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Hey, VaHi / Morningside! This week: a Cheshire Bridge institution run by three generations of women is delivering sushi straight to new moms in the hospital, and Atlanta Pride weekend is about to fill Piedmont Park with a new grand marshal leading the way. Plus, the council hits pause on a $68 million jail sale and the Beltline finally locks down its last piece of land.

- News — Nakato's "New Mama's Sushi Delivery Experience" leads a week that also brings Rep. Everton Blair Jr. as Pride grand marshal, a stalled $68 million jail sale, and the Beltline's final land purchase for its 22-mile loop.
- Business — Florida's Pilar Coffee Bar is heading to Ansley Mall along the Beltline as part of a push toward more than 20 locations by the end of 2027.
- Events — Pride weekend dominates with the Piedmont Park festival, the Sunday parade, and a string of parties, while Fest-of-Ale, live music at Smith's Olde Bar, and a literary open mic keep the weeknights busy.
- Government — Council committees held the jail sale and the Beltline bike lane legislation, Fulton pulled its health insurance renewals, and several Virginia-Highland and Morningside items, including a Ponce de Leon rezoning, are in the mix.
- Construction — A hefty 1600-amp electrical upgrade on Ottley Drive and a clinic-style build-out on Plaster Avenue lead the permits, while emergency sewer repairs bring overnight lane closures to 10th Street starting Oct. 5.

Let's dive in.

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U.S. Rep. Everton Blair Jr. Named Honorary Grand Marshal for Atlanta Pride
Blair, who represents Georgia's 13th Congressional District, will serve as Honorary Grand Marshal of the 2026 Atlanta Pride Festival on Oct. 10-11 in Piedmont Park. He was sworn into the U.S. House on Sept. 1 after an August runoff to replace the late Rep. David Scott, and is the first openly LGBTQ+ member of Congress from Georgia.

Nakato Japanese Restaurant is delivering sushi right to the hospital rooms of new moms
The "New Mama's Sushi Delivery Experience" delivers to any hospital within 10 miles of the restaurant's Cheshire Bridge location, and delivery is free on orders over $125. Orders go through the restaurant's website with the promo code SushiForMom, and owner Sachi Nakato Takahara is the third generation of women to run the restaurant, which opened in 1972.

Portion of Clifton Road in DeKalb County to close Oct 5-6
Clifton Road NE between Ponce de Leon Avenue and E. Clifton Road will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days while crews remove a tree at 823 E. Clifton Road NE, just north of the Fernbank Museum. Closure and detour signs will be posted in the area.

Citing unanswered questions, City Council delays vote to sell Atlanta's lockup
The council's Finance Committee delayed approving the proposed $68 million sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center to Fulton County, citing questions about funding, proposed renovations and the fate of the city's 182 corrections employees. Chief Financial Officer Mohamed Balla said the city spends about $30 million a year on corrections and that negotiations with the county are still underway.

Atlanta Beltline secures final land to connect 22-mile loop
Atlanta Beltline officials said the acquisition effort took two decades and included nearly 200 closings, covering about 90 property purchases and 230 easements. The 4.3-mile Northwest Trail will run from Blandtown to the Lindbergh and Morosgo neighborhoods, connecting the Westside Trail with the Northeast Trail, and the full loop is scheduled for completion by 2030.

BUSINESS

Florida-based Pilar Coffee Bar expanding to Ansley Mall along the Beltline — The Florida coffee chain is opening a new location at Ansley Mall along the Atlanta Beltline as part of its broader goal of more than 20 locations by the end of 2027.

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Monday, October 5
- Atlanta Running Meetup | 7pm - 9pm/Park Tavern

Tuesday, October 6
- Weekly Walking Club | Piedmont Park
- Garden Playtime | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Yoga in the Garden | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- In The Wild Atlanta: Speed Dating 25+ | Park Tavern

Wednesday, October 7
- Figure Drawing | The Supermarket ATL
- Deconstruct and Reassemble ~ October Literary Open Mic | The Supermarket ATL
- Storybook Time | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Alejandro Meola | Fat Matt's Rib Shack
- Organ Fairchild | Smith's Olde Bar
- PIG, Cyanotic | MJQ Concourse
- Plant. Eat. Repeat. Workshop: Container Gardening for Edible Plants | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Thursday, October 8
- Will Dempsey : Carry The Weight Tour | Smith's Olde Bar
- Fest-of-Ale | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Atlanta Beltline Thursday Run Club | Lewis BBQ
- Georgia Grown Dinners: Burns Sullivan | Atlanta Botanical Garden

Friday, October 9
- Joe Gransden’s Big Band: Jazz on the Lawn | Callanwolde Fine Arts Center
- stop.drop.rewind Fall Tour 2026 | Smith's Olde Bar
- Heretic Pride FRIDAY Georgia Aquarium After Party DJ ABEL ALL NIGHT | 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
- MPH | District Atlanta
- Flyer 101: Flyer Design Workshop | The Supermarket ATL
- 🌥️ Cloud Nine: The Bakery Atlanta's 9th Birthday Party | The Supermarket ATL

Saturday, October 10
- Atlanta Pride 2026 | Piedmont Park
- e-Scooter Lesson with Bird | Piedmont Park- Monroe Parking Garage Entrance
- Frog Feeding | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Garden Chef Demo: Pamela D. Jones Mack | Atlanta Botanical Garden
- 🍤 Paolo’s Pop-Up: Fritto Di Strada | Virginia Highland District Association
- Heretic Pride SATURDAY DJ ALEX RAMOS & MIKE POPE | 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
- Candela • Aria Vega (Cariavales Tour | District Atlanta

Sunday, October 11
- 2026 Atlanta Pride Parade | Piedmont Park
- RANDY: Pride Tea Dance with DJ SAM GEE | 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
- ReClaimed ATL: Vintage & Artisan Fall Market | The Supermarket ATL
- Park Heat - Pride Sunday at Park Tavern | 500 10th St NE
- Pride Sunday Closing Party | District Atlanta

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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

Fulton County Board of Commissioners
Commissioners held a short special meeting on Sept. 30 to take public comment on the county's 2026 General Fund millage rate, which sets part of your property tax bill. Two residents spoke by Zoom. The board took no vote on adopting the rate, so that decision is still ahead. Commissioners also voted 4-0 to pull two items on county employee and retiree health insurance, a contract renewal and the 2027 premium rates, both with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Two commissioners were absent, and the pulled items could return at a later meeting.

Atlanta City Council
The Finance/Executive Committee unanimously held the proposed jail sale to Fulton County, as covered in today's news section, and also advanced a $325,000 donation to the Gateway Center for homelessness services. The Transportation Committee advanced several airport contracts, including a six-month, $4.9 million extension for rental car center maintenance and $640,000 in design work for parking deck expansion. It also held several street abandonment proposals and legislation for dedicated BeltLine bike lanes. The Community Development/Human Services Committee agenda covered $2.34 million to buy land for a new 12.6-acre park, tougher tree protection rules and a $7.75 million federal grant to remove lead hazards from housing, and minutes for that meeting aren't posted yet, so outcomes aren't confirmed. The City Utilities Committee agenda featured an ordinance that would give the city more room to adjust sudden spikes in your water bill, plus a $17.5 million transfer for the North Fork storage tank and pump station. The Zoning Committee took up a citywide requirement for a special use permit on any new self-storage facility, along with a sweeping rewrite of Atlanta's zoning code. The Public Safety & Legal Administration Committee agenda included an ordinance setting oversight rules for city surveillance technology and changes to vehicle booting fees.

Atlanta Public Schools
The district's Student Advisory Council met Sept. 30 at the Center for Learning and Leadership. This was a student advisory session, not a school board vote, and the record shows no formal votes or actions. The agenda centered on the district's "Forward 2040" long-term plan, efforts to strengthen core instruction and an overview of the council's standing committees. You won't find school rezoning, budget changes or contracts coming out of this one, but it offers a look at what student leaders are weighing in on.

Notable Neighborhood Mentions

Atlanta City Council
- John Howell Park — Legislation authorizing a donation from District 6 carry-forward funds to the Virginia-Highland Security Patrol to erect a statue honoring John Wolfinger was held in committee.
- Sidney Marcus Park — A proposed appropriation from District 6 carry-forward funds to the Morningside Community Foundation for park improvements was held in committee.
- Atlanta BeltLine — A resolution proposing dedicated bicycle and motorized vehicle lanes along the Atlanta BeltLine remained held in committee.
- Yorkshire Rd NE & Cumberland Rd NE at McCoy St NE — A traffic calming resolution requesting the Atlanta Department of Transportation install 3-way stop signs at both neighborhood intersections remained held in committee.
- 573 Amsterdam Ave NE — A Comprehensive Development Plan amendment is being proposed to redesignate the property from Medium Lot Single-Family to Low Density Residential.
- 774 Ponce De Leon Ave NE — A Comprehensive Development Plan amendment was scheduled for consideration to redesignate the site from Medium Density Mixed Use to High Density Mixed Use.
- 774–794 Ponce de Leon Ave NE & 790 Bonaventure Ave NE — The committee considered an application to rezone 1.76 acres to Mixed Residential Commercial to allow a dense mixed-use residential and retail redevelopment.

Meetings This Week
- Atlanta Public Schools — Board of Education | Oct-05 | key topics: property tax levy request, school facility capital improvements, student screen time policy
- Atlanta City Council — Committee on Council | Oct-05, 11:30 AM | key topics: police presence at recreation center polling sites, public comment rules, civic board appointments
- Atlanta City Council | Oct-05, 1:00 PM | key topics: special use permits for self-storage, park land acquisitions, mixed-use rezonings, public pool admission fees
- Fulton County Board of Commissioners — Board of Commissioners | Oct-07, 10:00 AM | key topics: 2026 property tax millage rates, wastewater facility improvements, deed theft prevention, senior transportation

CONSTRUCTION

Permits

- 195 Ottley Dr NE: A new 1600 amp electrical service is going into an existing commercial building. That's a hefty upgrade, and the permit's already issued, so crews are pulling wire now.
- 400 Plaster Ave NE: Two commercial permits cover selective demolition, new lighting and outlets, and plumbing for exam and procedure room sinks plus a breakroom sink. It looks like a medical or clinic-style office is taking shape. The electrical permit is issued and the plumbing permit is pending.
- 551 Dutch Valley Rd NE: A commercial re-roof is in review. Crews will strip two layers of old roofing and insulation, so expect some noise once work starts.
- 1510 Piedmont Ave NE: A commercial permit tied to the City of Atlanta's Second Amended Consent Decree work is pending. That's the city's court-ordered sewer upgrade program, so you may see crews or equipment nearby.
- 1402 N Highland Ave NE: Sprinklers are being added and relocated on the existing wet system to meet fire code. The permit's issued.
- 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE: Electrical work is pending for a bathroom remodel in a commercial space.
- 2452 Elizabeth Ann Ln NE: A home office addition with a bathroom is accepted and moving forward.

Road Work

Under Construction
- I-85 from I-75 to N of Lenox Road - Lighting — Crews are swapping the old high-pressure sodium lights along this stretch for energy-efficient LEDs, and may also replace poles, conduit and wiring.
- Buford Spring Connector @ I-85 - Tunnel Lighting — The tunnel's old high-pressure sodium lights are being replaced with energy-efficient LEDs, with conduit and wiring replaced where needed.
- SR 236 / LaVista Rd & Shepherds Ln Signal Upgrade — A traffic signal upgrade at LaVista Road and Shepherds Lane.

Utility Work

Atlanta Watershed:
- Traffic Advisory: Overnight Lane Closure on 10th Street NE for Emergency Sewer Repairs Beginning October 5th — Overnight lane closures will be in place along 10th Street NE beginning October 5th while crews perform emergency sewer repair work.

Service Requests
- Traffic Signal Repairs (8 non-emergency, 2 emergency): Park Dr and Virginia Ave leads the list with 2 non-emergency reports and 2 emergency reports, so that intersection has had a rough week. You'll also find reports at Ponce de Leon Ave and Frederica St (2), N Highland Ave NE, Monroe Dr and Amsterdam Ave, Monroe Dr and Montgomery Ferry Rd, and one more location.
- Potholes (3): All three are on University Dr NE.
- Right of Way Litter Removal (3): Maiden Ln NE (2) and Flagler Ave NE.
- Right of Way Overgrowth (2): Ponce de Leon Pl NE at Drewry and Maiden Ln NE, where plants are blocking visibility.

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Until next week,
VaHi / Morningside Busybody

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