Editorial
Cathy Cobbs
Managing Editor, Reporter Newspapers
Collin Kelley
Executive Editor
Beth McKibben
Editor-in-Chief
Sr. Editor Food & Dining
Sammie Purcell
Associate Editor
Staff Writers
Katie Burkholder, Bob Pepalis, Logan C. Ritchie, Sarra Sedghi, Stephanie Toone
Contributor
Maya Homan
/ year) email delivery@roughdraftatlanta.com
WEDNESDAY, DEC 3 6-9PM
This column is adapted from A Pinch of Pepper, a periodic email newsletter about the business of local news, including behindthe-scenes looks at Rough Draft Atlanta. Subscribe at substack.com/@pinchofpepper
As I sat down on my sofa to write this column, the World Series was on my TV, a documentary was streaming on my iPad, and my phone was vibrating with texts. Four different screens were competing for my attention, which struck me as a perfect snapshot of today’s media landscape and the challenges facing every media company trying to earn a share of it.
The documentary was “Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink” (stream it on PBS), which chronicles how hedge funds, particularly Alden Capital, have gutted newspapers across America, unraveling the civic fabric of communities in the process.
In October, Northwestern’s Medill School released its annual “State of Local News” report with numbers that should alarm anyone who cares about our seemingly teetering democracy: more than 3,500 newspapers have shuttered over the past two decades. That means thousands of schools, city halls, and local businesses now operate without anyone watching. In Georgia, Medill reports that 17 counties do not have a local news source, and 117 counties have only one.
With such a bleak outlook nationally, why am I optimistic about the future of our business and the paper you’re holding right now?
Because when journalism is rooted in community, it still works. Rough Draft just closed our biggest print quarter ever: 332 printed pages, a 31% increase over average, with a very healthy ad-to-editorial ratio, buoyed by local and regional businesses who understand that trusted, non-sensational media drives results.
There has been a lot of talk about The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s recent decision to end its print edition at the end of this year. This evolution of their business should not be seen as a retreat from journalism; the AJC will still be the largest newsroom in the Southeast, but rather as a normal evolution of a company aligning with reader habits, advertiser needs, and economic reality. The cost of producing and delivering a daily newspaper to a shrinking subscriber base simply doesn’t work anymore.
That said, our model of a free, monthly, direct-mailed print edition will remain financially viable and editorially effective for years to come. Readers enjoy the chance to slow down, browse, and discover, and advertisers value being in some of the most influential and affluent households in metro Atlanta.
The Rough Draft strategy is clear: we are digital first in our content delivery, including redoubling our efforts on newsletters (last month we sent 1.6 million emails), but we aim to produce the best free print product in the market. Since 2020, we have seen our revenue mix shift, and we are now 27% digital — a nearly 16-fold growth in digital ad sales.
Here’s what we are working on for Q4
■ We’re preparing a special issue to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the City of Sandy Springs. On the right side of this page is more info on how you can sponsor that section as a business or family.
■ Sarra Sedghi is expanding her work with us to include culture and events related to the FIFA World Cup 26.
■ Summer Evans, a familiar voice to public radio fans, has joined us to produce a daily Instagram Reel based on our morning newsletter. LMK what you think at @RoughDraftATL.
What I’m reading:
■ Macon, GA native Tom Johnson’s new memoir, “Driven: A Life in Public Service and Journalism from LBJ to CNN.”
Where I’m eating:
■ Oaxaca in Chamblee - The guac is a piece of art you can eat.
■ Avize in West Midtown - Don’t get thrown off if you don’t know what “Alpine cuisine” is. The NYT agrees enough to name it the only Georgia restaurant on its Top 50 list for 2025.
■ Anis in Buckhead - Go for the salad nicoise and fries, stay for the affordable, fun wine list.
■ Waffle House - Because I’m getting self-conscious that my list is too bougie.
What I’m watching:
■ “Black Rabbit” - Based on the nowdisgraced Spotted Pig (where I spent way too much time in my 30s).
■ “Hightown” - Watching “Hunting Wives” again seemed excessive.
What I was surprised to learn:
■ There have been more weddings than funerals this year at Oakland Cemetery.
Until next time, thank you for your continued support of local journalism.
Full disclosure: Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. In fact, it’s not even a holiday I celebrate.
Thanksgiving, for the most part, has involved stressful childhood and adult memories about making the meal “perfect.” The timing of the baking of the turkey so it’s ready in conjunction with the mashed potatoes, green beans, dressing, corn souffle, and all the other dishes – nine times out of 10 resulted in at least one dish that was raw, limp, soggy, or overcooked.
Add in those hard feelings about that person who ruined everything by showing up late, making a crappy side dish, or insisting that their too-sweet, sweet potato casserole is delicious.
And to pile on – the misery of overeating, the days of prep and clean-up, followed by the stress of forced time with distant, outspoken relatives, and it became something I dreaded.
I’m not sure when I happily threw in the towel on Thanksgiving, but when it happened, the joy and relief was immediate and sustaining.
That’s not to say I don’t celebrate. It’s just different. For the last 15-20 years, I have joined my “family” members in Columbia, SC (another story for another time) as they sell their North Carolinagrown Fraser firs during the Thanksgiving holidays.
Everything about it is joyful. People who feel sorry that we have to work during the holidays drop by with desserts, meals, coffee, and heartfelt thanks for allowing them to escape the post-Thanksgiving
doldrums (and all of the above-listed stressors) by being open.
Don’t get me wrong – it’s hard work unloading 60- to 100-pound trees from semi-trailers (I wimped out a few years ago). There are numerous cold nights on the lot waiting for that last customer to choose a tree, and sometimes we have an overwhelming amount of people who come in droves on Black Friday and during half-time of the Clemson-Carolina game.
But the constant of it all is pure happiness. Helping that cranky guy (who complains every year about the prices) find an affordable tree, the high school-aged workers who put in long hours and still have a blast, the children who zoom around the beautiful forested lot, and the tired “we-did-it” feeling of accomplishment when the long days are over.
And the meal - sometimes it’s Chinese takeout, a pre-made family meal from Fresh Market, and a handful of times, we have thrown a no-stress feast together.
In this rendition, first and foremost, it’s about spending time together with people you love who have a united purpose, which I imagine was the original intent of Thanksgiving before everything else got in the way.
Of course, this is NOT everyone’s story and that’s a good thing. This issue has plenty of traditional Thanksgiving information about recipes, to-go options, and dining opportunities. Beth McKibben and Sarra Sedghi have done an incredible job putting together the Thanksgiving side-dish throwdown - such a fun read!
Thank you, as always, for supporting our print publication, online offerings and newsletters. And have a great Thanksgiving - I mean it!
By Beth McKibben and Sarra Sedghi
When it comes to the Thanksgiving table, side dishes are anything but an afterthought, sometimes equaling or even eclipsing the turkey.
Thanksgiving sides also illustrate the rich communities and cultural influences found throughout the nation. A classic side dish in one region, for instance, may very well be unheard of in another.
To get a taste of Thanksgiving across the US, six Atlanta chefs — three Southern and three hailing from the North and Midwest — shared their favorite Thanksgiving side dishes and family food traditions.
Note: Recipes for the side dishes described in this story will appear online at Rough Draft Atlanta closer to Thanksgiving.
The South: Greens
Chef Robert Butts (Georgia)
Greens aren’t just a huge part of Auburn Angel chef and owner Robert Butts’ Thanksgiving tradition — they’re also an irrefutable part of his identity. “It’s one of the first crops that slaves were actually able to use and grow,” he said. “So [greens] have a rich history.”
Butts said his family was big on the Thanksgiving feast, treating the meal as a sporting event and mapping the plays in advance.
“Everyone had their role. I remember having to pick all the greens off the stems, and they were oh-so particular,” he said. “It was very tedious work, and I didn’t understand it at first.” In time, Butts learned to appreciate the process.
Like the South itself, recipes for greens vary. Many families opt for one type of greens, such as collards or turnips, while others make mixed or “braided” greens, which combine varieties. There’s the option to add smoked meat, like turkey, ham hocks, or chicken.
Butts’ family recipe, which he now serves at Auburn Angel, includes a triad of collards, mustard greens, and turnip greens, along with red and green peppers, onions, garlic, ham hock, and smoked turkey. He seasons the greens with hot sauce, apple cider, and a touch of brown sugar. By the time the greens are ready, Butts said, the house is engulfed with the aroma of just-braised greens for the holiday.
The North/Midwest: Green bean casserole
Chef Craig Richards (Nebraska)
Growing up in Nebraska, Lyla Lila and Elise chef
Craig Richards said it’s not unusual for him to come home for Thanksgiving and find snow on the ground. It also means there’s very little fresh, local produce available in Nebraska around Thanksgiving.
Unlike Atlanta, you can’t just run down to the local farmers market to grab some fall greens or late-season beans. His mother often cooked with canned vegetables, especially during the fall and winter, including when creating a family favorite for Thanksgiving: green bean casserole.
Richards now helps his mother cook
Thanksgiving for 24 people. But despite being a chef with two Atlanta restaurants, the family still wants nostalgic dishes such as green bean casserole, using a recipe that likely comes from the back of the French’s fried onions container.
“I think Thanksgiving food is more about nostalgia than the food itself. I tried to be cheffy with homemade cranberry sauce and green bean casserole with a homemade cream of mushroom sauce, but it’s not the same,” Richards explained. “The most gourmet thing my mom did is she bought roasted garlic cream of mushroom soup instead of the regular cream of mushroom soup one year, and that was next level.”
The turkey is the cheffiest Richards gets on Thanksgiving Day. He uses Thomas Keller’s roast turkey recipe, stuffing the bird with oranges, red onions, and bay leaves.
For Thanksgiving side dish staples like green bean casserole, Richards said it’s easy to strike a balance between the ease and convenience of canned goods, like cream of mushroom soup, and fresh ingredients. (Think parboiling fresh green beans for a few minutes before compiling and baking the casserole, or frying a batch of freshly sliced shallots to layer on top.)
The South: Sweet potato fritters Chef Christan Willis (Georgia) Private chef and The New South collective member Christan Willis’ favorite Thanksgiving side dish, fritters, comes from her mother, who grew up on Ascension Island, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic.
While the recipe traditionally uses pumpkin, Willis’ mother added sweet potato or butternut squash to amplify the taste.
“You can literally blend the pureed sweet potato, add your egg, add your flour [and] all your seasonings and make a really great fritter batter, and then you just fry it,” she said. “Then you dust it with powdered sugar.”
Willis adds fresh thyme and grated onions to take the fritters to another level. She’s also played around with a dipping syrup made with brown sugar and cayenne pepper.
Willis’ parents separated when she was young, which meant dual Thanksgiving celebrations. “Being the only girl in the house [with my dad], when I started having some interest in the food space, my dad was just like, ‘OK, you want to brine the turkey? I’ll go get a big gallon bucket from Home Depot [and] you can brine the turkey in there.’ Then it snowballed and I started doing the sides,” she said.
As a trained chef, Willis has become less interested in preparing an elaborate Thanksgiving meal entirely on her own. Everyone in her family contributes.
“Some years, I make lasagna,” she said. “It doesn’t have to stick to the [traditional] basics as long as the core values of Thanksgiving are there.”
The North: Macaroni pie
Chef Demetrius Brown (Rhode Island)
As a child, Bread & Butterfly and Heritage Supper Club chef Demetrius Brown bounced back and forth between his native Rhode Island and Georgia. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University, Brown made Atlanta his permanent home.
Brown’s family roots lie in the South and the Caribbean, particularly in Trinidad. At family gatherings, the table typically features an eclectic mix of dishes representing the depth and breadth of the African diaspora. Thanksgiving is no exception.
Rather than a traditional Thanksgiving feast, the family cooks dishes from a chosen country each year. But three dishes are always on the Thanksgiving table: stuffing (his brother’s favorite), his maternal great grandmother’s spice cake, and his fraternal great grandmother’s macaroni pie. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the savory Trinidadian pasta bake blended with sharp cheddar cheese, milk, eggs, and pimento peppers, with bucatini replacing macaroni.
“My mom and my grandmother do a really amazing job making macaroni pie. You can put anything on it,” Brown said of the zesty Caribbean riff on mac and cheese. “At my grandmother’s house, we would eat it with red beans and rice. I’ll just mix mine with some gravy at Thanksgiving.”
Brown makes macaroni pie with béchamel sauce, adding cheese, caramelized onions, paprika, onion, and garlic powder to give it a big flavor boost.
From Crab to Corn
The South: Crab dressing
Chef Karl Gorline (Gulf Coast)
For Avize chef Karl Gorline, who grew up on the Gulf Coast, holiday meals always include seafood. “You’re right there by the water,” he said. “So, crab dressing is something that we had quite often. Imagine it like a weird crab cake.”
Gorline believes that the farther south you go, foodways have a more natural resistance to the norm. In this case, Thanksgiving recipes that are pushed across the country but don’t exactly reflect the region.
“Basically all the way from Mobile Bay over to New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, that’s one of the largest [crab] markets,” he said.
Blue crabs are native to the area and even a sign of trust. “Back in the bayou, people would just have crab traps out all the time. That’s somebody’s crab trap, and you respect it.,” Gorline said. “It’s almost like leaving the door unlocked in your neighborhood.”
A friend of Gorline’s uncle would make crab dressing and bring brined chickens to smoke for Thanksgiving. Gulf Coast Thanksgiving meals also tend to feature pasta and gumbo at the table, with gumbo occasionally served with dressing instead of gravy.
The North/Midwest: Corn pudding
Chef Maximilian Hines (Ohio)
Breaker Breaker and Stolen Goods chef Maximilian Hines spent a good chunk of his childhood in Ohio, with occasional
stints in DC. But Ohio is home. It’s where he was born, where his parents are from, and where childhood memories were made around the Thanksgiving table.
For Thanksgiving, the family would prepare dishes influenced by their roots in Haiti, Louisiana, Mississippi, and southern Virginia. Some years, the stuffing served alongside the turkey, Honeybaked ham, yams, and mashed potatoes and gravy was mixed with blue crab meat, drawing on family roots along the Chesapeake Bay.
Then there were the numerous casseroles on offer, including a corn pudding that came to the family’s Thanksgiving table via his grandmother’s college roommate.
“The holidays are still pretty indicative of what my grandparents made every year, which definitely skews more Ohio than anywhere else,” Hines said. “Everything was a casserole, like green bean casserole, squash casserole, and that corn pudding. A lot of it involved canned vegetables from Glory Foods.”
The custardy corn pudding (or casserole) isn’t difficult to make and can incorporate late-season sweet corn. Hines likes the dish because it balances sweet and savory flavors gelled together by scalded milk, butter, and curdled eggs, giving the pudding a similar texture to a scrambled egg bake.
With family now scattered around the country, and his sister in London, it’s been hard to gather for Thanksgiving in recent years. As a full-time chef, Hines tries not to cook on Thanksgiving. However, this year he asked his mother for the corn pudding recipe, a dish that might just turn up on his Thanksgiving table, or at the Breaker Breaker staff potluck planned before the holiday.
By Cathy Cobbs
Brookhaven City Manager Christian Sigman presented the administration’s 2026 proposed $42.7 million operating and capital budget at the council’s Oct. 21 meeting that reflects an emphasis on infrastructure, parks, and public safety.
It also includes a proposal to increase the millage rate to 3.54, which would represent a hike of 0.8 mills from the current rate of 2.74 mills and would require removing the millage rate cap from the city charter.
The estimated annual impact of the proposed millage rate increase would be $240 for the average homesteaded residential property with a value of
$775,000, according to Sigman.
“The 2026 budget continues the transformation, supports innovation, provides opportunities for community celebrations, engages the community on important issues, protects our residents, businesses, and visitors, and maintains public spaces and facilities for the enjoyment of all,” he said.
Brookhaven has not had a millage rate increase for operations since December 2016, Sigman said.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of engagement on this, and lots of discussion among the council,” Mayor John Park said after Sigman’s presentation.
Sigman pointed out that in 2013, the market value of all residential properties
p.m.
Nov 19
was $3.8 billion, but now stands at $11.3 billion, an increase of $7.5 billion, most of which cannot be taxed because of the city’s homestead assessment freeze.
The homestead freeze, he said, causes the gap between tax collections as values continue to grow, creating a “fiscal handcuff” that isn’t sustainable.
The millage rate increase would be passed by the council in June of 2026 for both residential and commercial properties.
According to a staff memo, major expenses driving the need for increased revenues include:
■ 911 funding of $1,039,775 to meet the contractual obligations of the city’s agreement with the Chattahoochee River 911 Authority (ChatComm);
■ full-year funding for staffing the Brookhaven Police Department’s real time crime center;
■ $750,000 to replenish the city’s fund balance reserves;
■ $516,090 for employee health insurance increases;
■ $440,525 for parks and City Centre maintenance.
Major capital improvement projects include the Windsor/ADR roundabout construction procurement, detailed design and engineering for the I-85 pedestrian bridge connecting Executive Park and the Peachtree Creek Greenway, new street paving totaling 12.41 miles, continued funding of the city’s sidewalk infill projects, and continued funding of the city’s sign replacement program.
“The proposed mill rate of 3.54 requires the removal of the millage cap in the city charter,” the memo said. “This is a home-rule item that does not require a referendum.”
Following two public hearings, the 2026 general budget will be considered for adoption at the Nov. 18 meeting, a release by the city said.
Community members may also submit comments or questions via email at 2026Budget@BrookhavenGA.gov. The complete 2026 proposed general budget is available online, with a FAQ section and other documents.
By Cathy Cobbs
The City of Brookhaven is soliciting the public’s input as a plan develops to build a new library, which could end the decades-long saga.
At its Oct. 9 business meeting, the city council approved a public engagement campaign to determine the best spot to build a new DeKalb County public library in Brookhaven.
The city, in cooperation with DeKalb County, put up a five-question Survey Monkey poll asking participants about their preference as to its location.
Among the choices: remaining at its current location at the corner of Apple Valley Road and North Druid Hills Road, building the facility in the MARTA parking lot behind city hall that is planned for a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), or constructing it at the corner of Peachtree Road and Osborne Road, at the former DeKalb CSB (Claratel) building site.
“Since the last time this topic was publicly discussed, there have been some new opportunities for the potential relocation of the DeKalb County Library in Brookhaven,” Brookhaven Council Member Madeleine Simmons said in an online release. “We are planning the transit-oriented development in
partnership with MARTA on Apple Valley Road, and we are beginning the demolition of the old Claratel building in Brookhaven Park. Either of those locations might be a better fit, but we want to hear from the residents to see what they think.”
The Brookhaven Library has been a point of contention between the city and DeKalb for years. The library was selected for replacement as part of a library bond referendum in 2005. DeKalb allocated funds to former District 2 Commissioner Jeff Rader, who said the library at the corner of North Druid Hills Road and Apple Valley Road lacked parking and space for renovation.
DeKalb looked to Brookhaven Park for
the new library site, which resulted in a legal battle over the land.
In 2022, a settlement allowed Brookhaven to purchase the park land from DeKalb for $1 if the city promised to pay $1.6 million toward a new library.
Simmons told Rough Draft that since DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson took office in January, movement towards bringing the project towards fruition “has improved dramatically.”
Brookhaven Communications Director Burke Brennan agreed.
“The saga has gone on for many years, but there hasn’t been a lot of engagement until now,” Brennan said. “We hope that this survey will continue to move the
process along.”
Simmons said the site where the library currently resides may pose issues.
“I believe that the current site might need a number of variances and may have some flood plain issues, but ultimately we want to hear from the community as to what they think is the best site,” Simmons said.
In July 2023, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved a $388,000 contract for architectural and engineering ser vices to Cas Architecture. The survey, which has already gathered about 500 responses, will remain open through Nov. 30.
Whether it’s a slip that ends in a slipped disk, a trick knee holding you back or shoulder pain hurting your game, you can count on Northside Hospital Orthopedics to get you back on your feet—no matter what comes your way. Because Georgia moves us, and we keep Georgia moving.
By Rough Draft Staff
The Buckhead Coalition and Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID) announced that Katharine Kelley, an Atlanta-based urban development and civic leader, will take the helm as CEO of both organizations starting January 2026. Drawing from her 30-year career in urban development and community leadership, Kelley will oversee collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening Buckhead’s infrastructure and quality of life, while cultivating strategic relationships with stakeholders across metro Atlanta, according to a press release.
“I am thrilled to step into this leadership role with two organizations so committed to Buckhead’s progress and vitality. As a Buckhead native and resident, my DNA is rooted in this community,” Kelley said in a statement. “Buckhead is poised to play a great role in Atlanta’s future, and I’m excited to work alongside our Coalition members, the Buckhead CID board, civic partners, and residents to drive growth that benefits both our community and the broader metro Atlanta region.”
Kelley, who will step down as President of Green Street Properties, has led the development of more than $2 billion of properties while serving in senior positions at Jamestown, Post Properties, Newport,
and Green Street. Her work includes Ponce City Market, South Downtown, Post Riverside (now MAA Riverside), and Glenwood Park. She currently serves on the board of directors of Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc.
Kelley is a graduate of The Westminster Schools and holds a BA from UNC as a Morehead Scholar, a Master's in Real Estate Development from Columbia, where she wrote her thesis on community improvement districts, and an MBA from Harvard.
Kelley also previously served as President of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, as a member of the City of Atlanta Zoning Review Board, and is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Westminster Schools. She is also the 2023 recipient of
By Rough Draft Staff
Real estate development firm Kolter Urban has begun pre-sales at its new luxury condo project, Elyse Buckhead, which is set to break ground in 2026.
The 20-story building at 102 West Paces Ferry Rd. will offer 194 condos priced from the mid-$900,000s, according to a press release. Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty is marketing the property and has opened a sales gallery at 107 West Paces Ferry Road, Suite 200.
Elyse Buckhead marks Kolter Urban’s third project in the district following The Dillon Buckhead and Graydon Buckhead.
Designed by Rule Joy Trammel + Rubio Architects, the condos will feature one- to three-bedroom residences with private terraces ranging from 1,200 to just over 4,000 square feet. The press release said the building will have “five floors of estate-style residences and an exclusive penthouse level.”
The property will have 63,000 square feet of resort-style amenities, including a
heated pool with private cabanas, a spa and an indoor Aqua Lounge, a pickleball court, a sports lounge, a swing sports simulator lounge, an intimate outdoor gathering area with an open-air kitchen and fire pit, a grand event lawn, and a dog park and pet wash station.
The lobby level will have a formal club room, a private dining room, a catering kitchen, a fitness center featuring private training rooms and a group movement studio, a theater viewing room, and a spa center for residential use only.
Find out more at elysebuckhead.com.
By Rough Draft Staff
Ahead of its 50th anniversary, Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) is launching a new initiative called the “50 Things to Do at Chattahoochee Nature Center” challenge.
The challenge encourages Atlantans to explore the outdoors in creative and meaningful ways, with the first challenge kicking off this month during CNC’s popular “Halloween Hikes” event and continuing through June 2026.
Participants are encouraged to complete activities from four themed categories (“Health and Wellness,” “Adventure,” “Artistic” and “Flora and Fauna”) that CNC designed to showcase the many ways visitors can connect with nature, according to the environmentallyfocused nonprofit.
Planned activities include canoeing, hiking, creating nature art, meeting wildlife ambassadors and more.
Participating Atlantans that complete 45 of the 50 activities are able to submit their challenge tracker and a photo for a chance to win a number of prizes, according to CNC.
Winners will be drawn monthly from July 2026 through October 2026, coinciding with CNC’s upcoming anniversary celebrations.
“It’s hard to believe Chattahoochee Nature Center is approaching five decades of connecting people with nature, a milestone we are all incredibly proud of and excited to commemorate,” said Natasha Rice, chief executive officer of Chattahoochee Nature Center. “We decided to begin the celebration early in a way that truly engages our community, and launching our ‘50 Things’ challenge during Halloween Hikes felt like the perfect way to do that.”
Founded in 1976 by local conservation advocates, the Roswell-based CNC has grown from a 6.7-acre site into a 127-acre environmental learning center that sees more than 150,000 visitors a year.
Over the decades, the nonprofit has expanded its programming, wildlife habitats and facilities, becoming one of Georgia’s leaders in conservation, rehabilitation and education in the process, said a press release.
By Cathy Cobbs
The Dunwoody City Council, at its Oct. 14 meeting, held a public hearing and passed another initiative that will have long-term implications for the city –its 20-year comprehensive plan and 2026 budget.
A brief presentation by Allison Stewart-Harris of TSW Design outlined several changes involving land use throughout the city, mostly involving conditions that would require a Special Land Use Permit in several of the city’s
character areas. Some of the character areas affected by the change are the Perimeter Core, Georgetown East, Winters Chapel Core, Jett Ferry, and Peachtree Boulevard.
The revisions also removed Brook Run Park as its own character area and reabsorbed it back into the suburban neighborhood character area.
The plan had been reviewed and approved by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Stewart-Harris said.
The council also held a public hearing on the $70.5 million 2026 budget that focuses on public safety and customer service, while maintaining $22 million in financial reserves.
According to a release from the city, the proposed budget represents a 0.2 percent decrease from the amended FY2025 budget, “reflecting disciplined spending and long-term fiscal stewardship.”
The 2026 budget also includes $7 million in capital projects focusing on building out Homecoming Park on Vermack Road, providing equipment for the police department, and installing sidewalks and safety improvements around the city.
After the public hearing, council member Catherine Lautenbacher asked that police funding be increased by $243,000 for the installation of bulletproof glass on the front windshields of marked patrol cars. The council will
consider the expenditure on second hearing at its November meeting.
In other action, the council:
■ held a public hearing on a rezoning request from Office-Industrial to Local Commercial to allow a veterinarian clinic to operate at 4500 N. Shallowford Rd. Staff has recommended the change, and nobody spoke either for or against the rezoning;
■ heard Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton’s monthly report that says crime is down, according to year-over-year statistics;
■ held a public hearing on master sign changes at Campus 244.
The council retired to executive session to discuss cybersecurity and litigation matters, and adjourned without taking further action.
By Cathy Cobbs
David Lyalin, a longtime Dunwoody resident and immigrant from the former Soviet Union, has compiled his family stories into a book to educate and inspire future generations.
“Tales of a Grandfather Who Once Upon a Time Was a Grandson Himself,” written in both Russian and English, is a collection of family stories, published by Sandermoen Publishing in Switzerland. Lyalin, who works as a public health analyst at the CDC, is a first-time author.
“I originally wrote it for my grandchildren – but the project grew into something much larger: a way to preserve family memory across languages, continents, and generations,” Lyalin said. “The stories span the Russian Empire and Soviet history, immigration, family loss and love, and the connections that survive across time and place –told with warmth, humor, and reflection.”
Lyalin said his desire to compile his family’s memories emerged during the pandemic, when his daughter and other relatives were scattered across the world.
“I found myself wanting to share with them stories, not just bedtime tales, but something deeper: the kind of stories that connect us to the past, to each other, and to the generations we never knew,” he said. “So I began writing.”
Lyalin, born in Leningrad, immigrated to the United States in 1990 as part of a Jewish refugee program, along with his wife and nine-year-old daughter. He said the lack of religious and political freedom in Russia drove him from his native country.
He said his now-92-year-old mother was a source of inspiration and information for the book.
“She remembers a lot of things from the past that I never knew,” Lyalin said. “Although the book is dedicated to my grandchildren, I wrote it in large part for my mother. Because this book –and every story in it – means infinitely more to her than to anyone else, simply because they were written by me, her son.”
The stories were written in Russian at first because it was the language of Lyalin’s childhood, his parents and grandparents. But since his grandchildren don’t speak Russian, he wanted to translate the tales so they could share in their family history. It took him a year to complete.
“Translating my own stories from Russian to English was harder than writing them in the first place,” he said. “There’s a line from Russian poetry: ‘To tears, to veins, to childhood’s swollen glands’ — that’s how deeply a native language lives in us.”
The stories are not only personal in nature, but they are also historical, not in a textbook form, but history “told in kitchens and tramcars, playgrounds and hospital rooms,” Lyalin said. “In them are the small, living truths of what it meant to be a Jew in the Soviet Union –what it meant to leave, what it means to remember.”
Lyalin said his mother was on his mind during the entire writing and editing process.
“She, with the endless patience of an old school teacher, listened to me read the drafts over the phone and, as always, firmly and wisely guided me in the right direction,” he said.
Lyalin said his book has struck a chord with both his Russian family and his American friends.
“To my surprise, the book has found resonance not only within my family, but far beyond it. Russian-speaking readers have told me it reminds them of people and moments they had forgotten,” he said. “English-speaking readers have said it opened a window to a world they had only heard about.”
Lyalin’s book, “Tales of a Grandfather” is available in paperback and as an e-book through Sandermoen Publishing.
By Bob Pepalis
The Greater Perimeter Chamber named Dunwoody businesswoman Lauren Sok as its Woman of Distinction for 2025 on Oct. 22.
Sok, the owner of Functionize Health & Physical Therapy, was one of 15 nominees from Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.
Other finalists for the award were Natalie DeLancey (honorable mention) of the City Springs Theatre Company, Jan Paul (second runner-up), a community activist, and Katie Prellwitz (first runnerup), of Leverage Communications.
Monica Kaufman Pearson was the signature speaker and shared leadership advice. She interviewed Sok for the audience at Sinclair Atlanta, an event venue in The Prado in Sandy Springs.
Skate to holiday music, warm up with hot cocoa, and make memories on our real ice rink, November 14 - January 19! Adults $18; Kids (ages 2-9) $15. Admission includes skate rental. Online reservations recommended.
Get decked out for upcoming theme nights:
November 15 at 8 p.m. Slide Back to the 90s
November 22 at 8 p.m. Superheroes, Villains, and Princesses
November 29 at 8 p.m. Post Gobble Wobble
December 6 at 8 p.m. Team Jersey Night
on her, despite Sok not having a business plan.
Some of the female friends with whom she discussed her business questioned whether she had the energy and time for the business, given the fact that she was raising three children. But while talking to some of her male friends, she got the message that if she really wanted her own business, she should go for it.
Her first location was in Decatur. When she moved to Dunwoody, she wanted to work in her own community and leased space at 5054 Nandina Lane.
Sok described the work of a physical therapist as being like a partner and holding the client’s hand as part of his or her journey, and working with the client to build resiliency.
She told Kaufman Pearson that she’s learned to navigate the ever-changing challenges of a business owner, pivoting when people have different needs.
Sok said she wanted to be a physical therapist since the age of 12. To continue her mission, Sok said she needed to find other physical therapists who shared her passion, and she felt the need to give back to the community.
Success and creating an impact came with sharing the idea of abundance and collaborating even with her competitors.
“It’s been 10 years since I opened and it’s been 10 years of believing in myself and struggling to, you know, keep pushing forward with what is true to my heart.”
Sok told Kaufman Pearson she had to learn to narrow down the core values for her company, and then hire the right people based on those core values.
“I think early in my career, I was trying to change so many things and see what was the magic thing that was going to take my business to the next level,” Sok said. “And now I’ve just kind of done all my choices, kept in what feels, you know, personal and mission-driven to me, and not trying to chase what people tell me I should be doing, or the services that I should be offering.”
Sok began her business as a side hustle, training clients at their homes. As the business grew, Sok said she knew she needed a brick-and-mortar location. A commercial real estate firm took a chance
Woman of Distinction Nominees:
■ Bari S. Holmes, founder and solution creator, Pivotal PMG
■ Debbie Emery, cofounder/CSO, Juvo Jobs
■ Barbara J. Johnson, dean, Perimeter College at Georgia State University
■ Dr. Mojgan Zare, CEO, Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition
■ Emily Ritzler, southeast regional planning lead/SVP, WSP in the US
■ Gloriaellis (Gloria) Mattei, owner, Nothing Bundt Cakes, AlpharettaMilton/Buckhead/Sandy Springs
■ Jan Paul, community activist, retired
■ Jill Post, owner/aesthetician, Face Haven
■ Julie-Ann Reid, property manager of Ravinia Property Owners Association, Hines
■ Katie Prellwitz, founder and CEO, Leverage Communications
■ Lauren Marlow, CEO, Speechworks
■ Lauren Sok, founder, Functionize Health & Physical Therapy
■ Lauren Adams, commercial sales manager, Certapro Painters of Dunwoody
■ Leandra Mabry, group sales manager, Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center
■ Natalie DeLancey, executive director, City Springs Theatre Company
By Bob Pepalis
A coffee shop will open in the Williams-Payne House next summer through a lease approved on Oct. 21 by Sandy Springs.
Economic Development Director Chris Burnett told the Sandy Springs City Council that Summit Coffee will operate as a food, beverage, and events facility. During its 10-year lease, the business will pay the city $528,066, with options for two five-year extensions.
The restored 1869 two-story farmhouse, formerly home to the Heritage Sandy Springs Museum, has been vacant since the onset of COVID. The property is adjacent to the Heritage Sandy Springs Amphitheatre and event lawn.
Summit Coffee plans to operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days per week. It will sell traditional and specialty coffee, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, alcoholic beverages, and ice cream by Summit Creamery, its outdoor ice cream shop.
The Shopping Center Group represented the city to market the property and helped identify potential tenants. Burnett said the city will not provide any tenant finish funding, which reduced the number of potential tenants.
Burnett said the business has ties to Sandy Springs as its general manager, Adam Scott, and his partner, Michael Anna, are city residents.
Renovation of the building is expected to take six months with a target opening date around June 1, 2026.
Burnett said staff proposed giving Summit a 12-month rental abatement, as no retail establishment is located in that
area of Sandy Springs Circle yet. Also, extensive construction will be ongoing across the street with the Hillcrest mixed-use development, which could create traffic and parking challenges.
Staff have talked with Scott about the importance of the ties that local organizations, such as garden clubs and the Sandy Springs Society, have with the Williams-Payne House. Heritage Sandy Springs operated a museum in the house, but the organization disbanded in 2021 after 35 years.
Burnett said if the city has any events or groups have received permits to use the green space behind the house, then Summit Coffee would need to be respectful and not have events there.
“But if the park is not being used, they could come to the city like any group would, and request to have us issue a use permit for them to use that. And we’ve talked about, for example, having a guitar player on the gazebo and having chairs set up there in the green space, and they would manage that process,” Burnett said.
The city will provide basic landscape services. Summit will handle any heavy plantings or work with the North Fulton Master Gardeners, which currently maintains the plantings at the house.
Summit Coffee, which was founded in 1988, operates 21 cafés across the Southeast. It began its small-batch roasting, sustainability practices, and community-oriented approach at its flagship location in Davidson, North Carolina. Summit Coffee offers live music, maker markets, wine tastings, and community workshops.
By Stephanie Toone
A lack of accountability, transparency and competency has marred DeKalb County School District’s reputation well before the appointment of former superintendent Devon Q. Horton, according to a group of Smoke Rise Elementary parents.
Parents at the Tucker-area elementary school, which is the zoned school for Horton’s children, have created an online community, Connecting the Dots, to shed light on what the parents consider continued missteps by the school system’s board, with the recent federal indictment and resignation of Horton only being a symptom.
Jeannette Fusia, whose daughter attends Smoke Rise Elementary, is one of the organizers of Connecting the Dots, created just days after Horton was indicted on fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion charges. The community has garnered more than 600 followers in less than two weeks.
“There’s a systemic failure in the governance and accountability of that board. This change in leadership is going
to be necessary to restore trust to the public,” Fusia told Rough Draft Atlanta.
“I know that Deirdre Pierce said that she’s maintaining public trust. Let me be very clear: the public does not trust this district.”
Ashley Johnson, a Smoke Rise Elementary parent, helped start Connecting the Dots, which is named after one of the LLCs mentioned in Horton’s indictment. She once served on Smoke Rise’s principal advisory council.
At Smoke Rise, Johnson said she noticed issues with leadership making accusations of misuse of funds by parents. In a document revealing those accusations, the names of the parents were not redacted, Johnson said. A “third-party” report eventually exonerated those parents.
Though then-principal Pamela McCloud apologized to the council privately for exposing the names of parents who allegedly were misusing money, there was no public apology to the parents or the council regarding the accusations. McCloud later left Smoke Rise and became DCSD’s director of organizational effectiveness.
Jennifer Caracciolo, DeKalb County Schools interim, chief of community engagement and innovative partnerships, confirmed that McCloud was formerly principal at Smoke Rise.
“As for the allegations, I do not have information to share at this time,” Caracciolo told Rough Draft Atlanta.
“It’s like they just double down on everything, like, just move along, nothing to see,” Johnson said. “Even with this situation [Horton’s resignation], there’s not a, ‘Hey guys, we messed up with this one. We got it wrong here.’ If you’re not willing to do that, if you’re not willing to just say, ‘Hey, our bad, we made a mistake,’ then I don’t feel like you’re equipped to have this job.”
Beyond her own frustrations at Smoke Rise, Johnson wants the Connecting the Dots movement to bring the focus back on students, not “executive summaries and creating PowerPoints.” DeKalb County currently has 44 schools on the Georgia Promise list, which are schools that are among the lowest-performing 25 percent of Georgia’s public schools.
Lauren Taylor, whose son formerly attended DCSD schools, said she wants the Facebook page to inform parents who are unaware of issues with the current administration, ongoing issues with lawsuits against the district and the revolving door of superintendents. Taylor served on Horton’s Superintendent Advisory Council in 2024, which was one of many instances that led to her losing trust in the district.
“It was pitched as a feel-good engagement story,” said Taylor. “We never asked to be on this panel, but we were handpicked to help Dr. Horton with a broad scope of issues with the district. [Turns out] Horton was profiling us. We were vocal parents. He was trying to contain us.”
The next step for DeKalb schools, in the group’s opinion, is replacing the current school board, Fusia said. With six superintendents in the last 10 years, she and other parents are hoping Horton’s indictment will be the last straw.
“The board has made repeated missteps and this recent situation has kind of forced their hand to select a leader who, I believe and a lot of teachers I believe would agree, generally prioritizes the students, the teachers and the broader community,” Fusia said. “Dr. Sauce – I think he exemplifies these values, and I think he’s highly deserving of the role.”
Several DeKalb County school board members were contacted about the parent response to Horton’s resignation. Whitney McGinnis, DeKalb County school board member for District 2, was the only one who responded with “no comment.”
By Stephanie Toone
Residents reviewed a laundry list of improvements to lighting, bike lanes, sidewalks, and more planned for some of Tucker’s major thoroughfares during an Oct. 21 meeting at Tucker City Hall.
More than 30 residents and city officials gathered for the final public information meeting on the Tucker Connects Transportation and Trails Master Plan, which offers proposals and a prioritized list of projects for the major intersections of Hugh Howell Road, Lavista Road and several neighborhoods throughout the city.
The meeting also included a review of findings from the Revive L29 Lawrenceville Highway Access Management and Beautification Study. The beautification plan includes 20 projected enhancements along Lawrenceville Highway, like landscaping and improvements to driveway aprons near the intersection of Brockett and Hugh Howell roads and multiple sidewalk, ramp and leveling improvements near Idlewood and Brockett roads.
“It would be nice to have that all walking and cycling only, since they shut it down so often on the weekend anyway. Make it a better, safer place for everybody.”
Safety was also at the forefront for Adam Manchester, who runs the social media page Tucker by Bike. The statistics shared about bicycle crashes in Tucker proves the need for Tucker Connects and L29, Manchester said.
“I’ve seen so many people getting hit, and seeing the numbers – 46 bicycle crashes – that’s a lot,” he said. “It’s been a long, hard road to get here, but I’m really looking forward to a lot of this stuff being done to have more walkable experiences, vibrancy for younger families.”
More than 200 respondents chimed in on the dozens of operational, sidewalk, and capacity projects suggested for Tucker transportation and trails, said Kat Onore, planning operations director for Pond, the engineering and architecture firm behind the plan. Traffic congestion was the leading issue for respondents, with overall safety coming in second, and walking and biking improvements ranking third.
The Idlewood updates were of particular concern to Kevin Melvin, a cyclist who has called Tucker home since the late 1980’s. He’s experienced a number of flat tires as result of debris in the bike lanes. The unkempt bike lanes lead to more cyclists riding in car lanes, he said.
Melvin said he joined Tuesday’s meeting to ensure improvements for cyclists and Tucker’s primary downtown vein were planned.
“I would like to see them shut down Main Street permanently,” Melvin said.
“They want trails. They want sidewalks. They want it to be safer,” Onore said. “Our next step is really to take [the feedback] and start sorting them into short, medium and long-term plans. We’ll essentially take as many of the highest scoring projects as we can within how much money is available for the first phase of projects, which is about five years out.”
The full draft of both plans will be presented online in November, and the council will vote on the plans in coming months, Onore said.
With Revive L29 and Tucker Connects, the community has the chance to offer feedback and see the economic benefits of the potential changes, said District 3’s council member Alexis Weaver. The L29 plan will also provide the city with continuity with the planned changes to Lawrenceville Highway proposed throughout all of the city’s districts.
“I think it’s really good in that it gives us a prioritizing mechanism and some criteria,” Weaver said Tuesday. “So when we’re having to make hard decisions, we can say, hey, there’s like an economic case to make, but there’s also a case for those who want more activity and quality of life. This is also going to help us complete our projects faster.”
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at Tucker City Hall, 1975 Lakeside Pkwy, Ste 350B, Tucker, GA 30084
• NOVEMBER 1
• 2:30 P.M. KICKOFF TO TUCKER TEN YEAR CELEBRATION Church Street Greenspace
• 3:30 P.M. UGA GAME-WATCHING PARTY - GA. VS FL. Church Street Greenspace
• 7:30 P.M. MICHELLE MALONE CONCERT Church Street Greenspace
• NOVEMBER 3
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - 4:30 P.M.
• NOVEMBER 4.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS - 7 P.M
• NOVEMBER 10
CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 7 P.M
• NOVEMBER 11
CITY BUILDINGS CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY
• NOVEMBER 14
TUCKER TOWN GREEN GRAND OPENING 4226 Railroad Avenue 4-7 P.M.
• NOVEMBER 15 CAMPFIRE & COCKTAILS 5-8 P.M.
Kelley Cofer Peach Pit
• NOVEMBER 20 PLANNING COMMISSION - 7 P.M
• NOVEMBER 24
MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 7 P.M
• NOVEMBER 27-28
CITY BUILDINGS CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF THANKSGIVING
By Beth McKibben
Thanksgiving takes place on Thursday, Nov. 27, and restaurants around Atlanta are preparing feasts with all the trimmings to celebrate.
Looking to dine out on Thanksgiving Day? Several restaurants around Metro Atlanta plan to serve special holiday menus or offer bountiful buffets with carving stations and seafood towers. For people gathering at home, let a local restaurant do the cooking, from just the turkey, sides, and desserts to a whole Thanksgiving feast with wine pairings.
Take a peek at opentable.com and Resy. com for a more comprehensive list of Metro Atlanta restaurants open for lunch and dinner on Thanksgiving Day.
Atlanta/Chamblee/Vinings
101 Steak
A celebratory feast will be shared with friends and family on Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at 101 Steak in Vinings. For more information, visit 101steakatl.com.
The Americano
This Thanksgiving, The Americano in Buckhead features porchetta-brined roast turkey with pancetta chestnut stuffing, along with pasta and family-style side dishes. Thanksgiving dinner kicks off at 12 p.m. Reservations are highly encouraged.
The Betty
The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel restaurant in Buckhead will serve a three-course Thanksgiving supper on Nov. 27, from 4-8 p.m., starting at $65 per person. Reservations are highly encouraged.
Castellucci Hospitality Group
The Castellucci Hospitality Group will once again offer its “One Click” Thanksgiving meal package. For $350, receive a whole, uncooked turkey, several sides, gravy, Parker House rolls, and dessert. People can also order sides, turkey, and a Basque pumpkin pie cheesecake separately. Pick up orders at Double Zero in Atlanta or The Iberian Pig in Buckhead.
The Colonnade
The nearly century-old Southern restaurant on Cheshire Bridge will be open for service on Thanksgiving Day. The last time The Colonnade hosted Thanksgiving, it doled out 2,400 pounds of turkey. Check Instagram for menu updates and hours.
DBA Barbecue
The Chastain location of DBA will offer smoked turkeys, Thanksgiving meal packages, and classic side dishes for takeout. Order online to pick up by Nov. 26.
Davio’s
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Buckhead will serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, along with holiday desserts, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Nov. 27. Adults are $85, while meals for children are $35. The restaurant will also serve a “Tomorrow’s Turkey Sandwich” for $19.
Reservations are highly encouraged. The regular dinner menu will be available.
Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta
Brasserie Margot and Bar Margot in Midtown will host a Thanksgiving brunch on Nov. 27, starting at 11 a.m. The meal features carving and risotto stations, seafood towers, traditional sides, breads, and desserts for $168 per adult or $82.50 per child. Reservations required.
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
Order smoked turkey or ham, gravy, and sides like sweet potato casserole and cornbread dressing, along with pecan or apple pie for dessert, from Fox Bros. BarB-Q. Thanksgiving meal packages start at $180. Pick up Nov. 24-26.
Frazie’s Meat & Market
and Southern Belle
Frazie’s Meat & Market in Riverside will team up with Chef Joey Ward’s Southern Belle this year for an Eastside-meets-Westside Thanksgiving collaboration. Expect smoked turkey from Frazie’s paired with holiday sides from Southern Belle. People can pick up their Thanksgiving meal at either Frazie’s in Riverside or at Southern Belle in PonceyHighland. Email michelle@southernbelleatl. com to order.
JenChan’s
The Cabbagetown restaurant will offer individual Thanksgiving dinners, whole turkeys, pies, and a variety of traditional and Chinese side dishes, including dumplings, to pick up on Nov. 26. Check out the menu. Order online.
South City Kitchen
Locations of the Southern restaurant in Buckhead, Midtown, and Vinings will offer a three-course Thanksgiving menu, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations highly encouraged. $79 per adult or $39 per child. For $155, South City Kitchen will also offer take-and-bake Thanksgiving meals feeding up to four people that come with roasted sliced turkey or braised short ribs, green salad, biscuits and corn muffins, and pumpkin pie. Order online to pick up in Buckhead, Midtown, or Vinings.
St. Regis Hotel
The Buckhead luxury hotel will serve a fourcourse tasting menu on Nov. 27, from 2-4 p.m. Reservations are prepaid ($75 to $165 per person) and required.
Star Provisions
Star Provisions will offer a trio of turkey options, including whole birds for roasting. The Blandtown restaurant and market will also offer a selection of holiday side dishes, along with pies. Order online to pick up by Nov. 26.
Sweet Auburn Barbecue
The Poncey-Highland barbecue restaurant will offer smoked turkeys and sides like Jamaican collards, smoked bacon lima beans, and wokfried green beans for Thanksgiving. Order online to pick up on Nov. 26.
Tio Lucho’s
The Peruvian restaurant in Poncey-Highland will offer smoked, spatchcocked turkeys, along with tamales, collard greens, yeast rolls with chicha butter, aji verde, and arroz árabe (jasmine rice with bacon, vegetables, and fried vermicelli noodles). Expect bread pudding for dessert. The $250 Thanksgiving feast feeds eight people. Order online to pick up on Nov. 26.
The Waldorf Astoria
Head to the Astor Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria in Buckhead on Nov. 27 for an extravagant Thanksgiving buffet filled with carving stations, holiday side dishes, chilled seafood, and desserts. Reservations required. $210 per adult or $96 per child under 12.
A Thanksgiving spread with turkey, brussels sprouts, cranberry relish, sweet potato puree, and mashed potatoes.
Avondale Estates/Decatur/Tucker
Magnolia Room
The Tucker Southern restaurant will open for dine-in service on Thanksgiving Day, starting at 11 a.m. Magnolia Room will also offer Thanksgiving family meals, sides, and desserts for takeout. Preorder online to pick up at the restaurant.
Matthews Cafeteria
Matthews Cafeteria in Tucker will open for service at 7 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and offer a Southern-style Thanksgiving dinner for takeout. Preorder online to pick up.
Pine Street Market
Avondale Estates butcher shop Pine Street Market will sell herb-roasted turkey breasts, holiday hams, prime rib, and other meaty entrees for Thanksgiving. Pre-orders go live online Nov. 1.
Brookhaven/Doraville/Dunwoody/ Sandy Springs
Dixie Q
The Brookhaven barbecue restaurant will offer its smoked turkey by the half pound or pound, along with side dishes to pick up the week of Thanksgiving.
Fleming’s
Opt for Thanksgiving dinner at Fleming’s in Dunwoody to include filet mignon, prime rib, or herb-roasted turkey, along with a starter and side, for $59 per adult or $22 per child. A Thanksgiving catering menu is also available.
il Giallo Osteria & Bar
The Sandy Springs Italian restaurant will offer a Thanksgiving dinner package feeding up to 10 people this year to include a brined turkey, side dishes, and apple pie. Order the $249 dinner package online to pick up on Nov. 26. Take a look at the menu here.
Joey D’s Oak Room
The popular Dunwoody restaurant will serve a classic Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 27, available for both dine-in service and takeout. Thanksgiving Day dinner at the restaurant is $34 per adult or $17 per child. A Thanksgiving family meal for takeout is $130 and feeds four people. Reservations highly encouraged for dine-in service. Preorder family meals here.
Petite Violette
The French restaurant in Brookhaven will feature a special Thanksgiving Day menu. Follow on Instagram for updates and reservation details.
The Select
The Sandy Springs restaurant will offer both dine-in and takeout service for Thanksgiving on Nov. 27. At the restaurant, dine on a three-course Thanksgiving feast with dessert, from noon-6 p.m., for $89 per adult or $39 per child. People can also order Thanksgiving family meals for takeout to include turkey, carrot soup, traditional holiday sides, rolls, and dessert. To-go dinners range between $95 for two people to $370 for eight people. Reserve a seat or pre-order dinner to pick up at The Select.
More Metro Atlanta Restaurants
Castellucci Hospitality Group
The Castellucci Hospitality Group will once again offer its “One Click” Thanksgiving meal package. For $350, receive a whole, uncooked turkey, several sides, gravy, Parker House rolls, and dessert. People can also order sides, turkey, and a Basque pumpkin pie cheesecake separately. Pick up orders at Sugo in Johns Creek.
L’Antoinette French Restaurant
The Crabapple restaurant will offer a Thanksgiving dinner package feeding up to 10 people this year to include a brined turkey, side dishes, and apple pie. Order the $249 dinner package online to pick up on Nov. 26. Take a look at the menu here.
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails
Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in Crabapple will offer Thanksgiving family meals and side packages this year. Order just the turkey and sides, or splurge on a whole Thanksgiving feast feeding up to six people that includes the turkey with all the trimmings. Order online to pick up on Nov. 26.
By Collin Kelley
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.
Cirque du Soleil: Luzia
The big striped tent will return to Atlantic Sation Nov. 6 to Dec. 14 as Cirque du Soleil presents “Luzia.” This aerial acrobatic performance chronicles the encounters of a traveler who parachutes into a dreamlike version of Mexico and meets a mystifying menagerie of characters along the way. Get tickets at cirquedusoleil.com.
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is hosting the 15th annual “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights” Nov. 15 to Jan. 11. The grounds will be illuminated with thousands of lights, while the tree sculptures from this summer’s “Enchanted Trees by Poetic Kinetics” will be incorporated into the show. Tickets usually sell out fast, so get yours at atlantabg.org.
Light Up the Season at Piedmont Park
The Piedmont Park Conservancy will host this special event on Sunday, Nov. 23, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in The Meadow as the park's Great Tree, Menorah, and Kinara are illuminated. The event also encourages guests to donate food, books, and pajamas to support local families in need. Get more information at piedmontpark.org.
Center for Puppetry Arts
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” soars back into the Midtown venue from Nov. 12 to Dec. 28 with a puppet version of the classic stop-motion animation TV special from 1964. Tickets, which also include a create-a-puppet workshop, can be purchased at puppet.org.
Atlanta Shakespeare Company
If you’ve been grooving to Taylor Swift’s hit single, “The Fate of Ophelia,” Atlanta
Shakespeare Company is offering an opportunity to see where the literary reference originated – The Bard’s “Hamlet” – Nov. 8-30 at Shakespeare Tavern. Tickets available at shakespearetavern.com.
Fox Theatre
The Fox Theatre is hosting its second annual Foxgiving Feast on Nov. 20 – a chef-curated, Thanksgiving-inspired menu and complimentary wine and sherry tastings from Olé & Obrigado. And if “Luzia” isn’t enough Cirque du Soleil for you, the onenight only “Magical Cirque Christmas” hits the Fox stage on Nov. 23. Tickets for both events are available at foxtheatre.org.
Atlanta Opera
The company is hosting a one-night screening of Jean Cocteau’s “La Belle et La Bete” with the soundtrack replaced by an opera score created by Philip Glass on Nov. 15 and will stage Verdi’s classic “La Traviata” Nov. 8-16 – both at the Cobb Energy Centre. Tickets at atlantaopera.org.
Santa at Rhodes Hall
The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation will be hosting Santa at historic Rhodes Hall in Midtown from Nov. 22 to Dec. 14. Tickets are $60 and include a photo with Santa. Reservations are already filling up fast! Make yours at georgiatrust.org.
“A Christmas Carol” at Alliance Theater
The classic stage production of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” runs Nov. 14 to Dec. 24 on the Coca-Cola Stage. Tickets start at $31 at alliancetheatre.org.
ILLUMINIGHTS at Zoo Atlanta
Hundreds of wildlife-inspired lanterns will decorate Zoo Atlanta for its annual holiday light display Nov. 21 to Jan. 16. Tickets do sell out, so reserve in advance at zooatlanta. org.
Broadway star Jessica Vosk performs her holiday-themed show “Sleigh” at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. Get tickets at sandyspringspac.com.
Fernbank Museum
WildWoods: AGLOW returns Nov. 14 to Feb. 28 with a nighttime, multi-sensory immersion in the forest around the museum with interactive tulip poplar pod, projections of nocturnal wildlife, glowing native plant species, larger-than-life incandescent mushrooms and more. Tickets available at fernbankmuseum.org.
Dave Koz & Friends
Koz and Co. are on their annual Christmas tour, which drops in at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on Friday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. Get tickets at cobbenergycentre. com.
Atlanta Christkindl Market
Experience a hybrid modern-day Christmas celebration and German festivities as the annual market moves to the Lawrenceville
Lawn from Nov. 28 to Dec. 24. There are handcrafted goods, entertainment, food and more. Admission is free, and more information can be found at christkindlmarket.org.
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center’s Winter House
From Nov. 29 to Dec. 14, Callanwolde will feature an artist market, live music, historic tours, photos with Santa, and more holiday activities. A dozen holiday art workshops will be offered, including ornament and wreath making. Get more details at callanwolde.org/ winterhouse.
Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The ASO is kicking off the holidays with a live stage version of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on Nov. 23 and singer Cody Fry gives a holiday concert on Nov. 25. Even more is planned in December with the “Deck the Halls” family concert (Dec. 7), Christmas with Trisha Yearwood (Dec. 10), and Christmas with the ASO (Dec. 11-14). Get tickets and information at aso.org.
By Collin Kelley
The Atlanta Board of Education is expected to host a first reading of a longrange plan that could include school closures, consolidations, expansions, and redistricting.
The meeting is set for Nov. 5 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Atlanta Public Schools’ Center for Learning and Leadership (CLL), 130 Trinity Ave. SW.
In early October, APS released a series of “refined scenarios” for its long-range plan, APS Forward 2040.
According to the press release, these refined scenarios are the “product of data, analysis, and thousands of voices from our community.”
“They reflect the district’s ongoing effort to balance enrollment, expand access to academic programs, and reinvest in schools that have historically been overlooked,” the press release said.
Some of the proposals in the refined scenarios include:
■ Repurpose KIPP Soul Primary.
■ Combine Finch Elementary and Perkerson Elementary at a converted Sylvan Hills Middle School facility.
■ Perkerson, Finch, and Gideons Elementary Schools would join the Washington Cluster.
■ Slater Elementary and Price Middle School proposed to join the South Atlanta Cluster.
■ Hollis Innovation Academy proposed to remain a K–8 school instead of converting to K–5.
■ School of the Arts at Carver campus would expand to become a 6–12 district-wide school with preference given to students in the current Carver Cluster.
■ Carver Early College would become 9-12 district-wide school with preference given to students in the current Carver Cluster.
Many parents pushed back on the initial scenarios, even forming community groups to organize against the long-range plans. The press release from APS said “nothing is final” as it continues to collect public feedback.
“Scenarios will continue to change and evolve as APS listens to families and communities before making any recommendations to the Board of Education as a first read in November,” the press release said.
APS said it has received over 7,000 survey responses, collected hours of community feedback, and received comments through the website.
The scenarios and other materials are available at atlantapublicschools.us/aps2040.
By Cathy Cobbs and Stephanie Toone
Devon Q. Horton, the former superintendent of DeKalb County School District, pleaded not guilty Thursday, Oct. 23 to 17 felony counts of wire fraud, tax evasion, and embezzlement in connection to an alleged kickback plan while serving as superintendent of the Evanston Skokie District 65 District, Joseph Fitzpatrick, spokesman for the Assistant U.S. Attorney in Illinois told Rough Draft Atlanta.
Horton was joined in court by codefendants Samuel Ross and Alfonzo Lewis, who were also charged in connection with the scheme. Both also pleaded not guilty on four counts each of wire fraud/honest services fraud, according to a report by the Evanston RoundTable.
Antonio Ross, the fourth defendant, was scheduled for a hearing in early November.
Horton’s attorney, Terence Campbell, wrote in a statement obtained by the Evanston RoundTable, that Horton tackled “tough issues under difficult circumstances.”
“The truth is,” Campbell wrote, “his leadership bettered the school system for the children and families of District 65. Dr. Horton is eager to address his case in court and is glad that the process has now begun.”
Between 2021 and 2023, the 37-page indictment alleges that Horton accepted and approved contracts with business partners that he would financially benefit from, totaling more than $85,000 in kickbacks.
The indictment claims Horton, along with three other co-conspirators – Antonoio Ross, Samuel Ross, and Lewis – took kickbacks from businesses they owned that were under contract with District 65 and Chicago Public Schools (CPS), without disclosing their involvement or financial stake. The offenses, according to the indictment, occurred between 2020 and 2023.
The indictment alleges that each of the men owned businesses that “made materially false and fraudulent representations” to make it appear that Horton did not have a financial stake or involvement in the companies to which he awarded District 65 contracts.
“These representations were made, the
by Contemporanea Progetti in collaboration with the Regione Siciliana - Soprintendenza del Mare di Palermo, Italia (Italy).
indictment says,” to conceal the fact that Horton was receiving thousands of dollars in kickbacks from District 65 contracts he awarded to the companies.”
The Evanston RoundTable had also previously reported that Horton had charged moving expenses and a stay at a luxury resort after he had resigned from the 65 District to move to DeKalb. It reported that Horton had paid back a portion of the charges.
According to an announcement by District 65, officials were aware of the ongoing investigation and “fully supported the process.”
“We are deeply troubled and angered by these allegations,” the District 65 statement said. “Now that the federal government has formally indicted, the District is reviewing the specific details of the indictment with the District’s legal counsel. A more detailed statement will be forthcoming after we have had an opportunity to review the details of the indictment.”
The Evanston-Skokie School District 65, according to its website, is “a pre-K through 8th grade public school district serving
approximately 6,500 students from the City of Evanston and a small neighboring section of the Village of Skokie.”
DCSD comprises about 92,000 students across 138 schools. It is the third-largest district in the state of Georgia, behind Gwinnett and Cobb County. Horton was hired in 2023 to run the district.
The DeKalb County Board of Education voted 6-1 to accept Horton’s resignation in a closed executive session held Oct. 15. He will continue on paid leave until Nov. 15, according to Carla Parker, DeKalb County Schools spokeswoman.
A forensic audit will determine whether Horton, whose annual base salary as of July 2025 was $360,000, misused his DeKalb school system purchasing card.
“Given the recent federal indictment involving Dr. Horton related to his employment in a prior school district, the board believes this action is in the best interest of the DeKalb County School
District,” said Deidre Pierce, school board chair. “We recognize the seriousness of the situation and remain committed to transparency, accountability, and maintaining public trust.”
Some DeKalb County parents told Rough Draft Atlanta they have already lost trust in the district based, not only on hiring Horton, but the array of superintendents who have come and gone over the last 10 years.
“There’s a systemic failure in the governance and accountability of that board. This change in leadership is going to be necessary to restore trust to the public,” Smoke Rise Elementary parent Jeannette Fusia told Rough Draft Atlanta. “I know that Deirdre Pierce said that she’s maintaining public trust. Let me be very clear: the public does not trust this district.”
A status hearing for Horton is set for Dec. 4, Fitzpatrick said
By Katie Burkholder
A new map shows the first phase of The Stitch project over the Downtown Connector.
To kick off Downtown Day, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), a nonprofit community development organization, hosted a “State of Downtown” event on Oct. 22, sharing new data about the investments and future development of the city’s core.
Speakers included CAP President A.J. Robinson, Mayor Andre Dickens, CAP Senior Project Manager of Research and Impact Brianna Davison, and Emma
Bloomberg Professor in Residence of Urban Planning and Design Maurice Cox, who all shared insights into Downtown’s demographics, updates on projects like The Stitch, and visions of a new Downtown ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Key Findings of the State of Downtown Report:
■ Residential population: 34,041 (up 44 percent since 2010)
■ 54 percent Black, 31 percent white, six percent Asian, and nine percent other
■ Most residents (30 percent) are 15 to 24 years old
■ Most residents (around 20 percent) make less than $15,000 a year
■ Employment: more than 200,000 total jobs across 4,268 businesses
■ More than 200 small businesses
■ Resident spending: $139.4 million annually
CAP unveiled renderings for the retooled initial phase of The Stitch project, showcasing features of the ¾-mile platform above the I-75/85 connector, including a performance and shade pavilion, interactive water fountain with “fog forest” capabilities, a large playground, gardens,
and other social spaces.
Costs for the project will partially be funded by taxes from property owners in the Stitch Special Assessment District, approved by the Atlanta City Council in April. The project is projected to generate more than $9 million in economic value and bring 4,500 jobs to the city.
“North Downtown will no longer be the place that people just pass through. Instead, it’ll be a place where they live, work, and gather. This transformational investment is the missing piece that connects us between Midtown and Downtown,” Dickens said. “The vision also requires us to get the basics right, making daily life better for everyday people. That’s why we are reinvesting in the fundamental things that make neighborhoods safer and make them thrive, like access to fresh food and affordable housing, as well as safe and connected streets.”
The Stitch is one of development projects completed, under construction, or planned for the next five years that represent the $5.2 billion in total investment, according to CAP data. Other projects include Centennial Yards, the 50-acre urban revitalization project near Mercedes-Benz Stadium; the 10-block South Downtown redevelopment; the Georgia State University Campus Transformation; the redevelopment of the Georgia-Pacific Building; and the renovation of the former CNN Center. Development in the neighborhood from 2023 to 2030 will bring 7,100 residential units, 2,240 hotel rooms, 840 student housing beds, and a total of 1.7 million square feet of commercial space to Downtown.
By Collin Kelley
The Midtown Development Review Committee (DRC) reviewed a redevelopment plan for a student highrise proposed for the Cheetah Lounge property at its Oct. 14 meeting.
Developer Core Spaces wants to build the 27-story tower at 887 Spring St., which has been the home of the Cheetah Lounge strip club for nearly 40 years. The student-focused tower would contain 532 units including 1,407 bedrooms and 6,527 square feet of ground-floor retail space. There would also be a 119-space parking deck and three rooms dedicated to bicycle parking.
Current plans show an entrance-only driveway on Spring Street and a two-way
driveway along 8th Street for access to backof-house services.
Much of the DRC’s feedback related to the building’s north-facing orientation along 8th Street, including power lines, street trees, fencing, and the façade.
The DRC recommended burying power lines along 8th to improve aesthetics and allow for the planting of Southern Sugar Maple trees. The DRC also said a planned fence on 8th was prohibited by code and recommended a simple grass lawn area with low evergreen hedges.
Another recommendation was to extend the Spring Street facade to 8th Street to increase visual interest, along with some type of large artwork.
The committee also suggested increasing the capacity of bike storage, including offering space for heavy e-bikes and wider tire bikes.
By Collin Kelley
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined state Rep. Inga Willis, former state Sen. Jason Esteves, and members of the Atlanta Board of Education this week to urge residents to approve a homestead tax exemption benefiting seniors on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The proposal, known as Act 358, would exempt homeowners aged 65 and older from paying property taxes toward Atlanta Public Schools, offering financial relief amid rising living costs.
At a recent news conference, Willis said the measure was designed to ease anxiety for residents and provide meaningful support for older Atlantans.
“We know that things are tough, we know that things are hard,” Willis said. “But for our seniors, who should be in the most comfortable and comforted moment in their lives, I believe that this
is a step in the right direction. We are asking you to help us give our seniors relief.”
The exemption would allow qualifying seniors to claim $50,000 less
in assessed value on their homesteads, saving them up to $1,000 annually in property taxes, according to city officials.
Esteves, who authored the original version of the legislation before leaving the state Senate to run for governor, said the measure would help prevent seniors from being driven into financial hardship. “Atlanta is an example of how we can stand up and support our seniors,” he said.
The mayor called the exemption a way to give back to residents who built Atlanta and now live on fixed incomes. “It would be unconscionable for them to lose what they’ve worked for,” Dickens said. “Atlanta voters recognize how important this is, and I’m confident they will join us in standing with our seniors.”
The City of Atlanta, in partnership with Invest Atlanta, also recently announced the expansion of its Anti-
Displacement Tax Relief Program (ADTRP) citywide, following a successful 2024 pilot program.
Launched as a strategic response to rising housing costs, the program accepted 105 people last year and saved legacy residents $41,405 in property tax increases in 2024 alone. This represents a commitment of over $2.1 million in tax increases to be paid over the 20-year period, according to a press release from Invest Atlanta.
Backed by a $10 million commitment from private resources, including the Centennial Yards Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the program provides tax relief for eligible homeowners by covering any increase in property taxes above a base-year amount for up to 20 years, provided the homeowner continues to qualify.
By Maya Homan | Georgia Recorder
When Georgia’s State Election Board considered a proposal to recommend that state lawmakers ban no-excuse absentee voting early last year, the Republicandominated body shot it down, with then-newly appointed Chair John Fervier casting the deciding vote.
But in a Oct. 22 meeting in Atlanta, a trio of Trump-aligned board members successfully approved a similar proposal in a narrow 3-2 vote. The board will now officially recommend that the state Legislature end a practice that was adopted in Georgia back in 2005 when it reconvenes in January for the 2026 legislative session.
A record number of Georgians voted by mail-in ballot during the 2020 presidential election due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But in the years since, absentee voting has come under increased scrutiny from Trump and his supporters, who blamed his loss in 2020 on unfounded accusations of
rampant voting fraud.
Board member Janice Johnston, a GOP appointee who introduced the recommendation, said that absentee voting “should be the exception rather than the rule,” arguing that it poses a higher risk of voter fraud. She also appeared before a House “blue-ribbon” study committee on elections last week and urged them to end the practice, calling absentee voting “the biggest risk in the election system.”
Multiple investigations have found no evidence of widespread voting fraud in the 2020 election in Georgia despite widespread use of absentee voting.
“We cannot guarantee secrecy of the ballot if it is in someone’s home or in someone’s apartment foyer or in someone’s post office box,” she said during the board meeting. “We can do much better with protecting the voter and the ballot if they’re in the secure polling place.”
She also argued that Georgia’s threeweek early voting period makes absentee voting unnecessary.
President Donald Trump, who
previously praised Johnston and fellow board members Rick Jeffares and Janelle King as “pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory,” during a 2024 campaign rally, has also called for an end to mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
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.
Deadline for nominations is Nov 7, 2025
To submit nominations and photos to collin@roughdraftatlanta.com
But Fervier vehemently opposed the recommendation, arguing that restrictions on absentee ballot access would place an unnecessary burden on voters, particularly low-income voters.
“There are a lot of people out there that work seven days a week to feed their families, make ends meet — especially now — and restricting their access to absentee voting is not fair to those people,” Fervier said.
“When you have to earn a dollar every day to feed your family, you can’t take a day off to go vote,” he added.
Sara Tindall Ghazal, the only Democratic member of the board, also opposed the proposal, arguing that there wasn’t a clear reason to change the law and noting that absentee ballots only account for a small percentage of votes cast in Georgia. During the 2024 election, roughly 5 percent of voters cast an absentee ballot.
“I find it ironic that, with the tremendous push for hand-marked paper ballots, that we’re actually trying to restrict access to the one lawful method of using hand-marked paper ballots,” she added.
The board also voted 3-1 to recommend that the Legislature limit the amount of time overseas and military voters have to return absentee ballots. Currently, ballots cast by Georgia voters who live overseas will be counted if they are received within three days of Election Day, so long as they are postmarked before the election. Johnston’s proposal recommends that the legislature only
count ballots from overseas voters that are received by 7 p.m. on election day.
New rulemaking process begins
The board also voted 2-0 to begin the rulemaking process for a bipartisan proposal that aims to clarify the circumstances under which voters can use paper ballots rather than ballot-marking devices.
The proposal, which would outline definitions for “impossible” and “impracticable” uses of voting equipment, was presented by Salleigh Grubbs, the first vice-chair of the Georgia GOP, and Jeanne Dufort, the chair of the Morgan County Democrats, who said that adding in definitions would help election officials better understand how to comply with state laws. They developed the language in the proposal alongside board members Jeffares and Ghazal, as well as election lawyer Bryan L. Sells, who did not respond to a request for comment.
“We don’t agree on much,” Dufort said. “But on this matter, we agree wholeheartedly, and that is that our election officials deserve certainty.”
However, Ghazal expressed concern about the proposal’s wording.
The language in the proposed rule, she said, “goes beyond the scope of what the legislature intended to consider impossible and impractical, which I see as unexpected circumstances that arise fairly suddenly.”
Ghazal abstained from voting on the measure.
The proposed rule is now open for a mandatory 30-day public comment period, meaning that board members can’t move forward with the rule during their next two meetings, scheduled for Nov. 7 and Nov. 12, respectively. The next meeting where the board could take action on the proposed rule is set for December.
