Are you ready?
Wednesday, Sept. 9 — The NFL season opens tonight with a Super Bowl LX rematch as the Seahawks host the Patriots at 8:20 p.m. (NBC/Peacock). The Rams play the 49ers tomorrow in Melbourne, Australia, at 8:35 p.m. (Netflix). The Falcons play on Sunday in Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. (Fox; 92.9 FM).
🌤️ Mostly sunny and 90° today.
🤝 Atlanta agreed to sell its City Detention Center to Fulton County for $68 million, a deal Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts called a “wonderful day” for both governments.
📍 The fight to make Peachtree Circle in Ansley Park a city historic district ended yesterday when the Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 to shelve the proposal.
✏️ The DeKalb County School District is expected to name interim superintendent Dr. Norman C. Sauce III as the sole finalist for the top post.
🗣️ Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul will deliver a State of the City address to the Greater Perimeter Chamber on Sept. 15.
🏳️🌈 The Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority announced a new steering committee to guide development for the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center Initiative.
🌿 Medical cannabis dispensaries are now selling the flower form of the drug in Georgia, but a new state law that took effect this summer is creating confusion over how it can be legally consumed.
😎 Blue light exposure can damage eyes and vision over time more so than any other wavelength, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
ELSEWHERE
🗣️ President Donald Trump will open a two-day Republican midterm convention in Dallas tonight, speaking both nights as he tries to energize voters ahead of Election Day.🇺🇸🇮🇷 U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian tankers yesterday, after the Revolutionary Guard twice targeted an American warship with missiles.
🛂 The TSA launched Gateside, a new program letting some PreCheck members pass through security without a boarding pass. Hartsfield-Jackson is not among the 13 pilot airports. \
🎾 Ben Shelton stunned No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 at 3:33 a.m. in the latest-finishing match in US Open history, setting up an all-American semifinal against Frances Tiafoe. Here’s today’s schedule.
PICTURE THIS: Members of the Sandy Springs Fire Department took part in Sunday’s annual Sept. 11 memorial stair climb at Truist Park to honor the firefighters lost during the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, PA. More events are happening across metro Atlanta leading up to Friday’s 25th anniversary, including in Avondale Estates, Dunwoody, Roswell, Norcross, Milton, and Suwanee.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Spike Lee Cinematheque
• Upcoming Events
• The Reset
AND
• Concert Picks
🥘 The Dad’s Garage parody of critically acclaimed television sensation The Bear returns for a second helping of outrageous, over-the-top comedy and outlandish onstage hijinks. SCANDAL! The Bare runs Fridays from Sept. 11 through Nov. 6. Get your reservations now! SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Emory celebrates 40 years of Spike Lee with Cinematheque series
📽️ “40 Years of Brother Spike Lee,” a free series celebrating the films of filmmaker Spike Lee, continues this week with the film “School Daze,” playing at the Emory Cinematheque tonight at 7:30 p.m.
The “School Daze” screening is part of a broader celebration and exploration of Lee’s work. The series will look at the themes that populate Lee’s work – such as race, class, gender, and Black life in America – and will include post-film discussions with audience members and visiting film scholars. The series kicked off last week with a look at the Netflix reimagination of Lee’s 1986 film “She’s Gotta Have It,” and continues through Dec. 9 with free screenings on Wednesdays.
The series was curated by Emory professor and film scholar Beretta E. Smith-Shomade. Ahead of this week’s screening, Sammie Purcell spoke with Smith-Shomade about the series and Lee’s impact.
The Ultimate Fall Getaway Guide to Lake Oconee
SPONSORED BY VISIT LAKE OCONEE
🍁 The first cool morning of fall changes everything at Lake Oconee. Steam rises off the water, the golf courses are at their best, evenings end around a fire with s’mores, and the trees surrounding the lake slowly turn shades of amber and crimson.
If you’re looking for an easy fall escape from Atlanta, there’s no better time to visit.
🍂 Whether you’re looking to unwind, reconnect, or explore, Lake Oconee is Georgia’s hidden gem for fall getaways. Find your reason to linger longer with this Ultimate Fall Getaway Guide.
2. Upcoming Events
SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA BELTLINE
✨ Get ready to join us at the 2026 Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade! Attend a lantern-making workshop at Lee + White this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday!
🎻 The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra returns to Piedmont Park tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a free concert of orchestral favorites by Beethoven, Mozart, and Vivaldi.
🥘 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival takes place from Sept. 10-13 at The Home Depot Backyard.🇫🇷 “Les Misérables” is playing Sept. 11-27 at Byers Theatre in Sandy Springs.
🔔 Join a sound bath beneath the stars on Sept. 11 at Nobu Hotel Atlanta.
🍷 The Kirkwood Wine Stroll is Sat., Sept. 12, 7-10 p.m.
🐶 Get ready for Muttfest 2026 on Sat., Sept. 12, noon-5 p.m. at Fire Maker Brewing Company.
📧 Find out how you can get your event featured in Rough Draft.
🗓️ For more events, visit RoughDraftAtlanta.com/events.
🎶 Gather friends and family for Wire & Wood, a FREE festival Oct. 9 and 10, with over 30 performances across 7+ stages throughout downtown Alpharetta, with everything from Americana and indie to Southern rock, pop, country, and more! SPONSOR MESSAGE
3. Fishing the Good Fight supports men facing mental health challenges
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 health, wellness, and beauty content. 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.
🎣 Atlanta native and former University of Alabama inside linebacker Jennings Hester always struggled with his mental health. When a series of injuries forced him to quit the game, Hester finally sought treatment. He discovered that fly fishing helped calm his mind and give him that sense of community he had when playing football.
In 2019, he founded Fishing the Good Fight, a nonprofit dedicated to providing mental health support for men. The organization recently launched a Georgia chapter offering fly fishing retreats, in-person group therapy sessions, and other support programs.
🐟 Read Laura’s story about this nonprofit that uses fly fishing to support men’s mental health.
❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood – while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology.
🌱 Come spend a day on the farm! Love is Love’s Fall Plant Sale & Family Day is Sept. 12 in Mansfield. Shop certified organic plants, enjoy FREE gardening and foraging workshops, farm tours, local food, artisans, kids’ activities and more. Details here. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Concert Picks
Wed., Sept. 9
📱 Henry Moodie @ Vinyl🇨🇴 Juanes @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🤠 Orlando Mendez @ Eddie’s Attic
Thurs., Sept. 10
💫 Myles Smith @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🌄 The Wellermen @ Aisle 5
Fri., Sept. 11
🌬️ Air Supply @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
🃏 LUCKI @ Coca-Cola Roxy
Sat., Sept. 12
🎻 Mike Campbell with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra @ Atlanta Symphony Hall
💗 Malcolm Todd @ Coca-Cola Roxy (also Sun.)
🇻🇪 Karina La Voz @ Gas South Theater
🎶 Reggae Fest ATL @ Believe Music Hall
Sun., Sept. 13
🇮🇳 Kumar Sanu @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
🦅 Nicko McBrain @ The Loft
🌊 Ken Carson @ State Farm Arena
🎉 Gurriers @ Vinyl
☀️ Empire of the Sun @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Mon., Sept. 14
💭 Stephen Dawes @ Purgatory
🐘 Evening Elephants @ Vinyl
🌹 The Holdup @ Aisle 5
🪩 Meg Smith @ Smith’s Olde Bar
Tues., Sept. 15
🍂 Thee Sacred Souls + LA LOM + The Womack Sisters @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🎚️ MT Jones @ Aisle 5
🎭 Shoshana Bean (pictured) @ Buckhead Theatre
🐌 The Garden + Her New Knife @ The Eastern
✌️ Victoryland @ Vinyl
Wed., Sept. 16
🎸 El Ten Eleven @ Aisle 5
🎤 Inayah @ Center Stage Theater
🥰 Jenna Raine @ The Loft
🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.
🍽️ Close your laptop and meet other RD readers at our monthly dinner club. The next one is Tue., Sept. 22.
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