Welcome to Hotlanta, Y'all!

This was definitely not in the brochure...but no complaints.  It was a stunningly beautiful morning. 

 

 
 

Atlanta Chronicled

I haven't had much time to hang around the Lair lately, as I've been busy exploring and photographing my new city over at Atlanta Chronicled.  Go ahead...take a look.  You know you want to.

Iran So Far Away

Watching the post-election events in Iran has been a very emotional experience for me. My heart breaks for the people in the street who were brutalized, beaten, gassed, shot and murdered by their own government And, I'm so, so sad for their families and friends. I'm afraid for those who have been rounded up and imprisoned. But, I'm also deeply moved by the bravery of those fighting in the streets against injustice and corruption. I understand the rage generated by a stolen election, and I stand in awe at their raw courage.

The images that made it out of Iran tell the story of a people desperate for change. And, I can't help but to think of the incredible joy that I felt watching the era of the Bush / Cheney regime come to a close on the day of President Obama's inauguration. My only wish now for the people of Iran is that they soon know that same feeling of joy. And, I believe that they will.

I think it's obvious that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon be completely irrelevant. His smirky arrogance, his uneducated simple-mindedness, and his belligerant love of power worked well during the Bush years. Ahmadinejad and Bush needed each other. Bush needed a scary Axis of Evil to entertain the USA-chanting masses, and Ahmadinejad needed a Crusading Western Empire to keep his power flowing. And the common good-hearted people of both countries were caught in the middle.

But, now Bush is gone, and against the wishes of the dwindling GOP, President Obama has refused to step into the required role. Obama's brilliant speech in Cairo left Ahmadinejad standing alone. And the people of Iran voted to accept Obama's invitation to a better world. Unfortunately, their voices were denied by system-wide election rigging. And then, they took to the streets.

I don't know exactly how the story will play out. But, I do know that Obama's promise of change in the world is coming to pass, and I know that eventually the people of Iran will know hope. Until then, I will hope for them.

This past Saturday, I had the honor of witnessing some from the Iranian-American community here in Atlanta, stand up in solidarity with the people in their homeland. It was a very moving experience. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to take part, but I've joined the local Facebook group and next time, I'm so there.

On The Beach

This past weekend, we were finally able to make it to the High Museum of Art, here in Atlanta. It's an impressive museum space, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, and it houses a significant collection of 19th and 20th century American and European art, African-American art, and some outstanding contemporary and modern pieces. The High (as it's often called here), has a partnership with the Louvre and is currently exhibiting Claude Monet's "Water Lilies," which was fairly interesting.

But, I was really intrigued and moved by an exhibit of Richard Misrach's photography series, "On The Beach." Each photo was huge, in some cases measuring 6 x 10 feet, and the detail captured in each was just extraordinary. The photos are of people in the ocean, and/or on the beach in various positions and postures - but photographed from an almost omniscient spot high above.

As Misrach explains, "The photographs that appear in On the Beach were made between January 2002 and November 2005. My thinking was influenced by the events of 9/11, as well as by the 1950s Cold War novel and film, On the Beach. I was drawn to the fragility and grace of the human figure in the landscape. For me, the work is both a celebration of our survival and an elegy. Paradise has become an uneasy dwelling place; the sublime sea frames our vulnerability, the precarious nature of life itself."

Truly fantastic.

On The Road Again

Did I mention that we're moving to Atlanta next week? Well, we are.

Way Up North In The Deep South

Tony, Olga and I roadtripped to Atlanta over the long weekend to visit the Stimpasaurus. The Deep South sure is far north of Miami....about 10 hours north. But it was well worth the grueling drive....

Should We Stay Or Should We Go?

Tony and I had a FANTASTIC time in Atlanta. So much so in fact, that we're wondering if it might be time to try out a new city. I have a great life in Miami, and I've definitely laid down deep roots. I know this city inside and out, and, I love the cultural exchange that happens here. And, well, it sure is pretty here.

But, for some time now, I've been longing for another life adventure. Tony moved here a little over a decade ago, and he's always felt a kind of mild disconnect from Miami, so he's up for discussing a relocation. I let you know how the discussion goes.

Oh, and here are some vacation pics...

Up North In The Deep South

Tony and I are heading way up North, to the Deep South today. We've got an unreal estate conference in Atlanta, and we're super-duper excited to be able to hang with Stimpy for a few days. I have only been through Atlanta once before, and I've spent about 12 hours in total there...but I was really impressed with the vibe. I'll have a more complete analysis when I get back. In the meantime, while we're enjoying the Georgia Aquarium, hiking around Stone Mountain and stalking Anderson Cooper, take a look at some of these interesting factoids about the ATL...

1. In 1842, Marthasville, Georgia had just 30 residents.

2. In December of 1847, Marthasville changed its name to Atlanta.

3. Atlanta has the highest elevation of any city east of Denver.

4. The Bank of America Plaza is the tallest building in the United States, outside of New York City and Chicago.

5. Nearly 60 % of the population of Atlanta is African-American, and almost 7% of the city is Latino.

6. At 12.6%, Atlanta has the third highest percentage of Gay and Lesbian couples of any major city in the United States.

7. Atlanta is home to CNN, the CDC and Coca-Cola.

8. Between 2000 and 2006, the Atlanta metro region grew by an astounding 20.5%, making it the fastest growing metro region in the nation.

9. The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world.

10. Stimpy lives in Atlanta.

*Factoids sampled from Wikipedia