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.
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Paperwork recently filed with the city of Atlanta shows that a new project is planned for the old Norfolk Southern building overlooking “The Gulch,” the multi-acre site under Philips Arena.
Two structures on the site will be transformed into nearly 250 one- and two-bedroom residential units, according to Curbed Atlanta. The plan also includes retail space, 90 studios, 108 one-bedroom units, and 48 two-bedroom units.
The company that initiated the filing is CIM, according to news reports. Much has been made about viable land in downtown Atlanta that would be suitable for Amazon’s second world headquarters. The Gulch is a prime parcel, although CIM reportedly says their plans are independent of Amazon’s.
Atlanta joins cities such as Austin, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Toronto and Washington, D.C. on the Seattle company’s shortlist for #H2Q, which is slated to be announced sometime later this year.
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One Midtown Kitchen, the venerable Midtown Atlanta dining institution that raised the bar for countless eateries in the city, is closing its doors, AtlantaFi has learned.
The news was first reported by The AJC Tuesday and confirmed by a statement from the eatery’s parent company,Concentrics Restaurants. The restaurant, which is located at 559 Dutch Valley Rd NE, will close on March 4.
“In the spirit of being passionate pioneers in the restaurant and hospitality industry and always working to be at the forefront of trends, we are announcing that the ONE. midtown kitchen brand will be retiring on March 4, 2018.”
The restaurant, known for its bold dishes and transcendent atmosphere, will be missed, but the owners indicate that they will be back with new concepts for Atlanta.
The company said it was closing the doors “to allow us to focus on new and exciting concepts in Atlanta and across the country,” a statement from the group said.
They added: “We sincerely thank our patrons, the community and Atlanta for the support you’ve given ONE over the past 16 years. It’s been an incredible run. To bid ONE a proper farewell, we hope you will join us our final weeks for favorite menu items, throwbacks, fantastic cocktails and good cheer.”
One Midtown Kitchen opened in 2002.
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Metro Atlanta’s reputation of a hub for modern-day sex trafficking has gotten plenty of press over the years. Now the city is doing something about it.
This week, the City of Atlanta announced that it will be a part of creating a first-ever citywide approach to prevent sex trafficking. The initiative is part of the Pathways to Freedom city competition.
Atlanta will join three other cities across the United States in the competition, including Chicago, and Minneapolis. The trio of cities will receive funding and a senior fellow who will collaborate with city agencies on solutions to trafficking.
The Pathways to Freedom city challenge is gets its funding from the Partnership for Freedom, a public-private partnership by Humanity United.
“Every year, thousands of children, women and men fall prey to the insidious practice of human trafficking. Whether these victims are entrapped in or transported to Atlanta, we know that our city faces a human trafficking challenge disproportionate to its size,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement.
She added: “I am pleased to announce that I will appoint a Senior Fellow within my Administration to further the City’s efforts to combat and eliminate this horrific practice. The Pathways to Freedom grant will also enable Atlanta to better address labor trafficking, which has traditionally been under-reported, and its survivors under-served. I am confident that together, we can be the strength for the powerless and the hope of the victims.”
“Cities have a critical role to play in the fight against human trafficking, and we are excited to support our winning cities as they develop new ways to address prevention and support for survivors,” said Catherine Chen, director of investments for Humanity United. “The impressive collection of applications we received is a testament to the growing political will of U.S. cities to lead the fight against human trafficking in their own communities. Atlanta demonstrates a serious commitment to addressing both labor and sex trafficking in a unique way. We are confident that the lessons that come out of Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Chicago will inspire and encourage innovation in their own communities and across the country.”
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The Black List expanded our Happy Hours for one primary reason: to create social hubs for writers around the world where they can meet other screenwriters and discuss the craft and the reality of the screenwriter’s life.
So join your fellow Georgia writers at our Atlanta happy hour! Come to enjoy the drinks and the company. You never know who you might meet!
We’ll be hosting happy hours on the first Wednesday of every month at Manuel’s Tavern from 6:00 – 9:00PM.
The event is free and open to the public (cash bar), so spread the word to your writer friends but be sure to RSVP!
Follow our page on Facebook (Atlanta Black List Happy Hour) for more info and to stay up-to-date on any announcements!
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The Georgia Film Networking Event is the largest film networking event in the State of Georgia – Over 5,000 People Who Love Making Films! You’ll have the chance to market your products and services, meet investors and casting agents, see live demonstrations and pitch your film projects. Free games, entertainment, guest speakers and super fun! Vendor opportunities available. This is a great opportunity to introduce your film related products and services to an increasingly affluent and educated community of film makers.
Georgia’s film industry generated $9.5 billion in 2017. FilmHubATL has organized this event to give the Atlanta Film Community the opportunity meet face-to-face to build important relationships and gain access to the resources they need to be successful.
TWO DUCKS, ONE CHICKEN & ONE BEAR
The event features a unique platform that actually encourages people to talk to each other. You’ll be greeted by two ducks, one chicken and one bear walking around to make the event fun and festive. Tommie Turvey and his famous horse will be performing. We also have signs indicating roles, like Producer, Director, Sound, etc. These are used to help people self-identify so they can be found. We even have 40 feet of carnival style games provided by Burgess Amusements to encourage interaction. We are amplifying our social media footprint by using cutting edge technology provided by TapSnap. This will result in over 1 million social media impressions. Here is the tentative floor diagram.
Our focus is on the networking. Accordingly we do not have panels. We do have entertainment and guest speakers incuding celebrities and subject matter experts on film distribution. Most importantly, we are giving filmmakers the opportunity to pitch their projects to the attendees. If you would like to pitch your project please send your synopsys to submission@filmhubatl.com. We can only consider “completed” scripts.
General admission is $25. VIP is $100 and includes premium seating behind a velvet rope, security, food and beverage.
For more information contact Herman Garner at hgarner@filmhubatl.com or Terron Sommerville at tsommerville@filmhubatl.com or call 678-509-5526
See video from last event here. See Gallery here
Sponsorship Opportunities: www.GeorgiaFilmTradeShow.com
Our Website: https://filmhubatl.com
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Just when you thought Underground Atlanta was a relic from the late 1990s that people used to congregate to after the Olympics, the city cornerstone is showing signs of new life.
Developer WRS is in the process of revitalizing the development a four-block section of the redevelopment, including the Kenny’s Alley section.
The project, called Block 3, should be ready in about a year, according to Curbed Atlanta, who got their hands on the renderings.
From the looks of the drawings, crowds will be able to mix between office space, retail and communal living, the likes of which has made Midtown Atlanta a mecca in the last few years.
The City of Atlanta has a great stake in Underground’s success. In 2017, the city presided over the sale of the development to a South Carolina developer. Then, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed referred to the $34.6 million sale of the underground mall “another milestone in the revitalization of South Downtown Atlanta.”
With much of the city’s revenue being siphoned to newer developments like The Battery Atlanta and The Avalon in Alpharetta, many downtown lovers are waiting for that to happen.
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Several Atlanta-area chefs and restaurants have been nominated as 2018 James Beard Award semifinalists, the group announced Thursday.
The nominees have a chance to take home the top prize and cement Atlanta’s place on the map as a bona fide cultural mecca with top-notch restaurants with diverse cuisine.
Atlanta’s Miller Union eatery on Brady Avenue in Midtown Atlanta is up for Outstanding Wine Program.
For Best Chef: Southeast, perennial nominee Ryan Smith of Staplehouse, Ri Liu of Masterpiece in Duluth made the cut, and so did Atsushi Hayakawa of Sushi Hayakawa along with Meherwan Irani of Botiwalla in Ponce City Market.
Also in Georgia, Brunswick’s Matthew Raiford of The Farmer & The Larder along with Savannah’s Mashama Bailey of The Grey are in the running.
For Rising Star Chef, Brian So of Spring in Cobb County and Parnass Savang of Talat Market both made the list.
The firm Meyer Davis is a finalist for best Restaurant Design for transforming the architecture of the old Bluepointe space in Lenox (with designers Will Meyer, Gray Davis, Katie McPherson) into the European-inspired St. Cecilia.
The finalists will be announced in Philadelphia on March 14. The grand prize will be announced May 7 at the James Beard Foundation Awards Gala in Chicago.
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Are you ready to kickoff the preparations for Super Bowl 53, which will be held in Atlanta in January 2019? If so, the event is looking for some help.
Volunteers are being encouraged to apply right now so that they can have some staff in place for logistics and other things. Don’t expect to make it onto the field to mingle with the players and snap selfies. They’re looking for people who (clap) want (clap) to (clap) help!
The event has launched a website and is ready to go.
Here’s how the call for help reads: “As Atlanta gears up to welcome the NFL in 2019, we will be looking for a group of high energy, passionate volunteers. These super-friendly and dedicated ambassadors for our city will be responsible for making the kind of lasting impressions that are forever memorable. Our goal with the volunteer program is to take the words ‘southern hospitality’ to new heights and provide the kind of warm, hearty welcome to all visitors that is synonymous with Atlanta. Interested? Sign up today to be the first to receive exclusive volunteer news and updates.”
As we all know, the Atlanta Falcons are going to be playing in the big game, marking the first time a home team has hosted a Super Bowl. With that being the case, it’s going to be a blast!
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Udpate: The “Atlanta Black Panther Movie Festival” will take place on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at Regal Cinemas located at Atlantic Station 261 19th Street NW Atlanta, GA at 7:00 pm. Doors open at 6 pm with activities for photos and award ceremony.
“Black Panther” is the biggest cultural in entertainment event of 2018, and Atlanta, which is where the majority of the film was produced, is front and center.
Celebrities have already held an exclusive screening of the Marvel film in Midtown but what about the people? How can the regular Joes and Janes and Jamals see the movie? Well, it’s selling out everywhere fast. But there are still some tickets to grab.
Rapper T.I. is giving away tickets on Monday evening at a local Walmart. The free screening will be at an undisclosed location.
According to the AJC: T.I. will join associates at the Walmart at 1105 Research Center Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30331 (off Cascade Road )at 5 p.m. Monday to give away tickets, in the toy aisle. While you’re there, check out Walmart’s selection of exclusive “Black Panther” action figures, toys, merchandise, and apparel and take a selfie with the “Black Panther” signage.
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Actor Chadwick Boseman is living high off the hog these days thanks to his recent movie credits, including a star turn as James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and now “Black Panther.”
The actor said that when he stayed down South to film (largely in the Atlanta area) he was reminded of the progress the nation has made — and the lack thereof. He told culture website Mr. Porter that he witnessed firsthand a gathering of the Ku Klux Klan as he drove home to visit family in South Carolina.
“When I was shooting Black Panther in Atlanta, I used to drive back on off-days to go see my family in Anderson. It’s about two hours,” he told the website.
“And I would see the Klan holding rallies in a Walmart car park,” he added. “So it’s like we’re going forwards and backwards at the same time. People don’t want to experience change, they just want to wake up and it’s different. But this — shooting Black Panther and then driving past the Klan —that’s what change feels like.”
“Black Panther” has gotten super reviews since it screened for celebrities last week on the big screen. The film debuts Feb. 13 in select markets and opens up nationwide two days later.
During a special screening on Tuesday, Feb. 6 in Atlanta, MPAA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said that the film’s production has generated $83.9 Million to Georgia’s economy, according to Deadline.
At the 2018 Chicago Auto Show, a Lexus exec crushed over the fact that the automaker’s new LC 500 model is featured prominently in the movie.
“There is one scene I’m not happy about. There’s a scene when [King T’Challa] slid across the hood and left a huge scratch on the car,” said Koji Sato, the executive general manager of the Lexus LC 500, according to Thedrive.com. “What is wrong with you, that’s my baby! Why would you do that? You are crazy!”