Posted on:
Apr 13th, 2011 By:
Anya99
Atlanta’s quintessential weekend in the park, the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park has always been a crowded but laidback affair with bands, art vendors, food, kids’ activities and dogs who chase Frisbees. So when organizers looked for something to make its 75th anniversary year even more memorable, ATLRetro is jazzed that they decided to think backwards to a ride that has been the signature of world’s fairs, expositions and festivals of bygone days—a Ferris wheel.
And what a Ferris wheel they found—the Seattle Wheel. The largest traveling Ferris wheel in the nation at nine stories high, it seats four abreast in each car and was built in 1963 for the Seattle World’s Fair. That’s big for most Ferris wheels of today with the exception of stationary giants such as the London Eye. To put it into perspective, the first Big Wheel, designed to rival the Eiffel Tower in its mechanical wonder, was built for the legendary Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Its cars were 24 feet wide and carried up to 60 people!
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Category: Features | Tags: Brian Hill, carousel, Chicago World's Fair, Cotton States and International Exposition, Dogwood Festival, Ferris wheel, Lake Clara Meer, log flume, London Eye, Piedmont Park, Seattle Wheel, shooting the chutes, Six Flags, vintage rides
Posted on:
Apr 12th, 2011 By:
Anya99
Last week was fairly quiet when it came to Retro-inspired activities in Atlanta, So ATLRetro took a bit of a rest. This week starts slowly, too, but once Saturday hits, even I’m not sure what to do. Let’s just say EVERYTHING happens all at once and ATLRetro revs back up, too, with a bunch of special features including a bedazzling look back at last month’s Southern Fried Burlesque courtesy of the tantalizing Talloolah Love, an exclusive preview of Saturday night’s The Chamber Reunion courtesy of Kool Kat of the Week Mon Cherie, the Dogwood Festival celebrates its 75th anniversary with two vintage amusement rides, and more.
Monday April 11
An acclaimed musician whom B.B. King says has “soul,” D.B. Rielly takes rock and country back to its roots at Smith’s Olde Bar, with back-to-the-basics, ’70s-rock-inspired Saturn 5 and alt-folk Little Brave also on the bill. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam.
Tuesday April 12
Splatter Cinema travels back to 1985 with A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY’S REVENGE at 9:30 PM at the Plaza Theatre. While ATLRetro reviewer Mark Arson admits the first sequel may not be the most creative of the Krueger movies, it still features a lot of fun scares, and you know the Splatter gang will dream up a photo op that will haunt your sleep.
Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 PM. J.T. Speed plays the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Notorious DJ Romeo Cologne spins the best ‘70s funk and disco at 10 High in Virginia-Highland. Catch Tuesday Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon, featuring live video mixes of ’80s, ’90s, and 2Ks hits. Or go really retro with the Atlanta Opera‘s COSI FAN TUTTE at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. In Mozart’s comedic masterpiece, two Italian officers boast of their fiancees’ faithfulness, only to have a clever friend put it to the test.
Wednesday April 13
Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Deacon Brandon Reeves and Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck bring on the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack and Northside Tavern respectively. Dance to ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s hits during Retro in the Metro Wednesdays presented by Godiva Vodka, at Pub 71 in Brookhaven, starting at 8 PM.
Thursday April 14
ATHENS BURNING, a documentary about the history of the historic Georgia Theatre, a key venue in the college town’s famous music scene, screens at The Plaza Theatre at 7:30 PM. Cowboy Envy strums up some mighty fine traditional and original Western tunes at Atlanta’s tastiest new concert venue, Kathmandu Kitchen and Grill, formerly Pho Truc, in Clarkston from 8-10 PM. Listen to Tongo Hiti’s luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as some trippy takes on iconic pop songs, just about every Thursday night at Trader Vic’s. Watch the classic Gregory Peck–Audrey Hepburn romance-on-a-motorscooter movie ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953), drink some wine, hear Free Poems on Demand, and check out PASSIONE ITALIANA: DESIGN OF THE ITALIAN MOTORCYCLE during MODA‘s Thursday night Drink in Design from 6-8 PM. Party ‘70s style with DJ Romeo Cologne at Aurum Lounge. Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.
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Category: This Week in ATLRetro | Tags: Artifice Club, Athens Burning, Athens scene, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Rollergirls, Aurum Lounge, Blair Crimmins, Breeze Kings, Brian Hogans, Chickenshack, Clermont Lounge, Clockwork Carnival, Cobb Energy Centre, Cosi fan tutte, Cowboy Envy, d.b. rielly, Danny Mudcat Dudeck, Davenport Sisters, Deacon Brandon Reeves, Deadwood Saloon, Denim Demons, Dirty South Derby Girls, Dixie Tavern, DJ Doctor Q, Dogwood Festival, Fat Matt's Rib Shack, Fernbank, Freddy Krueger, Gentleman Jesse, Goat Farm, Graveyard Tavern, Henri Cartier-Bresson, High Museum of Art, Hollidays, Hot Toddies Flaming Cabaret, Imperial Opa, J.T. Speed, Jackson County Line, Joe Gransden, Kathmandu Kitchen and Grill, Kenny Banks, Lefty Williams, little brave, Mansion on Peachtree, mark arson, Martinis & Imax, Masquerade, moda, Mon Cherie, motorcycles, Mozart, Nightmare on Elm Street, Northside Tavern, passione italiana, Pho Truc, Piedmont Park, Plaza Theatre, Psycho Devilles, Pub 71, pyro salto, Raveonettes, Reagan Rock prom, Retro in the Metro, roller derby, Roman Holiday, romeo cologne, Sadie Hawkins, salsambo, saturn 5, Seattle Wheel, Sidelines, Smith's Olde Bar, Splatter Cinema, Star Bar, steampunk, Swamp Funk Quartet, swing dancing, Taj Mahal, Talloolah Love, Tampa Tantrums, The Basement, The Chamber, The Earl, The Loft, thimblerig circus, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Tongo Hiti, Toxic Shocks, Trader Vic's, Twain's, Variety Playhouse, Wanda Jackson, Yaarab Shrine Center