Athens
For forty years Dexter Weaver and his Athens restaurant, Weaver D’s, have been an institution in the northeast Georgia college town. But at 72 years old, Weaver is hanging up the chef’s apron and putting his iconic eating establishment up for sale. Weaver D’s has been a favorite of UGA students and Athens residents alike for generations, and its catchphrase hanging above the restaurant, “Automatic for the People,” was immortalized by the R.E.M. album of the same name in the early-90s. As the classic meat-and-three restaurant prepares to close its doors, hopefully a new owner will somehow manage to keep the spirit of Weaver D’s alive, serving good food, consistently and with care.
Jekyll Island
In 1928 the Great Dunes golf course opened on Jekyll Island, a piece of exclusive, Gilded Age beauty built for tycoons like the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts who wintered on the Georgia coast. Between the Great Depression and World War 2 the course fell into disrepair, but nearly a century later it is finally reopening to the public following an extensive reconstruction process that preserves the original design of legendary golf course architect Walter Travis. The reinvigorated Great Dunes is an 18-hole, 7,014-yard course, marked by its famous sand dunes, animal sightings, and of course sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Local officials expect the course to bolster Jekyll’s reputation as a golfing destination, rivaling that of nearby St. Simons and Sea Island.
Newnan
The historic Dunaway Gardens in Newnan will serve as host of the 2026 Sundance Institute Episodic Lab, a prestigious week-long program that connects up-and-coming film and tv writers with experienced showrunners, producers and executives to help make connections serve as a springboard into the entertainment industry. Traditionally held in Park City, Utah, Dunaway Gardens was chosen as the new home of the institute thanks to its scenic natural and creative setting – 22-acres of terraced gardens, tranquil paths and a famous, 700-seat outdoor amphitheater that serves as the heart of the garden’s artistic legacy.
Sea Island
It makes sense that Georgia’s most exclusive barrier island is home to the most expensive home sale in state history – as the former home of the iconic, late architect John Portman closed at $30 million. Portman’s projects like the Peachtree Center and Hyatt Regency define Atlanta’s skyline to this day, but the beachfront home he designed in 1986 and stayed in his family up until this sale was one of his most personal works. Dubbed Entelechy II, the mansion is filled with glass facades that blur the lines between inside and outside, and water features stream throughout. The sale broke the previous record of $27 million, set by another home on the glitzy Sea Island, known for hosting presidents, dignitaries and CEOs.
It was a very good day for one Georgia resident when they purchased the $980 million winning Mega Millions ticket at a Publix in Newnan. It was also a jackpot for the Georgia government, which will collect some $20 million in taxes from the ticket, according to Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin. The Lottery, by the way, recently crossed the $30 billion mark for money raised for Georgia education since its inception in 1993. RISING…
A Newton County lawmaker is in hot water after being arrested on charges of defrauding the federal government during COVID. State Rep. Sharon Henderson stands accused of securing federal pandemic unemployment benefits under the pretense that she was unable to come to her job at the Henry County School Districts due to the pandemic, and received nearly $18,000 worth of unemployment benefits. But school officials say the Democratic lawmaker had only worked as a substitute teacher in the school system for five days back in 2018 – years before the claims were filed. Federal charges have Henderson SINKING…
