Born for Friday
April 19 —Dickey Betts – the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the Allman Brothers Band – died yesterday. He was 80. Betts joined the Macon-based band in 1969 and wrote its biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man.”
🌤️ After early morning showers, it will be mostly sunny and 84° today. The weekend is a mix of clouds and rain with highs in the mid-60s to upper-70s.
💰 Gov. Brian Kemp signed a package of tax cut bills Thursday that were recently passed by the General Assembly. Under HB 1015, the tax rate will fall to 5.39% from 5.49%
🚗 The new Mt. Vernon Highway Bridge over I-285 is expected to open just after 9 a.m. on Mon., April 22.
🎓 Ananya Agustin Malhotra, who grew up in Dunwoody and attended the Marist School, was one of the 30 recipients of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.
🤝 Sandy Springs awarded eight grants to nonprofit organizations for arts and recreation programs targeted to underserved populations and low-income communities in the city.
🎉 Volunteer and philanthropist Ilene Engel was honored by the American Jewish Committee at last night’s Distinguished Advocate Award Celebration at Buckhead’s Intercontinental Hotel.
🍷 Passover starts Monday night and if you’re looking for something kosher to fulfill the ritual of drinking four cups of wine at the seder dinner, this local sommelier has you covered.
👏 Paige Alexander, Deisha Barnett, Gina Espinosa-Meltzer, Chanel Frazier, and Julia Houston were some of the women recognized by the YWCA of Greater Atlanta as “Women of Achievement” yesterday.
ELSEWHERE
➡ Multiple news organizations report that Israel hit a military base in central Iran overnight in apparent retaliation for last weekend’s Iranian attack. Follow this developing story here.
⚖️ The full 12-person jury and one alternate in former President Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial has been seated in New York City.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• A new record store in South Downtown
• Earth Day activities
• Film Review: ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
• Sports: Miles Robinson returns to Atlanta
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
Have a great weekend,
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.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. New record store coming to South Downtown
🎶 Moods Music owner Darryl Harris will venture beyond Little Five Points later this year when he opens a new record store, Crates, on Mitchell Street along South Downtown’s historic Hotel Row.
In an exclusive interview with Rough Draft, Harris said he signed a lease last week and is looking at an August or September opening date. He also said he’s excited to join the energy around the development of a new tech district being created by Jon Birdsong and David Cummings, the founders of Atlanta Tech Village in Buckhead.
Crates will be a place for used vinyl only, where people can search through, yes, crates of albums and sell some of their own records, Harris said. Moods Music has been a staple in L5P for 24 years, selling a unique blend of vinyl and CDs from Neo Soul, Afro-Cuban, and acid jazz artists.
➡️ Find out more about the store in Dyana Bagby’s story here.
BIG MUSIC WEEKEND
🎸 It’s a big weekend for music lovers both locally and globally. Not only is Record Store Day tomorrow, but Taylor Swift released her much-anticipated new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” today (with a music video premiering tonight at 8 p.m.), and the Sweetwater 420 Fest is Saturday and Sunday at Pullman Yards with Gov’t Mule, Big Gigantic, Trombone Shorty, and Grace Potter on the bill.
Why is my dog itching and scratching?
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🐕 Learn more here and discover the Scenthound difference at our Buckhead, Dunwoody, and Tucker locations.
2. Earth Day activities around the metro
🌎 The annual observance of Earth Day is Monday, but most events around Metro Atlanta will be happening this weekend.
Some of the family-friendly activities include a special Kids Day hosted by Live Thrive in Decatur; a series of workshops, lectures, and a market at Ponce City Market; and tree walks at the Carter Center and BeltLine Westside Trail hosted by Trees Atlanta.
➡️ See our guide at this link.
3. Handsome men living dangerously: “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL
💣 “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” comes right out the gate with typical Guy Ritchie bravado.
The story, based on Damian Lewis’ book about a real group of secret operatives who worked behind enemy lines during World War II, begins on a fishing boat in 1942. When Nazi forces board the seemingly innocuous vessel, they immediately clock the men aboard as much too handsome, much too cool, and much too large to be run-of-the-mill fishermen – this is a Guy Ritchie movie, after all. The men are Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill) and Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson), and they allow the Nazi commander to deliver an impassioned speech about how, exactly, he plans to kill them before they slice and shoot up the invaders with glee, blowing up the boat they came from for good measure.
As with many Guy Ritchie movies, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” lives and dies by its ensemble of handsome men – and despite their superhuman skill and the film’s ragged edges, this group is charming enough to keep you entertained.
⛵ Read Sammie’s full review here.
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
4. Miles Robinson returns to Atlanta; John Sterling retires
Skylar Salisbury, host of Big Sky Buckets, is back with this week’s sports update.
⚽ Following their second consecutive draw last Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Atlanta United faces FC Cincinnati in Mercedes-Benz Stadium tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. (Apple TV+). The game marks the return of former Atlanta United star Miles Robinson.
⚾ Even with a slew of injuries, the Braves have the best record in baseball. Los Bravos start a nine-game homestand tonight at 7:20 p.m. (BSS).
🏀 The term “massively disappointing” describes both the Hawks’ loss Wednesday night in the Play-In Tournament, as well as their season overall. Atlanta now turns its attention to the NBA Draft Lottery on May 12.
🚫 The Raptors’ Jontay Porter was banned for life from the NBA after being caught betting on both himself and his team.
🏈 After months of waiting, the NFL Draft is here this Thursday at 8 p.m. The Falcons pick eighth in the first round.
🏀 Caitlin Clark continues to make headlines before playing her first WNBA game as she is expected to sign a near eight-figure deal with Nike.
🏌️ Masters champ Scottie Scheffler is in the field in Harbour Town for the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament, which is projected to be the best ever.
🥇 Today marks 14 weeks until the start of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris on July 26. The torch was lit on Monday in Olympia, Greece, and is currently traveling through Greece before boarding a ship to Marseille, France for the famed Olympic Torch Relay.
🎙️ Longtime Yankees radio announcer John Sterling retired this week. Sterling spent nine years in Atlanta calling games for the Braves and the Hawks, including the marathon game on July 4, 1985, when Braves pitcher Rick Camp homered in the bottom of the 18th inning.
💎 Join Ahlers & Ogletree at its Spring Fine Jewelry & Timepiece auction, presenting treasures from several estates including renowned soap opera writers Jerome and Bridget Dobson. Highlights include a 6.85 GIA-certified diamond ring, a “La Panthere” diamond & 18k yellow gold Cartier watch + more. Join us April 25-26 at 1788 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. or bid online.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Top Stories of the Week
A look back at this week’s most-read stories from our website.
① These five new restaurants captured our attention this winter (pictured)
② City council approves $6.5M for trail to connect Downtown Atlanta to Chattahoochee River
③ Pullman Yards owner caught on video shouting, cursing at City of Atlanta contract worker
④ Cross Keys High School to undergo renovation, modernization
⑤ Ossoff blasts postal service chief over delays in mail delivery
💭 Test your knowledge of the week’s news in tomorrow’s News Quiz. Keep an eye out for our email at 8 a.m. or bookmark this page!
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
