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  • Fans pack Atlantic Station for preview of Wicked: For Good

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    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Spoiler Alert: Minor plot details ahead.

    Atlanta fans stepped into the Emerald City on Tuesday night as Universal Pictures’ Wicked: For Good opened at Atlantic Station, drawing longtime devotees of the musical, multigenerational families, and cosplayers dressed as their favorite Ozians.

    The sequel to 2024’s Wicked continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda as they fully embrace their roles as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, the new film adapts Act II of the long-running Broadway musical, expanding character arcs and deepening the political and emotional stakes of the Land of Oz.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    For many Atlantans, this movie was more than just a premiere,  but a cultural gathering that transcended ideology and condition.

    “They changed the story, made it relevant, and made it pure,” said attendee Deborah Mayronne, 74, who saw the musical decades ago. “To say that all good deeds go unpunished, that was our theme in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Now to see that message passed from generation to generation, it means my granddaughter will look at this as history. The lessons are universal.”

    Others arrived in full cosplay, blending Broadway fandom with Atlanta’s vibrant creative community. Content creator Davie Rickenbacker, also known as @iamdavie on social media, dressed in a gender-bent version of Elphaba, which he named “Elphabro”. Rickenbacker said the energy around the film felt personal.

    “I’ve been cosplaying for years, and the Wicked fandom is huge,” he said. “This is me paying homage to my younger self. I grew up watching The Wizard of Oz; it’s my mom’s favorite movie. Tonight feels like bringing that full circle.”

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    He said he was especially excited to see how the sequel introduces Dorothy, whose face is not shown in the film, and how the story weaves its characters from the first film into the original characters we have come to know.

    The film was laden with anticipation, especially for audiences who connected with its themes after experiencing the first installment in 2024. What Avengers: Endgame was for comic-book fans, Wicked: For Good is for theatre kids, both young and old.

    “I love the message behind the movie,” said Monica Awe, who attended with her daughter. “It reminds you that just because things are pretty and glitzy doesn’t mean they’re good. Being different is okay. Accepting people for who they are, that’s important.”

    ​Early reactions echoed praise from the international premieres earlier this month.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Local moviegoer Katriana Simmon highlighted the film’s faithfulness to the musical. “They added small nods that fans will catch,” she said. “At the end, instead of showing the full fight between Elphaba and Dorothy, they kept it like the play and used shadows. It was a great touch.”

    Wicked: For Good features returning stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, alongside Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Bowen Yang, and Jeff Goldblum. Colman Domingo joins the cast as the voice of the Cowardly Lion. The film concludes a two-part adaptation more than a decade in the making, after multiple delays and a pandemic-interrupted production schedule.

    The sequel opens nationwide Nov. 21.

    For Atlanta fans, opening night offered more than musical spectacles featured in the film; it delivered a tale as old as time, a story of good versus evil that continues to evolve. 

    “It’s meaningful to all generations,” Mayronne said. “The energy the movie gives back to us is the energy we bring to it.”

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    Noah Washington

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  • Atlantic Station celebrates 20 years with a roaring ’20s-themed celebration

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    A Roaring 20s celebration took place in honor of Atlantic Station’s 20th anniversary. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    A former steel mill-turned landmark Midtown destination, Atlantic Station, marks its 20th anniversary this October with a season of celebration, headlined by signature events that highlight the community’s vibrant energy.

    The festivities shine brightest with the Diwali Festival, transforming Atlantic Green with colorful décor, traditional art, live performances, and authentic bites. The month culminates in a landmark 20th anniversary finale, where a Roaring ’20s–inspired celebration brings Atlantic Station’s two decades to life with live entertainment and festive flair for all ages.

    This milestone event transforms Atlantic Green into a dazzling tribute to the Roaring ’20s, complete with vintage-inspired décor, immersive activities, and electrifying live entertainment by Jules & the Gents. Under the glow of the skyline, guests will be transported to an era of elegance and energy to celebrate this landmark moment for one of Atlanta’s most beloved destinations. 

    Since its debut in 2005, Atlantic Station has grown into a 138-acre mixed-use neighborhood that blends business, lifestyle, and entertainment.  Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    Since opening its doors on Oct. 21, 2005, Atlantic Station has become a vibrant symbol of innovation and reinvention at the heart of Atlanta. Serving as a testament to Atlanta’s spirit of reinvention, the city within a city continues to evolve as a community-focused development connecting residents, guests, and businesses. 

    Once the site of the Atlantic Steel Mill, a cornerstone of the city’s industrial boom for close to a century, the Mill proudly served as a symbol of grit and work ethic as it helped power Atlanta’s thriving economy.

    After shuttering in 1990 and sitting dormant for over a decade, an ambitious vision in the early 2000s paved the way for one of the country’s first large-scale brownfield redevelopments. 

    Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    Today, Atlantic Station’s LEED-certified buildings, walkability and connectivity serve as a nationally recognized model for sustainable urban design, earning praise from city planners across the globe.

    “Atlantic Station represents a transformative chapter in Atlanta’s modern resurgence, living up to the city’s motto of ‘Resurgens’,” Vikram Mehra, Senior Managing Director at Hines said. “Over the past 20 years, it has grown from a visionary redevelopment into a vibrant, mixed-use district and a center of economic and cultural vitality. Atlantic Station has created thousands of jobs and helped establish Midtown as a thriving hub for retail, residential, and business.”

    Since its debut in 2005, Atlantic Station has grown into a 138-acre mixed-use neighborhood that blends business, lifestyle, and entertainment. 

    The thoughtfully designed destination features communal green spaces, a dog park, a children’s playground, a bicycle training area, a historic walking path, and a free shuttle. Of the more than eight million square feet of residential, retail, hotel, and office space, more than two million square feet house recognizable brands such as Microsoft, Piedmont Healthcare, and Wells Fargo.

    The development’s transformation from steel to skyline has become a key part of the city’s economic engine. 

    “Atlantic Station has attracted billions in investment, created thousands of jobs, and helped establish Midtown as a thriving hub for retail, residential, and business,” Vikram said. “At Hines, we’re proud to have played a role in shaping this neighborhood that continues to drive meaningful impact for Atlanta.”

    Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice

    Mayor Andre Dickens displayed a message on the big screen stating that Atlantic Station is a place that represents the power, progress, and momentum that move the city forward every day. 

    “Congratulations to everyone who helped make Atlantic Station a landmark for Atlanta,” he said. “Happy 20th anniversary to such a legendary landmark like Atlantic Station.”

    Atlantic Station’s thriving ecosystem is formed of more than 6,000 residents, 11 million annual visitors and one of Atlanta’s most active event calendars, hosting approximately 250 annual festivals, dining, and cultural experiences. Once viewed primarily as a shopping and entertainment complex, today the urban neighborhood serves as an inclusive gathering place for people from all occupations.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Atlanta Fashion Week 2025: Atlanta’s Designers Claim the Spotlight

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    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Move over, Milan, step aside, Paris, Atlanta is striking a pose of its own. Atlanta Fashion Week (ATLFW) 2025 stitched together four days of style, sound, and Southern swagger.

    Held this year at Atlantic Station,  Atlanta Fashion Week transformed the city into a living runway filled with shows, pop-ups, and brand activations. The event celebrated the designers and dreamers shaping Atlanta’s ascent as a global fashion capital.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Building From the Ground Up

    Among those taking center stage was Chance Sanderlin, a 20-year-old junior at Clark Atlanta University majoring in Business Administration. Selected to design pieces for Adidas’s ATLFW capsule, Sanderlin brought youthful energy and streetwear sensibility to one of the week’s most anticipated collaborations.

    “I’m just grateful to be here,” Sanderlin said. “Being able to put my own input into the clothes and bring my ideas into the Adidas space was huge.”

    Sanderlin designed three full outfits, seven pieces total, and said the process was one of persistence. “We had to keep revamping things. It was trial and error, but everything came out good in the end.”

    Having started his brand Overrated Cultuur at just 12 years old, Sanderlin said Atlanta’s diverse style scene continues to inspire him. “Everybody in Atlanta has their own way of being,” he said. “You get to take bits and parts of what you like and make it your own.”

    Watching his designs hit the runway, Sanderlin described the moment simply, “I felt grateful that something I created is out there being worn.”

    Pho by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    A Platform for the City’s Makers

    That sense of gratitude echoed across the vendor space, where Atlanta-based designers showcased their work to new audiences.

    Robert Ware, founder and creative director of Faith+Figures, said ATLFW gave his streetwear brand a chance to reach beyond its usual markets. “We do a lot of streetwear events, but nothing like Fashion Week,” Ware said. “Atlanta culture is second to none. It’s about Black brands, Black support, just support in general. That’s what makes being here special.”

    Nashon Lee and his menswear line Nohsan. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice

    For Nashon Lee, bringing his menswear line Nohsan at ATLFW was a breakthrough moment. “I’ve participated in New York Fashion Week and L.A. Fashion Week, but Atlanta takes the cake,” he said. “We have an amalgamation of cultures and flavors. People here actually participate and enjoy the company of up-and-coming brands and artists.”

    Bria Bryant, founder of the new fragrance brand Leier Fragrances, also brought her creative vision home. “Atlanta drives culture, and fashion is culture,” Bryant said. “It just makes a lot of sense.”

    Her debut collection, The Origin Collection, reimagines the vintage Halston scent that first inspired her as a child. “I’m from Atlanta. I’ll always have deep Georgia roots,” she added.

    Redefining the Atlanta Lens

    Designer Jai Lyle had his inaugural ATLFW runway premiere this year during the GOAT x Jai Lyle show, describing the experience as both validation and vision. “I feel great,” he said. “It’s like playing a game, you’re so locked in you don’t realize what’s happening around you.”

    Lyle said his mission is to merge Atlanta’s fabric and heritage with global appeal. “We want to elevate the taste level of who the world thinks Atlanta is,” he said. “We’re here to redefine it and add value to the blueprint that Atlanta has already laid down.”

    Quintin James Crumpler, founder of GOAT by James King, added that Atlanta’s fashion scene thrives on individuality. “We don’t follow trends,” Crumpler said. “It’s a melting pot. You see a lot of different looks and aesthetics. Everyone can be their own individual; that authenticity is what makes it special.”

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Evolution of a Movement

    Even attendees had the opportunity to step into a designer’s role. Rae Holliday, who has attended fashion weeks from New York to Paris, said Atlanta’s take on fashion feels distinctively hands-on.

    At the Adidas Originals pop-up, one of ATLFW’s interactive highlights, guests were invited to design their own custom T-shirts. “I’m accustomed to just attending shows and purchasing,” Holliday said while pressing his design featuring the ATL logo. “But this is actually my first time being invited to create my own custom piece.”

    Reflecting on the city’s creative spirit, he added, “I think Atlanta has its own style. New York concentrates on other brands bringing it there, while Atlanta actually spotlights its own fashion.”

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Reaching Beyond The Runway

    “I’ve probably been to at least ten Atlanta Fashion Weeks,” said Carlea Woods, culture and style editor for Impact and Elevate magazines. “It has evolved tremendously, from partnerships to locations. Angela keeps finding new ways to put Atlanta on the map and support local designers.”

    Produced by RAGTRADE ATLANTA, the 2025 edition of Atlanta Fashion Week featured major partners and sponsors, including Adidas, BMW, Bloomingdale’s, Clinique, and IKEA, amplifying the city’s creative momentum.

    “This year proved that Atlanta has the energy, the brands, everything it needs,” said Angela Watts, founder of RAGTRADE ATLANTA. “I’m already starting on 2026.”

    After the final shows at Atlantic Station, vendors and featured brands gathered at Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square for The Fashion Edit finale, a curated pop-up that brought the spirit of Atlanta Fashion Week directly into the retail space.

    As the weekend came to a close, Watts reflected on how far the event had come. “It’s been a long journey, but I purposely took time to build it and really understand the learnings each year,” she said. “Now to see how quickly we’ve jumped from 2024 to 2025, the brand exposure, the designers, the way things were curated, I’m just happy. Atlanta has the energy, and this year proved that to me.”

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    Noah Washington

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