Thursday tidings
Jan. 23 — The nominations for the restaurant industry’s biggest night of the year, the James Beard Awards, have been announced. Click here to find out who in Atlanta made the cut.
☁️ Partly cloudy and an almost balmy 39° today.
❄️ DeKalb County and Decatur City Schools have virtual learning again today, while Fulton County Schools south of I-20 and Atlanta Public Schools will start two hours late due to icy conditions. Catch up on closures at our winter weather blog.
⚖️ An immigration bill named after slain UGA student Laken Riley. passed the U.S. House and now awaits signature from President Donald Trump.
? The demolition of the former Atlanta Medical Center campus is expected to start this spring to make way for a new mixed-use development in Old Fourth Ward.
? In a 4-3 vote, the Sandy Springs City Council denied Mount Vernon School’s request to install lights on its Ron Hill Athletic Field.
? Bird flu has been confirmed in a second commercial poultry flock in Elbert County, the Georgia Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.
?️ Tickets are available for the first annual Georgia Behind the Lens Awards, which will celebrate the contributions of below-the-line professionals in the film industry.
ELSEWHERE
?️ A student opened fire in a Nashville high school cafeteria yesterday, killing one student and wounding another before taking his own life.
? The Hughes Fire north of Los Angeles put 50,000 residents under evacuation warnings after burning 16 square miles since yesterday morning. Here’s how you can help fire victims.
? Rachel Sennott and Bowen Yang are set to announce the 2025 Academy Award nominations this morning at 8:30 a.m. Here’s how to watch.
? Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• MetroFresh celebrates 20 years
• Sammie at Sundance
• Immersive Exposure
AND
• Quick Bites
Have a great day,
Collin & Sammie
? Nine Inch Nails are bringing the Peel It Back Tour 2025 to Gas South Arena on Sept. 9. Tickets go on sale next Wed., Jan. 29 at noon. SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Celebrating 20 years of MetroFresh at Midtown Promenade
? Twenty years ago, Mitchell Anderson embarked on his second act.
After an acting career spanning two decades, Anderson shifted gears, settled down in Atlanta with his now-husband, Richie, and, under the mentorship of Souper Jenny owner Jennifer Levison, opened a restaurant in Midtown serving soups, salads, and sandwiches made fresh daily.
When MetroFresh opened at Midtown Promenade in 2005 (before Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, and the Beltline), it had less than 50 seats and a tiny kitchen. Today, MetroFresh is nearly twice the size, a necessary upgrade that speaks to the restaurant’s popularity.
? Read more about MetroFresh’s 20th anniversary here.
Morningside villa with pool house and designer details
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FINE HOMES
? Perched on a prime Morningside lot, this expanded $3.475 million villa blends timeless charm with modern luxury. The five-bedroom estate features a heated pool and a pool house with a loft.
Highlights include a two-story foyer, a designer kitchen with a marble island and copper sink, a wine cellar, and a spa-inspired primary suite. Smart home integrations, a terracotta roof, and proximity to parks and dining make this a true retreat.
Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty is Metro Atlanta’s No. 1 residential real estate company and No. 1 in luxury home sales above $1.5 million.
?? Check out our current listings here.
2. Five movies we’re looking forward to at Sundance
SAMMIE @ THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
☀️ Our film critic Sammie Purcell is taking her first trip to the Sundance Film Festival this year. During her time in Park City, she’ll be reporting on what she’s watching and covering all things Sundance.
The festival starts today, which means Sammie and our Rough Draft readers are about to reap the benefits of all of her meticulous planning and scheduling. There are so many movies to be excited about, but there are five on her list that stand out above the rest.
?️ Click here to see what movies Sammie is most looking forward to at Sundance.
3. Want to shoot epic photos? This Atlanta-based VR startup can help
? If you ever found yourself trying to get into a new creative endeavor, chances are you went to Google and searched for online videos to give you a crash course on the subject. And if you found yourself really enjoying that creative activity, perhaps you started looking around for some classes to take.
But finding the right classes – with the best instructors – that actually fit your schedule can be tough. Atlanta photography and entrepreneur Corey Reese knew there had to be a better way for people to learn the art and craft of photography.
He started looking at immersive and mixed reality technology options out there, and found himself building Immersive Exposure, a platform designed to help people master creative fields from anywhere.
➡ Read the whole story from Hypepotamus here.
? Nine Inch Nails are bringing the Peel It Back Tour 2025 to Gas South Arena on Sept. 9. Tickets go on sale next Wed., Jan. 29 at noon. SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Quick Bites
VIA SIDE DISH, A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER| SUBSCRIBE HERE
? Tio Lucho’s in Poncey-Highland is launching Sunday brunch starting Jan. 26. James Beard-nominated Chef Arnaldo Castillo has created a Peruvian-Southern fusion menu featuring roasted oysters, shrimp and pork omelets, chicken biscuits with aji limo pepper jelly, and crawfish tostones – fried plantains topped with crawfish, melted cheese, chalaca, and huancaína. Reservations are available here.
? Taqueria del Sol is marking 25 years with a Feb. 4 anniversary celebration. Returning to its opening menu and year 2000 pricing for one day at all Georgia locations, all proceeds of the day’s sales will be distributed amongst Taqueria del Sol employees. Follow Instagram for updates.
?️ Stephen Satterfield, creator of the Netflix series “High on the Hog,” will join Masud Olufani and Executive Director Floyd Hall at Atlanta Contemporary for an artist talk about food culture in the “A Sorcery of Sustenance” exhibit. Sat., Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. Tickets can be reserved here.
? C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar is relocating its flagship restaurant to Galleria on the Park. Dinner service began this week, and lunch service will launch on Jan. 27. The 6,000-square-foot space will feature 130 dining seats, a 20-seat bar, private dining room, wine room with chef’s table, and multi-level patio. For more updates see Instagram.
? Atlantic Station welcomes two new dessert concepts: Yonutz is now open, bringing its smashed donut and ice cream combinations, plus mini donuts and decorating kits. Munster Cravings will follow in late winter with made-from-scratch cookies – including vegan options – in flavors like peanut butter and jelly, peach cobbler, butter waffle, and cinnamon roll.
? The Alden in Chamblee (pictured) is adding Thursday and Friday lunch service starting today. The new menu features specialties like Thai duck laab, smoked brisket sliders, lobster rolls, ramen with local mushrooms, and house-made pasta dishes. Reservations can be made here.
? Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
? Don’t miss our new, daily word game – you have six chances to guess a five-letter word connected to a news story.
