May Day
Friday, May 1 — The Hawks’ season ended as they made NBA history last night, just not the kind they wanted. After leading 9-5 early, Atlanta trailed 83-36 at halftime, an NBA record, and lost 140-89 to the New York Knicks, who advance to face either Boston or Philadelphia.
☁️ Cloudy and 70° today. Expect highs in the 60s this weekend, with rain on Saturday.
🏠 A controversial apartment building for homeless seniors in Kirkwood received approval from the Atlanta Zoning Review Board last night.
📝 Developers seeking a zoning change for a 280-unit apartment complex in Brookhaven quietly withdrew their application.
🏡 The Sandy Springs Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a rezoning that allows for 21 single-family homes on five residential lots at Spalding Drive and Pitts Road.
📍 Some prominent Republicans are calling for Georgia lawmakers to redraw the state’s political maps after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that dilutes a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
♨️ Wood’s Chapel BBQ in Summerhill is pivoting to a Tex-Mex menu.
🍿 Tucker’s Summer of Fun event series returns to the city today, with free concerts and movies on the Town Green.
🎊 The annual Lynwood Park Community Day is tomorrow, honoring one of the oldest historically Black communities in DeKalb County.
📚 Atlanta author Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson launches her new book, “Climate Wayfinding,” at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library on Mon., May 4 at 7 p.m.
ELSEWHERE
💸 The House voted to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security yesterday, ending the longest DHS shutdown in the country’s history.
🏕️ Camp Mystic, the Texas camp where 25 campers, two counselors, and the executive director died in floods last summer, said it will not reopen this year.
🏇 The 152nd Kentucky Derby is tomorrow, with post time for the “Run for the Roses” at 6:57 p.m (NBC).
⛳ Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced it will stop funding LIV Golf after this season, forcing the league to seek new investors.
🎗 David Allan Coe, the outlaw country singer who wrote “Take This Job and Shove It,” died Wednesday at 86.🇮🇷🇮🇱🇺🇸 Here are some updates related to the war with Iran:
- The Trump administration is arguing that a ceasefire pauses the 60-day War Powers clock, as the president faces a deadline today to withdraw U.S. forces from Iran or get congressional approval.
- The national average for gas jumped nine cents overnight to $4.39. Georgia’s average is $3.80.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• SHARK Club spreads kindness
• Movie Review: ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’
• Mutt Gala returns
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
🌞 Whether you’re searching for family-friendly activities at Lake Oconee, planning a relaxing lake vacation, or hoping to recreate the “good old days” with your kids or grandkids, this is the perfect place to slow down and make lasting summer memories. Plan your nostalgic summer getaway at Lake Oconee. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. North Springs High SHARK Club spreads kindness, raises funds
🦈 A few years ago, North Springs High School seniors Clara Peres and Felipe Camargo co-founded the Students Helping Achieve Real Kindness (SHARK) Club, hosting various activities at events to fundraise for creative community service initiatives.
Clara Peres, president of the SHARK Club, said she wanted to start a club in the summer of 2023, and her friend Felipe Camargo jumped at the opportunity to help.
“We ended up having a meeting at our local McDonald’s, and that’s where SHARK Club was born,” Peres said. “And the funny thing is, originally, SHARK Club was supposed to be a marine biology club. That went out the window … we wanted to help out the community, everyone around us.”
➡️ Read more in Hayden Sumlin’s story on the club’s origins here.
What’s actually happening in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven right now?
SPONSORED BY PERIMETER COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
📍 A lot, it turns out. New investment, better infrastructure, and a growing sense of place. Envision Perimeter 2026 on Tues., May 5 brings it all into focus. Join us to see what’s happening, what’s coming, and what it means for the people who call this place home.
Showstopping district views. Bright conversation. Real momentum. Hosted at Perimeter Summit, presented by the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts.
🎟️ Rough Draft readers get 15% off tix with code roughdraft.
2. ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ – the nostalgia machine comes for us all
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL
👠 Without question, “The Devil Wears Prada 2” lacks the bite of the 2006 original.
That being said, with the original creative team (director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna) back in action, they’ve made a worthy attempt to comment on the complete dystopian woes of the media-sphere in a way that feels genuine.
It shouldn’t be too much to ask for a sequel with a point of view that looks past dollar signs, but it’s rare enough that when it happens, it should be celebrated. There are missteps here and there, but it’s not hard to overlook them when the returning cast seems to be having such a great time.
😈 Click here to read Sammie’s review. You can also check out her reviews for the horror film “Hokum” and the new animated film “Swapped.”
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
3. Atlanta’s dogs to strut their stuff at annual Mutt Gala
🐶 Atlanta’s dogs will take to the red carpet on May 3 at the return of the Mutt Gala, a canine fashion show organized by Midtown Alliance.
Peachtree Street will be closed off to cars on Sunday and transformed into a block party for the fourth annual event, which will include a doggy red carpet complete with “puparazzi,” a costume contest with local celebrity judges, and emcee Brigitte Bidet.
🐾 Find out more about the event.
🌳 Did you know Atlanta has the world’s longest linear arboretum? It’s one of many ways trees are iconic to our city. Support our work by attending this festive fundraiser. Root Ball 2026 Thurs., May 14 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 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 Atlanta Jazz Festival announces free concert series at local parks this May
② APD apprehends one of its 10 most wanted fugitives in fiery crash
③ In May, Metro Atlanta becomes the new home of U.S. Soccer
④ Homeowners association hears from DeKalb School Board’s Ziffer about sweeping school changes
⑤ Did you miss these April Atlanta restaurant openings? (Pictured)
🌞 Whether you’re searching for family-friendly activities at Lake Oconee, planning a relaxing lake vacation, or hoping to recreate the “good old days” with your kids or grandkids, this is the perfect place to slow down and make lasting summer memories. Plan your nostalgic summer getaway at Lake Oconee. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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