Atlanta, GA

No horsing around! Mounted units prepare for FIFA World Cup in Atlanta

Published

2 months ago

February 6, 2026

No horsing around! Mounted units prepare for FIFA World Cup in Atlanta

Mounted patrol units prep for Atlanta World Cup crowds

In preparation for the massive crowds expected for the World Cup this summer, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office and Atlanta Police Department have combined their mounted patrol units for specialized joint training. These horses are undergoing intense sensory desensitization to remain calm around loud noises like fireworks and marching bands, ensuring they can safely manage passionate international soccer fans.

Metro Atlanta’s mounted police units are hitting the trails and the pavement, logs and sirens included, as they prepare for a massive influx of international soccer fans this summer.

Hoofing it to the World Cup

What they’re saying:

With the FIFA World Cup just months away, the Atlanta Police Department and the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office have launched joint training sessions to ensure their four-legged officers are ready for the global stage.

The units will be a constant fixture during the tournament, patrolling Mercedes-Benz Stadium, various fan events, and team practice facilities throughout the region.

“We train our horses with the Atlanta horses so they’re all comfortable together as they patrol the different events in the city of Atlanta for the FIFA games,” said Cobb County Sheriff’s Lt. Col. Tim Brown.

A primary goal of the training is desensitization. To prevent horses from spooking in high-energy environments, officers expose them to a variety of intense stimuli they might encounter during matches.

“Whether it be loud noises, marching bands, fireworks, etc.,” said Atlanta Police Lt. Greg Lyon. “So, if you think about a World Cup and passionate fans that will come to the city, we want the horses to be sensitized to those type of stimuli.”

Officers from the Atlanta Police Department and Cobb County Sheriff’s Office conduct joint crowd control training to prepare for the FIFA World Cup at a local practice facility on Feb. 5, 2026. (FOX 5)

Getting on a high horse

Dig deeper:

Beyond managing the energy of the crowds, the mounted units provide a strategic advantage for law enforcement. The height of the horses allows officers to monitor areas that would be invisible from the ground.

“You’re 10 to 12 feet off the ground, and you can see what others on the ground cannot,” Lyon said.

While the horses are a critical tool for crowd control, officials emphasized that they also serve as approachable ambassadors for the city. Officers say the animals can help bridge the gap between police and visitors, providing a friendlier face for those seeking assistance.

“Let the fans enjoy the horses, maybe we can offer them directions, guide them as they’re trying to navigate traffic,” Lyon said.

Unbridled enthusiasm

What’s next:

The collaboration between the two agencies aims to create a seamless security presence as the eyes of the sporting world turn toward Georgia.

“The horses make a good impact and a good showing for us and the city of Atlanta,” Brown said.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host a total of eight matches, including five group-stage games, a Round of 32 match, a Round of 16 match, and one of the high-stakes semifinals. The first match begins June 15.

The Source: The information in the article comes directly from representatives of the participating law enforcement agencies: Lt. Col. Tim Brown of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office and Lt. Greg Lyon of the Atlanta Police Department.

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Atlanta, GA

Skol Brewing opening 30,000-square-foot gaming lounge in downtown Atlanta

Published

11 hours ago

March 28, 2026

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Skol Brewing opening 30,000-square-foot gaming lounge in downtown Atlanta

Key points:

Skol Brewing is expanding with a sprawling gaming lounge in downtown Atlanta.
Valhalla Gaming Lounge should open in May at 200 Peachtree, adjacent Skol Brewing.
The gaming venue will feature food, drinks, and more than 40 game options, including simulators, bocce courts, and an old-school arcade.

Rendering of the new gaming lounge. (Provided by Skol Brewing)

Skol Brewing Company is about to get a lot bigger. The Nordic-themed brewpub in downtown Atlanta’s 200 Peachtree building is expanding into an adjacent 30,000-square-foot space dedicated to playing games.

Valhalla Gaming Lounge should open in May, ahead of the FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta this summer at nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Longtime Atlantans will remember that the 200 Peachtree building, located next door to the Westin Peachtree Plaza, is the former home of Davison’s and Macy’s department stores.

All 2026 FIFA World Cup Atlanta coverage

What to expect

Valhalla Gaming Lounge will feature more than 40 gaming options, including simulators, soccer experiences, bocce courts, billiard tables, darts, and old-school arcade games. There’s also a possibility a live-music stage and climbing wall could become part of the gaming lounge in the future. Skol already operates an axe-throwing venue at the downtown Atlanta brewpub through a partnership with American Axes.

Expect the Skol food and drinks menu served at Valhalla Gaming Lounge.

Related stories:
• 200 Peachtree announces Skol Brewing Co., Valhalla Social
• Red Phone Booth team opening three new Downtown Atlanta restaurants
• Where to eat like a local in downtown Atlanta

Skol Brewing in Atlanta

Skol Brewing Company opened at 200 Peachtree last year with a Nordic-inspired theme and menu. The menu, developed by Chef Rich Rosendale, leans into Midwest comfort food like Ellsworth Creamery cheese curds, smoked brisket poutine, and a take on a “Jucy Lucy” burger (cheese-stuffed patty popular in Minnesota).

The brewery produces nearly 20 beers, including Northern Lights Lager, Space Wrangler Hazy IPA, and Skol Nation Cold IPA, the last of which was brewed with Minnesota Vikings fans in mind. (The bar produces indoor snow whenever the Vikings score a touchdown.)

Valhalla Gaming Lounge joins several other restaurants in the works within the heart of downtown Atlanta and South Downtown near the state capitol. Many of these restaurants will open ahead of the World Cup.

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Atlanta, GA

Power outage impacts more than 5,000 customers in Midtown Atlanta

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

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Power outage impacts more than 5,000 customers in Midtown Atlanta

Updated on: March 27, 2026 / 9:48 AM EDT
/ CBS Atlanta

Thousands of people are without power in Midtown Atlanta as crews work to restore service following an equipment failure, according to Georgia Power.

The outage affected nearly 5,300 customers, stretching from Currier Street Northeast to 11th Street.

Georgia Power said the outage was caused by an equipment issue, and crews are on-site making repairs.

Officials added that, thanks to smart grid technology, service is expected to be remotely restored to more than half of affected customers soon.

An estimated restoration time was listed at 10:15 a.m.

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Atlanta, GA

The Best Vintage Shops in Atlanta

Published

2 days ago

March 26, 2026

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Vogue’s guide to the best vintage stores in Atlanta is part of our directory of the very best vintage around the world, curated by editors from all over. Whether you’re traveling and searching for some superb stores to visit on your trip or are curious about your local vintage treasure chests, Vogue’s directory has you covered.

Come to Atlanta for its southern charm and lush greenery, stay for its vintage. The Hollywood of the South has a lot more than on-set locations and an upcoming roster of FIFA World Cup games, and whether exploring shops along the Beltline, losing your voice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or itching for the eccentric pleasures of a roadside antique mall, these vintage gems make the journey to the A more than worth it.

Photo: Courtesy of The Clothing Warehouse

Dutch field pants, netted shirts, prairie dresses, and a floor-to-ceiling selection of cowboy boots are a few of the many goods awaiting your search at this Atlanta mainstay. Opened by Jim Buckley in 1992, the Clothing Warehouse now calls the hipster Little 5 Points home. Its redbrick exterior is hard to miss—head upstairs for womenswear and union-made dresses, then downstairs to a room of seriously color-coded tees—it’s likely you will find plenty of Atlanta history in the form of 1996 Summer Olympics shirts. Plus, its wholesale location is a 15-minute drive away in West Midtown, if you’re up for an afternoon dig.

Address: 420 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta

At the vintage and makers market Mother Lode, there’s something for every lover of old things. Founder Lindsay Short’s estate sale background is well-reflected in the shop’s range of garments, decor, and wares. Find 1930s beach pajamas beside bowling shirts and Edwardian tunics at Fellows Vintage’s booth, or ’60s wedding dresses that seem more Factory Girl than bride-to-be from Iron Pony. The hunt continues at Mother Lode’s sister location in college town Athens, which opened in 2023.

Address: 3429 Covington Hwy Ste B, Decatur

Monet Brewerton-Palmer first got her love for bridal from her grandmother, who was a shop seamstress. Then, after shopping for her own wedding dress in 2014 and ending up with four, her interest (and personal collection) only grew. Now, Brewerton-Palmer offers brides an array of dresses by Vera Wang, Oscar de la Renta, Catherine Rayner, and more. Standout pieces include a 1959 one-of-one from Jacques Heim, a silk rose-covered Christian Dior for the romantic, and a fur-accented Muriel Martin for the nontraditionalist.

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