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

"Every Day Is An Opening Day" Hits The National Media Scene

On November 10th, the Brand Atlanta Campaign team introduced the final elements of Atlanta's new marketing campaign to an enthusiastic crowd at Symphony Hall. In the audience were media from across the nation. Reports about Atlanta's new brand have been found in USA Today, Associated Press, The New York Times, the Orlando Sentinel, CNN and National Public Radio. Visit www.ATLopen.com for more information.


Peachtree Corridor Taskforce Announced

Mayor Shirley Franklin recently appointed Tom Bell, CEO of Cousins Properties, and Egbert Perry, CEO of Integral Group, to head the newly-created Peachtree Corridor Taskforce. Under Bell and Perry, several sub-committees will be created. These committees will develop a vision for the Peachtree Corridor that will promote pedestrian-friendly walk spaces, a street car that connects Atlanta's business districts and new development that will increase storefront properties along Atlanta's most famous street. The Peachtree Corridor connects Midtown, downtown and Buckhead -- the city's busiest business districts. For more information on the Atlanta Streetcar visit www.atlantastreetcar.org


"A Christmas Carol" at the Alliance Theatre

"A Christmas Carol," an Atlanta holiday tradition, runs until December 24 at the Alliance Theatre. For more information please visit www.alliancetheatre.org


Developer's Day

Join the City of Atlanta's Bureau of Buildings for Developer's Day on January 17th from 7:30am - 9:30am at the Georgia Power Company Auditorium at 241 Ralph McGill Blvd, across the street from the Atlanta Civic Center. To register, www.atlantaga.gov/government/planning/burofbuildings.aspx


Nutcracker at the Rialto

The Rotary International Ballet School presents The Nutcracker at the Rialto December 18 & 19. This ballet includes performers from the Polish National Theater and Venezuela's Ballet Classico de Camara. www.rialtocenter.org


BeltLine TAD

The Atlanta Public School Board of Education voted to approve the BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD) on December 12. This vote follows an affirmative vote on the TAD by the Atlanta City Council on November 7. The Fulton County Commission is the third and final entity that must approve the BeltLine TAD. The TAD will serve as the primary source of funding and will cover the majority of infrastructure costs. The BeltLine, a 22-mile loop of historic railroad, will increase greenspace, enhance mobility and foster economic development. For more information please visit www.beltlinepartnership.org


Peach Drop at Underground

The 2006 Peach Drop is a day full of family fun and an evening full of top-notch entertainment! Beginning at noon on Saturday, December 31, Underground Atlanta will be bursting with activities for the entire family. As the clock strikes 12 midnight, spectacular fireworks will fill the air as Collective Soul helps to ring in the New Year.  www.peachdrop.com


ACVB Annual Meeting

Save the date for the 93rd ACVB Annual Meeting on Feb. 8, 2006 at the Georgia Aquarium. $75 ticket/$750 table of ten.
RSVP: jclaxton@atlanta.net or call (404) 521-6606.


Atlanta Best Family Vacation Destination

Atlanta has been chosen as one of the 10 Best Places to Vacation in the U.S. by Family Digest Magazine.

New Air Cargo Service to Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific Cargo recently began the first direct air cargo flight services from Hong Kong to Atlanta. Cathay Pacific will fly three flights per week establishing this critical air link between Atlanta and China. The Atlanta Logistics Innovation Council continues to work with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to market the region and attract additional air cargo carriers like Cathay Pacific with particular emphasis on Latin America and Asia.


Children's Holiday Festival

The 28th Annual Children's Holiday Festival will take place on Saturday, December 17 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the City Hall East Exhibition Center.

Atlanta Sports Council Turns 20

The Atlanta Sports Council has helped attract more than 50 multimillion-dollar sporting events to metro Atlanta, which has become a routine destination for mega events like the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Four, MLB and NBA all-star games, and AAU championships. From the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996, to the PGA Championship in 2001 to USA Volleyball's Junior Olympic Championships, Atlanta has successfully accommodated events of every sporting type and scale, validating its position as Sports Capital of the World. For more information on the Atlanta Sports Council please visit www.atlantasportscouncil.com


Chastain Holiday Art Show

Still looking for that perfect gift? Visit the City of Atlanta's Chastain Arts Center annual Holiday Art Show and Sale from now until December 22.


Atlanta Named Fun City

Atlanta was recently named one of seven fun cities in Weekend magazine.

Inaugural Atlanta Sports Awards

On February 26, 2006 at the Fox Theater, the Atlanta Sports Awards, created by the Atlanta Sports Council and presented by Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, will honor the most accomplished athletes and teams at all levels from throughout the metro Atlanta community. The Atlanta Sports Awards will honor 11 award recipients who distinguish themselves from the 5 million people living in the 29 metro Atlanta counties and surrounding areas. That includes all six Atlanta professional sports teams, 14 universities, 12 junior colleges and more than 250 public and private high schools. For more info, visit
www.AtlantaSportsAwards.com


Mayor Franklin in Top 10

Congratulations to Mayor Shirley Franklin for being selected among the Top 10 mayors in the world for 2005! The World Mayor competition is an annual internet-based contest organized by citymayors.com.

The Nutcracker at the Fabulous Fox Theatre

If Atlanta has a single defining holiday event, it would arguably be the Atlanta Ballet's production of the timeless Christmas classic, The Nutcracker, which has been delighting generations of children for almost 40 years. Tchaikovsky's masterwork has graced stages and screens all around the world, but the fabulous Fox Theatre's historic architecture, with the shimmering stars on its ceiling, seems to add a dash of magic. Little ones love the story of young Marya's exciting holiday adventure. From the dance of the Sugarplum Fairies to the notorious, 8-foot tall Rat King, this lavish production choreographed by John McFall is guaranteed to provide holiday memories. Runs through December 30. For more information visit www.atlantaballet.com


Mayor's MASKED BALL

The 22nd Annual Mayor's MASKED Ball, which benefits the United Negro College Fund, is scheduled for Saturday, December 17 at 8:00 p.m. at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Hartsfield-Jackson Becomes A Hotspot

The airport recently launched Wi-Fi, a wireless network that will allow travelers to connect laptop computers and other wireless devices to the Internet from anywhere in the airport.
With this new service, all 5.8 million square feet of the airport have become one enormous "hot spot." A one-day Wi-Fi subscription will cost $7.95 to $9.99 and will allow passengers to connect laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other wireless devices to the Internet. Citywide Wi-Fi access may soon become a reality for Atlanta residents. Mayor Shirley Franklin and the City of Atlanta Department of Information Technology (DIT) are in the process of selecting a vendor to design, build and manage a citywide wireless infrastructure. A vendor should be selected by next year.


VSA Holiday Art Sale

VSA Arts of Georgia invites everyone to shop for a cause: VSA's annual Holiday Art Sale, runs through December 23. For more information contact Jay Tribby, Executive Director: 404.221.1270 x 207 or Jay.Tribby@VSAartsGA.org


See Atlanta From Above

A giant helium balloon has landed at Underground Atlanta! Atlanta's newest attraction, the AeroBalloon will allow locals and visitors to soar high above and admire amazing views within a 20 mile radius of downtown Atlanta including the city's skyline, Buckhead, and Stone Mountain. Up to 5 people at a time can travel upwards for a 10 minute adventure they will never forget. Offered daily, weather permitting. Adults $18, Children (under 12) $12. www.aeroballoon.com


Atlanta's Intellectual Infrastructure Attracts Real Estate Investment

The nation's largest real estate investment trust, Equity Office, has committed to a long-term presence in Metro Atlanta. According to the company there are several significant characteristics that make Atlanta an attractive investment market including: Strong intellectual infrastructure. Educated, diverse workforce. Diversified economy. Job growth. Balanced growth. Growth potential. Future Forecast. With strong market fundamentals in place, Atlanta is well positioned as an investment worthy city. While real estate companies across the nation are consistently entering and exiting markets across the country, Equity Office has its eyes on Atlanta.


Franklin Named Best Leader

Mayor Shirley Franklin was recently named among America's 25 Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report.


Retail Opportunity Abounds in Atlanta's Inner City

Although residents have been flocking to in-town neighborhoods for the past several years, the selection of retail establishments has lagged behind. According to an analysis performed by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), several factors make this an ideal time for developers and entrepreneurs looking to enter Atlanta's retail market. ICIC cites a concentrated consumer base as the primary competitive advantage for retail in the inner city. Atlanta's inner city comprises 58% of the City's total population and has 3 times the income density of the surrounding metro area. Twice the demand for retail per square mile exists in the inner city as compared to metro Atlanta. According to the State of the Inner City Economies research, in fact, in 2002, Atlanta ranked #2 in the nation for inner city start-ups, following Detroit.

Atlanta's business climate is also bursting with opportunities, as Inc. magazine ranked Atlanta #1 in its "Top 25 Cities for Doing Business in America" survey in 2004. Big retailers looking to grow in large underserved markets, instead of saturated suburban markets, are increasingly beginning to recognize the benefits of opening locations in the inner city.

On a smaller scale, entrepreneurs can also profit by catering to the neighborhood market and offering lower prices than the local high price stores that thrive without competition. From the new Edgewood Marketplace on Moreland Avenue to the Poly-Plex Pharmacy on Hollowell Parkway, retail is finally making a return to Atlanta's inner city, but significant opportunities for growth remain.


Atlanta Welcomes Pirelli

Atlanta is proud to welcome Pirelli to the neighborhood. The Milan-based company, best known for its high quality tires in the U.S., has chosen Atlanta for its new North American headquarters. "The key driver in making this decision was our partnership with Georgia Tech. The work they do is closely aligned with the work we already do in our R&D facility in
Italy. It's a great opportunity to combine resources and exchange ideas," say Peter Tyson, Vice President of Communications, Pirelli Tire North Amercia. This partnership will work to develop new optical components and systems and broadband access technologies for future high-speed telecommunications networks. The company will occupy 54,000 square feet of laboratory space at the Georgia Electronic Design Center in the Technology Square Research Building at Georgia Tech. The headquarters office space will be located next door in the Centergy One building.


Ice Skating at Centennial Olympic Park

The only place in Atlanta where you can find outdoor ice skating is in Centennial Olympic Park! The ice skating rink features a three-inch thick sheet of real ice, covered observation seating, theatrical lighting on the ice and decorative lighting in the trees surrounding the rink. There is also a kiddie rink separate from the main rink, where parents can skate with small children for a safer (and softer) environment. Skate for 90 minutes for only $6 -- skates are an additional $2. The rink is open until January 8, 2006. www.centennialpark.com


Sugar Bowl to be Held in Atlanta

The 72nd Nokia Sugar Bowl Football Classic will be held on January 2, 2006, in Atlanta's Georgia Dome and will use proceeds generated by that Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game to support hurricane relief efforts in its native New Orleans. The Georgia Dome is pleased to be able to provide a location for this year. Come see the University of Georgia
Bulldogs take on the West Virginia University Mountaineers. www.nokiasugarbowl.com


Georgia Aquarium Opens

The Georgia Aquarium opened November 23 as the largest aquarium in the world with more than 8 million gallons of water and more than 100, 000 fish. The Georgia Aquarium is located in Downtown Atlanta, next to the site of the new World of Coca-Cola Museum which is scheduled to open the summer of 2007, across the street from CNN Center, the Georgia World Congress Center, Centennial Olympic Park and Imagine It! Atlanta's Children's Museum. www.georgiaaquarium.org


Goethe-Institut Anniversary

The Goethe-Institut Atlanta, located in Colony Square, turns 30 this year.


Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade headlines a full day of activities on December 30 including Fan Fest and the MVP Tailgate Party. The ACC vs. SEC showdown kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in the Georgia Dome with the University of Miami Hurricanes and the Louisiana State University Tigers. www.peachbowl.com



News compiled from: City Newsbytes At-A-Glance (Mayor’s Office of Communications), Membership Communique (Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau), Downtown Live (Central Atlanta Progress), Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Newsletter, www.downtownATL.com, The Pulse of Progress (Atlanta Development Authority) and the Georgia World Congress Center newsletter.