Sara Cheshire

Atlanta Road Work: Only You Can Prevent Traffic Jams

saracheshire — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:21:00 GMT

I've come to expect this of Atlanta: driving down I-75, going at least 75mph in a 55 and getting passed by cars like I'm going out of style. There are some crazy fast drivers in the city, not to mention some plain crazy ones. I had to chuckle at reading an article published last week in the AJC. Titled DOT to weekend drivers: Skip the Connector (August 5, 2008), it basically said that traffic has been getting so backed up on the connector during the repaving project because drivers have been ignoring the signs and recommendations to stay off the highway during the weekends. And, because of this, drivers have been causing up to two-hour traffic jams.

I don't know how much of it is due to summer travelers just rolling through town...maybe there should be clearer messages for motorists to take I-285 on weekends if they are just passing through. But, it seems there are also just a lot of people in town who either haven't paid attention to road work notifications or think they are the exception to the traffic rule. I was pretty shocked to read in this same article that people getting stuck in the traffic of their own making were calling to complain about trying to get people to the airport.

Ok, it is bad enough to attempt weekend travel on the connector. It is another thing to not think to use MARTA. Sure, MARTA is not perfect, but it has a straight shot into the terminal at Hartsfield. Taking MARTA to the airport is probably the best time to use MARTA -- no traffic, no parking and you literally exit the station into Delta kiosks. I traveled to the airport recently from intown, and two hours from the point of waking, dressing, walking to the station and transferring trains, I was sitting on my plane. It helps that the airport is only 16 minutes from the Five Points station, and stays 16 minutes, no matter what is going on with the roads.

If you are just transporting people to the airport, drop them off at your nearest station and I guarantee their travel time will be much more assured than a risk on the connector where repaving, an accident or Braves game throws a wrench into the traffic flow. Even on MARTA's bad days, the trains don't usually break down for more than 15 minutes...no where near two hours.

If you do need to drive, I'm a big fan of taking Piedmont or Juniper/Courtland through town. A good time to bail is at 17th Street if you are heading southbound into the city, as traffic usually starts backing up just beyond that point. Sure, if you get off the highway the roads can be confusing, as half seem to change directions and names at least once, but I'd rather study some maps, become friends with my GPS or hop on the train ($1.75 one way sure beats $4/gallon gas) than be one of those people pointed out in the AJC for being personally responsible for causing traffic jams.

Not Such a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood?

saracheshire — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:13:00 GMT

I'll be honest with you. I'm having serious problems deciding where to live and am fed up with the crime and with the police in this city. It isn't just me, another Atlanta blogger wrote about the same feeling of fear after being exposed to crime in her post on Atlanta Metblog. It is hard being an independent person in the city and suddenly you get mugged yourself, hear of muggings, miss a mugging at gunpoint by a few minutes or have a prowler on your property. The fact is, I'm hearing crime reports in most areas I've considered living in...and I partially feel my choice is between neighborhoods I like that might be less safe or locking myself up in a gated condo that might not feel like home.

So, the police have been hanging out at the Inman Park Station at night. On the surface you might think that is good thing...but honestly, it probably means there has been an increase of crime in the area to warrant a police stakeout. It makes me more nervous honestly, as with the broken glass on the street. Or being in the park the other night (ok, so it was after hours), and a policeman kindly asked us to leave because, "This is Atlanta, you might get raped or robbed." Thanks a lot. That really makes me feel more confident in the city when the police have such a negative view. And my thought is...well, instead of shooing people out of the park, can you maybe spend more time preventing and tracking down criminals? It is rather treating a symptom and not the cause to be trying to remove innocent citizens from high crime areas versus reducing crime to begin with.

The Atlanta Police Department has Crime Mapping tool you can access online. You can select type of crime, date range and area of the city. The central districts are 5, which is downtown/midtown and 6 which is east of downtown, including Virginia Highlands, Candler and Inman Park and East Atlanta. I also really like this color-coded crime map of the city, though not sure how up to date the data is. Neighborhood crime watches and message boards are a good resources to check and get involved with.

Don't get me wrong, intown neighborhoods are great. I run into familiar faces all the time. I can walk to the coffee shop and parks, but it isn't so fun to feel you have to be on guard, limit where and when you go out and not be sure where to live after the areas you used to be comfortable in no longer feel safe. What kind of city dynamics are in place that would cause crime? What are the solutions?

MARTA on YouTube

saracheshire — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:44:00 GMT

Ok, so I finally watched the "Crazy Girl on Train" video on YouTube the other day. Whether or not it is bad press for MARTA I don't know, but I found it absolutely hilarious. And the fact that someone took the time to add subtitles for what this ranting woman was raving about really put the icing on the cake.

Now, I ride MARTA all the time. In fact, I lived without a car for 6.5 years and on average, say I rode MARTA once a day each day. That means over 2000 rides on trains and buses. Not once have I seen craziness like that. Sure, I probably could count on two hands the number of more exciting incidents...the guy who got knocked out of his wheelchair at Five Points or the stand-up preacher on the East line. But I'm averaging .005% on MARTA incidents. That's what makes the video so funny...it is out of the norm, an extreme case of MARTA gone wild.

But I wonder, how did non-MARTA riders view it? If you live OTP (outside the perimeter), did it make you less inclined to hop on the train after watching the screaming "Soulja Girl"? Maybe if you caught it on the news, you didn't see the funny captioning. Humor goes a long way...even the time I saw that man get accidentally dumped out of a wheelchair (wow, did we all go silent), the man who caused the incident later made a crack about it at another station, which for good or bad made me chuckle. Those of us regulars on the train know you might see just about anything...and learn not to take things so seriously.

Most people on the train are pretty low key and quiet, so much that MARTA actually has a sign stating that if you are going to play music with a headset, keep the volume down (believe me, that rule was needed -- but that is another story). At night it is quieter, except if you get caught by Falcons fans or help us, another cheerleading convention. Most people are just trying to get home from the late shift, and there is the occasional business men and tourists. You learn too, that if anything ever bothers you, change to a different train car at the next stop or page the train operator. But, like I said, the occasion comes up rarely and as long as you go into the MARTA experience with a sense of adventure, willingness to mingle with people of all types and awareness that if anything does seem shocking, it is an abnormality, then you'll be fine. Plus, I promise, the more you ride, the shock value wears off and you'll be just slightly annoyed and wish the crazies would be quiet so you can go back to decompressing on your carless commute.

Best of Big A List

saracheshire — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:03:00 GMT

The Best of the Big A 2007 is now out. Access Atlanta, the entertainment sidekick of the AJC, does the Best Of every year, as well as rates top picks on an ongoing basis on their website. It is a great resource if you are new to the city or are looking for something to do. My personal favorite is the Weekend Elert, a weekly email with the A-list events for the weekend if you need some inspiration.

So is this year's list really the Best? I have lived here 6.5 years, survived 7 summers. By some standards that makes me almost a certified local. It sure isn't California and there are plenty of issues that make this city flat-out weird and troubled, but let's take a look at some of winners from the best places category:

Best Place For a First Kiss: Botanical Gardens
Oddly enough, I was just at the gardens last weekend trampling around with the opposite sex. I might have to agree with this vote...I found myself feeling young and carefree and energized by being outside, and there are plenty of benches for talking...or, I suppose...kissing.
Best Place to Take Out of Town Visitors: Georgia Aquarium
Sadly, Atlanta doesn't have a lot of stellar tourist attractions or stunning landscapes that places like Denver or San Francisco have to offer. But, the Georgia Aquarium is probably the best traditional attraction we have to offer. I think part of the issue with tourism is due to the fact that Atlanta is more a place to live, less a place to visit. In my opinion, one of the most unique features of the city is all the intown neighborhoods. Taking a day or two exploring the parks and commercial districts of places like Grant Park, Virginia Highlands, Inman Park and Decatur would be my choice for visitors. Have brunch in Cabbagetown, window shop the Highlands, coffee in Candler Park, dinner in Decatur...endless combinations of old charm and history.
Best Place to Pamper Your Pooch: Piedmont Park
Yep. Big dog park. And it is free. It is almost worth going to even you don't have a dog.
Best Weekend Getaway: Savannah
Charming and historic, Savannah offers a waterfront that we are sorely lacking and architecture not burned down. Another good best pick.
Best Wifi Spot: Starbucks?
Woah. You have to pay to use Starbucks wifi the last time I checked. It certainly wouldn't be my first choice. Inman Perk Coffee, Octane and Java Vino offer unique independently owned coffee shops with outside seating, and in some cases, wine. Highland Bakery also has killer brunch with wifi. There is rumor that you might be able to pick up some stray signals in Piedmont Park as well by the townhomes near Piedmont. More and more restaurants now offer wireless, so check out this list of f ree wifi spots in Atlanta, though I think this particular list is slightly outdated.
Best City View: Sundial Restaurant
I have yet to visit the top of the Westin (though a little scary now post-tornado), though it is on my list. Forgot about just visitors, I'm excited to go see the view when Sun Dial Restaurant has live jazz performances. Unless you want an expensive evening out, stick to the cocktails and jazz, and not so much dinner. FYI, they offer Fourth of July packages if you would rather chill in the AC with panoramic sky views of several of the city's firework shows.

However, I must say for an outdoor place with a view, the westside Six Feet Under is hands down an amazing place to see the city. I recommend going at night...and if you time it right you can also see fireworks from the Braves Game. Doesn't get much better than that.

Public Art Opening: A (new) Genre Landscape

saracheshire — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:32:00 GMT

There is much more art in the city than the High. Plenty of local studios and artists call Atlanta home, but perhaps they don't always get the recognition they deserve with the city more like a sports town than a cultural one.

But, it is never to late to appreciate and support Atlanta artists. Saturday, June 7, the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Public Art Program is hosting a reception for its new exhibit: A (new) Genre Landscape. Held at the Cyclorama from 5:30-7:30pm, the reception will feature nine artists and three artist teams that have been working in local parks and communities to experiment with contemporary artwork.

The exhibits will last all summer long...providing the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while interacting directly with the artists, as each will be providing artist talks in the parks throughout the month.
Click on the above link to see the schedule.

The featured artists, Danielle Roney, Shiela Pree Bright, Avantika Bawa, Joe Peregine , Pam Longbardi, Craig Dongoski, Michael Reese, Last Stand Collaborative, Tristan Al-Haddad, Matt Haffner, Ruth Stanford, Angus Galloway, Nat Slaughter cover a variety of art forms and span the range of emerging artist to internationally recognized.

A van tour of all the parks and art on exhibit is scheduled for July 19. Or bring on the heat with the "safari bike tour" of the art on the same day. I have no idea what the safari part is about, other than it being hot, but it definitely has me curious to learn more.

For more information, contact Stuart Keeler: 773 771 9362 or newgenrelandscape@gmail.com.

Flicks on 5th (and other summer movies)

saracheshire — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:04:00 GMT

A friend asked me the other day, "Have you seen the schedule for Flicks on 5th?"

I was like, no. We both had decided that we weren't so keen on Screen on the Green being moved to Centennial Olympic Park because of the drought, and that the other outdoor movie series near Georgia Tech might be a better pick. I'm starting to suspect attendance to be down at most events moved from Piedmont Park this season, but that has yet to be seen. As this Creative Loafing blogger puts it, we should be glad officials have even found new locations for displaced park events.

Anyhow, here is the movie schedule for Flicks on 5th, a great time to bond with Atlanta on a humid night and find clever finger foods to bring to the show:

2008 Flicks on 5th Schedule:

June 11: I am Legend
June 18: Horton Hears a Who
June 25: The Bourne Ultimatum
July 9: Hairspray
July 16: Superbad
July 23: 21

Or if AC is more your thing, there is always the Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fox Theater, which is always a fun time and includes faux night sky, classic cartoons and organ playing -- that's Might Mo to you regulars.

BikeFest Follows AJC Letter Attack

saracheshire — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:57:00 GMT

On Sunday, April 27th, the following letter was published in the AJC:

For years cyclists have caused traffic problems on the streets. They ride slowly and avoid the rules of the road. Now these people are riding down major highways during rush hour.

Traffic is bad enough without people taking a recreational ride down a major road while productive members of society are trying to get to actual destinations. I'm seeing cyclists on U.S. 41 and Ga. 5 during rush hour, and there seems to be more of them each day.

We need to write our politicians to get these people off the road.
-Kurtis R.E. Segars, Marietta

Most of the cycling community in Atlanta was outraged as Mr. Segars made it sound like those who ride bicycles are unproductive members of society and somehow find it a fun recreational idea to ride their bikes on busy roads during rush hour traffic. Not my idea of a good time. Have you ridden a bike in this town lately? It is often flat-out dangerous to be on the roads with a bike, not to mention the annoyance of inhaling rush-hour exhaust fumes.

But that is a big point for this city: air pollution. Yes, we've had a cool spring and those Code Red days have been nearly forgotten. But Atlanta is up there on smoginess. Cars, and not bikes it seems, are a major cause of hazards. During the '96 Olympics when the city was freaked out about event traffic and almost mandated people to ride MARTA or alternative transit...guess what? Cases in asthma went down and air quality went up (read the CDC press release).

So actually, these rush-hour bike riders are HUGELY productive. They aren't contributing to air pollution and are, in a very small part, increasing the health of everyone in the city. Sure, I am guilty myself of not always following the proper rules of the road when I'm on my bike, but when is the last time anyone driving in this city followed the speed limit?

I agree we need to get cyclists "off the road," but into bike lanes and paths. That is what we need to talk to the legislature about, commute options that protect cyclists and encourage clean commuting. Getting involved with groups like the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (ABC) is a great place to start. They offer Confident City Cycling classes so riders can learn the rules of the road and know their rights. Plus, you can join them for breakfast once a month at Thumbs Up Diner near downtown and see how friendly and productive cyclists can be.

Especially appropriate, the ABC will be hosting Atlanta BikeFest this Wednesday, May 14, from 11am-2pm. Along with the Downtown Transportation Management Association they will have some festivities and raffle prizes in Woodruff Park along with safety tips and information on commute options.

Other Resources

Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association Forum (responses to AJC letter)
Biking Urban Atlanta (essay on getting started with cycling in the city)
A-Train Trip Planner (walking, public transit and biking commute planner)
Clean Air Campaign (get paid to carpool or take transit to work)

Tornado Food Fundraiser

saracheshire — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:40:00 GMT

I was only 1.5 miles from some of the most severe damage from the tornado last month. Until last week, when I was driving through Cabbagetown, I had no idea the homes had been hit so hard. Of course, the Cotton Mill Loft damage took much of the lime light, with collapsed floors and a corner chunk of the historic building gone. But porches were ripped off, huge trees fallen right in the middle of houses and on cars. Massive damage. Blue tarps on roofs still scatter most of the neighborhood.

The artists have already had a fundraiser shindig, and now the restaurants in the area are pitching in. On Monday, April 14, if you dine at participating restaurants, 15% of the bill will go toward disaster relief.

I'm all about food and fundraising. Here is your change to enjoy a nice meal and some drinks (think Agave and tequilla bar --yum) and not feel guilty about how much you spend, as the more you spend, the more charitable you become.

For a list of participating restaurants, view the Dine-Out for Tornado Relief website, and get the scoop on the $5 raffle tickets where you can be entered to win restaurant gift cards and gallery-style canvas of the famous tornado picture snapped by Shane Durrance.

Boulevard is still closed to through traffic so getting to Cabbagetown and parking should be challenging. Best bet for getting there is via the Krog Street tunnel which will dump you right into Cabbagetown and off-street parking (I think the fallen trees in the street are gone now) or Hill Street to Memorial Drive.

Swing Dance Alert!

saracheshire — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:48:00 GMT

This weekend is ATLX5. No, this isn't some shorthand for the fifth runway at the airport. It is the 5th annual Lindy Exchange. In layman's terms, a weekend of lessons and dances for lindy hop/swing dancers. As part of the weekend events, there is outdoor dancing to be had at Grant Park. Outdoor dancing in the city is rare, but incredibly fun. The dance is free, held on Sunday, April 13 from 1-5pm in Pavilion #1. I'm incredibly excited. Peachy.

Check out the ATLX5 schedule for full event information. The Atlanta Swing Era Dance Association (ASEDA) website is also a good resource for this event, other city swing dance events and dance lesson information.

For the Dogs: Festivals Go South

saracheshire — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:55:00 GMT

I continue to have mixed feelings about the Dogwood Festival this weekend. Of course, there is the obvious failure of purpose that the DOGWOOD Festival has been moved this year to the Lenox Mall parking lot where there are no DOGWOODS. For me, one of the best perks about attending festivals in Atlanta is being able to enjoy the outdoors, in normally PARK settings.

So maybe I'm more against the move to Lenox Mall than I thought. At the same time, the Dogwood Festival tends to bring a more upscale crowd, those who might not otherwise venture into the city and who might actually be able to afford some of the art. In that case, maybe Buckhead is more fitting.

Drought was cited as the reason for the move. Ironically today is the second day of rain washing out the festival. Other spring festivals have found other homes this season as well due to drought concerns...so don't plan on heading to Piedmont Park unless for a personal picnic. The Atlanta Jazz Festival (May 24-26) has been moved to Woodruff Park downtown, while Atlanta Pride (July 4-6) is taking dibs at the Civic Center.

While I am sad about the state of the drought and state of the park...perhaps the exodus of festivals is the first tangible effect of the drought that will reach a large number of people. Still at times the city seems a bit too preoccupied to pay attention to environmental woes and I swear every time I walk out the door I see a new condo development around the corner.

Where is the urban planning? Let's hope the new comers to the new condos like parking lot festivals and short showers.

Get your Georgia Peach sticker tomorrow!!

saracheshire — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:44:00 GMT

Tomorrow is the big day. Well, not THE big day. But, still an important day. Primaries for the presidential candidates is coming to a county near you. I'm glad for the voting tomorrow as it has spurred my investigation into candidates and the issues. While I still hope to hit my reading list, in the final hours I have found several online candidate match quizzes helpful. Fox 5's You Decide 2008 is one of my personal favorites, and not just because it had the humorous candidate bobble heads at the end. It does allow you to quickly view candidates stances on issues and past voting records.

As I'm sure I am not the only one initially clueless about voting times, I'm happy to let you know that you can vote between 7am and 7pm. No excuses here. Some employers actually give you paid time off work to go vote. Never hurts to check. Or just get out of bed earlier and treat yourself to a donut or breakfast afterward, being sure to show off your free sticker. Visit this website to find the location of your poll.

Election times bring up the interesting discussions about politics and Atlanta neighborhoods. While Atlanta itself typical votes blue, most the rest of the state is redder than Rudolph.

However, inside the city has its typical split of votes as well. Buckhead leans toward Republican. Inman/Candler Park goes Democratic. It further supports the distinct personalities of Intown neighborhoods and how by merely choosing to live in a particular neighborhood you will either find people like yourself...or not. Maybe they need to make a Atlanta Intown neighborhood matchmaker quiz for all newcomers to the city. 'Till then, send me your political leanings, car habits, leisure pursuits and a handful of personality traits and I'll give you my two cents.

Atlanta from the Ashes: Crime a new burning issue

saracheshire — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:59:00 GMT

Atlanta, in my mind, has always been a city of opposites, and perhaps extremes. There are roots of racial segregation, some still seen veining through the city in the form of roads that change names depending on what side of the historical black/white divide you are on.

There is also the wealth divide. According to Wikipedia, Atlanta ranks third in the number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered within city boundaries, with an expected 103,000 households with assets of $1 million or more to exist by 2011. On the other hand, 24.4% of the population is below the poverty line.

And Atlanta has its share of Southern hospitality as well as crime.

I've been lucky. I've been on foot in Atlanta for six years at all times of day, and I haven't had an incident until this month. And the more I talk to people, the more I hear about crime happening to them as well. It is going on all over the city. Whether it is an understaffed and underpaid police force, continued Katrina fallout, gentrification...something needs to change. It is not acceptable. No one should have to be worried about walking the streets. If you really want to promote walkable communities, make it a safe option.

Before we continue or start putting money and resources into more condos and luxury developments or flashy city symbols (Millennium Gate in Atlantic Station?), I would hope more attention and money resources are put toward public safety and support programs. Let's take care of the people who are here now before we double our city size. If enough people could come together with money, support and drive, I believe we could easily improve the city. Atlanta has come through the ashes before.

And perhaps too with Atlanta being a transient city...full of professionals who move here for several years before moving again, perhaps it prevents people from buying more into their surroundings, of really taking the time to own it and take care of it. A good book I've been meaning to check out is called Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World by Scott Russell Sanders, which addresses this issue.

For ideas of how to get involved and encourage change, check out your neighborhood association. Intown organizations such as Midtown Alliance are other good places to get involved or donate your support. Unite with your neighbors, pool together to support police patrol. Take a self-defense class such as the the free one being offered February 2 at Atlanta Budokan. Check your local gym, fitness/martial art studios as well. Support political leaders and budget improvements or actions that improve public safety. Have a plan. View the Atlanta Police Department Crime Prevention Tips. Share ideas and solutions and be an instrument for change.

A Little Heaven at the Graveyard

saracheshire — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 01:34:00 GMT

I have some classical music training, and while I can tell if pitches are out of tune, my broad music interests don't necessarily make me a high-brow critic. But, I do know great music when I hear it. I was blown away by the jazz trio at the Graveyard Tavern last Wednesday. Tucked inside this East Atlanta pub, which oddly feels like a ski lodge, was some of the best jazz I've heard. The ensemble, appropriately named the Gravediggers, consisted of vocals, bass guitar, guitar and an upright piano planking away at mostly older jazz greats that are perfect for dancing.

The Tavern is the new host to Wednesday night swing dancing. Stellar. The wooden floors are smooth and even bend a little as all the dancers stomp and turn. For some quality jazz in an unpretentious atmosphere, come on out on Wednesdays for a beer or floor shining.

Halloween and the City

saracheshire — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:59:00 GMT

Nothing like this morning's chilly weather to get you in the mood for fall festivities. I've been perusing the upcoming weekend for Halloween events and bought my costume today. That means I have to find places to wear it. With the lengthy list of of options for things to do and places to be seen, I don't think I'll have a problem. Here are my picks for adult Halloween fun this weekend that add a little culture in with the creepy:

1. Oakland Cemetery Halloween Tours. $15 gets you an hour tour (at night) and costumed famous dead persona in the graveyard doing a little soapboxing. Oct 26-27 from 7-10pm.

2. Sometimes crude, shocking, ghoulish but never boring, the Halloween puppet show at the Center for Puppetry Arts is back for another season. The Ghastly Dreadfuls' Compendium of Graveyard Tales and Other Curiosities admission prices vary by show, but you can get $2 off admission if you wear your costume. The show gets a plus for its guest appearances and their opening night beer tasting. No one under 14 allowed. This isn't a kids show, even if puppets do most the talking.

3. Sleepy Hollow Hunt adventure race. Saturday and Sunday, 2-6pm. I've never done anything like this in Atlanta, but there is some appeal in scampering around downtown trying to figure out codes and clues to win prizes. Supposedly some headless horsemen are on the loose...I'm interested to see how they pull that off.

4. For those dancers out there, a costume swing dance is this Saturday in the Georgia Tech Ballroom. A dance lesson is from 8-9pm if you would like to learn or refresh your steps. Also on Saturday is the Monster Bash with Latin dancing and costume contest at Loca Luna in Midtown, 9pm-3am. Sunday is a salsa dance and costume contest at Take Hold Ballroom with a lesson from 8-9pm. Hosted by local instructor Jimmy Rumba.

For more listing of things to do, check out the AJC, accessatlanta.com and Creative Loafing. What are your picks for the weekend?

Don't Call in Sick, Call in Enlightened

saracheshire — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 22:57:00 GMT

No time like the present to do a little schedule planning and see if your boss will let you out of work early on Monday, October 22. The Dalai Lama will be giving a free public talk in Centennial Olympic Park beginning at 4:45.

Maybe it is just me, but sometimes I feel we get so wrapped up in insignificant busy-ness in this city that important events, or wordly events seem to pass us by. It is a big deal for the Dalai Lama to be here in Atlanta, not just because of his worldwide spiritual outreach, but because it is also is the only stop in the southern United States on His Holiness' 2007 tour.

As spiritual leaders of Tibet, the Dalai Lamas are said to be enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity. A friend of mine has said that just to be in the presence of the Dalai Lama is something to be felt. I've heard about saints roaming the streets of India, emitting feelings of love and peace, and image this event could be similar. If nothing else, I think it is good to take an afternoon to step back, think bigger and look beyond our immediate concerns and worries. Traffic will still be there. The social calendar can wait to be filled. It isn't often the city hosts such prominent world figures. I don't know how the event is being marketed...and part of me feels it isn't getting a great deal of attention, at least not yet. It makes me want to pose the questions, where should our marketing priorities be, and where are they now?

I will be there, nevertheless, with my cell phone off, hoping to be inspired. Keeping with the Zen approach, no cameras, recording devices, laptop computers, large purses, bags or backpacks, coolers or metal folding seat cushions will be allowed into the park. There is also a day long conference with the Dalai Lama on Oct 20, the Saturday prior to the public talk, on the relationship between meditation and possible treatments for depression. I believe tickets are still available through Emory University, where the event will be held in the Woodruff Physical Education Center.