Category: Atlanta

If you’ve been in your home for a while, you may be considering renovating a small or large part of it.

The truth is that there are some good renovations and some bad ones.

A bad renovation would be installing a pool in a flood zone. You understand? Thankfully, there are some good renovations that can really boost your home’s value.

5 Of The Best Home Renovations You Can Make

This article will tell about some of the best home renovations you can make. These renovations come from Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.

If you’re putting in manufactured stone veneer, you could get just about all of your money back. For other projects, your return will be in the 60-70% range.

Check out the whole list from Remodeling Magazine.

Some other ways you can improve the resale value of your home are to do some do-it-yourself projects that don’t take much time and money.

Here are some DIY projects that will improve your home:

• Try some lawn landscaping
• Update your bathroom fixtures
• Update your kitchen fixtures

If you’re still looking for other DIY ideas, look for more Atlantafi.com articles.

Georgia’s most notorious body of water continues to live up to its reputation this year. Another man has died on Lake Lanier, according to state officials.

The unfortunate accident happened early Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, after a man disappeared after jumping off a jet ski into Lake Lanier, according to Hall County officials. The man’s girlfriend said he jumped off to swim back to shore but never re-emerged after plunging into the water.

Rescue workers with Gwinnett County Fire, Hall County Fire, and volunteer drivers looked for him on Saturday and we’re joined by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (workers on Sunday, but they all came up empty.

The body of Walter Guardado, 37, was retrieved from the waters on Monday afternoon, state officials confirmed.

Guardado was a father of two children, according to media reports.

Final Word

Read about the history of Lake Lanier.

Today, Lake Lanier covers the area where Oscarville and several other communities once stood. Although the town itself is now submerged, efforts have been made to preserve and commemorate its history, including the establishment of the Oscarville Historic District, which recognizes the significance of the town and its impact on the local area.

The union and unfortunate breakup of movie star and recording artist Tyrese Gibson and Samantha Lee has become an Atlanta story pulled from the tabloids and social media.

Gibson, who is an Atlanta celebrity only part-time (he spends the winters in Los Angeles), knows a thing or two about heartache as an R&B crooner.

Tyrese and Samantha: A Match Made In Georgia

This article will explore all we know about Tyrese and Samantha’s relationship. While the couple reportedly met through a mutual friend, what we now about their marriage is that it was short-lived.

Lee filed for divorce from Gibson, a six-time Grammy nominee, in September 2020 in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gibson has gone on record as saying that he has no idea why his wife left him. In various interviews, he details that his wife told him that she was exiting the marriage when he flew home from shooting a video in New Jersey. They had a confrontation outside his Atlanta mansion.

A few years ago, Gibson moved into a French Chateau–style mansion complete with a Bumblebee replica in the main room. The home has been a writing incubator for his many love songs and film projects since that time.

Inside Tyrese Gibson's Atlanta mansion. https://t.co/0lUPspN89m pic.twitter.com/8FeXypBXRC

— ATLHAPS (@atlhaps) October 20, 2023

Who Is Tyrese Gibson?

Tyrese Gibson is an American actor and R&B singer best known for his hits “Sweet Lady” and “How You Gonna Act Like That.”

To Generation Z fans, he’s likely most known for his role in the Fast & Furious films, as well as his appearances in the Transformers movies.

Gibson came to fame after appearing in a Coca-Cola commercial in 1994. He was 16 years old and was two hours late for the audition, but he nailed it. Looking back on it, he sees it as divine providence.

“After I did the Coke commercial, and I was singing on the bus, that confirmed that maybe this singing thing is for me. I had to figure out what God had in mind,” he said in the R&B Money podcast.

From that point, he launched a music career and produced several albums.

In 2007, Gibson married Norma Mitchell. In 2009, with the marriage on the outs, the couple began a five-year custody battle.

At some point, and it is not clear when, he met Samantha through a mutual friend and moved from Los Angeles to Atlanta.

Who Is Samantha Lee?

Samantha Lee, aka, Samantha Schwalenberg, is a clinical social worker who graduated from the University of Georgia and settled in Athens after getting her master’s degree in psychology in 2012.

In addition to an accomplished career in academia, Samantha, who is originally from New Jersey, also participated in the Miss Latin UGA pageant while in school.

In 2014, Samantha also earned a bartending certificate, which means she’s a mixologist as well. Can you say, “well rounded?”

At some point, Samantha began working for the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services. and spending her time posting social media videos about social topics affecting children.

Gibson said that when he met Samantha sat the time she was a “simple” person whom Gibson met in a “$12 sun dress,” he said.

When Did Tyrese And Samantha Get Married?

Tyrese and Samantha got married on Valentine’s Day in 2017. The singer announced his wedding on Instagram with the following caption:

“We’re so grateful and humbled by your outpouring of love! We appreciate all of the prayers and well wishes…. Life’s a trip…. Cause sometimes when you pray you get #exactly what your heart desires…….I got #MyBlackQueen I didn’t just marry her I married my daughters new example.”

The message was met with jeers from a lot of Gibson’s fans, who had an issue with him calling her his “Black Queen” when in fact Samantha is of Afro Latina heritage.

Why Did Tyrese and Samantha Get Divorced?

Gibson has said that he was stunned when his wife asked for a divorce and he still is unclear about exactly what he did to make her leave.

In a video about the incident, he says that Samantha displayed “narcissistic sociopathic behavior,” when they met with each other outside his suburban Atlanta mansion after he arrived from New Jersey after a video shoot.

“I said, ‘Alright, babe. Let’s go home,’ and she said, ‘I’m not coming home. I don’t live there anymore’,” Tyrese recounted. “She said, ‘I took all my stuff out of the house.'” When he asked her where she put her belongings, she told him, “That doesn’t matter,” and took the baby.

He has continued to share that he feels bamboozled by Samantha and feels that she faked much of her persona in their early days.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TYRESE (@tyrese)

Since the divorce, Samantha has been very vocal on social media about relationship issues, including flaws in both men and women.

Meanwhile, Gibson has moved on with a new love of his life, a woman who goes by the name Zelie Timothy on Instagram, where she is an influencer and model. Gibson said that he hopes to marry Zelie soon.

How Long Has Tyrese Been With Zelie?

Gibson has been with Zelie for more than two years now. The couple went public with their relationship in March 2021.

Gibson and Zelie had a viral moment in 2022 when she said in a video that when they met it was not love at first sight.

“He wasn’t my type at all,” she said laughingly. “My type is Paul Walker,” as Tyrese looked shocked and said, “Don’t touch me.”

“Even when I met him, I was like, ‘Eh, he’s kinda old.’ I just like his smile,” Zelie said, with Tyrese looking on. “His personality was OK, but he didn’t understand the Instagram model thing. He would always talk down on Instagram models.”

Inside The Tyrese-Samantha Divorce

Despite having an ironclad pre-nuptial agreement, Gibson has said that Samantha has hired three attorneys in an attempt to breach the accord and get millions of his dollars.

He has also said that he has spent nearly $1 million in court fees on the divorce proceedings already — of course, that’s his side.

On the other side, Samantha hasn’t said much about the divorce — until recently.

Samantha Opens Up About Divorce From Tyrese

In a podcast, she admits that, “If I had different people in my ear, I would not have made that decision. No,” she said.

While falling just short of regret, it’s clear that Samantha feels like she didn’t have the support from her circle that she needed to remain in a good head space during the pandemic.

“Because you don’t have a certain person in your life to check you to say, ‘Sis, what about these strengths? What about what he’s not doing?’ Those types of things. That can get you thinking about the positive aspects of this person, that you may not be thinking about when you’re upset.”

Final Word

Gibson has been going to the legal system quite often of late. In August 2023, he filed a $450 million lawsuit against Home Depot alleging racial discrimination during an incident that took place in its Buckhead store.

The incident happened when Gibson’s two workers were disrespected by a Home Depot employee. “I tried to get them to fix it over the phone … We tried to handle everything privately off the record. They showed no respect with the lawyers … so, yeah, it’s that,” he said.

The Tyrese-Samantha divorce drags on, but the singer is determined to protect his reputation and his money. He also has released a pretty good R&B album to channel his pain.

If you like to have a good time on the dance floor or while listening to music, Atlanta has something for everyone. Check out the top live music venues around the city as well as best comedy clubs.

A new Atlanta restaurant just opened in Buckhead, Tulum Kitchen and Bar. The eatery describes itself as a “Mexican resort-style” restaurant. And judging from the menu, it looks like this could be one of the best Mexican restaurants in Atlanta.

What’s On the Menu At Tulum Kitchen & Bar?

On the Tulum menu, you’ll find such delectable dishes as Empanadillas De Birria / Pan Seared Birria Beef Dumplings, Salnon A La Plancha/Pan Seared Salmon served over crisp baccala-potato cake, brussel sprout hash & citrus coconut cream

On the beverage menu, check out the Baschata Mystika ft. Herradura Silver, which is a margarita with mint, avocado, smoked jalapeno & flavorful cilantro salt.

You can also try the Crimson Cenote and the Zoma, which is their take on the strawberry margarita with lime.

What Are The Hours At Tulum Kitchen & Bar?

• Tuesday | 5PM to 2AM (Kitchen closes at 1AM)
• Wednesday & Thursday | 5PM to 1AM (Kitchen closes at 12AM)
• Friday | 5PM to 2AM (Kitchen closes at 1AM)
• Saturday | 1PM to 2AM (Kitchen closes at 1AM)
• Sunday | 1PM to 12AM (Kitchen closes at 11PM)

Where Is Tulum Kitchen & Bar Located?

Tulum Kitchen and bar is located at 3167 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, Ga. 30305. Here is a map to help you find it.

Final Bite

If you want to check out some other food spots in the area, here are the best restaurants in Buckhead. Or you might like to read our Buckhead Steak Guide to find all the best eateries offering mouth-watering prime cuts.

The iconic Krispy Kreme in Midtown Atlanta is set to open on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, the company has announced.

Update: The Ponce Krispy Kreme has reopened.

Krispy Kreme In Midtown: I’m Baaaaackkk

When Is The Ponce Krispy Kreme Reopening?

Final Word

The Georgia Bulldogs beat the Auburn Tigers 27-20 on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Although the Dawgs’ offense didn’t produce much, Coach Kirby Smart relied on a stout second-half defense to lock in the win.

If you watch the Georgia Bulldogs, you’ll see a college football team trying to live up to its #1 ranking.

Georgia Gets Another Scare

Georgia continues to play just well enough to win the close games. After falling behind 14-3 to South Carolina last week, the Dawgs again played from behind early.

“We’re not going to get where we want to go if we don’t get better,” Smart said in postgame comments. “That’s the biggest thing.”

Georgia’s Run Defense Falters

Georgia’s normally stout front seven had trouble with Auburn’s offensive line, which opened up some huge lanes.

The Bulldogs gave up 219 yards on the ground, the most ever in Smart’s UGA tenure. Smart said he understood critics’ take on his defense, but he said that what they produced is par for the league today.

“I don’t think people respect playing on the road in the SEC as much as I do,” Smart was quoted as saying. “Being an SEC player, a veteran of this league, it is really, really hard to win on the road.”

Bowers Comes Up Big

Although Georgia could get little else going on the offensive end, they had all they needed in tight end Brock Bowers. He finished with four catches for 121 yards, including some major third downs.

Auburn Coach Hugh Freeze had nothing but praise for the Tigers, who jumped out to a 10-0 lead, but were slowed down in a big way after the first three quarters.

“I’m really proud of our kids, but it hurts in there right now,” Freeze said after the game. “And that’s good to see. It hurts. It hurts those kids and our coaches, and our fans I’m sure, too. You have a chance to beat the No. 1 team in the country — back-to-back national champions — at home. The feeling that you get if you can pull that off is just ecstatic.”

Final Play

With the win, the Bulldogs add a significant notch in its belt since many have said that Georgia’s schedule is not as strong as other contenders.

The Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) remained unbeaten in the SEC and still stake their claim to No. 1.