Thursday, December 31, 2020

wanderlust ATLANTA's 2020 Photo Review

This is my favorite annual blog post because I'm reminded of all the wonderful things that happened over the last year and yes, even as horrible as 2020 was there were a number of happy happenings, which is what I'll focus on. This is a photographic look back at wanderlust ATLANTA throughout 2020.

Travis Swann Taylor during an Instagram Takeover of @111Places
Travis Swann Taylor during an Instagram Takeover of @111Places

Have I ever told you that I'm allergic to the cold? It's not really an allergy, but I'm not a fan of cold weather, however I'm gregarious and extroverted enough that I don't let weather, of any kind, slow me down. The photo above was such a fun day but quite chilly! My book editor, Karen Seiger, gifted me the opportunity of hosting an Instagram Takeover of the @111Places channel to help promote my book.

For more than 10 hours on November 17, I was out and about in Atlanta — on a sunny but face-contorting cold day — visiting 10 places in my book posting videos and photos of those places. There's a special guest appearance by Lawson Wright of My Parents' Basement Comic Book Bar! Not intentional, but totally fun, there were a couple of bloopers during the day. Enjoy!

Here's a quick summary of some of the awesome things that happened in 2020 and then I'll get on with the photo review...

  • Officially became an author when my first book, 111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss hit shelves on August 10, 2020! 
  • Did a number of book interviews, all of them fun! Some of them are linked below (look for my book cover image).
  • Completed my first hardcover wedding book! One of my best friend's sister was married in Jekyll Island, Georgia, and I got to be their photographer and make the 200-plus pages keepsake book.
  • Created a photo website for a friend in Mississippi who lives on a huge rural estate, using photography that I'd made over two visits. The second visit was my only travel this year, and included a day in New Orleans!

Now, let's have a look back. These are in chronological order and this year, in addition to blog photographs, I'm including some photos from wanderlust ATLANTA's and 111 Places Atlanta's social media channels.

Fashioning Art from Paper - SCAD FASH - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Fashioning Art from Paper - SCAD FASH - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Fashioning Art from Paper was my first SCAD FASH exhibition. The museum had been on my list for some time — and I'd been to art exhibits at SCAD prior to the museum opening...I should have been going from the beginning. This museum is a must-visit! 

Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol - Photo by Travis Swann Taylor
Liberty Plaza at the Georgia Capitol - Photo by Travis Swann Taylor

All the years I've lived here and I never knew we had a replica of the Liberty Bell. It's in Liberty Plaza directly behind the Georgia Capitol Building, definitely worth seeing.

#DidYouKnow The real Liberty Bell traveled to Atlanta and was on display during the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition. On "Liberty Bell Day", which was October 9, the Bell drew 30,000 visitors to the Expo!

Red Phone Booth - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Red Phone Booth - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

For my birthday this year I went out on the town for a whirlwind dining and libations experience! My friend Barry and I started at Lumen Bar inside the Ritz-Carlton in downtown. I stop in here from time to time for a diversion and martini. We got downtown a little early so it was the perfect spot to start an evening-long blowout birthday celebration.

From there, we headed to Red Phone Booth, a wholly unique speakeasy experience in downtown Atlanta. This place is magnificent and you actually enter through a red phone booth, the kind that you've seen in London. We had the BEST bartender ever! The cocktail program and experience here is phenomenal. A must-do! Then...

Amalfi Pizza - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Amalfi Pizza - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

...we went upstairs to Almafi Pizza for dinner. With the same owners as Red Phone Booth, this dining experience did not disappoint! We had wine, calamari, pizza, meatballs, and dessert was the creamiest tiramisu and perfect cannoli...and champagne! 

To cap the night off we went to one of my favorites, 5Church Atlanta! The owner, Ayman, with his wife Valerie (both are dear friends), treated us to a birthday champagne toast with Roman candle-sized sparklers! It was the perfect way to finish a birthday and a great start to 2020.

Orchid Daze - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Orchid Daze - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Orchid Daze is one of my favorite wintertime excursions! The Atlanta Botanical Garden is beautiful year-round and their Orchid Daze exhibition is one of their most spectacular annual exhibits! In addition to the largest orchid collection in the Southeast they bring in thousands more orchid blossoms for a magnificent display.

Orchid Daze 2020 - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Orchid Daze 2020 - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Another absolutely spectacular annual exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is Atlanta Blooms! which is a grand welcoming of spring in Atlanta. This year was a little different. I'd visited and made photos just before the COVID-19 lockdown in mid-March. I did the post a couple of days later and then went into isolation. I didn't blog again until May.

Providence Canyon - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Providence Canyon - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

When I started blogging again, I was still isolating so I pulled from a visit to Providence Canyon State Park — to see Georgia's Little Grand Canyon — which I'd visited the year before, but had not yet blogged about. This post is the one that got me outside again. It started fostering a strong desire to be outdoors again and it worked!

Alice's Wonderland Reimagined - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Alice's Wonderland Reimagined - Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

The Atlanta Botanical Garden continued its summer exhibition for a third year, but this year it was updated as Alice's Wonderland Reimagined...so much fun! These larger-than-life living sculptures are by a Canadian company in Montreal, Mosaiculture.

Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Atlanta Botanical Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

With extended hours and limited visitor numbers the Atlanta Botanical Garden had re-opened in late spring. It was fantastic to see the beauty of this place once again, having practically been a recluse for so many months. Most visitors were great about masking up and observing social distancing and as the months wore on they got even better. We were/are living in history and a strange time it has been. Grateful for respites of beauty like the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Silk & Stitch - DeKalb History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Silk & Stitch - DeKalb History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I'd visited the DeKalb History Center's museum before the lockdown, to do some photographs for my book, and got to see this magnificent exhibition. Silk & Stitch celebrated fashion from the 1860s to 1960s through the lens of fashion embellishments

The exhibition was up for much of 2020, but eventually had to make room for the next exhibition. Hopefully it may return one day so that more can see what an excellent exhibition it was. The DeKalb History Center is currently open by appointment only.

New Echota - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
New Echota - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Still hesitant to go out and about very much, especially anywhere indoors, I again reached into my  collection of photos of places visited but not yet blogged about. This post was about my visit to New Echota State Historic Site, former home of the Cherokee Nation capital, where the Cherokee written language was created, and where the Trail of Tears began.

Frank Smith Rhododendron Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Frank Smith Rhododendron Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor 

One of the summer's projects that really got me out of the house and some much needed exercise was a series of blog posts covering each of the nine individual gardens within the Atlanta History Center's Goizueta Gardens. I learned a LOT of fascinating history in the process. This post was about the Frank A. Smith Memorial Rhododendron Garden.

Arabia Mountain - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Arabia Mountain - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

July was my busiest blogging month and the most exercise I've had in years...it felt great to be outside again! 

I started seeking out parks, state parks, and other hiking trails, and I found a lot! Some of them had been on my list for some time (I always have a list!) and others I found in Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests by Jonah McDonald.

This particular post was about Arabia Mountain! I climbed to the top and explored the base...for hours. Could have walked/hiked all day!

Swan Woods - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Swan Woods - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Continuing my coverage of the gardens at the Atlanta History Center, I trekked Swan Woods, adjacent to Swan House. My Goizueta Gardens series afforded me a wonderful research opportunity. I did a deep dive and learned more than I expected. For example, I knew that the elephant in this garden was named Ambrose, but wow, what a story behind it! 

A Bamboo Forest on the Chattahoochee - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
A Bamboo Forest on the Chattahoochee - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I'd been on the West Palisade Trail the year before and finally made it to the East Palisades Trail. This was a 4-plus mile round trip, but worth every single step! 

The sizable grove of bamboo on this trail, along the Chattahoochee River, is magical! The fallen bamboo leaves are so thick it feels like you're walking on pillows. At the far end of the loop is a highly-perched river overlook. It seems a lot of Atlantans found this trail this summer...I saw a LOT of social media posts about it. I highly recommend this trail to any and all lovers of the outdoors.

Sims Asian Garden - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Sims Asian Garden - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I'd visited the Sims Asian Garden at the Atlanta History Center many, many times, but I never knew the history behind the large turtle sculpture. The "Turtle Tent" was mass produced in the 1950s and 1960s, but few have survived into the 21st century. And just wait until you learn how it's connected with Tyler Perry!

Mary Howard Gilbert Memorial Quarry Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Mary Howard Gilbert Memorial Quarry Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

The Mary Howard Gilbert Memorial Quarry Garden at the Atlanta History Center might be one of the least visited (based on personal observation), but one that is highly deserving of experiencing, especially for all of its "hidden" treasures.

Yellow River Park - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Yellow River Park - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

By time I discovered and explored Yellow River Park, it was disheartening how COVID-19 had affected the upkeep of our parks and trails — the worst of it being litter being left behind by visitors seeking a respite from isolation. It took me back to the Crying Indian commercial by the Keep America Beautiful campaign of the 1970s. 

Our parks were having a difficult time keeping up with the exponentially increased number of visitors and the same or fewer number of staff. This park's saving grace was their lovely river vistas and friendly Park Forman, Danny. There are miles and miles of trails...exercise galore!

Smith Family Farm - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Smith Family Farm - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I've visited the 1840s Smith Family Farm many, many times, as a tourist and as a special event guest. There's a lot to see here and the farm animals are a special treat, especially the Angora goats!

Panola Mountain State Park - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Panola Mountain State Park - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Panola Mountain State Park, with its more than 1,600 acres, majestic trees, and vistas of Stone Mountain, is an exhilarating adventure. Unlike its neighbors, Panola Mountain has never been quarried, so its a pristine example of Georgia nature.

Dogwood Bench by Martin Dawe - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Dogwood Bench by Martin Dawe - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I've done a number of interviews over the years, but this year, with fewer places to visit in-person, gave me the opportunity to conduct more interviews than usual. 

This photo is from my interview with Martin Dawe, whose work is in my book. This one is Dogwood Bench in Piedmont Park, a gift to Atlanta on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Here are the interviews I did this year...

I have some others lined up for early 2021, so stay tuned!

Swan House Gardens - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Swan House Gardens - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I've heard it said that the 1928 Swan House at the Atlanta History Center is the most photographed home in the city, which is easy to believe given its beauty and grandeur. If that's the case, just imagine how many photographs there are of the Swan House Gardens! They're splendid and even magical! If you saw the elaborate party scene in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, you've seen part of the Swan House Gardens.

South Peachtree Creek Trail - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
South Peachtree Creek Trail - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

In my research for hiking and walking trails, I was super excited to find South Peachtree Creek Trail...it's only minutes from my house and I never knew! It's now one of my favorite in the city, but not just because it's convenient, it's also varied and beautiful.

Three Creeks Trail - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Three Creeks Trail - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

A trail within a trail, Three Creeks Trail is an offshoot within South Peachtree Creek Trail. It's also the site of the historic Decatur Waterworks and a favorite spot for graffiti artists. Oh, and yes, there are three creeks on this modest-length trail.

Olguita's Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Olguita's Garden - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

The second newest garden at the Atlanta History Center, Olguita's Garden, named for Olguita Gouizeta — the namesake for the collective nine gardens at the Center. The Gouizeta family is among Atlanta's most generous philanthropic families, through The Goizueta Foundation. Olguita's Garden is a formal yet comfortable garden, perfect for a small wedding or other intimate special event.

Thomas Wilson Talbot - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Thomas Wilson Talbot - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

This is one of those hidden-in-plain-sight treasures that you've seen a bazillion times, but never knew what it was. This bronze bust of Thomas Wilson Talbot has been in Grant Park since 1948! Talbot was the founder of what is today the International Association of Machinists (AIM). The bust was placed on the 60th anniversary of AIM, one of the first union organizations formed in the United States and one of the few formed in the South.

111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss, by Travis Swann Taylor
111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss, by Travis Swann Taylor

On Monday, August 10, 2020, my first book — as author and photographer — was officially published. I'm the author of 111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss! Part of a global series, 111 Places Atlanta is written first for locals — so it's places that even locals might not know about — and then for seasoned tourists. It was a lot of work, but oh so much fun! And I'll always treasure the new friendships gained while working on the book.

Here are some of the interviews and articles I'd had the pleasure of being a part of since my book was published...

Veterans Park - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Veterans Park - Atlanta History Center - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

The cast eagle in Veterans Park is a gift from Lloyd and Mary Ann Whitaker, who were also instrumental in supporting the move of the Battle of Atlanta cyclorama painting from Grant Park to the Atlanta History Center. The round structure behind the eagle bears their names.

Monastery of the Holy Spirit - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Monastery of the Holy Spirit - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Also on my list for a long time, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit is splendid! Although the Abbey Church, welcome center, gift shop, and other buildings are currently closed to the public (due to the pandemic), the expansive grounds are open and all are welcome to explore. My personal favorite spot here is the Magnolia Lane Meditative Walk.

Atlanta History Center's Entrance Gardens - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Atlanta History Center's Entrance Gardens - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I completed my 9-part series of the Atlanta History Center's Goizueta Gardens with its newest garden, their Entrance Gardens. The gem of this garden is a 60-foot-long "Tree Table". It was made from a white oak tree, which sprouted around 1880 — when Atlanta was barely more than 30 years old — but had to be taken down because of a decline in health. It's a beautiful example of thoughtful, meaningful repurposing. It's a piece of art!

East Point Historical Society Museum - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
East Point Historical Society Museum - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

One of my few indoor museum visits this year was my first time to the East Point Historical Society Museum. When I went, I was the only visitor there so certainly a safe visit. This museum is fascinating! I especially enjoyed learning about East Point because I lived there for a year in the early 1990s. There's also a locomotive on the property. Go visit!

Jimmy Carter Statue - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Jimmy Carter Statue - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

The only U.S. president from the State of Georgia, Jimmy Carter is immortalized in bronze on the grounds of the Georgia Capitol. The rendering is quite remarkable and designed with purpose. Enjoy the read about the Jimmy Carter Statue.

Neil Armstrong Spacesuit - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Neil Armstrong Spacesuit - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I'm a total space geek and even worked in aerospace for a number of years. When I made this photo of Neil Armstrong's Spacesuit at Fernbank Science Center, I didn't realize the significance of it. Turns out, it's one of only a few in the world. It's an exact replica of the suit that Neil Armstrong was wearing when he became the first human to step onto the Moon.

Louis Armstrong - The Breman Museum - Photo: Herb Snitzer
Louis Armstrong - The Breman Museum - Photo: Herb Snitzer

Virtual programming was the order of the day in 2020 and The Breman Museum doesn't disappoint. On the contrary, their current special exhibition, "A Jazz Memoir", is one of if not the best virtual art exhibitions I've seen. Extended through Wednesday, March 31, 2021, the exhibition features Herb Snitzer’s photography documenting America’s jazz scene. I'm grateful to The Breman for allowing wanderlust ATLANTA to see this phenomenal exhibition in-person.

Miller Union Takeout - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Miller Union Takeout - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Takeout was also a reality in 2020, and what I've had has been delicious, especially when I and a few friends enjoyed a socially distanced, outdoor Miller Union takeout dinner! This photo isn't their typical presentation — I composed it with the ingredients they'd packed up. It was the best chocolate tart I've had in years! Can hardly wait to go to the restaurant in-person again.

The Phoenix in Woodruff Park - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
The Phoenix in Woodruff Park - Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

2020 had us see our Olympic Cauldron lit for the first time since 1996 during the 2020 Olympic Running Trials. We saw the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds perform a flyover of Atlanta, a salute to first responders. And it showed us a way of life that we'd not seen since the 1918 pandemic, resulting in countless random acts of kindness.

I leave you with a photograph I recently made of The Phoenix in Woodruff Park. The phoenix is the unofficial symbol of Atlanta and the statue's actual name is Atlanta from the Ashes. I'm feeling hopeful, even excited that we/Atlanta will rise from the ashes of 2020 and make 2021 one of the best years ever. Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 17, 2020

INTERVIEW: Morgan on Frame Worthy Gallery

THIS art gallery is different and it's special...you may have seen its artists at the movies or on television!

Frame Worthy Gallery represents two-dimensional artwork made by multifaceted film and television industry artists who have talent that extends beyond the big screen. They are painters, photographers, sketch, and multimedia artists who are also actors, screenwriters, directors, and producers, working primarily in the Southeast

Morgan Wellens, Founder & CEO, Frame Worthy Gallery
Morgan Wellens, Founder & CEO, Frame Worthy Gallery

Featured artists have worked on and behind the scenes of projects such as The Resident, Doom Patrol, The Gifted, and more.

Up and coming actor herself, Founder and CEO Morgan Wellens granted me an interview to talk about the new art gallery...

wanderlust ATLANTA: Where are you from? What’s something Atlanta should know about you? 

Morgan: Long story short, my great grandparents on my Dad’s side traveled in through Ellis Island from Lithuania, I was almost a “Wellinski”! On my Mom’s side, I’m related to five U.S. presidents, one of whom was responsible for the largest bathtub in the White House. For me, I was born and raised in Georgia. Most people are surprised to hear I’m a native Peach. I have seen how the art scene has grown over the years, and continues to evolve. I hope to make a positive contribution to that. 

Morgan Wellens (right) with Anissa Matlock
Morgan Wellens (right) with Anissa Matlock

wanderlust ATLANTA: What was the catalyst that led you to becoming an Actor? Entrepreneur?

MorganI am really big on my bucket list, and in 2017 I decided to check off being an extra on a movie set. It was a downtown, overnight shoot. I remember watching the sunrise from a hotel balcony, unsure if I would make it to my 9-5 on time, and thinking, “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Being an entrepreneur is in my blood though. My grandparents used to have a thriving costume jewelry business back when clip on earrings were all the rage. Growing up, I saw my parents follow their footsteps, I learned to walk in the isles of Scott Antique Markets.

We lived the entrepreneur lifestyle, which doesn’t always look glamorous. Not everyone can feel secure in uncertainty, but seeing them thrive gave me the confidence to leave my 9-5 to pursue acting, and, now, open a gallery. 

Morgan Wellens with Kai Grebe
Morgan Wellens with Kai Grebe

wanderlust ATLANTA: Michelangelo said, "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." With what philosophy do you approach your art?

MorganYou know, they say “10 years is the overnight success”. It’s not exciting or sexy, but it’s probably the quote I live by the most. Hard work, perseverance, and consistency matter. Half the battle of being an artist is working at your craft every day, because breakthroughs come with time and repetition. I try not to attach the “success barometer” to my work. I’m an artist because I create. If success comes, I’ll be over the moon, but more than that, I love what I do which keeps me in the game through the rough times and rejection. 

Morgan Wellens with Alex Ross
Morgan Wellens with Alex Ross

wanderlust ATLANTA: When you have time to play tourist, where/what are some of the destinations in Atlanta that you most enjoy?

MorganI have to be honest, I’m a sucker for Ponce City Market. I love walking the Beltline and being around all that energy.

I also enjoy visiting the Forward Warrior wall in Cabbagetown. For those who don’t know, it’s a long stretch of the most beautiful murals you’ve seen. Afterward, I might pop over to Little’s for some sliders. 

Artwork by Eleonore Dendy
Artwork by Eleonore Dendy

wanderlust ATLANTA: Why do you feel it's important for budding artists to not give up, to press forward with a career as an artist if they're truly passionate about it?

Morgan: The grind as an artist is HARD. But honestly, most every career path in life is hard! Would you tell a doctor to go to school for less than 8 years because it’s a “waste of time”? Why then, as artists, isn’t it normalized for us to put in the same kind of dedication to our craft. We need artists. They change the way that we see the world. They expand our minds and open our hearts.

Artists can show us a vision for the future when we can’t see it for ourselves. We saw a black president on the big screen long before Obama ran for office. Right now, it feels like possibility is at our fingertips and people are ready for change. We are craving and lifting up stories and visual work from new voices and underrepresented audiences. Make sure your voice can be heard.


Morgan Wellens | Artwork by Aaron Simmons
Morgan Wellens | Artwork by Aaron Simmons

Frame Worthy Gallery launched its online marketplace last month, so head over there and do some holiday shopping and be sure to follow them on social media (Instagram/Facebook) so you can regularly see what's new! They will also have pop-up locations throughout Atlanta and a primary in-house presence at RoleCall Theater at Ponce City Market. The featured artwork ranges from modern to abstract, whimsical, and thought-provoking. There's practically something for everyone!

Morgan said, "The grind is real when you make the decision to become an artist for a living. Working restaurant jobs, gigs, driving services, you name it. If you are an artist, there's a good chance you're hustling. My goal is to help our team follow their dreams within the industry by taking over the 'left-brain' work so they can focus on the creative stuff.”

(Photos courtesy of Frame Worthy Gallery)

Friday, October 30, 2020

Miller Union Takeout

Now, more than ever, it's crucial to support our local businesses. We've sadly already seen too many small businesses and restaurants close, many of them permanently. Let's keep our dollars here in our city, as much as possible, and enjoy some delicious food in the meantime!

I and a few friends recently enjoyed an alfresco dinner, socially distanced, and masked when not eating, on a friend's driveway. The weather was perfect and the company was delightful! Most of us had not seen each other in-person since the pandemic shutdown in March, so it was a joyous occasion.

We ordered (takeout) from Miller Union, where James Beard Award-winner Steven Satterfield is the executive chef and co-owner, and Neal McCarthy is general manager, certified sommelier, and co-owner.

Chocolate-Pistachio Cream Pie | Miller Union | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Chocolate-Pistachio Cream Pie | Miller Union | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

When we arrived at Miller Union, Chef Steven even helped bring our takeout to the car. That's not something you see every day and we appreciated the special attention.

There were only glowing accolades for the food at our dinner. Our host prepared a delicious dessert for us, so I didn't try my Miller Union Chocolate-Pistachio Cream Pie until I got home. This isn't their presentation — remember, it was takeout  — but I tried, hurriedly, to make it pretty. It was bedtime, but I couldn't resist having a taste. OMG! The chocolate, the candied pistachios...this was beyond delicious! 

I had leftovers from every course, but lunch the next day started with this pie. I kept eating until it was completely and totally devoured. My chocolate cravings are delightfully satiated for a while.

Roast Chicken | Miller Union | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Roast Chicken | Miller Union | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Chef Steven is a seasonal chef, his menus based on what's available from local farms. Our small group is appreciative that his dedication to seasonal cooking and his unwavering support for local farmers is the driving philosophy behind his restaurant. That he's a nice guy is icing on the cake.

For my entrée, I enjoyed the Roast Chicken (a half a chicken!), with pecan, butternut squash, shiitakes, peppers, and plum. Delicious! I never order chicken breast when dining out because if not prepared properly it's just plain dry, but this was one of the most tender, juiciest chicken breasts I've ever had! A couple of people had the Duck Breast and gave high marks for it, too.

Whipped Feta | Miller Union | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Whipped Feta | Miller Union | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

I had never tried feta cheese until I lived in Greece. I fell in love with it! While I was there, I had not had it whipped, so this was a new experience. I don't know what Chef Steven put in his Whipped Feta, but it's AMAZING! The housemade lavash and crisp crudité were wonderful accompaniments. This, for me, is one of those dishes that I'll order every single time I visit, when it's on the menu.

Speaking of visit, the restaurant is open for safely distanced outdoor and indoor dining, as well as takeout and family meals to go. And they've instituted impressive, thorough safety guidelines.   

Table Flowers | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Table Flowers | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Our doting hostess make beautiful centerpieces using flowers from her yard. Dining from Miller Union made our group's socially distanced reunion all the more special. What a great evening and fabulous meal!

Remember...please support your local, locally-owned restaurants!

Thursday, October 22, 2020

INTERVIEW: Sarah Dylla on Atlanta '96

If you lived in or were visiting when the host city for the Centennial Olympic Games of 1996 was announced, you probably remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. A number of years after those epic games, the Atlanta History Center opened a spectacular "Centennial Olympic Games Museum", which closed a few years ago when the Center acquired the Atlanta Cyclorama and the locomotive Texas from Grant Park, which required construction of new exhibition space temporarily displacing the Center's Olympic Games exhibition.

This summer, on the 30th anniversary of the announcement that Atlanta had won the bid, they unveiled a reinterpreted Olympic exhibition: "Atlanta '96: Shaping an Olympic and Paralympic City". The curator of this magnificent new exhibition, Sarah Dylla, graciously granted me an interview.

Sarah Dylla, Olympic Exhibition Curator | Photo courtesy of Atlanta History Center
Sarah Dylla, Olympic Exhibition Curator | Photo courtesy of Atlanta History Center

The Olympics are special to me, especially the 1996 Games, for numerous reasons. In the 1980s, I lived in Greece while in the U.S. Navy and I had the incredible experience of walking around in Athens' Olympic Stadium, still in use today, where the modern Olympics were played in 1896! Fellow sailors were extras in an Emmy-winning TV mini-series about the first modern Olympics, which was televised in 1984, the year I arrived in Greece.

I moved to Atlanta in 1987, just a few years before it was announced that Atlanta would host the 1996 Games. I remember sitting in my car that morning outside my office building. I was going to be late to work but absolutely had to wait to hear the announcement. When it was announced, "It's Atlanta!", dozens of car horns went off! Lots of us were a few minutes late that morning.

I enjoyed the incredible experience of attending two Olympic Soccer (Football) games—including seeing Nigeria, who took the gold medal—and later got to attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Paralympics where Christopher Reeve, of Superman fame, was the Master of Ceremonies. 

It was a wonderfully exciting time in Atlanta!

Now, on to the interview...

Timeline Entrance | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Timeline Entrance | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: The timeline wall leading to the entrance of the exhibition is magnificent! What details should visitors look for to get the full experience of this timeline?

Sarah: There are two timelines with the display. One showcases Atlanta's history of self-promotion and growth initiatives since around the time of the beginning of the modern Olympic Games to today. From establishing itself as a transportation and industrial business hub, to pushing to become a major league city, a convention destination, and eventually a city on the international stage, the city of Atlanta has always quested for larger status.

The parallel timeline, which begins in 1896 with the first modern Olympic Games, is used to show how the Olympics, and eventually the Paralympics, grew in scale over their 100+ year history into a major driver of urban change for their host cities.

The timelines showcase artifacts, torches, participation medals, and mascots from different Olympics (you’ll see our own Izzy and Blaze inside the core of the exhibition), as well as records and objects that document the city's 20th century development – don't miss the key to Mexico City given to Eastern Airlines to commemorate the first international flight from the city's airport.

This chronology sets the stage for thinking about the Olympics as an urban project, a major growth initiative, and a project that fits perfectly into Atlanta's past priorities.

Overall, this exhibition examines the impact of the Games on Atlanta and how residents can spur change in their own communities.

1996 Olympic & Paralympic Torches | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
1996 Olympic & Paralympic Torches | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: In the former Olympics museum, all of the Center's Olympic torches were on display. While there are a lot in the new exhibition, why aren't they all in this exhibition?

Sarah: It's rare for an institution to have a nearly complete Olympic torch set, so these torches are certainly treasures of Atlanta History Center's collection. However, for that same reason we want the collection to be flexible and available for other uses. They might be used for temporary display in another exhibition and those not on display can be made available to researchers and students or loans. 

Say Yes to Atlanta | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Say Yes to Atlanta | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

NOTE: While the timeline continues to 2020, the entrance to Payne Gallery (a nod to Billy Payne's remarkable leadership in the bidding process and as administrator of the Games) is at the 1996 point in time, the year Atlanta hosted the Centennial Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. Payne is also one of the major donors to the exhibition.

The exhibition examines the long-term impact of the ’96 Games on Atlanta with thoughts about how all of us can have an impact on our community,” says Sheffield Hale, President & CEO, Atlanta History Center. “We tried to break out of the typical sports exhibition format that looks exclusively at the events and medals and look at what the Games meant to the city before, during, and after.” 

wanderlust ATLANTA: The exhibit is divided into four distinct sections: Envisioning, Campaigning, Realizing, and Reflecting. Which was the most challenging to curate and which was the most fun?

Sarah: The most challenging was the final section, Reflecting. After walking through the story and breaking it down, we had to decide how to end it. Yet reflections on the 1996 Games in Atlanta are ongoing. For Atlanta, the impact of the Games didn't end at the closing ceremonies. There were lots of considerations: how to illustrate big ideas like all the varied ways we formulate ideas and opinions about an event, through changing landscapes, the media response, expert analysis, or one's personal experience and memories. And we had to look at how those things are still changing today with longer hindsight, new Games, and new projects.

The most fun for me was the second area, Campaigning! It starts with the bids specifically, and then branches into stories about the variety of activities happening in Atlanta in the lead up to the Games. The reality of the approaching Games brought a lot of different ideas for changing Atlanta and preparing for the event to the table, from both inside and outside of the organizing committee. There was a push for a new state flag, a movement to keep Cobb County out of the Olympics unless their anti-LGBTQ resolution changed, and efforts from Mayor Jackson and other leaders to use the Olympic momentum to fight poverty and improve the city. It was such a busy time!

"Atlanta From the Ashes" | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
"Atlanta From the Ashes" | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: In the Envisioning section there are people represented who were not directly involved in planning the 1996 Olympics. Why are they there?

Sarah: We wanted to use this section to look back a bit, to showcase the big change-makers and influencers who looked at how the city in the late 70s and the 80s could be so much more. Whether from positions of city and business leadership or community organizing and activism, stories of individuals like these folks highlight the different ways people thought about bettering Atlanta. In their stories you can see how the city was becoming ripe for hosting the Olympic Games, the roots of the bid, and threads of change from a variety of perspectives that runs through the exhibit.

"It's Atlanta!" | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
"It's Atlanta!" | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: In the Realizing section there’s a display of the front page of the Atlanta Journal, the headline reading, “It’s Atlanta!” The Center shared this image on Instagram and you got some surprising reactions. Tell us about that?

Sarah: The front page is definitely a nostalgic image that brings back great excitement for those who remember it. Interestingly enough, we always get funny comments related to the headline halfway down the page: “We finally won something!” I think it speaks to a familiar sentiment for Atlanta sports fans.

The second portion of the main headline in that day's paper creates a more somber reaction:  "City explodes in thrill of victory". With the knowledge we have today of the tragic bombing that was to come during the Games, this text certainly creates a bit of pause.

There is a strong sense of nostalgia about the Games from those who remember them in Atlanta, but there are also difficult topics and experiences that are part of this story. There is a section related to the story of the bombing in the exhibition. The display includes a commemorative set of "Day-by-Day" pins that a fan collected, but Day 9, the day of the bombing, is missing.

"Map of the World" | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
"Map of the World" | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: Visitors should not miss the "Map of the World" painted by Olympic athletes staying in the Olympic Village on the Georgia Tech campus. What are some significant things to look for in this vibrant painting?

Sarah: This relief map of the world was sitting in the Olympic Village at Georgia Tech where Olympians resided for the duration of the Games. The Olympians painted and painted and painted over the course of the two weeks! There are five panels and we invite you to stare at it for a while. You'll see signatures, doodles next to athletes' countries and states, and there's even a tiny Izzy!

1996 Paralympic Medals | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
1996 Paralympic Medals | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: The Olympic and Paralympic medals on display are stunning. Are there any surprises here?

Sarah: The text on the back of the 1996 Paralympic Medals is in Braille. Some medals since '96 include Braille on the front. The Paralympic Games go back to 1948, to the Stoke Mandeville Games, the predecessor of the modern Paralympic Games, and an event that was established as an athletic forum for British veterans of World War II. It was in very recent history that the U.S. Olympic Committee changed their name to be more inclusive. Today they are know as the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee

Our exhibit parallels how the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games shaped and have affected Atlanta.

Of the Paralympic medals on display, the gold medal is new to our collection and the silver and bronze medals on are on loan from athletes and sponsors.

Hands-Free Interactive Display | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Hands-Free Interactive Display | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: There were some adaptations to the interactive displays throughout the exhibit prior to opening. Share with us how those work?

Sarah: With the onset of the pandemic we pushed the pause button in the spring and considered how we could reopen, a significant concern being tangible interactives and touchscreens. Each section was going to have an interactive element that highlighted learning objectives and asked the visitor to question their own knowledge and ideas. Concerned about sanitation and safety, we transitioned to touchless technology for our digital screens and replaced some of the tangible activities with additional seating for now.

One interactive activity was initially intended for visitors to add a string, color-matched to their age group, to a web of previous responses, weaving their contribution around knobs to select answers to a survey. Now, through a QR Code and online survey, visitors can still contribute and museum staff will string their responses.

Other displays use technology where one's hand becomes the cursor on the screen. It senses your hand placement and movement. There are instructions on how to gesticulate your hand to navigate and enter responses on the display. It's pretty cool, actually!

Autographs | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Autographs | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: I feel that your combining of Olympic and Paralympic histories is brilliantly done. What were the deciding factors in pairing these when those events were actually separated by two weeks and thousands of people?

Sarah: Weaving the Paralympic story more fully into this exhibition was a big priority for us. We spoke with different advisors and community leaders and tuned in to current discussions on both around the world. Successes of disability rights activism have led to increasing parity between the Games over the years, and we wanted the exhibition to show Atlanta’s place in that trajectory.

In addition to that, hosting the Games was nearly a 10-year process for Atlanta, and both the Olympic and Paralympic Games were the result of a great amount of work behind the scenes. It is that work and the resulting platform for larger issues that we wanted to focus on in this exhibition, and that allowed us to break away from an exact chronology at times.

On the Paralympic side of the story, visitors can see how the bidding process was separate from the Olympics and different than it is today. They can see how the healthcare community in Atlanta and activists helped shape the 1996 Paralympics into something more for the disabled community. And they can see connections to larger narratives, like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, the same year it was announced that Atlanta would host the '96 Games, and a major factor in venue construction. It’s a longer story that relates to the increases in parity. The exhibit shows how Atlanta is a step along that path.

Olympic Cauldron model | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Olympic Cauldron model | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: What’s your favorite artifact in the exhibition and why?

Sarah: It has to be the model of the Olympic Cauldron. It has an interesting backstory as it relates to the role of art in the Games, the making of memorable TV moments, and the artist, Siah Armajani. The model is an elaborate and delicate object made of balsa wood. And who could forget the image of Muhamad Ali, who was living with Parkinson's at the time, lighting the Cauldron via a pulley system to officially open the 1996 Games.

It also speaks to the heavy urban redevelopment efforts that come from the Games, and the site of Summerhill with its many layers of history and neighborhood impact. The Cauldron was attached to Atlanta's Olympic Stadium, which was built with re-use in mind. And its connecting piece, the bridge, was intended by the artist to be a symbolic connection between the neighborhood and the Games. After 1996, the stadium was converted into Turner Field, which would be home to the Atlanta Braves for many years. The Olympic Cauldron was moved a few blocks north to Hank Aaron Drive and Fulton Street. Residents of Summerhill have seen recurring plans for change from city leadership and private development, all impacting them and rarely involving them. The Olympic development is just one point in a long story of the neighborhood – a neighborhood where the Cauldron still stands as a recognizable beacon. 

Olympic Stadium model | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Olympic Stadium model | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

wanderlust ATLANTA: The Atlanta History Center is the steward of much of our Olympic and Paralympic history and experiences. Do you feel this exhibit will elicit an emotional response from Atlantans that we’re ready to once again bid for the Olympics? Do you feel this exhibit says we’re ready to host again?

Sarah: The exhibit shouldn't be seen as a bid for another Olympic and Paralympic Games. It's meant to showcase how individuals—you and me and every Atlantan—can shape one's community. And help us learn from and inform our ideas about the future from examples of change in the recent past. 

The biggest takeaway we hope for is that visitors see the Games as much more than a two-week event. In Atlanta, from early 20th century history to ongoing initiatives today, there have been so many pushes to make the city more accommodating for new industry (whether that is rail transit and shipping or movies), for big events and the recognition that comes with them (like the Olympics or the Super Bowl). The Olympics was a "typical" project for Atlanta’s leaders. It was a huge push to put the city on an international stage and that's what it did, but there were also so many other changes happening at the local level that Atlantans can still see, feel, and experience today.

wanderlust ATLANTA: Thank you, Sarah, for the interview. I personally am ecstatic that we again have an '96 Olympics and Paralympics exhibition for locals and visitors from the around the world to explore and experience. Touring the exhibit bought back many wonderful memories from those years and I learned a lot about the Games in Atlanta that I didn't know before. I highly encourage Atlantans, and visitors, to add this exhibition to your must-see list.

Izzy | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor
Izzy | Atlanta History Center | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Atlanta '96: Shaping an Olympic and Paralympic City is on display now at the Atlanta History Center. Please see their website for hours, tickets, and ongoing safety measures. "Thank you!" to Sarah for the interview!