News / WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA - DECEMBER 2006

...a glance at what's making the news...

Louvre Atlanta

Louvre Atlanta is an unprecedented partnership between the High Museum of Art and the Musée du Louvre in Paris that will bring hundreds of works of art from the Louvre's collections to Atlanta over the next three years. Built around specific themes and periods, the High will present a series of long-term special presentations of art from the Louvre beginning October 2006 through 2009.  “Kings as Collectors” – the first exhibit from the Louvre Atlanta partnership – is now open until January 28, 2007. Among the highlights of the exhibition is Raphael’s “Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione,” one of the top treasures from the Louvre’s permanent collection. This collection is the first exhibit of a three-year partnership to bring hundreds of masterpieces to Atlanta. www.high.org

Grand Chanauka Celebration at Centennial Olympic Park

Join the local Chabad-Lubavitch organization on Dec. 17 at Centennial Olympic Park for a Grand Menorah Lighting, hot latkes, doughnuts, coffee and cocoa, prizes, music and children's entertainment! www.chabadintown.org

Flexcar

Flexcar has partnered with Lanier Parking Systems to bring a new transportation alternative to Downtown and Midtown. Flexcar members save hundreds each month by paying to use a car for immediate needs, such as errands, rather than owning a car. 40 Flexcars – a fleet of low emission, fuel-efficient hybrid cars will be parked in reserved parking spaces throughout downtown and midtown Atlanta. Flexcars are available by online or telephone reservation; users pay an hourly fee that covers gas, insurance, maintenance, 24/7 emergency assistance and reserved parking at lots, decks and MARTA stations. Other cities with Flexcars include Washington, D.C., Seattle and San Francisco. Atlanta was selected because of its increasing growth rate. www.flexcar.com

Falcons vs. Dallas Cowboys at Georgia Dome

The Atlanta Falcons take on the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 16 at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons and Cowboys last faced one another in the 2003 season opener at Texas Stadium with the Falcons winning 27-13. Dallas last visited the Georgia Dome in 2001, falling to the Falcons 20-13 in Michael Vick's first-ever start in the NFL. The Falcons hold an all-time 8-12 record against the Cowboys. www.gadome.com

Turner First Thursday

On the first Thursday of every month, art lovers can view the arts, tour the historic districts of Downtown, and enjoy various discounts at Downtown restaurants. Turner First Thursdays is a self-guided tour of galleries, with no beginning or ending point, you are free to move at your own pace.  Selected by Atlanta Magazine as the Best Art Crawl, come see what you're missing! www.atlantadowntown.com/

Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome

The Falcons wrap-up their last 2006 regular season home game on Dec. 24 at the Georgia Dome against division rival Carolina. The Falcons are 9-2 in regular season games against the Panthers at the Dome. www.gadome.com

It’s a Peach to Take MARTA on Peachtree Street

MARTA has brought one-bus service back to Atlanta's most famous thoroughfare, Peachtree Street. For the first time in nearly 30 years, customers can travel from Lenox Mall to the State Capitol in a single vehicle. The Peach (Route 110) features specially designed buses that run every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m., seven days a week. Fare is $1.75, which includes transfers to MARTA rail or bus. The Peach (Route 110) replaces the existing Route 10, between the State Capitol and Arts Center. Bus Route 23, which connects the Arts Center and Lenox rail stations, will continue with its current route and will be enhanced with a stop at Atlantic Station. www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/110.htm.

Dixie Nationals at GWCC

The Dixie Asics National Wrestling Championships for youth and high school wrestlers will be Dec. 28 in Hall A2 of the Georgia World Congress Center.  www.dixienationalswrestling.com

Ride the Penguin Train at Centennial Olympic Park

The last day to ride the brand new, electric Penguin Train at Centennial Olympic Park is Dec. 31. The family friendly ride on wheels is a new addition to the Park’s Holiday festivities, complete with conductor and train whistle.  Buy your tickets at the Polar Ice Depot for $2 per ride, and hop aboard for a magical tour of Holiday in Lights!  The Penguin Train runs on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. www.centennialpark.com

MARTA Implements Mid-Year Service Improvements

The MARTA Board of Directors voted in November to approve a $13.8 million mid-year budget adjustment (annualized) that will improve system cleanliness, customer service, safety, reliability and service delivery. The extra funding will go toward improved lighting in stations, additional phone representatives in the call center, station emergency and information phones, improved maps and area information in rail stations, additional track and rail car cleaning and maintenance staff, increased proactive maintenance of rail cars and tracks and additional Paratransit operators. Capital improvements, which require no additional funding, were also approved to acquire radios and fare boxes for new vehicles and enhance facilities and communications systems. www.itsmarta.com

Atlanta Merchandise Available at Macy’s Stores

Exclusive merchandise featuring Atlanta’s signature logo and tagline, “Every Day is an Opening Day,” is available at three metro area Macy’s stores. Macy’s and Brand Atlanta have partnered to offer clothing apparel, accessories and home merchandise at Cumberland, Lenox Square and Perimeter Malls. Items include sweatshirts, polo and t-shirts, hats, key chains, umbrellas and stadium blankets ranging in price from $5 (ceramic glass) to $60 (men’s fleece hooded sweatshirt). Proceeds from all sales will support the continuing efforts of the Brand Atlanta campaign, initiated by Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP) in 2005. The campaign is driven by Atlanta’s legacy of “openness,” “opportunity” and “optimism.” For a list of items for purchase, or to join the Team ATL mailing list to receive discount offers for Atlanta attractions, restaurants, cultural exhibits and events, visit www.ATLOpen.com.

Holiday in Lights at Centennial Olympic Park

Get into the holiday spirit by taking a stroll through the 21-acre Centennial Olympic Park to view the thousands of holiday lights that make up the annual Atlanta winter tradition, Holiday in Lights. Now celebrating its 7th season, the festive display is different and unique every year. This year, over 300 volunteers from all over Metro Atlanta helped to transform the Park into a dazzling, winter wonderland. Holiday in Lights runs until Jan. 7 and is open every day, including Dec. 25, Christmas Day, from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. There is no charge for admission to the Park. www.centennialpark.com/events/holiday.html

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the Atlanta Civic Center

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, is now at the Atlanta Civic Center. Visitors will be drawn back in time as they step into fully reconstructed replicas of Titanic’s first and third class rooms. More than 300 actual artifacts recovered from Titanic’s debris field will be on view, including a 3,000 pound piece of the ship's hull. The exhibit will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday – Thursday, and 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday - Sunday. www.atlantaciviccenter.com/

Coca-Cola Land Donation for Civil Rights Museum

Coca-Cola has agreed to donate 2.5-acres next to the Georgia Aquarium and the new World of Coca-Cola for a proposed Civil Rights Museum.  The property, which is estimated to be worth $8 million to $11 million and will be gifted to the City of Atlanta, is located across from Centennial Olympic Park.  The Park, described by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as the “perfect location”, has acted as a catalyst for downtown development, spurring the construction across the street of the Georgia Aquarium, then the World of Coca-Cola and now the proposed Civil Rights Museum.  The Museum will honor the city’s history and legacy as the heart and birthplace of the civil rights movement and the Atlanta leaders and civil rights activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose papers were purchased by the city earlier this year.

Outdoor Ice Skating at Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park invites you to skate your way into the 2006 Holiday season!  Atlanta’s only outdoor ice skating rink is open through January 7, except for Dec. 25 for Christmas Day. More than 100 people can skate at a time on the three-inch thick sheet of real ice, and the rink features covered observation seating, theatrical lighting on the ice and holiday music.  Tickets cost $6 for 90 minutes of skate time, and skate rental is an additional $2.  Separate from the main rink, the Park also features a kiddie rink made of synthetic ice, allowing parents and their little ones to skate on a softer surface.  www.centennialpark.com/events/ice.html or call 404.222.PARK

Atlanta Leads the Nation in Attracting Most Coveted Demographic in the Country

Atlanta leads the nation in attracting highly educated 25- to 34-year-olds, the most coveted demographic in the country known as the "Young and Restless”. These are the findings of a study conducted by Portland, Ore., economist Joe Cortright of Impresa Consulting and released in November by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. The study showed that from 1990 to 2000, metro Atlanta increased its young adult population 46 percent, which is faster than any of the top 25 most populous metropolitan areas in the country. At a time when this age group was declining by 9 percent nationally, the number of young adults increased 20 percent in Atlanta. All other of the top 50 metropolitan areas, besides San Francisco, had smaller increases or outright declines in their 25 to 34-year-old population from 1990 to 2000. And the competition for young, talented labor is getting fiercer as baby boomers retire and the workforce shrinks. While much larger cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago still have greater absolute numbers of college-educated 25- to 34-year-olds, Atlanta has disproportionately outpaced all of them in rapidly growing its percentage of these up-and-comers.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome

Atlanta's most classic college bowl game will sport its brand new name and logo this year on Dec. 30 in the Georgia Dome. The Chick-fil-A Bowl will feature Virginia Tech from the ACC vs. the University of Georgia from the SEC. This prestigious event has made its home in the Dome since 1992, has sold out 10 consecutive games and holds the highest average attendance of all non-BCS games in the last 10 years. There is a full day of activity scheduled including the Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade, Fan Fest and the MVP Tailgate Party. The ACC vs. SEC showdown kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the Georgia Dome. Tickets for this year's Chick-fil-A Bowl are now available and fans are encouraged to purchase early in order to guarantee availability. Ask for details on reserving a suite and enjoy this incredible event in style! www.chick-fil-abowl.com

The Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta

The 2007 Peach Drop is a day of family fun and an evening of top-notch entertainment! Beginning at noon on Dec. 31, Underground Atlanta will be bursting with activities for the entire family. As the clock strikes midnight, spectacular fireworks will fill the air as country music sensation, Lone Star, helps to ring in the New Year. www.peachdrop.com

Atlanta Boat Show at GWCC

The Atlanta Boat Show is produced by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world's largest producer of boat shows. NMMA is the leading association representing a $33 billion a year recreational boating industry. NMMA member companies produce more than 80 percent of the boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear used by boaters and anglers in the U.S. so there will be plenty to take in at the annual Atlanta Boat Show in Building C of the Georgia World Congress Center Jan. 10 - 14. www.atlantaboatshow.com/

Monster Jam at the Georgia Dome

Live Nation is one of the world’s largest producers and promoters of specialized motor sports events, presenting over 300 events consisting of over 500 performances at premier arena and stadium venues across North America. The Georgia Dome is proud to host Monster Jam – one of the events that attracts over 7 million spectators each year. The color, light, sound, speed and intense action of Monster Jam transports fans from the ordinary to a place where larger than life monster trucks fly through the air with ease and crushing cars beneath their enormous wheels is all in a days work. The United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) sanctions the world’s premier monster trucks in the industry including Grave Digger, Maximum Destruction, Madusa, Bounty Hunter, Bulldozer, Avenger, Hot Wheels, Monster Mutt, Superman, El Toro Loco and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, designed after the Michelangelo character. These are just a few of the names of over 100 different trucks that compete at the Monster Jam events. Come and cheer on your favorite! www.monsterjamonline.com

Volunteer Work Day at Centennial Olympic Park

Centennial Olympic Park is hosting a Volunteer Work Day Jan. 13. Volunteers are needed to help remove lights from the fabulous Holiday in Lights display.  Individual volunteers are welcome or you can share the experience by volunteering as a group. Make it a celebratory outing by volunteering with family, friends, co-workers, church groups or civic organizations. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Park’s Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Tinker, by calling 404-223-4093 or by e-mailing jtinker@centennialpark.com.

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