Thursday thoughts
Feb. 6 — The proposed state budget could cost Fulton County Schools $40 million this year, as rising personnel expenses, decreased enrollment, and increased operational costs strain the district’s finances.
☁️ Cloudy and 72° today.
⚖️ Charges against former Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson were dismissed Wednesday, ending her trial on accusations of abusing power to protect the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery.
💧 Stormwater improvements will help fix drainage problems at Abernathy Greenway Park South in Sandy Springs using a $400,000 Georgia Environmental Protection Division grant.
💼 Switchyards is offering 100 free memberships at its Atlanta work clubs for people who work in the nonprofit sector.
ELSEWHERE
📦 After 12 hours, the USPS reversed its suspension of accepting packages from China and Hong Kong.
⏰ Today is the deadline for nearly two million federal workers to accept buyouts or return to offices in the Elon Musk-led government restructuring effort.
🏳️⚧️ President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in sports, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In Georgia, a Democratic state senator introduced a bill seeking to counter Republican anti-trans bills.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• New Cultural Affairs director
• Aliens in Woodruff Park
• Smarter crime fighting
AND
• Quick Bites
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
🎨 Join the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation for ARTBEAT on Sat., Feb. 8, at 2:30 p.m. at Byers Theatre! Celebrate student talent in the arts. Bring crayons or colored pencils to donate to local elementary schools. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Mayor Dickens names new director of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs
🎨 Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has appointed Adriane V. Jefferson as the new executive director of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA).
Jefferson is an award-winning cultural equity leader who has spent the past two decades “transforming cultural landscapes, shaping policy and redefining arts administration,” said a City of Atlanta release.
An advocate for diverse artistic voices, she previously served as director of cultural affairs for New Haven, CT and executive director of New Haven Festivals Inc., along with launching several initiatives like the Arts for Anti-Racism Pledge, The Unapologetically Radical Conference, and Connecticut’s first cultural equity plan.
➡️ Learn more about Jefferson here.
Music & innovation at the BYTE Fundraiser!
SPONSORED BY COMPUTER MUSEUM OF AMERICA
💻 Computer Museum of America’s 4th Annual BYTE Fundraiser on Thurs., March 6 will be an exclusive evening hosted at the museum you won’t want to miss!
🖼️ Enjoy live music from Acoustic Soul, with Tom Clark adding his charm as emcee. The night will feature museum announcements, including the induction of the museum’s newest Hall of Fame members, the unveiling of new artifacts, and the much-anticipated debut of the Salvador Dalí exhibit—a captivating addition to the museum.
🎟️ Proceeds will support educational programs that inspire the next generation of innovators. Get tickets here!
2. Whimsical alien sculptures set to transform Woodruff Park
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE
👽 Since launching in fall of 2024, the Art in the Park series of temporary artwork installations has brightened the lives of thousands of visitors to Woodruff Park.
Presented in partnership with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) and Arts & Entertainment Atlanta (A&E), the next installment is landing just in time for Valentine’s Day.
“Stem by Stem – Alien Boy Gives Me Flowers” was dreamed up by the creative minds at ENESS, a renowned arts and technology studio in Melbourne, Australia. And now, their newest creation will grace the grounds of Woodruff Park in Downtown Atlanta. Visitors to the site should expect to see whimsical, inflatable creatures with oversized eyes decorated with patterns inspired by traditional Japanese kimonos.
🌹 Learn more about the aliens here.
3. Georgia’s Bravo Foxtrot wants to give law enforcement a smarter way to fight and prevent crime
📲 Law enforcement groups, national security agencies, and first responders all have tools to react to threats. But the data they need to prevent crime is often found in disparate and hard-to-find locations.
That’s where the security-focused startup Bravo Foxtrot hopes to make its mark. The company – based out of Canton, GA – is “taking raw intelligence and turning it into actionable intelligence,” said Founder Brandon Puhlman.
The goal is to provide law enforcement officials and first responders with the investigative tools needed to predict, prevent, and respond to criminal activities accurately, efficiently, and safely.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
🎨 Join the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation for ARTBEAT on Sat., Feb. 8, at 2:30 p.m. at Byers Theatre! Celebrate student talent in the arts. Bring crayons or colored pencils to donate to local elementary schools. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER| SUBSCRIBE HERE
💞 Got Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or Oysterfest on the brain? Take a peek at our full list of February dining events here.
🍦 I scream, you scream! While it may be “optimist’s spring” in Atlanta this week, a host of new ice cream shops are opening soon in Atlanta. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is coming to Ponce City Market in late spring, with plans to open another location at Park Place in Dunwoody. Plus, a new location of Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is expected to open in April near Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta.
🍰 Commune wine bar and listening room is debuting an exclusive monthly subscription featuring off-menu sourdough, pastries, and cookies from baker Miranda Vick. Each delivery includes the option to add two hand-selected wines from award-winning sommelier Steven Grubbs. To join in visit here.
🦐 Lagarde in Chamblee is celebrating Mardi Gras now through early March. Stop in for live music and to sample the limited-time menu featuring Oxtail Gumbo, Cajun Lobster Rockefeller Oysters, and festive cocktails. A special Fat Tuesday crawfish and shrimp boil is scheduled for March 4.
🏀 State Farm Arena and the Atlanta Hawks have announced their guest chef program, (pictured) featuring nearly 20 local restaurant owners who will prepare select menu items for those seated in the Delta SKY360° Club and at the Zac Brown Social Club (behind section 114). Past participants have included Pit Boss BBQ and Belen De La Cruz Empanadas, with future collaborations led by Chief Culinary Officer Chef G. Garvin in the works. The program also introduces a variety of new menu items including ATL Hot Chicken Tenders (section 114) and handspun milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla, and Georgia peach flavors (section 108).
🎉 Buckhead Village sister spots Gypsy Kitchen and The Southern Gentleman reopened this week following HVAC upgrades and design enhancements. Gypsy Kitchen is celebrating with a Big Reveal Party tomorrow featuring half-priced wine and live music, while The Southern Gentleman is offering a $40 prix fixe menu through Feb. 11.
🍷 🔊 The Upper Room is hosting a wine tasting with Afrobeats on Sun., Feb. 23 starting at 1 p.m. Dance to Amapiano, Soca, Kompa, and more all while sipping vintages from various regions. Tickets can be purchased here.
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
🔤 Don’t miss our new, daily word game – you have six chances to guess a five-letter word connected to a news story.
