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Happy voting day, O4W / L5P / Candler Park. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, make sure to get that done today. This week: Star Community Bar is set to close Dec. 31 after 35 years in Little Five Points, with Red Light Café planning to move into the space in January 2027. We're also tracking DeKalb's 5-2 "urban camping" vote and a busy Variety Playhouse week, so grab a coffee and settle in.

- News — Star Bar's 35-year run is ending and Red Light Café is slated to take over, while DeKalb commissioners adopted a divisive camping ordinance.
- Events — Bruce Cockburn, The Afghan Whigs and Julia Jacklin headline Variety Playhouse, with improv at Dad's Garage, Illiterate Light at Patagonia on the Beltline, and Fernbank hikes and birding for the weekend.
- Government — Atlanta council committees backed more than $64 million in water work and E911 upgrades but held the Trees Atlanta contract, and NPU-M's agenda leaned heavily on BeltLine-area development.
- Construction — Ponce de Leon is being resurfaced, and a cafe has filed for a Certificate of Occupancy on N Highland.

Let's dive in.

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Atlanta's Star Bar to close, Red Light Cafe to take over
Star Community Bar will close Dec. 31 after 35 years at 437 Moreland Avenue in Little Five Points. Red Light Café, a Virginia-Highland listening room known for jazz and burlesque shows, will move into the building in January 2027.

Monsters, myths and magic take over Atlanta's Beltline for 'Where the Weird Things Are'
The Oct. 24 event at Historic Fourth Ward Park was presented by Atlanta Beltline Art and created by artist Chantelle Rytter and her Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons. Puppets stayed stationary around the park's pond while visitors wandered among them, and new this year were the Heebie-Jeebies, blue monsters that feed on bad ideas.

DeKalb approves controversial 'urban camping' ordinance
The DeKalb Commission voted 5-2 on Tuesday to adopt the ordinance, with Commissioners Michelle Long Spears and Ted Terry voting against it. Opponents argue it criminalizes homelessness, while supporters say it targets behavior such as aggressive panhandling and other safety concerns.

Fulton County officials show how they're preparing for election; Sec. of State says elections secure
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to have monitors in several Georgia counties, including Fulton, though county officials say they do not know how many will be present. Fulton elections director Nadine Williams said voting equipment is not connected to the internet, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said an Anthropic AI agent accessed only publicly available information on Georgia's Data Hub.

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Tuesday, November 3
- Busy Tots of MLK (Nov. 3, 2026–Jan. 26, 2027) | M.L. King Jr. Recreation & Aquatics Center

Wednesday, November 4
- Bruce Cockburn | Variety Playhouse
- Maestro | Dad's Garage
- Story Time | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Carter Library November Book Club | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Chess and Checkers at MLK (Nov. 4, 2026–Jan. 30, 2027) | M.L. King Jr. Recreation & Aquatics Center
- Zoning Committee Meeting November | Candler Park

Thursday, November 5
- The Afghan Whigs | Variety Playhouse
- You’re Invited! | Dad's Garage
- Wim Tapley & The Cannons, Tobacco Road | Aisle 5
- Illiterate Light | Patagonia

Friday, November 6
- Julia Jacklin | Variety Playhouse
- Hawthorne Heights - 20th anniversary of If Only You Were Lonely | The Masquerade
- Joel Nelson - "Kennedy's Only Hero" | Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
- Waiting to Exhale in Concert | Fox Theatre - Atlanta

Saturday, November 7
- Jazz in the Park ATL with a Taste of R&B (Nov. 7–8) | Historic 4th Ward Park
- Slow Pulp w/ Snuggle | Variety Playhouse
- ECMSA: Masterclass with Robert McDuffie, violin | Performing Arts Studio
- Sleepover Festival 2026 | Railroad Earth
- Sensory Morning | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Introduction to Birding Workshop | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Food & Street Art Tour on the Atlanta Beltline | 99 Krog St NE
- Jai Wolf 10 Year Anniversary Tour | The Masquerade

Sunday, November 8
- Spellbinder Magic & Hip Hop Theater | City Winery Atlanta
- Conservatory 2026 - Final Showcase | Dad's Garage
- Liv's Last Ride Screening with Director Q&A | Plaza Atlanta - Rej auditorium (upstairs)
- Morning Hike | Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Dino Talk | Fernbank Museum of Natural History

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Note: our information comes from posted meetings documents (agendas and minutes when available) — latest source document hyperlinked to each meeting.

Past Week Roundup

Atlanta City Council

The Zoning Committee advanced a 60-day extension of the moratorium on new self-storage facilities in office-institutional districts, and it recommended denial of a major site plan expansion for a 5-acre housing development. The Finance/Executive Committee unanimously recommended the FY 2027 property tax rates, sent BeltLine refunding bond terms to the full council without a recommendation, and held a $3.33 million Trees Atlanta contract for more information. The City Utilities Committee backed more than $64 million in water and infrastructure work, including $25 million for water distribution upgrades and $22.38 million for utility relocation tied to state transportation projects, while it held a proposed ban on septic tanks for new commercial development. The Transportation Committee approved $36.84 million for fire safety upgrades on an airport concourse and held a $2.88 million street resurfacing contract and a six-month extension for the city's parking enforcement operator. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee approved a $6.5 million AT&T contract to upgrade the E911 network and held an ordinance meant to curb harassment through anonymous housing code complaints. The Community Development/Human Services Committee had on its agenda more than $24 million in federal housing grants and a proposal to reserve half of available BeltLine tax allocation funds for projects on the west side, and the full council took up the committee-approved items on Nov. 2. On Monday, Nov. 2, the Committee on Council approved Dr. Annette Hall's appointment to the Human Relations Commission and held both a rewrite of the council's public comment and proclamation rules and a charter change that would require a councilmember sponsor on all legislation. The full council met that afternoon with the FY 2027 property tax rates, the self-storage moratorium extension and the water and sewer spending on its agenda, but results haven't been posted yet. Minutes aren't yet published for every body below, but the committee outcomes above come from posted minutes.

Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education

The Student Advisory Council held a general body meeting at the district's central office on Wednesday. The agenda covered student support efforts, using data to guide financial investments, and planning for standing committees. The record shows no minutes and no recorded votes. The session was advisory, so it didn't set policy, change budgets or award contracts that affect your family. The Board of Education met Monday, Nov. 2, with first reads of proposed fall 2027 attendance zones for more than a dozen west and southwest Atlanta schools, including Douglass and Washington high schools, along with the board's draft 2027 legislative priorities. Its consent agenda included temporary construction easements for the city and a school bus purchase. Minutes aren't posted yet.

DeKalb County Board of Commissioners

Commissioners met Tuesday with a packed agenda, though only the agenda is posted, so outcomes aren't confirmed. Items up for action included buying the former YMCA property on Snapfinger Road and accepting more than $4.6 million in federal grants for renovations at five county parks. The board also took up two rezonings for new housing, a plan to move 30 vacant county-owned lots to the land bank, and a $490,797 design contract for a joint fire and police training facility. The agenda also included ordinances on street drifting, unauthorized camping and animal restraint, and the camping ordinance is covered in today's news section.

NPU-M

NPU-M met virtually Monday evening, and its agenda leaned heavily on development near the BeltLine. Two rezoning requests would replace light industrial land with large apartment buildings, and a related land use change would allow high-density mixed-use development along the corridor. The agenda also listed two side and front yard setback variances for homes, along with special event permits for two multi-day festivals at Historic Fourth Ward Park and an extension of winter events on the Broad Street boardwalk. NPU votes are advisory, so the city makes the final calls, but this is your earliest chance to weigh in on projects that could change the look and traffic of the area.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta NPU
- 460 Decatur St SE — A rezoning from light industrial to mixed residential commercial and a land use amendment to high-density mixed use are being proposed to allow a mid-to-high-rise apartment community.
- 478 Decatur St SE — A Comprehensive Development Plan amendment is being proposed to shift the parcel to High-Density Mixed-Use to facilitate a new multifamily mixed-use development.
- 707 Angier Ave NE — A rezoning from light industrial and mixed-use conditional to unified mixed residential commercial is being proposed to allow the construction of a new multifamily residential building.

Meetings This Week
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners | Nov-04, 10:00 AM | key topics: jail facility design contract, Fulton County School Board millage rate adoption, affordable housing grant funding, water main relocation
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Committee of the Whole | Nov-05, 9:00 AM | key topics: residential rezonings, Lithonia Park recreation center construction, data center regulations, pedestrian and roadway safety upgrades
- DeKalb County Board of Commissioners — Planning Commission | Nov-05, 6:00 PM | key topics: residential rezonings, special land use permits for commercial and daycare facilities, countywide chronic nuisance property ordinance

CONSTRUCTION

Permits
- 1784 N Decatur Rd NE, Three fire alarm modification permits were issued Nov. 2 for a renovation at this commercial building. Three filings at once points to a big interior overhaul.
- 1784 N Decatur Rd NE, An electrical permit for a level 3 interior renovation was issued Oct. 14. The scope is demo and build back, so expect construction activity at the site for a while.
- 579 N Highland Ave NE, At Arbeta plans to open a cafe and restaurant in this space. The tenant has filed for a Certificate of Occupancy, and the permit is pending review. You may have a new spot for coffee or lunch soon.
- 619 Edgewood Ave SE, A commercial fire sprinkler permit to add and relocate parts of the existing system is in review. The work follows NFPA 13 standards and signals an active interior buildout.
- 477 Wilmer St NE, A commercial permit to install four Level 2 EV charging stations is in review. The work adds two new breakers to an existing outdoor panel, so you'll soon have more places to plug in nearby.

Road Work

Under Construction
- Moreland Ave at Arkwright Pl — Crews are building a median that limits Arkwright Place to right-in/right-out turns and adding a signalized pedestrian crossing on Moreland. GDOT lists the project as about 36% complete.
- Ponce de Leon Ave (SR 8) resurfacing — Crews are repaving Ponce de Leon Avenue from Northside Drive to Moreland Avenue. GDOT lists the work as about 86% complete.
- Memorial Dr between Hill St and Pearl St — Crews are adding a mid-block pedestrian crossing, a right-in/right-out access point and a restricted U-turn on Memorial Drive. GDOT lists the project as about a quarter complete.
- I-20 lighting from Capitol Ave to Flat Shoals Rd — Crews are replacing the old sodium highway lights on I-20 east of downtown with LEDs. GDOT lists the work as a little over half complete.

Service Requests
- Traffic Signal Repairs (Non-Emergency) Five reports came in at Fairview Rd and Lullwater Rd, Euclid Ave and Moreland Ave, N Highland Ave and John Lewis Freedom Pkwy, and DeKalb Ave and Clifton Rd. Two of those are for the same DeKalb and Clifton intersection, so someone clearly noticed.
- Traffic Signal Repairs (Emergency) Three urgent reports landed at Clifton Rd and DeKalb Ave (two of them) and on Ponce de Leon Ave. That Clifton and DeKalb corner has now drawn both emergency and routine calls this week. If you drive through it, give yourself extra time.
- Potholes Four reports cover Central Park Pl and Ralph McGill Blvd (two of them), Ralph McGill Blvd, and Lakeshore Dr. One of the Lakeshore Dr reports went to the sewer division.
- Litter Removal Three reports cover Central Park Pl and Angier Ave (reported twice), plus Fortune Pl.
- Overgrowth and Visibility Two reports on Parkway Dr NE flag vegetation blocking sightlines.
- Sign Repair and Graffiti Removal You'll find both requests at Decatur St and Grant St. One asks for a sign repair, replacement, or installation, and the other asks the city to clean up graffiti.

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Until next week,
O4W / L5P / Candler Park Busybody

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Disclaimer: We use advanced data retrieval and analysis techniques across hundreds of sources, and may be prone to occasional error. Independently verify information with a secondary source, and please let us know if we got anything wrong via the feedback form.