Record Wednesday
Oct. 16 — The first day of early voting set a new record with more than 300,000 votes cast on Tuesday, according to Gabriel Sterling, COO of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office, who called the turnout “massive” and “spectacular” on social media.
🌞 Sunny and 63° today.
⚖️ Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney paused a new rule requiring hand-counting of ballots at polling places, criticizing its rushed implementation before Election Day writing that it “is too much, too late.”
🗳️ McBurney also ruled Monday that Georgia election officials must certify county election results by the deadline set in state law even if they suspect error or fraud.
➡ At a Cobb County rally last night, former President Donald Trump vowed to tackle inflation, cut taxes, and deport illegal immigrants if elected. Earlier, Trump participated in a FOX News town hall in Forsyth County.
🏈 The NFL announced that Atlanta will host Super Bowl LXII in 2028 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This marks the city’s fourth time hosting the game.
🚨 A woman has been arrested in the gruesome stabbing death of a 90-year-old man at a senior high-rise in Buckhead.
⚖️ A man has been convicted of the 2021 murder of a transgender woman in Brookhaven.
💰 More than 9,000 people raised nearly $750,000 for last weekend’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Atlantic Station.
ELSEWHERE
➡ The White House warned Israel to improve Gaza’s humanitarian situation or risk losing US weapons supply. A letter called for Israel to ensure at least 350 humanitarian aid trucks per day enter Gaza.
💊 Walgreens announced plans to close 1,200 stores over three years.
🐼 The National Zoo welcomed two giant pandas from China yesterday. The three-year-old bears will be quarantined for 30 days before public viewing.
PICTURE THIS: Brash Coffee is having a soft launch this week for its new shipping container location at Krog Junction on the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail. Stop by for a cup of joe from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. this week and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. this weekend (photo by Keith Pepper).
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Functional beverage trend
• Chastain Arts Center
• Brookhaven International Festival
AND
• Concert Picks
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
🍽️ Get ready to treat your taste buds during Alpharetta Restaurant Week, happening Oct. 20-26! From global fare to local favorites, our top restaurants are serving up special menus you won’t want to miss. Ready to dine? Check out our website for a full list of participating restaurants and featured dishes! SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Young people are fueling the functional beverage trend
🥤 While Atlanta may be known as the home of Coca-Cola, it’s also home to other drink companies, including Monarch Beverage Co., The Lemon Perfect Company, Cirrus Beverages, and The Zero Co.
These four companies are part of a growing market for nonalcoholic and functional beverages, with the latter meant to boost wellness by incorporating prebiotics and fruit and vegetable supplements, or promoting benefits to boost the metabolism or help people relax, sleep, or give them energy.
Recent studies indicate that people between the ages of 18 and 34 are consuming less alcohol than previous generations, citing the health risks associated with even moderate drinking. Instead, young people are increasingly reaching for prebiotic sodas, fortified fruit and vegetable drinks, CBD-infused drinks, electrolyte beverages, and enhancers for water like collagen and Liquid IV.
🍵 Learn more about this trend from our intern Lola McGuire here.
Giants is here!
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART
🖼️ NOW OPEN! Visit the High to see the amazing art collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys in this extraordinary exhibition, Giants, Catch it before it’s gone!
2. Chastain Arts Center on path to be preserved as Atlanta landmark
🎨 The Chastain Arts Center & Gallery, a 114-year-old structure that once housed Black indigent residents, could soon be designated as an Atlanta landmark.
Atlanta City Councilmember Amir Farokhi has introduced legislation to preserve the arts center building that was a Fulton County almshouse for Black residents from 1910 to 1968. The landmark designation would protect the building at 135 Chastain Park Ave. from demolition unless approved by the Atlanta Urban Design Commission.
Farokhi told Rough Draft that protecting the original building of the Chastain Arts Center “is an easy way to preserve Atlanta’s architectural and cultural history.”
🖼️ Check out the rest of this story here.
3. Brookhaven International Festival is this weekend
🪅 The second Brookhaven International Festival is scheduled for Sat., Oct. 19 and Sun., Oct. 20 on the Peachtree Creek Greenway.
Running from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. each day, the event features live music and dancing, cultural performances, food, a global marketplace, and a lowrider car show.
Brookhaven is buzzing about the Cielo Tejido art installation, a 656-foot hand-woven canopy that will envelop the Peachtree Creek Greenway overlook bridge.
➳ See the entertainment lineup here.
🏡 Seven stunning homes in one iconic, Intown neighborhood. The Virginia-Highland 28th-annual Tour of Homes on Sun., Oct. 20, offers a behind-the-scenes look at historic, charming spaces. Experience diverse architectural styles, finely appointed interiors, and enchanting outdoor spaces. Learn more here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Concert Picks
VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA?
Wed., Oct. 16
🧨 Cuco @ The Eastern
🪞Glass Beams @ Variety Playhouse (SOLD OUT)
❄️ Tinlicker @ Terminal West
🎼 The Red Clay Strays @ Coca-Cola Roxy (also Thurs. at Tabernacle)
💭 Ravyn Lenae @ Buckhead Theatre
Thurs., Oct. 17
🎶 Wyatt Flores @ The Eastern
🎟️ Yard Act @ Terminal West
🎸 José González @ Variety Playhouse
💎 Usher @ State Farm Arena (also Fri. and Sun.)
🔊 Elyanna @ Buckhead Theatre
Fri., Oct. 18
🐕🦺 Three Dog Night @ Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
💡 John Vincent III @ Variety Playhouse
⭐ Will Hoge @ Vinyl
🔥 A.G. Cook @ Terminal West
🎻 Michelle Winters @ Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead
🎤 Diplo @ Underground Atlanta
🥃 Whiskey Myers with JJ Grey and MOFRO @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
👉 Becky G @ Tabernacle
🌈 Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Gas South Arena
🤠 Luis R. Conriquez @ Atlanta Coliseum
Sat., Oct. 19
🎷 Tower of Power @ Rialto Center for the Arts
⚡ FIDLAR (pictured) @ Variety Playhouse
🏡 Oakhurst Porchfest @ Oakhurst Park
🎵 slenderbodies @ Terminal West
🐟 Catfish & the Bottlemen @ The Eastern
🕶️ Lainey Wilson @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
🎹 Stevie Wonder @ State Farm Arena
👋 Wave to Earth @ Tabernacle
🕺 A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🇻🇪 Los Borjas @ Atlanta Coliseum
Sun., Oct. 20
🎙️ Ott @ Terminal West
🎯 KAYTRANADA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
📻 DJ Shadow @ Buckhead Theatre
Mon., Oct. 21
🌇 Sunset Rubdown @ Terminal West
⚖️ Justice @ The Eastern
🎛️ Alex Warren @ Vinyl
📌 Thee Sacred Souls @ Tabernacle
🦊 Foxing @ Variety Playhouse
🎧 Bethel Music @ Coca-Cola Roxy
Tues., Oct. 22
🌟 Ginger Root @ Variety Playhouse
✍️ Cursive @ Terminal West
🚀 Hanson @ Buckhead Theatre (also Wed.)
🔋 Opeth @ Tabernacle
🗣️ Sting @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
♨️ Sabrina Carpenter @ State Farm Arena
Wed., Oct. 23
🧑🎤 Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert @ The Eastern
✨ Riovaz @ Terminal West
🌊 Chase Atlantic @ Coca-Cola Roxy
🇬🇧 Rex Orange County @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
TUNE IN
🎙️ Don’t miss Sammie with the AJC’s Mike Jordan every Thursday at 9:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. as they preview the top events in town on WABE.
💻 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
