Monday mashup
June 10 —Early voting is underway for the June 18 runoff election, including the race for DeKalb County CEO and District 4 Fulton County Commission. Find where and when you can vote at this link.
⛅ There is a 35% chance of rain and a possible thunderstorm today. High of 83°.
🚊 Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens wants to press pause on the renovation of MARTA’s Five Points Station until an audit of the transit system is complete.
🚧 Work began overnight at 10th Street and Monroe Drive to add a raised pedestrian crossing, bike lanes, and new traffic signals at the entrance to the Atlanta BeltLine. Expect detours until at least June 14.
🚨 A resurgence in illegal street racing netted six arrests over the weekend and a reminder by APD Chief Darin Schierbaum that the city has a “zero-tolerance policy” for the activity.
💧 A city committee wanting more answers about the Atlanta water crisis will have to wait another month for answers as a planned meeting was moved to July.
🏅 The AJC’s Mike Jordan won the Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award at Saturday’s James Beard Foundation’s Media Awards. Jordan was honored for his previous work in Atlanta Magazine.
➡ Rod Lassiter and Parnass Savang of Summerhill’s Talat Market are up for Best Chef: Southeast at tonight’s JBF Restaurant and Chef Awards, which you can stream at 6:30 p.m.
🏇 Dornoch won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. The horse, which was a 17-1 longshot, is partly owned by Buckhead-based syndicate West Paces Racing LLC.
📍 Be sure to check out the latest stories, including features on Lost-n-Found Youth and the Chefs Market at Pullman Yards, in our ongoing collaboration with SCAD writing students.
ELSEWHERE
🦈 Three people were injured in two shark attacks within 90 minutes on Friday afternoon at neighboring beaches on 30A in Walton County, FL.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Grant Park Gateway tenant
• ATL’s thriving vegan scene
• Global Headlines
AND
• Look & Listen
Have a great week,
Collin & Sammie
🎤 Celebrate the launch of Midtown ATL’s newest public performance space! Enjoy a free variety show on Wed., June 12 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the brand-new outdoor stage on the North Avenue MARTA station plaza. This event is open to all. Details here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. City selects Savi Provisions to take over long-vacant Grant Park Gateway
🏅 We finally have a winner in the search for the occupant of the Grant Park Gateway building on Boulevard. The city selected Savi Provisions to take over the long-vacant space, which includes an adjacent park and sits atop an underground parking garage next to Zoo Atlanta.
The city took over the building and property beside it in 2022 from the Atlanta & Fulton County Recreation Authority. Last year, Atlanta’s Department of Procurement and the Department of Parks & Recreation began fielding proposals from various Atlanta companies and restaurant operators on what should eventually fill the prime piece of Grant Park real estate. A lack of submissions during the initial proposal process, however, led the city to try again earlier this year. It appears the second call to action worked.
The Atlanta City Council will vote on whether to proceed with Savi Provisions at the city-owned property. If approved, it would be up to Savi owner Paul Nair as to when the market would open in Grant Park.
▶️ Press Play: Flyover Tour of the ‘Transformed’ 285/400 Commute
SPONSORED BY PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
10.5 miles of highway improvements.
Reconstructed bridges for better connectivity.
New & improved underpasses and overpasses for smoother traffic flow.
The Transform 285/400 Project from the Georgia Department of Transportation has come a long way, promising significant enhancements to the daily commute through Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and Brookhaven.
Experience these improvements firsthand with our hyper-real flyover video tour.
👉🏼 Watch it here.
2. Thriving vegan food scene began in Black communities of West End
🥗 Atlanta’s thriving vegan food scene has deep roots in the city’s Westside neighborhoods, dating back decades. This is especially true in West End, where veganism is fostered through the relationship between restaurants and customers and an intense need to feed the community.
“Atlanta is the cultural and spiritual heartbeat of African-American life,” said Tassili Ma’at, owner of Tassili’s Raw Reality Cafe in West End. “Back in the day, there was no such word as ‘vegan.’ It was vegetarian. Veganism came about due to the animal rights movement.”
According to Traci Thomas, founder of the Black Vegetarian Society of Georgia, veganism is at the heart of the West End community because longtime residents strengthen interpersonal bonds through education.
➡️ Read more in Allanah Dykes’ feature story here.
3. Ganz quits Israel government; Macron calls for snap elections
🇮🇱 As Israelis celebrate the Saturday rescue of four hostages from Hamas terrorists in Gaza, former Minister of Defense Benny Ganz has quit the emergency government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
🇪🇺 Right and far-right political parties made gains across Europe in weekend elections. Millions of voters in 27 European Union member states cast ballots.
🇫🇷 In France, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament and called for snap elections.
🇮🇹 Leaders of the G7, a group of industrialized economies, gather in Italy this week. Guests include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
🇮🇳 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath of office for a third term despite disappointing election results for his leading B.J.P. party. Modi will have to share power with a coalition government for the first time.
🇫🇷 At the French Open, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces, and Poland’s Iga Swiatek became the third woman to win three consecutive French Open titles. Atlanta native Coco Gauff picked up her first major doubles title.
🇨🇴 Scientists working in Colombia discovered the world’s largest cave engravings of images like giant snakes.
🇮🇸 Lava from an erupting volcano in Iceland has engulfed a road.
🗓️ Bank of America is proud to present the Atlanta Latino GDP Report on Wed., June 26, at the Coca-Cola Company. Join the conversation for a deeper understanding of the economic impact of Atlanta’s Hispanic-Latino population and how companies are responding by tailoring products and services and supporting their diverse workforce. Register here.
🥘 The Wholesome Wave Georgia Southern Chefs Potluck is back! Join amazing Chefs Duane Nutter, Anne Quatrano, Rodney Scott, and more as they prepare an epic feast to raise money to make locally grown food affordable for all Georgians on Oct. 6 at Serenbe. Learn more.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Mix & Match: food, sports, tech, and more
🎙️ “Your Last Meal” with Rachel Belle was a James Beard Award finalist for Best Podcast. In each episode, Rachel asks a celebrity what their last meal would be. Then, she goes and investigates the origins of each dish.
🎧 Have you ever wondered how Michelin stars work? With help from a CIA professor, Copper & Heat radio podcast hosts Katy Osuna and Rachel Palmer dive into the history of the stars rating system, which, yes, was started by the tire company.
🎙️ Sports Tech Atlanta’s “The Seed Talk” has a fascinating episode about how technology is evolving in sports.
🎧 Even if you haven’t seen the movie “Hit Man,” you should listen to this interview with creator Richard Linklater, which talks about his views on art and life as well as the movie. It’s a captivating listen.
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📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
