Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/4/18

Immersive Worlds Pop-Up Experience Merges Nostalgia with Art and Technology This Holiday Season

 

ATLANTA – The holidays are here, and this brand new, first-of-its-kind experience in Atlanta will definitely get guests in the holiday spirit. The exhibit features an indoor pop-up experience offering a family-friendly interactive wonderland, merging timeless traditions with innovative technology. Producing unique visuals, larger than-life art installations, and fun photographic moments.

 

Husband and wife team Walt Geer and Sarah Blackman, both native Atlantans, are the visionaries behind Santa’s Fantastical. Geer is the CEO of PictureU; America’s largest independent seasonal imaging company. PictureU’s Santa and Easter themed operations span over 200 USA and Canada locations and are visited by six million guests annually and served by over 2,000 seasonal associates.

 

“This is so much more than visual effects, lights, sound, or even a visit with Santa,” says Santa’s Fantastical CEO Walt Geer. “Our creative teams are from the worlds of Hollywood movies, animated features, global concert productions, and music festivals, and they have imagineered some truly ground-breaking visuals.”

 

Doors are officially open and the exhibit will stay open through December 24th, highlighting 12 Whimsical Worlds which each feature their own unique theme. Guests will start with a stroll down Main Street, and veer off to visit a variety of immersive worlds which are the perfect backdrop for capturing festive photos in; including the Peppermint Palace, Unicorn Dreams, Retro Christmas and Future Christmas. Activities with ticket purchase include complimentary meet and greets with Santa in Santa’s Chateau, an interactive animated virtual toy shop in the world of Sketch-Tastic, and an ‘icy’ slide in the world of Ice Alive, perfect for kids and adults to enjoy! The experience also features dance performances and dazzling synchronized light shows.

 

“We are so excited to be rolling out this amazing new holiday exhibition in the city of Atlanta,” says Santa’s Fantastical co-founder Sarah Blackman. “Collaborating with local vendors and businesses is a big part of why we decided to kick off this interactive holiday experience in Atlanta.”

 

Guests can enjoy seasonal treats from local favorites including DaVinci’s Donuts, Galla’s Pizza, King of Pops, Phoenix Roasters, MyBitterSweets and much more in Santa’s Snack Shop and can also view special seasonal collaborations with local artists including a Tiny Christmas Tree Lot from Atlanta’s own Tiny Doors from November 30th through December 2nd.

 

Santa’s Fantastical is located at 1155 Mount Vernon Hwy. #300, Atlanta, GA 30338 at Perimeter Pointe. Tickets are exclusively sold online and include entry into the exhibit, as well as a special reservation with Santa. General admission tickets are adults, $36; ages 3-12, $32; ages 2 and younger, free. A limited number of seasonal passes are available for $68. For more information on Santa’s Fantastical and to purchase tickets, SantasFantastical.com.

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/4/18

Park Tavern in Piedmont Park

Saturday, December 8th 11 am

Partygoers are invited to don their ugliest holiday sweaters during Park Tavern’s Ugly Sweater Stroll through Piedmont Park on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Featuring holiday fun for the whole family from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can enjoy hot toddies, s’mores, DJ NAKD spinning holiday jams, photo stations, free ice skating at The Rink Powered by Pepsi and much more.  Revelers and runners alike are encouraged to get creative with their holiday attire, because Park Tavern will be awarding prizes to the Best Ugly Sweater, Best Ugly Sweater Couple, Best Ugly Sweater Pup and Best Ugly Sweater Family. The Ugly Sweater Stroll is open to all ages and it’s dog-friendly.  Strollers are welcome.  Tickets are available for $5 and include entry, entertainment, ice skating at The Rink and a signature cocktail for guests ages 21 and up.  Elves under 21 will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate. To purchase tickets, visit www.parktavern.com. 

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/18/18

This Year’s Festive Lineup Includes Revelry from the Grinch, Visits with Santa, a Menorah Lighting Celebration & King of Pops Tree Elves Holiday Forest

Festivities Kick Off on Friday, Nov. 23^rd, with Mayhem at the Market: the Ultimate Wrestling Showdown Between Santa Claus & the Grinch

 

Santa and The Grinch are back at Ponce City Market for another year of naughty and nice celebrations at the historic community destination’s holiday spectacular. Expect festive fun from the duo all season long, and help the Grinch’s small heart grow in size through the power of holiday cheer. Come one, come all and shop together, stay together, play together and misfit right in. This year’s festivities include:

 

KING OF POPS TREE ELVES HOLIDAY FOREST:

 

Sat., Nov. 17 – Sun., Dec. 23 – Join Santa and the King of Pops Tree Elves at the best tree lot in town! The Yard at Ponce City Market will transform into a winter wonderland, featuring a lush, winding forest of trees for purchase. Guests can choose a tree to take home or place an order for the King of Pops Tree Elves to deliver one right to their doorstep. The Tree Elves can also pick up trees for easy recycling after the holidays. The tree lot will be open from 3-7pm Monday through Friday and 11am-7pm on Saturday and Sunday. Ponce City Market’s Holiday Forest will also feature live music ensembles on weekends throughout the season.

 

THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN OF NAUGHTY VS. NICE:  

 

Fri., Nov. 23 – The Yard at Ponce City Market will be home to one of the biggest holiday brouhahas Atlanta has ever seen. It’s The Ultimate Showdown of Naughty vs. Nice, with the green, mean, anything-but-clean Grinch and his punishing posse in one corner of the boxing ring and Santa Claws and his jolly crew in the other! Come one, come all, and pick a side – TEAM NAUGHTY with Ginger Shred Man, The Iceman and The Nutcracker, or TEAM NICE with Wreath the Reaper, Peppermint Prince and Rowdy Rudy Rudolph. Claim a ringside spot to witness a lighthearted wrestling match for the ages that begins at 11am. The Ultimate Showdown is free to all, and guests are welcome to come early for face-painting, poster-making, temporary tattoos and more family fun starting at 10:30am.

 

THE GRINCH IN RESIDENCE:

 

Fri., Nov. 23 – Sun., Dec. 16 – The Grinch will grace Ponce City Market with his naughty tricks all season long! You’re invited to bring a camera to take photos with the mean one in his lair on the second floor above the Central Food Hall. Plus, guests can send their New Year’s wishes to the South Pole at the Grinch’s Post Box station. The wishes will be shipped to NYC, turned into confetti and sprinkled throughout Times Square when the clock strikes 12am on New Year’s Eve! The Grinch will take up residence at PCM beginning on Friday, November 23 from 1-6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays through December 16 from 11am – 6pm.

 

A new addition to this year’s Grinch photo opportunities at Ponce City Market will be a digital line! PCM will exclusively use digital lines this year, so you won’t have to wait in a physical line. It’s quick and easy to sign up onsite. Staff will be at each line to sign you up, and you’ll get a confirmation text with the number of guests “in line” in front of you. PCM will text you 15 minutes before the Grinch is ready for you. Meanwhile, you can wander PCM to grab a bite to eat or do some holiday shopping. Please note, you will not be able to sign up in the digital line until you are on the premises.

 

SANTA IN RESIDENCE:

 

Fri., Nov. 23 – Mon., Dec. 24  – Make your list and check it twice – Santa Claus is coming to Ponce City Market! Gather round with friends and family at the King of Pops Tree Elves Holiday Forest and bring your camera to snap photos with the jolly one in the red suit. Santa will be at PCM on Friday, November 23, from 1-6pm and on Saturdays and Sundays through December 23 from 11am-6pm. The last time for photos with Santa will be on Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24 from 11-6pm.

 

Like the Grinch, photo opportunities with Santa can be reserved onsite. A digital line will allow guests to wander PCM to grab a bite to eat or do some holiday shopping while waiting. Once you sign up, you’ll get a confirmation text with the number of guests “in line” in front of you and another text 15 minutes before Santa is ready for you. Please note, you will not be able to sign up in the digital line until you are on the premises.

 

SKATE THE SKY:

 

Fri., Nov. 23 – Sun., Jan. 13 – Back for a second year, The Roof at Ponce City Market invites guests to “Skate the Sky.” Ten stories above Ponce de Leon Avenue and overlooking the Atlanta BeltLine and Old Fourth Ward, the Rooftop Terrace will feature a 3,500-square-foot ice skating rink. Guests will be able to enter the ice rink as a walk-in from Skyline Park or Nine Mile Station. Admission to The Roof is $10 for adults and $7 for kids 12 and under – or free with a Nine Mile Station reservation – and skating is $15 for adults and $8 for kids 12 and under. Hours for the rink will be Sunday from noon to 9pm, Monday through Wednesday from 3-10pm, and Thursday through Saturday from 3-11pm, with 21+ only access after 5pm on Friday and Saturday. The ice rink will be available to rent for corporate events or holiday parties during the day.

 

IGLOOS ON THE ROOF:

 

Through January – Cozy up this holiday season in life-size igloos on Ponce City Market’s Roof! Located throughout Skyline Park at Nine Mile Station and alongside the ice skating rink, the igloos will offer guests 21+ years of age an unforgettable and festive experience. Each igloo is themed, giving guests different experiences to explore – Next Level Up will be over the top posh, Cuddle Up will give couples a place to chat, Group Chat will be the perfect holiday hang out spot for groups and Glamping will transport you to a holiday camping scene. A limited menu and bottle service is available in the igloos by the rink, and the restaurant’s full menu is available for guests visiting the Nine Mile Station igloos. Two-hour reservations can be made for groups of two or four. Pricing for entry, ice skating, igloo service and access to a s’mores bar is $125 for two or $250 for four. Without skating, the cost is $75 for two and $150 for four for entry, igloo service and access to a s’mores bar. The igloos at Nine Mile Station can be reserved now through January, and those alongside the ice skating rink will be available from Friday, November 23 through Sunday, January 13.

 

MENORAH LIGHTING ON PONCE:

 

Wed., Dec. 5 – Join Ponce City Market and Chabad Intown for a traditional menorah lighting ceremony on the Yard beginning at 6:30pm. Celebrate the Festival of Lights with an evening of food and drinks, activities for the kids and live music.

 

NEW YEAR’S EVE ON THE ROOF:

 

Sun., Dec. 31 – Save the date for a New Year’s Eve celebration on Ponce City Market’s Roof! Skyline Park and Nine Mile Station will toast the new year with a Noon Year’s Eve party followed by an evening celebration. Stay tuned for additional information coming soon at www.poncecityroof.com.

 

Ponce City Market’s holiday hours include:

• Thurs., Nov. 22 (Thanksgiving Day): Closed
• Fri., Nov. 23 (Black Friday): 10am – 9pm
• Mon., Dec. 17 – Sun., Dec. 23: 10am – 10pm
• Mon., Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): 10am – 6pm
• Tues., Dec. 24 (Christmas Day): Closed
• Mon., Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve): 10am – 6pm
• Tues., Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day): 10am – 9pm

 

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/12/18

An Opulent Evening at the Fox Theatre Celebrating the Magic of the All-New, Breakthrough Nutcracker for The Next Generation

Saturday, December 8, 2018  

 

Atlanta, Georgia – In celebration of the brand-new production of The Nutcracker debuting in 2018, Atlanta Ballet has revealed plans for its pre- and post-performance Opening Night Gala on December 8, 2018 at the Fox Theatre.

 

Chaired by Barbara Joiner, The Nutcracker Opening Night Gala will kick-off at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by dinner in the Egyptian Ballroom. With the timeless décor by esteemed Tony Brewer & Co., guests will be transported to a time of European elegance and treated to an exquisite meal prepared by Affairs to Remember. Guests will then take their seats in the theatre, where they will experience the extraordinary premiere of Atlanta Ballet’s new production of The Nutcracker. The excitement will continue with a high-energy after-party, The Nutcracker Act II, featuring an open bar, late-night bites, and dancing with Atlanta Ballet Company dancers.

 

Atlanta Ballet Artistic Director Gennadi Nedvigin has put together a first-class creative team to dream up a one-of-a-kind Nutcracker production. Featuring world-class choreography by Yuri Possokhov, awe-inspiring set designs by Tony Award nominee Tom Pye, groundbreaking projection design by Tony Award winner Finn Ross, stunning costume design by Sandra Woodall, and imaginative lighting design by David Finn, this new production is sure to be an enchanting tradition for a new generation.

 

Guests of the Opening Night Gala will be among the first to see Atlanta Ballet’s all-new version of The Nutcracker. Atlanta Ballet’s former version of the classic tale, Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker, was one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions for more than two decades, so the debut of this magical new rendition will mark a milestone in Atlanta and dance history.

 

The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra will perform live at each of the 19 performances held at the Fox Theatre from Saturday, December 8, through Monday, December 24, 2018.

 

Visit www.atlantaballet.com/support/special-events/nutcracker-gala for tickets.

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/7/18

What’s Old is New Again at an Enchanted Wintertime Experience for All Ages 

Open Thanksgiving Weekend Through Monday, January 21, 2019 

 

Atlanta, Georgia  – This holiday season, Park Tavern in Piedmont Park is pulling out all the stops for its popular ice skating rink that has become a beloved annual tradition for all ages.  Presenting Fire & Ice at The Rink Powered by Pepsi, Park Tavern will welcome guests Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, November 23, 2018 through Monday, January 21, 2019 to a completely transformed environment that boasts an enchanted Neo-Victorian feel and design elements, charming holiday decor, fun and games, special events, seasonal signature cocktails, delicious fare, and much more.

 

An iconic destination with a rich history that dates back to 1905, Paul Smith, owner of Park Tavern explains, “We couldn’t think of a better time to celebrate our longstanding history in the park and in Atlanta than during the holidays.  We’ve reignited our love for upcycling along with vintage artistry and traditions.  This year, we’re incorporating a mix of brass and copper, wood and glass elements, mechanical workings, and ornate engraving – reminiscent of the building’s beginnings, to set the scene for a magical wintertime experience for skaters and diners alike.”

 

The Fire & Ice season of The Rink at Park Tavern will once again bring patrons unobstructed views of Piedmont Park and the Midtown skyline. Skaters will stay warm under the heated Garden Tent and enjoy a state-of-the-art sound system and an 85-foot long and 40-foot wide rink that comfortably accommodates 200 day and night.  Observers are invited to sit back and relax and catch up with family and friends by stone fire pits and fireplaces, in private cabanas, and ample seating while catching their favorite teams on multiple flat screen TVs. In addition to rink and park-side dining, seasonal cocktails and house-made brews from one of Atlanta’s oldest breweries, guests can also take advantage of 1/2 price wine bottles every Wednesday, 1/2 off fresh sushi, sangria, Park Tavern drafts and Frosé from 9 p.m. to midnight, s’mores, and a variety of events and games – from frozen turkey bowling and weekly Steampunk skate parties to celebrating New Year’s Eve during their annual, sold-out bash with Yacht Rock Revue.

 

Providing high quality rental skates that are professionally sharpened, The Rink at Park Tavern Powered by Pepsi will be open Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight.  Guests of all ages can enjoy skating experiences for $15 Monday through Thursday and $20 Friday through Sunday until 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., The Rink becomes an ages 16 and up venue until midnight. Skaters that dress up in Steampunk attire for ‘Skate After 8 p.m.’, will get to skate for free.  The Rink is also available for private skating lessons, parties, marriage proposals and more.  To make reservations and for the most up to date event calendar, specialty packages, and venue rental information, visit www.parktavern.com.