An interview by Summer Stanley. At the respective ages of 15, not too long ago for high school graduates Darius Persons and Victor Stephens, the two teenagers who had bonded over a respect for one another’s style and drive, joined forces in an effort to “go get dough.” Bread Cheese and Doe, the brainchild of that effort, is now a start-up clothing company with wares displayed on the racks of such popular Atlanta boutiques as Vinnie’s in Little Five Points.

An interview by Summer Stanley. TheRealAtlanta.com: So, I want to start by thanking you for agreeing to share your story with us – I look forward to hearing you expound on what your struggles have resulted in – your own jewelry line, community activism, and tireless advocacy of the homeless. It’s so brave of you and I think it’s a gift for people to be able to hear about your journey. We have a lot to talk about, but to begin, on a more personal level, because you have experienced homelessness, I wanted to know your opinion on how it is a stigmatized condition and how you combat that.

“I’m the truth and they say the truth hurts.” – Gucci Mane. By Summer Stanley. Some things seem never to change, and among those seeming constants are the trials and tribulations that accompany getting older, in particularly the teen angst that goes hand in hand with puberty. Spring Awakening, this season’s eight-time Tony Award Winner including for Best New Musical, though set in 19^th-century Germany, may as well have won for “Most Relevant Musical,” underscored by Duncan Sheik’s edgy rock compositions.

By Summer Stanley. It’s been eons since RuPaul dominated the A-town underground club scene, plastering the city with his own posters adhered with wallpaper and wheat paste, frustrating any would-be hoodlums’ attempts to tear down his image. As he advertised himself in 1983, RuPaul is still “Red Hot.” At Outwrite Books, Atlanta’s foremost queer bookstore on the corner of 10^th and Piedmont, RuPaul is not in drag. Still, down to the orange silk

By Summer Stanley. After a long workday, in the midst of Atlanta’s rush hour traffic, there exists a happy alternative to stalling on Interstate 75 or winding slowly down Peachtree Street. Midtown’s Hotel Palomar, located on West Peachtree Street across from the staple Biltmore Hotel, is the eye of the urban grind storm, offering a complimentary

By Summer Stanley. What has always been my general love for food has lately morphed a more concentrated obsession. Not unlike Gawain seeking his Grail and armed with the passion of a religious zealot, I have searched far and wide for the best macaroni and cheese Atlanta has to offer. Surprisingly, it wasn’t at some picnic-tabled barbecue dive, and neither was it at some million-star, million-dollar, rapper-owned hot spot. It turns out the place to go to get your mac’ on is also full of candle-lit nooks for getting macked on.

By Summer Stanley. As per usual, Luckie Food Lounge is in full swing with a full crowd on Wednesday night. DJ Infamous and co. man the turntables as the star studded, dudded-up crowd bump n’ grind to Nicki Minaj, Lil’ Wayne, and of course, the man of the hour, birthday boy Gorilla Zoe.

By Summer Stanley. Whether you are heading to a metal show at Lenny’s or to the bottom of a pitcher at 97 Estoria, chances are you will pass through the Krog Street Tunnel. Intersecting Dekalb Avenue and Wylie Street, the graffiti-blanketed tunnel conjoins more than Cabbagetown and Inman Park. From the humblest tag – an artist’s signature, to intricate pieces – in the sense of slang for masterpieces – the tunnel is a cultural hub. Along with its 4 and ½ star ranking on yelp.com, the tunnel has that other factor which makes something a place: pathos.

By Summer Stanley. Tucked away in the Virginia Highlands off of Monroe Street is a giant, bustling shopping center called Amsterdam Walk. Inside there are plenty of restaurants and bars to discover but there is one in particular where you will find the prettiest girls in all of Amsterdam, predominately cute girls who like

By Summer Stanley. She’s the ultimate diva, the reigning queen of the happily-ever-after love song, Eminem’s recent arch-nemesis, cougar, frequenter of the A-town clubs, close friend of our own artist, Jermaine Dupri. Though her movie, Glitter, flopped, her far less glamorous performance as a social worker in Precious is now raking in critical acclaim. Like the jewels ornamenting her flossy frocks, Mariah Carey just keeps getting better with time.