What has been dubbed “Sunday Funday” at East Cobb Park for several years—a series of spring free concerts—has a new name.
“Music in the Park” debuts Sunday, but otherwise the event will feel similar to concert-goers.
The Friends for the East Cobb Park volunteer organization has scheduled four concerts through the middle of June at the concert shell in the back of the park.
And Wellstar remains as the presenting sponsor.
Sunday’s concert lasts from 4-6 p.m. and features the indie folk duo of Rusted Melody.
Other concerts are slated for May 8 (LooSe ShoEs band); May 29 (Bach to Rock—performed by and for kids) and June 12 (The Woodys—a Fleetwood Mac and 70s rock cover band).
You’re welcome to bring your own food and drink, chairs and blankets to enjoy the music on the back quad.
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Next Sunday, The Art-Place Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road) will mark its 30th anniversary with a free celebration for the community.
The event takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will include a gallery exhibition, music, a pottery demonstration, food and a theatre performance.
No reservations are required and all members of the public are invited.
The Art Place is a service of the Cobb Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs that offers a wide variety of arts classes and leases art and theatre space for community organizations.
Activities include summer camps for children and performances of the Center Stage North Theatre, a community theater group.
Cobb County converted restaurant space in East Cobb into an arts center in 1986, opening the Steeple House Arts Center the following year at Johnson Ferry Road and Paper Mill Road.
But demand for arts programming grew quickly, and the county embarked on building a larger facility that became The Art Place.
The volunteer support group Mountain View Arts Alliance was formed in 1993 to partner with The Art Place for programming, events and outreach.
The facility currently serves 20,000 members of the public on an annual basis, and holds a number of other community events.
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The Marietta-based Georgia Symphony Orchestra will have a sensory-friendly concert on Saturday with soft lighting and moderated volumes.
The concert takes place at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Marietta High School (1171 Whitlock Ave.), with an instrument petting zoo preceding that at 1 p.m.
The works to be played include the “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major” by Johann Sebastian Bach; “Capriol Suite” by Peter Warlock; “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone and selections by Frederick Delius, Karl Jenkins and John-Baptiste Lully.
The GSO Chorus also will perform Johannes Brahms’ “How Lovely is My Dwelling Place” and Eric Whitacre’s “Sing Gently.”
The event also features a quiet zone, and the selections will be explained by GSO Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville.
Masks are required (except for for sensory-sensitive patrons) and attendees 18 and over must show proof of full vaccination for COVID-19.
Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased by clicking here.
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A photograph submitted by a Pope High School student in the 2020 Congressional Art Competition.
Submitted information:
Congresswoman Lucy McBath announced the start of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition, her fourth art competition since taking office in 2019. The competition is open to high school students in Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District and the deadline for submissions will be Friday, April 22, 2022.
“Supporting and encouraging participation in the arts is so vital for our young people, which is why I am thrilled to launch this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” McBath said. “Each year, I am blown away by the talent and creativity of students from right here in our community. I look forward to seeing the incredible artwork from our local high schoolers, and I encourage all who may be interested to submit and be a part of this exciting competition.”
Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent of students in the Sixth Congressional District and across the nation. Winning artwork from the Sixth District Congressional Art Competition (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) will be eligible for display in the U.S. Capitol or in one of Rep. McBath’s offices.
Submissions will be accepted by McBath’s office over the next two months and will only be accepted digitally at arts.mcbath@mail.house.gov. More information and the required release form for the competition can be accessed at https://mcbath.house.gov/art-competition. For any additional questions, please contact McBath’s Sandy Springs District Office by calling (470) 773-6330.
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Submitted by the Cobb County Public Library System:
Cobb Library Foundation presents its 11th Annual Booked for the Evening Gala featuring acclaimed children’s book author/illustrator Brian Lies and honorary chair Cynthia Rozzo, founder/publisher of East Cobber, on Thursday, March 17, 6:30 pm to 9:30 p.m., at Atlanta Country Club, Marietta.
Brian Lies has illustrated several bestselling children’s books. His books include Caldecott Honor-winning The Rough Patch, Got to Get to Bear’s! and his New York Times bestselling bat series (Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Bats at the Ballgame and Bats in the Band). Lies was born in Princeton, NJ, and graduated from Brown University with a degree in British and American Literature. He attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Lies is an advocate for early literacy, and lifelong reading and learning. The Massachusetts resident has traveled across the United States to work with students and encourage them in their goals as he talks about writing and illustration – including his engaging presentations at schools and libraries in Cobb County.
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The Marietta History Center is offering free admission Saturday, Jan. 15, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The center is conducting Diverse Cobb programming that includes the “Lemon Street Chroncles,” a new oral history DVD about the Lemon Street High School.
It was Cobb County’s only all-black high school until 1967, when segregation in public schools in Cobb and Marietta ended.
The DVD, created by alumnus Tim Penn, includes interviews with other graduates and will be screened several times on Saturday.
Also featured at the museum is “Marietta 1899: Color Captured in Black & White.” It’s a special exhibit of the work of New York photographer James Shaw, who visited Marietta in 1899. The exhibit includes images of the Marietta Square, the Marietta National Cemetery, Kennesaw Avenue, Kennesaw Mountain and rural Cobb County.
Shaw’s visit included the Federal Memorial Day celebration, with many of those in attendance being African-American.
“A truer version of life as it was, undiluted by the whitewashing of history,” the exhibit states. “While bias of a white perspective remains, Shaw chose to include the activities of both races, thus presenting multiple shades of color in black and white photography.”
That exhibit also will be featured at the museum. from May 19-28.
The Marietta Museum of History will have free admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday. Screenings of the “Lemon Street Chronicles,” which lasts an hour and a half, are at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
The museum is located at 1 Depot Street, Marietta. For more information click here.
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The 2022 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will feature in-person and virtual screenings and events.
Formal screenings of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival start in February, and will include in-person and virtual events.
But the festival is getting an early start by showing a series of free short films each Wednesday.
The Shorts Program began on Wednesday, Jan. 5, and a new short will be available for streaming every Wednesday through Jan. 26. More information can be found by clicking here.
Tickets go on sale for the festival on Feb. 9, and the screenings will take place Feb. 16-27 at select theaters in metro Atlanta. Georgia residents also will be able to watch via remote streaming during the festival dates.
This year’s festival includes 40 feature films and 15 shorts in narrative, documentary, human rights and other categories.
The venues include the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, the Midtown Art Cinema and the Plaza Theater in Atlanta. A preview show takes place on Feb. 2.
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Several book discussion and other groups are fully resuming their meetings at the East Cobb Library.
The East Cobb Book Discussion groups meet the third Thursday of every month, at 11 a.m. and at 2 p.m., after participants read a pre-selected book—fiction, non-fiction, classics and new releases.
On Thursday, Dec. 16, the morning group discussion will be about “The Vanishing Half,” a historical novel by Brit Bennett. The afternoon group discussion will cover “Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family” by Robert Kolker.
In addition to those groups, East Cobb Library also offers “book tasting” meetings for adults every other month, in which participants sample five books, then discuss their favorites.
The next meeting is Dec. 28 at 5:30 p.m., and the books are under the “Cozy Mysteries to Die” theme. Registration is required at cobbcat.org.
There’s also an East Cobb Cookbook Club that meets the second Tuesday of the month, in which members review a variety of cookbooks to explore techniques, chefs, cooking styles, dishes and more.
Members choose a themed recipe each month and prepare a dish to share. The next meeting is Jan. 11 at 4 p.m., and the session is entitled “Soups and Salads.” Registration is required at cobbcat.org.
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Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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Submitted information and photo for a new event at the William Root House in Marietta every Friday in October:
Bring a flashlight and see the c. 1845 William Root House decorated for a Victorian-style funeral. Visitors will be able to view 19th century embalming equipment, mourning jewelry made from human hair, and other curious artifacts related to death and mourning in the Victorian era.
Flashlight tours are $10 per person. No coupons or discounts may be applied. Space is limited. Tickets may be purchased in advance by clicking here.
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Dreamland Amusements is back for their fall carnival at Town Center at Cobb, Oct. 7-17, just in time for the cool weather. Families and guests are invited to enjoy a variety of rides, including two new rides for the fall season: Super Himalaya and Jumbos – in addition to attractions, carnival games and classic fair food, like corndogs, funnel cakes, fried Oreos and more!
WHAT: Dreamland Amusements Fall Carnival at Town Center at Cobb
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 7 – Sunday, Oct. 17 Hours vary per day
WHERE: Town Center at Cobb, parking lot near Macy’s Men’s & Furniture Gallery 400 Ernest Barrett Pkwy Kennesaw, GA 30144
HOW: Ride tickets: Single ticket: $1.50 20 tickets: $30 50 tickets (includes one free ride): $60
Pre-sale ride special: Four for $99 Two for $55 One for $29 Fifty Ride Tickets (includes one free ride) $49 *Sale ends Oct. 7, 2021, at 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Families will enjoy free parking with admission to the carnival. For more information, including the carnival’s COVID safety protocols, and to purchase tickets in advance, please visit bit.ly/TCCDreamlandCarnival21. Walk up tickets are also available.
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The Georgia Mountain Ride at the North Georgia State Fair.
After being cancelled in 2020 for the first time since World War II, the North Georgia State Fair has returned to Jim Miller Park in Cobb County, and will continue through Oct. 3.
The 88th annual event is sponsored by Superior Plumbing, and the schedule is
Monday through Thursday 4pm-11pm, Fridays 4pm to midnight, Saturdays 10am to midnight, and Sundays 12:30pm-10pm.
The fair typically attracts more than 300,000 people, and heavy turnout is expected again this year, due in part to the COVID-related cancellation a year ago, and superb weather in the forecast for the next week.
Gate admission is $10, children 10 and under are free. Ride tickets are $1.25 each, $20.00 for 21 tickets, $50.00 for 55 tickets and $100 for 120 tickets. All rides require more than one ticket. Parking is $5. ATM machines are located on the midway. Online advance discount tickets can be purchased for $7, children 10 and under free.
Here’s a thumbnail overview of what’s at the fair this year, including some new events and features, including concerts and further ticket information.
There are some health protocols that have been put into place. Visitors will not be required to wear masks in the outdoor areas of Jim Miller Park, but since it is a Cobb County facility, masks will be required while indoors.
That’s because of a Cobb County Government order mandating indoor mask use at county facilities.
There will be hand-sanitizing stations located throughout the fairgrounds and social-distancing will be implemented where necessary.
From Oct. 1-3 those signing up for an onsite vaccination appointment will gain free admission and unlimited rides. The Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available at the Jim Miller Park Events Center.
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Georgia Symphony Music Director and Conductor Timothy Verville leads the orchestra as it opens its 71st concert season on Sept. 25, 2021, with Mahler, smahler, a reduced orchestration of Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.
Acclaimed soprano and Marietta native Maria Valdes will be the featured soloist at the performance, which will be held at the Marietta Performing Arts Center.
This special chamber version of the Fourth Symphony was arranged by Yoon Jae Lee, founder and artistic director of Ensemble 212, located in New York City, and curator of the Mahler Chamber Project.
“Mahler’s Fourth Symphony often is referred to as the most ‘chamber-like,’ due to the exquisite intricacies and interplay between instrumental sections,” said Verville. “The GSO’s chamber version of this work contains all the sublime melodies and progressive harmonies that have led to Mahler’s popularity as a composer.”
Mahler, smahler is the first of three performances in the GSO’s Classics Series. The GSO’s 2021-2022 season performance schedule also includes its Holiday Pops, Sensory Friendly, GSO Chorus and GSO Jazz! concerts.
To ensure the health, safety and comfort of its patrons, musicians and staff, the GSO is offering socially distanced matinee and evening shows of this performance at reduced seating capacity. The GSO also will require all patrons to be fully vaccinated, show proof upon entry and be masked for the duration of the concert. Season subscriptions and individual tickets can be purchased online at georgiasymphony.org/events.
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The Cobb County Public Library Book Sale will be held at Cobb Civic Center October 8 – 10, 2021. Per Cobb County policy, masks must be worn and all shoppers must enter through the front doors of the Civic Center.
Materials for sale include books for all ages in both hardcover and paperback, DVDs, Books on CD and audiocassette, and magazines. Prices range from 10 cents to $4.00.
Cobb Civic Center is at 548 South Marietta Pkwy SE, Marietta, GA 30060. Hours for the sale are Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. There is plenty of free parking.
Acceptable forms of payment are debit, credit, cash, and checks. On Friday until 1 pm electronic devices are not permitted. While we hope you will buy lots of materials, we are only able to sell up to 2 boxes of items at a time on Friday until 1 pm. Please plan to pay and take items to your vehicle before coming in to shop some more. On Sunday we will be working to sell out the Civic Center so please come to buy, buy, buy!
All profits from this book sale go directly to buying more items for Cobb County Public Library’s 15 branches. For more information, please visit cobbcounty.org/library.
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The Avenue East Cobb announced in July it was partnering with a new management company, North American Properties, which developed Avalon in Alpharetta and whose overhaul projects include Colony Square and Atlantic Station in Atlanta.
Among the priorities for revamping the East Cobb center—along with a bevy of new “chef-driven restaurants”—was to substantially add to live events.
Starting Monday, a free “Comedy Live” series will begin between Kale Me Crazy & Banana Republic, weather permitting (the forecast is gorgeous, sunny and in the 80s).
It’s part of a First Monday schedule (this month, the second Monday due to Labor Day) that continues on Oct. 4 and Nov. 1.
The show is from 7-8 p.m and is recommended for ages 13 and older. You can bring your own tailgate chairs or other seating.
The entertainers are from the Punchline Comedy Club, and this event, like many others at The Avenue, is aimed at getting customers to shop and grab a bite from local restaurants before the show.
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After being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Marietta Art in the Park festival is taking place Saturday-Monday at Glover Park on the Square as the event marks its 35th anniversary.
Admission is free, and so is nearby street parking. A chalk street art display for kids on Saturday (from 10-3) costs $10 per person, and paid parking lots near the square will be available.
There will be artwork from more than 175 fine artists, and nearby shops and restaurants will be open. Hours are 10-5 Saturday-Monday, and here’s more from the festival organzers:
“In the spacious Artist Market, attendees this year will be delighted by the range of artists new to the festival who offer a high level of fine art in media including jewelry made from fine metals and precious stones; ceramics; paintings in watercolor, acrylic, oil and pastel; woodworking; glass; photography; textiles and much more. Of course, everyone’s favorite artists from past years will be back too! In fact, the 175 artists showcasing one-of-a-kind works and commissions represent the best of the best at Cobb County’s only annual fine art show. The affordable original artwork is offered in a variety of price ranges and styles.
“Since 2007, Art in the Park has been honored as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event, ranked in the Top 100 in the nation in the Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine and has also earned awards from the Southeast Festivals and Events Association and the International Festivals & Events Association.
“Proceeds will benefit the Marietta High School Art Club.”
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Town Center at Cobb is celebrating all of its junior shoppers with the ‘Under the Sea’ Kids Club Event in partnership with Marietta Cobb Museum of Art on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 1-3 p.m. in Center Court. Families can enjoy sea-themed crafts with the museum’s director of education, Allison Frink, alongside mermaid and pirate appearances; a selfie station; retailer and business stations; goody bags for the kids (while supplies last); take-home activities; door prizes; and more!
WHAT: Town Center at Cobb ‘Under the Sea’ Kids Club Event with Marietta Cobb Museum of Art
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 28 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: Town Center at Cobb in Center Court 400 Ernest Barrett Pkwy NW Kennesaw, GA 30144
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The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is excited to announce its return to the movie theater for the first time in 18 months with AJFF North, a mini-festival on Aug. 28-29, 2021, that will combine in-theater and virtual screenings. Made possible by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta through its “Making Jewish Places” initiative, AJFF North brings the best in Jewish cinema directly to residents of Alpharetta, East Cobb, Johns Creek, Roswell and surrounding North Metro communities, though is open to all audiences. Moviegoers can enjoy a diverse mix of dramas, documentary, family-friendly fare, a Hollywood classic comedy, and even short films in a series of screenings at the Aurora Cineplex in Roswell (5100 Commerce Pkwy, Roswell, GA 30076), as well as via streaming in the AJFF Virtual Cinema. Tickets are available for purchase on Aug. 4 and are $16/person for in-person screenings and $16/household for films presented in the Virtual Cinema. In-person screenings at the Aurora Cineplex represent the festival’s first return to movie theaters since February 2020 and provides an opportunity for audiences to rediscover the joy of seeing films back on the big screen, as AJFF plans for a larger theatrical experience at next year’s 22nd edition of the annual festival in February 2022. “We’re thrilled to be the official venue for AJFF North,” says Barbara Scoggins, operations manager of the Aurora Cineplex. “As the world starts going back to the movies, community events like this one provide us an opportunity to serve film lovers in the North Atlanta metro area and beyond.” As AJFF continues to prioritize the safety of audiences and staff, organizers will follow COVID protocols in accordance with CDC and local guidelines, as well as theater partners. This will include measures to encourage all audiences to wear masks inside the theater venue, as well as social distancing during entry and exit from the theater. “After nearly two years of planning with our partners at Jewish Federation and community volunteers, AJFF North is a milestone initiative that both welcomes audiences back to theaters while also serving fans in North Metro neighborhoods,” says AJFF Executive Director Kenny Blank. “AJFF has always taken care to listen to the needs of the community, and this mini-festival further provides an opportunity to understand how the moviegoing experience will evolve as we plan for next year’s annual festival and beyond.”
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One of our favorite local photos: Sope Creek at the Paper Mill Road bridge.
Submitted information:
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Marietta) is announcing the start of her “Summer in the Sixth” Photo Contest program today. From this Sunday, August 1st through Sunday, August 29th, McBath’s office is accepting submissions of images and scenery in the Sixth Congressional District.
“There’s nothing like summer in the Peach State,”said McBath.“Our photo contest is a wonderful opportunity to share the images collected over the course of the summer and highlight the beauty of our community and of our district. I am so excited to see the photos our neighbors submit as this summer comes to an end.”
Photos should be taken outdoors in the community and can be submitted through this form by Sunday, August 29th at 11:59 pm. Full contest guidelines can be found in the entry form. Nominees will be selected by local residents and winners will be selected by the Congresswoman. The week of August 30th, nominations will be posted on McBath’s Facebook page. Voting will conclude on Monday, September 6th at 11:59 PM. Winners will be determined based on the number of engagements on Facebook – including shares, likes, and comments.
The first place photograph will be featured as the cover photo on McBath’s official Facebook and Twitter pages, and photos in second and third place will be announced and posted on the official Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages. The top three photos will also be featured in the weekly newsletter.
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The free outdoor summer movie series at The Avenue East Cobb concludes next Thursday, July 29, with a showing of “The Greatest Showman.”
Festivities begins at 6 p.m., and entertainment events include face painting, a live DJ, inflatable slides and more, followed by the movie screening at 8:45 p.m.
No reservations are required, and you’re allowed to bring folding chairs, tables and blankets. Umbrellas and tents are not permitted.
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