Community

I’m obsessed with paper.I love the feel, texture and weight of it.

One of my best childhood memories is when the leaves would change colors each autumn and fall from the trees.

This Saturday, Sept. 21, marks the third annual National CleanUp Day. The national effort began in 2017, with the mission of cleaning up the world around us simply by picking up trash. Started by the organization Clean Trails, the initiative partners with nonprofits and community organizations throughout the nation.

They’re social. They have thumbs. They share our DNA. There are many ways gorillas are like us. And they count on us to help protect them.

Ever look at a tree and think about its history? What it’s witnessed? For 15 years, I’ve loved a 200-year-old red oak.

We’re obsessed with Big Softie, the new soft-serve shop in Summerhill. The vanilla is creamy, delicious and hugs the cone. Add metallic sprinkles, and I’m hooked.

It’s always been hard for me to manage work/life balance – especially when it comes to dating. I don’t encourage dating clients or media we work with because it can really muddy the waters.

The first section of the Eastside Trail opened to the public nearly seven years ago, giving pedestrians walking, skating and biking access from Irwin Street to Monroe Drive.

Nothing says vacation like a day spent poolside, and just because you’re staying close to home doesn’t mean relaxing pool days are out of the question. Atlanta has a number of pools open for the public to use for some optimal lounge time.

Getting outside comes with a wealth of benefits – vitamin D, connecting with nature, stress relief, being away from screens and space to let the mind wander.

It’s officially Pride Month and the perfect time to support LGBTQ+ businesses in Atlanta. Our city actually offers many places to show support all year long, from restaurants and bars to funky neighborhoods where LGBTQ+ owned and friendly businesses reside, including Midtown, Westside and Inman Park.

If you’ve never heard of a food forest, get ready – 7.1 acres, near the Lakewood Fairgrounds, will be transformed into walking trails that contain a community garden, along with multiple fruit-producing plants. The space will be free of charge and will offer Atlanta citizens access to fresh food.

June was designated as LGBTQ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred 50 years ago in New York City.

Bees are facing challenges from parasites, pesticides, declining food supplies and extreme weather. But thanks to “bee highways” over Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham areas and Bee Downtown, there’s hope for the pollinators.

Adding in small but meaningful things to represent you as a couple can add personal touches to a wedding, helping guests feel the love. A favorite thing we included: a tree from a family member, planted in dirt from our parents’ homes to represent our unity.

Finding “the” dress is probably the most exciting part of wedding planning. Obsessively looking at Pinterest and browsing bridal magazines can provide some great ideas. However, there are still several things to keep in mind before heading out.

After experiencing several surprises during my wedding (being prepared doesn’t mean they won’t happen), here are five tips I can share, for you to keep in mind:

Eighteen million acres of forest are lost around the world to raging wildfires, insects, disease, climate change and more each year. In order to combat this loss and honor the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day, the Arbor Day Foundation has launched the Time for Trees initiative. The mission is simple: plant 100 million trees worldwide by 2022.

Run at least these four things by your parents before continuing with wedding plans:

Once you sit down to plan a wedding, your Pinterest dreams can turn into overwhelming decisions. I spent months researching and have put together a quick guide to help get you started. Oh, and before you do anything, toast your engagement!

I didn’t dream of a fairytale wedding as a little girl, but I’ve always loved beautiful celebrations. I grew to be a feminist who wanted to move to the city and be independent and accomplished. Fast forward five years, and I’m happily married to my husband.

Last year I had a couple of bumps in the road, but throughout it all I had amazing groups of friends circle the wagons, support and lift me up. Because of this experience, I’m now living in more joy, love and gratitude than ever before.

Men’s razor brand Gillette recently launched a new advertising campaign tackling toxic masculinity, bullying, sexism in the workplace and the #MeToo movement, among other topics. The video, which has been viewed over 27 million times on YouTube since it was released two weeks ago, has sparked intense controversy online.

Do you have a passion for Atlanta history or the environment? If you believe preserving the city’s beauty and history is important, maybe leading a walking tour and educating others is just for you.

The Atlanta Guys Dinner Group is made up of men from various backgrounds who meet once a month to share a good meal while giving back to the community.

For many, Thanksgiving is about spending time with the people they love most and reflecting on what they’re most thankful for, while gathered around a food-filled table. But, not everyone has the opportunity to spend the day with loved ones or eat the perfect holiday meal.

Giving Tuesday is just around the corner – the perfect day to give back to the community. On Nov. 27, consider supporting a good cause and making a donation to Camp Twin Lakes.

Atlanta Magazine is giving local nonprofits a platform to connect with the community and share their stories during the second annual #GIVEAtlantaChallenge, powered by partner Funraise. Donations of all sizes are now being accepted through Friday, Nov. 16.

Taking a scenic walk in Northwest Atlanta just got easier with the opening of the Northwest BeltLine Connector Trail, which circles the Bobby Jones Golf Course and borders the north side of Peachtree Creek on Woodward Way. There’s also a new bridge over the creek by Colonial Homes Circle.

What game requires strategy and players to always be one step ahead of their opponent? Some might say chess, some might say boxing, but Matt Thomas says both. The 28-year-old Atlantan heads to India this month as the first American to compete in the Chess-Boxing Amateur World Championship.