🍴 Taste of East Cobb + a Journey tribute band

_{Welcome to the 60 new readers who joined 5,898 other East Cobb residents this week.}

What's up, neighbors!

If you've got Saturday open, the obvious event to attend is Taste of East Cobb. It's the 20th anniversary, free admission, and a couple dozen East Cobb restaurants serving $1 tastes at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. The local high school bands and dance teams rotate through the stage all afternoon, so chances are high you'll know somebody up there. We're going early to beat the school crowd.

Friday night the Marietta Square Art Walk is back for its 20th year. Galleries open late, live music in Glover Park, easy walking pace. If you're up for a real night out, Departure (the Journey tribute) is at the Strand Theatre that same night and worth the ticket if you grew up on those songs.

Sunday we're heading to East Cobb Park for the 120 East concert at 7. Ten-piece cover band, blanket on the lawn, dinner from a cooler. The series just kicked off and this is the season opener.

One more thing worth mentioning: the Cobb Fire Marshall issued an outdoor burning ban until further notice due to drought conditions. This kicks in before Georgia’s state-wide ban, which starts May 1 and runs through September.

Scroll down for the full planner.

- Andrew

^{This issue is sponsored by Via Citrus}

Mother's Day is May 10, and if you want something better than flowers that die in four days, the ordering window is basically now.

Via Citrus is an Atlanta-based company that ships live, Florida-grown citrus trees to your door in two to four days. Small enough for a sunny kitchen counter or a patio, hardy enough to keep producing fruit year after year. Founder Danny Trejo (not the actor) grew up on his family's 80-acre citrus nursery in Central Florida, where his dad still runs the farm.

The Calamondin is where most people start, and it's the one we'd pick. It blooms spring, summer, and fall, handles neglect better than most houseplants, and produces tart little citrus that's great for cocktails and cooking. For our climate: outdoors April through October, inside when temps drop into the low 40s.

Trees are $70. They also sell Meyer lemon, kumquat, key lime, Yuzu, and harder-to-find varieties like Australian finger lime. The press stack (Today Show, Southern Living, Martha Stewart, Oprah, Atlanta Magazine) is impressive for a company this size, and Etsy reviews sit at 4.75 stars across 1,100+ ratings.

ECC readers get 10% off any tree with code ECC10 at checkout. Order this week and it lands in time for Mother's Day. Great for teacher gifts, housewarmings, or a patio upgrade that doesn't involve hiring anyone.

Johnson Ferry Baptist Church
955 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068
11:00 AM-5:00 PM
Saturday, May 2
Free admission, $1 tasting tickets

Twenty years in and this is still THE most East Cobb event on the spring calendar.

A couple dozen local restaurants under one roof, Walton, Wheeler, Dodgen, Dickerson, and East Side bands and dance teams rotating through the stage all afternoon, and a kids zone loaded with inflatables and face painting so the little ones aren't tugging on your sleeve while you eat.

Admission is free, tasting tickets are $1 each, and the whole thing benefits the schools your kids actually go to aka...this is a community event that punches way above its weight.

Bring cash, come hungry, plan on staying longer than you meant to. The whole neighborhood shows up in one parking lot for this one, so don't be the family that hears about it on Monday.

If you've been driving past this place on Johnson Ferry for years without stopping in, now’s the time to make a change.

Mediterranean Grill has been quietly running the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern game in East Cobb for 15 years, sitting in the same Johnson Ferry shopping center as Pineapple Porch (the boutique we featured a few weeks back). They've won Best Mediterranean and Best Middle Eastern from various outlets, and the locals here have known about it forever.

The chicken kabob plate is what we go back for, served with rice, salad, and warm pita. The gyros plate is the heartier move if you're hungry, with meat that's fresh and properly seasoned.

My wife usually orders the Greek salad with chicken and a side of hummus, and we end up trading bites halfway through. The homemade lentil soup is the kind of thing that makes a Tuesday night feel like dinner instead of a chore. If you're going for something special, the lamb shanks are worth the upgrade.

Easy weeknight dinner, fast lunch, big takeout order for a family that doesn't feel like cooking. They cater too if you've got anything coming up.

Hours: Daily 11 AM-9 PM
Phone: (678) 996-0045

Mother's Day is two weeks out, and if flowers are already on your list, there's a local East Cobb florist worth knowing about before you default to ordering from a wire service.

Blooms + Co. is run by Christine and Debbie, a mother-daughter team who launched the business in 2023. They source their own stems, build every arrangement by hand, and skip the big national networks entirely. Skipping the middleman is why their bouquets look like the photo on the website, not a sad version of it that shows up at the back door of a chain shop.

Their style leans garden-rustic with soft palettes and locally-sourced greenery. Arrangements feel personal rather than mass-produced. They're sitting at a 5.0 across 50 reviews, which is hard to fake. They also do centerpieces, weddings, and a flower subscription if mom likes fresh stems on her kitchen counter year-round.

For Mother's Day, order early. They deliver across East Cobb and into Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta.

Hours: Mon-Sat 9 AM-5 PM
Phone: (770) 765-6234

6 beds
4 baths
4,885 sqft
0.46 acres lot

A) $1,069,900

B) $1,112,900

C) $1,158,900

D) $1,210,900

Early voting in Cobb County runs now through Thursday, May 15, with the East Cobb Government Service Center (4400 Lower Roswell Road) as one of the closest spots for most readers. You can cast a ballot at any Cobb early voting location regardless of your home precinct. Hours are Mon-Fri 8 AM-7 PM, Sat 9 AM-5 PM, and Sun 12-5 PM at sites that offer Sunday voting.

On the East Cobb ballot: Cobb Commission District 3 (incumbent JoAnn Birrell faces a Republican challenger and a Democrat) and several Cobb school board races. There is no early voting May 16-18. Election day is Tuesday, May 19. Bring a photo ID.

Sources: East Cobb News | Cobb Elections

The Cobb County School District announced last Thursday that three East Cobb elementary schools will see leadership changes heading into next school year. Dr. Christina Moll, currently an assistant principal at Milford Elementary in south Cobb, takes over Addison Elementary on June 1, replacing Dr. Jill Spiva who resigned in February after a DUI arrest near campus. Brett Ward has been serving as Addison's interim principal in the meantime.

Lauren Rabil, an assistant principal at neighboring Keheley Elementary, will be the new principal at Kincaid Elementary starting July 1. She succeeds Debbie Tennyson, who is retiring after 28 years with the district. Timber Ridge Elementary principal Shannon McGill is also retiring effective July 1, and the district has not yet named her replacement.

If your kids are at one of the three schools, expect district letters in the coming weeks introducing the new leadership.

Source: East Cobb News

The Cobb County School District has tentatively adopted a $1.9 billion spending plan for FY 2027, approved 7-0 last Thursday so the proposal can be legally advertised. The plan does not include employee raises beyond scheduled step increases. Superintendent Chris Ragsdale described the budget as tight and lean, citing increased costs, lower enrollment, and modest tax digest growth.

The final public forum and formal adoption is scheduled for May 14. If you have thoughts on staffing, programs, or how the district is allocating money for next year, that's the meeting to show up to.

Source: East Cobb News

The Cobb Fire Marshal issued an outdoor burning ban "until further notice" last week, citing severe drought conditions and ongoing wildfires across Georgia. All outdoor burning is prohibited, including yard waste, recreational fires, and any open flame outside designated devices. The ban comes about a week before Georgia's annual statewide outdoor burning ban kicks in May 1 through September 30.

If you've got a brush pile waiting for a weekend burn, hold off. Marietta and Smyrna have joined the county-level ban as well. Rain is in the forecast early next week, but until conditions improve, the ban stays in place.

Source: East Cobb News | MDJ

Tenku Sushi Elevation cut the ribbon at Avenue East Cobb on Tuesday, April 28, taking over one of the development's "jewel box" standalone spaces. The 2,500-square-foot restaurant has a main dining room, a nine-seat sushi counter, and a rooftop bar with lounge seating. The menu runs from nigiri, sashimi, and 30+ signature rolls to robata grill plates and an 8-course omakase, with fish sourced directly from Japan and premium Japanese wagyu on the list.

This is the second Tenku location after the original in Woodstock, and it fills one of Avenue's most-watched empty spaces. If you've been watching that jewel-box building go up over the last year, the wait's over.

Hours are 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 AM to 10:30 PM Friday and Saturday. 4475 Roswell Road, Suite 1900.

More: East Cobb News

His name is Goober, and honestly, that alone tells you something. Someone looked at this chocolate Lab and thought: yes, that is a Goober. They were not wrong.

Goober doesn't have a full bio written up yet, he's new to Our Pals Place and his profile is still being built, but one look at that face and you already know what you're dealing with.

A big, soft, brown Lab who probably wants to be wherever you are and is going to take up more couch space than you planned for. That's the deal with chocolate Labs. You already know this going in.

If you've been thinking about adding a dog to the house and a grown Lab sounds like your speed, Goober is worth going to meet. Our Pals Place is a Marietta-based rescue, reach out through their Petfinder page to get the inquiry process started.

🏛️ Bulloch Hall Open Hours - Bulloch Hall | 180 Bulloch Drive, Roswell | 11:00 AM-4:00 PM | Free | More: roswellgov.com
The childhood home of Theodore Roosevelt's mother, Mittie Bulloch. Greek Revival columns, a pond, and grass lawns the kids can run on. House tours are an extra fee but you can wander the grounds for free.

🌳 Smith-Gilbert Gardens (Art Blooms exhibit) - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | Adults $10, kids 3-17 $5, under 2 free | More: smithgilbertgardens.com
Sixteen acres of gardens with a sculpture trail and the Art Blooms outdoor art exhibit running now. Smaller and easier on tired legs than the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the bonsai collection is genuinely good.

🐉 Acworth-Cobb Dragon Boat Festival — Dallas Landing Park | 5120 Allatoona Drive, Acworth | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM | Free | More: acworthdragonboatfest.com
Forty-foot dragon boats with 20 paddlers, a drummer, and steers person racing on Lake Allatoona. Cultural performances, food vendors, face painting, and tarot. Benefits Loving Arms Cancer Outreach and Camp Sunshine. Worth the drive up to Acworth.

🎵 Avenue Live: The Epics - The Plaza at Avenue East Cobb | 4475 Roswell Road, Marietta | 6:00-8:00 PM | Free | More: avenueeastcobb.com
Local artists take The Plaza stage every Friday April through October. Bring tailgate chairs and grab dinner or treats to-go from Avenue restaurants. Coolers and outside beverages are not permitted. Kid-friendly, but kids aren't allowed on the stage.

📚 Creative Playful Family Literacy Day — Switzer Library | 266 Roswell St NE, Marietta | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
The Atlanta Speech School's Rollins Center hosts a hands-on morning of reading, art, and storytelling for families with young kids. Each family takes home a new book, a snack, and their handmade creation. Easy "did something today" win for parents of toddlers and elementary-age kids.

🎨 Marietta Square Art Walk - Marietta Square | Park Square, Marietta | 5:00-9:00 PM | Free | More: mariettasquareartwalk.com
First Friday tradition, now in its 20th year. Galleries open late, sidewalk pop-ups, live music in the park. The Square is closed-feeling enough that little kids can wander without you white-knuckling a hand the whole time.

🥒 Marietta Square Farmers Market - Marietta Square | 65 Church St, Marietta | 9:00 AM-1:00 PM | Free | More: mariettasquarefarmersmarket.com
Georgia Grown produce, baked goods, and a steady stream of dogs in bandanas. Get there early, then walk over to May-Retta Daze when the festival kicks off at 10.

🎉 May-Retta Daze Arts, Crafts & Music Festival - Glover Park / Marietta Square | 50 Park Square, Marietta | 10:00 AM-7:00 PM | Free | More: mariettaga.gov
The Square's biggest spring festival. Handmade everything (no mass-production allowed), live acoustic music on the Glover Park stage, festival food, a hat parade, and a kids zone. Plan on staying a while.

🍴 Taste of East Cobb - Johnson Ferry Baptist Church | 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Free admission, $1 tasting tickets | More: tasteofeastcobb.com
Twentieth anniversary edition. Bites from a couple dozen East Cobb restaurants, performances from Walton, Wheeler, Dodgen, Dickerson, and East Side, a kids zone with inflatables and face painting. Bring cash for tasting tickets and come hungry.

🎨 Roswell Spring Arts Festival - Roswell City Hall Grounds | 38 Hill Street, Roswell | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | Free | More: roswellartfestival.com
About 100 juried artists set up across the City Hall lawn. Painting, photography, sculpture, glass, jewelry, the works. Live music, food trucks, and the festival is dog-friendly if you want to make it a whole-family afternoon.

🎶 East Cobb Park Concert: 120 East - East Cobb Park | 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta | 7:00-10:00 PM | Free | More: cobbcounty.gov
A 10-piece cover band with a 3-piece horn section playing classics from the 50s through today. Bring blankets, chairs, and a picnic. Overflow parking at WellStar Health Park.

🎉 May-Retta Daze Arts, Crafts & Music Festival - Glover Park / Marietta Square | 50 Park Square, Marietta | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Free | More: mariettaga.gov
Day two of the festival, slightly shorter hours and a calmer crowd than Saturday. Good move if you bailed early yesterday or just want a slower stroll through the booths.

🎨 Roswell Spring Arts Festival - Roswell City Hall Grounds | 38 Hill Street, Roswell | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Free | More: roswellartfestival.com
Sunday is the easier day to actually talk to the artists. Lighter crowd, more breathing room around the booths. Same setup as Saturday.

🦋 Chattahoochee Nature Center (River Roots STEAM exhibit) - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell | 12:00-5:00 PM | Adults $20, kids 3-12 $14, under 2 free | More: chattnaturecenter.org
The River Roots STEAM exhibit is up through May 31, with stations for kids 8 and up. Six wooded trails, native animal aviaries, and an ADA-friendly boardwalk along the river. Pack a picnic.

🎭 The Atlanta Opera: Turandot - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta | 7:30 PM | Tickets from $48 | More: cobbenergycentre.com
A new Tomer Zvulun production opening exactly 100 years after the original premiered. Heads up that the company has flagged this one with a 15+ recommendation for some heavy stagecraft. Cobb Energy is a 15-minute drive from East Cobb and parking is easy.

🎸 Departure: The Journey Tribute Band - Earl & Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | 8:00 PM | Tickets $35-$85 | More: Strand Theatre
Eighteen years deep, this is the Journey tribute band that wins over the people who saw the real thing. Tuxedo jacket, no backing tracks, and a frontman who can actually hit the Steve Perry notes. Walk to dinner on the Square first.

🐴 Derby de Mayo Roswell Block Party - Roswell Entertainment District | Canton Street, Roswell | 2:00-10:00 PM | Tickets via Big Tickets | More: Atlanta Bar Tours
The Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo collide on Canton Street. A 10-tab wristband gets you food and drink specials at participating bars, a Derby watch party at Gate City Brewing, and a roving mariachi. Hat optional but encouraged.

🤠 Strand Ole Opry: Walk The Line - Earl & Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | 8:00 PM | Tickets $30 | More: earlsmithstrand.org
The Strand's volunteer-run country and bluegrass revue, this month built around Johnny Cash and June Carter. Local singers, a live band, and storytelling between songs. Easy date night that ends on the Square.

🏇 Kentucky Derby Watch Party — Glover Park Brewery | 65 Atlanta St SE, Marietta | 12:00 PM–11:59 PM | Free entry | More: Glover Park Brewery
The Square's Derby Day setup. Big screens, mint juleps, and pizza by Fusco's on tap. Hats absolutely encouraged.

🎭 The Atlanta Opera: Turandot (Matinee) - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta | 3:00 PM | Tickets from $48 | More: cobbenergycentre.com
Sunday afternoon matinee for Turandot's closing performance. Same 15+ recommendation as Friday. Brunch first, opera second, home in time for the work week to feel less inevitable.

🎸 Ava Connell Band w/ Cameron Rainey - MadLife Stage & Studios (8722 Main St, Woodstock) | 2:00 PM (doors 1:30 PM) | $19.50 | Ages 15+ | More: eventbrite.com
Marietta-raised alt-country artist Ava Connell brings her grunge-meets-country sound to MadLife for a Sunday matinee, with Cameron Rainey opening. Easy afternoon show — home before dinner.

🎬 Movies at The Strand: Gone With The Wind (1939) - Earl & Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | 2:00 PM | Tickets from $10 | More: Strand Theatre
The Strand pulls a 1939 classic for a Sunday matinee, fittingly local since the GWTW Museum is six blocks away. Block off the afternoon, this one runs nearly four hours with intermission.

95 Mill St, Roswell, GA 30075

Fifteen minutes from East Cobb, you can walk to a 30-foot waterfall pouring over a 19th-century dam, cross a covered pedestrian bridge straight out of a postcard, and explore the brick ruins of two Civil War-era textile mills — all in one short outing.

The site is the original Roswell Manufacturing Company, built in 1839 and 1853, burned by Union forces in July 1864. What's left are the massive brick walls, the historic machine shop, the rusted mill chase that fed the original waterwheel, and a working dam that still creates the falls today.

Get here early — this trail isn't a secret anymore and weekend crowds show up by mid-morning. Park at Old Mill Park (free, off Mill Street) for the most direct route. From the lot, take the wooden stairs down toward the creek. The ruins, machine shop, falls viewing platform, and covered bridge are all within a quarter-mile of each other.

For more, cross the covered bridge to the National Park Service side and pick up the Vickery Creek loop (3.6 miles, moderate, lots of roots and inclines). When you're done, you're a five-minute walk from Canton Street — grab dinner at Salt Factory or beers at Gate City Brewing.

Water access at the falls was suspended in August 2024 to protect the creek and prevent injuries. Viewing from the platforms and trails only — don't show up planning to wade. Keep kids off the rocks above the falls; the drop is real.

Hours: Sunrise to sunset, daily | Dogs: Welcome on leash

Mother's Day is the second-biggest jewelry-buying weekend of the year, behind only the December holidays. If you're thinking about pulling the trigger on a real piece this year, or you got one last year and never told your insurance company about it, this is a 10-minute conversation that could save you money down the line.

Here's why. Standard homeowner's policies cap personal property coverage at a percentage of your dwelling limit, and within that, jewelry is usually capped even lower. Most policies pay between $1,000 and $2,500 total for jewelry, regardless of what you actually own. If your wife has a $5,000 ring and the house gets broken into, you'd see $1,500 back, not $5,000.

The fix is something called scheduling. You add the specific piece to your policy as a "scheduled item," provide an appraisal, and pay a small additional premium. Most pieces add about $5 to $15 a year per $1,000 of value. In return, you get full replacement coverage, no deductible, and protection for things standard homeowner's policies don't cover, like accidental loss when a stone falls out or a piece slips off in the ocean.

A few things worth doing this week:

1. Check your declarations page for the current jewelry sublimit. It's listed under personal property limitations.

2. If you have anything over the sublimit, get an appraisal. Rings, watches, heirlooms, anniversary gifts. Some jewelers will do appraisals at the time of purchase. Others charge $50 to $150 for an existing piece.

3. Email Peachy a copy of the appraisal. They'll walk you through scheduling it and quote the additional premium before you commit.

If you're shopping for Mother's Day this week, mention to the jeweler that you'll be insuring it. They're used to the request and most will provide an appraisal at sale, which makes step 2 free.

Call (404) 600-1660 (Closed Saturdays and Sundays)

Avenue East Cobb (Luga + Giulia Bakery) is staffing up for two newer concepts at the shopping center. Luga, the modern Italian spot, needs line cooks, prep cooks, bussers, bartenders, and servers. Giulia Bakery, the Italian café, is hiring cashiers, baristas, pastry chefs, and sandwich makers. Both are great fits for anyone who wants to work close to home.

👉 Browse openings

McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA is in full summer hiring mode with openings for lifeguards, swim instructors, and day camp staff. Pool season opens Memorial Day weekend, so the timing is right if you've got a teen looking for a first job or a college student home for the summer.

👉 Browse openings

Cobb County School District is hiring across the board for the 2026-27 school year. Paraprofessionals, bus drivers, food service, and administrative roles are posted alongside teaching positions. The district also just approved $2,000 one-time bonuses for non-temporary employees thanks to state funding, which sweetens the offer if you've been considering it.

👉 Browse openings

Cobb County Public Library System has openings ranging from part-time library assistants to full-time specialists. Summer is peak season with summer reading programs ramping up at every branch. Full-time roles come with benefits and a pension.

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Cobb County Sheriff's Office is hiring deputies with a starting salary of $54,000 and a $4,000 hiring incentive currently posted. Lateral applicants with prior sworn experience can qualify for $8,000. Civilian roles in communications, detention support, and admin are also open.

👉 Browse openings

Bonus help (free): WorkSource Cobb offers free career coaching, resume help, and job matching for Cobb County residents. Walk-ins welcome at their Marietta office.

👉 Visit WorkSource Cobb