Home Show, St. Patrick's Day Parade canceled
Published on: 03/15/08
Friday night's storm struck at the heart of the city's tourist district and the damage left behind will impact several weekend events. Updates on what's on, what's off, what's open and what's closed:
Winter Jam Spectacular. At 11:39 a.m., Philips Arena announced that tonight's concert had been canceled. The statement read, "Philips Arena escaped any structural damage from the storm. The decision to cancel this evening's event was based on the estimated 18,000 people coming downtown during the clean-up of debris throughout the area. With the tour ending tomorrow night in Nashville, there will not be an opportunity to reschedule the concert. Winter Jam Spectacular Tour plans to return in 2009."
Governor's Mansion Easter Egg Hunt. The 11 a.m. event is still a go, spokeswoman Michelle Parks said shortly after 10.
King Memorial MARTA Station. Closed because of storm damage. Shuttle buses are running from Georgia State and Inman Park for people interested in getting to the King Center.
Maxim Prime party. Mother Nature cancelled a swank Saturday party that would have benefited Mother Nature — but rescue workers enjoyed the feast instead. Organizers were expecting about 250 people for a cocktail reception at Maxim Prime Steakhouse, the new 150-seat restaurant that has replaced the short-lived B.E.D. at the Glenn Hotel on Marietta Street.
The posh event was to have featured cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. The $10-at-the-door donation would have been donated to the Captain Planet Foundation, an environmental advocacy organization. Captain Planet's board chair is Laura Turner Seydel, whose dad Ted Turner's downtown apartment was walloped by the storm.
Since the party planning was well underway when storms hit, Maxim Prime decided to make the best of bad timing and donated the food that would have been served to downtown rescue workers, said publicist Liz Lapidus.
A new date for the party has yet to be determined. Captain Planet's headquarters, in the same building as the downtown Ted's Montana Grill, is currently without phone or Internet service.
Noche Flamenca & Soledad Barrio performance. Georgia State University's Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University sustained storm damage, leading to the cancelation of tonight's show. Also canceled at the facility: Sunday's Starbound Dance Competition. GSU officials say further details on future shows will be provided Monday.
SEC tournament. The remaining games in the SEC men's basketball tournament are being played at Georgia Tech, but many ticket holders are disappointed that the much-smaller Alexander Memorial Coliseum will limit the attendees to only players' families, as well as anyone holding a working credential.
Spring Atlanta Home Show. The 30th annual event, which was set to run through Sunday at the Georgia World Congress Center, was canceled because of storm damage to the building. Early reports were that a wall had collapsed at the center, causing flooding inside.
St. Patrick's Day Parade. The storm wrecked the path of the parade, scheduled to start at noon Saturday at Peachtree Street and Ralph McGill Boulevard and end at Underground Atlanta. The parade was canceled officially at 5 a.m. Saturday and no new plans for the parade have been announced.
Downtown DASH for Diabetes 5k run/walk: Called off.
Thomas P Hinman Dental Meeting. Thousands of attendees were turned away Saturday morning from the Georgia World Congress Center. The storm was a huge blow to an estimated 24,000 exhibitors, speakers and professionals attending the dental show.



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