
Remembering Tim Curry
Thursday, Aug. 27 — The same day the world lost Dolly Parton, beloved actor and singer Tim Curry, best known for his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” died at the age of 80. The Englishman is also remembered for his roles onstage in “Spamalot” and “Amadeus,” and on screen in “It,” “Clue,” and “Annie.”
☔ Light rain with a high of 84° today.
📱 Meta settled a lawsuit alleging that the social media company designed its apps to be addictive to children, agreeing to a payout of $17 billion, including up to $135 million in Georgia.
⚖️ The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is sending a lawsuit over Georgia’s 2021 political maps back to a lower court, ordering it to reexamine its ruling that the state’s maps were racially discriminatory.
🏫 Channel 2 Action News reports that Cobb County school employees were questioned after walking out of the superintendent’s kickoff speech, where his remarks about library books and child sex trafficking drew objections.
🗳 The Norcross City Council appointed former Henry County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews as its new city manager.
🗣️ At its Aug. 24 meeting, the Dunwoody City Council discussed the use of AI in city operations and passed a rezoning allowing for the construction of 122 new townhomes.
🎸The Tabernacle, the downtown music venue that was originally a Baptist church, will now be known as Tabernacle presented by iTHINK Financial.
⚾ Ha-Seong Kim’s walk-off single lifted the Braves past the Dodgers 6-5 last night. Atlanta goes for the sweep tonight at 7:15 p.m. at Truist Park (Braves.TV; 93.7 FM).
ELSEWHERE
🇨🇳🇳🇵 A massive flash flood on the Nepal-Tibet border killed at least 335 people and left over 1,400 missing, with rescuers still searching for survivors amid destroyed homes and bridges.
🥣 General Mills removed artificial dyes from its U.S. cereals, including Lucky Charms and Trix, and shifted to fruit-, vegetable-, and spice-based colors.
🏈 The NFL is eliminating the Pro Bowl after 88 years, opting instead to honor selected players with an in-person celebration.
🎗️ Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese artist whose infinity mirror rooms turned her into a global sensation, died earlier this month at age 97. Here’s our story on her show at the High in 2018.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Ghanaian hip-hop exhibit
• Upcoming Events
• Real Estate Quiz
• Axle grows in Atlanta
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. Artist Selorm Attikpo explores Ghanaian hip-hop history at ADAMA exhibit
VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT ART | SUBSCRIBE
🎵 Artist Selorm Attikpo’s new exhibition “Mending to Preserve” is now open at the African Diaspora Art Museum of Atlanta.
The exhibition represents the culmination of his time in a cultural-exchange program that brings Francophone-African artists, curators, and scholars to Atlanta each year. The show is presented by ADAMA in collaboration with Villa Albertine, the French cultural institution behind the Bridge Residency program, which brought Attikpo to Atlanta in 2024.
“Mending to Preserve” pulls together photography, mixed-media paintings, and pieces drawn from yoyo tinz, the archiving platform Attikpo founded in Accra in 2013 to document African hip-hop culture.
📸 Learn more about “Mending to Preserve” here.

Oglethorpe alumni are making an impact
SPONSORED BY OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY
🤝 Atlanta is shaped by people who choose to invest their talents in something bigger than themselves.
Across the city, Oglethorpe alumni are making an impact through healthcare, the arts, nonprofits, public spaces, and community organizations that help Atlanta thrive.
→ Their careers may take different paths, but they share a commitment to service, leadership, and creating opportunities for others. Here are story highlights on just a few of the graduateswhose work is strengthening Atlanta and helping shape its future.

2. Upcoming Events
🎙️ The final rendition of Dad’s Garage’s “Only Improv in the Building” is tomorrow.
⛹️♀️ The Atlanta Dream takes on the Portland Fire tomorrow at Gateway Center Arena at 7:30 p.m.
🎶VinylCon!, a two-day celebration of vinyl culture, at the Yaarab Shrine Center, Aug. 29-30.
⛵ Yacht Rock Revue @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park.
🎚️ The Pastor Troy Pep Rally opens at Center Stage Theater on Sat., Aug. 29.
🛋️ Ahlers & Ogletree presents two days of Modern and Contemporary Art and Design, Sept. 2 and 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

3. What’s it Worth?
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
🏡 Spanning 2± gated acres in Sandy Springs, this 16,000±-square-foot estate features an infinity-edge pool, a six-car garage, a theater, a wine cellar, and a wellness wing. Standout details include a two-story dressing room, a 20-seat bar, and a custom-built treehouse.
❓ Guess the price below!

4. Axle raises $17.5 million Series A, plans to double headcount and grow Atlanta team
💸 A lot has changed for Axle since the Atlanta-based insurance technology company first appeared in Hypepotamus in 2023.
The team opened up a second office in New York. They’ve expanded to work with over 4,000 businesses, including dozens of Fortune 500 companies like Rocket Mortgage, Avis, and Experian, clearing more than $100 billion in coverage every year.
But what hasn’t changed: The three co-founders see a big opportunity inside the insurance world. And now, Axle has $17.5 million in Series A funding to accelerate that growth.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.

5. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER| SUBSCRIBE HERE
😋 In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on restaurant openings in East Atlanta Village, Summerhill, Southwest Atlanta, Ponce City Market, and Marietta, along with upcoming restaurants announced for Decatur and the Westside Beltline. We’ve also rounded up some dining events to attend, including a wine tasting in the Old Fourth Ward and We Love Buford Highway’s annual FEAST benefit.
👉 Get the latest Atlanta dining news here.
BIG RESTAURANT OPENING NEWS
🥟 A second location of Ruby Chow’s is opening on the Westside Beltline.

🏈 Grill master, gear hauler, or family QB: there’s a tailgate vehicle for every Atlanta football fan. From the Ford Bronco to the Toyota Sienna, Flexcar’s month-to-month lease lets you pick the ride that fits your game day and everyday life. SPONSOR MESSAGE
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