Since 2015 I have been a contributing writer to local newspapers, magazines, and community news sites in the Atlanta area. I almost exclusively pitch the content that I write, and generally provide photographs to go along with my pieces. My favorite stories are developed through deep, personal conversations with interesting people. I’ve often said that being a journalist is the best because I’m able to pop into someone’s world, learn all about what they do and why it’s important, and then share their stories. Through my years of writing I have made many friends and learned far more about the world than I ever would have imagined.
I have written hundreds of stories about everything from history, to businesses, doctors, civic leaders, artists, food, travel, and much more. While it would be impossible to share everything I’ve written, I have sampled below some of my favorite stories from my career as a journalist.
Author pages: Atlanta INtown Newspaper / Peachtree Corners Magazine / Oz Magazine / Atlanta Senior Life / Buckhead.com
The Last Video Store: Videodrome has loyal following
When I moved to Atlanta in 2007 the Internet had not fully surpassed movie rental shops. There was a Blockbuster on Ponce as well as Movies Worth Seeing in Morningside, known for its selection of difficult-to-find and foreign titles. For a time, they were popular and thriving; however, both of these spots have since closed in the wake of Netflix, Redbox and online streaming services.
And yet, a single movie rental shop remains and thrives in the new digital era: Videodrome. More at the Atlanta INtown Newspaper
Threading The Needle: Atlanta Costumers Set The Tone for Georgia’s Most Iconic Productions
“More Blood! More Blood!” Mauricia “Mo” Grant, a costume supervisor working on the set of the 2014 film No Good Deed, took a deep breath. She dipped a hand gingerly back into her supply of fake blood, trying to follow the assistant director’s orders while still remaining calm. Grant continued to apply more and more of the red goop to actor Idris Elba’s chest for the next shot, carefully and slowly as she had learned to do, so as not to go overboard, but her pace did not please the assistant director. “More blood!” he yelled again. More at Oz Magazine
All About Bees: Intowners encouraged to help honey bees flourish
“Honey bees are the most powerful pollinators we have,” said Julia Mahood, master beekeeper and the president of the Metro Atlanta Beekeeping Association. In contrast to other insects that are considered to be accidental pollinators – such as butterflies – honey bees have evolved to the task, utilizing static electricity to collect pollen in a pocket called a pollen basket on their backs. Pollen is the honey bee’s primary source of protein and they process it along with nectar in the hive to create honey. More at Atlanta INtown Newspaper
The Colorful World Of Artist Steve Penley
Tucked away in a strip of storefronts along West Paces Ferry Road is the studio of internationally recognized artist Steve Penley. Large, colorful portraits gaze out from behind plate glass windows. Paintings of various sizes are stacked in every direction throughout the loft-like space. The floors are spattered in every imaginable color. Easels are set up everywhere, art lines the walls and rests on every surface. Near the front door is a sitting area with a couch, chairs, and a bench, all positively drenched in paint. More at Buckhead.com
Put Your Feet Up – Setting the scene from stem to stern with these growing Georgia prop houses
How does one truly “sell” a film to an audience? There are many ways that film industry professionals can create compelling and dynamic works that tell a story, one of the most fundamental being the use of props. Short for “theatrical property,” props have been used in film, television, and theatrical productions for hundreds of years. The term first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1841. During the Renaissance, many theatrical troupes would pool resources and travel together, putting on performances in a variety of locations. More at Oz Magazine
Preserving It Before It’s Gone: The Blue Heron Nature Preserve A Hidden Gem In Buckhead
Did you know that there is a nature preserve in Buckhead? One with 30 acres of nature with trails that wind along Nancy Creek through lush woodlands and wetlands, and is free and open to the public? If you have never been to the Blue Heron Nature Preserve on Roswell Road you are truly missing out. More at Buckhead.com
Re:Loom, Empowering the Homeless Through Craft
The odds are stacked against you when you’re homeless. Without a home address, it’s difficult to get a driver’s license or land a job.
re:loom Weavehouse, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit in Decatur, is trying to help. The organization seeks to employ homeless and low-income people through weaving rugs and other cloth-based products. re:loom’s employees learn the skill of weaving, get a stable salary, health coverage and leadership training. More at Atlanta Senior Life
History Is Messy At The Atlanta History Center
A sprawling 33-acre property at the corner of West Paces Ferry Road and Slaton Drive near Buckhead Village houses the Atlanta History Center. While it has certainly become well-known for its archives, fascinating exhibitions, and a wonderful collection of historic homesteads sprinkled throughout the lush gardens, the Center has become so much more in recent years. To understand the impact the History Center is having today, I wanted to know the story of its origin, so I arranged to meet with the President and CEO, Sheffield Hale. More at Buckhead.com
Horror renaissance man helps keep Atlanta weird
From the litany of Halloween themed events like the Little 5 Points Halloween Parade to zombie films and shows in production year-round, this city has its fair share of spooky happenings for horror lovers. Behind the scenes of many of the weirdest, creepiest, and most bizarre productions in Atlanta is Shane Morton, an artist with a fondness for monster movies. More at the Atlanta INtown Newspaper
Animal AWAREness: Nonprofit rescue organization helps rehabilitate wildlife
As the population of Atlanta continues to grow, and new developments encroach upon neighboring forests, there are more and more risks to native wildlife. Cars, refuse, diminishing local plants that typically provide food and shelter, and the effects of pesticides all have a negative effect on the environment and its inhabitants. In an increasingly unwelcoming world, who is there to look out for the animals whose presence long predates condos and malls? More at the Atlanta INtown Newspaper
The Touchable Art of Leisa Rich
It’s a sunny afternoon on the west side of Atlanta, and artist Leisa Rich is hard at work in her studio. Rich has been an artist for the past 42 years, focusing recently on interactive and textile-based work.
She considers herself to be, by and large, an experimental artist. “Heavy on the mental,” she added, with a laugh. “I make a few functional things, but primarily they are experimental and non-functional.” More at Atlanta Senior Life
Isadora Pennington 