Category: Sections

By Maria Saporta

As we enter the closing stretch of Atlanta’s mayoral campaign, it’s as good a time as any to reflect on how unique this election has been.

Its uniqueness goes way beyond the fact that there’s a white woman who is the odds-on favorite to win the election — either on Tuesday without a run-off, or on Dec. 1.

It goes way beyond the demographic changes underway in our city. And it goes way beyond whether the candidates pass the test of being Democrats, Republicans or Independents. (In fact, pollster Matt Towery said this has been

By Maria Saporta

For those of you who don’t mind watching movies on TV, two films that shouldn’t be missed will air early this week.

The first is: “The People v. Leo Frank,” which will air at 9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 2 on PBS — Georgia Public Broadcasting — which is also Channel 8.

And the second movie is: “By the People, the Election of Barack Obama.” Fittingly, it will air on Election night — Tuesday, Nov. 3 — from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on HBO. It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since the historic election.

I’ve had the good fortune to see both

By Maria Saporta

Three men made their case this week to be the next chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission — which brings together leaders in the 10-county region — to work on regional issues, such as transportation, water, land-use and the needs of our aging population.

The three declared candidates are Charles Bannister, chairman of the Gwinnett County Commission; Tad Leithead, a citizen member who was an executive at Cousins Properties who now has his own public affairs consulting firm; and Jack Smith, chairman of the Fayette County Commission.

By Jeff Cochran

Note to readers: Jeff Cochran, a regular contributor to Like the Dew’s website, also sells ads for SaportaReport. Here is a tribute he has written for a dear friend.

The Hot Stove League will be much colder this winter. Bob Woodland, a devoted Braves fan and great friend, passed away Sunday, October 25.

Bob earned a living as an attorney but lived for the joys in his life: his family and friends, his church and the Atlanta Braves. Over 32 years, the Braves were usually the first topic in our thousands of conversations. E-mail allowed even more such banter. Last winter we chatted

By Maria Saporta

Confusion reigned at a hastily-called work session Monday afternoon to discuss the proposed master lease agreement between the city of Atlanta and Delta Air Lines.

Members of the Atlanta City Council’s Transportation Committee seemed overwhelmed with the complexity of the issues, and they were frustrated that officials from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport had not prepared a clear presentation of the thorny issues in the agreement.

Instead of clearly describing the differences of opinion that exist on

By Maria Saporta

For decades, Delta Air Lines and the city of Atlanta have played a delicate dance.

Both have proclaimed their eternal love for each other — crediting each other for their own growth.

That partnership has led to Delta becoming the world’s largest airline and Hartsfield-Jackson becoming the largest and busiest airport in the world.

And yet both have had to balance that love with their own self-interests.

For Delta, that self-interest is to limit the amount of airline competition that comes

By Maria Saporta

There’s a new look on Peachtree Street downtown.

The Hard Rock Café Atlanta has just put up a 30-foot neon guitar on the side of its restaurant at the corner of Peachtree and Andrew Young International Boulevard.

It replaces what had been the Cadillac icons that had hung precariously off the side of the building since November, 1992.

A bit of Atlanta history — which was reported earlier this year by my friend

By Maria Saporta

When Leonard Cohen came out on stage at the Fox Theatre Tuesday night, he told the audience: “I don’t know when we’ll pass this way again, but I promise you that tonight, we will give you everything we’ve got.”

And Cohen, accompanied by an incredible collection of musicians and singers, did just that.

For nearly three-and-a-half hours Cohen, defied his age of 75, singing songs from all phases of his musical career — one spans more than four decades. Few

By Maria Saporta

One of my very favorite bands is Travis, a secret treasure of our time.

I was introduced to the Scottish band through 99X during its prime, and I have caught the band just about every time they’ve come to town. The last time was at the Tabernacle a couple of years ago.

Because I’m a true fan, when I heard that lead singer, songwriter Fran Healy was coming to town to do an acoustic set with guitarist Andy Dunlop, I knew I had to be there.

They did not disappoint. On Saturday

By Maria Saporta

Leave it to Georgia to put the train in reverse while the rest of the country is moving forward.

Vance Smith, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation, distributed a memo on Thursday, Oct. 15 announcing proposed “organizational changes” in his department.

“Over the last few months, we have worked diligently to strategically reorganize the Department to achieve greater efficiency in both functional alignment and program delivery,” Smith

By Maria Saporta

At the 12th annual Atlanta Interfaith Business Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning, keynote speaker Bernie Marcus had a mission — to teach two words of Yiddish to the crowd of about 1,000 people.

Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot who has become one of Atlanta’s leading philanthropists, was the first Jew to deliver the keynote prayer at the annual event held at the Hyatt Regency.

“I’m going to turn them all into Jews,” joked Marcus, who was pleased

By Maria Saporta

A beaming John Portman greeted his friends and admirers Wednesday evening at a VIP reception that included a private preview of the exhibit of his art and architecture that will open Saturday at the High Museum of Art.

Portman is Atlanta’s own architect, developer, painter, scupltor, designer of furniture and lighting fixtures who sprinkles his philosophy in all his work.

While most of the people at the reception were familiar with parts of his work, few really knew the breadth of his many creative outlets.

By Maria Saporta

The message from Atlanta’s art community could be: “We will survive.”

The Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund, at its annual lunch at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, announced its second round of grants for the year.

By giving grants twice a year, the fund has ramped up its giving to small- and mid-sized arts organizations because it recognizes that many arts and cultural groups are in a precarious position because of the economy.

“This economy has altered the way