Atlanta’s most fashionable charitable fete heralds the social season as it spotlights award-winning young guest fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra and presents a runway parade of flattering and feminine clothing in a party atmosphere.
Altuzarra, winner of the 2011 CFDA/Vogue and Fashion Group Rising Star of the Year award, interned under Marc Jacobs and designed under Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy before making his own mark. He will follow in the fashionable footsteps of other notable guest designers who have headlined at past Fashion Cares benefits — such as Oscar de la Renta, Jason Wu and Isaac Mizrahi.
Both a pre-show cocktail reception and an official after-party at Opera nightclub in Midtown, along with silent and live auctions will add to the money-raising aspects of the fashionable evening.
The 2012 co-chairs are: Lila Hertz, Jeffrey McQuithy and Louise Sams. Event founder Kalinsky, creator of two namesake boutiques in Atlanta and Manhattan, will join the co-chairs in producing the runway extravaganza.
“As I look to our 20th anniversary of Fashion Cares Atlanta, I cannot help but think of all the people who have helped us contribute approximately $6 million to $7 million to combat AIDS and breast cancer,” he said. “These causes are near and dear to my heart as so many men and women I know and love have been affected.”
Once again funds from the caring event will benefit the Atlanta AIDS Fund for projects in the metro area and Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s greater Atlanta affiliate to provide grants to grassroots organizations fighting breast cancer.
Tickets and information: (404) 420-2997 or visit www.jeffreyfashioncares.com.
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Chefs and restaurants will be the center of attention at the 10th annual Summer Shade Festival. The multi-facetted, family friendly fundraiser for the Grant Park Conservancy will take place Aug. 25 and 26 in historic Grant Park in southeast Atlanta.
The event will kick off early Saturday morning with the Adams Realtors Run for the Park 5K, where runners and walkers will enjoy the historic intown neighborhood on foot as they race to raise money for conservancy projects.
In addition to the established outdoor arts-oriented benefit, Corks & Forks promises a two-day palate-pleasing food sampling, wine and craft ale-tasting and seminars, food preparation demonstrations and more.
Throughout both days, ticketed attendees of all ages will be able to enjoy hundreds of artists working in all kinds of media and hopefully find a few special pieces to take home.
An extensive lineup of performers, artists, storytellers and musicians will grace the Kids Zone. Everyone will roll up their sleeves and take part in craft activities and even gain some altitude if they dare to brave the spider jump.
Established in 1883 when engineer Lemuel P. Grant gave the city 100 acres in the newly developed suburb, Grant Park is the oldest public park in Atlanta and reflects the historic Victorian neighborhoods surrounding it. The two major attractions besides the park itself are: Zoo Atlanta, established in 1889 and originally known as the Grant Park Zoo; and the 1886 Atlanta Cyclorama, a building-sized, mural-style painting depicting the 1864 Battle of Atlanta — hung circularly for viewing from the inside. Over the many decades, land and amenities have been added to the picturesque park. Today Grant Park serves more than two million visitors per year.
The park is owned and operated by the city of Atlanta. After years of neglect, the nonprofit conservancy was formed in 1999 by concerned citizens to raise funds with the mission to preserve and improve the park facilities and provide enjoyable greenspace for all visitors. The conservancy works both independently and in partnership with the city.
Tickets and information: (404) 521-0938, extension 1 or visit www.summershadefestival.org.
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The Alliance Theatre’s main stage 2012-13 season opens in September and includes two world premieres by Atlanta-based playwrights on the program of 11 plays and musicals running from September to May. The Season Opening Gala Sept. 15 will celebrate Atlanta playwright Pearl Cleage’s latest work and benefit the Midtown theatre’s community efforts.
Cleage’s new play, “What I Learned in Paris,” is a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of changing Atlanta in 1973 as its first African-American mayor, Maynard Jackson, takes office. A fictional story based on actual events, it takes a look at social changes of the 1970s through the comedic lens of love and politics. Cleage was the first Alliance Artist in Dialogue, a two-year residency at the theater, and now acts as a community engagement advocate. She has continued a fruitful association with the Alliance. Over the years it also has premiered her other plays, including “The Nacirema Society Requests …” in 2010.
The opening night event in her honor will feature cocktails and dinner at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Table 1280 restaurant celebrating the season and Cleage’s latest world premiere. Guests will adjourn to attend the 8 p.m. performance on the Alliance’s main stage.
The benefit gala is co-chaired by J. Veronica Biggins, Ingrid Saunders Jones and Vicki R. Palmer. Sponsorship and ticket sales for the gala directly support the work of the nonprofit Alliance.
“What I Learned in Paris” runs Sept. 5 through 30. The second 2012 opening night is Oct. 10. Oct. 5 through 28 on the intimate Hertz Stage will be playwright Alfred Uhry’s new “Apples & Oranges,” based on Marie Brenner’s memoir of mending fences with her dying brother. Atlanta native Uhry, best known for writing the scripts for the “Driving Miss Daisy” play and movie. The Alliance also premiered his “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” before it went on to win the 1997 Tony Award for best play.
Founded in 1968, the theatre remains closely tied to the cultural identity of Atlanta, growing as the city has expanded. In 1977, the Alliance merged with the Atlanta Children’s Theatre (founded in 1929) in order to include Atlanta’s youngest audiences in theatrical experiences. The Theatre School was created in 1979 (now the Acting Program and Education Department) to strengthen the relationship with the metro community. In 2007, under the leadership of Artistic Director Susan Booth, the Alliance received the Regional Theatre Tony Award in recognition for sustained excellence in programming, education and community engagement.
The theatre is part of the Woodruff Arts Center, which also includes the High Museum of Art, Young Audiences, the 14th Street Playhouse and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Premiere gala tickets and information: (404) 733-4615 or visit www.alliancetheatre.org/seasonopening.
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