Atlanta, GA

As I was listening to NPR this morning, I heard a segment about Atlanta looking to build another airport. Atlanta’s Hartsfield airport is I believe the busiest airport in the U.S. I had no idea though that there is enough need for an additional airport. The current one isn’t that small.

The segment discussed the idea of making Chattanooga’s (Tennessee city 2 hrs from Atlanta) airport larger. However, this may be too far. I personally think that is not convenient to Atlanta residents. But I once drove to Birmingham for a cheaper flight. So the next option looks like somewhere north of Atlanta.

I’m really curious to see where this goes - Will MARTA go there? Will this cause another traffic issue for the city?

But heck - When Atlanta got 2 area codes, I thought I’d be confused forever. Now we’ve got 3, so I guess this new airport is going to be okay too. One step closer to being a real city - D.C., NYC, they’ve all got two airports…

* Saturday - Sephora and Atlanta Magazine are hosting a private party to celebrate the opening of a new Sephora store at the Mall of Georgia. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and makeovers provided. To get on the list RSVP to: rsvp@sephora.com

* Saturday - Check out some Improv with the group Jackpie at the Relapse Theater. The only group in Atlanta performing long form Improv. Show kicks off at 9:30pm. Tickets are only $5 and you can get beer there too! Website: www.jackpie.com

This is pretty much the best news Atlanta has received lately - Jim Henson’s family has donated over 700 Muppets to Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts scheduled to open in a new wing in 2012. Puppets include characters from cult films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, and TV show Fraggle Rock.

This is way cooler than the Aquarium or the Coke Museum.

I LOVE the Muppets! I am so a child of the 80s.

I recently went to check out Blue Pointe, located in Buckhead across from Phipps Plaza, I believe it’s at the bottom of the Meryll Lynch building. This restaurant is part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group.

Overall, it was so-so, not amazing. The restaurant features seafood and has both entree and sushi menus. My party ordered off of the sushi menu. The dishes were decent - nothing special. I have definetly had better sushi at straight-up sushi restaurants.

The dessert however was amazing and worth going to Bluepointe for. We had their chai creme brulee which is served with a lemon sorbet and a spoon with frozen honey on it to get tastes of with every bit.

For me - I think it was overated and not worth the price. Very good service, but I just don’t get how it’s amazing.

Any other opinions on the place?

So the idea of Michael Vick having dog fights at his house really pisses me off. First off is he really trying to plead the case that he didn’t know there was dog fighting going on in his house? I mean aren’t dogs loud? I imagine fighting dogs would be really loud - and how do you just miss running across dog fighting at your house.

Anyone who supports dog fighting - let alone allow it at their home - has ZERO character. I would NEVER want his signature or look up to him as a cool celebrity.

The sad thing is this will probably be forgotten and he will continue to play football and make millions. It happens all the time - look at R. Kelley, Kobe Bryant, etc.

Some celebrites say they don’t want to have to also be a role model. Then stop marketing that celebrity. Let them do their job (play football) and give them zero coverage. See if they like it then…

But that’s just my opinon..Let me know what you think of Michael Vick.

This weekend I went on a bike ride on the Silver Comet Trail. Despite my totally sore ass I have today and having to learn how to use brakes in the handlebars, I really enjoyed myself. The terrain is a relaxing, natural, gorgeous site. There are mostly bikers on the path, but there are also walkers, runners, and rollerbladers too.

I rented my bike at their stop in Mableton.

The Silver Comet Trail is a 60 mile-long, converted rail-trail going from Smyrna, about 15 miles Northwest of Atlanta, to the Georgia-Alabama state line.

*Get the new and last Harry Potter book. Borders is having a party at their bookstores on Fri. 7/20 until the clock hits midnight and they start selling the book. Otherwise, get your copy Saturday.

*Get a little culture in you - Go see Stephen Sondheim’s Company at Kingswood United Methodist Church, 5015 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338. Show runs from July 19-29, Thurs-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 2:30pm. All seats $15. This musical sold-out in NYC - get your experience a little closer to home.Company deals with adult issues and material, not recommend for those younger than high school age.

*This Saturday night, Rumba Magazine and Marshall M Productions present a special edition of Velvet Room Saturdays with A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream 6. A fabulous, mischievous summer adventure starring the Rumba girls. Doors open at 10 pm.
Helpful Hint: Get on Velvet Room’s email list for a free pass for you and a guest before midnight

The Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern is one of the best places to see theater in the city. Located in downtown Atlanta, this theater offers traditional (but good) English food, wine, beer to eat and drink while watching their performances.

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company would like to offer you 2-for-1 tickets in any seating section to the Friday, July 20, 2007 7:30 PM performance of The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).

Compleat Works features hilarious Tavern favorites Tony Brown, Paul Hester, and Andy Houchins.

They are located at 499 Peachtree Street, 4 blocks south of the Fox Theatre and across the street from Crawford Long Hospital.

Seating starts 75 minutes in advance and is first-come, first-served within each section. Food and beverage service also begins at that time. Food and beverage service is separate from the ticket price and optional.

Patrons must call for reservations and mention the password “booga booga booga”: 404-874-5299 x0. Offer valid on adult price tickets only.

For more info. visit www.shakespearetavern.com

Restaurant Review: Belly dancers, hookas, yummy food! - it’s Istanbul Cafe, located on Lawrenceville Hwy, appears disheveled on the outside. BUT - on the inside, it offers delicious, inexpensive dishes with the fun atmosphere of sitting on the floor on pillows. There are regular tables for those not wishing to have the pillow seating experience. The restaurant is a popular spot for groups and entertaining out of town guests. I reccommend the grape leaves, humus and steak kabob. However, I have never been dissappointed with any item on the menu.
For more info. go to their website: http://www.cafeistanbulatlanta.com/

Helpful Hint: Look for coupons to this restaurant in SavvyShopper

Born in Atlanta on Nov 4, 1900 to an affluent Southern family.

In the 1920s, she became a writer for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution

June 1936 - Published Gone with the Wind

Dec 15, 1939 - Movie premier of Gone with the Wind was at Loews’ Grand Theater in Atlanta with Mitchell present and all the stars

Aug 11, 1949 - Was hit while crossing the intersection of 13th and Peachtree by an off duty cab driver. She died five days later and is buried at Oakland Cemetary.

* Interesting Fact: Margaret Mitchell was cousins by marriage to John “Doc” Holliday

I thought I knew what the Dames Aflame were when I saw them at Atlanta Magazine’s Best of Atlanta party. They were women dressed in Vegas show girl attire and dancing around a band playing Big Band music. However, when I saw their show this weekend in their theater adjoining Vortex Restaurant on Peachtree Street, I was a little caught of guard when they took their tops off. Not that I am prudish…just not what I was expecting.

This was my first burlesque show, and I must say it was very entertaining. I mean it was funny and unusual. There is also one large, burly man in the show and a male midget. Plus a greasy, cheesy, and comedic MC, a sailor pianist, and some guy with chest hair and a vest who comes out into the audience occassionally.

So - if you really wanna see something different - well then - I guess go see Dames Aflame. Be prepared for a $30 ticket and this show does sell out fast. More info: www.damesaflame.com

This weekend is your last chance to see the Gates of Paradise at The High Museum of Arts. These are original reliefs from the massive church doors they once were placed at in Florence. If you go to Florence now, the doors are replaced with replicas. For more info., visit the high’s website: www.high.org

Also this weekend is CORNDOGORAMA at Lenny’s. It’s basically a big music festival that also has corndogs for sale and a corndog eating contest. Check out the band Winter Sounds while you’re there. More info. at www.corndogorama.com

There’s also tons of theatrical productions going on this weekend check out the Essential Plays at 7 Stages, Pump Boys and Dinnette’s at Stage Door Players, Godspell and the Gwinett Center and I am sure much more.

Art in Atlanta: I love Harry Potter and people who don’t love him absolutely boggle my mind. The 5th movie is out and it’s fabulous!!!

Mall of Georgia is showing the film on their incredibly huge Imax screen and for the fight scene you put on 3-D glasses to see it come to life.

Do yourself a favor - go see this movie! There are ZERO excuses.

1969 - The National League was divided into two baseball divisions (wacky as the realignment turned out to be). For example, the Atlanta Braves were placed in the West Division, while the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs were Eastern Division teams. Cincinnati was also placed in the National League West. The Chicago Cubs sued to stay out of the west and remain in the east in the 1990s, when three divisions were formed. They ended up in the new Central division. - From 44o International, Those were the days.

Since I grew up in the Atlanta area and currently live in the city, I am very protective of Atlanta.

I hate when people from the suburbs or other cities come to Atlanta and bash it. No, we’re not NYC - and NYC is probably the coolest city in the world.

For all the OTP peolpe (outside the perimeter people), Atlanta is not ghetto. Have you ever driven through Morningside, Virginia-Highland, Candler Park, Midtown, etc.? It’s gorgeous! Yes, downtown Atlanta has homeless people but what other big city doesn’t and grow a heart. Yes, there’s traffic, but have you seen L.A.’s traffic? Also, who’s causing Atlanta’s traffic? Not the people who live in the city. It’s the people who want the huge 5 bedroom, 5 1/2 bath for a 1/4 price of an Atlanta home but still work in downtown.

I really don’t have anything against otp residents and visitors of Atlanta - just lay off my city. Atlanta rocks! Just keep reading my blog to understand why.