Wednesday winners
July 16 — The American League scored six runs in the final three innings to force the first-ever “swing off” in last night’s MLB All-Star Game. The National League won after the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, who was named MVP, homered three times.
🌞 Sunny and 91° today.
🗳 Peter Hubbard won the Democratic primary runoff yesterday and will face Republican Fitz Johnson in November for the District 3 Georgia Public Service Commission seat.
📉 Gov. Brian Kemp is ordering state agencies to freeze spending at current levels during this fiscal year and fiscal 2027 to protect the state from federal funding cuts.
💸 Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is urging political candidates and committees to return donations from First Liberty Building & Loan, which has been accused of running a Ponzi scheme.
↔️ Ann Hanlon will succeed Don Bolia as chair of the Decide DeKalb Development Authority.
🚗 The Tucker City Council voted to defer an ordinance that would make changes to drive-through restaurants and facilities within city limits.
🚧 The Dunwoody City Council raised concerns about the cost of enhancements to the Chamblee Dunwoody Bridge over I-285.
🍽️ Peruvian Chef Arnaldo Castillo is the latest addition to the lineup for the Aug. 16 FEAST fundraiser for the nonprofit We Love Buford Highway.
ELSEWHERE
🏛️ Congress moved closer to cutting public media funding after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to advance debate on a $1.1 billion rescission package.
📺 “Severance” and “The Penguin” led the pack of nominees for the 2025 Emmy Awards, racking up 51 nods between them.
PICTURE THIS: MARTA continues to make progress on the installation of lanes and stations for the bus rapid transit line – known as the Rapid-A Line – connecting Downtown to Summerhill and the Beltline. In the photo, work is shown on Carver Station near the Sloppy Floyd state building.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Lavender Fest preview
• Summer teen activities
• Wellness Wednesday
AND
• Concert Picks
🍽️ 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
1. Lavender Fest kicks off five days of queer theater
🏳️🌈 The Lavender Performing Arts Festival, Atlanta’s queer artist showcase, returns for its second year this week at Out Front Theatre Company.
Running through July 20, queer performers will take the stage to showcase a variety of acts, including cabarets, stand-up, theater, and everything in between.
The festival kicks off today with an opening party at the Atlanta Eagle, featuring drag bingo with Ruby Redd at 8:30 p.m., before performances begin on the 17th. This year’s lineup includes ten unique shows, 16 performances, and two stages.
🎭 Check out the full lineup here.
A Shell of a Good Time: Open now!
SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM
🐢 This summer, discover the fascinating world of Turtles at the Fernbank Museum! This new exhibit focuses on the lives and behaviors of these beloved reptiles.
Guests can get up close to live turtles through hands-on activities and daily live animal presentations. Visitors will learn about their natural history and survival challenges, their vital role across ecosystems around the globe, and conservation efforts humans are taking to protect these animals.
➞ Learn more about the exhibit and special after-hours events here!
2. Finishing summer strong: cool activities for Atlanta tweens and teens
🚤 The countdown to school is back: it’s hot outside, and parents are running out of ideas to keep tweens and teens entertained.
Don’t worry! Rough Draft has you covered. Whether it’s trying out a new ice cream shop, exploring a new museum, or getting a little relaxation on the water, there’s still plenty to do before it’s time for back to school.
🍉 Check out our full list here.
3. Wellness Wednesday: Zen Garden Flow; Paws & Poses
This 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 National Cord Blood Awareness Month. Consider donating cord blood – or blood that remains in the placenta and the umbilical cord after a baby is born – to help people with certain cancers or other illnesses.
🧘 The Grand Hyatt in Buckhead will be hosting Zen Garden Flow (pictured), led by CorePower Yoga instructors, every Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. until Aug. 27.
🐶 Attend LifeLine Animal Project’s Paws & Poses yoga on July 19 at 10 a.m. to get in some exercise and help shelter puppies find a home.
🏃 Join the 5K Run & Walk for Kids’ Growth on the morning of July 20 to raise awareness for childhood growth disorders.
🦟 Some mosquitoes in Fulton County tested positive for West Nile Virus. Be extra vigilant by covering your skin and using insect repellent.
😋 Get ready for Buckhead Restaurant Week! From July 21-26, explore curated menus at Atlanta’s finest restaurants. An unforgettable dining experience awaits. Reserve your spot now here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Concert Picks
VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA?
Wed., July 16
🌙 Jessie Reyez @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🤠 Sam Bettens (pictured) @ Vinyl
🎶 Ramirez @ The Masquerade (Hell)
🤿 Deep Sea Diver @ The Earl
Thurs., July 17
🔄 flipturn @ Tabernacle
🎺 The Budos Band @ Variety Playhouse
🌊 We Lost The Sea @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
☝️ Dikembe @ The Masquerade (Altar)
👥 Mates of State @ Terminal West
Fri., July 18
🌹 The Rose @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
🎤 Ty Myers @ Tabernacle
🏄 Ocean Alley @ The Eastern
🎛️ Vegyn @ Aisle 5
💙 The Wilder Blue + Bottomland Band @ Terminal West
Sat., July 19
🇲🇽 Netón Vega @ Gas South Arena
🎸 The Symposium @ The Masquerade (Altar) SOLD OUT
🕺 Raheem Devaughn + Eric Roberson + Tweet @ Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre
Sun., July 20
✨ Esha Tewari @ The Loft
🎵 Ways Away @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
👧 Girl in a Coma @ The Masquerade (Altar)
Tues., July 22
🎙️ gavn! @ Vinyl
🌉 late night drive home @ The Masquerade (Hell)
🔑 Keyshia Cole @ State Farm Arena
🤘 The Goo Goo Dolls + Dashboard Confessional @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
💼 TOTO + Men at Work + Christopher Cross @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Wed., July 23
📐 Architects @ Buckhead Theatre
🐻 Bear Ghost @ The Masquerade (Purgatory)
🪕 Wilderado + Winyah @ Variety Playhouse
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.
🍽️ 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
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our new, daily word game.
