Upcoming Atlanta Festivals in June

Coca-Cola Summer Films Festival

Enjoy several films on the biggest screen in the city at the Fabulous Fox Theatre from June 14 through July 20. The summer series features classics, blockbuster hits and old-fashioned sing-alongs with each event opening with a magical pre-show experience featuring Larry-Douglas Embury at the “Mighty Mo” organ and the tradition of a sing-along and a classic cartoon. The schedule of films for this summer is as follows:
June 14: Casablanca

June 15: The Godfather

June 22: TBA

June 24: The Sound of Music Sing-a-Long

July 13: TBA

July 14: Saturday Morning Cartoons

July 14: The Avengers

July 15: The Princess Bride

July 20: Deliverance

Single ticket prices range from $7.50 to $17.50.

More information is available on the website: http://www.foxtheatre.org/ccff2012/index.aspx

2nd Annual Can-a-Palooza: A Visual and Performing Arts Festival for ACFB at The Darlington Apartments

Experience this day-long visual and performing arts festival that benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank on June 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m at the Darlington Apartments. A completely free event and open to the community, everyone is welcome to enjoy food and music at the Darlington Apartments. There will be food trucks, a vendor mall and a silent auction featuring unique items. There will also be performances from some of Atlanta’s most talented artists. More information is available on the website: http://buckhead.patch.com/events/can-a-palooza-atl-music-and-arts-festival

Peachtree Hills Festival of the Arts- Celebrate Summer in Style!

Experience the lovely tree lined Peachtree Hills Avenue between Buckhead and Ansley Park neighborhoods on June 9-10 for free! From 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., visitors can enjoy a a summer weekend with 150 artists and artisans lining the festival route, plus a children’s area, gourmet foods and local acoustic music. The free event will include fine arts and crafts, a place for children to explore, Street Market and local food and beverage concessions, and plenty of parking and local sites. A 5K “Commissioner’s Run” on Saturday morning will also take place. More information is available on the website: http://peachtreehillsfestival.com/index.html

Highpoint Praise in the Park

This free “Praise in the Park” fair festival and gospel concert at Jim Miller State park will be held June 9 from 12 to 6 p.m. in Marietta, Ga. It will consist of carnival food vendors, pony rides, health and wellness Prevention, blood pressure checks, games and attractions for the entire family and much more. Praise 102.5 Radio announcer KD Bowe will MC a full gospel concert featuring singers Angelo and Veronica, Dawkins and Dawkins, Little Rev and Georgia Boyz, the Highpoint Christian Tabernacle and other inspirational artists. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. Free tickets can be picked up in person or downloaded online at highpointlive.org and/or at Highpoint Christian Tabernacle in Smyrna. More information is available on the website: http://www.highpointlive.org/

Jordana Klein is a rising sophomore playing collegiate tennis at the division 1 level. She is majoring in journalism and works as an editorial intern at New South Publishing in Atlanta, Ga.

Suwanee Named Third Best City to Raise Your Kids

 Suwanee, Ga., was ranked the third best city to raise your kids, according to a list compiled by Kiplinger. They first considered metropolitan areas that had high household incomes, low crime rates and high percentages of families with children younger than 18. The top 10 metro areas were then broken down to focus on specific cities with promising educational factors (such as the quality of local school districts, libraries and spending per student), as well as fun factors like public parks and playgrounds.

Suwanee, with a population of 15,355 and an average family income of $104,813, is known for its highly-regarded schools and low crime rate. GreatSchools.org, an education non-profit site, has rated every school in the district a 9 or 10 out of a possible 10, with metro-area spending per student at $6,008. This northern Georgia suburb has many benefits for kids, including four public playgrounds, Lake Lanier, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and of course PlayTown, a massive public park with a fountain called Big Splash. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder 40.3 percent of the families who live there have children.

If you’re in the area this summer, make sure you don’t miss the 2012 Suwanee SculpTour, which the city boasts is bigger and heavier than ever. The 15 public art pieces, created by 11 artists representing Georgia and five other states, can be seen in and around the town center until March 2013. Residents and visitors alike may vote for their favorite piece to be considered for purchase at the end of the exhibit as part of Suwanee's permanent public art collection. 

You can read more about the other cities who made the Top Ten Best Cities to Raise Your Kids at Kiplinger.com.

Jacqueline Frasca just received her B.A. in Writing, Literature and Publishing from Emerson College and works as an editorial intern at New South Publishing in Atlanta, Ga. 

Atlanta lakes experience boost in summer tourism

By: Jenna Moran

Atlanta's lakes are already experiencing a splash in business this summer. Marinas across the state are seeing an increase in gas sales and boat rentals. Thanks to lake levels finally rising and overcoming recent droughts, millions of tourists are expected to visit Lake Lanier, as well as lakes Acworth and Allatoona during the summer.

Atlanta's neighboring lakes are also experiencing a boost in tourism. Lakes Rabun and Burton, located 90 miles away in Rabun County, have become popular getaways for visitors looking to escape from the heat and traffic of Atlanta summers. According to www.georgiatrend.com, vacationers seem to be more at ease with the economy and with investing in a second home, since the home is viewed as an investment in the family as well as a monetary investment.

Here's an overview of some of Atlanta's nearby lakes, as well as their most popular summer tourist events.

Lake Lanier: 

Stretching almost 38,000 acres through Cumming, Buford and Gainesville, it's one of Georgia's largest lakes. Located along the shores is Lake Lanier Islands Resort, accommodated with restaurants, marinas, golf courses, swimming areas and campgrounds.

- Memorial Day weekend fireworks will be Sunday, May 27 at Sunset Cove/Big Beach. Food and live music will be available all weekend long.

- Saturdays during the summer, Lanier will be providing Dive-In Movies, where tourists can catch a poolside movie, at Wild Waves in Family Fun Park. For more information, click here.

Lake Allatoona: 

Located 30 miles from downtown Atlanta (near Cartersville), Allatoona boasts almost 7 million visitors each year. When full, the lake spans more than 12,000 acres. Plenty of campgrounds, restaurants, marinas and other boat related services are available along the shores. 

- Cauble Park, south side of the lake, will host a Fourth of July concert, with a fireworks display following at 9:30 p.m. For more information click here.

Lake Acworth:

The 260-acre lake is located just southwest of the city of Acworth and empties into Lake Allatoona. Spots like Acworth Beach and Cauble Park attract many visitors who have come to soak up the sun and enjoy the lakeside views of Acworth and Allatoona.
- Acworth's Love the Lake Concert Series begins Saturday, June 9 at Cauble Park. For more information, click here.

Lake Burton:
Nestled within the quaint town of Clayton in the North Georgia mountains, the 2,775-acre lake has captivated the attention of many Atlanta tourists for its scenic views and easy lifestyle. Along the shores, visitors can spend time at the marinas, restaurants, beaches, parks, golf courses or YMCA of Atlanta's Camp High Harbour.
- Fourth of July fireworks display will be held Saturday, June 30 at 9 p.m. from Billy Goat Island, the south side of the lake. Spectators can make boat reservations, or take out their own boats, to view the show from the water. 
- Tiger Drive-In movie theater is open Friday, May 25 through Sunday, May 27. For more information, click here.

Lake Rabun: 
Less than an hour south of Burton in the town of Lakemont, the lake spans 835 acres and is less than 90 miles away from Atlanta. Popular tourist areas along the lakefront include the historic Lake Rabun Hotel, established in 1922, and neighboring restaurant Louie's On the Lake. Surrounding the lake are also waterfalls, a “boat” church and hiking trails. 

- Fourth of July festivities take place Sunday, July 1 with the Wooden Boat Parade from 8 to 5 p.m. and a fireworks display at dusk. For more information click here.

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport Opens New International Terminal

Since 2008, the airport has been building the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal, which is scheduled to open on May 16, 2012.

The terminal is located off I-75, exit 239, on the east side of the airport and will include two parking structures with more than 3,500 spaces. A shuttle service will connect the new terminal with the existing domestic terminal, parking facilities and MARTA train service.

The new terminal boasts a 12-gate concourse, which will be known as Concourse F. Concourse F will connect to Concourse E, the existing international concourse, by an extension of the Plane Train to produce a 40-gate international travel gateway. The new terminal will ease the logistics of travel in many ways, like removing the baggage recheck process for Atlanta-bound international passengers. 

In addition to new terminal’s positive effect on Hartsfield’s day-to-day operations, it also promises to make traveling an enjoyable experience for those who pass through it.

Fifteen Fortune 500 Companies Call Georgia Home

By: Jenna Moran

The Peach State's capitol city boasts 13 Fortune 500 companies, making the state as a whole home to 15 Fortune 500 companies. The most recent addition to the list is Rock-Tenn, which has established headquarters in Norcross.

Atlanta Fortune 500 Companies

1. The Home Depot, Rank: 35

2. UPS, Rank: 52
3. The Coca-Cola Company, Rank: 59

4. Delta Air Lines, Rank: 83
5. Southern Company, Rank: 152

6. Genuine Parts, Rank: 214

7. First Data, Rank: 243

8. SunTrust Banks, Rank: 271

9. AGCO, Rank: 292

10. Coca-Cola Enterprises, Rank: 324

11. Newell Rubbermaid, Rank: 414
12. NCR, Rank: 447
13. Rock-Tenn, Rank 449

Georgia Fortune 500 companies:
Aflac, Rank: 128
Mohawk Industries, Rank: 432

Metro Atlanta Relocation Council Announces Scholarship Winners

From a pool of more than 30 applicants, on April 18 three students were awarded the Second Annual Metro Atlanta Relocation Council (MARC) scholarship for 2012. Emily Surratt, of Harrison High School; Eric Malaney, of Lambert High School; and Nine Brante, of Allatoona High School, won based on the criteria of academics, extra-curricular activities and an essay topic on the challenges of relocating to a new area and high school.

MARC is an organization made up of corporate and service industry professionals. The Board of Directors comprises professionals from Home Depot, Atlanta Fine Homes and Bank of America, among others. They meet to learn and educate each other about the most recent problems occurring during relocation and the most up-to-date relocation practices, so they can better serve those relocating to Atlanta. 

KNOWAtlanta Team Takes Part in Bus Tour

By Kate Jones

The KNOWAtlanta team recently went on a home bus tour around the city. Take a look at what they saw.

Sherry Gasaway and Chris Colwell, members of the KNOWAtlanta team, stand in front of a home under construction by Lennar at Herrington Cove. This neighborhood is located in Alpharetta. Prices for the homes range from $410,000 to $473,000. For more information, click here to locate the Lennar site.

Pictured is the clubhouse by Acadia Homes at Wellstone. This 55+ community is located in Cumming. For more information, click here to locate the Acadia Homes site. 

Estates at Big Creek by Lennar, in Cumming, Ga., features 4-6 bedroom homes starting from mid $200,000. Pictured is an outdoor fireplace. For more information, click here.

Other stops on the tour included communities by Ashton Woods Homes, The Providence Group, Home South Communities and Traton Homes.