🎸 Elvis Does Shakespeare + Free Adoptions

_{Welcome to the 64 new readers who joined 7,070 other East Cobb residents this week.}

What's up, neighbors!

Walton opens the season tonight against Roswell at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 8 o'clock. Earliest opening game in GHSA history, and its only that early because the World Cup took every weekend date at the stadium. If a school night downtown sounds like a lot, every Corky Kell game airs on Atlanta News First and streams free on their app.

Saturday we're doing the Square. Farmers market first, then the Marietta History Center while admission is free from 10 to 4. On your way in, walk the short stretch behind the Welcome Center. Twelve concrete blocks are set into the pavement with Marietta history on them and most people step right over the whole thing without ever looking down.

Go early. Saturday is heading for the low 90s and those sidewalks bake by noon.

For a night out, Theatre in the Square has All Shook Up running through the weekend. Elvis songs wrapped around a Shakespeare plot, which should not work and somehow does. Evening shows Thursday through Saturday, matinees Saturday and Sunday.

Cobb Animal Services is doing free adoptions all three days for Clear the Shelters, so if your kids have been working on you about a dog, this is the weekend they finally have you cornered.

Planner's below, plus the local news and a bakery we should have told you about a long time ago.

- 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 last week! Fill out their form online and complete a quote on the phone with a licensed agent and they’ll send you a $5 gift card to Chick-fil-A.

Marietta's Theatre in the Square
11 Whitlock Ave. NW, Marietta, GA 30064
Thursday–Sunday, August 13–16 (run continues through August 22)
8:00 PM (Thu–Sat); 2:00 PM (Sat–Sun matinee)
$27.44 - $46.75
Get Tickets

Shakespeare and Elvis. On paper that combination makes no sense, and that's most of the reason it works.

All Shook Up is a jukebox musical built on Elvis Presley's catalog, wrapped around the plot of Twelfth Night. It’s 1955. A stranger in a leather jacket rolls into a sleepy Midwestern town, and nothing there goes back to normal after that.

Theatre in the Square has evening shows Thursday through Saturday at 8 and matinees at 2 on Saturday and Sunday, so this works whether you plan your week out or decide things on Sunday morning.

Two reasons to go this week instead of later.

The first one is your kids. If you've got teenagers who think Elvis is something their grandparents listened to, a live band tearing through "Jailhouse Rock" does more convincing in three minutes than you'd manage in a whole car ride.

The second is timing. The show runs through the 22nd, but week one is when the cast is still finding new things in it and the room is loudest. Later performances get smoother. But they don't get better.

Nearly 19,000 reviews and still sitting at 4.9 stars. You don't get to that number by being fine.

Douceur De France is a French bakery on South Marietta Parkway, and my wife and I have turned it into a Saturday morning habit more times than I can count. You smell it before you get through the door. That part has never gotten old.

The baguettes are the real deal, not the soft grocery store version. If you want something that counts as an actual meal instead of a treat, get a quiche. And the petits fours are a trap, because they're small enough to feel like a reasonable decision and nobody in the history of this bakery has bought just one.

Fair warning on Sundays. They close at 3:30, which is earlier than most people expect from a bakery, so a slow Sunday morning can easily turn into a locked door.

Bakery | 4.9★
Hours:
Mon - Sat 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Visit Douceur De France Website

🚗 See directions to Douceur De France on Google Maps

Some of you already know Bookmiser, the used bookstore at Village East on Roswell Road. What you might not know is what they've been through this year. A fire next door last September wrecked almost half of their 35,000 books, and the store sat dark for five months while crews stripped the place down to the cinder blocks. Annell Gerson and her husband rebuilt the whole thing, and when the doors opened again in March, customers were lined up to hug her.

The store is the same clean, bright, organized place it's always been, without the musty smell you get in most used bookstores. Bring in books you're done with and you get store credit good toward half of your next used purchase. They keep school required-reading lists stocked year round and discount new school books too, which matters right about now if your kid just came home with a syllabus. Seven book clubs meet there if you want in.

Open Monday through Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5.

Price: $
Hours:
Mon – Sat 10am–6pm
Sun 12–5pm
🚗 Get directions to Bookmiser on Google Maps

5 Beds
4.5 Baths
5,834 sq ft
0.57 acre lot

A) $2,900,000

B) $3,050,000

C) $3,125,000

D) $3,225,000

Walton plays Roswell at Mercedes-Benz Stadium tonight at 8 PM in the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic. Cambridge and Brookwood play the 5 PM opener.

Here's the odd part. These are the earliest season-opening games in GHSA history, and the reason is the World Cup. Mercedes-Benz Stadium had no weekend open during the traditional opening week, so GHSA let the Classic move four games up to Wednesday and Thursday rather than relocate the whole event. Everybody else in Georgia starts the weekend of August 21.

Can't get downtown on a school night? Every Corky Kell game airs on Atlanta News First and streams free on their app.

The week after, Kell High School hosts two games on its own campus. Pebblebrook and Clarke Central at 4:30 PM, then Kell and McEachern at 7:30 PM, both on August 19.

Sources: Atlanta News First | AJC

Cobb County School District rolled out a new bus tracking app from Edulog when school opened, replacing Here Comes the Bus. Parents have been reporting late buses and trackers that simply don't load.

The district says it's working with Edulog on the technical issues and asked families for patience. It has not given a timeline for when the app will be fully working.

If your student's linked and it's still not updating, it isn't you. Build a few extra minutes into your school mornings until this gets sorted out, because standing at the curb guessing is a rough way to start a Tuesday.

The app doesn't work until you create an account and link your student, using their student ID and date of birth exactly as they appear in school records. A lot of "it won't load" is an unlinked student. Setup steps are on the district's Track My Bus page.

Sources: Atlanta News First | CCSD Track My Bus

The 2025-26 Georgia Milestones results came out last week. Cobb beat the state average in every subject tested, and 82.1% of Cobb students landed in achievement levels 2 through 4, the highest of any metro Atlanta district. 75 Cobb schools earned the 90% distinction. These are levels 2-4, which counts developing learners and up, not just proficient.

East Cobb carried a lot of that. Lassiter came in at more than 94% in social studies, science, and math. Pope and Walton both scored over 90% in every subject tested. Mount Bethel and Sope Creek each hit 98.3% in math, Simpson Middle hit 98.7% in social studies, with Dodgen at 97.9% and Hightower Trail at 97.5%.

On science, Garrison Mill, Timber Ridge, Tritt, Shallowford Falls, East Side, Dickerson, and Mabry all made the 90% list too.

Marietta City had a good showing. Fifth graders posted the district's highest proficient-or-distinguished percentage in science since these tests started, and social studies jumped 15 points in a single year, which now puts Marietta ahead of the state average. Worth noting Marietta reports on a stricter measure, levels 3-4, so those numbers don't compare directly to the Cobb figures above.

One thing before you go digging. English Language Arts scores aren't out. The state is revising its reading and ELA standards and has pushed those results to November, so what's public now is math, science and social studies only.

Sources: Cobb County School District | Cobb Courier

The school district sued the county and Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson in June. Mediation on July 31 ended with no agreement. The county released a statement a few days later saying it mediated in good faith and nothing got resolved.

The fight is over the commission the county withholds from school taxes to cover the cost of collecting them. The district says a 2001 state law called Local Act 240 requires all education money since 2011 to go straight to the Board of Education with no fee attached, and that the county has kept more than $130 million since then. The county's position is that without local legislation setting a lower rate, the state rate of 2.5% applies.

Here's why it matters even though none of it feels urgent. The fee for the fiscal year that started July 1 is about $20 million, up from just over $13 million the year before. The district says that's roughly 200 teachers' salaries and benefits.

The district filed for partial summary judgment July 17. The case is pending in Cobb County Superior Court, with no hearing date announced.

Sources: East Cobb News | Cobb County

There's a big Lab mix at Homeless Pets Foundation who is fully convinced he is a lap dog. He is not. He is going to try anyway.

His name is Terry. He got pulled out of a high-kill shelter and came through it with no attitude about it at all. The rescue calls him the definition of sweet, and the thing people notice first is the greeting. Full body wiggles, huge grin, every single time you walk in.

He'd do best in an active house. Hiking, running, a real game of fetch in the backyard, the whole deal. He's listed as a large dog, so a fenced yard and somebody who actually likes walking would go a long way. Then the second the fun stops he's on the couch trying to climb into your lap.

One thing to plan for. Terry wants to be your ONLY pet. No other dogs, no small animals, no sharing the toys. The rescue is upfront about it, which I appreciate. That’s not a flaw, it just narrows the list. If you're a one-dog household or you've been waiting for the right first dog, he's a strong fit.

He's already neutered, vaccinated, and house-trained, so there's not much to sort out once you decide. The adoption fee is $50. Homeless Pets Foundation is on Gresham Road in Marietta and visits are by appointment only, so start with an application or a phone call and they'll set up a time.

Homeless Pets Foundation
1343 Gresham Rd, Marietta, GA 30062
(770) 971-0100
Visits by appointment only

🌟 Adaptive After High - Waller Park | 250 Oak St, Roswell, GA 30075 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Registration is required | More: visitroswellga.com
UIR's six-week pilot program supporting participants with disabilities in building independence through community activities at Waller Park; inclusive and community-minded.

👕 All 4 Kids Consignment - Jim R Miller Park | 2245 Callaway Road, Marietta, GA | Friday 9 AM-3 AM | Free (public ticket-free days Aug 13-15) | More: travelcobb.org
Atlanta's longest-running children's consignment event with clothing, toys, books, shoes, and baby gear up to 90% off retail; Friday is one of the free public shopping days, so no ticket required.

⚾ Atlanta Braves vs Arizona Diamondbacks - Truist Park | 755 Battery Avenue Southeast, Atlanta, GA | 7:15 PM – 10:15 PM | Starting at $14 | More: batteryatl.com
Friday night opener of the Braves-Diamondbacks series with a 7:15 first pitch and an Andres Galarraga Bobblehead Giveaway, get there early if you want one, because those go fast.

⚾ Bats & Bites Ballpark Tour - Truist Park | 755 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA | 03:00 PM | $150/person ($125 – A-List Members) | More: travelcobb.org
Guided ballpark tour at Truist Park ending in the Outfield Market where you meet a former Braves player and sample food and drinks, then watch batting practice from the outfield, a great Friday activity before the evening game.

📸 Historic Roswell Photography Competition & Exhibit - Roswell History Museum | 950 Forrest St. 2nd Floor, Roswell, GA 30075 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Free | More: visitroswellga.com
Local photographers captured Roswell's historic sites for this exhibit tied to America's 250th, and it's the kind of afternoon stop that pairs nicely with a walk through the square afterward.

🎸 Let It Be Jude - Jennie T. Anderson Theatre | 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | $10 | More: cobbcounty.gov
Cobb Parks presents one night of The Beatles tribute at the Anderson Theatre on Friday evening; the whole catalog, live on stage, and accessible enough that anyone from 10 to 80 is going to have a good time.

🐾 Let's Clear the Shelter - Animal Services Location | 1060 Al Bishop Drive, Marietta, GA 30008 | 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Free pet adoptions | More: cobbcounty.gov
Cobb County Animal Services joins the nationwide Clear the Shelters event with free adoptions of dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens all three days of the weekend; if your family has been thinking about a pet, this is the weekend.

🎹 Music on the Hill: Piano Man vs. Rocket Man: A Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John - Roswell City Hall | 38 Hill St, Roswell, GA | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Free | More: roswell365.com
Free outdoor concert on the City Hall lawn with Mark Kovaly and Daniel Deal trading Billy Joel and Elton John hits in a head-to-head tribute format; bring a blanket, a picnic, and something cold to drink.

🏀 Open Play: Basketball - Recreation Center | 2737 Watts Drive, Kennesaw, GA | 2:30 PM – 8:45 PM | Free | More: kennesaw-ga.gov
Open gym basketball at the Kennesaw Rec Center Friday afternoon through evening; under-15 players need a guardian present, so it's a solid family option if you've got a kid who just wants to run.

🎭 Quilters, A Musical - Roswell Cultural Arts Center | 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA 30075 | Varies | Ticket Information Coming Soon | More: visitroswellga.com
Roswell Cultural Arts' Broadway in the Burbs production celebrating America 250, telling American women's stories through song and quilting; runs all weekend and fits older kids and teens especially well.

📚 Summer Rummage & Book Sale - Marietta History Center | 1 Depot St NE, Marietta, GA | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Free to enter | More: visitmariettaga.com
Books, toys, vintage items, home decor, and militaria all priced to move, with proceeds going to preserve the History Center's 50,000-artifact collection; worth showing up early if you're hunting for books or vintage finds.

🐦 Birdseed Fundraiser Pre-order - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | All day | Price varies; members get 15% off | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Last day to pre-order premium Cole's Birdseed online before the August 29 pickup window opens; supports migration-season feeding and the Nature Center's programs.

🌿 Caregiver and Toddler Time with Cobb Collaborative - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, GA | 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Included with garden admission; members free; $3 adults with SNAP/EBT | More: kennesaw-ga.gov
A 30-minute Saturday morning session for caregivers and toddlers through pre-k, with music, movement, and a story in the garden, followed by free play in the Imagination Station and Living Laboratory.

🎭 Family Charades - Vinings Library | 4290 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Drop-in charades at the library, which sounds simple but genuinely gets loud and fun fast; good for kids who need something to do before lunch.

🧩 Family Puzzle Palooza - Windy Hill Community Center | 1885 Roswell Street, Smyrna, GA 30080 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | $5 | More: cobbcounty.gov
Friendly competitive puzzle-solving for families and teams on Saturday morning at Windy Hill; two hours of quiet concentration and then whoever finishes first gets bragging rights.

🌱 Garden Learning Series: A Guide to Gardening with Children - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw, GA | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Tickets from $30; members receive a discount | More: kennesaw-ga.gov
Hands-on Saturday workshop for parents and teachers on setting up kid-friendly garden beds and plant displays that spark curiosity; each participant builds and takes home an 8-inch container garden.

🌱 Habitat Restoration - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Free | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Volunteers roll up their sleeves to pull English ivy and Chinese privet from CNC's wetland habitat alongside staff; physically active, genuinely useful, and a solid way to spend a Saturday morning.

📜 Intro to Paper Quilling - Switzer Library | 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Free | More: travelcobb.org
Learn the art of rolling and shaping paper strips into intricate designs at this intro workshop at Switzer Library; the kind of craft that looks way harder than it is once someone shows you the basics.

🏭 Made in Marietta - Marietta History Center | 1 Depot Street, Marietta, GA | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Free (museum admission free 10am–4pm thanks to sponsors) | More: travelcobb.org
Free museum admission all day and themed family activities 11-2 showcasing Marietta's industrial history, Bell Aircraft, Georgia Marble Company, Glover Machine Works, with visiting authors and the Cobb Bookmobile.

🌽 Marietta Square Farmers Market - Marietta Square Farmers Market | 41 Mill Street, Marietta, Georgia | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Free to attend | More: visitmariettaga.com
64 vendors average each week with heirloom tomatoes, cut flowers, local honey, herbal soaps, and fresh breads, the kind of Saturday morning market worth building your whole morning around.

🦋 Breakfast With Butterflies - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Ages 4+; $30 general public/$20 CNC Members (price per person). Advanced Registration Required by the Thursday before each session. | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Exclusive morning access to CNC's Butterfly Encounter with a light breakfast included; kids get real up-close time with several species, and it wraps up before anyone gets antsy.

🎭 FTS Theatre Co. Presents The Tragedy of Hamlet - Jennie T. Anderson Theatre | 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Online Tickets: $15; Tickets at the Door: $10 | More: cobbcounty.gov
Sunday matinee of FTS Theatre Co.'s inaugural Hamlet, which is accessible enough for high schoolers who've read the play and a good intro to live Shakespeare for curious younger teens.

🪙 Greater Atlanta Coin Show - IAM Union Hall – Local Lodge 709 | 1032 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta, GA | 9 AM - 4 PM | Free admission; free parking | More: travelcobb.org
Free monthly coin show with dealers in coins, currency, bullion, and collectibles; bring anything you've been wondering about for a free verbal appraisal on the spot.

🎶 The Wiggles - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA | 6:00 PM | Starts at $41.14 | More: travelcobb.org
The Wiggles' Tree of Wisdom Spectacular live at Cobb Energy, with Hot Potato, Fruit Salad, and a full high-energy set of new and classic songs; if you have a toddler or preschooler, this is the Sunday pick.

🍸 Art of the Cocktail - Marietta Cobb Museum of Art | 30 Atlanta Street, Marietta, GA | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Free for MCMA members; $10 for guests | More: visitmariettaga.com
Specialty cocktails, live music, and hors d'oeuvres from Carriage House Catering inside the MCMA galleries alongside two current exhibitions, including a 100-plus artist national juried show; $10 at the door for non-members.

🌊 Corporate Eco Challenge - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Registration needed | More: chattnaturecenter.org
An Amazing Race-style scavenger hunt along the Chattahoochee River designed for corporate teams but open to groups who want a competitive, outdoor team-building experience on a Friday afternoon.

🎨 Create Crushed Glass Resin Art - Red Seal Craft Studio | 1140 Alpharetta Street, Suite 400, Roswell, GA 30075 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Register for a Crafting Session | More: visitroswellga.com
You pick from a wide range of crushed glass colors to build a resin piece or a seashell trinket dish; messier and more satisfying than it sounds, and done in two hours.

🎤 Drag Bingo - Atlanta Hard Cider | 1010 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, GA | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Price varies by your orders; 18+ to play, 21+ to drink | More: travelcobb.org
Drag bingo with performer Brent Star at Atlanta Hard Cider on Friday night, 18+ to play, 21+ to drink, and the show may contain adult content; cocktails flow all night.

🍷 Eleven Eleven Luncheon - Mac's Chophouse | 19 N Park Square, Marietta, GA | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | $75 | More: visitmariettaga.com
Mac's Chop House hosts Eleven Eleven Winery for a curated wine luncheon with pairings designed around the kitchen's menu; intimate, Friday afternoon, on the square.

🍦 Ice Cream Social - North Cobb Senior Center | 3900 South Main Street (inside Kennworth Park), Acworth, GA 30101 | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM | $3.00; Registration required | More: cobbcounty.gov
Ice cream and live bluegrass from the Rusty Strings Band at the North Cobb Senior Center Friday afternoon; relaxed, community-focused, and honestly a nice way to spend a Friday lunch hour.

💻 Internet Basics - Switzer Library | 266 Roswell Street Northeast, Marietta, GA 30060 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Free beginner-friendly internet fundamentals class at Switzer Library on Friday afternoon; a low-pressure hour that's genuinely useful for anyone who wants to get more comfortable online.

🀄 Introduction to Mahjong - Freeman Poole Senior Center | 4025 South Hurt Road, Smyrna, GA 30082 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Volunteer-led beginner Mahjong class on Friday morning, no experience needed, just curiosity; 90 minutes to learn the tiles, the rules, and get a few hands in.

🎷 Joe Gransden's The Good Life: The Artistry of Tony Bennett - Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta, GA | 8:00 PM – 10:30 PM | Ticketed; VIP includes early access, meet and greet, two drink tickets, signed poster | More: visitmariettaga.com
Joe Gransden celebrates what would have been Tony Bennett's 100th birthday with two sets of American Songbook hits at the Strand, with Sinatra, Armstrong, and Dean Martin woven in; VIP tickets open the door an hour early.

🏛️ Kennesaw Sister Cities Commission - City Hall, Conference Room | 2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue, Kennesaw, GA | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Free | More: kennesaw-ga.gov
Monthly commission meeting for Kennesaw's Sister Cities program; agenda and notes are posted at the city portal, and it's open to the public for anyone interested in the city's international partnerships.

🏓 Open Play: Pickleball - Recreation Center | 2737 Watts Drive, Kennesaw, GA | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Free | More: kennesaw-ga.gov
Open pickleball at the Kennesaw Rec Center Friday morning through early afternoon.

🌧️ Rain Barrel Make & Take - 662 South Cobb Drive | 662 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA 30060 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Registration is required. | More: cobbcounty.gov
One-hour Friday workshop where you build a rain barrel rainwater harvesting system you can connect to your downspout at home; practical sustainability project that actually saves money over time.

🌸 Studio Lite – Dried Flower Float Frame - Red Seal Craft Studio | 1140 Alpharetta Street, Suite 400, Roswell, GA | 1:00 PM | $30 | More: roswell365.com
A relaxed, about-an-hour workshop where you arrange dried botanicals between two panes of glass and go home with a framed piece ready to hang; low-key and genuinely pretty.

🧶 Crochet Meetup - Switzer Library | 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, GA 30060 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Weekly drop-in crochet meetup at Switzer Library, open to all skill levels, bring your current project or show up with zero experience and they'll get you started.

😂 Comedy on the Square - The Alley Stage | 11 Anderson Street, Marietta, GA | 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM | Ticketed | More: visitmariettaga.com
Stand-up comedy night on the Alley Stage in downtown Marietta with a lineup of comedians doing 90 minutes of material; a solid Saturday night option if you want something low-key and actually funny.

🧘 Energy in Motion: A Unique Tai Chi Gung Experience with Brian Early - Many Paths Wellness & Yoga Studio | 27 Oak Street, Roswell, GA 30075 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Single class for a non-member: $25 | More: visitroswellga.com
Gentle Tibetan Tai Chi Gung movements designed to restore balance and calm the mind, a one-hour Saturday afternoon session that's approachable for total beginners.

🌳 Guided Forest Bathing with Chattahoochee Nature Center - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA | 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Ages 16+; $35 general public/$25 CNC Members (price per person). Advanced registration required two days before each class. | More: travelcobb.org
A slow, sensory 2.5-hour ramble through CNC's forest inspired by Japanese shinrin-yoku, with no pace pressure and solo time mixed in; genuinely restorative if you've had a noisy week.

🏛️ History Seek Saturdays: Decorative Arts Exploration - Barrington Hall | 535 Barrington Dr, Roswell, GA | 11:00 AM | Free | More: roswell365.com
Appraiser Courtney Christy walks you through Barrington Hall's 19th-century collection, talking through how she evaluates pieces for age, origin, and status, the kind of tour that makes you look at old furniture completely differently.

👨‍👩‍👧 It Takes a Village: Parent Support Group - Switzer Library | 266 Roswell Street Northeast, Marietta, GA 30060 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
Monthly parent support group at Switzer Library to trade challenges and wins, meet other parents, and learn about local resources; an hour well spent if you've been feeling like you're navigating things alone.

🤠 Line Dancing at Atlanta Hard Cider - Atlanta Hard Cider | 1010 Roswell Street NE, Marietta, GA | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Free | More: travelcobb.org
Matt Miller leads a Saturday night line dancing session with a free first hour of instruction for all levels, then three hours of country dancing paired with Atlanta Hard Cider's lineup; no experience needed.

🎨 Marietta Square Artisan Market - Marietta Square | Marietta, GA | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Free to attend | More: visitmariettaga.com
Every Saturday on Mill Street, local artists set up an open-air showcase of handmade work; pairs perfectly with the farmers market next door for a full Saturday morning on the square.

🎶 Masego at Coca-Cola Roxy - The Coca Cola Roxy | 800 Battery Avenue Southeast #500, Atlanta, GA | 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM | Starts at $58.40 | More: batteryatl.com
Masego's jazz-trap sound is genuinely in a lane by itself, and the Roxy is a great room for it; Saturday night, late start, plan for Battery-area parking.

📷 Serenity in the Summer - Ben Robertson Community Center | 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw, GA | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Free | More: kennesaw-ga.gov
Photography exhibition featuring local artists who captured the quiet, peaceful landscapes of cemeteries from around the world, the reception runs noon to 2pm and the work is genuinely contemplative.

🎶 Shane Alexander: Live - Roswell Junction | 340 S Atlanta St, Roswell, GA | 7:00 PM | Tickets $10; proceeds support Roswell Arts Fund | More: roswell365.com
Shane Alexander has toured with Bon Iver and played Red Rocks, and his intimate folk set at Roswell Junction is the kind of show where the room goes quiet in all the right places.

🎵 Strand Ole Opry: Simon and Garfunkel - Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta, GA | 8:00 PM | $30 | More: travelcobb.org
Full bluegrass band and a cast of local singers reimagine Simon & Garfunkel classics at the Strand, with sing-alongs to 'Mrs. Robinson,' 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' and more; the Strand Ole Opry series has a loyal following for good reason.

💰 Tax and Social Security Seminar - North Cobb Regional Library | 3535 Old 41 Highway, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
EPHAS Financial's Jason Kehler covers tax strategies and Social Security questions in a free one-hour library seminar; useful for anyone approaching retirement or who just wants to stop guessing on these topics.

🥊 UFC 330 at Live! at The Battery Atlanta - Live! at The Battery Atlanta | 825 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA | 9:00 PM – 11:30 PM | Table reservations available | More: batteryatl.com
UFC 330 on a 36-foot screen with wall-to-wall surround sound at Live! at The Battery; reserve a table if you want a real seat, because late-night fight nights at this venue fill up.

🚶 Volunteer Orientation - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM | Free | More: chattnaturecenter.org
A guided outdoor tour of CNC's grounds for anyone considering getting involved as a volunteer; covers wildlife care, habitat work, and environmental education in about an hour.

🎺 Art Around Sessions: Robert Garrison - Mimosa Hall & Gardens | 127 Bulloch Drive, Roswell, GA 30075 | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Starts at $19.92 | More: visitroswellga.com
Internationally acclaimed trumpeter Robert Garrison performs Sunday afternoon at Mimosa Hall, one of Roswell's prettiest settings; the kind of outdoor music experience that doesn't need much of a sales pitch.

🎶 Dominic Fike at Coca-Cola Roxy - The Coca Cola Roxy | 800 Battery Avenue Southeast #500, Atlanta, GA | 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Starts at $124.95 | More: batteryatl.com
Dominic Fike plays the Roxy Sunday night; plan for road closures near the Battery before large events and check parking options ahead of time.

🎷 Jazz Brunch at C. Ellet's - C. Ellet's | 2605 Circle 75 Parkway Ste 400, Atlanta, GA | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Price varies by your order; reservations recommended | More: batteryatl.com
Live jazz duo, Southern fried chicken, mimosas, and Pancake Palooza runs every Sunday 11-3 at C. Ellet's inside the Battery; make a reservation before you show up.

🎬 Silent Film at The Strand: Sunrise (1927) - Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 North Park Square, Marietta, GA | 3:00 PM | $18.80 | More: travelcobb.org
The Strand's Mighty Allen organ accompanies this 1927 F.W. Murnau masterpiece live, performed by distinguished theatre organist Ron Carter; it's the rare Sunday afternoon that actually feels like an event.

Behind the Welcome Center there's a short pedestrian street called Atherton Square, and set into the pavement are 12 concrete blocks, each one inscribed with a piece of Marietta history. Walk from one end to the other and you've covered the whole arc, from the area's Native American history through the railroad, the Civil War, and the downtown you're standing in. Ten minutes, start to finish.

Most people who live here have walked right over it without ever looking down.

That's your anchor. Build a morning around it and you've got a free outing that survives a 93-degree Saturday, because half the stops have air conditioning.

Start inside the Welcome Center. It's in the 1898 Western & Atlantic passenger depot, freight still rolls past it, and the staff will hand you free walking tour brochures covering Marietta's five National Register historic districts. They also keep a free map for the Black Heritage Walking Tour, which is the better route if you want something with more to it than storefronts. Restrooms are inside, which matters if you're bringing kids.

Walk the history blocks at Atherton Square, then cross over to Cool Beans Coffee Roasters, which sits right there and is the natural halfway point.

Next door is the Kennesaw House, now the Marietta History Center. In April 1862, the men who stole a locomotive and ran it north spent the night in that building. The Great Locomotive Chase started from a hotel still standing on your walking route. This Saturday, August 15, admission is free from 10 to 4 thanks to sponsors, so if you're going to do this walk any weekend this year, do it this one.

Finish in Glover Park. Shade, benches, a three-tier fountain, a gazebo, and a playground with a train engine the kids can climb on. There's a replica of The General on the Square and a Liberty Bell replica too. Let them run it out while you sit down.

Worth knowing as you go:

Cost: Free. The History Center is normally ticketed but free on the 15th.
Welcome Center: (770) 429-1115
Timing: Go early. Glover Park has shade, but those sidewalks bake by noon.

More: Visit Marietta
🚗 Get directions to the Welcome Center

If you've got a college-bound kid moving into a dorm this fall, their stuff is probably already covered under your homeowners policy. Typically up to 10% of your personal property limit while they're living on campus.

Now add up that 10%.

A laptop. A TV. AirPods. A few hundred dollars in clothes. It disappears faster than people expect, and most folks have never actually checked what their limit is.

The bigger thing is what happens next. Once they sign their own lease off campus, some policies keep covering their stuff and plenty stop. It depends on the carrier, and that's exactly the gap worth checking before it matters.

Pull up your declarations page before they leave for school and see what you're actually working with.

Not sure how your policy handles it? A Peachy agent can walk through your coverage with you before the semester starts.