Category: Business

Target has apologized and removed a children’s Halloween costume from sale after widespread criticism that the design evoked racist stereotypes associated with blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows.

The product, listed as the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume” (or similar variations such as the Kids’ Circus Glow Clown Costume Bodysuit), was part of the retailer’s seasonal Hyde & EEK! Boutique private-label brand and sold for about $25.

Target issues an apology and pulls a children’s Halloween costume after backlash over its resemblance to blackface and minstrel imagery

It featured an orange-and-black clown-style outfit, black gloves, a small top hat, and a mesh mask or face covering shaped like a wide, exaggerated grinning mouth with large teeth. A promotional image on Target’s website showed a Black child modeling the costume, sometimes in a pose that critics compared to Jim Crow-era caricatures.

Social media users quickly shared screenshots and argued that the combination of elements—particularly the dark face covering, oversized smile, gloves, and presentation—mirrored historical minstrel-show imagery that caricatured and demeaned Black people. Minstrel shows were a form of 19th-century American theater built around such stereotypes.

On Monday, August 24, 2026, Target confirmed it had stopped selling the item and issued a statement acknowledging the mistake. “As a company, we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry,” the company said. “The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale. We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners. Removing the costume is an important first step, and the company is looking closely at how this happened and what needs to change to ensure this won’t happen again.”

The product listing was deleted from Target’s website. The controversy adds to a series of recent reputational challenges for the Minneapolis-based retailer, which has faced criticism over its handling of Pride merchandise in prior years and changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Some observers linked the oversight to those earlier shifts, while others noted the company’s rapid response in pulling the item and issuing an apology.

Target has not provided further details on the design process or the specific individuals involved in approving the costume. The retailer operates roughly 2,000 stores across the United States.

Atlanta-based streetwear and sneaker boutique Wish has announced it will permanently close at the end of 2026, marking the end of an era for one of the city’s most influential cultural and style destinations. The Little Five Points staple, a fixture for over 20 years, will shut its doors on December 28.

Atlanta’s Wish Boutique to Close

Founded and led by Lauren Amos with business partner and CEO Julie Hogg, Wish has long stood out as a woman-owned luxury streetwear and sneaker boutique in a space traditionally dominated by other voices.

Located at 447 Moreland Avenue in the heart of Little Five Points (in a building that previously housed the local Carnegie Library), the store became far more than a retail outlet. It evolved into a hub where fashion, art, music, and community intersected—celebrating limited-edition sneakers, carefully curated designer pieces, local talent, and global brands while fostering a distinctive creative energy unique to Atlanta.

Amos, who took the reins in 2004 after graduating from the Atlanta College of Art, helped grow Wish into a successful destination known for exclusive drops, thoughtful collaborations, community events, and a welcoming atmosphere that drew both longtime locals and visitors. The shop’s impact extended beyond commerce: it helped put Atlanta on the map for streetwear culture and supported artists, musicians, designers, and the broader creative class.

According to Amos, the decision to close stems not from financial struggles but from “monumental life changes” for her and Hogg. “I’m sad and I’m happy. It’s like we are all sad and we’re all happy. This isn’t easy. This wasn’t an overnight decision,” she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The pair described the choice as deeply personal after years of dedicated work building the business.

For many Atlantans, the news lands as a genuine loss. Wish was more than a place to shop—it was a cultural landmark that reflected and amplified the city’s style and creative spirit. As one longtime admirer put it simply: a huge loss for the city. “I loved that boutique man.”

Amos has expressed hope that a young, cool, creative person will step into the space and build something new. In the months ahead, the team plans to celebrate the store’s legacy with staff, regulars, and the community that helped sustain it for 22 years. While the physical doors will close, Wish’s influence on Atlanta’s fashion and cultural landscape is likely to linger long after the final sale.

ATLANTA/DALLAS — Several passengers were reportedly injured Friday when a laptop caught fire aboard an American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Dallas-Fort Worth, filling parts of the cabin with smoke before the crew contained the blaze.

American Airlines Flight 2398, an Airbus A321 carrying 133 people, departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 5:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 21.

Laptop Catches Fire on American Airlines Flight from Atlanta to Dallas

About 30 minutes before landing, a passenger’s laptop began smoking and erupted in flames, according to accounts from those on board and air traffic control audio.

Passenger Jessica Irgens, who was seated nearby, described the scene as “absolutely terrifying.” “I just saw the smoke first, and then it all happened really fast,” she told ABC’s Good Morning America. “He was trying to get it away from him into the aisle.” Other passengers assisted as heavy smoke filled the area, and Irgens said some people later had their hands in bags of ice and appeared visibly shaken.

The pilot radioed air traffic controllers about a cabin fire toward the rear of the aircraft. Flight attendants worked to extinguish it and ultimately secured the device in a specialized thermal containment bag designed for lithium-ion battery incidents. The pilot reported that four to five passengers may have suffered burns, primarily to their hands, and requested medical personnel meet the plane.

The aircraft landed safely at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport around 8 p.m. ET (approximately 6:55 p.m. local time) and taxied to the gate under its own power. Emergency responders met the flight. American Airlines said one person was treated on scene and released. Airport officials confirmed the same, noting the injuries were minor and no hospital transport was required.

In a statement, American Airlines said: “American Airlines Flight 2398 landed safely at DFW after reports of smoke from a customer’s device during landing. We thank our crew for their professionalism and swift response to quickly contain the device.”

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. Lithium-ion batteries in personal electronic devices have been linked to multiple smoke or fire events on passenger aircraft this year, according to FAA data.

No further injuries were reported, and the plane arrived without additional incident.

Traveling with your significant other is the best way to go. Looking for a destination? There are some great cities that you can vacation in for cheap right now.

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If you’ve ever tried navigating Atlanta with a GPS or asked a local for directions, you’ve probably encountered the city’s most famous quirk: streets named Peachtree seem to be everywhere. Turn left on Peachtree, continue onto Peachtree, then take a right onto… another Peachtree. It’s enough to make newcomers wonder if half the city’s road signs share the same name.

So, how many Peachtree streets are there actually?

How Many Streets Are Named Peachtree in Atlanta? Around 71

The most frequently cited figure is 71 streets, roads, avenues, drives, lanes, and similar thoroughfares in the Atlanta metro area that include some form of “Peachtree” in their name. This number is often attributed to the Atlanta Regional Commission and is echoed by the Atlanta History Center and numerous local publications.1

Exact tallies can vary slightly depending on the criteria used:

• Whether the count covers just the City of Atlanta limits or the broader metro area.
• Whether directional variants (e.g., Peachtree Street NE vs. Peachtree Street SW) count as separate streets.
• Whether minor residential courts or short connectors are included.

Atlanta Magazine’s own survey found about 40 such streets before even clearing the Perimeter (I-285), noting that the full metro total is higher and that the classic “71” figure is approximate and somewhat dated. Other sources describe “over 70,” “around 60–70,” or simply “dozens.” The consensus remains clear: Peachtree-named roads are unusually abundant.

One True Peachtree Street (and Many Relatives)

Locals usually mean one primary corridor when they simply say “Peachtree.” Peachtree Street begins near Five Points in downtown Atlanta, runs north through Midtown, and continues into Buckhead, where it becomes Peachtree Road after crossing Peachtree Creek. Farther north it transitions into Peachtree Boulevard and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, forming a long continuous spine of roughly 18 miles under shifting names.

A separate West Peachtree Street runs roughly parallel through downtown and Midtown. Other well-known variants include Peachtree Battle Avenue, Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Peachtree Hills Avenue, Peachtree Center Avenue, Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, and many residential streets such as Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Drive, and Peachtree Lane.

Entire communities also carry the name: Peachtree City (a planned suburb south of Atlanta) and Peachtree Corners (to the north).

Why So Many Peachtrees? (It’s Not Really About Peaches)

Georgia is the Peach State, yet Atlanta’s street-naming obsession has little to do with actual peach orchards. The name traces back to a Muscogee (Creek) settlement near the confluence of Peachtree Creek and the Chattahoochee River. The Muscogee called the site Pakanahuili, commonly translated as “Standing Peach Tree.” Some historians suggest it may originally have referred to a “Standing Pitch Tree” (a pine used for resin or pitch), with “peach” emerging through later mistranslation or adaptation by English-speaking settlers.

In the early 19th century, the U.S. military established Fort Peachtree nearby. The old Native trail that connected settlements became an important early road. As Atlanta grew from a railroad terminus into a major city, developers and planners repeatedly borrowed the evocative name “Peachtree” for new streets, creating the dense web of variations that exists today. The name gained further cultural weight through Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind and the annual AJC Peachtree Road Race, one of the world’s largest 10K events.

Ironically, actual peach trees are scarce along most of these streets—though temporary plantings have occasionally appeared for promotional events.

Navigating the Peachtree Maze

For visitors, the abundance of similarly named roads can be confusing. A few practical tips:

• Specify the full name and neighborhood (e.g., “Peachtree Street in Midtown” or “Peachtree Road in Buckhead”).
• West Peachtree is a distinct street from Peachtree Street.
• Peachtree Road is the northern continuation of the main Peachtree Street corridor.
• When in doubt, ask a local which Peachtree they mean—or rely on precise addresses and GPS.

Atlanta’s Peachtree streets are more than a navigational oddity. They form a living reminder of the city’s Indigenous roots, its 19th-century origins, and the way a single evocative name can shape an entire urban identity. Whether you’re running the Peachtree Road Race, exploring downtown skyscrapers, or simply trying to find your hotel, you’re almost certainly on—or near—a Peachtree of one kind or another.

In short: there is one primary Peachtree Street, but roughly 70 variations that keep the name alive across metro Atlanta.

Aside from Peachtrees, Georgia’s largest city is full of sweet treats. Have you seen the donut shops in Atlanta? But there’s more: Our Ice Cream Guide will put a few calories on you. 

Wondering what’s new? Check Out Our New Atlanta Restaurant Guide.

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