East Atlanta

In 2015 Curbed Cup action, East Atlanta was bounced in the very first round by eventual champion West End, but any neighborhood with an uplifting slogan like “You Look Nice Today” is a proud one, and East Atlanta has acted like it this year. After besting past champion Inman Park, East Atlanta bagged an Elite Eight victory like a runaway python and exacted sweet revenge on West End last week. Like Chamblee on the bracket’s other side, the EAV has competed in Curbed Cups of yore but hadn’t won a match until 2016. This eclectic, lively community banded together in real life earlier this year, and it appears to be doing so in pursuit of that fake prestigious hardware now. But overcoming eastside brethren — and battle-tested competitor — Kirkwood might not be easy.

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Kirkwood

Back in 2013, Kirkwood snatched everlasting glory from the clutches of Grant Park to take the Curbed Cup in the biggest nail-biter of a championship Atlanta has ever seen. More recently, however, this historic eastside nabe has had the unfortunate habit of losing to eventual champions — Reynoldstown in 2014, and West End in last year’s Finals. Maybe that spells good fortune for EAV. Or maybe it’s the fuel K-wood needs to climb back to the promised land and become Atlanta’s first repeat Curbed Cup champion. Kirkwood sailed by Castleberry Hill in Round 1, then toppled No. 2 seed Ormewood Park last week. It’s riding high on development mojo in 2016 that’s included countless home renovations and builds, the neighborhood’s first market-rate apartment community breaking ground, and Pullman Yard’s nasty acreage finally becoming available for revitalization or total redevelopment.

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The Final Four: