Brookhaven Reporter - November 2023

Brookhaven Reporter A

Publication

Fall & Holiday Dining Guide P26

INSIDE: HOLIDAY FUN P22 MICHELIN GUIDE P33

NOVEMBER 2023 Vol. 15 No. 11 ■ RoughDraftAtlanta.com

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CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2023 PUBLISHER’S NOTE

4

BUCKHEAD Cathedral Towers

8

SANDY SPRINGS Veterans Park

10

Brandon Hall Sale

10

BROOKHAVEN New City Hall

12

DUNWOODY Park Bonds Vote

14

Officer Investigation

14

COMMUNITY Atlanta Responds To Israel

16

SUSTAINABILITY Above the Waterline

12

18

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Holiday Fun

22

Assembly Studios

23

Spruill Center Mural

24

DINING

22

34

Atlanta Intown A

Publication

Reporter Newspapers A

Publication

Editorial

Published By

Collin Kelley Editor

Rough Draft Atlanta Keith Pepper Publisher keith@roughdraftatlanta.com

Sammie Purcell Associate Editor

Neal Maziar Chief Revenue Officer neal@roughdraftatlanta.com

Staff Writers Dyana Bagby Cathy Cobbs

Rico Figliolini Creative Director

Bob Pepalis Logan C. Ritchie Contributors Cory Atkinson, Sally Bethea, Maija Ehlinger, Kristina Ferdinand, Jacob Nguyen, Sarah Pierre, Katie Rice, Stephanie Saputo

Silver Streak

Steve Levene Founder Circulation 58,000 copies of Reporter Newspapers are delivered to homes in ZIP codes 30305, 30319, 30326, 30327, 30328, 30338, 30342 and 30350 and to businesses/retail locations.

By

Fall Dining Guide

26

Thanksgiving Out

29

Women + Wine

30

In The Spirit

32

Michelin Guide

33

SILVER STREAK atlanta

Advertising For information sales@roughdraftatlanta.com Deborah Davis Account Manager | Sales Operations deborah@roughdraftatlanta.com

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BUSINESS Robotics Scene

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Savi Provisions Expands

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Jeff Kremer Sr. Account Manager jeff@roughdraftatlanta.com Suzanne Purcell Sr. Account Manager suzanne@roughdraftatlanta.com Kris Thimmesch Sr. Account Manager kris@roughdraftatlanta.com

ABOUT THE COVER Colorful holiday macarons are on the catering menu at Proof of the Pudding. Be sure to check out our guide to restaurants offering catering and opening for Thanksgiving Day on page 29.

(Photo courtesy Proof of the Pudding)

To subscribe to home delivery, ($75 / year) email delivery@roughdraftatlanta.com Honored as a newspaper of General Excellence

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©2023 with2018 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.

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Standing against hate and with Israel Earlier this year, I took the I checked in with my former PUBLISHER'S Israeli colleagues and friends first Delta nonstop flight from Atlanta to Tel Aviv, a city where NOTE and sat transfixed on CNN, I have spent a considerable asking myself how this could be amount of time, and one that happening. My friends were all I consider to be among my top safe, but nobody was okay. Every three favorite cities in the world Israeli and every Jewish person is (Melbourne and Mexico City traumatized. are, irrelevantly, the others). The A left-leaning Jew who Atlanta-based airline resumed opposes the current Israeli direct flights to Israel because of KEITH PEPPER government and wants to see deep ties between the two cities’ a two-state solution in Israel, I booming tech sectors and a identified with the months of marked increase in tourism to Israel during protests against the right-wing government, a period of relative calm. but the sheer brutality of what happened After my trip, my friend Trevor on Oct. 7 has rekindled the existential fears Williams of the wonderful local publication that generations of Jews, including my Global Atlanta asked me to write about European ancestors, have felt. the experience, giving special attention to It’s become clear to me that terrorist the ongoing domestic protests against the organizations like Hamas, which proposed judicial overhaul by Israel’s rightrepressively governs Gaza, not only say they leaning government. want to annihilate Israel, but are organized On Oct. 2, my story was posted and willing to act upon doing so. on GlobalAtlanta.com, and I got great When Russia invaded Ukraine, my feedback, especially around the playful friend Michael Morris, publisher of The way I compared Tel Aviv’s unrivaled food Atlanta Jewish Times, encouraged me to scene with Atlanta restaurants. (Other than speak out and condemn the actions of work, my main activity in life is eating out.

Vladimir Putin. “Ukrainian people need Anyone who knows me knows that most to know that the world stands with them.” nights you can find me sitting at a local I wondered why it mattered that a small, restaurant working on my laptop.) local publication in Atlanta wrote about On Oct. 7, I woke up to an iPhone Ukraine. “When they search for news, your screen full of news alerts. Any “relative calm” stories will show up for them, and they had been shattered, and Israel was under will know that they are on the right side of attack from terrorists who, successful in history,” he said. their mission, made that day the deadliest My heart breaks for the innocent Israeli day for Jews since the Holocaust. and Palestinian lives that have been, and As the horror of what was happening undoubtedly will be, lost. I stand against began to sink in, I texted my friend Islamophobia, against antisemitism, and Christina who landed on Oct. 6 on her first against hate. trip to Israel, stocked with my curated list of But when terrorists invade Israel culinary recommendations. “Where are you? with the goal of killing, kidnapping, and Just woke up,” I wrote. She was safe in her torturing civilians, including women, hotel in Jerusalem, but suddenly my dining children, and the elderly, I stand very firmly advice seemed even more trivial than ever. with Israel.

Nominations now open for 20 Under 20 The 15th annual 20 Under 20 will appear in our January 2024 issue and we are now seeking nominations of students from public schools, private schools, and colleges ages 19 and younger who have contributed to the community in a significant way.

Nominations are welcome from teachers, counselors, administrators, parents, siblings, fellow students or community leaders.

Here’s the information we need: ■ Nominator (name, relationship to nominee,

and contact information) ■ Nominee (Name, age, grade, school, parent or guardian names, contact information) ■ Characteristics and service: Please provide a paragraph describing why this nominee deserves recognition. Include service projects, goals, and areas of interest to help illustrate your point.

■ A high-resolution photograph (1MB in size or more) of the student in any setting.

The deadline for nominations is Nov. 13, 2023.

Please email your nominations to editor Collin Kelley at collin@roughdraftatlanta.com.

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BUCKHEAD Cathedral Towers residents protest new management PROPERTY TAX 2ND INSTALLMENT DEADLINE NOV. 15, 2023

Cathedral Towers

City of Atlanta-DeKalb full Payment Due Customers paying their property tax bills at the Memorial Dr. office will use the UGA Extension Services entrance located at the front of the building from Nov. 6–15, Monday–Friday, 8 AM until 6 PM (extended hours). CLOSED Nov. 10 for Veterans Day holiday.

Disabled customers may still use the Property Tax entrance off Northern Ave.

Know before you go

Second installment is due Nov. 15. City of Atlanta/DeKalb full payment due Nov. 15.

Prior year, outstanding taxes must be paid in full in order to pay current year taxes. If a property is scheduled for tax sale, please call 404-298-3053 for delinquent payment options.

Bring your tax bill stub and a valid Georgia ID or Georgia driver’s license.

Acceptable payment methods include a credit/debit card, cash, check or money order.

Processing fees apply for credit/debit card payments.

Parking is available near the UGA Extension Service lot facing Memorial Drive. Disabled customers may use the Property Tax entrance off Northern Ave. Security screening is required for service.

Failure to receive a bill does not relieve the responsibility of paying taxes due. Property owners who have not received their bill may contact the tax office for assistance, or access a copy of their bill online at https://publicaccess.dekalbtax.org.

AVOID

LONG LINES AND

WAIT TIMES

Please consider the following payment methods

Prior year, outstanding taxes must be paid in full in order to pay current year taxes. If a property is scheduled for tax sale, please call 404-298-3053 for delinquent payment options.

Online: publicaccess.dekalbtax.org. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no service fee for paying by e-Check.

Drop box: 24-hour drop box available at all three office locations. Payment must be placed in the box by the due date; cash is not accepted.

Pay-by-phone: Call 770-336-7500, Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM. Credit/debit card payments are accepted; processing fees apply. There is no service fee for paying by check.

In person: Offices located at 3653 Clairmont Road, Chamblee, GA 30341, 2801 Candler Road, Decatur, GA 30034 in South DeKalb Mall, and 4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur, GA 30032.

Mail: Mailed payment must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by the due date to avoid late fees; metered or kiosk postage dates are not accepted as proof of timely payment. We encourage customers to consider other payment methods to avoid mail delivery issues.

Payments made by check may take up to four (4) business days to appear on the website.

Due to volume, payments received by mail during payment season may take up to a week or longer to post once received. DO NOT cancel payment. Please contact the tax office for payment concerns to avoid late fees.

DeKalbTax.org/property-tax

p: 404-298-4000 | e: proptax@dekalbcountyga.gov @DeKalbTaxGA

8 | NOVEMBER 2023

By Dyana Bagby Residents of Cathedral Towers in Buckhead are organizing against a plan to put a national agency in charge of managing their building. They fear the move would lead to cutbacks on security and personnel and jeopardize their quality of life.

The Cathedral Tower Residents Association was formed to voice its opposition to Ohio-based National Church Residences (NCR) taking over management of the 45-year-old affordable senior housing community owned by the Cathedral of St. Philip.

The association includes 150 of the 191 residents, said Bruce M. Gregory, 78, chair of the group and a seven-year resident of Cathedral Towers. Dozens of association members rallied in front of the building on Peachtree Road on Oct. 17 to spread the word they are unhappy with the church’s decision to select NCR to manage the property. “[NCR’s] management model is different from what we have now,” Gregory told Rough Draft Atlanta in an interview before the rally. “They don’t have as many staff members, they don’t require people to have as much training … they feel security doesn’t need to be quite as strong as we have now.”

Gregory said residents were shocked when they learned this summer the church wanted to bring in NCR to operate Cathedral Towers. They were disappointed the church did not seek their input in planning the facility’s future. Changing the name of the community to Parish Grove has also upset residents.

“Our world was turned upside down,” Gregory said. “It’s like a divorce.”

“We can no longer sit back and take what comes,” he said. “We must take action to avoid the ‘NCR effect’ taking over our building and ruining the wonderful

accomplishments of the past 45 years.”

Representatives from the church and NCR said they are aware of residents’ concerns and are working together to answer their questions, including posting Q&As online.

Despite the protests, the Cathedral of St. Philip does not plan to back out of its deal with NCR. The agreement is expected to be finalized early next year.

The Cathedral of St. Philip built Cathedral Towers in the 1970s with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding dedicated to creating more affordable housing with supportive services for the elderly.

The church is not selling Cathedral Towers to NCR. Instead, NCR is agreeing to lease the HUD-subsidized apartment building for 99 years and “will bring expertise and experience to the operation of the Cathedral Towers that the facility does not currently enjoy,” according to the Cathedral of St. Philip.

As part of the lease agreement, NCR is committing to acquiring federal and state tax dollars for low-income housing to pay for needed repairs and renovations of Cathedral Towers’ 195 apartments.

“This renovation will ensure that the Towers continues to provide high-quality low-income housing in Buckhead for its current residents and for generations to come,” the church said in a July 16 announcement of the partnership deal.

NCR is also seeking a $41 million taxexempt loan and $1.5 million in housing opportunity bond financing from Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development agency, to pay for the rehabilitation of the apartments.

An Invest Atlanta document shows NCR would pay nearly $52 million to the Cathedral of St. Philip for the acquisition as part of the more than $85 million development budget.

Read Q&As with Atlanta Board of Education candidates in Nov. 7 election ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

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SANDY SPRINGS Veterans Park to open during Nov. 10 ceremony A rendering of Veterans Park.

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The community is invited to attend Sandy Springs’ 14th Annual Veteran’s Day Tribute scheduled at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, at City Springs.

“The city invites everyone to attend the tribute ceremony, including the official flag-raising and ribbon-cutting to open Veterans Park,” Mayor Rusty Paul said.

“It is a great opportunity to show your support for veterans and to learn more about this new park.”

U.S. Army veteran, Sandy Springs resident, and former WSB anchor John Pruitt will return as the emcee for the event in Byers Theatre, which is adjacent to City Hall at 1 Galambos Way. After the tribute, attendees will be escorted across Roswell Road for the dedication ceremony to officially open the Sandy Springs Veterans Park.

The new park will honor and celebrate the service of veterans from all branches of the U.S. military. The park will feature a memorial plaza, monuments, flags, a water fountain, sidewalks, trees, and benches.

The city will launch a campaign to honor veterans through the donation of engravable pavers, benches, trees, and iconic art sculptures. More information about the paver program and other donation opportunities will be available soon on the city’s website.

After the dedication of Veterans Park, the community is invited to celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps’ 248th birthday.

This event will be held in the CityBar in the City Hall-Performing Arts Center complex.

For more information about Veterans Park, sandyspringsga.gov.

AIS using bond revenue to purchase Brandon Hall

By Bob Pepalis The Development Authority of Fulton County has approved a $7.35 million bond inducement resolution for Atlanta International School’s purchase of the Brandon Hall School property in Sandy Springs.

The documentation was approved by the Fulton County Commission at its Oct. 4 meeting.

The project will not impact the tax rolls, and neither the Development Authority of Fulton County (DAFC) nor Fulton County will guarantee the debt or be obligated on the debt.

“The DAFC is merely facilitating this project as permitted under federal tax law,” Daniella Gutierrez, Marketing & Community Relations Manager for the Development Authority, told Rough Draft Atlanta.

The approval was part of a federally tax-exempt bond transaction to benefit Atlanta International School (AIS) not to exceed $11.95 million in the aggregate, according to the approved resolution.

AIS will use the funds to finance or refinance the costs associated with the acquisition of land, buildings, improvements, and equipment related to the campus at 1701 Brandon Hall Drive, according to documentation.

AIS is a private, non-profit institution for kindergarten through 12th grade featuring full and dual-immersion language programs. Its main campus is located at 2890 North Fulton Drive in the Garden Hills neighborhood of Atlanta.

Brandon Hall School closed in May for financial reasons. An attorney for the school said a motion has been filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to allow the sale of the property to pay off creditors.

For more Sandy Springs headlines, subscribe to our daily newsletter at RoughDraftAtlanta.com/newsletters.

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City council members, elected state officials, and DeKalb County leaders gathered on Oct. 11 for the Brookhaven City Hall groundbreaking ceremony.

Located adjacent to the BrookhavenOglethorpe MARTA station, buses and trains were the backdrop for the city’s biggest project yet – a $78 million city center to house city council chambers, some city departments, event space, a coffee shop, and offices for the mayor and council members. The building is expected to be finished in 2025.

The city hall will be built on a current MARTA parking lot at the corner of bustling Peachtree Road and North Druid Hills Road. Brookhaven paid $2.9 million for a 50-year ground lease of the one-acre lot.

Mayor John Ernst, who is reaching his final weeks in office due to term limits, spoke about the future of city hall.

“Symbolically, this project will represent a pivotal point for the city of

Brookhaven,” Ernst said, noting that the building is more than just a city hall.

“It’s a monument to our community.

There’ll be a place for the public to gather, celebrate, enjoy coffee, movies, and engage with government.”

There will not, however, be room for all city staff. The former public safety building at 2665 Buford Highway is being converted into a space for public works, economic development, community development, planning and zoning, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement.

A few protesters gathered at the event, holding signs that read, “No overspending on new city hall” and “Citizens have spoken.”

Brookhaven resident Eric Hovdesven said when people opposed a parking facility inside the greenspace, a petition was ignored by the city.

“They shut us down. They didn’t listen to us. The petition got over 1,000 people. So, when this [city hall] happened, we realized the election is

A rendering of the new city hall.

www.townbrookhaven.net Conveniently located on Peachtree Road adjacent to Oglethorpe University.

12 | NOVEMBER 2023

ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

coming,” Hovdesven said.

The opposition shifted its strategy to supporting candidates who want to slow or stall the city hall project.

The only mayoral candidate to attend the groundbreaking was Mark Frost, who said the city isn’t “reading the room.”

“A lot of people are having a real tough time with day-to-day expenses and this is just a slap in the face of what ordinary people are experiencing around the kitchen table,” Frost said.

The project is being funded by Urban Redevelopment Bonds repaid by the

Special Services District, a property tax overlay for commercial properties in Brookhaven. The city released promotional material that explicitly states, “Homesteaded residential property owners are not being taxed for the Brookhaven City Hall.”

“I believe this building is a 150-yearold building, it just happened to be built right now. It will stand the test of time. It will mark the city of Brookhaven where we are, the city that we are,” Ernst said. “Countless generations of mayors and council members are going to go through that building.”

Read Q&As with Brookhaven’s mayoral and city council candidates in Nov. 7 election

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13

DUNWOODY For more Dunwoody headlines, subscribe to our daily newsletter at RoughDraftAtlanta.com/newsletters.

City refutes claims that parks bond will defund the police

By Cathy Cobbs In response to opponents of Dunwoody’s upcoming Nov. 7 bond referendum question, city officials are responding to claims that a vote for parks would result in defunding Dunwoody’s police force.

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch made several comments on social media regarding statements that are “at a minimum misleading, and at worst, flat-out wrong” regarding the claims made by the “Vote No” Dunwoody group and others in the community.

“Here are the facts: Since 2020, City Council has raised police salaries on average 40%, and we have increased spending on public safety 38%,” she said. “On top of salary, Dunwoody’s benefits are top in the

state.”

Deutsch said benefits include a monthly housing stipend for police personnel living in Dunwoody, take-home cars, educational assistance and health insurance, retirement, and vacation, as well as a sign-on bonus for new officers.

“You may also have heard that our police department doesn’t have the equipment they need or want,” she said. As Deputy Chief Mike Carlson recently said [at a recent Dunwoody Council meeting], members of the DPD lead with quiet professionalism. When they acquire new equipment, they don’t issue a press release or call for media coverage like some of our neighboring cities, they simply train on the equipment and use it in the field.”

The ”Vote No” Dunwoody website, however, continues to claim that more

funding should be devoted to the police department, even though the $60 million bond can only pay for parks and trails.

“Demands on police resources will increase because of issues and development in the Perimeter area and urgent need to patrol neighborhoods and parks,” the website stated as reasons to vote no on the referendum. “Police department is shorthanded.”

The “Vote No” group also claims that most bonds/debt “do not improve the quality of lives for [an] overwhelming majority of citizens,” and again reiterates that funding the police department

should take precedent over parks and trail improvements throughout the city.

It appears that the opposition has taken down a false claim that 93% of Dunwoody residents oppose trails, a statistic that was taken from a 2013 survey of Portland, Ore. bikers. The statistic was refuted during a recent community forum hosted by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association that led to heated debate.

In a variety of forums and presentations, city officials say that the cost of the 20-year bond for an average household with a value of $500,000 would be about $157 annually.

Dunwoody police officer remains on leave after battery charge 500 feet away from his wife under the order and return “all keys, garage door openers, A long-time Dunwoody police officer has and other security devices to the family been suspended since mid-August after being residence.” charged with battery against his wife.

The victim also alleged in the petition The wife of Dunwoody police officer that Stevens had ridiculed and spanked Mark Stevens, who lives in Cumming, her in front of witnesses, thrown her into alleged in a protective order a pattern of a dresser, and held her so tightly on several physical and mental abuse fueled by excessive occasions that she had bruises on her body. drinking.

Ten days after the order was filed, the According to an incident victim asked for the petition report filed in Forsyth to be dismissed “without County, Stevens was arrested prejudice.” The one-sentence on Aug. 18 and charged with request did not list a reason the misdemeanor after his for the dismissal. According wife alleged that Stevens, on to court records, the request Aug. 16 in a drunken state, was heard on Sept. 13, and accused her of having an was marked in online records extramarital affair, pinned as “closed.” her down on the bed and According to police struck her. The victim stated officials, Stevens was allowed in her affidavit that this to take a long-planned trip behavior had been occurring to Germany despite being on the entirety of their year-long administrative leave for the Mark Stevens marriage, including their incident. On Oct. 1, Stevens wedding night, and that posted a video on Facebook she had pictures and videos to back up her from a restaurant where he is shown with his allegations. hands bound behind him. Several men then Sgt. Michael Cheek, Dunwoody’s public appear to escort him out of the restaurant as information officer, said the department diners cheer and clap. is running an internal investigation in The video was posted with the message, conjunction with the Forsyth agency. As of “When you are close friends with the Oct. 24, that probe has not been concluded, Security personnel, they like to play pranks.

Cheek said, and Stevens remains on paid Ha Ha!” administrative leave.

Several people who wished to remain Stevens is a highly visible employee as anonymous confirmed that they had seen a community outreach officer. He is the and shared the video with others. Those who main point of contact for the Citizens on have seen the video said they “were shocked Patrol Program, as well as organizer of the that he posted it,” as it appears to make light department’s Citizens’ Police Academy. of his arrest.

The victim, 40, on Aug.18, filed a When asked if Stevens would remain petition for a protective order against employed if convicted of the charge or if the Stevens, which extended to her two children criminal charge would stand if he resigned, from a previous marriage – a 9-year-old and Cheek said he “can’t speculate the outcome a 6-year-old. Stevens was ordered to stay of the investigation right now.”

By Cathy Cobbs

dunwoodyga.gov | 4800 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Dunwoody GA 30338 | 678.382.6700

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1 The Story of Diwali Board of Appeals 2 Zoning Meeting

12 Dunwoody Audit Committee

of Lights: A Diwali 3 Night Celebration

Commission 14 Planning Meeting

4 #GreatDunwoodyCleanup Day 7 Election Dunwoody Art Commission

Authority 16 Development Meeting

Dunwoody Nature Center | 6:30 p.m.

City Hall | 3:30 p.m.

Dunwoody City Council Meeting

City Hall | 6 p.m.

City Hall | 6 p.m.

Le Meridian Atlanta Perimeter | 6:30 p.m.

Sunrise to sunset

City Hall | 6 p.m.

City Hall | 5 p.m.

Holiday Art Fair opens Spruill Gallery

Meeting

18 History Alive

City Hall | 7:30 a.m.

Committee 9 Sustainability Meeting

Kennesaw: One Last Mountain Donaldson-Bannister Farm | 9:30 a.m.

Game Night

City Hall | 8 a.m.

Hall closed 10 City Opening: Disney’s

N. Shallowford Annex | 5 p.m.

Light Up Dunwoody 19 Descendants - The Musical 23-24 Thanksgiving: City Hall closed City Council 11 Veteran’s Day Ceremony 27 Dunwoody Meeting Shops of Dunwoody | 2 - 6 p.m.

Stage Door Theatre

Brook Run Park Veteran’s Memorial 10 a.m.

City Hall | 6 p.m.

Master Gardener Talk

“Pruning Hydrangeas for Winter” Dunwoody Community Garden | 11 a.m.

November 19

14 | NOVEMBER 2023

Dunwoody Farmers Market

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Read Q&As with Dunwoody’s mayoral and city council candidates in Nov. 7 election ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

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NOVEMBER 2023 |

15

COMMUNITY

Metro response to the Israel-Hamas war

Thousands gathered at City Springs for the rally for Israel. (Photo by Avery Kastin).

By Bob Pepalis, Logan C. Ritchie and Collin Kelley On Oct. 7, Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented terror attack on Israel by air, land, and sea.

At press time, more than 1,400 Israelis had died and almost 200 are being held captive

by Hamas in Gaza.

Israel launched a massive counteroffensive in Gaza as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to wipe Hamas out for good, mounting a sustained assault on the territory.

More than 3,000 Palestinians in Gaza have died and the United Nations, Amnesty International, and other organizations are calling on Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in the densely packed Gaza Strip.

In Atlanta, the Jewish community and its supporters have rallied behind Israel in words and action.

Solidarity gathering Almost 4,000 people filled two theaters and the City Green in Sandy Springs as part of the Atlanta Community Solidarity with Israel Gathering on Oct. 10.

“When families experience trauma, nothing repairs that loss. But being together can help numb the pain. We gathered to do that this evening,” Eric Robbins, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, said at the gathering.

Daniel Dorsch, president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, answered the question of why the community gathered in Sandy Springs. He said it served as a reminder that the Jewish people don’t mourn in isolation.

“We say to the Jewish community

16 | NOVEMBER 2023

tonight as allies that you are not alone. And from here 6,000 miles away we see your pain,” he said.

Mayor Rusty Paul said there wasn’t a person in attendance who did not have a personal connection to people living in Israel.

“I stand here tonight because I stand with my friends living through horrific times in Israel, but most of all I stand here tonight because I stand with Israel and will do so as long as I draw a breath,” Paul said.

The Rev. Gerald Durley, emeritus of Providence Missionary Baptist Church and a veteran of the Civil Rights movement, said the accounts of murder, rape, and kidnapping of Israelis have stunned and shocked the world.

“My friends here tonight, know that you are not alone in your sorrow,” he said.

Anat Sultan-Dadon, Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States, said Oct. 7 has changed Israel as we know it.

“We will do everything necessary in order to protect our country and our citizens, as is the right and duty of any sovereign nation,” Sultan-Dadon said.

Many responses crtiticized as weak Shortly after the Hamas attacks on Israel began, schools, elected officials, and religious leaders began issuing statements and organizing vigils across Atlanta. From public school districts to rabbis to elected officials, messages of prayer and hope were posted on social media and distributed by email.

But some efforts missed the mark, according to Atlanta Jewish community members who are upset about the overall lackluster response. Metro Atlanta has one

of the ten largest Jewish communities in North America.

At Emory University, where 30% of the student body identifies as Jewish, letters were released by individual departments and deans. In a letter to undergrads, Emory College of Arts and Sciences Dean Barbara Krauthamer wrote about “the cultural, historical, political, and ethical dimensions of the region and this conflict.”

It didn’t go over well.

One hundred Jewish faculty and students at Emory University signed a letter to President Gregory Fenves, criticizing the school for its silence on the war and atrocities.

“You must stand in solidarity with your community members and send a clear message that they are supported and valued by all members of our university administration,” the letter stated. “We demand you explicitly condemn Hamas and their terrorist attacks. We urge you to create and publicize support and mental health resources for Jewish students on campus.”

Fulton County Schools issued a generic statement on Oct. 12, several days after the war began, omitting condemnation of Hamas, and failing to mention the people of Israel and Gaza by name. Parents criticized FCS for posting online rather than “sending something directly to all families in one of the zillion communications we receive from you … Silence is deafening from our schools, where our children are supposed to feel safe. Shame on you, Fulton County Schools.”

Parents called and emailed the Galloway School after Head of School James Calleroz White wrote a vague message in an attempt not to take sides.

White wrote a follow-up message: “I was not direct enough in identifying Hamas as a terrorist organization that is fueled by anti-Semitism and hate. Our support of our Jewish students and families remains unwavering, and we condemn the actions of Hamas in Israel.”

Atlanta Public Schools (APS) emailed families as fall break ended on Oct. 13, conflating the American Civil Rights protests and violence in Israel.

More than 80 families from across the district signed a letter to APS expressing heartbreak, disappointment, and insult on

Oct. 16, reporting to the district that it missed the mark on the war on Israel.

“In the wake of the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, and on the day of a call for a Global Jihad against the Jewish people, your statement was tonedeaf and inappropriate,” the letter begins.

Parents wrote, “Your misguided equivalency does not create a safe space in APS for our Jewish students. Our community is hurting, grieving, and scared.

Please reassure the APS community that you want our families, students, and staff who are hurting or fearing for their loved ones or themselves to know that you stand with us and are committed to keeping our children safe,” the letter stated.

Interim APS Superintendent Danielle Battle responded with a district-wide email that also contained resources for talking to children about war.

“Atlanta Public Schools continues to be hopeful for the peaceful resolution of the longstanding, multifaceted issues that have brought us to this point so that children in Atlanta and around the world can thrive in environments that are safe and secure,” Battle wrote.

Additional coverage Rough Draft has aggregated our ongoing coverage of the local response to the Israel-Hamas war, including: ■ An interview with Gal Bukshpan, a former Atlanta resident who made a harrowing escape from the Supernova music festival as it was invaded by Hamas terrorists.

■ Rough Draft partner Sophia Qureshi has the story of Atlantan Ghada Elnajjar, who lost family members during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Read her story at 285South.substack.com.

■ A call to action by social advocate Jason Feldman urging everyone to stand with the Jewish community in the wake of the attack and a surge in global antisemitism.

■ Strategic consultant and Jewish mother Samara Minkin writes of talking with her daughter about the ongoing cycle of violence between Israel and Hamas and the threats to Jewish people here and abroad.

Scan the QR code to read more.

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NOVEMBER 2023 |

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SUSTAINABLITY

Contaminated Waters: The toxic legacy of burning coal Three days before Christmas, 2008, the largest industrial spill in the nation’s history occurred in Roane County, Tennessee at a Sally Bethea coal-burning power plant operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

ABOVE THE WATER LINE

When a half-century-old earthen dam collapsed, an avalanche of toxic coal fly ash slurry poured into the Emory and Clinch Rivers and inundated 300 acres of land; a dozen homes were flooded, several ripped from their foundations.

The environmental disaster was nearly ten times larger than the Deepwater Horizon spill which occurred two years later when an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. It was about 100

times larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill into Alaska’s Prince William Sound in 1989.

Several days after the catastrophe at TVA’s Kingston Fossil Plant, Donna Lisenby eased her kayak into the murky, gray water of a lake on the Emory River that had filled with ash slurry after the dam ruptured. She’d traveled to the site to evaluate the situation for the international Waterkeeper Alliance.

Fifteen years after the incident, Donna still recalls the disorienting visual shock and the nauseating, acrid smell of the coal ash. She told me recently that she was appalled and bewildered as to how such a disaster could happen. There were hundreds of dead fish, toppled trees, and mountains of industrial sludge.

What had once been a peaceful landscape with clear water, tree-lined shores, and homes had become “a hellscape that smelled like hell.”

Deceit and Death

18 | NOVEMBER 2023

When TVA constructed the Kingston power plant in 1955, it was the largest such facility in the world, generating huge amounts of electricity and pollution.

To contain the millions of tons of byproduct coal ash produced annually, TVA built ponds without protective liners—a process called “wet storage”— adjacent to the Emory River. As time passed, the sludge held by retaining walls rose higher and higher. Even though engineers repeatedly found leaks, decades before the dam collapsed, only small repairs were made, instead of installing safer but more expensive dry storage.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins, including mercury, lead, and radioactive material, that can seep into surface and groundwater if the ash isn’t stored properly. The heavy metals in the ash have the potential to injure all major organ systems and are linked to cancer, heart and thyroid disease, reproductive failure, and neurological harm. In the years following the disaster, the environmental damage from the humancaused catastrophe at Kingston has been eclipsed by the heartbreaking human tragedy that has unfolded.

Nine hundred cleanup workers hired

to remove the contaminated waste were not provided, or allowed to wear, protective gear by TVA’s contractor Jacobs Engineering (now Jacobs Solutions). Presumably concerned about the negative optics of hazmat suits and respirators (and the very real possibility that acknowledging the risk factors could trigger a more expensive cleanup), Jacobs’ managers lied about health impacts. They told workers that the ash slurry was safe—that they could eat and drink it—that their breathing difficulties were due to pollen—and that they would get fired for asking for masks.

More than fifty of the workers at the site from 2009 until 2015 have already died from respiratory diseases and cancer; hundreds more are suffering debilitating illnesses. For a decade, they sought justice through the courts for restitution and to cover medical expenses. A monetary settlement was finally reached in May—years after a federal jury agreed that Jacobs had failed to protect the workers.

Continuing Risk While the Kingston workers’ coalash exposure was excessive, the risk to drinking water supplies remains at 1,000 active coal ash landfills and ponds and hundreds of “retired” ash dumps in the U.S. According to the industry’s own data, more than 90 percent of these ponds are unlined; many are contaminating groundwater with toxins above U.S. EPA’s safe drinking water standards.

The Kingston catastrophe and a coal ash pond failure in North Carolina finally prompted EPA, in 2015, to set the first-ever minimum federal standards for coal ash disposal. They address structural integrity for ash ponds, groundwater monitoring, corrective action, and public disclosure. The new rule also allows coal ash to be recycled into concrete and other applications: a profitable revenue stream.

Georgia’s Coal Ash Problem Several months after the federal rule was approved, Georgia Power announced it would close all twenty-nine of its coal ash ponds. Despite this good news, ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

the company does not plan to properly dispose of the dangerous material from eight ash ponds—affecting water near Rome (Plant Hammond), Smyrna (Plant McDonough), Newnan (Plant Yates), and Juliette (Plant Scherer).

Ever anxious to help our state’s dominant electric utility, Georgia’s environmental regulators have taken steps to support Georgia Power’s lessexpensive approach: the riskier cap-inplace method.

At Scherer, the company plans to cap its ash pond, leaving waste submerged in the aquifer that supplies water to residents of Juliette, who have sued over their high cancer rates and other illnesses connected to the plant’s ash disposal.

McDonough’s ash pond in Cobb County has already been capped without

any permit from the state; the hazardous material continues to mingle with groundwater along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, as does the ash in a pond downstream at Yates.

Recent and welcome action by EPA rejects state attempts to allow utilities to leave coal ash in groundwater. Alabama regulators were told their proposal to allow Alabama Power to cap its unlined ash ponds with the ash still in contact with groundwater would not comply with the law. At hearings and in comment letters, Georgians have urged EPA to take the same position in our state. It’s past time for Georgia Power to take responsibility for removing its toxins from public waters.

Plant Scherer in Juliette is one of the plants where Georgia Power plans to leave coal ash waste in unlined pits, where it sits in groundwater. (Courtesy Altamaha Riverkeeper)

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

RoughDraftAtlanta.com/Newsletters to subscribe to the Sketchbook weekly newsletter

Holiday Fun

Musicals, movies, and more to kick off the festive season Atlanta Pride Parade

A Christmas Carol The Dickens timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly visitors will be staged at the Alliance Theatre from Nov. 11 to Dec. 24 this year. Get tickets at alliancetheatre.org.

By Jacob Nguyen If you’re ready to get in the holiday spirit, there are plenty of shows and events for all ages to get you in the mood.

We’ve rounded up some of the “mustsee” activities happening around Atlanta.

Get tickets early, because many of these will sell out.

▼Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

▲The Wiz

▼Home Alone in Concert

Ease on down the road in this musical retelling of “The Wizard of Oz” story Nov. 14-19 at the Fox Theatre. Tickets at foxtheatre.org.

KEVIN!!! The classic 90s holiday film returns to Symphony Hall with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing John Williams’ score live. Screenings will be Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. Get tickets and details at aso.org.

▲Santa at Rhodes Hall

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights

Skip the malls, avoid the long lines, and have a memorable Santa experience for the entire family at Santa at Rhodes Hall, a holiday tradition for over 20 years. Santa will be hearing wish lists Nov. 18 to Dec. 16 on weekends. For reservations, visit georgiatrust.org.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden will light up again for the holidays from Nov. 18 to Jan. 14 with new installations. Tickets sell out quickly, so get yours now at atlantabg.org.

Based on the beloved animated TV special, Rudolph will swoop into the Center for Puppetry Arts Nov. 8-Dec. 31. Visit puppet.org for tickets and more information.

Georgia Festival of Trees The annual event at the Georgia World Congress Center kicks off the holiday season with an eight-day event, Nov. 1826, featuring displays of Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces and nativities for auction, live music and entertainment, kids’ activities gift shops, food carts and more.

Find out more at gafestivaloftrees.org.

Invasion: Christmas Carol A production of Dickens’ classic story is interrupted by a new invader each night of the hilarious improv show running Nov. 24 to Dec. 30. Tickets and details at dadsgarage.com.

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Assembly Studios opens in Doraville

Beatrix Potter Drawn to Nature

Monica Kauffman and Mara Davis at the opening of Assembly (Photo courtesy Mara Davis)

By Sammie Purcell Assembly Atlanta celebrated the opening of its television and film studio, Assembly Studios, on Oct. 21 with a star-studded party.

Music icons Dionne Warwick, CeeLo Green, Sheryl Crow, and Gladys Knight performed as part of the opening event.

The full-service studio with 19 sound stages on 135 acres is owned by Gray Television. It’s located on the former home of the General Motors Assembly Plant in Doraville.

“We are excited to unveil Assembly Atlanta, a hub of creativity and innovation that will redefine storytelling in the entertainment industry,” said Hilton H. Howell, Jr., Gray Television’s executive chairman and CEO. “We look forward to

ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

witnessing the impact of Assembly Studios on the community here in Doraville and in all of Georgia.

Production needs including set lighting, costumes, dressing rooms, rehearsal halls, and more are all located on-site. Assembly also has filmable facades that mimic New York, New Orleans, Tribeca, and Europe.

Gray Television has partnered with Universal Production Services to lease and operate the studio, supporting television and film production needs to NBCUniversal Media.

Organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

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PREMIER EXHIBITION SERIES SPONSOR

PREMIER EXHIBITION SERIES SUPPORTERS ACT Foundation, Inc. William N. Banks, Jr. Cousins Foundation Burton M. Gold Sarah and Jim Kennedy

BENEFACTOR EXHIBITION SERIES SUPPORTERS Robin and Hilton Howell

A V&A Exhibition–Touring the World Beatrix Potter (British, 1866–1943), Mrs. Rabbit pouring out the tea for Peter while her children look on, 1907, watercolor and ink over pencil on paper, Victoria and Albert Museum, Linder Bequest, BP.468. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London, courtesy of Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.

NOVEMBER 2023 |

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Dunwoody’s Spruill Center unveils latest art installation The new mural was unveiled at the Spruill Center for the Arts. (Photo by Cathy Cobbs)

By Cathy Cobbs

Spruill Center for the Arts in Dunwoody unveiled its latest AMPLIFY art installation at the fourth annual “Spirits for Spruill” event on Oct. 14.

The winning artist, Charity Hamidullah, created the work, entitled “Big Hug” which she said exemplified “embracing one another through life.”

“We are all going through something in one way or another,” Hamidullah said.

“This is a piece that shows the need to give each other space.”

Shannon Morris, the director of the Spruill Gallery, said AMPLIFY is a “creative placemaking project on the grounds meant to engage the community

through vibrant public art installations and to support working artists and the art community.”

Morris said Hamidullah “utilizes color, figurative and environmental elements to illustrate stories of identity, empowerment and growth while uniting spaces with the love language of art.

Originally from Rochester, NY, Hamidullah began her career as a tattoo artist when she was 16, and then transformed her medium to the canvas “with the hope to inspire and uplift more individuals.”

She has many installations throughout Atlanta and the United States, including a large piece at the Saltbox warehouse near the Chattahoochee Food Works.

“I’m grateful that I am able to create every day as my living,” she said.

The BFG Band provided the entertainment for the evening, Renzo’s Fire supplied the food, and signature drinks were poured by Post Meridiem.

Event sponsors included Piedmont Bank, JWB Realty Services, the Perimeter Center Improvement Districts, the Dunwoody Restaurant Group, and Rough Draft Atlanta.

Artist Charity Hamidullah works on the mural.

(Courtesy Spruill Center for the Arts)

24 | NOVEMBER 2023

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DINING

RoughDraftAtlanta.com/Newsletters to subscribe to the Side Dish weekly newsletter

Fall Dining Guide

New places, old favorites are on our list of restaurants to try this month Chef Ford Fry

By Collin Kelley, Sammie Purcell, and Dyana Bagby

Little Sparrow and Bar Blanc

Chef Ford Fry has opened these two new restaurants in his former JCT. Kitchen & Bar space on the Westside.

Named for French singer Edith Piaf, Little Sparrow takes inspiration from Parisian bistros and Brooklyn neighborhood taverns. The menu incudes items such as “La vie en rose” chopped steak with frites, halibut “pot au feu,” chicken schnitzel, a dry-aged burger and frites, and more.

“As I get older, I grow less inspired by restaurants that try too hard or let ‘interesting’ overtake ‘delicious’,” Fry said.

“I am inspired by restaurants that cook food I want to eat. Little Sparrow will be a place to indulge in a refined dining experience or

26 | NOVEMBER 2023

"As I get older, I grow less inspired by restaurants that try too hard or let ‘interesting’ overtake 'delicious.' "

Punk Foodie @ Ponce Sam Flemming – a friend and regular contributor to Rough Draft – has opened a pop-up food stall at Ponce City Market’s food hall. Named Punk Foodie @ Ponce, the concept will be a restaurant and chef accelerator, with a rotating, curated roster of popup chefs that represent the diversity and talent driving the city’s future restaurant landscape.

The stall is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

With a mission to champion budding local chefs and give their culinary creations broader exposure, the stall will be home to one- to two-month chef residences, weekend brunch, and themed chef collaboration dinners on Mondays. Guests will be able to explore a variety of cuisines and dishes not easily found across the city.

“Pop-up chefs are creating pictures of the new South through local and global ingredients served in styrofoam take-out boxes from borrowed kitchens and 10×10 tents with tabletop fryers all over the city,” Flemming said. “Now, with the new food stall at Ponce City Market, we’re helping pop-up chefs accelerate to the next level by allowing them to test concepts, build a brand and establish a track record as a means to open brick-and-mortar restaurants that will drive the evolution of Atlanta’s dining scene.”

See which chef is dishing now on Instagram @punkfoodieatponce.

Find out more at www.littlesparrowatl. com.

"...we’re helping pop-up chefs accelerate to the next level by allowing them to test concepts, build a brand and establish a track record..."

Sam Flemming

Chef Ford Fry

just grab a perfect medium-rare burger and fries.”

Bar Blanc also features French cuisine and has indoor, outdoor, and lounge seating. There’s a pre-fixe menu available that features a crust levain baguette and salade maison, steak with brown butter béarnaise, and unlimited frites.

Punk Foodie @ Ponce’s colorful new stall at Ponce City Market.

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Rhodes Hall

Indaco

“We’re looking forward to serving this active, lively neighborhood, and we’re excited to offer a variety of experiences."

"We decided to call it Fox Brothers Barbecue as a tribute to those early days while going back to our roots..."

A new Italian restaurant called Indaco Atlanta is now along the Eastside BeltLine Trail.

Located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood at 725 Ponce De Leon Ave., the restaurant comes from the team at The Indigo Road Steve Palmer Hospitality Group.

“As a team always looking to join vibrant communities, it feels natural to plant roots along the BeltLine,” Steve Palmer, founder of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, said. “We’re looking forward to serving this active, lively neighborhood, and we’re excited to offer a variety of experiences."

Indaco’s menu will feature a selection of antipasti, wood-fired pizzas, hand-rolled pasta, and Italian entrées. Specific items include grilled octopus, agnolotti, bucatini, and Brussels pizza.

Find out more at www.indacorestaurant.com.

Jonathan Fox

Fox Brothers Barbecue

"When people experience this new location at Underground Atlanta, we believe they will see, as we do, that this will be our long-time home" Nicolette Valdespino Pigalle co-owner Nicolette Valdespino behind the speakeasy bar.

Pigalle by Paris on Ponce Four years ago, the eclectic Paris on Ponce – which offered everything from antiques to poetry readings to food – was heavily damaged by fire and forced to close.

Its most recent home was in the Healey Building in Downtown.

Skip Englebrecht and Nicolette Valdespino, the partners behind Paris on Ponce, collaborated once again to bring a new concept to Underground Atlanta.

ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

Valdespino is programming Pigalle’s theater concept, while Englebrecht, also the owner of Fishmonger, is curating an absinthe-themed speakeasy hidden behind the stage.

Pigalle occupies a 6,000-square-foot space at Underground, filled with whimsical and sexy Parisian artifacts.

“When people experience this new location at Underground Atlanta, we believe they will see, as we do, that this will be our long-time home,” said Valdespino.

Programming will include members’ only speakeasy nights on Mondays, Tiki

Thursdays, chanteuse Fridays, ticketed jazz, cabaret, and burlesque theater shows on Saturdays, and occasional catered Sunday brunch experiences with the delicious imaginings of Chef Darryl Taylor.

For more information visit www. thepigalle.com.

Brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox, along with partner Beau Nolen, were preparing to open a new outpost of the award-winning ‘que joint in Brookhaven at press time.

Located in Brookhaven Station, 4058 Peachtree Road, the restaurant features counter-style ordering, with the duo’s signature style of smoked meats sliced to order, alongside throwback Texas sides, and decadent desserts. The Brookhaven location will be open Tuesday – Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. until sold out.

The brothers opened Fox Bros. BBQ two decades ago in Inman Park and decided to go with the more formal spelling for the new location.

“Opening in Brookhaven feels like a homecoming for my brother and I,” Jonathan Fox said. “We decided to call it Fox Brothers Barbecue as a tribute to those early days while going back to our roots with the elements of classic Texas barbecue culture and the flavors that we grew up with.”

While the name is a nostalgic tribute to the origin story, it also helps differentiate the style of service for this location. Guests will order from a traditional meat counter where expertly smoked proteins like brisket, pork, ribs, turkey, and house-made sausage will be weighed by the pound and sliced to order.

Visit www.foxbrosbbq.com for updates on the opening.

NOVEMBER 2023 |

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20 ANNUAL 23 MEETING FEATURING LEGENDARY BROADCASTER

Monica Kaufman Pearson Thursday, November 16th 11:30 am to 2:00 pm Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter For tickets and more info: www.perimeterchamber.com/events SPONSORED BY

Clever.

Curated.

Concise.

Omakase by Yun

“This style allows me to do what I want and present sushi in the way I want.”

Chef Jonathan Yun has opened his new sushi restaurant at the Ashford Lane development in Dunwoody. The Chef Jonathan Yun restaurant, which began as a pop-up at Atlantic Station, is now serving a $185, 20-course dinner featuring seasonal sushi with most of the fish flown in twice a week from Japan.

Yun and his team prepare the sushi in front of diners. Omakase, which translates from Japanese to “entrust,” means Yun will be selecting the sushi to prepare and serve.

“This style allows me to do what I want and present sushi in the way I want,” Yun told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Being smaller, more focused on quality and the wellbeing of everybody’s life.”

More To Savor Dips Kitchen, a mobile eatery now serving Buckhead, offers up a thoughtfully curated selection of made-from-scratch gourmet dips as meals. www.dipsdipsdips.com.

C&S Seafood & Oyster Bar was expected to open a new location in Brookhaven this month. Two other outposts are open in Sandy Springs and Vinings. www. candsoysterbar.com.

Yakitori Kona, a Japanese skewer restaurant and cocktail bar, is now open in VirginiaHighland. www.yakitorikona.com.

Tulum Kitchen and Bar is now open at Buckhead Village and features Mexican seafood dishes and cocktails. www.tulumatl.com.

Hudson and Alphonse, serving subs and their signature Boss Sauce, is now open in Choosewood Park. Instagram @hundsonandalphones.

Expect more from your morning newsletter.

Chicheria MX Kitchen, a Baja-inspired Mexican restaurant, opened on Atlanta’s Upper Westside. www.chicheriamx.com.

Bar Diver, a sister restaurant to Girl Diver, is open at Westside Paper with a focus on small Asian-inspired plates complimented by a full bar program. www.bardiveratl.com.

Brush Sushi has reopened in its new location at Buckhead Village after relocation from Decatur. www.brushatl.com.

RoughDraftAtlanta.com 28 | NOVEMBER 2023

Grana, the Italian restaurant and pizzeria from Chef Pat Pascarella (The White Bull, Bastone, is open at the Ashford Lane development in Dunwoody. www.granaatl.com.

ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

Thanksgiving Day Out Reverence: This Midtown eatery is offering a Thanksgiving buffet including turkey pot pie, mashed sweet potatoes, cauliflower stuffing, and more. Make a reservation at reverenceatlanta.com.

The St. Regis Atlanta: The St. Regis is hosting its Golden Harvest Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 23. The event includes a four-course tasting menu, and reservations can be made at exploretock.com/stregisatl.

Brassica: The Buckhead French restaurant is offering a three-course Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 23. The dinner will offer traditional favorites with an elevated twist. Reservations: brassicas.com.

By Sammie Purcell Not everyone enjoys slaving away over the stove on Thanksgiving Day. No worries – we’ve got you covered.

Many metro Atlanta restaurants will be offering dine-in and take-out meals on Thanksgiving. Whether you’re looking for a traditional turkey dinner or want to try something a little different, there are plenty of options to choose from.

If you don’t see your favorites listed here, be sure to check out opentable. com. Reservations will go quickly, so make yours early.

Proof of the Pudding: If you’re having a big family shindig, then the Atlanta catering company has festive holiday menus to suit every taste. Some of the menu items include Nashville hot chicken sliders, duck dumplings, prosciutto blinis and cinnamon chicken empanadas. Visit proofpudding.com to see all the menus and make an order.

Murphy's: The Virginia-Highland mainstay is offering its annual Thanksgiving To Go, which includes soup, salad, sides, and sliced turkey breast with a choice of pie. The dinner is enough to feed four with some left over for the next day. Order now at murphysatlanta.com.

5Church Midtown: 5Church will host its annual Thanksgiving Day buffet on Nov. 23, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Get more details at midtown.5churchatlanta.com.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: This Dunwoody steakhouse is open for reservations on Thanksgiving Day. Make a reservation at flemingssteakhouse.com.

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Le Bilboquet: This French eatery has both a pre-fixe menu and a la carte service available for Thanksgiving. Reservations: lebilboquetatlanta.com.

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Old Vinings Inn: This Vinings restaurant will be hosting a “celebratory feast” on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get reservations at oldviningsinn.net.

101 Steak: From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., 101 Steak in Vinings will have a special Thanksgiving menu available. Make reservations at 101steakatl.com.

Ray’s in the City: Ray’s will be celebrating Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations can be made online at raysinthecity.com or by phone at (404)524-9224.

South City Kitchen Midtown: The Midtown restaurant will be serving up a Turkey Day feast. Make a reservation at southcitykitchen.com.

STK: The Midtown Atlanta steakhouse is taking reservations for Thanksgiving at stksteakhouse.com.

Tiny Lou’s: Head over to the historic Clermont Hotel in Poncey-Highland for your Turkey Day din-din. Reservations: tinylous.com.

Truva: This Mediterranean eatery in Virginia-Highland is taking reservations for Thanksgiving Day at truvahighland. com.

Star Provisions: Star Provisions is accepting Thanksgiving orders for pick-up now through Friday, Nov. 17. All orders can be picked up on Nov. 22 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Place orders at starprovisions.com/thanksgiving-2023.

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29

Wines to pair with your Thanksgiving feast It is that time of year again: leaves are changing, the air is crisp and Thanksgiving menus are being planned.

In the wine business, this is our Super Bowl. We love nothing more than pairing wines with our guest’s cuisine and in November, we get to shine.

Each year, we start looking for wines to introduce and start collecting labels to fit even the most difficult requests. Some attributes we consider: 1. Low ABV: You’re most likely going to be drinking all day so the lower the alcohol, the more you can have! Plus, high alcohol will be overbearing to most

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of the flavors of the season.

2. Zero or neutral oak: Too much oak can clash with most foods.

3. Low tannins: Tannic wine can be overpowering and tend to dry our mouths.They pair well with rich, fatty steaks, not delicate white meat.

4. Wines that are “likable”: we want to make sure that all palates at the table are happy! Going to extremes can not only overwhelm but also turn off people who may be less adventurous.

Here are some of our favorite wines to complement your Turkey Day. Whether you’re drinking Cava, Prosecco, or Champagne, sharing a meal with your favorite people is a time to celebrate and nothing does it better than bubbles. Sparkling wine is the perfect aperitif with your charcuterie board, but also a compliment to many Thanksgiving staples.

Dry sparklings carry a ton of acidity and are perfect for buttery mashed potatoes, but also match fried dishes.

The efflorescence works to both cleanse your palate and soften salty items. Look specifically for Brut Nature or Extra Brut wines, these have the lowest sweetness level (bone dry) and have a ton of acidity. Consider something like a Brut, especially for creamy desserts.

A wine to try is NV Mata i Coloma ‘Cupada No.18’ Brut Nature Reserva Cava. This Spanish sparkler is made from Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada, the

classic grapes of Penédes, and is farmed organically with all estate fruit. The producer is small, only making around 500 cases of his Cuveés. The wine is complex and dry with minerality that reflects the limestone soils. The acidity is clean and high with notes of white flowers and citrus.

For Champagne, consider NV Champagne Philippe Gonet Blanc de Blanc ‘3210’ Extra Brut. The name tells the story of this classic wine: aged three years on the lees, two terroirs, one variety (Chardonnay), zero dosage. The nose has a beautiful brioche bouquet with hints of apricot and lime zest.

Chenin Blanc The darling grape of Sommeliers is popular not only because it's delicious but also for food versatility. Chenin hails from the Loire Valley in France in familiar regions like Vouvray, Anjou, and Savienneres, but it has also found a home in South Africa and California.

Again, chenin possesses acid, which is quintessential in foodability and can be vinified both dry and sweet. This grape would perfectly complement stuffing or dressing. Chenin would not be overpowered by herbs like sage or thyme.

One favorite is Kumusha Chenin Blanc from Breedekloof Valley, Western Cape, South Africa. Winemaker Tinashe Nyumudoka described this wine as “sunshine in a glass” and we couldn’t agree more. The palate is bright and vibrant with great acid, melon, and papaya fruit notes.

Another Chenin to try is VigneauChevreau Cuvee Silex Sec, from Vouvray, France. This wine is as classic as it gets.

From a fifth-generation winery that converted to biodynamics nearly 20 years ago, this wine is named for the flinty soils that give it a great mineral palate but also has notes of green apple and pear.

Rosé One of the most overlooked for Thanksgiving is rosé. Fall makes people think that rosé goes away with your white pants, but the holidays are a perfect time for pink. Again, ripe acidity and low tannins are important and rosé has both, plus they tend to be lower in alcohol. These attributes help to complement the riches of dishes like green bean casserole and sweet potatoes.

One to consider is anything from Taval. This region in the Rhône Valley, France produces darker wines, which ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

compliments.

Pinot Noir is the number one pairing wine for Thanksgiving but consider Gamay as an alternative. This grape is most well-known from Beaujolais, France but has found a home in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Gamay has range: light to medium bodied, complex, soft, aromatic and fruity, low tannins, and rarely high in alcohol. They join the conversation by matching cranberry sauce yet talking turkey.

A great option is Anne-Sophie Dubois ‘Les Cocottes’ from Fleurie, Beaujolais, France. Anne-Sophie Dubois is known for her crushable Beaujolais.

The Beaujolais Cru of Fleurie, where she organically farms, produces some of the best food-friendly gamay. ‘Les Cocottes’ is loaded with flavors of tart cherries,

pomegranate juice, and white pepper Another Gamay perfect for your holiday is Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Gamay Noir. The cool climate of Oregon has proven to be a perfect match for Gamay and this one produced

by Rajat Paar’s Evening Land is one of the best. The wine is unapologetically complex yet refreshing. Its juicy red fruit gives way to crunchy dried herbs and a punchy finish.

Remember, talk to your local wine merchant. Ask them what they are drinking. Thanksgiving is about bringing people together. The wine should be the easy part so when planning, always have on hand more wine than you think you will need. A good rule of thumb per drinking person.

Happy Turkey Day!

Life is complex.

YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE DOESN’T NEED TO BE. leads people to think it’s sweet when in actuality it makes a more complex palate. Try Domaine Lafond ‘Roc-Epine’ Tavel Rosé. This grenache-based wine hails from one of the oldest estates in the region. It is complex and flavorful with a touch of Asian spice that makes it so

perfect for yams.

Another option is Flora and Fauna ‘Idlewild’ Rose from Mendocino, California. This co-fermented blend of Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera is produced naturally and has become a favorite recommendation for its foodability. It has structure and acidity with vibrant notes of raspberry, wildflowers, alpine herbs, and orange peel.

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Reds When we start to think of red wines for Thanksgiving, it’s important to look back at the rules. We need good acidity, low ABV, and low tannin but also drinkability. Big California cabernets or rich Tempranillo from Rioja would overpower turkey and also add to that need for a nap.

Instead, look for softer varietals that hail from cooler climates. Protip: Chill your reds for an hour before serving for even bigger ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

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NOVEMBER 2023 |

31

‘I'm building my home bar, what do I need?’ up to something a little fancier. Having a peated (smoky) option is great for a few cocktails but is optional if that’s not your thing.

■ Vermouth - Get a dry and a sweet (or rouge/rosso), if you don't plan on using these often, get the smaller sizes (375mL) and always keep them in the fridge! They will last longer and keep their fruity character. Go with a classic French (a little more floral) or Italian (a little richer) style to start.

■ Liqueurs/Cordials/Aperitifs/Amari - This is the category where you can start to play. Campari, Aperol, and Chartreuse are key staples in many cocktails.

Orange Liqueurs like Cointreau are great essentials to keep on hand as well as other fruited liqueurs like Chinola (a passionfruit liqueur) or St. George Spiced Pear liqueur that can play with a couple of different spirits to craft something super interesting. And don’t forget the coffee liqueur for your Espresso Martinis!

Have fun exploring here - we're happy to talk to you about these spirits that can play well with many others.

Editor's Note: We're excited to welcome the Elemental Spirits Co. team to Rough Draft with its debut 'In the Spirits' column.

Based in Poncey-Highland, Elemental is a boutique bottle shop that offers smallbatch spirits, natural/low-intervention wine, and local craft beer. Find out more at elementalspirits.co.

By Cory Atkinson, Kristina Ferdinand, and Stephanie Saputo This is a great question with a complicated answer. So much of your home bar should reflect what you like to drink and what you enjoy making.

But, occasionally (and more so now than a year ago, IN THE SPIRIT yay!), you might have friends over.

Or maybe you've gone out recently and you drank something at a bar that you want to try to make at home. Your home bar should serve as your bar of convenience, and with the following setup, you will have almost everything you need.

32 | NOVEMBER 2023

First, tools. This is paramount to a good home bar. Nobody made a good cocktail without measuring. Believe us.

So, invest in a jigger for measurement, a shaker for those shaken drinks, and a mixing glass for the stirred ones (with a bar spoon, of course). Throw in some fancy cocktail picks for your garnish(es).

Ok, that's settled.

Next, let's talk booze. Ideally, you want at least one spirit of every major category. That will cover most of your bases in terms of classic cocktail concoctions. You'll need: ■ Vodka - Something light and simple to mix well with others.

■ Gin – London dry is the play here, it's the most versatile for many different cocktail applications.

■ Rum - Light or white rum, for lighter cocktails like the Daiquiri, dark rum for more complex cocktails like a Mai Tais or rum old-fashioned. Choose an expression from a producer that doesn’t add sugar to the final product to keep it true to the cocktail.

■ Tequila - Always better to stick to blancos here (unaged) in our opinion.

They play better in most cocktails and make a meaner Margarita. If you like something a little softer with more depth,

a reposado (lightly aged in oak) provides some vanilla and spice. A good tequila is worth it, look for something additive-free and family-owned. Then, level yourself up with a good mezcal.

■ Cognac (optional) - To start out this can be optional unless you find yourself making a ton of Vieux Carres. Don't sleep on it though (see dark rum note above). It can be a versatile substitute in many a brown spirit-driven cocktail.

Good value cognac can be hard to find these days so opt for a French brandy that isn’t made in cognac and you can save yourself a few dollars.

■ Bourbon - An obvious classic in the south and there are so many options to choose from. You don’t need to spend a ton of money for a good cocktail bourbon, though, so keep something on hand to sip on, and something to make into drinks. If you opt to not go for a separate bourbon and rye, choose a higher rye mash bill bourbon that can play in both camps. If you do like a nice spicy rye in your Manhattans, you can't go wrong with Rittenhouse Rye, a class cocktail staple.

■ Scotch - If you think you're going to be focusing on cocktails, choose a good, blended option but if you have desires of sipping the sweet single malt nectar, level

■ For the non-drinkers - There are a lot of non-alcoholic replacements like GinIsh or Spiritless Kentucky 74 for gin and bourbon, respectively. But if you’re looking for something interesting and different, there are a lot of options that can stand alone and taste great just over ice. Also, keeping a couple of cans of pre-mixed cocktails is a great way to keep something around for a while but also be ready to offer someone something tasty.

Talk to our friends at The Zero Co and they’ll steer you in the right direction!

■ Bitters & garnishes - Can't forget this. To start out, stick with the staple Angostura aromatic bitters and orange bitters. Definitely bring cherries to the party if you're into Old Fashioneds or Manhattans. Throw in some dried fruit for a garnish pop whenever you don't have fresh ingredients lying around.

Remember, it's a bar of convenience! And don't forget the crystal-clear ice rocks!

This is the easiest way to take a cocktail to the next level and make anything you make look fancy.

Phew! Hope you're still with us.

Don't forget to stop in and get our Cluetown Homebar Booklet that’s both a cocktail recipe booklet and a fun game to play at home. It's a lot we know, but soon you guys will be whipping up classics at home for your friends or just your pets.

We're sure they will be impressed.

ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

Michelin Guide stardom

By Sammie Purcell Five Atlanta restaurants have achieved the coveted Michelin Guide star rating.

The Michelin ceremony took place Oct. 24, at the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. The restaurants that achieved one-star recognition were Atlas, Bacchanalia, Hayakawa, Lazy Betty, and Mujō.

“We are proud of the recognition the Michelin Guide will bring to our destination as it highlights our local chefs and cuisines,” said Andrew Wilson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. “While many restaurants will be recognized here tonight, we know the Michelin distinction will elevate our entire culinary community.”

While one star was awarded to five restaurants, no Atlanta restaurants received two or three-star designations. Along with the stars, other Michelin awards were handed out, including sustainable restaurants, moderately priced restaurants, and the Young Chef Award.

Here’s the full list of honorees: One Star Restaurants Atlas Bacchanalia Hayakawa Lazy Betty Mujō

Georgia Boy/Southern Belle Gunshow Han Il Kwan Home Grown Kamayan ATL Kimball House LanZhou Ramen Lyla Lila Marcel Miller Union Nam Phuong Poor Hendrix Snackboxe Bistro Storico Fresco Alimentari Talat Market Ticonderoga Club Tiny Lou’s Tomo Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours The White Bull Xi’an Gourmet House Michelin Special Awards

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Michelin Exceptional Cocktail Award: Jason Furst and the bar team at BoccaLupo Michelin Sommelier Award: Juan Fernando Cortés of The Chastain Michelin Outstanding Service Award: Neal McCarthy and the front-of-house team at Miller Union Michelin Young Chef Award: Jarrett Stieber of Little Bear

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Bib Gourmand Restaurants Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants that offer delicious food at a moderate price tag.

Antico Pizza Napoletana Arepa Mia Banshee Bomb Biscuit Co. The Busy Bee Estrellita Fishmonger Fred’s Meat & Bread Heirloom Market BBQ Little Bear Green Star Restaurants The Green Star designation is awarded to restaurants that are best in class when it comes to sustainability.

Bacchanalia The Chastain Recommended Restaurants A restaurant in the recommended selection of the Michelin Guide is a sign of quality ingredients that are well cooked.

The Alden BoccaLupo Chai Pani The Chastain The Deer and the Dove Delbar Food Terminal The General Muir ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

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33

Silver Streak Do You Sloomoo?

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A slime sensory playground in Buckhead is for kids – and kids at heart

Families can bond over a vat of slime, sharing in the experience of touching and twisting the gooey substance.

(Photos courtesy Sloomoo Institute)

HEALTHY BRAIN? You may be able to help!

WHAT IS THIS STUDY ABOUT? We are examining the brain in healthy individuals in order to better understand the brain function of Veterans with Gulf War Illness.

WHAT WILL YOU BE ASKED TO DO? Phone screen (20-30min) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan (90min)

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? People who are: Between 50-65 years old Physically healthy

Study procedures will take place at Emory University and eligible participants will be compensated for their time!

For more information about this study, Exploring Mechanisms Underlying Dysregulation of Central Nervous System in GWVI-HAP Principle Investigator: Kaundinya Gopinath, PhD PLEASE CALL THE STUDY TEAM AT: (470) 303-5263 Version 6/8/23 STUDY00002287 34 | NOVEMBER 2023

Playing with slime is not just for children. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to participate and embrace their own sense of play.

By Dyana Bagby At the Sloomoo Institute in Atlanta, visitors can stuff their hands into giant vats of pink slime, blue slime, gritty slime, and buttery slime. They can squish, squeeze and poke the slime, and feel the gooey textures ooze between their fingers. The activity is fun, but it’s not just child’s play.

Entrepreneurs Sara Schiller and Karen Robinovitz opened the first Sloomoo Institute in New York in 2019 to offer visitors a chance to engage in sensory play.

They wanted children – and adults – to discover how hands-on play opens a “way to access joy,” according to the company’s website.

The women learned about the benefits of playing with slime a few years before they launched Sloomoo Institute when both were going through very difficult times in their lives. Robinovitz was mourning the death of her husband when friends visited with their young daughter.

The girl brought slime with her, and she and Robinovitz ended up playing together for hours. It was the first time

Robinovitz had smiled in over a year. She and Schiller then started using slime to relieve stress. Eventually, they knew they had to bring the “magic and joy” of slime to the world.

After reopening the New York attraction following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, the women opened a Sloomoo Institute in Atlanta in the Buckhead Triangle shopping center, across from Phipps Plaza. They also opened one in Chicago. In December, a new Sloomoo Institute is opening in Houston.

What to expect when visiting Sloomoo Institute Atlanta When entering Sloomoo Institute, visitors learn there is a “slime language” that requires vowels in a word to be changed to “oo.” That’s how slime becomes sloomoo. Also, Mommy becomes Moomoo and Grandma is Groomoo. The slime names are put on nametags, setting the tone for a fun visit.

“Taking on a new name gives so many people the permission to play [because] they don’t feel confined to their regular life,” said Carsyn Durrett, 26, who has ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

‘Groomoo’ is the name given to grandparents who take their grandchildren to Sloomoo Institute Atlanta.

At the end of a selfguided tour that can take up to two hours, visitors can make their own slime by selecting from various textures, scents and colors

worked at Atlanta’s Sloomoo Institute since it opened last November.

Dozens of vats filled with five gallons of slime are spread throughout the Atlanta attraction, each featuring different scents, colors, and textures. Groomoos dive into the slime alongside their grandchildren and fill the space with “oohs” and “aahhhs” and laughter.

Durrett said they never tire of watching parents and grandparents bond with children while playing with slime.

“You don’t grow too old to play,” Durrett said. “You grow old when you stop playing.”

Folks can become part of slime history by taking a piece of their favorite slime and adding it to the “Slime and Repeat” wall.

The wall is like an art exhibit covered in slimes of all colors and shapes.

There’s a room where visitors can use a slingshot to “shoot” slime at plexiglass walls. People who choose to stand behind the plexiglass will hear a loud splat when the slime strikes.

Kinetic sand, or squeezable sand, is located in a Day-Glo room, providing another sensory experience. There is also a video room where visitors can create a Sloomoo version of themselves and watch their slime personas move and dance on screen. In the next space, people can stand under overhead domes and listen to custom-made soundtracks, like typewriter ROUGHDRAFTATLANTA.COM

clacks and farts.

These rooms are where autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, comes to life. ASMR is that tingling sensation some people feel when exposed to soft sounds like whispers or tapping.

The biggest room with the main event is Sloomoo Falls. People wrapped in plastic ponchos stand in a dimly lit room and wait for gallons of slime to be poured on them. During the wait, employees lead cheers and a countdown, creating an exciting atmosphere.

Lake Sloomoo is where children and adults can walk and run on top of 350 pounds of slime, sinking slightly into the soft surface.

The grand finale of the self-guided tour where everyone creates their own slime. They pick a texture, like thick and glossy, crunchy or buttery; a scent, such as Froot Loops or lavender; and a color, with options ranging from hot pink to glittery blue.

Sloomoo Institute Atlanta is located at 3637 Peachtree Road NE in Buckhead.

Hours are Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. year-round. During rush seasons, including holidays, Sloomoo Institute is open seven days a week.

Tickets start at $39. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit sloomooinstitute.com.

NOVEMBER 2023 |

35

BUSINESS

What’s driving Atlanta’s growing robotics scene?

ATLANTA INTOWN HAS PARTNERED WITH HYPEPOTAMUS, THE GO-TO SOURCE OF STARTUP AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS IN THE SOUTHEAST. HYPEPOTAMUS.COM

By Maija Ehlinger Yes, Pittsburgh calls itself the ‘robotics capital of the world.’ And places like Silicon Valley and Boston are known for churning out automation-related startups.

But could Atlanta soon be known as a hub for robotics innovation?

Ward Broom, ATDC’s Automation and Robotics Catalyst, told Hypepotamus that Atlanta and the entire State of Georgia is ripe for such robotics growth.

“Multiple robotics and integration companies are headquartered here or have a significant presence, and many Fortune 500 corporations headquartered in Georgia are implementing robotics solutions,” Broom added. “Respected healthcare institutions are collaborating with industry and education to improve healthcare delivery. Finally, major manufacturing companies (especially in EV) are building huge facilities in Georgia that will implement robotics and drive innovation. The City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia have a strong focus on accelerating economic growth by attracting these companies.”

Enterprises like Mujin, Dematic, Exotec, Intuitive Robotics, and ABB Robotics all have a large presence in the Metro area. UPS, Home Depot, AGCO, and Chick-fil-A all have large automation initiatives as well.

Startups are also becoming a bigger part of the local robotics landscape.

Many of those are concentrated inside of ATDC, the state’s business technology incubator, which has a robotics vertical sponsored by Amazon.

T-shirt manufacturing company SoftWear Automation, supply chainfocused startup SlipRobotics, submersible robotics company Marauder Robotics, and hospital-focused startup RIF Robotics are all ATDC graduates or portfolio companies.

Others in the city include Greenzie, an Atlanta Ventures-backed startup building an automated landscaping lawnmower.

There are also up-and-coming startups, like Hello-Robo, working on desktop robots that are looking to transform how humans and robots interact.

The ATL: Building Atlanta’s Robotics Ecosystem, an all-day summit held at Georgia Tech in August. (Photos courtesy ATDC)

Vote on Nov. 7!

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Why robotics now?

There are also macroeconomic trends driving the robotics industry right now, making it a particularly interesting space for local VCs and founders.

“The labor shortage leads the way and is being driven by an aging population, a younger population which finds traditional jobs unfulfilling, a need to onshore manufacturing due to supply chain challenges, and the need to reduce costs, increase quality and increase productivity,” Broom said. “Healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, supply chain, energy and sustainability are all impacted.

Keep in mind that robotics innovation is also fueling new job creation which many will find more fulfilling.”

In general, the robotics industry is growing at a much faster rate now as low code solutions, improved sensors, high-speed wireless, and machine learning automation are becoming more widely adopted.

Broom also added that there is a rising demand for “Robots as a Service Solution” (RaaS) from larger companies that are fueling more startup innovation.

Still, there are significant barriers that keep many from entering the robotics industry.

“One of the big challenges is finding the funding needed to attract and support entrepreneurs willing to take the risk on robotics-based startups.

Atlanta is traditionally a B2B SaaS startup community. That doesn’t mean successful hardware companies haven’t succeeded, but hardware companies present higher risk for investors,” Broom added. “Another challenge has been the release of IP developed by universities for commercialization. As state-funded entities, there have been bureaucratic challenges. However, I have seen firsthand that this is changing. This IP represents huge value to Georgia and its statefunded universities.”

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Savi Provisions expands in Atlanta and beyond

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Savi Provisions' original location in Inman Park.

By Logan C. Ritchie Savi Provisions is opening new locations in Sandy Springs, Emory Village, and Peachtree Hills. An upscale neighborhood market, Savi carries local gourmet and organic foods, fine wines and spirits.

Savi was founded by Paul Nair in 2009 with the first shop opening in Inman Park.

Nair designed Savi to be like a traditional small grocer while offering organic produce, wine, craft beer & gourmet meats & cheeses. The market is rapidly expanding, with new franchises set to open in North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as metro Atlanta.

Savi at the Hill, 160 Johnson Ferry Road, is located across the street from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite. Devang Patel is running the new market in a high foot traffic neighborhood tucked in between medical campuses and apartment buildings.

After working in IT for years, Patel’s dream was to operate his own business.

When the opportunity presented itself for him to open a Savi Provisions, he jumped at the chance.

“I’ve really become integrated in the community and feel a great connection with my neighbors,” Patel said. “Beyond medical professionals and city-dwellers, I’m excited to be part of special celebrations in everyday life.”

38 | NOVEMBER 2023

Patel said Savi at the Hill is a convenient place to pick up refreshments for new parents and their families, or any other occasion.

Manav Patel hopes to breathe new life into Emory Village with Savi at Emory, 1593 North Decatur Road. Located on the North Decatur Road roundabout by the university’s main gate, it has been a tough spot for commercial businesses to thrive.

Students will be able to use their Eagle Dollars at this location, which is planning to open at the end of October.

Savi Peachtree Hills, 365 Peachtree Hills Ave., is near Peachtree Hills Park, under new leadership by Bishwa Tamang.

Growing up in Nepal, Tamang was surrounded by a family of entrepreneurs.

From a young age, he wanted to own and operate his own business. Tamang gained experience working at Savi in Inman Park and Pharr Road, and was presented with an opportunity to take ownership of the Peachtree Hills location.

“I gained a lot of hands-on experience interacting with customers as an employee of Savi and, at the end of the day, I know that my relationship with them is such a key part of successfully running this business,” Tamang said. “I’m really looking forward to contributing to the local community.”

For hours of operation at all Savi locations, visit saviprovisions.com.

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