YOUR  SociaLIFE!    

 Save the Date: Black Orchestral Network 2025 Summit | October 19 in Atlanta, GA  Location: Atlanta Music Project, 883 Dill Ave SE, Atlanta https://atlantamusicproject.org/ The Black Orchestral Network 2025 Summit is Coming to Atlanta

We are thrilled to announce that the Black Orchestral Network (BON) 2025 Summit will take place on Sunday, October 19, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia from 10:00am-5:00pm ET! This year’s summit promises to be an extraordinary day of inspiration, action, and education — bringing together Black orchestral musicians, artistic leaders, students, and advocates from across the country. Attendees can expect dynamic panel discussions, candid conversations, and opportunities for connection that reflect the strength and creativity of our collective voice.

The Black Orchestral Network (BON) is an organization dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for Black people in the orchestral field. Guided by our mission of “Cultivating Community, Lifting Our Voices, and Telling Our Stories”, we’re focused on strengthening connections, advancing equity, and driving meaningful change — from the concert stage and beyond. BON is a necessary vehicle for securing a future where Black classical artists are connected and form a rich, expressive, and culturally affirming network. Connection within the Black orchestral community is vital to our sense of belonging and well-being. The understanding and improvement of the Black experience is critical not only to the future of Black orchestral musicians but also to the future of orchestral music as a practice and the music industry as a whole.

 Whether you’re a seasoned professional, an early career artist, educator, administrator, or a passionate supporter of equity in classical music — the BON Summit is your space to engage, learn, and grow. 

 Mark your calendars, and visit our Eventbrite page to register for this free event. The full agenda, including panelists, will be released later this month. Until then, we can’t wait to welcome you in Atlanta for a day that will energize and empower us all!  blackorchestralnetwork.org

(I'm currently working as a consultant with the Black Orchestral Network based in New York City, under the guidance of the incredible Donna Walker-Kuhne. This work is deeply meaningful, as we focus on advancing equity, visibility, and opportunity for Black orchestral musicians and communities. I believe this initiative is of great interest to many, and I encourage you to spread the word and consider attending the upcoming summit. It promises to be an inspiring and impactful gathering!)

 

 

EXTENDED: NOW - Aug 31   Black Art in America Fine Art Print Fair, 1802 Connally Dr., East Point  (M-W by appt) Thurs-Sat: 11am-6pm  KNOW More:  blackartinamerica.com Celebrate 100 Years of Black Printmaking!   Join us for the nation’s largest print fair honoring African-American artists at the 3rd Annual BAIA Fine Art Print Fair and original works on paper show. Discover rare original and limited-edition work. Meet the artists & hear their stories  Enjoy educational talks on collecting And experience 3 unforgettable days of culture, creativity & community.

 

KNOW More: bronzelens.com 

KNOW More: investfest.com

Sat, Aug 23 APEX Museum 47th Anniversary Celebration Lot Party, 135 Auburn Avenue, Downtown Atlanta 10am-6pm Free for Party  Museum Admission: $4.70  KNOW More: apexmuseum.org

 

 

 Wed, Aug 27- Mon, Sept 1  Atlanta Black Pride Weekend,  citywide, check the website for all the details(multiple locations, Festival in Piedmont Park)  KNOW More: atlantaprideweekend.com  Atlanta Black Pride Weekend stands as a beacon of love, inclusivity, and resilience, honoring the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community. Through a rich tapestry of events—including the renowned Pure Heat Community Festival—we create spaces that uplift, educate, and inspire.

 

Wed, Aug 27   Making Sweet Tea:The lives and loves of Southern Black Gay Men, (Fundraising screening for Freddie Styles), Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, 931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta  7pm    Tickets: $12 or pay what you can   KNOW More: outonfilm.org/upcomingevents/sweet-tea Out On Film is happy to present a screening of the beloved "Making Sweet Tea" as a fundraiser for Freddie Syles, a subject of the film whose house burned down in February. He lost everything including 50 years of art. E. Patrick Johnson and subjects from the film will be in attendance "Making Sweet Tea" is a feature-length documentary film exploring the lives and experiences of Black gay men in the South. The film, directed by John L. Jackson Jr. and Nora Gross, follows researcher and activist E. Patrick Johnson as he documents his own coming-out story and investigates the diverse experiences of other Black gay men in the region. The film also incorporates elements of Johnson's stage play and book, which were based on oral histories collected from the community.

 

 

Thurs, Aug 28- Mon, Sept 1   DragonCon,  Hotels, Hyatt Atlanta Downtown, Courtland Grand Hotel, Westin Peachtree, Hilton Atlanta   Tickets: $35 and up   KNOW More: dragoncon.org Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe. Call us a phenomenon, call us one of the most well attended pop-culture conventions in the country, call us the most fan fun you can have in five days:
Dragon Con is where you want to be on Labor Day Weekend.

 

 

 

 

Thurs, Aug 28   Legacy in Bloom: Xernona Clayton, Hardy Ivy Park,  300 Peachtree St NW, Downtown Atlanta across from Suntrust Bank, 5pm-6:30pm  KNOW More: atlantadowntown.com/do/legacy-in-bloom-xernona-clayton-celebration Celebrate civil rights trailblazer Xernona Clayton's 95th Birthday with an evening of stunning nature-inspired art installations by Atlanta artists: Chloe Alexander, Grace Kisa, and Sayma Hossain Birthday celebration with Ms. Clayton herself. Live music and performances featuring Melvin Miller & Kathleen Bertrand. Poetry by Hank Stewart.  Ice pops and refreshments Free and open to all.

 

 

RSVP: eventbrite.com/e/college-coffee-night-the-atlanta-city-studio-tickets-1552816779789

KNOW More: freshtix.com/events/jimmy-jam-and-terry-lewis-and-friends-0830  $110 

 

 

 

 KNOW More: Sat, Aug 30- Sun, Aug 31  tasteofsoulatlanta.com  12pm-9pm Admission: FREE  Concerts: $27 and up  Location:  Outdoor festival, entrance at Northside Dr. & MLK Jr Dr. Atlanta Ga 30314 - Across from the GA Dome & Mercedes Benz Stadium.

 

 

Sun, Aug 31   21st annual House In the Park, Grant Park Tennis Court Pavilion, Atlanta   KNOW More: 15, 000 House music fans transcending every strata of society come together for HITP. 4 Djs, House in the Park™ is a musical exploration of the soul and a vision to see House Music become a unifying movement, transcending every strata of society- ethnic identification, race classification, age and lifestyle. DJ Ramon “Rawsoul” Guyton, the visionary behind Rawsoul Entertainment, and Kai Alce, the man behind record label NDATL, launched House in the Park™ in 2005, as a gift to the city and the community that supports the monthly music-social offering “The Gathering.” HITP adds much needed variety to the Atlanta music scene and features a range of House Music’s emerging local, regional, and international talents. DJ Ramon Rawsoul orchestrates this effort simply for the joy of bringing his favorite music genre to life in a tangible, meaningful way.

 

www.atlhiphopday.com com Artists & Vendors Call: 678.825.4859'" width="1436" height="1809" />

 

NOW -Aug 31   A Strange Loop, Actor's Express, 887 Marietta St NW, Atlanta 2pm, 7:30pm, 8pm Tickets: $25 and up   KNOW More: actors-express.com  

Audience Advisory: A STRANGE LOOP features mature content some audience members may find challenging. WINNER! 2020 PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA
WINNER! 2022 TONY AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL Frustrated with his day job ushering for Broadway musicals, a young, gay, Black writer decides to write a musical about a young, gay, Black writer who decides to write a musical about a young, gay, Black writer. Stuck in this “strange loop,” Usher takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey of identity, desire and self acceptance – backed up by an ensemble of voices who call it like they see it. By turns thought provoking and hilarious, A Strange Loop is a groundbreaking piece of theatre that won literally every Best Musical award on Broadway.

 

NOW Thru - Sept 2025  "More Than Brave: The Life of Hank Aaron, Atlanta History Center,  130 W. Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta  Ties-Sun: 9am-4pm Admission: $24  KNOW More:    atlantahistorycenter.com/exhibitions/more-than-brave-the-life-of-henry-aaron/ This exhibition tells the story of Henry Aaron from his time in Mobile, Alabama, to his record making baseball career and his life as a leader in baseball, business, and charitable causes. This event is free to members, registration is required. Peanuts, Cracker Jacks & other traditional ballpark snacks will be served.

Now - Sept 7    Campbell Addy(Ghanaian Photographer), SCADFASH, 1600 Peachtree St, Midtown Atlanta   Tues-Sat: 10am-5pm  Sun: 12pm-5pm  Admission: $10  Students: $5  KNOW More: scadfash.org/  This exhibition features iconic portraits of cultural luminaries like Usher and Naomi Campbell, as well as editorial works from British Vogue, Dazed, and more, celebrating Addy’s ability to push fashion photography beyond aesthetics into a realm of deeper storytelling. 

 

NOW - Oct 12     Faith Ringgold: Seeing Children exhibit, High Museum 1280 Peachtree St, Midtown Atlanta Tues-Sat: 10am-5pm  Sun: 12pmn-5pm  Tickets: $23.50 (free to everyone 2nd Sunday of each month)  KNOW More:   high.org American artist Faith Ringgold (1930-2024) is widely known and celebrated for her paintings and multimedia art, including narrative quilts. However, her award-winning accomplishments as a children’s book creator are less well known. This summer, the High will present the most comprehensive exhibition to date of original paintings and drawings made for more than a dozen of her children’s books, featuring more than 100 works, including several that have never previously been exhibited. These include original paintings from “If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks” (1999), “Dinner at Aunt Connie’s House” (1993) and “Tar Beach” (1991), in which Cassie, a Black child in 1930s Harlem, imagines a future where she can go anywhere that she dreams of from her apartment’s rooftop. Also on view will be complete artwork from the fable “The Invisible Princess” (1999) and “We Came to America” (2016), which examines the history of immigration in America. Together, the artworks in the exhibition illuminate critical aspects of Ringgold’s practice and convey how Ringgold, a lifelong educator, presents children as creative, purposeful art maker.

NOW -Dec14  Black Zeithgeist: Atlanta, The Visual Arts, & NBAF(National Black Arts Festival), Hammonds House Museum, 503 Peeples St. (West End) Atlanta  Opening Night: July 18   6:30pm- --- Tickets: $10  (Closed-M-W, open Thurs: 12pm-5pm, Fri, 10am-5pm, Sat, 10am-5pm, Sun, 12pm-5pm) KNOW More: hammondshouse.org

SEPTEMBER  2025

 

KNOW More: theatlantaartfair.com The first global art fair for one of the fastest growing art hubs in the United States. Atlanta Art Fair returns to Pullman Yards this September 25–28, 2025 to build on the expansive momentum of the fair’s inaugural edition. As a continued catalyst for cultural enrichment and artistic exchange, Atlanta Art Fair 2025 will feature an inclusive roster of compelling programs and a diverse collection of innovative events, talks, performances, and installations that work to enhance the city’s existing community of artists, galleries, institutions, and collectors. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third Wednesday of each month til 2027  Access For All, High Museum, 1280 Peachtree St, Midtown Atlanta 10am-5pm FREE Admission(3rd Wed on each month)  KNOW More: high.orgThe High Museum launches monthly free Wednesday admission through early 2027

 

Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays(ongoing)    Midtown Atlanta Food  & Cocktail  WalkingTours, Saint Mark United Methodist Church(meeting location), 781 Peachtree St NE, Midtown Atlanta   Thurs, Fri, Sat  12:30pm(tour starts)  (tours ends near MARTA Midtown station)  $99 per person per day KNOW More:   Paid parking is available at 833 Peachtree St, or a few blocks from the North Ave MARTA station, Tours is 3 ½ hours, 1 easy mile.  Indulge in an eclectic array of cuisine & cocktails on this insider’s walking food & cocktail tour of the classy Atlanta neighborhood “Midtown” – located in the heart of the city between Downtown Atlanta and Buckhead.  Midtown is a chic, eclectic neighborhood where guests sample a variety of cuisines at a handful of unique restaurants. Don’t just sit down and eat, join us and dine through Atlanta! Dress comfortable and wear comfortable shoes.  southernculinarytours.com/atlanta/food-tours/atlanta-food-cocktail-tour  

Saturdays (all year round) Freedom Farmers Market, Carter Center, 453 Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta 8:3am-12   KNOW More: freedomfarmersmkt.com/  Freedom Farmers Market at the Carter Center was formed in 2014 by a small group of Georgia farmers with one vision: bring local, sustainably grown food to intown Atlanta neighborhoods.The market, now open year-round, offers a wide range of organic, local products including: fresh produce, grass fed meats, dairy including cheeses, yogurt, milk, farm fresh eggs, handmade baked goods and preserves, coffee and more. Each market Year Round features live music and a local chef with hot prepared foods. The market also holds monthly events featuring the fruit or vegetable of the season and monthly chef demos.

Marketing: Achieve Growth, Promote Your Business with us or Get listed on our Black Business Guide

Let us help you Spread the Word! about your new business, service you offer,  grand openings, art show, live or virtual, community events and much more.  

*What We can do for You...spread the word on social media, send an e-blast to KeithKNOWS members, post your flyer on this blog page, it's quick, easy, affordable!   *We reach over 50, 000 peole on social media, email subscribers, newsletter, and on the website.  Get more details about our rates at KeithKNOWS2003@yahoo.com 

*If you are interested in being listed in our Black Business Guide, e-mail us for advertising rates, KeithKNOWS2003@yahoo.com    KeithKNOWS, Black Business Guide.  Buy Black, Support Blackowned.  keithknows.ning.com/page/black-business-guide 

15 Black Owned Vegan Bakeries to satisfy your sweet tooth.  From specialty vegan cookies to sweet Southern favorites, these Black-owned vegan bakeries across the U.S. keep hungry patrons coming back for more vegnews.com/2022/2/black-owned-vegan-bakeries

6 Ways To Increase Your Income Using The Internet. shoppeblack.us/2022/03/increase-your-income-online/

Bespoke Binny, offers high quality and modern African print homeware, such as beddings, blankets, throws, children collections, pillows, cushions, lampshades(lampshades classes), tablewares and more.  bespokebinny.com

CathWear is a patented catheter leg bag underwear(Men & Women)  that is designed to house and manage your catheter and/or drainage leg bag needs. cathwear.com

Todd Patrick is a luxury menswear brand that focuses on how the past shapes the future. The brand has carved out a niche lane for the mid-century modern man of today’s time. Each piece translates fabric to conversation. toddpatrick.co/

Take Off Luggage empowers budget-conscious travelers. Their carry-on suitcases detach from their wheels, transforming them into free “personal items” that fit under most airline seats, potentially eliminating baggage fees. takeoffluggage.com/

SquadTrip is an online platform designed to make group travel planning a breeze. It caters to organizers by offering a central hub for managing everything from creating a trip website to collecting payments and communicating with participants. squadtrip.com/

Anime Iris, Founded by Wilglory Tanjong, Anima Iris crafts statement handbags handmade in Senegal by local artisans. With architectural silhouettes and vibrant textures, the brand fuses African heritage with global appeal. It’s been seen on celebrities like Beyoncé and is frequently featured in fashion media. animairis.com

Kimeze is an eyewear brand based in London, founded by siblings Clare and Christina Kimeze. Their frames are designed for diverse facial features and made in Italy, blending modern minimalism with heritage details. kimeze.com

Brandon Blackwood, American Airlines has partnered with celebrated designer Brandon Blackwood to debut a line of limited-edition amenity kits for premium cabin passengers. brandonblackwood.com

Black Pepper Paperie Co. is a Washington, DC-based mix-media art + design studio and lifestyle brand. BPPCo. focuses on creating globally-inspired, one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces that include wearable ceramic art, home decor, paper goods, and apparel. studiobppco.com

Available at Beaucoup Hoodoo a Philly-based botanica and bookstore, Samantha Joes Barn Yard Florida water is used to cleanse oneself and space. Add some to a spiritual bath for a cleanse in the tub. beaucouphoodoo.com

Junior Wallstreeters,  Kevon Chisolm and his teenage son, Kamari, the founders of Junior Wallstreeters, Inc., have unveiled a double-header of programming designed to fight learning loss, narrow the racial wealth gap, and build the next generation of savvy investors. juniorwallstreeters.org 

BODDO Studio, found at Crates ATL, 215 Mitchell Street, Downtown Atlanta  BODDO translates to “beautiful” in Fulani, which is Aishah’s maternal ancestral lineage, tracing directly back to Mali in the Northwest region of Africa. Aishah's first drop: Cushions and Floor Pillows made from authentic Kuba cloth—each piece is rich with history, texture, and serious style. Beautiful, plant-based textiles handmade in the heart of Democratic Republic of Congo. Ready for your home.instagram.com/p/DJPQNS4gKQZ

Ghana to the World book, by Eric Adjepong, With 100 soul-satisfying recipes and narrative essays, Ghana to the World reflects Eric's journey to understand his identity and unique culinary perspective as a first-generation Ghanaian American. 

All of the cookies at Salt n Sprinkles are dairy-free, egg-free, mostly plant based and totally delicious. If you're looking for an allergen-friendly treat, you've come to the right place they also offer recipes and has a cookbook.  saltnsprinkles.com 

Culture Greetings products are manufactured right here, in-house, in the USA, at their state of the art printing facility!  They Write. They Print. They Mail. It's simple: You pick a card and add a personal note. They  print, stamp and mail the cards to your recipient(s).  You also have the option of inserting a gift-card inside of the envelope. (Georgia)  culturegreetings.com/