jmunn
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I am a huge, closet fan of “The Mummy” movies with Brendan Fraser. So I was very excited to hear that a new mummy exhibit was coming to Atlanta. And not just any mummy – King Tut. Beginning November 15 – May 2009, this exhibit will make its North American debut at the Civic Center. Featuring more than 130 objects spanning 2000 years of Egyptian history, the artifacts not only feature King Tut’s time, but also that of other great pharaohs such as Khefren (whose great pyramid is the only remaining structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world) and Hatshepsut, the queen who became king.
Advance ticket purchases are highly recommended. I have also heard that they sell out in every city they’re in, so buy early. For more information, click here.
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This summer, the action is on the rooftop of some of the hottest restaurants in Atlanta. Check out these locations for fun outings with friends or where to bring out of town guests: Fab: http://www.fabatlanta.com/. Great location downtown. Plus live Jazz on Thursday nightsStats: http://www.statsatl.com/home.php. Rooftop deck specials on Thursdays through June 26, live DJ and $5 mojitos
Maxim Prime: http://www.maximprime.com/. Sunset sessions at Maxim Prime – on top of the Glenn Hotel, live music select nights
6 Feet Under (Westside): http://www.sixfeetunder.net/. Always a great scene and a fun place to start the night out
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Most people associate Virginia Highlands with dining, bars, and shopping, but this eclectic area also has so much more to offer. One of my favorite things to do in the Highlands is Wired and Fired. If you’re not familiar with this concept, it is a paint-your-own-pottery studio and tons of fun. They have a diverse selection of products and I’ve seen people give really great original gifts for bridal showers, baby showers, and birthdays. I painted a water bowl for my dog’s birthday and he absolutely loves it. J Spending a few hours at Wired and Fired makes for great bonding time with friends. Plus, it’s BYOB which makes an adult outing here even more attractive. Another place in the area I read about recently but have yet to visit is Knitch. Knitch is a luxury yarn, knitting, and supplies store. They offer classes and group knit nights for people of all levels. Two events they host that I thought were super creative are baby showers and “Purls and Polish.” For a baby shower, the staff will show the group how to design and knit stitch a custom blanket for the new baby and mom-to-be. Their “Purls and Polish” pampering event once a month is brand new and combines group knitting with wine and 10Ten Nail Bar’s foot massages and polish change. For those looking for last minute Mother’s Day presents, a day out at either of these places would be an impressive gift.
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In my opinion, visiting Zoo Atlanta in the spring is a must. It’s the perfect time to get outside, enjoy the weather, and greet our furry friends in Grant Park. A few items of interest about the zoo right now: -Dottie the Elephant is expecting – congratulations, Dottie! -It’s a great adult date, first date, or outing with the family
-the Naked Mole Rats exhibit has opened. These poor creatures are extremely weird and kind of fun to look at
-the zoo offers live Gorilla, Orangutan, and other animal feedings throughout the day
-Brew at the Zoo: Saturday, May 24 spend your Memorial Day weekend sipping SweetWater and other microbrews while enjoying live music, zoo locals, and extended hours
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I have lived in Atlanta since 1991 and can’t believe I’ve never heard of Amsterdam Walk before now. Last week, some friends and I were meeting up for dinner at the new Loca Luna in town. I’m sure ya’ll have heard by now that they closed the venue off of Juniper due to construction and re-opened in anther part of Midtown. When I turned down Amsterdam Avenue (a little street off the beaten path), I was amazed to see a cul-de-sac full of bustling shops and restaurants. Besides being the new home of Loca Luna (fun tapas and live music), Amsterdam Walk has shops and services for everyone: furniture, jewelry, clothing, floral design, an indoor playground for kids, tanning, dog kennel and grooming, restaurants and entertainment, a gym, antiques, shoes, baked goods, cooking accessories, oriental rugs, and much, much more.
Although the list is a bit outdated, check out this directory for businesses: http://www.atlanta-midtown.com/business/amsterdamwalk/#directory. Some of these businesses may only be open certain days of the week, so make sure to call ahead and get more information.
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I realize I have already blogged about this topic before, but there is something new with AtlantTIX that I think is worth mentioning. To refresh your memory, AtlanTIX offers same-day, ½ price tickets to theatre, dance, music, and cultural attractions. I recently found out that tickets are now available for purchase online. This is great news for people who won’t be in the Lenox Mall or Underground Atlanta area, where you previously had to show up in person to buy the tickets. Check the site between noon to 4:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday, buy your tickets, and print them out. Call the infoline to hear what’s available at 404-588-9890.
Atlanta Performs, the company who manages AtlanTIX, also upgraded their website and it looks great. Check it out for reviews, show descriptions, auditions, jobs, and more.
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My husband and I have lived in Brookhaven for almost 2 years now, and we couldn't be happier. Here's a few reasons why:
1. It's a central location to the places we go most: Midtown/Downtown (where I work), the Perimeter Mall area (where my husband works), the Highlands (where we go for nightlife), Buckhead is literally 3 miles away, and the area has convenient access to I-285 and 400 so we can head north and visit our families.
2. Development is all around: Right down the street from us Sembler is building a huge mixed use development called Town Brookhaven. Rumor has it that Home Depot, Taco Mac, maybe Jock's and Jill's, Atkins Park, a movie theatre, LA Fitness, and more will be opening there.
3. The people: Brookhaven is a very diverse and active neighborhood. Even in the winter we constantly see people walking with their babies and dogs, and large groups of cyclists and joggers frequent the area every weekend.
4. Dunkin Donuts, The Cafe at Nuts n' Berries, and Mellow Mushroom: these are all great food/hang out spots all within walking distance to 1 mile of my house.
5. We are right over the line in Dekalb County, which is a lot less strict with certain rules and regulations than Fulton. Big thumbs up there.
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My job in the meetings and events industry is to continuously find new and exciting venues, entertainment, and décor options for clients. Thanks to this very creative field where people are always coming up with out of the box ideas, my job is never ending. Friends always ask for new ideas to jazz up an event such as a dinner party, theme party, wedding, birthday party, etc. Here are a few: -for a theme event, I would recommend looking for specialty linens. Although usually one of the last items people would consider spending money on, linens are the first thing people really see that can make a room absolutely pop and set the mood. For example, if you’re having a Chinese New Year’s party, find satin overlay linens with cherry blossoms. If you’re having a western theme party, go for bandana style red and white checked linens.-centerpieces do not have to be difficult to make yourself. Find a clear vase and stick in river rocks and water, fresh fruit, colorful flowers, uplit gel ice, etc. -interesting entertainment options can be hiring handwriting analysis experts, caricature artists, magicians, celebrity impersonators, or strolling soloist musicians. If you’re looking for a professional to do the job, Atlanta has wonderfully diverse vendor options for every element element you can think of. Try the following websites to look up qualified companies: The Atlanta Chapter of the International Special Events Society, and the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Remember when talking to a professional about your event, give as many details as possible and ask lots of questions.
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Having lived in this city for over 16 years, there’s a lot of “typical” Atlanta experiences I’ve never had: eaten a chili dog at the Varsity (granted I’m a vegetarian), ridden the Pink Pig during Christmas, or been to Chastain Park for a concert (gasp!). I have also never been to an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) performance, which I hope to change very soon. There are some very exciting things going on. In addition to offering shows at Chastain, the ASO is currently building and going to open the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta. This will be a venue that has the capacity to seat 12,000 people (pavilion 7,000 and lawn 5,000). When this happens, the ASO will be the first orchestra in the US to operate two amphitheatres simultaneously. ASO has performances year round designed to attract different audiences: classical, super pops, holiday, summer loves, special presentations, and youth concerts. Upcoming shows include a Mardi Gras celebration, Peter and the Wolf, A King (as in Martin Luther King) Celebration, Mother Goose and Where the Wild Things Are, Debbie Reynolds, and more.
I feel like I blog about date nights a lot (hint, hint to my husband), but this really would be a very unique night out that is sure to impress.
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I heard an interesting comment the other day that due to the writer’s strike, comedy season is in full swing. Atlanta has several venues that are featuring very funny acts over the next few months. At the Fox Theatre shows are scheduled for Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Blue Collar Comedy, and more. The infamous Punchline in Sandy Springs has opened doors downtown Atlanta in the special events space alongside Stats near Centennial Olympic Park. Call for shows and times. At the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, shows include Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood from “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” Sinbad, Frank Caliendo, and more. Whole World Improv Theatre is another place I’ve heard great things about. Enjoy the shows!
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I have a childhood friend who just moved from Birmingham back to Marietta for a job offer. Her new company is situated in Midtown, and she told me that for her first day she was going to allow an hour and a half commute time to get to work by 8:30 am because she heard how horrible the traffic is. I live in Brookhaven and it takes about 30 minutes one way, which is not too bad at all. I have worked in downtown/midtown for about 4 years now and plan my commute times, work out times, and social schedule around the traffic. So I was amused and slightly dismayed when I read an article titled “Expert: Traffic killing Atlanta's ability to lure companies.” I love Atlanta and sincerely hope that traffic doesn’t scare people away. Traffic here is bad, but could be worse.
Also, I recently attended a meeting where a DOT representative came to talk to us about the traffic plans that will affect us - short term and long term. Here are just two projects planned for the city that people should know about: 1. Downtown Connector Resurfacing Project: Basically, northbound and southbound lanes will be affected and include lane closures as necessary at night from 7:00 pm – 6:00 am during the week with continuous closures on weekends starting Friday nights through Monday mornings. This project will begin in March of 2008 and last until November 2008.2. 14th Street Bridge Improvement Project:. Although the end product will be a tremendous improvement, in my opinion this is going to be a huge inconvenience as it won’t be completed until 2010. Beginning summer 2008, the 14th street bridge will be closed, Techwood Drive will be closed between 16th and 10th street, and Williams Street has been reduced to one lane between 16th and 10th street.
If you don’t have a GPS navigator system in your car, my advice is to keep a map on you at all times and above all, be a conscientious driver. Please and thank you.
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Nothing is hotter right now than culinary events – for teambuilding, parties, receptions, or if you’re looking for something fun to do. LITKitchen is a fairly new facility that is designed for all these, and more! Located strategically next to Atlantic Station, they have great space that can be converted easily for several activities. A few of their services include interactive hands on cooking classes, field trips, and chef wars. The culinary trend is great for aspiring chefs to novices in the kitchen. Check out the website for future events.
Other places that offer culinary experiences are Viking, Cook's Warehouse, and several more around the city.
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The newest venue in town is open, and it is beautiful! Chances are you’ve seen the new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre from the highway if you’re in the Cobb Galleria area. The newest wedding, cultural, and entertainment spot in town is as visually appealing inside as outside. Not only do they have a 10,000 square foot ballroom for events, weddings, and corporate meetings, they also have a 2,750 seat theatre. Upcoming shows include Jesus Christ Superstar, Kelly Clarkson in concert, the Atlanta Opera, David Copperfield, and more.
The Cobb Galleria area is growing rapidly and the restaurant selections are numerous. Dinner and a show would be a perfect date night!
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Many people don’t know that the city of Atlanta was once named Terminus for its railroad origins. The city went through several other names before it became known what it is today.
Terminus is also a brand new skyscraper situated in the heart of Buckhead at Piedmont and Peachtree. I personally think this building is very beautiful and welcome it with open arms to the city. Tonight, I’m trying one of the many restaurants in Terminus called Lola. It’s by the same owners of Shout, Twist, Goldfish, Noche, Prime, etc. Lola is an Italian eatery and boasts a Bellini Bar, pizza, and antipasto. Also open (or opening) in Terminus are AquaKnox, a high quality seafood restaurant, MF Buckhead, a sushi dining destination, BrickTop’s, and coming next year, Flying Biscuit.
Salud!
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I was excited to learn recently that trolleys are about to hit the streets of Atlanta. And no, I’m not talking about the gold and white Georgia Tech trolleys. The Atlanta Trolley Tour Line company will launch a new mode of public transportation by mid-December and will feature a daily tour that includes 115 minutes of live, narrated history and information about the city of Atlanta as well as stops at 13 locations with on/off capabilities. Joe St. Jean, the man responsible for bringing this concept to Atlanta after he went back to school for his MBA, worked in the trolley business in Boston and Key West. The trolleys can also be chartered for private events such as weddings, family reunions, conventions, pub crawls, company outings, and more. Better yet, the Atlanta Trolley Tour Line will be happy to brand and decorate the trolley for your event. For more information, visit http://atlantatrolleytourline.samsbiz.com/ or call 678-916-1303.
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