Atlanta Galleria Now

Galleria Chat: May 24, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of stories and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Perry Takes the Stage. Local Tyler Perry fans have lots to look forward to in early June. That’s when two plays by the movie comedy director and actor will visit the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Perry’s “Madea Gets a Job,” which chronicles his famous comedic character Madea as she works in a retirement home, will be performed at the center on June 6-7. “The Haves and Have Nots,” a comedy that details one family’s struggle to make ends meet, will be at the center on June 8-9.

Tickets can be purchased online or through Ticketmaster for $27. Those purchased through Ticketmaster will include additional fees.

The Blade Show. Area knife collectors will want to be at the Cobb Galleria Centre on June 8-10 for the Blade Show, which is billed by its organizers as the largest knife show in the world.

The show will feature seminars and displays from nearly 1,000 manufacturers and custom knifemakers. The event also will include competitions.

Tickets can be purchased on the show’s website. One-day tickets start at $15. An all-weekend, early-bird ticket is available for $25.

Small Business Expo.  Looking to learn successful small-business strategies and mingle with almost 400 other small-business owners? The Cobb Galleria Centre will be hosting the Atlanta Small Business and Entrepreneur Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 9.

Hosted by Jayvon Q. Bowens, CEO of Entourage Industries, the event will feature five guest speakers, an exhibit hall, raffles and door prizes.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.  

Sparkle and Hustle with Tory Johnson. “Good Morning America” contributor and New York Times bestselling author Tory Johnson brings her one-day “Sparkle and Hustle” seminar to the Cobb Galleria Centre on June 15. The event starts at 9 a.m. The seminar is geared toward women looking to start their own small business.

The event will include 10 speakers with successful businesses, remarks from Johnson and several networking opportunities.

An early-bird registration price of $77 is currently available. Regular registration is $97 per person. To purchase a ticket, visit the seminar’s website.

Galleria Chat: May 10, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of stories and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Paying Your Respects. Help honor those who sacrificed their lives for our nation by attending a Memorial Day ceremony at the 20^th Century Veterans Memorial in Smyrna. The memorial is located at 2800 King Street.

Seating will begin at 8 a.m., and the ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. In case of bad weather, the event will be held at the Smyrna Community Center in downtown Smyrna.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, is organized by the Smyrna Veterans Committee, an organization consisting of representatives from the Smyrna government, the Veterans Memorial Association of Smyrna and American Legion Post 160. For more information, visit the city of Smyrna website.

Jazz on the River. Local jazz aficionados will soon have a chance to listen to their favorite music while relaxing on the Chattachoochee River. Starting this month, nearby Ray’s on the River will host “Strings on the River,” a three-part jazz concert series to benefit local charities. The series will kickoff with a performance by the Ken Ford Symphony from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19.

“The Chattahoochee River is the perfect setting to enjoy an afternoon of live music and great food with friends and family,” said Mike Ross, director of operations for Ray’s Restaurants, in an 11Alive article.

Tickets for the Ken Ford show start at $45 per person. A VIP package, which includes admission, an autographed CD and a meet-and-greet after the show, is available for $55 per person. Tickets can be purchased here. Proceeds will benefit The Ken Ford Foundation.

Future concerts are scheduled for Saturday, June 9, and Saturday, July 21.

Yanni Live. Just in time for Mother’s Day, world-famous instrumentalist Yanni is bringing his act to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. He will be there for two nights: Sunday, May 13, and Monday, May 14. Both concerts start at 8 p.m..

Yanni will feature music off his latest album “Truth of Touch.”

Tickets start at $47.50 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster will include additional fees. For more information on Yanni, visit his website.

Songs and Stories. Country-music star Trace Adkins will visit the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday, May 17.

The “Songs & Stories Tour” promotes Adkins’ album “Proud To Be Here,” which was released last summer and features a mix of party anthems and tributes to his working-class background.

Adkins will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $39.75 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Those purchased through Ticketmaster will include additional fees.

Galleria Chat: April 27, 2012

Market Fresh. Skip the grocery lines and get your hands on some of the freshest fruits and vegetables in the area. From May 5 through September, the city of Smyrna will host the Smyrna Fresh Produce Market every Saturday in the parking lot of the Smyrna First Baptist Church, located at 1275 Church Street.

Market hours are from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information or to participate as a vendor, visit the city of Smyrna’s website.

Opera’s in Town. Local opera fans have something to look forward to this weekend. That’s because the Atlanta Opera’s production of “Don Giovanni” will be performed at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Additional performances of Mozart’s opera, which is sung in Italian and features English supertitles, will be held on Tuesday, May 1; Friday, May 4; and Sunday, May 6.

For more information about the opera or to purchase tickets, visit the Atlanta Opera’s website. Tickets may also be purchased through Ticketmaster; those purchased on Ticketmaster will include additional fees.

Franchising 101. Are you interested in becoming a franchisee? Then consider attending the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s “Franchising 101: What You Should Know Before Starting a Franchise” seminar from 10 a.m. to noon on May 10.

The seminar will feature Brian Annino of Annino Law Firm LLC, who will discuss the dos and don’ts of franchising.

General admission is $30. Chamber members can purchase tickets for $15 online and $20 at the door. Registration ends at noon on May 9. For more information or to register, visit the chamber’s website.

Circus in Town. The world’s largest shrine circus will be in Marietta this weekend through May 6.

Yaarab Shrine’s 2012 Circus features elephants, bears, show horses, high-flying trapeze artists, daredevil acts and more. The event also features carnival rides for the entire family.

The circus is located at Jim R. Miller Park on 2245 Callaway Road. Adult admission is $10; children 36 inches and under get in for free. 

The circus opens at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Additional information can be found on the Smyrna-Vinings Patch.

Photo Gallery: Memory Lane Jazz Ensemble Visits Food Truck Tuesday

Galleria workers attending Food Truck Tuesday on April 24 were treated to the big band sounds of the Memory Lane Jazz Ensemble.

Below are some photos of the show:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ensemble's playlist includes songs made famous by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 19-member ensemble includes alto, tenor and baritone saxophonists; trumpeters; trombonists; a bassist; a guitarist; a keyboardist; and a 92-year-old drummer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing the hour away: these Galleria employees got some noontime exercise by dancing to the big band sounds of the Memory Lane Jazz Ensemble.

Memory Lane Jazz Ensemble to Play at Atlanta Galleria Tomorrow

Those attending Tuesday’s food-truck lunch hour should come armed with more than just hearty appetites. They should bring their dancing shoes as well.

The Memory Lane Jazz Ensemble, which performs big band, jazz and swing music, will give a free concert in the Galleria Gardens tomorrow at noon. The 19-member group’s playlist includes songs made famous by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

The ensemble includes alto, tenor and baritone saxophonists; trumpeters; trombonists; a bassist; a guitarist; a keyboardist; and a 92-year-old drummer. The members are volunteers, some of who enjoyed professional music careers at one point. However, most of the musicians are simply continuing – or restarting – hobbies, says group leader Bobby Hudgins.

“I decided to join the group after 43 years of not touching my trombone,” he admits.

The Memory Lane Jazz Ensemble is part of the East Cobb New Horizons Band and also sponsors a scholarship program for promising young musicians. To find out more about the group, including information on future performances, visit its website.

Galleria chat: April 12, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of stories and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Country on a Saturday Night. Country music star Josh Turner will perform at the Cobb Galleria Performing Arts Centre this Saturday. Starting at 8 p.m., the show will feature opening act Craig Campbell.

With numerous No. 1 hits, Turner is one of the youngest artists to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

Concert information can be found on the centre’s website. Tickets start at $33.50 and can be purchased through the box office or Ticketmaster. Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster will include additional fees.  

Local Reads. Have a favorite book written by local authors Margaret Johnson-Hodge, Deborah Elizabeth Merriman, Narayan Sengupta, Diane Z. Shore or Patricia Sprinkle? You’ll have a chance to see them in person on April 15 at the Smyrna Public library as they discuss and autograph their books.

The event is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to everyone. The library is located at 100 Village Green Circle in Smyrna. For more information, visit the library’s website.

Read All About It. If you’re an animal lover and want to hear the latest on special events, volunteer opportunities and other animal-related news from Cobb County, sign up for the new e-mail newsletter from the county’s Animal Control Department.

To subscribe, visit the county website, click on the “News and Alerts” tab, enter your e-mail address and select the appropriate newsletter.

Joggers with a Cause. Those who like to pound the pavement early in the morning may be interested in the Jonquil City Jog on April 28, which will start at Smyrna’s City Hall.

The event actually a features a number of 5K races, each tailored to different age ranges and abilities. The races start at 8 a.m., and runners must arrive at City Hall by 7 a.m.

First-place winners will receive key lime pies, and all participants will receive commemorative ribbons.

Proceeds will go to the Campbell High School Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial and community support to the school’s students. Registration can be done online by April 26 at 6 p.m. To register or for more information, visit the event’s website.

Galleria Chat: March 22, 2012

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat provides a hearty helping of stories and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Home Sweet Home. Buying a home can be a daunting undertaking, especially in today’s tougher lending environment. If you’re looking for some help with this stressful process, the Real Estate Gallery of Georgia’s 2012 Georgia Home Show has got you covered. The show will be held in Galleria 600 on March 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to its session on homebuying, the show will feature presentations on “greening” your home, the latest design trends and building a real estate portfolio.

Registration is free, and attendees are welcome to bring their lunch. Dessert will be provided. To view the show agenda and register, visit the show page. For more information on The Real Estate Gallery, visit the firm’s website.

Speaking of Homes … Producers of a new NBC reality show called “Home Transformers” will be at the Atlanta Home Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre this weekend to look for contestants. The producers are looking for homebuilders, decorators and craftsmen.

The producers “are looking for contestants who can bring different skills and expertise to the table but still have one, big passion in common: creating a WOW factor,” according to a statement on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s The Buzz blog. “This competition series will feature amazing craftsmen who will rebuild and transform rundown homes across America into epic and unforgettable creations!”

The casting crew will be at the show from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. If you or someone you know is interested in being interviewed, email hometransformersatl@gmail.com in advance of the show. For more details, visit The Buzz.

Stop It in Its Tracks. Incidents of diabetes are spreading: 8.3 percent of the U.S. population now has the disease. Learn how to prevent diabetes or how to manage the disease if you already have it by attending “Focus Stop Diabetes,” a day-long expo to be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre on March 31.

The expo will feature healthy-cooking demonstrations, health screenings, exercise demonstrations and numerous seminars on diabetes-related topics. Both admission and parking are free. To view the agenda and register for the event, visit the expo website.

Celebrating Women. Friday evening brings the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s 27th Annual Tribute to Women of Achievement, which will honor women who have exhibited great leadership in the region.

A silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the awards dinner starts at 7 p.m.

Fifteen Cobb County women will be honored at the dinner. To purchase a ticket, visit the YMCA of Northwest Georgia’s website. You can also find the names of honorees on Smyrna-Vinings Patch.

Rockin’ with Daughtry. All work and no play makes for one dull week, so take a break from the routine on Tuesday evening by seeing the rock band Daughtry perform at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The show starts at 8 p.m. and features two opening acts: the pop group SafetySuit and singer-songwriter Mike Sanchez.

Daughtry, fronted by former “American Idol” contestant Chris Daughtry, is touring in support of “Break the Spell,” the band’s multi-platinum third album.

Tickets start at $32.50 and can be purchased at the box office or online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster will feature additional fees.   

What's Your Take: Favorite Movies (with video)

Sunday night is Oscar night, and we therefore have movies on our mind. This week, while Atlanta Galleria Office Park tenants were enjoying the weekly appearance of the lunch trucks, we chatted with some of them about their favorite all-time movies. As you'll see, their favorites run the gamut, from "Out of Africa" to "Bad Boys II."

Take a look at the clip below and then pipe up in the comments thread. What's your favorite movie of all-time?

Galleria Chat: Feb. 23, 2012

The Galleria Chat is a weekly feature that appears on this blog each Thursday. The Chat will provide you with a hearty helping of links to stories and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

• Letting Go. So, you’re ready to sell your small business. What are your options? You can find out by attending “Business Succession Plans for Small Businesses” a Cobb Chamber of Commerce educational session that will be held on Tuesday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attorney Dennis Summers of Taylor English Duma LLP will outline the differences between selling your firm to a strategic buyer, a private equity buyer and an employee stock ownership plan.

The registration deadline is Monday, March 12, at noon. Admission is $40 for the general public and $25 for Chamber members. Click here to register.

• Let Your Voice Be Heard. Bob Ott, commissioner of Cobb County’s District Two, which includes the Atlanta Galleria Office Park, will hold a town-hall meeting on Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. to provide an update on county projects in the area and to allow constituents a chance to discuss any issues they would like to raise. The meeting will be held at Vinings Estates, located at 655 Crescent Ridge Trail SE in Mableton.

• It’s Alive … and It’s Now on Stage. The stage version of Mel Brooks’ classic comedy “Young Frankenstein” will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre from Thursday, March 29 through Sunday, April 1. Winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for Best Musical, the play features songs – including “Transylvania Mania,” “He Vas My Boyfriend” and
“Puttin' on the Ritz” – written specifically for the stage.

For show times and ticket information, visit ticketmaster.com or call (800) 745-3000.

• Hitting the Road. With a sunny weekend apparently in store, it might be a good time to dust off the bicycle and get some exercise. Each Saturday at 10 a.m., the Atlanta Cycling store, located south of the Atlanta Galleria at 4335 Cobb Parkway, conducts a leisurely paced 22-mile ride around the Vinings area. The ride is free and lunch is provided afterwards. For more information, visit Smyrna-Vinings Patch.

• Crafts as Far as the Eye Can See. If you’re in the market for homemade jewelry, furniture or clothing, the American Craft Council Show will be the place to be. The show will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre from Friday, March 9, to Sunday, March 11, and will display the works of more than 225 crafters. One- and two-day passes can be purchased for $13 and $20, respectively, onsite. Discounted tickets also are available online.

Galleria Chat: Feb. 9, 2012

Today marks the debut of the Galleria Chat, a weekly feature that will appear on the blog each Thursday. The Chat will provide you with a hearty helping of links to stories and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

• Hungry, Anyone? The Cumberland area offers a lengthy menu of tasty options for Galleria workers looking to eat out for lunch, and the number of choices is set to grow. The Brooklyn Water Bagel Company, Pollo Tropical, Zoë’s Kitchen and Café at Pharr are all set to open in the area in the coming months. The Smyrna-Vinings Patch has the mouth-watering details.

• College Choices. The Black College Expo will be held at the Cobb Galleria from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 11. Tickets are $10 at the door and $8 online. For full details, visit the event’s website. 

• Local Dancer Set to Shine. If you’re going to see “The Princess and the Goblin” at the Cobb Energy Centre, keep your eyes peeled for a hometown goblin. Vinings resident Abi Tan-Gamino appears in the production, and The Smyrna-Vinings patch recently got a chance to speak with her about her role.

Of working with renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp, Tan-Gamino said, “On the first week we worked with her we were very nervous because we didn’t know what to expect from (Twyla). It ended up being really nice because she kept pushing us. She’s very pushy in a good way.”

• Scavenging for Love. Until Tuesday (which is Valentine’s Day, guys), Cumberland Mall is conducting a scavenger hunt in which shoppers have the chance to locate and scan QR codes hidden throughout the mall. Scanning the codes offers shoppers a chance to win mall gift cards and enters them in a sweepstakes whose grand prize is a six-night trip for two to Kauai, Hawaii. The Marietta Daily Journal has the full details.