Atlanta Magazine

Designer Dina Varner’s clients knew they’d found the right neighborhood, even if the house wasn’t there quite yet. Charming, walkable Virginia Highland provided the perfect location, although the builder-standard residence, built in 2022 and largely black and white, fell short on character. Referred to Varner by word of mouth, the couple felt confident the VPI Design owner could take the so-so abode and make it feel just like them, injecting the warmth and individuality the new construction lacked.

Auburn Angel is located where the Auburn Avenue Rib Shack used to be. I was curious what changes were made to the community staple that fed churches, businesses, and civil rights organizations for 30 years. Restaurateur Asa Fain bought the space in 2019 after the Rib Shack closed in 2014. The space was expanded and includes a covered patio where you enter the restaurant through a wrought iron gate.

Chef Craig Richards says Beethoven’s “Für Elise” was one of the first pieces of music he learned on the piano as a kid. Now at the helm of Elise, a seafood-focused fine-dining restaurant in Atlanta’s Woodruff Arts Center, Richards says the restaurant’s name is a nod to that piece of music and the neighboring Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

When the Super Bowl kicks off on February 8, Taylor Rooks will be watching live from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It’s familiar territory for the Gwinnett County native, who hosts Prime Video’s NBA broadcasts and reports for the streamer’s Thursday Night Football. Rather than being in the thick of the action, she draws on her childhood spent around athletes to show audiences what makes these sporting superstars tick.

A deep dive into the ever-evolving state capital, now defined by its creative spirit, cutting-edge cuisine, and richly textured past.

Leonard Yu, the chef-restaurateur who has been synonymous with omakase excellence, is preparing to launch a bold new wave of restaurants. In the fall, Yu will partner with Niki Pattharaskositkul of 26 Thai, Pink Lotus, and Blackjack Bar Tapas to debut Table 6, an izakaya and sushi spot in Midtown. Come March, he’ll launch Nori Me, a handroll bar, across from Fellini’s in Decatur. At the same time, Yu is creating an Argentinian steakhouse in West Midtown.

Kodac Harrison is the Renaissance man of Atlanta’s music and poetry scenes. He may be best known for the weekly open mic poetry readings he hosted at Decatur’s Java Monkey coffee shop (now The Reading Room) from 2001 to 2016. Harrison, 76, was a prominent member of many bands who performed for Eddie Owen at the Trackside Tavern and then Eddie’s Attic—including the Indigo Girls, Caroline Aiken, Shawn Mullins, and Michelle Malone.

At Bey, the upbeat music filling the dining room sets a festive tone, even on a Wednesday night. The real celebration, though, begins when the dishes hit the table. Opened just over a year ago in Roswell, Bey stands out for its Lebanese dishes made from scratch by chef and co-owner Marc Mansour.

Local restaurateur William Pitts, founder of Saints + Council in Colony Square, recently debuted his newest venture, just steps away from his first. Replacing Sukoshi on Peachtree Street, Cuevacía is an authentic Mexican restaurant designed to transport guests far beyond Colony Square and into Oaxaca’s historic architecture.

Project Runway fans rejoice: Mood Fabrics, the 35-year-old fabric store made famous by the show, is debuting a new concept at Ponce City Market this spring.