Flavortown in the A-town
Flavortown in the A-town
Did you feel that? Did Hotlanta just get a little more Fieri-y? That wasn’t too labored a pun. You’re wrong. It was perfect. Everyone’s favorite/reviled celebrity chef is bringing Flavortown to Atlanta. Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen will be delivery only operating out of a ghost kitchen in Alpharetta. Ghost kitchens aren’t kitchens haunted by Julia Child, which I was hoping for, it just means a restaurant (or several) are operating at a kitchen that isn’t open for the public and is delivery only. Despite the amount of ridicule that Guy Fieri has received for his bombastic personality and culinary stylings, he seems to be a great guy, as pointed out in the amazing comedy bit by Shane Torres. During many of the wildfires in California, he set up mobile kitchens to feed first responders and people who had to abandon their homes. He's using those same mobile kitchens to feed hospital workers during the pandemic. He also set up a $24 million restaurant relief fund for food workers who haven’t been able to work. He also officiated 101 same-sex marriages in honor of his sister who was gay and passed from cancer before marriage was equitable. This is just a partial list of his good deeds. I for one will be happy to order some Cheesesteak Egg Rolls with a Bacon Mac N’ Cheese Burger and then go on a diet for the rest of my life.
Atlanta HBCUs New Corporate Partnerships
Two major investments and corporate partnerships have been announced with Atlanta’s HBCU. In January Apple announced they will build a $25 million “Propel Center” at Atlanta University Center. The hope is that the center will “support the next generation of diverse leaders, providing innovative curricula, technology support, career opportunities, and fellowship programs.” Apple will also start two new grant programs that will support engineering programs at HBCUs. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a much-needed diversification of the tech industry. Less than 5% of the workers at Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are black. Apple has “the best” representation with 9% of their workforce being black, but only 3% of people in leadership positions are black. The second exciting partnership comes from a $30 million investment that will create a 150-room upscale hotel and training center for students seeking hospitality management careers at Morris Brown. The investment will renovate existing historical Morris Brown facilities that have been in danger of demolition. Hilton will be advising Morris Brown on how best to prepare and train their students for careers in hospitality.
Home Covid Spending Receipts are In
Georgian consumers got their spending report this week for the previous year. Boy, are there some embarrassing receipts I would have hidden from my accountant. I’ll get to the most pertinent real estate data in there since I guess this is a blog for a real estate company? Spending on household furnishings has increased nearly 20%. Which makes a lot of sense as our homes have become our worlds. This helps explain why there are so few listings on the market. You aren’t likely to move anytime soon if you’ve just spent $8,000 making a home office for you and your partner or $10,000 to finally open up your kitchen. When it comes to grocery shopping in the least shocking news of 2020, spirit sales had the largest jump at 33%. The most alarming stat by far? Air freshener sales are up 37%. Everyone- I understand we’re all showering less but Febreze is not the dry shampoo equivalent of a bath. “Febreze showers” are only for emergencies.
…Or kids we could go see some Orchids
The annual orchid showcase at the Atlanta Botanical Garden “Orchid Daze” is now open until April 11th. These aren’t your typical orchids you buy at Trader Jones that you give as a last minute housewarming gift your friend will kill in two months. Orchids are the most diverse and complex of all flowers. There are over 2,000 species of orchid represented at the Botanical including the carnivorous Nepenthes which has been known to eat frogs and rats as well as the more traditional “non eating animal” type flowers like the Stanhopea. Masks are required for all guests over 4. Extra safety precautions including reduce capacity and making a time reservation. Might I also recommend after you get home you watch the Academy Award winning Adaptation., which is a totally wild (yet accurate) adaptation of “The Orchid Thief” by the New Yorkers’s Susan Orlean. It stars Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, and Nicolas Cage, who plays identical twin brothers. If you haven’t heard of this movie or know nothing about it I recommend just putting it on.