Wednesday wins

Dec. 4 — The longest criminal proceeding in Georgia's history ended yesterday in the Young Slime Life gang trial. A jury found rapper Yak Gotti innocent, while co-defendant Shannon Stillwell was found guilty on one charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. ⛅ Partly cloudy and 53° today. 

🎭 Veteran Atlanta stage actor Chris Kayser died Tuesday at age 75. He was a mainstay at the Alliance Theatre, where he played Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" for 16 years.

⚖️ A Fulton County judge ordered DA Fani Willis to turn over documents from her election interference investigation into Donald Trump to the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch. 

🚨 The Sandy Springs Police Department gave notice that it will leave the North Metro SWAT team – which also includes Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Chamblee, and Johns Creek – to create its own local team.

💽 The Atlanta City Council shelved a proposal to allow data centers in Adair Park and West End after pushback from the community and Mayor Andre Dickens.

👶 The state Senate’s Committee on Affordable Childcare heard its final testimony on Monday and is expected to release its findings for next year’s session later this month.

ELSEWHERE

🏳️⚧️ The U.S. Supreme Court will begin to hear oral arguments today in U.S. vs. Skrmetti, the first-ever case to address bans on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

🇰🇷 South Korea was plunged into chaos, and its president faces impeachment after he briefly imposed martial law in response to the opposition party's motion to impeach top prosecutors and reject a government budget proposal.

PICTURE THIS: Dunwoody celebrated its annual holiday lighting ceremony on Dec. 1 as more than 500 people braved chilly temperatures at Brook Run Park. City council members (from left) Catherine Lautenbacher, Tom Lambert, Stacey Harris, and Rob Price were on hand to light up the Mega Tree.

🕖 Here's what's in today's newsletter:

• Runoff results 

• Lucky Star debuts

• Global Shabbat

AND 

• Concert PicksHave a good day,

Collin & Sammie

🎄 Don’t miss this weekend’s Miracle on Peachtree festivities! Saturday kicks off with wreath decorating, then a hot chocolate crawl in Buckhead Village, ending with the Georgia Boy Choir performing at the tree lighting ceremony in Charlie Loudermilk Park. Get details and join the fun! 

SPONSOR MESSAGE

1. Collins wins Atlanta City Council seat in runoff 

🗳️ Eshé Collins is the winner of the Dec. 3 runoff to fill an open citywide seat on the Atlanta City Council that’s been vacant for almost a year. 

Unofficial results from DeKalb and Fulton counties show Collins easily defeated Nicole “Nikki” Evans Jones in the runoff for the Post 3 At-Large seat.

Collins, a member of the Atlanta Board of Education, garnered about 8,800 votes, or 60%, with Evans receiving nearly 5,900 votes for 40%.

In DeKalb County, Nicole Massiah soundly defeated Andrew Bell for the DeKalb County Commission Dist. 3 seat, while LaDena Bolton bested Jacqueline Adams for Dist. 7.

➳ See more details on the runoff here.

Discover the gift of creativity and connection!

SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART

🎁 Looking for the perfect holiday gift? The High offers programs and classes designed specifically for older adults. Whether you’re a retiree, an empty nester, or simply curious about the arts, you’ll find something inspiring to explore.

• Take an art class and learn a new skill.
• Join engaging conversations and make new friends.
• Dip your toe into the museum on Access for All Free Days.

🎨 Treat yourself — or someone special — to the best gift this holiday season: a chance to spark creativity, connect with others, and dive into the arts.

2. Taiwanese cafe and cocktail bar Lucky Star debuts at Star Metals

🇹🇼 Lucky Star, the Taiwanese cafe and cocktail bar from Chef Jason Liang and John Chen, opens Dec. 6 at the Star Metals complex on Howell Mill Road.

Liang and Chen, who also own Michelin-starred restaurant Brush in Buckhead and Momonoki and Momo Cafe in Midtown, bring a two-in-one concept to Star Metals, with the cafe offering coffee, pastries, and Taiwanese dishes until 4 p.m., then transitioning to a cocktail bar serving food at 5 p.m.

“I grew up in Taiwan. It’s where my family’s from. We considered doing a Taiwanese and Japanese menu, but we decided it was time to do something all about my home country,” Liang said. “There’s really no place to get Taiwanese food in the city, and I wanted Lucky Star to be that place.”

🍸 Learn more about the new restaurant here.

3. Global Shabbat explores culture of Ethiopian Jews

🇪🇹 The traditions of Ethiopian Jews are the inspiration for an upcoming Shabbat dinner in Midtown Atlanta sponsored by several local Jewish organizations.

The Atlanta Jewish community has supported the Israeli-Ethiopian Jews for more than 25 years by increasing opportunities for education, employment, and economic security.  

On Fri., Dec. 13, OneTable will explore the food, culture, and traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community with a vegetarian, kosher-style Ethiopian dinner of lentils, chickpeas, and sponge-like injera bread. 

🥖 Learn more about the experience here.

🎄 Join us on the green space for our annual Holiday on the Town event at Town Brookhaven tomorrow evening, Dec. 5, 6-8:30 p.m.! Bringing you all the holiday cheer, including tree & menorah lightings, Santa, live reindeer, DIY crafts, holiday characters, DJ, music & dance performances, merchant promotions & more! 

SPONSOR MESSAGE

4. Concert Picks

VIA HOW DO YOU ATLANTA?

Wed., Dec. 4

🎯 Thomas Rhett, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, and Ashley Cooke @ The Eastern

🎶 Creed @ State Farm Arena

🌟 The Front Bottoms @ Tabernacle

☃️ Pentatonix: Hallelujah! It's a Christmas Tour @ Gas South Arena

🔥 Ha*Ash @ Coca-Cola Roxy  

Thurs., Dec. 5

🎷 Marla Feeney Band @ Tzadik Performing Arts Center

🪕 The Wood Brothers @ The Eastern

🌊 Rod Wave @ State Farm Arena

💥 Kes @ Tabernacle

😎 Peezy @ Terminal West  

Fri., Dec. 6

🎸 Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ (pictured) @ Variety Playhouse

🎄 98th Annual Christmas Carol Concert @ Spelman College (through Sun.)

🤠 Maddox Batson @ The Loft

🤩 Tony Shhnow @ Vinyl 

Sat., Dec. 7

🎤 All Women Music Festival @ The Supermarket

🎟️ Lil Baby & Friends @ State Farm Arena

⚡ Henry Verus @ Vinyl

🔌 Devault @ Terminal West 

Sun., Dec. 8 

🎼 27th Annual Holiday Gala (GSU School of Music) @ Rialto Center for the Arts

🇫🇷 Paerish @ Vinyl

🔊 Robert Earl Keen with Waylon Payne @ Variety Playhouse

🎹 Atlanta Rhythm Section @ Buckhead Theatre

☄️ Phora @ The Loft 

🗣️ Poetry vs. Hip-Hop: Team Atlanta vs. Team Boston @ City Winery  

Mon., Dec. 9

👑 Usher @ State Farm Arena (also Tues.)  

Tues., Dec. 10 

🚀 Ride Rocket @ Variety Playhouse

🎙️ Steel Panther @ Buckhead Theatre 

Wed., Dec. 11

✨ Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening @ Coca-Cola Roxy

TUNE IN

🎙️ Don't miss Sammie with the AJC's Mike Jordan every Thursday at 9:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. as they preview the top events in town on WABE.

📧 Today's newsletter was edited by Julie E. Bloemeke.