Talk of Tuesday
June 11— The James Beard Foundation awarded Best Chef: Southeast to Paul Smith of 1010 Bridge in Charleston, WV, leaving Atlanta’s only finalist, Talat Market, without the award. Here’s the complete list of winners.
🌞 Sunny and 85° today.
🚊 MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood said the transit agency will not pause its $230 million renovation of Five Points Station despite a letter asking them to do so from Mayor Andre Dickens.
⚖️ Young Thug’s attorney was held in criminal contempt for refusing to disclose the source of his information about a secret meeting between the judge, prosecutors, and a key witness.
💸 National nonprofit The Bail Project has closed its Atlanta branch due to a new Georgia law expanding cash bail and restricting organizations that post inmates’ bonds.
🚗 Sandy Springs Police arrested a “super speeder” who was clocked doing 143 mph on GA 400.
🍻 Brookhaven’s Porterhouse Grill & Pub has reopened.
🏆 Honorees at today’s Atlanta Business League’s awards luncheon include Rep. Nikema Williams, DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond, Tharon Johnson, CEO of Paramount Consulting Group, and Keith Parker, CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia.
♻️ Live Thrive has opened CHaRM DeKalb, a facility for hard-to-recycle items.
⚾ NC State beat Georgia 8-5, eliminating the Bulldogs from the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
🎗️ Details are still emerging, but Paideia School and Howard University graduate Binford ‘Ben’ Carter, co-owner of Talero Organic Tequilas, passed away over the weekend.
ELSEWHERE
➡ On a visit to Tel Aviv today, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said implementing a U.N.-backed ceasefire deal depends on Hamas accepting it.
Apple unveiled “Apple Intelligence,” a suite of AI features including a more conversational Siri, custom AI-generated “Genmoji,” and an OpenAI integration.
🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:
• Break-ins target restaurants
• Georgia nature film tour
• Around the State: Ossabaw Island
AND
• Volunteer Opportunities
Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie
🎤 Celebrate the launch of Midtown ATL’s newest public performance space! Enjoy a free variety show on Wed., June 12 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the brand-new outdoor stage on the North Avenue MARTA station plaza. This event is open to all. Details here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
1. Overnight break-ins damage restaurants in Oakhurst, Kirkwood, and Candler Park
💰 Robbers looking for cash damaged at least seven restaurants and businesses in and around Decatur’s Oakhurst neighborhood, one in Atlanta’s Kirkwood neighborhood, and two in the city’s Candler Park neighborhood.
Three suspects driving a black sedan smashed windows and front doors to enter the businesses overnight, according to the Decatur Police Department.
The break-ins occurred in the early hours of Monday and the majority of the businesses hit were restaurants, including Ford’s BBQ, Mojo Pizza, Wahoo Wine & Provisions, Sun in My Belly, Los Niños Taqueria, Moxie Burger, and San Francisco Coffee.
🚨 More on this story here.
Taste the World in Marseille: An Unforgettable Culinary Event
SPONSORED BY VILLA ALBERTINE
🇫🇷 Villa Albertine and Chef Deborah VanTrece are thrilled to announce “Taste the World in Marseille,” an extraordinary dinner event celebrating food, culture, and Vérane Frédiani’s new book.
🍽️ Join us on June 18 at Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours for an eight-course dinner, featuring Congolese Chef Hugues Mbenda from Marseille.
This Michelin Guide-recognized culinary collaboration will highlight Marseille’s diverse cuisine, with Frédiani in conversation with AJC Senior Editor and James Beard Award winner Mike Jordan.
🖋️ The event includes a book signing.
🎟️ Secure your tickets today!
2. Nature in cinema: a movie tour through Georgia’s parks
🏞️ With summer just around the corner, I’ll bet you movie buffs are wondering how to get some good outdoor time in. What if I told you you could do so and get your movie fix at the same time?
The film industry in Georgia has grown exponentially over the past few decades, and much of the state’s beautiful scenery can be found in some of Hollywood’s biggest films and television shows.
🎥 Click here for a Georgia movie tour through some projects that have put the state’s natural beauty on the big screen.
3. Georgia funds $7 million renovation of historic home on Ossabaw Island
💸 The Georgia Department of Natural Resources will spend $7 million to renovate a historic home on state-owned Ossabaw Island, south of Savannah.
The non-profit Ossabaw Island Foundation said last week that the state funding will rehabilitate the 20,000-square-foot former home of Eleanor “Sandy” Torrey-West.
She was the island matriarch who engineered the turnover of Georgia’s third-largest barrier island from private, family-owned land to public land in the 1970s. The move saved Ossabaw Island from development.
🏡 More on this story from GPB here.
🎤 Celebrate the launch of Midtown ATL’s newest public performance space! Enjoy a free variety show on Wed., June 12 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the brand-new outdoor stage on the North Avenue MARTA station plaza. This event is open to all. Details here.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
🇺🇸 With more than 2,000 participants and 30,000 spectators, the Dunwoody organizers of Georgia’s largest 4th of July parade are looking to fill some low-key volunteer positions on the parade route. The jobs will not require walking long distances or showing up hours before the event. This year’s parade theme is “Red, White, and You.” Click here to register and find out more.
🫑 Sign up to help out the Atlanta Belvedere SDA Church Food Pantry on Thursday morning in Decatur. You will assist clients, pack boxes, and help load cars.
🌿 Olmsted Linear Park Alliance (pictured) in Atlanta needs volunteers on Saturday morning to remove invasive non-native plant material, clear shrub beds for mulch, pick up trash, and clean signage.
🪚 EcoAddendum is looking for volunteers to help restore natural areas in parks and greenspaces as part of the D’Agnese Natural Area/Forest Restoration on Sunday morning. Jobs will include working with hand tools such as clippers, pruning saws, trowels, and shovels.
📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.
#James #Beard #award #Paul #Smith #Atlantas #ATL #focus