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Holiday Happenings
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INSIDE Atlanta & Savannah Pride Pics P 8 Monks Meadery Expands P 15
Editor’s Note
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Contents
Don’t rain on our parade! Hurricane Isaias wreaked a little havoc on Atlanta last month, blowing in on a Friday night after making landfall in the Florida Collin Panhandle, Kelley forcing the cancellation of just about everything on the following Saturday. Rough Draft and Georgia Voice were supposed to be at the Atlanta Pride festival in Piedmont Park, meeting readers and handing out swag, but organizers made the right call and cancelled the event. Heavy rain and winds brought down trees and caused power outages around the metro, so it would have been a soggy day in the park. Luckily, Sunday’s annual Pride Parade went smoothly, despite the cloudy skies, windy conditions, and chilly temperatures. I was actually a little thrilled to break out my hoodie for the first time since March. As always, it was a treat to see so many people lining Peachtree and 10th streets for
EDITOR’S NOTE
the parade. We had some fun swag for my weekly LGBTQ+ newsletter, Crosswalk, and our booth was busy with folks stopping by to say hello. I marched in my first Pride Parade in 1990 and have been a participant or spectator nearly every year since. The support and camaraderie are much needed and appreciated as the LGBTQ+ community remains on alert for further erosion of civil and human rights. Just before Pride weekend, I roadtripped over to Augusta to visit my bestie and fellow poet Karen Head. We did a reading at the charming Book Tavern, and I got the grand tour of the city, which I hadn’t visited in probably two decades. We’ll be reading together again as part of the Word of Mouth series at The Globe in Athens on Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., so if you happen to be in town, stop by and listen in. Speaking of Athens, you might have heard that Rough Draft is expanding our coverage to the Classic City. A newsletter has already launched, and a print edition will debut in January. It’s our first foray outside Metro Atlanta thanks to a grant from the Google News Initiative Growth Catalyst Program.
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The Rough Draft Atlanta staff gets ready to take part in the 2026 Atlanta Pride Parade on Oct. 11. (Photo by Paul McKibben)
You can sign up for both the Crosswalk and Athens newsletters at roughdraftatlanta.com/newsletters. Also, be sure to visit the website and social media on Nov. 3 to get full coverage of the crucial midterm elections. We’ll be live blogging throughout the day and will have results in the evening in partnership with the Associated Press. And Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. I can’t believe we’re back at the holiday season again!
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News Roundup
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Atlanta Pride Photos
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Savannah Pride Photos
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Atlanta City FC
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Holiday Happenings
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Out on Film Awards
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Tip Toe
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Pretty In Pink Gala
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Artist Kiera Rahming-Reed
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DINING Monks Meadery
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New at Underground
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JuNi opens
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November 2026
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ON THE COVER Cirque du Soleil is bringing its stage production, “Twas the Night Before,” to the Fox Theatre for the holiday season. See our holiday happenings guide on Page 10. (Photo by Benoit Z. Leroux)
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© 2026 Rough Draft®. All rights reserved. The publisher may refuse any editorial or advertising and is not responsible for advertising content. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily the publisher. Appearing in Georgia Voice, whether by name, photo, byline, or ad, implies nothing about a person’s sexual orientation. THEGAVOICE.COM
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Jenny Arellano embodies importance of trans Latina leadership By Katie Burkholder Jenny Arellano, a trailblazing media personality, beauty professional, and trans woman, was one of this year’s Atlanta Pride Grand Marshals. The honor represents the necessity of trans Latina leadership, advocates told Georgia Voice. Arellano has made an impact on Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community for nearly two decades. She was the first transgender woman in Atlanta to obtain an amended birth certificate reflecting her gender identity. As the host of the show “Jenny Sin Censura” on Energia Audiva Radio, Arellano uses her platform to elevate transgender Latinx stories. “This recognition touched the deepest chords of my heart because it represents so much more than a title: it represents my story, my struggles, my dreams, and every step I have taken to live with pride and authenticity,” Arellano told Georgia Voice. “As a Latina trans woman, receiving this honor means knowing that my voice, my presence, and my story have a place in this community. I am deeply moved when I think of all the people who fought before us, those who continue to resist, and the new generations who deserve to grow up
feeling free, loved, and proud of who they are.” Arellano is one of the subjects of “Eight Heels and a Hard Truth,” a documentary co-directed by Aubrianna Escalera, the president of Poder Unides, and Josephine Figueroa, the co-founder of La Choloteca. The film, which was produced as part of Atlanta Pride and Out On Film’s Reel resistance fellowship, highlights Escalera, Arellano, and seven other trans women living in the South. Escalera and Emilia Villegas, the vice president of Poder Unides, spoke to Georgia Voice about Arellano’s impact as an advocate for trans Latinas and the importance of sharing stories centering trans women. “It was important for me to share [Arellano’s] story because of the deep barrier [of her only speaking Spanish], but also what she’s gone through,” Escalera said. “Everyone deserves to tell their story at their own time.” “Her artistry, the way that she dresses, the way that she expresses herself, the things that Jenny shared with me,” Villegas added, “… I think it’s very appropriate that this year she gets that spotlight of being in the position of Grand Marshal, representing trans Latinas and just
transness overall.” Poder Unides is an organization empowering trans people in the South. Its programs include the Georgia Peaches Leadership and Advocacy Program, which equips trans people to advocate for themselves on the legislative level; Ari’s Gender-Affirming Closet, a community closet offering free gender-affirming clothing, hot meals, and showers; and the LOVE Shack-Safe Box, a clean syringe program offering discreet HIV self-test kits, clean syringes, and safe disposal options to reduce health risks. The trans and Latinx communities have been specifically targeted by the current administration. A report by the League of United Latin American Citizens found that court-sanctioned racial profiling has contributed to the disproportionate targeting of Latinx people by immigration enforcement regardless of their immigration status. Citing a recent UCLA study, LULAC said that federal immigration agents arrested more than 187,000 Latinx people and deported more than 126,000 from January to October this year. Transgender people have also been the targets of legislative attacks. According to the Trans Legislation Tracker, there are 154
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anti-trans bills active in the U.S. Escalera and Villegas told Georgia Voice that living at the intersection of these identities is “terrifying.” “I just want to be able to find love, kindness, and gentleness at the end of the day, because that’s what I think we all want,” Villegas said. Despite the fear, Arellano, Poder Unides, and other trans people and organizations across the country continue to fight for humanity, safety, and joy. “Today and always, I will continue to raise my voice, walk with my head held high,” Arellano said, “and show that being your true self is one of the greatest acts of love and courage there is,” More information about Jenny Arellano and Poder Unides can be found on Instagram @jenny_sin_censura and poderunides.org.
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News Roundup SCOTUS upholds prisoner care
The house on Ponce Place in Virginia-Highland where Michael Hardwick was arrested in 1982. (Via Google Maps)
Historic home faces demolition As this issue was going to press, a vote was deferred on allowing the demolition of a home connected to the overturning of Georgia’s anti-sodomy laws. The home on Ponce de Leon Place in Atlanta’s Virginia Highland neighborhood was where Michael Hardwick was arrested in 1982 for having sex with another man. Hardwick took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, but lost. The ruling was eventually overturned in 1998, seven years after Hardwick’s death. The home has since been identified as a significant LGBTQ+ landmark in the city. Be sure to visit thegavoice.com for updates. – Georgia Voice
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked a Trump administration policy that would have ended gender-affirming care for transgender prisoners. Trump’s order called on the Bureau of Prisons to revise its medical care policies so that federal funds aren’t spent “for the purpose of conforming an inmate’s appearance to that of the opposite sex.” Two justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, would have allowed the policy to be enforced but ultimately did not join the majority, marking a rare judicial win for trans people at the nation’s highest court.
– Washington Blade
Youth hotline restored The lifesaving 988 call-in number to help people experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts has once again restored its specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth. The lifeline, which used to have the option to “press 3” to be directly sent to specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth, resumed in October following an over-year-long battle with the Trump administration, which removed the service in May 2025. – Washington Blade
Trans troop support Navy and Marine Corps separation boards have voted to retain transgender service members in nine of 12 cases, The New York Times reported on Oct. 23, defying orders from the Trump administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. A favorable vote does not guarantee a future in uniform, but the decisions expose a tension at the center of the policy. The administration says transgender service is incompatible with military readiness; some officers evaluating those troops want to keep them. – The Advocate
Meta suspending accounts LGBTQ+ bars and businesses claim that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is suspending their accounts without warning or cause. Several LGBTQ+ businesses nationally and internationally have fallen victim to a murky and unknowable suspension process at Meta which, per reporting in the New York Times, is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence bots for content moderation. – Them
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Atlanta City FC unveils team colors, crest and branding By Logan C. Ritchie Women’s professional soccer is coming to Downtown as Atlanta City FC prepares to take the pitch at MercedesBenz Stadium, sharing space with Atlanta United and the Atlanta Falcons. On Oct. 4, Atlanta City FC unveiled the team’s colors, crest, and branding during a free celebration with music, merchandise, and food at Southern Exchange Ballrooms. Atlanta City FC is owned by Arthur Blank, who paid $165 million to expand his portfolio. Inspired by the character of Atlanta, the club was created to represent a city defined by resilience, culture, innovation and ambition, Atlanta City FC said. “When we were awarded an NWSL franchise, our goal was to build a worldclass club with a brand that reflects our city’s strength, diversity and spirit,” Blank said in a statement. The club, set to begin playing in 2028, has incorporated symbols including a phoenix rising, a dogwood blossom, a hidden letter ‘A,’ and colors red, peach, gray, and black to reflect Atlanta’s passion, hospitality, innovation, and perseverance. “Atlanta is a city that has always forged its own path,” Atlanta City FC Chief Business Officer Deandra Duggans THEGAVOICE.COM
Women’s professional soccer team Atlanta City FC rolled out its colors, crest, and branding to build fan excitement before the opening match in 2028. (Courtesy Atlanta City FC)
said. “Atlanta City FC reflects the energy, diversity, and ambition that define this community, and we are proud to build a club that belongs to Atlanta and represents its future on the national stage.” In 1996, upwards of 76,000 fans attended the women’s soccer championship match of the Summer Olympic Games held in in Athens, GA, helping to spark
momentum for the launch of the Women’s United Soccer Association. The first fully professional women’s soccer league in the U.S., WUSA launched the Atlanta Beat in 2001. When the league folded, several players moved to the Atlanta Silverbacks women’s team. In November 2025, Atlanta was awarded the National Women’s Soccer
League’s 17th franchise. The Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center opened in May in Trillith in Fayette County, featuring 17 fields over the 230-acre property. The training center was built in a partnership between Blank, Chick-fil-A Chairman and CEO Dan T. Cathy, and businesswoman and sports investor Michele Kang. NOVEMBER 2026 9
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Holiday Happenings
Lights, music, and performances kick off the festive season By Rough Draft Staff The holiday season will be in full swing starting this month with concerts, plays, opera, visits with Santa, illuminated landscapes and aerial theatrics under the big top. Atlanta Opera Pulitzer Prize-winning “Silent Night” will run from Nov. 7 to Nov. 15. Based on the film “Joyeux Noël,” the story takes place during World War I on Christmas Eve, when opposing forces lay down weapons, come together around a makeshift tree to sing carols, and play soccer matches. Later in the year, the Opera will host “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” from Dec. 2 to Dec. 27. Get tickets for both shows at atlantaopera.org. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights The Atlanta Botanical Garden is hosting the 16th annual “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” Nov. 14 to Jan. 10. The grounds will be illuminated with thousands of lights, with expanded displays along Flower Walk, and new choreography for Nature’s Wonders, the world’s largest curtain of light and sound. Tickets usually sell out fast, so get yours at atlantabg.org. Center for Puppetry Arts “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” soars back into the Midtown venue from Nov. 11 to Dec. 27 with a puppet version of the classic stop-motion animation TV special from 1964. Tickets can be purchased at puppet.org. Atlanta Shakespeare Company A tradition at the Atlanta Shakespeare Company for more than 20 years, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will run from Dec. 5 to Dec. 23. The cast and crew will also host a free post-show Q&A on Dec.13. Find tickets at shakespearetavern. com. "The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show" Comedians, writers, actors, and drag queens BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon are coming back to town with the internationally acclaimed “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show.” Playing Nov. 11 at the Eastern, get tickets at jinkxanddela. com. Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus The Chorus will perform its 46th annual holiday show on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 at the Cathedral of St. Phillip. This year, 165 10 NOVEMBER 2026
AGMC singers will be joined by a live orchestra. Get tickets at aftontickets.com. The Nutcracker in Shared Reality at Cosm Atlanta Cosm Atlanta has collaborated with the New York City Ballet to show “The Nutcracker” in its Shared Reality technology. The show will run from Nov. 6 to Dec. 29, and viewers will be transported inside Lincoln Center through Cosm’s LED dome technology. Get tickets at cosm.com. Cirque du Soleil: `Twas the Night Before The company’s first holiday show will run from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13 at the Fox Theater. This aerial acrobatic performance chronicles the story of a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holiday. Get tickets at cirquedusoleil.com.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” will fly back into the Center for Puppetry Arts (above), while the Atlanta Opera will perform “Silent Night” this holiday season.
“Liza’s Chistmaz with a Z” at Out Front Theater The new holiday show from Blake Fountain, the writer of “Mamma Dearest: Here We Joan Again!,” will run from Dec. 3 to Dec. 19. Madcap shenanigans, a lot of sequins (HALSTON!) and a visit from the Jolly man in red himself will leave heads spinning and hearts full. Get tickets at outfronttheater.com. Fox Theater The Fox Theatre is hosting a slate of holiday performances. In Addition to Cirque du Soleil, the theater will host a traditional and hip-hop version of “The Nutcracker” and the acapella group Straight No Chaser on their "Making Spirits Bright” tour. Find tickets at foxtheatre.org.
Alliance Theater The theater will stage the classic production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on the Coca-Cola stage from Nov. 14 to Dec. 27. “Knock Knock” will run in the Selig Family Black Box Theatre from Nov. 14 to Dec. 23. Get tickets for both at alliancetheatre.org.
Santa at Rhodes Hall The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation will be hosting Santa at historic Rhodes Hall in Midtown from Nov. 21 to Dec. 13. Tickets are $60 and include a photo with Santa. Reservations are filling up fast! Make yours at georgiatrust.org.
ILLUMINIGHTS at Zoo Atlanta Hundreds of wildlife-inspired lanterns will decorate Zoo Atlanta for its annual holiday light display Nov. 21 to Jan. 17. Santa will also visit the Zoo on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6. Tickets do sell out, so reserve in advance at zooatlanta.org.
Atlantic Station The Midtown live-work-play destination will host “Holiday Lights” on Nov. 5 at Ellipse Park from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free and visitors can stroll the illuminated paths, snap photos with the lights and take in glowing displays and holiday decor.
Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center A combination of acrobatics, displays of strength and agility, comedy and magic takes to the stage in “A Magical Cirque Christmas.” Playing Nov. 21, get tickets at sandyspringspac.com.
Santa Claus returns to Rhodes Hall to hear Christmas gift wishes and take photos with kids. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 THEGAVOICE.COM
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Atlanta Christkindl Market Experience a hybrid modern-day Christmas celebration and German festivities at the annual market on the Lawrenceville Lawn from Nov. 20 to Dec. 24. There are handcrafted goods, entertainment, food and more. Admission is free, and more information can be found at christkindlmarket.org. Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The ASO is kicking off the holidays with Elf in Concert on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29. A winter wonderland family concert will take place on Dec. 6 and on Dec. 9, a live stage version of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The signature “Christmas with the ASO” will run Dec. 10 to Dec. 13. Get tickets and information at aso.org. The Atlanta Ballet From Dec. 5 to Dec. 26, “The Nutcracker” will run at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center with a score played live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. Get tickets at cobbenergycentre.com.
Cosm Atlanta presents an immersive New York City Ballet performance of “The Nutcracker.”
Out On Film announces 2026 award winners By Katie Burkholder Out On Film, Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ film festival, has announced its 2026 Audience, Jury, and Screenplay Award winners after the 11-day festival from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4. “La Bola Negra,” a film by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi about three generations of men spanning pivotal moments in Spanish history, won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. The film is Spain’s submission for the 2027 Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category. “Receiving the Audience Award at Out On Film means everything to us,” Calvo and Ambrossi said in a press release. “Even from afar, we heard about the festival’s incredible energy. Knowing the Atlanta queer community turned out and felt connected to our film is the best gift we as filmmakers could ask for. Thank you for embracing ‘La Bola Negra’ so warmly and we hope that audiences will come out to see it in theaters very soon—long live the magic of shared cinema!” “Love Patrick: Nothing is Impossible,” a documentary directed by the Horne Brothers about designer and former Atlantan Patrick Kelly, was the Audience Award winner for Best Documentary Feature. Two screenplays that were staged during the festival also won awards. Malik Brown, an Atlanta-based LGBTQ+ advocate and the Managing Director of the Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center Initiative, won the Feature Screenplay award for“Undecided.” The script follows 12 NOVEMBER 2026
a burnt-out White House advisor as he returns home for Christmas and finds himself torn between a charming British journalist and the ambitious ex-boyfriend who broke his heart: Atlanta’s newly elected mayor. “Three Burned Bodies” by Erik Jasaň, Terézia Čikoš, and Javaria Waseem took home the award for Best Short Screenplay. Actor, singer, and director Jelani Alladin also won the 2026 Rising Star Award. His short film “Next Year” had its world premiere at the festival and was a runner-up for Best Drama Short. As an actor, Alladin has starred in “Fellow Travelers”, “The Walking Dead: World Behind”, “tick, tick… Boom!”, and “Strangers On a Beach.” He played the titular character in Disney’s “Hercules” at the Public’s Delacorte Theatre and made his Broadway Debut as Kristoff in “Frozen the Musical,” which earned him a Drama Desk and Drama League nomination. “Each year, our audiences and jurors are faced with the difficult and rewarding task of choosing among an extraordinary range of LGBTQ+ films and this year was no exception,” Out On Film Festival Director Jim Farmer said. “The films recognized this year represent the very best of queer storytelling — bold, beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant and often deeply personal. From powerful documentaries and compelling narratives to the incredible work being done in short films, these filmmakers reminded us once again of the breadth and vitality of LGBTQ+ cinema.”
The cast of “La Bola Negra,” which won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at Out on Film. (Courtesy Moviestar Plus)
2026 Out On Film award winners Jury Awards Best Narrative Feature: “Gugu’s World” (directed by Allan Deberton) Runner-Up: “In a Whisper” (directed by Leyla Bouzid) and “Out of the Woods” (directed by Sal Bardo) Best Narrative Director: Allan Deberton, “Gugu’s World” Runner-Up: Leyla Bouzid, “In a Whisper” Best Documentary Feature: “Barbara Forever” (directed by Brydie O’Connor) Runner-Up: “Time Warp” (directed by Allison Berg) Best Performance: Teca Pereira (“Gugu’s World”) Runner-Up: Yuri Gomes (“Gugu’s World”) and Eya Bouteraa (“In a Whisper”)
Best Ensemble: “In A Whisper” (directed by Leyla Bouzid) Runner-Up: “Dreamers” (directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor) Best First Film: “Dreamers” (directed by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor) Best International Film: “In a Whisper” (directed by Leyla Bouzid) Best Screenplay: “Out of the Woods” (by Sal Bardo) Runner-up: “Maspalomas” (by Jose Mari Goenaga) Best Documentary Short: “Southern Son Shine” (directed by Kevin Dapree Anderson) Runner-Up: “Come On, Boy” (directed by Sarah Fleming) Best Drama Short: “See You Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow” (directed by Desdemona Chiang) THEGAVOICE.COM
Writer Russell T. Davies on his new series, ‘Tip Toe’ By Jim Farmer The idea for the new series “Tip Toe” came about, as writer Russell T. Davies recalls, because of the current political climate of the world. “This [show] rose up in a passion and an anger and demanded to be written,” he said. “I was working on another show and watching the world and these threats getting closer and closer, watching politicians and presidents across the world talk about [the LGBTQ+ community], and it rose up like a fire. I literally had to write this.” Davies recently spoke to Georgia Voice via Zoom about the five-part drama series, now streaming on STARZ. “Tip Toe” stars Alan Cumming as Leo Struthers, a gay man who owns a bar, and David Morrissey as Clive Goss, an electrician, who live next door to each other in a Manchester suburb. They’ve been civil with each other for over a decade, but a feud begins and heads down a dark path over the course of 10 days. As an out gay man, Davies considers himself very lucky to be doing what he does. He made the original British version of “Queer as Folk” 27 years ago, a show which continues to open doors for him. He takes pride that he is able to deliver what he sets out to do, often alongside frequent executive producer Nicola Shindler. “You kind of know what you are getting [with me]. I also think I have a standard and responsibility. I think if I am introducing a queer story people know I will write it properly,” Davies
said. “It won’t be just propaganda and it won’t be shrill. I will write it with humor, responsibility and intelligence.” In addition to “Queer as Folk,” Davies is well known for projects such as “It’s a Sin” and “Doctor Who.” Once he finished writing “Tip Toe,” Davies and his team took it to Channel 4, a U.K. station that has aired much of his work, and the station commissioned it in seven days flat. “That never happens – I know that this is a career high,” Davies laughed. “I was delighted for that. That is how urgent and important they thought it was, which makes you think I got this right. Maybe there is something to shout about here.” While “Tip Toe” has its share of diverse supporting characters, it’s ultimately about the friction between Leo and Clive. “It’s important to say that they have lived next door to each other and have been fine for 14 years. But in ways that the world is heating up, their relationship is heating up just as all the anger and violence and misinformation and disinformation we see online is being weaponized and monetized and most significantly entering the real world,” Davies said. “Things that have been discussed and prejudices that have been aired online are becoming part of people’s speech and attitude, not just on Clive’s part but Leo’s part.” Davies is quick to point out that the story is complex. Clive is not the easy villain, and Leo isn’t necessarily the hero. The series makes a point to showcase Clive’s hopelessness and the lies he’s been living with, as well as Leo’s arrogance. “Leo willfully ignores the danger he is
Alan Cumming and David Morrissey in “Tip Toe.” (Courtesy of Starz)
in and sometimes provokes that,” Davies said. “There is an arrogance of someone of that age who thinks he has seen all the problems being settled.” Davies is a big proponent of casting gay actors as gay characters. As such, Cumming was a natural fit. Davies had cast him in the past, but dates moved and the collaboration fell through. This time, he booked Cumming nine months ahead of the shoot. “When I want a happy and out gay character who is 60 years old, hello Alan Cumming!” Davies said. “We have been trying to work together for a very long time.” Cumming brought David Morrissey to the table because the two have been best friends for 14 years, but have never
appeared on camera together. Davies had worked with Morrissey on “Doctor Who,” and he knew the actor could handle a hard role. While the show has some humor and lighter moments, it’s a dark and sometimes disturbing drama. This is how Davies writes. “Sometimes it is not subtle. I swing from comedy to tragedy because I think life does that,” Davies said. “Life doesn’t fit any genre at any particular time, so if anything it’s kind of a specialty of mine. Even in the last episode which is monstrous and hard and cruel there are lines that made me laugh. I believe that is how to write.” “Tip Toe” is streaming on Starz.
Breast cancer survivors debut in drag at Pretty in Pink Gala By Katie Burkholder In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, five survivors of breast cancer made their drag debut at Lips Atlanta to raise money for EmpowHer and Him Breast Cancer Foundation on Oct. 6. Lips Atlanta drag queens gave survivors Giselle, Paris, Leona, Kee Kee, and Fairon drag transformations at the Pretty in Pink Gala. Attendees enjoyed dinner, drinks, and drag as the women performed numbers about empowerment and survival. s The women honored their journeys beating breast cancer; some had been cancer-free for more than a decade, others were less than a year from diagnosis and still fighting the disease. They also advocated for proactivity in getting diagnosed. “I don’t look like what I’ve been through, and I’m thankful for that every day,” Leona said. “I am what it looks like THEGAVOICE.COM
to live beyond the diagnosis. I live that, I breathe that every day. If I can share anything with all of you here, I’m gonna say, listen to your bodies.” Paris, a 13-year survivor who was initially misdiagnosed with ovarian and underwent the removal of her ovaries and tubes only to find out she had breast cancer instead, advocated for getting a second opinion. “Had I gotten a second opinion, I might have saved myself from an unnecessary surgery,” she said. “…Know your body, advocate for yourself. If you don’t get the answers that you feel are correct, get another doctor.” Proceeds of the Pretty in Pink Gala benefited EmpowHER and HIM, an Atlanta-based organization advocating for breast cancer awareness among both men and women. “I saw our men standing behind the women,” Daphne Myers, the founder and president of the organization, said, “and I
The Pretty in Pink Gala was held at Lips Atlanta. (Photo by Katie Burkholder)
said, ‘This is something that we share. We both share this ugly disease.’” Breast Cancer Awareness Month is honored every October. More information
about local breast cancer advocacy can be found on EmpowHER and HIM’s website, empowherandhim.org.
NOVEMBER 2026 13
Atlanta artist Kiera Rahming-Reed on memory, wood and what we hide By Sherri Daye Scott Kiera Rahming-Reed’s wood works reward a closer look. Beneath the wallpaper, collage, ceramic, rope and paint, the self-taught Atlanta artist’s pieces hold layers you have to lean in to see. Her practice centers Black women and Black queer experience. She is a member of GLAAD’s 2026 Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative (EMEI) third cohort, and, earlier this year, participated in “Georgia Wood Artists: A Juried Exhibition” at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art. “Nemesis: Remember,” GLAAD’s first-ever EMEI visual art exhibition in New York City, included two of RahmingReed’s works among pieces by 10 Black LGBTQ+ artists. Her work was also on display last month at the annual Mayor’s Pride Reception & Art Exhibit at Atlanta City Hall for Atlanta Pride. In between shows, Rahming-Reed shared her thoughts on making memory tangible and honoring the layers of our lives. Talk about the work you had in “Nemesis: Remember.” “The House I Carried” marks an early turning point in my investigation of Emotional Architecture, the idea that the environments we inherit can become structures within us. The house is both physical and psychological: something built around us, built into us, and eventually carried with us. The work asks what remains when the place we once called home becomes part of who we are. “Before I Knew Shame, I Just Wanted To Play” reflects on the self before it becomes burdened by the expectations, judgments, and narratives imposed upon it. The work considers childhood as a space of possibility, curiosity, and unguarded identity, while acknowledging how external environments can gradually shape what we learn to hide. The work asks what parts of that earlier self can still be recovered. “Nemesis” asked participating artists to turn memory into material. What memory, or whose memory, did you build into your pieces? My memory, along with the memories of my friends, sisters, and mother, live within these works. Being a Black American from the South, the expectations of becoming “something” were evident from a very young age. I’m sure many people can relate to feeling the pressure to assimilate into a culture that doesn’t quite accept you anyway. When you look closely at the work, you’ll see memories of words used to criticize young girls, such as “not ladylike” or “smile more,” hidden in the grass. They are phrases we try to forget, yet they linger. “The House I Carried” also carries 14 NOVEMBER 2026
memory in multiple ways. The ceramic pieces represent how the memories we hold onto can become fragmented, yet somehow we turn those fragments into stories. The purple wall in the back of the house holds long-forgotten memories— some we’re really proud of and some we may not care to share. Memories of childhood honor roll, growing up in the church, and almost having a Black woman as president all reside within that wall. Your work often places hand-cut wood beneath painted surfaces. What sits underneath? Sometimes those layers have a greenish tint, and sometimes I get surprised by a layer of my favorite color, purple. … For “The House I Carried,” I decided to allow the figure to be completely covered in paint, while the house she’s connected to reveals its layers. But in order to see those layers, you have to get up close and personal with the figure. The structures that hold her up all have different levels of exposed layers, encouraging the viewer to think about who you allow to get close enough to you to experience all of you. Devin Wesley, Travion Payne, and Ryan C. Hamilton’s work all continue to stay with me. Devin’s representation of Black men’s armor and moments of vulnerability really hit home for me. We don’t get to see Black men being vulnerable often, and these portraits showed how each person had autonomy over how much of themselves they allowed the viewer to experience. Ryan’s collection of works reflected another side of Black men that’s seldom shown in media. These photographs of Black men in their created environments show how important it is for the environments we curate for ourselves to become our safe havens — a place where we can be our full selves. Ryan gave us a small peek into the lives of men being their full selves within those safe havens. The scale of Travion’s work created almost an energetic portal. It draws you in and forces you to pay close attention to the work. How do you describe yourself, as an artist and as a person? I am a student of life. I am constantly learning, whether that’s through selfdevelopment, self-acceptance, or simply learning about an unfamiliar insect I crossed paths with. As a former educator, I value education in all forms deeply. The teacher has been and will forever be the student. (top) Kiera Rahming-Reed, “Before I Knew Shame, I Just Wanted To Play,” wood, rope and ceramic, 20 × 4.5 × 30 inches. (Courtesy of Kiera Rahming-Reed) (bottom) Kiera Rahming-Reed, “The House I Carried,” carved wood, wallpaper, papercrete and ceramic, 41 × 5 × 40 inches. (Courtesy of Kiera Rahming-Reed) THEGAVOICE.COM
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Monks Meadery plans for second location in Stone Mountain By Sarra Sedghi On an early August evening, two men in crisp polo shirts accidentally encounter a performance by LandLoch’d, a Celtic, pirate, and sea shanty cover band, playing on the back patio of Monks Meadery in Poncey-Highland. A member of the band cracks a joke about the gentlemen’s confusion, before inviting them to stay, order some mead (honey and water fermented with yeast), and partake in the merriment. They do, for hours. That’s the vibe at a Monks Meadery event, where expert knowledge of niche subcultures, like Dungeons and Dragons, cosplay, pub singalongs, and Renaissance fairs, isn’t required. At most, enthusiasm, curiosity, and a five-dollar bill are all people need. Costumes, of course, are encouraged, and sometimes even result in a free shot. “We try and do our best to find events [and] exciting moments and things that the community we’re pouring for are interested in. We’re just big nerds, so it’s a lot of big nerd things,” said Broadway, head of experience and events at Monks Meadery. Affordable, inclusive events Broadway joined the staff at Monks Meadery about four years ago. Before that, Monks only hosted trivia nights and a few special events here and there, including the ATL Valor, Georgia’s official armed combat team. With Broadway on board, the calendar of events at Monks now features weekly D&D on Wednesdays and a Friday board game guild. Seasonal events range from pub sings to queer craft nights to the Side Quest Market during Dragon Con. Most events at Monks are either free or cost around $5 per person. They seldom exceed $35. Broadway said they don’t want anyone to feel stressed about affording an event at the meadery, especially with many people feeling the financial pinch of the current economy. “We definitely don’t take it lightly when we ask people to come out and take an extra step with their already expensive passions,” said Broadway. “[We’re not] charging you to reserve a table for Magic: The Gathering. If it’s D&D, it’s $5.” Makers markets Some events at Monks originate from customer requests. That includes a mini Renaissance fair. There’s live entertainment from groups like the ATL Valor or bands such as LandLoch’d, with art, costume, and gaming vendors hosted at the meadery’s larger events. Makers markets held at Monks during the convention and cosplay off-season give vendors more opportunities to sell their wares. (Monks also doesn’t charge THEGAVOICE.COM
monksmeadery.com. Monks Meadery in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta, a favorite spot for the LGBTQ+ community, offers free shuttle service every year to Dragon Con. The pub is opening a second location soon in Stone Mountain. (Courtesy Monks Meadery)
vendor fees to help offset costs). To get the word out, Monks collaborates with vendors, influencers, and artists to promote its markets on social media. Posts then hype up the performers and vendors participating. “There are so many amazing small businesses that are doing great things. That’s really what it’s all about — people helping people and making sure that the artists we love have a space to sell at our
markets,” Broadway said. “We continue to stand for LGBTQIA+ rights and human rights. I want people to know that [Monks is] a safe space and we are excited to continue building our community,” they added. Expansion plans The biggest event on the horizon for the meadery is the opening of its second location next year. Located across the street from Outrun
Brewing Company in Stone Mountain, this location of Monks will serve coffee in the mornings, followed by mead, wine, and beer in the afternoon and evenings. And look for Monks to collaborate with Outrun on events in Stone Mountain. “We’re all gambling. It’s honestly just been a big adventure,” Broadway said. Monks Meadery, 579 N. Highland Ave., Poncey-Highland. Stone Mountain location opening in early 2027. NOVEMBER 2026 15
New nightclub opens at Underground, with coffee shop, food hall, housing to come By Beth McKibben Lunchbox, a new bar, nightclub, and music venue with two stages, recently opened near dance club MJQ Concourse at Underground Atlanta. A coffee shop, six-stall food hall, and tapas restaurant will open in the coming weeks and months, along with another sprawling concert hall, which will take over a former parking garage. Music now drives the newest options at Underground Atlanta, as part of a multimillion-dollar revamp of the half-centuryold shopping and entertainment district by Lalani Ventures. Ten stages by the end of 2027 Seven stages are already open at the district: two at Lunchbox, one at MJQ Concourse, and four at The Masquerade, which operates multiple concert spaces in its Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and Altar rooms. Three more stages will open next year with Ravine, a two-stage venue in the old parking garage on Lower Wall Street, and Loca Luna, a Latin tapas restaurant that will also host live music. All 10 stages will be up and running by the end of 2027, according to a press
release. Once completed, Underground Atlanta will become one of Georgia’s largest live music hubs, said Shaneel Lalani, CEO of Lalani Ventures. “We’ve spent six years building the foundation, bringing this historic district back to life,” Lalani said in a prepared statement. “Now we’re in a stretch where a lot of that work is visible, with new restaurants, new music venues, and new reasons to come Downtown beyond a single event.” Coffee shop, food hall, and housing Ela Rey, a coffee shop from the sisters behind Daiquiriville, is on track to open on Lower Alabama later this month, with a six-stall food hall taking over the former Foot Locker space at the corner of Alabama and Pryor streets next year. And Haunted Underground is back again this month. The pop-up features five bars offering Halloween-inspired cocktails and live music. With nightlife firmly in place, and music driving the scene at Underground Atlanta, Lalani said the company’s next
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Lunchbox, a new bar, nightclub, and music venue, recently opened near dance club MJQ Concourse at Underground Atlanta. (Courtesy Lalani Ventures)
step is converting an old office building at 34 Peachtree (one block away from the district) into apartments. The first phase of the $40 million project will include 146 units. “Housing is the piece that makes all of this work long-term,” Lalani said. “You
can bring in restaurants and music venues, but you need people living here, walking these streets every day, not just visiting for an event. That’s what 34 Peachtree starts to do, and it’s why we’re pushing for more housing Downtown.”
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INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRANS BODYBUILDERS AND POWERLIFTERS PRESENTS:
Bodybuilding Competition November 21, 2026 7 pm Decatur Conference Center
Courtyard Decatur Downtown/Emory 130 Clairemont Ave Decatur, GA 30030
Powerlifting Meet November 21, 2026 9 am DNA Strength Gym
3039 Amwiler Rd, Suite 112 Doraville, GA 30360 https://IATBP.org
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NOVEMBER 2026 17
JuNi opens for omakase experiences in Midtown
JuNi, a new restaurant from the team behind Circle Sushi and Circle Noodle, is now open in Midtown. (Provided by JuNi)
By Sarra Sedghi
Answers for puzzles on page 17
Japanese restaurant JuNi is now open for omakase dining at The Juniper in Midtown. Located on the corner of 12th and Juniper streets, the restaurant will soon begin serving donburi – Japanese steamed rice bowls served with meat or seafood and vegetables. Sandwiched between 11th and 12th streets, the block-wide site was once home to popular Midtown restaurants Joe’s on Juniper and Einstein’s. Both restaurants closed in 2021 to make way for the dualtower residential development. Founder Yukihiko “Yuki” Tanaka has been a quiet presence on Atlanta’s sushi scene since 1998, when he opened Circle Sushi in Sandy Springs. Nearly a decade later, he opened udon restaurant Circle Noodle in Roswell. Many of Tanaka’s customers have been regulars since the early days of Circle Sushi and continued following him to Circle Noodle. One customer, he said, has been dining at both restaurants since they were a child. Now an adult, Tanaka said this customer travels with high expectations for sushi and udon. It’s customers like this Tanaka hopes to attract to JuNi and its omakase experience in Midtown. What to expect
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The restaurant is divided into two distinct dining spaces: a refined omakase experience upstairs, with casual dining downstairs serving donburi for lunch and dinner. JuNi currently offers just one omakase seating at 7 p.m. Expect between eight and
16 courses, with dishes like a bluefin tuna sashimi sampler or chawanmushi (savory egg custard) topped with uni. Much of the menu depends on what’s available and in season at fish markets in Japan. And while most dishes rely on Japanese techniques and ingredients, some fold in techniques and ingredients from other cultures. The chawanmushi, for instance, also comes garnished with truffle dashi, adding a French influence to the traditional egg custard. People can order a selection of sake and umeshu (plum wine) during their omakase. Rather than pairing sake with each course, Tanaka recommends ordering a flight of five. Omakase experiences range from $185 to $225 per person, depending on the number or courses available on a given night. Look for a smaller lunchtime omakase to launch at JuNi in the coming months. More to come in Midtown Over the weekend, signage went up at The Juniper for another location of Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza. The pizzeria, which garnered a recommendation from Michelin for its Miami Beach location in 2022, includes locations in Buckhead, Inman Park, and Sandy Springs. Midtown couple Freddy Adkins and Mikkel Jensen were eyeing The Juniper for their Copenhagen-style cafe and bakery, The Danish. The deal never materialized. Adkins said he and Jensen are now actively searching for another Midtown space to open The Danish. JuNi, 1081 Juniper St., Midtown. Open Tuesday-Sunday for 7 p.m. omakase. juniatlanta.com.
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Where Holiday Magic Comes Alive! The Carlos Family in Honor of Thalia N. Carlos Presents
DECEMBER 5–26, 2026 Cobb Energy Centre
Live with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra
“Atlanta Ballet's 'Nutcracker' entertains with humor, high-tech magic.” —ArtsATL
Costume Illustrations by Sandra Woodall
Tickets at
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Character Illustrations by T. Dylan Moore