Beltline: A Beltline Python, Big Boi Beats, and a Bridge "Oopsie"

Good morning, Beltline! We've got a rogue 8-foot python on the loose, Big Boi dropping free beats, and a signature bridge that's being taken apart just months after it went up. Grab your coffee and let's get you caught up on the wild week that was.

- Big Stories — Between an 8-foot python slithering on the trail and a brand-new bridge being disassembled, it's been an "expect the unexpected" kind of week.
- Local Business Updates — Mushi Ni is officially putting down roots in Inman Park, and the old AMC site is turning blight into a bright open-air art gallery.
- Upcoming Events — Get ready for a massive Easter brunch bonanza, a 404 Day celebration at Piedmont Park, and a Run Like Hell 5K at Oakland Cemetery.
- Local Government Discussion — Officials are earmarking $600k to save your suspension and debating a massive six-week festival takeover of Central Park.
- Development & Construction Nearby — Ponce is finally getting a much-needed resurfacing, and the ambitious "Stitch" project to cap the connector is officially moving toward reality.

Let's dive in.

BIG STORIES

8-foot python spotted on Beltline stuns Atlanta, man behind viral video speaks out: "That's not a regular snake" (March 25, 2026) If you thought your biggest Beltline fear was getting run over by a rogue Lime scooter, think again. An actual 8-foot python decided to go for a slither near the trail this week, reminding us all that Nature is indeed healing (and slightly terrifying).

City: Days numbered for blighted apartments neighboring Beltline (March 26, 2026) The city is finally pulling the trigger on demolition permits for those crumbling Azalea Gardens apartments that have been an eyesore near our newest trail segments. It's the end of an era for the blight, and honestly, we're just ready for whatever shiny new thing comes next.

Big Boi partners with Impossible Foods for free concert & more Atlanta events (March 25, 2026) Sir Lucious Left Foot himself is teaming up for a free show, because apparently even legends love a good plant-based burger. Clear your calendar, because a "free" and "Big Boi" combo in the same sentence is basically a local holiday.

Why a new, one-of-a-kind Beltline bridge is being disassembled (March 27, 2026) In a classic case of "measure once, cut... oh wait," a signature bridge on the Northwest Trail is being taken apart less than a year after it went up. Construction is hard, folks, but we'll be waiting (impatiently) for its eventual return.

Project on Reynoldstown corner near Beltline is finally underway (March 24, 2026) After sitting vacant for five whole years, the corner lot in Reynoldstown is finally seeing some action with new townhomes and condos moving forward. It's about time someone did something with that space besides letting the weeds win.

LOCAL BUSINESS UPDATES

Mushi Ni - opening - Finally! After years of food hall hopping and pop-up residencies, our favorite bao slingers have a permanent home on Elizabeth Street. Go for the famous soft-shell crab buns, stay for the Thai tea martinis and the unpretentious "jeans and a t-shirt" vibe we love. (March 28, 2026)

BLVDNEXT Open-Air Gallery - opening - The former Atlanta Medical Center site is getting a much-needed glow-up before its next chapter begins. This new outdoor gallery and "cultural space" features vibrant murals and art wraps along the construction perimeter, proving that even a work-in-progress can look like a masterpiece. (March 24, 2026)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Get ready to hop to it, because Easter Sunday is taking over the Beltline this weekend! Between brunch celebrations at TWO urban licks and the neighborhood favorite Easter Bunny sightings, the Eastside Trail is going to be absolutely buzzing with spring energy—clear your Sunday and bring your appetite!

Monday, March 30
- Atlanta Run Club: Monday Night Runs | Ponce City Market
- Dogwood | The Supermarket

Tuesday, March 31
- Movie: ATL (2006) | GA on Film Series | Plaza Theatre
- Dancing With The Stars: Live! - 2026 Tour | Fox Theatre - Atlanta
- Y'Anna Crawley | City Winery Atlanta
- Hannah Cohen | Aisle 5

Wednesday, April 01
- Jacqueline Novak: 2026 TOUR | Variety Playhouse
- Jazz on the Beltline (Live Music, Margarita & Wine Flights!) | Buena Vida Tapas Bar
- Grag Queen and Bright Light Bright Light | City Winery
- Moon Walker | The Masquerade
- Varials | The Masquerade

Thursday, April 02
- Mac McAnally | City Winery Atlanta
- Maestro | Dad's Garage
- Jesse Roper | Aisle 5
- Slomosa | The Masquerade

Friday, April 03
- Indigo De Souza: The Precipice Tour | Variety Playhouse
- Puppy Prov with PAWS Atlanta | Dad's Garage
- Shy High: Not So Shy Tour 2026 | Aisle 5
- Lala Lala | The Masquerade
- The Romantic Party: A Bruno Mars Dance Night | The Masquerade

Saturday, April 04
- 404 Day 2026 Celebration! | Piedmont Park
- Run Like Hell 5K | Oakland Cemetery
- Old Crow Medicine Show | Variety Playhouse
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE
- Easter Brunch Debuts at Trattoria Lucia | Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail
- The Jury Experience – Death by AI: Who Pays the Price? | 7 Stages Theatre
- The Primrose Friends LIVE! (Kid's Show) | Dad's Garage
- Scandal! - The Bare | Dad's Garage
- ODUMODUBLVCK - THE INDUSTRY MACHINE TOUR | The Masquerade

Sunday, April 05
- TWO urban licks' Annual Easter Celebration | TWO Urban Licks
- Easter Brunch in Bloom at Kitty Dare | Kitty Dare
- Easter Brunch Party | New Realm Brewing
- A Very Hoppy Easter Brunch at Tio Lucho's | Tio Lucho's
- Celebrate Easter Under the Sea at Amore e Amore | Amore e Amore
- Drake Bell | City Winery

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISCUSSION

Fulton County Board of Commissioners

Discussion from the Past Week

Fulton County commissioners skipped the administrative small talk last week for a "Special Called Meeting" focused entirely on the big-ticket items that keep the region moving—literally. The headliner was TSPLOST, that extra penny or so you pay at the register for transportation. The board began the high-stakes process of hashing out the "tier one" project list. For those of us living near the Beltline, this is the beginning of the line for deciding which major corridors get road widenings, which intersections get safety upgrades, and where those much-needed sidewalk gaps finally get filled.

The board also dived into the "Service Delivery Strategy" (SDS). While it sounds like a dry logistics manual, it's actually the legal shield that prevents you from being double-charged for the same services by both the city and the county. It defines exactly who is footing the bill for things like E-911, libraries, and parks. If this agreement isn't ironclad, your property tax bill usually feels the heat. Because this was a special session, the commissioners bypassed routine zoning cases to ensure these financial and infrastructure frameworks were the solo stars of the show.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Board of Commissioners, April 01, 2026 at 10:00 AM: The board will vote on a $600,000 boost for pothole patching and paving services through 2026, alongside a $975,000 package to support domestic violence survivors through the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Other key items include a lease renewal for a senior center in South Atlanta, updates on hiring more detention officers for the county jail, and final preparations for the 2026 elections, including filling the vacant District 4 commission seat.

Atlanta NPU

Discussion from the Past Week

If your Google Calendar isn't already screaming, it's about to. The last week of NPU meetings (N and M) felt less like government oversight and more like planning the ultimate summer block party. We are looking at a massive wave of spring and summer festivals that will essentially hand over our public parks to event organizers for weeks at a time. The headline-grabber is the "Showcase Atlanta" event, which is looking to camp out in Central Park (Old Fourth Ward) and Woodruff Park (Downtown) for a staggering six weeks straight, from June 10 through July 20.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari has been busy on the legislative front with two big moves. First, there's a push (Z-26-5) to refresh the "prohibited uses" list in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District. This is essentially the city deciding what kind of businesses are and aren't allowed to set up shop in our historic backyard. Over in Cabbagetown, Bakhtiari is also looking to tweak the rules for sidewalk repaving (Z-26-4). It sounds dry, but if you've ever tripped on a crumbling historic brick, you know this actually matters for the neighborhood's "vibe" and your own ankles.

The dining scene is also shifting. Nando's Peri Peri is officially moving into the old restaurant space at 99 Krog Street—a "new application, old location" situation, meaning the infrastructure is there and the peri-peri chicken is imminent. Further downtown, things are getting flashy with "Cosm Atlanta," a massive multi-level entertainment hub near Centennial Olympic Park that is seeking four separate alcohol licenses for everything from a VIP bar to a hall bar. It's clear the city is betting big on post-event nightlife.

Cabbagetown might also be getting a new look at 708 Kirkwood Avenue, where a developer is pushing for an adaptive reuse project that would flip a low-density residential spot into a mixed-use development (apartments over shops). It's the classic "density vs. character" debate that defines the Beltline era.

Most notable to your neighborhood:
- 99 Krog St NE: Nando's Peri Peri is moving into this familiar spot, bringing new life (and spicy chicken) to the Krog Street area.
- 830 Willoughby Way NE: The Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark/Greenspace is booked solid. Expect crowds for the Atlanta Spring Wine festival (April 11), a BOTB event (June 6), and the Shop Black Fest (June 13).
- 400 Merritts Ave (Central Park): The "Showcase Atlanta" takeover from June 10 to July 20 will make this area a high-traffic zone for over a month.
- Euclid Ave NE, Elizabeth St NE & Hurt Street NE: The Inman Park Festival and Tour of Homes (April 24-26) will cause significant street closures and pedestrian surges.
- 655 Highland Ave NE: Keep an eye out for Colmado, a new wine specialty shop looking to open its doors.
- 680 Dallas St NE: The Sip & Drool Dog Festival is slated for July 26—expect a lot of four-legged traffic near the park.

Atlanta City Council

Discussion from the Past Week

The city's checkbook was wide open this week as the Finance and Executive Committee moved the Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Budget forward. While the billion-dollar numbers can feel abstract, this is the official start of deciding how much of your property tax goes to parks versus police. Speaking of big numbers, the airport is getting a massive "glow-up"—or at least a very expensive one. Council moved forward with a $1.04 billion authorization to widen Concourse D and another $81 million for new air systems. If you've ever stood in a humid terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson, you'll understand why the city is prioritising climate control.

Meanwhile, downtown is preparing to turn into a giant party for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Public Safety Committee approved a temporary "Public Entertainment District" from June 11 to July 19, 2026. In plain English: you'll be allowed to walk the streets of downtown with an open container of alcohol during the tournament. To balance out the fun, the city is also getting serious about security, accepting a $7.6 million federal grant specifically for "counter-unmanned aircraft systems"—essentially a drone defense shield for the World Cup events.

Back in the neighborhoods, the city is trying to manage the growing pains of Atlanta's nightlife and infrastructure. A 180-day moratorium on new alcohol licenses was approved for the Edgewood Corridor, a move sparked by neighbors who say the nightlife scene has hit a breaking point. On the transit front, the return of Atlanta Streets Alive for 2026 was officially greenlit, and a $20 million deal with Georgia Power will install a fleet of new "innovative" streetlights downtown to make the city's core feel less like a noir film and more like a safe place to walk after dinner.

Most notable to your neighborhood:

Atlanta Public Schools

Discussion from the Past Week

Last week, the students officially took the mic. The APS Student Advisory Council (SAC) gathered at the district headquarters to weigh in on the high-level decisions that usually happen behind closed doors. While the official minutes are currently missing in action, the agenda shows the "junior board" is digging into the heavy-duty topics that eventually dictate how your property tax dollars are spent.

Top of the list was SPLOST. For the uninitiated, that’s the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax—essentially the "penny tax" that pays for shiny new school buildings, HVAC repairs, and the tech upgrades that keep the district running. The council received a briefing on how these capital funds are being allocated, which is the first step before these projects land on the main Board of Education's desk for a final vote.

Meanwhile, the group tackled the "where is everyone?" problem. Dr. C. Windom presented on the district's ongoing battle with chronic absenteeism. It’s a significant issue because when kids don't show up, it doesn't just hurt test scores; it can eventually impact state funding for the district. The students also reviewed the CLIP (Comprehensive Literacy Instructional Plan) survey, which is the roadmap for how APS plans to get reading levels back on track across all neighborhoods.

Also worth noting: The council spent time recapping their "Breakfast with the Board" event. This is where the student reps get face-time with the actual Board of Education members to complain about—or praise—what’s happening in the hallways. If you’re wondering why certain school policies suddenly shift, it’s often because these student advisors are whispering in the ears of the people in charge.

Meetings in the Next Week
- Atlanta Board of Education, April 06, 2026: The full board is scheduled for their regular session to likely tackle the big-picture versions of last week's student discussions, including SPLOST funding updates and literacy initiatives.

DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION NEARBY

Permits
- 539 Highland Ave NE — Keep a close eye on this corner! A new three-story apartment building is in the works, featuring six units and "micro retail" spaces on the ground floor. It sounds very chic, but brace yourself for the construction equipment moving in.
- 429 Ponce de Leon Ave NE — The "order ahead" lifestyle is taking over. They're swapping out a storefront window for a dedicated mobile order pick-up window. Perfect for those of us who haven't had enough coffee to talk to a human yet.
- 667 Auburn Ave NE — There's a tenant renovation happening on Auburn. They just pulled the permit for a brand new fire alarm system, which usually means a new business neighbor is getting close to officially opening their doors.
- 644 N Highland Ave NE — Someone is prepping for the Georgia humidity with a new 2-ton heat pump and all-new ductwork. It's not the flashiest update, but we'll all be jealous of their climate control by July.
- 36 Daniel St SE — Repairs are starting on the walkway and deck here. Just in time for prime patio season!
- Residential Demolition — Just a heads-up that a residential demolition permit was filed this week. Keep your eyes peeled for which old structure is making way for something new.

Road Work

Under Construction
- SR 8 (Ponce de Leon Ave) Resurfacing — Our main artery is getting some much-needed TLC between SR 3 and SR 42. GDOT is out there resurfacing the road to fix that low "OCI score" (which is just fancy talk for "this road is bumpy as heck"). Expect some lane closures while they smooth things out near Ponce City Market.
- I-75 @ Ralph McGill Blvd & Baker Street Tunnel Lighting — If the commute home through the tunnel feels a little brighter lately, this is why. Crews are swapping out those old, yellowy lights for crisp LED fixtures. It's mostly wiring and conduit work, but keep an eye out for work trucks near the O4W exits.
- SR 154 (Memorial Drive) Pedestrian Facilities (Fulton & DeKalb Counties) — This one spans the county line and is a big deal for walkability. They're installing a mid-block pedestrian crossing and new turn restrictions between Hill Street and Pearl Street. It's a "heads up" for anyone heading south toward Cabbagetown or Reynoldstown.
- I-75/I-85 (The Connector) Resurfacing — The stretch from the CSX tracks up to the Brookwood Interchange is officially in the "fix it" phase. It hasn't been resurfaced since 2016, so it's overdue, but expect some late-night lane shifts while they lay down the new asphalt.
- SR 42 (Moreland Ave) at Arkwright Place Intersection Improvements — They are officially turning this intersection into a "right-in/right-out" only by building a new median. This means no more risky left turns across Moreland at Arkwright, so start planning your U-turn route now if you're hitting up the shops near the Inman Park border.
- I-75 (I-85 to Memorial Drive) & I-20 (Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals) Lighting (Fulton & DeKalb Counties) — Both of these major highway stretches bordering Sweet Auburn and the East Side are undergoing massive lighting overhauls. They're ditching the old HPS bulbs for LEDs and replacing poles, which should make those late-night drives feel a lot safer.

Construction Work Program
- SR 10 from I-75 to Ponce de Leon Ave (Fulton County) — This busy stretch of North Avenue/Freedom Parkway is slated for a fresh resurfacing and maintenance. It's right in our backyard, so keep an eye out for crews getting ready to smooth out your commute.
- I-75/I-85 Capping - The Stitch Phase I (Fulton County) — Huge news for the neighborhood skyline! The massive project to cap the Downtown Connector with a park and pedestrian bridge is officially funded and moving toward reality. It's going to be a game-changer for connecting O4W and Downtown.
- SR 42/US 23 from DeKalb Ave to Austin Ave (DeKalb County) — Heads up, Inman Park: GDOT is scoping out a plan to narrow the travel lanes here to 10 feet. The goal is to slow things down and make this stretch feel a little more like a neighborhood street and a little less like a drag strip.
- SR 8/US 23 at SR 42 (DeKalb & Fulton Counties) — The legendary (and often congested) Ponce and Moreland/Briarcliff intersection is getting an operational facelift. They're planning to extend the turn lanes to help unclog the eternal westbound backup near the Clermont.
- SR 154/Memorial Drive Corridor Improvements (Fulton County) — Finally, some sidewalk love for the southern edge of the neighborhood. They'll be fixing broken paths and adding ADA-compliant stretches from Connally to Grant Street to make those walks to brunch much smoother.
- SR 8 from Peachtree Street to Ponce de Leon Place (Fulton County) — Look for median work coming to this stretch of Ponce. It's a safety-focused project aimed at protecting "vulnerable road users" (aka you and your neighbors on bikes or on foot).
- Peachtree St from Ellis St to Baker St (Fulton County) — This major reconfiguration is moving forward to transform Peachtree into a more pedestrian-friendly "shared street." It's a quick hop from Sweet Auburn and will definitely change the vibe of your downtown cut-through.
- I-75/I-85 from Baker Highland Conn to Decatur St (Fulton County) — GDOT is officially scoping out a one-mile section of the Downtown Connector. While it's just a study for now, any activity on this main artery is a major "heads up" for those of us living right next to the highway.
- I-75 at 4 Locations in Fulton County (Fulton County) — Bridge preservation is on the horizon. Expect crews to be painting, cleaning, and tightening bolts on the overpasses nearby to keep everything structurally sound.
- SR 154 from Connally St to Grant St (Fulton County) — To help the flow on Memorial Drive, they're planning to add auxiliary lanes. This should help ease those merging headaches we all deal with during the Monday morning rush.

Service Requests
- Potholes — Reported at Piedmont Ave & Currier St, Blvd NE, and along Elizabeth St at both Bernina Ave and the main Inman Park stretch. Your suspension is officially on high alert.
- Traffic Signal Repairs — Techs are needed at the intersections of Moreland & Euclid, Irwin & Boulevard, N Highland & Freedom Pkwy, and Ponce & Parkway Dr. Give the car in front of you an extra beat before hitting the gas at these spots.
- Litter Removal — Trash is piling up on Highland Ave NE and Renaissance Pkwy NE. Let's keep the East Side looking like a neighborhood and not a landfill.
- Downed Tree — A rogue tree is down on Howell St NE. Nature is making a move, so watch your head.