So much for HOMES
Friday, Aug. 28 — Amid rising trade tensions, President Donald Trump ordered Lake Ontario renamed “Lake America,” calling Canadian officials “nasty people.” Prime Minister Mark Carney said the name was more than four centuries old, predating both countries.
☁️ Cloudy with a high of 87°, with more of the same throughout the weekend.
🤝 The City of Atlanta and MARTA reached a $52 million settlement in an ongoing dispute over the More MARTA sales tax proceeds.
🗓️ Georgia set Sept. 16 as the execution date for Stacey Ian Humphreys, who was convicted in the 2003 murders of two Cobb County real estate agents.
🚧 GDOT postponed another I-285 reconstruction closure this weekend due to possible inclement weather.
🚜 The Brookhaven City Council eliminated a planned multi-use path from the controversial Windsor Parkway project, but opponents say a new roundabout will destroy hundreds of trees.
🏗️ Sandy Springs greenlit a $4.33 million incentive package for a $200 million North River Shopping Center overhaul, which includes a new park, apartments, and 85 townhomes.
🎂 Tucker will celebrate 10 years of city incorporation with a free Oktoberfest event on Oct. 17.
⛳ Min Woo Lee shot 62 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake. Play continues today starting at 11 a.m. (ESPN).
🏀 Two-time WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner officially signed with the Dream, joining as the team prepares for a playoff run. Atlanta hosts Portland tonight at 7:30 p.m.
ELSEWHERE
🇳🇵 The death toll from the flash flood in Nepal’s Himalayan border region continues to rise, approaching 500, with hundreds, including 90 Americans, still missing.
🏦 Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh will deliver a closely watched speech in Jackson Hole, WY, today, with markets watching for clues on future rate moves amid rising Treasury yields.
⚖️ Jury deliberations began in Lindsay Clancy’s trial for killing her three children in 2023, with jurors weighing murder, manslaughter, or a lack-of-criminal-responsibility verdict tied to postpartum psychosis.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• WKND Bikes
• Film review: ‘The Dog Stars’
• Upcoming Events
AND
• Top Stories of the Week
🥂 See Amy Sherald: American Sublime after hours! VIP Nights bring a more intimate experience and a cash bar every Friday, 5-9 p.m. Take in the exhibition and bring home an exclusive poster featuring Sherald’s portrait of Michelle Obama, included in your purchase. Get your tickets today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Decatur entrepreneurs launch WKND Bikes with limited edition Atlanta collection
🚴 When Decatur residents Rebecca Mobley and Mandi Oeland went looking for e-bikes that reflect their creative personalities, they came up empty. So the entrepreneurial duo decided to make their own.
Mobley and her aunt-turned-business-partner Oeland are launching WKND Bikes with their first limited edition drop tomorrow from 4-7 p.m. at Huckleberry’s Corner Store, where Oakhurst meets East Lake.
WKND Bikes offers four bespoke Class 2 e-bike models with hand-operated throttles and pedal assist to help with Atlanta’s hilly terrain. As longtime bike riders, Mobley and Oeland are aiming to attract leisure bikers.
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. ‘The Dog Stars’ is muddled thematically, but features strong performances
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL
🐕 In its first half hour, “The Dog Stars” – true to its name – spends a good bit of time showing us Jacob Elordi spending time with a dog.
For the first act of the film, this dog takes up a lot of screen time – which, unfortunately (at least for fans of DoesTheDogDie.com), is a pretty clear indicator that Jasper is not long for this world. But beyond that, the fact that “The Dog Stars” – a post-apocalyptic drama directed by Ridley Scott and based on the novel of the same name – is willing to settle into the type of languid pace we don’t normally see in Scott’s movies is somewhat surprising.
With a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, there’s an old-school sensibility to “The Dog Stars” that’s gently appealing (a little surprising, given how little press there’s been for the film). It’s meditative and star-driven, but takes a traditional approach that positions Elordi far closer to stars like Robert Redford or Harrison Ford than any of his contemporaries. Strangely enough, the film’s action sequences feel the most out of place, and its thematic exploration is perhaps too broad to make any sort of salient point about America today (and it does seem to be trying to do so). But “The Dog Stars” has strong performances, and a fine screenplay and sturdy direction give those performances room to breathe.
🌟 Click here to read Sammie’s review. You can also check out her reviews of the films “Colony” and “Coyote vs. Acme.”
🍿 Stay in the picture with Scene by Rough Draft, our weekly newsletter about Georgia’s film industry. Subscribe for free.
🔍 Ready for a game of I Spy? Opening today, the High’s newest exhibition turns the puzzles that hooked you as a kid – cluttered desks, toy chests, cloud-filled skies – into galleries built for a slower, closer look. I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders pairs Walter Wick’s photographs with the elaborate sets built to create them. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. Upcoming Events
⚾ The Atlanta Braves home series against the Colorado Rockies starts tonight at 7:15 p.m.
🎭 The Shakespeare Tavern’s August Threepeat series continues on Sun., Aug. 30.
🎸 Gary Clark Jr. takes the stage at The Eastern on Tues., Sept. 1.
🦸 The pop culture convention DragonCon kicks off next week, running Sept. 3-7.
4. Top Stories of the Week
A look back at this week’s most-read stories from our website. Follow @RoughDraftATL on Instagram for regular updates.
① Man dies in stabbing near Beltline Kroger
② New temporary exits opening on SR 400 starting Aug. 29
③ From TV shows, concerts, and movies, Dolly Parton was no stranger to Metro Atlanta
④ DeKalb Schools shift focus to overcrowding in six clusters
⑤ Blair wins race to finish late Georgia congressman’s term and makes history in the process (pictured)
🎷 The High stays open late on Friday nights for art, music, and community. Catch Atlanta’s favorite DJs and dance the night away at HIGH Frequency Friday, or settle into live jazz, a docent tour, and light bites at Friday Jazz. See what’s on. SPONSOR MESSAGE
💭 Test your knowledge of the week’s news in tomorrow’s News Quiz. Keep an eye out for our email at 8 a.m. or bookmark this page!
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
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