Ellie Ritter, Author at The Atlanta Loop

About Ellie Ritter

Posts by Ellie Ritter:

Local feminist comedy group Critical Crop Top to present new show

Ellie Ritter 10/30/2018

Early next month, local feminist comedy group Critical Crop Top will top off its season with a new sketch show titled “Critical Crop Top Saves America.”

Written and performed by a diverse group of Atlanta writers and performers, the show will also feature special performances by stand-up comedian Katherine Blanford and musical guest Top Ramen.

Critical Crop Top, which was founded by three women, creates comedy shows that comment on a variety of social justice issues in order to “create enlightening comedic content that gives women, people of color, LGBTQ and other underrepresented voices a place to tell their stories,” a press release from the group says.

According to the group, the show’s central storyline focuses on a flawed band of superheroes who’ve come together to save America from itself. The idea for the show came to one of the writers, Nicole Kemper, after talking about the news with her son.

“Kids are very perceptive even when you try to shield them from the scary things happening in the world,” Kemper said. “One night, when I was putting my five-year-old to bed, he asked me if there was a superhero that could save us from all the bad stuff that happens in the news, and that’s when the idea for this show came to me. What if there was an elite band of superheroes, but instead of fighting monsters and aliens, they were here to fight all the things we fear are threatening our democracy?”

“Critical Crop Top Saves America” will play for one weekend only – Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. – at the Highland Inn Ballroom. The show will include a mix of classic physical comedy, political satire and “bawdy humor,” the press release said.

The show stars Aria Marra, Brian Ashton Smith, Laura Meyers, Nicole Kemper, Jasmine Waters, Carlette Jennings and Brandon Mitchell. It is directed by Hillary R. Heath. Tickets can be purchased for $10 online here and will be on sale for $15 at the door.

Beltline/ Metro ATL

Emory University names new Rose Library director

Ellie Ritter 09/19/2018

Jennifer Gunter King. Photo obtained via Emory University

Emory’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library has named Jennifer Gunter King as its new director, replacing outgoing director Rosemary Magee, according to an Emory news release.

Currently the director of the Library and Knowledge Commons at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., King was selected for her longtime work with libraries and archives.

“[King] brings a wealth of experience and an expansive view of libraries, not only from a special collections aspect but from a broader organizational understanding,” Emory librarian Yolanda Cooper said. “She will work collaboratively to take a fresh look at operations, relationships, and programs to further advance our world-renowned Rose Library.”

Prior to her current position, King was director of Archives and Special Collections at Mount Holyoke College, where she initiated programs including an online digital archive, electronic records archiving and campus-wide exhibitions and programming, according to Emory.

She has also held positions in special collections at Virginia Tech University Libraries and the University of Virginia.

“I am very excited to join Emory University as director of the Rose Library,” King said. “Emory’s special collections are a direct link to the past, providing access to literary, political and personal histories, all critical to supporting scholarship, civic engagement and, not least, democracy. I cannot imagine a more worthwhile calling or a more welcoming community.”

According to Emory, King’s interests include 21st-century library design, advancing the accessibility of archival resources and pursuing opportunities for collaboration between libraries, archives and museums.

King will begin her position on Oct. 15.

To learn more about the Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library, go here.

Beltline/ Metro ATL

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. hosting public meetings about Enota Park, Subareas 9 and 10

Ellie Ritter 09/10/2018

The Atlanta BeltLine tour bus. Photo by Dena Mellick

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. will host two public meetings in the coming weeks about the Enota Park construction project and the Subareas 9 and 10 Master Plan.

The first meeting – which will be about Enota Park – will take place Thursday, Sept. 13 from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m at the Fulton County Central Training Center, 425 Langhorn St. SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30310. At the meeting, the design team will present two drafts of a final design for the park in order to get community feedback.

Then, on Monday, Sept. 17, ABI will host the meeting about Subareas 9 and 10 from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Booker T. Washington High School, 45 Whitehouse Drive SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30314.

According to ABI, the objective of the Subarea Master Plan is to guide growth for vibrant, livable mixed-use communities by applying best management practices for transit-oriented development, mobility, green space, and alternative modes of transportation.

The meeting will report out on findings from several public meetings throughout the spring and summer and help prioritize the draft final recommendations for land use (e.g. mixed-use, housing, commercial services), mobility (e.g. trails, sidewalks, bikes, transit), parks and greenspace in Subareas 9 and 10 of the BeltLine.

Beltline/ Entertainment/ Metro ATL

New Emory exhibit celebrates school’s curator of extensive African American collections

Ellie Ritter 09/04/2018

Main Quad on Emory University’s primary Druid Hills Campus, including the Michael C. Carlos Museum on the right. Photo obtained via Wikimedia Commons

An exhibit at Emory University’s Woodruff Library will celebrate curator Randall Burkett and the African American collections of rare books, manuscripts, photographs and more that he helped acquire in his 21 years at the university, according to an Emory press release.

A driving force in curating the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Burkett and his colleagues “sought to ensure the African American voice is represented in the library’s collections and have given priority to African American-authored and African American-published materials.”

Burkett played a key role in some of Emory’s most important acquisitions, including the papers of Alice Walker and Pearl Cleage, historian Carter G. Woodson, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and more.

The Rose Library’s African American collections focus on six principal collecting areas: civil rights movements, black print culture, blacks and the Left, African American literature and the arts, expatriate literary and culture figures, and African Americans and sports.

The new exhibit, “Building Emory’s African American Collections: Highlights from the Curatorial Career of Randall K. Burkett,” opens Sept. 13 at the Woodruff Library, featuring items from those collections and Burkett’s stories of their discovery and acquisition.

“We have one of the most extensive archives of African American history and culture among major research universities,” Burkett said. “I’ve been fortunate to build relationships with wonderful people—authors, artists, leaders in their fields, and families—who were looking to place their papers with a library that would preserve them and open them to academic researchers and the public. And that place is the Rose Library at Emory.”

The Woodruff Library is located on the Emory University campus at 540 Asbury Circle in Atlanta, 30322. Parking is available in the Fishburne deck.

Beltline/ Business/ Decaturish/ Metro ATL

Apartment Guide ranks Atlanta-area’s five most popular neighborhoods

Ellie Ritter 08/27/2018

Atlanta Downtown Connector. Source: Wikimedia commons

With Atlanta standing as one of the fastest growing cites in the country, the Apartment Guide blog, a site dedicated to property trends and home advice, has released a list of Atlanta’s most popular neighborhoods for rentals.

According to Apartment Guide, the search combed through Google data using generic keyword searches and combined those results with the most searched Atlanta neighborhoods on the blog’s website to determine which areas are most popular with renters.

Midtown Atlanta topped the list as “a favorite for young professionals looking to be close to the action,” the list says. Apartments in Midtown are far pricier, though: average rent for a single bedroom unit costs $300 more per month than an apartment elsewhere in Atlanta.

Buckhead and Downtown Atlanta were next, both drawing in a number of college students and professionals. Rent costs there are also above the city average, with a typical monthly single bedroom rent costing around $1,515.

The final two cities on the list were Virginia Highland and Inman Park, two cities that have gained attraction because of their access to the Atlanta BeltLine. Both neighborhoods have a “small town feel in the big city” that makes them popular among families, Apartment Guide said.

Inman Park’s average rents are actually more expensive than Downtown Atlanta, costing almost $1,750 per month for a single bedroom apartment, according to the post. Virginia Highland’s costs are slightly lower – $1,301 per month for the same size.

Go here to see Apartment Guide’s list.

Beltline/ Entertainment/ Food

Millennial-focused wine tasting event coming to Atlanta early next month

Ellie Ritter 08/22/2018

Wine Riot, an interactive and educational wine tasting event geared toward millennial consumers, will pop into Atlanta next month as part of its 2018 tour.

According to a Wine Riot press release, the event “aims to change the often-intimidating nature of wine and wine tasting into an entertaining and educational experience, while also helping wine brands connect with this important consumer segment.”

The event will feature a number of fun activities, including “Wine 101” interactive tastings focused on wine categories, such as young/mature and oaked/unoaked, as well as 20-minute seminars on certain wine subjects, a worldwide wine tasting booth, a “Bubble Bar” and a “Siploma” trivia game.

As a millennial-focused event, Wine Riot aims to connect young adults with the historical culture of wine in a new, comfortable environment.

“Through Wine Riot, we want to create a new wine language and adventure for millennials,” Wine Riot CEO Richard Stoppard said. “At the same time, we want to be a catalyst for brands to connect with this important consumer segment through education, one-on-one engagement and a lot of fun.”

The Atlanta event will take place Sept. 7 and 8 at The Fairmont, 1429 Fairmont Ave NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30318 and is open to people aged 21 or older. General admission tickets are $65 and can be purchased here.

Beltline/ Metro ATL/ Transit

More MARTA Atlanta project to canvass at rail stations for community feedback

Ellie Ritter 08/21/2018

MARTA and the city of Atlanta’s latest partnership, More MARTA Atlanta, is making a final push to hear from residents and MARTA riders regarding the proposed project.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m., MARTA representatives will canvass a number of stations across the city to share program information and get feedback from riders on what they want from the program, according to a MARTA press release.

Information stations will be available at the Five Points, Midtown, Georgia State, West End, Lenox and Inman Park stations. MARTA riders will have the opportunity to review the list of 17 proposed More MARTA Atlanta projects and complete a feedback survey.

The partnership was overwhelmingly approved by city voters in 2016. Over the next 40 years, the project will create a total transit investment of $2.5 billion and expand transit service to connect 126 communities within the city.

Public input has been central to the More MARTA Atlanta program since its inception, the press release said.

“Ongoing community engagement and input is critical in steering the More MARTA Atlanta program in the right direction,” MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker said. “As we take a comprehensive look at possible project options, it’s critical that we hear from all of our valued stakeholders and evaluate their input as we chart the course ahead for this important program. It’s good to hear what the citizens and the community believe should be the priorities.”

Beltline/ Metro ATL

Underdeveloped Atlanta land to be revitalized as mixed-use development

Ellie Ritter 08/20/2018

A map showing the boundaries of the Gulch, provided by the city of Atlanta. (Click to enlarge.)

An underdeveloped, barren stretch of land in downtown Atlanta widely known as “The Gulch” will be getting some major upgrades in the coming future.

For the last several months, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has been working transform the downtown area, according to a city press release.

Once a rail yard, the site – which sits mainly between Ted Turner Drive NW, Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive SW, Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW and Marietta Street – has sat purposelessly for 50 years in what many consider some of the city’s most prime real estate. But for years, the parcels that make up The Gulch haven’t generated any tax revenue for the city.

With the city’s assistance, the CIM Group real estate firm will begin a mixed-use development in The Gulch, revitalizing the 13 blocks of unused land. At least 20 percent of the development will be reserved for affordable housing with a minimum of 200 units.

“At roughly the equivalent of thirty football fields, this will be the largest development of its kind in Atlanta’s history and in the entire Southeast,” Bottoms said. “Our administration is proud to help make this a reality.”

According to the city, bond money generated for the project could reach upwards of a billion dollars and would primarily come from two sources: the Westside Tax Allocation District (TAD) and the Enterprise Zone Bond (EZ Bond).

Last year, Georgia’s State Legislature passed HB342, which stipulates that any urban redevelopment project in excess of $400 million can qualify for a sales tax exemption. The EZ bonds would allow CIM to use roughly four cents of the 8.9 cents total tax. That money comes from the state’s share of the sales tax, not Atlanta’s.

Additionally, with the approval of the Atlanta City Council, the lifespan of the Westside TAD would be extended 10 years to 2048 to help pay off the city’s expenses from the development. The city did not pledge any portion of its general funds toward the project, according to the release.

Once The Gulch project is online, 20 percent of the TAD bond proceeds generated within its boundaries will be applied toward other projects in the neighborhoods within the Empowerment Zone and West of the Empowerment Zone.

The city declined to specify when the redevelopment would begin or how long it will take.

Beltline/ Metro ATL

Atlanta BeltLine study finds overall satisfaction with project, identifies improvement priorities

Ellie Ritter 08/20/2018

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

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. has released key findings from its first-ever comprehensive community study about the BeltLine, and the results show strong public satisfaction with the project.

More than 6,000 surveys were completed to gauge the community’s expectations for the urban project, find ideas for improvements and more.

According to ABI, the survey showed that the public is happy with the BeltLine, with its perceived strengths being the quality of trails, parks, and green spaces, public art and the BeltLine’s contribution to economic development.

More specifically, 80 percent of survey respondents are satisfied with the project overall, and 70 percent feel that “the Atlanta BeltLine has improved their neighborhood both economically and socially,” according to ABI.

More than 60 percents of respondents also indicated that the BeltLine “builds community, is good for health, fitness, and economic activity and is a good place to visit.”

“ABI believes this community feedback is critical, and we are already using the information to determine priorities and next steps,” Brian P. McGowan, ABI’s outgoing CEO, said.

The study also found some areas for improvement, including trail development, housing and transit, with the speed of the completion of the development project identified as a top priority.

Affordable housing is the second greatest priority, with the displacement of low-income residents listed as a concern. Additionally, the third highest priority was identified as the speed of construction of the Atlanta BeltLine transit system, as more than 80 percent of respondents indicated they would use the transit once completed.

According to ABI, the outreach was conducted using third-party vendor InfoSurv, with the surveys sourced randomly online and via phone.

To learn about the BeltLine and ABI’s plans, view past community meetings here or attend one of its future meetings, which appear on the BeltLine Events Calendar.

To view the survey and data, go here.