We will always love Dolly
Wednesday, Aug. 26 — Country music legend, actor, and philanthropist Dolly Parton died yesterday at age 80 after a short battle with cancer. She married her late husband, Carl Dean, in Ringgold, GA, in 1966, filmed “Joyful Noise” with Queen Latifah in the city back in 2011, and made numerous tour stops in Atlanta, including memorable shows at Georgia Tech in 1977 and Center Stage in 2002. Parton’s nephew announced her passing in a video message on social media, saying, “She will always love you.”
☂️ Scattered showers and 87° today. (Of course, Dolly famously had advice.)
🗳️ Democrat Everton Blair won a special election runoff last night to fill the unexpired term of the late U.S. Rep. David Scott for U.S. House Dist. 13. Blair defeated Scott’s daughter, Marcye Scott.
🗣️ The family of Johnathan Hamby, who is accused of killing a man on the Atlanta Beltline on Sunday, issued an apology and called on lawmakers to help those with “treatment-resistant psychiatric illnesses.”
💻 The Georgia Chamber of Commerce said it was pushing back on “disinformation and misinformation” with a new message campaign in support of controversial data centers.
🚸 DeKalb Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Norman Sauce III spoke to the Tucker City Council about overcrowding issues and invited parents to feedback sessions this fall.
👟 Wish, the influential streetwear and sneaker boutique that has been a mainstay in Little Five Points for 22 years, is closing on Dec. 28.
ELSEWHERE
🗳️ Sen. Darline Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff yesterday. She will replace her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, on November’s ballot.
💸 Canada formally announced retaliatory tariffs as high as 50% on hundreds of U.S. products, including some steel and aluminum goods, furniture, and clothing.
✈️ CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Russia yesterday to hold unspecified talks in Moscow.
🧠 A new study shows that at least 25% of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
PICTURE THIS: Students at Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven welcome new arrivals for the fall semester, which started on Monday. Emory University and Agnes Scott College start classes today.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• School lunches
• Upcoming Events
• The Reset
AND
• Concert Picks
💙 “We’re very appreciative of the community that allowed us to become successful.” Meet Chef Ashkan Famili and discover why Perimeter was the perfect place to bring Yalda to life in the Heart of Perimeter video series. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. School cafeterias are the busiest restaurants in Metro Atlanta
🏫 With classes back in session, school cafeterias have become some of Metro Atlanta’s busiest restaurants.
School systems throughout the Metro feed thousands of kids five days a week, across all grades. Lunchtime does not merely sate hunger and social needs; for many Metro Atlanta children, a school lunch and snacks may be their primary source of nutrients for the day.
It takes a lot of effort, coordination, and people to feed that many kids on a weekly basis. To better understand how school lunch programs operate, Rough Draft spoke with nutrition professionals for Fulton County Schools and the DeKalb County School District.
🧃 Read more in Sarra Sedghi’s feature story.
Amy Sherald: American Sublime
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART
🎨 You’ve seen Amy Sherald’s iconic portrait of Michelle Obama. Now, her largest exhibition to date is here in Atlanta, featuring rarely seen paintings and monumental portraits spanning nearly two decades.
Amy Sherald: American Sublime is in its final weeks, marking the last chance to see one of the leading artists of her generation on view in her home state. Get your tickets before the show wraps.
Can only make it in the evening? We’ve got you covered. The show stays open after hours every Friday. Grab a drink, snag an exclusive exhibition poster, and explore the galleries at your leisure.
2. Upcoming Events
SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA BELTLINE
🗺️ Skip the car and explore Atlanta your way! Discover 36 unique neighborhoods, local businesses, greenspaces, restaurants and more by walking and riding the Beltline.
🍋🟩Tio Lucho’s is hosting a mixology class with the brand Illegal Mezcal tonight at 6:30 p.m.
🍣 Atlanta Fish Market is hosting a one-night-only, Omakase-Inspired Wine Dinner tomorrow.
🎭 Drew Droege is bringing his show, “Theatre Idiot,” to Out Front Theatre on Aug. 29.
🎵VinylCon, a vinyl record fair, is coming to the Yaarab Shrine Center on Aug. 29-30.
🍃 Visit Atlanta’s newest outdoor public space this fall for free fitness classes, artisan markets, lunchtime events, live music + more. Midtown Green is located in the heart of the city at 98 14th St., near MARTA and deck parking. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. These two Atlanta nonprofits provide wellness services and support for cancer patients and survivors
THE RESET | SPONSORED BY INTOWN PSYCHOLOGY
“The Reset by Rough Draft” is edited by Laura Scholz. The Reset is a weekly, Wednesday newsletter with even more content, and you can subscribe here with one click.
🎒 “One more day home won’t hurt.” On any single morning, that’s true. The problem is it’s never a single morning. Jeremy Salzman, Psy.D., speaks on how school avoidance builds and what actually helps. Intown Psychology, Free consultation.
🫶🏼 Jamie Cooper relied on integrated wellness practices like yoga and massage when they were diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer in 2022. To provide the same support and community for other cancer patients, Cooper founded Future Perfect Integrative Wellness with their late friend Dara Metcalfe McCord, a licensed massage therapist and Reiki master.
🕯️Read Laura’s story about the Atlanta-based nonprofit, which offers retreats, grief and healing circles, massage therapy, yoga classes, and other wellness services for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers.
✊🏾 Honor the legacy of Ahmaud Arbery at the Run With Maud 5K Run/Walkon Sat., Aug. 29 at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.
🚲Atlanta-based WKND eBikes is hosting its first community pop-upat Huckleberry’s Corner Store on Sat., Aug. 29. Take a complimentary test ride and get a sneak peek at the brand’s debut bike collection between 4-7 p.m.
🔔 Join Jess Pfeffer and Ruby Velle for SETTLE + Sound on Sun., Aug. 30. Get tickets here for the sound healing experience at Bella Cucina in Buckhead Village.
🧘🏼 Get ready to flow with Golda Kombucha on Thurs., Sept. 3 at Cultured South taproom. Sign up for the all-levels vin-yin classes, then wind down with a complimentary glass of kombucha.
🧘🏾♂️ Wind down with sunset yoga at Piedmont Park’s Active Oval on Fri., Sept. 4. Sign up here for the all-levels class led by Robert Yoga.
🪷 Enjoy a sound bath with certified Reiki master and sound practitioner Felicia Holden at Decatur Healing Arts on Sat., Sept. 5. Register here for the calming session, which will be held in a Himalayan salt room.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood – while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology.
4. Concert Picks
Wed., Aug. 26
🪻 The Wilder Flower @ Eddie’s Attic
Thurs., Aug. 27
🎸 AC/DC @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium
🎧 Nyla Symone @ Buckhead Theatre
👎 Worst @ The Masquerade
Fri., Aug. 28
🇸🇪 Kasbo @ The Eastern
🙏 Cult Potential + James Hall @ Vinyl
🌎 Loe Shimmy @ Center Stage (also Sun.)
👑 Ashland Craft @ Eddie’s Attic
Sat., Aug. 29
🔥 Max Bemis @ The Masquerade
🍻 Emarosa @ The Loft
🏈 The Pastor Troy Pep Rally @ Center Stage
⛵ Yacht Rock Revue @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
🪩 The Disco Biscuits @ Variety Playhouse
🇲🇽 Eslabón Armado @ Tabernacle
💏 The R&B Lovers Tour @ State Farm Arena
🐮 Country Westerns @ The Earl
Sun., Aug. 30
🏀 Blacktop Mojo @ Vinyl
🇵🇷 Omar Courtz @ Gas South Arena
🎂 Asake @ State Farm Arena
👼 Anthony Crawford + Savana Lee @ Eddie’s Attic
Mon., Aug. 31
✝️ Monica Lisa Stevenson @ City Winery
🚸 Big D and the Kids Table @ The Masquerade
Tues., Sept. 1
🎚️ Social Distortion @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🤝 Gary Clark Jr. (pictured) @ The Eastern
🧟 Paris Jackson @ The Earl
Wed., Sept. 2
🍂 Bryson Tiller @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
🎷 A Jazz Tribute to The Beatles @ Eddie’s Attic
🛋️ Ahlers & Ogletree presents two days of Modern and Contemporary Art and Design, Sept. 2-3. Experience the collection in person Sept. 1 from 5-8 p.m., with a special artist talk by Philip Moulthrop at 7 p.m. More information here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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