PopSugar

Man Arrested For Sharing His Buffet Plate

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:00:04 -0700

Lately, it seems like people are willing to do anything - including serve jail time - over food. Earlier this month, a Florida man was arrested for trying to pay for his McDonald's meal with pot. This week, two cooks were put behind bars for intentionally contaminating a police chief's food. Now, a man has been arrested for letting his girlfriend eat off his buffet plate while refusing to pay for two meals.
On Oct. 21, Dan Linscomb and his girlfriend dined at the Iron Skillet restaurant in Atlanta. While he admitted in a police report that his girlfriend "ate a couple bites from his plate," Linscomb defended his position, saying, "there were no signs in the restaurant that said someone could not have some food off your plate." The restaurant staff called local police, who arrested Linscomb on theft. Two days later, he was released after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.

In today's tough times, should restaurants charge both parties regardless of how much they eat, or do establishments need to go easy on customers like Linscomb, who may simply be trying to scrape by? Have you ever eaten "two-for-one" at a buffet before?

Source

Criminals Fighting Crime? Atlanta Police Grads Have Records

LibertySugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:36 -0700

Over one-third of police academy graduates in Atlanta, Georgia have a criminal record. The eye-opening number of newly minted law enforcers have either been arrested or cited for crimes ranging from shoplifting to assault.

Just like the US Army, the Atlanta PD has to make some concession if it wants to meet its recruitment goals. The city has had a tough time filling the ranks for the admirable, but tough job of a police officer.

Considering a recent survey found that the average person breaks the law at least once a day, perhaps it's impossible to find perfectly innocent police officers. Still, disobeying traffic lights or talking on a cell phone while driving won't necessarily get you a criminal record. When police officers have a rap sheet is it a sign that our laws cast too wide a net, or that the city needs to revamp its recruitment efforts?

Source

The South Needs Some Serious Gas Relief After Hurricanes

LibertySugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Fallout from Hurricane Ike and Gustav has spiraled into massive gas shortages in the Southeast. Drivers in Nashville, TN, where the problem is the worst, wait in long lines and some follow tankers around in hopes of being the first to fill up before a station goes dry.

In western North Carolina local governments have been forced to cancel programs, since there's not much gas to travel to activities. One city canceled athletic events, and another county has limited all municipal travel to emergency vehicles for the past few weeks. Many workers in the region have been told to work four 10-hour days, or telecommute.

In Atlanta, one of the nation's largest commuter cities, many stations have run out of gas, and they have no idea when more will come. Once residents find a station with fuel, they often must dole out $5 a gallon, and wait in 40-car lines. What would you do if your city ran out of gas?

View 3 Photos ›

Source

Atlanta to Install "Donation Meters" to Ease Panhandling

CitizenSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:00:59 -0700

If the merit of an idea is predicated on its slogan, this one might be a winner. Atlanta is installing five meters in the downtown area that read "Give Change That Makes Sense." The meters, distinguished from those of the familiar parking variety by their yellow and black designs are part of a campaign to discourage aggressive panhandling.

In addition to funneling the funds from passers-by, the efforts include increased policing by cops and property owners. The Visitor's Bureau spokeswoman said of the plan, “We believe that this effort will help those in need more than any handout ever will." Denver already uses the donation meters and Atlanta is hoping it will help not only the homeless population, but the safety of its citizens as well. Two weeks ago a man was shot to death in an argument with a panhandler, and given the economy, the homeless population is rising.

The program cost $40,000 to implement, and there's no word as to how much money they think it will raise for the cause. What do you think - is this a brilliant idea - or will the donations be a drop in the bucket?

Source

"Men at Work" Signs Out in Atlanta: Sensible or Out to Lunch?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:45:47 -0700

Heading to Hotlanta sometime soon? Don't be surprised if you see construction workers hard at work - without the ubiquitous "Men at Work" sign. Based on complaints by the editor of Pink magazine, a publication devoted to professional women, the Atlanta, GA, Public Works are replacing the manly placards with the more gender-neutral wording "Workers Ahead."

State officials will begin asking contractors to remove signs that insinuate it's just the men doing the heavy lifting - but the, perhaps, more-enlightened wording comes with a price: the new signs will cost $144 a piece. Not content to let the campaign for gender neutrality stop at the stomping ground of the Designing Women, the crusading editor is taking her cause nationwide. "We're calling on the rest of the nation to follow suit and make a statement that we will not accept these subtle forms of discrimination."

Yummy Link: Richard Blais's 31-Course Tasting Menu

YumSugar — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:13:31 -0700

Earlier I mentioned that Top Chef contestant Richard Blais helmed several restaurants in the past. One of them was his own eponymous Blais, in which there was a 31-course tasting menu. Learn what it was like to eat there, warning, the photos are going to make you drool. - The Amateur Gourmet

Steak n' Legs or How Maxim Is Opening Several Steakhouses

YumSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:21:42 -0800

Now that Joe Francis is in jail, the plans for the Girls Gone Wild restaurant are probably on hold. If this leaves you worrying where you'll go for your steak n' legs dinner then fear no more, Maxim Prime is opening in late March. Restauranteur Jeffrey Chodorow - you may remember him from NBC's The Restaurant - has announced plans to open Maxim Prime, a joint venture with Maxim magazine. The restaurant will be located in New York's Gansevoort Hotel and has a scheduled late March opening. Another branch will be located in Atlanta's Glenn Hotel and 13 other locations will open over five years. Chodorow has said that he does not want it to be like Hooters. Instead he has said it will be, "sexy but sophisticated." Unlike traditional steakhouses, the portions will also be smaller and lighter. Chodorow said:

The people who leave here are going to go someplace else - maybe dancing. They're not going to go home and go to bed.

So if you live in the Atlanta or New York areas, be sure to check it out and report back. I want to know what "sexy but sophisticated" is like. I mean they never said it wasn't going to be "sleazy."

Source

Out and About: Georgia's Jingle Jog

PetSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:44 -0800

Taking a long walk or jog with an active dog is a great wintertime activity. In the Summer, pets can run the risk of overheating or burning paw pads on hot pavement but, 'tis the season to get fit outside in the brisk chill. This weekend marks the 20th Annual Jingle Jog in Atlanta with races for running and walking . . . with pooches! As a festive touch, everyone who enters gets jingle bells for their shoes (or pup's collar). The event also includes a Best Dressed Holiday pet contest with gift certificates to Petco up for grabs for those decked-out dogs. Bring your pooch and a toy to donate to needy children this Christmas season - the fun run starts at 8 a.m. on Dec. 15.

Source

Out and About: Georgia's Georgia Aquarium

PetSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:00:13 -0800

With over eight million gallons of water housing more than 100,000 animals of 500 species, the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is one of the largest in the world. Residents include two massive Whale Sharks – check out that huge mouth up above! Capable of weighing up to 15 tons, these "gentle giants" are filter feeders meaning they live off of plankton and animals, scooped up in bucket-like fashion with their four-foot-wide mouths.

This aquarium celebrated its two year anniversary last month – and introduced four new Leopard Whiprays last week giving it the largest collection of this species in the US. Also seen up top, these rays collected offshore of Penghu (an island group on the west coast of Taiwan) have a distinctive, leopard-like pattern that extends down much of their tails as well. I could go on and on naming and describing the cool creatures found here, but I recommend checking them out for yourself!

Source

Out and About: Georgia's Hipbone Pet

PetSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:00:14 -0800

With a slogan as "the pet store for people," it's especially fitting that this posh shop includes cute brands like Lupine, Red Dingo, and Bella Bean for pooches and boasts great human perks, too! Pet owners can host animal and people socials at Hipbone Pet (like the Italian Greyhound Winter Party this Sunday). Consider renting it out for your dog's next gala – it features free WiFi, plasma TV, comfy lounge, and a doggie-proof deck for warmer days.

While in the area, consider a stop at nearby Piedmont Dog Park, one of the few places in Atlanta where off-leash dogs can frolic freely! Then come back to Hipbone, and bathe your pet for free!

Do you have suggestions for PetSugar? Click here to share your own tips with our Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Georgia continues!

Source