East Atlanta
{ Friday, June 24th, 2011 }
East Atlanta Bungalow (and Urban Farm) For Sale
If you’re looking to live steps from East Atlanta Village in a well maintained, classic bungalow, I’ve got something for you to consider. But before you start considering… check out the backyard:
It’s not often that I’d lead with a backyard first, but exceptional circumstances call for exceptional blogging. And the funny thin is, the house itself is as cute as a button:
Two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plenty of space and classic molding throughout. We’ve priced the house to move at $149,900. Not bad, considering that you’re just under a quarter mile from here:
Is the fenced backyard appealing for a farm or for Fido?
Is this bungalow best because of the rocking swing front porch or the classic hardwoods?
Is the location ideal because you’re down the street from Holy Taco or because you can hope on I-20 in less than two minutes?
There are no wrong answers. Check out www.EastAtlantaBungalow.com for more information, or contact me directly to schedule a showing.
{ Thursday, April 14th, 2011 }
Atlanta Neighborhood One-Liners
Everyday is a beautiful day in these beautiful neighborhoods...
Creative Loafing recently published their Ultimate Neighborhood Guide (the complete issue in pdf format). It’s chock full of good information, including one-liner “upsides” and “downsides” to different neighborhoods. Below, some of my favorite one liners. If you follow the hyperlink to each neighborhood, it will take you to the neighborhood page on my site which includes a brief description as well as an active database of homes currently for sale.
Cabbagetown- Because of its history as a refuge for young, artsy types, Cabbagetown boasts strong support for nonprofits like WonderRoot, Trees Atlanta and the recently relocated Eyedrum.
Candler Park- From the Kashi ashram to the First Existentialist Congregation to the Hare Krishna temple, this is ground zero for alternative spirituality.
Decatur- A small-town-yet-progressive vibe; great schools; a strong LGBT community:;and beer.
East Atlanta- More hipsters than you can shake a PBR trucker cap at.
Grant Park- Good place for families with kids. Seriously, have you ever seen so many strollers?
Inman Park- Gorgeous homes and plenty of greenspace.
Midtown- The 189-acre Piedmont Park is reason enough to live here, never mind that it’s close to everything, exceedingly walkable and super cultured.
Old Fourth Ward- A thriving restaurant and nightlife scene and a perfect destination for urban pioneers.
Sandy Springs- Great for families, thanks to its low crime rate, top-notch schools and great public library.
Virginia-Highland- The neighborhood is picturesque, active, safe and eminently walkable.
{ Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 }
Leigh Layton, The Life Gardener
Leigh Layton is one of Atlanta’s most popular life coaches, as well as the Co-Founder of The Possibility Spa. Her dynamic approach to life coaching and insider Atlanta knowledge make her a natural to answer questions about Piedmont Park, jogging in Crocs, and Atlanta’s best beer festival…
Q. 24 hours hanging out at Underground Atlanta, 12 hours riding MARTA, or the Peachtree Road Race in Crocs?
A. Definitely Peachtree Road Race in Crocs. I’ve been running the race for several years now, and my speed and form are somewhat questionable as it is. As luck would have it, I’ve actually had little kids in Crocs passing me, so clearly they’re onto something. So, sure, let’s add Crocs to the mix – why not. The feeling of crossing the finish will just be all that much sweeter. And enjoying the sweet stuff is what it’s all about, right?
Q. Favorite Atlanta road trips?
A. I’m not sure this qualifies as a road trip, but I love trips to Piedmont Park. My husband and I pack the all-terrain Radio Flyer wagon with chairs, blankets and a picnic. Oh, and the dogs, of course. Piedmont Park is the dog mecca of Atlanta. They just renovated their dog park, and it’s beautiful. I love to play the Look Alike Game. That’s when you people-watch and spot the people who look like their dogs. Or dogs that look like their people. (It’s one of those chicken-and-egg things.) You’d be surprised how often you can see a similarity! Me and my dog, Guinness, included!
Q. If you could coach the ultimate Atlanta Coach- Bobby Cox- what would the sessions look like?
A. Wow. Good question. An important principle in coaching is geography. Your mental and emotional experience at a given moment is reflected in your physical experience and vice versa. Change one, and you’ll change the other. For example, if you’re sad, you’re body literally takes on a physical form that reflects sadness. Slouched shoulders, hunched over body, drawn face, etc. So, if you’re goal is experience some happiness, then you can begin by noticing how you’re body is and shifting it towards what you want to be experiencing instead. Maybe straighten your posture and look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Maybe do laughter yoga. Bobby Cox’s body language is palpable. He has a powerful presence. You know where he’s at mentally and emotionally just by noticing his energy, and, because of that, I would engage him in geography exercises a lot. I’d have him literally moving…a lot!
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. My favorite would have to be East Atlanta Village, my home for the last 10 years. We’ve taken diversity to a new level. We’ve got a little bit of everything and everyone, and we’re somehow making it work. Our EA Beer Festival is one of city’s most successful and raised $50k last year to give back to local businesses in need. I also love Little Five Points; it’s the best people-watching bar none. It’s also boasts The Porter, which has the most insane beer menu I’ve ever seen. The food is phenomenal to boot.
Q. What’s The Possibility Spa, who should attend, and why would they be foolish to miss it?
A. The Possibility Spa is a 2-night, 3-day retreat in the Art of Possibility. It’s for conscious-minded women seeking conscious-minded strategies to expand their potential to make a difference in the world. It’s for women who have a contribution to give and an impact to make right now. What would be foolish is putting that impact off until tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. To miss this opportunity would be to miss a chance to change the world for the better right now and to feel incredible doing it!
{ Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 }
LaFarge Ready To Leave BeltLine?
Huge, huge happenings on the Southeast corridor of the Atlanta BeltLine. The LaFarge concrete facility- located directly across the street from Glenwood Park- has been put up for sale. The French building supply company has finally decided to part with their 20+ acre facility, located on the North side of Glenwood Avenue.
The sale could have major implications for this critical segment of the BeltLine. Taking out of service what is essentially a parking lot for cement mixers and replacing it with smart development is never a bad thing. With the LaFarge site is bounded by Maynard Jackson High School on one side, and the brand new ENSO apartment complex on the other, one starts to see how this once industrial stretch of Glenwood is beginning to look a lot like a neighborhood.
Hopefully, this is just the beginning of good things to come. There is still one mighty big domino left to fall: LaFarge’s concrete plant that sits just on the other side of Glenwood. That parcel- while also pretty sizable- is perhaps most noteworthy for its dependence on rail. Several times a week, trains hurdle through Ormewood Park and Boulevard Heights shuttling materials to and fro’. One can only hope that as BeltLine momentum builds, the freight trains are replaced by bikes, runners, strollers, green space and good cheer.
{ Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 }
Ted Bruner, The Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
As President of The Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Ted Bruner leads an organization comprised of 350 businesses representing industries from throughout the greater Atlanta metro area. From Ted Turner to Midtown Atlanta to relocating accountants, Ted tells it like it is….
Q. A gay accountant in New York has been offered a transfer to Atlanta, but they don’t know much about the LGBT community, and consequently, he’s not sure if he should make the move. What would you say to him to sell him on moving to Atlanta?
A. I would encourage the gay accountant to cash a few checks and book a trip to Atlanta during the Atlanta Pride Festival. The event is celebrating 40 years of success and mixes serious issues with serious fun. Atlanta wasn’t named the gayest city for nothing and offers great networking, entertainment and access to some of the largest LGBT events in the nation.
Q. If you could change one thing about Atlanta, what would it be?
A. I would like to see more LGBT leaders elected to public office. Councilmember Alex Wan, Representative Simone Bell and others are doing an excellent job to promote the LGBT agenda but strength is truly in numbers. I would also like to see more LGBT events and issues covered in traditional media outlets. Project Q, GA Voice, Fenuxe and others are devoted to speaking for the Atlanta LGBT community and I wished other outlets shared that voice.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. Hands down, Midtown. The mixture of Atlanta architecture, historical sites, green space and gay friendly businesses (5th Street Café, Outwrite Books, Fresh to Order, Hotel Palomar, etc.) make Midtown one of the best neighborhoods in Atlanta. East Atlanta, Grant Park and East Point are also favorites.
Q. A tale of two Teds: You’ve got a few hours to show off Atlanta to Ted Turner, someone who probably already knows the city well. Where are you taking him?
A. Ted Turner is a huge philanthropist and I would invite him to join me for lunch at the Hope Clinic of the Emory Vaccine Center. We would meet the researchers and medical team to learn more about their work on creating an HIV vaccine. Ted Turner put Atlanta on the map with the creation of CNN, imagine what he could do if he helped the Hope Clinic find a cure for HIV.
Q. What’s the AGLCC, and why should someone become a member?
A. The Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s prime purpose is advocating equality though economics. Since 1988, the organization has successfully championed several issues and represents more than 350 business members reaching over 3000 employees. The AGLCC was the first recognized Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce in the U.S. and the organization helps members with business referrals, professional insight, educational programs, advocacy and opportunities to reach Atlanta’s LGBT community.
