Category — It’s Expensive - Must Be Art

[What, precisely, are these Georgia Legislators celebrating?]

1. The New York Times has an article on Big Boi’s hip hop ballet.  We are in no way stating that Atlanta needs validation from the elite newspaper, even if we didn’t read the AJC’s coverage of the same topic.
2. Getting drunk.  Helping animals.  What are two things honkies definitely like?  The Critter Crawl is in Little 5 Points this weekend.
3. The AJC has the summary of this year’s state legislation.  Prepare to be underwhelmed.
4. Dan Radakovich is a glutton for punishment.  LSU has hired an athletic director that isn’t DRad.  GT Sports Blog with a nice get.
5. The Georgia baseball squad, at 9-3, has the best conference record in the SEC.  The Bulldogs swept South Carolina this weekend.  If you are in need of more prodigious coverage take a look over here.
6. Arts related jobs are way up in Atlanta according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.  Any guesses as to what percentage can be specifically attributed to the 47 movies/tv shows Tyler Perry shot last year?
7. Want to go the East Atlanta Beer Fest for free?  Volunteer here.

[An artist’s rendering of the new GSU dorms.]

1. Good to know that pointless transportation projects are still set to all systems go.  The Mag Lev train between Atlanta and Chattanooga is still on according to one Chattavegas paper.  Sorry Gwinnettians, nothing but traffic and teeth grinding for you.
2. According to the AJC, Billy Knight thrice attempted to fire Mike Woodson.  Way to keep family matters out of the street.
3. Rich Midtown denizens may want to turn away at this point.  AroundMidtown has some pictures of the Piedmont Park parking deck.
4. We have some sad restaurant closing news.  Snellville favorite Little Gardens is closing this Sunday.  For a long time it seemed as though this was the only restaurant in Gwinnett not called Chili’s.
5. Decatur Metro reports that a new bookstore called Blue Elephant is opening in the Decatur area.  But will they treat me as snarkily as the folks at A Capella do?
6. Georgia Sports Blog has the full Knowshon 2007 highlights.  Any guess as to the soundtrack?
7. While H&M struggles to get its first store launched in Atlanta, it announces plans for two more.  The Swedish retail chain plans on adding stores at Mall of Georgia and Town Center. (-7 Hip Points)
8. CL has info on the 2008 Atlanta Film Festival.
9. GSU is adding more student housing.  Atlanta Business Chronicle with the straight dope.  This round includes fraternity houses.  They will regret this decision in 5, 4……

[When you say “Omaha” this is what pops into our heads.]

1. Braves and Birds talks about the Mike Bibby trade. This is the best analysis we have seen on the deal. Of course, you don’t typically get a lot of in depth coverage of the 9th best team in the Eastern Conference.
2. The AJC has a good op-ed on the possible destruction of the Buckhead Library. The razing of a postmodern landmark will make the entire city look like philistines.
3. One of the CL quasi-blogs visited new restaurant The Depot on Memorial Drive. The restaurant, which resides in an old train depot, is run by the same people who own Vickery’s. We are planning on visiting this place very soon.
4. Georgia Sports Blog points out that UGA has made the College World Series in each of the last two even numbered years. We’re sold. Where can we pick up our tickets to Omaha?
5. The Coathangers and the Selmanaires are playing the Earl. C&T with a little bit extra.

[One of the world’s greatest debates is finally resolved.]

1. Drive A Faster Car talks about the Atlanta comic scene. Now if we could only get our our Punisher War Journal #6, our copy of “Fletch” and the remote control to our TV.
2. Georgia Sports Blog says that recruiting is done for Georgia. Omar Hunter, we’ll send you a pictures from next year’s BCS Championship Game.
3. We are showing more love to the suburbs. This time its Duluth using big box restrictions to thwart Walmart.

So what if symphony themed headline jokes aren’t all that funny.

A quick perusal of the Atlanta Symphony Center’s website shows that the last update to the News & Updates was in June of 2006. At this pace the center should be done about 45 minutes before the earth is destroyed by the Vogons to make way for an intergalactic highway (all nerd humor all day).

Last April the AJC profiled the new Nashville Symphony Center and said that “the Atlanta Symphony’s dream of a new concert hall is at least $200 million and a decade or more from reality.” It appears that Atlanta is more of a idea guy, a muse, but is completely unable to generate any momentum towards the completion of a project (see: Beltline).

Here are some pictures of other work done by center designer Santiago Calatrava .

If you want see his architecture I recommend using those Delta Northwest United skymiles while you can, because I don’t think his work will be gracing our fair city any time soon.