🤖 Dragon Con returns (2024)

Warm Wednesday

Aug. 28 —It’s been a rough week for foodies in ATL. On the heels ofMi Barrioannouncing its closure, Linton Hopkins’ The Butterywill close this Fridayafter four years inMorningside-Lenox Park.

🌞 Sunny and 95° today.

🎗️ Two workers were killed and a third seriously injured Tuesday morning whenan airplane tire explodedin the Delta maintenance area at Hartsfield-Jackson.

🤸 The owner of the shuttered Intown Stars Gymnastics obtained a business license fora new gym in Miamidays beforeabruptly closingthe popular Decatur facility.

🗳 Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Gov. Tim Walz begina two-day swing through South Georgiatoday, with a rally planned for Savannah on Thursday.

⚖️ The Democratic National Committee and Democratic Party of Georgia are suing toblock rules changesthey say will let the State Election Board delay or prevent certification of election results.

🏢A 22-story student housing tower calledHub Cypressis planned for a small parking lot at the corner of Cypress and 7th streets in Midtown.

📎 The Dunwoody City Council accepted aconciliation agreementregarding a former police officer who accused his supervisor of repeated sexual harassment.

🧰IKEA is openingits second Metro Atlanta location in Alpharetta today. The new Plan & Order point offers expert consultations and pickup options.

ELSEWHERE

➡ Former President Donald Trumphas been reindicted on four felony chargesrelated to the 2020 election.

🇮🇱Israeli forces rescueda 52-year-old Israeli Arab Bedouin hostage from Hamas’ underground tunnels in Gaza yesterday.

🎙️NFL star siblingsTravis and Jason Kelcesigned a $100 million podcast deal with Amazon.

🇫🇷The Opening Ceremonies of the2024 Paris Paralympic Gamesare today at 2 p.m. on USA Network.

PICTURE THIS:The Tour Championship begins tomorrow at a recently restored East Lake Golf Club.Players tested the new coursein yesterday’s practice round.After last year’s tournament, the course underwenta complete overhaul, restoring it to its original 1940s design.Follow us on IGfor coverage from contributing photographer Sam Gardella.

🕖 Here’s what’s in today’s newsletter:

• Dragon Con
• Downtown dining
• DIY restaurants
• Concert Picks
AND
• A correction

Have a good day,
Collin & Sammie

🎹John Legendis headed for Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta on Sept. 9 for a special performance with theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra. Experience intimate reimaginingsof his greatest hits, unexpected stories from Legend’s life and career, and selections from his most recent release,LEGEND. (SPONSOR MESSAGE)

1. Dragon Con returns this weekend

🐉 Dragon Con, Atlanta’s massive pop culture convention, returns forLabor Day weekend with autograph signings, gaming events, shows, and more.

Numerous celebrities will attend the 2024 event, which runs from Aug. 29-Sept. 2. Those guests include Elijah Wood; Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy); John Cleese (“Monty Python”); Vincent D’Onofrio (“Daredevil”); Nathan Fillion (“Firefly”); Manny Jacinto (“The Good Place,” “Star Wars: The Acolyte”); and Jodie Whitaker, Catherine Tate, and Freema Agyeman (“Doctor Who”).

For decades, Dragon Con has combined the fandoms of fantasy, science fiction, comic books, and more into one massive, single convention. Multiple events will take place throughout the weekend, including the flagship parade, which takes place on Aug. 31.

🦸For more information, click here.

Something Giant is coming to Atlanta!

SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART

🖼️ Get a glimpse of the personal art collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys in the epic exhibition,“Giants!” Hailed as groundbreaking in its scale, you don’t want to miss your chance to see these works in person at the High, the exclusive venue in the Southeast. Opens Sept. 13.

🎟️Get your tickets early!

2. Where to eat and drink like a local Downtown

🍸 Whether you’re in town for business, Dragon Con, or attending a game or concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium or State Farm Arena, Downtown Atlanta includes dozens of dining and drinking options.

While big brands and restaurant chains dominate the landscape in this part of the city, you’ll also find several locally owned and operated restaurants, many catering to office workers, Georgia State University students, and residents living in and around the neighborhood.

🥘 Our dining editor Beth McKibben knows the best places to eat and drink Downtown.Check out the full list here.

3. The challenges and rewards of operating a DIY restaurant

🥑 If it feels like Atlanta’s pop-up scene is especially potent, that’s because it is.

The city’s dining ecosystem is one where DIY operations can thrive, ripe with venues, opportunity, and, most crucially, support. Pop-ups allow Atlantans to experience specific cuisines and creative dishes, from Laotian food to Polish brunch to Chicago beef sandwiches.

“With less overhead [than a restaurant], it gives [chefs] more freedom to do something interesting,” said Sam Flemming, founder and CEO of Punk Provisions and Atlanta pop-up databasePunk Foodie.

🍷 But running a successful pop-up doesn’t come cheap.Click here to learn more about the challenges and rewards of running a DIY restaurant.

🎹John Legendis headed for Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta on Sept. 9 for a special performance with theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra. Experience intimate reimaginingsof his greatest hits, unexpected stories from Legend’s life and career, and selections from his most recent release,LEGEND. (SPONSOR MESSAGE)

4. Concert Picks

VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA?

A correction

💡An item in yesterday’s newsletter included incorrect information about an automated transit program being tested near the airport.The GlydwaysAutomated Transit Networks testis a half-mile Demonstration Pilot at the Gateway Center Area in College Park. We regret the mistake.

📧 Today’s newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.