Adiós, April
April 30 — The Piedmont Park Conservancy raised a record $545,000 during last week’s annual luncheon, at which it revealed plans for major renovations and an expansion to the Midtown greenspace.
⛅ Partly cloudy and 83° today.
📦 Sandy Springs-based UPS said it would cut 20,000 jobs due to economic uncertainty and fewer packages from its largest customer, Amazon.
💰 The City of Atlanta proposed a $3 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, focusing on public safety, affordable housing, and infrastructure.
🇨🇳 Former Georgia Sen. David Perdue was confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China.
⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday about a 2017 FBI raid on the wrong house in Atlanta.
🛒 Publix will anchor the Lulah Hills mixed-use development on the former site of North DeKalb Mall.
🍽️ The annual Human Rights Campaign Atlanta dinner will be held Saturday at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Journalist Charles M. Blow will be one of the honorees and speakers.
🏆 The Atlanta Film Festival will honor controversial filmmaker David O. Russell with its Originator Award on Sunday.
ELSEWHERE
🖥️ Amazon denied a report that it planned to list the cost of Trump administration tariffs next to products on its website.
📉 Consumer confidence in April fell to its lowest level in nearly five years.
🇻🇳 Vietnam marked the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon today, when North Vietnamese forces captured the city, ending nearly two decades of war.
PICTURE THIS: Nearly 2,700 people participated in last Saturday’s Move For Grady at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium, a 25% increase over last year, with more than 140 teams supporting Grady Health System. Mark your calendars for next year’s event on April 25, 2026!
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Training center opens
• Bodacious Blooms returns
• Dali Rose talks debut EP
AND
• Concert Picks
🗣️ Join renowned educator Brendan Murphy on Sun., May 4, at 3 p.m. at The Breman Museum for a powerful exploration of antisemitism — past and present — and how we can confront hate in today’s world. Free event – register here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Controversial public safety training center opens
🚨 A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday for the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.
The opening of the $118 million center on 85 acres of city-owned property in unincorporated southern DeKalb County came after years of protests, lawsuits, arrests, and the death of a protester.
The property, which is located between Constitution and Key roads in South River Forest, includes a 58,000-square-foot academic building, a 17,000 square-foot leadership building for public use, gymnasium, driving course, mock village for police training, a six-story burn building for firefighter training, a shooting range, and stables for the Atlanta Police Department’s mounted patrols and kennels for its K-9 unit.
Kim Chong Hak’s American debut at The High!
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM
🏔️ At The High, Kim Chong Hak: Painter of Seoraksan bursts to life with vibrant colors and dynamic landscapes. Experience the energy of Korea’s Mount Seorak through Kim’s expressive brushstrokes—perfect for celebrating the vibrancy of spring!
➞ Don’t miss this breathtaking exhibition. Open now!
2. Bodacious Blooms returns to Buckhead Village May 1-3
💐 Buckhead Village is set to once again host the annual Bodacious Blooms Flower Festival from May 1-3.
Now in its fourth year, the community-wide celebration is inviting visitors to experience a weekend filled with floral-inspired events — including installations, workshops, and more.
Headlining this year’s event is Schumacher, a 135-year-old design house renowned for its luxury fabrics, wallpapers, trims, and furniture.
🌺 Learn more about the event here.
3. Atlanta-born Dali Rose on inspiration, integrity, and his debut EP
🎶 Atlanta-born, raised in a web of musical talent, and eager to express himself as genuinely as he can, singer-songwriter Dali Rose released his debut EP “Heaven” on April 25.
A vulnerable and heartfelt exploration through the alleyways of his mind, “Heaven” features vocal lines that dig deep into the psyche, backed by Rose’s self-made, melancholic production. The EP is an honest dive into pain, played in ways listeners might find a familiar comfort in.
Leading into the release of the EP, Rose sat down with Rough Draft intern Evan Bursinger to talk about his past, his future ambitions for his musical career, and his debut record.
💿 Check out that conversation here.
🗣️ Join renowned educator Brendan Murphy on Sun., May 4, at 3 p.m. at The Breman Museum for a powerful exploration of antisemitism — past and present — and how we can confront hate in today’s world. Free event – register here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Concert Picks
VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA?
Wed., April 30
🎭 Chris Isaak @ Buckhead Theatre
🔦 RÜFÜS DU SOL @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
⭐ NORTH STAR BOYS @ The Masquerade – Hell
📻 Alex Warren @ The Eastern
🌾 Matt Hansen @ Terminal West
Thurs., May 1
🦪 Pearl Jam @ State Farm Arena
💖 Marielle Kraft @ Vinyl
📻 Sawyer Hill @ The Loft
🎤 Brother Ali @ Aisle 5
🎉 Omar Courtz @ Buckhead Theatre
Fri., May 2
⚔️ SIEGFRIED by the Atlanta Opera @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (also Sunday)
🌻 Hippie Sabotage @ Tabernacle
👑 One Night of Queen @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
🪖 The War and Treaty @ Buckhead Theatre
🎚️ WAKAAN + Liquid Stranger @ Coca-Cola Roxy
Sat., May 3
🤵 Devin Townsend @ Tabernacle
💵 CASH MONEY MILLIONAIRES @ State Farm Arena
🪩 LCD Soundsystem @ Coca-Cola Roxy (also Sunday)
🪕 Rhiannon Giddens @ The Eastern (pictured)
🌌 Galantis @ Believe Music Hall
Sun., May 4
🍊 R&B Brunch @ City Winery Atlanta
🚬 Nicotine Dolls @ The Loft
🎧 OMB Peezy @ Aisle 5
🎙️ John Craigie + Cat Clyde @ Terminal West
🎶 SOFIA ISELLA @ The Masquerade – Purgatory
Mon., May 5
🥤 Dave Blunts @ The Masquerade – Hell
🎸 NIIS + POLLYANNA @ The Masquerade – Purgatory
💭 Dreamer Isioma @ The Masquerade – Altar
Tues., May 6
🤘 Ministry + Nitzer Ebb @ The Eastern
🎵 AUDREY NUNA @ Vinyl
⛰️ John Mark McMillan + Citizens @ The Loft
☀️ Rachel Platten @ The Masquerade – Purgatory
🎚️ Twin Tribes @ The Masquerade – Hell
Wed., May 7
📞 Phoneboy @ The Masquerade – Purgatory
🤠 Vincent Neil Emerson @ Terminal West
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.
🗣️ Join renowned educator Brendan Murphy on Sun., May 4, at 3 p.m. at The Breman Museum for a powerful exploration of antisemitism — past and present — and how we can confront hate in today’s world. Free event – register here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our new, daily word game – Presented by Oglethorpe University, Atlanta’s premier undergraduate learning experience.
