The Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival returns Sunday
The annual Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival will take place Sunday with barbecue tastings, live music, artisans, a kids zone and a silent auction.
The event will be held in Dunwoody and also feature the Kosher BBQ Competition, with pitmaster teams competing in four categories: brisket, beef ribs, chicken and chili.
The Atlanta Kashruth Commission will supervise the competition to ensure the dishes are prepared in compliance with kosher food handling requirements, a statement said.
Presented by the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation, the festival will be held behind Park Place shopping center at 66 Perimeter Center East from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and tasting tickets are $1.25 each.
More than 4,000 people attended last year’s festival, according to the foundation.
“The Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival is about bringing people together across all backgrounds through a shared love of great food and community,” said Jacqueline Morris, executive director. “Our new Dunwoody venue gives us even more space to welcome families, foodies, and competition teams for an unforgettable autumn Sunday.”
— Adrianne Murchison
Georgia State University sets all-time enrollment record with more than 54,000 students
Georgia State University has reported its highest enrollment ever, with 54,320 students across its campuses this fall, surpassing the previous record set in 2020 by roughly 600 students.
The Atlanta Campus enrolled more than 35,200 students, up 1.22 percent from last fall, while Perimeter College saw a 4.46 percent jump to more than 19,000 students, its highest total since consolidating with Georgia State in 2016. Graduate enrollment also reached a two-decade high at 8,426 degree-seeking students.
First-year classes grew on both campuses. The Atlanta Campus welcomed 4,433 new first-year students, a nearly 8 percent increase, while Perimeter’s incoming class rose 5.68 percent to 3,142. The number of students transitioning from Perimeter to bachelor’s programs downtown climbed more than 13 percent.
The growth comes as many universities nationally face declining enrollment driven by demographic and economic pressures. Georgia State President M. Brian Blake credited the university’s focus on student success, educational value and the campus experience. University officials said efforts to increase access, simplify admissions and support degree completion have contributed to the gains.
— Derek Prall
Kennesaw State names new dean of its health and human services college
Kennesaw State University has appointed Peter W. Grandjean as dean of the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, effective Jan. 1.
Grandjean comes from Middle Tennessee State University, where he serves as dean of the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences. In that role he has worked to strengthen academic programs, expand community partnerships and support student success across one of MTSU’s largest colleges.
At Kennesaw State, he will lead a college that serves more than 7,000 students through programs in healthcare, public health, social services and related fields. His priorities will include advancing research, building interdisciplinary collaboration and expanding community engagement across Georgia.
KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig cited Grandjean’s collaborative leadership style and understanding of the changing healthcare landscape as factors in his selection.
— Derek Prall
Out On Film festival announces winners from its 39th year
Atlanta’s Out On Film festival has named its 2026 Audience, Jury and Screenplay Award winners following an 11-day run of LGBTQ+ cinema centered at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema.
Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s “La Bola Negra,” a multigenerational drama tracing desire and identity across pivotal moments in Spanish history, took the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature. The film is Spain’s submission for the 2027 Oscar for Best International Feature. The documentary award went to the Horne Brothers’ “Love Patrick: Nothing Is Impossible,” a portrait of former Atlantan and fashion designer Patrick Kelly, edging out the Billie Jean King documentary “Give Me The Ball!”
On the jury side, Allan Deberton’s Brazilian coming-of-age film “Gugu’s World” led with three wins including Best Narrative Feature. Desdemona Chiang’s “See You Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow” won Best Drama Short, the festival’s Oscar-qualifying category. Atlantan Malik Brown won the Feature Screenplay award for “Undecided.”
The festival screened 155 films this year, including 38 features, 108 shorts and several episodics, with more than 20 regional premieres and 10 world premieres among them.
— Derek Prall
Spelman and Morehouse break ground on $147 million joint student housing project
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Spelman College President Dr. Ayanna Howard and Morehouse College President Dr. F. DuBois Bowman joined development partners Thursday to break ground on The Den at Eight50 West, a $147 million student housing project in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood.
The development marks a first-of-its-kind joint residential initiative between the two historically Black colleges. Built through a shared ground lease between Spelman and Morehouse, the project will deliver 793 apartment-style beds across 305 units ahead of the fall 2028 academic year.
Radnor Property Group and Madrone Community Development Foundation are leading the development, with C.D. Moody Construction among the project partners. Former U.S. Representative Kwanza Hall also attended the ceremony.
The public-private partnership represents one of the largest residential investments in the historic West End and is designed to address rising student housing demand and college affordability across the Atlanta University Center.
— Derek Prall
Fox Theatre launches two new original storytelling series
The Fox Theatre is bringing the stories behind one of Atlanta’s most beloved landmarks to life with two new original storytelling series: Fox Voices, which captures the people and experiences connected to the theatre’s past and present, and Atlanta Creative Voices, which turns the spotlight towards the people who help shape Atlanta’s creative culture today.
The launch comes as the Fox begins looking toward its 100th anniversary in 2029. In September, the theatre unveiled a new backstage interview and recording studio in its artist tower, created to expand the Fox’s ability to capture oral histories, artist and staff interviews.
“For nearly a century, people have given this place its meaning,” said Allan C. Vella, President and CEO of the Fox Theatre. “The stories of the Fox live in those who have performed here, worked here, cared for this building and experienced it as part of their lives. These original video series give us a way to preserve those stories while also listening to the people shaping Atlanta’s creative community today. As we look toward our centennial in 2029, we want to make sure those voices are part of the story we carry forward.”
Full Fox Theatre Originals stories will premiere on the Fox Theatre’s YouTube channel, with additional excerpts and short-form content shared across the theatre’s social platforms. The fall launch began Monday, Oct. 12 and will continue through December with alternating releases from Fox Voices and Atlanta Creative Voices.
For more information, follow the Fox Theatre on Instagram, X and Facebook and TikTok.
— Megan Anderson
Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes & Winterfest to return this December
On Dec. 12 and 13, the Virginia-Highland Civic Association (VHCA) will host its annual Tour of Homes. Held in partnership with Virginia-Highland Winterfest, the collaboration presents a full weekend of historic charm, seasonal fun and community gathering.
The Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes celebrates the neighborhood’s recognized architecture with the opportunity to visit several of its landmark residences. Attendees can tour homes from noon, 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 and noon, 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13.
Virginia-Highland Winterfest will take place Saturday only, offering a full day of holiday-style fun. Winterfest will kick off with the Jingle Jog 5K, followed by a gift market with nearly 100 local makers and artisans, and entertainment for young attendees with a Kids Corner and elf scavenger hunt.
Proceeds from the Tour of Homes benefit the Virginia-Highland Civic Association and its work with civic engagement, local schools, parks and community improvement projects.
Tickets are on sale now and are available through the website. VHCA is accepting volunteers for this year’s Tour of Homes. Volunteers will receive two complimentary tickets to the tour.
— Megan Anderson
