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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
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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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A student from Atlanta’s Morehouse College is one of eight recipients of the Homecoming Scholars Award from Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. The scholarship program is part of the singer’s BeyGood initiative for the 2018-2019 academic year.
The Homecoming Scholars Award Program is the second scholarship merit program from Beyoncé and BeyGood. The Formation Scholars Award Program was announced in the spring of 2017 and was open to female students across a variety of studies.
The Homecoming Scholars Award Program, announced after Beyoncé’s Coachella performance, named four universities and extended the program to all qualifying students at the universities, regardless of gender.
All qualifying applicants submitted a 1,000-word essay about one African or African-American thought leader in their field who has inspired them to achieve their goals (educational, professional, and/or community-driven). The essay included how they plan to contribute to history through their own life’s work. All finalists and the eight recipients were selected by committees from the colleges and universities.
The Homecoming Scholars for 2018-2019 are:
ALLANA J. BAREFIELD
Xavier UniversityERIN EVANS
Wilberforce UniversityCALEB WASHINGTON
Tuskegee UniversityDEMETRIUS WEAVER
Bethune-Cookman UniversityJORDAN DAVIS
Texas Southern UniversityDARTISHA MOSLEY
Fisk UniversityCLETUS EMOKPAE
Grambling State UniversityKAMERON WILLIS
Morehouse CollegeABOUT BeyGOOD
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Atlanta area artists are invited out Wed, July 25, 2018 from 6 to 10 PM EDT to show their skills. The Drink and Doodle Volume 52 event will be held in the ABV Agency and Gallery located at 659 Auburn Ave., Atlanta, GA 30312.
At the event, 12 artists will create new work that goes up for silent auction throughout the night, pieces will go to the highest bidder at the end of the night.
Here’s the rundown on what to expect:
-12 Atlanta based Artists gather at 1 long table inside the gallery and create work live.
-Work is framed and goes up for sale via a silent auction.
-The sold artwork is taken by collectors at the end of the event.
-Complimentary Music, Beverages, and Good Vibes are Provided by ABV Gallery.
-Free and open to the Public!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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The red-hot Atlanta Dream did it again this weekend, winning their seventh consecutive game. The city’s WNBA team is the league’s hottest team, improving their record to 15-9.
The latest win on Sunday came at the expense of the Seattle Storm, who the Dream whipped 87-74 in front of thousands of fans at McCamish Pavilion in Midtown Atlanta.
See Tiffany Hayes buzzer beater
Elizabeth Williams scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Tiffany Hayes and Angel McCoughtry each scored 15 points for the Dream.
Seattle was led by Breanna Stewart who scored a game-high 31 points and eight rebounds for Seattle. The game also marked the 500th game (a new WNBA-record) for Sue Bird, who knocked down four 3-pointers for 12 points.
Atlanta heads to L.A. on Tuesday to take on the Sparks.
Source: AtlantaFi
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A new restaurant is coming to Sandy Springs in the Modera mixed-use development. Casi Cielo: a chef-driven, upscale-casual dining eatery is set to open its doors in August.
Casi Cielo comes to us from the same people who brought metro Atlanta the venerable La Parrilla Mexican Restaurant. This time, the purveyors, La Cosecha Group, will serve locales tasty dishes featuring artisanal Oaxacan cuisine.
Casi Cielo restaurant coming to Sandy Springs
The 135-seat restaurant will include a patio and full bar with over 50 types of Mezcals – the largest collection in Atlanta. Not only will patrons have premium cocktails at their call, but they will also have a generous selection of wines from Spanish-speaking countries including Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, Mexico and Chile, just a cork pop away.
The eatery will also feature water infused daily with fruits and herbs via a SonicPrep Ultrasonic Homogenizer machine, from which low-heat sound waves create a smooth infusion of flavors and aromas.
Casi Cielo will also serve as the U.S. debut of Executive Chef Juan Ruiz, who earned his kitchen stripes from the maternal side of his family in his native Bogota, Colombia. His culinary expertise includes stints in the esteemed kitchens of Palacio de Congresos El Kursaal (three Michelin Stars; Barcelona, Spain), Hotel Finca Lérida (one Michelin Star; at the base of Volcán Barú in Panama), and many other elite restaurants.
“Everything served at the restaurant is designed to stimulate the senses and entice the palate. We respect the ingredients, history and traditions of Mexican cuisine and pride ourselves in doing things the right way- no shortcuts,” Ruiz said in a written statement.
Casi Cielo is located at 6125 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30328, where it will serve lunch and dinner Monday – Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday / Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.
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 is the No. 2 city in the nation when it comes to people finding work in the “gig economy,” according to a new report. All you have to do is look around you to see the many Uber, Lyft and Grubhub drivers on the streets and we see the freelance market is alive and well in the ATL.
The report from FitSmallBusiness.com looked at 20 cities in the United States and pulled info from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Brookings Institute to determine the best cities for gig economy jobs.
THESE ARE THE TOP 15 CITIES FOR GIG ECONOMY JOBS:
1) San Francisco
2) Atlanta
3) Los Angeles
4) Boston
5) Washington D.C.
6) Dallas
7) San Jose
8) San Diego
9) Miami
10) Phoenix
11) Minneapolis
12) Nashville
13) Denver
14) Chicago
15) PortlandFitSmallBusiness.com chose the following metrics to rank the cities:
Per Capita Revenue – 33%
Average Rent Costs – 33%
Growth of the Gig Economy – 33%
Qualitative Considerations (high-speed internet and shared workspace) – tie-breaker for similarly scored cities“Certain cities have the magic ingredients to make it easier to be successful as a freelancer,” says Eric Noe, Editor-in-Chief, FitSmallBusiness.com. “Affordable rent, low overall cost of living and helpful resources for non-traditional workers all factor in, and our research clearly suggests that gig economies are strongest in metro areas where there’s a bigger demand for task services.”
It must be said that many workers aren’t joining the gig economy as a substitute for full-time employment. No, statistics show that workers are taking on temporary or freelance positions to earn extra money.
Indeed, earning extra income online has become one of the biggest things in the job market over the past 10 years.
Employers are become more open to gig workers because they help keep costs down: Typically contract workers don’t require insurance, a certainly not a 401(k) and other benefits.
Still, if you’re serious about working in the gig economy, there are some things you’re going to need:
- A car
- A computer
- A smartphone
Without all three, which incidentally are what you need for a full-time on-site job, your chances of working decrease exponentially.
But there are things you can do to sweeten your position in the job market. In the meantime, look for side jobs that work for you.
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: Best work from home jobs in Atlanta, Georgia
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As Atlanta continues to forge a way into the future, the only way it can succeed is to learn from its past. That notion is front and center for Beltline visitors in a new exhibit that shows photos of the area’s history on select trails.
Art on the Atlanta BeltLine is hosting the photo exhibition “Atlanta and the Civil Rights Movement, 1944-1968,” curated by historian and author Karcheik Sims-Alvarado, Ph.D.
An opening ceremony was held on July 7 on the Westside Trail across from Gordon White Park.
The photography is sourced from Dr. Sims-Alvarado’s book Images of America: Atlanta and the Civil Rights Movement, 1944-1968 (Arcadia Publishing, 2017).
“The photographs tell a beautiful narrative of the struggle, fortitude, and organizational strength of a people determined to eradicate Jim Crow segregation once and for all,” Sims-Alvarado said in a press release.
“Atlanta and the Civil Rights Movement, 1944-1968” will be presented across four miles of the Eastside and Westside Trails, making it the longest outdoor exhibition on civil and human rights in the United States.
“Honoring the nation’s civil rights leadership right here on the Atlanta BeltLine is so fitting considering that many of the movement’s leaders lived in BeltLine neighborhoods,” said Brian P. McGowan, President and CEO of the Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “We are committed to using our public art program to celebrate and highlight the history and unique culture of our neighborhoods – it is this culture that makes Atlanta great.”
Dr. Karcheik Sims-Alvarado is the CEO of Preserve Black Atlanta, a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to identifying, recording, and preserving African-American history and culture.
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.