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Has Tyler Perry bought BET? There’s no official word yet. What is widely known is that Atlanta movie mogul Tyler Perry is now a billionaire.
The “Madea” creator has made a series of shrewd business decisions over the last 20 years to grow his religious plays into culturally relevant full-length movies with moral endings.
How Tyler Perry Became A Millionaire
Most of Perry’s wealth is tied into his content, which he owns outright. A quarter of his worth comes from Tyler Perry Studios, which he bought from the city of Atlanta and transformed into a historic movie house.
The actual breakdown of Perry’s wealth is this:
- Cash and Investments — $300 million
- Stake in BET+ — $60 million
- Homes and Toys — $40 million
- Film Library — $320 million
- Tyler Perry Studios — $280 million
Perry says he was told that the audience he was catering to wouldn’t be able to support full-feature films.
“ ‘Black people who go to church don’t go to the movies,’ ” Perry told Forbes that he was told back then. “I came from a place where Black people had already embraced me and loved me. I was completely happy there, and still am.”
Perry joins an exclusive list when it comes to being one of the richest businessmen in the state. Here is Georgia’s billionaires club.Read more: Best work from home jobs in Atlanta, Georgia
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One thing the common observer immediately notices about Atlanta is the plentiful amount of trees. The greenery is the scenery, as they say.
A recent report from Nearmap, a location intelligence and aerial imagery company, shows the Top 25 Leafiest Capital Cities in America.
What Are Cities With The Most Trees And Leaves?
Atlanta makes the top five in the list, which highlights the country’s top 25 leafiest capital cities.
In Georgia’s largest city, which has been called the “city in a forest,” one reason why it can be compared more “leafy” than most is the region’s tree canopy.
It’s another reason why Atlanta has some of the best parks in the Southeast.
The results of the study were compiled through Nearmap’s proprietary aerial imagery technology and location data from its Nearmap AI platform.
The report identified the top 25 leafiest capital cities and their percentage of total residential tree coverage as:
- Charleston, West Virginia (74.7%)
- Tallahassee, Florida (56.1%)
- Little Rock, Arkansas (54.9%)
- Raleigh, North Carolina (54.7%)
- Nashville, Tennessee (53.5%)
- Atlanta, Georgia (53.1%)
- Annapolis, Maryland (51.0%)
- Concord, New Hampshire (49.2%)
- Jackson, Mississippi (47.5%)
- Augusta, Maine (46.3%)
- Jefferson City, Missouri (43.3%)
- Austin, Texas (43.2%)
- Olympia, Washington (42.9%)
- Columbia, South Carolina (40.1%)
- Richmond, Virginia (39.9%)
- Albany, New York (39.1%)
- Montgomery, Alabama (34.9%)
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana (34.1%)
- St. Paul, Minnesota (33.2%)
- Des Moines, Iowa (31.4%)
- Topeka, Kansas (30.6%)
- Indianapolis City, Indiana (29.5%)
- Springfield, Illinois (27.7%)
- Frankfort, Kentucky (26.3%)
- Columbus, Ohio (26.1%)
Final Word
The Nearmap study is the first and only research of its kind in the U.S. using a high-resolution data set to compare total residential tree cover across capital cities for insurers, commercial construction companies and governments.
Check out the Atlanta forest, which has fresh fruits and vegetables you can purchase.
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Queen of hip-hop Mary J. Blige is headlining the second annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in Atlanta, Georgia.
The star-studded event is one of Atlanta’s best festivals.
Who Is Performing At The Strength Of A Woman Festival in Atlanta?
The event, which will be held at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta, features an all-star musical lineup and will include MJB B-Sides” set; and a special R&B night with performances by the following:
- Mary J. Blige
- Lauryn Hill
- Summer Walker
- Robert Glasper
- Mike Epps
- Jodeci
- Busta Rhymes
- Jeezy
- Method Man
- Jadakiss
- Lucky Daye
- Coco Jones
- Saucy Santana
- Sunday Service Collective
- Muni Long
When Is The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit In Atlanta?
The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit is taking place in Atlanta on Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13, 2023.
For tickets to the concert on Friday May 12 and Saturday, May 13, visit: soawfestival.com and Ticket Master.
Created and curated by Grammy-award-winning R&B songstress Mary J. Blige, Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit is the only festival experience in the market brought to you exclusively by an all-Black, female team.
Final Word
Atlanta has a lot of cool things to do and places to eat, including some of the top soul food joints and remarkable Thai food spots. Explore the city.
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The Black Effect Podcast Festival is happening in Atlanta, Georgia this year! Read on to find out the dates, times and more.
The star-studded event is one of Atlanta’s best festivals.
Charlamagne Tha God and iHeartMedia recently announced the 2023 Black Effect Podcast Festival to celebrate, uplift and amplify Black voices in the podcast industry.
Black Effect Podcast Festival: What To Know
Charlamagne Tha God will join the festival alongside some of the Black Effect’s most popular personalities for a day full of live podcast tapings and informative discussions aimed at aspiring podcasters in the Black community. The festival will be hosted by Charlamagne Tha God and “Carefully Reckless” Host and Comedian Jess Hilarious.
When Is The Black Effect Podcast Festival Taking Place?
The event will take place Saturday, April 22 from noon to 8 p.m. ET at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA.
Tickets will go on sale March 1 at 12 p.m. EST. For more information on ticket pricing and this year’s festival lineup, visit blackeffect.com/podcastfestival.
The Festival will feature live podcast tapings from the Black Effect’s most popular shows including “The 85 South Show,” “WHOREible Decisions,” and “Big Facts,” and a special joint taping with “Reasonably Shady,” and “Checking In With Michelle Williams.”
Additionally, ticket holders will hear thought-provoking and informative discussions during the event’s Women in Podcasting Panel and The Business of Podcasting Panel featuring Black Effect Podcast Network hosts Chad Oubre (“85 South Show”), Coline Witt (“Eating While Broke”), Jess Hilarious (“Carefully Reckless” and event co-host), Tamika Mallory (“Street Politicians”), Tezlyn Figaro (“Straight Shot, No Chaser”) and more.
Where Is Pullman Yards Located In Atlanta?
Pullman Yards is located at 225 Rogers St NE, Atlanta, GA 30317. Here’s a map to help you find it.
Final Word
You don’t want to miss this new festival in Atlanta.
The Black Effect Podcast Festival sponsors will be on-site at the event with engaging activations for attendees. In addition, the festival will also feature iHeartMedia Atlanta’s very own DJ Loui Vee and a variety of other activities such as a pop-up marketplace showcasing merchandise from Black-owned businesses, a family game room and gaming tournament hosted by The Trap Nerds, a photo booth, a career corner and more.
Atlanta has a lot of cool things to do and places to eat, including some of the top soul food joints and remarkable Thai food spots. Explore the city.
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The John R. Lewis Legacy Institute (JRL) will have its inaugural gala on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
The theme of the event is “The Legacy Continues,” and it will be hosted by award-winning anchor Jennifer Bellamy of 11Alive. The event, which will run from 6 to 10 p.m., will honor people who embody the highest values of Congressman John R. Lewis and represent his legacy of leadership.
Gathering at the event will be business and community leaders from Troy, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia, in celebration and memory of Congressman John R. Lewis.Feb. 21 will mark the 83rd birthday of the civil rights icon and longtime Georgia Congressman, who for over six decades was recognized as a man who courageously fought for racial equity and justice in America.2023 Honorees Include:
- Arthur Blank, Owner, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United; Chairman, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation; Co-founder, Home Depot
- Rodney Bullard, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chick-fil-A, Inc.
- Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor of Troy University
- Renee Montgomery, Co-owner, WNBA’s Atlanta Dream
- Jason Reeves, Mayor of Troy, Alabama
- Lisa Smith, Senior Vice President of Region External Affairs and Community Engagement, Georgia Power
The yearly gala will reprioritize and underscore the Congressman’s work and life, through the institute. “We are honored to celebrate a Georgia icon and man who uncompromisingly served humanity and was recognized as a pillar of leadership and equality. More importantly, we remain committed to continuing his work,” shares Henry Lewis, Congressman Lewis’ youngest brother.
Final Word
Atlanta has a lot of inspirational people and AtlantaFi.com is going to introduce you to many of them as well as cool places to go, great restaurants and other ATL happenings.
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, Georgia is once again well represented among the most prestigious culinary and food prep experts in America for semifinalists for the James Beard Awards.
Whittled from an exhaustive list, the local semifinalists 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.
When Will The James Beard Awards Be Announced?
The winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 5, 2023, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
“After a year of fundamental changes, we look forward to building on the progress made, celebrating those paving a better future for us all—through their talent and craft, service to others, and commitment to a better, more sustainable industry. We look forward to sharing more exciting details for the 2023 ceremonies in the coming days,” Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation said in a statement.
And The Atlanta James Beard Award Finalists Are…
Outstanding Hospitality
Ticonderoga Club
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Lyla Lila Best Chef: Southeast
- Ronald Hsu and Aaron Phillips, Lazy Betty
- Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor, Heirloom Market BBQ,
- Deborah VanTrece, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
Here Is The Complete 2023 List Of James Beard Award Finalists
From the Best Chefs to the top bar programs, the James Beard Awards exemplify the utmost of America’s food culture, which New Orleans plays a big part in.
Read the complete list of James Beard Award nominees for 2023.
Final Word
At this point, Atlanta cuisine has become indispensable to the South. The largest city in Georgia’s food festivals and culinary events set the tone for the entire Southeast. Only in Atlanta can the casual observer find specialty food shops, off-the-beaten-path restaurants, farmers’ markets and farm stands all at an affordable price point. But Atlanta also has trendy restaurants, pop-ups and time-tested landmarks that continue to draw big crowds. Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new? Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta
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The Atlanta Falcons dropped their fourth consecutive game, losing to the Baltimore Ravens 17-9 on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in the Caesar Super Dome. The loss eliminated the Falcons from the playoffs.
Rookie Desmond Ridder started his second straight game at quarterback for the Falcons, who failed to score a touchdown.
Atlanta Falcons 2022 Schedule: Scores And More
The Falcons’ 2022 schedule is a tough one, especially because of some very good AFC opponents. The good news is that many of those games are at the Mercedes Benz Stadium. Let’s take a look at the preseason and regular season games.
Here Is The 2022 Atlanta Falcons Schedule
Game Week Opponent Place and Time Week 1 -- 27-26 L New Orleans Saints September 11 at 1 PM, Fox Week 2 -- 31-27 L at Los Angeles Rams September 11 at 4:05 PM, Fox Week 3 -- 27-23 W at Seattle Seahawks September 25 at 4:25 PM, Fox Week 4 -- 23-20 W Cleveland Browns October 2 at 1 PM, CBS Week 5 -- 21-15 L at Tampa Bay Buccaneers October 9 at 1 PM, Fox Week 6 -- 28-14 W San Francisco 49ers October 16 at, 1 PM, Fox Week 7 -- 35-17 L at Cincinnati Bengals October 23 at 1 PM, Fox Week 8 - 37-34 W (OT) Carolina Panthers October 30 at 1 PM, Fox Week 9 -- 20-17 L Los Angeles Chargers November 16 at 1 PM, Fox Week 10 -- 25-15 W at Carolina Panthers November 10 (Thursday), 8:15 PM, Amazon Prime Video Week 11 -- 27-24 W Chicago Bears November 120 at 1 PM, Fox Week 12 — 13-19 L at Washington Commanders November 27 at 1 PM, Fox Week 13 -- 19-16 L Pittsburgh Steelers December 4 at 1 PM, CBS Week 14 Bye Week Week 15 -- 21-18 L at New Orleans Saints December 18 at 1 p.m. Week 16 -- 17-9 L at Baltimore Ravens December 24 at 1 PM, Fox Week 17 Arizona Cardinals January 1 at 1 PM, Fox Week 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers January 7 or 8, TBD Week 1: Falcons 26, Saints 27
The Atlanta Falcons lost to the New Orleans Saints 26-27 on the opening game for both teams on Sept. 11, 2022. The Falcons had a 16-point lead with 12 minutes left in the game, but were unable to hold the lead.
Week 2: Falcons 27, Rams 31
Atlanta staged a huge comeback, but it wasn’t enough as the Falcons fell to the Los Angeles Rams in L.A. on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022.
Week 3: Falcons 27, Seahawks 23
The Falcons gutted out a big victory, their first of the season, on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2022 against the Seattle Seahawks in Washington state.
Week 4: Falcons, 20, Browns 20
The Falcons came from behind in Week 4 to defeat the Cleveland Browns 23-20 on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022 at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
Week 5: Falcons 15, Bucs 21
A controversial call ended the Falcons’ hopes of a fourth-quarter comeback as they fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, 15 in Tampa.
On third down, the Falcons got a big sack of Tom Brady with a possible chance to win the game, but the referees intervened.
Watch the terrible call on defensive end Grady Jarrett and see for yourself.
Week 6: Falcons 28, 49ers 14
In their most balanced attack of the season, the Atlanta Falcons won 28-14 over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2022. The win improved Atlanta’s record to 3-2.
Week 7: Falcons 17, Bengals 35
The Atlanta Falcons dropped another game last week, this time to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2022. The win dropped Atlanta’s record to 3-4. Next up are the Carolina Panthers in what seems like a must-win for the Falcons.
Here are the highlights from the Bengals game.
Week 8: Falcons 37, Panthers 34
The Falcons made the most of their return to Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022. Against the Carolina Panthers, the Birds showed grit and a propensity to overcome adversity late in the game. The 37-34 victory put the Falcons in sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
Atlanta couldn’t put up a fight on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 in Charlotte. The Falcons fell 25-15 to the Panthers as Atlanta’s offense could never get on track.
Week 9: Falcons 17, Chargers 20
Against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Atlanta Falcons found new and excruciating ways to lose on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The Falcons jumped out to a double-digit lead early on but couldn’t hold on against the Chargers, falling 20-17.
Week 10: Falcons 15, Carolina 25
The Panthers and Falcons meet again on Thursday Night Football in a sloppy game filled with miscues and what-might-have beens. The Falcons lost the Nov 10, 2022 game 25 to 15 to the Panthers.
Week 11: Falcons 27, Bears 24
The Falcons beat the Bears 27-24 by sending pressure to Chicago’s Justin Fields and doing just enough on offense. The win moved the Falcons to second place in the NFC South, just behind Tampa Bay.
Week 12: Commanders 19, Falcons 13
The Falcons offense couldn’t get over the hump on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022 against the Commanders.
Largely playing a bend but don’t break defense, the Falcons kept themselves in the game until the final minute, where Mariota thre it away with a pick.
Week 13: Steelers 19, Falcons 13
The Falcons came into the game on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022 needing a win to stay within a game of NFC South-leading Tampa Bay, but it did’n’t go that way.
Mariota drove Atlanta (5-8) to the Steelers’ 10 yard line with another chance to pull out a victory, but they had to settle for a field goal. They didn’t get the ball back until 20 some seconds on the clock. Mariota’s last pass was then picked off and the Steelers ran the clock out.
Week 14: Saints 21, Falcons 18
Desmond Ridder’s debut against the Saints on Dec. 18, 2022 was a winnable game once again for the Falcons. He threw for 97 yards on 13 of 26 attempts and head coach Arthur Smith said that no matter what his yardage was that “whether he threw for 400 yards or he threw for 100 it wasn’t going to define his career.”
But still the Falcons had a chance to win the game or send it to overtime when Ridder hit fellow rookie wideout Drake London in Saints territory just before the two minute warning. But alas, London fumbled when a Saints defender hit him and New Orleans recovered, sealing the 21-18 defeat for the Dirty Birds.
Week 15: Ravens 17, Falcons 9
On Christmas Eve, Desmond Ridder started his second straight game, this time against the Ravens. The Falcons stuck around for most of the game, but couldn’t make enough plays to win the game, losing 17-9 to Baltimore.
The loss eliminated the Falcons from the postseason.
Who Are The Team Captains For The Falcons?
For the 2022 season, the team captains for the Falcons are quarterback Marcus Mariota, tackle Jake Matthews, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, cornerback A.J. Terrell and kicker Younghoe Koo.
Final Word
After missing the playoffs last year, the Falcons are poised to make a comeback with new signal caller Marcus Mariota. Showing how aggressive the Birds plan to be from a personnel standpoint, the Falcons recently acquired wide receiver Bryan Edwards from the Las Vegas Raiders for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft.
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Atlanta music mogul Dallas Austin is back to his creative ways. This time the hitmaking impresario is combining his love of music with state-of-the-art blockchain technology.
His Atlanta-based company, Dallas Austin Distribution (DAD), recently partnered with Formless Inc., a Boston, Massachusetts-headquartered music technology company, to integrate the SHARE Protocol., which will be leveraged for artists to directly share music with their respective audiences via file requests between clients and servers.
Using SHARE, DAD artists will have the ability to utilize blockchain technology to distribute their digital media, instead of relying on the traditional streaming channels like Spotify and Apple Music, which take a large percentage of artists profits.
What Is The SHARE Protocol?
The SHARE Protocol allows artists to control the access terms to their music, including the streaming price. With SHARE, artists will also be able to receive payments instantly while splitting royalty revenues with collaborators and, if they choose to, their audiences.
“We’re on the forefront of really something revolutionary,” Austin says in a news release about the deal. “It’s going to really change the way that music is dealt with, and the more people that incorporate this, the more we’re going to change the landscape of the business. I’m so excited to go on this journey.”
How To Register For The SHARE Protocol
The Beta version of the SHARE protocol is available for use now by registered artists. The DAD integration is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2023. Artists can currently pre-register for the SHARE Protocol.
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If you didn’t think Halloween was poppin’ before, the launch of Halloween-themed pops from Atlanta-based popsicle empire King of Pops is all the indication you need.
These seasonal sweets will surely satisfy that scary sweet tooth of yours!
What Halloween-Themed Flavors Does King Of Pops Have?
King of Pops offers the following flavors for spooky season:
- Boooreo Cheesecake: Boooreo Cheesecake is haunting the bars once again! With all-natural sandwich crème cookies blended into a creamy cheesecake base, it’s no wonder these pops have a cult following.
- Candy Corn: The pop that *looks* like Candy Corn but *tastes* like 3 mini pops in one sampler pop. It has 3 separate sections of Vanilla, Thai Tea + Chocolate Sea Salt.
- Witch’s Brew: The fruitiest (and vegan!) Halloween pop with an orange juice base and filled to the brim-of-the-cauldron with pieces of kiwi, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries.
Where Is King of Pops Located?
You can find King of Pops at many places in Atlanta, including at select cart locations at Piedmont Park on a hot day. HQ Bar, Colony Square, and all three of the Ponce City Market Bar locations.
Final Word
The launch of Halloween-themed pops from Atlanta-based popsicle empire King of Pops will satisfy your scary sweet tooth.
On a warm day, a King of Pops popsicle is an awesome treat. If you have a sweet tooth, you may be interested in some great ice cream spots around the city. And Atlanta is also quickly becoming a beignet mecca. Indulge in the sweet life!
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