Atlanta Magazine

When Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Fox Theatre February 11 to 15, the company will close each show with Revelations, as it has done every year since it started performing here in 1976. The ballet, choreographed by Ailey and inspired by his “blood memories” of growing up in the Baptist church in Texas, has become synonymous with the modern dance company’s vivid and emotional work.

30 years ago this year, Atlantans marveled as the spectacle of the Summer Olympic Games took over the city. It put Atlanta on the world's stage and helped pave the way for the city to host this summer's epic sporting event, the 2026 World Cup. Atlanta United is honoring the impact of those Olympic games with its new secondary kit, which will replace 2024's Resurgens Kit.

It’s not as well-known as Tennessee’s other ‘villes, Nashville and Knoxville, but the state’s fifth-largest city is worth visiting for its reliably pink sunsets and a compact, walkable downtown district chock-full of independent shops, bars, and a central urban park.

Salted Melon founder Thomas Coker is preparing to bring his casual, health-forward eatery from Charlotte, North Carolina to Buckhead. The counter-service restaurant will open on February 11 in the space formerly occupied by Australian-inspired cafe Isle & Co. and before that, grain bowl spot Sama, in Andrews Square.

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.