Metro Chamber renewing lease at 191 Peachtree
The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) is staying Downtown, renewing its lease at the 191 Peachtree Tower, where it has been since 2016.
MAC moved to the 191 tower after it sold its headquarters building at Centennial Olympic Park, where it had been located since 1987. The building was demolished to expand the park and to create an unobstructed vista of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Omni Hotel.
“As a 166-year-old organization rooted in shaping metro Atlanta’s future, it’s important for
us to be located in the center of the region,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, MAC’s president and CEO. “This renewed commitment to 191 Peachtree reflects our confidence in Downtown’s continued momentum and our role in helping it strengthen.”
The Chamber will continue to be located on the 34th floor of the 191 tower, where it is leasing a 25,470-square-foot space featuring panoramic views of the city.
The renewed lease will keep the Chamber at that location through July 2037. JLL’s Josh Hirsh and Ryanne Pennington supported MAC in lease negotiations.
— Maria Saporta
PeachFest is coming back to Atlanta
PeachFest is returning to Atlanta for its 11th year this Sunday, July 27.
The festival, which will take place at Peachtree Center Plaza in Downtown Atlanta, is centered around celebrating the state’s iconic fruit, the peach — dozens of chefs, farmers, bartenders and more will serve a variety of dishes and drinks, many of which will incorporate peaches in one way or another.
“It’s about honoring the people and places behind the ingredients, from farmers and chefs to winemakers and distillers — and creating a space where guests can taste something that feels both exciting and meaningful,” said Brady Lowe, founder of the Taste Network which sponsors the festival.
In addition to the yearly festival, the event has programming this entire week, which started on Monday the 21st, in partnership with Pearson Farm Peach Week.
General admission starts at $95, and $130 for VIP. Proceeds for the festival will go towards nonprofits CURE Childhood Cancer and Piggy Bank.
— Mark Lannaman
Racetrac Run for Research 5K
While not quite racing to Beat the Freeze at Truist Park, runners can participate in the RaceTrac’s Run for Research 5K next month in support of Parkinson’s research from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
On Aug. 23, Racetrac will again host its Run for Research 5K at The Battery Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Braves, with all races to finish on the field.The event will open registrations at 7 am, with races taking off at 8 and 8:30 am.
The event has multiple signup groups, along with a $20 Virtual 5K option:
- 5K Run/Walk for $35
- 1K Run/walk for $25
- 1K Run/Walk 12 and under for $5
The theme for the event is “Race for Fox in Your Craziest Socks”, prompting participants to wear their funkiest, wildest, most unique socks while they run or walk. Awards will be given for top male and female RaceTrac employees, along with overall top male and female participants, and top three male and female across nine age brackets.
Times for the 5k can be used as qualifiers for the Peachtree Road race, Atlanta’s biggest race held every July 4. Signup prices increase after July 26th.
— Mark Lannaman
Sustain Our Future Foundation announces 2025 Sustainable Justice HBCU Fellowship
Last month, Sustain Our Future Foundation (SOFF) announced its 2025 Sustainable Justice HBCU cohort of fellows, who were matched with environmental internships for summer internships.
The program launched last year with an inaugural cohort of seven HBCU students. One of the primary goals of the program is to bolster capacity in grassroots environmental organizations through the addition of the fellow. The fellowship comes with a $5000 upfront stipend and a $10,000 scholarship upon successful completion of the internship.
Fellows were placed with organizations based all over the country, ranging from Georgia, Tennessee, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, and Louisiana. Atlanta-local organizations that some fellows were placed with include Southface Institute and West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.
“The Sustainable Justice HBCU Fellowship creates a powerful foundation for students to grow as both skilled professionals and changemakers,” said Naadiya Hutchinson, Program Director of Sustain Our Future Foundation in a press release. “We are proud to guide and learn alongside these emerging leaders as they shape the future of sustainability with integrity and purpose.”
Atlanta, with its storied Atlanta University Center (AUC) that includes Clark, Morehouse, Spelman and Morehouse School of Medicine — along with former member Morris Brown — is one of the most HBCU-dense cities in the country.
— Mark Lannaman
Monday Night Brewing to open The Grove along Beltline Trail
Monday Night Brewing will officially debut The Grove on Saturday, Aug. 16. The opening coincides with the launch of a new stretch of the Atlanta Beltline Northwest Trail, giving guests direct access to the brewery’s expanded space.
Located next to the original taproom on Trabert Avenue, The Grove adds a new 7,400-square-foot indoor taproom, 17,000 square feet of outdoor communal space and a lineup of food and beverage offerings including coffee service, cocktails and house-made pizza. Thirty taps will pour Monday Night beers.
Grand opening festivities include live music, brewery tours and specialty drinks on Aug. 16. A family-friendly day follows with a farmer’s market, pop-up craft fair, kid activities and the “World’s Shortest Beltline Race.”
The Grove will also serve as a venue for live music and private events, offering amenities like shaded patios, a 20-foot outdoor screen and fire pits — all surrounded by native trees. The expansion marks Monday Night’s sixth taproom.
— Derek Prall
Tickets on sale for Dad’s Garage 30th anniversary season
Tickets are now on sale for the 30th anniversary season at Dad’s Garage Theatre, which launches this August with a full slate of improv shows, scripted performances and special events.
Opening weekend includes the return of audience favorites such as “The Tight Acquaintances,” running Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., and “Felt Street,” a puppet-driven parody on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. The Friday lineup also features “BlackGround,” an all-Black improv troupe reimagining popular films through a new lens.
Additional fall productions include “Understudied,” an improvised musical; “Murder, She Improvised,” a rotating murder mystery; “Plays by Bots,” an AI-generated stage show; and a limited run of “Improvised Shakespeare” on Oct. 13 and 14.
Holiday programming includes “Invasion: Christmas Carol,” returning Nov. 28 through Dec. 20. The season continues into 2026 with the 30th anniversary “TheatreSports Tournament” in January, “Vavianna Vardot’s Famous Sex Party” in February, the rescue-themed “Puppy Prov” in spring, and a new season of the long-running soap opera spoof “Scandal!” in June.
Full show information and tickets are available here.
— Derek Prall
Mary Mac’s Tea Room expands nationally through Goldbelly partnership
Mary Mac’s Tea Room, a Midtown Atlanta institution since 1945, is now offering its signature Southern dishes to customers across the country through a new partnership with national food delivery service Goldbelly.
The restaurant’s most popular items — including its fried chicken dinner kits, peach cobbler, cinnamon rolls and Southern sides — are now available for nationwide shipping. In addition to its online offerings, Mary Mac’s has also launched grab-and-go meals available for pickup at its Ponce de Leon Avenue location.
“Mary Mac’s Tea Room is now accessible to even more customers,” owner Harold Martin Jr. said. “Whether it’s visitors who stopped by during a trip to Atlanta or locals wanting to share our meals with friends and family, these new options help us stay connected.”
— Derek Prall
Victor Engel named planning administrator for Metro North Georgia Water District
The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District has named Victor Engel, Ph.D., as its new Planning Administrator and Manager.
Engel will oversee planning, administration and stakeholder engagement for regional water programs across the 15-county metro Atlanta area. His role includes leading initiatives on water efficiency, climate resilience and water quality protection. He will report to Danny Johnson, managing director of natural resources at the Atlanta Regional Commission.
Engel brings more than 20 years of experience from federal science agencies. He most recently served as director of the U.S. Geological Survey’s South Atlantic Water Science Center, leading hydrologic monitoring and analysis across three states. His previous roles include senior positions with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
“Vic brings us a powerful mix of technical expertise and leadership experience,” Johnson said. “We’re excited for him to advance our partnerships and continue safeguarding metro Atlanta’s water resources.”
— Derek Prall
South Fulton council approves Independent Investigation into police department
The City of South Fulton City Council voted unanimously on July 18 to launch an independent investigation into the operations of the South Fulton Police Department.
Approved during a special called meeting at City Hall, the motion authorizes a third-party review of the department’s promotional practices, handling of internal investigations, and adherence to human resources policies and standard operating procedures.
The investigation will examine promotions made over the past three years, assess how internal complaints have been managed, and review disciplinary protocols for consistency and compliance with best practices.
— Derek Prall
Feeding Georgia names Julie Bryant Kuykendall new executive director
Feeding Georgia has appointed Julie Bryant Kuykendall as its new executive director, bringing a seasoned communications professional to lead the statewide hunger relief network.
Kuykendall, who steps into the role immediately, brings more than 20 years of experience in journalism, advocacy and strategic communications across government, corporate and nonprofit sectors. She succeeds Danah Craft, who served as executive director for 14 years.
“It is an extraordinary honor to step into this role at such a critical moment for our state,” Kuykendall said. “Feeding Georgia’s mission is deeply personal to me. I’ve seen how food banks nourish not just bodies but entire communities.”
— Derek Prall
Georgia Power names Tyler Cook CFO and Treasurer
Georgia Power has named Tyler Cook as its new senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, effective July 31. She succeeds Aaron Abramovitz, who will take on the role of senior vice president of finance and treasurer at parent company Southern Company.
Cook brings nearly 25 years of experience within the Southern Company system. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of finance and enterprise transformation for Southern Company, where she led strategic financial initiatives and operational improvements. She previously served as vice president of finance and business transformation at Georgia Power.
“Tyler’s leadership has shaped long-term strategy and driven transformation across the business,” said Kim Greene, Georgia Power chairman, president and CEO. “We’re excited to welcome her back. Her insight and commitment will help us build on our bright future.”
— Derek Prall
South Fulton Arts opens 2026 partner program applications
South Fulton Arts is now accepting applications for its 2026 CREATE: A Partner Program, offering up to $5,000 in funding for individual artists and arts organizations working in or with the South Fulton community.
Applications opened July 15 and will be accepted through Oct. 1. The program aims to strengthen the local arts ecosystem by supporting impactful projects and long-term partnerships. Since its launch, more than 200 creatives have participated as SFA partners.
Selected applicants will receive funding in two installments — 50 percent at the start of the project and the remaining amount upon completion and final reporting. In addition to financial support, participants gain access to pro-bono consulting, mentorship and introductions to local schools and community partners to help expand reach and engagement.
While applicants must demonstrate how their work serves South Fulton County, residency is not required. All applicants must agree to showcase their work within the South Fulton community.
— Derek Prall
Gas South Arena to undergo major renovation beginning in 2026
Gas South Arena in Duluth is set for a major renovation aimed at elevating the guest experience while keeping the venue fully operational throughout the project.
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved funding on July 22 to support the overhaul, which includes upgrades to the 13,000-seat arena’s entry plaza, seating, concessions and technology. The renovations will also modernize restrooms, expand the lobby and replace key infrastructure like the roof, HVAC and electrical systems.
Originally opened in 2002, the arena has welcomed nearly 20 million guests and delivered more than $1 billion in economic impact to Gwinnett County. The updates are designed to meet evolving industry standards and visitor expectations while reinforcing the arena’s role as a regional entertainment hub.
“We’ve held up well for 23 years, but it’s time to evolve,” said Stan Hall, Gas South District president and CEO.
— Derek Prall
Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Opera announce cast for ‘Fiddler on the Roof’
The Alliance Theatre and the Atlanta Opera have announced the cast and creative team for their co-production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” which will run Sept. 4 through Oct. 5 at the Alliance Theatre.
Israeli actor Itzik Cohen, known for his role in the Netflix series “Fauda,” will star as Tevye. Tony and Grammy Award winner Debbie Gravitte will play Golde. The cast also includes Coby Getzug, Mia Pinero, Maya Jacobson, Oliver Prose, Amanda Fallon Smith and Atlanta-based Rabbi Ron Segal.
Tomer Zvulun, artistic director of the Atlanta Opera, will direct the production. Music direction is by Or Matias, with design by Vita Tzykun, Alexander Lisiyansky, Thomas C. Hase and Dan Moses Schreier. Choreography is by Chloe Treat.
The collaboration marks a major partnership between two of Atlanta’s leading performing arts institutions. An accompanying exhibit will open at the Breman Museum featuring the work of costume designer Vita Tzykun and her father, artist Arkady Tzykun.
Tickets are available at AllianceTheatre.org and AtlantaOpera.org.
