NETHERWORLD HAUNTED HOUSE RETURNS FOR SPECIAL VALENTINES DAY EVENT 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/19/20

For One Night Only on Saturday, February 15, NIGHT OF THE GORGON
Reopens for Final Time to Bring You Scream in the Dark

Make your Valentine’s Day one to remember this year with tickets to NETHERWORLD Haunted House’s Scream in the Dark on Saturday, February 15. Housed inside of last year’s feature haunt NIGHT OF THE GORGON, Scream in the Dark will be crawling with classic horror and topped off with Hollywood-level special effects and nightmare-inducing creatures lurking in almost total darkness! Take the average Valentine’s Day gifts, roses and chocolates, to the next level with this one-of-a-kind event where you and your loved ones will embark on a journey through the haunt with only a small battery powered candle to help guide your way. This feeble light will be the only thing standing between you and swarms of monsters lurking in the gloom delivering the shocks and surprises you expect from a journey through NETHERWORLD. Even if you’ve already ventured through NIGHT OF THE GORGON earlier this year, the sharply reduced lighting and limited timed admission create a very different experience that many find to be even more terrifying than the October seasonal show.

“Once Halloween is over, we love brainstorming on how to add new twists to the attractions for our Christmas and Valentine’s shows. Taking away almost all external illumination and supplying a small candle really alters the experience by making the guests more vulnerable yet empowering them with a source of light. But sometimes the one holding the candle attracts even more monsters so watch out!” said Ben Armstrong, NETHERWORLD Haunted House Co-Creator. “This will be the last time for guests to walk through NIGHT OF THE GORGON before we radically redesign the attraction for the 2020 season so come out and Scream in the Dark with us.”

This can’t-miss event will be limited capacity, so be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Tickets are on sale now at www.fearworld.com and are $25.95. A limited number of SpeedPasses will be available for $39.95. In order to allow guests to make the most of their evening, tickets will be sold in the following half hour time slots: 6:30pm, 7:00pm, 7:30pm, 8:00pm, 8:30pm, and 9:00pm.

“We always strive to improve the customer experience in any way we can,” said NETHERWORLD Haunted House Co-Creator Billy Messina. “We’ll certainly have plenty of fun on tap at NETHERWORLD, but if dinner plans or other entertainment options are also on the night’s agenda, offering timed tickets to Scream in the Dark will no doubt help make planning the evening’s festivities a bit easier.”

If being plunged into darkness isn’t your idea of a romantic time, perhaps the adrenaline rush of working together to beat the clock in one of NETHERWORLD’s exciting Escape Rooms is more your speed. Try your luck at one of four Escape Rooms including Tiki Island: Attack of the Shark God, Sasquatch: Bigfoot’s Revenge, Nosferatu: Van Helsing’s Secret or Haunted: Curse of the Night Hag. Learn more at www.EscapetheNetherworld.com. In addition to Scream in the Dark and the Escape Rooms, NETHERWORLD will also unveil an exciting new One-Night-Only Laser Adventure in the COLD BLOODED attraction on the 15th. And of course, their freaky fun museum of monsters, expansive Gift Shop and carnival-like midway will also be open.

AMERICAN AXES AXE THROWING OPEN IN MARIETTA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/15/19

AXE THROWING ARRIVES IN COBB COUNTY

Cobb County’s First Dedicated Axe Throwing Facility Ribbon Cutting January 21

American Axes is opening its doors to their first location. Since Monday, December 16th, American Axes has been hosting select small groups and individuals for a soft open prior to opening in full to the public on January 10. Conveniently located 10 minutes or less from the Battery, Marietta Square and Kennesaw State University at 821 Livingston Court SE, Suite G, Marietta, GA 30067, American Axes is excited to become part of the Cobb entertainment community.

“We are very excited to be a new member of the thriving Marietta and Cobb County entertainment community,” said owner, Dan Fisher. The sport of Axe Throwing has grown substantially over the past decade. So much so that now the sport’s championship games are broadcast nationally on ESPN. As the sport continues to grow, American Axes is excited to bring a high-quality Axe Throwing facility to Cobb County that is different from others in the greater Atlanta-area. Amenities include:

− VIP space to host groups of up to 12 people that has dedicated TV and audio

− Main throwing room has single target lanes for added safety
− Several TV’s that will play local sports
− Vintage video game console
− Outdoor theme that celebrates the National Parks
− Lanes designed with highest standards of craftmanship and safety in mind

“Our tagline is Safe, Easy, Fun and our guests will experience the time that we took in the details to provide our guests with a safe and fun experience that is easy to learn,” said Fisher. The commitment to safety is paramount and American Axes took extra measures not taken by most venues to create single target lanes.

THE CATHEDRAL ANTIQUES SHOW 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/12/19

January 22 – 26 @ The Cathedral of St. Philip

Metamorphosis…Change is in the Air

Atlanta’s favorite festival of antiques and decorative arts returns for its 49th year!

Tickets and more information at www.cathedralantiques.org

Celebrity Speakers and Event Highlights:

  • Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia from Bravo TV’s breakout show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and their current hit “Get a Room with Carson and Thom” team up to bring their unique brand of hilarity and considerable design talents to headline our Lecture Series. In two highly entertaining talk sessions, Carson and Thom offer their keen insights and advice on current design and lifestyle trends.
  • Putnam & Putnam are NYC’s preeminent floral designers for every occasion, from weddings to fashion presentations, and more. Darroch and Michael Putnam’s arrangements are sought for publication in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Veranda, Dior, Cartier, and many other high-profile editorials. In addition, they offer flower workshops for savvy arrangers, their own product line, and retail sales at their recently-opened establishment in NYC’s Moxy Hotel, and have published their first book, Flower Color Guide, which they will be signing at the Show.
  • Bronson van Wyck is an international event designer and producer with a diverse and enviable client list. From Presidents Bush, Clinton, and Obama, celebrities Beyonce, Katy Perry and Uma Thurman, famous fashion designers and royalty, to the venerable brands of Hermes, Bulgari, Chanel, and several high-profile non-profits, Bronson is the go-to for the world’s most discerning patrons. Southern-raised and Yale educated, Bronson focuses on the age-old notions of hospitality, graciousness and generosity. He will be discussing and signing his new book, Born to Party, Forced to Work: 21st Century Hospitality.
  • Joseph P. Brady is a noted Atlanta silver historian, lecturer, author, and professional appraiser and consultant. He will present From Shop to Manufactory: American Silver and the Industrial Revolution.
  • Our wildly popular Iron Floral Competition returns as savvy arrangers go head-to-head to impress judges Putnam & Putnam in this annual feature of our Flower Festival.
  • Acclaimed architect Stan Dixon and renowned designer Jackye Lanham present their collaboration on her magnificent Kiawah Island home in their “Story of a House”

Parties:

  • Preview Party Exclusive first access to the Show. Enjoy entertainment, food, and wine with your friends at this gala party while you shop and browse all the dealers, flower displays, and designer vignettes on Wednesday evening.
  • Speakers’ Cocktail Party An intimate up-close meet and greet with our celebrity speakers on Thursday evening.
  • Young Collectors Party. After-hours access to the Show with food and cocktails for the under-40 crowd on Friday evening.

Home Tours:

  • Young Collectors Home Tour showcases bold design in intimate spaces featuring 3 homes in the Haynes Manor neighborhood of Buckhead, decorated by some of Atlanta’s best and brightest young interior designers and architects. Saturday
  • Cathedral Tour of Homes opens the doors to some of Atlanta’s most extraordinary private homes that showcase the finest in architecture, interior design, and timeless style. 5 exceptional homes throughout Buckhead and North Atlanta will be featured. Sunday

Main Floor and Flower Festival:

  • 28 Curated Antiques Dealers in furniture, art, jewelry, porcelain, silver, lighting, and rugs, including a select collection of Mid-Century Modern items
  • The Flower Festival displays innovative and exuberant floral masterpieces designed by area garden clubs and church flower guilds throughout the Main Floor and sacred spaces of the Cathedral
  • Vignettes by acclaimed Atlanta designers demonstrate their professional takes on integrating antiques with today’s latest home trends
  • Luncheon available for purchase each day, and enjoy Tea Service with our compliments on Thursday and Friday

The Cathedral Antiques Show has raised more than $5 million for Atlanta-area nonprofits since its inception in 1969. An annual community outreach project sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women of the Cathedral of St. Philip, 100% of the net proceeds go to a different human services-based beneficiary each year.

The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, NW www.cathedralantiques.org

Our 2020 beneficiary is Moving in the Spirit, an award-winning creative youth development program that uses dance to teach young people the social, emotional and cognitive skills they need to thrive. Through programs that integrate high-quality dance instruction with performance, leadership and mentor opportunities, Moving in the Spirit helps children and teens to overcome the obstacles they face each day and realize their highest potential. www.movinginthespirit.org

ADAC WINTER PRODUCT LAUNCH SHOWCASE HIGHLIGHTS NEW INDUSTRY TRENDS IN 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/11/19

Top Designers Share Their Picks for the New Season with ADAC
January 13th to 17th at ADAC

ADAC’s bi-annual Product Launch Showcase returns next month for its winter edition from January 13-17, 2020. From furniture and fabrics, to accessories and beyond, the Center offers a carefully curated selection of the season’s most noteworthy looks. See inspiring new collections from your favorite showrooms and explore exceptional and potentially untapped resources designed to provide you with exciting directions for your future projects. Participating showrooms include Century Furniture, Habachy Designs + Atelier, Made Goods, Theodore Alexander, and more. The full roster of participating showrooms can be found here.

New this year, ADAC has collaborated with four of the industry’s top names for a special digital initiative. Beginning on Monday, January 13th, follow along on ADAC’s Instagram to view the full Look Book of products to expect. Then, each day throughout the remainder of the week, ADAC will feature favorite picks and design advice from one of the selected designers. Carefully curated mood boards provide an inspirational view into how these designers would incorporate the newest offerings at ADAC into their future projects. Listen in as these designers share Q&A-style videos covering everything from what they find most exciting in the world of design, to their favorite design secrets and sources of inspiration.

Learn more about the designers involved below:

Erika Ward
Erika Ward is an award-winning, published interior designer whose commitment to timeless interiors, lifestyle, and wellness has positioned her to be sought after by both brands and consumers. With her strong foundation in business finance and over a decade of design experience as the owner and principal designer of Erika Ward Interiors in Atlanta, Georgia, Erika has combined both to properly educate the consumer on the benefits, both financial and intrinsic, of a well-designed home.

Chad James
Chad James is the founder and principal of the award-winning design firm Chad James Group based in Nashville, Tennessee. With a rich portfolio, Chad James Group works to create custom residential and commercial construction, including bespoke boutique hotels, refined restaurants, and perfectly appointed homes.

Dana Wolter
Dana Wolter Interiors, LLC, is a luxury, boutique interior design firm based in the Mountain Brook suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. Named a 2014 Traditional Home New Trad and a 2017, 2018, and 2019 Finalist in the ADAC and Veranda‘s Southeast Designers and Architect of the Year Awards, Dana and her team create timeless, well-edited homes across the country that are customized around each client’s personal definition of living well in their home.

Whitney Ray
Whitney Ray, an Atlanta, Georgia native, brings a polished sensibility and unique design vision to partnerships with her clients. Her thoughtful instincts paired with custom creations consistently results in rooms that are elegant and unexpected. She graduated with BA degrees in Art History and Interior Design before co-founding Wyeth Ray Interiors in 2017.

14TH ANNUAL CHILI FOR CHILDREN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/10/19

Chili for the Children’s 14th Annual Event Cooks-Off January 27 and Makes Wishes Come True

2020 Competition Supports Make-A-Wish Georgia

and Grants Local Family’s Wish During Event

 103 West

Monday, January 27th @ 5 pm

Bring Your Game Face! Chili for the Children Charity Cook-Off is back for its 14th year! Hosted at 103 West on Monday, January 27 from 5 – 7 p.m., the event’s proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish Georgia. Make-A-Wish made over 400 dreams come true for Georgia children facing critical illness in 2019. With the chance to make an even bigger difference in the lives of area children, the night will consist not only of delicious chili, but a silent auction to help make more wishes come true! In addition, one local family will have its Wish granted during the evening’s festivities. Event is only $25 and more information can be found here.

20TH ANNIVERSARY ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/5/19

20TH ANNIVERSARY ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS OPENING NIGHT, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NIGHT, AND CLOSING NIGHT SELECTIONS

Monday, February 10th through February 27th 

The 2020 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is proud to announce the Opening Night, Young Professionals Night, and Closing Night film selections to be featured at its 20th annual festival, which returns from February 10 through February 27.

Announced first by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 20th anniversary of the festival kicks off on Monday, February 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre with the World Premiere of Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance. Revisiting and reviving the legacy of Black-Jewish cooperation during the Civil Rights era, this powerful documentary focuses on a proud chapter of American social justice, in which two communities joined forces in the name of racial equality, while acknowledging their shared history of hardship. Pivotal events come alive through a treasure trove of archival materials, narrated by eyewitnesses, activists, Holocaust survivors, and leaders of the movement, including prominent Atlantans such as Congressman John Lewis, Amb. Andrew Young, Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, Rabbi Peter S. Berg, Martin Luther King III, and many others. Opening Night general admission tickets are available for $36 and include complimentary parking as well as the screening and post-film Q&A.

On Saturday, February 15 at the Woodruff Arts Center, AJFF will feature the buddy comedy Standing Up, Falling Down at Young Professionals Night, presented by ACCESS, the young leadership division of American Jewish Committee. Starring Emmy-winner Ben Schwartz and comedy legend Billy Crystal, the film follows an aspiring stand-up comic after he is forced to move back to his hometown. An unexpected friendship across generations leads them to confront their own regrets and failures. The evening begins with a pre-screening party at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by the film at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $36 and include the party and screening.

The 20th festival closes out with a touching screening of Saul & Ruby, To Life! on Thursday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the Byers Theater of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. The film follows Holocaust survivors, Saul and Ruby, who find a new purpose in life. They use the power of music to share their stories and promote peace in a world that is as tumultuous as ever. The Holocaust Survivor Band, featuring Saul and Ruby, will treat moviegoers to a post-screening performance. Tickets are $36 and include complimentary parking, the screening, a post-film Q&A and performance, plus a dessert reception.

Audiences can expect diverse films from this showcase of international cinema. A first look at what to expect in this year’s lineup was recently announced, and is available here. The preview includes the following seven films: Aulcie, Bully. Coward. Victim. The Story of Roy Cohn, Crescendo, The Glass Room, Golda, No Pork on the Fork, and The Mamboniks. The full lineup and official schedule, along with the release of program guides, will be announced on Friday, January 10. Tickets go on sale via AJFF.org beginning Monday, January 27. Tickets for the festival are $16 for General Admission and $14 for Seniors/Students/Children.

Full descriptions of Opening Night, Young Professionals Night, and Closing Night films are below:

Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance
World Premiere
Documentary • USA • 93 minutes
The crucial historical lessons of Black-Jewish cooperation are revisited and revived in this utterly fascinating, urgent call to action. The modern alliance between African-Americans and Jewish Americans dates to the NAACP founding in 1909. Since then, both groups have endured segregation and racism, from the codified bigotry of southern Jim Crow laws, to blatant bias in real estate, employment, higher education and politics. Common cause was found in the turbulent ‘60s Civil Rights era, as Jewish leaders backed Dr. King’s efforts at racial equality and harmony. Yet, the relationship has frayed in recent years, as a once mighty bond of support and respect has seemingly faded, been forgotten or ignored.

Pivotal events come alive through a treasure trove of archival materials, narrated by eyewitnesses, activists, Holocaust survivors, and leaders of the movement, including prominent Atlantans such as Congressman John Lewis, Amb. Andrew Young, Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, Rabbi Peter S. Berg, Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., members of the King family, and many others. With divisive seeds of hate taking root anew in the American landscape, a new generation also affirms their pledge to actively promote the values of social justice. This potent, inspiring story of unity, empathy and partnership validates the ubiquity of the human experience, and how freedom and equality for all can be achieved only when people come together.

Standing Up, Falling Down
Narrative • USA • 91 minutes
Emmy-winner Ben Schwartz (NBC’s Parks and Recreation) and the legendary Billy Crystal, topline this bittersweet, warmly funny buddy comedy about an unlikely intergenerational friendship between a struggling stand-up comic and an older, disillusioned barfly. After years of trying and failing to break into the Los Angeles comedy scene, thirty-something Scott (Schwartz) reluctantly moves back in with his parents (Kevin Dunn and Debra Monk) on Long Island, tail between his legs. Wracked with self-doubt and panicked at the prospect of having to get a soul-crushing “real” job, he soon realizes that life did not stand still without him. Not only have all his friends moved on to start families of their own, he must face unresolved emotions toward his hometown ex-girlfriend, Becky (Eloise Mumford), now happily married. But he encounters a surprising kindred spirit in Marty (Crystal, playing decidedly against type), a larger-than-life, charming but desperately lonely dermatologist obsessed with karaoke and swigging away his troubles every night at the local bar. Before long, the two drinking buddies form a real bond over their shared feelings of loss, remorse and inadequacy. As Scott works to overcome his fear of pursuing his dreams and returning to the stage, together they find the strength to address their long festering regrets. Buoyed by the easy-going chemistry between Schwartz and Crystal, and powered by a top-notch supporting cast that includes Grace Gummer and Nate Corddry, the simple pleasures of this heart-and-soul comedy are a reminder that redemption can be found in the unlikeliest of places.

Saul & Ruby, To Life!
Documentary • USA • 81 minutes
An inseparable pair of sprightly Holocaust survivors brings their tuneful call for peace and healing from assisted living facilities in Florida to the world stage, in this uniquely uplifting tribute to the human spirit. Launching a late-in-life musical career from total obscurity, Saul Dreier was 89 when he picked up drumsticks and founded the Holocaust Survivor Band. Everyone, including his wife and rabbi, thought he was crazy. But Saul had a dream: to share the music that sustained him during his internment in concentration camps. Along with accordion player Ruby Sosnowicz, the klezmer duo performed in Jewish community and retirement centers around Florida, laying on the charm with small but enthusiastic audiences. With their joyful sound and infectious love of living, Saul and Ruby soon took their music, their stories, and their message of strength and friendship to larger venues across the country. With anti-Semitic rhetoric on the rise, Saul and Ruby wanted their untrained voices to be heard more than ever. So they set about making an enduring vision come true: to bring their music back to where both men suffered painful loss, their birthplace of Poland, to honor their own families and the countess other mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who suffered and died there. Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning documentarian Tod Lending expertly weaves comedy and tragedy in this charming, poignant and, above all, affirmative celebration of family, friendship, heartache, resilience and hope.

For additional information, visit AJFF.org.

THE BATTERY ATLANTA’S WONDERLAND OF WINTRY EVENTS 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/2/19

Cobb lifestyle destination welcomes the new year with happy and healthy happenings

Jumpstart the new decade at The Battery Atlanta! Whether basking in the brisk winter air for outdoor activities or cozying up indoors with a cold one, visitors to the community’s ultimate dine, play, shop and stay destination will enjoy a variety of events throughout January. Metro-Atlantans can focus on their New Year’s resolutions with sporty programs like weekly cornhole tournaments or celebratory get-togethers like the Atlanta Braves Chop Fest, Fan Friday at Sports & Social Atlanta and more!

The Battery Atlanta Cornhole League
Every Tuesday at 6 p.m.
A tailgate favorite is now a league of its own! Spectators are encouraged to watch the action and cheer on league participants as they play games leading up to the season’s final tournament. League winners will receive a championship trophy and other prizes.

Atlanta Braves Chop Fest Gala presented by Northside Hospital
Friday, January 24 from 7 – 10 p.m.
Atlantans are invited to walk the red carpet of an exclusive, All-Star studded evening. The gala supports the Atlanta Braves Foundation and features music, art, entertainment and more. Guests have access to an open bar and local bites, as well as the opportunity to dance to the hottest DJs in town and bid on exceptional experiences. Guests can also customize a one-of-a-kind Braves cap, courtesy of the 2020 Atlanta Braves! Tickets for the 21+ event can be purchased at braves.com/gala.

Atlanta Braves Chop Fest
Saturday, January 25 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Atlanta Braves supporters can get up-close-and-personal at one of Atlanta’s most fan-tastic traditions! Members of the back-to-back National League East Champion team will be available for autographs, photo opportunities and Q&A panel discussions. The all-day FREE event features live entertainment, on-field activities, baseball clinics, merchandise and more! For more information or to purchase tickets for player autographs, visit braves.com/ChopFest.

Select Retail/Restaurant Promotions:

Southern Oyster Social at the Garden & Gun Club
Sunday, January 12 from 3 – 6 p.m.
Guests can enhance their palates with the second event of the oyster tasting series featuring a variety of oysters farmed in the South. This month will feature oysters from Maryland and Virginia. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/SouthernOysterSocial and include a sampling of raw, grilled, smoked and steamed oysters, a drink and passed hors d’oeuvres.

Terrapin League Night at Sports & Social Atlanta
Friday, January 17 from 8 – 11 p.m.
Assemble the squad for a night of friendly competition, drink specials and live music sponsored by Terrapin Beer Co. Teams can test their knowledge in trivia and go for the gold in ping pong, ski ball, water pong and more for a chance to win prizes and giveaways!

Flower Arranging Class at Sugarboo & Co. 
Monday, January 20 from 6:30 p.m.
Grab a gal pal for an evening of floral fun at Sugarboo & Co.! Participants will learn the basics of floral arrangement from professionals and shop adorable collections with a 15% discount. Students can take home their beautifully crafted arrangement in a vase, courtesy of Sugarboo. Tickets can be purchased at alicestable.com and include a pre-selected Sugarboo vase.

Fan Friday at Sports & Social Atlanta
Friday, January 24 from 8 – 11 p.m.
The popular sports bar and live entertainment venue shares the love with loyal fans. Guests can enter to win door prizes and giveaways, enjoy VIP drink specials and live music every fourth Friday of the month.

Terrapin Taproom: Trivia @ The Taproom
Thursday, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. on non-gamedays
Gather friends for a night of friendly competition! The trivia game questions will be themed differently each week. Teams can participate for free in multiple rounds for a chance to win prizes.

THE ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL GIFT AND HOME FURNISHINGS MARKET PRESENTS NEARLY 50 SEMINARS AND EVENTS IN JANUARY 2020, NOW UNDER NEW NAME: ATLANTA MARKET 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/29/19

NEW YEAR, NEW NAME: ATLANTA MARKET 2020

Retailers and designers will experience nearly 50 events, seminars, gourmet demonstrations, lounges and celebrations – including the first-ever staging of Party for Life in Atlanta – at The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market® this January. Programming across the AmericasMart campus will connect market attendees with influencers, tastemakers and thought leaders sharing actionable tips and trends. In addition, AmericasMart will host 100+ food and beverage amenities including happy hours, complimentary breakfasts, snacks and more throughout the campus. (NOTE: A complete listing of event descriptions, dates, times and locations follows and is available online at AmericasMart.com/events).

“With the broad range of programming this January, we address a variety of buyer needs, whether that’s in a business-building seminar, a class in the Demonstration Kitchen, a meet and greet with an influencer or at an industry celebration where they can network with like-minded business owners,” said Dorothy Belshaw, IMC chief marketing and digital officer. “Our events, seminars and amenities are an added value to an already important week for the gift and home furnishings industry.”

Party for Life Relocates to Atlanta

The highlight of the Winter 2020 programming is the first-ever staging of Gift for Life’s Party for Life fundraiser in connection with the Atlanta market. The industry celebration takes place on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at the Fernbank Museum with designer Thom Filicia serving as Honorary Event Chairman and recognition of Anne McGilvray who will be presented with the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award. All proceeds benefit the grant making efforts of Gift for Life’s beneficiary DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. Confirmed sponsors to date are AmericasMart/Las Vegas Market, Anne McGilvray & Company, Binant Capital, DEMDACO, Great American Publishing (Gift Shop, Museums & More, Stationery Trends), Maiarelli Studio, Poo-Pourri and Progressive Business Media (Gifts and Decorative Accessories, Home Accents Today). Tickets and more information are available at www.giftforlife.org/participate. 

Shop the Show

The Winter 2020 class of Shop the Show influencers showcases five influencers – Tiffani Thiessen, Katie Stauffer of the Stauffer Family, Brian Patrick Flynn, Paloma Contreras and Liz Marie Galvan – who collectively reach nearly 6 million followers with content including trends in home décor, gift, tabletop, kids, lifestyle and seasonal décor plus adorable moments in daily life. These influencers will shop Market’s 8,000 brands in search of the most coveted products – uncovering the latest trends in lifestyle and more, while sharing their experiences through social media, vignettes, book signings, showroom activations and more.

Thiessen headlines the Shop the Show programming with “Breakfast with Tiffani – Easy Breezy Brunching & Entertaining Tips” from her new book Pull Up a Chair: Recipes from My Family to Yours on Thursday, January 16 at 11 a.m. Flynn hosts a cocktail party with tips for incorporating “hygge” – the Danish attitude towards life that emphasizes finding joy in everyday – into design projects and stores in “How to Hygge at Accent Decor” on Wednesday, January 15 at 3 p.m.  Stauffer shops and styles her favorite Corkcicle products and mixes and mingles with her twins Mia and Emma in “Pop, Shop & Sip: Cocktails at Corkcicle” on Thursday, January 16 at 3 p.m. Galvan signs her debut book Cozy White Cottage: 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home while attendees enjoy a warm cookie and cocktail on Wednesday, January 15. Contreras signs her new book Dream Design Live on Friday, January 17.

More information about the Shop the Show influencers is available at AmericasMart.com/ShopTheShow.

Retailer and Designer Education

Retailer educational programming provides actionable tips in marketing and finance. Liz Martin of Charleston Weekender leads “Influencer Marketing 101: The Do’s & Don’ts of Getting Your Store Featured by Bloggers” which teaches a basic understanding of hiring and collaborating with bloggers on Tuesday, January 14 at 10 a.m. Patti Biro of Spa Industry Association explains how adding temporary locations to an outreach strategy can expand market reach and create new sales opportunities in “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Pop-Ups, Mobile Retail and More” on Tuesday, January 14 at 1 p.m.  In “Social Media Strategy for Retail Success in 2020 and Beyond,” blogger and retailer Mandy Kellogg Rye of Waiting on Martha, Inc. and Welcome Media Co. shares the core social media strategies that every retailer should know on Wednesday, January 15 at 10 a.m. Becky Tyre records a live episode of Retail Details the Podcast during “Partnering for Promotions & Successful Store Events” on Wednesday, January 15 at 1 p.m. “Ten Easy Steps to Retail Relevance in 2020” features Annette Joseph and Barbara Pederzini sharing merchandise styling tips for retailers with Rue editor-in-chief Kelli Lamb on Thursday, January 16 at 10 a.m. “How to Think Like a CFO: The 5 Numbers All Business Owners Need to Know” provides key business financial knowledge on Friday, January 17 at 1 p.m. “The Psychology of Price (The Markup and Markdown Game)” present tactics retailers need to deploy to maintain a competitive pricing position on Friday, January 17 at 2 p.m. 

Designer educational programming touches on best practices, trends and new business opportunities. In “What’s Your Worth? Managing Client Expectations While Growing Your Design Business” designer Corey Damen Jenkins shares real-life examples and strategies for working with demanding clients on Wednesday, January 15 at 2 p.m. Luxe Interiors + Design taps three designers to share their favorite trends and top finds from the market in “Ahead of the Curve | East Coast Edition” on Thursday, January 16 at 2 p.m. The “Sherwin-Williams Colormix® Forecast 2020” showcases trending paint colors for 2020 on Friday, January 17 at 10 a.m. “Staging to Sell, What Every Designer Should Know,” presented by The Real Estate Staging Association® (RESA®), teaches how real estate staging can be a viable add-on service for the right entrepreneur on Saturday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Returning for January 2020 are new buyer breakfast seminars where buyers can learn the basic fundamentals of the market experience – including how to navigate the buildings, the amenities and resources available to buyers, how to use the mobile app, the showrooms are a good fit for their buying needs and more – over breakfast with the Buyer Services team. Breakfast takes place in Building 2 on Wednesday, January 15 at 8:30 a.m. and Building 1 on Thursday, January 16 at 8:30 a.m.

Interactive Demonstrations

Top chefs and Atlanta-based tastemakers lead interactive cooking and cocktail classes in the market’s unique Demonstration Kitchen. Food Network’s Nancy Fuller makes her famous go-to Crab Delights® Dip in “A Party for Pollock with Carefree Crab” on Friday, January 17 at 11 a.m. James Beard Award-nominee, Top Chef finalist and Atlanta-based restaurateur Chef Kevin Gillespie prepares “Fire in my Belly: Totally Cookable Recipes from Around the World” on Wednesday, January 15 at 11 a.m. Local chefs lead “A Taste of Australia in Atlanta” on Tuesday, January 14 at 11 a.m., “A Taste of Home: Handcrafted Doughnuts by Doughnut Dollies” on Wednesday, January 15 at 3 p.m., “Global Fusion in 2020: The World in an Egg Roll” on Thursday, January 16 at 3 p.m. and “A Culinary Tour of Basque Flavors” on Saturday, January 18 at 11 a.m. The popular Cocktails and Conversations series returns with mixologists from some of Atlanta’s top bars including Tiny Lou’s, Red Phone Booth and Tin Tin serving up their favorite cocktails on Tuesday, January 14, Friday, January 17 and Saturday, January 18, respectively; all at 3 p.m.

Seasonal and floral-focused demonstrations include designer and event planner Canaan Marshall creating a centerpiece from start to finish that’s perfect for the spring season on Tuesday, January 14 at 2 p.m. and Holly Chapple of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers LTD who will be demystifying super-lush designs and demonstrating her line of floral mechanics and vases co-developed by Syndicate Sales in “Epic, Attainable Floral Design for All” on Friday, January 17 at noon.

 

The Roaring Navy Party

Sherwin-William’s 2020 Color of the Year – NAVAL SW 6244 – is celebrated at the Roaring Navy party on Thursday, January 16 at 7 p.m. Attendees are invited to come dressed in their best Naval-colored attire as they raise and glass and usher in the new year on the Commercial Design floor.

Updated Buyer Amenities

In addition to programming, buyer amenities help to create a positive market experience.

Buyers’ lounges throughout campus including The Southern Couture Lounge, the Creative Commons and the DEMDACO Crossroads feature daily hospitality. In the ECO Lounge, buyers can rest, recharge and learn about products that abide by sustainable practices. The Headshot & Glam Studio provides buyers with a complimentary 20-minute portrait session including hair and make-up touch up. The Wellness and Rejuvenation Lounge features complimentary massages, wellness services and beverages in a serene and relaxing environment.

A full list of market events and amenities is available at AmericasMart.com/events.

The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market is a leading wholesale marketplace housing the nation’s largest gift product mix complemented by a broad selection of home décor, featuring more than 8,000 brands across all categories. Held semi-annually at AmericasMart Atlanta, the Market attracts retailers and designers from every U.S. state and more than 60 countries. The Winter 2020 staging of The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market is Tuesday, January 14 – Tuesday, January 21, 2020 For more information, visit AmericasMart.com.

DOMAINE NEW YEAR’S EVE 2020

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/27/19

Domaine, 1150 Crescent Ave ATL

Tuesday, December 31st at 8 pm

Revelers dressed to impress are invited to ring in 2020 on Tuesday, December 31st at DOMAINE, Atlanta’s newest premier entertainment and nightlife venue located in the heart of Midtown. Beginning at 8 p.m., guests can dance their way into the new year with electric DJ performances while indulging in a mouthwatering gourmet buffet, open bar, 1000-square foot 4K LED wall, confetti cannons, a sparkler show, a ball drop and much more. For ages 21 and up, General Admission is available ranging from $35 to $45 and includes entry and access to a gourmet buffet from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and General Admission with open bar is available ranging from $80 to $90 and includes entry, access to a gourmet buffet from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and a 6-hour open bar. Partygoers looking to elevate their New Year’s Eve experience can also purchase VIP Premium Open Bar tickets ranging from $140 to $175 and include VIP expedited entry, 6-hour premium bar, access to a VIP gourmet buffet from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and access to the VIP Owner’s Suite and private restrooms. To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/domaine-new-years-eve-2020.

GLITZ GLAM GROOVE INTO NYE 2020 WITH TONGUE AND GROOVE

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 12/25/19

Tuesday, December 31st at 9 pm

Ringing in 2020 with a world-class celebration, Tongue & Groove invites party goers to an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration on Tuesday, December 31st. With an exciting new look created by celebrity designer Anitra Mecadon in honor of the iconic nightclub’s 25th anniversary, revelers dripping in glitz and glam can dance to an electrifying performance by DJ Danny M while enjoying a champagne toast, party favors, midnight snacks, a balloon drop at midnight and much more. For ages 21 and up, Early Bird General Admission tickets are available starting at $30 and will increase to $40, along with Early Bird All Inclusive tickets starting at $90 at www.tandgonline.com and https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nye-2020-glitz-glam-and-groove-at-tongue-and-groove-tickets-82386926515. Doors open at 9 p.m.