The beastly feast GALA returns WITH “THE MANE EVENT”
One of Atlanta’s most anticipated galas returns on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Beastly Feast presented by Norfolk Southern. Sophisticated elegance, a one-of-a-kind locale, and signature auctions are hallmarks of Zoo Atlanta’s largest annual fundraiser. In celebration of the opening of the Zoo’s newly renovated African lion complex, the 2025 event is themed “The Mane Event.”
The evening will feature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on an evening stroll through the Zoo, followed by a seated dinner from Zoo Atlanta’s premier caterer, Proof of the Pudding; dancing in the Zoo’s grand tent spectacularly transformed by Tony Brewer & Company; and silent and live auctions of travel adventures, jewelry, art, sports and cultural opportunities, Zoo experiences, and more.
Proceeds of the Beastly Feast benefit Zoo Atlanta’s innovative and award-winning education programs and local and global conservation efforts.
To reserve tables or tickets or to support the event as a Beastly Backer, visit the Beastly Feast event page on zooatlanta.org.
04/08/2025
AFRICAN LION COMPLEX OPENS AT ZOO ATLANTA -- Includes footage and photos from the lions' first day out!
EARLY-BIRD TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR BREW AT THE ZOO
Memorial Day weekend’s longtime festival favorite returns at Brew at the Zoo on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The 21-and-up event will feature sampling from more than 30 top Georgia breweries and cideries; evening wildlife viewing with special Keeper Talks; live music at venues throughout the Zoo; classic yard games; and rides on the Endangered Species Carousel.
The 2025 music lineup includes an Americana party experience from High Cotton; rock-n-roll covers from Rock Duo; and acoustic jams from SBC duo.
Now through April 25, Early Bird tickets are $50 for Zoo Atlanta Members; $60 for non-Members.
VIP tickets are available at $120 and include early admission to the event at 4:30 p.m.; exclusive access to the VIP Lounge in the Michael & Thalia Carlos Ballroom in Savanna Hall; select beer and wine tastings; music from DJ Kate; a charcuterie box from Graze Craze; a Brew at the Zoo swag bag including an event T-shirt; and a limited-edition pint glass.
Beginning April 26, tickets will be $60 for Zoo Atlanta Members; $70 for non-Members; and $130 for VIP.
An Atlanta tradition now in its 18th year, Brew at the Zoo has a history of selling out; advance tickets are strongly encouraged. Get tickets here at zooatlanta.org.
Signature events such as Brew at the Zoo benefit Zoo Atlanta operations that support conservation programs and partnerships around the world. Learn more at zooatlanta.org/conservation.
Brew at the Zoo is open to ages 21 and up only; guests under 21 will not be admitted.
03/22/2025
Opening night of I Carry Your Heart with Me at Horizon Theatre . This show about stenographer collecting the stories of Vietnam War veterans runns through April 15.
Join us for a forum with our City Council Members. Please use this form to RSVP and provide some information to our SE Atlanta Neighbors group!
03/12/2025
03/10/2025
This was shared by a concerned neighbor. Please consider helping to finish reaching this goal. The GoFundMe link is included below.
The site director for Parkside Elementary aftercare program, Mrs. Copeland, had a tree fall on her house in Summerhill late last year when we had those bad storms. She had a lapse in insurance coverage after her husband passed so she is having to pay out of pocket for repairs. I overheard her speaking to an insurance company and asked her if there was anything we could do to help. She let me know she needed to come up with $8,500 (she was in tears at this point).
I work for the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and asked our housing team for some resources we could get her in touch with. We offered up orgs like HouseProud, Habitat and a few others and as you can imagine, they all have long waitlists for residents needing help. In the meantime, I asked her if I could start a GoFundMe.
I mean it when I say this Grant Park community is absolutely incredible. I listed the GoFund me on one page (Parkside Parents) and in just a week's time, this community has raised $7,500 for Mrs. Copeland.
ZOO ATLANTA WILL PROVIDE SAFARI CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE THAN 60 CHILDREN IN 2025
Zoo Atlanta will again extend community access to its signature educational camp experience with the return of the Safari Camp Scholarship Program in spring and summer 2025. The program will provide a week of Camp for 66 children ages 5 to 11 in metro Atlanta. In addition to the City of Atlanta and Fulton County, applicable counties of residence include Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale.
Scholarships are made available with support from Cox Enterprises, Southwire Company, LLC, and the Atlanta Foundation.
“Childhood connections with animals and the natural world can change a person’s life. A vital aspect of Zoo Atlanta’s mission is working to ensure that the many benefits of the Zoo experience are accessible to all,” said Raymond B. King, President and CEO. “Now returning for its ninth year, our Safari Camp Scholarship Program helps us extend these important opportunities for children who may not otherwise have a chance to attend Camp.”
Spring Break Camp will run from April 7 through April 11, 2025. Summer Camp will run from June 2 through August 1, 2025. Programs offer an immersive experience that connects campers to biodiversity with Zoo tours, science-based explorations, animal encounters, educational games, and more.
Scholarships will include Camp tuition, daily lunch and snacks, a Safari Camp T-shirt, and an extended care option. To qualify, children must be current residents of the City of Atlanta or one of the qualifying counties and be enrolled in a free or reduced meal program at their school.
Parents or guardians interested in applying should submit a completed application at zooatlanta.org/scholarship. Applications for Spring Break Safari Camp scholarships are due by 5:30 p.m. on March 10, 2025. Applications for Summer Safari Camp scholarships are due by 5:30 p.m. on April 18, 2025. Applications will be reviewed and awarded based on pre-selected criteria and completion of the application.
Applications must be accompanied by proof of residence in metro Atlanta; proof that the camper is enrolled in a free or reduced meal program at their school; a letter of need from the guardian describing how the child will benefit from Safari Camp; and a letter of interest from the camper.
Applications and required materials may be submitted via email to [email protected] with subject line 2025 School’s Out Spring Break Scholarship Submission or 2025 Summer Camp Scholarship Submission. Applications may also be sent via regular mail at Zoo Atlanta Education; 800 Cherokee Avenue, S.E.; Atlanta, GA 30315. If an applicant is selected, a $25 non-refundable deposit will be required to secure the scholarship.
Zoo Atlanta is a statewide resource for both formal and informal education in Georgia, serving thousands of youths annually with inquiry-based programs and resources that support STEM curriculum at all grade levels. Learn more about education programs and teacher resources at zooatlanta.org.
02/19/2025
Do you want a sneak peek preview of the upcoming Porch Press issue? Are you detail-oriented, passionate about words, and love to make sure everything is just right? We’re looking for volunteer Proofers to help us ensure that every page of the Porch Press shines! Please send an email to [email protected] to express interest and learn more.
02/17/2025
REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY FOR THE FIFTH-ANNUAL RUN LIKE WILD 5K
Registration is now open for the fifth-annual Run Like Wild 5K at Zoo Atlanta, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025. The run will take place in and through the Zoo and Grant Park, making Run Like Wild the city’s only 5K where runners will have opportunities to spot some of the planet’s most amazing wildlife along their path. Run Like Wild is an official Atlanta-Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race Qualifier.
The 2025 Run Like Wild featured species is the African lion, in celebration of the upcoming reopening of the Zoo’s African lion complex in spring 2025. Home to lion brothers Hondo, Hatari, and Azizi, the complex, which has been under construction for exciting upgrades since fall 2024, is along the race path.
The race begins at 8 a.m. and is open to runners, trotters, or walkers ages 3 and up. Runners must register by April 12, 2025; no mail-in registration will be available. Registration is $55 and includes chip timing; an exclusive Run Like Wild 2025 T-shirt; a finisher’s medal; photos from an official race photographer; post-race food and drink at the After Party; and admission to the Zoo following the After Party. Due to the nature of the course, a very limited number of spectator tickets will be available at $30 for ages 12 and up and $24 for ages 3 to 11. Spectator tickets are free for Zoo Atlanta Members, but registration is required. Spectator tickets must be reserved in advance and will not be available on the day of the race.
In addition to the in-person 5K in the Zoo and Grant Park, a Virtual Run Like Wild 5K is open to participants of all ages and locations near and far. Virtual runner registration is $45 and includes an event T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Virtual Race registration will be available through May 10, 2025.
Capacity is limited; in-person race registrations tend to sell out very quickly. Register to run and get full event details on the Run Like Wild event page on zooatlanta.org.
02/13/2025
On February 20th, there will be a community conversation with County Commissioner Mo Ivory. Not sure what a County Commissioner is or how county government works? This is your chance to learn! Whether you’re tuning in to state and local politics for the first time or are an expert, this will be a meaningful opportunity to meet your County Commissioner and learn how county government can be an avenue for change! You can RSVP here: https://forms.gle/qnTzw4DDhS5NxWFa8. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
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When The Porch Press began 33 years ago, there had been community newspapers in the three neighborhoods of Neighborhood Planning Unit-W (NPU-W) for a while. The Park Bench had served Grant Park, The Sand Paper had served the SAND neighborhoods, and The Fishwrapper had served East Atlanta as the area started to be seen as ripe for redevelopment in the late ‘70s. There had even been newspapers before that going back to the 1950s. The Porch Press, as it was devised by volunteers from the East Atlanta Community Association (EACA), the Grant Park Neighborhood Association (GPNA), and South Atlantans for Neighborhood Development (SAND), thought that by combining efforts they could create a monthly publication that would serve all of NPU-W and help improve the quality of life in these neighborhoods.
The new neighborhood newspaper, supported by neighborhood businesses and the neighborhood organizations, met with immediate success. That success has always depended on that support and the efforts of an all-volunteer staff. Without the money from advertising, the paper could not be printed or mailed. Without the volunteers, there would be no articles and the paper would not get assembled.
As the neighborhood real estate market began to boom and more new businesses moved to the area, Porch Press advertising also boomed. Early on, the paper established a policy of setting aside money so that the paper could withstand a drought of advertising funding. Along the way, the paper became a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation. The Porch Press Board decided that after printing, mailing, and other expenses were met, we needed to not only be nicer to our volunteers, but that we needed to give back to our neighborhood. For years, the newspaper became philanthropic, supporting various tours, races, festivals, and other events with money. At the same time, we gifted the tickets to our volunteers to thank them for their support. Even as our finances have shrunk, The Porch Press has still been able to support the Neighborhood associations with some pro bono advertising, and the newspaper has never charged for printing press releases about the neighborhood activities.
The newspaper’s corporation is still a nonprofit, and the staff is still made up of people who donate their time each month to give back to their community. The mission of the paper is still to publish news for and about the neighborhoods and people of NPU-W, thus helping to improve the quality of life for the citizens who live there. If you are reading this the board and staff of The Porch Press thank you for your support. We are pleased to support the community that we share.
