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Atlanta weekend events: Oldboy, Braves, gaming and great food

The Braves host the Nationals this weekend, and Buckhead Restaurant Week is underway.

Things to Do

Get some culture, get some food, get some fresh air. Here are your weekend options:🎞️ Atlanta Chinatown hosts a special screening of director Park Chan-wook&#x27;s classic action film Oldboy as part of the Lotus Lens film series. (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Thurs." data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaROvByxZGi/" data-vars-content-id="6699cd99-7286-4297-8619-4529f4cf7d61" data-vars-headline="Atlanta weekend events: Oldboy, Braves, gaming and great food" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaROvByxZGi/" target="_blank">Thurs.</a>)

Calls grow for Collins to address son-in-law's white nationalist posts

CNN reported that David Alan Scheer II, the son-in-law of U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.), has shared white nationalist and antisemitic posts on his social media accounts.

Politics

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) is under mounting scrutiny over his son-in-law&#x27;s social media posts promoting white nationalist and antisemitic views.Why it matters: A group of Black pastors held a press conference Monday urging Collins, a President Trump-backed candidate running to unseat incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, to answer questions about the posts.<ul><li>Collins released a statement Monday distancing himself from his son-in-law&#x27;s views, after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="telling reporters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/07/collins-healthcare-event-derailed-by-questions-about-his-son-in-law/" data-vars-content-id="bb663efb-01be-47dc-a6d4-8d3033c1f53b" data-vars-headline="Calls grow for Collins to address son-in-law&#x27;s white nationalist posts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/07/collins-healthcare-event-derailed-by-questions-about-his-son-in-law/" target="_blank">telling reporters</a> at an event last week that his campaign had &quot;fully addressed&quot; the controversy.</li></ul>

Pornhub seeks a return to Georgia's web browsers

The company wrote a letter last week to more than 300 elected officials across the country asking them to rethink their age verification laws.

Pornhub is hoping to return to web browsers and search histories in Georgia by challenging the state&#x27;s age verification rules for porn sites.Why it matters: It&#x27;s been one long year since residents could directly access one of the biggest names in online pornography.

A 125-year-old Atlanta mansion hits the market

The former museum and Peachtree landmark comes with history, tax credit potential and a motivated seller.

Real Estate

For 125 years, the historic Rufus M. Rose House on Peachtree Street has been a family home, an eclectic museum and antique store, and preservation offices.<ul><li>Now you can make it yours for $2.58 million.</li></ul>Why it matters: The Victorian mansion — built in 1901 for Rose, an Atlanta physician and founder of the R.M. Rose Distillery in Vinings — has waited decades for a new chapter.<ul><li>The red-brick home is the last house standing from a pre-automobile era when Peachtree was Atlanta&#x27;s Millionaires&#x27; Row.</li></ul>

Chastain Park could gain a new place to watch the sunset

Plans would open roughly 30 hidden acres with trails, lawns and creek views if fundraising reaches its goal.

Environment

A forgotten corner of Chastain Memorial Park could become one of Atlanta&#x27;s newest places to watch the sunset.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chastain Park Conservancy" data-vars-click-url="https://chastainparkconservancy.org/" data-vars-content-id="324ea4a6-6235-4c91-9f30-798129683fd2" data-vars-headline="Chastain Park could gain a new place to watch the sunset" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://chastainparkconservancy.org/" target="_blank">Chastain Park Conservancy</a> is nearing its $13 million fundraising goal to transform about 30 acres that have sat inaccessible for decades into trails, open lawns and one of the park&#x27;s first true places to simply relax.

The Spiller Field Magnolias will live on across Atlanta

Cuttings already grow across metro Atlanta, and the historic trees may even sprout again from their stumps.

History

Part of one of Atlanta&#x27;s most beloved trees came crashing down over the weekend. But the Spiller Field Magnolias will live on.Why it matters: Cuttings taken the grand magnolias in 2013 have already been planted across metro Atlanta.<ul><li>And experts say the damaged magnolia could eventually send up new shoots from its stump.</li></ul>

Skatepark helps define Atlanta greenway's next chapter

The proposed linear park would reconnect neighborhoods with plazas, paths, shaded areas and a skatepark.

News

An ambitious plan to create an 8.5-acre linear park stretching from the Downtown Connector to Oakland Cemetery could also include a skatepark, plazas and plenty of shade, according to new conceptual renderings.Why it matters: The decades-in-the-making (and still not fully funded) Memorial Drive Greenway would create a green space magnet on Grant Park&#x27;s northern edge and reconnect surrounding communities.

Atlanta CHaRM site near Beltline set to relocate

The Chosewood Park recycling facility will shift operations to a larger property in a Bowen Homes redevelopment.

Development

Atlanta&#x27;s popular place where you can drop off everything from paint cans to old mattresses will close and relocate to the other side of the city. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Live Thrive" data-vars-click-url="https://livethrive.org/" data-vars-content-id="eb486783-426e-42fe-92f5-b4c4e7083380" data-vars-headline="Atlanta CHaRM site near Beltline set to relocate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://livethrive.org/" target="_blank">Live Thrive</a> plans to close the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Center for Hard to Recycle Materials" data-vars-click-url="https://livethrive.org/charm/" data-vars-content-id="eb486783-426e-42fe-92f5-b4c4e7083380" data-vars-headline="Atlanta CHaRM site near Beltline set to relocate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://livethrive.org/charm/" target="_blank">Center for Hard to Recycle Materials</a> location along the Beltline in Chosewood Park when its lease ends this year — and as nearby properties become prime redevelopment targets.

What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill

Experts urge caution around cloudy water and sludge as authorities investigate the die-off.

An &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unprecedented" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/05/26/atlanta-rains-cause-unprecedented-fish-deaths-in-chattahoochee-river/90257898007/#" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/05/26/atlanta-rains-cause-unprecedented-fish-deaths-in-chattahoochee-river/90257898007/#" target="_blank">unprecedented</a>&quot; fish kill along the Chattahoochee River has sparked investigations and raised concerns about the precious waterway&#x27;s health.Catch up quick: City and state angencies are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="investigating" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/05/riverkeeper-warns-of-massive-fish-kill-on-the-chattahoochee-near-atlanta/" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/05/riverkeeper-warns-of-massive-fish-kill-on-the-chattahoochee-near-atlanta/" target="_blank">investigating</a> why a massive number of fish washed up dead along a 20-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee downstream of Peachtree Creek.The latest: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/what-is-fish-kill-why-thousands-fish-suffocated-chattahoochee-river#" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/what-is-fish-kill-why-thousands-fish-suffocated-chattahoochee-river#" target="_blank">told</a> Fox 5 that warm and polluted stormwater runoff from recent heavy rains likely caused oxygen levels in the river to drop, suffocating the fish.<ul><li>Atlanta Department of Watershed Management commissioner Greg Eyerly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/05/27/atlanta-boil-water-advisory-notifyatl-emergency-alerts-council-hearing" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2026/05/27/atlanta-boil-water-advisory-notifyatl-emergency-alerts-council-hearing" target="_self">told</a> the Atlanta City Council Utilities Committee on Tuesday that his team was preparing an official report for state regulators.</li></ul>State of play: Ulseth <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told" data-vars-click-url="https://www.11alive.com/article/tech/science/environment/sludge-cited-as-source-of-chattahoochee-fish-kill/85-b81f5d47-35a5-4516-85ab-40ea489f4546#" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.11alive.com/article/tech/science/environment/sludge-cited-as-source-of-chattahoochee-fish-kill/85-b81f5d47-35a5-4516-85ab-40ea489f4546#" target="_blank">told</a> 11 Alive that recent rains have helped restore the river&#x27;s health.While the fish kill appears to have been concentrated south of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, the following tips will help keep you and your loved ones healthy:🐶 Pets: Watch where your pets are playing and what they&#x27;re drinking. Keep them away from any dead fish.<ul><li>Ulseth and Eyerly reported seeing a &quot;black sludge&quot; along the banks in some areas. Steer clear of that sludge.</li></ul>🧫 Bacteria levels: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Check bacteria levels" data-vars-click-url="https://ga.water.usgs.gov/bacteria/" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ga.water.usgs.gov/bacteria/" target="_blank">Check bacteria levels</a> along the river.<ul><li>A good rule of thumb: Avoid contact with cloudy water.</li></ul>🏊 Avoid swimming until authorities give the all-clear, especially if you have any open cuts or injuries.<ul><li>The Riverkeeper has a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chattahoochee swimming guide" data-vars-click-url="https://chattahoochee.org/swim-guide/" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://chattahoochee.org/swim-guide/" target="_blank">Chattahoochee swimming guide</a> with good tips.</li></ul>The bottom line: The Chattahoochee&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="history" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/07/14/sally-bethea-chattahoochee-riverkeeper-book" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/07/14/sally-bethea-chattahoochee-riverkeeper-book" target="_self">history</a> is an inspiring story of how people can <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="save a precious and resilient river" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/12/30/president-jimmy-carter-chattahoochee-river-national-park" data-vars-content-id="e54cd55c-d776-47c3-8406-70e51916f887" data-vars-headline="What to know about the Chattahoochee River fish kill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/12/30/president-jimmy-carter-chattahoochee-river-national-park" target="_self">save a precious and resilient river</a>.<ul><li>The past week&#x27;s fish kill was a reminder that the work, and the story, are not yet finished.</li></ul>

Statewide drought pushes Georgia officials to start conservation campaign

The dry spell is prompting officials to push conservation to avoid bans.

Georgia officials are urging local water systems and the public to curb water usage as nearly all of the state experiences one of the worst droughts in decades.Why it matters: Spring is an unusual time for Georgia to experience droughts, which tend to take place during late summer.<ul><li>The measures could fend off stringent restrictions, including bans on outdoor watering or nonessential uses like car washes or fountains, if the drought continues.</li></ul>

Wildfires continue to burn across drought-ridden South Georgia

The Pineland Road fire in Clinch County is 10% contained and the Highway 82 fire in Brantley County is 15% contained.

Wildfires

More than 50,000 acres have been torched and over 100 structures have been destroyed as two massive wildfires rage in South Georgia. The latest: The Pineland Road fire in Clinch County, located in southeast Georgia, is only 10% contained and has burned over 32,000 acres, according to numbers released Sunday by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Georgia Forestry Commission" data-vars-click-url="https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/" data-vars-content-id="6fa05452-1607-4661-8ae1-0db46148d7b5" data-vars-headline="Wildfires continue to burn across drought-ridden South Georgia" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/" target="_blank">Georgia Forestry Commission</a>.

Piedmont Park is growing — but so are the pressures

The Piedmont Park Conservancy is building a master plan to push the boundaries to the corner of Piedmont and Monroe

Piedmont Park is getting bigger — and so are demands on the green space.Why it matters: Piedmont Park is Atlanta&#x27;s busiest green space, drawing large events and daily crowds that can strain its infrastructure and nearby neighborhoods.<ul><li>Park supporters now face a balancing act between accommodating those demands and protecting communities&#x27; quality of life.</li></ul>

Why Georgia wildfires are surging this year

Severe drought conditions, fallen timber and "zombie fires" are helping blazes spread faster.

Georgia is on pace for its worst <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wildfire" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/03/04/georgias-wildfire-season-outlook" data-vars-content-id="90f342a1-fb88-410b-9b76-1e814efe0e13" data-vars-headline="Why Georgia wildfires are surging this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/03/04/georgias-wildfire-season-outlook" target="_self">wildfire</a> season in recent years, driven by the state&#x27;s most severe drought in a decade.Why it matters: The threat isn&#x27;t limited to rural South Georgia, where the state&#x27;s timber and agriculture businesses are concentrated.<ul><li>More than 80% of Georgia&#x27;s population live in the wildland-urban interface — areas where neighborhoods border forests — and smoke can reach metro Atlanta, causing Code Red air quality days and spiking ER visits.</li></ul>

Georgia outdoor gear tax to fund $33 million for new parks, trails

The state's voter-approved outdoor gear tax will send $33 million to parks, trails and conservation projects.

That backpack you bought last year helped raise $33 million that will soon <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fund new parks, trails and conservation projects" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/03/21/georgia-outdoor-tax-funding-awards" data-vars-content-id="22b9ed7a-b56b-41fd-9c2c-33b8018d7e6d" data-vars-headline="Georgia outdoor gear tax to fund $33 million for new parks, trails" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2025/03/21/georgia-outdoor-tax-funding-awards" target="_self">fund new parks, trails and conservation projects</a> across Georgia — including a new Atlanta nature preserve.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program" data-vars-click-url="https://gadnr.org/gosp" data-vars-content-id="22b9ed7a-b56b-41fd-9c2c-33b8018d7e6d" data-vars-headline="Georgia outdoor gear tax to fund $33 million for new parks, trails" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gadnr.org/gosp" target="_blank">Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program</a>, which has raised more than $110 million since Georgia voters overwhelmingly approved the tax on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="outdoor recreation goods" data-vars-click-url="https://georgiaconservancy.org/gosa/#:~:text=The%20Georgia%20Outdoor%20Stewardship%20Act%20(GOSA)%20was,in%20acquiring%20and%20improving%20parks%20and%20trails**" data-vars-content-id="22b9ed7a-b56b-41fd-9c2c-33b8018d7e6d" data-vars-headline="Georgia outdoor gear tax to fund $33 million for new parks, trails" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://georgiaconservancy.org/gosa/#:~:text=The%20Georgia%20Outdoor%20Stewardship%20Act%20(GOSA)%20was,in%20acquiring%20and%20improving%20parks%20and%20trails**" target="_blank">outdoor recreation goods</a>, has become one of the state&#x27;s tools for expanding access to parks and protecting natural areas.