Tuesday tidbits
July 30Ā ā If youāve been missingĀ Big Daveās CheesesteaksĀ in Downtown Atlanta, hereās some good news: The restaurant is reopening this fall in the former Waffle House location under Der Biergarten on Marietta Street.
š¤ļø Mostly sunny and hot today. The high will beĀ 91Ā°, but the heat index will top 100Ā°.
ā” Presumed Democratic presidential nominee,Ā Vice President Kamala Harris, visits Atlanta today for a campaign rally at the new GSU Convocation Center.Ā Rapper Megan Thee StallionĀ is expected to appear. Harris will speak at 7 p.m., but heavy traffic is expected from noon until 9 p.m.Ā
š³ The Georgia Secretary of Stateās office has launched a new web portal that allows voters toĀ cancel their registration online.
š Ā The last two members of the embattledĀ Housing Authority of Fulton CountyĀ were removed yesterday by the county commission, which also appointed four new board members.
š” Braves games will return to Comcast on Aug. 1 after the cable giant and Diamond Sports Group reached a new carriage dealĀ to return Bally Sports South to Xfinity customers.
š£ļø TheĀ Georgia State Election BoardĀ will meet today for the first time since conservative board members advanced election rules that allegedly violated Georgiaās Open Meetings Act.
š„ ResidentsĀ of the fire-damaged Bell Collier Village apartments on Howell Mill RoadĀ may not be able to return to the building for weeks, according to a letter sent by the management company.
š Georgia Schools Superintendent Richard Woods says advanced African American studiesĀ will be available, but still wonāt recommend the advanced placement course for state approval.Ā
āļø Controversy has resurfaced over theĀ installation of a roundaboutĀ at a major intersection in Brookhaven.
OLYMPICS
š„Ā For the first time in 16 years, theĀ U.S. Menās Gymnastics team won an Olympic medal.Ā The Americans, including Georgiaās Brody Malone, took Bronze with Japan and China finishing first and second, respectively.
ā ļøĀ The menās triathlon has been postponed due toĀ poor water quality in the Seine.
šŗšøĀ The U.S. sits atopĀ the current medal countĀ with 20 total.Ā
ELSEWHERE
āļø President Joe Biden called for significant reform,Ā including term limits, of the U.S. Supreme Court.
šĀ McDonaldās reportedĀ disappointing Q2 earnings, as decreased consumer spending on fast food and increased competition led to a decline in sales for the first time in more than 13 quarters.
š Hereās whatās in todayās newsletter:
ā¢ ADAC expansion
ā¢ Take 5 with Tamika Newhouse
ā¢ Around the State: GPB
AND
ā¢ Volunteer Opportunities
HappyĀ International Friendship Day!
Collin & Sammie
š¶ River lovers and paddlers! Join us for theĀ Georgia Rivers GalaĀ on Aug.Ā 22 at the Atlanta History Center to celebrate historic river conservation efforts and support the future of river recreation.Ā Get tickets here. (SPONSOR MESSAGE)
![](https://i0.wp.com/roughdraftatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/RD-2-13.png?resize=780%2C471&quality=80&ssl=1)
1. ADAC announces expansion with new design studios and offices
š§āšØ The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) has announced the expansion of The Design Studios at ADAC, adding 17 designer and architect offices to the campus on Peachtree Hills Avenue.
The new suite of offices spans 12,500 square feet, totaling 50,000 square feetĀ across more than 40 offices created specifically for designers and architects in ADAC and ADAC West.
The new suite of offices will be located on the second floor near The Hungry Peach cafƩ and will include shared conference rooms, unisex bathrooms, a break room with a kitchenette, and a common area.
ā”ļøĀ Learn more about the expansion here.
![](https://i0.wp.com/roughdraftatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/RD-3-1.jpeg?resize=780%2C585&quality=89&ssl=1)
Donāt miss the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival!
SPONSORED BY ATLANTA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
Within the famous Tasting Tents presented by Goya Foods, guests will have the chance to immerse themselves into over 60 tasting stations, each one a portal to culinary bliss as your ticket includes delectable food, tantalizing drinks, captivating entertainment, and so much more this September!
š“ Act fast ā Early Bird Tickets areĀ on sale now!Ā Buy tickets here.Ā
![](https://i0.wp.com/roughdraftatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/RD-4-12.png?resize=780%2C589&quality=80&ssl=1)
2. Take 5 with Black Writers Weekend founder Tamika Newhouse
š The upcomingĀ Black Writers Weekend, set for Aug. 1-3, is the brainchild of Atlanta creativeĀ Tamika Newhouse.
Newhouseās festival is rooted in Black storytelling and has been going strong since 2009. For her column this week, Teri Elam spoke with Newhouse about what inspired her to create the festival, what audiences can expect, and her career as an author.Ā
ā”ļøĀ Check out Teriās conversation with Newhouse here.
![](https://i0.wp.com/roughdraftatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/RD-5-16.png?resize=780%2C488&quality=80&ssl=1)
3. Medicare tests paymentĀ plan for respite care costs so unpaid caregivers can ātake a breakā
š©ŗ Medicaid patients living with dementia may now access an alternative payment model that aims to increase quality of life, help them remain in their homes for as long as possible, and decrease strain on unpaid caregivers, through aĀ collaborationĀ with Emory Integrated Memory Care and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Ā
More than 1% of Georgiaās population ā or roughly 188,000 people and growing ā live with Alzheimerās disease and Alzheimerās disease-related dementias, according to the Alzheimerās Association.
Despite having a population of less than 100,000, Dougherty County had the seventh-highest prevalence of Alzheimerās in the nation in 2020.Ā The reportĀ also indicates that 64% of the stateās 374,000 unpaid caregivers reported having at least one chronic health condition, and 59% felt that they were on duty ā24/7.ā
š„Ā Read more on this story from GPBās Ellen Eldridge here.
š¶ River lovers and paddlers! Join us for theĀ Georgia Rivers GalaĀ on Aug. 22 at the Atlanta History Center to celebrate historic river conservation efforts and support the future of river recreation.Ā Get tickets here. (SPONSOR MESSAGE)
![](https://i0.wp.com/roughdraftatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/RD-6-16.png?resize=780%2C439&quality=80&ssl=1)
4. Volunteer Opportunities
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANDS ON ATLANTA
šĀ Ā Decaturās New Life Community Alliance (pictured) is looking for car ambassadors to help in their food pantry onĀ Thursday morning. You will distribute boxesĀ and help load items into vehicles.
š¦Ā Ā Grace Community Fellowship Church in Atlanta also needs volunteers for their food pantryĀ on Friday.Ā You will help distribute items to both senior and homeless communities.Ā
šĀ Wylde Center is looking forĀ Saturday morningĀ volunteers in Edgewoodās Coan Garden. Tasks vary, butĀ could include weeding, planting, harvesting, cleaning, and general landscape maintenance. Please wear appropriate clothing and closed-toed shoes.
![](https://i0.wp.com/roughdraftatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/RD-7-18.png?resize=600%2C335&quality=80&ssl=1)
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š§ Todayās newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.