Many good things have contributed to the amazing start to the season for the Braves. One of the biggest factors is how well many of the depth position player signings and acquisitions have worked out for Atlanta, such as Dominic Smith and Jorge Mateo. But the best of all was the trade for Mauricio Dubon, whose versatility has been extremely valuable for the Braves. Alex Anthopoulos has always made good moves on the margins, and this year is no different.
Atlanta, GA
Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Luzia’ returns to Atlantic Station after 8-year gap
Things to do
Production transports Atlantans to a Mexican mythical dreamscape.
Acrobats dressed as hummingbirds propel their bodies through small hoops during Cirque du Soleil’s touring production of “Luzia.” The show will run through Jan. 25 at Atlantic Station. (Courtesy of Matt Beard and Anne Colliard)
The sounds of a mariachi band and sweet aroma of fried cinnamon churros greeted Atlantans on Thursday night as they strolled under a full moon toward Cirque du Soleil’s blue-and-white-striped, big-top tent for the opening night of “Luzia,” touring at Atlantic Station through Jan. 25.
The name “Luzia” — a portmanteau of the Spanish words luz (light) and lluvia (rain) — hints at the mystical and natural forces that awe audiences in Cirque du Soleil’s 38th production, which is inspired by Mexican culture, mythology and Mother Nature.
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.retaw ot tuohguorht eht gnirewohs ,wohs sepahs niar demmargorp yllacidoirep sremrofrep fo ni ni cihparg llaf nwod sedacsac teknalb A
The name of Cirque du Soleil’s show “Luzia” is a portmanteau of the Spanish words luz (light) and lluvia (rain). A custom-engineered rain machine is used in the production to shower performers in water as they perform acrobatic feats. (Courtesy of Matt Beard and Anne Colliard)
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— sdlrow htiw ohw tahw ,elbmut skcirt yeht eht taht namuhrepus nips noisicerp sremrofrep nwonk si si ni ,evisremmi ytivarg .ecarg rof lacitsatnaf yreve ud yfed etelpmoc s’ynapmoc ,ecnalab sa dna dna dna tca lieloS gnitaerC euqriC
ezepart ot ot .swaj gnicnalab-dnah ,tsanmyg gniylf hcae spord ,srecnad tsinoitrotnoc dehpargoerohc ,stsitra lairea tca a a morF
A Cirque du Soleil performer in “Luzia” balances high atop poles, demonstrating awe-inspiring strength and agility. (Courtesy of Matt Beard and Anne Colliard)
A custom-engineered rain machine creates a curtain of water that showers over performers in “Luzia.” The water droplets are programmed to reveal whimsical shapes and patterns that glisten in the light. (Courtesy of Matt Beard and Anne Colliard)
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namow htiw ,sgniw ohw owt srelbmut dedia-llimdaert sekat gniraos gniraos gnisacwohs gninnur ecnamrofrep egnaro elbaton tsom gnitargim edulcni .sdribgnimmuh gnivid-pooh thgilf thgie desserd ylfrettub sa sa dna stca a a a ehT hcranoM
A giant treadmill used only in Cirque du Soleil’s production of “Luzia” propels a dancer costumed as a Monarch butterfly. (Courtesy of Matt Beard and Anne Colliard)
Hoop divers dressed as hummingbirds are propelled by a giant treadmill in Cirque du Soleil’s production of “Luzia.” (Courtesy of Matt Beard and Anne Colliard)
”s’aizuL“ ,meht eht ecnis trap fo fo ti si ni .sdribgnimmuh pooh sah rof thgie gnivid detubed hcaoc tsac neeb citsitra lla enO lëakiM eH ,ébbA’L-erèyurB .6102
… ehT“ nI(“ htiw sgniw ew ew hctaw ,sroirraw su euqinu llimdaert ot ot ynit hguorht eht taht repus gnorts .dias tneserper yllaer mrofrep ruo ylno gnipmuj s’ti si ”.spooh evah tnaig tnaig nuf nellaf stsixe od )erutluc esuaceb ”,gnihtyna dna tca elba nacixeM ébbA’L-erèyurB
reltserw htiw ohw ohw ohw ezepart eht eht gniws dednepsus parts gninnips wohs niar smrofrep rehto fo fo ahcul ezis-efil deripsni-erbil .raugaj stcaretni edulcni sthgilhgih reh ,riah sseddog morf wef recnad nworc setelpmoc yb sutarappa dna dna na lairea a a a a a A eerged-063
sihT“ I“ htiw ew eht eht gnihtemos wohs .dias thgir yllaer fo kram ”.cigam tsuj tih sah rof leef ”,enoyreve rotcerid noitanibmoc citsitra zedlaV eicarG
If you go
”.aizuL“ eht .aizul/moc.lielosudeuqric ta rednU poT hguorhT .noitatS .tS ,WN .naJ giB citnaltA .atnaltA .52 142 ht02 .011$-06$
erehw ot ot ot :pit eht eht eht eht eht eht .tnet tnet tniop nairtsedep gnikrap no fo level level level .si egarag stixe tixe tcerroc ssecca poT ehT noitatS sngiS gnikraP 2P 2P giB citnaltA
Danielle Charbonneau is a reporter with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Food & Dining
Nearly a dozen restaurants closed during the month, including the Alden.
The waakye served at Ike’s Cafe and Grill shown on Monday, March 24, 2025. The bean and rice mixture is served with spaghetti, plantains, a tomato stew, fish, beef, a boiled egg, dried cassava and a chili sauce. (Natrice Miller/AJC)
May was another strong month for restaurant openings in metro Atlanta, with at least 19 new food businesses setting up shop.
But nearly a dozen restaurants closed during the month, as well — including the Alden, which was unexpectedly shut down when the Chamblee apartment building where it occupied a ground-floor space was destroyed by a fire.
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erew rednu eht eht taht taht derettuhs stnaruatser rehto fo hcum ekil ssel ni ni ni ni citamard desolc ,secnatsmucric sniahc dna lareveS toP gnitleM yaM enieledaM aL tsaE .htuluD rekcarC bboC lerraB ,atterahplA
iy litnu hguorht eht eht eht ayus .steerts laicos ,sreweks sevres tnaruatser tnaruatser tnaruatser tnenimorp ro denepo nepo ecno no fo deipucco wen wen devom .aidem noitacol ekil bmal si otni noitcesretni ni ni morf ylrae sehsid .ibid nekcihc yb ssenisub regrub ,rab etnab ta decnuonna dna dna dna .m.a a a tseW yadseuT ehT ehT .yadrutaS nacirfA-naP ,nwotdiM yaM repinuJ s’yrneH ,tcirtsiDorfA tcirtsiDorfA decneulfni-nacirfA 3 ht01 moc.ltatcirtsidorfa .tS ,EN .atnaltA ,3408-887-074 231 ht01
eht eht eht ,pohs pohs denepo no no fo si ni eeffoc esab ta decnuonna a tseW rewoT .teertS eerthcaeP ,nwotdiM yaM deripsni-nitaL .margatsnI eeffoC ,.oC retneC strA datsimA datsimA 8
oceeffocdatsima/moc.margatsni .W .tS eerthcaeP ,WN .atnaltA ,4365-233-502 0721
desucof-ssenllew ot tnaruatser .esaeler gninepo no swen tsewen noitacol sti ni dleh dnarg ,niahc ta gnidrocca a a a yaM yreciuJ ,yretaE tsaE bboC dnoyeB ,61 +
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moc.ltatekcorelttob .tS ,WS llehctiM .atnaltA ,0865-475-404 132
lanoitidart teews pohs sevres gninepo nepo won si ni gnidloh dnarg .otaleg noitarbelec retfa a ehT ehT sgnirpS ydnaS yaM nailatI tsitaleG .92
moc.ltatsitalegeht sgnirpS ydnaS ,elcriC .atnaltA ,8843-579-404 022
hcihw ot tfos .esaeler gninepo denepo yllaiciffo swen wen noitacol sti ni ni dleh gnidrocca a a yaM ,atteiraM s’ekI efaC ,lirpA ,8 moc.efacseki ,.tS .atteiraM eekorehC 42
owt eht denepo eno wen ortem snoitacol ni ni ni esihcnarf niahc rehtona .decnuonna dna ,llewsoR ,yaM notelbaM s’haimereJ nailatI ecI atnaltA
moc.ecishaimerej ,WS .llewsoR ,daoR daoR .notelbaM dyolF .E ellivssorC ;4088-298-077 ;1867-404-876 085 5105
Joupe Jeht’s fresh spring rolls. (Courtesy of Jude Downs)
dlot eht emas tnaruatser tnaruatser sevitatneserper pu-pop denepo no no fo ,eman ni ratrom-dna-kcirb desab a a ehT yaM wasenneK .noitutitsnoC-lanruoJ epuoJ ,theJ naidobmaC atnaltA ,03
moc.thejepuoj .tS .N niaM .wasenneK ,6868-268-404 5503 ot eht tnaruatser .esaeler tuo denepo no fo swen tsewen noitacol tsegral sti ni niahc gnidrocca a yaM L;pma&L naiiawaH ,iiawaH htuluD ,eucebraB ,42
moc.eucebrabnaiiawah ,daoR tnasaelP lliH .htuluD ,3300-476-077 2442
A rendering of the Ledger Bar and Lounge at the recently renovated JW Marriott Downtown Atlanta hotel. (Courtesy of Marriott)
eht eht tnaruatser .noitavoner tnecer denepo fo sti ni ni s’letoh gniwollof noitelpmoc dna a ehT yaM ttoirraM ,egnuoL regdeL WJ ,nwotnwoD raB
moc.nwotnwodatnaltawj ,WN .rJ navI .dvlB .atnaltA nellA 54 ,0085-285-404
eniw syeksihw ot driht eht naht laicos ,stnaruatser .tsop denepo eno no fo erom unem aidem noitacol .tsil sti sedulcni ni labolg nwotnwod snobruob tseb ,feeb dna dna gnidrocca a a ehT ,kaetS yaM elttiL zniL egatireH sugnA atterahplA yellA s’CJA 05 003 ,11 atterahpla/snoitacol/moc.kaetsyellaelttil ,.tS .S niaM .atterahplA ,0554-855-077 201
y eniw eht eht eht ecaps laicos pohs denepo no fo .aidem ,egral lairtsudni ni ni sah nwotnwod renroc eeffoc efac gnidliub rab ta decnuonna dna dna a oniV ehT teertS azodneM yaM atteiraM stfoL nitaL .rJ navI tnaiG efaC .draveluoB ,atnaltA nellA 52
moc.onivefacazodnem .tS ,WN atteiraM .atnaltA 624 ,5503-095-404
.raey saw saw ot eht eht eht remmus laicos detals dnoces tnaruatser tnaruatser yllanigiro denepo nepo no fo ylraen .aidem detiawa-gnol noitacol sti ni ni tnempoleved deyaled tub decnuonna a ehT ovoN htroN yaM nemuL ,slliH diurD anicuC ffilcrairB 5202 21
moc.anicucovon daoR ,EN ffilcrairB .atnaltA ,0511-328-876 8703 mrofsnart ot ot siht eht yliraropmet ecaps laicos retsis lareves tnaruatser denepoer .tsop wen aidem sti otni deripsni ni ni ni rof syad tpecnoc desolc yb gnidrocca a airtaP airtaP ataP ataP ,kraP argeN argeN .nwotdiM aírelaczeM tnarG ,anicoC
ltaairelaczemairtap/moc.margatsni daoR eerthcaeP ,EN .atnaltA ,2126-343-404 7771
PopUp Bagels offers five kinds: plain, salt, sesame, poppy and everything. They are sold whole and meant to be ripped and dipped into schmears. (Courtesy of PopUp Bagels)
eht laicos dnoces denepo no no .aidem noitacol sti ni esihcnarf niahc decnuonna pUpoP yaM gnidnaL daehkcuB slegaB atnaltA ,92
moc.slegabpupop daoR tnomdeiP ,EN .atnaltA ,7436-747-558 0333
xaw ot eht eht taht ,aet tfos laicos seihtooms elpmis pohs derahs ,ecivres dnas stcejorp doirep ytinutroppo gninepo nepo no sreffo gnireffo fo fo won .erom unem .aidem ekam niam ekil ,ipok yek sti si si gnidulcni ni lluf gniyzzid sehsid rotaitnereffid sremotsuc gnitfarc ,eeffoc sniahc .seldnac ssenisub ,stelecarb ,segareveb nageb yarra dna dna dna retfa a a a ehT s’koTtnecS koTtnecS yaM snhoJ keerC tfarC efaC tuB demeht-naisA ,6 moc.tfarckottnecs ,yawkraP kcoldeM snhoJ .keerC egdirB ,8887-696-876 0006
Showdown Social opens this May in Alpharetta with host-led card games. (Courtesy of Showdown Social)
htiw sgniw eunev ot ot ot tuohguorht eht hcus ,skaets .sreweks ,nomlas eye-bir egnar ,atsap 1-.m.p denepo nepo fo 1-noon unem ekil si sedulcni ni del-tsoh semag semag ,doof gnineve ,tnemniatretne yojne sknird sehsid ,pid barc nroc tpecnoc gninibmoc drac nac .elbaliava sa dna dna dna dna dna .m.a .m.a a a )onU ehT ehT .syadnuS ,laicoS nwodwohS syadrutaS noitcaeR yadirF-yadnoM yaM )aifaM aifaM ,)kcaJ stseuG ecaF niahC draC nujaC kcalB .atterahplA ecA 4 41 ralimis( ralimis( ralimis(
moc.nwodwohs tnioP ,yawkraP htroN .atterahplA 5597 ,4067-676-077
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moc.ltaegats ,yaW .ydoownuD supmaC ,9006-659-876 011 Onlookers watch the Parkview on Peachtree Boulevard apartment complex burn. (Courtesy of Jared Hucks/The Alden)
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Waffle with Chicken Tenders made and styled by Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles in Atlanta, Ga., Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Aaliyah Man for the AJC)
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esuohkaets enecs erom morf sdnapxe gninid latsaoc dna s’hannavaS daeR :eroM emitgnoL aigroeG
Metro Atlanta restaurant openings
Metro Atlanta restaurant closings
Henri Hollis is a restaurant critic and food reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covers Atlanta’s restaurants, chefs and dining culture. As part of the AJC’s Food & Dining team, he reviews new restaurants, reports on industry trends and explores metro Atlanta’s culinary scene through the neighborhoods and people that shape it.
One of the most inevitable moves of the summer is complete. The Atlanta Falcons have given Drake London a lucrative four year deal worth up to $150 million, locking up their top receiver for the foreseeable future.
It’s a deserved extension for a physical, sure-handed talent who has been consistently excellent in Atlanta despite a constantly rotating cast of quarterbacks. London, who has averaged 1,086 yards over four NFL seasons and has 22 touchdowns over that span, has also emerged as one of the locker room’s most vocal and accountable players.
The 2022 first round pick came into the NFL catching passes from Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder and flourished immediately, with 806 yards and four touchdowns in year one and 905 yards and two touchdowns in year two. When the coaching staff turned over and Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. entered the picture, London exploded for 100 catches, 1,271 yards, and nine touchdowns in 2024, following that up with 919 yards and seven touchdowns in just 12 games a year ago. Through just four seasons, London is already 10th in team history in receiving yards, eighth in receptions, and 13th in touchdowns, and mixes that with solid blocking. He’s been the ideal receiver for the last two iterations of this Falcons offense, and I have no doubt that will continue here.
The contract’s guaranteed money would be tops in the NFL if the $100 million figure is accurate, but by overall money it’s just the third most lucrative contract in the league, and will likely be hovering near the bottom of the top ten in a couple of seasons. The Falcons were never going to risk losing their top receiving option, and if all goes well, London will continue to thrive in Atlanta and set his sights on surpassing some franchise legends in the years to come. I’m glad the deal is done, and we’ll see the exact terms soon enough.
How do you feel about this extension?
Andrelton Simmons plies his trade in Mexico
The Athletic caught up with former Braves shortstop – and one of the most gifted defenders at the position in the history of the game – Andrelton Simmons who, at 36, returned to organized baseball in Mexico last season.
Link below.
Rec 0ReplyRead 4 replies
In a fun “Where are they now” segment, here is an update on Andrelton Simmons.
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