Figuring out Friday
Jan. 30 — “ICE Out Everywhere” protests and walkouts are scheduled today, tomorrow, and Sunday across metro Atlanta. DeKalb County Schools issued a warning to students amid dozens of walkouts last week, while Midtown High students held a walkout yesterday.
☁️ Cloudy and 54° today, but snow is in the forecast tomorrow with a high of only 27°. Winter weather warnings and advisories are in effect most of east-central Georgia starting tonight, and a bomb cyclone will hit most of the East Coast.
🏛️ Georgia House Republicans proposed ending property taxes for homeowners, but critics say the move would eliminate a reliable source of revenue for counties, cities, and schools.
🏗️ A $144 million student housing project was approved to deliver 800 beds for Morehouse College and Spelman College, boosting campus life and the West End.
🎭 The Woodruff Arts Center celebrated the grand opening of the Goizueta Stage for Youth and Families and PNC PlaySpace.
📻 Kristin Klingshirn, the former co-host of “The Bert Show,” returned to Q99.7, taking over the station’s afternoon slot.
🌸 The Head and The Heart and Max McNown are the concert headliners for the 2026 Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs March 28-29.
🥯 The Connecticut-based chain PopUp Bagels will open its first Georgia location on Feb. 6 along the Eastside Beltline.
ELSEWHERE
💵 President Donald Trump has nominated Fed governor Kevin Warsh as the new Federal Reserve chair.
⏰ Senate Democrats and the White House cut a last-minute funding deal that could avert a shutdown, splitting Homeland Security money as lawmakers negotiate details of the ongoing immigration crackdown.
✍️ After 22 years at The New York Times, columnist David Brooks is leaving to join The Atlantic as a staff writer. He will also join Yale University as a presidential senior fellow.
📽️ “Philadelphia,” “Clueless,” and “White Christmas” were among 25 films added to the National Film Registry this year.
🚨 A man was charged with impersonating an FBI agent after appearing at a New York City federal prison with an alleged court order for accused killer Luigi Mangione’s release.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Estrellita in South Downtown
• Film review: ‘Send Help’
• The Sports Section
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
🎨 Join the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation for ARTBEAT, Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Byers Theatre! Celebrate student talent in the arts. Bring crayons or colored pencils to donate to local elementary schools! SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Filipino restaurant Estrellita relocating from Grant Park to South Downtown
🇵🇭 Filipino restaurant and Michelin Bib Gourmand Estrellita will move to South Downtown in the second half of 2026, after six years in Grant Park.
Estrellita, which specializes in cuisine from the Pampanga region of the Philippines, opened on Woodward Avenue in 2020. The restaurant became a Michelin Bib Gourmand three years later – an honor it’s held onto ever since.
Located on Broad Street, the South Downtown location will include a much larger footprint than Grant Park, allowing owners Hope Webb and Chef Walter Cortado the space to expand the menu and add a bar. Estrellita will share patio space with Glide Pizza and Todd Ginsberg and Josh Kim’s new restaurant, Kitchen Counter.
🚛 Sarra Sedghi has more on this story here.
ARTBEAT … Where kids sing, dance, create, and imagine!
SPONSORED BY SANDY SPRINGS ARTS FOUNDATION
🎨 ARTBEAT, presented by the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation, is an amazing event you won’t want to miss! Local Sandy Springs public school students will showcase their talents in the performing and visual arts, in an afternoon shared with the community on Sat., Feb. 7, at the Byers Theatre at 2:30 p.m.
This event is free, no registration is required. Donations of boxes of crayons or colored pencils are appreciated.
2. ‘Send Help’ is a reality television riff with gloriously gory results
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL
🏝️ Right before the big plane crash that sets Sam Raimi’s new film “Send Help” into motion, Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) sits alone, clacking away at a keyboard as she solves a problem with the company’s upcoming merger that none of her male colleagues (younger, dumber, and meaner than she is), have the slightest idea how to tackle.
A few feet away from her, those aforementioned male colleagues – including Linda’s new boss, Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) – have discovered an audition tape Linda once made for the reality show “Survivor.” While Linda saves their asses, they laugh at her naked desire to be chosen – after all, what could be funnier than trying so hard when you don’t have to? Unfortunately, Bradley is about to learn to appreciate Linda’s work ethic the hard way. “Survivor” is not the only reality show that Raimi’s film calls to mind. “Send Help” is like a cross between
“Survivor,” “Fear Factor,” “Bachelor in Paradise,” and “Love Island,” all infused with Raimi’s signature brand of gory, glorious stupidity. The filmmakers don’t seem to necessarily want to comment on the reality genre or the gender politics that inevitably arise (and, honestly, thank God for that). But, they’re clearly having a grand old time playing around in that sandbox, following the golden rule of great reality television to a T – take fundamentally opposed forces, trap them in a single location, and let them cook.
🔪 Click here to read Sammie’s review. You can also check out her review of “A Private Life” here.
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
3. Falcons hire Cunningham as GM; Guzan to front office
BY SAMANTHA GARDELLA
⚽️ Brad Guzan is taking on a new role as Atlanta United’s club ambassador and sporting adviser, while also keeping a toe in TV analysis.
🏈 The Atlanta Falcons named Ian Cunningham their new general manager Thursday, bringing in a front office executive with two Super Bowl rings.
🏐 A rematch between San Diego Mojo and Atlanta Vibe is set for 3 p.m on Sunday at Gas South Arena (ViceTV).
🎾 No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka plays No. 5 Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open women’s final on Saturday. On the men’s side, No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz won a five-hour instant classic to reach his first Australian Open final and will play either No. 2 Jannik Sinner or No. 4 Novak Djokovic. Details here.
🥇 Atlanta native Elana Meyers Taylor, the most-decorated Black Winter Olympian, is making her fifth consecutive trip to the winter games.
🙋♂️ The Riverwood Athletic Association is hosting an online auction from Feb. 6-20 to help support local student athletes and coaches.
🏀 Here are this week’s local college basketball games:
- Georgia men host Texas A&M tomorrow at 1 p.m. (SEC Network; 95.5 FM)
- Georgia women host Tennessee next Thursday at 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network; 95.5 FM)
- In a sold-out game, Georgia Tech men host No. 16 UNC tomorrow at 2 p.m. (ACC Network; 93.7 FM)
- Georgia Tech women host Boston College on Sunday at 2 p.m. (ACC Network; 93.7 FM)
- Georgia State men head to South Alabama for tomorrow’s game at 8 p.m. (88.5 FM)
- Georgia State women host Texas State tomorrow at 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Kennesaw men host New Mexico State tomorrow at 5 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Kennesaw women are in Texas to face Sam Houston tomorrow at 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Emory men and women are in St. Louis for tonight’s games against WashU at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (FloCollege)
- Morehouse hosts Tuskegee tomorrow at 3 p.m. (SIAC Network)
🎨 Join the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation for ARTBEAT, Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Byers Theatre! Celebrate student talent in the arts. Bring crayons or colored pencils to donate to local elementary schools! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. 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 DeKalb County schools face challenges as interim superintendent takes charge (pictured)
② Dunwoody Village loses a steakhouse, gains a Southern restaurant
③ Good Samaritan comes to rescue after burglars hit Tucker’s Nuttopia a second time
④ Demolition of historic Ansley Park home raises preservation concerns
⑤ Woman-owned Broad Builders’ new project is a stunning Morningside home
🎨 Join the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation for ARTBEAT, Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Byers Theatre! Celebrate student talent in the arts. Bring crayons or colored pencils to donate to local elementary schools! 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.
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