The operators of Mary Mac's Tea Room can’t imagine Atlanta without the iconic eatery. The Midtown Atlanta staple is known for its origin story, as well as its classic Southern dishes, like fried chicken and collard greens. It’s a sought-after gathering place for Georgians as well as tourists, celebrities, and political dignitaries visiting from all over the world. The legendary diner has also made multiple appearances in television shows and films.

It first opened in 1945, featuring a single dining room that accommodated up to 60 people. For a special edition of “Closer Look,” program host Rose Scott and the team visited the restaurant named by the State of Georgia as “Atlanta’s Dining Room,” as it celebrates 80 years of service. We hear from longtime employee Marion Mims and Mary Mac’s Chad Reynolds, and general manager Tina Rayner-Leftwich. They reflect on centering the staff, delivering top-notch customer service, the history of the restaurant, operating amid the pandemic, plus navigating and renovating after a roof collapse.

Plus, the holiday season is underway. WABE’s H. Johnson narrates “A Christmas Carol.”

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It’s been quite a year in politics. President Donald Trump began his second term in the White House with a flurry of executive orders. These actions included efforts to shrink several federal agencies, resulting in funding cuts and massive layoffs. The year was plagued by ongoing political conflict, an aggressive, nationwide crackdown on immigration and the longest federal government shutdown in history. For a special edition of “Closer Look,” program host Rose Scott talks with several guests for a recap of politics in 2025, from the federal to the local level of government. Guests included:

GSU politics and policy professor Tammy Greer

Atlanta-based political strategist Fred Hicks

Atlanta Civic Circle political reporter Alessandro Sassoon

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The transportation advocates with Propel ATL return to “Closer Look” with their latest report, which reveals deaths from vehicular crashes outpaced homicides in metro Atlanta in 2024. Propel ATL Executive Director Rebecca Serna joins the program to detail the data in "The Human Cost of Mobility". We’re also joined by a local daughter who lost her father in a still unresolved, deadly hit-and-run crash.

Plus, it was a year of Kendrick Lamar shading Drake at the Super Bowl, Beyoncé hosting a ho-down at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Cowboy Carter Tour, and some Swifties giving mixed reviews of Taylor Swift’s latest album. We hear from music journalist and author Quentin Harrison. He discusses some of the best songs that defined 2025, and we hear the “Closer Look” team’s favorite albums of the year.

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