?? Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Jan. 1 —?It's 2024! Thank you for starting the new year with Rough Draft. Now, make sure you eat some black-eyed peas and collard greens today!

??? Mostly sunny and 48° today.

?? If you're feeling like this may be your lucky year, tonight's Powerball jackpot is now an estimated $810 million.

?? Speaking of luck, even after losing to the Bears in the Chicago snow yesterday, the Falcons are somehow still alive in the playoff hunt. If Tampa loses next week and Atlanta beats New Orleans, the Falcons will win the NFC South.? ??

?? The College Football Playoffs are today with No. 4 Alabama facing No. 1 Michigan at 5 p.m. in the Rose Bowl, and No. 3 Texas playing No. 2 Washington at 8:45 p.m. in the Sugar Bowl (TV: ESPN).?

?? On Saturday, Georgia easily dispatched a depleted Florida State team, winning the Orange Bowl?in record fashion.?

??? If football isn't your thing, our Sammie Purcell posted her list of 2023's top movies here.?

???Clark Atlanta University’s WCLK and GPB will stream the Jazz Music Awards,?a global awards show dedicated to jazz and the artists who create it.

ELSEWHERE

?? Massive waves and flooding have accompanied surf reaching up to 40 feet in some areas along the coasts of California and Oregon.

?? Today's newsletter is?④ stories.

? Dry January

? Georgia Grown

? Global Headlines

AND?

? Look & Listen

Collin and Sammie will be back in your inbox tomorrow morning!?

Alex

1. The rise of Dry January

?? If you are planning a dry January, our "In the Spirit" columnists have you covered. According to a poll, one in five millennial adults participated in “Dry January” last year.?

There are so many options emerging to offer the sober-curious and regular drinkers ways of imbibing without the hangover. Some products mimic exactly that spirit flavor you are craving, while others have their own unique flavor.?

Go deeper with our contributors from Elemental Spirits Co.?and learn about Ish – London Botanical Spirit, the St. Agrestis Phony Mezcal Negroni, and Dromme Calm.

Switchyards opening its 10th ATL club!

SPONSORED BY SWITCHYARDS

????Switchyards is the world’s first neighborhood work club, offering beautiful spaces for focused work around others, completely separate from the endless distractions of home and office.

In January, Switchyards will open its 10th club in Atlanta, bringing its soulful 24/7 offering to Midtown’s historic Biltmore Hotel.

Switchyards Midtown opens on Jan. 12, with memberships dropping on Jan. 3.?Our standard All-City membership is $100/mo., but the first 50 who purchase memberships for Midtown will receive an exclusive $50/mo rate locked in for one year.

?????Sign up?HERE?to get early access before memberships go live to the general public.

2. Cotton & Rye x Gannon Organics

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA GROWN

??? When you dine at Chef Caleb Ayer’s restaurant, Cotton & Rye, you're not just enjoying delicious food, you're supporting Georgia Farmers, like Lilliana from Gannon Organics.

Check out this amazing dish made with Gannon Organics peppers!

?? Make your reservation to dine well and do well, by supporting Georgia Agriculture, our state's #1 industry.

3. Earthquake hits Japan; U.S. sinks Houthi boats in Red Sea

On Mondays, we get an update on global news through our partnership with the World Affairs Council of Atlanta.

???? A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on Monday, leading to tsunami warnings along the coast, affecting flights and rail services, and knocking out power. Tsunami warnings were also issued for parts of far Eastern Russia.

?????Shipping company Maersk announced a 48-hour suspension in Red Sea sailings after another container vessel was attacked by Iranian-backed Houthi militants with missiles and small boats, leading to a U.S. Navy strike that sank three Houthi boats.

?????Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, Europe's longest-serving monarch, announced during her New Year's Eve speech that she will abdicate on Jan. 14, after serving for 52 years, passing the throne to her son Crown Prince Frederik.

???? British actor Tom Wilkinson, known for roles in "The Full Monty" and "Batman Begins," passed away at 75 on Saturday. His nearly five-decade career began on the British stage and included an Oscar-nominated performance in "In the Bedroom."

??? Join the World Affairs Council of Atlanta as they welcome Spelman College President Helene D. Gayle for?"Global Education: Shaping Leaders, Empowering Futures"?on Feb. 6.

4. Resolutions & Controversy

????If you're into making lists,?"How economics can help you stick to your New Year's resolution" from NPR's Planet Money has you covered.?

?? Dave Chapelle's?new special,?"The Dreamer," dropped on?Netflix yesterday and the comedian jumped directly back into the controversial topics that have defined his previous shows.?

Resolve to share Rough Draft

Start 2024 off the right way by resolving to share the love of Rough Draft.

If you're inspired by what we are doing, please tell a friend. If you use this personal link, we'll know when to send you cool things.

Katie B. recently posted her link on social media, and she got a soft Rough Draft T-shirt for Christmas!

- Tell 5 friends, we'll send you laptop stickers

- If you tell 20 friends, we'll send you a soft T-shirt.

But, if you're not into sharing, that's cool, too - we got your back!