Putting Foot to Paper With Hiking Guide

T2F Note: This guidebook will provide you with many local options for day trips near Atlanta, therefore, it is certainly deserving of the coveted "Fayette Front Page Day Tripper Award."

Take a hike, Ren Davis ’73C tells urban explorers — and lists dozens of trails not far beyond the city limits. The Emory Healthcare employee, with his wife Helen, co-authored the Falcon Guide “Best Hikes Near Atlanta” released in May by Globe Pequot Press. Hear Davis read an excerpt from the guide.

From mountaintop vistas to historic sites and urban pathways, the guidebook describes 35 hiking destinations within an hour’s drive of Atlanta.

“We covered all four corners of the compass, from as far north as Amicalola Falls and far south as Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge,” says Davis, who hiked every trail armed with a notebook, GPS and camera.

Each hike features the Davises’ full-color photos; a brief route description; directions to the trailhead and GPS coordinates; an accurate trail map; and at-a-glance information on distance and difficulty level, hiking time, canine compatibility, fees and permits. Peppered throughout are “green tips” and sidebars on local lore, points of interest, and area wildlife.

“We’ve pulled together information about Georgia’s natural and human history to give readers a sense for, what is this area we’re going to be hiking in?” he says.

A native Atlantan, Davis is a local historian whose grandfather co-founded Emory Crawford Long Hospital, now Emory University Hospital Midtown. In 2003, Davis penned a book, “Caring for Atlanta: A History of Emory Crawford Long Hospital,” to commemorate the hospital’s redevelopment.

The avid hiker majored in history at Emory, an interest that informs much of his writing. The Davises describe themselves as “hands-on historians,” with a philosophy of preserving the past. “We feel that the best way to experience history is to walk it. Whether it’s a battleground or historic neighborhood, if you experience an area at the level of a pedestrian you’re more inclined to want to preserve it.”

And getting people out of their cars to more closely explore the world around them “is what we’re all about,” Davis says. Globe Pequot Press commissioned the Davises to write the Atlanta guidebook as part of their Falcon Guide city series based on the couple’s popular guides to hiking and walking the city: “Atlanta Walks” (1993) and “Georgia Walks” (2001). Both books are still in print with updated editions.

“Best Hikes Near Atlanta,” released in bookstores this May, was the culmination of two years of research, writing and many miles logged on foot. Complicating matters was a burglary in the Davises’ home where two computers were stolen. “I lost photographs for eight chapters! Fortunately I had backed up the manuscript to CD just the week before,” he says.

Davis, a project director in the Emory Healthcare Office of Quality, offers this advice to other aspiring authors on the Emory staff: “Find a topic that interests you, that you have some expertise in or are willing to invest time in, and then research what may already be out there,” he advises.

The Davises are already on to their next writing projects. “Best Easy Day Hikes Atlanta” to be released by Globe Pequot in 2010, features selections penned by the husband and wife team. And Davis has recently finished another manuscript, a guide to Civilian Conservation Corps sites in parks across the U.S.


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Atlanta Becomes 'Tutlanta' as Tickets Go on Sale Today for 'Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs'

T2F Note: Several of our staff made the journey to Charlotte several years ago when there was an Egyptian Pharaoh exhibit. By all means, go to this event. You'll be sure to be dazzled.

PRNewswire/ -- "Tutlanta" launched today as tickets became available for "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs," a new exhibition featuring more than 130 treasures from the tomb of celebrated pharaoh King Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites. The exhibition will premiere at the Atlanta Civic Center from November 15, 2008, to May 25, 2009, and is presented by the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University.

To kick off fall's golden celebration, exhibition organizers announced a slate of Egyptian-themed activities and initiatives that will launch in conjunction with the exhibition. The "Egyptomania in Atlanta Bus Tour" will transport visitors on a chartered coach to explore Egyptian revival art and architecture in Atlanta with the Michael C. Carlos Museum's curator of Egyptian art, Dr. Peter Lacovara, as their guide. "TUT Trivia!" will incorporate King Tut-themed questions into trivia nights at select Atlanta locations. In January 2009, the Atlanta Opera and Emory University's Flora Glenn Candler concert series will present Philip Glass' opera "Akhnaten," which explores the great pharaoh's reign just before that of Tutankhamun.

Additionally, more than 75 businesses throughout the city will participate in a "Tutlanta" affinity card that all King Tut ticket-buyers will receive, entitling them to $250 worth of Egyptian-themed offerings and discounts at participating locations. From restaurants to health and beauty treatments to petcare, "Tutlanta" partner offers include "TROIS visits Egypt," a five-plate Egyptian-influenced menu at Trois for $25; "Pharaoh's Steam Bath," a custom treatment at the Atlanta Dog Spa; and "Pharaoh's Fire and Ice Facial" at Julio Cesar's Salon and Spa. A full listing of offers is available at http://www.tutlanta.com/.

Commissioner Dianne Harnell Cohen unveiled the official "Tutlanta" logo, which was created by a local Atlantan and will be featured on select exhibition merchandise and used regionally to promote the citywide celebration.

"Tutankhamun's magic still captures the hearts of people all over the world, even though more than 85 years have passed since the discovery of his amazing tomb," said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. "America has welcomed the golden king, and now he returns, bringing with him all the great pharaohs of Egypt."

Proceeds from the tour will go toward antiquities preservation and conservation efforts in Egypt, including the construction of a new grand museum in Cairo. Tickets and information are available at http://www.kingtut.org/ or http://www.carlos.emory.edu/.

The Michael C. Carlos Museum has developed educational materials in conjunction with the exhibition for elementary, middle and high school audiences. These supplemental materials will be available for download for free and will highlight topics such as childhood in ancient Egypt and how the journey to the afterlife was believed to occur.

"We are dedicated to the educational and inspirational value of exhibitions here in Atlanta," said Bonnie Speed, director of the Michael C. Carlos Museum. "The Tutankhamun exhibition presents a landmark opportunity to experience the richness of ancient Egypt's art and culture and to understand its global influence. We believe this exhibition, along with the educational materials and vibrant Egyptian-themed, citywide events we have developed, will offer our community a variety of ways to access Egypt's magical past."

The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Northern Trust is the presenting sponsor of the tour, and American Airlines is the official airline.

"Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" is the second National Geographic exhibition dedicated to the remarkable treasures of King Tutankhamun and ancient Egyptian royalty. The first exhibition, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs," was visited by nearly 4 million people during its four-city U.S. tour from 2005 to 2007, and will begin a three-city encore tour in Dallas later this year.

"'Tutlanta' was born from the excitement seen throughout the city since announcing the exhibition would make its U.S. premiere in Atlanta," said John Norman, president of Arts and Exhibitions International. "Residents and visitors to the Atlanta area are lucky to have so many opportunities to experience offerings in conjunction with the exhibition that will enhance their knowledge about this important period in world history."

Also today, Northern Trust, presenting sponsor of the exhibition, donated exhibition tickets to a first-grade class from Morningside Elementary School. Nearly 230 students from the Atlanta public school will be among the first to experience the exhibition.

"For nearly 120 years, Northern Trust has strived to increase social interaction and a sense of community, and integrate the arts into education and other outreach activities," said Frederick H. Waddell, president and chief executive officer of Northern Trust Corporation. "We look forward to sharing this extraordinary event with the Atlanta community, as well as visitors from around the world."

Exhibition organizers anticipate the exhibition will be a strong attraction for visitors throughout the region.

"American Airlines is thrilled to have a role in bringing 'Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs' to its Atlanta premiere," said Dan Garton, executive vice president of marketing for American Airlines. "As the official airline of the exhibition, we are pleased that American Airlines is helping to make it possible for these extraordinary objects to be seen by thousands of visitors."

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Premiering November 15, 2008, to May 25, 2009, at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs" will feature striking objects from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C. - 660 B.C.). Derived from a variety of contexts, including temples and royal and private tombs, many of these artifacts have never before visited the United States.

Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt's 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.).

The exhibition will highlight more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun's tomb and more than 70 artifacts representing other pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline will focus on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

Four galleries devoted to King Tut will correspond to the four rooms of his nearly intact tomb, where the treasures were discovered by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Legendary artifacts from the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber will include Tutankhamun's golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets to the exhibition at the Atlanta Civic Center can be purchased at http://www.ticketmaster.com/. Group tickets for 10 or more are available by calling 1-866-52GROUP or visiting http://www.kingtut.org/. For additional information about tickets and pricing, please call 1-877-TUT-TKTS or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/ or http://www.kingtut.org/.

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Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University Helps Bring King Tutankhamun to Atlanta

The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University brings Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs to Atlanta this fall in partnership with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and presenting sponsor Northern Trust.

Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will be exhibited in Atlanta's historic Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center from November 15 to May 25. The exhibition, spanning 2,000 years of history, will include more than 130 artifacts from the tomb of Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites. This is the first time these treasures will be seen in the Southeast. To complement the Tutankhamun exhibition at the Civic Center, the Carlos Museum will showcase at its Emory campus location the photography of Harry Burton, the photographer who documented the Tutankhamun excavation when the tomb was discovered in 1922.

"The Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University is honored to bring to Atlanta one of the greatest artistic and cultural legacies of the ancient world. The people of Georgia will be able to experience first-hand the impact and relevance of these extraordinary treasures and we look forward to offering an array of educational programs to further illuminate the life and times of King Tutankhamun and the great pharaohs of Egypt," said Bonnie Speed, Director of the Carlos Museum.

The Carlos Museum is home to one of the few Egyptian collections in the southeastern United States as well as the only institution in Georgia dedicated to the research and display of ancient Egyptian art and culture. King Tutankhamun, endearingly called the "boy king," will find a welcoming community in which to reside for a short while. Speaking of the Carlos Museum at the April 2 announcement, Mayor Shirley Franklin said, "Those of us who live in Atlanta have access to the wonders of the world's civilizations right in our backyard,"

The Carlos Museum, known for its act of cultural cooperation when it identified and later returned what was most likely the mummy of Pharaoh Ramesses I to his home in Egypt in 2003, is a unique host for the King Tutankhamun exhibition. With scholars, curators, and conservators providing the interdisciplinary research and conservation required to maintain and understand ancient art and artifacts, the King Tutankhamun exhibition will provide rich historic and cultural perspectives to university scholars, academicians, scientists, collectors, students, and exhibition-goers interested in ancient Egypt -- even as it applies to modern times.

The Carlos Museum will lead the development of educational materials in conjunction with the exhibition for elementary, middle and high school audiences. These supplemental materials will be downloadable for free to classrooms across the country and will address topics such as childhood in ancient Egypt and the journey to the afterlife. Peter Lacovara, curator of ancient Egyptian arts and artifacts, said, "As the Carlos Museum's collections grow, they become increasingly important as a teaching and research resource for faculty and students at Emory and other universities." The Carlos Museum along with the Emory community provides a meaningful context for this exhibition and will serve as a research, education, and reflective opportunity for many.

Emory University President James Wagner, said, "Emory's dedication to courageous inquiry and the spirit of global partnerships are qualities we want to foster. The Carlos Museum of Emory University has helped to create a superb opportunity to reflect on and honor the ancient legacies of the world, their profound impact on our lives, and the importance of continued dialogue. We trust that King Tutankhamun's visit will open many doors."

The most recent U.S. tour of King Tut's treasures, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, drew nearly 4 million visitors from 2005-2007, setting records in each city it visited. The 2005 visit marked the first time in more than 25 years that treasures from King Tutankhamun's tomb were shown in the United States.

Tickets can be reserved for the Atlanta run at www.carlos.emory.edu or www.kingtut.org