Hustle and bustle
Mar. 21 — It’s great to see you again! We have a lot of information to share with you this week, so let’s get to it.
😎 Welcome to the first day of spring! The forecast shows temps in the low 80s and sunny skies this weekend.
🧬 The Sandy Springs Education Force hosted its 16th annual STEAM Showcase at North Springs Charter High School to promote student curiosity and inspire innovations in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
🚍 MARTA’s new Breeze fare system is scheduled to go live Saturday, March 28. The new features will include flexible payment options, touchscreen ticket vending machines, and more secure faregates.
↪ The Sandy Springs and North Springs MARTA stations are still undergoing some construction due to the transition, so you may want to give yourself a few extra minutes when hopping a train from either location.
🌸 In honor of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, the Sandy Springs location of Rumi’s Kitchen will offer a sabzi polo mahi special while supplies last from March 20 – 22.
🍔 If you’re looking for a spot to monitor how your NCAA March Madness brackets are doing over the weekend, check out the newly opened Three Dollar Cafe at Chastain Market in Sandy Springs.
🀄️ Mahjong lovers, this one’s for you. The Select’s conservatory will host Tea & Tiles on March 28. In addition to friendly competition and prizes, guests can expect tea, treats, and bubbly beverages.
✅ Voting is open for My Sandy Springs Best of 2026.
SANDY SPRINGS SNAPSHOT: More than 300 job seekers attended the Sandy Springs Connect! Career Expo, giving attendees an opportunity to meet with employers from public and private companies around Atlanta.
Thanks for reading!
Hayden and the Rough Draft team
💛 At some point in our lives, we will all grieve someone we love. When that happens, we just want someone on our team. On Sat., May 9, join us at the Mourning Glory Gala benefiting Georgia’s grievers. Tickets here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
City Council seeks approval for redevelopment plans
📑 The Sandy Springs City Council passed a resolution at its March 17 meeting authorizing a citizen referendum this November on the city’s right to create redevelopment areas and tax allocation districts.
City Attorney Dan Lee said the Sandy Springs legislative delegation requested that city officials approve a resolution affirming their desire to change the city charter and pursue redevelopment powers through a referendum this fall.
“One of the tools we have not made use of is the Georgia Redevelopment Powers law,” Lee said. “In that, tax [allocation] districts would be allowed, which is a wonderful tool used by many local governments to set aside tax growth in certain areas to be applied to infrastructure improvements and to incentivize private developers to provide certain amenities to a development.”
📌 Read more on the city’s redevelopment plans.
Insider’s Guide to The Masters Tournament at Lake Oconee
SPONSORED BY VISIT LAKE OCONEE
⛳ Conveniently located halfway between Atlanta and Augusta, Lake Oconee offers an unforgettable experience during Masters week. From luxurious lodging to savoring a delectable meal, there are plenty of ways to indulge during your stay.
🏌🏼 For golf lovers, the area’s six stunning courses provide the perfect opportunity to test your skills while soaking in the beauty of Greene County.
⛳ Lake Oconee is the ideal destination to make the most of Masters week. Find your reason to linger a little longer.
SR 400 Express Lane project to start in April
🚧 The city of Sandy Springs and dozens of communities along the State Route 400 corridor from the North Springs MARTA station to southern Forsyth County are preparing for construction to begin on ground-level express lanes.
In a March 17 update, the Georgia Department of Transportation said construction activity is expected to begin in early April along the 16-mile project corridor.
“Residents and motorists will begin seeing construction equipment mobilizing, work zones being established, and phased traffic shifts designed to keep vehicles moving throughout construction” according to a news release.
🦺 Hayden has more on what to expect once construction begins.
Review: ‘Come From Away’ at City Springs is filled with humor and humanity
🎭 “There are shows you should see right now, for the benefit of your own spirit, and “Come From Away” is one of them.” The Chicago Tribune wrote this sentence shortly after the Broadway opening of the musical “Come From Away” in 2017; I must say it is truly prescient.
City Springs Theatre Company must have shared this sentiment, for it is presenting the show now through March 29. The musical is directed by Shuler Hensley with book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. “Come From Away” has had successful runs on Broadway and the West End, where it won Best New Musical.
This is a true story told in 95 bracing minutes. The date is Sept. 11, 2001. The place is a small town called Gander on the island of Newfoundland in Canada, which happens to have an airport with full-size runways that can handle large jets.
🎶 Read the full review by Manning Harris, the theater critic for Rough Draft’s Atlanta Intown.
Film exec finds second home at Baraonda Ristorante in Sandy Springs
🍝 For 21 years, Baraonda Ristorante & Bar was a fixture at the corner of Peachtree and 3rd in Midtown. The lively vibe and blistered wood-fired pizzas made the Italian restaurant a favorite among Fox Theatre patrons and local residents, including Atlantan and film executive Courtney Bennett.
In 2021, Baraonda closed in Midtown after 21 years. Owners Costanzo Astarita and Mario Maccarrone wanted to downsize their Italian restaurant, opting to relocate it to a smaller space at the Adley City Springs apartment complex in Sandy Springs. Baraonda reopened a year later, and Bennett was among the restaurant’s longtime regulars who traveled from the city to embrace the new Sandy Springs location.
“People like me were kind of shocked when Baraonda left Midtown,” said Bennett. “I thought the restaurant had permanently closed, but a friend told me it moved over to Sandy Springs, so I came to try it out.”
🍷 Read more about what draws Bennett to Baraonda Ristorante in Sandy Springs.
This article is part of “The Regulars” series from Rough Draft.
💛 At some point in our lives, we will all grieve someone we love. When that happens, we just want someone on our team. On Sat., May 9, join us at the Mourning Glory Gala benefiting Georgia’s grievers. Tickets here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🏀 March 20:March Madness Watch Party at Sandy Springs Cinema & Taphouse
🎶 March 20:Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits at Act3 Playhouse (multiple dates)
🎨 March 21: Paint Like Bob Ross at Lost Corner Preserve
🧑🏼🎨 March 22: Painting with a Twist (multiple dates)
🍷 March 25:WINE’d UP Wednesdays at Thos. O’Reilly’s Public House
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
🎼 Sandy Springs released the lineup for the free summer concert series, City Green Live and Concerts by the Springs.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
⚾️ BOYS BASEBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (8-5): Friday vs. Washington (0-6); Tuesday @ Kell (11-5)
- Lovett (9-6): Friday @ Cherokee (12-6); Monday @ Kell (11-5)
- Mt. Vernon (6-5): Monday @ The Weber School (7-6)
- North Springs (5-12): Friday vs. Lithonia (5-9); Saturday vs. Allatoona (5-7)
- Pace Academy (6-7): Friday @ Drew (4-7); Saturday @ Mays (5-5-1)
- Riverwood (8-10): Tuesday vs. Pope (15-2)
- Westminster (3-11): Friday @ Blessed Trinity (11-5)
🥍 BOYS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (3-3): Tuesday @ Lovett (8-0)
- Lovett (8-0): Friday vs. Marist (3-5); Tuesday vs. Holy Innocents’ (3-3)
- Mt. Vernon (5-1): Monday vs. Lanier (6-4)
- Pace Academy (4-4): Saturday @ Whitefield Academy (4-4)
- Riverwood (7-5): Tuesday @ Dunwoody (8-1)
- Westminster (1-4): Tuesday @ Marist (3-5)
🥍 GIRLS LACROSSE
- Holy Innocents’ (3-3): Tuesday vs. Woodward Academy (4-3)
- Lovett (6-3): Saturday @ McIntosh (2-5); Tuesday @ Greater Atlanta Christian (7-0)
- North Springs (3-5): Tuesday @ Gainesville (3-5)
- Pace Academy (6-3): Friday vs. Decatur (6-3); Tuesday vs. St. Pius X (3-5)
- Riverwood (6-3): Monday @ Decatur (6-3)
- Westminster (2-6): Monday @ Chamblee (5-3)
⚽️ BOYS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (5-3): Tuesday @ Therrell (2-6)
- Lovett (6-3): Friday @ Wesleyan (5-4); Tuesday vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (7-3)
- Mt. Vernon (3-2): Tuesday vs. Paideia (5-4)
- North Springs (4-5): Friday vs. Lithonia (3-6); Tuesday @ Cross Keys (3-5)
- Pace Academy (3-4): Tuesday @ Midtown (9-2)
- Riverwood (5-5): Friday vs. River Ridge (5-3); Tuesday @ Lassiter (7-1)
- Westminster (3-5): Friday @ Blessed Trinity (7-3)
⚽️ GIRLS SOCCER
- Holy Innocents’ (6-1): Tuesday vs. Fideles Christian (6-3); Tuesday @ Therrell (7-3)
- Lovett (7-1): March 26 vs. Coretta Scott King YWLA (2-3)
- Mt. Vernon (1-3): Saturday vs. Orange Beach, AL. (10-1); Saturday vs. Madison-Ridgeland Academy, MS. (7-0)
- North Springs (5-3): Friday vs. Lithonia (2-7); Tuesday @ Cross Keys (1-8)
- Pace Academy (4-4): Friday @ Mays (0-8); Tuesday @ Midtown (8-2)
- Riverwood (9-0): Friday vs. River Ridge (2-6)
- Westminster (9-1): Friday @ Blessed Trinity (7-2)
School records do not reflect March 19 matches.
