🍳 Ina Garten Tonight + Your Weekend Planner

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What's up, neighbors!

If you've got tickets to see Ina Garten tonight at Cobb Energy, you're in for a good night. She's doing memoir stories and audience Q&A, and from everything we've heard it's worth every penny. We're jealous because we can’t attend due to a prior engagement.

For the rest of the weekend, we've got a good Saturday planned. We're heading to the Marietta Square farmers market in the morning, coffee in hand, no real agenda. Then swinging by the Marietta History Center for the Black Inventors pop-in before lunch. It's free, the kids can get hands-on with it, and it falls right in the middle of Black History Month so it feels like the perfect fit for a low-key Saturday outing.

The weather looks like it's going to be nice too, so get outside while you can before pollen season hits.

Sunday we're thinking about closing the weekend out with Dirty Dancing in Concert at Cobb Energy. Live band, big screen, the whole soundtrack. It sounds a little over the top but honestly that's what makes it fun.

Scroll down for the full weekend planner, some local news, a restaurant we've been dying to tell you about, and a few listings if you're watching the market.

- Andrew

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_{This issue is sponsored by Peachy Insurance}

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Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339
7:30pm
Thursday, February 19
Ticket Prices Vary (Check Stubhub!)
Details: https://www.cobbenergycentre.com

If you've ever stood in your kitchen on a Sunday, glass of wine in hand, making her roast chicken while the Barefoot Contessa plays in the background — this one's for you.

Ina Garten is coming to Marietta for one night only.

She'll be talking about her new memoir, sharing the stories behind the recipes, the TV show, and the life she built from scratch. Then she opens it up to the crowd for Q&A.

It's personal, it's warm, and it's exactly what you'd expect from her — like being invited over, except there are a few hundred of you.

This is not a cooking demo or a book signing line. It's a real night out. The kind you'll actually talk about over dinner the next week.

Tickets start at $138. Thursday is coming whether you have plans or not. Make them.

This is where my wife and I end up when we want Thai but don't feel like driving into town. It's in a strip mall off Johnson Ferry, but the inside is way nicer than the exterior suggests. Good for a quick weeknight dinner or grabbing takeout on the way home.

The Pad Thai is what most people order, and it's solid. The coconut chicken soup has a bit of a following if you're into that. My wife likes the Pad Kee Mow, and they're good about adjusting the spice level whether you want it mild for kids or actually hot. They also know to skip the fish sauce if you're vegetarian without you having to remind them.

Just know they're closed Mondays, and Tuesday through Friday they break for a few hours between lunch and dinner. Not the place for a spontaneous 4pm meal.

Price: $$ Hours: Closed Mon, Tue-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-9:30pm, Sat-Sun 3pm-9:30pm

Details & menu: nanathaieatery.com

Fair warning: Vinings Gallery is a short drive from East Cobb, over in Roswell on Canton Street, but this one is worth the trip.

They're hosting a solo show for Anna Razumovskaya, a Russian-born artist known for painting women in motion. Dancers, flowing fabric, bold color. Her stuff is the kind you walk past and then turn around to look at again because something about it pulls you back.

She'll be there in person all weekend, painting live and talking to people who come through. You can actually meet her, ask questions, and walk out with something she signs right in front of you. The staff at Vinings has been doing these artist weekends for 25 years and nobody is going to pressure you into anything. You can just look around and enjoy it.

If you've ever thought about buying original art but didn't know where to start, this is a pretty easy way to do it.

Show Dates:
Friday, February 20, 6-9pm
Saturday, February 21, 1-4pm & 6-9pm
Sunday, February 22, 1-4pm
Price: $$$
Hours: Mon-Thu 11am-7pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Website: viningsgallery.com

Cobb County Elections & Registration is actively looking for primary and backup polling locations around the county, and they’re asking the community to help identify spaces that work.

This is the unglamorous part of civic life that really matters: the right locations can reduce long lines, improve accessibility, and keep Election Day running smoothly in neighborhoods that have grown fast.

If your organization has a large, accessible space and good parking, you can submit it for consideration.

The county also launched a new interactive GIS map to show where polling sites are most needed, plus an online form to suggest a location.

Proposed sites are evaluated for accessibility, security, parking, and operational requirements (so it’s not just “we have a room”).

Source: Cobb County Elections

Cobb County School District says it’s introducing new transportation technology in phases beginning later this school year aimed at improving safety, reliability, and family communication.

Two systems work together:

Big takeaway for parents: daily routines won’t change, and not every route gets the new features at the same time. Families will get notified as their routes come online.

Source: Cobb County School District

Switzer Library is hosting a special display of student artwork from Marietta City Schools, with all 11 schools represented, from elementary pieces to advanced secondary work.

This is a great low-lift plan for Saturday: park once, pop into the library for 20–30 minutes, then roll right into a Marietta Square coffee/lunch stroll. It’s also a genuinely cool snapshot of how strong the local arts pipeline is when you see it all together.

It’s a “drop in anytime” style outing. No tickets, no schedule stress. And a nice way to support local students without making it a whole production.

Source: Cobb County Government Events

If you drive Lower Roswell regularly, Cobb DOT’s project between Woodlawn Drive and Davidson Road is still in active construction mode, and the county notes that lane closures/delays are possible Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

The long-term goal isn’t just “road work for road work’s sake.” Cobb DOT describes a package of intersection improvements, raised medians, and a multi-use trail to improve traffic flow and reduce left-turn conflicts (a common cause of angle crashes). The county also notes design revisions to remove on-street bike lanes while maintaining multi-use trail connectivity for bikes and pedestrians on the south side of the road.

Current county schedule shows completion targeted for November 19, 2026, so this is one to plan around for a while (especially for weekday midday errands).

Source: Cobb DOT – Transportation Project Updates

She showed up on December 1st just wandering around, doing her own thing. No collar, no plan, but clearly a good girl. Her name is Yoda, she's four years old, and "ball is life" is basically her whole personality. She will not stop thinking about tennis balls and she will not let you forget it either. If you have a backyard and an arm, she's going to love you forever.

She already knows sit and shake, walks great on a leash, and loves being petted. She's not housetrained yet, but she's been on her own for a while so that's expected. Give her a few weeks and a routine and she'll figure it out fast. Dogs like this usually do. The volunteers say she's calm and sweet, not bouncing off the walls. Just a solid, loving dog who had a rough stretch of luck.

Yoda's fully vaccinated, heartworm negative, and gets spayed and microchipped as part of the adoption. Cobb County Animal Services is on Al Bishop Drive in Marietta, open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:30am to 4:30pm. Ask for ID #15403.

Cobb County Animal Services
1060 Al Bishop Dr, Marietta, GA 30008
(770) 499-4136
Tues-Sun 10:30am-4:30pm, closed Mondays
Adoption fee: $115

Profile: View Yoda’s listing on Petfinder

🧸 Stuffie Storytime & Sleepover — East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Rd) | 10:30 AM | Free | More: Event info
PJs + storytime, then the stuffed animals “sleep over” at the library and you pick them up next morning (with photos of their adventures).

🎬 The Princess and The Frog (2009) — Earl & Rachel Smith Strand Theatre (Marietta Square) | 3:00 PM + 7:00 PM | Tickets vary | More: Event info
Two showtimes = easy win. (Bonus: the 7 PM showing includes a pre-show organ concert.)

🏛️ Marietta History Center at 30 (Exhibit) — Marietta History Center (1 Depot St, Marietta) | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Admission varies | More: Event info
Quick, kid-friendly history stop in the Kennesaw House—perfect before lunch on the Square.

💍 A Victorian Wedding (Museum Exhibit) — William Root House Museum & Garden (Marietta) | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM | Admission varies | More: Event info
The Root House is dressed for a Victorian-era wedding—cute, different, and surprisingly interesting for kids.

🧸 Playtime for Littles — East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta) | 1:30 PM | Free | More: Event info
Drop-in, low-pressure play + social time for ages 1–5 (with a caregiver).

🎨 Georgia Wood Artists: A Juried Exhibition — Marietta Cobb Museum of Art (30 Atlanta St, Marietta) | During museum hours | Admission varies | More: Event info
A cultural outing that still keeps your day wide open.

🥕 Marietta Square Farmers Market — Marietta Square (41 Mill St) | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM | Free | More: Event info
Winter market vibes: coffee in hand, browse vendors, home by lunchtime.

🛍️ Marietta Square Artisan Market — Marietta Square | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM | Free | More: Event info
Local makers + handmade goods — a fun browse if you’re already doing the Square in the morning.

🏛️ Pop-In for Family Fun: Black Inventors — Marietta History Center (1 Depot St) | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM | Free | More: Event info
Hands-on crafts + activities celebrating Black innovators—great for elementary-aged kids.

🎨 Marietta City Schools Student Art Exhibit — Switzer Library (266 Roswell St, Marietta) | Drop-in | Free | More: Event info
A quick 20–30 minute stop that’s genuinely cool (all 11 schools represented).

🧶 Crochet Meetup — Switzer Library (266 Roswell St, Marietta) | 2:00 PM | Free | More: Event info
Beginner-friendly: learn basics or bring your own project and hang out.

🧧 Take & Make: Lunar New Year Bookmarks — Cobb County Public Library | Pick up during branch hours | Free | More: Event info
Grab a kit, make it at home, and send the kids back to school with something fun.

😂 Silent Films at The Strand: Comedy Shorts + Live Organ — The Strand (Marietta Square) | 3:00 PM–5:30 PM | Tickets | More: Event info
Old-school slapstick with live organ accompaniment — genuinely unique and very “local weekend” energy.

🍳 An Evening with Ina Garten — Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 7:30 PM | Tickets from $138 | More: Event info
Ina talks memoir + stories with audience Q&A—foodie bucket-list night.

🎙️ Lumiere Lounge Cabaret Night: 50 Years Ago on Broadway — The Strand (Lumiere Lounge) | 7:30 PM–8:30 PM | Tickets | More: Event info
A small-room cabaret with throwback Broadway tunes — great for a low-commitment date night.

😂 Comedy on the Square — The Alley Stage (Marietta Square) | 8:00 PM–9:30 PM | Tickets | More: Event info
Cabaret seating + a rotating lineup of comedians—reliably fun night out.

📚 Green Reads Book Club — East Cobb Library (4880 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta) | 8:00 PM | Free | More: Event info
Low-key way to meet neighbors—great if you want “social” without “loud.”

🎭 Play On! — Rena Henton Theatre (Acworth) | 8:00 PM | Tickets from ~$21 | More: Event info
Short drive, solid value—classic community-theatre “dinner + show” option.

😂 Comedy on the Square — The Alley Stage (Marietta Square) | 8:00 PM–9:30 PM | Tickets | More: Event info
Same great concept, different night—grab Saturday if Friday’s booked.

🎭 Play On! — Rena Henton Theatre (Acworth) | 8:00 PM | Tickets from ~$21 | More: Event info
If your crew wants “a show” but not “a whole Atlanta mission,” this fits.

🖤 Black History Program: A Century of Black History Commemorations — Old Zion Heritage Museum (165 Lemon St NE, Marietta) | 8:00 AM–5:00 PM | Free/Donation suggested | More: Event info
A meaningful Black History Month stop honoring local heritage and community storytelling.

🎞️ Play On! (Matinee) — Rena Henton Theatre (Acworth) | 3:00 PM | Tickets from ~$21 | More: Event info
Matinee = easier logistics (and still feels like a real outing).

💃 Dirty Dancing in Concert — Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 7:00 PM | Tickets from $96 | More: Event info
The movie on a giant screen with a live band—pure date-night nostalgia.

900 Shaw Park Rd, Marietta 30066

Start with the walking path while it’s quiet, then let the kids loose on the playground (bonus: the playground has a rubberized surface, which is great for the “I tripped again” age).

This is a “rotate stations” park: hit one of the playgrounds, wander the greener sections, and if your crew likes court sports, bring a ball or paddles — Shaw has tennis, basketball, and dedicated pickleball courts that stay busy in a fun, community way.

The park sits next to the Northeast Cobb Community Center and Gritters Branch Library, which makes it an easy “extend the outing” play (or a perfect bailout if the weather turns).

There are multiple parking lots/entrances — on weekends with games, the lots closest to fields fill up first, so if you’re mainly walking + playground, aim for the lot closest to those amenities.

Map: Google Maps

Click here to visit the official park page

If you’ve already felt the first wave of itchy eyes + morning sniffles, the best move is a quick pollen-proofing reset at home and in the car. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s keeping pollen from hitchhiking inside and camping out in your bedroom.

1) Keep pollen outside (the “front door rules”)

2) Make your bedroom the safe zone

3) Win the air battle (without overthinking it)

4) Car settings that help more than you’d think

5) Yard work hack

If you’re already doing a spring home reset, it’s also a smart time to sanity-check your homeowners/renters coverage. Especially if you’ve upgraded anything (HVAC/air quality improvements) or you’ve had any “surprise” water/leak moments this winter. Peachy can help you do a quick review and make sure you’re not missing an easy discount or important coverage detail.

Visit peachyinsurance.com to learn more.