Atlanta, GA
Atlanta author Felicia Feaster can help you design a Gothic garden
Photograph by Tomas Epinosa
Writer and author Felicia Feaster is a former HGTV website editor, where she started 11 years ago as the editor-in-chief of a new gardening website called HGTV Gardens. That experience, combined with her own avid gardening, led her to where she is today: the author of The Gothic Garden: The Mystery, Beauty, and Lore of Dark Gardening, which debuted in November. Here, Feaster, a longtime Atlanta magazine contributor, explains what the concept is and how she wrote the book.
How did you come up with the idea for the book?
The concept of a Gothic garden, which kept popping up on TikTok and Instagram, immediately sparked my interest. I started writing pieces about what types of plants people could use in their Goth garden. Serendipitously, the publisher, Simon & Schuster, saw those articles and tracked me down to ask me to write a book—in three months.
Photograph by Tomas Epinosa

The 19th century, or the Victorian Age, was a time of incredible interest in plants, especially exotic and strange ones, including poisonous plants. It was also a time of exploration into new places, like Asia and South America. When Queen Victoria lost her husband and went into mourning for the rest of her life, she influenced a lot of rituals and etiquette around death. Plus, there was a lot of new technology, and with that, anxiety about science usurping nature; that was a theme in Gothic literature at the time, like Frankenstein. This all laid the foundation—the garden is the place where life and death battles are happening.
How does the book work?
The heart of the book is 50 plants, flowers, vegetables, and herbs I’ve chosen that have the most interesting stories in terms of plant history and are the most beautiful. It’s a mix of super strange and accessible plants. In Victorian times, plants had a lot of meaning; it was a form of communication in such a repressed culture. I also talk about ancient uses of plants, such as rosemary, which was used in embalming in ancient Egypt.
There are design elements to use in your Goth garden to give it a spooky ambiance, such as wrought iron gates. The plants are accompanied by illustrations by Irina Vinnik, which are so gorgeous that Simon & Schuster will release an additional publication in summer 2026 called Dark Blooms, a compilation of postcards and my writing about the meaning of the plants.
Photograph by Tomas Epinosa
Do you have a Goth garden?
Yes, it leans into deep, purple colored plants. I also have a dead tree; it’s almost like a tree sculpture. This summer, I cut down a castor bean plant, which was 10 feet tall. It’s the most toxic plant and has ricin that’s 6,000 times more poisonous than cyanide. It has crazy, spiky red seed pods. It’s a spooky-looking plant. I love telling people passing by the story of it—it’s a good, easy shock.
Celebrate Feaster on December 7th at the Plaza Theatre, where she’ll have a book signing before a screening of Edward Scissorhands, complete with a Gothic-inspired cocktail by Videodrome.
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Atlanta, GA
Man arrested for knocking kids off bicycles
A man was arrested at a concert last week after he shoved two kids off their bicycles, causing one of them to fall into a fountain, Sandy Springs police said. FOX 5 Atlanta’s Brittany Edney reporting.
Atlanta, GA
Same DNA, new address: Muchacho expands to West Midtown
Photo by Luke Beard
When Muchacho first opened along the Atlanta Beltline and Memorial Drive, it became known as a place shaped as much by its surroundings as by its menu. That site, housed in a 100‑year‑old train depot, set the tone for how the brand approaches expansion: start with the bones of a building, then let the space tell the story. The newly opened Muchacho West Midtown follows that same philosophy.
“We like to celebrate unique attributes of each property and work with the palette we’re given,” says founder and owner Michael Lennox. While the original Muchacho is defined by its long, narrow footprint and Spanish tile roof—features reminiscent of its former life as a train depot—the West Midtown location leans into an industrial past rooted in automotive culture: a former Meineke car care shop. Big windows reference former garage doors, while retro racing details appear inside.
Photo by Luke Beard
Still, the connective tissue between the two locations is clear. Both spaces draw heavily from Muchacho’s Southern California skate‑and‑surf roots. At Muchacho West Midtown, familiar playfulness appears via a blue‑orange‑yellow racing stripe pattern, a three‑dimensional pegboard gallery wall used to hang art and plants, and vintage Meineke signage. A life‑size cardboard cutout of George Foreman, once the pitchman for Meineke, underscores Lennox’s willingness to lean into humor and nostalgia. “It’s a playful brand,” he says.
A functional halfpipe for skateboarding anchors the outdoor experience and will double as a performance space for bands and DJs. In about a month, a 4,000‑square‑foot “tropical secret garden” with tall bamboo lining the perimeter will open on the south side of the property. Another 1,500 square feet of patio space wraps the west and north sides, currently welcoming about 80 guests. Altogether, the West Midtown location will accommodate about 215 guests, making it comparable in size to the original, with a little more outdoor space.
Photo by Luke Beard
Muchacho West Midtown opened with the same core menu that made the Beltline location a staple: tacos, breakfast burritos, coffee, cocktails, and beer. Standouts like migas, chilaquiles, carne asada, and al pastor continue to be available. Over time, however, Lennox says each location is expected to develop its own personality, driven by the chefs who have “a pretty wide creative latitude.” Chef Betty Aparicio, formerly of Chido & Padre’s, steers the kitchen on the Westside.
“We want to nurture some immediate familiarity while providing space for some special moments you can only have at each location,” Lennox says.
Photo by Luke Beard
One of these special moments will take place April 4 at a grand opening party dubbed MuchachoFest. Expect bands, a fortune teller, a mini skate park in parking lot, food and drink specials, and giveaways. “It’s going to be a fun day in West Midtown,” Lennox says.
A third Muchacho location will debut in the old Revival space in Decatur this summer. In addition, the Electric Hospitality team is bringing Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall to the Westside. Slated to launch in May on 11th Street, the convivial restaurant and bar will feature a 5,000-square-foot courtyard with an airstream bar, stage, and Crepe Myrtles, and a 45-seat island bar inside. Formerly a single-story warehouse from 1950s or ’60s, Ladybird West Midtown will offer the same food and beverages as its Eastside sibling with room for the chef and mixologist to add their unique touches.
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Atlanta, GA
Buckhead apartment building evacuated due to dangerous carbon monoxide levels
ATLANTA – A Buckhead apartment building was evacuated for a time late Tuesday night due to a carbon monoxide alarm.
What we know:
The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Pharr Court South.
According to Atlanta Fire Rescue, firefighters are investigating elevated carbon monoxide levels.
The entire building was evacuated as a precaution.
One person was evaluated at the scene for possible carbon monoxide exposure.
Crews ventilated the building while they looked for the source.
Firefighters say they were able to finally locate the source and contain it.
Once readings were back to a safe level, residents were allowed back inside the apartments.
What we don’t know:
It remains unclear how many residents were displaced by the evacuation.
The Source: The details in this article come from the Atlanta Fire Rescue.
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