U.S. Men’s team kicks off
Friday, June 12 — The U.S. plays its first match against Paraguay tonight at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA at 9 p.m. (FOX). In yesterday’s opening match, Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in Mexico City. The chaotic opener featured three red cards. South Korea also won yesterday. Here’s the full match schedule.
☀️ Sunny with a high of 93° today.
🗳️ Early voting ends today for the June 16 Georgia primary runoff election. Find your polling place here.
🚇 According to the AJC, MARTA’s new railcars still have no date to enter service after failing to complete the required safety paperwork.
⚽ A stretch of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will be transformed into a car-free public space on Sunday as part of a new Atlanta Streets Alive route debuting in conjunction with FIFA World Cup activities.
💧 Mayor Rusty Paul said that he’s willing to risk state and federal funding to get Sandy Springs’ first-ever Service Delivery Strategy agreement with Atlanta on water supply and distribution.
🏳️⚧️ The Georgia Legislature could welcome its first transgender, nonbinary, and Japanese-American lawmaker in Bentley Hudgins.
🥏 Looking for a soccer alternative? The Atlanta Hustle, the local Ultimate Frisbee Association team, plays tonight at 8 p.m. at Silverbacks Park.
🐌 Norcross celebrated the transformation of Discovery Garden Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 9.
♻️ The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials Atlanta (CHaRM) is moving from Chosewood Park to Bankhead by the end of the year.
ELSEWHERE
🇮🇷🇺🇸 President Donald Trump canceled plans to strike Iran, saying a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was close to being “finalized,” though Iran denied that an agreement had been reached. Follow live updates.
🇺🇸 The White House nominated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to be the next director of national intelligence. The pick came amid bipartisan congressional pushback over acting DNI Bill Pulte, who had no national security experience.
🚀 SpaceX is set to launch the largest IPO in history today, valuing Elon Musk’s rocket company at $1.77 trillion. “The Journal” podcast asks if it’s “worth the hype.”
🏒 The Carolina Hurricanes moved within one win of winning the Stanley Cup, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 last night. Game 6 is Sunday in Las Vegas.
🎗️ David Hockney, the British painter celebrated for his iconic swimming pool portraits, died on June 11. He was 88.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Atlanta book clubs
• Film review: ‘Disclosure Day’
• A Zesto’s comeback
• Rough Draft DNNR Club
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
🎓 At The New School, students launch businesses, pursue year-long internships aligned with their passions, and get into great colleges. We combine challenging academics and real-world experiences to prepare students for lives of purpose and impact. Reach out today! Financial aid available. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Atlanta book clubs go beyond the page with in-person events fostering friendships
📖 In 2016, marketing executive Brittney Young hosted a small group of friends at her Atlanta home to discuss Liane Moriarty’s novel, “The Husband’s Secret.”
That intimate gathering was the first official meeting of Books & Bordeaux, a book club for Black women that now includes over 100 members. They meet monthly at elaborately planned events with playlists, food and wine pairings, and outfits inspired by each book they’re reading.
While book clubs have roots in 18th-century salons and reading circles, modern-day book groups like Books & Bordeaux represent a new generation of readers, like Millennials and Gen Z, who seek to replace solo doomscrolling with intentional, community-focused events.
🍷 Learn more about Atlanta book clubs here.
Art worth bidding on
SPONSORED BY AHLERS & OGLETREE
🖼️ Ahlers & Ogletree’s Modern & Contemporary Art & Design Auction brings 600 lots, including fine art, sculpture, designer furnishings, ceramics, folk art, and architectural elements.
Artists include Picasso, Dalí, Chagall, Keith Haring, Benny Andrews, and Rafael Coronel, with standout design pieces from George Nakashima, Philip Moulthrop, and Ronald Schmitt.
➞ Whether you’re a seasoned collector, interior designer, or first-time buyer, there’s something here worth bidding on. Preview June 15-16 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.), with a reception Tues., June 16, 5-8 p.m. Get more information.
2. ‘Disclosure Day’ fails to capture the wonder of classic Spielberg
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL
👁️ “Disclosure Day” is the first movie that Steven Spielberg has made about aliens since 2005’s “War of the Worlds.” It feels like, to use internet parlance, “we are so back.”
Back? Sure. But with some caveats.
It’s a tall order, asking the man who made “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” to reach those same heights again. “Disclosure Day,” while still a Spielberg movie – that is to say, immensely well-made and entertaining – falls short of those heights, failing to capture the specificity of character and the human condition that pushes his best work into the pantheon of greatness.
👽 Click here to read Sammie’s full review. You can also read her review of the action movie “The Furious” here.
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
3. New generation of family members prepping Zesto for a comeback
🍦 The Livaditis family has run Zesto Drive-In and Big John’s Christmas Trees for more than 77 years.
At its peak in the 1980s, Zesto had 10 locations across Metro Atlanta. After multiple recessions and a global pandemic, however, only East Atlanta and Forest Park remain open under family control.
But a new generation of Livaditis family members has taken over Zesto in hopes of reviving the iconic Atlanta restaurant brand, betting on people’s nostalgia and cravings for its Chubby Deckers (double-stack burgers) and soft-serve ice cream.
🍔 Check out the full story here.
4. Ditch the screens, break bread with other RD fans
🍽️ We are taking Rough Draft off your screen and into local restaurants with Atlanta’s first newsletter dinner club on Tues., June 16.
We’ve partnered with DNNR to host IRL dinners where you’ll be matched with five like-minded readers for thoughtful conversations and real community building.
And, your ticket directly supports local journalism.
🎫 Think of it as your favorite newsletter, but with better food and actual eye contact. Book your seat today for our inaugural dinners in Sandy Springs and Poncey-Highland.
🖼️ Ahlers & Ogletree presents a 600-lot Modern & Contemporary Art & Design Auction featuring Picasso, Dalí, Chagall, and more. Explore fine art, furniture, and sculpture. Preview June 15-16; reception June 16. Register and start bidding today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. 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 Four new restaurant vendors join Sweet Auburn Curb Market in Downtown Atlanta (pictured)
② Little Bear owners opening a cozy wine bar called Bar Schmutzi in East Atlanta Village
③ Norcross residents tour South Downtown Atlanta’s $140 million revitalization project
④ FIFA World Cup Atlanta party guide: watch parties, fan fests, and soccer events
⑤ Meet the longtime regulars of Poor Calvin’s in Midtown Atlanta
🐶 Your dog deserves a World Cup party. The Swiss Consulate and Fetch Park Buckhead are making it happen tomorrow, June 13, at 2 p.m. Watch Switzerland vs. Qatar live, plus dog activities, free pizza, pet photos, and Swiss giveaways. 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!
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
💡 Help support independent local media by becoming a Rough Draft member today. Pick up some cool swag, including our new, limited-edition LOCAL hoodie.
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