Atlanta Intown - May 2024

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Atlanta Intown A Publication 30th ANNIVERSARY MAY 2024 Vol. 30 No. 5 ■ RoughDraftAtlanta.com Also inside: ■ Atlanta Jazz Festival P.14 ■ Five must-try restaurants P.26 P.21
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MAY 2024 | 3 RoughDraftAtlanta.com Scan to subscribe to Rough Draft, or, text DRAFT to 66866 Facebook.com/ roughdraftatl x.com/ roughdraftatl Instagram.com/ roughdraftatl RoughDraftAtlanta.com atlanta Reporter Newspapers A Publication Atlanta Intown A Publication Silver Streak By Contents MAY 2024 ©2024 with all rights reserved Publisher reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertising for any reason. Publisher assumes no responsibility for information contained in advertising. Any opinions expressed in print or online do not necessarily represent the views of Reporter Newspapers or Rough Draft Atlanta. Honored as a newspaper of General Excellence 2018 Editor's Note 4 Community New MARTA Stations 6 News Roundup 8 Cop City Update 8 Chattahoochee River Trail 9 May I Be Excused? 10 Sustainability Above the Waterline 12 Arts & Entertainment BeltLine Lantern Parade 14 Atlanta Jazz Festival 14 FutureVerse Museum 15 Canopy 16 Special Section Virginia Highland Porchfest 21-24 Dining Madeira Park 25 Five Must-Try Restaurants 26 Auburn Angel 28 Business New Record Store 30 Switchyards Expansion 30 Saporta Report 31 Real Estate CNN Center Changes 32 Centennial Yards Plans 34 Transit-Oriented Development 35 Editorial Collin Kelley Editor collin@roughdraftatlanta.com Beth McKibben Senior Editor, Food & Dining Sammie Purcell Associate Editor Staff Writers Dyana Bagby Cathy Cobbs Bob Pepalis Logan C. Ritchie Contributors Sally Bethea, Zachary Hansen, Jack Rose, Maria Saporta, Tim Sullivan Advertising sales@roughdraftatlanta.com Deborah Davis Account Manager | Sales Operations deborah@roughdraftatlanta.com Jeff Kremer Sr. Account Manager jeff@roughdraftatlanta.com Suzanne Purcell Sr. Account Manager suzanne@roughdraftatlanta.com Operations Savannah Pierce savannah@roughdraftatlanta.com Published By Rough Draft Atlanta 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, ($75 / year) email delivery@roughdraftatlanta.com 30 25 14 About the Cover Virginia Highland Porchfest returns May 18 with a day of bands, food, art, and more. Turn to page 21 for our guide to the festival. (Photo by Sarah Carpenter)

published after a long (and I mean LONG) six-year process.

EDITOR'S NOTE

For those who aren’t versed in the lingo of poetry, this book is a “new & selected,” which basically means a greatest hits collection with some new tracks thrown in. I began working on this book in 2019 with the goal of getting it published in 2023.

A lot happened in between, including a global pandemic and my cancer diagnosis. My mind and attention were elsewhere, so the creation of the new poetry took a backseat.

I also challenged myself to create an unusual framework for this collection: to give it cinematic underpinnings and to tell a story over sustained narrative arc.

I’ve been a film and music fanatic since I was a child. From being awestruck by “Star Wars” and “Superman: The Movie” to finding a deep resonance with the films of Wim Wenders, Krystof Kieslowski, Sally Potter, and Derek Jarman.

“final” or “ultimate” version of the story they wanted to tell uninhibited by studio demands and clashes over artistic vision.

But I didn’t want a traditional new & selected. I wanted to mix the old and the new to tell a deeper story. I thought this was going to be my “Joan Didion LA collection,” but as it was coming together, I realized that it was more about my dear uncle, Terry Graves, my beloved friend Christopher Jason Siddons, and my muse Derek Jarman – three of the millions lost to AIDS. Most of the poetry I’ve written about AIDS has never been collected in one volume but scattered across collections and chapbooks or appeared in journals.

Some of these poems have been altered to fit this narrative, heighten a mood, and create a stronger connection point. There is a prevalence of truth in my poetry, but there is also a dose of revisionist history,

I have a distinct memory of being in the backseat of my parent's pukegreen Ford LTD the first time I heard “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, Debbie Harry cooing over the disco beat of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” on the radio in my grandmother’s kitchen, Kate Bush somersaulting across my late-night television screen singing “Wuthering Heights,” and Peter Gabriel leading me to the poetry of Anne Sexton with “Mercy Street.”

While most poets get their formal training by reading other poets and getting literature degrees, my first teachers were filmmakers and musicians.

So, it seemed appropriate that the framework of this new & selected collection should pay homage to those early loves and educators. I’ve always been intrigued by directors taking a finished film and adding to the story to present a

cinematic license, and like Lillian Hellman in “Julia,” a touch of pentimento.

While I don’t think this will be my final collection, I feel like I’ve reached a stopping point. I find myself no longer interested in the “poetry business” of submitting to publications, applying for grants, setting up readings, or wringing my hands over who will publish the next book.

This collection puts a period – a full stop – to a 30-year journey that has now come to a close.

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Mayor Dickens announces locations of new MARTA stations

Dickens said at his State of the City where one MARTA rail station would be built — at the redevelopment of Murphy Crossing in southwest Atlanta. The new station would be the first to link MARTA heavy rail to the Atlanta BeltLine.

In an administrative order, Dickens unveiled where the three other planned infill stations — those built between existing stations — would be located.

The sites are at Krog Street/Hulsey Yard between King Memorial and Inman Park/ Reynoldstown, Joseph E. Boone between Ashby and Bankhead, and Armour Yards in Buckhead, between Arts Center and Lindbergh.

The order also includes plans for a bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor to connect the redeveloped Bowen Homes community with Ponce City Market.

The mayor also wants the city, Atlanta BeltLine Inc. and MARTA to work together to “develop a plan for mobility and transit options on the entirety of the BeltLine.”

Dickens also directs the city and ABI to collaborate with MARTA to develop the design and financing plan for the new stations and BRT corridor.

This includes finding funding sources such as local, state and private revenue “to support the planning process and to identify potential public/private partnership opportunities for any and all MARTA stations,” the order says.

The importance of aligning public investment with transportation equity is crucial in enhancing the quality of life for all Atlantans as the city continues to grow,

the mayor said. The order includes the directive for the city, ABI and MARTA work together to “deliver equitable transportation projects across Atlanta.”

“Both legacy and emerging communities have immediate transportation needs that deserve effective solutions,” Dickens said in a news release.

“It is imperative that our transportation investments are strategically and equitably deployed to increase ridership on MARTA’s heavy rail network and bus system fostering a more connected and unified Atlanta,” he said.

Atlanta City Councilmember Byron Amos, who represents District 3 and is a chair of the transportation committee, praised Dickens’ announcement to enhance the city’s transportation infrastructure.

“Among these stations, I am particularly ecstatic that the residents of District 3 will be benefiting from one, the proposed Joseph E. Boone station,” Amos said in a news release.

“This investment improves connectivity and fosters economic growth and community development,” he said.

“Together, let’s continue prioritizing progress and accessibility for all citizens.”

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By Dyana Bagby Mayor Andre Dickens revealed April 11 the locations of the planned new MARTA rail stations he announced during his State of the City address in March. But how to pay for them is still to be determined.
A rendering of the Murphy Crossing development. (Courtesy MARTA) A rendering of the Atlanta Streetcar outside Ponce City Market. (Courtesy MARTA) Mayor Andre Dickens gives his State of the City address. (Courtesy City of Atlanta)
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May 21 primary election a prelude to November

Voters will head to the polls on May 21 for the general primary to lock in Republican, Democrat, and nonpartisan candidates for the November contests.

State Senate and House of Representative races along with judicial races make up a large portion of the ballots in both Fulton and DeKalb.

Along with candidate selection, there are a multitude of non-binding questions being posed by the parties that play into election-year politics, including a

question on the Democratic ballot about banning assault weapons and one on the Republican ballot about banning transgender women from women’s restrooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms.

Atlanta residents will also Atlanta voters will decide in the primary election if they want to renew a 1-cent sales tax to fund water and sewer projects.

Early voting was slated to begin April 29 and run through May 17. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is May 10 and those ballots must be submitted on

May 21 by 7 p.m.

Early voting locations and sample ballots for Fulton County voters are available at fultoncountyga.gov by navigating to the Voting and Elections tab. DeKalb voters can find sample ballots at dekalbcountyga.gov by navigating to the Government tab and then Voter Registration & Elections.

You can check your voter registration status, find polling location and more information at the GA My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov.

Mayor Dickens has ‘newsflash’ for Cop City protesters: ‘Training center is well on its way’

Mayor Andre Dickens sent a message on April 17 to Stop Cop City protesters and “anarchists” who continue to commit arson, damage property, and trespass: “Newsflash: The training center is well on its way. We will continue and complete it this year. Construction is happening on the site every day.”

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum echoed the mayor’s sentiments following

another string of incidents in protest of the public safety training center under construction on a piece of city-owned property in South DeKalb County.

Schierbaum said Stop Cop City protesters claimed responsibility for breaking into APD’s mounted patrol facility, cutting a fence, and luring one horse into the roadway where it could have been hit by a vehicle.

“Those horses patrol our parks, protect the Atlanta Pride Parade and the Peachtree

Road Race, and keep the city safe daily,” Schierbaum said.

The chief said protesters were also actively encouraging others to identify “vulnerable” police facilities and come up with creative ways to attack them.

Schierbaum said an investigation is also underway in Fayette County after equipment was set on fire on April 16 at a Brasfield & Gorrie construction site. Brasfield & Gorrie is one of the companies constructing the training center and its work sites have become a frequent target of protesters.

“These anarchists are trying to degrade the city’s safety. Individuals using fear and fire will be held accountable,” Schierbaum said surrounded by representatives from ATF and the FBI.

The chief said a $200,000 reward is still available for information leading to the arrest of individuals who have set arson fires related to the training center.

Dickens said the damage caused by protesters is more than $10 million,

including construction equipment owned by private companies and police vehicles.

The mayor referenced the two protesters who locked themselves to the top of a Midtown construction crane earlier in April. “They were up there protesting the very departments required to get them down, so the irony here can’t be missed,” he said.

“They do not want Atlanta to have safety,” Dickens said. “They do not want metro Atlanta to have safety. They do not care about peace or about our communities. These acts of destruction must end. They must stop.”

Opponents of the training center collected more than 100,000 signatures last summer in an effort to get a referendum on the ballot to allow voters to decide the fate of the facility. A decision on whether the referendum can go forward has been mired in a federal appeals court since last fall.

Dickens said the training center will be operational by January 2025.

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Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum at the April 17 press conference. (Courtesy City of Atlanta)

City council approves $6.5M for trail designed to connect Downtown Atlanta to Chattahoochee River

Plans for a one-mile trail to connect Downtown Atlanta to the Chattahoochee River got a $6.5 million boost this week. The trail also has a deadline — to be completed before the 2026 World Cup comes to the city.

The funding, approved by the Atlanta City Council at its April 15 meeting, will be used by the PATH Foundation to build the linear river park trail beginning at Standing Peachtree Park in Buckhead and ending at Marietta Road NW.

The segment is part of the Chattahoochee RiverLands plan by The Trust for Public Land to connect communities, parks, greenways, and trails along a 100-mile stretch of the river from Lake Lanier to Chattahoochee

Bend State Park.

The city and Trust for Public Land are already working on a Chattahoochee Camp and Paddle Trail at Standing Peachtree Park to allow public access to the river.

Councilmember Dustin Hillis, who represents District 9 where the trail is being built, said on social media the goal is to finish this segment of the Atlanta RiverLands, along with the Silver Comet Connector and Woodall Rail Trail, by the end of 2025.

Finishing on that timeline would make it possible “to walk/bike from Downtown (or anywhere on the completed Beltline) to our City’s River (and, technically, all the way to Anniston, Alabama) by the 2026 World Cup,” Hillis said.

Courtesy Trust for Public Land

Killing your darlings

My dog Beans managed to tear her ACL chasing squirrels around the backyard. Her surgery appointment was weeks away and after a couple days of carrying the 60lb German Shepherd mix up and down the stairs, I started having sharp knee pains of my own.

without pain. But my understanding is that a doctor will assess my injury and my age and suggest I could either have surgery or just sort of deal with it, in a friendly, “you’ve-had-a-good-run” kind of way.

MAY I BE EXCUSED

I don’t necessarily blame the dog. It was bothering me a little beforehand and nowadays I’ve come to accept any injury I sustain as more of a lifetime achievement, sans any award.

Naturally, Beans soon discovered she could get around reasonably well on three legs and now I’m jealous I don’t have the built-in crutches that she does. I’m no doctor, but I am over 50, which comes with a certain diagnostic skill set, so I’m guessing I have a partially torn meniscus. This is woefully common for people my age. I mean, if you haven’t torn a meniscus by now, are you even trying?

The weird thing about this injury is that some days it’s essentially fine while I spend others pining for my wraparound ice pack. Of course, I’d love to continue to exercise and you know, bend my knee

This is true, I have had a good run. But like many folks navigating mid-life and beyond, it’s tough to be told you can no longer do the things you love to do. For example, over the past 14 years, I’ve tried my hand at being an Atlanta Intown columnist and it has been a fantastic ride. But I’ve been informed my column will “sunset” with the 30th anniversary issue in November. I’m bummed out about this but at the same time, I get it.

There’s an expression in writing that says “kill your darlings.” For me, that meant editing out those bits in rough drafts that I found clever or funny but perhaps didn’t necessarily serve the story. It’s never easy but as I’ve matured as a writer I understand the practice more and more. Atlanta Intown Paper/Rough Draft Atlanta is changing in ways that keep up with the speed of news which makes sense at a time when this business is extremely challenging. And in this instance, it seems, my column is the darling that is meeting the editing floor.

When raising kids, the days are long yet the years go by so fast. Left undocumented, it might have all been a blur for me. It still is a bit fuzzy but

chronicling some stories and thoughts along the way has made it less so. I’m thankful to Atlanta Intown for giving me this opportunity to share those essays here. And for those who have connected with these stories, let me tell you, THAT is the balm that soothes any self-doubting writer. It is why we write to begin with so I am forever grateful to those who have read along.

There’s no telling what will happen with my knee, but my writing muscles should hold up for a while longer. At the moment I’m unsure where these words will live but there will be more words. Who knows? Maybe there will be another publication out there that just has to have the monthly musings of a middle-aged man? I’ll toss in the alliteration for free!

We still have until the November issue together though. There will be a handful more stories to be told (if not in print they can be found online) and I’ll be sure to let you know how Beans’ recovery from surgery goes. If there are any topics you want me to touch upon or you just want to say hi, shoot me an email. Again, THANK YOU all so much for reading. It has meant more to me than you’ll ever know.

10 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
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SUSTAINABILITY

Paltry fine imposed for national park closing

ABOVE THE WATER LINE

For nearly three weeks last summer, boat ramps in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area were closed and the public was urged to stay out of the water. It was the first time the National Park Service took such an action in the park’s 46-year history. High levels of E. coli bacteria threatened public health and safety in one of the most popular urban national parks in the country.

Citing unsafe conditions, the Park Service restricted all activities in the river downstream of Fulton County’s Big Creek sewage plant in Roswell. Daily, the aging facility was releasing tens of millions of gallons of partially treated sewage directly into the river system, specifically Morgan Falls Lake. Sixteen miles of the 48-mile river park—a third of its length—were ultimately declared off-limits to kayakers, fishermen, boaters, tubers, canoeists, paddle boarders, waders, and swimmers over the Fourth of July holiday and weeks following.

Staff and visitors to the Chattahoochee Nature Center still remember the “scent” of sewage in the air for weeks last summer. Nantahala Outdoor Center was forced to close its operation in Sandy Springs during a highly profitable period when the outfitter usually puts 400-450 people on the river every day: a “serious revenue hit,” according to the company. More than one million people engage in some type of on-the-water recreation within the national park every year, which contributes over $175 million to the local economy annually.

One of the more troubling aspects of

this emergency was Fulton County’s initial, and quite aggressive, denial that its Big Creek plant was the culprit, despite clear evidence. The paltry fine that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) recently ordered the county to pay for violating clean water laws and causing the park closure further minimized the serious nature of this crisis.

An old sewage plant

Built fifty years ago, the Big Creek facility has the largest service area (Roswell, Alpharetta, portions of Milton, and areas of Cobb and Forsyth Counties) and the largest total flow of any such facility in north Fulton County. Over the years, the aging and increasingly problematic plant was expanded to its current treatment capacity of 24 million gallons per day— and permitted by the state to discharge its fully treated sewage into Morgan Falls Lake.

To meet growing demands, Fulton County embarked on a $300 million plant upgrade with new, advanced treatment

processes and an expansion to 32 million gallons per day; the project broke ground in 2020. Operating under a joint venture agreement with Veolia Water—the county’s long-time wastewater management partner—the new plant is expected to come online later this year.

Data tells the story

On June 28, 2023, water quality samples collected and analyzed by Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) and two federal agencies confirmed releases of partially treated sewage into the national park from the Big Creek plant. The information was immediately reported to the county and the state. Fulton County officials said they didn’t know their plant was malfunctioning.

For weeks prior to that date, high levels of E. coli were found in river samples taken for the BacteriALERT Program: a longtime collaboration between CRK, National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey. Working to pinpoint the source, CRK and the Park Service tracked the problem to

Fulton’s Big Creek facility. Testing revealed bacteria levels more than 300 times the EPA-recommended limit for recreation.

After three days of vigorously denying the pollution was caused by the county and claiming that CRK’s Jason Ulseth was providing misleading information, Fulton’s Director of Public Works David Clark finally admitted the obvious. His plant was the source of the pollution. A trip on board CRK’s patrol boat to view and smell the sewage seems to have finally convinced him. Later, Clark told the media that the problem was not a “spill.” He called the emergency a “plant bypass”—terminology that kept the incident off the state’s publicly available list of spills into state waters.

Coordinating with all parties and sharing data, CRK and the Park Service collected and tested water samples daily throughout the area of concern until the Big Creek plant finally met clean water laws: a heroic task. The public was finally allowed back into the river on July 19, 2023. Ulseth called the spill “one of the most significant sewage incidents and public health threats along the Chattahoochee in the past 20 years.”

State poses meager fine

In March, the Georgia EPD finally released a draft enforcement order regarding the failures at the Big Creek facility: $90,524 for 25 permit violations and the unprecedented closing of the national park. Unconscionably, only $20,000 of that fine pertains to the shutting of the park. That’s $1,000 per day for each of the 20 days that the river was off-limits to recreation and the river ecosystem and public health were in jeopardy.

CRK and others have protested this pathetic fine, as well as the state’s failure to require additional water quality monitoring by the county at the plant and downstream. Ironically, or not, the Big Creek plant had another release of partially treated sewage lasting several hours earlier this year—while EPD was inspecting the plant.

This fall, the new and improved Big Creek treatment facility is expected to open. What infuriates me and many others is the failure of Fulton County and the Georgia EPD to fully administer their legal responsibilities to protect the public and hold polluters accountable. Fortunately, the National Park Service is taking the incident quite seriously. It is assessing damages for injuries to the park system resources that it holds in trust for the American people and will seek compensation.

12 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
River view (Photo courtesy Chattahoochee Riverkeeper ) Fishermen (Courtesy City of Sandy Springs)
MAY 2024 | 13 RoughDraftAtlanta.com

BeltLine Lantern Parade returns May 11

The beloved Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade, which regularly draws thousands of participants and spectators, will return to the Westside Trail on Saturday, May 11.

The annual event is part of Art on the BeltLine and his led by creator, curator and orchestrator Chantelle Rytter and her Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons. Last year’s parade drew an estimated 15,000 participants and spectators.

This year’s presenting sponsors are Lee + White, Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners.

Along with glowing lanterns and giant puppets along the one-mile route, five marching bands will accompany the parade: Atlanta Drum Academy, Black Sheep Ensemble, Seed & Feed Marching Abominables, Atlanta Freedom Band, Wasted Potential Brass Band and Grammy-Award winning artist Kebbi Williams and the Wolfpack.

The parade will begin at Adair Park I, 742 Catherine St. SW and end at Lee +

White, 1070 White St. Lineup will begin at 7:45 p.m. and will step-off at 8:45 p.m.

Limited parking will be available in the adjacent neighborhoods and 1200 White St. Event sponsor Ackerman & Co. will also provide complimentary shuttle service to and from Lee + White and the 1200 White St. parking lot. Spectators and participants are encouraged to take MARTA to West End Station, use rideshare or bike to the event.

Immediately following the parade, all are welcome to join the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, the bands, and paradegoers at the official after-party in the Lee + White Food Hall parking lot. The “AllBand-Puppet-Jam” will be an opportunity to interact with the Krewe’s giant puppets and all of the participating bands.

Chantelle Rytter will host a series of lantern-making workshops through May 8 at their Lantern Parade Studio at Lee + White. Their collection of giant lantern puppets will also be on display. Those interested may register at weirdgonepro. com/atlanta-beltline-lantern-parade. Fees vary by workshop.

André 3000 will bring ‘New Blue Sun’ to Atlanta Jazz Festival

André 3000 will bring his acclaimed flute album “New Blue Sun” to the Atlanta Jazz Festival over Memorial Day weekend.

The co-founder of Outkast is fresh off a series of dates at Variety Playhouse where he and his band played ambient freeform concerts with a few tunes from his debut solo album thrown into the mix.

He’ll be joined by other jazz luminaries, including Lizz Wright, Paquito D’Rivera, and more for the three-day festival in Piedmont Park, May 25-27. Admission is free.

“We have a fabulous lineup of musicians performing at the 47th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival on Memorial Day Weekend,” Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, said in a statement on Monday. “We invite you to experience an eclectic mix of jazz by national artists on Saturday, explore the global sounds of some of the world’s best international artists on Sunday, and discover the latest music from notable Atlanta musicians on

Monday.”

To learn more about the artists performing at this year’s festival and our late-night and pre-festival concerts, visit atljazzfest.com.

Here’s the schedule in Piedmont Park:

Saturday, May 25

1 p.m.    New Jazz Underground

3 p.m.    Sullivan Fortner

5 p.m.    Butcher Brown

7 p.m.    Cécile McLorin Salvant

9 p.m.    Something Else!

Sunday, May 26

1 p.m.    OKAN

3 p.m.    Luca Ciarla Trio

5 p.m.    Jacques Schwarz-Bart

7 p.m.    OLATUJA

9 p.m.    Paquito D’Rivera

Monday, May 27

1 p.m.    Justice Michael & The Passage

3 p.m.    KELS

5 p.m.    Groove Centric

7 p.m.    André 3000: New Blue Sun LIVE

9 p.m.    Lizz Wright

The Atlanta Jazz Festival Presents WCLK AT 50 on May 24

To celebrate WCLK 91.9’s 50th Anniversary the Atlanta Jazz Festival is presenting WCLK At 50: Featuring Lil John Roberts with an Atlanta AllStar Band, along with some very special guests, at Atlanta Symphony Hall at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 24. Tickets will go

on sale March 8. To purchase tickets, visit atljazzfest.com.

Enjoy a Late-Night Jazz Concert on May 25

Vocalist and composer Lauren Henderson will be the featured performer at this year’s late-night event at Park Tavern at 10 pm on Saturday, May 25. To reserve your tickets, visit atljazzfest.com.

14 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Fish Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade (File) Andre 3000’s “New Blue Sun” (Epic Records)

FutureVerse science museum planned for Downtown

Downtown Atlanta is poised to get a new tourist attraction that will offer high-tech immersive exhibits and STEAM learning opportunities for students.

The nonprofit science museum called FutureVerse is estimated to cost $100 million and backers are looking for property at or near the burgeoning Centennial Yards project.

The museum’s board of advisors includes Dr. Scott Boden, Chief Strategy Officer, Emory Healthcare and Woodruff Health Science Center; Bert Reeves, Vice President, Institute Relations, Georgia Tech; Nick Place, Dean, University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences; Kyle Reis, President & CEO, Cooper Carry; and Joel Bush, Partner,  Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton.

Architectural firm Cooper Carry has created renderings of the museum, which is

projecting 1.2 million visitors per year and an inaugural revenue of $50 million.

“Atlanta can do anything when we come together,” President and Chief Creative Officer David Wynett said in a press release. “FutureVerse will bolster tourism and provide our students with unparalleled STEAM learning opportunities with fun, high-tech immersive exhibits.”

FutureVerse will feature six galleries celebrating America’s innovation and ingenuity, each offering a “captivating journey into the future.”

The Future Health gallery, powered by Emory Healthcare, will focus on the human body, preventive health, AI in revolutionizing healthcare, and cutting-edge medical research. The Future Transportation gallery will explore space travel and advances in aerospace, automotive, and locomotive engineering.

Other galleries will include: Future Earth focused on climate change solutions;

Future Tech, which will feature future home innovation technologies and products from across the country; Future Art, an interactive journey combining art and film with technology; and Future Play, a gaming arcade of the future.

FutureVerse will also be a technology accelerator through its Futures Lab, allowing guests to crowdsource solutions to complex global challenges in sustainability and healthcare. It will share its disruptive ideas with its corporate and university partners.

Visitors will be transported into the immersive exhibits connected to the next generation of VR, AI, and augmented reality.

“As Atlanta continues to be a top destination for people from across the globe,

the proposed FutureVerse Museum will be a one-of-a-kind, immersive, educational experience that will complement existing attractions in downtown Atlanta,” A.J. Robinson, President of Central Atlanta Progress, said in the press release.

SCADFASH.ORG

MAY 2024 | 15 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
MARCH 27–AUG. 18, 2024
1600 PEACHTREE ST. NW ATLANTA
A rendering of the FutureVerse Museum. (Courtesy Cooper Carry)

Why restaurateurs flock to the diverse food scene in Norcross

For many people living inside and outside Atlanta’s perimeter, Norcross –located around 20 minutes north of Atlanta along I-85 – has become a destination worth traveling to for food.

Hailing from countries like Vietnam and Cuba, the diverse communities that now comprise the population of this small Gwinnett County city lend a global perspective to its dining scene. In the following profiles, the owners of five restaurants share why they chose to open in Norcross, and what it means to share their food and culture with the community there and people living beyond its borders.

Sabores del Plata

6200 Buford Highway

On a Sunday afternoon at the South American steakhouse Sabores del Plata, you’ll find older men pecking hello on the cheek, diners hopping from table to table, and a line out the door. But they’re not coming from church: “Our religion is soccer,” says coowner Damian Otero.

During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the restaurant – located at the Norcross Village complex— was packed with patrons crying tears of happiness as Argentina won the world championship. Argentineans and Uruguayans share many commonalities in language, culture, and culinary arts; Damian calls them the most carnivorous countries in the world.

alone, you have a truly authentic Argentinian kind of vibe, then you have Cuban [food] next door,” Damian says. “On the right, you have Los Ranchos, which is Mexican, and another which is Peruvian. Everybody has been there for over 10 years. Some even longer."

Spice the Americas

Food truck operating in North Atlanta

Sabores del Plata had been open for five years when Damian and his mother Denise bought the restaurant in 2014. Damian, then 21, had never worked inside a commercial kitchen. “I didn't even know what a walk-in cooler was,” he says. But the Uruguay-born, Meadowcreek High School alumnus “grew up going to this restaurant. That is a staple of Argentine and Uruguayan people.”

Diners come from Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina just to eat at Sabores del Plata. “They say, I have been driving three hours to eat here,” says Denise, who runs Sabores del Plata on a daily basis.

Much of the menu has remained the same. So has most of the kitchen staff, including the two chefs who grew up cooking in Uruguay.

Three dishes make up half the restaurant’s sales: parrillada, a platter of ten cuts of meat including chorizo, blood sausage, and sweetbreads; chivito, the Uruguayan national dish, served as a steak sandwich or plate with ham, mozzarella, bacon, and an egg; and choripan, an Argentinean street food of spicy sausages served in a bun with chimichurri, lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

"What I really think makes a difference is Buford Highway… In our shopping center

shrimp; or featuring quinoa, vegetables, and saffron. His shredded lamb and lentil empanadas are particularly popular, served with a zesty, herb-packed aioli.

“I am a man of color and I take pride in being able to offer my people Latin cuisine. . . . I'm happy to be able to surprise them," he says.

Hines brings Spice the Americas all around Norcross, to businesses like Cultivation Brewery and the Social Fox, and the city’s July 4 celebrations.

Spice the Americas may have been conceived in the North, but it was born in the South. Speaking on the food diversity of Buford Highway and the welcoming nature of Norcross natives, Hines “just got a really good vibe from the place.”

“It just felt like the space I needed to be,” he adds.

with grilled shrimp on a sugarcane skewer, minced pork sausages, and beef wrapped in betel leaves. Other popular dishes include lotus root salad and Vietnam's iconic noodle soup, pho ($9-$16).

But, after some remodeling and a renewed focus on quality service, Phú estimates Nam Phuong’s business has gone up 10 to 15 percent since the Nguyens took over. “The restaurant was already established, but we worked to make it a family-oriented atmosphere where people can meet their friends and enjoy a cozy, friendly atmosphere,” Phú says.

Phú admits that doing business in the Bay Area is easier than in metro Atlanta. “Everything in California is close—15 minutes is far,” he says. Still, the family move to Norcross has paid off: “Here, there’s more opportunity.”

In 2017, Philadelphia resident Ernie Hines planned to open a food truck called Spice the Americas, celebrating foods in North, South, and Central America. At the time, he was an experienced chef of two-plus decades, exploring the cuisines of wherever he traveled.

But then Hines’ wife, Nayla, received a job promotion that required a move south to Atlanta. While the couple celebrated her success, the move south came with a catch: “I purchased the food truck in Philadelphia,” Hines says. “And I had it shipped here to Atlanta.”

Fortunately, Spice the Americas turned out to be a perfect fit for their new home. The food truck launched that August, and currently operates out of a shared kitchen in Norcross, where Hines has found freedom to cook the Pan-American cuisine he’s most passionate about.

“What I am excited about in North Atlanta is the fact that I can bring diversity,” Hines says.

Menu standards include peach Sriracha wings, a jerk pulled pork wrap, a Peruvian chicken skewer on flatbread, and the “Lomito Completo”— his take on the Cuban sandwich. But Hines especially takes pride in making “the best empanadas in the city,” whether stuffed with lobster and

Nam Phuong

5495 Jimmy Carter Boulevard

From 1997 to 2017, Phú Nguyen and his mother, brother, and brother-in-law opened and operated several restaurants in California’s Bay Area—their version of the American dream. But California’s food scene was feeling crowded. “In California, there would be four or five of the same restaurants close together,” Phú says.

The Nguyens moved to Atlanta in 2017 because they “saw a bigger [Vietnamese] population moving to the area,” Phú says. Then six months ago in 2023, the family seized an opportunity to own and operate an established restaurant in a bustling community: Nam Phuong, which opened 15 years ago on Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

At 360 seats, Nam Phuong is the largest restaurant the Nguyens have owned and operated. But they were up for the challenge. ”We always wanted a big place, and this was perfect for us,” Phú says.

Phú says the formula for greatness was already there: “The chef, Sam, had been here for many years, and he was doing a great job.” The restaurant’s menu also remains the same. The Three Delights family meal comes

How we reported this story

This story was produced in partnership with Rough Draft Atlanta. Canopy Atlanta asked over 100 Norcross community members about the journalism they needed. This story emerged from feedback: “I love that there is a strong multicultural presence in Norcross,” one respondent told CA. “Lots of good food and restaurants from different communities.” Canopy Atlanta also trains and pays community members, our Fellows, to learn reporting skills to better serve their community.

Jack Rose, a reporter on this story, is a Canopy Atlanta Fellow.

16 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
Nam Phuong owners Phú Nguyen and his mother, Hưưng Võ (Mary) Nguyen. Spice the Americas owner Ernie Hines. To read additional profiles on Mojitos and the Blaxican, visit canopyatlanta.org.
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Strumming Up Excitement

Virginia Highland Porchfest is back on May 18

In the heart of Atlanta's intown Virginia Highland neighborhood, Porchfest returns for its fourth year. On Saturday, May 18, John Howell Park and its surrounding streets will be flooded with residents and visitors of all ages who will be brought together by a common love for local, live music.

Despite only starting in 2021, Porchfest has already become a cherished tradition among Atlanta residents. Community members rave about the event and the energy and buzz it has brought to Virginia Highland. Resident Steve Fazenbaker expresses gratitude for Porchfest's role in fostering a sense of community and belonging in Virginia Highland. “Porchfest is such a happy day. There are so many happy people, and it's just such a great vibe for our street and our neighborhood.”

As attendees weave their way through the picturesque streets of Virginia Highland, they'll encounter an eclectic ensemble of bands and musicians serenading them from porch to porch from 12 to 6 pm, with a finale performance from 6 to 7 pm on stage in John Howell Park. With nearly 90 bands this year,

the lineup promises something for every musical taste from funk to rock and roll.  While music takes center stage, Porchfest is also proud to provide a gathering spot for fun-loving families. The Kids Corner, operating from 11 am to 4 pm, provides the youngest festival attendees with an exclusive area to channel their excitement, ensuring a day of enjoyment for the whole family.

Additionally, the 1-mile Rock n Run gives the day a running start at 11 am, followed

by a unique selection of art and food vendors to explore.

Local businesses, including beloved establishments like Moe’s & Joe’s, Dad’s, and Farm Burger praise the festival for its impact on their business and the community. Moes & Joe’s employee, Harlee Adams, adds, “For our bar, it's been a magnet for locals and visitors alike, drawn by the genuine spirit of live music and camaraderie. What sets it apart is its intimate, porch-to-porch vibe, making

it a festival where everyone's a performer and neighborly connections thrive. The festival's presence has not only boosted foot traffic but has also enhanced our reputation as a hub for local culture and social gathering, enriching the overall experience for our patrons."

Generating foot traffic for local small businesses through Porchfest is a top priority for the Virginia Highland District Association (VHDA), the organizers of the event. Their goal is to showcase its unique slice of Atlanta to visitors, in hopes that they will keep coming back. Virginia Highland’s small business district proudly offers something for everyone, from books to brews to bites.

Porchfest wouldn't be possible without the generous support of sponsors like Sprinter, 14 Hands, Tanteo, White Claw Vodka, SweetWater, and Fever-Tree, whose contributions help ensure a seamless and memorable experience for all attendees.

Proceeds from the event directly support VHDA's missions and initiatives, ranging from beautification projects to small business support, reaffirming Porchfest's commitment to uplifting the Virginia Highland community.

MAY 2024 | 21 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
1996 • Almost Famous • Amelia • Babosa • Big Sinclair • Black Mogul • Blind Jive • Boxcar Radio • Chaunda Nicole • come senior • Concord Grapes • Couch Cult • Crushed Velvet • DadJamn • Dawson Duncan • Doobie & The Goats • Downbeat Daddy • Dylan Kight & The Nightbirds • Eclectic Musicians’ Club • Erin Thomas • Fisheye • Grunge Harmony • Harny • HeyDreamer • HeyStax & The Tribe • HU$HMoney • J.R. Rund • Joel Keeley Trio • Just Rats • Kid Country • krän • Los Pink Cheese Green Goes • Luke Brown & The Jubilee • Malibu Cowboys • Maxwell Street • Mutant County Line • No Yonder • Northern Sons • Pasadena • PKW • Ponce De Levon • Raoul K • Rare Birds • Robin Shakedown • RockWood • Secret Band • Seed & Feed Marching Abominable • Short Shadow • SPAGHETTI JUNCTION • Stardust Sonata • Stranger Company • Sweet Young Twang • Takiya Mason & The Band Of Angels • The Bea Arthurs • The Cold Turkeys • The Dazy Chains • The Highlanders • The Illegal Zach • The Porch Band • The Regifters • The Riffcats • The Rose Colored Glasses • The Unmentionables • The Wramblers • Tidalist • Todd Hill’s Hair Band • Virtual Adrenaline Band • Weatherproof • Webster Jubilee • Wilburn • Y’all • Yes Ma’am
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BELLWETHER STATION CODY MARLOWE & FRIENDS HURST
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SECTION
SPECIAL

CO-SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Pinto Sunshine to play final notes of VaHi Porchfest

Pinto Sunshine will take the stage for the finale performance as the sun sets on Porchfest. The band draws inspiration from Atlanta's cultural richness and the abundance of local talent surrounding them.

The band adds, “There is a ton of culture here in Atlanta. The melting pot really puts you in a creative mental space, especially when there are a ton of great local acts of all genres. This inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries and spicing up our sonic palette!”

Their new album, Pinto Sunshine, Vol. 1, was released in April and the band invites their listeners to follow along on their journey on Instagram (@pinto.sunshine).

One Mile of Rock n’ Roll!

The Rock n Run sets the stage for Porchfest with an electric blend of running and rocking. Decked out in their favorite rock star costumes, participants take a lively jog around the neighborhood. Spanning just 1 mile, it's perfect for the whole family or even doubling up for some extra mileage. So, lace up those sneakers and get ready to rock!

Fun for the whole family, Kids Corner is back!

From bouncy houses to face painting, Kids Corner offers something for even the youngest Porchfest goers! The Kids Corner will be packed with both free and ticketed activities to keep the little ones entertained all day long. This year, special youth performances by Ztunes and Meta Music will add to the fun on stage in John Howell Park! Adam Carder, Meta Music Founder adds, "Meta Music is thrilled to perform at Porchfest! Our students have poured so much into preparing for this performance, and we can't wait to see all their hard work come to life."

22 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
PRESENTING
KIDS CORNER SHOUTOUT
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Great music and great eats

Looking for something savory to hold you over while enjoying your favorite musical acts? Head to Barnett Ave to find a medley of 30 food trucks and vendors to grab a bite to eat. Need a break from the jamming? Head to North Highland Ave and grab some grub from one of the many top quality restaurants in the Virginia Highland district.

Volunteer at Porchfest

VHDA is looking for a dedicated team of volunteers to help make Porchfest 2024 rock!

Volunteers play a crucial role in various aspects of the festival, including loading in vendors, cheering on Rock n Run joggers, and assisting with Kids Corner among other tasks. All volunteers will receive a complimentary Porchfest branded T-shirt, koozie, and a free drink ticket, redeemable at festival concessions. If you're interested in being part of this exciting community event, sign up to volunteer by May 15. Join us in making Porchfest an unforgettable experience for everyone involved!

Logistics and safety

Porchfest music is viewable from the sidewalks only; please be respectful of local residences. Limited parking is available, and VHDA encourages festival goers to walk, bike, and rideshare. The event will have portable restrooms, along with a first-aid station on Barnett Ave near John Howell Park. To pair with the in-festival provisions, VHDA encourages festival-goers to check out food, drink, and shopping offerings from local small businesses along North Highland Ave.

More than musicAdair Ave becomes an artist market

Adair Ave and Todd Rd will transform into more than just a music festival destination. This year, Porchfest’s vendor market will feature 70 talented artists and makers from around the city. Attendees can explore an array of handmade crafts, artisanal goods, and specialty items.

24 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
Contributors Writing Sarah Miller Morgan Sangster Design Sarah Carpenter Photography Sarah Carpenter

DINING

Miller Union, Dive Wine partner to open Madeira Park wine bar

It’s been 15 years since Chef Steven Satterfield opened Miller Union on Brady Avenue in Atlanta. Since then, the critically acclaimed restaurant has racked up numerous accolades, including a James Beard award for Best Chef: Southeast for Satterfield, multiple nods to its wine program, and a Michelin recognition for outstanding service.

Now Satterfield will open his first new restaurant in years: a wine bar called Madeira Park in Poncey-Highland.

Satterfield partnered with Miller Union co-owner and wine director Neal McCarthy and Dive Wine pop-up founder and sommelier Tim Willard for Madeira Park. It will take over the cafe space at the former Highland Inn, now known as Otto’s Apartment Hotel, next door to Colette Bread, The Zero Co. and a forthcoming location of Big Softie ice cream shop. Neighboring restaurants along the block include Sweet Auburn BBQ, Tio Lucho’s, Fishmonger, Soul Vegetarian No. 2, and East Pole Coffee Co.

People who attended Dive Wine’s January pop-up at Banshee in East Atlanta Village unwittingly got a taste of what the trio has in store for Madeira Park. But the journey to open the wine bar began in 2019 and with another location closer to Miller Union on the Westside. The pandemic would alter those plans and put opening the wine bar on the back burner, forcing Satterfield and McCarthy to pull the plug on the deal to focus on shoring up Miller Union.

It was McCarthy who revitalized the plans again in 2024 and quickened the timeline for moving forward with the wine bar when he discovered the old cafe space at the Highland Inn had come on the market.

“People often ask me where I grew up. I grew up in Atlanta because I’ve been here for 28 years,” said McCarthy, a UK native. “My wife was born and raised here and I didn’t really grow up until I had my first child. I’ve always been drawn to this building on North Highland. It was one of the first places I remember when I moved here and it’s a part of Atlanta history.”

The space just felt right to McCarthy and a good fit for Madeira Park, something Willard and Satterfield agreed with when they walked into the empty cafe space for the first time earlier this year. They signed the lease within days of the viewing and immediately got to work planning the design, food, and wine. The wine bar’s name tips its hat to the park that was once the centerpiece of the garden community of Copenhill. It would later become part

of Poncey-Highland.

Look for a large bar anchoring Madeira Park inside and a variety of seating options throughout the space. Counter-height seating will extend into the center of the room from the bar, with wraparound seating and communal areas. The front patio will offer additional places to sit or stand. The idea behind the seating at Madeira Park will allow small groups to morph into larger gatherings as people stop by for food and wine and visit with friends and neighbors.

Like the food at Miller Union, Satterfield will lean into the freshness of the seasons at Madeira Park. But he’ll keep the menu simple and sharable with less composed dishes. Expect a vegetableheavy menu, along with charcuterie and cheese plates and a few standalone protein dishes. While Satterfield’s food will be a big draw, wine will be the main attraction at Madeira Park.

Willard and McCarthy have known each other for years, running in the same wine circles in Atlanta and beyond.

“Tim brings fresh ideas and fresh perspective to what Steven and I want to do here. His wine knowledge is more advanced than mine, bringing in wines to the state that otherwise wouldn’t be here,” McCarthy said of Willard, an advanced sommelier and National Portfolio Manager for European Wine Cellars. “He’s not afraid to push us and will bring Madeira Park to another level. I love bouncing ideas off of Tim. He gets what Steven and I want to do with service and food.”

The wine menu will feature by-theglass and bottle options offering familiar favorites, boundary-pushing vintages, and hard-to-find wines catering to collectors. Look for a section dedicated to vermouth, sherry, port, and madeira, with cocktails using these fortified wines as mixing ingredients or base spirits.

“We want this to be a neighborhood restaurant and hospitality-focused. We will have wine for people to stop in for a quick and affordable glass and for people who want to linger for a while and taste something rare or that they haven’t had before in Georgia,” said Willard. “We want to engage people and have fun, but also challenge them a bit with wine.”

Willard will continue operating Dive Wine as a pop-up, but with less frequency as Madeira Park inches closer to opening at the end of the year. He plans to be at the Madeira Park often, juggling his duties at European Cellars and running Dive Wine.  Satterfield and McCarthy also hope to be at Madeira Park often, floating back and forth between Miller Union and the Poncey-Highland wine bar.

“We’ve hired and promoted the right people at Miller Union and have the best team in place there,” Satterfield said. “Having that team has enabled us to dial in and do something else now. We’re

excited about Madeira Park and what’s happening with all the new restaurants opening. There’s a lot of synergy happening on that block and we are excited to be a part of that soon.”

MAY 2024 | 25 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
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Tim Willard, Steven Satterfield, and Neal McCarthy. (Provided by Madeira Park) Courtesy Otto’s Apartment Hotel

Five must-try new restaurants

The year began slower than expected with new restaurant openings. But the pace has picked up as we move through spring and into summer, with several highly anticipated restaurants scheduled to open over the coming months.

I spent January, February, and March dining at new restaurants around Atlanta and narrowed it down to five establishments that captured my attention this past quarter.

The guide includes the lowdown on two Italian restaurants, the relocation of a Michelin-star tasting menu restaurant, a Filipino brunch pop-up, and a neighborhood spot perfect for families. The guide also offers dish and drink suggestions and a service and vibe check.

Look for the next quarterly guide to the best new Atlanta restaurants to drop in June.

What to Eat: While I enjoyed the croquettes, tacos and street corn, grilled dishes are the stars of the show at Birdcage, like the citrus adobo chicken. A half chicken comes lightly marinated in lime juice and spices with a nicely charred skin. Grilled dishes are served with two tortillas and two sauces (ask for more tortillas. Two tortillas weren’t enough). The avocado-tomatillo and salsa roja sauces bring out the subtle heat and citrus notes in the chicken marinade. Add a side of red rice.

What to Drink:  Hat tips to “The Birdcage” can also be found on the tropical-leaning cocktail list, like the “Pirin tablet” (aspirin with the “a” and “s” scratched off) and the Shining Starina. You’ll get the name references if you’ve seen the movie. The Pirin Tablet made with navy-proof rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and cream of coconut was nicely balanced and not overly sweet.

Service and Vibe: Service is friendly and

Birdcage ($5 to $17)

Opened January 2024

519 Memorial Drive, Grant Park

Chefs Leslie Cohen and Shaun Whitmer opened Birdcage in January, adjacent to their other Larkin on Memorial restaurant Firepit Pizza Tavern. Cohen and Whitmer dabble in Latin-inspired dishes at Birdcage, including chicken tinga tacos, sweet potato bravas, a deconstructed take on street corn and black bean croquettes. Birdcage pays homage to the 1996 comedy starring Nathan Lane and Robin Williams in its design (think tropical wallpaper and pink flamingo feathers draping chandeliers). The movie and 1980s music videos continuously stream on televisions above the bar.

Hilton hotel, this Italian restaurant is meant to impress with its views, food, drinks, vibe and design. Keep an eye out for the martini cart rolling through the dining room, offering four variations on the classic cocktail served table-side. Expect a menu of fresh pasta and red sauce dishes along with prime cuts of steak.

What to Eat: Standout dishes are the limon ricotta gnudi with Georgia shrimp, 30-day aged parmesan and dill, as well as the duck ravioli. The braised duck comes folded into foie gras with pickled Fresno chilis and kumquat gremolata. Order the bistecca short rib in red wine sauce for something meatier. For dessert, opt for the sfogiatelle pastry filled with ricotta served with bergamot citrus sorbet. The icy Inverno Toscano with Vermentino, granita and rosemary semifreddo, a dollop of olive oil ice cream, and chocolate hazelnut gianduja cake is another solid choice.

attentive. The atmosphere is lively if not a bit noisy due to the high ceilings with exposed ductwork. Birdcage is a solid option for small groups and families with young children or for a drink and snack at the bar during happy hour.

Capolinea ($23 to $54)

Opened January 2024

Signia by Hilton, 159 Northside Drive, Atlanta

It’s all about the view at Capolinea, which overlooks Mercedes-Benz Stadium with peeks of the downtown Atlanta skyline. Views come with nearly every seat in the dining room (some better than others).

Located on the fourth floor of the new Signia

What to Drink: The martini is king at Capolinea. While the bar can make the martini any way you want, don’t skip ordering one of the martini riffs from the cocktail cart. It’s a show complete with liquid nitrogen and a choice of garnish accouterments. I lean classic with gin and a twist when it comes to martinis and enjoyed the restaurant’s namesake cocktail. The Capolinea mixes olive-oil-washed vodka and gin with Italicus vermouth and a lemon twist. The Sicilian made with gin, Marsala wine, vermouth and amaretto complemented with almondstuffed olives offers drinkers a more complex take on the martini that leans into nuttier notes and a touch bittersweet.

Service and Vibe: Service is congenial yet professional, including napkin folding when

you leave your seat, fresh cutlery between courses, and solid wine pairing suggestions. Music is low enough for quiet conversations but not so low you feel like you’re eating in silence. Be sure to hop over to the bar for an after-dinner drink. Valet is available and the Vine City MARTA station is just a couple of blocks away. Have your Uber or Lyft driver drop you off at the main entrance to the hotel and not the access road to the Home Depot Backyard beside Signia.

Carmenderia Brunch

($7 to $17)

Opened February 2024; Closed April 24 to search for a permanent location; catering available.

Lean Draft House, 600 Hopkins Street, West End

Carmen Burch serves a Filipino brunch five days a week from the former Lean Draft House in West End. Burch, who hails from the Philippines and worked at Lean Draft House for years, offers everything from crispy pork lumpia and dinamita (Filipino jalapeno poppers) to bowls of pancit and silog topped with pork and a sunny egg. Order at the counter and grab a seat inside or on the patio. Prepare to dig into the generous portions served up at this brunch pop-up.   What to Eat: Don’t skip ordering the lumpia – crispy spring rolls stuffed with ground pork, onions, and carrots served with a sweet and sour sauce. Also order the pancit, a mix of thin bihon and canton

26 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
Citrus adobo chicken with red rice from Birdcage. (Photo by Beth McKibben) Sfogiatelle at Capolinea. (Photo by Beth McKibben) Silog, pancit, and lumpia from Filipino brunch pop-up Carmenderia in West End. (Photo by Beth McKibben)
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noodles topped with crispy pork. The silog Filipino breakfast bowl is another winner with garlic-infused fried rice, pickled papaya and a fried egg. Top it with sisig (crispy pork) or bangus (milkfish). For something sweet, try the spongy, flower-shaped pulvoron (Filipino shortbread) flavored with fruits like strawberries.

What to Drink: Water, instant coffee, calamansi juice (lemon/lime) and tea are available.

Service and Vibe: This is a friendly, no-frills spot with a 1980s pop soundtrack and bright green banana leaves gracing the tables. Order at the counter and take a seat. Food comes out within minutes of ordering. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pop-up should run through June.

time only

Note: Burch just announced she will be ceasing operations at Lean Draft House after April 24 as she begins searching for a permanent space to open a restaurant. Stay tuned!

Pendolino ($13 to $48)

Opened March 2024

4600 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs If a full dining room on random weeknights is any indication, Chef Kevin Maxey may have a bonafide hit on his hands with Pendolino at Chastain Market Place in southern Sandy Springs. But don’t come to this Italian restaurant expecting heaping bowls of pasta or classic red sauce dishes. Here, Maxey plays with flavors and ingredients, wood-fired options, and keeps

things light, fresh and seasonal with his take on Italian fare. While portion sizes may seem small to some people used to being served big entrees at other Italian restaurants, I found portions appropriate for what Maxey wants to achieve with the food at Pendolino. Easily shared family-style dishes can be mixed and matched, keeping the price tag on the entire meal within reason. I was able to try a number of dishes on the menu by sharing with my tablemates and never went away feeling as if I didn’t get enough to eat.

What to Eat: I love calamari, so ordering the fried calamari with its spicy lemon-basil vinaigrette was a no-brainer. Try the pink snapper crudo garnished with sea fennel and pine nuts and the chicory salad “carbonara” tossed with bacon, eggs and parmesan cheese. Wood-fired pizzettes (personal-sized pizzas) come quartered. The fennel sausage pizzette is topped with savory ground sausage, spring onions and green olives. For pastas, try the Gulf shrimp “scampi” served with spaghetti tossed in garlic and white wine sauce. The Alaskan halibut comes accompanied by crispy artichokes and butter beans garnished with purple basil.

What to Drink: Try the classic Negroni or the Roman Holiday made with gin, vermouth Italicus, lime and mint garnish. The bar also makes a great martini, both gin with a twist and dirty with vodka and olives.

Service and Vibe: The space is light and bright. Pendolino’s high ceilings add to the airiness of the space but also allow for the noise level to rise as the dining room fills with people throughout the night. Service is attentive and pleasant, with only a couple of missteps that will be worked out as the flow of service continues to stablize. Remember, Pendolino has only been open for a month. The patio will be the place to sit during the warmer months, with its loungelike, coastal vibe. It may even make you forget you’re in a busy shopping complex on Roswell Road.

fours. A new a la carte bar menu also offers a selection of dishes from the tasting menu. Despite opening in 2019, Lazy Betty feels fresh in Midtown. It’s finally in the right space and the right neighborhood.

What to Eat: Standout dishes on the tasting menu are the perfectly poached Icelandic cod in a country ham broth with spring succotash topped with green tomato caviar and the truffle-stuffed agnolotti with a truffle vierge, roasted morels and garlic brioche crisps shaped into delicate leaves. The bar menu sees the popular shrimp causa return from the original menu in Candler Park, which features an airy potato mousseline and pepper relish. The brioche doughnut comes topped with a ring of foie gras and the verrine (coffee mousse, caramel, Amarula ice cream, brownie bits) is a must for dessert. Reservations in the dining room require ordering the tasting menu at $225 per person. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar, which serves both the a la carte and tasting menus, including supplement courses of wagyu, truffle risotto, and warmed diver scallops. Lazy Betty is a pricey dinner option in Midtown, but that hefty price tag includes the service, presentation, and drama of a tasting menu.

What to Drink: Lazy Betty was BYOB until just recently. With its liquor license finally secured, expect wine, cocktails, and nonalcoholic drinks from the bar beginning

Lazy Betty ($225 per person)

Opened March 2024

900 Peachtree Street, Midtown

Chefs Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips had a banner year in 2023. They received a Michelin star for their tasting menu restaurant and announced its relocation from Candler Park to the former Empire State South space in Midtown. Now, Lazy Betty features a prime Peachtree Street address and a bigger stage to showcase the deft culinary skills Hsu and Phillips earned working in the kitchen at renowned New York City restaurant Le Bernardin. Expect between seven and eight courses, starting with an amuse-bouche, with interludes of palate cleansers, and finishing with dessert and petit

April 24. Optional wine pairings will also be available for the tasting menu. Parties wishing to bring their own bottles not listed on the wine menu will be limited to two bottles per table with a corkage fee of $75 per bottle.

Service and Vibe: Service is professional and gracious, especially given Lazy Betty’s newly minted Michelin status. However, service still leans into the neighborhood-driven vibe of the former Candler Park location. The design is sleek and sophisticated but with an emphasis on the natural world, with live plants, earth tones and muted blues, and heart of pine floors refinished and stained in a lighter color. A much moodier space, the bar and lounge offer the option for a more intimate dinner experience.

RoughDraftAtlanta.com
28 | MAY 2024
Alaskan halibut at Pendolino. (Photo by Beth McKibben) Poached Icelandic cod. (Provided by Beth McKibben)

Auburn Angel will breathe new life into a historic Sweet Auburn restaurant space

The menu for Auburn Angel is a far cry from its legendary forefather, the Auburn Avenue Rib Shack. The restaurant serves what Chef Robbie Pacheco calls “global cuisine” with dishes like grilled octopus with heirloom blue corn masa and a duo of tempura-fried prawns and firefly squid.

For Pacheco and restaurateur Asa Fain, that’s the point of Auburn Angel. The restaurant should reflect present-day Atlanta – a city filled with residents representing multiple cultures from around the world.

Fain and Pacheco see Auburn Angel as carrying on the legacy of the building at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Fort Street. It’s been a restaurant in one form or another since the 1940s.

Fain, who owns restaurant and live music venue Apache Cafe, purchased the historic Sweet Auburn District restaurant building in 2018. It had been vacant for four years. He had always planned to preserve elements from the building’s former restaurants while updating the structure to bring it up to code and into 21st-century Atlanta. Approval of the design and preservation plans needed by the city and various historic architecture organizations took nearly two years.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused Fain to cease work on the building for months in 2020 and 2021. When efforts resumed, Fain was rocked by supply chain issues and rising construction costs. He had decided to expand the restaurant’s footprint, doubling it in size. Auburn Angel now features seating for 60 people inside, with additional seating for 60 more people on the covered patio.

“The name Auburn Angel reflects the energy and spirit of this place. It’s part of the neighborhood and this iconic street,” Fain said. “There is optimism and hope in the building. It’s still standing after all these years, despite having to do so much work to bring it forward and salvage things like the

front facade and the smoker pit.”

Auburn Avenue has deep ties to the Civil Rights movement in Atlanta, along with the Black community and Black-owned businesses. The street has been home to numerous restaurants over the last century like the old rib shack, which became Thelma’s Kitchen & Rib Shack in the 1990s, and B.B. Beamons just down the block. Nightclubs such as The Top Hat saw music legends like Billie Holiday and B.B. King on stage. Those legends would often dine at restaurants in and around Auburn Avenue following their performances.

Fain said he honors the building’s past lives in some of the design details. The grill pit from Auburn Avenue Rib Shack remains patinaed, scorched from years of fire and smoke. Ribs from the pit were served to Civil Rights giants like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Wesley Dobbs. The grill pit is given pride of place near the entrance to Auburn Angel. The space still features the original concrete walls, some layered in decades of paint.

Pacheco, whose kitchen chops include Cardamom Hill and Restaurant 356, said the menu kept developing every time he stepped foot in the historic building. He drew inspiration from his travels while also trying to anchor the food he will serve at Auburn Angel to Atlanta.

“I see the menus as more contemporary

pretentious. For me, the food matches the interiors of the restaurant and you just want to come and experience it.”

While Pacheco said he doesn’t play favorites with dishes on the menu, he points to the porcelet collar served with a cilantro and watercress puree as best representing his cooking style and what he’s hoping to achieve at Auburn Angel. The dish is seasonal and doesn’t use a lot of ingredients. Pacheco said he coaxes the flavors out of the ingredients he does use, like earthy notes from the root vegetable salsify, bitter tang from pickled mustard seeds, and subtle sweetness from a dusting of dehydrated carrots.

Pacheco and Fain tapped pastry chef Pamela Moxley to handle desserts for the restaurant. Moxley was the pastry chef at Miller Union and Floataway Cafe and a James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef in 2015.

“I think our menu has a great beginning and it will continue evolving and we’ll see what draws people in,” Pacheco said. “I’ve got a good team with me of seasoned people who’ve worked for me for years. Pamela has carte blanche to do her thing. We do a lot of collaborating in the kitchen and aren’t trying to follow trends. We’re just seeing what develops over time here.”

but with old-school values, where you go to the market every day for local ingredients and the menu is small and changes often,” he said. “I don’t want food at Auburn Angel to be pigeonholed into one thing or be

Auburn Angel, 302 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta. Open Wednesday – Saturday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations highly recommended. Valet parking available.

No one is more Atlanta than Monica .

MAY 2024 | 29 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
S TREAMING N O W A J C. c o m /m oni c a p earso n
Asa Fain and Chef Robbie Pacheco. (Provided by Auburn Angel) The interior of Auburn Angel. (Provided by Auburn Angel) Grilled octopus with heirloom blue corn masa, shishito takara aioli, pickled ramps, radish, and katsuobushi. (Provided by Auburn Angel)

Moods Music owner to open used vinyl shop Crates in South Downtown

Darryl Harris, the owner of beloved Moods Music in Little Five Points, plans to open Crates, a new record store, on Hotel Row at 215 Mitchell St. in South Downtown.

He signed a lease in April and is looking at an August or September opening date.

Harris, 63, said he was intrigued by what he saw Newport RE was doing in South Downtown and on Hotel Row while driving around the area. The neighborhood vibe he saw happening would be the perfect match for his next record store.

“I would always just peek my head in the different storefronts, and the light bulb just went off,” he said. “I’m excited about what it’s going to become.”

Moods Music, a staple in L5P for 24 years, sells mostly new vinyl as well as CDs,

turntables, books, art. Crates will be a place for used vinyl only, where people can search through, yes, crates of albums and sell some of their own records.

It will also sell home goods, turntables, and other merchandise similar to what is available at the Little Five Points store.

“I take pride in making a store a little bit more unique. My store [Moods Music] looks like no other record store — I’ve always wanted to be different,” he said.

Crates will have a similar aesthetic as Moods Music, Harris said, with a warm, welcoming vibe so people feel like home when they walk through the door.

“And I love the brick wall of the new space,” Harris said. “That brick wall is everything to me, and I can’t wait to get in there, work my magic.”

Harris’ plan to open Crates actually began more than a year ago when he met

April Stammel. At the time, Stammel was with Newport RE, a German real estate company with a plan to revitalize 10 blocks of South Downtown.

In July, just a few months after they met, Newport announced it was selling its entire South Downtown portfolio to Atlanta-based Braden Fellman Group. The deal fell through and many of Newport’s properties went into foreclosure.

In December, entrepreneurs Jon Birdsong and David Cummings, the founders of Atlanta Tech Village in Buckhead, announced they were buying Newport’s entire South Downtown portfolio of 53 buildings and more than six acres of parking lots.

Their venture is known as South Downtown Atlanta where they envision creating a district for entrepreneurs and startups.

“Darrell has been really patient,” Stammel said, now head of Marketing & Community Engagement for South Downtown Atlanta. “He definitely stuck through the transition and kept tabs on the progress. When the new buyers came in, we championed Crates and what Darryl was bringing to the neighborhood, and they embraced it full force.”

Newport did complete the renovation of Hotel Row on Mitchell Street before its vision collapsed. Thai restaurant TydeTate Kitchen opened last year, the first tenant of Hotel Row. Last month, Spiller Park Coffee opened.

Stammel said entrepreneurs like Harris, TydeTate and Spiller Coffee are what will make South Downtown a success, like the success Harris has enjoyed in L5P.

“He planted here and he grew here,” Stammel said of Harris and Moods Music.

“Twenty-four years ago, he started a business, he opened a record store, he was an entrepreneur,” she said. “And that’s what we’re trying to do in South Downtown with these tenants who are linking arms with us and becoming partners with and see what the neighborhood’s going to become.”

Harris said he believes in what is happening in South Downtown. He looks forward to celebrating Record Store Day in L5P and South Downtown next year. And he plans to be on Hotel Row for more than 20 years, also.

“I see the vision,” he said. “Being a part of the revitalization of Downtown — I want to be a part of that.”

Switchyards secures $5 million investment for 200-club expansion

Switchyards – the membersonly “neighborhood work club” – has received a $5 million capital investment that will allow the Atlanta-based company to open 200 new clubs over the next five years.

The investment is led by Bullpen Capital, joined by existing investor Cercano, and with participation from Overline, according to CEO and founder Michael Tavani.

Since its start in 2019, Switchyards has opened 15 work clubs across Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte. Its four newest clubs have sold out memberships within minutes of going live, including the most recent Atlanta location at the Biltmore in Midtown.

Tavani told Rough Draft that by the end of 2024, Switchyards will double its member base and open 10 more work clubs for a total of 25 and more than double revenue while expanding to new markets. The company also plans to quickly grow its marketing and launch teams this year while investing in product innovation to drive further growth, he said.

“We plan to open these new clubs in the Southeast, keep it close to home,” Tavani said. “We’re scouting out great neighborhoods and interesting buildings.”

Dallas and Houston, TX are two of the large markets Switchyards is eyeing for expansion, but Tavani said smaller markets like Chattanooga, TN and Greenville, SC are

also on the radar.

Tavani stressed that Switchyards’ growth and popularity has soared because it has eschewed the “co-working” label.

“The five-day office work week is dead,” he said. “Switchyards is a complement to your home and office. For the first time in history, over 65 million Americans are

working at least partly remote. Work has changed for good.”

And unlike traditional co-working spaces, Switchyards locations are open 24 hours a day, offer fast internet, and unlimited coffee and tea for $100 per month.

30 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
BUSINESS
Mood’s Music owner Darryl Harris. (Photos by Dyana Bagby) Switchyard’s founder Michael Tavani. (Courtesy Switchyards)

Center for Civil and Human Rights realizing its initial dream

Construction fencing surrounds the perimeter of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights to make way for the $56 million, 24,000-square-foot expansion of the living museum.

It is a pivotal moment for the Center.

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who has served as the Center’s board chair for most of its existence, has stepped down from that role and is handing the reigns to Egbert Perry, CEO of the Integral Group who has been on the board since the Center’s inception.

“Hallelujah!” Franklin laughed during an interview on March 8 at the Center.

Perry chimed in: “If she’s this excited, should I be depressed?”

In all seriousness, Perry and Franklin shared their excitement for the Center’s next chapter and how it will expand its role as a place to shine the light on democracy, human rights and conflict resolution — all from its home base in Atlanta.

“It has authenticity,” Perry added. “No one has permission to do that more than Atlanta.”

The Center opened in June 2014 after nearly a decade of planning with delays and slow fundraising caused by the Great Recession. As a result, plans for the Center had to be scaled back, but leaders always wanted to fully build out the Center that was initially envisioned.

Shortly after Jill Savitt became the Center’s president and CEO on March 11, 2019, expanding the Center became a priority. The COVID pandemic and the economic downturn didn’t help.

“We had a collective dream to build an institution that spoke to Atlanta’s history,” said A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress and vice chair of the Center. “Our timing has never been good, but we have raised $52 million [for the expansion.] I think we are gaining momentum to be what we always wanted the Center to be.”

The expansion will feature a three-story West Wing with a café and three new galleries — a Family Gallery for children under 12, a gallery that will tell the story of the Reconstruction Era and a Special

Exhibitions Gallery for traveling and rotating exhibitions.

A one-story East Wing will feature flexible meeting space for classrooms, performances, training programs and events. The East Wing’s roof will provide a new ticketing experience and an outdoor event space.

The Center will remain open throughout 2024, but it will close next January until its reopening in September 2025. During the temporary closure, the Center will host community events throughout metro Atlanta, and it will convene gatherings at local coffee shops, restaurants and performance venues.

Other enhancements will include a reimagining the gallery that displays the Martin Luther King Jr. collection and moving it up to the main floor. A new Activation Lab will give visitors opportunities to reflect and tap their power to protect rights and strengthen their own communities. Also, the popular lunch counter sit-in experience will be expanded.

Savitt said the Center is continuing its efforts to raise the $4 million needed for the expansion. “We have secured a bridge loan,” she said. “But we don’t want to take on debt.”

The Center, first imagined 20 years ago, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in June, when the expansion will be fully underway. For Franklin, the expansion means much more than bricks and mortar.

“This is what Atlanta does,” the former mayor said. “We have big dreams, and we execute them.”

To read the full version of this story, scan the QR code.

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This story first appeared in SaportaReport, a website for Atlanta civic journalism. Read more at SaportaReport.com.
A rendering of the expansion at the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

The owners of downtown Atlanta’s CNN Center have announced that the landmark office building is getting a new name after its former namesake vacated its longtime corporate home.

The longtime home of the country’s first 24-hour news network will lose CNN from its name and become “The Center,” the building’s owner CP Group said in a news release. The decision comes a month after the iconic red-and-white 5,000-pound aluminum CNN logo was removed from the sidewalk spot outside the complex.

Chris Eachus, partner at Floridabased CP Group, said in the release the rebranding aims to preserve a piece of the building’s legacy as an Atlanta landmark and tourist attraction while moving it into a new era without CNN.

“CP Group’s rebranding of the former CNN Center into The Center aims to create a unifying destination for commerce, culture and connection,” Eachus said. “Our vision includes curating an unparalleled selection of dynamic users, dining and retail experiences, entertainment offerings, and elevated lifestyle amenities — all of which will be carefully crafted to draw the community into the heart of the city.”

32 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com REAL ESTATE
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CNN Center is no more. Atlanta icon’s new name is now ‘The Center’
An early concept rendering of the interior of The Center. A concept rendering of the A crane lifts the iconic CNN sign its move to Midtown. (Photo The exterior of the CNN Center building.

Rebranding doesn’t always stick in the public lexicon. People still refer to Chicago’s Willis Tower as Sears Tower. Atlantans occasionally slip up and call Truist Plaza and Truist Park by the former bank name, SunTrust.

CNN wasn’t the original name of The Center. It was originally the Omni Complex, developed by famed Atlanta real

estate giant Tom Cousins. It contained the Omni Coliseum arena that formerly housed the Hawks and Flames, the Omni hotel, office space, a huge atrium and ice skating rink. The short-lived theme park, the World of Sid and Marty Krofft, famous for the 1960s children’s TV show ‘‘H.R. Pufnstuf,” occupied a portion of the campus.

But the office space was largely empty until CNN opened its headquarters there in 1987.

CNN announced in January 2023 that it would move its Atlanta operations entirely to a new 30-acre Turner Techwood campus in Midtown, not far from where the network was founded. CNN Center had already slowly been hollowed out over the years since CNN effectively moved its headquarters to New York in 2019.

CP Group and another Florida-based real estate firm Rialto Capital Management acquired the office and retail campus in 2021 for $164 million. About 1.1 million square feet of office space within The Center is available for lease. CBRE is handling office leasing efforts, while Healey Weatherholtz Properties is in charge of retail leasing.

“We are already engaged with several new-to-market retail concepts to join the repositioning of this legendary building,” said Coleman Weatherholtz of Healey Weatherholtz Properties.

With the Center sharing a roof and multiple connections to State Farm Arena, Hawks lead owner Antony said he plans to cheerlead the new owners’ future plans.

“It’s our job to be supportive of whatever they’re trying to build,” he said. “I’m looking for a successful building that helps downtown.”

CP Group has floated multiple visions, including converting part of the building into several hundred apartments. But recruiting new office tenants has been a focus in recent months, with nearly 500,000 square feet of workspace advertised in an online marketing brochure.

The rebrand comes amid tough times for metro Atlanta’s office market, which is still grappling with changes ushered in by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hybrid work schedules, an abundance of vacant space and a tough refinancing market have forced both landlords and employers to adjust to a post-pandemic world.

Nicole Goldsmith, senior vice president with CBRE in Atlanta, said she believes The Center’s location gives it an advantage.

“As companies continue to prioritize highly amenitized, well-located office space to attract and retain talent, they would be hard-pressed to find a more perfect fit than The Center,” she said.

This story comes to Rough Draft via a media partnership with the AJC.

MAY 2024 | 33 RoughDraftAtlanta.com REALTOR ® C. 404.504.7955 | O. 404.233.4142 Erin.Yabroudy@HarryNorman.com @Erin.Sells.Atlanta | ErinYabroudy.com ERIN YABROUDY WHERE LUXURY MEETS heart #1 LARGE TEAM COMPANY WIDE $850M+ LIFETIME SALES VOLUME 950+ HOMES SOLD ANSLEY PARK 205 PEACHTREE CIRCLE ANSLEY PARK ANNEX 1741 FLAGLER AVENUE ARDMORE SQUARE 9 ARDMORE SQUARE CLOSED JUST LISTED JUST LISTED THE BUCKHEAD OFFICE | 2827 PEACHTREE ROAD, SUITE 200 | ATLANTA, GA 30305 | HARRYNORMAN.COM Information is believed to be accurate, but is not warranted. Offers subject to errors, changes, omissions, prior sales, and withdrawals without notice.
the exterior of The Center. onto a flatbed truck in March for (Photo by Miguel Martinez | AJC) building. (Photo by Alyssa Pointer | AJC)

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8

Centennial Yards unveils sports and entertainment district plans

Centennial Yards, the massive $5 billion mixed-use development rising across from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, has announced its next phase: “a world-class sports and entertainment district.”

According to a press release, 8 acres of the property – formerly known as The Gulch –  will feature 480,000 square feet of entertainment, retail, and restaurant space, including a hotel.

The district will also feature a fan gathering plaza, just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches being held at the stadium.

Permits are actively being filed with the city and construction of this next phase is set to start in June. The developer’s goal is to have two-thirds of the entire Centennial Yards project complete or under construction by the 2026 World Cup, according to the release.

The newly announced plans include:

■ Immersive “Eatertainment” Concept: 3-story, 70,000sf building

■ Single-Tenant Entertainment Venue: 4-story 160,000sf building

■ Food & Beverage Retail: 2-story 50,000sf building

■ Hotel: 14-story, 233-keys

■ Fan Gathering Plaza

According to the release, the design from architectural firm Gensler creates a balance between the surrounding Centennial Olympic Park and towering high-rise buildings and will feature lower-

tiered buildings accented by green terraces along various elevations.

Inspired by Downtown Atlanta’s industrial roots, the Entertainment District will reflect the site’s railroad history with clean lines and flat pedestrian pathways throughout the district.

“We are thrilled to unveil this next phase of Centennial Yards and partner with a world-class design firm like Gensler to provide visitors, residents, and locals with an incredible hub for socializing and entertainment,” said Brian McGowan, President – Centennial Yards Company. “Centennial Yards will truly become the epicenter of entertainment in Atlanta, bringing together people of all ages to enjoy concerts, sporting events, bars, restaurants, and retail stores, all in one place.”

“The new entertainment district is great news for downtown and the City of Atlanta,” said AJ Robinson, President of Central Atlanta Progress and The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District.  “It will not only expand our downtown economy, it creates new places for people to gather and experience something new. This adds to what makes the core of our city so unique, building on our current attractions and reflecting the brand of Atlanta.”

When the Centennial Yards project is complete over the next decade, it will include 4 million square feet of retail, hotels, and office space and another 4 million square feet of apartments.

Currently under construction are the first two ground-up 18-story buildings at Centennial Yards.

34 | MAY 2024 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
Rendering of the arts and entertainment district at Centennial Yards. (Courtesy the Centennial Yards Co.)

In January, construction of the 300unit apartment building reached street level along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, marking a milestone for the project.

The foundation of the 290-room hotel is finished, and its construction is expected to rise to street level in about three months. There is also roughly 30,000 square feet of retail space at the base of the buildings for coffee shops, restaurants, and other stores.

Both towers are expected to be completed by 2025, a year before the World Cup.

MARTA gets $750K grant for Campbellton transit-oriented development

The Federal Transit Administration has awarded a $750,000 grant to MARTA for “equitable redevelopment in historically underserved communities” along the future bus rapid transit line (BRT) on Campbellton Road.

The grant will support the development of a transit-oriented development (TOD) master plan formulated in 2023 to implement the recommendations and help identify possible sources of public and private funding for development.

affordable. FTA has a simple message for communities across this country: if you are building good projects well, you will have the support of this Administration.”

The Campbellton Corridor is a 6-mile,

“We’ve been working on TOD planning along the Campbellton line because we know from past experience that development often happens before construction has begun,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood in a press release. “We’ve developed a vision for the type of density and equitable development that will support transit along the Campbellton Corridor, and this FTA grant will help us create an implementation plan that will bring that vision into a reality.”

“Transportation and housing are the two biggest costs for most Americans,” said FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool in the release. “This funding will help MARTA reach more homes and grow the economy while helping people access housing options that are more

center-running bus rapid transit line connecting Oakland City Station to a new Greenbriar transit hub, terminating at the Barge Road park-and-ride. The FTA funded study along the route will focus on opportunities to address food insecurity, affordable housing, the unsheltered, economic development, education, greenspace, stormwater management, and transit accessibility.

MARTA has completed successful TOD projects at Edgewood/Candler Park, King Memorial, and Avondale rail stations. A groundbreaking for the Kensington TOD was held last fall and a community celebration and unveiling for the TOD plan at Indian Creek Station this past weekend. TOD planning studies continue at H.E. Holmes and Bankhead Stations, and on future BRT lines Clayton Southlake, Clayton SR54 and Clifton Corridor.

MAY 2024 | 35 RoughDraftAtlanta.com
Courtesy MARTA

Welcome to this stunning Victorian mansion in historic Inman Park, built in 1898. This beautifully preserved home combines timeless architecture with modern luxury, perfect for today's lifestyles. It features a grand entrance with a large wraparound porch and original details throughout, including a foyer with high ceilings and an original fireplace. The house offers multiple living and entertainment spaces, including a sitting room, a den, and a dining room with a butler's pantry. The remodeled kitchen is equipped with high-end appliances and opens to a screened porch overlooking the garden. Upstairs, four large bedrooms boast original fireplaces, with the primary suite featuring a renovated bath and custom closet. Outdoors, the property includes a pergola, firepit, and space for potential additions like a swimming pool.

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