Who is Vesta?

What an exciting Halloween weekend celebrating Atlanta's spooky spirit! The Midtown Halloween Block Party brings music and vendors alongside Avenue East Cobb Boo Bash, Boo at the Zoo's free family festival, and roller derby in Oakhurst. Add in Atlanta Streets Alive's final 2025 car-free festival Sunday and Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival—there's incredible entertainment alongside the Hawks facing Oklahoma City Thunder Saturday and Falcons taking on Miami Dolphins Sunday.

Atlanta continues transforming with Avondale Estates' $350 million development bringing 800 residential units, Skyline Apartments opening 250 affordable units in Peoplestown, and Invest Atlanta approving $925,000 for small businesses ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Our dining scene shines with Smorgasburg now open Saturdays featuring 40+ vendors, Ghee Indian Kitchen opening tonight in West Midtown, plus five cozy fall patios ahead of the Michelin Guide's November 3 reveal.

From the Blank Family Foundation's $50 million HBCU scholarship to the Fox Theatre earning "Theater of the Year" honors, this weekend captures our city's momentum. Whether you're enjoying Halloween festivities, getting three free trees through Trees Atlanta, exploring Smorgasburg, or joining us Saturday at El Tesoro for our Fall Festival, Atlanta proves why our blend of innovation and community attracts people worldwide. Ready to explore the ATL?

Madison Avenue Derby | Roller derby event
📍 Intersection of Bryan Pl and Madison Ave, Oakhurst| 📅 Sat, October 25

Halloween Block Party | Halloween-themed party with costumes and live music
📍 Politan Row at Colony Square | 📅 Sat, October 25 - Sun, October 26

Midtown Halloween Block Party | Large Halloween festival with music, vendors, and costumes
📍 Midtown Atlanta | 📅 Sat, October 25 - Sun, October 26

Avenue East Cobb Boo Bash | Halloween event with costumes, candy, and community celebration
📍 4475 Roswell Rd, Marietta | 📅 Sat, October 25

Atlanta Streets Alive - Final 2025 Event | Car-free festival with local music and parade
📍 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd & Georgia Ave (West End to Grant Park) | 📅 Sun, October 26

Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival | Weekend art festival with live music and artist tents in one of Atlanta's favorite parks
📍 Chastain Park, 4469 Stella Dr NW | 📅 Sun, October 26 - Mon, October 27

Boo at the Zoo | Family Halloween festival with trick-or-treating, photo opportunities, themed entertainment, costumed characters, and activities—free for members and children under 3
📍 Zoo Atlanta | 📅 Sat, October 25 - Sun, October 26

Vesta Fall Festival | Professional family photos, pumpkin patch, tacos, margaritas, and sunshine
📍 El Tesoro, 1374 Arkwright Place | 📅 Sat, October 26

Warp Riders 15th Anniversary Tour📍 The Masquerade | 📅 Thu, October 23
Riley Green📍 The Eastern | 📅 Thu, October 23
Adventures of Bobby Ray 15th Anniversary Tour📍 Buckhead Theatre | 📅 Fri, October 24
Lamp📍 The Tabernacle | 📅 Fri, October 24
King Princess📍 Buckhead Theatre | 📅 Sun, October 26
Lenny Pearce📍 The Tabernacle | 📅 Sun, October 26
Reneé Rapp with Ravyn Lenae📍 State Farm Arena | 📅 Sun, October 26
Sofia Isella📍 Buckhead Theatre | 📅 Mon, October 27
DOECHII 📍 Coca-Cola Roxy | 📅 Mon, October 27

🏈 Georgia State Panthers vs. South Alabama Jaguars – Thursday, October 23
🏐 Georgia Tech Women's Volleyball vs. California Golden Bears – Fri, October 24
🏈 Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse Orange – Saturday, October 25
🏀 Atlanta Hawks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – Saturday, October 25
🏐 Georgia Tech Women's Volleyball vs. Stanford Cardinal – Sunday, October 26
🏈 Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins – Sunday, October 26

🏗️ Avondale Estates is set to undergo a significant transformation with a proposed $350 million development that will introduce nearly 800 residential units, including homes and apartments, to the downtown area. This ambitious project, presented by Avila Real Estate and Hedgewood Homes, aims to revitalize a 13-acre concrete lot and create a vibrant community that enhances walkability and connectivity in the city.

🏢 Skyline Apartments has officially opened its doors on the Southside Beltline trail in Peoplestown, featuring 250 affordable units priced for residents earning at or below 60% of the area median income. The development also includes ground-floor retail spaces, enhancing the community's vibrancy and accessibility.

🏗️ Construction is progressing on the Henderson Place project in Old Fourth Ward, which aims to replace an aging apartment complex with 76 affordable rentals and neighborhood retail space. This mixed-use development will provide essential housing options for residents earning 50-60% of the area’s median income and is set to include amenities such as a fitness center and community market, all while ensuring no longtime residents are displaced.

🏙️ The Invest Atlanta Board has approved $925,000 in Tax Allocation District funding aimed at supporting local small businesses in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This investment will enhance the infrastructure of various businesses across the city, helping to revitalize neighborhoods and ensure that Atlanta remains a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

🏗️ Edged Energy is nearing completion of its third data center at Tilford Yard in Downtown Atlanta, investing an additional $217 million to enhance the facility with data halls, warehouse space, and offices. This development is part of a significant expansion in the region's data center capacity, which has surged dramatically, reflecting the growing demand for low-latency cloud and enterprise services.

🍂 Five cozy Atlanta patios offer the perfect setting for fall dining as leaves begin to turn and temperatures cool, from historic homes to rooftop views, explore the unique outdoor settings that make autumn dining a delightful experience in the city.

🌮 Smorgasburg, the renowned Brooklyn food festival, launched on October 18 in South Downtown, running Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through December 20 and will reopen in March 2026. The open-air market features over 40 vendors serving as an incubator for food makers to test concepts without permanent leases, with highlights including Bara ATL's Trinidadian doubles, Hermanita's Peruvian street food from the James Beard-nominated Tio Lucho's team, TOXic TAILgate's smoked oxtail dishes, and Tori's Japanese-Southern fusion like the Ebi Kats Sando.

🍽️ Atlanta is set to welcome Ghee Indian Kitchen, an award-winning restaurant from Miami, when it opens tonight in West Midtown. This vibrant space will feature a menu of beloved Indian dishes, locally sourced ingredients, and a unique cocktail list, making it a fresh addition to the neighborhood's dining scene.

🍽️ As the countdown begins to the Michelin Guide's 2025 reveal on Nov. 3, this year’s edition will rebrand as the Michelin Guide to the American South, expanding its reach to include more states but notably excluding Georgia restaurants outside Metro Atlanta. The decision raises questions about the guide's future trajectory and the increased competition among Atlanta’s dining establishments, with hopes for greater representation of the region’s diverse culinary scene.

🚆 MARTA is set to enhance its transit experience with the launch of the Better Breeze fare-collection system at Lindbergh Center Station, featuring modernized fare equipment and new payment options. Additionally, Lidl is opening a walkable grocery store in Home Park, poised to serve residents with fresh groceries at competitive prices, becoming a significant addition to the local community.

🎓 The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced a transformative $50 million scholarship investment aimed at supporting students at four Atlanta HBCUs—Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, Morris Brown, and Spelman Colleges. This initiative is designed to provide gap scholarships that will help nearly 10,000 students overcome financial barriers and increase graduation rates starting in 2026, ensuring that talent and ambition, rather than financial hardship, determine their futures.

🎨 The High Museum of Art launched its LGBTQIA+ Photography Centennial Acquisition Initiative to address the underrepresentation of queer artists in its extensive photography collection. The initiative has already acquired works from notable photographers like Peter Hujar and Catherine Opie, aiming to broaden the narrative of photography and foster connections among visitors through diverse stories and perspectives.

🎲 As Georgia contemplates the legalization of online gambling, the state could emerge as a leading iGaming hub in the Southeast, drawing on its strong tech infrastructure and a thriving entertainment industry. With neighboring states already moving forward, renewed legislative discussions suggest a potential shift in Georgia's historically strict stance on gambling, highlighting both economic opportunities and the need for responsible regulation.

🎭 Atlanta’s Fox Theatre has been honored as the “Theater of the Year” by the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA), recognizing its leadership and innovation in live event programming. This prestigious award highlights the venue's commitment to a remarkable guest experience and its historic preservation efforts, showcasing its diverse lineup that attracts over 600,000 guests annually.

🌳 Atlanta is offering residents up to three free trees through Trees Atlanta's Yard Tree Program to restore the city's 50% tree canopy goal. Homeowners in Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Decatur, Doraville, DeKalb County, Dunwoody, Hapeville, Mableton, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, and Tucker can apply now for the October 2025 through March 2026 planting season at Trees Atlanta's website.

🍂VCG Fall Fest
Sunday, October 26th
11:30-2:30p
El Tesoro in Edgwood

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