🪩 ABBA Tribute Saturday + JJ's Garlic Knots

_{Welcome to the 60 new readers who joined 7,419 other East Cobb residents this week.}

What's up, neighbors!

Fall break is wrapping up and this weekend is stacked. The big one for us is Saturday night in Kennesaw, where the Kennesaw Concert Series closes out its season with Dancing Dream, a full-production ABBA tribute on the lawn at Depot Park. Free, outside, and you already know every word whether you admit it or not. We're bringing chairs and getting there early, because the season finale fills up faster than the mid-summer shows do.

Saturday morning is our usual loop on the Square. The farmers market and the artisan market sit across from each other on Mill Street, so you park once and hit both. If your kids are still off school Friday, Smith-Gilbert Gardens has a sculpture walk going, and kids get in free all month with the code kids2026.

For a grown-up night, Out of Box Theatre opens The Pillowman Friday in Marietta. Dark Martin McDonagh thriller, 40 seats in the room, intense. Not a kid night. If that's not your speed, Glover Park Brewery runs Parktoberfest all weekend with brats, German lagers, and a stein-holding contest.

Scroll down for the full planner, a pizza place on Roswell Road we finally got around to trying, two school stories you'll have opinions about, and a kitten named after a Scrubs character.

- Andrew

If your home or auto insurance has been on autopilot for a while, this is a good reminder to take another look. Peachy Insurance is a local Atlanta agency, just a short drive from East Cobb. Our reader Carol took advantage of this offer and saved $2,100! Fill out their form online and complete a quote with a licensed agent and they’ll send you a $10 gift card to Chick-fil-A.

Out of Box Theatre at the Creator's Den
585 Cobb Pkwy S Suite G-1, Marietta, GA
Opens Friday, September 25; Runs through October 4
Fri & Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM
$25 general admission, 40 seats per show
Get tickets

If you want something different this week, Out of Box Theatre is opening Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman right here in Marietta on Friday night, and it runs through October 4. McDonagh wrote In Bruges, so you already know the temperature: dark, sharp, unsettling, funny in the places where you feel a little weird about laughing. The play follows a writer whose disturbing short stories land him in the middle of a brutal police investigation. It has you inside of ten minutes and never really lets go.

The Creator's Den seats 40 people. That is the entire room. You are close enough to hear the actors breathe, which is why a play like this works in a black box and goes flat in a big auditorium. This is not dinner theater. Strong language and violent themes, so leave the kids at home. Shows run Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM, and at 40 seats a night the good ones go early.

If you live near Roswell Road and you still haven't been to JJ's, I get it. I put it off for months. Don't be me. This is a neighborhood pizza place that punches above its weight, and it covers a lot of ground: game night, a lazy Friday, a pie with the family, or a Wednesday where nobody feels like cooking.

The stuffed pizza is what people won't shut up about, and they're right. Get the garlic knots with the homemade garlic sauce too. One reviewer called them some of the best they've ever had, which is a big swing for garlic knots. Weekday before 3 PM, the all-you-can-eat lunch pizza special runs about $11.

One thing to keep in your head: they're closed Tuesdays. Show up on a Tuesday and you'll be standing in a parking lot feeling sorry for yourself, and thats on you.

Pizza Restaurant | 4.5★
Hours:
Mon, Wed - Thu 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Tue Closed
Fri - Sat 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun 12:00 – 9:00 PM

🚗 See directions to JJ's Pizzeria on Google Maps

You need a birthday gift by 5 PM and you do not want to drive to Avenue or deal with the mall. This is the shop. The Ivy Lane sits in Highland Plaza on Sandy Plains, in the old Justin's Hallmark space, and it has been quietly bailing out East Cobb gift-givers since 2013.

Half the store is a women's boutique with Free People, Spanx and Mud Pie, plus a jewelry case full of Kendra Scott, Brighton and ENewton. The other half is gifts and home decor. Candles, Swig bottles, seasonal pieces, and baby clothes that reviewers say are almost too cute to hand over. Fall and holiday decor is landing right now, which is the argument for walking through this week instead of in December when you actually need it.

Owner Julie Turner is a longtime East Cobb resident and a Georgia Tech engineer who left a corporate job to open the shop and build something around her family. Her charity fashion shows have raised tens of thousands for local causes, and the staff will actually walk over and help you in the fitting room. Two things to know going in: it runs pricey, and the return window is a strict two weeks.

Price: $$$
Hours:
Mon–Wed 10 AM–7 PM
Thu–Sat 10 AM–8 PM
Sun 12:30–5:30 PM

🚗 Get directions to The Ivy Lane on Google Maps

7 Beds
7.5 Baths
7,426 sq ft
0.80 acre lot

A) $2,050,000

B) $2,100,000

C) $2,175,000

D) $2,400,000

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced last Thursday that the Cobb County School District pulled Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" from every district media center. The district's book review process flagged passages that violate its standards for grades 6 through 12. Administrative decision, not a board vote, and Ragsdale read one of the passages out loud at Thursday's board meeting to explain why.

Where you land on this probably depends on where you already stood. Either way, it changes what students at Walton, Wheeler, Pope, Lassiter and every East Cobb middle school can check out, and it pushes the count past three dozen titles removed since 2023. Ragsdale's line: "I do not have the luxury of making that decision for other parents and their children."

Source: East Cobb News

The Cobb Board of Education voted 5-2 last Thursday to spend up to $1.2 million on five Vapor Wake dogs and their handlers from Global K9 Protection Group. The dogs are trained to detect firearms and explosives, and they will rotate through all 26 middle schools in the district.

Cobb high schools have had 16 of these dogs since 2025, so this is not new to the district, just new to middle school. If your kid is at Dickerson, Dodgen, East Cobb, Hightower Trail, Mabry or Simpson, expect it to come up at dinner. Ragsdale said the rollout could take "a couple months."

Source: East Cobb News

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church breaks ground October 7 on a new 2,500-seat worship center at 955 Johnson Ferry Road. It is the centerpiece of the church's $84 million "Forward Vision" campaign, and the church spent about $2 million buying 1.7 acres of neighboring homes to make room for it.

Practical version: if you drive Johnson Ferry between Roswell Road and Lower Roswell, plan on construction traffic for a while. The existing 1,200-seat sanctuary is not going anywhere and will still be used for special events.

Source: East Cobb News

The Cobb Chamber's Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon is Monday, October 5 at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria. It kicks off Public Safety Appreciation Week and hands out the Public Safety Employee of the Year, Award of Valor, Award of Merit, Leadership and Excellence, and Outstanding Contribution awards to Cobb police, firefighters, 911 operators and other first responders.

Tickets are $50 for Chamber members and $75 if you are not one, and registration closes at noon on September 30. If you have ever wanted to show up for the people who show up when everything goes sideways, this is the easy version.

Source: Cobb Chamber

The Georgia Department of Public Health ran inspections on a batch of East Cobb restaurants the week of September 14. Perfect 100s went to New York Best Bagel and Cafe on Lower Roswell, Macaw Acaiteria on Roswell Road and Mango's Ice Cream on Sandy Plains. Johnny's New York Style Pizza on Lower Roswell came in at 99.

Other end of the list: Mayan Kitchen on Sandy Plains scored an 89, China Great Wall an 80, and Mzizi Coffee Roaster on Johnson Ferry a 77. A score by itself does not tell you much, but the violation notes do. Two minutes before your next pickup order.

Source: East Cobb News

Named after the Scrubs character, which tracks. Elliot is four months old, about four pounds, and she landed at Mostly Mutts as a young kitten who needed somewhere stable to be. She got it. She got healthy. Now she needs the permanent version.

She plays hard with toys, collects cuddles from anybody willing to hand them out, and keeps her litter box clean with zero drama about it. Already spayed, microchipped, and current on all her kitten shots, so you are not opening this with a vet bill.

She lives with her sibling kittens in foster and does fine, so a second cat in the house is not a problem. Dogs are a question mark, nobody knows yet. She is playful, so gentle kids are a good match. Adoption fee is $175. She's in Kennesaw with Mostly Mutts, open Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 3 PM. Reach out through their website or give them a call to set up a visit.

Mostly Mutts Animal Rescue & Adoption, Inc.
3238 Cherokee St, Kennesaw, GA 30144
(770) 272-6888 | [email protected]
Mon–Sat 10 AM–3 PM, closed Sunday

🎭 Annie Jr. Theatre Performance - The Art Place at Mountain View | 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA 30066 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Ticketed through Cobb PARKS | More: cobbcounty.gov
Live production of Annie Jr. right here in East Cobb at The Art Place, a classic story that plays great for elementary-age kids and parents who grew up with the original. Free parking, and it runs again Saturday night.

🌿 Fall Break Garden Adventures: Garden Art - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, GA 30152 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (family art walks at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM) | Free with general admission | Kids free in September with code kids2026 | More: smithgilbertgardens.com
Friday's fall break theme is Garden Art, so families take a self-guided sculpture walk through the Gardens and then make something of their own. Drop in, no registration.

🚂 Fall Break – Our Town: Then & Now (Books on the Go) - Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History | 2829 Cherokee Street NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Included with admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 kids 3–17, under 2 free | More: southernmuseum.org
Friday wraps the museum's fall break week with Books on the Go: the archivist does storytime about the first mobile libraries, then the Cobb County BookMobile hosts a craft. All ages.

🌱 Fall Native Plant Sale - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Free admission | Plants $5–$35 | More: chattnaturecenter.org
The CNC's fall plant sale is one of the better chances around to stock up on Georgia-native species. Horticulture staff help you pick what works for your yard, and they'll even help load your car.

🎸 Glover Park Concert Series: Nashville Nation - Glover Park | 50 N Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060 | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Free | More: mariettaga.gov
The final show of the 40th-anniversary Glover Park Concert Series features Nashville Nation playing modern country hits on the Marietta Square. Free outdoor concert, so come early, grab a spot, and get dinner at one of the Square restaurants beforehand.

📚 Junior Book Club - Gritters Library | 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta, GA 30066 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Literacy program for grades K–3 with an interactive read-aloud, discussion, a craft, refreshments, and a book raffle. Registration is available online and encouraged.

🧱 Lego Free Play - Switzer Library | 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Drop-in free-build Lego session at Switzer Library for kids ages 5–12. No instructions, no theme, just a pile of bricks and an hour to build whatever they want.

🧩 Lego Play @ Stratton Library - Stratton Library | 1100 Powder Springs Road, Marietta, GA 30064 | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Fall break STEM Lego build at Stratton Library for ages 5 and up. Kids build whatever they want for an hour, which is the whole point and the best part. Runs again Saturday.

📖 Mountain View Regional Library Storytime at Mabry Park - Mabry Park | 4466 Mabry Park Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Library staff bring storytime outside to Mabry Park on Friday morning, with stories, songs, and activities for ages 0–5 and their caregivers. Bring a towel or blanket to sit on; cancelled in bad weather.

👶 Playtime for Littles - East Cobb Library | 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, GA 30068 | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Drop-in playtime and socialization for ages 1–5 with an adult caregiver at the East Cobb Library. Right in the neighborhood, no registration needed.

🧸 Caregiver and Toddler Time with Cobb Collaborative - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, GA 30152 | 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Included with garden admission | Kids free in September with code kids2026 | More: smithgilbertgardens.com
A 30-minute outdoor session for caregivers and toddlers focused on language development through music, movement, and story. Best for older toddlers through pre-K.

🧶 Crocheting & Knitting Class for Teens - Switzer Library | 266 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
A one-hour intro to crochet and knitting for ages 12–17 at Switzer Library, all skill levels, materials provided. A useful skill and a good low-key Saturday for middle and high schoolers. Registration requested online.

🪴 Fall Native Plant Sale - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Free admission | Plants $5–$35 | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Saturday is day two of the CNC's native plant sale, with a wide selection of Georgia natives for birds, pollinators, and wildlife and horticulture staff on hand to answer questions, rain or shine.

📕 Georgia Indie Book Faire - IAM Local Lodge 709 | 1032 South Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Free | More: georgiaindiebookfaire.com
An indoor book fair with local authors, publishers, artists, and food, free for all ages, with readings, panels and signings throughout the day. Free parking and all indoors.

🪩 Kennesaw Concert Series: Dancing Dream, The Tribute to ABBA - United Bankshares Amphitheater at Depot Park | 2828 Cherokee Street NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Free | More: kennesaw-ga.gov
The Kennesaw Concert Series wraps its 2026 season with Dancing Dream, a New York-based ABBA tribute, at the Depot Park amphitheater. Free outdoor show, bring collapsible chairs or a blanket. Full plan in the Free Event section below.

🎨 Marietta Square Artisan Market - Mill Street, Marietta Square | Mill Street, Marietta, GA 30060 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Free | More: mariettasquareartisanmarket.com
Every Saturday on Mill Street, local makers set up an open-air artisan market. Pair it with the Farmers Market right across the street for a full Saturday morning on the Square.

🌽 Marietta Square Farmers Market - North Park Square, Marietta Square | 41 Mill Street, Marietta, GA 30060 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Free to attend | More: mariettasquarefarmersmarket.com
One of the best weekly farmers markets in the area, with heirloom produce you won't find at the grocery store, cut flowers, local honey, whole grain breads, and live plants. A Saturday morning ritual for a lot of East Cobb families, year-round.

⚡ Mythology Bingo with Togas and Tales - Mountain View Regional Library | 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA 30066 | 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
A Greek mythology overview wrapped inside a game of bingo at Mountain View Library, for ages 8–12. A fun, low-key Saturday morning for kids who are into gods, monsters, and winning stuff. No registration required.

🏃 RaceTrac's Run For Research 5K - The Battery Atlanta | 800 Battery Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM (1K at 7:30 AM, 5K at 8:00 AM) | 5K $45, 1K $35, kids 12 and under 1K $5 | More: batteryatl.com
Annual charity 5K through The Battery with a finish on the field at Truist Park and a 1K for younger runners, all benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The theme is crazy socks, so dig out the neons. Free parking.

🎬 Sensory-Friendly Family Movie: Charlotte's Web - Switzer Library | 266 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (doors 10:45 AM) | Free | Registration required, 40 spots | More: cobbcounty.gov
Cobb's Accessibility Services screens the 2006 Charlotte's Web (rated G) with dimmed lights, captions on, and fidgets provided. A welcoming setup for kids of all abilities and their families. Register online since it caps at 40.

☕ Stay & Play Saturday: Red, White and Brew - Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History | 2829 Cherokee Street NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Free with museum admission: $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 kids 3–17, 2 and under free | More: southernmuseum.org
September's theme is Red, White and Brew: kids explore the role of coffee in a Civil War soldier's life through a coffee-painting craft, an education table, and free samples (cocoa for kids) from Black Rifle Coffee Woodstock. All ages.

🐾 Watch PAWty Presented by Boehringer Ingelheim - The Plaza at Battery Atlanta | 755 Battery Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Free | RSVP for a free bandana | More: batteryatl.com
Bring your dog to The Battery to watch the Braves away game on the big screen, browse pet boutique vendors, and score a free branded bandana if you RSVP. Leashes required, bring your own seating.

🦋 Worldwide Day of Play - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, GA 30152 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Included with general admission | Members free | Kids free in September with code kids2026 | More: smithgilbertgardens.com
Smith-Gilbert Gardens teams up with Nickelodeon and the Association of Children's Museums for a day of drop-in nature discovery stations, a self-guided activity hike, and hands-on insect making. An easy all-day outing for families who want to be outside.

🧵 Sewing 101 Expo - North Cobb Regional Library | 3535 Old 41 Highway NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM | $10 (cash or check, covers all supplies) | Registration required | More: cobbcounty.gov
A hands-on beginner sewing expo with the Atlanta chapter of the American Sewing Guild for ages 14 and up: three 50-minute sessions covering patterns and fabric, a hand-sewing sampler, and a machine-sewn reversible tablet cover. Register online ahead of time.

🐦 Bird Walk with Birds Georgia - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA 30075 | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Included with general admission ($20 adults) | Free for CNC and Birds Georgia members | Reservations required, 20 spots | More: chattnaturecenter.org
A guided, beginner-friendly bird walk along accessible trails at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. A slow, peaceful Sunday start before the rest of the day picks up. Reserve ahead since it's capped at 20.

🦁 C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 3:00 PM (90 minutes, no intermission) | Ticketed through Ticketmaster | $30 under-30 tickets at the box office with ID | More: cobbenergycentre.com
Award-winning actor Max McLean's one-man show as C.S. Lewis, 90 minutes of wit, intellect, and storytelling followed by a post-show talkback. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

🥕 Farmers Market at The Battery Atlanta - The Plaza at Battery Atlanta | 755 Battery Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Free | Free parking first 2 hours | More: batteryatl.com
The last Battery farmers market of 2026, with 20-plus vendors selling produce, baked goods and crafts, a petting zoo for the kids, and a Bark Market for the dog. The Braves away game streams on the Georgia Power Pavilion screen while you browse.

🎞️ Silent Films at The Strand: Sparrows (1926) - Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060 | 3:00 PM | Ticketed through the Strand box office (770-293-0080) | More: earlsmithstrand.org
Mary Pickford's 1926 silent classic Sparrows screens at the Strand with live accompaniment on the theatre's Mighty Allen organ. An unusual Sunday afternoon experience, and the film plays great for kids.

🎧 BONNIE X CLYDE: 360° Show - The Block Theater at You42 Studios | 11000 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, GA 30076 | Doors 9:30 PM, show 10:00 PM, runs to 2:00 AM | Ticketed through You42 Studios | 21+ | More: you42studios.com
Electronic duo BONNIE X CLYDE bring their festival-ready sound to a Boiler Room-style 360° stage at You42 Studios in Roswell, with MVLIK_HD opening. Late-night Friday show, extremely limited tickets.

😂 Comedy on the Square - The Alley Stage | 11 Anderson Street, Marietta, GA 30064 | 8:00 PM | Ticketed, two-drink minimum (box office 770-919-0001) | 18+ | More: alleystage.org
Live standup from a rotating lineup of comedians at the intimate Alley Stage on the Marietta Square. A solid Friday night option that keeps you right in the heart of downtown Marietta; online sales close about an hour before the show.

🖤 EMO Karaoke Night at Park Bench - Park Bench | 900 Battery Avenue SE, Ste 1060, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM | Free | 21+ | More: batteryatl.com
No cover, late-night karaoke built around emo and pop-punk hits. Grab a drink, channel your inner Fall Out Boy, and go for it.

🎤 Karaoke Night at Punch Bowl Social - Punch Bowl Social | 875 Battery Avenue SE, Ste 720, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM | Free arcade card with first drink | 21+ | More: batteryatl.com
Friday karaoke at Punch Bowl Social hosted by Luke Smart's Karaoke, with a free arcade card with your first drink, an open mic setup, and a crowd that cheers you on regardless of your actual vocal ability.

🍺 Parktoberfest at Glover Park Brewery - Glover Park Brewery | 65 Atlanta Street SE, Marietta, GA 30060 | Fri 2:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Sat 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM, Sun 12:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Free entry, pay as you go | More: gloverparkbrewery.com
Glover Park Brewery on the Marietta Square runs Parktoberfest all weekend: German-style lagers, bratwurst, Belgian waffles and pretzels, a costume contest, and a stein-holding contest. Kid- and dog-friendly patio, and Fusco's pizza truck is there Saturday and Sunday.

🕺 After Dark at Punch Bowl Social - Punch Bowl Social | 875 Battery Avenue SE, Ste 720, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 9:30 PM | Free RSVP on Eventbrite | 21+ | More: batteryatl.com
Saturday late-night at Punch Bowl Social with a DJ spinning hits, hourly prize raffles, drink specials, and throwback board games. A solid option if you want a lower-key night that still has energy.

🥃 Bourbon, BBQ, and Bluegrass Festival 2026 - You42 Studios | 11000 Alpharetta Highway, Roswell, GA 30076 | 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Free admission | 21+ to drink | More: goinsocialevents.com
Bourbon pours, smoked meat, and live bluegrass, Southern rock and country rolling into Roswell for an afternoon-into-evening festival with full bars, makers, and a bourbon tasting experience. All ages welcome, kids area on site, boots strongly encouraged.

🎺 C.O.T. Band (Viva Roswell) - Roswell Cultural Arts Center | 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA 30075 | 7:00 PM | Tickets from $17 (box office 770-594-6120) | More: roswellcac.showare.com
Atlanta's high-energy Latin band plays the Roswell Cultural Arts Center as part of Viva Roswell's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration: Latin rhythms with funk, jazz and tropical flavors and a heavy brass and percussion section. Free parking beside the center.

🖼️ dk Gallery "Layered Processes" Artist Panel - dk gallery | 25 West Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Free | More: dkgallery.us
Artists Kelley Sharp, Allison McElroy and Lynn Sisler discuss their layered creative processes in a panel moderated by Ann Nelson at dk gallery on the Marietta Square. A real conversation about how art gets made, not just a walk-through.

🎹 Dueling Pianos at Park Bench - Park Bench | 900 Battery Avenue SE, Ste 1060, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM (doors 3:00 PM) | Free | 21+ | More: batteryatl.com
Two pianists, one stage, and a crowd that picks the songs. No cover, and doors open at 3 PM so you can grab dinner first and roll into the show whenever.

🤣 Gary Owen: No Hard Feelings Tour - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 8:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM) | Ticketed through Ticketmaster | 18+ recommended | More: cobbenergycentre.com
Gary Owen brings his No Hard Feelings Tour to Cobb Energy Centre, 20-plus years of sharp, bold standup drawn from military life and everyday observations. Mature audiences show, the venue recommends 18+.

🥂 Jazz Brunch at C. Ellet's - C. Ellet's | 2605 Circle 75 Parkway, Ste 400, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | No cover, reservations recommended | More: batteryatl.com
Saturday jazz brunch at C. Ellet's with a live duo playing 11 to 3, Southern fried chicken and pancakes on the menu, and mimosas flowing. Make a reservation because this one fills up.

📜 Gendering Secession: Southern Women at the Outbreak of the Civil War - William Root House Museum | 80 N Marietta Parkway NW, Marietta, GA 30060 | 6:30 PM | $15, advance purchase required | Space limited | More: roothousemuseum.com
Historian Dr. Melissa DeVelvis presents her book Gendering Secession at the historic William Root House, a focused look at how elite Southern women privately processed the political crisis before the Civil War. Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time.

🖌️ Legendary Georgia Musicians Opening Reception - Marietta Cobb Museum of Art | 30 Atlanta Street SE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | $10 | Members free | More: mariettacobbartmuseum.org
Watercolor artist Jackie Dorsey opens 22 portraits of Georgia musicians, Gregg Allman, Big Boi, Amy Ray, Chuck Leavell and more, with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks for purchase at the MCMA on the Marietta Square. The exhibit runs through December 13.

🧘 Meditation in the Gardens - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, GA 30152 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | $15 | Members receive discount | Ages 18+ | Pre-registration required | More: smithgilbertgardens.com
An adults-only session of walking meditation, sitting meditation and forest bathing inside Smith-Gilbert Gardens. Pre-register online; a restorative way to start the weekend.

🎚️ Silent Disco at Punch Bowl Social - Punch Bowl Social | 875 Battery Avenue SE, Ste 720, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM | $10, tickets on Eventbrite | 21+ | More: batteryatl.com
Three DJs, three headphone channels, one dance floor. The monthly silent disco at Punch Bowl Social lets you choose your own audio adventure; grab tickets early because headphone spots sell out.

🎵 Tapestry Tunes: A Carole King Tribute Cabaret - The Alley Stage | 11 Anderson Street, Marietta, GA 30064 | 3:00 PM (doors 2:30 PM) | Ticketed, two-drink minimum (box office 770-919-0001) | 18+ | More: alleystage.org
Vocalist Bethany Irby leads a lineup of Atlanta singers and musicians through Carole King's Tapestry album and beyond in a Saturday matinee at the Alley Stage. If you grew up with "You've Got a Friend" or "I Feel the Earth Move," this one's for you.

🤠 Pop & Country Hits at Park Bench - Park Bench | 900 Battery Avenue SE, Ste 1060, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Free | 21+ | More: batteryatl.com
A live mix of pop and country covers in a relaxed bar setting at The Battery. No cover, just grab a drink and settle in to close out the weekend.

Saturday, Sept 26
7:00 PM
Free

September in Cobb does not get better than a free outdoor show, a packed lawn, and a setlist you already know by heart. Saturday the Kennesaw Concert Series closes its 2026 season with Dancing Dream, a New York-based ABBA tribute with more than 300 shows across North America behind them. That is not a local cover band learning the chords on weekends. Expect sequins, a full production, and a crowd that sings louder than the band on "Dancing Queen."

What it is: The Kennesaw Concert Series is the city's free headline series at the Depot Park amphitheater, presented by Wellstar Health System. The 2026 lineup ran Night Ranger, Boy Band Review and Rumours ATL. Dancing Dream is the fourth and final date, so this is the last one until next summer. Local openers 293 Band take the stage at 7:00 PM, and Dancing Dream follows with "Mamma Mia," "Waterloo," "Take a Chance on Me" and the rest of the catalog.

Pre-show plan (6:00 to 7:00 PM): Depot Park is about 20 to 25 minutes from East Cobb. There is no public parking at the park during concerts and Cherokee Street closes from Main to Big Shanty, so park free at Adams Park, the Ben Robertson Community Center, the Lewis Street lot, the Revival on Main deck, or Kennesaw City Hall and walk over. Bring a blanket or a low-back collapsible chair; canopies, umbrellas, footrests and side tables are not allowed.

During the show (7:00 to 10:00 PM): The amphitheater sits in open green space, so kids have room to move without anybody giving you a look. Vendors sell food and drinks on site, and coolers under 20 quarts are fine if you would rather pack your own. The headliner usually runs about two hours, so plan on a 10 PM finish.

Logistics: Free admission, no tickets or registration. All ages. Restrooms at the park. Leashed dogs are allowed at Depot Park but not on the amphitheater turf, so if you bring one, plan to sit on the edges.

Heads up: Rain or shine unless the city calls it, and updates post on the Kennesaw Parks page and their social channels. Season finale means the lawn fills faster than a mid-summer show, so earlier is better. No helium balloons, and chairs cannot be set up before 7 AM.

🚗 Get directions to the United Bankshares Amphitheater at Depot Park

A few weeks back we covered the business equipment and liability gap in a standard homeowners policy, and how an endorsement patches part of it. Here is where endorsements hit their ceiling: they typically cannot cover lost business income. A dedicated home business policy is the fuller option. It extends your personal property and liability coverage to the business AND picks up expenses plus lost income for up to a year if a fire, storm, or other covered event shuts you down for a while. If the work you do at home is your main income, that is a gap you want to understand before you need it.

Not sure whether an endorsement is enough or whether a separate policy makes more sense for your situation? Ask your Peachy agent to walk through the home business options with you.