Falling back
Friday, Oct. 30 — Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, which means we need to turn our clocks back an hour before going to bed Saturday night. Laura Scholz, Rough Draft’s senior health and wellness editor, has this story on how the time change may affect us.
🤔 Has anyone figured out the secret to getting our pets to let us sleep that extra hour and assuring them they aren’t going to starve?
🎃 The weather should be dry and in the 60s for trick-or-treaters on Saturday night and is expected to be the same on Sunday.
🗳️ Today is the last day to vote early for Georgia’s midterm elections before Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3. You can find where to vote and learn which candidates and issues will be on your ballot at My Voter Page.
🚒 The Sandy Springs Fire Department was recently featured on CBS Atlanta for using drones as first responders.
🌳 Environment Sandy Springs will host a book signing on Saturday, Nov. 7, with Charles Seabrook and Ann Litrel, co-authors of “35 Natural Wonders of Georgia to See Before You Die,” from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Abernathy Arts Center.
🌲 Riverwood International Charter School’s baseball team will sell premium Fraser Fir Christmas trees in late November during its annual fundraiser.
Have a happy Halloween!
The Rough Draft team
❤️ MomTalks Summit 2026 | Nov. 13–14 at Emory University. Two heartfelt days of panels and sessions on motherhood, teenagers, internet safety, taboo health topics, neurodivergence, and so much more. Leave supported and energized. Learn more. SPONSOR MESSAGE
First wave of tenants announced for Sandy Springs’ Hillcrest development
🏙️ Atlanta-based developer Third & Urban and multifamily partner Trammell Crow Company announced the first two retail tenants at Hillcrest, a new mixed-use development expanding Sandy Springs’ downtown district.
Salted Melon and Chastain Creamery will join the roughly 8-acre project set to open next summer, with 362 apartments, 30 for-rent townhomes, and 19,000 square feet of retail south of Mount Vernon Highway at Sandy Springs Circle.
In a recent announcement, Hank Farmer, partner at Third & Urban, said Hillcrest brings a mix of walkable shops and restaurants with abundant patio and outdoor space.
👷🏻♂️ Read more about the new Hillcrest development.
RELATED
👀 New South Construction released this bird’s-eye video of Hillcrest.
What’s it Worth?
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🏠 Built in 2024, this custom Alpharetta home offers seven bedrooms, soaring ceilings, and 7,900± square feet. Highlights include a chef’s kitchen, main-level primary suite, finished terrace level, and covered outdoor entertaining spaces, all near Downtown Alpharetta.
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Sandy Springs students flip switch on 500 solar panels
☀️ Seventh graders Ocean Durden and David Song ceremonially flipped the switch on more than 500 new solar panels at the Mount Vernon School in Sandy Springs during an Oct. 28 assembly.
As fifth graders, Durden and Song researched solar energy’s environmental and financial benefits for a fifth-grade project and presented their recommendation to school leadership. Their proposal sparked further exploration and ultimately led to a partnership with Cherry Street Energy to bring their idea to reality.
💡 Read more about how their idea came to life.
Jan Paul wins 2026 Woman of Distinction award
👏🏼 Jan Paul, the former executive director of Leadership Sandy Springs, was awarded the Greater Atlanta Perimeter Chamber’s 2026 Woman of Distinction at an Oct. 21 luncheon.
Paul, pictured center with 2025 winner Lauren Sok, left, and GPC Board Chair Natalie Delancey, right, retired from Leadership Sandy Springs, now named Leadership Perimeter, in 2021. She currently serves as chair of the Sandy Springs Civic Roundtable. Paul also helped create Volunteer Sandy Springs to connect people with meaningful service opportunities, and serves on the boards of Sandy Springs Foundation and The Sandy Springs Society. She is the wife of the city’s mayor, Rusty Paul.
Andrea Sharper, founder of The Healthy Youth USA Foundation, was named first runner-up, and Tasha McCall, vice president of payments and agentic commerce at Synchrony, was named the second runner-up.
🏆 Read more about this year’s Women of Distinction luncheon.
Baraonda’s butternut squash ravioli recipe
😋 Baraonda Ristorante and Bar in Sandy Springs shared its recipe for butternut squash ravioli with Rough Draft dining reporter Sarra Sedghi.
The recipe calls for Grana Padano cheese, a northern Italian hard cheese akin to Parmesan, and Mostarda Mantovana, an Italian condiment you can purchase at a specialty food shop like Tuscany at Your Table in Virginia-Highland or online. (Buon’Italia has a particularly good selection.) You can also make mostarda at home, using apples or quince.
Baraonda’s ravioli recipe involves, but does not require, a pasta maker.
🧑🏼🍳 Get the full recipe here and let us know if you give it a try!
IN OTHER RESTAURANT NEWS
🩷 Rough Draft’s Side Dish reports nearby Joey D’s is offering a pink martini as part of the annual Pink Kiss for the Cure campaign to raise funds for breast cancer research. Proceeds benefit nonprofit Living Beyond Breast Cancer.
🍽️ If you want more recipes and news on Atlanta’s food and dining scene, check out our Side Dish and Family Meal weekly newsletters.
❤️ MomTalks Summit 2026 | Nov. 13–14 at Emory University. Two heartfelt days of panels and sessions on motherhood, teenagers, internet safety, taboo health topics, neurodivergence, and so much more. Leave supported and energized. Learn more. SPONSOR MESSAGE
What’s doin’ around Sandy Springs
🔐 Oct: 30Halloween Lock & Key Singles Party at Hudson Grille
🌿 Nov. 2: Plants & Trees with Chattahoochee Nature Center at Sandy Springs Library
📖 Nov. 3:Pajama Storytime at Sandy Springs Library
🥖 Nov. 4:Challah Bake for Everyone at Orbit Arts Academy
🧶 Nov. 4:Sandy Springs Crafting Buddies at City Hall
🌝 Nov. 5:Sandy Springs Night Market at River Springs Shopping Center
🗓️ Add your event to our free, online event calendar.
The Sports Section
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE ATLANTA
🏈 FOOTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (9-0): Nov. 6 @ North Cobb Christian (5-3)
- Lovett (6-2): Friday @ Temple (3-5)
- Mt. Vernon (6-2): Friday vs. Mt. Paran Christian (2-7)
North Springs (2-6): Friday @ Stephenson (8-1)
Pace Academy (2-6): Friday vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (5-3)
Riverwood (0-8): Friday vs. Milton (7-1)
Westminster (3-5): Friday @ Douglass (6-2)
🥎 SOFTBALL
- Holy Innocents’ (10-16): Season Complete
- Lovett (6-17): Season Complete
- Mt. Vernon (20-11): Season Complete
- North Springs (7-16): Season Complete
- Pace Academy (22-6): Season Complete
- Riverwood (15-7-1): Season Complete
- Westminster (15-14): Season Complete
🏐 VOLLEYBALL
Westminster (40-6): Season Complete
Holy Innocents’ (29-11): Season Complete
Lovett (35-6): Saturday @ Hebron Christian (44-5) (GHSA Private Finals)
Mt. Vernon (21-24): Season Complete
North Springs (9-19): Season Complete
Pace Academy (18-18): Season Complete
Riverwood (29-10): Season Complete