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A visibly exhausted Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms established a curfew for Atlanta one day after violent protests and looting erupted in the city.
Bottoms put the measures in place after protesters vandalized several buildings in downtown Atlanta, including CNN Center, where the restaurant McCormicks & Schmicks is located.
Protesters gathered downtown to draw attention to the violent death of George Floyd, who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. The incident was caught on camera and has ignited protests throughout the nation.
In Atlanta, a protest that was advertised as a peaceful movement that would observe social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic turned chaotic as night fell.
What Are The Atlanta Curfew Hours?
The mayor of Atlanta signed an Executive Order for a citywide curfew from 9 p.m. to sunrise the next morning.
A couple of demonstrators jumped on a police car and as officers pulled away, the vehicle was set afire and engulfed in flames moments later.
In one tense moment, an officer was seen shoving a bike onto a woman, which was quickly exposed by the crowd.
In a plea for calm, Bottoms evoked billionaire and CNN founder Ted Turner to ask protesters to go home.
“You’re not honoring the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. You’re not protesting anything with bricks in your hand breaking windows in this city,” Bottoms said.
"This is chaos. A protest has purpose. When Dr. King was assassinated we didn't do this to our city," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said. "If you want change in America, go and register to vote." https://t.co/1M9DJg6CSz pic.twitter.com/74p8sryX0D
— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) May 30, 2020
She also brought out rapper T.I. and Killer Mike, who both told protesters to keep the peace and resist the urge to turn violent.
Rapper Killer Mike delivers an impassioned plea to protesters in Atlanta to strategise, organise, mobilise, and hold their politicians to account, after clashes with police over the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minneapolishttps://t.co/FsiLiw0F1a pic.twitter.com/VZ4oAEPhd5
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 30, 2020
“If you sit in your homes tonight instead of burning your homes to the ground, you will have time to properly plot, plan, strategize, organize znd mobilize in an effective way.”
But after those speeches, small fires broke out across the street from CNN Center at Centennial Olympic Park.
As news cameras kept pace with the demonstrators, the crowds started to die down. SWAT team police began to mobilize as well to move people back toward the park.
But unbeknownst to the authorities, the protesters began to make their way to Buckhead, the richest area of the city. They would descend on the Lenox Square area, choosing to break into Phipps Plaza across the street.
Social media video showed people running up to the glass doors, looking to breach them.
Lenox Mall in Buckhead (Atlanta) right now pic.twitter.com/9wos4pwneX
— Scott Stewart (@StewStewart) May 30, 2020
Protesters also showed up in the Lindbergh area, vandalizing the Target there and looting items from the store.
UPDATE: Looters have damaged a Target in #Buckhead and another in the Lindbergh area. In addition, windows were broken at an AT&T store near Lenox Square Mall: https://t.co/KIp3i5LG43 #AtlantaProtest #AtlantaRiot pic.twitter.com/nFo0HDTpgU
— AJC (@ajc) May 30, 2020
Meanwhile, in Phipps Plaza, looters commandeered a vehicle inside the mall and were able to break into several upscale stores, including Gucci and Dior.
They going crazy in Lenox mall I’m Gucci lol 😂 pic.twitter.com/lBaJpu7l9k
— Phil B. (@Arnaz_X) May 30, 2020
As a result, Bottoms instituted a curfew, saying Saturday afternoon that the protests — which she knows quite a lot about as a native Atlantan — were different this time around.
“When I saw the people out today cleaning up our city and our crew were out there, that felt like Atlanta to me,” she said. “This shouldn’t have been about police cars burning… this is about lives being lost.”
Update on protests in downtown Atlanta https://t.co/51k63pwAcc
— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) May 30, 2020
“What it felt like to me today was we are the city that cities across this country only wish that they could be, which is why last night I said we are better than this as a city and we’re better than this as a country,” she said.
What started out as a peaceful demonstration, quickly turned into mayhem and unnecessary destruction, and ultimately an assault on businesses that are already struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bottoms remarked.
“This was a highly calculated terrorist organization,” Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields pointedly said, noting that many of the protesters were out-of-towners.
In Gwinnett County at Sugar Mills Mall, throngs of protesters emerged as authorities met them with a show of force on a beautiful Saturday.
@wsbtv @11AliveNews Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville right now! Please use your platform to bring Gwinnett PD aggression to light! #riot #gwinnett #BLACK_LIVES_MATTER #protest #georgesfloyd pic.twitter.com/OVuSrQmdzi
— ciara dubose (@ciaratheedoll) May 30, 2020
Meanwhile, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp ordered 1,500 National Guard troops to protect the city’s structures and monuments as tensions continued to rise for a second night.
Late Saturday disturbing video emerged from downtown Atlanta, which saw officers bust the windows out of a vehicle, pulled the passenger out and tase the driver.
The occupants of the vehicle were later identified as a Spelman and Morehouse student.
this is so wrong.. they’re pigs pic.twitter.com/aWebYvhMy2
— 𝑙𝑜𝑔₁₃🧸⁷ (@chimdesires) May 31, 2020
On Sunday, demonstrators took to the streets for a third straight day after more damage to buildings the night before.
#HBCUs4BlackLives rally from Cleophus R. Johnson Park to downtown Atlanta. @ajc pic.twitter.com/UTvDxQ68BB
— Adrianne Murchison (@Adriannemarie19) May 31, 2020
On Sunday, May 31, Bottom announced that the officers involved in the tasing of a Spelman and Morehouse student were fired from the force.
Hours later, one of the officers involved emerged on social media, explaining how he actually showed “compassion” for the driver, who he said he helped to safety.
.@KeishaBottoms who exactly did you fire? Officer A. Jones is literally over here justifying his actions and the actions of the other cops who attacked Messiah and Taniyah. Why is this officer in duty the next day? Why is this man still with a job? pic.twitter.com/ihEBBVoIU6
— Eyerusalem (@_eyerusalem) May 31, 2020
The officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes is at this moment facing third-degree murder charges.
Protesters and many people around the nation are agitating for the other three officers to be charged in Floyd’s death as well.
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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Delta Air Lines says its workforce will slim down significantly amid the coronavirus pandemic
No industry has been as impacted by the pandemic as has the travel industry and Delta, the top U.S. airline is not immune.
Delta Announces Voluntary Separations For Employees Amid COVID-19
The Atlanta-based company said in a memo obtained by CNN that a”smaller Delta unfortunately means fewer people will be required.”
Delta told it workers that it will proceed with two voluntary exit programs for its more than 90,000 employees.
Meanwhile, Delta is adding some flights in June as customer demand has lifted slightly.
“While the June schedule is significantly reduced in comparison to last year, customers will see the return of several major routes, both U.S. domestic and international, which were previously suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Delta said in a blog post.
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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If you’re an LA Fitness nut like me, you know that one is never too far away no matter where you are in Atlanta. I wanted to show you where all the LA Fitness locations were in Atlanta.
In Atlanta, LA Fitness has taken over many of the Bally Fitness locations, thus giving it a huge advantage over other fitness centers.
Here Are LA Fitness Locations In Atlanta
Ansley Mall
1544 Piedmont Ave NE Suite 115 Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 249-6463
View this post on InstagramAkers Mill
2995 Cobb Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339
(770) 956-9093View this post on InstagramAtlanta-Peachtree Road
3535 Peachtree Road NE Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 389-1143View this post on InstagramAtlantic Station
261 19th St. Suite 1140 Atlanta, GA 30363
(404) 810-9015View this post on InstagramLenox/Buckhead
3232 Peachtree Road NW, #A Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 233-8311
View this post on InstagramBrookhaven
755 Brookhaven Ave Atlanta, GA 30319
(678) 280-8844View this post on InstagramCamp Creek
3755 Carmia Dr. SW, Suite 700 Atlanta, GA 30331
(404) 344-1248View this post on InstagramCollege Park
6385 Old National Highway Atlanta, GA 30349
(678) 304-2444View this post on InstagramMidtown
75 Fifth Street NW Suite E Atlanta, GA 30308
(404) 212-1065View this post on InstagramToco Hills
2880 N. Druid Hill Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 321-2330View this post on InstagramHow Much Does It Cost To Join LA Fitness In Atlanta?
The exact cost of membership at LA Fitness varies slightly depending on whether you have signed up under a special or not. I have a Multi-Club and multi-state membership that costs $29.99 a month.
The $29.99 membership allows you to go to multiple LA Fitnesses in your city and across the nation.
For $26.99 a month, you can get membership to a single LA Fitness.
I had to pay a $99 initiation fee for that though. For single club access, you can get a membership for about $25 a month.
History
The reason is because, if you’re like me, you need to know where you can workout, train or just play basketball around the city.
What would become LA Fitness was first named Rainbow Nautilus. It was founded by Chin Yi and Lisa Maria Novins in 1983. In Covina, just outside Los Angeles, California, the name change stuck and LA Fitness took off.
If you’re looking for a gym that has it all, LA Fitness is it!
How To Cancel An LA Fitness Membership
If you want to cancel your LA Fitness membership, it’s not as easy as it could be. There is no button on their website that allows you to cancel.
Instead, you have three ways you can cancel your LA Fitness membership:
- You have to write a cancellation letter to the corporate headquarters at PO Box 54170, Irvine, CA 92619-4170
- You can also call LA Fitness and tell their customer service representative that you would like to cance. The number is
- Finally, you can print a cancellation form online. from the LA Fitness site. Once you log on at My LA Fitness, click on Account Information tab and then click on the “Cancellation Form” option on the right side of the screen. Once you have the form, you can deliver the notice to the operations manager at your local LA Fitness facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Pro tip: If you mail the notice by certified mail and keep a record for your files. Also, make sure your cancellation is postmarked at least five business days before your next billing date to avoid being billed.
See more articles from AtlantaFi.com:
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The color of your skin can dictate where you live in America, according to findings from the Pew Center for Research.
In Atlanta, like many other areas, you can’t help but notice some areas are heavily populated by one race, even though its features are similar to other areas of town.
Over the past 30-plus years, residential segregation by income has skyrocketed nationwide, the Pew Center said in an analysis on the top. The issue is especially pronounced in 27 of the nation’s 30 largest major metropolitan areas.
The institution analyzed housing patterns and incomes in large metropolitan areas to arrive at the figures. Atlanta makes the top 10 on the list.
Here Are The Top 10 Most Racially Segregated Metro Areas In America
The study concludes that housing patterns are largely shaped by income inequality. which has led to fewer neighborhoods of mixed income or middle class.
The study said key differences separated the cities on the list. For instance, the study noted:
“For example, 41% of the lower-income households in the New York metropolitan area are situated in a majority lower-income census tract, compared with 26% of the lower-income households in the Atlanta area.”
To quantify the cities, the Pew Center devised a single Residential Income Segregation Index (RISI) score for each of the nation’s top 30 metropolitan areas.
Atlanta had a 41 RISI score among the nation’s 10 largest metro areas, which was on the lower end. Houston (61) and Dallas (60) have the highest RISI scores, followed closely by New York (57). At the other end of the scale, Boston (36) and Chicago (41).
Other studies indicate that residential segregation is a key metric in health disparities across the country.
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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If you need a pick me up, the Bible is without question the most inspiring book ever written. Not only does it contain tons of encouraging Scriptures but it is the Word of God.
If you want to feel close to Him and motivate yourself at the same time, here are some of the most encouraging Scriptures in the Bible.
5 Encouraging Bible Verses You Need To Read Right Now
Let’s start off with several translations so you can get different flavors.
Romans 8:31–32
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” — New International Version
Psalms 103:14
“He certainly knows what we are made of. He bears in mind that we are dust.” — God’s World Translation
1 Corinthians 10:12–14
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” — King James Version
Psalms 34:18
“Jehovah is close to the brokenhearted; He saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — New World Translation
Psalms 23:1-4
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” — New International Version
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms this week introduced Atlanta’s Path to Reopening, a five-phase plan that lays out the city’s safety protocols to operate amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Here Is Atlanta’s 5-Phase Reopening Plan
- Phase 1: Stay At Home
- Phase 2: Easing
- Phase 3: Maintain
- Phase 4: Recovery
- Phase 5: “New Normal”
Bottoms stressed that Atlanta’s reopening plan is based on metrics rather than “arbitrary dates.” if COVID-19 cases start to surge and area hospitals get stained, the city will shift to its Stay at Home Phase (1).
See The 5-Phase Plan For Reopening Atlanta Online Here
The mayor made it clear that Phase 2 does not include reopening the City or City Hall, according to a news release.
The City also created a COVID-19 Atlanta Reopening Dashboard that allows the public to view gateway metrics the City is tracking to progress to Phase 2.
Here is the Atlanta COVID-19 Reopening Dashboard
Bottoms has been a vocal critics of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s re-opening of the state, which took place more than three weeks ago.
“My big concern is as it gets warmer & warmer in Georgia…we will see fewer people with masks on. This is going to be the time that we really give a good look at our numbers & what impact our aggressive reopening has on our positive cases in the state.”she recently told MSNBC News.
"My big concern is as it gets warmer & warmer in Georgia…we will see fewer people with masks on. This is going to be the time that we really give a good look at our numbers & what impact our aggressive reopening has on our positive cases in the state." – Mayor @KeishaBottoms pic.twitter.com/c9Unu9PG74
— City of Atlanta, GA (@CityofAtlanta) May 18, 2020
Bottoms also has admitted that COVID-19 cases have not seemed to show any effects on Georgia’s reopening as of yet, but of course the nature of the virus is well known.“Things are not as bad as I thought yet and I am very hopeful that they continue that way, but as we know, with COVID-19 there is often a lag in infections and when people begin to actually show symptoms and get sick,” she told CNN.Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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Atlanta movie mogul Tyler Perry is moving quickly to reopen his production studio, which like the rest of the world, has been shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic. He released released a reopening plan for Tyler Perry Studios operations, according to The Hollywood Reporter (THR).
The 60-page document, obtained and published by THR, outlines in meticulous steps all the health measures that crew, actors, extras and support staff need to do to reduce the possibility of getting infected with COVID-19.
The document says that Tyler Perry Studios will have a number of medical consultants at their disposal, including Atlanta physician and CNN personality Dr. Sanjay Gupta, among others.
Here are some of the health protocols that Tyler Perry Studios will have in place when shooting begins in June 2020.
- Before Travel To Atlanta: Cast will be tested using PCR/Nasal-Lab Testing (97% accuracy test) in their hometown and asked to self-isolate for the remaining time
before their travel date. - Arrival in Atlanta: Upon arrival in Atlanta, Cast will proceed to the awaiting People Mover Shuttles (25 seaters – however – maximum of 10 people per van). Social distancing and face mask guidelines will continue to be required. Drivers will be tested prior to pick up.
The guidelines are all part of a “Quarantine Bubble,” a term defined in the document as the ongoing operation of sanitizing studio operations and making sure people are safe.
It also lay out protocols if someone is sick.
If someone on set tests positive or has a fever above 100.4 they are immediately removed from the premises for “medical consult.”
Here’s a video of the whole experience that Perry shared:
Perry is eager to resume shooting to satisfy his contract with BET and their streaming service BET Plus. Like most Georgia businesses, he is taking a cautious approach to reopening during the pandemic.
Last fall, Perry’s Atlanta studio was celebrated across the nation in an epic debut that attracted A list celebrities.
Here’s what Perry posted about wrapping filming and production of Sistas in the quarantine bubble.
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
- Before Travel To Atlanta: Cast will be tested using PCR/Nasal-Lab Testing (97% accuracy test) in their hometown and asked to self-isolate for the remaining time
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Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says that Georgia’s largest city is close to lifting restrictions based on statistical data pegged to the deaths and infections from the coronavirus pandemic.
Lance Bottoms has been a vocal critics of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s re-opening of the state, which took place more than three weeks ago.
“Right now, based on our analysis of the data that we have from the state we are on a 10-day decline,” she told CNN. “We need four more days to be on that 14-day decline that we have been awaiting.”
“Things are not as bad as I thought yet and I am very hopeful that they continue that way, but as we know, with COVID-19 there is often a lag in infections and when people begin to actually show symptoms and get sick.”
Lance Bottoms admits that the COVID-19 case count has surprised her as the numbers seem to have stabilized rather than skyrocketed despite huge crowds at some events.
“Right now it appears that we’re doing better as a state I will keep watching and waiting,” she says.
"It is extremely concerning to see what is happening across the globe. These numbers just remind us that nothing about this virus has changed." – Mayor @KeishaBottoms on @WHO's latest #COVID19 numbers. pic.twitter.com/1uX6AhqhsH
— City of Atlanta, GA (@CityofAtlanta) May 21, 2020
But Georgia is not out of the clear, especially when it comes to controversy.
It was revealed recently that the state’s health department, which keeps an official count of COVID-19 cases and deaths, had some bad numbers in its graphics.
The bar graphs showed a gradual decline in cases, but after further scrutiny, it was learned that the days were put out of order, on at least three occasions.
Atlanta has also become the epicenter of a tug-of-war between the White House and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, which is based here.
The CDC’s quiet release of reopening guidelines has largely been ignored by the nation’s governors.
Georgia Restaurants, Other Business Mixed On Reopening
Some restaurants have refused to re-open, citing that not enough time has passed. And some people have began protesting on city streets.
Despite the flip, Kemp says he’s more worried about his state’s businesses than any flak from others.
“I got some people protesting because I took this step, and I got others protesting me because they think I didn’t go far enough.”
Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency. More definitive advice on health, please visit CDC.gov. Here are some helpful links:
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Ready for a wild time? Zoo Atlanta has re-opened its doors amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Atlanta institution has implemented several sanitation and health protocols to keep visitors safe.
Some safety measures that Zoo Atlanta has instituted include:
- Timed ticketing system
- No cash
- Face masks strongly encouraged (all staff will have them on)
- Rides, playgrounds and Treetop Trail are temporarily closed
- Food and gifts will be sold from outdoor kiosks
- All lines and traffic flow at the zoo will be a one-way experience that reinforces social distancing guidelines at all locations where it is feasible.
- Visuals at some animal habitats will suggest where guests should stand to watch the animals. Pathway guides will be on hand to assist guests and encourage social distancing
Want to know the ins and outs about Atlanta’s zoo? Here are 7 Things To Know About Zoo Atlanta.
Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings.
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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Freaknik is back in Atlanta for 2020, but this time it is being called Freakworld, a three-day event in southwest Atlanta. It was originally planned for the summer but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the date has been moved back.
If you want to go to Freaknik in Atlanta, here’s everything you need to know about it.
Let’s break down all of them so that you know which Freaknik to attend this year:
2nd Annual Freaknik Festival 2020 Presents Freak World
Freakworld 2020 is taking place at the Morris Brown College, 643 M.L.K. Jr Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314.
Price: $17 a dayDate and Time: Friday, September 18, 2020, 1:00 PM to Sunday, September 20, 2020, 11:00 PM ET6 Freakworld Rules
- No re-entry
- No umbrellas
- No professional cameras, personal cameras only. No flash photography, video or removable lens cameras unless granted permission by the venue.
- No coolers and baskets are prohibited (in the case of lawn chairs, these may be rented at the venue.)
- No food and beverages may not be brought in. Concessions are for sale inside.
Learn more about Freakworld 2020 here.
Freaknik Silent Disco Party
Location: Sidebar is located at 79 Poplar St NW in Downtown AtlantaPrice: $20 at the door
Date and Time: Friday, July 10, 2020, 10:00 PM to 11:59 PM ET
Details: Celebrate with your friends? Birthday package includes: 10 Headsets, Cake, 1 Champagne Bottle, VIP Area & 3 DJs ($225.00) TEXT (678) 693-0889 *Blue Channel w/ DJ PSI- Soca, Reggae, Afro Beats *Red Channel w/ DJ Choo The Specializt- 90s, 2000s Hip Hop *Green Channel w/ DJ JD Capp- Trap, New School, Soul Music, Reggae $20 Door/$15 on Eventbrite
Freaknic 2020 In Stone Mountain
Location: 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083Date and Time: Saturday, April 11, 2020, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET
Details: The original Freaknic moves to Stone Mountain. There will be over 20 concert performances, 200 amusement rides and games and a $100,000 giveaway in scholarship money and prizes.
Explore Atlanta At Your Own Pace
First, to find all the good things happening in the city this week, all you have to do is take a look at downtown Atlanta. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are. Downtown Atlanta or Midtown often has something cool going on!
Are you a beer drinker? You also may want to visit to a craft brewery in the city.
Check out these events in Atlanta today and this week and this weekend:
- For a month’s view: The Official Atlanta Events Calendar
- For a more immediate look, check Things to do in Atlanta This Week
