Newcomer Magazine Winter 2023

Winter 2023

the Get de Insi on p Scooanta Atlp. 10

HISTORY MEETS LUXURY

Visit Georgia’s Oldest Hotels & Inns

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS & HOAs

What They Offer and How They Differ

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

3 Steps to Help Your Child Get Ready

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Winter 2023 CONTENTS FEATURES Atlanta Insider’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Wintertime Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 New to Atlanta and feeling confused by the lingo? From The Big Chicken to the Frosted Orange, we’ll bring you up to speed on your new city.

Start planning your winter activities now with our list of the best things to do for the season, including holiday events, indoor and outdoor festivals, ice skating and that polar bear plunge you’ve been eager to do.

How to Prepare for College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Georgia’s History Inns & Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

From middle school through high school, how to help your child get a head start on early preparation and navigating the college path.

Georgia’s oldest hotels and inns are historic gems of yesteryear, providing travelers the perfect mix of history, luxury and Southern charm

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DEPARTMENTS In Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Restaurant Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 The inside scoop on news, events and happenings around Atlanta.

Homes and Communities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Learn about homeowner associations and neighborhood associations and why they might be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Neighborhood Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, offering a thriving nightlife and foodie scene, is central to Atlanta’s downtown neighborhood revival.

School Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Atlanta Academy, located in Roswell and founded by teachers, focuses on creativity, diversity and community to mold students into innovative thinkers.

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Reverence, located inside the Epicurean Atlanta hotel, has a globally inspired menu reflecting the executive chef’s experience.

Relocation Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 A guide to help you find your way before, during and after your move, including count information, neighborhoods, relocation tips and more.

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Get caught up on the best exhibitions, theatrical productions, special events and live music across the metro area.

Hidden Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 With an emphasis on pink and unique products, Piggy Jo’s is a children’s clothing store and gift shop offering items you can’t find anywhere else.

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We wish to thank all the people who made this publication possible through their valuable time and dedication. Many thanks to our advertisers for their support of Newcomer magazine. publisher/president

Patrick Killam

pkillam@killampublishing.com

editor

Everett Catts marketing & promotions

Jeff Thompson contributing writers

Michelle Bourg, Susan Flowers, Tony Jenkins, Rachael Mason, Jackson Reeves director of sales & marketing

Patrick Killam pkillam@killampublishing.com account director

Lacey James advertising@killampublishing.com

TO ADVERTISE CALL 770-992-0273 font: mawns handwriting

Scan this code to check out past issues of Newcomer.

Enabling Children with Learning Differences

to Succeed ✔ Pre-K through 8th Grade ✔ Small group instruction using multi-sensory techniques ✔ Academic programs matched to individual’s strengths Phone: 770-594-1313 I 200 Cox Rd. Roswell

W W W. P O R T E R A C A D E M Y. O R G 6 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

Newcomer magazine, Winter 2023, Volume 26, Issue 4.

Submissions, photography or ideas may be sent to Killam Publishing, Inc., 200 Market Place, Suite 230, Roswell, GA 30075. Submissions will not be returned unless otherwise requested and accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Newcomer magazine reserves the right to revise submissions as necessary. Reproduction in whole or in part of any elements of this publication are strictly prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. © 2022 Killam Publishing, Inc.

For additional copies, further information, advertising or suggestions, please contact:

KILLAM PUBLISHING, INC. P: 770-992-0273 • F: 844-706-1545 info@killampublishing.com NewcomerAtlanta.com

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inFOCUS NEWS BITES FROM AROUND ATLANTA

EVERYBODY CUT

FOOTLOOSE

WALK IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

PHOTO: Atlanta Botanical Garden

PHOTO: Jack Hartin © Abhann Productions

Since the 1990s, Riverdance has stomped its way into countless hearts around the globe. And now the smash-hit stage production showcasing Irish and international dance is winning a new generation of fans with its hypnotic, energetic choreography. This completely reimagined show comes to the Fox Theatre Jan. 27-29, courtesy of Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta. For tickets, visit atlanta.broadway.com.

Now in its 12th year, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights has become a seasonal favorite, turning Midtown’s Atlanta Botanical Garden into a breathtaking landscape of natural wonders and fantastic light displays. This year’s event promises an all-new exhibition by French artist Cédric LeBorgne and three massive sculptures from the popular Origami in the Garden exhibit. Through Jan. 14. atlantabg.org.

Based on the popular PBS Kids series, Splash and Bubbles: Dive In, Lend a Fin! immerses young learners in the awesome world of our majestic oceans. This Children’s Museum of Atlanta exhibit allows your child to join Splash, Bubbles and the Reeftown Rangers to learn about marine biology and find out how even small actions can have big ripple effects that can help save our seas. This hands-on experience opens Jan. 21 and runs through April 30. For more information, call 404659-5437 or visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Historic College Park Home

Step Into a World of Wizardry There’s no need to take the Hogwarts Express to visit the world’s most famous boy wizard.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition is an immersive, one-of-a-kind celebration of your favorite moments, characters and beasts from the film series. Learn behind-the-scenes film details while interacting with actual props and costumes and brushing up on your Quidditch moves. For more information or to buy tickets, visit atlanta.harrypotterexhibition.com.

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PHOTO: TM & © Henson. © Herschend Studios

PHOTO: Photo courtesy of Harry Potter: The Exhibition as seen at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA from February 18 - September 18, 2022.

Make a Splash!

PHOTO: Photo by Greg Mooney

inFOCUS

The Gift That Keeps on Giving Atlanta can boast few holiday traditions as beloved as the Alliance Theatre’s annual staging of A Christmas Carol. This year marks the show’s 34th season, and its second with a reimagined stage show featuring exciting costumes, set design, puppetry, exciting live music and a cast packed with some of Atlanta’s finest actors, including Andrew Benator as Ebenezer Scrooge. This telling of Charles Dickens’ timeless story remains a must-see event. Through Dec. 24. For tickets, call 404-733-4600 or visit alliancetheatre.org.

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SCOO E ID S IN E H T No doubt about it, Atlanta can be an intimidating place. There’s so much to take in that it’s easy to feel like an outsider. To help you start feeling like a true local, we’ve broken down what makes our city special: its essential dining experiences, sites that add a little history to your new home and the five things every true Atlantan has to do. Follow these helpful suggestions and you’ll be feeling like an insider in no time.

DANCE IN THE OLYMPIC RINGS Located in the heart of downtown, Centennial Olympic Park is a lasting legacy of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. At its heart is the Fountain of Rings, where the water dances in a synchronized ballet with music, sound and light effects, four times a day, 365 days per year. In warmer months, the fountain is one of the most unique and fun ways for kids—and grownups—to cool off from the summer heat. gwcca.org/centennial-olympic-park 10 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

PO

MET O H W E N R N YOU

Stone Mountain Park

OWN

By Rachael Mason

War and the city’s fascinating post-antebellum story and tour some of Atlanta’s grandest historic homes. atlantahistorycenter.com

EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS

WALK UP STONE MOUNTAIN

Take a stroll along the BeltLine, a 22-mile paved trail constructed from reclaimed railroad corridors that links 45 neighborhoods, numerous parks and additional trails. Be sure to stop for lunch on the patio at one of the many eateries along the way (beltline.org). Admire the stunning flower gardens at the Atlanta Botanical Garden (atlantabg.org), and spend an afternoon walking, biking, picnicking or just people-watching at the city’s favorite greenspace, Piedmont Park. piedmontpark.org

Standing at the top of Stone Mountain offers an unparalleled view of not just the Atlanta skyline but the entire surrounding area. If you can’t handle hiking the incline, you can ride to the top in a cable car, but keep in mind that you won’t get “I climbed Stone Mountain” bragging rights. stonemountainpark.com

CATCH A BRAVES GAME AT TRUIST PARK

ENJOY A FROSTED ORANGE AT THE VARSITY

There’s nothing quite like an Atlanta Braves home game, especially now that the Braves are in their new home at Truist Park. The fun starts long before first pitch with a stroll through The Battery Atlanta, a lifestyle destination surrounding the park filled with dining, shopping and special activities galore. Inside the park, you’ll feel right on top of the action, as the park boasts some the best sightlines in the major leagues. atlantabraves.com

The Varsity is Atlanta’s iconic fast food joint, in operation since 1928. The flagship location on North Avenue is billed as the world’s largest drive-in restaurant, sitting on more than two acres and able to accommodate more than 800 customers at a time. In addition, servers and savvy customers speak their own special lingo.

Try the Frosted Orange, a frozen treat that tastes like a Creamsicle, only better. thevarsity.com

LEARN SOME SOUTHERN HISTORY The metro Atlanta area is rich with history.

Learn more about one of the city’s most famous residents at the Martin Luther King. Jr. Center (thekingcenter.org). At the Atlanta History Center, check out exhibits illuminating the Civil

DINE AT BACCHANALIA >> This upscale establishment is the city’s premiere fine-dining restaurant. Each night, chefs/owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison create a different seasonal menu. The four-course meal, which costs $110 per person, includes two small appetizers, an entrée, a cheese course and dessert. starprovisions.com/bacchanalia

PHOTOS: (Top Left) Kevin C. Rose/AtlantaPhotos.com; (Bottom Left) The Reynolds Group; (Bottom Right) Kevin C. Rose/AtlantaPhotos.com

EXPLORE BUFORD HIGHWAY You don’t have to travel around the world to enjoy a wealth of international cuisine. Buford Highway offers a diverse cornucopia of authentic ethnic fare, from Korean barbecue and Vietnamese noodle bowls to Chinese kabobs, Cajun crawfish and Mexican menudo with handmade tortillas.

THE BIG CHICKEN This giant bird, which adorns a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in neighboring Marietta, won’t teach you anything new about Atlanta, but it’s one of those things you have to see to believe, and is more than worth the drive to the suburbs. marietta.com/attractions/the-big-chicken u

The Vortex

GRAB A BURGER AT THE VORTEX

The Big Chicken

This attitude-heavy restaurant and bar (patrons must be 18 or older) serves up some of the best burgers in town, including the Classic Bypass, a half-pound sirloin patty topped with a fried egg, three slices of American cheese and four slices of bacon, served with mayo on the side. Two locations. thevortexatl.com

Bacchanalia

SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE AT STAPLEHOUSE MARKET Located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, this eatery has garnered several rave reviews and awards since opening in 2016, and its tasting menu changes regularly. But Staplehouse started as an underground supper club founded by Ryan and Jen Hidinger. Ryan died of cancer in 2014, but his legacy lives on with the restaurant and The Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit started to aid metro Atlanta restaurant industry employees who face unexpected hardships. All after-tax profits from Staplehouse benefit The Giving Kitchen. Its name changed to Staplehouse Market in 2020, when the restaurant started offering a pick-up food and drink service. staplehouse.com newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 11

EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached non-violence at this historic church, which has been operating since 1866. Today, you can still visit the church on Auburn Avenue and take part in its services. ebenezeratl.org

THE GOLD DOME The Georgia State Capitol shines brightly in the Atlanta skyline due to the gold paneling on its dome. The Capitol also houses a museum where flags, artwork and other historic artifacts are displayed. atlanta.net/partner/georgia-state-capitol/48/

MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE CNN CENTER Distinguished by a giant outdoor CNN logo, the cable empire’s world headquarters offers behind-the-scenes tours of several of its newsrooms.

The space also includes a number of shops and restaurants and is connected to the Omni Hotel and State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. center.cnn.com

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At this historic landmark, you can see the apartment where author Margaret Mitchell wrote “Gone with the Wind.” The space has been preserved with period furnishings and original architectural features. The remainder of the building and an addition next door serve as a museum dedicated to Mitchell’s work. atlantahistorycenter.com

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HOMES

&

C O MM U NI TI E S

Neighborhood Associations

By Susan Flowers

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOAs AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

When it comes to neighborhoods, Atlanta offers everything from older, tree-lined communities to new subdivisions with the latest perks. And those areas offer just as much variety in neighborhood and homeowners’ associations. Whether you’re looking for an area with strict standards for appearance with an eye toward property values, or a place with fewer rules but more personality, metro Atlanta has the right neighborhood for you.

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IS AN HOA RIGHT FOR YOU? A homeowner’s association (HOA) is a legal entity that is typically responsible for upholding rules governing the appearance of properties. An HOA will often have the right to enforce those rules by issuing fines and even placing liens on properties of noncompliant owners.

“The big advantage is that there’s a standard that’s set for everyone,” says Realtor Josh Jarvis of Jarvis Team Realty. “They also do some other things, like maintain the amenities.”

Because of the HOA, these neighborhoods are often able to offer pools, sidewalks, clubhouses or tennis courts.

Experts say an HOA is crucial to your home’s value in the long run because of all the services it provides.

“If things are uniformly maintained [by an HOA], you don’t have the issue of one or two sore thumbs” lowering the value of every home in the neighborhood, says Paul Queen, former director of marketing for Sentry Management, which handles HOAs for over 300,000 homes, condominiums and townhomes across the country.

Of course, one person’s sore thumb can be another’s needed enhancement. An HOA’s interpretation of standards can differ from yours.

“They can also restrict things that you want to do to the home,” Jarvis says. “For example, you may want to put an outbuilding on your property. You may not be able to, or it might cost more than it would otherwise, because you can’t just go get an aluminum building.”

Another potential drawback is the impact of HOA dues on your purchasing power. While a well-maintained neighborhood can prevent your home’s value from depreciating, what you pay toward an HOA will be considered by banks when you apply for a loan, because your dues affect your debt-to-income ratio.

“If you pay $600 a year, that’s $50 a month,” says Jarvis. “A lot of people don’t think about that.” This can play an especially large role in the purchase of a townhome or condo, or in the purchase of a home priced near the limit of what you can afford.

But HOAs have other benefits, including architectural controls (residents must get approval for changes to their homes’ exteriors),

A homeowner’s association (HOA) is a legal entity that is typically responsible for upholding rules governing the appearance of properties. An HOA will often have the right to enforce those rules by issuing fines and even placing liens on properties of noncompliant owners. increased community engagement (events and activities that unite residents) and an extra layer of support (partnering with municipalities to ensure compliance with zoning codes), according to Associated Asset Management’s website.

DO YOUR RESEARCH If you’re looking for a home in a neighborhood with an HOA, a little due diligence can pay off in the long run.

Ask to see financial reports for any HOA you’re seriously considering. Without adequate funding, amenities can’t be maintained and

improvements can’t be made. It’s reasonable to expect that your neighborhood’s pool and other features will be just as attractive in 10 years as they are today.

It’s also a good idea to ask to see the minutes of the past few HOA meetings. These documents can inform you of ongoing problems that can factor into your decision to buy. “What they’re talking about in the minutes gives you a good snapshot of what the issues are in a neighborhood,” says Queen.

Although HOA documents are nobody’s idea of a page-turner, it’s still important to give them

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HOMES

&

C O MM U NI TI E S

County suburb with a population of about 46,000. With events including Food Truck Thursdays, a Fourth of July parade and live concerts, “We very much add to the quality of life in our city,” says longtime member Stacey Harris. The group also hosts candidates’ forums for city council and mayoral elections.

The Lake Claire Neighbors group seldom, if ever, tackles issues relating to the appearance of individual homes. “Even though we may have an issue of growing grass too long, we prefer the more flexible and free approach to how our neighborhood evolves,” says Dorsner. “Our neighborhood is laid back. We like the fact that it’s quirky and interesting. We don’t have to have all matching mailboxes.”

Remember that HOAs and neighborhood associations are different entities that serve different functions, and be aware of what each offers and what you want when you’re investigating a particular community. Good luck!

a thorough read. If an HOA’s standards differ significantly from yours, it’s better to know before you purchase.

Drive through the neighborhood to be sure that it’s properly maintained. Amenities or homes in poor condition can tell you that an HOA isn’t doing its job.

And if you’re considering a gated community, be aware that everything inside those gates is the responsibility of the neighborhood’s homeowners. If a road inside a gated community needs paving, the association, not the county, is responsible for the cost. “In a gated community, the only things they don’t own are the mailboxes,” says Jarvis.

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS If you’re looking for a looser structure than that offered by many homeowners’ associations, a neighborhood association might be the ticket.

Found more often in areas close to Atlanta’s downtown than in the suburbs, neighborhood associations frequently act as advocates for a community, working with elected officials on improvements and taking actions to enhance the area’s quality of life.

A neighborhood association is typically less concerned with enforcing standards for appearance, and more concerned with issues that affect the community, says Nancy Dorsner of the 16 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

Lake Claire Neighbors.

“Really it’s just having an organization that can represent the neighborhood when things come up like school redistricting,” she says.

“It’s a whole lot easier for the association to get face time with elected representatives.

Every person in the neighborhood can’t get a meeting with our city council person. We can speak with one voice on neighborhood issues, like recommending that a traffic light should be changed.”

Although the name suggests that it’s an HOA, the 1,200-member Dunwoody Homeowners Association is actually closer to a neighborhood association in function. The Dunwoody HOA covers the entire city of Dunwoody, a DeKalb

IMPORTANT FACTS • An HOA is a group of property owners with the authority to enforce rules concerning such issues as yard work, uniformity of appearance and safety.

• A neighborhood association is a group of neighbors and business owners concerned with such issues as quality of life.

• If you move into a community with an HOA, membership is generally mandatory.

• Most condominium communities are HOAs. • Some HOAs have restrictions about parties, noise, etc.

• HOAs usually own and maintain community property, such as roads, swimming pools, etc.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Old Town Lilburn Is Growing A HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

The city of Lilburn is one of the metro area’s hidden gems. Its small-town feel and convenience to Atlanta (downtown is 22 miles away) make it one of the area’s most desirable destinations for new families. And this Gwinnett County community is currently growing, developing its historic downtown, creating new housing and commercial spaces for families and young professionals.

Much of this work is focused on the Old Town downtown district, the beating heart of

Lilburn, known for its walkable mix of restaurants, shops and attractions like Lilburn City Park and the Camp Creek Greenway.

The Main Street Townes at Lilburn, a new mixed-use development, offers a number of modern, built-to-rent townhomes facing Old Town’s vibrant Main Street, with more homes currently under construction. The development is also slated to include 15,000 square feet of retail space.

Another project in the works, a commercial development at 112 Main Street, aims to transform the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue across from 1910 Public House, with three new buildings joining the Cofer Electrical building. The first of those new buildings is slated to feature more than 6,000 square feet, with two restaurant anchors and an outdoor dining deck.

Developers and city leaders envision the popular Hope Springs Distillery moving into this

space from its current home around the corner on Railroad Avenue. Plans call for that Railroad Avenue space to house 275 luxury apartments looking out on the Camp Creek Greenway Trail.

The city is also hard at work on infrastructure projects including raised crosswalks across Main Street and some new sidewalk areas, designed to make this booming neighborhood even more pedestrian-friendly to accommodate the influx of new arrivals drawn by the area’s lush greenspace and comfortable, intimate atmosphere. For more information on Lilburn, visit cityoflilburn.com.

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neighborhood

SPOTLIGHT Old Fourth Ward

By Jackson Reeves

L

Ponce City Market Central Food Hall

ocated on the east side of Atlanta, the Old Fourth Ward boasts Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace, a central hub for the BeltLine, along with a thriving nightlife and foodie scene.

Situated just west of Inman Park, the area is at the crux of Atlanta’s booming downtown neighborhood revival. It was part of the historic Fourth Ward political area until the 1950s, when Atlanta changed to a district system.

For young professionals, the Old Fourth Ward’s hip environs offer plenty of appeal— and the neighborhood’s residential choices can rival those found in more established enclaves, such as Buckhead. 525 Park (info@525park.com), which opened in 2020 and includes 97 one- and two-bedroom condos, is so popular that all the units have sold out but some are available for rent.

Located near the BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, the Mariposa Loft Apartments (678-742-5190) offer luxury one- and two-bedroom units.

ParkHaus (470-839-6010), a new four-story townhouse development, is only a mile from Ponce City Market.

Arts and Entertainment 525 Park Ebenezer Baptist Church

Looking for a place to catch some of the best local musical talent? Look no further than Venkman’s (venkmans.com), a restaurant/bar co-owned by Nick Niespodziani and Peter Olsen of the band Yacht Rock Revue, which occasionally performs there along with countless other musicians. If you’re seeking a more upscale, wine-centric dinner-and-a-show experience, check out City Winery Atlanta (citywinery.com/atlanta), which brings in top national acts for concerts and other events.

Ponce City Market Tower Terrace

THE INSIDE TRACK: Mostly developed in the years following the Civil War, the neighborhood is one of the oldest in Atlanta. Boulevard, the central roadway of the Old Fourth Ward, has evolved repeatedly throughout its history— more than 100 years.

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Then call it a night at Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium (sisterlouisaschurch.com). It’s exactly the sort of hip dive bar that it sounds like.

Culinary Treats Ponce City Market (404-900-7900) features such offerings as sushi and sashimi at Miso Ko, deep-fried chicken at Hop’s Chicken and tacos at Minero. On the other end of the neighborhood, Krog Street Market (thekrogdistrict.com) includes such restaurants as Makimono and Superica. For tasty dessert options, check out Jake’s Ice Cream at Irwin Street Market (678-705-7945).

Local Treasures Nestled just south of the Civil Rights leader’s birthplace, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site (404-331-5190) features an exhibit on the movement and the man, titled “Courage to Lead,” along with special exhibits in the D.R.E.A.M Gallery. Across the street, you can visit where King delivered his first sermon at the pulpit, Ebenezer Baptist Church (404-688-7300). Right off the BeltLine, Historic Fourth Ward Park (404-5466757) includes a skate park and hosts the neighborhood’s annual arts festival. N

PHOTOS: (left and top far left) Jamestown; (bottom far left) National Park Service

Housing

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EDU C AT I O N

I N S I G HT

3 STEPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD GET READY

By Michelle Bourg

Attending college has long been a cornerstone of the American dream, and the majority of students hope to do so. But the path to getting there is a winding and long one: educators and college admissions officers recommend that planning for college begins when a child reaches sixth grade. For modern families, the three keys to navigating the path to college successfully are being proactive, organized and communicative.

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OFF TO A GOOD START: MIDDLE AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

sixth grade. (For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Education website at www.gadoe.org).

Students begin by taking the Career Cluster In Georgia, the concept of proactivity has been mandated with the BRIDGE (Building Resource- Inventory and creating a YouScience portfolio ful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy) to track their BRIDGE activities. During the Act, which helps students select a focused study spring of their eighth-grade year, students must select a career area and draft a correspondplan by providing career counseling and ing course of study called an IGP (Individual regularly scheduled advisement beginning in

grades and test performance, as colleges look at a student’s entire high school career.

Sophomore year is when the first standardized placement tests are taken; 10th-graders may take the PSAT 10 or the ACT prerequisite PLAN test. Qualified students should look into the MOWR (Move On When Ready) program, which enables qualified Georgia high school students to take college courses and receive both high school and college credit.

Co-curricular participation is one of the most memorable parts of the high school experience and a key factor in college admissions. Students should try some out now and find one or two they will enjoy long-term. This is also a good time to begin satisfying the community service graduation requirement. Parents should monitor their child’s schedule to ensure that academics and co-curriculars remain in balance.

While the nitty-gritty of financial planning is still in the future, during freshman year families should start to discuss financial aid, scholarships and the student’s responsibilities, if any. A good place to start

As high school begins, parents and students should establish a good relationship with the guidance counselor and work with him or her to select prerequisite courses for advanced-level work.

Graduation Plan) in consultation with parents, counselors and teachers.

Parents should communicate with their children about school performance and its impact on a future career by discussing possible career interests and helping them to develop good study habits, identifying academic areas that need improvement. The PSAT 8/9 offers a snapshot of a child’s academic strengths and weaknesses so families can create a plan of action.

STAYING THE COURSE: NINTH AND TENTH GRADES As high school begins, parents and students should establish a good relationship with the guidance counselor and work with him or her to select prerequisite courses for advanced-level work. If any subjects are giving difficulty, additional help should be sought in order to be up to speed going forward. It’s critical to maintain newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 21

EDU C AT I O N

I N S I G HT is by visiting the website of the Georgia Student Finance Commission (www.gafutures.org) for information.

By the end of the year, Georgia ninth-graders must complete a supervised investigation of at least three potential careers and record them in their Georgia Career Information System (GCIS) portfolio. The summer between ninth and 10th grade is when research into college options should begin, with a file kept on each school to compare later.

Over summer break, students should make a list of desired criteria to guide their college explorations and intensify their research into different schools.

THE HOME STRETCH: 11TH AND 12TH GRADES In junior year, the pace for college-bound students intensifies dramatically, and life will seem like a non-stop parade of deadlines. Standardized tests begin with the PSAT in October, and it takes discipline to balance studying for tests, keeping up with regular coursework, extracurricular activities and volunteer or employment

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Parents will also be busy, as financial aid applications are time-consuming and must be completed as soon as possible. responsibilities. Regular family meetings will keep everyone on the same page—making a weekly pizza date to talk things over will also carve out some quality de-stressing time.

Using a family organization phone app such as Cozi or even a large-format wall calendar makes keeping track of test dates and application deadlines easier.

Now is the time to begin evaluating colleges in earnest. Under BRIDGE, Georgia students must investigate at least three postsecondary institutions and record the information in their GCIS portfolio by the end of junior year. Using the list of personal criteria and the school information they’ve gathered, students should make a ranked list of potential schools and make appointments to visit several. It’s also a good point to begin requesting letters of recommendation from respected mentors. Meanwhile, parents should begin reviewing the financial picture and making a budget.

The summer between junior and senior year is critical; in addition to working on jobs or internships, students need to finalize their list of schools and visit as many as possible, begin crafting application essays, organize financial aid info and consider applying early decision to the top schools on the list.

As senior year begins, students and their families have to hit the ground running. The SAT (and if applicable, the ACT) must be taken as soon as possible; it’s important to check the SAT subject test schedule, as some tests are only given on select dates. There may be final campus visits to make even as the essay and application process is in full swing, and it’s imperative to maintain grades and class rank, as colleges scrutinize these carefully. As the year progresses, students must track acceptances, and if placed on a waitlist for their top choices, consider applying to schools with later deadlines.

Parents will also be busy, as financial aid

applications are time-consuming and must be completed as soon as possible. For information on college scholarships, parents and their children can visit The Scholarship System website (thescholarshipsystem.com) to find out how to properly apply for scholarships. According to its website, the System’s members have won more than $10.5 million in scholarships as of August.

If their son or daughter has applied to both public and private schools, it will be necessary to complete both the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile. As acceptances are received, families will need to compare the aid packages offered as they work together toward a final decision.

It’s been a long road, but as the portfolio is finally closed with the entry “College,” at last it’s time to raise a toast at the graduation party and savor the accomplishment. All too soon it will be time to shop for those dorm supplies.

newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 23

schoolSPOTLIGHT

Atlanta Academy

Molding Minds with Creativity and Innovation

By Everett Catts

W

hen you step onto Atlanta Academy’s campus in Roswell, you’ll see a school where creativity, diversity and community are paramount. Those tenets play into the school’s beliefs and mission, which include molding students into innovative thinkers who can adapt as they prepare for the future.

Atlanta Academy was founded in 2000 by seven teachers, and its success can be credited to an educator’s focus.

“I hire well and I train my teachers well and provide ongoing training so that they are always at the top of their game,” Head of School Angela Naples says. “But also, I look to my teachers for a lot of input when choosing curriculum and programs because they’re in the trenches. The teachers are our backbone. It’s worth your time and money to invest in your team, and your whole admin staff as well, not just the classroom teachers.”

Today the K-8 school sits on nine acres and the campus includes two STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) labs, three science labs, two art classrooms, a gymnasium, a greenhouse and a recording studio, with some of those facilities being new. As part of its STEAM program, the school has a chicken coop, used to raise chickens, and an aeroponic garden, where it raises trout before releasing them into the Chattahoochee River. Atlanta Academy also recently expanded its after-school programs and summer camps.

The school has about 375 students enrolled in the 2022-23 school year, with a 60-member faculty and a max class size of 16 students.

Atlanta Academy was honored for its success in 2017, when it was named a National Blue Ribbon School. The award is given by the U.S. Department of Education to public and private elementary, middle and

24 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

high schools for their “overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups,” according to the department’s website. Naples says the school’s well-rounded program of classes and extracurricular activities, with a mixture of traditional and modern approaches, makes it stand out.

“We’re very forward thinking and we’re very diverse,” she says, adding 37 percent of its students are minorities. “We do a lot of application, not just memorization of knowledge. We believe in exposing the children to everything. … We have strong acceptance rates into the high schools, both the private schools and also the Advanced Placement courses in public schools.”

Naples says the small classroom size, including a 6-to-1 studentto-teacher ratio, helps teachers get to know each student in his or her class, plus his or her family. The parents, in turn, are actively involved with the school, volunteering and attending school events often. Teachers even split their classes into smaller groups.

From start to finish—the day opens with a schoolwide morning prayer and closes with extracurricular activities that include eight sports and a top-notch performing and visual arts program—Atlanta Academy prepares students well for their next step in life. N

THE SPECIFICS Grades: Pre-K (age 2)-8th grade Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1 Tuition: $12,200-$26,610 Location: Roswell

Contact: 2000 Holcomb Woods Pkwy., Roswell, GA 30076 678-461-6102 Web: atlantaacademy.com

newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 25

ATLANTA’S COOL WEATHER EVENTS TO KEEP YOU BUSY ALL SEASON

By Everett Catts There are countless ways to celebrate Christmas, from art to theatre to visits with Santa Claus. Looking for fun ways to revel in holiday cheer? Check out the Callanwolde Winter House (callanwolde.org/winterhouse2022), which will include art workshops, holiday décor, Santa Claus and more. At Holidays on the Roof at Ponce City Market (poncecityroof.com), you can rent an igloo for up to six people, visit with Santa and check out 9 Mile Station’s transformation into a woodland forest. Fernbank’s Winter Wonderland: Holidays and Traditions Around the World (fernbankmuseum.org) will feature trees and other displays decorated by local cultural partners that mark holiday traditions and practices from around the globe.

Holidays on the R Ponce City M oof at arket 26 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

se at read Hou A Gingerb Winter House lde Callanwo The World of Coke's Holiday Celebration (worldofcoca-cola.com) will include holidayrelated exhibits, seasonal/holiday beverages and more. The Atlanta Christkindl Market in the Buckhead Village District (christkindlmarket.org) is a traditional German market with authentic food and beverages, visits with Santa and a great place to find gifts for your loved ones. The Georgia Aquarium's Winter Waterland (georgiaaquarium.org) will include holidaythemed dolphin presentations, photos with Santa, holiday movie showings in its 4D Theater and more.

And if you are musically or thespian inclined, there are a few holiday classics that should whet your whistle and put you in the spirit of giving. The Center for Puppetry Arts’ Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (puppet.org) is based on the 1964 television special. The Alliance Theatre’s A Christmas Carol (alliancetheatre.org) is based on Charles Dickens’ novella, and the Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker (atlantaballet.com) is adapted from the original book by E.T.A. Hoffman and music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will host three Christmas with the ASO concerts (aso.org), featuring

PHOTOS: (Bottom Left and Right) Photos courtesy of Jamestown

Winter doesn’t officially begin until Dec. 21, but at venues across metro Atlanta, the year’s coldest season has already commenced with a plethora of events to choose from.

And while the wintertime kicks off with a series of holiday events and activities, there are still plenty of other ways to celebrate the season in January and February, even after the holidays end.

PHOTOS: (Top Left) Atlanta Botanical Garden; (Bottom Left) Addison Hill Photography

Ga Ho rden lida Lig y N hts igh , ts

Holidays at Atlantic Stat ion holiday carols, hymns and more.

Hannukah will take place Dec.18-26, and venues across the city will host menorahlighting ceremonies (atlantajewishconnector. com). Most, if not all of these events have free admission.

The holidays aren’t complete without checking out a light show, and there are plenty to choose from. While most of the light displays

can only be accessed by foot, some are the drive-through kind, allowing families to stay warm in the comfort of their own vehicles. Though there are some smaller light shows in your area, these larger ones stand out: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Midtown (atlantabg.org) will feature more than a billion lights covering the grounds. Lights of Life at Life University in Marietta (life.edu/lights-of-life) is a drive-through display, but don’t forget to stop for the pony rides, train rides and petting zoo. Stone Mountain Christmas (stonemountainpark.com) boasts the World’s Largest Light Show and also includes a Christmas parade and carolers.

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags (sixflags. com) includes more than a million lights, classic shows and music, visits with Santa and holiday treats. Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens (callawaygardens.com), named one of National Geographic’s Top 10 Light Displays in the World, includes drive-through and walk-through experiences. The Lakeside Light Spectacular at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands

(margaritavilleresorts.com) features holidayand Margaritaville-themed lights, and Celebrate the Station at Atlantic Station (atlanticstation. com) includes lights, snow shows and more.

While there are countless adults-only New Year’s Eve parties in metro Atlanta, several venues are offering ways for the whole family to toast the start of 2023. The Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s Bubble Bash (childrensmuseum atlanta.org) will include music, dancing, games and lots of bubbles. Stone Mountain Park’s Early New Year’s Eve Celebration (stonemountainpark.com) will include snow, fireworks and more. Noon Year’s Eve at Avalon (experienceavalon.com) will feature face painting, crafts and snacks and will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Noon Year’s Eve on the Roof at Ponce City Market (poncecityroof.com) will include balloon artists, a magician and much more.

Though many venues are hosting ice skating rinks as part of their holiday festivities, the rinks will stay open for weeks into January and even February. Here’s where to find those rinks: The Ice Rink at Sugar Hill (haidrink.com) newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 27

The Chil dre Atlanta’s n’s Museum of Bubble B ash will host special events including a Valentine’s Day date night. Olde Town on Ice at Olde Town Conyers Pavilion (icedays.com/conyers) and Ice Days Ice Skating Rink in Covington (icedays.com/covington) each have a separate area for hosting private parties and events.

License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands (margaritavilleresorts.com) offers ice skating plus snow tubing, amusement rides and opportunities to play in the snow.

Skate the Sky at Ponce City Market (poncecityroof.com) includes ice skating, unlimited gameplay and admission to The Roof.

28 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

Skate the Station at Atlantic Station (atlanticstation.com/event/skate-thestation) boasts metro Atlanta’s largest ice rink at 10,000 square feet.

The Rink at Park Tavern in Midtown (parktavern.com/ice-rink) offers patrons a view of Piedmont Park and the Midtown skyline plus selfie stations, fire pits and fireplaces and more. Season on the Square at Colony Square in Midtown (colonysquare.com/events) includes days when 10% of admission benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Avalon on Ice in Alpharetta (experienceavalon.com) features a Rockefeller Center-inspired rink.

Though most of metro Atlanta’s festivals take place in the warmer months of the year, there are still some that happen in the winter, though mostly indoors. Are you a beer or wine lover? If so, check out the Winter Beer Fest in Atlantic Station (atlantawinterbeerfest.com) or the Atlanta Winter Wine Festival (atlantawinefestivals.com/winter).

Are you an art lover? Then go to the Callanwolde Artist Market (callanwolde.org).

Do you enjoy Chinese food and culture? If so, try the Atlanta Chinese Lunar New Year Festival (atlanticstation.com/event/lunar-newyear-2/). Love movies? Then check out the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (ajff.org).

Looking for something out of the ordinary?

Try the Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival (atlantajugglers.org/festivals), set for Feb. 3-5 at the Yaarab Shrine Center in Midtown. It includes juggling, unicycling, flow and play, hooping and comedy. wish Atlanta Je al v Film Festi

Love New Orleans-themed cocktails and food? Check out the Mardis Gras Streetcar Adventure (atlantabartours.com/events), in which participants can ride the Atlanta Streetcar to more than 40 participating bars and restaurants.

Speaking of food, there are not one but two February festivals dedicated to oyster eating while the bivalves are still in season. The Steamhouse Lounge in Midtown will host its annual Oysterfest (steamhouselounge.com), and Atlantic Station will hold the Atlanta Oyster Festival (atlanticstation.com).

If you’re ready to start the new year with an exhilarating bang, take a dip in the Lake Lanier Polar Bear Plunge-N-Paddle on Jan. 1. Other Polar Bear Plunges take place in Acworth on Lake Allatoona (acworthtourism.org/events/polarplunge) and Alpharetta (facebook.com/AlphaPolarBearPlunge/) later in January or February. Most of the events double as charity fundraisers, with some benefitting Special Olympics Georgia.

Speaking of Special Olympics Georgia, the State Indoor Winter Games (specialolympicsga. org) will come to venues across Cobb County Jan. 27 and 28. The competition will include basketball, bowling, floor hockey, powerlifting and female gymnastics.

If you’re the outdoorsy type, the Atlanta Trails website (atlantatrails.com) has a guide on the best hiking trails in metro Atlanta and beyond.

It also offers a list of its Favorite Winter Hikes newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 29

The C h Peac ick-fil-A h Bo wl (atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails). The winter hike list includes frozen waterfalls, the Appalachian Trail and even Providence Canyon State Park, nicknamed Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon.”

Throughout the winter, Zoo Atlanta (zooatlanta.org) offers discounted admission for guests. So bring your winter gear to check out the panda bears, elephants, giraffes and the rest of the zoo’s animals. While Stone Mountain, as the world’s largest piece of exposed granite, gets most of the attention, its smaller cousin, the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area (arabiaalliance.org), is also worth a visit. Located nearby in Lithonia, it has two granite outcroppings and offers views of the Atlanta skyline on clear days.

Midtown’s Piedmont Park (piedmontpark.org), which is on the BeltLine and considered Atlanta’s version of New York’s Central Park, also gives visitors a chance to unwind. So grab a blanket and some food and drinks, and head down for a fun-filled picnic. Oakland Cemetery (oaklandcemetery.com), a park-like setting just east of downtown Atlanta, dates back to 1850 and is the final resting place of several famous Georgians, including Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell and seven Atlanta mayors. The cemetery hosts events even in winter, including weekly holiday scavenger hunts in December.

Speaking of history, the Atlanta Preservation Center (atlanta preservationcenter.com), which is located nearby in Grant Park in one of the only two remaining antebellum homes in the city, is the place to go to learn more about Atlanta’s architecture and historic buildings, neighborhoods and landscapes.

30 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

PHOTO: Paul Abell via Abell Images for Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Two longtime Atlanta traditions will return in late December and midJanuary with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (chick-fil-apeachbowl.com) and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration (thekingcenter.org), respectively. The Peach Bowl, set for Dec. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, will host one of the two College Football Playoff semifinal games. The King Celebration, taking place Jan. 10-16 at the King Center, marks the civil rights leader’s birthday.

restaurantREVIEW

Reverence

Midtown Eatery Takes Diners Around the Globe

By Everett Catts

newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 31

Photos: (Left) Brandon LaJoie; (Right) Seamus Payne

W

ith a wide-ranging menu, Reverence, the signature For breakfast, variety remains the keyword, with plates ranging restaurant inside the new Epicurean Atlanta hotel in from to the farmhouse granola to the ruby red grapefruit brûlée to Midtown, is striving to become an upscale dining haven the full Epicurean breakfast. The menu also includes an assortment of for both residents and hotel guests. breads and pastries.

Open since September 2021, Reverence offers a variety of AmeriThe Reverence’s décor is warm but modern, with a mix of gray and brown walls, tables and chairs dominating the space. The bar, colored can contemporary fare that reflects its executive chef, Ewart Wardin gray and black, fronts the all-glass kitchen so guests seated there haugh. The Scotland native has culinary experience on five contican view the chefs at work. nents, including stops in France and, most recently, Los Angeles.

Also, the restaurant partners with the Epicurean Theatre, a space “I think it’s a little bit of creativity without going overboard. We’re always taking a twist on classics and reinventing them,” he said, adding the menu changes with each season and sometimes twice in a season based on items’ availability.

If you’re an oenophile, Reverence is your kind of place, offering more than 200 different bottles in its cellar, ranging from Pike’s Riesling to Dom Perignon brut. For non-wine lovers, Wardhaugh recommends the Bacon, a spin on the old fashioned with bacon fat-washed Old Forester bourbon. Open for breakfast, dinner and Sunday brunch, the restaurant’s fare takes you around the world.

Where else in metro Atlanta would you find a dinner menu that includes caviar a la crème fraiche, with potato croquetas, chive and confit egg yolk; Champagne-infused cantaloupe with hearts of palm, watermelon radish, beetroot crema; and karaage fried chicken (which Wardhaugh says is the most popular) with masa harina, soy, sake, spiced yuzu aioli and citrus chermoula?

The entrees are just as varied, and Wardhaugh says the pan-seared Georgia trout, with fingerling potatoes, crème fraiche and smoked trout cream; the steak frites, whose fries are triple cooked; Above: The Reverence’s décor is warm but modern, with a mix of gray and brown walls. and the char-grilled Turkish lamb kebab, with apricot puree, pickled sun- Left: The “waffled” cheddar grits breakfast entree. choke, trumpet mushrooms and saffron salsa; are its most popular ones. within the hotel that hosts cooking classes and other special dining But also try the wood-grilled sous vide octopus, with bulgur wheat salad, burnt leek, cauliflower and citrus, or one of the vegetarian entrees such as events at least once a week. Some of those events take place inside Reverence if they outgrow the theatre, Wardhaugh said. the spring pea papardelle, with mushrooms, fava beans, garlic, pecorino Because Reverence is new, not everyone knows it exists, but those and pea sprout. who have found it have been loyal The sides menu includes nothing but vegTHE DETAILS customers, Wardhaugh says. etables, featuring an ode to the South with Attire: Business casual Hours: Mon.--Sat. 7 to 11 a.m., “The response has been great,” he beer-battered onion rings but also paying Atmosphere: Upscale modern Sun. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Mon.-Thur. 6 to 10 p.m., added. “The biggest challenge is for homage to the Middle East with bulgur tabRecommendations: Georgia trout and Fri.-Sat. 5 to 11 p.m. people to know where we are. Once bouleh. The dessert menu includes “Nutter steak frites entrees, chocolate shards dessert Location: 1117 W. Peachtree St., people find us, we get a lot of repeat Butter” choux, and Wardhaugh says “anyReservations: Encouraged but not Atlanta, GA 30309 required. Walk-ins welcome.

Contact: 470-283-2590, clientele because they love the constant thing chocolate” is a crowd favorite, but the Parking: Valet parking available reverenceatlanta.com changing of the menus.” N chocolate shards are the most popular one.

OUT S I D E

AT L AN TA

Georgia’s

Historic Inns& Hotels DISCOVER SOUTHERN CHARM AND LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS

By Tony Jenkins

Learning about Georgia’s history can be a relaxing and even romantic adventure. There are many hotels and inns throughout Georgia where history, luxury and Southern charm intersect. Encompassing both grandeur and quaint, elegant charm, here are just a few of Georgia’s historic hospitality venues.

The 1842 Inn

THE 1842 INN A quaint bed and breakfast in Macon, the 1842 Inn was a home built by the city's former mayor, John Gresham, in, well, you can guess the year. There are 19 guest rooms found within the main, Greek Revival-style antebellum house and the adjoining Victorian cottage, as well as four hospitality parlors. Antique paintings, oriental carpets, heart pine flooring and 12foot ceilings accentuate each room, and many include fireplaces and whirlpools. To bolster the relaxing and romantic vibe, there’s a 17-col32 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

umned wrap-around veranda where you can sip on iced tea (or other beverages) while overlooking the courtyard. 1842inn.com

THE FITZPATRICK HOTEL After a fire decimated much of Washington, Georgia’s public square in 1895, brothers J.H. and T.M. Fitzpatrick returned to the city, between Athens and Augusta, and began construction on what would become The Fitzpatrick Hotel. After opening in 1898, the

historic hotel went through several ownership and name changes and was eventually closed in 1952. More than 50 years later, after the hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places, The Fitzpatrick was restored and reopened. By using old photos and original memorabilia and purchasing period antiques, the new owners retained the hotel’s original Victorian grandeur and charm, while including modern-day conveniences like HDTVs and WiFi access. thefitzpatrickhotel.com

Godfrey Barnsley in honor of his wife Julia, who unfortunately died before it was finished.

According to the hotel’s website, the home and its gardens were inspired by landscape designer Andrew Jackson Downing, a promoter of Italianate and gothic revival architecture. Starting in 1942, the property changed ownership twice before being sold in 1988 to a Bavarian prince, who revived and expanded the historic gardens, which three years later were opened to the public as a museum and garden. In 1999 Barnsley Resort opened, and today it includes guest cottages, a golf course and a spa and offers outdoor activities including horseback riding, sporting clays and hiking. In 2018 it opened a traditional inn building to give guests another lodging option. barnsleyresort.com

THE GEORGIAN TERRACE

Barnsley Resort vannah historic district within walking distance of Forsyth Park, Colonial Park Cemetery and several of the city squares. gastonian.com

BARNSLEY RESORT Located on about 3,000 acres in Adairsville, Barnsley Resort offers luxury accommodations in the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. Completed in 1848, it was built first as a manor by

Opening for business in 1911, The Georgian Terrace is located in Midtown directly across from another Atlanta landmark, the Fox Theatre. The elegant hotel has hosted an impressive guest list over the years, including Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Warren Harding, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Walt Disney and Charles Lindbergh.

In 1939, the Terrace hosted the premiere gala for the movie “Gone With The Wind,” and stars like Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh were right at home amid the turreted corners, floor-to-ceiling windows, gorgeous chandeliers and wraparound verandas. In the 1970s, the hotel played host to musical acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Kiss and Billy Joel in its Electric Ballroom.

After avoiding demolition in the 1980s by being listed on the National Register of Historic

The 1842 Inn

PHOTOS: (Top and Bottom) Barnsley Resort

THE GASTONIAN What's better than one mansion? Two adjacent Regency-Italianate mansions have been turned into a four-diamond award-winning bed and breakfast in a charming residential area of Savannah. The two mansions that now make up The Gastonian were built in 1868 and exemplify the Southern charm one would expect from a history-laden city like Savannah. From the grand décor and period antiques to the fireplaces and tranquil gardens, The Gastonian was recognized by Conde Nast Traveler magazine as one of the finest places to stay in the world. It’s a great location, too: The Gastonian is in the Sa-

Barnsley Resort newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 33

AT L AN TA

PHOTO: J&D Images

OUT S I D E

Places, there was a brief stint as an apartment building. In the early 1990s, The Georgian Terrace reopened as a luxury hotel. Now billed as “Where Atlanta’s Thriving Culture Begins,” the Southern charm remains, but is complemented by modern features, including award-wining fine dining at the Livingston Restaurant & Bar. thegeorgianterrace.com

JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB HOTEL People like J.P. Morgan, William Rockefeller, Joseph Pulitzer and William K. Vanderbilt played roles in the history of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, which was founded in 1886 as a private club that included members from some of the world's wealthiest families. Designated a historic landmark in 1978 and reopened as a resort hotel in 1985, it is now one of the top resorts in Georgia. In addition to a history tour, the hotel includes six restaurants, a pub, a swimming pool and a nearby private beach club, among other amenities. The location, on one of the state's four coastal barrier islands, provides 34 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

Jekyll Island Club Hotel

a lush and unspoiled backdrop for the elegance and Victorian charm you'll find at every turn.

Even if you don't stay the night, it's worth a visit for the architecture alone. jekyllclub.com

THE PIEDMONT HOTEL When it opened in 1876, The Piedmont Hotel in Gainesville was a three-story, 36-room, U-shaped structure owned and operated by Confederate Gen. James Longstreet. Throughout the years, Longstreet hosted several high-profile guests, including Gens. Joseph Johnston and Daniel Sickles, writer Joel Chandler Harris and President Woodrow Wilson, whose daughter, Jessie, was born on the ground floor of the hotel. Today, it’s the only floor of the hotel that remains, after a last-minute decision saved it from being demolished with the rest of the hotel in 1918. However, it has been renovated and is headquarters of The Longstreet Society, open Tuesday through Saturday. Visitors can learn about the hotel’s history, including visits by a past president and the ghost that occupies the remaining structure. longstreetsociety.org

THE MARSHALL HOUSE Opening in Savannah 1851, The Marshall House is one of the city’s oldest hotels, exuding Southern charm and history. According to its website, the hotel was founded by businesswoman Mary Marshall, who saw the need for accommodations and housing during the railroad boom of the 1840s and ’50s, when Savannah doubled in size. The hotel, which has also served as an apartment building over the years, was at one time the home to the aforementioned Harris. The Marshall House was closed in 1957, with the second through fifth floors abandoned but the first one kept open for shops until 1998.

A year later, it was carefully restored as a hotel. Today it has 65 rooms and three suites and features the building’s original floors and doors and has tall ceilings and unusual architecture. Since reopening as a hotel, The Marshall House has earned a bevy of awards.

Believed to be haunted, it was named the No. 2 Best Haunted Hotel by USA Today in 2021. marshallhouse.com

GETTING STARTED

GETTING STARTED

HERE TO THERE MARTA

Vehicle Emission Inspection

Vehicles that are 24 model years old and later (except the three years prior to the current year) must be checked yearly for emission standard compliance. Visit a statedesignated inspection station for the service.

Call 800-449-2471 or visit cleanairforce.com.

Mass Transit

One way to avoid long commutes is to take advantage of the city’s local transit system, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Offering both train and bus service, MARTA is a convenient way to travel to downtown or the airport. The fee for traveling one way is $2.50 including transfers, and payment is even easier now with the Breeze limited-use and extendeduse cards. Weekly and monthly passes can be obtained at discounted rates. For fares, schedule and route information call 404848-5000 or visit itsmarta.com.

Driving Tips

MARTA Rail Service

The Georgia DOT provides daily updates of road work, road closings and traffic delays, which are helpful when commuting.

Updates can be obtained by calling (toll free) 877694-2511, by dialing 511 or by visiting dot.ga.gov.

FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED AN

ACADEMIC BOOST THIS SUMMER!

AFTERNOON RECREATION ACTIVITIES TUTORING IN READING, MATH AND WRITING SKILLS

Session 1: Starting in June Session 2: Starting in July Held on the campus of The Bedford School in Fairburn 5665 Milam Road Fairburn, GA 30213 770-774-8001 • thebedfordschool.org newcomeratlanta.com | Newcomer Magazine | 35

COUNTY INFORMATION EDUCATION PUBLIC SCHOOLS Cherokee County Schools Board of Education 770-479-1871 cherokee.k12.ga.us Elementary Schools Middle Schools High Schools Centers Per-pupil expenditures School & bus information

Cherokee County QUICK INFO

23 7 6 4 $9,149 770-720-2112

Avg. SAT Scores Cherokee Co. Georgia National

County cherokeega.com Neighborhoods cantonga.gov woodstockga.gov cityofballground.com hollyspringsga.us cityofwaleska.com

1115 1048 1039

Median household income: $75,477 Median age of residents: 38 Population: 235,896 Sales tax: 6%

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county.

Chamber of Commerce Cherokee County 770-345-0400, cherokeechamber.com

UTILITIES & CONTACTS

Property Taxes Per $1,000 of assessed value is: Unincorporated Cherokee County, $21.46; Incorporated Cherokee County, $21.46.

Tax Commissioner: 678-493-6400

ELECTRICITY 706-253-5200 Amicalola EMC 770-429-2100 Cobb EMC Georgia Power 888-891-0938 Sawnee EMC 770-887-2363 GAS Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated.

For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV AT&T att.com Cobb EMC cobbemc.com Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com Direct TV directv.com Dish Network dish.com ETC Communications etcnow.com Spectrum spectrum.com TDS Telecom tdstelecom.com Windstream windstream.com

WATER Cherokee County Water Authority 770-479-1813 City of Ball Ground 770-735-2123 City of Canton 770-704-1500 City of Waleska 770-479-2912 City of Woodstock 770-592-6006 HOSPITALS Northside Hospital-Cherokee 770-224-1000 Wellstar Kennestone 770-793-5000 Hospital

Old Sixes Mill

Located northwest of Atlanta, Cherokee County gets its name from the original inhabitants of the area, the Cherokee Indians. The county seat, then called Etowah, was established in 1833 and renamed Canton in 1834.

Today, the city is enjoying its greatest economic boom in its history since more than $60 million was invested in residential and commercial development in 1998. Despite developing its own industrial base, Cherokee County remains idyllic and serene. Farming, especially poultry processing, remains a leading industry.

Canton and the neighboring community of Woodstock have seen tremendous growth as subdivisions crop up to accommodate newcomers. In fact, nearly 60 percent of the county’s population are commuters.

According to Zillow.com, the median value of homes is $283,573.

Homes for well over $1 million can be purchased in such neighborhoods as Bradshaw Farm, BridgeMill and Towne Lake Hills.

Interstate 575 and Ga. Highway 92 traverse the county, affording residents easy access to Atlanta and the nearby attractions of Town Center Mall, Lake Allatoona and the North Georgia Mountains. Other great places

36 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

Mountains and along the banks of the Etowah River, Canton is a prime location for development.

Woodstock

to live, work and play in Cherokee County include the cities of Ball Ground, Holly Springs and Waleska.

Neighborhoods

Canton Canton was incorporated in 1833 and renamed in 1834 at the request of two founding fathers who had visions that the town might become a silk center similar to what existed in Canton, China. Canton did become famous for its “Canton Denim,” known worldwide for the high-quality denim produced by Canton Cotton Mills.

Today, Canton is attracting new industry and residents. As a result, the city is reinvesting in its downtown.

As part of its Streetscapes program, downtown Canton will be restored to its historic look and features a newly designed theater on Main Street. Located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge

Located 12 miles south of Canton, Woodstock is one of Georgia's top 10 fastest-growing cities and a community recently named one of the Top 50 Cities Places to Live in the U.S. by Money magazine.

Residents also enjoy easy access to 575 and 92, allowing short commutes to Cobb and Fulton counties.

While affording convenience to big-city attractions, Woodstock still maintains its small-town appeal.

Buildings dating back to 1879 characterize the downtown area, where antique and other specialty shops are located.

Various golf courses are located in Woodstock, including Arnold Palmer’s Eagle Watch, a course with wooded countryside views that is considered to be one of the top places to play in Atlanta. The 11,860-acre Lake Allatoona provides additional recreation. Woodstock is also convenient to more than 13 state parks. N For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our Website at newcomeratlanta.com

COUNTY INFORMATION EDUCATION

PUBLIC SCHOOLS Cobb County Schools Board of Education 770-426-3300 cobbk12.org Elementary Schools 67 Middle Schools 25 High Schools 17 6 Magnet Charter 1 Per-pupil expenditures $8,833 School and bus information 678-594-8000 Marietta City Schools Board of Education

Cobb County

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Truist Park

Neighborhoods

Kennesaw

One of Family Circle magaCobb County came into zine’s Ten Best Towns for Families, being in 1832 when the state Kennesaw takes pride in its smallCounty cobbcountyga.gov redistributed land once part town atmosphere and boasts Neighborhoods austellga.org of the Cherokee Nation. abundant parks and greenspace, mariettaga.gov Named after Thomas Willis exceptional recreational programs smyrnaga.gov Cobb, the county experiand top-notch schools, includkennesaw-ga.gov enced a devastating setback ing Kennesaw State University. cityofpowdersprings.org during the Civil War when Kennesaw’s historic downtown smyrnacity.com most of it was destroyed features shopping, dining and atduring the famous Battle of tractions such as the SmithsonianMedian household income: $75,654 Median age of residents: 36.6 Kennesaw Mountain. affiliated Southern Museum of Population: 755,754 Civil War and Locomotive HisToday, Cobb County, Sales tax: 6% located northwest of Fulton tory, the Smith-Gilbert Gardens County, is one of the state's and nearby Kennesaw Mountain Chamber of Commerce Cobb County most thriving counties. With National Battlefield Park.

770-980-2000, cobbchamber.org a diverse economic base that includes jobs in the service, Property Taxes retail, aerospace and techRapidly defining what’s new The property tax is $33.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. Tax Commissioner: 770-980-2000 nology sectors, Cobb County and progressive in quality of life offers a quality of life unsurand citizen services, Smyrna passed in the Southeast. Nearly delivers an amazing sense of style $900 million has been spent and love of life. The Market Village Cumberland Mall, secluded subon transportation improvements in district, home to fabulous restaurants, divisions in East Cobb and horse recent years, allowing residents easy bars and upscale shops and services, access to Atlanta and the commercial ranches in the northwest corner is the final piece of a master plan for of the county. The small towns districts of Vinings Overlook, Cumsuccess. Call it “Main Street USA” or berland Parkway and the prestigious of Marietta, Vinings, Smyrna and “Disneyland,” but don’t overlook its Platinum Triangle in the popular Austell still retain their Southern charm and ability to offer the best in Galleria area. charm amidst urban settings. Acfresh, trendy lifestyle options. N A variety of housing options cording to the Census Bureau, the For more counties and neighborhood exist in Cobb County, including median value of homes in 2018 information, visit our Website at newcomeratlanta.com luxury apartments and condos near was $237,800.

QUICK INFO

Smyrna

770-422-3500 marietta-city-org Elementary Schools 8 Middle Schools 1 High Schools 1 Sixth-Grade 1 Magnet 1 $10,542 Per-pupil expenditures School and bus information 770-429-3110 Avg. SAT Scores

Cobb Co. Marietta City Georgia National

1114 1056 1048 1039

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county.

UTILITIES & CONTACTS ELECTRICITY Acworth Power 770-917-8903 770-429-2100 Cobb EMC Georgia Power 888-891-0938 GreyStone Power Corp.

770-942-6576 770-794-5150 Marietta Power GAS Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated.

For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV AT&T att.com cobbemc.com Cobb EMC Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com Direct TV directv.com Dish Network dish.com Spectrum spectrum.com WATER Austell Water Cobb County Water System Marietta Water Powder Springs Water Smyrna Water

770-944-4300 770-419-6200 770-794-5150 770-943-8000 678-631-5338

HOSPITALS WellStar Cobb Hospital 470-732-4000 WellStar Kennestone Hospital 770-793-5000 WellStar Windy Hill Hospital 770-644-1000

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COUNTY INFORMATION EDUCATION

PUBLIC SCHOOLS Fulton County Schools Board of Education 470-254-3600

fultonschools.org Elementary Schools 59 Middle Schools 19 High Schools 18 Charter 10 Centers 4 Per-pupil expenditures $10,609 School & Bus Information

North 470-254-2970 South 470-254-6060 Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education 404-802-3500

atlantapublicschools.us Elementary Schools 49 Middle Schools 12 High Schools 14 Charter 18 Alternative 4 Per-pupil expenditures $11,263 School & bus information 404-802-5500 Avg. SAT Scores Fulton Co. 1086 Atlanta Public Schools 944 Georgia 1048 National 1039 PRIVATE SCHOOLS Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county.

UTILITIES & CONTACTS ELECTRICITY City of College Park 404-669-3759 City of East Point 404-270-7010 City of Fairburn 770-964-2244 City of Palmetto 770-463-3322 Georgia Power 888-891-0938 GAS Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated.

For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV AT&T att.com Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com Direct TV directv.com Dish Network dish.com WATER Fulton County

404-612-6830

HOSPITALS Atlanta Medical Center 404-265-4000 Atlanta VA Medical Center 404-321-6111 Center for the Visually Impaired 404-875-9011 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding 404-785-9500 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite 404-785-2273 Emory University Hospital Midtown 404-686-4411 Grady Memorial Hospital 404-616-1000 WellStar North Fulton Regional Hospital 770-751-2500 Northside Hospital 404-851-8000 Piedmont Hospital 404-605-5000 Shepherd Center 404-352-2020 Emory St. Joseph's Hospital 678-843-7001

Fulton County

Fulton County serves as the cension, the historic Swan House ter of the metro Atlanta area. With 90 and the Atlanta History Center.

Buckhead is also an enterpercent of the city of Atlanta, includtainment and dining hotspot. ing the state’s capital building, loWith luxury hotels, shops, bars cated within its borders, it sits at the and more than 250 restauhub of the area’s financial, transportation, retail, communications and rants, the Buckhead area is a cultural services. A number of Formagnet for young professiontune 500 companies, including the als.The neighborhood also Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines offers numerous antique and UPS, are headquartered here. stores, art galleries and mall More than one million people shopping at both Lenox live in Fulton County, drawn by its Square and Phipps Piedmont Park convenience to Interstates 75, 85 and Plaza. is home to about 64,000 residents, 285 and Georgia State Route 400. drawn to its affordable housing, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, parks, shopping at North Point Mall the median value of homes in the and concerts at Ameris Bank Amphicounty is $290,400.

Fulton is home to many of Attheatre. The city's historic downtown lanta’s signature neighborhoods, boasts an appealing town including its bustling downtown square. Called Alpharetta district. Older neighborhoods like City Center, it features County co.fulton.ga.us Inman Park, Grant Park, Candler locally owned shops and Neighborhoods alpharetta.ga.us Park and Virginia-Highland offer restaurants, and hosts buckhead.net affordable housing, pedestrianevents year round. cityofmiltonga.us friendly layouts and plentiful virginiahighland.com parks and recreational options. collegeparkga.com Incorporated in 2006, Midtown is the heart of Atlanta’s eastpointcity.org this thriving community of cultural scene, with the Woodruff hapeville.org 84,000 was ranked fourth Arts Center (home to the Alliance johnscreekga.gov among 50 Best U.S. Cities Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony roswellgov.com sandyspringsga.gov to Live In by USA Today.

Orchestra and the High Museum It boasts a diverse ecoof Art) and the historic Fox TheMedian household income: $65,037 atre, as well as a host of art gallernomic base, coupled with Median age of residents: 35.5 ies. Midtown’s Piedmont Park, the a peaceful environment: Population: 1,050,114 Sales tax: 7.75%, Atlanta City: 8.9% the city contains over 400 city’s most popular greenspace, hosts many outdoor festivals and acres of parkland and naChamber of Commerce ture reserves and contains concerts.

Greater North Fulton 770-993-8806, gnfcc.com five access points to the Metro Atlanta Chattahoochee River.

QUICK INFO

Johns Creek

Neighborhoods

Buckhead

404-880-9000, metroatlantachamber.com South Fulton 770-964-1984, southfultonchamber.com

Milton

Also incorporated Property Taxes Buckhead is “where old in 2006, Milton comThe property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value is: money lives and new money bines a pastoral setting $40.92 for the City of Atlanta; $29.18 for incorporated parties,” according to the Atwith forward-thinking Fulton County; $40.76 for unincorporated Fulton lanta Journal-Constitution. With city planning that offers County; $33.54 for Johns Creek; $33.91 for Sandy its mixture of mansions and what's been called "The Springs. Tax Commissioner: 404-613-6100 uniquely styled homes, Buckbest quality of life in head is a favorite among archiGeorgia." N tecture and history buffs. Convenient to Georgia 400, Interstate 85 and For more counties and neighborhood One of metro Atlanta’s most MARTA, it’s filled with high-rises, upinformation, visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com scale restaurants, the Governor’s Man- vibrant and affluent cities, Alpharetta

38 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

Alpharetta

Gwinnett County

COUNTY INFORMATION EDUCATION railroad aficionado.

Some of Duluth’s neighborhoods include Edgewater Estates, Sweet Bottom Plantation and Riverbrooke.

Affluent estates with antebellum architecture can be found as well as apartment communities, older brick, ranch-style homes and subdivisions. Duluth still retains some of its original small-town businesses, along with chain businesses, many accessible by Ga. 400 and I-85.

Suwanee

City Hall and the Town Green in downtown Duluth

Suwanee is named after the Shawnee Indians who settled here in the latter part of the 18th cenOriginally part of Georgia’s tury. Following the official foundNative American territory, Gwinnett ing of the city in 1837, Suwanee County was created by the State became a railroad stop along the Legislature in 1818 and named Southern Railroad route. It reafter Button Gwinnett, one of Geormained a small country town well gia's three signers of the Declainto the ’70s when conration of Independence and a struction of I-85 and U.S. former governor.

23 brought easy access to County gwinnettcounty.com While the county was once the region.

Neighborhoods cityofbuford.com largely rural with small towns, Since then, Suwanee duluthga.net country stores, farms and forests, has experienced tremencityoflilburn.com today it is home to about 600 dous growth, from 2,412 snellville.org international companies and 450 residents in 1990 to more suwanee.com high-tech firms. With an averthan 20,000 today. To help Median household income: $68,914 age of 21 new professional and manage growth, the city Median age of residents: 35.3 industrial companies relocating has developed a comprePopulation: 920,260 to the county each year, attracthensive development plan Sales tax: 6% ing almost 21,000 new jobs, that promotes pedestrianChamber of Commerce Gwinnett County remains in oriented development and Gwinnett County, 770-232-3000, the top 10 ranking for growth mixed-use zoning. The gwinnettchamber.org nationwide. The county supcity was designated a Tree Property Taxes ports many cultural events, City USA for 29 years for The property tax in unincorporated Gwinnett restaurants and shopping opits commitment to preservCounty is $28.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. portunities, including the Mall of ing 27 percent of its land Tax Commissioner: 770-822-8800.

Georgia in Buford. as greenspace. of Gwinnett County, Duluth has Gwinnett County remains Such foresight has allowed some of the most exclusive neighaffordable for renters and firstSuwanee to retain its old-fashioned borhoods in metro Atlanta and time home buyers, many of whom charm while providing contempois home to some of the best golf find homes in the communities of rary convenience. Only 35 miles courses and private tennis clubs.

Doraville, Lawrenceville and Snellfrom downtown Atlanta, Suwanee There are numerous parks for recville. The median value of homes is close to big-city attractions, busireation and participatory sports, in 2018, according to the Census ness districts and shopping. Many including Bunten Road Park and Bureau, was $200,400. antique shops and historic strucShorty Howell Park. North Point tures, including several Victorian Mall, a major shopping center, is and regional farm-style homes, are located near Duluth. The Southlocated near downtown Suwanee. N eastern Railway Museum, which For more counties and neighborhood preserves and operates old railroad information, visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com Amidst the pristine setting equipment, is a must-see for any

QUICK INFO

PUBLIC SCHOOLS Gwinnett County Schools Board of Education 678-301-6000

gwinnett.k12.ga.us Elementary Schools 80 Middle Schools 29 High Schools 25 Per-pupil expenditures $8,926 City Schools of Buford Board of Education 770-945-5035

bufordcityschools.org Elementary Schools Middle Schools High Schools Per-pupil expenditures

2 1 1 $9,397

Avg. SAT Scores Gwinnett Co. 1094 City of Buford 1122 Georgia 1048 National 1039 PRIVATE SCHOOLS Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county.

UTILITIES & CONTACTS ELECTRICITY 678-889-4600 City of Buford City of Lawrenceville 770-963-9834 770-448-2122 City of Norcross Georgia Power 888-891-0938 800-462-3691 Jackson EMC Sawnee EMC 770-887-2363 770-267-2505 Walton EMC GAS Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated.

For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV att.com AT&T Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com directv.com Direct TV dish.com Dish Network WATER Buford 678-889-4600 Dacula 770-963-7451 678-376-6800 Gwinnett City Water Lawrenceville 770-963-2414 770-448-2122 Norcross Spectrum Comcast

CABLE TV 888-438-2427 800-266-2278

HOSPITALS 770-979-0200 Eastside Medical Center Northside Hospital Gwinnett 678-312-1000 Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion 678-312-4790 Summit Ridge Center for Behavorial Health 678-442-5800

Neighborhoods

Duluth

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upcomingEVENTS

Indigo Girls, Atlanta Symphony Hall Ring in 2023 with the Atlanta-based, awardwinning folk-rock duo, performing live in concert alongside the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Dec. 30-31, aso.org.

Hadestown, Fox Theatre

Christmas Canteen 2022, Aurora Theatre

Gwinnett Ballet’s 41st annual The Nutcracker, Gas South Theater The Gwinnett Ballet Theatre celebrates 40-plus years of staging this enduring classic with entrancing choreography, stunning sets and colorful costumes. Dec. 3-18, gassouthdistrict.com.

Anastasia, Fox Theatre Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta presents this dazzling stage musical of a young woman striking out to unravel the mystery of her past.

Dec. 6-11, atlanta.broadway.com.

The Nutcracker, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre This long-running production by the Atlanta Ballet is a beloved Atlanta tradition, with an innovative production featuring spectacular sets, bold costumes and striking video projections. Dec. 9-26, atlantaballet.com.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Gas South Arena The arena-rock band performs music from its landmark album “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” and other songs from throughout its 26-year career. Two shows at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 11, gassouthdistrict.com.

Christmas With the ASO, Atlanta Symphony Hall The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performs a program of Christmas carols, hymns, and other holiday favorites. Dec. 15-18, aso.org.

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Celtic Woman: A Christmas Symphony, Atlanta Symphony Hall The popular all-female Irish group performs a holiday-themed concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Dec. 17, aso.org.

A Christmas Carol, Gas South Theater Storybook Theater performs a moving version of the timeless holiday classic. Dec. 20-21, gassouthdistrict.com.

Christmas Canteen 2022, Aurora Theatre The long-running holiday variety show returns with an evening of festive music, comedy sketches and show-stopping dance numbers. Through Dec. 23, auroratheatre.com.

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet, Fox Theatre This acclaimed holiday tradition returns for its 30th anniversary tour with larger-than-life puppets, dazzling costumes and breathtaking acrobatics performed by an international cast, featuring starts of Ukraine ballet. Two performances at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23, foxtheatre.org.

PHOTO: Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Theater & Concerts

PHOTO: Casey Gardner Ford

Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta presents touring production of this award-winning musical that spins a fresh take on the myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone. Jan. 10-15, atlanta.broadway.com.

Yesterday: A Tribute to the Beatles, Gas South Theater The internationally renowned tribute act performs. Jan. 20, gassouthdistrict.com.

Don Giovanni, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre The Atlanta Opera presents a film-noir version of the classic opera. This opera contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children.

Jan. 21-29, atlantaopera.org.

Jim Gaffigan, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre The actor and stand-up comedian performs on his Dark Pale Tour. Feb. 2-5, cobbenergycentre.com.

Carrie Underwood, State Farm Arena Eight-time Grammy Award-winning country music superstar and former “American Idol” winner Underwood performs on her Denim & Rhinestones Tour. Feb. 7, statefarmarena.com.

John Mellencamp: Live and In Person, Fox Theatre The award-winning singer and songwriter known for such hits as “Jack and Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town” and “Hurts So Good” performs. Feb. 10, foxtheatre.org.

Dancing With the Stars Live 2023, Fox Theatre America’s favorite televised dance competition hits the road once again with a lineup of “Dancing With the Stars” pros and special guest stars. Feb. 11, foxtheatre.org.

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Fox Theatre

PAW Patrol: Adventure Play, Children’s Museum of Atlanta

This inspiring musical charts the rise of the award-winning, boundary-smashing performer who has won 12 Grammy Awards and sold more concert tickets than any other solo artist ever. Presented by Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta. Feb. 21-26, atlanta.broadway.com.

Exhibits & Events Deck the Hall, Downtown Duluth Kick off the holiday season with live entertainment, a real snow playground, photo ops with Santa, children’s crafts, light installations and a traditional tree lighting, Dec. 3, duluthga.net.

Duluth Farmers and Artisan Market, Duluth Town Green Shop locally grown produce, baked goods and other homemade items like candles, soaps and pottery at this monthly event showcasing local farmers and vendors on the second Sunday of each month from 2-6 p.m. Dec. 11, duluthga.net.

Christmas Craft Week, Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Celebrate the holidays by making festive red and green crafts! Dec. 19-23, 770-536-1900, inkfun.org.

Sun, Earth, Universe, Fernbank Museum of Natural History Created by the National Informal STEM Educational Network in collaboration with NASA, this exhibit explores our closest stars, our planets and the universe, and how they interact.

Children can design, build and test their own model spacecraft to complete a space mission.

Through Jan. 1, 404-929-6300, fernbankmuseum.org.

PAW Patrol: Adventure Play, Children’s Museum of Atlanta This immersive, hands-on exhibit lets kids assist the heroic search-and-rescue pups as they learn how to use their different skills to problem-solve and overcome challenges. Through Jan. 8, 404-659-5437, childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern, High Museum of Art This exhibit showcases more than 70 sculptures and drawings, from well-known compositions like “The Thinker” and “The Kiss” to lesser-known works. Through Jan. 15, 404-733-5000, high.org.

Snowflake Craft Week, Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Bring your children to create a beautiful snowflake crafts to take home. Jan. 23-29, 770-536-1900, inkfun.org.

Valentine’s Day Craft Week, Interactive Neighborhood for Kids Make your valentine a one-of-a-kind gift with fun materials all week long! Feb. 13-19, 770-536-1900, inkfun.org.

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hiddenATLANTA

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WITH VISUAL APPEAL

By Everett Catts

W

THE DETAILS LOCATION: 11 Buford Village Way, Suite 147, Buford, GA 30518 HOURS: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday CONTACT INFO: shoppiggyjos@gmail.com or 706-983-2871 WEBSITE: piggyjos.com

42 | Newcomer Magazine | newcomeratlanta.com

hen Mandy Volpe decided to open Piggy Jo’s, a children’s clothing and gift shop in Buford, she envisioned a place to bring the city together.

“In my opinion, it’s become a community gem,” she says. “It’s curated wonder. It’s not going to be everything clothing-wise you see in every department store. We hand-select everything. … The reason is I want your children to be unique.”

Piggy Jo’s, which opened in December 2021, is a mashup of Volpe and her husband and co-owner Conner’s grandparents’ names: Pap Paw Piggy and Grandma Jo. When you pull up to the store’s entrance and, especially when you step inside, you’re hit with an explosion of mostly pink to accentuate the “piggy” theme. The store sells clothes for newborns through preteens (sizes 7-14), plus toys, books and gifts.

But not everything in the store has pink or other bright colors. Piggy Jo’s sells Rylee + Cru children’s clothes that tend to come in more neutral tones.

Other popular items are children’s clothes by The Beaufort Bonnet; Indestructibles, a line of books for babies that are chew-, rip- and drool-proof; and stuffed animals by Jellycat.

At least once a quarter, Piggy Jo’s hosts community events such as story time and charity fundraisers. Volpe and her husband’s three children, Parker, 7, Fallon, 5, and Savannah, 2, even are involved in the everyday activities of the store.

So, if you’re looking for something you can’t find anywhere else, Piggy Jo’s is the place to go.

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