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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If you didn’t think black literature could be lit, you’re missing out. A new initiative by book lovers is aiming to raise the bar for fans of the written word across the United States.
Queen Pens is set to tour nearly 10 cities in 2018 in their quest to inspire, inform, and entertain. Queen Pens is a traveling production that brings women face-to-face with their favorite authors and celebrities. First up is Black Writers Weekend, which will be in Atlanta.
Black Writers Weekend Coming To Atlanta
The promo says “These Queens will lead the curious creatives, the around-the-way girl, entrepreneurs and dream seekers, to spark conversations around self-love, creative control, dreams, and creating balance between ambition and love.”
The Queens will be in Atlanta on June 10 to helm a gathering at the Georgia Beer Garden. Attendees are encouraged to network and rub shoulders with other talented ladies, be entertained, and enjoy a live conversation filled with laughs, tears, and cheering. Women come to feel inspired, laugh and get away, activate their dreams, mix and mingle, and cultivate new friendships in an amazing and beautiful environment!
When it comes to thoughtful discussion, a panel will be moderated by blogger Mikey ATL and feature Myss Shan, Jessica N. Watkins, LaShonda DeVaughn, and Tamika Newhouse. Collectively, these talented ladies have sold over 2.5 million books and have a reach of over 150,000 readers worldwide.
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The Atlanta Dream will open the season on Saturday, May 26 against the Dallas Wings. The Dream, in their 11th season, will open play with a new coach.
Nicki Collen will take the helm after Michael Cooper was let go after last season’s 12-22 campaign. Colleen most recently was an assistant coach with the Connecticut Sun, where the team posted a 21-13 record under head coach Curt Miller.
Colleen will get an Atlanta squad stocked with eager talent: Tiffany Hayes, Layshia Clarendon Damiris and Elizabeth Williams all shined at one point or another last season.
As for coaching additions, the Dream welcome Darius Taylor and Mike Peterson as assistant coaches as well as Jessica Cohen as athletic trainer.
Make sure you buy tickets to support the Dream!
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If you’ve got a little kid and they’re cute as can be, you’ll want to bring them to this opportunity to make it to TV. HBO has greenlit a pilot and it’s shooting in the Atlanta area.
Children that are selected will work on scenes filming on May 30 and May 31 in Atlanta, according to the casting call. Here is what casting directors are looking for:
The project is codenamed “Brooklyn”
They are Seeking 2 Caucasian Boys
Age 9 – 12 – Brothers would be great
Should be ok with us altering hair 1920 period correctRate: 120/8 + 25 Gas Bump
Date: May 30th and 31st
Location: Cedartown (please look up)If your child is available and fit the description them please email Prep@RoseLockeCasting.com. Include include pics (one selfie holding a piece of paper with date written on it.
Subject: STONEs
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You might not have heard about it, but MomoCon 2018 is coming to Atlanta this weekend. The event, an “all ages” fan convention for American and Japanese anime, gaming, role-playing and more, is one of the fastest growing conventions in the nation and is sprawled out over four days, from Thursday, May 24 to Sunday, 27.
MomoCon 2018 will be held at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW Atlanta, GA 30303. MomoCon is held annually in the spring. Comics lovers, cosplayers and all nerds in general are welcome.
Everything you need to know about MomoCon 2018 In Atlanta
General operating hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday, with some events running into the evening/all night (dances, music events, the game hall etc.). And the guest list? Take a look at the guest list.
While there will be plenty of activities for adults to get into, there will be lots of kids-content as well, including concerts, panels, events, costumes, tournaments, kids-workshops and more.
REGISTRATION HOURS FOR 2018
Wednesday – 2pm – 9pm, Thursday 12pm – 11pm, Friday 9am – 11pm, Saturday 9am – 11pm, Sunday 9am – 3pm
Memberships for each day are valid until 8am the following day, with the exception of Sunday.
GAMING HALL HOURS FOR 2018
Thursday – 2pm Sunday – 5pm (note: some sections do not run full hours)
EXHIBIT HALL HOURS FOR 2018
Thursday – 2pm – 8pm, Friday – 10am – 7pm, Saturday – 10am – 7pm, Sunday – 10am – 5pm
AUTOGRAPHS
MAPS
Omni Grand Ballroom
Omni TowerGWCC Floor 1
GWCC Floor 3
GWCC Floor 4Because parking will be a beast downtown, attendees are encouraged to take public transit to the convention. The GWCC has an inclement weather bridge to both a large and secure parking area and the GWCC/Phillips Arena MARTA rail station.
See more about the event at momocon.com.
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A new report from the U.S. Bureau of Statistics projects that black women will make up the larger share of African-American labor force by the year 2026.
The figures show a contrast to a trend that has been in motion since the turn of the century. The black labor force participation rate has been declining since its peak in 2000.
The largest drop was in 2009, after the 2007–09 recession, to 62.4 percent, which was a decline of 1.3 percentage points relative to the 2008 rate. The decline has continued, registering at 61.6 percent in 2016. BLS projects the labor force participation rate of Blacks to decline even further in the 2016–26 decade.
In 1972, Black men made up 55.3 percent of the Black labor force, and Black women made up 44.7 percent. In the last four decades, the share of Black men in the labor force has declined, while the share of Black women has increased. In 1988, both men and women made up an equal share of the Black labor force. From 1989 to 2000, the share of Black women increased to 53 percent and the share of Black men declined to 47 percent. The rates for both women and men have stabilized since then. BLS projects these rates to be relatively flat in the 2016–26 decade.
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For this week’s AtlantaFi Dish of the Week, we travel to Asia and, well, not really. OK, Buckhead. That’s where you’ll find the newish Thai restaurant Chai-Yo.
The eatery has a lot of deliciousness, but they recently spotlighted the following:”Nam Prik Ong” – Roasted tomatoes, garlic, shallots, ground pork, touch of shrimp paste served with Lotus chips, pork cracklings, cucumber, and cabbage.
Atlanta Dish: Chai-Yo’s ‘Nam Prik Ong’
Looks good, doesn’t it? I recently tasted it. Words can’t really describe. So flavorful. So good.
The restaurant says that it brings a “chef-driven Thai concept featuring Chef DeeDee Niyomkul’s interpretation of traditional and old-world Thai recipes using new world techniques and inspiration. We agree whole-heartedly!
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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Atlanta, being the center of the movie-making universe, will love this one: Regal, one of the largest theatre chains in the United States, is going to be offering movies this summer for the incomprehensible price of $1. The company is embarking on the endeavor as part of the Summer Movie Express.
To enjoy a fun-filled film with the fam, you have to go to the theater on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., with some of proceeds slated to go to charity.
Regal This Summer Is Launching $1 Family Movies
“For just $1, moviegoers of all ages are invited to climb aboard the Summer Movie Express for unbeatable entertainment throughout the summer where they can see great movies like Despicable Me 2, Sing, The Secret Life of Pets and more,” said Ken Thewes, Chief Marketing Officer at Regal. “What better way to be entertained and spend quality time with each other than at your local Regal Cinemas.”
Here is the slate of movies that will be part of the program:
- Iron Giant
- The LEGO Movie
- Curious George
- Alvin and the Chipmunks
- Despicable Me
- Sing
- Ice Age: Collision Course
- The Peanuts Movie
- Storks
- The LEGO Ninjago Movie
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman
- Ferdinand
- Despicable Me 2
- The Secret Life of Pets
- How to Train Your Dragon 2
- Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
For local start dates and participating theatres, please visit
https://www.regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express. -
Atlanta-born actor Donald Glover can stick another feature into his sizably creative hat. The “Atlanta Fx” star has signed on to play the lead in his own “Star Wars” spinoff as a younger Lando Calrissian.
He was cast to play the role popularized by Billy Dee Williams in this spring’s “Solo” movie.
Report: Donald Glover getting Lando Calrissian spinoff
Glover will get to spread his wings with Calrissian and explore his motivations as well as his back story, which is still not fully explained in “Solo.”
The spin-off was teased by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy at the Cannes Film Festival this week.
“We think that the next spinoff will be dedicated to Lando Calrissian,” Kennedy told Premiere France. “Of course, there are still many stories to tell about Han and Chewbacca but Lando will be next.”
Glover has added a dimension to Calrissian’s character that Billy Dee didn’t have time to explore. Young Lando is pansexual.
“There’s a fluidity to Donald and Billy Dee’s [portrayal of Lando’s] sexuality,” “Solo” co-writer Jonathan Kasdan told the Huffington Post. “I mean, I would have loved to have gotten a more explicitly LGBT character into this movie. I think it’s time, certainly, for that, and I love the fluidity ― sort of the spectrum of sexuality that Donald appeals to and that droids are a part of.”
There are also at least two more movies planned about young Han Solo, played by Alden Ehrenreich. The actor reportedly has a three-picture deal with Lucasfilm.
Movie lovers were introduced to Lando Calrissian in “The Empire Strikes Back” as the administrator of Cloud City, where he seemed to be pre-occupied with staying off the radar of the Empire. As we learn, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker C-3PO and the gang change that.
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From May 14-20, 2018, it’s American Craft Beer Week. That means there’s plenty of suds flowing throughout Atlanta’s many bars, taverns, craft breweries and micro-breweries.
Arches Brewing in Hapeville is doing it big this week with a Tasting Room celebrating American Craft Beer Week. The establishment is releasing specialty beers every day and sprinkling in giveaways.
On May 22nd, set down the kettlebell and reconnect with your 7 year old you. The one that played and moved through space like no one was watching. MOVE & BREW will expose you to multiple areas of movement through games, breathing exercises, stillness, joint care & maintenance. All fitness levels welcome. More info here. Come early and stay after for a pint!
On May 24, Arches is partner with Ludacris’ restaurant Chicken+Beer, for Flights & Bites. At the event people will be able to pair seasonal beer flights with their southern comfort creations. $10 flights, $15 bites, or $25 all in.
Arches Brewing is located at 3361 Dogwood Dr, Hapeville, Georgia 30354.
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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More than 17,000 people are expected to come to Cobb County for the Marietta Greek Festival, which is this weekend. Now in its 28th year, the festival celebrates the very best of Greek cultural and accomplishment.
The event will be held at 3431 Trickum Rd NE, Marietta, Georgia 30066. There will be food, fun and entertainment.
All about the 2018 Marietta Greek Festival
From ages 3 to adult, the Marietta Greek Dance Ministry is one of the largest in the Southeast and the largest in Georgia with 135 dancers participating in the program. It will include the high school troupe, “Eleftheria”, which has achieved fame by winning gold in 2001 and bronze medals in 2004, 2005 and 2011.
Also performing is the adult troupe, “Metamorphosi”, earned back-to-back Bronze medals 2014 and 2015 at the Hellenic Dance Festival, a competition of Greek Folk dance troupe from the southeastern region of the US.
Marietta Greek Festival Tickets Here
The event will be:
FRIDAY, May 18 3pm – 11pm
SATURDAY, May 19 10am – 11pm
SUNDAY, May 20 11am – 6pm