Atlanta Intown
Editorial
Collin Kelley
Executive Editor
Beth McKibben
Editor-in-Chief
Sr. Editor Food & Dining
Cathy Cobbs
Managing Editor, Reporter Newspapers
Sammie Purcell
Associate Editor
Staff Writers
Katie Burkholder, Bob Pepalis, Logan C. Ritchie, Sarra Sedghi
Contributors
Sally Bethea, Melody Harclerode, Willah Sinclair-Johnson, Isadora Pennington, Laura Scholz, Sherri Daye Scott, Ty Tagami
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About the Cover
Roger Smith sits on the front steps of the 100-yearold Randolph-Lucas-Jones House in Ansley Park. The home, which was rescued from demolition by Smith and his late husband, Christopher Jones, was recently redesignated as a landmark building. Find out more on Page 31. (Photo by Isadora Pennington)
This month’s cover story on the historic RandolphLucas-Jones House was a pleasure to write. Atlanta’s preservation of its historic buildings and places is a dismal report card of lost treasures, so to walk through the lovely, century-old Ansley Park home was a treat.
Organizations like the Atlanta Preservation Center and Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation continue the good fight to save important places and spaces, but we’re still losing far too many structures to developers who just don’t give a damn.
As you’ll see in the feature on page 31, the Randolph-Lucas-Jones House was rescued from demolition by late preservation advocate Christopher Jones and his husband, Roger Smith. Jones spent the last years of his life getting the home moved from Buckhead to Ansley Park, but never got to live in it. The house was recently re-designated by the city as a landmark building with Jones’ name formally becoming part of its legacy.
A memory that is imprinted on my brain is seeing the burned-out shell of Loew’s Grand Theatre in 1978. Rather than try to restore it, the beloved old movie palace was razed and the Georgia Pacific Building put in its place. Just across the street, the gorgeous old Carnegie Library had been demolished and replaced with Marcel Breuer’s brutalist block, which the city also considered tearing down a few years ago.
The city almost let the Fox Theatre be torn down 50 years ago to make way for the Bell South Tower (now called Tower Square), but the citizenry rebelled, and the “Save the Fox” campaign became a rallying cry for historic preservation. Frankly, we need that same energy to rescue buildings facing demolition, like the historic Georgia Power building at 148 Edgewood Avenue.
Just as we were going to print with this issue, I was alerted that another lovely home at 205 Peachtree Circle in Ansley Park is under threat of demolition or renovation beyond recognition. The circa-1900 home actually pre-dates the neighborhood and is a contributing structure that helped put Ansley Park on the National Register of Historic Places. You’d think that designation would save a historic home, but not when money is involved.
A bright spot: the historic Atlanta
In my mind, one of the greatest lost structures in Atlanta is Terminal Station, knocked down in the early 70s to make way for the boring Richard B. Russell Federal Building. The Renaissance Revival station was one of those high-ceilinged, long wooden bench affairs that signified Atlanta was a major hub. It was designed by Philip Thornton Marye, who also happened to design the Randolph-LucasJones House.
The other lost structure that should still be here is the massive Kimball House Hotel, which used to take up an entire block at Five Points in Downtown. Considered one of the finest hotels in the South, it welcomed travelers from 1885 to 1959 before it was demolished for a
Constitution building – which sat derelict for so long that trees were growing out of it – is being renovated into homes. With its central location near the underconstruction Centennial Yards, it will be nice to see a historic building amid all the new gleaming glass.
The next time you read about a historic home or building under threat, send an email, pick up the phone, write a letter, or post on social media. Don’t just let it go the way of the wrecking ball. Atlanta can’t afford to lose any more of its history.
Collin Kelley
Terminal Station (Courtesy Atlanta Historical Society)
A historic postcard of The Kimball House Hotel.
Early voting kicks off Oct. 14 for crowded municipal election
By Collin Kelley
Early voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 14, ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election, which has drawn 56 candidates vying for mayor, city council, and the board of education.
The early voting period continues to Friday, Oct. 31 at locations including the Buckhead Library, C.T. Martin Recreation Center, Mechanicsville Library, and Wolf Creek Library. A final list of early voting locations was still being determined at press time. Check your registration at mvp.sos.
ga.gov. The last day to register is Monday, Oct. 6.
The list of candidates shrank by two on Sept. 22 after the City of Atlanta Office of the Municipal Clerk disqualified two candidates from participating in the election for the Atlanta City Council Dist. 11 seat.
According to a short press release, both Keith Lewis, Jr. and Sherry B. Williams were disqualified for failure to meet residency requirements for the Dist. 11 seat.
The broad list of candidates includes several community leaders and 15 incumbents running for reelection, who are
designated with an asterisk (*).
Mayor
Andre Dickens*
Helmut Domagalski
Kalema Jackson
Eddie Andrew Meredith
Atlanta City Council President
Rohit Malhotra
Marci Collier Overstreet
Atlanta City Council
Post 1 At-Large
Michael Julian Bond*
Juan Mendoza
Matthew Rinker
Post 2 At-Large
Matt Westmoreland*
Post 3 At-Large
Eshé Collins*
District 1
Jason Winston*
District 2
Kelsea Bond
William Jacob Chambers
Alex Bevel Jones
Rod Mack
Courtney Smith
James White III
District 3
Byron D. Amos*
Perrin Bostic
District 4
Jason Dozier*
Deborah “Sister” Williams
District 5
Liliana Bakhtiari*
District 6
Alex Wan*
District 7
Jamie Anne Christy
Allen Daly
Thad Flowers
Rebecca King
Thomas Worthy
District 8
Mary Norwood*
District 9
Dustin Hillis*
Charles Bourgeois
District 10
Andrea Boone*
District 11
Andre Burgin
Curt Collier
Stephen Dingle
Harold Maurice Hardnett
Toni Belin-Ingram
Nate Jester
Wayne Martin
Reginald Rushin
District 12
Delvin D. Davis
Stephanie Flowers
Antonio Lewis*
Atlanta Public Schools
Board of Education
District 2
Stephen Owens
Tony Mitchell
Marlissa Crawford
District 4
Jennifer McDonald*
Sanjay Mendonca
District 6
Tolton R. Pace*
Michael Hopkins
Patreece Hutcherson
Jonathan Leon
Tyrese Miller
District 8
Aisha Stith
Kaycee Brock
Royce Mann
News RoundUp
Buckhead residents are calling for safety improvements to the intersection of Roswell Road and Laurel Forest Circle after Mount Vernon School junior Benjamin Reiser, 16, died after his motorcycle collided with an SUV.
The Atlanta City Council has appointed Carden Wyckoff to fill the vacant District 2 seat created when Amir Farokhi stepped down in July to become head of school for the Galloway School.
Freedom Barber Co. has opened a new location at 1054 Saint Charles Ave. NE in Virginia-Highland. The four-chair shop is open Monday-Sunday for haircuts, beard trims, and traditional shaves.
WABE cancelled its afternoon arts show “City Lights Collective” after less than three months due to the Trump administration's cuts in funding for public broadcasting.
Parents push back on APS plans for closures, redistricting
By Collin Kelley
Atlanta Public Schools has been hosting virtual and in-person meetings as parents push back against proposed school closures, consolidations, repurposing, and redistricting.
APS will hold its next in-person meeting on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. at APS headquarters in Downtown.
The school district is considering the changes as part of its Comprehensive Long-Range Facilities Plan (CLRFP), also known as APS Forward 2040.
APS said there are 70,000 available seats, but only 50,000 students are
currently enrolled. The CLRFP is designed to address overcrowded schools, underutilized campuses, aging facilities, and the need for equitable access to specialized academic programs.
If approved by the Atlanta Board of Education, the plan could see the closure, consolidation, or repurposing of existing schools as well as expansions to some others. In many of the scenarios, redistricting would be necessary.
APS plans to finalize its recommendation by November and adopt the final plan by December.
Some parents have organized against the plan over what they call APS’s lack
The Atlanta City Council approved a resolution executing a $6 million project management agreement with the PATH Foundation for the Peachtree Creek Greenway project.
of transparency, including those with students at Buckhead’s Morris Brandon Elementary School.
The APS plan would see Morris Brandon split into two separate K-5 schools, which is just one of the major changes proposed for the North Atlanta cluster. One scenario, eliminating all dualcampus models, would mean significant
redistricting.
The Save Brandon group said on its website that “our community is asking for greater transparency, more detailed information, and a meaningful opportunity to engage in the process before any final decisions are made.”
Find out more at atlantapublicschools. us/aps2040.
Health insurance changes coming to Georgia
Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat
Health-care advocates warned last month that Georgia residents who have to find their own insurance in the government marketplace should expect significant rate increases next year.
Insurance companies are filing rate increase requests with regulators, arguing that federal budget cuts and the end of COVID-19 tax credits are the main drivers, said Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA.
“These are individual workers and working families who simply don’t get coverage on the job or through public programs like Medicaid or Medicare,” Wright said.
Wright said affected workers include retail and restaurant employees, ride-hail and food-delivery drivers, beauticians, barbers, plumbers, and other selfemployed workers.
Georgia’s government marketplace is called Georgia Access. The state also offers Pathways to Coverage for those nearer the poverty level.
The group KFF calculates that half a million Georgians could lose coverage. Another group, Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF), puts that number at 340,000, estimating an average rate increase of 75%.
“If costs soar and coverage slips away, the consequences will ripple through every part of our state at almost every income level,” said Whitney Griggs, health policy director for GHF.
Georgia’s Office of Insurance was not immediately available to clarify the numbers, but it will not be long before insurance shoppers see the result, with enrollment for 2026 likely to start around November.
Gen Z’s style combines all eras
By Willah-Sinclair Johnson
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is a partnership with VOX ATL, a youth-led nonprofit media organization that prepares teens for life, career, and community by harnessing the power of youth voice and uncensored self-expression. Find out more at voxatl.org.
Atlanta is a central hub for all things creative, including the fashion industry, where teenagers have created a unique style in the clothing industry. Oversized clothing, baby tees, tote bags, mini skirts, pajama pants, pimple patches, and platform shoes are all staples in Generation Z fashion. By combining vintage looks with Y2k throwbacks, a mixture of various
styles and flashy statement accessories, this generation has revolutionized fashion, creating a never-before-seen look.
Gen Z comprises approximately 70 million people, over 20% of the United States population. This generation encompasses those born between 1997 and 2012, with the oldest being 28 and the youngest 13. Gen Z fashion is about creating a unique identity, prioritizing authentic self-expression, and challenging social norms.
“Our generation does a really good job of combining lots of different styles and also having our own unique styles. People take inspiration from trends, but they don’t follow them exactly. It's more about personal taste and what you like personally,” said Marley Gordon, an
THE
YOUTH GOT SOMETHING TOSAY
18-year-old fashion enthusiast.
Many applaud the uniqueness that Gen Z brings to the fashion industry, but others, who are constantly in the fashion world, see it differently. They believe that the social media trends that teenagers participate in are merely a source of repetition, eliminating creativity, and encouraging copycats.
Joshua Reid,16, agrees with this sentiment. “I think Gen Z fashion differs from other generations because back in other generations, there was creativity, and real versatility. Nowadays, when you go out and see ‘fashion,’ it’s the same thing everywhere. It’s hard seeing creative people with creative outfits.”
Courtesy Cycora
He continued, “When I go to these fashion events, space is being taken up by all of these copy and pastes. If fashion is such a big thing in this generation, then everywhere I look, I should see something different.” For every generation, fashion has been a means of expression, but Gen Z has repeatedly demonstrated its value of making a statement with its clothing.
One teenager, Narayah Slowe, a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, said, “I use fashion to feel more confident about myself and to show my personality off. In other generations, you typically see the same style over and over again, but when it comes to Gen Z, everybody dresses differently in their own personal style.”
Bubble skirts have recently gone viral, a 1950s fashion trend that teenage girls have revived. Bold accessories, such as chunky earrings, blinged-out belts, and oversized sunglasses, are also very popular. From Nike compression shirts and tennis skirts, it is now more likely than ever to see someone wearing athleisure as a casual, everyday style.
“There’s a difference between wearing fashion and being fashion,” Reid stated. “I don’t want to just look good, I want to say something with what I wear.”
Political awareness is prominent in the fashion industry, with Gen Z’ers carefully choosing what businesses they support and which they choose to boycott. SHEIN, for example, a fast-fashion Chinese brand, has grown in popularity over the past few years, but it has also faced controversy regarding its labor practices and environmental impact. The company heavily utilizes artificial intelligence to predict consumer preferences, among other things. SHEIN received an overall F on STAND—Earth’s 2023 Fossil-Free Fashion Scorecard.
“[I don’t support] Prada because they have displayed figures who resemble Black face caricatures. They had over-exaggerated Black skin with big red lips,” Slowe stated. “The collection was called Pradamalia. Not a lot of people have spoken out against it, but that is why I will not be purchasing from them.”
Increasingly, teenagers are finding themselves shopping at second-hand stores, such as thrift shops, which offer lower
prices and recycled clothing. Eco-friendly companies like cycora pride themselves on creating clothing from fabrics found in landfills, offering a sustainable alternative to fast fashion brands.
“Fashion is one of the most polluting things in the world. I always wanna have clothes that are long-term so I can share with my kids and have generational wear,” Reid said. He also mentioned that he and his family make a lot of their clothes, another sustainable tactic.
Androgynous, gender fluid fashion has become mainstream, with many teenagers ignoring the intended gender audience and wearing whatever falls into their style. Musician Billie Eilish is a notable example of this, promoting inclusivity within the fashion world. She can be seen on stage wearing baggy, oversized jerseys, backwards caps, and long shorts. Harry Styles, a British musician whose primary audience consists of Gen Z’ers, is another example of a celebrity sporting androgynous clothing. In 2020, he appeared on the cover of Vogue wearing various dresses and skirts, sparking discussions about gender-fluid clothing.
“I honestly like the idea of it,” Najee Hayes, 17, said when asked her opinion on gender fluid clothing. “I personally wear men’s clothes just because of how free and loose it feels on me, and I think it’s cool how women and girls can pull off masculine clothing while also looking feminine.”
DIY and customization are other staples in Gen Z fashion, with many teenagers becoming entrepreneurs by creating their own clothing or altering what they already own. Depop is a global marketplace where users can sell their clothes, buy from others, and connect with peers in the fashion world. The company encourages "upcycled" and “reworked” clothing on its site, specifying that “handmade, customized, or repaired items that give old clothes a new life” are welcome.
Christopher Smith, 21, is the owner of Resist the Doubt, founded in 2022. He upcycles old denim and thrifted items to rework them into new pieces.
“I try to prioritize uniqueness through the expression, which is why I love one of one pieces. I feel like our generation uses a culmination of different styles over the years to develop their own sense of fashion.”
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By Collin Kelley
Georgia Tech
President Ángel Cabrera gave his annual Institute Address on Sept. 4, highlighting its growth and the new scrutiny on colleges and universities under the Trump administration.
Cabrera noted that Georgia Tech is now the largest university in the state, thanks to its online master’s programs enrolling 26,000 students. Undergraduate admission applicants reached a record high of 67,000 this year, and the class of 4,075 first-year students is the largest in Tech’s history, alongside 1,000 transfer students.
of student resources shortly after President Trump’s inauguration, after he announced a plan to end DEI initiatives nationwide.
Seeking nominations of students for our 17th Annual 20 Under 20 issue.
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.
■ A high resolution photograph (1MB in size or more) of the student in any setting.
Cabrera also touted Tech’s physical growth with the new George and Scheller Towers with classrooms, labs and retail space opening in Tech Square next year. Also under construction is the new Curran Street student residence hall, the transformation of the historic Biltmore Hotel into an entrepreneur hub, and the planned arts innovation hub called Creative Quarter on Marietta Street.
“The year ahead won’t be easy,” Cabrera said. “We face considerable risks with a heightened level of government scrutiny over discrimination, research compliance, and international collaborations. The penalties can be severe, so we have to be committed to full compliance.”
He noted that between January and June, $50 million in research projects were cancelled by the Trump administration. However, Cabrera said $600 million in research awards were granted over the same period, with Georgia Tech ending the fiscal year with $1.5 billion in research awards.
Cabrera made it clear that Georgia Tech would “make sure none of our programs are deemed out of compliance,” noting that there is also a possibility that Congress could vote to reduce its reimbursements of indirect costs for sponsored research.
“We’re ready to do our part in helping our government be more efficient, but without adequate funding, we can’t do the critical research for the American people,” Cabrera said.
Cabrera’s comments came just one day after Emory University announced that it would “discontinue” all programs and offices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the wake of the Trump administration’s threats to academic funding. Georgia Tech dissolved a number
Cabrera closed his address by announcing a $100 million bequest from the late Georgia Tech alumnus John W. Durstine to transform the Institute’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. The gift — the largest single gift in Tech’s history — will establish endowed chairs, professorships, and faculty awards, ensuring that Tech continues to “recruit, develop, and retain world-class faculty for generations to come.”
Durstine shaped truck and light vehicle design with the Ford Motor Co. for more than 30 years.
“John could have left his estate to many good causes, and he chose to invest in Georgia Tech’s faculty because he knew firsthand the transformative impact that our outstanding faculty have in the lives and careers of our students,” Cabrera said.
“This gift will have an enduring impact and will ensure that Georgia Tech faculty have the resources to push the boundaries of mechanical engineering, inspire our students, and help improve the human condition. His legacy will live on in every discovery, every innovation, and every student who learns from the faculty his gift supports.”
Angel Cabrera
John W. Durstine
ARC, City of Atlanta explore locations for potential new Amtrak station
By Collin Kelley
The Atlanta Regional Commission and the City of Atlanta are teaming up to scout locations for a potential new home for an Amtrak station.
According to ARC officials, the current Amtrak station (known as Brookwood Station) on Peachtree Road between Midtown and Buckhead has many challenges: It’s too small, there are few services nearby, it’s located about a mile from the nearest MARTA rail station, and it’s not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Passenger Rail Station Alternatives Study, which formally kicked off in August with a stakeholder engagement meeting, seeks to identify a location in Downtown Atlanta that offers improved customer service, ADA accessibility, and multimodal connections for rail travelers.
Atlanta is currently served by Amtrak’s Crescent line, which connects New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and New York. One southbound train leaves Atlanta each morning, while a northbound train leaves overnight. About 78,000 passengers arrive and depart Brookwood Station each year.
The study comes as Amtrak and state officials have discussed potential passenger rail expansion in Atlanta to serve places like Nashville, Charlotte, Macon, and Savannah.
Amtrak is also working to bring all of its stations, including Brookwood, into compliance with the ADA by 2027.
The city and ARC are seeking public input to inform their study, and a survey and more information are available at atlantaregional.org. The survey will remain open through October, and a draft plan is expected by December.
The Atlanta City Council passed a resolution in 2022 supporting a new Amtrak station and formally requested that ARC conduct the alternatives study
in 2024. The study area for the new station is roughly bounded by North Avenue to the north, Memorial Drive/ Fair Street to the south, Jackson Street on the east, and Walnut Street/Vine Street/Marietta Street on the west.
Atlanta once had two Downtown train stations, including the grand Terminal Station on Spring Street, which was demolished in 1972 to make way for the Richard B. Russell Federal Building. The smaller Union Station, located just west of what is now the MARTA Five Points station, was demolished in 1972.
The small Brookwood Station was built in 1918 to serve what was then the city’s outskirts. Atlanta Preservation Center Executive Director David Y. Mitchell said he hopes the discussion of a new Amtrak station will also include preserving Brookwood.
“Atlanta owes its very existence to the railroads, and as a work of the eminent Atlanta architects, Hentz, Reid and Adler, the Brookwood Station represents a phenomenal example of the 'Through Station' design concept,” Mitchell said.
“Brookwood Station contributes a sense of human scale and dignity to a lacking urban environment in which it is located, making its preservation essential.”
There has been discussion and vision planning for a new Downtown multimodal station for nearly 15 years, with The Gulch property – now home to the rising Centennial Yards mixed-use development – as a preferred site.
Atlanta Intown’s first reporting on the proposed multimodal station was in 2011, while renderings were released in 2013 showing an ultra-modern station meant to serve as a hub for MARTA, regional passenger train service, local and regional buses, and an expanded Atlanta Streetcar. State lawmakers resurrected the idea in 2017, but the project went dormant again.
A rendering from 2013 of a proposed new Amtrak station at what is now Centennial Yards. (File)
Oakland Cemetery columbarium niches 60% sold
By Collin Kelley
Historic Oakland Cemetery has unveiled its first new interment option in more than 140 years.
The Columbarium at Oakland Cemetery will offer niches for cremated remains, designed in 19th-century architecture to match the other Victorian
monuments in the 175-year-old burial ground.
The columbarium will be located between East Hill and the historic African American Burial Grounds, transforming an unused roadway into a new memorial garden. The niches are open to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Since sales began on Sept. 3, more than
60% of the available niches have already been reserved, with fewer than 100 niches remaining at press time.
Columbarium construction will begin in the spring 2026, with completion estimated later in the fall. Proceeds from the sales will help fund cemetery improvements and preservation by the Historic Oakland Foundation.
In addition to the columbarium, Oakland is offering a “Tribute Bench” to honor loved ones on the grounds or outside the visitor center. Benches feature custom-engraved plaques and are placed in scenic, contemplative areas throughout the cemetery.
To learn more about the columbarium, visit oaklandcemetery.com/columbarium.
Judge dismisses RICO charges against ‘Cop City’ protesters
By Rough Draft Staff
A Fulton County judge dismissed racketeering charges against all 61 defendants accused of trying to stop construction of Atlanta’s controversial public safety training center, commonly referred to by critics as “Cop City.”
According to the Associated Press, Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer ruled that Republican Attorney General Chris Carr lacked the authority to bring the sweeping 2023 indictments under Georgia’s RICO law without authorization from Gov. Brian Kemp.
The case was believed to be the largest racketeering prosecution ever brought against protesters in U.S. history.
Farmer said Carr also lacked the authority to pursue arson charges against several defendants, though domestic
terrorism counts may still stand. He indicated a formal order will be filed soon, with an appeal expected.
The indictment, which carried potential 20-year prison sentences, targeted a broad spectrum of alleged actions, from Molotov cocktail attacks to distributing fliers and food to protesters in South River Forest where the training center is located. Critics had blasted the case as politically motivated, while supporters, including Kemp, called it essential to stopping “outof-state radicals.”
The “Stop Cop City” movement opposed the $90 million facility on environmental and civil rights grounds. The training center opened earlier this year despite years of protests, delays, security concerns, and the death of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, a protester, after a confrontation with police.
Courtesy Historic Oakland Foundation
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SUSTAINABILITY
Outrunning climate change in the wild
ABOVE THE WATER LINE
Sally Bethea
As my eyes scanned the scattered piles of gray rocks and boulders at the base of a steep mountain, my ears concentrated on high-pitched “eep” calls coming from inside the talus slope. After much searching, we had found a colony of small, potatoshaped animals that are close relatives of rabbits— industrious and vocal pikas (PIEkuh). My friend Jeff and I had climbed above the timberline on a wilderness peak in Colorado in July to observe these amazing creatures with big round ears, along with spectacular wildflowers and 360-degree views.
Talus slopes are created by gravity and rockfall over long geological time scales. These rocky environments provide sheltered spaces that help pikas hide from their predators and survive extreme winter temperatures. Amazingly, pikas do not hibernate. In the summer, they gather and dry grasses and flowers from nearby meadows. Stored in dens within the talus, these “hay piles” of nutrition sustain them
through the winter. Pikas are highly adapted to rocky alpine and subalpine areas. In Colorado, this typically means elevations above 11,500 feet. Their mammal neighbors are larger, hibernating marmots. It is not unusual for a resourceful pika to crawl into a marmot den in the winter and snuggle up for warmth.
Reaching pika habitat is no small feat, especially for someone of a certain age who is accustomed to much lower elevations. Gym time at home and western hiking this year prepared me, somewhat, for my breathless climb to more than 12,000 feet. I was slow, but determined, with ultra-light trekking poles, good shoes, and encouragement from Jeff, a devoted pika whisperer. In the talus pile, several adults raced in and out of rock crevices. A gray-furred juvenile pika stood unmoving, peering at us from a safe distance. At another site, we saw neatly stacked hay piles, drying in the sun.
I’ll remember this summer day on the mountain forever. I could not stop marveling over the beauty and diversity of plant and animal life that surrounded us under a blue, mackerel-clouded sky: the kaleidoscopic flowers, conifer and aspen forests, mountain peaks, and diminutive pikas. This magnificent place has been protected as a federal wilderness for
nearly half a century. I wondered if that protection would remain, as public lands are threatened by government rollbacks. Will pikas still be scurrying around their rocky homes when my grandson’s children venture up western mountains on their own adventures?
Pikas In Peril
Pikas are extremely sensitive to heat. Temperatures above 77 degrees Fahrenheit, even for a short period, can be lethal. Because of this vulnerability, they serve as living barometers for the impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems. As temperatures rise, pikas must move up their mountains to higher, cooler elevations— until they reach the top and nowhere left to go.
Colorado’s pika population appears to be stable currently, but its future is in doubt. After living in North America for millions of years, pikas could effectively be gone from Rocky Mountain National Park in just a few human generations. Elsewhere in the west—Nevada, Oregon, California, and Utah—researchers have gathered substantial evidence that directly links pika disappearance to heat associated with climate change.
Wildlife on the Move
Thousands of species set out on heroic journeys every year to follow changing seasons, find warmer weather, and search for food—as they have done for millions of years. The world is always changing, forcing animals, and plants to adapt through evolution, but it takes time: hundreds or even thousands of years. Today, the speed of human-caused climate change is profoundly impacting animal migratory patterns. Even non-migratory species are being forced to shift their habitats, if they can.
Half of all species on Earth appear to be on the move, migrating northward toward higher latitudes. With rising temperatures from global heating, plants bloom earlier or expand into cooler locations—moving food sources and changing animal migration patterns and breeding cycles. Last year was the warmest year since global records began in 1850; the ten warmest years in the historical record have all occurred in the past decade. Many species, including pikas,
face the risk of extinction.
Birds are particularly good indicators of environmental change. Studies have documented migration ranges that have shifted northward by forty to 200 miles in just the past fifty years. Coastal mangroves, which provide excellent bird habitat, are moving north from Florida into Georgia. Other species significantly affected by fast-warming temperatures include: polar bears, bald eagles, Pacific salmon, monarch butterflies, shorebirds, sea turtles, whales, and amphibians. Climate change is driving a worldwide redistribution of animals and the extinction of those unable to move quickly, or evolve.
How to Help
Tackling the overarching problem— human-caused greenhouse gas emissions— is the obvious solution to help wildlife outrun Earth’s rapidly changing climate. However, it’s been made much more difficult since the Trump Administration took a sledgehammer to federal climaterelated programs. Opportunities to slow global warming exist at the local and state levels in some places. The city of Atlanta is investing in climate resilience projects, but could do much more.
Communities can help struggling migratory animals by creating wildlife crossings (bridges and underpasses) to allow safe passage across roads. They can also adopt zoning and conservation plans to protect habitats; plant native grasses, trees and shrubs for migratory birds and pollinators; and establish citizen science programs to monitor migrating species, such as Audubon’s Christmas Count, locally through Birds Georgia (birdsgeorgia.org). Nonprofit organizations that focus on climate advocacy and wildlife protection need your support as well. They include Sierra Club (sierraclub. org), National Wildlife Federation (nwf. org), Trout Unlimited (tu.org), and The Nature Conservancy (nature.org). I also support Rocky Mountain Wild (rockymountainwild.org). I want my great-grandchildren to experience a glorious summer day on a western mountain, watching hard-working pikas harvest their hay and squeak at strangers.
Photo by Hal Massie
$200 billion in cuts to SNAP will make it harder for families in need to buy food.
Wholesome Wave Georgia is here to help.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘Rooted in Resistance’: Atlanta Pride festival set for Oct. 11-12
By Katie Burkholder and Collin Kelley
The 2025 Atlanta Pride celebration will take place Oct. 11-12 amid political turmoil and concerns about the future of LGBTQ+ rights across the nation.
The theme of this year’s festival, “Rooted in Resistance,” take a cue from the upheaval while honoring the history of the LGBTQ+ movement and the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
The main event of the festival will be the annual Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 11, starting at noon. The parade will make its way from Downtown to Piedmont Park along Peachtree and 10th streets.
In the park, there will be entertainment, food and beverages, vendors, information booths from community partners, and much more. Hip-hop sensation Flo Milli will headline this year’s festival, while critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Perfume Genius has also been added to the entertainment lineup.
The entertainment also includes Bob the Drag Queen, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season eight; 2AM Ricky, the groundbreaking artist and advocate who became the first Black trans man to chart in the iTunes Electronic Top 3; Bentley Robles, an exciting new voice in indie pop; and Adeem the Artist, who is reimagining Southern sounds through a queer lens.
This year’s grand marshals, who will be seen in the parade, represent a cross-section of activism,
cultural preservation, and nonprofit organizations.
“Our grand marshals showcase the incredible range of work being done across our community, from preserving our past to shaping a more just and inclusive future,” Chris McCain, Executive Director of Atlanta Pride, said in a statement. “Each of them is a reminder that Pride is not only a celebration, but a call to action. They embody the strength, brilliance, and resistance that have always defined our movement, and we are proud to honor their contributions on one of the biggest stages in the Southeast.”
The 2025 Atlanta Pride Grand Marshals are:
Dr. Christy Perez (She/Her/Ella): Perez is an Afro-Latina trans theologian, historian, and abolitionist whose advocacy and writing are grounded in healing and transformative justice.
Georgia LGBTQ History Project: A collective of archivists, librarians, and volunteers dedicated to preserving Georgia’s LGBTQ+ past.
Jere Chang (She/Her/Hers): An Atlanta-based educator and content creator with nearly four million followers across her social media platforms.
Lena Lust (She/Her/Hers): The drag persona of Lester West, Lena is a legendary performer whose career has spanned nearly five decades.
The LGBTQ+ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights: This program
Photos courtesy of Atlanta Pride
connects LGBTQ+ history to presentday advocacy through educational initiatives, civic engagement, and social programming.
PALS Atlanta – Pets Are Loving Support: Founded in 1990 during the height of the AIDS crisis, PALS has provided pet food and veterinary care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other challenges.
Raquel Willis (She/Her/Hers): An award-winning author and activist, Raquel is a national leader in the movement for Black trans liberation.
Richard Ramey (He/Him/His): Owner of the Atlanta Eagle and The Flower Cottage, Richard has spent decades building community and safe spaces for Atlanta’s LGBTQIA+ population.
Russ Youngblood (He/Him/His): A longtime community photographer
and journalist, Russ has documented Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ life since the 1990s. His upcoming book, "What I Saw", is a visual love letter to queer resilience and joy in the South.
Shannon Bradley-May (He/Him/His): Known to many as Sha Sha Sugarbaker, Shannon has been a passionate HIV/AIDS advocate for nearly 30 years through his work with AID Atlanta and the Starlings fundraising collective.
To see the full schedule of events and activities for Pride Weekend, visit atlantapride.org.
STYLE IS FOREVER
THROUGH MARCH 1, 2026
Binders Art Supplies marks 70 years of inspiring Atlanta’s artists
By Sherri Daye Scott
For 70 years, Binders Art Supplies and Frames has been more than a shop. It’s been one of Atlanta’s creative clubhouses.
Founded by the Krinsky brothers in 1955, Binders has passed through generations to Howard Krinsky, who has spent his entire career behind its counters and now stands as part of the city’s cultural fabric himself.
For Krinsky, the anniversary isn’t about one big splash but the everyday work of keeping a family business—and its connections—alive. He’s watched generations of Atlantas, after all, come through the doors as students then return as working artists, sometimes bringing their kids to buy crafts and supplies.
When talking about Binders and its
impact on the Southeast’s creative scene, Krinsky is warm, humble, and reflective, quick to credit Atlanta’s artists for sustaining Binders as much as the other way around.
Seventy years is a milestone. What stands out most when you look back?
Howard Krinsky: The biggest thing is that we’re still here. Retail is tough. The fact that we’ve endured says a lot—not just about Binders but about Atlanta. In New York City, there are no independent art supply stores left to speak of. Here, we probably have the most per area. That speaks to the community.
You said Atlanta is unusually strong for independents. Why here?
Atlanta has grown by leaps and bounds,
with lots of creative people moving here. Cost of living has probably helped, too. In New York, rents got too high. Binders is a third-generation business. Give us the origin story.
My father and uncle, Mo and Joe, came to Atlanta in 1946 and opened Mo and Joe’s Bar in VirginiaHighland … from beer to art supplies. Instead of going into real estate, they bought Binders Gift and Frame, a frame and gift shop that had been around since the turn of the century. No art supplies then. A traveling salesman came by with paint, they added it, and that started the art-supply side. I’ve been in the business for more than 40 years. My brother and cousin were in it, too. Now my daughter, Hannah, has joined, handling marketing, social media, and events.
art, give us a fresh look, and maybe tell the history of Binders.
Retail has reinvented itself repeatedly. How has Binders adapted?
Opening Weekend with Nathalie Stutzmann + Elgar’s Cello Concerto with Alisa Weilerstein
Stutzmann Conducts Bach + Grieg
+ Pavel Kolesnikov performs Grieg’s Piano Concerto
Celestial Illuminations featuring The Planets
+ Kala Ramnath performs a concerto for Hindustani violin
Community partnerships have been a Binders hallmark. What are you proudest of?
In the early 2000s, business was changing. My cousin and I decided to get out in the community. We went to schools and art leagues asking, “What can we do for you?” Out of that came relationships—gift cards, prizes, support. When SCAD came to Atlanta in 2005, we built a strong relationship and started the Binders Art Supply Scholarship. It’s awarded annually to a student, about $2,500. That’s special because we built it from nothing.
You’ve said the store’s staff culture is part of the Binder’s secret sauce.
Our staff are artists. What you see in the store goes beyond the cash register. You see interaction, sharing, encouragement. They’re talking about projects, giving advice, celebrating successes. That doesn’t happen in normal retail.
Tell us about the new mural project tied to the anniversary.
Atlanta has really become a mural city. We already have a large mural outside, an ode to the disco era, that’s become iconic. People take pictures in front of it all the time. We’ve been in this Buckhead location since 2004, and we need a facelift. The new mural will be inside, above the stairs. We want it to encompass
We’ve faced the same challenges as any retailer—the internet, Amazon. We lost some business, but artists want that connection, and I’ve seen a resurgence of people coming in. Years ago, when the Mac came out, we even sold computers for graphic design. In the ’80s and ’90s we had a big commercial side—selling to ad agencies, delivering to Home Depot’s art department. When computers changed that, a lot of businesses like ours went under. The retail side saved us. Today, social media helps us connect. We post fun things, not just sales, and people come in saying, “I saw you on Instagram.”
What’s next?
There’s no clear path. Things change, technology changes, but we have to keep making connections. Retail transactions online are faceless. We fight that trend by being genuine. That’s what’s kept us here. You shared a story that captures your father’s impact. Will you tell it again?
A man named Alan came in. He’d worked at Binders in high school in the 1960s before going to Rhode Island School of Design. My dad asked him to sell supplies to students up there. Alan put himself through college doing that, kept in touch with my dad every week, and later built a successful career in documentary film. When he retired and moved back to Atlanta, he came in to thank us. I never knew that story. That’s the essence of a family business.
Find out more at bindersart.com.
Howard Krinsky
MJCCA Book Festival set
By Cathy Cobbs
The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) has announced the lineup for its 34th Annual Book Festival running from Oct. 22 to Nov. 16 with a roster that will showcase bestselling authors, political leaders, cultural icons, and emerging voices.
“This year’s festival brings together names that readers already cherish alongside incredible first-time authors whose stories are waiting to be discovered,” said Book Festival Co-Chair Tracey Grant. “It’s a lineup that balances household names with fresh voices—setting the stage for unforgettable conversations, powerful ideas, and moments that will stay with our community long after the festival ends.”
Headlining authors include John Grisham, who on Oct. 22 will make one of only two national appearances in 2025, discussing his latest work, “The Widow” — his first venture into the whodunit genre.
On Nov. 2, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will discuss “Antisemitism in America: A Warning,” offering a personal and urgent examination of rising antisemitism in the United States.
Emmy Award-winning chef and television personality Alton Brown debuts his essay collection “Food for Thought,” blending culinary expertise with behind-the-scenes entertainment stories with a talk on Nov. 10.
On Nov. 1, former Ohio Governor John Kasich explores the intersection of faith and civic engagement in “Heaven Help Us.”
The festival will close with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Nov. 16, discussing “It Doesn’t Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life” at 7 p.m.
The festival also features timely and compelling voices, including former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen with “The Sword of Freedom” (Nov. 8), White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz discussing Jewish identity in “As a Jew” (Nov. 5), and released Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi sharing his survival story in “Hostage” (Oct. 11).
True to the MJCCA’s tradition of combining literature with experiential
programming, this year’s festival offers unique culinary events, the release said.
The festival’s Debut Fiction Panel on Nov. 4 spotlights three emerging authors poised to make their mark: Laura Dickerman (“Hot Desk”), Catherine Mathis (“Ines: Queen of Portugal”), and Brian Schaefer (“Town & Country”).
“These debut authors bring fresh perspectives and bold storytelling,” Grant said. “We want audiences to leave with new favorites they’ll follow for years to come.”
Last year, the festival featured an array of impressive speakers – from a former medical advisor to numerous U.S. presidents to an actor who was part of a beloved television comedy series.
Topping the 2024 list of speakers was Dr. Anthony Fauci, who acted as the chief medical advisor to seven presidents for 38 of his 54-year tenure with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. His book, “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service,” was a New York Times #1 bestseller.
For complete programming details, scheduling information, and ticket purchases, visit atlantajcc.org.
John Grisham
John Kasic
Keep your eye out for these 8 Atlanta restaurant openings this fall
By Beth McKibben
As we enter the final quarter of 2025, restaurant openings are only ramping up. The Rough Draft dining team has been tracking a growing list of upcoming restaurants, but the following eight restaurants are the ones we’re most looking forward to opening.
From a trifecta of Lao, Thai, and Khmer food in Chamblee and Greek dishes and cocktails in Midtown to a dessert bar in Poncey-Highland and Neapolitan pizza in Dunwoody, put these restaurants on your opening radar this fall.
Naga Bistro Lao, Thai, and Khmer (Cambodian) 2201 Savoy Dr., Chamblee nagabistroatl.com
The owners of Lao restaurant Snackboxe Bistro in Duluth were expected to open Naga Bistro in Chamblee in late September. Taking over the Wild Ginger Thai Cuisine space on Savoy Drive, Naga Bistro will include a full bar and serve a combination of traditional and fusion Lao, Thai, and Khmer (Cambodian) dishes. While all three cuisines will be served here, Khmer fare takes pride of
place at Naga Bistro. (Think prahok ktis, a savory minced pork dip, and kathiew, a Cambodian beef noodle soup with a pork bone broth.)
Buddy Buddy
Greek comfort food and cocktails 931 Monroe Dr., Midtown IG: @buddybuddyatl
Veteran Atlanta bartender Nick Chaivarlis was expected to open Buddy Buddy by the end of September in the former Tapa Tapa space at Midtown Promenade. Expect martinis served three ways, along with other classic and original cocktails incorporating wash techniques, infused base spirits, and house-made syrups and cordials. Food will merge Greek street food with the homestyle dishes Chaivarlis grew up eating, including avgolemono (lemon chicken soup), yemista (stuffed peppers), and a roast lamb entree spiced with garlic, aleppo, and oregano chermoula served with Greek lemon potatoes, fried couscous pearls, and a feta beet salad.
Spring 2nd Branch
Korean cuisine and hot pot 113 Church Street, Marietta spring2ndbranch.com
The long-awaited second restaurant from Chef Brian So should open in midOctober, just around the corner from his Michelinstar restaurant Spring in Marietta. Located on Church Street in a newly redeveloped retail strip, also home to Contrast Artisan Ales, Spring 2nd Branch (or Bōm, meaning “springtime”) will serve simmering Korean hot pot, dolsot bibimbap, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), mandu (dumplings), and other Korean dishes So grew up eating with his family.
Bar Ana
Desserts and cocktails 939 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey-Highland IG: @barana.atl
Award-winning pastry chef Claudia Martinez and El Ponce owner Rosa Thurnher will open Bar Ana in October, a dessert and cocktail bar taking over the former El Bar space beneath El Ponce. By day, Bar Ana
will act as a coffee shop run by Ivan Solis of Recuerdos Cafe. At night, the space transforms into a cocktail bar serving sophisticated desserts. Look for a dessert tasting menu, too, consisting of a rotating collection of signature desserts and pastries from Martinez.
Varuni Napoli
Neapolitan pizza
High Street, Dunwoody
Anticipated by the end of 2025 IG: @varuninapoliatl
There’s a glut of great pizza joints in Metro Atlanta serving a variety of styles, including Neapolitan. But few pizzerias centered on Neapolitan-style pies measure up to those served at Varuni Napoli. Having grown up in Naples, owner Luca Varuni knows the right ingredients matter for proper Neapolitan pizza. Every year, he travels back to Naples for San Marzano tomato harvesting season, spending time there sourcing ingredients that meet his exacting standards to keep his two in-town pizzerias supplied for months. A third location of Varuni Napoli will open by the end of 2025 at the High Street development in Dunwoody, becoming the first location of the popular pizzeria outside the Perimeter.
Grilled steak accompanied by Cambodian and Lao dipping sauces. (Courtesy of Thip Athakhanh)
Bibimbap. (Courtesy Spring 2nd Branch/Bom)
Yuzu cheesecake with passion fruit sorbet. (Courtesy Bar Ana/Claudia Martinez)
Sugar Loaf
Ethiopian-Albanian, breakfast and lunch, pastries, coffee
780 Memorial Dr., Reynoldstown
IG: @sugarloafatl
Nebi and Lindsay Berhane describe Sugar Loaf as “Southern-inspired” and “globally influenced,” with food and flavors tapping into their Ethiopian and Albanian heritages. Later this year, the couple will transform their farmers market stall into a permanent restaurant in Reynoldstown, serving breakfast and lunch, including Sugar Loaf’s sought-after biscuits, like the tasso ham and cheese on an Ethiopianspiced dabo biscuit. An expanded menu will also feature caramel-topped “sticky buna” infused with Ethiopian coffee, Liege waffles, Ethiopian lentil salads, Oklahoma-style fried onion smashburgers, and a zesty Albanian chicken sandwich.
Some Luck
Thai street food, cocktails 644 North Highland Ave., Poncey-Highland
IG: @someluckatl
Chefs Parnass Savang and Rod Lassiter, owners of Summerhill Thai restaurant Talat Market, will open Thai bar Some Luck this fall in Poncey-Highland. Taking over the Highland Ballroom Lounge, next door to Steven Satterfield’s Madeira Park, Some Luck will serve a decidedly Thai-focused menu featuring bar snacks, noodle soups, wings, and late-night food inspired by dishes found at street stalls throughout Thailand. Expect quickfired, stirred cocktails mixed with Thai ingredients and base spirits like rum, along with pitchers of ice-cold Singha beer and local beers on draft.
Bottle
Rocket
Sushi, burgers, and cocktails, neighborhood bar 231 Mitchell St., South Downtown bottlerocketatl.com
Castleberry Hill neighborhood staple and game day favorite Bottle Rocket will pull up stakes for nearby South Downtown this fall. Located between Tyde Tate Thai Kitchen and Spiller Park Coffee, Bottle Rocket will reside on the ground floor of a renovated early 20th-century storefront on Historic Hotel Row. Known for its eclectic menu of sushi, burgers, and cocktails, the move to South Downtown will increase seating capacity at Bottle Rocket, allow for a better bar layout, and see the menu expand to include lunch and weekend brunch.
www.constructionresourcesusa.com
Ham and cheese, buttermilk, and pimento cheese biscuits at Sugar Loaf. (Courtesy of Sara Cunningham)
As people scale back dining out, Atlanta restaurants introduce budget-friendly menus
By Laura Scholz
At Avize, the Westside fine dining restaurant recently named one of Bon Appétit’s “Best New Restaurants in America,” Chef Karl Gorline serves modern Alpine dishes with luxe ingredients like foie gras and American Wagyu. But Bar Avize, the restaurant’s sibling next door, has become just as much of a destination for its fancy takes on comfort food, including caviar-topped chicken nuggets and a viral, $20 “NYC Happy Meal,” featuring a broccoli Caesar salad, truffle fries, and a mini martini.
Across Atlanta, restaurants like Bar Avize are launching weekly specials, swapping finer-dining dishes for nostalgiafueled plates, and offering budget-friendly tasting menus and meal deals in hopes of attracting price-conscious diners back to the dining room and boosting sluggish sales.
Greg Best, a partner at Krog Street Market’s Ticonderoga Club, told Rough Draft these recession indicator menus are the direct result of skyrocketing food costs, tariffs, and recent declines in consumer restaurant spending.
“The sector, at large, is taking a massive hit now,” said Best of the country’s current uncertain and chaotic political and economic climates. According to CNN’s analysis of Commerce Department data, the first half of 2025 marked one of the weakest growth periods for U.S. restaurants and bars in the last decade, even slower than the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
Best said Ticonderoga Club, which also closed for four months in 2022 and 2023 due to a water main break, has experienced a significant drop-off in customers this year, including many multi-week regulars.
“We had a brief period of time after the height of Covid where people wanted luxe (food) again,” he said. “But I think right now the average dining public is getting fatigued, and when times are hard, people want nostalgic foods. They want the mac and cheese, the burgers, and the pizza,” he continued.
In August, Ticonderoga Club revived its popular pop-up, Captain B’s Fish Camp, to try and draw more business during the restaurant’s slower days and offer more affordable options on the menu to new and existing patrons. The menu features what Best calls “well-sourced, comfort-level seafood,” available for takeout and dine-in service on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday evenings from Ticonderoga Club’s “Pineapple Room”.
“We’re trying to be smart and fall back on things that our customer base has reacted positively to in the past,” he said of Captain B’s. “It’s also a new opportunity for guests of ours to get the Club experience without the same price tag of sitting down and doing a full dinner.”
Captain B’s “Country Boy,” for instance, is a Mississippi-style catfish sandwich on white bread and costs $16, and can come with sides like hushpuppies or coleslaw for $4 each.
Chef Deborah VanTrece, owner of Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours in Blandtown and Oreatha’s At the Point in Cascade Heights, is also adding more affordable dishes to her restaurants’ menus.
“Honestly, this has been the slowest summer I’ve ever had since I’ve been open, and we are definitely feeling the pinch and
adjusting our menus accordingly,” she said.
Like Best, VanTrece believes consumers are becoming price-conscious at the same time restaurant owners like herself are facing rising food costs and challenges sourcing menu items due to ongoing tariffs. For example, one of Oretha’s most popular cocktails, My Okassan, uses a Japanese whisky that took six months to procure due to tariffs and shipping delays.
“So much [of my menu] depends on what products are available or what we can afford, so we’re constantly changing everything, making it all subject to availability and pricing,” VanTrece said of sourcing ingredients and navigating price adjustments.
Recently, she subbed a strip loin for filet mignon in one of Twisted Soul’s most popular dishes, the Steak Lady D, the restaurant’s play on classic steak Diane. The decision to switch from strip loin to filet mignon came down to the price of meat rising by $3 a pound in a single week.
VanTrece is trying to fill her menu with comforting, budget-friendly staples, like rice and potatoes, and started offering a $15 blue plate special during lunch service at Twisted Soul.
“I’m constantly paying attention to what’s moving and what isn’t [on the menu], and switching things out, which in the past I didn’t really worry about so much, and I could give things time to catch on,” VanTrece said of her menu development strategy these days.
Michelin-starred Lazy Betty in Midtown is another Atlanta restaurant adding more budget-friendly options for customers. The restaurant recently launched a four-course dessert tasting, a menu of four rotating sweets from pastry chef Lindsey Davis, available only at the bar. Davis offers desserts like an elevated take on a cookies and cream bar that hints to nostalgia, but stays true to the finedining aesthetic of Lazy Betty.
At $110 per person, the dessert tasting menu is still a luxury, but attainable, especially for special occasions. And while Lazy Betty also serves a $285 eight-course tasting menu in the dining room, the bar features a scaled-down, four-course version for $170 per person.
Lazy Betty chef and co-owner Ron Hsu said the concise tasting menus at the bar give people the chance to experience the restaurant without the time commitment—or price tag—of the full, eight-course tasting experience, which can last for more than two hours.
At Little Bear in Summerhill, Chef Jarrett Stieber has served an affordable tasting menu since the restaurant opened in February 2020.
“So many people are turned off by fine dining because it seems pretentious,” explained Stieber. Little Bear’s four-course, prix-fixe menu with an amuse bouche is just $75, significantly less expensive than most tasting menu experiences at restaurants in Atlanta.
“We can charge $75 and make a good profit margin and make interesting food that’s a bit more approachable without sacrificing attention to detail and quality,” he said.
Like Ticonderoga Club, Little Bear is experimenting with a new service format, opening for dinner on Monday nights, starting on Sep. 29. Stieber’s goal is to draw an industry crowd similar to Gigi’s Italian Kitchen in Candler Park, while offering a dining option on a day when most restaurants are closed.
“This is a way for us to grow and generate revenue and expand as a business without killing what makes us special,” said Stieber. “It’s more logical to open an extra night or two rather than jam more seats in and have inconsistent service.”
Monday nights at Little Bear will feature off-menu specials, plus industry discounts and drink specials, like a rotating staff-choice beer and a shot.
While VanTrece does not plan on adding service days, she does plan to experiment with additional offerings, including opening on Thanksgiving for the first time this year, serving affordable to-go meals for families, and starting a monthly, multi-course supper club dinner.
“I think it could be another great way to bring people together and offer some fun things that are off-menu,” said VanTrece of the potential supper club.
According to Best, Captain B’s has been a hit so far at Ticonderoga Club. So much so that he and his partners are prepared to mix things up again, if needed, potentially launching other restaurantwithin-a-restaurant concepts. That could include the return of Chef David Bies’s Hooters-inspired sports bar, Coach B’s Sports Bar & Grill, or an Indonesian street food stall.
“The trend in Atlanta for quite a while now has been about what’s new on the pop-up landscape or on social media, but we’re tenured enough in this game to feel confident in understanding how to pull levels and push buttons that will lend us some flexibility [as a restaurant],” said Best. All restaurants can do right now, Best said, is continue to weather whatever storms arise and meet their customers where they are, because hospitality remains the through-line no matter the challenges.
Fried catfish and beer-battered cod sandwiches from Captain B’s at Ticonderoga Club (Courtesy of David Bies)
Pork neck bone coq au vin. (Provide by Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours)
Azalea Fresh Market
By Collin Kelley
Downtown Atlanta finally has a grocery store, thanks to the opening of Azalea Fresh Market at 25 Peachtree Street in Five Points.
Located in the historic Olympia Building (previously the home of Walgreens), a grand opening event was held in August, but equipment issues delayed the public opening until Sept. 8.
Azalea Fresh Market is the result of a collaborative effort between the City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta, local organizations,
Savi Provisions, Independent Grocers Alliance, and community members who identified a pressing need to eliminate a Downtown food desert. SCAD Atlanta students contributed to the Azalea name and concept, which was brought to life by Savi and Cohere.
Along with staple grocery items, there are locally sourced meats and seafood, baked goods, beer and wine, fresh fruit and vegetables in partnership with Georgia Grown, fresh sushi from High Roller Sushi, and Dope Coffee. OCT 8 – NOV 9 A haunting
Azalea Fresh Market (Courtesy City of Atlanta)
Switchyards opening at Toco Hills this month
By Collin Kelley
“Neighborhood work club” Switchyards will open its 13th location in Atlanta on Oct. 13 in Toco Hills.
The new workspace will be located at 2935 N. Druid Hills Road in the historic Toco Hill shopping center. This Switchyards location will be the 32nd location overall, as the company has expanded across the South and the nation.
The Toco Hills work club will be in a former storefront, transformed into the neighborhood’s headquarters for focus and connection, according to a statement from Switchyards.
“Atlanta’s where it all started—it’s where we opened our first 24/7 work club,” Creative Director Brandon Hinman said in a statement. “After expanding to over a dozen cities outside of Atlanta, we’re excited to bring this new club to Toco Hills—our best work yet. And we’ll be next-door to friends running some of our favorite businesses in the city, so that’s
extra special for us.”
As with all Switchyards clubs, members will have 24/7 access to the space, which is designed for productive work and meant to be distinctly separate from home and the office. Membership grants access to all current and future clubs, including ones in Asheville, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Charleston, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Durham, Greenville (SC), Houston, Kansas City, Nashville, and Savannah.
Toco Hills will feature a café area for collaboration and meetings, as well as a library designed for deep work and focus. There will also be bookable phone booths and a meeting room on-site, at no additional cost to members, according to the press release.
Memberships will drop Oct. 9, at 10 a.m., with the club opening to members on Oct. 13. Only 250 memberships will be available, and the last 16 clubs have sold out on drop day.
For more information, visit switchyards.com/atlanta-ga-toco-hills.
Original Swoozie’s location reopens in Buckhead
By Collin Kelley
Gift, party, and stationery shop Swoozie’s has reopened its original location in Buckhead.
The regional chain, which once had more than 40 locations, was reduced to just the one location at 4285 Roswell Road after the owners filed for bankruptcy. The store closed in February.
Now, just a few months later, the family that founded Swoozie’s nearly 25 years ago is back in control and quietly reopened the store earlier this summer. A grand reopening event was held in September.
David Dworkin and Kelly PlankDworkin opened the store in 2001, and now their daughter, Ashley O’Donnell, is at the helm.
“Reopening our Buckhead store is about so much more than retail – it’s about reconnecting with the people who have supported us over the years,” O’Donnell said in a statement. “We’re deeply grateful for this community’s partnership and eager to carry the Swoozie’s story forward into its next chapter.”
The newly reopened Swoozie’s was designed to feel like stepping into a “party
waiting to happen,” O’Donnell said.
Shoppers will find an assortment of colorful cocktail napkins, sparkling stemless glasses, chic serving pieces, and gifts ready to be wrapped on the spot for bridal showers, birthday parties, holidays, or any other special occasion.
For more information, visit swoozies. com.
C TOBER 16 TH U RS D AY | 6 -1 0 P M 20 25
Courtesy of Swoozie’s
Saving a Landmark
The Randolph-Lucas-Jones House is a success story for historic preservation
By Collin Kelley
The 101-year-old Georgian Revivalstyle home at 78 Peachtree Circle looks like it's always been there. Sitting atop a small rise, fronted by magnolias and other mature trees, the three-story house blends perfectly into the historic Ansley Park neighborhood.
But natives of a certain age will remember that the house used to be two miles away in Buckhead and, like many of the city’s historic homes and buildings before and since, was facing demolition.
That is, until a fateful night in 2012, when Roger Smith and his husband, the late preservation advocate Christopher M. Jones, were at a function at the Atlanta History Center and were approached by City Council member Mary Norwood.
“Mary came up to us and pulled Christopher away into a corner for a private conversation,” Smith recalled. “She told him the house was going to be demolished, and I think he decided that night we had to save it.”
The next day, Jones and Smith were taking a tour of the Randolph-Lucas House, which had been a fixture at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Lindbergh Drive since 1924 - even after condos were built directly behind it. The house would become a literary landmark in 1988 after a painting of it appeared on the cover of Anne Rivers Siddons’ bestselling novel “Peachtree Road” and was a primary setting in the story.
Designed by P. Thornton Mayre, the home was originally built for attorney and businessman Hollins Nicholas Randolph, the great-great-grandson of Thomas
Jefferson. Randolph and his wife lived in the home for a decade before selling it to Margaret Lucas in 1935. Her husband, Arthur, operated several cinemas around the city.
When the Lucas family sold the property to the 2500 Peachtree Condo Association in 1998, the house was moved slightly forward on the lot and was meant to be used as a clubhouse and event facility, but by 2013, it had applied for a demolition permit. That’s when Norwood approached Smith and Jones.
Smith remembers being surprised that the interior of the house was in relatively good shape despite years of no upkeep. “My mother was with us, and she just had a fit over it,” Smith said. “Christopher was planning on saving it, and my mother was planning on moving in.”
Shortly thereafter, Smith and Jones found the lot in Ansley Park and convinced developer John Wieland to not only sell them the property but also allow them to move the house across what was about to become the One Museum Place condos. There was plenty of city red tape to cut, and Jones was “constantly on the phone” over permissions and hold-ups.
A year later, the house’s top two floors were separated from the ground floor and loaded onto trucks for the move to Ansley Park. The move took hours, with Georgia Power crews moving electric lines as it inched down Peachtree. Smith and Jones sold their home on Beverly Road and moved into an apartment building on 16th Street, located behind the lot, to oversee the renovation of their new home. It was not an easy time.
Continued on page 32
The front facade of the Randolph-Lucas-Hones House in Ansley Park. (Photos by Isadora Pennington)
Roger Smith and Olivia on the main staircase. Inset: Christopher Jones.
The front parlor.
The gourmet kitchen.
Continued from page 31
“There was this misnomer that we had all this money to do this project, when actually it was a shell game every month to see what we could pay for and complete,” Smith recalled. “This wasn’t your usual renovation; it took care and planning and research to get it just right. Every step felt
like pushing a ‘55 Buick uphill. But it was worth every cent.”
A few years into the renovation, Smith recalled that Jones started to have migraine headaches. As the stress of renovating the house wore on, Smith’s beloved mother died, and then Jones’ migraines became worse. He was eventually diagnosed with aggressive cranial lymphoma. “It broke my heart,” Smith said candidly. Jones died in January 2019, just a few months shy of the main renovation being complete. He never got to live in his dream house.
“That's been a blow,” Smith said. “Christopher was the mastermind who made it happen. The house dominated our lives for the last seven years of Christopher’s life, but I have no regrets. I’ve enjoyed being here every minute. I wouldn't take anything for all the memories. That’s why Christopher’s name needs to be on the house. It wouldn’t be here without him.”
This past July, the city of Atlanta designated the Randolph-Lucas-Jones House as a landmark building, preserving it from demolition or exterior alteration. Smith said the Atlanta Preservation Center and its executive director, David Y. Mitchell, were instrumental in
The library.
Details of the formal dining room.
Smith’s grandmother’s chandelier hangs in the dining room.
getting the designation.
“The Randolph-Lucas-Jones House was one of the last remaining residential mansions along Peachtree,” Mitchell said. “The condo association wanted to demolish the house, but Christopher Jones and Roger Smith courageously decided this was not acceptable. We are indebted to these two men for putting aside the arguments and economic fears of how and ensuring that we now have an example of why Atlanta is amazing and beautiful in
And while safe, Smith carries on with renovations to the home with Jones’ spirit in mind. There’s no doubt, he would be pleased.
The main floor, which Smith opens for special events like the Piedmont Ball, is meticulously restored to its former glory with periodappropriate furniture and decorative plaster walls. The original mechanisms to close the heavy exterior shutters were also carefully restored, Smith’s grandmother’s chandelier hangs over the formal dining room table. A large, gourmet kitchen planned by Jones also seamlessly meshes with the historic elements of the house.
The second floor is also complete with two bedrooms, but the third floor, which will eventually become the primary suite, is still in the works. A garage and lap pool at the rear of the property are also future projects.
“Part of the mission of this house is to be an ongoing story about historic preservation in Atlanta,” Smith said. “I love opening this house to the community so people can see what's possible. Because of Christopher’s vision and tenacity, this home is a permanent piece of Atlanta history. And for 101-years-old, she’s doing well.”
GROUP
m. 404.316.2203 o. 404.237.5000
erinyabroudy@atlantafinehomes.com erinyabroudy.atlantafinehomes.com
Detail of the restored fireplace mantle.
The house on the move in November 2013. (Courtesy Georgia Trust)
The house at its original location on Peachtree Road. (Courtesy Roger Smith)
Historic building endures changing times
As the Great Depression devastated Atlanta, construction of the Federal Post Office Annex boosted the local economy and civic pride. Supporters applauded the employment of 300 to 400 construction workers from 1932 to 1933 to build the $8 million postal facility, an equivalent of approximately $193 million today. Civic leaders described the Federal Post Office Annex as “state of the art,” equipped to receive and distribute regional mail through underground tunnels connected to the now demolished Terminal Station. Project contractor, Great Lakes Construction Company of Chicago, praised the complex as “one of America’s finest public buildings” in a 1933 Atlanta Constitution advertisement.
Atlanta architect Anthony Ten Eyck Brown (1878-1940) designed the Federal Post Office Annex in a stripped-down,
modern Classical style in contrast to the ornate classicism of his design for the Federal County Courthouse (c. 19111914). The architect softened the strong, sculptural building form with elegant entry doors, carved eagles, and Art Deco style detailing. Converted into federal office space by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Federal Post Office Annex became the first federal building named for Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1988.
Atlanta-based design firm Lord Aeck Sargent (LAS) led the rehabilitation of the MLK Jr. Federal Building as GSA’s Southeastern headquarters from 2000 to 2010. Lord Aeck Sargent’s involvement with the building spanned back to the early 1990s, with Susan Turner as Principal-in-Charge. LAS Historic Preservation Principal Karen Gravel recalls the state of the building then as “weathered, yet well designed.” All 6,000 façade stones on the building exterior
Melody Harclerode
Photos of the MLK Jr. Federal Building by Jonathan Hillyer Photography.
were removed and reinstalled to address water infiltration, insufficient structural support at windows, and poor masonry joints. Six hundred exterior windows were stripped of lead-based paint, repainted, and sealed.
The architects diverted building materials from the landfill; restored light fixtures, decorative wall carvings, and other historical components; and added modern building features to achieve Leadership in
Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) Gold-Level certification for this landmark. New glass wall systems brought natural lighting into building interior spaces. Modern features and furnishings fit effortlessly with the ambiance of the historical building. Lord Aeck Sargent received local, state, and national awards for their extraordinary rehabilitation work on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building.
This year, the federal government placed and later removed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building from the list of buildings that could be sold or leased by the private sector. This designation could have placed the building’s future at risk. At a time when buildings are often built to last for only 20 to 30 years, LAS President Joe Greco notes the durability and craftsmanship of this landmark, saying, “They don’t build buildings like this anymore.”
Thankfully, the 100-year-old Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building continues to be valued as an asset for our country as well as Atlanta.
For more information about the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building, tune into the Uplifting Places podcast hosted by Melody Harclerode on Spotify.
Dixon Rye heads to Buckhead
Dixon Rye, an anchor of Atlanta's Westside design district, will relocate to 2300 Peachtree in Buckhead this fall, ending a decade-long run in its Ironworks factory space on Howell Mill Rd.
The design destination will celebrate its 10th anniversary in its current location through October before transitioning to a temporary space adjacent to its new permanent home, which is undergoing renovations.
Owner Bradley Hüsemann-Odom says the move allows them to "reimagine our creative vision and refine our curation for the next decade." The move will also include the office of Studio Dixon Rye, the full-service interior design firm founded by Hüsemann-Odom and his husband, Peter. Visit them online at www.dixonrye.com.
Rough Draft Staff
Bradley (L) and Peter Bradley Hüsemann-Odom. (Photo by Mali Azima)
SUN, OCT 5TH from 12 to 6PM
Come experience Atlanta’s biggest block party on Howell Mill Road
MAKER’S MARKET
PETTING ZOO
FOOD & DRINK
LOCAL BUSINESSES
Upper Westside annual block party returns
Westside Stride, the Upper Westside’s biggest celebration, is back for its third year, and it promises to be better than ever.
On Sun., Oct. 5, from noon to 6 p.m., Howell Mill Road will transform into a vibrant, car-free corridor filled with music, food, and community spirit.
The Westside Stride Block Party has quickly become a beloved fall tradition, drawing thousands of visitors to explore one of Atlanta’s most dynamic neighborhoods. This year’s event will stretch along Howell Mill Road between 8th and 17th Streets, creating a traffic-free pedestrian paradise where families can stroll, bike, or scoot freely.
About Upper Westside Improvement District
“Westside Stride is all about bringing people together to celebrate the heart of our Upper Westside community,” says Adeline Collot, program director for the Upper Westside Improvement District. “From families enjoying pony rides and pumpkins to neighbors discovering local makers and restaurants, this event turns Howell Mill Road into a shared front porch for the day.”
Music for every ear
The free event will feature multiple stages showcasing diverse musical acts, from local indie bands to jazz ensembles, ensuring there’s a beat for every taste. Performers include the Sarah Nova Band, BOOM! Trio ft Lavahi, The Dappled Grays, and a variety of DJs. The full line-up and schedule are available at WestsideStride.org.
Family fun
Families will find plenty to keep little ones entertained, including a seasonal pumpkin patch, a petting zoo where children can meet friendly farm animals, and an array of colorful bounce houses. Meanwhile, adults can browse the bustling pop-up market, where local artists and craftspeople will display everything from handmade jewelry to unique home décor.
Explore neighborhood restaurants
Food lovers won’t be disappointed either. The Upper Westside’s awardwinning restaurants, such as Cooks & Soldiers, Little Sparrow, and Miller Union, will offer bites and sips throughout the afternoon, giving attendees a chance to sample the neighborhood’s diverse dining scene. You’ll even get a chance to preview restaurants coming to the area that are not yet open like Eden by Delbar and Ghee Indian Kitchen.
The event, presented by the Upper Westside Improvement District, aims to showcase the area’s commitment to creating walkable, livable communities. Local property owners and businesses have generously sponsored the festivities, demonstrating the strong community bonds that make this district special.
For those driving to the event, ample parking is available nearby, with details at www.upperwestsideatl.org/parking. Cross streets will remain open for vehicle traffic, ensuring easy access to the festivities.
Whether you’re a longtime resident or newcomer to Atlanta, the Westside Stride Block Party offers the perfect opportunity to experience the Upper Westside’s unique charm, support local businesses, and enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon with neighbors and friends.
Don’t Miss the Pumpkin Patch!
DJ STEVE
Don’tVote!
Westside Stride celebrates what makes the Upper Westside such a vibrant place to live, work, & play. As your Councilmember, I’ve fought for infrastructure improvements, more parks & trails, and safer neighborhoods. Together, we’ll keep building a stronger, connected District 9. Learn more about District 9 at votedustinhillis.com or @dustin4atl
forgetto Mark your calendars and come out to vote Tuesday, November 4th 2025. Early voting from Oct. 14th to Oct. 31st, 2025.
mabralaw.com
MABRA Law, founded by Georgia Tech grad Ronnie Mabra, offers guidance and counsel for those who have experienced a personal injury. Our headquarters are located right here in the Upper Westside on Huff Road which is why we’re committed sponsors of Westside Stride for the third year! We treat our clients and community like family, giving back in meaningful ways. Visit ma������������������������������m to learn more about how our team of skilled lawyers can help you. tel: 404-344-5255 | email: wecare@mabralaw.com
A proud sponsor of Westside Stride, Crescent Canna is bringing good vibes and deliciously refreshing THC drinks to the festival this year.
Crescent Canna is one of the fastest-growing cannabis companies in the country, thanks to its award-winning line of hemp-derived beverages, Crescent 9 THC Seltzer. Highly satisfying Crescent 9 THC Seltzer has quickly become Atlanta's most popular THC drink option, with surging citywide and nationwide sales.
Since 2016, the Upper Westside Community Improvement District has been enhancing connectivity, safety, greenspace and multimodal access in Atlanta's Upper Westside through investment and community partnerships.
Learn more about our projects past and present at upperwestsidecid.org and follow us @upperwestsideatl.
