News / WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA - DECEMBER 2005
...a
glance at what's making the news...
"Every Day Is An Opening Day" Hits The
National Media Scene
On November 10th, the Brand Atlanta Campaign team introduced
the final elements of Atlanta's new marketing campaign to
an enthusiastic crowd at Symphony Hall. In the audience
were media from across the nation. Reports about Atlanta's
new brand have been found in USA Today, Associated Press,
The New York Times, the Orlando Sentinel, CNN and National
Public Radio. Visit www.ATLopen.com for more information.
Peachtree Corridor Taskforce Announced
Mayor Shirley Franklin recently appointed Tom Bell, CEO
of Cousins Properties, and Egbert Perry, CEO of Integral
Group, to head the newly-created Peachtree Corridor Taskforce.
Under Bell and Perry, several sub-committees will be created.
These committees will develop a vision for the Peachtree
Corridor that will promote pedestrian-friendly walk spaces,
a street car that connects Atlanta's business districts
and new development that will increase storefront properties
along Atlanta's most famous street. The Peachtree Corridor
connects Midtown, downtown and Buckhead -- the city's busiest
business districts. For more information on the Atlanta
Streetcar visit www.atlantastreetcar.org
"A Christmas Carol" at the Alliance Theatre
"A Christmas Carol," an Atlanta holiday tradition,
runs until December 24 at the Alliance Theatre. For more
information please visit www.alliancetheatre.org
Developer's Day
Join the City of Atlanta's Bureau of Buildings for Developer's
Day on January 17th from 7:30am - 9:30am at the Georgia
Power Company Auditorium at 241 Ralph McGill Blvd, across
the street from the Atlanta Civic Center. To register, www.atlantaga.gov/government/planning/burofbuildings.aspx
Nutcracker at the Rialto
The Rotary International Ballet School presents The Nutcracker
at the Rialto December 18 & 19. This ballet includes
performers from the Polish National Theater and Venezuela's
Ballet Classico de Camara. www.rialtocenter.org
BeltLine TAD
The Atlanta Public School Board of Education voted to approve
the BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD) on December 12.
This vote follows an affirmative vote on the TAD by the
Atlanta City Council on November 7. The Fulton County Commission
is the third and final entity that must approve the BeltLine
TAD. The TAD will serve as the primary source of funding
and will cover the majority of infrastructure costs. The
BeltLine, a 22-mile loop of historic railroad, will increase
greenspace, enhance mobility and foster economic development.
For more information please visit www.beltlinepartnership.org
Peach Drop at Underground
The 2006 Peach Drop is a day full of family fun and an evening
full of top-notch entertainment! Beginning at noon on Saturday,
December 31, Underground Atlanta will be bursting with activities
for the entire family. As the clock strikes 12 midnight,
spectacular fireworks will fill the air as Collective Soul
helps to ring in the New Year. www.peachdrop.com
ACVB Annual Meeting
Save the date for the 93rd ACVB Annual Meeting on Feb. 8,
2006 at the Georgia Aquarium. $75 ticket/$750 table of ten.
RSVP: jclaxton@atlanta.net or call (404) 521-6606.
Atlanta Best Family Vacation Destination
Atlanta has been chosen as one of the 10 Best Places to
Vacation in the U.S. by Family Digest Magazine.
New Air Cargo Service to Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific Cargo recently began the first direct air
cargo flight services from Hong Kong to Atlanta. Cathay
Pacific will fly three flights per week establishing this
critical air link between Atlanta and China. The Atlanta
Logistics Innovation Council continues to work with Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport to market the region and attract
additional air cargo carriers like Cathay Pacific with particular
emphasis on Latin America and Asia.
Children's Holiday Festival
The 28th Annual Children's Holiday Festival will take place
on Saturday, December 17 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in
the City Hall East Exhibition Center.
Atlanta Sports Council Turns 20
The Atlanta Sports Council has helped attract more than
50 multimillion-dollar sporting events to metro Atlanta,
which has become a routine destination for mega events like
the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Four, MLB and NBA all-star
games, and AAU championships. From the Centennial Olympic
Games in 1996, to the PGA Championship in 2001 to USA Volleyball's
Junior Olympic Championships, Atlanta has successfully accommodated
events of every sporting type and scale, validating its
position as Sports Capital of the World. For more information
on the Atlanta Sports Council please visit www.atlantasportscouncil.com
Chastain Holiday Art Show
Still looking for that perfect gift? Visit the City of Atlanta's
Chastain Arts Center annual Holiday Art Show and Sale from
now until December 22.
Atlanta Named Fun City
Atlanta was recently named one of seven fun cities in Weekend
magazine.
Inaugural Atlanta Sports Awards
On February 26, 2006 at the Fox Theater, the Atlanta Sports
Awards, created by the Atlanta Sports Council and presented
by Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, will honor the
most accomplished athletes and teams at all levels from
throughout the metro Atlanta community. The Atlanta Sports
Awards will honor 11 award recipients who distinguish themselves
from the 5 million people living in the 29 metro Atlanta
counties and surrounding areas. That includes all six Atlanta
professional sports teams, 14 universities, 12 junior colleges
and more than 250 public and private high schools. For more
info, visit
www.AtlantaSportsAwards.com
Mayor Franklin in Top 10
Congratulations to Mayor Shirley Franklin for being selected
among the Top 10 mayors in the world for 2005! The World
Mayor competition is an annual internet-based contest organized
by citymayors.com.
The Nutcracker at the Fabulous Fox Theatre
If Atlanta has a single defining holiday event, it would
arguably be the Atlanta Ballet's production of the timeless
Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, which has been delighting
generations of children for almost 40 years. Tchaikovsky's
masterwork has graced stages and screens all around the
world, but the fabulous Fox Theatre's historic architecture,
with the shimmering stars on its ceiling, seems to add a
dash of magic. Little ones love the story of young Marya's
exciting holiday adventure. From the dance of the Sugarplum
Fairies to the notorious, 8-foot tall Rat King, this lavish
production choreographed by John McFall is guaranteed to
provide holiday memories. Runs through December 30. For
more information visit www.atlantaballet.com
Mayor's MASKED BALL
The 22nd Annual Mayor's MASKED Ball, which benefits the
United Negro College Fund, is scheduled for Saturday, December
17 at 8:00 p.m. at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel.
Hartsfield-Jackson Becomes A Hotspot
The airport recently launched Wi-Fi, a wireless network
that will allow travelers to connect laptop computers and
other wireless devices to the Internet from anywhere in
the airport.
With this new service, all 5.8 million square feet of the
airport have become one enormous "hot spot." A
one-day Wi-Fi subscription will cost $7.95 to $9.99 and
will allow passengers to connect laptop computers, personal
digital assistants (PDAs) and other wireless devices to
the Internet. Citywide Wi-Fi access may soon become a reality
for Atlanta residents. Mayor Shirley Franklin and the City
of Atlanta Department of Information Technology (DIT) are
in the process of selecting a vendor to design, build and
manage a citywide wireless infrastructure. A vendor should
be selected by next year.
VSA Holiday Art Sale
VSA Arts of Georgia invites everyone to shop for a cause:
VSA's annual Holiday Art Sale, runs through December 23.
For more information contact Jay Tribby, Executive Director:
404.221.1270 x 207 or Jay.Tribby@VSAartsGA.org
See Atlanta From Above
A giant helium balloon has landed at Underground Atlanta!
Atlanta's newest attraction, the AeroBalloon will allow
locals and visitors to soar high above and admire amazing
views within a 20 mile radius of downtown Atlanta including
the city's skyline, Buckhead, and Stone Mountain. Up to
5 people at a time can travel upwards for a 10 minute adventure
they will never forget. Offered daily, weather permitting.
Adults $18, Children (under 12) $12. www.aeroballoon.com
Atlanta's Intellectual Infrastructure Attracts Real Estate
Investment
The nation's largest real estate investment trust, Equity
Office, has committed to a long-term presence in Metro Atlanta.
According to the company there are several significant characteristics
that make Atlanta an attractive investment market including:
Strong intellectual infrastructure. Educated, diverse workforce.
Diversified economy. Job growth. Balanced growth. Growth
potential. Future Forecast. With strong market fundamentals
in place, Atlanta is well positioned as an investment worthy
city. While real estate companies across the nation are
consistently entering and exiting markets across the country,
Equity Office has its eyes on Atlanta.
Franklin Named Best Leader
Mayor Shirley Franklin was recently named among America's
25 Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report.
Retail Opportunity Abounds in Atlanta's Inner City
Although residents have been flocking to in-town neighborhoods
for the past several years, the selection of retail establishments
has lagged behind. According to an analysis performed by
the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), several
factors make this an ideal time for developers and entrepreneurs
looking to enter Atlanta's retail market. ICIC cites a concentrated
consumer base as the primary competitive advantage for retail
in the inner city. Atlanta's inner city comprises 58% of
the City's total population and has 3 times the income density
of the surrounding metro area. Twice the demand for retail
per square mile exists in the inner city as compared to
metro Atlanta. According to the State of the Inner City
Economies research, in fact, in 2002, Atlanta ranked #2
in the nation for inner city start-ups, following Detroit.
Atlanta's business climate is also bursting with opportunities,
as Inc. magazine ranked Atlanta #1 in its "Top 25 Cities
for Doing Business in America" survey in 2004. Big
retailers looking to grow in large underserved markets,
instead of saturated suburban markets, are increasingly
beginning to recognize the benefits of opening locations
in the inner city.
On a smaller scale, entrepreneurs can also profit by catering
to the neighborhood market and offering lower prices than
the local high price stores that thrive without competition.
From the new Edgewood Marketplace on Moreland Avenue to
the Poly-Plex Pharmacy on Hollowell Parkway, retail is finally
making a return to Atlanta's inner city, but significant
opportunities for growth remain.
Atlanta Welcomes Pirelli
Atlanta is proud to welcome Pirelli to the neighborhood.
The Milan-based company, best known for its high quality
tires in the U.S., has chosen Atlanta for its new North
American headquarters. "The key driver in making this
decision was our partnership with Georgia Tech. The work
they do is closely aligned with the work we already do in
our R&D facility in
Italy. It's a great opportunity to combine resources and
exchange ideas," say Peter Tyson, Vice President of
Communications, Pirelli Tire North Amercia. This partnership
will work to develop new optical components and systems
and broadband access technologies for future high-speed
telecommunications networks. The company will occupy 54,000
square feet of laboratory space at the Georgia Electronic
Design Center in the Technology Square Research Building
at Georgia Tech. The headquarters office space will be located
next door in the Centergy One building.
Ice Skating at Centennial Olympic Park
The only place in Atlanta where you can find outdoor ice
skating is in Centennial Olympic Park! The ice skating rink
features a three-inch thick sheet of real ice, covered observation
seating, theatrical lighting on the ice and decorative lighting
in the trees surrounding the rink. There is also a kiddie
rink separate from the main rink, where parents can skate
with small children for a safer (and softer) environment.
Skate for 90 minutes for only $6 -- skates are an additional
$2. The rink is open until January 8, 2006. www.centennialpark.com
Sugar Bowl to be Held in Atlanta
The 72nd Nokia Sugar Bowl Football Classic will be held
on January 2, 2006, in Atlanta's Georgia Dome and will use
proceeds generated by that Bowl Championship Series (BCS)
game to support hurricane relief efforts in its native New
Orleans. The Georgia Dome is pleased to be able to provide
a location for this year. Come see the University of Georgia
Bulldogs take on the West Virginia University Mountaineers.
www.nokiasugarbowl.com
Georgia Aquarium Opens
The Georgia Aquarium opened November 23 as the largest aquarium
in the world with more than 8 million gallons of water and
more than 100, 000 fish. The Georgia Aquarium is located
in Downtown Atlanta, next to the site of the new World of
Coca-Cola Museum which is scheduled to open the summer of
2007, across the street from CNN Center, the Georgia World
Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park and Imagine It!
Atlanta's Children's Museum. www.georgiaaquarium.org
Goethe-Institut Anniversary
The Goethe-Institut Atlanta, located in Colony Square, turns
30 this year.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade headlines a full day of activities
on December 30 including Fan Fest and the MVP Tailgate Party.
The ACC vs. SEC showdown kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the Georgia
Dome with the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Louisiana
State University Tigers. www.peachbowl.com
News compiled from: City Newsbytes At-A-Glance
(Mayor’s Office of Communications), Membership
Communique (Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau),
Downtown Live (Central Atlanta Progress),
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Newsletter,
www.downtownATL.com, The Pulse
of Progress (Atlanta Development Authority) and
the Georgia World Congress Center newsletter.
|
