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About the Cover Center for Puppetry Arts staff show off the puppets featured in the production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Pictured are “Rudolph” Director Tim Sweeney, Puppeteer Sarah Beth Hester, and Artistic Director Jason Hines. Read more about the show on Page 20. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)
Compassionate: Family Law Litigation and Mediation
This issue of Atlanta Intown was edited from various Midtown hotels, which is where I found myself on Nov. 15 after the installation of a new HVAC system in my condo turned into a flood.
The technicians were nearly done and were working in the HVAC closet with a soldering iron to reconnect the wiring. I was working in the bedroom when I heard an explosion, expletives, the sound of gushing water, and the fire alarm blaring throughout my building.
While the spray of water was contained inside the HVAC closet, the torrent of water quickly flooded into the condo until there was about a half-inch to an inch of water throughout. Since I’m on the top floor, it also flooded down to my neighbors below. To say it was a big mess would be putting it mildly.
I wound up being out of my condo for a week while a fleet of air movers and humidifiers dried the place out. While the majority of my personal belongings were spared any damage, part of my kitchen island has a big hole in it and the hardwood floors look like they will have to be replaced after the holidays.
University.
In this season of giving, I am looking around me to see what else would be of service to those in need.
And speaking of the LGBTQ community, you may have already heard that Rough Draft has acquired the Georgia Voice newspaper. I am excited to take the helm and bring readers the news and features they need as we move forward into the uncertain next four years.
The Republican party used LGBTQ people – especially the trans community – as a divisive and fearmongering wedge issue. There are legitimate fears about medical care, marriage, and other hardwon rights being stripped away by the
I hate moving with a passion. I lived in my last apartment for 16 years – mostly because I loved it, but also because the thought of moving filled me with dread. When I bought this condo more than three years ago, I swore it would be my last move.
Now, I face the prospect of having to pack the place up – at least temporarily – to get the new floors. Not exactly the Christmas gift I was hoping for this year.
While I was wading through my condo trying to move things to higher ground, I suddenly had the urge to purge. How much “stuff” do I actually need to live comfortably?
When I moved here, I did some serious “Swedish death cleaning” – giving away and donating items to save my loved ones from having to do it when I pass on. Much of my writing life – my early journalism, poetry, and fiction – is safely ensconced in the LGBTQ archive at Georgia State
incoming administration. At least one member of the Supreme Court has expressed his interest in overturning Obergefell vs. Hodges, the landmark decision that made same-sex marriage the law of the land.
Georgia Voice will offer news, opinion, and features for and about the LGBTQ community in the state. We’re not going to shy away from the politics and decisions being made at both a state and national level that will affect the readers who depend on us. We will welcome letters and editorials to express a wide range of opinions and views in the pages of the Voice.
Having lived through the AIDS pandemic and been a frequent presence and voice at marches and protests over the last 35 years, this ain’t my first time at the rodeo. The water might seem deep, but my goal is to continue to make Georgia Voice a lighthouse in the storm.
Happy Holidays to us all.
‘Abhorrent’ conditions at Fulton Jail called unconstitutional in DOJ report
By Bob Pepalis
An investigation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice found that poor conditions at the Fulton County Jail violate incarcerated persons’ constitutional and statutory rights and have led to injury and death.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Ryan K. Buchanan announced the investigation’s findings on Nov. 14, determining that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office failed to adequately protect incarcerated persons
from substantial risk of serious harm.
Buchanan described a “disturbing frequency of deaths” among persons at the jail.
“In Fulton County, people in custody awaiting formal charges or trials frequently must protect themselves from brutal physical attacks, endure frequent excessive force, manage their wellbeing with inadequate food and unsanitary living conditions, and hope they can find access to a strained medical and mental health care program. This is unacceptable,” Buchanan said in a news release. “Our Constitution requires humane conditions while incarcerated that, at a minimum, ensure people in custody are safe.”
Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat and County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts said during a press conference following the report’s release issues raised by the DOJ were already being addressed.
“I’ve said all along that we will have to comply with whatever the Justice Department recommends, and that’s what we’re in the process of doing now,” Pitts said.
Labat said they were committed to continuing to work with the Bureau
of Justice Assistance Program and the National Institute of Corrections on the remedial efforts. He said the report pointed out that the issues it detailed were fixable opportunities.
“We share the concerns that were outlined, and we’re going to be working jointly, cooperatively, to address them,” Pitts said.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said the death of Lashawn Thompson, who was found dead and covered in bedbugs in the jail’s psychiatric wing in 2022, was symptomatic of a pattern of dangerous and dehumanizing conditions at the jail. The investigation found that people incarcerated at the jail suffer harm from pest infestation and malnourishment. They also are at risk of serious harm by other incarcerated people, including homicides, stabbings, and sexual abuse.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said the federal agency can’t turn a blind eye to inhumane, violent, and hazardous conditions inside the jail.
Beltline buys controversial Buckhead nightclub for key segment
By Dyana Bagby
The Atlanta Beltline has purchased a shuttered Buckhead nightclub where it plans to build a key segment of the Northwest Trail.
On Nov. 7, Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Beltline Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs announced the acquisition of the Elleven45 Lounge at 2110 Peachtree Road NW. The Beltline acquired the roughly one-acre site for $11 million.
The controversial nightclub was the scene of a fatal shooting in the early morning hours of May 12. Two people were killed and two wounded. One arrest was made in the shooting. The city of Atlanta shut the nightclub down months later after a Fulton Superior Court judge ruled the venue a public nuisance.
The nightclub property was needed to complete Segment 2 of the Northwest Trail located near Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, the largest employer in the Beltline Planning Area.
This segment is a 0.7-mile stretch being built outside the railroad corridor starting at the southwest corner of Bobby Jones Golf Course, running east along Colonial Homes Circle, and then passing under Peachtree Road. A construction date for
Segment 2 is not yet known.
“The Beltline is crucial in our mission to create safe, healthy and connected neighborhoods across Atlanta, and it’s one of the nation’s most transformative infrastructure projects, supporting economic, social and recreational needs for our residents and visitors,” said Dickens in a news release.
“This acquisition and expansion will help us continue to make Atlanta the best place in the nation to raise a family and to start a business.”
Added Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of Atlanta Beltline Inc.: “This property purchase brings the Beltline closer to realizing its vision of a fully connected, accessible and vibrant infrastructure, further enhancing the economic, recreational, and environmental benefits for Atlanta’s residents and visitors.”
The purchase of the former Elleven45 Lounge announcement was made at the same time as officials said construction of Segment 1 of the Northwest Trail has started.
This 0.8 segment will start at Peachtree Park Drive at the entrance to Peachtree Park apartments, cross over Peachtree Creek via a suspension bridge, and then
end at the Kinsey Court cul-de-sac.
Once completed, the Northwest Trail will extend 4.3 miles from Blandtown to the Lindbergh/Morosgo neighborhoods, linking neighborhoods and landmarks such as Ardmore Park, Collier Hills, Lindbergh City Center and Underwood Hills.
The trail also goes along Tanyard Creek, the Atlanta Memorial Trail and Bobby Jones Golf Course and connects to the Northeast Trail at the Armour-Ottley commercial district and the Lindbergh Center MARTA station.
The entire 22-mile Beltline trail loop is on track to be completed by 2030. Earlier this year, the mayor and the Beltline announced that by spring 2026, 16.3 miles of continuous trail will be completed, in time for Atlanta to host the FIFA World Cup games, in addition to 1.6 miles of spur trails.
On Nov. 12, a ribbon-cutting was held for a 0.9-mile segment of the Northeast Trail, including improvements to the busy 10th Street and Monroe Drive intersection.
Fulton County Jail. (File)
A rendering of the new Northwest Trail with the former Elleven45 Loung site at left. (Courtesy ABI)
The Atlanta Opera has received a $27.5 million gift from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and will name its future permanent home in Buckhead the Molly Blank Center for Opera. The facility will feature state-of-the-art equipment, a 200-seat recital hall, rehearsal spaces, administrative offices, and gardens.
A female western lowland gorilla born to Kambera on Nov. 13 died a week later at Zoo Atlanta. At press time, the zoo was going to perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
The Atlanta JournalConstitution opened its new headquarters Nov. 18 at 1200 Peachtree Street, marking a return to the city after more than a decade at the Central Perimeter.
The Atlanta City Council voted Nov. 18 to approve spending $1.7 million for more security at the controversial public safety training center site. The training center, known as “Cop City” by opponents, is set to open in December.
GSU to create ‘college town Downtown’ with $80 million gift
By Collin Kelley
Georgia State University has announced a major Downtown Atlanta campus transformation plan thanks to an $80 million gift from the Woodruff Foundation.
GSU President M. Brian Blake said the institution was challenged to remake the campus as a beacon for further revitalization for Downtown ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“We were confronted with an opportunity to dream a dream,” Blake said in a news release. “We were asked, ‘What could you do in two years?’”
The “unprecedented” $80 million gift from the Woodruff Foundation is the largest in GSU’s history and the largest the foundation has given to any institution in the University System of Georgia. The gift will be combined with GSU’s own $27 million investment to begin the transformation process.
Blake said GSU will embark on nine projects aimed at refashioning the Downtown Atlanta campus with a strategic plan of “Identity, Placemaking and Belonging.” Plans include creating an enlarged “Panther Quad,” which will close off a section of Gilmer Street to vehicle traffic to create a greenspace, an area for food trucks, cafés, and study and relaxation areas.
By connecting existing Hurt Park and the Greenway, the quad will become the heart of the campus, helping to realize what Blake calls a “college town Downtown.”
“I believe this is likely to be one of the most transformational projects carried out by an institution that the state has ever seen,” Blake said. “These projects will have a profound impact on our ability to recruit and retain students.”
Blake has also been meeting with other Downtown stakeholders about updating GSU’s master plan.
The master plan includes enlarging the popular Greenway – which has become a favorite student gathering spot – from one acre to 15 acres by replacing Sparks Hall with a grassy expanse of amphitheater seating that will connect to Gilmer Street and Hurt Park.
It also calls for expanding the Arts and
Humanities Building by adding a new glass façade and adding street-level retail to the former United Way building at 100 Edgewood Ave.
Another major component of the updated master plan is improving Woodruff Park, a key node connecting the campus with the Fairlie-Poplar District.
“The current design of the park really lends itself to clusters, rather than leveraging the fullness of the park,” GSU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer L. Jared Abramson said in the release.
GSU plans to add more lighting and branded signage to the area, as well as street art and plants. The plans also call for moving the Atlanta Streetcar stop a few meters south to make the entrance to the park more open and inviting.
“The idea is to create this very comfortable walk between our 25 Park Place Plaza and the Aderhold Building, to make Woodruff Park a true community space that’s even more open and welcoming to students,” Abramson said.
Atlanta Preservation Center Executive Director David Y. Mitchell said the $80 million gift to GSU was a great opportunity, but hoped the university would consider preserving some of the historic spaces.
“The announcement of $80 million to create a ‘college town/Downtown’ for Georgia State University is a welcome gift and opportunity. We also hope that it will be able to support the value of preserving and protecting 148 Edgewood Avenue, the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant, also known as Baptist Student Center, and to explore options other than demolition of Sparks Hall.”
A rendering of the new Georgia State University Panther Quad. (Courtesy GSU)
This rendering shows the expansions and additions to the Downtown campus. (Courtesy GSU)
MARTA to proceed with Five Points renovation
By Collin Kelley
MARTA will move forward with its plan to renovate the Five Points Station after reaching a compromise with the City of Atlanta over pedestrian and bus access.
Work to transform the transit system’s busiest station was slated to begin in July, but MARTA paused the project after Mayor Andre Dickens, city officials, and riders opposed plans to close the station and reroute buses.
Dickens also questioned the cost of the project following a city audit and expressed concerns over the station being closed during the World Cup 2026 matches set for nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Now, MARTA says one station entrance will remain open during construction, allowing for street-level and elevator access, as well as bus pick-up and drop-off.
“I’m proud to announce that MARTA and Mayor Dickens have agreed to move forward with the Five Points Transformation Project as originally planned,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood in a statement. “This agreement will include a slight modification to allow for ongoing pedestrian access to Five Points on the Forsyth Street side of the station during the majority of construction. As plans are finalized, we will share more specific information about construction timelines, station access and customer accommodations. This is a win-win for
MARTA, the City of Atlanta, and our customers as we move forward together to improve transit across our region.”
MARTA said allowing street-level access will mean an extended construction schedule and early nightly closures, because construction materials cannot be moved by crane over an active station entrance. An exact timeline has not been released by MARTA.
The renovation will include removal of the leaky concrete canopy over the station plaza and replacing it with a translucent roof, new street-level bus bays, and a reimagined outdoor plaza with greenspace.
The project was originally estimated to cost $230 million, but fines from contractors have pushed the budget significantly higher since the project was paused on July 3.
According to the Atlanta JournalConstitution, federal and state money will cover a combined $38.8 million of the project, while the rest will be paid for with money from the half-penny transit sales tax approved by Atlanta voters in 2016.
The MARTA board of directors voted at its Sept. 12 meeting to move forward with a review of the city’s audit released last moanth that claims the transit agency could owe the city up to $70 million.
The board approved the review as recommended by State Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs), chairperson of the General Assembly committee that supervises MARTA’s budget.
Renderings courtesy of MARTA.
Shop Local for the Holidays
By Rough Draft Staff
If you’re looking for unique gifts for the holidays and want to support local businesses, the Rough Draft staff has some shopping suggestions for a few of their favorite things.
▲Bitter Southerner: For people motivated by food and Southern culture, consider purchasing a "Collards & Cornbread", "Tomato & Mayo", "Pimento
& Cheese", or "Make More Biscuits" t-shirt. The Bitter Southerner's General Store also features books like "The Crop Cycle", "Peach", and "Waffle House Vistas". Visit bsgeneralstore.com for more information.
3 Parks Wine: Both the Old Fourth Ward and Glenwood Park locations of 3 Parks Wine offer monthly wine clubs, including packs for four or six bottles of handselected wines from Sarah Pierre and her team, a natural wine subscription, and a seasonal rose subscription consisting of six bottles from May until August. Get details at 3parkswine.com.
The Merchant: Located in Krog Street Market in Inman Park, this shop is a supplier of industrial chic wares, general gifts, stationery, and home furnishings. See more at Instagram @themerchantatl.
Bibliotech Bookstore: This quaint bookstore in Candler Park offers everything from rare first editions to beloved classics as well as a diverse
selection of art and poetry books. 1390 McLendon Ave NE. Find out more on Instagram @bibliotech.
▲the beehive: A boutique collective comprised of independent designers with a focus on the local entrepreneur. Product selections include apparel, housewares, accessories, baby goods, local food goods, and jewelry. 1250 Caroline St., C-120. Find out more at thebeehiveatl.com.
Buckhead Village: Featuring retail from the world’s top fashion houses and emerging artisans, Buckhead Village also includes several locally-owned shops such as Abbey Glass, a luxury womenswear brand; Buckhead Art & Company, a contemporary art gallery; and Impossible Currency, an art and design studio pop-up. 3035 Peachtree Road NE. Find out more at buckheadvillagedistrict.com.
▲Atlanta Influences Everything: Atlanta Influences Everything is more than a catchy slogan coined nearly a decade ago by Atlanta native and marketing specialist Bem Joiner. The brand focuses on combining civic, corporate and cultural understanding to harness the influence of Atlanta culture. It also sells tees, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats, and more emblazoned with the iconic catchphrase. Visit the online store at aie.life.
Plaza Fiesta: The indoor Latin mall with nearly 300 vendors offers jewelry, shoes, artisan clothing, quinceañera dresses, hand-made goods, soccer jerseys, specialty foods and more.
4166 Buford Hwy. NE. Visit plazafiesta. net for more information.
▲Maomi Bookstore: Maomi Bookstore is a locally-owned Chinese bookstore and café tucked inside Atlanta’s Chinatown mall near Buford Highway. One of the few Chinese bookstores in the Southeast, visitors can also take calligraphy lessons. The store sells calligraphy writing tools, Chinese tea service sets and children’s books and games. 5391 New Peachtree Road Ste A. Find out more at Instagram @maomibookstore.
▲Moods Music: Music lovers will be in heaven at Darryl Harris’ shop located in Little Five Points at 1131 Euclid Ave. for 24 years. The shop specializes in vinyl and CDs from Neo Soul, Afro-Cuban, and Acid Jazz artists. Harris also recently opened a used vinyl store, Crates, in South Downtown. Find out more @moodsmusic or @cratesatl.
Home Depot co-founder
Bernie Marcus dies at 95
By Logan C. Ritchie
Bernard “Bernie” Marcus, the cofounder of retail giant The Home Depot, the financial backer of the Georgia Aquarium, and Jewish philanthropist, died at his home in Florida on Nov. 4. He was 95.
Marcus leaves behind a legacy marked by generosity and unwavering dedication to strengthening the Atlanta medical, veteran, and Jewish communities.
“He embodied the principle of caring for people first, prioritizing relationships over profits—a philosophy that shaped both his business and philanthropic efforts,” said a press release from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. “Bernie led by example, demonstrating that true leadership is rooted in compassion and integrity.”
The son of Russian Jewish immigrants, Marcus was born in 1929 and grew up in a tenement in Newark, N.J. Although he dreamed of becoming a doctor, he couldn’t afford medical school. He enrolled in pharmacy school and received a degree from Rutgers University. He told stories about cutting college classes to sell Amana freezers door-to-door.
Fired from his corporate job in 1978, Marcus had already envisioned a one-stop shop for do-it-yourselfers, something that did not exist in the home improvement retail space. Marcus teamed up with friend Arthur Blank to create The Home Depot, which opened its first store in Atlanta in 1979.
The Jewish tradition of tzedakah (charity) was a driving principle for Marcus. It can be evidenced inside The Home Depot, where more than 194,000 associates have benefitted from a fund to take care of Home Depot associates who suffer unexpected hardships, as well as in the larger Atlanta community.
A press release from The Home Depot said, “We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Bernie. He was a master merchant and a retail visionary. But even more importantly, he valued our associates, customers and communities
above all. He’s left us with an invaluable legacy and the backbone of our company: our values.”
The Marcus Foundation supports medical advancement locally at Georgia Tech, Grady Health System, Shepherd Center, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Emory University Hospital, Emory School of Medicine, and the Marcus Autism Center.
As an advocate for Israel, Marcus sent tens of thousands of children to summer programs through the Atlanta Jewish Camp Initiative, contributed to Birthright Israel, Hillel International, PJ Library, and the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. He donated $20 million to start RootOne, a program that encourages Jewish teens to travel to Israel.
Jared Powers, CEO of the MJCCA, called Marcus “a visionary philanthropist, devoted community leader, and beloved friend to the entire Jewish community.”
“His legacy lives on in the spaces he helped create, the lives he impacted, and the community he strengthened. We are deeply grateful for his lifetime of leadership and philanthropic investments, both to our organization and our greater community,” Powers said.
Marcus is survived by his wife of 50 years, Billi Marcus; his son, Dr. Frederick Marcus of Emory University; and his stepson Michael Morris, publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times. He is predeceased by his daughter Susanne Marcus Collins.
Bernie Marcus (Courtesy Jewish Federation of Atlanta)
The Home Depot co-founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank. (Courtesy Home Depot)
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Atlanta’s Municipal Market gets $1.2M boost for improvements
By Dyana Bagby
The Municipal Market of Atlanta, also known as the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a $1.26 million boost for improvements.
The Atlanta City Council approved $489,000 at its Nov. 4 meeting for improvements, such as vendor booth upgrades, to the Downtown market. In October, Invest Atlanta approved $775,000 to the market, also for booth improvements and more security cameras. The Invest Atlanta funding also sets aside $200,000 for small business grants and $75,000 for a merchant training program.
The funding comes as the Municipal Market celebrates its 100th anniversary. Located in an area with limited access to grocery stores, the market provides fresh, affordable food to local residents. Investing in the market is part of the city’s broader efforts to strengthen local businesses and close the food access gap.
“For the past 100 years, the Municipal Market has served as a beacon of hope to give back to the surrounding community,” said Mayor Andre Dickens in a news release.
“Only 76% of Atlanta’s residents live within a half mile of fresh food — a gap too big. The market fulfilled that role long before terms like food insecurity ever existed. This market is an important asset for the city, and we plan to ensure it continues to thrive,” he said.
The Municipal Market was established in response to the Great Atlanta fire of 1917. The fire consumed more than 50 blocks and left 10,000 people homeless — most of whom were Black residents — in what is now known as the Old Fourth Ward.
In 1918, local farmers sought to revitalize what was then the epicenter of the city by gathering to sell livestock and produce on land cleared by the fire. The market was first held under a large
tent. The Atlanta Women’s Club raised funds for the market to have a fireproof, brick building that opened on May 1, 1924, under the name of the Municipal Market of Atlanta.
The market was initially segregated — Black vendors were only allowed to sell their goods outside along the curb. The name “Sweet Auburn Curb Market” was adopted in the 1990s as a tribute to that era and its proximity to the historically significant Auburn Avenue, the hub of Black entrepreneurism in Atlanta.
Today, the Municipal Market is a marketplace for local food vendors and small businesses selling fresh produce, meats, dairy, and baked goods. It has also evolved into a hub for local entrepreneurs. Notable restaurants such as Arepa Mia, Sweet Auburn Barbeque, Bell Street Burritos, and Grindhouse Burgers got their start there before expanding to multiple locations around the city.
“I started with a little table outside, where I used to come every Friday,” said Lis Hernandez, founder and chef of Arepa Mia, in the news release. “I am so grateful the market gave me the opportunity to open my business. It’s been amazing.”
In addition to its role in providing food and supporting small businesses, the Municipal Market of Atlanta is a cultural and historic landmark, reflecting the city’s growth and evolution over the past century, said David Y. Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center.
“This community anchor and cultural resource is not only contributing and significant to the district and city, it also is a really good place to eat,” he said.
“The city of Atlanta is investing into the Sweet Auburn Market to bolster its continued presence and ensure that a landmark of our city continues to be a place that invites and shares our identity through all the senses,” he said.
The Atlanta Municipal Market (Photo by Dyana Bagby)
SUSTAINABILITY
Finding reserves of strength in difficult times
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts… There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. - - Rachel Carson
On the first Wednesday in November, I went to the river. The political news of that morning had knocked the breath from my body and sent tears down my face—visceral responses to the outcome of the most caustic and consequential presidential election in my lifetime.
The election result wasn’t a total
surprise to me, even though I had hoped for a different outcome.
A near majority of Americans had loudly expressed unhappiness with the status quo and demanded a major shift in our country’s leadership toward a more partisan, authoritarian style of government. In history, change is the motivation for most political outcomes. What worries me—actually frightens me—is the steady decay of the truth in recent years. It has poisoned efforts to find common ground and solve problems, most consequentially the climate crisis. This aversion to the truth—to facts, data, and science—has amplified divisiveness among family, friends, and neighbors; there is no end is in sight.
I believe that policy decisions affecting our families and communities
should be based on the truth, and on honesty, fairness, kindness, and justice for all. These are the values I was taught as a child and that I have taught my sons. The anticipated shifts in federal governance appear poised to harm millions of people, especially those less fortunate—as well as the air, land, and water upon which we all depend.
Refrains of nature
I have walked the same trail in Atlanta’s “backyard” national park— the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area—for more than five years. During one of those years, I walked through the woods along Cabin Creek to its confluence with the river nearly every week, finding awe everywhere I looked, especially as the seasons changed. My journal notes from those visits spawned the idea for my book, “Keeping the Chattahoochee.”
On my post-election walk, the weather was warm, ten degrees above the “normal” average for a November day in
COMING SOON TO THE ALLIANCE THEATRE
By CHARLES DICKENS
Adapted by DAVID H. BELL
Directed by CAITLIN HARGRAVES
MORRIS
It’s not only hell that breaks loose in this groundbreaking, form-defying, laugh-out-loud new drama.
By ZORA HOWARD
Directed by LILEANA BLAIN-CRUZ
A Co-Production with Goodman Theatre
Produced in association with Sonia Friedman Productions, Khaliah Neal and Thomas Swayne
Sally Bethea
Photo by Sally Bethea
Atlanta. Trekking pole in hand, I headed downhill toward the river, hoping to banish my negative thoughts. There were "too many browser tabs open" in my cluttered, worried brain.
A soft breeze and the sweet and spicy smell of decaying leaves began to quiet my internal noise. I looked more intently around me at the fall colors of this southern forest filled with hickories, sassafras, sourwood, beech, maples, native magnolias, oaks, and sycamores. The leaves of the deciduous sassafras tree, which grow in three different shapes, have long been a favorite. Every autumn, they turn shades of red and yellow. The elliptical, watermelon-colored version of these leaves bring back memories of my childhood in a wooded neighborhood on the outskirts of Atlanta.
I marveled, as I always do, at the hundreds of bigleaf magnolia leaves dominating the forest floor with their silver undersides facing up—now allowed a view of the sky. The massive leaves lay in still, pale ponds circling slender trunks. Some, caught on branches, looked like flags and banners celebrating the cycles of life.
At a bend in Cabin Creek, I found a dozen trout fry, darting about in the clear water and hiding under fallen leaves. Over the years, as I’ve walked this trail, I’ve seen generations of these little fish—hatching, growing, and then making their way downstream to the river: the comforting, repeated refrains of nature.
What to do next?
As I continued my downhill trek
toward the river, I saw a woman walking toward me. Something in her face told me that we were both in the woods for the same reason. As a young Black woman, her experiences and challenges assuredly differed from mine, but as women and mothers of sons we found commonality in our worries about the future. We asked each other: “What is next? What do we do now?” The river and the woods were calming, but couldn’t answer our questions. We wished each other well and walked on.
At the river, I lay my jacket on the ground and sat cross-legged watching the gray-green water flow around the jagged rocks and islands on its way to the sea. I made a foolish decision and looked at my cell phone for news and messages from friends; the rapid breathing
returned.
Finally, I put the phone down to lie on the ground, just inches from the edge of the water. Gazing skyward, I scanned the tree canopy above me, watched the sun periodically emerge from gray clouds, and listened to the river. An hour or more passed. My breathing slowed. Nature’s gifts of peace and healing filled me, as my mind and body seemed to merge with the river.
I’m still searching for answers to the question of what to do next, but I know it will include greater emphasis on family, community, and nature—and that indifference and surrender will not prevail. As philosopher Albert Camus wrote: “In the depth of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”
Elsa from Broadway's Frozen Performing the hit song "Let It Go"
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Rudolph Returns Center for Puppetry Arts continues beloved holiday tradition
By Isadora Pennington
It wouldn’t be Christmas in Atlanta without “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at the Center for Puppetry Arts. This holiday tradition uses puppetry, performance, and technology to present an exciting adaptation that is faithful to the beloved 1964 stopmotion animation film.
Following the story of misfit buddies Rudolph and Hermey the Elf, the story takes viewers through a festive adventure of self-discovery. This adaptation for the stage was created by Jon Ludwig, the past artistic director of the Center for Puppetry Arts.
This year, his successor Jason Hines, who has served as the Center’s Resident Puppet Builder for 22 years, has his first opportunity to oversee the entire production.
I was recently invited to meet some of the cast and crew working behind the scenes to put on this amazing performance. On the day that I visited, I met the Center’s Executive Director Beth Schiavo, the Chief Operating Officer Sarah Dylla, “Rudolph” Director Tim Sweeney, the Rudolph puppeteer Sarah Beth Hester, and Hines.
“Puppets are radical joy,” said Hester, who sat in one of the audience seats and cradled the Rudolph puppet on her lap while we spoke. “Our job is to bring the joy, and that’s what we do,” Schiavo added.
“It’s one of the most rewarding aspects of performing the show,” continued Schiavo. “It evokes their childhood; it’s a property that people really care about and we really care about. It is so rewarding to share that love.”
By bringing this classic holiday tale to the stage, the Center for Puppetry Arts crew has managed to reach Christmas lovers both young and old. Some visitors have grown up seeing the original television special since they were little, and now they come with
I asked if he had made any significant changes to the puppets for this year’s performance, and he told me that he had been working to make the puppets lighter and easier to carry. Hines also has to ensure that the glowing nose on the Rudolph puppet is working, or else the story stops making sense.
You see, performing as a puppeteer is not for the weak. Quite literally. Holding the puppets above their heads for hours at a time multiple times a day is hard on one’s body, and Hester told me that she conditions herself for months every year so that she’s able to perform without hurting herself.
And it’s not just the weight that can prove challenging to these performers; the Abominable Snow Monster puppet does not allow the performer inside the assemblage to see. Instead, they must rely on a camera system with a small screen inside the puppet.
Visitors who come for the performance can also enjoy a selection of carefully curated puppets on display in the Festive Features special exhibition. Included in the display are whimsical puppets from The Famous Chelm Players created by New York-based puppeteer Robert Rogers. The story was developed to celebrate Jewish holidays like Hanukkah through famous Eastern European folk characters.
their children or grandchildren. This offers a unique opportunity for intergenerational connection, familial bonding, and festive celebrations.
The story also embodies not just themes of the holiday season and the story of Santa Claus, but also powerful themes of antibullying, self-acceptance, and social and emotional growth.
As we discussed the emotional and nostalgic qualities of this performance, the crew also shared insight into the process behind the scenes that brings the story to life on stage.
“The first thing we did was pull all the puppets out of storage and get them refurbished,” explained Hines as he showed me around backstage.
She also shared that she often ends up in funny positions backstage, where she and the other five puppeteers scoot around one another on rolling, padded stools during the performance. Just below what’s visible to the audience, there’s a complicated and carefully choreographed dance taking place, with performers skillfully moving about the props and other elements of the stage design.
Hines explained that everything you see on stage, including the moving of scenery, is performed by those six puppeteers. The show utilizes around 60 to 70 puppets and props, by far the highest quantity for any performance at the Center.
There are typically around 85 to 100 performances of the roughly hour-long show per season, in addition to the 18 or so rehearsals and special performances. For the puppeteers, this pace can be grueling and test your ability to be flexible, strong, and endure long periods of holding puppets steadily above their heads while also acting and singing.
Also on display are a pair of original Santa and Rudolph stop-motion puppets from the 1964 Rankin Bass television special and a special installation of Jane Henson’s Nativity Story. Jane was the wife of Jim Henson and co-founded The Jim Henson Company. This rarely-seen display showcases Henson’s creative talent and love for the story of Jesus’ birth.
As the weather turns colder outside, and we feel pulled to celebrate our beloved family and cultural holiday traditions, the performances of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at the Center for Puppetry Arts continue to warm hearts and bring families together to laugh and reminisce.
“Rudolph” runs through Dec. 29 and tickets can be purchased at the Center for Puppetry Arts at puppet.org. Additional programming includes hot cocoa and photos with Rudolph and Create-A-Puppet workshops.
Puppets are lined up backstage for a “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” performance. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)
Rudolph puppeteer Sarah Beth Hester and Rudolph with the original puppets used in the 1964 television special. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)
Bumble, the Abominable Snowmonster. (Photo by Isadora Pennington.)
Holiday Fun Guide
By Lola McGuire
Metro Atlanta is bustling with events for the holidays from now until January. Here are some of the most popular events around town suitable for the whole family. Some events and activities are free, but others may require a ticket.
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is hosting “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights,” where the grounds are twinkling with hundreds of thousands of lights. This year, new music and choreography is showcased with even more vertical lights than ever before. The event is ongoing through Jan. 12. Get tickets at atlantabg.org.
Center for Puppetry Arts
Midtown’s Center for Puppetry Arts is full
of holiday cheer now through Dec. 29. The beloved “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – a puppet version of the classic stop-motion animation TV special from 1964. Tickets can be purchased at puppet. org. (See our feature story on Page 20)
“A Christmas Carol”
The classic stage production of Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” continues through Dec. 24 at The Alliance Theatre. Tickets start at $25 at alliancetheatre.org.
Holiday Punch Variety Hour
Dad’s Garage Improv Theatre is hosting “The Holiday Punch Variety Hour,” which features musical comedy, rowdy sketches, special guests, and, of course, spiked eggnog. The show is every Friday through
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Gift Ideas for Curious Minds
Courtesy Atlanta Botanical Garden
on page 21
the holiday season, and tickets are available at dadsgarage.com.
ILLUMINIGHTS
Zoo Atlanta is hosting its magical holiday experience by filling the sky with hundreds of lanterns. The Georgia Power-sponsored event runs through Jan. 19 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets do sell out, so reserve in advance at zooatlanta.org.
Atlanta Christkindl Market
Experience a hybrid of modern-day Christmas celebration and German festivities at this one-of-a-kind market with two locations at Buckhead Village District and Galleria on the Park near The Battery. There are handcrafted goods, hot cocoa and German pretzels. Pets are welcome and pictures with Santa are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 24. Admission is free and more information can be found at christkindlmarket.org.
Callanwolde’s 2024 Winter House
Callanwolde will feature an artist market, live music, historic tours, and more holiday activities through Dec. 15. Workshops will be offered, including ornament painting, wreath making,
snowflake weaving, wheel throwing, glass etching and blacksmithing. There are even workshops with Santa. Get more details at callanwolde.org.
Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes
On the evenings of Sat., Dec. 14, and Sun., Dec. 15, families of Grant Park are opening their homes to showcase their holiday decorations. There will also be a bake sale and artisanal market for people to explore. Ticket information can be found at candlelighttourofhomes.com.
Virginia-Highland Winterfest
Head over to Va-Hi for the Tour of Lights Block Party on Dec. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m., take part in the annual Jingle Jog on Dec. 14 at 9 a.m., watch the Holiday Parade on Dec. 14 starting at 10 a.m., and get in some holiday shopping afterward at the Gift Market. There’s also a Kids Corner with bounce houses, facepainting and more. Get all the details at virginiahighlanddistrict.com.
Christmas with the ASO
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is hosting its annual holiday shows Dec. 12 to Dec. 15 with a Christmas concert led by Norman Mackenzie featuring Morehouse College Glee and Spivey Hall Children’s Choir. There are evening and matinee options to be purchased at aso.org.
The powerhouse producer educating the next generation of Georgia film professionals
By Tyra Douyon
It’s time to say the quiet part out loud: Georgia’s film industry faces an uncertain future, and that reality unnerves many in the business.
Ask anyone who works in entertainment, and they’ll tell you it’s been an unsettling year. As reported by WJBF, in 2022 the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition said there were more than 400 productions in the state with more than $4 billion invested in those productions. But data released in August shows that in 2024, that number dropped to 237 productions and $2.6 billion.
With these losses, film professionals aren’t sure when the “Hollywood of the South” will return to its glory years. Earlier this month, a major props sale from Marvel Studios highlighted yet another challenge: studios continue to scale back operations and relocate productions overseas in the aftermath of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
Linda Burns, a 30-year industry veteran and film producer said because of the slowdown, she’s seen many experienced film professionals pivot to different careers in order to support themselves.
“It’s an industry on wheels. There are good times and bad times, [but] this is the worst I’ve seen it in 30 years,” Burns said. She initially hoped for a wave of new film productions to start this fall but now she’s looking ahead to early 2025 for signs of recovery.
But Burns, a well-known Atlanta film industry heavyweight with a call sheet folder as long and varied as the city’s production history itself, is also hoping to cultivate more local talent in Georgia’s industry. She has been an instructor with the Atlanta Film Society (AFS) for over a decade and according to her resume has produced numerous films shot in the state.
internships, and mentorship if they complete the requirements. Since 2009, The PA Academy has trained over 2,000 attendees from around the country to work in the Georgia film industry.
Many people who have attended the boot camp over the years now work in various departments as lead editors, producers, and assistant directors. The program is hailed for being authentic in its approach to real-world scenarios on set and is credited for strengthening the caliber of film professionals in Atlanta to compete with Los Angeles and New York crews.
However, it’s a boot camp that refuses to pull its punches. A former boot camp attendee told Rough Draft, “We stood in a line for over 11 hours at the soundstage and only took about a 30-minute break for lunch. It’s not what I expected at all. Hearing all the different professionals speak was great, but I almost didn’t come back the next day.”
Burns and several of the guest speakers at The PA Academy in August told attendees that being on your feet for several hours is accurate to the PA experience on set, and knowing what to bring – a radio headset, multitool, gaffer tape – is essential. While other challenges may seem simple, like wearing comfortable shoes or using a walkie-talkie, they reiterated constantly that a new PA can be an asset on set, or easily become a liability if they aren’t prepared from day one.
Despite the harsh reviews, Burns remains adamant about keeping the boot camp tough, especially now that the Georgia film industry is under scrutiny by studio executives to prove its value.
Chabad Intown Celebrates Chanukah
Different menorah lights will be lit all across metro-Atlanta at the following times and locations: Virginia-Highland on Dec. 25 at 4:30 p.m.; Ponce City Market on Dec. 26 at 6 p.m.; Decatur on Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m.; and Atlantic Station on Dec. 30 at 6 pm. RSVP is required but admission is free. Find out more at chabadintown.org.
“I’ve shut down busy roads and highways to create an accident on I-85, raced a NASCAR car down Peachtree Street…and taught Himalayan monks and grade-school kids how to make movies,” Burns said.
With AFS, Burns teaches workshops, classes, and other hands-on experiences to film professionals. As more studios halt productions in Georgia, she’s part of the local crew that’s stayed behind to keep film programs running.
One of the most successful programs she created for AFS is The PA Academy. This two-day boot camp takes place every February, June, August and November and teaches aspiring production assistants (PAs) how to work behind the scenes on film sets. The biggest incentive? Attendees are given exclusive job opportunities,
“Anybody can be a PA, anybody can figure it out, but as a career, the industry is very difficult…and it’s not right for everybody,” Burns said. “Knowing in advance the challenges you’ll have to overcome prepares you to have some success. You’ll understand the realities going in.”
AFS and instructors like Burns remain dedicated to the local workforce. Their goal is to help keep the industry alive by offering professional development, hosting monthly social events like “Eat, Drink, and B-Indie” and member-only film screenings, and advocating for greater diversity among Georgia’s production crews.
Despite Atlanta’s reputation as a cultural and entertainment mecca for Black communities, the film industry could do better to incorporate diverse perspectives into production. According to Statista, in 2023, nearly 77% of those employed in the U.S. motion picture and video industries identified as white, while only about 10% identified as Black or
Courtesy Chabad Intown
Courtesy Virginia-Highland Winterfest Continued
African American. Additionally, women made up just over one-third (34.3%) of the workforce.
A few of The PA Academy guest speakers and Burns spoke about how the experience of being one of the only women or persons of color on set is still a common one in 2024.
“My biggest goal and the reason I do this is because I’m tired of seeing crew photos of white guys,” Burns said. “Our crews have certainly improved, but my long-term goal is to see Atlanta’s crews as diverse as our city.”
Burns says using The PA Academy attendee scholarships to help make these changes happen is just one step towards progress. AFS’s scholarships and financial hardship grants aim to support marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and women. These efforts are part of a broader initiative
to promote a more inclusive, diverse workforce in Georgia’s production sector.
Burns believes that while the industry holds its breath for the next big wave of opportunities, now is the time to welcome a variety of new perspectives and leadership to make progressive changes.
“Understanding that we still need to educate our legislators and hire lobbyists to talk about our industry and why it’s important and to keep it here is a big part of us continuing to move forward,” Burns said. “We should not take that work for granted.”
While some productions may have given up on the Georgia film industry, there are still thousands of committed professionals ready to answer the call sheet. Now it’s up to both local professionals and studio executives to continue investing in Atlanta film and its next chapter.
Producer Linda Burns created and runs the Atlanta Film Society’s PA Academy (Photo by Chase Anderson).
Modern-day alchemy with artist Ren Dillard
By Isadora Pennington
Ever since he was a child, Ren Dillard has been an artist. His first memory is of creating a piece of artwork on the cover of a phone book which his mother proudly hung up on the fridge before calling all her friends and relatives over to take a look. “I remember thinking to myself,
‘wow, I’m an artist,’” Dillard recalled.
Dillard grew up in Savannah, and attended Savannah State University where he majored in Mass Communications. After graduation, he worked in radio before eventually relocating to Philadelphia.
“That’s actually what really sparked my professional career,” remarked Dillard,
to him from his favorite spiritual and philosophical books. You see, throughout all the ups and downs of Dillard’s life, philosophy has been one of his major areas of focus. For his friend, faced with his own mortality, the concepts Dillard shared offered a shred of peace during his final days. For Dillard, the experience reminded him that he wanted to be closer to his family and friends.
And so, he moved once again to Atlanta, which was close enough to be present for his loved ones but far enough away for him to continue on his journey of growth and artistic achievement.
“Also, Atlanta has enough of a collector base to support my work, that was really important as well,” said Dillard. “Outside of Atlanta, I can’t think of any other cities in Georgia that can support an artist full-time.”
In the years since, Dillard has been steadily working to get his name out there, network with fellow artists and gallerists, and continue pushing his art to evolve and grow along with him. Though he originally made works using common materials he could easily find at craft supply stores, such as oil and acrylic paints, over time his practice has led him to incorporate precious metals in his pieces.
“that’s where I had my first art show.” During his tenure in Philadelphia he was inspired and moved by the colorful murals splashed across the city’s walls.
“I remember thinking to myself, ‘I can do that.’ I’ve always been an artist, you know, but I didn’t really understand the gravity of it until I was immersed in the culture of Philadelphia.”
He was honored with his first-ever solo show in the city at SMILE GALLERY, and he said he “couldn’t have had a better first show.” Though only a couple of pieces sold from the exhibit, the elation that he felt just seeing his work in a real gallery was enough to light a fire under him that continues burning to this day.
Dillard made his way back to Georgia about 12 years ago when one of his very best friends was suddenly diagnosed with a rapid onset of cancer.
“I kept feeling like I needed to get back down to Georgia, but I didn’t know why,” he said, describing the feeling as if the wind was at his back. Within days of his arrival, his friend entered the hospital and never returned home.
Dillard spent three months at his friend’s bedside, reading
I asked Dillard about the appeal of metallic substances in his work. He explained that not only does the reflective quality of metal change a piece’s appearance throughout the day, but it also offers a reflection of the viewer which essentially makes them part of the piece.
Dillard also leans heavily into the idea of alchemy, which is the ancient practice of transforming base materials like lead into gold. To transform an object from non-valuable to valuable is something that resonated with Dillard – who also pointed
Artist Ren Dillard shared his thoughts on philosophy and the power of the artist to build better futures. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)
Detail of artwork by Ren Dillard. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)
out the correlation to the transformation of a blank canvas into a piece of art – and the theme began to have an impact on his practice.
“One through-line that still persists in my work is trying to translate philosophy and higher philosophic ideals to people who look like me. There are a lot of brothers that I know are out there playing basketball and are never exposed to these grandiose philosophical ideas about the meaning of life. If my work means anything it’s to translate those ideas to people who wouldn’t think about it otherwise,” said Dillard. “It started out that way and it’s still a central theme in my work.”
A selection of Dillard’s works is currently on exhibit at the new joint gallery space shared by Mason Fine Art and Marcia Wood Gallery on Miami Circle. While the majority of the works reflect his mixed media style, depicting mostly Black female figures in various settings attending an all-white party, ascending above the skyline of a city, in an intimate embrace, there are also several that showcase Dillard’s evolution toward silhouettes.
Dillard explained that the alchemy and transfusion present in his works is also a nod to the experience of Black people in Western society. “The Black people in particular on this continent have been under so much pressure since we first set foot on this soil,” Dillard explained.
“Pressure can either burst pipes or create diamonds. I like to think that this work is a representation of the pressure creating diamonds. A lot of the figures have halos, which in Renaissance paintings indicates enlightenment or divinity. My idea is that all of the pressure that Black people have been put under on this soil; I like to think that the fruition of it is us actually blossoming into these divine beings.”
On an average day, Dillard is working on five or six pieces simultaneously.
“Sometimes what I’ll do is spend two months cutting, cutting, cutting, and I have bins in my studio with body parts, heads, buildings,” he said with a laugh.
He starts each piece by laying the ground, choosing which metallic shades the background will be, and then arranges the in-progress pieces in his studio so that he will have to walk past them. Dillard told me that he doesn’t usually know what the composition will become, and instead he allows the ideas to come to him.
“Slowly but surely they start to emerge.”
Expressing himself in multiple
mediums, including oil paintings, collage, and spoken word, he continues to explore themes of philosophy and futurism. Some of his favorite philosophers include Alan Watts, Joseph Campbell, and Dr. Frances Cress Welsing. He explained that it is important for the audience to not only see themselves represented in the work, but especially in positions of enlightenment, freedom, and evolution.
“It’s going to touch everybody differently, and I think that’s important,” mused Dillard. “At the end of the day, art
is perspective.”
Dillard is steadily working on curating another exhibition with his friend and colleague Tracy Murrell.
The fourth iteration of “The Next 100 Years,” a group show at Path Museum, is planned for sometime in Spring of 2025. Featuring “some of the dopest African American artists in Atlanta” according to Dillard, the exhibition will explore visions of a future that may yet come to pass.
Dillard’s work on exhibition at Mason Fine Art (Photo by Isadora Pennington)
Painted Park opens on Beltline
By Beth McKibben
“It’s a party in the front, party in the back situation,” Justin Amick said of Painted Park, now open along one of the busiest stretches of the Eastside Beltline in Inman Park. The two-story “eatertainment” concept is the latest from Amick and William Stallworth, the duo behind The Painted Pin, Painted Duck, and Painted Pickle in Atlanta.
For their latest venture together, Amick and Stallworth transformed the circa 1890 Atlanta Pipe and Foundry Company building on North Highland into a two-story establishment with two bars, a gaming parlour, two covered patios, a full-service kitchen, and a sprawling outdoor hangout space with a tunnel connecting Painted Park to the Beltline.
But the historic Inman Park structure includes a personal connection for Amick. Until 2021, it was home to The Brasserie and Neighborhood Cafe at Parish, owned by his father, Bob Amick, and Concentrics Restaurants.
Parish is where the younger Amick worked as the general manager for years before founding Painted Hospitality with Stallworth. Amick met three longtime Painted Hospitality staff members while working at Parish, including Executive Chef Thomas Collins, Director of Service Jessica Rucco, and Director of Operations Robert Nonemarker. Stallworth did his management training at Parish, too.
Amick doesn’t describe Painted Park as a restaurant and bar, rather calling it “a recreational place of assembly and green space” for people 21+. He and Stallworth spent three years on a painstaking renovation, while trying to retain as much
of the historic charm and character of the historic building as possible.
They took out the narrow parking lot on the west side of the building, turning it into a garden patio that connects to another outdoor hangout spot fronting the Beltline. The hedged green space features a gazebo bar, outdoor fire pits, and multiple TVs. Two covered patios with gas fireplaces were retrofitted onto the back of the building facing the trail.
“We didn’t want to take away from that beautiful aesthetic of the building or what we’ve got going on outside by installing lawn games. We want that to be a great place to peel off the Beltline for a pint or a Miami Vice slushie or glass of wine outside,” said Amick. “It’s completely full service inside with food and drinks. Games are in a separate area downstairs.”
To limit being a nuisance to their neighbors in the condos surrounding Painted Park – or violating easements —
Amick and Stallworth had an underground tunnel constructed. People walk down a small set of stairs in the green space along the Beltline as they enter Painted Park. Essentially a hallway decorated with a 3D mural, the tunnel then leads to a small staircase bringing people up to the lower covered patio, bypassing the outside seating areas.
Outdoor seating closes at 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings. It should help keep the noise level down at night and keep Painted Park on good terms with its neighbors, Amick said.
Inside, the transformation of the building continues. There are now two bars upstairs, including an expansion of the former Parish bar in the main dining room and a smaller, horseshoe-shaped bar in the solarium addition. That bar also includes the large antique gold mirror that once hung behind the bar at Parish.
There’s a floating DJ booth above the dining room and lounge. The front dining room becomes a dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights.
More nods to Parish and the history of the Atlanta Pipe and Foundry Company building can be seen in the preservation of the brick walls, the tinned ceilings, and the large French doors in the back of Painted Park. The old market table from the cafe at Parish resides on the covered patio upstairs at Painted Park.
The lower level of Painted Park houses complimentary games, including skee-ball, darts, ping pong, and table shuffleboard, along with board games, poker chips, dice, and cards.
A second staircase was added just off the solarium and connects to the underground tunnel. Amick said this new staircase adds less form but more function to Painted Park. The existing staircase would often clog with food runners from the Parish kitchen and patrons headed to the restrooms below the dining room.
“This is a historic structure and one of the prettiest buildings on the Beltline, so we wanted to keep some tie-ins to its past and to Parish but make it more sophisticated,” Amick said of the renovation. “There are so many different atmospheres and vibes to enjoy at Painted Park but it still feels like a cohesive establishment.”
As for food, the menu is full of crowdpleasers like loaded fries, a Cobb salad, and sandwiches such as a triple-decker turkey club, meatball sub, and Juicy Lucy-style cheeseburger. Look for entrees like moules frites, hanger steak, and Airline Chicken souped up with beurre blanc sauce. For dessert, the tunnel cake riffs on the iconic carnival funnel cake made with Nutella
The intimate mirror bar upstairs at Painted Park. (Courtesy of Painted Park)
One of two patios at Painted Park facing the Eastside Beltline. (Courtesy of Painted Park)
Airline chicken with sweet potato fries. (Courtesy of Painted Park)
sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Longtime Atlanta barman and former Pinewood and The Mercury owner Julian Goglia offers a cocktail menu filled with classics such as the Vieux Carre, Gimlet, and New York Sour alongside frozen drinks like the Miami Vice, a trio of composed shots, and nonalcoholic concoctions. Goglia pays tribute to the Pinewood’s most popular cocktail, Goonies Never Say Die, adding it to the menu at Painted Park. The cocktail mixes bourbon with grains of paradise, velvet falernum, lime, and ginger. Beer and wine are also available.
“We’ve intentionally opened places in the past that are a bit hidden away but close to Main Street or closer to big attractions in Atlanta,” Amick said of Painted Park. “We’re coming to this location for very different reasons. And it’s definitely a full-circle moment for me in my career.”
“I’m sitting here looking into the solarium overlooking the park and just looking at all the people walking and biking and jogging by,” Amick continued. “We want this to be a place to relax and hang out on the Beltline. If we’re going to go Main on Main, this was the location to do it.”
Intown breakfast spot Java Jive to close after 30 years on Ponce
By Beth McKibben
Beloved breakfast institution Java Jive will close after 30 years on Ponce de Leon Avenue on the edge of Virginia-Highland.
Owners Steven Horwitz and Shira Levetan announced the closure on Instagram, noting it will take place after service on Sunday, Dec. 22. Horwitz and Levetan did not provide a reason for the closure in the social media post.
Java Jive opened in 1994. The cashonly restaurant became known for its big, fluffy biscuits and egg dishes like the Greek omelet and Sante Fe breakfast scramble.
The retro vibe at Java Jive, with its kitschy decor and vintage dinette tables, continues to attract people to the restaurant, who come for the friendly service from the couple and their staff as much as they do for the hearty breakfast fare and bottomless cups of coffee. Horwitz and Levetan pride themselves on knowing their regulars by name, along with their orders. And no one seems to mind that Java Jive is still cash-only.
Rough Draft reached out to Horwitz and Levetan for comment on the closure, but had not received a reply at press time.
Java Jive marks the second closure of a longtime (and much-loved) Atlanta restaurant over the last month. On Nov.
16, Mi Barrio Mexican restaurant closed after 21 years on Memorial Drive in Grant Park. Owners Jesus and Martha Lopez retired from the business.
Earlier this year, the previous owners of The Colonnade on Cheshire Bridge Road gave Atlantans a scare when they announced the sale of the nearly century-old restaurant. At the time of the sale announcement, many feared The Colonnade would fall victim to the wrecking ball, with the property possibly being redeveloped into condos or a mixeduse complex.
Former owners Jodi and David Stallings assured people that The Colonnade would live on under new ownership to preserve its legacy. They handed the keys to the restaurant over to regulars Lewis Jeffries and Paul Donahue, who became only the third owners of the Cheshire Bridge Road dining institution in its 97-year history.
Jeffries and Donahue, owners of Lingering Shade Social Club on Irwin Street, have been dining at The Colonnade for decades. Other than bringing back some popular items from the past, the menu remains intact. Donahue and Jeffries also plan to make some needed updates and improvements and give the dining room and lounge a minor refresh.
Courtesy Java Jive
Manuel’s Tavern is Atlanta’s unofficial election hub
By Beth McKibben
Manuel’s Tavern hasn’t missed hosting an election night watch party since Brian Maloof’s father, founder of the North Highland Avenue restaurant and bar, began the annual tradition in the mid1970s.
The late Manuel Maloof, who served as CEO and Commission Chairman of DeKalb County for years, was considered the “godfather” of the Democrats in Georgia. Manuel’s Tavern became a campaign stop for presidents like Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama who popped in for a beer, a round of darts, and to chat with everyday citizens.
A symbiotic relationship formed at Manuel’s Tavern between journalists hanging out at the bar sniffing around for stories and politicians conspicuously grabbing a meal or rolling up their shirt sleeves to casually stump for votes in Atlanta.
After nearly 70 years in business, the
Poncey-Highland watering hole is now considered the city’s unofficial Election Day hub – a civic institution where hundreds upon hundreds of people gather throughout the year for political debates, low-key campaign rallies, or to watch the returns roll in on election night.
Election night sees Manuel’s Tavern doing four to five times the business it typically does on an average Tuesday, especially during a presidential election cycle. General manager Steve Pitts has worked at Manuel’s Tavern on and off for 30 years and equates Election Day sales to that of three weekend days.
“We consider Manuel’s Tavern as sort of a civic institution, more than a business. Someone once called us ‘a town hall with beer’,” Pitts said.
Until the early aughts, crowds gathering to watch election night results at Manuel’s Tavern could mostly be contained inside. That changed following the 2000 presidential election
between Al Gore (D) and George W. Bush (R). The race was too close to call in Florida, triggering an automatic recount. Multiple recounts ensued over the coming weeks and court battles commenced. The nation learned about “hanging chads” (particles of paper precariously dangling from manually punched paper ballots). It took nearly six weeks to eventually certify Bush as the winner in Florida and of the presidency.
In 2008, close to 700 people gathered at Manuel’s Tavern to watch a historic election night in America. Barack Obama would become the country’s first Black president. Despite taking over the entire parking lot behind the building and ordering over a dozen large folding tables and 150 chairs to accommodate the crowds outside, people just kept coming that night.
“The crowd in the parking lot was enormous. I took a picture from the roof at one point and it really surprised me how big the turnout was. Unforgettable,”
dwindling, and Maloof was losing hope of saving the tavern.
Regulars stepped up on behalf of Maloof and his staff, including longtime patron Angelo Fuster, who launched a “Save Manuel’s Tavern” GoFundMe campaign. The online fundraiser netted just over $187,000.
“Manuel’s is a wonderful, comfortable, homey place. It’s very humble,” Maloof said of why Manuel’s Tavern means so much to people. “On election night, we take a lot of pride in being the common man’s watch party spot.”
Pitts said preparations for Election Day often begin a year in advance with cycles featuring a presidential race on the ballot. Chairs and tables and large screen televisions are rented for the outdoor portion of the party in the parking lot and extra ingredients beer, and booze and extra ingredients beer, and booze are ordered. They pare down the menu to keep the kitchen running fast and efficiently. That means no multi-station food items like the half-pound dogzilla hot dog and loaded nachos on Election Day.
Outside, cooks man a large portable grill, and bartenders serve canned beer and cocktails from the parking lot bar. This year, Maloof decided to show results outside on flat-panel TVs with amplified sound, rather than huge inflatable projection televisions that in the past proved no match for the bright lights surrounding the parking lot.
Brian Maloof said. “It was so packed, people were sitting on empty kegs and on the ground.”
“Suddenly a huge truck showed up and dropped off more chairs and tables,” he recalled of the memorable election night party. “An anonymous customer had rented them for us. To this day, I still have no idea who did it.”
Maloof believes the 2008 election night party still holds the record for the single biggest sales day in the history of Manuel’s Tavern.
Even after losing 2,000 square feet during a 2016 renovation, which transformed the eastern corner of Manuel’s Tavern into a space now home to Elemental Spirits Co. bottle shop, the party continued on election night without skipping a beat.
But in 2020, Atlanta almost lost Manuel’s Tavern to the pandemic. Sales were down over 60% and the bar was losing an average of $25,000 a month. Costs were piling up, staff was
An Election Day first for Maloof in 2024 included a television interview and fielding calls from journalists from countries like Japan, Australia, and Sweden asking him how to procure press credentials for the election night party. Georgia’s swing state status in 2024 brought worldwide media attention. He politely told each news outlet that the party was very laidback and to “just come and enjoy yourself.”
People start showing up to grab seats at the bar and at tables inside well before the polls close on Election Day. The crowd begins to swell around 7 p.m., spilling out into the parking lot. For people coming to Manuel’s Tavern later in the evening, Maloof advises bringing a lawn chair to ensure having a place to sit outside. Otherwise, it’s standingroom only.
“So many people have passed through these doors through the years, including John Lewis and Jimmy Carter,” Pitts said. “On the one hand, you can call election night at Manuel’s Tavern just business, but to us, it’s an important civic event for the community and we’re so proud of that.”
Manuel’s Tavern, 602 North Highland Avenue, Poncey-Highland.
Inside at Manuel’s Tavern during the 2016 election night party. (Courtesy of Manuel’s Tavern)
Signed photograph of former president and Georgia governor Jimmy Carter at Manuel’s Tavern. (Courtesy of Manuel’s Tavern)
By Beth McKibben
Chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter, owners of Summerhill Thai restaurant Talat Market, plan to open Thai bar Some Luck early next summer in Poncey-Highland.
Taking over the Highland Ballroom Lounge space beneath the Highland Inn, now Otto’s Apartment Hotel, Some Luck will serve a decidedly Thai-focused menu featuring bar snacks, noodle soups, wings, and late-night food inspired by dishes found at street stalls throughout Thailand.
let him know if that space became available, call me.”
A little over a year later, the call came in, and they were under contract to open Some Luck in the iconic Highland Ballroom Lounge.
At Some Luck, Savang and Lassiter will lean hard into Thai flavors and street foods, including a couple of large, sharable dishes and spicy soups with more acidic flavor profiles like those found in northeast Thailand. The bar will open for lunch and dinner, with food available for delivery via Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Savang and Lassiter wanted to tie Atlanta, Georgia, and Thailand together at the new bar, just as they did with their Summerhill restaurant.
For Talat Market, this intentionality includes creating Thai dishes using Georgiagrown produce and local ingredients and opening inside a space once home to a Korean grocery in the neighborhood. Lassiter often frequented the Summerhill store with a friend when he first moved to Atlanta. Years later, when the space became available for lease, he convinced Savang that’s where they should open Talat Market.
Some Luck plays off the name of boxer Somluck Kamsing, who won Thailand’s first-ever gold medal in the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta. Like the Talat Market space, the Highland Ballroom Lounge also carries special memories for Lassiter.
“I’m very sentimental and our landlord knows that. He helped us with Talat Market,” said Lassiter. “Before moving to Atlanta, I visited my cousins here and would stay at the Highland Inn and go to the bar there.”
“This landlord and his group do a great job with finding cool buildings and fixing them up, finding the right tenants, and trying to do right by the neighborhood,” he added. “They had the opportunity to buy the Highland Inn and Highland Row, and I
After 10 p.m., Some Luck will begin serving a late-night menu aimed at night owls and restaurant industry workers looking for a post-shift meal.
Expect quick-fired, stirred cocktails mixed with Thai ingredients and base spirits like rum, pitchers of ice-cold Singha beer, and local beers on draft.
“It’s going to have dive bar vibes, especially late at night, and we’re just not going to hold back with the Thai flavors here,” Savang said. “We want flavors and spice to kind of punch you in the face. We want this place to be packed and get people fed quickly.”
Lassiter and Savang are still playing with the design for Some Luck, but want to leave elements of the Highland Ballroom intact, including checkerboard flooring throughout the dining room and bar, hexagon flooring in the bathroom, and several vintage light fixtures. The space will feature lush greens from tropical plants and bright pops of color from pink and yellow neon, similar to the color scheme in the Talat Market logo.
The main bar will seat up to 25 people, with additional seating at booths in the lounge and at a bar once part of a private events space at Highland Ballroom.
“We’re going to paint some walls and clean it up a bit, make it a bit more lively, but without changing too much of what made the Highland Ballroom cool,” said Lassiter. “We kind of want it to look like we just came in, dusted it off, and opened the doors.”
It’s been a momentous 12 months for the chefs and Talat Market.
Savang and Lassiter were the lone Atlanta and Georgia representatives at the James Beard Awards this year. They were nominated for Best Chef: Southeast. The award went to Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge in Charleston, West Virginia.
Michelin recognized Talat Market in the 2023 and 2024 dining guides to Atlanta, listing it as a recommended restaurant.
Chefs Parnass Savang (L) and Rod Lassiter (R) standing outside of the former Highland Ballroom. (Courtesy of Some Luck)
Final phase of Star Metals includes 33-story residential tower, lush greenery
By Dyana Bagby
Plans for the final phase of the Star Metals District in West Midtown include a 33-story residential tower. If approved, the new building would be the tallest in the neighborhood.
Florida-based Allen Morris Company and its joint venture development partner, Atlanta-based Animal, are seeking to build three mixed-used buildings at Star Metals District, according to the Atlanta JournalConstitution.
The three proposed buildings would add 800 more residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail space, 200 hotel rooms and a public plaza with pedestrian pathways.
Renderings of the buildings show lush foliage on balconies and tree-lined paths.
The developers, however, need a variance from the city to build the 33-story building. The district caps new construction at 225 feet and the
proposed tower would be 340 feet high.
City officials could vote on the variance in December.
“The height variance is being requested to enable the applicant to provide increased pedestrian-activated space at the sidewalk level,” says the variance request application to the city.
“In exchange for the additional building height, the applicant proposes to reduce allowable building coverage from 85% to 60% (excluding belowgrade parking) rather than spreading the allowed development horizontally across the site. The areas not improved with buildings are intended to provide pedestrian accessible spaces including plazas, restaurant patios and pedestrian amenities,” according to the application.
Star Metals District spans just over three acres along Howell Mill Road and already includes an office building and an apartment tower. Another apartment tower, Stella, is under construction.
34-story student tower planned for Varsity parking lot
Properties. The restaurant and its parking deck would remain a fixture at the corner of Spring Street and North Avenue.
at 680 Spring St. NW to Athens-based Landmark
Located just steps from the Georgia Tech campus, the 34-story student tower would have 560 units and offer amenities such as a pool, fitness center, and study space. The ground floor would have commercial and retail space, plus its own
parking deck.
The Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC) got its first look at plans for the project on Nov. 12.
Among its recommendations, the DRC asked the developer to improve visibility and access to the retail spaces fronting Spring Street; decrease the size of the parking deck and number of parking
spaces; and shift the extension of Ponce de Leon Avenue into the property slightly northward for better alignment, and a new 4’ wide tree-lined landscape buffer adjacent to The Varsity’s parking deck.
The Gordy family has operated The Varsity – world-renowned for its hot dogs, onion rings, and Frosted Orange drink –since 1928.
By Collin Kelley
A large parking lot adjacent to The Varsity in Midtown could become home to a student housing tower.
The Gordy family, which owns the fast-food icon, is under contract to sell the two-acre parking lot located
Renderings of the planned final phase of Star Metals District in West Midtown. (Allen Morris Company/Oppenheim Architecture)
Renderings of the proposed student tower at 680 Spring Street. (Courtesy DRC)
Beltline envisions affordable housing near Westside Park
By Collin Kelley
Atlanta Beltline Inc. filed paperwork last week outlining a $270 million plan to develop affordable housing on a 31-acre site near Westside Park.
According to the Atlanta JournalConstitution, the Beltline acquired 425 Chappell Rd. three years ago for nearly $26 million. The Beltline’s plan includes 1,100 residences on the site, with nearly a third reserved as affordable housing, plus 5,000 square feet of commercial space.
“(The Beltline) has worked closely with the city of Atlanta to develop a master plan for both (425 Chappell Rd.) as well as the city of Atlanta’s (30-plus)
acres of land adjacent to the site,” Dennis Richards Jr., Vice President of Housing Policy and Development for the Beltline, said in an email to the AJC. “We also worked to ensure plans for the site include connectivity with Maddox Park, the Bankhead MARTA station, the Atlanta Beltline and the Proctor Creek Greenway.”
The Beltline bought the land in 2021 from developer Brock Built Homes after its plan to build 450 apartments and 242 townhomes didn’t pan out. However, Beltline officials told the AJC their vision would take inspiration from Brock Built Homes’ plan, but it probably would include more density and a focus on affordable housing.
Kolter Urban plans 19-story condo tower in Buckhead
By Dyana Bagby
A Florida-based developer wants to build a 19-story condominium tower next to the St. Regis Atlanta hotel in Buckhead.
Kolter Urban has filed plans with the city to build the tower at 102 West Paces Ferry Road. The building would include 198 units, ground-floor amenities and a parking deck with 448 spaces.
Kolter Urban representatives presented its proposal in November to the Development Review Committee for Special Public Interest District 9 zoning area.
A small shopping center stands on the 3.3-acre site. Kolter Urban would demolish the shopping center to make room for its new development.
There would be 12 one-bedroom, 108 two-bedroom and 78 three-bedroom units, according to the plans.
The architect for the project is Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio.
Kolter Urban has found success in the Buckhead luxury condo market. In 2022, it built the 22-story Graydon
Buckhead tower at 2520 Peachtree Road and is nearing completion of The Dillon, an 18-story building at 2395 Peachtree Road.
Renderings of the 19-story condominium towner planned to be built at 102 West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. (Kolter Urban/Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio, LLC)
