President's Pick of the Month - The Sound Table

I tried a couple of new places this month looking for something new, fresh, and exciting. Of all the places I tried, the only place that stood out was The Sound Table. From beginning to end it was the best dinner experience I have had in a while, and after you read this blog you will know why.

Formerly Over Da Edge, The Sound Table opened a month ago to rave reviews. Jeff Myers, the owner of Top Flr, partnered with DJ Karl Injex and Darren Carr to create a place that combines the three things they love most: music, quality cocktails and fantastic food. When I visited The Sound Table for the first time I was able to meet Karl Injex and talk about his vision for the restaurant. I was impressed with his passion for what he was doing and his laid-back cool demeanor. The second thing that impressed me was that one of my favorite mixologists, Navarro Carr (formerly of Beleza), was behind the bar. When I saw Navarro I knew that these guys were serious about their cocktails because you don’t find Navarro at your average bar.

The modern wooden furniture is a nice backdrop for the eclectic music that is different each night. The owners choose a variety of DJs during the week to display their love of good sounds. The two-story building includes an upstairs restaurant for the serious foodies and a downstairs bar for eating and drinking. So now let’s get to my favorite part … THE FOOD!

When I first looked at the menu I was intrigued by so many of the selections that it was hard to decide. My two friends and I decided to create a tapas like situation and order a few things and just taste everything. Here’s what we ordered: Peruvian Ceviche, Oaxacan Hangar Steak, Belgian Style Frites and the Chinese Ribs. I have to be honest- I don’t know what I loved most! The made to order ceviche is served deconstructed on the plate and has a fresh, sweet, citrus taste that I’m still dreaming about today. Then there are the ribs … the ribs … the ribs!! Although I am not a huge fan of pork ribs, I tried them after my friends insisted. So glad I did. These ribs melt in your mouth! I’m not going to go on and on and about them, I’m just going to say this. Five minutes after tasting the first rib, my friends and I placed an order for seconds. Need I say more??

The Sound Table represents what every good lounge should have: fabulous drinks, insanely good food, sounds to massage the ear and a cool unpretentious atmosphere. So check it out with friends or make it your first date spot, because this is one place you don’t want to miss!

The Sound Table
483 Edgewood Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30305

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Experience Atlanta Streets Alive, Sunday, May 23

Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, the Centers for Disease Control, and other partners present Atlanta Streets Alive, a car-free, family-friendly festival in downtown Atlanta Sunday, May 23 from 1:00-6:00 p.m.

The event will close to vehicular traffic a mile of Edgewood Avenue west of Boulevard to Woodruff Park, while opening that section of Edgewood to recreational use.

“Come experience downtown like you’ve never experienced it before!” said Hall. “No cars. Just people. You, your friends, and family--and strollers, hula hoops, tango lessons, break-dancing, people-watching, bike riding.” Modeled after “Car-Free Sunday” events around the world, this vendor-free festival encourages participants to get active, eat at Edgewood restaurants and cafes along the route, and enjoy the city.

Although participants can join in the fun at any point along the route, there will be a short kick-off ceremony at 1:00 p.m. at Woodruff Park. The park will be home to a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the afternoon. The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition will host a bike station where people can rest their bikes, get their helmet fit checked, watch kids participate in a bike rodeo, or just learn more about bicycle issues and opportunities in Atlanta.

For information about the route, a roster of program activities, and event partners, visit www.atlantastreetsalive.com

For additional information or questions, contact Councilman Hall’s office at (404) 330-6038 / khall@atlantaga.gov Day-of-event media contact: (404) 406-5296 Read more ...

Haiti: Four Months after Catastrophe

Four months following the devastating earthquake that claimed numerous lives, Haiti is still in need. Forgotten by some, many Haitians still living in the Port au Prince area are going through the rebuilding of their city and remain hopeful. Read bits of CNN reporter Moni Basu's online article, "Four months after 'the catastrophe,' Haitians still in emergency mode". View the entire article and video here http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/11/haiti.then.now/index.html?iref=allsearch


Four months on, the tragedy of the massive January 12 earthquake is fresh.

Relief operations thwarted widespread hunger here and so far, there have been no reports of killer disease outbreaks. But Port-au-Prince is very much running in emergency mode. Still.

No humanitarian worker will argue with that sad fact.
Despite the efforts and good intentions of a host of foreigners and a government that got a wake-up call, progress has been timidly slow.

The future has a different meaning now for Haitians such as Edline Pierre, who worries not about where to enroll her three daughters in school but how to get them up off the floor fast enough when the rains start falling.

Haitians, who have lived through political turmoil, extreme violence and grinding poverty, will tell you the earthquake was the worst experience of their lives.

Whether a new city can rise from the rubble of Port-au-Prince remains in question, though Haitians are hopeful something good must come out of an event this tragic. They have to be.

They have nothing left but hope. And faith.

That's why if you peek down lanes on a steamy afternoon, you'll see a gathering of people under a tent, their arms stretched skyward, their eyes closed. And you'll hear the Lord's Prayer.


You'll hear it, too, every Sunday morning, before the sun gets hot, at Notre Dame, the main cathedral in Port-au-Prince. The building is shattered, but not the congregation's faith. They still come to the place where, every week, they are re-energized by their belief in Christ.


Several Haitians said they feared the world's goodwill would quickly fade now that the throngs of media have left and the spotlight has turned elsewhere. Edna Dunrod was one of them.


She worried she was forgotten, lying on a smelly mattress under three tattered bed sheets that serve as a roof in the Champs de Mars tent city. Last month, she gave birth to Marvins, asleep in a plastic tub under a foldable umbrella.


Life with a newborn in this congested camp, she said, was unbearable.


"I want to go somewhere else," she said. But where, she worried. And who would help her reclaim her life? Read more ...

President's Pick of the Month - Food for Life Supreme

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine called me raving about this restaurant, Food for Life Supreme and said that I had to try it. So I decided to check it out.

As soon as I entered the restaurant, I noticed the bright décor and welcoming attitude of the staff. The menu at Food for Life Supreme includes breakfast, lunch and dinner items prepared with organic ingredients that are made to be healthy. This restaurant definitely proves that you don’t have to compromise taste for healthy eating. The wings were superb, the vegetables were wonderful and the fried fish was so good I don’t want to talk about it! Other menu items that caught my eye were the salmon bacon, the carrot fries, the homemade wheat bread and the alkaline water. After enjoying my lunch, I wanted to know how I had missed this little gem in the West End community, so I did a little research.

Here’s what I found … Food for Life Supreme is a part of an educational system started by a group of concerned parents and community members in Kansas City. This group wanted a real life component in the learning process for their kids. They created a school that allowed their students to learn how to run a restaurant in an actual restaurant. Students attend the school in Kansas City and are allowed to choose one of the 10 Food for Life Restaurants to work in around the country. Everyone on staff is either a volunteer or a full time student. So this explains why my waiter looked so young. There is also something special about the Atlanta restaurant- all of the décor from the floor to the ceiling was designed and created by students of the university. How cool is that??

Food for Life Supreme has been serving healthy food in the West End for the past five years and I can’t believe I’ve missed it all this time. If you’re looking for a place to “be seen” or “mix and mingle”, this is not where you want to go. But if you’re looking for great tasting, healthy food in a casual atmosphere, you should check it out because it’s definitely on my faves list!

Food for Life Supreme
880 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
http://www.foodforlifesupreme.com/
404-880-9759

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Are you Ready for the 2010 NUL Conference in DC?

Otis Threatt (L) and William Bryant (R) with Urban
Influence publisher at the NUL conference in Chicago

This year, National Urban League (NUL) celebrates 100 years and will host its annual Conference in DC, July 28-31. We’re so excited and can’t wait to make the trip to such a powerful district to mingle and learn with some of the most powerful and influential people. Since its inception in 1910, the National Urban League has been steadfast in its commitment to empowering communities and changing lives.

William Bryant, former AULYP president, has been to numerous NUL conferences and agreed to share his experience with us.

As a fund development professional, attending the NUL conference has enhanced my network and allowed me to garnish more than $50K in sponsorship from companies and people I have met at past conferences. The parties are unbelievable, from D-NICE on the 1s and 2s to hanging out with EnVogue, MC Lyte and DJ Kid Capri. Also, meeting people like Jeff Johnson, Hill Harper and Melody Hopson has been very impactful. Getting to hear President Obama last year was the highlight of the conference.

Networking with fellow young professionals (YPs) from across the country is the true meaning of the conference. Knowing that your counterparts are doing the same thing in a different city and are members of the same movement is phenomenal. Once you attend one conference you are hooked for life!

Lastly, as a former President of AULYP in 2005 and 2006, it was very exciting to witness in 2005 our chapter named National YP Chapter of the Year; former PPD Chair Andrew Siwo receive the National Heineken Rising Star Award; founding AULYP member Thomas Morse named Southern Region Member of the Year and National Member of the Year; and founding AULYP member and past AULYP president Ebony Howell elected Southern Region President of NULYP. As president, I was so overwhelmed with all the accolades we received. It all happened in DC. Therefore, we are looking for a repeat in DC this year.

Your registration is an investment in your future.

~William Bryant

View the pre-registration book here. Also, e-mail Kendra Shipmon at president@aulyp.com to receive information on group travel with AULYP. The registration rate for young professionals before July 14 is $385. Read more ...

31 Days of Jazz

The anticipated Atlanta Jazz Festival is returning to Atlanta next month as part of the “31 Days of Jazz” series May 29-30. “31 Days of Jazz” kicks off May 1 and spans throughout the month, featuring events at some of Atlanta’s amazing restaurants and venues, including Rare, Sun Dial, Rialto Center, Churchill Grounds and many others.

View the “31 Days of Jazz” calendar through this link http://atlantafestivals.com/?page_id=71. Once there, click on the logos to view events scheduled.

Also, we heard that Corinne Bailey Rae will perform Tuesday, May 11 at Center Stage as part of the series.

Rival Entertainment & The 2010 Atlanta Jazz Festival present Corinne Bailey Rae

Center Stage 5/11/2010 7pm

An intimate evening with Corinne Bailey Rae. $29.50
http://www.ticketmaster.com/

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Ludacris the Philanthropist

One of the many things we love over here at AULYP is philanthropy. We’ve been observing Chris Bridges’ (AKA Ludacris) philanthropic work for quite some time and like what we see. Following the buzz about his work with the 2010 Census and the CDC’s HIV/AIDS awareness campaign targeting the African-American community, we recently learned that he’s giving away a substantial amount of money this week on V-103’s "Frank and Wanda Morning Show" just because.

Luda stays on the move by providing monetary support and donating time in the Atlanta community and beyond. If you haven't heard much about The Ludacris Foundation's work, let us provide an overview. The foundation has donated $500,000 to support grassroots organizations and invested more than 2,500 hours in service to youth across the nation, according to The Ludacris Foundation's facts.

So where is Luda right now? He’s currently in NOLA encouraging residents to complete their 2010 Census form and to mail it back. Next, he's on his way to New York, DC and Atlanta to promote the same message. Great example of community empowerment! Read more ...