Patch recently heard about a 23-year-old New Jersey actress who is seeking Tyler Perry's attention. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that Racquel Bailey spent $1,500 on a billboard at the intersection of Campbellton and Barge roads in southwest Atlanta. Perry has a studio in southwest Atlanta, and Bailey wants to capture the star's attention. Patch was in the area recently, and snapped these photos of the billboard, just above Greenbriar Animal Hospital.

  Ground was broken Monday on the new Vine City Walmart to be located in Atlanta's Historic Westside Village. The new, 74,000-square-foot store is expected to bring 250 jobs to the community.

Westlake High School's Jamison Murphy performed in the second annual Savannah State University Honor Band Invitational on Feb. 25, 2012. He auditioned and was awarded first chair position for the saxophone section for the concert, conducted by Dr Wesley Broadnax, director of wind ensembles at University of Delaware. Arthur Wright III is director of Savannah State University Band, and who also performed.

More than 50 people attended the first Georgia Black Conservative Summit Thursday at Georgia's Capitol. Here are scenes from the event, which included presentations and short addresses from a range of conservative and Republican leaders including Vivian Childs, the first African-American elected chair of the Georgia Republican Party's 8th Congressional District. Stay tuned to Cascade Patch for more on the summit and the event's organizer, The Conservative Alliance, established a year ago by Republican and conservative African-Americans in the metro area.

  In recognition of the 70th Anniversary of the creation of the nation’s first all African-American pursuit squadron, Atlanta City Councilmember Michael Julian Bond last month presented proclamations honoring the bravery of the surviving Tuskegee Airmen—men and women—of the metro Atlanta area at Atlanta City Hall (see photo gallery). Councilmember Bond was joined by Mayor Kasim Reed, other members of the Atlanta City Council, family, friends and special guests. Of the Tuskegee Airmen who live in metro Atlanta, twelve were on hand during December's reception and proclamation ceremony. They …

A community parade down Benjamin E. Mays Saturday gave Atlanta Public Schools youth across the southwest Atlanta area a chance to show their school pride. The parade—sponsored by Councilman C.T. Martin, Mays High School and Embracing Mays Community and Cluster Schools (EMC2)—began at 10 a.m. at Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church, 2545 Benjamin E. Mays Drive, and ended at Mays High School, 3450 Benjamin E. Mays Drive. Participants then enjoyed a cluster pep rally on the Mays track followed by a Mays High homecoming tailgate party. The event also included the annual fall festival at Young…

As part of the church's 140th anniversary celebration, Providence Missionary Baptist Church hosted its first annual community street festival Saturday at Benjamin E. Mays Drive and Beecher Road. The free event included performances, live music, health screening and games and activities for kids and adults. In addition, vendors showcasing original art, jewelry and other items were on hand to make the day complete. For 140 years, Providence has had a major impact on Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Providence grew out of Friendship Baptist Church on Mitchell Street in Atlanta following the …

The 20th Annual "For Sisters Only" was packed Saturday afternoon but the huge expo floor in Hall C of The Georgia World Congress Center still gave every visitor a range of freebies, seminars, demonstrations, entertainment and niche shopping to enjoy. For Sisters Only, is a popular annual event for many Cascade Patchers and business. Southwest Atlanta businesses and residents with booths include Opare Integrative Health Care, A.T. Bostic Designs, The Greene Legal Group(The Super Lawyer) and Designer Tina Stinson of the Nina Chanel boutinque in the Cascade Village. Hosea Feed the Hungry also …

Fulton County employees enjoyed a 5k walk and 10k run Saturday at the Fulton County Government Center, 141 Pryor St. The Fulton Family 5k Walk and 10k Run was the first to include a 10k route. It was sponsored by the county and managed by The South Fulton Running Partners. The first event, in 2010, consisted of a 4k walk and a 5k run. Fulton County plans to continue the event annually and, eventually, may open it to the general public. Here are some highlights. Readers are encourages to add pictures from the event.

Alumni from classes ranging from 1971 to 2011 of Therrell High School came together Saturday for a reuion picnic at Perkerson Park. According to graduate Cheryle Moses, Class of 1975, this was the first ever reunion of this kind and they promise this will be an annual celebration. See if you can find a former classmate in our picture gallery.

We don't want you to rubberneck to see the Radcliffe Bailey event flags the next time you drive down Cascade Road. So, here's the scoop. The work of the internationally-acclaimed Benjamin Mays High School graduate is featured in a National Black Arts Festival High Museum Exhibition called "Radcliffe Bailey: Memory as Medicine" through Sept. 11.  According to a High Museum essay about Bailey, his work explores American history and memory to encourage healing and transcendence through art. The exhibition features 37 works ranging from heroic to intimate scale, including installations, paintings…

Well over 1,000 walkers and runners participated in the 4th Annual Atlanta HBCU Alumni Alliance 5k Run/Walk at Grant Park Saturday morning. Southwest Atlanta resident and F. L. Stanton PTA wife and mother Euleeen Josiah-Tanner, 36, won First Place Female and 2nd Place Overall with an (unofficial) time of 18:17." With the theme "Run For You, Run For Them, Run For Us,” event organizers say participants sponsors raised some $30,000 for college scholarships. Gold-level sponsors Saturday included State Farm Insurance Company (which was the sole gold-level sponsor in 2010), The Home Depot and …

Hundreds of food lovers from southwest Atlanta and beyond packed an east-end convention room of the Atlanta Civic Center Sunday for the 21st Annual Atlanta Real Men Cook. Launched in 1990, the national 10-city event, features dads and father-figures along with celebrities and elected officials who volunteer time to cook for and serve their specialities to the community. According to the Real Men Cook website, the event is now the leading urban Father's Day experience. It’s a food tasting family celebration featuring men volunteering to cook for and serve the community. Ticket sales proceeds …

WAOK-1380 AM radio personality and former Atlanta city councilman Derrick Boazman celebrated his 45th birthday Thursday evening at the Cascade Wine Styles, 3752 Cascade Rd. Boazman, host of the 4 to 7 p.m. "Too Much Truth" show, was joined by numerous political and business leaders including author and Alpha Phi Alpha leader Skip Mason, Rep. Billy Mitchell, Sen. Vincent Fort and Atlanta City Councilman and Mays High School graduate Kwanza Hall. Cascade Patch pulled Boazman away from well-wishers for an interview that will run on the site next week. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures from the …

Thomas Dortch, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of 100 Black Men of Atlanta, encouraged a gathering of some 50 professionals Wednesday evening to investment more in southwest Atlanta area establishments. "Southwest Atlanta is a phenomenal place to live," Dortch, a corporate affairs consultant, said Wednesday at the Cascade WineStyles, 3752 Cascade Rd. "Let's invest in our community so we can make sure we have these things on the southside." The wine tasting event—hosted by Dortch and Jennifer Freeman of Freeman Young Consulting—not only promoted the wide range of wines available in the establishment …

All of southwest Atlanta had its eyes set on the new J.R. Crickets Lounge, which replaced the old J.R. Crickets on Cascade earlier this month. The new owners, Kashka "KK" Scott, Precious Scott and Dennis Mason opened their doors to the greater Cascade Heights community and, of course, Mayor Kasim Reed and dignitaries of the City of Atlanta. At the official opening on Mon., May 16, The Lounge was bumping with live music; soultry sounds by singer Eva Kennedy; and community leaders mixing and mingling with invited guest. The scene is exactly what co-owner and Cascade resident KK Scott said he …

Organizers of the 32nd Annual Sickle Cell Race and Walk at Welcome All Park said Saturday that the turnout for the event was one of the highest ever. "We saw a significant increase from last year," said Monte Fowler, 2011 South Fulton Running Partner (SFRP) Sickle Cell Race/Walk Coordinator. "This was one of the largest turnouts we've ever had." Fowler said the initial registration count was 1188 — up from 918 in 2010. Organizers expect to have official numbers later this month. The first overall finisher of the 7k race was Chris Smith, a Kirkwood resident, who completed the course in 26:14. …

There are many ways to define the word "elite," both obvious and unconvential. When members of the world's African diaspora think of the word "elite," Atlanta, Ga., and, more specifically, the greater Cascade area, are among places that come to mind. Indeed, southwest Atlanta has a unique history as one of the world's most affluent predominantly black communities. But the people who make this community "great" are not just the wealthy and powerful. They come from—and serve—all walks of life. This week, Cascade Patch decided to take a look at just a few of the many "elite" people in our …

Every Thursday afternoon, Cascade Patch will post a slideshow of life in Cascade Patch called "Viewfinder." This week, we have a hodge podge of photos taken since our site launched on Nov. 29, 2010. Please feel free to add your own photos to this posting. Have a great afternoon!

By Atlanta standards, the crowd—on the 49th floor of 191 Peachtree St.—could not have been more star-studded.  WSB-TV anchor Monica Pearson; southwest Atlanta native and actress Jasmine Guy;  actress Terri Vaughn of Steve Harvey Show fame (secretary "Lovita Jenkins"); singer Cherrelle (Saturday Love); radio show host and former Atlanta first lady Valerie Jackson; Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell; and Fulton County Commission Chairman and South Fulton resident John Eaves were all present, all among those gathered at The Commerce Club to honor acclaimed director Kenny Leon. The …