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1. Nap Day (July 20, pictured): Thanks—don’t mind if we do. 2. National Junk Food Day (July 21): Chances are, anyone who observes this holiday probably doesn’t need an excuse to eat Cheetos, anyway. 3. 45th Anniversary of Froot Loops (July 22): We hear the current Toucan Sam is a fake: The original developed a drinking problem, was arrested for tax evasion and now resides in Bolivia. 4. Mosquito Day (July 23): Insert obligatory “that’s every day in the South!” joke here. 5. Instant Coffee Day (July 24): Mmmm! Watery, transparent “Hazelnut Delight” in the break room for everyone! 6. First Birthday Cake Day (July 25): The birthday cake was created in 55 B.C. Anyone got a line on 2,063 candles? 7. National Aunts and Uncles Day (July 26): Celebrating decades of cheek-pinching and awkward, forced gratitude for that special birthday sweater. Photo by Maria Dryfhout We love local fashion designers, especially when they're close to our heart, like SP's very own web developer and graphic designer Kristina Ackerman. The snazzy crafter debuts her jewelry line, Gangbusters, at the Atlantic Station Market tonight, from 5 to 10 p.m. The cool collection is comprised of nearly 200 never-before-seen Gangbusters pieces, from comic books to vintage magazines to pretty florals, all ready to be worn. By you. And in honor of The Dark Night—which, if you haven't yet seen it, is the perfect excuse to be at Atlantic Station this evening—Ackerman says she'll have a couple dozen excellent Batman pendants on display... perfect for you or the Batman fanatic in your life. Can't make it tonight? Shop her Etsy e-boutique anytime by clicking here. OK, so it's a terrible time to try to sell a home. That's no secret. It's certainly an OK time to buy one. But it's always a good time to get something for free, yes? And who wouldn't want a new home? T-Mobile's giving one away at its National Open House on July 12, 2008, from noon to 4 p.m. at Peachtree Center (235 Peachtree Street Ne Ste C-29f, Atlanta, GA 30303). The T-Mobile Ultimate Home Giveaway is your chance to win a new home or other great prizes, and it's the phone company's chance to tell you about its new T-Mobile at Home service (home phone service with unlimited nationwide calling for just $10 a month). If you're the lucky winner, make sure you invite us to your killer housewarming party! This weekend's for celebrating -- not just in the sense of "proud to be an American," but also in the "proud to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and any other category you might happen to fall in because you were born a certain way and damn it, you embrace yourself" sense. Yes, Atlanta Gay Pride is upon us, my friends. If you like it, come celebrate. If you don't, put your angry "gays are spawns of Satan, but I still wear wool and eat pork" Bible-beating signs down and give it a rest already. Why we celebrate... What the hell is Atlanta Gay Pride, anyway? It's certainly not just a flamboyant show of feathers and leather. It's far more meaningful. Typically, Atlanta Gay Pride takes place in late June (the third weekend, to be exact) to honor the historic Stonewall Riots, which took place June 28, 1969. The event was a major catalyst for the GLBT community as it helped us develop a very strong and unified front. Standing together, we were going to fight back ... again and again. With organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign lobbying for our rights in Congress and California legalizing gay marriage, progress continues to be made, though we're far from true equality. As we band together during Pride, we're embracing our community for all that it is -- a veritable rainbow of bright personalities from all walks of life, be it attorneys and surgeons, teachers and police officers, military and artists, CEOs and sanitation workers, editors and accountants, restaurateurs and ministers, neighbors and friends. Together, we celebrate our similarities and our differences -- proudly. What to do this weekend... Because of the drought, Pride's 3-day celebration has been moved to the 4th of July weekend and from Piedmont Park to the Atlanta Civic Center. There's a plethora of activities this weekend to celebrate Atlanta Gay Pride, not just at the Atlanta Civic Center and the parade, but also at all the gay and lesbian bars around town. The main Atlanta Pride event is the three-day Atlanta Pride Festival, which takes place this year downtown at the Atlanta Civic Center (395 Piedmont Ave. NE). The festival kicks off at 6 pm on Friday, July 4, and lasts until 11 p.m. The next two days, Saturday and Sunday, the festival continues at the park, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Admission is free, and during the festival there's live music and comedy; a Pride Market featuring dozens of vendors, GLBT organizations and crafters; and a variety of forums and ceremonies. Entertainment at Atlanta Pride is extensive and varied, and typically includes movies, concerts, cabaret and fashion shows. On Saturday, the Festival presents the first of two big parades, the Dyke March, which starts at 6 pm. The Atlanta Pride Parade is held on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm. Happy Pride! 1. LICKING THE SNOW: For just under two bucks, you can’t beat the big-kid sno-cones at Cajun restaurant Just Loaf’n to battle southern summer heat. www.justloafn.net. 2. HIDING OUT AT THE CHOP HOUSE: The best place to be if you want to chill out with a drink during a Braves game. But get there early, because once the outside temp hits 90 degrees, the place fills up fast. www.braves.mlb.com. 3. VISITING THE FROZEN TUNDRA: Fernbank’s IMAX theatre lets you choose between screenings of “Antarctica” (pictured) or “Alaska: Spirit of the Wild” all summer long. Air conditioning included in ticket price. www.fernbankmuseum.org. 4. SAMPLING INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS: Scoops of the tasty Limoncello and Green Tea gelatos at Paolo’s Gelatos sure hit the spot—and watching the irrepressible Paolo Dalla Zorza in action is a treat in itself. www.paolosgelato.com. Wednesday evening I had the opportunity to attend an early viewing of the new H&M store at Atlantic Station. Never having been in an H&M store before, I was very impressed with the quality of the clothes and the prices. The two-story building carries a variety of styles, from basic t-shirts and jeans, to evening wear, catering not just to women, but men, babies and children as well. You’ll definitely be able to find what you’re looking for and then some without breaking the bank. H&M is sure to attract a crowd when it opens Friday, June 13 at noon. Wednesday evening, I attended an early viewing of the new H&M store at Atlantic Station. Never having been in an H&M before, I was very impressed with the quality of the clothes and the prices. The two-story building carries a variety of styles, from basic T-shirts and jeans to evening wear, catering not just to women, but men, babies and children as well. You’ll definitely be able to find what you’re looking for, and then some, without breaking the bank. H&M is a welcome addition to Atlantic Station (and Atlanta), and is sure to attract a crowd when it opens Friday, June 13, at noon. Get there early to score tees and gift cards. With a terrible heat wave, a hike in gas prices and a looming recession, we could all use some good karma. Why not use that money you’ve been hording for Elvis’ next concert or to put toward Hillary’s campaign (too little, too late) toward something that really will make a difference? This Friday, June 13, is the March of Dimes 24th annual Dining Out Event with an after-party at Opera Nightclub. The decadent dinner takes place at 7 p.m. at participating restaurants, including Aria, Canoe, JOËL, Trois, Cuerno and Pricci, at a price tag of $1,000 or $1,500 for a table of eight or 10, depending on the restaurant selection. After a super VIP dining experience worth every penny (think of the babies!), head to Opera to burn off some of those calories and indulge in tasty cupcakes by Sweet Pockets bakery. What’s March of Dimes, you say? It’s a stellar organization that helps improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies and, in 2003, launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com/georgia. Tickets for dinner and the after-party are still available. For information on hosting a table or purchasing tickets, visit www.marchofdimes.com/georgia or contact Jennifer Cobb at 404.350.9800 x 208. After-party tickets are included with the table purchase, but individual tickets to the after-party can be purchased for $40 also by contacting Jennifer. Yearning for yard sale bargains? ‘Tis the season, and CRoP has just the event. WHO: Christian Rites of Passage (CRoP) Youth WHAT: Community-wide Yard Sale includes food and entertainment to enhance your shopping experience WHEN: Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. WHERE: Cascade United Methodist Church (UMC) Parking Lot, located at 3144 Cascade Rd. SW, Atlanta, GA 30311 WHY: Support future leaders, network and fellowship with the local community and Cascade UMC members DONATE: your gently used items on May 14-16 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the rear entrance of Cascade UMC and receive a tax write-off form for your contribution. **Inclement weather? Come to the back entrance of Cascade UMC Fellowship Hall.** For more information, log onto www.christianritesofpassageinc.org or contact Shari Blalock at 678-386-5393 or Ida Crook at 770-973-1373. |