Extra, extra!
Jan. 8 โ After weeks of speculation, the Hawks traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, ending the seven-year run of the franchiseโs all-time assists and 3-point leader. The four-time All-Star led Atlanta to three playoff trips, including the 2021 Eastern Conference finals.
โ๏ธ Cloudy with a high of 70ยฐ today.
โ๏ธ President Donald Trump is seeking more than $6.2 million in legal fees from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, citing a new Georgia law after prosecutors dropped the election interference case.
1๏ธโฃ Urbanize Atlanta named Tucker its top Metro Atlanta city in its (Sub)urban Smackdown competition.
โ๏ธ The Georgia Association of Educators has filed a lawsuit in DeKalb County Superior Court against the DeKalb County School District, alleging breach of contract for the 2025-2026 school year.
๐๏ธ Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul and all six Sandy Springs City Council members were sworn in earlier this week, including three first-time representatives.
๐ The Atlanta Vibe kicks off the 2026 season with a home opener against the Columbus Fury at Gas South Arena tonight at 7 p.m. (YouTube).
๐ฐ If you missed the final print edition of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Dec. 31, copies are available via the newly launched AJC Store.
ELSEWHERE
๐จ An ICE officer shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis yesterday after a group attempted to block officers from carrying out an immigration enforcement operation.
๐ฅฉ Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new dietary guidelines prioritizing healthy fats, whole foods, and limits on processed foods.
๐ฐ After years of financial losses and a long labor battle, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette will shut down in May, ending a 239-year run.
๐ Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
โข 2026 food trends
โข Faron Manuel on ‘Inner Views’
โข Real Estate forecastโข ‘Dry January’ app
AND
โข Quick Bites
๐ผ Be immersed in old-world elegance with Pragueย Philharmonia, led by Emmanuel Villaume,ย Sat., Jan. 23 at Sandy Springs PAC.ย Hear an early Mozart violin concerto, Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Beethoven’sย Coriolanย Overture andย Dvoลรกk’s bright, lyrical Symphony No. 8.ย Get tickets. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. The Atlanta restaurant and food trends to watch in 2026
๐ฅก When we talk about food trends, weโre not talking about those viral fads that come and go as quickly as they flare up on social media. Remember โgirl dinnerโ and Dubai chocolate everything in 2025?
The food and restaurant trends weโre talking about have staying power and are scene-defining responses to the current economy or consumer dining and spending habits. Even climate change and life-altering events like the pandemic can cause substantial shifts in how and what we eat, as well as how restaurants regularly operate.
For 2026, the Rough Draft dining team has their eye on a handful of such food and service trends already emerging on the Atlanta restaurant scene.
๐ฝ๏ธ Check out those trends here. Also, check out these December restaurant openings in case you missed them.
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2. One Contemporary Gallery director Faron Manuel on ‘Inner Views’
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT ART | SUBSCRIBE
๐จ Over the past year, Faron Manuel has built One Contemporary Gallery on Edgewood Avenue into a curator-led gallery, one that prioritizes contemporary narratives, artistsโ intent, and exhibitions that place work in conversation rather than isolation.
That approach comes into focus in โInner Views: Artists at Home,โ a group exhibition opening Jan. 16 that reflects on home, family, and interior life through the work of 10 artists.
For Sketchbook, Sherri Daye Scott spoke with Manuel about the new exhibit and the art of curation.
๐ผ๏ธ Check out that conversation here.
3. Looking Ahead: Intown real estate agents make predictions for the 2026 market
๐ก While housing inventory in Atlanta may remain low, the area is experiencing high demand as prospective homeowners seek options for walkable lifestyles and more, according to real estate professionals with their pulse on the 2026 housing market.
In turn, that โlimited inventory, minimal new development, and sustained demand for architecturally significant homes are reinforcing premium values,โ said Jim Getzinger, a Realtor who leads the Jim Getzinger & Co. team at Compass.
๐ฐ Rough Draft Atlanta asked Jim and other real estate experts for their predictions about the Atlanta market in 2026. Click here to learn what they had to say.
4. This Atlanta tech startup knows if you are going to succeed at Dry January
๐บ Five million people have downloaded Atlanta-based Reframe, an app that has a simple mission: help people drink less.
As January gets underway, millions are attempting Dry January, or the annual tradition of abstaining from alcohol for the first month of the year. Itโs become somewhat of a collective reset button pushed by people who spent December overindulging at holiday parties and family gatherings.
But while the intention is often there, the execution is notoriously difficult. Most people slip within the first two weeks, and many never make it to February. As a data-driven platform tracking millions of users, Reframe knows what it takes to make it through January โฆ and its findings might surprise you.
โก Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
๐ผ Be immersed in old-world elegance with Pragueย Philharmonia, led by Emmanuel Villaume,ย Sat., Jan. 23 at Sandy Springs PAC.ย Hear an early Mozart violin concerto, Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Beethoven’sย Coriolanย Overture andย Dvoลรกk’s bright, lyrical Symphony No. 8.ย Get tickets. SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE HERE
๐ In today’s Quick Bites, get details on several restaurant openings, including a new Westside omakase restaurant, a Peruvian restaurant in Reynoldstown, and new food hall stalls at Switchman Hall and Ponce City Market. Plus, we share some notable restaurant closures, along with two upcoming food events to put on your calendar.
โก๏ธ Read more here.
๐ผ Be immersed in old-world elegance with Pragueย Philharmonia, led by Emmanuel Villaume,ย Sat., Jan. 23 at Sandy Springs PAC.ย Hear an early Mozart violin concerto, Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Beethoven’sย Coriolanย Overture andย Dvoลรกk’s bright, lyrical Symphony No. 8.ย Get tickets. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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