Free Reunion Planning Workshop At DeKalb Technical College On November 13, 2010

Family Reunions are More Fun in DeKalb County

DeKalb Convention & Visitors Bureau (DCVB) will host a free Family Reunion Planning Workshop on Saturday Noivember 13, 2010 at the DeKalb Technical College to assist families in planning and organizing their reunions in DeKalb County.

DCVB offers a variety of free services to enhance family reunions, including providing free Welcome Bags for the entire family. Hotel Repesentatives and Vendors will be onsite to present their services.

The workshop will be held at DeKalb Technical College 495 North Indian Drive Clarkston, GA 30021.

The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required by calling (770) 492-5000.

Annual Indian Festival and Pow Wow Returns Next Weekend To Stone Mountain Park

Celebrate the history and heritage of Native Americans through interactive education and entertainment at Stone Mountain Park’s Indian Festival and Pow-Wow. Native Americans from across the United States gather to compete in dance and drum competitions from November 4-7, 2010.

Skill educators demonstrate fire making, basket weaving, hide tanning, cooking and more. Native American arts and crafts are available for purchase.

Find that one-of-a-kind holiday gift in the artists’ marketplace, where world-renowned Native American artists and crafters demonstrate their skills and offer items for purchase.

For more information, visit Stone Mountain Park.

Experience Christmas At Callanwolde - An Atlanta Tradition From December 1-12, 2010

From December 1 through 12 enjoy celebration, design and holiday splendor with the return of Christmas at Callanwolde, a 27-year Atlanta tradition.

You’ll be transported into a magical world the minute you enter the historic Gothic-Tudor mansion. Awaken your holiday memories of Christmases past and create new ones as you experience all that Christmas at Callanwolde has to offer.

Browse and enjoy the splendor of the Callanwolde mansion, elaborately decorated for the holidays to reflect this year’s Roaring 20's Christmas theme. Special events for families and children, and live entertainment throughout the day, will pull you into the magic of Christmas at Callanwolde!

For more information, visit Christmas at Callanwolde. 

Voltaire's Classic Candide Comes To Life At Georgia Perimeter College

Inspired by Voltaire's classic satire this legendary muscial features a sparkling score by the great Leonard Bernstein. Part sophisticated operetta, part wacky comedy, this funny, irreverent satire is the perfect musical expression of Voltaire's tongue-in-cheek send-up of optimistic philosophies

Fri - Sat October 29-30 and November 5-6 at 8 p.m. and Sun. November 7 at 3 p.m..

Marvin Cole Auditorium Fine Arts Building at Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston Campus.

For more information, visit Georgia Perimeter College.

New 2010 Highland Games Photos At Stone Mountain Park

A great time was held by all at this year's  Highland Games at Stone Mountain Park this past weekend. Access Atlanta has published a gallery of colorful images here. Also, check out our own photo gallery on our Website.

Center Theatre at the MJCCA Presents Hairspray From December 9 - 19, 2010

Center Theatre at the MJCCA will present the hit musical, Hairspray, directed by Dina Shadwell. Running from December 9 – 19, 2010, the production will take place in Center Theatre’s Morris and Rae Frank Theatre (located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody.)

Winner of multiple awards, including the 2003 Tony for Best Musical and the Lawrence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Hairspray sweeps us away to 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out – and change is in the air. Loveable plus-sized heroine, Tracy Turnblad, has a passion for dancing, and wins a spot on the local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show." Overnight she finds herself transformed from outsider to teen celebrity. Can a larger-than-life adolescent manage to vanquish the program's reigning princess, integrate the television show, and find true love (singing and dancing all the while, of course!) without mussing her hair?

 Based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, with book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. Hairspray is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

For more information, visit the Center Theatre.

Free Concert with Grammy-Winner Bassist John Clayton At Emory University On November 11, 2010

Grammy-winner and industry great, bassist John Clayton, performs in a free concert on November 11 at Emory University's Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Joining Clayton will be pianist Gary Motley, Emory University's Director of Jazz Studies, along with trumpeter Jason Covey, saxophonist Randy Hunter and drummer Justin Chesarek—artist affiliates with the Emory University Jazz Studies program. The ensemble will perform selections from the Clayton Brothers' CD "Brother to Brother" as well as other arrangements for the group by Motley.

Seven-time Grammy nominated bassist/composer/conductor John Clayton's talents are consistently requested by the movers and shakers in the jazz industry, such as Quincy Jones and Tommy Lipuma. John Clayton served as the Artistic Director of Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1999 through 2001. In addition, he is Artistic Director for the Centrum Jazz Workshop in Port Townsend, Washington and was also appointed Artistic Director for the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival in 2006. He is equally comfortable in jazz and classical music, and hits the mark, whether it is as composer, arranger, conductor, teacher, in addition to his magnificence when he plays his bass.

Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emory Concert Hall, 1700 North Decatur Road, Atlanta, 30322.
Call 404-727-5050 or visit Emory University for more information.

The Mall At Stonecrest Welcomes The 2010 Fall Fair At Stonecrest

Let the fun begin! The Mall at Stonecrest presents the Fall Fair at Stonecrest, Thursday, October 28th through Sunday, October 31st and Wednesday, November 3rd through Sunday, November 7th.

Celebrate the Fall season beginning October 28th with rides, games, food and family fun at the Mall at Stonecrest. The Fall Fair Gates open to the public on Thursday, October 28th at 5 p.m. and will feature more than twenty thrill rides that include the YoYo, Matterhorn (Himalaya), Cliff Hanger, Fireball, Bumper cars, Sizzler, Family Swing, Raiders, Tilt, Gravitron, Inverter, Power Surge, Mini-Indy, Ferris Wheel, Kiddie Land, Slide, Train, and Merry Go Round.

For more information, visit The Mall at Stonecrest.

It’s a Pirate’s Life for Families at Fernbank Museum’s Pirate Weekend

 © Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

Set sail for a swashbuckling adventure at Fernbank’s second annual Pirate Weekend November 6 -7, 2010. It’s time for some Yo-Ho-Ho and H2O during this special weekend inspired by Fernbank’s newest family-friendly exhibition Water: H2O=Life, which looks beneath the surface, above the clouds and all around the world on a hands-on exploration of the amazing power of water.

Whether you’re a matey or lass, don’t forget to wear your best pirate ensemble to avoid walking the plank as you enjoy a bounty of Pirate Weekend activities, on Saturday, November 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, November 7 from noon to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit Fernbank Museum of Natural History.

2010 Stone Mountain Highland Games Photo Gallery

DeKalb County had beautiful fall weather for the annual Stone Mountain Highland Games on October 16 & 17, 2010 at Stone Mountain Park. Scottish families from across the Southeast and those wishing to be "Scot for a Day" donned their colorful kilts for a weekend filled with bagpipes, sports, dancing, and fun.

Along with the traditional athletic games, Scottish country dancing and of course, the magnificent Parade of the Tartans, the festival also featured many highlights including new, musical acts.

Check out our new photo gallery of the 2010 Highland Games from this past weekend.

Condoleezza Rice To Appear At The Mall At Stonecrest On November 3, 2010

Condoleeza Rice, the 66th United States Secretary of State, will appear at the Mall at Stonecrest to sign copies of her memoir, "Extraordinary People: A Memoir of Family." 

The book signing will be held on Wednesday, November 3rd at noon. Everyone is invited to attend this special event.

Access the VIP meet and greet with your book purchase from Borders Stonecrest. Proof of purchase is required.

For more information, visit the Mall at Stonecrest.

The Mall at Stonecrest is located at 2929 Turner Hill Road, Lithonia, GA 30038.

Clarkston International Festival Showcases Diversity On October 23, 2010

The 2010 Clarkston International Festival will take place in downtown, Clarkston, Georgia (No. Indian Creek & Market St.) on Saturday, October 23rd from 10 am to 6 p.m. The festival will showcase all the diversity the city has to offer.

Festival Events Include

- Delicious Cultural Foods (Taste of Clarkston)
- World Class Entertainment
- The Burundian Drummers of Atlanta
- Health Screenings Courtesy of the Morehouse School of Medicine's Project Ahead
- Local Church Choirs
- Local D.J. and others
- Cultural Fashion Show
- Antique Car & Motorcycle Show
- Barbershop Corner
- KIDZ Corner
- Fire Truck Tour
- Loads of Prizes

For more information, visit Clarkston International Festival.

Candler Park Fall Fest Will Be The Creepiest Fall Fest Yet!

Noon-9 pm, Saturday, Oct. 23, and noon-8 pm, Sunday, Oct. 24

Highlights of this year's festival include

• Halloween festivities will be monstrous at this year’s Fall Fest. Costumes welcome. Trick-or-treating. A costume contest. And the Great Leaf Monster.

• Francine Reed, Atlanta’s most renowned jazz vocalist headlines 16 acts as part of a stellar music lineup.

• Preteen band My Homework Ate My Dog and Mr. Eric, the bestselling author of Pete the Cat, highlight children’s activities that are off the charts.The Kids’ Village features many free activities.

• A convoy of the finest food trucks in town — not the usual fair fare

• The annual Fall Fest 5k Road Race starts Saturday at 11 a.m.

• Candler Park Tour of Homes, Sunday, noon-6 pm, is a self-guided tour featuring eight homes ranging from brand new to 119 years old

• The Artists‘ Market includes nearly 100 booths.

The Festival will be held inside Candler Park, 1500 McLendon Avenue, Atlanta, Ga. 30307.  One half mile east of Little Five Points on McLendon Avenue.  Three blocks walk from Candler Park Marta station (East line).

For more information, visit Candler Park Fall Fest.

Dinosaur Sideshow Filled With Novelties And Activities At Fernbank Museum October 23-24, 2010

Fernbank Museum embraces the quirky atmosphere of carnivals and celebrates the world’s long fascination with dinosaurs with its Dinosaur Sideshow, a special programming weekend offered October 23-34, 2010. Featuring dinosaur illustrators, sculptors, authors and comic book publishers, Fernbank’s Dinosaur Sideshow reveals the many ways these prehistoric “real-life giants” have captured imaginations and shaped folklore.

Among the variety of programs, Fernbank’s Dinosaur Sideshow will entertain with dinosaur-related carnival games, photo opportunities, caricatures, activities, presentations and discussions that embrace the many incarnations of dinosaurs in pop culture. The event will also feature demonstrations on drawing and sculpting dinosaurs, dinosaur caricatures for purchase, and a trunk show of unique dinosaur merchandise available during this event only.

For more information, visit Fernbank Museum of Natural History. 

Eagles Live At The Green Concert In Piedmont Park Friday October 15, 2010

The Green Concert has been called Atlanta’s biggest event and will take place again this year in Piedmont Park this Friday, October 15, 2010.

This year’s headliners, The Eagles, have often been hailed as one of the greatest bands of the century through hits such as “Hotel California” and “Lyin Eyes.” They also hold the record for the best-selling album of all time in the U.S. for “Their Greatest Hits 71-75” which has been certified 29 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)

For ticket information, visit The Green Concert.