Tag Archive for: things to do in atlanta

MUSEUM OF GRAFFITI POPS UP IN ATLANTA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

World’s first museum dedicated to graffiti brings limited-time, free sneaker exhibition to Ponce City Market

May 31 – June 2, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

The Miami-based Museum of Graffiti proudly announces its latest traveling exhibition, “Sneaker Stories” presented by Modelo, will come to Atlanta’s Ponce City Market for one weekend only, May 31 – June 2, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday. This free experience will explore the historical ties and evolving relationship between graffiti art and sneaker culture through informative displays featuring rare sneakers and their corresponding art inspiration.

A first-of-its-kind contemporary art museum, Museum of Graffiti exhibits, educates and celebrates the thousands of graffiti artists who have transformed walls in public spaces into vibrant masterpieces. With the “Sneaker Stories” pop-up, the Museum of Graffiti will bring its renowned unorthodox approach to urban art education to Atlanta. Presented as a faux sneaker store, this immersive museum experience will highlight the many seminal crossover collaborations between graffiti artists and global commercial brands like Nike, Adidas and Reebok. Guests will be taken on a 20-year journey of collaboration that has seen sneakers transcend their original purpose to become integral to the fabric of urban culture and art. The exhibition will feature a selection of limited-edition sneakers displayed alongside their original artworks by artists including Futura, Cey Adams, Eric Haze, Claw Money and Faust, who have been tapped to create highly converted footwear that can sell on the secondary market for upwards of $20,000.

“Through ‘Sneaker Stories,’ we aim to celebrate the artists from the global graffiti art movement who have transitioned from the streets to appear inside the biggest companies in America, like Nike, Reebok and Adidas, and influenced countless others along the way,” says Alan Ket, co-founder of the Museum of Graffiti. “Thanks to our partnership with with Modelo, we’re able to bring this unique cultural exploration to Atlanta, inviting the community to uncover the stories behind the art and the artists who have routinely been stigmatized due to the negative connotations surrounding spray paint.”

Inside the pop-up, which will be located next to Nike at Ponce City Market, guests can also expect to find Museum of Graffiti’s world-class gift shop, packed with limited edition collectibles, rare books and apparel. At the complimentary sneaker customization bar, courtesy of Modelo, each pop-up visitor can also become a designer with colorful new laces, charms and buckle plates to personalize their own sneakers.

A panel discussion entitled “Fighting Spirit Stories” with Cey Adams, moderated by Atlanta’s own Dr. Dax, will take place on Saturday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m., followed by a limited edition print release and signing. Seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL MINI GOLF DAY WITH PUTTSHACK ATLANTA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

Saturday, May 11

Dust off those short game skills, grab some friends and join Puttshack Atlanta on Saturday, May 11, 2024, as they celebrate National Mini Golf Day. With digital driven gameplay through the use of Trackaball technology to keep score, themed holes with challenges and supertubes to risk it all, Puttshack is tech-nically the perfect activity for all ages and skill levels located in the heart of West Midtown. Fuel up for friendly competition with delicious shareables for pre-game noshing like buffalo chicken dip, Rendang lettuce wraps, Maryland crab dip, flatbreads and more. Adult golfers can imbibe in hand-crafted cocktails, beer and wine at the bar or soak up the spring sun on Puttshack’s expansive terrace. 

Puttshack Atlanta is open seven days a week and located at 1115 Howell Mill Rd. Atlanta, GA 30318. For more information, please call 404.738.7888 or visit puttshack.com.

PURE ATHLETE HOSTS LIVE AUDIENCE PODCAST EVENT WITH KIRK COUSINS AND JEFF FRANCOEUR

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Teams Up With Leading Youth Sports Platform To Offer Guidance for Parents, Coaches, Athletes In Navigating Challenges Of Youth Sports

North Point Church, May 20th

Pure Athlete, a leading youth sports platform and podcast committed to empowering parents, coaches and the next generation of athletes to navigate the complex culture of youth sports, will be hosting a live podcast recording event featuring the new Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Kirk Cousins. The recording will take place at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta on May 20, 2024. Members of the live audience can look forward to hearing Cousins share insights on his personal youth sports journey, leadership and the future of the Falcons.

The podcast, hosted by Jeff Francoeur, Britt Lee and Brad Williams, fosters conversations with sports’ most iconic figures and topical experts, creating informational and inspirational content that develops competitive athletes both on and off the field. 

The Pure Athlete podcast has hosted interviews with both legends and current athletes including Chipper Jones, Dabo Swinney, Austin Ekeler, Carli Lloyd, Dell Curry, Dansby Swanson, Austin Riley, Brian Harman, Misty May Treanor, Jay Bilas, John Smoltz, Dan Orlovsky and more. Atlanta Braves first baseman, Matt Olson, recently joined the podcast for its inaugural live podcast recording event. During the event, Olson recounted his experiences in youth sports and shared his insights before answering questions from parents and their enthusiastic young athletes.

For more information about The Pure Athlete Podcast, its live event with Kirk Cousins and more, visit pureathleteinc.com.

CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND AT CHASTAIN PARK SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

The Award-Winning Festival Features Over 185 Artists, Local Bites, Live Acoustic Music and More

Open to All Ages and Free to Attend on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12, 2024

Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival will return to beautiful Chastain Park on Park Drive in Buckhead on Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. An ideal destination to bring the family and pups, the award-winning, two-day festival is free to attend and features more than 185 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft artisans, glass blowers, jewelers and more. Eventgoers are also invited to view artist demonstrations, enjoy live acoustic music, DJs, an expansive children’s area, and food trucks and beverages for all tastes. Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival (4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta, GA 30327) takes place rain or shine and is open to all ages. For more information, please visit www.chastainparkartsfestival.com and www.affps.com. 

AMP IT UP ATHENS AT AVALON IN ALPHARETTA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

Saturday, August 3

More info here.

We’d love to invite you to come and enjoy all that Athens has to offer at Avalon in Alpharetta! From pop-ups of local businesses like Condor Chocolates to fun, family-friendly activities with the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to live music featuring the Athens-based indie rock band taking TikTok by storm, the event is a taste of what Athens has to offer and will offer endless photo opps, activities and more.  

Additional event activities throughout the day include:   

  • A sampling of Athens’ renowned craft beer from noon to 7:30 p.m. 
  • A live, interactive art mural where anyone can paint on a canvas and an Athens artist will create a unique art piece from everyone’s contributions 
  • Chocolate samples from Condor Chocolates
  • Trivia with prize giveaways  
  • Live music concert in the evening (AD Blanco and Hotel Fiction) 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 3 – THE DOWNPOUR

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

If you have never seen a rock show in the rain, you’re missing out. Today was all about one of John’s favorite bands, Dinosaur Jr.  

First off, we caught a newer band we had not heard of until the festival, Arcy Drive. They are out of New York with a mash-up of varieties of sounds like indie, 90s fast slow, two-step, and singsong talking and singing mix. Not all at the same time, for example one song would be songs that are softer almost ballad-like that erupt into heavy guitar for the chorus. Then, the next song would be a rock song with more of a southern twang and have some two-step influence. I enjoyed lead singer Nick Mateyunas’ voice, it is smooth yet gritty. The one we really like is called Wicked Styley, which is the one they started with. It is a fun upbeat rock song with lots of 90’s influence and reverb. 

The Downpour. About 5 minutes before Dinosaur Jr. went on the Ponce De Leon stage, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour started and lasted for almost the entire set. People were caught in the rain, and it was so much that even us with ponchos got pretty soaked. Especially our feet in ankle deep water near the front of the stage flowing into the crowd. No one seemed to mind too much and it actually electrified the audience. John quipped at one point, “it’s like we’re back in the 90’s.” And he was right, the energy from the crowd was noticeably high! They even broke out into mosh pits and a sea of crowd surfers dotted the front. It was a sight to behold! Plus, the music had a lot to do with the mood! If you don’t know Dinosaur Jr, they are what I call hard skate rock. Something I imagine skaters on their boards would listen to in their ear buds. Songs like Feel the Pain and Over It are melodious with heavy guitar and just plain fun. Plus, the covered The Cure, “Just Like Heaven.” It was a great show. 

After our Dinosaur Jr. experience, we headed back over to see Billy Idol and found the main stage to be a mud bog. People without shoes dancing in the sprinkles, drenched friends with smiles on their faces. We saw him back in 2015 during Music Midtown and his show has always been top notch! Billy Idol is always a good time singing greats like White Wedding, Rebel Yell, and Cradle of Love that anyone will sing and dance with. Visually, he had some fun LED graphics and seems to have not aged a bit and still sounds really good live! He even took his Billy Idol shirt off and threw it in the crowd.  

I’m just going to come right out and say it, we left before Foo Fighters. We’d seen them before, and the weather had made the main stage too muddy. Plus, we had stood in ankle high water for an hour, so our feet were wet, and we had a long weekend. We will catch them next time.  

Did you have a favorite Shaky moment? 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 2

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/5/24

Photo Dusana Risovic

With bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, Offspring, Queens of the Stone Age, and one of my favorites of all time Weezer. Day 2 had it all. Here’s a short recap. 

Starting with the newer bands, we heard both Microwave and Dead Poets Society. Microwave is out of Atlanta, which I didn’t know, and has a variety of sounds from loud, hard rock to 90’s fast slow, and then some punk. The other was Dead Poet’s Society out of Boston that had hard riffs that reminded me of Rob/White Zombie up front, thrash, but then the vocals come in softer and higher for a fun mix of sounds. I like that Jack Underkofler, the lead singer, fell into the crowd and crowd surfed while singing one of the first songs.  

On to the 90’s bands we love, first we actually had to miss Offspring because we had never seen Sunny Day Real Estate and we’re going to spend time with a band that we hadn’t seen. We love Offspring, I saw them back in 1994 and heard they did an incredible show. That brings us to Sunny Day Real Estate. They are one of those 90’s bands that I just got introduced to by a friend a few years ago and we started watching their videos on YouTube. I call them the quintessential fast slow early 90’s band. Melodious verses and vocals erupt into a barrage of heavy guitar and pounding drums, Sunny Day Real Estate satisfies song after song. Tour t-shirt purchased! More to come in our review. 

Have you ever found yourself driving too fast on the interstate? You might have been listening to Queens of the Stone Age. What I call fast driving music, Queens of the Stone Age are very drum forward with deep and heavy beats, beautiful guitar riffs and Josh Homme’s great voice. Plus, they visually never disappoint, this year with roaming light show. Last time we saw them they had a large video board with led visuals that really went well with the music. Did you know Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) also did the drums on “No One Knows?” which you can tell by the drums! But my favorite of their songs after last night is “Go with the flow.” I always liked it but realized it is more diverse musically than some of the others.  

My boyfriend back in 1994 gave me a non-descript bright blue album as a present. Little did I know that that album would be in my top 5 all-time records, and Weezer would cement themselves into rock god status in my life. I’ve seen Weezer over the years from them playing large festivals to arenas to a small stage at the Braves stadium and they always sound perfect. What I call garage or college rock, Weezer has a distinct sound that no one else can create and that sets them apart from some of the other 90’s bands, don’t get me wrong, I love most early 90’s bands! The underlying hum of the guitars, explosions of rock juxtaposing the smoothness or River’s voice, it all comes together completely. What I love about them live is they really play up the guitar and show their musical prowess, plus, visually, they always have their W front and center. If you’ve never seen them live, you must; it is an experience.  

We didn’t make it to liquid death’s activation, it is on our to do list for today. We’re excited about Dinosaur Jr, Billy Idol, and Foo Fighters today. It’s going to be hot, so wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water. 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 1

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/4/24

Photo by Roger Ho.

With acts like Weezer and Foo Fighters, this year’s Shaky Knees spoke to my Gen X heart. Here’s our day one recap with our favorite new bands, artist moments, and everything in between.

Something we’re highlighting this Shaky Knees beyond the stout 90’s band line-up are the new bands that we catch. The first one is Ax and the Hatchetmen, a young indie 7-piece out of Chicago with tons of energetic big band, funky, rocky, and beachy all rolled into one fun time. A great show! They had a wonderful artist moment, handing out water with a QR code to their newest song, “Flagstaff” that they performed live and came out yesterday! Another band that we hadn’t seen is and enjoyed is Late Night Drive Home out of Texas. The lead singer, Andre Patillo, came out with a red mak on that had frills at the bottom. They’re a blend of punk, rock, 90s with swelling choruses. We loved they sang Blur, “Song No. 2.”

Our favorite of the bands we know is Metric out of Canada. A band that played on 99x back in the day, and that I know probably 5 songs from was thoroughly enjoyable. Emily Haines, the lead singer, came out in a bright red shinny body suit. If you know Metric, they are heavy into electronic and keyboard, yet rock and 80s infused. Reminiscent of Garbage to me, “Help I’m Alive,” was the highlight for me. I hadn’t heard it live and it was my favorite of their music then and now.

We also caught Interpol and Arcade Fire, two bands I had not seen live. Arcade Fire puts on a spectacle of a show with tons of light and movement, and loved the horizon and sunset/sunrise visuals of the performance. Interpol had black and white on the big screens, they’re very controled yet upbeat rock and smooth lyrics all encased in a European rock sound.

It wouldn’t be a large music festival without festival polls, our favorite was the blown up stick of butter. Plus, we were blown away by the Doordash food court with some great Atlanta and regional restaurants like Hattie Bs. Today we are going to explore the most elaborate activation I’ve ever seen, Liquid Death. We will report back.

Who is ready for day 2? John and I are super excited for Sunny Day Real Estate today! We hope the Thunderstorms stay away.

This is just a snapshot of day 1. A full article and review of bands to come.

FINS UP WATER PARK OPENS FOR THE SUMMER SEASON – SATURDAY, MAY 4

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/1/24

Margarittaville at Lanier Islands

7650 Lanier Islands Pkwy., Buford, GA 30518

Fins Up Water Park, situated within Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, is gearing up to welcome the public as it opens its water park gates on Saturday, May 4. Nestled along the shores of Lake Lanier, this waterpark boasts 17 thrilling waterslides and aquatic attractions, catering toall age groups and levels of excitement.

Additionally, Fins Up Water Park is gearing up to reveal its latest attraction, the Apocalypso Waterslide Coaster, alongside three new slides tailored for younger thrill-seekers: Serpentine Storm, Dreamsicle Dive and Mango Mania.

The park, open from 11 a.m. to7 p.m., plans to open its doors seven days a week beginning May 23.

General admission water park tickets for ages seven and above can be purchased online for $59.99 plus tax per person,while children and senior tickets cost $44.99 plus tax per person. The 2024 Summer Fin Pass can be purchased online for $129.99 plus tax per person. Summer Fin Passes are valid only during the water park season and are non-refundable. Children three years and younger are free.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit:margaritavillelanierislands.connectngo.com/en/tag/admission-tickets

ATLANTIC STATION IS WARMING UP WITH MEMORABLE EVENTS THIS MAY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/1/24

Gather to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, March of Dimes, UniverSoul Circus,
OMG Food Festival and Much More!


May bursts onto the scene at Atlantic Station, ushering in the season of fun in the sun! With schools wrapping up and temperatures on the rise, there’s no better place to be this month. From vibrant festivals and events for a cause to engaging kid-friendly activities and outdoor wellness classes, Atlantic Station is a destination of fun for all ages. Get ready to make memories and soak up some sun in the Heart of Atlanta this May!

Atlantic Station’s May Calendar of Events includes:

Every Weekend: CREATOR’S MARKET
Located around Atlantic Green | Every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. | Every Sunday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Friday, May 3, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Creator’s Market is back, bringing unstoppable creativity to Atlantic Station, beginning Friday, May 3, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Shop locally and celebrate Atlanta’s artisans every Saturday (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sunday (12 p.m. to 7 p.m.) in May with festive art, jewelry, couture and more, all while supporting the makers of the South. Explore more details here.

Friday, May 3 through Saturday, May 4: SHOP FOR A CAUSE AT DILLARD’S
Located at Dillard’s | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Join Dillard’s for a truly special occasion—the Shop For A Cause event featuring exclusive Michael Kors Collection handbags! Not only can guests indulge in luxury, but they can also make a difference as 10% of purchases will be donated to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Personalize a Michael Kors treasure with complimentary monogramming and enjoy complimentary Sweet Stack ice cream; no purchase is necessary. Visit here to learn more about the event. 

Saturday, May 4: MARCH OF DIMES – MARCH FOR BABIES
Located on the Atlantic Green | 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Join Atlantic Station in supporting March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement™ and its bold new vision of uplifting communities and advocating for greater health equity! This more-than-just-a-walk opens the door for all moms to have access to vital care for their families. March for Babies will take place on the Atlantic Green, rain or shine. Visit here to learn more and register to become a part of the movement.

Saturday, May 4: TEQUILA FEST
Located at the Pinnacle Lot | 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
America’s ultimate day party experience for tequila lovers arrives at Atlantic Station’s Pinnacle Lot this May! Enjoy complimentary tequila beverages, BBQ chicken and jerk chicken this Cinco de Mayo weekend, plus dance to sounds curated by America’s top musical masters, keeping the good vibes rolling all night long. Visit here to secure a spot before tickets sell out.

Sunday, May 5: CELEBRATE CINCO DE MAYO WITH AZOTEA CANTINA
Located on the Atlantic Green | 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Azotea Cantina on the Atlantic Green at Atlantic Station! This festive affair will feature a mariachi band, face painting, giveaways and two food trucks, Tacos & Tequila and Fair on Wheels, serving up Mexican-style tacos and margaritas complemented by traditional fair favorites like funnel cakes and corn dogs. Keep the party going by visiting Azotea for house-made margaritas, live Latin sounds on the rooftop and exclusive deals. Visit here to learn more. 

Tuesday, May 7: TOT SPOT: SAFETY AT THE STATION
Located on the Atlantic Green | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
Tot Spot returns to Atlantic Station with lots of fun activities for little ones. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, its friendly canine teams and the Atlanta Fire Rescue will be on-site to teach kids important safety tips while they have a blast. Guests can also enjoy free crafts, pre-packaged snacks and more! This event is designed for children ages five and under and is free to attend. Be sure to stop by for a chance to enter a giveaway, snag a trooper hat or badge and possibly see a firetruck!

Every Wednesday: WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
Located on the Atlantic Green | Every Wednesday | 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Wellness Wednesday is back with new and exciting fitness classes on the Atlantic Green! Grab a workout buddy and get ready to enjoy FREE outdoor wellness classes each week. This season will offer a variety of workouts, from relaxing yoga to intense boot camps and self-defense. Click here for more information, plus sign up for the Vitality Passport to earn rewards for each Wellness Wednesday attended! 

Wednesday, May 8 – Yoga with Camrei Terrell
Wednesday, May 15 – Self-Defense with Coach Wadi 
Wednesday, May 22 – Pilates with Jharde Johnson 
Wednesday, May 29 – Royal Physique Bootcamp with Lah King

Saturday, May 11: OMG FOOD FESTIVAL
Located at the Pinnacle Lot | 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The world’s first hip-hop food festival makes its way to Atlantic Station. With delicious bites, games and the city’s best DJs and bands playing hip-hop, rap, R&B and old-school tunes, the festival will create an unforgettable experience at the Pinnacle Lot! Purchase tickets and learn more here.

Friday, May 17 through Sunday, June 2: UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS
Located at the Pinnacle Lot | Times Vary
Experience breathtaking acrobatics, thrilling motorcycle stunts and cultural dances as the UniverSoul Circus celebrates its 30th anniversary back in Atlanta and its first time at Atlantic Station with a family reunion extravaganza! Reimagined with over a dozen culturally diverse presentations, including a never-before-seen trapeze show and motorcycle flips mid-air, plus an enhanced state-of-the-art lighting and sound system – Circus Cousins from Around the World brings amazing entertainment and fun to the Heart of Atlanta. Purchase tickets here.