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Named after its shell-like appearance, la concha is the quintessential pastry of Mexico and has now become a symbol of Latinidad across the U.S., and sometimes in corners you might not imagine, like the South. There are over 2,000 variations of pan dulce, but the soft bread bun topped with sweet cookie-like dough is popular for a reason.

Driving by million-dollar mansions in the heart of Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood — what many call the Beverly Hills of the South — right across from Atlanta’s third largest park sits the Chastain.

July 27, 2023

“These are the best conchas I have had since Mexico,” said Daniel Guevara, who drives two hours to get his hands on one. “I would have never imagined to find it here and by an Argentinian chef.”

It might not be your typical panaderia, but when on the menu, la concha at the Chastain is the star.

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“We make it because me and my team want to share our Latin culture and flavors,” said Christian Castillo, executive pastry chef at the Chastain. “It makes me and my team so proud of our roots.”

Covered with a chocolate-flavored cookie on top, Castillo has decided to elevate the experience of his favorite Mexican pan dulce by stuffing it with a chocolate coffee cream that promises to get all over your fingers when biting into it.

Living in the U.S. as a native Argentinian, Castillo thought he knew Mexican food until he actually went to Mexico. “I used to think that conchas were dry with a lot of coloring,” said Castillo, based on his experience in the U.S. over 10 years ago. But when he walked into a panaderia in Mexico and took a bite of a concha, he quickly changed his mind. “I tasted the softness in the perfectly baked brioche-like bread,” he said. “And it was impossible not to fall in love.”

Mexico shaped Castillo’s approach to baking. He uses many of the flavors, ingredients and techniques from Mexican cuisine, including the pan dulce. When he became executive pastry chef at the Chastain, he and his diverse team of bakers decided to put Latin pastries on the menu, using the best ingredients.

“It’s important to me that people know that our Latin community has excellent pastries,” said Castillo. “It’s not all European. Latinos have it, too.”

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Oct. 24, 2023

While the concha is as Mexican as the taco, it has deep-rooted ties to Europe. In the 17th century, during the colonial era, French bakers arrived in Mexico, bringing along the brioche, baguette and other European recipes and techniques.

Brioche, a soft, lightly sweet, rich bread, is believed to be the base of la concha but elevated with indigenous ingredients in some of its variations, such as using lard instead of butter.

Making a concha is not an easy task. The elaborate process can take up to 48 hours, with much waiting and dough-babysitting in between.

“I let the dough rise and proof slowly overnight in the fridge for a more complex tasting concha,” said chef Teresa Finney, recipe writer, baker and owner of At Heart Panaderia in Atlanta. “The dough is an enriched dough, meaning in addition to flour, there are eggs, butter and milk present.”

Once the dough is proofed, it is portioned into the desired size and shape of the concha — which is traditionally round, although some have experimented with heart-shaped conchas.

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As one of the last steps, the dough is topped with the popular sweet cookie. Some pastry chefs prefer to cut the cookie into its traditional seashell pattern before placing it on top of the concha, and others put the cookie over the dough and artistically score it.

“They are time-consuming,” said Finney, who offers conchas year round in a menu that seasonally changes. “Sometimes I feel like I’m still learning how to make them.”

The granddaughter of paternal Mexican grandparents from Guadalajara who immigrated to Los Angeles in the 1950s, Finney grew up embedded in the Mexican culture in California. “Growing up, it was all about the culture,” she said. “We ate Mexican food primarily, obviously, and of course, lots of pan dulce.”

In 2015, Finney moved to the South, and conchas and pan dulce became a way to cope “with an engulfing sense of homesickness,” she said. “[I] just wanted to feel closer to my family since in 2020 I wasn’t sure when I would be able to see them again.”

It was then that her Georgia-based micro-bakery and pan dulce pop-up came to life.

July 19, 2023

“Living in Georgia taught me about seasonal eating and the beauty of one season ending to make way for another season to begin,” said Finney. “The U.S. Southeastern seasons inform basically all that I do now at the bakery.”

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In the spring, when strawberries start to grow in Georgia, the At Heart Panaderia’s menu includes a strawberry and sumac concha. Sweet potato conchas come in the fall, and a plum or stone fruit jam-filled concha becomes a crowd favorite in the summer.

Social media has taken the spin-offs of the concha to a new level, including the croncha (a croissant concha), concha ice cream sandwiches, concha muffins, concha bread pudding, and even giant conchas big enough for a family of 10.

Amid all the concha trends, El Tesoro leads the way in Atlanta with the torta concha.

“One of my favorite things about going to Mexico City is the insane tortas on the streets,” said Alan Raines, owner of El Tesoro in Atlanta. “I still remember my first [torta] and thinking, what is this madness?”

As the name notes, torta concha is a combination of a torta and a concha. The concha, sourced from a local Mexican store, is sliced open horizontally and seared on the plancha with queso Chihuahua, then stuffed in a sandwich-like manner from bottom to top with refried beans, beef barbacoa, guacamole, salsa verde, pico de gallo, lettuce and sour cream.

“I wanted to go all out and blow people’s minds with the balanced combination of what seemed like a kitchen sink kind of sandwich,” said Raines.

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The concha at El Tesoro is sourced from a local Mexican store, and the barbacoa is seasoned Guerrero style and braised for hours to achieve tenderness.

“The real reason the torta works, like everything we do, is because of each individual ingredient,” said Raines. “Just like each of our kitchen staff is an individual ingredient in our menu success. It never ceases to amaze me.”

El Tesoro is a neighborhood rustic restaurant with an outside-only dining room that comes nothing short of one you would find in rural Mexico. It’s no surprise that the torta concha hits home. It might be a trendy variation of the concha, but its flavors are authentic sabores de Mexico.

The influence of the concha goes beyond food.

“Conchas are extremely close to my heart,” said Yesenia Velazquez, owner of Celi Studios, who grew up in Mexico but moved to the U.S. at age 11. She might not be the best baker, but she is a talented artist who connects people to their childhood memories through concha-inspired jewelry in Atlanta.

“When I see the expression and excitement of a girl to my concha set, it’s seriously the best feeling because I can see it probably means the same to her — a sweet reminder of childhood,” she said.

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Aug. 21, 2023

The nostalgia of a concha is sometimes also reflected in the stroke of a brush. “My father made pan dulce from time to time. Conchas were my favorite to help make, and those are some of the better memories of my childhood,” says Christian Limon, Mexican artist and founder of Kuali Galery in Atlanta. Over the years, he has featured conchas in at least eight paintings. “Painting conchas is a way to honor my Mexican heritage and also a way to honor my childhood.”

Whether they are sold at a panaderia recién hechas (freshly baked), in a fancy coffee shop, stuffed with flavorful meat, or at a festival as earrings, conchas are a nostalgic symbol of Latinidad, family and home — wherever that is, even in the South.

Daniela Cintron is a Mexican-born bilingual journalist whose work focuses on telling the stories of underrepresented communities. She is based in Atlanta and pursuing a master’s degree at Harvard. @danicintron

On Oct. 16, Ramon Martinez took a plane from Mexico City to Atlanta. He had never traveled to the city before but was moving there because he had been hired to do one particular job. A job that very few can do in the South because the skill set is earned in Mexico.

Martinez is a taquero — a traditional taco maker.

When chef Santiago Gomez decided to open a taquería in Atlanta with his parents, he never imagined that his biggest challenge would be finding a traditional taquero.

Sept. 5, 2023

“Even I can’t do that job,” said Gomez. Born and raised in Mexico City, Gomez is an award-winning chef who has opened and worked at many prestigious restaurants across Mexico and the United States. His second venture in Atlanta, El Santo Gallo, is a casual taquería bringing Mexican street food to Atlanta’s nightlife scene.

“A taco is always a craving after a night out,” said Gomez. “In the area, there are not many taquerías open late or where diners can actually see the taquero doing their thing on the trompo. It’s a whole experience, and it was important for us to have that.”

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But finding a taquero that could master the vertical rotating spit of seasoned meat known as a trompo was the most challenging part of the business journey — even for an experienced restaurateur like Gomez.

After six months of searching, researching and negotiating across the South and even Mexico, Gomez put his highest-paid employee for El Santo Gallo on a plane from Mexico City.

“Ramon and I have never met in person,” said Gomez. “But he is exactly what we are looking for.”

For Martinez, coming to the United States to do what he has done for 40 years in taquerías in Mexico City could be a life-changing opportunity.

Sept. 29, 2023

“I was born in a small town near Mexico City, and by the age of 9, I was already working with my family on a farm,” said Martinez. “We moved to the city, and I started working at the taquería doing every little job before I finally got the opportunity to reach the highest role there — to be the taquero.”

In Mexico, a taquería is always just a block or two away from wherever you are. As night falls, taco stands rise, bringing light to dead corners and a second life to some businesses — such as El Vilsito, an auto shop by day and one of Mexico City’s most famous al pastor taquerías at night.

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Mexicans rely on the taquería, and el taquero is the unsung hero at the end of a long day or after a night of partying.

“Going out for tacos with friends is such an intimate thing,” said Concepcion Romo, a Mexican party planner who often hires taqueros. “You don’t just go anywhere. You go where someone recommended you to or where friends took you. A taquero is almost an extension of your family.”

The job does not require a culinary or college degree, in fact, it does not even require a high school diploma. But it does require the trust of another traditional taquero to want to teach you.

Like Martinez, many taqueros start working at a very young age and have been in the industry for years. And while they may not have a fancy degree, many could beat any college grad with their memory, math and task management skills. Taqueros notice everything while they’re working, and the mind-blowing mental notetaking skills required for this craft might surprise you. You might lose count of the tacos you order and eat, but your taquero won’t.

Their quick and precise chopping skills are worthy of culinary praise. The technique of sliding the knife down the vertical spit of meat, shaving off the al pastor from the trompo to the tortilla with a machete-like blade, does not come short of the knife techniques of many Michelin-starred chefs.

Oct. 10, 2023

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“That’s how you spot a real taquero,” said Martinez. “It’s all about the precision and technique when making a taco al pastor.”

The taco al pastor is the most representative taco of Mexico City. But before it was a taco al pastor, it was a Lebanese shawarma.

In the 1930s, Lebanese immigrants escaping the Ottoman Empire arrived in Mexico through Veracruz, settled in Puebla and eventually made their way to Mexico City. Some Middle Eastern cooking techniques and dishes came with them, including the shawarma, a spit-roasted lamb served in pita bread.

Throughout generations, the shawarma evolved. Pork replaced the lamb, and corn tortillas replaced the pita bread. The vertical spit that was invented in the Middle East in the 14th century became an icon in Mexican gastronomy and is what we call el trompo today.

Taqueros traditionally use pork loin and brisket for al pastor, but some include fattier cuts, such as leg, neck or shoulder, to create juicier tacos. The taquero cuts the meat into thin, long pieces before marinating it in adobo — a sauce prepared with guajillo, ancho and pasilla chiles and spices such as garlic, oregano, cumin, pepper and bay leaves.

In an elaborate and almost intimate process, the taquero begins to layer up the meat in the trompo, giving it the upside-down cone shape resembling the Mexican toy — hence the name.

“The process takes about an hour and a half,” said Martinez. “And we end up with a 100-kilo [220-pound] trompo, which can serve up to two thousand tacos.”

The recipe for making a trompo is unique to each taquero and taquería. It is the bearer of family traditions, history and geography.

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Oct. 20, 2023

“El taquero has a critical job beyond just cutting meat and putting it in a tortilla,” said Martinez. “El taquero is responsible for giving the right customer service, greeting the people, offering them more tacos and drinks and checking in on them.”

Taqueros are a symbol of Mexican cuisine, and despite being essential to Mexico’s gastronomy, the profession barely provides a living wage in its home country at five thousand pesos a month — an equivalent of $277.

Meanwhile, the demand for Mexican food, specifically street tacos, has increased by as much as 31% in the last four years in the United States, creating a high demand for those who know how to do the job with traditional Mexican cooking techniques.

In places like Atlanta, where Latinos make up a smaller percentage of the population compared to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas, tacos are in high demand, but traditional taqueros are scarce.

And that is how Martinez ended up on a plane headed to new opportunities “en el norte.”

“I met Martinez through his brother, a taquero in Miami,” said Gomez. “So, without hesitation, I got him an apartment and a job and brought him to Atlanta.”

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With his talents as a traditional taquero, valued 13 times higher in Atlanta than in Mexico, Martinez will help Gomez bring authentic Mexican flavors to the South.

But, most importantly, he will help develop and teach other taqueros to do the job with traditional techniques. “Vamos a levantar ese changarro” (let’s get that business up and running), said Martinez. “Let’s show Atlanta what’s good.”

Daniela Cintron is a Mexican-born bilingual journalist whose work focuses on telling the stories of underrepresented communities. She is based in Atlanta and pursuing a master’s degree at Harvard. @danicintron

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Maybe the Dodgers should save some of these wins for October?

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The Dodgers have a gigantic lead in the NL West, which means most of the games remaining lack a sense of urgency. That is not the case this weekend though.

Starting tonight, the Dodgers play four games against the Atlanta Braves, who have the best record in baseball. If the Dodgers want to have home-field advantage throughout the postseason, they are going to need to surpass Atlanta. Let’s take a look at the best record in baseball:

Atlanta, 86-45 Dodgers, 82-49, 4 GB Baltimore, 83-50, 4 GB Tampa Bay, 81-52, 6 GB

All other teams are more than 10 games behind the Braves. The team with the best record gets home-field advantage throughout the postseason, including the World Series.

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Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Become a Los Angeles Times subscriber.

Now, before we go any further, let me warn you that this will be a stat-heavy newsletter, and I know some of you hate that. But, baseball is built on stats, and we need to look at them occasionally. But if you hate stats, skip to the next item.

For those of you still with me, let’s take a look at how the Dodgers and Braves match up, through Tuesday’s games:

Runs per game Atlanta, 5.82 (1st in the majors) Dodgers, 5.65 (2nd)

Batting average Atlanta, .276 (1st) Dodgers, .256 (10th)

On-base percentage Atlanta, .345 (1st) Dodgers, .341 (2nd)

Slugging percentage Atlanta, .500 (1st) Dodgers, .460 (2nd)

Walks Dodgers, 535 (2nd) Atlanta, 445 (12th)

Strikeouts Dodgers, 1,100 (19th most) Atlanta, 1,056 (25th)

Doubles Dodgers, 256 (3rd) Atlanta, 231 (13th)

Triples Atlanta, 18 (T15th) Dodgers, 15 (T18th)

Home runs Atlanta, 247 (1st) Dodgers, 206 (2nd)

Stolen bases Atlanta, 110 (8th) Dodgers, 82 (20th)

Batting with runners in scoring position Dodgers, .279 (5th) Atlanta, .270 (8th)

Batting with two outs and runners in scoring position Dodgers, .256 (6th) Atlanta, .226 (21st)

Pitching

ERA Atlanta, 3.80 (3rd) Dodgers, 4.17 (16th)

Rotation ERA Atlanta, 4.06 (7th) Dodgers, 4.47 (17th)

Bullpen ERA Atlanta, 3.40 (2nd) Dodgers, 3.79 (10th)

Hits per 9 IP Atlanta, 8.13 (8th) Dodgers, 8.15 (9th)

Walks per 9 IP Dodgers, 2.91 (5th) Atlanta, 3.21 (15th)

Homers per 9 IP Atlanta, 1.05 (1st) Dodgers, 1.19 (13th)

Saves Atlanta, 41 (5th) Dodgers, 38 (T11th)

Blown saves Atlanta, 20 (16th most) Dodgers, 14 (27th)

Percentage of inherited runners who scored Dodgers, 27.8% (4th best) Atlanta, 31.4% (12th)

Days in first place Atlanta, 152 Dodgers, 101

Longest winning streak Dodgers, 11 Atlanta, 9

Longest losing streak Dodgers, 4 Atlanta, 4

Shutouts Atlanta, 15 Dodgers, 12

Times shut out Dodgers, 4 Atlanta, 2

Comeback wins Dodgers, 35 Atlanta, 34

Walk-off wins Dodgers, 5 Atlanta, 5

Walk-off losses Dodgers, 5 Atlanta, 4

Before All-Star game Atlanta, 60-29 Dodgers, 51-38

After All-Star game Dodgers, 31-11 Atlanta, 26-16

Extra-innings games Atlanta, 4-2 Dodgers, 4-4

One-run games Atlanta, 19-15 Dodgers, 14-12

Blowout record (win or lose by five or more) Atlanta, 30-8 Dodgers, 36-16

Interleague Dodgers, 25-15 Atlanta, 26-20

It’s easy to see why Atlanta has the best record in baseball. The Dodgers’ numbers, especially their pitching, were dragged down by a mediocre first couple of months.

Don’t put too much stock in the results of the next four games (well, unless some team dominates and sweeps with wins by big margins). For example, we’ll probably see Austin Barnes start a game, and he probably won’t start a postseason game. The Dodgers are without J.D. Martinez, instead playing Michael Busch, which likely won’t happen in the postseason. And Atlanta will do things it wouldn’t normally do in the postseason. So, if the Dodgers lose three of four, don’t walk around thinking they have no chance in the postseason. Just take these games for what they are: interesting, fun games that give a bit of insight into October.

The postseason

Just a reminder on the format. We will focus on the NL, but the AL format is the same. The three division winners qualify for the postseason along with three non-division winners with the best record. They are seeded from 1-6, with the division winners getting the first three seeds even if a wild-card team has a better record. If the postseason stated today, these would be your top six teams:

1. Atlanta 2. Dodgers 3. Milwaukee 4. Philadelphia 5. Chicago 6. San Francisco

The Braves and Dodgers would get a first-round bye. In the best-of-three first round, the No. 3 seed plays No. 6 and No. 4 plays No. 5. The higher seed hosts all three games. So:

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No. 6 San Francisco at No. 3 Milwaukee No. 5 Chicago at No. 4 Philadelphia

The winners of those series advance to the next round, which is best-of-five, in a 2-2-1 format. The No. 3 vs. No. 6 winner plays the No. 2 seed, the No. 4 vs. No. 5 winner plays the No. 1 seed.

The winners of those series would play each other in the best-of-seven NLCS.

Home-field advantage tiebreakers if teams have the same record:

1. Head-to-head record 2. Best record within own division 3. Best record against other divisions in league 4. Best record in league games in second half of season

The current wild-card standings:

Philadelphia, 74-59 Chicago, 71-62 San Francisco, 69-64

Arizona, 69-65, 0.5 GB Cincinnati, 69-66, 1 GB Miami, 66-67, 3 GB San Diego, 62-72, 7.5 GB Washington, 62-72, 7.5 GB

25 greatest Dodgers

The 25 greatest Dodgers, No. 22: MOOKIE BETTS (3,901 points) 2018 rank: not ranked

10 things you might not know about Mookie Betts:

1. Born Oct. 7, 1992 in Smyrna, Tenn.

2. Named league MVP in high school ... in basketball.

3. Named Tennessee boys’ bowler of the year in 2010.

4. Drafted out of high school by Boston as a second baseman in 2011.

5. Was selected in the fifth round.

6. Moved to the outfield in 2014 after Boston signed second baseman Dustin Pedroia to an eight-year deal.

7. Has the most three-homer games in Red Sox history. Ted Williams is second.

8. One of only four Boston players to hit 100 homers before turning 26. The others: Williams, Tony Conigliaro and Jim Rice.

9. His name is Markus Lynn Betts, because his parents wanted his initials to be MLB.

10. Nicknamed Mookie because dad was a fan of NBA player Mookie Blaylock.

There may be some recency bias here, as I’m not sure Betts has done enough yet to merit a top-25 ranking. However, with the way he has played since coming to the Dodgers, he easily could be a top-10 Dodger when his career is over. No matter where you rank him, he’s a great player.

Previously

No. 23 Dazzy Vance

No. 24: Kirk Gibson

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No. 25: Eric Gagne

Kershaw ties Drysdale

With the win Tuesday night, Clayton Kershaw tied Don Drysdale for second in Dodgers history with 209 wins. A look:

1. Don Sutton, 233 2. Kershaw, 209 2. Drysdale, 209 4. Dazzy Vance, 190 5. Brickyard Kennedy, 177 6. Sandy Koufax, 165 7. Burleigh Grimes, 158 8. Claude Osteen, 147 9. Fernando Valenzuela, 141 10. Johnny Podres, 136

Up next

Thursday: Atlanta (Spencer Strider, 15-4, 3.46 ERA) at Dodgers (Lance Lynn, 10-9, 5.56 ERA), 7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Friday: Atlanta (*Max Fried, 5-1, 2.85 ERA) at Dodgers (*Julio Urías, 11-7, 4.41 ERA), 7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Saturday: Atlanta (Bryce Elder, 11-4, 3.50 ERA) at Dodgers (TBD), 6:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

Sunday: Atlanta (Charlie Morton, 14-10, 3.29 ERA) at Dodgers (Bobby Miller, 8-3, 4.00 ERA), 1:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020

*-left-handed

In case you missed it

His Lahaina restaurant was a Dodgers paradise. He lost it but says ‘I feel blessed’

Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman chases the all-time doubles records of obscure names

And finally

Ross Porter remembers Jerry Doggett. Watch and listen here.

ATLANTA — The Los Angeles Angels have named Atlanta Braves third base coach, Ron Washington as the next skipper of their ballclub, the team announced on social media.

Sam Blum, Angels beat writer for The Athletic, first confirmed the Angels interview of Washington on Tuesday evening.

The team made it official on Wednesday afternoon.

The Angels are interviewing Ron Washington for their managerial opening tonight, per a source familiar.

— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) November 8, 2023

Washington, 71, has been a steadying force and presence in the Braves locker room for the last seven years as their third base coach, where he helped lead the team to win the World Series in 2021.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Before his stint in Atlanta, Washington was the manager of the Texas Rangers, where he served seven years at the helm, amassing a 664-611 record, leading the group to back-to-back American League pennants in 2010 and 2011.

Washington will be given a 2-year deal, although the terms of the agreement are unknown at this point, according to Blum. He replaces Phil Nevin, who spent the last two seasons as the manager of the Angels, with a below .500 record (119-149).

While his time is Atlanta has come to an end, Washington will be famously remembered for the impact he leaves behind and this iconic interview with Channel 2 Action News Sports Director, Zach Klein.

Ron Washington told the entire team months ago.. they would turn it around.. jump into 1st and win it all…“Everyone will be looking at our Ass and Elbows!” pic.twitter.com/wuAkiJcv4R

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) November 3, 2021

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IN OTHER NEWS:

#ForbesBLKSummit

Today Forbes announced its speaker lineup for its inaugural ForbesBLK Summit, taking place in Atlanta and virtually on November 5-6, 2023. The event will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs and entertainers to ignite critical conversations around the future of Black capitalism.

The two-day-event, centered around the theme – The Future of Black Entrepreneurialism: Convening Culture, Creativity, and Community – will include discussions focused on creating more equitable economies; the future of Black media; how Black entrepreneurs are securing funding; how executives of color navigate the world of sports and beyond, all while championing the global community of Black trailblazers.

Speakers include:

· Nick Cannon, TV/Radio Host, Entertainer and Entrepreneur

· La La Anthony, Producer, Author and Entrepreneur

· Nicole Pullen Ross, Partner and New York Region Head of Sports and Entertainment Solutions, Goldman Sachs

· Isiah Thomas, Former Professional Basketball Player, Philanthropist, Coach and Entrepreneur

· Shelly Cayette, Chief Commercial Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers

· John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Operation HOPE

· Dr. Debra Furr-Holden, Dean of Global Public Health, NYU

· Melonie D. Parker, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Google

· Todd Minor, General Manager, MCAPS Academy, Microsoft

· Michelle Jordan, Chief Diversity Officer, AT&T

· Phylicia Fant, Head of Music Industry and Culture Collaborations, Amazon Music

For the full list of speakers, click here.

Atlanta is the innovation hub for Black entrepreneurs, business leaders and creators, and serves as the number one Black entrepreneurial center and start ecosystem that convenes the world’s most innovative leaders who are changing business, culture and society.

In addition to the panel discussions, the ForbesBLK summit will include immersive cultural experiences across the city of Atlanta, which will highlight black-owned businesses throughout the city, including a Welcome Kickback that will take place on Sunday, November 5.

As part of the summit experience, ForbesBLK's first apparel collection will be available to purchase during the event. As part of its mission to spotlight Black creators, the ForbesBLK Marketplace will feature local Black-owned businesses.

For more information about the ForbesBLK Summit, visit: Forbes 2023 ForbesBLK Summit

Amazon, Amazon Black Business Accelerator and Steinbridge Group are the Supporting Partners.

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact [email protected]

Contacts:

The Braves defeat the Dodgers for the second time in the series, taking a giant step toward clinching the National League East pennant. Atlanta's offense blew up Julio Urías, who took the loss.

12:10 AM3 months ago

11:12 PM3 months ago

8- Up

Pitching change: Gus Varland replaced Ryan Brasier.

Defensive Substitution: Michael Busch replaced third baseman Max Muncy, batting 6th, playing third base.

10:08 PM3 months ago

Mid | 4 Inning

8:53 PM3 months ago

8:10 AM3 months ago

In a few moments we will share with you the starting lineups for the Braves vs Dodgers live, as well as the latest information from Dodger Stadium. Do not miss any detail of the game with VAVEL's up-to-the-minute live online coverage.

8:05 AM3 months ago

8:00 AM3 months ago

Starting Pitcher- Dodgers

Julio Urías - LHP The 27-year-old pitcher from Sinaloa, Julio Urías, opens the game for the Dodgers. He has an 11-7 record this season, with a 4.41 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 20 games played. Although he has not had a great year, the Mexican pitcher is one of the fixed cards in manager Dave Roberts' starting rotation.

7:55 AM3 months ago

Starting Pitcher- Braves

Max Fried - LHP

Pitcher Max Fried opens the game for the Braves, on the season he has a 5-1 record with a 2.85 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 10 games played.

7:50 AM3 months ago

The Series: Braves vs Dodgers

7:45 AM3 months ago

7:40 AM3 months ago

The Braves' season

Atlanta's Braves have had an excellent campaign, currently first in the National League East division with a record of 87-45, with a .659 average percentage.

7:35 AM3 months ago

All the teams are competing in the last month of the season with different aspirations, the two rivals in this game are thinking about when they will be able to uncork the champagne and celebrate winning a new divisional title.

Both Braves and Dodgers are serious candidates to face each other in this season's fall classic.

7:25 AM3 months ago

My name is Mario Meza May and I will be your host for this game. We are going to bring you pregame analysis, score updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL, everything that happens on the baseball diamond we tell you here, where if not more on VAVEL.

ATLANTA — The Hollywood of the South is living up to its name once again, as a new study shows Georgia now has more soundstage space than New York City, and is second only to Los Angeles in the United States.

That’s according to FilmLA Research, a non-profit research group out of Los Angeles.

Georgia now has 3 million square feet of soundstage space. Los Angeles came in first with 6.2 million square feet. New York City has 2.8 million square feet.

Globally, Georgia has the fifth-most square footage in the world and continues to grow.

“All of these competitive jurisdictions have plans to expand existing infrastructure by several million square feet. This could enhance their attractiveness to film producers, especially for jurisdictions that offer generous tax incentives and other perks,” FilmLA said.

RELATED STORIES:

This year, Georgia is seeing major growth in soundstages with the planned opening of at least three new studios: Electric Owl Studios near the Indian Creek MARTA station, Assembly Studios in Doraville, and Lionsgate Studios Atlanta in Douglasville.

Athena Studios in Athens, with 82,000 square feet in soundstages, recently opened and Trilith Studios in Fayetteville is adding eight more soundstages on top of its existing 24, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Just this week, Lionsgate announced that it would be the lead tenant at a brand-new film and TV complex in Douglas County expected to open later this year.

The 500,000-square-foot, full-service entertainment complex will have 12 sound stages, office and support space, a restaurant, and parking for 400 cars and 100 trucks.

“When the pandemic struck, we worked hard in Georgia to communicate with our partners in the Georgia film, TV, and streaming industries. Together, we forged a safe and appropriate path to allow the film industry to return to operations and deliver Georgia Made productions to eager consumers all around the world. Because of this partnership approach and the resiliency of our state’s film and television infrastructure, we are once again enjoying incredible growth and investment from industry leaders like Lionsgate and Great Point Studios. These projects will support hardworking Georgians and ensure that we are a top producer of television shows and feature films for years to come,” Gov. Brian Kemp said about the development.

Breaking news the Los Angeles Lakers have yet another star on their radar. That is not exactly news for the Los Angeles Lakers since they are always searching for superstar caliber talent every offseason. This year is no different as it seems they have the Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young on their radar. The 24 year old who was a favorite by long time Laker superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi Bryant, is under contract with the Hawks until 2026 at the very least and has yet to request a trade, however, if the Hawks continue to underwhelm Young’s frustrations could continue to grow and the Lakers could sweep in. Could a trade for Trae Young possibly happen?

A possible trade scenario

To get someone like Trae the Los Angeles Lakers would have to give up a lot in order to persuade the Atlanta Hawks. According to Fansided’s Lake Show Life’s Jason Reed, a potential trade for Ice Trae could involve D’Angelo Russel, Rui Hachimura, and a couple of draft picks. This is only one of a few scenarios. To get the Hawks to part ways with their superstar the Lakers should be willing to give up a lot for him. It might be a lot but the young star could be worth it. A trio of Trae Young, Lebron James, and Anthony Davis could potentially be a big threat. However, on paper it seems like it could be too good to be true. Could a trade for Trae actually be worth it?

This has drawn out sports analysts to comment on their take and in one particular case Skip Bayles did not hold back. In the article he explains that it would be a bad fit because of Trae Young’s height, his lack of defense, and that stats do not matter. Respectfully to Bayles, but height has nothing to do with it. Steph Curry is only 6’2 while Young is 6’1 and he seems to be doing very good for himself. Stats don’t count but is that not how we vote for all stars, MVP finalists, and finals MVPs? Is that not how we help determine who the best players of all time are? When it comes to defense Trae Young could improve on it. Yet the Los Angeles Lakers have great defenders on their team so the Atlanta Hawks star would not need to worry about defending much.

However, the only reason it would not be a good fit for the Atlanta Hawks star would be because the Los Angeles Lakers are not patient. Their win now mentality have the organization and their fans impatient if a player does not have immediate success. Just look at Kyle Kuzma and Russell Westbrook. Both were criticized and now both are showing success in their teams respectfully, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers. Although it is good to have a good now mentality it does take time for a player to adjust to new environments, so if the Lakers organization and their fans want Trae Young they will have to be patient with him. Height, defense should not matter the only way a Trae Young trade would not work would be because of Los Angeles Lakers lack of patience. It should work and here is why.

Why it should work

A Trae Young trade should be something the Los Angeles Lakers should consider. He averaged 26.2 in points (10th), 3.0 in rebounds (150+), 10.2 in assists (2nd), and 43 in FG percentage (110th). Yet somehow the former all star was not selected for last years all star. Young had better stats than a majority of the call-ups. No player is perfect but Trae Young seems to have a higher ceiling and an upside. His playmaking ability and his offensive powers have even elevated the Atlanta Hawks to the East Conference finals in 2021. Without Trae, the Hawks would have never gone that far. Furthermore, the Hawks would not have gone every season to the playoffs or at least the play-in. If he can take this Hawks team far, imagine the possibilities with a winning organization like the Lakers.

Final Predictions

It may seem like a gamble but Trae Young is worth it. The sky is the limit for the Atlanta Hawks 24 year old and his potential. Not to mention one of Trae’s idols is Kobe. So being in the same team as one of the all time greats would mean a lot to both parties. Missing out on the All stars and FIBA for Team USA probably has lit a fire under Trae. It seems like he is becoming underrated under own very own eyes. Going to the Los Angeles Lakers and possibly winning a chip would prove the doubters wrong. This potentially could help cement his legacy. The underrated star with a chip on his shoulder and the Lakers seem like a match made in heaven.

Revival Season, the Atlanta-based duo of rapper Brandon ‘Bez’ Evans and Mattiel’s Jonah Swilley, have announced their debut album, Golden Age Of Self Snitching, which is out February 23 via Heavenly Recordings.

The duo cite Prince Paul & Dan The Automator’s Handsome Boy Modelling School project and The Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique, along with Southern hip hop, as inspirations on the album. “What I came up listening to turned out to be so pivotal” says Evans. “I was in Georgia during the time of Dungeon Family coming up, and that turned out to be a big shifting point in hip-hop. We heard a lot of this stuff before the world, the way of thinking, the way of dress, the movement, the sound, we were there for it…Prior to that the South was really gated out, and as time has progressed it’s become more of a dominant sound, where almost everything in the genre comes from that time period and the sound and the attitude that was built there. All that stuff was on the back of really strong principles, on the back of the home-cooked, country-fied, soulful background that was added into the hip-hop formula from the South.”

“We kinda worked backwards, reverse-engineered a lot of songs”, says Swilley of Revival Season’s creative process. “I’d build a track around what he was doing vocally, kind of fill it out rhythmically, using his vocal as an instrument, seeing how I could accompany that musically and make it serve the vocal.”

The new single from the album is the infectious “Pump” which comes with a video directed by Swilley. Watch that below.

Revival Season will play Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right on November 14 and Los Angeles’ Zebulon on November 29 with Shamon Cassette x Al Lover.

Golden Age of Self Snitching 1. Look Out Below 2. Barry White 3. The Path 4. Message In A Bottle 5. Last Dance 6. Boomerang 7. Golden Silverware 8. Chop 9. Propaganda 10. Stars 11. Pump 12. Everybody 13. Eyes Open 14. Love To See It

Atlanta just found out how Keith Lee’s TikTok reviews can make or break a restaurant’s rep.

If you don’t follow TikTok food influencers, or keep up with the Atlanta food scene, chances are you’ve still scrolled past some of the drama that’s unfolded over the last week involving this prominent social media restaurant reviewer. Lee, 27, ventured from Las Vegas to Atlanta last week to head fork first into the local food scene. He documented the endeavor via TikTok to his 14.5 million followers and dropped some stellar reviews, as well as some that exposed the less savory sides of dining — and attempting to dine, to no avail — in Georgia’s capital.

While searching for a place to get some grub, Lee received an email from a fan asking him to come try his mom’s restaurant, the Dining Experience, so Keith stopped in and noticed the place was completely dead compared with other restaurants in the Atlanta area. He tried the food while in his the car, as he often does so he’s not seen by the restaurant staff, and gave the place rave reviews. After he tasted the chicken and waffles, salmon eggrolls and cheesy salmon grits, he joined his family inside and ultimately tipped the staff $1,000. He also slipped his server $1,000 to keep for himself. Days after Lee posted the video, replies flooded the comments section telling the influencer the joint had been packed ever since his visit and the restaurant was now hiring for all positions.

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This is the power that a Lee review packs. So when Lee exposed some of Atlanta’s most popular digs for customer service flubs, ridiculously long wait times, arbitrary rules around ordering and misleading information about service hours — the internet had thoughts.

World & Nation

Feb. 15, 2020

The eatery of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kandi Burruss, Old Lady Gang, took a hit to its reputation when, according to Lee, restaurant staff wouldn’t answer the phone and food was unavailable for takeout via DoorDash. Most problematic, though, they told Lee’s family — who attempted to get service while he waited in the car — there would be a wait of more than an hour, and they could not order take-out. But as soon as Lee walked through the door, the restaurant staff scurried to get them a table, which Lee declined on principle.

Burruss posted a video defending her restaurant. She said that, according to the restaurant’s hostess, a table was suddenly available for Lee because the previous patrons on the wait list were no-shows — besides, she said, it’s OK if the hostess did find a table for the reviewer when other people were told they’d have to wait: “We try to look out for our people who come and support us.”

The TikTok food critic’s most contentious review involved Atlanta’s the Real Milk and Honey. Lee’s review began with him showing he’d left the restaurant empty-handed after he couldn’t place a to-go order, and then when his family went inside they said they’d closed the restaurant for deep cleaning despite other patrons walking in to get food. The restaurant said that they had “rules.” When Lee walked in, they recognized him and tried to assist him, but he “respectfully declined.”

“I’m a normal person,” Lee said in his review. “I pay for my food like everybody else. … We are all normal people. Respectfully, if you’re not gonna do it then, don’t do it now.”

Food

Sept. 11, 2022

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According to Lee, the owners of a different restaurant, called Milk and Honey — not the Real Milk and Honey, which Lee visited in Atlanta — reached out to him and said they’d received death threats in the wake of that negative review.

“I am absolutely, 100% not with that,” Lee stated in another video addressing the situation. “Regardless of my opinion of any restaurant ... we don’t do that. Under any circumstances, that’s not OK in my eyes.”

“Bodak Yellow” rapper Cardi B caught wind of all the talk over Lee’s trip to Atlanta and weighed in via a since-expired Instagram live story. “Everybody talking about this guy called Keith, that he does restaurant reviews, and I’m like, who is that? I know that being a restaurant owner is a lot of hard work. And so many people have invested money in their restaurants. [For] people, this is their everything,” she said. “But I always find this eating in Atlanta: It is such an event. You could barely order in Atlanta restaurants. They don’t do no pickup orders, they don’t do deliveries.”

Cardi B said she’d even had to name-drop just to get food from restaurants in Atlanta and, even being famous, “it’s a hassle!”

She did end her video by noting that the food in Atlanta is especially delicious, particularly the chicken wings. “There ain’t no place in the world that make better chicken wings than in f— Atlanta.”