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What an exciting holiday week! Virginia-Highland Winterfest and Tour of Homes takes over Saturday and Sunday with a Jingle Jog 5K, holiday parade, and tours of 10 decorated homes. Add in Bonfire + Marshmallow Roast on Decatur Square Thursday, Scott Antique Market through Sunday, Christmas with the ASO, and Leslie Odom Jr.'s Christmas Tour Monday—plus the Falcons at Tampa Bay Thursday, Holiday Hoopsgiving Saturday, and Hawks facing the 76ers Sunday.

Atlanta continues transforming with North DeKalb Mall becoming Novel Lulah Hills featuring 303 apartments by late 2027, Atlanta Civic Center breaking ground on affordable senior housing after a decade, and the historic Yellow Store in English Avenue set for mixed-use redevelopment. The Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA renovation reopens with a $19.5 million transformation, while The Irish Exit bar from NYC heads to Centennial Yards next summer as Lewis Barbecue and Mellow Mushroom both reopened December 8.

From the APS Forward 2040 plan reshaping 16 schools starting 2027 to MARTA's new CQ400 train fleet arriving early 2026 and Atlanta hosting 8 World Cup matches in 2026, this week captures our momentum. Speaking of community—our annual Coat & Socks Drive continues through December 21, collecting new or gently used coats and new socks to support Lost-n-Found Youth ending homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth. Drop off donations in Reynoldstown. 💛

Whether you're touring Virginia-Highland homes, catching Christmas with the ASO, or dropping off donations, Atlanta proves why our blend of innovation and community attracts people worldwide. Ready to explore the ATL?

Bonfire + Marshmallow Roast on the Square | Free outdoor bonfire with marshmallow roasting
📍 Decatur Square | 📅 Thur, December 11

Christmas with the ASO | Large orchestral and choral Christmas program with carols and hymns
📍 Atlanta Symphony Hall | 📅 Thur, December 11, Sun, December 14 - Mon, December 15

Scott Antique Market | Large monthly antiques show
📍 Atlanta Expo Center | 📅 Thur, December 11 - Sun, December 14

Winterfest & Virginia-Highland Tour of Homes | Neighborhood festival with lights, home tours, food, and holiday activities
📍 Virginia-Highland | 📅 Sat, December 13 - Sun, December 14

Holidays at The Battery Atlanta | Holiday activation with tree, Santa, and special programming
📍 The Battery Atlanta | 📅 Throughout December

Irving Berlin's White Christmas | Holiday musical
📍 Legacy Theatre, Tyrone | 📅 Sun, December 14 - Sun, December 21

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | Children's puppet show
📍 Center for Puppetry Arts | 📅 Now - Sun, December 28

IllumiNights | Lantern light experience
📍 Zoo Atlanta | 📅 Now - Sat, January 18, 2026

Snow Days | Winter-themed hands-on exhibit
📍 Children's Museum of Atlanta | 📅 Now - Mon, December 30

Stone Mountain Christmas & Magical Flight to the North Pole | Holiday lights, shows, and attractions
📍 Stone Mountain Park | 📅 Now - Early January

Holidays at Georgia Aquarium | Holiday tree, projections, Santa, and themed dolphin shows
📍 Georgia Aquarium | 📅 Now - Sat, January 4, 2026

Winter House at Callanwolde | Holiday lights, art market, Santa, and workshops
📍 Callanwolde | 📅 Now - Sun, December 14

Raekwon & Mobb Deep📍 The Tabernacle | 📅 Thu, December 11
Glokk40Spaz📍 The Eastern | 📅 Thu, December 11
85 South Comedy Show with DC Young Fly, Chico Bean, and Karlous Miller📍 State Farm Arena | 📅 Fri, December 12
Robert Earl Keen📍 The Eastern | 📅 Sun, December 14
John Mulaney📍 The Tabernacle | 📅 Sun, December 14
Leslie Odom, Jr.📍 Atlanta Symphony Hall | 📅 Mon, December 15

🏈 Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Thursday, December 11 (Away)
🏀 Holiday Hoopsgiving: Georgia vs. Cincinnati – Saturday, December 13 (Home)
🥍 Georgia Swarm vs. Oshawa FireWolves – Saturday, December 13 (Home)
🏀 Georgia State Women's Basketball vs. Kennesaw State Owls – Sunday, December 14 (Home)
🏀 Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers – Sunday, December 14 (Home)

🏘️ The redevelopment of North DeKalb Mall is set to transform the site into Novel Lulah Hills, a mixed-use community featuring a six-story, 303-unit apartment complex and over 39,000 square feet of retail space. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, with the project expected to redefine living and community interaction in the area by late 2027.

🏛️ After over a decade of stalled efforts, the Atlanta Civic Center is set to break ground on a transformative project, including a 148-unit apartment building for low-income seniors and retail space. This marks a significant milestone in revitalizing the long-dormant area into a vibrant mixed-use hub with plans for more affordable housing and community amenities.

🏪 Plans are advancing for the Yellow Store, a historic landmark in English Avenue, which is set for a major transformation into a mixed-use space with retail and affordable housing. This revitalization, led by the Westside Future Fund, aims to restore the community's vibrancy and provide new business opportunities, expected to break ground soon.

🏡 The Trust at East Lake project is redefining affordable luxury with new townhomes priced at $269,000, emphasizing contemporary design and energy-efficient features. Located in DeKalb County, this initiative aims to increase homeownership accessibility while combating gentrification by offering residences to buyers under specific income limits.

🏗️ The Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA is making a significant comeback with a major renovation at 599 Mitchell St. SW, revitalizing a vital community resource that closed in 2015. Funded by a $19.5-million campaign, the restored facility aims to support Westside women and families with an Early Learning Academy and various community programs, reopening just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

🍻 The Irish Exit, a renowned New York City-based bar, is making its way to Centennial Yards in Atlanta next summer, marking its first location outside New York. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and award-winning mixology from the creators of the famed Dead Rabbit, this bar is set to bring an exciting new experience to the Atlanta nightlife scene.

🍽️ Azara opened on the Eastside BeltLine, a new wellness-driven restaurant where Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin flavors converge in an earth-to-table menu crafted by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Raj Pandya. The innovative dining experience prioritizes longevity and community with nutrient-rich dishes inspired by regions where people often live well beyond 90 years old.

🍖 Lewis Barbecue, a renowned Central Texas-style barbecue restaurant led by pitmaster John Lewis, opened its first Georgia location on December 8 along the Northeast Beltline Trail in Ansley Mall. Known for its smoked meats and eclectic sides, this new establishment promises a unique barbecue experience in Atlanta, filling a culinary gap with its signature style that emphasizes high-quality brisket and a cozy, dance hall-inspired atmosphere.

🍕 Mellow Mushroom reopened its downtown Decatur location on December 8th with a fresh look and menu.

🏫 The Atlanta Board of Education has approved the APS Forward 2040 plan, which will close or repurpose 16 schools starting in 2027, addressing a budget shortfall and school underutilization amidst community opposition. This significant restructuring aims to reshape attendance zones and consolidate resources while promoting better educational opportunities and efficiency, as highlighted in the details of the ongoing community engagement efforts.

🚆 MARTA is set to elevate Atlanta's transit experience with its new CQ400 train fleet, featuring state-of-the-art designs and upgraded functionalities, including open gangways and enhanced passenger amenities. As testing rolls out, the first railcar is anticipated to begin service in early 2026, bringing modernity to MARTA's aging fleet—check out the teaser footage of these sleek new models in action!

⚽ Atlanta gears up to host eight thrilling World Cup matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2026, including a pivotal semifinal on July 15. The lineup kicks off on June 15 with a match between Spain and Cape Verde, followed by exciting games featuring teams like South Africa and Morocco, making it a key destination for soccer fans next summer.

🎨 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport introduces a captivating yearlong exhibition titled "Transport | Transform | Transcend," showcasing interactive installations from Georgia Tech that engage travelers through innovative uses of movement, AI, and recycled materials. Opened on November 25 and running through November 2026, this exhibition transforms the airport experience into a dynamic intersection of art and science, encouraging deeper connections amidst the bustling environment.

🚦 A recent analysis by Inrix reveals that metro Atlanta ranks as the 16th worst city globally for traffic congestion, with drivers losing an average of 75 hours annually to jams. Despite significant investments in highway improvements, the city is struggling to alleviate its traffic woes, prompting a call for enhanced transportation options to ease commuting pressures.

🪦 Oakland Cemetery will soon be the new home for The Atlanta Wind Phone, a public art installation currently at Woodruff Park, providing a space for reflection and connection. This move, planned for Spring 2026, will be managed by the Historic Oakland Foundation to ensure it blends seamlessly into the Cemetery's landscape.

With the World Cup around in the corner in 2026, Atlanta’s short term rental housing is beginning to boom. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to capitalize on an investment property!

We just listed a house in Peoplestown that is a perfect fit - for only $350,000.

Reply “World Cup” and we’ll send you the scoop.

Our annual Coat & Socks Drive is officially underway, and we’re excited to continue collecting donations throughout the month to support Lost-n-Found Youth, an Atlanta nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness for LGBTQ+ and all sexual minority youth.

📅 Ongoing Now through December 21
📍 Drop-Off Location: Reynoldstown

🧥 Items We’re Collecting:
- New or gently used coats
- New socks

Your donations help keep Atlanta youth warm this winter, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has already contributed. 💛

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