Phebe Etheredge Jenny Pruitt & Associates [email protected] 404-851-0727

Personal Note Volume IX, Issue 6

The Real Estate market heats up just as LAZY DAYS or FUN FILLED DAYS - You Choose! the temperature does Atlanta and its surrounding areas offer so much - to the newcomer during the summer and to the native Atlantan! There is something for every level of months. If you or your play. If you need help deciding, try some of our favorites. You’re family or friends need a sure to find something you’ll enjoy on the following pages! professional REALTOR, I’d appreciate your referrals! FUN IN THE SUN!

SIX FLAGS OVER lenging holes. If it’s a sunny day and you want to ZOO ATLANTA have fun with your children, you Are you a lover of animals from may want to try Six Flags Over around the world, yet your travel Georgia. In 2004, Six Flags intro- plans are in Atlanta? Have no fear! duced five new family rides. NEW Stop by Zoo Atlanta for a day of for 2005 is SKULL ISLAND. The seeing the Giant Pandas of Chengdu park’s newest addition features Exhibit, which is now open. You three giant water-dumping towers, can also visit the gorillas, orangu- six water slides, and hundreds of tans, tigers, lions, giraffes, ele- interactive water elements. Skull phants, birds and more, all in their Island is guaranteed to soak any natural habitats. The zoo boasts a crew that enters, so bring a suit and collection of 1,000 specimens with a towel for a splashing good time! 250 species of animals from all over Changing facilities are available on the world. Located at Grant Park, Inside this issue: site. the 40-acres designated to Zoo At- Fun in the Sun 1 ISLANDS lanta are devoted to the conserva- If you’d rather be in the water all tion of many animal species and Rainy Days 2 day, try Lake Lanier Islands. The beach and water park are the big- Out of the Ordinary gest attractions, featuring water 3 slides, Georgia's largest wave pool, Wonderful Web a mile of white sandy beach, vol- 3 leyball and live music. Visitors can Sites and Coupons rent sailboats, houseboats, ski Market Update - 4 boats or even a luxury liner with Downtown Atlanta hot tubs and accommodations for up to 100. Two championship golf courses--particularly Emerald Pointe--offer lake views and chal- Volume IX, Issue 6

FUN IN THE SUN (continued) Another favorite destination for all ages is Centennial Olympic Park, located in the heart of Atlanta! The Park boasts a variety of free, fun-filled, family entertainment throughout the year, including a mid-day, evening and weekend concert series, Family Fun Days, a spectacular Fourth of July Celebration, a Holiday in Lights festival complete with an ice skating rink, un- forgettable fountain shows and much more! Music fans of all ages enjoy a variety of performers that come and entertain their fans for free on Fridays throughout the summer for a series called On The Bricks. ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is just the place for a lazy stroll or brisk walk to enjoy the colors of Atlanta’s plant world. We would suggest that you do in fact stop and smell the roses in this outdoor showplace! The Atlanta Botani- cal Gardens were incorporated in 1976 to develop and maintain plant collec- tions for the purpose of display, education, research, conservation and enjoy- ment. The Gardens feature 15 acres of outdoor display gardens, the Upper Woodland which showcases five acres of shade-loving ornamentals from around the world, and the 10-acre Storza Woods with natural under- growth and walking trails. Across the Flower Bridge is the two-acre Children’s Garden, which has been de- signed as a “wellness” garden. The Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory houses rare and endangered plants from tropical rainforests and desert regions. The Fuqua Orchid Center houses a High Elevation House, a Tropi- cal Display House and a Center for Education and Conservation. Atlanta Botanical Gardens should not be left off your summer entertainment list!

RAINY DAYS If we are experiencing one of our summer rains, or if you want to get our of the sun, then by all means jump on these places! You and your guests will surely make memories, no matter which you choose! WORLD OF COCA-COLA See, hear and taste the magical story of Coca-Cola, the world's most popular soft drink, at World of Coca-Cola. It's a truly unique experience that let’s you celebrate the history, as well as sample the future, of this incredible soft drink legend. Located in a three- story pavilion adjacent to Underground Atlanta, World of Coca-Cola encompasses the rich history and progress of the refreshing bever- age that was created here in Atlanta over 110 years ago. The World of Coca-Cola offers the true Coke Connoisseur the opportu- nity to see how it is all made and how it all tastes! What an oppor- tunity only available in Atlanta!!! CNN STUDIO If T.V. is your scene and you like to see studios in action, then a visit to the CNN Studio is a must for you and your guests! CNN is among the world's leaders in news and information delivery. Staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a dedicated team in CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta and in bureaus worldwide, CNN relies heavily on their global group of almost 4,000 news professionals. CNN features the latest multimedia technologies, from live video streaming to audio packages to searchable archives of news features and back- ground information. You can actually watch the anchors and see how they deliver the news around the clock! BABYLAND GENERAL HOSPITAL Georgia is also home to the only BabyLand General Hospital in the world! This is the birthplace of the "hand- stitched" Cabbage Patch doll that took girls and boys in the U.S. by storm a few years ago. Located in a real turn-of-the century hospital, you can see how the kids are "born." Be prepared! The babies are so adorable, you may want to adopt one right on the spot. Visit the delivery patch where you can choose the baby you want to adopt and then name the baby right then and there! Your adoption is complete with baby and papers when you leave! Page 2 Volume IX, Issue 6 OUT OF THE ORDINARY! ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY If speed is your thing, then you must visit the Atlanta Motor Speedway! Tour the famous Atlanta Motor Speed- way and glimpse behind the scenes of one of the premier motor sports facilities in the country. Located just 30 miles south of downtown Atlanta, the speedway hosts two NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup races each year that attract about 250,000 fans from around the country and abroad. It is amazing to see how the fans love their favorite drivers! Bring a picnic and plan on staying for a while to take in the whole experience! FERNBANK NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Do big dinosaur skeletons, exhibits that show the history of Georgia and IMAX movies intrigue you? Then your next stopping place has to be Fernbank Natural History Museum! By learning about the state of Georgia and the history of its six diverse landform regions, visitors begin to understand the Earth's incredible transforma- tions and the plant and animal developments that have resulted with the change in their habitats over millions of years. Various galleries incorporating landscapes, plants, animals and scientific principles, place visitors within the visual concept of the topics. Different exhibits portray a theory of earth's coming into existence and its evolution. The perfect example of this theory is the that was recreated for visitors. While you're there, be sure to catch a stunning IMAX film. The immense IMAX screen--5 stories high and 72 feet wide--puts you right in the middle of the action. CHASTAIN PARK AMPHITHEATRE (May through October) For music buffs who like to picnic while listening to music, Chastain Park is a must! Chastain Park Amphithea- tre is a small outdoor venue situated comfortably in a natural setting located off Roswell Road in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. Recognized as one of the most popular amphitheatres in the country, Chastain Park Amphi- theatre sets the standard for summer entertainment in Atlanta. Many of music's biggest names from every mu- sical genre have appeared on the Chastain stage. Chastain is known for its relaxed atmosphere complimenting the performances. Socializing and food come first, music second. Table holders bring elaborate candelabras, tablecloths and four-course meals. Lawn dwellers spread out blankets and get comfortable with their picnic baskets and bottles of wine. Sit back and enjoy the scenery, even if your favorite group isn’t performing. There are many restaurants nearby that will prepare a beautiful meal with all the trimmings for your evening at Chastain!

WONDERFUL WEB SITES AND COUPONS There are so many things to do in and around Atlanta. Some web sites that provide good resources are: www.atlanta-kids.com www.atlantamoms.com www.thefamilytravelfiles.com www.cobbcvb.com/dkidspg/fnctn4kidsbugs.html www.atlantaheritage.com/festcultures.html It is our pleasure to offer you ways to save money when you visit some of these great venues! Bring any Coca-Cola can to a Six Flags ticket booth and receive one free general admission ticket for every one purchased - every day!

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MARKET UPDATE - DOWNTOWN ATLANTA

Downtown Atlanta seems poised to become a destination for family fun, a concept that just two years ago seemed an out-of-reach dream for an uneasy area. Since early 2003, nearly $1 billion in projects that promise to transform the central business district have broken ground or are poised to start. Stretches of sidewalks that once were rolled up at night may almost be ready to stay in place for tourists and locals out for an eve- ning on the town. Centennial Olympic Park has solidified its position as the central business district’s main recreational attraction. Its famous fountains are now ringed by the Georgia Aquarium. Imagine it, the Children’s Museum and venues for the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Force football teams, the Atlanta Hawks and, perhaps again, the Atlanta Thrashers. The Georgia Dome could be in line for a major renovation. The opening date of the New World of Coca-Cola museum has been set for April 2007, at a construction cost of “We’re seeing the almost $100 million. Beyond the main sightseeing attractions, other nearby downtown destinations are be- development of ing spruced up. And the central issue of the perception of public safety finally is being addressed. downtown. Everyone The ubiquitous and politically sensitive topic of the loitering downtrodden is to be par- tially remedied with a homeless shelter and service center that is to open south of Atlanta City hall by July. Mayor Shirley Franklin says public safety is being improved is behind it . . .” by Atlanta Police officers walking beats, in addition to the pith-helmeted crowd of downtown “ambassadors” who offer directions to lost tourists and call authorities when Bernie Marcus necessary. The Fairlie-Poplar district offers art galleries, performance halls, restaurants and a set of architecturally interesting buildings that date to the early 1900s. Underground At- lanta, that ever present barometer of downtown viability, is just south on Peachtree Street. Underground remains filled with numerous shops packed with quirky merchan- dise that beckons recreational shoppers, and its Kenny’s Alley nightclub district is the only place in town that can serve alcohol until 4 a.m. Last call elsewhere in the city is 2:30 a.m. A critic no less important that Bernie Marcus has applauded the changes in downtown Atlanta. “We’re seeing the development of downtown,” Marcus said at the annual Cen- tral Atlanta Progress breakfast. “Everyone is behind it.” Marcus, a co-founder of Home Depot, donated $200 million for the Georgia Aquarium. When he announced his gift in 2003, he urged downtown boosters and state officials to match his largess with an equally powerful thrust to reclaim downtown from blight. The potential of downtown Atlanta astounds some of its current developers. Jim Borders is one of them. As president of Novare Group, he is overseeing residential projects from Buckhead to Midtown to the site near Ivan Allen Plaza. “I think about the Centennial Park area in terms of two years from now,” Border says. “I see lots of people on the streets. The streets feeling safe. People enjoying the park and the Georgia Aquar- ium and the Coke museum. Having all these people walking around is a good thing and a way to create a healthy urban area. This is going to be a place where people want to be.” By David Pondered The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on 04/04/05

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