Head to Phipps Plaza Thursday, October 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. for the 80th anniversary celebration for Cole Haan, a premier luxury lifestyle brand offering men’s and women’s footwear, accessories and outerwear. Meet acclaimed jewelry designer Anna Sheffield, who recently designed two limited edition jewelry collections for Cole Haan, and Cole Haan’s CEO Jim Seuss, while enjoying cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a 20 percent discount off all merchandise.  (Full article and comments)

After a month of incredibly hard work, I've completed the program at Operation Boot Camp! Read my latest blog entry here, along with a full month of daily entries. (Full article and comments)

Sherlita Patton (wife of Antwan "Big Boi" Patton) and Tracy Valentine's fabulously fashionable P Valentine boutique is closing up shop, despite their celebrity clientele. The store is dropping prices dramatically to rid themselves of inventory. The last open day is Thursday, so scoot over there before all the goods are gone forever.  (Full article and comments)

The Georgia Aquarium just announced the addition of a female manta ray named Nandi to the 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager gallery. Nandi makes Georgia Aquarium the only aquarium in the United States to ever house a manta ray and one of only four aquariums in the world to display this species. Nandi will join four whale sharks and thousands of other animals in the world’s largest aquarium exhibit. No shrinking violet, Nandi, who measures more than nine feet across and weighs approximately 456 lbs, flew 9,000 miles on a chartered 747-200 aircraft from Durban, South Africa through Cape Verde, Africa, to Atlanta. The manta ray was under the care and supervision of Georgia Aquarium and uShaka Marine World professional staff and maintained by a highly advanced marine life support system. Nandi was rescued from shark nets off the coast of Durban, South Africa, in April 2007 and rehabilitated by uShaka Marine World, the largest marine park in Africa. She has lived in uShaka for the past year, but we're pleased as punch that Nandi's here in the ATL for us to see her. (Full article and comments)

1. FREEDOM PARK: Lots of attractive Atlantans and their four-legged friends play Frisbee, do a little jogging and soak up some sun at this pretty Piedmont alternative.

 

2. DOWNTOWN DECATUR: Shoppers with loads of bags roam the streets, and there’s plenty of patio real estate to relax and have a drink while you take in the scene.

 

3. FLAT SHOALS ROAD: Tatted-up biker types, local hipsters, longtime East Atlanta residents and the occasional freaked-out suburbanite make for a great mix.

 

4. TURNER FIELD (pictured): Sports fans can look pretty funny when they get all worked up. And this is one of the places you’re actually encouraged to scream at the top of your lungs. 

Photo: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

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Regator, the blog aggregator that acts like a mix between a standard RSS reader and Digg, has launched in public beta. Check it out at regator.com. (Full article and comments)

Has the recession hit your closet-stocking habit? Hit up the Warehouse sale this weekend for a premium denim sample sale featuring such brands as Ed Hardy, Christian Audigier, SMET, William Rast, True Religion, Rock & Republic and more, for up to 80 percent off. 2-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Georgia World Congress Center. For more information, visit www.thewarehousesale.com.

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New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez is 33 on July 27. What to get a rich baseball player? Since he’s allegedly dating Madonna, how about a tetanus shot? We’re just sayin’ …

 

Atlanta hip-hop performer Soulja Boy hits the big 1-8 on July 28. And we’re sure he’ll celebrate the big day like the mature young gentleman he is.

 

Academy Award-winning “90210” alum Hilary Swank is 34 on July 30. She and Mr. Ed—separated at birth? Discuss.

 

Bodybuilder, politician and bad actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is 61 on July 30. Could he be the first robot president of the United States?

 

“Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling is 43 on July 31. For her birthday, she plans to buy all of England—just because she can.

 

“Blade,” “Blade II,” “Blade: Trinity”—make it stop! Actor and tax evader Wesley Snipes is 46 on July 31.

 

Rapper Coolio (pictured) is known for “Gangster’s Paradise” … and that’s about it, really. He turns 45 on Aug. 1.

 

Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images 

 

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1. Nap Day (July 20, pictured): Thanks—don’t mind if we do.

 

2. National Junk Food Day (July 21): Chances are, anyone who observes this holiday  probably doesn’t need an excuse to eat Cheetos, anyway.

 

3. 45th Anniversary of Froot Loops (July 22): We hear the current Toucan Sam is a fake: The original developed a drinking problem, was arrested for tax evasion and now resides in Bolivia.

 

4. Mosquito Day (July 23): Insert obligatory “that’s every day in the South!” joke here.

 

5. Instant Coffee Day (July 24): Mmmm! Watery, transparent “Hazelnut Delight” in the break room for everyone!

 

6. First Birthday Cake Day (July 25): The birthday cake was created in 55 B.C. Anyone got a line on 2,063 candles?

 

7. National Aunts and Uncles Day (July 26): Celebrating decades of cheek-pinching and awkward, forced gratitude for that special birthday sweater.  

 

Photo by Maria Dryfhout  

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We love local fashion designers, especially when they're close to our heart, like SP's very own web developer and graphic designer Kristina Ackerman. The snazzy crafter debuts her jewelry line, Gangbusters, at the Atlantic Station Market tonight, from 5 to 10 p.m. The cool collection is comprised of nearly 200 never-before-seen Gangbusters pieces, from comic books to vintage magazines to pretty florals, all ready to be worn. By you. And in honor of The Dark Night—which, if you haven't yet seen it, is the perfect excuse to be at Atlantic Station this evening—Ackerman says she'll have a couple dozen excellent Batman pendants on display... perfect for you or the Batman fanatic in your life. Can't make it tonight? Shop her Etsy e-boutique anytime by clicking here. (Full article and comments)