ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Regional Commission recently awarded $34 million in grants to help 13 Metro Atlanta communities build innovative transportation projects.

Each project includes pedestrian and bicycle improvements to encourage residents to find "greener" ways of getting from place to place, and to make these neighborhoods more livable and supportive of transit.

The money was given through the ARC's Livable Center Initiative, which is funded with federal transportation dollars.

"LCI has helped communities across Metro Atlanta re-tool and redesign over the years, creating more plans that attract residents and businesses alike," said Doug Hooker, executive director of ARC. "This program is a model for others around the country and has helped to create or finalize many of our region's most innovative and livable communities."

The Atlanta Beltline project is a diverse 2.8 billion project to renovate neighborhoods, parks and commercial space for an area of the city that will be connected by town-car (incorporating old railroad tracks).  The project incorporates nature and neighborhood's existing materials to create a neighborhood that's "eco-fabulous", as our tour guide called it. Brian Leary, the brain behind this project was a college student who was inspired by a similar plan in Paris.

Every Friday and Saturday at 9:30AM, the Atlanta Beltline hosts a free three hour tour along this beltline that highlights the circle that the town cars will transit. Currently, this Beltline tour is reserved for the next year but I was lucky enough to find a seat, due to a cancellation.

I didn't know what to expect on these tours. When I signed up I had never imagined the tour would take three hours out of my Saturday.

With a lineup consisting of the nation’s most popular acts spanning all genres, very few concert venues offer the allure of the Chastain Park Amphitheater experience; where patrons can listen to live music under the stars,  swathed by summer breeze, with self-catered  food and wine.

This classic ambiance paired with one of the most legendary groups of all time, The Temptations made for an almost can’t-go-wrong night Wednesday.

While The Four Tops primed audiences for a memorable event with “I Can’t Help Myself,” and “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch,” fans were wholly teleported to the time when music was exceptional when 5 purple jackets emerged onto the stage:  Mr. Bruce Williamson, Mr.