Happy Thursday to the East side! We broke the 1,600 subscriber mark yesterday and are ready to keep things rolling in 2026.
And so are the businesses in the area. Today’s Anthem is jam-packed with Eats, Events, and Updates.
The Anthem is made possible in part by El Tesoro. See The Menu.
🌮 El Tesoro just dropped a new frozen drink: Frozen Mezcal Hot Chocolate. The drink features Banhez Mezcal, Mexican chocolate, oat milk, cocoa bitters, topped with whipped cream and crushed candy cane.
🍳 Uncle Phill’s Cheesteaks is doing breakfast now. Free tots and a drink with your breakfast sandwich through 1/10.
🍫 If you’re looking for a hot hot chocolate, Big Softie’s O4W location now has house-made hot cocoa.
🦞 Beetlecat is celebrating their Birthday with $10 lobster rolls. Today (1/8) is the last day to grab one.
🍺 Halfway Crooks just dropped an NA IPA with “notes of peach O-rings, mango, stonefruit, and a light whisper of pine.”
🍖 Tony, the Chicago Beef King, is popping up at Sceptre Brewing this week. James’ father-in-law, a Chicago native, rates this highly. They’ll also be hosting a watch party for Chicago Bears fans on Saturday night.
🔴 If you’re on the dry January train, Reds is also fully stocked with NA options and has happy hour from 4-6pm Tues-Thurs.
🍯 The Local’s sauce of the month for January is… Smoky Honey Mustard. Not a whole lot else to say there.
🍕 Lloyd’s January Pie of the Month is the Heated Pievalry: Red sauce, mozzarella, spicy sausage, candied fresno, serrano pepper.
👀 Eats on Ponce is reopening in March 2026 in partnership with Wild Heaven on the West Side.
😥 Four food stalls in Ponce City Market closed at the end of December - La Metro, Ton Ton Ramen & Yakitori, Miso Ko, and cookie shop Sugar Shane’s. Check out all the restaurant closings from Eater Atlanta.
⛹️♀️ Jolene Jolene and Urban Pie are hosting weekly watch parties for Unrivaled (the 3v3 women’s basketball league kicking off its second season).
🍗 How Crispy’s Birthday Month Specials can be found here. This weekend, they’ve got Nonna’s Chicken Parm Sandwich in limited amounts daily. The last time they had the Nonna sandwich, there were 50 available and I ended up being 51st in line… I’ll be trying for redemption. -Connor
✂️ 1/8 - Dry January Vision Board Workshop - Zero Co is hosting this event where attendees will “start with a short reflection, then dive into a creative session with magazines, paints, stickers, and supplies to build your personal vision board. | $10 | More Info
🍷 1/8 - Vision Board Workshop - Just like the one above but with wine! Non alcoholic wine will also be served. This one’s at 3 Parks Wine. | FREE | More Info
😂 1/9 - Theatersports at Dad’s Garage - Dad’s longest-running improv show is back for 2026. The 3-week long improv tournament kicks off on Friday. | More Info
🧩 1/11 - Speed Puzzle Contest - Red’s is hosting a speed puzzle contest at 2pm. Only 15 teams can participate. Same 500pc puzzle for every team. Up to 4 teammates can puzzle at any given time. | More Info
🎬 1/12 & 1/14 - On Camera Acting Workshop - Just two of the many Free acting workshops from The Alliance Theatre. See full list for Adults, Kids, and Teens here.
📘 1/13 - Silent Book Club Game Night - Tuesday’s meeting is at Three Taverns Imaginarium. This particular event is not a typical club meetup. They’ll celebrating the Puzzlemania book release. | Free | More Info
Editor’s Note: We have some real readers on this list… The 2026 reading challenge was the most clicked link in last week’s post.
🪴 1/14 - Sip & Sculpt: Build-A-Boob Night - New Realm is hosting this unique pottery event where you’ll have the chance to “unplug, unwind, and make something by hand at our feel-good pottery night, no experience needed.” | More Info
🤣 Whiplash Comedy Club is coming to Ponce City Market. The new venue will have two separate rooms for live comedy and feature weekly headliners and local showcases.
🐶 Eastwood Vet Clinic is opening in East Lake. First appointments will be on 1/26 for and they’re offering special pricing for anyone who books their first appointment by the end of January.
🐣 Zoo Atlanta announced the successful hatching of a crested wood partridge, a species on the Survival Plan program.
🎄 If you’re procrastinating like Connor, here are your last chance options for Christmas Tree disposal (per Decaturish). If you’re in DeKalb County you can put it out with your trash through January.
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