This is Thursday
April 18 — The Hawks lost to the Bulls last night in the NBA Play-In Tournament. The loss, Atlanta’s seventh in a row, ends a frustrating 36-46 season, but lands the team in the NBA Draft Lottery.
🌞 Sunny and an unseasonably warm 87° today.
🔥 Mayor Andre Dickens said the public safety training center, dubbed “Cop City” by opponents, is “well on its way” despite $10 million and counting in arson and vandalism by protesters he called “anarchists.”
🚨 A swatting hoax put Midtown High School and several others on lockdown yesterday morning.
🐈 Fulton County has officially resumed animal control services for the city of Atlanta following receipt of a signed agreement.
🗳️ Candidates vying to become the next DeKalb County CEO will debate tonight at 7 p.m. at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The public is invited to attend in person or watch online.
💍 The jewelry and watch collection of the head writers of beloved soaps “General Hospital” and “As the World Turns” is going to auction in Atlanta.
ELSEWHERE
➡ The U.S. Senate quickly dismissed impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. House Republicans impeached Mayorkas over accusations that he failed to enforce U.S. border laws and was lying to Congress.
📻 Uri Berliner, the longtime NPR staffer who wrote a scathing, 3,500-word critique accusing the organization of having a liberal bias, resigned yesterday. He said he had been “disparaged” by NPR’s new CEO.
🩺 The Republican-controlled Arizona House of Representatives once again failed to advance a repeal of the state’s 160-year-old abortion ban on Wednesday.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Indigo Girls at the Fox
• FutureVerse museum
• Five must-try restaurants
• Military childcare service
AND
• Quick Bites
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
🌿 Join The Georgia Hemp Company for the 4/20 holiday! Check out our buy-4-get-20% off sale. Available at all 4 metro Atlanta locations: Decatur, Duluth, Sandy Springs, and Woodstock. Not in town? You can still get in on the sale online.
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1. Emily Saliers on Fox benefit concert and Indigo Girls’ renaissance
🎸 “I could fill this entire interview with memories from the Fox.”
From playing shows to seeing artists like Janelle Monáe and Greta Van Fleet, Emily Saliers – one half of the Atlanta-based duo Indigo Girls, along with Amy Ray – has a plethora of memories that she could share about the historic Fox Theatre. And she’s about to be able to add one more.
On April 28, Indigo Girls will headline the Fox’s Revival Benefit Concert, along with special guests Charlie Starr and Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke. The show will be hosted by musician Kevin Kinney of Drivin N Cryin and aims to raise money for the preservation and restoration of theaters across the state, education, and community outreach.
🎭 Sammie caught up with Emily ahead of the show. You can read that interview here.
Explore Olmsted’s legacy at the 56th Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour
SPONSORED BY DRUID HILLS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
🌻 Experience the charm and history of Atlanta’s treasured Olmsted neighborhood at the Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour, April 26-28.
Frederick Law Olmsted, the mastermind behind America’s most iconic parks and estates, seamlessly integrated natural landscapes with residential development – not only for aesthetics but for the health and well-being of its residents. Druid Hills continues to be a shining example of his legacy, having preserved its unique heritage and natural beauty amidst Atlanta’s growth and challenges.
🏡 Each home and garden on the 2024 Tour is a showcase of true Druid Hills stewardship; we invite you to come see why. Visit druidhillstour.org to learn more about these unique properties…the ones you’ve always wanted to peek inside and now have the chance to!
2. FutureVerse science museum planned for Downtown Atlanta
🔭 Downtown Atlanta is poised to get a new tourist attraction that will offer high-tech immersive exhibits and STEAM learning opportunities for students.
The nonprofit science museum called FutureVerse is estimated to cost $100 million and backers are looking for property at or near the burgeoning Centennial Yards project.
Architectural firm Cooper Carry has created renderings of the museum, which is projecting 1.2 million visitors per year and an inaugural revenue of $50 million.
🔮 Learn more about the new museum here.
3. Beth’s 5 must-try new restaurants
🍽️ Senior food editor Beth McKibben spent January, February, and March dining at new restaurants around Atlanta and narrowed it down to five spots that really captured her attention this past quarter.
The guide includes the lowdown on two Italian restaurants, the relocation of a Michelin-star tasting menu restaurant, a Filipino brunch pop-up, and a neighborhood spot perfect for families.
➡️ See Beth’s top five recs plus her dish and drink suggestions here.
4. Meet the Atlanta founder helping military families find their ‘sidekicks’
🎖️ Families across the country struggle to find affordable, quality childcare. But millions of military families have extra considerations that can make finding childcare even more difficult, says Atlanta-based GetSidekicks founder Shelly Scott.
Those in the military are often moving to new cities and crisscrossing the nation, making it difficult to build relationships with childcare providers. They are also navigating the additional stress of having one parent being sent out on uncertain or long overseas deployments.
Scott saw an opportunity to connect military families to solve the crucial childcare gap. So she launched GetSidekicks to do just that.
🏵️ Read the full story on Hypepotamus here.
🎭 Riverwood High School Drama Instructor Mary Beth Van der Hoek oversees Act3’s Summer Youth Workshops! Jungle Jamboree June 3-14 for ages 5-8. Showcase June 14. Roald Dahl’s WILLY WONKA KIDS June 17-28 for ages 9-12. Performances June 28 & 29. FAME JR. July 8-19 for ages 13-17. Performances July 19, 20 & 21. Register now.
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5. Quick Bites
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💔 Brookhaven’s beloved Kaleidoscope is closing after 14 years; its final day of business is Mon., April 29. The Dresden Drive bistro and pub is hosting special last-day events starting at 5 p.m., including menu specials and KPub gifts. Read more about KPub’s legacy here.
💐Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails’ 2024 Garden Dinner series returns April 28 during select Sundays through October Curated Garden Dinner menus are seasonally based and feature options like squash blossoms stuffed with prosciutto and cream cheese; pimiento cheese and crawfish; or roast duckling with fingerling sweet potatoes, oyster mushrooms, heirloom snap beans, and candied pecan apple butter.
🍜 Up for a chance to win a free bowl of ramen? Kyuramen in Sandy Springs has launched their “New Bowl Lottery Game” allowing guests to win a free menu item with every bowl of ramen ordered. Be sure to look for the prize-revealing stamp at the bottom of your ramen bowl and stay tuned to their Instagram for more details.
🦞 Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs is revamping their brunch menu. Expect new additions like fresh-shucked East and West Coast oysters, poached lobster benedict; or smoked brisket hash with pan gravy, herb-roasted potatoes, smoky barbecue sauce, pickled red onion, and sunny-side-up eggs.
🥃 The Southern Gentleman is collaborating with Garrison Brothers Distilleryfor a three-course bourbon dinner pairing menu on Wed., April 24. Reservations can be madehere.
🎶 Midtown’s Aveline is kicking off a new musically-inspired cocktail menu. Pop over for pairings like “Be My Summer” (Snoh Aalegra) featuring Roku gin, watermelon basil shrub, watermelon syrup, and black pepper; or “In a Nutshell” (Alice in Chains), a combination of butter pecan-infused Buffalo Trace and Demerara syrup with Angostura and orange bitters. Spirit-free selections are also available.
🍣 Chef Nobu Matsuhisa will make a visit to Atlanta’s Nobu Thurs., May 23 for a special 2.5-hour evening featuring signature canapes, live chef stations, and handcrafted cocktails. Tickets can be purchased here.
❌ Delaware-based brewery and restaurant chain Iron Hill Brewery will close its Buckhead location on May 2. Their Hammond Dr. location in Dunwoody will remain open.
🥒 After several delays, pickleball center and eatertainment venue Painted Pickle opened yesterday at Armour Yards. Backed by Justin Amick and William Stallworth – the owners behind The Painted Pin and The Painted Duck – Painted Pickle brings the city of Atlanta its largest pickleball complex, featuring a full bar, restaurant, and sushi bar.
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.