Wellness Wednesday
July 9 — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said he will run for governor in 2026, joining Attorney General Chris Carr in the Republican primary. Democrats vying for the nomination include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and State Senator Jason Esteves.
⛈️ Scattered thunderstorms and 90° today.
💔 SCAD senior Joyce Catherine Badon died in the Texas floods that have killed over 110 people, with 170 still missing.
👮 Two people, ages 22 and 23, face charges after eight were injured when their truck lurched forward at Dunwoody’s annual July 4th parade.
🚨Burglars hit several restaurants along Main Street in Tucker – including Ford’s BBQ, Village Burger, and Nicky’s Undefeated – in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
💨 The Atlanta City Council adopted a new ordinance requiring a 1,000-foot distance between vape shops and elementary and secondary schools.
🐝 So-called “killer bees,” spawned from a combination of African and European honeybees, have been found in Alabama near the Georgia border.
🍿 “Queer Propaganda” will be this year’s theme for Out on Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ film festival.
🍷 Learn more about summer sipping wines on WABE’s City Lights Collective with our colleague Beth McKibben.
ELSEWHERE
🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia hit Ukraine with its largest aerial attack of the war, after President Trump reversed course on aid and called Russia’s diplomacy “meaningless.”
👞 After nearly 20 years, the TSA is phasing out the removal of shoes at airport security checkpoints.
🤖 An imposter used AI-generated messages to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio, unsuccessfully contacting foreign ministers and members of Congress.
PICTURE THIS: MLB All-Star Week starts Fri., July 11 at 7 p.m. with the HBCU Swingman Classic hosted by Ken Griffey Jr. Division-I HBCU baseball players will compete at Truist Park. The event features marching band performances, a Divine Nine step show, and postgame fireworks. The All-Star game is Tues., July 15.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• New life for historic buildings
• Jackson Street Bridge upgrade
• Wellness Wednesday
AND
• Concert Picks
Have a good day!
🏡 For $3.5 million, you can own a piece of Blue Ridge history. Just 90 minutes from Atlanta, this 6,000± square-foot, three-story Victorian residence operates as the Blue Ridge Inn with nine guest rooms. The sale includes a curated inventory of antique furnishings and is listed with Mountain Sotheby’s International Realty. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Emory to convert former Peachtree-Pine shelter into hospital staff apartments
🩺 Emory University plans to construct more than 50 rental apartments for its healthcare employees by adapting and reusing two historic properties located across the street from Emory University Hospital Midtown.
The building at 477 Peachtree St. was once home to the notorious Peachtree-Pine homeless shelter, which was closed in 2017 after years of complaints by neighboring businesses and residents due to rampant crime, drug use, and unsanitary conditions.
While the apartments are for hospital staff, Emory is exploring options for the adjacent 489 Peachtree building, including a preschool facility that would be open to the public.
➡️ Read more about this adaptive reuse project here.
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 summer!
➞ Don’t miss this breathtaking exhibition. Open now!
2. Iconic Jackson Street Bridge to get upgrade
🚲 The Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID) officially broke ground yesterday morning on multimodal improvements along the Jackson Street Bridge.
Known as one of Atlanta’s most iconic locations for photographers to capture arguably the best skyline view of Downtown, the redesign of the Old Fourth Ward bridge will offer a safer, more accessible, and people-centered destination, according to city officials.
Key project improvements will include an expanded pedestrian zone that extends beyond the existing sidewalk and a new protected bike lane linking the Freedom Parkway Trail to the Baker-Highland Trail.
➳ See additional renderings and photos here.
3. Run Santa Run; Sunset Tours
This new health and wellness roundup will appear every Wednesday in Rough Draft, with exercise opportunities, events, public health news, health awareness initiatives, and more. Please email us with information you think we should include.
😎 July is UV Safety Month, so here is your reminder to wear sunscreen and sunglasses to protect you from the Georgia heat.
🎅 Celebrate Christmas in July and join Run Santa Run this Saturday in the West End for either a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. There will be merry decorations, lights, and Santa himself.
🌳 Take part in the Sunset Tree Tour (pictured) along the southwest Beltline on Sunday evening for light exercise, fresh air, and a relaxing Atlanta experience.
🚶The Sarcoma Awareness Sunset Stroll starts at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on the evening of July 16. Register online and help raise money for Northside Hospital during Sarcoma Awareness Month.
💊 Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed capsules that can deliver insulin and other injectable drugs without needles, which could ultimately offer a less invasive and potentially less expensive treatment for chronic illnesses.
🍽️ Indulge in Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 21-26! Savor exclusive menus and chef specials from Atlanta’s top spots. Book now for a culinary journey that will ignite your taste buds. Click here for details! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Concert Picks
VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA?
Wed., July 9
✨ Mereba @ Center Stage
🎸 Hatebreed + Fugitive @ The Eastern
🐺 Aaron Wolf @ The Masquerade (Altar)
🏗️ Samantha Crain @ The Earl
🎵 Ouija Macc @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
Thurs., July 10
🐝 Beyoncé @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium (various shows through July 14)
🇰🇷 ATEEZ @ State Farm Arena
🦎 The Chameleons @ The Masquerade (Hell)
🛤️ Yonder Mountain String Band + Daniel Donato + Railroad Earth @ Tabernacle
🍵 Built to Spill + Yo La Tengo @ The Eastern
Fri., July 11
🌎 BashfortheWorld @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
🌪️ Hurricane Wisdom @ Vinyl
🎹 Diana Krall @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
👻 GHOST @ State Farm Arena
🪅 3BallMTY @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
Sat., July 12
⚠️ The Warning @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
📺 Big Time Rush @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
💌 Olivia Dean @ Variety Playhouse
💥 Ray Vaughn @ Vinyl
🎙️ Will Downing + Najee + Ken Ford @ Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre
Sun., July 13
💫 Aliah Sheffield (pictured) @ Eddie’s Attic
🪵 Will Wood @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
Mon., July 14
🎤 Joan Osborne @ City Winery
🐠 Paige Fish @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
🏖️ Beach Chapel @ The Masquerade (Altar)
Tues., July 15
🏹 Archers @ The Masquerade (Hell)
🏊♀️ Lifeguard @ The Masquerade (Altar)
🤘 The Offspring @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
🌊 Wavves @ The Loft
🌸 maye @ Terminal West
Wed., July 16
🌙 Jessie Reyez @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🤠 Sam Bettens @ Vinyl
🎶 Ramirez @ The Masquerade (Hell)
🤿 Deep Sea Diver @ The Earl
🎧 Isaiah Falls @ 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.
⚾ MLB All-Star Week kicks off Friday with the HBCU Swingman Classic at Truist Park! Watch 50 Division-I HBCU stars selected by Ken Griffey Jr. and scouts compete. Presented by T-Mobile and MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. Get tickets here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
🛍️ If you’re looking for summer bargains or early Christmas shopping, Amazon’s Prime Day runs through Friday.
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our new, daily word game.
