Easing into Friday
Jan. 2 — Did you eat collards and black-eyed peas yesterday?
☁️ Cloudy and 63° today. Rain and clouds persist through the weekend with highs in the upper 50s.
🏈 No. 6 Ole Miss hit a 47-yard field goal with six seconds remaining to upset No. 3 Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl 39-34 last night in New Orleans. The Rebels advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, where they will face No. 10 Miami on Thurs., Jan. 8.
🏈 The other Semifinal will be No. 1 Indiana against No. 5 Oregon in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Fri., Jan. 9.
ELSEWHERE
🇨🇭 Officials do not suspect terrorism, but continue to investigate the cause of the deadly fire at a Swiss bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations. About 40 people were killed, and more than 115 were injured.
🗽 New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani opened his term with a call for “affordability and abundance,” acknowledging skeptics, but pledging a democratic socialist agenda focused on the working class.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Upcoming art events
• 20 best movies of 2025
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
⚡ A smarter way to move around Atlanta. Lime is expanding safe, sustainable micromobility with free e-bike lessons, dynamic speed zones, and new vehicles – helping residents and World Cup visitors travel confidently on and beyond the Beltline. Ride, learn, and explore Atlanta differently. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Atlanta art moments to watch in 2026
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY ARTS NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE
🎨 Atlanta’s 2026 creative calendar reflects a city expanding how it showcases visual arts beyond marquee museum shows.
From juried exhibitions and regional spotlights to outdoor activations and art fairs aimed at collectors, the year ahead underscores how widely – and where – art is being made and seen across the Metro area.
Sketchbook curator Sherri Daye Scott has created a list of visual art events she’s looking forward to in the new year.
Ready, Set, AGLOW!
SPONSORED BY FERNBANK MUSEUM
🌟 When the sun sets, the woods come alive at WildWoods: AGLOW.
This after-hours experience combines art, nature and music at Fernbank Museum, featuring scenic trails aglow with light outdoors and nighttime access to museum exhibits inside.
🌙 Select nights through Feb. 28, 2026.
2. The 20 Best Movies of 2025
🎞️ Rather than a review this week, Sammie has compiled a list of her favorite films of 2025.
From George Clooney and Adam Sandler’s dramatic turn in “Jay Kelly” (pictured) and the creepy Atlanta-lensed “Weapons” to Shakespearean tragedy with “Hamnet” and the underrated musical “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Sammie has 20 films you won’t want to miss.
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
3. Top Stories of the Week
A look back at this week’s most-read stories from our website. Follow @RoughDraftATL on Instagram for regular updates.
① Atlanta Police officer one of two found dead in Virginia-Highland home
② Police say juveniles ejected from Atlantic Station shot up Midtown buildings
③ The saddest Atlanta restaurant closures of 2025
④ The 42 best dishes we ate in 2025, mapped (pictured)
⑤ ‘It’s a Christmas miracle’ – two walk away from plane crash with minor injuries
⚡ A smarter way to move around Atlanta. Lime is expanding safe, sustainable micromobility with free e-bike lessons, dynamic speed zones, and new vehicles – helping residents and World Cup visitors travel confidently on and beyond the Beltline. Ride, learn, and explore Atlanta differently. SPONSOR MESSAGE
💭 Test your knowledge of the week’s news in tomorrow’s News Quiz. Keep an eye out for our email at 8 a.m. or bookmark this page!
🔤 Don’t miss News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.
