Come with me on a journey back to 2003, and answer me this: what was the magic sauce that made “Freaky Friday” work? It was partly Jamie Lee Curtis, yes – that can’t be overstated. But the real magic of that movie is Lindsay Lohan. Curtis had the far more fun role, given the space […]
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Posted inColumns, Common Chords, Megan Anderson
MJ Lenderman channels slacker wisdom and Southern burnout on the brilliant “Boat Songs”
Coming off “On the Beach,” we now present to you the closest thing Gen Z has to a modern-day Neil: a slacker poet with a fuzz pedal, a fondness for heartbreak, and a voice that sounds like it’s thinking out loud. MJ Lenderman might not be running from the mainstream, but he sure as hell isn’t […]
Posted inReporter's Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Summer Shade Fest returns, Georgia STAND-UP honored, Blank Foundation gives
Summer Shade Festival returns to Grant Park The 23rd annual Summer Shade Festival will bring two days of free, family-friendly activities to Grant Park on Aug. 23 to 24. Presented by and benefiting the Grant Park Conservancy, the event will feature live music, an expanded artist and vintage market, children’s activities and a 5K run. […]
Posted inGuest Column
Understanding Black Philanthropy Month as an opportunity to right historic wrongs
A few weeks ago, my teenage daughter approached me with quiet seriousness and asked: “Mommy, are we safe here?” Her words struck me like lightning, revealing the heartbreaking reality faced by every parent who has had to teach their child what to do in the event of a school shooting or an encounter with a […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Ex-Roswell leaders accuse city of illegalities tied to Mimosa Hall and beyond
A group of former elected officials gathered at Heart of Roswell Park on Canton Street Wednesday to voice criticism of Mayor Kurt Wilson and city council. Led by former Mayor Jere Wood, the group of 10 described the city as “in crisis,” pointing to the removal of 35 specimen trees at Mimosa Hall as the […]
Posted inLatest News
Carter Work Project home building blitz returns to Atlanta in 2026
For the first time since 1988, Habitat for Humanity’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project is headed to Atlanta. The annual event is known as the “world’s largest building blitz,” with thousands of volunteers descending on a different city each year to construct dozens of homes. An estimated 2,000 volunteers will head to the Sylvan […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Georgia State University to move forward with 148 Edgewood demolition plan
Months after a heated public hearing on the fate of Atlanta’s historic 148 Edgewood Ave. building, Georgia State University is set to move forward with its demolition plan to create a Greek Life greenspace. It’s a controversial move for the 1926 property. It was originally built by Georgia Power as a facade to store neighborhood […]
Posted inColumns
Staking a bet on the future, two states face a change in the wind
Iowa and Georgia are two states which have taken decisive steps to secure their place in the 21st Century economy. Now both have a similar problem.
Posted inColumns
Tom Cousins, 93, a developer and civic leader grounded in faith and community
Update: Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life for Thomas Grady Cousins at noon on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at North Avenue Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta. The service will be followed by a reception at East Lake Golf Club from 2-4 pm. The service also is being live-streamed through this link. […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
BronzeLens readies for 16th annual film festival
The anticipated annual film festival dedicated to the city’s Black cinema landscape is set to return on Aug. 20 with 105 official film selections from across the globe — and it’s celebrating 16 years in business. “We are glad that we can say we stood the test and we’re still here being a platform for […]
Posted inStories of Atlanta
Changing Atlanta’s Broadcast History
A clever, under the table move that bent the rules without breaking them left a mark on Atlanta’s broadcast history. This episode of Atlanta history begins in the 1970s – nearly a thousand miles from the City of Atlanta. A struggling college radio station. A government rule that couldn’t be broken. And a wealthy businessman […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
When Housing Is Uncertain, Learning Suffers: Why Back to School Starts with Stability
According to the National Center for Homeless Education, children experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school than their housed peers. And for the students who do stay in school, the impacts are still profound: research shows that they are more likely to struggle with attendance, concentration, behavioral health, and academic performance. […]
Posted inAdrianne Murchison, Columns
Fulton inches closer to releasing funds for staff overtime pay at jail
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office could be a step closer to receiving $6.4 million in supplemental funding to cover overtime pay and staffing incentives for the troubled county jail — months after commissioners first approved the funds. The sheriff’s office and county administration are “in current talks” to receive the funds, said Natalie Ammons, the […]
Posted inAtlanta Way 2.0
Importance of small theaters and arts centers in Atlanta
Local arts leaders believe Atlanta needs to help communities preserve their cultural offerings. Theater and live performances are in danger of losing popularity with the rising trend of streaming services. Today, many people prefer to stay home rather than going out for entertainment. Larger venues exist, such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., or […]
Posted inColumns
Survivors of gun violence push for more funds and support services for victims
Survivors of gun violence and public safety advocates will gather Saturday and later this month to raise awareness of victim compensation programs that could reimburse families paying for funeral costs, counseling, lost wages and other expenses in the wake of tragedy. Saturday’s event by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice will be held from 11 […]
Posted inColumns, Common Chords, Megan Anderson
Neil Young’s ‘On the Beach’ still haunts the American Dream half a century later
First, a quick word about what this column is all about. The big idea here at Common Chords is simple: All music is connected. Over the course of this series, we’re going to try to prove it — not with charts or genre tags, but with vibes, guitar tones, and emotional through-lines that make sense if […]
Posted inColumns
‘The Naked Gun’ is the comedy of the summer
During an early scene in “The Naked Gun,” Frank Debrin Jr. (Liam Neeson) is kneeling in front of a photo of his father, Frank Debrin Sr. (Leslie Nielsen, of the original 1988 film), asking for guidance. “I want to be just like you,” he says. “But original! And completely different!” Neeson might as well be […]
Posted inDelaney Tarr
Meet the Reel Friends taking on Atlanta indie film
Meet your Reel Friends. They’re all over Atlanta’s cinema spots: hosting themed screenings at the Tara Theatre, on set for new productions or lingering at Videodrome. The cast of friends and filmmakers make up the many partners of the newly formed multi-pronged production company. They’re young, they’re scrappy, and they’re here to make art about […]
Posted inLatest News
UrbanHeatATL undergoes latest summer campaign, building off years of data collection
Hotlanta lives up to its most hated nickname — in some places more than others. UrbanHeatATL has been documenting the phenomenon of urban heat islands — pockets of intensified heat compared to surrounding rural or suburban areas — throughout the City of Atlanta and identifying the places where they’re more intense than others. On July […]
Posted inLatest News
Atlanta gets $50 million investment from Momentus Capital
Momentus Capital, a community development financial institution (CDFI) branded family of organizations that includes CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners and Momentus Securities, announced a $50 million investment in Metro Atlanta through 2027 last month. The investment will focus on the core Metro Atlanta counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Clayton and Gwinnett. The […]
