Heating up
Thursday, Aug. 13 — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced the formation of a bipartisan Election Integrity Task Force yesterday, bringing together local leaders, election officials, and policy experts. The task force includes familiar figures like former Gov. Roy Barnes, former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and former U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
🌤️ Mostly sunny with a high of 93° today.
⚖️ Dunwoody won an open records lawsuit filed by critic Joe Hirsch, with a judge ordering him to pay $182,478 in fees, calling the claims “substantially frivolous and vexatious.” Hirsch said he was appealing the ruling.
🚇 MARTA is expected to name a permanent general manager and CEO today after interviewing three finalists last week, capping a national search.
💰 Republicans are outraising Democrats in most of Georgia’s statewide races, according to the latest round of campaign filings.
🚬 The Dunwoody City Council passed an ordinance that defines regulations and limitations on vape shops within the city.
🏛️ Former Henry County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews is set to replace Norcross City Manager Eric Johnson, who is retiring.
🎓 Atlanta Technical College broke ground on its new Hank Aaron Academic Complex, part of a $30 million expansion of the campus.
🏈 North Gwinnett beat Grayson 37-22, and South Gwinnett topped Lanier 29-3 at yesterday’s season-opening Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic.
ELSEWHERE
🎙 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will step down at month’s end to spend more time with her family.
🏀 According to a report from ESPN, Josh Kushner and Bob Iger agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion, pending NBA board approval.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Fabian Williams goes sci-fi
• Upcoming Events
• Real Estate Quiz
• Wine Tech
AND
• Quick Bites
🏆 Southern Company proudly presents the Payne Stewart Award annually honoring character, charity, and sportsmanship. This year’s recipient, Notah Begay III, will direct his $500,000 grant to Native American youth programs, proof that golf’s greatest wins often happen off the course. Learn more. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Fabian Williams to open immersive sci-fi installation in Atlanta today
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT ART | SUBSCRIBE
🍿 Atlanta artist Fabian Williams opens the doors this week on what might be his most ambitious project yet.
“Mothership Sirius B: What It Was, What It Is, and What It’s Gon’ Be,” a three-story immersive installation from Williams, aka Occasional Superstar, and his wife and creative partner, Sindy Guerrero-Williams, opens today at 12 Jackson Street, SE.
“Mothership” features movie posters Williams reimagined using lenticular printing; the images shift depending on the angle they are viewed from. Here, that means each poster flips between a rendering of the film’s original art and Williams’ reworked version, revealing what he sees as the real message underneath the movie’s story and imagery.
🚀 Sherri Daye Scott has more on this story here.
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2. Upcoming Events
📖 Staci Fox and Meagan Davies will discuss their book, “Miss You Already: Living and Loving Through Anticipatory Grief, “tonight at 7 p.m. at the Jimmy Carter Library.
🏈 The Atlanta Falcons host the Denver Broncos in their first preseason game on Fri., Aug. 14, at 7 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
🖼️ Piedmont Park Arts Festival; Sat., Aug. 15 & Sun., Aug. 16 in Piedmont Park.
🏐 Georgia Tech’sYellow Jackets Women’s Volleyball faces the Kennesaw State Owls on Sat., Aug. 15, at 4 p.m. at O’Keefe Gymnasium.
🎤 Pop/industrial performer Poppy is at The Tabernacle on Sun., Aug. 16, at 7 p.m.
3. What’s it Worth?
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4. Cathy Huyghe helps wineries turn data into revenue
🍷 Cathy Huyghe has spent decades writing about wine. Through The Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Harvard Business Review, and her column in Forbes, she’s introduced readers to the world found within a wine glass, and to the people, places, and businesses behind every bottle.
Now, her love of wine has evolved into a startup to watch – not in Napa or Sonoma, but Atlanta.
Huyghe is the co-founder and CEO of the startup Enolytics. As its name suggests, Enolytics is a wine data analytics platform designed for wineries looking to drive revenue and accelerate growth.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
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5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE HERE
😋 In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on restaurant openings in Alpharetta, Dunwoody, and Brookhaven; the new chef at Madre Selva in Buckhead; and a brunch test run at an Avondale Estates restaurant. There are also details on Atlanta food events, including a football-themed Humane Society benefit and a family-friendly Japanese summer festival in Chamblee.
👉 Read the latest Atlanta dining news.
BIG RESTAURANT OPENING NEWS
🥩 Locations of Buckhead steakhouse Hal’s are opening in Midtown and Roswell; read more here.
🏆 Southern Company proudly presents the Payne Stewart Award annually honoring character, charity, and sportsmanship. This year’s recipient, Notah Begay III, will direct his $500,000 grant to Native American youth programs, proof that golf’s greatest wins often happen off the course. Learn more. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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