Georgia Voice - April 2026

EDITOR’S NOTE

Trans rights and marriage equality remain in the firing line

As we were going to press with this issue, the third No Kings protests occurred on March 28, bringing millions into the streets in opposition to the Trump administration. In Georgia alone, there were 40-plus rallies, not just in the big cities but also in smaller towns and communities. The exhaustion is real, y’all, but the LGBTQ+ community and our allies continue to exercise their constitutional rights.

The No Kings demonstrations came at the end of a long month filled with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation at the state level and transphobic rhetoric from the White House.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) caved to the rightwingers and banned trans women from participating in women’s events, while states like Kansas and Idaho continued to use trans people as pawns in the culture wars.

Kansas became the first state to

Editorial

Collin Kelley

Executive Editor

Beth McKibben

Editor-in-Chief

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Cathy Cobbs

Managing Editor, Reporter Newspapers

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Associate Editor

Staff Writers

Katie Burkholder, Logan C. Ritchie, Sarra Sedghi, Hayden Sumlin, Stephanie Toone

Contributors

Helena Oliviero, Joe Reberkenny

invalidate driver’s licenses for trans residents, as Idaho is preparing to ban trans people from using the bathroom of their choice with fines and up to five years in prison.

Meanwhile, Idaho is also angling to eliminate marriage equality, while the Tennessee House of Representatives introduced legislation that would allow private citizens and businesses to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages.

Luckily, other states under more sane leadership have actually moved to protect marriage equality, including Virginia and Pennsylvania.

As we move into pre-Pride season, we’ll also be pausing to remember LGBTQ+ historian and activist Dave Hayward, who passed away last fall.

Family, friends, and members of the community are invited to attend a Celebration of Life honoring Dave on Saturday, April 11 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta in Candler Park.

Following the service, guests are invited to continue sharing memories and fellowship at Dave’s favorite watering hole, Manuel’s Tavern, from 1 to 3 p.m.

With roots in the community dating

back to the early 1970s, Dave was co-founder and director of Touching Up Our Roots, a queer history project created to preserve LGBTQ+ voices in the city.

At Georgia Voice, we want to hear your stories as well. If there is a person, business, nonprofit, or event taking place that resonates with the LGBTQ+ community, please share it with me at collin@roughdraftatlanta.com.

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LGBTQ+ Georgians rally for freedom at Pride to the Capitol event

By Katie Burkholder

On March 10, LGBTQ+ Georgians and their allies came together for Pride to the Capitol, a day of advocacy organized by the Human Rights Campaign, Atlanta Pride, Georgia Equality, and more than 30 advocacy groups.

Along with advocacy training and opportunities for contacting lawmakers, the event included a rally at Liberty Plaza outside the State Capitol in Downtown Atlanta. Speakers and performers celebrated the LGBTQ+ community and advocated for freedom for all Georgians.

Rev. Iyalosa Estee Nena Dillard of SisterSong kicked off the rally by acknowledging the Indigenous history of Georgia and the U.S., connecting the current fight for freedom to the beginning of U.S. history.

“When the founding fathers were creating the Constitution, my ancestors were their property,” she said. “They were tending to their fields and raising

their children, building their cash crop economic success, the liberty of which they wrote in that Constitution. Was it ever really about liberty? Were they thinking about queer Americans? No, they weren’t…. Were they thinking about liberation and justice for all native folks, for all children, for all immigrants? No, they weren’t, but I stand here today as a clear reflection and an opportunity for accountability.”

Noël Heatherland, the Statewide Organizing Manager for Georgia Equality, spoke about harmful bills like SB 74, which would remove an exemption protecting access to diverse information in libraries. If passed, the bill would prevent libraries from distributing “harmful materials to minors,” the definition of which includes “homosexuality” in the Georgia code.

Heatherland, who grew up in a fundamentalist Christian cult, said that this and similar bills limiting access to LGBTQ+ education mirrored their upbringing.

“The history of our community, the amazing ancestors that we have, people to be so proud of – people like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Harvey Milk – there are people over [at the Capitol] and in D.C. that don’t want us, don’t want our young people, to have access to their stories, their information,” they said.

Li An Sanchez of Community Estrella also spoke, advocating against deportation and ICE detention centers in both English and Spanish, and spoken

word performer Ryan J. and the Qindred Qoalition choir performed.

During a press conference in the Capitol rotunda, Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham also spoke out against the “shenanigans” by lawmakers, who made radical changes to HB 54.

The bill originally expanded the ability of physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to order home health services, but was amended in

the Senate to include restrictions on transgender care, including a ban on puberty blockers for minors and limits on state-insured coverage.

Graham urged attendees to call their legislators and tell them to vote no on the bill, which is now back in the House following the amendments.

Be sure to visit thegavoice.com for the latest on the legislation moving through the Gold Dome this session.

Visa policy could impact trans entry to U.S.

By Joe Reberkenny | Washington Blade

In a proclamation issued by the Trump White House on March 12, the president said he would, among other things, “restore public safety” and continue “upholding the rule of law,” while promoting policies that restrict the rights of transgender people.

“We are keeping men out of women’s sports, enforcing Title IX as it was originally written, and ensuring colleges preserve — and, where possible, expand — scholarships and roster opportunities for female athletes,” the proclamation reads. “At the same time, we are restoring public safety and upholding the rule of law in every city so women, children, and families can feel safe and secure.”

The statement comes amid a broader series of actions by the Trump administration targeting transgender people across multiple federal policy areas, including education, health care, and immigration. A nearly complete list of policies the current administration has put forward can be found on KFF.org.

One day before the proclamation was issued, the U.S. State Department announced changes to visa regulations that could impact transgender and gendernonconforming people seeking entry into the United States.

The policy, published March 11 and scheduled to take effect April 10, introduces changes to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the “DV Program.” The rule is framed by the department as an effort to strengthen oversight and prevent fraud within the visa lottery system, which allocates a limited number of immigrant visas annually to applicants from countries with historically low rates of immigration

to the United States.

However, the updated language also standardizes the use of the term “sex” in federal regulations in place of “gender,” a change that LGBTQ advocates say could create additional barriers for transgender and gender-diverse applicants.

The policy states: “The Department of State (‘Department’) is amending regulations governing the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (‘DV Program’) to improve the integrity of, and combat fraud in, the program. These amendments require a petitioner to the DV Program to provide valid, unexpired passport information and to upload a scan of the biographic and signature page in the electronic entry form or otherwise indicate that he or she is exempt from this requirement. Additionally, the Department is standardizing and amending its regulations to add the word ‘shall’ to simplify guidance for consular officers; ensure the use of the term ‘sex’ in lieu of ‘gender’; and replace the term ‘age’ in the DV Program regulations with the phrase ‘date of birth’ to accurately reflect the information collected and maintained by the Department during the immigrant visa process.”

Advocates say the shift toward using “sex” rather than “gender” in federal immigration rules reflects a broader push by the administration to roll back recognition of transgender identities in federal policy.

According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, an estimated 15,000 to 50,000 undocumented transgender immigrants currently live in the United States, with many entering the country to seek refuge from persecution and hostile governments in their home countries.

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News Roundup

‘Real Housewives’ push for HIV/AIDS research

“Real Housewives” cast members from across the country took over Capitol Hill on March 12 to advocate for expanded PrEP access and to push for continued — if not increased — funding for HIV/ AIDS research.

The event brought together Housewives from multiple franchises,

including NeNe Leakes and Phaedra Parks from Atlanta; Candiace Dillard Bassett from Potomac; Erika Jayne from Beverly Hills; Luann de Lesseps from New York; Melissa Gorga from New Jersey; and Marysol Patton from Miami, alongside Tristan Schukraft, founder and CEO of MISTR, an online platform that connects people to HIV prevention tools and care.

MISTR, the nation’s largest telehealth platform for sexual health, brought stars from across Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise to Washington for Housewives on the Hill, a day of advocacy focused on expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment. During the event, the Housewives shared personal stories on how HIV has impacted their lives and the ongoing impact of HIV across communities in the U.S.

– Washington Blade

Judge rules against RFK Jr. overreach

A federal judge ruled that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acted beyond his legal authority in his past statements on gender-affirming care for minors.

On March 19, U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ruled in favor of 21 Democrat-led states that challenged Kennedy’s attempt to establish a national precedent on gender-affirming care, ruling that the HHS had not followed proper protocol in issuing the declaration.

“The declaration provides some very explicit, unequivocal statements about what falls below the professionally recognized standard of care as it relates to gender-affirming care,” Kasubhai said. “It is unambiguous, it does not provide for options or alternatives, it is clear that gender-affirming care does not fall within that which is professionally recognized as standards of care.”

– Them

ACT UP holds die-in on anniversary

ACT UP marked its 39th anniversary as an HIV advocacy group by holding a die-in outside the New York offices of Palantir, a software company that develops surveillance technology and contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Hundreds of protesters rallied at the New York City AIDS Memorial, then marched to Palantir’s unmarked office in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, protesting government spending on ICE and the war against Iran amid cuts to funding for HIV care.

The Trump administration is “spending more money on war than they are on health care. They’re spending more money on ice than they are on AIDS care,” Eric Sawyer, a founder of ACT UP New York who helped organize the protest, told The Advocate. “We think those priorities are way out of line with American priorities.”

– The Advocate

Bentley Hudgins running for Georgia House

By Katie Burkholder

LGBTQ+ civil rights advocate Bentley Hudgins has announced their campaign for the District 90 Georgia State House seat.

Hudgins, who served as the Georgia director for the Human Rights Campaign, is running on a platform of lowering the cost of living, investing in health and education, creating opportunity for all, and fostering safer communities.

If elected, Hudgins would be the first Japanese-American and first openly non-binary person in the Georgia State legislature.

“I have been on the frontlines of democracy, protecting our neighbors’ rights and meeting needs in real time,” Hudgins said. “I’ve led efforts to register hundreds of thousands of voters, install ballot drop boxes statewide during the pandemic and help tens of thousands access vaccines, and secured $300,000 to curb gun violence and redevelop Longdale Park. This fight is personal to me, my growing family, and our lives. I have organized, I have won, and I am ready to fight like hell for the Georgia we deserve –a Georgia for us, by us.”

Hudgins, a Georgia native, is a graduate of Mercer University and has spent the last decade advocating for civil and human rights with organizations like the ACLU, the Georgia AFL-CIO, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, and the New Georgia Project.

They have been endorsed by State Representatives Park Cannon, Eric Bell, and Mekyah McQueen; State Senators Josh McLaurin and Rashaun Kemp; Palmetto City Councilmember Carolyn Wynn; Atlanta City Councilmember Matt Westmoreland; and DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry.

“Bentley’s advocacy in unincorporated DeKalb allowed us to make a significant investment to curb gun violence through better investments in neighborhood parks,” Terry said. “Intergovernmental cooperation between state and county governments is critical, and it’s why I’m endorsing Bentley Hudgins for HD90.”

More information about Hudgins’ campaign can be found on bentleyforus. com.

How a spring ritual became Atlanta’s longest-running home tour

By Helena Oliviero

This year’s tour is set for April 17-19 and features nine homes in the neighborhood. Tickets and details are available at druidhillstour.org.

The tradition echoes from an earlier era. In the early 1900s, visitors traveled from across the South to see the spectacular dogwoods blooming along

Every spring, the Historic Druid Hills Home & Garden Tour welcomes as many as 1,500 visitors eager to step inside some of Atlanta’s most beautiful homes. Along the way, they discover architectural treasures, stroll through lush gardens, and hear remarkable stories about the houses and the people who have lived in them.

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Lullwater Road. Residents lit the trees at night so admirers could stroll beneath the glowing blossoms and enjoy the trees long after sunset.

The first official Tour began in 1968 during a precarious period for the neighborhood, according to Druid Hills historian Jennifer Richardson.

Many of Druid Hills’ large homes — especially along famous streets such as Springdale, Oxford and Oakdale — had been divided into boarding houses or rented cheaply by absentee landlords. Years of neglect were starting to show. A major factor contributing to the decline was worries about a proposed expressway which threatened to cut directly through the heart of the neighborhood. The road would have split Druid Hills in two, destroying Olmsted Linear Park and crossing the Deepdene section on a bridge. Plans also called for the expressway to pass through Emory University’s Lullwater Preserve and near several schools.

Residents fought the proposed road project for more than two decades before it was ultimately defeated. With the threat lifted, the neighborhood began to recover.

Richardson noted the first Tour was created as both a garden tour and a home tour, and it was co-sponsored by the Lullwater Garden Club and the Druid Hills Civic Association. (The Lullwater Garden Club was the driving force, according to Richardson).

The idea grew out of the work of the Lullwater Garden Club, whose members had recently purchased the nearby Lullwater Conservation Garden from Emory University for $1,500. The roughly six-acre property is tucked between Lullwater Road and Lullwater Parkway and bisected by Lullwater Creek.

To help care for the garden, club members organized

fundraisers — rummage sales, teas in private homes and even a horse show.

During one of those gatherings, an idea emerged.

“They had these teas in people’s homes and they said, ‘You know, we could have a tour of homes and gardens,’” recalled Richardson.

The first Homes Tour, held in 1968, featured eight houses including the residence of Emory University’s president, and several gardens. Tickets cost $2.50. The tour quickly became a way to celebrate the neighborhood’s architectural heritage while raising funds for several projects in the neighborhood. After the garden club dropped its sponsorship, the Druid Hills Civic Association carried the Tour forward to this day.

For Richardson, the appeal remains simple.

“I think it’s the history of the neighborhood,” she said.

Druid Hills was designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and remains the only Olmsted-planned residential neighborhood in the Deep South. It was also his final commission before his death in 1903.

Visitors come not only for the architecture, Richardson said, but also for inspiration.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

New app to facilitate community among LGBTQ+ Dungeons & Dragons players

By Katie Burkholder

Fans of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) will be able to find new friends more easily with a new app coming to Atlanta later this year from queer app developer Rachel Dove.

Dungeons Not Dating is a first-of-itskind platform connecting D&D players across the country through shared values, play styles, and creative interests. The character-forward platform is designed to make D&D more accessible for all people – especially marginalized folks.

“For folks who are people of color, neurodiverse, or queer, oftentimes they’re looking for a group that’s going to be relatable to them, or at the very least they want people who are going to respect them, not just tolerate them,” Dove told Georgia Voice. “…Finding a group online can be scary and dangerous.”

Users will create their character or dungeon master profile with information about their character type, play styles, and

D&D needs. Then, like on dating apps like Tinder or Hinge, they’ll swipe on other users. The app is for ages 12 and up; minors will be blocked from adults and vice versa, and all users will be shown profiles of people within 10 years of their own age.

To enable users to find like-minded players, Dungeons Not Dating profiles will also include political values like feminism, Black Lives Matter, or LGBTQ+ rights, as well as personal interests and hobbies.

Because D&D is a beloved safe space for many LGBTQ+ people, Dove says she wanted to ensure that this kind of community has as few barriers to entry as possible.

“It was very hard [for me as a queer woman] to overcome the imposter syndrome and feel like I belonged anywhere until I found Dungeons and Dragons,” she said. “…I just realized how lifesaving having that community and that sense of belonging can be and what it did for my own sense of self-worth and

Savannah’s iconic Club One moving to new location

By Collin Kelley

Savannah’s iconic Club One is relocating from its longtime home at 1 Jefferson St. to 301 Williamson St. this spring.

According to a press release, the move is in conjunction with Club One’s new relationship with the Pride Holdings Group. This publicly traded company focuses on developing and operating hospitality and entertainment venues for the LGBTQ+ community.

Many locals will recognize 301 Williamson St. as the former home of Elan, the performance and event venue that closed in November 2024.

Club One opened its doors at 1 Jefferson in 1988 and became internationally famous in the 1990s upon the publication of John Berendt’s bestselling “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” as the performing home of drag queen Lady Chablis.

“For almost four decades, our legendary stage has welcomed countless performers and entertainers, including the Legendary Lady Chablis, earning its place as a cornerstone of nightlife in the Southeast, and global recognition,” a statement from Club One said. “Our

iconic disco ball has watched over guests from around the world as they come to experience the magic of Savannah. Our walls offer refuge, celebration, and a safe space for all who walk through our doors.”

The new Club One space will be Savannah’s first multi-level dance, show, and entertainment complex, according to the press release.

There will be farewell celebrations leading up to Club One’s final day of business at 1 Jefferson. The events will begin on Earth Day, April 22, and continue through the weekend, culminating on Monday, April 27, at 1 Jefferson.

Find more details about the upcoming farewell events and the opening of the new space at Club One’s Instagram @club1jefferson.

confidence. I wanted to be able to facilitate that for other people, to help other people find meaningful connection through this weird, magical game.”

Dungeons Not Dating launched for beta testing in January 2025 and garnered around 8,000 users. The app will be relaunching later this year with updates based on user feedback. Matches will not be limited by location; users can match with anyone across the country for online play. However, Dove says she hopes to roll out in-person options in the future in major cities, including Atlanta.

To join the waitlist and be notified when Dungeons Not Dating is available for download, visit dungeonsnotdating. com/waitlist.

Your MARTA experience is changing soon

The better Breeze fare payment system is here!

‘Pillion’ finds the power in setting your boundaries

By Sammie Purcell

Bus routes change on Saturday, April 18

A smarter, faster, better bus network is coming. Bus service will be more consistent and more frequent, with easier connections and less waiting. Find a map of your new route and more at itsmarta.com/nextgen.

Riders can now tap to pay with a bank card or mobile wallet, or get a new orange Breeze card to ride MARTA and its partner transit systems. Transition to your new payment method before May 2. More info at itsmarta.com/breeze. Learn more itsmarta.com

Certain tropes come to mind when we think about stories that deal with BDSM – or, if I’m being honest, any romantic relationship where a power imbalance of sorts exists. These tropes have been ingrained into our minds by things like “50 Shades of Grey” and, more recently, a plethora of different Romantasy series. There’s always a quieter, weaker counterpart (in some cases, the sub) who ends up melting down the walls of the cold-hearted dom. There’s a little bit of compromise, and both parties find that they can have all the hot kinky sex they want as well as the fluffy, soft, in-love part. Everyone wins.

“Pillion,” which is one of the best romantic comedies to come along in ages, is different. At the beginning, we meet Colin (Harry Melling), who lives with his parents and spends his spare time singing in a barbershop quartet. One night, he meets Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a biker who, as it turns out, is involved in a local gay biker/BDSM gang. The two couldn’t be more different – Colin, sweet with a shy sense of humor; Ray, hulking, quiet, intimidating. But Colin’s “aptitude for devotion” appeals to Ray, and the two embark on an intensely serious sub/dom relationship.

“Pillion” is a rom-com and coming-ofage all rolled in one, riffing on the tensions that arise in both coming-out and romance stories while never settling in those tropes. Written and directed by Harry Lighton, it hits its odd-couple, Brit-com beats with a joyous sensibility. And yet, it doesn’t

compromise on the emotional journey of its protagonist, and that expert blend of emotion and comedy is what makes it work so well. At the end of the day, this is a story about navigating boundaries, and the heartbreak and power that comes from learning to ask for what you need. In fiction, the dom always compromises. “Pillion” dares to ask, what if they don’t?

The specifics of Colin and Ray’s relationship are very strict. Ray takes care of Colin sexually (but on his terms), and Colin handles the cooking, the cleaning, stands in the corner for dinner, and sleeps on the floor when it’s time to go to bed. He is completely, and happily, at first, subsumed by Ray’s lifestyle. He buzzes his curly hair short and starts dressing like a biker. There’s a noticeable lack of intimacy in their relationship – Ray doesn’t kiss or cuddle – but Colin doesn’t seem to mind. For the first time in his life, desires that he’s never really vocalized are being met.

Melling delivers a frankly adorable performance as Colin, equally surefooted and hesitant, eager to please and mooneyed over Ray in a way that sets him up for hurt. But, as hardened as Ray seems to be to Colin’s charms, Skarsgård lets some softness cut through every now and again, looking at Colin with a mix of incredulity and affection that pierces your heart.

“Pillion” is available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

Scan the QR code to read the full review.

Alliance Theatre announces Kendeda-winning play

By Collin Kelley

The winning play of the 23rd annual Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition is “The Red Man” by JuCoby Johnson.

Currently attending the Juilliard School, Johnson is a New York-based playwright, actor, and screenwriter whose plays have been developed and produced by the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Ojai

Playwrights Conference, The Playwrights’ Center, and many others.

Described as a Southern Gothic thriller and love story, “The Red Man” will be produced as part of the Alliance’s 2027/28 season.

The four competition finalists, which will receive a developmental workshop and presentation as part of the 2027 Alliance/ Kendeda Week, are:

■ “The Fifth of November” by Nora

■ “8½ Collisions” by Danielle Keiko Eyer, New York University

■ “Vulturine” by Matt Thekkethala, University of Texas at Austin

■ “Water Aerobics with Christopher, 8:30 am” by Helen Gallagher, Brooklyn College

The Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition solicits

plays from the leading MFA graduate programs in the United States and then conducts a rigorous selection process to find four finalists and one winning play. The judges for the 23rd competition include playwright, theater director, and MacArthur “Genius” Luis Alfaro; awardwinning playwright York Walker; and director and educator Nicole A. Watson.

TOGETHER, WE ARE GIVING KITCHEN.

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JOIN OUR MISSION AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF FOOD SERVICE WORKERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY TODAY.

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Best Bets

Southern Fried Queer Pride is hosting its Spring Fling! Queer Artist Market & Day Party on April 5 from 1 to 6 p.m at Wild Heaven Brewery in Atlanta. There will be vendors, DJs, and art installations center on QTPOC creators. Get more details at southernfriedqueerpride.com.

The Armorettes Easter Drag Show is back at the Atlanta Eagle on April 5 for an afternoon of fun, drag, games, and community. The event is hosted by Ruby Redd, Trashetta Galore, and Kelli

Divine. Get more details on Instagram @ atlantaeagle.

Atlanta nightclub Lore is hosting the Gaga Pride Drag Brunch on April 11 from from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This highenergy brunch will have Lady Gagathemed drag performances and more. Get more info at loreatl.com.

Atlanta Pride Drag Brunch is set for April 12 from 1-3 p.m. at The Pub @ EAV featuring local queens, food and cocktails. More info at eavpub.com.

SUMMER CAMPS

If you’re looking for love, an LGBTQ+ Speed Dating event is April 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Just Love Coffee Cafe in Sandy Springs. The relaxed social mixer is designed to connect queer women in metro Atlanta. Visit justlovecoffee. com for more info.

CP TIME!

Black Queer Pride Party is April 18 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at The Drunken Unicorn in Atlanta. The event centers Black queer joy with DJs, dancing, and performances. Find out more at thedrunkenunicornatl.com.

diva has been riding high with the viral hit “Kissing Someone Else” and has a new album. Get tickets at aisle5atl.com.

Atlanta Bear Pride Weekend returns April 24-26 at venues around Atlanta. The annual gathering celebrates bear culture with parties and social events, including Barracuda from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Heretic. See the full schedule for the 11th annual event at atlantabearpride.com.

Out & Abt Atlanta Social Meetup is April 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. at My Sister’s Room in Midtown. Get details and tickets at mysistersroom.com.

Caroline Kingsbury is bringing her “Shock Treatment” tour to Aisle 5 in Atlanta on April 19. The 80s-inspired pop

Get you and your pup all styled up for the Midtown Mutt Gala, which returns May 3 from 2-5 p.m. at 10th Street Park with emcee Brigitte Bidet. More details at midtownatl.com.

Taste of Atlanta turns 25 with chefs who helped build city’s food scene

By Georgia Voice Staff

Atlanta’s longest-running food festival is turning 25, and it’s throwing a party built around the people who made it matter.

Taste of Atlanta, founded by Dale DeSena in 2001, will mark its 25th anniversary on April 16, with a celebration at The Works in Underwood Hills. From 6-10 p.m. that evening, the event will feature Atlanta chefs, restaurateurs, and restaurant regulars who helped shape the city’s food scene and the festival over the last 25 years.

A city’s food scene in one room

When Taste of Atlanta launched, the city’s culinary identity was still consolidating. The festival gave early visibility to chefs who would go on to define what dining in Atlanta looks like today.

The 25th anniversary of Taste of Atlanta leans into that history directly,

with a “Culinary Icons Reunion,” bringing together chefs who have participated in the festival over the years. The restaurant lineup for the April event includes restaurants like Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Kyma, El Super Pan, Tiny Lou’s, Morelli’s Ice Cream, DAS BBQ, Bistro Niko, Il Giallo, and Pricci.

Attendees move through tastings, with live music from Bogey and the Viceroy on the outdoor stage, a DJ inside, and a guest appearance from the Seed and Feed Marching Abominables.

Ticket holders get complimentary entry to an after-party at neighboring Your 3rd Spot, from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Answers for puzzles on page 16

Looking back, then forward

Taste of Atlanta is also rolling out a social media series throughout 2026 showcasing archival dishes, recipes, and moments from past festivals — a way of making the anniversary feel less like a single night and more like a year-long retrospective.

The festival’s larger 2026 calendar

includes three additional events: Food That Rocks in Sandy Springs, and Grand Tasting editions in Alpharetta and Midtown, each built around those particular dining scenes.

Tickets and details are available at tasteofatlanta. com, with updates on Instagram at @ TasteofAtlanta.

South Downtown gets open container district designation

By Collin Kelley

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches coming this summer, the Atlanta City Council approved the creation of open container district for South Downtown.

The open container district will allow visitors to consume alcohol on the streets and sidewalks as they walk from different restaurants, bars, and events. The idea is to create a more social atmosphere in the re-emerging South Downtown district and make it a destination, Councilmember Jason Dozier told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

The new South Downtown Entertainment District is a rectangular area extending from Alabama Street south to Trinity Avenue and Peachtree Street west to Ted Turner Drive. The district includes the South Downtown redevelopment,

which includes 58 historic buildings that are being transformed into shops, restaurants, housing, and is home to a new location of Atlanta Tech Village. An ordinance was also introduced to declare parts of Downtown Atlanta as a temporary “public entertainment district” during the World Cup, from June 11 to July 29. The measure would prohibit the distribution of commercial products, prohibit cruising, and create a limited open container area.

Step into Cluedunnit, where murder, mystery, and madcap mayhem collide in the most fabulous whodunit you’ve ever seen! This outrageous all new drag parody throws six larger-than-life suspects, a house mother with secrets galore, and one overworked houseboy into a stormy night of scandal, shade, and champagne corks flying like bullets. Armed with deadly gifts and death drops, the suspects must sashay through mistaken identities, outrageous confessions, and a cascade of murders in the dark. It’s fast, it’s fierce, it’s filthy, and it’s the only mystery where solving the crime is just as much fun as watching the campy chaos unfold onstage.

APRIL 30 - MAY 16, 2026

Tickets: $35+

Front Theatre Company

OCTOBER 10-11, 2026 | PIEDMONT PARK