October 2021
Features
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Freedom University wasn’t meant to last this long
In October 2011, activists founded an underground school in response to policies that made it harder for undocumented students to go to college in Georgia. That stopgap—and those policies—have now been in place for a decade.
Atlanta’s Best New Restaurants 2021
The last time we published a best-restaurants issue was approximately three millennia ago, in June 2019. So we’re highlighting the best places that have opened recently, but we also wanted to spotlight some places that aren’t necessarily new but are worth honoring: places that take up a little room in our hearts, for some reason, for any reason at all.
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The Connector
25 seasons later, Netherworld remains the best nightmare in town
When their job with a national haunted house chain ended, Billy Messina and Ben Armstrong pooled their money and built a haunted mansion with an original story line—an innovative concept in the late 1990s—in a 4,000-square-foot space in Kennesaw. Netherworld was born.
What’s at stake in the Atlanta mayor’s race?
Crime’s the biggest issue on the ballot, but it’s not the only issue. Atlanta’s transit, bike lanes, sidewalks, and roads will need an advocate and big-picture thinker who makes sure the city gets the maximum benefit from the $1 trillion in federal infrastructure cash expected to flow to states and cities.
DJ Vicki Powell on queer nightlife, a changing Atlanta, and the art of throwing a party
“I got into DJing because I was an introvert—really shy. But I loved nightlife, and I loved going to Backstreet. I just couldn’t quite find my groove. But once I figured out that I could throw a party with a DJ booth around me, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s on now.'”
The Bite
Review: 8Arm’s newest look is a seriously good Japanese izakaya
8Arm has become a Japanese izakaya, with casual drinking fare, grilled skewers, ramen, a tiny sushi bar—and serious culinary legs.
Chef Daryl Shular wants to rethink how cooking is taught—and who’s leading the kitchen
Atlanta chef Daryl Shular wants to expand the tools that aspiring chefs have when they enter the workforce—and to funnel a more diverse roster of pros into the industry. In 2019, he founded the Shular Institute, an educational program designed for those who have either been to culinary school or are studying hospitality and culinary arts at a degree-conferring university.
During the pandemic, Atlanta restaurants weren’t a treat—they were a lifeline
The pandemic throttled local restaurants. At the same time, it revealed how much we rely on them, for reasons far beyond sit-down dining.
Love letters to the restaurants Atlanta can’t live without
These places remind us that restaurants aren’t simply places where we eat and hang out; they, and the people who make them run, are members of our communities. They’re our neighbors.
In defense of the early-bird dinner
Old folks know: Nothing hits like a 4:45 p.m. dinner reservation
Our (frequently updating) guide to Atlanta’s very best pop-ups, food trucks, and more
Some of the most exciting food in Atlanta today is served out of borrowed kitchens, at farmers markets, and from food trucks. Here’s some of our recent faves, and where to find them.
The Goods
The founder of the nation’s largest Black long-distance running event just wants participants to have a good time
On the first weekend of October, nearly 2,000 people ran through the streets of Southwest Atlanta as part of “The Race,” the largest Black long-distance running event in the country.
My Style: Jerrimiah James owner Jerry Buckner
After years of working for luxury brands, Jerry Buckner learned that the fashion industry is among the top polluters. In 2018, he launched a personal shopping business, Jerrimiah James, which helps clients with both purchases and consignments.
Room Envy: A Serenbe office with dreamy, gray-toned wallpaper
Thanks to its eye-catching wallcovering, this workspace in Patrick and Meghan Sharp’s Serenbe house is guaranteed to spark video-conference envy.
E. Lamb Studio creates moody and magical wallpapers, linens, and prints
Drawing inspiration from books, animals, art museums, and vintage book covers, Lamb’s whimsical designs reflect recurring themes of what she calls “magical realism”: moody landscapes in faded blues, animal menageries in warm terracottas, and playful rabbits in hues of melon and sage.
