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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:- Signature guacamole made tableside with Hass avocado, sun-dried tomato, red and green onion, kosher salt, cilantro and lime juice, served with house chips
- Pan roasted redfish: rösti potatoes, smoked corn pico de gallo, red chili butter sauce
- Taco de pato: duck confit, avocado mousse, yellow onions, Cotija cheese, lime vinaigrette & cilantro
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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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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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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).
See Atlanta's Mercedes Benz Stadium retract (video) https://t.co/tQP1q5rFzT pic.twitter.com/EaTy2sphVu
— ATLHAPS (@atlhaps) July 26, 2018
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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Few things are as iconic in downtown Atlanta as the unassuming red store on the corner of Decatur Street in what is now Georgia State University environs. That red store is where dreams were made and properly fitted. Walter Strauss saw to it.
Strauss, who died recently in Atlanta, was a legendary clothing and shoe entrepreneur whose store became the mecca for exotic kicks and street styles popularized by hip-hop celebrities.
Walter Strauss of Walter’s Sneaker Store Passes Away In Atlanta
Atlanta has had other shoe and fashion titans. Florsheims reigned for decades just off Forsyth downtown. But people used to wait in long lines outside Walter’s when a new sneaker came out. That’s just the way it was.
For more than 60 years, Walter’s was the place to buy sneakers for not only metro Atlanta, but the world. People used to fly into town from international cities to cop the latest exotic sneaks from Walters.
Atlanta radio personality and DJ Greg Street said Strauss was a pioneer for men’s sneakers, opening up a market that would be worth billions of dollars decades later. “He took a chance on the vision opening his store in 1952 before us sneaker heads were even thought of, before Nike was even created. We’re going to miss you Walt,” Street said on Instagram.
Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that Walter’s experience touched him as a child. “Walter Strauss loved Atlanta. So many ATL stories happened there. My Dad took me there to get the leather Converse AllStars when I was a kid. Going there was like a rite of passage for fathers and sons. May God’s grace be with his family and loved ones,” he posted on Twitter.
The Shoegame.com also paid tribute.
RIP to the founder of legendary Atlanta sneaker store Walter’s. The sneaker community lost a legend today, Walter Strauss. Walt has been in business 60+ years and paved the way for a lot of shops/boutiques. You will be missed, Walt. pic.twitter.com/VC37MFxULq
— TheShoeGame.com (@TheShoeGame) July 26, 2018
Eight years ago, Strauss made the news when longtime Walter’s employee Horace Benton passed away from colon cancer. Strauss told the AJC. “He worked for me for 49 years, and I can tell you he made me. I always felt he would come back.”
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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Atlanta may not be on the coast, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fresh seafood shipped in on the daily. On Sunday, August 5, 2018, Hugo’s Oyster Bar and C&S Chowder House are celebrating one of the biggest days of the year: National Oyster Day!
If you’ve got an oyster Jones, come to either of the eateries and get in on the festivities and enjoy $1 “Chef’s Pick” oysters all day long. Paired with From the Earth Brewing beer specials, this will be one celebration you don’t want to miss.
Don’t wait too long to jump in on the fun, though. With oysters this good, they’ll sell out pretty quickly! Get here early to enjoy good beer, great oysters and even better company.
Hugo’s is located at 12040 Etris Rd #150, Roswell, GA 30075.
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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Bring the family for some food and fun to Taste of Soul Atlanta. The three-day event is slated for Friday, August 31 to Sept. 2, 2018.
The citywide free festival that takes place in Vine City, one of Atlanta’s oldest and most historic neighborhoods. The food will take place across from the Mercedes Benz Stadium at 10 Northside Drive Northwest Atlanta, GA 30314.
This family festival celebrates Soul and Southern foods, hosts live music, art, games, and Atlanta’s best people watching.
Taste of Soul Atlanta: Schedule of Events
- BrunchTOSA: Sept 2nd 11:30 – 3pm
- VinoTOSA: Aug 31st 6:30pm – 10:30pm
- ArtTOSA: Aug 31st 6:30pm – 10:30pm
There’s nothing like down home food vendors, beer, cocktails, live musicians, games, new tech displays and family fun!
Attendees are encouraged to ride MARTA for transportation. It is a 2-minute walk from Vine City Marta Station (West line) or a 15 min walk from Ashby Marta Station.
Bike Valet is available at the festival, thanks to the Atlanta Bike Coalition, ride your bike and enjoy the event.
Parking is available around the festival but you will have to walk. For drivers, please carpool and park only in clearly marked areas, being respectful to our Vine City neighbors.
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The Atlanta area’s most well-regarded Latino sandwich shop has finally opened in The Battery Atlanta. AtlantaFi told you about the plans months ago when El Super Pan first said it was joining the sports and entertainment complex anchored by SunTrust Park.
El Super Pan’s first location, at Ponce City Market, in Midtown has been a hit since its 2015 debut.
Cuban restaurant El Super Pan opens in The Battery
Three-time James Beard-nominated Chef Hector Santiago is bringing his popular Latin American fare to “Los Bravos” (Braves fans) for lunch and dinner seven days a week in the Cumberland community. Fan favorites from Puerto Rican-born Santiago include the sought-after Mofongos, the Cubano Mixto, pressed sandwich on a traditional Cuban bread and desserts such as chipotle-chocolate chip cookies, organic egg flan, and bacon-guava shortbread cookie and Cuban coffee.
Although the Braves are playing and SunTrust Park is up and running, development in the vicinity continues to take off.
In addition to El Super Pan, the Omni Hotel recently opened to guests, giving visitors a home before and after Braves games as well as anchoring metro Atlanta’s newest entertainment destination. The property will feature 264 guest rooms across 16 floors.
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One Musicfest will have some of the biggest artists in music performing on its stages in September. The event is also looking to cast a big spotlight on new and emerging artists.One Musicfest is searching for one artist to perform during the two-day event.To enter, you must submit your music by July 31.Text to enter or visit https://onemusicfest.com/theone/
With H.E.R. in the fold in June, the ONE Musicfest lineup so far is Nas, Cardi B, Miguel, T.I., Jeezy, Big Sean, Kelis, Brandy, August Greene, Big KRIT, George Clinton & Parliament and more.
Read more: One Musicfest lineup is insane
“We are all super excited about OMF2018,” says founder Jason “J” Carter. “Growing into a two-day festival allows us to expand our roster, highlight more of the music that we love and give our audience an experience unlike any!”
Purchase your tickets today at ONEMusicfest.com. -
The Women Circle presents an evening of startup exhibitions by women-run businesses, and connections with elite professionals and entrepreneurs in the Atlanta area.
This event will bring women from across town to network, empower and inspire one another, all in a classy Saturday evening setting. For the cocktail lover, the business woman, and just anyone looking to connect with other Atlanta like-minded women, this is the event for you.
If you are looking for exposure and have a startup business in fashion, beauty, tech, real estate or any other sector and would love to be a vendor at this event, send us a message here on Facebook or at support@womenscircleevents.com.
*This is an event catered to women but we also need the support of our men as well. So invite your male friends, spouses, significant other or just family to support.
