to talk more, but I have to go shave my back hair before it takes over the world like the Blob did in the 1970’s movie! LOL Just kidding, we all need to laugh more! Remember, laughter is the best medicine!!! Besides, neither one of my wives would let me go anyway! LOL
Is it really that “churchy?” Or, is it a typical fun state fair with animals, beer, junk food, rides, blue ribbon awards, etc. I am very city, but I love state fairs and regional festivals. However, I don’t want to go to a big outdoor church event.
Hi Dina! I can’t speak from personal experience because this is my first year of fair-going around here, but my impression from friends and coworkers is that it’s a regular fair, and there are some Christian concerts and church presence, if you want to seek those out. It sounds to me like every other fair and neighborhood festival I’ve been to.
The North GA. Fair is a great fun Fair!! The concerts are fun! I have no idea what some people expect from a Fair!! I do wish all the rude people would take their comments and post somewhere else! If you don’t like the Fair – please I beg you don’t go and don’t spoil it for someone that would like to go and enjoy a fun day/night!!
I’ll check it out and see it for myself. Fairs are meant to be laidback, full of junk food, and loaded with kitsch. It is nice sometimes to just be outside instead of rotting in front of a tv/laptop screen and take in the start of fall. It is also wonderful to drive to the North Georgia country in the crispy fall air to visit the Dahlonega wineries or view the waterfall at Amicalola State Park. Georgia is a beautiful state and full of wonderful sites.
As long as no one hands me flyer that say “Repent and you will be saved” or “Pro-Life” propoganda, I am a happy camper .
Beer? Ha ha ha ha! No, there is no beer. This is a Churchy event with some carnival rides and goats. It looks and smells like a fair, but it’s a Churchy thing. Your ticket will have Jesus propaganda on it, assuming you are required to get a ticket for not having a church bulletin or a copy of the Marietta Daily Church Bulletin (aka Journal, ha)
Glad they can find the money to rebuild it….when none of the companies responsible for the collapse have made any efforts to compensate the family of the dead worker or any of the other injured workers. Truly disgusting.
Eric, that’s not true. The botanical garden raised over $100,000 for the injured workers after the accident and all those monies were distributed to them thorugh United Way.
Enter your comments here
First the parking deck, then the walkway, and now they’ve clearcut trees all the way down to the houses on Monroe Drive….and they call this a “Green Expansion”. What a joke!
To that point, the construction team involved partnered with the Botanical Garden and the public to raise those funds that were distributed to the family of the deceased and the injured workers. All of the funds were distributed within two months of the incident.
Maybe the gardens can host Wrestlemania now. We could have a skyscraper match between myself, Dusty Rhodes the American Dream and Dirty Dick Slater. This would draw a bog crowd for the gardens.
Enter your comments here
Come on folks — the Atl Botanical Garden is a cultural icon. It breathes life into Midtown and provides Atlantan’s with yet another great venue to call our own. It’s truly the best use of land I’ve seen in a long time! 30 acres dedicated to education, horticulture, sustainability and sheer beauty — let’s gear our “griping” toward a more warranted cause, shall we?
For ever and a day we’ll have to look at this structure up in the canopy of the trees. Lest we forget what the Indians thought of the forest:
When you enter a grove peopled with ancient trees, higher than
the ordinary, and shutting out the sky with their thickly inter-twined
branches, do not the stately shadows of the wood, the stillness of
the place, and the awful gloom of this doomed cavern then strike
you with the presence of a deity?
- Seneca
It’s hard to imagine what our forebears would think of this monstrosity. Is a skywalk responsible stewardship of this tiny bit of forest?
Eric, Why don’t you get the facts before you enter a comment? Hardin construction made sure those families had Christmas presents and did not lack for food or shelter. They help create the fund and made a very sizable donation. I am also sure the company’s insurance companies have ponied up to the families also. Good things get done, but get no press.
My point is that it’s silly and wasteful to eliminate what little forest we have left in the city in order to build a garden. But if they wanted to expand the garden, they should have converted some of the park land already cleared….say, move some playground equipment or use the back of the big concert lawn. It may not have been as convenient, but would have been more in the spirit of “green expansion” and forest preservation.
i was once against the parking deck, but after visiting the gardens, i’m truly glad they built it.
i do hope there is a way from the deck onto Monroe though. that entrance on Piedmont is a nightmare at times. it would be best to give people an option to accessing the deck. the ffolkes on Park Dr. can’t really complain about park traffic since that’s been an entrance to the park for ages. don’t move there if you are bothered by cars coming and going to the huge park you chose to buy a home next to…
the new entrance from the deck into the garden is well designed. you walk up nice wide paths thru some “new” areas of the garden and pop out into the “old” garden, it was a great plan.
the skywalk will be a nice addition. just like they put boardwalks over fragile dunes and swamps (instead of having people tromp thru them), this skywalk will pass over the areas, leaving the underneath part undisturbed. it will be a great feeling to get the view from the treetops.
“clearcut the trees to Monroe”?? that’s a bit of a stretch. are you missing the cruising scene of the old woods? i’d rather seem some planned garden development than the weeds that are currenly part of that further back corner between the water treatment plant, Monroe, and Piedmont. Although the skaters sure will miss access to that awesome drainage ditch we used to skate back there.
Atlanta Local – born & bred
the naysayers should go visit before spouting off, i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Adam you can’t be serious… they tore down all those old trees to make room for a garden? We lose hundreds of trees everyday in this city. I would expect the Botanical Gardens to be in the business of protecting them, not removing them to make way for… what?
Google has a great satellite view of the area. Maybe you should take a look. My god, I believe there really are some trees in the area. What you talkin bout, Willis?
Naysayers step aside – the gears of capitalism have always been greased with the blood of the workers. I’m sure $100,000 was WAY more than enough to pay the medical bills and emergency services provided the day of the collapse. Now get out of the way whiners, we’ve got a walkway in the trees to build!!
I think this walkway is a wonderful idea; the garden teaches both preservation and appreciation to visitors. This walkway will be an unobtrusive investment to accomplish those purposes. National Geographic just named Atlanta one of the world’s top 50 places to visit because of its trees. We have many beautiful trees and a walkway to help people appreciate this beautiful natural asset I would think should be embraced.
Are you kidding me? $100,000 split between 19 people is just over $5,000 each. I don’t think the wife and children of the dead worker or the other severally injured workers would trade their husband or father for $5,000…or for a few Christmas presents!! Ms. Gumbrecht, follow up this story with questions to the contractors responsible as to what they, or their insurance companies, have done to compenstate the family of the dead worker, or any of the other injured workers.
I think the treewalk is amazing! I can’t wait until it is finished and I am going to take all my out of town guests to the Botanical Garden to see this unique feature that my city has to offer. I am a travel agent and I send many people all the way to Costa Rica to see similar treewalks. So I am glad I can tell people they can just come to Atlanta now!
Also, I think people are getting Piedmont Park projects cunfused with the Botanical Garden projects. They are not the same. I believe that it is Piedmont Park that is expanding all the way down to Piedmont and Monroe, not the Botanical Garden. I’m pretty sure they are run by different people.
I’m sure no one would suggest that any amount of money would compensate for loss of life. Worker’s comp is designed to cover medical expenses and provide some wage benefits. I think it was a caring gesture to raise funds and may even have helped the families cope financially until insurance kicked in. We know how long it can take for those checks to arrive.
I read this everyday but get frustrated that I cannot look even a day ahead at what is happening. I pften look too late in the day and miss so many things I wanted to do! I wish it was published the day before.
Hi MJ! Thanks for reading,and for weighing in. We’ve tossed the idea around, but changing up the schedule hasn’t been the top priority while trying to work out the rest of this blog’s schedule. Meanwhile, the weekend list is published Thursdays…I hope that helps a little!
[...] History: The Carter Presidential Museum re-opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free museum tours.10:30 a.m., Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Atlanta. FREE. Construction photos. [...]
[...] mentioned some of the museum’s new features in last week’s construction update, but they were putting the finishing touches on this week. The entire museum looks, smells and [...]
I’m not sure what this specific location is called, but it’s over by the Civic Center. That spot where the neat looking sculptures and the sidewalk’s all painted.
That’s the EAST ATLANTA KIDS CLUB logo!! That photo is from the mural the kids did at the SOPO BIKE SHOP in East Atlanta Village. http://www.eastatlantakids.org/
Yay!! I’d know that butterfly anywhere! That is the logo for the EAST ATLANTA KIDS CLUB!! The photo is part of a mural that the kids from the EAKC painted at the SOPO Bike Shop in the the EAV! The kids club is a wonderful organization! Check them out http://www.eastatlantakids.org/
It’s going to be a busy month, that’s for sure! You might like to take a peek at the latest custom Pink Ribbon Pins at walk gear at http://www.PinkWings.com. 3-Day Walks this month are in Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. Hope to see you out there!
[...] you could identify the item in this week’s Access Points photo game, you’re smart — just like Jaye Boyer, who guessed correctly that it’s the East [...]
[...] pm September 30, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 10/1: Want to know the answer? Here it is! For this week’s Access Points photo game, tell me what this is and where it’s located. [...]
[...] A 24-foot horse. It’s on the piazza, so you can see it for free any time, but even if you could miss it, you wouldn’t want to. Leonardo never had a chance to see it this way, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it. [...]
[...] Community: Hands On Atlanta Day of volunteering, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., various project sites in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett counties. Registration info. [...]
Went to the members’ opening night last night – as you said, the exhibit does seem sparse, but the detail in the sketches from DaVinci’s notebooks is amazing, especially when you realize that these drawings were done on paper with chalk, pen, and color washes over 500 years ago. It is hard to believe that they survived intact for all this time, through wars, weather extremes, frequent handling, etc. A good number of the items are from the collection of Queen Elizabeth. If nothing else, the royal families and the church had the know-how and the means to preserve historic documents and art – if it weren’t for them, we probably would not have these things around today for us to appreciate and study.
I agree with Art. Also, the best part of these exhibits is contemplating the work that these amazing artists have done, and that we get to see them. Big tip though: If you don’t usually, I would fork over the dollars for the audio tour. There’s a lot of great information in this particular one.
Also, Smithsonian Magazine ran an article in the October issue pertaining to a piece in the exhibit, and the content is interesting. They cover the same topic briefly at the exhibit.
Great tip, LB. I didn’t have time to check out the audio tour, but I was lucky to be following the curator. His brief explanations made it a much richer experience than if I’d gone it alone. There’s only so much a text panel can do.
Don’t forget to include Halloweenie on Saturday! This is a festival to support dachshunc rescue at Cabbagetown Park in Atlanta. More info can be found at http://www.dreamrescue.org
How could it not be great?! Let’s see the Hindu Festival looks awesome. Maybe a trip to the free Fulton County admission to the High w/ every scumbag in the world and watch the shoplifters at work? Maybe the Amy White concert (who is Amy White you say? Good question, may as well be a lady down the street). Get real, the best thing to do is just watch some college football and spend time w/ the kids. Dont pretend there’s a lot to do just some crappy choices, I’d say things you really don’t want to do but here they are.
Do not forget the Lilia Day Spa. We are located in Downtown Anderson on the Square. Visit our website for all the great details. We are getaway that you never forget. http://www.liliadayspa.com
Obviously the events highlighted in this list won’t appeal to everybody, but there’s no reason to insult others in the comments, or to repeat tired, baseless stereotypes. Respect each other and keep the conversation moving forward, or take your negativity elsewhere. For those offering up suggestions and ideas, many thanks. Your input is greatly appreciated.
[...] Festivals: Atlanta Horrorfest presents the Atlanta Zombie Walk, zombie makeup begins at noon, walk begins at 3 p.m., Lenny’s Bar to Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta. FREE. More info. [...]
[...] Art: Le Flash 2009 dance and visual art presentation to open Atlanta Celebrates Photography, dances at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Castleberry Hill neighborhood, Atlanta. FREE. PHOTOS. [...]
North Georgia vinyards are always nice to go visit. My wife and I go and we’re not even wine drinkers but the locations are so beautiful and some have great restuarants and festivals as well. http://www.georgiawine.com/georgia-wineries
As a resident of Castleberry Hill I can say that it was one of the most exciting, inventive, exhilarating nights in the City and we’re so honored that Le Flash happened here again this year. Everyone tried to be very open and understanding with performances, practices and off-the-wall questions and ideas and it culminated in one spectacular evening.
Interesting exhibit – DaVinci was clearly exceptionally bright (scientiest, engineer, etc) as well as a talented artist – sort of an odd combination. I have about zero artistic talent personally, so looking at the statues and sculptures, in particular, made me wonder how many of these were even conceived, much less executed. One word of advice, take the time to make sure that you aren’t walking right in front of people. I was amazed at how oblivious many people were to the fact that other people might be only a few feet away looking at a piece and they would walk right up to it with their magnifying glass. The small works of art and intricacies do make for strange viewing dynamics.
As a resident of Castleberry Hill, I was amazed at how I was swept up in all the action at Le Flash this Friday. It was magical and mystical to have art come alive in the city streets! Great organization allowed all the individual exhibits to flow freely and to be one with the participants. Wonderful display of light and moving art!
I was honored to be asked to assit with LeFlash, and found the programs to be absolutly brilliant. The fact that so many people attended, participated, and seemed to enjoy, question, and took away an experince they would not of had shows how starved Atlanta is for events like this one! I look forward to next year!
[...] PHOTOS: 5 things to love about Le Flash in Castleberry Hill by Jamie Gumbrecht “It’s not just that art was everywhere — it’s that it was public. [...]
[...] to its Art House Gallery in Castleberry Hill. It’s a fun place to stop by — I posted a Le Flash photo from there on Friday night — but the projects are fun to participate in, too. The good news [...]
[...] a school garden is a fun activity. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is currently exhibiting its annual “Scaregrows in the Garden”. See link for pics and [...]
I visited a “breast cancer walk” on Saturday. It was a chilly, windy day, but the walkers were out, and pink shirts dotted the dismal day. These are ladies of hope, faith and courage. I salute them. I took my book “The Unfolding of a Rose” to the site. It is a story about my daughter who passed away with a diagnosis of breast cancer. A book signing will take place on Sunday, October 11th.
I wrote a blog on breast cancer awareness.http://theunfoldingofarose.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/breast-cancer-awareness-month/
They recently took down the name on the Westin. They have to replace ALL the windows. It looks like they’re about to start now. I think they said it would take 18 months.
@Jose, they are actually fixing the windows now. Traffic is terrible on Andrew Young Int’l because of it, they’ve said it’s going to take about a year to replace all of them.
This is showing downtown from a perspective east and slightly south of the buildings. There’s no way that perspective would be seen from the Atlanta Botanical gardens, which are in midtown. This is clearly the MLK sculpture on the hill at Freedom Parkway.
Definitely the botanical gardens. If you go to this website (http://mooreinamerica.blogspot.com/) and scroll 2/3 down, you will see that exact sculpture.
NOT THE MOORE SCULPTURE! The loops on it are closed. The loops in this photo are not fully closed. Plus, you cannot get the view of these buildings from Piedmont Park. This is a view into lower downtown–you can see the Marquis..There is no elevation in Piedmont Park that provides that angle or view. Defintely MLK.
[...] pm October 7, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 10/8: Want to see the answer? Here it is! For this week’s Access Points photo game, tell me where you’d have to be to get this [...]
ROY, according to their website the air show is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 17-18. Got two differing times though. One says gates open at 8:30, another says 10:00…..
[...] by the non-profit Georgia Museums, Inc., which also runs the Bartow History Museum. (I wrote about Tellus and its new Smithsonian Affiliation a few months [...]
Fairgrounds in Cumming are in full swing with large fair rides, fun family activities and concerts. The AJC list has everything INSIDE the perimeter but nothing OTT. No surprise.
Meanwhile, this list includes activities in Decatur, Marietta, Austell, Cartersville, Newnan, Roswell and Sandy Springs — all outside of Atlanta. The daily to do lists, features and before you go also regularly goes outside the Perimeter.
No worries! I just don’t want OTP folks to feel left out — there’s a lot going on all over the metro area. The AccessAtlanta.com calendar is free and community-generated, so folks anywhere in North Georgia can add events. It’s definitely Atlanta-heavy, though, so I’d love to see more updates from other communities.
There were a few vegetarian dishes but not many. It would be great to have more vegetarian selections and have a way to find them easier. I did manage to find enough vegetarian non dessert selections to be happy but I’d love to see Cafe Sunflower or some other vegetarian restaurants participate next year.
Thanks for the honest review. We are going today. I already had breakfast. Hope the rain stays away and I do plan a later arrival so maybe large food portions since today is the last day! Atlanta loves food so for any chef to make it here is easy if they make things taste good and keep new items coming every season.
We went at noon and stayed until about 3ish, it began to get crowded by then but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and left with happy bellies. I do agree about the water-ticket thing. Made no sense whatsoever to me but hey. I suppose there is money to be made. I think the Taste served its purpose: to allow its patrons to sample some of Atlanta’s eateries. I didn’t go in expecting anything more than that and felt I got more than my monies worth. I look forward to next year.
Although the talent spilled over everywhere in this production (and we did thoroughly admire it), I have to agree with BJC; this needs a PG13 warning on it. One might think that a Sinatra inspired show would be “family fare,’ but this one strtched the limits. We were fairly uncomfortable having brought some else’s 12 yr. old to the show, not realizing that there would be such sensual content. They might want to tame it down for New York, or warn ticket buyers ahead of time.
Check out the Stone Mountain Highland Games at the park of the same name, this coming weekend October 17-18 – a great venue with something for everyone. http://www.smhg.org
The Sexual Side Effects and Johnny Rockbridge & The High Chairs play a benefit show for Girls’ Rock Camp this Saturday afternoon, October 17, from 2–7 pm at Frogs Cantina in Midtown. Free admission, all ages, full menu, raffle prizes. http://www.dontlabelit.com
I love minor league baseball, but haven’t yet made it out to see the Gwinnett Braves.
Re: “Baseball was the after-thought of the experience,” I would like Gwinnett or Turner Field to have a “just baseball” night once a week (or, better, seven nights a week) where they did away with the carnival aspect and just had the game, beer, and hot dogs.
Wow, what would such a night look like? A night without giveaways or costumed races or crowd games? Would it be like a very well-lit, fast-moving high school game?
I don’t know about this. I haven’t been to Gwinnett yet. But I might have gone in the future, but I’m old school like that too. I would like to go to a ballpark where the game is being played and the crowd was there and have baseball noises only.
Oh, and for an added benefit- have the concessions at a low price. I mean, I would love to go to a ball game where the price of hot dogs were $2.
“I made it out to one game, and had a nice time, but — and it’s rare for me to type this — it would’ve been more fun with little kids.”
The above quote from the article is confusing (especially the part “WITH” little kids). Are you emoting that you wished little kids were there with you to heighten your experience?
Or are you being sarcastic by actually meaning to say that the experience would have been more fun ‘FOR little kids’?
My wife and I attended about 15 G-Braves this past season, including one playoff game. There is not a bad seat in the stadium and you feel like you are on top of action, due to the close proximity to the field. We enjoyed the games and the between innings entertainment.
We are going to go back next year with a 10 game season ticket package. The games are good, affordable, family entertainment, and I am glad Gwinnett built the stadium and lured the Braves from Richmond.
Wha? — I’m really saying it would have been more fun for me had I brought little kids along. A lot of the activities are geared toward families with children. I don’t have children, but I think they would love it. If I’d gone with young family members or friends’ kids, I would have been more engaged in those activities, as well, and would’ve had more fun.
Definitely. The seats are a little close to screaming line drives, but otherwise, it’s a great place to spend an afternoon or summer night watching baseball.
Hehe, Bravo, I’d forgotten about that: there were a couple times when a ball went over the roof above our heads, then rolled down. It’s an small enough place that you can hear its every move. It’s kind of fun-terrifying to see everybody look up, watch and wait for it to come back.
I am really really fond of the Gwinnett Stadium. I only attended one game due to me being at over 30 Turner Field games this year, but I had a total blast. It was their second home game of the season and I bought some relatively cheap seats. I realized then that any seat in the house is incredible. Plus, Tommy Hanson & crew came out before the game to do a signing, so my friend and I got our pictures with Tommy and got a program and a ball signed by him. How awesome! The entire Gwinnett stadium staff was very friendly, which you cannot say about Turner Field. There are wide concourses, there are nice aspects of the park, etc. I love the stadium and hope to make it to more games in 2010…this is the nicest minor league stadium I have seen. The franchise made a great choice when they moved the Braves to Gwinnett.
My biggest regret? Not seeing Glavine throw a game @ Gwinnett…dang. But yes, the stadium is excellent and I will attend 10+ games next season.
I forgot to mention Chopper. He’s probably the funniest mascot of any sports team that I have seen. While waiting for the game to start, Chopper comes around and is doing 40mph kicking up dirt on the warning track on a 4wheeler. Later in the game, he pops up on top of the dugout and shoots kids with a water gun. He is just overall very friendly, interactive and absolutely hilarious to watch. I never knew a mascot could make a game so enjoyable.
I was a season ticket holder and will renew again next year. The primary reason being I love the game and it is way more convenient then getting downtown (I’d like to know how many fans it funneled away from the Ted. I have historically gone to at least 5 games a year and only made it once this year).
It is a great environment for kids but my primary complaint is the stadium is overwhelmingly vanilla. Nice but antiseptic – just like Turner Field. I went to a Montgomery Biscuits game this year and their stadium is just incredible – beautful architecture, beatiful sightlines, just a really classy place. I was very jealous and really wish the Gwinnett stadium had half the appeal. I understand there might have been limitations due to the timeframe but I think they would have been better off pushing a back a year and putting up a place with charm.
My only other issues are the PA is painfully loud (you can’t even converse with your neighbor at times) and the “Master of Ceremonies” Barry something or other takes his job WAY too seriously and is extremely annoying.
The employees and extremely friendly and well-meaning and go out of there way to provide a good experience. That is much appreciated.
If a top Braves prospect is playing there, i’ll catch some games. Heyward and Hanson both were star attractions this year. But when the team is full of guys who just aren’t good enough for the majors I won’t be there, plain and simple.
And yes, the atmosphere was very kids centered. Kind of annoying to adults.
Do I want to pay $3 for parking out in the suburbs, a mile from Mall of Georgia ?
Do I want to drive from Austell with ignorant simpletons on cell phones and “Obama” stickers on the backs of their poorly-driven vehicles (which apparently do not have turn signals) in rush-hour traffic on a Friday afternoon to get up to Gwinnett to see a game?
Hmmmm……
[ EXPLETIVE DELETED by AJC Editors ] , NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will definitely go back to games in Gwinnett and encourage people who have not made it yet to get out there in 2010. The experience is top notch. Very friendly staff, affordable ticket prices, easy access right of I-85… this list goes on and on. Most everyone I have talked to who went to a game seems to agree with me that the Gwinnett Braves have proven to be a very positive addition to the community.
Being a bad driver has NOTHING to do with anyone’s race or complexion.
However, being a bad driver AND being superficial and naive enough to vote for an empty suit like O’Bama are typically composite traits of really, really stupid people. Many stupid people just happen to like to advertise their cerebral shortcomings through tacky bumper stickers and failures to obey even elementary traffic laws.
Stupid people also like to imply that anyone who disagrees with them must be racists.
By the way, as baseball is a game that involves both thinking and patience, many stupid people don’t like baseball and probably would not to to G-Braves games and clogging up traffic in that direction in the first place.
Hey folks, let’s keep the conversation on baseball and the experience at Gwinnett Braves Stadium. There are plenty of other places to discuss politics, race and everything else. This is a blog about fun things to do around Atlanta, so let’s be respectful and stay on topic. Thanks!
Hey, where else can you sit next to a Hall Of Fame pitcher (Phil Niekro) while enjoying a hot dog and a baseball game!! Actually we ended up working the concession stands for our High School Wrestling team which turned out to be an incredible experience for us all. I think my most enjoyable visit was when the San Diego chicken was in town.
We’re renewing our season tickets shortly. Gwinnett Stadium is a great place to watch the games, it’s much more intimate and if you’re a true baseball fan it beats the heck out of fighting the crowds and the traffic at Turner Field. It’s fun to watch the yung players on the way up, and you still get to see big league players occasionally.
Great view from any seat! I will go back for sure. It’s nice when you get to see a star down on rehab like Hudson or McCann but i really enjoyed the all out hustle of the guys like Wes Timmons. The only annoying thing for me was hearing “Sweet Caroline” every game. Lets leave that in Boston and come up with our own traditions.
I took my family to the final reg. season game on Labor Day and enjoyed it. I could have done without the rock band playing right behind our seats during pre-game (although my 4-yr old son loved it) but I didn’t mind it that much. Since I’m in N. Fulton, it’s much more convenient than going to the Ted. The one thing I haven’t tried yet is going there for a game on a weeknight – yikes! I might limit my attendance to weekends due to traffic. For us the experience was pretty positive and we would definitely go again next season.
YES. YES. YES. I have a weekend package and thoroughly enjoyed the games I went to. And I had no trouble finding people who wanted to use my tickets for games I couldn’t make. I have already renewed my seats for next season and was pleasantly surprised to see season ticket prices went down a bit. Nice to see the G-Braves were able to adjust with the economy to help those of us who are on a tight budget.
Well, I didn’t go this year due in part to the ban on alcohol outside the stadium. I enjoy tailgating as a major part of the game–sitting there before the game having a drink and some food with my friends. Unless someone can tell me that the ordinance against it is not being enforced, I will continue to make the trek to the Ted.
I live 5 minutes away, no traffic, $3 to park is a steal, tickets very reasonable. Only mistake they made this year was not letting you bring food inside. Minor league baseball, major league prices.
To PinkoNeoConLibertarian: I saw people tailgating all of the time and am willing to bet that they were drinking. I don’t recall seeing many cops patroling so my guess is if you are smart about it and put it in a cup you would be OK.
For tailgaters: I remember the parking lot outside the stadium being large, but the individual spaces being VERY tight. Does that affect tailgating, or the possibility of it, too?
We tailgated with a pretty good size group at a G-Braves game. You have to remember that if you are going to tailgate you probably will plan to arrive early. This means you will be able to get a nice spot near one of the many grassy areas so you can spread out in the grass. We had plenty of room for a tent and a big grill. The parking lot actually is a pretty nice design for tailgating because of the generous grass medians.
I THANK IT IS LOW DOWN SORRY FOR THE BRAVES TO BE GETTING RICH OFF OF CHARGING PEOPLE ALL THAT MONEY JUST TO PARK THEY CARS. THEY NEED TO TAX THEM SORRY BRAVES AND GIVE THAT MONEY TO GOOD PEOPLE IN NEED THAT DESERVE IT!
The stadium is a great addition to our county and the true benefits haven’t even been unvieled. Chopper is by far the most entertaining and professional mascot I have witnessed…I have toured 40 ballparks so far.
[...] The exhibit was to close at 5 p.m., before the Friday night martini-and-movie set arrived. The new hours keep the special exhibition open from 5:30-10 p.m. Fridays. During those hours, exhibit admission is free with a Martinis & IMAX ticket, or $7 without a movie ticket. Here’s a preview of the ‘Gold’ exhibit. [...]
[...] a busy time at the High Museum of Art. It just opened its Leonardo da Vinci exhibit, and this weekend, it opens “John Portman: Art and Architecture,” a three-floor show of [...]
I think that having the stadium in Gwinnett is great, but it should have been a stadium that could be used for multi sporting events. The old Fulton county stadium could be used for baseball, football, soccer, la cross. With the amount of money put into it, shouldn’t we be able to squeeze every penny back out of it. It seem that the Proponents say the stadium is an asset to the community, that it was meant to add to the quality of life in Gwinnett more than to generate income for the county. I say why not do both? Ya! field of screams is a start, but a stadium is for sporting events. I hope that County Commissioner Bert Nasutit, Preston Williams and Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau can bring in other sporting events to the stadium.
[...] Naturally, it makes sense to take your date to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s ‘Gold’ exhibit. There’s the history of the precious medal, the wide variety of uses and the sheer beauty, [...]
[...] you make a guess at this week’s Access Points photo game? Maybe quietly, without saying so in the comments? It showed original fixtures inside the Superb, a [...]
[...] still cover, say, the Little Five Points Halloween parade on my blog. Holiday deals will still show up on Atlanta Bargain Hunter. And there will be treats, [...]
Go see The Magic Flute!!! It’s stunning….absolutely amazing. We should be proud to live in a city where this work is being performed. The visuals are stunning and the dancing is breathtaking. Christine Winkler rocks my world…as the Queen of the night, she is mesmerizing. If you like dance at all…GO SEE IT!
The Tucker Street Market is also happening all day Saturday. Lots of beautiful affordable art will be on display and for sale at The Custom Frame Shop on Main St. in downtown Tucker. Also pumpkin sculpting shows by Aaron Whitmoyer. Musician Scott Downes will also be performing.
Congratulations to the man who killed downtown Atlanta by taking people off the streets and putting them in skybridges. It is no wonder the dude lives on elitist SEA ISLAND.
I am sure he “skywalks” to his bedroom evrynight, over and past the fray of EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
[...] Booze When I saw the Center’s family show “Adventures of Little Noodle,” I heard a lot about broccoli and body image. At the “Ghastly Dreadfuls,” I was [...]
“There’s no accounting for taste.” That’s what my grandmother used to say when she saw something ugly and repulsive– much like the crap Portman has put out over the years. At least the newer works have less of his personal “flair” in their designs thanks to the contributions of newer associates. Too bad Atlanta was an early target for his experiments.
This is exactly the kind of elitist government-funded waste of your tax dollars that I stand for! Working people of America, this is the future! Yes, we can waste your tax money!
Why does Atlanta need any more attractions, when some of what could be our biggest attractions like the Delta Heritage Museum aren’t even open on the weekends? The Ford plant site could have been been the site of a new commercial aviation museum, much like the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport in Washington.
Arrrgh to the Grinches. A pirate museum sounds like lots of fun. Go to our wonderful Aquarium to see fish that swam the oceans, then cross the street and see treasures pulled from the sea beds. I know a guy with a real peg leg that could work there as an authentic-looking pirate.
There is a free event that happens once a month at Georgia Tech called Converse Open Gym. It is a very well-run event with a DJ, prizes and give-aways for boys and girls ages 11-18 who have a love for basketball. It is an opportunity for them to play indoors against other kids their age. See http://www.basketballdreams.com and click on Converse Open Gym for details. It would be great if you would highlight this on your site. It is FREE!
What a teriffic idea! I completely support it. I just hope the developers also have the foresight to include something like the world’s largest model pirate ship. Maybe even have a ride through the exhibit like the ride at disney for which the movie is named. I would brag to all my friends “we have an awesome pirate museum and the thrahsers play right next door!” (Take that ny and la.) I personally would never get around to going unless invited to some event there.
Hey! Converse Open Gym is next weekend, Sat., Oct 24th and again on Sat., Nov. 14th at Georgia Tech. This is a FREE event for boys and girls who love to play basketball. Come dressed to play! See http://www.basketballdreams.com for more info and click on Converse Open Gym.
Jamie, would you consider looking into this and posting it? Totally free and very well-done.
I think this is a super idea. Why not a pirate museum? It is hard enough for young families to find fun inexpensive activities for children. I say let the naysayers let their kids sit on the couch playing video games while i take my kids here and let them learn about history and adventure!
Lots of interesting points. I should add that we have very little information about this beyond the news that someone would like to put a pirate museum here. If this happens, it will be a while — there are a lot of steps to get through first. Very interesting to watch!
Thanks for the opinions, folks! John, I’m getting enough requests for corn maze info that I’m going to have to gather more info. Haunted houses have been keeping me busy this week. I’ll report back when there’s more!
[...] Festivals: Little Five Points Halloween Festival continues through Oct. 17, 5-10 p.m., Findley Plaza at Moreland and Euclid avenues, Atlanta. FREE. Photos. [...]
The Yacht Club’s float and the Giant Skeletons were 2 of the highlights of the parade for me that aren’t mentioned here. And, of course, Turning Trixx twirlers and Seed & Feed Marching Abominables were both amazing, as always.
Great idea!
DO IT!
In the Keys, (Pirate Soul) is great and is lots of fun for all ages. The Black beard animitronic is awesome, they have a Jack Sparrow that remarkably looks like Johnny Depp in that character, greeting and telling people about items, events from the heyday of those scallywags. If they had a restaurant people would hang out longer. People love Pirates, the mystery, freedom and anybody can be one.
It would be a great addition to Atlanta and be the greatest venue for tourists too.
Make it on a grand scale and people will come.
Is Dante’s Down the Hatch still open at Underground? You could buy that ship or, well, you could partner with Dante’s and expand the menu past Fondue style and move it to your place. Having a themed place to eat dinner and have a show is a lost art. If you did get Dante’s to do it you would have to drop jazz as the main music and go to Pirate type songs and some theatrics.
I miss all the cool places my parents took me for dinner when I was a kid in the 60’s. The Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale still brings them in for a wonderful Polynesian dinner and show. You could actually make the Dante’s ship an all day restaurant that changes with the time of day.
“Pirate’s Breakfast”, 2 eggs, Plundered, (scrambled), 2 Baked Dough Cakes smothered in Plank Grout, (biscuits and sawmill gravy), we are in the South you know. Shredded Musket Ball with Smothered Yellow Boot Sav and Smushed Scallywags sauce, (melted cheddar cheese and ketchup). With complementary Grog, (water or OJ). $6.99
(by the time they stop laughing the meal will be served)
“Captain’s Dinner Feast”,
“Soup of the Watch,” Evening Clam Chowder in Bread Bowl, with Crusty Bird Crumbs.
(Clam chowder with oyster crackers.)
“1 Red/Orange Creature with Hard Shell from the Depths, Split wide Open and Grilled with Asides, Arhh.”
(3 lbs., Caribbean Lobster, grilled with Butter and Garlic, Asparagus, and twice baked potato, loaded.
“Stuck on your Boot Green Slime Pie with Mad Bird Froth”.
(Key Lime Pie and whipped cream).
$37.50
Add water park, partner with Disney for Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride, museum tour, general gathering area with Pirate motif, gift shop and the Aquarium with want to buy you out. Or maybe Disney will. Heck I’d quit my job running a law firm and have some fun again. Get the place going with you for a nice pirate’s booty. Plus health insurance. The kind that allows for on the job injuries like, “cannon missfire, running aground, sword play encounters, musket and cannon fire exposure.” I hate it when they claim that was a pre-existing condition
Think of the jobs it can create which is what our President should be doing during this horrible time. 200 or so? Perhaps more if you add the disco, meeting rooms, Marta Rail directly to the venue from the airport, hotel and outdoor pool. And Pirate mini golf and bumper pirate ship lagoon……
I absolutley adore the Gwinnett Braves stadium! It is wonderful! The prices are cheap, the people are nice, and the plays made out on the field are beyond fascinating! If there was a game every day of the season at Gwinnett, I would go to every single one!
Thanks Jim & Jaime! Catching that Snallygaster was tough! Those People for Ethical Snallygaster Treatment facilitated getting it hauled back to Maryland. We heard they’ve had some trouble on 85 N above Winder . . . AND, we are so proud: the gratefully gluttonous Sketeton Krewe won the “Pennywise Prize” for best walking group!
Ozzfest and IMPN……the man won the horatio alger award, the martin luther king award and has brought more than 30,000 jobs to the city of Atlanta. Elitist is not a word associated with someone of his ilk. As far as his art and architecture he has been recognized by Paul Goldberger of the New Yorker as one of the most influential architects of modern history………..so maybe both of you should leave the critiques to those more qualified to render them. The man was a gift from god to atlanta and we should be grateful for his work.
Thanks for posting your pix. I thought the orange jager girls were adorable. Some of the band floats were cool too. I didn’t get the drunken fratboy float.
Steve, the list does seem to be about gals meeting men, but the number of single men here who are gay wouldn’t necessarily be clear in the Census data. I can’t criticize — there’s no great way to create these lists. But for our purposes, these lists can generate helpful discussion for folks who are looking for fun ideas of where to meet people.
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Any single male, over-30 with a college degree and decent income that lives inside the city limits of Atlanta is most likely going to be gay. How do I know?..well it takes one to know one as they say. Now there are plenty of single guys under 30 that are straight but most of them are only recently out of college..or they still act like they are in college. If they have gotten themselves together at all, they have most likely already been snatched up and looking at their future out in the burbs. And just since Atlanta’s gayness is part of this discussion, it should be noted that Atlanta is a great city for single gays…but it has little to offer for long term gay couples.
I was a single, in shape, affluent, reasonably attractive male for several years in Atlanta, and I had a horribly difficult time meeting women, so, yeah, gay or not, this is apparently a great place for a woman to be extremely picky. Any woman here that complains about meeting men either needs to hit the gym or the psych couch.
How about INTELLIGENT period….there are some very unintelligent remarks made here. That’s not to say that some of what you ALL say here has some truth to it. But to make a general assertion that “all men in ATL are gay” is not so intelligent….AND it’s some bs. Now, one can look at the picture and the first thing that I noticed, is there are no WOMEN in the image, but to say that every man in that image is gay would be assanine. Everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but if you don’t have anything to say, shut the hell up is all i’m sayin’. And to ‘Fred’, like saying you’re married would have anything to do with whether you’re gay or not……
I relocated here in 1992 from Chicago, where a successful female would have no problem finding a date with a straight guy or just a great straight friend. When I came to Atlanta I didn’t realize what was going on with the men here untl all of the articles about a lot of the men being “undercover” started coming out…it explained quite a bit… So far we all seem to be in agreement. I wish I could move somewhere else to be honest Atlanta is just not doing it for me.
Best laugh I have had all day. This city is really hard to meet decent straight guys. I am in my 30’s, college educated, and have a respectable income. I also own my own home, car, and have a hefty portfolio. Yet, meeting men is about impossible it seems. So, I would love to hear new ideas of where to look.
Also, if you are thinking “oh, she must be a dog” I am a retired model and I love the gym. So, why not give us gals a list of new places to check out the opposite sex.
The article says it is a good place to meet men (whether or not they are eligible for dating is another story). The city of Atlanta is not the place to meet men for long term dating or relationships. Hook-ups, ABSOLUTELY. One-night stands, NO PROBLEM. But, (sounding horribly politically incorrect) you better have your gaydar on full blast. Because, I can assure you, the only people that have their pick of eligible men in this city are the gay ones. Most heterosexuals looking for relationships are having to go outside the city.
This is the absolute worst city to meet down-to-earth, hard-working, straight men. I moved down here one year ago thinking it was a vibrant city with many young professionals, and I have yet to find a descent guy to even “get to know” … this city is just not for all my single ladies!
Atlanta is NO PLACE for single, intelligent, successful women! There are plenty of men, but they’re not looking for these types of women. There’s a HUGE gay population and then you have men who are non committal because they know they outnumber the females. I’m sure there are straight men who are looking for good relationships with women, but all of the other “stuff” is in the way so the men and women can’t find each other. I wish I had enough space here to tell you about the men I’ve met, they’ve been freaks or married. I hadn’t dated in a looooong time and decided to get out and the guy I met that looked nice, dressed nice, and seemed nice turned out to be the biggest freak I’ve ever encountered. Our first conversation, the introduction conversation, was lewd and inappropriate and I told him so. I was extremely disappointed. He had to be at least 45 years old. He apologized but he was way out of line and I did nothing to warrant such ugly behavior. My friend recently met a guy, found out a month later through “his” friend who called the guys’ “wife” who called my friend to let her know, he’s married!!! She thought he was so nice. I can run down many incidents of b/s with men and women. I think women need to travel outside the country and outside their states. But Atlanta shouldn’t be on this list as a good place for women to meet men because it isn’t by no stretch of the imagination. It’s a cesspool of sick and lewd behavior (men and women). I like the energy here and I like the geographical location, but it’s definitely not for finding love…
LOL!! Best piece of fiction I’ve seen in a while. Next thing you know, they’ll say there are two single straight men for every woman here. And the water in Lake Lanier is ours for the taking.
I suppose I’m one of those elusive single males. If you can’t find one, you need to be introduced to my crowd. And whether I’m in Buckhead, Midtown, Virginia-Highland, East Atlanta, every bar I go to has an over-proportionally male ratio. Good thing I don’t go to bars to meet girls. I totally agree with this ranking.
Atlanta, is a bad place to meet straight men, or real men. It seems like almost everywhere I look they are all gay! or married. and most of them want someone to take care of them! I have been here for 30 yrs, and still haven’t run into a nice decent working men. I am about to give up and move.
I actually agree with this article some what. When I was single and in the dating pool here in Atlanta, I always had more offers and dates than I had time for. Quantity is plentiful here in Atlanta, the quality is what I found to be lacking. Luckily I am in a happy,commited relationship now for a year and I don’t miss being single at all. But I sure did have ALOT of fun the 4 years I was single in the ATL!
The best place to meet a great man is Target. The great educated young men who are looking for a great woman shop at Target. I will be there this weekend keep your eyes open ladies.
…so if all these women on here know that EVERY man in ATL is gaye….well just f—in leave the state and move to where all the straight men are if its SO BAD here…half the chicks that are complaining are the main ones alone and bitter..
Jayhorn, perhaps you should give CC and some of the other ladies who posted your number or at least the names of your and your friends’ hangouts. I hope you all can get together!
I think the best places to meet single men in Atlanta are the Home Depot, at your job or at school. You can always try the dating websites too. I always got dates that way.
Even if you are a gay man, this city is full of players and “men” who want to have fun, but finding gay partners to settle down with is a nightmare here.
I knew a lady co-worker that hung out at the Cheetah strip club. I asked her why she would go to a bar where women took of their clothes. “Because that’s where all the guys are at night.” Pretzel logic.
I agree with the above comments that Atlanta is not a good city to meet nice, single, straight men. I lived in Atlanta for a couple of years and had terrible luck with meeting and dating men. They just didn’t seem interested in spending any time at all getting to know you. It’s like they’re a kid in a candy store and there’s just too many choices for them to focus on just one person. Or, they were so in love with themselves, what was the point of you being around? And then there were a few that I went out with that I’m pretty sure were gay. I don’t mean to be a hater, as I’m sure there are some guys in Atlanta that are great, but my experiences with men and dating have drastically improved since moving back to Alabama. Don’t get me wrong, I loved living and working in Atlanta, just the dating part really sucked.
ladies complaining about meeting single men have not done at least 2 of these:
1. join an ALTA or other tennis team, or just get out and hit with a girl buddy, watch what happens
2. get a couple golf lessons and get out with friends on Bobby Jones or Charlie Yates
3. grab a drink at The Tavern at Phipps on a Thurs/Fri or at a W bar on a Sat, and get to a place where you like the music and can dance once and a while
4. go early to an Atlanta Falcons / Hawks / Braves game, say hi alot and walk around a little during the game
5. go to the in-town park festivals (like Stomp – Cabbagetown folk fest etc), be sure to hit the beer tents, even if you’re just getting water
and certainly not last (but I’ve got other stuff to do) and certainly not least:
6. church it up & be sure wear your good looking stuff, don’t worry God’s got your back, He obviously understands and is looking forward to your future happy unions
no matter where you are, smile and say hello to everyone, gay, straight, young, old, other women, good things happen to people who spread the love
This article is sure to get a lot of negative responses from women. I am a newly wed male but vividly remember how hard it was to meet single women. Everywhere I went there were always more men than women. Bars? More men. Run the Peachtree? More men. Place an online ad for dates? LOTS more men. Perhaps if the women in this city got off their butts and actually tried to meet more men, they wouldn’t complain about how supposedly few single men there are.
Honey, I’ve found that being fat doesn’t matter. If you have a pleasant and happy disposition with men and keep up your appearance, they’ll still be drawn to you. Though if a skinnier + pleasant + happy girl comes around you might have competition.
I’m a straight female, my bestfriend is a gay man. I haven’t been in a relationship in years and neither has he if you exclude the users in his past. Gay men in Atlanta can meet 10 one-nighters within an hour. But don’t get it twisted, that’s ALL it is. They don’t meet long-term boyfriends EITHER. Plus, since I didn’t finish college that’s a huge leperous no-no in Atlanta. The first thing everyone says is “so where’d you go to school? Well, I didn’t but I make more money than most grads and I own my own home, which is not really good enough. You HAVE to have a degree or you’re not wifey material. If you want a long-term relationship you will not find it in Atlanta, unless you have the right resume, don’t ask questions, and put out.
Wow…this article has to be kidding…I’ve been here a little over 2 years and it took forever to find a decent guy who actually wanted to be in a relationship. I agree with most of what is said here…they are either gay, married, have girlfriend(s), or simply don’t want to be in a relationship.
The problem is too many folks are LOOKING FOR RELATIONSHIP, LET IT FIND YOU MY PASTOR TOLD ME THAT. GET YOURSELF TOGETHER SO YOU CAN BE A MR. OR MS. RIGHT FOR SOMEONE. ALSO CHECK OUT PLENTYOFFISH.COM A FREE DATING SITE.
Nice Single Straight men who are independant, will not approach you in Atlanta, its so difficult for us to walk up to a strange woman whom we feel attracted to and begin a conversation.. we feel like the creeps that you are describing in this thread.. Besides, we constantly see you with those bad boy types, so we have all begun feeling that we are not wanted, we do not bring enough excitement for you, so, we just let you be… good luck with the deadbeats who show extremely large amounts of confidence, who has had sex with every woman that fell for his B.S. if you are so blinded by his sexual appeal, then maybe you deserve to be played, but if you are smart enough to see right through him, and not give him the chance to even know your name, then maybe there maybe some hope for a guy like me afterall!!
HEARTY LAUGH from the comments in this in thread. Whew! Kudos to Reign, tipster, and Samantha. It seems the consensus amongst the group is that this is no place to look for a spouse, orientation notwithstanding. When everyone is constantly reinventing themselves in this city, it’s hard to tell the real from the fake, and this is from someone who is FROM the real deal Hollywood. It’s amusing, and yet sad all the same. Godspeed to everyone looking to settle down, He will give you what you need when you need it.
This is off-topic, but Steve, describe “thug”. I hear that term thrown around on this board so much. I’m starting to think it is simply code for “black man” as opposed to “criminal”–which is the traditional definition of thug. It seems that so many people on these boards see “thugs” everywhere. How can you know if someone is a criminal (the traditional meaning of “thug” merely by seeing them? If your definition of thug is “casually dressed (big shirt, baggy pants) young black men”, and you assume that all of these guys are criminal as a result, you could be mistaken. Some of them simply like to dress that way b/c its popular but they are actually decent kids. Just a thought…
@MsTee. Witness the new dress code instituted by Morehouse college. Maybe these young men can lead by example.Droopy pants and exposing one undershorts does not look good no matter the what color your skin.
The ATL is a great place to be a single man should be the article if your straight you have an unbelievable range of women to choose from if your gay you have an unbelieveable range of men to choose from. So the article should be Atlanta is a great place to be a single man!!!
Tipster u are so, just be open minded ladies. I’m single n beautiful myself but everytime l leave the house l always make sure l look good, and say hello to every guy that speaks. Alot of guys try to holla, but just waiting on the right one to holla….The other thing is to take care of ur bodies ladies special when u are on the market l mean come it’s hard enough in Atl to find a great guy but look good and love ursel first. No man wants a lady with no confidence! Come on Ladies step up ur game……..
The key word here is “meet”. Ladies, if you are just going to sit there and act all coy and disinterested, playing the game and waiting for a man to approach you then you get what you deserve. If, on the other hand, you spot someone who is not playing the field then go up and “meet” him. It just might be me! Decent guys are out there. We are just not hitting on everything on two legs. Learn to spot us and your luck will change.
I’ll probably be bashed for this BUT, I disagree with a lot of comments on Atlanta not being a good place to meet single straight men. I am 27 and earn a decent living. I don’t compromise on my standards and meet very good guys here in Atlanta. I believe a lot of us women are drawn to, and settle for the irresponsible men who want a woman to take care of them, and/or are…well…dogs. Let’s face it, they are the ones that are bolder and know what we want to hear.
Our instincts are so strong and we ALWAYS can sense the red flags with undeserving men but we choose to brush them off hoping things change later.
I have found that the best way to meet men is simply by doing the things you love. You don’t have to go to the museum to find a guy if visiting a museum bores you. You don’t have to go to home depot if you don’t need anything from there. Neither do you have to go sit in front of a bar if you don’t even like that scene, or drinking. Just remain prayerful, genuinely get out there to pursue your interests, and try HARD to do things because you want to NOT JUST because you want to meet a guy. You may succeed in landing a guy at a museum or bar but end up not being compatible at all
I haven’t inquired but actually believe a man can tell when a woman is at a venue for the sole purpose of meeting a guy. And I’m sure it’s a turn off to the “good men” and an attraction to the “wrong men”
It’s definitely harder finding a good guy now because a lot of men have become lazy and some given up on finding a good woman BUT, there are still good men out there, even in Atlanta.
I was a single, in shape, affluent, reasonably attractive male for several years in Atlanta, and I had a horribly difficult time meeting women, so, yeah, gay or not, this is apparently a great place for a woman to be extremely picky. Any woman here that complains about meeting men either needs to hit the gym or the psych couch.
_______________________________________________
Dude, you hit the nail on the head. I’m in the same boat because I don’t live ITP (inside the perimeter). I’m an attractive, educated, well-spoken male and find that most women won’t even make eye contact. If you go virtually anywhere in public in Atlanta (particularly to socialize), and take a true head count, you’ll find many more men that women.
Stacey, you are correct. Most of these earlier comments obviously come from women who fall into the Mary J. Blige category. They make horrid decisions in men and blame the men for their wild lifestyles and decisions. The numbers speak for themselves. Atlanta has been on top singles lists for years. I moved here from Washington DC almost two and a half years ago. I believe the singles’ scene is amazing. I am single and about to be engaged.
However, I have NEVER been in a city where women complain and cry so often. They make bad choices in men and then blame everyone except themselves. Many of the posters on this board should put their Mary J. Blige “I Made Bad Decisions in Men” card.
This is a joke! I agree with most of the female posters on here today. The quality of men in Altanta is very poor (sorry 2% good men). I have been divorced over 2 years and all I keep meeting are fakers, liers, other women’s bored husbands and men looking for someone to take them in and feed them like strays. What would help if men would date in their league and if you do not have yourself together stay out of the dating pool until you do. Don’t seek out a dime when you are a penny. And whatever happened to chilvary and manners?
I believe their are undoubtably a large group of straight men in Atlanta. The problem is, women here are too picky to recognized a honest, hardworking man who does have morals and integrity to treat a women with respect and dignity. I agree with a previous post, who says that unless you have a thug mentality and walk around looking like young jeezy, then you’re left out of the loop. Also, if you don’t drive a particular car or your fashion is subpar, then you’re simply not good enough. I understand there are a large population of gay men in Atlanta, but there are also men who are overlooked simply because they are the good guys who never get a chance to prove their worthy for the ladies attention and affection.
I’ll tell ya a goooood place you can meet a decent guy… Oklahoma or Kansas. See, all you do is move out there and you’ll be getting away from this city where you claim you can’t find “a good man.” It’s probably a good idea though to do the online dating thing. This way, you can do your searching from the comfort of your home or office. Then, you can move out there where he is (you know, once y’all get all the living arrangements established). When that’s done, you can start your new life with him…on the farm. Besides, doesn’t every woman wish they could be a housewife?
Atlanta turned into cheesy niteclubs, tight black shirts, gold chains and fake body parts some time ago – there are less and less places to just go get a drink, turn up the jukebox and just get drunk and have a good time. The women I used to meet seemd to be looking for the fattest wallet they could find and someone to get them into “VIP” spots where they could get their picture taken. Actual conversation hovered somewhere around nonexistant.
I grew up in Atlanta and lived downtown for 11 years, from midtown to the Highlands, downtown to Inman Park and L5P; I gave up, got out and headed to Alabama. I live on the Gulf Coast and its a whole different ballgame and I could be more pleased. If you are fed up, get out and find a town with some heart and soul left in it – the ATL lost that luster in the mid 90’s.
I’m so glad you didn’t say Lil Wayne.. You say these women want their guy to look like Young Jeezy. Let’s even the playing field a bit shall we? You mean to tell me they don’t want their guy to look like Bubba Sparxxx?
I hear stories from my college friends that moved atl about the fellas on the dl. There is a shortage of eligible single men all over the country. Lord knows Dayton is no exception. We have to deal with drug dealers and mama’s boys here.
Good luck to the women down there, please stay safe. A percentage of men today have no morals or respect for us. Don’t lower your standards.
Yes…Its 13 women to one man in Atlanta. The men are aware of this so that’s the reason for the doggish attitudes and actions. The women really hate each other too, and the only time there is unity, is when there is a black an white issue.
Atlanta is NO PLACE for anyone really. Lots of crime, especially robbery and murder that’s usually black on black. Numerous down low brothers spreading HIV
Yep..I am one of the “good” ones. 30 something, tall, attractive, clean cut, 6 figure household income, intellectual, but married.
I only wish I had a “do over” so I could exist in this space and enjoy some of the “fun”, with all these seemingly emotionally frustrated, fine, accomplished, single WOMEN in Atlanta. (LOL)
AJC This is not cool! lol This is absolutely the MOST DREADFUL place for dating. I’ve been here for 3 yrs and I’ve experienced terrible encounters with the most slimiest, conniving, egotistical , overly dramatic males of ALL races. There’s too many weirdos and FREAKS here. Everyone tries to get in ya pants, dont want to get to know you for yourself. I’m a straight chick and I’ve gotten hit on by chicks!! What the hell?Then you got the DL/bi men here trying to camouflage themselves to pass for straight. it is terrible. Alot of people here are putting on a huge phony front. Hell, im scared to go to superwalmart..so clubbin/bars is definintely out of the picture for me…you just never know what kind of lunatic you will meet.
I have always been a fan of his….he has done SO MUCH for downtown/Central Business District…..he contributed to putting Atlanta on the map. Some of his bldgs are reaching that ‘dated’ look…but give them another 30 years and they will be prized possessions. That is if Atlanta does not bulldoze them like the Carnegie Library or the Kimball House Hotel.
I’m a divorced man in my 40s outside the Perimeter. We’re a dime a dozen out here. The women don’t want us, then whine that they can’t find any “decent” men in Atlanta. If we all have to be over 6′ tall, metrosexual, and make $100k+, well, good luck with that.
You know, if I said that a lady had to be 5′10″ or taller, have huge ta-tas, a tiny waist, and a graduate degree, think I’d be frustrated? Actually, wait…I’m frustrated, and my standards are nowhere near that.
Dating sites seem to indicate that the male to female ratio around here is like 10 men for every woman (at least on dating sites). If a woman can’t find a man among the many on there, she’s setting unattainable goals, often in an attempt to avoid commitment. Of COURSE he has to be perfect…what would your friends say if he was average? I mean…OMG.
Honestly this is a terrible city for decent normal middle income single men. I wouldn’t even bother going out to bars or nightclubs. Its a total waste of time.
I was a single, in shape, affluent, reasonably attractive male for several years in Atlanta, and I had a horribly difficult time meeting women, so, yeah, gay or not, this is apparently a great place for a woman to be extremely picky. Any woman here that complains about meeting men either needs to hit the gym or the psych couch.
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Dude, you hit the nail on the head. I’m in the same boat because I don’t live ITP (inside the perimeter). I’m an attractive, educated, well-spoken male and find that most women won’t even make eye contact. If you go virtually anywhere in public in Atlanta (particularly to socialize), and take a true head count, you’ll find many more men that women.
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Third. I’m 26, good-looking, athletic, great job. However, what seems to be my downfall is that I’m also a decent guy who doesn’t act like a narcissistic d-bag. I’ve taken several girls out on dates that have gone well; even one where we hit it off. It never ends up working out though; I get excuses like “the date was a bit overwhelming”. Women reap what they sew in this town.
As a single,good looking ,34years young,bs degree ,no children with a 65000 salary black male in the atl i find it very difficult to meet Quality women without a lot of drama and baggage. i get so tired of rehabbing women from their last relationship and dealing with all these rules.
Dating in Atlanta – lots of great places to go if you know the area and roads. ITP people don’t add up to the population of eligible single males. Atlanta is a nice place to visit for those of us OTP. Guys that visit the places women like to go, ie. meat market bump and hump dance bars, are either gay,married, or sleazy. Clearly, there are plenty of women attracted to the “bad boy” image, but not much to sustain a meaningful relationship. Single straight guys like regular places such as sports bars or pool halls, usually with other guys, and are always open to the opportunity to meeting women in such places, if women make the appearance there. Single men with careers don’t live in Atlanta, but they play in ATL if you know where to look for for them. There is also plenty to say about expectations and intentions in regards to dating, on the part of both genders, but that is another article, post, or blog for another time. . . .
Perhaps the reason why so many people seem to be single is:
I. They are tired of…
a) people that say they can’t find a decent ___;
b) some guys are freaks;
c) no one worthwhile is to be found at bars or clubs;
d) the undercover guys outnumber the straight ones;
e) the women seem to be too harsh or picky;
f) he/she doesn’t make as much as the other so we can’t be together; and,
g) he/she doesn’t have my level of education so we won’t fit.
I lived in Atlanta for 22 years before I moved to Memphis in July and I never went to any of those places listed and I lived right down the street from the Glenn Hotel! I’m single and if women wanted to meet me they could have done so at the GA Aquarium, Centennial Park, the High,CNN Center, etc. In other words, don’t waste your time on this article because the folks who wrote this article don’t have a clue!
Used to live in ATL – now live in another major city. I am a 31yr old CPA with Masters Degree, clean cut, 5′10, work out, well traveled, work for top 10 Firm, yada yada.
The problem w/ ATL women and most women is that they think Sex and the City is real. It’s not ladies! Quit looking for the 6′+, clean cut, model looking, dark, 200K salaried, guy, who is also super nice. They don’t exist! Also need to know that once you start hitting the 30s its a whole different ballgame.
The older I get, the more money I make and the more established I become in my career and personal life, the higher my stock goes.
The older a women gets the lower her stock (yes there are exceptions, if you look like Heidi Klum or Halle Berry you won’t have problems at 40 but most of you don’t look near those two)
Also – I’m not trying to be mean or rude here. These are just market facts. And make no mistake it is a market.
I personally would not even look at a woman above 27 unles she was extraordinary!
Gentleman – As Chris Rock said, get your money straight and remember you can lose a lot of money chasing women but you will NEVER lost women chasing money.
atlanta does not need another museum or monument as a self serving tribute to a narcissistic millionaire. tell dude to donate his collection of artifacts to the aquarium and suggest he donate money to the woodruff arts center. NO FRIGGIN TACKY PIRATES!!!
DEFINATELY! I participated in the annual pirate fest Piratepalooza & a good time was had by all, arrrrr!!!! Not sure about staffing it with vagrants, though. Would parents really want to take their little bucaneers & wenchlets there???
great idea! will fit right in with all the other robbers, thieves and beggars that prowl downtown- it would be just like museum characters roaming the streets! “Look honey, we’re being really robbed!” Just think of the stories to tell your kids!!
HECK YES!!! we need a pirate thing here. there was a pirate dinner theater in Florida that i went to once and we need one here and more of course. it would be so awesome!!!
Also, I wanna add that I am starting to see what women really want. I used to be a “nice” guy, wondering why I was not respected for my qualities. But once you start becoming a “dog,” and doing things the way YOU want to do them, not giving a damn about women or what they say they want on the surface, you have MUCH better results.
It is SOOO weird why this works! When you pick up a girl, take her out, treat her nice, etc, you are “too easy” or “too accommodating” and the like. Start by not answering questions, kicking women to the curb, not calling them back, etc, they will be all on your jock. Women HATE to be ignored or made to feel that something is wrong with them, and they are constantly looking for validation. Give them this validation, and they run from you like the plague. Treat them like they are a number, you’ll need to hire help to handle all the ones who will throw themselves at you.
Dudes, I kid you not, whatever u do, DON’T do what is “logical,” but use your frustrations to fuel your desire to change. When in Rome, do what the Romans do. Same applies for the ATL. The “look” + the “attitude” + a bit of “disregard” = plethora of women to choose from here. Please make all checks and money orders payable to the ATL Dude.
[...] announcement by businessman Richard Lea has me excited. Who could be against a Pirate Museum? This article is a bit skeptical but hey that’s the job of a journalist. Some of her commenters are [...]
Oh yeah! We need a pirate museum like a hole in the head! When I think of Atlanta, the image of a pirate never comes to mind. Why would anyone travel to Atlanta to see a pirate museum?? On the coast of Georgia? Sure, but not here.
Atlanta has a lot to offer – fabulous historic neighborhoods, Oakland Cemetary, loads of fun, cool restaurants, the Coca Cola Museum, Aquarium, Fernbank, the High, the Botanical Gardens, etc. etc. This is what needs to be promoted, not some hokey, fake pirate museum that has nothing to do with Atlanta.
I think Savannah would be a better choice. Keep the pirates near the ocean where they should be. Atlanta needs to focus on fixing the homeless problem before encouraging more visitors to come here an be attackd by panhandlers.
I’ll take almost any attraction downtown…even this. But, How crazy is it to have apirate museum in a land-locked place that pirates probably never visited? (Dragon Con and Pittsburgh and East Carolina versions don’t count)
Is there some untapped ‘Pirate’ market I am not aware of?
Anyway, the Aquarium is a huge success and people thought that was a really dumb idea.
Pirate Museum = Sid & Marty Kroft at CNN center?
I’d love for the convention district to get another attraction or something of that nature! Atlanta needs another draw…but a pirate museum…wouldn’t that be better in a coastal city where pirates ACTUALLY SET FOOT?!?!? Atlanta needs something like Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC. Very interactive and fun for everyone!
Simply idiotic. Coastal communities from North Carolina to Key West have legitimate claims to real pirate history. Downtown Atlanta needs to find a lastinf solution to Underground’s deterioration and it isn’t a pirate museum.
Because it makes little sense at the mere thought of it, the concept will be a huge success. Get on board now (ha, ha) before it’s too late and you are just a wannabe swabby. Avast ye Lilly Livered Mateys! Don’t ye be a Squiffy and miss out on the Sweet Trade! Grab ye Grog and get loaded to the gunwales! Arrrrrrrrggg …
I think we should turn the whole city into an amusement park. God knows we have enough clowns running it anyway. Just use some of that “Obama Money” to pay for it.
This article was a good read, but is very misleading. I’m 22 years of age, college educated, straight, employed, no baby mama’s, home and all the rest and a minority. Being a single man in Atlanta is harder than most people especially women think. Yes there are plenty of women here, but being a young black man, I always dated black women around my age and it’s always the same stuff, cheater’s, their bi, have kids, content with not doing nor having anything in life, who wants to date anyone like that? The young adult scene here is a joke and any young man in his right mind would look elsewhere to find a young woman attempting to do something remotely positive with her life.
All the men that have written comments about this article have hit the nail on the head. It’s not the men that are the issue, it’s the picky women in this town. Ladies you can’t have your cake and eat it to!
I am in my mid-forties. I met my sweetie at work and we became best friends. However, at that time, he was married but his wife did not appreciate having a good man and tried to control him as so many Black women do in their relationships. He divorced her. We are both college educated, successful, athletic and have similar backgrounds and interests. We support each other. We now have a family and are very happy. It is hard sometimes balancing time with both sets of children.
Before you judge us, we were friends until he separated from his wife and I didn’t encourage him to leave her. Do I worry about him leaving me? No, because he is very happy and taken care of at home.
I didn’t have a problem dating in Atlanta. However, I knew on the first date if I was compatible with someone. Women in Atlanta tend to rush relationships. Take your time when you meet someone new. There isn’t a rush to get serious, have sex and move to the next level. The key is finding someone compatible with you and not what you think others will be impressed with in your choice of a partner.
Mike, the one that people seem most impressed by is Netherworld in Norcross. I visited there this weekend, and will be posting about it tomorrow. It’s does a number on your nerves, but it’s still Halloween-scary. I haven’t been to The Chambers of Horror at the Masquerade, but the trailer on its site looks more disturbing/horror-movie-type scary. Has anybody been yet?
To jayhorn, atlshirt, joe and matt,
Now, seriously if you are the “decent”, “respectable” guys, where do you guys usually hang out? Perhaps, I could swing by this weekend and see for myself… ??
and, before you guys or others make judgments, I do NOT belong to the whiny group of women about not meeting single men etc.. I only moved here a few months ago.. I am beginning to get to know the city… and really hoping to meet people and make friends..
I am just a little curious.. most of you “decent” men said bars/clubs are not your thing.. mine neither.. I don’t go to bars or clubs.. neither do I put a ton of makeup or wear designer clothes… I am simple and nice and I prefer men who are that way too…
so where do you guys ACTUALLY go? movies? games? theater? park? coffee shops? restaurants? mountains???
or perhaps if you drive a BMW or some other luxury vehicle, you don’t bother to notice a woman who drives a Corolla/Civic or some other non-luxury car, even she is good looking, works at a top firm, is 27 and single??? And what is the dating scene like?? Is sex so important before you get to know someone?? I mean I can’t imagine someone I don’t know yet or like, touching me!!!
And to jhk:
I have NEVER watched sex and the city.. and I am not looking for a six-pack, six figure salary guy, who drives a fancy car… just someone simple and down-to-earth.. now, is that too much to expect??
I don’t know what to expect.. all the comments here are making me re-think my relocation choice.. oh btw, I did NOT move here for men, my job brought me here… and if it is as bad as what the comments say, perhaps I should get out ASAP. ..
Otherwise, I find Atlanta to be a nice place.. and most people are courteous..
Oh BTW, I have been approached by “thug” like men at Home Depot and Target… and I don’t mean black men.. so, not my place to “find” someone…
perhaps I should just go on that solo backpacking trip again, just to get away from it all…
The one big improvement that the Atlanta area could use is the development of the Chattahoochee River Waterfront area, primarily west of Atlanta in Cobb County. Imagine how great the river area would be with bicycle paths, walking paths, and shopping areas like the Forum Plaza in Norcross or the shoppes at East Cobb. A great example would be to see how a city like Columbia, SC developed its river waterfront west of downtown and how great it looks now.
Jamie, you have groupies. Which is better…supposed gentleman who goes out of his way to sell you on his archaically labeled race, or yelling dude with delusions of haters? Of course, deluded guy would need to make sure you know he knows what’s real and what’s not (himself as a man, and you can be sure of his sense of reality since you’re a “WOMAN!”). At least the guys agree about how gender and sexuality work (see bachelor number one’s gentleman/lady genderway). This has the makings of an excellent episode of elimidate.
jamie, im so glad you decided to latch onto our group that night. we’ve all been waiting on your story since friday to see what your review would actually be. we had so much fun and it was awesome to meet you. I do still have a slight hate for my friends for dragging me along with them for that but definitely dont regret going. have had fun reading your other blogs as well. take care!
Jamie!! Oh man that was soo fun, Sheree did actually have a hate on for quit some time but i would come to do this again even if the commute from alberta is about 8 hours via plane. Your company with our group made me really second guess what im doing in an office all day and i still think your friends are lame for not going with you…anytime man..im in
great write up..ima read them all now that Sheree found it! She actually cant hate hahaha
peace and love
[...] Stage: Final day for “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy,” 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Centre Theatre at MJCCA-Zaban Park, Dunwoody. Interview. [...]
First of all, Atlanta is a great place to live and socialize. I’m 26 and a native, which is rare these days, and I can’t see myself living in too many other places, save for Nashville or Charleston.
I’m not against going to bars; I still go out to Buckhead and the Highlands with friends. Besides bars, I’ll go to Chastain to run, out to eat dinner with friends, hit the golf course, etc.
My problem is after you’ve been at the office all day and your done working out or whatever I end up doing after work, where’s the time to meet cool girls during the week?
I find coffee shops are a nice starter place for conversation with women. Backpacking sounds fun. Ya, and seriously, I don’t think too many cool guys would be hanging out at the Home Depot anyway…
I don’t think it’s at the Governor’s Mansion — they are pretty serious about their Federal period stuff there. It looks like something at Fernbank, or the visitors’ center at the Forest Park Farmers’ Market, but I don’t recall seeing it. I’ll guess it’s a detail from one of the murals at the state Agriculture Department building, near the Capitol.
(Another great pick. Good afternoon from KAF!)
I went once and was amazed at how bad the design of the stadium was. I don’t know where those millions of $$$ went that were supposed to be used to build the stadium. I sat 7 rows behind home plate and could not see anything whenever the ball went into the corners. I have been to a ton of minor league baseball games and I would rate the overall experience very poor compared to others.
The Chamber of Horrors at The Masquerade night club on North Ave. is a blast. It is rated “R” after 10:00 PM and only costs $15.00 plus they have a full bar available while you wait.
Don’t forget, Curious George is at the Imagine It Center downtown. I know that many small children love George and with all this cold, wet weather we’ve been having it’s a great place to let the kids run free and explore without computers or TV’s.
Netherworld is decent, but not that great. What I found out is that year-to-year, they basically just rearrange the setup but almost all of the mazes and general layout are the same.
Also, when we where there last year, it was could outside, and some rent-a-cop guy working there part-time in ticket taking tried to tell a girl in line she could not wear the hood on her jacket inside because “it’s against terrorist laws.” WTF?
2 out of 3 attractions are pretty good if you’ve never been, but if you’ve been, not much to see. There’s usually a 3rd “attraction” that’s pretty lame.
Buford highway has mant Asian restaurants that offer an assortment of hot teas or bubble drinks. R. Thomas offer an eclectic mix organic fresh juices in a funky atmosphere.
I don’t understand the need for alcohol at these places. I enjoy a drink almost as much as anyone,I thought,but to go to a museum for a drink? A little much.
Just because they serve at these places doesn’t mean that everyone is drinking. As a mother getting a night out, I love being able to have a glass and enjoy myself. Most people aren’t acting like this is a Frat party and getting stubling drunk, just a nice way to relax and unwind.
Chill out folks, this article is talking about grabbing a drink or two, it says nothing about getting drunk. There is a difference believe it or not between drinking and binge drinking.
[...] print AJC, but is now scheduled to run on Monday. You’ll recognize some of the info from an earlier blog post, but this includes more comments from the museum director and visitors and points out again their [...]
I think you’re right, ATL & madmommy. I haven’t been to all of these events, but those I’ve visited were pretty calm. Bars and restaurants can be great fun, but I like going somewhere with an adult crowd that isn’t entirely focused on alcohol. You don’t have to drink at these events, but if gives you a chance to explore and enjoy these places without families or school groups. They’re fun then, too, but it’s nice to see them in a different way.
APS Domecoming Games Sat @ the Ga Dome Oct 24 . 5 games starting @ 11:00 am And ending @ 11pm. Also don’t forget the High School Battle of the Bands Oct. 25 @ Morris Browns Herdon Stadium 4 pm. The best High School Marching Bands from Atl will be there……………….. Go Booker T. Washington High show em what time it is…
OZZFEST + IMPN, A few guys I know in Bay area who got taste can’t even get a loan to buy a condo let alone financing and designing giant hotels and offices in US and oversea. I agree with Joshua James about your comments.
[...] It takes about 15 minutes to get through individual rooms. They’re not as compact as in Stadium of Screams or Netherworld, so the actors and effects aren’t getting into visitors’ personal space [...]
went last weekend with two 50” tall kids. The only decent thing open they could ride was mindbender and scream machine. Cyclone, mine train, ninja, sky buckets, wheelie – all closed and they were too short to ride batman, goliath, or superman. Six Flags claimed it wad due to the flooding, but I think it was a cop out because they didn’t have enough trained employees. I noticed almost EVERY employee was an orange tag new hire. We should have been told about the limited rides at the gate or online.
I am Ellen O’Connor and I do appreciate all of you who came out to hear me tell all about being eaten by sharks. You sure have improved things since I left Atlanta for my vacation in Florida in 1904. I do hope you will return to Oakland often to visit my dear Mama’s grave and to look at my Cenotaph. I am to the left of the belltower. And remember we all die three deaths. The first is when we die, the second when we are buried and the final time the last time someone speaks our name. Keep me alive by visiting my marker and saying my name.
We had a good time at the one game my family and I went to. Watching the little kids running the bases at the end of the game was heart warming and families were having a good time in general. Being Aunt Bea I’m older and not crazy about the really loud music between innings. I blame Sesame Street for all the antzy activity. Opie was better behaved.
Breast cancer is a year-round battle for many and as the last week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month unfolds, remember there are many ways to continue to contribute to the cause throughout the year. One of them is through the “Process Pink” program where your purchases with a credit card automatically include a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). The Process Pink stores and merchants donate a portion of their credit card processing fees to the NBCF, without any additional contribution by you! This great program was started by a father in Chicago who, after his family experience with breast cancer, developed Process Pink to help make a difference. In the Atlanta area, you can visit the Village Corner German Restaurant in Stone Mountain, GA and every credit card purchase will help the NBCF! More details are at http://www.processpink.com.
oh boy – you guys make me nervous. I’m heading to Atlanta from Boston in 2010. I view Atlanta as any city, but look forward to living some place different for a change and have always heard great things about Atlanta. It has its good parts and bad. Same as any city.
[...] Art: PostSecret.com creator Frank Warren discusses the community art project, 3-5 p.m., Georgia State University Student Center Ballroom, Atlanta. FREE. More info. [...]
I am very excited abou the midnight showing of THIS IS IT!!! I have been a fan of MJ since I was 10 years old!!! I was planning my 50th birthday celebration at the 2nd show in London. When I received the actual ticket in the mail from the ticket service in London, I cried. It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. WE MISS YOU, MJ!!! R.I.P Michael Jackson …
Chamber of Horrors was ok. It was good, just not long enough. If they gave it some more space and a expanded a few good ideas it would be great. But, if you are in the area, check it out after 10pm. $15 was not bad for what you get….
Nice article on a great museum! We go to the Booth quite often, they always have great exhibits and lectures on interesting topics. Too bad the article didn’t make in Sundays edition, and the picture was in black and white – people will just have to go see for themselves.
Ugh, I know! We planned for this to run Sunday, and then the section was too tight for it to fit. Thanks, though! I hope this one will have a long life online to let people know what’s going on.
Thanks for the Monday article. My wife and I have been to the Booth Museum on a prior occasion and were most impressed as we did not expect to see a museum of that quality in Cartersville ! We will make it a point to find our way back to see their expanded space and collection.
I know that this is the GREATEST PLACE to work in the World. Thanks for mentioning the research library. Many have come in to do their research and I do hope for many more.
[...] of attendance that organizers expected. It has been hurt most recently by state budget cuts. As the AJC has reported, a 2008 audit showed that it spent more than $5.5 million from 2004-2008, but raised only $1.3 [...]
THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE. I ATTENDED THE COWBOY SYMPOSIUM THIS PAST WEEKEND. I UNDERSTAND OVER 1800 PEOPLE BRAVED THE RAIN AND WIND ON SATURDAY AND FROM LOOKS OF THINGS, APPROX. SAME NO. OF PEOPLE WERE THERE ON SUNDAY.
I like the new changes in the museum. The new wing was very nicely done.
The family really enjoyed this weekends activities and getting to see all the changes at the BOOTH.The best part of all is that it’s located in Cartersville!
WC McCall – Are you out of your mind??? Netherworld was named the #1 haunt in the country by Fangoria magazine! I think you don’t know what you ‘re talking about!! What you’ll find with many large haunts is that they re-use set pieces – that’s normal. How much path changing can you really do with limited space?? There are no “rent-a-cops” at Netherworld. All the officers you see in the lot are actual Gwinnett County Police officers. There are only two haunted houses, as noted in the article. No third “lame” attraction. And in the past, the third one was never “lame,” just different! Different people like different things.
The museum is a jewel hidden right in the middle of Cartersville. As a volunteer who helps out now and then, the staff is wonderful. I promise that your visit there will be memorable.
What are they proud of? Being gay? That’s nothing to be proud of any more than being proud to be straight,white or black. You take “pride in accomplishments. Your skin color or sexual orientation is not an accomplishment.
This is a fine art museum, with a bit of whimsy here and there. Please don’t think it’s all movie posters. The museum is crowed with fabulous sculpture, and wall after wall holds some of the most beautiful paintings you would want to see. It will hold you spellbound, and kids love it too.
Captain Midnight, the accomplishment is overcoming your arrogance. Do you feel left out in life? Is that what makes you bitter and ignorant about everything? Though gay citizens have been socially forgotten in times past and repremanded for who they are, they’d like to welcome you to their weekend celebration where they acknowledge those overcomings.
The Lesbian tent city fills the lower meadow of Piedmont Park to capacity during Pride weekend. It’s cool to see people enjoying themselves and relaxed.
I have only lived in Cartersville for a short time, but I have become fascinated with the Booth museum. It is a wonderful addition to the city of Cartersville, waking up in me a new appreciation of the history of our country as it moved west.
Im gay, and to be honest, there’s not alot to be proud of by “just being gay.” I don’t believe in pride or shame so it’s hard for me to relate to this, but, I do agree with The Captain, be proud of your accomplishments not that you are gay. We should call it a celebration of gay people, but not pride.
I hope the weekend in the park is enjoyable. I wished that all were welcomed at Piedmont Park. Some cultures would be greeted by angry residents and police officers.
ARE there any gay/lesbian friendly meeting places /bistros(whatever) in Gwinnett? I am old and not a bar hopper anymore but would still like to meet friends in open environment. Not just pride festival every year. Were can us burb-inites go?
I’m tired of Sam’s.
I don’t think it’s flaunting sexuality Rather, it’s pride in how far the Gay and Lesbian community has come in society.
No longer do we have to hide. We don’t have to live in shame, nor fear.
We are able to live open, happy, productive lives with no boundaries. Let’s celebrate. We need to take pride in where we are now.
We here in Cartersville are so blessed to have the Booth and the Tellus Science Museum. The art at the Booth is inspiring and in many cases of great historical value. Cartersville is a great community and the Symposium will only get better. My husband wants Ramblin Jack Elliot to come next year.
Don’t miss the “Dykes on Bikes” during the parade on Sunday (hopefully it won’t rain). Some of those guys, oooops i meant girls look hilarious! Hopefully some of the local queens won’t go over board this year with their costumes or lack off and embarrass the rest of us.
Thanks to the AJC for letting the world have a glimpse of a great thing in an “unexpected” place. My wife and I have visited many art museums around the country, with a special interest in Western art. The Booth Museum is on par with the best of them – a real testament to the excellent work being done by Seth Hopkins and his staff and the generosity of the benefactors. This place is a very real (if not yet widely known) treasure for the whole State of Georgia, and it should be viewed that way by those who are surprised to find it in Cartersville.
The Booth is just great. A Trip to the museum is both educational and entertaining. The special events such as the Cowboy Symposium and Festival are great Fun. It is well worth the trip to Cartersville
@Not Captain Midnight..How is overcoming my arrogance their accomplishment? Bitter and ignorant am I? Did I name call? Socially forgotten? Was alchohol socially forgotten during prohibition? Can we just stop with all the “Look at me I’m black and proud, I’m gay and proud” etc. It’s all just kind of desperate. “Look at me!!”
OMG is this coming back to ATL again this year? I hear New Orleans is a great gay hang out….so is Panama City…..anywhere BUT ATL please…no harm intended…
When I went to volunteer, I never thought that I would become a Docent. Guiding school children as well as adults throught this Museum is indeed one of the highlights of my life, and I am 76 years of age, so I have been fortunate to have quite a few, but none this rewarding.
Thanks for your article on the Booth museum! It’s one of the best kept secrets in Cartersville. We moved to NW Georgia 2 yrs ago, and I became a docent last year and absolutely love it. The folks who work there are wonderful–they’re so friendly and helfpul. They do everything with excellence. I’m retired military, and being a docent is one of the best things I’ve done since moving here–it’s a great way to meet new people and have fun. Believe their new training class starts in Nov–highly recommend checking it out!
I love being a lesbian and i am not ashamed to say it i look at it like this i have pride weekend every weekend cause thats the only club i be in is gay clubs but its my birthday weekend just have fun see you there
yall this place is insane i went there a couple of weeks ago and its off the chai i like things that scare me im 13 and ivw been going to this plavce sence i was 10 if you havent gone you really need check it out cause its amazing!!! Bring your kids my age they will love it only if they like things that scare them, The actors are great and eveyone is so intertaning and The actors inside the haunted house chanse you evey where and the second you get out of your care Actors will be chassing yuou around the parking lot i wen twith a bunch of friends and it is an adventure from the second you step out of your car till the second you drive away.! Your in for a crazy ride if you go here anytime sooon.
<33 peters
midtown resides; now just curl up with a good book, look out your windows, what will you see, yes men woman kids and oh yes, they are gay and having fun and relaxation while you sit and say i wish it was me, come on out
Gay Pride is for people who have to be ashamed of who they are the rest of the time – ranging from those who can’t talk about their partners at work to those who are physically abused by family members for their orientation.
For every person there in a “look at me!” outfit, there’s two dozen who look like the guy in front of you in line at the bank, or the people you see walking through your office lobby. Perhaps having “look at me!” people around makes the majority more comfortable to just walk around the park holding hands or being able to introduce their significant other as something besides “my friend.”
Oh wonderful. Another weekend of absolute gridlock in the area around my neighborhood, where it takes me 45 minutes of waiting in traffic and taking detours just to go the 2 miles to get back to my house from the interstate. YAY.
The Pride festival is held every year in every major (unoppressed) city in the world and Atlanta is no exception. Pride is usually held in June of every year and it commemorates the June 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City when, for the first time, GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered) people stopped agreeing to be beaten up and harassed just because the police felt like it. This year it’s being held in October because of last year’s drought affecting Piedmont Park’s event scheduling. Why not come to Piedmont Park this weekend, or watch the parade on Sunday, and enjoy some of the great food, listen to the performers, enjoy the sunshine, see what it’s about. Learn about the world, appreciate differences, celebrate common hopes and accomplishments, learn to live together in harmony…that’s what Pride is to me.
The Portman Exhibit at the High Museum… The building model was originally called One Peachtree Plaza, built in the late 1980’s – early 1990’s. I know because I worked for Portman at the time!
Top of the Suntrust Building…missing some elements though still very good. Did you guys know every night around 1am the crowns light turns off. Way to save energy ATL, very smart.
[...] pm October 28, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 10/29: Did you make a guess? Here’s the answer. For this week’s Access Points photo game, tell me what this is and where it’s found. [...]
Gay Pride might seem like an outdated cliche to those who live in major cities, but every year I have attended, I have heard more than one person who has made a pilgrimage from a small town in the southeast (and elsewhere). Not everyone can afford to leave their birthplace and move to a gay-friendly city. For those who live in smaller, less accepting places, Pride festivals give them a sense of belonging, of not being isolated and alone. For some people, that gathering can give them the courage to come out and be who they are. For others, it can show them a world where being gay IS a non-issue, and maybe they will break away from their roots and join that world.
And for some folks, seeing that they are truly not alone may be the difference, even in this day and age, between life and death.
I think it’s incredibly jaded to pretend that, just because we live in a world where no one cares or minds, that everyone else does. Maybe someday there will be no need for Pride Festivals. Maybe there will be no need to address homophobia and racism, because those things will dry up and disappear. I certainly wish that were the case today. It is, sadly, not.
Actually, there is a board as you are about to enter the park, next to the ticket plaza, that has all the closed rides listed for the day. However, I do agree with the smaller coasters that were not affected by the flood were not open being an annoying factor to add to the day. Also, you can call ahead to find out what is open.
[...] Performing Arts Centre this week to meet the 15 dogs who appears in the stage show. I had already interviewed dog trainer Joel Slaven, who described what their lives are like on the road — lots of play time, and a few minutes [...]
Anyone looking for excellence in the art and history of the American West should visit the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville. In addition to beautiful art housed in an easily accessible, well-designed building, the museum offers educational tours for children and daily highlight tours for adults.
The Cowboy Symposium is great fun for everybody, especially the children as they have the opportunity to learn about cowboy life and their history. It is a joy to see children painting wooden ponies, roping a calf, making their own western art! Don’t miss it!
No problem. If you have low standards, then have at it.
No, I am not insane, just accurate.
How many times have you been? I’ve been quite a few after moving to Georgia.
I never said it was terrible, or bad, just if you’ve been once, there’s not that much too see the next year. Being “#1 rated” is not necessarily count for anything.
The majority of the time the mazes are very much the same, just rearranged differently. And the MAJORITY, not 100%, of the props used in the previous year are used again.
YES, the third attraction is usually nothing special. At any rate, it’s better than what it once was, which was a silly blacklight-lit neon-ish funky walk-though maze that was supposed to kind of look like some type of island.
The neon spider is still there, now just used in a different part of the 1st or 2nd attraction.
I don’t care if they’re rent-a-cops, cops-a-rent, or whatever, your hoodie is not “against terrorist laws.”
That’s asinine. :/
This is well worth the money…the details, the actors, the special effects were just awesome. It was a great Halloween-ie thing to go to…..anyone that didn’t just love it, doesn’t know fun.
Not that much to do in Atlanta really, but I give Netherworld a big thumb up. Kudos to those providing ‘not so hot Atlanta’ with some fun things to do and see.
I didn’t pay any parking fees at Netherworld this year!!!!!!!! We just parked in the many parking lots around there and walked a block. Netherworld is sooooooo much better than the others around. Go see for yourself.
When I attended the show in Houston a couple of years go it was wheelchair accessible and there was specialseating for wheelchairs. Call the ticketing number for details.
Before anyone calls me a redneck or accuses me of “hate,” I want to say that I don’t care what two people do in the privacy of their own home. I really don’t even care if the state chooses to acknowledge them as “married” or not. My main concern is my family and their well-being. I used to live in Midtown and during the gay pride weekend, we would see people wearing costumes or outfits that were just simply unacceptable for children. I don’t mean in the park, I knew to stay away, I mean in restaurants and shops. There is a common standard of decency that some (definitely, not all) that attend gay pride throw out the window. It’s like they think its’ their weekend to expose the world to their immoral standards. I don’t care who you sleep with, in fact, I just want you to be happy, so do whomever you please, just behave and dress in public according to community standards.
Great Booth Article. The Museum is a treasure for anyone to have and Cartersville is very lucky to have it located there. Their many programs help a lot of people and kids to appreciate art.
We’ve been made to feel ashamed, wrong and sick by society for a very long time. We’ve been excluded, put down, jailed, banned, discriminated against – you name it. Some of our families have not been proud of us and we’ve had to find our own way. Many religions reject and marginalize us until we said we too are God’s children. Pride simply means to be proud of who you are, regardless of others’ ignorance or judgment. Of course you dont’ get it if you’re not gay….black……etc.
To top it off we don’t have the same civil and federal rights as does every other American citizen. The message is no different than it is for any other oppressed group. You don’t get it if it hasn’t touched your life or you’re prejudiced.
The above article erroneously states “no tents” spoke with Paul of the Pride committee moments ago and tents are indeed permitted as long as Piedmont Park guidelines are met..no stakes etc. Be certain to read park guidelines and COME TO PRIDE WEEKEND AND SHOW YOUR PRIDE!!!
Lesbian here. Some of us also struggle with how some of our sisters dress or don’t dress. However, part of our culture is acceptance. I think November may be good since it’s colder and may require more clothes! lol
[...] a host of free Halloween events and activities around town, visit the Inside Access blog. Jamie Gumbrecht highlights many of the weekend happenings, plenty of which are [...]
[...] selecting the family events you are most interested in. Here are the details highlighted in the Inside Access blog: First spotted on ArtsCriticAtl.com: a new partnership among Atlanta arts organizations lets [...]
Thanks, ScottM, for letting us know what Pride weekend in June commemorates. I could never understand why any group would choose the dead heat of summer to have a parade/get-together – and now I know!
Regardless of the time of the year, I think it’s great that people can celebrate being comfortable with who and how they are. Most of the time, it takes at least 50 years for ANYONE – gay or straight – to feel at home in his own skin – so anything ahead of that curve is a plus.
Gay Pride Atlanta !!! Discount killer rate of $69.00, as well as a discount on parking !! Inn at The Peacahtrees in the heart of downtown Atlanta and less then two miles from Piedmont Park. We serve a full hot breakfast bar complimentary daily to our with guests’ with eggs, grits, sausage, biscuits & …gravy, Belgian waffles,…cereals and much more. We have a fitness center, free wireless internet in all of our rooms, free local calls, and courtyard surrounded by relaxing water fountains. To book call (800) 242 -4642 & MENTION THIS FACE BOOK POSTING from SHERI & RECEIVE A VERY SPECIAL RATE OF$69.00 (THRU DEC 09 ONLY)
My wife and I moved from Alpharetta to a new house in Lawrenceville in June; money was tight due to the move but we were still able to afford to attend a number of G-Braves games. We took our folks to games when they were visiting and everyone had a fantastic time. We are also season ticket holders for the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators, so we greatly appreciate the convenience of having the sports we enjoy most right around the corner from us so we don’t have to deal with both the expense and the hassle of driving or taking MARTA downtown for major league teams that rarely perform to the level of their paychecks.
Loved the stadium and excellent baseball. However, I won’t spend much time there in the foreseeable future because of the food and drink prices. They are outrageous for a minor league park! No family can afford to go and those of us who can afford it (no family) should boycott games until food prices or outside drink policies are changed.
Nice coverage of activities at the Booth; glad to see that the AJC realizes the ‘importance’ of that museum and all it has to offer the Southeast. We love the West and find that the museum brings a sampling of the West to the South! World class museum with lectures by visiting Western artists. Thank goodness the museum is only 40 minutes from Buckhead. Thanks for helping us schedule the various events they produce!
I love Pride Fest – everyone has so much fun, there’s so much happiness and love all around, so much freedom for everyone to be exactly who they are – makes me wish I was gay.
A few years ago I had the pleasure of spending a day with my nephew at the Pride Festival in Daytona Beach. The people there made me feel very welcome and I enjoyed my day. Guess what a**holes, they didn’t condem me for being straight. BTW, I lost my precious nephew to HIV a couple of years later. I still cherish that day with him.
Pride has turned into nothing more than a Corporate event. I have been to Pride every year since 1994. I never see anything but Corporations hawking their services I know they pay big bucks for the tent space. The thing that bothers me is no one seems to realize that Pride 2009 is a corporate event. I am curious where does all the money go that is generated. Deirdre Heffernan you are the CEO per the the Secretary of State, PAUL GIBSON you are the CFO per the Secretary of State just how much money are you being paid. Except for the Parade which I have yet to understand why everyone walking does not carry a sign stating I am your Doctor,Lawyer,Plumber,Electrcian,etc. Instead all you see are screaming Queens that do not represent 98% of our population, That is what is shown on the T.V. and Newspapers.The final insult was having Pride on Halloween weekend. Paul McCartney can have his show in the park but the GAY PRIDE is giving Halloween wake up Gay Atlanta you just got slapped in the face again. And you are going to allow it. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!
I highly Encourage people to come see the Booth! It’s very well organized.The people that work there are extremly nice.The 20,000 Square foot expansion is unbelievable.It’s a wonderful family oriented place to visit!!! It’s fun for all ages,come check it out!!!
My wife and I took our teens to the Stadium of Screams. If no one told me it was their first year I wouldn’t have been able to tell. I found it to be an awesome production. With something for every age group in mind it covered all the bases for any family or group of teens. The event begins even before you go through the front gate. Real actors, props, and creative imagination make it a MUST see. The wait in line to enter the haunt itself was entertaining. Scary characters milling around as you wait in line make the anticipation of what is about to happen all the more intense. The haunt itself was plenty long and had so much attention to detail it left me wanting to go through it again. I can’t wait to see what Mr. Shead and the Gwinnett Braves will cook up for next year. I was comforted by the number of personnel they had on hand attending to the patrons. Caring for the safety of the guests without interfering with the spirit of the haunt. Very well done.
I am a fiscally conservative gay man living OTP. I have never been to a Pride Parade. In philly we had a fall event called Outfest, it was a street fair, and did not invite the costumed rituals that Pride Parades do. I do think that if the gay community ever wants to be trully socially accepted, they need to learn the difference between public and private attire. How does being walked down the street in a jockstrap, a dog collar and leash, in anyway signify pride? Is that what Stonewall Riots taught us? The time of Stonewall was a different world. People were arrested and jailed for patronizing ‘gay’ bars or clubs, even if they were just playing pool and drinking beer, in 2009 there are two gay television networks, gay characters on the three major television networks, gay politicians etc. The time for the archaic festivals and parades has passed. I say this because I am sure the only things that will be covered by the media will be the extremists.
In response to Barak. Is this comming to Atlanta? Are you under the impression this is a traveling show? Its been comming to Atlanta for a while now sweety. Maybe you were down in NO or Panama City and missed that.
To all gay people, I love you and wish you a wonderful day at the festival. For today, ignore the Fox News crowd and celebrate because tomorrow you will have to be ready to fight again for what should be yours. I am so proud of you for standing up for your civil rights against so much hate.
So OTP Gay Conservative has the nerve to condemn and negate the value of something he clearly states he has never even seen or been a part of. Typical conservative bulls**t. Guess what, the world does not feel the need to conform to your personal desires. As for the extremist at the parade. It is because of them that the banker and the lawyers amongst us have the freedom to hold hands in the park.
Today I will be proud in Atlanta. Tomorrow I will move to France to be with the man I love. The US federal government would rather I leave than offer me the same rights that heterosexuals take for granted. True equality in this country seems like such a distant dream. I will miss my home and family but that is the sacrifice I must make.
My partner (of 11 years) and I are celebrating this pride with the birth of our daughter Lilli, now 8 days old and our 3 year old son Jaiden.
Jaiden and I will watch the parade while Mommy & Lilli stay home. We are a happy family and we send our love and appreciation for everyone showing their pride!!
Everyday in everyway life gets better and better!!
Happy Pride Ya’ll!!
Pride was a blast. There was a huge turnout for the parade and all the events in the park.
God blessed us with a beautiful day. It was really nice to be back in the park this year.
Looking forward to next years Pride Events already. Thanks Pride Committee , job well done.
Chamber of Horrors @ the Masquerade was HORRIBLE. It was a complete waste of time and money. I really want me $20 back. The tour guy that follows you around was a complete jackass to our group. Very rude. The entire thing took about 10 minutes, tops. Nothing even remotely scary. It came off as someones S&M fetish come to life. Nudity + obscenities does not equal scary. We’ll stick with Netherworld in the future.
Some of these comments make me sick. I am 90 percent straight but I enjoy going to pride every year. I don’t think twice about going or taking my daughter or grandson to any of the feastivities. The more they are exposed to the real world, the better person they will be.
Go to an all white event or an all black event one you have one thing in common. Someone is going to fight. Go to pride and everyone just wants to just get along. We all just want to relax and have a good time and enjoy the company of friends.
Ha any one moticed that this is the ONLY place where the AJC has seen fit to cover anything about Pride. No pictures, no reports nothing. They always find space to cover Frolicon and other events but not Pride.
For all of the professions by the AJC that they are fair minded, they sure seem a tad homophobic to me.
[...] Know before you go: Atlanta Pride Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 … October 28th, 2009 | Author: admin The Atlanta Pride Festival returns to its home in Piedmont Park this year, but in a new season — Oct. 31-Nov. 1 instead of a weekend in June. Go here to read the rest: Know before you go: Atlanta Pride Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 … [...]
Pride = hundreds of thousands of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, and their straight friends and family COMING TOGETHER to have fun. Shame on us for that, huh?!
To the few uptight Fox Noise yahoos and closet queens who “can’t fathom it”: STAY AWAY and STFU. See how easy that is?
Shame on AJC and the rest of the media for NOT covering this fantastic event that truly was all about at one segment of Atlanta that is truly “too busy to hate”…
we are proud to be ourselves out of the closet to everyone in the community. we are proud of our family’s, to live the lives they want to live, with out being afraid of all the people who will mock them, who will criticize them, who will tell them they are going to hell, saying we dont deserve equal rights, who tell us we should be ashame and stay in the closet or change or whatever, we are proud because will will all band together hold hands,hug,kiss,cry,and cheer, and tell the world we are here and we are proud to be who we are!!!!!
[...] Gumbrecht Update 11/2: How did it go? See pictures and share your experiences at the festival here! Erica Rosalle and other volunteers carried rainbow flag up Peachtree Street during Pride in 2004. [...]
Who the hell wants to sip wine in between the hours of 1-4 p.m.?????
This has got to be one of the most backwards states/city (atlanta) I have ever seen??
Ummmmmm and Uh don’t go then. Really Wine festivals are now considered “backwards”. As a native New Yorker I know Atlanta hardly has the same sophistication as places such as the Bronx or Staten Island, but it’s an alright city anyway.
I recommend going to the Wine Festival. It’s a lot of fun and Decatur is a really neat little area. I would have gone this year however I don’t believe in drinking for two .
I for one would like to sip wine during the hours of 1-4pm. Obviously those folks have never been to Italy or France and enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon sitting on a terrace drinking wine. Sounds perfect to me.
This year at the Yellow Daisy festival they had a vendor that was to the left as you first walked in that was selling animal yard art made out of scrap metals and propane tanks. Can anyone tell me who that was or where I could find them online?
It’s one of the not so pretty chandeliers at the Cobb Energy Centre..At least, I don’t think they are all that pretty..The rest of the place is great..
[...] this trend of multi-venue, personalized season tickets, Broadway Across America announced this week that theatergoers can make their own season package [...]
[...] for a few days of family time and snowy reminders of why it’s nice to live in Atlanta. Your Weekend To-Do List is already up, and Daily To-Do Lists will continue to post every day, but regular posting will [...]
I strongly believe everyone should be able to live how they choose to. That said, societal decency is important. A man walking another nearly-naked man on a leash is NOT decent. I don’t see why so many simply desire to shock the community.
Further, people crying about hatred while simultaneously calling conservatives nutjob bigots really need to take a second for self-evaluation.
AH, you’re right, I missed it on this list and I apologize. I was out of town, but I hope it went well. In the future, when you have an event suggestion, its incredibly helpful to offer up the details of the event your comment so others who may want to attend know the details. Also, our events calendar is searchable, free and entirely community-generated — anybody can add events.
Keep the children at home or go to the matinee. A two 1/2 hour show from 8:00 to 10:30 is NOT for children. Trust the people that had to sit in front of three loud ones!
I cannot WAIT to ride the Pink Pig! I have been going to this since I was 2 years old, and at 20 I am just as excited for it now as I was then! Woo Hoo!!
To those who don’t understand the concept of Gay Pride or why we come together, here is my spin on it.
I am a lesbian. I have a partner. We have a daughter. We have to worry about people’s reactions while walking on the street with our 8 year old. We were once asked if we believe in God while walking down the center of town, hand in hand, with our daughter in between us. See, my partner’s short hair she has from time to time gives her away as being “one of those.” For the record, yes, we do believe in God, attend church, pray before each meal and before bed with the little one. And if you didn’t already know we existed, I am not only a lesbian but a conservative AND a Catholic!
Basically what I’m trying to say is that Pride for us means we don’t have to be on guard and ready with an explanation for our daughter as to why that person said that to us or why they keep looking and pointing at us.
Going to Pride events not only lets us, as parents, relax since we are surrounded by “family” but also allows our daughter the luxury of meeting other kids with two moms or two dads.
We have a “safe zone” once a year and for that, I am proud.
I understand your pain, as I have known rejection myself.
Some of what you are doing both to yourself, your partner and your daughter is your choice.
If I saw you by yourself, or with your daughter, I wouldn’t have an issue. It’s when you parade the fact that you are having sex with a woman openly that the issue happens. You are right that it is your business and no one elses what you do with your body.
For someone to point it out or take issue with it when it is in their face is their right as well in a free country.
I am sorry if someone was unkind to you, as that is not Christian, and obviously Jesus wouldn’t do that.
God is loving but He is also holy, and has laid out a plan for our lives, our sexuality, etc. in
His Holy Word that brings about a fulfilled, peaceful life.
He wants the best for your life, and a lifestyle that causes others to stare and wonder when you pass by is not the best plan for your life and never will be, no matter what new laws are passed, etc.
You cannot begin to understand the Holiness of God until you have totally repented of your sins and asked Jesus to come into your heart and save you, and then something starts to happen inside of your heart that changes your entire perspective on . No religion can do that: it is a supernatural experience.
Religion tells you that you just do this or that but nothing changes.Salvation is something that god does inside of you once you repent of your sins and invite Him to do His thing.
You may have experienced some abuse in your early life, or alienation from your Mom/other women,which you may still need counseling for to break the chains off.
Living Waters is a good program, which many churches are offering now. People will love on you and pray for you as you wish until God breaks the chains off. I did it for 9 months and it was one of the best things I ever did in my life.
Take care.
My wife and daughter went and really liked the show.
What wasn’t so cool is that apparently our credit card payment for the ticket was processed on a foreign Cavalia account, so we were hit with an International Service Fee. No mention of this when paying for the tickets (over the phone).
The Sexual Side Effects and Johnny Rockbridge & The High Chairs play a benefit show for Girls’ Rock Camp this Saturday afternoon, October 17, from 2–7 pm at Frogs Cantina in Midtown. Free admission, all ages, full menu, raffle prizes. http://www.dontlabelit.com
[...] Spending time at the fancy new Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, which is far prettier and more entertaining than the words “presidential library and [...]
What will draw a crowd to a book signing in law-abiding communities?
- Sarah Palin
- No panhandlers outside the bookstore
- No graffiti on the outside of the bookstore
- No Obama Supporters at or near the book signing (also, see above)
- An author who isn’t an elitist or snob who bashes America, capitalism or freedom is the book (also, see above)
- Free, well-lit parking outside the bookstore.
- NOT having to take MARTA to get to the bookstore
- Not “alternative” bookstore employees who suddenly become drunk with power use the momentary empowerment to treat people standing in line like children and/or simpletons (see Barnes & Noble’s Buckhead location)
- Off-Retail discounts on the book being signed
- Having the book signing publicized well beyond just a neon paper printout taped to front door the week before the signing
@ATLBookworm
I swear, anyone who sneers at another person for the lowliness of their job, class, religion, race, who they vote for and where they live, needs to have their garbage and sewage service cut off for five years. After being forced to live in their own filth for a while, they will learn to be quiet instead of exposing their hypocrisy. And FYI people will show up if your friend Carrie Prejean has copies of her video tape.
You sound like one of the I’m-better-and-smarter-than-you snobs who think they so much more “enlightened” than the rest of us.
I don’t think you will have to worry about being at any CROWDED book signings, as (thankfully) most people in society don’t have the same tastes or hate-filled hearts as you obviously do.
BTW, those criminals making certain parts of our city cesspools who live in their own filth are losers because they have excercised their freedom in this country (provided by our military veterans) to CHOOSE to be that way by:
A) Avoiding hard work
B) Being dishonest
C) Not taking advantage of the same public school system as everyone else
D) Wallowing in ignorance like pigs in mud
E) Avoiding books
Hey folks, we’re talking about books and book signings. There are plenty of other places to have a conversation about the state of the city and what you like or don’t like about it. Please stay on topic, treat each other with respect and keep the conversation moving forward.
Stone Mountain Park begins their Christmas celebration on Saturday, 11/14 from 2pm until 10pm and Sunday, 11/15 from 2pm until 9pm. Go to stonemountainpark.com for details.
jamie, i must admit i am much *less* likely to go to a book signing if i suspect there will be a large crowd there. i do not like crowds, no matter how much I may admire an author and want to meet him/her. i would very much like to meet sarah palin, of whom at least one person on here seems very jealous and resentful due to her good looks and intelligence, but i don’t think i would be willing to fight the mob scene just to meet her, get her autograph and possibly a picture with her.
in all fairness, wasn’t the topic of this blog “what draws a crowd for a book signing?” for me, it would be the *absence* of a crowd that would draw this gal there.
is there any chance you could use your press influence at the ajc to get sarah palin’s book tour to come to atlanta, jamie?
do you know if we can buy autographed copies of her book online instead of having to go wait *in* line?
That’s an interesting point, too, Terri. There’s a Stephen King book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Buckhead tonight, and I’m betting it will be packed. Although it’s fun to see big-name authors, those events don’t allow for real conversation. I’ve really enjoyed the size of some of the events at local libraries, especially in downtown Atlanta and in Decatur.
I don’t think I have actual influence on anybody’s programming decisions, and even if I did, I wouldn’t be allowed to use it. I haven’t seen anything about autographed copies of her books online. I sometimes see those types of things on abebooks.com, but they’re rarely new books, and almost never something that’s getting so much attention as Sarah Palin’s. I would keep an eye out on her tour schedule, though, if you’re feeling like you want to venture into that crowd. I’m sure more dates will be added, and there are a lot of organizations in the metro area that bring book tours to town.
There is a walk to benefit people with ALS, which is better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in Centennial Olympic Park Saturday at 10:00 am. I encourage everyone to come out and show your support!
[...] Movies: “Gone With the Wind” Re-Premiere includes two days of autograph signings, a costume ball and parties, Gone with the Wind Museum, Marietta. Read more. [...]
FYI: For those people going to the Stephen King book signing at the BARNES & NOBLE in Buckhead this evening, please be forewarned this store has T H E dumbest, most self-righteous, condescending, on-a-power-trip staff you have ever had the misfortune of experiencing a book signing.
It is NOT worth putting up with them and how they treat people patiently waiting in line for an signed copy of a book by a celebrity.
Calling them “rude” would be a gross understatement.
[...] new exhibition will move into the space currently filled with the “Gold” exhibition, which explores perceptions of uses of gold in history, science, decorative arts, industry and [...]
People should also head to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market tomorrow to celebrate the grand opening of Cafe Campesino Atlanta- that serves Fair Trade, organic coffee. Free samples, live music and information on organics and Fair Trade will be happening from 2-5 p.m. tomorrow. Check it out!
25th Annual CVS Strong Legs Saturday @ Turner Field. Benefits CHOA 5k, 10k, 2k fun run, mascot trot. Registration opens @ 7am http://www.choa.org/stronglegs Come run then enjoy the Free admission and tours at the Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Turner Field, Atlanta. FREE.
I lived in Georgia all my life & downtown Atlanta, for the past 8 years and I have never been ice skating. I want to go but none of my friends and family want to go. I don’t want to go fall down alone.
I do enjoy watching other people skate though.
Here is something for those in the eastern burbs: http://newlawrenceville.com/events/fall-festival
The city of Lawrenceville is hosting their first Fall Festival. I have no personal ties to the even, just passing on the information.
Where can I read about how the Stephen King book signing went last night? I’m curious to know how many people showed up, how many books he signed, that sort of thing. Any idea? Did the AJC cover it?
[...] Centennial Olympic Park’s outdoor skating season opened on Saturday, and we headed downtown for a mild, anachronism-filled evening on ice. There was a mean game of tag going on the grass near the ice. I strongly considered locking our bikes to the oversized holiday light deer decorations. At the entryway, rink operators sold tickets, skate rentals and socks for the folks who arrived in sandals. [...]
I thought the horses were beautiful, and the gymnastics were fun, but after the first hour my partner and I were bored to tears and decided to leave early. Too much of the same repeating over and over and frankly i felt the price was too high for the experience. Was this better than watching television at home? Certainly. I think it would be much more exciting if the mixed it up a bit and didn’t stick to the same Old World theme throughout the entire show.
10 great blues bands and more solo artists complete in the Atlanta heat’s of the International Blues Challenge The IBC will be held today at Mudcatz Bayou Bar and Grill in Dunwoody, GA. Doors open at 12:00. Ticket price $10.00 for five hours of great music! Come out and support your favorite act as the audience gets a judge’s vote so you can influence who goes to Memphis next year!
Location: Mudcatz Bayou Bar and Grill
5500 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd
Dunwoody, GA 30338 http://www.mudcatz.com
770-828-0335
Well, I attended the Stephen King signing at the Buckhead B&N, and I have to say the staff was anything but “rude.” Yes, we were moved through quickly, but everything was very organized, and whenever I or those around me asked the staff a question, we were treated with patience – even though I’m sure they were asked the same questions multiple times. There were more than 500 people there, and the whole thing seemed to go off smooth as glass. Congrats to the staff, and thanks for making the experience a good one.
I must say I have NEVER had a good experience at a book signing at the B&N @ Buckhead. The least few times I went there, the staff [ahem] managing the book signing crowd were clearly all man-hating hags with SERIOUS issues against men. Unless it is an author I am just dying to meet, I will not return there.
LMAO…man hating hags. Nice. I went to the King signing on Friday too. While there was a crowd of 300+ there when it started, the line moved so quickly that it wasn’t long before it dwindled to about 30. King was a fast signer and the B&N folks kept it moving. It was well organized, I think. I was surprised there were not more people there. Lots of extra wristbands appear to have gone unused. I saw a number of people go through twice with no wait.
My only complaint had to do with the attitudes of the cops that were there. It was a book signing for God sakes, not a meeting of world leaders. Lighten up and let us orderly book nerds enjoy the evening without you harassing us over meaningless stuff.
[...] talked before about whether neighborhoods and nightclubs can co-exist, but this takes the question to neighborhoods, nightclubs and hours of the night. Let’s just [...]
Prior to the election of Mayor Franklin Atlanta was known as Hotlanta with a vibrant Hospitality Industry. One of Mayor Franklin’s campaign promises was to enforce the State Law concerning Sunday alcohol sales. The Law states that the enforcement of Sunday sales shall be at the discretion of the local jurisdiction; that meaning that Atlanta could at its discretion haves Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink. The earlier last call and enforcement of the Sunday by the drink sales effectively destroyed Hotlanta and has driven away a huge portion of Atlanta’s convention business to other cities at a time our city could least afford that loss.
The nitelife in Atlanta is nothing like it was when I moved to Atlanta, this was once the place that all my friends wanted to visit, now we go to Miami or NYC to party it up. I think that if last call was to go back to 4 a.m. it would make the nitelife much better here and things would be no different than they are now. The city should start to only allow clubs in non residential areas and let them go 24\7 if they want, a more vibrant nitelife and more money for the club owners/city.
I agree that Atlanta’s nightlife has died. Atlanta was definitly the place to be and nightlife was a big part of it. The stopping of alcohol sales at 2:30 and the end of our few 24 hour clubs changed Atlanta forever. Now we are just another Southern city with strict party laws. Who wants to come here? Miami was smart enough to realize what was gained by having a 24 hour district. Clubs in South Beach close at 5am, but the party can go all night in downtown. One benfit to later closing times is that not everyone leaves the club at the same time. At 2:30 everyone is still in the club and all walks out together. Seems like more trouble can brew that way.
As someone thats works in the Atlanta nightlife, I have wanted this change for years. Like it or not, Atlanta is a young, vibrant, Big event and party city. With the money problems the city is facing why not tap into a willing tax base that could boost revenue and bring back the entertainment dollars that flooded the city in the 90’s but has all but gone in this decade. And to the buckhead people, are you telling me that your happier with rows of unbuild businesses that were to replace the bars and nightclubs that for better or worse, brought money in for buckhead. Do the right thing City Council
Atlanta has become a boring town. I can’t even call it a city anymore. It’s not just the lack of a 4am bar closing time. It’s because so many conservative people moved into Atlanta after the Olympics wanting a city lifestyle.
Many of them wanted to be close to work, too. All of this is fine. But what they brought with them was a suburban view of life. Collectively this new set of Atlantans forced new bar closing hours; forced many gay bars and primarily blacks bars to close; forced the great 24 bars down; made Piedmont Park a sterile museum-like place; forced the bohemian artist mentality out of midtown, Virginia-Highland, and L5P. Atlanta has lost its funkiness, its quirkiness, its soul.
Reinstating a 4am bar closing time would be great. But we need cool clubs again. We need a Stein Club, we need a Backstreet, we need a Rio, a Celebrity Club, a Buckhead bar scene that was fun and the envy of many cities. We need an art scene again to coexist with the bar scene.
There is plenty of warehouse space downtown or on the west side that is not near any residential neighborhoods that could house a 24 hour bar. There are plenty of people in this city with great ideas. If the restrictive ordinances went away, life would return to this city. I don’t hold out much hope.
I can’t explain one more time to visitors as to why they can’t buy wine or vodka at a store on Sunday. It’s just embarrassing. I also can’t explain to my NYC, SF, or LA friends why a club like Vision has such hostility against from residents who oppose its reopening. It is steeped in racism and the fact that a large part of Atlanta wants to tell others to live a conservative lifestyle. Many want everyone to be in bed by 11pm and in church on Sunday. Until this is resolved, Atlanta will remain a 2nd tier town.
24/7 Districts should include but not be limited to: West Midtown/Westside, Castleberry Hill/Downtown Atlanta/Old 4th Ward, Underground Atlanta/Luckie Marietta District.
I think Midtown/Buckhead/VaHi should remain with the 2:30am closing times If they so desire since the large residential component would obviously come into play.
I disagree with the tax revenue arguement for 90 more mins of bar time. Note that the cash collected at the door and VIP tables isn’t declared for taxes (let’s be honest) and a few more drinks won’t make a significant contribution to Atlanta’s fiscal problems. If you’re truely concerned about tax revenue generation, then you should consider the $20M+/year that is contributed from property tax from just the new home owners in Midtown. The amount of city resources (police, litter clean up, etc) needed for 90 more mins of bar time, I would spectulate, actually makes a negative effect to the city’s revenue.
Admittedly, I miss the the 24/7 clubs but they would no longer fit in Midtown, IMHO. The dynamic has changed (Google – ‘Midtown Mile Vision’). But I think that there are other areas that could use the clubs. It’ll be interesting to see the effect of the SPI Club in midtown next month too.
This is the only way I can see staying in Atlanta. People were getting murdered in Buckhead and they blamed time, as if people were perfectly fine but at 3:45 suddenly got this urge to shoot somebody. A murderer is a murderer, no matter what the time is. Those clubs and that whole scene is gone now anyway. My part of town has suffered extensively from this change. Atlanta is a city of young people, and young people like to go out. The downturn in conventions has definitely hurt our economy. People want to have fun, there’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s paternalistic as hell to try and tell people “nothing good happens after 2am”.
As a 26 year-old professional male who enjoys going out to Buckhead, I think the 2:30am last call is adequate. The kind of people who want to stay out until 4am are better off in Miami anyway. Take the party back to your place after 2:30.
Atlanta desperately needs 24/7 nightlife again to set itself apart from its’ competitors in the convention business. Atlanta needs it for its’ economy . . . more hotel rooms, more taxi rides, more gas, more tax, more liquor tax, more conventions, more visitors, etc., etc. City officials have no clue the amount of damage that was done by closing Backstreet — an Atlanta institution — a place everyone, including out of towners and international visitors knew where to go after hours when visiting from out of town. Unfortunately, for many people, that has been taken away. Having 24/7 clubs also helps the earlier bars . . . more people want to go out because it doesn’t have to end at 2:30am. To the person who claimed later bar hours or 24/7 clubs would require more police and therefore not be worth it, why not apply that same argument to large conventions? Maybe we can’t afford to host conventions of 50-70,000 people because “we don’t have enough police”. It is a specious argument lacking in true factual evidence. Atlanta has been hurt more by the early closing hours than most people realize — you’ve killed the entertainment, nightlife, bar business — no one wants to open a new club and many tax-paying residents (including this one), visitors, and people who enjoy having a good time have been disenfranchised as a result.
Build it right and good things would have happened. Atlanta in the 90’s was still raw clay and it’s pretty hard to say that between the city government and the freedom given to developers that we have anything here to be proud of. The condo glut is ghetto waiting to happen. Street level is harsh sterile concrete and prefab facades and not somewhere you want to hang. The streets are not safe. Public transit has been a joke since the get go. Riding bicycles takes courage. Blacks are reacting to gentrification. Whites are bringing their uptight suburban value systems with them. No noise! Black people are scary! More speedbumps everywhere! Basically, it’s go out to eat then rush home to watch TV. I remember sitting in bars on Peachtree and 9th, hanging out with people of all places and colors and art students until 4am or later and walking around midtown without getting jacked. Now intown and Alpharetta are the same. Crappy. Way to go Atlanta. One giant ass strip mall.
Oh, Atlanta… You need to pick yourself up by the bootstraps and brush yourself off. Your life depends on it. There needs to be 24/7 sales in the grocery stores. Build dog and horse tracks (Hey, Florida can do it and is overrun by old farts!) and REAL casinos (not the plastic ones that the lottery commission is trying to push – lol!) There are many horse farms that supply other states. We need tourism dollars and not just from trout fishermen and campers. There needs to be clubs that can stay open around the clock if they so chose and if they meet restrictions concerning neighborhoods etc. There needs to be live entertainment in the parks every weekend. We need 24 hour public transportation. We need the belt line! There are people that work and play all hours of the day, support them, they pay taxes too. We have raised a brave and beautiful city, we put alot of work into it, we can’t sit back on our laurels, we will get passed up and wither. Like a horse race, everyone cheered Atlanta on as she passed all the other horses, heading to the finish line and damn if she didn’t stumble and fall all over herself. Come on Atlanta – GET UP! In this beaten down economy, you have to draw people here, not just milk them as they pass through the state to get to Florida! The new city buzz line needs to be….. DESTINATION: ATLANTA!
ABSOLUTELY in favor of returning closing time back to 4AM (and last call @ 345am).
I am a native NYer who have resided in Atlanta coming up on 15 yrs now (so I’ve been here for pre-Olympics and during Atlanta nightlife hay-days). It’s time Atlanta face reality and start acting like a MAJOR METROPOLITAN city it is versus trying to maintain this small, southern city of the Gone With the Wind days.
Years ago, those residing in Buckhead were younger and in favor of bringing Atlanta’s nightlife there (taking it away from south and east side cities like College Park and Decatur) because it provided their businesses traffic and revenue. Now they’ve “matured” and received more than just the business traffic and revenue that came with being Atlanta’s nightlife area, now they want it residential again. Come on, we can see through all your intentions.
[Uh, NO I hadn't already voted in this poll; check your system, please. And for the record, I voted "No."] The problem in Atlanta is crime. And while I hate to agree with CC above, when Buckhead became “BuckHood” the perception of safe, enjoyable fun in Atlanta plummeted. Ray Lewis’ incident, etc. was ~the beginning of the end. 2:30AM is more than enough time. There’s not much good to happen after midnight anyway. Go home and make love or sleep off that alcohol. I don’t live in the city proper anyway (I like to be safe and see my property value go up), an am glad I didn’t move to Buckhead as I’d initially planned. VOTE for MARY NORWOOD!!!!!!!! You people better get out there and vote if you want a change from what has become atl’s pathetic norm.
Sorry, but I too agree that crime is what made Atlanta have to change. Like others stated, you can thank the Ray Lewis incident as being one of the biggest factors. While I agree it’s great for a big city to have a vibrant night life, people can’t be afriad to be in the city at night either…You can thank the incompetence of the Shirley Administration for not handling the crime problem.
Just look at Underground Atlanta. Back in the 60s and early 70s, that was a happening place. Now, I wouldn’t be caught dead there (no pun intened). Get rid of the crime elements affecting our city, and the problem will be solved. NY is the largest city in the country and is statistically safer than Atlanta…
re: 24/7 district: I’d put these in areas where there is little or no impact to residences. There are many commercial zones in Midtown (Spring south of 5th, W. Peachtree, etc) where few people, if any, reside. Put a 1000 ft restriction, allow those few residences affected to fill out a simple form acknowledging the venue’s privilege to stay open 24/7 and you solve the biggest issues Buckhead had 6 years ago.
Hey folks, this is a reminder that this is a space for discussion, not for race-baiting, name-calling or pronouncement for anyone to go anywhere else. This is Atlanta, we’re all here, so let’s talk about the issue — moving last call and what that the result of that would be — respectfully.
The Turner Field tour is great, but tour guide Dave is over-rated. I had a different tour guide and got the same information and customer service. The museum is the real attraction, the perfect place to pass the days until Spring Training. I highly recommend it.
Jamie,
Thanks for the Great article!! Would like to invite you to do more tours here at Turner Field and a personal invitation to be my guest at a game this next season to get a real look at actual behind the scenes action here at Turner Field!! Thanks again.
Dave Barrett
[...] historic home tour took us to Bulloch Hall in Roswell. Today, we’re continuing our list of holiday stops with the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth [...]
also i agree with the suggestions of 24 hr districts. Buckhead and Virginia Highland type areas dont need anything more than 2:30 am, but areas such as Crescent Street and Luckie/Marietta that are tourist spots should be 24/7 it gives visitors something to do and keeps the after hours riff raff contained.
I’m for doing this – and I don’t think the increased tax revenues would come from the sale of alcohol as much as it would from the recovery of some of our lost convention business. I worked in the hospitality in the late 90’s which as far as I know was the height of convention business in Atlanta (I always heard we were the fourth most popular city in the U.S.). This changed first with Bill Campbell cracking down on strip clubs, and then with the roll back of closing time. I believe both were lame attempts to address crime, when what we should have been doing was putting more officers on foot beats. The idea that 4am closing = more crime is not born out by the City of Decatur crime stats compared to Atlanta’s. Why do those who oppose this idea by citing increased crime want to ignore that fact?
at JW,
I agree the perception alone to the convention and tourism industries would be HUGE. But there is no reason as i said that neighborhood bar districts that tourists rarely venture to such as L5P and Virginia Highlands, or even now Buckhead need to have a 4am closing. Midtown and Downtown need to be the tourism and nightlife centers and by giving them and them only a 4am last call it will have bar operators lining up to find a locations. But there needs to be STRICT restrictions on WHO is opening the place and WHAT it is because call it what you want but certain night life concepts harbor more crime than others. It needs to be for the tourist dollars and business men here for a convention are going to Ri Ra, or Front page news type places, not Opera.
There also needs to be a huge police present in those areas, like Times Square cops on every corner presence and a very very strict enforcement of the no panhandling law, because a 4 am last call does no good if nobody feels safe there.
However, I do draw the line at determining what “type” of establishments should be allowed. Let consumers figure that out and by extension, the types of business will too. If the place is doing something illegal, then enforce the law. Precluding honest, normal businesses from operating because of a few bad seeds is a bureaucratic and unproductive approach in my opinion. I also don’t know that your assessment of where conventioneers want to go. I say, provide them with choices and they’ll go where they like. For now, it’s obvious that convention consumers have spoken by telling Atlanta “You’re no fun anymore and we’re going to other places.” It’s up to the city council to fix that ASAP.
When they turned Underground Atlanta in to family oriented “mall” to by shoes and icecream – I just rolled my eyes in wonderment. I emailed Pitts (no response) about how even back then it needed to cater to ADULTS not adolescents and strollerz. There it went, full force into malldom and it ruined what Underground had left relating to the good ole days, what the world remembered when you mentioned “Underground”. Look at it now! Wow! Let’s [not] Go! As for the 4am closing time, there are so many watering holes tucked in here and there, that never make a blip on the radar, they should not be left out of the roll forward. 24/7 is the way to go… you don’t have to say open 24/7 but it should be your chioce providing you are ok with the surrounding community. If there is only one 24/7 club every one has to got there, what a mess… there needs to be as many as wht businesses want to partake. The more you have, the more dispersed, the less problems with traffic and noise, the better for all…. Grow up Atlanta, and to some of these posters, get with it and think outside of your closed up little world. Especially, nothing good happens after 2:30am go home with your buzz you had enough. Well fool, people get off work at 2:am and are enlitled to partake in a cold one and a burger too. Go back under your 9-5 ROCK !!!
It’s easy to say a 4am last call will solve the world’s problems if you don’t actually live in one of the areas that may be affected. I do live in one of those neighborhoods and we’re struggling enough with all the noise, illegal parking, crime, loitering, littering, speeding and harrassment that comes at 2:30am. No thanks.
The revenue being made will be in more dui’s, more road blocks, more police and more idiots getting in fights at Waffle House. It is much more logical and more revenue generating to just sell booze on Sunday.
Polly – what makes you think that all of us in favor of the idea don’t live in impacted areas? I lived in Midtown until just a few months ago and I have no problem with the idea of 4am; I also can’t say that I saw or see an exorbitant amount of the things you’re describing. I currently live in Grant Park very near to the Standard on Memorial and would welcome more places to go and hang out. I think the answer isn’t to continue to restrict bar hours but to increase enforcement by adding more officers; having more revenue would allow us to hire the officers we need for the task.
“…having more revenue would allow us to hire the officers we need for the task” – what guarantee do you have of this? We were also told 4 years ago that the exorbitant water increases we were facing in the City were going to be used to fix the water/sewer lines, yet the hikes continue and the lines in our area are no better. The LRB and City is far more concerned with being sued by a bar/restaurant owner for questioning or not allowing any and all licenses that they don’t care about the impact on nearby residents. The system is broken! Fix the system, find a way to retain officers (most come here for training and then leave) and build the APD, then come discuss 4am last call…now is not the time!
Your name says it all as your frustration is palatable. Not sure where you live but I have seen a great deal of work done on the water and sewer lines throughout midtown; it takes time and it’s a big mess to fix, but it is happening.
There is no guarantee that the increased revenue will go to adding more cops, but we can’t hire more without officers without more revenue (either earned or saved elsewhere). We should have hired more back when we had the fourth highest volume of conventions in the country, but instead, we chased that volume and revenue away and now have to furlough officers when we need them the most.
You may be right about now not being the best time to roll back closing times, but we definitely need to start thinking about why we’ve lost the revenue and conventions that we have. Discussing this is a relevant and import thing to do and I’m glad Councilperson Hall is raising the issue.
I have always had so many favorite numbers, but this one always makes me stand up and blow all those darling, talented Rockettes, kisses, with tears in my eyes!
Have a wonderful opening night, and Atlanta you are in for a treat!
[...] journey to the area’s historical homes has so far taken AJCer Howard Pousner and me to Bulloch Hall in Roswell and the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home on Auburn Avenue in [...]
[...] historical homes has so far taken AJCer Howard Pousner and me to Bulloch Hall in Roswell and the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home on Auburn Avenue in [...]
[...] It would be easy to miss among all the red and blue, but even easier to miss some of the story behind it. There’s only so much room on an information card. (Here’s a short piece from when I went on the Turner Field tour.) [...]
How much in sales tax (8%) and “by the drink” (3.5%) tax revenues has the city missed?
How many conventions has Atlanta lost to other cities?
How many police officers lost their ability to earn a supplemental income which was not paid by the city, but individual businesses and business associations?
How many potential crimes were prevented by those “extra-job” officers?
How many more property crimes were committed during the extra hours of “ghost town”?
How many crimes would not have been committed with open businesses, lights on, and potential witnesses out and about?
How many service/entertainment industry jobs have been lost?
How many service/entertainment workers got new jobs just outside the city limits, and have been making A LOT of money off of Atlanta? (I did once upon a time. Thanks Decatur!)
And…
How well has the special interest, “entertainment district” known as Underground Atlanta fared while having the exclusive privilege of remaining open until 4AM? Who holds those interests?…Look into it.
I don’t know the answers. I’m just asking the questions.
One more,
When and where is the PUBLIC hearing on Monday, November 23?
[...] continue our tour of Atlanta area historic homes today with Swan House, another home that, like the Margaret Mitchell House, is managed by the Atlanta History Center. My colleague, Howard Pousner, explained that even before [...]
[...] a year for indie book stores in Little Five Points. Charis Books and More recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, and A Cappella Books, its neighbor across Moreland, turns 20 on Dec. 1. Frank Reiss inside A [...]
My father was friends with the man that ran over and killed Ms. Mitchell, the man’s name was Hugh Gravitt. I live on 13th near Peachtree, site of the accident, and almost bought Ms. Mitchell’s other apt at One South Prado. A family friend is movie star Joan Fontaine, who tested for Scarlett… and I’m an Atlanta Native whose Godmother attended the GWTW premiere… how’s that for 6 degrees of separation?
As a resident in a mixed commercial/residential neighborhood, I cannot agree to a later “last call”. The residents of Castleberry Hill have been plagued with problems from neighborhood restaurants/clubs. Some say it is the “new” Buckhead. I don’t have a problem with allowing clubs unlimited hours in non-residential neighborhoods, but there has to be compromise in a mixed neighborhood.
One other thought…..after reading all of the previous comments, I realize that at least one person out there doesn’t understand how large the residential component is in Castleberry Hill. There are several thousand people living in those buildings in a very small area. Please–we have enough noise, loitering, illegal parkers blocking our driveways, littering and lack of respect for our beautiful neighborhood. A later last call is not for this area!
REALLY TRUELY AWESOME, Great ATL Guy, Proud of you and your knowledge. Thank you for contributing information and what am amazing background.
Old lady in Bama, lol
goodgoing
Hey ya’ll, I’m 51, but I guess I’m an old soul. And Bama lady, I caught the typo and knew what you meant The Marshes were headed to the movies (not sure what theatre was near 13th then), and she darted out in front of Mr. Gravitt, who was speeding. She lingered at Grady I think for 7 days, then died. Mr. G spent 6 months in jail, I have a copy of his obit from the AJC… he died in the early ’90s. Mr. G’s daugher was a hairdresser in Alpharetta – Betty Smith, who I think is still living. Her son cut a man off in traffic and the man followed Ms. Smith’s son home and shot and killed him their driveway, very tragic family.
[...] week, AJC editor Monica Richardson explained to us why she loves the sport of bull riding. Today, she gives us a look at what happened when she saw it at Gwinnett Arena this weekend: [...]
I am glad there are still old houses to feature. The AJC would do well to highlight some of Atlanta’s endangered properties, like the Solomon Goodwin House on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.
Actually, she was headed to the Peachtree Art theater to see The Canterbury Tales– it was close to 10th Street. And she passed away 5 days later, not 7.
I went to this event Saturday night and had a wonderful time. This was my first live bull riding event, but I’m sure it won’t be my last! I really hope the PBR comes back to Atlanta.
I’m so glad to see the PBR finally getting coverage in Atlanta. The cowboys are accomplished athletes who work hard at their craft and give back to their fans with a purity of spirit that is rare and wonderful. Yes, many of them are from “Small Town USA” but a good number of riders currently on the tour are from Brazil (including 3 world champions), Australia, Canada and Mexico. The animal athletes–the bulls–are massive characters that often create more fan excitement and loyalty than the riders. They are prized members of the stock contractor’s families and are treated with the utmost care. And the PBR’s fan base is expanding internationally. I’m a married woman in my 50’s that grew up in the south as a fan of western culture, not a product of it–and I never, EVER miss a minute of PBR action.
I was at the Arena all three nights and loved it. Monica, if you ever need a bullriding buddy to talk PBR give me a shout. (And for the record, that was not me sitting behind you!) Ymh, glad you enjoyed it and please drop the PBR a line on their website and tell them how much you enjoyed the event in Atlanta and would like to see come here again. In the meantime you can watch it on the Versus cable channel every Saturday and Sunday night.
[...] stop on our tour of Atlanta area historic homes. We didn’t get to all of them, including the Herndon Home, which no longer keeps regular visiting hours, but is available for tours by [...]
Jamie, thanks so much for the write-up about ICE! We had a GREAT turn out! I buy as much handmade as possible (online, in shops and at events) and that automatically makes everything more fun. Everyone has an art sale this time of year (schools, churches, neighborhoods). Another strategy that I enjoy is shopping for specialty food items at the DeKalb Farmers Market and putting together a basket/box of treats. Just make sure you’re strategic about when you go shopping there – it gets crazy!
Hahaha, I love the DeKalb Farmers Market, but have made sure to hit it only on weekdays or very late on weekends. It’s like every Saturday is a holiday there.
I was a vendor at ICE this year. It was my first show and I must admit, it was well organized, and very professional. I hope to be back next year! http://beatroad.etsy.com
I went to ICE-Atlanta this weekend and thought Mod Meadow Studios was amazing. I blogged about it on my blog http://www.charmhome.blogspot.com here’s the link to go directly to the Mod Meadows Studio post. http://tinyurl.com/ybqnthh xoxo, Cristi
[...] now, there’s been an interesting discussion about it over in a post from last week, “How would 4 a.m. last call change Atlanta?” Let’s keep the discussion moving forward in a respectful way. The more perspectives, [...]
[...] not limited to the outdoor rink at Centennial Olympic Park. My colleague, Jamie Gumbrecht from Inside Access, points out that the IceForum at Town Center in Kennesaw has Thanksgiving ice skating. Admission is [...]
[...] lights: This post links to even more Christmas tree lighting events around Atlanta. Field Trips with Sue has a handy lineup of Atlanta-area lighting displays, and if you’re [...]
THE TREE IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS A MEMORY OF A LIFE TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER ATLANTA , GEORGIA WITHOUT MACY’S AND THE BIG MACY’S CELEBRATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andres, there are port-a-potties all along the sides…..free starbucks, free show, free goodies….couldn’t get any better! oh, and fire works! =]
My family has been going to this for the past 18 years, and I couldnt have a Thanksgiving without going to it! It really gets you ready for Christmas, I definitely recommend you go!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for jumping in to answer questions, Danielle! I’m just back from my Thanksgiving celebration waaaaaay outside Atlanta, so I didn’t see these till now. I hope everybody had a great time!
We went last night for the first time and it was AMAZING! The sound system was awesome – plenty of room, plenty of port o potties. The performers were GREAT, the tree left me speechless! VERY fun and we’ll do it again. My only “complaints” would be the constant loud talking that people did while the performers were on and the smoking of many people near us. Even though it was an outside event the smoke was a nuisance for me and my young children. And I wish people would actually LISTEN to the performers! If you don’t want to hear them, then come late for the tree and fireworks. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us. However, still a great event and we’ll be back next year – with chairs this time!
It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to get photos at each of the homes, but I disagree that the stories are worthless. I hear often from people who have questions about the tours, how long they last, whether they’re child-friendly etc. This isn’t meant to be a multimedia tour, but rather, an explanation of what you can expect from a tour. In this particular case, there are photos from inside The Wren’s Nest, if you click on the link about renovations — they weren’t shot for this particular story, but they were shot within the last year.
Can anyone get to the Pink Pig website? The link above is broken and there’s no clear place to get info at macys.com or the Simon website. I can’t believe it’s this hard to get info.
Hi MAT! This year’s Pink Pig info has been hit or miss. As of today, this one seems to be half-working. The framework is there, but I haven’t had luck getting specifics from it: http://www.macys.com/campaign/pinkpig/home.jsp
[...] some suggested moving the Hall to Atlanta, where attendance would likely be greater, the public and private support holds them to Macon, said [...]
I’m about 3 weeks late to the party, but I loved the article. Sadly I never got to know the Atlanta with the 4 AM last call, but I have some great memories of the Buckhead strip (currently known as the rubble along Peachtree Rd). It’s unfortunate that Atlanta no longer has a centralized party place like the Buckhead Strip used to serve as or Cresent Ave used to be before Vision shut down and Hush burned to the ground. I think Orlando has probably done the best with Pleasure Island. That’s an amazing area with everything contained. Atlanta recently turned a trouble-area around when they built Atlantic Station, maybe they could do the same for a “party central” (ideally along a Marta rail line that should stays open long enough to deter drunk driving).
[...] a handy round-up of some of the bigger holiday shows playing on local stages. Check out the Atlanta Music Scene blog for details on what shows are [...]
[...] attractions, restaurants and shopping. You can find even more stuff to do around the area in our Weekend To Do List or in the searchable AccessAtlanta.com [...]
[...] you recognize the image in this week’s Access Points photo game? No, it’s not the Georgia Aquarium or Cabbagetown, as some of you guessed, but rather, the [...]
The fanfare sounds like a lot of fun, but it sucks to be ‘Bama right now playing the Gators in the SEC Championship. It should be called the SEC CHOMP-IONSHIP because Florida will CHOMP all over Alabama, and make them look like CHUMPS!
Where can we find a schedule of events for the SEC Fanfare? The link on the site that you provided is not active. Last year they posted a schedule of former greats appearing at the interview venue.
Show was great…Rockettes are great…unbelievable precision. But what in the world did that seriously religious nativity bunk have to do with the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. A seriously religious injection, after the last curtain dropped, that had a lot of the audience leaving and most of the rest perplexed and, without a doubt, many offended. I wasn’t offended. I just didn’t like it.
GeeGee, I don’t have a long personal knowledge of the show — this year was my first time seeing any of it — but “The Living Nativity” has been a part of the show since it launched in 1933, along with “March of the Wooden Soldiers.” Tradition seems to be the name of the game here.
I say the event of the year was that beat down that my DAWGS put on those nerds on North Ave. I know that Tech kids get held up like every week, so they should be used to it. 30-24!!! Event of the year!
c’mon people, you can see the hem/seam on the “leaf”, it’s not a real cabbage. man, Xavier’s still making big bucks on those dolls. anybody still got an original?
I hope no stinky jort gators or mullet bama fans stink up my seats in the dome, maybe I should take some lysol to spray my seats before the Philly game
Hey Keith, just thought you might want to know I’m not just a UGA fan, but a graduate of UGA. And, no, I’m not a redneck, I’m not even from Georgia originally. But, I would venture to say that the UGA-Tech game is always one of the biggest events of the year in Atlanta, and UGA did whip Tech’s butts all over the Joke by Coke, and there have been a lot of robberies of Tech students this year. So, next time you want to open your mouth and call someone a name, I will give you a time and place and you can say it to my face. Oh, and Tech students are nerds, everyone knows that. Man up or shut up.
Aqua Vino at Georgia Aquarium! The food was incredible, and there were more wines than I’ve ever seen. Combine wandering around the Aquarium with endless eating and drinking and winning AirTran tickets in their auction, and you’ve got a can’t miss event. Love, love it.
Aqua Vino was the BEST!!! An abundance of wine and food. The selection was incredible and they seemed to never run out of anything. I wonder how they can make it all come together so beautifully. I had an amazing time and met some truly fabulous people. And the setting…. Don’t even get me started!
I have also been looking for a schedule of events for SEC Fanfare, as there is no link on the secsports.com website. It appears that this is poorly planned this year, which is surprising given the magnitude of the game. Would have liked to go if there were some former Vols in the house, but have no interest otherwise as a Tennessee fan. Will just stay home out of the chilly weather, I guess.
[...] When Little Shop of Stories in downtown Decatur opened its doors on Monday, there was a line 100 deep for tickets to author Neil Gaiman’s Dec. 14 book signing. [...]
Here are my votes for things I went to
1. NIN and Janes Addiction (Hifi buys ampitheatre,)
2. Kings of Leon (Phillips)
3. Oysterfest
4. REM (hifi)
5. dogwood festival
6. Tool (Gwinnett)Does that count?
Can’t include Paul McCartney even though I heard it was good because I didn’t actually go
SEC aficionado and Ryan — I just got a call back from SEC folks with rough schedules for the Fanfare events. Info about the Chuck Wicks concert, pep rallies and Legends events are posted above!
Thanks, Jamie, for collecting what information that you could about event specifics for the SEC Fanfare. They really dropped the ball on this. Last year they posted a detailed schedule in thirty minute increments. I went in 2008 solely because of some of the events that they posted in advance. But no such good marketing this year.
[...] campaign with a name that implied the community might lose something special if, in fact, there was no way that was going to happen. There’s no way to say that money raised for pandas would have gone to any of the other [...]
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium. A wonderful night out with friends with the bonus having wonderful food and wine and an intimate exposure to the aquarium!
Aqua Vino for sure! I went to a lot of these events this in ATL and have to say that GA Aqua Vino party was tops. I can’t wait for the dolphins and look forward to next year!
Agreed. UGA spanking the Jackets was the event of the year, in my book! Looking forward to the next 6-7 years of owning the nerds before we let them grab their once in a decade victory. Oh, by the way, Go Dawgs!!!
While Sir Paul was great what about DAVE MATTHEWS at Piedmont Park w/the Allman Brothers. Bigger, more eclectic crowd. Also, the annual Santa Pub Crawl. It’s more fun than Halloween.
Dragon*Con. I worked it and it is still and always will be #1. Seeing all of the Stargate movie stars, and other celebrities was really cool. I guess I should dress up next year.
[...] skating at downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, a temporary rink, known for craggy ice and a family friendly atmosphere: $9 for 90 minutes and [...]
What makes it worth $30? I can see people who are staying in the hotel doing this, as visitors make wonderful targets, and if you are staying in the St. Regis price is no matter.
It might just get non skaters in to see this beautiful hotel. Watch the skaters and maybe have a drink, lunch or dinner. It would be a nice Christmas experience.
Best event of 2009???? Hands down….Tiger Woods’ downfall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m loving it! Why? Because for YEARS all you media types have fawned over him. You’ve been like little boys worshipping your “hero”! What a joke! All of YOU now have egg on your faces….Tiger is a scum bag and you guys have been duped!
Cip and BJ C are so ignorant that it is absolutely amazing. I too saw the show and was totally excited by it. I’m a big-band person and this band is absolutely fabulous. It kicks ass and at the same time has a control that is sublime. If Sinatra had that kind of band and that kind of sound quality when he was alive (and don’t think for one minute that sound quality doesn’t make a differnce because it absolutely does), he would have sold even more records! Nelson Riddle and many of the other arrangers were too “sophisticated” in their arrangements and left the music wanting more excitement. This band delivers what the original arrangements did not. And the more kick-ass the drummer can deliver, the more exciting the performaces by the dancers will be.
The dancers were amazing! I have been to a lot of musicals in my time both on Broadway and off and in the movies. I’m a staunch Gene Kelly fan, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse etc., and these dancers, under Tharps direction, gave us what the Broadway musical audience yearns for: rhythm, sensuality, talent and hope; hope that great live Broadway dancing is not dead. By the way, it doesn’t seem that anyone commented that “Take Five” was screamingly wonderfully danced. Holy Crap, it was phenomenal! Sure it isn’t a Sinatra piece (as anyone with a brain cell knows, it was classic Bruebeck), but what an emotional number. Rocking, yet emotional. It was music of the period of time that Sinatra made his comeback and the fact that it along with other music was not only brilliant, but gave us a “break” from all of the wonderful Sinatra songs so that when those songs returned, we wanted them even more. Absolutely masterful! So for the two imbeciles who thought the performance was too racey, you had every right to walk out. And the person who thought “tame it down for New York” you should consider visiting other places than Atlanta to just get an idea of what the rest of the world is experiencing. Do you think that Mr. Sinatra was an angel while he was alive…give ma a break.
I would have paid the price of a ticket just to hear the band. But with the dancing, it was the bargain of year. I have told friends on both coasts to see this if it comes to their city or even near their city. You won’t be diappointed.
Ms. Tharp: don’t give up on this! Keep the band and the dancers delivering and never, ever give up on the sound quality!
Hey I live all the way in tyabb you see and I really want to go there maybe one time I might be able to have a peek because I love cabbage patch dolls there so cute!
Hey Jamie! Its Sheree. One of your netherworld haunted house partners. Back checking out your blog. Which is always lovely by the way. Hey do you know if they do this a lot at eddie’s attic?
Classic City Brew Fest- all the way. Atlanta proper has some tremendous gathering, no doubt. But the Classic City Brew Fest in Athens is by far the best in the region.
I was one of those 100 waiting outside that first Monday. I met Neil Gaiman here twice before, but it has a very long time. I saw him at a small bookstore on Cheshire Bridge road back in 1999 and then the following year at DragonCon. I’ve been a huge fan of his since I read his Black Orchid comic in the late 80’s. That signing in 99 was really great and drew a small intimate crowd. I see the word has gotten out over the years as to how great of a writer he is. Thanks for Little Shop for making this happen.
You, as a a ” reviewer” must have been boxed (as most writers are) in the cheap seats. I would think, if given a job, writing about a very sensitive subject, you would at least express yourself as such. The diatribe you wrote is as see through as a hastily put together term paper.
You were one of the few that looked on, like a mission for your next review. Good luck. Remember…only write about things you know, or can quickly gather information on.
I write and voice for a living. It is a small pool.
[...] weeks away from Christmas, you’d think the most accessible dance performances would involve nutcrackers and eye-high kicks, but I’ll argue for another: “Crea” by [...]
[...] Christmas, you’d think the most accessible dance performances would involve nutcrackers and eye-high kicks, but I’ll argue for another: “Crea” by gloATL. [...]
[...] that fits into spaces we already know, or think we know — the Woodruff Arts Center lawn, the streets of Castleberry Hill and this time, the Robinson Atrium inside the High Museum of Art. Stages and auditoriums are [...]
[...] to do to help guide you. If you’re looking for more info on holiday shows, check out this blog post from last week. And if you’re looking for live music, I recommend a visit to the Atlanta Music Scene [...]
Hallo Sheree, if you notice closely the article states that this was one of Eddie’s “Bi-annual Shootouts”. Yes, there is a prestigious open mic every Monday night, and it is a great honor to win one of these. But, twice a year Eddie, of Eddie’s Attic, hosts a “shoot-out” between all of the Monday night’s winners up to that point. Pulling off a win at one of these is incredibly difficult, and a true testament to a songwriter’s musical talent.
[...] June 5, 2010-Jan. 9, 2011: “Signs of Life: Photographs by Peter Sekaer” This High-organized exhibition will be the first dedicated to the work of photographer Peter Sekaer, who photographed American cities — including some in Georgia — to document the effects of the Great Depression. Read more about it in this blog post, “High to debut Peter Sekaer exhibition in 2010.” [...]
Another great performance this weekend is the 34th Annual Music of the Holidays presented by The Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. There are two performances, one at 3pm and one at 8pm, on Saturday Dec. 12. at The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Please visit http://www.aysc.org for more information.
Um, I’d gladly pay $30 to avoid the punk kids at Centennial. The ones who think it’s funny to skate around you really fast and knock you down. And the nine thousand people they let on the ice. And the puddles that make your feet wet. Yeah. The St. Regis’s ice rink was WAAAY better than Centennial.
The Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes is a must see! My wife and I did it last year and it was fantastic! Wonderful people welcoming you into their beautiful homes is really a treat. We’re going again this weekend despite the awful weather forecast.
Another great thing this weekend is the North Atlanta Christmas Festival at Mount Pisgah in Alpharetta. There is dancing, singing, and the GA Tech drum corp will be there too! Tickets are $7-$10 and shows are tonight at 7pm, tomorrow at 3:30 and 7, and Sunday at 7pm. It is great for the whole family and also has a fantastic nativity scene. See you there!
It’s my birthday and I took my 5 yr old daughter to see the Princess and The Frog, it was just a wonderful experience. The story line was great and I enjoyed Disney portraying an intake Black family, but the theme was universal to believe in oneself, dream big and what matters in life is often the small things that we overlook. I was probably more excited to see the movie than my daugher. I turned 41 yrs today and I’ve watched Disney since childhood and to see this historic event of a Black Princess on the “big screen” was terrific….something to see for everyone. Finally, the soundtrack of songs was great as well.
Awww, happy birthday BiancaJ! I definitely got the feeling that there were a lot of moms and grandmas just as excited to see the film as there were little girls. You’re not alone.
Took my 10-year-daughter and four of her friends tonight. The girls loved the movie. But no more than this 45-year-old dad. This is one of those Disney movies destined to be a classic. It has that charming, old-style Disney style that brought to mind the sincerity, charm, and simplicity of the old Disney movies of my youth. The morals inculcated in the script, the sweetness of the story line, and love-letter it is in many ways to New Orleans, instantly made this G-rated movie one of my all time favorites. The humor in the movie is the kind that both parent and child appreciate. Short of Oprah Winfrey and John Goodman, there are no mega-star stars as voices I recognized, but each character is cast perfectly. A few scenes may be a little scary for some kids under 6 or 7. But as a grown-up, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, appreciate it’s completely lack of innuendo, no dirty words or inferences, incorporation of the values of dreams and work, the romance. Overall, a very, very charming movie, worth the attention of all generations. A++.
McCartney, of course! – regardless of how the folks at the park that did-not-organize the show totally scammed the fans, and had no clue as to how to handle a show like this, when Paul hit the stage it became a moment of history for the town.
……………but ConVick leaving the city once again WAS a wonderful thing, Brett!! {he should be working on a Chevy assembly line somewhere…}
I bought tickets months ago but was out of town for work, and so I gave them away as early Christmas gifts. While I’m sorry to have missed it, I count myself fortunate to have had an 11th hour realization last summer that I was in downtown Chicago on a Thursday evening with nothing to do on an evening when my favorite show has it live taping. I was two blocks from the Chase Auditorium, a rather intimate setting, and seeing Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me was one of the highlights of my year.
There’s the Mary Gay House in Decatur, but it only opens for special events such as weddings. My specific interest is literature, and I spent a month going around a number of literary places September–october this year, and have now got the majority of details, including a great number of photos, on my blog: http://tonyshaw3.blogspot.com
Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park reminded us all of what an amazing feeling you get when you join with thousands of other people to experience the performance of a musical legend and master communicator.
I wouldve said the Nickleback/Seether/Saving Abel concert that was at Lakewood, It was awesome! It was pouring rain the entire time an we got soaked out on the lawn but it was a BLAST! Everyone had the time of their lives!!!!
Actually, I thought that the award for the best event in Atlanta should be a tie between the Georgia Tech vs VPI football game or the Gun Show at the Atlanta Farmers Market in Forest Park.
How Paul McCartney and Vick could end up in the same blog is frightening. But this is ATL. The thing about McCartney is that everytime you see him, you think it’s the best he’s ever done…..and you’re right.
Georgia Tech’s win over Virginia Tech was it for me. It was great to see those goal posts come downs. Finally we have a football time that we can all be proud of.
Go Jackets!!!
[...] devoted are Neil Gaiman’s Atlanta fans? Well, devoted enough to lure him here with a fabulous party at Decatur’s Little Shop of Stories, devoted enough to stand in line for free tickets and devoted enough still to wait up to seven [...]
[...] lure him here with a fabulous party at Decatur’s Little Shop of Stories, devoted enough to stand in line for free tickets and devoted enough still to wait up to seven hours at Agnes Scott College to get [...]
MACCA – no contest. The venue was miserable, no seats, rain, standing for hours on end, and having to watch screens because he was so far away, but Sir Paul has to be the greatest entertainer in history. Seen him 17 times w/o The Beatles, and 4 times with – just gets better and better. Hope he comes back to the Phillips SOON!
Collective Soul at the Tabernacle was awesome, as was Train at the Tabernacle. JD Souther at Eddie’s Attic was incredible. If you want to see an awesome show go see Ed Roland at Eddie’s Attic on Dec 19 and 20.
Man I gotta get out more often, I didn’t go to any of these events. However, I think my 7 year old’s birthday party was probably my favorite event of 2009.
The whole event was terrific and both Neil Gaiman and the Little Shop of Stories folks deserve great credit for making it a wonderful evening. As the parent of a kid needing to go to school today, I am very grateful to everyone who graciously let children get their books signed first.
That really was incredibly smart to bump the families up to the front of the line. It’s a small thing that made a huge difference. I appreciated that the Little Shop folks were honest about how long it would take, but know their audience well enough to keep the kiddos (and therefore, everyone) happy.
Sir Paul @ Piedmont Park was undoubtedly an event to remember. He rocked the park. No one minded the rain and everyone enjoyed the cooling showers after being in the hot summer afternoon.
Baby I’m (always) Amazed!
Paul was #1 in 2009!
Neil was warm, gracious, kind, entirely witty, wonderfully creative and enormously generous with his time – he spoke and read for nearly an hour and a half – followed by several hours of book signing!
Bravo Little Shop of Stories for all you did to bring him here, deep gratitude to Agnes Scot for hosting the multitudes, and many many thanks to Neil for making the trip! Decatur was greatly honored to have Neil visit.
I think props also should be given to the campus police at Agnes Scott. The officer who was in charge of hanging out with the line before the doors opened was downright friendly and joked around with the crowd. when they started allowing people (two at a time) to buy books or pick up will call tickets he kept it moving and organized so that there wasn’t a mad rush or people cutting the line. I’ve been to events where the “security” were rude and treated folks like cattle and this could not have been MORE different. It kept everyone who was standing in the cold and damp for hours in good spirits.
And to the previous commentor. Folks SHOULD be proud of independent bookstores having a moment to shine. Often times big chains may do little things for the community, but really they’re pushing out local businesses buy providing quantity instead of quality. Last night’s event was a triumph for indie booksellers because way too often big name authors don’t come to their stores because the bigger chains have more clout (and sadly more space). The spirit behind Neil’s appearance last night (as he himself said) was to give those underdogs a chance.
Paul McCartney was not only the best event of the year, probably the best concert I’ve ever attended. Can’t imagine any other event that would get a 40 minute deluge of rain and still keep 50K people entertained. Good times!
Hi Lena – There’s a difference between being “proud of independent bookstores” and insulting the competition. Everything was great until the co-owner insisted on trying to tear down others. That’s not cool in my book and I wish he could just be proud of the achievement without being dismissive of others. His comments are what turn the focus from a great appearance by a big-name author into something else completely.
Had a great time last night. Very glad that I lined up at about 3PM so I was able to leave before 10PM since I needed to catch MARTA. I estimated Neil might have had to stay until Midnight as I was leaving, but the fact that he stayed past 1AM is a reflection of the amazing respect and admiration he has for all of us fans. So much better than the Stephen King event at Barnes & Noble a few blocks away from me. I would have attended it and got his new book if I could get my comic book signed, and I was assured there would be no chance of getting anything signed but the new novel, so I stayed home. He only accommodated up to 400 people for his signing. Comparing that with Neil Gaman’s appearance really shows how remarkable and gracious Mr. Gaiman is. I’d been lucky enough to see him twice before (to much smaller crowds many years ago). It is amazing to see so many more people aware of who he is and so eager to meet him. I’m incredibly grateful as all of us should be to Little Shop of Stories for bringing him here. I wanted to show my appreciation and get a few books from them as my budget allowed. I was even able to buy a signed copy of American Gods and one of his Dave McKean illustrated children’s books on my way out. It was an incredible thing for Neil to offer this contest and, I’m sure an amazing boost in sales to a small independent bookstore. Arguing the merits of big book chains vs. independent ones really isn’t the point. The night was made possible by Little Shop of Stories and now we are all aware where they are and what a great little store they have. Considering his last appearance at DragonCon was in 2000 (I met him there too) and his recounting of the event, this might be the only time Neil Gaiman can come to the Atlanta area for quite awhile
I really think you guys should bring vision back! It was one of the best night club in geogria actually. Visions was the hot spot. It didn’t give that getto inpression at all. More mature crowd. Please reopen vision back. Also, I wouldn’t mind being a waitress or manager for the club. I have manger experience as well. Thanks for taking time out to read my concerns.
Wow! That was an event that one remembers their whole lifetime!
I have to say that I am proud to be a student at ASC and the fact that we consistently host great speakers like Garrison Keillor, Scott McCloud, Gwen Ifill and of course Neil Gaiman says a lot about the huge value that this little school brings to the Metro area.
I really don’t think Neil’s appearance was about big guys vs little guys. But I definitely feel that there is an inherent truth somewhere in this moral about how ASC and LSOS hosted this luminary and not Georgia State and Borders. Watch Michael Moore’s 1997 masterpiece “The Big One” and you’re sure to become a little sympathetic to the Davids as they stand up to the Goliaths.
To everyone who was there – thanks for being so friendly and chipper.
Thanks to those ASC police officers who stood in the rain for hours directing traffic (at night).
Thanks to LSOS – you guys worked really hard and it showed.
Lastly, thanks to Neil Gaiman for choosing a Georgia “back water” to be the recipient of his own special brand of sunshine!!! Keep writing them and we’ll keep reading them.
Well that actually sounds pretty neat. I think I will take my son for his 12th Birthday, he can’t get enough of this stuff on TV. And I’m actually starting to become a fan myself. For twenty bucks, I’m in.
Ultimate fighting at the venue where we have experienced the most sublime music on earth?
What the hell is wrong with Atlanta?
The differences between the two experiences are so extreme, I cannot even imagine why it was considered in the first place(it has to be about the money). Keep the fighting to a ring and keep the ringing (bells) to the stage.
I bet it takes about 20 seconds before the national press picks up on this and makes a mockery (again) of the arts scene in Atlanta!
Great story! I know that some dog parks frown upon – or even prohibit – some breeds so its nice to see that the new Airport dog park welcomes post-apocalyptic robo-dogs. My question is, how will its owner get him/her through security?
czBrat — The new Canine Crossing park is definitely south of 20, and claims to be South Fulton’s only dog park. There’s also ParkGrounds, the coffee shop/dog park combo — it’s still north of 20, but not by much. http://www.parkgrounds.com/
The music part of the McCartney was great but the way they treated us like cattle SUCKED. After the rain it was such a horrible mess it made the experience miserable. I vote for the opening of the Vortex Comedy club.
I think this is the same promoter that had his recent shows at Center Stage. Center Stage rocks as a fight venue…why move? Why move to a symphony hall? I’ll stick to the fights in Gwinnett at least I know what I’m getting when I go there.
For the best ultimate fight, come on down to Hampton and watch my neighbors.This Friday night should be a humdinger since their Chrysler AND their monster mud boggin’ truck were re-poed this week. They start drinking at noon , as soon as she gets off work as the fry cook at Cracker Barrel. Get here early, I will sell the best lawn chair seats in front of my house for five dollars.
D. That sounds like the redneck shows Wild Bills does they have lawn chair VIP’s and Line Dancing for the after party and most of the fighters are Waffle House cooks. I use to drive an hour from my house to see them until they just got watered down. This one looks quality. And since Falcon’s pissed me off I need something in town. Good timing too, two weeks after new years.
As someone who works at Barnes and Noble I do feel insulted by the owner’s remarks. I’m so glad that Neil Gaiman visited his bookstore. I wish I had been able to attend, but the owner’s remarks were unnecessary. Some need to remember that corporations employ people, and that we are proud of our jobs. I don’t presume to say that our store is better than this independent store, but I would say that I have just as much pride in the store I work as he must have in his. I appreciate Neil Gaiman’s visit and I am so glad it was a success.
OMG, MC Gary !!! I am going to approach them ( very carefully) with an offer to be their agent ! I never dreamed that there was a market for neighbors from Hades AND my ex-husband as well !!!
Neil and LSOS, to Neil: You’ve got a 7yr old new fan who can’t help but tell EVERYONE that she met “Neil”. You really made her day and made a devoted new fan. To LSOS, ya’ll ran things so well, we found out only that day that Neil would be in town…you were extremely accomodating to our “Johnny come lately” needs….and having a special exception for children because of school the next day was a masterstroke…thank you again to all of you
the reflection is of a Chik-fil-A restaurant. dont know what the eye is from, but its in a mall. merry christmas and happy new year to everyone. next year will be much better. have faith.
The fights in Gwinette aren’t always the best, but the experience is. You don’t have to leave the venue to get a drink!! They’re consistent and that’s worth my money. When I go to the fights I get my fill until their next show. Maybe this symphony thing will be cool, but I’ll wait to read about it first then I’ll go check them out at their next show. I’ve been burned too many times..thinking I was going to see some good fights at a cool venue only to be disappointed.
James your so full of it, you can lie to us but you can’t lie to yourself. You obviously do not follow MMA at all, or are just a pretender trying to create propaganda. If you did you would realize EVERY PRO FIGHT on this card, is a MAIN EVENT at any other promotion. And most of the fighters have been main events. Many of them are champions of other shows. Name 1 card more stacked than this one? “You’ve been burned too many times to take a chance” What a retarded statement. Go look at this card. I’ve trained with some of these guys for years until my knees went out. This is not a discussion on which show you can get your beer quicker. It’s is more a question of is Symphony Hall a good venue for fighting. I’ll be there to find out, it’s different. Something fresh. And like the other dude said $20 bucks a ticket!!! Im sold.
To all of those insulted by the owner’s statements on indies vs. chains – B&N, Amazon and Borders would run us all out of town tomorrow if they could. Do you know what B&N has to do to get a major author to come to a store? Nothing. NOTHING. In fact, they often make it a condition of buying the author’s book that the particular author make B&N appearances on a given tour. (That B&N is not “bringing” Jasper Fforde to you; the publisher is sending him there because they are contractually obligated to do so, or because they promised in return for B&N buying a certain number of copies.) Do you know what an indie has to do to get a major author appearance? No, you do not, but I can assure you that nine times out of ten it involves begging of some sort. AND that if indies don’t manage to sell a decent number of books at an event, that publisher might not send them another author. That? Does not happen to chain stores.
Dave didn’t insult B&N’s hourly employees. This has nothing to do with you. You work for a giant faceless corporation bent on taking as much business away from small stores (and other chains) as it possibly can, and that’s an undeniable fact. Just because it’s prettier and smarter than Walmart doesn’t mean it’s not doing a similar kind of damage. When chains start paying the taxes that allow your community to thrive, then maybe indies will shut up about them. When chains no longer have most of the control over what’s published, then maybe indies will shut up about them.
LSOS knocked themselves over to win a contest and find a venue large enough so that a thousand people could see and meet Neil Gaiman. I think they can say pretty much anything they want about independent bookstores, and if you object to what they say, then you don’t need to go the next time they bring some kind of awesome event to town.
[...] 1) Le Flash in Castleberry Hill In its second year, this one-night event took over an entire neighborhood with art, dance, planned events and spontaneous displays of inspiration. It’s rare to see such plentiful street life in Atlanta — all those people out enjoying unfamiliar experiences with more curiosity than fear. I hope we see more of this event, and more events with the same philosophy. Read more. [...]
How about the Atlanta 200 toys for tots party at the Atlanta W on Saturday night. Every year they manange to raise thousands in gifts for the toys for tots and everyone has a great time doing it. Log onto the atlantatwohundred for more info.
This is wrong on so many levels. We don’t have a dedicated venue for our symphony, but you don’t see symphony halls in other cities renting themselves out for events not arts related. There is (or should be) a limit to making another buck for the Woodruff head honchos. It makes Atlanta look like a city too hick to be international. However, on a positive side, this insult to the performing space should serve as a kick in the head to the symphony patrons’ to get the lead out and get that dedicated hall built.
What exactly is art? What exactly constitutes art? One of the oldest art forms in the world is Martial Art. Many different styles. If you mix many different forms of it, you get mixed martial arts. A person has to practice for years to get good at an instrument. The same is true for athletes. These are not backyard brawlers. They are precision instruments playing a different tune than your used to. People have passion for it the same way you do for a symphony. Get over yourself.
I’d love to see morris day and the time, and have a good flashback to the early 80s. But there will be too many people downtown. I worked as a cop downtown during the annual peach drop for about 13 years, and had lots of good and bad times. We used to go on top of the 90 Central Parking Deck (whales painting) and look over at the masses of humanity. Made it easier to watch the drunks and criminals trying to pick pocket or such. Why is it that criminals never look up?
Why do people still waste time with this? It’s a small train, shaped like a pig, that goes around in a circle in a big white tent. It costs $5 or so. It’s not even worth it for nostalgic reason. Why do people think it’s so great? My daughter was bored with it when she was 4.
Well, it’s actually $3.00. After living here 20 years and finally having a kid, we decided to check this out a week ago. Glad we went to see what the fuss is all about, but it would not have been worth waiting in a long line (which formed by the time we were done). Dress warmly because the tent didn’t feel heated in any way.
20 years ago when I worked with children we saved and went to the Pink Pig on top of the REAL RICHS. It was shaped like a train and the fun part was adults squeezing inside. I have not taken children to ride this because it is no different than anything else. When will Atlanta learn history is what makes things great. By the way am I the only person who misses Richs and Davidsons?????????????????
Born and raised in Atlanta — NOT a Grady baby. I rode the Pink Pig when it was on top of the Rich’s building. I remember riding it for the first time — it was scary. Didn’t it go over the side of the building (roof) at one point? But afterwards, it was fun because I rode it with my siblings. Memories, rituals, family time — things people don’t know about these days. No special effects, just a simple slow, fun ride. Afterwards, we went shopping in the gift shop for presents for the family. I don’t recall souvenirs like they sell today — expensive T-shirts, high priced ticket items, etc. It was a place where kids could buy Christmas presents for little or nothing. Presents were cheap, but to a kid, it was grand!!! Nostalgia!!! I take my kids every year to ride the Pink Pig — it’s a tradition!!!
Yippy…As a resident of South Fulton, I’m am so glad and excited South Fulton has a dog park. My very active American Pit Bull Terrier will finally get an opportunity to social with other dogs. Thank goodness. Kudos….Mr, Edwards.
I have a feeling that the people that are opposed to Mixed Martial Arts haven’t watched it since back in the days of early UFC. It is a totally different sport then it was way back then. People need to educate themselves on what they are protesting, before protesting it.
First of all the staff from Little Shop of Stories did a great job, as did the campus police as others have said. So thank you to both groups. And thank you to the college for giving up the space for the event.
I was one of the last to get a book signed and it was worth the wait. Mr. Gaiman truly does care about his fans and it shows. If ever I get a chance to see him again somewhere I will not hesitate to do so.
It was enough to get my book signed and to say hello and thank you to one of my favorite authors. All in all a very nice night.
Tellus is a great place for the whole family, glad to hear they are being successful. We became members so we could go back often. We also like the Booth Western Art Museum, also up in Cartersville.
This is a mute point as that moron William “Soco” McAllister already got booted from Symphony Hall.
Idiot sends out press releases titled “From Violins to Violence” then in the same press release says how he’s trying to educate people about the sport.
Go back to selling out half of an 800 seat venue in Center Stage chump boy.
I can hardly wait, Morris Day and The Time will have everyone groovin to the music and dancing 2009 away. I have seen them many times in the passed and believe me, they will definitly keep the party goin. See ya there.
My night at CAVALIA was one of the best spent during this holiday season! What a wonderful show! My daughter would have loved it also.
There was a beautiful demonstration of talent, strength, loyalty, romance, and fun with the artists and horses all in one. The music was also beautiful. I visited the night they celebrated the sale of the 100,000 ticket! I purchased the DVD and am hoping to go again before the last show in Atlanta. Thanks for sharing this show with Atlanta! Safe travels!
Ok for the record, very clever on someones part to post a comment using our companies name as if Soco would really think that we posted that comment! Get real….
This entire situation is terrible for Soco and for fight fans. This was going to be a great show with great fights and it would have been exciting to go to a different venue!
We support Soco and his events and wish him continued success.
To the person trying to steal identities: Are you really that much of a hater that you have to talk trash behind fake names? Seriously, if you don’t like something or someone have the guts to call them out under your own name. Oh wait then you would have to step up and defend yourself and your position.
You are spineless and weak….We are ready to defend our position.
Keep up the good work Soco and we look forward to the show in March.
[...] on through the weekend. Keep an eye on the Atlanta Music Scene blog for more live shows, check out this post for more details about holiday theater performances and as always, please share your suggestions in the comments. Have fun! – Jamie [...]
I’m one of those, who cant have an escape from Atlanta during this holiday season, but knowing nothing to do in town,I was surprised and really happy to see so many events that can occupy me.
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If they declined to book the event because the didn’t want the lower classes soiling the seats, that would have been OK; but canceling after fans bought tickets & fighters prepared to do the deed, that is wrong. I hope the promoter sues & it hurts the venue in the wallet! Money that could have supported the arts will be spent on the settlement. I will not be attending any events at the Hall. Buy tickets to the Fox theatre, they have better acoustics anyway.
Appreciating music & martial at the highest level deserves a appropriate showcase. This event could have elevated the sport & the venue.
It’s a shame class snobbery & the close minded canceled the competition and the money it would have brought in. This would have been a great opportunity for symphony patrons to experience something new in a familiar setting. Fight fans would have been introduced to the hall & may have bought tickets to Frédéric Chopin’s work.
I have enjoyed the challenges of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Piano for more than a decade, I will be student as long as the body & mind are able. Now let’s match BJ Penn Vs. GSP with the Atlanta orchestra scoring Wagner!
Appreciating music & martial at the highest level deserves a appropriate showcase. This event could have elevated the sport & the venue.
It’s a shame class snobbery & the close minded canceled the competition and the money it would have brought in. This would have been a great opportunity for symphony patrons to experience something new in a familiar setting. Fight fans would have been introduced to the hall & may have bought tickets to Frédéric Chopin’s work.
I have enjoyed the challenges of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Piano for more than a decade, I will be student as long as the body & mind are able. Now let’s match BJ Penn Vs. GSP with the Atlanta orchestra scoring Wagner!
very dissappointing.Saw two others this year that were much better.Dancing pigs and sheep? everyone trying to be funny and not! My daughters both said it was embarressing. I have to agree. The costumes in the opening scene = puke !!! sad performance of a great masterpiece.
Went to the ice rink today and though it is in a great location and interesting because it is outdoor skating in a climate not typically associated with ice, the actual skating experience is pretty awful. Without being able to properly resurface the ice, this rink is as bumpy as a gravel road in the mountains outside Ellijay. On top of that, it is tiny and really crowded. You can’t actually skate, so much as you can sort of step along with the crowd in a tight little circle. $7.00 per person is overpriced for such a poor ice experience. Alpharetta Cooler charges the same price for open skating and you get a real full size rink, and properly smooth ice. Another problem I have with the Centennial Park rink is that there is no discount for children…not even my 3 year old! I am disappointed I spent the money and waited in the hour long line to get in.
This is not necessarly a coment, but a request for information. I have been informed that “American Idol will be in Alanta January 13,2010. If this is so, would you please send some information about this. Thank you! Gerald McDonner
[...] it opened in October, I offered up a brief take on the show, and my colleague Howard Pousner wrote a glowing review. Now that 100,000 of you have seen it, what [...]
Cavalia was worth every penny. This was also my first trip to Atlantic Station. It was a great weekend, especially since after I parked my car on Friday afternoon I didn’t need it again until I left for home on Sunday. Great hotel, good food and interesting people-watching topped off by a fantastic show of horsemanship, acrobatics, dance and live music! I still don’t know how the performers did 1/2 of their routines. Did I mention how enjoyable it was to have everything I needed within walking distance? If you haven’t been to the show, hurry and go!
I felt duped. The ads looked like Cirque, the tents looked like Cirque, the location was the same a Cirque but the show is a far cry from Cirque. As far as a horse show is concerned it was fine, but when you walk into a show expecting Cirque and get a fancy horse show with jugglers, it was quit a let down for me. Maybe if I was into horse training, I might have better appreciation for the overall performance.
However, there is a limited amount of entertainment value in watching a horse(s) walk backwards, sideways and kneeling down; then running back and forth on command so they can get food while some ho-hum cowboy stunts are performed. I paid well over $200 for two tickets on the third row. The seats were tiny. I am 6′ 220 and was shoved into a seat designed for a midg…I mean a smaller person. The person in front of me was half an inch from leaning back and using my knees as a head rest. If you enjoy the intense odor of fresh horse dung an urine then make sure you blow the extra cash for the after the show tour, which lasts 20 min, with no flash photography, no touching anything. Capped off by having the pleasure of listening to the french staff talk about you as you walk past. If you want to pay a lot of money to see a show that rocks, make sure it is a Cirque show and not some Cirque impostor.
I purchased two premium seats. The hourderves were ok, nothing special. Regarding the performance, my sense is if you are a horse lover it would be very entertaining. on the other hand if you just appreciate the animal as is it will become laborious to watch. I felt the acrobats were almost like Circque’s junior varsity. Some missed their flips and were clearly not at the top of their game as you expect from a Cirque de sole troupe. Perhaps Cavalia’s best acrobats get a shot as a part of one of the Las Vegas shows which are the best of the best. Would I care to see it again? Not even if it was free admission.
I want to see the Chickfilabowl parade tomorrow, and then go to FanFest.
Should I park near World Congress and walk to parade rt or is that too far. Should I park near parade then drive over to WC and park again??????and is FanFest something that is sold out????
THX
James: Sorry I don’t have informationg about particular vendors or locations.
Peachy: The parade route isn’t too far from the FanFest location, and the parade will actually end at the Georgia World Congress Center. You could probably station yourself at Centennial Olympic Park and get a great view of the parade while still having easy access to FanFest. Here’s another link to a downtown Atlanta map: http://www.atlantadowntown.com/guide
[...] Navigating through the crowd won’t be easy, so be sure to check out Jamie Gumbrecht’s Know Before You Go tips ahead of time. Did I mention that it’s [...]
[...] the same way about a year’s worth of events? A few weeks ago, you nominated and voted on your favorite events of 2009. I tacked on my own list because, well, it’s my [...]
To be clear: there were 175,000 people at last year’s Peach Drop, and no reports of serious crime during the event. I understand the crowd, location and recent crimes downtown put people on edge, but it is incorrect to suggest that the Peach Drop has a steady recent history of violent crime.
Yeah right – there wasn’t a shooting in 2006 , and the Underground is a safe and secure location to be at night. I am also sure that those who are responsible for the recent crime in the area will all be staying home tonight so no need to be on edge about armed robbery!
I’m from out of town and going to the Chik-Fil-A bowl. I was planning on heading to the Peach drop afterwards but after reading up on how dangerous the area is I think I’m stay away. Why do all of you people live in such a dangerous city? Why put up with all of the crime and panhandling?
East Coast: There wasn’t a shooting in 2006. According to the AJC archives, there were two shootings in 21 years at the Peach Drop; both were considered accidents involving celebratory gunfire, which is a horrible New Year’s tradition that happens many places, I’m sad to say. The last such incident occurred in 2005. Everybody can make their own decisions about how, when and where they feel safe, but Peach Drop does not have as bad a history as you seem to think.
Bob: I choose to live here because there’s a lot of fun stuff to do, an interesting history to learn from, wonderful people and neighborhoods and a transit system that works for me. I don’t feel it’s more dangerous or crime-ridden than other large cities, but I understand, too, that others simply aren’t as comfortable in any city. I hope you have a great time at the game, and in whatever you decide to do after.
[...] you able to identify the image in this week’s Access Points photo game? Indeed, commenter Tony was correct — it was a snow tube at Stone Mountain Park’s Snow [...]
[...] I expected to leave frozen and dripping, but here’s the beauty –the snow is plenty cold, but were still in Georgia. This is not at all like playing in the backyard in Michigan, where mom would bribe us indoors with hot chocolate and marshmallows. We were too happy to know how miserably cold it was. Who needs toes, anyway? (Here’s some advice on what to wear.) [...]
Me and the hubby are staying in tonight. We are going to watch the festivities on TV to bring in 2010 and eat some good food. Have a great 2010 everyone!
With the family, usually we watch the Peach Drop on one of the local news stations…doesn’t look like it’ll be happening this year since it doesnt look like any of them is broadcasting the local peach drop…they’d much rather show the drops of other major cities.
I celebrated at ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH NORTH and brought in the New Year on my knees, praying that 2010 has great things in store for not only me but America as a whole! Happy New Year folks!!
My husband and I hosted a New Year’s Eve Party at The Emirates Palace (www.emiratespalace.com) in Abu Dhabi UAE where Rihanna was performing a live concert!
Jamie,
I understand that this article is not the place but why is it that Atlantans seem to have the attitude that if you don’t like the crime and panhandling that comes with being downtown; then don’t come. New York has completely changed its’ image by cleaning up the area. Why is it so hard for Atlanta to do the same?
My Husband and I stayed at home, but we dressed as thought we were going out to party. I had (3) glasses of wine, he does not drink. We had party favors and fireworks and watched everyone celebrate on T V and took pictures of ourselves……We had a good time!!!
a fire, wine, and a delicious homemade pasta dinner watching the festivities in HD sure beats the heck out of being out in the cold and navigating to avoid a dui.
[...] only drawback is I wanted more of the real dogs. After reading this great article in Access Atlanta, I thought they’d be incorporated into the story rather than just a dog show at the [...]
I love this! We stayed home till about 10:30 p.m., then biked over to a party/parade/fireworks display nearby. It was ridiculous and magical in just the right way. Happy new year, everybody!
Terry, it’s a worthwhile question, but I can’t answer for everyone here. My personal experience, as someone who works downtown, uses public transportation to come downtown and often attends special events downtown, has not included serious or violent crime. I do experience panhandling almost every day, but I have no problem walking past, saying no and moving on. I know my comfort level for types of places and situations, and I think it’s important for others to know theirs as well. I don’t begrudge anybody saying they won’t go X for X; I have a much harder time with people who push that view on others based on inaccurate information or perceptions created without experience.
Still, you’re right, downtown Atlanta has an image problem. First, I think there are disparities in what people think of as “downtown.” Sometimes, that includes Buckhead, or the AUC, or East Atlanta, or the Old Fourth Ward, or Castleberry Hill, or Midtown. Sometimes not. Each of these areas are remarkably unique, and have their own issues. To lump them all into one heading is a disservice.
Second, I feel the image of “downtown” often has more to do with perception than reality. I hear often from people who claim all downtown businesses have failed, that violent crime is rampant, that downtown empties when the office workers head home for the night, that there’s nothing to do. There are examples of all of those things — and depending on your interests, indeed, you may not find anything fun to do downtown — but the issues are not so extreme as some make them sound. Bad things happen everywhere; so do good things. We will always be disappointed and unprepared if we believe absolutes that say nothing good or nothing bad ever happens [insert place here.]
And this is, of course, my own perception, rooted in my own experience here and in other cities. I’m still relatively new to the city, but I think it’s far from hopeless. I hope others haven’t written it off already.
Jamie, I agree that perception versus reality can have a wide chasm. However, Atlanta needs to try and correct its’ image problem. You mention your daily interaction with panhandlers. The number one complaint by Atlanta tourist is the panhandling. It hurts Atlanta economically. Remember when NASCAR decided to locate its’ Hall of Fame elsewhere because of the image of downtown Atlanta. Some of the comments after the decision derided NASCAR as being for hicks; so who needs it. We need it and the tax revenue that all businesses generate. We have charities in place for those who are down on their luck. You can’t help but feel sympathy for the homeless and people going thru hard times. However the homeless sleeping on benches and the panhandlers asking for money is our biggest image liability. Enforcing the vagrancy laws would have the same effect as putting a new coat of paint on your house. It doesn’t mean that the plumbing works but it sure looks nice.
Well, I decided to venture down to Underground lastnite around 10:00. There were hoards of people everywhere, but it was impossibe to hear the band unless you were close to the stage. I couldn’t understand why there weren’t speakers placed throughout the area.
The only thing that I was able to hear were the street preachers, yelling while carrying their signs informing everyone to repent.
Furthermore, after leaving Underground once the clock struck midnite there was nothing to do
in downtown. Except for the Hooters and the Hardrock Cafe. The few bussiness in downtown were all closed. Could not even get a cup a coffee!
Seriously, I agree! Atlanta wants to market itself as this fantastic, progressive city, but it is so behind. Tourist would probably have a more exciting time in Buffalo, New York!
Terry, you’re totally right — image matters. I grew up just outside Detroit, and no matter what good happens there, it’s overshadowed by the bad; we never hear of it, or it’s treated as an isolated incident. The panhandling downtown is a complicated issue, too — it’s incredibly uncomfortable and skews the perception of the city’s problems. I suppose more cops could cut back the panhandling, but I can see why it’s hard to focus police attention on it when there are far more serious crimes occurring. You’re right about the NASCAR museum, too, but since then, we’ve had a glut of new venues working on moving in downtown. Still, I think I’m more heartened by the work going on around Georgia State. Facilitating more street life downtown will only help the businesses, image and quality of life.
Dave, you make an interesting point, too: Post-Peach Drop, there wouldn’t be a lot going on downtown that wasn’t a party inside a hotel or the venues inside Underground Atlanta. Some of that has to do with the last-call law within the city, which we’ve discussed in earlier posts on the blog, and some has to do, I think, with the tourism/resident culture. Downtown is generally more tourist-friendly, I think. When I’ve got visitors in town, we do often wind up downtown for an event or a specific venue, like the Georgia Aquarium, but when we just want to walk around, grab a drink or shop, we head to other neighborhoods that aren’t quite so obvious to those who have only a guidebook or a few days to play.
See that picture up top? I’m about 3 rows back and to the right with a silver trumpet. We had a blast, and I hope to personally come back to Atlanta very soon!
It was an awesome show! Definitely worth the money. If you nay sayers would do your homework, you would have know exactly what to expect. NO one said it WAS Cirque. I’d like to see you guys try some of the stunts!
Has anyone noticed how people have become such harsh critics of EVERYTHING? If it’s not perfect…well then, they didn’t get their monies worth. James probably thinks a MLB game isn’t worth the price of a ticket if there isn’t a home run hit every inning. I would have loved the opportunity to go to something like this, but I don’t live in Atlanta anymore. I appreciate the beautiful animals that work their hearts out for their riders and the people that work hard and practice hours on end to put on a good show for their patrons. I don’t know, maybe they were tired?
It was absolutely excellent. I went twice. It was far better than the last Cirque that came through, which almost felt like an imitation of itself. This was much more fresh and original. It makes all the difference in the world to sit in the front row, though. Spend the extra cash; it’s more than worth it.
Mike Rhino, if you don’t like horses, you probably shouldn’t have gone to a horse show. Look up the word “Cavalia.”
As a non-horse person, I must say that I was unexpectedly mesmerized by the animals. Particularly impressive was the segment where a single trainer directs a group of around 8 horses with no riders. The choreography was spellbinding. The show is entertaining and everything that takes place on the stage is great. The seating arrangements, however, are very uncomfortable. I am of average size and shape and had a very difficult time in the seat. A couple of inches room more would have made it much more tolerable
Poor Mike Rhino and James. They must be missing a synapse somewhere in the brain. THIS IS NOT CIRQUE. Never advertised as such, never intended to be such. It is by all accounts a horse show.
[...] looks right now like snow will cover Atlanta with an inch or two late this week. It’s cute at Stone Mountain Park — far less charming on the [...]
Let me try to understand the concept of a snow day: When weather conditions are such as to pose a danger to attendance at school and/or work, one must find alternate means by which to occupy ones’ time while, THROUGH ABSOLUTELY NO FAULT OF, AND DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OVER WHICH ONE HAS NO CONTROL WHATSOEVER, one must find other venues to occupy ones’ free time. And just how do we arrive at said venues? Why we hazzard the drive, that’s right, the drive through the same hazzardous conditions which, AS MUCH AS WE HATED TO, we decided to “play it safe” and not go to school and/or work today.
I think I see a big reason for this series of discussionary topics on the woeful state of education.
In response to OLE GUY, as an educator, I can say that snow days are to keep buses off the road in hazardous conditions. You driving to work in snow is one thing; you driving a busload of someone’s children in the snow is another. Southern busdrivers have very little experience with inclement weather. Better safe than sorry. Nice try trying to tie in the woeful state of education, but I’m not buying it. We try to protect children; you try to turn it into some left wing conspiracy. Not to mention the fact that your post was repetitive and nearly nonsensical.
You’ve got to be kidding me! An article on how to spend a snow day? What do you do on the other days when you’re not working or at school? God help us if this a valid concern. For those who can’t figure it out on their own, I’m sure Obama’s administration has an answer for this too! I’m sure the AJC has a direct line, so look for more government intervention to be published by this wonderful news outlet!
Who Cares — I’m definitely not kidding. I hope that folks will offer up their ideas and suggestions for what typically stays open on snowy days, or for places that offer childcare — think YMCA-type businesses — on snow days. This post has nothing to do with politics. Please stay on topic.
This city is the most pathetic thing in the world. A half an inch is coming and schools close (even though it won’t start until after school) and Delta cancels 80 flights. It’s amazing that planes fly in and out of the north all winter without having to cancel flights unless there is a blizzard. I would understand if we were in Tampa but this is just sad. Get a life media.
Good one. “C” in CNN. The reflection shows that it’s inside the building. So like KMP is Right said, I’ll guess it’s by the entrance to Centennial Park (beside McCormick and Schmick’s).
Way to go, Michael. Sorry Jamie, that we’re diverting. I’m going to make a big pot of beef bourguignon and enjoy a rare weather event. Let it snow, although I wish it would be much more than a ‘dusting’…I remember in the early ’70’s, when Atlanta had an ice storm, with ice forming on trees, which then fell, and then downed many of the electrical wires. The entire city was without power for four days, no heat or lights or any energy source for cooking meals. I measure any new event against that bare survival type of incident. I’m sure tomorrow will be momentarily pretty, but harmless.
Keith, To answer part of your rant– up north they have deicing equipment, plows, sand trucks, etc. We don’t get enough of this weather to warrant the cost of this equipment, maintaince, etc. It’s cheaper and safer to simply shut down the one or two days a year this happens. Keep in mind also that many drivers in this area simply don’t have the experience driving in snowy or icy conditions. I have family members who are life- long Minnesotans, and they’ve got a repertoire of driving skills I’ve never needed to develop.
I have purchased two electric blankets, 25 candles and a significant number of glowsticks to keep me warm through not only this major snow problem but through the weekend. I will not be leaving the safety of my home and can only pray that nobody else does. This is going to be bad, please stay inside
Just Curious — I think it’s different because it’s unplanned. For a holiday break, families know well in advance what days they’ll be taking off work, who will be watching the kids, whether they’ll be able to safely get from Point A to Point B, what will be open if they try to go out and have some fun at the library or the science museum. I grew up in Michigan, and we would sometimes have entire weeks off of school because of snow, ice, water main breaks and heating system malfunctions. We had a pretty solid knowledge of what was accessible and open on those days, and what wasn’t. Because snow days are relatively infrequent here, I think it’s helpful to have a place to share ideas.
[...] Music: The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus a cappella group performs, 7:30 p.m., Marcus Jewish Community Center-Zaban Park, Dunwoody. Read more. [...]
[...] Always one of Atlanta’s most popular date destinations, Martinis and IMAX at the Fernbank Museum is always affordable. There’s an even sweeter deal than usual. Uncovered by Jenn from Atlanta on the Cheap, Q100 Insiders can buy one ticket and get one free. Tickets are $12, so this comes in well below our $40 maximum. How do you become an Insider? It’s easy. It takes about five seconds to fill in your name and email contact information, and you’re in. That’s not much of a sacrifice for a deal like this. Get the details on the shows and hours by reading my colleague Jamie’s blog post on InsideAccess. [...]
[...] $350 Ladies Rock Camp tuition is a fund-raiser for Girls Rock Camp-Atlanta, which I wrote about here and here. There are more Rock Camp photos, [...]
“…Mayor Kasim Reed announced Monday that $1 from each CNN tour will go toward Atlanta recreation centers — another source of fun and education for a lot of families in town.”
[...] pm January 6, 2010, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 1/7/10: Want to know the answer? Here it is! Do you know what and where this is? Share your ideas in the comments! AJC/Jamie [...]
I miss Charles Seaforth (last name?)’s column that used to be in the Sunday paper. I do buy the newsstand edition each week and really miss his column, espeically “What’s in the sky this week.” Am I just missing it or will you consider bringing it back? Thanks.
I thought Target at first, but as someone said you can see the reflection in the object, and that looks exactly like the CNN Center entrance. Plus as we all know it does say CNN inside, whereas pretty much every target I’ve been to doesn’t have a giant Target symbol on the inside, that close to the door, with that kind of entrance. CNN wins.
Sadie — I’ll send your comments to the folks who make these decisions. You can send them directly, too, to Public Editor Shawn McIntosh at insideajc@ajc.com.
If APS shuts down tomorrow I will take my son to breakfast at The Flying Biscuit. We can walk there so we won’t have to brave the icy roads.
And they are icy. It never really snowed here intown. It just sleeted all evening and now that sleet is freezing up and making the roads slick. I live on the slope of a hill and I can hear cars spinning in place (yes, they’re driving around at midnight!).
[...] Ten years in, Atlanta’s is the second-largest Jewish film festival out of about 115 worldwide. Organizers expect to sell more than 20,000 tickets this year. I wrote about some of the highlights in this post from last month. [...]
Top 5 Things you’re likely to see when a snowflake falls in Atlanta:
5. Fistfights over flashlight batteries
4. National Guard surrounding Home Depot stores
3. Gleeful children building a mudman
2. TV stations running “Flakewatch 2010: Day One”
1. Midtowners eating their own feet to stay alive
Being an Yankee I can tell you from experience that it’s flat up in Yankee land for the most part so of course you can get around. I do not care where you are from, you do NOT drive up an icy hill.
The price of North Georgia shutting down for a day or two : $9,000,000, The look on a southern child’s face who sees the beauty of snow for the first time : priceless. Quit your griping and make some snow angels.
WHY are so many poeple getting so serious about a small article on the weather in the online paper. the internet is full of absolutley fluff reports people who take this more than what it is-a space filler- needs to lighten up. It’s just a suggestion. If the article was on what’s to watch on tv I am sure there would be many complaining about wasting time watching the boob tube. If all you have to do is criticize find something really important to gripe about..
We’re headed to the golf course for a little sledding. Kids have already been out throwing snowballs. After everyone is too cold – or the snow is all gone, I’ll let them play the wii for probably too long while I get some work done. If the roads get better, maybe we’ll brave the elements and head to a cheap movie http://www.fieldtripswithsue.com/2010/01/cheap-movies.html or just find something on demand. In Atlanta, you have to play in the snow while you can – so that’s the first priority.
Ah yes, my favorite time of the year. The time where Yankees make fun of southerners for not knowing how to drive in the snow and ice, happens every year. You people are so predictable. Delta is waiting when you are!
I’ll spend the day enjoying being with my own kids. We’ll play some BOARD games, not video games, make some hot chocolate, and have soup and sandwiches. Only a tad bit of snow here in Henry, so we’ll play with what we can and then play inside.
Jamie! Kudos to you for a great idea this morning. To all the sad, unhappy rantists, well, I just hope you either change your attitude or move back to where ever it is that you originally hail. Michael and Jennifer have it correctly. I can’t help but believe that this type of negativity is exactly what is portrayed in life, not just on ajc.com. Again, a great, thoughtful posting Jamie. I hope you get lots of fresh ideas on the what-to-dos this am.
What does Yankees making fun of Southerners for not knowing how to drive in snow and ice and the overused saying of Delta is ready when you are? Doesn’t make sense.
Fred I don’t know what part of Yankee land you are from but I assure you the northeast is far more hilly than Atlanta. But the article is kind of humerous, what to do where to go with the free day. Well the only option should be to stay home and enjoy, if in fact you can get out and play there really should not have been a snow day?? Not begrudging a day off but seriously there is zero reason people couldn’t get to work today in most parts of the city. I am sure a few folks have an icy hill they can’t get up but that is no reason to shut down the city. It is much more about a three day weekend than safety.
Some of you are so out of touch with reality when it pertains to education. Trust me when I tell you that closing schools is the last option for superintendents. They try so hard to wait until the last second before he/she makes that cancellation phone call. The superintendents and boards are monitored very closely by the Dept. of Education when it comes to hours students spend in a classroom for instruction. Now, I do admit that this article was one that shouldn’t have been published. It serves absolutely no purpose…not even for entertainment.
I was out at 5:30 this morning, no problems getting to work. Did not ride on anyones car bumper, stayed away from groups of cars and took my sweet ol time, made it no problem, then got to work and found out the office was not opening until 10:00, they made that announcement at 6:30 and I was at work at 6:15. But all is good, hope everyone enjoyed sleeping in late today, and kids have a save,happy and fun extra day.
About ten years ago Gwinnett caught hell for canceling school for the next day based on a forecast and the next day turned out to be sunny and cold. Now they wait until the middle of the night to make their decisions. I agree with that. As for fun, when I lived up north we would put on our plastic boots, grab the back of a car and ski down the icy streets.
I will definitely go see the exhibit. My fondest memories include watching her fairy tale wedding on television. She was the most caring and beautiful person. My saddest memory was when she left us way too soon. I am very excited about the exhibit.
Jamie, I want to commend you on this story. It actually is very pertitent especially in this economy and people may not have the funds to pay for alternate care. Also, I know of individuals who work for companies who penalize them financially, if they take a day off due to school snow days. I think your article will allow parents to share ideas with one another. For those who are making comments off topic, please allow those who the story pertains to have discussion. Have a great day!
Kids can…
Clean up their room.
Read a book.
Call up their grandparents on the phone and say hi.
Play with the dog.
Make some brownies.
Make a snowman.
Drink some hot chocolate.
Catch up on their homework.
…..
Nasty comment posting is non-specific to any topic. It’s a new phenomena that has ridden the online media wave whenever public comments are solicited. It gives the anonymous poster freedom from retribution or responsibility for their actions, coupled with freedom of speech. Their comments are either a true snapshot of rising intolerance, arrogance, hatred, superiority, call it whatever–or it is a ruse to provoke outrage in the rest of us. Many times it’s not worth the time reading these baseless rants. We’re talking only about time-fillers on a snow day, something we are all collectively experiencing–not yankees vs. rebels, lack of individual driving abilities, the state of education today, workers vs. loafers, weather hysteria, etc. I’m just waiting for someone to inject racism as it relates to 15 degree weather…
If you don’t like the article why BLOG vemon? Are you people that miserable that you need to hate on an article, about how to spend a snow day? Get a life folks.
Thanks Needabailout, too for exactly what I was thinking.
We did, in fact, walk down to The Flying Biscuit for a late, liesurely breakfast. The street in front our house is sloped and it had turned into an ice skating rink overnight. I’m talking at least a half inch of solid ice. We watched cars (even some all wheel drives) get stuck about halfway up and start spinning and sliding back. After breakfast until about an hour ago we spent time helping people get unstuck and turned around. Then a few neighbors went out with whatever road runner and bags of sand they had and spread it out. It and the appearance of the sun helped because now it’s all slushy. But, I know it will just refreeze tonight and we’ll be doing the same thing tomorrow.
Why on earth would they close the High Museum. Many of us live in town and wouldn’t even have to drive if we wanted to. Seems like the perfect thing to do on a snowy day if your not stuck at work like some of us.
I recently saw this exhibit when it was in Philadelphia and it was exquisite like the lady herself. It is a beautiful and moving tribute to someone who we lost way too young. If you admired the princess, I would highly recommend it to you. It goes from her ancestory, childhood memorabilia all the way up to her untimely death…I still can’t believe sometimes that she is gone.
Michael, whether or not you agree with his attitude, I think you missed Ole Guy’s point: What he’s saying is, the school system adjudicated that it’s unsafe to be on the roads, therefore it’s incongruent to then be considering pass the time by driving on those very same roads that the schools said were too dangerous to be in school for.
And in regard to the main question of what to do instead, I have three words of advice: READ A BOOK.
Mike, thanks for noticing the repetitive and near-nonsensical nature of my comments…REPETITIVE to point out, and to reinforce, the very issues which we tend to allow to stand in the way, almost as if we were looking for extraneous issues to serve as verification of the fact that we haven’t been able to do much of real consequence in preping kids for the world. I believe, after all, that city promoters have long labeled the ATL as a world class city; perhaps we should learn to conduct the business of educating kids in a world class (oops, am I confusing you again with repetitiveness?) fashion, and stop looking for the silliest of reasons to throw up our collective hands in surrender (have I lost you?). My comment was designed to appear as nonsensical as the entire concept of “snow days” is (nonsensical…oops, there I go again confusing you).
There is absolutely nothing “left wing conspiracy” about my comments, unless, of course, you interpret it that way, in which case, for you, it is (people like you confuse so easily). However, I suppose I have to semi-agree with you on the issue of southern bus drivers not having much experience in incliment weather. Hey, I’ve got a whale of an idea: lets shut down the entire school system when it rains, hails, snows, winds clock above a certain level, or the locusts are out in force. Better safe than sorry (or is that too right wing?).
Perhaps we should learn to conduct business as one
I am a 57 year old straight Black man, and I loved Elvis. I learned to be romantic and charming and sexy from him. I have romanced many fine ladies in my life with charm I learned first from Elvis. I miss him.
I watched this story on this evening’s new with extreme interest. Has anyone thought about opening up or expanding this type of showing for Senior Citizens? I rarely go to the movie theater because of the darkness and the LOUD sound. I am 71 years old and I would certainly LOVE to go to a movie and be comfortable and be able to see. Thanks for listening. Marie
Interesting, I ran into this article while looking up movies about Autism. I wish they would expand this, to every county. Me and my husband are HFA, my daughter is too on the spectrum. I have many people on the spectrum in my family, we range all over the spectrum. — Anyways, I think it would be extreamlly great for all of those kids and familys who can not even go out because of the fear of something happening. I know how stressful it is on those parents, and I would love to see every county doing it like once a month. Where they can get out of the house and just let there kids have fun. I know it would help them a great deal. Being able to just relax and let there kids have fun, and not feel like there being judged every moment there out.
Interesting idea, Marie. You make a good point — this is a particularly sensitive approach for families with an autistic child, but for many of them them, just a regular matinee in a G-rated movie might be a friendly enough audience. But I suspect there are many other groups, like some senior citizens, that would appreciate some changes to the movie experience, too. Seems like it could be worth contacting theater companies or advocacy groups to get organized!
Same to you, Valosia. It’s great to see these three theaters participating, but in order to get more on board, it seems like they need a mass of people in one location to say, “Hey, we need this.” Time to get organized.
I suggest a movie time for family friendly films at most theaters where I don’t have to hear sh*t from others in the audiance. I went to the AMC at Phipps and had to listen to members of the blue jean bandit gang on their cell phones until I moved to Alpharetta. As a family man I like family movies, what Atlanta needs is a Terd free movie zone. (I know I spelled it wrong on purpose).
With autism rates increasing, this sounds like a stellar idea. I have no kids with autism, but I bet it’s a relief for people to be able to go to the theater and relax. With so many screens available there’s no reason for movies to be a one-size fits all experience.
@ Mike D, thanks for the reminder: friends don’t let friends drink and post.
I saw this in Fort Lauderdale a couple years ago on a girls night out as we were looking for something to do and wasn’t expecting much. I’m not a big “fan” or have any particular affection toward the UK but … I’d go again! You will not be disappointed. For the price of a movie it’s a better bet and it’s way better than going to stuff your face with greasy food at a cheezy bar.
I saw this in Ft. Lauderdale a couple of years ago and it was absolutely magnificant. I am a huge huge fan of Princess Diana. I have her collection of porcelin dolls and her plate collection in my house. She was such a fine person. Her untimely death left a big hole in my heart and in the world. I followed her ever since her fairytale wedding. I admired her and still admire her in her death. She is greatly missed. I would have loved to grow old with her.
[...] have been planned for the auditorium. (You can read more about the idea for the concert series in this blog post from last month.) There’s some discussion about the series going on over at Decatur Metro, including [...]
I’m excited to take my kids on the Caopy Walk to the garden!!! A walk in the treetops….right in the middle of the city. Not sure what other atrtraction’s coming but that’s the one for our family – we won’t miss it!
Isn’t it great that a capella is taking off? If you want more, come see the Harvard University LowKeys, an award-winning a capella group, perform on Sat., Jan. 23. The concert will start at 7:30 pm at the Covenant Presbyterian Church located in Buckead at 2461 Peachtree Rd. For more info, visit http://www.peachtreehills.org.
[...] of the very best honor King through art and community building. I encourage you to check out this list of major Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations around Atlanta, from Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performances to puppet shows to public art unveiling to service [...]
That is definitely The Plaza Theatre! They have a big 70th Anniversary Party Friday with TCM’s Robert Osborne and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON! Check it out at plazaatlanta.com!
Those that are going to the King concert tonight to hear Marsalis’ symphony might like to know that the ASO is again performing a few movements from the work. Get the full story here: http://tinyurl.com/ycbbcpe
Nick, how very sad for you. I will pray for you because it is because of people like you that hate is spread. It also shows your ignorance. Dr. King did not just protest for African Americans. Many of the rights of women and all minorities are a result of the Civil Rights Movement. May God open your eyes to the fact that we all bleed red. If you were to become ill and need blood, it could come from one of those Black people to whom you refer. I trust that you will let God show you the true spirit of humanity. Dr. King was not a FRAUD. He was a man of vision and carried out actions that changed this country for the better. If you believe in Heaven, remember ALL of God’s children will be there. Don’t be left out because of hate and ignorance.
[...] I’d posted a color picture of this week’s Access Point, I don’t think there would have been any question. It’s not The Varsity, nor Chuck E. [...]
[...] pm January 13, 2010, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 1/14/10: Want to know the answer? Here it is! Does this look familiar? Share your guess at what it is in the [...]
Dont forget the big http://www.CampaignforLiberty.org event tonight at 7pm at the downtown Atlanta
Sheraton, 165 Courtland Street where you will have the FREE opportunity to hear the wisdom of Dr. Ron Paul, hopeful candidate for President 2012! He’s the man you WISH we had now as real leader!!!
I’d like to comment on your write-up of the Shen Yun dance troupe in the AJC. I haven’t seen the show this year and it may be different than last year’s show, but I doubt it. Last year, a friend gave me a couple of tickets to the show, so my girlfriend and I went. After a couple of the performance dances, and especially after the operatic numbers (sung in Chinese, with super-titles in English), we began to realize that something was going on. (Also the producers showed a great interest in video taping our reactions to the show, while they prohibited any photography of the show itself.) It became very clear by the end of the show that the event was sponsored by the Falung Gong and that the show really amounted to a propaganda campaign against the Chinese government. In fact I was under the impression that many of the people in the audience were followers of the Falung Gong and may not have paid for their tickets.
Far be it from me to defend the Communist Chinese government, but I do think we were “sold” a bill of goods. Whether or not the Chinese government is maltreating the Falung Gong, we deserved to be told that we were being entertained (and paying for the privilege, as my friend did pay $100 per ticket for the show!) for the purpose of being indoctrinated into the philosophy and the plight of the Falung Gong.
As I said, maybe the show is different this year, but last year, it was pretty clear to us that the tickets for this show were being sold under false pretenses, even if for a good cause (although I’m not sure of that given the experience). As a reporter, you have a responsibility to truly and accurately report. Sometimes you find the stories, other times the stories find you. You may be saying to yourself, “Heck, I’m the entertainment editor what do I know from politics?” But from reading your write-up (which could, to some, appear to be a review), I think you were “had” if you didn’t notice or weren’t made aware of what was going on. And I think you contribute to the deceit if you don’t do a little investigating and find out what is really going on in the Energy Center.
I note that, in a check of the AJC today, there is a reference to a negative review from a Vancouver newspaper. I am glad to see that the AJC has picked up that reference. I would hope that the AJC could do a better job, in the future, of making it clear that it was providing information without having actually seen a performance, or, in the alternative, informing the public of the true nature of a performance (when something is so political.)
[...] the Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday celebrations. I’d encourage you to check out the Inside Access blog to find the latest happenings and of course, many of the activities are free of [...]
happy birthday to you. just to thank god for adding more days in your life. and remember that god is always on your side in your times of need. he’s your helper, your healer, and your everything. so yes, may the lord add some more days in your life and his blessings over you. god bless.
i just want to say to the king family may god bless you god will make a way out of no way and to all of the people that are reading if your going through just let go and let god i admire dr.king the best i can words can not describe how i feel about him his family how lucky are we to live in such a nation when we have people care enough to help blacks and whites come together as 1 we are blessed god got our backes alright gd bless you all
[...] Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events Around Atlanta | Inside AccessMartin Luther King Jr. Day events around Atlanta · Atlanta Boat Show — now with wakeboa… [...]
Happy birthday Plaza.Spent every Saturday at the Plaza or Highland theater in 50’s and early 60’s.
My uncle would take us to the movies on the last day of school.Thanks for preserving this Atlanta
Icon.
I love to take my grandkids there the last Saturday of every month when they host the Spook Show. They have great oldie science fiction or horror movies, plus a great live skit with a full cast of great characters. Add in the fact that kids 12 and under are free for the afternoon show, it’s the best entertainment value in the entire metro area. My 11 year old loved an original Godzilla movie in Japanese, with English subtitles…said it was the first time that the mouth movements and the sound track actually matched! I would recommend every fan sign up for their newsletter on their website.
I just heard on 11Alive that Dr. Cornel West will be in Atlanta this year for MLK Jr. day, but I cannot find any confirmation of this. Does anyone know if he’s going to be participating? Thanks.
OKGA, I just added details that confirm Cornel West will be at Ebenezer Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on Monday. (I didn’t have an easy time finding it either!)
Great deal, but I think this is almost worse than a courthouse…15 minutes for such an important part of your life is not enough, but to each its own…Excellent idea for vow renewal though.
This is much better than the courthouse. I felt like I was at the free clinic awaiting assistance with all of the people standing around. At the DeKalb county courthouse, there’s a courtroom next to the judge’s chamber where the ceremony takes place. You think someone is waiting to get married but they’re waiting for their case to begin. Excellent idea and worth the cost.
Relentlees, I added info about the march and rally above. The march begins at 1 p.m. It didn’t specifically mention children’s activities, but the National Historic Site and King home tours are definitely kid-friendly, and free. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta also has several King-day related kids activities going on downtown for the regular cost of admission. More info: http://www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org/
$200 and 15 minutes? I’m so glad Georgia defends the sanctity of marriage. Allowing gays and lesbians to marry in Georgia would definitely discount the value of these priceless unions.
Martin luther king jr. Wherever you are I want to thank you for being a strong human. You change many life. You taught so many people that we are the same no matter the race or color. We are equal. If someone need you give them love, give them love. If someone need you give them love. It doesn’t matter the race or color of the skin, we have to love everyone like brothers and do good.
i am really intertained in what your church did i know that other chuches did it to but i dont think they would have cake likethe way yorur chuch did i am really amazed.
wow!! I just relocated to Southern California last year. Just to think I am so happy I was able to take my children to the King Center and to see REAL history,I feel truly honored. I think I will add mlk center as my donantions going forward. This has to be in honor to the King Family. My children will be able to keep the dream alive. Thank you Dr. King.
happy birthday dr.king !!!!!!!! i really appreiciate you getting the blacks out of slavery. i want to say again happy birthday to you up in haven if you were hear right now i would really like for you to read this letter i wrote.
My friedn and i were taken in by the beautiful ads and flyers handed out at the mall – we bought tickets to see the show on Sunday, January 17th. While the dancers are fabulous, and the costumes are gorgeous, I felt like I was at a revival or brain-washing session. The operatic performances were Falun Gong “hymns” – with the lyrics in English on the large screen. The two pieces showing the oppression of the Falun Gong in China were strange – it was billed as a family show, but I question whether children should see a show where a mother and child are beaten by black-shirted men and the mother dragged off stage, apparently dead – then on the garish screen, she can be seen “ascending” accompanied by monks. Creepy sums up parts of the show quite well.
We really felt like we had been mislead – this was religious / polical propaganda presented to an unsuspecting public as entertainment.
Im thrilled at the reading happening here and auditiorium stlye to capture and maintain attention and thankfull passing along such important history to the future of our blessed country!
I was very glad to see Dr. King’s sister reading to the children. I hope we know we must all dare to dream and act, that is the only way Dr. King;s dream will be fulfilled.
This is wonderful. Little children who grew up hearing about Martin Luther King, Jr. and what his missions were get to have the legacy continued in their young lives through his sister, a very close source, speaking to them. They get to keep learning and be inspired to carry the same on.
I’m a hispanic women living in the Midwest & I’m proud to say that MLK Jr. is one of my hero! What he did in the past affects me & others like me (Hispanics,Indians, Jews). We all walk down the street with our heads held high because of Martin Luther King Jr, & I just want to say thank you!
Great festival… last year I purchased a braided faux fur “snake” dog toy, which has actually survived my dog!!!!!!!! I need several more (now my other dog has decided she needs to play with the darn thing Too!!) Help, I cannot find where I stuck the business card of the crafter… does anyone know their website?????
Cheesy with a side of creepy. The giant projection screen behind the dancers being one of the main “distractions” from the show. It reminded me of a powerpoint presentation on an 80 foot monitor, and at times I felt I was at Six Flags, watching summer interns put on a musical. Although people have used books, poetry, plays and movies for political influence, I agree that this event was not advertised as such. Even adding a sentence to the brochure that said “experiencing the beauty and the political struggle within China”, at least we’d have had a clue that we’re going to get more than pretty costumes and dancing (like beating a mother to death in front of her daughter, set to music). There were some great dancers on the stage, I won’t argue that some of the spins, flips and dance steps were truly beautiful to watch, but I did feel that the many of the scenes were fairly repetitive and my eyelids grew heavy during a couple acts. I would have rather watched a high school drumline that watch their drummer routine, and I wish they would have had an ancient chinese archer hitting moving targets from 100 feet rather than the 20 or so dancing archers twanging their empty bows (yawn).
We were entertained, but we wouldn’t go again.
My recommendation for the show’s creators.. If you want to focus on the message and political struggle, do it. The world would write rave reviews about a play or show that took an issue straight on. You probably couldn’t do the show in China or that would be the last show, but I believe the rest of the world prefers an “in your face” approach. State your message and stir it up.
Interesting point, KJ — as I mentioned, this is the first time the show has marketed itself outside Asian communities in Atlanta. This could be a case of misleading audiences, as some suggest, or it could be a miscalculation of how to approach a broader U.S. audience. I think you’re right — there are a lot of people that might be interested in something more obviously political, but most wouldn’t have known from the billboards or commercials that this show includes any of it.
Sadly, I took my wife last Friday to see this show. As others have said, it was a mediocre performance which did not approach the glowing description on the website for the Cobb Energy Centre. Yet, most unnerving was the fact that it is a propaganda machine for the Falun Gong.
We left early (at the intermission), and, as we were walking down the stairs and discussing the show, a Chinese-descent woman walking down at the same time heard me say something about a “message”. She began to beam like a moonie, smiling and staring straight at me, pacing us as we walked down the stairs. I stopped saying anything substantive, but she kept staring, making us uncomfortable, so I finally said “hello”. She then emphasized that there was, indeed, a message in all of the music– as if that shouldn’t be obvious to anyone who is not in a vegitative state. Perfect end to a perfect night.
I wrote a scathing email to the Cobb Energy Centre on Saturday asking it is the official policy of the same to mislead audiences with regard to both the substance and purpose of performances hosted there. In part I wrote:
“Irregardless of the ‘merits’ of this movement [Falun Gong], it is reprehensible that such a fine facility should act as a shill for a group officially described as a cult. At the very least, an honest declaration of the intent of the show was in order. Unfortunately, your deceptive obscuring of the true purpose of the performance shows complicity with both their motivation and methods. I am more than disappointed: I feel personally deceived.”
As yet, no response. They apparently are taking a “caveat emptor” stance, and feel they bear no personal responsibility for both hiding the purpose of the show and exaggerating the “beauty” of the spectacle to a degree that makes hyperbole look like understatement.
I’d love to see the AJC interview officials at the Cobb Energy Centre, ask them why they feel free to deceive people in this way. This is, according to their website, the third year Shen Yun has performed there. Pleading they were unaware of the content would be a difficult position to defend. At the very least, someone in the media needs to make sure no one is innocently taken in by this group again.
RJ and others — I put a call into the spokeswoman for Cobb Energy Centre to check on the feedback they’re getting and what response they’ve got. I’ll let you know when I hear something.
Arlene — the price includes the photographer, but I don’t think it includes prints. I’ll check with them to get more details. I was there last year, and although they moved quickly, the didn’t feel rushed, and definitely not cold. This type of wedding isn’t for everybody, but for those considering a courthouse wedding, I think this is a nice alternative. They cheapest rate for Rhodes Hall, otherwise, is $900 for two hours on a Sunday-Thursday, and that only covers the venue.
My fiance and I are going to be married at the Cup at Castle event and we are very excited. We had our first date on Valentine’s Day 2009. I read an artical from last year’s event and thought it was perfect; short and sweet. Befor I found out about this event we wher going to go to a minister’s home to be married due to the fact the courts are closed on Sundays. We plan to have dinner with 20 family & friends at a very nice restuarant in downtown Atlant, so the commute will only be 8 miles between the two sites. I feel blessed to be able to wedd in a beautiful place with the economy being what it is!!!
Alas, Kentavo, it’s true. When the assigned job is to “cover fun things to do around Atlanta,” it conflicts with the boss’ whole “no drinking on the job” policy. Sigh.
I wanted to comment on the fact that some feel 15 min. is rushed. The things that will be missed are: having people to sing, the reading of poems and /or bible verse ect… Trust me, I did the big wedding before; these things are not the thing that are going to hold your marrage together. The most important part of your wedding is the love, honesty and commitment the two of you will bring!!!. Before I called Rhodes Hall we would have been paying $150 for a minister to marry us at his home. For $50 more it’s the best deal ever!!!
Thanks for the great mention Jamie! I just wanted to mention that the Alliance launched its new website yesterday, so your link to the competition details is broken. You can find the current information and details about how to enter by going to http://alliancetheatre.org/contest
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Fool
July 11th, 2009
4:13 pm
Thank you for such a great, respectful piece about the show. I was afraid that all the media outlets who were so interested in what happened back in April wouldn’t be interested in following through to come back and cover the positive part of the story. It is very much appreciated.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 12th, 2009
12:58 pm
Aww, thanks. It was great to see the show going up, and always interesting to see a dress rehearsal. Hope it’s going well this weekend!
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Jamie Gumbrecht » Blog Archive » New AJC blog: Inside Access
July 12th, 2009
2:27 pm
[...] Consider the difference — here’s the calendar entry, here’s the blog post. [...]
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INTERVIEW: ‘I Have a Dream’ curator Gabi Serrano | Inside Access
July 13th, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] “I Have a Dream” exhibition had already been in New York, Michigan and Tennessee when it arrived in Atlanta a few months ago. [...]
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Want a piece of Braves Coke bottle memorabilia? | Inside Access
July 13th, 2009
5:51 pm
[...] Just got a (very vague) press release from The Coca-Cola Company explaining what they intend to do with all those thousands of Atlanta Braves jerseys, bats and mitts that went into the old 42-foot Coke bottle they retired after 12 years of fireworks displays over Turner Field. (Here are photos of both bottles.) [...]
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One More
July 13th, 2009
8:27 pm
The National Archives has a Civil Rights exhibit too:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/07/10/morrow_archives_exhibit_slavery.html
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Jamie G.
July 13th, 2009
8:30 pm
Thanks, One More!
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KnightInATL
July 14th, 2009
4:10 am
The Coke memorabilia giveaway on Thursday…the Maddux number retirement ceremony on Friday. And hopefully a 4 game sweep of the Mets culminating on Sunday.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 14th, 2009
10:59 am
I see your weekend plans are set, KnightInATL.
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Patrick
July 15th, 2009
8:32 am
I was at a Hot Topic last night and overheard the two clerks talking about the movie. One of them had admitted to not having read any of the books, and only watched the movies. I chided him and told him he needed to get all the books, sit down, and read them. There are a lot of things in the books that were left out of the movies, some that were minor and didn’t really affect the story when left out, and others that were cruicial to the story. For example, in the fifth book (”Order of the Phoenix”) Harry and his friends encounter all sorts of obstacles before getting to the room with all the prophecies, and Harry retrieves the prophecy. It also left out some of the cruelty that Umbridge inflicted upon the students, especially Harry, like when she injured Hedwig’s wing. I forget what she did in the book, but I remember one time yelling “you *****!” at the book. When a book can get a reaction like that from the reader, you know it’s good.
I hope too much wasn’t left out in this movie. I really couldn’t see anything that could be left out, but some things could have been changed around a bit.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 15th, 2009
12:57 pm
I’m with you, Patrick, on the books. I read and enjoyed all of them, but haven’t been nearly so dedicated to the movies. They have their moments — love Quidditch on a big screen — but I didn’t even see “Half-Blood Prince” last night. (Too many photos to file, too many blog posts to write…) For those that just can’t sit still through a book, though, seems like they’re a solid entry into a cultural phenom.
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Is the new Harry Potter movie too scary for your kids? | A Blog for Busy Moms - MOMania
July 15th, 2009
1:31 pm
[...] here’s an AJC story from a reporter who went last night to the show. She’s got photos from the [...]
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PHOTOS: Midnight ‘Harry Potter’ fans at Mall of Georgia | Inside Access
July 15th, 2009
1:44 pm
[...] wrote about the crowds — who was there, why they came and what costumes they wore — in an earlier blog post, but words might not do it [...]
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Kar
July 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
Of course the movie butchered the book, I’m not about to sit through six hours of Snape’s detention, Moanin’ Myrtle’s well, moaning over Draco Dobby’s moodiness or the non-lovefest between Molly and LeFleur.
That said, they did a decent job with the bones of the book and the added scenes. The romance scenes were too slow, a hint really would’ve been enough in most cases although the audience around me hooted and hollared over anything.
I have a reccomendation though, while you may love your light-up wand please do not wave it in the air during the movie. Save it for the lines waiting outside the theater.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 15th, 2009
4:25 pm
Jeez, Kar, it’s not the magical version of waving a lighter or cell phone at a concert?
You make a good point: the Harry Potter movies have taken quite long enough to come out without turning each book into a three-movie series.
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woodie
July 15th, 2009
4:31 pm
I read all the books and saw the movies and I lost interest. So I’ll wait till it comes out on TV.
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Massai
July 15th, 2009
5:42 pm
AJC…i hope you keep this daily segment: “What to Do on (weekdays)”…this tool is so helpful to me because it gives me a glimpse of the life and happenings of ATL on each given day. it also helps for when family are in town and this is a simple reference to things to do while they are visiting ATL. Thanks again for this segment.
Massai (Atlanta)
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Cheaper movie tickets | Free lasagne | Help a kid | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
July 15th, 2009
5:46 pm
[...] sells movie tickets, two for $15.99, for Regal and AMC theaters. I was thinking of seeing Harry Potter, but I, for one, am not a big fan of spending big bucks for cinema blockbusters. I called a few [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 15th, 2009
11:46 pm
Great! Glad it helps! I’ll keep it up in this blog on weekdays, and on weekends, too. If you’ve ever got ideas or recommendations, feel free to share them, too, by commenting here, e-mailing me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com or shooting me a message on Twitter at http://twitter.com/insideaccess. Thanks!
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john
July 16th, 2009
9:36 am
Good. Art Sucks. Close it down. Waste of space. I can draw pictures with crayons and it is just as good as these “artist” that draw pictures as well.
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Daniela
July 16th, 2009
9:39 am
LOL @ john! That was hilarious and I agree with you for the most part!
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Bushwacker
July 16th, 2009
9:45 am
Art, if it has to be subsidized thru donations or the govt and they can’t make it on their own thru selling their “art”, then obviously not enough people care about it and its time to get a real job!!
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Justin
July 16th, 2009
9:46 am
Amazing place. Amazing memories. EyeDrum needs to persevere.
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wxwax
July 16th, 2009
9:51 am
Cultural institutions like these, no matter how small, enrich our community. They make Atlanta a better place.
I’m sorry to hear they’re in trouble. I hope they have a forgiving landlord, unlikely as that may be.
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the Captain
July 16th, 2009
9:54 am
Even thought I never really went to eyedrum, it’s sad to see the ignorance of the south shining here in these comments. Way to stereotype yourselves guys as a bunch of culturally ignorant, backwoods cretins.
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demonspeed1102
July 16th, 2009
9:57 am
I would like to know what “real job” John and Bushwacker have?
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john
July 16th, 2009
10:00 am
To “the Captain”, let me draw you a picture with a person playing a violin with tears in his eyes about the sad news. You’ll just have to image the sound.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 16th, 2009
10:04 am
I think the variety of perspectives on art are revealing themselves in this thread, John and Bushwacker. Of course there are those who look at it as a business on which to make money, but for many others, it’s to learn, educate or entertain, to affect the space or people in the areas where we live or, in the case of an arts space, a way to connect with the community. Eyedrum, for its part, is a volunteer operation.
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woodie
July 16th, 2009
10:07 am
A decline is civilization is precipitated by a decline in the creative arts. It’s creativity that keeps this economy going to begin with. Take that away and you have a bleak horizon.
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Been There
July 16th, 2009
10:11 am
How about trying this…go through the place and start charging the “artists” that are living there some rent? Yeah, they are there…been there and seen them and walked in on them.
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Mechanicsville
July 16th, 2009
10:14 am
Move Eyedrum to a cheaper location like Mechanicsville and be a part of a neighborhood’s revival.
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Lucas
July 16th, 2009
10:16 am
Eyedrum is a great space, but it’s way too big. Rent on Memorial Drive / Cabbagetown has got to be going through the roof with all of the recent improvements. They should move out to the next cool (and cheap) district.
Haters are proof you’re famous. Keep it going, Eyedrum.
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Lucas
July 16th, 2009
10:17 am
I second Mechanicsville.
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mowse
July 16th, 2009
10:19 am
wow, haters never cease.
John, yes, image the sound. Why would you even read an article about something that you have nothing positive to add (and make incredibly retarded grammatical errors in the midst of your hating)….you’re a genius, and your energy is so well spent.
i’m an artist, have a real job (so that i can afford to pursue creative endeavors), and i love art.
….couldn’t keep it to myself, i s’pose.
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Dos Prompt
July 16th, 2009
10:22 am
You see, John is a closet homosexual who thinks if he speaks out against culture, free expression and creative thoughts, no one will know he is gay…….BUSTED.
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The Boykin
July 16th, 2009
10:52 am
So if someone thinks the art there is mostly not very good, childish, and not worth paying to see they are a closet homosexual? Maybe John is just a blue collar open homosexual. Like you need to be into art to be into man on man loving. I like the place for a show but the art there is not very marketable. Sometimes things have to close because people do not care enough to fork over money to keep it open. The high stays in bussiness because people want to go there and see the art. Eyedrum had a great spot there for awhile but the area is being built up and the land is worth money now.
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ObamasGotBling
July 16th, 2009
11:10 am
Just call Washington and ask for taxpayer cash to bail out this artsy organization! They’ve got plenty of coin from taxpayers to do what they need! It’s just a phone call away—taxpayer money: it just keeps on giving!!!!
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Edgewood Adam
July 16th, 2009
11:13 am
What a shame. The eyedrum is more than just a place to see art. They host great bands and have always been a point of pride for residents such as myself in the area. A friend of mine just opened and art gallery in Savannah. There is kind of a twist to it though. The upstairs is a tattoo parlor while the downstairs is a gallery. Its a great idea. This way money is always coming in. And lastly, pay no attention to the “Johns” of the world. He is bound to a life of suburban nothingness with either a horrible construction job or an entry level loan officer with a generic degree in date rape er, i mean business from UGA.
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BPJ
July 16th, 2009
11:20 am
Markets are wonderful things, great at setting the price of widgets and spreading prosperity. But market forces are inadequate to provide some of the things which make life enjoyable, including museums, symphony orchestras, opera, ballet, and much theatre (beyond a narrow band of work, such as big musicals and a few light comedies). It’s not just small nonprofits like Eyedrum which depend, in part, on contributions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, generally considered one of the 2 or 3 finest on the planet, doesn’t stay open due to ticket sales – in fact, the entrance fee is voluntary, although most choose to pay it. The bulk of their budget comes from donors. The finest performing arts organization in the South, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, does better than most at selling tickets, but still at least half their budget is donations – which help keep the ticket prices lower than they would otherwise happen to be.
Nonprofit arts organizations go through an application process to the IRS to qualify for tax-exempt status (I’ve helped several through this process), making their donors’ gifts deductible against their taxes. Most people understand this, but there are always a few people who haven’t thought this through. For them, the Market is God, the great god Market will provide all we need, and there’s no need to think beyond that article of faith.
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abc
July 16th, 2009
11:27 am
“Commercial Viability of Art” is almost a contradiction in terms.
Mainstream cultures will embrace art that represents their own perspectives, or that they can relate to enough to affect their perspectives, and incorporate them. Perspectives that represent alternative cultures, communities, lifestyles, etc. are less likely to be embraced by the larger numbers of people. That doesn’t make them irrelevant; it just makes them unpopular. They don’t enlighten, nor broaden, nor add, subtract or edit; they present something foreign, difficult to interpret or assimilate. That translates into lack of value for the patron.
If one chooses to be unpopular in order to stay true to their muse(s), then the associated lack of public support and funding goes with the gig. There’s not much room to complain. Presenting art that represents one’s muse in such a way that maximum numbers can relate to it is the optimal challenge to any artist, regardless of medium or genre.
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marcus
July 16th, 2009
11:37 am
some of these comments are straight from the movie, “deliverance”. what a bunch of hicks. maybe a smaller space will help preserve the whole idea of eyedrum. peter street has available space and its opened up a whole new approach to the presentation of up and coming artist and craftsmen. these are trying times for everyone and benefactors are not clamouring to support the arts like they once were. i hope these artist find a viable location and to those naysayers; “here piggy, piggy…”
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OneChris
July 16th, 2009
11:51 am
Never heard of them? Who the heck are they ??? Sounds like a group with good intent but can’t maybe they seek funds like others do and have a car wash, auction, beg on the side of the road? Really I can only say they must not have a great Board to be in this fix.
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Benton
July 16th, 2009
12:02 pm
I’ve lived in Atlanta since 1985, and it seems that the ugly attitudes exhibited by folks like John are becoming more the norm than the exception. It’s too bad. Atlanta used to be a great town, ready to embrace new forms of art and full of interesting characters and places. It now seems to be becoming just a big city full of yahoos who pride themselves on their own ignorance and intolerance. That’s nothing to be proud of, but I’m sure John, Bushwacker and the whole gang will read it as high praise.
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gttim
July 16th, 2009
12:12 pm
I’ve been to Eyedrum a few times years ago. A great space with some nice shows. I hope the manage. Perhaps a less expensive place might be an idea. Remember, it is not really the space, but what is put in it that makes it.
And let me thank John and company. You never disappoint! You lift people up- if only by making them happy they are not like you!
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BPJ
July 16th, 2009
12:24 pm
Benton, don’t believe it. In my experience, Atlantans are more educated, sophisticated, and open to new forms of art than ever. We have more, and better art collectors than ever. Theatre companies that didn’t exist 25 years ago are now nationally respected, with loyal audiences. Robert Spano is making Atlanta one of the leading centers for contemporary classical music – and selling tickets.
The internet lets a few loudmouth soreheads set the tone – if we let them. So don’t let them.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 16th, 2009
12:29 pm
You’re right, BPJ — the best way to keep the conversation honest and productive is for the commenters to move it in that direction. Not all comments will be positive, nor should they be, but I hope the tone of these conversations, at least, will be thoughtful and helpful.
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CommonSenseMarketing
July 16th, 2009
12:34 pm
“Eyedrum”? With a great name like that, it’s difficult to understand why they are failing.
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atlnative
July 16th, 2009
12:44 pm
I went to eyedrum a couple of times. In theory, a great place for art and music; in practice, it was just a bunch of GSU hipster-than-thou kids sitting around drinking PBR, making noise on an old drum set and some tin cans. Not surprised that this urban collective wasn’t able to pay the bills. But fine if that’s what you’re looking for I guess. And lay off the rednecks, dangit, we wuz here first.
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Ugh
July 16th, 2009
1:05 pm
Oh yeah, someone (Edgewood Adam) has to throw in the old go back to the suburb comment. Not to defend John or anything….since he never said he lived in the burbs… but the art scene is thriving in Alpharetta so bite me. Matilda’s anyone? That place is PACKED every weekend.
You ITP people are so cool bashing the burbs and all. Why don’t you try going outside your comfort zone? It’s not all Chili’s and Fridays up here.
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Economix
July 16th, 2009
1:30 pm
Why should taxes fund private entertainment, including arts or sports? People should pay for their own entertainment—very simple.
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abc
July 16th, 2009
1:35 pm
Even the Fox can’t survive on ticket sales alone, even though they have among the top, if not the top ticket sales in historic venues in the nation. The Fox relies upon private donations and benefactors.
Private support is appropriate for arts groups such as Eyedrum. Certainly, taxes should never support them. Inability to attract private funding, designed as a tax write-off for the donors, indicates clearly that either the organization isn’t sufficiently managed, or that their output isn’t of sufficient value.
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Rachel Ray
July 16th, 2009
2:27 pm
A martini would taste great right about now.
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Edgewood Adam
July 16th, 2009
2:35 pm
To Ugh,
I am from Alpharetta. Yes it is.
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Edgewood Adam
July 16th, 2009
2:37 pm
Originally that is.
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mowse
July 16th, 2009
3:28 pm
http://picasaweb.google.com/murphismerlin/MowseCafeNuevo#
Jes some art…
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earball
July 16th, 2009
4:27 pm
what a person intends to realize and actually does realize is like a mathmatical correlation between the unexpressed but intended and the unintentionally expressed.
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econ101
July 16th, 2009
4:41 pm
Atlanta is a city dependent on tax revenues derrived from convention business and tourism. The theory behind public finance for the arts is that the arts contribute to the financial welfare of the city by making it a more attractive cultural destination for tourists and conventions, and for corporations looking to relocate.
The theory simply put is that the tax revenues gained will exceed the taxpayer money spent, or not collected from non profits.
Public art often has the greatest cultural impact, but fails to meet the Bushwacker test for economic viability.
Atlanta is in he midst of a full blown arts crisis. Major galleries and performing arts organizations are disappearing, making Atlanta a less attractive cultural destination.
Many private donors are tapped out because of the economy and guys like Madoff.
Yes we have the world of Coke, the Aquarium and a bunch of strip clubs. But the longterm picture is that cities like Miami and even Nashville will be kicking our butts soon because they are commiting to culture.
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INTERVIEW: Eyedrum executive director Robert Cheatham | Inside Access
July 16th, 2009
4:53 pm
[...] 11-year-old community arts organization’s financial trouble quickly picked up headlines on blogs and discussions on listservs. It’s not debt that finally spiraled out of control, Eyedrum [...]
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Robbie
July 16th, 2009
5:17 pm
Hey “Art, if it has to be subsidized thru donations or the govt and they can’t make it on their own thru selling their “art”, then obviously not enough people care about it and its time to get a real job!!”
I’m with you, I’d much rather my shoes get made by slave labor. Let the market decide everything!
I feel the same way about highways! All road should be toll roads.
And little kids that can’t afford to build their own swimming pools? Well screw them! I’m not paying for them to go swimming.
The the market drove everything, we wouldn’t have the woodruff arts center, the second largest arts center in north america. Nor would you have public parks, swimming pools, stone mountain or state parks.
Charlotte, NC decided to become the second largest banking capitol of the US. As soon as they did that, they decided to invest heavily in arts and culture to draw industry and it completely worked. As Atlanta arts funding and its major and minor institutions start dying it will be fun to hear you complain then about why you don’t have a job and why industry is moving elsewhere.
Though Charlotte, Denver and other growing cities also managed to get their act together on mass transit.
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abc
July 16th, 2009
5:34 pm
Woodruff isn’t supported by taxes. They’re supported by private and corporate donations, some bond issues. Stone Mountain was originally developed as a private enterprise, not public works. Comparing physical infrastructure like roads, parks and pools to arts funding is just plain stupid. You don’t really think that’s a very valid argument, do you? Really?
For the relatively small amount of funding that Eyedrum needs, go get some corporate sponsorship. There’s a political buzz about upcoming limits on how much corporations can write off for donations (thanks for the tax reform, Mr. President), but all that would do is increase competition for those funds. It’s part of their financial planning, all you have to do is go talk to them, sell them on supporting your non-profit enterprise, and give them enough lead time to dedicate their budget.
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2busy2bu
July 16th, 2009
6:31 pm
Eyedrum is a great alternative art space, but it was an unwise move to take on a space bigger than they were willing or able to market successfully, especially since the artists involved dislike even the concept of marketing.
Oh and to John: Ignore the haters, you have every right to your opinions on art. Ridiculous how people who are for free speech are so ready to slam you for expressing yours. The fact that you even bothered to comment on the arts shows you have some interest. And that can develop over time into a rich experience for you. It can be the art of flyfishing, or painting. Just because someone says it is art doesn’t mean it is art to everybody!
I hope eyedrum survives, it offers anyone interested a very interesting experience. They just need to evolve with the times. It really is a strong economy that allows all that free expression! The government can only do so much, and they are more unethical that the majority of companies that get so much grief for trying to survive as well!
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Pragmatist
July 17th, 2009
1:35 pm
People don’t schedule conventions in Atlanta to attend mediocre art galleries in the city. They come because of the airport and cheap convention space at the GWCC. But, atlanta’s lost a lot of convention business because of all the homeless downtown and crime, which the city never changes. Instead, atlanta cops spend time looking for jaywalkers, too afraid to deal with the drug / crime problems.
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econ101
July 17th, 2009
4:27 pm
Pragmatist,
Other cities have airports and convention centers. People come to Atlanta because of the cultural attractions- MLK Center, World of Coke, The High, The Aquarium and yes, a vibrant art scene.
That is why we are in the process of getting beaten by Miami, Charlotte Nashville and other smaller but smarter cities.
I agree that crime is a problem but it is a problem in most big cities. Do you think Miami is crime free?
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janice grisham
July 17th, 2009
4:48 pm
I look at this and it gives me chills, the most chilling thing is that our young minority men still don’t get it. A prison will be built for them before a house. They can go there and remain the slave that our civil rights leaders gave their time and many times their lives to change. We need to wake up as a people and stop dreaming. The nightmare has to end.
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PHOTO: Turner Field’s Coke bottle debuts and Braves win | Inside Access
July 17th, 2009
5:23 pm
[...] the news about how Braves fans could get a piece of the old 42-foot Coke bottle adorning left field, it seems only right to let you know how the new [...]
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To do list: July 19 | Inside Access
July 19th, 2009
12:04 am
[...] art: Last day for “I Have a Dream,” 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta. [...]
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Mary Ann Powell
July 19th, 2009
10:59 am
I saw an article today in the AJC (”Gallery Walks”) that I wanted to send to a friend out of town. I could not find it online. Was I not looking hard enough or is the “AJC Lving & Arts” Section not avalable online?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 19th, 2009
4:42 pm
Hi Mary Ann!
Here’s a link to the story: http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/content/arts/stories/2009/07/19/atlanta_arts_walks.html
Most content of this type actually lives on our entertainment portal site, http://www.accessatlanta.com, rather than AJC.com. We’re in the process of switching content management systems — AJC.com went live last week, and Access goes this week — and I hear that navigation and searching will be simpler then.
Regardless, AccessAtlanta.com is the better place to look first for entertainment, to-do etc. type stories.
Thanks!
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JoeV
July 20th, 2009
4:41 pm
Please keep up the good work! This blog is full of great info and is very much appreciated.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 20th, 2009
4:47 pm
Aww, thanks! As always, feel free to share your ideas, too, whether in the comments, on Twitter @insideaccess or by e-mailing me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com.
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Jerry Raynor
July 21st, 2009
8:23 pm
I like the old coke bottle better.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 21st, 2009
9:00 pm
The new one seems very slick, but I’m still kind of waiting to see what else it does. I want there to be more. Maybe I just need more flashing lights and genuine artifacts to make me happy.
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730 Club – Atlanta » Blog Archive » Arrest in WonderRoot burglary; arts center lab to reopen
July 21st, 2009
11:41 pm
[...] I was just feeding my blog addiction when I stopped one of my new favorite blogs (Inside Access with Jamie Gumbrecht) and was surprised to learn that WonderRoot was burglarized las week. WonderRoot is a kick-ass non-profit community arts center. The good news is that a suspect is in custody and several of the computers have been recovered. Please click here to read the full article. [...]
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DH
July 22nd, 2009
12:22 pm
I think people should be asking what the Atlanta did with the millions that the panda’s have already earned during their tenure here. When Mei Lan was born, they raked in the money left and right! Where did it all go?
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DH
July 22nd, 2009
12:23 pm
Edited because I left the word “zoo” out.
I think people should be asking what the Atlanta ZOO did with the millions that the panda’s have already earned during their tenure here. When Mei Lan was born, they raked in the money left and right! Where did it all go?
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john
July 22nd, 2009
12:33 pm
I liked the panda exhibit. The problem with the zoo is that they only have 1/10 of the amount of animals they had 30 years ago. The only exhibit that is as big as it used to be is the reptile house, which I guess is the easiest/cheapest to care for. In the 1970’s the zoo had an amazing number of monkeys/apes, exotic cats, and birds. The conditions now may be better for the animals that are left, but there is not nearly as much variety. Would you rather watch a high definition documentary about apes or go to the zoo and see a black speck 75 yards away at the top of a hill? You used to be able to see the massive Willie B. in his cage, and it was quite an impressive and amazing site to see. Now you just see some black dot at the top of a hill.
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SirReal
July 22nd, 2009
12:35 pm
I agree. I think some of that missing money should have gone to upgrades b/c to be honest, our zoo SUCKS. I mean, these animals are literally walking around on gravel. The restaurants have terrible food. The appearance of the zoo is circa 1975. I think some big wigs up top took the money and just didnt care about the zoo as long as people are coming. Sad…..
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 22nd, 2009
12:35 pm
Hi DH! This doesn’t quite address your question, but this story from April gives some sense of where the zoo is at financially: http://www.ajc.com/living/content/printedition/2009/04/29/zoo0429.html
I found a 2006 story in our archives, too — sorry, I couldn’t find a URL — that talked about the financial trouble the zoo was in pre-panda cub. It mentioned specifically that the non-profit that runs the zoo expected a spike in visits and dollars because of Mei Lan, but “the birth of the cub does not significantly alter the financial outlook.”
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DH
July 22nd, 2009
12:42 pm
Thanks Jamie,
Sorry, I don’t buy it. I have season passes and have had so for years. I know what the crowds look like, especially after Mei Lan was born.
The raked in money hand over fist. Where did it all go?
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Cheryl
July 22nd, 2009
3:56 pm
DH and John, if you are members at Zoo Atlanta, then you should know where the money raised from the pandas goes. It goes to the conservation of these beautiful giant pandas..read up a bit before you blurt out stupid comments. The zoo is wonderful compared to seeing Willie B. in a cage! I loved Willie B and miss him, but pls don’t say you would rather see a large gorilla in a cage over seeing them in a natural setting, like they would be in the wild. Geez!!!!!!!!
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Dawn UK!!
July 22nd, 2009
4:07 pm
John – Zoo Atlanta is about animal conservation and well being, NOT placing an animal in a cage for human enjoyment, I visited in January and got to see the Gorillas close up, and found the staff exceptionally friendly and willing to do all they could to allow me to see Ivan, If you know anything about Willie B then you would have seen the documentary that is for sale in the zoo store, the reaction when he walked on grass for the first time was priceless, how can you compare that to your views??
The pandas are part of a breeding programme that ZA are doing exceptionally well with, or would you rather see them only on your HD TV, as without zoos like ZA offering the dedication and support that is the only place they would be in the future, i know what i would prefer!
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Karen
July 22nd, 2009
4:22 pm
I live in IL and make a point to travel to Atlanta to see the pandas and the other animals at Zoo Atlanta. I am member of the zoo even though I don’t live there. I believe in supporting the animal conservation efforts of the zoos. The pandas are a huge expense for the zoos that have them.
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john
July 22nd, 2009
4:50 pm
Cheryl, my understanding is the zoo leases the pandas from China for a large amount of money. That money goes to panda conservation. If you have any figures on how much more money other than the panda lease money went to panda conservation lets hear it.
Sir real, the only thing in the zoo that is like 1975 is the reptile house, and that is the most impressive exhibit there and probably has over half the zoos animals.
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EA
July 22nd, 2009
5:13 pm
Well, for starters, all four USA zoos with pandas raised money after the 5.12 Sichuan Earthquake in 2008 to help after the one of the two main breeding and research centers was destroyed. I believe in excess of $200,000 was raised.
In addition, each USA zoo is involved at its own expense in research that is beneficial to the pandas. Each zoo has an area it concentrates in. Memphis Zoo, for example, concentrates on nutritional issues related to pandas. What I find interesting is that Atlanta doesn’t seem to regard the pandas as anything special, nor does it seem to support its zoo. Visit the Memphis Zoo sometime and everywhere you look is a donor’s name, and there are also new exhibits coming online all the time. This fall Memphis will open a Grand Teton exhibit with elk and 5 orphaned grizzly bear cubs complete with a waterfall and stream the bears wade in to catch their fish dinner. After that opens, a new Hippo Camp will be built. San Diego’s Zoo just opened their huge Elephant Odyssey. When San Diego needed a new $100,000 bamboo cooler for their pandas, their supporters raised the money in about two weeks through an online appeal.
I am sure there are annual reports available from Zoo Atlanta that outline how funds are spent. Their Administration Building is right up front at the parking lot and you can drop by and ask there. But I bet that’s too much effort in a town that seems so disinterested in such a valuable asset.
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Short on cash, Eyedrum plans Aug. 14 benefit art auction | Inside Access
July 22nd, 2009
9:22 pm
[...] the non-profit Cabbagetown gallery and music venue that can’t afford to pay its rent, sent word tonight that it hasn’t gotten a decision yet from its landlord. For now, a benefit [...]
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clm
July 23rd, 2009
8:33 am
Most of the money for the Pandas goes to China. The actual conservation is supposed to take place there, but most of the Pandas in China are in captivity. As for Zoo Atlanta, it is land-locked and cannot expand. It seems to me they are trying to crowd more animals in the inadequate space they have – Warthogs, MeerKats, etc. Good luck trying to get copies of their finanacial records. The Open Records Laws in the State of Georgia are very restrictive.
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bobby c
July 23rd, 2009
9:13 am
i am wondering why/where the article is opining how the concert went?
i was there. where were you? customarily there would be some type of write up regarding the local take on the world traveled “star”. while i enjoy your interview, where is the acclaim, or the critism of the songs, the presentation, the stage presence, the fact that the precussionist is her son? i guess it was a busy news night in mid town atlanta, i missed the crime, punishment, wrecks, hold ups, and saw a pretty nice lady present a pretty good song table and was wonderful.
bobby c.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 23rd, 2009
10:37 am
Hi Bobby! Alas, I wasn’t at this show. I was working on another story last night, which should be posted later today. I should point out, too, that this wasn’t my interview, but rather an interview completed and written by an AJC freelancer as a preview to the show. (If I do the interview, it’s typically announced in the headline with capital letters.) I hear, though, that we’ll soon be launching music and arts blogs, so hopefully those folks will be able to focus more of their time on criticism and music-specific discussions. Meanwhile, what was the best moment of the show? Anything that particularly got to you? Wish I could have been there.
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AB
July 23rd, 2009
11:46 am
There is also the art walk in Roswell and the Westside Art Walk . . . probably more.
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AH
July 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
What about the Fire/Police Mayoral Forum? Maybe we should check out important events as they happen instead of worrying about whats on TV tonight or where to get drunk and have a good time.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 23rd, 2009
12:38 pm
Hi AH! As always, the daily to do list is open to ideas. The best way to get the info out in this blog is to add events to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar before the day of an event. (There’s a link to the “add a listing” page in every “to do” post.) Community meetings and forums have certainly been mentioned before. Getting people outside the house and into the community is part of what I hope this blog will do.
For those who are interested, here’s a link to more information about the forum AH is talking about: http://tr.im/tHQl
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Cheryl
July 23rd, 2009
11:28 pm
John, I don’t have the figures, but they are probably held in the offices of Zoo Atlanta..as clm said, not sure how easy it would be to get them. BUT in regards to the reptile house..it’s old and outdated in the least. Why would you want the animals to be in places that were “appropriate” in 1975 anyway? That’s the reason zoos have changed so much in the last few decades..Please continue to support the zoo as long as you can, but also try to enjoy the animals in the natural settings they belong in, or as close as possible in the space Zoo Atlanta has.
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To do list: July 24 | Inside Access
July 24th, 2009
12:15 am
[...] Visual art: Castleberry Hill Fourth Friday Art Stroll, 7-10 p.m., Castleberry Hill neighborhood, Atlanta. FREE. STORY. [...]
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Mria
July 24th, 2009
6:06 pm
Cool camp for girls. LOVED it last year and this year is only getting better!
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Jeremy
July 24th, 2009
11:26 pm
Being critically endangered, attention is what they need…they do need help.
Seems like a tough task to fundraise for animals during an economic low, especially when the prospect of things getting better seems a long way off. But just a small donation by many people can make a huge difference. They are worth the price of admission.
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To do list: July 25 | Inside Access
July 25th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] For families: Girls Rock Camp ATL Showcase, 7:30 p.m., The Variety Playhouse, Atlanta. STORY. [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 25th, 2009
1:38 am
Woohoo! Thanks, Mria! It was really great just to spend an afternoon at camp. The show has got to be fantastic.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 25th, 2009
1:45 am
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, everybody. Really interesting variety of perspectives. The (deeply unscientific) poll results are an interesting mix, too. As always, will keep you updated.
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Sara
July 25th, 2009
2:56 am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sara
http://pianotutorial.net
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Cassie Bradley
July 25th, 2009
12:17 pm
gloATL’s outdoor performance last night at the Woodruff Arts Center was a multi-media extravaganza of dance. The performance repeats tonight (Saturday 7/25) at 8:30 pm. It’s a rare free event conducted under even rarer Atlanta temperate summer skies. My only advice is GO GO GO!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 26th, 2009
7:15 pm
Thanks for the input, Cassie! How was the crowd when you went?
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rachael
July 27th, 2009
5:02 pm
I love your fan girl articles! Maybe because I can totally relate…
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 27th, 2009
9:51 pm
And really, that’s the reader I’m going for: nostalgic, giddy and loving.
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LAS
July 28th, 2009
12:16 pm
Scottish singer Paolo Nutini is playing the Variety Playhouse tonight – he puts on a great show. Starts at 8, ticket prices are around $30 including additional fees.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 28th, 2009
12:23 pm
Thanks, LAS! Never seen him, but I’ve heard great things…
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concerned
July 28th, 2009
4:47 pm
The problem is, the zoo wants to raise money to keep the pandas here, but they are having more serious budget issues. They have cut back on medical and food supplies for the other animals; they have laid-off employees; and they have put hiring freezes on keeper positions. This is an atrocity that zoo management is attempting to raise money to keep pandas and yet they are not taking adequate care of the other animals. This is a sentiment that is shared by the majority of the keeper staff. Yes, the zoo answers to the USDA, but the USDA is understaffed. Inspections are infrequent, the inspector shows up at the zoo office and phone calls are placed to all departments to let them know the inspector is on grounds, the veterinary staff escorts the inspector around, thus taking them to certain areas first and allowing the animal areas to straighten up to prepare for the visit. If an inspection were to take place today, the keeper staff would not dare raise the issues of medicine or food to the inspectors for fear of losing their jobs. So, should the pandas stay? You be the judge, but the majority of the keepers I have spoken with at Zoo Atlanta don’t think so.
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Ken
July 28th, 2009
9:16 pm
You are in danger of getting shot or robbed at any of those places except Town Center or Mall of GA. Everywhere else is pretty much thug infested.
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ladilovely
July 28th, 2009
9:30 pm
Always, someone has to start with negativity. Think positive and say it will be a wonderful event at all locations.
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BigBalls
July 28th, 2009
9:39 pm
Ken, sounds like you don’t get out much. There’s danger everywhere. A tree could fall on your house for God’s sake. Take some risk and get out there and enjoy life. Life is uncertain and tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Besides that, you’ve exaggerated. Most of those places are pretty decent. Grow some “balls”!
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Courtney
July 28th, 2009
9:44 pm
It is amazing how many Thugs hang out at malls. I guess I would too if I lived in a crack house or ghetto.
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Chris
July 28th, 2009
10:00 pm
no one ever gave me a free backpack but now you can just show up begging and get all the stuff for free for your kids (all nine of the kids) and they want me to give up my money for a mother who is not stopping herself from over population of the earth so it this not rewarding folks for having children just to get stuff for free
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Kat
July 28th, 2009
10:20 pm
Chris: Though I agree with your comment in general, I’m not sure any woman (though I could be wrong) would have additional children JUST to get stuff like a backpack for free. Though that is probably not on their mind in the backseat of some beater car that in 6 years, they can send kiddies to school with backpacks bought with someone else’s dime.
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SayWhat?
July 28th, 2009
10:45 pm
It’s not worth going out into the insanity to save the $4.23 I might save on taxes. On the other hand, it we could go to the fair tax plan, then I’d have enough money to buy my kid’s school stuff without a “tax free holiday.”
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 29th, 2009
12:20 am
Hey folks, we’re not discussing crime or your opinion on who goes shopping. Nobody is going to force anyone to buy stuff, to watch “Hotel for Dogs” or to donate a backpack. This post is obviously meant to inform willing shoppers about fun to be had during the tax-free holiday. Stay on topic. Many thanks to those who are, and to those moving the conversation forward!
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nuphaz2
July 29th, 2009
7:04 am
what’s wron with you people. This list even incues Phipps Plz and you think it a thug hang out. This article is so different than the posts. Nobody has more children for backpacks. We are living in a tough economy. Every little bithelps a struggling family. But do know the increased sales help RETAILERS. There are almost 300k unemployed Georgians. For those of us not having he sam experience, ponder this. The un-educated\under-educated children of today could be the burden of society tomorrow.
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hanneke
July 29th, 2009
10:04 am
I watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last Monday. I was so thrilled to go see it in the theater, watched all other’s at home on DVD. I was soooo disappointed………I expected much more than I got. The movie was boring, not what we are used to see when watching a Potter movie. To all who read this, SAVE your money, this movie is not worth the expense, go buy yourself something nice and do not waste your time. I have never been more disappointed in a movie that is being advertised as the best Potter ever, I am sorry I disagree, it was awefull.
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wonderful09
July 29th, 2009
11:06 am
Thanks Jamie- that really needed to be said!!!
This is a great website. I am always look for things to do around town. I have never taken advantage of tax-free weekend but this year is an exception. I need a new laptop and I have a daughter graduating this year and the expenses of that are really adding up. I only wish I could get a discount on her pictures this weekend
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Not Being a Victim Ever Again
July 29th, 2009
12:30 pm
Jamie, I hope and pray you NEVER, EVER get robbed at gun or knife point at one of these Atlanta-area shopping malls like my family and I have. If you ever have to look and see the look of horror and tears in your child’s eyes when a rude & vicious lowlife thug is holding a knife to your throat and demanding your purse and your car keys and whatever is in your shopping bags, I doubt you will have such a condescending or flippant attitude to those of us who have. It just isn’t worth losing everything you have including your life or your child just to get something for free or save a few dollars on sales tax. Life is too short and too precious. Bless you and have a blessed day, Jamie.
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Free admission: Zoo, Fernbank, High, Garden | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
July 29th, 2009
12:59 pm
[...] The National Black Arts Festival is shorter this year — from 10 days down to five — but the calendar is jam-packed with cultural, artistic and musical gems. And a lot of it is free, or inexpensive. Inside Access blogger Jamie Gumbrecht runs down a wealth of activities every day. [...]
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Rochelle
July 29th, 2009
1:11 pm
All ya’ll crazy and need Jesus
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 29th, 2009
3:21 pm
Not Being a Victim Ever Again: I’m so sorry to hear what happened to you, and I’m sorry if I came across as flippant or condescending, but I wholeheartedly believe that readers relying on this post for entertainment info can make their own decisions about where they’re going and whether they think it’s safe — without negative stereotypes playing out in the comments. This is not an appropriate forum for the topic. Unfortunately, crime happens everywhere — at shopping centers, but also in homes, schools and neighborhoods. Like you, most of us have experienced it, or someone close to us has. We can’t always live in fear; I hope this post, rather, will give people more information to have a fun, easy weekend of shopping, if they choose. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
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LeeDawg
July 29th, 2009
4:07 pm
Its a mobile at fernbank science center
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Liviangel
July 29th, 2009
4:11 pm
It is in the Childrens Museum Imagine It. Not sure what it is called but you move the balls through the tube and wire systems.
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Sean
July 29th, 2009
4:13 pm
Kids Museum Ball Mover… I don’t remember seeing a name on it, but it has cranks & pullies to move balls from one location to another with a large hopper that fills up & then they can dump.
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Liviangel
July 29th, 2009
4:16 pm
Its called Tools for Solution
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Birthday Dad
July 29th, 2009
4:17 pm
ImagineIt Museum across from Centennial Park and The Georgia Aquarium @Baker St….It’s the Ball Mover that I can never get my kids to stop playing to leave the darn place…LOL..Ok Vanna, What’ d I Win?…LOL
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HUH?
July 29th, 2009
4:49 pm
I don’t think it’s enough background info. As large as Atlanta is that could be any number of things. Maybe we can narrow it down to a general area in the city or whereever.
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jburgess
July 29th, 2009
4:49 pm
ga lottery tumbler
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Kat
July 29th, 2009
5:04 pm
Yep, it looks exactly like that ball transportation system at Imagine It, which is a fantastic place to take your kids to play. You just need enough adults to keep track of the kiddies, as they will go in all different directions.
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Meashelle D.
July 29th, 2009
5:38 pm
It’s the Georgia Lotto Machine
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L Bagwell
July 29th, 2009
6:36 pm
Imagine It! museum
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Blaxar Savajez
July 29th, 2009
6:36 pm
Shop Online instead and avoid all of Atlanta’s infamous THUGZ.
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J. Christopher
July 29th, 2009
6:57 pm
Its the method of determining coverage used by my HMO
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Rachel Ray
July 29th, 2009
7:24 pm
It’s a margarita machine! Pour me one!!!
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Michael Vick
July 29th, 2009
7:25 pm
It’s a device used to fight dogs….I had several myself.
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wild imagination
July 29th, 2009
7:45 pm
its the shell of a boeing 747
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shellnew
July 29th, 2009
7:47 pm
its the undercarriage of an ingles grocery cart
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honest in Atlanta
July 29th, 2009
7:55 pm
gumball machine
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taylor
July 29th, 2009
8:31 pm
I have no idea…but I like the idea of the game.
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Stephen Hawkins
July 29th, 2009
8:33 pm
Its the Mayors answers to the city sewage problems
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Jeff Foworthy
July 29th, 2009
9:51 pm
Rectum? Hell, it damn near killed him!
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Ms Ima Fatazz
July 29th, 2009
9:55 pm
CIRCUS HIGH WIRE.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 29th, 2009
10:23 pm
I am loving some of your answers.
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National Black Arts Festival highlights: July 30 | Inside Access
July 30th, 2009
7:03 am
[...] National Black Arts Festival continues through this weekend. Check back every morning to see some highlights from the [...]
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TRUTH
July 30th, 2009
9:10 am
It’s the matter inside Shirley Franklin’s brain!!!
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bruno
July 30th, 2009
2:33 pm
Looks like a very small miniature of the Wright Brothers plane from the Tellus Museum…
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Dennis
July 30th, 2009
3:08 pm
A gum ball despenser (with a spiral chute)
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Access Points: Ball machine at Atlanta’s Children’s Museum | Inside Access
July 30th, 2009
4:00 pm
[...] you able to guess what was in this photo and where you could find [...]
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NotAgain
July 30th, 2009
5:19 pm
When is the National White Arts Festival?
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Virginia
July 30th, 2009
10:04 pm
$12.50 for a child 2 and up? That’s absurd, especially with the economy the way it is! I’m sure to the wealthy and upper class, it’s just a drop in the bucket for them, but when you have two adults and 2-3 kids 3 and up, that’s $100 and up(not to mention transportation, food, etc.). maybe you shouldn’t start charging kids til they’re school age-like 6,for example. Why 6? I took a couple of kids to Sci Trek once and only the two older kids understood it well enough to participate in the events. The younger two cried too much,were crying for food constantly,and I had to stop to take them to the bathroom every 15 minutes or so.There were no free tickets for us like the Atlanta family behind me (I guess they assumed we could afford it because we were not black). No wonder they went out of business.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 30th, 2009
10:19 pm
Virginia: Imagine It! does offer Target Free Second Tuesdays, which allows folks to visit the children’s museum without paying admission. There’s one coming up 1-8 p.m. on Aug. 11. For more info: http://www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org/visitors/calendar/target_free_second_tuesdays
Also, it’s common for museums and cultural institutions offer free days or discounted admission for residents of their city or county. (The High Museum has one this weekend, for instance.) To be clear, it has nothing to do with race.
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Are you kidding me?
July 31st, 2009
4:08 am
How about the other 360 days a year! You don’t have to be a minority (I’m not…) to understand that majority culture gets the majority of air time by definition.
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Becky
July 31st, 2009
9:19 am
Virginia, I was in agreement with you until I read your comment about “guess they thought we could afford it, since we were not black”.
Not all black families expect things to be free, nor do all black families get everything free..
If you have 2-3 kids, then you and your husband need to figure out what y’all want to do without in order to take your children places that you have to pay to get in..That’s what me and my husband do in order to take our 2 greandkids places…Oh, and by the way, I’m not black..
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Nicole
July 31st, 2009
9:39 am
I am a single parent who loves taking my kid out on adventure days (Zoo atlanta, fernbank, krispy kreme, Cleveland Ga, etc). I dont expect things to be always be free. I give up getting my nails done, buying new jeans, Starbucks (that was hard to do) and other things I WANT just to afford the oh so pricey adventure days my son has grown accustom to. I know how hard it is with one child, but Virginia, I did myself a favor, I stopped at one child. You choose to have more than one child, and you knew that taking care of them and providing for them was not going to be free. So suck it up. Shop around for the best deals, take advantage of online coupons, and certain offers/discounts your credit card company give away. Oh, and just in case you havent notice, I am BLACK
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BobT
July 31st, 2009
10:29 am
Thats way too much money.
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Chris
July 31st, 2009
11:18 am
When is the National White Arts Fesitval? Oh that’s right, we don’t have that.
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Reign
July 31st, 2009
11:33 am
Your White arts festival and other events, activities, etc. is 365 days a year, 24/7, we’re all exposed to your history, your culture, your everything everyday, that’s why other cultures represented in the United States of America have to do their own thing, otherwise, there will be no representation.
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Lisa
July 31st, 2009
11:35 am
Actually the “National White Arts Festival” occurs everyday at any major museum or festival – have you ever been to the High Museum or Dogwood festival?
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Brooke
July 31st, 2009
11:51 am
Hey Chris the National White Arts Festival can be found in any Powder Springs trailer park…cmon.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 31st, 2009
12:17 pm
Hey Chris, and everybody: Inside Access is a blog about fun things to do in Atlanta. This can be a good discussion, so let’s keep it civil and on-topic. This is not the place for race-baiting or hurtful stereotypes. Thanks for reading.
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Delight
July 31st, 2009
12:19 pm
tee hee….wow Chris actually had an impact. People, people. you scoop trash, place in dumpster and keep moving you don’t disect and attempt comprehension.
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Annie
July 31st, 2009
12:55 pm
Not Again, the National White Arts Festival is everyday.
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hbshep
July 31st, 2009
1:31 pm
Let’s stay focused here. Playing the race card was the wrong thing to do Ms. Virginia. Keep it simple…..!!
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Stephen Hawkins
July 31st, 2009
2:11 pm
Virgina- Come to my house with the museum manager and lets settle all of this over a beer. After all- Obama is teaching us that we can solve the worlds longest hatred over a 12oz draft (as long as the white house media is there to take the photos) PS- Virgina, I bet may even chip in the $1.75 for the beer so you could enjoy it.
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tl
July 31st, 2009
2:26 pm
Stated perfectly by Reign, “Your White arts festival and other events, activities, etc. is 365 days a year, 24/7, we’re all exposed to your history, your culture, your everything everyday, that’s why other cultures represented in the United States of America have to do their own thing, otherwise, there will be no representation.”
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Mark
July 31st, 2009
2:50 pm
I agree with Chris. You people want to be equal, but have this festival, BET, Black history month, etc. You people are your own worst enemies.
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Pete
July 31st, 2009
3:02 pm
How about a black violence history month. You excel at that.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
July 31st, 2009
3:08 pm
Pete: totally inappropriate. Treat it like a discussion between mature adults, or don’t talk. Take your hate elsewhere.
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GT
July 31st, 2009
3:26 pm
Thank you Nicole, well said!!! We need more responsible parents, single or married, black or white. Good luck raising your son!!
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midtowngirl
July 31st, 2009
3:31 pm
Mark, wouldn’t it be nice if you were PEOPLE??!! Don’t be mad…maybe in your next miserable life…PILGRIM…
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radtech
July 31st, 2009
3:41 pm
Sorry Jamie…this is supposed to be about fun things to do in the ATL. However, until people overcome their fears and lack of knowledge about other races and also seek more exposure to other ethnic groups and traditions, there will be very little racial change in this country. I didn’t see anything in your blog stating that this festival was only for black people…
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Sarah
July 31st, 2009
3:42 pm
Wow while this does sound pricey just look for coupons. Everyone take a deep breath and laugh at Stephen Hawkins comment b/c I’m sorry thats just funny. While it may be expensive it may be one of the best times your kids have this summer. You never know.
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Barker
July 31st, 2009
3:42 pm
Viginia’s ignorance aside, there’s no law that says that you have to take your child some place that costs too much. Part of being a responsible parent is teaching your child how to spend money wisely. It’s a good idea to show them that they don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to have fun. There are parks and festivals that are free, and there are other museums where the admission is a lot less.
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Brad
July 31st, 2009
4:32 pm
Besides being a biggot, Virginia is not very good at math. A family of 4 with everyone older thatn 2 years costs $50. If it is too much for you, don’t go. Or, go on a discounted day as others have pointed out. This is a great activity place for kids, but is better for 4-7 year olds than toddlers.
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Brenda
July 31st, 2009
4:52 pm
WoW…I’m white and I’m so sick of the black/white & white/black race cards….I personally love color so mine is red/white and blue!!! Proud to be an American
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Charles
July 31st, 2009
8:41 pm
And this is why we need a National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta and across the United States. Is it 2009 or 1909?
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Access Points: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
July 31st, 2009
9:38 pm
[...] Think you guessed correctly? Here’s the answer. Bonus Access Point image: answer and story posted at 4 p.m. Thursday! Jamie [...]
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notaracist
August 2nd, 2009
1:02 pm
Okay, I am a Black American(proud to be) and I have two teenage boys. I am also a housewife. When I ask my husband, if we could have more children, he said,”You can with your new husband because, I can not afford anymore”. Being that, I do not want a new husband, I settled for the two, I have. Back on point, my children only go places and do things that we can afford w/o pulling money from mortgage,car payment insurance, you know, the things we need. In other words, if we can not afford it, we do not do it. In closing,will this country ever get over race?
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Mark
August 2nd, 2009
1:10 pm
You can find black art on building walls downtown, overpasses, and in the ‘hood. Who needs a freakin festival when black art is all over?
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rachael
August 2nd, 2009
6:54 pm
I took a class on the history of Jazz with Dr. Andrews when I was an undergrad. It was excellent. Nice to see him pop up on the to do list!
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Medicine for Melancholy | Misadventures in Atlanta
August 3rd, 2009
8:00 am
[...] had a busy but wonderful weekend at The National Black Arts Festival. Although I volunteered throughout the weekend at the festival, I found the time to partake in the [...]
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Summer winds down, but free outdoor movies continue | Inside Access | film news
August 3rd, 2009
10:16 am
[...] the original here: Summer winds down, but free outdoor movies continue | Inside Access Tagged as: atlantic-station, events, Festival, film, mall-of-georgia, movies, restaurants, [...]
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Mark
August 3rd, 2009
3:13 pm
How many shootings took place during the “event”?
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Margaret Kargbo
August 3rd, 2009
4:29 pm
thanks Jamie for posting this info…and for quelling the hate that some people just can’t seem to get over. many thanks!
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Henry
August 3rd, 2009
4:32 pm
OK, enough everyone. It’s a Children’s Museum. Let’s keep it clean. If you want to pay you can pay. If you want to come when it’s free-come when it’s free.
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Le Le
August 3rd, 2009
8:23 pm
Mark… no shootings took place during the event or around the event. NBAF is a cultural celebration of art and culture. Those who would carry guns and use them aimlessly won’t be found at NBAF events. And I guess those who don’t realize that miss out on a wonderful experience.
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Rusty
August 4th, 2009
9:17 am
Really, I don’t think either of them are that bad.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 4th, 2009
9:21 am
Did you click on the link about the mole rat pups? I wouldn’t want them living in my house or anything, but the babyfied version incites a little “Awwww…” out of me.
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Mark
August 4th, 2009
9:51 am
I have more “culture” on my shower curtain.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 4th, 2009
10:31 am
Mark: I sent you an e-mail as well, but to be clear, the comments section is a place for conversation, not taunts or put-downs. You seem bent on moving the discussion away from what people do for fun around Atlanta. Diversity of opinions are welcome, but we must be respectful of others and treat this like a discussion. If you’d like to talk more about this, please feel free to email me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com. Thanks.
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Bob
August 4th, 2009
1:56 pm
Some things are so ugly they’re cute.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 4th, 2009
1:59 pm
“So ugly they’re cute.” Oh, I do know. Greatest cat I ever had wasn’t cute on first glance, but then became so cute I couldn’t look at him without squealing.
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Eternity
August 4th, 2009
2:58 pm
Race, gender and sexuality are serious issues in America…indeed, around the world. Myself being a non-hetero black male, I can certainly attest to that. And yet there are those from every walk of like who have something worthwhile to say, something much needed to give. This article was written by a white woman who clearly understands this dynamic. She has risen above the fray, attempting to enlighten us all with good news–doing us proud. We all have our crosses to bear, but if you’ve got time to judge, you’ve got time to love.
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Browncoat
August 4th, 2009
3:53 pm
The bulldog is the ugliest animal
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el jefe
August 4th, 2009
8:11 pm
i predicted this when the concert was first announced. i respect sir paul, and would love to see the show, but $100 for an oversold lawn ticket at piedmont part is simply too much. it has nothing to do with the economy, it has to do with the fact that this ticket is overpriced for what it is. anyone who was at the ABB/DMB show in 2007 knows that the long bathroom and beer lines, coupled with the sheer pack of people on the lawn means that this show just isnt worth $100 (after ticketmaster gets done “conveniently” charging me $15 to take my money and print the ticket)
best of luck to the piedmont park conservatory, but i think they are destined to undersell this event.
if it was $50 + charges it would be a different story.
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TK
August 4th, 2009
8:22 pm
Not surprised by this at all…$100 is way too much for most people given the hassles of the crowd (and getting there early enough to actually get a decent spot on the lawn), the heat, and waiting 15 minutes to buy a beer or take a leak…
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FALCON JOSH
August 4th, 2009
8:26 pm
People learned that you can hear the music from outside the park anyway. The DMB show was simply to many people. You were just looking at a big screen. I enjoyed watching the show 2 months later in HD at home.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 4th, 2009
8:33 pm
Very good points, el jefe and TK. Still, even if it remains undersold, this will be a huge crowd of people who are apparently game for the crowds, heat, waits etc. I got tickets for my little sister and her boyfriend — huge fans who needed a bribe with a date on it to spur the trip south — and I have no idea how to tell them to navigate the area. I fear any advice I give will be useless when faced with a crowd of 40,000.
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Steve From Dalton
August 4th, 2009
9:01 pm
I would love to see Sir Paul but G.A. seats in the middle of August in Atl. don’t add up for a splendid time guaranteed for all. It will be hot and sticky. Then throw in 30,000 of your favorite new friends and you hope the people near you practice good hygiene habits.
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Macca
August 4th, 2009
10:16 pm
Keep in mind that this event is a BENEFIT for the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Yes, the tickets are pricey, but the PROFITS from the concert will help expand the new north area of the park.
Plus, it’s going to be a hugely fun party, no matter what.
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Tommy Mngsde
August 4th, 2009
10:18 pm
You have a chance to see a living legend. One of only 2 living beatles (along with Ringo). Google his setlist from Coachella. It is a greatest hit selection from McCartney solo, Wings and above all the Beatles including Lennon and Harrison tributes. It is an immense and intense list. Don’t miss out on the chance. And for those complaining about the price. Give me a break. Have you ever donated any money in your life to a worthy cause? Not only are you making a donation that will help that city of Atlanta by supporting the “Central Park” of our city (and increasing your property value by the way..) but you will be getting to see a legend for your investment. Instead of giving to a charity buy a darn McCartney ticket. You will be helping promote green living and paying to expand the size of public park that we all use for free. $100 isn’t that much out of your total bank account when you think of it that way is it? -Tommy M.
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Macca
August 4th, 2009
10:19 pm
Jamie, if you need advice on how to navigate the area, feel free to email me. I live two blocks from the concert area.
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Melvin
August 4th, 2009
10:24 pm
$100 for a ticket to watch a washed up old singer at the crummy Piedmont Park? Are you serious? I wouldn’t pay $1 to see that old guy. They should bring in some rappers instead and let everyone in free.
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Tommy Mngsde
August 4th, 2009
10:27 pm
This is the set List from Coachella show a few monts ago for all you cheapskates complaining about the cost of your donation This was part of a festival so expect at least this many but possibly more. By the way, I have to be out of town for this show so I can’t make it and it is KILLING ME.
Main set: Jet / Drive My Car / Only Mama Knows / Flaming Pie / Got to Get You Into My Life / Let Me Roll It (with a coda of Purple Haze) / Honey Hush / Highway / The Long and Winding Road / My Love / Blackbird / Here Today / Dance Tonight / Calico Skies / Mrs. Vanderbilt / Eleanor Rigby / Sing the Changes / Band on the Run / Back in the U.S.S.R. / Something / I’ve Got a Feeling / Paperback Writer / A Day in the Life > Give Peace a Chance / Let It Be / Live and Let Die / Hey Jude
First encore: Birthday / Can’t Buy Me Love / Lady Madonna
Second encore: Yesterday / Helter Skelter / Get Back / Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) > The End
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Joe Joe
August 4th, 2009
10:43 pm
Paul has sold out something like 88 of the last 90 concerts. They went on sale in Dallas at 10AM and 70,000 tickets were sold in eight minutes. NYC and Boston are all sold out as was Halifax. They had the same problem last week in DC, so promoters should consider the fan base of the city and what they support. I would bet Atlanta and DC would sell out regardless of price for a hip hop show. The fan base of the Falcons and Hawks are not McCartney fans.
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uglyredhonda
August 4th, 2009
10:46 pm
I think another factor is that there were already other “major” shows scheduled that night. I know of several folks who were excited about the possibility of getting to see McCartney, but already had tickets to either the Def Leppard/Cheap Trick show at Lakewood or the Steely Dan show at Chastain.
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Tommy Mngsde
August 4th, 2009
10:51 pm
Speaking of “washed up”. Def Leppard? Saw them a few years ago. HORRIBLE? Joe Elliot’s voice is gone. And Steely Dan? Sure after they initially made their comeback in the late eighties but now they are resigned to making the easy buck playing Chastain and the Alpharetta amphitheatre going through the motions for 50+ year old Buckhead and OTP dorks that still think they are cool.
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Tommy Mngsde
August 4th, 2009
10:56 pm
Error above in my last post. Steely actually made their comeback around 1994. Now they just take the money. I have seen them 4 times since their comeback and every year they get worse and make less of an effort. Funny thing is the ticket price (along with their egos-Becker and Fagen) go up with each year gone by. I would NEVER pay another cent to see them again. Sell your ticket on Craig’s list and go see McCartney and support your free public Piedmont Park (and Atlanta).
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The Professor
August 4th, 2009
11:32 pm
The DMB show @ PP 2 yrs ago was The Longest Day of my life. Hothouse, stupid redneck drunks, stupid frat-boy drunks, thieving cab drivers, people saving “seats” amidst the dirt & tree roots. So, this time I paid for 2 VIP tix @ $400 each. It’s worth it for decent bathrooms and a spot on the hillside. Sir Paul won’t take the stage before 9 p.m., so why would I want to arrive at 4 p.m. and broil for hours?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 5th, 2009
1:39 am
Awwww, thanks, Macca! I think we’ve come to a solution: spend the morning and early afternoon wandering the Center for Puppetry Arts, then hand-delivering them to the proper entrance. Of course, if you live two blocks from where thousands of people are gathering, I imagine you’ve got good strategies for moving around in the area.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 5th, 2009
1:44 am
“If you’ve got time to judge, you’ve got time to love.” Very nice. Thanks, Eternity.
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David
August 5th, 2009
4:43 am
The Beatles have always been my favorite band and I’d love to see McCartney for the first time. But an August show where you have to claim a seat in the afternoon sun/heat? No way.
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tc
August 5th, 2009
7:09 am
do it on the cheap and watch them on youtube. Go see a real performer like Jean Luc Ponty, Pat Metheny, Chuck Mangione…
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OZZFEST
August 5th, 2009
7:21 am
I REALLY DO NOT CARE HOW MANY SHOW UP…I WILL BE CAMPED AT THE GATE AT NOON WAITING TO GET IN. $100 IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE TO KEEP YOU COBB COUNTY PANSIES AT HOME.
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cowo
August 5th, 2009
8:17 am
Melvin you are one sick puppy! Paul is a beautiful, talented, amazing legend. This hiphop crap will be long gone in another 40 years, but the legend of the Beatles, and especially Paul, will still be going strong. It’s not only young black men who live in Atlanta, in case you have forgotten!
I will be there ready to be entertained royally, as I have in the previous 16 times I’ve seen Paul, with the Beatles, Wings, and on his own. I am worried about the heat and access to restrooms, as well as standing for hours on end before the show even starts. Would have prefered an indoor venue, or even across the street at Grady Stadium, but when Paul arrives on the stage, all pains and aches will be forgotten.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 5th, 2009
8:23 am
Hey folks, an early reminder: please be respectful toward each other in the comments, and let’s not let this stray too far off topic.
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PHOTOS: Overnight at Fernbank Museum’s first sleepover | Inside Access
August 5th, 2009
8:29 am
[...] I posted earlier this week about the first public sleepover at Fernbank Museum of Natural History. [...]
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Mark
August 5th, 2009
8:38 am
I have been waiting for Sir Paul McCartney to return to Atlanta. His divorce delayed touring for a year –and that was a disappointment. So when I heard McCartney was coming to Atlanta I was elated –for about 10 seconds. Then I found out he was playing Piedmont Park.
I do not mind at all paying $100 for the show and it would be well worth it if the concert were being held at a proper venue like GA Dome, Philips or Encore Park. But I will not be going to Piedmont Park.
I run the Peachtree Road Race every year and realize how difficult it is getting out of the area with 50K other people. I’m holding out, hoping that McCartney will return for a show in a proper venue. However, if this doesn’t sell out I doubt there will be a return trip during this tour. I may be waiting another two or three years again.
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Dee
August 5th, 2009
8:49 am
I’ve seen McCartney before and he does put on a great concert. But honestly, when I saw the price of the tickets, coupled with the fact that you have to arrive 4 hours before the concert, and no lawn chairs or even water is allowed, so you’re forced to sit on the ground and then fight the lines to get something to drink – it just wasn’t worth it to me. If it were priced a little more reasonably, and we were allowed to bring in chairs and our own drinks, I think they would have gotten a better response. I’d rather just donate $25 to the Piedmont Conservancy and be done with it. (Not all people going to the concert are Atlanta residence. I personally would have to drive in about 40 minutes. And there’s no Marta near me.)
To Tommy M. – not nice to insult people who want to see Steely Dan – calling the band washed up, and the patrons old – when you’re soliciting a Beatle who’s been around since the 60’s! Everyone has their own preference. Respect that.
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The Dogfighter Returns
August 5th, 2009
8:50 am
Sir Paul who? He must be another guy trying to pawn a ponzi scheme. If he ain’t American I ain’t interested. I might open me a mobile geritol and viagra stand on ponce and make me a killing with of all these old geezers.
Y’all gonna have cancer after this concert. Bring your sun tan lotion.
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yubyub
August 5th, 2009
10:29 am
Paul will put on a great show, no doubt. Saw him on the Flowers in the Dirt tour (which wasn’t called that), and it was fantastic. But this un-venue stinks. The Dome would have been much better…
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Drew
August 5th, 2009
10:54 am
Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but I think Live Nation is offering 1/2 price tickets to the show today only. If you’re looking for an excuse, now’s the time to buy!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 5th, 2009
12:10 pm
Hey Drew! I noticed the Live Nation half-off sale, but didn’t see Paul McCartney on the list. Do you have a link with the info? Thanks!
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‘For Colored Girls…’ sells out, adds performances | Inside Access
August 5th, 2009
12:34 pm
[...] “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf” sold out its entire 29-show run at the 400-seat Southwest Arts Center. Quite a feat, but not a surprise, given the star power of actresses Nicole Ari Parker, Crystal Fox and Robin Givens, and director Jasmine Guy. (Here’s an earlier blog post with links to interviews about the show.) [...]
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Joy
August 5th, 2009
12:38 pm
Paul McCartney in concert = you bet. Paul McCartney + the middle of downtown + the middle of August + porta potties + no lawn chairs + not enough vendors + nowhere to park = no thank you.
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miss marta
August 5th, 2009
1:00 pm
am i the only person that doesn’t think marta is going to be utilized for this show? dmb was a different crowd, young hipsters. paul is gonna attract a wider variety of people,but primarily suburban whiteys. call me crazy, i just don’t think they’ll be interested in using marta. a lot of people think marta is dangerous, not to mention marta doesn’t go out to east cobb.
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miss marta
August 5th, 2009
1:02 pm
not to mention, btw, dmb tickets were like $40 with service fees. i will pay $100 per ticket to see U2 in october, with a seat close to the stage and everything. but $90 services fees included for sir paul in the park, general admission style? paaaass.
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miss marta
August 5th, 2009
1:03 pm
@Joy, thanks for proving my point!
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Leslye Joy Allen
August 5th, 2009
1:08 pm
“For Colored Girls” is now running on much more than the star power of Crystal Fox, Nicole Ari Parker, and Robin Givens; it is running on the word-of-mouth from so many of us who have informed others that Jasmine Guy has assembled one of the most talented casts in True Colors Theatre history.
It would be a mistake not to acknowledge the other cast members: Danielle Deadwyler, Yakini Horn, and Nevaina Rhodes, along with Omelika Kuumba on drums. As someone who has witnessed this piece several times, it is damn near impossible to pick a specific favorite lady in this ensemble. Yes, they all are just that good which is just more proof of Guy’s deftness as a director and her unique abilities as a performance artist.
It is also beyond me why someone from AJC has not reviewed “For Colored Girls” with the same intensity that Wendell Brock reviewed “Blood Knot.” While “Blood Knot” deserved all the superlatives it received, Jasmine Guy and the entire cast of “For Colored Girls” deserve more critical attention. Of course, the show does not need the critical attention to sell tickets!! The audiences have spoken.
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JW
August 5th, 2009
1:31 pm
Who would want to see McCartney when Def Leppard and Cheap Trick are in town?
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Future Relics Gallery » Blog Archive » Paul McCartney Concert
August 5th, 2009
2:47 pm
[...] volunteer activates that I do. I’ll be assisting the Piedmont Park Conservancy in presenting Paul McCartney to the city of Atlanta as part of the conservancies green awareness [...]
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A White
August 5th, 2009
3:14 pm
@ Leslye:
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
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ziza
August 5th, 2009
4:07 pm
Agreed A White. Well said Leslye. Absolutely inspring and enjoyable. I was fortunate enough to have seen the original on Broadway and this version does Ms. Shange and Ms. Guy real proud.
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Access Points 2: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
August 5th, 2009
4:08 pm
[...] were quick with last week’s inaugural Access Point, so quick that I’m cutting out the bonus image. Still, this shouldn’t be hard for kids [...]
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Kitty Boo
August 5th, 2009
4:17 pm
It’s Mayor Shirley Franklin at a city council meeting.
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Mark
August 5th, 2009
4:49 pm
Maybe an entry to the Black arts festival?
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Rana Cash
August 5th, 2009
4:54 pm
If you move quickly, you can get 1/2 price tickets to the show tonight. Check out the details on the Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?1wrb
I’ll be checking throughout the extended show dates to see whether the half-price deal will apply to those as well.
Rana
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Matt
August 5th, 2009
5:01 pm
Is it from the Wren’s Nest? Looks like the thing that holds the pieces of string that had to be undone as punishment. Don’t remember the full story – is that right?
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Rana Cash
August 5th, 2009
5:28 pm
Just walked down to buy my tickets. Gone. This is an unbelievably popular show. The folks at AtlanTix told me that a FEW tickets will be available tomorrow, but you have to move hastily to get them. No word yet on whether they will be available for half-price for the extended shows. Let’s hope so!
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Julie
August 5th, 2009
7:33 pm
That looks part of an art exhibit of southern culture during Jim Crow that can be found at the High Museum of Art.
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Needabailout, too!
August 5th, 2009
8:57 pm
It’s an antique child’s doll, currently being displayed at Tavis Smiley’s Black History exhibit at the Civic Center.
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Tommy Mngsde
August 5th, 2009
9:36 pm
Dee. I have seen Steely Dan 5 times. They aren’t that good anymore. Sorry but they get worse ever year. They are 2 guys, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and they sleppwalk through their sets for people that think they know good music and want to pretend they are hip jazz fans. And Def Leppard? You have to be kidding me. Maybe in 1984.
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Tommy Mngsde
August 5th, 2009
9:40 pm
I got to the Dave Matthews show 2 years show at around 6. An hour before the Alman Brothers came on. We had fine seats, a little back but the screens are HUGE. We went with 2 others friends and had a fantastic time. The lines were not theat big for the beers or the toliets. I really can’t believe that so many people thought it was so inconvenient to see the show there. Once again…think I should state since no one seems to get it. It is a BENEFIT show. If you don;t have the money to donate on behalf of benefitting the free public park the stop by Subway and grab your 3.99 meal of the day and go home and watch tv.
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To do list: August 6 | Inside Access
August 6th, 2009
12:06 am
[...] “Akeelah and the Bee” shows for Movies & The Market, 8:45 p.m., Atlantic Station’s Central Park, Atlanta. [...]
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Eric
August 6th, 2009
8:10 am
yes, useful format.
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Karen
August 6th, 2009
9:51 am
I like the new format. Great idea!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 6th, 2009
9:54 am
Great! These three-day posts will be buried a bit by end-of-the-week posts, but it will still be online, and linked directly from our newsletters, AccessAtlanta.com and AJC.com, if you need to check back. Thanks for reading!
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David
August 6th, 2009
9:56 am
There are plenty of places to park. The parking deck at 14th and Juniper is advertising parking and there is a parking deck in the park now that will be open. http://tinyurl.com/greenconcertparking
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K. Buyer
August 6th, 2009
11:38 am
Tickets are available online at: http://www.ticketalternative.com
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Paul McCartney talks music, parks and Michael Jackson | Inside Access
August 6th, 2009
12:19 pm
[...] McCartney will be at the park on Aug. 15 for a show. (Inside Access reported earlier this week that there are still thousands of tickets are left, more than some [...]
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Kim
August 6th, 2009
1:21 pm
Since the Black Arts festival was in-town this past weekend, I am guessing it is art work or an artifact being displayed at one of the venues.
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chuck allison
August 6th, 2009
2:59 pm
Aunt Fanny’s kitchen off Spring Road near Smyrna.
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Gail
August 6th, 2009
3:01 pm
Is it part of the art exhibit in the State Dept of Agriculture building?
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DEIDRE
August 6th, 2009
3:05 pm
It’s Mayor Shirley Franklin at a city council meeting – LOL THAT IS TOO FUNNY!!!
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Paul McCartney talks music, parks and Michael Jackson | Inside Access | Wildtonemusic
August 6th, 2009
3:06 pm
[...] here: Paul McCartney talks music, parks and Michael Jackson | Inside Access Posted in Talk About Music | August 6th, 2009 Leave a [...]
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Access Points 2: String Man at The Wren’s Nest | Inside Access
August 6th, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] pm August 6, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht Were you able to identify what was in this week’s Access Points picture game? Access Points: It's the String Man at The Wren's Nest! Jamie [...]
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Access Points 2: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
August 6th, 2009
4:24 pm
[...] What is this? And where is it? Those are the questions for this week’s Access Points game. (UPDATE 8/6: Want to know the answer? Here it is.) [...]
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Looking for the daily to do list? Here’s the whole weekend! | Inside Access
August 7th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] Meanwhile, here are the goods: the list of weekend events for August 7-9. [...]
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SweetWater Steve
August 7th, 2009
8:49 am
SweetWater has added Saturday tours from 2:30 – 4:30 – to the schedule. Great afternoon trip for those over 21. The tour is free and there is a plastic tasting cup for free as well – or you can get a souvenier pint glass for $8 – either way you receive 6 sample tickets to try all of the beers available.
195 Ottley Drive, Atlanta GA 30324 – 404.691.ALES – http://www.sweetwaterbrew.com
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 7th, 2009
9:10 am
I’ve been meaning to get back to this round of comments — apologies for being so behind — but I just wanted to thank you for such thoughtful, helpful comments. You make good points about what the AJC has and hasn’t done, and I don’t know if we’ll be able to fix it. (We don’t have a theater critic on staff anymore, and I’m certainly not the person who makes those decisions.) Moreso, sharing your experience with “For Colored Girls…” may help others, too. So keep your ideas and comments coming.
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Wendy
August 7th, 2009
1:28 pm
Can you explain the low distribution for movie “The Hurt Locker”? We have been searching for it in local theaters for 5 weeks. Why is it not being played? We see it eventually moved to 3 theaters, but all are much too far away.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 7th, 2009
1:47 pm
Hi Wendy — I have no specific knowledge about this, other than that it was produced outside a major film studio, which can easily keep it from theater ubiquity, and in general, the reception toward Iraq war movies has been lukewarm-to-cold the last few years. This has gotten great reviews and buzz, though, which can change things. I’ll ask around, and if I hear more about it, I’ll let you know. Where in the area were you hoping to find it?
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Sue Rodman
August 8th, 2009
8:02 am
Love this story. It makes me want to go to the Wrens Nest again. What a great place.
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Big Time Fan
August 8th, 2009
10:24 am
All: I understand where you are coming from. I just saw Paul’s concert at FedEx Field (Washington, D.C.) and the folks at FedEx field screwed things up royaly–parking nightmares (the show started 1 1/2 late to accomodate late arriving fans) and there was no water on the ground floor of the stadium for about an hour (so no colas or any food that required water for preparation, also bathroom situation was then complicated), but having to put up with all of that–the show was truly spectatular, magnificant, and completely wonderful in all respects. It may be the best concert I’ve ever been to–so, it’s worth it and I recommend that you attend, you won’t regret it I promise.
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Amy
August 8th, 2009
11:10 am
Very easy to read- I love it! Please keep this new format. Thanks!
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S. Fan
August 8th, 2009
1:22 pm
The problem is not Paul McCartney. The problem is the disaster that was the 2007 concert and the hot GA. Summers- with NO ice chest allowed. Making someone who is donating to the park stand in long lines and pay high prices for bad food, and a bathroom, WHILE missing the concert is just wrong. I am going but am contemplating deliberate dehydration- just hope I don’t pass out from the heat.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 8th, 2009
3:47 pm
One of these days, I need to go there NOT for work. If they haven’t gotten sick of all my questions already, surely they won’t mind them during the official tour?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 8th, 2009
3:49 pm
Thanks Amy! I’ve heard nothing but happy comments from readers so far, so I think the weekend format is here to stay. Check back during the week, too, for a daily update of things to do!
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adventurous fan from Alabama
August 8th, 2009
5:46 pm
I’ve never been to a concert at Piedmont park, so I’m just trying to get an idea of what to expect. I’ll be staying at Regency Suites. Looks like a mile or so walk. Is there anyway of knowing when McCartney will be taking the stage. Do you take a blanket and scope out an area? I’ve never seen McCartney or the Beatles and figured this was my best chance.
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rick stafford
August 9th, 2009
8:49 am
please someone tell me how many people were at the paul mccartney concert atwashington fedex and many tickets were left please e-mail back
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mike
August 9th, 2009
9:06 am
Great format
thanks
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Cary
August 9th, 2009
12:35 pm
Is http://www.AscSkydiving.com going to be on your September list?
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Fan
August 9th, 2009
4:42 pm
I have tickets that allow entry at 4:00. Should I really go that early? Any tips on where to put the blanket? How far are the vendors from the viewing area?
Thanks to those of you who went in the past for answering Q’s!
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I'm going
August 9th, 2009
9:58 pm
I’m going I bought pre-buy tickets, now I’m kind of wishing I didn’t because of the economy, the tickets are expensive. I have paid tickets for dragon-con for 80$ before but it lasts 4 days, that makes it worh it. I have always wanted to see a ex-beatle and I don’t think he’s going to come around too many more times. So’ I’m going.
I remember when I saw Jefferson Starship and the Black Crowes at Piedmont park, its a SWEAT FESTIVAL
plus waiting in lines to Pizz and waiting in lines for about anything plus how much does overpriced beer and food costs. Wish You could bring a cooler into this place but I bet you can’t. I am going with the nephew whose 20 and never seen a concert like this, especially a sweat fest, I have been to those above and Lakewood and midtown music festivals I know what their about you lose about 5 pounds in one day. Swear you will never go again, then a band comes and your right there. I love music. 
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I'm going
August 9th, 2009
10:01 pm
I’m sure they will let blankets or towels, but thats it. I bet.
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I'm going
August 9th, 2009
10:09 pm
Last thing though, I have had alot of friends that have seen Paul play before, they said hands down that paul is in their top 5 of the best concerts they have ever seen. Thats why I’m going.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 9th, 2009
11:32 pm
For folks with questions about day-of logistics, here’s a link to info about what you can (and can’t) bring: http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-events/concert-111432.html
Blankets are good to go! As for blanket placement…I’ll get back to you.
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Chip
August 10th, 2009
9:33 am
What the yell is convenient about a $14.10 Convenience Charge PER TICKET? The amount just keeps going up. If it is a single purchase for multiple tickets, how is it a per ticket charge? How long is Tickemaster going to get away with this?
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Leslye Joy Allen
August 10th, 2009
4:03 pm
Hurry, hurry. As of 4:00 PM Monday, August 10, 2009 the Tuesday (8-11) and
Thursday (8-13) performances of “For Colored Girls” at 8:00 PM are sold out!! Wednesday’s 8:00 PM performance is almost sold out. The best remaining seats
are for the 2:30 PM Thursday (8-13) performance. But please be quick!!
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Stacy
August 10th, 2009
6:18 pm
While it’s under less-than-ideal conditions (outdoors in the August ATL heat, general admission, pricey tickets, etc…), my husband and I are driving 6 hours for this show. Why? Who knows if an opportunity to see a musical legend such as Paul McCartney will come our way again. We’re big Beatles fans; we’re big McCartney fans, so it’ll be worth it for us. Totally understand if people don’t want to pay that much for a ticket, though. Kinda bummed that cameras aren’t allowed (but we’d probably be so far back that we wouldn’t get any good pics anyway).
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OZZFEST
August 11th, 2009
12:07 pm
Guys, this is PAUL McCARTNEY…you know, like one of those dudes with the hair from the Ed Sullivan Show…like 45 years ago. The dude still ROCKS!
There are NO excuses not to go. If sitting on the grass in the park, drinking beer and hearing the equivilent of “Jesus reading from the Bible” is not something to look forward to – then get busy writing your will.
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Stuart F.
August 11th, 2009
1:08 pm
Cool, i’m glad there’s still a couple places left to see outdoor movies this summer. I love outdoor movies, i go to them whenever i can! in fact, i found a whole listing of them here, check it out: http://blog.openaircinema.us/blog/tag/georgia/
And i’ll see you at the movies!
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Judy
August 11th, 2009
1:51 pm
Jamie, thanks for the link regarding what can and can’t be taken into the concert. I have my ticket and wouldn’t miss it for the world. I guess I’m pushing the limits with this question but I have a bad back and just can’t stand or even sit on the ground without back support. Do you think I can take in a cushion that sits directly on the ground but offers back support — especially if I don’t carry in the allotted one blanket per person. Who made up these crazy rules — the one thing you don’t need in GA in the middle of August is one blanket PER person!
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joe
August 11th, 2009
2:47 pm
I won free tickets and I’m still not sure if I will go…Yes I would like to see Paul but I know it will be a living he ll ….. They have made it hard in every way…ok , so you charge a lot for your tickets…you’ve made your money…don’t be so damn greedy , let us bring our own food a nd water and at least make it a little fun….money, thats what I want….mooooooney, thats what I want….
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joe
August 11th, 2009
2:56 pm
but what I really don’t understand is they kicked the arts festival and dogwood out of the park because they didn’t want people touching the grass. sooooooooo, how do you justify 50,000 people stomping on the grass all day long? mooooney, thats what I want….(”money” sung by the Beatles) sing with me now….Mooooooney, that’s what I want….
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T
August 11th, 2009
3:13 pm
I wonder if we will be among several thousands of middle-aged folks having a hard time standing up from the ground when Paul takes the stage. And don’t even mention sitting on someone’s shoulders…that would take 2 hours and an act of God. Our backs and bottoms will probably pay for it afterwards, but it will be great.
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What you need to know before the Paul McCartney concert: street closings, weather, how to get there, what to bring | Inside Access
August 11th, 2009
3:22 pm
[...] When Piedmont Park officials told me a week ago that there were still thousands of tickets left for the August 15 Green Concert, plenty of you seemed surprisd to learn that superstar Paul McCartney hadn’t yet sold out. [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 11th, 2009
3:33 pm
Hi Judy! Not limit-pushing at all.
I talked with the folks at Piedmont Park today, and they said seat cushions are fine, and even cushions with a back support. The key is that they can’t have arms and legs. They want to avoid objects that can be used as projectiles, and things that would get in the way of people making a quick exit, in case of emergency. Here’s my latest post about what to know pre-McCartney concert: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/08/11/what-you-need-to-know-before-the-paul-mccartney-concert-street-closings-weather-how-to-get-there-what-to-bring/
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Rusty
August 11th, 2009
4:00 pm
Hopefully Midtown won’t be too jacked up the Friday before. I work on 14th Street walking distance from the park.
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Atlantic Station’s free movie series extended to Oct. 29 | Inside Access
August 11th, 2009
4:07 pm
[...] mentioned last week that a few summer outdoor movie series are finishing up even while kids are heading back to [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 11th, 2009
4:12 pm
It sounds like Thursday and Friday should be pretty calm — most of the unloading and building should be done. I fear for the folks coming into town on Saturday for something other than Paul McCartney.
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rachael
August 11th, 2009
9:13 pm
“Really: no car.” Love it.
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myrna ryter
August 11th, 2009
10:50 pm
A great get away 2 hrs from Atlanta!
A new beginning for the really old or (young at heart)
175 years old and new again! Evergreen, as it was named long, long , ago (1834)
has been renovated and standing proud while visitors return and enjoy again.
(A two YEAR process to renovate Anderson’s oldest historical mansion)
A get away from the chaos of our busy stressful lives, To slow down and relax and marvel at an era long ago thru the doors of TWO old beautiful antebellum mansions.
Once a National Award winning Restaurant for a quarter of a century (1982-2007)
Chef Peter and the Eleven-O-Nine Restaurant still has the homey good feel but is now a
Unique Day Spa specializing in R&R and skin care (open since 1999)
Next door is the beautifully renovated Evergreen Bed & Breakfast. The refinished original heart of pine floors, fresh paint and new kitchen will delight overnight guests.
An overnight stay for business, romance, friendship, rekindling, wedding or anniversary.
Have an unforgettable time and memory waiting for anyone who wants to experience something out of the ordinary and feel new again!
Life’s short…enjoy it !
Overnight at Evergreen with breakfast 108.00 (includes tax)
Day Spa services from 15.00!
Packages for couples R&R massage, facials, overnight too…228.00!
You’re Invited…….Open House August 27th. 2009….. 5-7 p.m.
RSVP… 864- 375-9064
Visit http://www.spa-it.com
1109 & 1103 South Main St.
Anderson, So. Carolina
Owner- Myrna Ryter
864-375-9064
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Coop
August 12th, 2009
9:29 am
Are mosquito repellant and sunscreen allowed? Should my wife just stick those in her purse? Looking forward to seeing Paul.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 12th, 2009
9:55 am
Hi Coop! Those should fall in the medical supplies category, so you’re good to go. For your own comfort, I’d recommend avoiding the ultra-super-jumbo-sized bottles of either.
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Professor
August 12th, 2009
10:11 am
You people lost the Civil War…enough please find something else to write or talk about. This topic is really old I don’t care what type of spin you put on it
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 12th, 2009
10:20 am
Professor, perhaps it wasn’t clear, but this is a work of fiction about a girl growing up in Georgia in the 1960s. While the title has the word “Confederate” in it, if you took time to read the post or the book itself, I think you’d see that it has nothing to do with putting a spin on the Civil War. You might actually enjoy it.
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hanna
August 12th, 2009
10:43 am
Professor, i have one word for you “exlax”…………..
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Mumsy
August 12th, 2009
12:24 pm
This sounds like a good read for the other “reader” at home.
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Ashley's Pal
August 12th, 2009
2:00 pm
Here is what Ashley at the PPC sent in an email:
You should be fine bringing a small camera, the no camera rule is aimed at cameras with detachable lenses.
Everyone will be entering the same gates, but the people with pre-sale tickets will be moving through the gates and the regular GA ticket holders will have to wait until 5pm. I recommend going to the part of the line that is moving forward. There will be people around to help you get in on time without confusion.
—- there is so much inconsistent info about this event!
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Mike B
August 12th, 2009
2:44 pm
I bought my tickets on the pre-sale date but nothing on the printed out ticket from ticketmaster says pre-sale or early entry on it. How are they able to tell who bought what and how can you tell for sure so you can plan on when to arrive? It sounds like it could be mass confusion at the event. Thanks!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 12th, 2009
2:52 pm
Hmmm…I’ll check that out, Mike B. I received two e-mails and a phone call from Ticketmaster saying that my tickets could get in at 4 p.m. Have you heard anything from them?
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Leona's girls
August 12th, 2009
3:10 pm
Once you enter Piedmont for early entry, do the tickets allow you to go in and out? Meaning, can you leave to revisit your hotel before the show and still get back in to Piedmont?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 12th, 2009
3:36 pm
All right, everybody! Some answers for you.
Ashley’s Pal: You’re totally right. Piedmont Park Conservancy folks say point-and-shoot cameras will be fine, it’s really detachable lenses, lights — camera equipment that can get a high quality image from far away — that’s the problem.
Mike B.: The bar code on your pre-sale ticket should say that it is a pre-sale ticket, which will allow you to get in at 4 p.m. Pretenders will have to wait till 5 p.m.
Leona’s girls: Once you’re in, you’re in. If you exit, there is no re-entry.
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Mike B
August 12th, 2009
3:59 pm
Thanks Jamie. Yes I did get an email from Ticketmaster Wed Aug 5th saying…
“Hello, this is Ticketmaster Customer Service with an important alert for your upcoming event. Paul McCartney scheduled at Piedmont Park Conservancy, on Saturday, August 15, 2009, with a door time of 3:00pm, has changed times. The door time now will be at 4:00pm. Original tickets will be honored for the new time.”
My tickets were purchased the first day of the pre-sale, June 25th via ticketmaster but nowhere on the ticket does it say pre-sale. It just says general admission and “DRS 4pm”, never a mention of the 3pm referenced in their email to me. Since most people aren’t fluent in bar code, I’m guessing a bunch of confused people might try to get in early only to be turned away via the scan and thus slowing up the line for those who legitimately purchased early. Hopefully it will all run smoothly! Let us know if you hear any other helpful info. Thanks!
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Access Points 3: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
August 12th, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] Points games within the first few responses. Matt Scofield’s childhood-memory-turned-guess on last week’s Access Point was rewarded by The Wren’s Nest with free passes to the West End house [...]
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Orlando C
August 12th, 2009
4:02 pm
There must be a good reason tickets are not sold out, but it certainly has nothing to do with Paul’s unrivaled talent. If he’s getting old and doesn’t sing as beautifully as before, he’s still pretty good and his legend and all that he represents are good enough reasons for us to go to this concert. C’mon, $100 is nothing. I’m flying 4,6 miles from São Paulo to Atlanta just to see him.
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Princess
August 12th, 2009
4:16 pm
This is the little house on exhibit outside at the High Museum.
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Tim
August 12th, 2009
4:16 pm
The front of junkman’s daughter in little five points
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malika
August 12th, 2009
4:19 pm
yep, that’s junkman’s daughter in L5P.
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damien
August 12th, 2009
4:29 pm
junkmans daughter in little 5 points
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Sahar
August 12th, 2009
4:33 pm
The storefront of Junkmen’s Daughter in Little Five Point.
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Marisa
August 12th, 2009
4:41 pm
Front of junkman’s daughter in Little 5 points
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Biker Trash
August 12th, 2009
4:47 pm
A self portrait of a Ga. democrat…location: Left wing in the Capital.
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I know!
August 12th, 2009
5:06 pm
it’s junkman’s daughter in L5P.
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Geo
August 12th, 2009
5:35 pm
My first thought was Krog street bridge but junkman’s daughter is much more likely.
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Eyedrum benefits: live art auction Friday, dance-a-thon next | Inside Access
August 12th, 2009
6:04 pm
[...] the rent trouble news? You can read more about it here and [...]
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Joey Grizzard
August 12th, 2009
6:26 pm
Junkman’s Daughter – Little 5
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Sonny Perdue
August 12th, 2009
6:29 pm
Nowhere near anywhere I have ever been, or will go!
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Felix the Cat
August 12th, 2009
6:29 pm
junkmans daughter in lil 5 points next to vortex
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ATLien
August 12th, 2009
7:11 pm
J-Mart in L5P
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NA
August 12th, 2009
7:39 pm
It is either Hillary Clinton venting ath the poor kid in the Congo or Nancy Pelosi as she begins her daily routine of destroying the USA
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Andre
August 12th, 2009
7:52 pm
Junkman’s Daughter in Little Five Points, *NA* did you get lost? You clicked the wrong article. Political responders go under the politics page not the Inside Access.
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wxwax
August 12th, 2009
8:39 pm
The first thing Dick Cheney will see when he’s dead.
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wxwax
August 12th, 2009
8:39 pm
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Jules
August 12th, 2009
9:51 pm
Junkman’s Daughter in Little Five Points
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To do list: August 13 | Inside Access
August 13th, 2009
12:05 am
[...] “Legally Blonde” shows for Movies & The Market, 8:45 p.m., Atlantic Station’s Central Park, Atlanta. [...]
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Kevrock/Smarty Jones
August 13th, 2009
10:25 am
Junkmans’ Daughter in L5P. Easy.
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andy
August 13th, 2009
10:29 am
Do we know exactly what time 10th Street will be closing and at what junction? I’ll be driving in around 10 pm on Friday and my hotel is on 10th Street, Hotel Midtown. Just wondering. Thanks!
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gary cantelmo
August 13th, 2009
11:41 am
jamie – i bought a stadium seat which sits directly on the ground and has back support (about 12″ high). can i bring to mccartney show?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 13th, 2009
11:45 am
Hi Gary! The folks at PPC said a seat that stays on the ground — no arms, no legs — is fine. Back supports were fine, too. It sounds like you should be OK!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 13th, 2009
11:49 am
Hi Andy! Piedmont Park says the streets will close only on the day of the concert, so you should be fine at 10 p.m Friday. They’ve also said that it will be 10th Street around the park, so I wouldn’t expect to be able to drive between Monroe and Piedmont. Hope that helps!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 13th, 2009
11:49 am
And, for Andy: Piedmont Park says the streets will close only on the day of the concert, so you should be fine at 10 p.m Friday. They’ve also said that it will be 10th Street around the park, so I wouldn’t expect to be able to drive between Monroe and Piedmont. Hope that helps!
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not a local resident
August 13th, 2009
11:52 am
No car. Great, what are the rest of us supposed to do to get there? People need to stop assuming MARTA is always an option. It’s not, especially for out of towners. Yeah, i might be able to find a park and ride but that’s going to add another hour and a half. Wasn’t a parking garage just built out there for this reason?
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Dawg Foot
August 13th, 2009
12:07 pm
If it is anything like his New York show he is pulling out the stops and only playing the hits. No Bullshat.
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Dawg Foot
August 13th, 2009
12:12 pm
@joe
don’t hate the player. hate the game. jackarse
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OZZFEST
August 13th, 2009
12:15 pm
EXPECT A HUGE MESS BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE TO PRINT THE “GATE OPENING” TIME ON THE PRE-SALE TICKETS AND THEN THE EARLY ENTRANCE TIME CHANGE. I HAVE A VIP TICKET AND CALLED TICKETMASTER TO GET STRAIGHT ON WHAT TIME I COULD GET IN. TICKETMASTER RESPONDED WITH “ALL GATES OPEN AT 5″.
OF COURSE, THIS IS FALSE…BUT HEY, I ONLY PAID $36 FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THIS $400 TICKET. IDIOTS!
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Joe
August 13th, 2009
12:27 pm
This article says that point and shoot cameras are fine, but the link to the full list says that cameras of any size are strictly prohibited. Since every cell phone has a camera I’m sure they can’t do anything about that, but is there a definitive word on point-and-shoot cameras? Since it’s miles from possible parking there won’t be much chance to go back to a car to drop off a camera if they stop you at the gate.
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Joe
August 13th, 2009
12:28 pm
Oh, sorry, I didn’t see your reply about that before… the answer lies above..
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andy
August 13th, 2009
12:28 pm
Thanks for the info Jamie! Everyone ready for a great concert? 44th Anniversary of the Shea Stadium performance!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 13th, 2009
12:56 pm
Hi mom.
I think you’re right. Perhaps a birthday present…
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 13th, 2009
1:01 pm
Not a local resident: The parking garage at Piedmont wouldn’t come close to accommodating the number of people that will be at this show. What direction are you coming from? I’m happy to help you find a convenient MARTA station with free parking. (Plenty of the stations closer than the the end-of-the-line stations have parking, too.) Feel free to e-mail me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com, too.
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br
August 13th, 2009
1:26 pm
nobody is worth that price
we can thank the greedy Eagles for starting these overpriced events
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br
August 13th, 2009
1:26 pm
no one is worth that
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Access Points 3: Mural outside Junkman’s Daughter | Inside Access
August 13th, 2009
4:03 pm
[...] just in case you weren’t sure, this week’s Access Point photo game was outside Junkman’s Daughter in Little Five Points. Tim was the first commenter to identify [...]
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LynnMargaret
August 13th, 2009
4:05 pm
Will scooters be allowed any closer, or will they have the same non-access as cars? It’s fine, if not! Just wondering. Thanks!
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Nancy
August 13th, 2009
5:16 pm
Do you know how crowded the so-called “VIP” area will be? My husband and I are Paul’s age and probably not nearly as nimble as he is. Should we be there at 4 or do you think there will still be a good area for our blankets if we come in closer to 6 when it is a little cooler? BTW, this is my second concert — the first being on August 18th, 1965 when my best friend and I saw the Beatles at the Atlanta Coliseum.
Thanks!
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Access Points 3: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
August 13th, 2009
6:09 pm
[...] UPDATE 8/13: Want to know the answer? Here’s it is! [...]
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gr8FLdüde
August 13th, 2009
7:29 pm
Baby, you CAN’T drive my car!
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Josh
August 13th, 2009
10:29 pm
Im bringing a friend who is in a wheelchair.Will there be a hadicapped section where he will be able to see or should we just try to get there early as possible to get up front?Please help.I cant find any handicapped information.
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Josh
August 13th, 2009
11:11 pm
Also,what time is are the pre entry ticket holders expected to start lining up?Any words on that ?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 13th, 2009
11:49 pm
LynnMargaret: I haven’t asked specifically about scooters, and while you’ll probably be able to find an easy enough place to lock it up, you won’t be able to bring it in the pedestrian-only area.
Others: I’ll check on your questions Friday and post what I can!
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Nancy
August 14th, 2009
8:16 am
for ADA info click on the link on the right under “Concert Info” at http://www.piedmontpark.org/support/the_green_concert.html
Green Concert ADA Guide
1. ADA accessible seating is located near the Charles Allen Drive Gate. VIP ADA access is at 10th and Monroe Drive.
2. There is ADA seating for General Admission, VIP and Patron ticket holders
3. Many people were not aware of the online application for ADA seating.
4. Canine companions allowed.
5. A ticket holder may be denied entry to, or removed from, the accessible seating area if he or she is not disabled.
6. Handicap portable bathrooms are conveniently located near each seating area.
7. 1 companion can join each ADA concert attendee, if space is available.
8. Additional wheelchairs will be available for emergencies only.
9. MARTA is the best mode of transportation to the Green Concert. MARTA does provide ADA shuttles to the Park. Each train has a special wheelchair space at one end of each rail car. MARTA Accessibility
10. There will be volunteers located in designated handicap area.
11. Although not anticipated, if the area fills up the companion/guest is asked to move outside of the ADA seating.
12. No reserved spots in designated handicap area.
13. ADA MARTA buses will able to drive through h 10th street barricades.
14. MARTA’s last Southbound train leaves midtown at 12:45am and the last Northbound train leaves at 1:10am. Point out ADA seating on a map if someone wants to know the distance.
15. There is no ADA parking. MARTA has ADA buses. ADA taxi will be available.
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Atlanta milestones, from Def Leppard to Paul McCartney | Inside Access
August 14th, 2009
10:02 am
[...] then there’s Paul McCartney. We’ve heard plenty of folks recounting The Beatles 1965 show here, but my favorite story in [...]
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sharon
August 14th, 2009
10:14 am
MARTA riders: “Please be aware that rail service will end at 1 a.m.” – This is posted on the Marta website – check out their Press Center – Press Releases. They discuss the Green Concert… I keep seeing 1:10am, but I’d get to your station by 1:00, just to be sure…
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 14th, 2009
11:07 am
Hey Josh! Piedmont Park says the ADA area will be signed, and guards at the gate will direct you there. Check out Nancy’s comment above for full info! And, there’s no official time to start lining up — just a time when they’ll start letting folks in.
Nancy: I’m not sure how crowded the VIP area will be, but you can see it on the map. Sorry I don’t have better advice on this one.
Sharon: VERY good tip about MARTA service ending at 1 a.m. Many, many thanks.
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Rusty
August 14th, 2009
11:18 am
You’re on a roll with these awesome historical tidbits! More of this please.
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sharon
August 14th, 2009
11:55 am
U R Welcome Jamie. I also wish I knew how early to line up & whether the vendors will have vegetarian food for me! Do u know? Thanks!
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Nancy Giertych
August 14th, 2009
1:06 pm
Stage: “Sweeny Todd” High School Production put on by an all teen cast members of FCFT Inc., Wonderfully done dark comedy recommended for all 10 y/o and up. Held at the YMCA Community Center Friday and Saturday @ 7:30 pm and Sunday @ 2:30 pm. Advance tickets are purchased via fcft.net for $8 or $10 at the door if seating is available. Directions to the “YMCA” are: Take Huiet Road, off of Hwy 54 between PTC & Fayetteville, thru stop sign and turn right onto “YMCA” property; building is on the right at u-turn in parking lot.
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Deals, freebies and bargains; more than a dozen! | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
August 14th, 2009
2:17 pm
[...] Artspalooza is from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29. The Woodruff is located at 1280 Peachtree St., Atlanta. Interested in more activities this weekend? Check out Jamie Gumbrecht’s InsideAccess blog. [...]
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Nancy
August 14th, 2009
4:41 pm
Sharon, Since Paul is a well-known vegetarian and animal rights activist, chances are you will find plenty to eat.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 14th, 2009
6:38 pm
Thanks, Nancy!
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jqm
August 14th, 2009
7:17 pm
Does anyone know how to tell whether tickets were bought through the Park Conservancy (and give you early admission)? I can’t remember whether I bought through the Amex pre-sale or the conservancy.
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Valerie
August 14th, 2009
9:35 pm
I was wondering the same thing, Sharon…does anyone know if there will be vegetarian food vendors there?
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Hope
August 14th, 2009
10:22 pm
My Dad braved an Atlanta Stadium full of screaming Beatles fans to take me to the August 1965 concert for my birthday. A once-in-a-lifetime memory from one of the first “Cool Dads” !!!!! 44 years later – we’ll be sharing my birthday this Thursday – and this memory always comes up! Thanks, Daddy !!!
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doitallmom
August 14th, 2009
11:34 pm
HELP- I am wondering about ticket entrance times; early admission for conservancy & amex is at 4pm, general admission is at 5pm. I bought discounted tickets off craigslist but there is some confussion about the entrance times.
The guy that I bought these tickets from, said that entrance times had been changed around a bit. Can anyone tell me when the REAL admission times are and how to tell if you have that actual ticket in hand because so many of us purchased them through a third person broker. Thanks!!!!
We are also bringing our teenage kids with us. One who has no idea of who Sir Paul is and doesn’t care for the Beatles And our other child who doesn’t show interest in most music, is a fan of Paul McCartney and willing to pay for his own ticket and by the way already had a fav song before I asked him
I can’t figure out my kids but we are in this together, attending a concert as a family. My husband & I are used to hearing our kids whine about all kinds of needless things. Tomorrow, they will have justifable cause and its our intention to give our standard answer of the day, ALL day long,”Just deal with it.” This is Paul McCartney, Dad & I really want to see and enjoy this concert and YOU are going to allow us to enjoy this concert”. These kids have been instructed to not bother us unless they are truly in dire need of medical attention- are you bleeding? Who died?
Is the house on fire? So we are going to have fun and our kids are not allowed to ruin it; no matter how unentertained they find themselves. Good bless, smile and enjoy it. If not, good bless, smile, deal w/ it and complain to your therapist when you get home. We are planning a happy day.
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JJp
August 14th, 2009
11:43 pm
At what time are you guys planning to line up?? Do you think that a “Flip Mino Camcorded” is allowed? it’s the same size of a point and shoot camera.
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Sharon
August 15th, 2009
12:07 am
Sorry, did not see this til now – I called Conservancy & exactly one veg food vendor will be there. I guess 1 is better than 0!
Personally, I would not try taking the camcorder.
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Jon
August 15th, 2009
12:06 pm
When gates open, will it be a mad dash for the seats, or is there some order (lines, etc.). I have regular (non-Presale). How early should I get there to avoid seeing Paul as a little ant on stage. Thanks, guys!!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 15th, 2009
2:12 pm
Awww, Hope! That’s adorable. Happy birthday!
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Buckhead Family
August 15th, 2009
5:04 pm
FINALLY…. I live in the north Buckhead area by Chastain Park and its the perfect setting for a Fine Arts Festival. I’ve also been to the markets at Atlantic Station and Virgina Highlands,, and I LOVE THEM, all the great cities have little markets like that, and knowing that these guys are behind it..well frankly makes sense. I often go down to Atlantic Station with my girlfriend for lunch and walk around. Its great that people in our community are investing back in our community. I’m going,, and I’m telling as many of my neighbors as I can,, even thou I would love for it to be my little secret. GOOD LUCK!
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ATLANTA ARTIST
August 15th, 2009
5:06 pm
As an Artist..I LOVE IT… is it too late to sign up?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 15th, 2009
6:22 pm
Atlanta Artist: the deadline to apply was July 4, but check out the festival Web site linked above. The organizers may well have some other opportunities, given all the other markets they run. Thanks for reading!
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Leona's Girls
August 15th, 2009
7:32 pm
We brought staduim seats with no arms and legs, but there was metal in them so they took them at the VIP area. Yet, we’ve seen tons of our exact seat on the field.Go figure. Glad we could support Piedmont – we love Piedmont!! – but the VIP area is awash in complaints. We may just move to the field. Folks are having more fun there.:) If are in VIP and looking for different food cross over and go to the back of the field. We brought a pizza back from there.
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Hope
August 15th, 2009
10:28 pm
Thanks so much Jamie !!!
A very special memory – and a very special Dad !!!!!
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Jeff
August 15th, 2009
11:41 pm
Didn’t get to go but enjoyed the pictures. Did he perform Say, Say, Say?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 16th, 2009
12:18 am
Most of the set list seems to have wound up here: http://twitter.com/peachbuzz
No sign of “Say Say Say,” but perhaps will see a more definitive list soon?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 16th, 2009
12:20 am
Oh, crud. Sorry about that, Leona’s Girls. Sorry your seats didn’t make it in. :/ Would love to hear more about the experience — the good and the not-so-good — over on this entry: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/08/15/see-the-paul-mccartney-show-we-need-your-help/
I hope it turned out to be a mostly great, if damp, time!
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sk
August 16th, 2009
12:22 am
Same set list as Citi Field: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/a-mccartney-homecoming-at-citi-field/
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Mitchell
August 16th, 2009
12:49 am
I’m about as big a Paul McCartney and Beatles fan as there is in Atlanta but I didn’t go to the concert. None of my friends, no one I even know for that matter, are Beatle fans or had any interest in going. I tried to find anybody I knew who might have been attending but not a one.
I wasn’t really about to go by myself.
Anyway, around 10:15 or so I saw a report on Fox 5 from the concert saying that it would go on until about 11 or 11:30. I eventually decided to drive down to the Ansley area. I got to Piedmont and Monroe, pulled into the parking lot and heard the last couple measures of the guitar solos from The End in my car with the window rolled down.
Just as Paul would have wanted it I’m sure, idling in a parking lot for five minutes.
I’m glad I did it though. My timing was, all things considered, pretty good.
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Lou
August 16th, 2009
12:51 am
I have seen Paul McCartney the last three times he was here and this to me wasn’t his best show. He was very good, but there were times the show seemed to be in a real lull. At one point, the woman behind me yelled play something we know. Cant believe some of the song choices. I realize he cant do every hit he has had but how bout…All my lovin, cant buy me love, i wanna hold your hand, Help, She Loves you…How do you leave these out and put in Flaming Pie, Only Mama Knows, Mrs Vandebilt and Calico Skies…. Still a good show but nowhere near his best
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BB
August 16th, 2009
1:03 am
All in all a great show. I did find that since the crowd was of an older generation, they were somewhat testy with each other as they couldn’t take the heat(before the rain) nor could they get their bodies around as easy as the more agile folks. And they complained because people were standing. They must not remember being 20. Vendors were great, not too few or too many. Could have used more porto potties. And designated pathways to get to the potties and vendors. People making their own paths got old! But I had a blast in spite of them.
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Mark in mid-town
August 16th, 2009
1:15 am
I thought the McCartney show tonight was fantastic. The sound system was probably the best I’ve ever heard. It was a show full of nostalgia, but it wasn’t entirely nostalgic. McCartney played a substantial number of newer songs, all of which were quite good. Unfortunately, some don’t like to be challenged whatsoever. That want to be spoon-fed nothing but the familiar. So kudos to McCartney for challenging the audience a bit. One of the new songs was called “Sing the Changes” and it’s near Beatles quality in my opinion.
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Joshua
August 16th, 2009
1:24 am
I just got back from the concert. I have to say that it was great. I was one of the youngest people there (15) which felt pretty good. My family and I were supposed to get in the ADA (Americans with disabilities) entrance for personal reasons other than actually having a disability. The security guard wouldn’t let us through, even though we’d already called someone who worked at Piedmont Park. This person called the head of Live Nation (the group that puts on all of Paul’s shows) and he said it was okay if we wen’t through. We were also told that there’d be free water once we got in, but once again, that wasn’t the case. I was one of the lucky people that got to take advantage of the presale, but unfortionatly, it was so disorganized that everyone got in at the same time. There was only one entrance, which was crazy. In the 6 hours I spent waiting there, and the time that Paul was performing, I must have second hand smoked 3 packs of cigarettes, and countless doses of marijuana. The guy standing next to me was blowing smoke in my face the whole time. That said, it actually was a fantastic concert. The rain started pouring during “Blackbird,” and got even stronger during “Here Today,” but really, I thought it just added to the moment. I was willing to sit through the pouring rain to see Paul McCartney. When Paul started playing “I’ve got a feeling,” my mother inquired as to whether that was one of my favorite songs (she asked because I’d mentioned it before). I replied that it was my favorite, at which point, the guy next to me said “Mine too.” I didn’t know weather to hug him or to punch him (for blowing his smoke in my face), so I compromised and didn’t do anything. Paul played some great songs. It was nice to hear him change it up. Lou is obviously a fan of the early Beatles. Paul’s had other good stuff since then. I think that the biggest disapointment was that Paul didn’t play “Maybe I’m Amazed.” Too bad.
And no, Mitchell. I’m the biggest Paul/Beatles fan in Atlanta.
Also, yesterday I unintentionaly met Rusty Anderson in Guitar Center. I was returning a defective bass and the guy at the counter said “Hey, you know that Rusty Anderson’s in the next room.” I was in disbelief and asked him to repeat that several times. Finally, I walked in there. I just kind of stared at him for 5 minutes. He probably thought I was deranged. Eventually, I worked up the courage to ask him for an autograph, which he game me. This has been the best weekend of my life!
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Brett
August 16th, 2009
2:08 am
Lou: maybe because McCartney still has a vital solo career and his recent stuff is actually very good? If people in the crowd don’t know the newer stuff, that’s their loss. McCartney is more than a nostalgia act. If you want to hear all those songs, there are many great Beatles tribute acts around.
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Ryan
August 16th, 2009
3:43 am
Great show! My first time seeing Paul, and I really enjoyed it. The rain cooled everything off for sure. I was surprised that Paul mentioned Shea Stadium during his comments. Some people booed, so I guess he figured out that we’re all Braves fans. I liked the setlist, and was floored when they did Day In the Life into Give Peace a Chance. Definitely didn’t expect that. The fireworks during Live and Let Die were amazing. Great job Paul! I’ll go see you whenever I get the chance.
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Robbi
August 16th, 2009
3:50 am
This is my 3rd time seeing Paul, and it was absolutely fantastic. Im 23, so im rather young for a McCartney fan, but I grew up loving The Beatles! Im glad he added some songs he hasnt done in the previous couple of years, it was a good change. I think his voice was wonderful and his ability to entertain a crowd has not diminished at all over the years! I agree about the cigarette smoke and the weed at the park-it was pretty extensive. Not to mention the vendors were going through the crowd selling beer during “here today.” I missed a touching song that meant a lot to me because the guy was screaming “Who wants a cold beer” right in my ear. Good thing Ive heard Paul play it twice before.
Did anyone else have trouble with stadium chairs? On the Piedmont Park website they changed it to where Stadium chairs were allowed-they even had a picture of it on the site! As soon as we tried to get in, they told us they werent allowed! I think a lot of it was unorganized and going to the bathroom/getting refreshments was virtually impossible. You could barely get through without someone bitching at you for stepping on their blanket. Gosh, get a life!
But really, even with the rain, the show was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it and I PRAY that Paul will tour again!
Oh and I have to disagree-I think my twin sister and I are the biggest fans in Atlanta. But of course everyone thinks the same thing about themselves. You should see my Beatles tattoo?
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Robbi
August 16th, 2009
3:52 am
Oh, did anyone else hear Paul say that the Shea Stadium was 45 years ago? Its only 44 though, because it was in 1965. Oh well. Hes Sir Paul McCartney-he can say whatever he wants for all I care. I love that man!
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Paula Katalinich
August 16th, 2009
4:04 am
It was 1963, I was almost 10, and The Beatles came into my life and have been present ever since. My 29 year old daughter and her 30 year old boyfriend had family over for a ‘listening party’ from their home down the street from the Park. It started to rain and then lightning, we went inside and started talking. I stood up and said, I am going to the Park – I want to hear Paul! Katie and Mike said they wanted to go too, so we made a mad dash down the street to the Park. We walked in, no tickets, and enjoyed the concert from the sidelines! Best concert of my life! The Beatles have BEEN my life. Rain,Peace,Love, Family,My Life’s Music. Thank you LORD. Thank you Sir Paul .
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Kat
August 16th, 2009
4:13 am
A living legend just rocked the house tonight in Piedmont Park! Paul was AMAZING! He looked great, his band was awesome, the stage was incredible. I thought the crowd was one of the best I have been in – no one was complaining around us, the lines weren’t too long (10 minutes or so), food was good, beer was cold, and the music blew me away. This was my 2nd Macca concert and by far the best of the two. Live and Let Die was phenomenal and A Day in the Life into Give Peace a Chance was truly memorable. By far, even with the rain, crowded trains and long walks, the best concert I have ever been to! I will never forget it.
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David
August 16th, 2009
5:06 am
I’m sorry, but the first post made me laugh. A man with a massive catalog of stellar tunes and someone asks about “Say Say Say”? lol.
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Jeanne
August 16th, 2009
9:15 am
My first Paul McCartny concert and it was awesome! My husband and I were older than most of the people around us (57 & 61) but everyone was friendly. Food, beer, and port o potty lines weren’t bad at all, you just needed to scope things out and not be a lemming (go where everyone else goes). Marta was great except for the far too few North Springs trains. Overall fab experience, Paul is a great entertainer and still sooooo cute!
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Con
August 16th, 2009
9:30 am
Toyed with not going….live a few blocks away….close walking distance the deciding factor. Knew I would always regret being that close and not taking the opportunity to see Sir Paul. After all, he’s the first guy I ever had a crush on back in 1963. Other two sisters claimed John and George. Sorry Ringo.
Anywho, the concert was fantastic. Cool breeze…..a little water never hurt anybody. Great crowd even down to the triangle heads and the plastic cloud people. Amazing what will work in a rainstorm! Lots of happy people everywhere. Hubby and I able to relive a little of the “give peace a chance” era. It felt good to go back there. Wish everybody could have felt it. But back to the concert…top of the line, a-one, well done. A wonderful memory.
Thanks Sir Paul. Thank you so much. I’ll still always regret you didn’t marry me.
(I was only 8 at the time so you’re forgiven!)
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T
August 16th, 2009
10:10 am
Sat out in the heat for 5 hours but totally worth it!! Sir Paul put on an awesome show!!
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Deimos
August 16th, 2009
10:12 am
The performances were great. I was not familiar with the Script before the concert, but the band put on a great show. McCartney was awesome. Highlights: Something as tribute to George Harrison, Blackbird (in the rain), Back in the USSR, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band.
I have never experienced a more disorganized entry into a concert. As mentioned above, the promised early entry did not happen. Police and volunteers gave conflicting instructions. People who walked up got in before people who had been line for hours.
The crowd ranged from very friendly to a voluntary manslaughter case waiting to happen. Some apparently didn’t hear the word “green”: trash covered the ground.
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Leona's Girls
August 16th, 2009
10:15 am
So I bought VIP tickets to support the cause – love Piedmont!! – with the side benefit of what I thought would be a little less chaotic journey as I was traveling solo with kids under 15. It was a trip – if you want a play book of how not to treat your donors… VIP entrance far, far away from main hotels; disorganized, long line that had limited staff; they took our armless, legless stadium seats because there was some metal in the support – boo; by the time we got in the field was 1/4 full, so those who anticipated early entry to get a field seat would have been better off going through the main entrance; food and drink were “free,” but the food choices were limited; only one vendor area and the line was always long; and by the time we got around 5 there were few seats left in the VIP area that were not obstructed by trees. What all this did was get folks complaining to the point that it was taking away from our good day. It was a trip and really borderline punishment to be in the VIP area. What were those good Conservency folks thinking?
But on the subject of good… with my sweet kids surrounded by endless voices of digruntled adults,however justified those adults were, we decided to use Piedmont Park for one of its favorites uses – walking! We crossed over to the field and found all the food!! The kids did a dance for sweet tea and pizza! We then ditched that VIP hill again and trekked in the field entrance near the stage. Found a hand-squeezed lemonade booth – heaven – and a vendor line so short that we were able to have time to try on shirts before we bought them. And we loved that Irish band! But best of all, around 7:30 we just casually walked our way to within a few feet of the stage. No kidding! The kids were mesmerized and so was I. There was Sir Paul! And we danced and sang, with an incredible beach- like breeze blowing. And everyone around us was happy!! There are moments that occur in live that you never forget – and watching those kids laughing and singing Blackbird with Paul McCartney in the pouring rain, just feet from the stage, is one of those moments for me.
In the end, what paying 400 per ticket did was contribute to our beloved park, test our ability to say Let it Be, and utimately triggered us to embark on one of the most amazing concert adventures of our lives.
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Rebecca
August 16th, 2009
10:43 am
Following up Brett, Paul has been releasing solo records for 39 years now, maybe two of which were not top-forty hits, and maybe one of which (Press to Play) isn’t packed with fantastic songs. If you don’t know “Mrs Vandebilt,” the album’s been out for better than three decades and has gone triple platinum. Maybe you should stop by Decatur CD or Criminal Records today and do a little catching up?
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Paul McJagger
August 16th, 2009
11:11 am
Not my all-time favorite concert but definitely a top lifetime memory for me. Been a Beatles fan for 45 years and have never seen Paul. Compared to the other bazilllion shows I’ve been to this crowd was pretty stiff where I was sitting (nothing a little Geritol can’t cure I suppose). Great set list; really liked the new stuff too! The rain was a minor annoyance but added to the experience. The sound was pretty clear, but I think the visuals could have been more psychedelic, given the era of the songs, the earthy “green” event and the fact that it’s the 40th anniversary of Woodstock. Sir Paul: what can you say about a legend! He was energetic, charming and his voice sounded strong and fresh. Of all of the songs for some reason I can’t get Drive My Car out of my head. Finishing up with Sgt. Peppers/The End was perfect! Thanks Paul for all of your talent and music over the years! What a great night for the Park, the city and me!
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Angie
August 16th, 2009
11:17 am
There were many angry folks who had bought their tickets at pre-sale and had thought they were getting in an hour before general admission. My family wasted hours walking around trying to locate an entry for the pre-sale tickets. The AJC had a map of the park on Aug.7 plainly stating that gates will now open at 4pm for VIP and park pre-sale tickets. There was even a map showing a separate entrance for VIP/patron. There was a line for VIP but nothing for pre-sale. Park officials just kept telling us that there was only one entry time for everyone now, 4pm. We walked back down to the main entrance to find a small crowd of disgruntled pre-sale ticket holders complaining loudly about the park entry changes. The VIP ticket holders I talked to were also not happy that they spent $400 on a ticket that would gain them entrance the same time as general admission. A last minute effort by park officials at 4pm to appease the complaining pre-entry ticket crowd let those holders who happened to be standing at the gate skip the long general admission line and enter in a separate line along with all the general admission at 4. Needless to say we were so frustrated by the time we entered the park but hours later when Paul took the stage we were in heaven! We have been fortunate to see Paul seven times beginning in 1976 with Wings and were amazed at the age of 67 he still has the same vigor and love for entertaining as the young man we first saw in his early thirties. A comment for Lou…you may not have liked some of the songs selected to play but remember everybody has there favs and Calico Skies happens to be one of ours. It brought tears to my 27 year old daughter’s eyes! We love you Paul and God bless you! Hope we have the good fortune to spend and evening with you again someday.
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LJ
August 16th, 2009
11:28 am
I can’t add anything to the comments above, other than it was my first show, loved it, and it was an awesome first concert experience for my 13 year old son, who was blown away by it. A great bonding experience!
My biggest negative: the exit plan, or lack thereof. How did they expect 40,000 people to exit at one time through the same 3 narrow gates that took hours for them to enter? It freaked me out to be caught in the massive jam of humanity. Other exits should have been opened, gates/fences taken down, ANYTHING, to let the people free!!
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Tara- biggest beatles fan
August 16th, 2009
11:30 am
I think that concert was the best night of my life… And I don’t think I’ll have one that’s better! I’m saying that and I’m only 11. Apart from John Lennon, I don’t think anyone could compare to Paul McCartney’s shows- not that I know what John Lennon would be like, but he’s still my favorite. I think the best part of the concert was when he sang Live and Let Die. That was amazing! I hope I’ll get a chance to see him again!
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Eric
August 16th, 2009
11:36 am
First Paul McCartney concert I ahve ever been to, and I definatley would go again. I am a little behind on his new releases but they were all good. Paul was fantastic. “Live and let die”, and “Something” were awsome. “I saw her standing there” was great, and “Jet” and “Band on the run” were killer. As far as Paul goes he was great, awsome act, definatly in my top 10 concerts that I have ever seen and would glady go again. I’m 40 and have listened to the beatles and Paul most of my life. My friends had always said he was great to go see and he was.
Now as far as the Green thing, it was a chinese fire drill, I have been to 2 other concerts at Piedmont park, The Black Crowes and Jefferson Starship, those were free concerts and the way they set the stage up I thought was it was smart where they put it on the opposite side. Getting into the event, we bought pre-buy tickets, it didn’t matter they were letting people in period. Whats the point of pre-buying? Walking around between everybodys blankets was like a version of “Human Tetris”, if you got drunk you were screwed. The rain sucked but oh well, it happens in outdoor concerts, it cooled people off more than anything. As far as being a green concert, I gurantee there will be garbage there the next day, how may trash containers they had was very few. They could have set it up better with lanes for people to walk in and some garbage cans. As another poster said, bathrooms and vending wasn’t that bad if you didn’t go to where everybody else went. There was ciggerette and Pot smoke, didn’t bother me but alot of people it did.
One thing that wasn’t that bad. Marta, they acttually had their act together was very controlled.
Lastly I have been to those Piedmont shows and midtown music festival several times. I really don’t think I’m going to go to another outdoor show, I like indoor shows, the seats and all.
I think outdoor shows are really a younger persons thing like Bonnaroo, i would love to go but I don’t want to be outdoors the whole show, standing room only. My feet were killing me. 
I hope if Paul McCartney comes again that he will play at the Ga Dome or Phillips arena, i will be there in a second. I have no complaints on Sir Paul he was fantastic, on Piedmont park, ya’ll need to think about this a little harder before you do it again.
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MIchaelM
August 16th, 2009
11:41 am
Sir Paul’s performance was a shining highlight to a day of disorganization and mahem. It would be difficult to find more ways to make this a poor experience for the concertgoer. From the rude vendors (25 minutes in a line for wine, while the “lady” in the beer tent next door was selling it to her friends without a wait) to the bizarre setup (sticking vendors in the middle of the audience to block as much of the view as possible,) this was a lesson in how to infuriate your patrons.
Hopefully, the Conservancy raised enough money from this concert so they can erect a wall around the entire park. That would help keep out all those pesky people who want to go walk on their beloved grass. How about a glassed-in observation room so that you can see the grass without really touching it?
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World Be Free
August 16th, 2009
11:52 am
Maybe the best concert I have ever seen in 35 years. Why? McCartney/Beatles’ songs are the songs of 2 generations. Most of his tunes are so familiar, we have heard them a thousand times minimum.
McCratney’s dialogue was great. Unlike John, he never really takes himself too seriously outside the music. GREAT reference to George Harrison and Paul’s version of “Something”. I got chills during A Day In The Life when they broke into “Give Peace A Chance”. Hey Jude, Back in the USSR, Get Back, Live and Let Die (awesome!) the list goes on. I felt my life flashing before my eyes. Paul sounded great, he was so enthused about being there and playing his wide range of tunes. And he did them so well.
67 years old, almost 3 hours without a break-except for waiting for his 2 encores. Incredible. Scratch another thing off my bucket list!
Note to Paul-thanks for not playing Say, Say, Say and Let ‘em In.
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martin
August 16th, 2009
12:15 pm
Living in midtown a block from the park a group of us went. We did everything midtown, coctail party at a home on Myrtel, strolled to concert around 7:30 after a quick drink at Blakes when all the burb’s crowd were safley inside the park. Found a great spot on the hill,near a bar and had an evening that a lifetime of memories are made of. Atlanta and Piedmont Park were so lucky to have this concert. Outdoor park concerts such as this put us on the map as a world class city and concert venue. If this had been in the Dome, it would of been just another mediocre concert up there with Brittney and Blue Man Group. Of course he is going to play new music also, anyone going thinking they were to hear a Beattles set all night, well, I pity them. I am glad to of been a part of Atlanta history last night and thank the PPC for bringing this event to our great city and thrilled this concert closes the gap on the 52 acre park expansion, that we will all be able to enjoy in the future!
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Angie
August 16th, 2009
12:16 pm
Have to add that I would not like to see McCartney at an outdoor venue again. I actually know of several people that did not come because the venue was Piedmont Park. Who ever thought an outdoor concert in Atlanta in the middle of hot as hell August must be crazy!
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Casey
August 16th, 2009
12:41 pm
What a great concert. Went with my sister and a friend. What a great trip down memory lane. My sister saw the Beatles at the old Atlanta Stadium and still has her ticket so I think she may qualify as one of the biggest fans. She has every single album they made framed and hanging on the wall. Paul is just as cute now as he was in 1964.
The music set was good and yes I enjoyed his new music. You have to expect that he would want to introduce new things. Even Jimmy Buffet does that. I found it somewhat strange that there were tons of beer and wine vendors but the food was far, far away. As for checking for cameras, food being brought in, lawn chairs, etc. the security failed miserably. Everyone had their cameras. I saw sandwiches from Publix and other food items obviously not bought inside the venue. I also wondered about the pre-ticket entrance but honestly we had such a great view it didn’t matter. Lots of pot and cigarettes which surprised me. Parked in Ansley Park at a friend’s house and walked in thru the Botanical Garden’s back entrance saved us about 1/2 mile of walking. Overall, a great evening with a living legend. Aside from sore legs from standing for 4 plus hours and being soaked, I would rate this as one of the best concerts I have seen and I have been to many concerts throughout the years.
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Clarke Harwood
August 16th, 2009
12:47 pm
Angie, simply put, you are an idiot. I could go through your posts, line by line, and point all the truly stupid and inaccurate things you said. But, I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m just going to say that any confusion and discomfort you experienced were of your own making. Learn to read, learn to process information, and then learn to apply it, as any moderately intelligent human being can. I went to the concert (my second @PP and 4th time to see McCartney), and the only moderately unpleasant aspect was the rain, which is an Act of God.
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Lovely Rita
August 16th, 2009
12:53 pm
GREAT show. GREAT music. In my opinion, Paul made up for the rainstorm by playing a really long show full of great song choices. I was especially happy to hear Something (on ukelele), Eleanor Rigby, Got to Get You Into My Life, Hey Jude, Let it Be, and gosh- just SOOO many other wonderful Beatles tunes I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to see played live. My first Paul show, and Im SO glad i went! It was awesome… and the rain was very ironic to me since it was the 40th anniversary of woodstock, i almost felt like it was fated.
It was actually kinda nice…
Not-so great food selection for vegetarians/vegans which was pretty disappointing considering Paul is a vegetarian himself… (we waited 2 hours for a falalfel pita and then they ran out on us – also the veggies were cooked on same grill as meat – which personally i think is yucky!). Hopefully in the future, we will see more veggie choices at EVERY concert… especially ones promoting green living.
Also, being a green concert, i was surprised at the amount of trash, although, I have to say, there werent ANY trash/recycling cans on the field to use… but i figure with the amount of volunteers they had, MAYBE they did that on purpose to avoid trash and recyling getting mixed together… I mean, lets face it, when a bunch of drunk people are having a good time (seeing PAUL McCARTNEY for cryin out loud), they may not read whats on the can (trash vs. recycling) – the volunteers had quite a back breaking job of picking up smashed beer cans for a few hours after the show! Maybe that was the plan… IM just glad i didnt bring a blanket to have to carry around after it was trampled and soaked after the rain!
That being said, I had a fabulous time. it was a great show and I LOVE YOU DEARLY PAUL! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!! I hope i get the opportunity to see you again. Rain OR shine.
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9 year old Beatle fan
August 16th, 2009
12:54 pm
I’m 9 years old and I love the Beatles! Paul is my favoite. My favorite song is “I Saw Her Standing There.” I did have to wait for a while in the sun, but it was worth it. I love the Beatles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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World Be Free
August 16th, 2009
12:55 pm
Can’t see how a true concert goer could find anything wrong with last night’s event. Rain? I needed a bath anyway.
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Robin Durham
August 16th, 2009
12:58 pm
Drove from Birmingham,Alabama to see Paul McCartney for the first time ever, and we enjoyed every second. Ages in our group ranged from 24-56. Of course ther were songs I would have loved to hear, but honestly, there just wouldn’t have been enough time to to satisfy all…just too many great songs out there. There will always be people that will search for and focus on the negative details (glass 1/2 empty vs 1/2 full), but the truth is, IT WAS A FANTASTIC CONCERT. Paul had a wonderful sense of humor, told some great stories, gave tribute to Jimmy Hendrix/anniversary of woodstock, the fireworks were awsome, AND came back for 3 encores! The atmosphere was suitable for all ages – no raunchy jokes or filthy language – just great music.He was a true gentleman!
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Angie
August 16th, 2009
1:08 pm
Clarke, any moderately intelligent human being can go to the Aug.7th Atlanta Journal, page D6, and read what was advertised for the entry into this concert….there is no confusion. By the way, intelligent people don’t resort to name-calling. I will not waste anymore time on your post.
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Longtime Fan
August 16th, 2009
1:17 pm
What a fab-ulous experience! Yes, it was hot, but that is Georgia in August! I am 56 and I was able to handle the heat and the crowds! The fact that this was an outdoor concert added to the mood and the magic. My one teensy distress was that we did “follow the rules” and wait in the long line to get in the gate, and then saw others just walking up the street and walking in.
I will always remember singing “Hey Jude” and the segue from “Day in the Life” into “Give Peace a Chance”gave the experience a little of the Woodstock vibe (along with the rain!). I am so glad I went to this concert!
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DH
August 16th, 2009
1:21 pm
Great music, and I had great company as always (my gorgeous girlfriend). But this was by far the worst concert venue ever and it was hard to let it overshadow enjoyment of the music. Waiting more than 4 hours in the blazing sun on a blanket for PM was about as fun as that description reads – it really sucked. Drunk morons next to us who thought their dance floor included every blade of grass they could reach whether there was anyone (like us) already in place or not. Lots of bad information from this blog about when gates opened, what you couldn’t bring in (saw plenty of stadium seats with arms that this blog said were prohibited) and getting there. Wish I’d paid heed to the comments left on one of this blogs earlier posts warning what a bad concert venue Piedmont Park is. And, of course, it rained during PM’s performance, couldn’t have come hours earlier when it could’ve helped with the heat. Script sucked, too. All in all, you couldn’t pay me to go to another outdoor concert especially at Piedmont. The homage to “green” was more classic liberal BS – the trash that was left by this “environmentally-friendly” crowd was appalling and disgusting.
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Eric
August 16th, 2009
1:22 pm
I am surprised, that people seem to be surprised that there were cigarettes & pot being smoked. Thanks for the good buzz! I thought the show was very well organized. Never had to wait to get a beer, and the lines for the portopotties were reasonable. Even everyone in line for the pottys were singing and dancing and having a great time.
I hope Piedmont Park makes this an annual tradition of having a major concert in the park. How about the Stones next year!
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Sharon
August 16th, 2009
1:29 pm
Probably the best McCartney show I’ve seen – I think this was my 6th one. A range of music from Beatles to Wings to Fireman – band has really gelled after playing together for several years. Loved the fireworks! They can’t do that in Phillips… so yes, it was worth the unorganized staff, ATL PD giving out different info from the volunteers/staff, the not getting in @ 4 if u had presale, the people who got territorial about their blankies, the couple who got directly in front of me, the people who unknowingly dumped their tarp water on my feet, & the people who got there to wait “@ 7 am” & yelled “Go to the end of the line!” like a deranged mob & cheered as the dejected people who had been directed by APD to “another gate” @ the opposite end of the Park had to walk all the way back to Charles Allen again…. sorry about the run-on sentence there. All that being said, we had quite a show & I would go again! But only for Paul. I wouldn’t go through that for anyone else. Peace y’all.
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Clarke Harwood
August 16th, 2009
1:31 pm
Angie, any times and details of entry that were changed were well publicized, and notifications via telephone and email were sent out. Bottom line, dear, I knew EXCACTLY what and when was going on and you didn’t. I knew exactly where to enter and did so exactly when I wanted to. I guess you had an $80 ticket and wanted to be treated as if you paid $400. Try a little common sense, honey, and perhaps next time you won’t be so disappointed and whiny. You thought that was “hot”? I guess you didn’t attend the Allman Bros./DMB double-bill on Labor Day 2007. And, as for you ignorant people complaining about he didn’t play such & such, well (a) the Beatles have a large catalogue and (b) back in 1990, it was a big deal when he’d play even a couple of Beatles songs. Just be glad that he now embraces them in concert
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Alexandra
August 16th, 2009
1:34 pm
Total Disaster! Sir Paul, you are so out of touch with your fans!
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Sue
August 16th, 2009
1:39 pm
What a WONDERFUL evening. Thank you, Paul. I’ll never forget it!
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Jamie Turner
August 16th, 2009
1:43 pm
I loved seeing McCartney in Piedmont Park last night. As always, he was brilliant. I was particularly impressed with The Script who opened for him. In fact, I liked them so much, I blogged about them on the 60 Second Marketer website in a posting called “I have seen the future of Rock N Roll and its name is The Script.” Cool.
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Edward S
August 16th, 2009
2:21 pm
Easily the best concert I’ve experienced. I didn’t have any of the negative experiences that are on this blog. Heat?…um, August=hot weather. It was 100 in Chicago for Lollapolooza last week. This was the best weather you could hope for.
I loved the Piedmont Park venue too. The audio was perfect. We also read online that the entrance was at Ch Allen/10th Street. Guess what…that’s where we got in! We waited for an hour before the doors opened, but then dashed for a spot near the front (and well in front of the VIP seats). Kudos to the PPC and their VOLUNTEERS for doing the best they could and throwing a memorable concert.
Oh yeah…this ‘Paul McCartney’ seems to have some potential. Keep your eye on him. He might go places.
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Dave
August 16th, 2009
3:08 pm
Marta was surpisingly organized and full of police and felt safe. Not a big fan of walking miles to get to and from a venue however. They really need to approximate the time Paul was coming on since it ended up being 3.5 hours after the gates opened but then I suppose people would come in later and later . Rain sucked and was not a big fan of the newer songs. Wanted to hear more Wings songs like “Silly little love songs” but overall was good show seeing a living legend and someone who basically started it all with the Beatles.Liked the Hendrix stories etc… Food was decent and lines were not too bad.. people were cleaning garbage all thru the show. It seemed pretty coordinated.
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pentagon_cowboy
August 16th, 2009
3:54 pm
What a horrible experience I had at McCartney’s Piedmont Park concert. I am outraged at how poorly Piedmont Park and McCarthey’s producers handled the VIP section. I quickly scanned previously posted comments and saw some agreement with my experience.
I waited 45 years to see a Beatle, so I decided to splurge for the high-priced tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event. After TicketMaster’s surcharge, shipping, handling, and taxes, my $400 tickets cost me $650 each. But hey, for that price I should get reserved seats close to the stage, and perhaps some special treatment. When I got to the Park, I found out that the seat number printed on my tickets meant nothing, and was told so by a surley park volunteer. The VIP section was a hill side about 1/4 mile from the stage with no seating. We had to find an empty patch of grass in the dirt to park our butts. I would have felt better if someone had just placed a gun in my face and demanded my money. Instead, I not only feel like a victum, but I also feel like a a chump for allowing myself to be ripped off. Please don’t waste your money on VIP tickets, the cheap seats are far better. For that matter, McCarthey sounds better on CD, so use the money to upgrade your system, buy the CD’s you don’t have and have a great time. I was at the Dallas TV Cast 30 year reunion, which became notorious for how poorly it was organized. This event was just as bad for the VIP section. No show producer or entertainer will ever again get one penny of my money, and I will never again set foot in Piedmont Park!!!
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Long Time Fan
August 16th, 2009
4:18 pm
This was a special treat for my wife (over 50) and my son (15). Not real impressed by the lack of organization by the promoters (conflicting entry time) and a few rude people who broke line. Not a big fan of the genral free for all admission venue but it did allow me the chance to purchase tickets at a reasonable price. Having said that, it was everything I had expected-I got to see a legend! To get to see someone who had so much influence over my generation is something I never expected to experience! the show was good, his set was fine (how could you pick what to play and please everyone out of such a long career?), sound was good and the park was a cool place to be for a concert. I know the concert had some warts but overall I would do it again.
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Judy D
August 16th, 2009
4:46 pm
This concert was grueling for Paul’s 60ish and not so agile fans. First of all the directions on getting in were horrendous and wrong! We walked from one end of the line, found out we needed to be at the other side of the park,and had to walk another very long way to get in that gate. As a matter of fact, my best friend ended up dehydrated and collapsed before getting into the gate and had to be hauled away by ambulance. She missed the concert, and Paul has been her idol since 1964. Sitting on the ground was terrible, old bones can’t take it, and I was miserably uncomfortable sitting there all those hours. The rain, altho nothing we could do about it, was dreadful, soaking wet all nite. The process of getting in was so poorly executed, and wrong information was given at every turn. Now Sir Paul, he was incredible, as always, and if it wasn’t him on stage I would have left. Next time, I’ll see him only in an airconditioned arena WITH SEATS
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Claudia
August 16th, 2009
4:57 pm
Paul was fantastic as usual. I wish everyone could have the opportunity to see him! I also want to thank the MARTA people for keeping things moving fast. The park organizers however should have done a better job and directed people into separate lines. Why advertise early entry when there is no attempt made for that to happen? Also, at one point the main line was detoured down a side street as if going to another gate and then made to loop back up on the opposite side of the road. This was a confusing mess and many people were simply crossing the road and breaking line and police officers were giving us conflicting stories on where to line up. I don’t blame the police however, it was just poor organization. Also, it would be helpful if the organizers had somehow mapped out at least a few paths for people going on and off the field for refreshments/bathrooms instead we got drunk people almost stepping on you (if you were sitting) or almost knocking you down if you were standing. Still despite all that and the rain it was a magical show and Paul still has IT after all these years.
Still despite all that and the rain it was a magical show!
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Beej
August 16th, 2009
7:29 pm
Paul put on one heck of a show…despite being in line and waiting for Paul for HOURS, I would do it all again to see his stellar performance. Ticketmaster and Piedmont Park on the other hand should be slapped for their performance.
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Jerry Wilhoite
August 16th, 2009
7:52 pm
The venue was wide-open, and it permitted large numbers of people to enjoy the experience. Paul and his band were great! The Script was also enjoyable to listen to! The only down-side to the whole experience was the mess that people left behind after the concert! There were enough beer cans, water bottles, and food containers to fill a semi trailer several times over. Perhaps the “green” concert was more about money than any environmental concerns!
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Rick Allen
August 16th, 2009
8:01 pm
As a visitor to Atlanta I think it was a great concert, Sir Paul was in fine voice and very giving and appreciative of the audience. Kudos to the overwhelmed staff and emergency workers who were always nice and professional. I knew the concert would be interesting when I read that it was the promoters biggest show. There was a complete lack of organization in waiting for entry and in the set up of the field with no access or exits for pedestrians or emergency personnel. There was however enough food, drink, and restrooms for all. Exactly how big was the attendance number and how much beer was consumed by the 30 to 40 thousand in attendance?
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R
August 16th, 2009
8:05 pm
To those of you who were not allowed to bring in your stadium seats, what, if any, provisions were made for you — did they hold on to your seats for you, and were you able to retrieve them after the concert?
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GoZon
August 16th, 2009
8:09 pm
I’ve got a feeling that I get back in my life every time the band is on the run, I was standing there (in Piedmont Park) as day tripper yeah, it was yesterday. Hey dude, I said, look at all the lonely people trying to live and let die, give peace a chance since I can’t buy me love, you don’t need to go back in the USSR nor pray Lady Madonna to drive my car, we are lonely hearts, kind of blackbirds in a state of helter skelter and I am just a paperback writer trying to get you into my life. The end.
Gracias Pablo.
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Thunderstruck
August 16th, 2009
8:24 pm
There was room for improvement concerning not having signage and more entry points to make it a smoother experience for the concertgoer. That being said, Piedmont Park itself turned out to be a beautiful space to host this event, with lush grass everywhere to plant one’s self for a few hours. I didn’t see any bare spots.
This was a concert for the ages. I saw Paul in Columbia, S.C. in 1993 and he was even better on 8/15/09. It simply defies imagination that a man Paul’s age could have as much energy as he did, playing so many songs without a break – a true Energizer Bunny he was. We experienced not only a fantastic show from THE legend of rock legends, but an astonishing display of human and vocal endurance. One got the sense that Paul played so many songs after the first encore because he wanted to pay the fans back for having been rained on. No spirits were dampened that I saw. The one song that most aptly summarized everyone’s mood was one of his more recent hits – “Dance Tonight” – a simple and catchy tune that lightened all moods despite the downpour then occurring.
What made the concert most special for me was that I was able to take my daughter, who hadn’t seen Paul live before. I sang Beatles love songs as lullabies to her when she was an infant and toddler, and she has grown up loving Beatles music. She was enthralled by Sir Paul and his music last night. This was in all likelihood a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The both of us will remember last night for the rest of our lives, and it is sure to be among our most cherished memories as we both grow older.
Beatles Forever.
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G8TR
August 16th, 2009
8:37 pm
Since people who complain probably post their views more than those who simply appreciated and enjoyed Sir Paul’s show, I want to thank the Piedmont Park Conservancy for bringing this tremendous inter-generational experience to our city. Had Paul played just another Philips Arena show, so many families who made memories in the Park together last night would have lost out. Obviously, the Park is not set up for every-day concert-going — and if you expected perfection you’re more than a little naive. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime event for Atlantans and Beatles fans, and we owe the Conservancy and their volunteers gratitude for this event and everything else getting accomplished for our Park.
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Thunderstruck
August 16th, 2009
9:05 pm
Well said, G8TR. I echo G8TR’s thoughts and gratitude to all the volunteers who made last night possible.
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Ben
August 16th, 2009
9:44 pm
My wife and I made the trip from Ohio to see the show. This was my 8th McCartney show, her 4th. Well worth the trip, the entire thing was an adventure! From our first experience with MARTA (which turned out to be pretty good, when we’re back in town I would probably use MARTA again) to the experience with Piedmont and waiting in line since 11:30 to use our presale early entry tickets (haha, right?) to the most incredible performer and concert!
As for the show, what can I add that hasn’t already been said. The new material was incredible, love “Only Mama Knows” live! “I’m Down” was a great addition to the set, and one I did not expect to hear. And “Day Tripper?” All I can say is “WOW!!!”
I popped the big question to my wife at Paul’s concert in 2005, so this was a great chance for us to remember that night and had yet another special memory to our scrapbook of life together! (And Paul, if you read this … Melissa and I want to thank you for that great night in Detroit! And thank you again for reading my sign and making me get down infront of 20,000 people!)
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Sharon
August 16th, 2009
9:47 pm
I survived the concert last night, and lived to tell the story. Thank God for Paul McCartney. Only Paul McCartney could take a perfectly horrible misery marathon like Atlanta’s concert preparation, and still make you feel glad to be alive. The people in the Atlanta audience were fantastic, considering that a huge number of them received such lousy, inconsistent info, about the event that by the time Paul took the stage we were dehydrated, exhausted, sunburned, and broke. Paul still saved the day.
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Leigh Dinwiddie
August 16th, 2009
9:48 pm
I drove from Tennessee with my 18 year old daughter to see Paul McCartney and I would drive to Alaska to see him again!! I am 42 and have been a Beatles/PM fan as long as I can remember. This was the ultimate concert experience! What a magical night!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Sir Paul for beautiful music and beautiful you…
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 16th, 2009
10:12 pm
Looooove reading your comments and takes on the Paul McCartney shows. Definitely a diversity of opinions, although most of you seem pretty happy with how it turned out.
A reminder: please keep it civil and push the conversation forward. I’ll be compiling some of these comments into a post on Monday, too!
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Achtung Ya'll
August 16th, 2009
11:09 pm
What a great show! There are words I am sure to express appropriately, however I don’t know what they are. For all the problems expressed, I did not see any, perhaps you all are just not experienced concert goers and lacking in navigational skills.
Being in my mid thirties I came to know and appreciate the Beatles about the same time as everything else that was popular at the time, U2, REM and The Cure. Very quickly I recognized how much these bands owed to the Beatles and McCartney especially. I have seen concerts all over the world. My job made this possible, but seeing the Macca in my hometown in our park again I don’t know the words. I was happy to see kids at this show, perhaps this show will be the beginning of their musical journey and what a way to start.
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Damon
August 17th, 2009
12:16 am
My my at the snobbery , you spent that much for tix and dashed expectations….get over your whiny ass selves! $80 bucks and we had a blast !
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James
August 17th, 2009
12:24 am
I have to agree with Pentagon Cowboy about how bad the VIP section and organization was but P.M. made me forget it all. It was a great show …. There could also have been more done to make it a true green event.
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Chris
August 17th, 2009
12:48 am
Had a blast at the McCartney show. We flew down to Atlanta from Rock Island, Illinois. It’s part of the Quad Cities, which includes Moline, IL – home of John Deere, for reference. Anyway, my wife and I were the ones about 8 rows back that had the sign that read “BABY’S FIRST MCCARTNEY SHOW – DUE FEBRUARY 10TH” that he read during the concert! It was a surreal experience. He read the sign and then commented, wondering if the baby could hear the music because “they say that they can”. He then strummed a few notes and did a little opera singing as a joke. It’s something we’ll never forget!!! I could tell that he had read the sign a few songs earlier. He made eye contact with us and nodded and smiled. Then, at the end of the concert he referenced our baby again during his goodbye’s and did a little baby holding motion! Finally, as he exited the stage I was thinking about throwing the little Beatles onesie we’d bought onto stage, but there were some pyrotechnics going off. He looked back at my wife and I and gave us both a big thumbs up. Truely a remarkable experience! If anyone knows of any bootleg of the audio or even better, the video of the concert please let me know!! Does any think Piedmont will make a video of the concert similar to what Dave Matthews did a couple years ago?
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M.E.
August 17th, 2009
1:25 am
Fantastic Show! Drove down with my 21 year old from St. Louis, who is a huge Paul McCartney fan. We were not disappointed. We had no idea where/what Piedmont Park was, but did some checking before purchasing tickets. If you had researched the park on the website, you should have known what the $400 tickets were going to get you – up on the hill – with the stage clearly marked. Buyer beware – do your research. We bought the cheapest tickets, waited in line from 1:00 on, (only because there were already people there & my daughter wanted to get the “best spot”) and once we got in, we made it close to the stage. We knew in advance what to expect. The money we saved from the VIP tickets we spent on a hotel within walking distance(actually less than $400 for two nights). The park was wonderful – the music great, and the rain just made for some fantastic memories. It was all worth it to see my daughter’s excitement and we can’t believe that Paul sang for as long as he did. Also, we didn’t mind sharing our blanket with strangers who just walked in at 7:00 pm. We had room. Could things have been done better- hey, I’ve been volunteering in the school system for over twenty years, and have learned there is a system for getting things done, but, they didn’t ask me. I was there for the show and they certainly put on a great one. The volunteers did the best they could, all were friendly – they just needed a few hundred more! Hats off to the “Vitamin Water” people – they saved us from dehydrating in the line.
Has there been an “official” count on the number of spectators?
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a1agator
August 17th, 2009
3:14 am
I like it that the general tone to the comments is ’so what – it was Paul McCartney’. Yes, it was disorganized, hot and it rained. Who cares? I went in with no expectations and found the back entrance by chance. Got in line at 3:56 – they let us in 4 minutes later. WooooooHoooooo.Stood about 10 feet in front of the mixing board – perfect! I think they call what happened to me and my friend “Instant Karma”. Great awesome incredible show. Thanks JPM.
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Reader reviews: McCartney concert winners and losers | Inside Access
August 17th, 2009
8:02 am
[...] of astute observations and critiques are mixed in, along with the usual argument and name-calling. Give ‘em a read, or get the abbreviated version below. (These are copied straight from the posts, shortened, but [...]
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Alexandra
August 17th, 2009
9:42 am
Access Atlanta,
I have always been one to tell it like is! Here is what the Sir Paul concert was like. We had to drive a long distance to get to Marta, then we had to wait in line to buy tickets at Marta, then we had to wait for the train, then we had a ride on the train to down town. After we got off of the train we had to walk about a half mile to stand in line in the blazing hot sun for a couple of hours before we got in. Then we stood up for six hours in the hot sun before the first horrible band played. I now have a wonderful sunburn! Then after the first band played Sir Paul had us waiting a whole hour before he finally came out to play. By the time he came out there were so many drunk people throwing up etc. It was so impossible to even see the screens it became a complete waste of the day.
Sir Paul, you have lost total touch with your fans, that was the concert from hell! Sir Paul, you made my dream turn into a nightmare. I was Sir Pauls number one fan, but after this there is no way I would ever go to see him again if this is the way he treats his fans. After what we had to go through for hours I learned a lesson not to do it again! Sir Paul, I think it is now time to put the guitar pic away and enjoy your retirement!
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kenny smith
August 17th, 2009
9:50 am
i was the fortunate winner of the ajc contest wow what a great night.
thanks ajc Sir Paul was awesome and the park was beautiful.
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Aaron
August 17th, 2009
10:02 am
Alexandra, if you expected VIP treatment, you should have purchased a VIP ticket. I was on my feet a total of 12 hours without sitting down that day, but it was totally worth it. You waited in line for 2 hours? Big deal. My wife and I were there near the gate at 11 a.m. and managed to get right up to the stage when the gates opened — many people camped out the night before, I was told. These are the true fans, unlike those who write off a musician just because things didn’t go your way that day. And I guess you never took public transportation before, eh? Yes, you have (gasp) stand in line, especially when you take your sweet time to get to the concert. Wake up; there were 40,000 people at this concert. What did you think it would be like?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 17th, 2009
10:04 am
Aww, Kenny, that’s great! Thanks for letting us know. Congratulations! Glad it was great.
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Guy
August 17th, 2009
10:08 am
Paul was great, but we should be getting some refunding from the Park/Ticketmaster. We paid a lot of money for VIP which was suppose to include admission to the park one hour earlier than everyone else. Everyone was confused and didn’t know where to go (especially VIPs) when the gates opened for all. There also were no air conditioned bathrooms like were promised from what I saw. Isn’t this a breach of contract?
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Guy
August 17th, 2009
10:11 am
Looks like others had it worse though….
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Alexandra
August 17th, 2009
10:42 am
I was awake and the fact that they made all of those people wait in the hot sun is so unfair, in fact that as you say Aaron made it even worse. You wake up and smell the roses. No entertainer should treat their fans that way. next time you can go and do the same thing again, I fact be my guest if you are that dam dumb! You were probably one of the drunks and di not even pay attention to the concert when he was playing! you sound like one of the hilbillys from here that have never been anywhere else in the world or know how to treat other human beings! I have the right to express my experience just like anyone else! Get real, but better yet get a real life! Some of us do have lives and taking 12 hours from leaving the house to getting back home is almost impossible for those of us who do own businesses and have families. Our time needs to be respected just as Sir Pauls time is respected. Just because a person is an entertainer do not give him the right to put us all through hell just to see a flash of him on stage. by the way the VIP tickets were no different or anymore comfortable than the general admission tickets! Really Aaron, you should be ashamed of yourself!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 17th, 2009
10:46 am
Alexandra, Aaron: Clearly you’ve got different perspectives on how the concert went, and that’s probably not going to change, and that’s fine. But please keep your responses under control. This blog isn’t about name-calling, and certainly not about making assumptions about each other based on stereotypes. Keep your comments respectful. Thanks.
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Tracy
August 17th, 2009
10:54 am
Thank you Aaron… well said! Alexandra, maybe you should just stay home & NEVER go to a concert again! Give me a break! When there are 40,000 fans at a concert, you wait in line (for food, drinks, merchandise, restroom, etc.) – get over it! If you don’t like crowds, don’t buy a ticket! Poor you… waiting an hour until Paul came out. Uh, in case you’ve never been to a concert before, they need to set up in between bands. Hello! And how dare you blame Sir Paul McCartney for your bad experience. What does he have to do with the hot sun, long lines, MARTA, & drunk people?!? Seriously, do us all a favor & take a happy pill. ; )
P.S. I suggest sunscreen so you don’t get a sunburn & glasses so you can see the big screens. They were as big as a building. How could you not see them?? Please…
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Alexandra
August 17th, 2009
10:54 am
Thank You! You are soooooooooooo right! XOXO
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Alexandra
August 17th, 2009
10:56 am
Thanks for minding the ship! We did get carried away, but it was still hell at the concert! We appreciate being able to voice our feelings on Access Atlanta! TKS, Alexandra
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Tracy
August 17th, 2009
11:00 am
Sir Paul McCartney’s show is one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen! What amazing talent & energy! I’m thrilled to say that I’ve seen a Beatle live! We could have cared less about the rain. Ponchos from the dollar store worked just fine. The big screens & sound were great!! It was a night I’ll NEVER forget!! ; )
The only negative for me was seeing all of the trash on the grounds. It took me about 5 seconds to pick up our cans/water bottles & drop them off in a recycle bin.
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Goldie
August 17th, 2009
11:09 am
Absolutely loved Paul and his band — they were tight and energetic the whole evening!
Now, about the Piedmont Park Conservancy and its “Green Concert” — they receive a grade of about an “F-” for lack of security and crowd control, and lack of recycling bins and marked pathways throughout the meadow… they should have learned more from previous events that have been held at the Park in the past, especially regarding what it takes to accommodate a crowd of this size!
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Alexandra
August 17th, 2009
11:14 am
Tracy, I said I will not buy a ticket again! Do you honestly think Sir Paul knew nothing about how the concert was run? He created most of the Green concert. There is still no reason to wait an entire hour betwen bands, ( which pay for the tickets) are out there waiting! As Jamie Gumbrech said, we will not agree on the event. I do however have the right to tell it like I experienced the concert, being we live in a free country and have the right to do so. I was at the original Woodstock so I do know how concerts are. I have traveled all over the world and have been taking the transit for years. You have the right to go back and experience the concert the way you experienced and I have the right to not go which I will not be going again. We moved so many times just to try to see the screens on the sides but the crowd was so out of control after having six hours to get drunk we could not enjoy it. You have your rights and so do I. It is great to know there are some that had a great time. I was not one of them! Good luck to all of you who will be putting up with this type of treatment! After reading about the VIP tickets on here there was no difference between the general admission or VIP. Good wishes and good luck to all!
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Alexandra
August 17th, 2009
11:20 am
I am such a Beatles fan that I named my dog George Harrison, so as you can see I love Paul and have loved him for years but after this concert I changed my feeling about him. I felt he was like God, which no man is. I guess what it did was open my eye’s to reality!
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Beth
August 17th, 2009
12:05 pm
My husband and I, in our early 50’s, had a blast. We went in knowing the day would be long, hot and possibly wet. We made the best of it and with good food, drinks and plenty of people-watching it was not difficult. Paul gave the audience everything they wanted (BEATLES) and more. It was awesome to see the middle-agers and teenagers, even little ones, so excited, singing and chanting (”Give Peace a Chance”)…our only regret was not bringing our own teenagers.
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SchellingOutinATL
August 17th, 2009
12:17 pm
I completely agree with the complaints about the confusion regarding presale entry time and location and folks breaking line. My 7YO called a couple out about it and they shamefacedly retreated, but lots of others didn’t. (Could have used more volunteers to police that, I think.) Yes, it was hot (duh, it’s Atlanta in August) and, yes, it rained (ditto). But that just made it all the more Woodstock-y! Some of us were there, too. Perhaps in altered states of mind, but that’s another story. In any case my kids and husband and I had a GREAT time. Macca put on a fantastic show — sprinkled new with old, rock and mellower tunes. Definitely worth every penny and the relatively minor inconveniences. Thanks to the Conservancy for bringing him here and to such a fab venue.
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Brett
August 17th, 2009
12:28 pm
Alexandra, your series of posts is one of the most pathetic whinefests I’ve ever read. All of the things you complained about were either already announced beforehand or out of Paul’s control. He and his team had nothing to do with the way the park ran the concert. He was responsible for his performance and the production of his performance. That’s it. If your time was so precious perhaps you shouldn’t have bought a ticket in the first place. There were many people who waited in line since early in the morning, and they all seemed to have a blast.
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Steven
August 17th, 2009
12:34 pm
Alexandria, please shut the hell up. Best concert of my life and I think that Paul treated his fans great as in 3 encores. I saw no drunks, saw the screen very well, was in no lines at all except for the Marta ride afterwards and that was expected.
Thx to Peidmont park for putting on such a great show!!!!
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bajeha
August 17th, 2009
1:50 pm
Loved the concert — wow, what a show! — but not the logistics. Some failures I noted:
I saw no volunteers nor any directional signage for the concert when I exited the Midtown station at 2:00 PM. In fact, I rarely saw a volunteer the whole time. Funny, since as a Conservancy member I had offered to be one but had been turned down.
There was no designated line or gate for presale ticketholders. If there was one, it wasn’t publicized anywhere in advance nor created by volunteers on site. Most presales got stuck in the same long line as the later entries: A major mishandle that caused great animosity among those patrons. The few volunteers who passed by the blocks-long line on 10th had no knowledge to share or any apparent way to ask a question or get answers from someone in charge.
The no food or water ban was a serious health concern for the many older people who had arrived early for the presale entry and then had to stand in line a lot longer than expected in 90+ degree heat. Also, there was no way to handle a medical emergency created by those conditions except with a 911 call.
That same ban created a huge windfall for the food and drink vendors, provided you could get to them. Three dollars for one small bottle of water? That’s price gouging, people. (Where were the water fountains?) Even the kids selling them outside the park asked for just a buck. IMO the producer and food vendors should be fined for overcharging the captive audience for that necessity. In the future, bottled water prices inside the park should be set by the City for future concerts.
No aisles were created or maintained for emergency vehicles, security personnel or easy patron access to vendors and the toilets. IMO this was a major breach of public health and safety guidelines for such events. Suppose there had been a lightning strike during the rainstorm? (N.B. I sat right next to the Kaiser Permanente First Aid station, so I saw and heard about the difficulties people were having in getting there for help.)
Why didn’t the Conservancy present a short talk or program about its work and goals between the two acts? IMO it missed a golden opportunity in not doing that, and in not asking patrons to haul out their trash and/or place recyclables in designated receptacles after the concert was over. This was The Green Concert, right?.
IMO these logistical failures were caused by a lack of coordination and communcation between the organizations involved, both before the event and on the day. IMO an experienced large-event planner needs to be put in charge of each area to see that everything runs smoothly.between the professionals and the volunteers. Also, the Conservancy and its co-sponsors should recruit enough volunteers, provide advance training for them, and provide those at critical points with radios and bullhorns so they can ask questions and get answers in in real time, and handle crowd problems promptly. There also should be a central command center that can be called by other volunteers with their cell phones for informational Q&A.
I hope my comments will be read as constructive criticism that is intended to help make future concerts at Piedmont Park more pleasurable for everybody.
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RamblinRed
August 17th, 2009
2:15 pm
Alexandra,
I understand your frustration about some aspects of the concert performance, but at least some of your frustration is misplaced.
As mentioned above the 2 things McCartney and his management are in charge of are his performance and the staging. Everything else is the responsibility of the promoter (in this case Live Nation) and the venue (in this case the Piedmont Park Conservancy).
Most people I talked to actually had good experiences with MARTA (which surprised me somewhat). The whole ticket entry and waiting had 0 to do with McCartney and his team. This is the responsibility of Live Nation and Piedmont Park. Unfortunately a number of us were e-mailing/phoning Piedmont Park about the entry and were really concerned it was going to be a huge mess because they didn’t seem to have a plan to separate the early entry from the non-early entry tickets. Unfortuantely this turned out to be true.
I thought the Script was fine as an opening act – nothing special, but easy to listen to and didn’t overstay their welcome. McCartney took the stage 42 minutes after the Script finished (I was checking my time on my phone) this was actually slightly faster than previous shows. it takes about 45 minutes for the stage hands to remove The Script’s equipment, set up McCartney’s and test all the sound and lighting.
I was obviously closer up then you were as I was very close to the soundbooth. I will say there the people were largely very upbeat and enjoying themselves, even during the rain.
Also, don’t blame others for things that might not be their fault. if you got a sunburn – you should have used sunscreen – I did, i’m a redhead and did not get burned at all. I drank alot of water before the show knowing I would be out in the heat for hours. I had a poncho and a plastic tarp (that ended up with 15 people under it during the rain) for that possibility. knowing it was an outdoor concert you do have to prepare for it – and i’m not saying that you didn’t.
if you had problems with sound or lighting that would fall under McCartney’s team.
It’s disappointing to see someone have a bad experience and i hope your next one is better.
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FAB4FAN2416
August 17th, 2009
2:40 pm
I journeyed with my family: sister, husband, two daughters and my sister’s girlfriend to Atlanta, and despite the long trip, sitting on the grass and the painful walk to MARTA- we truly LOVED the show! It was such a thrill for me to experience Paul’s show with my teenaged daughters who have grown up listening to him since they were in the womb. My oldest daughter, Michelle, was so hoping to hear him sing “her song” to her, but alas, he could not cover every song in the Beatles, Wings, and his solo catalogues. If it were left up to the audience we would have kept him there singing for 24 hours straight.
I thought it was a beautiful night despite the rain. (Thank you, God, for no lightning.) Piedmont Park is a lovely place and I thought it was pretty well organized (as well as could be expected for 40,000+ fans.
For those of you who missed this concert (or did not enjoy it)I am sorry but it was one of the best nights of my life. All of the Beatles oldies and new Paul songs struck a good balance and Sir Paul is still spry and rock the house at 67. We love you Paul! You only get better with age!! The Murphy family
p.s. Kudos to MARTA for moving that huge crowd out of there quickly and efficiently!!
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cowo
August 17th, 2009
3:06 pm
Having loved Paul (and the rest of the Fab 4) for most of my life, and having seen Paul 18 times, both with the Beatles and after, missing a concert in ATL was not imaginable! The hours of standing and sitting on rock-hard ground have left me a mess only my Chiropractor may be able to fix up, but the alternative, missing the man who has made by far the greatest impression on my life for the last 45 years was unimaginable.
The small number of people who complained about the actual performance make me terribly sad. Paul has so much great music to pull from, he certainly wasn’t going to do only Beatles music. Paul is the greatest legend ever, and there will never be a greater performer, writer, person on this earth!
Wull love you forever Paul! Please come back (to an arena with seats, I hope!).
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Douglas McGirt
August 17th, 2009
4:50 pm
Awesome show!!! Paul amazes me by the mere fact he plays at such a high level at 67 years of age. I know at 67 i could never have his energy (LOL)!!!! His stage presence is incredible and has the best eye movements when singing than any artist on earth.
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JILL
August 17th, 2009
4:53 pm
This was my fourth time seeing Sir Paul. He is just such a great performer and a great musician. This concert was nothing but spectacular. I really enjoyed both Beatles and Wings music. The crowd was great. It rained for about 30 minutes which was good because it was over 90 in the heat.
The only bad thing was that ticketmaster ripped us off again. There was suppose to be early enterance for America Express/Mccartney fan club and conservitory members and the crowd got so big they let everybody in at once. Also, waiting in line was complete disorganized. We sat in line for hours and hours to be first at the stage and again the crowd got so big in front of the gates that people who only waited 15 minutes before the gates opened ran right in and never went to the end of the line. I was extremely angry about it. My friend and I still got a pretty good spot, we were very lucky I can run fast.
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A few Atlanta history links | Rusty's Blog
August 17th, 2009
5:06 pm
[...] about the origin of the Junkman’s Daughter sign. It’s a cool story written up on the AJC Insider blog by Jamie Gumbrecht. Also, related to the recent Paul McCartney concert in Piedmont park, she [...]
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A few Atlanta history links | Rusty's Blog
August 17th, 2009
5:07 pm
[...] blog by Jamie Gumbrecht. Also, related to the recent Paul McCartney concert in Piedmont park, she pointed to a great story about how an Atlanta hifi store pioneered a sound engineering technique in the mid-60s that is [...]
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Jay B
August 17th, 2009
6:20 pm
By far the best show I’ve ever seen. I’ve always enjoyed the music of the Beatles and McCartney but never was an avid fan. Half way through the show I thought to myself “now I understand”. What a performer. It’s like he was determined that everyone have a good time. Thought the sound was incredible. Great show!
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donna matheson
August 18th, 2009
7:22 am
Please tell me which weekend Bank of America customers get in free. Thank you
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Ripley
August 18th, 2009
8:00 am
I really don’t understand this woman and her comments. How could she expect anyone to control the sun or provide shade for the entrance line which was at least three quarters of a mile long.
FYI, this was my 16th time seeing Paul (Beatles three times) and I’m older now and knew my limitations so I arranged to arrive at 3:30, expecting to be no where near the stage. I waited in line for approx 1 hour and yes, it was very hot at times. But the line moved pretty well (except for the cheaters cutting in line)once the gate opened and when I got in the park I found a perfect place on the hill in the shade, right of the stage. If this woman was so hot, why didn’t she moved to the largely shaded hill on the right. The temp never got unpleasant under the shade. Now, I would have loved to be near the stage and this was the first MACCA concert EVER that I couldn’t see his pretty face up close, but I knew I’m not physically able to withstand the heat. This woman (if she was REALLY at Woodstock) is older than me so why didn’t she seek shade give way to the youngsters who don’t care about the heat? I could see the stage and the screens perfectly.
To say she is a huge fan and then blame Paul for the heat, the lines and the rain is absurd and she apparently has no understanding of the time required to set up his equipment. Oh, and the Irish band was fab – I loved three of the five songs they performed. MARTA ran great for the huge crowds, no problem there either. The only problem I had was the people staggering up the hill throughout the concert – the Conservancy should have created a couple of roped off passage ways so that we didn’t get continually stepped on.
Paul was great as usual and any problems with the venue were not of his doing. He looked fab, sounded beautiful and his energy is amazing for anyone, but especially for a 67 year old man. The fact that he donated his time for the concert seems to completely have gone over the head of this woman. He made no money and donated his time for a grat cause. Clearly he doesn’t need fans like this who claim to love him and then bad mouth him for things that were not within his control when she should be on her knees thanking him for being such a generous human and such a generous and brilliant performer.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 18th, 2009
9:10 am
Bank of America’s Museums on Us program allows customers in free on Sept. 5-6, Oct. 3-4, Nov. 7-8, Dec. 5-6, Jan. 2-3 and more 2010 dates they haven’t yet posted. You can find more info here: http://museums.bankofamerica.com/
That program gets you into the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, but not the IMAX movie. You can also get in to the High Museum of Art, Zoo Atlanta, Millennium Gate, the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Atlanta History Center.
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OZZFEST
August 18th, 2009
10:11 am
Paul was amazing…totally killer and the night was a “once in a lifetime thrill”. Sadly, the Piedmont Park Conservancy botched the entire VIP process for everyone who paid $400. The Piedmont Park Conservancy advertised early admission for the VIP ticket. It took 30 minutes to get the first 500 people (I counted…I was about the 500th person in line.)through the “ONE TICKET TAKER” entrance on Monroe…while we could see hundreds of people streaming down the hill on the other side of the park at the St Charles entrance. My girlfriend was directly in front of Paul’s microphone about at 4:02…WHERE HE WAS STILL PERFORMING HIS SOUNDCHECK (IN PERSON)…and she paid $80 for a non-early admission ticket. Explain that one to me!! People in the VIP line were furious. Once inside the VIP area, I waited in a line of only 14 people (I counted.)for another 30 minutes to buy a t-shirt…the VIP area sold out of all XL shirts one hour after the gates opened…I had to go buy one in the general admission area. They had schwag beer…Bud, Bud Light, and Bud select…and they were lukewarm until after 7 or so meaning that that had not been properly iced down. In the end I must say not even the major downer caused by the clearly unprepared PPC could diminish the PAUL McCARTNEY experience. Paul is the pinnacle of music, their is none higher.
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Decatur author’s ‘Confederate General’ novel reviewed | Inside Access
August 18th, 2009
10:31 am
[...] told you last week about an interview with Decatur author Amanda C. Gable, and her upcoming events at the Decatur Book Festival and Blue Elephant [...]
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Sue Rodman
August 18th, 2009
9:48 pm
Excellent! Thanks for the round up.
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David
August 19th, 2009
7:46 am
Will this “trust” become a partner in future profits? Or will the reconstruction donations primarily benefit Mr. Greene with only his word that he will do good in the community? While historic trusts are good for publically owned property, and commercial venues are good when maintained buy the business owner… non profit donations should not be made for the primary benefit of the commercial enterprise.
What kind of “open book” cooperation is there between the trust and Mr. Greene? How much insurance was there and how much is going in his pocket due to “lost business”?
Too many questions to just crack open my wallet to save a bit of nostalgia.
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Maybe, Maybe Not
August 19th, 2009
9:05 am
I agree with David. This was intended, prior to the fire, as a “for profit” venture. How has that changed, if so, and what happens to the operation going forward in terms of ownership, control, etc.. This is the same thing on the surface, if Burger King had a fire and the public contributed to the restoration. Too many questions yet.
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Wilmot
August 19th, 2009
9:09 am
The trust is to ensure the building gets saved. No private business could support the debt that it will take to rebuild to modern codes. The only two options are that we get help from the public via a nonprofit, or the Georgia Theatre goes away forever. Sounds like you prefer the latter David.
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Maybe, Maybe Not
August 19th, 2009
9:10 am
Let me clarify something. I feel this facility enjoyed some success as a venue for music. However, Athens if full of “venue’s for music”. I would be glad to help with the restoration, but do I give something small, or will I consider something of consequence?
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Full of It
August 19th, 2009
10:43 am
How about Wind Down Wednesday (Concert) at Centennial Park? Free Also.
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David
August 19th, 2009
11:45 am
To answer Wilmot … there are two choices to end up with a sole owner, the non profit buys the pile of ashes and rebuilds it and operates as a non profit OR the commercial entity foots the bill.
But for people to donate to a business with nothing in return except the fact that the building survives is preposterous.
If the business owner cannot do it, or was underinsured, that simply means his business has failed. Step aside if you can’t do it on your own.
If the trust wants to rebuild the building, sign the deed to the trust and the business owner can operate the business in a partnership deal.
The building has some nice history but for those that give will only be able to say “Hey I gave some good money so that guy could make a lot of money.”
What is the payoff for the donaters … in writing, other than “nice building, huh?”
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Dan
August 19th, 2009
12:30 pm
Paul was great, the stage was great, the sound was good.
My girlfriend and I walked in, without waiting, at about 6:30. We stood probably 100 feet from the stage. There needs to be a “no blankets past this point” rule enforced next time Piedmont tries something like this. I witnessed a few verbal altercations between people trying to walk and those who felt ENTITLED to all the room that their blankets covered. Give me a break.
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Theatrical Outfit
August 19th, 2009
1:54 pm
Don’t forget Theatrical Outift! @TheatOutfit
Why Follow? Show updates, ticket deals/ giveaways, source for tips about Atlanta Arts and being GREEN!
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2001
August 19th, 2009
1:58 pm
In response to David and “Maybe, Maybe Not,” people who donate to this cause can feel good about their donations on two fronts: (1) They’re contributing to the preservation of an historic building. I can’t remember the exact numbers, but I believe the Georgia Theatre building is over 100 years old; and (2) they’re helping to restore a bit of nostalgia from the many wonderful memories they may have formed through events and concerts they attended at the Georgia Theatre. With the Georgia Theatre partnering with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, folks can now make tax deductible donations towards a legitmate philanthropic cause (See # 1 above). I think this is great, and I wish the Georgia Theatre and Wilmot Greene all the luck in the world.
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truth
August 19th, 2009
2:34 pm
Sorry David, but you are wrong. The payoff for the donators is that they get to live in a community with a Georgia Theatre. This is what people in Athens want, and they are the ones driving the fundraising. Your comment about ’so this guy could make a lot of money’ shows your lack of understanding of the situation. The owners will pay for the majority of the expense of rebuilding. The public is simply trying to help with the difference between what the business can make and what it will cost to rebuild. The public risks nothing except living in a town with less music if they don’t give. The numbers just don’t make sense for any type of ownership (profit or nonprofit) unless a big chunk is taken off the top via donations, and the public trusts the current owners, because of years of goodwill, to run the club in a manner that best represent the interests of the community. This is why we live in Athens! If they eventually make a profit,,, good for them!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 19th, 2009
2:38 pm
Hey folks: there are some good questions in this discussion. I just talked with Mark McDonald at the Georgia Trust, who explained more why they decided to partner with a for-profit group, how the Georgia Theatre fits into their non-profit mission and how the arrangement works. Thanks for reading!
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David
August 19th, 2009
3:24 pm
To those claiming it will save an old building … once the building is burned and gutted any rebuild only nets a “new” building made to look old. It is sad it burned, I lost many brain cells in the building in its “cinema draft house” days. You might as well level it, build a state of the art new building and slap the old marquee on it. When something dies a natural death, you cannot bring it back.
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DJ Willard
August 19th, 2009
4:32 pm
Great show!! I drove up from Florida and this was my second McCartney show. This shows was fairly organized compared to the other hundred outdoor shows I have been to.i.e. Bonnaroo, Phish @ Big Cypress. among others. Having been to a lot of GA shows I was kind of curious as to how the early entry was going to work. Thankfully I just got a regular ticket. I thought it was kind of a joke to have to early entry times, I mean it is general admin show. So lets say you got in an hour early, you still can’t stop others from getting to the front when they “let em’ in”. My only complaint was the people with the blankets. At a general admin show, the only spot you paid for is the spot your feet are in. Not where you blanket is. If you want to sit down and have you own space go to the back not the front row. I have also saw a few people complain about cigarettes and pot smoking. You went to a rock concert, outdoors, not the opera. They kind of go hand in hand.
THANK YOU Piedmont park, THANK YOU PAUL, and THANK YOU ATL.
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mark
August 19th, 2009
4:34 pm
What: Replica of the wright flyer.
Where: Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum
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Falcons Fan
August 19th, 2009
4:35 pm
A roof panel at the Georgia Dome….GO FALCONS!
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Michael
August 19th, 2009
4:57 pm
model of the Wright Brothers plane…Smithsonian
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mark2
August 19th, 2009
4:58 pm
What: Replica of the wright flyer.
Where: Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum
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Kitty Boo
August 19th, 2009
5:05 pm
Something at Fernbank.
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Rajeev
August 19th, 2009
5:39 pm
Model of plane designed by Wright brothers in Tellus Northwest Gerogia Science Museum
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easton
August 19th, 2009
6:11 pm
portion of the Georgia Dome roof
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easton
August 19th, 2009
6:12 pm
Model of plane designed by Wright brothers in Tellus Northwest Gerogia Science Museum
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G.G.
August 19th, 2009
7:07 pm
Replica of the Wright Brother’s plane.
Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum
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Gram
August 19th, 2009
7:07 pm
A section of the Georgia Dome,
Atlanta, Ga.
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Chuck
August 19th, 2009
9:16 pm
I agree with the previous comment. Why not mention free Jazz at Centennial park?
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Chuck
August 19th, 2009
9:17 pm
It makes me wonder how much good information is on this inside access
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 19th, 2009
10:43 pm
Suggestions are always welcome, and concerts at Centennial Park get a nod in the daily to do lists pretty frequently. (And, of course, it’s always easy to find in the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.) It’s important to me, though, to showcase a wide variety of events.
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rachael
August 19th, 2009
10:43 pm
eek! broken link: “How to swim with (whale) sharks.”
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 19th, 2009
11:21 pm
Whoops! Fixed! Thanks, Rachael!
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To do list: August 20 | Inside Access
August 20th, 2009
12:05 am
[...] Families: “Monsters, Inc.” shows as part of Movies & The Market, 8:45 p.m., Atlantic Station’s Central Park, [...]
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Weekend to do list: August 21-23 | Inside Access
August 20th, 2009
12:26 am
[...] “Night at the Museum 2″ shows for Movies Under the Stars, dusk, Mall of Georgia, Buford. [...]
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Paul Moffett
August 20th, 2009
8:11 am
This is the plane wing of the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kitty Hawk, N.C.
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Meghann
August 20th, 2009
10:31 am
Love the piece!
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style
August 20th, 2009
10:42 am
my thought
The front of junkman’s daughter in little five points
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Michael
August 20th, 2009
10:46 am
Since when is Cartersville in Atlanta?
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Greg
August 20th, 2009
11:18 am
So the building will be leveled to the ground if it is to be rebuilt?
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Miley Cyrus
August 20th, 2009
12:16 pm
It looks like the inside of the whale sharks colon, and I would know, cause I was there and I swam with them. If you didn’t know that, read the paper, apparently my arrival is a big story. I got my picture on the front page, not like that missing Blairsville woman, or that goofy health care thingy.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 20th, 2009
12:50 pm
Oh, Miley, sorry, but you must have seen some other paper — you weren’t on the AJC’s front page any time in the last few days. I’m sure your arrival did well on AJC.com, but even then, it hasn’t cracked the most popular stories. Hope you’re having fun!
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Chris R.
August 20th, 2009
1:09 pm
Had a wonderful time at Paul McCartney Saturday in Piedmont Park. Seeing my favorite artist, in my favorite part of my favorite city was a dream come true. I thought the show was fantastic! I am probably a bigger Paul McCartney fan than I am a Beatles fan, so the first half of the show was my favorite. I’m thrilled he plays some new songs and Wings songs. I do wish he’d play some of the huge Wings hits that he leaves out every time he tours; but I know what to expect and am happy with what I get. I know most everyone there is wanting Beatle songs and that’s what he delivers…he ain’t no dummy. But I just marvel over how great he is. My thought is how lucky we are that he’s had a good head on his shoulders, has taken care of himself, still makes music and tours. He didn’t end up like Michael Jackson. Thank you Paul…you’re the Man!
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Barry
August 20th, 2009
1:52 pm
Model of plane designed by Wright brothers located in the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.
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Vangelina
August 20th, 2009
2:59 pm
Dante’s Down the Hatch on Peachtree Rd.
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Theo
August 20th, 2009
3:14 pm
John Oliver is sold out for 8/21
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 20th, 2009
3:26 pm
Great for him, too bad for ticket-seekers. Thanks for the info, Theo!
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Ryan Spretl
August 20th, 2009
4:28 pm
Have you tried using http://ZoToDo.com? I don’t think its really used for this sorta thing in general, but you could create a public To Do List and put up your weekend events there.
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ruben
August 20th, 2009
4:46 pm
Thats the replica of the Wright Brothers plane at the Tellus Museum. Great place to have a membership indeed.
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ATLANTA EVENTS: Weekend To Do List | Atlanta News on Twitter
August 21st, 2009
9:26 am
[...] post: ATLANTA EVENTS: Weekend To Do List This entry was posted in Atlanta News. Bookmark the permalink. Comments are closed, but you [...]
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kristie
August 21st, 2009
9:30 am
If you live in the Canton area, there is a chili cookoff, corvette car show and live bluegrass music at noon on Saturday FREE!! Right off the square downtown Canton.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 21st, 2009
9:52 am
Thanks for the suggestion, Kristie! Feel free to add those types of events to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar, too.
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Sue Rodman
August 21st, 2009
2:19 pm
Thanks for the mention. Lots of good ideas in the lists. So many places, so little time.
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Thomas
August 21st, 2009
3:07 pm
Check out the Attractions section on http://www.mapyeti.com … it’s a great resource for finding/posting sales or specials for Atlanta businesses and attractions.
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shirley
August 22nd, 2009
7:35 am
Chi Walking, Meditation Workshop and Labyrinth Walking Meditation all start the week of Sept. 7 at the Wellness Center at DeKalb Medical. Call 404.501.2222
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SUNMAN
August 22nd, 2009
9:07 pm
any events (concerts/ cultural) for the weekend of August 27th ? coming up from south florida
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PHOTOS: Aug. 22 Water balloon fight at the Masquerade | Inside Access
August 22nd, 2009
9:23 pm
[...] for more? Here’s a video of the first couple minutes of the fight, into the early stages of [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 22nd, 2009
9:25 pm
Definitely, SUNMAN. I post the weekend to do list every Thursday, and daily to-do lists during the rest of the week. Till then, check out the searchable calendar on AccessAtlanta.com. You can narrow it down to the type of stuff you’re interested in and the area around Atlanta that you’re visiting, among others things. Does that help?
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Tommy Emmanuel | Chanel News | News | Breaking News | News Headlines | Latest News | World News | US News | Entertainment News | Daily News | News Channel | Sports News
August 22nd, 2009
11:35 pm
[...] Mozart 3 pm WCRB-FM (99.5) Piano Concerto No. 11, with pianist Mitsuko Uchida. … Tax-free weekend shopping center events:Tommy Emmanuel performs: 8 pm July 30 at The Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave NE. Grupo Fantasma [...]
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Midtown Girl
August 23rd, 2009
4:11 pm
Finally!! Someone was thinking,, I mean who wants to sit and watch a movie while its hot out.
I visit the market area often with friends and family on the weekends, I mean lets face it there isn’t a whole lot to do in Atlantic Station unless your going to eat and buy something at Old Navy. But when the market area is set-up, I can walk around and find interesting things to look at and speak with some of the most interesting people and my friends and I can look around and just enjoy our day. We often make an afternoon about.
When the market isn’t set up,, we’re in,, we’re out. I can go to a mall anytime. Its not like Lenox or anyone else.
I’ve been to the movies there (twice: Shopaholic and GREASE) and enjoy the fact that its not overly crowded and now that the weather is getting cooler, it will be more pleasant, and my girlfriends and I look for interesting jewlery and things in the market place,,they have some of the “coolest artist”. and NO ONE in Atlanta does this. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE MARKET!!!!
So FINALLY,, A.S. has two gold stars.. One for the market and one for the movie series… I can’t wait for Audrey Hepburn…
I hope they don’t mess it up. PS: Jamie,, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog.
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Tony
August 23rd, 2009
4:47 pm
Ok, does this mean you can now move on to something else other than this dumb water balloon nonsense? I’m assuming it’s over now, right?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 23rd, 2009
5:21 pm
We will be moving on, but really, a few thousand people had a swell time, and the nature of a blog means info gets posted as it’s available, even if it’s staggered. Onward to new things on Monday!
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Hope
August 23rd, 2009
8:13 pm
Jamie, I’m Hope’s Dad and believe me, I enjoyed watching my Daughter
as much as she did watching the Beatles. That is one date I’ll always cherish, as she said that was 44 years ago but she’s still my baby.
Thanks for printing her comment of that wonderful evening.
Bill Pritchard
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Garrin
August 24th, 2009
11:22 am
There was nothing “dumb” about this. The proceeds benefited an excellent cause – camp for children with disabilities. Read about the cause here and educate yourself: http://www.camptwinlakes.org/
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Portfolio Center | Diablogue | Early Buzz: GOLD
August 24th, 2009
11:47 am
[...] the write-up about the event from this weekend’s Atlanta [...]
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Eric
August 24th, 2009
2:27 pm
99X and Door44 did a great job organizing the event! We had a great time and i know i will be looking for this event same time next year! Thanks to all those involved. PS: inflatable water slides rock!
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Barb
August 24th, 2009
5:46 pm
Tellus’ website is listed incorrectly – it should be http://www.tellusmuseum.org (altho’ the old Weinman link will still get you there)!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 24th, 2009
5:52 pm
Thanks, Barb! I wasn’t able to get the Tellus redirect to work last week, but everything seems to be working out now. Much appreciated!
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Live Nation Twitter scavenger hunt in Atlanta on Aug. 19 | Inside Access
August 24th, 2009
11:01 pm
[...] with all this Twitter talk today, I received a press release about a Live Nation Twitter scavenger hunt to start tomorrow. The [...]
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Brett W. Thompson
August 25th, 2009
1:11 am
Thanks SO much for posting this!!
Here’s more info about Animation Attack:
http://asifa-atlanta.blogspot.com/2009/08/animation-attack-2009-press-release.html
-Brett W. Thompson, President of ASIFA-Atlanta
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PM
August 25th, 2009
2:06 am
On Wednesday night, make sure you check out the “Max the Hero” cartoon, which was produced & directed by Mike Salva; written & performed by Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, and Michael J. Nelson. (You might know them from Rifftrax or Mystery Science Theater 3000.)
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mike
August 25th, 2009
3:38 pm
This should be done every year till we break the record. what a great idea to raise money for charity. good job everyone
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Michael Halpner
August 25th, 2009
11:36 pm
For more information on the Artmore Hotel, please visit us at http://www.artmorehotel.com. We look forward to welcoming you for the AUFF.
- Michael Halpner
GM- Artmore Hotel
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To do list: August 26 | Inside Access
August 26th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] Atlanta Underground Film Festival begins, all day, venues throughout the city, [...]
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Atlanta celebrates Michael Jackson with weekend tributes | Inside Access
August 26th, 2009
8:45 am
[...] This Michael Jackson-themed community walk will benefit community arts center WonderRoot. (Yep, I wrote about them earlier this week.) Come dressed in your best Michael gear, even if it’s just a lone white [...]
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Water balloon fight not a record breaker — next year, it’s on! | Inside Access
August 26th, 2009
11:18 am
[...] broken the record for the world’s largest water balloon fight. (Missed it? Here are photos from the water balloon fight and some very wet [...]
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Truth Seeker
August 26th, 2009
4:16 pm
CD s….don’t know where
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Quawanda Boyer
August 26th, 2009
4:16 pm
CD’s lying on the floor of a Record Store
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Bill Hancock
August 26th, 2009
4:30 pm
The Fish statue at the Atlanta Fish Market
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PJ
August 26th, 2009
4:33 pm
Chattahoochee Nature Center’s new Discovery Center
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PACKER BACKER
August 26th, 2009
4:36 pm
HARD ROCK CAFE ?
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FreekBrother
August 26th, 2009
4:48 pm
These are CDs obviously and I think I saw them at the Georgia Aquarium.
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Panic Spreader
August 26th, 2009
4:53 pm
Atlanta Fish Market.
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MattyB
August 26th, 2009
4:59 pm
Yup, Fish Market
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MB
August 26th, 2009
5:01 pm
Atlanta Fish Market’s fish on top of the building on Pharr Road.
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Melisa
August 26th, 2009
5:04 pm
CD’s. Not sure where they could be….
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Vance
August 26th, 2009
5:12 pm
Atlanta Fish Market
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Smokey the Pundit
August 26th, 2009
5:23 pm
It’s the scales on the giant fish at the Chattahoochee Nature Center.
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John
August 26th, 2009
5:23 pm
cd’s
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John
August 26th, 2009
5:29 pm
My first guess was CD’s making up a fish, and thus probably at the GA Aquarium. But since I work there, and don’t recall ever having seen it, I’m thinking those guys who said CNC’s new facility might be on to something.
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Ima Nidiot
August 26th, 2009
5:34 pm
AOL Headquarters?
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Robbin
August 26th, 2009
5:37 pm
CD’s
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D
August 26th, 2009
6:10 pm
Atlanta Fish Market
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melissa's mom
August 26th, 2009
6:20 pm
Isn’t the fish at the Fish Market made of copper? These are obviously CDs … possibly covering a wall in a music venue? The Tabernacle or Variety Playhouse??
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HIAWASSEE
August 26th, 2009
6:45 pm
ATLANTA ZOO-SOME KIND OF SNAKE SCALES.
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Leonard Gilbert
August 26th, 2009
6:50 pm
CD’s Sony Carrollton, GA
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To do list: August 27 | Inside Access
August 27th, 2009
12:07 am
[...] Night at the Museum event, 1-9 p.m., Barrow County Museum, Winder. FREE. Movies: “WALL-E” shows for Movies & The Market, 8:45 p.m. Atlantic Station’s Central Park, Atlanta. [...]
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ChippersLoveChild
August 27th, 2009
9:29 am
No reference to Motley Crue? Already can tell this blog won’t offer me much guidance for my weekend.
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Jeff
August 27th, 2009
9:50 am
how about the red bull soap box races, seems like someone didnt do a good job of weekend event listing.
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Wes
August 27th, 2009
9:52 am
Yea, and no mentioning of Chickenfoot at the Tabernacle on Sunday? They seriously need a music only calendar.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 27th, 2009
9:54 am
Hey Jeff! You might’ve missed it, but the Red Bull soapbox races is listed under Saturday’s items to do.
Meanwhile, ChippersLoveChild, I didn’t mention Motley Crue because I had a feeling that their fans are the passionate variety that know about it well before I’m going to tell them.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 27th, 2009
9:55 am
Good news, Wes! You can search the AccessAtlanta.com calendar only for music events, or you can check out our Atlanta Music Scene blog. It has a list of live music picks: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 27th, 2009
10:11 am
Love all these guesses! Keep ‘em coming! The answer and story will be posted at 4 p.m.!
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ogre
August 27th, 2009
10:44 am
ok then, how about led zepagain at variety playhouse on sat.
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ChippersLoveChild
August 27th, 2009
11:15 am
Your reasoning makes sense to me, fair enough
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tsunade
August 27th, 2009
2:50 pm
man, i wish atlanta was doing it as big as NY and LA are doing it! but i will be going to some of these birthday tributes.
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Access Points: Watershed exhibit at Chattahoochee Nature Center | Inside Access
August 27th, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] of creative guesses on this week’s Access Point, but just a few of you knew it was a fish in the watershed exhibit at the Chattahoochee Nature [...]
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Access Points 5: Guess what and where this is! | Inside Access
August 27th, 2009
5:00 pm
[...] Think you know? Here’s the answer. Access Points: Can you guess what and where this [...]
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Monica
August 27th, 2009
9:27 pm
^ Yeah, me too.
That Spike Lee party sounds like it’s gonna be great.
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Weekend to do list: August 28-30 | Inside Access
August 27th, 2009
10:22 pm
[...] Stage: “Be a Georgia Tree,” 1 p.m., Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Atlanta. Story. [...]
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Atlanta celebrates bMichael Jackson/b with weekend tributes | Inside b…/b @ Michael Jackson :: 1958 - 2009
August 28th, 2009
4:42 am
[...] here: Atlanta celebrates bMichael Jackson/b with weekend tributes | Inside b…/b [...]
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Weekend to do list: August 28-30 | Inside Access
August 28th, 2009
9:52 am
[...] Visual art: Perspectives Georgia Pottery Invitational, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., OCAF Center, Watkinsville. FREE. Story. [...]
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Jeff
August 28th, 2009
10:50 am
Thanks Jamie. My bad.
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50 Georgia artists, 4500 pieces at Pottery Invitational | Inside … | Georgia realestate live today
August 28th, 2009
1:02 pm
[...] hands, a take-home prowess send that ease makes mom bout up 20 eld later. Read the example post: 50 Colony artists, 4500 pieces at Pottery Invitational | Inside … Posted in Art, Uncategorized | Tags: all-like, and-other, Art, like-the-idea, mom-tear, [...]
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Phill
August 28th, 2009
1:33 pm
I thought the place was insured. I guess the investigators found something a little fishy and then suddenly Wilmont was all “OMG lol donations pls”. I heard Tim Bryant on the radio specifically say that the building was insured and when investigators were done it would be fully restored. Oh it was under-insured you say?A major historical landmark and it was “under-insured”? You’re joking right? All this “invest in Athens history because it feels good k” feels like a bunch of smoke & mirrors.
@truth: Bands usually had to pay a high price if they were unknown and wanted to play the Theater. If anything there will be just as much if not MORE music now that it’s gone.
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ATLGirl
August 28th, 2009
2:42 pm
What about Marshall Tucker Band tonight at Mable House Barnes ampitheater (sp)? Rain is diminishing, not super hot out…great night for great southern rock and roll.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 28th, 2009
2:48 pm
Thanks for the suggestion, ATLGirl! Not everything gets on this list — we’ve got the calendar that lists everything, and I only have so much time to trim it down — but readers (and me!) always appreciate an endorsement from someone in the community.
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Typical
August 28th, 2009
3:42 pm
Under what authority are weapons banned?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 28th, 2009
3:47 pm
I’ve got no specific information on that; race organizers say they’re following Piedmont Park rules, and weapons are on their list of items not to bring. That seems to be the typical list of banned items for events there.
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Typical
August 28th, 2009
4:25 pm
I don’t think that’s a Piedmont Park rule (as long as one has a GFL).
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Gwinnett Braves $1 tix | NASCAR specials | Tour Championship special | Free movie and music | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
August 28th, 2009
4:48 pm
[...] always, for more to see and do this weekend, go to the Inside Access blog, where Jamie Gumbrecht’s got you [...]
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Rusty
August 28th, 2009
7:47 pm
We did a walking audio tour of this exhibit as a podcast back when it was at the Civic Center. Cheryl Muré, the director of education then (and I think now), was very gracious with her time. It sounds like a lot of the interactive stuff is new.
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Why would need weapons for this?
August 28th, 2009
8:39 pm
Name says it all, weapons, beer, never go good together. And before you go off spouting I am some left wing liberal gun hating nut..
I am a NRA member, have a conceal carry permit, and own more than a few myself.
Leave em at home, stay out of trouble.
Have fun.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
I didn’t see the first one, but I’ve been trolling the AJC archive for a comparison. They say the Aquarium exhibition has 40 objects that have never appeared before. I also read a few stories out of the Civic Center exhibition that clearly aren’t in this one. So there we go!
Meanwhile, thanks for the podcast link!
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HT
August 28th, 2009
10:21 pm
Aren’t CCWs invalid at a public gathering anyways?
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Zippy
August 28th, 2009
11:56 pm
Nobody needs weapons for this. Leave them at home. Makes pickin’s easy for me!
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hobberskins
August 29th, 2009
1:20 am
OMG! This is about good clean or fairly clean fun and the first thing out of somebody’s mouth is some gun gripe. Ridiculous! Please stay out of my neighborhood and spend your day defending your second amendment right at home! Geez. Get a friggin grip people!
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Typical
August 29th, 2009
9:03 am
“Why would need weapons for this?” You may not be a liberal gun hating nut but you don’t read very well. Alcohol is on the no-no list. GA does not issue a conceal carry permit. Not carrying means staying out of trouble to you???
Crazy!!
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funtime
August 29th, 2009
10:00 am
Yes you can carry at a public gathering, store, just about anywhere now. But if you are asked not to bring one you cant. That is part of the law now alos, If you are are asked to take to our vehicel and you refuse you get a new pair of shiny braclets.
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Cardog10
August 29th, 2009
10:49 am
I’m 21 so I’m allowed to drink, but I still can’t bring alcoholic beverages to Piedmont. Same with guns, idiot. Get a life
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ConcretelyAmbiguous
August 29th, 2009
11:06 am
This is a pretty good list for this weekend.
For other great Atlanta Events check out ConcretelyAmbiguous Events Calendar at http://concretelyambiguous.com/concretelyambiguous-events-calendar/
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drewmanc
August 29th, 2009
11:22 am
Do us all a favor. Don’t come at all.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 29th, 2009
11:52 am
Before this conversation gets too crazy, just a reminder: please be respectful and keep the conversation moving forward. I hope we all have a wonderful, safe time!
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Rose
August 29th, 2009
12:25 pm
Atlanta’s tributes are LAME!! MJ deserves bigger and better than this. =<
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Ka Pow mom
August 29th, 2009
2:08 pm
I was hoping for a live web cast. If so can you direct me to it.
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Nancy
August 29th, 2009
6:02 pm
Just got back from the 2:00 Happy Birthday 10th Anniversary show for Alton Brown’s Good Eats. It was so much fun, an absolute hoot.
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Chris
August 29th, 2009
7:49 pm
Thanks Red Bull for bringing good times and fun to Atlanta. It was awesome to see so many folks gathering on the street to have a good time. Blocking off Tenth Street should happen again soon for
a nice block party with dancing and some good cooking.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 29th, 2009
9:00 pm
“Block party.” Not sure how traffic feels about it, but it sounds like a great idea, Chris. The neighbors seemed to be good sports about a soapbox strip in front of their houses. Maybe it’ll happen!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 29th, 2009
9:19 pm
Offer up some suggestions, Rose! Maybe if someone gets an idea in their head, it’ll happen.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 29th, 2009
9:30 pm
Fun! Thanks for sharing, Nancy! What was it like? (Was there cake? Yes, I totally have a cake hangup.) Meanwhile, here’s an interview with Alton Brown from my colleague Rodney’s Radio-TV Talk blog: http://bit.ly/RQhtv
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blondie
August 30th, 2009
1:10 am
how did team clermont do? so tired of trying to save the pandas – they have a nice home in china… we need to save the clermont lounge! h8 foreclosures/mortgages/the concept of money.
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Lori
August 30th, 2009
9:20 pm
Awwww the Chili Dog Explosion crashed? Bless their hearts
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Rick Day
August 31st, 2009
4:15 pm
Conventions book fun places. International draws do not roll up the sidewalks at 3AM. Without more night life, Atlanta is as exciting a draw as Dallas, or St Louis or Topeka. Everything was fine with the 4AM closing, until a few bad apples spoiled it, compounded by the fumbled attempted monopoly of night life that was created with the disaster known as Underground.
Midtown is the PERFECT place, IF an entertainment district is firmly established in the commercial area. Residents: You should be remained that YOU are the intruders into the commercial zone. If you want peace and quiet move to the suburbs, where the zoning forbids night clubs. Do not move next to the airport, and expect everyone to keep YOUR interpretation of ‘peace and quiet’. That complaining residents live in a box with 1000 other people suggests you don’t REALLY care about ‘noise’.
DISCLOSURE: I reside within the SPI-16 commercial zone, 150 feet from an all-night “club”, on one of the busiest streets in Midtown Atlanta, and have just learned to DEAL with the noise.
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seriously....
August 31st, 2009
5:03 pm
I don’t criticize grammar in comments, but I think a journalist is fair game — it is hay bales, not BAILS. How’d that get past the writer AND the editor???
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 31st, 2009
5:49 pm
Seriously…the bloggers don’t have editors. Everything you’re seeing here has generally passed through my eyes only, and we’re all human. After many hours in the hot sun, everybody makes mistakes! However, it’s corrected now! Thanks!
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Leigh
August 31st, 2009
7:57 pm
I lived across from the last vision. I’m ok with clubs. I used to live on Crescent with all the clubs. The difference between the clubs on Crescent (with the exception being Opera as they had a shooting there) and Vision is the shootings that happened associated with vision patrons- and the boom boom cars oh and the public urination, trash, screeching harpies hanging out in the parking lot after the club closed. I can see the clubs close down on Crescent from my balcony. They close down clubs clear out and people go home. With Vision the clubs closed down people went and lolly gagged in the parking lot and turned on their bass – then they cruised around the block a few times to impress the “ladies” with said bass.
Midtown is not the place for this club as they’ve already shown they cannot control their patrons. Put this club in Underground where it belongs. Maybe a 4 million dollar club would entice people to actually go to Underground.
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Jason
August 31st, 2009
8:36 pm
Rick Day, wouldn’t full disclosure be you telling everyone that you ***OPERATE*** a Midtown club (activity center, goth bar, alternative liftstyle venue or whatever you want to call it)? Your views can hardly be consider objective since you chose to open a business in the area in question.
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Beck
August 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
The clubs were here before the yuppies moved “intown.” I would much rather go back to the days of Backstreet and Kaya than have most of these new residents of Atlanta here.
If they didn’t like the nightclubs, they shouldn’t have moved into the neighborhoods with nightclubs. It’s just another form of gentrification.
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Jason
August 31st, 2009
9:23 pm
Long before any of the guys who want to operate this megaclub were born, Peachtree Street had horse stables. Horses are frightened by loud music. If someone wants to bring back horse stables to Peachtree, can they demand all the clubs shutdown because stables were there first? Vision closed and went away and condos moved in. Now they want to move back in and dictate the character of the neighborhood.
Most cities put megaclubs like these in light industrial areas so they don’t bother anyone. Cities evolve over time. Only boring old people whose best days have passed them by pull out the “it was so much more fun when I was younger” card. Backstreet is gone. Kaya is gone. Vision is gone. If they want to reopen, there area hundreds of places they can do so where they won’t bother anyone. You’ll get use to the new locations… or perhaps not since they’ll now be populated with young whipper snappers who are flexible enough to adjust when things change rather than insist everything remain just like it use to be.
Do note that no one is opposing smaller bars and lounges. The opposition is to the hyped up megaclubs that pull in people from all over the metro who don’t want to have their own neighborhoods treated this way. If the Gidewon brothers just must have a location in Midtown, they need to make it appropriately scaled to the area. Mixed residential and commercial is not the place for huge megaclubs. Industrial areas and abandoned shopping centers in strictly commercial areas are.
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Pepper
August 31st, 2009
9:28 pm
How classy can this joint be if the clientele will have to be frisked at the doorway for weapons? I’m sure NeNe and her gal pals from the real housewives of the ATL will feel right at home here.
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jerry gardner
August 31st, 2009
9:33 pm
A “high end destination” is only as high-end as its patrons, and a drunk is a drunk. And none of them care about marble counters.
Am I the only one here who remembers the Buckhead bar scene of 10 years ago when residents could not even leave their houses because of the traffic and the noise? A murder every Sunday morning at 2am? Why won’t this happen again in Midtown?
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Smallbusinessowner
August 31st, 2009
9:35 pm
I was in Midtown long before Velvet, Cotton, Vision, the clubs on Crescent, or the yuppies. Trust me – the yuppies are far better. The only people in Midtown that this is good for are the Gidewons and landlord John Dewberry. Take the party, noise, traffic, beatings and shootings somewhere else … please.
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Kevin
August 31st, 2009
9:41 pm
Neighborhoods evolve. Midtown has evolved from a party-filled, somewhat gritty area into a higher end, classier area. The entertainment needs to transition with the neighborhood, not the other way around. We’re the ones paying the bills. And don’t come back with the sales tax revenue. Property tax from high density residential blows that number away.
Leigh had it right. We’re not objecting to clubs that cater to patrons that do their thing and leave. Vision’s history has shown us who they’re targeting– people who leave the club, thump-thump their music, urinate in the street, and cruise around. Seriously– if you paid an enormous amount of money for a house, would you want that in your front yard?
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seriously.... (again)
August 31st, 2009
10:11 pm
Jamie — thanks for being cool about it, and correcting the error! I’m surprised the on-line content of the AJC doesn’t go through an editor. Is that for the whole site, or just the blogs?
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Midtown Resident
August 31st, 2009
10:24 pm
As a resident living on Peachtree, I’m in favor of a nightclub(s) in Midtown. Just NOT on Peachtree and NOT by this owner. First, the SPI Club capacity is 1300+. There are only 250 designated parking spots. There will be hundreds of cars simply seeking a place to park. Local residential parking will certainly effected. Second, SPI Club will hire 10 off duty police officers. Only 2 of them will keep traffic on Peachtree moving in front of the club. Imagine if 2 officers tried to move traffic on Peachtree in Buckhead at midnight a few years ago. Thirdly, SPI Club has no clear plan to clean up garbage in the area. Just a few years ago when Vision was running, the NPU-E made frequent requests to Vision to address all of the signage and fliers in area generated by the club. These and many other requests by the NPU-E were simply ignored.
I don’t think that anyone is naive to think that Gidewon won’t get his liquor license. He spent $4M to build out a nightclub without any community input (nor some building permits) before he even received a liquor license. His own website shows pictures of him and his family with Mayor Franklin and Kasim Reed. Clearly he’s not dumb enough to build $4M club and just hoping to get a liquor license. This is the only time to have him agree to some simple neighborhood standards before he resumes his history of ignoring the NPU and the midtown residents.
Find out more and why the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance and hundreds of other residents are concerned…
http://www.midtownponce.org/news/index.html
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Allen
August 31st, 2009
10:27 pm
Atlanta NEEDS this club . . . more than ever. People (read: conventions and those who plan them) go to cities where there is actually something to do . . . something unique . . . Atlanta once had this distinction with 24 hours clubs (something any city of 5 million people should have — this is not supposed to be Mayberry folks). I have friends from Alabama who used to come to Atlanta for a long weekend of entertainment in the South’s capital city who do not come here anymore because we roll up the sidewalks at 2 am. This is an economic decision. Fewer visitors means fewer hotel rooms, less taxes (gasoline, room, liquor); less business for taxi drivers, etc. It should not take a genius to figure out that more entertainment options means more revenue — for EVERYONE! I have lived in Atlanta for over 35 years and I have never seen the nightlife at such a low ebb.
In addition to conventioneers, there are singles; people who work as bartenders, waitresses, who need a place to go after work hours. WE have a young professional workforce that needs social outlets in the central city. People move into the city for the nightlife . . . not for the peace and quiet . . . for that, you can move to the mountains, or perhaps Dacula. Atlanta needs unique entertainment options. Right now, we really have none. For those who do not want to see these type clubs on Peachtree, move back to the suburbs, please. A city is defined by it’s nightlife. When you drive into Atlanta from Alabama on I-20 from Birmingham, for example, and see those bright lights of Atlanta skyscrapers it suggests a “happening place” and literally brings you to life with expectations. . . as it is now, you arrive and realize you are actually in Mayberry — everything is closed. This is not as it should be.
Perspective: I am a retired, professional, 62 year old white male.
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ATLien
August 31st, 2009
10:30 pm
Well said Kevin. Could not agree more.
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Reader
August 31st, 2009
10:32 pm
Don’t get mad. You made that choice to live in a major city. So you have to deal with the noise, the crowd, sometimes the crimes of an urban city. Name one major city that does not have those issues. I’m not saying it’s OKAY. `Name one city that doesn’t have clubs or theaters on it’s main thoroughfare or in the heart of the city.
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Uncle Tom
August 31st, 2009
10:54 pm
What the “City” of Atlanta doesn’t need are more hulking condo or condo/hotel buildings. Aren’t there enough shadows looming over the streets during the day? To answer the question(s) at hand however, it seems to me there are enough clubs within the perimeter. And besides, why spend money on capital improvements on a building if you don’t own the building anyway?
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Uncle Tom
August 31st, 2009
11:03 pm
Well, well, well. Thanks to “Pepper” and the snide remark about NeNe (of RHOA), it appears we have our very first color comment of the evening. Now I could say, “why does Midtown need another club that would be a happy hangout spot for the likes of Paris, Britney, or Lindsay,” but why should I?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 31st, 2009
11:06 pm
Good discussion so far, folks. Thanks for keeping it respectful and offering up your answers and ideas!
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esa
August 31st, 2009
11:10 pm
So if I understand the arguments for the club correctly, Atlanta needs this club because (1) economic growth comes from drunk people who stay out until 4 am and not people who sleep at night and go to work in the morning, (2) people from Alabama will drive to Atlanta attracted by the bright lights and be disappointed with the clubs we have now, and (3) an area dominated by homes and high rise office buildings such as Midtown Atlanta is not a live-work area but an all-night drunken party destination. Now I understand.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
August 31st, 2009
11:30 pm
Seriously… It’s a mix. The blogging and breaking news teams were created to get good information posted online as quickly as possible. That means that writers take on more responsibility for getting it right the first time, but problems inevitably slip through. Thankfully, it’s also pretty simple to update info and to correct errors and typos. If it’s a particularly complicated or tense issue, we’ll toss the post or news burst to an editor, just to be safe. (Stories by the beat writers and Sunday staff are usually created with a print-first, online-second philosophy, and those usually go through an editor or two. Not as many as we once had, but it’s something.) Thank you for understanding! I do the best I can, but it can be a lot. I guess the system works: my last AJC blog was lucky to get three posts a week. I’m doing that in a day now. Even now, my fingers are feeling a bit like jelly.
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Smallbusinessowner
August 31st, 2009
11:37 pm
Dang folks – nobody thinks that there shouldn’t be mega-party, mega-clubs in Atlanta. 12th and Peachtree is just not the appropriate location. The serious taxpayers – homeowners, and small and large businesses have a huge investment in the quality of life in the neighborhood. Most of the patrons of this club (and the owners) won’t give a s**t about Midtown or the people that live and work there. There are a hundred other appropriate locations for this club.
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To do list: September 1 | Inside Access
September 1st, 2009
12:01 am
[...] families: “Titanic Aquatic” enters its final week, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Georgia Aquarium, [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 1st, 2009
12:42 am
Hi Ka Pow mom! Sorry, no live Webcast, but the winners and the drawings that got their cars started are posted online: http://www.redbullsoapboxusa.com
Sorry there isn’t more to share!
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Reality
September 1st, 2009
8:27 am
If this were another gay bar opening in Midtown there would be nothing said. Midtown residents know that gay bars don’t draw people who want to shoot each other, nor do gay bars attract people who want to hang out in parking lots and blast ghetto boom boxes and circle the block wanting to be seen trying to impress others with loud, loud, loud music rattling windows. Gays aren’t people who drive cars that have music arriving two blocks ahead of the car. Gay bars are welcome in Midtown, but hetro bars that attract certain elements are not. It’s just that simple. People, it’s not about how you look. It’s about how you behave. Peace!
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‘America I AM’ extended in Atlanta through Sept. 27 | Inside Access
September 1st, 2009
12:32 pm
[...] culled from local participants in the Civil Rights Movement; others have come along way, like the “Doors of No Return” from [...]
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Paul Mccartney Piedmont Park
September 1st, 2009
1:57 pm
[...] Mccartney Piedmont Park What to know before you go: Red Bull Soapbox RaceThe Red Bull Soapbox Race will take over Piedmont Park on Saturday, and organizers are expecting a [...]
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the real Old Gold
September 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
After the opener at Bobby Dodd, the wife and I will go watch her Tide at the Dome for the second straight year. Two college games in one day.. check!
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gcs
September 1st, 2009
11:44 pm
No camp fires?! You fascists!
.
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Weekend To Do List: September 4-7 | Inside Access
September 2nd, 2009
12:01 am
[...] 24-hour Art Lock-in, 8 p.m., WonderRoot, [...]
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Link: What to do in Atlanta before the game- from AJC - TideFans.com
September 2nd, 2009
8:25 am
[...] to do in Atlanta before the game- from AJC What to know before you go: Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game | Inside Access __________________ "I don’t like Mondays"- Brenda Ann [...]
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Dustin
September 2nd, 2009
8:52 am
I wish I could be there. It sounds like fun. Football season is back!!!
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Mystory
September 2nd, 2009
9:43 am
The moral of this story is You can’t please everybody. The Gidewons have owned the most popular club in Atlanta in Midtown before and people have complained, the Gidewons will AGAIN own the most popular club in Atlanta, and people will continue to complain. Meanwhile the people who welcomes the new establishment will enjoy it to the fullest so the other people who are unhapppy about it will just have to find a way to deal with the issues as they unfold. Bottom line, end of story. Congrats in advance to the brothers for yet another success, and thanks for all that you do in the community. I’m looking forward to the new venue
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the perfect weekend
September 2nd, 2009
9:58 am
This is why Atlanta is the best city in the world. I’m going to the 790 the zone Football party on Thursday, Braves game on Friday, Tech game and then Alabama game on Saturday, race on Sunday, then recover on the holiday Monday. I love it.
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Thinking About Going
September 2nd, 2009
11:16 am
Will there be a lot of obnoxious, inarticulate, chest-thumping, ill-mannered THUGZ downtown for the game and festivities on Saturday as is usually the case with Falcons games?
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Beentheredonethat
September 2nd, 2009
11:31 am
I do not want this club to be opened in this location. I live on Peachtree in South Buckhead and do not want the cruisers from the burbs (b/c that’s usually who it is) driving up and down Peachtree in the middle of the night with their music blaring (don’t even get me started on the stupid motorcycles with no mufflers!). WE are paying the taxes to live there and deserve to be able to sleep at night.
Build your club…but build it some where else! We don’t want you in our neighborhood! Kevin was RIGHT ON!
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jimh
September 2nd, 2009
11:43 am
Not to mention Dragon Con and Parade down a “closed peachtree st” at 10 am
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 2nd, 2009
2:21 pm
Jimh: Did you see the list of weekend events? There’s soooo much going on. http://bit.ly/1b3ZHk
Thinking About Going: This blog isn’t a place for bullying, wild generalizations or snide commentary in the form of a question. If you go, I hope you have fun, but please don’t ruin the fun on this blog.
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griftdrift
September 2nd, 2009
5:19 pm
I’m a guessing it’s the Giganotosaurus at Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
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Duluth, GA
September 2nd, 2009
5:28 pm
And some people complain that there is nothing to do in Atlanta…..
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BB
September 2nd, 2009
5:32 pm
I know….I think some people just like to complain.
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Reader
September 2nd, 2009
5:42 pm
I agree with BB.
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Weekend To Do List: September 4-7 | Inside Access
September 2nd, 2009
5:49 pm
[...] Books: AJC Decatur Book Festival gathers authors, readers, musicians and others together for a family-friendly weekend of literature loving through Sept. 4-6, downtown Decatur. Know Before You Go info. [...]
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Weekend To Do List: September 4-7 | Inside Access
September 2nd, 2009
5:49 pm
[...] History: Final Day for “Titanic Aquatic,” 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta. (Exhibition review) [...]
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hmm
September 2nd, 2009
5:56 pm
I don’t believe that Dragon*Con is at the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel..
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DW
September 2nd, 2009
8:31 pm
Dragoncon the best party on the east coast and one very few Atlantans have any idea of how good it is and safe.
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Weekend To Do List: September 4-7 | Inside Access
September 2nd, 2009
10:27 pm
[...] Sports: Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game between Alabama and Virginia Tech, 8 p.m., Georgia Dome, Atlanta. “What to know before you go” event info. [...]
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Piso
September 2nd, 2009
10:48 pm
I’m guessing the Flex Bathhouse after getting a “mud bath”
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jen
September 3rd, 2009
12:23 am
Don’t know.
But know where I am?
East London, South Africa. Its aout 6:20am and I’m going for a jog on the beach. You know, by the Indian Ocean?
It sucks to be away from family when I travel but there ARE perks.
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ATLien
September 3rd, 2009
6:43 am
The mouth of the Tyrannosaurus display at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History.
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Sue Rodman
September 3rd, 2009
8:31 am
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
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YellowJackette
September 3rd, 2009
9:38 am
1) What does it matter what other cities have and do? Atlanta needs to do what is best for Atlanta and it’s citizens. Do you think those cities became what they are because they followed the same pattern?
2) For all those people who say “don’t move to midtown if you don’t want the noise” or “the clubs where there first”, forget that not all the people living in midtown or the condos that have gone up are as old as they are. I’m sure the residents who spent hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to move into midtown did so during the time when Vision or any other “mega-club” was not in business. As far as they are concerned, the noise, litter, and traffic were not what they paid for nor was it a foreseeable problem on such a scale. I, for one, moved into a condo within the last year a block far where SPI will be located and had no idea such a club was in the works. I moved there expecting the the loud sirens, occasional car honking, and human banter walking down the sidewalk. I expected noise… to a degree. I am not willing to give up the atmosphere I have paid for, learned to appreciate, and expect just because people who don’t pay the same taxes I do and who don’t appreciate the city I live in because they came from the ‘burbs want to come into my city to live a night of lower standards then they would expect in their own neighborhoods.
3) I agree that Atlanta needs a little more nightlife. As a “yuppie” as y’all so fondly refer to us as, I want to be able to go out and have fun with my friends. I just don’t want my “neighbor” to be the one throwing the party every weekend and most week nights. There are much better locations for this club. Why not DOWNTOWN? Nobody from out of town talks about visiting “Midtown Atlanta” anyways.
4) I also think this nightclub would be okay if the patrons actually kept to their standards that they want out of a club. A club cannot be high-end or “grown and sexy” unless the people going inside or waiting in line are. The club must also be concerned if they find a need to have metal-detectors at the doors. Unfortunatly that’s only good for inside the club. What about the people that get turned away? As previously stated, there will be 2 cops to help with traffic outside of the club. Well that’s only going to help the 250 people who are lucky enough to get a parking spot in the club’s lot. What about the guaranteed to be needed overflow lots? After looking over the materials presented to Midtown Neighbors’ Association Board of Directors, I noticed that there are people to help with the overflow street lot planned but no one is set up to help with the overflow parking deck. Not to mention, who is actually going to pay to park in that deck when there are free spots lining Piedmont and Juniper. I am very concerned by this fact and the fact that my window looks out at that overflow deck. Who is even going to be responsible for all those people going back to their cars?
5) I understand you can’t please everyone. Sadly it sounds as if the Gidewons have only worried about pleasing themselves. Maybe if they had been a bit more considerate of their neighbors their first go around, people would be more considerate of their efforts now.
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Buck Belue offers college football, recruiting insight on 680 | AJC College Sports Recruiting
September 3rd, 2009
11:12 am
[...] Buck and I — “Westy” has other duties this weekend — will be doing the show live from Centenniel Olympic Park. In case you haven’t heard, there will be quite a few things going on there Saturday. ESPN’s College Game Day will be there and 680 The Fan, along with Bud Light, Q100, Rock100.5, 99X and Jezebel magazine, is sponsoring the “Bud Light Downtown Touchdown Free Concert” featuring Collective Soul at 3 p.m. The AJC’s Jamie Gumbrecht runs down the lineup of events going on Saturday HERE. [...]
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Labor Day Weekend! « My Atlanta Update
September 3rd, 2009
11:39 am
[...] Labor Day Weekend! So much to do and such little time to do it!! Oh yea…. it is the Labor Day weekend and Atlanta is packed with events all around. Here is a quick run down of a few items thanks to the Jamie G. with the AJC. [...]
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Maleman
September 3rd, 2009
12:32 pm
Shatner is going to be at this years Dragon-Con, it should be great. This event brings a lot of money into the city and I have never heard of any violence or anything bad happening. And…it’s a great place for all your old math and chess club buddies from high school to get together again! Seriously, it’s very cool to go to. Check it out.
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Tony from Stone Mountain
September 3rd, 2009
2:19 pm
Kirk and Spock and having a panel at 10am. on Friday at Dragon-Con.
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Tony from Stone Mountain
September 3rd, 2009
2:21 pm
I was Chess Club and journalism staff. Math Club was for losers. lol
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Tony from Stone Mountain
September 3rd, 2009
2:22 pm
I meant “are” not “and”.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 3rd, 2009
2:49 pm
I was journalism staff, Science Olympiad, colorguard, French Club, drama… This will be my first time dropping in on DragonCon, but I believe these are my people, Maleman and Tony.
(By the way, I think Rodney Ho is covering the Shatner-Nimoy event on the Radio-TV Talk blog!)
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Access Points 6: Giganotosaurus at Fernbank Museum | Inside Access
September 3rd, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] you make a guess at this week’s Access Points photo game? Griftdrift did, and he was [...]
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Access Points 6: Giganotosaurus at Fernbank Museum | Inside Access
September 3rd, 2009
4:05 pm
[...] Museum of Natural History. This fiberglass cast gets dragged out for all kinds of events, like the “Night at the Museum” sleepover last month, but it’s been around the museum longer than most of its [...]
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southern hope
September 3rd, 2009
4:05 pm
Naive questions about DragonCon (and I couldn’t figure this out from their site). Can you just walk up & buy tickets for the day? Is it sold out? Where is the main venue (they list 4 hotels but I’m not sure where registration takes place). Any basic information appreciated!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 3rd, 2009
4:24 pm
Good question, southern hope! Here’s info about DragonCon “memberships,” or daily passes: http://www.dragoncon.org/members.php
I’ll be publishing a “What to know before you go” guide for DragonCon late tonight or early tomorrow, but I’m missing some of the details, too, like which door, exactly, gets you to the one-day passes. My understanding is that you should look for the reeeeealllly long line.
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southern hope
September 3rd, 2009
5:33 pm
thank you Jamie! very helpful. I just walked over there & one thing i discovered is that you buy the single day tickets at the Sheraton (that’s a change for this year) and that a one-day pass costs $50 or you can buy a 2-day pass for $50 (yeah, I know…LOL….but Friday was the only cheaper day….so Sat & Sun together cost $50….one idea they gave me is to buy the sat/sun package on Friday afternooon….)
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Weekend To Do List: September 4-7 | Inside Access
September 3rd, 2009
10:54 pm
[...] Starlight Drive-Invasion and 60th Anniversary Celebration features Los Straitjackets, Detroit Cobras and more, 11 a.m., [...]
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What to know before you go: Dragon*Con | Inside Access
September 4th, 2009
4:31 am
[...] busy weekend. Programs will be canceled, or they will move. Downtown will be busy, too, with the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and all the free, public cookoffs and concerts surrounding it, a Georgia Tech football game and [...]
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Sue Rodman
September 4th, 2009
6:50 am
I love the “What to Know Before You Go” series. This is great info.
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Rusty
September 4th, 2009
7:33 am
Agree this is great info, and also like this series.
Close second for best people watching is the hotel bar at the Hyatt, which you can drink at without a badge.
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GTFan
September 4th, 2009
8:54 am
It’s only because it’s Labor Day Weekend Duluth, GA. I don’t particularly care for DragonCon, but great for others. Hubby and I are season ticket holders for GT, so that’s where will be.
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Dogs!!!
September 4th, 2009
11:36 am
Can anyone provide advice on how dog friendly the area around cent. Park and the collective soul concert will be? Thanks!
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INTERVIEW: Starlight Drive-In manager Jim Stacey prepares for theater’s Drive-Invasion and 60th anniversary party | Inside Access
September 4th, 2009
1:08 pm
[...] Drive-Invasion — Starlight Six’s 10th such celebration — will have all that, plus the knowledge that [...]
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GT LEO, BIG Steve
September 4th, 2009
1:41 pm
GT will put the smackdown on Jacksonville St. Saturday 1pm @ The Historic Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Alabama will beat Va Tech Saturday night 8pm @ Georgia Dome.
If you don’t go out, you can sit at your homes and watch some other football games, like Oklahoma State beating UGA @ 4pm LOL
Also, to everyone, especially all the Virgo’s, there’s a Virgo Day party at the Lucky Lounge off of Peachtree and 12th St. from 3pm – 8pm. FREE FOOD!!!!
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Dawg Foot
September 4th, 2009
2:11 pm
You can’t really kill anyone with a light saber, can you?
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NativeAtlantan
September 4th, 2009
3:38 pm
Y’all pray for Joe Cox now he’s got likely the H1N1 and may not be able to travel to Stillwater for the Okie St game…trouble brewing for the Dawgs tomorrow…
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Ellie
September 4th, 2009
6:54 pm
Dragon Con is your classic Freak Show fest of losers. I wouldn’t go there if you paid me. Freaks.
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jay
September 4th, 2009
10:20 pm
Experience jazz and blues like never before through a dazzling new film! “Sita Sings the Blues” is a spunky animated retelling of the ancient Hindu epic the Ramayana. Told from the virtuous Sita’s point of view, the film features the vocals of jazz legend Annette Hanshaw, whose plaintive lyrics and sensual, bluesy voice perfectly capture Sita’s steadfast devotion to her husband Rama. This gorgeously animated film is now available to rent or own on DVD through Netflix and Amazon
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Sammy Kershaw
September 4th, 2009
10:45 pm
Please tell me Virginia Tech fans will be doing the hokey pokey all day
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 4th, 2009
11:50 pm
Ellie: good news! Nobody will be paying you to attend, so you don’t have to go. You also didn’t have to leave such a disrespectful comment on my blog. Dragon*Con isn’t for everybody, but why reach out with so much vitriol? I hope you have a lovely weekend of fun ahead, but in the future, please respect other reader while they have fun, too.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 4th, 2009
11:51 pm
Dogs!!! Here’s the guide to the Chik-fil-A Kickoff Game events, which includes the Collective Soul/Drivin n Cryin show. Centennial Olympic Park does not allow pets. http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/09/01/what-to-know-before-you-go-chick-fil-a-kickoff-game/
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William Pabst
September 5th, 2009
5:39 am
Crock pond at Dantes in five points.
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Sally
September 5th, 2009
8:12 am
I’m sorry but a lot of this stuff looks boring.
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midtownian
September 5th, 2009
8:29 am
It’s also the last two days of Midtown Restaurant Week!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 5th, 2009
9:34 am
Recommendations welcome, Sally!
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WHAT
September 5th, 2009
10:50 am
Everything shuts down in this city at 9. I hate Atlanta. Yeah, yeah. I’ll move when I am ready.
I have never heard anybody complain about Chicago (cept the weather), nor San Diego.
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Harold Evans opens Decatur Book Festival with love for print | Inside Access
September 5th, 2009
2:48 pm
[...] I doubt print-on-demand will solve all of journalism’s troubles, nor do I think every open-information agenda is evil. Evans began more than one sentence with “Young people today…” which always makes me a little nervous about where the conversation is going. Optimism is still priceless. I could listen to that man talk all weekend. Alas, Evans has already left Atlanta, but there are still days of programming left at the book festival. Here’s info about what to know before you go. [...]
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PHOTOS: Dragon*Con Parade takes over Peachtree Street | Inside Access
September 5th, 2009
3:25 pm
[...] Virginia Tech and Alabama fans. Stylish. AJC/Jamie [...]
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Courtney
September 5th, 2009
7:37 pm
Liked the parade. Missed seeing Buffy & Angel or Mr. Spock. Too many of a couple things. such as limney Snickets and League of extraordinary gentlemen.
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What to know before you go: Dragon*Con | Inside Access
September 6th, 2009
1:03 am
[...] BEST PLACE TO WATCH WITHOUT A BADGE? DRAGON*CON PARADE You can go hang out in the Peachtree Center foodcourt and have a grand time, but better yet, head downtown around 10 a.m. Saturday morning — that’s when the annual Dragon*Con Parade gets started. It will go from Woodruff Park at Auburn Avenue, head north along Peachtree Street to the Hyatt, then down Baker Street to the Marriott. It’s not a long parade, but it does involve thousands of people in costume. Watch out for street closings in the area around that time. UPDATE 9/5: Here are AccessAtlanta.com photos from the parade, shot by a photographer and some by me! [...]
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Things to do in Atlanta this weekend, September 4-7 | Inside Access
September 6th, 2009
1:06 am
[...] Popular Culture: Dragon*Con, a multi-media convention for science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art music and film opens and continues Sept. 4-7, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta and Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. Know before you go info. [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 6th, 2009
1:10 am
Glad it helps! I’m thinking that I may wind up at the Hyatt hotel bar tomorrow, post-DBF. Nice suggestion.
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delilah
September 6th, 2009
2:41 am
sorry folks – I have been here 27 years and it is booorrriiiing. Seriously, when have the arts, theatre, museum (s) and overall cultural things to do (besides clogging) been either supported or reinvented?? In fact, anything that smacks of culture is usually the first to go., – you know it’s liberal communism/socialism stuff tha does not belong in the precious christian south. If this sound angry it is because I am. How much shopping and playing tennis/golf can one do?? Education and culture make a city and all the emphasis that is put on sports has still not made one great team here yet. I know I will get hell for this but really., -think about what has made Chicago and San Fran, Boston and NYC great cities?? Not picnics or parades. We need to really support the arts.
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candy
September 6th, 2009
10:34 am
I am a newby. Didn’t know this was happening this weekend. I like to people watch, but need something else besides big costumes. Staying at the Marriot Marquis. Any “pride” stuff going on? Im thinking it will hard to distinguish between queens and idk…some dragon con characters.Help.
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Jeff
September 6th, 2009
10:42 am
Ellie,
You are clearly misguided. What no Sorority party this weekend? Is a fun SAFE event in Atlanta where people enjoy a hobby. Sure beats the 3 drunken fraternity boys pounding bud lights a cussing up a storm in the bathroom yesterday. Clearly nobody asked for you to go, and nor your opinion. Go back to Alpharetta where your belong!
Other wise Dragon Con was GREAT yesterday. The hotel staff was great. About the only play I feel safe with my 11 year old and 15 year old to wonder around with out parents.
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Markmar
September 6th, 2009
2:39 pm
Some kids never grow up.
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Stephanie True Moss
September 6th, 2009
6:13 pm
Correction — “palm tree” not pantry!
I enjoyed Sir Harold Evans’ keynote address on “The Vital Future of the Printed Word” Friday evening. I understood Sir Harold Evans’ quote in relation to hurricane season to be “Why not just get a wind machine and a PALM TREE in the back?” Having survived hurricane Andrew and witnessed many TV hurricane reports, I don’t remember that any of them featured a PANTRY blowing in the wind behind the reporter!
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malika
September 7th, 2009
1:25 am
rich, i’m sure your heart is in the right place, but please don’t put your personal address up online for strangers to read like that.
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laura
September 7th, 2009
2:27 am
our family had a great time..already looking forward to next year
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Wesley Wallace
September 7th, 2009
8:41 am
I am an original member of DAGR from 1987 when Dragon*Con was just getting started, and I live in Alpharetta. Ellie probably has close friends that are affiliated with Dragon*Con. They ditch her to go to the convention, and she doesn’t even know it. They are weirded out by the fact that she doesn’t read, but they are too nice to say anything that might hurt her feelings. A lot of the Stargate celebrities were there this weekend, and everyone looked like they had a great time. There were a lot of families there as well. It is amazing how much time and effort people put into their costumes. It really makes it an amazing experience.
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Informed
September 7th, 2009
5:24 pm
It’s funny but that family (the Gidewons) should be sent packing. They jumped out onto the scene out of nowhere. I wonder where they got all the money to start these clubs. These clubs are more than likely a front for someone’s drug money. People need to investigate that family. Something doesn’t seem right I bet there’s a BIGGER STORY waiting to be uncovered.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 7th, 2009
11:31 pm
Hey folks, just a reminder: please stay on the topic of whether neighborhoods and nightclubs can coexist. Informed: please don’t throw anonymous accusations around in the comments.
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Leslie
September 7th, 2009
11:45 pm
Great photos from the Decatur Book Festival. This was our first and we had a blast. Next year, we will attend 2 days.
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Sue Rodman
September 8th, 2009
6:43 am
I LOVED the Star Wars Box folks.
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Spank Da Monkey
September 8th, 2009
1:07 pm
@Markmar
Acting like a kid and enjoying life every now and then never hurt anybody….stop being such a stuck up snob.
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hmrpotter
September 8th, 2009
1:37 pm
This is a great article for all of my friends who’ve looked at my Facebook this weekend and asked “what the hell is DragonCon?”
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
4:23 pm
Lame. Any attempts to do a large group Thriller dance, in order to be cool, must be done OUTDOORS in a PUBLIC PLACE where random onlookers may stumble upon it and be stunned. Hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT, and besides, no way will this attempt come anywhere near the over 12,000 who danced in Revolution Square in Mexico City on Michael Jackson’s August 29, 2009.
These people look more like they are into dressing up like ghouls than they are into dance, flash mobbing, or MJ. No precise movements. Sad.
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
4:26 pm
Meant to say “on Michael Jackson’s birthday, August 29, 2009.”
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whataboutBob
September 8th, 2009
5:11 pm
Talk about missibg the point. It would probably be a waste of tme to point out the irony of using the terms lame or sad while trashing the earnest efforts of a large group of people bringing allthis together on short notice. And yes it is safe to say that a convention of 30,000+ people coming together to celebrate pop culture where many dress up in costumes, would indicate that they are into dressing up like ghouls.
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Brian
September 8th, 2009
5:19 pm
The 12,000 in Mexico City did not count. They didn’t complete the dance, so it’s not going into the book. This dance was from start to finish, 4:49. And it doesn’t matter whether or not we had the most over all. We had more people in costume doing the dance than anyone who’s ever tried.
ps: there were 17 M.J.s in the crowd. THE M.J. that will be starring in the version sent to Guinness was up on stage with a group who knew it well.
How about you stop nay-saying and try to find 907 people to do it with you in some random open place. Don’t forget to invite Guinness to the party, I’ll applaud you if you get it done.
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Charles
September 8th, 2009
5:22 pm
In a response to Ginny’s comment, I must say that as far as I understand it, the number of people is only a fraction of the equation of getting into the world records. Proper procedure must be followed and paperwork must be filed in order for the record to be awarded.
One more thing. As a Dragon*Con attendee, I can say that the costumes were encouraged to be worn during the dance, because that’s showing the spirit of Dragon*Con as well as having fun in the process. So to say those things about them only shows your ignorance. Please, don’t make fun of that which you don’t understand.
Also, best of luck to the people who were in the record attempt! I’m rooting for ya!
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
6:30 pm
Ok, good for them for doing it, but I still say outdoors in public places, where randomness, such as spectators, rain or police are possible, is superior.
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aaron
September 8th, 2009
6:48 pm
To be fair..I agree with Ginny and I was there. But the Atlanta PD probably wouldn’t allow us to block off all of downtown Atlanta..But had we gone outside. We’d have had 2500+ dancing. So we went with what was allowed. You should also know some folks had 2 hours of training others only 30 minutes. Still, we look better than the William and Mary bunch by a mile.
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Kat
September 8th, 2009
6:49 pm
Ginny…I would like to see you find a suitable large outdoor spot in downtown Atlanta that EVERYONE involved could easily get to that wouldn’t get the entire thing shut down by police or fire marshals. Speaking as one of the many who stayed in extremely cramped, hot corridors in the hotel in question for over 2 hours to learn the darned dance, I will not lie and say that I don’t take great offense to your rather petty comments. We didn’t have a huge breadth of options on where and made do with what we could rather nicely I thought.
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Mike
September 8th, 2009
7:46 pm
The record we went for is the most number of people doing the dance in ONE place. Which is for the ENTIRE LENGTH of the song from the album (5min58secs). Not the radio version, and not the video version either. the paper work is being taking care of and months of preparation went into this.
One more thing, if I’m going for a world record, I don’t want cops or spectators coming up on it, getting in the way and messing it up either. Oh, wait a min, I am one of the people in that video and I can tell you it was a load of fun and one of the highlights of Dragon*Con.
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Crystal
September 8th, 2009
8:03 pm
All I have to say is kudos to those who honored MJ and tried to break the record. I had friends in the dance and I think that anyone who bashes the attempt is the one who is lame. If I could have stayed for the entire Con I would have been right in the middle of it. GOOD JOB DRAGON CON DANCERS.
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Hilary
September 8th, 2009
8:31 pm
For those of you wanting to belittle the huge effort it took at DragonCon to break this record, shame on you. There were those of us that did indeed practice for months in advance. I have to give a nod to those who were not that good, since most of those people signed up for this attempt watching us practice right before the event. This was not thrown together at the last minute, and hotel ballrooms do most certainly count. If you think you can do better, check out the Thrill the World website. I believe they are looking for participants for a new record attempt in October.
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Lauren L.
September 8th, 2009
8:41 pm
Oh God, but I must admit, you’re soooo right about the whole ballroom nonsense. We should have been outside. Most definitely. “Hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT.” You know what? You’re so right. I do recall reading the Guinness guidelines and it must have just slipped my mind. Allow me to go get those and double check. Huh, you’re right. It says here right on page six:
“Rule IV: No dancing indoors. You look dumb. It should be outside, because dancing outside is far superior and wiser….Especially if you are competing for this dance world record in the southern states, specifically Georgia over Labor Day Weekend. If you do not follow this, your record attempt, regardless of how many people you have and how expert your dancing may be, hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT.”
Damnit. I really dropped the ball on this one. You’re absolutely right. I hate that I forgot that Guinness rule. Looks like all of that charity fundraising and having fun one afternoon was in vain. Which….is just quite a shame, considering that I spoke with Atlanta Police Department in June at length about doing it in the streets.
Oh, and, since we’re debating it: We’re so “sad” because we failed to have “precise movements” – but not only that, our attempt “DOES NOT COUNT” (I can’t forget the caps. Has to be in caps.) because we were indoors? And we didn’t have 12,000 people? Gosh. Because, by looking at Mexico, we really did fail. They were so sharp and so crisp. I mean, if I could sway about and clap for a little bit and be as PERFECT and sharp and precise as they are, then this would have been a much better video for you to watch while you sat at your computer picking your nose, realizing to yourself that you just wished you could leave you parent’s basement just long enough to be silly with your friends (assuming you have some) while raising money for charity.
Not to be cliche, but I feel as if I must say to you, Ginny, that your argument is… highly illogical.
Thanks for playing and have a wonderful, wonderful day. =D
Lauren
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Nick
September 8th, 2009
9:20 pm
Checkmate. Sorry, but Lauren got you.
Until you’ve poured your heart into something, with so many other people doing the same, I highly doubt you’ll be able to truly read the previous post. This event is something that all 900+ involved will take with them for the rest of their lives, and never forget. Of course it wasn’t perfect, or in the perfect venue, or at optimum efficiency. But that’s the glory of being human. We aim high, hit lower than we thought we would, and love it all the same. Even now I’m hesitant to post that last sentence, with the feeling that to me, this event couldn’t have gone any better.
Thanks to the one who dreamed, the few who planned, and all who got involved.
–a team captain
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jodi
September 8th, 2009
9:49 pm
I think we were courageous, not lame. You have to be really comfortable with yourself to dress in costume in front of thousands of people and dance a dance you stink at(me anyway as I can’t dance at all). It was something unique and fun to be involved in. I’m proud of all the DRAGON CON DANCERS. We rock! As for the naysayers, go back to your own limited world. I’m sure you are well known there.
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Kimber
September 8th, 2009
9:53 pm
I started planning this back in May. I know more about getting into the Guinness record book than I should, and although the trendy “flash” dancing can be fun, this had to be controlled for our log book.
When you’ve spent four months organizing an event like this via the internet and phone calls, get over 900 people to learn a 6 minute dance, spend almost four hours of precious DragonCon time listening to me and my fellow organizers, directors from D*C, and our wonderful volunteer captains yell out dance steps and rules, dance in costume (did you see our Alien who came from England to attend the con and dance?), spend hours doing paperwork, blow out your knee/ankle/other body parts running between the Hyatt and Sheraton, and missing the whole con to make history, you get back with me, Ginny, and let me know how lame it is.
I spent over $1,000 to go to this con, which I LOVE, and gladly didn’t do much else except gather people, paperwork, and dancers. I missed every panel, Terry Gilliam, shopping, hanging with my friends, costuming…every wonderful nerdy, geeky thing that is DragonCon to bring this lame bit of history to a community I love and did so gladly because WE MADE HISTORY!
So what did you do this weekend?
Kimber — Organizer and Guinness paperwork monkey
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Noey
September 8th, 2009
9:54 pm
I think Ginny sounds a bit bitter not to be a tweet-head that could have come upon our “little” flash mob. Too bad for her. Those Storm Troopers dancing for 6 minutes in full armor was a SIGHT to behold. We Rock on, Rock on, Rock on, Rock on- not to mention- grab pull in, punch punch punch down!
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jodi
September 8th, 2009
9:54 pm
love you Lauren:) And all the great team captains including Nick.
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jodi
September 8th, 2009
9:57 pm
Kimber you are great!! I applaud you. I had such a wonderful time;)
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
9:57 pm
Ok, I am sorry I dissed you guys. I applaud people doing this. I don’t live in Atlanta but I have been there once, so I am not super familiar with all the outdoor areas. Isn’t that big park that was built during the Olympics still there?
People putting effort into learning this dance and doing it together and having fun and showing spirit and recognizing the talent of Michael Jackson is due respect.
I guess I have just been partial to flash mobs, because of how they cause ripples in the reality of ordinary people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3POhPkRf5A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ0OUIIsh70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7G6EOM6rh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqJBWY2WI9U
I take inspiration from the huge outdoor events around the world on August 29, including in front of the Eiffel Tower, near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Trafalgar Square in London, and the ones in Moscow and Mexico City.
You guys did a good job too.
I *am* training for Thrill the World on Oct. 25/24.
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
10:06 pm
P.S. And, according to my preference, I will be Thrilling the World at a large, outdoor, public event. It’s not about spectating for me — it’s about participating.
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Thriller Fan
September 8th, 2009
10:15 pm
Cool thriller dance. Was there anyone named Billie Jean doing it?
Those that put them down but don’t bother to try it can beat it. http://www.thriller-michael-jackson.com
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Teddi F
September 8th, 2009
10:22 pm
I was there and I thought it was a blast. Record or not, we all have the memories. ~FSM
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Kimber
September 8th, 2009
10:23 pm
Good for you, Ginny. Many of us will be a part of Ines’ Thrill the World, too.
I believe, though, you have your language mixed up. Being outside doing a public event is for spectators, whereas what we did was just for participation since we couldn’t have spectators. You want to be watched, but we just wanted to be together in a history-making DragonCon event.
As far as why we had to do it like we did was because of Guinness’ guidelines, and we did not want to lose a record for a technicality. I think if you organize an event with TTW, you’ll see Ines is going to be just as particular. I’m still confused as to why you think it has to be outside, but then I guess you just don’t understand what we had to do for Guinness and almost 1,000 people.
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
10:40 pm
I’m a douchbagette
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Patterson
September 8th, 2009
10:42 pm
Ginny, there really aren’t any words to say to you that haven’t been said already by Lauren, Kimber and a boat load of other people here. Having been the lead MJ on stage I’ve just got two words.
BEAT IT.
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
10:53 pm
It’s true — I would say that the besides learning the dance to perfection (to the degree I can) and the fun of doing it together with a mass of others, I am less interested in breaking a record than creating a phenomenon. It’s not so much about *me* being seen than the *event* being witnessed by the world.
Whether Thrill the World makes or breaks a record, I don’t care that much, but the fact that it happens is important to me.
That’s why I love what happened in Mexico City — whether it becomes the record or not.
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
11:02 pm
P.S. Noey I don’t use twitter and never have.
Also, I posted a comment here at 9:57 p.m. central time which is still “awaiting moderation” possibly because I included some youtube links. I guess you’ll all see it tomorrow. I am done here.
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Ginny
September 8th, 2009
11:12 pm
P.S. I’m a douchbagette.
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Ginnyisaloser
September 8th, 2009
11:43 pm
Ginny, you post on this for the past 6.5 hours? That’s lame! So you can realize how lame your life is and act like you are no longer reading this or sit and ponder a response. Either way you look like a fool.
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Noey
September 8th, 2009
11:52 pm
Douchebagette… sounds kinda yummy. Assuming it is wrapped in chocolate and served with some Ice Cold water. Sorry Folks, still trying to re-hydrate from doing 4 hours of dancing!
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Lain Shakespeare
September 8th, 2009
11:59 pm
How about finding some 12 year-olds to learn the barber’s trade? They could partner with, say, the Bronner Brothers Hair Show or a local barber shop (maybe the really old one in the bottom of the Hurt Building).
Or what about offering an Executive MBA Camp for 8 year-olds? I heard law camp at Little Shop of Stories is a lot of fun. Plus, I’m sure there are plenty of well-connected executives (African American or otherwise) who’d open their doors for a lunch with kids eager to learn about business.
Or what about hosting a town hall discussion on health insurance reform? Sure, health insurance isn’t the same as life insurance, but what matters is that they’d be doing something that’s meaningful in the community.
There are plenty of things the Herndon Home could do, but it has to do more than merely tell the story of the Herndons. Powerful and remarkable though Alonzo Herndon’s story may be, it’s gotta compete with dozens of other Atlanta stories. Worse, the home (as its mission is interpreted now) has to compete with everything from the Aquarium to the Falcons to the internet.
The article made it seem like the board members were open to tinkering with a new mission — why not tinker with it a little more to make a direct impact for folks in the neighborhood? My bet is the home rooted within a community has a much better shot at survival than the “house on Diamond Hill.”
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Caren
September 9th, 2009
12:10 am
I would like to criticize Ginny’s comment for not being in haiku form. When trolling on the internet, haiku poetry is far superior for delivery of your point in cutting and stylish fashion.
That makes just as much sense as complaining that an organized world record attempt was not a random outdoors flash mob instead.
Also, re: Mexico, it looks like that crew had a lot of fun. But it was hardly a flash mob either! Their organizers had been recruiting people on Facebook for weeks, but simply failed to read up on GWR requirements.
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Kimber
September 9th, 2009
12:15 am
I totally applaud Mexico, England, Barcelona, William and Mary, and DragonCon.
What all of us did was amazing, and even if Kevin from W&M is the only one to ever hold the record, I wouldn’t trade what we did this weekend for the world. What Ines is plotting for October is amazing, and I hope she gets her record and those of us that live in GA can find a central area and help her out.
You don’t live here so let me tell you how hot it is down here. We were in air conditioning and still sweating. An outdoor event that would embody the spirit of DragonCon, which a bunch of nerd dressing up in costumes, would cause heat stroke.
When I brought this up to D*C, I didn’t want just zombies dancing. I wanted the people that ARE DragonCon: Alien, Stormies, Darth, giant glove, cross-genre Captain Hammer, fairies, and everything else that make my “home” on Labor Day weekend truly Dragoncon.
Since it was a DragonCon event, it had to be on site, which is why we couldn’t go to Centennial. We had the cameras and sound system there at the ballroom so that’s where it happened. It was the first event D*C has ever had like this, so we learn, try new things, and hopefully we’ll do it even better next year.
I’m still thinking the gorilla suit wearing in one room record. We could have a gorilla ball one night, dress up our suits, and have us a party…all while breaking a record.
Lighten up on Ginny. She’s taken a step back to see we did what we did because we had to.
Ginny, just be ready for the ear worm…shuffle, back, hop, hop, forward, turn look, stare, stare, down ha, down ha, down ha…if you’re doing TTW, that is the most blessed and evil ear worm that lasts for days.
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DW
September 9th, 2009
12:17 am
Anything and everything about Dragon Con rocks, there is no knocking the CON that’s why its the best party around its all positive and excellent FUN, enough said…..
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whywelaughatdragoncon
September 9th, 2009
12:18 am
chill out dragoncon nerds
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 9th, 2009
1:14 am
Just the kind of insight I was looking for to get the conversation started. Thanks, Lain.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 9th, 2009
1:19 am
Hey everybody, I appreciate the enthusiasm you’re bringing this conversation, but let’s keep this respectful and on-topic. This is a place for conversation, not anonymous insults. Thanks!
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W.F.
September 9th, 2009
3:53 am
Ginny = Fail
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W.F.
September 9th, 2009
4:03 am
JTK and Ginny are the last of a dyeing race of lamers and jock rednecks that are completely unaware of the hotties and parties that are Dragoncon. Which is fine, we don’t want you at our party anyways.
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Patterson
September 9th, 2009
5:15 am
903 dancing virgins eh? Funny, in registration line they were passing out free condoms, and EVERYONE wanted one! Not a virgin in sight!
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bbv
September 9th, 2009
6:05 am
I do not know about a “thriller dance record”, but I know they broke a record for “largest number of people gathered who have never been on a date”.
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bbv
September 9th, 2009
6:20 am
just kidding, feeding the stereotype.Cool party
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Debbie
September 9th, 2009
6:42 am
Ginny, They are more into dressing like gouls. IT’S DRAGON CON! Not a Michael Jackson festival. Although I do agree it was pretty lame and also should have been done a Woodruff, Piedmont or Centennial Park.
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M.
September 9th, 2009
8:38 am
Three of my friends were at DragonCon this weekend, in fact one of them is in the first video at the top of the page dancing (she’s also in one of the pictures). It looks like they had fun, including the giant silver hand… Wish I could have been there.
They look pretty coordinated for being a group of 900 and some people, lol.
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Atlanta_Tiger_Fan
September 9th, 2009
9:14 am
This past weekend Atlanta hosted College football games, Braves game, and major Nascar race. And let’s not forget the Dracon*Con fair……there’s always something to do in Atlanta area!
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Doug
September 9th, 2009
9:15 am
Jamie Gumbrecht – your article is trollish. Atlanta makes the top ten and you start by saying, “Apparently we’re not the most fun city in the United States, nor are we among the top five cities. Atlanta isn’t even the best spot in the southeast to have a good time” Silly woman you are!!!
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Harold
September 9th, 2009
9:33 am
Apparently Forbes forgot about the DUI factor present in any sort of fun in this sheet hole that pretends to be a city. What good are all the bars and nightclubs if you have to teetotal for the drive home? We need to stop treating public transportation as poor-only transportation. Build it everywhere and it increases petty crime nowhere. Even with some potentially added petty crime, wouldn’t it be worth the lives saved from our almost daily traffic fatalities?
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DBH
September 9th, 2009
9:43 am
The thing is that Atlanta isn’t supposed to be New York or Chicago (and never will be!) That’s why I love Atlanta so much – because it’s NOT either of those places; it’s distinct and different in its own right. If I want to experience what Chicago or New York or Los Angeles is like, I can just go there.
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anon
September 9th, 2009
9:44 am
@Ginny
This is at a convention. the only space outside is in the middle of the streets of Atlanta. I mean they could, but I’m sure the police that are already trying to control the mass of 30,000 people between the 4 hotels would stop them promptly.
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JohnF
September 9th, 2009
9:45 am
I’ve lived in Atlanta since 1986. If you are young (and mostly single) and don’t mind driving most places, Atlanta is a blast. Once you get older and develop more mature taste though…there’s just not that much to do.
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Megi
September 9th, 2009
9:50 am
@JTK Lol, wow, virgins huh? You must not know anything about this little con of ours at all… or what happens at night… Or maybe you’ve heard about the parties and are just sad that we would never let someone like you come close to touching any of us. I mean, you do realize a large percentage of Dragon*Con attendees are really hot women wearing leather or super revealing costumes, right? Oh, I guess not…
@ Pretty much everyone else, you all rule! I was unfortunately too busy as staff to join you all and will forever be jealous! You all rock!
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Star Wars Fans
September 9th, 2009
9:50 am
I went downt to Dragon with my son and he is the BIGGEST Star Wars fan I know – he had a BLAST! We took pictures with Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, R2D2, Darth Maul and some more Star Wars characters I cant even name.We cant wait fo next year!!
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Sanjeev
September 9th, 2009
10:01 am
JohnF – there is plenty to do. Ever been to the High Museum? Fernbank for the movies? Woodruf? Atlanta History Museum? Then there are things like Dave & Busters, Andretti, bowling, movies, parks, nature trails. If you enjoy eating out there are hundreds of restaurants of just about every ethnic food.
Atlanta nightlife is not it used to be before all the muggings and shootings in Buckhead. We used to have one of the most unique nightspots in the country but then people started to move in town in great numbers and didn’t like the traffic and noise. Mayor Franklin changed the 24 hour rule and made everyone else shut down earlier didn’t help either. We are years removed from the clubbing section of Buckhead, yet out of towners always want to go down there.
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Aaron
September 9th, 2009
10:20 am
This is hilarious! Atlanta a fun city? What is fun about it now that the thugs ruined it? Decatur was nice back in the day, that is long gone. Buckhead as we know used to be fun, but they invaded Buckhead, caused crime, and screwed that up. Underground used to be cool but now is a gathering for the thugs. Midtown is OK but can get very dangerous at night. The only thing left for us normal people are The Highlands. I am sure it is only a matter of time before the thugs screw that up as well. They are doing a great job at Tech and GSU!
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BigBoomNY
September 9th, 2009
10:30 am
OF course we can all see who is first. Big Apple BABY…
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Philadelphia Phil
September 9th, 2009
10:37 am
This joint is the pits.
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Ry
September 9th, 2009
10:39 am
We rocked
We rocked HARD!
(Some of us old folks hurt body parts)
I was next to Storm (Marvel Comics), 4 bodies to the left of me was Alien rocking the dance floor, Super Mario wasn’t far away, and the Stormtroopers…IN FULL ARMOR…amazing.
Links to Thriller training were available online, but I think most of us took advantage of the 2 training sessions held in hallways & meeting rooms, taught by volunteers (we had MJ himself…if you read this, you were GREAT) who were as excited as we were. Hotel air conditioning systems couldn’t keep up with the thousand of us training, training, training. (”Shoulder-step-shoulder-shoulder”)
stepping on each other
(”walk walk roar-turn roar-turn roar-turn”)
laughing hysterically, sweating and giving it all we had to learn our part and be a part of this attempt.
For the rest of my life I’ll remember the browncoats bustin’ a move, Progressive’s Flo in her white outfit shakin’ it down and Michael Jackson up on stage thrillin’ us all
…and to all the haters, I agree with Patterson…BEAT IT!
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DJ
September 9th, 2009
10:41 am
I moved here in 1983. Without sounding like a an old geezer, back then Atlanta was THE place to be: young, clean, fresh, and poised for greatness. How many people – residents and visitors alike – think of Atlanta in those terms now?
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Ry
September 9th, 2009
10:48 am
Debbie,
hun, seriously…have you ever tried a very physical activity…outdoors…literally for hours? It took a solid 2-3 hours of practice/practice/practice…then ANOTHER practice session before the attempt (would have been 2 practices, but we were so psyched after the first we went for it). Also, none of the parks were on *Con grounds.
I think all of us would have preferred more elbow room, but the rules were the rules.
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TI
September 9th, 2009
10:59 am
Oh I remember the days, when Buckhead was fun. Backstreet was open, then hurricane Katrina came and sprayed all the trash to Atlanta and hasn’t been the same since. Shhhhh about the V.Higlands, don’t want that to be ruined as well. Oh and Philly is the pits to Philadelphia Phil!!
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Albearto
September 9th, 2009
11:07 am
Atlanta with its big-city anonymity, its gentrification, and huge population base has some serious problems taking root that seem to be about to run away like fertilized kudzu. How many more students need to be robbed at Ga Tech or Ga State? How many innocent people should die from stray bullets? I think for ATL to even be in the midst of the rankings of some of these great cities is skewered.
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Dreux
September 9th, 2009
11:11 am
If Atlanta is such a “fun” city, then why do tourists and conventioneers always list it dead last in places they’d like to go?
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Mike
September 9th, 2009
11:12 am
Steve0 – I try to have an open mind about people and really make an attempt to treat everyone fair and equal, until I read stuff like what you posted. Then I realize what the point in trying so hard. We’ll never change our perception or your view. You take a small portion of blk people and blame it on us all. I see plenty of white crack-heads and meth-heads downtown, but I guess you’re not scared of them, only the black ones? I understand some white people are afraid how “there” country changes and most minorities what the place to continue changing! With that said I can’t wait until 50, 60, 80 years down the line when white people WILL be the monitory, let’s see if you can take it as much as you can give it!
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Cutty
September 9th, 2009
11:14 am
Students are getting ROBBED at Tech and State. Students are being KILLED in the AUC. Seems like only the ones getting robbed matters.
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Eric
September 9th, 2009
11:24 am
I am 40 and lived most of my life in Atlanta, its a fun town, all the sports, concerts and all. But if you lived most of your life in one place, you get burned out on it. I want the beach
I’m burnt if people just moved here, I’m sure they love it, after 40 years it gets old.
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You MUST be kidding
September 9th, 2009
11:40 am
Atlanta is boring as hell is hott!
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Mark
September 9th, 2009
11:41 am
I live in Atlanta, but recently took a trip to New Orleans. Now THAT is a fun town. Surprised it didn’t make the list.
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MiamiDolphins2010SBowl!!!
September 9th, 2009
11:42 am
I lived in boston i lived in orlando i lived in nc i lived in chattanooga, and miami. Atlanta has gone down hill i am only 30, but too many robbies , and traffic is horrible. There way too many black people and there no diversity at all here. Highlands is ok , it the only safe place, but way too far to drive from john’s creek even when i dont drink anymore it the other people on the road. i am leaving soon prob off to chitown for work. Th job situation here sucks too that big thing women come, and go you can find them in chattanooga, nc anywhere, so that not a big deal. i am from here and atlanta is not great city anmymore.
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correcting
September 9th, 2009
11:42 am
Mike/Weezie – pretty sure I read a lot of sarcasm dripping throughout Steve0’s comment. I don’t usually give all that much credit to these comments, but I think he’s making fun of those who drive 45 minutes from the suburbs to come to party in the “safe” areas intown and scurry right back out there as soon as possible.
Also, Harold, though I like where you’re going with the public transportation argument, the assumption that transit brings crime is a little off-putting. Do people really take the bus to go break into houses? Or hop on after a little late-night mugging?
Me, I love Atlanta, ride my bike to the bars, see all sorts of options for fun and varied things to do here. Great city. You’ve just gotta remember that the cities OTP are not Atlanta…
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 9th, 2009
11:52 am
Hey folks: this is a blog about fun in Atlanta. We’re not talking about race, and we’re absolutely not tossing around stereotypes of entire groups of people. Stay on topoic, be respectful in the comments or take your hate somewhere else.
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Kevin
September 9th, 2009
11:55 am
Wow…I challenge ALL of you who have said negative things about Atlanta so say 2 positive things about city….if it was THAT bad, then why don’t you leave? It’s people like you that give Atlanta the reputation it has….
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Kevin
September 9th, 2009
11:58 am
For all of you who have something negative to say about Atlanta, I challenge you to come up with 2 positive things to say about the city. Everyone can always complain and blame the other person, but never want to do anything about that problem. if you hate it so much, what’s stopping you from leaving?
I think Atlanta is a a fun city-if you know where to look.
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Steve0
September 9th, 2009
12:01 pm
correcting- I’m glad someone got it. Personally, I’m glad that suburban dorks only go to the Highlands. It keeps them away from the cool stuff. I liked it better when they were isolated in Buckhead, but then the Buckhead money used the SCARY SCARY NEGROES to shut down the bars. It’s hilarious that the easily scared and the stupid fell for the ruse.
So the Buckhead club people pushed into Midtown (although Midtown always had a club scene, it used to be more fun), the aging fratboys pushed into the Highlands, and the black people moved to Castleberry Hill. The aging fratboys pushed the Highlands people into L5P, which pushed the L5P hipsters into Cabbagetown and East Atlanta.
And Decatur and Poncey Higlands really hasn’t changed in 10 years, except for the loss of Trackside. It’s the circle of party life.
And what’s with every fratboy wandering into the Clermont and jacking up the price. The cover has been going steadily up for at least 7 years. It used to be free on Friday, damnit!
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Greg Miller
September 9th, 2009
12:04 pm
What happened to “The Midtown Mile” idea – to raise Peachtree Street to world class status like Michigan Avenue in Chicago or Park Avenue in New York?
Does opening Vision Nightclub on Peachtree Street help to raise Peachtree to world class status?
I am from Chicago and Michigan Avenue is the place you go for world class shopping, dining, and lodging… not for nightclubs. You go to Rush Street for that.
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TBizzle
September 9th, 2009
12:06 pm
Atlanta doesn’t have anything that truly separates itself from other cities. Sure, it has all of the normal big city amentities you would expect, but Atlanta is seriously lacking a unique factor.
The best thing about Atlanta is that you can easily fly to other cities or drive 5 hours to Florida and SC beaches.
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Reader
September 9th, 2009
12:12 pm
Oh look there, somebody through in a race card. Too Many Black People. I’m white and that’s horrible for somebody to say something like that. No diversity here? Go WALK down Buford highway and there will be your diversity. Makes no sense for somebody to say that. In response to the message board. I feel Atlanta is still a fun and great city for visitors as is NY, LA, Miami. I will never ever live in those cities. Too much going on, not good for a family, way to expensive. N.O. is fun as well, but I never live there, they’re still recovering. This is a great list though.
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Tammie
September 9th, 2009
12:21 pm
To all who were a part of the Dragon*Con event, y’all looked great! I’m really proud of our little *Con family coming together to have fun and honor the man himself. Anyone who’s never attended something like Dragon*Con really can’t be blammed for how they see us as an outsider. I hope some day those of you who’re putting all of us down, can attend and see the spectical for your selves.
And also speaking as a D*C Security Team member, getting that many people to do ANYTHING in a large group is pretty amazing! We’re all entitled to our opinions, and that’s what makes this a great place to live; Where else can 30,000 people come together to celebrate their “Inner Geek”, honor “The King Of Pop”, AND have others shake their heads in disbelief at us all…and no one be killed or sent to prison over it?
So, speak out if you must and don’t feel ashamed of who you are! I’m proud to say that the lead MJ, aka Patterson, is one of my dearest friends; I’m also thankful that there are people out there who’re confidant enough to point out to us how silly we are…that’s what makes it fun!!
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Duluth, GA
September 9th, 2009
12:22 pm
MiamiDolphins2010SBowl!!!, I believe you just want some attention. Go stand in a corner or something. Anyway, I believe Atlanta is a great place and it definately is a fun city. I have been to many cities in the U.S and I personally believe that Atlanta is ranked correctly (# 6). If you cannot find anything to do in this city, then something is wrong with you!
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Truth
September 9th, 2009
12:22 pm
Wow – I am ready to chip in for your ticket out of town.
MiamiDolphins2010SBowl!!!
“There way too many black people and there no diversity at all here.”
Are there too many Asians in San Francisco?
How can you take this list seriously when San Fran made list and Vegas did not. Anyway, Atlanta has pro sports (that are finally improving go Falcons, Hawks are young and good) College sports, great colleges / universities (yes great despite the North East bias in ranking schools) good music / arts scene, nice sky line, good restaurants and friendlier people than any city ahead of Atlanta on the list. I appreciate Atlanta more now that I do not live there anymore. Crime and traffic are problems. Expanded MARTA and tougher / smarter policing and dynamic leadership in the office of the mayor is what is needed.
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Duluth, GA
September 9th, 2009
12:26 pm
Truth, this is how they came up with the rankings, “In the story, Forbes said it calculated the rankings using metropolitan statistical areas and stats from AOL City Guides for bars, restaurants, nightclubs, live theater venues, museums and sporting venues, then added in sports teams and previous Best Cities for the Outdoors rankings. These aren’t per capita rankings, so it favors more populous cities, but also points out that, hey: New York is big, there’s a lot going on and you get to pick from all of it, not just your statistical allotment of sports bars and community theaters.”
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Leffy
September 9th, 2009
12:50 pm
i missed most of D*C despite having a membership this year due to sitter emergencies (did make it for a couple hours friday!) and missing this especially has left me heartbroken out of all the scheduled events. are we doing it again next year? even without the joy of a world record attempt, i would SO love to do this! heck just showing my daughter the video she caught on to a couple moves, so i might even drag her along for more then the parade and the costumes and art!
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Dr. Warren
September 9th, 2009
12:50 pm
Hey Jamie–wouldn’t “hatred” be the more appropriate word to use? Proper English should be the rule in a major newspaper, no?
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Truth
September 9th, 2009
1:03 pm
Duluth – Thanks for the info (informative and civil, much appreciated) . I am of the opinion that the only thing Atlanta really lacks is proximity to water. (I also must admit I do not get the appeal of San Francisco. Nice yes, fun I would need to see more. I know they have some odd festivals)
I guess I have a problem with the methodology – New York is big, there is a lot going on, true. If there are 3000 good places to eat in NY and lets say 750 in Atlanta, that is still a two year supply of places to eat without going back to any of the ones you have already tried and really liked. More can sometimes equal better but at a point more is just more. That said, I have no REAL problem with the rankings. Almost all major shows / concert tours eventually some to Atlanta. I love NY but there are a significant number of people who would never feel comfortable in NYC just because of the sheer size (Some people LOVE NYC for that very reason and for them there is no substitute and I definitely understand that). How can those other people have fun if they don’t even feel comfortable. Atlanta is on a scale most people can handle and it also less expensive. You can also head into Atlanta grab a hotel room hit some bars / lounge visit a museum or two it does not cost a fortune.
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Tony Gowell
September 9th, 2009
1:08 pm
Yes. We will be doing this again, and other comparable scifi/fantasy attempts as we discover them.
Asst Director
Main Programming
Dragon*Con
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transplanted
September 9th, 2009
1:14 pm
I wish I was in Atlanta. I live in Dallas now because of job. Atlanta is a great city with many nice people. Just look at the front page and entertainment section of the local paper and decide for yourself.
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Truth
September 9th, 2009
1:16 pm
Duluth – Thanks for the info (informative and civil, much appreciated) . I am of the opinion that the only thing Atlanta really lacks is proximity to water. (I also must admit I do not get the appeal of San Francisco. Nice yes, fun I would need to see more. I know they have some odd festivals)
I guess I have a problem with the methodology – New York is big, there is a lot going on, true. If there are 3000 good places to eat in NY and lets say 750 in Atlanta, that is still a two year supply of places to eat without going back to any of the ones you have already tried and really liked. More can sometimes equal better but at a point more is just more. That said, I have no REAL problem with the rankings. Almost all major shows / concert tours eventually some to Atlanta. I love NY but there are a significant number of people who would never feel comfortable in NYC just because of the sheer size (Some people LOVE NYC for that very reason and for them there is no substitute and I definitely understand that). How can those other people have fun if they don’t even feel comfortable. Atlanta is on a scale most people can handle and it also less expensive. You can also head into Atlanta grab a hotel room hit some bars / lounge visit a museum or two it does not cost a fortune
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miss marta
September 9th, 2009
1:28 pm
i love atlanta! i’m from the midwest, and have been here for about 15 years. what i love is there is always something to do. i love live music, and atlanta is known for having a thriving music scene. it’s a shame that buckhead (or buckhood as it turned out to be) is gone, because it was fun to go out and bar hop with friends. but the place got downright trashy, especially some of the bars – bar and mako’s anybody? – and all the sunday/monday night shootings. that hasn’t stopped me from hitting up east atlanta, midtown, grant park, little five, va-hi, all great parts of town in their own right.
who doesn’t like sitting at turner field on beautiful sunny afternoon and clear night and taking in a braves game? we have professional football, basketball, and hockey as well. choose one or all of them. i’ve never had a bad time at any of them.
but i live in the city. most people don’t, and a lot of people commenting here don’t live in atlanta – JOHN’S CREEK IS NOT ATLANTA. there are events every day and night of the week here. i chose city life over suburban life for the career, cultural and social opportunities, and i haven’t been let down.
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miss marta
September 9th, 2009
1:32 pm
i forgot to mention dad’s garage. BIG ups to awesome improv comedy!!
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Candy
September 9th, 2009
1:38 pm
I was there and it was really something amazing to participate in! Thanks to all the volunteers and everyone who put this together. Can’t wait to do it again next year.
If you weren’t there, then you just don’t understand the amount of work, effort and practice the whole event took!
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Jeff
September 9th, 2009
1:45 pm
TI, either you are a moron or have never been to Philly. There is much more history, culture, art, theater, etc. than there is or ever will be in this sunbelt city.
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Norwood
September 9th, 2009
2:04 pm
MiamiDolphins2010SBowl!!! – Too many black people?? You have issues and should probably leave. That’s cool, go on up to Chicago. There will be some black people waiting to welcome you…..
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Truth
September 9th, 2009
2:15 pm
Enter your comments here
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Momma D @ 3princessesmomma.com
September 9th, 2009
2:25 pm
My daughter was part of this. She was so excited, and it was one of the high points of her first Dragon*con experience.
Thanks to the organizers!
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WERKIN FOR A LIVIN
September 9th, 2009
2:56 pm
looks like nerds dont like critcisem
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Wednesday WindDown
September 9th, 2009
3:25 pm
Centennial Olympic Park (Southern Company Amphitheater) FREE concert: The Infinity Show Band @ 5:30 pm ET. http://www.centennialpark.com/events/wwd.html
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Lil'Az
September 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
I was working it; blocking a light tower because people kept running into it.
It was fun, even for the short time I was there.
If we attempt it next time, I’m definitely taking time out of my busy shifts to actually participate.
=D
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btpsmom
September 9th, 2009
4:41 pm
Ginny, I think you are a jerk.
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Irma
September 9th, 2009
4:59 pm
Don’t even tell me this won’t count! I have never learned a dance routine in 3 hrs! I had “Evie” as my instructor and even though I danced into the pillar infront of the elevator (I was the one dressed as Dorothy), I would totally do this all over again! (with a change of clothes though…)
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Kimber
September 9th, 2009
5:22 pm
@Tony — Yes, yes we are. I say let’s out record Mexico! Go nerds!!
And I have to ROFLMAO off on the “virgin” comment. Um, yea, google for some pics and you’ll see why the kids are put to bed early and we have a track called DragonCon After Dark.
I’m already plotting for next year.
I just hope my crew from this year will be with us again.
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What to know before you go: Dragon*Con | Inside Access
September 9th, 2009
5:44 pm
[...] and performances. If you need a break from the downtown-version of crazy, check out the lit-crazy Decatur Book Festival, just a few MARTA stops away — most events are free and open to the public. Some even involve [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 9th, 2009
6:11 pm
Thanks for the suggestion!
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Amanda
September 9th, 2009
6:57 pm
I also participated in the Thriller record attempt at Dragon*Con. Regardless of what the results are, I feel bonded to the other 902 people who participated as we worked our butts off to learn that dance. It was a great tribute to MJ, and I will never forget it! Nobody has the right to rain on that, nor can they because it was just too monumental to be destroyed by one whiny individual.
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AH
September 9th, 2009
8:25 pm
what about a freakin’ list of the vendors and a map?
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Shannon, M.Div.
September 9th, 2009
9:22 pm
It’s such a shame that our early space program is marred by sexism. Female pilots such as Jerrie Cobb were outperforming the men in 1961’s astronaut training. They were highly qualified, but they were all summarily fired from the program with no explanation. Congress held hearings on it–but Congress at that time was still a boys’ club. Quotes like this one ruled the day: “The fact that women are not in this field is a fact of our social order.” That quote, of course, is from John Glenn’s testimony.
Always remember the Mercury 13. For me, it forever taints the achievements of the early boys who made it into space and walked on the moon. They didn’t trust themselves to compete against women, so they went behind the scenes and had the women taken out.
The worst travesty, of course, was sending Glenn back instead of Cobb in 1998 (Cobb made a strong push for the opportunity that had been denied her).
Here’s a nice, succinct summary of the events: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/comm/oped/Ackmann.shtml
For those who are interested, there’s plenty of information on the ‘Net, including detailed quotes from the horrifying Congressional hearings.
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aaron
September 9th, 2009
9:48 pm
Yes, Ginny is uninformed. But she is allowed her opinions.
Me? I would have loved to have done it ourdoors. But we didn’t. No big deal. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. If you look in that video I would hazard that very few are trained dancers and some of us look like we have no clue on what we are doing. Especially me…I’m the uncoordinated dork with the white pith helmet and Jumanji outfit. (Just my luck. The bit of footage with me in it is the bit of the dance that our instructor didn’t get around to teaching. Oh well, fake it till you make it.)
But, I had great time. It was hot. It was humid. It was frustrating at times. But most of all it was fun. Lots and Lots of fun. Which is what this was about for me.
I forgive the unknowing for their bashing of D*C. The poor fools know not what they are missing. Unless you’ve been, it’s like describing the sky to a blind person. Virgins? heh… until they’ve had a gorgeous girl in a Slave Leia outfit (Or insert suitable male refence for you wonderful women, here) drag them to a hotel room and commit unspeakable sin with them. You haven’t lived..
To them we’re a bunch of silly nerds that have no lives and live in our parent basements.
To us? These people are of the worst ilk and I label them with the worst insult I could pin upon a person….
Normal
and I pity them….how boring life must be…
To Kimber and the crew…Kudos for your vision and tenacity. You are all models and visionaries. Thank you for allowing us to join you in your journey I am truly honored.
(Ps… the dang ear worm is still in my head… roarturn,roarturn…)
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Not Going To Use My Usual Name
September 9th, 2009
10:39 pm
Jamie said, “We’re not talking about race.”
Honestly, I don’t think you can talk about anything in Atlanta in any depth without talking about race, and that would include entertainment. Neighborhoods are still largely segregated, churches are *extremely* segregated, and even many entertainments are (voluntarily) segregated.
I believe Atlanta may have made the list because it’s a vibrant place for people of color.
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Christine
September 9th, 2009
11:06 pm
And don’t forget the booty, bounce…booty, bounce!
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Christine
September 9th, 2009
11:17 pm
Kimber, forgot to say thank you for organizing this. My brother and I participated and it was a blast. If you try this or something else next year, you have your first volunteer. Anyone who can pull this off is someone I want to work with. Oh yeah, and booty, bounce…booty, bounce.
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Weekend to do list: September 11-13 | Inside Access
September 10th, 2009
12:04 am
[...] Buzz Aldrin discusses “Magnificent Desolation,” 7 p.m., Blue Elephant Book Shop, Decatur. [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 10th, 2009
12:23 am
AH, there isn’t a list of vendors or map that I can link to online, but as I said above, this is the first year there will be a program that lists vendor names and locations. They’ll be available at the festival!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 10th, 2009
12:33 am
Not Going To Use My Usual Name — you make a very good point, but unfortunately, the blog comment areas on AJC.com and AccessAtlanta.com haven’t proven themselves to be an effective forum to discuss race. Perhaps this is because we allow anonymous comments, or because we don’t have enough time or people to engage in a weightier conversation. Regardless, my choice is to keep the discussion on a level more appropriate to this venue, and in other posts, we’ve seen interesting ideas about entertainment emerge by keeping race and politics out of the discussion. Thanks for the thoughtful points, though!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 10th, 2009
12:41 am
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
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ss
September 10th, 2009
7:07 am
mj never dies.he is still alive.beleave me, its true.
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ss
September 10th, 2009
7:11 am
if u respect our king mj,HEEL THE WORLD,MAKE IT BETTER PLACE.our spirits never die.
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Things to do this weekend in Atlanta, September 11-13 | Inside Access
September 10th, 2009
8:39 am
[...] For families: “Adventures of Little Noodle” enters its final weekend of performances, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta. REVIEW. [...]
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I Darnall
September 10th, 2009
9:05 am
It’s from a painting at the High Museum
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pblsn
September 10th, 2009
9:13 am
it’s the bottom of my shoe.
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old teach
September 10th, 2009
9:26 am
Close up of part of Colonel Sanders jacket on KFC sign…..could be anywhere.
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farmer
September 10th, 2009
9:32 am
It’s from a painting at the Atlanta cyclorama.
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Melissa
September 10th, 2009
9:41 am
I’m guessing the Cyclorama.
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Grant Parker
September 10th, 2009
9:48 am
The Southern Museum in Kennesaw.
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Jonas Sisters
September 10th, 2009
10:05 am
Did you get this idea from the Today Show, Where am I? On the show the will show pictures and you have to guess where they are…very original…but fun. That’s just my opinion.
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woody
September 10th, 2009
10:34 am
Steelers(6 X Super Champs) Vs Titans Tonight, pregame starts @ 5pm.
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Bob
September 10th, 2009
10:56 am
Ginny, Ginny, Ginny…
Sad is the fact that you think you have the right to tell a thousand people how and where to BREAK A WORLD RECORD.
Sad is the fact that you feel you have to bring other people down via the anonymity of the internet.
Sad is the fact that you weren’t involved in something this awesome.
Buh-Bye, now.
Bob
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 10th, 2009
11:06 am
Ha, I’m not a Today Show watcher, Jonas Sisters, but I know plenty of outlets do similar games and contests. I just started doing this so we’d have another outlet to talk about interesting places around Atlanta.
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Bob
September 10th, 2009
11:12 am
Ginny.
I have to apologize to you. I responded to the thread without reading it first and as a participant in this event I’m a bit protective of it.
I’m glad that you finally saw our point and what we were trying to do.
THere are a few others on here that need to possibly attend Dragon*Con and see what a giant party it is for themselves before dismissing us as nerds and virgins.
Besides. Nerds are hot.
Bob
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CHRIS JACKSON
September 10th, 2009
11:44 am
this is located at turner field for the braves,the indian tent.that’s what it look like to me.
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Merideth Ford
September 10th, 2009
12:07 pm
It’s my ego…..
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D. Sechard
September 10th, 2009
12:20 pm
It’s flattering for Atlanta to be ranked No. 6, but let’s face it, rankings like this are useless. Forbes aggregated the attractions in metro areas, and that type of methodology doesn’t really capture the essence of a city. Atlanta is very fragmented – you have to drive wide distances to have fun (ie go to a restaurant in Midtown, drive to Buckhead for shopping, then back to Little Five Points or the Highlands for nightlife). Unlike true cities, like Chicago and San Francisco, there’s no density in Atlanta. There are just small pockets of activity. For instance, go to Midtown and walk a block from Peachtree Street and it thins out so fast that you’re already out of the city!
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phillip watson
September 10th, 2009
1:11 pm
Shirley Franklin single- handedly took the Hot out of Hotlanta. Abbreviated bars hours diluted our night life and made the city less attractive to conventioneers (25% off this year). For a city that is usually begging for money (discounting, of course, those federal grants that went unspent), those convention dollars are sorely missed. And what about the tens of millions of dollars lost from throwing all major events out of Piedmont Park. It takes YEARS to build attendance at any sort of annual festival. At least we have a fantastic airport so that those of us who enjoy “fun cities” can fly to them.
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Jaw Jaw Dawg
September 10th, 2009
1:23 pm
It is man’s jacket ~ notice the buttons on a white shirt to the left, then the jacket’s lapel followed by a pocket scarf and finally, the arm of the jacket. I can’t place the painting. But perhaps since it is appears to be historical clothing, it could be found in a museum? Can anyone build on this hypothesis?
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Johnny Fontane
September 10th, 2009
1:28 pm
Inside the KFC at the Big Chicken
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Find a Better Game
September 10th, 2009
1:32 pm
It’s a picture of a stupid game and it’s located next to … oh wait this is a stupid game – who cares where it is.
I’d rather find waldo.
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Lee in TN
September 10th, 2009
1:44 pm
is it a patch on military clothing?
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Laraine
September 10th, 2009
2:26 pm
Grant Park — Cyclorama
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wishuhadit
September 10th, 2009
2:34 pm
the missing symbol needed to re-open the stargate?
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Mayan Rose
September 10th, 2009
2:49 pm
Here’s a map for the Yellow Daisy Festival:
http://hfeimages.aristotle.net/General/SMP/Events%20-%20YDF%20-%202009%20Map.pdf
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BPJ
September 10th, 2009
3:07 pm
Fun in Atlanta includes Horizon Theatre, Actors’ Express, Theatrical Outfit, the (Tony-winning) Alliance, 7 Stages, TWO Shakespeare companies (Atlanta Shakes Downtown and Ga. Shakes in Buckhead), PushPush, Synchronicity, True Colors, Theatre in the Square, and Dad’s Garage! Unlike the other cities on the list, we even have a French-language theatre, Theatre du Reve.
Check out the High (not just the high-profile exhibits), the Carlos, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Spelman Museum, MOCAGA, Oglethorpe Museum, MODA……….and galleries such as Marcia Wood, Solomon Projects, Sandler Hudson, Saltworks, Kiang, Jackson (for photo), Lumiere (also photo), and Barbara Archer.
Check out the superb symphony, and the best-on-the-planet ASO Chorus.
Listen to jazz at Churchill Grounds and blues at Blind Willie’s. Eat at any of the 100 best restaurants around town. Stroll through Piedmont Park in the spring, or hike the Chattahoochie Nat’l Rec. area in fall. Visit the world’s largest aquarium, and one of the nation’s best zoos.
And if you’re frightened by fellow citizens because they’re black, please move to Alabama.
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Caren
September 10th, 2009
3:17 pm
haha, LilAz, you must have been near me. The ones in the front had very little room to dance because the first move is four steps to the front! Having you there made it easier for us to take little steps though because the people behind us stopped pushing up once you came over.
also, I owe Ginny an apology too for not seeing the later notes. Just as a side note, a true flash mob Thriller (as opposed to a GWR attempt!) would be easier for you to assemble once you have a large pool of people who know the choreography…just sayin’!
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Dee Sasser
September 10th, 2009
3:21 pm
Colonel Sanders Jacket on Painting at Big Chicken in Marietta, GA!
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Former Resident of ATL
September 10th, 2009
3:29 pm
Not Going To Use My Usual Name -Honestly, I don’t think you can talk about anything in Atlanta in any depth without talking about race, and that would include entertainment. Neighborhoods are still largely segregated, churches are *extremely* segregated, and even many entertainments are (voluntarily) segregated.
This is not unique to Atlanta race permeates even light weight fun discussions in other cities too. Some jerk messes up a fun / cool debate with a classless comment. Just like a few knuckleheads take areas that used to be fun and ruin it with their poor behavior (Underground, Buckhead, now Atlantic Station). The loud obnoxious guy at the bar, rude teenagers are allowed to ruin the good time for the majority. Anyway I think the heading is misleading, or the comments have veered of the subject matter. Is the city supposed to be fun or is it supposed to be a great place to live. New Orleans / Vegas are fun but necessarily places most want to live. A truly fun city probably has international appeal (NYC, Miami, Vegas) and has appeal across the racial and socioeconomic spectrum (Vegas).
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Former Resident of ATL
September 10th, 2009
3:34 pm
BBJ well said
BPJ = New head of the Board of Tourism
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Cribbster
September 10th, 2009
3:46 pm
I cannot believe they’re showing “Zardoz.” That’s the most whacked-out movie I’ve ever seen. It’s hands-down the dumbest movie John Boorman ever did, and it’s got Sean Connery is a big, red diaper for 90 minutes.
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Access Points 7: Zell Miller portrait at Manuel’s Tavern | Inside Access
September 10th, 2009
4:10 pm
[...] Maybe this week’s Access Points photo game was a little too detailed. Interesting guesses — it is, indeed, a painting that involves a man’s jacket — but nobody was able to correctly identify it as the Zell Miller portrait hanging at Manuel’s Tavern. [...]
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Debbie Roberts
September 10th, 2009
4:39 pm
I got a vendor list and booth space number on a pdf brochure from my “newsletter” from Stone Mountain Park. Sorry, I don’t have it with me, but I found it last week. None of that info was sent to me by Yellow Daisy, although that would have been nice,..it was an accident finding it.
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Norwood
September 10th, 2009
4:49 pm
BPJ AND Former Resident of ATL – Well said! Thank you both!!
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griftdrift
September 10th, 2009
5:00 pm
I’m a semi-regular there. Shocking. I know. I remember the missing Miller scandal. Also, originally there was only one picture of a naked lady. it was directly behind the bar and unless you know where to look, you’d probably miss it. That’s the one that the story goes a bar fly used to pay off his tab. It was a portrait of his wife. I noticed that after Manuel died, suddenly there were many more pictures of nekkid women on the walls. It’s fun to walk around and see all the different pictures. They keep old Hurman Talmedge by the ATM. Seems fitting.
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PTCGAL
September 10th, 2009
5:22 pm
Maybe the patrons at Manuel’s Tavern had too much to drink and do not remember
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mama sue
September 10th, 2009
8:23 pm
i wish i could have been there. i missed all of you and the con. looks like you had fun tho.
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Hilary
September 10th, 2009
8:49 pm
Go Nerds indeed! Talk about a wild party! I’ll have that choreography stuck in my head for years!
“Right hip, right hip, right hip, in, out, left hip, left hip, left hip in and ROAR!”
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Access Points 7: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
September 11th, 2009
1:11 am
[...] Access Points 7: Zell Miller portrait at Manuel’s Tavern | Inside Access [...]
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Salem
September 11th, 2009
3:05 am
To my fellow D*C peeps: AMAZING JOB!!!! I had to leave for a few hours Sunday so I couldn’t be in the event, but I was bragging about it to all sorts of people! I’m linking this video all over the place to show folks what this group can do.
Breaking the world record? It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of people.
To all the haters and naysayers: Back off. You obviously have never been remotely close to D*C or else you would realize your statements are utterly and completely false. (e.g joking that all 903 of those people have never been on dates. I personally know at least a dozen married couples that danced, and that’s not even the start of that)
And you know what? We *are* nerds. Not geeks. Know why? “Nerds are smart.” Beat it.
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Theresa
September 11th, 2009
7:03 am
Sadly, the enormous group that danced in Mexico danced the short version of the song- therefore, while impressive did not qualify for the Guinness world record.
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Donald D
September 11th, 2009
8:14 am
Go Falcons!!!!!!
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Brady
September 11th, 2009
2:46 pm
Thanks for the nice zombie picture and Zombie event invite! Zombies are drooling from http://ZombiePic.com
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BigFunATL
September 11th, 2009
5:46 pm
In this economy and these days, it’s not so much about where you live as it is about making the best of what you have and making the most of it. Every city is unique and gifted with different qualities and attractions that are unique to them and define who they are. For example, ATL is extremely blessed to have Stone Mountain and have a close proximity to the Flordia beaches. Environment, people, attractions, climate, etc. all play a role in defining a region, as well as the fact that every city or region has certain types of people that are attracted to that particular area.
At the end of the day, it’s what you make of it. I’ve been to every city listed above Atlanta on the list, and you can have just as much fun in Atlanta (if not more fun) as you can in any city on the list. It’s not called Hotlanta for nothing. NO, it’s not utopia, but no place is. And yes, crime and traffic are issues, just as they are in any city on that list, and any major city. However, our music scene is second to none, and many movies are starting to be made here. It is becoming the “Hollywood of the South.”
Just for the record the official word is…..ATL still is and will always be “the place to be.”
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Russ
September 11th, 2009
8:32 pm
Sorry, Shannon, but the Mercury 13 were not fired from any NASA program. Their training was privately funded and they were never employed by NASA as astronaut candidates.
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Joe
September 11th, 2009
9:18 pm
As a 59 year old participant (proof available upon request for both age and participation), I would love to say thank you to Kimber and the dance captains for herding us toward a great time. Shoulder step, nothing step, shoulder step, shoulder step. Went to Michael’s today and got a shadow box for my DragonCon badge and thriller ribbon. Used a piece of my costume as the background. Come on, folks. Come up with ways to secure this memory for yourselves as well.
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lawrence
September 12th, 2009
8:53 am
i watched the slave trade dvd in my class, i was touched to see what our african fathers and mothers went through.what touched me the most was “the doors of no return”,because mostly people left through those doors never to see their families and their countries again.
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Jerri P
September 12th, 2009
10:09 am
Well – is it fun?
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Roger D Smart
September 12th, 2009
10:29 am
We need our Atlanta Falcons to win this game! GO FALCONS
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Lee Raines
September 12th, 2009
3:50 pm
On my next trip to South Georgia my great-grandchildren will have the opportunity to visit the new museum to experience the excitement of seeing these pre-historic relics up close. This should develop into a must-stop tourist attraction for people passing by on nearby I-75.
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Matt the Brave
September 12th, 2009
5:34 pm
Who’d have thought that Cartersville would have TWO Smithsonian museums? Make sure to check out the Booth Western Art Museum in downtown Cartersville as well. Lots of things for both adults and children.
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bmoney
September 12th, 2009
5:49 pm
both Tellus and the Booth Western Art Museum are well worth a drive to visit
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Ashley K
September 12th, 2009
7:21 pm
Yellow Daisy is SO MUCH FUN!! The vendors are friendly, the festival designers try to vary the content and mix up the pattern, so there’s not too much of any one category (although it is heavy on the jewelry this year) in any one area. There are Venus flytraps, pirate maps, firestarters, dursy and other semi-precious or artistically rendered earrings, art metal glass, pendants, necklaces, paintings, chairs, step stools, kids clothes, dress-up, fairy wings, yard art, mirrors, metal work, birdhouses, weather vanes . . . . Watch for “Ashley & Mom” next year- our shirts match (they’ve got big daisies on them) and the vendors know us. If you want to know the best, best-priced, friendliest vendors- find us; we know them! (And they know us!) ;0)
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timeandtide
September 12th, 2009
11:35 pm
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dragon Con rocks. This was my first year attending although I’ve wanted to go for years but had not had the opportunity. I didn’t get to dance but I think the people that did were just great. I had the best time I’ve had in a long time and plan to make it back next year hopefully for the full four days. And yes I am called a geek or a nerd by my fellow co-workers but you know what. I’m proud of it. I’d rather not be normal, It’s too boring.
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PHOTOS: Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park | Inside Access
September 13th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] wrote earlier this week about what to know before you go to the Yellow Daisy Festival. Now that I’ve wandered the grounds of Stone Mountain Park myself, I have a few things to [...]
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Lissa
September 13th, 2009
3:36 am
Disappointment filled the air when we got to the Festival this year no little plastic bags where handed out to us just like in the past.
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Arizona Ann
September 13th, 2009
8:38 am
I have taken my grandchildren and my self there twice. A very fun experience for all. Don’t miss the Booth Museum while you are there. Some wonderful art and letters from every President, very cool.
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Thomas Eagle
September 13th, 2009
9:02 am
Tellus and the Booth are two outstanding attractions that help make the small town of Cartersville a cultural center in Georgia. What a shame that Etowah Mounds, one of the most important Native American sites in the country, has suffered from neglect from the state parks dept. which has reduced the opening hours to just three days a week while cutting back tours, programs and other services.
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Richard Bagge
September 13th, 2009
10:59 am
Tellus is indeed a great museum! My two kids – aged 10 and 12 – really liked the trip we made here this summer.
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JJ
September 13th, 2009
8:50 pm
I am responding to the Ginny; September 8th, 2009; 4:23 pm post.
I don’t think we could have done this outdoors without a lot of additional precautions. The space had to be closed off so that the dancers entering the dance space could be counted. There was a LOT of prep done before anyone was allowed to enter the room and during the process of getting dancers into the space.
It was also hard for anyone past the first couple rows to display their dance skills because each person was approximately 2 feet away from the next person in any direction.
I am also not completely sure on this, but I think that the Thriller dance records may have indoor and outdoor categories. Anyone else know?
I do know that there were a lot of specifics and a lot of paperwork to take care of in coordination with Guinness.
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Henry Co. Redneck
September 14th, 2009
6:40 am
Too bad it couldn’t last all week long.
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Becky Kicklighter
September 14th, 2009
11:20 am
I bought the grandparents membership the very first time I went last February, just after they opened. I have taken my grandchildren at least 6 times and every time we go, they do not want to leave! The museum is for everyone — from grandparents to small children! We love it and enjoy every visit!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 14th, 2009
12:15 pm
Ha, Becky and others: when I reported this story, I spent some time in the chlidren’s area, and for my first walk through, there were ONLY adults in there, not a child in sight. The “museum for everyone” tag seems to be holding up!
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Patrick
September 14th, 2009
4:23 pm
The Final game in the series (If Necessary) will be on Sunday, September 20th at 3pm, not Saturday.
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Paw Paw Callan
September 14th, 2009
5:10 pm
An excellent museum !!! Well worth stopping off the Interstate to see.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 14th, 2009
6:40 pm
Whoops, my mistake! Thanks, Patrick! Fixed!
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tinheart
September 15th, 2009
10:13 am
Thanks for the positive reporting on the Dream. A pity the Sports Department at the AJC won’t do the same.
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Leighanne
September 15th, 2009
10:35 am
I live out of state but i am from Atlanta and i went last year and bought some things from a man that personalized name plaques for kids rooms, bullitien boards for kids rooms, and yard signs and stuff like that. I didn’t get to go this year but I know he said he does it all year round and will accept orders. I didn’t know if someone knew him and had some info or knows where i could possibly find it..i’ve been trying to find the vendor list and can’t find it…
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Sue Rodman
September 15th, 2009
3:37 pm
We love Tellus. On Saturday Sept. 26, Tellus is part of the Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Free Day. You can also check out the Booth Western Museum and Bartow Museum of History as part of the deal that day as well. Here’s a review of the museum that I did when it first opened last spring. http://www.fieldtripswithsue.com/2009/01/rocks-trucks-stars-spaceships-dinosaurs.html. The video isn’t as good as your photos, but it does give a different perspective.
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Official Dragon*Con ‘Thriller’ dance video released | Inside Access
September 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
[...] those left wondering the videos in last week’s post, “Dragon*Con ‘Thriller’ dancers might break world record,” were shot by the AJC during the performance and participants during [...]
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WERKIN FOR A LIVIN
September 16th, 2009
10:42 am
nerds dancin
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Christy Petterson
September 16th, 2009
11:26 am
Ah man, I knew it was at Manuels’ but couldn’t envision the whole image. Dang.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 16th, 2009
11:57 am
Ha, Christy, before the bar art tour, I’d probably looked at the thing 50 times without actively thinking, “Oh, right, Zell Miller.”
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thing to do around atlanta on septemeber 18-20 | Inside Access
September 17th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] Sports: Atlanta Dream vs. Detroit Shock playoff game, 7:30 p.m., Gwinnett Arena, Atlanta. STORY. [...]
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sbodlovic
September 17th, 2009
8:42 am
Inside Access- “Things to do” segment is very informative and great reading.
Thank you for provide that segment to the AJC.
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thing to do around atlanta on septemeber 18-20 | Inside Access
September 17th, 2009
9:08 am
[...] Stage: “The Color Purple” continues through Sept. 27, The Fox Theatre, Atlanta. STORY. [...]
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Call it like it is.
September 17th, 2009
9:26 am
“Place of a lifetime” Are you kidding me. Atlanta?? Traffic, crime, corruption, poor leadership. I have travel all around this world and Atlanta is not even in the top 100 places that I have gone to. How much did they pay off these guys to be listed.
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Suzie
September 17th, 2009
9:31 am
I was never happier than the day I left Atlanta. This must be some kind of joke. Atlanta is the one of the most racist, meanest cities I’ve ever lived in.
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Chris
September 17th, 2009
9:32 am
Ha ha ha. How funny. Let them spend a weekend downtown or in SW Atlanta and see how they like it. The only decent places in Atlanta are the park (in the daytime), most of Buckhead, and VA Highlands. The thugs have ruined the rest of it.
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Intown
September 17th, 2009
9:33 am
I too could not believe my eyes when I read this essay in NG Travler. Atlanta on a list of the 50 best places to visit around the world?!?! But, there we are. I suppose we made the list becasue Atlanta is a place to experience over time but, not one that delivers unique experiences to the traditional touristy traveler. I hope Alabama and Florida read this article so they can see the beauty they are now attempting to destroy and will not be able to replace on their own.
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lantana
September 17th, 2009
9:37 am
I’ve been in Atlanta 20 years and the city has been nothing but kind to me. I live in the East Village and adore my neighborhood for it natural beauty and convenience to everything a city should offer. If you are not happy in Atlanta, you are not trying!
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kw
September 17th, 2009
9:37 am
Call it…”Delta’s ready when you are”
Suzie…if you were so happy to leave Atlanta, then why the h*ll are you still reading Atlanta news websites like this one? Go read the news site in you own town now.
Yeah, Atlanta’s got traffic, crime and corruption…name me one large city that doesn’t have these. Traffic is just as bad in Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc… Crime…go check out local tv websites in other cities, particularly Chicago lately…seems you cannot walk around Lincoln Park there without getting mugged lately. Corruption…do Richard Daley, Marion Barry, David Dinkins, Kwame Kirkpatrick, the former mayor of San Diego (whatever his name is) come to mind?
Yeah, we are not perfect. But it is nice to ready something positive about Atlanta after what seems like a year’s worth of negative this and negative that.
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Kevin
September 17th, 2009
9:41 am
Wow…I’m hearing a lot of negative things about Atlanta from previous posts….if it is so bad, why are you all still here that are complaining? Get over it.
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Nolan
September 17th, 2009
9:53 am
I’ve gotta say, I wasn’t happier than the day I returned to Atlanta (6/3/09) after living near Los Angeles for 3 years. Every day since I’ve been back has been awesome. Events, parks, shops, food, music, people, history, sports – hooray!
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Matt
September 17th, 2009
9:53 am
I agree with the first poster – The ATL is a mess.
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Brandon
September 17th, 2009
9:55 am
Atlanta certainly has strengths and faults as does any city, but its home for me. Where else but Atlanta does a light rail train come out of a subway and when you look out you see skyscrapers pooping out what looks like a vast forest. There is a unique and signature beauty in that I think. In fact the lack of trees is one of the first things i notice when i go elsewhere. Does Atlanta has its faults? yes. Does its metro and city center cooperate for the good of all? not really. But whos fault is that? is this not a republic? quit bitching about what is wrong and start moving to make things right. I have no time for those who bitch but never leave their homes after 5.
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RCD
September 17th, 2009
9:56 am
@KW – You are absolutely right. Every large city has mad corruption, crime, etc. For all of those out their, if you do not like it – get out. There are many of us that are working to make the city great. Embrace it or get the (&^$^ out.
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Rog The Barbarian
September 17th, 2009
9:58 am
I moved to Atlanta 15 years ago from NYC because I followed my job. I agree that this metro area has tremendous potential and is physically beautiful. What’s holding this city back is the total lack of leadership at all levels. Everybody’s looking out for themselves without regard for the big picture at the state and local levels. People used to be nicer here – no longer. Don’t mention you’re from anywhere North – you’ll be treated negatively. Too bad because this city has so much potential. This could be one of the world’s great cities if the people that live here and the people that govern weren’t so selfish.
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Call it like it is.
September 17th, 2009
9:58 am
“KW” You prove my point. I wouldnt list Chicago, Los Angeles or any other major US city. To list Atlanta as a top 50 place to hit in this entire world is a joke. I will be honest I havent read the article, but I bet most of the fun things they list, is not even in Atlanta.
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Rog The Barbarian
September 17th, 2009
10:03 am
I want the people in this metro to stand up and change the way things are. Treat each other with respect. If you’re in business, stop trying to rob consumers by charging top dollar for substandard service. State goverment, stop all the bickering and fighting and find a way to fund mass transit so people can get around. We need to get the rest of this country and this world to admire Atlanta again.
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Chris
September 17th, 2009
10:07 am
New York, Chicago, San Fran, Seattle, Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, Minneapolis, all have a downtown, nice, mostly safe, with lots to do. Tell me what downtown Atlanta has besides the aquarium which will be run down in no time. Who wants to be in downtown Atlanta at night? All of the other cities have so much more to offer.
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Joe
September 17th, 2009
10:12 am
I have lived in Atlanta since 1980 and in my opinion it all went to crap after the Olympics.
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Buh-bye
September 17th, 2009
10:15 am
Suzie – we’re glad you’re gone, too. I think your leaving is one of the reasons Atlanta made the list. We got rid of you just in time.
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kw
September 17th, 2009
10:28 am
Uh, Call it…I just read the article and EVERYTHING they list except for the Cobb Energy Centre is IN the city limits of Atlanta.
Chris…okay, we don’t have the best downtown in the US, but it has gotten a lot better in the 17 years I have lived here. Besides the Aquarium, you have the entire Centennial Park area which 15 years ago was an empty area of sketchy warehouses. Now, we go down for dinner at places like Legal Seafoods, Stats, etc… at least once a month. And we go at night, and no, we don’t feel threatened. Yeah, you might get panhandled…so what, I’ve been panhandled everywhere from SF to London. And the neighborhoods to the north and east of downtown have lots of unique restaurants, shops, etc…
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Sunshine
September 17th, 2009
10:28 am
Yeah, Suzie – spread your mean-spirited racist propaganda somewhere else, not here. We’re too busy to hate.
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Mark
September 17th, 2009
10:33 am
Presumably, the Natl Geographic author of this article is not a resident. And that leads me to this hypothesis: Atlanta makes a great impression on VISITORS – especially those that are visiting friends or family (as opposed to coming here alone on business or a convention). That’s what gets us on these lists. I know in the late 80’s, when I first started visiting Atlanta in college, I got hooked on “the lifestyle.” So much so that I moved here. Now, 20 years later, I’ve come to know all the troubles we have that a 4-day visitor wouldn’t see. But I still love it here and plan to stay the rest of my life. And my parents (who live in FL) love coming to visit. They think Atlanta is a really great place.
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Tallcarl
September 17th, 2009
10:40 am
Macon man here but I love Atlanta for all the events (some free or cheap) it offers. I now live in Madrid, Spain for work and love it because the weather is nice and I have never seen a better transit system. Like Atlanta it offers festivals or events in some part of the City every weekend and I try to enjoy them. I say this to express the need for some people to turn off the TV and get out of the house and to also get involved in some constructive activity in your City; be it one of the six art centers of the World (Madrid), Atlanta, or Macon. I would like to see the transit system expanded out to Turner Field and the people more united in Civic causes. You can make up your mind as soon as you get out of bed to be unhappy and bitter OR to have a good, happy day. I am one who believes the glass is half full and I am thankful for it daily. Just a though.
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Left wing management
September 17th, 2009
10:44 am
Enjoying the predictable onslaught of nay-saying here, which illustrates what makes Atlanta such a fascinating case among cities and underscores its appeal as much as any list of attractions or laundry lists of virtues ever can. One of the most confounding things about of Atlanta, aside from the basic fact that it’s impossible to define the place (just where does it stop and start? is it really a place of just 400 thousand or is the famous ‘Atlanta population now’ sign the more accurate measure?), is how it utterly lacks anything that the city snobs hold so dear as being vital to a city’s personality – history, cutting-edge sophistication, grandeur, grittiness, density, breathtaking natural features. Like a Jody Foster among cities, it lacks the classical beauty that make people swoon for San Francisco or the grandeur that make Americans utterly slavish lovers of their great and (justifiably) prized New York City, but nonetheless unapologetically takes its place on the big stage.
Here’s an idea: just call Atlanta the anti-Austin (Austin being the city that no one has ever said anything bad about and anyone who visits it apparently is instantly transmogrified into a natural born booster for life): the city where everything is engineered (’imagineered’) and manufactured, yet somehow pulls it all off.
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Chris
September 17th, 2009
10:46 am
*specificlly
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Proofreader
September 17th, 2009
10:49 am
Keep trying, Chris
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Tony
September 17th, 2009
10:50 am
Be fair on this article now — this grouping of 50 spots is the SECOND group of 50 that the magazine has published. And, if you go to the magazine’s website, you’ll find the cities that preceded Atlanta in the first 50 include New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and Dallas, among others…so don’t get too excited here.
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kw
September 17th, 2009
10:53 am
Hey Chris: I graduated from Tech. I go to all the football games. My wife works at Tech, as do a couple of friends. I don’t feel threatened. When is the last time you have been to Tech (day or night) or anywhere in the city? Stop trolling around.
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mike
September 17th, 2009
11:00 am
bunch of haters.. if you dont like it move out! Born and raised here, Gwinnett and now Atlanta, best place in the world.. go move to mayberry if you are looking for utopia
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CL
September 17th, 2009
11:06 am
While Im not crazy about everything in the ATL,I’m happy to be here.
I agree with those that say if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem and should move.
There is nothing wrong with the ATL that a few less unproductive, will complain anywhere they go folks wouldnt fix. The only reason most of these types are here is because they cant afford to be anywhere else.
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Chris
September 17th, 2009
11:07 am
KW, apparently you do not watch the news. How many attacks have happened around your dork school this year? Obviously, during a football game, there will not be any problems. Even though you guys only fill half the stadium for each game. Sure is sad.
Mike, best place in the world? Wow.
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GT Brill
September 17th, 2009
11:09 am
I have to say, there are some people with miserable lives trolling these blogs. Sure the city has problems, some major ones. But the city is headed in the right direction and has a lot of upsides.
Name me a city that doesn’t have a jail or police force because they don’t have any crime for cryin’ out loud. Some people can’t enjoy anything, it doens’t make you cooler than NatGeo or “more in the know” to crap on their article or the city.
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Blackbird
September 17th, 2009
11:12 am
I moved from ATL 12 years ago, to sunny southern California. Great weather, beautiful country, but arrogant mean people. For that, I miss the good ol’ south, with your gorgeous spring flowers, hot humid summers and occasional crisis that a 2″ snowfall can bring.
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Left wing management
September 17th, 2009
11:24 am
By the way, Tony’s right. The National Geographic feature is really just a case of magazine list-itis, the fetish that magazines make of lists in an effort to sell magazines, list mongering if you ask me. Nowhere does it say anything about “best”. This tendency to conflate significance with best is a knee-jerk Atlanta trait, practiced ad nauseam by both its defenders and detractors.
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Shelly
September 17th, 2009
11:29 am
I don’t get it. I’m trying to figure out a way to leave Atlanta and move north.
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kw
September 17th, 2009
11:29 am
Chris: You just showed your redneck biases. “Dork school” “half-filled stadium” yeah, you pretty much just invalidated every argument you were making.
I watch the news. Yeah, the muggings concern me. You think there is no crime around other college campus, including your (I’m guessing) UGA? The key is to realize you are in a big city and be aware of your surroundings. Good advice for any big city.
I really need to stop feeding the trolls.
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Inman Park
September 17th, 2009
11:31 am
Chris and others. You don’t get out much do you? I have lived in the City of Atlanta since 1969 when I arrived to go to GT and in Inman Park since 1975. What a great place to live! My profession would allow me to go most anywhere, and I travel a lot, but I have never found anyplace that I would rather live – total package compared to total package. Could Atlanta be improved? Certainly. Does city, county and state govenments leave soemthing to be desired? Sure. Is there a lack of leadership in the city and the region? Absolutely. But after 40 years, I have not found a place that I would rather live.
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joe
September 17th, 2009
11:40 am
i moved to atl from london nearly 2 years ago and while i miss certain things (pubs, pubs, pubs), i’ve never regretted it for a second. london is stressful & lonely. atlanta is warm & inviting. and full of leafy, interesting neighbourhoods like virginia-highlands, ansley park, decatur, east atlanta… if you don’t like where you live then MOVE.
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Call it like it is.
September 17th, 2009
11:41 am
Okay, fine some of you love this city, Yea! But to put Atlanta in the top 50 in the world for places in a lifetime??? Can any of you Atlanta homers tell me you can’t think of at least a 100 or more different places that would leave Atlanta in the dust. Come on get real. The article is a joke.
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Rod
September 17th, 2009
11:43 am
I’m not exactly a world traveller, but the few major cities that I have been to, New York, Miami, Washington DC, Montreal, Toronto and even Hartford CT, have something that Atlanta does not, a decent and attractive downtown, a reason to go downtown. Most of these cities’ downtown are the reason people go there to visit. When you go downtown Atlanta, there is a sense of fear and neglect almost all around. The metro area should also improve their transportation system. Their rail and bus system with MARTA is extemely limited as in comparison to other major cities. It appears there is still some growth into Atlanta, but there does not appear to be a good solid plan for transportation access or a handle on the crime blight. Beautiful trees and rolling hills are not everything.
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ATLpeace
September 17th, 2009
11:43 am
Greetings from Atlanta: City of Peace, Inc.
Our nonprofit believes that Atlanta’s destiny is to become a global capital of peace (I agree that we are far from this when you look at the FBI’s Uniform Crime Statistics, however WE focus on our possibilities and NOT our circumstances). Atlanta has a GREAT, yet undeveloped asset and we call it: “The Gandhi-King Global Peace Connection.” Would you like to help us develop it? If so, then contact us through Myspace or LinkedIn:
http://www.myspace.com/ATLpeace
http://www.linkedin.com/in/atlpeace
To seizing: “The Peace Millennium”
John R. Naugle
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Left wing management
September 17th, 2009
11:46 am
To Shelly: “I don’t get it. I’m trying to figure out a way to leave Atlanta and move north.”
Better get a move on, the north’s moving south (or is it the south moving north?) so it might overtake you if you aren’t careful.
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Pat
September 17th, 2009
11:53 am
Chris….you are an ignorant doofus. I have lived in Cal, N Car and FL but have lived the longest in various parts of ATL. The happiest view I had of CA was in the rear view mirror when leaving and got happier and happier each mile closer to ATL. I now live in SW ATL and have never once been bothered by a thug Chris, not in over 20 years.
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Sticky icky
September 17th, 2009
11:58 am
I just wanted to see if anybody knows how to sign up for the soapbox race or is it too late for that… Let me know
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Jim K.
September 17th, 2009
12:03 pm
your comments here
I moved to Atlanta 10 years ago after travelling here on business for 20 years. I love this place!
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Corey
September 17th, 2009
12:21 pm
The local media hates Atlanta. Don’t believe me; see for yourself.
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Greg
September 17th, 2009
12:28 pm
This place has become the biggest joke. No real identity of the people….too many people from other places invading this once proud and beautiful state and area…..Traffic terrible and the people too….
Pure joke…
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me
September 17th, 2009
12:32 pm
If you can’t appreciate what Atlanta has to offer, get out, so there’s more room for the rest of us who do. I could have never bought a brand new home in the North where I’m from, period. I live in East Atlanta and love it. I wouldn’t live in Buckhead if it was free (bleached and tanned posers). There’s plenty to do here if you get off your couch. If you’re looking for a crime-free, thug-free, corruption-free, racism-free environment, you’ll need to move to Mars because on earth it doesn’t exist so snap out of your fairy-tale mind-set and get real. All cities have problems, why shouldn’t Atlanta, it’s a city isn’t it?? For those who don’t know, Utopia was created in a BOOK.
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TBizzle
September 17th, 2009
12:44 pm
On the surface Atlanta is nice but when you dig down it’s rather bland. Sure, Buckhead has some nice buildings and restaurants but its depressingly fragmented. One minute you’re looking a beautfiul new (but empty) building and the next minute you’re looking at a run down strip mall.
Don’t get me started on the quality of the roads here. You would think Atlanta gets hit with heavy snow and ice in the winter with the condition these roads are in.
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GA Peach
September 17th, 2009
12:53 pm
I have just moved back to ATL since being gone for 10 years. Traveled all over the country, lived in NC, Sweden, and most recently (and regrettably) S. Fla. The S. Fla bit I will be recovering from for some time. The day I moved back I was able to sleep, eat, laugh, sigh, and be happy for the first time in three years. Atlanta has grown in such great ways – the east side villages, the in town living. We have amazing food every where we go. And cheap! Taquiera del Sol, Figo, Fellini’s, Rathbun’s, etc, etc. Everyone we have run into has been really nice and people actually have manners here! I am so glad to be home. And proud that Atlanta made that list! I agree that it should be on that list.
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DB
September 17th, 2009
12:53 pm
As soon as Atlanta gets a new mayor and police chief serious about tackling crime, she will be restored to her former glory. I remember reading in the AJC several years back that Atlanta is so beautiful in the spring, it is like a beautiful lady who is wearing all of her jewelry at once. I agree.
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Atlanta named a National Geographic Traveler "Place of a Lifetime" - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum
September 17th, 2009
12:57 pm
[...] a National Geographic Traveler "Place of a Lifetime" This is really, really cool… Atlanta a National Geographic Traveler ‘Place of a Lifetime’ | Inside Access Atlanta, Places of a Lifetime, Travel, Photography – National Geographic Atlanta, Essay, Places [...]
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Left wing management
September 17th, 2009
12:59 pm
GA Peach: “people actually have manners here”
Now now, let’s not get simplistic. People have good manners in New York and Chicago too.
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Tori
September 17th, 2009
1:03 pm
Atlanta has such a bad rap…it is one of the largest cities in the country and never gets a lick of press. everyone who has visited me here has had a fabulous time…from touristy Coca-Cola and Aquarium to the pubs of the Highlands, to swanky Buckhead, and vibrant Midtown. We eat good, enjoy the parks and museums, watch shows, shop, drive through beautiful intown neighborhoods with historic homes, etc.
I have lived all over, including London and I agree with Joe…London is lonely and its a hard, hard life. Atlanta is the only big city I have been in where its easy to live here. I am from youngstown, ohio area orginally…crime and corruption are everywhere. If we concerned about it, we need to work to fix it and I think Atlanta has done a good job and continues to improve itself.
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Left wing management
September 17th, 2009
1:11 pm
Tori: Atlanta has such a bad rap…it is one of the largest cities in the country and never gets a lick of press.
I don’t know, I think Atlanta gets a pretty fair amount of attention. This NG magazine piece is a case in point. What I think Atlanta does NOT get is much respect from the city snobs. And probably one reason it does not is that life here is not as hard as it is in other places. As I once overheard somebody who’d just moved to LA say: “the harder it is to live in a place, the more exciting it is” (he was speaking of LA and NY). So there’s a romanticism of urban grittiness. For those with little patience, Atlanta is too big to have any mid-size charm (a la Denver, Austin) but too small for true big city sophistication. Meanwhile, the actual city that falls through the cracks in this way gets overlooked and dissed, and that’s a shame.
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Bryan
September 17th, 2009
1:13 pm
I’m reading and there are a lot of A town haters out there. I live in NC and I can’t wait until I can have a chance to move to Atlanta. The people are nice and it has everything you want. A big city feel in downtown, midtown, and Buckhead and still some southern charm in some of the surrounding area’s. And if you want a suburbian feel just go outside of I-285 and commute into the big city. How many cities can say that? How many cities have a heavy rail system especially in the south. Not light rail folks because there is a difference. Most cities don’t have heavy rail because it can’t be supported. Light rail are smaller, shorter trains that are more like a trolley. Heavy rail is used in major cities because it has it’s own exclusive right of way. Unfortunately it is not extended where it needs to be 1) because there is no state support for MARTA and 2)there are people that don’t want a rail stop in their area because it attracts crime…one of the dumbest things I’ve heard. Every rail stop I’ve seen on MARTA was clean and most had nice high end development around it, including on the South line! Why are so many stars moving to ATL… black and white? How many cities have natural beauty like Stone Mountain and man made like the skyline of the city? Why were the Olympics set here? People… the OLYMPICS!! What is keeping on the haters here? Someone said they probably can’t afford to leave. Probably true. Every city has crime and traffic. That is just part of a big city. I love the A town and can’t wait to get down there. It has everything I need.
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Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 17th, 2009
1:15 pm
Seems like there are intelligent geographers and lucky people.
The single “dog” I have in the “fight” is wanting only the best for myself and my family. Born in D.C., I’m from America, travelled all the world, driven in almost all of our major cities, and lived in some: for twelve-month-a-year living, raising a family and being around the best America has to offer, amidst the closest bloodstock and Spirit to those who created America, there is no place equal to Atlanta, Georgia.
Atlanta’s drivers and roads are the best. This is a “magic” town: the New Jerusalem.
A thousand feet above sea-level, without the humidity of D.C. or NY: of the top fifteen U.S. metro areas in population Atlanta is second in altitude only to “The Mile-High City,” Denver, whose region’s backwardness and heat inversion air pollution is legendary – and days from a beach.
The Mafia and the Roman Catholic Church, or their Big Oil fronts, control Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, SanFran, Miami, New Orleans, and Texas. Seattle gets rain all year and is miserable waiting for the next Big Tsunami.
D.C. is Babylon on the Potomac…all aligned with the “New York/L.A. Sodom and Gomorrah axis.”
Anyone doesn’t love Atlanta, Georgia, and particularly North Georgia, needs to look in the mirror. Shape up, or ship out.
There’s good reason this is Dr. King’s hometown. Come to Atlanta to find G-d. If one can’t manage that try a little harder.
It’s all up from here without the fascists in the White House, a homegrown girl will do well as mayor, and American Civilization will be pivoting on our urban culture.
Atlanta is true America’s only hope and, thank G-d, Obama is Atlanta’s president.
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Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 17th, 2009
1:19 pm
P.S. East Atlanta is “electric.” Atlanta’s the “happenest” spot in the world: the Center of the Universe. If it “ain’t” right for you, get to where you can be happy.
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GA Peach
September 17th, 2009
1:23 pm
Left Wing Management – People in NY do not have ANY manners, that’s why S. Fla sucks so bad. Well, one of the hundreds of reasons…
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junebaby
September 17th, 2009
1:38 pm
people(and i’m talking men) talk about crime and fear in downtown atl! maybe that’s what your problems are, a lot of you so-called men have no backbone, and fear your own shadows. for a grown man to not go outside or participate in life, less this or that happens to him is mind-boggling. if you guys have a woman, how do u keep them?? actually, the only thing wrong about atlanta is too many sensitive(??)men, not willing to stand up for themselves. if u did that, u wouldn’t fear anyone or anything. sure be careful, but don’t cower!!!
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Jay
September 17th, 2009
1:42 pm
Blah blah blah. I hate Atlanta. Get out then? I have lived in Charlotte, Dallas, San Jose, San Diego twice, and I love it here. So much to do. Festivals all over the place, like Other Sound in Lil 5 this weekend and the EAV Strut. Beer festivals, parades, etc. Great lil neighborhoods like EAV, Castleberry Hill, Lil 5, VA-HI, etc. And lots of stuff for tourists as well.
Also, you are a short drive from a lot of stuff. Beaches, gorgeous mountains, raging rivers, wineries. Great restaurants. Great airport, decent mass transit that takes you to another of my favorite areas ITP – Decatur. Love this place.
Yes, we have a crime problem, but what major city doesn’t? I have friends getting broken into in San Diego. Its everywhere. We do lack good leadership, but let’s hope that is coming soon.
For those that don’t like it, this is a free country, you can say what you want. And you can leave whenever you want to head to your utopia. I have traveled all over the Northeast, and I do like a lot of cities up there, but only Chicago would I live in, and it definitely has its share of issues.
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alana
September 17th, 2009
1:56 pm
I love the person who said they’d never even been to Atlanta, and called the article a joke. For those of you who have only seen Downtown and Centennial Olympic Park, you have been sadly deprived. ATLANTA IS one of the most diverse, charming and eccentric cities. If you haven’t explored anywhere outside the Perimeter, or even the outlying neighborhoods within, you haven’t really visited Atlanta. As some who has lived in Miami, Alaska, and Atlanta, I LOVE THIS CITY!!!!!
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Arrivederci, ATL!
September 17th, 2009
2:04 pm
Enter your comments here
I’m not going to say whether or not Atlanta should have been chosen as one of NG’s “50 Places of a Lifetime”, but as a former resident and citizen of Atlanta for more than 45 years, I will say that there was a time in Atlanta’s past that it was as special of a place to live and work as described in the article. Today? I don’t think so.
Today, it is the most racist and vitriolic city I’ve ever known and I’m not speaking of the attitudes of whites towards blacks, but rather just the opposite. It’s crime rate is through the roof — it has become one of the very top drug centers of the U.S. It’s government is more than corrupt, it is reprehensible. The veneer and facade of a gleaming skyline and self-pompous promotion can’t hide the ugly warts and such that have overtaken and sought to kill the life of the city.
I admit to missing Atlanta’s beautiful changing of the seasons there, from it’s crown and glory of Spring to the wistful and crisp times of Fall. There are certain other things I miss, too. But, even these special individual momentos and treats of a place I once loved are not enough to ever lure me back there. Like authors Anne Rivers Siddons and Pat Conroy (both native area Atlantans and left for similar reasons) there is a time to go…and go they did and I did, too. But, we’re all sad we had to.
I left Atlanta in 2008 for San Diego, California. I used to LOVE Atlanta with a passion. It’s physical beauty nothwithstanding, it was a delight to tell others that I was from Atlanta. When we moved here in the mid-1960’s, it was much smaller and, therefore, had a lower crime rate, fewer traffic problems, etc. But, as Atlanta grew, so did it’s problems. One of them
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LH
September 17th, 2009
2:13 pm
Is it the Robert L. Staton Rose Garden located at Fernbank on Ponce?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 17th, 2009
3:29 pm
Thank you! A new post goes up every day. A post that combines Friday, Saturday and Sunday items also goes up on Thursdays. Here’s a link to this week’s: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/09/17/weekend-to-do-list-september-18-20/
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BPJ
September 17th, 2009
3:37 pm
First, would the Atlanta-bashing trolls please follow through with their rhetoric and MOVE? (And once you have moved, there’s probably not much reason to keep reading a column on “fun stuff to do in Atlanta and beyond”, unless I guess if you live in beyond.) Once y’all move, traffic should ease up somewhat, although some of the Atlanta-bashers don’t seem to get out much.
Here’s what I posted last week, when some of the same people were outraged that Atlanta had been mentioned as one of the ten most fun US cities (we placed 6th):
“Fun in Atlanta includes Horizon Theatre, Actors’ Express, Theatrical Outfit, the (Tony-winning) Alliance, 7 Stages, TWO Shakespeare companies (Atlanta Shakes Downtown and Ga. Shakes in Buckhead), PushPush, Synchronicity, True Colors, Theatre in the Square, and Dad’s Garage! Unlike the other cities on the list, we even have a French-language theatre, Theatre du Reve.
Check out the High (not just the high-profile exhibits), the Carlos, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Spelman Museum, MOCAGA, Oglethorpe Museum, MODA……….and galleries such as Marcia Wood, Solomon Projects, Sandler Hudson, Saltworks, Kiang, Jackson (for photo), Lumiere (also photo), and Barbara Archer.
Check out the superb symphony, and the best-on-the-planet ASO Chorus.
Listen to jazz at Churchill Grounds and blues at Blind Willie’s. Eat at any of the 100 best restaurants around town. Stroll through Piedmont Park in the spring, or hike the Chattahoochie Nat’l Rec. area in fall. Visit the world’s largest aquarium, and one of the nation’s best zoos.
And if you’re frightened by fellow citizens because they’re black, please move to Alabama.”
I would like to know whether any of the trolls have been to 5 or more of the places on that list.
To clarify a few points: the city population isn’t 400,000; since 1990 it has increased to over 500,000, the highest ever.
And contrary to some comments here, the city and the metro area, through the ARC, have excellent transportation plans. Such plans have existed for over a decade. The problem is: (a) the state underfunds metro Atlanta, raking off our tax dollars to fund projects in the rest of the state, and (b) the state will not even let us VOTE to tax OURSELVES to fund transit.
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Lily Hunt
September 17th, 2009
5:34 pm
Enter your comments here I love that Kudzu AND the Big Chicken made it into a 10-question quiz! To me, one of the best things about Atlanta is watching us all assemble at Piedmont, not really to watch the old movies, but just because we like being together. Piedmont Park, the Starlight, any neighborhood fair any time of year…just bring out the food and we’ll be there, fixin’ to shoot the breeze!
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SweetPeach
September 17th, 2009
5:55 pm
I’m not a hater, just an observer. Many of the most vocal supporters of Atlanta on this thread are from somewhere north (yes, that includes South Florida). It’s a delight to have you, but to keep Atlanta the place we love, please pass along the word to any less courteous transplants you may know: we walk and drive on the right; don’t block supermarket aisles with your carts while we chat; seldom find ANYTHING important enough to justify cutting in line or interrupting; and use the horn as a warning instrument, not long-distance profanity. Humoring our little quirks will keep your stay and our city much more pleasant. Just saying…
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FlowerGirl
September 17th, 2009
6:30 pm
What a beautiful story
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 17th, 2009
11:13 pm
Ha! Lily, the one I ALMOST answered incorrectly had to do with The Varsity potatoes. I really had to think about just how many cars are pulling in and just how much each one orders.
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john
September 18th, 2009
8:24 am
Atlanta ahead of Boston ,San Francisco ?? PLease ! At one time Atlanta was a wonderful city but over the last 30 years it has become a city lacking in everything except hip hop. There is no downtown to walk through and enjoy without fear . Our major attractions are the World of Coke ,The Aquarium ,CNN,Stone Mountain and the Fox . Would I visit this city to visit those attractions ? NO ! I can’t wait to move from this crime infested ,corrupt ,hip hop city with nothing to do .What we call attractions are a joke !
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Peadawg
September 18th, 2009
8:25 am
Go ask those Ga Tech student who keep getting robbed if Atlanta is a place of a lifetime.
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jim
September 18th, 2009
8:28 am
if atlanta is so nice why has everyone moved 35 minutes north of the city
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In with the NEW
September 18th, 2009
8:36 am
I moved here from the north to take the jobs the Georgia educational system can’t fill (as it ranks 46th) and to introduce myself to the beautiful women the southern gentlemen can’t satisfy.
I figure it took Yankees to burn Atlanta down… and ya’ll we’re waiting for the Yankees to build it back up.
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Get Real!
September 18th, 2009
8:37 am
You gotta be kidding! I was born and raised (as a caucasian) in Washington, D.C. Moved to Atlanta 41 years ago, and if it wasn’t for my kids being born here and living here, I’d be back in D.C. in a flat N.Y. second! Washington D.C. has it all over Atlanta.
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Bryant
September 18th, 2009
8:38 am
Dear Chris:
Atlanta is an awesome place to live. The city is new, exciting, and full of entertainment for the whole family. The homes are beutiful and the neighborhoods are diverse. Sure there is crime like any other major city, but that doesnt negate the fact that all people are welcomed and enjoy the experience. I lived in several other major cities and they are like concrete jungles. Atlanta has an awesome skyline with a very green backdrop. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.
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chuck allison
September 18th, 2009
8:38 am
Atlanta is a cesspool of corrupt leadership, black racism, traffic, poor architecture, crime, rap music, MLK’s descendants fighting in court,Cynthia McKinney, Wayne Williams, and moral decay. Don’t ask me why I don’t leave. I did, and now I hate to even drive through Atlanta or go through the airport. Imagine how wonderful Georgia would be if we could get rid of Atlanta.
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Donald D
September 18th, 2009
8:40 am
What’s the old saying???? Something about “seeing the glass half full or half empty??” dependent on your own frame of mind.
Look for the beauty and it’s there before you; live in negativity and that’s what you get.
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Lynn
September 18th, 2009
8:40 am
Enter your comments here
Piedmont park is not accessible to most. There is not enough parking, and it is so congested I avoid the area. It’s a great park if you live within walking distance, but it is a turn off, not a draw, to those who live in other parts of the city or suburbs. Locals view Piedmont Park as “theirs,” and do not welcome “outsiders” to “their park.” As a Chicago native, parks are designed to be accessible (lots of parking, public transportation that’s safe and accessible) a huge draw to local, suburbanites, and out of state visitor–and locals are proud of this. There’s a very different attitude in Atlanta.
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NYTransplant
September 18th, 2009
8:41 am
I relocated from NYC because my job came to Atlanta. Overall, the city isnt all that bad. What impressed me the most was the amount of trees around the city. Overall, its relatively clean too. There are alot of things to do around town. I do like the weather better down here too.
The negatives are the city government,( alot of potential going to waste), No Marta train to Turner Field, (a no-brainer to have a stop there, whats up with that??), Downtown not to safe at night. I feel safer in downtown NYC than I do here. This city needs more of a police presence so the folks visiting have a sense of security. Just my take from a northerner….
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Bryant
September 18th, 2009
8:41 am
Oh yeah Jim. If you would check the latest census reports the city of Atlanta population has grown in the last five years. That includes alot of people returning to the city. Besides, I there is no other place in metro atlanta like Piedmont Park.
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JP
September 18th, 2009
8:43 am
I moved here 16 years ago from Ohio. Atlanta and the metro area is so vast and varies so much from area to area. But the one thing I loved that you cannot get anywhere up north is the newness to everything. I love new and hate old. I grew up with old. Knew no different. Besides everyone is moving here. From all over the north to here. Why? Weather and beauty. The mountains, hills, trees and scenery do make it awesome. Visitors come down and tell me how every subdivision has such pristene well maintained landscape. I know people who moved here and moved back thinking the grass was greener and then reversed course. Now everyone regretted it. The drought was just a cycle. Look the weather now. Another cycle. Change is good. Same o same o is boring. Unless you have been other places like I have you have no clue. The cost of living here is very affordable. Traffic? Yeah I had a problem for 7 years. Then I changed jobs to where I drove the opposite of traffic. No my commute is 20-30 mins and loving it. No stress. That’s my take on this anyway.
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Mactown Marvel
September 18th, 2009
8:44 am
First and foremost let me emphasize the fact that no U.S. metro city is perfect! One thing I can say is that while ATL has it’s faults like every other city ATL does provide you with the ability to live an affordable life. Having lived in both LA and now the God forsaken city these infidels call Beantown by far ATL has these cities beat when it comes to cordial ethics, cost of living, and overall cleanliness! As far as the traffic goes, traffic in the ATL has gotten worse because the infidels that move there for the likes of LA and Beantown that don’t have the common sense to move over when someone is trying to merge onto the highway (Ooops my bad, you infidels know this as being the Interstate). Common sense bottom line is the difference between persons that were born in ATL and have seen ATL become the present day city that it still is now know what the city is and is still beautiful in regards to its mystique and captivating charm that made NGC place it on its list. Now if all of these infidels that wrote their opinions about the city and are not originally from ATL take a deep breath, click your heels twice and take your infidel behinds back to where you came from!
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JP
September 18th, 2009
8:45 am
And I love the diversity here….Black White Indian Asian Mexican…yes Mexican. I am White. I love all these different foods they all bring here. I have tried them all. Indian has become one of my favorites. Life without all these different cultures would get boring.
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Matt C.
September 18th, 2009
8:46 am
I moved here a decade ago for school, never expecting I’d stay but here I am. I love this city and I’ll gladly take the bad parts with it. For all of you who were looking for Mayberry, I’m sorry you didn’t find it here. Good luck with that.
To answer the question posted. It’s got to be all the parks and festivals that are spread throughout the year. Atlanta is such a wonderfully social city. And it’s a beautiful city.
Everyone that thinks this city is scary…turn off the news and go outside and meet your neighbors.
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Richard
September 18th, 2009
8:48 am
Who in the world did the city of Atlanta pay off to get in National Geographic Traveler?
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In with the NEW
September 18th, 2009
8:49 am
Hey Mactown Marvel, do you have a moment to get out of your trailer and tell me why nothing changed in Atlanta until the “infidels” showed up and started cleaning your town up?
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cjamesatl
September 18th, 2009
8:50 am
Is this a joke? Piedmont Park is a dump compared to REAL parks. It’s just a bunch of grass with a ‘lake’ and a splattering of trees. NatGeo must have been desperate to complete their list.
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Joan
September 18th, 2009
8:54 am
Atlanta is a joke of a city. St. Louis has a city park that is 12 MILES around and it is beautiful. It makes Piedmont look like somebody’s backyard. The art museum here suffers from a lack of art, and the zoo is about 50 years behind the times. The Botanical Garden isn’t much bigger than gardens in many private homes–again, St. Louis has a Garden about 20 times larger. Maybe Atlanta suffers from lack of civic interest in all these things. What Atlanta does have is traffic and nasty, rude people.
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moot
September 18th, 2009
8:58 am
One of the main reasons that Atlanta is unappealing to so many people is that it tries so hard to be something, usually the _____ of the south. For example, there was an article yesterday asking if Atlanta was the LA of the south (really?). When I moved here, I heard people call it the NY of the south (not even close). Little Five Points is made up to be a slice of San Francisco and Buckhead is supposed to be like Beverly Hills. I don’t know what Atlantic Station is supposed to be – perhaps an experiment in kitsch.
It is really annoying because if this place wasn’t too obsessed with trying to be like somewhere else its optimistic and friendly people could create a place more interesting and unique.
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Heels 4 Real
September 18th, 2009
8:58 am
I just moved to Atlanta from Charlotte last weekend and am definitely liking it so far. I lived in Virginia-Highlands and have yet to experience any of the bad things people mention.
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Karen
September 18th, 2009
8:58 am
KW,
What kind of corruption was former NYC Mayor David Dinksin involved in?
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Love your city
September 18th, 2009
8:58 am
My goodness, what negativitities amongst our very own population…I, for one, happen to agree with the list. Atlanta is one beautiful city-full of diversity, culture, amazing entertainment, shopping, world class culinary cuisine, one of a kind parks, historical Vistorian homes on expansive tree-lined streets, mini ‘neighborhoods’ where there is literally something for everybody, countless Fortune 500 companies headquartered here,just hours from the mountains or the ocean, live music galore, art exhibits, and tons of Civil War history!?? I didn’t even mention Hartsfield-where we can literally jump on a non-stop flight to Seoul, Korea. Ladies and gentlemen, coming from a world travelled native Atlantan (born and raised right here and still here), I suggest some of you start seeing the beauty and intrigue of this fascinating city…
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Left wing management
September 18th, 2009
8:59 am
To chuck allison: why do you even read the paper online then if you’re so happy to be done with Atlanta? Let me guess, you probably wish Atlanta were South Carolina or Alabama with no real major cities and you probably were rooting for Joe Wilson when he made his outburst in Congress. Am I right?
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Chris
September 18th, 2009
8:59 am
Atlanta is AWFUL! I thought a city with this much crime, traffic, corruption was the norm for a large city. I was so upset when my company transferred me to the Chicago branch but I couldn’t be happier here in Chicago. Even the “windy city” has less corruption than Atlanta. And for the previous poster who mentioned mayor Daley as corrupt, you obviously don’t know anything about him. And for those of you who are going to tell me to “read my own town’s newspaper” and “stop worrying about Atlanta”. I just want you to know that the only reason I read the AJC is to keep up with my alma mater in sports.
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Vince
September 18th, 2009
9:01 am
There are negative people in this world who see only problems.
There are positive people in this world who see the beauty.
Thank goodness an unbiased, well-respected magazine can see the truth.
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Brent
September 18th, 2009
9:03 am
Atlanta is what you make it. There are hundreds of beautiful places to go and things to do. I’m highly suspect of anyone who derides it to the contrary. Some folks must not get out much. Or maybe you live in the suburbs. It may not be a top 50/100 “city of a lifetime” but it’s wonderful all the same. And the people here are easily the friendliest I’ve encountered of any place I’ve visited in the world.
And some of the comments here are really off the deep end! Atlanta as “racist” and “mean” and not having an “attractive downtown” (NYC, DC, Orlando, Nashville – haha, are you people serious?!). Plenty of people with an apparent axe to grind. Atlanta isn’t perfect, but every city has crime, traffic, etc.
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Left wing management
September 18th, 2009
9:04 am
moot: “It is really annoying because if this place wasn’t too obsessed with trying to be like somewhere else its optimistic and friendly people could create a place more interesting and unique.”
Read my post above from yesterday where I address this tendency of Atlanta to ‘pose’ among the elite cities, which infuriates the city purists and people like you but nonetheless Atlanta mostly pulls it off.
By the way, I think you’re dead wrong about Atlanta not being the LA of the South. I actually have always found that to be a pretty good description of what Atlanta is with the immense similarities between the two places.
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JP
September 18th, 2009
9:06 am
You go Vince. Negative people suck. They are less happy and less productive. And they live a shorter life. You have to look at Atlanta and the metro area as a whole. Examining one aspect gives you no insight. Have you checked out all the aspects of the areas? All cities have certain parts that are not good. So don’t go to them.
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Left wing management
September 18th, 2009
9:07 am
To Chris: “I just want you to know that the only reason I read the AJC is to keep up with my alma mater in sports.”
I’m ROFL now. That may be the case, but you obviously can’t resist stopping over to a forum about Atlanta being featured in National Geographic to weigh in, can you?
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Tyree
September 18th, 2009
9:12 am
Piedmont Park is stunning. Except when it gets turned into a fairground several times a year with the festivals. Portal potties, crowds, litter, trampled ground are the order of the day. Va-Hi is quaint.Inman Park is nice. Grant Park would be wondetful except for the continued crime. Atlanta is a mixed bag of good and bad.
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LOLO
September 18th, 2009
9:12 am
I agree with Get Real, DC is a much better city than Atlanta ever will be. Yeah there is crime, but at least it rarely bleeds over into the areas people want to be. I never felt threatened walking Cap. Hill, downtown, Georgetown, Adams Morgan or any other similar neighborhood at night. I loved living there and am trying to move back right now. Oh and the Metro system actually gets you to most places in the city you need to go. I drove my car about twice a month when I lived there.
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Southern Charm
September 18th, 2009
9:14 am
Enter your comments here
Why do we get upset because the article expresses the good in Atlanta and does not tell us what we already know about traffic, etc.?
One of the oldest “Southern Hospitality” traditions is:
Just smile, and say Thank You
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 18th, 2009
9:14 am
Thanks to those of you staying on topic and keeping the discussion moving forward! Interesting topic, interesting perspectives.
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Jim
September 18th, 2009
9:15 am
I love living in the metro-atl area but I can’t for the life of me understand why piedmont park would make the top 50 places on the earth. Just off the top of my head, I don’t think I’d rate it in the top 50 in GA.
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HAHAHA
September 18th, 2009
9:16 am
I love Atlanta and I’m glad it’s been recognized as a great city to visit. For those of you who hate it, and have left and/or are planning to why are you still reading the AJC? I’m just saying…..morons.
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Judith
September 18th, 2009
9:20 am
Life on MARTA,
I could not imagine this city without YBM. They are so handsome and they are hanging.
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CWILLI
September 18th, 2009
9:20 am
I’ve been many places in my life time, and lived a couple as well Chicago, Miami,and Roanoke,VA and originating from Oklahoma City, I came here in the early 80’s fell in love with it and it has been an affair every since. The reason for the haters they look for the bad and not the good. Don’t like just get to steppin but don’t try and distort some one else who may be thinking of visiting this great city, way to go NG.
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Vote For Pedro
September 18th, 2009
9:21 am
It’s a place of a lifetime because the life expectancy here is about 22 years!!!
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levelhead
September 18th, 2009
9:24 am
Trash/Litter on the street every 20ft High weeds and grass. Have you all seen most of the on-ramps with all of the over grown weeds and trash not to mentioned someone or organizations asking for a hand out. Come to five points and have lunch then tell me what you think?
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WestSider
September 18th, 2009
9:25 am
Dear kw,
As a resident of West Atlanta, I can tell you with all assurance that you are dead wrong. You might have gone to Tech, but you don’t live near here. I live in one of the newly “gentrified” neighborhoods on the West side (or Midtown West…whatever you want to call it) and crime is definitely out of control. We had to hire private security because of day-time home invasions. Car-break ins and pedestrian robberies are a common occurrence.
So if you don’t know what you are talking about (and it is obvious from your rosy red picture of intown life…a life it would appear that you don’t even live) then please don’t call others out.
That being said I feel that Atlanta DOES deserve to be on this list. Things are taking a positive turn in this city because the people moving in are working hard to make things better. Crime is ever present, but facing up to it and combating it with every tool available will make the good things about this charming city even better. I love the Fall with its festivals (Candler Park, Arts, L5P Halloween, etc…) most of all!
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garcia
September 18th, 2009
9:31 am
Enter your comments here
My work and studies have taken me to far flung places over the past thirty years. I have lived in the most modern and metropolitan cities on earth and I have lived in third world countries. Without exception, every place on earth has is charms and challenges. I take the best from any place and make it my own. And, I feel sorry for people who can’t see beauty except for a narrowly defined ideal. I get the feeling that the negative posts in this thread are simply the work of narrow-minded simpletons. So be it, they deserve their place and have their voice.
As for me, I plan to finish my journey in Atlanta. I like to save the best for last.
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MichaelinAtlanta
September 18th, 2009
9:34 am
I’ve lived here for most of my 56 years, and I have a pretty strong love/hate relationship with the place. I love the region, but sometimes find what people are making of the place–especially when they try to remake it in the image of some beloved somewhere else–is pretty saddening.
People who live in Atlanta may take for granted how extraordinarily green the city is. By contrast, it’s really pretty nice to see newcomers look with amazement at how completely the city is nestled in a forest. More and more, I also find the architecture is getting more interesting, though it strikes me that, regarding architecture, what the city needs most is more grand public spaces like the Woodruff Arts Center–not just grand buildings, but entire spaces that feed the spirit.
Piedmont Park and, to a lesser extent, Grant Park, are beautiful places, truly great places for people and for nature. Thinking about how wonderfully these parks work, I can’t help but think that much of what’s wrong with the city stems from the fact that planners have literally ripped its heart open by staging I-75/85 and I-20 in the middle of the city. Imagine what kind of city this would be if, instead of the downtown connector, we had a vast public park or, if not that, at least a network of forested neighborhoods matching the surrounding area. I think the fact that we live in a city with a damaged heart is part of what makes the city so inclined to identity silliness and flux.
As for crime and racism, I don’t think in either case we have problems anywhere near as bad as you find in other parts of the country. Large cities like Chicago and Miami are horribly polarized along racial lines, and the violence you find there and in other cities is largely worse than what you find here. Granted, the abject poverty in some parts of Atlanta is shocking and saddening, but there are far worse places.
I hope the city will grow more great public places like the Woodruff Center and Piedmont Park–and maybe that is what the Beltline will bring, if it ever gets built. I’m convinced that what makes cities great is the public spaces they offer; while we have a few wonderful public spaces, we have much to do to cultivate what we could here to make a really great city.
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donna
September 18th, 2009
9:47 am
I have lived in Atlanta since 1989 and Atlanta is a great place to live with lots to do. Read the newspapers, listen to the radio, go to the mountains, lakes, parks, etc. Yes – there are lots to do here. However, since after the Olympics, Atlanta did change a bit. We have had an influx of over 350,000 people move in a matter of a three year span and continuing to move. Traffic is very bad but hopefully, plans are in the workings to change in the future. When it comes to mass transit, we need bus service expansion. We need more officers to patrol neighborhoods. But you know what! I love Atlanta. This is my home and no matter who says negative things about it, I still love it to life. Who don’t like it could leave it. This is a “free” country and you can move elsewhere.
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Will
September 18th, 2009
9:48 am
I was never so glad to get out of Atlanta, lived there 10 years and it was not a plesant experience, traffic, red necks, Republicans, and the government is so corrupt. It’s like a 3rd world country.
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Allie F.
September 18th, 2009
9:49 am
Who ever selected the top 50 places obviously did not spend much time in Atlanta! What a joke – we don’t even have sidewalks here! Traffic is horrendous. The economy sucks. Corruption runs rampid in city government. And the city is devoid of culture!
And, I agree with some of the comments, I have lived in several major metropolitan areas, including NYC. I have NEVER encounted the level racism and hate that is in this city.
A top place? I think not.
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LL
September 18th, 2009
9:53 am
The one best thing about Atlanta are the non-stop flights out of Hartsfield. The worst thing about Atlanta is driving to Hartsfield
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Brian
September 18th, 2009
9:53 am
i want to know how long these Atlanta bashers have lived here.
it must be difficult to live in Atlanta when it is not “perfect” like the city you lived in before.
yes, the traffic has become worse over the years and one solution is for you people to GO BACK TO WHERE EVER YOU CAME FROM.
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What
September 18th, 2009
9:54 am
Are they kidding — “place of a lifetime” if you like crime, traffic, poor air quality, poor public schools, poor local government and leadership — corruption, steel plate covered roads, poor infrastructure, way too many people, thugs, rap, humidity, trees everywhere, poor public transportation, etc….
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Stewart
September 18th, 2009
9:54 am
The obsession with place is an interesting phenomenon. Many people search for a place to live that will make them happy, while ignoring that place often has little to do with happiness. Relatedly, many of these posts tell you much more about the poster than they do the city of Atlanta.
And for the record, I’m a lifelong resident of Atlanta. I love Atlanta, and I think it has a lot going for it. It needs a lot of work and more people like me who will love it.
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Left wing management
September 18th, 2009
9:59 am
When I saw the piece was headlined in this morning’s online edition I figured we’d see a fresh batch of trolls – and I wasn’t disappointed. Good morning Allie F. Good morning Will. Let me ask you, why are you guys so angry about Atlanta? Do you think you might be projecting your hurt and frustration over unfortunate incidents you’ve experienced onto the city perhaps?
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Evan
September 18th, 2009
9:59 am
Look, Atlanta does have crime, traffic and racism. But what major city doesnt. Just start at the beginning of the list. Amsterdam?!? That city is known world wide as a filthy city (in many meanings of the word). Almost every major city on the list has terrible crime and most have an awful political atmosphere. Im not saying that New York or Chicago shouldn’t have been on that list with Atlanta, but let’s remember the criterion for the list. It is a list of wonderfully unique places to visit and soak in sights and culture you can’t find anywhere else in the world. It is not saying that Atlanta is perfect, far from it. Some of the “flaws” contribute to the uniqueness that put Atlanta on the list in the first place. So let’s not bash it because you didn’t enjoy your time here or have had a few bad experiences in traffic or downtown, and let’s remember that despite everything, Atlanta has a great deal to offer.
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DJ
September 18th, 2009
10:03 am
If every notable “guide” or “survey” points out how valuable an asset our tree-cover is, why do the politicians insist on sucking up to developers who want to cut down every tree in sight?
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A Realist
September 18th, 2009
10:04 am
For all of the City of Atlanta haters….MOVE or if you don’t already live in the City of Atlanta…don’t move here!!!!
I just wish there were more green spaces within the city like Piedmont Park. Yes, there is definitely room for improvements overall, but Atlanta is still a great city. I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world and there are only a few places that can compare and/or better. The majority of those places are definitely outside of the US as oppose to being in the US.
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Bob
September 18th, 2009
10:05 am
I thought Atlanta could qualify for the list until I saw all of the negative comments on this post. Get a life and move along! Atlanta would certainly improve without your award-winning attitude.
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Alvin
September 18th, 2009
10:07 am
I love Atlanta. I have been here since November 95. If it had a beach it would be perfect. Every city has crime and corrupt politicians. When I go back to the north after 3 days I am ready to return to my Atlanta. Hey maybe it is not for everybody(so leave!!!!!) The most beautiful woman live here and the good weather last longer. Hey traffic sucks, but hey I can live with that. I love the melting pot is has become.Yes there is old school racist here, but that is the few. I have a problem with the confederate flag, but I feel eventually a change is coming.
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Bruce
September 18th, 2009
10:07 am
I have lived in Atlanta for 32 years. Many times, I have thought about leaving for greener pastures but I realized every major city has similar negative issues. Our biggest challenge has consistently been the overriding perception that it is unsafe to be out and around, particularly at night, in the downtown/city center. This MAY be slowly changing, but not nearly fast enough for our own good. While common courtesy in this country seems no longer to be common enough, at least here that doesn’t seem to be as big an issue (except I-85 at rush hour).
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Corey
September 18th, 2009
10:08 am
Skyscrapers piercing an emarld canvas from downtown to Midtown to Buckhead to Sandy Springs and Perimeter/Dunwoody. There is really no other place like it. Yes, we do have too many bad actors, but all major cities do. If you are overly fixated with YBMs(Young Black Males),yes, you will miss out on great things this city has to offer.
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Oh Phu-leez, squidward
September 18th, 2009
10:10 am
Atlanta in the top 50, internationally!? WTF?
You gotta be kidding. Was this written by someone who’s never been on a plane? Atlanta shouldn’t even finish 1st in the state of Jaw-jaw.
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CDW
September 18th, 2009
10:11 am
I’m with KW – “Delta is ready when you are.”
I would bet that the majority of the petty little folks ripping on our fair city haven’t done or seen much beyond their own big box shopping centers and wouldn’t know what to do with a visitor beyond driving by the Big Chicken.
I’ve lived in several big cities and spent considerable time in others (Washington, Chicago, NYC, San Fran, etc). While I enjoyed my time visiting/living elsewhere and took advantage of what those towns had to offer, I can promise that they have more than their share of rude people, racism, poverty, crime, drugs, and all other social ills that plague metro areas.
Get out and SEE your city. Piedmont is a lovely place to visit, and not just for festivals. Been to the Botanical Gardens? Taken a tour of Oakland Cemetery? News flash – the Cyclorama has nothing to do with bicycles…check it out.
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Da Mick
September 18th, 2009
10:14 am
I’ve lived in Atlanta since the mid-70s, and I have to say that for me, except for the trees, most of what was absolutely wonderful and charming about the city is gone, mostly by way of the wrecking ball. The result of “progress” in this town appears to be rows of corporate cookie-cutter establishments that I can barely make out as I drive by, because there’s always someone driving right on your butt, wherever you are. The road traffic and congestion is insufferably stressful, and basically makes me want to just get where I’m going, which is usually out of the city as fast as possible. Have to agree with other posters here about the city government though. I think Shirley has tried, but the conditions she was left by the criminal who preceded her with are more than one person can change overnight or over eight years. The city government is deep in nepotism, and needs someone who is willing to clean house to really bring on positive progress.
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JC
September 18th, 2009
10:16 am
These people who live in ATL and are making cracks on it just need to leave. I’ve been trying to move to ATL now for several months.
Atlanta has a lot to offer. It is a green city, has wonderful weather, great parks, not 1 or 2 but 3 skylines, world class shopping, a subway system, hundreds of concerts a year, Fox Theater, UnderGround, Lenox, Perimiter, Midtown and the list goes on and on! I LOVE ATLANTA and I can not wait to move there! ATL ROCKS!
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atlantalive
September 18th, 2009
10:18 am
I’m sorry to sound smart-assy, but “ghetto of a lifetime” might be a more appropriate title for the City these days. Atlanta has taken a steady decline over the 20+ years I’ve lived here. Sprawl, traffic, smog, and the daily round of teens in SUVs who think sticking an AK47 in someone’s face is a “fun” way to make some money. Calling Atlanta the “Place Of A Lifetime” is like calling Detroit “Mayberry, USA”. Sorry. I just want some of whatever it is they’re smoking at National Geographic.
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Blessed
September 18th, 2009
10:19 am
I moved to Atlanta in 1982, from the North. I thought it was the most beautiful, friendliest city I’ve ever seen or lived in. Trees, green grass, blue skies, friendly people, beautiful skyline downtown, and that sweet southern tea. (nothing like it) but somewhere after the Olympics, the city seem to change. I didn’t mind the change that much, except for the southern hospitality seemed to start fading. Unfortunately, 2.5 years ago, the economy forced me relocate back north. I do miss it. I still read the AJC everyday.
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joe
September 18th, 2009
10:21 am
Atlanta’s best features are its weather, terrain, affordability and skylines (notice I didn’t say hospitality). Those you can find in many other places. Yes, there’s more to do here than in Akron or Boise or any other 3rd-rate city, but Atlanta doesn’t compare to the world-class cities in this list. It is a second-tier city that needs to grow in cultural, political and social ways. Why do I live here? Because for me the mix is better than just about any other place, yet I see it growing too much in the wrong ways as it aspires to be on these “best international” lists. I fear we’ve thrown out the baby with the bath water.
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BPJ
September 18th, 2009
10:22 am
Again, the usual Atlanta-bashers are out, and revealing their lack of knowledge about the city. One complains that Piedmont Park is not accessible, due to lack of parking and transit access. I thought everyone had heard by now about the large new parking deck which opened several months ago, after considerable public controversy. As for transit, it’s easy. Take MARTA to the Midtown station, walk east 3 blocks (passing some excellent restaurants on the way), and there you are.
Then we are told that Atlanta’s botanical garden is not as large as the one in St. Louis. Size isn’t everything, and when it comes to quality, the ABG is considered one of the nation’s leaders, especially for its orchid center (funny, if we had the largest botanical garden, and bragged about it, these same people would be sternly lecturing us on our obsession with “bigness”!). The ABG is also one of only two gardens in the US featuring the Henry Moore exhibit (the NY botanical garden was the other). See it.
We’re told “the art museum suffers from a lack of art”. Well it’s true the High got started late, and lacks the volume or quality of European paintings found in many other US cities. That is a source of disappointment to me. But to peddle that as the entire story of visual art in Atlanta is misleading. The High’s collections are continuing to grow, with smart acquisitions in contemporary art, photography, and folk art. Its exhibition schedule leans a bit too heavily on blockbusters, but there are smaller, more scholarly shows there as well – you just have to pay attention. But the most revealing phrase was “the art museum” -as if the High was the only art museum in Atlanta. I’ve met a number of people who think that. I take them to the Carlos Museum, and they always say “I had no idea there was anything in Atlanta like that!” There are superb shows at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, MOCAGA, Spelman, Oglethorpe, MODA, and several galleries. Atlanta is also an important theatre town. There’s an energy here that’s lacking in some older American cities, which may explain why the population of some (e.g., St. Louis) has decreased, while the city of Atlanta’s population has increased by 25% in the past two decades (from 400,000 to over 500,000).
This population increase in the CITY will come as a surprise to anyone who believes that “everyone has moved 35 minutes north of the city”.
I liked the comment by Matt C.: “Everyone that thinks this city is scary…turn off the news and go outside and meet your neighbors.” Community involvement makes a big difference in one’s appreciation of the city. There’s plenty of work to be done here, on transportation, on expanding the park system, on improving arts facilities, etc. – get involved.
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dan
September 18th, 2009
10:23 am
I’ve grown up around Atlanta my whole life. I personally think that Atlanta and the metro area has been making a comeback the last 6-7 years. Howell Mill, Highlands, Atlantic Station, Mid-town are all cool places. Crime is a problem, but there is also some really nice homes within the perimeter. I think three things have hurt Atlanta:
1.) it’s infrastructure is ill equipped to handle the massive growth that has taken place in the last 20 years( hence the problem with traffic etc.)
2.) White Flight in the 1970’s and early 1980’s and the birth of surburbia, which has done nothing but plunge the city and metro suburbs into decay.
3.) the influx of transplants from the north( although to be fair, Atlanta has been known as a “Carpet Bagger” City ever since reconstruction).
I too have visited some great cities. But at the end of the day, Atlanta is home to me and I really can’t imagine living anywhere else.
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Try riding your bike here
September 18th, 2009
10:25 am
and see how long you last.
This is not a top city. Yet. It will take a major shift in thinking on the part of a lot of folks to earn that merit badge.
I’ve lived here since ‘64 and it’s better, but it’s not that great.
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Shirley U Jest
September 18th, 2009
10:27 am
Was an Atlanta resident for six years, now just the occasional tourist. Liked it at first, but then the glow quickly wore off, so I moved on. I can understand why NGT saw it the way they did. Tourists have no concept of the high taxes and fees the residents pay for substandard services, the oppressive traffic, the ever-struggling public school system, latent racism, homophobia, and the ineptness of both the administrative and legislative arms of the city government. Plus considering how much of the city’s strained resources are being expended to make the visitor experience positive, it’s good to know that somebody noticed. It may be the one thing in Atlanta that is working, but tourists don’t vote on election day.
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Tea
September 18th, 2009
10:28 am
I think Piedmont Park would be a lot nicer if it didn’t have a new multi-story parking lot in it’s center. The eastern entrace to the park is more like a fortress than a park. The Conservancy and the Botanical Gardens have comandeered a portion of the park for their own use against the practically universal wishes of all residential stakeholders.
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BB
September 18th, 2009
10:30 am
I agree with the article that Atlanta is a great city to see and visit. Every large city has its share of problems so I would suggest to the people complaining to quit watching the local news. There is a lot of good going on in this city that you will never hear about. Your negative views are controlled by your thoughts so look for the good going on in Atlanta and again, turn off the negative news.
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Brian
September 18th, 2009
10:33 am
I live in Jacksonville Fl and I visit the A frequently and I love it. Its my favorite city. I wish I would have moved there instead of J,ville.
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MiLO
September 18th, 2009
10:34 am
National Geographic Traveler recognizes Atlanta (the city and metro area) as one of the “50 Places of a Lifetime.” That’s funny. I remember my friend joking, “Atlanta is a good place to live, not to visit.” Anyway, the essay that accompanies the NGT recognition is problematic. Aren’t others tired of these essays and comments on Atlanta that continue to preserve the false notion of “a city too busy to hate,” especially given the well documented racial and class disparities? Atlanta is a good place to live but it defies logic and reality to rank it among great places in the world.
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rachael
September 18th, 2009
10:35 am
A single MARTA fare is $2.25 now? Jamie, you’re my only news source. Sigh…
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Duluth, GA
September 18th, 2009
10:36 am
I love Atlanta and will always love this city. Yes, Atlanta does have some problems just like every other place in the world, but it is not as bad as some are claiming it to be. As it has been mentioned, stop being so negative and some of you will begin to see the positives in this city. It is never too late to start being positive.
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Greg
September 18th, 2009
10:42 am
The people that are saying it (ATL) is racist are indeed the real racist!
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Native Southerner
September 18th, 2009
10:58 am
I have traveled to many places around the world and I believe that when you consider everything Atlanta has to offer, it’s not such a bad place to live. It does have it’s problems…politics, crime, transportation, differing cultural opinions…but most major cities struggle with these. I enjoy the vibrancy of large cities but, I don’t believe any other cities in the US are worth the costs, hassles or climate extremes. Cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam truly have so much more to offer than American cities but, like others have mentioned in this blog, they can be very difficult places to actually live. The cost of living in Atlanta is so reasonable that I can afford a great, quality lifestyle. At one point in my life I lived in a penthouse in central London but, I still felt as if I had a poor standard of living. I loved the diversity and culture the city had to offer but, again, it was such a hard, fast-paced life.
What Atlanta needs is more focus on the city center. This has already begun in Midtown and to some extent in the downtown area. I just hope it doesn’t take another 20 years to reach its potential. The city has changed so much during the time I have spent here and even if I move (most likely to Paris), I will always follow its progress. If and when that happens, I’m sure I will look back at my time here and remember how comfortable life was.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 18th, 2009
2:19 pm
To be clear, a single MARTA fare is $1.75, but I don’t want to surprise people who are Breeze card-less with the 50 cent fee. When the fare increase begins on Oct. 1, they’ll jump to $2 per fare, or $2.50 with the card fee.
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6Digitballin
September 18th, 2009
2:31 pm
Any time you meet a payment. – Good Times.
Any time you need a friend. – Good Times.
Any time you’re out from under.
Not getting hassled, not getting hustled.
Keepin’ your head above water,
Making a wave when you can.
Just lookin’ out of the window.
Watchin’ the asphalt grow.
Thinkin’ how it all looks hand-me-down.
Good Times, yeah, yeah Good Times
Keepin’ your head above water
Makin’ a wave when you can
Temporary lay offs. – Good Times.
Easy credit rip offs. – Good Times.
Scratchin’ and surviving. – Good Times.
Hangin in a chow line – Good Times.
Ain’t we lucky we got ‘em – Good Times.
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Captain Midnight
September 18th, 2009
2:34 pm
Hapeville Happy Days festival is tomorrow ya’ll!
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akure imes
September 18th, 2009
4:59 pm
I am looking for events geared toward teenagers and youth above 13 for my radio program on WRFG. It seems that we often have events for kids and adults, but the 15-20 age group is left out. Have events been listed for teens in the past? Thank-you!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 18th, 2009
10:21 pm
Great suggestion, Captain Midnight! For those looking for more info, here’s a link: http://www.hapeville.org/index.aspx?NID=217
Meanwhile, akure imes: I do list teen and young adult events sometimes, but you’re right, there’s not as much out there explicitly for that group. A few ideas — a lot of local libraries have teen activities, generally met for those still in high school. Neighborhood festivals are great because they’re not age specific it all. Local theater — think Synchronicity, Horizon, 7 Stages, PushPush, the Center for Puppetry Arts or any number of other community groups — often puts on performances interesting and relevant to those age groups, and with a student discount. (Some of those groups have teen-specific workshops and performances, too.) Art walks are a great — free, dynamic and in every area from Marietta to Castleberry Hill. Does that help at all?
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rachael
September 18th, 2009
10:33 pm
Ohhhhkay. I knew it was happening soon.
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Marc
September 19th, 2009
1:16 am
This article is just hilarious, not as funny as the posts responses lol The best of all is when Sunshine said that “we are too busy here to hate” ROFL (since this is the capital of the prejudice of the United States) How clueless someone can be to rate a city that they don’t live at… Atlanta is even pretty but a huge small town, in mentality and things to offer… crime, drug scene and not related to the night life that the government killed…. The positive feedbacks are clearly from people that doesn’t know other places, or are too afraid or old to do it.
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Will Jones - Atlanta Jeffersonian Exegesis
September 19th, 2009
2:30 am
Marc – Clearly you’ve chosen to throw-in with us. Your English is ESL, is it not? Why second-guess yourself? With Bush’s Anti-Christ faction being beaten back, whose foreign branch probably runs whatever country you left, America shall once more be a Light to the nations, and Atlanta, “America’s Town,” is far and above the best.
I’ve been to essentially all “other places” in the U.S., and many around the world, so I know for a fact: It’s all downhill from here.
After Bush committed 9/11 and restarted the Afghan heroin trade Atlanta was turned into “the Wal-Mart for heroin for the Southeast U.S.,” with complicity of local corruption. My hope is that Mayor Borders won’t be a party to it and with the righteous president in the White House we now have, Atlanta will be the prime beneficiary of restored America following Dr. King’s Dream.
That you found your way here might just be Grace and you should relax and accept your good fortune, but “the Devil” has plans for us all and you might just need to meet your destiny elsewhere. Some place you think is “better?” Perhaps, like a scout, you could go there and report back?
All G-d’s chillun got wings and this is a Freedom Town for those who can be cool.
Our “Well” is pure and good. You try to put something else in Atlanta’s “Well” and you’ll find “the curse causeless shall not come” unto you.
Best of luck.
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Kevin
September 19th, 2009
2:49 am
I don’t understand why everyone trys to act like Atlanta is the worst place ever. like many people have already stated it’s going to have it’s problems just like any other city. but spending my whole life in Atlanta all I have is good memories of the place. Braves games, Centenial Olympic Park, Coke city, riding Marta, the Varsity. As bad as this sounds I enjoyed seein the bums they made our city too. I do find it kinda funny how a listing in the worlds 50 prettiest places or whatever got people arguing politics. I do also agree that the city has crazy potential. Also in Utah people aren’t nearly as nice as they were back home in Ga.
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Atlanta area weather cancellations for September 19 | Inside Access
September 19th, 2009
11:35 am
[...] Zoo Atlanta’s Pandamonium birthday bash is on. It runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. [...]
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Atlanta area weather cancellations for September 19 | Inside Access
September 19th, 2009
11:44 am
[...] remember, there are plenty of good indoor events this weekend, too, from museums and libraries to For Sisters Only to a lot of events on the Weekend To-Do [...]
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Charlie
September 19th, 2009
12:51 pm
Are the Indigo Girls still going ahead tonight?????
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I can read
September 19th, 2009
2:14 pm
Hey Charlie…..Did you see the Indigo girls listed as canceled? NO! DUH!
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Charlie
September 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
Get over yourself jackass, things change constantly
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 19th, 2009
3:14 pm
Indigo Girls are still on, rain or shine. If we do hear of a cancellation, I’ll post it asap! Meanwhile, let’s keeps the comments respectful toward each other, please!
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Anna
September 19th, 2009
4:42 pm
Anybody know where to look for if the Braves Game is canceled tonight? I am on there site and if doesn’t have any info, leading me to believe that it is still on.
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jill
September 19th, 2009
10:19 pm
thank you for covering the atlanta dream. this team works hard and always plays hard and I hope the fan base grows bigger. come on atlanta!! support the dream!!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 19th, 2009
10:39 pm
Hi Anna! Sorry I missed this comment till now — I was already on my way to the Braves game. Hope you made it in and had a great time!
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k harris
September 19th, 2009
10:52 pm
I just returned home from the America I Am exhibit in Atlanta. I cried when I saw the Doors of No Return. To actually see with my own eyes what my parents taught me about my history was amazing. I could feel the energy of my ancestors. Its a shame how far we’ve come, and yet we remain ‘captive’.
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dro
September 20th, 2009
12:08 am
Hey akure, if you get any suggestions please let us/me know. It’s a tough age group and I would love to participate.
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PHOTOS: Girls Rock Camp bands play the East Atlanta Strut | Inside Access
September 20th, 2009
12:29 am
[...] wrote about Girls Rock Camp Atlanta this summer, when the not-for-profit day camp held its week-long [...]
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Atlantan
September 20th, 2009
4:50 am
Top 100 places to live – yes. One of the more liveable metro areas in America with tons to do and see.
Top 100 places to visit in a lifetime – that is a stretch. Great place to visit, but I can’t say top 100 in the world in a lifetime. The south with Atlanta as a destination point yes, but just the city – no. Chris and Suzie must be shut-ins – clearly they didn’t get out and about in the city.
Still great press.
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janet
September 20th, 2009
7:48 am
Enter your comments here
If you save the paper MARTA ticket you can add a fare to it and save the 50cents you paid for the paper ticket. You can do this over and over.If you don’t have a Breeze Card and plan to use a bus to a train, you have to pay twice unless you have the paper ticket to begin with. No transfers available from bus to train without a Breeze card. So a bus to train without a Breeze card can cost 4.00 one way. Train to bus is still only 1.75/ after 1 Oct 2.00. Confusing? yes.
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Gregory
September 20th, 2009
8:52 am
So, where would I go to find out if the braves game was cancelled TODAY, september 20th @ 1:35
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Steve Pascale
September 20th, 2009
9:19 am
I saw the preview last night and must say I was disappointed. Naturally the music was wonderful and the dancers were talented. However, the staging and choreography lacked cleverness. I expected something smart and simple, not crowded and over done. There were too many leaps and fake falls. The stage action was ackward in its attempt to tell a story; it didn’t work. The music demanded dancing that was clever and simple; we got crowded and confusing.
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Shane
September 20th, 2009
9:22 am
Have you tried pandasearch.co.uk? It’s a Panda themed search engine.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 20th, 2009
11:21 am
Hi Gregory! At this point, the Braves game is still on, with no delays. They suggest that folks keep an eye on Braves.com for cancellations due to weather, but it seems the bad weather would have to be much more serious than the steady rain we’ve had lately. There’s always a chance the game could be delayed by rain at the start, or after it has started, but that’s the chance we take, I suppose.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 20th, 2009
11:23 am
Interesting, Steve. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. Was it a good-sized crowd?
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Ann H
September 20th, 2009
3:09 pm
I saw it Friday night and couldn’t disagree with you more. My daughter is a ballerina and she couldn’t rave about it enough, either. We were very impressed wtih the choreography-as she said, “How do you even IMAGINE bodies doing that”, much less them actually doing it. The music, the band, the lights were all wonderful. It was a lovely tribute to Sinatra and amazing dance as well. The house was packed and the performance earned a standing ovation.
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Mark in Texas
September 20th, 2009
6:43 pm
As a Georgia native having to endure the Dallas metroplex, here is one that appreciated the beauty and uniqueness while living in Atlanta, but who appreciates it all the more while living elsewhere.
Haters are everywhere and best ignored. I love that others have seen and recognize that Atlanta is truly a unique city with a million treasures to be found within its huge scope.
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Allen Nyhuis
September 20th, 2009
7:52 pm
I really do hope that Atlantans will step up and support their Zoo Atlanta in their efforts to keep these amazing pandas. They are one of only 4 zoos on this Hemisphere with giant pandas.
Allen Nyhuis, Coauthor: America’s Best Zoos
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Mria Dangerfield
September 21st, 2009
8:21 am
These girls were great – especially the band, 500!
What a great opportunity for girls in Atlanta to rock out!
Go Girls Rock Camp!!!
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Michelle Friedman
September 21st, 2009
11:48 am
Thanks for covering the event!
Paranormal, Quothe The Canary, 500, The Lockouts, The Unknown, and Akatsuki – ALL ROCKED!!!
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Lisa
September 21st, 2009
4:01 pm
Why is Georgia State not cancelling classes- endangering students- They don’t know where these kids have to travel to get back home all times a night.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 21st, 2009
4:52 pm
Lisa, the AJC just reported about 10 minutes ago that Georgia State canceled classes for tonight! Stay home and be safe!
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BJ C
September 21st, 2009
5:48 pm
This show really needs an “adult” warning label to let the potential audience know what they are going to see. As the show progressed, more and more clothing came off the dancers. At one point, the male dancers began taking the cloths off the female dancers as well as taking off their own. Then the make-out scenes, then they threw in a lesbian encounter. At that point I just had to walk out of the theater. This had such great potential. The music was fantastic, the dancing extraordinary, but the show was so objectionable morally I could never recommend.
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TD
September 22nd, 2009
8:22 am
I can do nothing but recommend this show! I went to the Saturday night preview with some friends and we had a blast. There was nothing more “adult” than what you would see on tv, no foul language, no nudity, just bodies in motion. Found the show to have so many different layers and details that I’m going to go again so I can catch something new that I may have missed before. I found it to be very clever, smart and a wonderful evening at the theater.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 22nd, 2009
12:10 pm
Thanks for the comments, everyone! Love seeing the variety of perspectives here.
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Class of '98
September 22nd, 2009
2:28 pm
Nerds and Mexican nerds.
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Class of '98
September 22nd, 2009
2:30 pm
The good news is that about 600 guys at DragonCon can finally say truthfully that they “danced with a female”.
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Name (required)
September 22nd, 2009
2:33 pm
Wow…..that’s a lot of people in Atlanta and Mexico who will never get laid.
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Classless '98
September 22nd, 2009
2:37 pm
You read the article redneck. What does that make you? Cool?
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Mary
September 22nd, 2009
3:01 pm
It sucks completely that we didn’t (or, might not, unless GWR overturns it) get the record, but my boyfriend and I still had a blast doing this.
Now that we have it memorized, we’re looking forward to breaking it out at parties.
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‘Thriller’ dance record goes to Mexico, not Dragon*Con | Inside Access
September 22nd, 2009
3:06 pm
[...] wrote about the Dragon*Con “Thriller” dance earlier, but you can see the differences in the dances [...]
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hmr
September 22nd, 2009
3:22 pm
Once again, when it comes to the subject of “geeks” and “nerds”, all of the asshats in Atlanta come out and show their ugly, immature faces. I couldn’t participate due to a leg injury, but I have friends who did and I think it is AWESOME that so many people came together to participate and have fun.
And for the record, I’m a 34-year old, attractive, geeky female and have ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS getting laid. Neither do my male friends who attend. You know those costumed fantasies most of you men dream about but never get to see? That’s DragonCon.
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bs
September 22nd, 2009
3:42 pm
Do we really need to burden our court system with something like this?
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Quagmire
September 22nd, 2009
3:44 pm
hmr said, “have ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS getting laid.”
I like you hmr, we should hook up! Giggity, Giggity!
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Blaspheme
September 22nd, 2009
3:50 pm
Mexico didn’t do the 6 minutes like we did. Seems obvious they wouldn’t get it for that but, I guess the easiest rules to break are your own (Guinness). It’s so funny to me that these narrow minded rednecks can still only come up with “nerd” to call us. Never get laid, psshh. Try going to D*C and NOT getting laid. Anyway, it’s probably a nerd that cuts your check at the carwash every week, so you have a good time with your squeegie and I’m gonna go see if I can find some more Slave Leia’s. Open your mind fellas, life’s a lot more fun when it’s not in tunnel vision.
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Ward
September 22nd, 2009
3:50 pm
Just so long as no one wasted their time doing this… or recording it… or auditing it… or appealing it…
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John
September 22nd, 2009
3:59 pm
I was in town for the Virginia Tech-Alabama game and stumbled upon this GEM of an event! I must say my sorrows from Tech losing were quickly erased when we wandered around Dragon Con for a night! Wow……getting wasted around 73 thousand weird ass people dressed in all kinds of costumes was alot of fun!
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Mary
September 22nd, 2009
4:44 pm
John, I’m glad to hear you had fun. A lot of con-goers had really bad experiences being abused by VATech fans (not so much Alabama, cause they were here with it last year), so it’s nice to hear someone who actually enjoyed the whole thing!
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JoeV
September 22nd, 2009
4:55 pm
Involving a lawyer?!?!?!?!?! WTF people? *shakes head*
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Bob
September 22nd, 2009
4:58 pm
Oh, good LORD will you people KNOCK IT OFF with the NERD thing! First off, nerds are hot. Second, you’ll find more body appropriate spandex at a Dragon*Con then you’d ever see anywhere else on the friggin’ planet and IN that body appropriate spandex are individuals that are MORE than inclined to use the bodies they were given and/or worked for. Remember, that spandex contains breasts THAT AREN’T YOURS! Third, the nerds aren’t the ones hiding behind their keyboards slinging insults. And finally, didja ever see Carrie? Be careful who you make fun of. You never know who has the power. In this case, the nerds are the ones with the power to EASILY trash your credit rating. Chill, already.
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i'm just sayin
September 22nd, 2009
5:03 pm
whenever i think of dragon*con, i think of guys that don’t have a chance in hell of moving out of their parents’ basement. for every bill gates and george lucas, there are millions of comic book collectors that live at home and have no social skills.
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JoeV
September 22nd, 2009
5:05 pm
I have a college degree from a top 25 school, a good job with a nice salary, and I’m married to a beautiful woman that teaches special needs kids…
I think you people are effin nuts. Not b/c of dragon con, but b/c you actually find this record important enough to involve a lawyer. Insanity. And you wonder why the “cool” people STILL make fun of you.
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Bob
September 22nd, 2009
5:10 pm
“I’m just sayin’”? That’s because you’ve never gone to Dragon*Con. I’m not saying that we don’t have our share of unbathed slackers, but most people are just normal. OK, relatively normal in light of the costumes.
Ward. Thriller wasn’t a waste of time at all. I’d do it again and again because it’s fun. The record is kind of at the bottom of the list of priorities concerning the dance itself. The best part was just being part of something that huge and making new friends in the process.
JoeV and BS? This doesn’t involve the court system as of yet. The appeal is strictly with Guinness. There is no legal action taken at this time.
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JoeV
September 22nd, 2009
5:13 pm
Bob,
I didn’t mention the courts, although BS did. A lawyer was called…enough said.
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Kat
September 22nd, 2009
5:17 pm
It is funny (sarcasm intended) how some people try to tear down what other people do only to make themselves feel better. Sounds a lot like…HIGH SCHOOL! Grow up!
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The Peregrine
September 22nd, 2009
5:20 pm
Hey there! Undead “Marie Antoinette” in the 2nd row here! Which of you comment-section-trolling little boys wants to step up to me?
Hmmmm?
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kanislatrans
September 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
Enter your comments here
The wife and I had a great time at D*C and this event. Granted, I have two left feet and no sense of rhythm,but it was fun just the same. It was great to hang with a lot of really fun and enthusiastic people and try to do something different for a change.
LOL, I enjoyed watching all the Con chicks dissing the jockboys at the Hyatt. (grin) but don’t worry they weren’t laughing at you,boys. they were laughing with you…honest.(grin) payback is a hot bitch in a spandex costume sometimes….
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Bob
September 22nd, 2009
5:36 pm
JoeV: The lawyer was not “called”. He’s the husband of one of the organizers and was instrumental in making sure that all of Guinness’ rules were followed to the letter. In doing so, he has every right to be involved with this appeal process with Guinness because they appear to have not used their own guidelines in deciding which attempt to accept as the record-holder.
The guidelines were as follows:
1. The number of people who are hoping to constitute the record must all be well versed in the dance moves.
2. A loud start and finish signal recognized by all participants must be used. Two experienced timekeepers (e.g. from a local athletics club) must time the attempt with stopwatches accurate to 0.01 seconds.
3. All participants must dance from the start to the end of the song.
4. The original Michael Jackson’s Thriller (USA) music must be played loud enough for all participants to hear.
5. The original dance movements from the Thriller movie must be performed by all participants.
6. Participants may be in a single line; any number of lines or in any other arrangement.
7. All participants must be performing the same routine simultaneously, thus all participants must be able to either see instructors or follow their movements on a video screen.
8. The chosen dance area must be large enough to not only hold the people but to allow them to dance unrestricted the required steps.
What’s in question are guidelines 3, 5 and 7. Not everyone in Mexico danced to the whole song (their MJ impersonator danced to more than half and the rest only performed to about 3 minutes of the video choreography) and the music from the video was played rather than the 6 minute album version which is what we were told by Guinness to use.
We do not, in any way, want to diminish what Mexico did, but we feel that they should be granted a separate record based on the guidelines we were given.
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Kimber
September 22nd, 2009
6:12 pm
There will be no court involved. This is between the organizer and Guinness. It’s not important enough to anyone to fight it in the court system, not to mention it would be England’s court, so we’re not even going there. Get your panties out of the wad, k?
I’ve spoken to three other people that have attempted this very record, two of which held it, and they had the very same requirements we were given. I don’t care if people don’t think this is important, but I think it is to a certain point. Technically, the event in Leicester, England should hold the record right now with 475 dancers since that beats Kevin Dua’s record of 242. It’s not fair to Kevin or Anand (the English organizer), and it’s really not fair to the original holder of the record, Ines Markelle, who first made the record in Toronto of 2006. All three of them followed Guinness’ guidelines, as we did, and that’s how Mexico and Barcelona should be judge (Barcelona also attempted it on August 29th with 700 but also did the wrong version).
Why make rules if they’re not expected to be followed? How would Georgia fans feel if during the Georgia/Florida game the rules were changed to reflect something the Gators did that hurt the Bulldogs’ chance to win the game, but didn’t give the Bulldog’s the same option? Same thing regardless if it’s a bunch of nerds or mundanes. Changing the rules in the middle of a competition isn’t fair no matter what, and that’s the point we’re trying to make. If we can’t get Guinness to see they’ve made a mistake, we’ll move on to something else. We all know who holds the record in truth, though, and that’s us with 903 dancers.
And really? Nerds not getting laid? Are we still in high school? Grow up, and thanks for playing.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 22nd, 2009
6:25 pm
Sorry to be jumping into this so late — lots of news to keep us busy in Atlanta today — but please keep the comments respectful, and move the conversation forward. I welcome a variety of perspectives, but we can share those perspectives without insulting each other. Thanks, everybody!
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BFox
September 22nd, 2009
6:28 pm
I was dancer #618 and had the honor of being a dance captain for the Dragon*Con event. It was a fantastic experience, a wonderful tribute to MJ, and created inumerable new friendships among the participants, so even if Guinness won’t follow their own rules, we gained far more than we lost. BUT (and this is mostly addressed to those rolling their eyes at us having a lawyer involved) why would we NOT fight for something we worked so hard for? And to truly fight we must have someone meticulous and versed in the legal system. It would be a slap in the face to all the participants to not fight for their record, and sheer stupidity to do it without a lawyer backing us. I’m sorry if there are some that cannot understand what a cool thing this was, but everyone that was there knows, and there are thousands more who went to Dragon*Con who are kicking themselved for not participating. I’m looking forward to dancing again next year, for a Guinness record or not!
Brooke (hot nerd & Evey Hammond [V for Vendetta] in the offical video)
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lola runs with scissors
September 22nd, 2009
6:44 pm
Seems the issue to discuss here would be Guinness World Records and their requirements and how seriously those requirements should be taken. Sure it’s pretty silly to go for a record in anything if you think about it, but Guinness is a money making business with an old reputation for having high standards. If they aren’t sticking to those standards, then what are their records worth really?
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E
September 22nd, 2009
6:46 pm
Geeky looking girls are very hot. Especially at night!!!
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Brock Samson
September 22nd, 2009
7:51 pm
Seems appropos Dragoncon would pick a song by Michael Jackson to dance to, given their founder’s predicament.
Oh, and the prison in the Philippines did it better. And with 400+ more dancers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o
And, for the record, D*C attendees aren’t geeks or nerds.
They’re dorks.
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Katie
September 22nd, 2009
8:08 pm
Dragon con definitly isn’t my thing, but I am SO proud to see my fellow citizens come together like that and pull off something so good! I was AMAZED at how together everyone was and how well they all did!
Did you guys have to rehearse alot?
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Maya
September 22nd, 2009
8:22 pm
Their problem was requiring attendees to be registered for the convention, the costumes, and the small amount of space they had. I understand “containment” for better control, but it obscured the point. Face it, the pictures of the feat look puny compared to the Mexico version. With as many fans as Jackson has here in Atlanta, the Dragon*Con version shocks in it’s lack.
They should try again next year. Or better yet, some other group should try in Centennial Park on the one-year anniversary of his passing. Keep Dragon*Con, nerdiness, lawyers, and too many restrictions out of this. They sucked the fun out of “Thriller”. C’mon!
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nn
September 22nd, 2009
8:45 pm
Maya, you suck
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Sabrina
September 22nd, 2009
9:08 pm
Nerds, geeks, dorks. All of which invent all the devices in which you “normals” wouldn’t be able to live without. They teach your children, run the companies you work for and in essence rule the world. SO before you go giving “virtual wedgies” to people who appear different than you, maybe you should look around first and make sure the nerd, geek or dork who signs your paycheck isn’t dressed in a Stormtrooper costume getting his groove on with a hot Lara Croft costumed vixen. You might be surprised at what you find. Oh, and I am sure there are several “normals” out there who geek out in their own way. Pass judgment, do not, young Padawan, for the GEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH!
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Koko
September 22nd, 2009
9:53 pm
I just think it’s funny how people who play fantasy football think they can make fun of people who play DnD. If you’re a football fan, you go to lots of games, you tailgate, and you paint your face/chest/dye your hair, you’re a geek… just about something slightly more mainstream. It’s no different from people who choose to dress up as stormtroopers, and a good deal less expensive. Just saying.
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rebelliousrose
September 22nd, 2009
10:01 pm
Sabrina- Arva, seester! ;}
Either way, it was a lot of fun for the participants, and I do think that Guinness is being a bit lax with their own rules- I think the separate records is a good, and fair to everyone idea.
As to the people who are insulting the people who attend DragonCon? No one will be safe until nerd persecution ends.
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Rodney King
September 22nd, 2009
10:48 pm
CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALOOOOOONG!!!
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semihero
September 22nd, 2009
11:11 pm
came here to joking post nerds, but after watching the video I’ll have to say that was pretty darn cool. the D*C version of course.
and Brock, we’re not just dorks, we’re dorks who love to party!
/partydork
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DLink
September 22nd, 2009
11:36 pm
13,000 people… Much respect. I love dragon con, liked MJ, and the guy died tryin. I gotta give it up for Mexico, though, they came out in force! And for anyone who thinks otherwise; see Brock upstairs from me. It’s fame on the internets precedes it to a far greater fame than Guinness and trivial bashering about the internet about numbers and form. I’d give the record for Conventions to Atlanta, record for volume to Mexico, and record for best performance to the Philippines (thanks Brock).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o
(Checked to be sure, yep, that’s the one. And as hmr mentioned, Dragon Con isn’t about the awards, it’s about geek lovin. People don’t die at our parties… Roger Rabbit always gets saved
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Proud Nerd
September 22nd, 2009
11:39 pm
the girls of dragon Con…
http://www.maxim.com/girls/girls-of-maxim/84060/girls-dragon-con-part-1.html
And i saw girls wearing less then that…
yep… Dragon Con is not for youngings…. and after looking at the babes we have floating around in costume at D*C… I would have to say…
Score one for the Nerds!!!
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Bob
September 22nd, 2009
11:42 pm
@Katie: We all had about 3 hours of rehearsal time together in spread-out groups just prior to the attempt. Some of us used the thrilltheworld.com videos to practice beforehand and there were small groups that got together at random points over the course of the weekend but we only had one run-through all together right before the attempt. By that point we figured we had it as well as we were gonna have it.
All in all, world-records and lawyers and Guinness craziness aside, it was still the most awesome thing I have ever done and I will never forget it
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Vampirella
September 23rd, 2009
2:42 am
As is obv., many people who attend this “convention” are incredibly thin-skinned when a wee bit o’ sport is made of crowd of people who glue pointy ears to themselves. It’s also worth noting that d*c was founded by an oddball who takes oatmeal baths and sits indicted as a child molester. Do they still sponsor fund-raisers for the wheezing freak? Does he get under-the-table income from d*c?
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GothBunny
September 23rd, 2009
9:04 am
First off I was one of the D*Con Thriller dancers, I am married with 3 children (so much for the nerds don’t get laid comments) and I give a huge congrats to Mexico for the shear number of people who came out to show their love for MJ, but if they danced the correct version required by Guinness should they not have a full length version of this posted on the various video websites like youtube? All us good, fun-loving D*Con Thriller people have a FULL LENGTH video showing our attempt for the record! And to all you haters out there: Karma is a bitch and she will get you!!!
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Clinton
September 23rd, 2009
9:14 am
Ha ha. Nice to see that hate is alive and well among many of these responders. Hope that works out for you. Realy, I do. Meanwhile, people who want to get off their butts and have some fun are busy making other plans. They party with friends and dance to “Thriller.” Way to go!
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Martin
September 23rd, 2009
10:42 am
@i’m just sayin – I went to Dragon*Con. I do not live in my parents basement, but rather have my own apartment where I live. I work as a Regulatory Attorney by day. I regularly go out with friends and participate in a myriad of Social activities.
I think you need to re-think your opinion of Dragon*Con attendees. Your claims are more correct for certain Star Trek Groups, but Dragon*Con is above that.
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Kimber
September 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
The prisoners are awesome, yes, but this isn’t about performance abilities. If we had all day every day to practice, and nothing else to do, we all could dance like that. This is about Guinness changing the rules in the middle of the game. Step away from the prisoners because they’re not even contenders in this discussion (although I do recommend their other videos…they do all sorts of dances not just Thriller).
@Maya — It was a DragonCon event, so anyone that participated had to have a membership. Just like if you wanted to go to see Shatner and Nimoy or Terry Giliam, you would have to have a membership. There’s no getting around that.
It was done in a ballroom this year because that’s how it had to be done. Sorry you disagree, but it had to be done on-site, and ballrooms are what we have to work with. If you disagree on how it had to be done, then you are more than welcome to organize an event yourself in the park or where ever.
The whole point of our argument is NOT who looked better, but who followed the rules. I think Mexico deserves the recognition for getting that many people out there, but not the Guinness record. Just like the William and Mary students, the Thrill the World people, and Leicester, England participants, we followed the guidelines set by Guinness themselves, and Mexico did not. And since I was the organizer and the one involved with Guinness since May (we started this going before MJ died), I can answer any questions as to what those guidelines are.
And again I ask to please get over this whole middle-school name calling. I know the internet is anonymous and many people feel they can just hurl insults (White Republican Male, you have been reported, btw), and that goes for both sides. We enjoy our weekend at DragonCon for many different reasons. We see old friends, drink, costume, go to panels, play games, hook up, and *gasp* even watch football on Saturday afternoon. Grow up, already.
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Kimber
September 23rd, 2009
2:36 pm
Oh, and as far as the person that started DragonCon, he hasn’t been a part of this for many, many years. I would even go so far to say that most of the people that attend wouldn’t know who he is. Moving on…
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Mark
September 23rd, 2009
3:17 pm
It’s “Roy” not Ron
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Ailarie
September 23rd, 2009
8:43 pm
Wow. It’s amazing how anonymity of the internet brings out the worst in some people. Tsk. Tsk. I must comment on one thing… for those who choose to bash DragonCon attendees as being nerds.. please keep in mind that we are ALL nerds, dweebs or geeks in some aspects of our lives. Dance. Sports. Art. Gaming. Fitness. Choices of career. What is an amazing experience and/or lifestyle for one person is a complete drab for another. Sometimes, it is even incomprehensible.
With all that being said – if DragonCon isn’t your thing, that’s cool. However, to attempt to discredit the intelligence or passion of any of those who chose to dance in the routine, rather shows a lack of education and consideration for anyone other than yourself.
For those of us who did dance: We met new friends. We overcame challenges. We bonded with strangers. We participated in something very few people will ever do. We had a blast. Regardless of what Guinness finally rules, we have memories that petty people will never diminish.
We ARE the 2009 DragonCon Thriller dancers. Hear us roar. (roar-turn?)
So Say We All.
Elizabeth. Dancer # 770.
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Blaspheme
September 23rd, 2009
10:57 pm
Well put Ailarie. I for one will never understand the allure of sports. Do I bash them? No. I think it’s great that people can get together for sporting events, it’s exciting to share something with so many people that you don’t even know.
Now look at it from the other side. Are we really so different? You paint yourselves, wear wigs, dress up for your team etc. This year, I painted all exposed skin (face and neck), wore a wig, and armor. Showing enthusiasm is showing enthusiasm no matter how you look at it.
I’d love to see a day where the football fans make their way into the hotels to join us after their game and have a drink with us, hell buy a ticket for Sunday and actually DANCE Thriller with us. I can’t guarantee it’ll change your life but, if you just let go, forget about all those misconceptions and everything you thought you knew about us, I think you’d be in for one of the most (no pun intended) thrilling events of your life. It’s all about fun.
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To do list: September 24 | Inside Access
September 24th, 2009
12:07 am
[...] For kids: “Your Jewish World,” exhibition continues, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m, Marcus Jewish Community Center’s Sophie Hirsch Scrochi Jewish Discovery Museum, Dunwoody. FREE. STORY. [...]
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Faye Moore
September 24th, 2009
2:44 am
Hi, I’m Emory and Preston’s grandmother. I’ve brought them to the Nature Center three times. I am so impressed with this wonderful place! The concept is marvelous as a learning center for all of us. Thank you for making this available to all of us. Keep up the good work.
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Jenny
September 24th, 2009
4:34 am
White Water sign
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FCM
September 24th, 2009
6:22 am
I’m with Jenny, I believe I saw this sign the last time I took my kids to American Adventures, right next door to White Water.
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BigJake
September 24th, 2009
6:34 am
Definitely the White Water sign at the entrance
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Dana
September 24th, 2009
6:41 am
Definitely White Waters!!! Looks like they have some rust.
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Snowman
September 24th, 2009
7:28 am
The Ride the Ducks bus/boat at Stone Mountain
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Christy Bentjen
September 24th, 2009
7:35 am
yep, Ride the Duck at Stone Mtn. They give you a quacking horn to blow that the grandparents just love!
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Pat
September 24th, 2009
7:37 am
It’s the amphibious truck at Stone Mtn. also known as the Duck Ride
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chuck
September 24th, 2009
7:58 am
saw it floating under the I-20 bridge
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Robin
September 24th, 2009
8:15 am
It’s the Ride the Ducks ride at Stone Mountain
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Bill
September 24th, 2009
8:19 am
Quack quack…
It’s Ride the Ducks. Worked at SMP for two summers – would spot it anywhere.
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Tammy
September 24th, 2009
8:29 am
I am also going to say the White Water Sign.
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Ellen
September 24th, 2009
8:40 am
Enter your comments here
SMP Duck!!
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Shane
September 24th, 2009
9:34 am
http://www.eringaston.com/blogpics/apr2009-stonemtn-duck01.jpg
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MIKE
September 24th, 2009
9:44 am
LOL!!! @ Chuck’s comment
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Jamie
September 24th, 2009
9:48 am
Ride the Ducks at Stone Mountain Park!
it is the logo
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SR Hazard
September 24th, 2009
9:55 am
Looks like the Duck Boats @ Stone Mountain to me!
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Sheron
September 24th, 2009
9:58 am
N+ever been to White Water but that would be my guess.
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JMS
September 24th, 2009
11:11 am
I googled it, it is Ride the duck!
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Richard Bagge
September 24th, 2009
12:41 pm
“This year’s concert series features country and contemporary Christian artists.”
Same as the last twenty years, then.
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John
September 24th, 2009
1:38 pm
What, no pig races this year??
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SMJ
September 24th, 2009
1:54 pm
It’s the floor at Eagle night club.
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BamaFan
September 24th, 2009
1:57 pm
Chuck is hilarious
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VOL FAN
September 24th, 2009
2:16 pm
Interactive Neighborhood for Kids in Gainesville, GA
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Get Real!
September 24th, 2009
3:42 pm
Flood Warning Sign that ended up in my basement.
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UGAFan101
September 24th, 2009
3:51 pm
Ima bring my sister…she’s my girlfriend too!
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Kristia
September 24th, 2009
3:55 pm
This will be my first time going. Thanks for the info.
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Der
September 24th, 2009
7:00 pm
Hey UGAfan101 ain’t you my uncle daddy?
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Diane
September 24th, 2009
8:23 pm
Interesting comments here. Am I missing something about the fair?
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Ward
September 24th, 2009
9:42 pm
Just that urbane, open-minded sophisticates feel it’s okay, even admirable to mock anything the least bit traditional, rural or wholesome in life. That’s all.
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UGAFan101
September 24th, 2009
10:21 pm
Diane you’re late to the party! You also missed out on uptight dorks who take life waaaaay waaaay too seriously….
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bwright
September 24th, 2009
11:43 pm
It’s the side of a frosty treats ice cream truck you’ll find them everywhere.
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Jade Hill
September 25th, 2009
9:14 am
No “Giant Stove” like the Michigan State Fair of yesteryear but make sure you get some of the roasted corn on the cob from the boy scouts. It’s the best!!!
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bobfromacworth
September 25th, 2009
9:39 am
Why does everything here need to be compared to up north where ya’ll come from? Just enjoy what there is at the fair and stop the “Oh, it was better where we came from”…
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GPark
September 25th, 2009
10:34 am
Enter your comments here
Don’t forget the Grant Park Tour of Homes this weekend!
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Sarah
September 25th, 2009
11:04 am
The lasttimethe fair was here,my husband and I made out in a porta-potty. Memories……..
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Jack Schitt
September 25th, 2009
11:37 am
This year they have a booth where they try to guess the # of natural teeth you have. If they miss by more than 3, you get a UGA t-shirt and hat. That way you will fit in with the rest of the University of Georgia rednecks on gameday. Now you can say you know Jack Schitt.
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Rachael Dempsey
September 25th, 2009
1:11 pm
Oh I’ve been wondering what fairs would be like here. I miss them from Arizona so much! Thank you Jamie!
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SHeer
September 25th, 2009
1:54 pm
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ARTISTS, EH? Do they give drool buckets when you enter the venue?
I betcha those lyrics are just plain rootin and tootin! (said in Sarah Palin dippy voice)
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Alpharetta Dave
September 25th, 2009
2:11 pm
I hear you can see Russia from on top of the ferris wheel!
- Darn Tootin!
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Larry
September 25th, 2009
2:28 pm
Don’t forget the # of moles on your sister contest.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 25th, 2009
3:27 pm
Truly, the comments on this blog post have gone in a much different direction than I’d expected.
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Jimbo
September 25th, 2009
4:41 pm
Well, Jamie, it is an article about a fair… and with a concert series with that level of talent, what did you expect really?
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BJH
September 25th, 2009
5:27 pm
Ima bring my whole family, Okay
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becky
September 25th, 2009
5:29 pm
I’m confused. Why didn’t the horse just take Peachtree to the courtyard? Doesn’t this face out with an opening to Peachtree?
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Richard Bagge
September 25th, 2009
5:37 pm
I mock, but there is a thrill ride here called the Cyclops which is the greatest ride in the world.
And Jade Hill is correct, the roasted corn really is amazingly tasty.
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MOT
September 25th, 2009
6:07 pm
Jamie, ignore the ignorants. We were army and when we were in SC for just four short months, we were there September and October and for one day, the kids get out of school and are given free tix to get in to the state fair. The sights and aromas that are distinctly that of fair fare have indelibly left the connection of fair time and autumn for me.
I was sad when we moved here with our kids and found Ga didn’t give the day off from school or the free tix for school kids, but other than that the fair is a fun time full of nostalgia and the official start of autumn for us!
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Common Sense
September 25th, 2009
7:01 pm
Wow, I was just trying to confirm the Mexico Thriller record and see all this. I can’t believe this childish insanity. “Nerds” have the most money, most power… Think Bill Gates was a social butterfly??? …and if you want to get biblical, “the meek shall inherit”…oh wait, I guess that already happend? God or Darwin, either way, join us or get your paychecks from us, it doesn’t matter.
Now as the intellectually superior here, let me state simply… Rules are rules… In a game of football, if a team broke the rules…say, had identical triplet running backs that they switched out during game time. They didn’t play by the rules, but they had the most people, so they should win? Just as you bullies who THINK you are the majority would fuss over a bad call or a broken rule in sports, this is something we had passion about, we did it within the rules, and we were not recognized. Maybe simpler for discrimination, maybe due to stupidity, it doesn’t matter.
I could go into the whole ‘omg why get a lawyer’ talk, but analyzing the lack of comprehension hurts my head. I have lawyers deal with ebay sellers who send me the wrong item…but it’s simply cheaper to have him deal with it, then deal with it myself. *shrug* Tis life.
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drewmanc
September 25th, 2009
8:06 pm
MOT — where did you move from?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 25th, 2009
10:25 pm
Hi Becky! I don’t know all the paths they considered, but was told the walls and buildings around Sifly Piazza were, in some cases, just shy of safely getting the horse into the space. (To be clear, this is the courtyard area that opened with the expansion in 2005, has the restaurant seating etc. It was always intended to include outdoor sculpture, although they obviously didn’t plan for a 24-foot horse and its base.)
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Willx
September 25th, 2009
11:11 pm
Enter your comments here
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Willx
September 25th, 2009
11:22 pm
Why is it some people have to make an inane comment about everything they see? If you have nothing constructive to add to the conversation when asked, just move along. Find something nice to say about something or anyone. It won’t embarrass you nearly as much as you think.
Jamie, welcome to the Atlanta area. Please disregard the twitterheads, I think most of us appreciate the simpler sights, sounds, and even tastes of our daily planet. We won’t remember that expensive trinket, but we will remember an unexpected kind gesture.
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Bill Paleveda
September 25th, 2009
11:36 pm
This weekend is also the beginning of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s season.
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PHOTOS: ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ at Gwinnett Arena | Inside Access
September 26th, 2009
12:55 am
[...] we’re all aware that I’m a big fan of the dinosaur fossils at Fernbank and Tellus, but I’m not geeking out when I say it’s even cooler to see those creatures [...]
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ButlerDawg
September 26th, 2009
1:22 am
My Weekend T-Don’t List:
Watching Willie Martinez coach the Dawgs defense in Athens…P U!!!
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PHOTOS: ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ at Gwinnett Arena | Inside Access
September 26th, 2009
1:34 am
[...] we’re all aware that I’m a big fan of the dinosaur fossils at Fernbank and Tellus, but I’m not geeking out when I say it’s even cooler to see those creatures moving [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 26th, 2009
1:36 am
Thanks for the suggestions, GPark and Bill! We mentioned the ASO opener in an earlier to-do list, but it’s always good for folks to have a reminder.
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Me
September 26th, 2009
3:31 am
@Common Sense – First of all, you rock. Thank you.
Secondly, to the people who are still crying “omg why get a lawyer” – Shut up.
Nobody got a lawyer. The husband of one of the organizers is a lawyer. All he did was write a letter to Guinness, pointing out that they are screwing up their own rules. So, basically, it was a request to give Mexico their own, separate record and give the Dragon*Con attendees the one that they competed for and executed 100% to the Guinness guidelines. That’s all.
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Gunny
September 26th, 2009
9:02 am
The Fair this year will most likley be the same, with the exception of entertainment. These names are familiar, however not the the usual big name or popular artists as in the past. This is no doubt an indication of the Fair going downhil a tad. I am sure most will agree.
Prices are about the usual. Look for coupons and special bargain days!!
Any newcomers worried about safety, kids ect don’t worry a whole lot. There will be more than enough of Cobbs Law Enforcemnt on hand to put you at ease and for those who wish to act like a fool, harrass, or otherwise attempt to ruin everyone elses time..you might want to give it a differnet approach this year. Your behavior shall be delt with swiftly.
Hope you all have a great time this year. If you get hungry, which i’m sure you might, visit one of the food concessions that are trying ot raise money for a schoo, charity ect. The folks there are volunteering, the prices are usaully cheaper, the service def more friendly and you are really helping a worthy cause to generate some funds.
Semper Fi….Gunny
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RedTornado
September 26th, 2009
9:14 am
The fair was fun last year. The scent of funnel cake. The ferris wheel. and genuine good people. With that said, why are there morons like UGAfan101, jimbo, Jack eats Schitt wasting space in life? Good luck with kicking your dawg, and washing off the stench you emit.
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Connie
September 26th, 2009
10:01 am
If you attend the fair on Wednesday, Sept. 30th and stay around to catch Joe Nichols in concert, you will discover that the fair organizers have booked a real gem. Joe is the real deal and you will be amazed at his voice, his ease on stage and ability to help you have a good time. By golly!
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Dave The Wave
September 26th, 2009
10:42 am
RT, Jack loves to troll the sites and crap them up – pun intended. But, if you can look past him and his kind you will find that there are some great folks around. And the fair – go for the food and the rides. If you don’t ride, just walk the Midway. What a treat. And there is nothing like fair food. Yummm… See you there!
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PHOTOS: ‘Gold’ opens at Fernbank Museum Sept. 26 | Inside Access
September 26th, 2009
11:45 am
[...] through the “Gold” exhibition at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, it’s easy to see why this element has been a part of [...]
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Anthony
September 26th, 2009
12:49 pm
I wonder if the KKK is still allowed to have a booth there? When I grew up going they always had a booth handing out flyers dressed in their white robes. Can you imagine being black and having to walk past that?
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jesus wept
September 26th, 2009
1:35 pm
This fair is truly AWFUL. We’ve been 3 times over a 12 year period and NOTHING changes. Never again!!! Its a rip off. The exhibit halls were never full and its the same old same old every year!! And they blatantly discriminate against non-christians every time we’ve attended. If you DO NOT have a copy of some misbegotten church newsletter you don’t get a discount. This is outrageous, bible thumpers get different treatment from everyone else. The food is absolutely awful – mostly its smug church groups and their like offering vile fast food, or the disgusting fair ground stalls ripping you off for their greasy/sugary slop. Its $13 for two adults with parking. The covered arena events were a joke every time we went. Listening to christian music is mind numbingly boring – like going to your local Chik-Fila. Who exactly are these artists listed? The annual fair up in Hiawassee has vastly better concerts, with performers you’ve usually heard of – Patty Loveless among others – vastly superior exhibits and on the occasions we’ve attended – vastly better food. It is well worth the long drive north.
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My Yoga Videos » Blog Archive » ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’ in Gwinnett
September 27th, 2009
1:07 am
[...] Read the rest of the article here [...]
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Canna
September 27th, 2009
6:18 am
Southern Fried Smackdown Rollerderby Regional Tourney: Today (Sunday) is the last day to see teams battle it out for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th places in the South Central Region. These are some of the best teams in the nation! Only the top 3 teams go on to the National Tournament in Philly in November to face the best teams in the nation.
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Marian
September 27th, 2009
7:17 am
It was totally awsome!!! Two hours of captivating wonder and oh yes, the chronicle history of the evolvement of earth while walking with the dinosaurs!!! The narrator is superb!!!
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MH Brown
September 27th, 2009
9:28 am
A fabulous exhibit at Fernbank Musuem (the one with the IMAX) opened Saturday called GOLD. It is all about gold, not just the mineral, but the uniquely human abstraction of it that makes us lie, cheat, steal and obsess about possessing it. Additionally, there is a side gallery, “The Local Connection,” that explains how Georgia was shaped by its own gold rush in 1828–the nation’s first, predating the California rush by twenty years. Lastly, this side gallery also includes various awards won by Georgian’s from Andre’ 3000 of Outkast to Brenda Lee. Don’t miss it!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 27th, 2009
10:05 am
Hi MH! Here’s my write-up and photos from the exhibit: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/09/26/photos-gold-opens-at-fernbank-museum-sept-26/
Without a doubt, my favorite part was “The Local Connection.” After all the science, history and eye candy, the room full of local artifacts made the entire thing more relevant. Glad you enjoyed, too!
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Jane
September 27th, 2009
11:15 am
Thank you for the article! My husband and I just moved to Alpharetta from California and we were hoping to find a fair to go to during fall! I see there are idiots that are just plain rude anywhere you go.
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Eyedrum revitalized: new leadership, more community support, planned capital campaign, maybe a new space | Inside Access
September 27th, 2009
11:40 am
[...] than three months since Eyedrum put out the message that financial trouble could force it to close, the non-profit gallery and community arts center is safe through the end of the year — and [...]
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The Truth
September 27th, 2009
2:10 pm
Don’t be fooled by the negative posts here. It’s a FAIR. Not an amusement park. If you want to spend 75.00 a person and drive 7 hours to Orlando…the FAIR is not for you. The N.GA State Fair is everything it’s supposed to be. It’s got a local flavor, has Christian and Country Music Concerts, and greesy, sweet, non healthy foods. I’m not sure what people expect from the fair? And for those non-Christian/Country music fans….there is plenty of extremely loud Rock and Hip Hop Music playing all over the Midway. Relax…..It’s the Fair…not Disney World.
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rachael
September 27th, 2009
5:06 pm
once again, we saved the community center with a dance party.
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Frank
September 27th, 2009
9:36 pm
Jaime, I need a date to the fair. Will you go with me please? I will meet you at the Varsity at 7:00 Friday night! I would like to talk more, but I have to go shave my back hair before it takes over the world like the Blob did in the 1970’s movie! LOL Just kidding, we all need to laugh more! Remember, laughter is the best medicine!!! Besides, neither one of my wives would let me go anyway! LOL
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Dina
September 28th, 2009
9:04 am
Is it really that “churchy?” Or, is it a typical fun state fair with animals, beer, junk food, rides, blue ribbon awards, etc. I am very city, but I love state fairs and regional festivals. However, I don’t want to go to a big outdoor church event.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 28th, 2009
9:38 am
Hi Dina! I can’t speak from personal experience because this is my first year of fair-going around here, but my impression from friends and coworkers is that it’s a regular fair, and there are some Christian concerts and church presence, if you want to seek those out. It sounds to me like every other fair and neighborhood festival I’ve been to.
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Fair Fan
September 28th, 2009
1:14 pm
The North GA. Fair is a great fun Fair!! The concerts are fun! I have no idea what some people expect from a Fair!! I do wish all the rude people would take their comments and post somewhere else! If you don’t like the Fair – please I beg you don’t go and don’t spoil it for someone that would like to go and enjoy a fun day/night!!
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Jeff-b
September 28th, 2009
2:02 pm
For the losers on here who talk about geeks and nerds who will never get laid, all i have to say is one thing – You’ve never been to Dragon*con.
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Dina
September 28th, 2009
3:05 pm
I’ll check it out and see it for myself. Fairs are meant to be laidback, full of junk food, and loaded with kitsch. It is nice sometimes to just be outside instead of rotting in front of a tv/laptop screen and take in the start of fall. It is also wonderful to drive to the North Georgia country in the crispy fall air to visit the Dahlonega wineries or view the waterfall at Amicalola State Park. Georgia is a beautiful state and full of wonderful sites.
As long as no one hands me flyer that say “Repent and you will be saved” or “Pro-Life” propoganda, I am a happy camper
.
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Rob
September 28th, 2009
6:22 pm
See the real deal at Fredrick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan
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Harold
September 29th, 2009
6:45 am
Beer? Ha ha ha ha! No, there is no beer. This is a Churchy event with some carnival rides and goats. It looks and smells like a fair, but it’s a Churchy thing. Your ticket will have Jesus propaganda on it, assuming you are required to get a ticket for not having a church bulletin or a copy of the Marietta Daily Church Bulletin (aka Journal, ha)
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grav3y
September 29th, 2009
11:35 am
I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this! thanks to rachael, anna, kevin, and nathan!
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Carol and Mike
September 29th, 2009
6:11 pm
We are looking forward to seeing Joe Nichols and Billy Currington, both are very good country stars.
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Ronald Millsaps
September 29th, 2009
8:19 pm
I’m concerned, not so much because the Marlins have two runs (I know they can hit) but because the Braves’ bats are cold. They need to wake up–soon.
I’m concerned. I’m praying. Go, Braves.
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Eric
September 30th, 2009
10:15 am
Glad they can find the money to rebuild it….when none of the companies responsible for the collapse have made any efforts to compensate the family of the dead worker or any of the other injured workers. Truly disgusting.
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Lily P
September 30th, 2009
10:29 am
Eric, that’s not true. The botanical garden raised over $100,000 for the injured workers after the accident and all those monies were distributed to them thorugh United Way.
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Chuck
September 30th, 2009
10:35 am
Enter your comments here
First the parking deck, then the walkway, and now they’ve clearcut trees all the way down to the houses on Monroe Drive….and they call this a “Green Expansion”. What a joke!
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Sam
September 30th, 2009
10:35 am
To that point, the construction team involved partnered with the Botanical Garden and the public to raise those funds that were distributed to the family of the deceased and the injured workers. All of the funds were distributed within two months of the incident.
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adam
September 30th, 2009
11:02 am
chuck,
the parking deck increased greenspace.
also, it’s a botanical garden, not a forest. would you rather raze all the structures in the garden and piedmont park to return it to the wild?
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molly
September 30th, 2009
11:18 am
Enter your comments here
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molly
September 30th, 2009
11:19 am
I guess they made the money to rebuild it by laying off employees there. Nice.
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American Dream
September 30th, 2009
11:38 am
Maybe the gardens can host Wrestlemania now. We could have a skyscraper match between myself, Dusty Rhodes the American Dream and Dirty Dick Slater. This would draw a bog crowd for the gardens.
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Eileen Z
September 30th, 2009
11:44 am
Enter your comments here
Come on folks — the Atl Botanical Garden is a cultural icon. It breathes life into Midtown and provides Atlantan’s with yet another great venue to call our own. It’s truly the best use of land I’ve seen in a long time! 30 acres dedicated to education, horticulture, sustainability and sheer beauty — let’s gear our “griping” toward a more warranted cause, shall we?
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The Mudgeon
September 30th, 2009
11:46 am
For ever and a day we’ll have to look at this structure up in the canopy of the trees. Lest we forget what the Indians thought of the forest:
When you enter a grove peopled with ancient trees, higher than
the ordinary, and shutting out the sky with their thickly inter-twined
branches, do not the stately shadows of the wood, the stillness of
the place, and the awful gloom of this doomed cavern then strike
you with the presence of a deity?
- Seneca
It’s hard to imagine what our forebears would think of this monstrosity. Is a skywalk responsible stewardship of this tiny bit of forest?
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Atlanta Braves: Does this team still have a shot at NL Wild Card vs. Rockies? | ajc Sports Talk
September 30th, 2009
12:07 pm
[...] GOING TO THE GAME? Our Inside Access blogger, Jamie Gumbrecht, has some cool “know before you go” hints gea… [...]
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what about it
September 30th, 2009
12:21 pm
Eric, Why don’t you get the facts before you enter a comment? Hardin construction made sure those families had Christmas presents and did not lack for food or shelter. They help create the fund and made a very sizable donation. I am also sure the company’s insurance companies have ponied up to the families also. Good things get done, but get no press.
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Chuck
September 30th, 2009
12:45 pm
Adam
My point is that it’s silly and wasteful to eliminate what little forest we have left in the city in order to build a garden. But if they wanted to expand the garden, they should have converted some of the park land already cleared….say, move some playground equipment or use the back of the big concert lawn. It may not have been as convenient, but would have been more in the spirit of “green expansion” and forest preservation.
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downsouth
September 30th, 2009
12:58 pm
i was once against the parking deck, but after visiting the gardens, i’m truly glad they built it.
i do hope there is a way from the deck onto Monroe though. that entrance on Piedmont is a nightmare at times. it would be best to give people an option to accessing the deck. the ffolkes on Park Dr. can’t really complain about park traffic since that’s been an entrance to the park for ages. don’t move there if you are bothered by cars coming and going to the huge park you chose to buy a home next to…
the new entrance from the deck into the garden is well designed. you walk up nice wide paths thru some “new” areas of the garden and pop out into the “old” garden, it was a great plan.
the skywalk will be a nice addition. just like they put boardwalks over fragile dunes and swamps (instead of having people tromp thru them), this skywalk will pass over the areas, leaving the underneath part undisturbed. it will be a great feeling to get the view from the treetops.
“clearcut the trees to Monroe”?? that’s a bit of a stretch. are you missing the cruising scene of the old woods? i’d rather seem some planned garden development than the weeds that are currenly part of that further back corner between the water treatment plant, Monroe, and Piedmont. Although the skaters sure will miss access to that awesome drainage ditch we used to skate back there.
Atlanta Local – born & bred
the naysayers should go visit before spouting off, i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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Marcos
September 30th, 2009
1:02 pm
Adam you can’t be serious… they tore down all those old trees to make room for a garden? We lose hundreds of trees everyday in this city. I would expect the Botanical Gardens to be in the business of protecting them, not removing them to make way for… what?
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RK
September 30th, 2009
1:04 pm
Google has a great satellite view of the area. Maybe you should take a look. My god, I believe there really are some trees in the area. What you talkin bout, Willis?
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Thank You ABC!!
September 30th, 2009
1:06 pm
Naysayers step aside – the gears of capitalism have always been greased with the blood of the workers. I’m sure $100,000 was WAY more than enough to pay the medical bills and emergency services provided the day of the collapse. Now get out of the way whiners, we’ve got a walkway in the trees to build!!
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RK
September 30th, 2009
1:12 pm
what if you sent a check and stopped whining yourself?
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Mapyeti.com
September 30th, 2009
1:44 pm
I think this walkway is a wonderful idea; the garden teaches both preservation and appreciation to visitors. This walkway will be an unobtrusive investment to accomplish those purposes. National Geographic just named Atlanta one of the world’s top 50 places to visit because of its trees. We have many beautiful trees and a walkway to help people appreciate this beautiful natural asset I would think should be embraced.
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RK
September 30th, 2009
1:54 pm
Well-said. Now if the less articulate nut cases will vacate this site…….
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Eric
September 30th, 2009
2:15 pm
Are you kidding me? $100,000 split between 19 people is just over $5,000 each. I don’t think the wife and children of the dead worker or the other severally injured workers would trade their husband or father for $5,000…or for a few Christmas presents!! Ms. Gumbrecht, follow up this story with questions to the contractors responsible as to what they, or their insurance companies, have done to compenstate the family of the dead worker, or any of the other injured workers.
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Daisy
September 30th, 2009
4:27 pm
I think the treewalk is amazing! I can’t wait until it is finished and I am going to take all my out of town guests to the Botanical Garden to see this unique feature that my city has to offer. I am a travel agent and I send many people all the way to Costa Rica to see similar treewalks. So I am glad I can tell people they can just come to Atlanta now!
Also, I think people are getting Piedmont Park projects cunfused with the Botanical Garden projects. They are not the same. I believe that it is Piedmont Park that is expanding all the way down to Piedmont and Monroe, not the Botanical Garden. I’m pretty sure they are run by different people.
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ginak
September 30th, 2009
4:41 pm
I’m sure no one would suggest that any amount of money would compensate for loss of life. Worker’s comp is designed to cover medical expenses and provide some wage benefits. I think it was a caring gesture to raise funds and may even have helped the families cope financially until insurance kicked in. We know how long it can take for those checks to arrive.
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Volunteer and get a free Disney ticket in 2010 | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
September 30th, 2009
6:13 pm
[...] at Inside Access, Jamie Gumbrecht gives you the details on how to volunteer with Hands On Atlanta this [...]
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JOY JOHNSTON
September 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
Enter your comments here GO NATALIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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MJ
September 30th, 2009
10:14 pm
I read this everyday but get frustrated that I cannot look even a day ahead at what is happening. I pften look too late in the day and miss so many things I wanted to do! I wish it was published the day before.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
September 30th, 2009
10:54 pm
Hi MJ! Thanks for reading,and for weighing in. We’ve tossed the idea around, but changing up the schedule hasn’t been the top priority while trying to work out the rest of this blog’s schedule. Meanwhile, the weekend list is published Thursdays…I hope that helps a little!
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To do list: October 1 | Inside Access
October 1st, 2009
12:08 am
[...] History: The Carter Presidential Museum re-opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free museum tours.10:30 a.m., Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, Atlanta. FREE. Construction photos. [...]
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To do list: October 1 | Inside Access
October 1st, 2009
12:45 am
[...] Sports: Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals series begins, 7 p.m., Turner Field, Atlanta. What to know before you go. [...]
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Free admission today for renovated Carter museum | Inside Access
October 1st, 2009
8:22 am
[...] mentioned some of the museum’s new features in last week’s construction update, but they were putting the finishing touches on this week. The entire museum looks, smells and [...]
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Faceman
October 1st, 2009
9:05 am
I can’t resist guessing but I will. Great Pic!
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Bill
October 1st, 2009
10:49 am
Who was Managing this project anyway?? Were they fined as well? Everyone wants to shirk responsibility!
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hellinahandbasket
October 1st, 2009
11:02 am
little five points
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ATLbornandbred
October 1st, 2009
11:51 am
The Flying Biscuit?
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The Mudgeon
October 1st, 2009
11:55 am
Inman Park
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Oh please
October 1st, 2009
12:18 pm
I’m not sure what this specific location is called, but it’s over by the Civic Center. That spot where the neat looking sculptures and the sidewalk’s all painted.
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Theresa
October 1st, 2009
12:21 pm
Are these the butterflies all over Hapeville?
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Krista
October 1st, 2009
12:41 pm
Ria’s Bluebird?
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atllady626
October 1st, 2009
12:58 pm
Inman Park
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Jaye Boyer
October 1st, 2009
1:26 pm
That’s the EAST ATLANTA KIDS CLUB logo!! That photo is from the mural the kids did at the SOPO BIKE SHOP in East Atlanta Village.
http://www.eastatlantakids.org/
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Gretchen Kelly
October 1st, 2009
2:54 pm
Yay!! I’d know that butterfly anywhere! That is the logo for the EAST ATLANTA KIDS CLUB!! The photo is part of a mural that the kids from the EAKC painted at the SOPO Bike Shop in the the EAV! The kids club is a wonderful organization! Check them out http://www.eastatlantakids.org/
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Save on Taste of Atlanta tickets | Free Carter museum entry today | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
October 1st, 2009
3:01 pm
[...] just south of City Hall East, wtih shuttle service to the museum. Read Jamie Gumbrecht’s Inside Access story on the day [...]
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Courtney Lercara
October 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
It’s going to be a busy month, that’s for sure! You might like to take a peek at the latest custom Pink Ribbon Pins at walk gear at http://www.PinkWings.com. 3-Day Walks this month are in Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia. Hope to see you out there!
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Access Points 10: East Atlanta Kids Club mural at Sopo Bikes | Inside Access
October 1st, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] you could identify the item in this week’s Access Points photo game, you’re smart — just like Jaye Boyer, who guessed correctly that it’s the East [...]
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Access Points 10: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
October 1st, 2009
5:52 pm
[...] pm September 30, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 10/1: Want to know the answer? Here it is! For this week’s Access Points photo game, tell me what this is and where it’s located. [...]
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PHOTOS: High’s Leonardo da Vinci exhibit to open Oct. 6 | Inside Access
October 2nd, 2009
12:02 am
[...] A 24-foot horse. It’s on the piazza, so you can see it for free any time, but even if you could miss it, you wouldn’t want to. Leonardo never had a chance to see it this way, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it. [...]
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Turd Ferguson
October 2nd, 2009
7:48 am
In the restroom urinals at the Varsity? Perhaps not but seems a fitting place for it.
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Weekend to do list: October 2-4 | Inside Access
October 2nd, 2009
8:49 am
[...] Community: Hands On Atlanta Day of volunteering, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., various project sites in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett counties. Registration info. [...]
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Art
October 2nd, 2009
8:57 am
Went to the members’ opening night last night – as you said, the exhibit does seem sparse, but the detail in the sketches from DaVinci’s notebooks is amazing, especially when you realize that these drawings were done on paper with chalk, pen, and color washes over 500 years ago. It is hard to believe that they survived intact for all this time, through wars, weather extremes, frequent handling, etc. A good number of the items are from the collection of Queen Elizabeth. If nothing else, the royal families and the church had the know-how and the means to preserve historic documents and art – if it weren’t for them, we probably would not have these things around today for us to appreciate and study.
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LB
October 2nd, 2009
9:40 am
I agree with Art. Also, the best part of these exhibits is contemplating the work that these amazing artists have done, and that we get to see them. Big tip though: If you don’t usually, I would fork over the dollars for the audio tour. There’s a lot of great information in this particular one.
Also, Smithsonian Magazine ran an article in the October issue pertaining to a piece in the exhibit, and the content is interesting. They cover the same topic briefly at the exhibit.
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SAR
October 2nd, 2009
10:54 am
I am looking forward to seeing this exhibit, very much so. da Vinci exceeds being an artis, he is genius.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 2nd, 2009
12:38 pm
Great tip, LB. I didn’t have time to check out the audio tour, but I was lucky to be following the curator. His brief explanations made it a much richer experience than if I’d gone it alone. There’s only so much a text panel can do.
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Felicia Bandy
October 2nd, 2009
1:24 pm
Enter your comments here
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Weekend to do list: October 2-4 | Inside Access
October 2nd, 2009
2:24 pm
[...] For families: “Planet Shark: Predator or Prey” opens, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta. First look at the exhibit. [...]
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Didd
October 2nd, 2009
2:36 pm
Don’t forget to include Halloweenie on Saturday! This is a festival to support dachshunc rescue at Cabbagetown Park in Atlanta. More info can be found at http://www.dreamrescue.org
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chris
October 2nd, 2009
2:51 pm
Clark-Atlanta University’s Homecoming Parade tomorrow morning @ 10!!!
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moonlight mile
October 2nd, 2009
3:29 pm
Ummm…did someone forget about The Black Crowes at Chastain Saturday night?
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gilligan
October 2nd, 2009
3:29 pm
Are you serious? These are my “lots” to do. A gay movie festival, get mugged downtown or go to a dog show. Wow, what to do.
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bored
October 2nd, 2009
3:29 pm
Atlanta is boring….
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Noah
October 2nd, 2009
4:08 pm
excuse me..how could this list be boring, free museums all weekend, free art shows, braves, football, festivals
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gilligan
October 2nd, 2009
5:02 pm
How could it not be great?! Let’s see the Hindu Festival looks awesome. Maybe a trip to the free Fulton County admission to the High w/ every scumbag in the world and watch the shoplifters at work? Maybe the Amy White concert (who is Amy White you say? Good question, may as well be a lady down the street). Get real, the best thing to do is just watch some college football and spend time w/ the kids. Dont pretend there’s a lot to do just some crappy choices, I’d say things you really don’t want to do but here they are.
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anonymous
October 2nd, 2009
5:46 pm
boring
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mariah
October 2nd, 2009
9:13 pm
is it free toomorow saturday
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Globals
October 2nd, 2009
9:33 pm
all good things
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John Gleen
October 3rd, 2009
8:18 am
Do not forget the Lilia Day Spa. We are located in Downtown Anderson on the Square. Visit our website for all the great details. We are getaway that you never forget. http://www.liliadayspa.com
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kalalu
October 3rd, 2009
8:40 am
Don’t forget about Howl-o-Weenie!!!
Saturday from 10-4!
http://www.dreamrescue.org/HowlOWeenie
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Samoys
October 3rd, 2009
9:17 am
lot about you
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 3rd, 2009
1:51 pm
Obviously the events highlighted in this list won’t appeal to everybody, but there’s no reason to insult others in the comments, or to repeat tired, baseless stereotypes. Respect each other and keep the conversation moving forward, or take your negativity elsewhere. For those offering up suggestions and ideas, many thanks. Your input is greatly appreciated.
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Weekend to do list: October 2-4 | Inside Access
October 3rd, 2009
7:08 pm
[...] Festivals: Atlanta Horrorfest presents the Atlanta Zombie Walk, zombie makeup begins at noon, walk begins at 3 p.m., Lenny’s Bar to Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta. FREE. More info. [...]
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Weekend to do list: October 2-4 | Inside Access
October 3rd, 2009
7:30 pm
[...] Art: Le Flash 2009 dance and visual art presentation to open Atlanta Celebrates Photography, dances at 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Castleberry Hill neighborhood, Atlanta. FREE. PHOTOS. [...]
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Susie
October 3rd, 2009
9:40 pm
I went and thought it was magical. I really, really hope they have it again next year.
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HOLD your fire! A weekend of FAKE zombies! — zOMG Zombies
October 3rd, 2009
10:51 pm
[...] From Atlanta Journal-Constitution: [...]
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GatlinburgBrave
October 3rd, 2009
11:35 pm
Atlanta is never boring…
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BBro
October 4th, 2009
5:05 am
North Georgia vinyards are always nice to go visit. My wife and I go and we’re not even wine drinkers but the locations are so beautiful and some have great restuarants and festivals as well.
http://www.georgiawine.com/georgia-wineries
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adna
October 4th, 2009
12:42 pm
hammer geile leonardo da inci ist der beste ekunstler der welkt
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Scarecrows Didn’t Win. « Puppatoons
October 4th, 2009
10:31 pm
[...] 5, 2009 ..and it’s no wonder. I left a photo on a laminated card on each scarecrow–please arrange us in this order, [...]
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To do list: October 5 | Inside Access
October 5th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] Visual art: Free preview of new Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit, noon-7 p.m., High Museum of Art, Atlanta. FREE. Photos. [...]
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Scarecrows didn’t win,but still good news! « Puppatoons
October 5th, 2009
10:45 am
[...] Photo by Jamie Gumbrecht [...]
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Carrie
October 5th, 2009
3:35 pm
As a resident of Castleberry Hill I can say that it was one of the most exciting, inventive, exhilarating nights in the City and we’re so honored that Le Flash happened here again this year. Everyone tried to be very open and understanding with performances, practices and off-the-wall questions and ideas and it culminated in one spectacular evening.
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SS
October 5th, 2009
3:38 pm
Interesting exhibit – DaVinci was clearly exceptionally bright (scientiest, engineer, etc) as well as a talented artist – sort of an odd combination. I have about zero artistic talent personally, so looking at the statues and sculptures, in particular, made me wonder how many of these were even conceived, much less executed. One word of advice, take the time to make sure that you aren’t walking right in front of people. I was amazed at how oblivious many people were to the fact that other people might be only a few feet away looking at a piece and they would walk right up to it with their magnifying glass. The small works of art and intricacies do make for strange viewing dynamics.
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Castleberry Hill Neighborhood » Blog Archive » Le Flash in Castleberry Hill Friday, October 2nd!
October 5th, 2009
3:45 pm
[...] Check out what Inside Access Atlanta had to say about the event Share and Enjoy: [...]
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Castleberry Hill Neighborhood » Blog Archive » Le Flash in Castleberry Hill a Great Success
October 5th, 2009
3:46 pm
[...] Check out what Inside Access Atlanta had to say about the event Share and Enjoy: [...]
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Castleberry Hill Neighborhood » Blog Archive » Le Flash in Castleberry a Great Success
October 5th, 2009
3:49 pm
[...] Check out what Inside Access Atlanta had to say about the event Share and Enjoy: [...]
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Wilkie
October 5th, 2009
4:46 pm
As a resident of Castleberry Hill, I was amazed at how I was swept up in all the action at Le Flash this Friday. It was magical and mystical to have art come alive in the city streets! Great organization allowed all the individual exhibits to flow freely and to be one with the participants. Wonderful display of light and moving art!
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laurie
October 5th, 2009
9:23 pm
Great Scarecrow/Roach Druid Hills!
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Dondi of Bklyn
October 5th, 2009
11:01 pm
I was honored to be asked to assit with LeFlash, and found the programs to be absolutly brilliant. The fact that so many people attended, participated, and seemed to enjoy, question, and took away an experince they would not of had shows how starved Atlanta is for events like this one! I look forward to next year!
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Le Flash Reactions | ACP Now!
October 6th, 2009
9:37 am
[...] PHOTOS: 5 things to love about Le Flash in Castleberry Hill by Jamie Gumbrecht “It’s not just that art was everywhere — it’s that it was public. [...]
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tbrown
October 6th, 2009
10:06 am
Enter your comments here
U2 is NOT at Phillips
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 6th, 2009
1:37 pm
Thanks, tbrown! Fixed!
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Free ‘Christmas Carol’ Train at Duluth museum today only | Inside Access
October 6th, 2009
2:15 pm
[...] Could it still be fun? Here’s what I saw there this morning. [...]
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Westurd
October 6th, 2009
2:17 pm
They were all great….I really loved “Scary Technology”
Always fun to get out there and seem the scarecrows
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Castleberry Hill’s Art House Co-op to move to Brooklyn | Inside Access
October 6th, 2009
2:41 pm
[...] to its Art House Gallery in Castleberry Hill. It’s a fun place to stop by — I posted a Le Flash photo from there on Friday night — but the projects are fun to participate in, too. The good news [...]
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Unknown Name
October 6th, 2009
3:27 pm
the second picture relates to this hahahaaaa ” looks like he has an idea or… he was trying to pick his nose and missed hahahaaa!!!”
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Scarecrows in the Garden | School Garden Weekly
October 7th, 2009
11:35 am
[...] a school garden is a fun activity. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is currently exhibiting its annual “Scaregrows in the Garden”. See link for pics and [...]
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Mamie Smith
October 7th, 2009
12:34 pm
I visited a “breast cancer walk” on Saturday. It was a chilly, windy day, but the walkers were out, and pink shirts dotted the dismal day. These are ladies of hope, faith and courage. I salute them. I took my book “The Unfolding of a Rose” to the site. It is a story about my daughter who passed away with a diagnosis of breast cancer. A book signing will take place on Sunday, October 11th.
I wrote a blog on breast cancer awareness.http://theunfoldingofarose.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/breast-cancer-awareness-month/
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Why?
October 7th, 2009
5:05 pm
MLK sculpture @ corner of Freedom Parkway & Boulevard
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Lain Shakespeare
October 7th, 2009
5:10 pm
That’s from the middle of a Henry Moore sculpture at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
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Emily
October 7th, 2009
9:34 pm
Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I looked through the sculpture this past weekend.
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Weekend to do list: October 9-11 | Inside Access
October 8th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] Books: Author Michael Gray discusses his Blind Willie McTell biography, 6:30 p.m., Decatur CD, Decatur. FREE. More info. [...]
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Jose
October 8th, 2009
9:35 am
When are they going to fix those stupid windows in the Westin Hotel?
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Ghost
October 8th, 2009
9:38 am
They recently took down the name on the Westin. They have to replace ALL the windows. It looks like they’re about to start now. I think they said it would take 18 months.
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roy
October 8th, 2009
9:48 am
Someone told me their is an Air show in Marietta this saturday is this true ? if yes what times
Thanks
roy
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Cam
October 8th, 2009
9:56 am
Moore sculpture at the Atlanta Botanical Garden – the one just past the orchid house.
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Phil Smith
October 8th, 2009
10:08 am
We are looking through a great work of art (Moore) positioned at the Botanical Garden. Nice shot!
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T
October 8th, 2009
10:11 am
@Jose, they are actually fixing the windows now. Traffic is terrible on Andrew Young Int’l because of it, they’ve said it’s going to take about a year to replace all of them.
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Sarah B
October 8th, 2009
10:16 am
I haven’t been in the Botanical Gardens in years but I knew it was from in Piedmont Park or close.
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angela kelso
October 8th, 2009
10:20 am
Enter your comments here 3years
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jennifer
October 8th, 2009
10:28 am
This is showing downtown from a perspective east and slightly south of the buildings. There’s no way that perspective would be seen from the Atlanta Botanical gardens, which are in midtown. This is clearly the MLK sculpture on the hill at Freedom Parkway.
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Wayne
October 8th, 2009
10:34 am
All 6,350 windows at the Westin are being replaced…
http://www.atlantadowntown.com/article/westin-peachtree-plaza-to-replace-all-6350-windows
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JoeV
October 8th, 2009
10:38 am
Jennifer,
You couldn’t be “Moore” wrong. That is clearly the Moore sculpture in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Its not even close to looking like anything else.
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ATLbornandbred
October 8th, 2009
10:44 am
Definitely the botanical gardens. If you go to this website (http://mooreinamerica.blogspot.com/) and scroll 2/3 down, you will see that exact sculpture.
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Ralph Morganotti
October 8th, 2009
11:14 am
Heck if I know!!!!!!!!
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wesleywhatwhat
October 8th, 2009
11:56 am
deinitely the moore sculpture at the atlanta botanical garden…
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JDV
October 8th, 2009
1:52 pm
oval with 2 points, atlanta botanical garden … one of the many sculptures in the moore in america exhibit …
could not be king sculpture … king’s sculpture is flat/cutout design/shape … and different material/color (metal)
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Marcus Graham
October 8th, 2009
3:01 pm
NOT THE MOORE SCULPTURE! The loops on it are closed. The loops in this photo are not fully closed. Plus, you cannot get the view of these buildings from Piedmont Park. This is a view into lower downtown–you can see the Marquis..There is no elevation in Piedmont Park that provides that angle or view. Defintely MLK.
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Weekend to do list: October 9-11 | Inside Access
October 8th, 2009
3:27 pm
[...] For families: Solarbration, 10 am.-5 p.m., Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum, Cartersville. Photos. [...]
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Access Points 11: From what and where is this view? | Inside Access
October 8th, 2009
4:03 pm
[...] pm October 7, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 10/8: Want to see the answer? Here it is! For this week’s Access Points photo game, tell me where you’d have to be to get this [...]
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Deja Vu
October 9th, 2009
8:19 am
ROY, according to their website the air show is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 17-18. Got two differing times though. One says gates open at 8:30, another says 10:00…..
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New Booth Western Art Museum addition opens Oct. 10 | Inside Access
October 9th, 2009
3:41 pm
[...] by the non-profit Georgia Museums, Inc., which also runs the Bartow History Museum. (I wrote about Tellus and its new Smithsonian Affiliation a few months [...]
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BigJake
October 9th, 2009
11:32 pm
Lilburn Daze from 9am to 5pm Saturday October 10 at the Lilburn park on Main Street – crafts, food, fun for all ages!
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JDV
October 10th, 2009
9:14 am
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 10th, 2009
12:43 pm
Thanks for the recommendation, BigJake, and for helping each other out, Roy and Deja Vu!
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boots
October 10th, 2009
1:09 pm
Fairgrounds in Cumming are in full swing with large fair rides, fun family activities and concerts. The AJC list has everything INSIDE the perimeter but nothing OTT. No surprise.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 10th, 2009
1:30 pm
Thanks for the info, Boots! I highlighted the Cumming fair and a play in Cumming on their opening days: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/10/08/to-do-list-october-8/
Meanwhile, this list includes activities in Decatur, Marietta, Austell, Cartersville, Newnan, Roswell and Sandy Springs — all outside of Atlanta. The daily to do lists, features and before you go also regularly goes outside the Perimeter.
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boots
October 10th, 2009
3:45 pm
My bad. Sorry.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 10th, 2009
6:02 pm
No worries! I just don’t want OTP folks to feel left out — there’s a lot going on all over the metro area. The AccessAtlanta.com calendar is free and community-generated, so folks anywhere in North Georgia can add events. It’s definitely Atlanta-heavy, though, so I’d love to see more updates from other communities.
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Charles
October 10th, 2009
10:12 pm
Thanks for the picture! It looks great. I love you Jamelle [()]!!!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 10th, 2009
10:35 pm
That’s just adorable.
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Weekend to do list: October 9-11 | Inside Access
October 10th, 2009
11:34 pm
[...] Festivals: Taste of Atlanta runs through Oct. 11, Midtown’s Tech Square, Atlanta. Review. [...]
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heather
October 11th, 2009
8:44 am
does anyone know on average how many taste tickets you need to get anything?
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Maretta
October 11th, 2009
10:37 am
Re: your statement regarding vegans and health-conscious people, I agree. There’s nothing at “Taste of Atlanta” for us. Thanks for the review.
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Jamie
October 11th, 2009
11:41 am
There were a few vegetarian dishes but not many. It would be great to have more vegetarian selections and have a way to find them easier. I did manage to find enough vegetarian non dessert selections to be happy but I’d love to see Cafe Sunflower or some other vegetarian restaurants participate next year.
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Chris
October 11th, 2009
11:57 am
Thanks for the honest review. We are going today. I already had breakfast. Hope the rain stays away and I do plan a later arrival so maybe large food portions since today is the last day! Atlanta loves food so for any chef to make it here is easy if they make things taste good and keep new items coming every season.
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Californian transplant
October 11th, 2009
12:20 pm
We went at noon and stayed until about 3ish, it began to get crowded by then but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and left with happy bellies. I do agree about the water-ticket thing. Made no sense whatsoever to me but hey. I suppose there is money to be made. I think the Taste served its purpose: to allow its patrons to sample some of Atlanta’s eateries. I didn’t go in expecting anything more than that and felt I got more than my monies worth. I look forward to next year.
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CIP
October 11th, 2009
11:32 pm
Although the talent spilled over everywhere in this production (and we did thoroughly admire it), I have to agree with BJC; this needs a PG13 warning on it. One might think that a Sinatra inspired show would be “family fare,’ but this one strtched the limits. We were fairly uncomfortable having brought some else’s 12 yr. old to the show, not realizing that there would be such sensual content. They might want to tame it down for New York, or warn ticket buyers ahead of time.
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Wendy
October 12th, 2009
10:48 am
Really enjoyed the taste of Atlanta…So much food, I hate I couldn’t taste everything. Excited to learn of new restuarant options!
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Paul
October 12th, 2009
2:36 pm
Check out the Stone Mountain Highland Games at the park of the same name, this coming weekend October 17-18 – a great venue with something for everyone. http://www.smhg.org
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Xanna Don't
October 12th, 2009
8:55 pm
The Sexual Side Effects and Johnny Rockbridge & The High Chairs play a benefit show for Girls’ Rock Camp this Saturday afternoon, October 17, from 2–7 pm at Frogs Cantina in Midtown. Free admission, all ages, full menu, raffle prizes. http://www.dontlabelit.com
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Rusty
October 13th, 2009
9:53 am
I love minor league baseball, but haven’t yet made it out to see the Gwinnett Braves.
Re: “Baseball was the after-thought of the experience,” I would like Gwinnett or Turner Field to have a “just baseball” night once a week (or, better, seven nights a week) where they did away with the carnival aspect and just had the game, beer, and hot dogs.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 13th, 2009
1:13 pm
Wow, what would such a night look like? A night without giveaways or costumed races or crowd games? Would it be like a very well-lit, fast-moving high school game?
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Manny
October 13th, 2009
1:32 pm
I don’t know about this. I haven’t been to Gwinnett yet. But I might have gone in the future, but I’m old school like that too. I would like to go to a ballpark where the game is being played and the crowd was there and have baseball noises only.
Oh, and for an added benefit- have the concessions at a low price. I mean, I would love to go to a ball game where the price of hot dogs were $2.
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Wha?
October 13th, 2009
1:45 pm
“I made it out to one game, and had a nice time, but — and it’s rare for me to type this — it would’ve been more fun with little kids.”
The above quote from the article is confusing (especially the part “WITH” little kids). Are you emoting that you wished little kids were there with you to heighten your experience?
Or are you being sarcastic by actually meaning to say that the experience would have been more fun ‘FOR little kids’?
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Kudzu Wildcat
October 13th, 2009
1:51 pm
My wife and I attended about 15 G-Braves this past season, including one playoff game. There is not a bad seat in the stadium and you feel like you are on top of action, due to the close proximity to the field. We enjoyed the games and the between innings entertainment.
We are going to go back next year with a 10 game season ticket package. The games are good, affordable, family entertainment, and I am glad Gwinnett built the stadium and lured the Braves from Richmond.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 13th, 2009
1:52 pm
Wha? — I’m really saying it would have been more fun for me had I brought little kids along. A lot of the activities are geared toward families with children. I don’t have children, but I think they would love it. If I’d gone with young family members or friends’ kids, I would have been more engaged in those activities, as well, and would’ve had more fun.
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Bravo
October 13th, 2009
1:57 pm
Definitely. The seats are a little close to screaming line drives, but otherwise, it’s a great place to spend an afternoon or summer night watching baseball.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 13th, 2009
2:01 pm
Hehe, Bravo, I’d forgotten about that: there were a couple times when a ball went over the roof above our heads, then rolled down. It’s an small enough place that you can hear its every move. It’s kind of fun-terrifying to see everybody look up, watch and wait for it to come back.
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Mark Terrell
October 13th, 2009
2:03 pm
I am really really fond of the Gwinnett Stadium. I only attended one game due to me being at over 30 Turner Field games this year, but I had a total blast. It was their second home game of the season and I bought some relatively cheap seats. I realized then that any seat in the house is incredible. Plus, Tommy Hanson & crew came out before the game to do a signing, so my friend and I got our pictures with Tommy and got a program and a ball signed by him. How awesome! The entire Gwinnett stadium staff was very friendly, which you cannot say about Turner Field. There are wide concourses, there are nice aspects of the park, etc. I love the stadium and hope to make it to more games in 2010…this is the nicest minor league stadium I have seen. The franchise made a great choice when they moved the Braves to Gwinnett.
My biggest regret? Not seeing Glavine throw a game @ Gwinnett…dang. But yes, the stadium is excellent and I will attend 10+ games next season.
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Mark Terrell
October 13th, 2009
2:04 pm
I forgot to mention Chopper. He’s probably the funniest mascot of any sports team that I have seen. While waiting for the game to start, Chopper comes around and is doing 40mph kicking up dirt on the warning track on a 4wheeler. Later in the game, he pops up on top of the dugout and shoots kids with a water gun. He is just overall very friendly, interactive and absolutely hilarious to watch. I never knew a mascot could make a game so enjoyable.
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sugarfoot
October 13th, 2009
2:07 pm
I enjoyed the experience; but, I sure do not know where the money was spent. I sure won’t go to downtown ATL for baseball any more.
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Mike
October 13th, 2009
2:08 pm
I was a season ticket holder and will renew again next year. The primary reason being I love the game and it is way more convenient then getting downtown (I’d like to know how many fans it funneled away from the Ted. I have historically gone to at least 5 games a year and only made it once this year).
It is a great environment for kids but my primary complaint is the stadium is overwhelmingly vanilla. Nice but antiseptic – just like Turner Field. I went to a Montgomery Biscuits game this year and their stadium is just incredible – beautful architecture, beatiful sightlines, just a really classy place. I was very jealous and really wish the Gwinnett stadium had half the appeal. I understand there might have been limitations due to the timeframe but I think they would have been better off pushing a back a year and putting up a place with charm.
My only other issues are the PA is painfully loud (you can’t even converse with your neighbor at times) and the “Master of Ceremonies” Barry something or other takes his job WAY too seriously and is extremely annoying.
The employees and extremely friendly and well-meaning and go out of there way to provide a good experience. That is much appreciated.
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ugaaccountant
October 13th, 2009
2:12 pm
If a top Braves prospect is playing there, i’ll catch some games. Heyward and Hanson both were star attractions this year. But when the team is full of guys who just aren’t good enough for the majors I won’t be there, plain and simple.
And yes, the atmosphere was very kids centered. Kind of annoying to adults.
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Braves Fan & Traffic Hater
October 13th, 2009
2:21 pm
Do I want to pay $3 for parking out in the suburbs, a mile from Mall of Georgia ?
Do I want to drive from Austell with ignorant simpletons on cell phones and “Obama” stickers on the backs of their poorly-driven vehicles (which apparently do not have turn signals) in rush-hour traffic on a Friday afternoon to get up to Gwinnett to see a game?
Hmmmm……
[ EXPLETIVE DELETED by AJC Editors ] , NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Man with the pLAN
October 13th, 2009
2:30 pm
Enter your comments here
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The Man with the pLAN
October 13th, 2009
2:30 pm
Apprently Braves Fan is not an Obama supporter and is a borderline racist.
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Calvin Wilson
October 13th, 2009
2:35 pm
I will definitely go back to games in Gwinnett and encourage people who have not made it yet to get out there in 2010. The experience is top notch. Very friendly staff, affordable ticket prices, easy access right of I-85… this list goes on and on. Most everyone I have talked to who went to a game seems to agree with me that the Gwinnett Braves have proven to be a very positive addition to the community.
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To do list: October 13 | Inside Access
October 13th, 2009
2:35 pm
[...] History: Pulitzer Prize winner Taylor Branch discusses “The Clinton Tapes,” 8 p.m., Atlanta History Center, Atlanta. More info. [...]
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Shamus O'Bama
October 13th, 2009
2:43 pm
Being a bad driver has NOTHING to do with anyone’s race or complexion.
However, being a bad driver AND being superficial and naive enough to vote for an empty suit like O’Bama are typically composite traits of really, really stupid people. Many stupid people just happen to like to advertise their cerebral shortcomings through tacky bumper stickers and failures to obey even elementary traffic laws.
Stupid people also like to imply that anyone who disagrees with them must be racists.
By the way, as baseball is a game that involves both thinking and patience, many stupid people don’t like baseball and probably would not to to G-Braves games and clogging up traffic in that direction in the first place.
Selah.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 13th, 2009
2:47 pm
Hey folks, let’s keep the conversation on baseball and the experience at Gwinnett Braves Stadium. There are plenty of other places to discuss politics, race and everything else. This is a blog about fun things to do around Atlanta, so let’s be respectful and stay on topic. Thanks!
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Baseball Fanatic
October 13th, 2009
2:49 pm
Hey, where else can you sit next to a Hall Of Fame pitcher (Phil Niekro) while enjoying a hot dog and a baseball game!! Actually we ended up working the concession stands for our High School Wrestling team which turned out to be an incredible experience for us all. I think my most enjoyable visit was when the San Diego chicken was in town.
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Don Rose
October 13th, 2009
2:50 pm
We’re renewing our season tickets shortly. Gwinnett Stadium is a great place to watch the games, it’s much more intimate and if you’re a true baseball fan it beats the heck out of fighting the crowds and the traffic at Turner Field. It’s fun to watch the yung players on the way up, and you still get to see big league players occasionally.
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grayram
October 13th, 2009
3:05 pm
Great view from any seat! I will go back for sure. It’s nice when you get to see a star down on rehab like Hudson or McCann but i really enjoyed the all out hustle of the guys like Wes Timmons. The only annoying thing for me was hearing “Sweet Caroline” every game. Lets leave that in Boston and come up with our own traditions.
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carpetbagger
October 13th, 2009
3:10 pm
I took my family to the final reg. season game on Labor Day and enjoyed it. I could have done without the rock band playing right behind our seats during pre-game (although my 4-yr old son loved it) but I didn’t mind it that much. Since I’m in N. Fulton, it’s much more convenient than going to the Ted. The one thing I haven’t tried yet is going there for a game on a weeknight – yikes! I might limit my attendance to weekends due to traffic. For us the experience was pretty positive and we would definitely go again next season.
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GoDawgsGo
October 13th, 2009
3:19 pm
YES. YES. YES. I have a weekend package and thoroughly enjoyed the games I went to. And I had no trouble finding people who wanted to use my tickets for games I couldn’t make. I have already renewed my seats for next season and was pleasantly surprised to see season ticket prices went down a bit. Nice to see the G-Braves were able to adjust with the economy to help those of us who are on a tight budget.
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PinkoNeoConLibertarian
October 13th, 2009
3:23 pm
Well, I didn’t go this year due in part to the ban on alcohol outside the stadium. I enjoy tailgating as a major part of the game–sitting there before the game having a drink and some food with my friends. Unless someone can tell me that the ordinance against it is not being enforced, I will continue to make the trek to the Ted.
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mike
October 13th, 2009
3:26 pm
I live 5 minutes away, no traffic, $3 to park is a steal, tickets very reasonable. Only mistake they made this year was not letting you bring food inside. Minor league baseball, major league prices.
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GoDawgsGo
October 13th, 2009
3:44 pm
To PinkoNeoConLibertarian: I saw people tailgating all of the time and am willing to bet that they were drinking. I don’t recall seeing many cops patroling so my guess is if you are smart about it and put it in a cup you would be OK.
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ugaaccountant
October 13th, 2009
3:47 pm
The $3 to park is offensive given that this is middle of nowhere. Free parking and increased ticket prices would be more understandable.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 13th, 2009
4:41 pm
For tailgaters: I remember the parking lot outside the stadium being large, but the individual spaces being VERY tight. Does that affect tailgating, or the possibility of it, too?
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PaPa233
October 13th, 2009
4:56 pm
We tailgated with a pretty good size group at a G-Braves game. You have to remember that if you are going to tailgate you probably will plan to arrive early. This means you will be able to get a nice spot near one of the many grassy areas so you can spread out in the grass. We had plenty of room for a tent and a big grill. The parking lot actually is a pretty nice design for tailgating because of the generous grass medians.
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EQUALITY
October 13th, 2009
6:22 pm
I THANK IT IS LOW DOWN SORRY FOR THE BRAVES TO BE GETTING RICH OFF OF CHARGING PEOPLE ALL THAT MONEY JUST TO PARK THEY CARS. THEY NEED TO TAX THEM SORRY BRAVES AND GIVE THAT MONEY TO GOOD PEOPLE IN NEED THAT DESERVE IT!
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GatlinburgBrave
October 13th, 2009
11:33 pm
Say what?
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G-Braves Yea!
October 13th, 2009
11:43 pm
Love the stadium, the crowd and the Braves organization. Will be returning with season tix next year for sure!!!
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jay
October 14th, 2009
10:21 am
The stadium is a great addition to our county and the true benefits haven’t even been unvieled. Chopper is by far the most entertaining and professional mascot I have witnessed…I have toured 40 ballparks so far.
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Fernbank adds exhibit hours, movies for Martinis & IMAX | Inside Access
October 14th, 2009
10:24 am
[...] The exhibit was to close at 5 p.m., before the Friday night martini-and-movie set arrived. The new hours keep the special exhibition open from 5:30-10 p.m. Fridays. During those hours, exhibit admission is free with a Martinis & IMAX ticket, or $7 without a movie ticket. Here’s a preview of the ‘Gold’ exhibit. [...]
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PHOTOS: High’s John Portman retrospective to open Oct. 17 | Inside Access
October 14th, 2009
3:48 pm
[...] a busy time at the High Museum of Art. It just opened its Leonardo da Vinci exhibit, and this weekend, it opens “John Portman: Art and Architecture,” a three-floor show of [...]
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Heath
October 14th, 2009
10:58 pm
I think that having the stadium in Gwinnett is great, but it should have been a stadium that could be used for multi sporting events. The old Fulton county stadium could be used for baseball, football, soccer, la cross. With the amount of money put into it, shouldn’t we be able to squeeze every penny back out of it. It seem that the Proponents say the stadium is an asset to the community, that it was meant to add to the quality of life in Gwinnett more than to generate income for the county. I say why not do both? Ya! field of screams is a start, but a stadium is for sporting events. I hope that County Commissioner Bert Nasutit, Preston Williams and Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau can bring in other sporting events to the stadium.
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Things to do this weekend in Atlanta, October 16-18 | Inside Access
October 15th, 2009
12:03 am
[...] For kids: Final weekend for Synchronicity’s “Bunnicula,” through Oct. 18, Alliance Theatre’s Hertz Stage, Atlanta. Review. [...]
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To do list: October 15 | Inside Access
October 15th, 2009
12:06 am
[...] Stage: Atlanta Ballet opens its season with Mozart’s “Magic Flute,” 7:30 p.m., Cobb Energy and Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Things to do this weekend in Atlanta, October 16-18 | Inside Access
October 15th, 2009
12:19 am
[...] Art: “John Portman: Art and Architecture” opens, 10 a.m., High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Photos. [...]
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Things to do this weekend in Atlanta, October 16-18 | Inside Access
October 15th, 2009
12:33 am
[...] Festivals: Chastain Park Arts Festival runs through Oct. 18, Chastain Park, Atlanta. FREE. More info. [...]
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5 Cheap date ideas: Poetry | Wine | Speedway | ‘Gold’ | Comedy | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
October 15th, 2009
7:01 am
[...] Naturally, it makes sense to take your date to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s ‘Gold’ exhibit. There’s the history of the precious medal, the wide variety of uses and the sheer beauty, [...]
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Access Points 12: Southeastern Railway Museum train | Inside Access
October 15th, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] you make a guess at this week’s Access Points photo game? Maybe quietly, without saying so in the comments? It showed original fixtures inside the Superb, a [...]
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Check out AccessAtlanta.com’s 2009 Holiday Guide | Inside Access
October 16th, 2009
6:04 am
[...] still cover, say, the Little Five Points Halloween parade on my blog. Holiday deals will still show up on Atlanta Bargain Hunter. And there will be treats, [...]
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Stacey
October 16th, 2009
7:59 am
The Georgia National Fair in Perry Ga runs thru this Sunday. The drive is worth it.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 16th, 2009
9:46 am
Thanks Stacey! For those who are interested, here’s more info: http://www.georgianationalfair.com
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CM
October 16th, 2009
10:27 am
Go see The Magic Flute!!! It’s stunning….absolutely amazing. We should be proud to live in a city where this work is being performed. The visuals are stunning and the dancing is breathtaking. Christine Winkler rocks my world…as the Queen of the night, she is mesmerizing. If you like dance at all…GO SEE IT!
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ajw
October 16th, 2009
10:35 am
The Tucker Street Market is also happening all day Saturday. Lots of beautiful affordable art will be on display and for sale at The Custom Frame Shop on Main St. in downtown Tucker. Also pumpkin sculpting shows by Aaron Whitmoyer. Musician Scott Downes will also be performing.
http://www.tuckerartsguild.org
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 16th, 2009
11:44 am
Thanks, ajw!
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OZZFEST
October 16th, 2009
11:50 am
Congratulations to the man who killed downtown Atlanta by taking people off the streets and putting them in skybridges. It is no wonder the dude lives on elitist SEA ISLAND.
I am sure he “skywalks” to his bedroom evrynight, over and past the fray of EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
Ugh.
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Godeacsbd
October 16th, 2009
1:31 pm
Roswell is a great tour. Very informative.
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‘Ghastly Dreadfuls’: What makes an adult puppet show? | Inside Access
October 16th, 2009
1:59 pm
[...] Booze When I saw the Center’s family show “Adventures of Little Noodle,” I heard a lot about broccoli and body image. At the “Ghastly Dreadfuls,” I was [...]
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IMPN
October 16th, 2009
2:12 pm
“There’s no accounting for taste.” That’s what my grandmother used to say when she saw something ugly and repulsive– much like the crap Portman has put out over the years. At least the newer works have less of his personal “flair” in their designs thanks to the contributions of newer associates. Too bad Atlanta was an early target for his experiments.
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OZZFEST
October 16th, 2009
3:42 pm
Probably the dumbest idea I have ever heard for DOWNTOWN. We all know there is NO way this place would be open for more than 6 months.
Why would ANYONE have ANY interest in a pirate museum in Atlanta? Perhaps the developer will read this : TRY PUTTING IT IN KEY WEST…an obvious choice.
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Barack Obama
October 16th, 2009
8:23 pm
This is exactly the kind of elitist government-funded waste of your tax dollars that I stand for! Working people of America, this is the future! Yes, we can waste your tax money!
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Terrell
October 16th, 2009
9:14 pm
I always dreaded this day when idiots begin to post non-sense.
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John
October 16th, 2009
11:20 pm
thanks for the info. Is there any infor on corn mazes?John!
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Laura G. Thome
October 17th, 2009
6:36 am
Congratulations to a true visionary. Laura Green Thome
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Hygoex
October 17th, 2009
7:44 am
Why does Atlanta need any more attractions, when some of what could be our biggest attractions like the Delta Heritage Museum aren’t even open on the weekends? The Ford plant site could have been been the site of a new commercial aviation museum, much like the Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport in Washington.
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Sunshine
October 17th, 2009
7:58 am
Arrrgh to the Grinches. A pirate museum sounds like lots of fun. Go to our wonderful Aquarium to see fish that swam the oceans, then cross the street and see treasures pulled from the sea beds. I know a guy with a real peg leg that could work there as an authentic-looking pirate.
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Dick Lea
October 17th, 2009
8:06 am
We’ve already got more than 25,000 lawyers in this town; what’s wrong with a few pirates?
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E
October 17th, 2009
9:16 am
Thanks for your work, Jamie. This is all helpful.
There is a free event that happens once a month at Georgia Tech called Converse Open Gym. It is a very well-run event with a DJ, prizes and give-aways for boys and girls ages 11-18 who have a love for basketball. It is an opportunity for them to play indoors against other kids their age. See http://www.basketballdreams.com and click on Converse Open Gym for details. It would be great if you would highlight this on your site. It is FREE!
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jay
October 17th, 2009
9:26 am
What a teriffic idea! I completely support it. I just hope the developers also have the foresight to include something like the world’s largest model pirate ship. Maybe even have a ride through the exhibit like the ride at disney for which the movie is named. I would brag to all my friends “we have an awesome pirate museum and the thrahsers play right next door!” (Take that ny and la.) I personally would never get around to going unless invited to some event there.
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E
October 17th, 2009
10:38 am
Hey! Converse Open Gym is next weekend, Sat., Oct 24th and again on Sat., Nov. 14th at Georgia Tech. This is a FREE event for boys and girls who love to play basketball. Come dressed to play! See http://www.basketballdreams.com for more info and click on Converse Open Gym.
Jamie, would you consider looking into this and posting it? Totally free and very well-done.
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John
October 17th, 2009
10:40 am
I see another Fanplex. I imagine that he’s already greasing the politicians for tax breaks and assorted benefits to get taxpayer subsidies.
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John Raulet
October 17th, 2009
11:14 am
I think this is a super idea. Why not a pirate museum? It is hard enough for young families to find fun inexpensive activities for children. I say let the naysayers let their kids sit on the couch playing video games while i take my kids here and let them learn about history and adventure!
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Jewell
October 17th, 2009
2:27 pm
No…unless they’re going to hire some of the many homeless downtown to be the pirate tour guides, but mostly NO.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 17th, 2009
2:38 pm
Lots of interesting points. I should add that we have very little information about this beyond the news that someone would like to put a pirate museum here. If this happens, it will be a while — there are a lot of steps to get through first. Very interesting to watch!
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Lyn
October 17th, 2009
3:34 pm
I went on the Lawrenceville tour last night. What a blast! Very entertaining.
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s
October 17th, 2009
3:50 pm
They should also check out Dante’s, where Pirates and live crocks have lived for years.
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myra
October 17th, 2009
4:06 pm
Are the Somali pirates going to be inducted?
I mean really how many museums in GA are already bamkrupt? Waste of money.
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john
October 17th, 2009
7:19 pm
Two fantastic pirate restaurants in Charleston,SC that do realy well. one of them has been ther for years
Queen Annes Revenge http://www.qarevenge.com and The Buccaneer, http://www.thebuccaneerrestaurant.com,,awesome food and one one of the best collections of artifacts on display in the usa. our family loved it
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PHOTOS: Little Five Points Halloween Parade | Inside Access
October 17th, 2009
10:21 pm
[...] ninjas, tons of pirates. Maybe there’s something to this pirate museum after all? These fellows walked with the Atlanta Pirate and Wenches [...]
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PHOTOS: Little Five Points Halloween Parade | Inside Access
October 17th, 2009
10:22 pm
[...] The Seed and Feed Marching Abominable: still charming. [...]
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Bill S.
October 17th, 2009
11:19 pm
Scary-Etta was a fabulous tour, Joni the tour guide was exceptional. I have been on many but this one beats them all!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 17th, 2009
11:29 pm
Thanks for the opinions, folks! John, I’m getting enough requests for corn maze info that I’m going to have to gather more info. Haunted houses have been keeping me busy this week. I’ll report back when there’s more!
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Decatur Metro
October 18th, 2009
10:44 am
Great photos Jamie!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 18th, 2009
11:44 am
Thanks! I have a lot more — obviously, it’s a very photogenic event — but am having problems uploading. Much appreciated!
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Captain or Mayor?
October 18th, 2009
11:48 am
I thought the new Pirate installation is at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave.
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Susan
October 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
Celtic Thunder will be at the Fox Theatre on Sat. Oct. 24, 8pm
Tickets on sale now!!!
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Things to do this weekend in Atlanta, October 16-18 | Inside Access
October 18th, 2009
1:39 pm
[...] Festivals: Little Five Points Halloween Festival continues through Oct. 17, 5-10 p.m., Findley Plaza at Moreland and Euclid avenues, Atlanta. FREE. Photos. [...]
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Jim Dakota
October 18th, 2009
2:46 pm
The Yacht Club’s float and the Giant Skeletons were 2 of the highlights of the parade for me that aren’t mentioned here. And, of course, Turning Trixx twirlers and Seed & Feed Marching Abominables were both amazing, as always.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 18th, 2009
3:11 pm
You’re right, Jim, I should’ve mentioned the Snallygaster. It’s now up in the post, and there are links to more photos in the post!
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AARRHH Swabbee!
October 18th, 2009
4:07 pm
Great idea!
DO IT!
In the Keys, (Pirate Soul) is great and is lots of fun for all ages. The Black beard animitronic is awesome, they have a Jack Sparrow that remarkably looks like Johnny Depp in that character, greeting and telling people about items, events from the heyday of those scallywags. If they had a restaurant people would hang out longer. People love Pirates, the mystery, freedom and anybody can be one.
It would be a great addition to Atlanta and be the greatest venue for tourists too.
Make it on a grand scale and people will come.
Is Dante’s Down the Hatch still open at Underground? You could buy that ship or, well, you could partner with Dante’s and expand the menu past Fondue style and move it to your place. Having a themed place to eat dinner and have a show is a lost art. If you did get Dante’s to do it you would have to drop jazz as the main music and go to Pirate type songs and some theatrics.
I miss all the cool places my parents took me for dinner when I was a kid in the 60’s. The Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale still brings them in for a wonderful Polynesian dinner and show. You could actually make the Dante’s ship an all day restaurant that changes with the time of day.
“Pirate’s Breakfast”, 2 eggs, Plundered, (scrambled), 2 Baked Dough Cakes smothered in Plank Grout, (biscuits and sawmill gravy), we are in the South you know. Shredded Musket Ball with Smothered Yellow Boot Sav and Smushed Scallywags sauce, (melted cheddar cheese and ketchup). With complementary Grog, (water or OJ). $6.99
(by the time they stop laughing the meal will be served)
“Captain’s Dinner Feast”,
“Soup of the Watch,” Evening Clam Chowder in Bread Bowl, with Crusty Bird Crumbs.
(Clam chowder with oyster crackers.)
“1 Red/Orange Creature with Hard Shell from the Depths, Split wide Open and Grilled with Asides, Arhh.”
(3 lbs., Caribbean Lobster, grilled with Butter and Garlic, Asparagus, and twice baked potato, loaded.
“Stuck on your Boot Green Slime Pie with Mad Bird Froth”.
(Key Lime Pie and whipped cream).
$37.50
Add water park, partner with Disney for Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride, museum tour, general gathering area with Pirate motif, gift shop and the Aquarium with want to buy you out. Or maybe Disney will. Heck I’d quit my job running a law firm and have some fun again. Get the place going with you for a nice pirate’s booty. Plus health insurance. The kind that allows for on the job injuries like, “cannon missfire, running aground, sword play encounters, musket and cannon fire exposure.” I hate it when they claim that was a pre-existing condition
Think of the jobs it can create which is what our President should be doing during this horrible time. 200 or so? Perhaps more if you add the disco, meeting rooms, Marta Rail directly to the venue from the airport, hotel and outdoor pool. And Pirate mini golf and bumper pirate ship lagoon……
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GBravesFan
October 18th, 2009
8:15 pm
I absolutley adore the Gwinnett Braves stadium! It is wonderful! The prices are cheap, the people are nice, and the plays made out on the field are beyond fascinating! If there was a game every day of the season at Gwinnett, I would go to every single one!
~Love ‘ya G-Braves!
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GA Peach
October 18th, 2009
9:13 pm
My faves were Turnin’ TriXXX and the guy who carried the sign that said, ‘God thinks your a douche’ right in front of the Jesus freaks.
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Captain of the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons
October 18th, 2009
9:30 pm
Thanks Jim & Jaime! Catching that Snallygaster was tough! Those People for Ethical Snallygaster Treatment facilitated getting it hauled back to Maryland. We heard they’ve had some trouble on 85 N above Winder . . . AND, we are so proud: the gratefully gluttonous Sketeton Krewe won the “Pennywise Prize” for best walking group!
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ThatGuy
October 19th, 2009
2:09 am
What a dumb idea. How much would really be in a pirate museum? And Hygoex, I didn’t even know we had a Delta museum. You learn something new everyday.
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joshua james
October 19th, 2009
10:30 am
Ozzfest and IMPN……the man won the horatio alger award, the martin luther king award and has brought more than 30,000 jobs to the city of Atlanta. Elitist is not a word associated with someone of his ilk. As far as his art and architecture he has been recognized by Paul Goldberger of the New Yorker as one of the most influential architects of modern history………..so maybe both of you should leave the critiques to those more qualified to render them. The man was a gift from god to atlanta and we should be grateful for his work.
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JET
October 19th, 2009
11:31 am
Send it to Tampa where it belongs!
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Stefan
October 19th, 2009
12:39 pm
Thanks for posting your pix. I thought the orange jager girls were adorable. Some of the band floats were cool too. I didn’t get the drunken fratboy float.
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Atlanta tops Daily Beast list of places to meet single men | Inside Access
October 19th, 2009
1:20 pm
[...] with any of the lists Atlanta shows up on, data rarely equals reality. This list mentions single gals who are searching, but [...]
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Dwight
October 19th, 2009
1:51 pm
The Heretic.
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Necol7
October 19th, 2009
1:52 pm
Is this list for Gay men? If you are Gay this is the best place to meet successful single men.
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James Abele
October 19th, 2009
1:58 pm
I’m the black and white Harelquinn Hula-Hooper. Great photo, thanks for the coverage! feel free to add my name to the copy if you like.
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Steve
October 19th, 2009
1:59 pm
This seems to be about gals meeting straight men, if you read the article.
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Fred
October 19th, 2009
2:02 pm
Must be the wrong city, last I heard all the men in Atlanta were gay or married. I am married.
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VoiceOf Reason
October 19th, 2009
2:18 pm
I’m sorry, did you say ATLANTA???
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HotATL
October 19th, 2009
2:21 pm
Where is the best city for Women to meet Straight Men? When you get a true article on that question, then I will be back to read. PEACE!
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Alright
October 19th, 2009
2:21 pm
Very funny! Where do they get this stuff?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 19th, 2009
2:22 pm
Steve, the list does seem to be about gals meeting men, but the number of single men here who are gay wouldn’t necessarily be clear in the Census data. I can’t criticize — there’s no great way to create these lists. But for our purposes, these lists can generate helpful discussion for folks who are looking for fun ideas of where to meet people.
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gaygal
October 19th, 2009
2:23 pm
not trying to meet men; am trying to be first.
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Atlanta tops Daily Beast list of places to meet single men | Inside Access
October 19th, 2009
2:24 pm
[...] with any of the lists Atlanta shows up on, data rarely equals reality. This list mentions single gals who are searching, but doesn’t [...]
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Wow, Just Wow
October 19th, 2009
2:24 pm
The editors obviously never visited Atlanta.
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Wha?
October 19th, 2009
2:27 pm
Ha! Wrong list, wrong city…
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Audrey
October 19th, 2009
2:31 pm
Join Serpas True Food as they roll out the pink carpet to host the first Fashion Plates event benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Saturday, October 24
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Experience endless mimosas and a four-course brunch featuring comfort cuisine by Executive Chef/Owner Scott Serpas while you view the must-have fall and winter fashions from Meringue, The Fickle Manor, Mickey Lynn and Drea James Designs
A portion of ticket sales, which are $45 per guest, and proceeds from retail sponsors after the show will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
To purchase your tickets, please call The Reynolds Group at 404.888.9348. Seats are limited.
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JohnF
October 19th, 2009
2:32 pm
Any single male, over-30 with a college degree and decent income that lives inside the city limits of Atlanta is most likely going to be gay. How do I know?..well it takes one to know one as they say. Now there are plenty of single guys under 30 that are straight but most of them are only recently out of college..or they still act like they are in college. If they have gotten themselves together at all, they have most likely already been snatched up and looking at their future out in the burbs. And just since Atlanta’s gayness is part of this discussion, it should be noted that Atlanta is a great city for single gays…but it has little to offer for long term gay couples.
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KJ
October 19th, 2009
2:34 pm
I was a single, in shape, affluent, reasonably attractive male for several years in Atlanta, and I had a horribly difficult time meeting women, so, yeah, gay or not, this is apparently a great place for a woman to be extremely picky. Any woman here that complains about meeting men either needs to hit the gym or the psych couch.
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TI
October 19th, 2009
2:38 pm
Blakes!
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JT
October 19th, 2009
2:41 pm
How about INTELLIGENT period….there are some very unintelligent remarks made here. That’s not to say that some of what you ALL say here has some truth to it. But to make a general assertion that “all men in ATL are gay” is not so intelligent….AND it’s some bs. Now, one can look at the picture and the first thing that I noticed, is there are no WOMEN in the image, but to say that every man in that image is gay would be assanine. Everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but if you don’t have anything to say, shut the hell up is all i’m sayin’. And to ‘Fred’, like saying you’re married would have anything to do with whether you’re gay or not……
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CeceG
October 19th, 2009
2:43 pm
I relocated here in 1992 from Chicago, where a successful female would have no problem finding a date with a straight guy or just a great straight friend. When I came to Atlanta I didn’t realize what was going on with the men here untl all of the articles about a lot of the men being “undercover” started coming out…it explained quite a bit… So far we all seem to be in agreement. I wish I could move somewhere else to be honest Atlanta is just not doing it for me.
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everydayjane
October 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
I can’t judge whether it’s the top spot. I will say that ratio of 10/1 or 8/1, whatever it is – Is Hype!
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CC
October 19th, 2009
2:49 pm
Best laugh I have had all day. This city is really hard to meet decent straight guys. I am in my 30’s, college educated, and have a respectable income. I also own my own home, car, and have a hefty portfolio. Yet, meeting men is about impossible it seems. So, I would love to hear new ideas of where to look.
Also, if you are thinking “oh, she must be a dog” I am a retired model and I love the gym. So, why not give us gals a list of new places to check out the opposite sex.
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Andrea
October 19th, 2009
2:55 pm
The article says it is a good place to meet men (whether or not they are eligible for dating is another story). The city of Atlanta is not the place to meet men for long term dating or relationships. Hook-ups, ABSOLUTELY. One-night stands, NO PROBLEM. But, (sounding horribly politically incorrect) you better have your gaydar on full blast. Because, I can assure you, the only people that have their pick of eligible men in this city are the gay ones. Most heterosexuals looking for relationships are having to go outside the city.
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Bill
October 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
Hi CC,
are you ever in the Roswell or Alpharetta area.
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Ashley
October 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
Best city to be robbed or murdered, then yes.
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Dwight
October 19th, 2009
3:13 pm
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that”…. from Seinfeld.
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Save on ‘Ghastly Dreadfuls’ | Free TGIF entree | Free Subway | Save on show tickets | 60% off at Roswell Tea House | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
October 19th, 2009
3:13 pm
[...] at all what the Ghastly Dreadfuls II is, as Inside Access blogger Jamie Gumbrecht tells us in her review of this show for [...]
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Jodi
October 19th, 2009
3:13 pm
LMAO….this is the worst city to meet eligible “treat you right” men.
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Jodi
October 19th, 2009
3:18 pm
I just noticed what JT said….all men talking to each other in that photo.
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AMBER
October 19th, 2009
3:22 pm
This is the absolute worst city to meet down-to-earth, hard-working, straight men. I moved down here one year ago thinking it was a vibrant city with many young professionals, and I have yet to find a descent guy to even “get to know” … this city is just not for all my single ladies!
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Reign
October 19th, 2009
3:25 pm
Atlanta is NO PLACE for single, intelligent, successful women! There are plenty of men, but they’re not looking for these types of women. There’s a HUGE gay population and then you have men who are non committal because they know they outnumber the females. I’m sure there are straight men who are looking for good relationships with women, but all of the other “stuff” is in the way so the men and women can’t find each other. I wish I had enough space here to tell you about the men I’ve met, they’ve been freaks or married. I hadn’t dated in a looooong time and decided to get out and the guy I met that looked nice, dressed nice, and seemed nice turned out to be the biggest freak I’ve ever encountered. Our first conversation, the introduction conversation, was lewd and inappropriate and I told him so. I was extremely disappointed. He had to be at least 45 years old. He apologized but he was way out of line and I did nothing to warrant such ugly behavior. My friend recently met a guy, found out a month later through “his” friend who called the guys’ “wife” who called my friend to let her know, he’s married!!! She thought he was so nice. I can run down many incidents of b/s with men and women. I think women need to travel outside the country and outside their states. But Atlanta shouldn’t be on this list as a good place for women to meet men because it isn’t by no stretch of the imagination. It’s a cesspool of sick and lewd behavior (men and women). I like the energy here and I like the geographical location, but it’s definitely not for finding love…
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Dude
October 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
LOL!! Best piece of fiction I’ve seen in a while. Next thing you know, they’ll say there are two single straight men for every woman here. And the water in Lake Lanier is ours for the taking.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
Jodi & JT, I giggled to myself, too, when I looked for images in our archive. All the Glenn Hotel images and Graveyard images had only men in them.
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ATLshirt.com
October 19th, 2009
3:28 pm
Glad I am not apart of any demographics explained in this article LOL
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jayhorn5
October 19th, 2009
3:40 pm
I suppose I’m one of those elusive single males. If you can’t find one, you need to be introduced to my crowd. And whether I’m in Buckhead, Midtown, Virginia-Highland, East Atlanta, every bar I go to has an over-proportionally male ratio. Good thing I don’t go to bars to meet girls. I totally agree with this ranking.
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Everett
October 19th, 2009
3:42 pm
Did anyone see Elton John at the parade. I think it really was him!
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Em
October 19th, 2009
3:55 pm
Atlanta, is a bad place to meet straight men, or real men. It seems like almost everywhere I look they are all gay! or married. and most of them want someone to take care of them! I have been here for 30 yrs, and still haven’t run into a nice decent working men. I am about to give up and move.
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Nad
October 19th, 2009
3:56 pm
They are all single, but have 4 0r 5 baby mamas.
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Wiffeymaterial
October 19th, 2009
4:03 pm
I actually agree with this article some what. When I was single and in the dating pool here in Atlanta, I always had more offers and dates than I had time for. Quantity is plentiful here in Atlanta, the quality is what I found to be lacking. Luckily I am in a happy,commited relationship now for a year and I don’t miss being single at all. But I sure did have ALOT of fun the 4 years I was single in the ATL!
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Not Disappointed
October 19th, 2009
4:06 pm
I never married until 3 years ago. At 44 I know what I want and wouldn’t lower my standards. (No, I didn’t have kids!!!!)
They are some good women & men in the Atlanta. “Good luck to all of you in the future.” Don’t lower your standards & Love yourself.
“Good week to all!”
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Not Disappointed
October 19th, 2009
4:08 pm
Wow wifeymaterial. Sorry about your past, but keep going forward. Press on sweetie!
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GLW
October 19th, 2009
4:11 pm
Honestly, I’m literally afraid to seriously date a women in ATL. It’s so hard to tell who’s who and what’s what in these parts.
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soulfinger
October 19th, 2009
4:13 pm
Where are all the “regular” men???
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Keith
October 19th, 2009
4:15 pm
The best place to meet a great man is Target. The great educated young men who are looking for a great woman shop at Target. I will be there this weekend keep your eyes open ladies.
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Steve
October 19th, 2009
4:18 pm
Its unusual but it sounds kind of neat. Definitely better than another civil rights museum.
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Dwight
October 19th, 2009
4:19 pm
Target? I buy paper towels and tube sox at Target.
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GLW
October 19th, 2009
4:20 pm
@ Keith..thanks for that tip hommie….gotta ask my lady to start going to walmart instead
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what
October 19th, 2009
4:22 pm
…so if all these women on here know that EVERY man in ATL is gaye….well just f—in leave the state and move to where all the straight men are if its SO BAD here…half the chicks that are complaining are the main ones alone and bitter..
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Dude
October 19th, 2009
4:23 pm
Keith, stock boys & cashiers don’t count! LOL I could see if you said Whole Foods or Publix.
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MsTee
October 19th, 2009
4:24 pm
Jayhorn, perhaps you should give CC and some of the other ladies who posted your number or at least the names of your and your friends’ hangouts. I hope you all can get together!
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Keith
October 19th, 2009
4:26 pm
There are some pretty girls at Target…Please don’t knock it until you try it. Target is a great place for men to pick up women.
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EJ the Diva
October 19th, 2009
4:27 pm
I think the best places to meet single men in Atlanta are the Home Depot, at your job or at school. You can always try the dating websites too. I always got dates that way.
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Steve
October 19th, 2009
4:27 pm
Even if you are a gay man, this city is full of players and “men” who want to have fun, but finding gay partners to settle down with is a nightmare here.
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Dwight
October 19th, 2009
4:27 pm
I knew a lady co-worker that hung out at the Cheetah strip club. I asked her why she would go to a bar where women took of their clothes. “Because that’s where all the guys are at night.” Pretzel logic.
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MsTee
October 19th, 2009
4:28 pm
What about church? Would you say that’s a good place to meet prospects?
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Jennifer
October 19th, 2009
4:35 pm
I agree with the above comments that Atlanta is not a good city to meet nice, single, straight men. I lived in Atlanta for a couple of years and had terrible luck with meeting and dating men. They just didn’t seem interested in spending any time at all getting to know you. It’s like they’re a kid in a candy store and there’s just too many choices for them to focus on just one person. Or, they were so in love with themselves, what was the point of you being around? And then there were a few that I went out with that I’m pretty sure were gay. I don’t mean to be a hater, as I’m sure there are some guys in Atlanta that are great, but my experiences with men and dating have drastically improved since moving back to Alabama. Don’t get me wrong, I loved living and working in Atlanta, just the dating part really sucked.
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tipster trying to help out the ladies
October 19th, 2009
4:35 pm
ladies complaining about meeting single men have not done at least 2 of these:
1. join an ALTA or other tennis team, or just get out and hit with a girl buddy, watch what happens
2. get a couple golf lessons and get out with friends on Bobby Jones or Charlie Yates
3. grab a drink at The Tavern at Phipps on a Thurs/Fri or at a W bar on a Sat, and get to a place where you like the music and can dance once and a while
4. go early to an Atlanta Falcons / Hawks / Braves game, say hi alot and walk around a little during the game
5. go to the in-town park festivals (like Stomp – Cabbagetown folk fest etc), be sure to hit the beer tents, even if you’re just getting water
and certainly not last (but I’ve got other stuff to do) and certainly not least:
6. church it up & be sure wear your good looking stuff, don’t worry God’s got your back, He obviously understands and is looking forward to your future happy unions
no matter where you are, smile and say hello to everyone, gay, straight, young, old, other women, good things happen to people who spread the love
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Eastcobb
October 19th, 2009
4:36 pm
This article is sure to get a lot of negative responses from women. I am a newly wed male but vividly remember how hard it was to meet single women. Everywhere I went there were always more men than women. Bars? More men. Run the Peachtree? More men. Place an online ad for dates? LOTS more men. Perhaps if the women in this city got off their butts and actually tried to meet more men, they wouldn’t complain about how supposedly few single men there are.
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GG
October 19th, 2009
4:39 pm
I am fat so that may be my problem. Oh well, any dudes looking for a big girl hit me up! LOL!
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MG
October 19th, 2009
4:43 pm
My heart goes out to the poor women who read this article and head this way! Someone should sue them!
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MsTee
October 19th, 2009
4:46 pm
Honey, I’ve found that being fat doesn’t matter. If you have a pleasant and happy disposition with men and keep up your appearance, they’ll still be drawn to you. Though if a skinnier + pleasant + happy girl comes around you might have competition.
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GG
October 19th, 2009
4:49 pm
Thanks Ms Tee
That is the truth!
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Samantha
October 19th, 2009
4:51 pm
I’m a straight female, my bestfriend is a gay man. I haven’t been in a relationship in years and neither has he if you exclude the users in his past. Gay men in Atlanta can meet 10 one-nighters within an hour. But don’t get it twisted, that’s ALL it is. They don’t meet long-term boyfriends EITHER. Plus, since I didn’t finish college that’s a huge leperous no-no in Atlanta. The first thing everyone says is “so where’d you go to school? Well, I didn’t but I make more money than most grads and I own my own home, which is not really good enough. You HAVE to have a degree or you’re not wifey material. If you want a long-term relationship you will not find it in Atlanta, unless you have the right resume, don’t ask questions, and put out.
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They need to stop
October 19th, 2009
4:56 pm
Wow…this article has to be kidding…I’ve been here a little over 2 years and it took forever to find a decent guy who actually wanted to be in a relationship. I agree with most of what is said here…they are either gay, married, have girlfriend(s), or simply don’t want to be in a relationship.
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Ol Girl
October 19th, 2009
4:58 pm
The problem is too many folks are LOOKING FOR RELATIONSHIP, LET IT FIND YOU MY PASTOR TOLD ME THAT. GET YOURSELF TOGETHER SO YOU CAN BE A MR. OR MS. RIGHT FOR SOMEONE. ALSO CHECK OUT PLENTYOFFISH.COM A FREE DATING SITE.
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ATL Female
October 19th, 2009
4:58 pm
Another publicity stunt?!!!!! Straight single men in ATL?!!! Where?!!!
What your motivation?!! Get straight, single males to move to Atlanta?!!
I’m NOT falling for this one. I haven’t seen a straight single MALE in Atlanta since the 80s!!!
Article MUST be a joke!!! It’s NOT funny Jamie!!!!!
Your columns are boring as [fill in the blank] … I don’t know where you get your facts from!!!
Signed,
Single, STRAIGHT female
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ATLshirt.com
October 19th, 2009
4:59 pm
Nice Single Straight men who are independant, will not approach you in Atlanta, its so difficult for us to walk up to a strange woman whom we feel attracted to and begin a conversation.. we feel like the creeps that you are describing in this thread.. Besides, we constantly see you with those bad boy types, so we have all begun feeling that we are not wanted, we do not bring enough excitement for you, so, we just let you be… good luck with the deadbeats who show extremely large amounts of confidence, who has had sex with every woman that fell for his B.S. if you are so blinded by his sexual appeal, then maybe you deserve to be played, but if you are smart enough to see right through him, and not give him the chance to even know your name, then maybe there maybe some hope for a guy like me afterall!!
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California transplant
October 19th, 2009
5:18 pm
HEARTY LAUGH from the comments in this in thread. Whew! Kudos to Reign, tipster, and Samantha. It seems the consensus amongst the group is that this is no place to look for a spouse, orientation notwithstanding. When everyone is constantly reinventing themselves in this city, it’s hard to tell the real from the fake, and this is from someone who is FROM the real deal Hollywood. It’s amusing, and yet sad all the same. Godspeed to everyone looking to settle down, He will give you what you need when you need it.
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MsTee
October 19th, 2009
5:23 pm
This is off-topic, but Steve, describe “thug”. I hear that term thrown around on this board so much. I’m starting to think it is simply code for “black man” as opposed to “criminal”–which is the traditional definition of thug. It seems that so many people on these boards see “thugs” everywhere. How can you know if someone is a criminal (the traditional meaning of “thug” merely by seeing them? If your definition of thug is “casually dressed (big shirt, baggy pants) young black men”, and you assume that all of these guys are criminal as a result, you could be mistaken. Some of them simply like to dress that way b/c its popular but they are actually decent kids. Just a thought…
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Ol Girl
October 19th, 2009
5:30 pm
http://www.plentyoffish.com ****Free dating website****
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Dwight
October 19th, 2009
5:32 pm
@MsTee. Witness the new dress code instituted by Morehouse college. Maybe these young men can lead by example.Droopy pants and exposing one undershorts does not look good no matter the what color your skin.
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Stop all the BS
October 19th, 2009
5:38 pm
The ATL is a great place to be a single man should be the article if your straight you have an unbelievable range of women to choose from if your gay you have an unbelieveable range of men to choose from. So the article should be Atlanta is a great place to be a single man!!!
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ATLshirt.com
October 19th, 2009
5:54 pm
Dwight, they dont want a clean cut dressed man, they like for thier guy to look like young jeezy, hip hop gear, sagging pants and doo rags..
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bosseswife
October 19th, 2009
6:10 pm
The headline is right “BEAST” place to meet men!
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MsAmazing
October 19th, 2009
6:56 pm
Tipster u are so, just be open minded ladies. I’m single n beautiful myself but everytime l leave the house l always make sure l look good, and say hello to every guy that speaks. Alot of guys try to holla, but just waiting on the right one to holla….The other thing is to take care of ur bodies ladies special when u are on the market l mean come it’s hard enough in Atl to find a great guy but look good and love ursel first. No man wants a lady with no confidence! Come on Ladies step up ur game……..
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joe
October 19th, 2009
6:57 pm
The key word here is “meet”. Ladies, if you are just going to sit there and act all coy and disinterested, playing the game and waiting for a man to approach you then you get what you deserve. If, on the other hand, you spot someone who is not playing the field then go up and “meet” him. It just might be me! Decent guys are out there. We are just not hitting on everything on two legs. Learn to spot us and your luck will change.
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Stacey
October 19th, 2009
7:26 pm
I’ll probably be bashed for this BUT, I disagree with a lot of comments on Atlanta not being a good place to meet single straight men. I am 27 and earn a decent living. I don’t compromise on my standards and meet very good guys here in Atlanta. I believe a lot of us women are drawn to, and settle for the irresponsible men who want a woman to take care of them, and/or are…well…dogs. Let’s face it, they are the ones that are bolder and know what we want to hear.
Our instincts are so strong and we ALWAYS can sense the red flags with undeserving men but we choose to brush them off hoping things change later.
I have found that the best way to meet men is simply by doing the things you love. You don’t have to go to the museum to find a guy if visiting a museum bores you. You don’t have to go to home depot if you don’t need anything from there. Neither do you have to go sit in front of a bar if you don’t even like that scene, or drinking. Just remain prayerful, genuinely get out there to pursue your interests, and try HARD to do things because you want to NOT JUST because you want to meet a guy. You may succeed in landing a guy at a museum or bar but end up not being compatible at all
I haven’t inquired but actually believe a man can tell when a woman is at a venue for the sole purpose of meeting a guy. And I’m sure it’s a turn off to the “good men” and an attraction to the “wrong men”
It’s definitely harder finding a good guy now because a lot of men have become lazy and some given up on finding a good woman BUT, there are still good men out there, even in Atlanta.
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SwimtrunkDawg
October 19th, 2009
7:31 pm
Boston.. The best city to meet a girl with a beard.
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orion5
October 19th, 2009
7:43 pm
I was a single, in shape, affluent, reasonably attractive male for several years in Atlanta, and I had a horribly difficult time meeting women, so, yeah, gay or not, this is apparently a great place for a woman to be extremely picky. Any woman here that complains about meeting men either needs to hit the gym or the psych couch.
_______________________________________________
Dude, you hit the nail on the head. I’m in the same boat because I don’t live ITP (inside the perimeter). I’m an attractive, educated, well-spoken male and find that most women won’t even make eye contact. If you go virtually anywhere in public in Atlanta (particularly to socialize), and take a true head count, you’ll find many more men that women.
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EagleNationRising
October 19th, 2009
7:50 pm
Stacey, you are correct. Most of these earlier comments obviously come from women who fall into the Mary J. Blige category. They make horrid decisions in men and blame the men for their wild lifestyles and decisions. The numbers speak for themselves. Atlanta has been on top singles lists for years. I moved here from Washington DC almost two and a half years ago. I believe the singles’ scene is amazing. I am single and about to be engaged.
However, I have NEVER been in a city where women complain and cry so often. They make bad choices in men and then blame everyone except themselves. Many of the posters on this board should put their Mary J. Blige “I Made Bad Decisions in Men” card.
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ChainofFools
October 19th, 2009
7:52 pm
This is a joke! I agree with most of the female posters on here today. The quality of men in Altanta is very poor (sorry 2% good men). I have been divorced over 2 years and all I keep meeting are fakers, liers, other women’s bored husbands and men looking for someone to take them in and feed them like strays. What would help if men would date in their league and if you do not have yourself together stay out of the dating pool until you do. Don’t seek out a dime when you are a penny. And whatever happened to chilvary and manners?
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Uncle Tom
October 19th, 2009
8:06 pm
Why do you need a college degree to be a good guy?
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mellowfella1
October 19th, 2009
8:13 pm
I believe their are undoubtably a large group of straight men in Atlanta. The problem is, women here are too picky to recognized a honest, hardworking man who does have morals and integrity to treat a women with respect and dignity. I agree with a previous post, who says that unless you have a thug mentality and walk around looking like young jeezy, then you’re left out of the loop. Also, if you don’t drive a particular car or your fashion is subpar, then you’re simply not good enough. I understand there are a large population of gay men in Atlanta, but there are also men who are overlooked simply because they are the good guys who never get a chance to prove their worthy for the ladies attention and affection.
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Uncle Tom
October 19th, 2009
8:29 pm
I’ll tell ya a goooood place you can meet a decent guy… Oklahoma or Kansas. See, all you do is move out there and you’ll be getting away from this city where you claim you can’t find “a good man.” It’s probably a good idea though to do the online dating thing. This way, you can do your searching from the comfort of your home or office. Then, you can move out there where he is (you know, once y’all get all the living arrangements established). When that’s done, you can start your new life with him…on the farm. Besides, doesn’t every woman wish they could be a housewife?
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Gman
October 19th, 2009
8:36 pm
Atlanta turned into cheesy niteclubs, tight black shirts, gold chains and fake body parts some time ago – there are less and less places to just go get a drink, turn up the jukebox and just get drunk and have a good time. The women I used to meet seemd to be looking for the fattest wallet they could find and someone to get them into “VIP” spots where they could get their picture taken. Actual conversation hovered somewhere around nonexistant.
I grew up in Atlanta and lived downtown for 11 years, from midtown to the Highlands, downtown to Inman Park and L5P; I gave up, got out and headed to Alabama. I live on the Gulf Coast and its a whole different ballgame and I could be more pleased. If you are fed up, get out and find a town with some heart and soul left in it – the ATL lost that luster in the mid 90’s.
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Bri
October 19th, 2009
8:42 pm
I’m sorry, I simply do not agree with this. Maybe it’s the best city for Gay men to meet but not if you’re straight!
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Uncle Tom
October 19th, 2009
8:47 pm
ATLShirt.com:
I’m so glad you didn’t say Lil Wayne.. You say these women want their guy to look like Young Jeezy. Let’s even the playing field a bit shall we? You mean to tell me they don’t want their guy to look like Bubba Sparxxx?
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Reading from Ohio
October 19th, 2009
8:50 pm
I hear stories from my college friends that moved atl about the fellas on the dl. There is a shortage of eligible single men all over the country. Lord knows Dayton is no exception. We have to deal with drug dealers and mama’s boys here.
Good luck to the women down there, please stay safe. A percentage of men today have no morals or respect for us. Don’t lower your standards.
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Jan
October 19th, 2009
8:57 pm
Yes, these numbers are greatly skewed, most of the men are gay, on the DL/BI or married. Try another city, but not DC….same thing!!!
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Ms Debra
October 19th, 2009
9:27 pm
Yes…Its 13 women to one man in Atlanta. The men are aware of this so that’s the reason for the doggish attitudes and actions. The women really hate each other too, and the only time there is unity, is when there is a black an white issue.
Atlanta is NO PLACE for anyone really. Lots of crime, especially robbery and murder that’s usually black on black. Numerous down low brothers spreading HIV
Get out while you still can.
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chelse
October 19th, 2009
9:28 pm
Yeah..then your next question is “Sooo..are you a MAN or a ‘GIRLY MAN’?”
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Godiva1908
October 19th, 2009
9:37 pm
I would like to know who conducted the survey… It is so many leases in Atlanta…..from breasts to Bentleys
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ATLshirt.com
October 19th, 2009
9:47 pm
Come On Uncle Tom, You know darn well that they do not want a bubba sparxx, why would they want a fat white guy with a grill ??? LOL
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MarriedGuyHere
October 19th, 2009
10:05 pm
Yep..I am one of the “good” ones. 30 something, tall, attractive, clean cut, 6 figure household income, intellectual, but married.
I only wish I had a “do over” so I could exist in this space and enjoy some of the “fun”, with all these seemingly emotionally frustrated, fine, accomplished, single WOMEN in Atlanta. (LOL)
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S.O.L IN DA ATL
October 19th, 2009
10:10 pm
AJC This is not cool! lol This is absolutely the MOST DREADFUL place for dating. I’ve been here for 3 yrs and I’ve experienced terrible encounters with the most slimiest, conniving, egotistical , overly dramatic males of ALL races. There’s too many weirdos and FREAKS here. Everyone tries to get in ya pants, dont want to get to know you for yourself. I’m a straight chick and I’ve gotten hit on by chicks!! What the hell?Then you got the DL/bi men here trying to camouflage themselves to pass for straight. it is terrible. Alot of people here are putting on a huge phony front. Hell, im scared to go to superwalmart..so clubbin/bars is definintely out of the picture for me…you just never know what kind of lunatic you will meet.
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nativeson71
October 19th, 2009
10:26 pm
I have always been a fan of his….he has done SO MUCH for downtown/Central Business District…..he contributed to putting Atlanta on the map. Some of his bldgs are reaching that ‘dated’ look…but give them another 30 years and they will be prized possessions. That is if Atlanta does not bulldoze them like the Carnegie Library or the Kimball House Hotel.
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Chief Wiggum
October 19th, 2009
10:49 pm
I’m a divorced man in my 40s outside the Perimeter. We’re a dime a dozen out here. The women don’t want us, then whine that they can’t find any “decent” men in Atlanta. If we all have to be over 6′ tall, metrosexual, and make $100k+, well, good luck with that.
You know, if I said that a lady had to be 5′10″ or taller, have huge ta-tas, a tiny waist, and a graduate degree, think I’d be frustrated? Actually, wait…I’m frustrated, and my standards are nowhere near that.
Dating sites seem to indicate that the male to female ratio around here is like 10 men for every woman (at least on dating sites). If a woman can’t find a man among the many on there, she’s setting unattainable goals, often in an attempt to avoid commitment. Of COURSE he has to be perfect…what would your friends say if he was average? I mean…OMG.
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calgarypuck
October 19th, 2009
10:56 pm
Honestly this is a terrible city for decent normal middle income single men. I wouldn’t even bother going out to bars or nightclubs. Its a total waste of time.
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Matt B.
October 19th, 2009
10:57 pm
I was a single, in shape, affluent, reasonably attractive male for several years in Atlanta, and I had a horribly difficult time meeting women, so, yeah, gay or not, this is apparently a great place for a woman to be extremely picky. Any woman here that complains about meeting men either needs to hit the gym or the psych couch.
_______________________________________________
Dude, you hit the nail on the head. I’m in the same boat because I don’t live ITP (inside the perimeter). I’m an attractive, educated, well-spoken male and find that most women won’t even make eye contact. If you go virtually anywhere in public in Atlanta (particularly to socialize), and take a true head count, you’ll find many more men that women.
——————————————————————————————-
Third. I’m 26, good-looking, athletic, great job. However, what seems to be my downfall is that I’m also a decent guy who doesn’t act like a narcissistic d-bag. I’ve taken several girls out on dates that have gone well; even one where we hit it off. It never ends up working out though; I get excuses like “the date was a bit overwhelming”. Women reap what they sew in this town.
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Trill
October 19th, 2009
11:13 pm
As a single,good looking ,34years young,bs degree ,no children with a 65000 salary black male in the atl i find it very difficult to meet Quality women without a lot of drama and baggage. i get so tired of rehabbing women from their last relationship and dealing with all these rules.
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Single in Henry County
October 19th, 2009
11:18 pm
Dating in Atlanta – lots of great places to go if you know the area and roads. ITP people don’t add up to the population of eligible single males. Atlanta is a nice place to visit for those of us OTP. Guys that visit the places women like to go, ie. meat market bump and hump dance bars, are either gay,married, or sleazy. Clearly, there are plenty of women attracted to the “bad boy” image, but not much to sustain a meaningful relationship. Single straight guys like regular places such as sports bars or pool halls, usually with other guys, and are always open to the opportunity to meeting women in such places, if women make the appearance there. Single men with careers don’t live in Atlanta, but they play in ATL if you know where to look for for them. There is also plenty to say about expectations and intentions in regards to dating, on the part of both genders, but that is another article, post, or blog for another time. . . .
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Uncle Tom
October 19th, 2009
11:37 pm
Perhaps the reason why so many people seem to be single is:
I. They are tired of…
a) people that say they can’t find a decent ___;
b) some guys are freaks;
c) no one worthwhile is to be found at bars or clubs;
d) the undercover guys outnumber the straight ones;
e) the women seem to be too harsh or picky;
f) he/she doesn’t make as much as the other so we can’t be together; and,
g) he/she doesn’t have my level of education so we won’t fit.
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vuduchld
October 19th, 2009
11:48 pm
I lived in Atlanta for 22 years before I moved to Memphis in July and I never went to any of those places listed and I lived right down the street from the Glenn Hotel! I’m single and if women wanted to meet me they could have done so at the GA Aquarium, Centennial Park, the High,CNN Center, etc. In other words, don’t waste your time on this article because the folks who wrote this article don’t have a clue!
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jhk
October 20th, 2009
1:10 am
Used to live in ATL – now live in another major city. I am a 31yr old CPA with Masters Degree, clean cut, 5′10, work out, well traveled, work for top 10 Firm, yada yada.
The problem w/ ATL women and most women is that they think Sex and the City is real. It’s not ladies! Quit looking for the 6′+, clean cut, model looking, dark, 200K salaried, guy, who is also super nice. They don’t exist! Also need to know that once you start hitting the 30s its a whole different ballgame.
The older I get, the more money I make and the more established I become in my career and personal life, the higher my stock goes.
The older a women gets the lower her stock (yes there are exceptions, if you look like Heidi Klum or Halle Berry you won’t have problems at 40 but most of you don’t look near those two)
Also – I’m not trying to be mean or rude here. These are just market facts. And make no mistake it is a market.
I personally would not even look at a woman above 27 unles she was extraordinary!
Gentleman – As Chris Rock said, get your money straight and remember you can lose a lot of money chasing women but you will NEVER lost women chasing money.
I’m out.
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itsme
October 20th, 2009
6:24 am
Don’t care as long as my money isn’t paying for it.
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we're not disney
October 20th, 2009
7:41 am
atlanta does not need another museum or monument as a self serving tribute to a narcissistic millionaire. tell dude to donate his collection of artifacts to the aquarium and suggest he donate money to the woodruff arts center. NO FRIGGIN TACKY PIRATES!!!
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Melis99
October 20th, 2009
7:42 am
Hey and right next to the Pirate Museum we can put an Air Museum. We can collect different air from different countries and make some displays!!!! LOL
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jg
October 20th, 2009
7:44 am
As long as there is an area where people can vote to make people walk the plank it might just work…….aaarrrrgrgggghhhhh
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Susan McElrath
October 20th, 2009
8:46 am
Not a good idea, it will have its hand out for public funds within a few months. ATL has no obvious connections to pirate history anyway.
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Me
October 20th, 2009
8:46 am
Stupid. If it opens, I give it less than a year.
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Hope
October 20th, 2009
9:02 am
I always look forward to this parade every year!! It was wonderful from beginning to end. Thanks for posting your pics
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Scurvy Sally
October 20th, 2009
9:08 am
DEFINATELY! I participated in the annual pirate fest Piratepalooza & a good time was had by all, arrrrr!!!! Not sure about staffing it with vagrants, though. Would parents really want to take their little bucaneers & wenchlets there???
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SSD
October 20th, 2009
9:23 am
The dancing, music and singing were excellent but the content of the dance is not for children. I found it quite offensive and left at intermission.
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joeGa
October 20th, 2009
9:36 am
Moronic.
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Mikey B
October 20th, 2009
9:39 am
great idea! will fit right in with all the other robbers, thieves and beggars that prowl downtown- it would be just like museum characters roaming the streets! “Look honey, we’re being really robbed!” Just think of the stories to tell your kids!!
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Fan
October 20th, 2009
9:50 am
HECK YES!!! we need a pirate thing here. there was a pirate dinner theater in Florida that i went to once and we need one here and more of course. it would be so awesome!!!
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Dude
October 20th, 2009
10:07 am
jhk, man you are telling the TRUTH!
Also, I wanna add that I am starting to see what women really want. I used to be a “nice” guy, wondering why I was not respected for my qualities. But once you start becoming a “dog,” and doing things the way YOU want to do them, not giving a damn about women or what they say they want on the surface, you have MUCH better results.
It is SOOO weird why this works! When you pick up a girl, take her out, treat her nice, etc, you are “too easy” or “too accommodating” and the like. Start by not answering questions, kicking women to the curb, not calling them back, etc, they will be all on your jock. Women HATE to be ignored or made to feel that something is wrong with them, and they are constantly looking for validation. Give them this validation, and they run from you like the plague. Treat them like they are a number, you’ll need to hire help to handle all the ones who will throw themselves at you.
Dudes, I kid you not, whatever u do, DON’T do what is “logical,” but use your frustrations to fuel your desire to change. When in Rome, do what the Romans do. Same applies for the ATL. The “look” + the “attitude” + a bit of “disregard” = plethora of women to choose from here. Please make all checks and money orders payable to the ATL Dude.
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ppoppo
October 20th, 2009
10:11 am
Atlanta need more attraction place to the visitors.
so.. It is So GOOD idea ~!!
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Mrsgknows
October 20th, 2009
10:12 am
Who is on crack????!!!!
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A Pirate Museum? How Cool Would That Be? — Peach Pundit
October 20th, 2009
10:27 am
[...] announcement by businessman Richard Lea has me excited. Who could be against a Pirate Museum? This article is a bit skeptical but hey that’s the job of a journalist. Some of her commenters are [...]
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hmmm...
October 20th, 2009
10:29 am
Oh yeah! We need a pirate museum like a hole in the head! When I think of Atlanta, the image of a pirate never comes to mind. Why would anyone travel to Atlanta to see a pirate museum?? On the coast of Georgia? Sure, but not here.
Atlanta has a lot to offer – fabulous historic neighborhoods, Oakland Cemetary, loads of fun, cool restaurants, the Coca Cola Museum, Aquarium, Fernbank, the High, the Botanical Gardens, etc. etc. This is what needs to be promoted, not some hokey, fake pirate museum that has nothing to do with Atlanta.
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Sean
October 20th, 2009
10:31 am
Why da hell we need a pirate museum??? Ya’ll trippin!
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Kitty
October 20th, 2009
10:36 am
Were there pirates on the Chattahoochee?
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hyde
October 20th, 2009
11:03 am
I think Savannah would be a better choice. Keep the pirates near the ocean where they should be. Atlanta needs to focus on fixing the homeless problem before encouraging more visitors to come here an be attackd by panhandlers.
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Mark
October 20th, 2009
11:13 am
The better question is: who doesn’t need a pirate museum? Answer: nobody. Bring on the pirates, matey.
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Super Paul Bonebreaker Barlow
October 20th, 2009
11:15 am
I’ll take almost any attraction downtown…even this. But, How crazy is it to have apirate museum in a land-locked place that pirates probably never visited? (Dragon Con and Pittsburgh and East Carolina versions don’t count)
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nativeson71
October 20th, 2009
11:19 am
Is there some untapped ‘Pirate’ market I am not aware of?
Anyway, the Aquarium is a huge success and people thought that was a really dumb idea.
Pirate Museum = Sid & Marty Kroft at CNN center?
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Down with the Ship
October 20th, 2009
11:31 am
I love pirates as much as the next guy, but this is the worst idea I’ve heard in a while.
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kathryn
October 20th, 2009
11:39 am
I’d love for the convention district to get another attraction or something of that nature! Atlanta needs another draw…but a pirate museum…wouldn’t that be better in a coastal city where pirates ACTUALLY SET FOOT?!?!? Atlanta needs something like Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC. Very interactive and fun for everyone!
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Ben
October 20th, 2009
11:40 am
Stupid idea unless Al Gore is right and Atlanta is about to become ocean front property with the global warming crisis.
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Kevrock/Smarty Jones
October 20th, 2009
11:47 am
Very dumb Idea. That needs to be in Tampa or somewhere else by the sea.
It will fail here. No doubt. WE ALL know this….
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Sam
October 20th, 2009
12:01 pm
Simply idiotic. Coastal communities from North Carolina to Key West have legitimate claims to real pirate history. Downtown Atlanta needs to find a lastinf solution to Underground’s deterioration and it isn’t a pirate museum.
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Dave The Wave
October 20th, 2009
12:02 pm
Because it makes little sense at the mere thought of it, the concept will be a huge success. Get on board now (ha, ha) before it’s too late and you are just a wannabe swabby. Avast ye Lilly Livered Mateys! Don’t ye be a Squiffy and miss out on the Sweet Trade! Grab ye Grog and get loaded to the gunwales! Arrrrrrrrggg …
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Taxpayer
October 20th, 2009
12:03 pm
I think we should turn the whole city into an amusement park. God knows we have enough clowns running it anyway. Just use some of that “Obama Money” to pay for it.
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CollegeGuy09
October 20th, 2009
12:37 pm
This article was a good read, but is very misleading. I’m 22 years of age, college educated, straight, employed, no baby mama’s, home and all the rest and a minority. Being a single man in Atlanta is harder than most people especially women think. Yes there are plenty of women here, but being a young black man, I always dated black women around my age and it’s always the same stuff, cheater’s, their bi, have kids, content with not doing nor having anything in life, who wants to date anyone like that? The young adult scene here is a joke and any young man in his right mind would look elsewhere to find a young woman attempting to do something remotely positive with her life.
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CollegeGuy09
October 20th, 2009
12:43 pm
All the men that have written comments about this article have hit the nail on the head. It’s not the men that are the issue, it’s the picky women in this town. Ladies you can’t have your cake and eat it to!
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HappyWomanInAtlanta
October 20th, 2009
1:54 pm
I am in my mid-forties. I met my sweetie at work and we became best friends. However, at that time, he was married but his wife did not appreciate having a good man and tried to control him as so many Black women do in their relationships. He divorced her. We are both college educated, successful, athletic and have similar backgrounds and interests. We support each other. We now have a family and are very happy. It is hard sometimes balancing time with both sets of children.
Before you judge us, we were friends until he separated from his wife and I didn’t encourage him to leave her. Do I worry about him leaving me? No, because he is very happy and taken care of at home.
I didn’t have a problem dating in Atlanta. However, I knew on the first date if I was compatible with someone. Women in Atlanta tend to rush relationships. Take your time when you meet someone new. There isn’t a rush to get serious, have sex and move to the next level. The key is finding someone compatible with you and not what you think others will be impressed with in your choice of a partner.
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mike
October 20th, 2009
2:25 pm
where can we go as adults to get really scared? Like scare the bejusus outta me.
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MarriedaSwede
October 20th, 2009
2:38 pm
Mike,
I’d suggest the Atlanta City Council meeting, or perhaps Congress.
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Joe
October 20th, 2009
3:39 pm
Mike, go to Underground or the Five Points Marta station.
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Big Trouble
October 20th, 2009
4:37 pm
Mike – Recently…the Georgia Tech campus after midnight.
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Say what?
October 20th, 2009
4:59 pm
I think this is great for Downtown. I’d like to see an action-figure muesum. Go-bots, perhaps?
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Spooky Gal
October 20th, 2009
5:10 pm
I like haunted houses.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 20th, 2009
5:17 pm
Mike, the one that people seem most impressed by is Netherworld in Norcross. I visited there this weekend, and will be posting about it tomorrow. It’s does a number on your nerves, but it’s still Halloween-scary. I haven’t been to The Chambers of Horror at the Masquerade, but the trailer on its site looks more disturbing/horror-movie-type scary. Has anybody been yet?
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Dreamer
October 20th, 2009
9:44 pm
To jayhorn, atlshirt, joe and matt,
Now, seriously if you are the “decent”, “respectable” guys, where do you guys usually hang out? Perhaps, I could swing by this weekend and see for myself… ??
and, before you guys or others make judgments, I do NOT belong to the whiny group of women about not meeting single men etc.. I only moved here a few months ago.. I am beginning to get to know the city… and really hoping to meet people and make friends..
I am just a little curious.. most of you “decent” men said bars/clubs are not your thing.. mine neither.. I don’t go to bars or clubs.. neither do I put a ton of makeup or wear designer clothes… I am simple and nice and I prefer men who are that way too…
so where do you guys ACTUALLY go? movies? games? theater? park? coffee shops? restaurants? mountains???
or perhaps if you drive a BMW or some other luxury vehicle, you don’t bother to notice a woman who drives a Corolla/Civic or some other non-luxury car, even she is good looking, works at a top firm, is 27 and single??? And what is the dating scene like?? Is sex so important before you get to know someone?? I mean I can’t imagine someone I don’t know yet or like, touching me!!!
And to jhk:
I have NEVER watched sex and the city.. and I am not looking for a six-pack, six figure salary guy, who drives a fancy car… just someone simple and down-to-earth.. now, is that too much to expect??
I don’t know what to expect.. all the comments here are making me re-think my relocation choice.. oh btw, I did NOT move here for men, my job brought me here… and if it is as bad as what the comments say, perhaps I should get out ASAP. ..
Otherwise, I find Atlanta to be a nice place.. and most people are courteous..
Oh BTW, I have been approached by “thug” like men at Home Depot and Target… and I don’t mean black men.. so, not my place to “find” someone…
perhaps I should just go on that solo backpacking trip again, just to get away from it all…
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Haunt review: Netherworld Haunted House, Norcross | Inside Access
October 21st, 2009
9:50 am
[...] told you all about the new Stadium of Screams haunt in Lawrenceville yesterday. Today, we’re on to a well-established place with new [...]
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Fred
October 21st, 2009
10:06 am
Incredibly STUPID idea, but if the tourist are STUPID enough to pay the admission, by all means let’s take their money from them!!
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Steave
October 21st, 2009
11:23 am
Cool post as for me. I’d like to read something more about this matter.
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Jim Ragan
October 21st, 2009
4:05 pm
The one big improvement that the Atlanta area could use is the development of the Chattahoochee River Waterfront area, primarily west of Atlanta in Cobb County. Imagine how great the river area would be with bicycle paths, walking paths, and shopping areas like the Forum Plaza in Norcross or the shoppes at East Cobb. A great example would be to see how a city like Columbia, SC developed its river waterfront west of downtown and how great it looks now.
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Saint Joan
October 21st, 2009
5:03 pm
It’s Rosebud!
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Dwight
October 21st, 2009
5:10 pm
It’s hanging at the Governor’s mansion on West Paces Ferry.
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rachael
October 21st, 2009
5:40 pm
Jamie, you have groupies. Which is better…supposed gentleman who goes out of his way to sell you on his archaically labeled race, or yelling dude with delusions of haters? Of course, deluded guy would need to make sure you know he knows what’s real and what’s not (himself as a man, and you can be sure of his sense of reality since you’re a “WOMAN!”). At least the guys agree about how gender and sexuality work (see bachelor number one’s gentleman/lady genderway). This has the makings of an excellent episode of elimidate.
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Mike Hunt
October 21st, 2009
5:59 pm
It’s Rush Limbaugh doing show prep.
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MGB
October 21st, 2009
6:47 pm
Does this picture hang at The Farmhouse at Serenbe?
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sheree ingram
October 21st, 2009
7:57 pm
jamie, im so glad you decided to latch onto our group that night. we’ve all been waiting on your story since friday to see what your review would actually be. we had so much fun and it was awesome to meet you. I do still have a slight hate for my friends for dragging me along with them for that but definitely dont regret going.
have had fun reading your other blogs as well. take care!
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Tech Fan 75
October 21st, 2009
8:03 pm
Leave it to a Dawg Fan to defend a drug addict like Rush Limbaugh, and come back with a Your Mama crack. Sadly predictable
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Shananeeeee Fananeeeeeee
October 21st, 2009
8:23 pm
It’s President Obama’s first accomplishment, a fabulous painting and it hangs at the corrupt Atlanta division of ACORN.
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Dyan
October 21st, 2009
8:54 pm
Jamie!! Oh man that was soo fun, Sheree did actually have a hate on for quit some time but i would come to do this again even if the commute from alberta is about 8 hours via plane. Your company with our group made me really second guess what im doing in an office all day and i still think your friends are lame for not going with you…anytime man..im in
great write up..ima read them all now that Sheree found it! She actually cant hate hahaha
peace and love
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 21st, 2009
11:12 pm
Awww, thanks Sheree and Dyan! And thank YOU for letting me latch on to the group.
Stay in touch!
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things to do in atlanta this weekend october 23-25 | Inside Access
October 22nd, 2009
12:06 am
[...] Community: Breast Cancer 3-Day continues Oct. 23-25, cheering station from Buford to Atlanta. More awareness events. [...]
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things to do in atlanta this weekend october 23-25 | Inside Access
October 22nd, 2009
12:06 am
[...] Stage: Final day for “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy,” 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Centre Theatre at MJCCA-Zaban Park, Dunwoody. Interview. [...]
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Matt B.
October 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
Dreamer,
First of all, Atlanta is a great place to live and socialize. I’m 26 and a native, which is rare these days, and I can’t see myself living in too many other places, save for Nashville or Charleston.
I’m not against going to bars; I still go out to Buckhead and the Highlands with friends. Besides bars, I’ll go to Chastain to run, out to eat dinner with friends, hit the golf course, etc.
My problem is after you’ve been at the office all day and your done working out or whatever I end up doing after work, where’s the time to meet cool girls during the week?
I find coffee shops are a nice starter place for conversation with women. Backpacking sounds fun. Ya, and seriously, I don’t think too many cool guys would be hanging out at the Home Depot anyway…
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Ostrich Racer
October 22nd, 2009
4:12 am
I don’t think it’s at the Governor’s Mansion — they are pretty serious about their Federal period stuff there. It looks like something at Fernbank, or the visitors’ center at the Forest Park Farmers’ Market, but I don’t recall seeing it. I’ll guess it’s a detail from one of the murals at the state Agriculture Department building, near the Capitol.
(Another great pick. Good afternoon from KAF!)
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585ROC
October 22nd, 2009
9:26 am
Mike – how about the women’s dorm at Emory
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SIVA
October 22nd, 2009
10:07 am
Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
at Smiths Olde Bar after thrashers game
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fisherman
October 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA. Home of the Purple Hurricanes !
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robbie
October 22nd, 2009
11:38 am
It’s painted on a horse sculpture at the Booth Western Museum in Cartersville.
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Ashley
October 22nd, 2009
12:03 pm
This has to be the dumbest thing I have ever seen. Someone gets paid to do things like this at the AJC?
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Jan
October 22nd, 2009
12:05 pm
It is a Hereford steer painting.
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Only the truth
October 22nd, 2009
12:47 pm
Looks like a potential Georgia Tech Homecoming Queen
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Elaine Popham
October 22nd, 2009
1:03 pm
Booth Western Art Museum – Cartersville, GA
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Georgian by the Grace of God
October 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
Manners, Ashley, manners.
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Fred
October 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
Hey Ashley, it made you read it…
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Adair
October 22nd, 2009
2:26 pm
Booth western Art Museum
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Eric
October 22nd, 2009
2:45 pm
I went once and was amazed at how bad the design of the stadium was. I don’t know where those millions of $$$ went that were supposed to be used to build the stadium. I sat 7 rows behind home plate and could not see anything whenever the ball went into the corners. I have been to a ton of minor league baseball games and I would rate the overall experience very poor compared to others.
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lantana
October 22nd, 2009
3:01 pm
The Chamber of Horrors at The Masquerade night club on North Ave. is a blast. It is rated “R” after 10:00 PM and only costs $15.00 plus they have a full bar available while you wait.
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Granville Lancaster
October 22nd, 2009
3:51 pm
Baseball wins over Books. What a warped world this is.
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Access Points 13: ‘Cowpony’ at Booth Western Art Museum | Inside Access
October 22nd, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] you recognize this week’s Access Point? Like I hinted, it’s not a [...]
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madmommy
October 23rd, 2009
8:09 am
Seems like another great weekend for Atlanta.
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madmommy
October 23rd, 2009
8:11 am
Don’t forget, Curious George is at the Imagine It Center downtown. I know that many small children love George and with all this cold, wet weather we’ve been having it’s a great place to let the kids run free and explore without computers or TV’s.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 23rd, 2009
8:36 am
Thanks, madmommy! Here’s an entry I wrote about the Curious George exhibit earlier this week: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/10/21/curious-george-exhibit-continues-at-childrens-museum/
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W.C. McCall
October 23rd, 2009
9:11 am
Netherworld is decent, but not that great. What I found out is that year-to-year, they basically just rearrange the setup but almost all of the mazes and general layout are the same.
Also, when we where there last year, it was could outside, and some rent-a-cop guy working there part-time in ticket taking tried to tell a girl in line she could not wear the hood on her jacket inside because “it’s against terrorist laws.” WTF?
2 out of 3 attractions are pretty good if you’ve never been, but if you’ve been, not much to see. There’s usually a 3rd “attraction” that’s pretty lame.
7/10.
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Dwight
October 23rd, 2009
10:58 am
Buford highway has mant Asian restaurants that offer an assortment of hot teas or bubble drinks. R. Thomas offer an eclectic mix organic fresh juices in a funky atmosphere.
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Dwight
October 23rd, 2009
11:03 am
my bad.. many
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red_dirt_girl
October 23rd, 2009
12:14 pm
Please remember: Don’t drink and drive —
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woody
October 23rd, 2009
12:21 pm
I like to get really drunk and climb on the Allasaurus.
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lastgreypoet
October 23rd, 2009
12:25 pm
Shakespeare Tavern always has a pub-style bar to go with its shows:
shakespearetavern.com
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clyde
October 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
I don’t understand the need for alcohol at these places. I enjoy a drink almost as much as anyone,I thought,but to go to a museum for a drink? A little much.
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The Murf
October 23rd, 2009
12:34 pm
There are other fund raisers this week, too. The Alliance for Lupus Research is holding a walk at the Highwoods Century Center, Saturday at 9 AM. http://walk.lupusresearch.org/site/TR/Events/GAA?fr_id=2150&pg=entry
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DM Pate`
October 23rd, 2009
1:13 pm
I think that it is a SAD COMENTARY on our society that we can not go anywhere or do anything for leisure without Alcohol!!!
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madmommy
October 23rd, 2009
1:20 pm
Just because they serve at these places doesn’t mean that everyone is drinking. As a mother getting a night out, I love being able to have a glass and enjoy myself. Most people aren’t acting like this is a Frat party and getting stubling drunk, just a nice way to relax and unwind.
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Atl
October 23rd, 2009
1:23 pm
Chill out folks, this article is talking about grabbing a drink or two, it says nothing about getting drunk. There is a difference believe it or not between drinking and binge drinking.
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Booth’s Cowboy Festival and Symposium this weekend | Inside Access
October 23rd, 2009
1:25 pm
[...] print AJC, but is now scheduled to run on Monday. You’ll recognize some of the info from an earlier blog post, but this includes more comments from the museum director and visitors and points out again their [...]
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DM Pate`
October 23rd, 2009
1:43 pm
Why yes niquoo, I do. Where will you be tonight?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 23rd, 2009
2:01 pm
I think you’re right, ATL & madmommy. I haven’t been to all of these events, but those I’ve visited were pretty calm. Bars and restaurants can be great fun, but I like going somewhere with an adult crowd that isn’t entirely focused on alcohol. You don’t have to drink at these events, but if gives you a chance to explore and enjoy these places without families or school groups. They’re fun then, too, but it’s nice to see them in a different way.
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Hagood
October 23rd, 2009
2:39 pm
I am more afraid of Jesus showing up and condemnation at these events than alcohol. Blame it on the Al Key Haul!!!
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Washington high fan
October 23rd, 2009
6:11 pm
APS Domecoming Games Sat @ the Ga Dome Oct 24 . 5 games starting @ 11:00 am And ending @ 11pm. Also don’t forget the High School Battle of the Bands Oct. 25 @ Morris Browns Herdon Stadium 4 pm. The best High School Marching Bands from Atl will be there……………….. Go Booker T. Washington High show em what time it is…
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The Weekend is Here : Hampton Woods
October 23rd, 2009
8:29 pm
[...] here for [...]
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NUNG
October 23rd, 2009
10:32 pm
I think this is cool; An architect who knows how to take risks beyond traditional role.
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C68
October 24th, 2009
12:37 pm
OZZFEST + IMPN, A few guys I know in Bay area who got taste can’t even get a loan to buy a condo let alone financing and designing giant hotels and offices in US and oversea. I agree with Joshua James about your comments.
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Haunt review: Six Flags Over Georgia Fright Fest, Austell | Inside Access
October 24th, 2009
2:04 pm
[...] It takes about 15 minutes to get through individual rooms. They’re not as compact as in Stadium of Screams or Netherworld, so the actors and effects aren’t getting into visitors’ personal space [...]
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GA Girl
October 24th, 2009
2:33 pm
Great tour! I’m scheduled for the 9:30 tour tonight!
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rachael
October 24th, 2009
4:46 pm
Oh, good. I can participate in the Bugs Bunny World costume contest.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 24th, 2009
6:43 pm
Hahahahaha…yes. I’m sure you’ll win.
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gb120566
October 24th, 2009
9:57 pm
went last weekend with two 50” tall kids. The only decent thing open they could ride was mindbender and scream machine. Cyclone, mine train, ninja, sky buckets, wheelie – all closed and they were too short to ride batman, goliath, or superman. Six Flags claimed it wad due to the flooding, but I think it was a cop out because they didn’t have enough trained employees. I noticed almost EVERY employee was an orange tag new hire. We should have been told about the limited rides at the gate or online.
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Rosalind Hillhouse
October 25th, 2009
9:41 am
I am Ellen O’Connor and I do appreciate all of you who came out to hear me tell all about being eaten by sharks. You sure have improved things since I left Atlanta for my vacation in Florida in 1904. I do hope you will return to Oakland often to visit my dear Mama’s grave and to look at my Cenotaph. I am to the left of the belltower. And remember we all die three deaths. The first is when we die, the second when we are buried and the final time the last time someone speaks our name. Keep me alive by visiting my marker and saying my name.
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Miss Smarty Pants
October 25th, 2009
7:28 pm
The Oakland tour has been sold out for a while. I tried to call early last week and it was sold out then.
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Aunt Bea
October 25th, 2009
11:00 pm
We had a good time at the one game my family and I went to. Watching the little kids running the bases at the end of the game was heart warming and families were having a good time in general. Being Aunt Bea I’m older and not crazy about the really loud music between innings. I blame Sesame Street for all the antzy activity. Opie was better behaved.
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Shonne Ehrhardt
October 26th, 2009
4:05 pm
Breast cancer is a year-round battle for many and as the last week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month unfolds, remember there are many ways to continue to contribute to the cause throughout the year. One of them is through the “Process Pink” program where your purchases with a credit card automatically include a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). The Process Pink stores and merchants donate a portion of their credit card processing fees to the NBCF, without any additional contribution by you! This great program was started by a father in Chicago who, after his family experience with breast cancer, developed Process Pink to help make a difference. In the Atlanta area, you can visit the Village Corner German Restaurant in Stone Mountain, GA and every credit card purchase will help the NBCF! More details are at http://www.processpink.com.
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Amanda
October 26th, 2009
4:49 pm
oh boy – you guys make me nervous. I’m heading to Atlanta from Boston in 2010. I view Atlanta as any city, but look forward to living some place different for a change and have always heard great things about Atlanta. It has its good parts and bad. Same as any city.
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courtney:)
October 26th, 2009
8:05 pm
mamie…..your website doesnt work or you put the wrong one up
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To do list: October 27 | Inside Access
October 27th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] Stage: “Cavalia” opens, 8 p.m., White Big Top in Atlantic Station, Atlanta. More info. [...]
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teachdoc
October 27th, 2009
6:11 am
Check out http://www.zazzle.com/teachdoc for great breast cancer awareness shirts.
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To do list: October 27 | Inside Access
October 27th, 2009
9:35 am
[...] Art: PostSecret.com creator Frank Warren discusses the community art project, 3-5 p.m., Georgia State University Student Center Ballroom, Atlanta. FREE. More info. [...]
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What’s in store for the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site? | Inside Access
October 27th, 2009
12:03 pm
[...] time I’m there, it’s packed with field trip students, out-of-town visitors and adult locals inevitably [...]
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Access Points 13: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
October 27th, 2009
12:05 pm
[...] Update 10/22: Here’s the answer! [...]
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Access Points 12: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
October 27th, 2009
12:07 pm
[...] Update 10/15: Want to know the answer? Here it is! [...]
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MsKing
October 27th, 2009
1:47 pm
I am very excited abou the midnight showing of THIS IS IT!!! I have been a fan of MJ since I was 10 years old!!! I was planning my 50th birthday celebration at the 2nd show in London. When I received the actual ticket in the mail from the ticket service in London, I cried. It is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. WE MISS YOU, MJ!!! R.I.P Michael Jackson …
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Teresa
October 27th, 2009
1:58 pm
Chamber of Horrors was ok. It was good, just not long enough. If they gave it some more space and a expanded a few good ideas it would be great. But, if you are in the area, check it out after 10pm. $15 was not bad for what you get….
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Dave Johnson
October 27th, 2009
2:36 pm
Nice article on a great museum! We go to the Booth quite often, they always have great exhibits and lectures on interesting topics. Too bad the article didn’t make in Sundays edition, and the picture was in black and white – people will just have to go see for themselves.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 27th, 2009
3:09 pm
Ugh, I know! We planned for this to run Sunday, and then the section was too tight for it to fit. Thanks, though! I hope this one will have a long life online to let people know what’s going on.
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Fred Everett
October 27th, 2009
3:13 pm
Thanks for the Monday article. My wife and I have been to the Booth Museum on a prior occasion and were most impressed as we did not expect to see a museum of that quality in Cartersville ! We will make it a point to find our way back to see their expanded space and collection.
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Elizabeth Gentry
October 27th, 2009
4:04 pm
I know that this is the GREATEST PLACE to work in the World. Thanks for mentioning the research library. Many have come in to do their research and I do hope for many more.
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Should the Georgia Music Hall of Fame move to Atlanta? | Inside Access
October 27th, 2009
4:20 pm
[...] of attendance that organizers expected. It has been hurt most recently by state budget cuts. As the AJC has reported, a 2008 audit showed that it spent more than $5.5 million from 2004-2008, but raised only $1.3 [...]
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LORRETTA
October 27th, 2009
4:59 pm
THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE. I ATTENDED THE COWBOY SYMPOSIUM THIS PAST WEEKEND. I UNDERSTAND OVER 1800 PEOPLE BRAVED THE RAIN AND WIND ON SATURDAY AND FROM LOOKS OF THINGS, APPROX. SAME NO. OF PEOPLE WERE THERE ON SUNDAY.
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rachael
October 27th, 2009
6:37 pm
Fist bump. I love it.
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To do list: October 28 | Inside Access
October 28th, 2009
12:05 am
[...] Stage: “The 101 Dalmatians Musical” opens, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta. Dog trainer interview. [...]
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Pam Hilley
October 28th, 2009
10:00 am
I like the new changes in the museum. The new wing was very nicely done.
The family really enjoyed this weekends activities and getting to see all the changes at the BOOTH.The best part of all is that it’s located in Cartersville!
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Charity
October 28th, 2009
11:24 am
What a great article! Such a wonderful museum- they have something for everyone!!
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Charity
October 28th, 2009
11:29 am
I love this museum! They have such great exhibits and activities!! The Symposium was wonderful!!!
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HauntGal
October 28th, 2009
11:31 am
WC McCall – Are you out of your mind??? Netherworld was named the #1 haunt in the country by Fangoria magazine! I think you don’t know what you ‘re talking about!! What you’ll find with many large haunts is that they re-use set pieces – that’s normal. How much path changing can you really do with limited space?? There are no “rent-a-cops” at Netherworld. All the officers you see in the lot are actual Gwinnett County Police officers. There are only two haunted houses, as noted in the article. No third “lame” attraction. And in the past, the third one was never “lame,” just different! Different people like different things.
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cindi
October 28th, 2009
1:27 pm
Enter your comments here
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Pat Stephenson
October 28th, 2009
1:45 pm
The museum is a jewel hidden right in the middle of Cartersville. As a volunteer who helps out now and then, the staff is wonderful. I promise that your visit there will be memorable.
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Pat Stephenson
October 28th, 2009
1:47 pm
If you missed the symposium, be sure to catch it next year.
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Captain Midnight
October 28th, 2009
2:10 pm
What are they proud of? Being gay? That’s nothing to be proud of any more than being proud to be straight,white or black. You take “pride in accomplishments. Your skin color or sexual orientation is not an accomplishment.
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Mr Fnortner
October 28th, 2009
2:13 pm
This is a fine art museum, with a bit of whimsy here and there. Please don’t think it’s all movie posters. The museum is crowed with fabulous sculpture, and wall after wall holds some of the most beautiful paintings you would want to see. It will hold you spellbound, and kids love it too.
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NOT Capt Midnight
October 28th, 2009
2:20 pm
Captain Midnight, the accomplishment is overcoming your arrogance. Do you feel left out in life? Is that what makes you bitter and ignorant about everything? Though gay citizens have been socially forgotten in times past and repremanded for who they are, they’d like to welcome you to their weekend celebration where they acknowledge those overcomings.
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Rufus
October 28th, 2009
2:25 pm
The Lesbian tent city fills the lower meadow of Piedmont Park to capacity during Pride weekend. It’s cool to see people enjoying themselves and relaxed.
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Lucile Ussery
October 28th, 2009
2:32 pm
I have only lived in Cartersville for a short time, but I have become fascinated with the Booth museum. It is a wonderful addition to the city of Cartersville, waking up in me a new appreciation of the history of our country as it moved west.
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Midtown Residing
October 28th, 2009
2:38 pm
Im gay, and to be honest, there’s not alot to be proud of by “just being gay.” I don’t believe in pride or shame so it’s hard for me to relate to this, but, I do agree with The Captain, be proud of your accomplishments not that you are gay. We should call it a celebration of gay people, but not pride.
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AH
October 28th, 2009
2:52 pm
Hey now sometime you just need to keep your mouth shut and let people enjoy themselves.
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GA Girl
October 28th, 2009
3:03 pm
I hope the weekend in the park is enjoyable. I wished that all were welcomed at Piedmont Park. Some cultures would be greeted by angry residents and police officers.
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while I have ur attention
October 28th, 2009
3:09 pm
ARE there any gay/lesbian friendly meeting places /bistros(whatever) in Gwinnett? I am old and not a bar hopper anymore but would still like to meet friends in open environment. Not just pride festival every year. Were can us burb-inites go?
I’m tired of Sam’s.
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AH
October 28th, 2009
3:15 pm
Sorry if your gay your not allowed OTP you must get back inside the perimeter.
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Rufus
October 28th, 2009
3:22 pm
I don’t think it’s flaunting sexuality Rather, it’s pride in how far the Gay and Lesbian community has come in society.
No longer do we have to hide. We don’t have to live in shame, nor fear.
We are able to live open, happy, productive lives with no boundaries. Let’s celebrate. We need to take pride in where we are now.
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Sharon McGahee
October 28th, 2009
3:25 pm
We here in Cartersville are so blessed to have the Booth and the Tellus Science Museum. The art at the Booth is inspiring and in many cases of great historical value. Cartersville is a great community and the Symposium will only get better. My husband wants Ramblin Jack Elliot to come next year.
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TI
October 28th, 2009
3:32 pm
Don’t miss the “Dykes on Bikes” during the parade on Sunday (hopefully it won’t rain). Some of those guys, oooops i meant girls look hilarious! Hopefully some of the local queens won’t go over board this year with their costumes or lack off and embarrass the rest of us.
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Ron Cagle
October 28th, 2009
3:50 pm
Thanks to the AJC for letting the world have a glimpse of a great thing in an “unexpected” place. My wife and I have visited many art museums around the country, with a special interest in Western art. The Booth Museum is on par with the best of them – a real testament to the excellent work being done by Seth Hopkins and his staff and the generosity of the benefactors. This place is a very real (if not yet widely known) treasure for the whole State of Georgia, and it should be viewed that way by those who are surprised to find it in Cartersville.
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Pete Contrucci
October 28th, 2009
3:51 pm
The Booth is just great. A Trip to the museum is both educational and entertaining. The special events such as the Cowboy Symposium and Festival are great Fun. It is well worth the trip to Cartersville
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Captain Midnight
October 28th, 2009
3:54 pm
@Not Captain Midnight..How is overcoming my arrogance their accomplishment? Bitter and ignorant am I? Did I name call? Socially forgotten? Was alchohol socially forgotten during prohibition? Can we just stop with all the “Look at me I’m black and proud, I’m gay and proud” etc. It’s all just kind of desperate. “Look at me!!”
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Barak
October 28th, 2009
3:56 pm
OMG is this coming back to ATL again this year? I hear New Orleans is a great gay hang out….so is Panama City…..anywhere BUT ATL please…no harm intended…
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Bill Hebert
October 28th, 2009
6:40 pm
When I went to volunteer, I never thought that I would become a Docent. Guiding school children as well as adults throught this Museum is indeed one of the highlights of my life, and I am 76 years of age, so I have been fortunate to have quite a few, but none this rewarding.
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Rosey
October 28th, 2009
7:18 pm
Thanks for your article on the Booth museum! It’s one of the best kept secrets in Cartersville. We moved to NW Georgia 2 yrs ago, and I became a docent last year and absolutely love it. The folks who work there are wonderful–they’re so friendly and helfpul. They do everything with excellence. I’m retired military, and being a docent is one of the best things I’ve done since moving here–it’s a great way to meet new people and have fun. Believe their new training class starts in Nov–highly recommend checking it out!
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Miss pooh
October 28th, 2009
8:26 pm
I love being a lesbian and i am not ashamed to say it i look at it like this i have pride weekend every weekend cause thats the only club i be in is gay clubs but its my birthday weekend just have fun see you there
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savannah
October 28th, 2009
10:33 pm
yall this place is insane i went there a couple of weeks ago and its off the chai i like things that scare me im 13 and ivw been going to this plavce sence i was 10 if you havent gone you really need check it out cause its amazing!!! Bring your kids my age they will love it only if they like things that scare them, The actors are great and eveyone is so intertaning and The actors inside the haunted house chanse you evey where and the second you get out of your care Actors will be chassing yuou around the parking lot i wen twith a bunch of friends and it is an adventure from the second you step out of your car till the second you drive away.! Your in for a crazy ride if you go here anytime sooon.
<33 peters
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savannah
October 28th, 2009
10:35 pm
WC MCALL hAHHAHHAHAHAHAH YOU GOT ME LAUGHIN THIS PLACE IS INSANE ITS NOT JUST OKAY??? AHAHA WOW.
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thing to do in atlanta october 30 through november 1 | Inside Access
October 29th, 2009
12:03 am
[...] Stage: “The 101 Dalmatians Musical” continues, 8 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta. More info. [...]
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thing to do in atlanta october 30 through november 1 | Inside Access
October 29th, 2009
12:08 am
[...] Art: Final weekend for “Scarecrows in the Garden,” through Nov. 1, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta. Photos. [...]
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thing to do in atlanta october 30 through november 1 | Inside Access
October 29th, 2009
12:13 am
[...] Festival: Atlanta Pride Festival runs through Nov. 1, Piedmont Park, Atlanta. FREE. What to know before you go. [...]
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thing to do in atlanta october 30 through november 1 | Inside Access
October 29th, 2009
12:23 am
[...] Stage: Final show for “The Ghastly Dreadfuls II,” 5 p.m., Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta. More info. [...]
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BILL
October 29th, 2009
6:51 am
midtown resides; now just curl up with a good book, look out your windows, what will you see, yes men woman kids and oh yes, they are gay and having fun and relaxation while you sit and say i wish it was me, come on out
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Mike
October 29th, 2009
8:23 am
Gay Pride is for people who have to be ashamed of who they are the rest of the time – ranging from those who can’t talk about their partners at work to those who are physically abused by family members for their orientation.
For every person there in a “look at me!” outfit, there’s two dozen who look like the guy in front of you in line at the bank, or the people you see walking through your office lobby. Perhaps having “look at me!” people around makes the majority more comfortable to just walk around the park holding hands or being able to introduce their significant other as something besides “my friend.”
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aaron kopper
October 29th, 2009
8:25 am
only jesus christ can offer a new life and a new start for all people. he died on the cross so that all can have eternal life.
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here we go again
October 29th, 2009
8:35 am
Oh wonderful. Another weekend of absolute gridlock in the area around my neighborhood, where it takes me 45 minutes of waiting in traffic and taking detours just to go the 2 miles to get back to my house from the interstate. YAY.
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ScottM
October 29th, 2009
8:39 am
The Pride festival is held every year in every major (unoppressed) city in the world and Atlanta is no exception. Pride is usually held in June of every year and it commemorates the June 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City when, for the first time, GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered) people stopped agreeing to be beaten up and harassed just because the police felt like it. This year it’s being held in October because of last year’s drought affecting Piedmont Park’s event scheduling. Why not come to Piedmont Park this weekend, or watch the parade on Sunday, and enjoy some of the great food, listen to the performers, enjoy the sunshine, see what it’s about. Learn about the world, appreciate differences, celebrate common hopes and accomplishments, learn to live together in harmony…that’s what Pride is to me.
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Anger Manager
October 29th, 2009
9:11 am
Captain Midnight, do you want to talk about why you are so angry. I am here to listen.
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Steve
October 29th, 2009
9:53 am
Looks kinda like the top of the SunTrust building, but isn’t there some kind of ‘observation tower’ type thingy at the top?
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Dano
October 29th, 2009
10:03 am
Looks like Little Debbies Bakery mock up of a building using nutty bars.
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Edward
October 29th, 2009
10:22 am
I see people like Captain Midnight and Midtown Residing are representing Ignorant Pride quite nicely.
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luis
October 29th, 2009
10:49 am
I would say the John Portman exhibit at the High Museum of Art
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Jules
October 29th, 2009
11:32 am
It’s the top of the SunTrust Plaza.
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T
October 29th, 2009
11:40 am
what Dano said
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Captain Midnight
October 29th, 2009
11:43 am
Edward, that was very clever. “Ignorant pride” get it? Like gay pride cept ignorant pride. Guess you told me.
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ATL Shawty
October 29th, 2009
11:51 am
NENE is STILL the bomb!!!
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Say what?
October 29th, 2009
12:18 pm
It’s the top of Sun Trust’s tower I building in downtown Atlanta…
What’s fun about this?
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Nix
October 29th, 2009
12:20 pm
It kind of looks like the top of the Promenade building at P’tree and 15th.
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Jason
October 29th, 2009
12:26 pm
I’m with Luis. I say it’s a model of the SunTrust building at the John Portman exhibit.
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Duluth, GA
October 29th, 2009
12:30 pm
It is suppose to be the top of the SunTrust building in downtown Atlanta!
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emack06
October 29th, 2009
12:43 pm
I would say its the top of a model of the Suntrust building in downtown atlanta. The model is probably located in the Suntrust building.
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bleagh
October 29th, 2009
12:50 pm
john portman is a highly overrated architect
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Christopher Broughton
October 29th, 2009
12:51 pm
Suntrust Plaza, Downtown Atlanta
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Tiffani
October 29th, 2009
12:55 pm
I’m with Luis and Jason. John Portman exhibit at The High
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Kudzu
October 29th, 2009
1:21 pm
The John Portman Exhibit. You can see the map of downtown behind it highlighting the buildings he designed.
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Larry
October 29th, 2009
1:26 pm
Financial Center
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danny orlando
October 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
It’s the John Portman building which is now Suntrust Plaza
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RBR
October 29th, 2009
1:40 pm
It is a model of the top of Peachtree 1, a building designed by John Portman.
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Sharon
October 29th, 2009
1:45 pm
That is the Georgia Pacific Building
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Jarod
October 29th, 2009
1:47 pm
Promenade in Midtown
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Joseph
October 29th, 2009
2:00 pm
The Portman Exhibit at the High Museum… The building model was originally called One Peachtree Plaza, built in the late 1980’s – early 1990’s. I know because I worked for Portman at the time!
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Ben Cook
October 29th, 2009
2:12 pm
191 Peachtree
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njf
October 29th, 2009
2:26 pm
sun trust building
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atlin83
October 29th, 2009
2:40 pm
SunTrust Plaza tower model at the High Museum exhibit of Portman’s career.
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Atl Hawk
October 29th, 2009
2:41 pm
Top of the Suntrust Building…missing some elements though still very good. Did you guys know every night around 1am the crowns light turns off. Way to save energy ATL, very smart.
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I Know
October 29th, 2009
3:00 pm
It’s Godiva candy from Neimus Marcus
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CJ
October 29th, 2009
3:03 pm
Burger King in Mableton.
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ChopChop
October 29th, 2009
3:03 pm
I want this person’s job – is this all she does??
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Carol
October 29th, 2009
3:40 pm
I there an entrance for wheel chair patrons?
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Ms Ice
October 29th, 2009
3:55 pm
It is what it is…and it’s located some where in Atlanta
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Access Points 14: SunTrust model in High’s Portman exhibit | Inside Access
October 29th, 2009
4:09 pm
[...] got more photos in a gallery, and in this Inside Access post, where I offered more detailed info about what you’ll experience at the [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 29th, 2009
4:11 pm
Oh, ChopChop, wouldn’t that be nice if this were all any of us had to do?
Alas, it’s one sliver of the work, but a fun and interesting one, at least.
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Access Points 14: What and where is this? | Inside Access
October 29th, 2009
4:12 pm
[...] pm October 28, 2009, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 10/29: Did you make a guess? Here’s the answer. For this week’s Access Points photo game, tell me what this is and where it’s found. [...]
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Jonathan Kivett
October 29th, 2009
4:34 pm
Gay Pride might seem like an outdated cliche to those who live in major cities, but every year I have attended, I have heard more than one person who has made a pilgrimage from a small town in the southeast (and elsewhere). Not everyone can afford to leave their birthplace and move to a gay-friendly city. For those who live in smaller, less accepting places, Pride festivals give them a sense of belonging, of not being isolated and alone. For some people, that gathering can give them the courage to come out and be who they are. For others, it can show them a world where being gay IS a non-issue, and maybe they will break away from their roots and join that world.
And for some folks, seeing that they are truly not alone may be the difference, even in this day and age, between life and death.
I think it’s incredibly jaded to pretend that, just because we live in a world where no one cares or minds, that everyone else does. Maybe someday there will be no need for Pride Festivals. Maybe there will be no need to address homophobia and racism, because those things will dry up and disappear. I certainly wish that were the case today. It is, sadly, not.
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Nicky
October 29th, 2009
5:06 pm
Actually, there is a board as you are about to enter the park, next to the ticket plaza, that has all the closed rides listed for the day. However, I do agree with the smaller coasters that were not affected by the flood were not open being an annoying factor to add to the day. Also, you can call ahead to find out what is open.
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Meet Jada, one of ‘101 Dalmations’ starring in Atlanta | Inside Access
October 29th, 2009
5:26 pm
[...] Performing Arts Centre this week to meet the 15 dogs who appears in the stage show. I had already interviewed dog trainer Joel Slaven, who described what their lives are like on the road — lots of play time, and a few minutes [...]
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it's robocop
October 29th, 2009
6:09 pm
Giving you the finger!
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Sickofstupid
October 29th, 2009
7:50 pm
SHUT-UP….Some of these comments are so ignorant..PLEASE!!..Grow up..Find a life to Get..And do it TODAY
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Muriel Malcolm Pittaluga
October 29th, 2009
8:25 pm
Anyone looking for excellence in the art and history of the American West should visit the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville. In addition to beautiful art housed in an easily accessible, well-designed building, the museum offers educational tours for children and daily highlight tours for adults.
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Muriel Malcolm Pittaluga
October 29th, 2009
8:41 pm
The Cowboy Symposium is great fun for everybody, especially the children as they have the opportunity to learn about cowboy life and their history. It is a joy to see children painting wooden ponies, roping a calf, making their own western art! Don’t miss it!
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Kerry
October 29th, 2009
9:24 pm
The Booth is a never-ending source of fun and information on art, the “Old West”, and the history of discovery. Not to be missed!
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W.C. McCall
October 29th, 2009
10:03 pm
No problem. If you have low standards, then have at it.
No, I am not insane, just accurate.
How many times have you been? I’ve been quite a few after moving to Georgia.
I never said it was terrible, or bad, just if you’ve been once, there’s not that much too see the next year. Being “#1 rated” is not necessarily count for anything.
The majority of the time the mazes are very much the same, just rearranged differently. And the MAJORITY, not 100%, of the props used in the previous year are used again.
YES, the third attraction is usually nothing special. At any rate, it’s better than what it once was, which was a silly blacklight-lit neon-ish funky walk-though maze that was supposed to kind of look like some type of island.
The neon spider is still there, now just used in a different part of the 1st or 2nd attraction.
I don’t care if they’re rent-a-cops, cops-a-rent, or whatever, your hoodie is not “against terrorist laws.”
That’s asinine. :/
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Suz
October 29th, 2009
10:06 pm
This is well worth the money…the details, the actors, the special effects were just awesome. It was a great Halloween-ie thing to go to…..anyone that didn’t just love it, doesn’t know fun.
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M
October 29th, 2009
10:09 pm
Not that much to do in Atlanta really, but I give Netherworld a big thumb up. Kudos to those providing ‘not so hot Atlanta’ with some fun things to do and see.
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M
October 29th, 2009
10:14 pm
I didn’t pay any parking fees at Netherworld this year!!!!!!!! We just parked in the many parking lots around there and walked a block. Netherworld is sooooooo much better than the others around. Go see for yourself.
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T
October 29th, 2009
11:52 pm
When I attended the show in Houston a couple of years go it was wheelchair accessible and there was specialseating for wheelchairs. Call the ticketing number for details.
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Final weekend for Botanical Garden’s ‘Moore in America’ | Inside Access
October 30th, 2009
6:03 am
[...] is a ton of stuff going on this weekend, most of it involving candy corn, but if you need a break from all the Halloween madness, I highly [...]
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Brad
October 30th, 2009
9:01 am
Before anyone calls me a redneck or accuses me of “hate,” I want to say that I don’t care what two people do in the privacy of their own home. I really don’t even care if the state chooses to acknowledge them as “married” or not. My main concern is my family and their well-being. I used to live in Midtown and during the gay pride weekend, we would see people wearing costumes or outfits that were just simply unacceptable for children. I don’t mean in the park, I knew to stay away, I mean in restaurants and shops. There is a common standard of decency that some (definitely, not all) that attend gay pride throw out the window. It’s like they think its’ their weekend to expose the world to their immoral standards. I don’t care who you sleep with, in fact, I just want you to be happy, so do whomever you please, just behave and dress in public according to community standards.
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Captain Midnight
October 30th, 2009
9:52 am
Hey Brad, well said. Btw, they’re gonna call you worse than redneck.
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Donald Moschetti
October 30th, 2009
10:01 am
Great Booth Article. The Museum is a treasure for anyone to have and Cartersville is very lucky to have it located there. Their many programs help a lot of people and kids to appreciate art.
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thing to do in atlanta october 30 through november 1 | Inside Access
October 30th, 2009
10:10 am
[...] 101 Dalmatians Musical” continues, 8 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta. Video. Ticket [...]
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Break it down
October 30th, 2009
10:46 am
We’ve been made to feel ashamed, wrong and sick by society for a very long time. We’ve been excluded, put down, jailed, banned, discriminated against – you name it. Some of our families have not been proud of us and we’ve had to find our own way. Many religions reject and marginalize us until we said we too are God’s children. Pride simply means to be proud of who you are, regardless of others’ ignorance or judgment. Of course you dont’ get it if you’re not gay….black……etc.
To top it off we don’t have the same civil and federal rights as does every other American citizen. The message is no different than it is for any other oppressed group. You don’t get it if it hasn’t touched your life or you’re prejudiced.
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K Ryan
October 30th, 2009
11:04 am
The above article erroneously states “no tents” spoke with Paul of the Pride committee moments ago and tents are indeed permitted as long as Piedmont Park guidelines are met..no stakes etc. Be certain to read park guidelines and COME TO PRIDE WEEKEND AND SHOW YOUR PRIDE!!!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
October 30th, 2009
11:31 am
Thanks K Ryan! I’ll clarify in the post!
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diana
October 30th, 2009
12:24 pm
Lesbian here. Some of us also struggle with how some of our sisters dress or don’t dress. However, part of our culture is acceptance. I think November may be good since it’s colder and may require more clothes! lol
I love PrideFest
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thing to do in atlanta october 30 through november 1 | Inside Access
October 30th, 2009
12:46 pm
[...] Halloween: Howl-o-ween Fall Festival, 1-3 p.m., Atlantic Station’s Central Park, Atlanta. FREE. Kid and pet safety tips. [...]
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Halloween freebies | Free ghost tour | Half off Sotto Sotto | Discount arts pass | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
October 30th, 2009
12:51 pm
[...] a host of free Halloween events and activities around town, visit the Inside Access blog. Jamie Gumbrecht highlights many of the weekend happenings, plenty of which are [...]
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Create a discounted Arts package | Free U.S. Army holiday concert | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
October 30th, 2009
1:29 pm
[...] selecting the family events you are most interested in. Here are the details highlighted in the Inside Access blog: First spotted on ArtsCriticAtl.com: a new partnership among Atlanta arts organizations lets [...]
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Paige
October 30th, 2009
1:35 pm
Thanks, ScottM, for letting us know what Pride weekend in June commemorates. I could never understand why any group would choose the dead heat of summer to have a parade/get-together – and now I know!
Regardless of the time of the year, I think it’s great that people can celebrate being comfortable with who and how they are. Most of the time, it takes at least 50 years for ANYONE – gay or straight – to feel at home in his own skin – so anything ahead of that curve is a plus.
Have a great weekend!
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Inn At The Peachtrees !
October 30th, 2009
1:44 pm
Gay Pride Atlanta !!! Discount killer rate of $69.00, as well as a discount on parking !! Inn at The Peacahtrees in the heart of downtown Atlanta and less then two miles from Piedmont Park. We serve a full hot breakfast bar complimentary daily to our with guests’ with eggs, grits, sausage, biscuits & …gravy, Belgian waffles,…cereals and much more. We have a fitness center, free wireless internet in all of our rooms, free local calls, and courtyard surrounded by relaxing water fountains. To book call (800) 242 -4642 & MENTION THIS FACE BOOK POSTING from SHERI & RECEIVE A VERY SPECIAL RATE OF$69.00 (THRU DEC 09 ONLY)
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anyone care?
October 30th, 2009
2:14 pm
Let it rain.
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30% off on Cavalia tickets | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
October 30th, 2009
2:36 pm
[...] To read Inside Access blogger Jamie Gumbrecht’s ‘First Impressions’ of this show featuring horse and man, click here. [...]
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Brent
October 30th, 2009
2:51 pm
My wife and I moved from Alpharetta to a new house in Lawrenceville in June; money was tight due to the move but we were still able to afford to attend a number of G-Braves games. We took our folks to games when they were visiting and everyone had a fantastic time. We are also season ticket holders for the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators, so we greatly appreciate the convenience of having the sports we enjoy most right around the corner from us so we don’t have to deal with both the expense and the hassle of driving or taking MARTA downtown for major league teams that rarely perform to the level of their paychecks.
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john
October 30th, 2009
2:57 pm
Loved the stadium and excellent baseball. However, I won’t spend much time there in the foreseeable future because of the food and drink prices. They are outrageous for a minor league park! No family can afford to go and those of us who can afford it (no family) should boycott games until food prices or outside drink policies are changed.
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Lynn H.
October 30th, 2009
4:58 pm
Nice coverage of activities at the Booth; glad to see that the AJC realizes the ‘importance’ of that museum and all it has to offer the Southeast. We love the West and find that the museum brings a sampling of the West to the South! World class museum with lectures by visiting Western artists. Thank goodness the museum is only 40 minutes from Buckhead. Thanks for helping us schedule the various events they produce!
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Momo
October 30th, 2009
5:30 pm
So you can’t bring Alcohol into the park? What’s up with that???????????
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StraightNotNarrow
October 30th, 2009
7:43 pm
I love Pride Fest – everyone has so much fun, there’s so much happiness and love all around, so much freedom for everyone to be exactly who they are – makes me wish I was gay.
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Maggie
October 30th, 2009
11:47 pm
homophobes. stay in your house, watch fox news, and leave the rest of us alone. thanks.
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Ladybug
October 31st, 2009
7:18 am
A few years ago I had the pleasure of spending a day with my nephew at the Pride Festival in Daytona Beach. The people there made me feel very welcome and I enjoyed my day. Guess what a**holes, they didn’t condem me for being straight. BTW, I lost my precious nephew to HIV a couple of years later. I still cherish that day with him.
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Patrick Wilson
October 31st, 2009
12:12 pm
Pride has turned into nothing more than a Corporate event. I have been to Pride every year since 1994. I never see anything but Corporations hawking their services I know they pay big bucks for the tent space. The thing that bothers me is no one seems to realize that Pride 2009 is a corporate event. I am curious where does all the money go that is generated. Deirdre Heffernan you are the CEO per the the Secretary of State, PAUL GIBSON you are the CFO per the Secretary of State just how much money are you being paid. Except for the Parade which I have yet to understand why everyone walking does not carry a sign stating I am your Doctor,Lawyer,Plumber,Electrcian,etc. Instead all you see are screaming Queens that do not represent 98% of our population, That is what is shown on the T.V. and Newspapers.The final insult was having Pride on Halloween weekend. Paul McCartney can have his show in the park but the GAY PRIDE is giving Halloween wake up Gay Atlanta you just got slapped in the face again. And you are going to allow it. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chelsey
October 31st, 2009
2:37 pm
I highly Encourage people to come see the Booth! It’s very well organized.The people that work there are extremly nice.The 20,000 Square foot expansion is unbelievable.It’s a wonderful family oriented place to visit!!! It’s fun for all ages,come check it out!!!
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Eric
October 31st, 2009
8:07 pm
My wife and I took our teens to the Stadium of Screams. If no one told me it was their first year I wouldn’t have been able to tell. I found it to be an awesome production. With something for every age group in mind it covered all the bases for any family or group of teens. The event begins even before you go through the front gate. Real actors, props, and creative imagination make it a MUST see. The wait in line to enter the haunt itself was entertaining. Scary characters milling around as you wait in line make the anticipation of what is about to happen all the more intense. The haunt itself was plenty long and had so much attention to detail it left me wanting to go through it again. I can’t wait to see what Mr. Shead and the Gwinnett Braves will cook up for next year. I was comforted by the number of personnel they had on hand attending to the patrons. Caring for the safety of the guests without interfering with the spirit of the haunt. Very well done.
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OTP Gay Conservative
October 31st, 2009
8:37 pm
I am a fiscally conservative gay man living OTP. I have never been to a Pride Parade. In philly we had a fall event called Outfest, it was a street fair, and did not invite the costumed rituals that Pride Parades do. I do think that if the gay community ever wants to be trully socially accepted, they need to learn the difference between public and private attire. How does being walked down the street in a jockstrap, a dog collar and leash, in anyway signify pride? Is that what Stonewall Riots taught us? The time of Stonewall was a different world. People were arrested and jailed for patronizing ‘gay’ bars or clubs, even if they were just playing pool and drinking beer, in 2009 there are two gay television networks, gay characters on the three major television networks, gay politicians etc. The time for the archaic festivals and parades has passed. I say this because I am sure the only things that will be covered by the media will be the extremists.
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ATLTGUY
November 1st, 2009
10:04 am
In response to Barak. Is this comming to Atlanta? Are you under the impression this is a traveling show? Its been comming to Atlanta for a while now sweety. Maybe you were down in NO or Panama City and missed that.
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Not gay Michael
November 1st, 2009
10:17 am
To all gay people, I love you and wish you a wonderful day at the festival. For today, ignore the Fox News crowd and celebrate because tomorrow you will have to be ready to fight again for what should be yours. I am so proud of you for standing up for your civil rights against so much hate.
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Les Bouska
November 1st, 2009
11:28 am
So OTP Gay Conservative has the nerve to condemn and negate the value of something he clearly states he has never even seen or been a part of. Typical conservative bulls**t. Guess what, the world does not feel the need to conform to your personal desires. As for the extremist at the parade. It is because of them that the banker and the lawyers amongst us have the freedom to hold hands in the park.
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Native Southerner
November 1st, 2009
11:53 am
Today I will be proud in Atlanta. Tomorrow I will move to France to be with the man I love. The US federal government would rather I leave than offer me the same rights that heterosexuals take for granted. True equality in this country seems like such a distant dream. I will miss my home and family but that is the sacrifice I must make.
Happy Pride everyone!
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harleyween
November 1st, 2009
12:12 pm
weenies
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Anna Banguilan
November 1st, 2009
12:39 pm
My partner (of 11 years) and I are celebrating this pride with the birth of our daughter Lilli, now 8 days old and our 3 year old son Jaiden.
Jaiden and I will watch the parade while Mommy & Lilli stay home. We are a happy family and we send our love and appreciation for everyone showing their pride!!
Everyday in everyway life gets better and better!!
Happy Pride Ya’ll!!
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Jill
November 1st, 2009
5:08 pm
If we had equal rights ,marriage, beneifts, e.t.c.. we would not have to march.
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Les Bouska
November 1st, 2009
6:40 pm
Pride was a blast. There was a huge turnout for the parade and all the events in the park.
God blessed us with a beautiful day. It was really nice to be back in the park this year.
Looking forward to next years Pride Events already. Thanks Pride Committee , job well done.
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Janed
November 1st, 2009
8:01 pm
Chamber of Horrors @ the Masquerade was HORRIBLE. It was a complete waste of time and money. I really want me $20 back. The tour guy that follows you around was a complete jackass to our group. Very rude. The entire thing took about 10 minutes, tops. Nothing even remotely scary. It came off as someones S&M fetish come to life. Nudity + obscenities does not equal scary. We’ll stick with Netherworld in the future.
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Peadawg
November 1st, 2009
8:15 pm
Kinda reminds me of Stewart on MAD TV: “Hey look what I can do”
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Me
November 1st, 2009
8:41 pm
Some of these comments make me sick. I am 90 percent straight but I enjoy going to pride every year. I don’t think twice about going or taking my daughter or grandson to any of the feastivities. The more they are exposed to the real world, the better person they will be.
Go to an all white event or an all black event one you have one thing in common. Someone is going to fight. Go to pride and everyone just wants to just get along. We all just want to relax and have a good time and enjoy the company of friends.
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Pamm
November 1st, 2009
10:49 pm
Ha any one moticed that this is the ONLY place where the AJC has seen fit to cover anything about Pride. No pictures, no reports nothing. They always find space to cover Frolicon and other events but not Pride.
For all of the professions by the AJC that they are fair minded, they sure seem a tad homophobic to me.
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mitzymy
November 1st, 2009
11:18 pm
I wish my son were still alive to see this. He chose to die instead of fight with his family and friends.
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Know before you go: Atlanta Pride Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 … | SwagSodDope LIVE
November 2nd, 2009
1:17 am
[...] Know before you go: Atlanta Pride Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 … October 28th, 2009 | Author: admin The Atlanta Pride Festival returns to its home in Piedmont Park this year, but in a new season — Oct. 31-Nov. 1 instead of a weekend in June. Go here to read the rest: Know before you go: Atlanta Pride Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 … [...]
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eyeful
November 2nd, 2009
7:51 am
Pride = hundreds of thousands of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, and their straight friends and family COMING TOGETHER to have fun. Shame on us for that, huh?!
To the few uptight Fox Noise yahoos and closet queens who “can’t fathom it”: STAY AWAY and STFU. See how easy that is?
Shame on AJC and the rest of the media for NOT covering this fantastic event that truly was all about at one segment of Atlanta that is truly “too busy to hate”…
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teazer
November 2nd, 2009
10:13 am
It’s pride as opposed to shame and fear….
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Garden’s ‘Moore in America’ extended through Dec. 31 | Inside Access
November 2nd, 2009
10:45 am
[...] my lament about the last weekend to see ‘Moore in America‘ at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, here’s some good news: I spoke too soon! The [...]
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martha
November 2nd, 2009
11:51 am
we are proud to be ourselves out of the closet to everyone in the community. we are proud of our family’s, to live the lives they want to live, with out being afraid of all the people who will mock them, who will criticize them, who will tell them they are going to hell, saying we dont deserve equal rights, who tell us we should be ashame and stay in the closet or change or whatever, we are proud because will will all band together hold hands,hug,kiss,cry,and cheer, and tell the world we are here and we are proud to be who we are!!!!!
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gfkjb
November 2nd, 2009
12:10 pm
maybe it should be straight pride day to celebrate how far they have evolved
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Know before you go: Atlanta Pride Festival, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 | Inside Access
November 2nd, 2009
1:27 pm
[...] Gumbrecht Update 11/2: How did it go? See pictures and share your experiences at the festival here! Erica Rosalle and other volunteers carried rainbow flag up Peachtree Street during Pride in 2004. [...]
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Garden’s ‘Moore in America’ extended through Dec. 31 | stream4.me
November 2nd, 2009
1:38 pm
[...] my lament about the last weekend to see ‘Moore in America‘ at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, here’s some good news: I spoke too soon! The [...]
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destiny
November 2nd, 2009
2:28 pm
lol. ok then
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kim
November 3rd, 2009
8:28 am
I was looking for my photo that was taken by the coca cola stage right before Blake Lewis. where would those pics be?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 3rd, 2009
8:50 am
Hmm…these are all the Blake Lewis pics we posted: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/2009/11/03/blake-lewis-entertains-at-atlanta-pride-sunday/
It doesn’t look like crowd shots were included, so it may have gone unpublished.
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Jeannette Scarola
November 3rd, 2009
2:03 pm
Hi:
How are the prices of the goods? as well as the quality of the items?
Thanks
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John Morosco
November 3rd, 2009
5:22 pm
Nope, I still don’t like those hippies even during Halloween.
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Henry Co. Redneck
November 4th, 2009
4:42 am
Lunch at Whole Foods.
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Ummm???
November 4th, 2009
3:48 pm
Who the hell wants to sip wine in between the hours of 1-4 p.m.?????
This has got to be one of the most backwards states/city (atlanta) I have ever seen??
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Reply to Ummm???
November 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
Hey Ummm??? – It’s a wine tasting, not a booze fest. If you don’t like our “backwards states/city”, then leave.
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Uhh
November 4th, 2009
4:40 pm
Uhhh…..I think I’m with Ummmm on this one.
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Parker Cross
November 4th, 2009
4:46 pm
The people n the picture look like they’re having a nice time.
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Walter
November 4th, 2009
4:54 pm
Hey Ummm, Reply and Uhh, can’t we all just get along! Lets have a wine summit at the Saturday Wine Festival to taste and work out our differences?
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NativeAtlantan
November 4th, 2009
4:56 pm
so….Ummmm and Uhhh…are you saying that you wouldn’t attend wine taskings in, say…Sonoma or Napa Valley unless it’s night? Get real…
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NativeAtlantan
November 4th, 2009
4:57 pm
sorry…wine TASTINGS….
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east coast
November 4th, 2009
5:01 pm
Ummmmmm and Uh don’t go then. Really Wine festivals are now considered “backwards”. As a native New Yorker I know Atlanta hardly has the same sophistication as places such as the Bronx or Staten Island, but it’s an alright city anyway.
I recommend going to the Wine Festival. It’s a lot of fun and Decatur is a really neat little area. I would have gone this year however I don’t believe in drinking for two
.
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What??
November 4th, 2009
5:06 pm
I for one would like to sip wine during the hours of 1-4pm. Obviously those folks have never been to Italy or France and enjoyed a beautiful sunny afternoon sitting on a terrace drinking wine. Sounds perfect to me.
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Natalie
November 4th, 2009
6:36 pm
This year at the Yellow Daisy festival they had a vendor that was to the left as you first walked in that was selling animal yard art made out of scrap metals and propane tanks. Can anyone tell me who that was or where I could find them online?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 4th, 2009
7:27 pm
All the Uhhh and Ummm around here makes it sound like a Shel Silverstein poem.
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Things To Do in Atlanta This Weekend November 6-8 | Inside Access
November 5th, 2009
12:03 am
[...] Drink: Decatur Wine Festival, 1-4 p.m., Old Courthouse Square, Decatur. Read more. [...]
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Things To Do in Atlanta This Weekend November 6-8 | Inside Access
November 5th, 2009
10:10 am
[...] For families: The Pink Pig returns, 10 a.m., Lenox Square, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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CJ
November 5th, 2009
11:00 am
Looks like a cloudy sky over the Lake Lanier.
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shazzzzee
November 5th, 2009
11:06 am
Cobb Energy Performance Arts Center
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shazzzzee
November 5th, 2009
11:07 am
Woops, just noticed that you want to know WHAT it is as well!!
That’s one of the chandeliers at the Cobb Energy Performance Arts Center.
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Smack
November 5th, 2009
11:38 am
As already commented, The Cobb Energy Center.
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Jennifer
November 5th, 2009
11:43 am
That looks like the chandelier at the Cobb Energy Centre. I used to volunteer there.
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Becky
November 5th, 2009
11:52 am
It’s one of the not so pretty chandeliers at the Cobb Energy Centre..At least, I don’t think they are all that pretty..The rest of the place is great..
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Les
November 5th, 2009
12:00 pm
My guess is also Cobb Energy Centre
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Koz
November 5th, 2009
12:35 pm
Microscopic view of Shirley Franklin’s weave.
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cherokee
November 5th, 2009
12:39 pm
Koz, not her weave, but one of her many UGLY flowers that she wears that are as big as her head.
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Jesse's Girl
November 5th, 2009
12:42 pm
I’ve been….decent wine flights…nothing earth shattering. But the people are super nice. Just go.
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TheRealEstateGal.com
November 5th, 2009
1:25 pm
Looks like the chandilier at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens….although that one may be a bit more green I think.
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john
November 5th, 2009
1:50 pm
Tentacles of a Portugese man of war.Ga. aquarium.
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Atlantan
November 5th, 2009
2:00 pm
http://www.cobbenergycentre.com/photo_gallery.aspx?galleryid=416#4
Kinda hard to see- chandelier at Cobb Energy Center for Performing Arts
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Jean
November 5th, 2009
3:11 pm
Christmas decoration at Macy’s – Lenox Square
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Access Points 15: Cobb Energy Centre chandelier | Inside Access
November 5th, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] this week’s Access Points photo game, shazzzzee was the first to name what it was and where you can find it: it’s a chandelier at [...]
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Iman Person
November 5th, 2009
7:29 pm
Yay Sergio!!!! Lighten up people
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Broadway series ticket packages for Fox and Cobb Energy | Inside Access
November 6th, 2009
7:04 am
[...] this trend of multi-venue, personalized season tickets, Broadway Across America announced this week that theatergoers can make their own season package [...]
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Rectal Bleeding
November 6th, 2009
11:00 am
I’d rather spend the $30 at Brickstore.
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Save some of the fun for when I’m back! | Inside Access
November 6th, 2009
2:03 pm
[...] for a few days of family time and snowy reminders of why it’s nice to live in Atlanta. Your Weekend To-Do List is already up, and Daily To-Do Lists will continue to post every day, but regular posting will [...]
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AH
November 7th, 2009
6:34 am
Why is ther NO MENTION of today’s(11/7) Veteran’s Day Parade? You should be ashamed of yourself.
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Agree with Brad
November 7th, 2009
10:39 am
I strongly believe everyone should be able to live how they choose to. That said, societal decency is important. A man walking another nearly-naked man on a leash is NOT decent. I don’t see why so many simply desire to shock the community.
Further, people crying about hatred while simultaneously calling conservatives nutjob bigots really need to take a second for self-evaluation.
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CJ
November 7th, 2009
8:34 pm
agree: they see the “hate” needle in our eye because their is a “hate” log in their own eye.
They are the ones who will be the first to curse everyone out, call names, and then say we are hateful?
No ONE I hang out with would do that!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 8th, 2009
11:15 pm
AH, you’re right, I missed it on this list and I apologize. I was out of town, but I hope it went well. In the future, when you have an event suggestion, its incredibly helpful to offer up the details of the event your comment so others who may want to attend know the details. Also, our events calendar is searchable, free and entirely community-generated — anybody can add events.
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JB
November 9th, 2009
1:05 pm
Keep the children at home or go to the matinee. A two 1/2 hour show from 8:00 to 10:30 is NOT for children. Trust the people that had to sit in front of three loud ones!
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John
November 9th, 2009
7:48 pm
wow!! 6 whole pictures you guys managed to post from the pride parade? You guys outdid yourselves. … uh I don’t think so.
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olivia
November 9th, 2009
9:27 pm
I cannot WAIT to ride the Pink Pig! I have been going to this since I was 2 years old, and at 20 I am just as excited for it now as I was then! Woo Hoo!!
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Inside Access- Fun Stuff to do In Atlanta – Jamie Gumbrecht « Charis Circle’s
November 10th, 2009
9:46 am
[...] Read the Article [...]
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Vix
November 10th, 2009
9:26 pm
To those who don’t understand the concept of Gay Pride or why we come together, here is my spin on it.
I am a lesbian. I have a partner. We have a daughter. We have to worry about people’s reactions while walking on the street with our 8 year old. We were once asked if we believe in God while walking down the center of town, hand in hand, with our daughter in between us. See, my partner’s short hair she has from time to time gives her away as being “one of those.” For the record, yes, we do believe in God, attend church, pray before each meal and before bed with the little one. And if you didn’t already know we existed, I am not only a lesbian but a conservative AND a Catholic!
Basically what I’m trying to say is that Pride for us means we don’t have to be on guard and ready with an explanation for our daughter as to why that person said that to us or why they keep looking and pointing at us.
Going to Pride events not only lets us, as parents, relax since we are surrounded by “family” but also allows our daughter the luxury of meeting other kids with two moms or two dads.
We have a “safe zone” once a year and for that, I am proud.
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CJ
November 11th, 2009
7:28 am
I understand your pain, as I have known rejection myself.
Some of what you are doing both to yourself, your partner and your daughter is your choice.
If I saw you by yourself, or with your daughter, I wouldn’t have an issue. It’s when you parade the fact that you are having sex with a woman openly that the issue happens. You are right that it is your business and no one elses what you do with your body.
For someone to point it out or take issue with it when it is in their face is their right as well in a free country.
I am sorry if someone was unkind to you, as that is not Christian, and obviously Jesus wouldn’t do that.
God is loving but He is also holy, and has laid out a plan for our lives, our sexuality, etc. in
His Holy Word that brings about a fulfilled, peaceful life.
He wants the best for your life, and a lifestyle that causes others to stare and wonder when you pass by is not the best plan for your life and never will be, no matter what new laws are passed, etc.
You cannot begin to understand the Holiness of God until you have totally repented of your sins and asked Jesus to come into your heart and save you, and then something starts to happen inside of your heart that changes your entire perspective on . No religion can do that: it is a supernatural experience.
Religion tells you that you just do this or that but nothing changes.Salvation is something that god does inside of you once you repent of your sins and invite Him to do His thing.
You may have experienced some abuse in your early life, or alienation from your Mom/other women,which you may still need counseling for to break the chains off.
Living Waters is a good program, which many churches are offering now. People will love on you and pray for you as you wish until God breaks the chains off. I did it for 9 months and it was one of the best things I ever did in my life.
Take care.
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RvD
November 11th, 2009
10:26 am
My wife and daughter went and really liked the show.
What wasn’t so cool is that apparently our credit card payment for the ticket was processed on a foreign Cavalia account, so we were hit with an International Service Fee. No mention of this when paying for the tickets (over the phone).
Sort of leaves a bitter aftertaste…
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Stuff To Do In Atlanta This Weekend November 13-15 | Inside Access
November 12th, 2009
12:03 am
[...] Haunted house: Final weekend for Netherworld, 7-11 p.m. through Saturday, inside Georgia Antique and Design Center, Norcross. Read more. [...]
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Vacation
November 12th, 2009
2:09 am
Sound great.
I am planning on taking a trip this december, but im not sure where yet.
Anny suggestions?
Vacation All Inclusive Resorts
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Camps for Girls
November 12th, 2009
5:00 am
October 12th, 2009
8:55 pm
The Sexual Side Effects and Johnny Rockbridge & The High Chairs play a benefit show for Girls’ Rock Camp this Saturday afternoon, October 17, from 2–7 pm at Frogs Cantina in Midtown. Free admission, all ages, full menu, raffle prizes. http://www.dontlabelit.com
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Billy
November 12th, 2009
10:46 am
Hey, you should have included the Georgia Tech Basketball season opener on Saturday at 7pm. The game is against Florida A&M.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 12th, 2009
1:15 pm
Thanks, Billy! Here’s more info on the game, for those looking for more details: http://entertainment.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-ga/events/show/88473167-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets-mens-basketball-vs-florida-am-rattlers-mens-basketball
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What draws a crowd for a book signing? | Inside Access
November 13th, 2009
7:04 am
[...] Spending time at the fancy new Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, which is far prettier and more entertaining than the words “presidential library and [...]
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AH
November 13th, 2009
9:47 am
Wait till Palin goes on her book tour. You’ll be seeing a lot of packed book signings.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 13th, 2009
10:06 am
AH, based simply on how long her book has topped Amazon.com’s bestselling lists, I’m sure you’re right. I just saw this L.A. Times blog post — http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/11/sarah-palin-going-rogue-book-tour-schedule.html — which shows they picked a lot of tour stops off the usual route. At this point, it looks like Birmingham is the closest she gets to Atlanta.
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ATL Bookworm
November 13th, 2009
10:20 am
What will draw a crowd to a book signing in law-abiding communities?
- Sarah Palin
- No panhandlers outside the bookstore
- No graffiti on the outside of the bookstore
- No Obama Supporters at or near the book signing (also, see above)
- An author who isn’t an elitist or snob who bashes America, capitalism or freedom is the book (also, see above)
- Free, well-lit parking outside the bookstore.
- NOT having to take MARTA to get to the bookstore
- Not “alternative” bookstore employees who suddenly become drunk with power use the momentary empowerment to treat people standing in line like children and/or simpletons (see Barnes & Noble’s Buckhead location)
- Off-Retail discounts on the book being signed
- Having the book signing publicized well beyond just a neon paper printout taped to front door the week before the signing
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the fair librarian
November 13th, 2009
10:31 am
@ATLBookworm
I swear, anyone who sneers at another person for the lowliness of their job, class, religion, race, who they vote for and where they live, needs to have their garbage and sewage service cut off for five years. After being forced to live in their own filth for a while, they will learn to be quiet instead of exposing their hypocrisy. And FYI people will show up if your friend Carrie Prejean has copies of her video tape.
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Avoid Hags in Libraries. Download eBooks Online!
November 13th, 2009
10:49 am
@ the “fair” librarian
“Fair” Librarian,
You sound like one of the I’m-better-and-smarter-than-you snobs who think they so much more “enlightened” than the rest of us.
I don’t think you will have to worry about being at any CROWDED book signings, as (thankfully) most people in society don’t have the same tastes or hate-filled hearts as you obviously do.
BTW, those criminals making certain parts of our city cesspools who live in their own filth are losers because they have excercised their freedom in this country (provided by our military veterans) to CHOOSE to be that way by:
A) Avoiding hard work
B) Being dishonest
C) Not taking advantage of the same public school system as everyone else
D) Wallowing in ignorance like pigs in mud
E) Avoiding books
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 13th, 2009
10:56 am
Hey folks, we’re talking about books and book signings. There are plenty of other places to have a conversation about the state of the city and what you like or don’t like about it. Please stay on topic, treat each other with respect and keep the conversation moving forward.
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Tommy
November 13th, 2009
11:30 am
Stone Mountain Park begins their Christmas celebration on Saturday, 11/14 from 2pm until 10pm and Sunday, 11/15 from 2pm until 9pm. Go to stonemountainpark.com for details.
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terri
November 13th, 2009
11:30 am
jamie, i must admit i am much *less* likely to go to a book signing if i suspect there will be a large crowd there. i do not like crowds, no matter how much I may admire an author and want to meet him/her. i would very much like to meet sarah palin, of whom at least one person on here seems very jealous and resentful due to her good looks and intelligence, but i don’t think i would be willing to fight the mob scene just to meet her, get her autograph and possibly a picture with her.
in all fairness, wasn’t the topic of this blog “what draws a crowd for a book signing?” for me, it would be the *absence* of a crowd that would draw this gal there.
is there any chance you could use your press influence at the ajc to get sarah palin’s book tour to come to atlanta, jamie?
do you know if we can buy autographed copies of her book online instead of having to go wait *in* line?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 13th, 2009
11:49 am
That’s an interesting point, too, Terri. There’s a Stephen King book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Buckhead tonight, and I’m betting it will be packed. Although it’s fun to see big-name authors, those events don’t allow for real conversation. I’ve really enjoyed the size of some of the events at local libraries, especially in downtown Atlanta and in Decatur.
I don’t think I have actual influence on anybody’s programming decisions, and even if I did, I wouldn’t be allowed to use it.
I haven’t seen anything about autographed copies of her books online. I sometimes see those types of things on abebooks.com, but they’re rarely new books, and almost never something that’s getting so much attention as Sarah Palin’s. I would keep an eye out on her tour schedule, though, if you’re feeling like you want to venture into that crowd. I’m sure more dates will be added, and there are a lot of organizations in the metro area that bring book tours to town.
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Chuck
November 13th, 2009
1:33 pm
There is a walk to benefit people with ALS, which is better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in Centennial Olympic Park Saturday at 10:00 am. I encourage everyone to come out and show your support!
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Stuff To Do In Atlanta This Weekend November 13-15 | Inside Access
November 13th, 2009
1:37 pm
[...] Movies: “Gone With the Wind” Re-Premiere includes two days of autograph signings, a costume ball and parties, Gone with the Wind Museum, Marietta. Read more. [...]
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W.C. McCall
November 13th, 2009
1:53 pm
Meh…shouldn’t be promoting “pride” of being homosexual.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 13th, 2009
1:55 pm
Great suggestions! Thanks everyone!
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Buckhead BARNES & NOBLE = Pathetic
November 13th, 2009
2:53 pm
FYI: For those people going to the Stephen King book signing at the BARNES & NOBLE in Buckhead this evening, please be forewarned this store has T H E dumbest, most self-righteous, condescending, on-a-power-trip staff you have ever had the misfortune of experiencing a book signing.
It is NOT worth putting up with them and how they treat people patiently waiting in line for an signed copy of a book by a celebrity.
Calling them “rude” would be a gross understatement.
Book Buyers, Beware!
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Stuff To Do In Atlanta This Weekend November 13-15 | Inside Access
November 13th, 2009
3:45 pm
[...] For kids: Author and Milner Award-winner Margie Palatini visits, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., The Ocee Library, Alpharetta. FREE. Read more. [...]
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“Nature Unleashed” coming to Fernbank Museum in 2010 | Inside Access
November 13th, 2009
3:52 pm
[...] new exhibition will move into the space currently filled with the “Gold” exhibition, which explores perceptions of uses of gold in history, science, decorative arts, industry and [...]
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Nema
November 13th, 2009
4:01 pm
Hi Jamie,
People should also head to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market tomorrow to celebrate the grand opening of Cafe Campesino Atlanta- that serves Fair Trade, organic coffee. Free samples, live music and information on organics and Fair Trade will be happening from 2-5 p.m. tomorrow. Check it out!
http://www.cafecampesinoatlanta.com/grandOpeningDetails.html
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VIDEO: Canstruction sculptures at Underground Atlanta | Inside Access
November 13th, 2009
5:31 pm
[...] That’s the second time today I’ve mentioned the beloved kiddie book in this [...]
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Nichole
November 13th, 2009
5:33 pm
Expo at GWCC (and it’s free to get in!)
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Jinx (formerly known as woogidy)
November 13th, 2009
5:51 pm
We need to do this! Bring the Snuggie Pub Crawl to Atlanta!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Atlanta-GA/Bring-the-Snuggie-Pubcrawl-to-Atlanta/213133429672
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Resa
November 13th, 2009
8:08 pm
25th Annual CVS Strong Legs Saturday @ Turner Field. Benefits CHOA 5k, 10k, 2k fun run, mascot trot. Registration opens @ 7am http://www.choa.org/stronglegs Come run then enjoy the Free admission and tours at the Atlanta Braves Museum and Hall of Fame, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Turner Field, Atlanta. FREE.
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Peechy
November 13th, 2009
11:26 pm
I lived in Georgia all my life & downtown Atlanta, for the past 8 years and I have never been ice skating. I want to go but none of my friends and family want to go. I don’t want to go fall down alone.
I do enjoy watching other people skate though.
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smh728
November 14th, 2009
7:24 am
Here is something for those in the eastern burbs: http://newlawrenceville.com/events/fall-festival
The city of Lawrenceville is hosting their first Fall Festival. I have no personal ties to the even, just passing on the information.
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jan brady
November 14th, 2009
2:25 pm
Delbert McClinton tonight at the Variety Playhouse 8:30. Still rockin after all these years. Always a great show!
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King Fan
November 14th, 2009
5:34 pm
Where can I read about how the Stephen King book signing went last night? I’m curious to know how many people showed up, how many books he signed, that sort of thing. Any idea? Did the AJC cover it?
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ice skating in downtown atlanta at centennial olympic park | Inside Access
November 15th, 2009
2:15 am
[...] Centennial Olympic Park’s outdoor skating season opened on Saturday, and we headed downtown for a mild, anachronism-filled evening on ice. There was a mean game of tag going on the grass near the ice. I strongly considered locking our bikes to the oversized holiday light deer decorations. At the entryway, rink operators sold tickets, skate rentals and socks for the folks who arrived in sandals. [...]
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S Penoyer
November 15th, 2009
8:58 am
I thought the horses were beautiful, and the gymnastics were fun, but after the first hour my partner and I were bored to tears and decided to leave early. Too much of the same repeating over and over and frankly i felt the price was too high for the experience. Was this better than watching television at home? Certainly. I think it would be much more exciting if the mixed it up a bit and didn’t stick to the same Old World theme throughout the entire show.
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Judy
November 15th, 2009
10:00 am
10 great blues bands and more solo artists complete in the Atlanta heat’s of the International Blues Challenge The IBC will be held today at Mudcatz Bayou Bar and Grill in Dunwoody, GA. Doors open at 12:00. Ticket price $10.00 for five hours of great music! Come out and support your favorite act as the audience gets a judge’s vote so you can influence who goes to Memphis next year!
Location: Mudcatz Bayou Bar and Grill
5500 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd
Dunwoody, GA 30338
http://www.mudcatz.com
770-828-0335
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Chris
November 16th, 2009
1:54 am
Well, I attended the Stephen King signing at the Buckhead B&N, and I have to say the staff was anything but “rude.” Yes, we were moved through quickly, but everything was very organized, and whenever I or those around me asked the staff a question, we were treated with patience – even though I’m sure they were asked the same questions multiple times. There were more than 500 people there, and the whole thing seemed to go off smooth as glass. Congrats to the staff, and thanks for making the experience a good one.
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Saul
November 16th, 2009
9:48 am
I must say I have NEVER had a good experience at a book signing at the B&N @ Buckhead. The least few times I went there, the staff [ahem] managing the book signing crowd were clearly all man-hating hags with SERIOUS issues against men. Unless it is an author I am just dying to meet, I will not return there.
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Barf
November 16th, 2009
10:56 am
LMAO…man hating hags. Nice. I went to the King signing on Friday too. While there was a crowd of 300+ there when it started, the line moved so quickly that it wasn’t long before it dwindled to about 30. King was a fast signer and the B&N folks kept it moving. It was well organized, I think. I was surprised there were not more people there. Lots of extra wristbands appear to have gone unused. I saw a number of people go through twice with no wait.
My only complaint had to do with the attitudes of the cops that were there. It was a book signing for God sakes, not a meeting of world leaders. Lighten up and let us orderly book nerds enjoy the evening without you harassing us over meaningless stuff.
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How would 4 a.m. last call change Atlanta entertainment? | Inside Access
November 17th, 2009
9:09 am
[...] talked before about whether neighborhoods and nightclubs can co-exist, but this takes the question to neighborhoods, nightclubs and hours of the night. Let’s just [...]
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Hospitality Industrialist
November 17th, 2009
11:29 am
Prior to the election of Mayor Franklin Atlanta was known as Hotlanta with a vibrant Hospitality Industry. One of Mayor Franklin’s campaign promises was to enforce the State Law concerning Sunday alcohol sales. The Law states that the enforcement of Sunday sales shall be at the discretion of the local jurisdiction; that meaning that Atlanta could at its discretion haves Sunday sales of alcohol by the drink. The earlier last call and enforcement of the Sunday by the drink sales effectively destroyed Hotlanta and has driven away a huge portion of Atlanta’s convention business to other cities at a time our city could least afford that loss.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 17th, 2009
11:50 am
Interesting. What’s your view on what would happen if the last call time were to go back to 4 a.m.?
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William
November 17th, 2009
12:01 pm
The nitelife in Atlanta is nothing like it was when I moved to Atlanta, this was once the place that all my friends wanted to visit, now we go to Miami or NYC to party it up. I think that if last call was to go back to 4 a.m. it would make the nitelife much better here and things would be no different than they are now. The city should start to only allow clubs in non residential areas and let them go 24\7 if they want, a more vibrant nitelife and more money for the club owners/city.
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D.Baker
November 17th, 2009
12:13 pm
I like the 24/7 idea for specific districts, I agree that it will help out nightlife immensely.
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DJinATL
November 17th, 2009
1:12 pm
I agree that Atlanta’s nightlife has died. Atlanta was definitly the place to be and nightlife was a big part of it. The stopping of alcohol sales at 2:30 and the end of our few 24 hour clubs changed Atlanta forever. Now we are just another Southern city with strict party laws. Who wants to come here? Miami was smart enough to realize what was gained by having a 24 hour district. Clubs in South Beach close at 5am, but the party can go all night in downtown. One benfit to later closing times is that not everyone leaves the club at the same time. At 2:30 everyone is still in the club and all walks out together. Seems like more trouble can brew that way.
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Jay
November 17th, 2009
1:15 pm
As someone thats works in the Atlanta nightlife, I have wanted this change for years. Like it or not, Atlanta is a young, vibrant, Big event and party city. With the money problems the city is facing why not tap into a willing tax base that could boost revenue and bring back the entertainment dollars that flooded the city in the 90’s but has all but gone in this decade. And to the buckhead people, are you telling me that your happier with rows of unbuild businesses that were to replace the bars and nightclubs that for better or worse, brought money in for buckhead. Do the right thing City Council
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 17th, 2009
3:32 pm
Let’s hear more about this 24/7 district idea — what neighborhoods or areas of neighborhoods would you tap for late hours or a 24/7 schedule?
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Jeff
November 17th, 2009
4:23 pm
Atlanta has become a boring town. I can’t even call it a city anymore. It’s not just the lack of a 4am bar closing time. It’s because so many conservative people moved into Atlanta after the Olympics wanting a city lifestyle.
Many of them wanted to be close to work, too. All of this is fine. But what they brought with them was a suburban view of life. Collectively this new set of Atlantans forced new bar closing hours; forced many gay bars and primarily blacks bars to close; forced the great 24 bars down; made Piedmont Park a sterile museum-like place; forced the bohemian artist mentality out of midtown, Virginia-Highland, and L5P. Atlanta has lost its funkiness, its quirkiness, its soul.
Reinstating a 4am bar closing time would be great. But we need cool clubs again. We need a Stein Club, we need a Backstreet, we need a Rio, a Celebrity Club, a Buckhead bar scene that was fun and the envy of many cities. We need an art scene again to coexist with the bar scene.
There is plenty of warehouse space downtown or on the west side that is not near any residential neighborhoods that could house a 24 hour bar. There are plenty of people in this city with great ideas. If the restrictive ordinances went away, life would return to this city. I don’t hold out much hope.
I can’t explain one more time to visitors as to why they can’t buy wine or vodka at a store on Sunday. It’s just embarrassing. I also can’t explain to my NYC, SF, or LA friends why a club like Vision has such hostility against from residents who oppose its reopening. It is steeped in racism and the fact that a large part of Atlanta wants to tell others to live a conservative lifestyle. Many want everyone to be in bed by 11pm and in church on Sunday. Until this is resolved, Atlanta will remain a 2nd tier town.
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McGavin
November 17th, 2009
4:31 pm
24/7 Districts should include but not be limited to: West Midtown/Westside, Castleberry Hill/Downtown Atlanta/Old 4th Ward, Underground Atlanta/Luckie Marietta District.
I think Midtown/Buckhead/VaHi should remain with the 2:30am closing times If they so desire since the large residential component would obviously come into play.
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Brannon
November 17th, 2009
5:11 pm
Thanks for posting that photo of that beautiful lady in the mint-green bikini, Jamie.
(BTW: If that is you in that photo, Jamie, then I am now officially in LOVE.)
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MidtownRes
November 17th, 2009
9:01 pm
I disagree with the tax revenue arguement for 90 more mins of bar time. Note that the cash collected at the door and VIP tables isn’t declared for taxes (let’s be honest) and a few more drinks won’t make a significant contribution to Atlanta’s fiscal problems. If you’re truely concerned about tax revenue generation, then you should consider the $20M+/year that is contributed from property tax from just the new home owners in Midtown. The amount of city resources (police, litter clean up, etc) needed for 90 more mins of bar time, I would spectulate, actually makes a negative effect to the city’s revenue.
Admittedly, I miss the the 24/7 clubs but they would no longer fit in Midtown, IMHO. The dynamic has changed (Google – ‘Midtown Mile Vision’). But I think that there are other areas that could use the clubs. It’ll be interesting to see the effect of the SPI Club in midtown next month too.
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Justin
November 17th, 2009
11:25 pm
This is the only way I can see staying in Atlanta. People were getting murdered in Buckhead and they blamed time, as if people were perfectly fine but at 3:45 suddenly got this urge to shoot somebody. A murderer is a murderer, no matter what the time is. Those clubs and that whole scene is gone now anyway. My part of town has suffered extensively from this change. Atlanta is a city of young people, and young people like to go out. The downturn in conventions has definitely hurt our economy. People want to have fun, there’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s paternalistic as hell to try and tell people “nothing good happens after 2am”.
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Matt B.
November 17th, 2009
11:55 pm
As a 26 year-old professional male who enjoys going out to Buckhead, I think the 2:30am last call is adequate. The kind of people who want to stay out until 4am are better off in Miami anyway. Take the party back to your place after 2:30.
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Allen
November 18th, 2009
12:17 am
Atlanta desperately needs 24/7 nightlife again to set itself apart from its’ competitors in the convention business. Atlanta needs it for its’ economy . . . more hotel rooms, more taxi rides, more gas, more tax, more liquor tax, more conventions, more visitors, etc., etc. City officials have no clue the amount of damage that was done by closing Backstreet — an Atlanta institution — a place everyone, including out of towners and international visitors knew where to go after hours when visiting from out of town. Unfortunately, for many people, that has been taken away. Having 24/7 clubs also helps the earlier bars . . . more people want to go out because it doesn’t have to end at 2:30am. To the person who claimed later bar hours or 24/7 clubs would require more police and therefore not be worth it, why not apply that same argument to large conventions? Maybe we can’t afford to host conventions of 50-70,000 people because “we don’t have enough police”. It is a specious argument lacking in true factual evidence. Atlanta has been hurt more by the early closing hours than most people realize — you’ve killed the entertainment, nightlife, bar business — no one wants to open a new club and many tax-paying residents (including this one), visitors, and people who enjoy having a good time have been disenfranchised as a result.
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count_schemula
November 18th, 2009
12:57 am
Build it right and good things would have happened. Atlanta in the 90’s was still raw clay and it’s pretty hard to say that between the city government and the freedom given to developers that we have anything here to be proud of. The condo glut is ghetto waiting to happen. Street level is harsh sterile concrete and prefab facades and not somewhere you want to hang. The streets are not safe. Public transit has been a joke since the get go. Riding bicycles takes courage. Blacks are reacting to gentrification. Whites are bringing their uptight suburban value systems with them. No noise! Black people are scary! More speedbumps everywhere! Basically, it’s go out to eat then rush home to watch TV. I remember sitting in bars on Peachtree and 9th, hanging out with people of all places and colors and art students until 4am or later and walking around midtown without getting jacked. Now intown and Alpharetta are the same. Crappy. Way to go Atlanta. One giant ass strip mall.
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count_schemula
November 18th, 2009
12:58 am
Glad people like Matt B. chose intown and not East Cobb. Not!
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cb
November 18th, 2009
1:45 am
Oh, Atlanta… You need to pick yourself up by the bootstraps and brush yourself off. Your life depends on it. There needs to be 24/7 sales in the grocery stores. Build dog and horse tracks (Hey, Florida can do it and is overrun by old farts!) and REAL casinos (not the plastic ones that the lottery commission is trying to push – lol!) There are many horse farms that supply other states. We need tourism dollars and not just from trout fishermen and campers. There needs to be clubs that can stay open around the clock if they so chose and if they meet restrictions concerning neighborhoods etc. There needs to be live entertainment in the parks every weekend. We need 24 hour public transportation. We need the belt line! There are people that work and play all hours of the day, support them, they pay taxes too. We have raised a brave and beautiful city, we put alot of work into it, we can’t sit back on our laurels, we will get passed up and wither. Like a horse race, everyone cheered Atlanta on as she passed all the other horses, heading to the finish line and damn if she didn’t stumble and fall all over herself. Come on Atlanta – GET UP! In this beaten down economy, you have to draw people here, not just milk them as they pass through the state to get to Florida! The new city buzz line needs to be….. DESTINATION: ATLANTA!
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Trevoir Hudson
November 18th, 2009
7:03 am
ABSOLUTELY in favor of returning closing time back to 4AM (and last call @ 345am).
I am a native NYer who have resided in Atlanta coming up on 15 yrs now (so I’ve been here for pre-Olympics and during Atlanta nightlife hay-days). It’s time Atlanta face reality and start acting like a MAJOR METROPOLITAN city it is versus trying to maintain this small, southern city of the Gone With the Wind days.
Years ago, those residing in Buckhead were younger and in favor of bringing Atlanta’s nightlife there (taking it away from south and east side cities like College Park and Decatur) because it provided their businesses traffic and revenue. Now they’ve “matured” and received more than just the business traffic and revenue that came with being Atlanta’s nightlife area, now they want it residential again. Come on, we can see through all your intentions.
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Voice of Reason #1
November 18th, 2009
7:33 am
[Uh, NO I hadn't already voted in this poll; check your system, please. And for the record, I voted "No."] The problem in Atlanta is crime. And while I hate to agree with CC above, when Buckhead became “BuckHood” the perception of safe, enjoyable fun in Atlanta plummeted. Ray Lewis’ incident, etc. was ~the beginning of the end. 2:30AM is more than enough time. There’s not much good to happen after midnight anyway. Go home and make love or sleep off that alcohol. I don’t live in the city proper anyway (I like to be safe and see my property value go up), an am glad I didn’t move to Buckhead as I’d initially planned. VOTE for MARY NORWOOD!!!!!!!! You people better get out there and vote if you want a change from what has become atl’s pathetic norm.
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It's all about crime
November 18th, 2009
7:46 am
Sorry, but I too agree that crime is what made Atlanta have to change. Like others stated, you can thank the Ray Lewis incident as being one of the biggest factors. While I agree it’s great for a big city to have a vibrant night life, people can’t be afriad to be in the city at night either…You can thank the incompetence of the Shirley Administration for not handling the crime problem.
Just look at Underground Atlanta. Back in the 60s and early 70s, that was a happening place. Now, I wouldn’t be caught dead there (no pun intened). Get rid of the crime elements affecting our city, and the problem will be solved. NY is the largest city in the country and is statistically safer than Atlanta…
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Rick Day
November 18th, 2009
8:08 am
re: 24/7 district: I’d put these in areas where there is little or no impact to residences. There are many commercial zones in Midtown (Spring south of 5th, W. Peachtree, etc) where few people, if any, reside. Put a 1000 ft restriction, allow those few residences affected to fill out a simple form acknowledging the venue’s privilege to stay open 24/7 and you solve the biggest issues Buckhead had 6 years ago.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 18th, 2009
8:47 am
Hey folks, this is a reminder that this is a space for discussion, not for race-baiting, name-calling or pronouncement for anyone to go anywhere else. This is Atlanta, we’re all here, so let’s talk about the issue — moving last call and what that the result of that would be — respectfully.
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tony
November 18th, 2009
9:00 am
The following cities have no last call/4am
New Orleans – No last call
Atlantic City – No last call
Miami – No last call
Las Vegas – No last call
BIRMINGHAM, AL – No last call (Yes, Birmingham)
Buffalo, Ny – 4am
NYC – 4am
Hawaii – 4am
Louisville – 4am
Albany, NY – 4am
Alaska – 5am
Peorna – 4am
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tony
November 18th, 2009
9:02 am
4am last call for Midtown
24/7 for all of downtown and parts of Cheshire Bridge Rd/Peidmont area
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Braves Fan Chad
November 18th, 2009
9:05 am
The Turner Field tour is great, but tour guide Dave is over-rated. I had a different tour guide and got the same information and customer service. The museum is the real attraction, the perfect place to pass the days until Spring Training. I highly recommend it.
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Dave Barrett
November 18th, 2009
9:22 am
Jamie,
Thanks for the Great article!! Would like to invite you to do more tours here at Turner Field and a personal invitation to be my guest at a game this next season to get a real look at actual behind the scenes action here at Turner Field!! Thanks again.
Dave Barrett
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Atlanta’s historic home tours: Martin Luther King Jr. home | Inside Access
November 18th, 2009
10:05 am
[...] historic home tour took us to Bulloch Hall in Roswell. Today, we’re continuing our list of holiday stops with the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth [...]
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Art Vandalay
November 18th, 2009
10:13 am
umm..to the first poster, you CAN by alcohol by the drink on Sundays.
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Art Vandalay
November 18th, 2009
10:17 am
also i agree with the suggestions of 24 hr districts. Buckhead and Virginia Highland type areas dont need anything more than 2:30 am, but areas such as Crescent Street and Luckie/Marietta that are tourist spots should be 24/7 it gives visitors something to do and keeps the after hours riff raff contained.
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JW
November 18th, 2009
10:19 am
I’m for doing this – and I don’t think the increased tax revenues would come from the sale of alcohol as much as it would from the recovery of some of our lost convention business. I worked in the hospitality in the late 90’s which as far as I know was the height of convention business in Atlanta (I always heard we were the fourth most popular city in the U.S.). This changed first with Bill Campbell cracking down on strip clubs, and then with the roll back of closing time. I believe both were lame attempts to address crime, when what we should have been doing was putting more officers on foot beats. The idea that 4am closing = more crime is not born out by the City of Decatur crime stats compared to Atlanta’s. Why do those who oppose this idea by citing increased crime want to ignore that fact?
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JW
November 18th, 2009
10:20 am
At Art Vandalay – only in a restaurant that serves a higher percentage of food than booze; clubs have to be closed.
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Art Vandalay
November 18th, 2009
10:33 am
at JW,
I agree the perception alone to the convention and tourism industries would be HUGE. But there is no reason as i said that neighborhood bar districts that tourists rarely venture to such as L5P and Virginia Highlands, or even now Buckhead need to have a 4am closing. Midtown and Downtown need to be the tourism and nightlife centers and by giving them and them only a 4am last call it will have bar operators lining up to find a locations. But there needs to be STRICT restrictions on WHO is opening the place and WHAT it is because call it what you want but certain night life concepts harbor more crime than others. It needs to be for the tourist dollars and business men here for a convention are going to Ri Ra, or Front page news type places, not Opera.
There also needs to be a huge police present in those areas, like Times Square cops on every corner presence and a very very strict enforcement of the no panhandling law, because a 4 am last call does no good if nobody feels safe there.
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JW
November 18th, 2009
10:53 am
at Art Vandalay
Yeah, I have no problem with creating districts.
However, I do draw the line at determining what “type” of establishments should be allowed. Let consumers figure that out and by extension, the types of business will too. If the place is doing something illegal, then enforce the law. Precluding honest, normal businesses from operating because of a few bad seeds is a bureaucratic and unproductive approach in my opinion. I also don’t know that your assessment of where conventioneers want to go. I say, provide them with choices and they’ll go where they like. For now, it’s obvious that convention consumers have spoken by telling Atlanta “You’re no fun anymore and we’re going to other places.” It’s up to the city council to fix that ASAP.
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j b knows cornbread
November 18th, 2009
12:03 pm
atlanta sucks, thats why i left haha
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cb
November 18th, 2009
1:36 pm
When they turned Underground Atlanta in to family oriented “mall” to by shoes and icecream – I just rolled my eyes in wonderment. I emailed Pitts (no response) about how even back then it needed to cater to ADULTS not adolescents and strollerz. There it went, full force into malldom and it ruined what Underground had left relating to the good ole days, what the world remembered when you mentioned “Underground”. Look at it now! Wow! Let’s [not] Go! As for the 4am closing time, there are so many watering holes tucked in here and there, that never make a blip on the radar, they should not be left out of the roll forward. 24/7 is the way to go… you don’t have to say open 24/7 but it should be your chioce providing you are ok with the surrounding community. If there is only one 24/7 club every one has to got there, what a mess… there needs to be as many as wht businesses want to partake. The more you have, the more dispersed, the less problems with traffic and noise, the better for all…. Grow up Atlanta, and to some of these posters, get with it and think outside of your closed up little world. Especially, nothing good happens after 2:30am go home with your buzz you had enough. Well fool, people get off work at 2:am and are enlitled to partake in a cold one and a burger too. Go back under your 9-5 ROCK !!!
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Polly
November 18th, 2009
2:14 pm
It’s easy to say a 4am last call will solve the world’s problems if you don’t actually live in one of the areas that may be affected. I do live in one of those neighborhoods and we’re struggling enough with all the noise, illegal parking, crime, loitering, littering, speeding and harrassment that comes at 2:30am. No thanks.
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dizzy
November 18th, 2009
2:42 pm
The revenue being made will be in more dui’s, more road blocks, more police and more idiots getting in fights at Waffle House. It is much more logical and more revenue generating to just sell booze on Sunday.
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JW
November 18th, 2009
3:03 pm
Polly – what makes you think that all of us in favor of the idea don’t live in impacted areas? I lived in Midtown until just a few months ago and I have no problem with the idea of 4am; I also can’t say that I saw or see an exorbitant amount of the things you’re describing. I currently live in Grant Park very near to the Standard on Memorial and would welcome more places to go and hang out. I think the answer isn’t to continue to restrict bar hours but to increase enforcement by adding more officers; having more revenue would allow us to hire the officers we need for the task.
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Lora
November 18th, 2009
5:13 pm
Turner Field
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OntheEdge
November 18th, 2009
5:34 pm
“…having more revenue would allow us to hire the officers we need for the task” – what guarantee do you have of this? We were also told 4 years ago that the exorbitant water increases we were facing in the City were going to be used to fix the water/sewer lines, yet the hikes continue and the lines in our area are no better. The LRB and City is far more concerned with being sued by a bar/restaurant owner for questioning or not allowing any and all licenses that they don’t care about the impact on nearby residents. The system is broken! Fix the system, find a way to retain officers (most come here for training and then leave) and build the APD, then come discuss 4am last call…now is not the time!
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Needabailout, too!
November 18th, 2009
9:53 pm
An exhibit in the Atlanta History Museum regarding the Atlanta Crackers.
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To do list: November 19 | Inside Access
November 19th, 2009
12:07 am
[...] Stage: “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” opens, 7:30 p.m., Fox Theatre, Atlanta. See photos and video. [...]
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stuff to do around atlanta this weekend November 20-22 | Inside Access
November 19th, 2009
12:30 am
[...] Stage: Final weekend for Synchronicity Theatre’s “Hillary Clinton Got Me Pregnant,” 8 p.m., 7 Stages, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Cooper
November 19th, 2009
10:08 am
Turner Field. Upper left field corner.
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JW
November 19th, 2009
11:06 am
At OntheEdge:
Your name says it all as your frustration is palatable. Not sure where you live but I have seen a great deal of work done on the water and sewer lines throughout midtown; it takes time and it’s a big mess to fix, but it is happening.
There is no guarantee that the increased revenue will go to adding more cops, but we can’t hire more without officers without more revenue (either earned or saved elsewhere). We should have hired more back when we had the fourth highest volume of conventions in the country, but instead, we chased that volume and revenue away and now have to furlough officers when we need them the most.
You may be right about now not being the best time to roll back closing times, but we definitely need to start thinking about why we’ve lost the revenue and conventions that we have. Discussing this is a relevant and import thing to do and I’m glad Councilperson Hall is raising the issue.
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Erica
November 19th, 2009
11:23 am
Hey Jamie – the MINT event is actually on Friday the 20th. Thanks for the promotion!
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Kathy Del Re
November 19th, 2009
11:41 am
I have always had so many favorite numbers, but this one always makes me stand up and blow all those darling, talented Rockettes, kisses, with tears in my eyes!
Have a wonderful opening night, and Atlanta you are in for a treat!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 19th, 2009
12:19 pm
Whoops! Thanks Erica!
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Atlanta’s historic home tours: Margaret Mitchell House | Inside Access
November 19th, 2009
1:00 pm
[...] journey to the area’s historical homes has so far taken AJCer Howard Pousner and me to Bulloch Hall in Roswell and the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home on Auburn Avenue in [...]
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Atlanta’s historic home tours: Margaret Mitchell House | Inside Access
November 19th, 2009
3:07 pm
[...] historical homes has so far taken AJCer Howard Pousner and me to Bulloch Hall in Roswell and the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home on Auburn Avenue in [...]
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Access Points 16: 1948 Sain glove at Atlanta Braves Museum | Inside Access
November 19th, 2009
4:03 pm
[...] It would be easy to miss among all the red and blue, but even easier to miss some of the story behind it. There’s only so much room on an information card. (Here’s a short piece from when I went on the Turner Field tour.) [...]
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Johnson
November 19th, 2009
6:29 pm
Since 2003,…
How much in sales tax (8%) and “by the drink” (3.5%) tax revenues has the city missed?
How many conventions has Atlanta lost to other cities?
How many police officers lost their ability to earn a supplemental income which was not paid by the city, but individual businesses and business associations?
How many potential crimes were prevented by those “extra-job” officers?
How many more property crimes were committed during the extra hours of “ghost town”?
How many crimes would not have been committed with open businesses, lights on, and potential witnesses out and about?
How many service/entertainment industry jobs have been lost?
How many service/entertainment workers got new jobs just outside the city limits, and have been making A LOT of money off of Atlanta? (I did once upon a time. Thanks Decatur!)
And…
How well has the special interest, “entertainment district” known as Underground Atlanta fared while having the exclusive privilege of remaining open until 4AM? Who holds those interests?…Look into it.
I don’t know the answers. I’m just asking the questions.
One more,
When and where is the PUBLIC hearing on Monday, November 23?
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Jim
November 19th, 2009
10:13 pm
Is Greg Norton represented in the hall?
Maybe a bat, glove, jersey…
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Art in the neighborhood: ‘Le Flash’ - Jamie Gumbrecht
November 19th, 2009
10:58 pm
[...] See the blog post and photos: 5 things to love about ‘Le Flash’ in Castleberry Hill [...]
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The little museum that could - Jamie Gumbrecht
November 20th, 2009
12:29 am
[...] Read the story: New Tellus science museum now a Smithsonian Affiliate [...]
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The little museum that could - Jamie Gumbrecht
November 20th, 2009
12:35 am
[...] See more photos from the museum: What’s on display at Tellus [...]
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My new AccessAtlanta.com blog, Inside Access - Jamie Gumbrecht
November 20th, 2009
2:02 am
[...] the blog post, and photo gallery, that I was able to produce for Inside [...]
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Beretverde
November 20th, 2009
5:45 am
Why isn’t Walter Banks in the Brave’s Hall of Fame?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 20th, 2009
9:59 am
You can see the full list of players in the Braves Hall of Fame at the bottom of this page: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/museum.jsp
As for the whys…that sounds like a question for Dave O’Brien: http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/
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Atlanta’s historic home tours: Swan House | Inside Access
November 20th, 2009
10:11 am
[...] continue our tour of Atlanta area historic homes today with Swan House, another home that, like the Margaret Mitchell House, is managed by the Atlanta History Center. My colleague, Howard Pousner, explained that even before [...]
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A Cappella Books’ 20th anniversary hopefully won’t be last | Inside Access
November 20th, 2009
3:00 pm
[...] a year for indie book stores in Little Five Points. Charis Books and More recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, and A Cappella Books, its neighbor across Moreland, turns 20 on Dec. 1. Frank Reiss inside A [...]
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Ryan
November 20th, 2009
3:14 pm
If you can’t ingest a sufficient amount of alcohol by 2:30a, you probably need therapy, not a later last call.
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Great ATL Guy
November 20th, 2009
6:21 pm
My father was friends with the man that ran over and killed Ms. Mitchell, the man’s name was Hugh Gravitt. I live on 13th near Peachtree, site of the accident, and almost bought Ms. Mitchell’s other apt at One South Prado. A family friend is movie star Joan Fontaine, who tested for Scarlett… and I’m an Atlanta Native whose Godmother attended the GWTW premiere… how’s that for 6 degrees of separation?
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Castleberry
November 20th, 2009
8:28 pm
As a resident in a mixed commercial/residential neighborhood, I cannot agree to a later “last call”. The residents of Castleberry Hill have been plagued with problems from neighborhood restaurants/clubs. Some say it is the “new” Buckhead. I don’t have a problem with allowing clubs unlimited hours in non-residential neighborhoods, but there has to be compromise in a mixed neighborhood.
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Castleberry
November 20th, 2009
8:48 pm
One other thought…..after reading all of the previous comments, I realize that at least one person out there doesn’t understand how large the residential component is in Castleberry Hill. There are several thousand people living in those buildings in a very small area. Please–we have enough noise, loitering, illegal parkers blocking our driveways, littering and lack of respect for our beautiful neighborhood. A later last call is not for this area!
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Rusty
November 20th, 2009
11:37 pm
I once rode a cow for 80 seconds.
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h c
November 21st, 2009
6:54 am
Great article Ms Richardson. Finally someone in Atlanta that pays attention and knows whatt is going on in the bull riding world…….Goos job.
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Atlanta’s historic home tours: Rhodes Hall | Inside Access
November 21st, 2009
9:03 am
[...] far, we’ve seen Bulloch Hall, the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home, Margaret Mitchell House and Swan House. Rhodes Hall’s [...]
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Kenny
November 21st, 2009
1:18 pm
Sounds like a bunch of bull to me.
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NEWTON COLLIER
November 21st, 2009
9:28 pm
WILL CELEBRATE BOB PATTON LIVE @ MUDCATZ 5500 CHAMBLEE DUNWOODY RD. ATL. MEET AND GREET 6pm-8pm CELEBRATION UNTIL ?. FREE!!! 478-501-2106
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Murray Silver
November 21st, 2009
10:17 pm
The intimate family history concerning the birth home is beautifully written in the non-fiction “Daddy King and Me.” Available now at The King Center.
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goodgoing
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
REALLY TRUELY AWESOME, Great ATL Guy, Proud of you and your knowledge. Thank you for contributing information and what am amazing background.
Old lady in Bama, lol
goodgoing
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goodgoing
November 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
sorry, mean What an instead of am……..can’t see well,lol
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dave
November 22nd, 2009
8:09 am
I’m a mere babe of 57; but, I’m still a native Atlantan and really enjoyed the previous posts . . . Thanks to both of you!!!!!
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Great ATL Guy
November 22nd, 2009
8:51 am
Hey ya’ll, I’m 51, but I guess I’m an old soul. And Bama lady, I caught the typo and knew what you meant
The Marshes were headed to the movies (not sure what theatre was near 13th then), and she darted out in front of Mr. Gravitt, who was speeding. She lingered at Grady I think for 7 days, then died. Mr. G spent 6 months in jail, I have a copy of his obit from the AJC… he died in the early ’90s. Mr. G’s daugher was a hairdresser in Alpharetta – Betty Smith, who I think is still living. Her son cut a man off in traffic and the man followed Ms. Smith’s son home and shot and killed him their driveway, very tragic family.
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Review: Professional Bull Riders at Gwinnett Arena | Inside Access
November 22nd, 2009
2:09 pm
[...] week, AJC editor Monica Richardson explained to us why she loves the sport of bull riding. Today, she gives us a look at what happened when she saw it at Gwinnett Arena this weekend: [...]
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itsme
November 22nd, 2009
2:31 pm
I am glad there are still old houses to feature. The AJC would do well to highlight some of Atlanta’s endangered properties, like the Solomon Goodwin House on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.
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Kelly
November 22nd, 2009
3:37 pm
Actually, she was headed to the Peachtree Art theater to see The Canterbury Tales– it was close to 10th Street. And she passed away 5 days later, not 7.
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Ymh
November 22nd, 2009
9:04 pm
I went to this event Saturday night and had a wonderful time. This was my first live bull riding event, but I’m sure it won’t be my last! I really hope the PBR comes back to Atlanta.
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blackboots
November 23rd, 2009
12:04 am
I’m so glad to see the PBR finally getting coverage in Atlanta. The cowboys are accomplished athletes who work hard at their craft and give back to their fans with a purity of spirit that is rare and wonderful. Yes, many of them are from “Small Town USA” but a good number of riders currently on the tour are from Brazil (including 3 world champions), Australia, Canada and Mexico. The animal athletes–the bulls–are massive characters that often create more fan excitement and loyalty than the riders. They are prized members of the stock contractor’s families and are treated with the utmost care. And the PBR’s fan base is expanding internationally. I’m a married woman in my 50’s that grew up in the south as a fan of western culture, not a product of it–and I never, EVER miss a minute of PBR action.
I was at the Arena all three nights and loved it. Monica, if you ever need a bullriding buddy to talk PBR give me a shout. (And for the record, that was not me sitting behind you!) Ymh, glad you enjoyed it and please drop the PBR a line on their website and tell them how much you enjoyed the event in Atlanta and would like to see come here again. In the meantime you can watch it on the Versus cable channel every Saturday and Sunday night.
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blackboots
November 23rd, 2009
12:11 am
Already posted on the review thread–just want to reiterate that yes indeed, PBR bullriding is a SPORT. Your naysaying colleauges are fools.
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Atlanta’s historic home tours: The Wren’s Nest | Inside Access
November 23rd, 2009
10:04 am
[...] stop on our tour of Atlanta area historic homes. We didn’t get to all of them, including the Herndon Home, which no longer keeps regular visiting hours, but is available for tours by [...]
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Christy Petterson
November 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
Jamie, thanks so much for the write-up about ICE! We had a GREAT turn out! I buy as much handmade as possible (online, in shops and at events) and that automatically makes everything more fun. Everyone has an art sale this time of year (schools, churches, neighborhoods). Another strategy that I enjoy is shopping for specialty food items at the DeKalb Farmers Market and putting together a basket/box of treats. Just make sure you’re strategic about when you go shopping there – it gets crazy!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 23rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Hahaha, I love the DeKalb Farmers Market, but have made sure to hit it only on weekdays or very late on weekends. It’s like every Saturday is a holiday there.
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Danielle
November 23rd, 2009
5:09 pm
I was a vendor at ICE this year. It was my first show and I must admit, it was well organized, and very professional. I hope to be back next year! http://beatroad.etsy.com
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Things to do around atlanta on Thanksgiving weekend 2009 | Inside Access
November 24th, 2009
12:03 am
[...] Holidays: The Lighting of Macy’s Great Tree, 7 p.m., Lenox Square, Atlanta. FREE. Read more. [...]
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Things to do around atlanta on Thanksgiving weekend 2009 | Inside Access
November 24th, 2009
12:03 am
[...] For families: Macy’s Pink Pig ride continues, 10a.m., Lenox Square Macy’s, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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cheyenne adkins
November 24th, 2009
9:53 am
I like the picture of this horse.It looks awesome.I can’t believe it came out to be 24 ft. and 6,600 pounds
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cristi holcombe
November 24th, 2009
10:00 am
I went to ICE-Atlanta this weekend and thought Mod Meadow Studios was amazing. I blogged about it on my blog http://www.charmhome.blogspot.com here’s the link to go directly to the Mod Meadows Studio post. http://tinyurl.com/ybqnthh xoxo, Cristi
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GlueandGlitter.com » Indie Craft Experience Wrap Up
November 24th, 2009
10:03 am
[...] Check out this writeup on the AJC and have a peek at their photo gallery. [...]
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Hearing on later ‘last call’ in Atlanta draws supporters | Inside Access
November 24th, 2009
2:09 pm
[...] now, there’s been an interesting discussion about it over in a post from last week, “How would 4 a.m. last call change Atlanta?” Let’s keep the discussion moving forward in a respectful way. The more perspectives, [...]
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Best Medieval Times deal ever | Thanksgiving weekend activities | Ice Skating | Thrashers special | Holiday Guide | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
November 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
[...] not limited to the outdoor rink at Centennial Olympic Park. My colleague, Jamie Gumbrecht from Inside Access, points out that the IceForum at Town Center in Kennesaw has Thanksgiving ice skating. Admission is [...]
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Know before you go: Macy’s Great Tree Lighting | Inside Access
November 25th, 2009
1:31 pm
[...] lights: This post links to even more Christmas tree lighting events around Atlanta. Field Trips with Sue has a handy lineup of Atlanta-area lighting displays, and if you’re [...]
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What’s the latest celebrity news, gossip? | The Buzz
November 25th, 2009
3:35 pm
[...] When you get tired of talking, check out things to do Thanksgiving weekend. [...]
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SOPHIE
November 25th, 2009
7:26 pm
THE TREE IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS A MEMORY OF A LIFE TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER ATLANTA , GEORGIA WITHOUT MACY’S AND THE BIG MACY’S CELEBRATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Innocent Bystander
November 25th, 2009
8:40 pm
This sounds like fun. Can everyone hear the live entertainment from where they are standing? Or do you have to be close to hear?
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Andres
November 25th, 2009
9:48 pm
I want to go, But dont want to deal with 100,000 persons
Restrooms nearby?
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Danielle
November 26th, 2009
11:57 am
Andres, there are port-a-potties all along the sides…..free starbucks, free show, free goodies….couldn’t get any better! oh, and fire works! =]
My family has been going to this for the past 18 years, and I couldnt have a Thanksgiving without going to it! It really gets you ready for Christmas, I definitely recommend you go!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Palmer
November 26th, 2009
3:20 pm
When will this event be over? Is it hard to leave?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 26th, 2009
7:49 pm
Thanks for jumping in to answer questions, Danielle! I’m just back from my Thanksgiving celebration waaaaaay outside Atlanta, so I didn’t see these till now. I hope everybody had a great time!
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Jane
November 27th, 2009
1:12 pm
We went last night for the first time and it was AMAZING! The sound system was awesome – plenty of room, plenty of port o potties. The performers were GREAT, the tree left me speechless! VERY fun and we’ll do it again. My only “complaints” would be the constant loud talking that people did while the performers were on and the smoking of many people near us. Even though it was an outside event the smoke was a nuisance for me and my young children. And I wish people would actually LISTEN to the performers! If you don’t want to hear them, then come late for the tree and fireworks. Don’t ruin it for the rest of us. However, still a great event and we’ll be back next year – with chairs this time!
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Chelsea Lynn LaBate wins Eddie’s Attic Open Mic Shootout | Inside Access
November 28th, 2009
1:30 pm
[...] of the 23 acts has a remarkable talent, whether for writing songs, singing them, playing or performing them. [...]
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C. M. Thornton, III
November 28th, 2009
6:52 pm
These stories are worthless without photos.
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Naomi
November 28th, 2009
7:34 pm
I agree with C. M.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 28th, 2009
7:50 pm
It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to get photos at each of the homes, but I disagree that the stories are worthless. I hear often from people who have questions about the tours, how long they last, whether they’re child-friendly etc. This isn’t meant to be a multimedia tour, but rather, an explanation of what you can expect from a tour. In this particular case, there are photos from inside The Wren’s Nest, if you click on the link about renovations — they weren’t shot for this particular story, but they were shot within the last year.
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MAT
November 29th, 2009
9:30 am
Can anyone get to the Pink Pig website? The link above is broken and there’s no clear place to get info at macys.com or the Simon website. I can’t believe it’s this hard to get info.
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Lain Shakespeare
November 29th, 2009
1:46 pm
Additionally, here are some more interior photos of the Wren’s Nest, shot earlier this fall:
http://www.wrensnestonline.com/news_press.php
There are also plenty of photos on the Wren’s Nest’s Facebook Fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/wrensnest
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Jamie Gumbrecht
November 29th, 2009
2:01 pm
Hi MAT! This year’s Pink Pig info has been hit or miss. As of today, this one seems to be half-working. The framework is there, but I haven’t had luck getting specifics from it: http://www.macys.com/campaign/pinkpig/home.jsp
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To do list: November 30 | Inside Access
November 30th, 2009
12:04 am
[...] Music: Songwriters Open Mic, 7 p.m., Eddie’s Attic, Decatur. Read more. [...]
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Aunt Sandra
November 30th, 2009
4:40 pm
My beautiful niece is up front on th eline in the center! Go Moya
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Stewart
December 1st, 2009
7:28 am
Thanks for the warning that ICP will be near my apartment. I will come home from work early to build the barricade.
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Away to vote: it’s runoff election day! | Inside Access
December 1st, 2009
7:11 pm
[...] If you’re looking for more fun stuff to do, check out today’s To Do List! [...]
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Georgia Music Hall of Fame: staying open, and in Macon | Inside Access
December 2nd, 2009
2:57 pm
[...] some suggested moving the Hall to Atlanta, where attendance would likely be greater, the public and private support holds them to Macon, said [...]
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floyd diller
December 2nd, 2009
2:59 pm
Rockettes are wonderful just wonderful
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Forsyth
December 2nd, 2009
4:28 pm
Babyland General in Helen, GA!
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Lora
December 2nd, 2009
4:30 pm
The cabbage patch where the Cabbage Patch Dolls are born.
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Rob
December 2nd, 2009
5:10 pm
I’m about 3 weeks late to the party, but I loved the article. Sadly I never got to know the Atlanta with the 4 AM last call, but I have some great memories of the Buckhead strip (currently known as the rubble along Peachtree Rd). It’s unfortunate that Atlanta no longer has a centralized party place like the Buckhead Strip used to serve as or Cresent Ave used to be before Vision shut down and Hush burned to the ground. I think Orlando has probably done the best with Pleasure Island. That’s an amazing area with everything contained. Atlanta recently turned a trouble-area around when they built Atlantic Station, maybe they could do the same for a “party central” (ideally along a Marta rail line that should stays open long enough to deter drunk driving).
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Weekend to do list: December 4-6 | Inside Access
December 3rd, 2009
12:10 am
[...] a handy round-up of some of the bigger holiday shows playing on local stages. Check out the Atlanta Music Scene blog for details on what shows are [...]
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Weekend to do list: December 4-6 | Inside Access
December 3rd, 2009
12:11 am
[...] Books: A Cappella Books 20th anniversary celebration runs through Dec. 6, noon-5 p.m., Opal Gallery, Atlanta. FREE. Read more. [...]
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helen
December 3rd, 2009
8:44 am
Beautiful cabbages in some one’s garden
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john
December 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
I glad this is getting done. It been a long time coming.
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john
December 3rd, 2009
9:22 am
I think that was pretty good. I wish we had them around here. people willing to spend money I would be willing to collect it.
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john
December 3rd, 2009
9:23 am
4am. I remember those days. I glad I got older and wiser. Those were fun times back then.
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john
December 3rd, 2009
9:25 am
I just saw this. I going to have to get my kids to it next year. It looks like a fun family activity.
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Mel
December 3rd, 2009
9:53 am
Aquarium
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botan
December 3rd, 2009
10:02 am
Atlanta Botanical gardens
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Don's Girl
December 3rd, 2009
10:04 am
Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, GA.
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No Life
December 3rd, 2009
10:05 am
I really could care less.
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Alicia
December 3rd, 2009
10:05 am
Babyland General in Clevland, Ga. Look at that sweet baby ear in the backgound.
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STEVE
December 3rd, 2009
10:18 am
IF YOU MISSED LAST NIGHT DON’T MISS TONIGHT.
THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND AT VARIETY PLAYHOUSE.
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JMS
December 3rd, 2009
10:35 am
Cabbage patch, so Babyland general’s new facility
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CJ
December 3rd, 2009
10:36 am
Chilli’s on Peachtree.
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polkadot
December 3rd, 2009
10:39 am
The nursery at Babyland General Cleveland,GA see the left side of the
Babys head.
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cjamesatl
December 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
At the Botanical Garden, Piedmont Park.
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Mary Ann
December 3rd, 2009
11:05 am
That’s right down the road from me. Its the Cabbage Patch Kids Babyland General!!!
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Deborah Jackson
December 3rd, 2009
12:48 pm
Cabbagetown
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Oh Yeah
December 3rd, 2009
1:21 pm
Oh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….
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Know Before You Go: 2009 SEC Championship Football Game Weekend in Atlanta | Inside Access
December 3rd, 2009
2:39 pm
[...] attractions, restaurants and shopping. You can find even more stuff to do around the area in our Weekend To Do List or in the searchable AccessAtlanta.com [...]
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lmmb
December 3rd, 2009
3:07 pm
The VA Hospital in Decatur Ga Has a Cabbage Patch in front of the building.
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lmmb
December 3rd, 2009
3:09 pm
Enter your comments here
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still443
December 3rd, 2009
3:29 pm
first?
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still443
December 3rd, 2009
3:30 pm
But anyway…. I’m still hoping for a nothing-nothing tie with all members of both teams rendered unconscious.
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dawgsux
December 3rd, 2009
3:31 pm
I understand why the Chic-Fil-A won’t pick the Georgia Bulldogs to play in their bowl. The players and fans won’t know HOW to get to the DOME!
Go Gators!
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Access Points 17: Mother Cabbage at BabyLand General | Inside Access
December 3rd, 2009
4:03 pm
[...] you recognize the image in this week’s Access Points photo game? No, it’s not the Georgia Aquarium or Cabbagetown, as some of you guessed, but rather, the [...]
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Gators Rule!
December 3rd, 2009
4:07 pm
The fanfare sounds like a lot of fun, but it sucks to be ‘Bama right now playing the Gators in the SEC Championship. It should be called the SEC CHOMP-IONSHIP because Florida will CHOMP all over Alabama, and make them look like CHUMPS!
Go Gators! CHOMP CHOMP!!
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Weekend to do list: December 4-6 | Inside Access
December 3rd, 2009
5:00 pm
[...] Sports: SEC Championship game with Alabama and Florida, 4 p.m., Georgia Dome, Atlanta. Know before you go. [...]
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SEC aficionado
December 3rd, 2009
11:55 pm
Where can we find a schedule of events for the SEC Fanfare? The link on the site that you provided is not active. Last year they posted a schedule of former greats appearing at the interview venue.
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GeeGee
December 4th, 2009
12:14 am
Show was great…Rockettes are great…unbelievable precision. But what in the world did that seriously religious nativity bunk have to do with the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. A seriously religious injection, after the last curtain dropped, that had a lot of the audience leaving and most of the rest perplexed and, without a doubt, many offended. I wasn’t offended. I just didn’t like it.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 4th, 2009
12:20 am
SEC aficionado — I’ve got calls into the SEC, GWCC and others about schedules, but haven’t heard back. I’ll add it when I have more info!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 4th, 2009
12:30 am
GeeGee, I don’t have a long personal knowledge of the show — this year was my first time seeing any of it — but “The Living Nativity” has been a part of the show since it launched in 1933, along with “March of the Wooden Soldiers.” Tradition seems to be the name of the game here.
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BBro
December 4th, 2009
5:59 am
GO GATORS!
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mary
December 4th, 2009
7:16 am
Cavalia The Incredible Absolute Best of the Best!! We loved it!
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George
December 4th, 2009
7:55 am
Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park
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We Own This STATE!!!
December 4th, 2009
8:07 am
I say the event of the year was that beat down that my DAWGS put on those nerds on North Ave. I know that Tech kids get held up like every week, so they should be used to it. 30-24!!! Event of the year!
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Keith
December 4th, 2009
8:10 am
Once again, a smart-*ss, redneck Georgia fan has to make his mark on one of these blogs.
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Will
December 4th, 2009
8:31 am
Stomp and Chomp in Cabbagetown. Definitely.
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downsouth
December 4th, 2009
8:31 am
c’mon people, you can see the hem/seam on the “leaf”, it’s not a real cabbage. man, Xavier’s still making big bucks on those dolls. anybody still got an original?
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TRUTH
December 4th, 2009
8:33 am
There were “events” in Atlanta?? LMAO!!! Yeah, right….
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Rich
December 4th, 2009
8:34 am
Stomp and Chomp? Never heard of it.
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Boneyard Randy
December 4th, 2009
8:35 am
Every night at the Highlight Factory. Go Hawks!
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Melissa
December 4th, 2009
8:38 am
The Beyonce concert on July 1, 2009. She rocked it out!
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My Scene: What Sin Lucas, editor of music site TheSilverTongueOnline.com, loves about Atlanta | Inside Access
December 4th, 2009
10:19 am
[...] for a new My Scene! As always, we’re trying to find what the non-tourists do for fun around [...]
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FalconFan
December 4th, 2009
10:22 am
I hope no stinky jort gators or mullet bama fans stink up my seats in the dome, maybe I should take some lysol to spray my seats before the Philly game
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We Own This STATE!!!
December 4th, 2009
10:29 am
Hey Keith, just thought you might want to know I’m not just a UGA fan, but a graduate of UGA. And, no, I’m not a redneck, I’m not even from Georgia originally. But, I would venture to say that the UGA-Tech game is always one of the biggest events of the year in Atlanta, and UGA did whip Tech’s butts all over the Joke by Coke, and there have been a lot of robberies of Tech students this year. So, next time you want to open your mouth and call someone a name, I will give you a time and place and you can say it to my face. Oh, and Tech students are nerds, everyone knows that. Man up or shut up.
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Escorn
December 4th, 2009
10:45 am
Le Flash.
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fishtales
December 4th, 2009
11:18 am
FalconFan – your #7 jersey smells like dog feces anyway so what are you worried about?
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RammerJammer79
December 4th, 2009
11:26 am
Hey Gator fans, we win you lose. This is OUR year. ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 4th, 2009
11:32 am
Hey everybody, there are plenty other places you can go online to trash talk each other’s teams. Keep it positive and stay on topic.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 4th, 2009
11:35 am
Hey folks — stay on topic. We’re looking for nominations for the best event around Atlanta in 2009. Take your arguments about sports fandom elsewhere.
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shiftysquid
December 4th, 2009
11:35 am
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, final show at the Fox Theatre. Best concert I’ve ever been to.
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JoeV
December 4th, 2009
11:38 am
Christmas parade and tree lighting on saturday in Cumming as well.
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soulfinger
December 4th, 2009
11:43 am
I agree..Beyonce!!!
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Lissette Herrera
December 4th, 2009
11:48 am
Aqua Vino at Georgia Aquarium! Over 200 wines, 30 restaurants with fishes on the background!!
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Molly Locklear
December 4th, 2009
11:58 am
There’s also the Bachelorette Bash tonight at Whiskey Park at W Midtown. 7pm for ladies and 10pm for men!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 4th, 2009
11:58 am
Thanks JoeV! Here’s more info on the parade and tree lighting in Cumming: http://www.hometowntimes.com/cumminghome/events/concerts/cumming-christmas-parade-festival.shtml
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Ashley
December 4th, 2009
12:04 pm
Aqua Vino at Georgia Aquarium! The food was incredible, and there were more wines than I’ve ever seen. Combine wandering around the Aquarium with endless eating and drinking and winning AirTran tickets in their auction, and you’ve got a can’t miss event. Love, love it.
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They call me Ace
December 4th, 2009
12:15 pm
The Kiss concert in October!!! Rock ‘n roll all night and party everyday!!!!
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BB
December 4th, 2009
12:17 pm
Chomp and Stomp–C’town.
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Captain Midnight
December 4th, 2009
12:46 pm
@ We own this state, Dude “I will give you a time and place and you can say it to my face”. Yep, no redneckin’ goin on here.
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Captain Midnight
December 4th, 2009
12:48 pm
Hey Dawg fans, Herchel wan’ts to give you a tour of his garage. LOL!!
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JB
December 4th, 2009
12:54 pm
Aqua Vino at the Aquarium!
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Mel
December 4th, 2009
12:57 pm
PAUL MCCARTNEY WAS THE EVENT OF THE DECADE, NOT JUST 2009!
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smith
December 4th, 2009
12:58 pm
Paul McCartney the best of 2009
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TJ
December 4th, 2009
1:06 pm
Aqua Vino was the BEST!!! An abundance of wine and food. The selection was incredible and they seemed to never run out of anything. I wonder how they can make it all come together so beautifully. I had an amazing time and met some truly fabulous people. And the setting…. Don’t even get me started!
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Joe
December 4th, 2009
1:10 pm
The rigged mayoral election.
Norwood started talking about audits and it was over.
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greensideup
December 4th, 2009
1:17 pm
Aqua Vino @ GA Aquarium
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Ryan
December 4th, 2009
1:28 pm
I have also been looking for a schedule of events for SEC Fanfare, as there is no link on the secsports.com website. It appears that this is poorly planned this year, which is surprising given the magnitude of the game. Would have liked to go if there were some former Vols in the house, but have no interest otherwise as a Tennessee fan. Will just stay home out of the chilly weather, I guess.
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Carly
December 4th, 2009
1:30 pm
Aqua Vino @ The Georgia Aquarium was the best event of 2009.
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Steve Shindell
December 4th, 2009
1:43 pm
AquaVino was awesome!
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100 more Neil Gaiman-in-Decatur tickets available Dec. 7 | Inside Access
December 4th, 2009
1:43 pm
[...] When Little Shop of Stories in downtown Decatur opened its doors on Monday, there was a line 100 deep for tickets to author Neil Gaiman’s Dec. 14 book signing. [...]
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Randi
December 4th, 2009
1:56 pm
Taste of Atlanta rocked this year!
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timthebrave
December 4th, 2009
2:24 pm
Here are my votes for things I went to
1. NIN and Janes Addiction (Hifi buys ampitheatre,)
2. Kings of Leon (Phillips)
3. Oysterfest
4. REM (hifi)
5. dogwood festival
6. Tool (Gwinnett)Does that count?
Can’t include Paul McCartney even though I heard it was good because I didn’t actually go
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Lisa Campbell
December 4th, 2009
2:27 pm
Aqua Vino by far was the best event of 2009!
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rebeldawg
December 4th, 2009
2:47 pm
sweetwater 420 fest. great place to make fun of hippies.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 4th, 2009
3:12 pm
SEC aficionado and Ryan — I just got a call back from SEC folks with rough schedules for the Fanfare events. Info about the Chuck Wicks concert, pep rallies and Legends events are posted above!
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Shameika
December 4th, 2009
3:20 pm
Aqua Vino at Georgia Aquarium!
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Richard
December 4th, 2009
3:21 pm
Peachtree Road Race! Back in Piedmont Park!
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Chris
December 4th, 2009
3:24 pm
ATLANTA GAY PRIDE PARTY @ Georgia Aquarium
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Gary D
December 4th, 2009
3:25 pm
I would have to agree that Aqua Vino was the best event. Just the location alone blows everything else away. Not too mention the wines and food.
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Heywood
December 4th, 2009
3:25 pm
Georgia Aquarium Aqua Vino hands down.
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Josh
December 4th, 2009
3:29 pm
Aqua Vino at the Aquarium was fantastic.
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SEC aficionado
December 4th, 2009
3:29 pm
Thanks, Jamie, for collecting what information that you could about event specifics for the SEC Fanfare. They really dropped the ball on this. Last year they posted a detailed schedule in thirty minute increments. I went in 2008 solely because of some of the events that they posted in advance. But no such good marketing this year.
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MantaRay
December 4th, 2009
4:04 pm
Aqua Vino at Georgia Aquarium!
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Janet
December 4th, 2009
4:06 pm
Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park
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MC
December 4th, 2009
4:12 pm
Aqua Vino at the Aquarium!
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Al
December 4th, 2009
4:20 pm
AquaVino at Georgia Aquarium. Great wine, great food, beautiful people and the colour and splendor of worlds largest aquarium. Easily the best.
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Short on funds, Zoo Atlanta pandas still likely to stay | Inside Access
December 4th, 2009
4:53 pm
[...] campaign with a name that implied the community might lose something special if, in fact, there was no way that was going to happen. There’s no way to say that money raised for pandas would have gone to any of the other [...]
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alice
December 4th, 2009
4:54 pm
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium. A wonderful night out with friends with the bonus having wonderful food and wine and an intimate exposure to the aquarium!
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Laura Miller
December 4th, 2009
4:55 pm
Aqua Vino!
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Xiamara
December 4th, 2009
4:58 pm
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium!
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AK
December 4th, 2009
5:39 pm
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium.
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Kristie
December 4th, 2009
5:43 pm
AquaVino Rocks!!!
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Dennis
December 4th, 2009
5:49 pm
Best event in town!
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Liz
December 4th, 2009
5:50 pm
Definitely the Georgia Aquarium’s Aqua Vino! So much fun and very well organized.
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Keith Hacke
December 4th, 2009
5:51 pm
Aqua Vino best event ever……
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Toni Friday
December 4th, 2009
5:53 pm
Absolutely Aqua Vino at Georgia Aquarium!!
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JV
December 4th, 2009
6:07 pm
I was just talking about Aqua Vino yesterday!
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B
December 4th, 2009
6:18 pm
Decatur Beer Fest!
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Kyle Porter
December 4th, 2009
6:19 pm
Aqua Vino for sure! I went to a lot of these events this in ATL and have to say that GA Aqua Vino party was tops. I can’t wait for the dolphins and look forward to next year!
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Amy
December 4th, 2009
8:26 pm
Aqua Vino was a fantastic event. The aquarium rocks!
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Margaret
December 4th, 2009
8:43 pm
Aqua Vino was the event of the year. It was a great party with the best atmosphere, food and wine.
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ButlerDawg
December 4th, 2009
10:18 pm
Agreed. UGA spanking the Jackets was the event of the year, in my book! Looking forward to the next 6-7 years of owning the nerds before we let them grab their once in a decade victory. Oh, by the way, Go Dawgs!!!
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PhilliePhil
December 4th, 2009
10:44 pm
DragonCon… hands down is Atlanta’s best event.
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Carmen
December 4th, 2009
10:50 pm
Taste of Atlanta was awesome. I ate so much this year!
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redatl
December 4th, 2009
10:52 pm
While Sir Paul was great what about DAVE MATTHEWS at Piedmont Park w/the Allman Brothers. Bigger, more eclectic crowd. Also, the annual Santa Pub Crawl. It’s more fun than Halloween.
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WW
December 4th, 2009
11:01 pm
Dragon*Con. I worked it and it is still and always will be #1. Seeing all of the Stargate movie stars, and other celebrities was really cool. I guess I should dress up next year.
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Elliot Garcia
December 5th, 2009
10:39 am
I support Zoo Atlanta and appreciate their efforts.
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JoeV
December 5th, 2009
11:16 am
Keep up the great work Jamie! Best blog on the ajc.com!
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KSEE
December 5th, 2009
11:24 am
I want to go to the zoo! I love Zoo Atlanta
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 5th, 2009
3:45 pm
Aww, thanks!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 5th, 2009
3:46 pm
Me, too, KSEE! I have a particular fondness for the naked mole rats and the parakeets.
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CK
December 5th, 2009
4:32 pm
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium was amazing! Great food & wine!!!
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Buckhead’s luxury St. Regis Hotel opens 7th floor ice rink | Inside Access
December 5th, 2009
4:48 pm
[...] skating at downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, a temporary rink, known for craggy ice and a family friendly atmosphere: $9 for 90 minutes and [...]
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Buckhead’s luxury St. Regis Hotel opens 7th floor ice rink | Inside Access
December 5th, 2009
4:49 pm
[...] Um. Wow. Maybe it’s a good think I can’t skate. [...]
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mary
December 5th, 2009
7:10 pm
Cavalia hands down—the BEST!!!!!!!!
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say what?
December 5th, 2009
9:21 pm
What makes it worth $30? I can see people who are staying in the hotel doing this, as visitors make wonderful targets, and if you are staying in the St. Regis price is no matter.
I choose the Ice Forum, at least it is permanent.
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Ole Guy
December 5th, 2009
9:42 pm
Some of the Hilton Embassys have a pond-like set-up in the atrium. Take out the gold fish, toss in a few ice cubes, and voila!
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Scott Smallwood
December 5th, 2009
10:12 pm
America I AM at the Atlanta Civic Center and the Dogwood Festival
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ATL GAL
December 6th, 2009
6:58 am
$30 may sound high, but gotta do something to keep out the riffraff.
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Buckhead Bob
December 6th, 2009
8:26 am
It might just get non skaters in to see this beautiful hotel. Watch the skaters and maybe have a drink, lunch or dinner. It would be a nice Christmas experience.
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not a Tiger fan
December 6th, 2009
9:40 am
Best event of 2009???? Hands down….Tiger Woods’ downfall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m loving it! Why? Because for YEARS all you media types have fawned over him. You’ve been like little boys worshipping your “hero”! What a joke! All of YOU now have egg on your faces….Tiger is a scum bag and you guys have been duped!
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Kelly
December 6th, 2009
10:27 am
Yes, Gwinnett counts. However, I would have to pick 1) The Peachtree RR, and 2) Yo YO Ma at Symphony Hall.
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Joy
December 6th, 2009
11:49 am
Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park, a great concert and great audience. What a scene!
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Access Points 17: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
December 6th, 2009
2:06 pm
[...] UPDATE 12/6: Want to see the answer? Here it is! [...]
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Jennifer
December 6th, 2009
2:42 pm
They need to alter their hours – open later than 8 PM. They may get a date crowd then. Ending at 8 PM ?
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Riffraff
December 6th, 2009
5:18 pm
But what’l I do?
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Matthew May
December 6th, 2009
8:56 pm
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium
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Larry
December 6th, 2009
9:34 pm
Cip and BJ C are so ignorant that it is absolutely amazing. I too saw the show and was totally excited by it. I’m a big-band person and this band is absolutely fabulous. It kicks ass and at the same time has a control that is sublime. If Sinatra had that kind of band and that kind of sound quality when he was alive (and don’t think for one minute that sound quality doesn’t make a differnce because it absolutely does), he would have sold even more records! Nelson Riddle and many of the other arrangers were too “sophisticated” in their arrangements and left the music wanting more excitement. This band delivers what the original arrangements did not. And the more kick-ass the drummer can deliver, the more exciting the performaces by the dancers will be.
The dancers were amazing! I have been to a lot of musicals in my time both on Broadway and off and in the movies. I’m a staunch Gene Kelly fan, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse etc., and these dancers, under Tharps direction, gave us what the Broadway musical audience yearns for: rhythm, sensuality, talent and hope; hope that great live Broadway dancing is not dead. By the way, it doesn’t seem that anyone commented that “Take Five” was screamingly wonderfully danced. Holy Crap, it was phenomenal! Sure it isn’t a Sinatra piece (as anyone with a brain cell knows, it was classic Bruebeck), but what an emotional number. Rocking, yet emotional. It was music of the period of time that Sinatra made his comeback and the fact that it along with other music was not only brilliant, but gave us a “break” from all of the wonderful Sinatra songs so that when those songs returned, we wanted them even more. Absolutely masterful! So for the two imbeciles who thought the performance was too racey, you had every right to walk out. And the person who thought “tame it down for New York” you should consider visiting other places than Atlanta to just get an idea of what the rest of the world is experiencing. Do you think that Mr. Sinatra was an angel while he was alive…give ma a break.
I would have paid the price of a ticket just to hear the band. But with the dancing, it was the bargain of year. I have told friends on both coasts to see this if it comes to their city or even near their city. You won’t be diappointed.
Ms. Tharp: don’t give up on this! Keep the band and the dancers delivering and never, ever give up on the sound quality!
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Bronte
December 6th, 2009
10:00 pm
Hey I live all the way in tyabb you see and I really want to go there maybe one time I might be able to have a peek because I love cabbage patch dolls there so cute!
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Jamar
December 7th, 2009
9:48 am
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium!
Food, Folks, & Fun!
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Stephanie
December 7th, 2009
12:12 pm
Aqua Vino!!!!!!!!!!!
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Deniece
December 7th, 2009
1:36 pm
Aqua Vino hands down – very sexy event!!!
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Sheree
December 7th, 2009
4:54 pm
Hey Jamie! Its Sheree. One of your netherworld haunted house partners. Back checking out your blog. Which is always lovely by the way. Hey do you know if they do this a lot at eddie’s attic?
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Sheree
December 7th, 2009
5:01 pm
Oh wait nevermind.. Didnt see that last part that said every monday night hahaha.
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Blake
December 8th, 2009
11:45 am
Aqua Vino at Georgia Aquarium was awesome this year!
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R. E. Herbert
December 8th, 2009
12:35 pm
Without a doubt… Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium…
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aferg
December 8th, 2009
2:18 pm
Classic City Brew Fest- all the way. Atlanta proper has some tremendous gathering, no doubt. But the Classic City Brew Fest in Athens is by far the best in the region.
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Rosita
December 8th, 2009
4:54 pm
Aqua Vino @ Georgia Aquarium!
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Luis
December 8th, 2009
4:58 pm
Aqua Vino was amazing!
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Leslie
December 8th, 2009
5:01 pm
Aqua Vino!
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Cherie
December 8th, 2009
5:03 pm
Aqua vino – very cool
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Kim
December 8th, 2009
5:32 pm
Aqua Vino!!
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Henry
December 8th, 2009
5:45 pm
Aqua Vino
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ligia
December 8th, 2009
6:17 pm
Aqua Vino
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Cara
December 8th, 2009
7:27 pm
Aqua Vino at the Aquarium!
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The Marshall's
December 8th, 2009
10:56 pm
Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park, even with the rain, an amazing experience.
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To do list: December 9 | Inside Access
December 9th, 2009
12:03 am
[...] For families: Ice skating at the St. Regis, noon-8 p.m., St. Regis Hotel-Buckhead, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Wes
December 9th, 2009
12:53 am
Sweet Water 420 Fest!!!!
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TB
December 9th, 2009
3:50 am
I was one of those 100 waiting outside that first Monday. I met Neil Gaiman here twice before, but it has a very long time. I saw him at a small bookstore on Cheshire Bridge road back in 1999 and then the following year at DragonCon. I’ve been a huge fan of his since I read his Black Orchid comic in the late 80’s. That signing in 99 was really great and drew a small intimate crowd. I see the word has gotten out over the years as to how great of a writer he is. Thanks for Little Shop for making this happen.
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Marsha Crenshaw
December 9th, 2009
5:37 am
You, as a a ” reviewer” must have been boxed (as most writers are) in the cheap seats. I would think, if given a job, writing about a very sensitive subject, you would at least express yourself as such. The diatribe you wrote is as see through as a hastily put together term paper.
You were one of the few that looked on, like a mission for your next review. Good luck. Remember…only write about things you know, or can quickly gather information on.
I write and voice for a living. It is a small pool.
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gloATL dances again with ‘Crea’ at Woodruff Arts Center | Inside Access
December 9th, 2009
10:03 am
[...] weeks away from Christmas, you’d think the most accessible dance performances would involve nutcrackers and eye-high kicks, but I’ll argue for another: “Crea” by [...]
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Kari
December 9th, 2009
10:12 am
Aqua Vino at the Georgia Aquarium was a blast!
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gloATL dances again with ‘Crea’ at Woodruff Arts Center | Inside Access
December 9th, 2009
10:32 am
[...] Christmas, you’d think the most accessible dance performances would involve nutcrackers and eye-high kicks, but I’ll argue for another: “Crea” by gloATL. [...]
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gloATL dances again with ‘Crea’ at Woodruff Arts Center | Inside Access
December 9th, 2009
10:35 am
[...] that fits into spaces we already know, or think we know — the Woodruff Arts Center lawn, the streets of Castleberry Hill and this time, the Robinson Atrium inside the High Museum of Art. Stages and auditoriums are [...]
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fun things to do around Atlanta weekend December 11-13 2009 | Inside Access
December 10th, 2009
12:02 am
[...] to do to help guide you. If you’re looking for more info on holiday shows, check out this blog post from last week. And if you’re looking for live music, I recommend a visit to the Atlanta Music Scene [...]
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To do list: December 10 | Inside Access
December 10th, 2009
12:06 am
[...] Closing reception for “Undercover,” 6:30 p.m., Spelman Museum, [...]
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schwamommy
December 10th, 2009
10:03 am
L5P halloween parade!!!!
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cetawayo
December 10th, 2009
10:51 am
picture taken on a ladder in garage driveway of a suburban home.
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Jerry
December 10th, 2009
11:57 am
Hallo Sheree, if you notice closely the article states that this was one of Eddie’s “Bi-annual Shootouts”. Yes, there is a prestigious open mic every Monday night, and it is a great honor to win one of these. But, twice a year Eddie, of Eddie’s Attic, hosts a “shoot-out” between all of the Monday night’s winners up to that point. Pulling off a win at one of these is incredibly difficult, and a true testament to a songwriter’s musical talent.
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CJ
December 10th, 2009
12:05 pm
Oh this is too easy….you’re at the Party City on Mt. Zion in Morrow.
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guessing
December 10th, 2009
12:27 pm
pace academy?
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Salvador Dalí and more new exhibitions at High Museum | Inside Access
December 10th, 2009
1:14 pm
[...] June 5, 2010-Jan. 9, 2011: “Signs of Life: Photographs by Peter Sekaer” This High-organized exhibition will be the first dedicated to the work of photographer Peter Sekaer, who photographed American cities — including some in Georgia — to document the effects of the Great Depression. Read more about it in this blog post, “High to debut Peter Sekaer exhibition in 2010.” [...]
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Tommy Hall
December 10th, 2009
1:15 pm
Either U2 at the Dome or Miley Cyus at Philips or David Foster at The Fox
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sh
December 10th, 2009
1:20 pm
The Fox Theater
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fun things to do around Atlanta weekend December 11-13 2009 | Inside Access
December 10th, 2009
1:57 pm
[...] For families: Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” opens, various theaters. Read more. [...]
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sooperjaniman
December 10th, 2009
3:53 pm
Looks like a picture of a building from a train set.
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Access Points 18: History Center’s Leila Ross Wilburn exhibit | Inside Access
December 10th, 2009
4:15 pm
[...] Were you able to identify the image in this week’s Access Points photo game? [...]
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Access Points 18: Can you guess what and where this is? | Inside Access
December 10th, 2009
4:26 pm
[...] UPDATE 12/10: Want to know the answer? Here it is! [...]
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A Fan
December 10th, 2009
8:11 pm
Another great performance this weekend is the 34th Annual Music of the Holidays presented by The Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. There are two performances, one at 3pm and one at 8pm, on Saturday Dec. 12. at The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Please visit http://www.aysc.org for more information.
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JD
December 11th, 2009
12:09 am
Um, I’d gladly pay $30 to avoid the punk kids at Centennial. The ones who think it’s funny to skate around you really fast and knock you down. And the nine thousand people they let on the ice. And the puddles that make your feet wet. Yeah. The St. Regis’s ice rink was WAAAY better than Centennial.
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JoeV
December 11th, 2009
10:28 am
The Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes is a must see! My wife and I did it last year and it was fantastic! Wonderful people welcoming you into their beautiful homes is really a treat. We’re going again this weekend despite the awful weather forecast.
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bbb
December 11th, 2009
11:06 am
Another great thing this weekend is the North Atlanta Christmas Festival at Mount Pisgah in Alpharetta. There is dancing, singing, and the GA Tech drum corp will be there too! Tickets are $7-$10 and shows are tonight at 7pm, tomorrow at 3:30 and 7, and Sunday at 7pm. It is great for the whole family and also has a fantastic nativity scene. See you there!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 11th, 2009
5:40 pm
Thanks for the recommendations! Great info!
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BiancaJ
December 11th, 2009
7:16 pm
It’s my birthday and I took my 5 yr old daughter to see the Princess and The Frog, it was just a wonderful experience. The story line was great and I enjoyed Disney portraying an intake Black family, but the theme was universal to believe in oneself, dream big and what matters in life is often the small things that we overlook. I was probably more excited to see the movie than my daugher. I turned 41 yrs today and I’ve watched Disney since childhood and to see this historic event of a Black Princess on the “big screen” was terrific….something to see for everyone. Finally, the soundtrack of songs was great as well.
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Ayana
December 11th, 2009
10:09 pm
My mother, grandmother, daughter, son and I went and LOVED it. Disney did a great job!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 11th, 2009
11:36 pm
Awww, happy birthday BiancaJ! I definitely got the feeling that there were a lot of moms and grandmas just as excited to see the film as there were little girls. You’re not alone.
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jdoe@jdoe.org
December 12th, 2009
12:01 am
Took my 10-year-daughter and four of her friends tonight. The girls loved the movie. But no more than this 45-year-old dad. This is one of those Disney movies destined to be a classic. It has that charming, old-style Disney style that brought to mind the sincerity, charm, and simplicity of the old Disney movies of my youth. The morals inculcated in the script, the sweetness of the story line, and love-letter it is in many ways to New Orleans, instantly made this G-rated movie one of my all time favorites. The humor in the movie is the kind that both parent and child appreciate. Short of Oprah Winfrey and John Goodman, there are no mega-star stars as voices I recognized, but each character is cast perfectly. A few scenes may be a little scary for some kids under 6 or 7. But as a grown-up, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, appreciate it’s completely lack of innuendo, no dirty words or inferences, incorporation of the values of dreams and work, the romance. Overall, a very, very charming movie, worth the attention of all generations. A++.
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jdoe@jdoe.org
December 12th, 2009
12:03 am
Oh, also agree with BiancaJ’s comment, the music in the movie, I think conducted or written by Randy Newnan, is superb.
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Danny Leonard
December 12th, 2009
3:15 am
Noticed the time 4:20, heading on a road trip, then the motor boat, time to get festive in the dank tank; before they turn blue, need a happy ending.
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wrt
December 12th, 2009
10:28 pm
No doubt about it. McCartney.
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Michael
December 12th, 2009
10:59 pm
McCartney in Piedmont Park could be the best event in Atlanta in the last 25 years….
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ITP Conservative
December 12th, 2009
11:29 pm
The lakes refilled and we had that one sunny weekend in October.
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brandon W
December 12th, 2009
11:49 pm
McCartney in Atlanta was the best show i have ever seen!
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ATL Love Mike !
December 12th, 2009
11:49 pm
Mike Vick’s Homecoming and Peal Harbor Re-Enactment at the Georgia Dome last Sunday!
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JM
December 13th, 2009
12:00 am
Let’s put it this way … nothing compares to McCartney.
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Vick Can Bite Me
December 13th, 2009
12:19 am
The Snow Patrol concert at the Tabernacle – amazing show!!
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Halimaw
December 13th, 2009
12:24 am
The B-52’s concert in the Mable House Barnes Amphitheater was the best event of 2009, bar none!
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Giedrius
December 13th, 2009
12:29 am
The Best: The Cult in Tabernacle and Metallica in Phillips Arena.
The worst – U2 in Georgia Dome.
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Adam G
December 13th, 2009
1:02 am
How come no sporting events make the list like Chic-fil-A Kickoff Game or the SEC Championship. Both great multiday events in the city of Atlanta?!?!
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Brent
December 13th, 2009
1:07 am
VICK leaving atlanta, AGAIN!!! by far the best…
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Andy
December 13th, 2009
2:53 am
Apparently, a few people weren’t at the same concert I attended. U2 @ the Dome was a stellar evening of “sonic architecture”!
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Randy
December 13th, 2009
7:58 am
HANDS DOWN, PAUL MCCARTNEY AT PIEDMONT PARK
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Rick G - FOTR
December 13th, 2009
1:10 pm
McCartney, of course! – regardless of how the folks at the park that did-not-organize the show totally scammed the fans, and had no clue as to how to handle a show like this, when Paul hit the stage it became a moment of history for the town.
……………but ConVick leaving the city once again WAS a wonderful thing, Brett!! {he should be working on a Chevy assembly line somewhere…}
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Dorkydad
December 13th, 2009
11:48 pm
I bought tickets months ago but was out of town for work, and so I gave them away as early Christmas gifts. While I’m sorry to have missed it, I count myself fortunate to have had an 11th hour realization last summer that I was in downtown Chicago on a Thursday evening with nothing to do on an evening when my favorite show has it live taping. I was two blocks from the Chase Auditorium, a rather intimate setting, and seeing Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me was one of the highlights of my year.
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Tony Shaw
December 14th, 2009
7:37 am
There’s the Mary Gay House in Decatur, but it only opens for special events such as weddings. My specific interest is literature, and I spent a month going around a number of literary places September–october this year, and have now got the majority of details, including a great number of photos, on my blog: http://tonyshaw3.blogspot.com
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Marti
December 14th, 2009
11:53 am
Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park reminded us all of what an amazing feeling you get when you join with thousands of other people to experience the performance of a musical legend and master communicator.
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Andrew
December 14th, 2009
12:16 pm
I wouldve said the Nickleback/Seether/Saving Abel concert that was at Lakewood, It was awesome! It was pouring rain the entire time an we got soaked out on the lawn but it was a BLAST! Everyone had the time of their lives!!!!
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Lucy Mae
December 14th, 2009
12:32 pm
The Police reunion at Phillips.
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JG
December 14th, 2009
2:16 pm
The Cult at the Tabernacle and the Thrashers hoisting the Stanley Cup as World Champions.
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chuck allison
December 14th, 2009
2:39 pm
Actually, I thought that the award for the best event in Atlanta should be a tie between the Georgia Tech vs VPI football game or the Gun Show at the Atlanta Farmers Market in Forest Park.
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Mike
December 14th, 2009
3:06 pm
How Paul McCartney and Vick could end up in the same blog is frightening. But this is ATL. The thing about McCartney is that everytime you see him, you think it’s the best he’s ever done…..and you’re right.
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Lauren
December 14th, 2009
4:44 pm
PAUL MCCARTNEY AT PIEDMONT PARK
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Horse Girl
December 14th, 2009
5:01 pm
Cavalia at Atlantic Station!
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Betty
December 14th, 2009
5:24 pm
Leonard Cohen at the Fox – a magical evening.
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DMB Night 1
December 14th, 2009
5:24 pm
Dave Matthews Band Night 1 at Verizon Wireless!!
Ampitheater
AMAZING SHOW-YEAH DMB
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Ryan
December 14th, 2009
5:47 pm
Bruce Springsteen and his legendary E-Street Band putting on, yet another, heart stopping performance at Philips, was my favorite event of 2009.
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Chris
December 14th, 2009
7:04 pm
Dave Matthews concert in the spring. My wife said yes when I asked her to marry me during “Crash.”
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ADP
December 14th, 2009
7:24 pm
HANDS DOWN……The Mawell conert. Next time, I’ll pay a million dollars to see him ! BEST CONCERT, I’VE SEEN SINCE OUTKAST !!!
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T-Bone
December 14th, 2009
7:43 pm
Georgia Tech’s win over Virginia Tech was it for me. It was great to see those goal posts come downs. Finally we have a football time that we can all be proud of.
Go Jackets!!!
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J
December 14th, 2009
8:13 pm
Two lower middle SEC teams (Ga. and S. C.) win the ACC. tech takes third.
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Saint Simons' Ghost
December 14th, 2009
8:40 pm
{{{{{{{30-24}}}}}}
How ’bout them Dawgs!!
Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park.
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Joe Przedwiecki
December 14th, 2009
9:31 pm
I thought my birthday was pretty great.
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Dyanna
December 15th, 2009
1:25 am
Cavalia, It was so amazing and beautiful!!!!!! Wish I could go again!
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Don
December 15th, 2009
3:59 am
Leonard Cohen at the Fox – If you missed it, you don’t know how good it was.
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The Toad
December 15th, 2009
4:30 am
MCCartney!
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Randi
December 15th, 2009
9:05 am
Taste of Atlanta in midtown was great this year. Loved the all the food!
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Crowd waits up to 7 hours to meet Neil Gaiman in Decatur | Inside Access
December 15th, 2009
10:43 am
[...] devoted are Neil Gaiman’s Atlanta fans? Well, devoted enough to lure him here with a fabulous party at Decatur’s Little Shop of Stories, devoted enough to stand in line for free tickets and devoted enough still to wait up to seven [...]
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Crowd waits up to 7 hours to meet Neil Gaiman in Decatur | Inside Access
December 15th, 2009
10:47 am
[...] lure him here with a fabulous party at Decatur’s Little Shop of Stories, devoted enough to stand in line for free tickets and devoted enough still to wait up to seven hours at Agnes Scott College to get [...]
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cowo
December 15th, 2009
11:04 am
MACCA – no contest. The venue was miserable, no seats, rain, standing for hours on end, and having to watch screens because he was so far away, but Sir Paul has to be the greatest entertainer in history. Seen him 17 times w/o The Beatles, and 4 times with – just gets better and better. Hope he comes back to the Phillips SOON!
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Ted
December 15th, 2009
11:55 am
Collective Soul at the Tabernacle was awesome, as was Train at the Tabernacle. JD Souther at Eddie’s Attic was incredible. If you want to see an awesome show go see Ed Roland at Eddie’s Attic on Dec 19 and 20.
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Nick G
December 15th, 2009
12:41 pm
Man I gotta get out more often, I didn’t go to any of these events. However, I think my 7 year old’s birthday party was probably my favorite event of 2009.
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Neil Gaiman was GREAT!
December 15th, 2009
1:24 pm
The whole event was terrific and both Neil Gaiman and the Little Shop of Stories folks deserve great credit for making it a wonderful evening. As the parent of a kid needing to go to school today, I am very grateful to everyone who graciously let children get their books signed first.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 15th, 2009
1:30 pm
That really was incredibly smart to bump the families up to the front of the line. It’s a small thing that made a huge difference. I appreciated that the Little Shop folks were honest about how long it would take, but know their audience well enough to keep the kiddos (and therefore, everyone) happy.
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rick g - fotr
December 15th, 2009
1:36 pm
Can’t wait to say ‘Hello Dali’!!!
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Tara
December 15th, 2009
1:45 pm
Sir Paul @ Piedmont Park was undoubtedly an event to remember. He rocked the park. No one minded the rain and everyone enjoyed the cooling showers after being in the hot summer afternoon.
Baby I’m (always) Amazed!
Paul was #1 in 2009!
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Jason
December 15th, 2009
1:50 pm
Sounds like a great event and good job Little Shop of Stories in making it happen.
Now, if Dave Shallenberger can drop his superior attitude about independent bookstores, it would be great.
My local B&N has “reading paws” where kids read to dogs – great little program.
And another B&N up the street from me is bringing my favorite author – Jasper Fforde – in January.
It also employs dozens of people (I’m guessing).
Can’t you just be happy that you had a great event without trying to diminish stores that others enjoy? There’s room enough for both.
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Neil is a Literary Rock Star
December 15th, 2009
2:03 pm
Neil was warm, gracious, kind, entirely witty, wonderfully creative and enormously generous with his time – he spoke and read for nearly an hour and a half – followed by several hours of book signing!
Bravo Little Shop of Stories for all you did to bring him here, deep gratitude to Agnes Scot for hosting the multitudes, and many many thanks to Neil for making the trip! Decatur was greatly honored to have Neil visit.
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Lena
December 15th, 2009
2:17 pm
I think props also should be given to the campus police at Agnes Scott. The officer who was in charge of hanging out with the line before the doors opened was downright friendly and joked around with the crowd. when they started allowing people (two at a time) to buy books or pick up will call tickets he kept it moving and organized so that there wasn’t a mad rush or people cutting the line. I’ve been to events where the “security” were rude and treated folks like cattle and this could not have been MORE different. It kept everyone who was standing in the cold and damp for hours in good spirits.
And to the previous commentor. Folks SHOULD be proud of independent bookstores having a moment to shine. Often times big chains may do little things for the community, but really they’re pushing out local businesses buy providing quantity instead of quality. Last night’s event was a triumph for indie booksellers because way too often big name authors don’t come to their stores because the bigger chains have more clout (and sadly more space). The spirit behind Neil’s appearance last night (as he himself said) was to give those underdogs a chance.
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MidtownRes
December 15th, 2009
2:19 pm
Paul McCartney was not only the best event of the year, probably the best concert I’ve ever attended. Can’t imagine any other event that would get a 40 minute deluge of rain and still keep 50K people entertained. Good times!
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Jason
December 15th, 2009
2:56 pm
Hi Lena – There’s a difference between being “proud of independent bookstores” and insulting the competition. Everything was great until the co-owner insisted on trying to tear down others. That’s not cool in my book and I wish he could just be proud of the achievement without being dismissive of others. His comments are what turn the focus from a great appearance by a big-name author into something else completely.
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Kar
December 15th, 2009
3:20 pm
If he goes to DC, it’s probably smarter for him to stay away from the cool stuff. He’d get mobbed very quickly in that group.
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TB
December 15th, 2009
3:36 pm
Had a great time last night. Very glad that I lined up at about 3PM so I was able to leave before 10PM since I needed to catch MARTA. I estimated Neil might have had to stay until Midnight as I was leaving, but the fact that he stayed past 1AM is a reflection of the amazing respect and admiration he has for all of us fans. So much better than the Stephen King event at Barnes & Noble a few blocks away from me. I would have attended it and got his new book if I could get my comic book signed, and I was assured there would be no chance of getting anything signed but the new novel, so I stayed home. He only accommodated up to 400 people for his signing. Comparing that with Neil Gaman’s appearance really shows how remarkable and gracious Mr. Gaiman is. I’d been lucky enough to see him twice before (to much smaller crowds many years ago). It is amazing to see so many more people aware of who he is and so eager to meet him. I’m incredibly grateful as all of us should be to Little Shop of Stories for bringing him here. I wanted to show my appreciation and get a few books from them as my budget allowed. I was even able to buy a signed copy of American Gods and one of his Dave McKean illustrated children’s books on my way out. It was an incredible thing for Neil to offer this contest and, I’m sure an amazing boost in sales to a small independent bookstore. Arguing the merits of big book chains vs. independent ones really isn’t the point. The night was made possible by Little Shop of Stories and now we are all aware where they are and what a great little store they have. Considering his last appearance at DragonCon was in 2000 (I met him there too) and his recounting of the event, this might be the only time Neil Gaiman can come to the Atlanta area for quite awhile
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Tim
December 15th, 2009
5:55 pm
Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick at the Lakewood last August
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channce
December 15th, 2009
7:06 pm
I really think you guys should bring vision back! It was one of the best night club in geogria actually. Visions was the hot spot. It didn’t give that getto inpression at all. More mature crowd. Please reopen vision back. Also, I wouldn’t mind being a waitress or manager for the club. I have manger experience as well. Thanks for taking time out to read my concerns.
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uhhhh
December 15th, 2009
8:28 pm
you mean tickets start at $20 right?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 15th, 2009
8:48 pm
You are correct! Fixed it. Thanks!
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Agnes Scott Student
December 16th, 2009
1:46 am
Wow! That was an event that one remembers their whole lifetime!
I have to say that I am proud to be a student at ASC and the fact that we consistently host great speakers like Garrison Keillor, Scott McCloud, Gwen Ifill and of course Neil Gaiman says a lot about the huge value that this little school brings to the Metro area.
I really don’t think Neil’s appearance was about big guys vs little guys. But I definitely feel that there is an inherent truth somewhere in this moral about how ASC and LSOS hosted this luminary and not Georgia State and Borders. Watch Michael Moore’s 1997 masterpiece “The Big One” and you’re sure to become a little sympathetic to the Davids as they stand up to the Goliaths.
To everyone who was there – thanks for being so friendly and chipper.
Thanks to those ASC police officers who stood in the rain for hours directing traffic (at night).
Thanks to LSOS – you guys worked really hard and it showed.
Lastly, thanks to Neil Gaiman for choosing a Georgia “back water” to be the recipient of his own special brand of sunshine!!! Keep writing them and we’ll keep reading them.
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James Q
December 16th, 2009
2:08 am
Well that actually sounds pretty neat. I think I will take my son for his 12th Birthday, he can’t get enough of this stuff on TV. And I’m actually starting to become a fan myself. For twenty bucks, I’m in.
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F & B Guy
December 16th, 2009
7:54 am
Ultimate fighting at the venue where we have experienced the most sublime music on earth?
What the hell is wrong with Atlanta?
The differences between the two experiences are so extreme, I cannot even imagine why it was considered in the first place(it has to be about the money). Keep the fighting to a ring and keep the ringing (bells) to the stage.
I bet it takes about 20 seconds before the national press picks up on this and makes a mockery (again) of the arts scene in Atlanta!
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DamntheButcher
December 16th, 2009
8:21 am
I think it is great. I want 10 tickets. Anything is better than that boring funeral home music that normally comes out of that place.
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Stewart
December 16th, 2009
10:02 am
Great story! I know that some dog parks frown upon – or even prohibit – some breeds so its nice to see that the new Airport dog park welcomes post-apocalyptic robo-dogs. My question is, how will its owner get him/her through security?
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MR164
December 16th, 2009
11:49 am
Piedmont Park
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czBrat
December 16th, 2009
12:59 pm
Are there no dog parks south of I-20?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 16th, 2009
1:34 pm
czBrat — The new Canine Crossing park is definitely south of 20, and claims to be South Fulton’s only dog park. There’s also ParkGrounds, the coffee shop/dog park combo — it’s still north of 20, but not by much. http://www.parkgrounds.com/
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lauren8520
December 16th, 2009
2:00 pm
What next, WWE at the Atlanta Ballet? What is wrong with this stupid city?
If you don’t like “funeral home music” Butcher, don’t go. I love the Symphony.
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Jim
December 16th, 2009
2:37 pm
Loved the Dogwood Festival back in Piedmont Park. The layout made it feel like an intimate village without all the crowding.
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Dan & Mari
December 16th, 2009
2:52 pm
The music part of the McCartney was great but the way they treated us like cattle SUCKED. After the rain it was such a horrible mess it made the experience miserable. I vote for the opening of the Vortex Comedy club.
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Kathi
December 16th, 2009
2:56 pm
Glad to see another Dogwood fan. My family loves it, even my Dad and he is old!
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James
December 16th, 2009
3:41 pm
I think this is the same promoter that had his recent shows at Center Stage. Center Stage rocks as a fight venue…why move? Why move to a symphony hall? I’ll stick to the fights in Gwinnett at least I know what I’m getting when I go there.
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D
December 16th, 2009
7:04 pm
For the best ultimate fight, come on down to Hampton and watch my neighbors.This Friday night should be a humdinger since their Chrysler AND their monster mud boggin’ truck were re-poed this week. They start drinking at noon , as soon as she gets off work as the fry cook at Cracker Barrel. Get here early, I will sell the best lawn chair seats in front of my house for five dollars.
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Joe
December 16th, 2009
7:52 pm
Big Chicken
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Laura
December 16th, 2009
8:28 pm
The Pink Pig at Macy’s.
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George
December 16th, 2009
8:48 pm
Tony the Tiger eyeball.
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Mango Man
December 16th, 2009
8:57 pm
Macy’s Christmas tree
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AP
December 16th, 2009
9:06 pm
The Vortex
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Ralph
December 16th, 2009
9:16 pm
Atlanta Hawk’s eye
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Joe
December 16th, 2009
9:31 pm
An Elmo eye
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Joe
December 16th, 2009
9:31 pm
An Elmo eye in the Christmas Parade
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Mikey
December 16th, 2009
9:40 pm
Reflection shows it’s indoors. With creative looking ceiling, I’m going to say a fish insde GA Aquarium
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Mikey
December 16th, 2009
9:41 pm
A plastic toy fish….not a live fish
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Rachel
December 16th, 2009
9:53 pm
Priscilla the Pink Pig at Macy’s Lenox Square
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Kristen
December 16th, 2009
9:56 pm
The pink pig ride at Lenox Square.
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Marine Corps Gary
December 16th, 2009
10:03 pm
D. That sounds like the redneck shows Wild Bills does they have lawn chair VIP’s and Line Dancing for the after party and most of the fighters are Waffle House cooks. I use to drive an hour from my house to see them until they just got watered down. This one looks quality. And since Falcon’s pissed me off I need something in town. Good timing too, two weeks after new years.
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Heather
December 16th, 2009
10:16 pm
It is the eye of the Big Chicken in Marietta, corner of Roswell street and 41
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Wendy D
December 16th, 2009
10:31 pm
The Big Chicken in Marietta.
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Smarty
December 16th, 2009
10:36 pm
Big Chicken Marietta….very easy.
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Alex
December 16th, 2009
10:41 pm
The eye of the Pink Pig ride at Macy’s.
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J Time
December 16th, 2009
10:46 pm
F and B guy you sound like an idiot. This is going to be a great show.
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Billy E
December 16th, 2009
11:22 pm
This guy hasn’t even sold out 1/2 of a 600 person venue. His event won’t be a blip on the radar at Symphony Hall.
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Nate
December 16th, 2009
11:46 pm
It’s the Pink Pig.
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Marcia
December 17th, 2009
12:08 am
Big Chicken on Cobb Parkway.. or Highway 41
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Julianna
December 17th, 2009
3:19 am
Clifford’s Eye in the Christmas Parade
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YT
December 17th, 2009
8:16 am
why does it matter where the fights are? what is sacred about the symphony?
by the way, these fights blow the gwinnett fights out of the water…and you don’t have to deal with linedancing tub girls during the intermission!
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Megs
December 17th, 2009
9:38 am
As someone who works at Barnes and Noble I do feel insulted by the owner’s remarks. I’m so glad that Neil Gaiman visited his bookstore. I wish I had been able to attend, but the owner’s remarks were unnecessary. Some need to remember that corporations employ people, and that we are proud of our jobs. I don’t presume to say that our store is better than this independent store, but I would say that I have just as much pride in the store I work as he must have in his. I appreciate Neil Gaiman’s visit and I am so glad it was a success.
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Indie Craft Experience » ARCHIVE: Holiday Shopping Spectacular 2009–details!
December 17th, 2009
9:49 am
[...] Recent Press: * Daily Candy * AJC.com’s Inside Access [...]
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D
December 17th, 2009
10:27 am
OMG, MC Gary !!! I am going to approach them ( very carefully) with an offer to be their agent ! I never dreamed that there was a market for neighbors from Hades AND my ex-husband as well !!!
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Terence Broxterman
December 17th, 2009
11:55 am
Neil and LSOS, to Neil: You’ve got a 7yr old new fan who can’t help but tell EVERYONE that she met “Neil”. You really made her day and made a devoted new fan. To LSOS, ya’ll ran things so well, we found out only that day that Neil would be in town…you were extremely accomodating to our “Johnny come lately” needs….and having a special exception for children because of school the next day was a masterstroke…thank you again to all of you
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Teri
December 17th, 2009
12:00 pm
Christmas display at the Fox Theater
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CATHY
December 17th, 2009
12:08 pm
EYE OF CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG PARADE BALLOON
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Grammaw
December 17th, 2009
12:32 pm
It’s the eye of the Big Chicken in Marietta. I knew that as soon as I saw it.
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Think People!
December 17th, 2009
12:33 pm
This thing is RED…how can it be the PINK Pig? hahahaha
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MommaMia
December 17th, 2009
12:35 pm
Looking at the eye, you can see in the reflection what looks to be a Christmas tree with star on top. I would venture to say it’s the Pink Pig.
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bailey
December 17th, 2009
12:49 pm
My bloodshot eye in the morning.
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stevo
December 17th, 2009
12:54 pm
the reflection is of a Chik-fil-A restaurant. dont know what the eye is from, but its in a mall. merry christmas and happy new year to everyone. next year will be much better. have faith.
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AthensMatt
December 17th, 2009
12:57 pm
Something in a Georgia Tech student dorm. 30-24 Suck it Nerds
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Lexus
December 17th, 2009
12:58 pm
Pricilla the Pink Pig @ Lenox
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BeBea
December 17th, 2009
1:00 pm
The Pink Pig @ Lenox
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Spooky
December 17th, 2009
1:04 pm
It’s not the Big Chicken. The Big Chicken doesn’t have eye lashes.
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Tweety
December 17th, 2009
1:07 pm
Coca-Cola sign downtown.
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forwhy
December 17th, 2009
1:09 pm
It’s the healthcare reform bill being shoved down your throat.
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jw
December 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
big chicken
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omnieye
December 17th, 2009
1:30 pm
Clifford the big red dogs eye.
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Yeah I said It!
December 17th, 2009
1:35 pm
Mary Norwood staring down Kasim Reed after the recount?
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Keep It Real
December 17th, 2009
1:43 pm
The EYE of HARRY THE HAWK at PHILLIPS ARENA
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Stan Da Man
December 17th, 2009
1:46 pm
The Big Chicken in Marietta
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dm
December 17th, 2009
1:48 pm
Shirley Franklin’s clown flower of the day
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sherrybaby
December 17th, 2009
1:51 pm
Celtic Thunder at the Fox, hot Irish guys w/great voices
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Monica
December 17th, 2009
1:54 pm
The Pink Pig
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Mike
December 17th, 2009
2:01 pm
Elin Nordegren’s secret eye spy on Tiger
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Mad Dog
December 17th, 2009
2:05 pm
Mike Adams checking out Foundation accounts.
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Christine
December 17th, 2009
2:16 pm
Sky Hawk or Harry the Hawk
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Kudzu
December 17th, 2009
2:17 pm
The Pink Pig at Macy’s
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billy
December 17th, 2009
2:25 pm
BullDog’s on Peachtree Street
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James
December 17th, 2009
3:02 pm
The fights in Gwinette aren’t always the best, but the experience is. You don’t have to leave the venue to get a drink!! They’re consistent and that’s worth my money. When I go to the fights I get my fill until their next show. Maybe this symphony thing will be cool, but I’ll wait to read about it first then I’ll go check them out at their next show. I’ve been burned too many times..thinking I was going to see some good fights at a cool venue only to be disappointed.
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WTH?
December 17th, 2009
3:24 pm
Good one DM I hate those flowers she wears some of them look like it’s trying to choke her…too bad it didn’t succeed!
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VELOCITY GUY
December 17th, 2009
3:48 pm
James your so full of it, you can lie to us but you can’t lie to yourself. You obviously do not follow MMA at all, or are just a pretender trying to create propaganda. If you did you would realize EVERY PRO FIGHT on this card, is a MAIN EVENT at any other promotion. And most of the fighters have been main events. Many of them are champions of other shows. Name 1 card more stacked than this one? “You’ve been burned too many times to take a chance” What a retarded statement. Go look at this card. I’ve trained with some of these guys for years until my knees went out. This is not a discussion on which show you can get your beer quicker. It’s is more a question of is Symphony Hall a good venue for fighting. I’ll be there to find out, it’s different. Something fresh. And like the other dude said $20 bucks a ticket!!! Im sold.
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MMElmo
December 17th, 2009
3:54 pm
James, just because you enjoy eating crap doesn’t mean everyone else likes the flavor.
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Access Points 19: Macy’s Pink Pig ride at Lenox Square | Inside Access
December 17th, 2009
4:03 pm
[...] guesses for this week’s Access Points photo game were a-plenty — The Vortex, the eye of the Atlanta Hawk, the Big Chicken, an Elmo float [...]
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Access Points 19: Do you know what and where this is? | Inside Access
December 17th, 2009
4:11 pm
[...] UPDATE 12/17: Want to know the answer? Here it is! [...]
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Ringo
December 17th, 2009
4:21 pm
every show at center stage was sold out. probably why they moved. need more seats
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Rusty
December 17th, 2009
5:07 pm
I rode this when I was very little. I think it was the train version by that time though.
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Melissa
December 17th, 2009
6:15 pm
To all of those insulted by the owner’s statements on indies vs. chains – B&N, Amazon and Borders would run us all out of town tomorrow if they could. Do you know what B&N has to do to get a major author to come to a store? Nothing. NOTHING. In fact, they often make it a condition of buying the author’s book that the particular author make B&N appearances on a given tour. (That B&N is not “bringing” Jasper Fforde to you; the publisher is sending him there because they are contractually obligated to do so, or because they promised in return for B&N buying a certain number of copies.) Do you know what an indie has to do to get a major author appearance? No, you do not, but I can assure you that nine times out of ten it involves begging of some sort. AND that if indies don’t manage to sell a decent number of books at an event, that publisher might not send them another author. That? Does not happen to chain stores.
Dave didn’t insult B&N’s hourly employees. This has nothing to do with you. You work for a giant faceless corporation bent on taking as much business away from small stores (and other chains) as it possibly can, and that’s an undeniable fact. Just because it’s prettier and smarter than Walmart doesn’t mean it’s not doing a similar kind of damage. When chains start paying the taxes that allow your community to thrive, then maybe indies will shut up about them. When chains no longer have most of the control over what’s published, then maybe indies will shut up about them.
LSOS knocked themselves over to win a contest and find a venue large enough so that a thousand people could see and meet Neil Gaiman. I think they can say pretty much anything they want about independent bookstores, and if you object to what they say, then you don’t need to go the next time they bring some kind of awesome event to town.
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Janet W.
December 17th, 2009
7:00 pm
Pink Pig
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Indi bookstore owner & ASC alalumna
December 17th, 2009
7:04 pm
Melissa- You hit the nail on the head. Very well put and thank you.
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Jingle Jammer
December 17th, 2009
8:23 pm
“If you did you would realize EVERY PRO FIGHT on this card, is a MAIN EVENT at any other promotion.”
Seems like an odd statement when the promoter hasn’t released his card yet. I mean, all I’ve seen is guys photos on a poster, not matchups.
If the matchups are made, please post.
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Best Event of 2009: Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park | Inside Access
December 18th, 2009
6:04 am
[...] 1) Le Flash in Castleberry Hill In its second year, this one-night event took over an entire neighborhood with art, dance, planned events and spontaneous displays of inspiration. It’s rare to see such plentiful street life in Atlanta — all those people out enjoying unfamiliar experiences with more curiosity than fear. I hope we see more of this event, and more events with the same philosophy. Read more. [...]
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Hi there
December 18th, 2009
12:56 pm
How about the Atlanta 200 toys for tots party at the Atlanta W on Saturday night. Every year they manange to raise thousands in gifts for the toys for tots and everyone has a great time doing it. Log onto the atlantatwohundred for more info.
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ZJ
December 18th, 2009
1:33 pm
This is wrong on so many levels. We don’t have a dedicated venue for our symphony, but you don’t see symphony halls in other cities renting themselves out for events not arts related. There is (or should be) a limit to making another buck for the Woodruff head honchos. It makes Atlanta look like a city too hick to be international. However, on a positive side, this insult to the performing space should serve as a kick in the head to the symphony patrons’ to get the lead out and get that dedicated hall built.
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Artsy Fartsy
December 18th, 2009
1:44 pm
What exactly is art? What exactly constitutes art? One of the oldest art forms in the world is Martial Art. Many different styles. If you mix many different forms of it, you get mixed martial arts. A person has to practice for years to get good at an instrument. The same is true for athletes. These are not backyard brawlers. They are precision instruments playing a different tune than your used to. People have passion for it the same way you do for a symphony. Get over yourself.
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Tellus Museum and planetarium a hit with visitors | Inside Access
December 18th, 2009
4:30 pm
[...] written before about the museum before, but never given the planetarium the attention it deserves: it offers four different shows [...]
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Harry
December 18th, 2009
5:01 pm
KD You are a freaking racist I hope god doesn’t strike you down
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Ddan6997
December 18th, 2009
5:11 pm
I’d love to see morris day and the time, and have a good flashback to the early 80s. But there will be too many people downtown. I worked as a cop downtown during the annual peach drop for about 13 years, and had lots of good and bad times. We used to go on top of the 90 Central Parking Deck (whales painting) and look over at the masses of humanity. Made it easier to watch the drunks and criminals trying to pick pocket or such. Why is it that criminals never look up?
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JG
December 18th, 2009
5:22 pm
first
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Karma
December 18th, 2009
5:27 pm
Eddie Vedder at Cobb Energy Center has to be one of my highlights for 2009. Simply amazing two night acoustic performances!
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Cynthia
December 18th, 2009
5:55 pm
Great line-up of entertainment, should be lots of fun. Thanks.
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LydiasDad
December 19th, 2009
1:24 am
Why do people still waste time with this? It’s a small train, shaped like a pig, that goes around in a circle in a big white tent. It costs $5 or so. It’s not even worth it for nostalgic reason. Why do people think it’s so great? My daughter was bored with it when she was 4.
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David
December 19th, 2009
5:08 am
Well, it’s actually $3.00. After living here 20 years and finally having a kid, we decided to check this out a week ago. Glad we went to see what the fuss is all about, but it would not have been worth waiting in a long line (which formed by the time we were done). Dress warmly because the tent didn’t feel heated in any way.
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Justine
December 19th, 2009
5:09 am
20 years ago when I worked with children we saved and went to the Pink Pig on top of the REAL RICHS. It was shaped like a train and the fun part was adults squeezing inside. I have not taken children to ride this because it is no different than anything else. When will Atlanta learn history is what makes things great. By the way am I the only person who misses Richs and Davidsons?????????????????
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Delmar ATLien
December 19th, 2009
7:27 am
Born and raised in Atlanta — NOT a Grady baby. I rode the Pink Pig when it was on top of the Rich’s building. I remember riding it for the first time — it was scary. Didn’t it go over the side of the building (roof) at one point? But afterwards, it was fun because I rode it with my siblings. Memories, rituals, family time — things people don’t know about these days. No special effects, just a simple slow, fun ride. Afterwards, we went shopping in the gift shop for presents for the family. I don’t recall souvenirs like they sell today — expensive T-shirts, high priced ticket items, etc. It was a place where kids could buy Christmas presents for little or nothing. Presents were cheap, but to a kid, it was grand!!! Nostalgia!!! I take my kids every year to ride the Pink Pig — it’s a tradition!!!
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Delmar ATLien
December 19th, 2009
7:29 am
Oh yeah, I miss Rich’s and Davison’s too ;-(
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SRP
December 19th, 2009
2:30 pm
Yippy…As a resident of South Fulton, I’m am so glad and excited South Fulton has a dog park. My very active American Pit Bull Terrier will finally get an opportunity to social with other dogs. Thank goodness. Kudos….Mr, Edwards.
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Adam
December 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
I have a feeling that the people that are opposed to Mixed Martial Arts haven’t watched it since back in the days of early UFC. It is a totally different sport then it was way back then. People need to educate themselves on what they are protesting, before protesting it.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 19th, 2009
3:58 pm
SRP, that’s great! We’ve got two pitties at home, too, and I often wish there was a nearby dog park that would welcome them. Have fun!
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Mel
December 20th, 2009
2:48 am
First of all the staff from Little Shop of Stories did a great job, as did the campus police as others have said. So thank you to both groups. And thank you to the college for giving up the space for the event.
I was one of the last to get a book signed and it was worth the wait. Mr. Gaiman truly does care about his fans and it shows. If ever I get a chance to see him again somewhere I will not hesitate to do so.
It was enough to get my book signed and to say hello and thank you to one of my favorite authors. All in all a very nice night.
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dave
December 20th, 2009
10:29 am
Tellus is a great place for the whole family, glad to hear they are being successful. We became members so we could go back often. We also like the Booth Western Art Museum, also up in Cartersville.
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Sponsored Fan
December 20th, 2009
12:02 pm
This is a mute point as that moron William “Soco” McAllister already got booted from Symphony Hall.
Idiot sends out press releases titled “From Violins to Violence” then in the same press release says how he’s trying to educate people about the sport.
Go back to selling out half of an 800 seat venue in Center Stage chump boy.
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Stew
December 21st, 2009
7:15 am
I can hardly wait, Morris Day and The Time will have everyone groovin to the music and dancing 2009 away. I have seen them many times in the passed and believe me, they will definitly keep the party goin. See ya there.
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Gale
December 21st, 2009
11:41 am
My night at CAVALIA was one of the best spent during this holiday season! What a wonderful show! My daughter would have loved it also.
There was a beautiful demonstration of talent, strength, loyalty, romance, and fun with the artists and horses all in one. The music was also beautiful. I visited the night they celebrated the sale of the 100,000 ticket! I purchased the DVD and am hoping to go again before the last show in Atlanta. Thanks for sharing this show with Atlanta! Safe travels!
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Stacy
December 21st, 2009
3:07 pm
Steak Shapiro hit on me at Houston’s on Peachtree. He is a creep!
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The Real: SPONSORED FAN
December 21st, 2009
10:49 pm
Ok for the record, very clever on someones part to post a comment using our companies name as if Soco would really think that we posted that comment! Get real….
This entire situation is terrible for Soco and for fight fans. This was going to be a great show with great fights and it would have been exciting to go to a different venue!
We support Soco and his events and wish him continued success.
To the person trying to steal identities: Are you really that much of a hater that you have to talk trash behind fake names? Seriously, if you don’t like something or someone have the guts to call them out under your own name. Oh wait then you would have to step up and defend yourself and your position.
You are spineless and weak….We are ready to defend our position.
Keep up the good work Soco and we look forward to the show in March.
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on Christmas Weekend December 24-27 | Inside Access
December 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
[...] on through the weekend. Keep an eye on the Atlanta Music Scene blog for more live shows, check out this post for more details about holiday theater performances and as always, please share your suggestions in the comments. Have fun! – Jamie [...]
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on Christmas Weekend December 24-27 | Inside Access
December 22nd, 2009
12:27 am
[...] For families: “Planet Shark: Predator or Prey“, noon-6 p.m., Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on Christmas Weekend December 24-27 | Inside Access
December 22nd, 2009
12:27 am
[...] Outdoors: Snow Mountain opens, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Stone Mountain Park, Stone Mountain. Read more. [...]
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joe
December 22nd, 2009
3:45 pm
Jamie,
I’m one of those, who cant have an escape from Atlanta during this holiday season, but knowing nothing to do in town,I was surprised and really happy to see so many events that can occupy me.
thanks for the posting.. good job.. keep doing
-Joe
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thrubeincool
December 22nd, 2009
5:47 pm
the regulars are gonna be great!
)
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Eric Walter
December 22nd, 2009
8:37 pm
Awearness.co.nz offers quality and cheap promotional Products such as shirts, Apparel, bags, pens, Merchandise as well as Imprinted & corporate gifts items. It has unique advertising Specialties in Company Tradeshow, Branding, Logo Marketing, Brand promotion & Sales.
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‘Brawl at Symphony Hall’ Ultimate Fight night canceled | Inside Access
December 23rd, 2009
6:30 pm
[...] reported last week about a Mixed Martial Arts event scheduled in January at Symphony Hall, but the event has been canceled after patrons [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 23rd, 2009
6:35 pm
Thanks, Joe! I really appreciate it. Have a great weekend and a happy holiday!
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babs
December 23rd, 2009
9:26 pm
was a stupid idea. it tarnishes the name of Symphony Hall. yuk. glad they cancelled.
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babs
December 23rd, 2009
9:27 pm
I mean, the fight was a stupid idea. Glad SH cancelled it.
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J
December 23rd, 2009
11:40 pm
Oh pass the Grey Poupon lovey.
If they declined to book the event because the didn’t want the lower classes soiling the seats, that would have been OK; but canceling after fans bought tickets & fighters prepared to do the deed, that is wrong. I hope the promoter sues & it hurts the venue in the wallet! Money that could have supported the arts will be spent on the settlement. I will not be attending any events at the Hall. Buy tickets to the Fox theatre, they have better acoustics anyway.
Nutcracker anyone?
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Bill
December 24th, 2009
12:22 am
Appreciating music & martial at the highest level deserves a appropriate showcase. This event could have elevated the sport & the venue.
It’s a shame class snobbery & the close minded canceled the competition and the money it would have brought in. This would have been a great opportunity for symphony patrons to experience something new in a familiar setting. Fight fans would have been introduced to the hall & may have bought tickets to Frédéric Chopin’s work.
I have enjoyed the challenges of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Piano for more than a decade, I will be student as long as the body & mind are able. Now let’s match BJ Penn Vs. GSP with the Atlanta orchestra scoring Wagner!
Bravo!
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Bill
December 24th, 2009
12:31 am
Appreciating music & martial at the highest level deserves a appropriate showcase. This event could have elevated the sport & the venue.
It’s a shame class snobbery & the close minded canceled the competition and the money it would have brought in. This would have been a great opportunity for symphony patrons to experience something new in a familiar setting. Fight fans would have been introduced to the hall & may have bought tickets to Frédéric Chopin’s work.
I have enjoyed the challenges of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Piano for more than a decade, I will be student as long as the body & mind are able. Now let’s match BJ Penn Vs. GSP with the Atlanta orchestra scoring Wagner!
Bravo!
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MIss Sheila
December 24th, 2009
9:15 am
I thought the Hawks play the Knicks on Christmas Day
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Justin
December 24th, 2009
12:49 pm
Miami is playing the Knicks on Christmas Day.
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Beatriz
December 25th, 2009
4:25 pm
Thank you for keeping us informed. I love it.
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lp
December 27th, 2009
12:53 am
very dissappointing.Saw two others this year that were much better.Dancing pigs and sheep? everyone trying to be funny and not! My daughters both said it was embarressing. I have to agree. The costumes in the opening scene = puke !!! sad performance of a great masterpiece.
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Dan G
December 27th, 2009
9:45 pm
Went to the ice rink today and though it is in a great location and interesting because it is outdoor skating in a climate not typically associated with ice, the actual skating experience is pretty awful. Without being able to properly resurface the ice, this rink is as bumpy as a gravel road in the mountains outside Ellijay. On top of that, it is tiny and really crowded. You can’t actually skate, so much as you can sort of step along with the crowd in a tight little circle. $7.00 per person is overpriced for such a poor ice experience. Alpharetta Cooler charges the same price for open skating and you get a real full size rink, and properly smooth ice. Another problem I have with the Centennial Park rink is that there is no discount for children…not even my 3 year old! I am disappointed I spent the money and waited in the hour long line to get in.
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Gerald McDonner
December 28th, 2009
2:26 pm
This is not necessarly a coment, but a request for information. I have been informed that “American Idol will be in Alanta January 13,2010. If this is so, would you please send some information about this. Thank you! Gerald McDonner
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 29th, 2009
12:08 am
Hi Gerald! I think what you’ve heard about is the “American Idol” auditions episode filmed in Atlanta that airs on Jan. 13 on Fox. Here’s more info about it from our American Idol blogger, Rodney Ho: http://blogs.ajc.com/american-idol-blog/2009/12/22/fox-sets-idol-dates-for-2010-through-march/
Thanks for reading!
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Bryan
December 29th, 2009
2:30 pm
Take MARTA!
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Joe
December 29th, 2009
3:19 pm
Watch out for stray bullets!
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Atlanta: Visitor's Guide - Page 10 - VolNation
December 29th, 2009
3:25 pm
[...] Know before you go: New Year’s Eve Chick-fil-A Bowl | Inside Access [...]
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VN Tailgate for Bowl Game - Page 14 - VolNation
December 29th, 2009
3:26 pm
[...] Know before you go: New Year’s Eve Chick-fil-A Bowl | Inside Access [...]
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‘Cavalia’ draws 100,000, continues through Jan. 6 | Inside Access
December 29th, 2009
4:34 pm
[...] it opened in October, I offered up a brief take on the show, and my colleague Howard Pousner wrote a glowing review. Now that 100,000 of you have seen it, what [...]
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Sharon Barrow
December 29th, 2009
9:24 pm
Cavalia was worth every penny. This was also my first trip to Atlantic Station. It was a great weekend, especially since after I parked my car on Friday afternoon I didn’t need it again until I left for home on Sunday. Great hotel, good food and interesting people-watching topped off by a fantastic show of horsemanship, acrobatics, dance and live music! I still don’t know how the performers did 1/2 of their routines. Did I mention how enjoyable it was to have everything I needed within walking distance?
If you haven’t been to the show, hurry and go!
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N.W.
December 29th, 2009
10:14 pm
Cavalia is a great show. I wanted to cry because the horses were so beautiful and graceful. I will now be taking up horseback riding.
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Catherine the Great
December 29th, 2009
10:30 pm
i’ve seen it 14 times so far…
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Mike Rhino
December 29th, 2009
11:03 pm
I felt duped. The ads looked like Cirque, the tents looked like Cirque, the location was the same a Cirque but the show is a far cry from Cirque. As far as a horse show is concerned it was fine, but when you walk into a show expecting Cirque and get a fancy horse show with jugglers, it was quit a let down for me. Maybe if I was into horse training, I might have better appreciation for the overall performance.
However, there is a limited amount of entertainment value in watching a horse(s) walk backwards, sideways and kneeling down; then running back and forth on command so they can get food while some ho-hum cowboy stunts are performed. I paid well over $200 for two tickets on the third row. The seats were tiny. I am 6′ 220 and was shoved into a seat designed for a midg…I mean a smaller person. The person in front of me was half an inch from leaning back and using my knees as a head rest. If you enjoy the intense odor of fresh horse dung an urine then make sure you blow the extra cash for the after the show tour, which lasts 20 min, with no flash photography, no touching anything. Capped off by having the pleasure of listening to the french staff talk about you as you walk past. If you want to pay a lot of money to see a show that rocks, make sure it is a Cirque show and not some Cirque impostor.
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My wife and I ...
December 30th, 2009
12:19 am
…enjoyed the show. Pictures:
http://www.real-atlanta.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=239
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| Inside Access
December 30th, 2009
12:27 am
[...] Know before you go: New Year’s Eve Chick-fil-A Bowl [...]
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| Inside Access
December 30th, 2009
12:27 am
[...] ‘Cavalia’ draws 100,000, continues through Jan. 6 [...]
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on New Year's Weekend December 31 to January 3 | Inside Access
December 30th, 2009
12:28 am
[...] Sports: Chick-fil-A Bowl Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Tennessee Vols, 7:30 p.m., Georgia Dome, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on New Year's Weekend December 31 to January 3 | Inside Access
December 30th, 2009
12:28 am
[...] Stage: “Cavalia” continues, 8 p.m., The White Big Top in Atlantic Station, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Bill
December 30th, 2009
6:13 am
Excellent show! Would go again in a heart beat!
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Snidely Buttright
December 30th, 2009
6:17 am
14 times?! With the ‘cheap’ seats at $100+ a pop…on discount? Dang. Nice to see the recession is working out for SOMEone…
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James
December 30th, 2009
6:18 am
I purchased two premium seats. The hourderves were ok, nothing special. Regarding the performance, my sense is if you are a horse lover it would be very entertaining. on the other hand if you just appreciate the animal as is it will become laborious to watch. I felt the acrobats were almost like Circque’s junior varsity. Some missed their flips and were clearly not at the top of their game as you expect from a Cirque de sole troupe. Perhaps Cavalia’s best acrobats get a shot as a part of one of the Las Vegas shows which are the best of the best. Would I care to see it again? Not even if it was free admission.
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Know before you go: Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta | Inside Access
December 30th, 2009
12:49 pm
[...] are more details about the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and here’s what you need to know before you go to the Peach [...]
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on New Year's Weekend December 31 to January 3 | Inside Access
December 30th, 2009
12:53 pm
[...] New Year’s Eve: Peach Drop featuring Morris Day and the Time, 5 p.m.-4 a.m., Underground Atlanta. FREE. Read more. [...]
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on New Year's Weekend December 31 to January 3 | Inside Access
December 30th, 2009
12:53 pm
[...] Art: “Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius” continues, 10 a.m., High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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club penguin
December 30th, 2009
2:35 pm
I love this site! Thank you sooo much for all your posts!
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JAMES BURROUGHS
December 30th, 2009
3:35 pm
WHERE CAN I FIND THE VENDORS FOR THE GAME WHERE WILL THEY BE LOCATED WANT TO BY CAPS FROM EACH TEAM.
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Peachy
December 30th, 2009
7:03 pm
I want to see the Chickfilabowl parade tomorrow, and then go to FanFest.
Should I park near World Congress and walk to parade rt or is that too far. Should I park near parade then drive over to WC and park again??????and is FanFest something that is sold out????
THX
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Laura
December 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Raft on the Chattahoochee River…
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Keith
December 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
I think Laura is right.
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Tony
December 30th, 2009
7:50 pm
Snow Tube at Snow Mountain.
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Laura
December 30th, 2009
8:05 pm
I think Tony is right.
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dina
December 30th, 2009
8:41 pm
snow tube at stone mountain
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v
December 30th, 2009
9:24 pm
snow tube
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Danny
December 30th, 2009
9:41 pm
I would like to know more about Hugh Gravitt and his life. Anyone have any info on him? THE MAN WHO KILLED SCARLETT BULTER.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 30th, 2009
10:15 pm
James: Sorry I don’t have informationg about particular vendors or locations.
Peachy: The parade route isn’t too far from the FanFest location, and the parade will actually end at the Georgia World Congress Center. You could probably station yourself at Centennial Olympic Park and get a great view of the parade while still having easy access to FanFest. Here’s another link to a downtown Atlanta map: http://www.atlantadowntown.com/guide
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JG
December 30th, 2009
10:33 pm
Anyone know if that Lacey Herps made the trip or is she still out recruiting?
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Judy
December 31st, 2009
2:58 am
Wow! I saw The Regulars Band on CBS Better Mornings Atlanta yesterday and they were awesome! I can’t wait to see them live at The Peach Drop!!
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Cheap date ideas: Celebrate New Year’s on the cheap | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
December 31st, 2009
7:04 am
[...] Navigating through the crowd won’t be easy, so be sure to check out Jamie Gumbrecht’s Know Before You Go tips ahead of time. Did I mention that it’s [...]
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5 reasons to love year-end Best Of lists | Inside Access
December 31st, 2009
9:32 am
[...] the same way about a year’s worth of events? A few weeks ago, you nominated and voted on your favorite events of 2009. I tacked on my own list because, well, it’s my [...]
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lastdancetom
December 31st, 2009
11:24 am
GO HOKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Jeff
December 31st, 2009
12:09 pm
GO VOLS! Beat the Hokies!
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BillyJack Kimble
December 31st, 2009
12:14 pm
Heres a tip, bring a club to whack all the worthless bums asking for change.
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mike
December 31st, 2009
12:21 pm
Why is this event always held in the nastiest and ugliest part of the city? The area around Underground looks like a third-world country!
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David
December 31st, 2009
1:09 pm
What time and where does the parade start?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 31st, 2009
1:11 pm
David: The parade was scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. at Peachtree and Ralph McGill. It would make its way to Centennial Olympic Park and the Georgia World Congress Center by about 2 p.m. Here’s more info, plus a route map: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/12/29/know-before-you-go-new-years-eve-chick-fil-a-bowl/
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Rectal Bleeding
December 31st, 2009
1:16 pm
The parade finally started. The sounds of all those Shriners in their go carts, mini bikes and other strange vehicles were freaking me out.
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TI
December 31st, 2009
1:27 pm
Dont forgot your can of lysol to spray on Marta to cover the urine smell.
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east coast
December 31st, 2009
2:01 pm
How many shootings will take place this year?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 31st, 2009
2:12 pm
To be clear: there were 175,000 people at last year’s Peach Drop, and no reports of serious crime during the event. I understand the crowd, location and recent crimes downtown put people on edge, but it is incorrect to suggest that the Peach Drop has a steady recent history of violent crime.
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east coast
December 31st, 2009
2:46 pm
Yeah right – there wasn’t a shooting in 2006
, and the Underground is a safe and secure location to be at night. I am also sure that those who are responsible for the recent crime in the area will all be staying home tonight so no need to be on edge about armed robbery!
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Bob
December 31st, 2009
3:17 pm
I’m from out of town and going to the Chik-Fil-A bowl. I was planning on heading to the Peach drop afterwards but after reading up on how dangerous the area is I think I’m stay away. Why do all of you people live in such a dangerous city? Why put up with all of the crime and panhandling?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
December 31st, 2009
3:38 pm
East Coast: There wasn’t a shooting in 2006. According to the AJC archives, there were two shootings in 21 years at the Peach Drop; both were considered accidents involving celebratory gunfire, which is a horrible New Year’s tradition that happens many places, I’m sad to say. The last such incident occurred in 2005. Everybody can make their own decisions about how, when and where they feel safe, but Peach Drop does not have as bad a history as you seem to think.
Bob: I choose to live here because there’s a lot of fun stuff to do, an interesting history to learn from, wonderful people and neighborhoods and a transit system that works for me. I don’t feel it’s more dangerous or crime-ridden than other large cities, but I understand, too, that others simply aren’t as comfortable in any city. I hope you have a great time at the game, and in whatever you decide to do after.
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Atlanta New Year’s Eve: share your experiences in the comments! | Inside Access
December 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
[...] Peach Drop family activities have been running downtown all day, and music will start in a few hours. [...]
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Atlanta New Year’s Eve: what are your plans? | Inside Access
December 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
[...] Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade finished up a little while ago, and the bowl game will start in a few [...]
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Access Points 20: Snow Mountain tubes at Stone Mountain Park | Inside Access
December 31st, 2009
4:02 pm
[...] you able to identify the image in this week’s Access Points photo game? Indeed, commenter Tony was correct — it was a snow tube at Stone Mountain Park’s Snow [...]
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Access Points 20: Snow tubes at Stone Mountain Park | Inside Access
December 31st, 2009
4:07 pm
[...] I expected to leave frozen and dripping, but here’s the beauty –the snow is plenty cold, but were still in Georgia. This is not at all like playing in the backyard in Michigan, where mom would bribe us indoors with hot chocolate and marshmallows. We were too happy to know how miserably cold it was. Who needs toes, anyway? (Here’s some advice on what to wear.) [...]
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MarrG
December 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
You tell ‘em, Jamie!
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Margie
December 31st, 2009
8:27 pm
Having a nice dinner, and staying home.
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jcr
December 31st, 2009
9:58 pm
in my jammies on the computer
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Donna P.
December 31st, 2009
9:59 pm
Me and the hubby are staying in tonight. We are going to watch the festivities on TV to bring in 2010 and eat some good food. Have a great 2010 everyone!
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Michelle
December 31st, 2009
11:33 pm
we are at home enjoying our first new year’s as a married couple….and away from the crazy people on the roads
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Rosie O'Fat
December 31st, 2009
11:34 pm
Going to the bathroom, letting out a big rip to start the new year in style. Filling up on the beans right now to do it right. Let er rip!!!
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Just Chillen
December 31st, 2009
11:37 pm
With the family, usually we watch the Peach Drop on one of the local news stations…doesn’t look like it’ll be happening this year since it doesnt look like any of them is broadcasting the local peach drop…they’d much rather show the drops of other major cities.
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GorjaPeach
January 1st, 2010
1:36 am
Always at Big Bethel AME Church. Worshipping, Praising, and Testifying about the goodness of God
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Sunny
January 1st, 2010
2:50 am
I celebrated at ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH NORTH and brought in the New Year on my knees, praying that 2010 has great things in store for not only me but America as a whole! Happy New Year folks!!
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GrannyGah
January 1st, 2010
6:02 am
I celebrated by going to bed at 9 p.m., then awakening to the sounds of thousands of firecrackers.
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Diane and Sam Eldakak
January 1st, 2010
7:10 am
My husband and I hosted a New Year’s Eve Party at The Emirates Palace (www.emiratespalace.com) in Abu Dhabi UAE where Rihanna was performing a live concert!
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Terry
January 1st, 2010
8:27 am
Jamie,
I understand that this article is not the place but why is it that Atlantans seem to have the attitude that if you don’t like the crime and panhandling that comes with being downtown; then don’t come. New York has completely changed its’ image by cleaning up the area. Why is it so hard for Atlanta to do the same?
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Doris
January 1st, 2010
8:52 am
My Husband and I stayed at home, but we dressed as thought we were going out to party. I had (3) glasses of wine, he does not drink. We had party favors and fireworks and watched everyone celebrate on T V and took pictures of ourselves……We had a good time!!!
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steve
January 1st, 2010
9:53 am
a fire, wine, and a delicious homemade pasta dinner watching the festivities in HD sure beats the heck out of being out in the cold and navigating to avoid a dui.
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Elizabeth
January 1st, 2010
10:08 am
Great weather, A way to welcome in the New Year with a few of our wrold’s 6 plus billion people. May we live in peace.
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101 Dalmatians Hits the Spot | Field Trips with Sue
January 1st, 2010
10:11 am
[...] only drawback is I wanted more of the real dogs. After reading this great article in Access Atlanta, I thought they’d be incorporated into the story rather than just a dog show at the [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 1st, 2010
11:24 am
I love this! We stayed home till about 10:30 p.m., then biked over to a party/parade/fireworks display nearby. It was ridiculous and magical in just the right way. Happy new year, everybody!
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Cali Luv
January 1st, 2010
11:45 am
We stayed at home, made Chicago style hot dogs, and watched New Years eve programs on our large flat screen TV. Now wondering what is open today???
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 1st, 2010
1:01 pm
Terry, it’s a worthwhile question, but I can’t answer for everyone here. My personal experience, as someone who works downtown, uses public transportation to come downtown and often attends special events downtown, has not included serious or violent crime. I do experience panhandling almost every day, but I have no problem walking past, saying no and moving on. I know my comfort level for types of places and situations, and I think it’s important for others to know theirs as well. I don’t begrudge anybody saying they won’t go X for X; I have a much harder time with people who push that view on others based on inaccurate information or perceptions created without experience.
Still, you’re right, downtown Atlanta has an image problem. First, I think there are disparities in what people think of as “downtown.” Sometimes, that includes Buckhead, or the AUC, or East Atlanta, or the Old Fourth Ward, or Castleberry Hill, or Midtown. Sometimes not. Each of these areas are remarkably unique, and have their own issues. To lump them all into one heading is a disservice.
Second, I feel the image of “downtown” often has more to do with perception than reality. I hear often from people who claim all downtown businesses have failed, that violent crime is rampant, that downtown empties when the office workers head home for the night, that there’s nothing to do. There are examples of all of those things — and depending on your interests, indeed, you may not find anything fun to do downtown — but the issues are not so extreme as some make them sound. Bad things happen everywhere; so do good things. We will always be disappointed and unprepared if we believe absolutes that say nothing good or nothing bad ever happens [insert place here.]
And this is, of course, my own perception, rooted in my own experience here and in other cities. I’m still relatively new to the city, but I think it’s far from hopeless. I hope others haven’t written it off already.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 1st, 2010
1:06 pm
Ha, Cali Luv, we were just having that conversation. Can we go to Lowe’s? Sure yes…right? Meanwhile, here’s a list of some events and activities that are open for the day: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2009/12/30/new-years-weekend-to-do-list-dec-31-2009-jan-3-2010/
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Terry
January 1st, 2010
2:02 pm
Jamie, I agree that perception versus reality can have a wide chasm. However, Atlanta needs to try and correct its’ image problem. You mention your daily interaction with panhandlers. The number one complaint by Atlanta tourist is the panhandling. It hurts Atlanta economically. Remember when NASCAR decided to locate its’ Hall of Fame elsewhere because of the image of downtown Atlanta. Some of the comments after the decision derided NASCAR as being for hicks; so who needs it. We need it and the tax revenue that all businesses generate. We have charities in place for those who are down on their luck. You can’t help but feel sympathy for the homeless and people going thru hard times. However the homeless sleeping on benches and the panhandlers asking for money is our biggest image liability. Enforcing the vagrancy laws would have the same effect as putting a new coat of paint on your house. It doesn’t mean that the plumbing works but it sure looks nice.
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Dave
January 1st, 2010
3:06 pm
Well, I decided to venture down to Underground lastnite around 10:00. There were hoards of people everywhere, but it was impossibe to hear the band unless you were close to the stage. I couldn’t understand why there weren’t speakers placed throughout the area.
The only thing that I was able to hear were the street preachers, yelling while carrying their signs informing everyone to repent.
Furthermore, after leaving Underground once the clock struck midnite there was nothing to do
in downtown. Except for the Hooters and the Hardrock Cafe. The few bussiness in downtown were all closed. Could not even get a cup a coffee!
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Joe
January 1st, 2010
3:16 pm
Seriously, I agree! Atlanta wants to market itself as this fantastic, progressive city, but it is so behind. Tourist would probably have a more exciting time in Buffalo, New York!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 1st, 2010
5:53 pm
Terry, you’re totally right — image matters. I grew up just outside Detroit, and no matter what good happens there, it’s overshadowed by the bad; we never hear of it, or it’s treated as an isolated incident. The panhandling downtown is a complicated issue, too — it’s incredibly uncomfortable and skews the perception of the city’s problems. I suppose more cops could cut back the panhandling, but I can see why it’s hard to focus police attention on it when there are far more serious crimes occurring. You’re right about the NASCAR museum, too, but since then, we’ve had a glut of new venues working on moving in downtown. Still, I think I’m more heartened by the work going on around Georgia State. Facilitating more street life downtown will only help the businesses, image and quality of life.
Dave, you make an interesting point, too: Post-Peach Drop, there wouldn’t be a lot going on downtown that wasn’t a party inside a hotel or the venues inside Underground Atlanta. Some of that has to do with the last-call law within the city, which we’ve discussed in earlier posts on the blog, and some has to do, I think, with the tourism/resident culture. Downtown is generally more tourist-friendly, I think. When I’ve got visitors in town, we do often wind up downtown for an event or a specific venue, like the Georgia Aquarium, but when we just want to walk around, grab a drink or shop, we head to other neighborhoods that aren’t quite so obvious to those who have only a guidebook or a few days to play.
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Trumpet Gal
January 2nd, 2010
4:25 pm
See that picture up top? I’m about 3 rows back and to the right with a silver trumpet. We had a blast, and I hope to personally come back to Atlanta very soon!
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nurse&mother
January 2nd, 2010
11:53 pm
It was an awesome show! Definitely worth the money. If you nay sayers would do your homework, you would have know exactly what to expect. NO one said it WAS Cirque. I’d like to see you guys try some of the stunts!
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Alex
January 3rd, 2010
12:05 am
Has anyone noticed how people have become such harsh critics of EVERYTHING? If it’s not perfect…well then, they didn’t get their monies worth. James probably thinks a MLB game isn’t worth the price of a ticket if there isn’t a home run hit every inning. I would have loved the opportunity to go to something like this, but I don’t live in Atlanta anymore. I appreciate the beautiful animals that work their hearts out for their riders and the people that work hard and practice hours on end to put on a good show for their patrons. I don’t know, maybe they were tired?
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The Grinch
January 3rd, 2010
12:16 am
It was absolutely excellent. I went twice. It was far better than the last Cirque that came through, which almost felt like an imitation of itself. This was much more fresh and original. It makes all the difference in the world to sit in the front row, though. Spend the extra cash; it’s more than worth it.
Mike Rhino, if you don’t like horses, you probably shouldn’t have gone to a horse show. Look up the word “Cavalia.”
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Newbie
January 3rd, 2010
8:46 am
As a non-horse person, I must say that I was unexpectedly mesmerized by the animals. Particularly impressive was the segment where a single trainer directs a group of around 8 horses with no riders. The choreography was spellbinding. The show is entertaining and everything that takes place on the stage is great. The seating arrangements, however, are very uncomfortable. I am of average size and shape and had a very difficult time in the seat. A couple of inches room more would have made it much more tolerable
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Realist
January 3rd, 2010
9:50 am
Poor Mike Rhino and James. They must be missing a synapse somewhere in the brain. THIS IS NOT CIRQUE. Never advertised as such, never intended to be such. It is by all accounts a horse show.
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Michael
January 3rd, 2010
10:01 am
Give Mike Rhino a break. Since he’s from Georgia he either can’t read or he’s drunk. We have to draw really specific pictures for these guys.
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To do list: January 4 | Inside Access
January 4th, 2010
12:03 am
[...] For families: Snow Mountain continues, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Stone Mountain Park, Stone Mountain. Read more. [...]
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Audrey Galloway
January 4th, 2010
7:58 pm
Enter your comments here
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Audrey Galloway
January 4th, 2010
7:59 pm
Can you participate in the “Name the Horse” contest on line?
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To do list: January 5 | Inside Access
January 5th, 2010
12:03 am
[...] Stage: Final day for “Cavalia,” 8 p.m., The White Big Top in Atlantic Station, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Frequent patron
January 5th, 2010
5:23 pm
Best place in Atlanta for a night out! And the best part is you don’t have to blow the budget to do it!!
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Keith
January 5th, 2010
5:31 pm
Frequent are you kidding? Drink prices, as well as food, are through the roof!
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How much is your budget?
January 5th, 2010
5:37 pm
My budget doesn’t exactly like $24 just to get my wife and I into the door! I think the last time I went I spent $7 on one Sam Adams!
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ATLien
January 5th, 2010
7:47 pm
Hah! Glad everyone is on the same page.
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Dave
January 5th, 2010
10:19 pm
The Yale group will be in Waycross Thursday eveing.
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Byron Mathison Kerr
January 5th, 2010
10:43 pm
Definitely a classy way to spend the evening! And all of my friends love it.
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Rebecca
January 6th, 2010
9:36 am
Out of the Blue was featured on this year’s Sing a cappella compilation, /Sunny Side Up/, with their original song, Love Begins. http://www.acappellarecords.com/compilations/sing/
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Seeking fun snow day suggestions for metro Atlanta | Inside Access
January 6th, 2010
9:53 am
[...] looks right now like snow will cover Atlanta with an inch or two late this week. It’s cute at Stone Mountain Park — far less charming on the [...]
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Paul
January 6th, 2010
1:17 pm
We live in Georgia. It snows last March and people expect it all of the time. It is NOT going to snow. Don’t get your hopes up.
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Ole Guy
January 6th, 2010
1:21 pm
Let me try to understand the concept of a snow day: When weather conditions are such as to pose a danger to attendance at school and/or work, one must find alternate means by which to occupy ones’ time while, THROUGH ABSOLUTELY NO FAULT OF, AND DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OVER WHICH ONE HAS NO CONTROL WHATSOEVER, one must find other venues to occupy ones’ free time. And just how do we arrive at said venues? Why we hazzard the drive, that’s right, the drive through the same hazzardous conditions which, AS MUCH AS WE HATED TO, we decided to “play it safe” and not go to school and/or work today.
I think I see a big reason for this series of discussionary topics on the woeful state of education.
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kk
January 6th, 2010
2:05 pm
Oh god, please dont let me get stuck behind someone going 25mph on the interstate with their hazzards lights flashing.
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Michael
January 6th, 2010
2:26 pm
In response to OLE GUY, as an educator, I can say that snow days are to keep buses off the road in hazardous conditions. You driving to work in snow is one thing; you driving a busload of someone’s children in the snow is another. Southern busdrivers have very little experience with inclement weather. Better safe than sorry. Nice try trying to tie in the woeful state of education, but I’m not buying it. We try to protect children; you try to turn it into some left wing conspiracy. Not to mention the fact that your post was repetitive and nearly nonsensical.
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Who Cares
January 6th, 2010
2:33 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me! An article on how to spend a snow day? What do you do on the other days when you’re not working or at school? God help us if this a valid concern. For those who can’t figure it out on their own, I’m sure Obama’s administration has an answer for this too! I’m sure the AJC has a direct line, so look for more government intervention to be published by this wonderful news outlet!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 6th, 2010
2:53 pm
Who Cares — I’m definitely not kidding. I hope that folks will offer up their ideas and suggestions for what typically stays open on snowy days, or for places that offer childcare — think YMCA-type businesses — on snow days. This post has nothing to do with politics. Please stay on topic.
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Cool Cash
January 6th, 2010
5:56 pm
World of Coca-Cola
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Mumsy
January 6th, 2010
6:06 pm
I’m going with a Target logo – inside of a Target store?
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KMP
January 6th, 2010
9:07 pm
“C” from CNN
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Alex
January 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
The target from the Target logo.
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KMP is right
January 6th, 2010
9:15 pm
C from CNN at the entrance facing Centennial Olympic Park.
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Carol
January 6th, 2010
9:21 pm
The Target sign!
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shawty
January 6th, 2010
9:22 pm
“C” from CNN
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twinkie
January 6th, 2010
9:27 pm
The “C” from CNN outside in front of the CNN center.
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april ford
January 6th, 2010
9:34 pm
Target
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Keith
January 6th, 2010
9:41 pm
This city is the most pathetic thing in the world. A half an inch is coming and schools close (even though it won’t start until after school) and Delta cancels 80 flights. It’s amazing that planes fly in and out of the north all winter without having to cancel flights unless there is a blizzard. I would understand if we were in Tampa but this is just sad. Get a life media.
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Jeff
January 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
Good one. “C” in CNN. The reflection shows that it’s inside the building. So like KMP is Right said, I’ll guess it’s by the entrance to Centennial Park (beside McCormick and Schmick’s).
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Charles
January 6th, 2010
9:51 pm
Varsity sign inside the varsity
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Michelle
January 6th, 2010
9:58 pm
I also think it is the “C” from the CNN center, but I think it is on the blue wall on the bank side.
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WesSoHood
January 6th, 2010
10:01 pm
World of Coke
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Kim
January 6th, 2010
10:06 pm
Target
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E.B.
January 6th, 2010
10:12 pm
Target
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vuduchld
January 6th, 2010
10:13 pm
“C” from CNN CNN inside center lobby o. Marietta St.
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Nicolette
January 6th, 2010
10:25 pm
the “C” from the CNN sign downtown across from the CNN Center
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Needabailout, too!
January 6th, 2010
10:34 pm
Way to go, Michael. Sorry Jamie, that we’re diverting. I’m going to make a big pot of beef bourguignon and enjoy a rare weather event. Let it snow, although I wish it would be much more than a ‘dusting’…I remember in the early ’70’s, when Atlanta had an ice storm, with ice forming on trees, which then fell, and then downed many of the electrical wires. The entire city was without power for four days, no heat or lights or any energy source for cooking meals. I measure any new event against that bare survival type of incident. I’m sure tomorrow will be momentarily pretty, but harmless.
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Iknow
January 6th, 2010
10:43 pm
Not just any Target….the Target at Atlantic Station!
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Just Curious
January 6th, 2010
11:03 pm
Seriously curious – why would it be any different than when they were out for Christmas break? Sleep in, tv, homework, etc….
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Jennifer
January 6th, 2010
11:20 pm
Keith, To answer part of your rant– up north they have deicing equipment, plows, sand trucks, etc. We don’t get enough of this weather to warrant the cost of this equipment, maintaince, etc. It’s cheaper and safer to simply shut down the one or two days a year this happens. Keep in mind also that many drivers in this area simply don’t have the experience driving in snowy or icy conditions. I have family members who are life- long Minnesotans, and they’ve got a repertoire of driving skills I’ve never needed to develop.
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Th world is ending
January 6th, 2010
11:32 pm
I have purchased two electric blankets, 25 candles and a significant number of glowsticks to keep me warm through not only this major snow problem but through the weekend. I will not be leaving the safety of my home and can only pray that nobody else does. This is going to be bad, please stay inside
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 6th, 2010
11:33 pm
Just Curious — I think it’s different because it’s unplanned. For a holiday break, families know well in advance what days they’ll be taking off work, who will be watching the kids, whether they’ll be able to safely get from Point A to Point B, what will be open if they try to go out and have some fun at the library or the science museum. I grew up in Michigan, and we would sometimes have entire weeks off of school because of snow, ice, water main breaks and heating system malfunctions. We had a pretty solid knowledge of what was accessible and open on those days, and what wasn’t. Because snow days are relatively infrequent here, I think it’s helpful to have a place to share ideas.
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fun things to do around atlanta on the weekend of january 8-10 | Inside Access
January 7th, 2010
12:02 am
[...] Martinis and IMAX returns, 6:30-11 p.m., Fernbank Museum of Natural History, [...]
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To do list: January 7 | Inside Access
January 7th, 2010
12:08 am
[...] Music: The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus a cappella group performs, 7:30 p.m., Marcus Jewish Community Center-Zaban Park, Dunwoody. Read more. [...]
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Ada
January 7th, 2010
1:03 am
The Target sign at Atlantic Station.
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Meashelle D.
January 7th, 2010
1:27 am
Target Store
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Cheap Date Ideas: MLK Center | Martinis & IMAX | Improv | Live music | Workout | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
January 7th, 2010
7:02 am
[...] Always one of Atlanta’s most popular date destinations, Martinis and IMAX at the Fernbank Museum is always affordable. There’s an even sweeter deal than usual. Uncovered by Jenn from Atlanta on the Cheap, Q100 Insiders can buy one ticket and get one free. Tickets are $12, so this comes in well below our $40 maximum. How do you become an Insider? It’s easy. It takes about five seconds to fill in your name and email contact information, and you’re in. That’s not much of a sacrifice for a deal like this. Get the details on the shows and hours by reading my colleague Jamie’s blog post on InsideAccess. [...]
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Kassie
January 7th, 2010
9:21 am
Target!
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Wanna rock? Try ladies’ camp or all-ages ’school of rock’ | Inside Access
January 7th, 2010
10:02 am
[...] $350 Ladies Rock Camp tuition is a fund-raiser for Girls Rock Camp-Atlanta, which I wrote about here and here. There are more Rock Camp photos, [...]
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Wanna rock? Try ladies’ camp or all-ages ’school of rock’ | Inside Access
January 7th, 2010
10:03 am
[...] Ladies Rock Camp tuition is a fund-raiser for Girls Rock Camp-Atlanta, which I wrote about here and here. There are more Rock Camp photos, [...]
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FAMUAKA
January 7th, 2010
10:09 am
Target’s Logo
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Kelly
January 7th, 2010
11:03 am
CNN sign inside the food court
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Paul
January 7th, 2010
11:55 am
thats the CNN logo Inside the food court i believe its on the north wall
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Alejandra
January 7th, 2010
3:19 pm
It’s either Target or CNN…
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ds
January 7th, 2010
3:35 pm
The CNN Center
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Neal Kelley
January 7th, 2010
3:36 pm
I first i was going to say the target logo.. but looking at the refection in the image.. i think it is the logo in the cnn building.. downtown..
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ds
January 7th, 2010
3:51 pm
Enter your comments here
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VNECK
January 7th, 2010
4:42 pm
TARGET
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rachael
January 7th, 2010
4:48 pm
“…Mayor Kasim Reed announced Monday that $1 from each CNN tour will go toward Atlanta recreation centers — another source of fun and education for a lot of families in town.”
That’s fantastic!
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Access Points 21: Do you know what and where this is? | Inside Access
January 7th, 2010
4:58 pm
[...] pm January 6, 2010, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 1/7/10: Want to know the answer? Here it is! Do you know what and where this is? Share your ideas in the comments! AJC/Jamie [...]
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Dorean
January 7th, 2010
4:58 pm
Enter your comments here
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Dorean
January 7th, 2010
4:59 pm
What sort of food do they have?
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Shelle
January 7th, 2010
5:00 pm
Target Atlantic Station
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Sadie Johnson
January 7th, 2010
5:18 pm
I miss Charles Seaforth (last name?)’s column that used to be in the Sunday paper. I do buy the newsstand edition each week and really miss his column, espeically “What’s in the sky this week.” Am I just missing it or will you consider bringing it back? Thanks.
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Andrew
January 7th, 2010
5:30 pm
I thought Target at first, but as someone said you can see the reflection in the object, and that looks exactly like the CNN Center entrance. Plus as we all know it does say CNN inside, whereas pretty much every target I’ve been to doesn’t have a giant Target symbol on the inside, that close to the door, with that kind of entrance. CNN wins.
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LoveLife411
January 7th, 2010
7:34 pm
Yes… It’s the only one that I’ve seen that I recognized.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 7th, 2010
11:26 pm
Sadie — I’ll send your comments to the folks who make these decisions.
You can send them directly, too, to Public Editor Shawn McIntosh at insideajc@ajc.com.
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iRun
January 8th, 2010
12:01 am
If APS shuts down tomorrow I will take my son to breakfast at The Flying Biscuit. We can walk there so we won’t have to brave the icy roads.
And they are icy. It never really snowed here intown. It just sleeted all evening and now that sleet is freezing up and making the roads slick. I live on the slope of a hill and I can hear cars spinning in place (yes, they’re driving around at midnight!).
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Ron
January 8th, 2010
12:06 am
Watch out for the thugs Friday! Robbery time!
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ladyB
January 8th, 2010
1:18 am
C at CNN center
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Michael
January 8th, 2010
4:27 am
Have a happy, white Eastern Orthodox Christmas! (1/7/10).
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10th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival starts Jan. 13 | Inside Access
January 8th, 2010
5:03 am
[...] Ten years in, Atlanta’s is the second-largest Jewish film festival out of about 115 worldwide. Organizers expect to sell more than 20,000 tickets this year. I wrote about some of the highlights in this post from last month. [...]
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Charles Goff
January 8th, 2010
5:16 am
The Varsity in Atlanta
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Charles Goff
January 8th, 2010
5:18 am
Enter your comments here
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MEl
January 8th, 2010
6:11 am
Top 5 Things you’re likely to see when a snowflake falls in Atlanta:
5. Fistfights over flashlight batteries
4. National Guard surrounding Home Depot stores
3. Gleeful children building a mudman
2. TV stations running “Flakewatch 2010: Day One”
1. Midtowners eating their own feet to stay alive
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Fred
January 8th, 2010
7:41 am
Amen Jennifer!!
Being an Yankee I can tell you from experience that it’s flat up in Yankee land for the most part so of course you can get around. I do not care where you are from, you do NOT drive up an icy hill.
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shinyhappylady
January 8th, 2010
7:41 am
The price of North Georgia shutting down for a day or two : $9,000,000, The look on a southern child’s face who sees the beauty of snow for the first time : priceless. Quit your griping and make some snow angels.
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Mike Smith
January 8th, 2010
7:49 am
You shouldn’t drive anywhere, as the schools have already determined it’s too unsafe to take children on the roads,
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Parent
January 8th, 2010
8:05 am
Remeber that the parents who complain about the schools being closed, will be the first parents to scream it their child’s bus is in an accident.
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Tony
January 8th, 2010
8:30 am
Waffle House is open.
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diane
January 8th, 2010
8:52 am
WHY are so many poeple getting so serious about a small article on the weather in the online paper. the internet is full of absolutley fluff reports people who take this more than what it is-a space filler- needs to lighten up. It’s just a suggestion. If the article was on what’s to watch on tv I am sure there would be many complaining about wasting time watching the boob tube. If all you have to do is criticize find something really important to gripe about..
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Sue
January 8th, 2010
8:53 am
We’re headed to the golf course for a little sledding. Kids have already been out throwing snowballs. After everyone is too cold – or the snow is all gone, I’ll let them play the wii for probably too long while I get some work done. If the roads get better, maybe we’ll brave the elements and head to a cheap movie http://www.fieldtripswithsue.com/2010/01/cheap-movies.html or just find something on demand. In Atlanta, you have to play in the snow while you can – so that’s the first priority.
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HT
January 8th, 2010
8:56 am
Ah yes, my favorite time of the year. The time where Yankees make fun of southerners for not knowing how to drive in the snow and ice, happens every year. You people are so predictable. Delta is waiting when you are!
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Happy teacher
January 8th, 2010
9:03 am
I’ll spend the day enjoying being with my own kids. We’ll play some BOARD games, not video games, make some hot chocolate, and have soup and sandwiches.
Only a tad bit of snow here in Henry, so we’ll play with what we can and then play inside.
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Wendy
January 8th, 2010
9:18 am
Jamie! Kudos to you for a great idea this morning. To all the sad, unhappy rantists, well, I just hope you either change your attitude or move back to where ever it is that you originally hail. Michael and Jennifer have it correctly. I can’t help but believe that this type of negativity is exactly what is portrayed in life, not just on ajc.com. Again, a great, thoughtful posting Jamie. I hope you get lots of fresh ideas on the what-to-dos this am.
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Rich
January 8th, 2010
9:21 am
What does Yankees making fun of Southerners for not knowing how to drive in snow and ice and the overused saying of Delta is ready when you are? Doesn’t make sense.
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null
January 8th, 2010
9:34 am
“Brave the elements”? You have GOT to be kidding, right?
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want to tour cnn and meet robin? | Robin Meade Blog
January 8th, 2010
9:41 am
[...] I sometimes felt like the only person who’d been to Atlanta and hadn’t been on a CNN tour. [...]
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Dan
January 8th, 2010
9:51 am
Fred I don’t know what part of Yankee land you are from but I assure you the northeast is far more hilly than Atlanta. But the article is kind of humerous, what to do where to go with the free day. Well the only option should be to stay home and enjoy, if in fact you can get out and play there really should not have been a snow day?? Not begrudging a day off but seriously there is zero reason people couldn’t get to work today in most parts of the city. I am sure a few folks have an icy hill they can’t get up but that is no reason to shut down the city. It is much more about a three day weekend than safety.
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turdblossom karl
January 8th, 2010
9:52 am
Options? well, we’ve got internet porn, or maybe some nude sledding! Possibilities are endless.
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Cooter Burger
January 8th, 2010
9:53 am
Wow Paul you really called that one. Good job buddy.
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asudst1992
January 8th, 2010
10:43 am
Some of you are so out of touch with reality when it pertains to education. Trust me when I tell you that closing schools is the last option for superintendents. They try so hard to wait until the last second before he/she makes that cancellation phone call. The superintendents and boards are monitored very closely by the Dept. of Education when it comes to hours students spend in a classroom for instruction. Now, I do admit that this article was one that shouldn’t have been published. It serves absolutely no purpose…not even for entertainment.
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Captain Midnight
January 8th, 2010
11:08 am
America: 44 Presidents, but only one King. Happy 75th birthday Elvis.
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Cindi
January 8th, 2010
11:18 am
I was out at 5:30 this morning, no problems getting to work. Did not ride on anyones car bumper, stayed away from groups of cars and took my sweet ol time, made it no problem, then got to work and found out the office was not opening until 10:00, they made that announcement at 6:30 and I was at work at 6:15. But all is good, hope everyone enjoyed sleeping in late today, and kids have a save,happy and fun extra day.
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Yep
January 8th, 2010
11:19 am
I bet Paul wishes he would have waited a bit before he posted yesterday.
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Michael
January 8th, 2010
11:32 am
About ten years ago Gwinnett caught hell for canceling school for the next day based on a forecast and the next day turned out to be sunny and cold. Now they wait until the middle of the night to make their decisions. I agree with that. As for fun, when I lived up north we would put on our plastic boots, grab the back of a car and ski down the icy streets.
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BlakkPurl
January 8th, 2010
11:40 am
I will definitely go see the exhibit. My fondest memories include watching her fairy tale wedding on television. She was the most caring and beautiful person. My saddest memory was when she left us way too soon. I am very excited about the exhibit.
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GeorgiaPeach
January 8th, 2010
11:44 am
Jamie, I want to commend you on this story. It actually is very pertitent especially in this economy and people may not have the funds to pay for alternate care. Also, I know of individuals who work for companies who penalize them financially, if they take a day off due to school snow days. I think your article will allow parents to share ideas with one another. For those who are making comments off topic, please allow those who the story pertains to have discussion. Have a great day!
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Sandi
January 8th, 2010
11:51 am
Well, we know what some people do on Snow Days!! They write nasty comments on blogs. Personally, I always look at it as a gift day and just enjoy!
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T-Bone
January 8th, 2010
11:57 am
Kids can…
Clean up their room.
Read a book.
Call up their grandparents on the phone and say hi.
Play with the dog.
Make some brownies.
Make a snowman.
Drink some hot chocolate.
Catch up on their homework.
…..
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Needabailout, too!
January 8th, 2010
12:14 pm
Nasty comment posting is non-specific to any topic. It’s a new phenomena that has ridden the online media wave whenever public comments are solicited. It gives the anonymous poster freedom from retribution or responsibility for their actions, coupled with freedom of speech. Their comments are either a true snapshot of rising intolerance, arrogance, hatred, superiority, call it whatever–or it is a ruse to provoke outrage in the rest of us. Many times it’s not worth the time reading these baseless rants. We’re talking only about time-fillers on a snow day, something we are all collectively experiencing–not yankees vs. rebels, lack of individual driving abilities, the state of education today, workers vs. loafers, weather hysteria, etc. I’m just waiting for someone to inject racism as it relates to 15 degree weather…
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C from Marietta
January 8th, 2010
12:30 pm
If you don’t like the article why BLOG vemon? Are you people that miserable that you need to hate on an article, about how to spend a snow day? Get a life folks.
Thanks Needabailout, too for exactly what I was thinking.
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iRun
January 8th, 2010
12:47 pm
We did, in fact, walk down to The Flying Biscuit for a late, liesurely breakfast. The street in front our house is sloped and it had turned into an ice skating rink overnight. I’m talking at least a half inch of solid ice. We watched cars (even some all wheel drives) get stuck about halfway up and start spinning and sliding back. After breakfast until about an hour ago we spent time helping people get unstuck and turned around. Then a few neighbors went out with whatever road runner and bags of sand they had and spread it out. It and the appearance of the sun helped because now it’s all slushy. But, I know it will just refreeze tonight and we’ll be doing the same thing tomorrow.
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fun things to do around atlanta on the weekend of january 8-10 | Inside Access
January 8th, 2010
1:01 pm
[...] More Elvis events and times! [...]
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Noah
January 8th, 2010
1:58 pm
Why on earth would they close the High Museum. Many of us live in town and wouldn’t even have to drive if we wanted to. Seems like the perfect thing to do on a snowy day if your not stuck at work like some of us.
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Tori
January 8th, 2010
2:18 pm
If you have young kids who are stuck at home today there are plenty of sites with great craft ideas. Or you can play board games.
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Not Going To Use My Usual Name
January 8th, 2010
2:55 pm
Noah, there’s no guarantee that its *employees* live in town.
Needabailout, hear hear.
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Chuck Snow
January 8th, 2010
4:12 pm
Now there’s some serious logic it’s far too dangerous out to go to school or work, but it’s the perfect time to go out to play. OK I got it.
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At Work
January 8th, 2010
4:28 pm
Yeah, you shouldn’t drive anywhere….
OK, then don’t get mad when your tv stations are in black because I couldn’t make it to work.
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Berna
January 8th, 2010
5:29 pm
I recently saw this exhibit when it was in Philadelphia and it was exquisite like the lady herself. It is a beautiful and moving tribute to someone who we lost way too young. If you admired the princess, I would highly recommend it to you. It goes from her ancestory, childhood memorabilia all the way up to her untimely death…I still can’t believe sometimes that she is gone.
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D.B. Pate
January 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
Not much snow in LaGrange, and no kids to play with, so I did my federal income tax today. Woo hoo!!
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Ellen Fix
January 8th, 2010
7:42 pm
Michael, whether or not you agree with his attitude, I think you missed Ole Guy’s point: What he’s saying is, the school system adjudicated that it’s unsafe to be on the roads, therefore it’s incongruent to then be considering pass the time by driving on those very same roads that the schools said were too dangerous to be in school for.
And in regard to the main question of what to do instead, I have three words of advice: READ A BOOK.
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Ole Guy
January 8th, 2010
10:01 pm
Mike, thanks for noticing the repetitive and near-nonsensical nature of my comments…REPETITIVE to point out, and to reinforce, the very issues which we tend to allow to stand in the way, almost as if we were looking for extraneous issues to serve as verification of the fact that we haven’t been able to do much of real consequence in preping kids for the world. I believe, after all, that city promoters have long labeled the ATL as a world class city; perhaps we should learn to conduct the business of educating kids in a world class (oops, am I confusing you again with repetitiveness?) fashion, and stop looking for the silliest of reasons to throw up our collective hands in surrender (have I lost you?). My comment was designed to appear as nonsensical as the entire concept of “snow days” is (nonsensical…oops, there I go again confusing you).
There is absolutely nothing “left wing conspiracy” about my comments, unless, of course, you interpret it that way, in which case, for you, it is (people like you confuse so easily). However, I suppose I have to semi-agree with you on the issue of southern bus drivers not having much experience in incliment weather. Hey, I’ve got a whale of an idea: lets shut down the entire school system when it rains, hails, snows, winds clock above a certain level, or the locusts are out in force. Better safe than sorry (or is that too right wing?).
Perhaps we should learn to conduct business as one
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Ole Guy
January 8th, 2010
10:06 pm
Jennifer, would that repertoire of northern driving skills include exercising common sense?
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awantwin
January 9th, 2010
12:58 am
I was recently in Memphis this past Thanksgiving. If you go there, you’ll be reminded of Elvis some how.
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Great ATL Guy
January 9th, 2010
10:03 am
Elvis was hot…. straight or gay, I bet you’d like to @#$%^&* him!!
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Susan
January 9th, 2010
12:36 pm
Fernbank is closed till Monday!
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fun things to do around atlanta on the weekend of january 8-10 | Inside Access
January 9th, 2010
4:40 pm
[...] UPDATE 1/9: Worried that the fun thing you want to do isn’t open? Here’s a list of local closings and delays. [...]
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Lillian
January 9th, 2010
5:58 pm
Elvis’ birthday expired 30 years ago!
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Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
January 9th, 2010
6:38 pm
I am a 57 year old straight Black man, and I loved Elvis. I learned to be romantic and charming and sexy from him. I have romanced many fine ladies in my life with charm I learned first from Elvis. I miss him.
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Marie
January 9th, 2010
7:52 pm
I watched this story on this evening’s new with extreme interest. Has anyone thought about opening up or expanding this type of showing for Senior Citizens? I rarely go to the movie theater because of the darkness and the LOUD sound. I am 71 years old and I would certainly LOVE to go to a movie and be comfortable and be able to see. Thanks for listening. Marie
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Valosia
January 9th, 2010
9:41 pm
Interesting, I ran into this article while looking up movies about Autism. I wish they would expand this, to every county. Me and my husband are HFA, my daughter is too on the spectrum. I have many people on the spectrum in my family, we range all over the spectrum. — Anyways, I think it would be extreamlly great for all of those kids and familys who can not even go out because of the fear of something happening. I know how stressful it is on those parents, and I would love to see every county doing it like once a month. Where they can get out of the house and just let there kids have fun. I know it would help them a great deal. Being able to just relax and let there kids have fun, and not feel like there being judged every moment there out.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 9th, 2010
9:57 pm
Interesting idea, Marie. You make a good point — this is a particularly sensitive approach for families with an autistic child, but for many of them them, just a regular matinee in a G-rated movie might be a friendly enough audience. But I suspect there are many other groups, like some senior citizens, that would appreciate some changes to the movie experience, too. Seems like it could be worth contacting theater companies or advocacy groups to get organized!
Same to you, Valosia. It’s great to see these three theaters participating, but in order to get more on board, it seems like they need a mass of people in one location to say, “Hey, we need this.” Time to get organized.
Good luck to you both, and thanks for commenting!
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Mike D
January 10th, 2010
2:17 am
I suggest a movie time for family friendly films at most theaters where I don’t have to hear sh*t from others in the audiance. I went to the AMC at Phipps and had to listen to members of the blue jean bandit gang on their cell phones until I moved to Alpharetta. As a family man I like family movies, what Atlanta needs is a Terd free movie zone. (I know I spelled it wrong on purpose).
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Aquagirl
January 10th, 2010
7:54 am
With autism rates increasing, this sounds like a stellar idea. I have no kids with autism, but I bet it’s a relief for people to be able to go to the theater and relax. With so many screens available there’s no reason for movies to be a one-size fits all experience.
@ Mike D, thanks for the reminder: friends don’t let friends drink and post.
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dls
January 10th, 2010
8:08 am
I work with special kids and what a wonderful idea! I hope other theaters will follow!
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Sam
January 10th, 2010
10:19 pm
BWAHAHAHAHAAAA! That’s hilarious!
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CD
January 10th, 2010
11:14 pm
I saw this in Fort Lauderdale a couple years ago on a girls night out as we were looking for something to do and wasn’t expecting much. I’m not a big “fan” or have any particular affection toward the UK but … I’d go again! You will not be disappointed. For the price of a movie it’s a better bet and it’s way better than going to stuff your face with greasy food at a cheezy bar.
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Flo
January 12th, 2010
12:36 pm
I saw this in Ft. Lauderdale a couple of years ago and it was absolutely magnificant. I am a huge huge fan of Princess Diana. I have her collection of porcelin dolls and her plate collection in my house. She was such a fine person. Her untimely death left a big hole in my heart and in the world. I followed her ever since her fairytale wedding. I admired her and still admire her in her death. She is greatly missed. I would have loved to grow old with her.
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Leila
January 12th, 2010
3:04 pm
Tickets for the first show, George Winston, are on sale now at Ticket Alternative:
http://www.ticketalternative.com/Events/9529.aspx
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Tickets on sale for first in Decatur’s new Eddie and Agnes concert series: pianist George Winston performs Feb. 23 | Inside Access
January 12th, 2010
3:16 pm
[...] have been planned for the auditorium. (You can read more about the idea for the concert series in this blog post from last month.) There’s some discussion about the series going on over at Decatur Metro, including [...]
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 12th, 2010
3:18 pm
Thanks, Leila! I just posted a link to the tickets: http://blogs.ajc.com/inside-access/2010/01/12/tickets-on-sale-for-first-in-decaturs-new-eddie-and-agnes-concert-series-pianist-george-winston-performs-feb-23/
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atlantamovie
January 12th, 2010
3:28 pm
Does anyone know if there is a screening tonight in Atlanta for the new movie “Lovely Bones”?
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Lily P
January 13th, 2010
9:19 am
I’m excited to take my kids on the Caopy Walk to the garden!!! A walk in the treetops….right in the middle of the city. Not sure what other atrtraction’s coming but that’s the one for our family – we won’t miss it!
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Lain Shakespeare
January 13th, 2010
4:28 pm
Plaza Theatre, definitely.
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Wendy Darling
January 13th, 2010
4:29 pm
Plaza on Ponce de Leon. And if I’m wrong and it’s not that, Plaza Theater in Little Five Pts.
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Wendy Darling
January 13th, 2010
4:29 pm
Correction to above post: I meant Variety Playhouse in L5P.
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dperdue
January 13th, 2010
5:04 pm
Isn’t it great that a capella is taking off? If you want more, come see the Harvard University LowKeys, an award-winning a capella group, perform on Sat., Jan. 23. The concert will start at 7:30 pm at the Covenant Presbyterian Church located in Buckead at 2461 Peachtree Rd. For more info, visit http://www.peachtreehills.org.
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr Day Weekend January 15 16 17 18 | Inside Access
January 14th, 2010
12:03 am
[...] of the very best honor King through art and community building. I encourage you to check out this list of major Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations around Atlanta, from Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performances to puppet shows to public art unveiling to service [...]
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Fun Things To Do Around Atlanta on Martin Luther King Jr Day Weekend January 15 16 17 18 | Inside Access
January 14th, 2010
12:15 am
[...] Recreation: 2010 Atlanta Boat Show continues, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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george p. burdell
January 14th, 2010
5:56 am
Plaza Drugs on Ponce de Leon
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Bad Brad
January 14th, 2010
6:19 am
The Varsity
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Reggie
January 14th, 2010
6:49 am
Varsity on North Ave
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Lisa
January 14th, 2010
7:41 am
Plaza Theatre
Which is about to celebrate it’s 70th anniversary. There’s a whole series of events planned – check it out!!
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Rich
January 14th, 2010
8:42 am
Some place where obviously due to it’s hideousness no repspecting Gay man had anything to do with this design.
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FrankLeeDarling
January 14th, 2010
9:03 am
Plaza theater
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JJ
January 14th, 2010
9:44 am
Plaza Drugs
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Doris
January 14th, 2010
10:14 am
The Varsity
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KC
January 14th, 2010
10:36 am
definately Plaza on Ponce. Check their website and you will see it is their marquee.
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doodie
January 14th, 2010
11:19 am
at the corner of ugly st. and too many stripes blvd.
Either there, or Plaza on Ponce De Leon.
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Bird
January 14th, 2010
11:28 am
That is definitely The Plaza Theatre! They have a big 70th Anniversary Party Friday with TCM’s Robert Osborne and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON! Check it out at plazaatlanta.com!
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K. Reed
January 14th, 2010
11:41 am
This is definitely a picture of a building somewhere in Atlanta, Georgia! I know this for sure!
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badcarburetor
January 14th, 2010
11:54 am
Plaza Theater – Please donate to help keep this ATL institution around.
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Jon
January 14th, 2010
12:01 pm
Those that are going to the King concert tonight to hear Marsalis’ symphony might like to know that the ASO is again performing a few movements from the work. Get the full story here: http://tinyurl.com/ycbbcpe
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Rob
January 14th, 2010
12:07 pm
the plaza
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Baseball Mom
January 14th, 2010
12:08 pm
Varsity
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Hans
January 14th, 2010
12:16 pm
Quit saying it is the Varsity – It is the Plaza – http://indiefixx.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/2711984026_335a136dbe.jpg
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martha
January 14th, 2010
12:27 pm
PLAZA THEATRE!!!!
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martha
January 14th, 2010
12:28 pm
ON PONCE DE LEON!!!!
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ted
January 14th, 2010
1:01 pm
North Avenue side of the Varsity
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Falcons Fan
January 14th, 2010
1:24 pm
Chuckie Cheese on Rockbridge Rd….Just had lunch there
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Ga Dawg
January 14th, 2010
2:07 pm
It’s the Varsity
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Atlantanative
January 14th, 2010
3:07 pm
Stone Mountain, right next to the carving of Gen. Lee
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Shawneka
January 14th, 2010
3:09 pm
The Varsity on North Ave
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Dave M
January 14th, 2010
3:15 pm
Definitely, the Plaza Theatre!
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Fire Frank Wren
January 14th, 2010
3:18 pm
Plaza Theatre on Ponce next to the Righteous Room
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Moneymover
January 14th, 2010
3:42 pm
CNN Center
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Paula S
January 14th, 2010
3:46 pm
Plaza Theatre, without a doubt! See http://www.plazaatlanta.com/.
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Gabe
January 14th, 2010
4:03 pm
Why did you even care to comment? Oh the ignorance…
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Bruce
January 14th, 2010
4:05 pm
Nick, how very sad for you. I will pray for you because it is because of people like you that hate is spread. It also shows your ignorance. Dr. King did not just protest for African Americans. Many of the rights of women and all minorities are a result of the Civil Rights Movement. May God open your eyes to the fact that we all bleed red. If you were to become ill and need blood, it could come from one of those Black people to whom you refer. I trust that you will let God show you the true spirit of humanity. Dr. King was not a FRAUD. He was a man of vision and carried out actions that changed this country for the better. If you believe in Heaven, remember ALL of God’s children will be there. Don’t be left out because of hate and ignorance.
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Access Points 22: Plaza Theatre in Poncey-Highland | Inside Access
January 14th, 2010
4:08 pm
[...] I’d posted a color picture of this week’s Access Point, I don’t think there would have been any question. It’s not The Varsity, nor Chuck E. [...]
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Access Points 22: Do you know what and where this is? | Inside Access
January 14th, 2010
4:20 pm
[...] pm January 13, 2010, by Jamie Gumbrecht UPDATE 1/14/10: Want to know the answer? Here it is! Does this look familiar? Share your guess at what it is in the [...]
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Jean
January 14th, 2010
4:32 pm
Nick is an idiot. Who cares what he has to say? I’m quite sure he’s getting the day off too…Let’s move on.
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cucumber in the pants man
January 14th, 2010
7:02 pm
Come early, I will be on the corner winking and smiling.
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Freedom and Liberty in Government
January 15th, 2010
6:49 am
Dont forget the big http://www.CampaignforLiberty.org event tonight at 7pm at the downtown Atlanta
Sheraton, 165 Courtland Street where you will have the FREE opportunity to hear the wisdom of Dr. Ron Paul, hopeful candidate for President 2012! He’s the man you WISH we had now as real leader!!!
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Margaret Witten
January 15th, 2010
9:22 am
Dear Mr. Pousner:
I’d like to comment on your write-up of the Shen Yun dance troupe in the AJC. I haven’t seen the show this year and it may be different than last year’s show, but I doubt it. Last year, a friend gave me a couple of tickets to the show, so my girlfriend and I went. After a couple of the performance dances, and especially after the operatic numbers (sung in Chinese, with super-titles in English), we began to realize that something was going on. (Also the producers showed a great interest in video taping our reactions to the show, while they prohibited any photography of the show itself.) It became very clear by the end of the show that the event was sponsored by the Falung Gong and that the show really amounted to a propaganda campaign against the Chinese government. In fact I was under the impression that many of the people in the audience were followers of the Falung Gong and may not have paid for their tickets.
Far be it from me to defend the Communist Chinese government, but I do think we were “sold” a bill of goods. Whether or not the Chinese government is maltreating the Falung Gong, we deserved to be told that we were being entertained (and paying for the privilege, as my friend did pay $100 per ticket for the show!) for the purpose of being indoctrinated into the philosophy and the plight of the Falung Gong.
As I said, maybe the show is different this year, but last year, it was pretty clear to us that the tickets for this show were being sold under false pretenses, even if for a good cause (although I’m not sure of that given the experience). As a reporter, you have a responsibility to truly and accurately report. Sometimes you find the stories, other times the stories find you. You may be saying to yourself, “Heck, I’m the entertainment editor what do I know from politics?” But from reading your write-up (which could, to some, appear to be a review), I think you were “had” if you didn’t notice or weren’t made aware of what was going on. And I think you contribute to the deceit if you don’t do a little investigating and find out what is really going on in the Energy Center.
I note that, in a check of the AJC today, there is a reference to a negative review from a Vancouver newspaper. I am glad to see that the AJC has picked up that reference. I would hope that the AJC could do a better job, in the future, of making it clear that it was providing information without having actually seen a performance, or, in the alternative, informing the public of the true nature of a performance (when something is so political.)
Best Regards,
Dan Franklin
Margaret Witten
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Shop to help Haiti | Atlanta Boat Show a good deal | MLK Celebrations | Atlanta Bargain Hunter
January 15th, 2010
3:01 pm
[...] the Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday celebrations. I’d encourage you to check out the Inside Access blog to find the latest happenings and of course, many of the activities are free of [...]
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Dan
January 15th, 2010
4:28 pm
good for her at that age.
At least some member of the King family is doing something positive
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Cribbster
January 15th, 2010
4:31 pm
Easily the coolest theater in Atlanta. It would be somewhat tragic if the theater ever shut down.
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malama
January 15th, 2010
5:56 pm
happy birthday to you. just to thank god for adding more days in your life. and remember that god is always on your side in your times of need. he’s your helper, your healer, and your everything. so yes, may the lord add some more days in your life and his blessings over you. god bless.
by:malama.togia
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julina
January 15th, 2010
8:12 pm
Enter your comments here
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shardez griffen
January 15th, 2010
8:35 pm
marin luther king was a good man
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Happy birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr. « Dating Jesus
January 15th, 2010
10:15 pm
[...] (Though the country celebrates on Monday.) [...]
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Tony from Stone Mountain
January 15th, 2010
11:09 pm
What a deal!
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alexandra
January 15th, 2010
11:19 pm
i just want to say to the king family may god bless you god will make a way out of no way and to all of the people that are reading if your going through just let go and let god i admire dr.king the best i can words can not describe how i feel about him his family how lucky are we to live in such a nation when we have people care enough to help blacks and whites come together as 1 we are blessed god got our backes alright gd bless you all
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Atlanta Boat Show | AXI
January 16th, 2010
11:11 am
[...] Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events Around Atlanta | Inside AccessMartin Luther King Jr. Day events around Atlanta · Atlanta Boat Show — now with wakeboa… [...]
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Plaza Theatre, Atlanta’s oldest moviehouse, turns 70 | Inside Access
January 16th, 2010
1:57 pm
[...] What do they have in common? 1939, the year all of them debuted. (Check out more of its history in this week’s Access Point.) [...]
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Dan Lynn
January 16th, 2010
11:33 pm
Happy Birthday, Plaza Theater. I saw many movies there when I was a kid. We must keep this treasure alive forever.
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Chuck
January 17th, 2010
12:02 am
I’ve moved away from Atlanta but always loved going to the Plaza. The movies were good and they even had functioning Ms. Pac Man and Galaga machines!
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pete
January 17th, 2010
7:58 am
Happy birthday Plaza.Spent every Saturday at the Plaza or Highland theater in 50’s and early 60’s.
My uncle would take us to the movies on the last day of school.Thanks for preserving this Atlanta
Icon.
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Barry Blakely
January 17th, 2010
8:34 am
I love to take my grandkids there the last Saturday of every month when they host the Spook Show. They have great oldie science fiction or horror movies, plus a great live skit with a full cast of great characters. Add in the fact that kids 12 and under are free for the afternoon show, it’s the best entertainment value in the entire metro area. My 11 year old loved an original Godzilla movie in Japanese, with English subtitles…said it was the first time that the mouth movements and the sound track actually matched! I would recommend every fan sign up for their newsletter on their website.
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OKGA
January 17th, 2010
9:38 am
I just heard on 11Alive that Dr. Cornel West will be in Atlanta this year for MLK Jr. day, but I cannot find any confirmation of this. Does anyone know if he’s going to be participating? Thanks.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 17th, 2010
11:05 am
OKGA, I just added details that confirm Cornel West will be at Ebenezer Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on Monday. (I didn’t have an easy time finding it either!)
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Pryncess
January 17th, 2010
1:14 pm
Great deal, but I think this is almost worse than a courthouse…15 minutes for such an important part of your life is not enough, but to each its own…Excellent idea for vow renewal though.
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Siriusly Folks
January 17th, 2010
1:41 pm
How about offering $200 15-minute divorces? A much better use of time and money.
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GA Girl
January 17th, 2010
2:50 pm
This is much better than the courthouse. I felt like I was at the free clinic awaiting assistance with all of the people standing around. At the DeKalb county courthouse, there’s a courtroom next to the judge’s chamber where the ceremony takes place. You think someone is waiting to get married but they’re waiting for their case to begin. Excellent idea and worth the cost.
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relentlees
January 17th, 2010
3:13 pm
does anyone know a
what time the parade starts tmrw ,downtown? how about any activities that might intrest the kids?
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 17th, 2010
3:29 pm
Relentlees, I added info about the march and rally above. The march begins at 1 p.m. It didn’t specifically mention children’s activities, but the National Historic Site and King home tours are definitely kid-friendly, and free. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta also has several King-day related kids activities going on downtown for the regular cost of admission. More info: http://www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org/
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Drew
January 17th, 2010
5:42 pm
$200 and 15 minutes? I’m so glad Georgia defends the sanctity of marriage. Allowing gays and lesbians to marry in Georgia would definitely discount the value of these priceless unions.
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Anne
January 17th, 2010
6:24 pm
250.00 divorces are great, my ex cost me 5,000 and two years later to fight for the children but he has never called nor does he see them, his choice.
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jessica past
January 17th, 2010
9:29 pm
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAS AN AWESOME MAN
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Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Atlanta | Inside Access
January 18th, 2010
12:37 am
[...] are Martin Luther King Jr. Day events around Atlanta, and more activities [...]
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anayansi
January 18th, 2010
4:15 am
Martin luther king jr. Wherever you are I want to thank you for being a strong human. You change many life. You taught so many people that we are the same no matter the race or color. We are equal. If someone need you give them love, give them love. If someone need you give them love. It doesn’t matter the race or color of the skin, we have to love everyone like brothers and do good.
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Wanda Heard
January 18th, 2010
7:44 am
Martin Luther King Jr. A man whose life was his message…
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tina southland
January 18th, 2010
10:02 am
i am really intertained in what your church did i know that other chuches did it to but i dont think they would have cake likethe way yorur chuch did i am really amazed.
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Krobinson
January 18th, 2010
10:03 am
wow!! I just relocated to Southern California last year. Just to think I am so happy I was able to take my children to the King Center and to see REAL history,I feel truly honored. I think I will add mlk center as my donantions going forward. This has to be in honor to the King Family. My children will be able to keep the dream alive. Thank you Dr. King.
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tina southland
January 18th, 2010
10:08 am
happy birthday dr.king !!!!!!!! i really appreiciate you getting the blacks out of slavery. i want to say again happy birthday to you up in haven if you were hear right now i would really like for you to read this letter i wrote.
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Marilee Coughlin
January 18th, 2010
11:48 am
My friedn and i were taken in by the beautiful ads and flyers handed out at the mall – we bought tickets to see the show on Sunday, January 17th. While the dancers are fabulous, and the costumes are gorgeous, I felt like I was at a revival or brain-washing session. The operatic performances were Falun Gong “hymns” – with the lyrics in English on the large screen. The two pieces showing the oppression of the Falun Gong in China were strange – it was billed as a family show, but I question whether children should see a show where a mother and child are beaten by black-shirted men and the mother dragged off stage, apparently dead – then on the garish screen, she can be seen “ascending” accompanied by monks. Creepy sums up parts of the show quite well.
We really felt like we had been mislead – this was religious / polical propaganda presented to an unsuspecting public as entertainment.
Marilee Coughlin
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Marc
January 18th, 2010
12:44 pm
Im thrilled at the reading happening here and auditiorium stlye to capture and maintain attention and thankfull passing along such important history to the future of our blessed country!
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regine
January 18th, 2010
1:30 pm
martin luther king its great to see people onering the person that set us from being slaves go martin luther king
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Audrey Holcomb
January 18th, 2010
3:33 pm
I was very glad to see Dr. King’s sister reading to the children. I hope we know we must all dare to dream and act, that is the only way Dr. King;s dream will be fulfilled.
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Calonie
January 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
This is wonderful. Little children who grew up hearing about Martin Luther King, Jr. and what his missions were get to have the legacy continued in their young lives through his sister, a very close source, speaking to them. They get to keep learning and be inspired to carry the same on.
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cassie
January 18th, 2010
3:55 pm
thank you for giving us the freedom of speech and religion! we can now do anything we want to do. Happy Birthday MLK
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alexandra
January 18th, 2010
6:19 pm
Happy B-Day Dr.King!!! yOU WERE A GOOD MAN!
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Helenmarie Agan
January 18th, 2010
8:13 pm
I’m a hispanic women living in the Midwest & I’m proud to say that MLK Jr. is one of my hero! What he did in the past affects me & others like me (Hispanics,Indians, Jews). We all walk down the street with our heads held high because of Martin Luther King Jr, & I just want to say thank you!
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Desperate
January 19th, 2010
12:43 am
Great festival… last year I purchased a braided faux fur “snake” dog toy, which has actually survived my dog!!!!!!!! I need several more (now my other dog has decided she needs to play with the darn thing Too!!) Help, I cannot find where I stuck the business card of the crafter… does anyone know their website?????
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KJ
January 19th, 2010
8:31 am
Cheesy with a side of creepy. The giant projection screen behind the dancers being one of the main “distractions” from the show. It reminded me of a powerpoint presentation on an 80 foot monitor, and at times I felt I was at Six Flags, watching summer interns put on a musical. Although people have used books, poetry, plays and movies for political influence, I agree that this event was not advertised as such. Even adding a sentence to the brochure that said “experiencing the beauty and the political struggle within China”, at least we’d have had a clue that we’re going to get more than pretty costumes and dancing (like beating a mother to death in front of her daughter, set to music). There were some great dancers on the stage, I won’t argue that some of the spins, flips and dance steps were truly beautiful to watch, but I did feel that the many of the scenes were fairly repetitive and my eyelids grew heavy during a couple acts. I would have rather watched a high school drumline that watch their drummer routine, and I wish they would have had an ancient chinese archer hitting moving targets from 100 feet rather than the 20 or so dancing archers twanging their empty bows (yawn).
We were entertained, but we wouldn’t go again.
My recommendation for the show’s creators.. If you want to focus on the message and political struggle, do it. The world would write rave reviews about a play or show that took an issue straight on. You probably couldn’t do the show in China or that would be the last show, but I believe the rest of the world prefers an “in your face” approach. State your message and stir it up.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 19th, 2010
9:17 am
Interesting point, KJ — as I mentioned, this is the first time the show has marketed itself outside Asian communities in Atlanta. This could be a case of misleading audiences, as some suggest, or it could be a miscalculation of how to approach a broader U.S. audience. I think you’re right — there are a lot of people that might be interested in something more obviously political, but most wouldn’t have known from the billboards or commercials that this show includes any of it.
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bella
January 19th, 2010
9:55 am
Martin Luther King was so nice he made his famous speech I Hade A Dream in Washington D.C. He was murted in 1994.
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bella
January 19th, 2010
9:56 am
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Chad Hunt
January 19th, 2010
12:12 pm
MLK taught us to love not hate. When someone doesn’t like you try to love them, it’s not easy but very powerful
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RJ
January 19th, 2010
12:59 pm
Sadly, I took my wife last Friday to see this show. As others have said, it was a mediocre performance which did not approach the glowing description on the website for the Cobb Energy Centre. Yet, most unnerving was the fact that it is a propaganda machine for the Falun Gong.
We left early (at the intermission), and, as we were walking down the stairs and discussing the show, a Chinese-descent woman walking down at the same time heard me say something about a “message”. She began to beam like a moonie, smiling and staring straight at me, pacing us as we walked down the stairs. I stopped saying anything substantive, but she kept staring, making us uncomfortable, so I finally said “hello”. She then emphasized that there was, indeed, a message in all of the music– as if that shouldn’t be obvious to anyone who is not in a vegitative state. Perfect end to a perfect night.
I wrote a scathing email to the Cobb Energy Centre on Saturday asking it is the official policy of the same to mislead audiences with regard to both the substance and purpose of performances hosted there. In part I wrote:
“Irregardless of the ‘merits’ of this movement [Falun Gong], it is reprehensible that such a fine facility should act as a shill for a group officially described as a cult. At the very least, an honest declaration of the intent of the show was in order. Unfortunately, your deceptive obscuring of the true purpose of the performance shows complicity with both their motivation and methods. I am more than disappointed: I feel personally deceived.”
As yet, no response. They apparently are taking a “caveat emptor” stance, and feel they bear no personal responsibility for both hiding the purpose of the show and exaggerating the “beauty” of the spectacle to a degree that makes hyperbole look like understatement.
I’d love to see the AJC interview officials at the Cobb Energy Centre, ask them why they feel free to deceive people in this way. This is, according to their website, the third year Shen Yun has performed there. Pleading they were unaware of the content would be a difficult position to defend. At the very least, someone in the media needs to make sure no one is innocently taken in by this group again.
P.S. Here is another review I found after-the-fact. It really hits the nail on the head: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/dance/3671451/Shen-Yun-Propaganda-as-entertainment.html
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 19th, 2010
1:44 pm
RJ and others — I put a call into the spokeswoman for Cobb Energy Centre to check on the feedback they’re getting and what response they’ve got. I’ll let you know when I hear something.
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RJ
January 19th, 2010
2:35 pm
Thanks, Jamie. It will be very interesting to hear what they have to say!
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arlene
January 19th, 2010
2:51 pm
Does this include the photo also? Seems like a cold, rushed ordeal…more time should be allotted
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 19th, 2010
3:03 pm
Arlene — the price includes the photographer, but I don’t think it includes prints. I’ll check with them to get more details. I was there last year, and although they moved quickly, the didn’t feel rushed, and definitely not cold. This type of wedding isn’t for everybody, but for those considering a courthouse wedding, I think this is a nice alternative. They cheapest rate for Rhodes Hall, otherwise, is $900 for two hours on a Sunday-Thursday, and that only covers the venue.
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The Grinch
January 19th, 2010
3:06 pm
Yes! Thank you for the info. No one’s happier than myself about the American beer revolution making its way south. Yummy!
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The Grinch
January 19th, 2010
3:08 pm
Aren’t you glad I didn’t scream “First!”
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Wildgator
January 19th, 2010
3:13 pm
THIRD!!!!
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Kentavo
January 19th, 2010
3:36 pm
Hey Jamie, maybe you should get out more. You sound like you could use a pint or two of winter ale.
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Rita
January 19th, 2010
3:49 pm
My fiance and I are going to be married at the Cup at Castle event and we are very excited. We had our first date on Valentine’s Day 2009. I read an artical from last year’s event and thought it was perfect; short and sweet. Befor I found out about this event we wher going to go to a minister’s home to be married due to the fact the courts are closed on Sundays. We plan to have dinner with 20 family & friends at a very nice restuarant in downtown Atlant, so the commute will only be 8 miles between the two sites. I feel blessed to be able to wedd in a beautiful place with the economy being what it is!!!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 19th, 2010
3:52 pm
Alas, Kentavo, it’s true. When the assigned job is to “cover fun things to do around Atlanta,” it conflicts with the boss’ whole “no drinking on the job” policy. Sigh.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 19th, 2010
3:52 pm
Aww, congratulations, Rita! That’s sweet!
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Rita
January 19th, 2010
4:03 pm
I wanted to comment on the fact that some feel 15 min. is rushed. The things that will be missed are: having people to sing, the reading of poems and /or bible verse ect… Trust me, I did the big wedding before; these things are not the thing that are going to hold your marrage together. The most important part of your wedding is the love, honesty and commitment the two of you will bring!!!. Before I called Rhodes Hall we would have been paying $150 for a minister to marry us at his home. For $50 more it’s the best deal ever!!!
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Rita
January 19th, 2010
4:04 pm
Thanks Jamie!!!
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Rita
January 19th, 2010
4:16 pm
@ Jamie, Will you be there this year? and if so, what time? my wedding will be held at 3pm.
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 19th, 2010
4:57 pm
Hi Rita! I probably won’t be there this year, but if I am anywhere nearby, I will absolutely stop by to offer my congratulations!
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Atlanta to do list: January 20 | Inside Access
January 20th, 2010
12:04 am
[...] Stage: “Avenue X” opens, 8 p.m., Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. Read more. [...]
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Lindsey
January 20th, 2010
10:21 am
Thanks for the great mention Jamie! I just wanted to mention that the Alliance launched its new website yesterday, so your link to the competition details is broken. You can find the current information and details about how to enter by going to http://alliancetheatre.org/contest
Thanks!
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Jamie Gumbrecht
January 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
Thanks for letting me know, Lindsey! The new site looks great, by the way! I just updated the link.