You can quite literally hear the history inside Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home. The National Parks System pushes it through — the sound of silverware clinking in the dining room, soft music in the parlor and sibling arguments over a game of Monopoly. It’s an immersive approach to the early years of the Atlanta-raised […]
Author Archives: Delaney Tarr
Posted inDelaney Tarr, Latest News
Atlanta honors civil rights hero with local street rename
Civil rights activist John T. Johnson has never had fame like his peers. No schools named after him or special events, and certainly no street signs bearing his name. Until now. On a quiet street across from Johnson’s home, on June 27, the city of Atlanta unveiled a new street sign in West Atlanta named […]
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Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation gives $165,000 to 18 sites
The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation announced grant funding for 18 historic sites across the state, including $125,000 from the 1772 Foundation Grants for Georgia. Since 2023, the 1772 Foundation has partnered with the Georgia Trust to match historic grants. This year it gave funds to 14 Georgia organizations to help maintain their historic sites. […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Queer Atlanta filmmaker explores the ‘in between’ with debut feature
In August 2025, Atlanta-based actor Nicholas Molencupp decided he wanted to make a feature film. Now he’s putting the finishing touches on his debut feature as a writer, director and star, a project called “In Between.” It’s the object of many filmmakers’ fantasies. In less than a year, Molencupp went from table reads to the […]
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Center for Civic Innovation finds new home at iconic Prince Hall Lodge
Prince Hall Masonic Lodge and Temple, the so-called “Jewel of Auburn Avenue” has been home to many Atlanta greats over the years Martin Luther King Jr.’s only office, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the country’s first Black-owned radio station and Madame C.J. Walker’s Beauty Shoppe. Now it’s home to the local nonprofit Center for Civic […]
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Atlanta releases long-awaited audit of Tax Allocation Districts
A newly-released audit of the city’s tax allocation districts has three recommendations for the city as it plans to extend the TADs — and they’re all about transparency. It’s the latest in Atlanta’s ongoing TAD saga. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has spent months on a full-court press to renew six of the city’s eight tax […]
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Should Atlanta extend the TADs? School leaders aren’t so sure.
The Tax Allocation Districts are a touchstone issue in Atlanta. In his second term, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has championed the funding mechanism for his ambitious $5 billion neighborhood reinvestment initiative to rewrite the “tale of two cities” with development in the city’s neglected areas. But the TAD extension is a controversial proposal. Not everybody […]
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Volunteers take on downtown beautification days before World Cup
Just weeks before the World Cup touches down in Atlanta, hundreds of volunteers took to the streets for the 2026 “Together for Downtown Community Day,” a large-scale volunteer initiative to revitalize South Downtown. Hordes of volunteers painted murals, landscapes, cleaned up litter and covered graffiti at the all-day event on June 1. In total, organizers […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Atlanta Civic Circle’s newsroom closes its doors
After five years in business, the Atlanta Civic Circle is shuttering due to funding challenges. It was one of the city’s few nonprofit civic newsrooms. On June 1, the nonprofit newsroom announced via an open letter it would permanently cease operations after being “unable to secure the consistent funding needed to sustain our work.” The […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Inside SoDo, Atlanta’s ‘once in a lifetime’ project
It’s the kind of project that happens once in a city’s lifetime. Ten city blocks, 58 buildings, 16 acres and one developer all working to revitalize a historic piece of downtown. South Downtown, nicknamed SoDo, is one of Atlanta’s most ambitious projects. Downtown is a hub for tourism, sports and conferences, but many of its […]
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The Rialto celebrates dual milestones with some major changes
For 110 years, downtown Atlanta has been home to some version of the Rialto Center for the Arts — a movie theater, a shuttered building and now an arts and culture hub all on the same corner. Now the theater team is looking to the future. 2026 also marks a 30-year anniversary. In 1996, Georgia […]
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Justin Cutler to exit as Atlanta Parks and Rec commissioner
After four years Atlanta Parks and Recreation Commissioner Justin Cutler is set to exit the role, according to park insiders. He will host a going away party later this week. Cutler joined in 2022, in the midst of some major Atlanta park improvements. He brought over 20 years of local government experience from places like […]
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Atlanta launches new World Cup ‘Cultural Exchange’ at former CNN Center
With only 25 days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup lands in Atlanta, the city is making its final preparations to welcome the world. The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is the latest to join a roster of projects like Centennial Yards, SoDo and Decatur WatchFest with the Atlanta Cultural Exchange – the city’s new “cultural […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Atlanta cracks top 20 in national ParkScore – but the city may cut park funding
It’s official: Atlanta has the 18th ranked park system in the nation, according to the Trust for Public Land’s annual ParkScore rating. But the announcement comes amid possible funding cuts for the city’s sprawling park system. Atlanta moved up three spots from last year’s 21st ranking in the national nonprofit’s list of park systems in […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Virginia Highland Porchfest preps for first-ever paid year
Last year’s Virginia Highland Porchfest put up serious numbers. Organizers estimate well over 40,000 people attended the free, single-day neighborhood festival with over 100 bands at 50 porches-turned-stages. Things are changing this year. For the first time since it began six years ago, the May 16 Porchfest will be a ticketed event. Attendance will be […]
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Gov. Kemp vetoes historic rehabilitation tax credit expansion to preservationists’ dismay
On Wednesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp vetoed 12 state bills before the signing deadline, including HB 376, a bill that would have expanded tax incentives for historic property preservation. The bill, passed in the House and Senate, would have increased the limit on the available tax credits from $30 million to $60 million. It was […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr, Latest News
How the Beltline generates billions, from ‘tacos to tech’
“From tacos to technology, and everything in between.” That’s how Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs sums up the Beltline appeal. The bustling attraction and “new business mode” has a little bit of everything –grocery, offices, retail, dining and plenty of people. In the early 2000s, the city of Atlanta was losing residents […]
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The bumpy road to bring Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary into a new and improved era
It hasn’t been an easy journey for Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary. The long-standing roadside attraction is famed in Atlanta, and not always for the right reasons. Many know of “BLT,” the trio of bear, lion and tiger cub rescued in 2001 that made the sanctuary famous. Sadly, all three have since passed. But Noah’s Ark […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Peachtrees are finally returning to Peachtree Street – temporarily
Atlanta has a staggering 71 streets and roads named Peachtree, but few are lined with their namesakes. That’s about to change. On May 8, Atlanta Way 2.0 announced PeachTrees on Peachtree, a three-week “immersive celebration” of the state fruit. 16 trees from Pearson Farms, one of the state’s remaining family-owned peach farms, will be placed […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
ATLFF Favorites: ‘Frogtown’ is built like a magic trick
On April 23, the front of the Plaza Theatre is packed with crowds at the opening night of the 50th annual Atlanta Film Festival, where stars like O’Shea Jackson Jr. walk the red carpet to promote the local premiere of “Idiots.” Most are lined up to get into the screening. But another, smaller line has […]
