Debates & Dodgers 

Wednesday, Oct. 7 — The Braves are one loss from elimination after Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 10 and former Brave Freddie Freeman homered in the Dodgers’ 3-1 Game 3 win last night. Game 4 is tonight at 6 p.m. at Truist Park (680 AM/93.7 FM; Fox Sports).

🌞 Sunny with a high of 79° today. 

⛽ Gov. Brian Kemp extended Georgia’s gas tax suspension until Thurs., Nov. 5, and waived state penalties for using off-road diesel on highways.

🤝 The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta named Lauren Koontz, who has led the YMCA of Metro Atlanta since 2019, as its next president and CEO.

📚 The Decatur Book Festival cut ties with a local romance book shop over alleged racial discrimination during last weekend’s event.

🚨 Federal charges were filed against 20 people for gang-related firearms trafficking and drug distribution operations in Atlanta.

❌ Last night’s Norcross City Council debate was canceled after one of the two candidates had to leave town for a family emergency.

✍️ Georgia’s public school class of 2026 did better in math and a little worse in reading and writing on their SATs than students who graduated a year before.

🏡 The recent sale of 1770 Merton Road in Morningside for $4.75 million was the highest recorded sale in the neighborhood’s history.

ELSEWHERE

🇮🇱 Today is the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, in which 1,221 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Israeli memorials are planned under heightened security, three weeks before an election being shaped by that day.

🔍 Cornell University tapped Atlanta lawyer Sally Yates, the former U.S. deputy attorney general, to lead an independent review of how the school handles sexual misconduct following a lawsuit alleging a 2024 fraternity gang rape.

🌀 Tropical Depression 9 is expected to become Hurricane Isaias, the season’s first hurricane, before striking between southeastern Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle this weekend.

🏥 Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike was conscious and speaking in a hospital yesterday, six days after surviving a failed lethal injection.

🎗️ Eva Marie Saint, the Oscar winner for “On the Waterfront” who also starred in “North by Northwest,” died Tuesday. She was 102.

PICTURE THIS: Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson met for their only scheduled debate last night, fielding questions from undecided voters on surveillance cameras, affordability, healthcare, and data centers. Bottoms tied Jackson to President Donald Trump, while Jackson cast Gov. Brian Kemp as his model and criticized her record on public safety as Atlanta Mayor.

🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

• Atlanta Dream + State Farm Arena

• Upcoming Events

• The Reset 

AND 

• Concert Picks


🎈 A hundred years of art in Atlanta calls for more than one party. Expect special exhibitions, collection favorites returning to the galleries, music, family programs, and one-of-a-kind events that honor the past and look toward the next 100 years. See what’s planned at the High. SPONSOR MESSAGE


Photo courtesy of @atlantadream

1. Atlanta Dream moving to State Farm Arena

🏀 The Atlanta Dream signed a multi-year agreement with State Farm Arena to host the team’s home games beginning with the 2027 season.

As part of the expanded 2027 WNBA season, each team will play 50 regular-season games, and the Dream will play all 25 home games at State Farm Arena. The team has called Gateway Center Arena in College Park its home since 2021.

Officials said the move to State Farm Arena reflects the “unprecedented growth of the franchise, increasing ticket demand and overall excitement for the entire Dream fan experience.”

🚚 Find out more about the move here. 

RELATED

🗓️ Atlanta leads New York 1-0 in the WNBA Semifinals. Game 2 tips off tonight at 7:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena (ESPN).


The High Centennial Block Party

SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM

🎉 100 years of art in Atlanta calls for more than one party. Free to attend on Oct. 18, the Centennial Block Party pairs live music and DJs with art-making, food vendors, and special surprises as we take over Peachtree Street. Bring your family, your friends, your neighbor, or your work bestie.

➞ Learn more here.


2. Upcoming Events

⚾ Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers; tonight at 6 p.m. at Truist Park. 

🇮🇱 October 7 remembrance with CHAGIGAH; tonight at 7 p.m. in Buckhead.

🌽 Scarecrows in the Garden; tomorrow from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. 

🎺 Jazz on the Lawn; Fri., Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. 

🍂 Fall Festival on Ponce; Sat., Oct. 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. along Olmsted Linear Park.

🎂 UPS Second Sunday: 100th Birthday Celebration; Sun., Oct. 11 from noon-5 p.m. at the High Museum of Art.

🎤 Die Laughing Comedy; Sun., Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at New Realm Brewing.

📧 Find out how you can get your event featured in Rough Draft. For more events, visit RoughDraftAtlanta.com/events.


🥳 Centennial-only programming comes to Access for All this month. Join us for a free day of special conversations with curators and staff in the galleries and drop-in art-making sessions that mark the High’s 100th birthday. Register for your free day of art. SPONSOR MESSAGE


Photo provided by Preserve Life

3. Preserve Life opens Nutrition Nest personal nutrition clinic

THE RESET

“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.

💬 “How was your day?” “Fine.” Your teen probably isn’t shutting you out. Being asked face-to-face costs more at that age. Intown Psychology helps parents of anxious kids and teens. Get a free consultation.

🥗 Nutrition Nest, an experiential kitchen and personalized nutrition clinic from longevity brand Preserve Life, opened in Douglasville on Oct. 1. The first facility to open at the 1,200-acre health and wellness retreat, Nutrition Nest combines medical testing with culinary medicine, personalized nutrition, aesthetics, and food education.

The new facilities include the experiential kitchen with chef-led cooking classes, a cafe with fresh-pressed juices and coffee, and a functional market stocked with groceries and nutritional supplements. Much of the food is sourced from an on-site, 150-acre organic farm and a 50,000-square-foot organic greenhouse.

➡️ Read Laura’s story about Nutrition Nest here.

❤️ Therapy that helps you feel seen, supported, and understood – while building practical skills to navigate life with confidence at Intown Psychology. 


🎂 The High’s 100th birthday gets its own edition of UPS Second Sunday. On the second Sunday of each month, admission is free, and the museum fills with art-making and family-friendly programming. This one includes a fun outdoor activation with UPS. Save the date; this one’s going to be special. SPONSOR MESSAGE


Photo via roughdraftatlanta.com

4. Concert Picks

Wed., Oct. 7

🇯🇵 Band-Maid @ Buckhead Theatre

🔥 Haley Smalls @ The Masquerade

🍯 The 502s @ Vinyl

Thurs., Oct. 8

🧑🧑🧒 Jonas Brothers @ State Farm Arena

👻 Deceits @ The Masquerade

🚬 Gavin Adcock @ The Eastern

🇮🇪 Celtic Thunder @ Buckhead Theatre

Fri., Oct. 9

🎺 Tōth @ The Masquerade

🖤 HVDES @ Wish Lounge at Believe Music Hall

🧪 The Toxhards @ Smith’s Olde Bar

🤠 Turnpike Troubadours @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park

🐢 Trampled by Turtles @ Tabernacle Presented by iTHINK Financial

Sat., Oct. 10

🤓 Silversun Pickups + Weezer + The Shins @ State Farm Arena

👨⚖️ Gov’t Mule + Ziggy Marley @ Coca-Cola Roxy

🤖 Jenna Davis @ Center Stage

⛵️ Now It’s Overhead @ 40 Watt Club

👨🔧 Cord Bradley @ Eddie’s Attic

🌲 Dermot Kennedy @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park

Sun., Oct. 11

🔮 Deltron 3030 @ Center Stage

🎸 Quinn Sullivan @ Vinyl

👀 Bright Eyes @ Variety Playhouse

🎻 Vitamin String Quartet + Girl Named Tom @ Atlanta Symphony Hall

🔔 Johnnyswim @ Tabernacle Presented by iTHINK Financial

Mon., Oct. 12

🌅 Freya Skye @ Coca-Cola Roxy

🇫🇷 Igorrr @ The Masquerade

🎺 Black Country, New Road @ Variety Playhouse

⚡ Ryan Beatty @ Buckhead Theatre

Tues., Oct. 13

🎓 Phoebe Bridgers @ State Farm Arena

🧺 LAUNDRY DAY @ The Masquerade

🐺 Chelsea Wolfe @ Buckhead Theatre

🇲🇽 Rodrigo y Gabriela @ The Eastern

Wed., Oct. 14

👟 Foster The People (pictured) @ Coca-Cola Roxy

🍎 beabadoobee @ Gas South Arena

🇬🇧 Basement @ The Masquerade


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This report was compiled and written by Rough Draft Atlanta's staff.