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Chroniclese OCTOBER 2018 COUNCIL
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HalloweenUsed to Be Simpler BUT IT’S STILL A TON OF FUN
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way more than once, so I always try to start costume shopping early. “Try” is the operative word, because I don’t always succeed. There has been more than one panicked trip to Party City on the eve of Halloween. By that point, you’re competing with dozens of last-minute shoppers hoping to find something that fits their kids. It’s about as much fun as it sounds. Last year, I finally got my act together and had costumes for both of our kids ready in advance. I was very proud of myself, until the time came to get everything ready and I realized I had misplaced the costumes. “You have got to be kidding me,” I thought to myself as I turned the house upside down looking for the costumes. When we couldn’t find them, it was back to Party City to purchase replacement costumes. My daughter, Elaina, actually ended up liking her substitute costume more than the original. As fate would have it, I ended up finding the original costumes during spring cleaning. Another change I’ve noticed is that while some kids have costumes that look like they were handmade by a fashion designer, others go out for candy wearing regular clothes. When I
was growing up, you didn’t even think about trick-or-treating unless you were dressed up. Yet every year there are a number of children who ring our doorbell and aren’t in costume. Now, we’re not about to turn anyone away, but it’s a little strange, right? The fact that both of our kids have peanut allergies requires my husband and me to be diligent candy checkers. Once the kids get back from their rounds, they know that the candy bag has to go to Mom first. We dump out the contents, remove anything that contains peanuts, and then dole out the candy over the course of the next few weeks. If the kids had it their way, they’d eat all the candy in a day or two. Halloween may not be as carefree for parents as it is for children, but it’s a great deal of fun no matter your age. I love seeing all the kids in costumes and the smiles on their faces. Will I ever be the world’s best costume maker? Probably not, but maybe this year I won’t lose the costumes altogether.
W hen I was a kid, Halloween was a holiday we always looked forward to, but it wasn’t the production it is today. At the earliest, we bought our costumes a few days before Oct. 31. The costumes were nothing to write home about, either. They came in a box that contained a plastic outfit and a mask. You were lucky if they remained in good condition by the time you were done trick-or-treating, and more often than not, seams would break and pieces would fall off. It didn’t matter to us, though, because we just wanted to have fun and get some candy. Today, it’s another story entirely. Every kid wants to have a unique costume that will wow their friends. A costume-in-a-box doesn’t cut it anymore. Instead, you need to get clothes, makeup, accessories, and whatever else you can think of to add a special touch. If you think you’re going to wrangle all the necessary components in one trip to the store, you’re sorely mistaken.
–Lashonda Council- Rogers, Esq.
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UBER OR LYFT? Injured in an RIDESHARING PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS Ride-sharing services, like Uber and Lyft, have become extremely popular in recent years. There’s good reason for their rise to prominence, as calling an Uber or Lyft is a great alternative to driving yourself or struggling with Atlanta public transit. Unlike with traditional cabs, you also don’t have to battle other people to hail a ride or stand out in the rain with your thumb out. The convenience and ease-of-use are great, but what happens when you’re injured while using one of these services? Under Georgia law, traditional taxi companies are not obligated to maintain a level of insurance beyond the standard requirements for any vehicle. This is not true of ride-sharing vehicles. A bill passed in 2015 mandates all ride-sharing drivers to have insurance of at least $300,000 between fares, rising to a minimum of $1 million when a passenger is in the vehicle. While those increased levels of coverage are a great start, they don’t guarantee that you’ll have an easy time getting the compensation you deserve. One unique consideration in ride-share cases is the way fault is determined. Many people assume that if you are injured in an Uber or Lyft, you’ll be filing a claim against the actual ride-share companies. While that may be true in a number of cases, in some instances you’ll be dealing with the Uber or Lyft driver’s personal insurance company. You’d also be surprised to know how many ride-share drivers are not properly insured. When you are injured in a ride-share accident, you’re entitled to the same forms of compensation as with any other accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and wrongful death. The Georgia Supreme Court has removed all limits regarding the amount a claimant can receive in these cases, but insurance companies Because ride-sharing is still a relatively new industry, the rules surrounding these cases are still being developed. That’s why it’s especially important to work with attorneys who have experience handling such claims. The team at Council & Associates can handle your ride-share claim so you can worry about what’s really important: getting better. will always try to pay out as little as possible.
Parents often feel pretty antsy when their teens want to date. It’s fun and exciting for the teen, but there are plenty of reasons for parents to worry. But don’t feel hopeless in this situation. Take the initiative to let your child know you’re there for them. Below are a few tips that can help keep your teen safe while respecting their individuality. Communication Open communication between you and your teen can help immensely. When your teen expresses an interest in dating, sit down and talk with them about it in a comfortable environment. It may be a little awkward, but letting your child know they can talk to you about dating will help them feel more at ease. Let your teen know they can always come to you, even if they have something unpleasant or uncomfortable to share. Rules on Dating When your teen starts to date, there’s nothing wrong with setting up a few rules. Putting an age restriction and a curfew in place is a good start. Come up with a time that both you and your teen can agree on. Deciding when your teen should date is a bit more complicated. If you believe your teen shows signs of maturity and you’re comfortable letting them date, now is a good time to start a conversation about it. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teens should be allowed to have one-on-one dates sometime after the age of 16. Dr. Ron Eager, a pediatrician at Denver Health Medical Center, points out that there is an enormous difference between a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old in terms of life experience and maturity levels. Appropriate Date Spots If your teen seems unsure of where to go on a date, suggest some places you feel comfortable with. This is a good way to encourage safe and age-appropriate activities that both individuals can enjoy. Some possibilities include the zoo, a movie, dinner, bowling, ice skating, go-karting, or an amusement park. These kinds of activities encourage a comfortable, fun environment that may help ease nerves for both you and your teen. Creating a comfortable parent-child relationship that encourages a teen to turn to you for help and guidance is the first step toward keeping them as safe as you can. WHEN YOUR TEEN WANTS TO START DATING
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Why There Are Kids on Your Porch Asking for Candy
THE HISTORY OF TRICK-OR-TREATING
As Halloween looms and you load up your grocery cart with candy, you may ask yourself, “Why do I provide these spooky gremlins with a sugar high every Oct. 31, anyway?” Well, when your doorbell starts ringing around 6 p.m. this All Hallows’ Eve, you can thank the Celts for this tradition of candy and costumes. Halloween itself is a kind of mishmash of four different cultural festivals of old: two Roman fêtes, which commemorated the dead and the goddess of fruit and trees (not at the same time); the Celtic Samuin or Samhain, a new year’s party thrown at the end of our summer; and the Catholic All Saint’s
Day, designed to replace Samuin and divorce it from its pagan origins.
11th century, people were dressing up as saints, angels, and the occasional demon instead of spirits. Eventually, costumed children started tearing through town begging for food and money and singing a song or prayer in return — a practice called “souling.” But when did they start dressing up as Minions? Starting in the 19th century, souling turned to “guising,” which gave way to trick-or-treating in mid- 20th-century America, and the costumes diversified. So put on some clown makeup and a big smile, scoop up a handful of sweets, and scare the living daylights out of ‘em— ‘tis the season!
Long before there were young’uns on your porch dressed as Thanos with candy-filled pillowcases in hand, the Celts believed that Samuin marked an overlapping of the realms of the living and the dead. To trick the spirits leaking into our world, young men donned flowing white costumes and black masks — a great disguise when ghosts were about. The Catholic Church was never a big fan of these pagan traditions, so they renamed it “All Saints’ Day” and gussied it up in religious garb. By the
Local Business Spotlight
CINNAHOLIC ATLANTA Is there a more appealing smell in the world than freshly baked cinnamon rolls? The aroma is enough to stop you dead in your tracks and make you head straight for the bakery. If you’ve been noticing that smell around the Edgewood Retail District, you have Cinnaholic to thank. They’re nearing their two-year anniversary in Atlanta and show no signs of slowing down.
While Cinnaholic is a national company, they franchise locations to independent owner-operators. The Atlanta location is owned and operated by Tom Franks. The Cinnaholic menu
offers the perfect amount of customization. You can choose your base bun, frosting, and any additional toppings you’d like. Over time, you might even develop a signature order. Regardless of what you’re munching on, you can expect friendly, knowledgeable service and a welcoming environment. Another cool aspect of Cinnaholic that you might not even notice without asking is that all of their items are vegan. While you could never tell from the way they taste, it’s nice to know that the dessert you’re enjoying contains zero animal products. Delicious, ethical, and inviting — that’s the Cinnaholic way.
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Inside
HALLOWEENS PAST AND PRESENT 1 WHEN YOUR TEEN WANTS TO START DATING UBER AND LYFT INJURIES 2 THE HISTORY OF TRICK-OR-TREATING THE SWEETEST BUNS IN GEORGIA 3 INSIDE AN ATLANTA CHILLI DOG INSTITUTION 4
At The Varsity
THE ONLY QUESTION THAT MATTERS IS ‘WHAT’LL YA HAVE?’
I n August, Atlanta’s The Varsity turned 90 years old, cementing its status as an icon in the city’s food scene. Since opening in 1928, The Varsity has expanded beyond its original location, but it’s remained family-owned and operated from day one. While it’s great to enjoy some authentic Varsity chilli dogs at the airport, nothing beats the original location at 61 North Avenue. As famous as The Varsity has become for hot dogs, onion rings, and frosted oranges, they’re just as famous for their unconventional service style. When you show up at The Varsity, the first thing you’ll hear is somebody shouting “What’ll ya have?” and you won’t just hear it once; it will be repeated in the cadence of an auctioneer until the person at the
head of the line places their order. When multiple windows are going at once, the sounds add up to one delicious symphony. Newcomers can be intimidated by the rush of orders and the overwhelming amount of shorthand that regulars use. You might hear the person in front of you ask for “a heavyweight, bag of rags, and F.O.,” and think to yourself, “What the heck does that mean?” But don’t worry; The Varsity’s website (thevarsity.com) contains a very helpful section devoted to lingo. Of course, you don’t have to know the slang to order — despite the yelling, you’ll find plenty of hospitality at The Varsity — but if
you want to sound like a pro, you can brush up beforehand.
Every city has their own particular restaurants that have become integral parts of the culture. New York has Katz’s Deli, Los Angeles has Randy’s Donuts, and the list goes on. In Atlanta, we’re lucky to call The Varsity our own. It’s the place you go when you want something simple and authentically Atlanta, and probably the first place you take visitors. The only question left to ask is this: What’ll ya have?
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