Month: October 2024

Massage schools close citing enrollment decline

While staff was being informed of Atlanta School of Massage’s immediate closure on Sept. 5, a moving truck idled outside. (Provided by former student) Within three days, the owner of two of the Southeast’s oldest massage schools abruptly shut down…

The second Atlanta location of Nan Thai opens at Two Buckhead Plaza on October 18

Nan Thai opens in Buckhead Oct. 18. (Photo by Dominique White) When Nan Thai opens on Oct. 18, it will replace chef and owner DeeDee Niyomkul’s Chai Yo Modern Thai at Two Buckhead Plaza with a restaurant paying tribute to…

Four Pillar Tribute celebrates Russell family

TT From left to right: Sally Riker, T. Dallas Smith, Keith Mason, Michael Russell, Jerome Russell, Jay Bailey, Mori Russell, Benjamin Russell, Zane Major, and Michael Paris. (Courtesy Council for Quality Growth) The Council for Quality Growth held its 35th annual Four Pillar Tribute on Thursday…

3 Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations in Philly

This weekend, Philadelphia celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day, honoring the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Indigenous communities here and across the country. In recent years, the holiday has shifted focus from Columbus Day, which focused on the European adventurers and…

Motor City Blight Busters continue decades-long mission to uplift Detroit with ambitious expansion plans

For 36 years, John George has spearheaded Motor City Blight Busters’ efforts to transform Detroit’s Old Redford neighborhood. Sitting on an upstairs patio at Artist Village — a community hub he’s owned for about 20 years — George still radiates…

SEPTA outreach: Philly Sake Club gathers; Bike safety public meetings

SEPTA is not usually spoken of as innovative, but the transit agency has big plans to attract more customers and improve riders’ traveling experience — if an ongoing impasse over a proposed hike in state funding doesn’t scuttle those ambitions. That…

The Mayor’s Ballot Questions Are a Quiet Power Grab

“In the midst of a five-count federal indictment, Mayor Adams is rushing to ask New Yorkers at the ballot for more power and less oversight.” Adi Talwar A voter in the Bronx filling out his ballot in 2023. CityViews are…

Consumed by flames: My fight to expose Detroit’s fire crisis

At Thursday’s inaugural Detroit Story Fest event at the Detroit Film Theatre, Metro Times reporter Steve Neavling recounted his journey covering fires for a year through his independent project Motor City Muckraker. Below is a transcription of his story. I…

Oktoberfest Beer & Bike Race comes to Detroit’s Lexus Velodrome

Detroit is set for a high-speed weekend as the Oktoberfest Beer & Bike Race takes over the Lexus Velodrome on Oct. 18-19.Cyclists from across the country will be competing on the indoor 1/10th-mile oval track, known for its steep banks…

FirstGlance Film Festival to come to Brookhaven

Then Mayor John Ernst, along with Councilmembers Madeleine Simmons and Linley Jones, at the grand opening for LOOK Dine-In Cinemas in Brookhaven in 2022. FirstGlance Film Festival will play at the cinema in 2025 (Photo by Sammie Purcell). FirstGlance Film…

Jackie Nash and Naomi Wiener talk stop motion

From left to right: Andrés Eduardo, Jackie Nash and Naomi Wiener at SCAD AnimationFest (Photo courtesy of SCAD). Jackie Nash and Naomi Wiener recently appeared at SCAD AnimationFest to talk all things Pinocchio.  The two SCAD alumni worked as model…

What to eat in Atlanta October 2024: Tamales from Lil Tamale Boi, teppanyaki at Nakato, ramen at Senpai Noodle Supply

Chicken and squash blossom tamale (left); Mushroom tamale (right) from Lil Tamale Boi. (Photo by Beth McKibben) “The Move” is your guide to the top food finds from Senior Editor Beth McKibben, who oversees restaurant and dining coverage at Rough…

Mila Jam to co-headline Atlanta Pride festival

Mila Jam Pop star Mila Jam is co-headlining this weekend’s Atlanta Pride festival on the Coca-Cola stage on Saturday at 6 p.m. The artist, activist, and self-described “theater kid” brings her authenticity to the stage to inspire all those around…

Jewish Day of Atonement, Atlanta’s pride week, and more

Friday pride Oct. 11 — Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement begins at sunset tonight. The holiest day of the year for Jews, it’s marked by fasting and prayer, concluding with a shofar blast. ☀️ Sunny and 74° today. Sun all weekend…

‘The Apprentice’ tells the how of Donald Trump, but not the why

Jeremy Strong (left) and Sebastian Stan in “The Apprentice” (Photo by Pief Weyman). “The Apprentice” opens up with a very famous quote from Richard Nixon – “I am not a crook,” Nixon gravels over the film’s opening moments, something he…

‘Saturday Night’ is too interested in its own importance

From left to right: Kim Matula, Emily Fairn, Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, and Matt Wood in “Saturday Night” (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures). It’s Oct. 11, 1975, just minutes before the first episode of “Saturday Night Live” (then called “NBC’s…

Despite dire funding crisis, SEPTA’s working to attract more riders

SEPTA has big plans to attract more customers and improve riders’ traveling experience — but an ongoing impasse over a proposed hike in state funding threatens to scuttle those ambitions. That was one of the takeaways from a wide-ranging discussion…

Federal judge denies extension request for Georgia voter registration

A federal judge has rejected an attempt by voting rights groups in Georgia to extend the state’s deadline to register to vote because of Hurricane Helene. Judge Eleanor L. Ross with the Atlanta-based Northern District of Georgia ruled from the…

New Bill Turns the Heat Up on NYCHA to Restore Gas Outages

Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill that pushes for quicker restoration times of “vital services,” at public housing apartments, including gas. Adi Talwar Thomas Lubrin, 75, in his kitchen at NYCHA Red Hook West during a months-long gas outage…

Decatur high teacher’s keffiyeh sparks controversy

Parents in the City Schools of Decatur have reported a high school teacher for wearing “divisive” attire on Oct. 7, the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel. Decatur High School teacher Anthony Downer II was photographed wearing a keffiyeh,…

City Dragging Its Feet to Implement Vacant Apartment Reporting Bill, Lawmakers Say

The legislation, passed last year, requires the city to establish a new 311 option for tenants to report and request inspection of empty units creating hazards in their buildings. It was supposed to go live in early August. William Alatriste/NYC…

‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ treats its source material like a joke

From the jump I’m going to say that Joker: Folie à Deux is both a little better than most people say, while somehow being worse in a lot of ways for which I wasn’t prepared. But, and this might be…

Philly Sake Club offers unexpected pairings and a shared learning experience at Queen Village’s Little Fish

💡 Get Philly smart 💡with BP’s free daily newsletter Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting. Five types of sake, a themed charcuterie, and a “casual and intimate” learning experience can…

Judge dismisses lawsuit over State Election Board removal

A Fulton County Superior Court judge dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to force Gov. Brian Kemp to schedule an administrative hearing on whether to remove three members of the State Election Board. The ruling by Judge Ural Glanville sided with…

Judge denies extension of Georgia’s voter registration deadline

A group of voting rights groups argue that not extending the deadline to register could keep “tens of thousands of Georgia residents” from voting this fall. (Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder) A federal judge has denied a request for the court to…

Billy Penn at 10; Abbott Elementary returns; Weekly gun violence brief

Billy Penn is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year! Whether you signed up for our email newsletter a decade ago or only recently found us on social media or through our colleagues at WHYY, our goal has remained consistent over the…

This week at the Farmers Market

Rough Draft Atlanta is partnering with Community Farmers Markets to let you know what’s in season at your local market. Each week, we’ll share a list of ingredients that are farm fresh as well as a couple of recipes including…

Atlanta lesbian bar MSR My Sister’s Room’s continues to endure after 28 years

MSR My Sister’s Room opened in 1996. (Provided by Wikipedia) My Sister’s Room has been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s LGBTQIA landscape since it opened in 1996 at Midtown Promenade. Originally opened as My Sister’s Room: A Parlor for Women, the…

What Does 50 Years of Community Development Look Like?

The Association for Neighborhood Housing & Development, or ANHD—founded in the 1970s to reclaim the growing number of burned and abandoned apartment buildings across the city— turns 50 this year. City Limits sat down with Executive Director Barika Williams to…

Open Streets success; Latina playwrights; IV fluid shortage

Nearly 4 in 5 businesses reported an increase in sales during the four Open Streets Sunday events in September, when streets around Rittenhouse Square were closed, said Prema Katari Gupta, CEO of the Center City District business association. Those businesses…

Hurricane Milton causes damage, Atlanta’s Taste Brookhaven returns

Turning to Thursday Oct. 10 — Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category Three storm last night near Siesta Key, FL, bringing extreme rainfall, wind, and flooding as it moved across the state and into the Atlantic. A crane fell on the…

Northern lights could illuminate Michigan skies on Thursday night due to powerful geomagnetic storm

A severe geomagnetic storm is expected to make the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, visible in Michigan Thursday night. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that the strong solar radiation from the storm could offer…

Detroit teacher fears GOP agenda could undermine public education

A Detroit educator recently told a congressional committee he is “terrified” at what a second Trump term as president could bring for America’s public schools. Rodney Fresh, a high school social studies teacher in Detroit, said parts of the Republican…

Quick Bites Oct. 10: Halloween food specials, Diwali celebrations, a Creole seafood boil, new restaurants, and more.

Purchase Halloween-themed doughnuts from Summerhill shop Hero Doughnuts in October. (Provided by Hero Doughnuts) This story is from Side Dish, our weekly Thursday newsletter about Atlanta’s dining scene. Subscribe for free via the Newsletters tab at the top of this…

Fulton County Probate Court to offer free Halloween weddings on Oct. 31

On Oct. 31, Fulton County Probate Court will offer complimentary Halloween-themed wedding ceremonies to Atlantans. The upcoming session is a special holiday-version of its “Forever Fridays,” a weekly event in which the Atlanta courthouse hosts wedding ceremonies, free of charge….

Latino life in Philadelphia explored in theater productions

What does it actually mean to produce Latinx theater in the United States? Does the plot have to have a particular set of themes? Do the actors need to be Latinx? Is Spanish a requirement? In Philadelphia this month, two…

Philly to begin bike lane safety meetings for Spruce and Pine Street corridor

Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) announced Wednesday that it will begin public meetings this month to share recommendations and gather feedback about potential bike safety infrastructure and policies along the Spruce and Pine Street corridor.  “OTIS and…

The Döner Shawarma food truck brings bites of Berlin to Dearborn

Like many Americans, I learned about döner kebabs while backpacking across Europe in college, practically living off the massive sandwiches that fueled long days and nights, all for two euros from a small cart on La Rambla, Barcelona’s liveliest street….

Che Butter Jonez opens new Brookhaven location

Che Butter Jonez opens at its new Brookhaven location. (Provided by Che Butter Jonez) Che Butter Jonez opened in its new digs on Lavista Road in Brookhaven this week. Owners Malik Rhasaan and Detric Fox-Quinlan announced the relocation of their…

How the Mayor’s Indictment Could Impact NYC Child Care Services

“We already experienced a retrenchment of the city’s commitment to Universal Pre-K and Universal 3K programs. Parents can’t afford to lose more ground.” Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office Mayor Eric Adams at an early childhood education center in Manhattan in 2022,…

Board of Regents seeks transgender sports ban in Georgia

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents is asking two organizations that govern collegiate sports to ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports. Tuesday’s unanimous vote came two years after the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) voted to…

Taste of Tucker 2024: Successful despite competition and heat

More than 4,000 people turned out to celebrate Tucker with music, food, and kid-friendly entertainment (Photo by Cathy Cobbs) Taste of Tucker organizers say this year’s event was a success, despite competition from sporting events, homecoming celebrations and a hotter-than-usual…

Con fondos restablecidos, proveedores de alfabetización de adultos de Nueva York reinician programas ante futuro incierto

Tras meses de incertidumbre, las organizaciones de alfabetización de adultos que no fueron seleccionadas en contratos municipales recibirán fondos para continuar con su programación gracias a una aportación única de $10 millones de dólares financiada por iniciativas del Concejo para…

In Wake of Bribery Scandal, NYCHA Tightens Requirements for Small-Dollar Vendors

Eight months after what federal prosecutors called the “largest single-day bribery takedown in the history of the Justice Department,” NYCHA is tightening requirements when awarding small contracts, among other reforms. Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office NYCHA’s Hammel Houses in Queens, one…

Atlanta International School to open Sandy Springs upper campus

Atlanta International School continues preparations to open its Sandy Springs Upper Campus in 2025 on the site of the former Brandon School. (Provided by AIS) Atlanta International School began accepting applications for its Sandy Springs Upper Campus for 2025 at…

Rittenhouse Row shops got a big boost in sales during Open Streets

Temporarily closing streets near Rittenhouse Square to cars significantly boosted business at stores in the neighborhood, and planning is under way for more such events in the near future. Of retailers who were surveyed, 79% reported an increase in sales…

Morehouse College’s Graves Hall preserved by Easements Atlanta

Graves Hall (Courtesy Morehouse College) Morehouse College and Easements Atlanta have partnered to conserve Samuel T. Graves Hall, the college’s first building at its Atlanta campus.  Constructed in 1889 as the ultimate multi-purpose space, Graves Hall functioned as a dormitory, library, lab, classrooms, kitchen, dining, and chapel. After many significant interior reconfigurations, it currently serves as…

2 productions look at Latinx life through many lenses

What does it actually mean to produce Latinx theater in the United States? Does the plot have to have a particular set of themes? Do the actors need to be Latinx? Is Spanish a requirement? In Philadelphia this month, two…

Masculinity through a Queer lens in ‘ECCE HOMO’ portrait series

A self portrait of photographer David Clifton-Strawn. David Clifton-Strawn, a local portrait photographer and the Executive Director of the Atlanta Photography Group, is gearing up for a solo exhibition of his works at Alan Avery Art Company. Clifton-Strawn’s exhibition “ECCE…

From Colorado to Chamblee: Babe Walls Mural Festival highlights female and non-binary muralists

Mural by GrowLove and Mar Williams for Babe Walls, Arvada, 2021. Photo by Peter Kowalchuk The walls of the Chamblee Rail Trail are about to get a splash of color. Babe Walls, a nonprofit arts organization that coordinates mural festivals…