The arrival of a new year is inherently thrilling. It’s a clean slate. A chance to start fresh. Maybe the new year will bring with it a big promotion, new love or a hard-earned vacation. Maybe you’ll reach a major milestone in your effort to save cash. The possibilities are endless.

We’ve dedicated much of this issue to that very idea, and we’re sharing some stories that we hope will inspire your plans for 2017. For our cover story, we sent five writers out in search of some of Atlanta’s most exciting experiences. After all, a new year means a chance to reinvent yourself—or, at least, an excuse to ditch your routine and try something different. Have you ever wanted to swap your staid workout regimen for something more out there (or perhaps I should say “up there”)? Or try your hand at making homemade pasta? How about spending a day helping our city’s homeless get back on their feet? Those are a few of the experiences our team tried. Head to page 35 to find out how it all went.

Of course, the new year doesn’t have to be about making bold statements. It can also be about subtle changes that’ll make a big difference in your daily life. For example, writer Lauren Finney talked to personal finance blogger Lauren Bowling to get tips for tidying up your personal finances. And, resolute to be kinder to my complexion this year, I peppered Fig & Flower founder Sara Lamond with questions about the merits of natural beauty, skin and hair products, and how to separate the healthful ingredients from the harmful, often hard-to-pronounce ones.

So, whether you’re looking for ways to break completely outside the box, small ways to make a big impact in your personal life or simply some ways to enjoy the city you live in, I’m sure you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this issue. Happy New Year!

Lindsay Lambert Day
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF