Fountain Pen A Publication of Centennial Olympic Park Summer 2002 NATIONALLY KNOWN ACTS PERFORM `On the Bricks' "Coca-Cola's On the Bricks" with Star 94 is kicking off in just a few days with chart-topping acts you don't want to miss. John Mayer, India.Arie, The Calling, and Chrystina Lloree will launch the free, Friday night concert series May 24 from 6 to 10 p.m. The fun does not end with that show. The weekend concert, with back-to-back performances by four bands each night, continues every Friday (with the exception of July 5) through Aug. 16, at Atlanta's downtown hot spot, Centennial Olympic Park. Concrete Blonde, Blues Traveler, Cracker, Better Than Ezra, They Might Be Giants, Sister Hazel, Edwin McCain and The Smithereens are just some of the many star performers scheduled to grace the stage this summer. "'We are looking forward to the second season of `On The Bricks.' We learned a lot from last year and are very pleased to continue our partnership with Mad Booking and expand the relation- ship with STAR 94," said Brian Hill, assistant general manager of Centennial Olympic Park. "It is obvious from the buzz that people are really looking forward to another active season in the Park and we are pleased to be hosting such a variety of events." continued on page six Thousands of people fill Centennial Olympic Park for "On the Bricks." This year's line-up, which includes They Might Be Giants, Blues Traveler and Cracker, is sure to attract an enormous crowd and plenty of fun. Centennial Olympic Park is the Place to Be Fourth of July Get into the patriotic spirit and prepare to have a blast when Centennial Olympic Park celebrates America's 226th birthday at the Park's Fourth of July Celebration. This star-spangled tribute to our country will kick off with the 1.4 mile "Salute to America Parade" beginning at Centennial Olympic Park at 1 p.m. This year's parade includes more than 100 sparkling floats, marching bands, giant helium-filled balloons and much more, making it the nation's largest Independence Day parade. Beginning at 2:30 p.m., Centennial Olympic Park keeps the celebration going with a daylong Independence Day bash. The Park will be packed with musical entertainment, street performers and activities the whole family will enjoy. Saving the best for last, the fun-filled day will conclude with a 30-minute fireworks and special effects display set to music continued on page five FOUR TH SATURDAY Family Fun Days in Full Swing FFOURTH SATURDAY FAMILY FUN DAYS are underway, bringing the whole family fun-filled days of entertainment and activities. If you missed April's Fun Day, "All About Art," you still have the opportunity to take advantage of the rest of the theme-oriented mini-festivals. Grab your children, a friend or a neighbor and head down to Centennial Olympic Park. Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days are the fourth Saturday of every month, May through September, from noon to 4 p.m. On any given Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day you are sure to find interactive activities for the kids including theme-specific arts and crafts, street performers, musical entertainment and demonstrations by a variety of local organizations. Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days are sponsored in part by Centennial Olympic Park, UPN 69, Radio Disney, United Way and Young Audiences. Upcoming Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days May 25 Flights and Kites June 22 The Great Outdoors July 27 It's About Sports August 24 Hobbies September 28 Cultural Arts The Fourth Saturday Family Fun Day, "All About Art," featured everything from sculpting and painting to watching puppet shows and local organizations perform on stage, including the Atlanta Ballet's rendition of "Peter and the Wolf." WITNESS MIDWEEK FUN AT WEDNESDAY WIND DOWN The crowd grooves to the music of 911. Come dance the night away every Wednesday from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at Centennial Olympic Park's Wednesday Wind Down. If you could use a break in the middle of the week, head to Centennial Olympic Park for Wednesday Wind Down. The free concert series is held every Wednesday through Sept. 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Park's Southern Company Amphitheater. The concerts have already started, bringing headline entertainment to the stage and the crowd to its feet. Everything from jazz to reggae will be showcased throughout the summer, including music by Crystal Clear, Rene Marie and Dave Bass, and the Uptown Band. To find out who will be performing at the next Wednesday Wind Down, visit the Park's Web site at www.centennialpark.com or call 404.222.PARK. 2 Music at Noon the Perfect Recipe for Lunch CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK IS SERVING UP MUSIC AND dance for lunch, and it's the best item on the menu downtown Atlanta has to offer. If you're tired of eating lunch indoors, give Centennial Olympic Park's free "Music at Noon" series a taste. Every Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m., you can find music and dance in the Park's Southern Company Amphitheater. If you haven't packed a lunch, you can enjoy a lunch from the Fountainside Caf located in the Park's Visitor Center. Everything from acoustic and jazz to pop and rock will be performed. Entertainment includes Kari Gaffney and Emerald Rose, as well as the musicals "Della's Diner" and "Ruthless" performed by Onstage Atlanta. For more information on upcoming "Music at Noon" performances, please visit www.centennialpark.com or call 404.222.PARK. Spend your lunch hour feasting on great music. Every Tuesday and Thursday the Park hosts "Music at Noon" from noon to 1 p.m. at the Southern Company Amphitheater. ParkFest 2002 Featured Wrestleforce America Yahoo! Sports NBA Rhythm `n Rims Artist Market Southeast Showcase Children's Plaza Live Entertainment Fireworks 3 Centennial Olympic Park hosts "Top Dogs" at Incredible Dog Challenge CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK was packed with the world's most athletic canines competing for the gold at the Purina Dog Chow National Championships at Purina Farms in St. Louis on Sept. 28. "The event was a great success. Apparently they had Incredible Dog Challenge on April 6. About more people in attendance here than they have had at any 7,000 people came to the Park to see the dogs, other venue, including on the qualifying day," said Brian Hill, assistant general manager of Centennial Olympic Park. and their proud owners, strut their stuff. "It was a great family event with perfect weather. We are pleased that they intend to be back next year." More than 50 dogs vied for the top spot in categories including diving, hurdle racing and flyball, where relay teams consisting of four The Eastern Regional in Atlanta marks the second of six stops around the country this year for the Incredible Dog Challenge. If you missed the competition at Centennial Olympic Park, TBS Network will broadcast 12 hours of cover- dogs each go head-to-head over a series of age from the series over six weeks, begin- jumps, retrieve a ball, and navigate back ning with two hours from the Atlanta through the course before the next dog starts. Regional event Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. EST. Atlantans were invited to bring their The Atlanta competition will re-air dogs to the qualifiers, which were held the Sunday, Sept. 29. day before the East Regional competition, To see how your favorite dog fares at the with the chance to advance to the finals on Saturday. Winners of Saturday's competitions will now compete in the Ivan, a black lab, and his trainer make their way through the agility obstacle course at the Incredible Dog Challenge on April 6. National Championships or to keep abreast on all the action as the tour progresses, visit www.dogchow.com/incred/incred.asp. 4 And the winner is... Accolades abound for Centennial Olympic Park's "Atlanta "Atlanta Unites" drew Gov. Roy Barnes, Sen. Max Cleland Unites," a post-Sept. 11 fundraiser and celebration of life held and former Ambassador Andrew Young to Centennial just weeks after the attacks. At the Allie Awards Nite 2002 Olympic Park to participate in the festivities. The daylong ceremony, held April 7 at the Atlanta History Center, the event featured more than 30 musical entertainers, including Park brought home the award for "Best Event on a the Indigo Girls, Sister Hazel and Edwin McCain. Shoestring" for "Atlanta Unites." "We are thrilled to win an Allie Award for `Atlanta The award is fitting. The Park Unites.' We proudly share this award hosted "Atlanta Unites" without a with all the amazing people who dime in its budget. More than 1,100 gave their time, talent, resources and people volunteered their time and services to make it happen," said talents, and over half a million Mark Banta, general manager of dollars in goods and services were Centennial Olympic Park. donated for the event, including This is not the first time the labor, tables, chairs, food, tents and Park has been praised for "Atlanta staging. Moreover, eight television Unites." In November, the Park networks joined forces in promoting received four awards for the event and covering the event free of charge. Organizing an event of this caliber is no small feat and would Thousands of people gathered at Centennial Olympic Park to pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and to show their support of creating a united front in response to the terrorist acts at "Atlanta Unites." from the Georgia Festival and Events Association, including "Best Fundraising Program" and "Best typically take months of preparation, Community Event." but the Park's staff made "Atlanta Unites" a reality in less than The annual Allie Awards, presented by the National eight days. The time and effort paid off - over $225,000 was Association of Catering Executives and the International raised to aid victims of the Sept. 11 attacks on Washington Special Events Society, are recognized as a mark of excellence D.C., Pennsylvania, and New York City. among professionals and organizations in the special event's Emceed by television talk show host Montel Williams, design, planning, and production industry. continued from page one Fourth of July against the beautiful downtown skyline. "If people thought the fireworks have been good in past years, wait until they see what we have in store for Fourth of July this year," said Mark Banta, general manager of Centennial Olympic Park. "Our unique combination of close, low level and huge aerial shells can only be found in one fireworks show in Georgia - Centennial Olympic Park's Fourth of July Celebration." Over 100,000 people are expected to attend this year's celebration in Centennial Olympic Park. With only a few years under its belt hosting the Fourth of July party, the Park has already been recognized with state and national awards for the event's success, including the prestigious Pinnacle Award and Phoenix Award. Fireworks light up the sky over the Fountain of Rings. This year, you can find a fireworks display unlike any other in all of Georgia at Centennial Olympic Park's Fourth of July Celebration. 5 Pitch in at the Park: Become a Volunteer It's spring and everything is in bloom at the Park, including the new Volunteer Program! The Park has something for everyone who would like to volunteer, including lending a helping hand on our special events such as "Wednesday Wind Down," "Fourth Saturday Family Fun Days," "Coca-Cola's On the Bricks," and the Park's Fourth of July Celebration. We also have opportunities Contact the Park's Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Tinker, at 404.223.4412 or e-mail her at jtinker@centennialpark.com. to landscape and volunteer in our Visitor Center. If you would like to be a part of the fun and excitement at Centennial Olympic Park, contact the Park's Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Tinker, at 404.223.4412 or e-mail her at jtinker@centennialpark.com. We would welcome the opportunity to match your interests with our needs at the Park. Come join the fun in downtown Atlanta! continued from page one `On the Bricks' Over half a million people flocked to Centennial Olympic Park last year for the "On the Bricks" concerts produced by Mad Booking. This year's series will again be produced by Mad Booking and is presented in conjunction with WSTR-Star 94 FM, Coca-Cola and Centennial Olympic Park. Media sponsors for the event are The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WXIA Channel 11 and CAMA/AT&T Broadband. "It has been amazing to see how Atlanta has made Friday nights in downtown the place to be," said Marcie Allen, president of Atlanta-based Mad Booking. "We're very excited about the second annual `On the Bricks' and are looking forward to another great summer." For more information on the concert series and who will be performing, visit www.onthebricks.net or call 404.215.3248. If you would like to receive e-mail updates on Centennial Olympic Park's upcoming events, we would be happy to include you on our list. Simply call 404.223.4203 or e-mail kbarnes@gwcc.com If you would no longer like to receive the Fountain Pen, please let us know by phone at 404-223-4203 or e-mail kbarnes@gwcc.com. FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMT NO. 596 ATLANTA, GA Activities and Information Hotline 404.222.PARK www.centennialpark.com For more information, contact: Kellie Barnes 404.223.4203 kbarnes@gwcc.com 285 Andrew Young International Blvd., N.W. Atlanta, GA 30313-1591