Next generation of mahjong  Feb. 12 (25 Shevat) 💰 Robert Kraft's $15 million Super Bowl ad against antisemitism was as lackluster as the Patriot's performance. Teenagers aren't experiencing antisemitism in school via sticky notes. Some aren't even allowed to wear typical backpacks in school. Consult a panel of 12 to 18 year olds – and read the post-Oct. 7 room. ✍🏼 This week, the American Jewish Committee released a study on antisemitism, polling Jews and the general public. Ninety-three percent of Jews feel antisemitism is a problem in the U.S.

DeKalb County School District is considering closing 27 schools, including Brockett Elementary School, due to declining enrollment, and is seeking community feedback to refine the scenarios before making any recommendations to the board in late 2026.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) announced the reintroduction of a “Trans Bill of Rights” on Wednesday. Despite chilling winds and snow on the ground, transgender activists, LGBTQ rights advocates, and trans-supporting lawmakers gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to announce the reintroduction of the “Transgender Bill of Rights” resolution to protect trans Americans, as the Trump-Vance administration continues to target LGBTQ Americans. About 30 people gathered outside to hear from legislators and individuals impacted by recent White House policies.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Atlanta Host Committee held its second virtual media panel of the year on Feb. 12, featuring local officials involved with transportation logistics. Guests included Rhonda Allen, Deputy General Manager of MARTA; Georgia O’Donoghue, Vice President of Operations at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and COO of the Atlanta World Cup Host Committee; William Pate, President and CEO of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Ricky Smith, General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Chris Raimondi of AMB Sports Entertainment moderated the discussion.  Provided by Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This month’s event focused on mobility and visitor experience, particularly concerning airport operations, public transit, and how fans will arrive and move through the city.

The Cobb County CDBG Program Office is accepting applications for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2027 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program. The application cycle is open from Monday, February 16, 2026 through Tuesday, March 31, 2026. For more information, click here or see below. 2027 CSBG Application CycleDownload

The Cobb County CDBG Program Office is accepting applications for the 2027 Grant Application Cycle from Monday, February 16, 2026 through Friday, April 10, 2026. Funding is available through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to eligible nonprofit organizations, cities, and county agencies. These funds support community development, housing, and homelessness assistance activities that principally benefit low- and moderate-income residents throughout Cobb County. For more information, click here or see below. 2027 HUD GRANT APPLICATION CYCLEDownload

MARTA will launch its first bus rapid transit line in phases starting this April. According to a media release, the Rapid A-Line will launch in two phases, with the first phase beginning Saturday, April 18, as part of the NextGen Bus Network. The five-mile Rapid A-Line will connect Downtown Atlanta to Capitol Gateway, Summerhill, Peoplestown, and the Beltline’s Southside Trail. There will be connections to the rail system at Five Points, Georgia State, and Garnett Stations. RELATED STORY: MARTA will allow fare balance transfers to new payment system According to MARTA officials, the BRT project has experienced challenges, including the discovery of old infrastructure during excavation, and a battery recall on the New Flyer battery-electric buses purchased to operate on the line.

The Fulton County Department for HIV Elimination's Planning Council have released their meeting calendar for 2026-2027. Learn more here or see below. Metro Atlanta HIV Health Services Planning Council Meeting Schedule 2026-2027Download

Now in its 14th year, SCAD TVFest keeps getting bigger and bigger. And this year’s guest lineup included two huge artists in the queer television landscape. This season’s three-day event ran from Feb. 4-6 and hosted the likes of Quinta Brunson from “Abbott Elementary,” Jeff Probst from “Survivor,” the cast of “Scrubs,” and a packed slate of screenings and premieres.

A new study by the American Jewish Committee shows that Jewish people are changing their behavior out of fear after three major antisemitic attacks took place in 2025, with nine in 10 Jews feeling less safe and more than half avoiding publicly wearing, carrying, or displaying things that might help people identify them as Jewish.

The Sandy Springs Arts Foundation's third annual ARTBEAT showcase raised $100,000 for public school programming, featuring over 100 pieces of student art and performances from four schools in front of a crowd of 800.

Construction workers found human skeletal remains in the woods near 233 Perimeter Center Parkway, and Dunwoody Police are investigating the incident.

Belle & Lily's opened in Chamblee in December 2021. (Photo via Belle & Lily's Facebook page) The Tasha Belle Hospitality Group's Belle & Lily's Caribbean Brunch House in Chamblee will close after service on Feb. 15. The announcement was posted on the Instagram account for Ms. Icey, another of the group's restaurants, which closed early last year and has not reopened. "For four years, you trusted us with your mornings, your celebrations, your comfort days, and your cravings," the announcement reads. "It has truly been a pleasure serving you, feeding you, welcoming you, and building community with you."

Opalite Pictures, a production company founded by Megan Dahl and Adam Pinney, is hosting what they’re calling a Film Salon at the Plaza on Feb. 15 from 7-9 p.m. (Photo via Eventbrite) A new screening and conversation series is set to launch at the Plaza Theatre on Feb. 15. Opalite Pictures, a production company founded by Megan Dahl and Adam Pinney, is hosting what they’re calling a Film Salon at the Plaza on Feb. 15 from 7-9 p.m. The event is meant to celebrate Atlanta’s indie film community through screenings of local projects and casual discussions about the work.

The Brookhaven City Council at its Feb. 10 meeting voted to authorize $172,000 to fund a variety of tree projects around the city. Linda Abaray, the community development director for the city, said the funds will be used to add money for the popular front-yard tree program, install landscaping at the PEP building, plant native trees at several parks, including Blackburn Park and Ashford Park Preserve, and ecological restoration at Murphey Candler Park. Front Yard Tree program has attracted a lot of interest in metro Atlanta. (File photo) Council Member Jennifer Owens asked whether volunteers could be involved in the upcoming projects, which Abaray said will be done as soon as planting schedules have been finalized.

Sandy Springs leadership held their annual retreat to discuss topics like housing affordability and the need for a youth center, revisiting some ideas from past elections.

Rough Draft Atlanta is partnering with Community Farmers Markets to let you know what’s in season at your local market. Each week, we’ll share a list of ingredients that are farm fresh, along with a couple of recipes that include those products. Here’s what you’ll find in the way of produce at the farmers market this week: Bok choy/pak choi, carrots, radishes, turnips, kale, collards, Swiss chard, arugula, sweet potatoes, mandarins/satsuma oranges, beets, sunchokes, apples, khlorabi, lettuce/mixed greens, microgreens, gourmet mushrooms (oyster, lion's mane, shiitake), herbs (parsley, chives, green onions, cilantro, rosemary), ginger, and turmeric.

Thursday moves Feb. 12 — Perimeter Mall revealed plans to move its busy food court from the center of the mall to the Macy's wing. The Dunwoody City Council is reviewing the plans. ☀️ Sunny and 62° today. ⚖️ A jury has been seated in the trial for Colin Gray, the father of the accused gunman in the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting. The trial could begin as early as Monday. ✋ The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners withdrew two closely-watched resolutions – one concerning ICE agents operating in the county and another on the expansion of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport.

(L-R) Tim Nielson, Andy Browne, Paul Lenz, and Peter Buck of R.E.M. (Photo by Clark Brown). Andy Browne played his first gig with his band The Nightporters – a local group that lit up Atlanta’s punk scene in the 1980s – when he was 14 years old. Now, roughly 40 years later, he’s exploring something a little softer. Browne is playing an acoustic show at Thinking Man Tavern in Decatur on Feb. 14. Even though the show takes place on Valentine’s Day, Browne said the gig will be “just a regular show,” although he likes playing on special dates.

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs has announced the lineup for the 49th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, which returns to Piedmont Park on Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25. During the announcement event at Illuminarium on Feb. 10, Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta Beltline, Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, leaders from festival sponsors Bank of America and Design Essentials, and featured artists spoke about the impact the event – the largest free jazz festival in the country – has had on Atlanta’s cultural landscape for almost five decades. “It’s been nearly 50 years since the great Mayor Maynard Jackson created our jazz festival and the Office of Cultural Affairs, as it became named later,” Dickens said.

In the making Feb. 11 — History is often carried hand to hand, through the things people keep close – the things we save and savor. That thought was top-of-mind as I edited this week’s Sketchbook stories. Both look at how art, history, and care connect to shape our understanding of who we are and who we could be. One piece is a conversation with artist Beau McCall, whose exhibition “Beau McCall: Divas, Blues, and Memories” opens this week at Hammonds House Museum. In our Q&A, McCall reflected on the music that gave him the strength to stitch his personal history into something meant to be worn, seen, and shared.

Jim 'N Nick's opened in Tucker this week. Photo provided by Jim 'N Nick's. In this week’s Quick Bites, get updates on openings, including Taffer's Tavern's new Midtown location, a pizza spot within a restaurant in Chamblee, and a Jewish deli in the Atlanta airport. We've also got intel on new openings in Peoplestown's food hall, another rooftop bar, and Sugar Loaf's brick-and-mortar location. Restaurant Openings Birmingham, AL-based barbecue restaurant Jim ‘N Nick’s opened a location in Tucker on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Jim ‘N Nick’s currently has 22 locations in Georgia.

City Springs Theatre Company is concerned that changes to the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center's Presenting Partner program may affect its ability to produce shows.

Stokley Williams, Grammy-nominated solo artist and lead singer of Mint Condition, will bring his healing message to "Love and Laughter with Stokley & Friends" at Londzell Performing Arts Theatre on Valentine's Day.