Midtown Atlanta News and Events Archives

Taste Of Atlanta – October 5-7, 2012 — A Midtown Atlanta Event!

September 23, 2012 by Thom Abbott

Hungry? Like checking out restaurants? Then why not check out E-I-G-H-T-Y, yes I said 80 of Atlanta’s BEST restaurants at Taste of Atlanta October 5-7, 2012 in Midtown Atlanta!

This exciting culinary and social experience “takes over” Technology Square as well as parts of Spring Street for a 3 day festival celebrating one of Atlanta’s best known features….FOOD! Restaurants are a big thing in Atlanta. I don’t know if the stat is still the same, but I once heard that the average Atlantan spends over half of their monthly food budget in restaurants. Wow!

I can’t even begin to touch on a list of 80 restaurants that will be participating in Taste of Atlanta…that is mind-boggling to me! But, it’s an incredible event (or so I’ve heard…I’ve yet to make it…but I think that will change this year!)

A word to the wise….if you live outside of Midtown Atlanta, use the limited mass transit we DO have, and take MARTA. You can exit at the Midtown Station, and you are just a couple blocks from the action!

Come on out, and sample the culinary delights of Atlanta at Taste of Atlanta! And scope out Midtown Atlanta while you are here! It’s a pretty cool place to live when you have these kinds of events in your back yard!

Click on the picture to head to Taste of Atlanta’s website where you can purchase tickets, get a list of the participating restaurants, and more info about the event!

The Midtown Neighborhood Festival Impact – Crank Up The Music

September 21, 2012 by Thom Abbott

See on Scoop.it – Midtown Atlanta Conversations and Condos

Music Midtown 2012 is virtually here as tens of thousands of music-loving fans will be pouring into Piedmont Park on Friday and Saturday. It’s an exciting event featuring some very popular musical acts, but not everyone is whistling a happy tune.

There are concerned residents from neighborhoods that surround the park who wonder why Midtown must bear the burden in order for the rest of metro Atlanta and visitors to party during a string of spring, summer and fall festivals and events staged in and near the park.

Some contend it’s just part of the deal that comes with living in Midtown. Still, others want to insure that Midtown and Piedmont Park doesn’t get taken advantage of. Piedmont Park Conservancy (PPC) Director of Public Relations & Marketing Aimedra Kelley wrote in an email to Midtown Patch:
“Piedmont Park does not benefit from events like Music Midtown. Even though Piedmont Park hosts 85 percent of all permitted events in the City of Atlanta, there is no direct funding from those events supporting Piedmont Park Conservancy’s effort to maintain the Park. All of the funds raised from Conservancy events like Season of Magic, The Green Concert and more directly support the care and continued maintenance of Piedmont Park.”

The City does receive financial compensation from Live Nation Entertainment, which produces Music Midtown. According to City of Atlanta Special Events Coordinator Adrienne Wright, the City receives $250,000, plus $1 for each ticket that is sold that is contributed to Mayor Kasim Reed’s Centers of Hope initiative, which helps fund recreation centers and after-school activities for young people in the city, including upgrades to computer labs, security and other IT needs.

As is the case with all gated, ticketed events at Piedmont Park, it is up to the promoter to repair any damage sustained by the park, including turf damage. This year, the base of the two Music Midtown stages will have been in place for a full week before they’re removed.
See on midtown.patch.com

College Football Hall of Fame Gets Green Light with Funding

September 21, 2012 by Thom Abbott

College Football Hall of FAme Downtown Atlanta — Rendition Courtesy of ABC

I’ve often wondered what would draw a potential traveler to Atlanta on vacation? Maybe because I live here, I don’t think of it as a vacation location. But, there is quite a few things to do, and by 2014, you’ll be able to add one more reason to visit Downtown Atlanta.

The College Football Hall of Fame has secured $74 million in total capital sources, including a $22.5 million loan from Regions Bank, BB&T and Fifth Third Bank. Total project costs are estimated at $66 million.

The facility will be built on the Green Lot, next to the Omni Hotel and the Georgia World Congress Center, with access to the building from both the street AND inside the GWCC. Plans for the 90,000-square-foot facility, include a football field that will serve as an event space and 30,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Certainly, adding an attraction like this to the Downtown mix of the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, Centennial Olympic Park and the CNN Center are going to help our vacation location!

The College Football Hall of Fame move was announced in 2009, but has been struggling to get the necessary funds to begin construction.

Music Midtown Arrives in Midtown Atlanta – September 21-22, 2012

September 20, 2012 by Thom Abbott

Music Midtown makes its way back to Piedmont Park this weekend, Friday and Saturday. As with any major festival in Piedmont Park, there will be traffic, trash and LOTS of people!

As a former resident of Midtown, I know what parking, traffic and all is like. I’m just amazed when people do not make use of MARTA as a MUCH easier way to get in and out of Midtown Atlanta during large events like this. But, if you choose to drive, just be prepared as the Historic part of Midtown (East of Piedmont and South of 10th Street) will be on “lock down” and accessible ONLY to residents of the area.

Here is a map of the Music Midtown Street Closure and Neighborhood Traffic Plan.

Here is a site map of Piedmont Park and Music Midtown

You can get ticket information, and performance schedules at Music Midtown’s website.

From the Music Midtown Site:

Music Midtown 2012 will be taking place at the same location as the 2011 festival, on two stages in the 10th Street Meadow at Piedmont Park.

Parking will be very limited, all patrons are encouraged to use MARTA, walk, bicycle, or carpool.

There will be three entry gates into the festival.

Charles Allen Gate is located at the corner of 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive. The Charles Allen Gate is also the “main gate” for Music Midtown.
Park Drive Gate is accessible from Monroe and Park Drive. Patrons can enter the Park through the new expansion and enter the Festival from the north end of the 10th Street Meadow.
Lakeside Gate is accessible from the 12th Street and 14th Street entrances into Piedmont Park. Patrons can enter at the base of Oak Hill by the lake. This route is parallel to 10th Street when walking through the park.
Will Call will be located at the ticket booth at the corner of 10th Street and Charles Allen Drive, across from the Charles Allen Gate.

Guests with VIP or Super VIP tickets will enter through a separate gate on 10th Street. More details will be sent directly to these ticketholders.

The streets will be crowded, and there will be some great music! Enjoy Midtown Atlanta and Music Midtown 2012!

Ten 10th Street Faces Loan Troubles

September 9, 2012 by Thom Abbott

While we all like to hear good news, it’s important to keep it all in perspective. And loan problems are not just faced by residential home owners. Commercial properties have their challenges too.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported this week that Ten 10th Street has a $71.4 Million loan secured by the 13-story building, known as Millennium in Midtown (I don’ t think I ever knew that was the name of it!) which has been transferred to mortgage servicing .

The building faces financial challenges after it lost its anchor tenant, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP to 1075 Peachtree (12th and Midtown). The story says it will take up to $7 Million to release the space! Yikes!

Another prominent tenant is Google which occupies 32,000 sq ft. on a lease that is set to expire in 2013.

The building was built ten years ago, banking on office space demand for the telecom boom. When PricewaterhouseCoopers moved 800+ people in then, it was a deal that gave Midtown a boost. And it looks like it needs another boost.

Ten 10th Street is located at the corner of 10th and West Peachtree Streets, across from Aqua Condominiums.

Report: Police Raid Area Food Trucks

August 25, 2012 by Thom Abbott

See on Scoop.it – Midtown Atlanta Conversations and Condos

Five trucks were issued citations Wednesday in Virginia Highland.

Now mind you, I understand that for the health and well-being of the public, we have to have some rules. Otherwise, it would be a free-for-all out there. I’m not sure of the cost of these permits, but I’d think a Food Truck could be issued a permit say, every three months, and it covers any location where the truck is going to work.

I can only imagine the nightmare of being in 4 or 5 places in one week, and needing 4 or 5 permits? Come on ATL, let’s make doing business in ATL easy, not harder.

See on midtown.patch.com

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