Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Samuel Puckett
How to store your clothes for each season
Changing weather means changing wardrobes. As your clothing needs variation from season to season, it can be helpful to reorganize your closet every so often (every six months is good). Having a dedicated system for your winter and summer closets will improve your organization and available space. Sorting Organizing your closet should be a careful process. Each season is a chance to till the mulch of your fashion garden by moving clothes in and out of storage and donating what you don’t wear.
Your Atlanta Christmas event guide
There’s so much to do in Atlanta over the holidays, we’ve curated a list of some of the most exciting attractions to visit. Stay safe and respectful as you navigate the long lines and crying kids, and remember to stop and smell the hot cider. Saturday, Dec. 1 Children’s Parade Beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Peachtree and 16th streets, this is one of Atlanta’s longest lived and loved traditions. Featuring marching bands, dance troupes and spectacular balloons, this is a show worth seeing.
A healthy obsession with soup
Fall is here, rudely bleak after a bright and sweltering summer. Soup is the perfect culinary compliment to the damp drearies of fall. Economical, environmental and easy to make, soup saves time and waste like no other dish. SOUP IS FOR THE LAZY Soup is the lazy person’s healthy friend. You only have to use one pot, reducing what needs to be prepared and what needs to be cleaned. On top of that, it is incredibly versatile, as soup is a dish that can be made in a variety of ways and containers.
Not that kind of party
The midterm elections are all anyone can talk about. Friends, Twitter mutuals and coworkers — everyone asks if you’ve voted. And don’t think you can’t get involved because you’re a student. Student-led political groups are registering voters, leading voting carpools and hosting watch parties. Georgia State has many political groups that advocate for communities, volunteer for campaigns and open spaces for dialogue on local activism. Student organizing has a rich history.
Get your freak on and don't freak out
Tricks and treats alike tramp well-heeled and cloven-hooved on Halloween. The city is crawling with fun and waiting to get into trouble. But not too much trouble, as there are still some bumps in the night that could make Tim Burton jump. The holiday is known as a time when dark ghouls crawl slimy from cracks deeper than imagination, but that’s a load of hooey. Georgia State University Police Department Chief, Joseph Spillane, said students don’t need to worry about witches or goblins.
Workwear is Fashion with a capital “F�
Chore coats, carpenter pants, utility vests, carabiner-clipped keys to a nylon belt, neon safety stripes and denim, denim, denim. The on-the-job uniform has become the defacto uniform of 20-something cool guys. The only thing that’s missing is non-stick restaurant shoes. Work clothes have always had a place in American dress, but that place hasn’t always been Fashion with a capital “F.â€? Today, that is all starting to change. Albert Bell is a professional stylist living in Atlanta.
From covered faces to full frontal: a timeline of Atlanta Pride
The first Pride in Atlanta was met with media silence. Activists walked down Peachtree Street in 1971, on the second anniversary of the police attack at the Stonewall Inn, also referred to as the Stonewall riots. They passed out “zines,� informal self-published magazines, with posters and pamphlets as they went—essentially DIY social media in the analog age.
What does it all meme?
College students love memes. Memes are not only funny jokes or stolen images but units of cultural information. Easily shareable and easily laughable, they lurk on your mom’s Facebook, are etched into bathroom stalls and are even displayed on the Wendy’s official Twitter. Memes, most importantly, are here to stay. In 2007, Eric Nakagawa and Kari Unebasami launched I Can Has Cheezburger, a blog that would grow to become one of the largest web comedy platforms.
A rap collective, a jam band and a tribute concert
Celebrating the life and music of late rapper Mac Miller, the Masquerade put on Self Care: The Mac Miller Tribute. Proceeds were announced to be donated to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. The lineup included local artists such as Forest Isn’t Dead, Sonny Bamboo, HanVader and more. Each set followed a format: they alternated Mac Miller covers into their original work. Nicx Alexander is member of the hip-hop collective Brown Paper Bag.
Naked people making art at Georgia State
“Now, I actually prefer to be in less clothes.â€? Emerald Phoenyx is a figure model in Atlanta, now affiliated with the Pangea’s Garden art collective. Emerald Phoenyx is a pseudonym, used here as her artistic identity. Much of her art can be seen on her Instagram, @emeraldphoenyx. “[Starting out] was definitely very strange because I’m scared as f— and I’m very, very shy,â€? Phoenyx said.
John Legend visits Georgia State, stumps for Abrams
John Legend, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT) winner, headlined an Atlanta college tour, which included Georgia Tech, Emory University, Morehouse and Spelman College. Georgia State got some love: Legend gave a speech and answered questions at the Rialto Center for the Arts. The busy day would finish with a campaign fundraiser later that night, hosted again by John Legend.
The festival party drug that uses balloons
Go to a rave, concert, festival, club, bar or house show and you might see people with balloons. “What are those for?� you wonder. It’s called whippits. It is affectionately named after the horrible noise it makes coming out of the dispenser and the euphoric “whah-whah� feeling it produces. Whippits are nothing new—they’ve been a popular recreational drug since the 1960s.
The bubble tea craze isn’t going anywhere
Bubble tea is on the rise. Look no further than Google Maps and you’ll be sure to spot countless swirling, colorfully named tapioca bars that weren’t there only a year ago. It can feel like every other post in your Insta feed features that bright pastel straw and milky cup filled with balls of tapioca. And tell your mom that it’s not just a phase. Researchers for Allied Market Research are confident boba tea is more than a trend and it won’t be going away anytime soon.
How to ride a bike
Many students begin cycling in college as an easy way to get around. A new city or a new school can be hard enough, but cycling is a new hobby, skill, sport and mode of transportation all at once. God, what a lot of work. Let’s get started. Russell Luke is a graduate student at Georgia State. He said he rides 35 miles a week, on average. He rides a steel touring bike with flat bars, disk brakes, lugged tires and roll-top pannier bags.
Has Laundry Bin a Problem?
Few students come to college totally prepared. When you’ve just moved out, chores and responsibilities become intimidating, monstrous piles on the floor, quite literally. A new adult who’s not careful can easily become overwhelmed and unsorted. One of the most effective ways to manage an issue is to divide it into smaller problems. For laundry, this is called sorting. You don’t have to do it all at once, and the responsible adult can do several small loads a week.
Sole Searching: Artisanal shoe shop celebrates fourth year in business
This local business is fighting department stores, the modern industry and casual Fridays all at once. Cobbler’s Union is a company of shoemakers founded in Barcelona in 2014 that set up shop first in Inman Park, but now lives in Ponce City Market. It may seem deceptively simple, but Cobbler’s Union makes and sells their own shoes. They use traditional methods in a factory in Spain and sell the shoes on their website and in their Ponce City Market storefront.
Snacks from the Tracks: MARTA markets find success in collaboration
Many students from the suburbs have to develop new habits when coming to the city for school, especially when it comes to buying groceries. But many low-income communities inside the city have been struggling with the same thing for years. Low-income communities often lack access to fresh produce, with some neighborhoods being several miles from any grocery store, leaving many residents with few options. The term “food desert� is one you’ll often hear to describe this.
Exercise without a gym membership
Exercise is intimidating. Some people are starting new routines and some long-time athletes are adjusting theirs for summer. There can be so many factors, equipment, moving parts and obstacles, that it is easy to become overwhelmed. That is, except for running. There is no special equipment, minimal training and minimal planning. In the words of perhaps one of the sport’s fiercest advocates, you really can “Just Do It.� And you don’t have to do it alone.
Shoutout to all the Pairs
Sneakers have been a fascination of popular culture for decades, from the enigmatic Adidas Superstar and the Louis Vuitton x Kanye West Don, the humble Chuck Taylor to the infamous Rick Owen’s Runner. Many debate the exact point sneakers left mundane necessity and entered the ranks of lifestyle and status goods, but there is no denying their market reach or clout. The sneaker market has changed significantly as interest has grown and its history deepened.
Smothered, covered and trashed?
Waffle House made headlines back in April with the news that it would sell beer at Suntrust Park. This would be a new, second location at the Cobb home of the Braves. There was an abundance of press and media interest for the change to the ballpark menu. But this menu is completely different than any other Waffle Houses’. The Suntrust Park location serves none of the usual “smothered�, “covered� and “chunked� cuisine Waffle House is known for.
Herb your enthusiasm: The local farms that will upgrade your diet
It’s a truism, but if you want to be healthy, you’ve got to eat your vegetables. And if you’re eating vegetables, you might want to consider locally grown. Eating locally grown food cuts out the costs and waste caused by producing and transporting food from factory farms. No shipping freighters or chemical preservatives are needed when the contents of your fridge practically came from your own backyard.
Dorm-friendly Gardening
A dorm room, pallid and as personal as a rental car. The college apartment, a frenetic, messy crash. Many students are so overwhelmed with classes, they don’t put thoughtful effort into their environment. But a little effort can go a long way towards more comfortable surroundings. Enter: Plants. A pop of color, air freshener, a calming ritual and RA approved too. Plants in your living space can add so much. Caring for a plant doesn’t have to be a huge endeavour.
It doesn’t have to be stressful: A guide to easy traveling
We’ve already hit the ground running after a week-long vacation from books and responsibilities. Some of you may have chosen to spend those glorious seven days stuffed between the sheets of your bed or hanging out with friends. Next time we’re off from class, we vouch you take on some good ole traveling and learn to know the world around you. It doesn’t have to be stressful, costly or nerve-wrecking.
Getting back to your health goals
It wasn’t even a week after we made our New Year’s health resolutions before we slacked. We did. We all told ourselves we wouldn’t, that this year was different. Our diet and workout routines were in for a total overhaul.
Internship search mistakes and how to fix them
What are you doing this summer? Maybe you’re taking a trip to some sunny spot or picking up shifts at your old hometown job. Or maybe not. Last year, intern and co-op hiring was the highest it’s been nationally since 2013, and the trend is expected to continue. If it does, you could be the next lucky student clawing your way into a job. But getting an internship isn’t easy. There’s a lot of competition to outpace and a lot of pitfalls to avoid.
Our planet is getting hotter and so can you
Look, we all want to serve looks and snatch wigs, but if you’re not careful, you could be serving up carbon emissions with a side of petrochemicals. Buying new clothes is risky business, ecologically speaking. A cute “fast fashion� fit from Zara or H&M could produce waste in the form of textiles, pollution, and the oil involved in its transportation. Buying second-hand clothes is a great way to avoid waste.
Queens United, From The Ashes of Burkharts
A famous Atlanta drag bar, Burkharts, has closed after an organized resignation by the entertainers following an allegedly racist Facebook post by the owner, Palmer Marsh. This, coupled with the closing of the gay nightclub Jungle, a frequent venue for drag performance, has the potential to change the face of drag in Atlanta. Some say that change will be for the better. The closing of Burkharts underscores a demand for better treatment on the part of the entertainers.
College Law students offering pro-bono defense for struggling renters
It is common knowledge Atlanta has a housing affordability problem. The city has made headlines for not only its unaffordable rent prices but also its recent eviction problems. That’s where the Atlanta Housing Court Assistance Center comes in. The Center began as the Fulton County Answers Clinic in 2016 but closed in August 2017. It reopened Oct.
Challenging assumptions: An artist's look into Summerhill residents - The Signal
A Georgia State student’s exhibition at the Student Center East Art Gallery shows students the humblest of stories are worth telling. In “There’s Something about Summerville,â€? photographer and now documentarian Richard Laupus brings interviews, portraits, and history from one of Atlanta’s oldest historically black neighborhoods. Richard Laupus was in marketing and advertising his entire career until he picked up a camera five years ago.
"State of MARTA" address announces sweeping changes to Atlanta transit - The Signal
On Jan. 5, press gathered for the 2018 “State of MARTA� address, where changes and updates were announced. These changes are the beginning of expansions to the MARTA network Atlanta residents voted for in November 2016. The tech crowd was delighted to learn about mobile ticketing and expanded wifi access. The biggest announcement, however, was of the complete replacement of all of MARTA’s existing train cars.
Georgia Legislature to look at Monument laws - The Signal
Weeks after Confederate monuments were debated in local and national news, the issue might see new rules in Georgia with a set of bills in the state legislature this session. Versions of the bill appear in both the House and the Senate, sponsored by representatives Mary Margaret Oliver and Elena Parent respectively. Previously, it was Georgia law that local governments could not remove or conceal monuments on state land.
Weekly News Briefs: Jan 22 - The Signal
Women’s march Power to the Polls attracts thousands Thousands of women rallied on Sat., on the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration at The Bakery in Atlanta. The event, Power to the Polls, encouraged more political involvement from women since the election of Trump. The hope is to bring more positive change in the new year. Fixing the U.S. government shutdown After the United States government shutdown on Jan. 20, officials are scrambling to find a solution.
How a long feud between Reed and AJC reached the mayor's race - The Signal
In the final days of the mayoral runoff, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed criticized a piece by Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) columnist Bill Torpy for what he believes were attempts to discredit Reed’s endorsement in the mayoral race.
Weekly Crime Blotter: Jan. 15 - The Signal
If you see something… A call was made from Kell hall about suspicious behavior by a Georgia State student. The case was cleared. Is that a threat? A case is active involving the robbery of a Georgia State student by intimidation that occurred off the Downtown campus. If it’s not tied down… Larceny in the university Commons was reported by a Georgia State student. The investigation is active. That’s a foul There was an arrest of a Georgia State student for possession of a controlled substance.
Weekly News Briefs: Jan 15 - The Signal
Flu season turns deadly in Georgia The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed there have already been five influenza-related deaths this flu season. The most dominant strain this flu season is H3N2, associated with severe symptoms. It is included in this year’s flu vaccine. The flu rates have not yet reached those of the 2014-2015 flu season, another severe year when H3N2 was common.
Weekly News Briefs: Jan. 8 - The Signal
Atlanta Freeze nearly over Atlanta, and much of the south, endured temperatures far below freezing beginning Thursday. Temperatures reached down to as low as 10 degrees, with wind chill. According to their twitter, the city of Atlanta opened warming stations overnight Thursday in Grant Park at 537 Park Ave. SE, at Central Recreation Center at 400 Merrits Ave. NE in the Old Fourth Ward, and at Old Adamsville Recreation Center at 3404 Delmar Lane NW.
New Year, New Mayor - The Signal
The inauguration for incoming mayor Ms. Keisha Lance-Bottoms was held on Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the MLK Jr. International chapel of Morehouse College. The event began with musical performances followed by the singing of the national anthem. Invocations were performed in an interfaith ceremony with representatives from major churches in the city. The prayers and speeches delivered by the faith leaders spoke to the themes of unity and fairness.
Police require a permit to feed homeless, Atlanta activists refuse - The Signal
Georgia State Police issued a ticket to charity group Food Not Bombs in Hurt Park last week for a ‘food service violation’ after they began handing out food to the city’s homeless population as they’ve done for eight years. In the past month, GSUPD have been enforcing a city-wide, almost forgotten legislation which prohibits food donations without a designated, and expensive, permit from the city.
Mayor Reed responds to Trump, pledging 100 percent renewable energy in Atlanta - The Signal
Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed reaffirmed once again Atlanta’s commitment to green development, responding to the Trump administration’s Oct. 10 decision to repeal the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan was a program proposed in 2014 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The plan aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric energy production by 32 percent by 2030, from 2005 emissions levels.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Samuel
Contact Samuel, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack