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If you think apartment rent is already too high in Atlanta, findings from a new study suggest you ain’t seen nothing yet.
Apartment List, an online rental site, commissioned a study recently to show what Amazon’s H2Q project would mean for renters in a handful of cities with legitimate chances of landing the company.
Amazon announced last fall that it would be holding what amounted to sweepstakes to choose its next world-class headquarters. The company is based out of Seattle, Washington.
In addition to Atlanta (and nearby suburb Stonecrest) Denver, D.C., Chicago, Baltimore and Washington have all stepped up to the plate with elaborate proposals.
Pundits say Atlanta has to be the leading choice because the city best fits Amazon’s criteria of amenities, including adequate transit system, and a location within in an hour of an international airport.
The study, which took into account data from the U.S. Census as well as Labor Bureau stats, indicated that most metro areas would see more jobs than housing, which would raise real estate prices.
“We project that Raleigh, N.C., Pittsburgh and San Jose will feel the rent increase the most, while the impact will be smaller in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Dallas,” the study said.
The study’s authors added: “According to Apartment List analysis, rents in Raleigh, San Jose, Baltimore and Pittsburgh will be the most impacted by Amazon choosing to build its HQ2 in their metros, with rents expected to increase by an additional 1 percent or more per year over the next ten years.”
Atlanta was among the cities projected to see a “moderate” increase in apartment rents, characterized by 0.5 to 1 percent, according to the study. Other cities in this lot included Boston, Detroit, Austin, Minneapolis and Denver.
The ATL is seen by experts as the city to beat. In November, Sperling’s BestPlaces, a website dedicated to livability issues named Atlanta as the front-runner in a study of likely HQ2 sites.
“In our Amazon Hyper-Ranking, the metro area of Atlanta is the clear winner, with six 1st-place selections,” the report read. “Atlanta was cited by many studies and articles as being large enough to absorb the expected 50,000 new Amazon workers, being a major air hub, and having a reasonable cost of living.”
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The third metro Atlanta location of Gusto! is set to open in Decatur on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. The eatery is located at N. Decatur Square, 1545 Church St. Ste 310.
If you’re up on Gusto! then you know they offer fresh bowls and wraps prepared to your satisfaction.The restaurant’s proprietor Nate Hybl is giving away 10 complimentary entree vounchers to the first 50 guests.Gusto! is known for using real ingredients in their food. “We don’t name dishes by a theme. You won’t find a ‘South of the Border’ or an ‘Uncle Harry’s Piled High’ on our menu. We call items by what they are made of, plain and simple. We believe there is beauty and straightforwardness in the ingredients we use and we highlight them.”There are so many Atlanta events popping off every week it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest gatherings, Atlanta happenings, parties and more delivered to your inbox.
Things to do in Atlanta on a weekly basis can range from going golfing mid-week to checking out the latest restaurant openings. At AtlantaFi.com, we curate the city for you!
Read more: The best soul food restaurants in Atlanta -
OpenTable diners are a feisty bunch when it comes to high expectations in restaurants. As a mecca of Southern hospitality, Atlanta knows all about it. That’s why it’s so special that a local spot has made OpenTable’s 2018 list of the 50 Best Southern Restaurants in America.
Southern food is highly sought around the United States, but is opened castigated for high blood pressure-inducing foods and salty fare. But those people who blame our culinary exploits obviously aren’t eating some of our most prestigious cuisine.
OpenTable’s 2018 list comes from an analysis of 12,000,000+ reviews of more than 27,000 restaurants across the country. They considered the height, depth and (corn)breadth of countless eateries. One Atlanta restaurant made the list: South City Kitchen.
The Midtown restaurant is officially one of the 50 best Southern restaurants in America, although we already knew that. Its three metro Atlanta locations continue to set the bar on what ATL fine-dining is about.
Atlanta has turned into quite a restaurant town, with new spots popping up by the week it seems. Follow AtlantaFi’s Restaurants tag to stay up on all the latest.
Read more: Grant Park Summer Shade Festival: Everything you need to know
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Family-owned UrbanTree Cidery in West Midtown is set to introduce two new ciders this month: Peary Good, made with Asian pears and blackberries, and Wild Buzz, made with local honey.
Both wild fermented varieties will be released as limited additions at a special event on October 20. Peary Good comes from a contest UrbanTree Cidery held earlier this year.
UrbanTree is located at 1465 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.
There are so many Atlanta events popping off every week it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest gatherings, Atlanta happenings, parties and more delivered to your inbox.
Things to do in Atlanta on a weekly basis can range from going golfing mid-week to checking out the latest restaurant openings. At AtlantaFi.com, we curate the city for you!
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.
Read more: The best soul food restaurants in Atlanta -
If you’re a burger fan, Smashburger just made the holidays sweeter than ever. Since September 28, 2018, Smashburger customers have been able to purchase the Smash Pass for just $100, and this time it’s better than ever.
Available online only, the Smash Pass grants you one FREE entrée every day from November 5, 2018, to February 14, 2019, at participating locations. That’s 100 days of free burgers.
You can order any entrée or choose from options like black bean burgers, grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches, and fresh signature salads.
Last year, the original Smash Pass offered an incredible value with $1 burgers every day. This year Smashburger has raised the stakes with 100 days of FREE Smashburgers. Plus, you can purchase the Smash Pass as a gift for family and friends.
“Our fans raved about the original Smash Pass and have been begging for it to make a comeback,” said David Martinelli, Vice President of Marketing at Smashburger. “We wanted to elevate the experience for our most loyal fans and really give them a lot of burger for their buck. Getting more than $600 worth of burgers for just $100 really takes the sting out of the expensive holiday season.”
To get the new Smash Pass, visit Smashburger.com/SmashPass and sign up for the SmashClub rewards program. Purchase the Smash Pass for $100, and every day from November 5, 2018, to February 14, 2019, a FREE entrée coupon will be added to your SmashClub account and is valid for that day only. Then just visit your neighborhood Smashburger and choose your favorite entrée.
As a bonus, if you buy a Coca-Cola beverage when using your Smash Pass you will be automatically entered to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas for two.
Atlanta has one Smashburger location. It is in Buckhead at the following address:
2625 Piedmont RdSte 34AAtlanta, GA 30324When it comes to restaurants, Atlanta is quickly gaining ground on some of the dining capitals around the United States.
Fast-casual is the dining trend du jour around metro Atlanta restaurants. The concept involves mixing the quick accessibility of fast food with the casual dining experience. Food in Atlanta is also adapting to the various tastes of the migrants that come here to live.
Read more: 5 essential soul food spots in Atlanta
Patrons typically order off a menu board like they would at a burger joint, but the convenience of sitting down to leisurely enjoy their food has made the segment a popular one with the restaurant industry.
The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a fast-caz explosion in recent years.
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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Producers working in Atlanta are in need of movie stand-ins for the next “Avengers: Infinity War movie, for now called “Avengers 4,” which has begun filming around the city.
Casting directors are looking for people available to film scenes on Friday, October 12 in Atlanta.
The Avengers franchise has grossed more than $1 billion for Marvel, and the movie studio doesn’t see that easing up anytime soon. Marvel’s cinematic universe is firmly planted in Atlanta. Both “Black Panther” and “Ant-Man” have shot in the metro area, with several more sequels already planned.
Avengers 4: Atlanta casting call
Here is what Avengers movie producers are looking for:
- We need EMS workers who are available the evening of Friday, October 12th to work background on Project ‘Mary Lou’. The rate is $75/8 and this shoots in the Metro Atlanta area.
- We need EMS workers who are available the evening of Friday, October 12th to work background on Project ‘Mary Lou’. The rate is $75/8 and this shoots in the Metro Atlanta area. If you are an EMS worker or have EMS experience in the past, and are available for this shoot, please send a 3/4 photo, your phone number, height, weight, all sizes and EMS experience to atlantaextras@extraextracasting.com. The subject of this email should be “EMS 10/12” Thank you!
- We are looking for East Indian, and Asian people for a night shoot this Friday night Oct 12, in Metro ATL, rate is $75/8. This is for Project Mary Lou.
- Ages 18-65
Atlanta has become a movie mecca in recent years and Georgia has been a favorite location for TV productions since the state instituted generous tax breaks for film companies that agree to shoot locally. Projects from CBS, NBC, HBO, BET and more are slated to shoot in the metro area in 2018-19 and the foreseeable future.
With more than 700 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. -
There are few festivals in Atlanta that command our total attention like the ATL Cluckfest 2018 Fried Chicken Festival. The event is slated for Saturday, October 6, 2018. It runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Candler Park Dr. , Atlanta, GA 30307.
Aside from the creative name, fried chicken is a rite of passage in the South, and a festival of such proportions is something that calls to mind all kinds of finger-lickin’ delight.
ATL CluckFest 2018 Fried Chicken Festival: What you need to know
The event will bring together numerous restaurants from all over the South to bring their best fried chicken dishes to Candler Park. More than 25+ restaurants will be vying for the crown of Atlanta’s Best Fried Chicken!
Entry is pre-sale tickets are $15.00 at the door $20.00 GA. Each GA will receive a three token wristband redeemable at all restaurants for samples.
VIP Gold is 35.00 and pre-sale $45.00 . Each VIP member will gain early entry ,
6 token wristband redeemable at all restaurants for samples, private bar, climate controlled bathrooms, phone charging stations, seating area, and private DJ.There are so many Atlanta events popping off every week it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest gatherings, Atlanta happenings, parties and more delivered to your inbox.
Things to do in Atlanta on a weekly basis can range from going golfing mid-week to checking out the latest restaurant openings. At AtlantaFi.com, we curate the city for you!
Read more: The best soul food restaurants in Atlanta -
One Buckhead restaurant has made the list of OpenTable’s 100 Best Restaurants for Wine Lovers in America. Buckhead restaurant Bone’s was the only Atlanta eatery to make the list.
Bone’s, a prime beef and seafood institution, is located at 3130 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305.
OpenTable’s list features restaurants from 26 states, from steakhouses to Italian cucinas, French brasseries to seafood eateries. The list offers wine lovers everywhere the opportunity to pair an upcoming dining experience with the perfect vintage.
Featuring exquisite vintage wines from renowned wineries as well as those harvested from local vineyards, the list highlights some of the country’s best, including Bottega Napa Valley in California, Balthazar in New York and Sixty Vines in Texas. New York is the most recognized state, with 12 restaurants on the list, followed by California with ten and Nevada and Texas with eight apiece. Additional states represented include Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and the district of Washington, D.C.
“Whether you’re a wine aficionado or a novice looking to expand your palate, this year’s list showcases a variety of restaurants that carefully curate the finest wine selections to complement their menus,” said Caroline Potter, Chief Dining Officer at OpenTable. “From deep dives with sommeliers to approachable tastings to find the perfect pairing for any meal, these winning restaurants have earned rave reviews for their stellar dining experiences and impressive wine offerings.
The 100 Best Restaurants for Wine Lovers list is generated solely from more than 12 million verified OpenTable diner reviews for more than 28,000 restaurants in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. collected between August 1, 2017, and July 31, 2018. All restaurants with a minimum “overall” score and number of qualifying reviews were included for consideration. Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the percentage of reviews for which “notable wine list” was selected as a special feature.
Based on this methodology, the 100 Best Restaurants for Wine Lovers in America according to OpenTable diners, are as follows (in alphabetical order):
100 Best Restaurants for Wine Lovers in America
Abe and Louie’s Boston – Boston, Massachusetts
Al Biernat’s – Oak Lawn – Dallas, Texas
Altius – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Angelina’s Ristorante – Bonita Springs, Florida
Annie Gunn’s – Chesterfield, Missouri
Balthazar – New York, New York
Barolo Grill – Denver, Colorado
The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard – Canton, Ohio
Bistro Jeanty – Yountville, California
Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood – San Antonio, Texas
Bones – Atlanta, Georgia
Bottega Napa Valley – Yountville, California
Bouchon – Yountville, California
Boulevard – San Francisco, California
Boulud Sud – New York, New York
Brennan’s – New Orleans, Louisiana
Butcher & Singer – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Café Monarch – Scottsdale, Arizona
Campiello – Naples – Naples, Florida
Carlo & Johnny – Cincinnati, Ohio
Charleston – Baltimore, Maryland
Charleston Grill – Charleston, South Carolina
Charley’s Steak House – Tampa – Tampa, Florida
Chicago Cut Steakhouse – Chicago, Illinois
Collage Restaurant – St. Augustine, Florida
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant – Multiple Locations
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House – Multiple Locations
Del Posto – New York, New York
Delmonico Steakhouse – Las Vegas, Nevada
Devon Seafood + Steak – Hershey – Hershey, Pennsylvania
Eiffel Tower – Las Vegas, Nevada
Emeril’s Restaurant – New Orleans, Louisiana
Filomena Ristorante – Washington, D.C.
Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck – Dallas, Texas
Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar – Memphis – Memphis, Tennessee
Gallaghers Steakhouse – Manhattan – New York, New York
Geronimo – Santa Fe, New Mexico
Giada – The Cromwell – Las Vegas, Nevada
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse – Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
Gordon Ramsay Steak – Paris Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada
Gotham Bar and Grill – New York, New York
Gramercy Tavern – New York, New York
Grill 23 & Bar – Boston, Massachusetts
GW Fins – New Orleans, Louisiana
House of Prime Rib – San Francisco, California
Hugo’s Cellar – Four Queens – Las Vegas, Nevada
Iron Bridge Wine Company – Columbia – Columbia, Maryland
J. Gilbert’s – Wood Fired Steaks & Seafood – Glastonbury – Glastonbury, Connecticut
Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse – Nashville – Nashville, Tennessee
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab – Multiple Locations
Killen’s Steakhouse – Pearland, Texas
L’Auberge Chez Francois – Great Falls, Virginia
Le Coucou – New York, New York
Le Diplomate – Washington, D.C.
Mama’s Fish House – Paia, Hawaii
Manny’s Steakhouse – Minneapolis. Minnesota
Maple & Ash – Chicago, Illinois
Marea – New York, New York
Mariposa – Sedona, Arizona
Mastro’s Ocean Club – Newport Beach – Newport Beach, California
The Metropolitan Grill – Seattle, Washington
Mitchell’s Ocean Club – Easton Town Center – Columbus, Ohio
The Modern – New York, New York
Mon Ami Gabi – Las Vegas – Main Dining Room – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mustards Grill – Yountville, California
Nostrana – Portland, Oregon
Old Ebbitt Grill – Washington, D.C.
OMBRA Cucina Italiana – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
The Olde Pink House Restaurant – Savannah, Georgia
Osteria Mozza – Los Angeles, California
Panorama – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse – Multiple Locations
Parc – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Passionfish – Pacific Grove, California
Peninsula Grill – Charleston, South Carolina
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille – Birmingham – Birmingham, Alabama
Petit Louis Bistro – Roland Park – Baltimore, Maryland
Pier W – Cleveland, Ohio
Portland City Grill – Portland, Oregon
Quartino – Chicago, Illinois
The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro – Columbus, Ohio
Restaurant August – New Orleans, Louisiana
Restaurant R’evolution – New Orleans, Louisiana
RingSide Steakhouse – Uptown – Portland, Oregon
River Cafe – Brooklyn, New York
RPM Italian – Chicago, Illinois
RPM Steak – Chicago, Illinois
Shanahan’s Steakhouse – Denver, Colorado
SINATRA – Encore at Wynn Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sixty Vines – Plano – Plano, Texas
Sparks Steak House – New York, New York
St. Elmo Steak House – Indianapolis, Indiana
Steak 44 – Phoenix, Arizona
Steak 48 – Houston – Houston, Texas
Top of the Hub – Boston, Massachusetts
Top of the World Restaurant – Stratosphere Hotel – Las Vegas, Nevada
Trattoria Lisina – Driftwood, Texas
Ulele – Tampa, Florida
Vintana Wine & Dine – Escondido, California
Vivace Restaurant – Tucson, ArizonaThings to do in Atlanta on a weekly basis can range from going golfing mid-week to checking out the latest restaurant openings. At AtlantaFi.com, we curate the city for you!
Read more: The best soul food restaurants in Atlanta -
Of all the cities vying to become the Amazon HQ2, Atlanta figured it had a leg up on the competition: world class airport, sizeable downtown and entertainment district, affordable housing and MARTA.
But Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and team have been eerily silent on which city they will choose to bring 50,000 jobs to and $5 billion in investment. But now the world’s biggest online retailer has announced that it will have an answer before end of year.
Speaking at a business meeting in Washington last week, CEO Jeff Bezos said a decision on HQ2 will be made before the close of 2018. He didn’t offer any more clues though.
The Seattle-based tech giant announced Sept. 7 2017 that it would build a new North America headquarters in a metropolitan city with an international airport, touching off a frenzied national competition. The project is expected to ring tens of thousands of jobs and raise the profile of the region — wherever it’s located — immeasurably.
“Let’s be honest with ourselves: This is the largest economic development deal in the history of America,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle told the AJC at the time. “It would require action by the Legislature if we are successful. And I’m very optimistic that we can land Amazon in the state, and we’re in great position to do that.”
Company officials toured several cities as it whittled down its list, but Atlanta has gotten only standard treatment so far. If Amazon does pick ATL, it will inherit a city bustling at the seams yet still able to accommodate things like a Super Bowl and more development per square mile than any metropolitan area in the Southeast.
But does Atlanta have what it takes? Only time — and Bezos — will tell.
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Bring your fork and knife and it’s going to be a party in Atlanta! It’s Inman Park Restaurant Week Sept. 24-30.
Participating eateries include Parish, Wisteria BarTaco and many more.
Inman Park Restaurant Week: Here are the participating eateries
Adjacent to the Beltline, the area has more than 15 restaurants and pubs, offering American, Southern, European and ethnic cuisine among others.
There are so many Atlanta events popping off every week it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest gatherings, Atlanta happenings, parties and more delivered to your inbox.
Things to do in Atlanta on a weekly basis can range from going golfing mid-week to checking out the latest restaurant openings. At AtlantaFi.com, we curate the city for you!
Read more: The best soul food restaurants in Atlanta