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

    

Atlanta Ranks in Top Ten in “World Headquarters cities”
Atlanta ranks among the top ten in “world headquarters cities” according to Fortune Magazine’s latest Global 500 list of the biggest industrial companies. Atlanta shared ninth place on the list with Houston; Munich, Germany; and Osaka, Japan.  Based on a list of 2005 revenue totals for companies, Home Depot is the highest-ranking Atlanta company on the list at 43rd.  The others are UPS at 129th, Coca-Cola at 267th, BellSouth at 314th; Coca-Cola Enterprises – the distributor for Coca-Cola products - at 346th, and Delta Air Lines at 414th.  Revenues for Georgia companies on this list exceeded $200 billion.

SunTrust Lunch on Broad
Every Friday through September 29th , from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (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

Get Connected with the new Downtown Connects Card
Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District introduce a new Downtown Connects Card that gives residents and visitors the opportunity to experience downtown attractions, hotels, museums, and stores at a discounted price.  It’s free and available online so get clicking and start saving.  www.downtownconnectscard.com

Wednesday's in Woodruff
September is the last month for Wednesday’s in Woodruff.  Starting at Noon every Wednesday through September 27, performance groups will entertain lunchtime crowds in Downtown Atlanta’s Woodruff Park.  September artists includes actors from Agatha’s Mystery Theatre and Medieval Times, musician Melanie Massell, and the Rialto Theatre’s Feed Your Senses event.  www.atlantadowntown.com

Atlanta Football Classic Returns to Georgia Dome
The Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic is the Super Bowl of Black College Football. Proceeds from the game will benefit Project Success, a mentoring program that helps prepare urban youth for a successful high-school graduation through tutoring, workshops, seminars and other life-skills programs.  The program guarantees college tuition assistance to students who complete the program.  In addition, Florida A&M and Tennessee State Universities are beneficiaries of this annual event.  The Florida A&M Rattlers will face off against the Tennessee State Tigerson September 30.  In conjunction with the Altanta Football Classic, Tyson Foods presents the Atlanta Classic Band “JAM”Boree featuring the Marching 100 of Florida A&M University and the Aristocrats of Bands of Tennessee State University in a first of its kind side-by-side battle.  Unlike your typical Battle of the Bands where one band performs a halftime show and exits the field for the next band’s performance.  Each band will be on the field side-by-side like a heavyweight fight going round by round to see who will be standing at the end of the night before the Classic on September 29.    www.atlantafootballclassic.com

Wednesday WindDown at Centennial Olympic Park
The best way to get through the work-week 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.  Every first Wednesday of the month, is the very popular Got Jazz edition which brings nationally acclaimed Jazz musicians to the weekly Wednesday WindDown showcase.  Food and drinks are available for purchase at the park’s FountainSide Café, located in the Visitor Center, as well as by vendors around the amphitheater.  Every Wednesday until October 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Southern Company Amphitheatre of Centennial Olympic Park.  www.centennialpark.com

4th Saturday Family Fun Day at Centennial Olympic Park
The last Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day of the year is about the Great Outdoors.  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!  September 23 from Noon to 4 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park. www.centennialpark.com

Atlanta Selected as Catlin U.S. Headquarters
Catlin Group Limited, an international property and casualty insurer and reinsurer based in Bermuda, has selected Atlanta as the headquarters for Catlin U.S., which encompasses all of Catlin's operations in the United States. The Catlin U.S. office will be located at Tower Place One in Buckhead.

Turner First Thursday
On the first Thursday of every month, art lovers can view the arts, tour the historic districts of Downtown, and enjoy various discounts at Downtown restaurants. Turner First Thursdaysis a self-guided tour of galleries, with no beginning or ending point, you are free to move at your own pace.  Selected by Atlanta Magazine as the Best Art Crawl, come see what you're missing! www.atlantadowntown.com

Music at Noon at Centennial Olympic Park
Music at Noon is the perfect 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 park’s FountainSide Café.  Every Tuesday and Thursday through September from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Southern Company Amphitheatre of Centennial Olympic Park. www.centennialpark.com

New Cable Network Offers Daily Window into Modern Africa
Comcast and The Africa Channel recently celebrated the network’s one-year anniversary to the Atlanta market.  Atlanta was one of the first cities to air The Africa Channel.  The network is also airing in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. and will launch in Detroit this year.  The network has been backed by local financial investors and former President Jimmy Carter pledged to produce and publicize programs that will help to unite Africans and Americans.  The Africa Channel is available on Comcast channel 182.  It is a 24/7, commercially-supported channel that offers all English-language programming. Genres include news and information, travel and lifestyle, music, soap operas, feature films, documentaries, talk, reality, event specials and concerts – many of them among the top-rated and longest-running series in Africa.  www.theafricachannel.com

Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals at Georgia Dome
The Falcons last faced the Cardinals in the third week of the 2004 season at the Georgia Dome, defeating Arizona 6-3 while limiting them to less than 300 yard of total offense, sacking Cardinals quarterbacks a combined six times and both forcing and recovering four fumbles.  The Falcons have won their past three contests against the Cardinals dating back to 1999.  Come cheer them on for another win on October 1.  www.gadome.com

New Signs Make Downtown/Midtown More “User-Friendly”
Downtown and midtown Atlanta streets are now more user-friendly due to the recent implementation of new “way-finding” signs designed to help people access popular destination areas.  The Department of Public Works (DPW) partnered with Central Atlanta Progress and the Midtown Alliance to implement the sign system last month. In addition to providing better and timelier route information, the new system also provides pedestrian signage and assists drivers with locating parking convenient to their destination.  There are more than 50 signs installed throughout Midtown and Downtown.  The signs support over 70 local attractions and destinations, including the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Aquarium, Woodruff Arts Center, Fox Theater, Atlanta City Hall and federal government office buildings.  The “way-finding” system is a work in progress and is expected to be complete in November 2006.  When it is complete there will be 252 signs.  The project was funded by the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Midtown Alliance, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.  www.atlantadowntown.com

Atlanta CityPass Provides Access to Atlanta’s Top Attractions at One Low Rate
CityPass is a simple way to vacation in America's most popular city destinations.  A ticket booklet containing an actual admission ticket to the top attractions in each city for one low price, CityPass saves money and time, avoiding many main entrance ticket lines at most attractions. Now available in Atlanta, The Atlanta CityPass features the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, High Museum of Art, Inside CNN Atlanta, Fernbank Museum of Natural History or Atlanta Botanical Garden, and Zoo Atlanta or the Atlanta History Center.  You may purchase CityPass at any of the participating attractions, on the web, or from many U.S. travel agent.  CityPass is valid for 9 consecutive days from the first day you use it.  Tickets even include helpful information such as complete hours of operation, on-property dining choices, public transportation and a special "insider's tip" on the best time to visit each attraction.  www.citypass.com

Barbour Corporation Chooses Metro Atlanta For New Manufacturing Plant
Barbour Corporation has chosen metro Atlanta for its subsidiary, Barbour Plastics, Inc., to begin its new plastics operation.  Barbour Plastics, Inc. will begin distribution operations in October and manufacturing in November in South Fulton County, Atlanta.  "Barbour Plastics is a major supplier of extruded moldings and other components for the marine industry, which is now largely located in the southeast. This location will allow us to get closer to our customers and as a result serve them better," said Richard Hynes, president and CEO of Barbour Corporation. "Atlanta also is a perfect logistical center for distribution of our products throughout the United States."

Atlanta Among Top Ten Smartest Cities in America due to College Students
Atlanta is an attractive locale for educated citizens, the city was ranked seventh nationally for the highest concentration of college graduates – making it among the top ten smartest cities in America according to the most recent U.S. Census report.  The list was gleaned by comparing U.S. cities with more than 250,000 residents and ranking the percentage of those 25 and older who held bachelor degrees or higher.  

Family Days at Atlanta Zoo
Zoo Atlanta will host Family Days on September 30 and October 1 from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The first 5,000 city of Atlanta residents to arrive will be admitted free! One adult with a valid I.D. can accompany one additional adult and up to four children. Accepted forms of I.D. include City of Atlanta employee I.D. card, driver’s license, state I.D. voter I.D. card or utility card. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Zoo Atlanta is located in historic Grant Park, 8000 Cherokee Ave, S.E., 30315.  www.zooatlanta.org

NBMBAA 28th Annual Conference and Exposition at GWCC
The National Black MBA Association’s 28th Annual Conference and Exposition is September 27-30 in Halls B3, B4, and B5 of the Georgia World Congress Center.  The networking event will include comprehensive career services, access to employment resources and opportunities, interactive professional development workshops and student programs, social activities, as well as keynote presentations and leadership training from the nation’s foremost though leaders.  www.nbmbaa.org

The Atlanta Link Launches Shopping Shuttle to North Georgia Premium Outlets
The Atlanta Link recently launched a new shopping shuttle to the North Georgia Premium Outlets.  The North Georgia Premium Outlets features 140 stores including Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, Guess, Hugo Boss, Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Polo Ralph Lauren, Pottery Barn Furniture, Restoration Hardware, Tahari, Williams-Sonoma Outlet and more.  The Atlanta Link Shopping Shuttle operates Tuesday-Saturday by reservation only, and is $45 roundtrip for Adults, with discounted children and group rates available.  www.theatlantalink.com

AJCjobs Nursing and Allied Health Care Career Fair at GWCC
The Atlanta Journal Constitution Jobs is hosting a career fair for Nursing and Allied Healthcare professionals on October 3 in A411/412 of the Georgia World Congress Center.  The career fair will be open from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Reading Room New Addition to Woodruff Park
Presented by Starbucks, the Woodruff Park Reading Room is an open-air reading room in the northern portion of Woodruff Park.  In partnership with the Fulton County Library, carts are stocked with a selection of books, periodicals and newspapers, with readings and programs at lunchtime.  Movable furniture creates an intimate environment.  The programming, publications, and environment of the Reading Room are available to everyone for free, without any need of cards or identification.  The Reading Room is available Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed for bad weather and for special events.

Hands on Atlanta Day
On October 7, an estimated 17,000 volunteers will unite in service for Hands On Atlanta Day. Together with Presenting Sponsor Accenture, Hands On Atlanta will host more than 200 projects in the metro area.  Everyone’s hands are needed to pitch in for the most important day of the year for Atlanta’s neighborhoods and communities.  Volunteers will teach, feed, assist, revitalize and reach out to those in need.  After completing volunteer projects, participants will enjoy festivities at Centennial Olympic Park, celebrating their service and reflecting on the impact of the day.  The Celebration of Service party will feature refreshments, live entertainment and more.

Georgia Life Sciences Summit at GWCC
The Georgia Life Sciences Summit is in its fifth successful year.  This year’s event promises to be even more spectacular, drawing on the talent and expertise of more than 40 speakers from local and regional companies and universities along with nationally and internationally recognized leaders in science, business, finance, public policy and government.  Join more than 600 industry professionals for a full day of networking and discussion of scientific, medical, business and regulatory trends shaping the future of biomedicine.  There will be a special focus on hot technology areas where investment is being made by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, financiers and academia.  Georgia Life Sciences Summit is on October 4 in Building B of the Georgia World Congress Center.