Diving into Wednesday

April 24 — Congratulations to the Atlanta-based School of Humans for their podcast “Unreformed: the Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children,” which won a Webby Award and received a Peabody nomination. Atlanta News First also earned a Peabody nom for “The Sixth,” a series highlighting defendants awaiting trial under prolonged detention.

🌤️ Mostly sunny and 75° today. 

🩺 Piedmont Healthcare will move its executive and administrative offices to an office tower in Atlantic Station. 

🪧 Democrats claim legislation signed by Gov. Brian Kemp is part of an effort by Republican governors to push back on union gains in the South.

🏢 A new study shows that Atlanta’s vacant office space sits at 32.4%, with Downtown Atlanta accounting for more than 54% of that total. 

🍎 Riverwood International Charter School, North Springs High School, Dunwoody High School, Druid Hills High School, and Cross Keys High School all made U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best High Schools in Georgia. 

💰 Callanwolde Fine Arts Center has launched a capital campaign to raise the last $1.54 million needed to begin expansion projects. 

ELSEWHERE

💰 The Senate voted 79-18 to pass a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill, which includes a potential TikTok ban in the U.S., is expected to be signed by President Biden.

➡ The Federal Trade Commission approved a rule that bans worker noncompete agreements. It’s expected to face significant legal challenges from major business groups.

PICTURE THIS: Oakland Cemetery’s after-dark event, Illumine, is back April 25-28. Visitors can explore innovative lighting displays, projections, and installations that reveal new ways to see Oakland’s history and architecture. The event includes live music, bars, and a gift shop.

🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

‱ Olympic swimmer class
‱ Bodacious Blooms
‱ Colbenson retires from CHRIS 180
AND
‱ Concert Picks

Have a great day,
Collin & Sammie

❤️ The worker-owner farmers of Love is Love Cooperative Farm want to express their gratitude for the members of the Community Supported Agriculture (“CSA”) Group this Earth Month. Joining a CSA is a great way to eat fresh, delicious, certified organic vegetables and to belong to a vibrant, joyful group of people while taking care of the Earth. Learn more here.

SPONSOR MESSAGE

Photo courtesy of MJCCA

1. Swimmer known for ‘greatest relay in Olympic history’ to teach clinic at Marcus Jewish Community Center

🏊 Eight-time Olympic medal winner Jason Lezak will conduct a stroke clinic on May 5 at the Marcus Jewish Community Center that will focus on in-water drills. He will also share his thoughts on his Olympic journey, and the challenges he overcame to reach his dream to compete at the highest level.

The three-hour clinic is open to swimmers ages 11 and up and will include drills focused on freestyle, backstroke, and starts and turns at the MJCCA’s indoor pool. Lezak will also share his story and pose for pictures with his gold medals.

Lezak, 48, competed in four Olympic Games, in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012, and won eight Olympic medals – two bronze, two silver, and four gold. He said his favorite memory was in 2004, when he set the American record in the 100m freestyle, breaking veteran freestyler Matt Biondi’s time. 

🏅 Check out the rest of the story here.

India’s Manish Arora is on view at SCAD FASH

SPONSORED BY SCAD

💃🏼 ‘Manish Arora: Life is Beautiful’ is now on view at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film. 
 
Renowned for dazzling designs in a rainbow of colors, Manish Arora has brought the talent and craftsmanship of India’s rich sartorial history to the global forefront, earning international acclaim on runways across three continents. 
 
Designing in India since the 1990s, Arora’s glittering garments celebrate extravagant expressions of self through varied materials, techniques, and silhouettes in a triumphant union of Western and Eastern aesthetics adapted to today’s multicultural society — all with a touch of humor. 
 
🧶 Find out more at scadfash.org. 

Photo courtesy of Jamestown

2. Buckhead Village announces third annual Bodacious Blooms festival

💐 The third annual Bodacious Blooms Flower Festival returns to Buckhead Village from Thurs., May 2 through Sat., May 4.

Stacked with design heavy-hitters including Zoe Bradley and Canaan Marshall, the event invites visitors to take part in a weekend of floral installations, hands-on workshops, and in-store events.

Jamestown’s Buckhead Village is partnering with neighboring destinations including Shops Around Lenox, Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta Financial Center, Hyatt Place, The InterContinental, The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel, Resurgens Plaza, PATH Museum & Buckhead Tower, and Buckhead Blooms for a walkable weekend featuring flower brunches, still-life workshops, and over-the-top installations across all properties.

🌼 Learn more about the event here.

Kathy Colbenson with Jay Bernath; Photo via SaportaReport

3. Kathy Colbenson retires from CHRIS 180

🫶 For decades, Kathy Colbenson has been helping others navigate trauma. Now, Colbenson is having to focus on her own healing journey.

Since Sept. 7, 1987, Colbenson has led CHRIS 180, becoming one of the most influential local nonprofit leaders.

The organization started out serving children in foster care who had mental health issues due to trauma, and then expanded to working with children aging out of foster care. Colbenson helped pioneer several “firsts” in mental health among children and adults.

💔 Then tragedy hit home. On Dec. 31, 2022, Pete Colbenson, her husband of 27 years, died unexpectedly, and less than a year later, her daughter lost her battle with alcoholism.

➡ Read more on this story from SaportaReport.

📧 This story comes through our partnership with SaportaReport, a site for Atlanta civic journalism. Subscribe to their newsletter here.

💎 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, and more. April 25-26 at 1788 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. or bid online.

SPONSOR MESSAGE

Gurufish plays Inman Park Festival on Sat., April 27

4. Concert Picks

VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA? SPONSORED BY SCAD

Wed., April 24
💰 Money Man @ Center Stage Theater 
⑱  We Three @ Terminal West

Thurs., April 25
🐠 Samantha Fish @ Variety Playhouse
🐟 The Infamous Stringdusters and Leftover Salmon @ The Eastern 
🎛️ Elmiene @ Vinyl (SOLD OUT) 
🎻 Rhapsody in Blue @ Atlanta Symphony Hall (also Fri.) 
🎙️ Prateek Kuhad @ Terminal West

Fri., April 26
⛓️ Attila @ Variety Playhouse 
🎤 OnlyOneOf @ The Eastern 
✨ Sir Chloe @ Center Stage 
🎶 Scott H. Biram x Abe Partridge @ Vinyl 
🤠 Billy Currington and Kip Moore @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park 
🗝️ The Teskey Brothers @ Coca-Cola Roxy 
🎨 Artifakts @ Terminal West
😂 Kevin Hart @ Tabernacle 

Sat., April 27
🎸 Gurufish (pictured) @ Inman Park Festival; Delta Stage
🎟️ Hans Williams @ Vinyl 
🎸 Teen Band Showcase @ Wild Heaven Beer
🎼 Die Walkure (“The Valkyrie”) @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (also Tues., Fri., and Sun.) 
🗺️ Leonid & Friends: The Music of Chicago @ Variety Playhouse
😂 ATL Comedy Festival @ State Farm Arena
🔊 Hardrock @ The Loft
🇬🇧 Saxon & Uriah Heep @ Buckhead Theatre 
💰 Oliver Anthony @ Gas South Arena
🇦🇺 Donny Benet @ Terminal West 

Sun., April 28
💙 The Indigo Girls & Charlie Starr with Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke @ Fox Theatre
🌹 Blake Rose @ Vinyl (SOLD OUT)
⭐ Ruston Kelly @ Terminal West
🇨🇴 AndrĂ©s Cepeda @ Variety Playhouse
🎯 Silversun Pickups @ Buckhead Theatre

Tues., April 30
📻 Say Anything @ The Eastern 
🛣️ Black Country, New Road @ Variety Playhouse 
🧑‍🎤 Social Distortion and Bad Religion @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🔥 Gates to Hell @ Vinyl 

Wed., May 1 
☄️ Sadie Jean @ The Loft 
👑 One Night of Queen: Gary Mullen & The Works @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
🇨🇦 Jesse Roper @ Aisle 5

TUNE IN

🎙️ Don’t miss Sammie with the AJC’s Mike Jordan every Thursday at 9:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. as they preview the top events in town on WABE.

🎧 The segment is also a podcast. Listen to the full conversation by subscribing to the How Do You Atlanta? podcast at wabe.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.

Rough Draft Atlanta is the digital home of Reporter Newspapers and Atlanta Intown.