Location, location, location
Oct. 22 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Dunwoody. I sure picked the right time to jump on the Georgia football bandwagon after I witnessed last week’s thrilling 43-35 win over Ole Miss.
I practiced my “woof-woof-woofing” beforehand and listened to a podcast with the Georgia/Old Miss analysts so I wouldn’t embarrass myself by commenting on Stetson Bennett’s ability to scramble after being flushed out of the pocket (whatever that means).
🎬 Speaking of so very wrong, are you watching the Murdaugh: Death in the Family on Hulu? One of the bar scenes was filmed in Dunwoody Village at Morty’s Meat & Supply, but you’d never know it from the temporary facelift it got beforehand.
🥩 And on the food topic, help us with your vote for the best new restaurants that came online this year. New restaurants to be considered opened between Oct. 1, 2024, and Oct. 1, 2025. New restaurants must reside within Rough Draft’s major coverage areas, including the cities of Atlanta, Brookhaven, Tucker, Sandy Springs, and Dunwoody. We also offer space to write in restaurants residing within adjacent communities within greater metro Atlanta.
Please provide only one answer per category. Feel free to tell us why you chose that restaurant in a brief statement. You may answer as many categories as you wish. We will collect responses through Nov. 21 and announce the winners during the first week of December. Here’s the link to vote.
Long intro, so let’s get to the week’s news about authors, recognition for the youngsters, Veterans Day, and other stuff happening in Dunwoody.
🦴 Hey, what’s that comin’ down the track?
Cathy
🪴 The Dunwoody Garden Club is hosting ecologist Doug Tallamy on Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. Learn how easily you can help protect the environment with native plants. Free, but registration is required. Don’t miss this inspiring talk! SPONSOR MESSAGE
A tale for the family, Russian-style
📚 What started as an effort to preserve his family history has turned into a book by first-time author David Lyalin.
Lyalin, a longtime Dunwoody resident and immigrant from the former Soviet Union, has compiled his family stories into a book to educate and inspire future generations.
“Tales of a Grandfather, Who Once Upon a Time Was a Grandson Himself,” written in both Russian and English, is a collection of family stories, published by Sandermoen Publishing in Switzerland. Lyalin, who works as a public health analyst at the CDC, is a first-time author.
“I originally wrote it for my grandchildren – but the project grew into something much larger: a way to preserve family memory across languages, continents, and generations,” Lyalin said. “The stories span the Russian Empire and Soviet history, immigration, family loss and love, and the connections that survive across time and place – told with warmth, humor, and reflection.”
🇷🇺 Here is a write-up about Lyalin’s book and the effort it took for him to write it in both Russian and English.
More Than a Classroom, Greater Learning
SPONSORED BY GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
📈 Greater Atlanta Christian School, serving Infant–12th grade, continues to lead in innovative Christian education in Atlanta. The new Tidwell Commons provides Middle and High School students with hands-on learning spaces, including media studios, a modern library, and the Center for Christian Life and Missions.
Plus, GAC’s new Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship Program lets students explore business with real-world learning. From mastering the basics of entrepreneurship to stepping into C-suite roles at the on-campus coffee shop, students gain unparalleled experience – all without leaving campus.
🎬 Watch the reveal video and schedule your GAC campus visit to tour our innovative learning spaces!
ISO 20-under-20 nominations
🎓 In January, Rough Draft features students from metro public schools, private schools, and colleges who have given back to their community in a significant way. Over the last nearly two decades, we’ve featured students who have created their own nonprofits, have given up summer vacation to work domestically and abroad to help the less fortunate, and one who helped build a library by collecting books.
The 17th annual 20 Under 20 will appear in our January 2026 issue, and we are now seeking nominations of students ages 19 and younger who have committed themselves to service to the community. Nominations are welcome from teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, siblings, fellow students, or community leaders.
🏆 Here’s more information about the submission process.
🎄 Community Tradition. New Home. Enjoy Light Up Dunwoody at the historic Donaldson-Bannister Farm! Enjoy festive performances, Santa photos, reindeer, crafts, food, and fun! Gather with neighbors and friends to light the tree and menorah and welcome the holiday season. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Celebrate Veterans Day with an added bonus
🇺🇸 The city will commemorate Veterans Day with a special ceremony and the dedication of the city’s new Veterans Memorial at Brook Run Park on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m., at 4770 N. Peachtree Rd. All are welcome to attend the event, which will be held rain or shine.
Dunwoody Parks and Recreation began planning for the revitalization of the memorial in 2022, and DeKalb County Commissioner Robert Patrick allocated $100,000 from his district’s discretionary funds for the design, according to a release from the city.
The memorial features marble plaques, service flags, an eternal flame, and a Soldier’s Cross – a symbolic tribute with a rifle, helmet, and boots representing the fallen. A small path connects the Veterans Memorial with the Vietnam War Memorial, which was dedicated last year.
The ceremony’s featured speaker will be Captain Wayne Radloff, USN (Ret), a longtime Dunwoody resident who served more than 30 years of active duty as a Naval flight officer.
🫡 Check out the details from the City of Dunwoody here.
So many things are happening!
🚶🏽♀️Join Dunwoody Woman’s Club and Create Dunwoody on a tour of restaurants and businesses at High Street on Thursday, Oct. 23. Bites, drinks, and experiences are included in your ticket, which is only $5. Stops include the High Street Marketing Center, Hampton Social, Cuddlefish, SkinSpirit, The Now Massage, Velvet Taco, and more!
🎻 Create Dunwoody will present its inaugural “Illuminated Concert: Epic Film Scores,” a candlelit string quartet performance set in the historic chapel of Dunwoody United Methodist Church, on Friday, Oct. 24, from 8 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person and include access to exclusive promotions with nearby restaurants and retailers.
🧥 Puttshack Atlanta and Dunwoody are giving guests another reason to feel good this season by turning a night out into an opportunity to give back. From Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, both Puttshack locations will host a coat drive in partnership with One Warm Coat, a national nonprofit that provides free coats to children and adults in need. Guests are invited to donate new or gently worn coats at Puttshack Atlanta and Dunwoody, and as a thank-you, Puttshack will gift a free game card to each donor.
🗳️ Finally, come to our Rough Draft/DHA candidate forum tonight at Stage Door Theatre at 7 p.m. Pinky promise: We’re keeping it to an hour.
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