-
If you’re interested in booking a flight out of the busiest airport in the world to get to the beach, one of the things that is no doubt on your mind is your safety.
Many of the nation’s top airlines are starting to book fares close to the levels that they did pre-COVID. But some travelers understandably may be apprehensive.
Is It Safe To Fly Again?
In this article, we’ll show you some of the leading resources on future travel in the pandemic era.
First of all, let’s talk about the most essential equipment you’ll need to pack and wear for you travels: Masks.
Masks
Face masks are mandatory on all planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation in the United States. It doesn’t matter if you’re leaving American or on your way back into the country.
Here’s where you can buy a mask.
What The Science Says
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control & Prevention says if you’re fully vaccinated, you “can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”
As to when we’ll be able to travel safely again in the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is on record as saying that it all depends on the COVID vaccine.
But the vaccine doesn’t automatically mean that we can return to traveling as normal, according to Fauci.
“Getting vaccinated does not say you have a free pass to travel,” Fauci told Forbes. “Nor does it say you have a free pass to put aside all the public health measures that we talk about all the time.”
“You can get some degree of protection that isn’t durable 10 days to 14 days after the first dose, but you can’t rely on that,” Fauci was quoted as saying. “The maximum immunity begins about 10 days to two weeks and beyond following the second dose. That goes for anyone, regardless of whether you want to travel or not.”
What The Travel Industry Says
The travel industry has implemented several safety measures to ensure that passengers feel safe and protected onboard. Some safety measures include:
- Face Coverings: Assurance that all passengers have a face covering and wear it at the airport and on board.
- Symptoms: Assurance that the passenger is not experiencing a fever, which is essentially a temperature (38C/100.4F or higher), coughing, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain and/or sore throat.
- Exposure – Assurance that the passenger has not had close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or had symptoms in the last 14 days.
With health officials overwhelmingly in favor of vaccines, you might be wondering how to go about travel in the next few weeks or months.
What To Do Before You Book A Flight
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
1. Decide On Your Comfort Level
No one can tell you what your comfort level is in this pandemic. It all depends on whatever risks you are willing to take.
Always weigh CDC guidance. Once you decide on an acceptable level of risk to you, then stick to that when choosing when and how to travel.
2. Try To Save Money
There’s absolutely no sense in spending a lot of money on travel if you don’t need to. Try to save money if at all possible.
Some ways you can keep more of your dollars is by checking for fare sales at the major airlines. You can also looks for cheap routes on Google Flights.
3. Make Sure Your Get Vaccinated For Flights
One thing that has been discussed, and supported by many in the airline industry, is a mandatory vaccine.
“Everything will be on the table for discussion,” Fauci has told Forbes, referring to mandatory vaccinations for airline passengers.
If you’re looking for the vaccine near you, here’s how to find it.
Final Thoughts
COVID-19 has upended life as we know for the majority, especially when it comes to travel. You may be wondering what it’s going to take to feel safe traveling by air, car or another means.
The key thing is to do your research before you book.
Also It’s very important that you DO NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, or you have tested positive for COVID-19. Learn when it is safe for you to travel. Don’t travel with someone who is sick
-
Single women have made some serious strides toward homeownership in the last 15 years, according to a recent report from Zillow.
The real estate platform says the share of female renters who can afford a home has increased in 37 of the top 50 metros that Zillow analyzed, including Atlanta.
Women See Increased Buying Power In Atlanta, Says Report
The metro areas with the highest single female buying power rates are:
- Cleveland (29.5%)
- Cincinnati (26.9%)
- Atlanta (25.1%)
As great as the progress for women has been, none of the metropolitan areas analyzed by Zillow show them having more purchasing power than men.
For the most part, the challenges of getting equitable pay, affordable child care and other benefits, continue to play a role in gender disparities, according to Zillow.
Here are some key findings about Atlanta:
- 25.1% of single women renters can afford a home in Atlanta. That’s 7.9% their male counterparts.
- Single female buying power increased 4.5% since 2005.
- The gap between single men and women buying power has increased 4.5% over the past 15 years.
Zillow also estimates that nearly 2 million renter households could afford homeownership if given the flexibility to work from home and move into starter homes in cheaper locales.
Are You Saving For A Home?
Although homeownership is on the rise among women in Atlanta, many still aren’t in a position to afford it.
As many businesswomen that the city produces, it seems just as many of them aren’t able to get ahead.
Because you’ll need to save money incrementally, it’s good to put together a plan to set cash aside each month. How much should you save? It depends.
Looking for a new house? Here’s how to save for a home.
Final Words
Homeownership is one of the best purchases an American can make. In Atlanta, women are making strides in that regard.
Keep up with what’s going on in Atlanta’s real estate scene here with our Apartment Guide.
More Articles From AtlantaFi:
-
It started as a viral Youtube video. Now, more than six years later, it is se to begin its second season on Netflix. Raising Dion 2 has begun production in metro Atlanta. Work will stretch into early 2021. The show is just one of many new Atlanta casting calls.
Producers for Raising Dion 2 are looking to cast various small, non-speaking, extras roles, especially children. This article will show you casting call details.
Raising Dion 2 Casting Call: Here’s What They Need
Raising Dion 2 is looking for children age 9 and up across multiple ethnicities.
Date: May 3rd (Covid Test) & May 4th (Filming)
Location: Atlanta, GA (at the stages for testing and filming)
Rate: TBD higher rate
—
PIANO PLAYER HAND DOUBLE: We are looking for a male 18+ who is proficient in playing piano and who’s hands look like the pictures attached.—-Must pass COVID test to work. Even if you test negative, you are not confirmed for work unless we send you details confirming shoot day.If this is you please send us a photo of your hands and a brief description of your piano playing experience (Clips / videos encouraged) / Please also include your name / phone / sizesReach out to rasingdion@centralcasting.com.
“Raising Dion” is described as a science fiction TV series and is based on a comic book by Dennis Liu. “Raising Dion” follows Nicole Reese, a woman who raises her son, named Dion, alone following the sudden death of her husband Mark. However, Dion is not like any other kid. While raising a son as a single mom is tough enough, raising Dion, proves to be tougher. Dion begins to show signs of superhuman abilities and now his mother Nicole must not only raise her son, but also protect him from those that are looking to exploit his superhero like abilities.
Who Produced Raising Dion?
The first season of Raising Dion was a success for Netflix. Carol Barbee wrote the initial episode, acted in it and served as showrunner as well.
Executive producers for the series included Liu, Barbee, Jason Piperberg, Michael B. Jordan, Charles D. King, Kim Roth, Poppy Hanks, Kenny Goodman, and Michael Green.
The series is one of many Netflix productions filmed in Atlanta.Raising Dion is just one of many films filmed in Atlanta. See our Movies Page for more.Are you interested in becoming an actor in Atlanta? You’re in the right place!With more than 900 movie and TV projects just in the last few years, the film industry has generated more than $9 billion for the state of Georgia.There are so many movies filmed in Atlanta these days that it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest movie casting calls, celeb sightings and Atlanta happenings delivered to your inbox.Want to work in Georgia film & TV? Here are the latest Atlanta casting calls
Read More From AtlantaFi.com: -
Donald Williams, CEO/founder of Atlanta-based small business consulting firm, Suivant Consulting, created and recently launched the Mom Boss Grant.
The $1,000 grant was created to support Atlanta’s single mother entrepreneurs on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Know A Single Mom In Atlanta? Get Them To Apply For A Mom Grant
Williams hopes that the grants can help eliminate some of the barriers to funding that many women entrepreneurs face as they try to build their businesses.
“My mother has always played a strong role in my life,” Williams says in a statement. “I currently own two businesses with offices in two different states and I credit the words and encouragement from my mom for much of my success. As an accountant and small business consulting, I understand the difficulties many women face acquiring funding. As if it wasn’t hard enough, mothers – who split their time between building their business, managing employees and raising a family – tend to find it more difficult just finding time to access funds. That is why the Mom Boss grant is so important to me.”
Williams has long been someone who gives back to the community. In February 2020, he presented one deserving entrepreneur with a $5,000 grant through the “Be Your Own Boss” pitch competition. He has also worked closely with the Atlanta Children’s Shelter’s annual Christmas toy drive.
How To Apply For A Mom Boss Grant
A winner will be notified by Friday, May 7, and announced publicly on Mother’s Day, May 9.
Interested in applying for a $1,000 Mom Boss Grant? Click HERE.
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.
-
Darnika Platt has always been an entrepreneur. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-born woman has hustle in her blood.
“I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My family owns flower shops and tax businesses. I’ve been doing taxes since I was 16-years-old, working with my parents. When I was old enough, I started my own tax practice that lasted for years,” she says.
ManCave Atlanta: Everything You Need To Know
After living in Atlanta for some time, she came upon an idea near and dear to every man’s heart: a spa that caters to the male.
But at first, she didn’t know if she had something or not. A good business idea sometimes has to pass muster with those closest to you
“I’m someone who loves to pamper herself so I often go to spas and nail salons. One time I tried to get my husband to go and it was like pulling teeth,” she says. But she was determined to find out if her idea would work.
Platt set out to quiz men on their preferences and whether pampering was something they’d want to experience.
“It turns out there are a lot of men who like getting manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages,” she adds.
They say any successful business is one that finds a problem and offers a solution. Platt says one day she found her solution.
“There’s also a lot of men who don’t get those services but need to. The problem is that most of these services are marketed towards women and the facilities where a person would go are geared more toward women.”
Enter ManCave Atlanta!
Tucked in the Lindbergh development in Buckhead, ManCave Atlanta officially opened its doors in December 2020. “But we’ve actually been doing things, here and there, a little prior to the pandemic,” she says.
How Does ManCave Work?
ManCave is a membership-based business. Because it’s male-centered, only men can become members and receive access to ManCave’s cigar lounge, business lounge and more perks.
You may be wondering if you’re not a member can you still experience ManCave Atlanta. Yes, you can. Women and men can walk in and get spa services as well.
Platt produced every touch of her facility and so far the men who visit love the experience. But that’s not all she has up her sleeve.
Platt says she wanted to offer something that men would not only want but need in their lives.
“It was my idea to create a place that is made just for men, where they would be comfortable getting these types of services. If you’re a man and you want to get a manicure or pedicure, which a lot of high-profile and professional men do, most of the time you have to visit a nail salon, it’s the exact opposite of a barbershop atmosphere and you have to smell a lot of nail polish and acrylic.”
Where Is ManCave Atlanta Located?
ManCave Atlanta is located at 2139 Liddell Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30324. Here’s a map to help you find it.
What’s Next For ManCave Atlanta?
Platt says the business is looking to expand into the events space. “We are working on having more creative events that are tailored to professional and upscale men. From business-related events to exclusive experiences. And we hope to expand within the next couple of years.”
“We want to be the place where men can get off work and come to relax,” Platt says.
For more information about ManCave Atlanta and to inquire about services and memberships, please visit mancaveatlanta.com.
Ladies, take your man to ManCave now!!
————————————————————-
Looking For Things To Do In Buckhead?
Atlanta’s most priciest area is full of good things to get into no matter what you have in mind.
Buckhead has some of the best restaurants in the city regardless of what your favorite dish is. Downtown Atlanta or Midtown also have some cool stuff going on!
Are you a beer drinker? You also may want to visit a craft brewery in the city.
Check out these events in Atlanta today and this week and this weekend:
Here are more articles from AtlantaFi.com:
-
Bird scooters are pretty much on every nick and cranny in downtown and Midtown Atlanta streets. But don’t get fined.
If you want to know how to operate a Bird scooter, here’s how.
Bird scooters arose on city streets in 2017. The Santa Monica, California startup entered the electronic scooter market with other competitors literally on its heels.
Here’s How To Operate A Bird Scooter In Atlanta
To operate a bird scooter, follow the following steps:
- Download the Bird app for either Android or Apple.
- Enter your credit card information. You can load increments of $10 on the card.
As you can see below, if you add $20 or $50, there’s a bonus included.
How much does it cost to rent a Bird scooter?
Although you’ll have to load $10 onto the app, it only costs $1 and then 15 cents a minute to ride. A 2-mile ride takes about 10 minutes and costs less than $3.
To operate the scooter, you’ll need to scan the QR code in the app. Here’s a screenshot of how that looks.
After you’ve scanned the QT code with your phone, the scooter will be activated. You’re ready to ride!
What Are The Scooter Rules For Atlanta?
The City of Atlanta implemented new safety rules on June 21, 2019 governing scooters in the city. Here are the highlights:
Reduced Speed Zone: There is an 8 mph limit for scooters along the portion of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail between Monroe Drive and DeKalb Avenue.
Are Scooters Allowed On The Atlanta Beltline?
Yes, but it will be subject to the Reduced Speed Zone on weekday evenings (Monday – Thursday, 6 p.m. – 6 a.m.), weekends (Friday at 6 p.m. – Monday 6 a.m.), and state holidays (6 a.m. – 6 p.m.).
Can You Ride In Scooters In Piedmont Park?
Yes, scooters are allowed in Piedmont Park’s shared use pathways.
The city is also actively looking at setting up park zones for scooters. These park zones will help reduce clutter and allow for accessibility at entrances to the trails.
Final Word
There are other electric scooters in Atlanta besides Bird, but none are more prevalent.
Whatever you do, keep safe while you ride a Bird. Look both ways when you cross the street and be mindful of pedestrians.
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!
The fun is just starting. Are you a beer drinker? You also may want to visit a craft brewery in the city.
Check out these events in Atlanta today and this week and this weekend:
Here are more articles from AtlantaFi.com:
- Here are the REALLY FUN things to do in Atlanta
- Check out these FREE events in Atlanta
- Feeling adventurous? Here are some outdoorsy things to do in ATL
-
Phipps Plaza has long been one of Atlanta’s best malls. Now the space will be the site of a planned food hall and much more as part of a major renovation taking place at the Buckhead landmark.
Plans for the One Phipps Plaza project, first announced in 2017 under an initial iteration, have expanded in recent months due to feedback from Buckhead business and civic leaders.
What’s Included In One Phipps Plaza In Atlanta?
One Phipps Plaza has three major components that will serve as the centerpiece of the project. They are:
- A Food Hall
- Office Space
- The Nobu Hotel & Restaurant
This article will tell you everything you need to know about One Phipps Plaza.
When Will One Phipps Plaza Be Finished?
The completion date for One Phipps Plaza is “late 2022,” according to the developer’s website.
As it stands, One Phipps Plaza will be a 13-story, Class A office tower adjacent to the shops and retail at Phipps Plaza.
One thing the One Phipps Plaza mixed-use development project intends to do is lean away from the corporate environment that has long been associated with the area.
Phipps Plaza Food Hall
One of the biggest pieces of news coming out about One Phipps Plaza is its plans for a 10,000-square-foot food hall. Atlanta has quite a few of them now.
The food hall will be part of the project’s Food/Fitness building. In addition to that, it will also include:
- A rooftop pool
- A spa
- A cafe
- Two floors of fitness space
- 40,000 square feet of entertainment and dining space
Office Space
When it comes to office space, there’ll be no shortage of it in One Phipps Plaza. The plans call for 13,000 square feet of office space, including co-working environs.
Some features of One Phipps Plaza include:
- Walkable greenspace for visitors as well as employees
- More accessibility to Georgia 400
- More retail and residential opportunities
Nobo Hotel & Restaurant
Also part of the project is the 10,000-square-foot Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, which was first announced in 2017.
Actor Robert DeNiro, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and film producer Meir Teper are all proprietors in the concept.
The Nobu restaurant group operates out of nearly 20 hotels and 40+ restaurants across the world.
Some top dishes from Nobu’s menu include:
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”15″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]Final Word
One Phipps Plaza is a major move by Simon Property Group, which is one of the largest retail companies in the world. When it’s all said and done, Atlanta will be even more of a destination for food, entertainment and fun things to do.
The ATL has other cool eateries as well. If you’re gluten-free, there’s plenty of options. Same goes for keto-friendly restaurants or Asian fare in Atlanta.
-
A new brunch spot is opening soon along the famed Main Street corridor of College Park, Georgia. The Breakfast Boys will serve breakfast and brunch all day, AtlantaFi.com has learned.
Coming To College Park: The Breakfast Boys
The Breakfast Boys is the latest venture from Lorenzo Wyche of Lorenzo Wyche Restaurants, a boutique food services company that has brought Gocha’s Breakfast Bar and Breakfast at Barneys and more to the city. Gregory “Gee” and Juan Smalls, the owners of Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen, are also proprietors of the Breakfast Boys.
What’s On The Menu At Breakfast Boys?
From a look at the menu, the Breakfast Boys have ambitious plans to appeal to the savory eater with a hearty appetite.
Here are some menu favorites you can expect:
- Handmade Brioche Beignets
- Crispy Catfish With Shrimp & Grits
- Oatmeal Brulee
- Green Eggs and Lamb
- Vegan English Breakfast
On the Breakfast Boys’ Instagram page, it says the eatery is opening in “spring 2021,” so we’re eagerly awaiting!
Where Is The Breakfast Boys Located?
The Breakfast Boys is located at 3387 College Park, GA. 30337 on the main drag. Here’s a map to help you find it.
The Breakfast Boys is just one eatery you’ll love on Atlanta’s south side. And College Park’s restaurants are a big part of that.
Just a few miles way, East Point’s Camp Creek area has numerous restaurants with some of the very best dining on Atlanta’s South Side.
See more of metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?
-
If you love authentic Mexican cuisine and agave-based drinks, you’re going to love Antiguo Lobo, a new restaurant and tequila bar opening in downtown Chamblee.
Antiquo Lobo, which means “Old Wolf” in Spanish, is the latest eatery from restaurateur Jesús Oñate Jr., whose father embedded in him an appreciation for dishes from the elder’s home state in western Mexico: Jalisco.
“I’m honored to carry on my father’s legacy with this new restaurant, which is a homecoming of sorts as my father opened his first restaurant in the U.S. in Chamblee,” he says in a written statement.
What’s On The Menu At Antiquo Lobo?
Antiquo Lobo promises a creative menu that lends heavily on locally sourced ingredients when possible. There will be the customary small plates, ensaladas (salads), sopas (soups), but also larger entrees.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”14″ display=”basic_slideshow”]Customers can expect to fall in love with the restaurant’s signature dish, Molcajete El Monstruo, which will be served in a volcanic rock mortar (‘molcajete’ in Spanish).
Molcajete El Monstruo can be served with a choice of steak, grilled chicken or shrimp; green onion; grilled queso fresco; tomato; nopal cactus; tomatillo cream salsa; rice and beans.
You also can’t miss with the:
- Enchiladas Verdes – tinga, tomatillo cream, rice, refried black beans, crema, cotija and
- Pollo al mole – mole poblano, rice, refried black beans, toasted sesame seeds, cotija.
- “Old South Tex-Mex” items like Nachos and Burritos and assorted street tacos served on house-made corn tortillas
Where Is Antiquo Lobo Located?
Antiquo Lobo is located at 5370 Peachtree Road, Suite A Chamblee, GA 30341. Here’s a map to help you find it.
When it opens, Antiquo Lobo will serve lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.as far as COVID-19 protocols, Antiguo Lobo will have several safety measures in place including:
- Mandatory masks for all staff and guests unless seated
- Limited capacity
- Daily wellness checks for all employees
- Socially distanced tables
- Enhanced sanitation and surface disinfecting
Where To Eat Mexican In Atlanta
We told you that Antiquo Lobo is authentically Mexican, but we can’t sleep on the other awesome eateries in Chamblee, especially those up and down the venerated Buford Highway.
Aside from Antiquo Lobo, Jesus Jr.’s other metro Atlanta restaurants are Zapata in Norcross, Taqueria on Broad in Atlanta’s Five Points neighborhood and Monterrey of Marietta.
Here are some of the city’s best Mexican restaurants.
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.
Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?
-
Terri Nichelle-Bradley says it wasn’t one epiphany that sparked Brown Toy Box, her direct-to-consumer subscription business that bolsters representation and self-esteem in young people of color. There were several.
“I was working at a rec center in college and befriending a little boy who was fascinated with building bridges,” she told AtlantaFi in an email interview. “But his interests weren’t encouraged or cultivated.”
Brown Toy Box Brings Representation, Culture To Children
Bradley also says her early family life in Minnesota helped shape her business immeasurably. “From my mother ensuring all of her children had positive representation around us all of the time as a child.”
And, finally, the Atlanta entrepreneur says, the idea came from “wanting my black children to know about black trailblazers and innovators beyond the context of slavery or the civil rights movement.”
So she leaned on her 20 years of public relations and marketing experience to create Brown Toy Box, culturally curated enrichment boxes that include games, toys and activities that come with educational gifts as well.
“Our products and programs are very specific to exposing black children to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math),” Bradley says. “We want them to see trailblazers who went before them in those associated industries and be inspired by that. Therefore, in every box that goes out along with the activity or game/toy, we include a book featuring a real-life black person that has made amazing contributions to the particular theme we are focusing on, or we include a book on an black child hero, also doing something along that theme.”
Bradley, who serves as the Atlanta Chapter Chair for Women in Toys, says it is her personal mission to normalize representation of children of color in books, toys and activities. “My goal is to amplify the African American consumer’s voice in the children’s product space. . My goal is to bring as many women of color into the industry as possible.”
Bradley’s company recently launched an Indiegogo campaign supporting HEY! Helping Empower Youth get 100 boxes to children on the Westside and Southside schools.
As for Brown Toy Box, Bradley has ambitious plans to expand its reach into homes, businesses and schools in the near future.
“Ultimately, I am working to make Brown Toy Box the Walt Disney Company for Black children globally,” she says. “My vision for Brown Toy Box is to continue to grow our subscription box business, but also to create digital content, branded products, publishing and events.”
Bradley says African-American buying power continues to be a cultural force, yet remains one of the most underutilized markets for growth — but she’s determined to change that.
“I know that I am doing good work and working to change how black children see themselves and ultimately their futures. What other children’s product companies don’t understand is that our $1 trillion purchasing power needs to be respected. I am very excited to think about where we will be five years from now.”
Final Word
A huge congratulations to Bradley, who recently inked an agreement to sell Brown Toy Box in Target stores nationwide!
Want more inspirational stories out of Atlanta? Pitch CJ@AtlantaFi.com. See what’s poppin’ in the ATL! Subscribe to our news alerts here,
Read more:
