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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

By Maria Saporta

I woke up this morning to the news that President Barrack Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yes, it was a bit surprising, and perhaps somewhat premature. But it is an acknowledgement that Obama has changed the way the world views the United States under his leadership. His election reignited hope that we could resolve our global conflicts through means other than war. And that is no small thing.

Even Obama seemed to be a little embarassed to have received the prize.

By Maria Saporta

Just in case Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has been feeling low as she winds down her two terms as mayor, Thursday night should have made her feel valued and appreciated.

First Beth Schapiro, founder of the Schapiro Group, honored Franklin for giving her the courage to go out on her own to start her public affairs consulting firm 25 years ago.

“We were trying to get more women elected to office, particularly higher office,” Schapiro said of meeting with Franklin in the 1970s. “We can see how that worked out.”

By Maria Saporta

Call it the hot-seat mayoral forum.

At Wednesday evening’s Atlanta mayoral forum put on by the American Jewish Committee and the Temple, moderator David Lewis warned the candidates he was going to be tough.

Lewis, an independent filmmaker and a host at WMLB AM 1690, then told the four candidates he would grill each of them for 10 minutes with pointed questions.

Atlanta City Councilwoman Mary Norwood was first, followed by former State Sen. Kasim Reed, Atlanta City Council President Lisa Borders and attorney

By Maria Saporta

EduPAC, an independent, non-partisan coalition of more than 30 Atlanta organizations, has endorsed its slate of nine candidates for the Atlanta Board of Education.

The slate continues a tradition that EduPAC started in 1993 to elect qualified representatives to Atlanta’s school board in an attempt to improve public education within the city limits.

The slate is as follows::

By Maria Saporta

So I got another dose of Bono tonight. A U2 show is always special, but I must admit that this was my least favorite of the four U2 concerts I’ve been to.

Why? The concert was in the Georgia Dome, which is too cavernous a place for rock ’n’ roll. With the exception of going to Rolling Stones concerts in the Georgia Dome, it’s difficult for a band to create that special ambiance in a sold-out, mega football stadium.

That said, a U2 concert brings a wonderful blend of music, political and social consciousness, and a camaraderie

By Maria Saporta

Tear down the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library? Not so fast, says the World Monuments Fund.
The fund announced today its list of international sites on its 2010 Watch — places that are in some kind of danger of being destroyed.

And the one entry from Atlanta is the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library, an eight-story, modern-style building that was designed by architect Marcel Breuer. The library, which was completed in 1980, 11 years after it was originally commissioned.

In its report, the fund said:

By Maria Saporta

The merger between the Commerce Club and the One Ninety One Club has moved one step closer.

The two clubs are announcing today that that they have entered into an agreement to combine their memberships and move to a new location on the 49th floor of the One Ninety One Peachtree Tower

The new club will keep the historic Commerce Club name, but it will be operated by ClubCorp, owner of the One Ninety One Club. Dallas-based ClubCorp will own the lease.

The highly-influential Commerce Club