🎃 Halloween + a House With Bowling Lanes

_{Welcome to the 105 new readers who joined 7,652 other East Cobb residents this week.}

What's up, neighbors!

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which doesn’t happen often. Then the clocks fall back Sunday morning at 2 AM, so you get an extra hour of sleep to recover from the candy. Honestly, the calendar did us a favor this time.

Before any of that, though: early voting ends tomorrow, Friday, October 30, 7 AM to 7 PM. Any of Cobb’s 13 early voting sites works, including the East Cobb Government Service Center on Lower Roswell. If you haven’t voted yet, make the plan today. There’s a quick rundown of the $1.15 billion SPLOST question in Local Lowdown below so you’re not reading it cold at the booth.

For Saturday, the East Cobb Library is doing free face painting from 3 to 4:30, which is an easy way to get the kids ready before trick-or-treating. And if you’d rather actually be in the fall color instead of driving past it, the Chattahoochee Nature Center is running canoe trips Sunday afternoon. Registration closes today, so don’t sleep on it.

The full Halloween weekend planner is below, plus a 24-hour diner that’s been feeding Marietta since 1995 and some news on what’s going into the old Walmart at Roswell and Old Canton.

See you out there.

- Andrew

Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA
Sunday, November 1, 2026
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
$45 general / $40 members, ages 8 and up
Get Tickets

Most of us see the fall color on the Chattahoochee from a car window crossing the river on Johnson Ferry or Roswell Rd. Ten seconds of orange and red, then back to the brake lights.

This Sunday you can actually be out on the water in it. The Chattahoochee Nature Center is running guided canoe trips from 3 to 6 PM, right while the trees along the river are in full color.

About two and a half hours of paddling. No traffic.

The late-afternoon start means the sun is getting low by the time you paddle back, so you get that warm light coming across the water. It's open to ages 8 and up, which makes it a pretty great excuse to pull a teenager away from a screen for an afternoon. They might complain in the car. Let them.

Here’s the thing: you can’t just show up. Registration for Sunday’s trip closes today, Thursday, October 29. If Sunday doesn’t work for your crew, they’re also running trips November 7, 8 and 15. Just register by the Thursday before whichever one you pick.

Register for a Fall Colors Canoe Trip at Chattahoochee Nature Center

If you've lived in Marietta for more than five minutes, you've driven past the Marietta Diner. The neon out front on Cobb Pkwy is basically a landmark at this point, and the doors never close. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

That's what makes it so useful. It's the answer at 11 PM after a high school football game when every other kitchen in town is shut. It's the answer for a big Saturday breakfast with the whole family. And it's the answer on a random Tuesday when nobody in the house wants to cook (so... most Tuesdays lol).

The menu is enormous. Like, flip-through-it-for-five-minutes enormous. Greek specialties sit right next to classic diner breakfasts, so the person who wants eggs Benedict ($17.95) and the person who wants chicken fettuccine Alfredo ($26.95) can both be happy at the same table. Save room for the baklava ($8.25).

The story behind it might be the best part. Gus Tselios opened the diner in 1995 when he was 20 years old, and he still runs it with his family today.

Thirty-one years. At 20.

Fair warning: it gets packed on weekends and late at night. But the line moves fast, so don't let a full parking lot scare you off.

Price: $$ (breakfast about $10 to $20, entrees about $26 to $46)
Hours:
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week

🚗 Get directions to Marietta Diner on Google Maps

Once the leaves drop, you can finally see what's going on in your backyard. And this time of year, the birds are working harder to find food before winter.

Wild Birds Unlimited on East Piedmont Rd can help you give them a reason to stick around. The shop is all about backyard birds: seed blends made for the birds in our area, suet, squirrel-proof feeders, bird baths, field guides and nature gifts. They'll also help you set up a full feeding station. One reviewer bought a feeder somewhere else, and the staff still mounted it on a pole so all they had to do at home was put it in the ground.

Joe and Kyle Ranney own the shop and are in their 29th year running it. Reviews keep saying the same thing: the team knows birds and is happy to talk about them. The seed costs more than big-box bags, but there's no filler, so less of it ends up wasted under the feeder.

All bird food is 15% off through November 8. Short on time? Call ahead and they'll leave your order out front.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 AM – 6 PM
Sun 12 – 5 PM

🚗 Get directions to Wild Birds Unlimited on Google Maps

7 Beds
6 Full + 3 Half Baths
12,199 sq ft
1.00 acre lot

A) $1,985,000

B) $2,195,000

C) $2,450,000

D) $2,795,000

Listed by Nina Chopra, HomeSmart Realty Partners | (404) 384-8184

That empty Walmart grocery building at Olde Mill Shopping Center (Roswell and Old Canton roads) finally has a plan. Cobb commissioners voted 4-0 on October 20 to allow an indoor sports facility in the space, and East Cobb entrepreneur Jay Mathis is bringing in a franchise of The Pickle Pad and Crave Social Eatery.

It's a big footprint. The 46,761-square-foot building will hold 12 pickleball courts, golf simulators, an arcade, and a kitchen and bar, open seven days a week. Mathis is aiming to open by January.

If you've ever stood around waiting for an open court at the park, that's 12 more courts that don't care if it's raining.

Source: East Cobb News

Cobb voters are showing up early this year. As of Tuesday, 144,904 Cobb voters had cast in-person early ballots, well ahead of this point in 2022. Statewide, more than 2.4 million Georgians have already voted in person, up 22 percent from the same stretch in 2022.

Friday, October 30 is the last day, 7 AM to 7 PM. You can vote at any of Cobb's 13 early voting sites, not just the one closest to your house. On our side of the county, the easy options are the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Lower Roswell Rd) and the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Rd).

Miss Friday? Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.

Source: Cobb County Courier

Further down your ballot is a one-cent SPLOST renewal worth about $1.15 billion. Quick refresher if you've forgotten what SPLOST is (no judgment, I had to look it up the first time): it's the extra penny of sales tax on purchases in Cobb that pays for big capital projects. The current one expires at the end of 2027.

The project list includes a new state court building, a new aquatic center, two new fire stations, and moving the East Cobb Library out of its strip center. Roads, libraries and parks are in the mix too.

County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid has said the county would look at property taxes if it fails. Commissioners approved the project list 4-1 in April, with Commissioner Keli Gambrill voting no over a late change that moved $5 million from road resurfacing to an indoor track. Whichever way you lean, read up on it before you get to the booth.

Source: Atlanta News First | Marietta Daily Journal

Marietta broke ground last Thursday, October 22, on Evergreen, a four-story senior apartment building at 879 Roswell Street. The project runs roughly $24.7 million, and Prestwick Companies is building it with the Marietta Housing Authority.

Here's how the 64 units break down:

If you've got a parent or grandparent who wants to stay close but needs something more affordable, keep an eye on this one. Completion is expected in 14 to 18 months.

Source: Marietta Daily Journal

If you've ever tried to get a passport appointment, you know it can turn into a whole thing. Cobb just added another option.

Starting Monday, November 2, the Cobb State Court Clerk's Office at 12 East Park Square in Marietta will take passport applications Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM. It's appointment only, so no walk-ins.

Book at cobbcounty.gov. Mountain View and West Cobb Regional libraries also handle passports if the Square doesn't work for you. Got an out-of-country spring break on the calendar? Now's a good time to get the kids' passports moving.

Source: East Cobb News

Atlas is a 53-pound hound mix, about 5 years old, and his foster describes him as a gentle, sensitive guy. The best part of his story? Since landing in foster care, he's gotten more playful and more confident. He's coming out of his shell, and he's ready for someone to keep that going.

He's also already done a lot of the homework for you. Atlas knows down, stay, come and place, and he has good potty manners. If you've ever house-trained a dog from scratch, you know what a gift that is.

He gets along with other dogs and with respectful kids around 10, and he'd do best in a calm home rather than a chaotic one. Give him a walk, a hike, a car ride or some time to roam a fenced yard and he's a happy guy.

He's neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and his adoption fee is $299.

Mostly Mutts, 3238 Cherokee St, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | (770) 272-6888 | Adoptions by application and appointment

Meet Atlas and apply to adopt at Mostly Mutts

🌳 The Lorax at The Battery Atlanta Movie Series - The Battery Atlanta | 800 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30339 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Free | batteryatl.com
Bring a blanket and watch The Lorax on the big outdoor screen. It's free and easy for the whole family.

👻 Cobb County Haunted House - Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center | 2245 Callaway Rd SW, Marietta, GA 30008 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM | $5 | cobbcounty.gov
A county-run walk-through with live actors, an abandoned nursery and a crypt. It's a real scare, so best for older kids and teens.

🚒 Roswell Public Safety Trunk or Treat - Roswell City Hall | 38 Hill St, Roswell, GA 30075 | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Free | roswell365.com
Meet first responders, climb on emergency vehicles and fill the candy bag. There's a scavenger hunt and music, and costumes are encouraged.

🍿 Fall Movie Night at Southern Post - Southern Post | 1055 Alpharetta St, Roswell, GA 30075 | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Free | roswell365.com
A fall classic on the big screen outdoors, with popcorn. Bring a blanket; the film is picked by an Instagram vote.

🎃 Haunted Nights at You42 Studios - You42 Studios | 11000 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA 30076 | 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM | $10, kids 3 and under free | roswell365.com
A haunted-house walk-through with unlimited trips all night. It's scary, so best for older kids and teens.

🚂 Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History - Southern Museum | 2829 Cherokee St NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM | Adults $10, ages 3-17 $5 | southernmuseum.org
The home of The General locomotive is a reliable win for train-loving kids.

🦉 Chattahoochee Nature Center - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA 30075 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Adults $20, ages 3-12 $14 | chattnaturecenter.org
Woodland trails, the river boardwalk and animal exhibits make a good fall afternoon outdoors.

🦋 Halloween Treat at Chattahoochee Nature Center - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA 30075 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Free in costume, otherwise adults $20, ages 3-12 $14 | chattnaturecenter.org
Come in costume and walk the trails for free. It's a low-key daytime Halloween before trick-or-treating.

🧙 Hocus Pocus at the Strand - Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060 | 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM | $15.44 | thestrand.my.salesforce-sites.com
The Halloween classic on the historic Strand screen, with organ music 30 minutes before the film.

🏃 Nightmare on Main 5K - Kennesaw First Baptist Church | Main St, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 8:05 AM | $35 online through Oct. 30, $45 race day | kennesaw-ga.gov
A flat, fast 5K through downtown Kennesaw, open to walkers and families, with a Tot Trot at 8:55 AM.

👹 Cobb County Haunted House - Jim R. Miller Park & Event Center | 2245 Callaway Rd SW, Marietta, GA 30008 | 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM | $5 | cobbcounty.gov
The county's haunted house stays open late on Halloween night, best for older kids and teens.

🖼️ First Free Sunday at the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art - Marietta Cobb Museum of Art | 30 Atlanta St SE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Free | mariettacobbartmuseum.org
Free admission, and visitors can make an art piece to keep.

🎻 Travel Abroad with the Tritone Orchestras - Roswell Cultural Arts Center | 950 Forrest St, Roswell, GA 30075 | 4:00 PM | From $17 | roswell365.com
A full orchestra takes you on a musical world tour, from ABBA to K-pop, with traditional Asian instruments in the mix.

🎸 Jake & The Naysayers (Georgia-Florida Fan Nite) - Park Bench | 900 Battery Ave SE Ste 1060, Atlanta, GA 30339 | Doors 5:00 PM, show 9:00 PM | $8 advance, $10 at the door | parkbenchbattery.com
Live roots-rock and country with plenty of game-weekend energy. A solid night out at The Battery.

🎧 Halloween Silent Disco - Gate City Brewing Company | 43 Magnolia St, Roswell, GA 30075 | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Free | roswell365.com
Dance in headphones, with a costume contest and a food truck. Headphones are first come, first served, so arrive early.

🤠 Cody Bolden & The Roadhands - From The Earth Brewing Company | 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA 30076 | 8:00 PM | Free | roswell365.com
Atlanta honky-tonk and Southern-rock country, free at the brewery.

🎤 Comedy on the Square - The Alley Stage | 11 Anderson St, Marietta, GA 30064 | 8:00 PM (doors 7:30) | $27.60 | alleystage.org
Stand-up on the Square, with fees included in the ticket price.

🕺 The Rocky Horror Picture Show - Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta, GA 30060 | 8:00 PM and 11:59 PM | $18.80 | thestrand.my.salesforce-sites.com
A pre-Halloween screening with costumes, call-backs and props, rated R. Rice, confetti and water guns are banned.

🙏 Matt Maher & Sarah Kroger, Cathedrals Tour - St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church | 11330 Woodstock Rd, Roswell, GA 30075 | Doors 6:15 PM, show 7:00 PM | $43.56 | roswell365.com
A night of worship music with two of Christian music's best-known voices.

💻 Cobb Cybersecurity Day - Cobb County Civic Center | 548 S Marietta Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30060 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Free, registration encouraged | cobbcounty.gov
Practical tips on spotting and reporting cyber threats, with a catered lunch and the Georgia state CISO as guest MC.

🕯️ Custom Candle Workshop - Red Seal Craft Studio | 1140 Alpharetta St Suite 400, Roswell, GA 30075 | 1:00 PM | Registration required | roswell365.com
Pour your own scented candle, with all supplies and instructions provided.

🎨 Marietta Cobb Museum of Art - Marietta Cobb Museum of Art | 30 Atlanta St SE, Marietta, GA 30060 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM | $10 | mariettacobbartmuseum.org
Browse the galleries on the Square before your Halloween plans.

🎼 KSU Opera Theater: The Old Maid and the Thief - Bailey Performance Center, Morgan Concert Hall | 488 Prillaman Way NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 | 3:00 PM | $12.50 | artspurchase.kennesaw.edu
The comic one-act opera in a Sunday afternoon matinee.

Not every kid wants a full costume (or can sit still in one for three hours). Face paint fixes that.

The East Cobb Library on Lower Roswell is doing free Halloween face painting Saturday from 3 to 4:30 PM for ages 3 and up. The timing works out nicely. Swing by mid-afternoon, get the kids painted up, and you're home with plenty of time to eat dinner before the trick-or-treating starts.

Free, close to home, and one less thing to figure out on Halloween.

Give the county event page a quick look before you head over, just in case anything changed.

🚗 Get directions to East Cobb Library

Here's something a lot of homeowners don't find out until it's too late: most homeowners policies don't cover flood.

FEMA just made it easier to fix that. You can now get a quote and buy a National Flood Insurance Program policy online at Floodsmart.gov in nearly 22,700 participating communities.

But here's the kicker. A new NFIP policy generally comes with a 30-day waiting period before coverage starts. If you wait until a storm shows up in the forecast, you're already too late.

So check whether your property sits in a flood zone, compare coverage limits, and if it makes sense for you, buy early while the skies are clear. Check your flood risk and get a quote at Floodsmart.gov

Not sure what your current home policy covers when water gets in? Peachy can pull up your declarations page and walk you through it in 10 minutes.