Atlanta, GA
Atlanta’s Silent Book Club chapter brings together readers, accountability, and camaraderie
Photograph by Sophia Griesenauer
If you’ve walked through Bold Monk Brewing, Ladybird, or other Atlanta hotspots recently, you might have noticed something unusual: a group of people independently reading in collective silence. Stumbling upon a Silent Book Club event might seem unnerving without context, but the meetup is an increasingly popular way for people to read, socialize, and explore Atlanta.
Founded in San Francisco in 2012, Silent Book Club has more than 500 chapters in 50 countries, including several across Georgia. Unlike a traditional book club, readers are encouraged to bring their own reading material and read it independently for an hour. That time is sandwiched between two socialization periods. It’s a no-pressure way to get reading done, meet new friends, and get out in the community. The concept is gaining traction on social media, with the Atlanta chapter alone racking up over 18,000 Instagram followers.
“I wanted to bring together a community of readers to reinvest in Atlanta,” says Sophia Griesenauer, the volunteer founder and leader of the Atlanta chapter who found the concept via social media. She began the chapter in November 2023 and has held meet-ups three times a month since. Typically, the Sunday schedule involves an “arrive and settle” period that lasts about 30 minutes, then a one-hour block for independent reading, followed by an hour of optional socializing. There are no reservations required to participate.
For Griesenauer, who has a corporate job at Home Depot in corporate communications, it’s been interesting to watch the psychology at play during the meetups. “I think there’s a lot to be said about doing something collective while also doing something individually,” she says. “Someone recently called it parallel play of the soul, and I think that’s what we’re doing, bringing people together to provide an opportunity to engage if they’d like, but also providing a safe, dedicated space to get some reading done.”
Photograph by Sophia Griesenauer
Griesenauer emphasizes you can read anything you like, any way you like. People read books, self-help books, newspapers, listen to audiobooks, flip through Kindles, and more. “It’s whatever works for you,” she says. “We had someone come to a meetup with an audiobook, and then when the silent reading hour was over she pulled out her headphones and started crocheting.”
Meetups occur in some of Atlanta’s popular venues, such as the James Room, Dancing Goats Coffee, and the Daily. As the group has gotten larger, Griesenauer has sought out bigger spaces. Her goal with each venue is to help people find new places outside their comfort spots and expose them to places in the community they might not have considered otherwise. She’s also adding smaller pop-up style meet-ups for more intimate gatherings, including a partnership with the Atlanta History Center to do an author talk and silent reading, and Sweat EXT at Ponce City Market to do a workout and silent reading.
In May, the group will meet at Atlanta Dairies, Steady Hand Beer Co., and Elsewhere Brewing.
For those outside Atlanta city limits, there are chapters across the state, including in Newnan, East Cobb (founded by Griesenauer’s mother), South Fulton, Decatur, Suwanee, and more. Check the Silent Book Club website to find a chapter near you.
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Atlanta, GA
Fire at Chamblee apartment complex displaces more than 75 residents, closes businesses
A fire at a Chamblee apartment and retail complex displaced more than 75 people and caused a partial roof collapse, according to DeKalb County Fire Rescue.
Fire crews responded around 4:37 p.m. Sunday to the Windsor Parkview Apartments along Peachtree Boulevard after reports of a fire on the roof.
DeKalb County Fire Rescue said that crews arrived to find heavy fire coming from the roof and immediately began evacuating people from the building.
Officials said the fire quickly spread across a portion of the roof, leading to a partial collapse.
Thankfully, firefighters said most of the damage appeared to be confined to the roof area.
Many of the people living at the complex spent Monday waiting for answers about when they may be allowed back inside. Some told CBS News Atlanta they were especially worried about pets and belongings left behind during the evacuation.
“We didn’t have to evacuate, as we were both already out of the house for Mother’s Day stuff. But we still have all of our stuff up in the apartment, and we have two cats that are up there, and we’re trying to figure out what exactly the plan is to get all that out of there,” said resident Thomas Wheeler. Hours later, Wheeler and his girlfriend were reunited with their cats.
Others said the uncertainty following the fire has been frustrating.
“There’s just a lot of people around with not a ton of information. The red cross was here. We got to interact with them. It was really a great experience at the Red Cross,” said resident Macy Trego.
The fire also impacted businesses located beneath the apartments.
Some workers told CBS News Atlanta they still do not know when they may be able to return to work.
“I’ve gotta get paid. Rent is high right now,” said Jeremy Snyder, who works at one of the businesses below the apartments.
Windsor Communities released a statement Monday saying it is working with the Red Cross to help displaced tenants.
“We are deeply saddened by yesterday’s fire at Windsor Parkview Apartments, and our immediate focus is on supporting the residents and families impacted by this incident,” a Windsor Communities spokesperson said. “We are grateful to the first responders and local agencies whose swift actions helped ensure residents were safely evacuated and cared for during a very difficult situation.”
The company also said it is maintaining communication with people impacted by the fire while investigators continue working to determine the cause.
Fire officials said the fire may have started from an air conditioning unit on the roof, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Windsor Parkview opened in 2021 as part of Chamblee’s redevelopment efforts along the Peachtree Boulevard corridor. CBS News Atlanta has also reached out to the City of Chamblee for additional information about the development’s role in the city’s broader revitalization plans.
Atlanta, GA
Midtown Atlanta sewer work to close part of 10th Street
ATLANTA – Drivers in Midtown Atlanta should prepare for traffic changes this week as a new roadwork project begins along 10th Street.
What we know:
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said part of 10th Street will close starting Wednesday for sewer repairs.
The construction will impact the eastbound lane between Charles Allen Drive and Monroe Drive.
Officials said the repair project is expected to continue for about four weeks.
Crews will work overnight on weekdays from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. Construction activity will continue around the clock on weekends until the project is complete.
What you can do:
Motorists traveling through Midtown are encouraged to plan ahead and expect delays in the area during the closure.
Atlanta, GA
Three Biggest Questions Facing the Atlanta Hawks Following the NBA Draft Lottery Results
The 2026 NBA Draft has come and gone, and while the results did not go the way that the Atlanta Hawks had hoped, landing at No. 8 overall, but they are still getting a top-eight pick in a deep draft when they are coming off a season in which they won 46 games and made the playoffs. Atlanta had hoped that having the most favorable selection from the Pelicans and Bucks would turn into a top-four pick, but they are going to get a chance to add to their young core with a high-level talent.
Now that the NBA Draft Lottery is over, what are some questions facing the Hawks?
1. Who could they take with the pick?
We will get into other scenarios later, but for this exercise, let’s just assume that the Hawks are going to stick at No. 8 and make a selection.
While the top four picks are likely going to be (in some order) AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, the rest of the draft does not seem to be as certain.
There is a popular sentiment that the quarter of guards consisting of Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, and Mikel Brown Jr are going to be picks 5-8, but that is not as much of a certainity as the top four.
The Clippers are picking 5th, but they just made a big trade for Darius Garland. Brooklyn just took four guards in last year’s draft, and the Kings are always a wild card, though of these teams, they have the biggest need at guard and don’t seem likely to veer from that.
In the NBA, needs is usually ignored in the draft and the best player available is taken most of the time, but it will be interesting to see which players the Clippers, Nets, and Kings decide on.
If those teams do take three of those guards, the Hawks would have their choice of whoever is left over from that group or players such as Michigan center Aday Mara, Arizona guard Brayden Burries, or Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
2. Could the Hawks move up or down in the draft?
While I think as of right now that the most likely scenario is that the Hawks stay put at No. 8, they do have some interesting options to potentially move up or down depending on how things fall.
As I mentioned earlier, the Clippers just traded for Darius Garland and if the Hawks wanted to get ahead of the Kings and Nets to land the guard of their choice, they could try and put together an attractive package to try and make a trade with Los Angeles.
The Nets seem less likely to move down, but after taking four guards in last year’s draft, could they move down and try to target another position?
What about a trade down? If the Hawks had been at No. 7 or in the top four, I would say a trade down is unlikely, but at No. 8, there could be an opportunity there for Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh. Would Oklahoma City be interested in moving No. 12 and No. 17 for No. 8? That would give the Hawks three first round picks and if they like a player that could be in that range, that would be a possibility, though all of this is just hypothetical at the moment.
3. Do the Hawks attempt to move the No. 8 pick for an established star?
Saleh has been adamnat that the team is not one player away and that the Hawks wanted to add through the draft, but even in a draft as deep as this one, the odds of getting a star player at No. 8 are long.
It is tough to really gauge the trade market for this offseason right now, but the No. 8 pick is an attractive asset. Could the Hawks try to trade for Celtics star Jaylen Brown? Again, it is tough to know who else could be available this summer and I would bet against the Hawks moving this pick for a veteran player, but never say never in the NBA.
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