Skyline Shines Brighter
The Jackson Street Bridge project will improve the walkability and bike riding experience for both residents and visitors to the popular photo, selfie, and social media location. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The best view in the city is going to get better
By DONNELL SUGGS
The iconic Atlanta skyline photo, which is seen on television, social media accounts, and in books and magazines, will receive a little more attention this year and next as part of the Jackson Street Bridge project.
On Tuesday morning, Atlanta City Councilmembers, Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT), Atlanta Downtown Improvement District personnel, and residents of the city’s Fifth District took seats on the Jackson Street Bridge for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. There wasn’t an actual ribbon to cut, but a ceremonial dirt toss, complete with people wearing hard hats and handling shovels, took place.
The celebration was for the Jackson Street Bridge project, which, according to those who spoke during the ceremony, will improve the experience of taking in one of the best views of the city.
The Jackson Street Bridge project will include improvements to the bike lanes, additional pedestrian walking space, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant sidewalk ramps, and repavement of the asphalt
Along with Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari (District 5), City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks, Atlanta Department of Transportation Commissioner Solomon Caviness, and Central Atlanta Progress President AJ Robinson all spoke about the project and what it took to get it off the ground and to the point of initiation.
“I often wondered why this spot?” Robinson, who is a longtime Atlanta resident, said. “This picture is used by many people for weddings, branding purposes, etc. What this skyline speaks to is that it’s really an inspiring place.”
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just a year away, the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens have ramped up infrastructural improvements around the city. For many, this rush to clean up before company, both foreign and domestic, arrives feels reminiscent of the years after the City of Atlanta was awarded the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in 1990.
The popularity and mass use of the Atlanta Beltline, which has an entrance/exit right onto the Jackson Street Bridge, also makes the scenic spot a target area for improvements.
Burks, who gave the opening remarks, said construction on the bridge improve
not give a specific date.
“The Dickens administration is focusing on moving projects like this forward,” Burks said. “This is one of those projects where everyone plays a part,” she said.
During her comments, Burks also thanked the leadership within the Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) M for their contributions to the project.
That NPU is within Bakhtiari’s district, and she, too, thanked the people sitting
ATLDOT was “running ragged” trying to prep the city for all the visitors expected to touch down in a year.
“Now I get to say, as the councilmember in this district, that I got to work with the city on getting this done,” she said.
Caviness called the bridge “vital” to the city’s residents and visitors, and added that the pseudo ribbon cutting will be “an iconic moment that we all will look back on.”
“I see folks here that use this bridge, and this
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Jackson Street Bridge project took place on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Members of the Atlanta City Council, ATLDOT, and ADID were in attendance. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
City of Atlanta Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks (above ) credited Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) M for championing the Jackson Street Bridge project “from a community perspective.”
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Atlanta Airport among top performers in on-time arrivals
By TABIUS MCCOy Report for America Corp
It is the height of the summer season, and for many across the nation, this is a busy season for traveling. Whether it be for a family vacation, girls’ trip, a friend’s wedding, or simply a solo expedition, one will more than likely find themselves traveling through an airport sometime this summer.
But nothing spoils a much-anticipated trip more than a flight delay.
Fortunately for travelers globally traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, there’s good news.
In recent data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Atlanta ranked No. 5 nationally for on-time arrivals, with flights
arriving on time 82.8% of the time and having a rather low cancellation rate at 17.17%, ranking 53rd out of major national airports.
Hartsfield’s success is a respectable feat considering its busyness. Since the late ’90s, historical data from Airports Council International has ranked Hartsfield-Jackson as the busiest airport in the world, with the exception of 2020. In 2024, the airport had more than 108 million passengers, marking its second-busiest year ever, right behind 2019.
Every day, more than 2,100 flights depart in and out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. So, whether you are on a connecting flight and passing through the city on a layover or flying back home to Atlanta, you can be sure to have some dependability in your travel plans.
Every day, more than 2,100 flights depart in and out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Photo by Isaiah Singelton/The Atlanta Voice
In recent data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Atlanta ranked No. 5 nationally for on-time arrivals, with flights arriving on time 82.8% of the time and having a rather low cancellation rate at 17.17%, ranking 53rd out of major national airports. Photo by Isaiah Singelton/The Atlanta Voice
Voices
What Is Artificial Intelligence Doing to Our Environment?
By MCKENZIE GREEN
What?!?! I exclaim in amazement. ChatGPT isn’t an all knowing omnipotent being that can just reach into the internet at will? No. Well, yes– on the internet part– no, on the “omnipotent” bit. Artificial intelligence (AI), like ChatGPT is not an intangible being, it’s a computer; stored in buildings called data centers worldwide. Every second these centers process AI commands, streaming services and water.
Wait–what? Yes, water.
These AI servers and computer data centers are guzzling water, but what do they need it for? At these data centers, high-speed data exchange processing and algorithms are run every minute.
All of this processing causes immense heat to be released. And just like your clunky 2010 MacBook, these data center computers do not like to be hot. But unlike your MacBook, these computers require more than just a noisy fan. In addition to fans, data centers use water to cool the surrounding air through an evaporating cooling system.
Alright, so the computers need a little swig of water. What’s the big issue? Data centers like the ones used for Google services consume an average of 550,000 gallons of water per day. That’s the big issue.
By 2027, annual global AI water consumption is predicted to reach between 4.2 billion to 6.6 billion cubic meters. That’s the big issue. As of right now, there are around 25 countries that are suffering from water scarcity. The amount of water used in a data center per day could be consumed by around 4,200 people. Dehydrated families wondering when their next drink will be while in the next town over hundreds of thousands of gallons
This
discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on the environment. (Courtesy Photo)
of water are being consumed by computers. And you guessed it–that’s the big issue. Not only are these data centers water-hoggers, but they are massive. That’s not a valid complaint, sure, an office building or large apartment could be comparable in size. But the issue is the size-to-power ratio. The boom in AI usage has these power-hungry data centers devouring megawatts in the 50 to 100 range. So while comparable in size to a large office building these centers are sucking up enough wattage to power somewhere between 25,000 to 50,000 homes.
I’m not sure about you, but that sounds like a valid complaint to me.
Oh, and did I mention they’re loud? The constant cooling and computational happening in these facilities can produce around 96 dB. This is comparable to that of the sound emitted from a city.
For the people living nearby, this could merely be an annoyance, not unlike a loud neighbor who blasts music 24/7…their buzzing, clicking, fan-blowing music. An annoyance really.
However, for those working in the facilities, prolonged exposure to this level of sound could cause hearing loss.
Now, I’ve gone on and on about these data centers and you may be thinking: there’s no way they were built solely for AI. And you’d be right. These facilities have been around for some time now, but what hasn’t been is AI like ChatGPT4 and ClaudeAI. With AI at most of the world’s fingertips, these data centers have been kicked into overdrive, processing significantly more data. The amount of energy that it takes to run and train these algorithms is much more intensive than what has traditionally been done at these centers. Think about it this way: The centers are like Texas…used to sunny temperatures and the occasional chill in the winter. Texas is not accustomed to heavy snowstorms. So, while Texas has had snowstorms before and can accommodate them, it’s not as prepared as a place like New York or Alaska. These data centers are being hit by snow storms, except they aren’t stopping or slowing down.
You could argue the “cons” are worth it because AI is saving lives in healthcare and advancing new technologies, but in reality, it’s just making mediocre upgrades and “streamlining processes.”
For many individuals, AI isn’t out there saving lives– it’s proofreading essays or writing emails.
To avoid sounding like every other environmental activist (which many will ultimately ignore–just look at the current state of our climate), I will not tell you to stop using AI. I will merely ask that you think about it.
Only 1.2 percent of Earth’s water can be used for drinking. What will you use it for today?
Hydration or a grammar check?
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer and not necessarily those of The Atlanta Voice
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McKenzie Green is a rising junior at Brown University, where she is working on a neuroscience and biochemistry degree.
week, she
AI like ChatGPT are guzzling water and heating up the planet. Photo Credit: iStock.com/Dongyu X
Spiritually Speaking: Rebel With A Cause
BY JAMES A. WASHINGTON The Atlanta Voice
Isaw something the other day that made me stop and think. “Jesus, Revolutionary!” It’s not the first time I’ve had the thought, and I believe I’ve written about it in the past. But what made this different was my understanding, or lack thereof, about just how radical Jesus was. What prompted the pause this time had to do with what we consider today revolutionary and what revolutionary might mean in terms of Christ today. More importantly, this made me think of revolution in terms of me and my faith walk. I mean a core teaching principle about life and death and the life of Jesus Chris is that He focused on substance, not style. We have come to know through Jesus that the outward act of prayer has little to do with the internal purpose of prayer. The literal and technical interpretation of God’s laws has little value if not filtered through the intent of God’s will. Jesus was executed because He challenged the rigid practice of the intellectual/literal enforcement of rules and regulations. He was crucified because He asked of those in charge, “Where’s
“Where’s the love and compassion in what you do?
the love and compassion in what you do?” To Jesus, the church hierarchy had little to do with the church’s purpose, and He challenged the hierarchy to forego practice for the purpose. As a follower of Christ, then, is it for a purpose? It is not our duty to be just as vigilant against law and o r d e r in today’s church. Shouldn’t we be concerned and active in the church that Jesus left behind? Are we about doctrine or duty? See, this is where that revolutionary stuff comes up. Duty based on faith and belief in the Almighty demands a particular action. Doctrine demands little more than an external demonstration of understanding the rules. Does that make it revolutionary to question the intent and effectiveness of a church’s Outreach Ministry instead of the choir’s budget? Does Jesus’ message demand that we reorder our thinking to go beyond church walls and deal with those we would otherwise think we’re
“YOUR VOICE”
better than, because we go to church every Sunday at the same time, in the same place, in the same seat?
A Sunday seat doesn’t necessarily mean a Sunday heart. Does this sound revolutionary to you? When you break it all down, the revolutionary part gets exposed when you look at who Jesus helped. When you look at the targets for the miracles, they were at times the lame and the lost, the poor and the blind, the wretched and the vile. Jesus Himself didn’t even fit the mold of who the church wanted to call King. He wasn’t kingly enough by the church’s interpretation of the rules and regulations, the definition of the king that it wanted. Jesus hung out with the wrong crowd, doing some terrible stuff, preaching some of the wall doctrine. Yeah, when He talked about forgiveness, that meant you being the forgiver, not the forgiven. The love He spoke about was that which you give, not
that which you receive. The same held for mercy and charity. I guess this was enough to get Him killed. The strange truth is that nothing will happen to you if you preach these principles today. If you practice these truths, you might fall prey to jealousy, envy, gossip, and death. You know you’re a revolutionary if anybody notices you challenging the status quo to do God’s will. Is anybody paying any attention to you these days? Let’s hope so, at least that Satan is. Let’s hope he’s heard of you doing things in the name of the Lord.
May God bless you and give you the strength to be His revolutionary today, in your chosen church.
This column is from James Washington’s Spiritually Speaking: Reflections for and from a New Christian. You can purchase this enlightening book on Amazon and start your journey toward spiritual enlightenment.
What are your thoughts on birthright citizenship?
Atlanta
“I think, like most countries around the globe, America established birthright citizenship as a natural right. It is incumbent upon any government, any leadership in America, to enforce that law as it stands constitutionally. However, the reality is this: if birthright citizenship is no longer the law of the land here in the United States, then we’ve got a whole list of people, some of whom are in high offices in the land, who need to be shipped out. And so, my opinion is that birthright citizens should stand regardless because again, we call this the land of the free. And the home of the brave, and I think it’s incumbent upon us to stick by that as American citizens.”
“My thoughts on birthright citizenship: If we really and truly break it down, none of us should be here because none of us is originally from here. I have Bajan (Barbadian) roots. So, if you took birthright out of that, I would be deported. But my challenge with the government is that people pick and choose what is truly the law versus being used as a suggestion. That’s my challenge.”
“I think that if someone is born here in the United States, they should be classified as a citizen, regardless of where their parents are from. They were born on this soil. They should be afforded all opportunities given to people living on this soil. However, I acknowledge that this administration is slowly and surely taking those rights away. So essentially, I agree with the dissenters, the Supreme Court justices who dissented, that it is an abuse of power, that people born here should be classified as U.S. Citizens, and allowing that not to be a classification is another step towards a racial divide.”
“I do believe in birthright citizenship because it is the law. It’s the Constitution, and I support the Constitution. So, to me, birthright citizenship is everybody’s right.”
“Yes, I believe in, if you’re born here in the United States or on any United States property, whether it’s an Air Force base, military base, or whatever, if you are born on any U.S. Soil, then you should be a U. S. Citizen. It doesn’t matter who your parents were or where they came from; if you are born here, you should be a U.S. Citizen. That’s what the law currently is, that’s what it should be, and there shouldn’t be any changes to that. That’s my opinion.”
Compiled by Vincent Christie
SEDRICK HAMNER College Park
CHRIS REID Atlanta
VINCE WHITE West End,
VENA CRITCHLOW East Point
BRETT JACKSON Stone Mountain
Camp HBCYouth Brings Field Day Fun to Atlanta Students
By NOAH WASHINGTON
Earlier this week, it’s AJ Terrell Jr. Day in the “A”.
Camp HBCYouth hosted its second annual field day on Thursday, July 3. The event brought together youth attending summer camps from multiple historically Black college and university campuses for a day of recreation and community building.
The event, held at the Morehouse football field, B.T. Harvey Stadium, featured students from Camp HBCYouth sites at Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. The day included traditional field day activities like tug-of-war and relay races, combined with football training sessions sponsored by the AJ Terrell Foundation.
“We want this to be the funnest day of the summer,” said Lauren Reed, Director of Marketing for Camp HBCYouth and a 2011 Spelman College graduate. “Today is all about fun.”
The camp serves rising kindergarteners through fifth graders and operates for six to seven weeks each summer. Reed said this year’s sessions were shortened due to construction on participating campuses.
Reagan Fresnel, co-founder and executive director of Camp HBCYouth and a 2018 Spelman graduate, said the program aims to create the same supportive environment she experienced in college for younger students.
“The HBCU values that were fully instilled in me at Spelman College of higher excellence and community and stewardship were things that really resonated with me,” Fresnel said. “We wanted to extend this type of experience to the younger generation and really start that pipeline sooner.”
For Fresnel, bringing the camp to Spelman represents a full-circle moment. The college has
not had youth programming sponsored through the school in more than 20 years, she said.
“So much pride, to be able to come back and support my alma mater and support the local community surrounding the school that did so much for me,” Fresnel said.
The camp employed HBCU students and graduates as counselors, providing them with workforce training and development opportunities. Reed said the staffing approach is intentional.
“We want them to be able to work with and look up to people who they can actually see themselves in,” Reed said. “So pulling HBCU students is just a small piece of the puzzle in this pipeline that we are trying to build to get Black youths to HBCUs.”
Skylar Sanford, a rising senior sociology major at Spelman working as a counselor, said she joined the program to combine her passion for mentorship with her interest in marketing and business.
“I really have a big passion for mentorship and just giving back to kids who just need a big sister or just any type of support,” Sanford said. “I’m just so excited to see their faces when they see the balloon bounce, and they see the water guns, and they’re just so happy to be here.”
The AJ Terrell Foundation, founded by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Aundell “AJ” Terrell Jr in his rookie year, has sponsored the camp’s health and wellness programming for two years. Terrell, who attended the field day event, said community involvement has been a priority since early in his career.
“It wasn’t even something that was hard to find or hard to want to do. It was kind of something that was super important to me,” Terrell said. “I don’t like to give back and be virtual. I like to be present, giving back so the kids can actually see and I can hear and give advice straight to them.”
Executive Director Ashley Cargle-Thompson
and Philanthropy & Programming Executive Tanisha Valliant-Irvin of the AJ Terrell Foundation said the partnership aligns with their mission to strengthen Atlanta through youth development.
“The primary part of our mission at the AJ Terrell Foundation is strengthening Atlanta through its greatest resource, which is the youth,” Thompson said. “Camp HBCYouth just has such an amazing concept for inner-city Atlanta youth.”
The foundation, which operates under the motto “say less, do more,” emphasizes direct community engagement rather than traditional philanthropic approaches.
“We really firmly believe that finding other organizations that are doing the work on the ground and supporting them, amplifying them, and ensuring that everyone’s pulling in the same direction,” Thompson said. “That’s when you really get to see the impact most clearly.”
Valliant-Irvin emphasized the foundation’s commitment to long-term impact in Atlanta.
“We don’t ever want to just show up for a year or two,” she said. “We want to be here, and we want to have a long, lasting legacy of his name, his vision, his impact in the community of Atlanta.”
Camp HBCYouth operates on the principle of creating safe spaces for minority youth while introducing them to HBCU culture and values. The program has expanded from its original site at Morgan State University in Baltimore to include Tennessee State University and the Atlanta University Center campuses.
The day’s other sponsors included Amazon Access and Kraft Heinz
Fresnel said the camp’s impact extends beyond the summer months, with parents reporting that children continue to support Terrell during the NFL season after meeting him at camp.
“All of the kids look up to him,” Fresnel said. “Our parents reach out to us, and like, AJ is my child’s favorite athlete now, all because of the experience of them meeting him at Camp HBCYouth.”
Terrell said he plans to continue expanding his foundation’s youth programming. While this field day represents the final camp event before the NFL season begins, he has additional events planned during the football season and anticipates 2026 being “a big year” for his foundation’s camping initiatives.
“Year in and year out, I just try to find different ways to give back to the youth,” Terrell said. “These are one of those that I want to keep going on and on and on.”
Atlanta Falcons cornerback and Westlake High School alum, AJ Terrell, Jr., also attended Camp HBCyouth. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Camp HBCyouth hosted its second annual field day Thursday, July 3, 2025. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Spelman College rising senior Skylar Sanford (above) sets up a water gun table during last week’s camp. Photo by Noah Washington/ The Atlanta Voice
Beulah | Actual patient
Shedding Light on Fibroids: Breaking the Silence for Black Women’s Health
By GRACE BARLOW DTU Intern
When Dr. Soyini Hawkins faced her own battle with uterine fibroids, she realized firsthand how limited and often confusing the treatment options could be.
“I had an open procedure. I had to be cut from waist to waist, and that recovery was hard,” Hawkins said. “This technology is out there that can treat these women in a very different way, with great outcomes. Why are we not given more of these options? So immediately I was drawn to that purpose behind my career to help women do better.”
That question became the driving force behind her career. Today, as a minimally invasive surgeon and founder of the Fibroid and Pelvic Wellness Center of Georgia in suburban Atlanta, which she started nearly a decade ago, Hawkins is dedicated to expanding treatment options for the many women who share her story.
“Immediately, I was drawn to that purpose behind my career: to help women do better,” she says. “I wanted to be extremely intentional about the way I took care of fibroids and especially for Black women, who it disproportionately affects, women who look like me and suffer like me.”
Affecting more than 70% of women worldwide, uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic tumors among women of reproductive age, with women of color facing higher rates and more severe cases
“The reason it can affect all women is because we all create estrogen and progesterone from our ovaries, and that’s what feeds fibroids to grow,” Hawkins said.
But for Black women, the risk and impacts are even greater.
“There are specific genes that are seen ancestrally … that are directly related, it seems like are directly related to fibroids too,” Hawkins said. “Our fibroids are bigger, we’re more symptomatic, we suffer for longer, some of that has to do with some of those disparities… racially, socioeconomically… and should not be overlooked.”
Despite how common fibroids are, many women don’t seek treatment until their symptoms are severe, often because of stigma, silence, and missed opportunities for early care.
“Some of it lies in education, just a understanding of what’s normal,” Hawkins said. She added that doctors also have a role to play: “From a medical community standpoint, I think we also could do a better job of catching this, of asking the right questions, of not downplaying the symptoms that women are coming in for … as soon as we sniff that something might not be normal.”
“I think fibroids are like every other disease; if we can catch it sooner, we can do more, and some of the more is just education and lifestyle modifications, ” said Dr. Soyini Hawkins. Photo submitted by Dr.
Hawkins hopes that more awareness and early action will shift fibroid care toward prevention and earlier treatment. “I would rather us move towards the next decade of dealing with this fibroid pandemic into where we’re treating it more like a preventable disease. We’re intervening before it becomes distressful and disastrous for some women’s lives.”
She believes that early detection is key. “I think fibroids are like every other disease in a sense that if we can catch it sooner, we can do more, and some of the more is just education and lifestyle modifications, ” she said.
For Hawkins, the goal is bigger than removing fibroids; it’s about reminding women, especially women of color, that they deserve to be seen, heard, and cared for without shame or delay.
“For a lot of women that I take care of, we’re always second to everybody else. In my office, I need women to know that when you enter this threshold, this is a safe place. Nothing else matters,” Hawkins said
As Fibroid Awareness Month shines a light on this common condition, Hawkins’s work continues to turn her own experience into better options for women facing fibroids today.
Soyini Hawkins.
When Dr. Soyini Hawkins (left) faced her own battle with uterine fibroids, she realized firsthand how limited and often confusing the treatment options could be. Photo submitted by Dr. Soyini Hawkins
Atlanta ranks third for renters in US
By TABIUS MCCOy Report for America Corp
Number 3 is where Atlanta ranked for best city for renters across the nation, according to a recent report from Rent Cafe.
The ranking was based on three main factors:
• Cost of living: Atlanta ranked 9th
• Local economy: Atlanta ranked 5th
• Quality of life: Atlanta ranked 25th
Atlanta’s high ranking might come as no surprise to both city residents and outsiders, as the southern metropolis has served as the Hollywood of the South for more than a decade. Additionally, the city serves as an emerging tech hub, with companies like Amazon expanding their Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud infrastructure in metro Atlanta and food services and solutions giant Cargill opening a tech hub in Midtown.
“Atlanta has a lot of really great things going for it,” said longtime Atlanta real estate agent and property investor Apria Brown, who has been in the industry for over two decades. “We have a lot of good jobs. We’ve got the entertainment industry that’s driving a lot of jobs and opportunities this way. We have the healthcare industry, we have the tech industry.”
Amid Atlanta’s booming rental market and growing population, both Black homeowners and renters have an opportunity to benefit from it.
“A lot of minorities decide to sell their home, but there really is value in taking a property and making it an investment property, if you have the leverage to do that,”
...If you can set a plan, set a goal, to purchase a home, either by yourself, with some friends, with some family, that is a pathway to building wealth
Apria Brown Atlanta real estate agent and property investor
Brown said.
These same properties that Black homeowners once paid a mortgage on can be used as rental properties for aspiring tenants who are moving to the booming city of Atlanta.
Even for those who don’t currently own rental properties, Brown emphasized not to shy away from the idea of owning property in the future.
“So if you can set a plan, set a goal, to purchase a home, either by yourself, with some friends, with some family, that is a pathway to building wealth,” she said.
Agents like Brown make an effort to share their knowledge about renting and investing with both minority renters and homeowners in Atlanta.
565 Hank by Windsor in the Summerhill section offers studio to three-bedroom apartments starting at just under $1,700 per month. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Food Flight Club unveils summer menu with signature cocktails
By LAURA NWOGU
Flight Club, the social darts experience in West Midtown, just released a new summer menu that aims to hit the spot beyond the dartboard and to your stomach. With a fun British fairground theme and full bar, the entertainment concept is designed for friends and family to socialize in a competitive and lively setting with tech-driven darts. The menu is focused on that aspect, offering a variety of shareable plates and delicious cocktails.
The new summer menu features 13 new dishes, three signature cocktails, and elevated brunch offerings such as bottomless mimosas. The Atlanta Voice visited Flight Club to taste some of the dishes.
From corn ribs to mini beef barbacoa tacos to healthy offerings such as a grain bowl and a selection of flatbreads with vegan & gluten-sensitive options, Flight Club has a variety of offerings for different plates. A highlight of our spread was the lobster elote, filled with grilled street corn, jalapenos, cilantro, cojita and mayo that paired perfectly with tajin flour chips, and the barbecue chicken flatbread, each slice topped with smoked chicken, BBQ sauce, pickled red onion, jalapenos, guajillo crema, mozzarella, provolone and cheddar.
Among the variety of creative darts games offered, we took sips of Fields Forever, one of their new signature cocktails that is a take on a strawberry margarita featuring basil and lime. As the 90-minute gameplay wound down, we were treated to pink and blue cotton candy and a s’mores dessert that was a fun twist on the classic campfire combination.
We also tried other small plates such as the artichoke dip and truffle parmesan fries. The cajun wings, braised short rib bao buns, and the mini al pastor tacos were great shareables that were devoured in the blink of an eye.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream to open first location in Atlanta
By LAURA NWOGU
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream recently announced a new location coming soon to Ponce City Market. With locations in 11 different states, this will be the first shop in Atlanta.
The ice cream shop began as an ice cream truck on the streets of NYC in 2008. Co-founded by brothers Ben and Pete Van Leeuwen and their friend Laura O’Neill, its mission is to make ice cream that makes people feel good.
Van Leeuwen is known for its dairy-free and vegan ice cream with a mix of classic and creative flavors such as Sicilian pistachio, Earl Grey tea, lemon poppyseed muffin, churros and fudge, and peanut butter brownie honeycomb. The Atlanta location will feature more than 30 signature flavors,
including its award-winning vanilla bean, Marionberry Cheesecake, and Praline Butter Cake, to name a few. From sundaes, root beer floats, and milkshakes to ice cream sandwiches and homemade waffle cones, people can enjoy a cold dessert on the hot Atlanta days.
The new scoop shop’s opening will be marked by a partnership with Bomb Biscuit Co., the popular and Michelin-recognized Atlanta eatery. To celebrate the grand opening, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will feature a limited-time Bomb Biscuit Co. sundae.
Van Leeuwen’s Ponce City Market scoop shop will be located at 619 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Suite B109, Atlanta, GA 30308. To stay updated on an opening date, follow its socials on Instagram @vanleeuwenicecream or visit https://vanleeuwenicecream.com/
Paired with its new summer menu, Flight Club is an entertaining spot that is great whether you are familiar with playing darts or not. Options include 90 minutes of gameplay priced at $12 per person during off-peak periods and $15 per person during peak periods. From Sunday to Friday, guests must be 21+ after 6 p.m. On Saturdays, Flight Club is 21+ all day.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream recently announced a new location coming soon to Ponce City Market. With locations in 11 different states, this will be the first shop in Atlanta. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Some of the food on the menu at Flight Club: Lobster elote, truffle parmesan fries, cajun wings, and al pastor mini tacos. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Fields Forever signature cocktail. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
Artichoke dip and barbecue chicken flatbread. Photo by Laura Nwogu/The Atlanta Voice
‘Superman’ Stars Showcase Footage at Atlanta Screening Event
By NOAH WASHINGTON
Cast members from the highly anticipated “Superman” film treated fans to an exclusive footage screening at Atlantic Station on Wednesday, July 2, offering a first look at James Gunn’s reimagining of the iconic superhero.
Anthony Carrigan, who plays Rex Mason/ Metamorpho, Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi, who portrays Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, appeared at the Atlanta venue to present footage from the upcoming DC Studios production.
During a group interview before the screening, the actors reflected on their diverse career paths leading to the superhero film. Merced, known for her work in “The Last Of Us,” credited timing and trusting the process for her success.
“I believe in timing, and I think everything happens when it should,” Merced said. “James Gunn was always a dream person for me to work with. I really respect his whole filmography and this just felt really divine to me.”
Carrigan, who is not new to the DC world previously played villains Victor Zsasz in “Gotham,” Nimbus in “The Flash” tv show, and had a leading role in the HBO series, “Barry”. Carrigan said each role has prepared him for this moment. “Every role that you do kind of like you learn something new about yourself. We were so set up with such a great script and such incredible characters to play off of.”
Gathegi, whose credits include “X-Men: First Class,” described the actor’s journey as that of
community, noting that Superman “would not be the same person that he is” without it. “I hope people come out of this with a deep appreciation for who they watch the movie with, and maybe for their community.”
a “journeyman,” saying “everything that we’ve ever done has prepared us for this moment.”
The film, written and directed by Gunn, marks the first entry in the new DC Universe and stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. The screening comes just days before the film’s July 11 theatrical release.
“Superman” represents a fresh take on the character, focusing on a younger version of the hero as he balances his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing in Smallville, Kansas. The film features an
ensemble cast which also includes Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern.
When asked what they hope audiences take from the film, all three emphasized themes of hope and community that align with Superman’s core values.
“Hope,” Gatheigi said. “If they’re struggling with something personal, if they’re struggling just in this world right now that’s on fire. Hopefully this movie inspires them to want to make a difference.”
Merced stressed the importance of
Gathegi expressed hope that audiences will experience “joy” and recapture “that going to movies when you were a kid” feeling. Gunn, who previously directed Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy, drew inspiration from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s “All-Star Superman” comic series for the project. Production took place at Trilith Studios in Atlanta, with additional filming in Ohio and Norway. The movie is expected to launch DC Studios’ new cinematic universe under Gunn and producer Peter Safran’s leadership. The Atlanta screening is part of a global promotional tour ahead of the film’s release by Warner Bros. Pictures. “Superman” opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, July 11.
Street Lines: 2025 Nissan Frontier SL Crew CAB LWB 4x4
By DENNIS MALCOLM ByRON AKA ALE SHARPTON
I’ve been waiting on the revitalized 2025 Nissan Frontier, and as expected, it kicked the door in the midsize pickup scene looking both rugged yet refined in all the right places. Known for its successful pairing of both roughing it and practicality, Nissan maintains Frontier’s reputation. Coming in three trims—S, SV, and SL—this year’s review car is the top-of-the-line SL Crew CAB LWB (long wheelbase) 4x4 powered by the 3.8-liter V6 engine. And even with the introduction of a revitalized exterior and impressive technology upgrades coming standard, the price point is still wallet friendly, set at under $48K.
At first sight, the Frontier flexes with a bold impression, including a redesigned front fascia, attractive LED lighting package from one end to the other, and sinister new grille, complemented by signature PRO-X and PRO-4X wheel designs I appreciated. The eye-catching “Afterburn Orange” paint option added even more head turning.
Functionality remains a priority, with a longer wheelbase version expanding to a six-foot
bed that is illuminated, along with the 120-volt power outlet for extra convenience, particularly for camping and tailgating. The engine’s output boasts 310 horsepower and 281 lb.-ft. of torque controlled by a nine-speed transmission, twospeed transfer case (4HI and 4LO), and a maximum towing capacity capping out at an impressive 7,150 pounds.
Those demanding adventures off the beaten path will find even more to love with the updated Intelligent Around View Monitor, now featuring an Enhanced Off-Road View camera that operates at higher speeds. This enhancement gives drivers a braver approach, especially when navigating through challenging, unforgiving terrain. Honestly, I am in the city mostly,
but going by the consensus of professionals able to take on those types of roads have applauded Nissan’s work in this department.
Inside, the 2025 Frontier’ SL is all about comfort and connectivity, with the new 12.3-inch touchscreen; it’s vibrant, and user friendly, while wireless Android Auto integration and a WiFi hotspot keep connectivity on point. A telescopic steering wheel, two-way power lumbar support, leather appointments throughout the cabin including seating, and 10-speaker Fender sound system keep the driver and passengers pampered as well.
In summary, the 2025 Nissan Frontier is a well-rounded pickup that expertly combines power, technology, and versatility for virtually any driving situation. Whether you’re towing a heavy load, exploring off the grid, or making runs throughout the city, this SL model delivers. Be sure to visit the Nissan website for the plethora of safety features as well.
Fuel Economy: 17 city/21 highway/19 combined
Price: The 2025 Nissan Frontier SL Crew CAB LWB 4x4 is $47,750
For more information, visit Nissanusa.com.
Photo courtesy of Nissan
Cast members from the highly anticipated “Superman” film treated fans to an exclusive footage screening at Atlantic Station on Wednesday, July 2, offering a first look at James Gunn’s reimagining of the iconic superhero. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Actor Edi Gathegi (right), who portrays Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, appeared at the Atlanta venue to present footage from the upcoming DC Studios production. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Medicaid, Medicare, and the future of healthcare
By ITORO N. UMONTUEN
NEW ORLEANS — President
Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” passed Thursday afternoon after late-night sessions in the House and Senate. The President signed the bill into law Friday, the Fourth of July.
According to the Associated Press, the Congressional Budget Office estimates $3.3 trillion will be added to the deficit over the next decade. Additionally, at least 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage.
The Republicans promise the bill will root out waste, fraud, and abuse
Meanwhile, the Democrats believe this will have severe impacts for those reliant on Medicare and Medicaid. For example, 70% of seniors in nursing homes are on Medicaid in the State of Georgia. Plus, 40% of Georgia children are also participants in the medical assistance program. 50% of all births in the state are covered, at least in part, by Medicaid.
“The bill that Congress passed today is nothing less than an all-out assault on Medicaid, grocery assistance, and clean energy manufacturing jobs,” said current candidate for Georgia Governor, Keisha Lance Bottoms. “It will mean that 17 million Americans – and nearly 700,000 Georgians – will lose health coverage, and our rural hospitals are at risk of more closures.”
The Big Bill is discussed during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture
Meanwhile, during the Global Black Economic Forum’s Business Summit, Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker descbried the passage of Trump’s spending package as a defining moment for both parties.
“Every Republican voted for this thing, and every Democrat voted against it,” said Pritzker. “And anybody who believes that we ought to have universal health care, or if you just believe that we ought to do the best we can for the most vulnerable people in our society. You can’t help but take note that there’s one party that’s standing up for people’s ability to survive and thrive, and another party that’s trying to take those things away.
The American public, I think sees through this. Look at the polls. This bill is highly unpopular. For those of us who think it ought to be reversed, we’re going to have to make sure that people understand and connect that what happened today is the Republican Party’s platform. That is the takeaway: its reverse Robin Hood. It’s take away from the poorest, most vulnerable people and give it to the wealthy.”
A Moment of Clarity
“Some are saying there’s no clarity in Washington, no leadership. Yes, there is, and to me, there’s a lot of clarity and a lot of leadership. They’ve told you what they were going to do, okay?”, said the 56th Mayor of Dallas, Texas, Ron Kirk.
“And what I’ve heard from friends over and over again, ‘oh, I can’t believe this happened.’ I was like now you can tell me you’re disappointed. You cannot tell me you’re surprised, because I don’t blame don’t answer that right? Donald Trump told you who he was, he told you what he wanted to do. He told you what his priorities were. They told you they were going to attack women’s basic reproductive rights. They were going to attack access to the ballot. And they were going to throw people out of this country. And I think part of what we are seeing is a lot of Americans
who, for whatever reason, created a fiction or got comfortable.”
The tug of war between Business and Labor continues over Trump’s BBB Meanwhile, SEIU International President April Verrett stressed the idea that forces that don’t see the value in labor, they would like power and wealth concentrated with a very, very small group of people. That prevailing mindset she says will lead to the erosion of democracy, of our rights, and induce greater economic inequality.
“I believe that we get the legislative results we got today, when business and labor are pitted against one another,” said Verrett. “When we allow forces that don’t see the value in most of us, that want power and wealth concentrated with a very, very small group of people. You get the erosion of our democracy, of our rights, [and] more economic inequality than we’ve ever seen.
You get what we got today, which is the destruction of a health care system. Not just for the 18 million people that will lose their insurance because of the cuts. Or just the 5 million children that will go hungry because of the cuts. But a sweeping piece of legislation that will see premium increases for Every single person in this room that will see every single municipal and state and county budget in this country impacted because of the cuts that they had today. I don’t think that’s American. I don’t think that’s democratic. And I don’t think it’s good business.”
The cuts will not kick in right away. Most cuts to the social safety net are scheduled to begin in 2027. The new work requirements will begin in 2026.
Former Trade Ambassador and the 56th Mayor of Dallas, Texas, Ron Kirk, speaks during the Global Black Economic Forum’s Business Summit at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo By Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
Ambassador Ron Kirk, Ashley Etienne, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pose for photographs after a panel discussion during the Global Black Economic Forum’s Business Summit at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture on Thursday, July 3, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo By Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
John Hope Bryant Shares Money Moves You Should Avoid
By ASWAD WALKER
John Hope Bryant is a brother who knows a thing or two about money. Entrepreneur, author, philanthropist and prominent thought leader on financial inclusion, economic empowerment and financial dignity, Bryant is dedicated to educating anyone who will listen about steps to becoming more financially savvy and solvent.
The Defender asked Bryant, who Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian described as the “conscience of capitalism,” to offer advice on money moves to avoid.
Renew Your Mindset
Without hesitation, Bryant offered his first suggestion regarding moves to stop making that damage your finances.
“Stop hanging around with broke people, first of all. If you hang around nine broke people, you’ll be the tenth,” Bryant said. “I don’t mean like some class-based, bougie thing. I mean, people who have broke mentalities, poverty mentalities.”
Bryant said aside from “sustenance poverty” (i.e., lacking food, shelter and healthcare), all other forms of poverty are a mindset.
“There’s a difference between being broke
and being poor. Being broke is economic. Being poor is a disabling frame of mind, a depressed condition of your spirit,” he said. “And you must vow never, ever, ever to be poor again.”
Bryant said many people possess poor spirits and poor mindsets that keep them forever focusing on “the cash, the bag, the dollar, the short-term whatever.”
“And you forget that you make money during the day. You build wealth in your sleep. That’s why our ‘get up and go’ has got up and went,” said Bryant, chairman and CEO of Bryant Group Ventures and founder and principal of The Promise Homes Company, the largest minority-controlled owner of single-family rental homes in the country. “We’ve got ‘too much month at the end of our money.’ We’re looking for love in all the wrong places. So, avoid the noise, avoid the toxicity, avoid people with a negative ‘glass-half-empty mentality. Because whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can’t, you’re absolutely right.”
Stop D.C. Focus Bryant’s second suggestion: Stop focusing on Washington, D.C.
“I don’t care about DEI. I mean, we’re fifth
on the list,” said Bryant, who is the founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, Inc., the largest non-profit, best-in-class provider of financial literacy and economic empowerment services in the U.S. “We have become the poster child for diversity, equity and inclusion. That’s exactly what some people want; for us to be the poster child because then it triggers other biases.
“The reality is the biggest DEI, the biggest affirmative action, the biggest subsidy in this country goes to white farmers. White women are at the top of the list, [followed by] Hispanics, military personnel and those with disabilities. So, we need to stop obsessing with Washington altogether.”
Bryant suggested focusing that “federal government policy-watching” energy elsewhere.
“Get on with getting our credit score up. That’s worth $750 billion over the next 20 years,” said Bryant. “Becoming homeowners, that’s worth $800 billion over the next 20 years. Artificial intelligence is worth a trillion dollars. And buying businesses of these baby boomers that are retiring in the next 10 years is worth a trillion dollars.
“Take any part of that $3.5 trillion that I just mentioned. None of that requires the government. Not one dime of it.”
Adjust Your Spending
Bryant’s message resonates with people of all races across the country. His free podcast, “Money and Wealth,” is in the Top 100 for business and the Top 40 for entrepreneurship.
Derrick Morrow, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, views Bryant as a financial transformer.
“John Hope Bryant embodies the ethos of empowerment through economics,” said Morrow. “His tireless efforts to eradicate poverty and spread hope inspire us all.”
To that point, Bryant says there are two ways to get healthier financially: make more money or spend less. Thus, he’s a big proponent of cutting down or out excessive spending.
“If you’re going to Starbucks and smoking every week, that’s $6,000 a year. If you make $36,000 a year, that’s 20% of your income. So, you’re complaining about this and that and the other thing. No, stop smoking. Stop going to Starbucks,” said Bryant. “I’m not against Starbucks, but go get a Keurig machine. Do it at home. Save $5,000 or $6,000. Go get your earned income tax credit, which, by the way, most Black people don’t know what that is, and have never applied for it.
“If you make $38,000 and you have three children, the government owes you $7,500 a year. If you never filed, it was retroactive for three years. That’s almost $20,000. Why are we obsessing about stuff we can’t control when we’re not even maximizing the stuff we can control?
“The DEI thing and the tariff thing are things that theoretically take from you. But there’s so much opportunity that we’re not even accessing. So just expand your territory.”
John Hope Bryant speaks during a press conference at Atlanta City Hall.
Photo by Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice
Courtney Brooks debuts gallery with “kNOw Regrets”
By NOAH WASHINGTON
Courtney Brooks has achieved a lifelong dream with the opening of Cbrooks Art Gallery at The Upton, a vibrant space showcasing 22 artists in her inaugural exhibition “kNOw Regrets.”
The gallery, which opened on Thursday, June 12, marked the debut of Brooks’ year-long artist residency at the new development. Brooks, who moved into The Upton in April as part of the residency program, also painted a vibrant pool mural titled “Echoes of Joy.”
“I’ve always wanted to have a gallery,” Brooks said during a recent interview. “I knew that was going to be a long-term goal of mine. I didn’t know when it was going to happen. It just happened to come at this point in time.”
Brooks has deep roots in Atlanta’s art scene. She served as the inaugural curator in residence for Art on the Beltline from 2019-2020 and completed an artist residency at The Maverick in 2022-2023, where she created a 65-foot mural and her first sculpture. Her current residency represents what she calls a “full circle moment” , as she can see her previous Beltline work from The Upton’s rooftop.
Brooks’s path to art began early with a third-grade watercolor painting of a Victorian house that won her first art award. Her mother’s coworker wanted to buy the piece, but her mother declined, telling young Courtney she would be “a famous artist one day.”
After starting college at Texas Southern University, Brooks transferred to community college to pursue art classes, eventually creating a watercolor painting based on her life dreams, which included having her own gallery.
“I had this plan, but God has a different plan for us,” Brooks said.
The “kNOw Regrets” inaugural exhibition features a mix of established and emerging artists, including work by Shanequa Gaye, whom Brooks calls “one of the first Black women artists I was able to physically touch and talk to.” The show also debuts photography by Dr. Arshley Emile of Timberhouse Films.
Brooks personally invited each
artist, seeking to create dialogue between different artistic styles and career stages. The exhibition title reflects her philosophy about life choices and learning from experiences.
“Although we know we have regrets sometimes, ultimately there’s no regrets, because we wouldn’t be where we’re at,” she explained.
The gallery space presented unique challenges. Brooks transformed gray walls into white gallery walls while working with existing furniture and decor. She credits the late Logan Locke , a fixture in Fulton County arts who passed away in May, with helping plan the installation before his passing.
“I’m just grateful that he blessed the space , I had his blessing, like I had his expertise here,” Brooks said.
The Upton Apartments houses five artists in residence, including a chef and 4 other artists working on various murals and installations throughout the property. Brooks’ pool mural took three weeks to complete, with weather and supply challenges requiring her to source matching spray paint colors from fellow artists.
Moving to Atlanta from Denver, where she “didn’t grow up with any Black Artists ,” proved transformative for Brooks.
“Coming to Atlanta was an eye-opening experience, very inspirational, very entrepreneurial,” she said. “Coming to Atlanta is like magic. It just gives you courage to
continue on that path.”
The gallery represents more than personal achievement for Brooks, who also works as a teacher. She sees it as service to the art community, exposing both art lovers and newcomers to creative work.
“I wanted to show appreciation for art and share that with people who love art already, and then people who may not know, and I can expose them to it,” she said.
Brooks’ residency runs for one year, though she hopes to extend her stay.
“This is really my gallery,” Brooks said, still marveling at seeing her name on the wall. “Like my name is on the wall.”
Cbrooks Art Gallery at The Upton is located at 430 Englewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315.
Courtney Brooks has achieved a lifelong dream with the opening of Cbrooks Art Gallery at The Upton, a vibrant space showcasing 22 artists in her inaugural exhibition “kNOw Regrets.” Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
“Faith” Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
“Echoes Of Joy” is a pool mural by Courtney Brooks Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
20 years in the Making: Atlanta Hosts 95th Annual MLB All-Star Weekend
By DONNELL SUGGS
The last time Metro Atlanta was the home of the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game was in 2000. The game was held at Turner Field, which previously hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games track and field events and later became the home of the Atlanta Braves. Chipper Jones, Andres Galarraga, Andruw Jones, and Hall of Fame pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine represented the home team.
This year, the 2025 MLB All-Star Game is back in the Peach State, but the 25th anniversary of the All-Star Game taking place in Atlanta is about much more than just the Midsummer Classic. The fan experience inside The Battery, Truist Park, and at satellite All-Star Weekend stops in Midtown, the Summerhill section, and Lenox Square in Buckhead will allow baseball fans to participate in the action.
Atlanta Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller spoke to the media during a walkthrough on Wednesday morning, beginning his comments with, “It’s here.”
Schiller wore a pair of special All-Star Weekend Nike Dunks for the occasion and spoke about the rare opportunity to host a Major League Baseball All-Star Game, MLB Home Run Derby, HBCU Classic, and All-Star Futures Game.
“You only get a chance to host these events every 20-25 years, so this is special,” said Schiller, before adding that the franchise had been working to secure the game for years. “This is significant for the Braves, Cobb County, and Georgia.”
Schiller said the All-Star Game will be streamed to over 200 countries. There is an
expectation that 100,000 people will visit metro Atlanta for the All-Star Game, which takes place on Tuesday, July 15th, and all the activities taking place around metro Atlanta.
An economic impact of $50 million is being reported as the financial expectation for a week’s worth of baseball events. The FIFA Club World Cup will continue to take place downtown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this summer, and Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour stops will come to Mercedes-Benz Stadium this week and next week, making this week and next week two of the busiest tourist weeks of the year.
The Celebrity Softball Game (Saturday, 7 p.m.) and the All-Star 4.4 Miler (starts at Center Parc Stadium in Summer Hill (7:30 a.m. on Sunday) are two other events that do not involve Major League ball players, but are fan-friendly events surrounding the game.
The HBCU Classic will bring collegiate players from programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to Truist Park. From Florida A&M University to Southern University to Grambling State University, baseball talent will be displayed for fans and Major League Baseball scouts. The baseball program at Atlanta’s own Morehouse College will also be represented during the HBCU Classic. Former Atlanta Braves Brian Jordan and Dave Justice will serve as team managers.
With everything surrounding the 2025 MLB All-Star Weekend, the star of it all will be the scene of the action, said Schiller.
“This will be the focal point, The Battery Atlanta and Truist Park,” he said.
Major League Baseball Senior Vice President, Global Events Jeremiah Yolkut, was at Truist Park for the media tour, and called the Atlanta Braves fan base, including fans from the surrounding states that make up “Braves Country,” one of the most passionate fan
bases around the league.”
“The Battery Atlanta has been quite the destination, not only for sports, but for entertainment,” Yolkut said.
What’s Eating You?
The foods specifically on sale for All-Star Weekend will have regular Atlanta Braves fans requesting an update to the menu at Truist Park. From the Down the Bay Burger, which is served with a combination of ground beef and soft-shell crab, to the fried green tomato sliders, or the southern nachos. The latter is served with pork rinds, pulled pork, baked beans, cheddar cheese sauce, and tangy Alabama white sauce. If you’re looking for the southern nachos, they will be available in sections 116 and 224 at Truist Park.
Chef Jaco Deyer, who presented the menu to the media on Wednesday, says another special addition to the dining experience during All-Star weekend will be the reimagined lobster roll. It will feature a fried buttermilk lobster tail served in a brioche roll with coleslaw and hot honey sauce. The Atlanta Voice was there to try the lobster roll and the peach cobbler nachos, a combination of cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips topped with warm peach cobbler and whipped cream. Both dishes were fun to eat and tasted great.
Free Fan Activities and Interactions
On Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13, former Atlanta Braves stars Javy Lopez and Fred “The Crime Dog” McGriff will publicly appear at the Capital One Cafe at Lenox Square. Both men, who played large parts in successful runs for the Braves during their time at Fulton
County Stadium and later Turner Field, will be posing with the World Series trophy. The appearances are free and last an hour. Lopez will be there on Saturday from 2-3 p.m., and McGriff on Sunday from 1-2 p.m.
If home runs are your thing and the MLB Home Run Derby tickets are out of reach, the Home Run Derby X might satisfy a thirst for the longball. Taking place at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech, the event is free and takes place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
The American League and National League All-Star jerseys were on display during a media tour and press conference at Truist Park on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
“you only get a chance to host these events every 20-25 years, so this is special,” Atlanta Braves President & CEO Derek Schiller said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The reimagined lobster roll will feature a fried buttermilk lobster tail served in a brioche roll with coleslaw and hot honey sauce. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The last time the Atlanta Braves hosted the MLB All-Star Game was in 2000 at Turner Field. This year’s All-Star Weekend is 25 years in the making. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
CLASSIFIEDS
HOSPITALIST PHYSICIAN
Hospitalist Physician – Independent Physicians Resource, Inc. – Atlanta, GA. (Multiple Positions Available) Provide medcl care to adlt patients in a hsptl in a tmly mnr. Reqs M.D. or frgn eqiv degr. Mst be Brd Cert or Brd elgbl in Intrnl Med or Fam Med. Subj to perdc tfers to var unantcptd loctns w/in the U.S. Mst hv lgl auth to wrk in the U.S. EEOE. Send resumes to Jackie Olliff, Chief Talent & HR Officer, Independent Physicians Resource, Inc., 5665 New Northside Dr., Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30328, or email to jolliff@apollomd. com. Pls ref job title + JZBA25 in cvr ltr/eml subj line.
COMPUTER PROGRAMMER
Comp. Prgrmmr - BS/equiv & 5 yrs IT exP incl. 3 yrs w/ CA Singl Sign On, CA Identity Mngr, CA Identity Governanc, Radiant Logic Virtual Directry Srvcs, MS Activ Directry, RedHat Linux, Softerr LDAP browsr, Apach Directry Studio, SQL Dvlpr, Eclips, Tomcat, MS-SQL, Splunk, & Putty. Travel/reloc req’d. Send résumé to Simeio Solutions, LLC, 1110 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 500, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
SENIOR DATA ENGINEER
Senior Data Engineer w/Greensky Management Company LLC in Atlanta, GA. Telecommuting permitted. Identify, dsgn, & implement internal process improvements: automating manual processes, optimizing data delivery, redsgn’g infrastructure for greater scalability, etc. Req’s: Master’s deg (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Info. Systs, IT, Comp Sci, Comp Engg, Electrical Engg or rel. field & 3 yrs of exp in job offered or rel. role OR Bach deg (U.S. or foreign equiv) in Comp Info. Systs, IT, Comp Sci, Comp Engg, Electrical Engg or rel. field & 5 yrs exp in job offered or in rel. role. Trvl req’d up to 10% of time. Job Code: 8638566. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS: Apply at greensky.com. Select “About” tab & click on “Careers.” NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. ©20062024 GreenSky, LLC. All rights reserved. GreenSky is an equal opportunity employer & will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
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Comp. Prgrmmr - BS/equiv & 5 yrs IT exp incl. Java, JavaScrpt, HTML, REST/SOAP Web Srvcs, Linux, Unix, MS SQL, SQL, Apach Tomcat, JBOSS, CA Identity Mindr, SailPoint, Open AM, Okta Access Gatway, ForgRock IAM, Ping ID, SOAPUI, LDAP Browsr, Eclips IDE, Azur Activ Directory, AWS, MS Azur. Travel/reloc req’d. Send résumé to Simeio Solutions, LLC, 1110 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 500, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
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Spacious 1-Bedroom Affordable! Rent Based on Annual Income Amenities, Great Location, and Convenient to Marta Please call for detailed information
FULTON
COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID
Sealed Bids for 25ITB1393653C-MH Medical & Clinical General Cleaning Services for the Department of Real Estate & Asset Management will be accepted by the Fulton County Purchasing & Contract Compliance Department electronically, via BidNet Direct on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. All proposals submitted must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated date.
Proposal(s) shall be publicly viewed via BidNet Direct web, only the names of the Proposers shall be disclosed at the opening.
Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) seeks to contract with a vendor to provide Sealed Bids for furnishing all materials, labor, tools, equipment, and appurtenances necessary for Medical and Clinical General Cleaning Services must be electronically submitted to the Fulton County Department of Purchasing and Contract Compliance via BidNet Direct The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined in the Scope of Work of this bid document.
The detailed scope of work and technical specifications are outlined in the Scope of Work of the bid document.
Fee: N/A
Contract Term: One (1) year with two (2) one-year renewable options.
Pre-Proposal Conference: will be held via a Web Conference on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 10:00 A.M to provide bidder(s) with information regarding this project and to address any questions.
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Mark Hawks, CAPA Email: mark.hawks@fultoncountyga.gov.
Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
FULTON COUNTY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids for 25RFI1411588B-PS Archival Digitization Services for will be accepted for the Fulton County Library, online through the Web Grants System via BidNet Direct at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/ fultoncountyga.govon Thursday, August 07, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. All Bids submitted must be received electronically no later than 11:00 a.m. local (Eastern) time on the stated due date.
Scope of Work: Fulton County, Georgia (“County”) is soliciting information from potential vendors to digitize archival photo negatives and photographs of great historical value for patrons to use for the purpose of research and genealogical identification. This is a Request for Information (RFI) only.
General instructions, specifications and supporting documents for this project can be downloaded through BidNet Direct free of charge at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia/fultoncounty.
Fee: N/A
Bid Bond: N/A
Pre-Bid Conference: N/A
If you have any questions regarding this project please contact Phyllis Stewart, APA, MBA, CPPB at (404) 612-4215 or email Phyllis. Stewart@fultoncountyga.gov.
Fulton County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids and to waive technicalities.
