Ceasefire ‘over’
Wednesday, July 8 — President Donald Trump declared the U.S.-Iran ceasefire “over,” calling Tehran’s leaders “sick people” and saying that negotiators were “wasting their time,” at a NATO summit in Turkey today, hours after the U.S. and Iran traded strikes. Stock futures were down sharply, and oil prices rose on the news. Follow the latest.
🌞 Sunny with a high of 91° today.
FIFA WORLD CUP
🇦🇷🇨🇭 Argentina staged a comeback for the ages, rallying from 2-0 to beat Egypt 3-2 yesterday at Atlanta Stadium. The win, already considered one of the greatest comebacks in World Cup history, puts the defending champions through to the quarterfinals, where they will meet Switzerland, who knocked out Colombia on penalty kicks.
🗓️ Today is a rare off day for the tournament, which resumes tomorrow with France v Morocco at 4 p.m. in Boston.
LOCAL NEWS
⚖️ A federal judge appointed by President Donald Trump quashed a DOJ subpoena seeking personal data on nearly 3,000 Fulton County election workers from 2020, ending a months-long fight.
🔎 Atlanta Police are investigating a triple shooting in southwest Atlanta that left a 16-year-old dead.
🩺 Atlanta City Council is joining Morehouse School of Medicine to expand health care infrastructure on the south and west sides of town.
🎓 Leadership Perimeter announced the members of its class of 2027, which includes its regular flagship group and a new initiative for youth.
🏳️🌈 The Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA) hired new team members to support the development of Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ Community Center.
🌳 Norcross is looking for volunteers to serve on the city’s Parks, Green Spaces & Trails Commission.
🎭 OnStage Atlanta will present the hit Broadway musical “A Year with Frog and Toad” July 10-26 in Scottdale.
ELSEWHERE
🚧 Several blocks of Midtown Manhattan were evacuated after support beams buckled inside the former Pfizer headquarters, which is being converted into apartments.
📰 A judge dismissed Prince Harry’s privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail, ruling that he and six co-plaintiffs, including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, failed to prove phone-hacking claims.
🎾 Coco Gauff beat Jessica Pegula to reach her first Wimbledon semifinal, becoming the youngest player since 2007 to reach all four Grand Slam semifinals.
PICTURE THIS: Argentina fans were loud and proud as they marched from Underground Atlanta to Atlanta Stadium for yesterday’s match against Egypt. Fans decked out the sidewalks with banners and flags featuring Argentine star Leo Messi (Photo by Sarra Sedghi).
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Sandy Springs’ trail expansion
• Mandy Gonzalez in ‘Basura’
• The Reset
• Upcoming Events
AND
• Concert Picks
⚽ When the matches end, the dining begins. After cheering on your favorite teams across Atlanta, savor the city’s best tables during Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 27-Aug. 1. More than 50 restaurants serve exclusive prix-fixe menus. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Sandy Springs’ Island Ford Unit expands trail system with community support
🏞️ The City of Sandy Springs isn’t the only organization building paths and trails in the northern Atlanta suburb.
With the help of the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy, the National Park Service, and private donations, the Island Ford Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) increased its trail mileage by nearly 50% in western Sandy Springs and southern Cobb County.
The CRNRA spans 7,000 acres along 48 miles of waterway, with the Island Ford Unit serving as its headquarters. The National Park Service prioritizes outdoor activities and sports within its recreation areas, while focusing on the preservation of ecosystems in national parks like the Great Smoky Mountains.
🏝️ Learn more about the expansion here.
Stomp Grapes at Crush Fest 2026!
SPONSORED BY YONAH MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS
🎉 Join us at Yonah Mountain Vineyards for our annual Crush Fest.
🍇 Experience the excitement of traditional grape stomping with live music and food trucks all day long. Sip our award-winning wines while enjoying beautiful views of the mountains. It’s the perfect summer day out for wine lovers and families alike.
🍷 Grab your tickets now before they sell out and get ready to make some unforgettable memories.
2. For Mandy Gonzalez, the musical ‘Basura’ tells a story we all need to hear
🗑️ Mandy Gonzalez rose to fame after starring as Nina in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical “In the Heights.”
Since “In the Heights,” which broke barriers on Broadway with a fully Latin story told by Latin artists, Gonzalez has appeared in Broadway productions of “Wicked” and “Hamilton.” After a fight against breast cancer (she was declared cancer-free in 2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to Broadway in 2024 as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard.” Now, she’s starring in “Basura,” a new musical running at the Alliance Theatre through July 12.
“Basura,” based on a book by Karen Zacarías, features music and lyrics from Grammy-winning artist Gloria Estefan and her daughter, Emily Estefan. The musical is based on the true story of the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a children’s orchestra in Asunción, Paraguay, where the musicians play instruments made from scrap materials from a nearby landfill. Gonzalez plays Mónica, the strong-willed and overprotective single mother of the show’s protagonist, Nambí (Jaci Calderon).
🎻 Learn more about Gonzalez’s path to the show and why she thinks it’s important here.
3. Atlanta’s sound bath and sound healing market is booming
THE RESET | SPONSORED BY INTOWN PSYCHOLOGY
“The Reset by Rough Draft” is edited by Laura Scholz, one of Atlanta’s most respected lifestyle journalists. The Reset is a weekly, Wednesday newsletter with even more content, and you can subscribe here with one click.
☀️ Make the most of summer with your family! From Atlanta museums and farmers markets to outdoor adventures, volunteer opportunities, and creative community events, there are countless ways to stay connected and engaged.
🔔 Once a fringe healing modality found mainly in new age retreat centers and cultural healing circles, sound baths have become one of today’s hottest wellness trends.
In fact, the global sound healing market is projected to grow 9.5% annually by 2035, with sound baths moving into mainstream settings like public parks and wellness studios.
🪷 Read Laura’s story about sound baths and sound healing in Atlanta.
🥾 Learn about Arabia Mountain’s unique ecology with a guided hike on July 10. Bring a water bottle and comfortable walking shoes for the naturalist-led hike which starts at 8 a.m. No registration is required.
🐈 Unwind at the Atlanta Humane Society’s Purrs & Palms Kitten Pilates on July 11. Nicole McDaniel will lead the one-hour mat Pilates class, with optional cuddles from the shelter’s most adoptable kittens. Purchase class tickets here.
🌳 The social walking club Sunday Stroll returns on July 12. Meet at 10 a.m. on the Eastside Beltline behind New Realm Brewing for a 75-minute nature walk, followed by hang-out time and snacks. RSVP for the event here.
🏃🏽♂️ Summer Run the ATL is back for the 2026 edition on July 12. The 20-mile Beltline (and adjacent) course starts and ends in West End. All finishers receive one free beer. Book your spot now.
🎤 Share songs, poetry, and stories of loved ones as part of “grief karaoke” on July 15 at the Atlanta Grief House. RSVP here for the session led by licensed mental health professional Sarah Woolson, who was featured in this week’s sound bath story.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood – while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology.
4. Upcoming Events
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA BELTLINE
🏠 Property taxes on your mind? This Friday at noon, join a free virtual Lunch & Learn and learn how to find the evidence that supports your appeal. Register now.
🏀 The Atlanta Dream is playing the Seattle Storm at Gateway Center Arena tomorrow at 8 p.m.
🐠 Make plans for Glow Night After Hours at the Georgia Aquarium on July 10, with acrobatic performances, cocktails, and a DJ.
🥃 Head over to the Kimpton Shane Hotel on Friday to vote for your favorites after a blind whiskey tasting at the Great American Whiskey Throwdown.
🌎 Little Five Points invites everyone to enjoy The Greatest Block Party on Earth on July 11 from 3 p.m. to midnight, packed with music, shopping, and entertainment.
🏃 The 2026 Night Nation Run, a blend of a music festival and a fun run, kicks off at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday at Center Parc Stadium.
🏃 100 miles. Six weeks. One incredible community. Join the Chastain Challenge and help keep Chastain Park clean, safe, and green while reaching your own goals. Details here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
5. Concert Picks
Wed., July 8
🍂 Flyleaf w/ Lacey Sturm @ Tabernacle
☀️ Ariana Grande @ State Farm Arena (also Thurs.)
🎸 Amy Ray Band @ Eddie’s Attic (also Thurs.)
Thurs., July 9
🖐️ Frigga Five @ Vinyl
Fri., July 10
💗 Jill Scott @ Fox Theatre (also Sat.)
👶 Domani @ The Loft
🐸 Pond @ Terminal West
Sat., July 11
🦌 Tame Impala @ State Farm Arena (also Sun.)
🎹 Harry Connick Jr. @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park (pictured)
⭐ Ne-Yo + Akon @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
Sun., July 12
🎛️ REMI @ Vinyl
Mon., July 13
📱 Elijah Scott @ Vinyl
🎓 Paul Simon @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
Tues., July 14
👻 The Frights @ The Masquerade
🎤 Lelo @ The Loft
➡️ Experience Etienne Jackson’s Inward: A Meditation on Memory & Presence, the second annual South Fulton County Invitational exhibition at ArtsXchange’s Jack Sinclair Gallery. This abstract work explores ancestry and transformation through wood, metal, and mixed media. Artist Talk & closing: 3-5 p.m. July 11. Free for all. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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