Latest news with #Beltline
Calgary Herald
16-05-2025
- Calgary Herald
Calgary bar manager charged in two cases of sexual assault
The manager of a Beltline bar is facing sexual assault charges relating to two incidents earlier this year, Calgary police said. Article content Article content Someone applying for work at the Fire N Ice bar in the 800 block of 16th Avenue S.W., next to Tomkins Park, alleges she was touched inappropriately without consent during a job interview in January, the Calgary Police Service said in a news release issued Friday. Article content Article content After being temporarily prevented from leaving the bar, the woman was able to exit the establishment and call emergency services, according to police. Article content Article content In a separate incident three months later, a Fire N Ice employee reported her manager violated his position of authority by touching her inappropriately without consent while she was out with friends at a bar downtown, Calgary police said. Article content 'Later that night, the group of friends joined with the manager and headed to a residence downtown, where the manager continued to inappropriately touch and sexually assault the victim,' police added. Article content The second victim was able to report the incident to authorities on the following day. Article content Calgarian Ankit Drall, 31, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of unlawful confinement. Article content 'Sexual contact is never acceptable without clear, voluntary, and specific consent,' said Calgary police Sgt. Paul Ralstin in the written statement. 'Consent must come from a conscious, capable mind and can be given, withdrawn, or withheld at any time.' Article content Police also reminded sexual assault victims there is no time limit in Canada to report a sex crime. Article content
Axios
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Shuttling FIFA fans, no driver needed
Self-driving shuttles could soon carry residents and FIFA World Cup visitors from MARTA's West End station to the breweries and restaurants along the Westside Trail. Driving the news: Project officials are asking the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority for $1.75 million to launch a pilot program with Beep, an autonomous mobility company. Zoom in: The two-mile experiment route would launch in January and run through 2026, Shaun Green, the Beltline's principal engineer, told the board at a called meeting on Monday. It would run on city streets between Atlanta University Center, the rail station and Lee+White every 10 to 15 minutes for roughly 10 hours a day. Follow the money: The award from ATL's transit trust fund would cover roughly 58% of the project's $3 million cost. The Beltline would kick in the remainder. Yes, and: Beltline officials have not settled on a fare; Green said he thinks the rides would be "on the free side" during the pilot program. Zoom out: Beep is one of a growing number of micro-mobility companies using autonomous technology for cities, parks, and business districts. In 2023, Beep and the Cumberland Community Improvement District partnered on a micro-mobility pilot program serving the business area. Green said Beltline officials have been discussing the project with Beep for the past two years. Between the lines: Mayor Andre Dickens' decision in March to punt the construction of Beltline rail to his successor shook up Atlanta's transit future, Etch-A-Sketch-style. How Atlanta plans to move large numbers of people at the same time throughout the city is very much an open question. What they're saying:"As you all know, transit is a part of our whole DNA when it comes to the Beltline," Clyde Higgs, the president and CEO of Atlanta Beltline Inc., told the board. "CliffsNotes version: It's going to require lots of different modes and options, and so this is something, as we try to get ahead of the FIFA World Cup for next year, that we want to experiment with." What's next: The ATL board could vote on the request at the June board meeting. Green said the Beltline would launch a community engagement process while Beep prepares vehicles for the January rollout.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials break ground on park expansion in Atlanta's West End
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, state officials, and other community leaders broke ground on an expansion of Enota Park on Tuesday. Beltline officials say the expansion will take the park from a 0.3-acre playlot to an 8-acre recreational destination. The project is scheduled for completion in Spring 2026. The expanded park will feature three distinct areas that will include a sheltered seating area, a lawn for community gatherings and recreation, a splash pad and play area, a half-court basketball court, and bathrooms. Security cameras, guard rails, and retaining walls will also be installed on-site. 'This original idea is now 16 years old, and we're finally able to bring this to fruition for the neighborhood,' Kevin Burke, ABI's Director of Design, said. 'Among other reasons, I'm especially glad that I've been able to stay with the project and be able to be a part of the team that has designed and will construct this park.' [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Veteran Atlanta Country music radio personality 'Cadillac Jack' has died at age 51 Paramedic accused of assaulting patient in ambulance in Cobb County Mother describes horrifying moments as she watched her SUV burst into flames along GA 400 [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Beltline to break ground on new park in Atlanta's West End
Next week, the Atlanta Beltline will break ground on a new park in the city's West End. According to the organization, residents in Westview lost access to their only playground and field when J.C. Harris Elementary School closed in 1973. Now, more than 50 years later, the Beltline is breaking ground on Enota Park to give the community in that area a walkable, central location for 'neighborhood kids' to 'meet their friends once again.' [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The groundbreaking will be on April 22 at 3 p.m., with officials kicking off construction of what they say will be an expansion of a 0.3-acre playlot on Enota Place. The new park will be almost eight acres by using a combination of 'previously overgrown, wooded, non-developed property and residential land purchased from willing sellers.' TRENDING STORIES: 'Minecraft' mayhem: 'Chicken jockey' trend trashes Sandy Springs movie theater 19-year-old identified as innocent driver killed when chase suspect crashes Multi-million dollar reward offered for brothers accused of running Mexican drug cartel 'Westview has always been a community of strength, resilience, and unity,' Dion Standford, who grew up on Lucille Ave. next to Enota Park and has since moved back into his childhood home said. 'As we embrace new changes and welcome Enota Park, we are not just adding a park—we are investing in the heart and soul of our neighborhood. This park represents more than just land; it represents the next chapter of Westview, a place where the next generation can create memories, just as I did growing up here.' Once the construction is complete, which officials said was supposed to take 18 months to finish, it'll feature areas for concerts, basketball, a splash pad, large lawn, a boardwalk, multiple overlooks and separate bathrooms and utility buildings. Security cameras, guard rails and retaining walls will also be installed on-site. 'This original idea is now 16 years old, and we're finally able to bring this to fruition for the neighborhood,' Kevin Burke, ABI's Director of Design, said. 'Among other reasons, I'm especially glad that I've been able to stay with the project and be able to be a part of the team that has designed and will construct this park.' Funding to build the new park comes from a combination of public and private sources. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Kandi Burruss's weekend guide to Atlanta
The musician, producer and Real Housewives: Atlanta breakout star loves her hometown. Here are her top local picks, from brunch at Toast to people watching at the Beltline. Atlanta – the state capital of Georgia and the unofficial capital of the American South – started its life as a railroad terminus in 1837 and has served as a hub for American culture ever since. Ranking among the top cities for US tourism, Atlanta consistently draws visitors with its dynamic contemporary art scene and iconic soul food, as well as its abundance of greenery and sprawling historic estates. One of the main epicentres of the hip hop industry, it has also secured its place in music history, nurturing a long line of homegrown talent – like Kandi Burruss, the Atlanta-born singer, songwriter, producer and star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The future songstress was raised in the Atlanta suburb of East Point, where she attended Tri-Cities High School of Visual and Performing Arts and met the other members of R&B girl group Xscape; later going on to co-write the 1993 hit No Scrubs for TLC. Burruss joined the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast for its sophomore season in 2010, becoming a fan favourite and one of the longest-tenured housewives before leaving the show in 2024. Her latest venture takes her to New York City as she and her husband, Todd Tucker, co-produce the new Broadway production of Othello at the Barrymore Theatre, starring Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. But Burruss is an Atlanta girl through and through. "I was born and raised in Atlanta, so I am Atlanta," she says. "This is home base for me." Her time on Real Housewives allowed her to celebrate her Atlanta roots, and chronicled meeting her husband and the birth of her son, Ace. "It's been kind of cool to say I can go back and watch 14 years of my life," she says. "It was a great experience." Cameras followed Burruss and her co-stars as they crisscrossed the city to attend fashion shows; local restaurants, like 80-year-old Mary Mac's Tea Room; and major landmarks like the Georgia Aquarium, which set the scene for one of the show's beloved end-of-season reunions. Burruss owns various enterprises in town, including two restaurants and her business camp The Kandi Factory HQ ("You have to have an invite," she says), which put her at the heart of Atlanta's often over-the-top social scene. "Atlanta is a vibe," she declares. "It's a great place for work, fun, and the weather hits all four seasons; it's such a place to be." Here are Burruss's favourite ways to experience her hometown of Atlanta. 1. Best shopping: Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza If visitors are looking to drop some major coin, Burruss isn't against hitting up some of the most recognisable spots in Atlanta. "People always go to Lenox [Square] or Phipps [Plaza] if they want to shop," she says. Both malls are in the city's upscale Buckhead neighbourhood and include the designer labels that Burruss and her co-stars wear on the show, like Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Dior. The Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead and the InterContinental Buckhead Altanta hotels, both located nearby, played host to the Real Housewives of Atlanta for various events, like Nene Leakes's wedding in 2013. Website: 3393 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326Phone: +14042336767Instagram: @lenoxsqmall Website: 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326Phone: +14042620992Instagram: @shopphippsplaza 2. Best brunch: Toast Atlanta has 53 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide (and eateries like Fishmonger and Staplehouse have taken top spots on Bon Appétit's Best New Restaurants listings in recent years), but diners can also enjoy the city's iconic Southern dishes like fried chicken at The Busy Bee Cafe and peach cobbler at Ms Ruby's Peach Cobbler Café in Buckhead. Anyone looking to refuel after a late night or keep the party going after a big celebration can opt for brunch; another reality TV standby. While Burruss famously doesn't imbibe, she's happy to recommend her favourite spot. "If I wanted to get up and go to brunch, it's a place called Toast. They have a great brunch," Burruss says of the trendy eatery, found just outside of Atlanta's Buckhead neighbourhood. "The food is really good." Visitors can feast on "New American Brunch" dishes like strawberry-shortcake French toast or fried catfish and grits, while fans of Real Housewives will recognise the restaurant as the spot where Burruss feuded with her co-star Marlo Hampton at Shereé Whitfield's Keepin' it Gucci brunch in 2023. Website: 2770 Lenox Rd Suite B-1, Atlanta, GA 30324Phone: +14047484594Instagram: @toastonlenox 3. Best place to catch up with your girlfriends: Frost Bistro & Bar As Burruss knows, getting a group of girlfriends together is no easy feat. So she looks for venues with good vibes and good music to accompany any tea that might get spilled (gossip) when she and her girls get together. "My friend Rasheeda owns a place called Frost Bistro. We might hang out there, because they play good music," Burruss says. Fans of reality TV may also remember the restaurant from VH1's Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. Rasheeda and Kirk Frost, who have headlined the show since 2012, opened the casual Southern-style bistro back in 2020, offering a breakfast and brunch menu full of inventive cocktails and modern, stick-to-your-ribs Georgia-style dishes. "I like the oxtail and grits, the snapper and the French toast," says Burruss. Website: 281 Peters St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313Phone: +14049635495Instagram: @frostbistro 4. Best place to bring first-time visitors: Atlantic Station Atlantic Station is a favourite for locals and tourists, thanks to its views, restaurants and family-friendly attractions. The building was once a steel mill and has since been transformed into a collection of boutiques, eateries and apartments in addition to a rooftop amusement park. Its location between Atlanta's West Side, Home Park and South Buckhead makes it easy for visitors to get to no matter where they're coming from. "You want to go to Atlantic Station. They always have a lot of kids hanging out and playing," Burruss says. "I just took my son and his friends to Skyline Park at Ponce City Market. [They] have great restaurants in that building and on the rooftop is where Skyline Park is. So, you get an amazing view of the city." Skyline Park includes a miniature golf course, a three-storey slide, and Heege Tower, which gives riders a 360-degree view of Bucktown, Midtown and downtown Atlanta. Website: 1380 Atlantic Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30363Phone: +14049007900Instagram: @atlanticstation 5. Best outdoor experience: the Beltline In a past life, Atlanta's Beltline was a rail corridor that circled the city. Now, it's a pedestrian-friendly path where Burruss goes to soak up the sun. The star notes that it attracts people from all over the city, making it prime for people-watching. Its trails extend more than 11 miles and notable stops include the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum, The Beacon and Krog Street Market. Public art is on display, too, including rotating exhibitions of sculptures, murals and performances throughout the year. "Especially when the weather is good," Burrus says. "That's a fun time, because I like to just walk and people-watch. There's stops along the way where you can eat. In the summer, I like to ride my bike on the Beltline. I think that's kind of cool and fun." Website: 619 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312Phone: +14044773003Instagram: @atlantabeltline BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers. -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
