To your health
Wednesday, June 10 — Happy Wednesday! It officially feels like summer in Atlanta. And while it’s my least favorite season (I much prefer crisp fall days and non-frizzy hair), I’ll keep pounding my electrolytes to get through yet another summer of Georgia running.
On the health and wellness front, there’s plenty to get excited about in the coming months, from two new Beltline segments opening this Friday to the return of my favorite annual event—the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race (limited entries are still available here).
Whether you’re lounging by the pool or settled into a cozy nook at your favorite coffee shop, there’s nothing like tucking into a good book in any season. Today’s feature is all about Atlanta’s social book clubs, from large groups that plan elaborate themed parties to small gatherings dedicated to candid discussions about banned titles.
This week’s newsletter also includes a fundraising update on Chastain Park
Conservancy’s new green space, my go-to facial, and The Rundown of calendar events.
Finally, please share “The Reset” with your friends and encourage them to subscribe at this page.
Be well!
✨ Laura
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Book clubs are back
📚 True story: when I got my driver’s license, the first place I drove was my local library, where I’d been maxing out my book limit since I moved there at the age of nine. Like many people, I got back into the daily reading habit during the early days of the pandemic, ordering stacks of books hand-delivered by A Cappella Books.
So when I saw an Instagram post about an Atlanta Silent Book Club meet-up at my neighborhood coffee shop, Coffee Man in Blandtown, I was all in.
While book clubs have roots in 18th-century salons and reading circles, modern-day book groups represent a new generation of readers who seek to replace solo doomscrolling with intentional, community-focused events fostering connections and friendships.
Read my story about these social Atlanta book clubs.
New green spaces and trails at Chastain Park
🌳 Atlanta’s Chastain Park Conservancy is hoping to break ground in November on a $13 million project to revitalize 30 acres of land and open up green space in the park.
The Palisades project will include scenic overlooks, a one-mile trail system, open spaces, a natural play area, and new connections to Nancy Creek.
Read Rachel Spooner’s full report here.
A balanced summer starts with connection. SPONSORED BY INTOWN PSYCHOLOGY
☀️ Summer brings more free time, but keeping kids engaged, active, and connected can be a challenge.
Atlanta offers endless family-friendly opportunities, from farmers markets, museums, and Beltline adventures to hiking, volunteering, DIY workshops, and outdoor fitness events. Exploring new experiences together can strengthen family bonds while reducing boredom and excessive screen time.
➞ If your family is navigating behavioral concerns, emotional challenges, or the transition to a less structured summer schedule, Intown Psychology is here to help.
How to make ‘financial wellness’ work for you
💡 As a Sagittarius, I will 100% book that last-minute international flight on a whim, with zero planning (or budgeting). This year, I’ve tried to be more intentional about my spending. And it felt good to book those tickets to Montreal this fall with money specifically set aside for that purpose.
Read about how monitoring cash flow and spending can set you up for financial wellness.
The Short List
📺 Laughing is good for your health (it’s science!), and nothing has made me laugh harder this year than Widow’s Bay, the quirky Apple TV comedy-thriller. I’ve been a Matthew Rhys fan since “The Americans,” but his range is on full display as the mayor of a possibly (definitely) haunted New England town. And Kate O’Flynn steals every scene she’s in.
🌟 Nothing dries out my skin more than flying, so I always slather on Charlotte Tilbury’s Collagen Superfusion Facial Oil as soon as I land. Packed with essential oils and soothing ingredients like magnolia bark, the ultra-hydrating formula calms inflammation and gives me an instant glow. Pro tip: it works just as well in your hair for a chic, slicked-back bun—my go-to travel hairstyle.
📚 And speaking of books, Mary Cain’s “This Is Not About Running” is a must-read for runners. It’s a raw, brutally honest memoir about the dark side of the sport and how it nearly broke the body and spirit of this once-in-a-generation talent.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Book It
🔴 When I was researching my story about the science behind red light therapy, I turned to a veteran esthetician I trust implicitly with my super-sensitive skin: Marisa Overton. Book the 60-minute facial for a customized facial that includes cleansing, exfoliation, facial massage, and yes—red light therapy—at Marisa Overton Skin Care.
The Rundown
💙 Join Soberish founder Mehrnush Saadat for a free fireside chat, “Life in the Middle,” tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the shop’s courtyard at Serenbe. Saadat, Boardwalk Empire actress and speaking coach Margot Bingham, and tech marketing leader and writer Gina Kawalek will discuss entrepreneurship and career transitions.
🚲 The Beltline’s Southside Trail Segments 2 and 3 open on June 12. Stretching from McDaniel Street at University Avenue to Boulevard, the 1.9-mile segment connects the Southside, Eastside, and Westside Trails, creating 16.7 miles of continuous pathway in the city—just in time for the FIFA World Cup.
🪷 The free Wednesday Wellness Series at Chastain Farm continues today with Qigong, the traditional Chinese medicine practice that combines intentional movement with meditation and rhythmic breathing. Next up: restorative yoga and meditation on June 17.
👟 Join West Stride for Saturday Stride Club, featuring a 7:30 a.m. community run followed by a coffee bar, doughnuts from The Salty, and shopping for new Tracksmith styles with custom, on-site heat pressing. Stay for a 9:30 a.m. panel discussion with Erica Stanley-Dottin and Tori Hood about “The List,” a historical record of American-born Black women who have broken three hours in the marathon.
🏃🏽♀️➡️ Lace up for Atlanta Run Club (ARC)’s second annual Atlanta Mile race on June 13. The event starts and finishes at Ambient + Studio and finishes with ARC’s anniversary celebration.
🧘🏼 Bring a mat for a free, community flow class at CorePower Yoga at Ponce City Market on June 14 at 11 a.m. Reserve your spot for the full-body heated yoga session.
⚽ FIFA World Cup Atlanta action kicks off on June 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the Spain vs. Cabo Verde match at noon.
