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

29th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival

May 1st - 31st, The 29th Atlanta Jazz Festival is a 31-day schedule of events featuring internationally renowned jazz artists. The Festival is a program produced by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs. Downtown Atlanta venues include SunTrust Lunch on Broad, Wednesdays in Woodruff, Dailey's, City Grill, the Rialto and Endenu. www.atlantafestivals.com


Music at Noon at Centennial Olympic Park

Music at Noon is the perfect summer lunchtime getaway! You can get out of the office for a mid-day break filled with sunny skies and great entertainment. Local talent performs a variety of music, including R&B, jazz and reggae. If you don't have a packed lunch, there's plenty of great food and drinks to choose from in the FountainSide Café. Every Tuesday and Thursday from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheatre of Centennial Olympic Park. www.centennialpark.com


Habitat for Humanity Locates Administrative Headquarters in Downtown
Habitat for Humanity International announced on April 19 that it will locate its new administrative headquarters in downtown Atlanta, joining a cluster of international nonprofits that call Atlanta home. Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce President Sam A. Williams said Atlanta is an excellent choice for Habitat because of its international airport, the city's dedication to affordable housing and the outstanding research universities here that can partner with Habitat. "Atlanta will give Habitat a home base that's connected to the world and a hometown that strongly supports its critical work," said Williams.


Wednesday's in Woodruff

Starting at Noon every Wednesday from May 3 through September 27, 2006, performance groups will entertain lunchtime crowds in Downtown Atlanta's Woodruff Park. The acts for the month of May will be honoring the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Brought to you by Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. www.atlantadowntown.com


Wednesday WindDown at Centennial Olympic Park

The best way to get through the workweek and over hump day is by taking in a free concert! Wednesday WindDown is a popular spring/summer event that features live concerts by some of the best music acts in town. Enjoy everything from jazz to contemporary music performed live on stage. If dinnertime hunger sets in, there's no need to worry. Food and drinks are available for purchase at the FountainSide Café, located in the Visitor Center, as well as by vendors around the amphitheater. Every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Southern Company Amphitheatre of Centennial Olympic Park. www.centennialpark.com


Turner First Thursday

Enjoy art in the city with galleries, artist work spaces and performing art venues. Selected by Atlanta Magazine as the Best Art Crawl, come see what you're missing! Gallery stops include VSA Arts for All Gallery, the Museum of Design and the Paige Harvey Art Studio. Extend your gallery walk by visiting "Paint in the Pods" at the Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View from 7-10 p.m. The first Thursday of every month. www.atlantadowntown.com/


SunTrust Lunch on Broad

Every Friday starting on May 5th from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. through September 29th (weather permitting), downtowners can enjoy lunch and live music in the Historic Fairlie-Poplar District on Broad Street and now Woodruff Park. Performances by local artists include jazz, reggae, blues, and more! www.atlantadowntown.com


USA Landsale at GWCC
160 Properties will be sold at this land auction for areas around the country on May 13 in Building B of the Georgia World Congress Center. This is a public event, but pre-registration is required. The auction begins at 11:00 a.m. and concludes at 5:00 p.m. www.usalandsale.com/


Arby's Thanks Mayor and Chamber for Warm Atlanta Welcome
Arby's Restaurant Group marked the official opening of its new Atlanta headquarters offices on Tuesday, April 18. Arby's Restaurant Group completed the move of its corporate offices from Fort Lauderdale in late 2005. The move created new positions and directly aided in the retention of a like number of existing jobs with its RTM subsidiary. Arby's becomes the latest in a stellar lineup of companies that have critically evaluated many other cities and decided that metro Atlanta offered them the ideal combination of talent, air service and quality of life needed to successfully conduct operations in a global economy.


Parking Demand Management Action Plan

What do you think of Downtown parking? Here's your chance to share your thoughts!

The Downtown Transportation Management Association (TMA) is underway with a Parking Demand Management Action Plan for Downtown Atlanta. The objective of the Action Plan is to develop parking management strategies that reduce parking demand and parking-related congestion, improve air quality and the efficiency of the existing parking supply, and support greater use of alternative forms of transportation. As one component of the study, the Downtown TMA is requesting input from metro Atlantans about transportation and parking in Downtown through an Internet-based survey.

Visit www.atlantadowntown.com/ParkingPlan.asp to participate. All survey participants will be eligible for a $50 gift card drawing presented by the Downtown TMA.


Mueller Water Products Locates Corporate Headquarters in Metro Atlanta
Newly formed Mueller Water Products LLC, a spin-off of Tampa-based Walter Industries, will locate its corporate headquarters in metro Atlanta. President and CEO Greg Hyland made the announcement in April. Fifty new high-value jobs will be created and preliminary revenue projections indicate the firm will likely be ranked in the Fortune 1,000 list. The office is slated to open in early fall 2006.


Georgia Ranks 7th in Nation For Number of Biotech Companies
Georgia ranks seventh in the nation for the number of biotechnology companies located here, according to a new Ernst & Young report. In just five years, the state has moved from 11th place (in 2001) to seventh place, according to Ernst & Young's "Beyond Borders: Global Biotechnology Report 2006." California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania took the top six ranks.


MARTA presents The Atlanta Tourist Loop

Explore Atlanta with the new MARTA Atlanta Tourist Loop. The buses follow Route 100 and cost the usual fare of $1.75 to ride. Exact fare is required and trans cards are accepted. The loop includes the Georgia Aquarium, High Museum of Art, CNN Center, Georgia Dome/Philips Arena, Georgia World Congress Center, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, Underground Atlanta, State Capitol, Fox Theatre, World of Coca-Cola, as well as other major attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops. The shuttles, intended to be as user friendly as possible, run every 30 minutes in a clock wise loop, and are wrapped with a special logo to distinguish them from other MARTA buses. They will run from 8 a.m to 7 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. www.itsmarta.com


Toohey's Trolleys
Owned by Tom Toohey, Toohey's trolleys transport visitors between the Georgia Aquarium and Underground Atlanta. The buses resemble vintage trolley cars, and drivers, also known as conductors, will point out landmarks and discuss local history during the trip. The trolleys run every 10 to 15 minutes and cost $1.50 one way. www.newwaveriders.com


2006 Dance Recital at GWCC
On May 13 the annual dance recital for Susan's Dance Studio out of Stone Mountain will be at the Sidney Marcus Auditorium of the Georgia World Congress Center. There will be two shows, one from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and another from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. www.susandancestudio.com/


The Chamber is Working to Stop Freight Congestion...You Can Help
The Chamber's Atlanta Logistics Innovation Council is working with the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Transportation to develop the first freight mobility plan for the future of the Atlanta area. The plan's primary goals are to identify current and future challenges of freight movement in the Atlanta region and to recommend short-term solutions and long-term strategies to effectively address freight traffic congestion. You can help. On-line surveys have been developed for shippers, receivers, carriers and the general public. The information obtained will help to identify opportunities to improve current and future transportation infrastructure.
For more information on the survey please contact Bob Pertierra at the Metro Atlanta Chamber.
For more information on the Atlanta Logistics Innovation Council, visit www.LogisticsAtlanta.com.


Pantene Total You Tour at GWCC
The Pantene Total You Tour is a total-wellness event targeting African-American women ages 18-49. Atlanta is one stop on the eight-city nationwide tour dedicated to encouraging African-American women to realize their unique and holistic beauty. This event is focused on positive transformation of the mind, body and spirit, in an uplifting and entertaining environment. The Tour features a forum with celebrities Donna Richardson, Eva Pigford, Jill Marie Jones, Susan B. Taylor, Tyrese, Sammie, Mary Mary, Goapele and LaToya Luckett, a fashion show, and live musical performance, in addition to an expo with 20 health & community based vendors. The event is in Hall C3 of the Georgia World Congress Center on May 20. Tickets are $15-$25. www.pantenetotalyoutour.com/


The Atlanta Downtown Festival and Tour
The annual tour this year will feature lofts, condos and other unique living spaces on a walking tour in and around Fairlie Poplar and Centennial Olympic Park. The festival on May 20 and 21 will include live entertainment on two stages beginning at noon each day, an artist market with more than 100 booths, a beer garden and other activities designed to showcase the vibrancy of downtown living. www.atlantadna.org


Archaeology Day at Fernbank

Dig in for a day of family fun, featuring archaeology-themed programming focusing on Native American crafts and technologies. Designed to celebrate Georgia Archaeology Awareness Month - a state-wide initiative designed to promote public awareness; scheduled activities include a scavenger hunt, technology demonstrations, crafts, and a “dirt toss”. Saturday May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, activities are included with Museum admission and are free for Museum members. Museum admission is $12 for adults, $11 for students and seniors, and $10 for children ages 12 and under. www.fernbanksciencecenter.org


Atlanta Spa Expo at GWCC
Make this weekend all about you as the Atlanta Spa Expo celebrates taking the time to relax and enjoy life. Exhibitors and speakers will educate and entertain attendees with the latest ways to get the most out of the spa industry. Come find your favorite spa or path to wellness with over three hundred exhibitors of day spas, spa resorts, plastic and cosmetic surgeons, chiropractors, fitness trainers, cosmetologist and dermatologists, in addition to classes on plastic surgery techniques, spa services, spa careers, wellness, a job fair, a men's spa and sports den, and prizes and vacation packages. The 2006 Atlanta Spa Expo is in Building C of the Georgia World Congress Center May 20 and 21. www.atlantaspaexpo.com


Southern Comfort Music Experience at Centennial Olympic Park
The Southern Comfort Music Experience comes to Atlanta May 20 and 21, taking over Downtown Atlanta with a free two day music festival incorporating food and fun. Centennial Olympic Park will be transformed into a rocking festival filled with great music, great food and great spirits. The main stage will mix in some New Orleans spice with mainstream music including such bands as The Flaming Lips, Cowboy Mouth, Ozomatli, De La Soul, Big Star, and Family Force 5. www.99x.com or www.centennialpark.com


North American Gay Volleyball Association at GWCC
Hotlanta Volleyball Association is proud to host this year's North American Gay Volleyball Association Championships in Hall A3 of the Georgia World Congress Center from May 26-28. www.atlanta2006.org/


Redan High School Graduation at Georgia Dome
The Redan High School Class of 2006 will have their graduation ceremony Saturday, May 27, 2006 at the Georgia Dome. Redan High is located in Stone Mountain, and is part of the DeKalb County School system. Attendees must have a ticket for admittance and the ceremony starts at 10 a.m. www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/~redanhs/


4th Saturday Family Fun Day at Centennial Olympic Park

The first Family Fun Day of 2006 is All About Art! Activities include street performers, specialty displays, touring shows and plenty of great activities for children. It's a day full of interaction, entertainment and education and the best part about the day is that it is free! May 27, 2006 from Noon to 4 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park. www.centennialpark.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), The Phoenix (Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce), The Pulse of Progress (Atlanta Development Authority), and the Georgia World Congress Center newsletter.