Dancing into Wednesday
Feb. 11 — For the first time in half a century, Atlanta’s annual Fourth of July 10K has a new title sponsor and will be known as the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race. Former lead sponsor The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will remain as a media partner and hub for registration and the t-shirt contest.
☂️ Potential showers and 63° today.
🗳️ An unsealed FBI warrant reveals that the seizure of Fulton County ballots from the 2020 election was predicated on allegations from skeptics of President Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden.
🚨 The Department of Homeland Security completed the purchase of a warehouse in Social Circle, east of Atlanta, to set up a new ICE detention center.
💸 Investors in a failed Ponzi scheme that targeted Republican Party members are pressuring Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to help recover their money.
🏞️ Mayor Andre Dickens announced the acquisition of the 50-acre Tatum Lakes property, the first step in transforming the urban forest into a publicly accessible park and nature preserve.
📉 Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts said he’s seeking a fair assessment of “trophy properties” and data centers possibly undervalued by the county board of assessors.
💨 The Dunwoody City Council voted 6-1 to approve a 90-day moratorium on approving new vape shops.
🍽️ Atlanta-based nonprofit Giving Kitchen shared its Team Hidi fundraiser food and beverage lineup ahead of the event on March 15.
⚽ Atlanta United’s 2026 community kit goes on sale this morning. Its green & gold theme honors the 1996 Centennial Olympics.
AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS
🏒 The U.S. women’s hockey team routed Canada 5-0, sweeping all four preliminary-round games by a combined 20-1.
- Norway – 12
- Italy – 11
- Japan – 8
- U.S. – 7
ELSEWHERE
🔎 A man detained for questioning in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie was released after several hours. Earlier, police shared doorbell footage showing a masked, armed figure at the 84-year-old’s Tucson, AZ, home.
🇨🇦 Nine people died, and at least 25 were injured in a mass shooting at a school in British Columbia on Tuesday. The suspect died from a self-inflicted injury.
🇮🇱 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss possible military strikes on Iran with President Donald Trump during a White House visit today.
🧘 A group of Buddhist monks finished their 108-day, 2,300-mile walk from Fort Worth, TX, to Washington, D.C., advocating for peace.
PICTURE THIS: The lineup for the 49th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival was revealed last night, with headliners including The Roots, Kamasi Washington, Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Esperanza Spalding, and PJ Morton. See the full lineup and more photos from the announcement ceremony held at the Illuminarium. (Photo by Katie Burkholder)
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Alvin Ailey in Atlanta
• Valentine’s Day dining
• Wellness Wednesday
AND
• Concert Picks
🚈 MARTA tap to pay! MARTA’s Breeze fare payment system is improving. Starting March 28, tap to pay with a bank card or digital wallet for faster, easier entry at new, more secure faregates. Discover a better way to pay. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Alvin Ailey returns to the Fox through Feb. 15
🩰 The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater will return to the Fox Theatre from Feb. 11-15, bringing premieres and classics alike.
The return marks the inaugural season from Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack, who took over the position on July 1, 2025. Caroline Dartey is one of the dancers who will be performing with the company in Atlanta.
Ahead of Alvin Ailey’s run at the Fox, Rough Draft Atlanta spoke to Dartey about her path to Alvin Ailey and her favorite moments in the show.
🎭 Check out that conversation here.
A Visionary World Comes to Life
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM
✨ Lose yourself in the vivid world of Minnie Evans, where color blooms, faces emerge, and dreams take shape. Experience the exhibition that transforms spiritual visions into unforgettable works of art.
2. Metro Atlanta Valentine’s Day dining events and specials worth exploring
💌 Valentine’s Day is not merely for the coupled; if you have love for any entity, you can celebrate, especially if that entity is a fancy dinner or chocolate.
Whether you’re using food to demonstrate your love or simply demonstrating your love of food, Metro Atlanta is packed with dinner deals, special menus, and events that’ll make Valentine’s Day all the more memorable.
Several local restaurants are also offering special items, like cookie boxes and crème brûlée bagels, in honor of the holiday this weekend.
🍪 Click here for a few Valentine’s Day specials to keep on your radar.
3. Wellness Wednesday
💪 Stretch it out in Decatur on Thursday at 12 p.m. with a resistance band class led by Naomi Salberg. Equipment will be provided or you can bring your own.
🪑 Celebrate Valentine’s Day with chair yoga at the Five Forks library branch in Lawrenceville on Saturday at 11 a.m. (pictured). Improve your flexibility while practicing breathing exercises and gentle, accessible yoga poses.
❤️ Or, feel the Valentine’s Day love at Decatur Healing Arts with an evening of tarot, reiki, and sound healing on Saturday at 5 p.m. Look forward to experiencing peace and energetic harmony.
🚈 MARTA tap to pay! MARTA’s Breeze fare payment system is improving. Starting March 28, tap to pay with a bank card or digital wallet for faster, easier entry at new, more secure faregates. Discover a better way to pay. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Concert Picks
Wed., Feb. 11
🔌 Electric Guest @ The Masquerade
🌻 Jonah Kagen @ Terminal West
🎸 Drive by Truckers @ 40 Watt (Also Fri., Sat., and Sun.)
Thurs., Feb. 12
🛣️ Rascal Flatts @ Gas South Arena
🚂 Railroad Earth @ Terminal West
🌳 Tyler Hilton & Kate Voegele @ Buckhead Theatre
Fri., Feb. 13
💔 Lauren Spencer Smith @ Tabernacle
🎤 Alex Sampson @ The Loft
🎺 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
🔥 Molotov @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🟣 INZO @ The Eastern
💤 The REMakes and Smithsonian (pictured) @ Variety Playhouse (also Saturday)
Sat., Feb. 14
🦅 Ian Munsick @ Tabernacle
☠️ Teenage Bottlerocket @ Center Stage Theater
💋 Say She She @ Terminal West
Sun., Feb. 15
🎶 R&B Live @ State Farm Arena
❤️ Heart @ Gas South Arena
⛰️ Noah Rinker @ The Loft
🙏 Tyler Braden @ Terminal West
Tues., Feb. 17
🪩 Joey Valence & Brae @ The Masquerade
🧠 Wooli @ Tabernacle
🎸 Matteo Mancuso @ Terminal West
👊 Ruel @ Buckhead Theatre
Wed., Feb. 18
📸 Alemeda @ The Loft
🚈 MARTA tap to pay! MARTA’s Breeze fare payment system is improving. Starting March 28, tap to pay with a bank card or digital wallet for faster, easier entry at new, more secure faregates. Discover a better way to pay. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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