Monthly Archives: July 2018

Atlanta City Council to host series of forums about More MARTA program

Ellie Ritter 07/31/2018

Throughout August, Atlanta City Councilmembers will host a series of community forums about the More MARTA Atlanta program, according to a City Council press release.

The forums will educate residents and city stakeholders about the More MARTA program and receive feedback on the proposed project list.

More MARTA Atlanta focuses on “taking a balanced approach to delivering transit projects that will improve service, accessibility, and connectivity to communities throughout the city of Atlanta and the regional network,” the release said.

Atlanta residents passed a half-penny sales tax for the More MARTA project in 2016. The funds will generate nearly $2.5 billion for transit expansion and enhancement projects over the next 40 years, according to the release.

More MARTA Atlanta’s original project list included more than 70 projects with an estimated price tag of $11.5 billion, significantly exceeding the program’s sales-tax budget.

Since then, public feedback and performance evaluations from the city and MARTA have helped readjust the project list.

The first forum will take place on Aug. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fort McPherson, 178 Hardee Avenue S.W. It will be co-hosted by Councilmembers Joyce M. Sheperd (District 12), Marci Collier Overstreet (District 11) and Cleta Winslow (District 4).

“We want to hear from our residents,” Sheperd said. “These forums will give the community an opportunity to join more in-depth discussions and get updates as we prepare to roll out Marta transit projects across the city. We’re asking everyone to attend.”

Atlanta’s largest transit investment in four decades, More MARTA will serve 126 neighborhoods. It’s slated to increase access to jobs by 56 percent and improve transit services to communities with large minority or low-income populations by 61 percent.

Atlanta residents unable to attend the scheduled community forums are encouraged to learn more about the program, review the project list and provide feedback online here.

These are all of the upcoming More MARTA Atlanta community forums:

Aug. 2

Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: Fort McPherson, 1794 Walker Avenue S.W.*Navigate to 250 Sayers St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 — Enter the Lee St. gate, then follow red arrows to Redevelopment Authority. If your GPS takes you to the Tyler Perry Studios gate next to the MARTA station, DO NOT ENTER, you’ll be turned around. Continue past their entrance to Lee Street.
Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Joyce M. Sheperd (District 12), Marci Collier Overstreet (District 11), and Cleta Winslow (District 4)

Aug. 9

Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: MARTA Headquarters, 2424 Piedmont Road
Hosted by: More MARTA Atlanta

Aug. 15

Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: To be determined
Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Natalyn Archibong (District 5), Carla Smith (District 1), Amir Farokhi (District 2), and Jennifer Ide (District 6)

Aug. 23

Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: C.T. Martin Recreation Center (formerly Adamsville Recreation Center), 3201 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive S.W.
Hosted by: Atlanta City Councilmembers Andrea L. Boone (District 10) and Michael Julian Bond (Post 1 At-Large)

Beltline/ Entertainment/ Metro ATL

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine season to continue with two festivals throughout the next month

Ellie Ritter 07/30/2018

“The Art of Reconciliation.” William Massey created this artwork along the Beltline from old junk that volunteers picked up from the streets of Atlanta. The image is of a man named Tony, who was homeless, but is now employed and has a roof over his head. Photo by Dena Mellick

The Atlanta BeltLine’s “Art on the Atlanta BeltLine” exhibition will continue its 2018 season with two festivals in the next month, according to an Atlanta BeltLine Partnership press release.

On July 29, the BeltLine Walls mural festival will kick off in the Lee/Murphy Tunnel on the Westside Trail, featuring muralists live-painting through August 11, along with a family paint day August 4.

Additionally, between August 8-11, the Art. Music. Film. Movement festival (AMFM) will take place at The Bakery on the Westside Trail in collaboration with the National Black Arts Festival, ARTlanta Gallery and The Bakery.

Free and open to the public, the AMFM festival will feature art exhibitions, interactive installations, musical acts, a keynote speaker and a “BeltLine After Dark” adults-only concert series.

Beltline/ Decaturish/ Metro ATL

Dragon Con-inspired dog event to take place late next month

Ellie Ritter 07/30/2018

Late next month, WoodRUFF Bark, which began last year as a Halloween-themed pet parade and costume contest, will become a new Dragon Con-inspired event.

The new pet-centered event, called Doggy Con, will still feature the parade and costume contest, along will pet-based vendors, prizes and more.

Participants must register by August 16 to participate in the costume contest. Register online for $10 here, or register onsite at the event for $15. All funds raised from the event go directly back to supporting Woodruff Park.

Doggy Con will take place Saturday, Aug. 18 at 91 Peachtree St NW in Atlanta on Woodruff Park’s Main Lawn, from 9 a.m.- noon. The parade begins at 10 a.m. with the prize ceremony to follow at 11 a.m.

For more information, including the schedule and list of vendors, visit the event website or Facebook page.

Beltline/ Food/ Metro ATL

Atlanta BeltLine Partnership offering free walking, biking tours of BeltLine starting this weekend

Ellie Ritter 07/30/2018

A wall mural near the end of the Beltline at Irwin Street. Photo by Mariann Martin

The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is teaming with UnitedHealthcare to offer free walking tours of the BeltLine beginning this weekend, according to an ABP press release.

On the Trees Atlanta-led tour, guests will get to see the BeltLine Arboretum, showcasing both the Eastside and Westside trails with a focus on horticultural and historical elements. Attendees can also enjoy fun health and wellness activities like yoga with Dancing Dogs Yoga and consultations from a health coach, as well as a water infusion station, a trail mix bar and popsicles from King of Pops.

This weekend’s tour will take place on Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m. until noon.

Bike enthusiasts can also take part in free bike tours on Saturday mornings, which alternate between Eastside and Westside Trails each week. Additionally, ABP offers $25 bus tours along the 22 miles and 45 neighborhoods that make up the Beltline.

Beltline/ Metro ATL

Free workout classes to take place around BeltLine through October

Ellie Ritter 07/30/2018

Pedestrians and cyclists using the Atlanta BeltLine.
CREDIT ALISON GUILLORY / WABE

As summer wanes away, the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership will host a series of free fitness classes between July and October.

The fitness classes feature a variety of workouts and activities, including skateboarding, biking, HIIT workouts, yoga, Zumba and more. Some of the workouts are more intense, boot camp-style workouts, while others focus on fun games or stress release.

Classes will be offered on a variety of days and at different times, making the courses accessible even to those working during the day. Locations vary as well, with classes spread out acorss the BeltLine at places like Candler Park, Piedmont Park, Adair Park and more.

RSVP for classes here.

Decaturish/ Food/ Metro ATL

Newk’s Eatery to open fourth Atlanta restaurant late this month

Ellie Ritter 07/19/2018

Newk’s Eatery, the restaurant just named “Best Overall Experience in Fast Casual” at the National Restaurant Association conference, will open its fourth Atlanta location.

The new eatery will open on July 30 at 1715 Howell Mill Road, growing the business to 120 restaurants total, according to a Newk’s Eatery press release.

Newk’s Eatery offers a menu featuring a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups and hand-rolled pizzas. Every meal is prepared to order in an open-view kitchen, the restaurant said.

“At Newk’s, great food drives us, and we’re excited to share our thoughtfully curated menu with more folks in the Atlanta area,” Stewart Slocum, CMO of Newk’s Eatery, said. “We take a hands-on approach to every meal, going the extra mile with our ingredients – even if that means importing from Europe. We house-make all of our own dressings, we hand-chop our vegetables, we slice our own meats, and we hand-roll our pizza dough – every morning, every day.”

Newk’s also owns its own bakery, making signature double-layer cakes every day with flavors like strawberry, caramel, chocolate and more.

GA Fast Casual II will operate the new restaurant in the Atlanta area, in addition to their other Newk’s restaurants in Druid Hills, Tucker, Lawrenceville and Midtown, the release said. The new 5,125 square-foot Newk’s Eatery will accommodate more than 200 guests with plentiful parking and a patio.

Newk’s in Atlanta is open Monday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant also features online ordering, mobile app options, and a Grab-N-Go cooler section. Catering is also available for groups of all sizes, with specialists on-site to assist in building the perfect spread.

For more information, visit the Newk’s Eatery website.

Beltline/ Politics

Atlanta Mayor rescinds job offer for new Chief Education Officer

Dan Whisenhunt 07/18/2018

Aliya Bhatia. Photo provided to Atlanta Loop

Aliya Bhatia was supposed to take over as the city of Atlanta’s new chief education officer this week.

For reasons that remain unclear, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms reversed that decision.

A spokesperson for the mayor was vague about the reason Bottoms changed her mind about giving Bhatia the job.

“The role of the Chief Education Officer is critical to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ innovative blueprint for academic excellence in the city of Atlanta,” the spokesperson said. “There is no higher priority for this Administration than making sure our children and communities have the tools and direction they need to compete in the advanced workforce of today and tomorrow. We have decided to delay the implementation and start-date of this position to further review some of the nuances that will make this nexus between the city and our education partners even stronger. We appreciate Aliya Bhatia’s remarkable talent and energy, and trust that she will be tremendously successful in her future endeavors.”

Attempts to reach Bhatia were unsuccessful.

A native of metro Atlanta, Bhatia started her career as a teacher with Teach for America and later joined the Boston Consulting Group as an associate and consultant.

She recently completed her Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Beltline/ Business/ Food

King of Pops opening ‘Beach Bar’ at Ponce City Market

Dan Whisenhunt 07/18/2018

King of Pops plans to add mixed drinks to its product offerings with its new location at Ponce City Market.

The company says the King of Pops Beach Bar will open Thursday, July 19, at noon.

“We will be serving up Slushy Piña Coladas in cored, whole Pineapples for a limited time as part of our big opening with some beachy tunes provided by our own Ukulele player, Jeremy Reese,” the company announced on its Facebook page. “We hope to bring our favorite parts of the beach a little closer to you as an easy getaway or least a cool spot to hang out at.”

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the Beach Bar will be located next to PCM’s rooftop entrance.

Beltline/ Crime and Public Safety/ Politics

Report: Meeting of Atlanta LGBTQ advisory board closed to the public

Dan Whisenhunt 07/18/2018

Keisha Lance Bottoms. CREDIT KAITLIN KOLARIK / WABE

An Atlanta LGBTQ advisory board is meeting today, July 18, and Project Q reports that the public will not be allowed to attend.

The 39-member board is tasked with advising Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Open government advocates questioned the city’s decision.

A spokesperson for the mayor later told the publication that, “This is less of a meeting as it is an orientation for board members to meet each other, set expectations, and reinforce its purpose.” The spokesperson said future meetings will be open to the public.

To read the full story on Project Q, click here.