Monthly Archives: November 2016

The Big Apple’s pop-up cocktail experience debuts in Midtown

Mariann Martin 11/29/2016

This year’s holiday season is all about the pop-up experience, with pop-up cocktails and pop-up markets.

Atlanta’s first Christmas pop-up cocktail experience, Miracle on Monroe, debuted over the Thanksgiving weekend and continues through Christmas Eve, according to a news release.

The experience includes holiday movies, holiday music, holiday decorations and holiday cocktails. It is located at Midtown Promenade restaurant Tapa Tapa, on the BeltLine and adjacent to Piedmont Park.

“Miracle on Monroe will be reminiscent of the tinsel takeover of the 50s and the toppers and baubles from the 60s complete with a roaring fire,” the release says. “Holiday movies will play on the walls and non-stop holiday tunes will ring in the air. From glassware and coasters to lights, garlands, and ribbons, the halls will be densely decked, expanding the heart of even the grumpiest Grinch.”

The concept first started in New York City in 2014 and has now spread to 30 other cities, coming to Atlanta for the first time this year.

Events include Christmas movie night on Wednesdays and local guest bartenders every Thursday night. With seated room only and no reservations accepted, folks are advised to arrive early.

Miracle on Monroe is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 6 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Miracle’s movie schedule includes:

December 7: A Christmas Story
December 14: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 21: A White Christmas

Cocktail-loving Atlantans can also experience their favorite local guest bartenders on Thursday nights:

December 1: Emmett Otter’s Sound – Navarro Carr (Soundtable) and Fable T. Jeon (Miso Izakaya, Le Fat, TonTon) kick off the guest bartender’s series.
December 8: Even Grumpier Old Men – Greg Best (Ticonderoga Club) and Andy Minchow (Ration & Dram) behind the bar.
December 15: Double Love Actually – Kellie Thorne (Empire State South) and Trip Sandifer (Painted Pin) plus Taylor Blackgrave (The Lawrence) and Tyler Blackgrave (Bon Ton Boil House) bring the love.
December 22: Crosby & Kaye – Miles McQuarrie (Kimball House) and Shanna Mayo (The Luminary) close out the series for old times’ sake.

Beltline/ Business

Holiday pop-up shop hosted in Candler Park

Mariann Martin 11/29/2016

Looking for a way to cross off some gifts on your shopping list and stay away from the mall?

Atlanta-based Indie Craft Experience is hosting a pop-up shop at its headquarters in Candler Park Thursday evening.

Shoppers will be treated to complimentary beer from Red Brick Brewing Company, cotton candy from Cult Carts and sweet treats and coffee from Condesa, according to a news release.

The first 100 attendees will receive complimentary swag tote bags designed by Knoxville-based artist Kate Thurman of Smarty Pants Paper Co.

Tiny Doors ATL will also have Tiny Tree Lot where shoppers can select a tiny bottle-brush tree and a packet of decorations to create their very own Tiny Christmas Tree.

The event is free to attend. For more information and hours of operation, visit their website.

Details:

“Get Serious About Your Holiday Shopping”

6 – 9 p.m. Dec. 1

ICE Pop-Up Shop

1390 McLendon Ave.

Atlanta, GA 30307

Beltline/ Business

Atlanta officials: Reuse still preferred for historic Constitution building

Mariann Martin 11/29/2016

Demolition may be one option for the historic Atlanta Constitution Building, but saving it is still the preferred scenario, officials say.

Invest Atlanta, which issued a request for proposals for redevelopment of the historic building in October, created a furor last week when they added an addendum that allowed for proposals to demolish the building.

A Facebook page “Save the Atlanta Constitution Building” was started. Curbed and Creative Loafing both detailed the newest developments.

But this week, the city’s investment arm insists their first goal is still to save the building.

“The preferred redevelopment approach is to renovate the building for commercial or residential reuse,” Invest spokesperson Matt Fogt wrote in response to emailed questions. “The addendum posted last week is merely an addition to the process that allows for other compelling redevelopment ideas to be considered.”

The building adjacent to the Gulch in South Downtown was completed in 1947 and is an Art Moderne style structure. It has served various purposes during its lifetime and is currently owned by the city.

In the original RFP, Invest Atlanta asked for proposals that would include “purchase, renovation, and reuse of the approximately 95,000 square foot former Atlanta Constitution Building.”

The RFP notes the historic aspects of the building saying, “The building’s sleek, streamlined Art Moderne style directly references Atlanta’s rail origins and today stands as one of few remaining monuments to this time period in the city’s history.”

The document also notes the substantial development happening in the surrounding areas such as Underground Atlanta, Philips Arena and Georgia State University.

screen-shot-2016-11-29-at-1-26-08-pm — Image courtesy of Invest Atlanta.

The addendum issued on Nov. 23 contains much of the original wording but adds wording that would allow for the demolition of the building.

One option it lists is the purchaser can “Demolish the existing improvements and develop a new building (or buildings) for commercial or residential use based on the highest and best use determined by the respondent.”

The timeline for bids has also been extended until Feb. 1, 2017, so it may be a while before the public finds out whether the building will be saved or demolished.

Beltline/ Crime and Public Safety

Kickball & Convo: Police kickball game planned to encourage community interaction

Mariann Martin 11/29/2016

Ponce City Market is along the Eastside Trail of the Beltline, providing easy access for runners and cyclists. Photo by Dena Mellick

The Atlanta police unit that patrols the Beltline will play ball with the community – literally.

The Path Force Unit plans to play kickball with the Movers and Pacers Run Club, according to a news release from the police department.

The game will start at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Perkerson Park located at 770 Deckner Avenue. The event is open to the public.

The game is to foster dialogue between police and community members.

The Path Force was launched in July 2013, with 15 officers, two sergeants and one lieutenant. They patrol the area around the Beltline seven days a week, with one day shift and one evening shift.

For those attending Wednesday’s game, the Movers and Pacers Run Club are asking for a donation of non-perishable items, toiletries and other personal items to benefit the Hip Hop Gives Back Foundation. The foundation promotes fundraising, awareness, mentoring and education.

Beltline/ Food

Twisted Soul Cookhouse reopening on Westside

Mariann Martin 11/28/2016

A neighborhood favorite soul food restaurant will reopen in a new location this weekend.

Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, formerly located in Decatur, will open its doors in an upscale, rustic space in West Midtown on Huff Road.

The new Twisted Soul will continue to serve a signature brand of globally inspired soul food for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, according to a news release.

Well-known for her gourmet catering in the Atlanta area, Chef Deborah VanTrece closed down her Decatur restaurant last December after being open about a year.

“In our new home, we’ve kept the things we’ve always loved about Twisted Soul: the food, our people and an exciting atmosphere,” said VanTrece in the news release. “But we’ve also created an upscale feel that plays on the ‘cookhouse’ theme, and we’ve been able to put our own stamp on this place. We feel like we’ve created Twisted Soul in its best form.”

The restaurant will open at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1133 Huff Rd NW. It will open for regular lunch hours on Dec. 6, and weekend brunch will begin Dec. 10.

The restaurant will also serve grab-and-go items as a convenient takeaway.

VanTrece’s wife and business partner, Lorraine Lane, will serve as beverage director.

More information can be found at www.deborahvantrece.com or on Facebook.

Beltline/ Business/ Entertainment

Bowling lanes and gaming venue coming to Westside

Mariann Martin 11/28/2016

The Westside will have a new place to play next year with the planned opening of a “distinguished drinkery, duckpin bowling and gaming parlour.”

According to permits filed with the city of Atlanta last week, the new venue known as The Painted Duck will be located at 976 Brady Ave. NW in the mixed-use development, Stockyards Atlanta.

The 24,500 square foot location will have an 18-lane duck pin bowling alley and gaming venue. The project is expected to cost up to $750,000.

Their website says The Painted Duck will open in the first quarter of 2017, but provides little additional information.

Justin Amick and William Stallworth, owners of The Painted Pin in Buckhead, will own and run The Painted Duck, according to What Now Atlanta.

In addition to bowling lanes, the venue would have an indoor deck shuffleboard and horseshoe pits, the article says. To read the entire article, click here.

Beltline

BeltLine quarterly briefing scheduled next week

Mariann Martin 11/28/2016

The Atlanta BeltLine tour bus. Photo by Dena Mellick

Atlanta BeltLine staff will provide updates to projects during a quarterly briefing next week.

The public meeting will cover information about Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. and The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership. Following the formal presentation, staff will answer questions and to discuss all aspects of the project in an open house format.

ABI’s Board of Directors will hold their last scheduled meeting of the year on Dec. 14 at 8:30 a.m. in their offices at 100 Peachtree St. NW.

Details:

Fourth Quarterly Briefing of 2016

6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6

Fulton County Government Center

Board of Commissioners Auditorium

141 Pryor Street SW

Atlanta, GA, 30303

Beltline/ Entertainment

Dad’s Garage brings back holiday classic, adds zany characters

Mariann Martin 11/28/2016

Image courtesy of Dad's Garage. — Image courtesy of Dad’s Garage.

To add a twist to a classic Christmas, Dad’a Garage kicks off the holiday season with a half-improv, half-scripted comedy show.

“Invasion: Christmas Carol” turns the classic Dickens story into a “hilarious, improvised mess,” according to a news release.

In addition to the story’s regular cast, a new and different character visits Scrooge every evening. The invading characters are a complete surprise to the regular cast and could be anyone from The Incredible Hulk to Santa Claus to Martha Stewart.

“Watch our cast of actors try to perform the traditional Christmas Carol while trying to deal with the one improviser running around stage causing havoc,” the new release says. “It is a beautiful disaster that you’re not going to want to miss.”

The show begins this week and runs until December 30. The show is not recommended for children.

Details:

Dec. 2- 24, Dec.29 – 30 Thurs., Fri., and Sat. at 8 p.m.

Dec. 19 – 21 Mon., Tues., and Wed. at 8 p.m.

Tickets start at $15 online, $17 by phone and at the door.

For more information, click here.

Beltline/ Crime and Public Safety

Atlanta Police ask for help finding Midtown bank robbery suspect

Dan Whisenhunt 11/28/2016

Atlanta Police are asking for the public’s help locating a man accused of robbing a Chase Bank branch at 595 Piedmont Avenue NE in Midtown.

The suspect gave a handwritten note to the teller.

“After obtaining an undetermined amount of paper bills the robber fled the scene in an unknown direction. No suspect vehicle was observed,” the alert from the Police Department says. “Please review the attached images. Please contact the Atlanta Police Department if you have any information about this incident or are familiar with this suspect.”

Police provided the following description of the suspect:

Male, white Hispanic, with a light complexion and a mustache and stubble beard. Age 26 to 40 with a medium build and approximately 5’08” – 5’10” in height. The suspect was wearing dark colored pants and a gray long sleeved shirt with vertical black stripes from the front collar down to the inner sleeves. The shirt also has white horizontal stripes on the sleeves and two front pockets. In addition, the suspect wore a leopard pattern winter knit hat with green trim and a red colored decorative ball sewn on the top.

People who have information can submit it anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 404-577-TIPS (8477), onlinewww.crimestoppersatlanta.org or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). There’s a rewarding being offered of up to $2,000, police said.