✦ If you're looking for your next much-needed laugh, Atlanta comedian Joel Byars has plenty of them ready for you at his "Funny Fridays" comedy showcase.  The next event in the series is scheduled for August 22 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center and will feature performances by Lace Larrabee, Carlos Rodriguez, and Emily Holden. Byars recently joined WABE arts reporter Summer Evans to talk more about why he's committed to making our Fridays funny.

✦ Last May, when the pizzeria-arcade chain Chuck E. Cheese announced plans to retire its famous animatronic bands, the backlash was swift. After hearing this outcry, the company promised to keep a few of the bands across the nation. You may be surprised to hear that there was an outcry over Animatronics, but the art form, which brings mechanical and electronic figures to life, continues to hold the public's attention. In fact, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts offers a graduate concentration in Animatronics. It's true. If you're a fan of life-like, magical, moving figures with Dead Eyes (Jon's words, not mine), you don't have to travel far to get your fix. City Lights Collective member Wesley Boutilier brings us the story of a Six Flags Over Georgia ride that recently underwent a significant animatronic upgrade.

✦ Local artist Carl Janes knows that making art isn't a solo effort—it's as much about community as it is about creativity.  Over the years, he has helped carve out spaces for Atlanta's local music and arts communities to gather, perform, and thrive—including his former East Atlanta home, The Secret Spot, and more recently, his location in Underground, called Inner Space.  For his latest endeavor, he has teamed up with local brewery Halfway Crooks to curate a diverse Summer Sunday Concert series, which will run throughout August. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane recently sat down with Janes learn why he's bringing his Inner Space outdoors.

✦ City Lights Collective member Shane Harrison spends his days at Arts ATL looking for cultural events to share with readers, and he joins us weekly to share highlights. Today, his mix includes Black Writers Weekend 2025, and True Colors Theatre Company's adaptation of Jordan E. Cooper's Ain’t No Mo’.

✦ Artist and music enthusiast, Kosmo Vinyl. He spent 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. In 2014, he began posting about his favorite releases on social media as part of his series, "Kosmo's Vinyl of the Week," and he joins us weekly to share the stories behind the records he treasures. Today, Kosmo discusses the story behind Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand the Rain.”

✦ The game of Pinball has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last decade, and for those who love the game, August 1 is considered National Pinball Day. City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes brings us the story behind the celebration.

✦ If you're looking for your next much-needed laugh, Atlanta comedian Joel Byars has plenty of them ready for you at his "Funny Fridays" comedy showcase.&nbsp; The next event in the series is scheduled for August 22 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center and will feature performances by Lace Larrabee, Carlos Rodriguez, and Emily Holden. Byars recently joined WABE arts reporter Summer Evans to talk more about why he's committed to making our Fridays funny.
✦ Last May, when the pizzeria-arcade chain Chuck E. Cheese announced plans to retire its famous animatronic bands, the backlash was swift. After hearing this outcry, the company promised to keep a few of the bands across the nation. You may be surprised to hear that there was an outcry over Animatronics, but the art form, which brings mechanical and electronic figures to life, continues to hold the public's attention. In fact, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts offers a graduate concentration in Animatronics. It's true. If you're a fan of life-like, magical, moving figures with Dead Eyes (Jon's words, not mine), you don't have to travel far to get your fix. City Lights Collective member Wesley Boutilier brings us the story of a Six Flags Over Georgia ride that recently underwent a significant animatronic upgrade.
✦ Local artist Carl Janes knows that making art isn't a solo effort&mdash;it's as much about community as it is about creativity.&nbsp; Over the years, he has helped carve out spaces for Atlanta's local music and arts communities to gather, perform, and thrive&mdash;including his former East Atlanta home, The Secret Spot, and more recently, his location in Underground, called Inner Space.&nbsp; For his latest endeavor, he has teamed up with local brewery Halfway Crooks to curate a diverse Summer Sunday Concert series, which will run throughout August. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane recently sat down with Janes learn why he's bringing his Inner Space outdoors.
✦ City Lights Collective member Shane Harrison spends his days at Arts ATL looking for cultural events to share with readers, and he joins us weekly to share highlights. Today, his mix includes Black Writers Weekend 2025, and True Colors Theatre Company's adaptation of Jordan E. Cooper's Ain&rsquo;t No Mo&rsquo;.
✦ Artist and music enthusiast, Kosmo Vinyl. He spent 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. In 2014, he began posting about his favorite releases on social media as part of his series, "Kosmo's Vinyl of the Week," and he joins us weekly to share the stories behind the records he treasures. Today, Kosmo discusses the story behind Ann Peebles&rsquo; &ldquo;I Can&rsquo;t Stand the Rain.&rdquo;
✦ The game of Pinball has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last decade, and for those who love the game, August 1 is considered National Pinball Day. City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes brings us the story behind the celebration.

Discover the best of Atlanta's arts and culture on The City Lights Collective from WABE. Short stories, rich voices, and innovative ideas, presented by a team of local contributors. From music and theater to spoken word, food, film, and festivals, this is the pulse of Atlanta’s creative world.

Discover the best of Atlanta's arts and culture on The City Lights Collective from WABE. Short stories, rich voices, and innovative ideas, presented by a team of local contributors. From music and theater to spoken word, food, film, and festivals, this is the pulse of Atlanta&rsquo;s creative world.

The City Lights Collective

Discover the best of Atlanta's arts and culture on The City Lights Collective from WABE. Short stories, rich voices, and innovative ideas, presented by a team of local contributors. From music and theater to spoken word, food, film, and festivals, this is the pulse of Atlanta&rsquo;s creative world.

✦ Funny Fridays ✦ Monster Mansion and the Art of Animatronics ✦ Inner Space’s Summer Sunday Concert Series ✦ ArtsATL Cultural Calendar ✦ Kosmo’s Vinyl of the Week ✦ Celebrating National Pinball Day