Category: Atlanta, Georgia Local News

Just before golden hour, on a hot summer night in September, stylish dinner guests search for parking along Fort Street, near the corner of Auburn Avenue, while others hop out of Ubers and Lyfts, all under the shadow of the Downtown Connector.

They are headed to Auburn Angel, a hidden gem in the Sweet Auburn district, for an “Intimate Dinner.” It is one of three such dinners planned at restaurants across the city to celebrate opening night of the 2025 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. Like the others, the Auburn Angel ticketed event has a corporate sponsor.

The night is not just a marquee festival event: It’s the sixth in a dinner series hosted by The New South collective, a dynamic group of distinguished Black chefs in Atlanta, including Auburn Angel chef and co-owner Robert Butts. It’s also The New South’s one-year anniversary.

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

The group banded together officially in 2024. Its popular, semiregular themed dinners (dinner number five was titled “Smoke”) are announced on social media and sell out quickly. They include a multicourse menu, paired wines, and dessert. Various chefs take turns hosting at their respective restaurants.

Before forming the group, the founding members were friendly and had collaborated occasionally. But it was after one well-executed dinner that the group fell into place. “It was an organic moment after the Edna Lewis [tribute] Dinner at Bread & Butterfly,” says executive chef Gary Caldwell of Marcus Bar and Grille. “We were in the kitchen, and Rodney [chef Rodney Smith of pop-up dinner series SouthernChild] started talking about the concept, and I asked if I could be a part of it. Something about family and food always sits near and dear to my heart.”

Chef Butts explains, “There were a series of conversations, because we realized, from hearing things at festivals, from other restaurants, from other chefs, that Black chefs were not respected. You know, a lot of us came from fine dining backgrounds. We would try to do our own spin on, let’s say, Hoppin’ John, and we were being told people didn’t want it. It made us think, Do you have any respect for what we do in our culture? So, we just said, ‘We’re going to go for it. We’re going to try and see what happens.’”

As for the name, Butts says, “We were like, ‘We are from the South, and we’re going to do it in a modern type of way. So, we’re just going to be The New South.’”

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

This union of accomplished chefs went beyond a desire to collaborate on themed dinners and other projects; it was also motivated by frustration. “We wanted to show the South was more than just soul food,” says Caldwell. “The dishes we create pay homage while still being innovative and modern.”

The collective of 11 people includes: Demetrius Brown of Bread & Butterfly, India “Sauce Queen” Johnson, and Jon’nae Smith, seen on Food Network’s Spring Baking Championship. Among the newest members is executive pastry chef Charmain Ware-Jason of Tiny Lou’s. The chef noticed the collective’s Instagram posts while attending the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston. Ware-Jason immediately wanted to be a part of it. “It’s seldom that we are recognized for what we do. As Black chefs, we have to work a thousand times harder. Some GMs [general managers] just see us as ‘the help’ and want us kept in the kitchen, behind closed doors. But we’re going to kick the door in and share the spotlight.”

In a city that prides itself on Black excellence in higher education, music, the arts, political activism, and more, there is a historical lack of equal representation for these accomplished culinary players. What’s been missing, in a word, is “inclusion,” says chef Christan Willis, a personal chef and recent champion on the Food Network show Chopped. “There’s not a lot of that when it comes to chefs of this caliber. But we’re turning that negative into a positive.”

In a text, Willis writes, “The New South represents a shift in Atlanta’s culinary culture, one where Black chefs can come together in powerful, collaborative ways. It’s about celebrating diverse culinary styles, championing inclusion, and strengthening the spirit of hospitality across the city.”

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

Photograph by Lynsey Weatherspoon

Behind the scenes of the Auburn Angel dinner, chefs work in pairs, having developed recipes weeks before, taking inspiration from “shared stories and memories” to create evocative dishes: a large pan-seared scallop with summer succotash; gumbo with lobster, burnt-end sausage, and crisp okra; sofrito braised lamb; and kan kan chop with heirloom tomato caviar.

A plum torte with citrus mascarpone ice cream and pistachio crunch ends the first festival night on a sweet note—as did an impromptu round of toasting from chefs, glasses of Moët Rosé in hand. The mutual admiration and heartfelt, sometimes teary, speeches were unfiltered as diners recorded the moment with their phones. They returned the love later in Instagram reels.

Later in the Auburn Angel kitchen, chef Dené Lynn presents pins to her New South comrades to mark their one-year anniversary. Asked about the moment, Lynn says, “Lapel pins are like trophies to a chef. I wanted them to know how special these dinners are and how incredible each and every one of them is.”

After the dinner was over, Ware-Jason says, “I sat in my car and cried: There was so much joy on the inside.”

This article appears in our November 2025 issue.

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As a child growing up in Atlanta, Priah Ferguson’s personality was so big and vivacious that she seemed destined to become an actor. Even on trips to the local grocery store, Ferguson’s mother would warn her before entering, “We’re just going to get some eggs. Please don’t start a conversation with everyone.”

By the age of 9, Ferguson was so fascinated by all kinds of movies, television shows, and storytelling, that she asked her mother, “How do I get on TV?” Over the last decade, Ferguson has emphatically answered that question herself, appearing on episodes of Atlanta, Mercy Street, and Daytime Divas, as well as in the movies The Oath and The Curse Of Bridge Hollow.

Ferguson’s biggest role by far, though, has been as the assertive Erica Sinclair in the hit Netflix sci-fi fantasy series Stranger Things, the fifth and final season of which will be fully released by December 31.

“I have so many memories of working on Stranger Things,” Ferguson says when reflecting on the impending conclusion of the show. “I loved making the trips to the crafts table with Joe Keery and Maya Hawke. They’d have coffee and I’d get a Coke. Being in the hair and make-up trailer was always fun. We’d sing songs from Hamilton. We’d always play games while waiting for the next shot to be set up. It was so much fun. There are a lot of different memories.”

To mark the release of Stranger Things season five, Atlanta spoke to Ferguson about filming the show, her rise to TV stardom, and what’s next.

Photograph by Sarah Krick

Are you still based in Atlanta?
I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. I went to school out here. We filmed Stranger Things here. So it kind of just worked out. I’m bicoastal now, though. I do live here, but I travel a lot. I forget that I live here sometimes.

What attracted you to becoming an actor?
I love great writing and movies with great storytelling. I did acting, dancing and I played sports as a child. My mum told me to pick one. I took a few classes at local theaters. That’s where I realized it was something that I wanted to do. I went to a few workshops. The acting coaches would always say, not to toot my own horn, I was the best one there. This guy called my mom, and was like, I think you should take this more seriously. That’s kind of how I got into it.

What were your favorite films at this point?
I really like the movie Daddy’s Little Girls with Idris Elba. [We watched it a lot as a family because it was my favorite movie.] I liked Titanic a lot when I was younger. Those are the kind of movies that inspired me to start.

How did you grow creatively in Atlanta?
I did a few workshops. One of the workshops that I did was with Jemal McNeil, who worked with Taraji P Henson and Octavia Spencer. He was the one who actually called my mom to tell her, I think she has a gift and to take it more seriously. From there, my mom took me to acting classes in local theaters. There my mom met a lady who knew an agency. I did short films and commercials. I transitioned to a bigger agency and that’s where I got the audition for Stranger Things.

How do you feel like being from Atlanta impacted your creative voice?
Atlanta has definitely given me a certain work ethic and confidence. This is something that I was able to do because I saw so many people doing it in Atlanta. I was like, Ok, this is where I want to do this. I didn’t just go to LA. I wanted to make sure that my work was really respected here before I spread my wings out anywhere else. Once I got the respect from one of the big agencies here, that really told me this is what I’m meant to do and that I should definitely keep going.

How emotional was it to film the final season of Stranger Things?
It was certainly a tender moment for me. This show has been a part of my life for a decade. After we wrapped each season, I always had this anticipation to see what Erica might contribute to the arc of the story. Not being able to feel that excitement is emotional to me. It feels emotional because I’m wrapping up my childhood.

Was there a particularly difficult moment shooting season five?
Not really. Our ultimate goal was definitely to tell this story one last time. We all had this energy to do it right and an excitement to tell the story. But as everyone was wrapping up their final scenes and days, there was a countdown. It became more emotional. The energy kind of shifted and it became more sad.

What was the biggest lesson you learned working on the show?
Just how important the chemistry of the cast is. We all came together to tell a great story. I loved the momentum we created and want to bring it to other projects as an actress, I just get really excited to tell a great story as an actress and put it all out there.

Why has Stranger Things struck such a chord with viewers?
The show speaks to people of all ages. People who grew up in the 80s, like my mom, would come on set and point out things that she had in her house growing up. It also speaks to Gen Z. I know a lot of people who I grew up with love it because it portrays so many different characters from so many different backgrounds. A lot of people related to that. They grew up with the show and with these characters. I think that’s why it speaks to so many different people. They saw us transition from youth to teenagers and all of the different emotions that involved. People related to it.

What are you working on next?
I have a podcast series called Hard Drive. It’s created by the Neese Brothers, who worked on Umbrella Academy on Netflix. I play Dasha. She’s basically a young woman who discovers a hard drive, which allows her to experience her grandfather’s memories, and along with it a global conspiracy of population control that only she can stop. So that’s really fun. I’m also a part of the new Jean-Michel Basquiat biopic movie. I’m really excited about that.

What do you want to achieve going forward? Are there any actors you’re looking to emulate?
Honestly, I do get inspired by actors. But I’m not sure about following their path. Only because I don’t really feel like I should compare my path to others. I would also like to work with actors and actresses that people might not know about. I just think it helps to tell great stories when you take names out of it. I guess I’m just hoping to work with great actors and to tell great stories.

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Atlanta’s World Cup future has finally come into focus with teams now drawn for the group stage. On Friday, hundreds of Atlantans descended on Fadó Irish Pub in Buckhead Village for a party hosted by Atlanta’s World Cup Committee to watch the FIFA Draw announcement at Washington D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Centre, where the qualifying teams were split into four-team groups. (The detailed schedule—with match dates, times, and locations—was announced Saturday in a separate event.)

Recently retired Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan emceed an event full of scarf throwing and t-shirt giveaways. The party skipped most of the preamble at the Kennedy Centre—such as the live music performances and President Trump’s winning of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize—for DJ EU (Atlanta United’s DJ) to play music. People wore jerseys from dozens of nations around the globe, cheering as their team was called, and watched a draw that saw the U.S. Men’s National Team selected into Group D with Australia, Paraguay, and one of Turkey, Kosovo, Slovakia to be decided in a playoff.

Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches in a tournament played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Atlanta games are as follows:

• Monday, June 15 — Spain vs. Cape Verde (Group H) at 12 p.m. ET
• Thursday, June 18 — South Africa vs. Czech Republic/Denmark/North Macedonia/Republic of Ireland (Group A) at 12 p.m. ET
• Sunday, June 21 — Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H) at 12 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, June 24 — Morocco vs. Haiti (Group C) at 6 p.m. ET
• Saturday, June 27 — Uzbekistan vs. Democratic Republic of the Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia (Group K) at 7:30 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, July 1 — Round of 32
• Tuesday, July 7 — Round of 16
• Wednesday, July 15 — Semifinal

Of note, Spain plays two matches in Atlanta as the odds-on favorite to win the World Cup, with international stars Lamine Yamal and Pedri. Morocco reached the semifinals in the 2022 World Cup and return with a strong side favored to make a deep run in 2026.

Photograph by Xavier Stevens

Atlanta will host eight World Cup matches in the tournament hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Over the past several months, millions of dollars have poured into downtown Atlanta in the form of major developments (Centennial Yards at the Gulch, Five Points MARTA Station) to revitalize the area surrounding the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The City of Atlanta plans to build more sidewalks, repave roads, and put up more signage and lights to make navigating easier. But with 192 days to go, the questions remain if these investments will be ready for visitors in June and can last after July.

In Buckhead, the message, for now, is hope. Mayor Andre Dickens spoke with the media and touted infrastructure initiatives underway, as well as microloans for small businesses downtown to upgrade and prepare for visitors. “There’s a whole lot of construction going on now to get as much done before the World Cup starts,” he says. “We want to do things that will last a long time not just for this FIFA moment, because there will be an Atlanta in 2027.”

Dickens estimated the World Cup could bring anywhere from $500 million to $1.5 billion to Atlanta with long-term economic impact. “This gives bragging rights to the City of Atlanta, and when the semifinals are played here and they do a pan out shot of our skyline, people will see Atlanta is the place to be,” he says. “That builds credibility so that people will do conventions here, sales meetings, invest in a headquarters or regional hub. I hope folks are thinking, I want to do business here in the South.”

Photograph by Xavier Stevens

Over the last decade, Atlanta has recruited and hosted several U.S. major single-day sporting events. The World Cup, however, will last 30 days, and presents a logistical challenge for the city last seen at the 1996 Olympics. “We have had a successful model of hosting the big games, and now the World Cup is a new but exciting stage for us,” says Dan Corso, head of Atlanta’s World Cup Committee. “Many partners will have to be part of our success, and we’ve got great facilities, people, and organizations working together to make it happen.”

Jonas Sjöquist, an Atlanta local, attended the draw today in hopes of seeing where Sweden (which still needs to win in a playoff to qualify) would land. He has already bought a team ticket package for the 2026 World Cup, and attended both the 2014 and 2018 editions in Brazil and Russia. “I don’t think Americans understand how much of a cultural phenomenon the World Cup is,” he says. “There’s going to be an influx of people from all over the world—Tunisians, Senegalese, Swedes, Colombians—that makes it feel like a party for the world. It’s face-melting amazing.”

Sjöquist regularly attends Atlanta United games and uses MARTA to get to and from downtown. “I think MARTA is easy for getting to Mercedes-Benz, but I don’t think it’s super easy to get around town,” he says. “I hope our transit can handle the influx, because the public transit has been really good at the other World Cups I’ve been to.”

Brent Cander was another local in attendance. He hopes the World Cup can have real change on the downtown neighborhoods he lived in while attending Georgia State University in the late 2000s. “Downtown has changed a lot, but I just want to see it sustained after the World Cup,” Cander says. “Especially for those neighborhoods to grow not just commercially but residentially, too.”

According to Corso, Saturday’s more specific announcement of kickoff dates and times and where games will be played will give Atlanta direction on events and how the city will pitch itself to visitors for the World Cup.

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