Wednesday’s word
Jan. 29 — In what ESPN called “one of the most stunning free agency signings in league history,” WNBA star Brittney Griner announced she is joining the Atlanta Dream.
🌤️ Partly cloudy and 66° today.
⚖️ A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants and loans. Local officials said such a freeze would impact rent payments, paychecks, education, etc…
🤒 The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed the first measles case of 2025 in Georgia on Tuesday.
🏆 Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens will be honored as “Georgian of the Year” at today’s Georgia Trend Most Influential Georgians Luncheon and Awards Ceremony at the Georgia Aquarium.
💃 After 30 years on Ponce de Leon Avenue, MJQ Concourse reopens today at Underground Atlanta.
🗓️ The City of Atlanta has rescheduled the 2025 Municipal Election information forum from Jan. 30 to Feb. 13.
‼️ Officials have released new information about the death of Cornelius Taylor, who died while the City of Atlanta was clearing a homeless encampment earlier this month.
🐍 If you want to celebrate today’s Lunar New Year, here’s a link to our recommendations for where to ring in the Year of the Snake.
ELSEWHERE
🇫🇷 The Mona Lisa will get its own exhibition space as the Louvre Museum announced major renovations including a second entrance and higher fees for non-EU visitors.
📚 The Nation’s Report Card showed students made modest gains in math since 2022, but reading and math scores remained below pre-pandemic levels.
📺 CNN anchor Jim Acosta said he’s leaving the network after nearly 20 years following disagreements over plans to move his show to midnight.
PICTURE THIS: Central Atlanta Progress President A.J. Robinson donned a Hyatt Regency-shaped hat for his introduction at the organization’s annual luncheon and awards celebration – held at the hotel. See more photos and videos on their Instagram.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Atlanta Coffee Shops
• Broadway in Atlanta
• Artist Lori Lejeune
AND
• Concert Picks
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
🤘 Nine Inch Nails are bringing the Peel It Back Tour 2025 to Gas South Arena on Sept. 9. Tickets go on sale today at noon. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Championing the local coffee scene
☕ Eugene Buchko didn’t set out to become Atlanta’s unofficial coffee scene spokesperson when he launched Atlanta Coffee Shops in 2018.
But that’s exactly what he is to thousands of coffee lovers across Metro Atlanta who frequent Buchko’s website to read blog posts on new shops or peek at the color-coded coffee shop map he keeps meticulously organized and updated.
You’ll never see corporate chains like Starbucks on the site – or rarely locally owned chains with several locations. Atlanta Coffee Shops is reserved explicitly for small, independent coffee shops and cafes.
➡️ Read more about Buchko and Atlanta’s coffee scene here.
📻 Listen to Beth talk about this story on WABE’s “City Lights.”
O’Keeffe Leaving Soon
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART
🚨 Time’s running out! 🚨
Experience the bold, iconic work of Georgia O’Keeffe—featuring her stunning Manhattan cityscapes and unforgettable Southwestern masterpieces. This exclusive exhibition won’t be here forever. See it before it’s gone!
2. New restaurant round-up: Pizza Jeans, The Sparrow, Ashland’s Kitchen, Avize, and more2. Mark your calendar: ‘Harry Potter’ and more coming to Broadway in Atlanta next season
⚡ Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta recently announced the lineup of stage shows that will make up its upcoming 2025/2026 season.
Headlining the roster of performances is the Atlanta premiere of the six-time Tony Award-winning show “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which runs from Feb. 28-March 21, 2026. Other shows include “Back to the Future: The Musical,” the Tony Award-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo,” “The Outsiders,” and the Alicia Keys musical, “Hell’s Kitchen.”
🎭 Learn more about the shows playing at the Fox Theatre next season here.
3. Artist Lori Lejeune prepares to take flight with ‘RISING’ exhibit at Legacy Park
🕊️ Opening soon at the Decatur Arts Alliance gallery at Legacy Park, the “RISING” exhibition by Lori Lejeune will feature a selection of works that depict birds in flight.
Some of the birds in Lejeune’s work are recognizable in their shape, such as hummingbirds. But the majority are simply symbolic and meant to evoke a feeling rather than an identifiable image of a specific animal. According to Lejeune, they represent freedom, transformation, and hope.
“RISING” will soon be installed at the Hyatt Cottage, the Decatur Arts Alliance’s satellite gallery location on the Legacy Park campus. The exhibition opens on Jan. 31.
🎨 Learn more about Lejeune’s work here
❤️ Spruill Center for the Arts invites you to attend the 2025 HeART Market on Sun, Feb. 2 from 11 a.m-5 p.m. Shop, browse, and help celebrate stunning pieces of art, all created by our very own Spruill students and teaching artists. SPONSOR MESSAGE
54. Concert Picks
VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA?
Wed., Jan. 29
🚀 Them In Uniform + Moonroof @ Vinyl
🎙️ Kelsea Ballerini @ Gas South Arena
🔌 Alan Walker @ Tabernacle
🎧 James McMurtry (pictured) @ Variety Playhouse
🎻 Shane Smith and the Saints @ Buckhead Theatre
🦛 Hippo Campus @ The Eastern
💐 Lucas Jack @ Eddie’s Attic
Thurs., Jan. 30
🎷 Toni Romiti with PJ @ Aisle 5
☀️ Sungazer @ Terminal West
👑 Syleena Johnson @ City Winery Atlanta (Also Fri.)
Fri., Jan. 31
🎥 Vision Video @ The Masquerade – Hell
🕶️ Phantogram @ Tabernacle
📞 Dua Saleh @ Vinyl
🎸 Phyphr @ Aisle 5
⚡ Electric Feels: Indie Rock + Electronic Dance Party @ The Masquerade – Heaven
🔥 Eddie 9V @ Terminal West
🎤 Nijah Poteat @ The Velvet Note
☠️ Deathpact @ The Eastern
⛰️ Goldpine With The Burney Sister @ Red Clay Music Foundry
Sat., Feb. 1
💀 Chidori @ The Masquerade – Purgatory
🐻 Grizfolk @ The Masquerade – Altar
🏋️♀️ Morgan Wade @ Tabernacle
🤘 LVVRS @ Vinyl
🗑️ Rubblebucket with Hannah Mohan @ Terminal West
🐕 The Sundogs @ Variety Playhouse
🧥 Molchat Doma @ The Eastern
🎣 Chris Janson @ Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
🎺 Joe Gransden Swings! @ The Velvet Note
🎹 Dueling Pianos @ Firemaker Brewing Co.
👄 Tattoo You – Rolling Stones Tribute @ Red Clay Music Foundry
🧘♂️ Norman Brown @ City Winery Atlanta
Sun., Feb. 2
🎺 Tiffany Goode @ St. James Live
✍️ Both Sides Now: The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen @ City Winery Atlanta
Mon., Feb. 3
👸 Mary J. Blige @ State Farm Arena
🎸 Myles Kennedy with Tim Montana @ Variety Playhouse
🧍 Get Up Kids with Hot Rod Circuit @ Terminal West
Tues., Feb. 4
🧑⚖️ Convictions @ The Masquerade – Purgatory
❤️ Dhruv @ Terminal West
✝️ Ronnie Baker Brooks @ City Winery Atlanta
Wed., Feb. 5
💀 Decapitated @ The Masquerade – Heaven
🎻 Vitamin String Quartet @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
🪓 Ax and the Hatchetmen @ Vinyl
🎷 Jazz Legacy Project featuring: Karla Harris @ Red Clay Music Foundry
⛪ C Bazz Entertainment @ City Winery Atlanta
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.
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our new, daily word game – Presented by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta’s premiere undergraduate learning experience.
