Weekly Lineup of Free + Cheap Events

Compiled by Mackenzie Morgan

High Museum presents history of sneakers exhibit

Sneaker enthusiasts can step back in time and see the history of sneakers at the High Museum of Art. An exhibition featuring more than 150 sneakers will be held through Aug. 14 at the High, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta.

The exhibition follows the evolution of the sneaker from its origins in the mid-nineteenth century to its present day role as a status symbol of urban culture and marker of masculine identity.

Originating at the Bata Shoe Museum, “The Rise of Sneaker Culture” examines the sneaker’s complex social history and immense cultural significance. Included are works from the archives of manufacturers such as Adidas, Converse, Nike, Puma, and Reebok as well as private collectors such as hip-hop legend Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, sneaker guru Bobbito Garcia, and Dee Wells of Obsessive Sneaker Disorder. Also featured are sneakers by Prada and other major fashion design houses and designers as well as those made in collaboration with artists including Kanye West and Damien Hirst.

Film footage, interactive media, photographic images, and design drawings contextualize the sneakers and explore the social history, technical innovations, fashion trends, and marketing campaigns that have shaped sneaker culture over the past two centuries.

For tickets and museum hours, visit www.high.org.

ATLANTA

“BE DOWNTOWN Film Festival” set

The Rialto Center at Georgia State University, 80 Forsyth St NW, Atlanta, and the Atlanta Film Society with Central Atlanta Progress presents the “BE DOWNTOWN Film Festival” on July 22-23. This year, the Rialto celebrates 100 years in Downtown Atlanta and 20 years with Georgia State University while the Atlanta Film Festival celebrates 40 years.

Join the groups for a joint birthday weekend of movies as they celebrate movies the way they were meant to be seen. The schedule features something for everyone, with several movies that played at the Rialto back in the day. Tickets are $9 adults; $5 children. Call the box office for show times and to purchase tickets: 404-413-9849.

The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival to offer cool treats

Get ready to enjoy some cool treats. The Atlanta Ice Cream Festival will be held on July 23, 11 a.m., at Piedmont Park 1215 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, will bring together a wide variety of ice cream vendors, family-friendly activities, and health and fitness programs. Free admission. For more information, go to www.atlantaicecreamfestival.com/.

69th Annual Summer Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show returns to Atlanta

The nation’s largest multicultural beauty show takes over the Georgia World Congress Center on Aug. 20-22. Themed “Where Beauty Reigns,” the three-day event will showcase more than 300 manufacturers, distributors and retailers in front of more than 30,000 multicultural cosmetology professionals. Attendees will have a chance to witness the industry’s best and brightest compete during a live taping of the legendary “Hair Battle.”

Additionally, on Aug. 20, at 8 p.m., there will be a combined comedy and celebrity fashion show. Bovanti Cosmetics and Upscale magazine will partner with Bronner Brothers to present “Fashion Edge & Celebrity Style,” the nation’s largest professional fashion tour. The runway will include celebrities in the film and music industry, as well as designs by Lisa Nicole and Bramer Leon. Grammy Award-winning artist and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member Kandi Burruss will also present fashion-forward apparel from her retail boutiques, T.A.G.S. and T.A.G.S.II.

Tickets for this event are $20. For more information and to order tickets, visit http://bronnerbros.com/main-events/.

DEKALB

Hike with Arabia Mountain’s Ranger Robby

Kick off the weekend on July 29, from 8 to 10 a.m., with a rejuvenating and adventurous hike with Davidson-Arabia Mountain’s Ranger Robby. Explore the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve, 3787 Klondike Road, Lithonia, on a moderately difficult hike, and see the different ecology and geology found in this unique landscape. Remember to wear your most comfortable hike shoes, bring a bottle of water, and your adventurous spirit.

For more information, call the Davidson-Arabia Nature Center at 770-492-5220.

Tucker-Reid Library to host “Changing America Exhibit”

The Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Library, 5234 LaVista Road, Tucker, will host an opening ceremony of the exhibit, “Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and The March on Washington” on July 30, 1 to 2 p.m. The exhibit features historic photographs and paintings that explore two pivotal events in American history — The Emancipation Proclamation and the 1963 March on Washington.

In addition, DeKalb County Public Library will host a series of programs designed to examine the social and political currents that shaped the events. Come see the exhibit and enjoy an historical reenactment by storyteller Akbar Imhotep depicting Frederick Douglass speaking about the societal impact of the Emancipation Proclamation during and after the Civil War. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, call 770-270-8234.

KDB to host shredding, shoe collection event

Keep DeKalb Beautiful (KDB), a unit of the DeKalb County Sanitation Division, will host a free Sensitive Document Shredding and Shoe Collection event on Saturday, July 23, 9 a.m. to noon. The event will be held at Northlake Mall, 4800 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta.

The event is free and open to residents of DeKalb. Participants will have an opportunity to dispose of sensitive documents, such as old tax records and legal documents. All documents will be shredded on site, and each participant will be limited to five standard-sized boxes of documents for shredding purposes. Shredding services for the event will be provided by Shred-it North Atlanta.

Participants will also have an opportunity to donate gently used shoes for recycling and repurposing.

For more information on this event or how to plan a beautification project with KDB, call 404-371-2654 or e-mail kdb@dekalbcountyga.gov, or visit www.keepdekalbbeautiful.org.

GWINNETT

Free basic computer classes for seniors

Seniors are welcome to attend basic computer classes on July 28, 9 to 11 a.m., at the Norcross Human Services Center, 5030 Georgia Belle Court, Norcross. Lessons will cover how to save, print, and edit documents and how to use the Internet, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. The class meets for six weeks and is open to seniors ages 60 and up.

For more information, call 678-225-5400.

Punt, Pass & Kick at tRhodes Jordan Park Soccer Fields

Take the kids to the Rhodes Jordan Park Community Recreation Center, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville, for the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick national competition on July 30, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Boys and girls of all ages compete separately in their own age group in punting, passing and kicking. Scores are based on distance and accuracy. They earn the chance to advance to a regional and state level competition at the Georgia Dome.

A valid birth certificate, complete entry form, and parental signature are required before competition. Ages 6-15 may participate. For more information, call 678-277-0860.

ROCKDALE

Conyers-Rockdale Council for the Arts presents

Andy Irwin, “Love at 85”

Conyers-Rockdale Council for the Arts Black Box Theater, 910 Center Street, Conyers, presents Andy Irwin “Love at 85” on July 23,7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 online or $18 at the door. With a silly putty voice, hilarious heart-filled stories, and amazing mouth noises (arguably the greatest whistler in the world), one-person showman Andy Offutt Irwin is equal parts mischievous schoolboy and the Marx Brothers, peppered with a touch of a Southern balladeer. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 770-922-3143 or email information@conyersarts.org.

RCCA to host mobile food pantry

The Resource Center for Community Action(RCCA) will be distributing food at its mobile food pantry on July 28, 12 to 4 p.m., at the Cooperative Extension Building, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. Food is free and available while supplies last.

For more information or to volunteer to help distribute the food, call 678-288-5433 ext. 101.

Dance classes with Dominy School of Art

Dominy School of Art will offer four dance classes for children beginning Aug. 4 at Johnson Park Recreational Center, 1781 Ebenezer Road Conyers. Dominy School of Art teaches ballet, jazz, jazzfunk and or hip-hop. The monthly fee for the classes is $65.

Here is the schedule for classes:

Ballet (Ages 4-7), Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Ballet (Ages 8-12), Tuesdays ,6:30 p.m. to 7:30,p.m.

Kids Jazz (Ages 5-8), Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

JazzFunk/Hip Hop, Thursdays, 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

For more information and to sign up, call 770-278-7529.

Adults are invited to sign up for ballroom dancing classes that will begin in August. Classes are held 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Johnson Park Recreational Center, 1781 Ebenezer Road Conyers.

This fun and unique style of dancing includes slow dancing, Latin and swing dancing. Ball room dance class is open to those 18 and up. P.) Fees per month: $60 singles; $99 couples.

For more information and to sign up, call 770-278-7529.