The Atlanta Streetcar might be stuck on the drawing board for a while yet. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the recipients of federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants on February 17 and the streetcar project wasn’t on the list. The city of Atlanta, MARTA, Central Atlanta Progress and Midtown Alliance partnered to apply for TIGER funds for the transit project, which is projected to cost $298.3 million.

[youtube]“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygXEqWoedEQ”[/youtube]

Atlanta wasn’t the only city that TIGER got away from. None of the other 32 Georgia communities that applied for grants received funding either.

If built as planned, the Atlanta Streetcar project would include a route on Peachtree from Five Points station to Savannah College of Art and Design and an east-west loop from the Centennial Olympic Park/Georgia Aquarium area to the King Center. An alternative plan, also included in the partnership’s application, proposes options for building the streetcar in phases if it can’t be funded all at once.

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The Fantastic Mr. Wheatley dropped this gem in the comments section of Pecanne Log the other day.  Christa didn’t do anything with it, so I figure it’s fair game – Yoink!

Its a clip from the 1992 movie Freejack, showing a chase through a futuristic “Manhattan,” set in the distant year 2009.  2009 Manhattan looks a lot like early 90′s Downtown Atlanta:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T31U1hyow_U[/youtube]

While the script is the real star of that clip, among the Atlanta landmarks I can recognize:

I actually vaguely remember when this was being filmed in Atlanta.  I was 10 when it came out, so all I remember is folks going “that was shot here”.  For a long time I confused it with New Jack City, since I was too young to see either of them.  It’s a shame, because this looks like some grade A acting on display.

it’s snowing it atlanta. again.

sitting here in 30316 there has been noticeable snowfall for more than an hour now. this may be one of the craziest winters i have seen in atlanta. as you can imagine, stuff is already getting closed (h/t to 11 alive for this updated list.)

i am also relatively certain offices are emptying out and hartsfield is a zoo.

in spite of all that, i would really like to just take a moment to remind my northern friends of this.

thanks.

have a nice day.

I can think of no better way to spend a glorious February afternoon than beating the crap out of 50 strangers in the park. Apparently there is a “National Pillow Fight Day” in April. Word is it’s going to be in Freedom Park… I’ll try to get the details for y’all who missed this one!

a few weeks ago i wrote about the musical spring awakening coming to atlanta (ticket info here)

i am pretty excited about this tony winner being here and we have arranged with the folks putting on the show to give away a pair of tickets here on the atlanta metblog.

it’s pretty simple, if you want to go and want a free pair of tickets, just answer these three trivia questions in the comments. first one to respond AND provide a valild email address gets the tix:

1)This musical was based off of a banned 1891 German play by the same name, who was the author?
2) Which character in Spring Awakening is Melchior’s best friend and has trouble conjugating Latin?
3) This song title is the anthem of Melchior’s angst when confronted by the school’s headmasters and is sung by the entire cast as a revolt against adult authority.

good luck!!!!

(p.s. even if you don’t win you should totally go see this. it’s worth it.

and for good measure a little youtube fun from spring awakening:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNglewl6mQw[/youtube]