A rainy night in Georgia
Wednesday, June 17 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Dunwoody. Our RD staff is coming off another long night covering the runoff elections, so forgive the brevity across the board.
🍹 Before the polls closed, I fit in a quick dinner at Patrones Taqueria & Bar in the former Walmart (soon-to-be Kroger) shopping center on Ashford Dunwoody – great margs, warm chips with a zippy salsa, excellent service, a soothing water feature wall, and an ever-changing video projection on the ceiling of the restaurant. Hard to describe, so check their social here.
Let’s review a few local tidbits before we get down to this week’s news.
⚽️ Just in case you haven’t tuned in lately, there are a couple of soccer matches being played in downtown Atlanta, which seem important. Here’s a guide to the many watch parties and events going on in and around the Metro area.
🛀🏾 Honor the longest day of the year on June 21 with a Summer Solstice Sound Bath designed to celebrate warmth, vitality, and expansion at the Dunwoody Nature Center. Pro tip: Wear clothes. It’s not that kind of bath.
🏥 If you want to stay in the know about proposed developments in the Ashford Lane area, consider attending a community meeting on June 30 to hear plans about a proposed drive-thru medical clinic.
Let’s drive on, shall we?
Cathy
🎻 Broadway, fiddle tunes, and cowboy songs – come celebrate America @ 250 when your Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs the ultimate all-American playlist, from Bernstein’s unforgettable West Side Story to Copland’s breathtaking classic Appalachian Spring. Tonight, June 17, at 8 p.m. at Atlanta Symphony Hall. SPONSOR MESSAGE
Holding the line at 3.04 mils
💰 The Dunwoody City Council considered, at its first and second public hearings, its intent to hold the millage rate steady at 3.04.
The first hearing was at 8 a.m. on June 15, and the second was a few hours later at the council’s regular 6 p.m. meeting. A final hearing will be held on July 1 before the budget is adopted.
🚲 The council also discussed a proposal to eliminate lanes on Ashford Center Parkway to install bike and walking paths. Not everyone was down with the plan, including residents. Read more about it here.
Run for Dads. Fight Prostate Cancer.
SPONSORED BY PROST AWARE
💙 Celebrate Father’s Day with purpose at run4DAD 2026. This family-friendly event invites you to honor the dads in your life while supporting prostate cancer awareness and research.
Choose from a 5K run, 1-mile walk, or kids’ race – there’s something for everyone. Gather your friends, bring the family, and enjoy a meaningful morning of movement and community impact. Make this Father’s Day weekend one to remember by giving back and showing up.
➞ Join us Sun., June 21, and run for the dads who matter most.
Local schools shine in state evaluationSpruill Studios open for business
🖌️ Spruill Studios, which provides workspace for 16 emerging and established artists, held its grand opening on June 13.
The studio, located in the former Chamblee City Hall building, features a dedicated gallery space open to the public that will showcase works created by the facility’s artists, according to Spruill Center for the Arts officials.
“This is an exciting time for Downtown Chamblee and the arts community,” said Chamblee Mayor Brian Mock in a statement about the opening. “We’re proud that Spruill Center for the Arts partnered with the City of Chamblee to expand their services in our former City Hall for the creative community to thrive and showcase their talents.”
Sushi swap at Shops of Dunwoody
🍱 Leasing management company JLL announced on June 15 four new retail leases at The Shops of Dunwoody, following the announced closure of one of the city’s mainstay restaurants.
The new tenants, according to the announcement, include Beyond Juicery + Eatery, JETSET Pilates, Tenku Sushi and SWEAT440, representing more than 8,600 square feet of combined leasing activity.
The announcement follows the sudden closure of one of the center’s longest tenants, Wasabi House, which has been a staple in the Dunwoody area for 27 years.
😟 Here is more information about the new tenants and the end of Wasabi House.
🎻 Broadway, fiddle tunes, and cowboy songs – come celebrate America @ 250 when your Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs the ultimate all-American playlist, from Bernstein’s unforgettable West Side Story to Copland’s breathtaking classic Appalachian Spring. Tonight, June 17, at 8 p.m. at Atlanta Symphony Hall. SPONSOR MESSAGE
PICTURE THIS: DINE AROUND DUNWOODY DEBUTS
🚚 Dine Around Dunwoody, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association’s rebrand of Food Truck Thursday, will land at the Spruill Center for the Arts courtyard on June 18 from 5:30-9 p.m. The event will feature food selections from Chick-fil-A, Chupitos, Moondog Growlers, and King of Pops, along with entertainment from G-Clef and the Playlist.
I asked my Alexa for a prediction about the weather for Thursday, and she opened with, “Uh oh.” Not a great opener.
🎉 BTW, I took the picture above during a fancy event in the Spruill courtyard a few months ago. The cool thing about this place is you can dress it up or down.
✨ Early bird tickets are now on sale for Community Assistance Center’s CAC Annual Gala on Sat., Sept. 19 from 6-10 p.m. Join us for an inspiring evening supporting neighbors and building a stronger, more stable community.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
