Atlanta Intown - March 2024

Atlanta Intown

Editorial

Collin Kelley

Executive Editor

Beth McKibben

Editor-in-Chief

Sr. Editor Food & Dining

Cathy Cobbs

Managing Editor, Reporter Newspapers

Sammie Purcell

Associate Editor

Staff Writers

Dyana Bagby, Katie Burkholder, Bob Pepalis, Logan C. Ritchie, Sarra Sedghi

Contributors

Sally Bethea, Melody Harclerode, Isadora Pennington, Laura Scholz

Keith Pepper Publisher keith@roughdraftatlanta.com

Neal Maziar

Chief Revenue Officer neal@roughdraftatlanta.com

Rico Figliolini

Creative Director

Circulation

Each month, 27,000 copies of Atlanta Intown are mailed to homes and distributed to businesses in and around ZIP codes 30306, 30307, 30308, 30309, 30324 and 30329. For delivery information, delivery@roughdraftatlanta.com

To subscribe to home delivery, ($125 / year) email delivery@roughdraftatlanta.com

RoughDraftAtlanta.com

Suzanne Purcell Sr. Account Manager suzanne@roughdraftatlanta.com

Discover the vibrant culture of Black Atlanta with AJC’s UATL. It’s all about U.

Nestled in the heart of sought-after Druid Hills with prize-winning schools, a few blocks from Emory Village, Emory University and the CDC, this whimsical charmer includes a private upstairs primary suite, three bedrooms and two bathrooms on the main level, a renovated kitchen, a walkout backyard with an inviting terrace and gardens and a

EDITOR'S NOTE

Packing out, packing in

In my December column, I wrote about my condo flood after technicians installing my new HVAC system accidentally torched a sprinkler head.

EDITOR'S

NOTE

response.

While the refund was processing, I wound up in a hotel for the night until I could secure another Airbnb. I settled on a house within walking distance of East Atlanta Village. Thankfully, it was quiet and comfortable. I also rediscovered my love of Grant Central Pizza.

While the spray of water was contained in the HVAC closet, the torrent of water quickly flooded into the condo until there was about a half-inch of water soaking my wood floors. During the week it took to dry out the unit, it became obvious the floor would have to be replaced due to buckling, discoloration, and other damage.

I put off the renovation work until after the holidays because my contractor said it would take at least a week and I’d have to pack up my entire condo and move out during the process.

I hate moving with a passion. Before I bought this condo in 2021, I had lived in the same apartment for 16 years – mainly because the idea of packing up all my junk and hauling it somewhere else made me want to throw up.

I swore once I got into this condo, I wasn’t going to move again. I got rid of all my storage bins and boxes with a great sense of relief. Luckily, my friend who took my bins and boxes was happy to loan them back to me when it was time to bug out again.

Fast forward to the end of January, and I was knee-deep in insurance claims and floor samples. I went with bamboo flooring again but with wider planks and an ash-blonde shade. In the middle of packing, I thought about selling the place (New floors! New HVAC!) and going back to an apartment. I don’t care what anybody says: property is a burden.

Insurance covered the “pack out” of my place, but I was on edge the entire time as the moving crew packed up my books, vinyl, and other treasures. Of course, I wound up taking a few bins of cherished items and boxes of personal papers with me to the Airbnb because I thought they would be damaged or I’d never see them again.

The repair and renovation work was finished ahead of schedule and the floors really are beautiful. While the moving crew put everything back in place during the “pack in,” it still took more than a week to get everything rearranged and organized before it felt like home again.

Amid the chaos, the March issue of Atlanta Intown came together, including our cover story on nonprofit Open Hand opening its new headquarters in West Midtown. My uncle was a recipient of meals from Open Hand in the early 1990s as he succumbed to AIDS, so I am pleased that this vital organization is still providing food to those with chronic illnesses.

If you’re ready for Spring (and who isn’t after almost back-to-back winter storms?), we’ve got a calendar of upcoming theatre, music and visual arts events that will get you out of the house all season long. I’m crossing off two more bucket list items by seeing Kylie Minogue and Alison Moyet in April.

Ah, yes, the Airbnb. I thought I had lucked out by snagging an apartment within walking distance of my condo in Midtown, but that luck quickly turned sour – or should I say rank. As soon as I walked into the place, the stench of sewage was thick. In the bathroom, a backed-up toilet – with a plunger lodged in it – sent me fleeing from the apartment.

“I’ve got a plumber coming at 6 p.m.,” the unit owner texted me.

“You’ve got a guest leaving at 4,” was my

This month’s dining section has features on the regulars at Poor Hendrix, the return of Girl Scout Cookie season (I can devour a box of Thin Mints in one sitting), and news that the owners of Lucian Books & Wine in Buckhead are opening a similar concept on the Beltline Eastside Trail.

Finally, there’s a lot of chaos and uncertainty in the world right now, so remember to take a moment to breathe, get out of the house, reconnect with your friends and loved ones, and indulge in some self-care.

Brian So of Spring

Photo by Collin Kelley

Collin Kelley

Open Hand expands,

By Katie Burkholder

When Michael Edwards-Pruitt founded Open Hand in 1988, he wanted to cook and deliver meals to his friends who were dying from AIDS and, thus, too sick to cook for themselves.

The project began in the kitchen of

a church with 14 friends, and in the 37 years since, it has grown into a nonprofit organization sending 5,000 made-fromscratch meals a day to people living with serious chronic health conditions.

“We’re all about healthy here,” Open Hand CEO Matthew Pieper told Rough Draft. “Everything we do is through the

‘food as medicine’ lens. The meals that we cook have very few preservatives, very few canned goods.”

Meals are made from scratch at Open Hand by a team of skilled staff and around 60 volunteers every day and designed by registered dieticians to meet the specific nutritional targets that individuals need. Along with delivering frozen, heat-and-eat meals across Atlanta, the organization also provides nutrition counseling to its clients with HIV, heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, cancer, and other conditions.

“We’re going to teach you the kind of meals you need to eat and why, we’ll help explain [what] is going to help you absorb your medications or tolerate chemo better or tolerate radiation [for example],” Pieper said.

In October 2024, Open Hand announced the relocation and expansion of its headquarters to West Midtown, near Westside Reservoir Park. The new 43,000-square-foot facility, equipped with a 75 percent increase in storage, 100 percent increase in warehouse space, and seven more loading docks, allows for more efficient and expansive service to the people relying on the organization’s work.

“We’ve built a lot of capacity here,” Pieper said. “We won’t have to move for another 75 years.”

Along with making their day-to-day operations easier and more cost-efficient, Open Hand’s expansion has extended to the services they offer the community. They have introduced the Stephen Woods Workforce Development Program, a project aimed at empowering unemployed and underemployed individuals with the skills and resources necessary to thrive in the food service industry. They have also kicked off a cooking course with clients of Covenant House, an organization supporting young people facing homelessness that’s located across the street from Open Hand, to teach them how to grocery shop and cook nutritious meals at home.

According to data from the USDA, 13.5 percent of households in the U.S. were food-insecure, meaning they did not have access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all members of the household. From 2019-2021, Georgia had an average of 4.2 million households facing food insecurity, the ninth worst rate in the country, and even among those who are food secure, data show that most American adults are not meeting nutritional recommendations; according to findings from a 2022 CDC study, 12.3 percent and 10 percent of adults met fruit and vegetable recommendations, respectively.

For those facing chronic health conditions, the support of Open Hand’s nutritional education and meal delivery is crucial – not just to their physical health, but their mental health as well.

“Food is love, and that’s biblical. In biblical times, when someone’s ill, what’s one way to show them that they’re cared about? Bring them a meal, cook them a meal,” Pieper said. “…That’s why [Edwards-Pruitt] founded Project Open Hand. He was horrified that so many people dying of AIDS were being ostracized, marginalized, thrown out of their homes, fired from their jobs, abandoned by their friends… He thought if there are no treatments for people with HIV, at least we can cook them a meal. A lot of individuals who are dealing with serious illness are also battling depression, and it really makes a difference to have someone come deliver a meal.”

Those not facing serious health issues can still benefit from Open Hand’s “food as medicine” philosophy, as well as support their work, by purchasing meals from Good Measure. You can get delicious and nutritious meals like turkey tetrazzini, chicken and asparagus risotto, and beef stir fry delivered to your door, with 100 percent of profits benefiting Open Hand.

To learn more about Open Hand, visit openhandatlanta.org.

Volunteers at work inside the new Open Hand facility in West Midtown. (Photo by Addison Hill Photography)

With their new 43,000-square-foot facility, Open Hand can deliver more healthy meals to Atlantans with chronic health conditions. (Photo by Addison Hill Photography)

The City of Atlantaw’s Inspector General Shannon Manigault resigned Feb. 17 stating she and her staff have been consistently harassed for months because their investigations “uncovered corruption at the highest rungs of city hall.” The same day, city council approved revisions to the powers of the office of inspector general.

Atlanta City Council President Doug Shipman announced Feb. 12 that he will not be seeking re-election in November due to family medical emergencies. Shipman was elected to helm the city council in 2021. The entire council and mayor are up for reelection in November.

Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were fired on Feb. 15 as part of the Trump administration’s purge of federal workers. Feeling the pinch from soaring egg prices due to the bird flu outbreak, Waffle House is now adding a 50 cent per egg surcharge across all menus.

Atlanta Medical Center demolition to begin in spring, paving way for redevelopment

By Dyana Bagby

Demolition is slated to begin soon on portions of the shuttered Atlanta Medical Center as developers prepare the site for a mixed-use development.

The Integral Group and Wellstar Health System have announced that Ferma Corporation will lead the demolition work of the 22-acre site located in the historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, according to a report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Trinity Green and Atlanta Demolition will work

with Ferma.

“The demolition phase represents the groundwork for transformation,” said Eric Pinckney, senior vice president at Integral, according to the AJC. “Our commitment is to deliver a redevelopment that aligns with the values and aspirations of those who live and work here.”

The first phase of demolition will begin with “unsafe and unusable facilities,” including a circular parking structure, according to the AJC. Preliminary site preparation was scheduled to begin in early February and visible demolition

could start in March. The entire demolition project is expected to last until late 2025.

Integral officials have said a majority of the hospital could be demolished. Some of the campus’ towers may be preserved for conversion into other uses, according to the AJC.

Wellstar abruptly closed the 120-yearold hospital in December 2022, citing major financial losses. The announcement shocked Atlanta leaders and left the region with Grady Memorial Hospital as the only Level 1 trauma center.

Mayor Andre Dickens immediately called for a moratorium on new development on the prime real estate in rapidly evolving Old Fourth Ward. The Atlanta City Council approved a series of development moratoriums that lasted almost two years.

In September, the city council approved the Atlanta Medical Center Small Area Plan, a concept plan to redevelop the hospital property that includes more than 2 million square feet of housing, several hundred thousand square feet of commercial uses, public green spaces, and medical and hospital facilities.

In October, Wellstar announced that

Integral would lead the redevelopment of the AMC site into a revitalized community with housing, retail and health care resources.

Wellstar, owner of the AMC property, said the redevelopment of the site would be “guided” by the city’s concept plan.

David Y. Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, decried the loss of the mid-century buildings.

“The Atlanta Medical Center –formerly Georgia Baptist Hospital – is a community, neighborhood and city asset. Its proximity to our urban centers makes it ideally suited to provide ample accommodation/ housing by way of adaptive reuse with Historic Preservation,” Mitchell said in a statement. “The lack of exploring opportunities to utilize this significant mid-century building sets a concerning tone for demolishing what we have a great deal of in Atlanta. We hope that the majority of the Georgia Baptist Hospital will not be razed and that thoughtful inclusion of this space can be infused into a development that does respect the aspirations and values of those that live and work there and for all of us that call Atlanta home.”

Atlanta Medical Center in Old Fourth Ward. (Photo by Dyana Bagby)

City renames Westside Reservoir Park to honor former Mayor Shirley Franklin

By Dyana Bagby

Atlanta’s largest green space is being renamed for former Mayor Shirley Franklin.

The Atlanta City Council approved an ordinance in February to rename Westside Reservoir Park to “Shirley Clarke Franklin Park.”

In 2016, the city began drilling what was known as the Bellwood Quarry, located between Bankhead and West Midtown, into a 2.4 billion gallon reservoir. The quarry was a popular spot for filming and was seen in “The Walking Dead,” “The Hunger Games” and “Stranger Things.”

The city then developed the roughly 300 acres around it into Atlanta’s largest park – Westside Reservoir Park. After five years of work, the park opened in 2021.

The ordinance to rename Westside Reservoir Park includes comments from Neighborhood Planning Unit G in northwest Atlanta with members saying they opposed the idea of naming the park “after a political figure or living person.” Comments were also made there was a lack of community engagement.

The council also approved an ordinance renaming Downtown’s Central Avenue to “Shirley Clarke Franklin Boulevard.” Central Avenue runs alongside City Hall between Decatur Street and Pryor Street.

The renaming of the park and street were recommendations made by a commission to honor the city’s 58th mayor. A survey on the city’s website had asked participants to check a box asking if they wanted to honor the

former mayor by naming a street, building, park or “other” after her.

Franklin served two terms, from 2002 through 2010. She was the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major urban city in the south.

During her tenure, Franklin prioritized fixing Atlanta’s sewer system. The city also purchased the former Bellwood Quarry site that became Westside Reservoir Park while she was mayor.

“It’s with great pride that we permanently weave Mayor Franklin’s name into the fabric of Atlanta. This honor serves as a constant reminder of her visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to public service, and the positive impact she’s had on generations of Atlantans,” council member Andrea Boone said in a statement.

“[Mayor Franklin] led efforts to enhance Atlanta’s infrastructure, foster community engagement, and shape the city’s future,” council member Marci Collier Overstreet said. “The ordinances reflect the importance of the Atlanta City Council’s continued efforts to honor and recognize our leaders.”

Westside Park. (Photo by Dyana Bagby)

Shirley Franklin (File)

During these uncertain times, HammerSmith is here for you and your family. We provide safe, essential services, architectural designs and home renovations. Start planning today for how to live better in a changed world. HammerSmith is here for you and your family. We provide exceptional architectural designs and home renovations. Start planning today for how to live better in an ever-changing world.

City council approves homelessness task force, pause on encampment sweeps

By Dyana Bagby

The Atlanta City Council approved legislation at its Feb. 3 meeting to create a homelessness task force and to pause the use of heavy machinery during sweeps of encampments.

The measures come in the wake of the Jan. 16 death of Cornelius Taylor, 46, who was crushed in his tent by a city vehicle as it cleared an encampment on Old Wheat Street near The King Center.

The funeral for Taylor was also held on Feb. 3 at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Following the funeral, a horse-drawn carriage carried his coffin to city hall as a call to action for city leaders to make systemic change in its policies addressing unsheltered people.

The resolution to temporarily halt the use of encampment sweep is in effect for 45 days. The resolution also mandates Partners for HOME, the city’s designated partner to coordinate homelessness services, to present a detailed report to the city council, within 45 days on the proposed procedures, precautions, and contingencies necessary to ensure encampment sweeps are safe.

The homelessness task force resolution, backed by Mayor Andre Dickens, will review existing policies and procedures followed by city departments and partners when addressing unhoused residents.

“The homelessness task force shall work to make recommendations concerning whether these policies and procedures adequately address the current needs of persons experiencing homelessness, and the public safety concerns of residents and visitors to the city of Atlanta,” the resolution states.

The task force will meet publicly every two weeks and make an initial report of recommendations to the mayor and the Atlanta City Council within 45 days. A final report is to be completed within 90 days.

Organizations to be represented on the task force:

• The Atlanta City Council

• City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office

• Atlanta Police Department

• City of Atlanta Department of Public Works

• Georgia Department of Community Affairs

• Georgia State University

• Fulton County

• Invest Atlanta

• Atlanta Housing

• Central Atlanta Progress

• Atlanta Downtown Improvement District

• Atlanta Committee for Progress

• Partners for HOME

• Gateway Center

• Intown Cares

• Safe House

• Hope Atlanta

• Housing Justice League

• Restoring One’s Hope of Atlanta

• Georgia Works

• Beautiful Closet

• Church of the Common Ground

• Antioch Urban Ministries

• Antioch Baptist Church North

• Central Outreach and Advocacy Center

• Traveling Grace Ministries

• Wheat Street Baptist Church

• Ebenezer Baptist Church

• Salvation Army

• Mercy Care

• Atlanta Dream Center

• Hosea Helps

• U-First

A horse-drawn carriage carries the body of Cornelius Taylor, who died during a homeless encampment sweep, to Atlanta City Hall on Feb. 3. (Photo by Dyana Bagby)

Cornelius Taylor. (Provided)

New MARTA railcars

By Collin Kelley

Attendees at the recent State of MARTA event got a sneak peek at the brand-new railcars joining the transit system’s fleet.

MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood provided a glimpse into the future of rail service in Atlanta with the unveiling of the first CQ400 train. With Greenwood onboard, the new railcars entered Lindbergh Station to music and fanfare.

“When I stepped onto that new train this morning, it felt like stepping into the future,” Greenwood said. “These new railcars are an inspiration to everyone at MARTA and to our customers who will get to experience a cleaner and safer ride – and hopefully one that shows them how transit can make their lives easier and their trip more enjoyable. The future of transit begins now at MARTA, and the State of MARTA is strong.”

During his State of MARTA address, Greenwood presented details on several projects:

■ CQ400 Railcars: The new stateof-the-art railcars feature open gangway designs, upgraded lighting and seating, digital displays, charging stations, and improved safety measures. Testing and deployment of the new railcars is set to begin later this year.

■ Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC): This cuttingedge technology will improve rail safety, efficiency, and on-time performance.

■ Zero-Emissions Vehicles: MARTA Rapid Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines will feature zero-emissions vehicles equipped with wireless charging, custom interiors, and ADA-friendly platforms and debut along the Summerhill corridor this year.

■ NextGen Bus Network: MARTA’s comprehensive bus network redesign will offer faster, more reliable service. Frequent service

routes will expand from five to 18 corridors, providing 15-minute service to 245 percent more riders. The new network will also feature consistent seven-day service and 12 on-demand zones for underserved areas.

■ Fare Payment Upgrades: MARTA’s AFC 2.0 system will allow riders to use credit cards, smartphones, and smartwatches for seamless entry. Enhanced faregates will improve security and accessibility, marking a significant step forward in customer convenience.

Greenwood also discussed expanding MARTA Police’s presence, continuing to partner with transit-oriented development at Indian Creek and Kensington Stations, new transit hubs in Clayton, South DeKalb and Stonecrest, and modernization of all 38 stations.

As metro Atlanta prepares to host the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Super Bowl, MARTA’s investments will play a critical role in ensuring seamless transportation for millions of visitors.

“The future is now, and it’s happening at MARTA,” MARTA Board Chair Jennifer Ide said. “We are breaking ground, launching innovative services, and expanding our system to meet the needs of our growing region. Together, we’re building a brighter, more connected future for metro Atlanta.”

A new CQ400 train rolls into Lindbergh Station as part of the State of MARTA event. (Courtesy MARTA)

A new MARTA Rapid bus that will be used on the city’s first BRT line. (Courtesy MARTA)

Insider’s Guide to The Masters Tournament at Lake Oconee

Since the spring of 1934, golf enthusiasts from across the nation have journeyed to Augusta, Georgia, to witness the legendary Masters Tournament.

Conveniently located halfway between Atlanta and Augusta, Lake Oconee offers an unforgettable experience during Masters week.

From luxurious lodging at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, to savoring a delectable meal at local favorites, there are plenty of ways to indulge during your stay. For golf lovers, the area’s stunning courses provide the perfect opportunity to test your skills while soaking in the beauty of Greene County.

The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee

Celebrate one of the biggest sporting events in the world by letting The RitzCarlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee be your premier golfing destination April 7-13. Indulgent culinary experiences, championship golf courses and a newly transformed spa welcome you back after a visit to Augusta National.

Linger Longer

A stylish Lake Oconee restaurant overlooking the Oconee Golf Course. Guests can savor the finest cuts of prime meat, fresh seafood, and an extraordinary selection of wines.

Oconee Cove

Hidden behind a wall of tales, Oconee Cove is the lake’s only speakeasy. Indulge in an unparalleled collection of rare spirits and sophisticated small plates.

Gaby’s by the Lake

At Gaby’s by the Lake, you can watch The Masters Tournament at the bar while enjoying Masters inspired cocktails and craft beer. They also offer the perfect golf snacks like BBQ pork nachos or the lobster grilled cheese.

Amore Del Lago

Indulge in the ultimate Italian experience. Savor homemade pizza and pasta inspired by Chef Andrea Rodella’s family recipes. Enjoy fine wine and al fresco dining.

The Spa

Immerse in the opulence of the newly transformed 27,000-square-foot spa, boasting redesigned spaces and innovative treatments. Choose from invigorating body treatments, specialized massages, custom-tailored facials, and four exquisite signature wellness treatments.

Guestroom rates start at $1,599 per night; please contact resort reservations at 706-467-7057 for additional details and bookings.

From breathtaking lake views to shaded forests, each course presents a unique layout that caters to golfers of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your game or simply soak in the stunning surroundings, the award-winning courses in Greensboro provide the perfect setting for an exceptional Masters week golfing experience.

Harbor Club

Named one of the top three places to play in the state of Georgia by Golfweek, Harbor Club is the only public course in Greene County and a must do on your Greensboro golf checklist!

Reynolds Lake Oconee

If you’re staying at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, or one of the cottages or condos through Reynolds Lake Oconee Vacation Rentals, you’ll have access to the incredible Reynolds courses: Great Waters, The Landing, The Preserve, The National, and The Oconee.

Golfing in Greensboro

The courses at Lake Oconee are a mustadd to your Masters checklist. Designed by legendary architects like Tom Weiskopf, Jack Nicklaus, Bob Cupp, and others, these courses offer an unforgettable blend of challenge and beauty.

Reynolds Kingdom of Golf Presented by TaylorMade

Offering an integration of superior equipment technology with golf instruction, Reynolds Kingdom of Golf presented by TaylorMade is one of only two such facilities in the country, providing hotel guests with an exclusive retreat for fullgame improvement.

Dining in Greensboro

No visit to Greensboro is complete without savoring the flavors of the unique local cuisine, from Southern-inspired dishes to fresh, farm-to-table creations. With a variety of charming restaurants and hidden gems, there’s something to delight every palate.

The Yesterday Cafe

Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Greensboro, The Yesterday Cafe is a beloved Southern eatery known for its warm hospitality, charming atmosphere, and signature Buttermilk Pie—a dessert so famous it has been featured in Southern Living. Open for lunch, Monday through Saturday.

Café 44

Grab a breakfast sammie and a cup of coffee on your way out to Augusta. This cute café serves breakfast, lunch, and pastries Monday through Saturday.

The National Tavern

The quintessential urban tavern is situated in the heart of Reynolds right on The National Golf Course. Join them for lunch or dinner at the bar and lounge, in the dining room, or on either of their verandas with sweeping views of the course. In case you need a little more golf in your life, there is even a putting green right outside for fun!

Table at the Lake

Table at the Lake is a charming restaurant located in Greensboro, Georgia. They focus on thoughtfully sourced ingredients and seasonal menus. Open for dinner or Sunday brunch. The Spanish octopus is a must try.

Find your reason to linger longer during Masters Week

SUSTAINABILITY

Preparing Atlanta for a hotter, wetter future

As ferocious wildfires swept through Los Angeles in January, the Trump Administration ignited its own deadly firestorm with an assault on climate change policy: the laws, plans, and funds aimed at reducing the substantial risks of a warming planet. Global warming was “a major factor” behind the extreme weather that resulted in the conflagration in LA (World Weather Attribution)—as well as more than two dozen billion-dollar disasters last year alone (NOAA).

ABOVE THE WATER LINE

Despite the steady drumbeat of more frequent and more intense disasters, Trump froze federal grants for research and programs that reduce climate risks—from battery factories to electric school buses—and issued executive orders that halted renewable energy projects. His administration is now working to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act and stop the investment of hundreds of billions of dollars into clean energy technologies and community preparedness. In Georgia, $1 billion in much-needed projects to modernize the power grid are currently on hold, as are funds to help the city of Atlanta implement its climate plans.

Little about the administration’s attack on the health and safety of every American has been a surprise, except the speed and recklessness of implementation. The 2025 Presidential Transition Project made clear that the next conservative president would do all in his power to stop global climate action and promote the burning of fossil fuels. Trump reinforced that message throughout his campaign.

Role of Cities

While it will be difficult—if not impossible—to achieve any meaningful climate action at the federal level in the next few years, there are places where we can focus our energy: cities. Urban areas may be the last line of defense to manage the accelerating climate risks. The life-threatening impacts of extreme heat, too much or too little water, and critical infrastructure failure are hyperlocal, as are the solutions.

Fifteen years ago, Mayor Shirley Franklin created Atlanta’s first office of sustainability, recognizing the need to prepare our city for severe weather events that could alter services and place residents in harm’s way. Kasim Reed built significantly on her legacy when he was mayor.

Keisha Lance Bottoms virtually

destroyed climate action programs during her subsequent administration, burying the office and its critical mission deep within city government. It’s now up to Mayor Andre Dickens and the Atlanta City Council to do everything they can to safeguard our lives, property, and futures.

Extreme Heat and Flooding

Extreme temperatures and humidity are responsible for more deaths annually in the U.S. than all other forms of extreme weather combined. Atlanta is now the third fastest warming municipality in the country (Georgia Tech).

A citywide heat risk assessment conducted by Georgia Tech’s Brian Stone found that heat and flood risks are “overwhelmingly concentrated” in vulnerable neighborhoods to the west and south of downtown Atlanta. These are the same areas where the energy burden— percentage of household income spent on utilities—is high, or greater than 6%. Astonishingly, 50,000 households in the city are energy burdened. This untenable situation contributes to more evictions and displacements.

Stone’s study calculates the impacts of a blackout occurring over five days during a heat wave—not an improbable scenario, since blackouts nationwide have more than doubled in the past ten years. According to the data, about 12,500 people would seek emergency care in a city with less than 2,000 emergency beds. Nor is it clear that Atlanta has sufficient cooling centers with backup generators.

The “rain bomb” that fell on downtown Atlanta in the fall of 2023, stunned officials with its volume and intensity. For those familiar with the city’s woefully underfunded and undermanaged stormwater programs, the results were not a surprise. Neither was the flooding last fall from Hurricane Helene—when Atlanta avoided a direct hit from the climate-

intensified monster storm, but recorded eleven inches of rain in 48 hours. Severe flooding is what happens when the earth is covered with pavement and rooftops, when the city’s famous tree canopy begins to disappear, and when city officials fail to implement bold, well-funded sustainability plans.

Atlanta must prepare all of its citizens and businesses and infrastructure for what is coming—for what is already here—as we also prioritize deeply rooted societal issues, such as affordable housing and the city’s wealth gap: one of the largest in the country.

Dickens' Climate Plans

When Andre Dickens became Atlanta’s mayor in 2022, he revived the city’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience, created a Cabinet-level position for its chief officer, and appointed Chandra Farley to that position. A capable and persistent woman who calls herself “an activist at heart,” she has reset and advanced efforts to reach the city’s primary climate goal: 100% clean energy for all Atlantans by 2035. Much less clear is whether progress has been made to prepare for climate change.

Over the past two years, Farley has filled half a dozen vacancies; however, the office is still not up to Reed administration staffing levels. She has created advisory boards, strengthened partnerships, and developed a framework for the emerging Climate Resilience Action Plan: an update and expansion of the current, decade-old plan. She and her team are working to engage citizens in the planning process.

Seeking opportunities offered through the Inflation Reduction Act, Farley secured several major grants to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and build resilience. Those dollars are currently frozen by the Trump Administration. Referring to the uncertain funding situation, she recently told the City Council: “It’s a

day-by-day situation.” Without enough money, Atlanta simply cannot manage the increasing risks.

After talking to a dozen officials, academic experts, consultants, and activists, I kept returning to three climate solutions that could yield significant results with no need for federal assistance. These solutions will require Mayor Dickens' fullthroated support and political influence.

■ Pass the newly revised Tree Protection Ordinance, when it comes to a City Council vote this spring. Nearly a decade has passed while ordinance supporters and opponents have debated the adoption of measures to protect and grow Atlanta’s tree canopy. Trees naturally cool the air and reduce stormwater flow.

■ Tell the city’s Watershed Department to finalize its draft plan to establish a stormwater utility—a mechanism to employ funds to address flooding—and present the plan for review and passage.

■ Make the city’s Community Energy Trust Fund the powerful tool that was originally envisioned with an infusion of $10 million. The current funding of $500,000 will only start the task at hand: installation of energy efficiency measures in low-income housing.

When Mayor Dickens, the City Council, and Atlanta’s corporate community join together, they find the money and political will to accomplish their goals, as we’ve seen in recent years. Preparing for a hotter, wetter future must be the lens through which all city decisions are made.

Sally Bethea

Peachtree Creek flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024. (Photo by Beth McKibben)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Spring Arts Preview

By Collin Kelley

It’s going to be a busy arts season this spring, with theatre world premieres, big concerts, and evocative visual arts. We’ve rounded up some of the best bets to add to your arts calendar. Be sure to check out our How Do You Atlanta? calendar (HowDoYouAtlanta.com) in partnership with WABE and SCAD for even more things to do.

THEATRE

Alliance Theatre

Inspired by Frank Cottrell Boyce’s beloved novel and film, “Millions” is a hilarious and heartwarming new musical about two brothers, their newly widowed father, a train robber, and (possibly a miracle.) May 9-June 15. alliancetheatre.org.

Actor’s Express

In Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning “Topdog,” two Black brothers named Lincoln and Booth cope with poverty, racism, work, women, and their troubled upbringings. March 20-April 19. actorsexpress.com.

Theatrical Outfit

MAR 27/29

MAR 20/22

Robert Spano Conducts Copland

Featuring Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp

The theatre will stage the world premiere of the hip-hop musical “Young John Lewis” Written by playwright Psalmayene 24 with all original music composed by Eugene H. Russell IV, this new hip-hop musical examines ten crucial years in the early life of the congressman and his journey from student activist to Civil Rights leader. June 4-29. theatricaloutfit. org.

Out Front Theatre

In “Immediate Family,” the Bryants' prodigal son Jesse shows up for a family wedding with his new Swedish boyfriend and turns the family reunion into a family showdown. March 19-29. The theatre is also staging the world premiere of “Trick! The Musical" based on the 90s romantic comedy film May 1-17. outfronttheatre. com.

Synchronicity

Mitchell Anderon and Jennifer Levison team up for a staging of the classic A.R. Gurney two-character play “Love Letters” about a man and a woman who exchange letters, but not marriage vows, in a warm and complicated friendship lasting fifty years. April 4-6. synchrotheatre.com.

Continued on page 22

‘Young John Lewis’ at Theatrical Outfit.

Jennifer Levison and Mitchell Anderson in ‘Love Letters’ at Synchronicity.

Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond

Musical at The Fox.

JASON COOK

TAYLOR

JOSH

Continued from page 18

Fox Theatre

"Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical" brings to life the man behind the music of such hits as “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” and “Forever in Blue Jeans.” March 11-16. foxtheatre.org.

MUSIC

Kylie Minogue

The Australian pop diva returns for her first concert in Atlanta since 2011 on the “Tension” tour, riding high on her massive hit “Padam Padam” as well as a catalog of

dance hits. State Farm Arena. April 11. ticketmaster.com.

Alison Moyet

A rare show at Center Stagbe by the British singer/songwriter who rose to prominence in the 80s as the lead singer of Yazoo before a successful solo career. She’s on a greatest hits tour, so expect some classic tunes. April 26. centerstage-atlanta.com.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA

Lamar and SZA team up for a post-Super Bowl tour, pulling into Mercedes Benz Stadium on April 29. ticketmaster. com.

Pearl Jam

90s grunge will never die as long as Eddie Vedder and co. are still crunching out the hits. The band stops at State Farm Arena on May 1. ticketmaster.com.

Post Malone

Theatre on April 17. foxtheatre.org.

SweetWater 420 Fest

The annual festival returns to Pullman Yards April 18-20 with The Revivalists, Marcus Kings, Greensky Bluegrass, Cypress Hill, Drive By Truckers, Lawrence, and more. sweetwater420fest.com.

Atlanta Jazz Festival

Mark your calendars for Memorial Day Weekend, April 24-26, for the beloved festival at Piedmont Park. The lineup is expected to be announced soon. atljazzfest. com.

The rapper and singer is on the road this spring and brings his tour to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on May 11. ticketmaster.com.

Jon Batiste

The singer and multi-instrumentalist brings his solo piano tour to the Fox

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

The ASO has a packed spring lineup, including Robert Spano conducting an evening of Copland (March 20-22), Natalie Stutzmann conducting Beethoven’s Triple Concerto (April 3-4), and folk star Amos Lee with the ASO (April 25). aso.org.

Kylie Minogue at State Farm Arena.

Billy Idol at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre.

Jon Batiste at The Fox.

Robert Spano conducts the ASO.

Billy Idol and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

A double dose of 80s nostalgia at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre on May 9. livenation. com.

VISUAL ART

Jackson Fine Art

Evocative photographer Sally Mann returns with a new series called "At Twelve:Portraits of Young Women," a collective portrait of 12-year-olds on the verge of adulthood. Jackson Fine Arts. Through March 29. jacksonfineart.com.

High Museum

Ryoji Ikeda’s immersive video installation, "data-verse," will be presented floor-toceiling onto the walls of the museum’s largest exhibition space, featuring visualizations of data extracted from

mathematical theories and the study of quantum physics. March 7-Aug. 10. highmuseum.org.

MODA

Experience the transformative power of textile art in “Threads of Change,” a multiartist exhibition that explores the intricate connection between humanity and the natural world. Through May 25. museumofdesign.org.

Chastain Park Arts Festival

The festival returns May 10-11 to Chastain with 175 artists displaying selling fine arts and crafts. chastainparkartsfestival.com.

PHOTO BY TIM WALKER

Sally Mann’s ‘At Twelve’ exhibition at Jackson Fine Art.

Jefferson is new director of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has appointed Adriane V. Jefferson as the new executive director of the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA).

Jefferson is an award-winning cultural equity leader who has spent the past two decades “transforming cultural landscapes, shaping policy and redefining arts administration,” said a City of Atlanta release.

An advocate for diverse artistic voices, she previously served as director of Cultural Affairs for New Haven and executive director of New Haven Festivals Inc., along with launching several initiatives like the Arts for Anti-Racism Pledge, The Unapologetically Radical

Conference and Connecticut’s first cultural equity plan.

Additionally, she also established the New Haven Black Wall Street Festival and led the Core Race Equity Task Force (a committee that advises city leadership on race equity and system improvements).

Among her list of accolades include the 40 Under 40 Award from the Urban Professionals Network and Connecticut Magazine, as well as the American Express Emerging Leadership Award.

“Atlanta’s arts and culture are deeply woven into the fabric of our community, reflecting creativity, diversity, progress and authenticity,” Dickens said. “Adriane Jefferson is the transformative leader we need to amplify our cultural presence and

VITALITY THRIVES IN COMMUNITY.

Imagine a life filled with possibilities. Every day, a vibrant mingling of community connections and inspiring experiences. Every moment, an opportunity to revitalize your mind, body and soul.

Schedule a tour and embrace a life of vitality.

PIEDMONT

further our commitment to fostering a city where art and equity thrive together.”

According to the press release, in her new role, Jefferson will lead efforts to promote and preserve cultural initiatives that enhance Atlanta’s overall quality of life.

Some of the goals of OCA under her leadership include expanding grants and support for artists and arts organizations, advancing public art initiatives citywide, delivering cultural experiences through events like the Atlanta Jazz Festival and more.

“Atlanta is a city with a powerful cultural identity, fueled by its history, resilience and creativity. I am deeply honored to join this vibrant community and to collaborate with its incredible artists, organizations, creative entrepreneurs and residents to build on this legacy while innovating for the future in bold and transformative

ways,” said Jefferson.

The OCA executive director position was previously held by Camille Russell Love, who served in the role since 1998. She exits her longtime position to become the new senior advisor to the mayor.

By Collin Kelley

Atlanta has a terrible record of tearing down some of its most significant and historic buildings – Terminal Station, Carnegie Library, and Kimball House Hotel, to name a few – and wiping entire neighborhoods off the map in the name of progress.

The Sweet Auburn Historic District – world-famous as the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and The King Center established after his assassination – was seriously altered in the early 1960s to make

way for the Downtown Connector. Racism played a large part in the decision to demolish and divide the district, including its namesake thoroughfare, Auburn Avenue, which Forbes magazine described in 1956 as the “richest Negro street in the world.”

The Downtown Connector’s arrival led to the long decline and disinvestment in one of the country’s significant Black neighborhoods.

Real estate developer Gene Kansas is one of those rare birds in the industry who is also a big proponent of historic preservation.

Adriane V. Jefferson

Courtesy University of Georgia Press

For 25 years, Kansas has leaned into preservation, adaptive reuse, community building, and storytelling through the built environment.

This mindset began with the historic preservation of the Atlanta Daily World Building in Sweet Auburn, which earned him accolades from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Then came Constellations, the nearby culturally-based workspace, which was honored with a Development of Excellence Award from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission, Atlanta Regional Commission, and Urban Land Institute.

Kansas, a native of New Orleans, was also the creative mind behind the marketing and design contest that helped save the Clermont Hotel and preservation of the Sweet Auburn Curb Market.

His latest project is “Civil Sights” (University of Georgia Press), a book that documents the landmark buildings of Sweet

Auburn accompanied by illustrations from artist Clay Kiningham.

Kansas began working on the book eight years ago, but the inspiration actually began after a 2008 tornado ripped through Downtown Atlanta, damaging structures in Sweet Auburn, including the Atlanta Daily World building.

That event, coupled with years of interviews with guests on his Sidewalk Radio podcast, also made him aware of the “incredible people hidden in history” and how to connect those Sweet Auburn inhabitants with places to tell a deeper story.

After a false start on the book, Kansas got another jolt of inspiration on the campus of Georgia Tech, where he was studying for his master’s degree. One day at lunch, he was scrolling through Instagram and saw Kiningham’s artwork.

“I messaged Clay right away and he happened to be on campus, so we met up and I asked him right then and there to

illustrate the book,” Kansas recalled.

Kansas said he hopes the book will become a roadmap for preservationists, students and developers who want to help continue the revitalization of Sweet Auburn.

“I’m a historic preservationist who is also prodevelopment thoughtful, welldesigned, responsible development,” he said. “There are a lot of empty spaces and parking lots where development can go in Sweet Auburn. Tearing down a building that can be restored is irresponsible.”

Kansas said the South Downtown project is proof that adaptive reuse and

preservation is possible. He said developers should become “stewards of history” and understand the value of historic places rather than immediately demolishing a structure.

Studio of the Americas hopes to continue tradition of Native storytelling through film

By Sammie Purcell

The birth of Studio of the Americas, the first full-service Native Americanowned film and television studio, is more than 10 years in the making.

A decade ago, a mutual friend introduced Robert Wilson and Clifton Chippewa to each other. Wilson was in the process of trying to produce a film version of his novel, “Crooked Tree.” Since the book dealt heavily with Native American themes, Wilson was looking for Native people to work on the film. Chippewa, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, fit the bill.

The relationship gave birth to the idea for Studio of the Americas, which officially opened in February. Chippewa and Wilson co-founded the studio, with Chippewa also serving as chairman and Wilson as CEO. The men initially described their idea as “Tyler Perry, but for Native Americans;” fitting then, that the studio is located on the Tyler Perry Studios campus in Atlanta.

“There are thousands and thousands and thousands of stories to be told that have never been told in the Native tradition,” Chippewa said. “To me, Native storytelling is a part of our healing process as well … It’s like medicine for the soul.”

In addition to the studio space from Tyler Perry, Georgia’s production tax incentives and experienced workforce drew Wilson and Chippewa to the state. They’ve also established a partnership with the Georgia Film Academy, launching a production training program specifically for Native American students. When Rough Draft spoke with Wilson and Chippewa, they were on their way to

meet with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina to recruit the first group of students for the program.

“The aim of [the academy] is to be able to primarily train Native American students,” Wilson said. “Our goal is to be able to provide life-sustaining skills to Native students.”

Wilson said that Studio of the Americas has a slate of 15 projects in development. The two at the forefront right now are an adaptation of Wilson’s book “Crooked Tree,” which he hopes to turn into a multi-film franchise;

and “Smoke Alarm,” an anti-smoking documentary that also focuses on the ceremonial origins of tobacco within Native communities.

“[We’re] not only a studio, but we have our own intellectual property that we’re producing and developing,” Wilson said. “We’ll continue that process, and hopefully through the academy … be able to nurture the storytellers of the future.”

Over the past several years, there has been a rise in the number of Indigenous stories told in television and movies, from Seminole filmmaker Sterlin Harjo and

Taika Waititi’s television show “Reservation Dogs” to the movie “Fancy Dance,” directed by Native filmmaker Erica Tremblay. Last year, Lily Gladstone became the first Native American to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and the first to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for their work in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Chippewa acknowledged that there has been a greater influx of Native stories recently, but said there is still work to be done. He mentioned “Killers of the Flower Moon” specifically, which was directed by non-Native director Martin Scorsese.

“There are [574] federally recognized tribes [in the United States], and each one of them has their own story related to their history and historical trauma throughout hundreds of years,” Chippewa said. “For somebody non-Native telling those stories, it’s not a true version of what really went on. I really would like to see it from a true Native perspective on our side.”

Wilson said that best case scenario, the studio hopes to have a project ready a year from this spring.

Courtesy University of Georgia Press

Meet the regulars of Poor Hendrix

By Laura Scholz

When Jamie and Aaron Russell opened Poor Hendrix in 2016, they set out to create the ultimate Atlanta neighborhood restaurant. And the couple’s quirky East Lake gastropub—named for their late beloved pit bull rescue—has become just that to a group of loyal regulars who frequent the cozy dining spot for its laid-back vibe and compact menu of topnotch bar food.

“We wanted it to be affordable for people to be able to come here on the regular, and we care about the details of food and service and beverage in a

One of those regulars is East Lake resident Sherry Boston, DeKalb County’s district attorney.

“Jamie and Aaron are wonderful people, and that’s part of the reason I’ve been such a frequent customer because they treat their customers and staff really well,” Marotta said.

He and wife Ellen usually choose seats in the middle of the bar so they can watch the action in the kitchen. Marotta said he’s a regular because of the “inviting” space and Aaron’s sophisticated takes on classic small plates and bar snacks.

Jeff Hoffman, a bartender at The Local and a Monday night regular at Poor Hendrix, agrees with Marotta.

“My first visit to the restaurant really struck a chord with me because they serve really good, elevated food with no pretension whatsoever,” he said. Hoffman usually orders dishes like shrimp skewers with a shot of Old Forester bourbon.

way that’s very approachable without pretension,” Aaron Russell said as a veteran of Atlanta fine dining restaurants like the now-defunct Seeger’s and Restaurant Eugene.

“My husband and I have lived over here for 20 years and have seen a lot of businesses come and go, but the very first time we went to Poor Hendrix, we knew it was going to be something special,” Boston said.

She’s been a regular since opening day. At least once or twice a week, she sits at the bar with a friend or her husband and orders dishes like chili-rubbed steak skewers, the popular spicy peanut cold noodles, and chicken liver paté.

“It’s always this beautiful mix of neighborhood people and restaurant people, and it’s the perfect restaurant for all situations, whether that’s a solo dinner, birthdays with my family, or just hanging out with friends,” Hoffman explained, noting that the kitchen remains open late on Mondays and serves more than just a “mediocre” burger.

Aaron Russell said his staff is key to the success and longevity of Poor Hendrix.

“A lot of our customers get to see the same faces every time they come in, which keeps our food and service consistent for our regulars,” he said.

Boston believes Poor Hendrix stands out not only for its food but its exceptional service.

On opening night, Boston ordered a Paper Plane (her favorite cocktail). The restaurant didn’t have Amaro Nonino, a key ingredient in the drink. The Russells made sure they purchased a bottle before Boston’s next visit.

“It’s just a testament to the type of people they are and how hard they work to cultivate relationships with their customers,” said Boston.

Another Poor Hendrix regular is real estate executive Vic Marotta, who walks four miles almost every Friday from his home in Avondale Estates to the restaurant in East Lake. Sometimes, he arrives a few minutes early and helps the Russells with small tasks around the restaurant prior to service.

That’s part of the enduring appeal for regulars and neighborhood fans like Boston.

“It’s like my ‘Cheers,’” Boston said. “The people that work there and come there feel like family because we genuinely care about each other.”

“How many people can say they have a restaurant like that, where you can walk there, be yourself, spend time with friends who are like family, and have an amazing dinner while you’re at it?”

Poor Hendrix (poorhendrix.com), 2371 Hosea L Williams Dr., East Lake. Open Thursday – Monday, at 4 p.m. The Russells also own The Little Hippo sandwich shop in Avondale Estates.

DeKalb County district attorney Sherry Boston is a regular at Poor Hendrix. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)

A full bar of mostly Poor Hendrix regulars. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)

Poor Hendrix opened in 2016 at East Lake’s Hosea & 2nd. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)

Braised squid.

(Photo by Isadora Pennington)

It’s Girl Scout cookie season again

By Sarra Sedghi

Girl Scout cookie season has officially kicked off in metro Atlanta.

In early February, local troops received delivery of more than two million cookies to fulfill individual orders made in January and for booth sales that will run through the end of March. You’re likely waiting on the delivery of your own order unless you impulsively purchase a few boxes of cookies at a booth.

Cookie distribution began on Feb. 7. Scouts from top-selling troops from Roswell, Marietta, and Sandy Springs arrived at All My Sons Moving & Storage at Northmeadow Business Park, just one of seven distribution centers in the Greater Atlanta Girl Scout Council, spanning 34 Georgia counties and one in Tennessee.

Pallets of cookies sat in the parking lot primed for loading, hurriedly transferred into U-Haul trailers hitched to the cars and SUVs of scout parents. Towers of cookie flats inched upwards inside the warehouse, with one corner stacked with 130,000 boxes of Thin Mints.

Portia Landon of Cherokee County

was the first scout to arrive. At 14, she’s a Cadette and has been a Girl Scout for a decade. Landon said selling Girl Scout cookies is her thing, and she aims to sell 6,000 boxes this year.

Georgians have eight different Little Brownie Bakers cookies to choose from: Adventurefuls, Do-Si-Dos, Lemon-Ups, Samoas, S’mores, Tagalongs, ToffeeTastic, and Thin Mints. The council’s top three cookies are Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs. But this spring, Girl Scout S’Mores make a final run, and the organization expects the cookies will go out with a bang.

Girl Scout S’Mores were introduced in 2017 to celebrate 100 years of selling cookies. The tradition of selling cookies started in 1917 when the Mistletoe Troop based in Muskogee, Oklahoma, sold homemade cookies in their school cafeteria as part of a service project.

The S’Mores feature chocolate and marshmallow creme sandwiched between two Graham cracker cookies.

Alantria Dixon, Senior Director of Mission Revenue for Girl Scouts Greater Atlanta, said the organization anticipates selling a quarter million boxes of S’mores.

“It’s really great to go door to door because I can talk to people and have those connections and I have my loyal customers,” she said.

As the world’s largest girl-led entrepreneurial program, Girl Scout cookie sales teach scouts skills including goal-setting, customer service, digital marketing, business ethics, and people management.

“Being able to do those things is the most beneficial part of the program,” Dixon said.

The cookies are currently priced at $6 per box. Last year, local Girl Scouts earned more than $3 million from sales, which help fund adventures and activities such as camping, badge work, and community service.

Landon’s troop, for example, used last year’s profits to fund their Silver Award project, which focused on self-love and teen empowerment, and won one of the area’s three Young Women of Distinction Awards in 2023. The girls even put together a Self-Love badge, currently under review for recognization by the Girl Scouts of the USA as a new badge for the scout vest. This year’s funds will go toward a trip to Disney World a few years down the line and developing their Senior Scout Gold Award project, which will involve music.

Dixon, a former Girl Scout herself, agrees that both cookie sales and the organization have changed since she was a troop member.

“The program is still the same in terms of the fundamentals of wanting to teach girls the skills of building courage, confidence, and character,” she said. “But I like how Girl Scouts is keeping up with the needs of the modern girl.”

Cookie sales in particular have adapted to the digital landscape. For example, the digital cookie program allows Girl Scouts to build their e-commerce sites, and the organization now offers badges focused on cybersecurity, engineering, and STEM.

“I would’ve loved to have that opportunity when I was growing up as a girl,” Dixon said. “I like that the program is changing to the needs of what girls want.”

These changes also reflect what nonscouts want: easier access to cookies. In addition to filing online orders, customers can use Show Me the Cookies to find details on cookie booths in their zip code.

“We all love the taste of [Thin Mints],” Dixon said. “But this program is fueling girls’ dreams and also building future leaders.”

Atlanta's best dining newsletters.

Little Brownie Bakers will announce the replacement cookie later this fall. “I really do think people will get buzzed by the last chance thing,” Landon said of selling the last S’mores cookies for the Girl Scouts.

Landon and her troop usually sell more cookies during booth sales, but she still sees the merit of January cookie sheet orders.

Provided by Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.

All My Sons Moving & Storage at Northmeadow Business Park. (Provided by Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta)

Wine bar Madeira Park opens in Poncey-Highland

By Beth McKibben

Wine bar Madeira Park is now open in the former cafe space of the old Highland Inn, now Otto’s Apartment Hotel, in Poncey-Highland.

James Beard award-winning chef Steven Satterfield and his Miller Union partner and wine director, Neal McCarthy, teamed up with Dive Wine founder and sommelier Tim Willard for Madeira Park. It becomes the second restaurant for Satterfield and McCarthy and the first for Willard, who brings a wealth of wine experience from years working in restaurants and at import companies like European Cellars.

Satterfield and McCarthy opened Miller Union on Brady Avenue 15 years ago. Since then, the restaurant has racked up numerous accolades, including a James Beard award for Satterfield for Best Chef: Southeast, multiple nods to its wine program, and Michelin recognition for the last two years. McCarthy earned Michelin’s service award in 2023.

“Neal and I talked about doing a wine bar ages ago. We’ve traveled together quite a bit in Europe and always seek out these comfortable neighborhood places with cool wine lists and little snacks,” Satterfield said. “That’s what we wanted to give people in Atlanta.”

They initially signed a letter of intent in 2019 for a space near Miller Union. When the pandemic hit, Satterfield and McCarthy pulled the plug on the project. But they never stop looking for another location.

In 2024, McCarthy presented Satterfield with a plan to open their wine bar in the old cafe space at the Highland Inn and bring on Willard as a partner. The trio named Madeira Park for a park that was once a centerpiece of the garden

community known as Copenhill, now part of Poncey-Highland.

But Satterfield stressed that Madeira Park isn’t a second Miller Union, nor do they consider it a restaurant.

Madeira Park is a wine bar, he said, and the vibe and menus reflect that.

McCarthy and Willard combined their expertise with fresh perspectives from general manager and sommelier Jade Palmer to create a wine list appealing to a broad spectrum of wine drinkers. Expect 25 wines by the glass and a deep bottle list spanning the globe, ranging from familiar favorites and budget-friendly choices to boundary-pushing vintages and hard-tofind wines catering to collectors.

“We’re not looking to follow any trends. We wanted wines that engage your palate – wines made with intention you can taste,” Willard said. “We spent the last two months tasting hundreds of wines, going through each with a fine tooth comb and throwing out everything except those few we truly engaged with.”

“We’ll have some party-time wines that are inexpensive, too, but those wines will also be produced really well for the price,” he added.

Fair pricing and accessibility in wine are both important to Willard. In addition to offering a house red and white on the menu, Willard said people will find deals

Starting in the mid-afternoon, Madeira Park offers a selection of snacks, including ham and cheese beignets, dressed oysters, and Georgia shrimp tempura. The cheese and charcuterie come from Raymond Hook, a longtime friend, who operates Capella Cheese at Armour Yards. Hook and Satterfield have known each other for 25 years, having met while working for Chef Anne Quatrano.

The full menu begins at 5 p.m. with dishes such as poached Gulf grouper bouillabaisse with pickled mussels, half chicken with Armagnac jus, and a bistro steak. For dessert, there’s a butterscotch pear with blue cheese and pecans.

“We want the food to complement all the other aspects of Madeira Park. The wine, the beautiful design, and what diners bring to it,” Honderd said. “The food is simple but thoughtful and meant to pair with wine. Madeira Park should be a place for interacting. If you see a friend at the end of the bar or walking in front of the patio, you should feel comfortable calling them over.”

Satterfield, McCarthy, and Willard tapped AI3 Architects to create a space with movement and spontaneity in mind. The dining room includes banquette seating, communal tables for gathering, and a 16-seat bar. The 35-seat, partially covered patio facing North Highland offers options for sitting and standing.

“It should feel comfortable and casual, like a little community. We don’t have to have everyone in a seat. Standing room is totally fine here,” Satterfield said. “We think Poncey-Highland worked out as a better location for us. There’s so much good synergy around this neighborhood right now and we’re loving the vibe.”

Madeira Park will opened at 5 p.m. on Feb. 15 and 16. Regular hours began on Feb. 18, when it opens at 3 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and at noon on weekends.

on closeout wines from great producers with price points not often seen on other by-the-glass and bottle lists in Atlanta.

Look for fortified wines like vermouth, sherry, port, and madeira, along with beer on draft and low-ABV cocktails from bar manager Philip Weltner.

As for food, Satterfield collaborated closely with Chef Ollie Honderd to develop the menu for Madeira Park, something he said began with a tasting at the studio kitchen behind his home. The collaboration evolved from there.

“It’s a constant laboratory of deliciousness back there with Ollie. We collaborated, and I still provide input, but he started to own this menu, and that’s exciting” Satterfield said.

The wine bar joins Colette Bread, owned by Sarah Dodge, nonalcoholic bottle shop The Zero Co., and a location of ice cream shop Big Softie at the PonceyHighland complex. Later this summer, Talat Market chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter will open Thai bar Some Luck beside Madeira Park in the former Highland Ballroom Lounge.

The block is also home to Sweet Auburn BBQ, Peruvian restaurant Tio Lucho’s, seafood market and cafe Fishmonger, Soul Vegetarian No. 2, and East Pole Coffee Co.

Madeira Park (madeiraparkatl.com), 640 North Highland Ave., Poncey-Highland. Regular hours: Tuesday – Friday, snacks from 3 to 5 p.m., dinner begins at 5 p.m. Full menu offered Saturday and Sunday, starting at noon.

Jade Palmer, Neal McCarthy, Tim Willard, Steven Satterfield, Ollie Honderd, and Philip Weltner. (Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee)

Otto’s Apartment Hotel in Poncey-Highland. (Courtesy of Otto’s Apartment Hotel)

Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee.

Auburn Angel chef Robert Butts talks chef collectives and

By Sarra Sedghi

Over the past decade, Chef Robert Butts has aligned himself with some of Atlanta’s most iconic modern Southern restaurants, including Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, 4th and Swift, Saltyard, and Urban Foodie. Butts’ hard work has made him a power player on the city’s dining scene, evidenced by his many culinary projects, both in progress and in the works.

Butts recently came on board as the executive chef and co-owner of Auburn Angel in Sweet Auburn, partnering with founder Asa Fain and Chef Tregaye Fraser in the restaurant.

Fain reached out to Butts about a partnership this past fall. Butts agreed that partnering with Fain just made sense. The two had worked together before when Butts was at Blackbird Kitchen and Bar in downtown Atlanta. Auburn Angel, located along Soul Food Row in Sweet Auburn, hit home for the Atlanta native, whose cooking style blends Southern ingredients and French techniques, something he studied while living in the south of France for a year and a half.

Both chefs work alongside each other at Auburn Angel, with Butts overseeing regular service and Fraser handling the restaurant’s catering and events business.

Fraser, the host of cooking show “Tregaye’s Way” on Oprah’s OWN network, brings a wealth of experience from her catering background to Auburn Angel.

Since joining Auburn Angel, which opened in April 2024, Butts has refreshed the dinner menu, giving it a more Southern feel. A new menu launched in February and includes dishes like short rib foie gras dumplings with a pepper drop sorghum glaze served with a citrus, beet, and green tomato salad and castiron trout accompanied by gobi cabbage and Sea Island peas with a collard green velouté (sauce).

Another new addition to Auburn Angel sees Fraser offering Thursday “Grazing Hour,” from 4 to 7 p.m., featuring a spread of grazing boards, smoked meats, and an oyster service. Breakfast is in the works, too.

Butts calls Auburn Angel a “collective,” a restaurant that benefits from the expertise of its ownership trio.

Butts’ enthusiasm for cooking and working with other chefs, however, means he refuses to tie himself down to one

Butts is part of two local chef collectives: Stolen Goods, led by Breaker Breaker chef Maximilian Hines, and The New South dinner series, which he founded with chefs Demetrius Brown

(Bread & Butterfly), Rodney Smith, and Jaye Smith. Both cohorts allow Butts to collaborate with a diverse array of Atlanta chefs, including Gary Caldwell (Marcus Bar & Grille), Justin Dixon (Humble Mumble), India Johnson (Sauce Queen), and pastry chef Claudia Martinez.

Collaborations and pop-up chef collectives like Stolen Goods and The New South dinner series are growing in popularity in Atlanta. These dinners offer an entirely different experience for patrons and creative freedom in the kitchen not typically offered to chefs in a restaurant setting.

“Being over a restaurant is cool, but you’ve still got to watch what you do because you still have to work for your clientele,” Butts said. “Sometimes you can’t voice yourself as you want to [on the menu.] Chefs feel a bit freer or like they can be themselves more when they do these collaborations and pop-ups.”

Gary Caldwell, executive chef at Marcus Bar & Grille, and a member of The New South collective, recalled the invitation from

Continued on page 30

Executive chef and co-owner of Auburn Angel Robert Butts. (Photo by Aaila Avani)

Butts to attend the July 2024 Stolen Goods dinner at Bread & Butterfly.

“The energy, the creativity, the community — it had me hooked,” Caldwell said. “That’s when I heard about The New South dinner series, and without hesitation, I was all in.”

The New South chefs hosted their first dinner at Bread & Butterfly in September. Caldwell said the dinner went beyond feeding people. Each chef cooking that night told their story through food by reinventing childhood memories or creating their dream dish. It was inspiring for Caldwell as a chef.

Lucian Books & Wine owners opening Sargent on Beltline

By Beth McKibben

Just a few weeks after Lucian Books & Wine received a semifinalist nod for Outstanding Wine Program from the James Beard Foundation, owners Jordan Smelt and Katie Barringer announced they will open Sargent next spring along the Eastside Beltline.

Named for American portrait artist John Singer Sargent, the couple’s second Atlanta restaurant will become the latest edition to the New City development in the Old Fourth Ward. The sprawling Beltline complex is also home to MailChimp, plant shop The Victorian, Burle’s Bar, and the Forth Hotel with its restaurants Il Premio, Elektra, Moonlight, and Bar Premio.

Located in a ground-floor space beside 3 Parks Wine Shop and seating around 150 people, Sargent will feature a full bar serving cocktails, an expanded retail section selling books, a private dining room, and a covered patio. Expect wood-fired dishes influenced by American cuisine from Lucian executive chef Jason Paolini and a wine list from Smelt leaning heavily into domestic producers.

with what we’re envisioning for books and magazines at Sargent.”

The couple wants the design and vibe for Sargent to feel modern and fresh, a comfortable spot to enjoy wine, food, and cocktails any day of the week, not just on special occasions.

Watching Atlanta’s dining culture grow, while also being part of that growth, is extremely rewarding for Butts. His culinary voice, he said, will help shape the city’s restaurant scene. It’s a monumental achievement for the Atlanta native, who is grateful for the connection to an extensive network of chefs.

“I really love the networking aspect of [the chef collective dinners],” Butts said. “I get to meet all of these new people and work with them, learn with them, talk with them, hang out with them, go to dinner with them, and grow with them.”

Butts said it’s important to foster the next generation of Atlanta chefs and plans to feature pop-up nights on Mondays and Tuesdays at Auburn Angel. And the restaurant will host a few of The New South dinners. Butts also wants to increase his appearances at food festivals in 2025 to make more connections with chefs and continue working on some new projects

he’ll disclose later this year.

In the meantime, Butts will roll out his new dinner menu at Auburn Angel, which features dishes using many ingredients from Georgia farms. As a member of Georgia Grown, Butts frequently procures ingredients from and collaborates with local farms like the West Georgia Co-Op, Springer Mountain Farms, Hudson Pecans, Ula Farms, Chantel Farms, and Finch Creek Farms.

“We have a lot of resources [in Georgia], and a lot of times, we don’t utilize those as much or talk about [those resources] much,” he said. “Right now, there’s some beautiful ingredients from the state that we as chefs use [for dishes] that don’t get noticed by the public.”

Auburn Angel (auburnangel.com), 302 Auburn Ave., Sweet Auburn. Open for dinner Wednesday – Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m. Open for weekend brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open Thursday for Grazing Hour, 4 to 7 p.m.

While the couple is still in the beginning stages of planning for Sargent, expansion beyond Lucian in Buckhead was always in the cards.

“We have been thinking about expansion for a while. Most of our dedicated regulars live more central to the city, and so we had our eye on the area,” Smelt said. “When we saw the New City space, we were just really energized. It feels good and really grown up. It all came together very quickly after that.”

Like Lucian, Smelt and Barringer named the Old Fourth Ward restaurant for one of their favorite artists. Lucian takes its name from British painter Lucian Freud, with the food, wine, and ambiance in Buckhead inspired by establishments the couple enjoys visiting when traveling in the UK and Europe. Smelt and Barringer see Sargent as an “everyday” restaurant rooted in American cuisine, cocktail culture, and wine.

Barringer will expand upon the book selections currently offered at Lucian, which include titles on art, music, architecture, food, and fashion. She also plans to offer magazines at Sargent, something Barringer once sold at her former Marietta Street bookstore, Cover Books.

“Books will definitely be in a distinct space but also part of the hybrid concept like we built at Lucian,” Barringer said. “I want the books to always have a voice visually and on an interactive level. But our expansion will allow for magazines. I think the OG Cover Books people will be very happy

And, while Lucian favors European vintages, Smelt said the wine list at Sargent will center on American producers as well as those from countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Expect cocktails based on classic recipes from the bar, along with a selection of fortified wines, including sherry and vermouth.

Smelt has worked in wine for more than 15 years, serving as wine director for Chef Billy Allin at Cakes & Ale and Bread & Butterfly and then in sales for Rive Gauche. At Lucian, Smelt meticulously curates a deep bottle list each month in the form of a booklet comprising nearly 250 wines. Accessibility is key to the wine list at Lucian, as it will be at Sargent, Smelt said, who categorizes bottles by varieties like chardonnay, pinot noir, or cabernet sauvignon and forgoes the often subjective and esoteric tasting notes.

“It’s important to us that wine at Lucian remains accessible and we hope to expand on that at Sargent,” said Barringer.

“It feels good to be recognized for what we’re doing at Lucian with wine,” Smelt said of the James Beard semifinalist nod for Outstanding Wine Program. “There seems to be a big shift in wine happening right now in Atlanta, and for Lucian and Sargent to be part of that, it feels wonderful.”

Sargent (IG @sargentatlanta), 405 North Angier Ave., Old Fourth Ward. Opening spring 2026.

Chicken n’ doughnuts: citrus-brined chicken with Soft Life doughnuts, hot pepper syrup, and citrus butter. (Photo by Aaila Avani)

Glazed carrots: bourbon-poached carrots with a sorghum glaze, parsnip puree, and a cornbread crumble. (Photo by Aaila Avani)

Katie Barringer (L) and Jordan Smelt (R). (Photo by Andrew Thomas Lee)

ESTATE

Beltline talks next steps for Murphy Crossing

By Dyana Bagby

Atlanta Beltline Inc. is ready to talk next steps for the revitalization of Murphy Crossing after negotiations with the development team broke down.

A stakeholder meeting to discuss Murphy Crossing, the 20-acre industrial site in southwest Atlanta adjacent to the Westside Trail, was held on Feb. 19 and community meetings are set for March 10 and 11 (visit Beltline.org for details and to register).

The Beltline says it could break ground in 2026 on the long-planned redevelopment of Murphy Crossing even after two years of negotiations broke down with Culdesac Inc. of Tempe, Arizona, and Urban Oasis Development of Atlanta.

The Beltline, which owns the property, envisions the site becoming a catalyst for economic development for the area surrounded by the Adair Park, Oakland City, and Capital View neighborhoods.

"It is not the intention of Culdesac to engage in an exchange of public statements regarding the Murphy Crossing Project. However, the Feb. 5 statement from Dennis Richards, Jr. fails to recognize that Culdesac and Atlanta Beltline Inc. entered into a contract in March 2024, and what Mr. Richards characterizes as 'negotiations' were all within the context of that contract," Perel told Rough Draft in an email.

"Many of these 'negotiations' were to address the issues caused by ABI’s failure to disclose the easements that had been granted to the GDOT unbeknownst to Culdesac. While ABI has attempted to minimize the physical impact of those easements on the project, which are significant, ABI also fails to recognize the financial and legal implications of those easements," she said. "Culdesac continues to reserve and does not waive any of its rights in this matter."

It is located near two MARTA stations and Mayor Andre Dickens wants to build another station at Murphy Crossing, linking heavy rail to the Beltline.

Culdesac and Urban Oasis Development were selected in 2024 to transform the shuttered, industrial property at 1050 Murphy Ave. into a mixed-use community with affordable housing, retail space, and a car-free living option. The team's initial plans included roughly 800 residential units and more than 300,000 square feet of office, light industrial and retail uses.

But costs soared, plans shrank, and development stalled, leading to the deal falling through, according to a Feb. 5 statement from Dennis Richards Jr., vice president of housing policy and development for the Beltline.

Caroline Lerner Perel, chief investment officer for Culdesac, said the Beltline did not tell the company about a Georgia Department of Transportation easement on the Murphy Crossing property. When the developer learned about the easement in August 2024, it put the company in a tight spot to secure financing and continue with its original plans, she said.

GDOT needs the easement to begin repairs to what some call the Murphy Avenue or Lee Street Bridge that crosses over the Westside Trail. The bridge is located at the northern tip of the Murphy Crossing property. The tunnel under the bridge is a popular spot for murals.

Richards said the permanent and temporary portions of the GDOT easement affect less than 0.5% of the Murphy Crossing site. That adds up to 0.1 acre, or about 4,300 square feet.

He also said it is standard practice in real estate for the seller to provide detailed information about the property being sold only after it is under contract.

"Furthermore, prior to a contract being signed, the Beltline has every right to operate its property in a confidential manner, which in this case involved granting GDOT an easement, in a small area in and around the bridge abutment, to perform much-needed repairs under the Murphy Crossing bridge," Richards said.

Once the property was under contract, the Beltline responded to Culdesac’s concerns by working with GDOT to limit the term of the construction work on Murphy Crossing to 2025.

"Given Culdesac’s lack of progress, GDOT’s rights to perform construction work would have expired before Culdesac ever broke ground on the site," Richards said. "Finally, if the GDOT easement was as impactful as alleged, Culdesac had the ability to immediately terminate its Purchase and Sale Agreement with the Beltline."

Murphy Crossing (Courtesy Atlanta Beltline Inc.)

Woodruff Arts Center transforms Atlanta arts

Woodruff Arts Center has embodied the transformative power of the arts since its inception. The tragic death of 130 Atlanta arts leaders and crew during a 1962 airplane crash in Paris catalyzed an Atlanta campaign to build a visual and performing arts center as a tribute to these victims.

PERSPECTIVES IN ARCHITECTURE

Atlanta leaders selected Joseph Amisano, FAIA (1917–2008), an Atlanta architect for projects such as the original

Lenox Square Shopping Center and MARTA’s Peachtree Center station, to design the Atlanta Memorial Arts Center.

Art patrons celebrated the opening of the Atlanta Memorial Arts Center on October 8, 1968. The modernist concrete building framed with columns transformed the city’s cultural landscape by accommodating visual and performance arts organizations under one roof. Interior spaces featured a performance hall for the Atlanta

Symphony Orchestra, art gallery spaces for the High Museum of Art, and a theatre for plays, ballet, and opera performances.

Renamed in 1982 to honor benefactor Robert Woodruff, the Woodruff Arts Center campus now houses the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the High Museum of Art. More than one million patrons annually visit the campus for performances, exhibitions, education programs, and events. Visits annually by more than 208,000 students and teachers distinguished the arts center as the largest arts educator in Georgia.

Research about the mental health benefits of the art field trips and experiences for youth has compelled the Woodruff Arts Center to implement an ambitious architectural project. The new Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families and PNC PlaySpace project by Atlanta-based architectural firms Perkins & Will and MOSA Architects promises to transform the Woodruff Arts Center and youth programming in Atlanta.

Perkins & Will Project Manager Victoria Walsh, AIA explains, “Woodruff Arts Center will have a more welcoming

Melody Harclerode

A rendering of the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families. (Renderings courtesy Woodruff Arts Center)

A rendering of a new playroom at Woodfruff.

A rendering of exterior renovations of the Woodruff Arts Center along Peachtree Street.

street presence.” A new, glass Peachtree Street entry will soften the building exterior and allow the public to see guests enjoying a spacious, light-filled lobby and PNC PlaySpace. Free art installations, pop-up performances, and workshops in the PNC PlaySpace will promote

unstructured creative play and youth development. MOSA Architects Principal Monica Fenderson, AIA adds, “This space will excite young children.”

Guests will proceed from the lobby into the new Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families. The design team is modernizing the old Rich Auditorium as a cutting-

edge, flexible auditorium for youth performances. The seating and the stage in the new auditorium can be reconfigured as needed. Formerly unused areas will become green rooms, dressing rooms, and support spaces.

The Alliance Theatre’s Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Christopher Moses notes the impact of the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families and PNC PlaySpace project for the city. “We want a visit to Woodruff Arts Center to be a rite of passage for every child in Atlanta. We are excited to lift young people through the arts.”

For more information about the Woodruff Arts Center and this project, tune into the Uplifting Places podcast hosted by Melody Harclerode on Spotify.

INSPIRATION

The Goizueta Stage space transformed for a gala event.

This 1970 issue of Atlanta Arts magazine features the Woodruff when it was still known as the Memorial Arts Center.

APRIL 26, 2025

GRAND

HYATT ATLANTA BUCKHEAD | 6PM - MIDNIGHT

Cocktail reception, silent and live auction, dinner, live entertainment and an even livelier dance floor! All event proceeds benefit Kate’s Club programs for grieving kids, families and young adults.

Summer camps with a twist

by Cathy Cobbs

It’s not your parent’s summer camp anymore.

The Atlanta area has an abundance of camps that serve a variety of niche interests - from an intense week-long study of amphibians at Critter Camp to to an overnight camp specifically for children suffering from health issues that might preclude their inclusion in the regular camp experience.

While the variety of camps seem infinite, they have one thing in common - to foster connections through mutual interest. Getting up close and personal with amphibians

Critter Camp, run by the Amphibian Foundation, gives children the opportunity to learn everything about salamanders, frogs, turtles, snakes, and lizards.

Director of education and co-founder Crystal Mandica said the camp allows

children “a close-up-and-personal look at animals they may never be able to see for themselves.”

Held at the Friends School of Atlanta in Decatur, attendees learn about a particular animal each day, including its different species, habitat, and feeding patterns, and before they leave, have the chance to have an up-close encounter with that amphibian.

The Amphibian Foundation has more than 600 amphibians at the center, located in Sandy Springs at Blue Heron Nature Preserve, Mandica said.

Amphibian Camp, 4055 Roswell Rd. NE, offers summer programs for children ages six to 14, and after-school and online courses for all ages. More information can be found at critter-camp.org.

Giving medically fragile kids an outlet for fun

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Camp Oasis gives children living with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis the opportunity to “just be kids.”

According to Elizabeth Fligor Vallery, the senior manager of Camp Oasis, about 100 children will attend the camp this summer, which is held at Camp Twin Lakes in Winder, GA.

“We have a lot of things that people offer at a traditional camp, like ziplining and water sports, but we also try to give them lots of options so we can respect their health issues,” Vallery said.

An all-volunteer medical team is on site during the camp, including nurses, dieticians and mental health providers, for any issues that arise while the camp is in session.

“None of the campers are ‘the sick kids,’ because all of them are going through the same thing,” she said. “It’s a place where they feel like they belong.”

The camp also includes one education session, where children are offered coping mechanisms, self-care tips, and have the chance to interact with others who are experiencing the same challenges.

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Camp Oasis runs from June 15-20 this year. Scholarships are available to defray the $400 per-camper cost. More information can be found at crohnscolitisfoundation.org/getinvolved/camp-oasis.

Camp unites book lovers and fosters creativity

Entering its 20th year, The Little Shop of Stories is a book-focused camp geared towards children who share a love of reading.

“We create a space where campers are told that they can explore their imagination,” store manager Justin Collussey said. “We take that very seriously.”

The themed camps revolve around book

series classics like “Dog Man,” “Harry Potter” and “Percy Jackson” with activities designed around them.

“For example, Percy Jackson books are steeped in mythology, so we draw more out of that,” Callussey said. “In Hogwarts camp, we have a potions class, which is essentially a science experiment.”

Children have the opportunity to be surrounded by fellow campers who share their love for a book or subject, he said. “In addition, all the adults who work at the camp are similarly engaged.”

Little Shop of Stories is located at 133 E Court Square # A in Decatur. The camps, offered to children from rising second to seventh graders, are held in a space above the bookstore, but campers venture to nearby Decatur locations for outdoor activities. More information can be found at littleshopofstories.com.

A behind-the-scenes

look at the Atlanta Zoo

Safari Camp, now in its 25th year, gives children from ages five to 14 the opportunity to “make a difference for wild animals and wild places,” said Staci Wiech, the vice president of education at the Atlanta Zoo.

Campers at the program, which is ageleveled, combine education with fun, as well as the opportunity to go behind the scenes to learn about animal nutrition, conservation, and wellness.

“Every day is different,” Wiech said. “We look at different groups of animals each week, and give the kids who may not have a chance to experience animals in a different setting.”

Campers also have the chance to enter the contact yard, which has sheep, goats, armadillos, and reptiles, for a closely monitored personal experience with the animals.

Safari Camp encourages children and teens who want to explore “the next piece in how to become a zookeeper or conservationist,” she said. “There are great opportunities to grow with the program.”

Campers who age out of the program can become volunteers, and eventually come back as educators.

“But the most important thing for us at the camp is for the kids to grow relationships, and have fun,” Wiech said.

Safari Camp at Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, runs for nine weeks

starting May 27. More information can be found at zooatlanta.org/program/summercamp.

Design Camp sparks imagination through innovation

The Museum of Design Atlanta’s Design Camp is geared towards young creators who want to explore the power of design in fun and meaningful ways.

Leslie Yarborough, MODA’s education coordinator, said all the camps focus on urbanism, including transportation, public art, greenspaces, adaptive reuse and smart cities.

Campers work with LEGO bricks, robotics, art supplies and model-building digital tools to inspire change.

“We saw that the theme of urbanism was lacking in camp offerings,” Yarborough said. “We all live in cities – what can we do to support it using hands-on creativity?”

The camp, which runs for six weeks during June and July, is held on the Georgia Tech campus in the architecture building.

“Campers work with technology and supplies that they normally would not have in their homes, and learn to work collaboratively with each other,” she said.

MODA, located at 1315 Peachtree St. NE, has 16 different camps available for children from ages six to 18. More information can be found at museumofdesign.org/designcamp.

‘The greatest camp on earth’

Decatur-based Circus Camp in its 33rd year, encourages children to “move around, be noisy, act funny and be messy,” said teacher Caroline Cunningham of the Circus Arts Institute.

“These kids have the freedom to be themselves, and our kid-centered staff is so kind and focused on them,” she said. “Kids have always dreamed of running away and joining the circus, and for a week in the summer, they get the chance to do just that.”

The week-long program, with options like unicycling, juggling, clowning, and an aerial program, culminates at the end of the week with a “super-adorable” show where families can see the children’s accomplishments, Cunningham said.

The camp, which is staffed exclusively by former campers, is a screen-free experience, and accepts special-needs children, she said.

While most camps are held in Decatur, there are also sessions held at satellite locations in Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and Buckhead throughout the summer.

The Circus Arts Institute is located at 2969 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. in Decatur. More information can be found at circuscamp.org.

Courtesy Critter Camp

Courtesy Little Shop of Stories

Courtesy Zoo Atlanta

Summer Camps

June–July 2025 | Ages 2–17

Register now for a fun-filled summer of dance, movement and creativity! Programs for all ages and levels. No audition required.

Two studio locations:

Virginia-Highland Centre

404-883-2178

Buckhead Centre 404-303-1501

Learn more at centre.atlantaballet.com/summer-programs

Photos by Kim Kenney