Connect with us

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta’s Silent Book Club chapter brings together readers, accountability, and camaraderie

Published

on

Atlanta’s Silent Book Club chapter brings together readers, accountability, and camaraderie


Atlanta’s Silent Book Club at Ladybird

Photograph by Sophia Griesenauer

If you’ve walked through Bold Monk Brewing, Ladybird, or other Atlanta hotspots recently, you might have noticed something unusual: a group of people independently reading in collective silence. Stumbling upon a Silent Book Club event might seem unnerving without context, but the meetup is an increasingly popular way for people to read, socialize, and explore Atlanta.

Founded in San Francisco in 2012, Silent Book Club has more than 500 chapters in 50 countries, including several across Georgia. Unlike a traditional book club, readers are encouraged to bring their own reading material and read it independently for an hour. That time is sandwiched between two socialization periods. It’s a no-pressure way to get reading done, meet new friends, and get out in the community. The concept is gaining traction on social media, with the Atlanta chapter alone racking up over 18,000 Instagram followers.

“I wanted to bring together a community of readers to reinvest in Atlanta,” says Sophia Griesenauer, the volunteer founder and leader of the Atlanta chapter who found the concept via social media. She began the chapter in November 2023 and has held meet-ups three times a month since. Typically, the Sunday schedule involves an “arrive and settle” period that lasts about 30 minutes, then a one-hour block for independent reading, followed by an hour of optional socializing. There are no reservations required to participate.

Advertisement

For Griesenauer, who has a corporate job at Home Depot in corporate communications, it’s been interesting to watch the psychology at play during the meetups. “I think there’s a lot to be said about doing something collective while also doing something individually,” she says. “Someone recently called it parallel play of the soul, and I think that’s what we’re doing, bringing people together to provide an opportunity to engage if they’d like, but also providing a safe, dedicated space to get some reading done.”

Atlanta’s Silent Book Club chapter brings together readers, accountability, and camaraderie
Atlanta’s Silent Book Club

Photograph by Sophia Griesenauer

Griesenauer emphasizes you can read anything you like, any way you like. People read books, self-help books, newspapers, listen to audiobooks, flip through Kindles, and more. “It’s whatever works for you,” she says. “We had someone come to a meetup with an audiobook, and then when the silent reading hour was over she pulled out her headphones and started crocheting.”

Meetups occur in some of Atlanta’s popular venues, such as the James Room, Dancing Goats Coffee, and the Daily. As the group has gotten larger, Griesenauer has sought out bigger spaces. Her goal with each venue is to help people find new places outside their comfort spots and expose them to places in the community they might not have considered otherwise. She’s also adding smaller pop-up style meet-ups for more intimate gatherings, including a partnership with the Atlanta History Center to do an author talk and silent reading, and Sweat EXT at Ponce City Market to do a workout and silent reading.

In May, the group will meet at Atlanta Dairies, Steady Hand Beer Co., and Elsewhere Brewing.

For those outside Atlanta city limits, there are chapters across the state, including in Newnan, East Cobb (founded by Griesenauer’s mother), South Fulton, Decatur, Suwanee, and more. Check the Silent Book Club website to find a chapter near you.

Advertisement

Advertisement





Source link

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta featured the Kentucky fan base at its finest

Published

on

Atlanta featured the Kentucky fan base at its finest


Walking around the streets of downtown Atlanta around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, it looked like a gathering for the largest Kentucky quarter-zip convention in the world. If Nashville brought out all the flannels, Atlanta provided a more Southern sophistication vibe. But no matter what they were wearing, Big Blue Nation was at its finest.

In Nashville against Gonzaga, fans booed when Kentucky didn’t play well. Many debates on how appropriate that was have taken place since, but the booing wasn’t a few inebriated jerks in the corner starting trouble with others joining in out of a mob mentality. The booing in Nashville was organic and flowed from all nooks of the arena. It was the manifestation of frustration from watching Kentucky players fumble around on the court in their souls and let it be known.

When Kentucky’s offense looked once again anemic against St. John’s, fans in Atlanta hung in there. The only booing was directed at the officials for perceived bad calls, not at the players’ inability to score. Kentucky’s effort helped play a part in that, as fans could tell guys were at least trying hard (unlike against Gonzaga). But you could tell the arena accepted this group’s limitations, especially without Jaland Lowe.

So when Lowe made his unbelievable return to the game after what everyone assumed was a season-ending reinjury of his shoulder, there was a palpable shift from fans willing their offensively challenged try-hards to scrape together some points, to maybe just maybe, thinking their team might actually be kind of good.

Advertisement

The stagnancy that plagued Kentucky in the first half evaporated into motion with drives and cuts that made Kentucky look crisp. When Jayden Quaintence made his debut and looked every bit of the future NBA lottery pick we hoped he would, fans cheered his every move. At its heart, Big Blue Nation is a group of ball-knowers, and the collective appreciation the fans had when Quaintence would make even a routine defensive post play showed just how much fans are still into this team.

The full-throated cheers in the second half made everyone forget the woes of the first half, and most of this season, honestly. It was the first time since the Purdue exhibition that Kentucky fans cheered not just because the ‘Cats were playing well, but because they started to believe in this team again.



Source link

Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Man shot at Atlanta airport, police say

Published

on

Man shot at Atlanta airport, police say


ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A man is injured after a shooting inside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday, according to Atlanta Police.

The man is alert, conscious, breathing and was transported to the hospital for treatment, according to police.

No other injuries were reported.

Airport operations were not affected, according to police.

Advertisement

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.



Source link

Continue Reading

Atlanta, GA

Davante Adams Will Not Play Week 17 Versus Atlanta

Published

on

Davante Adams Will Not Play Week 17 Versus Atlanta


Davante Adams will now miss a second straight game on December 29th as Sean McVay announced he did not expect Adams to return for the Week 17 Monday Night Football game. Adams is currently battling a hamstring injury. While it is not season ending, it is enough to keep the wide receiver out for the most crucial stretch for fantasy football owners.

Advertisement

Roll Out The Beautiful Touchdown Stat

If anyone wonders what Adams provides that is so top notch. Check this statline out.

Adams may not play another down in the regular season and could still lead the league in touchdowns. A lot can happen over the next few weeks but anything is possible. Still, 14 touchdowns in 15 games is impressive. That is a big dent in production and hurts fantasy football owners even more.

Advertisement

What Other Impacts May This Have?

In Week 16 against the Seattle Seahawks, the offense ran through Puka Nacua and Colby Parkinson. Nacua was amazing with 225 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He was targeted 16 times and caught 12 passes from Matthew Stafford. Nacua could be in line for another incredible game against Atlanta. The Falcons have been giving up more passing yards of late and 419 to Carolina in Week 11).

A question mark may be Colby Parkinson. Parkinson was in line to get more looks with Adams out but he only had two receptions for 21 yards on four targets. That was surprising. Stafford and Nacua had tunnel vision. Four players besides Nacua had more than four targets. The likelihood that Stafford throws 49 passes is low against Atlanta. Will they run more than 35 times? That is at least possible.

Never sit Matthew Stafford especially this season. Even in defeat to Seattle, he threw for 457 yards and three touchdowns. It should have been enough for a win and yet this was not. The Rams’ defense and particularly secondary should cause Stafford some pause. He has to wonder what it might take to win from week to week now.

Advertisement

The one area that did cause the Rams some trouble at times was throwing in the red zone against Seattle. After all, Harrison Mevis did have to attempt four field goals (he made three) in the loss. There were a few times where one wondered gee Adams would have scored on that play. Despite that, Los Angeles did still score 37 points against Seattle.

Advertisement

Who Should You Stream In Place Of Adams?

Honestly, the good news is with this many days notice, fantasy football owners do not have to scramble quite as feverishly here. Some teams will let off the gas while others want to see what they have with younger players. Simply, options will be out there. Look toward our wide receiver streamer article that comes out during the week.

It is hard to believe but we are almost to the fantasy football finish line. This has been some year and good luck as the fantasy footbal season approaches its end.

More Fantasy On SI:





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending