On to the final

Thursday, July 16 Argentina beat England 2-1 and will face Spain in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (FOX). Lionel Messi and crew will attempt to become the third country in history to repeat as World Cup champions, and the first since Brazil did it in 1962.

🌩️ Scattered thunderstorms with a high of 87° today.

📰 The Georgia Trust for Local News purchased the Macon Telegraph and The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer from McClatchy, bringing 21 Georgia newspapers under local, nonprofit ownership.

🔍 Atlanta City Council member Antonio Lewis is leading an investigation into complaints from Atlanta airport parking garage attendants and shuttle drivers who say they’re not being properly paid.

⚖️ The Defense of Freedom Institute filed a federal civil rights complaint against City Schools of Decatur, alleging Title IX and Title VI violations over transgender athletics policies, race-based hiring, and DEI curricula.

⚠️ The DeKalb County Board of Education’s attorney/parliamentarian issued a warning about board members’ personal remarks, side banter, and a “proliferation of abstention votes.”  🌉 Brookhaven approved an agreement to fund a Peachtree Creek Greenway bridge over I-85, and Council Member Jen Owens resigned her seat, which Conor Sen will fill until a November special election.

🎨 The Blue Stone Arts & Music Festival returns to Sandy Springs on Sept. 25-26 and is seeking more vendors and creators. 

ELSEWHERE

🇮🇷🇺🇸 A new poll found that 79% of Americans expect the U.S.-Iran conflict to drag on, up from 65% in March, as fresh strikes test last month’s ceasefire.

🗣️ President Donald Trump promised “really big news” in tonight’s 9 p.m. address to the nation, which is expected to focus on election integrity.

➡ Three contentious Senate confirmation hearings were held yesterday on Capitol Hill:

🌫 Smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the Northeast and Midwest, triggering air quality alerts amid extreme heat.

⛳ Golf’s final major of the year, The Open Championship, began this morning at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, with Scottie Scheffler hoping to defend his title (NBC, Peacock).

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

• Marc Boyson at Kai Lin Art

• Upcoming Events

• Real Estate Quiz 

• Zenniz and tennis tech 

AND 

• Quick Bites


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


Photo courtesy of Marc Boyson

1. Kai Lin Art’s ‘Objects 2’ features new work by Marc Boyson

VIA SKETCHBOOK, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT ART | SUBSCRIBE

🖼️ Kai Lin Art’s “Objects 2,” the gallery’s second-annual juried exhibition of three-dimensional work, closes July 17, capping a show that gathered 17 contemporary artists from across the Southeast and beyond.

The exhibition opened with a reception on June 5 and has spent the weeks since making the case for sculpture and relief work as some of the most versatile mediums in contemporary art.

Alongside the juried show, Kai Lin Art tapped its resident mixed media artist, Marc Boyson, to debut new work of his own. For “Objects 2,” Boyson unveiled a repertoire that expands his exploration of memory and records.

⛏️ Read more about the exhibition here.


Dinosaur Summer. It’s here.

SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM

🦖 The world’s most famous predator is back – and science is rewriting its story.

At Fernbank’s T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, discover how new research is changing what we know about the “tyrant lizard king,” from feathered ancestors to lightning-fast growth spurts. Explore life-sized models, hands-on interactives, and come face-to-jaws with a full-scale adult T. rex during Dinosaur Summer, now through Sept. 7.

See the king of dinosaurs up close at Fernbank this summer. 


2. Upcoming Events

SPONSORED BY ATLANTA BELTLINE

🚴 Join the Atlanta Beltline for a guided 12-mile group ride along the Northwest Beltline Trail this Sat., July 18. Multiple stops, moderate hills, and good company the whole way! Ages 13+. Rentals available from Clutch Bicycles. PATH Lot, 905 Bedford St. NW, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Register now! 

👻 Netherworld haunted house in Stone Mountain is bringing a taste of Halloween to July with “Escape the Netherworld.” Open through July 31.

🎸 Sandy Springs’ City Green Live presents Boyce Avenue tomorrow starting at 4 p.m.

🥂 The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual Preservation Gala; Sat., July 18, at 7 p.m. at The Goat Farm.

⚽ FIFA World Cup Finals Watch Party featuring Ludacris; Sun., July 19 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m at Piedmont Park. (Free, but RSVP required).

🥁Wax ‘N’ Facts marks its 50th anniversary on Sun., July 19, at 5:30 p.m. with a special concert at Variety Playhouse featuring Swimming Pool Q’s, Uncle Green, and more.


Photo from Mountain Sotheby’s International Realty

3. What’s it Worth?

SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

⛰️ Perched on 1.5± acres along Lake Blue Ridge, this 5,000±-square-foot waterfront estate features a heated pool, double-decker dock, guest residence and panoramic lake views. The turnkey property offers six bedroom suites and includes a pontoon boat.

❓ Guess the price below!

$6,390,000

$5,390,000

$4,390,000


4. Zenniz turns Atlanta into launchpad for U.S. tennis tech

🎾 Did you watch Wimbledon last week and wonder how your shots compare to the pros?

Zenniz, a Finnish SportsTech company, can give those answers with its electronic line calling, AI insights and statistics, video and streaming tools, and immersive real-time feedback. And with a fresh funding round and new partnerships, Zenniz is setting up shop in Atlanta as it looks to scale. 

Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.


🏃 100 miles. Six weeks. One incredible community. Join the Chastain Challenge and help keep Chastain Park clean, safe, and green while reaching your own goals. Details here. SPONSOR MESSAGE


Photo by Leftie Lee’s

5. Quick Bites

VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | SUBSCRIBE HERE

😋 In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on a new food hall in Castleberry Hill, a closure in Avondale Estates, and Victory’s replacement in Decatur. You’ll also find details on the rescheduled Atlanta Halal Summer Food Festival this weekend and a 1970s dinner party-themed pop-up in Decatur.

🍽️ Catch up on the latest dining news here.

RELATED

🥪 Victory Sandwich Bar in Decatur will close on July 20 and reopen as American-Italian restaurant and bar Besto on July 28.



⚽ When the matches end, the dining begins. After cheering on your favorite teams across Atlanta, savor the city’s best tables during Buckhead Restaurant Week, July 27-Aug. 1. More than 50 restaurants serve exclusive prix-fixe menus. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE


🔤 Play News Word Atlanta, our daily word game.

💡 Help support independent local media by becoming a Rough Draft member today. Pick up some cool swag, including our new, limited-edition LOCAL hoodie.

📤 Have a friend or colleague who would enjoy getting this newsletter? Forward them this link to subscribe.


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