Atlanta

blue

A guide to fun things to do in Atlanta this weekend.

Axios Atlanta Weekender

Weekender

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Atlanta with Kristal Dixon and Thomas Wheatley.

Axios Atlanta

Standard

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Atlanta. Written by Kristal Dixon and Thomas Wheatley.

Axios Atlanta Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Atlanta Alerts

Alert

Axios Atlanta Partners

Atlanta Members

Membership

An $8.9 billion plan to expand metro Atlanta's toll-lane network on Interstate 285's congested north end could spark years of construction and community impacts in the quest for congestion relief.

Why it matters: The I-285 East Express Lanes project kicks off one of the Georgia Department of Transportation's biggest to date and allows a private consortium to collect toll revenue for half a century.

Driving the news: The State Transportation Board on Oct. 15 approved the selection of Top End Mobility Group, a group of international infrastructure companies, to design and build the toll-lane project.

Zoom in: The project's $8.9 billion first phase calls for two outer-loop express lanes heading west from Henderson Road near Tucker to Northside Drive near Sandy Springs. 

The new lanes would connect to I-85 and Georgia 400 and have a 2034 target opening date.

The subsequent phase would add two inner-loop express lanes heading in the opposite direction.

A later phase would extend those east-side express lanes to I-20. Estimated completion date: 2040. 

A sister project on I-285's west side would also include toll lanes.

How it works: Georgia's toll-lane program allows drivers to pay a premium to bypass gridlock. A private development group designs, finances, builds and operates the toll lanes in exchange for retaining the toll revenues.

Under the proposed deal with GDOT, the consortium would pay the state a $23.6 billion concession fee in six annual installments. The group would collect tolls for 50 years.

The state would oversee the project. The operator would set dynamic tolls within contractual limits established by the State Road and Tollway Authority.

Between the lines: Public transit buses and state-registered vanpools would be allowed to use the express lanes.

However, the project scope does not include additional transit infrastructure like stations. 

GDOT said it's working with other agencies "to advance Express Lanes Transit (ELT) to create more regional connectivity."

Threat level: GDOT officials acknowledged that the project would require some property acquisition and vegetation removal in addition to the expected construction effects.

Nearby communities on the project's east side like Montreal Woods and Lindmoor Woods have raised concerns about noise and the elevated express lanes becoming eyesores.

What they're saying: GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale told Axios that the agency "recognizes the importance of maintaining open communication with communities along the corridor and remains committed to ongoing project updates and engagement throughout final design and construction."

Right-of-way acquisition needs can change, she said, and the agency plans to "minimize construction-related impacts where feasible."

What's next: GDOT and Top End Mobility Group are expected to sign a comprehensive agreement in December and spend the next year finalizing the design. Construction could begin in late 2027 or 2028.

Map of Atlanta express lanes showing Phase 1 (pink), Phase 2 (blue), Phase 3 (teal) along I-285/I-85. Top End Mobility Group logo at right; dark inset lists concurrent phase benefits.

Screenshot: Top End Mobility Group/Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Transportation

Metro Atlanta's $8.9 billion I-285 toll-lane expansion advances

The massive highway expansion could begin in 2027 or 2028, with the first lanes opening in 2034.

An aerial view of a dense, multi-level highway interchange with looping ramps and elevated roads. Gray concrete lanes weave over green spaces toward surrounding city buildings.

Screenshot: Top End Mobility Group/Courtesy of GDOT

An $8.9 billion plan to expand metro Atlanta&#x27;s toll-lane network on Interstate 285&#x27;s congested north end could spark years of construction and community impacts in the quest for congestion relief.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="I-285 East Express Lanes" data-vars-click-url="https://i285topendexpresslanes-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/" data-vars-content-id="0c1e3fa2-650d-48fa-90d0-ba35a537e401" data-vars-headline="Metro Atlanta&#x27;s $8.9 billion I-285 toll-lane expansion advances" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://i285topendexpresslanes-gdot.hub.arcgis.com/" target="_blank">I-285 East Express Lanes</a> project kicks off one of the Georgia Department of Transportation&#x27;s biggest to date and allows a private consortium to collect toll revenue for half a century.

News

The Atlanta Dream might not be returning from San Francisco with a WNBA championship, but the team and women's basketball in Atlanta are stronger than ever.

Why it matters: Saturday night's 68-63 Game 7 loss to the Golden State Valkyries capped off a championship series that precedes a move to a new Downtown home to accommodate a rapidly growing fan base.

Catch up quick: The Dream led Game 7 — the first-ever in WNBA history — by six points at halftime before Golden State's Gabby Williams scored 28 second-half points, setting a Finals record.

Stunning stat: Season ticket membership numbers have grown more than 400% over the past five seasons, according to the team.

What they're saying: "Man, our fans showed up," Dream forward Angel Reese said after the Oct. 21 Game 3 home win against the Valkyries. 

"Like they showed up in every single possession. I thought Ballhalla was loud."

What's next: Starting next season, the team will call State Farm Arena its home base and say farewell to the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena in College Park, where it's played since 2021.

Yes, but: The need to schedule Game 6 for lunchtime on a Thursday to work around the Hawks' State Farm Arena schedule put a spotlight on the scheduling hardships that women's sports often navigate, Georgia Tech sports scholar Mary McDonald told CBS Atlanta.

Emory University business professor Mike Lewis told the outlet that the incident emphasized the difficulty organizations have trying to keep up with a popular sport.

Atlanta Dream enter a new era after WNBA Finals heartbreak

Season memberships have surged 400% in five years as the team prepares for a new downtown home.

Basketball players wearing red "ATLANTA" uniforms and warm-ups celebrate in a huddle in a crowded basketball arena

The Atlanta Dream celebrate after defeating the New York Liberty in game three of the WNBA SemiFinals. Photo: Ishika Samant/Getty Images


<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Atlanta Dream" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/10/28/atlanta-dream-face-elimination-in-lunchtime-wnba-finals-showdown" data-vars-content-id="8e9d2c7b-7eb3-4055-8448-ce4d647347d8" data-vars-headline="Atlanta Dream enter a new era after WNBA Finals heartbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/10/28/atlanta-dream-face-elimination-in-lunchtime-wnba-finals-showdown" target="_self">The Atlanta Dream</a> might not be returning from San Francisco with a WNBA championship, but the team and women&#x27;s basketball in Atlanta are stronger than ever.Why it matters: Saturday night&#x27;s 68-63 Game 7 loss to the Golden State Valkyries capped off a championship series that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="precedes a move" data-vars-click-url="https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-announces-multi-year-agreement-to-play-all-home-games-at-state-farm-arena" data-vars-content-id="8e9d2c7b-7eb3-4055-8448-ce4d647347d8" data-vars-headline="Atlanta Dream enter a new era after WNBA Finals heartbreak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-announces-multi-year-agreement-to-play-all-home-games-at-state-farm-arena" target="_blank">precedes a move</a> to a new Downtown home to accommodate a rapidly growing fan base.

Sports

A century-old mansion hidden behind a gate on busy Ponce de Leon Avenue has found a new life as an events venue.

Why it matters: Moon on Ponce reactivates a circa 1920 former inn, communal living space and short-term rental with ties to the Allman Brothers Band.

Zoom in: Husband-and-wife wedding planners Pat Maddox and Candace Marshall Maddox spent more than a year restoring and reimagining the property to create an eclectic and whimsical venue option for clients of their company, Smooth as Butter.

That included hauling off roughly 25 dumpsters of junk and debris and converting outbuildings into spaces for brides, grooms and indoor parties or movies, Pat Maddox told Axios.

The couple are marrying original architectural details with colorful rooms, unusual furniture and the occasional mosaic created by one of the house's many past occupants.

The intrigue: Workers unearthed several horseshoes while restoring a courtyard, raising the possibility that horses were once kept on the property. Two now decorate the mansion's exterior.

Catch up quick: The 7,000-square-foot home next door to the Yaarab Shriner's Center was once the Shady Rest Inn and later became an artistic commune and performance venue known as 368 Ponce, or The Big House.

As many as 19 people lived on the property at one point, including in a bus, Pat Maddox said.

Fun fact: The property's owner, Flournoy Holmes, created classic album covers for the Allman Brothers, the Marshall Tucker Band and Carole King.

State of play: Moon on Ponce is already hosting weddings, concerts and private parties for up to roughly 150 guests, even as work continues on the main house.

By the numbers: Nearly every Saturday in 2027 at Moon on Ponce is booked, Pat Maddox said, and 2028 is starting to also fill up.

What's next: Pat said he wants to largely complete renovations to the downstairs of the home by spring 2027.

Future plans call for a glass atrium and ballroom, upstairs bridal suite, bedrooms and overnight accommodations.

Historic Atlanta mansion on Ponce gets a whimsical new life

Once an artistic commune and inn, the Ponce de Leon property now hosts weddings, concerts and parties.

Four-photo collage: cream-yellow brick house with green door; brick courtyard with trees and string lights; indoor space with chandeliers and stacked chairs; stairwell with white walls and a checkered floor.

The venue can accommodate around 150 guests. Photos: Thomas Wheatley/Axios

A century-old mansion hidden behind a gate on busy <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ponce de Leon Avenue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/04/25/ponce-de-leon-office-rents-midtown-buckhead" data-vars-content-id="9c9ac47c-f2e2-43df-ad75-2b943683d6fd" data-vars-headline="Historic Atlanta mansion on Ponce gets a whimsical new life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/04/25/ponce-de-leon-office-rents-midtown-buckhead" target="_self">Ponce de Leon Avenue</a> has found a new life as an events venue.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Moon on Ponce" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/themoononponce/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="9c9ac47c-f2e2-43df-ad75-2b943683d6fd" data-vars-headline="Historic Atlanta mansion on Ponce gets a whimsical new life" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/themoononponce/?hl=en" target="_blank">Moon on Ponce</a> reactivates a circa 1920 former inn, communal living space and short-term rental with ties to the Allman Brothers Band.

Things to Do

Approximately 7,000 Fulton County voters' residency statuses are under review ahead of the Nov. 3 election, according to Fox 5.

Why it matters: Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections officials are encouraging affected voters to check their registration status and contact the department (preferably before Nov. 3 though it's not required). 

Voters will also be able to resolve the issue at their polling precinct on Election Day.

"If the issue cannot be resolved onsite, a provisional ballot will be offered in accordance with applicable procedures," officials said on the board's website.

Driving the news: Two people told the outlet they received letters from Fulton County elections officials informing them of the challenges and a scheduled hearing on Election Day to resolve any issues.

How it works: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's office flags voters' records to local election officials, Fulton officials told the outlet. A Raffensperger spokesperson told Axios that the state does not initiate voter challenges.

County officials are notifying voters by mail and raising awareness online.

Voters whose My Voter Page⁠ lists their registration status as "challenged" can contact Fulton County to resolve the issue.

"This status indicates that Fulton County needs to confirm your residential address to ensure you receive the correct precinct ballot, with the correct candidates representing that residential area," according to a statement on the department's website.

What they're saying: "Your right to vote matters, and we are here to assist you," the statement said.

State of play: Fulton elections board chair Sherri Allen told Axios Thursday evening that the number fell to roughly 6,600 or lower and was continuing to drop.

Editor's note: The story and headline have been updated to clarify that approximately 7,000 Fulton County voters' residency statuses were under review, but not all had been formally challenged.

Nearly 7,000 Fulton County voters face residency review

Affected voters can resolve their registration questions before or on Election Day, officials say.

Illustration of a voting booth with a siren on top.

White voting booth with a red flashing emergency light on top, US flag clip art and the word VOTE on the front, set against a dark gray background.

<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">7,000</h2>Approximately 7,000 Fulton County voters&#x27; residency statuses are under review ahead of the Nov. 3 election, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to Fox 5." data-vars-click-url="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fulton-election-office-reviews-residency-nearly-7000-voters.amp" data-vars-content-id="c756f867-4b7d-4c88-a46e-f80cb78f782d" data-vars-headline="Nearly 7,000 Fulton County voters face residency review" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fulton-election-office-reviews-residency-nearly-7000-voters.amp" target="_blank">according to Fox 5.</a>Why it matters: Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections officials are encouraging affected voters to check their registration status and contact the department (preferably before Nov. 3 though it&#x27;s not required).

Election

Voters who stick around to the end of the ballot will be met with three constitutional amendments to consider.

Here's a quick cheat sheet to the ballot questions:

Georgia would increase the amount of land a single owner can enroll in the state's conservation-use property tax program from 2,000 to 4,000 acres if voters approve this measure.

Advocates like the Georgia Farm Bureau argue that the policy would help preserve family-owned farms and timberland and reduce pressure to develop the property.

However, larger landowners would see the most benefit and local governments could experience a drop in property tax revenue.

Another question asks if every probate judicial race in Georgia should be nonpartisan.

The move would bring the judges, who handle wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships and other matters, in line with nearly every other elected Georgia judgeship.

Some opponents argue the change could reduce turnout and would make it more difficult for voters to evaluate who's on the ballot.

If approved, this constitutional amendment would allow state lawmakers to create a dedicated fund to help pay for the transition to a new 911 system across Georgia.

Voters across Georgia, including metro Atlanta, will decide local ballot measures involving education and transportation sales taxes, property tax breaks and redevelopment powers.

Check your sample ballot at Georgia's My Voter Page for more information.

What to know about Georgia's 3 constitutional amendments

From farmland tax breaks to 911 funding, here's what the three statewide proposals would change.

Illustration of a peach as the dot in a question mark. 

Voters who stick around to the end of the ballot will be met with three constitutional amendments to consider.Here&#x27;s a quick cheat sheet to the ballot questions:<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">💵 Property tax breaks</h2>Georgia would increase the amount of land a single owner can enroll in the state&#x27;s conservation-use property tax <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="program" data-vars-click-url="https://dor.georgia.gov/local-government-services/digest-compliance/conservation-use-land-values" data-vars-content-id="e49e1213-a575-4194-ae63-2dd375dd14c6" data-vars-headline="What to know about Georgia&#x27;s 3 constitutional amendments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dor.georgia.gov/local-government-services/digest-compliance/conservation-use-land-values" target="_blank">program</a> from 2,000 to 4,000 acres if voters approve this measure.

Thomas Wheatley

Featured stories

Atlanta Dream enter a new era after WNBA Finals heartbreak

Historic Atlanta mansion on Ponce gets a whimsical new life

What to know about Georgia's 3 constitutional amendments

Metro Atlanta's $8.9 billion I-285 toll-lane expansion advances

Nearly 7,000 Fulton County voters face residency review