Atlanta restaurateur I. Pano Karatassos will be recognized at the Culinary Institute of America’s 2025 Leadership Awards. Karatassos is one of five who will receive the Augie Award. Named after French legendary chef Auguste Escoffier, the award honors people who have shown leadership and innovation in the culinary field. The awards ceremony will take place in New […]
Author Archives: Adrianne Murchison
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Roswell OKs $15M deal for parking deck to keep Canton Steet a destination
Roswell has signed a construction team to build its long-anticipated parking deck, which is part of an effort to keep pace with neighboring cities in attracting dining and entertainment. The north Fulton City awarded a nearly $15 million contract to Winter Construction to build the Green Street Parking Deck. The triangular site is located at […]
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Celebrated chef retires to pursue first love: painting, drawing
Gerry Klaskala has been one of Atlanta’s most celebrated chefs for decades. He’s been the creative force behind such restaurants as Canoe and Buckhead’s Aria. Now, after 25 years at Aria’s helm, he’s trading his chef’s whites for a paintbrush. “It’s time,” the chef and restaurateur said. “It’s been a great, great ride. I’m satisfied.” […]
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Goodwill North Georgia highlights successes for women in careers programs
In recognition of Women’s History Month, Goodwill of North Georgia is highlighting its efforts to expand economic opportunity for women through workforce development programs. According to the nonprofit, more than 10,000 women secured employment in Fiscal Year 2024 with support from its career services and training programs. In total, over 25,000 women received assistance through […]
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Book events with Sen. Chuck Schumer, Amanda Knox, Journalist Anne Applebaum
The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta will host three authors with perspectives on some of the urgent and controversial issues of today. Separate events will feature Amanda Knox, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, and journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum discussing their latest books and more. “These events exemplify the mission of our Arts & […]
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Fulton County Executive Airport expanding to meet global demand
As Atlanta prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Fulton County is modernizing its executive airport to meet increased demand and its competition with nearby facilities like Peachtree-DeKalb Airport and Cobb County International Airport Port at McCollum Field. The Fulton County Executive Airport sits on 900 acres. In the near term, the airport is […]
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Daffodils honoring children of the Holocaust exceeds 1 million plantings
The Daffodil Project, in partnership with the civic organization Central Atlanta Progress, is celebrating a significant milestone: the planting of 1.1 million daffodils worldwide. The plantings serve as a living memorial to the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust, with the project’s ultimate goal of reaching that number. The Daffodil Project was founded […]
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College Park considers public comment changes amid controversy over investigation
Public comment during College Park City Council meetings has often been contentious, with residents voicing frustration over government transparency and city policies. Now, city officials are planning to introduce a new policy aimed at maintaining decorum — one that could limit what the public can say, particularly regarding city employees or lawsuits. According to a […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Hoda Kotb to be featured keynote at Atlanta Women’s Foundation luncheon
Broadcast journalist and author Hoda Kotb will be the keynote speaker at the Atlanta Women’s Foundation annual fundraising luncheon this fall. The Atlanta Women’s Foundation dedicates millions of dollars to leadership opportunities and solutions to challenges facing women and girls in Atlanta communities. Kotb is scheduled to speak at the nonprofit’s “Numbers to Big to […]
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Lawsuit to stop lithium-ion plant in College Park dismissed, residents consider appeal
A Fulton County Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by three residents who are fighting the building of a lithium-ion battery storage facility project that abuts their neighborhood. The residents are considering an appeal. Attorney Linda Dunlavy filed the lawsuit last October on behalf of South Fulton residents Carmen Miller, Steven Mack and […]
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‘Ragtime: The Musical’ is Sandy Springs theater company’s biggest production
City Springs Theatre Company brings its own production of “Ragtime: The Musical” to the stage this week. The musical is set in New York City during the turn of the century, with fictional and real people from history as characters. The storyline weaves the lives of three very different families, including a “stifled” upper-class housewife, […]
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Georgia lawmakers, Atlanta leaders say they’re ready for civil rights fight
Hours before President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday, Georgia lawmakers, civil rights and faith leaders, as well as representatives from labor unions and advocacy groups, said they are united in a fight to protect people from discrimination. The leaders were gathered at the Capitol for a press conference and to voice their support […]
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Activist to hold discussion on data centers as Union City delays town hall
A Union City town hall to address residents’ concerns about data centers is being rescheduled, according to the city. A statement said that officials expected a crowd that would be too large for The Union City Gathering Place, where the event was to be held. The event was scheduled for Thursday, but residents will still […]
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South Fulton councilwoman launches campaign for controversial mayor’s seat
South Fulton Councilwoman Carmalitha Gumbs launched her campaign for mayor on Sunday. Gumbs has served on the city council since South Fulton’s first election in 2017. She announced her candidacy during a time that Mayor Khalid Kamau is under scrutiny for alleged “unauthorized use of city resources” and was temporarily barred from city hall in […]
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Airport concessions started by Herman J. Russell and friends celebrate 45 years
Employees of Concessions International, the food and beverage management firm at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, were showered with appreciation during a luncheon celebrating the company’s 45th anniversary. The event was held in the Ocean Ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium on Wednesday. Current and former employees, retirees, and staff who work at airports in such cities as […]
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Questions remain over Carter Library’s move to cancel book events amid D.C. politics
The relocation of three book events that were scheduled to take place at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library continues to raise questions on whether the change was made due to the content of the books and influenced by the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington D.C. A staff person at the Carter Presidential Library, […]
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Businessman launches think tank to empower Black neighborhoods in Atlanta
A new think tank is launching Friday, Feb. 28, to address economic disparity, redevelopment and other issues facing residents in Black neighborhoods across the city of Atlanta, said founder Joe Hudson. He formed the nonprofit BlacIntellec, which will hold a panel discussion on the initiative at 1 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church on how […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Parents explore legal action against Fulton and move to form charter school
Sandy Springs parents who formed a committee last fall to save Spalding Drive Elementary are not giving up their fight. They have taken steps to form a charter school. Separately, the parents are consulting an attorney on the possibility of obtaining a temporary restraining order against Fulton County Schools to pause the process for the […]
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Political figures turnout for British Consulate General’s Black History event
A special Black History Month event was held Wednesday by the British Consulate General Atlanta and The Empowerment Workshop. British Consul General Rachel Galloway hosted an intimate setting of more than 60 guests at her residence. The evening featured Rita Daniels, the great-great-great grandniece of Harriet Tubman. Tenor soloist Timothy Miller, who has performed with […]
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Like ’em or not, data centers bring revenue government leaders say
Local government and business leaders say data centers are a central part of conversations on economic development in south Metro Atlanta. With big tech companies expected to invest $320 billion in artificial intelligence in 2025, there’s an increasing need for data centers, and that means revenue for the tax base. During the South Metro Development […]
