18.21 Bitters owners opening bar on BeltLine

Missy and Kristin Koefod have a new venture in the works. The wife-wife team and owners of premium bitters and mixers business 18.21 Bitters in Ponce City Market are opening a new cocktail and coffee bar this fall. The 2,300-square foot space will spring up along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail between Krog Street Market and Studioplex.

The AJC reports that the bar’s tentative name is George, and Koefod confirmed with Georgia Voice that they are still working on that.

“We hope to be open [by] November and will be serving 18.21 craft cocktails in the back and serving coffee and aperitivos up front,” Koefod said. “Quite a few members of the 18.21 team will be involved and we are really excited.”

LGBTQ Therapist Resource supports community

A group of metro Atlanta therapists created a new option for LGBT people seeking affirming mental health professionals. The LGBTQ Therapist Resource provides a central directory of clinical resources to the LGBT community, as well as networking, promotion and educational opportunities to clinicians.

“Our members are specialists and experts in treating the LGBTQQIAA community,” LGBTQ Therapist Resource Vice President Melissa Olson told Georgia Voice. “We are providers who identify as a member of the community, who pursue specialized training, whose practices offer specialized services such as groups and events and/or whose practices are predominantly LGBTQ. Within our membership, specializations are indicated so that anyone seeking a specialized provider can be assured they will be treated by a trained, knowledgeable and affirming provider.”

People in search of such services can access the LGBTQ Therapist Resource at www.lgbtqtherapistresource.com.

Event planning firm relocates to Atlanta

Wedding and special event planning firm Liquid Events relocated to Atlanta.

“Atlanta has always been on my radar,” Liquid Events owner Sean Finnegan, an Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce member, told Georgia Voice. “I started Liquid five years ago in Miami and Palm Beach. I cater to a very niche market; most of my clients are high-profile celebrities or athletes. When the television and film industries were offered tax credits, it brought Hollywood to Atlanta. So I brought my A-game and here we are.”

Finnegan says Liquid has some high profile local events coming up this summer, but is staying mum on which ones while contracts are under negotiation.

– By Patrick Saunders