Atlanta, GA
The Real Housewives of Atlanta Recap: Jab Jabs and Kikis
Photo: Arthur Daniel/Bravo
A vacation rarely brings a cast closer together instead of farther apart — unless you count trauma bonding, then any Housewives trip to Puerto Rico would definitely count — yet Grenada serves as a refreshing baptism for the Atlanta ladies. I may be abusing the four-star rating, but my goodness, am I elated to have, to quote Nene Leakes, pure, innocent fun back on RHOA. Okay, perhaps watching the women grind half-naked on Caribbean men isn’t entirely innocent, and I can do without so much talk about Cynthia’s clit, but comedy is finally back in the series. And it’s the type of comedy the Black franchises do best: shit-talking and kiki-ing.
No one does shade and verbal sparring better than RHOA in its prime, and it’s no surprise because shit-talking is an honored tradition for Black people, one that’s been traced back to West African traditions. As one scholar put it, “The themes about which joking is allowed seem to be those most condemned by our social order in other contexts.” We do it to bond, to entertain, to fight, and, as some have argued, to exercise our minds, as getting in a good read requires real quickness and savvy (in his memoir, activist Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin equated our proclivity for shit talking to white people playing Scrabble). It’s an integral part of how we communicate with each other, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta capitalize on this natural inclination for talking shit with their rapid-fire reads and snarky re-enactments of each other’s ridiculous behavior.
But for too many seasons, the playfulness of this cultural exchange was few and far between due to a lack of chemistry within the cast and the seriousness of the storylines. A dark cloud hung over the series, with funny moments quickly deflating as any whiff of joviality was always promptly sucked out of the room. This cloud threatened to take over season 16, but the Grenada trip nipped it in the bud, reintroducing lightness and banter. As the cast debriefs from the rollercoaster of emotions over the past few days, that distinctively Black flavor of convivial shit-talking arose, garnering genuine laughs I hadn’t experienced while covering the last two seasons. I love this kind of banter — Nene re-enacting Kenya’s infamous Gone with the Wind fabulous twirl to Kandi is funnier to me than the actual moment — and the women lean into the silliness as they laugh and dish over breakfast.
Angela and Drew go first, Angela remarking that she “made the mistake” of looking at Drew’s face during Brit’s strange monologue the night before, causing her to stifle her giggles. We’ve all been there with our bestie during what should be a serious moment, tenuously trying to maintain a straight face, knowing one glance at each other would cause an SNL-worthy break. Meanwhile, the old heads have a kiki of their own over in Porsha’s room, listening to Phaedra, the resident shit-talking queen, do her usual rounds, snarkily reading the group. Cynthia and Porsha laugh as Phaedra calls Angela a school teacher (she has a strange obsession with Angela, why is she always trying to dog her?) and jokes about living in “Scam-lanta” while talking about Brit’s donation. Then, she delivers new tea, which is the best ingredient for any shit-talking session.
Phaedra tells Cynthia and Porsha that the genesis of the iciness between Brit and Kelli, something Angela and Drew also noted in their respective kiki, involves Brit allegedly trying to poach Kelli’s glam squad. Now this is the Real Housewives bullshit we all love. According to Phaedra, Brit told her that Kelli doesn’t want her to use the same stylist, although we literally watched Kelli offer his services on the last trip, so there’s clearly more to the story than Brit let on. In Kelli’s room, the soon-to-be ex-besties try to get on the same page, with Brit noting that she feels a lack of support regarding the situation with the donations. Here, Kelli tries to give her friend advice about walking in her purpose (what a wonderfully polite way of saying, “Bitch, if you’re so rich you need to be giving back”), but the point goes right over Brit’s empty head, and she brings up how Kelli “hides” behind her entourage.
With the mention of Kelli’s team, the truth comes out in their confessionals, although they continue to skirt around the issue in their conversation. Brit claims that Kelli explicitly told her team that they could no longer work with Brit. What she conveniently leaves out, which Kelli adds in her confessional, is that Brit apparently organized a meeting with Kelli’s glam team behind her back in an attempt to poach them. During their conversation, Brit takes a shot, saying she “doesn’t want a whole team around” (it’s not like she can afford one anyway), and she wishes Kelli would shed her “layers” of protection. Then, she chastises Kelli for teaching her a lesson in generosity in front of the group instead of pulling her aside in private, which is one thing I can agree with. They leave things there, agreeing to be better friends to each other, but the friction is rampant, foreshadowing the inevitable breakup.
The rest of the episode maintains the jovial spirit of the morning kikis as the cast takes shots around the pool, reminiscing on their turn-up the night before. Another gorgeous Caribbean man briefly joins — he’s the minister of tourism, but just like the prime minister, he might as well be a model — setting the tone for the debauchery coming later in the evening. Porsha’s impromptu photoshoot to boost Shamea’s mood also helped keep the spirit of fun and freedom flowing. Although hearing Shamea say in her confessional that wearing Porsha’s clothes for “a moment” touched her heartstrings was a little creepy à la Sutton Stracke’s obsession with Kyle Richards (desperation for friendship never looks good), it’s great that everyone is friends again, and the energy remains copacetic.
To properly cap off their trip to Grenada, the women attend a special nighttime Jab Jab celebration on the island. Usually celebrated at the top of the morning, Jab Jab is a Carnival parade unique to Grenada, celebrating the abolition of slavery on British-ruled Caribbean islands. “Jab,” the French term for devil, was once used to derogatorily refer to slaves, but as Black people often do, the word was repurposed as a form of protest. During the celebration, people dance in the streets while covering themselves in oil to honor Black liberation. As Ian Charles, the founder of Jambalasee Grenada, which aims to preserve the tradition, told Essence, “We are ridiculing what the oppressors told us we are, substandard, Black, and no good devils. In other words, we are saying, you call me a devil? Well, I’ll show you a devil.”
As Jab Jab kicks off throughout the island, people swarm the streets, slick with the opaque oil or charcoal, often dressed as devils, or more poignantly, using props like shackles and coffins to signify death to the oppressor. Like all variants of Caribbean Carnival celebrations, there’s copious drinking and dancing as the joy of being Black always supersedes any hardship. The Atlanta ladies might not be descendants of Grenadian slaves, but, like Black people all over the world, they can relate to being a part of the African diaspora. They cover their hair in preparation for the oil (Cynthia’s hair “condoms” were too funny) and don black bikinis and fishnets, ready for the Jab Jab experience.
After a full night of partying in the streets and enjoying more of Grenda’s male population — they had so much fun that Phaedra said she got pregnant and Porsha came close to a second Bolo storyline — they return to the villa for some intense showers and one last night of the sleep on the island. We conclude with a final group kiki where we learn Brit and Phaedra took their relationship to the next level as Brit scrubbed the oil from every crevice of her roommate’s body. Black hand, foot, and even butt prints litter the hotel as they pack up and enjoy their breakfast together. Kelli, proud of a successful trip but wary of returning home to her rocky divorce situation, shares with the group that right after a particularly hard phone conversation with her lawyer, the rose quartz she’s kept on her during the vacation broke in half.
Per Kelli’s Google search, the broken crystal symbolizes the end of a relationship. As I watched the women observe while Kelli seals the energy by throwing the crystal pieces into the ocean, I hoped it also symbolized the ending of RHOA’s years of hardship. The Grenada trip did what the hosts intended, with the chapters of “reset, rebirth, and renew” all coming to an end and actually tidily tying up storylines with a satisfying bow while setting up the downfall of Brit and Kelli. Even Porsha noted how the vacation was exactly what the doctor ordered, and with the cast re-charged, they can end things with a bang. As the end of the episode teases, it only takes 72 hours after touching down in Atlanta for the women, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, to clock back in and continue to give us the season 16 we deserve.
• I can’t believe Kelli and Drew have the same anniversary! A message for anyone planning to get married on August 21st: don’t.
• Porsha saying she’s a “researcher” (we all know her research was a Google search and a skimming of a Jab Jab Wikipedia page) and in the same episode referring to Kelli and Brit as “Siamese cats” instead of twins is the kind of dumbass-ness I love from her. We need more of this and less of whatever she was bringing earlier this season.
• And, more importantly, I hope Porsha brings her “no thoughts, just vibes” energy to The Traitors!!! I want a Sheree 2.0! I’m devastated that Nene isn’t joining the cast and that my eyes will be exposed to the demon that is Michael Rapaport (they should murder him first in solidarity with Kenya after that WWHL appearance), but I have hope in my girl to bring some funny moments.
A college football player from Georgia was found dead in a house fire in suburban Atlanta, authorities confirmed earlier this week.
Izaiah Taylor, an offensive lineman for Georgia Military College, was staying at his grandfather’s house in Stone Mountain when the home erupted into flames around 1 p.m. EST on Monday, per WAGA-TV.
Taylor’s grandfather, Gregory Edwards, said that he was not at the home when he was notified about the blaze.
“Well, I got a call from my neighbor. Said there was smoke coming out of the home, and I immediately left work and headed to the house,” Edwards said.
According to WXIA-TV, flames had already engulfed the residence by the time first responders arrived, and Taylor, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“There was no hesitation in going in and searching for the victim,” DeKalb County Fire Captain Jaeson Daniels said. “We got here, and we were able to establish a water supply. And again, receiving that information from one of the nearby residents stating that there was some water inside, we actually went right in and performed a search and luckily found him pretty quick, but unfortunately he was deceased. Once we found him.”
Taylor transferred to the junior college, located in Milledgeville, ahead of this past season after playing for Liberty University in 2024.
“Georgia Military College is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students, Izaiah Taylor,” the college said in a statement on Tuesday. “Our hearts are with Izaiah’s family, friends, classmates, and all those who knew and loved him.”
Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire, WRDW-TV reported.
Edwards got emotional when talking about his grandson, calling him “a gentle giant.”
“He was one of the kindest people you would have ever known. He wasn’t a bully,” Edwards said. “He was a good boy. He didn’t deserve this.”
“What can I say? I mean, that’s not an easy pill to swallow. You know, you don’t bury your grandchildren,” he added.
ATLANTA, GA — Metro Atlanta residents may have a merry time celebrating Christmas this year as a new survey has named the Georgia town the best place to observe the jolly holiday across the U.S.
WalletHub awarded Atlanta with the moniker in a ranking released Tuesday after analysts examined 100 cities to determine the best places to celebrate Christmas.
With an overall score of 63.36, Atlanta beat out major national cities, including Las Vegas and New York City.
At No. 1, here’s how Atlanta’s ranking broke down:
- Traditions and Fun: 8
- Observance: 30
- Generosity: 16
- Shopping: 6
- Costs: 39
No other Georgia cities made the U.S. ranking.
“Atlanta is the best city for Christmas celebrations this year, with plenty of stores to help you prepare for the holiday, including an extremely high number of bakeries, holiday decoration shops and card shops per capita,” WalletHub experts said.
“Atlanta is also one of the best cities when it comes to the prevalence of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars if you want to eat out for the holiday (or want a break from cooking afterward). It has the 10th-most Christmas tree farms per capita, too. In addition, Atlanta residents get very excited about Christmas, searching Google for terms relating to the holiday more frequently than people in most other cities. The giving spirit can also be felt by Atlanta residents and visitors alike, as the city has the ninth-highest percentage of people who donate clothing to charity, along with the 13th-most online donations per capita.”
There are a plethora of options in Atlanta to celebrate Christmas, which is observed annually on Dec. 25.
Patch has compiled a few you may want to add to your calendar:
Here are the top 10 best Christmas towns, per WalletHub:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- San Francisco, California
- Seattle, Washington
- Orlando, Florida
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Miami, Florida
- Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Cincinnati, Ohio
,>
See WalletHub’s full methodology.
Atlanta, GA
Reporter’s Notebook: Atlanta cancer survivor in Rose Bowl Parade, Forge Atlanta forging ahead, Give a toy, get a bagel at Goldburgs – SaportaReport
Atlanta veteran and cancer survivor to ride on City Of Hope Rose Parade float
Atlanta resident and U.S. Army veteran Tyler Blue, 63, will ride on City of Hope’s 2026 Rose Parade float as a cancer survivor representing City of Hope Atlanta.
Blue was a successful corporate salesperson when hoarseness in his throat led to a diagnosis of stage 4 throat and thyroid cancer in 2016, a shock for a nonsmoker who prided himself on healthy living. His treatment included 25 radiation sessions, multiple surgeries and the removal of his voice box, which ended his career and left him searching for a new sense of purpose.
After difficult experiences at several hospitals, Blue began receiving care at City of Hope Atlanta in 2018. He credits surgeon Dr. Beomjune Kim and a speech-language pathologist with helping him learn to communicate again using an electrolarynx and with restoring his hope.
Now nearly eight years cancer-free and retired, Blue has partnered with City of Hope Atlanta to create the Total Laryngectomy Support Group, a monthly gathering where patients share experiences and practical strategies for daily life.
Blue is one of six survivors and transplant recipients riding City of Hope’s 2026 Rose Parade float, “Overcoming Cancer and Diabetes Together,” which highlights the organization’s nationwide cancer care and research network.
— Derek Prall
Webstar Technology Group closes on downtown site for Forge Atlanta mixed-use project
Webstar Technology Group and its development subsidiary, Forge Atlanta Asset Management, have closed on a 10-acre parcel at Ted Turner Drive SW and Whitehall Street SW, clearing the way for Forge Atlanta, a multi-phase mixed-use district next to the Garnett MARTA station.
Phase I plans call for a 300-room hotel with meeting and event space, about 600 luxury condominiums and roughly 60,500 square feet of retail and entertainment space. Independent analyses for the Development Authority of Fulton County project about 2,100 construction jobs and 900 permanent jobs from the first phase, with the full buildout expected to generate around 3,000 jobs and an estimated $7.37 billion economic impact.
The project will be financed through a combination of Development Authority inducement, institutional loans and equity, and bond issuance. Webstar, a publicly traded company, says it will disclose material financings through securities filings and investor updates. The developer also plans an optional regulated token program on the Torch RWA platform, designed to broaden participation and help offset future condominium HOA fees.
Design and development partners include Turner & Townsend, Nelson Worldwide, Kimley-Horn, Skyline Engineering and Skanska, which has been involved in pre-construction planning. A groundbreaking is anticipated in 2026, with condominium presales expected to begin the same year.
— Derek Prall
Holiday theater at Horizon Theatre
Families can enjoy the adventures of Madeline and friends in Madeline’s Christmas through Dec. 31. This musical play is adapted from Ludwig Bemelmans’ delightful book. This holiday season will be unlike any other for Madeline and her friends. While on their morning walk with Miss Clavel, the girls come down with the flu, and as they take to their bed, many wonder if they will be able to go home for Christmas. With the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline and the other girls get a holiday adventure beyond their wildest dreams.
For older teens and adults, the new holiday comedy revue Too Fast, Too Festivus might be a little more their speed. Through Dec. 31 Dad’s Garage and Horizon Theatre’s latest zany holiday collaboration will take the stage (nearly) nightly. If you loved Y’allmark Christmas or The Santaland Diaries at Horizon, you won’t want to miss this. Dad’s Garage’s award-winning ensemble members have handmade this fast-paced comedy that lovingly pokes fun at the holidays in Atlanta and serves up the city’s quirks with a festive twist. With sharp writing, big characters, and plenty of local flavor, it’s the perfect way to get into the spirit — ATL style.
— Megan Anderson
SweetWater Brewing’s 420 Fest to return at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park
Presented by Rival Entertainment, SweetWater Brewing’s iconic 420 Fest, one of Atlanta’s most beloved music festivals, is back for its 21st year in a brand new location — Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, the city’s largest greenspace and a vibrant hub connected to the Beltline. The two day event, which will take place on April 17-18, will feature two stages and up to 20 artists which will be announced in early 2026.
Previously hosted at Pullman Yards, the new location will offer increased capacity for a bigger, greener and more accessible 420 Fest experience for attendees.
“Sweetwater 420 Festival is an iconic Atlanta event. As a producer and fan who has experienced its long history at Candler Park, Centennial Olympic Park & Pullman Yards, I am excited to team up with SweetWater Brewing this year to reimagine the music festival in its 21st year and for its future. With a beautiful new Westside ATL location, the 2026 festival will be uniquely Atlanta and true to its Sweetwater roots.” said Josh Antenucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Rival Entertainment.
Click here for more information.
— Megan Anderson
The Community Leadership Institute of Atlanta is accepting applications for 2026
City of Atlanta residents or employees looking to learn how to be more effective at making meaningful changes in their neighborhoods can apply to the Community Leadership Institute of Atlanta (CLIA) until Jan. 5, 2026. Over the course of six weekly sessions from February to May, the CLIA program teaches participants how to navigate Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system and other local government processes as well as how to build inclusive coalitions and other lessons from the city’s history of activism. The program for community leaders is offered by the Department of City Planning in partnership with Clark Atlanta University.
— Grace Donnelly
The annual Food Well Alliance fruit tree sale is live online
Online orders are open this month for Food Well Alliance’s annual fruit tree sale. If you’re still looking for holiday gifts, especially for plant-lovers, Food Well Alliance has more than 80 varieties of fruit trees, vines, and berry bushes available — all well-suited to Georgia’s growing climate. Proceeds from this annual sale go toward the organization’s programs and operations, including The Orchard Project, which helps plant community orchards around metro Atlanta to help improve access to local produce. Pick up for orders will be in-person during the weekend of Feb. 14, 2026.
— Grace Donnelly
Woodruff Arts Center welcomes five new members to board of trustees
The Woodruff Arts Center — home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art — welcomed five new members to itsBoard of Trustees during their last board meeting.
- Valeda Dent – Inaugural Vice Provost for the Libraries, Michael C. Carlos Museum, and the Center for Digital Scholarship at Emory University
- Somia Farid Silber – Chief Executive Officer, Edible Brands
- Jim Irwin – President, New City Properties
- Melody Lee – Chief Marketing Officer, Mercedes-Benz USA
- David Wagner – Chief Executive Officer, SureCost
“We are privileged to welcome these distinguished leaders to our Board of Trustees,” said Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center. “Each brings a distinctive perspective that will strengthen and guide the Woodruff Arts Center. They join an extraordinary group whose insight and dedication are invaluable to our mission, and I am honored to work alongside such visionary leaders committed to elevating the arts and arts education in our community.”
The new Trustees join an influential and diverse group representing all sectors of Atlanta, including leaders in the business, nonprofit, entertainment and education. Since 1968, the Board of Trustees has worked to expand access to the Woodruff Arts Center’s educational programming and ensure the Arts Center is a place for everyone to experience the transformative power of the arts.
— Megan Anderson
Goldbergs Fine Foods Holiday Toy Drive to support foster care families returns
Goldbergs Fine Foods is holding its third annual holiday toy drive to support the Foster Care Support Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit that provides free clothing, infant equipment and developmental toys to children in foster and relative care.
Through Saturday, Dec. 20, participating Goldbergs locations in metro Atlanta, excluding the airport, will collect new, unwrapped toys, games and art supplies for local children in foster and relative care. Donors will receive a free bagel with cream cheese as a thank-you.
Organizers say the greatest need is for items suitable for children 8 and older, including building sets such as Legos and craft kits. The Foster Care Support Foundation has served tens of thousands of children since 2000.
— Derek Prall
Atlanta Opera Opens Applications For 2026 96-Hour Opera Project
The Atlanta Opera is relaunching its annual 96-Hour Opera Festival under a new name in 2026, rebranding it as the NOW Festival (New Opera Works) to reflect an expanded focus on contemporary storytelling and emerging creators.
As part of the festival, applications are now open for the 2026 96-Hour Opera Project, a composition competition for composer–librettist teams across the United States. Winners receive a $10,000 prize as part of a $25,000 commission. A panel of industry experts will review applications and select five teams, which will have three months to write a new 10-minute opera. The process culminates in a four-day residency at Morehouse College in Atlanta, June 10-13, 2026, and a public showcase competition.
The company has also named director, librettist and playwright Tazewell Thompson as artistic advisor for the NOW Festival. He will help guide the festival’s artistic direction and mentor participating artists.
The 2026 NOW Festival will feature public events over three days in June, including the world premiere of “Water Memory (Jala Smirti)” by composer Kitty Brazelton and librettist Vaibu Mohan at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center for the Arts, along with the 96-Hour Opera Project Competition and Showcase at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College.
Applications are available here.
— Derek Prall
Registration opens for 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K and race poster contest
Registration is open for Town Center Community’s fifth annual Noonday Shanty 5K/10K, presented by Avonlea Apartments, set for Saturday, March 28, 2026, along the Noonday Creek Trail.
The Peachtree Road Race qualifier is a USA Track and Field-certified event managed by Start2Finish. The course takes runners past bird habitats, greenspace and wetlands, as well as landmarks such as Aviation Park, Cobb International Airport, Fifth Third Stadium and public art installations, including Tiny Doors ATL and the Chimney Swift Tower. The 10K route also features views of new murals in the district.
Local artists are invited to submit up to three digitally created or hand-drawn designs for the event’s annual race poster contest. The winning artwork will be featured on the official event poster and in promotional materials, and runners will receive a copy during packet pickup. Cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place. Submissions are due Feb. 12, 2026, with full contest rules available on the Town Center Community website.
The 2026 event will debut a community-designed race shirt, with community members voting through Jan. 13, 2026, on a design inspired by past winning race posters.
— Derek Prall
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