Perfect Gift for Atlanta History Fans

Chad Elkins of 4SQATL and NASA digital fame launch his 25th Century Games start up with a bang last week.  His 1,000 piece puzzle based on a balloon-eye view of 1892 Atlanta is available as a Kickstarter campaign through August 15.

Augustus Koch was born in Germany in 1840. He moved to the US before the Civil War where he served in The Corps of Engineers. After the war, he traveled to cities around the country and illustrated Bird’s Eye View maps from hot air balloons. Augustus drew a series of perspective based maps from dozens of locations. In 1892, he tied off his hot air balloon near Grant Park and created this beautifully drawn map of Atlanta and the surrounding area complete with notable locations and street names.

Inman Park and the other historic Atlanta neighborhoods are beautifully detailed on the puzzle.

The campaign met its target twenty four hours after it went live, guaranteeing that your $20 contribution will land a treasure for you or a killer gift.  

Atlanta Environs - Brevard, NC

One of the Famous white squirrel and a scene from O. P. Taylor's

Our random stop in Brevard, NC on the way to pick up our camper from Camp Highlander last month provided my crew's #1 surprise of the summer.  

Led by our now required travel companion Atlas Obscura,  we made a minor detour in hopes of catching sight of one of the city's famed white squirrels.   Guided by locals, we struck out at the beautiful grounds of the Silvermont Mansion before heading to the campus of Brevard College on the edge of town.  After finding a colony of baby rabbits, the kids were ecstatic to discover the character above.

My favorite discovery of the day was O.P. Taylor's downtown, justifiably billed as the Coolest Toy Store on the Planet. We spent an hour here exploring two stories of every imaginable Lego set, model car kit, magic trick and board game.  I would make a return trip in the fall just to have more time here.  A must for kids and parents missing the old school experience of  pre-Amazon toy shopping.

After hitting a pop-up bluegrass performance on the square and a tour of the WSQL Radio studios, we had a quick dinner at Mayberry's Soups and Sandwiches before heading out.  

Brevard is less than an hour south of Ashville, NC and well worth the three hour drive from Atlanta.  See you on the road.

Flashback to the ARU Reunion

My most Zambi experience of 2015 was the chance to be back in the scene for a day when the Aquarium Rescue Unit reunion rolled into Atlanta for a stop on their 26th Anniversary Tour.

Get a taste of the magic yourself with this audience recording from the first gig of the tour at the Ram's Head in Baltimore.  This show includes a guest appearance by guitar god John McLaughlin.

Making the Scene in Little Five Points

Little Five Points always offers some of the best people watching in Atlanta, but the Little Five Art Alive weekend events take gawking to the next level.  Come beat the heat with a little freak.

Best of 2015

Jam of the Year – Turkaz 

Website of the Year - Roads and Kingdoms

  

New Atlanta Restaurant of the Year - Superica

A photo posted by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Sep 26, 2015 at 7:19am PDT

Gig of the Year – Loretta Lynn/Jack White/Raconteurs

Read of the Year - Kansas City Lightning: The Rise and Times of Charlie Parker

Most Zambi Reunion of the Year – Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit

Axe of the Year – Bill Monroe’s 1923 Lloyd Loar Gibson F-5

Atlanta Beverage of the Year - Wanderlust Nitrogen-infused Cold Brew Coffee 

Best Secret Place in Atlanta - Intown Ace Hardware Hidden Candy Drawer
 

Sport of the Year – Ashville Waterfall Sliding


Southern Thing of the Year – Veggie Plate at Husk Nashville

Oasis of the Year – Norton Simon Museum Modern and Contemporary Gallery

Cake of the Year  – Southern Sweets Old Fashion Chocolate

A photo posted by Debbie Peterson (@cheesydp) on Jul 26, 2015 at 12:04pm PDT

Treasure of Troubled Genius of the Year - Don't Suck, Don't Die: Giving Up Vic Chestnut 

Crate Dig of the Year – Autographed Ahh...The Name is Bootsy, Baby!
 

ATL Takeout Trifecta of the Year – Zhong Dumplings from Gu's, G.C. BBQ Brisket, Fred's Burgers
 

Marketing Technology of the Year – LottaFrutta Customer Loyalty Program

Best Use of Chalk – Butter and Cream Whale by Patrick Nguyen 

#chalk #whale #wall #art. Thanks to Butter&cream at Decatur

A photo posted by Patrick Nguyen (@dozfy) on Oct 1, 2014 at 8:39am PDT

Periodical of the Year – 2015 Oxford American Southern Music Issue - Georgia
 

Cheese of the Year - Meredith Dairy Marinated Sheep and Goat Blend

Victory of the Year – Universal Studios Simpson's Tennis Ball Shoot

Obsessive Geography Tool of the Year - What3Words 

Atlanta Culinary Loss of the year - Bread Garden

Mic Drop of the Year - Bryan Cranston

We Love You Atlanta!

Via Garden & Gun Blog

 
I've heard Garden & Gun referred to as the lifestyle magazine for the nonexistent South, but past the ads for $100,000 shotguns and equestrian wear is terrific content.

Reminded of this with today's shout out post about Atlanta.  Grab the October issue, packed with Inman Park places and personalities, and give the ATL a high five.

Amazing Websites - Atlas Obscura

Former Slate editor David Plotz is at the helm of my current favorite destination on the Web.  Atlas Obscura is packed with the cool, idiosyncratic places that make for the idea road trip.  Pop in your zip code for crazy discoveries in your back yard or load up on freakness for your next trip out of town!

Best of 2014

Website of the Year - Bitter Southerner  

The Pentecostal Serpent by Asher Elbein

YouTube Find of the Year - Reg Kehoe & his Marimba Queens

Book of the Year - Do Not Sell at Any Price

Late Night Grub of the Year - Red Arrow Diner 

Gig of the Year  - Christian McBride Trio at Birdland

Best New Thing in Inman Park - Krog Street Market

Via Krog Street Market Facebook Page 

Best Secret Place in Atlanta - Lullwater Power Station   

Via Atlanta Trails

Couple of the Year - Michael Trent & Cary Ann Hearst

Best Thing from 20 years ago - Freebird at the Fox 

 Best App of 2014 - Blue Note 75 (for iPad)

Atlanta Taste of the Year - Poutine at General Muir

Runner-up - Green Tea Mochi at Ah-Ma's Kitchen
Runner-up - Raw Bar at Kimball House 

Tweet of the Year - John Lurie

Note to younger artists - when cutting off the ear it is best to do it outside the house. pic.twitter.com/sCL9B3Tx9t
— John Lurie (@lurie_john) December 2, 2014

Pie of the Year  - Garden and Gun Bourbon Pecan 

Pecan pies in effect!

A photo posted by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Nov 11, 2014 at 1:16pm PST

Record Label of the Year - Dust-to-Digital

Costume of the Year - Edward Scissor Hands

Top Public Art of 2014 - Mi Casa, Your Casa

Greatest ever!

A video posted by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Sep 9, 2014 at 12:21pm PDT

Time Killer of the Year - The American Values Atlas 

Hokum of the Year - But They Got It Fixed Right On

Enigmatic Pic of the Year - Ethel with Turkey

My grandma back in the day

A photo posted by Ed Peterson (@ed_peterson) on Nov 11, 2014 at 10:48am PST

China's One-Child Policy

Excellent article today from Matthews Asia on the PRC's liberalization of the 1980 One-Child Policy and the general state of population growth in an increasing urbanized China.

"Last November, China’s Communist Party announced that the one-child policy would be relaxed by implementation of a policy in which families are permitted to have two children if either a husband or a wife is an only child. This marks a change from the previous rules which required both the husband and wife to be only children in order to qualify to have a second child.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, ending the one-child policy is unlikely to change the longer-term trend toward a lower fertility rate, as the pressures of modern life lead Chinese couples to have smaller families."

Twenty Years in Atlanta!

This month marks the start of my 20^th year in the ATL!

It is a joy to be a part on this amazing community.  My thanks to the crew mentioned in my 15 yearpost for getting me here are these folks for keeping me going:

My amazing wife Shannon Graham, Sean Wood, Chad Elkins, We&Co, Hector and Leslie Santiago, King of Pops, Mark Redstrom and Rebecca Barrow, Montessori In Town families and staff, Dales Grados, Social Media Club Atlanta, Jeff Shelton, Judi Knight, Josh Moffitt, Team Shoutlet, Debbie Pohl, Alex Kaminsky, Matt Kelly, Jessica Hart and everyone at Team YP, David Williams, Atlanta Beltline, Pepin Owensby, the Atlanta start-up scene, Henry Alvarado, Greg Scott, Inman Park Security Patrol, Michelle Swanson, Yumbii Taco Truck, Jeff Diaz, Mosquito Teach and the army of amazing teachers, sitters, coaches and friends who have helped raise our youngins.