-
Alonzo Herndon, born into slavery in 1858 in rustic Walton County, Georgia, had a dream while many African-Americans were still living a nightmare. A mulatto born of a white man, Frank Herndon, who never acknowledged him, and black slave named Sophenie, Herndon set out after Emancipation to make something of himself.
Many blacks, happy to be free but befuddled about its ramifications, took to staying on their former masters’ properties as hired help since they didn’t know much about business. Herndon tried his hand as a laborer and peddler before moving to Senoia to learn barbering.
His barbering business grew quickly, making Herndon a small fortune. He would soon move to Atlanta, helming three barbershops and counting among his customers many of the city’s elite.
He then turned his attention to real estate and banking, investing in Atlanta’s black community. AS one of America’s first black millionaires, Herndon founded the Atlanta Family Life Insurance Company.
In October 2017, the Georgia Historical Society unveiled a new historical marker as part of the Georgia Civil Rights Trail.
Those on hand for the dedication included ince Dooley, Chairman of the Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators; Dr. Mark Becker, President, Georgia State University; Lonnie C. King, Jr., Atlanta Student Movement veteran; Kwanza Hall, Atlanta City Councilman, District 2; Dr. Sarah Cook, Honors College, Georgia State University; and Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society.
“The epicenter of the civil rights movement was situated in Georgia,” Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society, said, according to a press release. “So it’s appropriate that the Georgia Historical society has created the Georgia Civil Rights Trail as a way to encourage the public to learn more about the vital role that our state and its people played in securing full citizenship for African Americans. It’s a legacy we all share as Georgians. For anytime that one group gains its civil liberties, we all are that much more free.”
“The recognition of this great man is long overdue,” said Lonnie King. “Alonzo Herndon succeeded against all odds and to see him honored by the Georgia Historical Society and the leadership of of Georgia State University is very fitting.”
-
The Atlanta-filmed paranormal series “Stranger Things 3” is going to be available for streaming on July 4, 2019, according to Netflix.
The trailer for the Netflix hit “Stranger Things 3” was released in December 2018, giving us the shock and awe we’ve grown accustomed to with the series. Atlanta has been a central filming location for the epic show, now in its third season.
Shots of Gwinnett Place Mall can be seen in the “Stranger Things 3” trailer, and their are other shots that hometown Atlantans might recognize.
Watch ‘Stranger Things 3’ trailer
If you’re new to the “Stranger Things” realm, unorthodox things have been taking place in little Hawkins, Indiana, which is set in 1984.
For the new season, the producers are going to move things along quite a bit, maturing the storylines as the kids get older. The Duffer Brothers told The Hollywood Reporter this tidbit:
“Our kids are aging. We can only write and produce the show so fast. They’re going to be almost a year older by the time we start shooting season three. It provides certain challenges. You can’t start right after season two ended. It forces you to do a time jump. But what I like is that it makes you evolve the show. It forces the show to evolve and change, because the kids are changing.”
Netflix has scheduled its release in the summer of 2019, the better to enamor young and idle minds out from school.
The series stars the following actors:
- Winona Ryder.
- David Harbour.
- Finn Wolfhard.
- Millie Bobby Brown.
- Gaten Matarazzo.
- Caleb McLaughlin.
- Natalia Dyer.
- Charlie Heaton.
-
Local news anchor Amanda Davis’ impact was felt far beyond metro Atlanta, where she warmly served court among the region’s viewers for nearly 30 years. On Tuesday, many of her colleagues, many of them whom Davis paved the way for, paid tribute to the CBS 46 broadcaster by donning a red outfit.
Read: Amanda Davis hospitalized after massive stroke
Davis, 62, was at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport last week when she suffered a spontaneous massive stroke while waiting for a flight to go to San Antonio.
Davis was about to board a flight to attend the funeral of her stepfather in San Antonio, according to news accounts.
On social media, especially Twitter, newswomen showed up to work in red to call attention to stroke awareness — and Davis’ legacy.
“Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. About 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year. #RedForAmanda #StrokeAwareness,” one Twitter user posted.
Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. About 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year. #RedForAmanda #StrokeAwareness pic.twitter.com/9QnIkn5H45
— Candace S. Coleman (@candacescoleman) January 2, 2018
Wearing #RedforAmanda and #StrokeAwareness in honor of late Atlanta news anchor, Amanda Davis.
*Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
*64% of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. pic.twitter.com/TgLSaq0xq0
— Jazmin Bailey (@JazminMBailey) January 2, 2018
According to CBS46, Davis has been at WAGA-TV for 26 years. “She has received numerous honors and awards during her career, including: RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award, ten Southeast Regional Emmy Awards, Georgia Association of Broadcasters Gabby Award and the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists Pioneer of the Year Award.”
Today is public viewing for @AmandaCBS46 @Cityofatlanta news anchor, who died suddenly of a stroke
Nationwide, black female journalists wearing #RedforAmanda❤&raising #StrokeAwareness
Know @American_Heart signs
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911 pic.twitter.com/SrjcFJHpYl— Beairshelle Edmé (@BeairshelleWNCN) January 2, 2018
A public viewing is set for Tuesday while a funeral will be Wednesday in Cascade.
-
Fresh off the success of his first Netflix venture, “Bright,” actor Will Smith is bringing his next movie to the red clay of Georgia. “Gemini Man” will film in Georgia, according to Project Casting.
The film, which will be directed by Ang Lee, has been around Hollywood for more than a decade in various versions. It is about an assassin who finally meets his match, actually a younger clone of himself.
“Previous drafts were penned by a revolving door of scribes that included Brian Helgeland, Andrew Niccol and David Benioff. Previously, Tony Scott considered directing as well as Curtis Hanson,” according to Deadline.com. “Skydance acquired the project in 2016 with Jerry Bruckheimer attached to produce with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger and Don Murphy and Chad Oman executive producing.”
Smith is coming off the success of “Bright,” an alien-mystical-cop movie that has drawn a mixed reaction from critics, but garnered more than 11 million views in its first week.
“Gemini Man,” which is being produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and executive produced by Don Murphy, is set to hit theaters in October 2019.
Smith is also set to star in Disney’s live-action version of “Aladdin.”
-
When Arthur Blank, the local billionaire and sports team owner, committed to building the $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he also took the challenge of uplifting the downtrodden Westside neighborhood it borders.
Vine City, and parts along English Avenue were well known to ATL residents for being a tough neighborhood as well as a crack den. Many of the residents that could flee have fled, while those still there have had to ride out some tough times, but times, as they do, are a-changing.
Some of the city’s most biggest entities are throwing their weight behind an effort to make sure that people in the community profit from the new stadium and the rich ecosystem it will bring.
Atlanta’s YMCA has moved it, relocating its headquarters to the Westside, according to CBS News. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has already spent $37 million in the area and encouraged other local businesses (like Chick-fil-A) to invest in the Westside.
“And they’re going to employ 80 people from the community at this store,” Frank Fernandez, the AMB Foundation’s community liaison for the Westside project, told CBS.”All of our corporate partners, all 13 of them, have committed to working with us in the Westside and have committed nearly $15 million towards revitalization.”
The newly gained traction is building on the groundwork left by Invest Atlanta, which began cultivating relationships with members of the community in 2012 in a plan to increase development. Five years later, those efforts are paying off.
Atlanta’s redevelopment of downtown has also caught the eye of Amazon, who is eyeing the city as a second world headquarters. As attractive as the city is business-wise, it also has to show companies like Amazon that it is made up of a thriving and strident culture, something that can’t be built with brick and mortar.
“We’ve been on a roll with announcements lately. The heart of Atlanta is bigger than just a site,” Georgia Power CEO Paul Bowers told the AJC.
Blank said that the key is that businesses have to believe in the area.
“They have to buy into it,” he told CBS. “The end of the day, the answer can’t be what we’re imposing on them. We want them to say, ‘these two make sense for us. And these two don’t make sense for us.’ So we’ll do the two that makes sense for them.”
Read more: Atlanta leads among cities for Amazon’s HQ2
-
IKEA, one of the leading home furnishings retailers in the world, will open a second location in the Atlanta-area, this time in Cobb County, the company said Wednesday. The store has signed on to open a store in Marietta on 28 acres on Franklin Gateway.
The $9 million project is being hauled by Marietta officials as the biggest retail development in the city’s history. It is not known yet when the location will open.
“The city has worked very diligently on the redevelopment of the Franklin corridor and ikea would like to be part of that redevelopment,” Jim Anastos, an IKEA real estate manager, told the AJC.
IKEA opened at Atlantic Station in Midtown in 2005, its first imprint in the Southeast.
The city has some good restaurants in each quadrant of the city: East, West, North, South. All you need to do is think about what you have a taste for. Italian? Soul food? Tex-Mex? Atlanta has it all.
For the latest in metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, stay with Atlantafi.com.
-
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” castmember Kim Zolciak recently appeared on the Sunday night show and acted the fool, getting into it with Kenya Moore. The two had to be pulled apart during a spat.
Speaking to E!, Zolciak says she regretted the exchange. “I hate watching the drama unfold with Kenya, just allowing somebody to push by buttons,” she told the TV show.
Zolciak rose to prominence on the show but broke away when she married NFL player Kroy Biermann after meeting her at a charity event in 2010. The couple are raising six kids in a suburban Atlanta mansion.
Biermann is currently a free agent after the Atlanta Falcons didn’t re-sign him in 2016. Meanwhile, Zolciak says she has soured on reality TV — or has she?
“I have not watched Housewives, I have not watched every episode since I left, so I didn’t know that Kenya was the type—I didn’t even know Kenya. I didn’t know she was the type to just push people and push people until they just lose it until Porsha [Williams] explained to me what she’s been through with her. So I didn’t feel as bad that somebody was able to trigger me and get me that pissed off. But that’s behind me. You’ll see through the season that that doesn’t happen again. No matter what I have to do when she’s around me, I do many things to just not even deal with her.”
-
The Best. That’s a food you can find in Atlanta is in various places around the city. There are pork chops on the south side that are hard to beat. Steak in Buckhead is impeccable. Barbecue on the east side is No. 1.
But without a doubt, if you want to find an establishment that pretty much has it all: top-notch service, awesome food, great atmosphere and more, there are some staples that are hard to ignore.
Here are the top eateries in ATL, according to Trip Advisor.
#2 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says: “A wonderful place for fine dining in Atlanta. Having been several times it never disappoints with exceptional service and superior quality steaks. An ample wine list and classy atmosphere make it a perfect location to enjoy fine dining at its best.
Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse
#3 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says: “This place is a lot better that other places with recognized names in town. The service is awesome! I’ve been here a few times and all the time has been great. Even the valet parking guys are very nice! This restaurant can be compared to Fogo di Ciao, but with more options. An unforgettable experience.”
#4 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says “Hands down the best Ethopian food we’ve ever had! Couldn’t decide what we wanted to order, so we went with the Vegetarian Platter and the Original Meat Lovers (we picked salmon, lamb, and filet mignon). Amaaaaazing! Every single bite was delicious!!! Highly recommended.”
#5 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says “Some businesses and companies achieve true greatness: Lexus with cars, Apple with computers. Jaeger LeCoultre with watches. This is one of those places. Truly exceptional. The bone-in filet and porcini-rubbed ribeye were simply first rate – better even than local specialists like Rathbun’s and Bone’s, or out-of-state legends like Peter Luger’s. These folks know what they’re doing. The ambiance and service are first rate as well. Come here when you want the best.”
#6 of 3,293 Restaurants in Atlanta. A reviewer says “I had heard so many good things about this place and was finally able to try it out with a friend on a Friday evening. It did not disappoint. I called on Thursday evening and was able to get a reservation for two on a Friday evening at 6:45 pm. We had on jeans and a nice shirt, but I would probably recommend at least khakis and a nice shirt as a minimum. Make sure you turn on your GPS, because it is a bit strange to find. But, we arrived on time and were promptly seated. The place is very rustic chic, but gorgeous and inviting. We were seated right by a window, but unfortunately, it was dark out, so we could not take in the spectacular views. We started with some Pino Noir and the fried oysters (special) and kangaroo as appetizers. Both were simply amazing. I had never tried kangaroo and I absolutely loved it. Also, they bring several bread options to the table and you have as much as you want. The sourdough was my favorite. For dinner, I had the swordfish, which was delicious. My friend had the monk fish, which was a special. His was delicious, as well. For dessert, I had the popcorn ice cream sundae with cracker jacks. It was beyond amazing and quite a sizable portion. My friend had the chocolate grotto, which was great, as well. The service was spot on the prices were reasonable. I would recommend this place for an intimate dinner or small group. Additionally, they have a small party room that would be great for a higher end work or personal function. This is now truly one of my favorite places in Atlanta and I plan on coming back, soon.”
Got any other top eats? Let us know in the comments
-
The Atlanta Dream women’s basketball team has a new coach courtside: Nicki Collen, who hopes to reverse the recent fortunes of the city’s WNBA franchise.
Colleen most recently was an assistant coach with the Connecticut Sun, where the team posted a 21-13 record under head coach Curt Miller.
After she was hired in October, Collen said ““I am humbled at the opportunity to become the next Head Coach of the Atlanta Dream and incredibly proud to be associated with a league that empowers women in such a positive way,” according to a WNBA press release. “I want to thank owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler, as well as team President Theresa Wenzel for believing in me and what we can accomplish together. I was blown away by their passion and commitment to the Dream and to the city of Atlanta.”
The Dream went 12-22 last season, culminating in the firing of head coach Michael Cooper. Colleen said that she was actually surprised she got the call. “I was shocked at first,” Collen told Atlanta Magazine, “but I was also incredibly humbled. [I was] just living the dream.”
Colleen will get an Atlanta squad stocked with eager talent: Tiffany Hayes, Layshia Clarendon Damiris Dantas, Bria Holmes and Elizabeth Williams all shined at one point or another last season.
Let’s hope they can string together some victories and give Atlanta another winner.
-
CBS 46 news anchor Sharon Reed has been in Atlanta about two years now, and she’s learning that the South is, well, the South. Reed, who spent time at a Cleveland news station before coming to Georgia, was understandably riled up Tuesday night during election coverage.
She doesn’t have a dog in the fight over whether the ATL will be led by conservative Mary Norwood or Democrat Keisha Lance-Bottoms, but a viewer’s email to her, calling her out of her name, set her off.
The viewer, Kathy Rae, who Reed insisted by identified, wrote: “You need to be fired for the race baiting comment you made tonight … it’s O.K. for blacks to discuss certain subjects but not white.”
Then things really went off the rails, when Rae wrote: “Really?? You are what I call a N***r not a black person. You are a racist N***r. You are what’s wrong with the world.”
Understandably taken aback, Reed replied “Number 1, you mischaracterized what I said … I didn’t say that white people couldn’t talk about race, but contrary, we think that race is an authentic discussion to have. It’s one we’re having tonight because it’s one that you are having at home and it’s one that has clearly entered the Atlanta mayor’s race.”
News anchor Sharon Reed responds on air to a viewer who calls her the N-word. This Atlanta Mayoral race has people fiesty tonight. pic.twitter.com/Vgri3oXnGN
— Billy Michael Honor (@BillyMHonor) December 6, 2017
The incident quickly livened up a rainy Tuesday night around the city and was posted on Reddit within hours of the exchange.
Reed said that the TV station wanted to “keep it real,” but she ended by saying that, “I get it: On December 5, 2017, you think it’s OK to call this journalist a nigger. I don’t, but I could clap back and say a few things to you, but I won’t. I’ll let your words spread for themselves — and that’ll be the last word.”
Reed kept her word and didn’t bring the matter up for the remainder of the newscast, but she clearly wasn’t over it. On Facebook page, she put the comment up as her header, showing the world that hey, she’s over it, but don’t come for her. Ever. Again.
