✦ Atlanta has increasingly become known for film production. Its ever-growing footprint is undeniable. Also undeniable is the growth of events, occasions, and festivals that celebrate and elevate Atlanta's films and filmmakers. One such event is the BronzeLens Film Festival, which is happening at Tara Cinema, August 20 through the 24th. BronzeLens turns sixteen this year, and it is clearly in the driver's seat. City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode sat down with the festival's executive producer Kathleen Bertrand to discuss the festival's past, present, and future.

✦ The Aabaha Arts and Theater Festival aims to spotlight the rich culture and history of Indian Theater while showcasing a variety of artistic expressions. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane has more on this eclectic gathering.

✦ Known for their infectious melodies, sharp lyrics, and electrifying live shows, New Zealand's "The Beths" have carved out a global following with their unique blend of power-pop and indie rock. At the heart of the band is lead singer and guitarist Elizabeth Stokes, a former jazz student whose songwriting has helped define the band's unmistakable sound. Their newest album, 'Straight Line Was a Lie,' comes out on August 29, and the band will return to Atlanta for a show at Variety Playhouse at the end of October. Ahead of the show, we listen back to our 2022 conversation with Stokes when the Beths were touring for the album, "Expert in a Dying Field."

✦ Atlanta has long been overlooked and underappreciated as a culinary destination in the U.S. But the "South has something to say, "and it's not just that we have amazing fried chicken and barbecue. Our diverse culinary options got the attention of the popular food magazine, Bon Appétit. And this month, they released an entire article titled "How to Eat Atlanta." WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with Pervaiz Shallwani, the writer of the article and editor at Bon Appétit, about his restaurant choices.

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✦ At one point, it seemed like music fell into clear boxes. Hip Hop, R&B, Rock, Soul, Gospel, Heavy Metal, and so on and so on. As time moves forward, however, so many young artists grab their influences from such disparate and diverse places that the lines either blur or the boxes disappear completely. Take Atlanta artist Teddy Oso. Is his music hip hop, or is it R&B, or is it Soul? The answer is yes. City Lights Collective Co-Host Jon Goode caught up with Teddy Oso to discuss his career and his new album Once Upon a Time in Phoenix.

✦ City Lights Collective members Jasmine Hentschel and EC Flamming, the creatives behind Atlanta's visual art print magazine, "GULCH", want you to get out and engage with the city's art scene. Each week, they spotlight five standout happenings, and today, they'll talk about: winding down summertime at the mystical South River Art Studios, building giant piñata sculptures for Living Walls's quinceañero celebration, and congratulating Atlanta Printmaker's Studio on an impressive 20 years in operation.

✦ Peter Essick is no stranger to capturing the world around him. Outdoor Photography magazine named Essick one of the 40 most influential nature photographers. For over twenty-five years, he was a frequent contributor to National Geographic Magazine. And now, he's documenting the ever-evolving city around him: Atlanta. In Essick's book "Work in Progress," he photographs construction sites from his drone—examining the various textures, colors, and environmental impact of development. When WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with Essick, he began by discussing his inspiration for the book.

✦ Alicia Bognanno is the frontwoman of the Nashville-based rock band Bully. Known for her searing vocals and razor-sharp songwriting, Bognanno channels a mix of vulnerability and defiance into music that resonates with fans of punk and grunge alike. Bully plays the EARL this Wednesday, August 20, and when Bognanno joined City Lights Collective member Jacob Smulian, she explained how her relationship with her audience has changed over the years.

✦ The Mosaic Quartet, an all-women of color classical music ensemble, performs a free outdoor concert on September 13. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans has more.

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✦ Brunching in Atlanta is practically a sport, and many of us don't know how to play. There are strategies involved—arrive early to beat the rush of a crowd, or maybe you're a diner that prefers to make reservations. Regardless, you'll need good stamina to make it through bottomless mimosas and rich portions of pancakes and bacon. BUT in this economy, who has the money to drop $80 to $100 on breakfast food and drinks every weekend? In our new mini-series, "Brunchin' on a Budget," we look at several delicious AND affordable brunch spots in Atlanta. On today's installment WABE Arts Reporter Summer Evans heads to Castleberry Hill to visit No Mas Cantina.

✦ The Little 5 Points Alliance hosts its annual People Make the Place event on Sunday, and this year, awards will be presented to community members who focus on elevating the arts in the area. City Lights Collective Co-host Kim Drobes has more.

✦ A star is on the rise with the new music act "Star Forest." It's a colorful squad of animated creatures who deliver good vibes and positivity through the expansive Star Forest media ecosystem of music videos, catchy tracks, interactive experiences, and even a podcast. Some say it's like "Gorillaz" for kids – one thing's for sure, it's ambitious, joyful, inclusive, and downright psychedelic. "Star Forest" is launching its debut live event, "Cosmic Campfire," at Sandy Springs Cinema on August 16th, and the creator of the "Star Forest," Genevieve LeDoux, recently spoke with City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane to learn more.

✦ You know as well as we do that there is always a plethora of things to do in Atlanta, and we have earned the title of "The Cultural Capital of the South." Mike Jordan, senior editor at the AJC, and Sammie Purcell, associate editor at Rough Draft Atlanta, know this well too. They join us weekly to share a few of their picks for your weekend entertainment. Today, their mix includes a vintage expo, a brewery anniversary party, and a bioluminescent event at the Georgia Aquarium.

✦ Atlanta is a place of remarkable history, and the new audio-intensive project "Tales of Downtown Atlanta" shares that history alongside some creative storytelling. Part podcast, art exhibit, and old-school mix tape, "Tales of Downtown Atlanta" aims to become an audiovisual anthology of Atlanta. The project features short stories written, voiced, and visually amplified by notable Atlantans who offer a spirited tour of our historic downtown locations. Sundiata Rush, the creative behind "Tales of Downtown Atlanta," recently joined City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes to elaborate on his vision of stirring civic engagement and introducing the world to Atlanta's soul.

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