Friday Atlanta Flag Day: Restaurants, Events and More

💪 The She Leads women’s empowerment program, hosted by the Atlanta Hawks, concluded at Georgia Power with a day filled with transformational sessions focused on financial wellness.

The year-long development program supports advancement and growth opportunities for early-career Atlanta women ages 22-35 who focus on business, sports and entertainment, STEAM and entrepreneurship.

👩‍💻 Hosted at Georgia powerHer leaders and mentors gained valuable insights into their financial journey, including advice on salary and contract negotiation, personal finances, and professional and financial growth.

2. Events, exhibitions and catering to mark June 17

🎉 Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, will be celebrated with a plethora of celebrations across the metro area starting this weekend. We’ve put together a guide to some of the best places to visit.

From events at the High Museum and the Atlanta History Center to city celebrations in Sandy Springs and Brookhaven filled with delicious food, music and dancing, there are many ways to celebrate.

➡️ Click here to see the list.

3. The reality of “Tuesday” undermines the magic of its fantasy

WEEKLY FILM REVIEW | BY SAMMIE PURCELL

🦜 A mother (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her daughter must face Death when she arrives in the form of a magical talking bird. This is the common thread of “Mardi”, the first feature film by screenwriter and director Daina O. Pusić. It’s a line of logic that might leave some skeptical — an ambitious undertaking that could so easily seem ludicrous in the wrong hands. But if there’s one thing that succeeds on Tuesday, it’s the bird.

The bird – Death, if you will – is a large shapeshifting parrot (voiced by Arinzé Kene) who answers the call when it’s time for us to leave. Death spends his time flying around the world, his head filled with the rumblings of humanity until he hears someone screaming clearly through the noise. He finds the person who called him, ignoring their outer pleas for mercy in favor of his inner voice that just wishes it would all be over, and waves his wing over their face as they fall silent.

It’s quite a striking opening, and the bird really works. It is beautifully animated and expressive, its feathers ruffled, its eyes scanning its victims with contemptuous boredom. It’s a true feat of writing and design that the bird works so well, that its arc comes to fruition so completely over the course of the film. But when Death leaves the screen, “Tuesday” suffers. The reality in which this fairy tale takes place doesn’t seem as fleshed out, either tonally or in terms of human characters.

🎬 Click here to read Sammie’s full review.

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4. Falcons lose draft pick; Remembering Tech’s Homer Rice

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA POWER

🏈 The Falcons were penalized for a 2025 fifth-round pick and fined $250,000 for anti-tampering violations involving free agents.

🐝 Homer Rice, the legendary athletic director of Georgia Tech, died Monday at the age of 97. The Jackets won 16 ACC championships in five sports during his 17 years at the school.

⚾ The Braves broke a five-game losing streak yesterday against the Baltimore Orioles. Atlanta hosts Tampa for three games this weekend.

🏀 The Atlanta Dream fell to the Indiana Fever last night. They host the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday at 3 p.m. (TV: ESPN3)

⚽ Euro 2024 starts today. The tournament will take place in ten German cities and culminate with the final on July 14 in Berlin. (Television: Fox Sports)

⚽ Decatur FC, which has never allowed a goal, hosts Knoxville 865 Alliance on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Decatur High School. (Television: Hudl)

⚽ Atlanta United will play their first match since the firing of head coach Gonzalo Pineda tomorrow at home against the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. (TV: AppleTV+)

🏒 Florida beat Edmonton last night to take a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup final. Match 4 will take place on Saturday in Canada at 8 p.m. (TV: ABC)

🏀 The Celtics can win the NBA championship with a victory tonight in Dallas at 8:30 p.m. (TV: ABC)

🏌️ Patrick Cantlay and Rory Rory McIlroy are tied for first after the first round of the US Open at Pinehurst. (Television: Peacock)

🏊‍♀️ The United States Olympic Swimming Trials begin Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Television: USA Network/NBC)

🌭 Netflix announced a new Labor Day hot dog eating contest between Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi.

🎊All are welcome! Juneteenth at City Springs, June 19, 5 p.m. Presented by City of Sandy Springsthe celebration includes family fun, a performance of “From Africa to America,” an interactive art exhibit, African dance, a drum circle, and a genealogy exhibit!

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5. Top Stories of the week

A look back at the most read stories on our website this week.

① New details emerge in Gwinnett bus hijacking that left one dead

② Four people shot in Peachtree Center food court

③ Atlanta officials call for pause on MARTA station renovation (photo)

④ Overnight burglaries damage restaurants in Oakhurst, Kirkwood and Candler Park

⑤ Porterhouse Grill in Brookhaven reopens after business license is issued

💭 Test your knowledge of the week’s news in tomorrow’s News Quiz. Keep an eye out for our email at 8am or bookmark this page!

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