Back to the dome
Thursday, May 14 — Gov. Brian Kemp signed a proclamation on Wednesday calling for a special session of the Georgia General Assembly on June 17 to redraw the state’s electoral maps in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s dilution of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Lawmakers are also expected to reexamine legislation related to QR codes on ballots. ☀️ Sunny, windy, and 72° today.
⚖️ Two Atlanta-area D.A.s threatened to sue after Gov. Kemp signed a law requiring nonpartisan elections for most local officials in metro Atlanta’s five most populous counties.
💸 An income tax cut bill that the governor signed into law Monday caused a $1.3 billion revenue shortfall for next year’s budget, which takes effect in July.
🏠 Atlanta’s housing authority announced a new initiative providing up to $60,000 in down payment assistance in its Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), more than doubling the previous maximum of $25,000.
🚨 Brookhaven Police charged two residents in connection with the sexual abuse of a juvenile.
🐕 Chico, a Brookhaven K9 officer, was euthanized after a sudden onset of aggressive bone cancer.
🍿 Atlantic Station and DreamHack Atlanta are partnering for a free screening of the film “Free Guy” beginning at 6 p.m. tonight.
🤖 A group of Tucker fourth graders will be traveling to California later this month to compete in a global LEGO robotics competition.
🔄 The Decatur Rotary Club is accepting applications through May 29 for community grants of up to $2,000 supporting literacy and at-risk youth programs.
🏆 At the GHSA Tennis Championships in Rome, GA, local boys team winners include Greater Atlanta Christian, W. Forsyth, Riverwood, and Westminster. For the girls, Milton, Walton, Holy Innocents’, and Westminster won titles.
ELSEWHERE
🇨🇳 President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping opened a two-day summit in Beijing, with Xi asking whether the two powers could avoid the “Thucydides Trap” of rivalry turning to war. Follow live updates.
⚖️ The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions, ordering a new trial over the killings of his wife and son.
🏦 The Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. He will replace Jerome Powell, whose term ends on Friday.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Midtown Garden Stroll
• ‘American Sublime’ exhibition
• Real Estate Quiz
• The Elephant Room
AND • Quick Bites
🚤 No classic summer is complete without a little time on the lake, and at Lake Oconee, there are countless ways to make a splash. Whether you’re cruising the shoreline on a pontoon boat, tubing behind a ski boat, or paddling out in a kayak, the water is where summer memories are made. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Self-guided Midtown Garden Stroll returns May 17
🏡 The Midtown Neighbors’ Association will host the 13th annual Midtown Garden Stroll on Sun., May 17, from noon-5 p.m.
The free, self-guided tour will feature 30 private gardens, ranging from formal to casual. Visitors can wander through the gardens at their own pace and can visit all of them or just the ones they want.
There will also be a plant market on Penn Avenue between 6th and 7th streets, along with music, food, and items from local makers. At 6th Street and Argonne Avenue will be a spot called The Watering Hole where visitors can hang out, and a lawn on Mentelle Drive where you can relax with an ice cream.
🐌 Learn more about the event here.
Where Fashion’s Future Takes Center
SPONSORED BY SCAD👒 Experience the creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation of the next generation of designers at SCAD FASHION 2026.
From bold runway collections to boundary-pushing artistry, SCAD students debut visionary looks during the university’s globally recognized fashion showcase in Savannah.
→ Don’t miss the excitement as industry leaders, top creatives, and emerging talent come together for an unforgettable celebration of style. Tune in to watch the official livestream of the SCAD FASHION 2026 runway show tomorrow, Fri., May 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET!
2. ‘American Sublime’ retrospective brings Amy Sherald home to Georgia
🏳️⚧️ Georgia native Amy Sherald returns to her roots this week as the High Museum of Art opens “American Sublime,” the acclaimed and controversial retrospective she pulled from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery over censorship concerns.
The exhibition, opening this Friday, is the final stop on a national tour that drew sold-out crowds in New York and Baltimore and reignited national debate over censorship, representation, and transgender visibility. The High exhibition features more than 35 paintings created between 2007 and 2024, including portraits of Obama and Breonna Taylor, alongside lesser-known works exploring Black identity and everyday life.
In 2025, Sherald accused the Smithsonian of attempting to censor “Trans Forming Liberty,” a painting depicting a Black transgender woman as the Statue of Liberty, amid mounting political pressure from the Trump administration over LGBTQ+ representation in cultural institutions.
3. What’s it Worth?
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
🏡 Selected as the 2026 Southeastern Designer Showhouse, this Chastain Park estate features a pool with a sunken fire pit and glass wall overlooking the water, along with a spa, golf simulator, and wellness center. This 12,800±-square-foot home offers six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
❓ Guess the price below!
4. This Atlanta startup is treating musicians like startups and betting it can predict the next big artist
🎸 Varun Sheel wants to find the next big musician before the traditional music industry does. And, he is using his own data platform to do it.
Sheel is the founder of The Elephant Room, an Atlanta-based startup that combines artist development using an angel investment-style model and a proprietary analytics platform designed to predict whether an emerging musician has the traction to build a sustainable career.
Unlike a traditional record label, The Elephant Room aims to operate more like an early-stage venture fund for artists, helping them build their businesses like startups.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood – while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE HERE
😋 In this week’s Quick Bites, get details on restaurant openings in Buckhead and the former Bookhouse Pub space, new hotel restaurants in downtown Atlanta, and a fast-food restaurant’s closure on North Avenue. There’s also intel on a DreamHack afterparty at Smith’s Olde Bar, Grant Park’s epic 143rd birthday party, and a longtime hibachi chef’s departure from Atlanta’s oldest Japanese restaurant, Nakato.
👉 Read the May 14 Quick Bites roundup here.
RELATED DINING NEWS
🍻 LikeMinds, a pop-up sports bar, will open in the former BrewDog space at Krog District next month. Open from June to September, LikeMinds is a collaboration between Westside Motor Lounge, Smith’s Olde Bar, Frazie’s Meat & Market, and Bunker Design, as well as other restaurant partners.
🏫 Ben Franklin Academy is a learning community that activates mastery. How? By offering 47 AP and Honors level courses, individualized instruction and demonstrated proficiency with subject matter before moving on! And it’s not too late to enroll for next school year. At Ben Franklin Academy, the learning is built to last. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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