• Atlanta Meet And Greet: Lil Yachty and Collin Sexton

    1 Min Read

    Atlanta rapper Lil Yachty and professional basketball player Collin Sexton will be meeting fans Tuesday, July 31, 2018 in Atlanta.

    The event will be at 105 Veterans Memorial Drive in Mableton just outside Atlanta. All you have to do is bring a new book bag and school supplies.

    “If ur in Atlanta pull up on me tmmr for a meet and greet, just bring a book bag with school supplies In it and it’s all love,” Lil Boat tweeted recently.

    The Atlanta area is in back to school mode as school districts welcome the kids back over the next several weeks.

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  • Atlanta Entrepreneur Pairs Wines & T-Shirts For Winning Combo

    2 Min Read

    Brian McGuire says he was thinking about the future when combined his passion for wine with a business that could grow over time. “I started my wine-tasting business as an ‘encore career,'” he told AtlantaFi via email.

    He says he wanted to create a business venture “for after the corporate world. It was something I could build for me, not someone else.”

    Wineshop at Home launches in Atlanta

    That led to McGuire’s Wineshop At Home business, where he does informal in-home tastings with small groups. The vino industry is great, but McGuire says his entrepreneurial instincts — like a good bottle of wine — took some time to mature.

    Soon, he got into the apparel business as well. “The T-shirt business really grew out of the wine-tasting business,” he says. “I wanted to wear funny wine shirts but didn’t find any I liked, so I designed my own.”

    And that’s how Teetotly was born. The site has numerous T-shirts with humorous sayings that go quite nicely with a glass of wine!

    “People always commented on my t-shirts at tastings wanted to know where they could buy one, so I finally decided to set up shop. I did some additional designs on my own and worked with a design team to add even more designs.”

    McGuire says that he will continue to add to the collection — both the wine and the T-shirts.

    You can find the goods at this websites: http://itsawinelife.com and https://teetotly.com.

    Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our  news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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  • Jermaine Dupri Announces So So Def 25th Anniversary

    2 Min Read

    Atlanta hip-hop impresario Jermaine Dupri announced Monday that his record label, So So Def, will embark on a multi-state tour. The “Cultural Currency” tour comes to Atlanta’s Philips Arena on October 21.

    Dupri headlines the tour with a stable of So So Def artists including Xscape, Anthony Hamilton, Da Brat, Jagged Edge, Bow Wow, Dem Franchize Boyz, Bone Crusher, J-Kwon and Youngbloodz.  Dupri in association with AEG Presents, will play 11 cities across the United States to mark 25 years of his iconic label, So So Def.

    “Blessings are bigger when you share them. One of my biggest blessings is to be able to go tour with all my artists. I can’t wait,” Dupri said in a written statement.

    SoSoDef 25th Anniversary CULTURAL CURREN$Y TOUR Schedule:

    Date

    City

    Arena

    October 14

    Washington D.C.

    Capital One Arena

    October 18

    Brooklyn, NY

    Barclays Center

    October 19

    Baltimore, MD

    Royal Farms Arena

    October 20

    Greensboro, NC

    Coliseum

    October 21

    Atlanta, GA

    Philips Arena

    TBD

    Chicago, IL

    United Center

    October 25

    Nashville, TN

    Bridgestone Arena

    October 26

    Memphis, TN

    FedExForum

    October 28

    Charlotte, NC

    Spectrum Center

    October 31

    Detroit, MI

    Little Caesars Arena

    November 2

    Los Angeles, CA

    Staples Center

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  • Free: Reggae In The Park Coming To Southwest Atlanta

    2 Min Read

    Atlanta and reggae go together like brown stew chicken and rice on Redan Road. And things are about to get even more intimate. Reggae In The Park (RITP) is coming back to Atlanta for its fifth anniversary.

    This year, the event will be held Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 12 – 9 PM in southwest Atlanta’s Perkerson Park (off Deckner Avenue) in the Capitol View neighborhood.

    GET TICKETS HERE

    Free to the public, RITP is a Caribbean music and culture festival with live performances from local and international bands, artists and DJs. Of course, there will be plenty of international food and a market to buy clothes and other global fare.

    Started in 2014 has a small community get-together, RITP has grown into one of the biggest reggae festivals in the Southeast. The organizers of RITP promot the principles of unity and togetherness under the banner of Reggae music and culture. This brought about our slogan “No Clicks. No Crews. One Love. BeREGGAE.” 

    Atlanta’s Reggae in the Park: Saturday, August 11 at Perkerson Park SW

    There will be several musical performances to enjoy. There will also be drum circles and lawn games in Rythm Field, the wave of vibez from the stage on Limelight Hill and the beating heart of The Yard better known as the Dancehall @ Lovers Rock. Two international food courts, Romper Field (a dynamic kids zone) and much more are in store.

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  • Plywood Presents: Loving Disruption 2018

    1 Min Read

    A new experience is coming to Atlanta this weekend. Plywood Presents is for people who have big dreams for social good and positive social change.

    This event is designed to inspire you to think outside of the box and to build connections with other hopeful people.

    This year, with our theme being “Loving Disruption,” our desire is to see social good advocates, funders, and ideators learn new ways to hold their empathy in hand with their action. If you’re a business leader, a parent, a creative or an activist, Plywood Presents is for you.

    Plywood People is a 501[c]3 organization in Atlanta leading a community of start-ups doing good. The organization says they exist to help the community make problems go away that impact our culture, the hurting, poor, oppressed and under-resourced people.

    Plywood Presents: Loving Disruption

    August 1-2, 2018

    Atlanta Symphony Hall

    BUY TICKETS HERE

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  • Planet Fitness Opening At Mall West End

    2 Min Read

    Southwest Atlanta fitness buffs are getting a new place to work on there muscles. Planet Fitness is set to open at Mall West End at 854 Oak St SW Suite 546, Atlanta, GA 30310.

    This marks the second location for the Hampton, New Hampshire-based company. In 2016, it opened a Planet Fitness at Greenbriar Mall.

    Update: A month after West End Planet Fitness opened, we went online to see how the reviews were. Here’s one that summed up many of the general sentiments:

    “GREAT GYM!!! This is the first gym that I’ve ever worked out in. I’m trying to get my body in shape. I was always uncomfortable with working out in front/with other people. But, coming here, I kinda feel more comfortable working out. I guess the other part of that is just me – ‘I have to get comfortable with myself.’ The gym is doing its part with the comfortable and pleasant atmosphere. Gym is ALWAYS clean when I come. I haven’t had any issues with the staff.”

    Planet Fitness opens at West End mall

    Planet Fitness began in 1992 when a struggling gym in Dover, New Hampshire was transformed into a no-frills ” Judgment Free” zone. Plans start at $10 a month.

    Visit PlanetFitness.com to get announcements on pre-sale offers, including online only deals.

    Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our  news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

    Read more: Mangos Caribbean opening in West End

    Boxcar restaurant opening in West End adjacent to Beltline

    West End the best end? Top parks in SW Atlanta

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  • Babalu Restaurant Coming To Roswell

    2 Min Read

    A popular Latin-inspired restaurant featuring sharing-style dining is opening its second location in metro Atlanta, AtlantaFi has learned. Babalu Tapas & Tacos’ opened its first restaurant in the city at the 33 Peachtree Place retail/residential development on the corner of West Peachtree Street and Peachtree Place.

    Next year, Babalu  is slated to open in the old Roswell Theater building in Roswell.

    The term Babalu comes from the song made famous from actor Desi Arnaz’s character Ricky Ricardo in the television series “I Love Lucy.” Monday’s opening marks the seventh location of the Jackson, Mississippi-founded restaurant.

    When the Midtown location opened last year, corporate execs were bullish on Atlanta.

    “With our corporate offices nearby, our new Midtown Atlanta restaurant is an extra special opening for our team of experienced leaders who know the city like the back of their hands,” Stan Stout, chief operating officer of Roswell-based Eat Here Brands, said in a news release. “We’re excited to be in a city that’s known for its Southern hospitality because offering a dining experience that brings people together is what we’re all about.”
    Here are some of our favorite menu items from Babalu:

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  • Construction Begins On Gentry Mixed-Use Apartments In Buckhead

    2 Min Read

    Construction began in Atlanta recently on Gentry, a luxury mixed-use apartment community in Buckhead, AtlantaFi has learned.

    The 21-story high-rise community located at 3172 Roswell Road used to be a one-acre parking lot. Situated in a prime location close to The Shops at Buckhead, Whole Foods, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Mall, the development will be in the center of the action when it is completed.

    Gentry: Mixed-use development headed for Buckhead

    When all is said and done, Gentry will feature 290 apartment homes and 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. The project is being developed by LMC and Hoar Construction. The companies recently collaborated on The Morris, a luxury apartment community in Nashville that opened in 2017.

    “We’re excited to join the robust Buckhead market and get started on an apartment community that will be situated in the center of so many recreational activities,” said Chris Cassidy, division president of the Southeast for LMC. “With the vast shopping and dining options within walking distance, this will be a place where residents can ditch their cars for the weekend and relax within the neighborhood. With the stellar location, the remainder of the city will be at their fingertips, as well.”

    Gentry is expected to get its first tenants in mid-2020.

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  • JCT Kitchen & Bar: Chicken & Oyster Sunday

    1 Min Read

    If you want to really throw down eatin’ in West Midtown, there’s only one place to be. The first Sunday of each month, JCT. Bar (upstairs) will also open for fried chicken & oyster Sunday from 11:30 a.m.”til they run out.”

    The establishment is located at 1198 Howell Mill Rd #18, Atlanta, GA 30318.

    Think buckets of our fried chicken ($32 per bucket) and a selection of oysters from our raw bar menu (prices vary), paired with a curated selection of bubbles, wine and rose (prices vary) including Lambrusco – Cleto Chiarli ‘Vecchia Modena’ ($8/$40), Prosecco – Villa Sandi ($9/$45), Cava Rosado – Castellar ($10/$50) , Champagne – Dumangin ‘Cuvee 17’ Brut ($16/$80), Piquepoul Rose, Foncalieu 2017 ($8/$32) and more!

    Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our  news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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  • 5 Things To Know About Mercedes-Benz Stadium In Atlanta

    Watch: Mercedes Benz Stadium’s Retractable Roof Open

    1 Min Read

    Finally, one of the most state-of-the-art sports facilities in the world is adding another straw to its hat. Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium was well regarded as the newest NFL stadium with a retractable roof — but last season venue officials couldn’t quite get it to work.

    This week, Merc-Benz opened up like a beautiful metallic flower in downtown Atlanta.

    Last fall when the stadium opened, construction delays portended to be the reason for the delay, the AMB Group, the consortium that runs the stadium, us ready this time for the 2018 Atlanta Falcons season in the $1.6 billion stadium.

    Atlanta’s is the fifth NFL stadium with a retractable roof. The other four are AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys), Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis Colts), NRG Stadium (Houston Texans), and University of Phoenix Stadium (Arizona Cardinals).

    Got an event or know of something opening in and around Atlanta? Holla: CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our  news alerts here, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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