World Cup Final Sunday + a Dog Named Regon

_{Was this e-mail shared with you? Sign up here.}

What's up, neighbors!

The whole world stops on Sunday. The World Cup Final is finally here, it's Spain against Argentina, and for about 90 minutes the entire planet will be watching the same game. The good news is you don't have to watch it alone on the couch. There are spots all over the Perimeter, and our favorite is right in Sandy Springs. The free Fútbol Fever fan zone on City Green has two giant screens on the lawn, food trucks firing up when the game starts, and an inflatable soccer net so the kids can burn off halftime while you grab a drink next door. If you'd rather do the ballpark version, The Battery is putting the match on one enormous screen at Plaza Green over by Truist Park.

Before Sunday gets here, we'll do the usual Saturday. Farmers market first thing, coffee in hand, before the good produce is gone. Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and Roswell all have one going, so there's really no excuse to sleep in.

Scroll down for the full weekend lineup, a Thai spot at Perimeter we keep going back to, the latest on Brookhaven's new pocket park, and a good boy named Regon who needs a home.

- Andrew

When was the last time you actually looked at your homeowners policy?

For most folks in Atlanta and the Outside the Perimeter area, the honest answer is "when we bought the house." Which would be fine, except home values around here are up $150K to $200K+ since 2020. If your policy hasn't kept up, your dwelling limit is probably short of what it would actually cost to rebuild today. That gap won't show up on your bill. It only shows up when you file a claim, which is the worst time to find out.

Peachy Insurance is Atlanta-based and built to make this kind of check painless. No call center, no upselling, no runaround. Just a licensed local agent who looks at your full picture and gives you a straight answer on where you stand.

Three things worth a quick look while it's on your mind:

Takes about 5 minutes. Free, no pressure.

Get a free coverage review OR text/call 770-520-7095 (Mon-Fri, closed weekends)

Plaza Green at The Battery Atlanta
800 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30339
Sunday, July 19
3:00 PM ET kickoff
Free (event-day parking rates apply)
See the Watch Party Details

The whole world is watching the same game on Sunday, and you can watch it with a few thousand of your neighbors instead of alone on your couch. The Battery is turning Plaza Green into a giant outdoor screening for the World Cup Final. One enormous screen, lawn chairs everywhere, and the kind of crowd noise you just can't get in your living room.

Here's why we like The Battery for this: everything is right there. More than 20 restaurants and bars ring the plaza, so you grab tacos or a burger or a cold beer and carry it out to the grass while the match plays. No outside food or drink allowed, so show up hungry and let the local spots handle it.

Get there early if you want a decent patch of grass. Plan for event-day parking rates. Then settle in for the last 90 minutes of a tournament the entire planet has been chasing for a month. Your team in it or not, this is where we'll be when that final whistle blows.

When you want real Bangkok flavor but don't feel like driving out of the Perimeter for it, this is our answer. The room is lively, the service is warm, and there's an actual craft cocktail bar going alongside a deep beer and wine list. Works for a solo lunch. Works just as well for a big group night out.

The drunken noodles and the green curry are what regulars keep coming back for, and reviewers call them some of the best around. Start with the curry puffs or the shumai, and if you want something to share, the crispy tofu is the move. Portions are big, and they'll dial the heat up or down for you, so nobody at the table has to suffer.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon–Thu 11 AM–10 PM
Fri 11 AM–11 PM
Sat 12 PM–11 PM
Sun 12 PM–10 PM
Website

If you've driven Roswell Road a hundred times and never walked into Phoenix & Dragon, you're missing one of the more interesting shops in Sandy Springs.

It's been here since 1987, it's woman-owned and locally owned, and it's built around books and gifts meant to feed the human spirit, personal-growth and metaphysical titles sitting next to crystals, candles, and gemstone jewelry. People have been coming back to this place for literally decades.

What everyone mentions first is the staff. Kind, knowledgeable, and welcoming without hovering, and the whole room has a calm, unhurried feel that makes you want to stay a while. There's more going on than browsing, too. They run a full calendar of classes, author signings, and workshops on meditation and holistic health, plus readings on-site every day.

Come in for a gift, a candle, or just a quiet hour in the stacks. We're lucky to still have an independent shop like this close by, so give it your business.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon–Sat 10 AM–8 PM
Sun 12 PM–6 PM
Website

4 beds
3.5 Baths
5,900 sq ft

A) $1,150,000

B) $1,325,000

C) $1,495,000

D) $1,675,000

Brookhaven City Council voted on June 23 to spend $1.5 million on the 0.95-acre "Goodwin Island" parcel at 1277 Goodwin Rd, the little triangle stuck at the busy corner of North Druid Hills Road and East Roxboro Road.

Here's the part that matters for your tax bill: most of it comes from a $1 million gift from the J.J. Gebbia Family Foundation, named for the longtime former councilman, and the rest comes from the city's Special Service District, which is funded by non-residential properties. City leaders say no residential property taxes go toward it.

The plan is to turn that triangle into a pocket park with a gateway feature welcoming people into the neighborhood. There's no construction timeline yet, which actually works in your favor. Now's the window to tell the city what you'd want there before the design gets locked in.

Source: City of Brookhaven

Sandy Springs just kicked off "The Next Chapter," a 12-month rewrite of its comprehensive plan plus the first update to the recreation and parks master plan since before the pandemic. More than 50 neighbors showed up to the June 23 kickoff at City Springs to weigh in on density, housing affordability, traffic, tree canopy, and where new parks and trails should go.

I know a comprehensive plan sounds like the most boring thing in the world. Stay with me. This is the document that guides land use, housing, transportation, and green space, and it gets cited in zoning fights down the road. The input phase runs through the end of the year before staff start drafting, so there's real time to actually shape it. Comment and follow along at planthenextchapter.org.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

Dunwoody is keeping its city millage rate flat at 3.040 mills for 2026, and if you've got a homestead exemption you get a one-mill break that drops your effective city rate to 2.040.

Pair that with the city's assessment freeze and no homestead homeowner should see the city portion of their tax bill climb this year. The council held its third and final hearing on the rate July 1 at City Hall.

Here's the wrinkle. Because rising DeKalb County assessments push total collections a hair above the rollback rate, state law makes the city advertise a flat rate as a technical "tax increase." Sounds alarming. For most Dunwoody families with a homestead exemption, though, the city portion of your bill isn't actually going anywhere.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

Two different colored eyes, a red-and-white coat, and a fluffy tail that curls right up over his back. Regon is the dog that gets you stopped on your own walk. And at six years old, he's long past the chewed-shoes stage and settled into what a lot of us actually want: a calm, loyal dog who just likes being around his people.

His thing is stuffed toys. He picks a favorite and carries it around the house like it's his job. Otherwise he's happy to park himself nearby while you go about your day, and when you're ready to move, he walks nicely on a leash. Housetrained, crate trained, no drama. The hard parts are done.

He's friendly with other dogs, so a canine sibling works fine. The rescue hasn't tested him with kids or cats yet, so if you've got either at home, bring it up with them early.

Regon is with Doggie Harmony, a foster-based rescue in Decatur, so there's no shelter lobby to walk into. Start an inquiry through his listing, and they'll take it from there. Heads up on their process: application, vet and personal references, and a home visit, and you'll need to be 21 or older with your own place. Renters need landlord sign-off.

🦋 Butterfly Encounter - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 10 AM–5 PM | Included with admission ($14–$20) | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Walk into the flight house and hundreds of butterflies just drift right past you. Go before it closes at 4:30.

🌸 Niki in the Garden - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 9 AM–9 PM | Garden admission (from about $27) | More: atlantabg.org
Niki de Saint Phalle's giant, jewel-toned sculptures are scattered across the whole Garden, and they only get better as the evening light kicks in.

🧱 LEGO NINJAGO: The True Ninja Trials - LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta | 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 10 AM–5 PM | From $27.99 | More: legodiscoverycenter.com
Brick challenges, a Spinjitzu lesson, and the 4D NINJAGO movie, all indoors and air-conditioned at Phipps.

🐑 Greet the Sheep and Goats - Atlanta History Center | 130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA | 11 AM | Included with admission | More: atlantahistorycenter.com
Get up close with the Smith Farm flock, an easy morning win if you've got animal-obsessed little ones (reservation required).

🎶 City Green Live: Boyce Avenue - The City Green at City Springs | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | Gates 4 PM, music 7:30 PM | Free lawn seating | More: sandyspringsga.gov
Pack a blanket for a free night of acoustic covers, with Ashes and Arrows opening before Boyce Avenue plays.

⚾ Braves vs. Rangers - Truist Park | 755 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA | 7:15 PM first pitch | Tickets vary | More: batteryatl.com
Friday night baseball at Truist, with The Battery right next door for dinner before first pitch.

🎵 Summer Fridays - Buckhead Village District | 3035 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 4:30 PM–8 PM | Free | More: buckheadvillagedistrict.com
Live music down Buckhead Avenue while you stroll, window shop, and grab a bite with the family.

🥬 Sandy Springs Farmers Market - City Springs | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | 8:30 AM–12 PM | Free | More: citysprings.com
Fresh produce, local bakers, and makers fill the plaza rain or shine. Good first stop of the weekend.

🥕 Dunwoody Farmers Market - Brook Run Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 9 AM–12 PM | Free | More: dunwoodyga.org
Seasonal veggies, live music, a playground right there, and yes, the dog can come.

🍅 Brookhaven Farmers Market - Blackburn Park | 1375 Fernwood Circle NE, Brookhaven, GA | 9 AM–12 PM | Free | More: brookhavenfarmersmarket.com
A friendly neighborhood market tucked into the park. Fill the basket before lunch.

🌽 Roswell Farmers and Artisans Market - Roswell City Hall | 38 Hill St, Roswell, GA | 8:30 AM–12 PM | Free | More: downtownroswell.com
Produce, honey, and handmade goods under the shady oaks, steps from Canton Street.

💃 History Seek Saturdays: American Waltz Family Workshop - Mimosa Hall and Gardens | 127 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA | 11 AM & 1:30 PM | $10 | More: roswell365.com
Learn the American waltz together in a gorgeous historic setting. Best for kids 12 and up.

🎨 Crafternoon - Spruill Event Studio | 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 12 PM–4 PM | Free | More: spruillarts.org
Open art studio, all ages, all mediums, zero experience required. Just show up and make something.

🦋 Breakfast With Butterflies - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 10 AM–12 PM | $20–$30 | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Early access to the flight house plus a light breakfast, a real treat for families with kids 4 and up (register ahead).

🎬 BFDI and Inanimate Insanity 2026 Tour - Byers Theatre at City Springs | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | 12 PM | Ticketed | More: sandyspringspac.com
If your kids are deep in the object-show animation world, this fan tour with a creator Q and A is a genuine big deal to them.

🎺 Jazz Brunch featuring Yolanda Loy - City Winery Atlanta | 650 North Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 12 PM (doors 11 AM) | From $30 | More: citywinery.com
A soulful Sunday brunch with live jazz at Ponce City Market. Easy way to treat the family.

🧘 Yoga with Periwinkle Yogi - Spruill Event Studio | 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 8 AM–9 AM | Free | More: spruillarts.org
Free morning flow in Spruill's sunny studio. Start the weekend grounded.

🎤 Tommy Davidson - City Winery Atlanta | 650 North Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 5:30 PM & 9:30 PM | From $30 | More: citywinery.com
The In Living Color legend, big laughs over dinner and wine. Grab a seat before it sells out.

🎹 Dueling Pianos - Morty's Meat and Supply | 5509 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 8 PM–11 PM | Free, table minimum applies | More: mortysmeatandsupply.com
Shout out your requests, sing along, and settle in for the rowdiest piano night in Dunwoody Village.

🎸 Russell Cook and the Sweet Teeth - From the Earth Brewing | 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA | 8 PM–11 PM | Free | More: ftebrewing.com
Electrified Americana and country blues on the FTE stage, cold local pour in hand.

😂 Whole World Improv - Gate City Brewing | 43 Magnolia St, Roswell, GA | Doors 7 PM, show 8 PM | Ticketed, first drink included | More: gatecitybrewingcompany.com
Fast, unscripted comedy in the taproom, and your ticket comes with a beer. Spots are limited.

🕺 Bop To The Top (18+) - Buckhead Theatre | 3110 Roswell Rd, Atlanta, GA | 9 PM | Ticketed | More: buckheadtheatre.com
A throwback dance party for grown-ups who plan to sing every single word.

🍺 Pontoon Brewing Taproom - Pontoon Brewing | 8601 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Springs, GA | 12 PM–10 PM | Free entry | More: pontoonbrewing.com
Dog-friendly patio, rotating taps, no agenda. A reliable easy Friday hang.

🎷 Live Music at Block and Drum - Block and Drum | 5105 Peachtree Blvd, Chamblee, GA | 6:30 PM–late | Varies | More: blockanddrum.com
Craft spirits and live music make this Chamblee distillery a smooth late-night pick.

🎸 Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band - Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park | 4469 Stella Dr NW, Atlanta, GA | 8 PM | Ticketed | More: livenation.com
Pack a picnic and let the island tunes carry a warm night at Chastain.

🎸 Alex Gannon Band - From the Earth Brewing | 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA | 8 PM–11 PM | Free | More: ftebrewing.com
Blues rock and jam-band grooves in the Roswell taproom, free Saturday show.

🧘 Bring Your Own Mat Yoga - Gate City Brewing | 43 Magnolia St, Roswell, GA | 10:30 AM | Ticketed, first pint included | More: gatecitybrewingcompany.com
Flow with the instructor, then cash in the pint that comes with your spot.

⚽ World Cup Third-Place Watch Party - The Battery Atlanta | 800 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA | 5 PM | Free | More: batteryatl.com
Warm up for Sunday with the third-place match on the big Plaza Green screen.

🎫 Suzie Toot - City Winery Atlanta | 650 North Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | Evening | Ticketed | More: citywinery.com
Seated show with dinner and wine service. Get there early to eat.

⚽ World Cup Final at Fadó - Fadó Irish Pub Buckhead | 273 Buckhead Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 3 PM ET | Free entry | More: fadoirishpub.com
Atlanta's go-to soccer pub, packed and loud, which is exactly how the final should feel.

⚽ World Cup Final Watch Club - From the Earth Brewing | 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA | 3 PM ET | Free entry with purchase | More: ftebrewing.com
Eleven-foot screen inside, TVs on the patio, loyalty prizes. Solid Roswell spot for the match.

If a packed bar isn't your thing, Sandy Springs built a real fan zone right in the middle of City Springs, and it won't cost you a dime. Fútbol Fever has been running all tournament long on City Green, and it wraps this weekend with the Final. Two giant 14-foot screens, a wide-open lawn, and plenty of room to spread out with the whole family.

Here's how it works. Bring chairs or a blanket, grab a spot on the green, and the matches play on the big screens for everybody. Food trucks fire up when the game starts, the Popcorn Lady and King of Pops handle snacks and popsicles, and there are yard games plus a big inflatable soccer net for when the kids need to burn off halftime energy. Want AC and a cocktail instead? The CityBar. & Cafe right next door carries every match indoors.

So why here over a bar? It's easygoing, it's walkable, and nobody's fighting for a table. The kids can run, you can grab a drink next door, and you're not shouting over a crowd three deep at the rail.

Parking is easy with the City Springs decks right on site. Come cheer, come eat, and watch the World Cup Final with a few hundred of your Sandy Springs neighbors.

Summer in Atlanta means afternoon storms, and afternoon storms mean wind and hail. Before the next big one rolls through, pull out your homeowners policy and find one line: does it cover your roof at replacement cost, or actual cash value?

Replacement cost pays to put a new roof on. Actual cash value subtracts years of wear and age first, which can leave you covering thousands out of pocket on an older roof. That one word is the whole ballgame if a storm takes your shingles.

While you have the policy out, walk the house with your phone and take a quick video of every room and the outside. If you ever file a claim, that two-minute video is the easiest proof you will ever hand an adjuster. Do it now, while the sky is clear.

Brought to you by Peachy Insurance

Northside Hospital is hiring a Registered Nurse in Atlanta, GA, full-time day shift with its Melanoma and Sarcoma Specialists of Georgia practice.

This is a physician-practice role, so you'll need a Georgia license and current BLS. Northside is one of the biggest and most-decorated health systems in metro Atlanta, and it's one of the few places still offering a pension on top of strong benefits. Day shift in a practice setting is a nice change if you're burned out on hospital floor hours.

Apply: Apply here

Olaro is placing a Travel CVOR Registered Nurse in Atlanta, GA, a 13-week contract starting August 3, 2026, paying about $2,943 per week on a four-day, 10-hour day schedule.

It's a pediatric hospital assignment, so you'll need cardiac OR experience within the past year, and peds experience is a plus. If you're an experienced OR nurse who wants travel money without actually leaving town, this one sits close to the Perimeter.

Apply: Apply here

Focus Staff is placing a Travel CT Technologist in Atlanta, GA, a 13-week contract starting August 3, 2026, paying about $2,982 per week on a four-day, 10-hour night schedule.

You'll cover both CT and X-ray, and they want one to two years of experience, a valid Georgia license, and current BLS. The nice part: benefits start day one, with housing stipends and licensure reimbursement on top of the weekly rate.

Apply: Apply here

City of Dunwoody is hiring a Police Officer (certified or non-certified) in Dunwoody, GA, $64,730 to $101,950 plus a $6,000 signing bonus.

Here's what stands out: the city covers 100 percent of employee medical, dental, and life insurance, then throws in a take-home car program and housing reimbursement. You need to be at least 21, a U.S. citizen, and hold a valid Georgia driver's license. Not certified yet? They'll still talk to you.

Apply: Apply here

City of Dunwoody is hiring a Human Resources Manager in Dunwoody, GA, $96,871 to $152,572.

This one runs HR for a small, well-run city government. If you're an experienced HR pro who's tired of a long commute, it's a strong landing spot right here in North Atlanta.

Apply: Apply here