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
Latest Intel on the Atlanta Falcons Coaching Search
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Atlanta Falcons’ coaching search has accelerated in recent days following the Falcons’ official announcement of Matt Ryan as their new president of football. Several candidates are now moving quickly to make their case as Atlanta shapes the next phase of its franchise.
The most important domino in this process is former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. The Giants have reportedly made him their top target. According to Ian O’Connor of The Athletic, New York team executive Chris Mara met with Harbaugh for lunch on Sunday in Baltimore before they had “an informal” meeting at the coach’s house.
The Falcons Podcast: Spotify | Apple Pods | WATCH
Atlanta, who are considered by many to be the Giants’ top competition for Harbaugh, also announced that it interviewed the hot target on Monday afternoon. It was later revealed that it was not in person, which is a common practice at this stage of the process.
Harbaugh has now spoken with all seven teams that have an opening, and The Athletic reported that the Giants, Falcons, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns are in the mix for the 18-year Ravens coach. The formal interviews are expected to take place later this week and into next week for the teams he ultimately selects.
The Super Bowl champion coach immediately became the hottest name on the market after the Ravens parted with him last week. He will likely be the first coach to make his decision, with these teams making their best pitches for him.
Harbaugh is not the only coach the Falcons interviewed on Monday, as former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was announced on Monday evening.
McDaniel spent the last four seasons with the Dolphins, where he went 7-10 last season and finished with a 35-33 overall record. His team snapped a five-year postseason drought in his first year in charge, before returning in consecutive seasons, but failing to advance in both tries. Miami was 15-19 over his next two years, leading to the change in leadership.
The former Dolphins coach is widely regarded as one of the sharpest offensive minds in the sport, and he has ties to the Falcons’ organization. He spent two seasons in Atlanta, culminating in the team’s Super Bowl run and Ryan’s MVP season.
McDaniel followed Kyle Shanahan to San Francisco in 2017, where he spent the next five seasons (one as the run game specialist, two as run game coordinator, and two as the offensive coordinator).
If he does not sign on as a head coach somewhere, McDaniel is expected to be the hottest offensive coordinator target on the market. The Detroit Lions are interested in bringing him on in this capacity, while the Browns, Titans, and Ravens are in the mix for him as a head coach.
Over the weekend, the Falcons welcomed in Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde and requested Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
What happens next for the Atlanta Falcons? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Falcons news delivered to your inbox daily!
Evero is in his third season in charge of the Panthers’ defense, and Dave Canales stated that the team “absolutely” wants to bring him back. The Las Vegas Raiders also requested time with the coordinator, and that virtual conversation could be coming any day now that Carolina was eliminated from the playoffs.
Durde is the only candidate in this specific listing who is still in the playoffs, but they were able to speak with him due to the Seahawks having a first-round bye. The Seahawks’ coordinator led one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2025. His unit led the NFL in scoring (17.2 points per game) and was second in expected points added per play (-0.17).
In-person interviews with assistants who are under contract with other teams can begin on Monday (Jan 19), unless those teams are still alive for the conference title games. The deadline would then extend to Jan 26, when those teams are either eliminated from the playoffs or in the midst of their bye week before the Super Bowl – those coaches are not permitted to interview in person during that bye week unless they have completed a virtual interview in January.
A full track record of who the Falcons have spoken with over the last week, and going forward, can be found here. This list will continue to evolve, so make sure to check back in to stay up to date on everything the Falcons have going on during this search.
With Ryan now in place and formal interviews set to begin, the Falcons appear poised to move quickly once Harbaugh makes his decision. Whether Atlanta lands its top target or pivots to a different candidate, the shape of the next era will come into focus in the coming weeks.
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.
skrow htiw elihw tahw ot ot eht eht ,ffats .ecaps tnaruatser niamer revocer pu-pop snalp renwo rehto lanigiro fo gnidloh sih eh eh morf evitucexe stneve srennid fehc nac dna dna evitca deraJ ,skcuH ,nedlA
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 +
moc.yretaeyreciujdnoyeb llewsoR ,daoR .atteiraM 1014 ,7057-665-404 gnivres .detroper denepoer gnitacoler ekop etal nwonk ni ni morf rof ,sregrub slwob htob dna dna retfa htuoS hguoR tekcoR yaM ,lliH dooF eniF tfarD nwotnwoD yrrebeltsaC elttoB ,egareveB atnaltA
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
.sraey raey .etisbew ot ot ot siht driht eht eht eht maet dnoces s’tnaruatser tnaruatser .esaeler snalp lanigiro denepo nepo nepo swen ;noitacol retal si ni ni ni sah rof evif neeb ta gnidrocca gnidrocca tuoba a a sihT ehT egatS egatS eerthcaeP yaM nehctiK nehctiK ,ydoownuD srenroC supmaC ,drofuB raB raB 442 51 ;pma& ;pma&
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)
erehw .keew retaw saw saw dlot ot eht eht eht eht eht eht eht maet erutcurts ecaps ecaps ecaps ekoms ylereves ylsuoires s’tnaruatser tnaruatser yllaitrap renwo no no no deipucco ton yletinifedni dnuorg morf rof .roolf erif gniretne degamad ,egamad denmednoc ,despalloc desolc fehc gnisuac yb tub ,denrub gnidliub gnikcolb eb ,stnemtrapa tnemtrapa dna dna dna retfa detceffa evoba tuoba a a a ehT ehT ehT ehT eerthcaeP weivkraP s’rehtoM .noitutitsnoC-lanruoJ deraJ skcuH yaD draveluoB atnaltA nedlA nedlA
eht stuhs enecs :erom erom morf erif nwod gninid dna daeR s’atnaltA tnemtrapA ,nedlA
Waffle with Chicken Tenders made and styled by Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles in Atlanta, Ga., Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Aaliyah Man for the AJC)
saw ot eht rats retirwgnos-regnis ,elas tnaruatser sniamer ytilaer detsop denepo .nepo fo noitacol noitacol gnitsil sti si ni ni ni sah morf rof desolc yb dna dna gnidrocca a dlroW selffaW ehT ,saxeT nevetS ,htimS rehcamuhcS .ddeR kraP oY-eN eilraK ztivosoJ s’ynnhoJ .puorG suomaF ,sallaD latsyrC egelloC nekcihC A 1202 ;pma&
sraey tnaruatser .detroper ,noitarepo fo ,doohrobhgien ni deirf ruof desolc nekcihc retfa a llihremmuS hguoR yaM woH tfarD ,ypsirC s’atnaltA atnaltA 01
sraey .raey hcihw hcihw hcihw hcihw owt hguoht siht eht naht naht tuhs ,tnaruatser tnaruatser detroper sniamer ;nepo no :htnom ortem noitacol ssel ssel ni ni ni ni ni ni flah nezod nwod serusolc desolc desolc desolc ;ssenisub rehtona dna dna retfa retfa a a drawdniW s’worromoT yadoT ercuS kaetS doofaeS ,llewsoR yawkraP sweN okriM yaM yaM ,enieledaM aL tsaE tsaE ,nikacpuC rekcarC ,bboC bboC s’ogacihC daehkcuB daehkcuB ,nevahkoorB lerraB atnaltA ;atterahplA ;13 ;22 sraey dnekeew ot eht fo noitacol tsal sti ni ni desolc ,ssenisub retfa gnidrocca ehT toP gnitleM yaM htuluD lennahC 63 .2
ohw hcihw diapnu .selbuort ot ot eht eht eht eht tuhs dias ,stnaruatser ,tnaruatser .detroper .detroper nepoer detaler snalp snwo no fo elpitlum noitacol lagel stiuswal sti si ni sih eh sah ,puorg morf dednuof tuollaf gnicaf ylrae nwod ytlausac ,sllib rehtona ehT ,ttocS ttocS ttocS yendoR yendoR yendoR tnaruatseR tsoP retsamtiP sikahiP yawkraP natiloporteM ,yaM s’puorG reiruoC notselrahC ,QBB QBB moc.LA ;pma&
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.
-
Lifestyle17 minutes agoWe’re having a main character summer. Are you? : It’s Been a Minute
-
Technology25 minutes agoMicrosoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman says there are three labs that matter — and he wants Microsoft to be the fourth.
-
World32 minutes agoUS ally Kuwait condemns ‘brutal and ongoing Iranian attacks’ after airport was hit
-
Politics35 minutes agoSpencer Pratt surges to runoff in LA mayor’s race after angry voters send message to Karen Bass
-
Health40 minutes agoOne extra serving of processed meat a day linked to higher cancer risk
-
Sports47 minutes agoAJ Brown trade outcome: Dianna Russini paid a heavy price while Mike Vrabel emerged unscathed
-
Technology50 minutes agoCould your Samsung phone replace your passport?
-
Business55 minutes agoRent-hike ban to protect fire victims ends despite gouging concerns
