The seven days in between are a movie-lovers’ paradise with more than 150 independent, international, short, classic, documentary and animated films are showcased at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, surrounded by a host of daily conversations, celebrations, educational demos and receptions.

All access and festival passes are on sale now online at AtlantaFilmFestival.com, along with the full line-up and descriptions of the films. Regular screening tickets will be available for purchase through AtlantaFilmFestival.com and at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema Box Office (walk up Kiosk available inside Landmark lobby) beginning March 17.

What a treat that this hypnotic, breakthrough musical play is finally in Atlanta, if only for a week, at the Fox through Sunday, March 14. Broadway’s 2007 Tony-winning Best Musical is provocative, evocative, erotic, and filled with the sad, sweet music of sex as a central metaphor for life’s mystery. Based on an 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind about teenagers discovering themselves and their sexuality in the absence of any parental guidance or discussion of such a “forbidden” topic, the young people are left to fend for themselves. The play was initially banned for 15 years.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, as the saying goes. So here’s your caveat for the show, courtesy of the producers: “Spring Awakening” contains mature themes, sexual situations, partial nudity, and strong language. Unquote. Now that we’re clear on that, let’s marvel at the beauty of this award-winning play.

Lovely young Wendla (Christy Altomare) asks her mother about where babies come from, but her mother (Angela Reed) cannot and will not talk about it. This scene is played whimsically, but its repercussions are very serious indeed. When Wendla meets the charismatic Melchior (Matt Shingledecker, evidently understudying this week for Jake Epstein), they sing “The Word of Your Body” even as Melchior ponders how shame and ignorance are the source of much human misery.

Perhaps the central tragic figure is Moritz (Taylor Trensch), Melchior’s best friend, who sings “Don’t Do Sadness.” This role was played brilliantly on Broadway by John Gallagher, Jr, who won a Best Supporting Actor Tony (Mr. Trensch is quite fine as well). The original Melchior (Jonathan Groff) and Wendla (Lea Michele) are establishing solid careers on stage, TV, and film. If I may name drop a bit, I must say that Mr. Gallagher, Ms. Michele, and Mr. Groff are three completely charming young people (as well as talented): I was privileged to talk at some length with all three when I saw the play (twice) on Broadway. Yes, I am one of “The Guilty Ones”–the Facebook name for die-hard fans of the show.

If, perchance, you’re a young person who “doesn’t like musicals,” I must tell you that the songs here are performed as interior monologues, voicing only the thoughts and feelings of the characters. And though the play is still set in 1891, it takes on a decided modern rock bent when microphones are suddenly produced for many of the songs. This may sound like a hopeless mishmash, but it all works—beautifully. The book and lyrics are by Steven Sater; Duncan Sheik composed the music.

Though the show is powerful and pulls no punches, it also has a delicate, ethereal quality to it. It is true that our beloved Fox Theatre is simply too large for a play that invites intimacy like “Spring Awakening,” so unless you’ve got a really good seat, you’ll miss some of the magic. But this cast is outstanding (choreography by Bill T. Jones, direction by Michael Mayer), so go anyway. You’ll enjoy it, you may even love it, and you’ll mingle with a lot of “ the guilty ones.”

For more information and tickets, visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.  To contact Manning Harris, email fmanningh@gmail.com.

A list of prizes and the contest rules are on the entry form, which is available by emailing Stephanie Van Parys at director@oakhurstgarden.org. The grand prize entry will be featured on the 2010 Earth Day Celebration T-Shirt and all entries will be on display at the Decatur Library during the month of April. Participating youth don’t have to live in Decatur.

The entry deadline is March 19 and the winners will be notified by April 1. Prizes will be awarded at the Earth Day Celebration at the Oakhurst Community Garden Project on Sunday, April 18, at 1:30 p.m.

The Fort McPherson Zoning and Land-Use Blueprint public meetings will be held from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Technical College, 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, starting tonight (March 10) in the Academic Complex Auditorium. Additional meetings will be held  March 17, March 24 (in the Dennard Center Ballroom) and March 31.

In total, the Ft. McPherson Redevelopment Project is expected to generate 7,000 jobs and with another 5,000 to 6,000 created indirectly from the development. The site should also create between $7.4 million and $16.2 million annually in property taxes, according to the Ft. McPherson Planning Local Redevelopment Authority.

Fort McPherson has the benefit of being in close proximity to two MARTA transit stations, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Downtown Atlanta, and numerous higher education and health facilities. It is also close to several landmarks such as HiFi Buys Amphitheater and Turner Field.

In addition, the two MARTA transit stations that serve the surrounding neighborhoods are Lakewood/ Ft. McPherson Station at the SE corner and Oakland City Station in the NE corner. This neighboring area is also served by a number of bus routes.

The redevelopment project can be funded through a combination of federal, state, and local government tax incentives, as well as direct subsidies available for varied development activities such as public infrastructure improvements, new mixed income residential construction, new commercial office and retail construction, historic preservation and rehabilitation, environmental remediation, new parks and recreational greenspace.

Fort McPherson was established in 1885 as a military post on a site in south Atlanta. Over the years, the fort expanded to its present 487.45 acres and became the headquarters of the U. S. Army Forces Command. On November 9, 2005, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission announced its decision close Fort McPherson within six years.

For more information contact Jewelle Kennedy with the city of Atlanta’s Bureau of Planning at (404) 330-6145 or Councilmember Joyce Sheperd at (404) 330-6053.

The categories of art for show and sale include Basketry, Ceramics, Fashion Accessories, Fashion Wearables, Fiber Decorative, Furniture & Lighting, Glass, Jewelry, Kaleidoscopes, Leather Non-Wearable, Leather Wearable, Metal, Mixed Media (including a doll & puppet grouping), Musical Instruments, Paper, Stone, Toys & Puzzle and Wood.

“The variety and quality of work at the American Craft Council Show keeps me coming back year after year,” said Decatur resident Linda Kirkland. “Over the years, I have purchased and collected wearable art, jewelry and decorative pieces and am excited that I can find unique items for a price that fits my budget.”

Many artists are designated as GreenCraft Artists, meaning that all or a portion of the work is made from recycled materials and/or sustainable processes. This year, for the first time, the Craft Show adds two new categories: Lawn & Garden art and AltCraft. Show patrons will find signage in each artist’s booth that distinguishes their work as befitting these categories.

This year, the Show partners with Callanwolde Fine Arts Center to program its Artist Demonstration area, where patrons can watch as Callanwolde-affiliated artists and teachers demonstrate techniques and give attendees an opportunity to try their hand at various forms of art; kids can create and take home a piece of art they make, too!

Craft enthusiasts wanting an early opportunity to meet featured artists and buy their works before the show should plan to attend the Preview Party on Thursday, March 11, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Tickets for the Preview Party are $75 in advance ($85 at the door) and can be purchased at www.musuemofdesign.org. Proceeds from the Preview Party jointly benefit the Museum of Design Atlanta and the American Craft Council.

Craft Council Show on Friday, March 12, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, March 14: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular admission is $13 for one day, or $20 for a two-day pass. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Special Friday evening admission is $5 after 5 p.m. American Craft Council members and those who join the non-profit organization at the show ($25 annual membership fee) are admitted free all weekend. To preview the show and to purchase tickets online (for a $2 discount) visit www.craftcouncil.org/atlanta.

“This is going to be an especially exciting year to celebrate Irish heritage in Atlanta,” says Chairman of the Committee for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival and Owner of Underground Atlanta, Dan O’Leary. “We have more fun activities and ways to enjoy the holiday than ever before. You can catch prizes and beads from ornate parade floats at the Parade and enjoy bagpipers, Irish dancers and other family-oriented activities afterwards at Underground Atlanta. Come Downtown and bring your green!”

The parade will begin at noon on Saturday stepping off from the intersection of Peachtree and Ralph McGill to Underground Atlanta. Spectators will  see more than 200 units, including clowns, floats, bands of every kind, military units, Bagpipe and Drum Corps, Irish dancers, drill teams, dignitaries from Ireland and more Two-time NCAA and seven-time SEC “Coach of the Year” Vince Dooley is Grand Marshal of the parade and will ride in style with his wife Barbara and one of the descendents of UGA V.

The celebration continues post parade at Underground Atlanta for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, with Irish dancing troupes, bagpipers, a vendor’s market, an Interactive Zone presented by the Atlanta Hawks and Thrashers Street Team and other activities for green-loving folks, both young and old, from noon to 8 p.m. Visit the Lower Fountains Stage, Lucky Charm Stage, Food Court Stage or Kenny’s Alley Stage for music, including: U2 tribute band Desire, Yacht Rock Schooner, teensensation Zoe Myers and bagpiper Danny Ray Cole!

The 2010 beneficiary is the Atlanta Community Food Bank and drop-off bins will be located along the parade route and at Underground, so bring your cans.

The full schedule for the event can be found at www.stpatsparadeatlanta.com or follow along on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/stpatsparadeatl.

Funds raised from the events will benefit Global Water Challenge, a coalition of non profit organizations working to bring clean, safe drinking water to millions of people worldwide. This includes innovative projects that provide clean drinking water to communities in Haiti, Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. GWC has invested in previous projects with donations going towards improving access to water in schools and supporting local entrepreneurs who provide market-based solutions.

Beginning today, Live Earth will donate $1 for each U.S. registration received between now and March 23 for a special Haiti relief fund through GWC coalition partners CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Population Services, and UNICEF to implement safe drinking water programs on the ground in Haiti. People interested in supporting the Haiti relief fund should register for a Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk event in the U.S. before April 1st via The Active Network at http://liveearth.org/run, using promotional code HAITI.

“The money raised from these events will help thousands of people in the developing world get access to clean drinking water. We look forward to investing these funds and impacting lives,” said Paul Faeth, President of Global Water Challenge.

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee River Basin – the drinking water source for 3.5 million people. Established in 1994, UCR works to advocate and secure the preservation and stewardship of the Chatahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, for the people, fish and wildlife that depend on the river system. The Chattahoochee is considered the most used water resource in Georgia, and is one of the most threatened rivers in the United States.

This event will raise awareness about the threats the Chattahoochee faces as well as helping to fund UCR’s work in the field, patrolling the river system, monitoring water quality, educating our community, and more,” said Sally Bethea, Executive Director and Riverkeeper for UCR.

For more about the Live Earth Run, visit http://liveearth.org/en/

Participating restaurants include Buckhead Life restaurants, MARKET, Craftbar, Home, Aja, Prime, Cantina, Capital Grille, Aqua Bistro, Gordon Biersch, Cellar 56, Paces 88, Shula’s, Dantanna’s and more. A complete list of participating restaurants and their menus is online at www.brwatlanta.com.