Taste of Marietta + Yacht Rock Schooners

_{Welcome to the 137 new readers who joined 5,821 other East Cobb residents this week.}

What's up, neighbors!

No set plans this weekend, which might be the right call with this much going on. Friday night the Glover Park Concert Series opens its 40th season on the Marietta Square with Yacht Rock Schooners. Free, outdoors, smooth 70s rock, blankets and lawn chairs welcome.

If you want something more structured, the Billy Joel tribute at the Strand is the same night, and live jazz runs upstairs at the Lumiere Lounge if you want to keep the evening going.

Saturday is wide open. The Marietta Square Farmers Market runs until noon if you want a morning reason to be outside. Cobb Creates is at the Civic Center with over a thousand student artworks and live performances from local school kids if you want something easy and free.|

Sunday is Taste of Marietta. We might go, we might not, but if you're going, get there before noon. The vendors that run out early, run out early. Forty-plus restaurants, $2 to $10 a taste, free admission.

Full weekend planner, a neighborhood steakhouse worth knowing about, and a fitness studio that will absolutely humble you are all below.

^{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.

Historic Marietta Square
99 S Park Square NE, Marietta, GA 30060
11:00 AM–7:00 PM
Sunday, April 26
Free admission
Tastes $2–$10

One day a year, 40+ Cobb County restaurants take over the Marietta Square and charge you $2 to $10 for a taste of whatever they make best. No reservation, no full plate commitment, no problem.

That's Taste of Marietta, one of the longest-running food festivals in metro Atlanta, back for another year on the last Sunday of April. The format is the whole appeal.

You grab a taste of Dave Poe's BBQ, double back for dumplings from That Dumpling Guy, wander toward whatever line looks interesting next.

The Publix Chef Stage runs cooking demos throughout the day.

Restaurants compete for Awards of Distinction with winners announced at 3pm.

Multiple entertainment stages run all day including the Glover Park Main Stage. Kids Alley keeps the younger crowd busy.

Admission is free. Come hungry, wear comfortable shoes, and bring cash. Get there before noon if you want first crack at the vendors that run out early.

Chicago's has been on Shallowford since 1991. The current owner grew up in East Cobb, went to Lassiter, put himself through UGA working restaurant jobs, and eventually came home and bought it. Some places earn the word institution, and this is one of them. Thirty-five years in the same spot, same neighborhood, still packed on a Friday night.

Mark Zwolak and his son Connor run it now. The steaks are house-aged and hand-cut in house. The prime rib is slow-roasted and comes up in nearly every positive review. The fish is fresh-caught daily. Everything else, the soups, the salad dressings, is made from scratch. Nothing frozen.

The Speakeasy Lounge runs live music every Friday and Saturday starting at 7:30pm, which makes it an easy dinner-and-stay kind of night. Sunday brunch runs until 2pm if you want the Crab Benedict with Fried Green Tomatoes, which you do.

Dinner daily starting at 5pm. Worth a reservation on busy weekends.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon-Wed 5-9pm
Thu-Sat 5-10pm
Sun brunch 11am-2pm & dinner 5-9pm

Kathy Hopper discovered a workout called Lagree while she was living in London, came home to East Cobb, and built a studio around it. Sculpted Body has a 5.0 on 88 Google reviews. That number does not happen by accident.

The Lagree method is done on a machine called a Megaformer. Slow, controlled movements under spring resistance. It looks deceptively manageable and then absolutely is not. The combination of core, strength, cardio, and balance in a single 50-minute class is the whole point. Low impact, easy on the joints, genuinely hard. Kathy was trained directly by Sebastien Lagree, the man who invented it.

Eight people per class. That's the cap. The instructors know your name, your injuries, and your limitations before you get on the machine. Reviews mention this constantly. It is not a gym where you disappear into a crowd.

Classes run mornings and evenings Monday through Friday, Saturday mornings, and Sunday. Book ahead. They fill up.

4 beds
5 baths
3,541 sqft
1.11 acres lot

A) $910,000

B) $1,028,000

C) $1,175,000

D) $1,210,000

The Marietta City Council has approved rezoning for a new National Women's Soccer League training and match complex in the city, less than a month after the Atlanta NWSL expansion team was officially announced. The vote clears the way for construction to move forward.

For East Cobb families, this means a professional women's soccer venue is coming to your backyard. Expect new opportunities to watch top-tier women's soccer close to home, along with potential youth programming and community events tied to the new franchise.

Source: WSB-TV

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on Tuesday to reject Walmart's request to install an 18-drone delivery kiosk in the parking lot of its Johnson Ferry Road store. More than 1,200 residents signed a petition opposing the plan, and 50-plus showed up in person to speak against it. Neighbors in Breckenridge, Shallowford Pointe, Alpine Lakes, Clary Lakes, and a dozen other adjacent communities said the issue wasn't drones in general, but turning a residential corridor into what one resident called "a drone highway 150 feet over our heads."

District 3 Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, who held up close to 100 emails opposing the kiosk, said the location simply isn't conducive to the service. The board separately rejected a similar Walmart kiosk on Barrett Parkway in West Cobb. Chairwoman Lisa Cupid noted that a denial here doesn't mean a denial elsewhere, suggesting drone delivery zoning is a question the county will keep wrestling with.

More: East Cobb News | 11Alive

Cobb Schools released its proposed $1.881 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 this week, a slight increase from last year's $1.8 billion plan. Anticipated revenues come in around $1.869 billion, leaving a projected deficit of roughly $12 million. The board will be asked Thursday for tentative approval so the district can publicly advertise the budget; formal adoption is set for May.

The first required public forum is tonight, Thursday April 23, at 6:30 PM at the Cobb County School District Central Office, 514 Glover St., Marietta. The board's voting meeting follows at 7 PM. If you can't make it in person, both meetings will be streamed live on Comcast Cable and the district's Boxcast Channel. The budget agenda also includes $30 million for state-funded $2,000 employee bonuses and recognition of the Wheeler boys basketball state championship team.

More: East Cobb News | CCSD Financial Planning

For the first time in Cobb County School District history, all three Wheeler High School CircuitRunners robotics teams have qualified for the FIRST World Championship in Houston, running April 29 – May 2 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The FRC team placed 2nd at the Georgia State Championship and currently sits 4th in the state, also taking home the Judges Award for unique team effort and dynamics.

The CircuitRunners are a 23-year-old student-led program at Wheeler that's reached more than 18,000 people through competitions, outreach, and mentorship. Travel costs to Houston add up fast, so the team has launched a GoFundMe for community support. About 50,000 attendees from 66 countries are expected at this year's championship.

More: East Cobb News

He came within a whisker of being put down. Spot had been sitting at the county shelter long enough that when space got tight, he landed on the kill list. Our Pal's Place called about him the next morning, and the shelter supervisor said the message came "just in the nick of time." He's here because someone made a phone call on a Tuesday.

Spot is a black-and-white terrier mix, somewhere between 3 and 8 years old, medium-sized, and built like a guy who'd be great on a long walk. The volunteers describe him as friendly, curious, funny, and athletic, and the first thing he does when he meets someone new is show off his "sit." He's got good energy for walks and fetch, then settles down nicely when the playing's done. Not a dog who's going to wear you out.

He's housetrained, neutered, vaccinated, and good with kids and other dogs. He's already made a friend at the rescue, a new resident named Reggie, and he's been respectful meeting other dogs too. Cats and small animals are still a question mark, but Our Pal's Place can help you do a meet and greet before anything's final.

To meet him, head to his Petfinder listing and hit Start Your Inquiry. Our Pal's Place will follow up about an application and set up a visit if you're a match.

Our Pal's Place
4508 Canton Road, Marietta, GA 30062
(678) 361-7623

🎵 Avenue Live featuring OMCB - The Plaza at Avenue East Cobb | 4475 Roswell Rd, Marietta | 6:00-8:00 PM | Free | More: Avenue East Cobb
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.

🎸 Yacht Rock Schooners, Glover Park Concert Series Opening Night - Glover Park | Marietta Square | 8:00 PM | Free | More: MariettaGA.gov
Opening night of the 40th annual Glover Park Concert Series kicks off with 1970s smooth rock on the Square. Pack a picnic, sample nearby Square restaurants, and claim your spot with blankets or lawn chairs (no tents). A limited number of reserved tables are available for a fee.

🎹 Billy Joel Tribute, THE STRANGER featuring Mike Santoro - Earl & Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | Evening show | Tickets required | More: The Strand
Mike Santoro and his band bring the full Billy Joel songbook to the historic Strand on Marietta Square. A great pick for a family night out with older kids and teens who know the classics.

🎨 Cobb Creates - Cobb County Civic Center | 548 S Marietta Pkwy, Marietta | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM | Free | More: Cobb County
A fundraiser for CCSD Fine Arts programs that puts more than 1,000 student artworks on display alongside live performances from elementary, middle, and high school students. Easy morning stop for families who love seeing local kids shine.

🌸 Art Hatch Spring Arts Festival - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Rd, Kennesaw | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM | $10 adults, $5 kids 3-17, members free | More: Smith-Gilbert Gardens
The big spring celebration of Art Blooms, with live music, a KSU immersive theater performance of The Beauty Project at 11:30 AM and 2 PM, artist demos, a garden-wide scavenger hunt, and hands-on crafts from the North Cobb Library. Theater ticket also gets you full festival access.

🥬 Marietta Square Farmers Market - 41 Mill Street, Marietta | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | Free to browse | More: Marietta Square Farmers Market
Atlanta's number-one farmers market is in full spring swing with 60-plus Georgia Grown vendors. Expect heirloom produce, cut flowers, local honey, fresh bread, and plants for the garden. Park at the Mill Street lot and make a Saturday morning of it.

⚔️ Park Day at Kennesaw Mountain - Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park | 900 Kennesaw Mountain Dr, Kennesaw | Starts at parking lot atop the mountain | Free | More: American Battlefield Trust
The Trust's annual hands-on maintenance day brings volunteers out to help tidy the trail from the summit back toward the Visitor Center. Artillery Living History demos run at 11 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, and 3 PM, so drop-in spectators get a worthwhile show even if you're not pitching in.

🪦 Marietta City Cemetery Walking Tour: After the Revolution - Brick pavilion between Confederate and City Cemeteries | 395 Powder Springs St, Marietta | 1:30 PM-3:00 PM | $15 non-members, $7 members | More: Marietta History Center
Collections manager Christa McCay leads a 90-minute walking tour spotlighting the first generation of Americans buried in Marietta. The morning tour is sold out; this just-added afternoon slot is capped at 26. Comfortable shoes recommended, and it happens rain or shine.

🎭 The Beauty Project: Through the Looking Glass (KSU Theatre) - Smith-Gilbert Gardens | 2382 Pine Mountain Rd, Kennesaw | Showtimes 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM | Ticket price includes full Art Hatch access | More: Ticket page
An immersive, site-specific family show crafted with ages 10-14 in mind, co-created by KSU's Department of Theatre and Performance Studies with 5th-graders from the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics. Winding paths through the gardens lead audiences past queens, Alices, and bugs on a Wonderland-inspired quest. Watch out for the Jabberwock.

🍴 Taste of Marietta - Marietta Square | 4 Depot St NE, Marietta | 11:00 AM-7:00 PM | Free admission, tastes $2-10 | More: Taste of Marietta
The festival everyone on the Square waits for all year. More than 50 restaurants and caterers set up around the Square serving $2-10 tasting portions, with the Publix Chef Stage running cooking demos, two entertainment stages plus the Glover Park Main Stage closing things out, a Georgia Grown member village, and a Kid's Alley packed with inflatables and moonwalks (small fee per activity). Park early, wear walking shoes, and come hungry.

🌿 Art Blooms Self-Guided Sculpture Tour - Downtown Kennesaw and various Marietta locations | Starts anywhere along the route | Daylight hours | Free | More: Art Blooms
While Smith-Gilbert Gardens is closed Sundays, the Art Blooms citywide sculpture exhibit stays up all spring. A new 2026 partnership with the Marietta Arts Council adds an installation in Depot Park plus pieces scattered around Marietta, so families can walk or drive a casual art loop at their own pace. Pick up a scavenger hunt card at Kennesaw City Hall earlier in the week for a chance at prizes.

⚾ Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Alumni Sunday) - Truist Park | 755 Battery Ave SE, Atlanta | First pitch 1:35 PM | Tickets from $24 | More: Braves single-game tickets
An easy Sunday afternoon at Cobb's backyard ballpark. The first 3,000 kids get a Michael Harris II Mini Bobblehead, Alumni Sunday brings Braves legends back to the field, and kids get to Run the Bases after the final out (presented by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta). Walk around The Battery before or after the game for food and shops.

🦖 Stone Mountain Dino Fest (Final Day) - Stone Mountain Park | 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd, Stone Mountain | Park hours | Included with Attractions Ticket or Mountain Membership | More: Stone Mountain Dino Fest
Last chance to catch Dino Fest before it closes for the season. Expect high-flying dinosaurs, a lighted dino parade, a 4-D movie, and walk-through prehistoric exhibits. Note the Drone and Light Show does not run on Sundays, so plan your visit for the daytime attractions. Roughly 45 minutes from East Cobb; pack snacks and comfortable shoes.

🎤 Comedy on the Square - The Alley Stage | 11 Anderson St, Marietta | 8:00 PM (doors 7:30 PM) | Tickets required | More: The Alley Stage
Cabaret seating, a rotating lineup of stand-ups, and a two-item minimum make this the go-to Friday night on the Square. 18+ only. Grab a shared table, order a cocktail, and settle in for ninety minutes of laughs a block from the Glover Park concert if you want to pair them.

🎭 The Atlanta Opera presents Turandot - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta | (Opens Sat Apr 25) | From $35 | More: Atlanta Opera
Not technically Friday, but the buzz kicks off this weekend. Tomer Zvulun's new production opens exactly 100 years after Turandot's premiere and reconstructs the final act using only Puccini's own music. If opera has been on your someday list, this is the splashy one to pick.

🎷 Jazz at the Lumiere Lounge - Upstairs at the Strand | 117 N Park Square, Marietta | Evening | Drinks pricing | More: Lumiere Lounge
An elegant speakeasy-style piano bar with live jazz Thursdays through Saturdays. A solid pre-dinner or late-night stop when you're already on the Square for the Billy Joel tribute or the Glover Park show.

🎺 Flores Performs Márquez, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Atlanta Symphony Hall | 1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta | 8:00 PM | Tickets from ~$53 | More: ASO
Grammy-winning conductor Giancarlo Guerrero leads a south-of-the-border program, tango-infused Piazzolla, Revueltas, and a Márquez concerto written for trumpet phenom Pacho Flores. A genuinely exciting night for classical fans and a great date-night pick.

🎭 The Atlanta Opera: Turandot (Opening Night) - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta | 7:30 PM | From $35 | More: Atlanta Opera
Opening night of a brand-new Tomer Zvulun production, conducted by Iván López Reynoso. This staging ditches the commonly used Alfano ending and rebuilds the final act from music Puccini actually wrote. Dress up, arrive early for a drink, and make a whole evening of it.

🎹 Billy and The Jets (Billy Joel & Elton John Tribute) - Dixie Tavern | 2349 Windy Hill Rd SE Unit 130, Marietta | 9:30 PM | $15 cover, free table reservations | More: Dixie Tavern
The Southeast's only Elton-meets-Billy tribute act rolls into Dixie Tavern for a rowdy Saturday night. Call ahead to lock in a free table, show up hungry, and expect to be up and singing "Tiny Dancer" by the second set.

🎤 Comedy on the Square - The Alley Stage | 11 Anderson St, Marietta | 8:00 PM (doors 7:30 PM) | Tickets required | More: The Alley Stage
A second night of stand-up on the Square with a fresh lineup. 18+ only, cabaret-style seating, two-item minimum. Easy to pair with dinner at Marietta Proper or Hamp & Harry's beforehand.

🎟️ Mel Robbins: The Let Them Tour 2026 - Fox Theatre | 660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta | 7:30 PM (doors 6:30) | Ticket prices vary | More: Fox Theatre
The podcaster behind the #1 bestselling book of 2025 (The Let Them Theory) brings her second global tour to the Fox. Expect big stories, bigger energy, and a room full of people ready to stop overthinking. Good Sunday evening pick for a group of friends.

🎤 Soulful Sunday R&B Brunch with Erica Dawson - Perfect Note Atlanta | 3000 Windy Hill Rd STE 116, Marietta | 12-2 PM or 3-5 PM seatings | $5/person entertainment fee + $10 min food/drink | More: Perfect Note
Live R&B in a supper club setting right here in East Cobb. One-hour sets in the showroom, two seatings to pick from, and a full brunch menu to go with it. Bar-side dining skips the entertainment fee if you want to drop in without a reservation.

🎭 The Atlanta Opera: Turandot (Encore performance dates follow) - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta | No Sunday show, next performances Apr 28, May 1, May 3 | From $35 | More: Atlanta Opera
If Saturday's opening night sells out, you've still got three more shots. The May 3 matinee is the easiest Sunday lift.

🏛️ Inman Park Festival Tour of Homes - Inman Park neighborhood, Atlanta | 12:00-4:00 PM | $40 day-of, $35 advance | More: Inman Park Festival
Self-guided walking tour through one of Atlanta's most photogenic neighborhoods, with access to historic home interiors, private gardens, and community spaces. Festival admission is free; only the Tour of Homes requires a ticket. Great grown-up alternative to the street festival scene.

Tucked behind Marietta City Hall, one block off the Square, is one of the most overlooked free stops in town. The Marietta Fire Museum has been quietly collecting antique fire apparatus, uniforms, and photos since the 1800s, and plenty of people who've lived here for years have never stepped inside. That's a shame, because it's actually really good.

What it is: A small but genuinely impressive museum housed inside an active fire station. Four galleries walk you through Marietta's firefighting history from the early 1800s to today. The centerpiece is "The Aurora," an 1879 horse-drawn Silsby Steamer that served Marietta until 1921. It's one of only five still in existence. You'll also find a 1921 American LaFrance pumper that was one of the first motorized fire trucks in all of north Georgia, a 1929 Seagrave pumper, a 1949 Pirsch ladder truck, and a steel I-beam salvaged from the World Trade Center wreckage.

Why kids love it: Active-duty firefighters are usually on site and they genuinely seem to enjoy it when kids show up. Reviews regularly mention firefighters pulling kids into the main bay, letting them climb into the modern truck, flipping the lights on, and handing out mini fire helmets. If a call comes in mid-visit, bonus: the whole crew suits up and rolls out right in front of you.

Plan around it: Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Weekends are technically by appointment only, so if you want to go Saturday or Sunday, call ahead at (770) 794-5466 to check availability. Most visitors are in and out in 30 to 45 minutes, which makes this a perfect add-on when you're already headed to the Square for the Farmers Market, a Glover Park concert, or dinner on a Friday night.

Parking: Park in the two-story deck on Lawrence Street, between City Hall and the Post Office. Cross Haynes and you're there.

Cost: Free. Donations welcomed, small gift shop on site.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Weekends by appointment.

More info: mariettaga.gov/189/Fire-Museum

Most East Cobb homeowners and renters have more stuff than they think, and if something ever happens, whether it's a fire, theft, or a pipe that bursts at 2 a.m., your insurance company is going to ask you to prove what you owned. That's a lot harder than it sounds after the fact.

The easy fix: grab your phone, walk room to room, and take a slow video. Open closets, pull out drawers, pan across bookshelves, zoom in on serial numbers for TVs, laptops, tools, and appliances. Talk as you go ("this is the espresso machine we got last Christmas"). Audio notes count. Then email the video to yourself so it lives in the cloud, not just on your phone.

While you're at it, double-check that your policy's personal property limit actually matches what you'd need to replace. Jewelry, musical instruments, and home office gear often need separate riders.

Not sure where your coverage stands? The team at Peachy Insurance is right here in the community and happy to do a quick no-pressure policy review. Give them a shout.

Earth Day was yesterday. If it got you thinking about doing something useful, here are five East Cobb-friendly ways to plug in over the next few weeks.

When school lets out for summer, thousands of Cobb kids lose access to the free and reduced-price meals they count on during the school year. MUST steps in with their Summer Lunch Program, packing breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and drinks into "Kids' Kits" that go out across eight counties from June through July. They're recruiting volunteer packers, drivers, and riders right now. Family-friendly, kids welcome, and a great recurring shift if you want a meaningful summer routine.

➡️ Learn more: mustministries.org/summer-lunch
➡️ Email: [email protected]

The easiest year-round way to keep your neighborhood looking sharp. You (or your HOA, scout troop, church group, or company) commit to cleaning a one-mile stretch of road four times a year. KCB provides the safety vests, trash bags, and a roadside sign with your group's name on it. You set the schedule, you pick the route. About as low-friction as volunteering gets.

➡️ Learn more: Keep Cobb Beautiful
➡️ Email: [email protected]

Right here in the neighborhood. Wellstar runs a structured volunteer program at the East Cobb Health Park with shifts Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Roles include greeting patients, helping with wayfinding, assisting at front desks, and supporting clinical departments. The commitment is one four-hour shift per week for six months (or 100 hours total), so it works best if you're looking for something consistent. After the application, there's an interview with the Volunteer Coordinator and a background check.

➡️ Learn more: Wellstar East Cobb Volunteer Program

There are roughly 50 kids in Cobb's juvenile court system right now waiting for an advocate. CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to speak up for a child's best interests in dependency cases, which means visiting the child monthly, gathering information, and reporting back to the court until there's a permanent placement. The training and commitment are real, but so is the impact. They're recruiting for upcoming training classes now.

➡️ Learn more: Cobb County CASA
➡️ Phone: (770) 528-2285

Cobb's Meals on Wheels delivers a daily nutritionally balanced meal to homebound seniors across the county. Routes take 60 to 90 minutes and serve 8 to 12 neighbors. It's the kind of volunteering where you actually see who you're helping, and the folks on your route start expecting your knock. Background check required, processed quickly.

➡️ Learn more: Cobb Senior Services Volunteering
➡️ Phone: (770) 528-5381