The Hazards of Hollywood in Atlanta Ah, the magic of Hollywood. Moviemakers have nearly perfected the art of producing a film in one location and making the audience believe that it is taking place somewhere completely different. So, how do they do it? Well many Hollywood buffs take advantage of locations outside of California. Believe it or not one of those locations is Atlanta. While many cities, Atlanta included, welcome the filming of movies because it helps the local economy, there are some downsides too. There are often unforeseen damages that occur during movies but the real question is who picks up the tab to repair those damages? Well many major films not only have insurance to back the film but they also have their own risk assessors. These people visit a location before filming is set to begin and see if they can prevent as many accidents as possible because big delays can cost production studios big bucks. While these insurance companies often repair damage that is done, the cost also falls on the city. Films in Atlanta The list of movies filmed in Atlanta is long but we’ll start with one movie franchise that recently made headlines and not because it was producing blockbusters. Tyler Perry’s film studio is located in Atlanta. His production company is known for movies such asFor Better or Worse, The Haves and the Have Nots, Love Thy NeighborandMadea’s Witness Protectionto name a few. His studio went up in flames and cost $1 million in damage. While his insurance company will help repair damage done to the actual studio, the city had to foot the bill for first responders and other city employees who were called out to the site of the blaze. Structural damage isn’t the only type of damage that can be caused by movie production; there is also environmental damage to consider. There are several reasons that movies cause environmental damage and one is their major energy consumption. Everything from lighting and keeping the set up to getting catering delivered causes an impact on the environment. Environment Cost A study was done that specifically looked at environmental damage caused by movie production and found that emissions in this field create more air pollution than most other major industries including aerospace manufacturing, clothing and the hotel industry.So while there are risks associated with allowing major movie studios to come film in your city, chances are they won’t be stopping any time soon, especially in Atlanta. Georgia offers one of the biggest tax incentives for movie production studios in the country. Despite damages that might occur along the way, it has paid off, for now. Impact The economic impact of bringing films to Georgia since the tax incentive was started has been more than $3 billion. Some damages like the use of city resources and environmental damages are hard to analyze especially while movies are still in production in Atlanta or will be soon. Any consequences from those damages might not be felt for years to come, so until then, the state is more focused on the dollars that are coming in. Kamiel Moore is a real estate expert from Dallas, TX. She loves beaches, international travel, and cupcake shops. ...read more
By We Buy Ugly Houses Atlanta March 25, 2014
If you need or want a place to stay for a weekend getaway? Even better. Atlanta has you covered. Whether a downtown condominium or taste of luxury with a mansion. It all depends on how much you want to pay and where you want to stay. As is the case with large metropolitan cities, the heart of the city is downtown. You get a feel for what makes it tick, the hotspots and the people. Not to mention you get a multitude of choices with a variety of prices. You will save you back account since you are walking distance to most of the destination spots. Yet if you do need transportation, you’re close enough to use public transportation or a taxi. First Steps Before you can decide any of that, you have to get an idea of how much you are willing to spend, where you want to stay, what you to do and see. After that, who is going and how many people. Most places take children, but you want to double check before you make any selection. The last thing you want to do is pick a place, go through the hassle of finding a place and then find that it doesn’t take kids. For a good starting point, use this websitehttp://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/georgia/atlanta-central-southern/atlanta. It lists most options out there, gives you a brief description and, most importantly, how much it is to rent. Downtown? If you want to stay in downtown Atlanta and it’s just you and your significant other, this is a good choicehttp://www.vrbo.com/334547. It’s a one-bedroom condo centrally located. All of the downtown attractions are minutes away including the Georgia Aquarium, the world of Coca Cola, CNN Centennial Olympic Park, Phillips Arena (where the Atlanta Hawks play) and the Georgia Dome (if you do during college football season or the NFL for the Falcons). The rate is $109 per night, with a two-night requirement. If you’re looking for a little more privacy and more room, there’s a 6,200 square foot mansion with a pool. If you want to have a taste of luxury, might as well indulge yourself with the Villa Wild Oak environmenthttp://www.vrbo.com/3466179ha.The Extras The house and grounds will surround you with soft sounds and aromas. You can soak in the award-winning black pebble swimming pool, flow over the Grotto under the rapid cascade of falling water, shade yourself under the Japanese maple tree or comfort in the spa. There are six bedrooms that sleep 17 people with five bedrooms. There are deals planned throughout the year, so keep an eye out if it appeals to you. Obviously, with this choice you will pay more. With a three-night requirement, you pay between $799 and $1,225 a night. Those are just two of the options forwarded to you. Take your time and find the right place that speaks to you. Don’t do this vacation to Atlanta like everyone before it. Change it up and get a rental to get a feel for where you’re staying. Ian St. Clair is an award-winning writer who has close to 10 years of newspaper experience. He’s written about everything from the Denver Broncos and college football to community theater and romance novels. You can find him at Google-Plus,google.com/+IanStClair. ...read more
By We Buy Ugly Houses Atlanta March 25, 2014
Best New Atlanta Restaurants What better way to celebrate a special occasion than to let someone else do the cooking? Heck, you don’t even need to wait for a special occasion to find a reason to step out of the kitchen and be catered to. Fortunately, if you live in Atlanta you know that there is no shortage of restaurants to choose from. What’s even better is that there has been a recent surge of new delicious eateries. So, why wait? There’s no night better night than tonight to check out these soon to be favorites. The Optimist Sure, everyone wants delicious food when they go out to eat but it’s a nice bonus when you score a place that has great food and a unique ambiance. That’s what you’ll get at The Optimist. This restaurant is located inside an old warehouse and that gives it a really cool vibe. Seafood lovers need to check out this restaurant for some classic sea flavors as well as new tastes you’ve probably never even heard of. It’s also great for foodies who love raw oysters. Prefer your seafood cooked a bit more? Then check out the lobster roll, it’s a mix of seafood and buttery goodness. Head over to 914 Howell Mill Road to check out this one. Watershed on Peachtree I know not everyone likes seafood so if you’re more of a carnivore then this one is for you. This restaurant also has a pretty cool ambiance with its cinder block walls. Here you can get some tasty Louisiana cooking while taking in stylish décor. They have a lot of Cajun favorites but one of their specialties is actually the fried chicken. It’s hard to mess up friend chicken but they get this dish oh so right, it’s insane and completely worth ordering. Watershed on Peachtree is at 1820 Peachtree Road. Fuoco Di Napoli You don’t need to have too sophisticated of a palate to enjoy Atlanta’s best restaurants. In fact, one that topped our list is a good ol’ fashioned pizza place. This one isn’t too new, it’s been open for nearly two years but it’s so delicious that it deserves a spot on this list. You might not be familiar with the area at 30 Pharr Road but if you like hot, melty, brick oven cooked pizza then it’s definitely worth exploring. This restaurant has a much more casual atmosphere than the ones we already mentioned but it really doesn’t need much décor. Fuoco Di Napli lets its pizza do the talking and the savory taste speaks volumes. You really can’t go wrong here but I’m a purist and enjoyed the margherita. Restaurant Eugene This eatery isn’t all that new but it’s hardly old. It opened its doors in 2004 and people just keep going back. This restaurant is known for having a lot of hidden, unique and delicious flavors in dishes that you would think taste the same anywhere. For example, this place gets its great reputation thanks to their tasting of seasonal vegetables. This is hardly a formal dining experience but it is still a great time for you and your taste buds. This one can be found at2277 Peachtree Road. This list is just a sampling of what’s available in Atlanta’s food scene. Fortunately it’s pretty hard to find a bad restaurant in the area since there is so much completion. However, a good rule of thumb is to run away when don’t see a lot of local license plates in the parking lot, you’ll thank me later. Kamiel Moore is a real estate expert from Dallas, TX. She loves beaches, international travel, and cupcake shops. ...read more
By We Buy Ugly Houses Atlanta March 25, 2014
Attempting to find the perfect piece of real estate to purchase can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a couple of places to look at property listings that take a lot of the legwork out by providing lot size, square footage and other features. ...read more
Marketing is an important aspect of operating as a real estate broker. To become successful, you need to have the right marketing tools at your disposal, and also know how to effectively use those tools. There are many tools available that can help real estate brokers market their services and achieve... ...read more