To your health
Wednesday, June 17 — Happy Wednesday!
From FIFA World Cup 2026 events to Juneteenth, Father’s Day, and the official start of summer, it’s a busy week in the ATL.
This week, I’ve got news about a new skincare ingredient coming to the U.S. market, an interview with an orthopedic sports medicine doctor and member of the FIFA World Cup Medical Network on how top soccer players stay game-ready and healthy, and a story about how grief brought together the Washingtons, who are regulars at Midtown restaurant Poor Calvin’s.
You can also check out more on the latest segment of the Atlanta Beltline, “Pilates for Queer Bodies” classes for Pride Month, and The Rundown of upcoming health and wellness events.
Finally, here’s some news on my radar:
☀️ Last week, the FDA approved bemotrizinol, an active sunscreen ingredient already found in cult favorites from Europe and Asia. Some people (🙋♀️) have been quietly importing those sunscreens for years. Expect these new bemotrizinol-based formulas — which offer both UVA and UVB protection without that greasy white residue — to hit U.S. shelves in August.
⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 action kicked off this week in Atlanta. Check out our roundup of World Cup events, from watch parties to fan fests.
🌳 Speaking of the World Cup, as viral German soccer fan @FreddyLA7 observed when he was in town, “Atlanta is so green it’s crazy; it feels like you’re in a forest the whole time.” But those lush conditions are also a breeding ground for bugs. For Outside, I wrote about why Georgia is one of the worst states in the country for mosquitoes and how you can protect yourself while enjoying those summer hikes and outdoor FIFA watch parties.
💪🏼 NYC-based luxury gym Equinox announced last week that it’s opening the brand’s first-ever Georgia location at Buckhead Village in 2027. The 44,000-square-foot space will include a full-service spa, group fitness and Pilates classes, and state-of-the-art equipment.
💔 101-year-old Betty Lindberg, a fixture in Atlanta’s running community, recently passed away. A member of the Atlanta Track Club, Lindberg broke multiple world records and demonstrated that there’s no age limit on athletic excellence. Read Ken Sugiura’s tribute to Lindberg in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
🤔 It’s no secret that most modern medicine is based on (white) male bodies, but that is (slowly) starting to change. Next week, I’m bringing you the first in a series of stories about navigating perimenopause and menopause. And as this Fast Company article confirms, VC investment in women’s health is about to explode to meet this need.
Be well!
✨ Laura
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—and while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Atlanta Physician on How World Cup
Players Stay Healthy and Game-Ready
🩺 Playing soccer at an elite level requires incredible strength and conditioning.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began last week. The first of eight matches kicked off at Atlanta Stadium on June 15, and will culminate in a semi-final match on July 15.
With 104 total matches spread across 16 North American cities, the 39-day tournament is the longest in World Cup history. This extended timeline during peak summer weather makes proper preparation, nutrition, and hydration protocols critical to staying game-ready, said Oluseun Olufade, M.D., an orthopedic sports medicine doctor part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament Medical Network.
⚽ Read how players prepare for games long before the first kickoff.
The Regulars: Poor Calvin’s
When I sat down to interview Jamilah and Isaac Washington last month at Poor Calvin’s, I was incredibly moved by their story and second chance at love.
In 2012, one of their first dates was a leisurely weekday lunch at this Asian-meets-Southern restaurant on the edge of Midtown in Atlanta.
Both widowed, the now-married couple credit their two daughters – close childhood friends who attended the same dance school – with bringing them together.
“The kids really manifested this into a courtship,” said Isaac, a commercial banking executive who worked at nearby Atlantic Station at the time. He often met Jamilah, a beauty and real estate entrepreneur, at Poor Calvin’s during his lunch breaks.
That courtship continued at Poor Calvin’s, where the duo bonded over platters of lobster fried rice (Jamilah’s favorite) in the intimate dining room. They married in 2014 and have been regulars at the Piedmont Avenue restaurant ever since. Despite living in Stone Mountain, they stop by once or twice a week to sample chef-owner Calvin Phan’s daily specials or to grab a quick nightcap at the bar.
Read more about this couple’s love for Poor Calvin’s.
A balanced summer starts with connection
SPONSORED BY INTOWN PSYCHOLOGY
☀️ Summer brings more free time, but keeping kids engaged, active, and connected can be a challenge.
Atlanta offers endless family-friendly opportunities, from farmers markets, museums, and Beltline adventures to hiking, volunteering, DIY workshops, and outdoor fitness events. Exploring new experiences together can strengthen family bonds while reducing boredom and excessive screen time.
➞ If your family is navigating behavioral concerns, emotional challenges, or the transition to a less structured summer schedule, Intown Psychology is here to help.
Atlanta Beltline’s Southside Trail Opens
👟 When the Eastside Trail — the first segment of the Atlanta Beltline —opened in 2012, it was transformative. I was teaching Pilates at Urban Body Studies (RIP) at the time, and the new trail meant I could do my post-class morning runs to Piedmont Park and back, or longer loops incorporating the Freedom Park Trail. No more tripping over cracked sidewalks and tree roots in Virginia-Highland.
Last week, the Atlanta Beltline held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the Southside Trail and nearly 17 miles of continuous trail.
The milestone marks the longest uninterrupted stretch of complete trail the Atlanta Beltline has delivered to date: 16.7 miles.
The completion physically links the Northwest, Westside, Southside, Eastside, and Northeast corridors, expanding connectivity across 36 neighborhoods (including mine!) and multiple Atlanta Public Schools.
Read Collin Kelly’s story about the new Southside Segment here.
The Short List
🎧 It’s officially “sad girl summer, and I’m not mad about it. Summertime depression is a real thing (shoutout to my fellow summer haters), so I love that all of my favorites are releasing music that matches my mood. Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” dropped last week. Phoebe Bridgers is *finally* making new music (and playing a phone-free concert at State Farm Arena on October 13). Gracie Abrams’s latest, “Daughter from Hell,” comes out July 17. Check out my sad girl summer playlist here.
💆🏼♀️ With the rising heat and humidity (and never-ending rain), my frizzy hair has officially entered the chat. When I don’t want to wash it after a long run (or, let’s be real, after walking to my car), I love a good rinse followed by a healthy spritz of OUAI’s leave-in conditioner. Nothing works better at untangling knots, restoring moisture, and keeping frizz at bay. Plus, I love the fresh floral scent, thanks to bergamot, sheer white musk, Italian lemon, and other summery notes.
📣 Ready? Okay. “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” is back! I spent the first nine years of my life in Texas (and it was the 80s), so the Cowboys cult was real. And yes, I was a cheerleader. So, of course, I’ve been fascinated by this slick docuseries since the first season premiered in 2024. A couple of years ago, one of my favorite culture writers, Anne Helen Petersen, wrote a great piece about how these cheerleaders embody (mostly white) Southern evangelical culture, and it’s still worth a read.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood—and while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Book It
🏳️🌈 I’ve been teaching Pilates long before the onslaught of influencers, so I always appreciate studios that keep the vibes approachable and inclusive. And The Studio Pilates is high on that list.
With two locations at West Midtown and Emory, the studio offers classes for all levels, plus special sessions for seniors and prenatal folks.
Next week, I’ll have an interview with Laura Caffrey, who teaches monthly “Pilates for queer bodies” classes. But you don’t have to wait until then to book one of their two Pride classes on June 28 and 29. Proceeds benefit Lost-n-Found Youth Atlanta, a nonprofit that provides housing services for LGBTQ+ youth.
The Rundown
🤸 The Wellstar Family series returns to The Battery Atlanta this June and July, with kid-friendly wellness and learning events, including sports clinics, obstacle courses, cooking classes, and more. All events are free, but advanced registration is required.
🔵 Get free health screenings and diabetes resources at gusto!’s West End location on June 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is part of a free Juneteenth community health partnership with the Ruby A. Neeson Diabetes Awareness Foundation.
🏃🏾➡️ Lace up for the Juneteenth Atlanta 5K Freedom Run on June 20 at 9 a.m. at Piedmont Park. Sign up here.
🖼️ Oasis at the High Museum of Art returns on June 20. Free for members (and $23.50 for non-members), the event includes an all-levels yoga class, a restorative sound bath, and mindfulness art-making.
🧘🏾 Flow at { sacred } thread’s yoga sculpt pop-up community class is at Side Saddle Wine Saloon on June 20 at 10:30 a.m. Register in advance with a studio membership or class pack, or pay a $6 drop-in rate.
🍑 Join the Downtown Native Plant & Wellness Initiative for a Peach Talk & Wellness Walk on June 26 at noon. Jim Hackler of Five Points Community Garden will lead a talk on the history of Georgia’s state fruit at Underground Atlanta, followed by a stroll through Downtown’s nature and cultural landmarks. RSVP for the event here.
🪷 Experience four healing sessions ranging from yoga to guided breathwork at Healing ATL for the People on June 27. Held at Mysore Yoga Atlanta, the event features local wellness practitioners, including Jess Pfeffer of SETTLE and Conscious Babes Who Brunch and Arturo Rios of Stretch Reset. Reserve your spot in advance.
