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Falling Water Park could be Atlanta's next fishing hole

Plans call for trails, boardwalks and fishing access near Campbellton Road and Therrell High.

Things to Do

An effort to turn a hidden forest and pond on the outer edge of southwest Atlanta into a new park is gaining momentum.Why it matters: The proposed Falling Water Park connects the community to 26.3 acres of deep woods and water a short walk from Campbellton Road.

Weekend events: Atlanta Jazz Festival, MomoCon, Brew at the Zoo

Memorial Day weekend will be packed with things to do around Atlanta.

It&#x27;s Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta, and there&#x27;s something to do for every cosplayer, beer lover and jazz fan in your life.Here are some events to add to your plans: 🧝 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="MomoCon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.momocon.com/" data-vars-content-id="29901d5d-d8a8-4df2-9e1c-ff1bff962852" data-vars-headline="Weekend events: Atlanta Jazz Festival, MomoCon, Brew at the Zoo" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.momocon.com/" target="_blank">MomoCon</a> is back for its 21st year at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Northside Hospital expands emergency department to meet demand

The 67,000-square-foot expansion will add 18 treatment rooms, a new entrance and lobby, five triage rooms, EKG rooms, and a CT scanner in a two-story building.

Health

Northside Hospital Atlanta in Sandy Springs is expanding its emergency department footprint to respond to the steady increase in patients each year.Why it matters: As metro Atlanta <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/14/atlanta-population-growth-arc-region-fulton-henry-gwinnett-forsyth" data-vars-content-id="3382d792-2336-442d-8fa4-cacf95ef6aae" data-vars-headline="Northside Hospital expands emergency department to meet demand" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/14/atlanta-population-growth-arc-region-fulton-henry-gwinnett-forsyth" target="_self">grows</a>, area hospitals and medical facilities must meet the demand that comes with an expanding population.

The CTR nears completion in Downtown Atlanta

At the center of the 24,000-square-foot space will be a huge bar that can seat up to 60 people.

Business

City leaders and stakeholders are ushering in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new era" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/22/the-ctr-atlanta-food-hall-atrium" data-vars-content-id="fbf649cc-8a3c-4c7c-8d83-54ae6019bfb4" data-vars-headline="The CTR nears completion in Downtown Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/04/22/the-ctr-atlanta-food-hall-atrium" target="_self">a new era</a> for the former CNN Center as developers work to open the complex ahead of the FIFA World Cup.The latest: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CP Group" data-vars-click-url="https://cpgcre.com/" data-vars-content-id="fbf649cc-8a3c-4c7c-8d83-54ae6019bfb4" data-vars-headline="The CTR nears completion in Downtown Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cpgcre.com/" target="_blank">CP Group</a>, which owns the building, is in the final stretch of opening The CTR to the public.

Amy Sherald: American Sublime opens at High Museum of Art

The High Museum of Art is the final stop of the exhibit, which will be on display through Sept. 27.

Culture

If you&#x27;ve been eager to check out the talent of artist and Georgia native Amy Sherald, the High Museum of Art is offering another opportunity to see her most famous pieces.The latest: &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Amy Sherald: American Sublime" data-vars-click-url="https://high.org/exhibition/amy-sherald-american-sublime/" data-vars-content-id="f848abe4-57a3-43ed-9c26-726c09a60129" data-vars-headline="Amy Sherald: American Sublime opens at High Museum of Art" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://high.org/exhibition/amy-sherald-american-sublime/" target="_blank">Amy Sherald: American Sublime</a>&quot; is available to peruse and interpret at the High through Sept. 27.<ul><li>The exhibit includes 39 paintings Sherald created between 2007 and 2024 and features some of her well-known pieces, including the portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama.</li></ul>

Atlanta Film Festival celebrates 50 years of moviemaking

The long-running festival returns April 23 with major screenings, guests and a look at Atlanta's film future.

The Atlanta Film Festival will celebrate the city&#x27;s moviemaking past and future when it rolls out the red carpet for the 50th year.Why it matters: The event, which runs from April 23 to May 3, is the ninth longest-running film festival in the country, according to festival leaders.<ul><li>What started as a grassroots effort by a dozen or so local cinephiles, filmmakers and creatives has become an 11-day Academy Award-qualifying festival and a springboard for careers.</li></ul>

90th Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park with entrance fee

Executive director Brian Hill told Axios the Dogwood Festival is charging a "nominal entrance fee to be able to keep the festival alive."

The popular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta Dogwood Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://dogwood.org/" data-vars-content-id="fdef238c-6953-4059-8d40-604e1ed84add" data-vars-headline="90th Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park with entrance fee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dogwood.org/" target="_blank">Atlanta Dogwood Festival</a> returns to Piedmont Park this weekend, and for the first time will charge visitors a small fee to attend.Why it matters: The three-day festival was in &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grave risk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/26/dogwood-festival-piedmont-park-shutting-down-fundraising" data-vars-content-id="fdef238c-6953-4059-8d40-604e1ed84add" data-vars-headline="90th Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park with entrance fee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/26/dogwood-festival-piedmont-park-shutting-down-fundraising" target="_self">grave risk</a>&quot; of not returning due to budget constraints fueled by the pandemic, rising costs and falling sponsorships.

New Gordon Parks exhibit arrives in Atlanta

The exhibit includes photos from the 1956 Life magazine spread that followed the lives of the Thornton family in and around Mobile, Alabama.

A new exhibit on display in Atlanta is celebrating the 70th anniversary of Life magazine publishing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gordon Parks&#x27;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/biography" data-vars-content-id="a03eed2d-6cd4-444a-aba2-4080b68a32da" data-vars-headline="New Gordon Parks exhibit arrives in Atlanta" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/gordon-parks/biography" target="_blank">Gordon Parks&#x27;</a> iconic photo essay of Black American life in the Jim Crow South. Why it matters: The photographs of Black families carrying out their day-to-day activities forced readers to confront the human reality of de jure segregation.

Decatur shop keeps rare accordions alive and playing

A basement shop on a residential street in Decatur restores decades-old accordions.

News

In the downstairs workshop of a Decatur bungalow, Jack Brantley and Kyle Turner keep accordions from across the country bellowing and droning.Why it matters: Brantley and Turner run <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Accordionology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.accordionology.com/" data-vars-content-id="296b311a-1a66-470d-9950-2a28e9fdf5fc" data-vars-headline="Decatur shop keeps rare accordions alive and playing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.accordionology.com/" target="_blank">Accordionology</a>, a two-person, appointment-only business with decades of combined experience repairing and restoring the niche instruments.<ul><li>&quot;We are the only full-service accordion shop in the entire Southeast,&quot; Brantley, who lives upstairs with his wife and dogs, told Axios.</li></ul>

Bill would move Georgia to new time zone, end biannual clock change

The Georgia Senate passed legislation that, if approved by the U.S. transportation secretary, would move the state into the Atlantic time zone.

Twice a year, we dread adjusting our internal and external clocks to reflect whether we&#x27;re in standard or daylight saving time.<ul><li>One Georgia legislator&#x27;s solution: place the state into a completely different time zone and leave the clocks alone for good.</li></ul>The latest: The state Senate on Monday passed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="legislation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69591" data-vars-content-id="28cd767f-569d-48b6-b302-7a154702d0db" data-vars-headline="Bill would move Georgia to new time zone, end biannual clock change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69591" target="_blank">legislation</a> that would ask the U.S. transportation secretary to move Georgia from the Eastern time zone to the Atlantic time zone, which is one hour ahead.

Free documentary screening revisits a hidden Atlanta LGBTQ+ TV legacy

A free screening revisits a scrappy Atlanta TV show that shaped LGBTQ culture and showcased drag icons.

A free screening on Sunday, April 5 will revisit &quot;The American Music Show,&quot; a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public-access staple" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/11/14/people-tv-public-access-returns" data-vars-content-id="3d97acd8-8619-48c2-b4dd-9e4dc1c2ca94" data-vars-headline="Free documentary screening revisits a hidden Atlanta LGBTQ+ TV legacy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/11/14/people-tv-public-access-returns" target="_self">public-access staple</a> that helped shape LGBTQ+ culture in Atlanta and beyond I-285.Why it matters: Shot in creator Dick Richards&#x27; Inman Park bungalow, the show ran from 1981 to 2005 and was credited as the first to put RuPaul on TV, along with icons like Lady Bunny and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jayne County" data-vars-click-url="http://www.jaynecounty.com/" data-vars-content-id="3d97acd8-8619-48c2-b4dd-9e4dc1c2ca94" data-vars-headline="Free documentary screening revisits a hidden Atlanta LGBTQ+ TV legacy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://www.jaynecounty.com/" target="_blank">Jayne County</a>.<ul><li>The People TV show&#x27;s guerrilla-style shoots across Atlanta — from the Jackson Street bridge to Piedmont Park&#x27;s old cruising trails — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="offer an alternative view of the city" data-vars-click-url="https://atlantastudies.org/2019/03/12/this-weird-cable-program-queer-atlanta-and-the-archives-of-the-american-music-show-at-emorys-rose-library/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="3d97acd8-8619-48c2-b4dd-9e4dc1c2ca94" data-vars-headline="Free documentary screening revisits a hidden Atlanta LGBTQ+ TV legacy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://atlantastudies.org/2019/03/12/this-weird-cable-program-queer-atlanta-and-the-archives-of-the-american-music-show-at-emorys-rose-library/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">offer an alternative view of the city</a> in the 1980s and &#x27;90s.</li></ul>

Drivers tell us why they do — or don't — back into parking spaces

Dozens of people responded to our question about why drivers in Atlanta tend to back into parking spaces.

👋🏽 Kristal here.We recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="asked" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/03/09/atlanta-drivers-parking" data-vars-content-id="88d3eac2-0121-4aef-a9d1-4f102547e62b" data-vars-headline="Drivers tell us why they do — or don&#x27;t — back into parking spaces" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/03/09/atlanta-drivers-parking" target="_self">asked</a> Axios Atlanta readers why drivers here insist on backing into parking spaces.<ul><li>And apparently, we touched a nerve because dozens responded — with strong feelings about it.</li></ul>

Atlanta sounds off after NBA cancels Hawks' Magic City event

The NBA on Monday canceled the Hawks' event due to "significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees."

Magic City responded Tuesday after the NBA <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="canceled" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/03/09/nba-cancels-hawks-magic-city-night" data-vars-content-id="011e0701-ce11-4226-8248-1d133cbca399" data-vars-headline="Atlanta sounds off after NBA cancels Hawks&#x27; Magic City event" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/03/09/nba-cancels-hawks-magic-city-night" target="_self">canceled</a> the Atlanta Hawks&#x27; planned promotional night with the iconic strip club.Why it matters: Magic City has operated in Atlanta for more than 40 years and sits at the intersection of the city&#x27;s nightlife and hip-hop culture. <ul><li>That influence — explored in the five-part documentary &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Magic City: An American Fantasy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/15/magic-city-documentary-debuts-today-on-starz" data-vars-content-id="011e0701-ce11-4226-8248-1d133cbca399" data-vars-headline="Atlanta sounds off after NBA cancels Hawks&#x27; Magic City event" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/08/15/magic-city-documentary-debuts-today-on-starz" target="_self">Magic City: An American Fantasy</a>&quot; — helped turn it into a cultural institution.</li></ul>

Why do drivers in Atlanta back into parking spaces?

Backing into a parking space makes it easier to leave busy events and if something goes awry, Kristal says.

👋🏽 Kristal here.Back in October, I was parking my car near a coffee shop when my passenger, Axios publisher <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nicholas Johnston" data-vars-click-url="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-johnston-127a4b17/" data-vars-content-id="684e224b-50ec-424a-9e10-93250b894d5e" data-vars-headline="Why do drivers in Atlanta back into parking spaces?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-johnston-127a4b17/" target="_blank">Nicholas Johnston</a>, asked a question that seemed to come out of the blue: &quot;Why does everyone back in here?&quot;Zoom in: At first, I didn&#x27;t know how to answer Nick, who lives in Washington, D.C., because I never thought about it. <ul><li>After backing into the space and putting my car in park, I noticed nearly every vehicle had been backed in by drivers.</li></ul>A few days ago I was scrolling on social media and came across a reel of someone hating on drivers who back into parking spaces and it reminded me of Nick&#x27;s question. The more I thought about it, the more I realized drivers in Atlanta do back into parking spaces quite a bit. <ul><li>When I was driving a two-door Honda Civic, I rarely backed into a parking space. I now drive a four-door Honda Accord and I almost always back into parking spaces. </li></ul>Yes, but: Backing in makes it easier to leave a busy function or depart if something pops off (this is what I told Nick when he asked). <ul><li>It also makes more sense if you have a larger car, or if you&#x27;re parking in places that have narrow spaces. </li></ul>(Don&#x27;t come at me complaining about how much time it takes; the more you do it, the more efficient you become at backing in! Plus, waiting another 30 seconds won&#x27;t kill you.)Flashback: When I was little, seeing a person back into a parking space added a certain kind of swagger to the driver. <ul><li>In my juvenile eyes, a person was cool if they could back into a parking space (AND parallel park, which I can do). </li></ul>But I want to hear from you, Atlanta. Do you back in or drive forward into parking spaces? Why (or why not)? <ul><li>Or do you scream at the top of your lungs when you&#x27;re behind a driver who insists on backing in? </li><li>Hit reply and tell us!</li></ul>

Culture

Amy Sherald: American Sublime opens at High Museum of Art

Atlanta artist maps Blandtown's evolution

Atlanta Film Festival celebrates 50 years of moviemaking

90th Dogwood Festival returns to Piedmont Park with entrance fee

New Gordon Parks exhibit arrives in Atlanta