Celebrity activists offer the cure for what ails us

Sister appeals to death penalty supporters to avert execution

Georgia’s new security and immigration law kicks in

The Marine dropped to one knee and presented the folded flag to my mother...

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced his departure...

Almost 40 years ago, Dr. Laurence J. Peter collaborated with Raymond Hull...

No margarita mustache required

Kirk Waisner is the vice president of menu development at Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits...

Taking the “tini” out of sake cocktails

The first thing I felt when I heard I was going to have a C-section was vindication...

A look ahead at the impending theater season

The blueprint seems simple...

Reclaiming the debris of America’s appetite for consumption

We love a parade

I barely slept...

The Sunday Paper gives the presidential seal of approval to Arkansas

Happy continued hunting!

The FDA just approved a new birth control pill that stops a woman's period. Are there health risks associated with suppressing the normal menstruation process?

Tamarind sprouts anew with savory, satiating fare

Former Brave J.D. Drew finds what he’s looking for

Can America regain dominance over men’s tennis?

16-year-old Candace West scores a gig with the Silverbacks

The Buckhead Village has passed out like a one-night stand. But what will it look like in the morning?

Atlanta to get two single-sex public schools this fall

No Access
Georgia ranks 42 in nation for health care
By Colby Dunn

Authenticity vs. hypocrisy
By Mark Douglas

There are two conversations that are utterly wasting the time and energy of the American people...

Iran vs. Porn
By Eric Von Haessler

Grade inflation
By Bob Zaslavsky

Special Events

Hawks look to avoid past mistakes in ’07 draft

Bearing witness
‘Unembedded’ captures life in war-torn Iraq
BY NATALIE BENNETT

There are two sides to every story, as the saying goes. But for many stories, there are far more. The national touring exhibit “Unembedded: Four Independent Photojournalists on the War in Iraq,” based on the book of the same name, goes beyond the newspaper headlines and the political spin from both parties to capture the horror, the destruction and the day-to-day life of modern-day Iraq as seen by photographers Kael Alford, Thorne Anderson, Rita Leistner and Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. The Sunday Paper recently caught up with Alford—who gives a presentation entitled “State of War, State of Grace,” at the Atlanta Photography Group Gallery at noon on Saturday, June 30—to get her side of the story.

Sky painting
A pyro artist brings the works to the Fourth of July in Atlanta

Fireworks are almost as American as apple pie and baseball. In fact, these eye candy explosives are usually the backdrop to major league baseball games—a theatrical end to the drama played out on the diamond. Hi-TechFx pyrotechnician and fireworks artist Brian Panther recently designed the works for the NCAA Final Four in Atlanta. His work will once again grace the city’s sky with a display on the Fourth of July at Centennial Park. The Sunday Paper recently spoke to Panther about his unusual career—one that has him traveling to locations as far afield as Hong Kong. An occupational hazard? He can’t listen to a song without designing fireworks for it.

Radar

Would you like fries with that?

The Atlanta Botanical Garden was abuzz with excitement last Sunday as it celebrated Father’s Day with the aptly titled event “Bluegrass and Big Bugs.” There were plenty of activities for the whole family, including lawn games, a “hissing cockroach petting zoo” (um … OK), arts and crafts and something called a “Bugathlon.”

SUN 24
MAKE A SPLASH: Georgia native and New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant’s BAYOU BLING celebrity weekend fundraiser winds up today with a CELEBRITY POOL PARTY at the W Hotel at Perimeter Center at 3 p.m., and a MARDI GRAS SUNDAY BASH later tonight at the Velvet Room. Proceeds benefit at-risk inner-city youth in New Orleans, Atlanta and Grant’s hometown of Colquitt, Ga. For more information: www.edge3m.com.

A little help from my friends
By Caren West

After writing last week’s column about my father and our mutual appreciation of the “Wonder Years,” I couldn’t get the Beatles song “With a Little Help From My Friends” out of my head. As a result, I’ve been thinking a lot about my friends lately. I have a number of tried and true friends, the kind that will take you to the airport at the crack of dawn or help you move and barely complain. And because of my chosen profession in public relations (or maybe it chose me), I’ve had the good fortune to meet all kinds of characters, from Tony Bennett to Tony Hawk, while racking up a large number of fantastic acquaintances. I consider myself pretty damn lucky most days, even when I have a song stuck in my head for almost a week.

Cusack point blank
The ‘1408’ star on Stephen King, the supernatural and the F-word
BY BERT OSBORNE

John Cusack's new movie “1408” isn't exactly a one-man show, but he does spend a majority of his time holed up by himself in a creepy hotel room, reacting to a lot of computer-generated special effects. Based on a Stephen King short story, the film casts Cusack (“Say Anything,” “The Grifters,” “Being John Malkovich,” “High Fidelity”) as the skeptical author of several books about presumably haunted digs, who learns the hard way to believe in the supernatural. Cusack, who turns 41 this week, discusses the movie during a recent interview in Los Angeles.

Serious lounging
The Sunday Paper takes a siesta in Grand Cayman
By Susan L. Meyers

A letter to Micah
By Lisa Baron

To my new baby—I need you to know that I started watching out for you from the moment I saw the little pink line on my e.p.t. home pregnancy test.

Bling brothers, cougars and Betties: Your field guide to Atlanta’s dating scene
By Blane Bachelor

From Buckhead to Virginia Highland, Atlanta’s rolling hills teem with various species of singles. But if you’re new to town—summer is the height of moving season, after all—it can be difficult to classify them in the wild. So I’ve created a handy guide to the most prominent creatures in Atlanta’s dating environs. Learn about their habits and habitats, and you just might snag one of these fine specimens.

MEDICAL EDGE FROM MAYO CLINIC
NEW MOM REPORTS DIVERSE SYMPTOMS

Q. I had a baby seven months ago and suffer from postpartum depression, so I’m on an antidepressant. I have other symptoms, as well. I breastfed my son for only three weeks, yet at the moment I have nipple pain. Also, my lymph nodes under my arms are sore and I have a pain in my uterus. Can you please give me an idea of what all this is about, or is it just my body going back to normal?

Courage under fire
Suspenseful drama sports a low-key ‘Heart’
BY STEVE WARREN

“A Mighty Heart” has a couple of things working against it. If you’ve seen “Missing” and “Harrison’s Flowers,” you may feel you’ve seen it all before. And as is common with authorized retellings of recent history, certain people are portrayed as almost too saintly to be believed. Angelina Jolie’s Mariane Pearl is the kind of person we all like to think we’d be under similar circumstances, harboring no hatred for any nationality or religion for what happens to her family.

Umphrey’s McGee
“The Bottom Half”
(Sci Fidelity)

Spilling Rosa Mexicano’s Secrets
By Hope S. Philbrick

There’s rice in them thar hills

More than a decent backup
The future’s bright for star prospect Saltalamacchia
BY MICHAEL MAHAN

You’d think catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia would be feeling the pressure. After all, there are a lot of expectations for the 22-year-old Atlanta Braves rookie to live up to. He’s in the middle of his first full season in the major leagues. His team’s in the middle of a pennant race. Oh, and the Braves already have an all-star catcher in teammate Brian McCann.

Stark raving mad
New book tries too hard to slam Andruw
BY ADAM KROHN

ESPN senior baseball writer Jayson Stark's book "The Stark Truth: The Most Overrated and Underrated Players in Baseball History" hit bookstores earlier this month, and he couldn’t resist writing something inflammatory to stir up sales. In the book, Stark dubs some of the game's greatest athletes—including Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, Reggie Jackson and Lou Brock—as among the most overrated players of all time.

Go fish: Salmon

With summer in full-throttle, it’s time to look to the ocean for a bounty of heat-quenching options, in particular, fresh water salmon. Besides being rich in omega-3, this fish pairs with almost any sauce or vegetable and is an ideal companion to white wines. And when it comes to avoiding super size meals, salmon has a light touch, but still packs a wallop of flavor.

Festivals and Happenings

2007 Summer Shake
The Snake Nation Social Club hosts this party to benefit the Atlanta History Center’s education outreach program. Features live music by the Whigs. Tickets $75 in advance and $90 at the door. 7 p.m. Fri. June 22 on the lawn of the Swan House at the Atlanta History Center. 404-814-4016. www.atlantahistorycenter.com.

Bluegrass & Big Bugs
The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s fifth annual Father’s Day festival, featuring crafts, old-fashioned games, bluegrass music and more, surrounded by David Rogers’ “Big Bugs & Killer Plants” exhibit. Noon Sun. June 17 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. 404-876-5859. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

THIS WEEK'S GRUMBLES

Click Image for Larger Version


Grumbles Archives

Chocolate, beer and mojitoritas, oh my!

Hedonists, take note: Indulge for a cause on June 21 for the seventh annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fundraiser. This year the theme is—drum roll—chocolate. That’s right, you are powerless. You cannot resist. Especially under the spell of Chef Ron Eyster of Food 101, who, along with many of Atlanta’s finest pastry chefs, will provide tastings of the serotonin-releasing substance, legal in all 50 states. Sip chocolate martinis, chocolate lager and chocolate espresso before indulging yet again—this time in a full dinner buffet. Savage chocolate beasts should be soothed by musical entertainment from Joanne and e’MuRj and the Jeni Michelson Trio. The event also features a live auction, a cash bar and free valet parking. The cost is $65 in advance and $75 at the door. All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For more information, call 404-325-6973 or visit www.chocolateforcf.org.

Genarlow Wilson’s Reversal of Fortune
By Maynard Eaton

After a whirlwind week of emotional upheaval, Genarlow Wilson—the ill-fated former Atlanta high school student whose 2005 conviction and 10-year prison sentence at age 17 for engaging in consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old has garnered him national attention—cannot be considered for release until a July 5 bond hearing before Douglas County Superior Court Judge David T. Emerson.

Get Sorbonnized
By Bob Zaslavsky

Farewell, Tony Blair. Bienvenu, Nicolas Sarkozy.

The United States may have a new lapdog in Europe, and in the most surprising of places—France. Newly elected President Sarkozy recently announced plans to reform French education, beginning

More is better
By Stephanie Ramage
Last week, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, writing about a May 24 Muslim funeral procession in Iraq that was attacked by a suicide bomber, ventured that “bin Ladenism”—anti-American violence fueled by religious idealism—is dead.

Paris Envy
By Eric Von Haessler

Watching the ballad of Paris Hilton play out over the past few weeks has been a blast, no doubt. Her fairy-tale world wrecked on the hard rocks of reality—all televised and commented upon in real time, every moment judged from a professional peanut gallery chock-full of pundits who can’t really know why the hell they are there, or what the hell they’re really talking about.

Is it possible to separate who you are from what you do?
Mark Douglas

In what some would construe as an attempt to court liberal favor, President Bush has taken yet another swipe at Christians by nominating James Holsinger as surgeon general.

Fighting over the Winecoff
Legal battle continues over fate of notorious downtown hotel
By Josh Clark

Traffic ticket trauma
Sunday Paper column and letters result in audit for Atlanta city court
By Stephanie Ramage

Sunday + 6

SUN 17
HANG WITH SOME REAL MEN: Sample up to 150 dishes, enjoy live music and rub elbows with a cornucopia of celebrities at REAL MEN COOK FOR CHARITY 2007 this afternoon at the Foundry at Puritan Mill. This annual Father's Day event celebrates the importance of fathers and family, with more than 100 "real men" dishing out delicious fare. Luminaries include KYLE MASSEY (“That’s So Raven,” “Cory in the House”), his brother CHRIS MASSEY (“Zoey 101”), MYRA J of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, WSB-TV’s JOVITA MOORE, ANDREW YOUNG, Congressman JOHN LEWIS and countless others. Proceeds benefit the Grass Roots Institute, Real Men Charities, the Lupus Foundation of America Georgia Chapter an the Giving Tree Adoption Resource Agency. 404-344-8496. www.realmencook.com. this afternoon at the Foundry at Puritan Mill. This annual Father’s Day event celebrates the importance of fathers and family, with more than 100 “real men” dishing out delicious dishes. Luminaries include

What would you think if I sang out of tune?
By Caren West

My father and I used to religiously watch the “Wonder Years” together. To this day, I’m convinced that it’s one of the all-time greatest television series ever created. I’m a complete sucker for shows that center on the rites of passage—the internal struggles that the Kevin Arnolds and Winnie Coppers in all of us endured as we became adults. And although I love that show, what I truly cherish are the times that I got to hunker down on the couch and hang out with my dad, who also taught me to love the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Slam dunk
Chris Jackson takes an unlikely path to football success
BY EARLE MCDONALD

Chris Jackson’s is not the typical story of a football player dedicating his life to the game from an early age.

It’s that time of year when restless children are shipped off to a variety of camps...

Summer on the Southside
By Jason Tesauro and Phineas Mollod

“[T]he waiter brought Fallow a vodka Southside, and … complaining … about the condition of the mint, he drank it and ordered another. He could remember nothing … his whole body felt sore. [Awakened early the next morning], he crawled across the carpet to the exploding telephone and lay down beside it.”

Get a clue: ‘Nancy Drew’ strictly for the kids

A cheaply-made franchise wannabe, “Nancy Drew” would be a better fit for television, where the popularity of the mystery series (do girls still read them?) would make it a viable pilot. Emma Roberts, daughter of Eric and niece of Julia, plays the eponymous girl detective, who starts by catching two burglars robbing her church, negotiating their surrender with the D.A. and exiting via the roof for no reason but to trigger a tepid action scene.

Wilco
“Sky Blue Sky”
(Nonesuch)
This isn’t what was expected. Wilco added guitar whiz Nels Cline (whose collaborators include Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins) and their sound got quieter, more conventional. “Sky Blue Sky” features plenty of short outbursts for Cline to shine—the solos climaxing “Impossible Germany” and “Side With the Seeds,” for example—but the overall sound of studio album No. 6 is that of a modest alt-country band settling into a laid-back lite-FM, soft-rock, someone-pass-the-Bread phase.

Steve almighty
Steve Carell on ‘Evan,’ ‘The Office’ and his meteoric career
BY BERT OSBORNE

Steve Carell has come a very long way in the four short years since his breakout bit as newscaster Evan Baxter in the 2003 Jim Carrey comedy “Bruce Almighty.” Supporting parts quickly followed in a trio of movies with friend Will Ferrell—“Anchorman,” “Melinda and Melinda,” “Bewitched”—before Carell made a true name for himself in 2005, with the debut of his hit TV sitcom “The Office” and the title role in the big-screen sleeper “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” To top things off, last year’s “Little Miss Sunshine” brought him some serious “indie cred.” He recently wrapped the romantic comedy “Dan in Real Life” opposite Juliette Binoche, and he’s currently shooting a film version of the satirical ’60s series “Get Smart!”

Myth-understanding
‘Camelot’ causes some critical soul-searching
BY BERT OSBORNE

One need only walk into Aurora Theatre’s fabulous new Lawrenceville facility to realize that Anthony Rodriguez and Ann-Carol Pence—producing artistic director and associate producer, respectively—are obviously doing something right. OK, so maybe I haven’t felt that every Aurora show lives up to the troupe’s self-proclaimed title as “Gwinnett’s first choice for professional theatrical entertainment.” But imagine my surprise: No sooner was Aurora opening the doors to its brand new theater than they were being shut on me and the readers of the Sunday Paper.

Nothin’ but net

Who needs to drive all the way out to the nearest beach? Locals got more than their share of sun, sand and toned bodies last weekend as the AVP Crocs Tour Atlanta Open brought professional volleyball action to Atlantic Station. Among the highlights: Former Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh (left) shared a borderline Cinemax moment after defeating Tyra Turner and Rachel Wacholder in the women’s finals for their seventh straight title. And the Atlanta skyline (right) made a gorgeous backdrop, abetted by a largely cloudless sky.

The artisanal life
The Sunday Paper goes truffle-hunting in Umbria, Italy
By Hope S. Philbrick

Do you feel lucky, punk—well, do ya?
An ode to a badass
By Blane Bachelor

My dad is an aeronautical engineer. His favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla, and black pepper is about the height of spice he can stand. I constantly admonish him for wearing his cell phone on one of those heinous belt clips. Needless to say, I never thought I’d see the day when I’d describe him as a badass.

Another good reason to exercise

Q. I understand that exercise raises the level of HDL in the blood. Can you explain how this happens? I haven’t been able to find the answer anywhere.

KRS No. 1
Kevin Rathbun’s Steak stakes its claim
By Suzanne Wright

And then there were three: three great restaurants under the creative stewardship of Atlanta’s favorite adopted chef, Kevin Rathbun, that is.

In season: Peaches

Take your strawberries, your rhubarbs, your blueberries and your watermelon. When it comes to nature’s bounty, we’ll take a perfectly ripe peach—the kind that when you bite into it, releases a volcano’s worth of juices down your chin and hands, making you feel like a sticky, dirty-faced little rugrat. And you don’t give a damn because they’re that good. In fact, it’s about the only time of the year that you’ll catch us humming, “Really love your peaches, want to shake your tree.” Here’s where you can get your peach fix.

A Force to be reckoned with
Blank’s other franchise is showing up the Dirty Birds
BY ADAM KROHN

Brace yourselves, sports fans, because believe it or not, Atlanta has a team with a sure shot at bringing home a football championship. They’ve clinched their division, own the second-best record in the league and have perhaps the league’s most accurate quarterback, with a QB rating of 133.8.

Second shot
Braves’ Peter Moylan finally gets a chance to shine
BY JASON CHATRAW

Last season, Braves reliever Peter Moylan wasn't inviting anyone to watch him pitch. What with being bounced back and forth between the major and minor leagues, he’d practically racked up enough frequent-flier miles for a free flight home to Australia. So he could be excused for not rushing to invite his father to jump on a 17-hour flight to maybe see him play.

By Julie Douglas

Concentration of a Ritalin-deprived tweenager? Check. Copious searches for cheap airfare to St. Thomas? Check. Though the summer solstice is still a couple of weeks away, hot weather is settling in and Atlanta is stripping down, tempting us to pull out the pool gear and get out the road maps. We’ve rounded up a few essential items—from footwear that’ll take off the pounds to Summer of Love dresses—for you to stuff your beach bag with. Just don’t forget the sunscreen.

Sour grapes
Georgia’s wine fracas set to continue next legislative session
By Mark Woolsey

Prying eyes
Atlanta hospitals brace against camera phone privacy invasion
By Diane Loupe

Lost
A man who can’t talk goes missing at Hartsfield and here’s what happens…
By Josh Clark

The July 4th weekend is coming up, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is preparing for one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Most passengers will be capable of keeping up with their luggage and boarding the correct flight when their row is called. But for some passengers with special needs this is an impossibility. For these passengers, airlines and the airport itself offer services to help them make the right flight, get to baggage claim and meet the family members or friends who come to pick them up. But, as one family recently found out, when the system designed to keep passengers with special needs safe on their journeys fails, it fails spectacularly.

A cashier returns to Afghanistan
By Stephanie Ramage

Last summer, standing in line at the grocery store, I noticed my cashier’s name and asked where she was from. “Afghanistan,” she said, quietly enough that the next customer in line couldn’t hear.

Only in America
By Bob Zaslavsky

Those with Earmarks, Let Them Hear
By Mark DouglasIf you ran an organization that emphasized long-term benefits and if the difference between you and your competitors was based on your reputation, keeping in mind that you could use some fresh income to do some good things—would you risk that valuable reputation if it was to your immediate financial advantage to do so?

We fight, so they don’t have to
By Eric Von Haessler

Step right up, folks, and help yourself to the latest example of America-bashing on the world stage. The newest international study to condemn the United States is a doozie. Not only is it wrong, but it also reveals the distorted priorities and the level of delusion that inform the thinking of peaceniks worldwide.

Good news on tap
By Caren West

After a day of back-to-back client meetings, I slipped into Estoria 97 for a quick bite and to put down my thoughts while everything was still fresh in my mind. As I feverishly jotted down notes and million dollar ideas over a $5 quesadilla, I kept losing my focus thanks to the television hanging over the bar. CNN was on and every time I glanced away from my notebook, I caught another distracting headline out of the corner of my eye. Here are a few of the more notable news items:

Cattle call
For veteran actors and newcomers alike, the Unified Auditions offer a chance to show their stuff
BY BERT OSBORNE

What do you get when you take nearly 200 local actors, plus casting representatives from some 50 area theaters, and then mix them together over the course of two days at the 14th Street Playhouse? It’s no joke. It’s the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts’ (ACPA) eighth annual Unified General Auditions, and it’s fairly serious business.

Oceans apart
Lack of camaraderie stacks the odds against "Thirteen"
BY STEVE WARREN

It’s not easy to schedule a bunch of big-time movie stars to work together. George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon are as hot as ever. Don Cheadle has moved up to the A-list since the “Ocean’s” series started, and Bernie Mac had a hit TV show. The logical solution for "Ocean's Thirteen" is to put all these busy actors in the same story, but limit their scenes as a group.

Hip-flipping dining and Dad’s day out
By Julie Douglas

If you’re making plans for Father’s Day—the one day where Pop has bragging rights to your existence, even if it wasn’t nearly as dramatic a contribution as Mom’s—show your appreciation and steer clear of the rote offerings by checking out Atlanta Botanical Garden’s “Bluegrass & Big Bugs.” On June 17, Dads enjoy half-price admission, games for the kids, arts and crafts and, of course, music. But what’s on the culinary front? Fried bugs. Yes, really. Insect chef Ryan Cobb prepares protein like chocolate-covered crickets in a cooking demonstration. Pair this with the carnivorous “Killer Plants” on exhibit, and kids should be sufficiently smitten—enough so that fathers can relax and listen to the Greater Atlanta Bluegrass band. For more information, call 404-876-5859 or visit www.atlantabotancialgarden.org.

In the club
Atlanta Shakespeare's 'Cabaret' delivers a real kick
BY BERT OSBORNE

Who knew Ellen McQueen could play the bass? Or Lala Cochran the violin, Bethany Irby the keyboards or Jeffrey Watkins the clarinet and the sax? All of these established local actors crop up in Atlanta Shakespeare’s largely enlivened production of “Cabaret,” the dark Kander and Ebb musical set in the bohemian underworld of 1930s Berlin. What you may not notice right away is how, when they aren’t playing their roles onstage, several of the cast members take turns changing costumes, slipping into the orchestra loft and picking up an instrument. In the show-show, for instance, McQueen portrays the lonely, frumpy boarding-house owner Frau Schneider. But the next thing you know, she’s in a sleek black wig and dress, with one of those fancy cigarette holders in her mouth, plucking away on a bass. Cool.

Festivals and Happenings



AVP Crocs Tour 2007
The pro beach volleyball tour returns to Atlanta. Through June10 at Atlantic Station. For more information, visit www.avp.com.

Findley Art Fair
Artist's market, farmer's market, live outdoor music and special contests for dogs. Little Five Points retailers and specialty boutiques feature special sales promotions. Sat. May 19 at Findley Plaza. 404-230-2884. www.littlefivepoints.net.

HOW Design Conference
Conference for graphic designers with workshops, free technology training, a design resource center and more. June 10-13 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. To register, visit www.howconference.com.

Sunday, June 10


Chicago and America
7:30 p.m. at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. 404-249-6400. www.livenation.com.

Cowboy Envy
5:30 p.m. at Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com.

Dunch with Greg Connors
1 p.m. at the EARL. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com.

Fat City Wildcats
9 p.m. at Northside Tavern. 404-874-8745. www.northsidetavern.com.

Jeff Spirko
9:30 p.m. at Limerick Junction. 404-874-7147. www.limerickjunction.com.

Rich Bicknell & the Shameless Lovers, Blake Rainey & His Demons
8 p.m. at Smith's Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com.

Rose Polenzani, Danielle Howle, The Near Misses
8:30 p.m. at Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com

Radar

Yep, it's official …
School's out, the temperature's getting higher, the Virginia-Highland neighborhood throws its annual Summerfest—it's summertime, all right. At least it sure felt that way to Hope Linder (above left), who got her playground on during last weekend's two-day blowout. The throngs who milled about the giant street party's various vendor tents (center)—and grooved to the music of Marc Broussard, Tyrone Wells, Drivin' N' Cryin' and (above right) Pasadena—got into the seasonal spirit, as well. Guess it's time to break out the old Sunday Paper Speedo. Or not.

Sunday + 6

SUN 10
A SOFTSATIONAL EVENING: If, like us, you sat through both hours of VH-1's recent "40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs" special, you're probably already in line for tonight's concert by smooth '70s stalwarts CHICAGO AND AMERICA at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Expect a roster of old-school favorites from these towering titans of mellow music. 404-249-6400. www.livenation.com.

Rush
"Snakes and Arrows"
(Atlantic)
Worshipped and ridiculed for their concept albums, mocked and emulated for their virtuoso musicianship, Rush have played out their lengthy career without compromise—to their audience’s undying pleasure and many critics' discontent. Sure, they dabbled with synthesizers in the '80s, drummer Neil Peart's lyrics often read as if they’ve been directly lifted from a clinical psychology textbook and singer Geddy Lee used to shriek in an upper register that made for some tough listening. And Bob Dylan never made any tactical errors?

Waterfront property
The Sunday Paper heads to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast
By Hope S. Philbrick

War and marriage: A reality not-made-for-T.V.
By Blane Bachelor

“The Bachelor” is one of television’s most nauseating reality shows, what with so many cat-fighting bimbos blubbering their love for the lucky man-whore—all within an hour of meeting him. I always try to resist watching, but every season I get sucked into the sheer ridiculousness. This time around, however, I got hooked for another reason: The fact that Ken-doll look-alike Andy Baldwin is a military man.

The science of swimming
Big news for triathletes willing to make a pilgrimage
By Rebecca Friedlander

Tired of reaching T1 (the swim-tao-bike transition of a triathlon) bedraggled and breathless instead of fresh and focused for the next two legs of the race? Good news—help is here. Well, not here in Atlanta, but available to those willing to make a pilgrimage.

A good dilemma to have
Tough decision for the Braves—what to do with Salty?
BY ADAM KROHN

There’s a new Braves catcher who's making John Schuerholz’s life a lot harder than it needs to be. In fact, his dazzling play has already forced the general manager to cut one player (first baseman Craig Wilson) in favor of him. His name? Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Net gains
Former GSU volleyball star pursues her dream
BY EARLE MCDONALD

The Association of Volleyball Professionals' annual AVP Crocs Tour brings its share of star power to town for this weekend's Atlanta Open at Atlantic Station. The tournament's roster of athletes features former Olympians Kerri Walsh, Misty May-Treanor and Holly McPeak. And then there's Karch Kiraly, who's won the Atlanta tournament four times and nabbed a gold medal during the 1996 Olympics here in Atlanta.

Following his feet
Homegrown hero Warren Ukah pursues soccer with singular focus
BY JASON CHATRAW

When Warren Ukah receives a pass, he's got one thing on his mind. He's not thinking about what move will evoke a response from the crowd or what will be the best way to finish. His focus is single in nature: What is the most efficient way to put the soccer ball in the back of the net?

Books to keep daddy in the red (and white) all year ‘round

ALPHABET SOUP
The Georgia Department of Human Resources makes the grade
By Adam Murphy

Are you ready for some alphabet soup? Soon, it’ll be as easy as A, B, C to find out how your favorite restaurant scored on its last health inspection. The Georgia Department of Human Resources recently announced that every restaurant will receive a letter grade in addition to their numerical score beginning in December, with an A, B, C or U for unsatisfactory.

By degrees
Evoking the sights, sounds and tastes of South African
By Hope S. Philbrick

Never run-of-the-mill
By Suzanne Wright

Vincent Marra has been the executive chef and managing director of the Houston Mill House since September 2004. Nestled in a historic home-turned-restaurant and special events facility, the sylvan environs and gracious upscale dining room still retain its 1920s Daisy Buchanan-like charm. The Sunday Paper spoke to Marra about the Houston Mill House’s crab cakes and his family’s restaurant lineage.

Maybe it’s time to stop second-guessing Billy Knight

Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh examines the flip side of the human form

Sipping S.A.D. (Seasonal Alcohol Drinks) with the summer blues, curaçao

Decatur native set to rock the College World Series

Hawks not out of the woods yet

THIS WEEK'S GRUMBLES

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Grumbles Archives

Dirty money
The carbon offset market may mean big bucks, but can it heal the environment?
By Josh Clark