✦ Summertime is officially upon us, and there’s nothing better to help cool you off on hot Atlanta days than ice cream. City Lights Collective food contributors Akila McConnel and Chef Asata Reid know this well, and they’re taking us back to 1870 to learn the history of ice cream in our city.

✦ Praised by jazz legends Ramsey Lewis and Les McCann, Atlanta jazz pianist Joe Alterman has never been a gatekeeper. He knows that jazz is for everyone, and it’s not rocket science – in the words of Duke Ellington, “If it sounds good, it is good.” Now, Joe Alterman is lending his voice, wisdom, and impeccable taste to WABE listeners with a brand-new radio show, “The Upside of Jazz,” with the first episode airing July 12th at 7pm. He’ll also be performing live at Eddie’s Attic on July 10th.

✦ City Lights Collective member Shane Harrison spends his days at Arts ATL looking for cultural events to share with readers. He joins us weekly to share highlights, and today, his mix includes things to do even if you’re not one of the three hundred thousand Atlantans heading to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Beyoncé’s four-night stand.

✦ Visual artist and music enthusiast Kosmo Vinyl bought his first LP when he was nine. He spent the next several decades immersed in music and began his professional career at London’s pioneering indie label, "Stiff Records." In 1979 Kosmo started working exclusively with "The Clash" and stayed by their side until the punk icons disbanded in 1986. Over the years, Kosmo's record collection became legendary, and in 2014, he began posting about his favorite releases on social media for his series, "Kosmo's Vinyl of the Week," and he joins us weekly to share the stories behind the records he treasures. This week he shares the history behind Mongo Santamaria’s version of “Fever.”

✦ City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode tells us about his recent visit to The Book Bird, an Avondale Estates nook, that sales physical books, and closes down so that you can open up.

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✦ When City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode was told that High Bias is a good thing, he wasn't entirely sure what that meant. So, he decided to go to Block and Drum on a Wednesday night to find out for himself. Created by STLNDRMS, High Bias is a deep listening experience. Each week, they explore the highest level of music curation in a room designed for true fidelity. A fully treated space, an uncompromising sound system, and a focused audience. No distractions, just music presented with intention.

✦ WABE arts reporter Summer Evans brings us a story about the Atlanta creative writing organization “Lost in the Letters,” which recently announced they are opening a studio in Candler Park. What began in 2012 as a quarterly reading and workshop series, has become the annual Letters Festival, which brings together literary enthusiasts for workshops, nightly readings, and live events. Now, the organization has found a permanent space to bring accessible programs and resources to people seeking creative writing opportunities.

✦ Songwriter, producer, and studio artist K Michelle Dubois has been making music in Atlanta for over three decades, most recently as a solo act but previously with bands such as Ultrababyfat and Luigi. Dubois’s newest album, “Infinity Sandwich,” drops this Friday, and she’ll celebrate with a release party at the EARL on Saturday. City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes recently caught up with Dubois to discuss the new album, her creative process, and how she helped us launch The City Lights Collective with a bang. Did we mention Dubois wrote our new theme music?

✦ Luenell, an entertainment veteran known to her fans as "The Original Bad Girl of Comedy," has been making audiences laugh for nearly three decades with her appearances onstage, as well as in TV shows like "Hacks," and the upcoming Tracey Morgan sitcom, "Crutch." Luenell performs at City Winery August 1st through 3rd, and she recently caught up with WABE reporter Kenny Murray to discuss her sharp wit, high tone, and long nails.

✦ Atlanta’s vibrant world of cocktails and zero proof beverages thrives in our bars and restaurants as well as our local distilleries and non-alcoholic bottle shops. Few may know this world better than Beth McKibben, editor in chief and dining editor at Rough Draft Atlanta. Beth’s expertise is invaluable as she continually explores our city’s elevated beverage programs and examines the latest trends in mixology. She joins The City Lights Collective monthly for “The Beverage Beat” and this month, McKibben embraces summertime sipping wines and shares the history of the ever-popular pink drink, Rose.

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✦ If you go to the Decatur Recreation Center on a Friday evening, you’ll see about 75 people dancing to a live fiddle band, and they look like the happiest people in town. City Lights Collective member Gillian Anne Renault learns more about Atlanta Contra Dance.

✦ Latinas in Media Atlanta, also known as LIMA, creates opportunities for Latine artists to tell untold stories from the Latin diaspora. Founded in 2017, the organization provides networking opportunities for Latine film, theater, and television professionals. Viviana Chavez and Denise Santos are the two women behind LIMA, and City Lights collective member Kelundra Smith recently spoke with them to learn more about their ethos and their mission.

✦ Meet our co-host, Emmy-nominated writer, author and poet Jon Goode! He is no stranger to a microphone; he hosts many events around town and performs regularly nationwide for The Moth. But what else should we know about Jon? WABE Arts Reporter Summer Evans sits down with Goode to learn more about his background.

✦ The Lavender Performing Arts Festival from Out Front Theater Company returns this month with a new theme: “Celebrate Every Letter.” With a lineup spanning theater, music, drag, AND performance art, the festival is more than a showcase—it’s THE stage for Southern queer voices to tell their stories. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane recently spoke with festival Organizer Ty Autry and festival contributor Hannah Marie Smith to find out more.

✦ 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 their mix includes: Gallery strolling through Castleberry Hill, mural installation pieces at Cat Eye Creative Downtown, and a solo show opening at Hawkins HQ.

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