Develop Fulton today announced the appointments of Dr. Bryan Johnson, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, and Yngrid Jones-Huff, Deputy Chief Operations Officer for Fulton County Schools, to its Board of Directors following unanimous approval on Jan. 7, by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
Dr. Johnson, a former corporate executive and nationally recognized K-12 leader, brings a unique blend of private-sector and education leadership to the Develop Fulton Board. He succeeds Erica Long, Chief of Policy for Atlanta Public Schools, whose board term concluded last year.
Since assuming leadership of Atlanta Public Schools, Dr. Johnson has guided the district to the highest graduation rate in its history at 90.5 percent and has overseen improvements across every Georgia Milestones content band for grades three through eight.
Previously serving as Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, Dr. Johnson led innovative, nationally recognized initiatives including HCS EdConnect and Future Ready Institutes. In 2021, he was named Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and was one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year. He is currently spearheading APS Forward 2040, a comprehensive facilities and academic modernization plan designed to increase operational efficiency, deepen academic programming, establish the Atlanta Schools of the Arts at Carver, and expand workforce development opportunities for students.
“Dr. Johnson brings a forward-thinking, results-driven perspective that underscores the critical connection between education, workforce readiness, and economic development,” said Kwanza Hall, Chair of Develop Fulton Board of Directors. “We are grateful to Erica Long for her unwavering dedication, advocacy, and thoughtful leadership as a board member, and we look forward to Dr. Johnson’s contributions as we continue aligning education systems with Fulton County’s long-term growth strategy.”
Yngrid Jones-Huff joins the Develop Fulton Board with more than 25 years of public-sector experience leading large-scale organizational strategy, capital planning, and operational excellence. She succeeds Dr. Mike Looney, Superintendent of Fulton County Schools, whose board term also concluded last year.
In her current role, Jones-Huff provides strategic oversight for Fulton County Schools’ districtwide operations, including capital programs, facilities services, transportation, nutrition, and operational planning. She is widely recognized for translating complex data into actionable strategies that strengthen performance, drive efficiency, and support equitable resource distribution.
Jones-Huff’s expertise in analyzing residential development trends and enrollment projections has guided long-range facility planning, school siting decisions, and multi-jurisdictional growth management efforts. Over the course of her career, she has helped shape multi-billion-dollar capital programs, comprehensive master planning initiatives, and districtwide redistricting and school consolidation efforts. She is a trusted advisor to boards of education, superintendents, and senior leadership teams.
“Yngrid’s operational expertise and deep understanding of growth dynamics across Fulton County make her an invaluable addition to our Board,” said Develop Fulton Executive Director Sarah-Elizabeth Langford. “We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Mike Looney for his years of dedicated service and leadership, and we look forward to continuing our work in partnership with Fulton County Schools as we advance responsible, community-centered development throughout the county.”
Jones-Huff holds a Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Fort Valley State University.
The appointments of Dr. Johnson and Jones-Huff reinforce Develop Fulton’s commitment to leveraging education-focused leadership, operational excellence, and data-driven decision-making to advance community-centered economic development across Fulton County.
The Stafford School of Business Interim Dean Franzelle Mathis-Pertilla, Ph.D., is calling this “the greatest retirement exit ever” as she concludes her tenure with exciting news.The Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Board of Commissioners recently announced that the Bachelor of Science in Business at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The accreditation is valid for 10 years.ACBSP accreditation brings several positive outcomes to the ABAC business community and Stafford School of Business (SSB).
“Students are the number one beneficiaries, as the accreditation enhances credibility and reputation, thereby increasing employability,” said Mathis-Pertilla. “For the School, it will help boost enrollment and attract faculty. More broadly, the appeal strengthens our ability to cultivate strategic partnerships, expand internship pipelines, and advance workforce development initiatives.”
ABAC President Tracy Brundage, Ph.D., emphasized the significance of the accreditation for both students and employers. “This accreditation is a powerful affirmation of the quality of education our students receive at the Stafford School of Business,” Brundage said. “It tells our students and their future employers that ABAC graduates are prepared, competitive, and equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. This recognition reinforces the high caliber of our faculty, curriculum, and graduates.”
In its Basis for Decision, ACBSP praised Dr. Mathis-Pertilla’s leadership, noting, “The leadership process demonstrates strong engagement through initiatives by the interim dean.”
The committee also commended the school’s organizational structure and processes. “[The SSB] has established a systematic and well-defined approach for managing the key processes involved in the design and delivery of its educational programs and offerings.”
About the ACBSP Founded in 1988, the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) is a global business education accrediting body and the first organization to offer accreditation to all levels of collegiate business degree programs, from associate to doctoral.
About ABAC Founded in 1908, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College provides a personalized, hands-on learning experience for students across Georgia and beyond. With a strong focus on academic excellence, affordability, and student success, ABAC offers more than a dozen bachelor’s degrees and is recognized for its leadership in agriculture, business, humanities, nursing, sciences, and education. ABAC serves as a vital resource for the region, preparing graduates who are ready to lead their communities and careers.
The Trump administration has canceled plans to feature civil rights pioneer Ruby Bridges and abolitionist Frederick Douglass on commemorative coins marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.
According to the New York Times, the proposal was quietly scrapped in the weeks leading up to a Philadelphia ceremony held to publicly unveil the Semiquincetennial Coin Program.
The final designs for the commemorative coins highlight a narrower group of historical figures and symbols, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and James Madison, along with an idealized Pilgrim couple meant to represent the Mayflower Compact. The imagery will appear on quarters, dimes, and half dollars minted throughout 2026.
Critics say the shift from featuring Bridges and Douglass reflects a deliberate move away from histories that acknowledge struggles for racial and gender equality.
“This is not just about design choices,” one historian said, “but about which stories are deemed worthy of national recognition.”
When asked about the redesign, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach told Fox News that while the Biden administration prioritized diversity in its approach, the Trump administration is focused on “prosperity and patriotism.”
According to the Washington Post, administration officials have also discussed minting a separate $1 coin featuring Trump, potentially depicting him with a raised fist and the words “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!” The move would mark a break in long-standing U.S. tradition. American leaders since Washington have avoided placing living presidents on currency to prevent associations with monarchy.
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We are in need of the beloved community, now more than ever.
That message marked the start of the 2026 King Holiday Observance, as The King Center hosted a press conference outlining a series of events honoring what would have been the 97th birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. and renewing a call to nonviolence amid a deeply divided moment in history.
The observance, running from Jan. 8 to 19, is guided by the theme “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way.” Organizers described the theme as both a response to present-day challenges and a continuation of the King’s unfinished work, a framework for action rather than remembrance alone.
“People are anxious. People are weary,” said Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center (above). Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
“People are anxious. People are weary,” said Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr, during remarks that directly addressed global conflict, domestic polarization, and rising social isolation. She emphasized that the holiday is not about nostalgia, but about equipping people to meet today’s realities with moral clarity and courage.
From politics to the arts, technology to grassroots service, this year’s observance includes in-person, virtual, and hybrid events designed to engage participants of all ages. Programming intentionally highlights both Dr. King’s leadership and the role of Coretta Scott King, whose efforts to institutionalize her husband’s legacy transformed the movement into a global force for education, training, and social change.
Among the cornerstone events is the Beloved Community Global Summit, scheduled for Jan. 15–16 at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The summit will convene leaders across sectors to explore how nonviolence can be applied to public policy, education, civic engagement, and conflict resolution. Youth-focused programming, including a global youth summit, book readings, and teach-ins, will further extend the observance’s reach.
Complementary events across the Sweet Auburn Historic District will connect the holiday to the physical spaces that shaped Dr. King’s life. Reggie Chapple, superintendent of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, announced a series of activities designed to deepen public engagement with that history, including a birthday observance at Ebenezer Baptist Church, a volunteer day of service in the park, and a Beloved Community gospel tribute on Jan. 18.
Chapple also highlighted plans for a block party at the birth home along Auburn Avenue, where streets will be closed to allow visitors to learn more about the preservation district and the broader history of the area. While King’s birth home remains closed due to construction expected to conclude in mid-2026, visitors will be able to experience narrated virtual tours through QR codes, offering a room-by-room walkthrough of the site.
Other speakers at the press conference included Jill Savitt, president & CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights; Helen Butler, executive director of the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda; and state Rep. Billy Mitchell, who represents Georgia’s 88th District, to name a few.
Throughout the press conference, speakers stressed that the King Holiday Observance is not merely ceremonial. The programming centers Nonviolence365, The King Center’s year-round training initiative that frames nonviolence as a daily practice rather than a one-day commemoration. Organizers said the approach is especially critical as communities confront inequality, political extremism, and dehumanization at home and abroad.
“My father also said on many occasions that we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny,” she said. “That means our survival, our flourishing, our future are all collective, and when any community is pushed down, the whole nation sinks.”
The kitchen at O-Ku’s Howell Mill Road location is constantly busy. Night after night, its packed tables order nigiri, specialty rolls, temaki. But there’s one dish guests want the most, and that’s the crispy rice. “Our line cooks are always like, ‘Oh my gosh, how many more are we going to make tonight?’” says Chef Cuong Le, assistant culinary director for O-Ku Concepts. “It flies out the window. But those same line cooks, when they come to eat, that’s what they’re going to get. So it’s a love-hate relationship.”
O-Ku’s crispy rice stands apart from other takes on the dish with its ingredients. The rice itself is the restaurant’s homemade, vinegar-based sushi rice, which has a lighter texture and taste than traditional rice. It’s stuffed inside a hako-zushi mold to release the air and make it compact. Then it’s coated in cornstarch and fried in soybean oil to keep it gluten-free. After, it’s topped with a medley of diced fresh fish—usually hamachi, tuna, and salmon—tossed in yuzu kosho (a spicy-citrusy Japanese condiment), lemon, and soy sauce. “The hot rice and cold fish temper each other out,” Le says. “It appears so simple, but it’s actually more complex than people expect. I’m glad it’s a dish everyone is enjoying.”
The restaurant only began serving the crispy rice a year and a half ago, but it’s already become one of their signature menu items. “Most people, we love crispy, we love crunchy, we love texture. We also love umami, which is on everyone’s minds these days,” Le says. “The way we’ve made our crispy rice, it really is the perfect bite.”
The new space is divided into a series of rooms, mirroring the way people live.
Photograph courtesy of Studio Dixon Rye
Dixon Rye, a popular Atlanta retail store offering a curated selection of furnishings, lighting, textiles, and more, has relocated from the city’s Westside design district to a new Buckhead location at 2300 Peachtree Road. At the same time, Bradley Odom Interiors moved to the new location and has been rebranded as Studio Dixon Rye.
Ribbon-cutting at the new Dixon Rye location
Photograph courtesy of Studio Dixon Rye
The move places both entities at the heart of Atlanta’s design trade corridor and luxury design community. Dixon Rye, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, is a nationally recognized retail destination for design professionals and enthusiasts. Studio Dixon Rye, founded by partners Bradley Hüsemann Odom and Peter Hüsemann Odom, offers full-service interior design informed by the principals’ dual perspectives—Bradley’s Mississippi craftsmanship roots and Peter’s European architectural sensibility—as well as their frequent sourcing trips to Europe, Africa, and beyond.
The store carries a curated selection of furnishings, lighting, textiles, and more
Photograph courtesy of Studio Dixon Rye
According to Bradley, the move to Buckhead marks an evolution, both for the store and the design firm. “Our new space, divided into a series of rooms, mirrors the way people live, allowing our upholstery collection and case goods to be experienced in a more relatable way,” he says. “It’s a more personal expression of the shop and the studio.”
A tablescape at the recently relocated Dixon Rye retail store in Buckhead
Photograph courtesy of Studio Dixon Rye
Peter agrees. “The new location reflects the way our clients design and inhabit their own homes,” he says. “The rooms create an intimacy that lets every piece breathe, making the collection feel more approachable. The shop and the studio are now seamlessly integrated, and it’s the clearest expression of who we are today.”
Bradley Hüsemann-Odom (L) and Peter Hüsemann-Odom, founders of interior design firm Studio Dixon Rye.
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Officials in Portland, Oregon, answered questions from reporters after two people were shot and wounded by Border Patrol agents, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Jason Esteves introduces himself to the crowd inside Jonesville Baptist Church on January 8, 2026. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The first Democratic gubernatorial forum of the year took place on Thursday at a Baptist church. The Democratic Party of Chatham County hosted the forum, and WJCL News anchor Greg Coy was the evening’s moderator. The nave inside Jonesville Baptist Church quickly filled as the locals looked to hear from the men and two women, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and State Rep. Ruwa Romman, running for Georgia’s top seat.
Photoby Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
A large table sat on a stage behind a pew. The names of the people running for governor and participating in the forum were as follows: Bottoms, Olu Brown, Geoff Duncan, former State Representative Jason Esteves, State Representative Derrick Jackson, Romman, and Former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond.
To say this will be a competitive race for the gubernatorial blue seat is a clear understatement. Along with polished and experienced politicians such as Duncan and Thurmond, there are popular and dynamic candidates like Esteves and Romman, as well as familiar names like Bottoms. There will also be some not-so-familiar names on the primary ballot, such asBrown, a former pastor of an Atlanta church.
The church is tucked within a mostly Black neighborhood on Montgomery Street, so Brown might have been familiar with the evening’s setting.
Campaign signs outside of Jonesville Baptist Church on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Democratic Party of Chatham County Communications Chair Orlando Scott said his party anticipates this election will be the most important in the state’s history. He took a moment to condemn the militaristic violence that took place in Minneapolis earlier this week.
“That is why tonight’s conversation about leadership matters,” Scott said. “Real leadership protects civilians and human rights.”
“One of these seven will be our next governor, and I’m glad they found their way to Savannah,” Savannah Mayor Vav Johnson said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Jonesville Baptist Church Senior Pastor, Bishop James G. Rodges, gave the invocation prior to the start of the forum. He was followed by Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who said he wanted to welcome everyone to “The greatest city on Earth.” Former Savannah Mayors Edna Jackson and Otis Johnson were also in attendance.
“One of these seven will be our next governor, and I’m glad they found their way to Savannah,” Johnson said.
It was the first political forum of the year and also the first for Savannah native Celeste Epps. The 66-year-old told The Atlanta Voice she wanted to be “more informed” and “involved” this time around.
Epps sat next to Safronia Ingram, another native of Savannah and an interested party.
The forum began with each candidate speaking about how they could be a governor who works with the White House on behalf of Georgians. They each took a shot at the current President during their minute-long statements.
“I don’t have to dream about fighting against Donald Trump. I’ve already done it and won,” Bottoms said.
The second topic of discussion was housing affordability and how the candidates would tackle that issue.
Thurmond, a multi-time elected statewide official, said he would “change and fundamentally shift how people keep roofs over their heads” by giving local leaders, like Johnson in Savannah, more power over housing in their cities and counties.
Esteves received a loud ovation when he said he would stop private equity firms from buying homes in Georgia. “At the end of the day, we need leadership, and that’s what we are lacking,” he said.
Romman, who has campaigned on housing affordability, said she also wants to stop corporations from buying homes.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
The third topic of the forum, providing jobs and continuing the economic development that has taken place during the past terms of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, followed a break in the live broadcast, which was aired on WJCL 22, the local ABC affiliate.
Duncan, the former Lieutenant Governor, stated that economic development needs to occur throughout the state, not just in Atlanta. Bottoms agreed.
“Community, compassion, and economic development can go hand-in-hand,” Bottoms said.
“I believe in resourcing entrepreneurs,” Brown said while briefly introducing a plan to make cannabis legal and taxed in the state of Georgia. “Your governor has to dream big,” he said.
The need to further workforce development was next on the topic list. All seven candidates agreed that the state’s minimum wage needed to be raised. Romman pointed out that the minimum wage in Georgia hasn’t been raised since she was seven years old in 1997.
Esteves, who used affordable child care programs as an example, said, “I think it’s incredibly important to make it affordable for people to go back to work. As governor, I’m going to make sure we fill all of those gaps.”
Left to right: Michael Thurmond, Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Geoff Duncan also attended the forum in Savannah on Thursday. Photo by Donell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
On expanding healthcare in the state, Bottoms said she would expand Medicaid coverage.
“Even before the Big Ugly Bill, we did not expand Medicaid.”
Duncan said the next governor would have to expand Medicaid, and that would mean working with the State Legislature.
Esteves took a slight at Duncan by saying he had an opportunity to do something about expanding Medicaid when he was the Lieutenant Governor. It was the first time during the forum that a candidate addressed another candidate by name.
Each candidate had a minute for a closing statement.
“There are more of us than there are of them,” Romman said.
“You can always count on me to put people ahead of politics,” Esteves said.
Duncan said, “Doing the right thing will never be wrong. The right thing is for Geoff Duncan to run for governor as a Democrat.”
Bottoms said, “I am here to earn your vote. This election is about the future.”
Thurmond had the boldest closing statement. “I’m Mike Thurmond, and I will be your next governor. From the outhouse to the courthouse. With your vote, we’re going to the governor’s house.”
Jackson, a father of seven and a U.S. Naval veteran, said, “This is personal. Every day when I wake up, I will come to your city. You won’t have to come to Atlanta.”
After the forum, Ingram thought the forum was “interesting.”
“The main thing I was looking for was facts and data,” she said. “I don’t think all of the candidates presented data.”
Ingram added that she thought Duncan, Esteves, and Romman did the best job of providing complete answers to the moderator’s questions.
Epps agreed that Esteves and Romman did the best. She had no previous knowledge of either candidate before Thursday night.
“I felt they were answering the questions on point,” she said.
Two people were shot by federal agents in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, the Portland Police Department said in a statement. The FBI’s Portland office said the shooting involved Customs and Border Patrol agents.
Two people, a man and a woman, were wounded and hospitalized, police said in a news release. They were not identified and their conditions are unknown, the department said.
The shooting occurred around 2:20 p.m. local time, police said.
“We are still in the early stages of this incident,” said Portland Police Department Chief Bob Day. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”
The shooting comes a day after 37-year-old Renee Good was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.
As the new year starts, it’s natural to feel torn between gratitude and restlessness. December often disrupts routines: fewer meetings, quieter inboxes and a rare chance to take stock and reflect.
But research on adult learning and development suggests that feeling stuck is often a signal of growth. It’s evidence that our internal development has outpaced our external circumstances.
In educational research, this tension is often described as a disorienting dilemma: an experience that unsettles our assumptions and highlights a mismatch between how we see ourselves and the contexts we are in.
While these moments are often uncomfortable, they act as necessary catalysts for meaningful learning and change, motivating people to reassess their goals, values and direction. Seen this way, yearning for new beginnings is a rational response to growth.
Diagnosing the source of restlessness
If you’re ready for change but unsure of where to begin, a useful first step is clarifying what is driving the sense of restlessness. Is it the work itself, the people you work with or the broader organizational culture?
Research shows that people who stay with organizations over the long term often do so because of strong relationships, a good fit with their broader lives and what scholars call “job embeddedness” — the financial, social and psychological benefits of the position that make leaving costly.
Research suggests feelings of stagnation at work may be a normal part of adult learning and career progression. (Getty Images/Unsplash+)
But when the cost of staying is stifling your growth, it’s worth exploring how you might either renegotiate growth where you are or thoughtfully prepare to move on.
Re-evaluating what matters now
Whether you’re considering a shift within your organization or beyond it, taking time to reassess your needs, goals and values is essential. What mattered to you earlier in your career may not matter in the same way now. Income, learning, flexibility, stability and meaning all rise and fall in importance across life stages.
Clarifying your values does not mean choosing one priority forever. It simply provides a clearer map for evaluating opportunities.
Some people prioritize mentorship or employer-supported education. Others need predictable schedules, strong health benefits or flexibility to care for family members.
Understanding what matters most now helps narrow your options and reduces the paralysis that often accompanies big decisions.
Titles can be misleading and often mask the day-to-day reality of the work. Instead, focus on activities. How will you spend most of your time? What skills will you be using day to day?
One useful question is what activities you would gladly do without being paid. These often point to core strengths and motivations worth taking seriously. Organizational psychologists describe this as intrinsic motivation — the internal drive to engage in an activity because it is inherently satisfying.
Whether you’re considering a shift within your organization or beyond it, taking time to reassess your needs, goals and values is essential. (A. C./Unsplash+)
For example, early in my career, I began to notice a pattern in my volunteer work. I was consistently drawn to supporting professionals through moments of career transition, conflict and change. Over time, that realization helped me recognize that mentoring and coaching were activities I already valued enough to do for free.
With that insight, I began targeting roles in my own career that rewarded those same activities, ensuring that my work consistently included elements that felt both meaningful and energizing.
Preparing for the next step
Once priorities and interests are clearer, look closely at the qualifications and experiences the roles you are drawn to actually require and begin developing them intentionally.
This can occur through low-risk avenues, including projects in your current job, entrepreneurial or side work, volunteer roles or targeted learning opportunities.
Consistently taking small, purposeful steps can help you systematically bridge the gap between your current capabilities and the demands of your next chapter. By actively cultivating these skills, you transform a period of restlessness into a constructive phase of professional readiness.
As you consider what comes next, use your network strategically to learn and ask questions. New beginnings unfold through conversations, experiments and choices made over time.
Also pay attention to the beliefs shaping your actions. Assumptions about what you can or cannot do can limit options more than skills ever do. Feeling stuck is an invitation to evolve and may mark the start of an exciting new chapter you can begin writing today.
Starting January 30 at the brand new Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra begins an exciting new chapter with a three-concert Chamber Music Series featuring Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musicians and guest artists at the new Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families beginning January 30.
The premiere concert heralds the grand opening of the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families, offering audience members a new way to experience music performed by small ensembles of ASO musicians. They offer a fresh reimagining of celebrated works, including Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, arranged for woodwind quintet, and Rossini’s Une Larme for cello quartet. Chamber works from Wagner, Janáček, and Mozart round out the performance by Gina Hughes (flute), Zach Boeding (oboe), Jesse McCandless (clarinet), Alcides Rodriguez (bass clarinet), Cameron Bonner (bassoon), Andrew Burhans (French horn) and cellists Tommy Carpenter, Ray Kim, Isabel Kwon and Nathan Mo.
The next concert in the series on March 8 features harpsichordist Chloé Sévère performing The Wild Harpsichord, a charming one-woman show that portrays the life of a harpsichordist through arrangements of popular tunes, inviting audiences to experience the harpsichord in a new light. Sévère later joins the Orchestra and Nathalie Stutzmann for Bach’s B minor Mass, performing in the basso continuo.
The third installment of the Chamber Music Series on April 26 is part of the ASO’s America @ 250 series, featuring a performance of Dvořák’s iconic “American” Quartet. Barber’s powerful String Quartet in B minor includes the original version of the famous melody that he eventually turned into the Adagio for Strings. Rounding out the concert are works from rising-star José Elizondo and a world premiere by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra flutist Robert Cronin. This celebration of American chamber music features ASO flutists Robert Cronin and Gina Hughes, violinists Kevin Chen, Lauren Roth-Gómez, Olga Shpitko and Yaxin Tan, violists Yang Yoon Kim and Yiyin Li, and cellists Ray Kim and Isabel Kwon.
The ASO Chamber Music Series showcases more intimate musical explorations at the newly renovated Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families (formerly the Rich Theater), opening January 30.
Capacity is limited for these special performances. Tickets and subscription packages are on sale now at aso.org/chamber.
CALENDAR LISTING
Grand Opening Chamber Concert JAN 30, Fri. at 8pm Gina Hughes, flute Zach Boeding, oboe Jesse McCandless, clarinet Alcides Rodriguez, bass clarinet Cameron Bonner, bassoon Andrew Burhans, French horn Tommy Carpenter, Ray Kim, Isabel Kwon, Nathan Mo, cellos MOZART Sonata for Bassoon and Cello in B-flat major WAGNER “Feierliches Stück” from Lohengrin, arr. for cello quartet ROSSINI Une Larme, arr. for cello quartet BARTÓK Romanian Folk Dances, for woodwind quintet JANÁČEK Mládí (Youth) for wind sextet This wide-ranging program moves from Mozart’s elegant and playful Sonata for Bassoon and Cello to the solemn glow of Wagner’s “Feierliches Stück” and the intimate lyricism of Rossini’s Une Larme. Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances bring a burst of earthy rhythm and vibrant folkloric color. The evening culminates with Janáček’s spirited Mládí, a work alive with youthful energy and bold character.
The Wild Harpsichord MAR 8, Sun. at 6 pm Chloé Sévère, harpsichord Chloé Sévère presents her effervescent one-woman tour de force The Wild Harpsichord. She will bring her touching and often funny portrayal of her life as a harpsichordist to the stage alongside some fun arrangements of popular tunes. You’ll see this historic instrument in a completely new light with an unexpected, funny, and poetic approach. Chloé has been a guest of the orchestra for Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, and will reprise her role in the basso continuo for this year’s Bach B Minor Mass.
AMERICA @ 250 Chamber Music APR 26, Sun, at 3 pm Robert Cronin, flute Kevin Chen, violin Gina Hughes, flute Yang Yoon Kim, viola Ray Kim, Isabel Kwon, cello Yiyin Li, viola Lauren Roth-Gómez, violin Olga Shpitko and Yaxin Tan, violin ROBERT CRONIN Serenade for Flute and String Trio (World Premiere) BARBER String Quartet in B minor JOSÉ ELIZONDO Danzas Latinoamericanas for two cellos DVOŘÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F major, (“American”) arr. for flute, violin, viola, cello The America @ 250 celebration continues with chamber works from the Americas. The ASO’s own flutist, Robert Cronin, is featured in the world premiere of a work that he composed. Barber’s powerful String Quartet in B minor includes the original version of the famous melody that he eventually turned into the Adagio for Strings. A recent work by rising-star composer José Elizondo and an arrangement of Dvořák’s iconic “American” Quartet complete the concert.
Chloé Sévère, harpsichord Chloé Sévère is the co-founder and director of Ensemble El Sol and has cultivated that group’s unusual specialty of Spanish and South American Baroque music. She has also been active as an educator, harpsichordist, and keyboard accompanist.
Sévère began studying the harpsichord at the Conservatoire à rayonnement départemental de la Vallée de Chevreuse with Michèle Dévérité. She graduated with honors and went on to the Amsterdam Conservatory for a harpsichord bachelor’s degree studying with Bob van Asperen, and returned to France for a master’s degree at the Paris Conservatory, working with Olivier Baumont. Sévère took lessons in chamber music with Kenneth Weiss and continuo playing with Blandine Rannou.
A special focus of her career has been serving as an audition and competition accompanist: she has filled these roles at the Juilliard School in New York, the Renata Tebaldi Baroque Singing Competition in San Marino, and the Handel Singing Competition in London. Sévère herself emerged as the winner of the Young Talent prize at a competition sponsored by Zonta International, after which she gained prestigious new collaborators: Nathalie Stutzmann, Les Arts Florissants, and Versailles Baroque Music Center, where she has made recurring appearances.
Robert Cronin, composer & flutist Associate Principal Flute, Robert Cronin, has been with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since 1999. Cronin received his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, where he studied with Walfrid Kujala. Cronin went on to win the Principal Flute position in the Knoxville Symphony, where he also obtained his Master’s of Music degree in Composition from the University of Tennessee. He has also held one-year positions in the Kansas City Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony.
Cronin is active as a composer. He writes music for a variety of instrumentations but has focused on works for flute, including Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra (2009), Sonata for Flute and Piano (2010), and Five Bagatelles for Alto Flute and Cello (2016), which premiered last season at the ASO Pre-Concert Chamber Music Series. The National Flute Association commissioned Cronin to write a work for flute and piano, which was used as a required work for the High School Artist’s Competition. The piece that resulted was an homage to his teacher, Mr. Kujala, called Off the Wall. Information and recordings of these and other of his works can be heard at www.robertcronincomposer.info.
Since 2007, Cronin has owned and managed a business that produces custom concrete countertops for commercial and residential applications called CounterIntelligence of Atlanta. Examples of his work and more information may be found at counterintelligenceatlanta.com. Cronin has two beautiful daughters, is an avid golfer and is fluent in Swedish.
About the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Under the leadership of Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) offers live performances, media initiatives, and learning programs that unite, educate and enrich our community through the engaging and transformative power of orchestral music experiences. The ASO engages the diverse international community of our city, bringing people together in harmony—including our youngest citizens, with extensive opportunities for youth and families to experience the power of live orchestra music.
The Orchestra’s range and depth are featured in more than 150 concerts each year, including the flagship Delta Classical Series, Movies in Concert, Family Concerts, Coca-Cola Holiday series, and many community and education concerts. In addition, the ASO presents many vibrant, wide-ranging events and artists through its Delta Atlanta Symphony Hall Live presentations. The ASO also performs regularly with the ASO Chorus, originally founded by Robert Shaw, and currently under the direction of Norman Mackenzie. The Chorus is featured on nine of the ASO’s 27 GRAMMY® Award-winning recordings.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said “this was entirely predictable” in the wake of an ICE agent fatally shooting a woman in Minneapolis on Wednesday.
“We recognize quite obviously that this has been building over the course of several weeks,” O’Hara said in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Thursday.
The shooting took place as the Trump administration began deploying 2,000 federal agents to the area earlier this week.
Videos show the woman, who has been identified as 37-year-old Renee Good, appearing to back up her SUV as one agent attempts to open the driver’s side door. As she begins to pull forward, another officer fires through the windshield.
“I would hope no matter what side of politics people are on we can recognize that the loss of a human life is a tragedy and that we do not want to compound that by having a situation which can result in destruction or further harms this community, which has been through so much over the last five years,” O’Hara said.
The shooting happened blocks away from where George Floyd was murdered in 2020. O’Hara is calling for peace and said Minneapolis police officers have been put in the middle of a “very, very tense situation on the ground” and are trying to de-escalate.
“Our officers yesterday, by the end of it, were the ones that were getting pelted … with projectiles thrown at them. At least one window from one of our cars was damaged. And just standing on the line, not only dealing with people’s frustrations but also dealing with a lot of hate and vitriol, quite frankly, that they have absolutely nothing to do with creating here,” he said.
When asked about his assessment of what happened, O’Hara said in his experience in law enforcement spanning 25 years, there has been a strong emphasis on de-escalating situations when possible.
“I think the overwhelming majority of city police departments in this country have been training to try and avoid putting officers in situations where deadly force may be necessary, particularly when there is no underlying serious criminal threat,” he said.
Investigation and police response
The shooting is being investigated by the FBI.
O’Hara said none of his officers were present at the time of the shooting, but responded to it and sealed off the area “for the purpose of maintaining evidence so that a criminal investigation could be done, which is what is absolutely needed in this case.”
“If nothing else, to ensure that we do that and have a thorough and impartial investigation, both for the deceased and her family as well as for the larger community that deserves to know as a result of the facts and the evidence exactly what occurred,” O’Hara said.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized Good’s actions as an “act of domestic terrorism.” Noem and President Trump described the shooting as self-defense by the ICE agent.
The fatal shooting unfolded on Wednesday (January 7) near East 34th Street and Portland Avenue as ICE agents were conducting what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security described as “targeted operations.” DHS officials said a confrontation broke out after a crowd gathered at the scene. According to the agency, a woman used her vehicle in an alleged attempt to strike federal officers, prompting an ICE agent to fire what DHS called “defensive shots.”
City officials later identified the shooting victim as a U.S. citizen who had been observing the operation and was advocating for immigrant neighbors. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, however, characterized the incident as an “act of domestic terrorism,” while DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin referred to those involved as “rioters.” The ICE agent involved in the shooting hasn’t been identified.
“What had happened was our ICE officers were out in enforcement action, they got stuck in the snow because of the adverse weather that is in Minneapolis,” Noem said in a statement. “They were attempting to push out their vehicle, and a woman attacked them and those surrounding them and attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”
In a statement posted on social media, Frey said the presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is “causing chaos in our city” and making residents less safe. The mayor urged ICE to “Get the f*** out of Minneapolis.”
“We’re demanding ICE to leave the city immediately,” he said. “We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities.”
The City of Minneapolis echoed the mayor’s remarks, saying ICE activity has heightened tensions and contributed to unsafe conditions. Rep. Ilhan Omar also weighed in, posting that ICE must “stop terrorizing our communities and leave our city.”
The deadly shooting comes amid what ICE has described as its largest-ever enforcement operation in Minnesota, with reports estimating that up to 2,000 ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents have been deployed statewide. The Trump administration has recently focused on alleged fraud tied to childcare centers in the state.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said his department hadn’t been notified in advance of the latest federal operation.
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After writing high praises for the 2024 Nissan Z Performance in Street Lines, I was undoubtedly excited about what the ’26 version had to offer. Well, my wait was rewarded with an upgraded coupe that came with more power, the manual transmission coming standard (although a 9-speed automatic is optional), and numerous tech features while honoring its heralded fourth-generation 300ZX “Z32” of yesteryear with some throwback alterations.
Photos courtesy of Nissan
Dressed in a head-turning Bayside Blue, the eye will also be pleased with other exterior standouts paying homage to the old school. From the 19-inch forged RAYS wheels wrapped in performance tires, to the long hood with what the automaker calls a “Z bulge, replica 240ZG headlights, and a grille sporting the signature honeycomb mesh, Nissan did a great job balancing the old with the new.
One thing that did not mimic the vintage Z was what’s under the hood. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 flexes 400 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft of torque. Paired with the aforementioned 6-speed manual transmission and an EXEDY high-performance clutch, the Z possesses the thrills we were expecting. Other 2026 features include the SynchroRev Match to enhance upshifts and downshifts; launch control; and a mechanical limited-slip differential to make every gear change…well, feel like one. The sport-tuned suspension and speed-sensitive power steering add ideal complements to the thrilling driving experience. Of course, the four-wheel vented disc brakes and prominent red calipers keep those behind the wheel confident while trying all the powertrain’s enhancements.
Large minimalist room made of concrete with a beautiful dark marble floor with incredible detail and texture. photographic quality style. Photos courtesy of Nissan
Inside, Nissan continues to balance modern tech with the classic Z. A 12.3-inch digital dashboard is paired with a three-bay gauge cluster from the old school. Comfort and craftsmanship come from the leather-appointed seats with performance suede appointments; heated power seating for both driver and passenger; aluminum pedals; and a leather-wrapped steering collectively elevating the cockpit’s opulence.
Tech and safety also get some love. The signature NissanConnect suite; a nine-inch touchscreen with navigation; wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity; Wi-Fi hotspot; two USB ports; and banging 8-speaker Bose audio sound system with active noise cancellation ensure premium entertainment. Easing the mind, there are numerous driver-assist features including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic alert to name a few.
Photos courtesy of Nissan
With a price starting at $52,970 and $55K as tested, the 2026 Nissan Z Performance successfully brings authentic, old-school design complemented with today’s innovation without breaking the bank. For sports car enthusiasts who are die-hards when it comes to manual transmission, have love for the Z generations, and overall wants to own a two-seater that promises to be an instant collectible from 2026, on, this Performance Z is the one.
Fuel Economy: As reviewed, 2026 Nissan Z Performance with manual transmission is 18 city/24 highway, 20 combined
Price: The 2026 Nissan Z Performance starts at $52,570 and Kicks SR AWD starts at $55,190 as reviewed with premium paint and Floor Mat Package.
Knott (left) with Danridge (right): Knott says Maliek was crucial to the community and a person of value. Knott said creating the documentary was “deeply personal” because it was more so a fulfilled request by Maliek himself and a call to action for people dealing with depression. Knott and Danridge also collaborated on one of Knott’s film projects BluVonte: The Final Chapters. Photo submitted
We often hear the saying, “Check on your loved ones, especially the strong ones who carry a heavy weight in silence.”
One early spring morning at 7:38 a.m., last April, Atlanta-based filmmaker, writer, director, and producer Corey Knott received a call that changed his life forever. This call was devastating news; he lost one of his closest friends, Maliek Danridge, to suicide.
One in three rural Black men reported they experienced suicidal ideation or thoughts of death in the past two weeks, reports a new study from the University of Georgia. Childhood adversity and racism may hold much of the blame.
“I just remember feeling sad and hurt, and there were so many questions circulating in my mind,” he said. “I didn’t cry at once; I was still in shock, and I had a little time to prepare before the public found out.”
However, all the emotions started racing to Knott as he received even more calls from other friends and castmates. This feeling of grief was all too close to home for Knott, as he had also once lost a cast member who was killed in Atlanta in a car accident. As far as Maliek, his dear friend, says, he didn’t want him to hurt anymore.
“I’ve seen him break down; no one saw that behind closed doors. Maliek was tall and big, but to see what he was suffering through was catastrophic and emotional,” he said. “It was not a burden to take on the task of documenting his journey; it was an extreme pleasure to do that for him.”
Knott also said Maliek would tell people he wanted to document his life, but never in a million years did Knott think that’s what this was about.
“I thought maybe it was cancer or something like that, but I never knew what it truly was until it was too late,” he said.
After Maliek’s death, Knott began creating a short documentary called “The Weight He Carried”. The documentary is not rooted in fiction, but in loss, and serves as an emotional tribute as viewers explore the life, legacy, and lasting impact of a man who transformed beauty into empowerment.
The short documentary also examines high-functioning depression, the pressure to be the “strong one,” and the gutting reality that those who heal others are often hurting the most themselves.
Knott’s storytelling consistently centers Black and LGBTQ lives with honesty and emotional depth. As the founder of HD Productions Network, Knott has built a powerful outlet for independent scripted series, films, and documentaries that explore love, grief, chosen family, and survival.
Knott sat with The Atlanta Voice reporter Isaiah Singleton to discuss the short documentary, the process of creating it, healing, advice, and more. ‘The Weight He Carried’ also examines high-functioning depression, the pressure to be the “strong one,” and the gutting reality that those who heal others are often hurting the most themselves. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice
Maliek Danridge: ‘The Weight He Carried’
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Black Americans between the ages of 15 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide is particularly prevalent among Black men, who die by suicide at a rate more than four times that of Black women.
From transforming lives in his salon to building a powerful legacy as a Black entrepreneur, Maliek’s untimely passing has left countless hearts broken. Known lovingly as “King Maliek,” he was more than a master stylist; he was a source of inspiration, a mentor, and a beloved soul in both Philadelphia and Atlanta.
With a friendship that has only grown tighter since 2018, Knott says Maliek had a bubbly personality and was highly creative.
“If your plane ever went down and you got stuck on an island, we are going to eat, drink, and have a fun time,” Knott said. “He will also mask his pain, but at the end of the day, I am a professional masker, so I would let him know he could talk to me.”
Maliek, he says, could see into your soul, and was a person who was very vibrant, outgoing, and always there for his friends and community.
“His mouth held none, and that’s what I was so enamored by because for years I’ve had to go the professional route because of what I do, so I have to watch my words,” he said. “Maliek on the other hand, was the opposite of that. He was professional but didn’t hold his tongue, and when we went out, I felt safe; he was a person you could feel safe around.”
Knott says Maliek was crucial to the community and a person of value. Also, Knott said creating the documentary was “deeply personal.” For Knott, it was more so a fulfilled request by Maliek himself and a call to action for people dealing with depression. Knott and Danridge also collaborated on one of Knott’s film projects, BluVonte: The Final Chapters.
“This is Maliek’s personal story of survival and story. There was something we had discussed that he talked to me personally about, and for a while, he kept saying he wanted me to tell his story, and I never knew what that meant until he revealed to me what it meant,” he said.
While creating the documentary, Knott said he struggled with it at first, contemplating if it was even right to share Maliek’s story. Subsequently, Knott says he feels Maliek was with him throughout the entire process of creating ‘The Weight He Carried.’
He said he was not documenting grief solely but holding someone else’s truth in his hands; in this case, it was his dear friend, whom he wanted to tell his truth while allowing Maliek to still have his dignity.
“I wasn’t intentionally going to even do the documentary because a lot of the personal things he did share, I was not putting it in simply because he was not here in the present form,” he said. “The things I felt he would like for me to share with the world had a lot to do with the weight he was carrying, dealing with, and the uphill battle he was constantly going through.”
Life gets tricky, especially as an entrepreneur, because as a self-employer, you make it work regardless, Knott said. He also says it’s extremely hard when you’re the first to do it in your circle/family, all while battling things mentally.
“I felt like Maliek was sitting right there with me when I was editing. and there were moments that were really funny that I felt like he was talking to me, telling me to put this here and there,” he said. “This was his baby from the beginning, this is what he wanted, I just executed it without him being here in the present.”
Advice, healing, & more
When people watch the documentary, Knott said he wants people to take away the lesson of paying attention to red flags and watching out for your friends, especially the strong ones.
“The strong ones normally tend to be the ones carrying all the weight, and by weight, I mean your emotions,” he said. “Whenever you call your strong friends and expect them to sit and listen to your problems, 10 out of 10 times, they’re battling something themselves, so they take on the weight of family members, close friends, best friends, and sometimes associates you’re not even close with and they feel all of that, but never take the time to heal themselves.”
The healing part of all of this, Knott said, is realizing by honoring Maliek’s truth, he’s opened doors for others to recognize it in themselves.
As for advice to men and black men specifically, Knott said it’s best to let trauma go in ways such as therapy. For him, Knott said going to see a therapist has helped him along the way
“It’s always best to let that go, and what I mean by that is to find someone. For me, this was finding a therapist who helped me tremendously, because I didn’t even know what I was dealing with before Maliek’s death,” he said. “We often bottle our emotions and trauma up and don’t ever know what we’re going through, and so many people are going through the same things.”
He also said when you confide in someone you trust, you learn you’re not the only one going through these things, and in turn, it opens many doors because people want to be seen and heard.
“No matter what you do, you can be the most creative person, the most successful person, but sometimes people feel things differently than others, where you’re always there for other people 100%, but when it’s time for you to need someone to confide in, no one’s there,” he said. “Maliek felt the rut of that, and it’s not fair to those who give 110% and we get the butt of it all; it makes a person feel lower than low.”
Knott says he dislikes Maliek having to feel that way and endure those feelings because he wishes he could’ve seen the love so many people had for him.
This call to action is to reach another soul, communicate with people to let them know they’re not the only ones who are dealing with depression and anxiety.
“I deal with anxiety all the time, sweat and sweaty palms, but when you start talking about things you’re dealing with, you’ll find other people are experiencing the same thing you are,” he said. “There is a community of people that can band together and help you with whatever it is that you’re going through.”
For advice to anyone who has friends battling depression or anxiety, Knott tells readers to be kind, present, visible, and ask questions.
He also says when you’re dealing with someone who has depression or is in their head and deep in thought all the time, people knowingly say and do things to trigger a reaction because they know how you may feel about a certain thing.
“Check in on your circle. Show up for birthdays because you may think it doesn’t bother people, but it does,” he said. “Also, watch your words. As a creative and entrepreneur, we have built our momentum and heightened our elevated anxiety alerts for events we curate, so for someone to come through and belittle it with words, it hurts more deeply than anyone can imagine.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey had a strongly worded message for federal immigration officials after an ICE officer shot and killed a 37-year-old woman on Wednesday: “Get the f*** out of Minneapolis.”
At a news conference after the shooting, Frey said, “We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety and you’re doing exactly the opposite.”
The shooting on a residential street in south Minneapolis Wednesday morning killed a 37-year-old woman in an SUV. A U.S. official identified her as Renee Good, and according to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, she was a U.S. citizen. City leaders said she was a legal observer of federal actions in the city and wasn’t a target for an ICE-related arrest.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described the shooting as an act of self-defense and alleged that the woman attempted to run over law enforcement officers in an area where there had been clashes with protesters. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the driver’s actions as an “act of domestic terrorism.”
“The woman driving the car was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE Officer,” President Trump wrote in a social media post.
Videos of the incident do not show any officers being “run over.” Several were surrounding the vehicle and had ordered the driver out before she started to drive off, leading to the shooting.
“They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust,” Frey said at the news conference.
“Long-term Minneapolis residents that have contributed so greatly to our city, to our culture, to our economy are being terrorized and now somebody is dead,” he said. “That’s on you, and it’s also on you to leave.”
The mayor said the local government will “do everything possible” to pursue justice in the case.
Frey disputed the DHS officials’ description of events leading up to the shooting, which was captured on video by several witnesses.
“Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly: that is bulls**t,” he said. “This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying, getting killed.”
Frey told reporters that authorities have “dreaded this moment” since the early days of ICE deployment to the area. Last month, the Trump administration began directing a surge of federal agents to the state, which includes 1,500 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents and 650 Homeland Security Investigations agents.
The mayor ended his remarks by saying, “We are going to meet that hate with love.”
“They want an excuse to come in and show the kind of force that will create more chaos and more despair. Let’s not let them,” he said.
Online matches are gaining popularity, but chess club is all about the thrill of good old-fashioned board play.
Photograph courtesy of Atlanta Checkmate Club: @Slickdaflicka
On a Wednesday night in July, chess boards and timers crowd tables at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall. About 50 people play chess elbow to elbow, and conversation drowns the room. Chess is usually a silent affair played in concentration, but through the Atlanta Checkmate Club, the game finds life at loud, crowded bars instead.
Two players in their early 20s sit opposite a board on a tan leather couch. It’s their first date, and they’ve turned to chess to break the ice. In another corner of the room, club founder Seth Dousman, who dons a tattoo of a chess piece—a rook—under his left eye, laughs over a game with Corey Coleman, a club regular who has played chess for the past 25 years.
“Sometimes we get comfortable talking to the same people, but here, everybody’s got one thing in common,” says Coleman. “We’re all different but we all love chess. So you will find something to talk about.”
The Atlanta Checkmate Club was started by Dousman in 2021. After watching Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, Dousman rediscovered his love for chess and convinced friends at The Anguished Barber, a since-closed barbershop and cocktail bar in Midtown, to host casual chess nights.
In those early days, there were only four people, including Dousman. The club grew steadily—attracting interest through word of mouth and social media—and set itself apart by meeting at a unique venue for chess: bars. Today the club hosts chess nights each week at Ladybird, Politan Row, and Park Tavern. Dousman says that events can draw up to a hundred players per night.
“You go to a club, you want to meet people, or drinking is the main focal point,” says Dousman. “This [club] has become a great way for people to interact and build relationships in an intellectual way over the boards.”
The Atlanta Checkmate Club welcomes experts and newcomers. Some people have been with the club since the beginning, while new faces filter in each week. If people are confident in their chess skills, there’s a tournament with cash prizes for the winners. For novices, there’s also casual play before the tournament kicks off.
Matt Thomas, a world chessboxing champion and friend of Dousman, helped the club get off the ground in its early days. Thomas has been playing chess since he was a kid. He competed in martial arts as well, which led to his career in chessboxing, a hybrid sport in which opponents square off in a boxing match, then over a chessboard between rounds (either a checkmate or knockout ensures the win). As interest in chess and chessboxing grows, Thomas believes younger generations are seeking more humanity in an increasingly digital world.
“We’re in a more disconnected generation where you can just lose yourself scrolling social media,” says Thomas. “Or you can get out, be social, and play a game that people have been playing for thousands of years.”
As Dousman looks to expand the club, he hopes to share his love of chess with each new player who sits down at the boards one night at Ladybird or Politan Row.
“I want more people to play chess,” says Dousman. “The more logical thinkers we have in the world, the better.”
Niki and Tanya Pattharakositkul are on a roll. It started in 2016 when Niki quietly opened 26 Thai in what was then known as Lindbergh City Center. The sisters teamed up a few years later and grew the brand to nine locations. Recently, they’ve expanded their repertoire to include Insta-worthy spots Pink Lotus and Blackjack Tapas Bar. In April 2026, they will add Khao Thai Isan to their empire. This Thai tapas restaurant is set to debut on the ground floor of the Mitchell apartments in Centennial Yards Downtown.
Khao refers to rice in Thai—the heart of Thai cuisine. In fact, when Thai friends and family members greet each other, they say “Gin khao mai,” which translates to “Have you eaten rice yet?” But the restaurant will serve much more than rice. Isan is a region in Northeast Thailand, known for its bold flavors. Whereas 26 Thai focuses on Thai comfort foods—those Americans are most familiar with—Khao will introduce diners to some of the spices common in Isan. Like at Blackjack, dishes will be serves tapas-style, designed for sharing. Appetizers may include papaya salad, sticky rice, wings, and crying tiger (grilled, marinated beef marinated with tamarind dipping sauce). Bamboo shoot salad, laab duck with roasted rice powder, and beef jerky will also be available. Entrees include Isan fried rice and Pad Mee Korat (similar to Pad Thai with skinnier noodles and a bolder flavor).
Everything will be made in house and can be adjusted to diners’ preferences. “We won’t compromise flavor or authenticity, but we can tone down the spiciness,” Niki says. “We’re infusing Thai flavors in nontraditional dishes, such as roasted rice panna cotta for dessert.”
Complementing the food menu will be Thai-inspired cocktails and beer towers, creating a lively, communal dining experience that feels as much about connection as cuisine.
“In Isan and Bangkok, people order a whole beer tower for a group, rather than pitchers,” Niki explains. ‘You pick the type of beer and then it’s a tall tower with a tap at the bottom for serving.”
Ten varieties will be on tap, including Thai and Laotian beers. Bottled options will be on the menu, too. Wine will be limited with attention going to creating a cocktail list using Thai ingredients such as pandan leaf, roasted rice powder, and tamarind.
“It’ll be a less intensive cocktail program than at Blackjack at a more approachable price point,” Niki says. “Being across from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, we want to be able to serve more people quickly.”
She wants the restaurant to be vibrant and colorful, and “look like Thailand from the moment you step inside.” Expect large chandeliers that look like sticky rice containers. “We want to create a fun ambiance,” she says.
Following Khao’s opening, the Pattharakositkul women plan to debut Terminal 26 (in the former home of Anne Quatrano’s Dub’s Fish Camp) at Ponce City Market, followed by Pink Lotus in Alpharetta in June. An izakaya and sushi spot called Table 6 will launch as a partnership with Leonard Yu of Omakase Table and Ryokou in Midtown in August.
