MJCCA Announces (May 6, 2012) For The 19th Annual Harris Jacobs Dream Run

NEW DATE AND NEW DISTANCE AS
700+ RUNNERS EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
MARCUS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF ATLANTA’S
19TH ANNUAL HARRIS JACOBS DREAM RUN
SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2012

Project GIVE Collects Running Shoes for
“Back On My Feet Atlanta”

Photo L-R: Natalie Rachael and Cami Mittleman join hundreds of runners, young and old, at the 2010 Harris Jacobs Dream Run. (Photo Credit: MJCCA)

(ATLANTA – April 9, 2012) The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) is proud to present the 19th annual Harris Jacobs Dream Run (HJDR) on Sunday, May 6, 2012, at the MJCCA – Zaban Park campus (5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, 30338). This year’s race features a new 5K distance as well as a half-mile agility fun run/walk for those 12 and younger. The annual event honors the memory of a past president of the MJCCA, beloved member of the Atlanta Jewish community, and staunch children’s advocate, Harris Jacobs. Proceeds from the run help fund youth sports scholarships for children. The first 500 runners will receive a microfiber high-performance t-shirt. Participants are encouraged to form running teams (at least five members) within the community as part of the HJDR Team Challenge.

Former state Senator and DeKalb CEO Liane Levetan, a staunch HJDR supporter, said, “It has been my privilege to work on the Harris Jacobs Dream Run for many years. We celebrate the 19th anniversary of this great event and continue to honor the memory of a truly outstanding friend and human being. During his life, Harris did so much to touch the lives of this community and nation. This event provides scholarships for children to participate in many sports activities and educational programs that would not otherwise be available to them due to financial constraints.”

What: 5K Run/Walk; Half-mile Agility Run
Where: MJCCA Zaban Park Campus (5342 Tilly Mill Rd., Dunwoody, 30338)
When: Sunday, May 6, 2012
Time: 7:30 am: Half-mile Agility Fun Run/Walk
8:00 am: 5K Road Race and Race-walk
Fees: $25 (through April 22, 2012)
$30 (after April 22 and on Race Day)
Phantom Runner: $30 (Support the event without breaking a sweat!)
Register: Online at www.active.com (keyword: dream run)
Downloadable forms at www.atlantajcc.org/HJDR,
Race day registration begins on-site at 7:00 am.

DONATE GENTLY USED ATHLETIC SHOES TO SUPPORT PROJECT GIVE: BACK ON MY FEET ATLANTA
Project GIVE is collecting gently used running shoes for Back On My Feet Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. Donations will be taken every day in April and May culminating with the biggest collection days at the Harris Jacobs Dream Run May 6 and the Youth Triathlon May 20.

HARRIS JACOBS DREAM RUN BACKGROUNDER
Harris Jacobs was a beloved member of the Jewish community in Atlanta who made time in his busy life to serve as president of the MJCCA and as a member of many boards and charitable organizations. He also was an active member of the Georgia Bar Association and the American Bar Association. As a result of his deep love for children and his passionate belief that all children should be able to participate in sports, the HJDR was founded in his name shortly after his death. His memory is not only honored by the many thousands of runners who have participated over the years, but also by the proceeds raised which make it possible for children, who might not otherwise have the means, to participate in basketball, swimming, tennis, baseball, and other recreational and educational programs.

In 2011, more than 600 runners and their families helped to provide scholarships for outstanding MJCCA youth sports programs including the Developmentally Disabled After-School Recreation program, the youth Maccabi Games®, and the Harris Jacobs Softball League. While Harris Jacobs’s untimely death was a great loss to the Jewish community, the HJDR promises to keep his dream of ensuring that all children are given the opportunity to participate in youth sports alive.

The first 500 registered runners will receive our official 2012 Harris Jacobs Dream Run microfiber high performance technical t-shirt. Awards and door prizes will also be presented.
Take advantage of the HJDR’s distance and timing to tune-up for the Peachtree Road Race (5K, 2 months prior)

COMMIT TO STAY FIT
Participants in the race are invited to visit the MJCCA’s state-of-the-art Total Health Fitness Center. All runners are entitled to two complimentary guest passes. For more information, please contact DeAnne Jacobson, HJDR event director/total health group fitness director, at 678.812.4025. HJDR Registration Forms are available online at www.atlantajcc.org/HJDR, or www.active.com (keyword: dream run), or in person at MJCCA’s Zaban Park.

VOLUNTEER DREAM TEAM NEEDED
The race requires approximately 60 volunteers to help with registration, the starting line, water stations on the course, and at the finish line. To volunteer, please contact DeAnne Jacobson, HJDR/group fitness director, at 678.812.4025, or visit www.atlantajcc.org to sign up.

ABOUT THE MARCUS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF ATLANTA
The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), “The Center of the Community,” is committed to strengthening the quality of life in Atlanta and is recognized as one of the most highly-regarded Jewish community centers in the nation. From preschoolers and teens to young adults and seniors, the MJCCA offers unique and engaging programs, events, and services for every member of the community. For more information, please visit us online at atlantajcc.org.

Video: Geyser Towers Launch

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Welcome to the first and only adventure of its kind. Geyser Towers brings an all-new, must-do experience to Stone Mountain Park. Multiple levels of suspended rope bridges and net tunnels connect you to towering platforms that overlook the gushing geyser. With its sporadic eruptions and multiple offshoots, you can play in the spray or stay high and dry. The options, and the fun, are all yours.

Ideal for the whole family, Geyser Towers offers plenty of room for adults and the perfect amount of excitement for the kids. As an option for our littlest guests, toddlers can splash in a trickling creek while mom and dad relax in the shade.

Get your Mountain Membership today to enjoy this all-new attraction plus many more all year long!

All footage shot is exclusively owned by Stone Mountain Park.

FREE Family Reunion Planning Workshop – Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Courtyard Marriott Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory

Click here for more information about the Courtyard Marriott Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory.

Callanwolde Presents ‘Jazz On The Lawn 2012′ – A Summer Outdoor Jazz Concert Series

Callanwolde Jazz On The Lawn 2012 Series

In a perfect setting for summer outdoor concerts, Callanwolde’s Jazz on the Lawn Concert Series showcases a lineup of Atlanta’s finest jazz treasures performing a mix of classic and contemporary jazz, swing, fusion, Latin and blues. Surrounded by the natural beauty of Callanwolde’s lush grounds it’s a great way to unwind as you listen to an evening of live music. Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy these special concerts under the stars. Jazz on the Lawn continues throughout the summer as Callanwolde hosts a brilliant selection of jazz artists on the following dates:

Friday, June 15 at 7:30 pm
Serenata Band – Latin Jazz, Samba & Salsa

Callanwolde opens its 2012 series with Serenata, Atlanta’s highly acclaimed Latin band, creating an unforgettable, international sound experience. Luis Cordero leads a 7-piece band that plays an energized evening of Latin jazz, samba, salsa and other creative styles with sax, flute, congas, bongos and timbales.

Friday, June 29 at 7:30 pm
Joe Gransden and Maria Howell – Classic Jazz

Two great jazz talents combine to create a perfect blend of jazz instrumentals and vocals. Joe has performed worldwide with eight cds under his name. Renowned for the hard bop approach of his trumpet, Gransden’s singing voice has been compared to Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra. Maria Howell, a favorite jazz vocalist in Atlanta, has performed internationally and is best known for her skilled solo performance in the movie “The Color Purple”.

Friday, July 13 at 7:30 pm
Bernard Linnette Interactive – Energetic Avant-Garde Jazz

Jazz drummer Bernard Linnette receives well-deserved accolades that testify to the perfection he strives for. The Interactive Sextet melds articulate horn arrangements with Linnette’s energetic, yet defined drum style for a blend of straight-ahead, Latin and avant-garde jazz styles.

Friday, July 27 at 7:30 pm
Faith – Eclectic Blend

Faith Carmichael, songwriter, storyteller and jazz vocalist leads a five-piece band known simply as “Faith”. They have crafted a lush, unique sound that defies genre, calling it “soul-jazz-folk”, an eclectic blend that highlights Carmichael’s powerful vocals alongside this group of highly respected jazz musicians.

Friday, August 10 at 7:30 pm
Scott Glazer’s Mojo Dojo –Southern Soul Jazz

Scott Glazer’s Mojo Dojo has been performing quality jazz, blues and southern soul at events across the south and internationally for over a decade. As bassist and featured vocalist, Scott performs with some of Atlanta’s top veterans and young bloods in a lineup of sax, trumpet, piano, drums and guitar. Their repertoire ranges from the Great American Songbook to fresh takes on the music of the Allman Bros, Percy Mayfield and Otis Redding.

Information
Tickets: $15 advance purchase online; $20 at the door. Buy tickets online at ticketleap.com starting May 15.
In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Callanwolde’s indoor Courtyard.
Parking is free and on-site. For more information call 404-872-5338 or visit callanwolde.org.

Exclusive Discount at the Callan Cafe Located Inside Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Please print this page to redeem the coupon below at the Callan Cafe. Thanks!

Callan Cafe - Located Inside Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Atlanta Arab Festival Returns on April 28 & 29, 2012 at the Alif Institute

The Atlanta Arab Festival is a fascinating opportunity to learn more about Arab culture through educational exhibits, live performances, storytelling and traditional food. In 2011, the festival drew about 2,700 attendees. This year’s event will feature lots of great entertainment as well as local restaurants, merchants and artists who will be selling meals, Arabic products and art items. 

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:

- Cultural and educational exhibit relating to the Arab culture and Arab Americans
- Performances: music, singing, folk dancing, traditional fashion show
- Storytelling, arts and crafts for children and youth
- Games for all age including backgammon competitions
- Delicious food from several local Arab restaurants and caterers
- Great shopping at the Souk (market)

The event will be held on Saturday (April 28) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday (April 29) from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Alif Insititute is located at 3288 Marjan Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30340.

For more information, visit www.AtlantaArabFestival.com.

35th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Returns May 26-28, 2012 to Piedmont Park

The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs celebrates the 35th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, Memorial Day weekend, May 26 – 28, 2012 in Historic Piedmont Park. The Festival weekend will feature music on three stages with performances by jazz legends and young guns and is FREE and open to the public. The Festival experience will also include a Jazz Eco Village, interactive kids play areas, jazz education workshops, and vendors displaying some of the city’s finest arts & crafts, food & drinks, and merchandise. The Atlanta Jazz Festival is the perfect way to start your Memorial Day weekend!

The mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival is to expose and entertain a diverse audience of Jazz aficionados, young Jazz enthusiasts and musical artists to the rich heritage and variety of Jazz as an authentic form of traditional American music. Regarded as one of the country’s largest free jazz festivals, they are proud to continue a tradition of presenting Jazz in its purest form as a cultural and educational event for millions of citizens and visitors.

The Atlanta Jazz Festival provides the City with an opportunity to unify Atlanta’s diverse population, to celebrate Atlanta’s rich cultural heritage and to promote tourism.

In 1977 organizers of the first “Atlanta Free Jazz Festival” wanted to host a celebration where the music would be a liberated art form at no cost to the community. Only the best jazz would do. They pulled together the 29 act festival on a shoestring budget with sponsors such as Coca Cola and Peaches Record Store. By 1984 when ‘Free’ was dropped from the name the Atlanta Jazz Festival had major national sponsorship and a reputation for pulling in some of the top Jazz artists in the world but the commitment to keep the jazz free flowing and the festival free of charge remained. Over the years the Atlanta Jazz Festival has been backdrop to musical legends such as Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn, Herbie Hancock, The Heath Brothers, Nina Simone and others.

For more information, visit www.atlantafestivals.com.