Cobb Life - Holiday 2024

CL COBB LIFE Santa COMESTO

CL COBB LIFE

INFORMATION

EXECUTIVE

PUBLISHER

Otis Brumby III

GENERAL MANAGER

Lee B. Garrett

V.P. OF CONTENT

J.K. Murphy

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ella Kroll, Lisa Mowry

Justin Hadley, Robin Rayne

LAYOUT

Windsor

Cobb Life is published nine times a year by the Marietta Daily Journal and distributed to more than 25,000 homes and businesses.

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Send letters to the editor, article pitches and any other content queries to Skyler Heath at sheath@mdjonline.com cobblifemagazine.com

V.P.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Becky Opitz, Paula Milton, Janie Roling, Mandy McQuay

GRAPHICS/LAYOUT COORDINATOR Beth Poirier

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Windsor Armour, Erin Barkwell, Tona Deaton, Jennifer Hall

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Dave Gossett

Holiday Issue

32 COVER STORY

Tradition says Santa Claus is busy at work in the North Pole, making his lists, checking them twice and keeping elves ahead of schedule for the big night. But what often goes untold is there are members of the extended Claus family right here in Cobb County, lending a helping hand to the jolly man himself. Meet five of Santa’s helpers who have dedicated their lives to keeping the Christmas tradition alive and spreading holiday cheer.

ON THE COVER

Santa Cesar Janeira, of Acworth, enjoys milk and cookies at Hamp & Harry’s holiday pop-up bar in December 2023. Photography by Pamela Dabrowa.

Features

10 Speakeasy

Born out of the secrecy and rebellion of Prohibition in the 1920s, speakeasies were hidden spots where people could drink, dance and dodge the law. While today’s speakeasies are fully legit, they’ve retained a similar sense of mystery and retro charm, making an ordinary night feel like an adventure. Discover the allure of three Cobb County speakeasies — Eleanor’s, The Third Door and Propaganda.

16 Recipes

Whether you’re a guest or host this year, Matthew DeBusschere aka Marietta Food Guy has two festive recipes — holiday pinwheels and maple spiked eggnog — that are sure to elevate any holiday gathering.

20 Travel

From apple picking in Ellijay and mountain biking in Roanoke to experiencing Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado, travel columnist Lisa Mowry has a full itinerary for three mountain towns for your next vacation or weekend getaway.

26 Skyline

A new VIP lounge with sweeping views of the Atlanta skyline has opened at one of Cobb’s main tourist attractions. Get a behind-the-scenes look into Cobb Energy Centre’s new Skyline Lounge, an exclusive, pre-show experience with cozy seating, signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and desserts with a view.

40 Suprema

Next time you’re craving fast-casual Mexican fare or a sweet treat, La Suprema Bakery is one spot you shouldn’t overlook. Situated on Cobb Parkway, across the street from the Big Chicken, the restaurant serves up authentic versions of your Mexican favorites, from burritos and tacos to quesadillas, with several fresh options to customize orders.

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Good Ol’ Saint Nick

Father Christmas. Sinterklaas. Saint Nick. Papá Noel. Weihnachtsmann. No matter the name, Santa Claus is widely celebrated across different languages and cultures. As children, we marveled at the idea of a jolly man in a red suit, flying around the world in a single night to deliver gifts. We wrote wish lists, left out milk and cookies and listened for the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof.

I have to admit, even at 25, I still get giddy seeing a Santa out and about. So, naturally, when I got to interview five local Kris Kringles for the Holiday 2024 issue of Cobb Life Magazine, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning again — and you get to meet them, too. Our cover story features five professional Santa Clauses, who have dedicated their lives to carrying on the Christmas tradition and legacy of Saint Nick. Don’t be fooled, being a pro Santa isn’t as simple as donning a red suit, practicing a hearty “Ho, Ho, Ho” and asking children what they want for Christmas — it’s a full-fledged profession that requires year-round work, and even an education. Twice a year, Santas from across the Southeast and beyond flock to the Northern Lights Santa Academy in Atlanta to brush up on skills, from storytelling and improv to maintaining the snow white beard. Flip over to page 32 to get the full Santa scoop.

In addition to our cover story, we have several features in this issue that are sure to complement your festivities this holiday season.

Whether you’re a guest or host this year, Matthew DeBusschere aka Marietta Food Guy has two festive recipes — holiday pinwheels and maple-spiked eggnog — to serve at your next holiday gathering.

Next time you’re craving fast-casual Mexican food, La Suprema Bakery in Marietta is one spot you shouldn’t overlook. Situated across the street from the Big Chicken on Cobb Parkway, the eatery serves up authentic versions of your Mexican favorites, from burritos and tacos to quesadillas, plus a cornucopia of Latin American baked goods made fresh, in-house daily. For your next date night or evening out, discover the allure of three speakeasies right here in Cobb — Eleanor’s, The Third Door and Propaganda. While

each one has its own unique vibe, they all share this sense of mystery and retro charm, making an ordinary night out feel like an adventure.

To keep the food and beverage trend going, we also have a feature on Cobb Energy Centre’s new Skyline Lounge. This exclusive, pre-show experience lives up to its name, offering swanky lounge seating, signature cocktails, hor’dourves and unbeatable views of the Atlanta skyline.

For those looking to plan their next vacation, travel columnist Lisa Mowry has got you covered, as always. From apple picking in Ellijay to mountain biking in Roanoke to experiencing Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado, Mowry’s has a full itinerary for three mountain towns.

After reading this year’s features, flip over to our Holiday Happenings section for a curated list of tree lightings, musicals, ballets and festive fun happening all over town. Of course, don’t forget to check out the latest holiday releases, familiar faces in Cobb Scene, an author Q&A, Cobb Eats’ Dining Deets and a special “then” photo segment.

I hope your holiday festivities bring you moments of peace, laughter and memories to last a lifetime. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and everything in between. Until next time, friends.

Warmly,

Skyler Heath Cobb Life Editor

MARIETTA

300 Tower Road, #200

Monday - Friday 8AM - 4:30PM

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1505 Stone Bridge Parkway, #200 Monday - Friday 8AM - 4PM

SECRET Sips

Speakeasy bars emerged in the 1920s as hidden drinking establishments during the Prohibition era. These secret rooms were often nestled in the backs of warehouses, pharmacies and other unassuming businesses across the U.S. to evade law enforcement and temperance groups. The term “speakeasy” originated because passwords were whispered to gain entry by those in the know.

Today, the modern-day speakeasy serves as a distinctive gathering spot for patrons to imbibe and travel back in time. Lucky for Cobb Countians, there are three local speakeasies — Eleanor’s, The Third Door and Propaganda — that offer a unique story and experience, bringing a sense of adventure back to a night out.

THE THIRD DOOR Marietta Square

Nestled on Marietta Square, The Third Door is an award-winning speakeasy concept, known for its upscale craft cocktails and talented bar staff, who make their syrups and juices in-house. Patrons can expect rotating signature cocktails unique to each season and weekly live music.

Co-owners Ted and Lara Ferreira opened The Third Door in 2020, converting the space that was originally McPherson Tire Shop. The Ferreiras have called Marietta home for the past

3 SPEAKEASY BARS

These offer something different in Cobb

Written

by Kim Ellet

Customized cocktails from a recent wedding party at the Third Door.

22 years, and though Ted has designed many bars in his planning career, this is the first one that the family has owned. The speakeasy theme was inspired by favorite New Orleans nightspots, famous for supporting live music and great cocktails. The interior lounge area is decorated with photos, authentic temperance club cards and Victorianstyle furnishings.

The Third Door name was selected as a nod to an old noir crime thriller that featured a bar with the same name. The name also refers to the hidden door in the back of the building where guests must enter. The Third Door is a favorite neighborhood spot, where everyone is welcome, including kids and dogs on the outdoor patio, though you won’t find any TV screens at the venue. Ted says they “want to be the place people come to talk, to laugh, to celebrate –not to stare at a TV.”

The Third Door’s intimate space does not include food, so it is a perfect stop before or after dinner. Guests are welcome to choose from the barrel of $0.75 packaged chips or make arrangements to cater a private event.

“The intention has always been to have a place where people can be social and enjoy a unique experience for date nights, first dates, micro-weddings, receptions, and small business functions,” Ted Ferreira said.

The Third Door team goes all out to embrace a lighthearted holiday spirit, with their shoutout to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” through their event “Church Street Vacation” in December through New Year’s. Their fourth annual “Church Street Vacation” will feature thousands of lights, playful photo opportunities and cocktails named after iconic lines from the movie such as “I Don’t Know Margo” and “Where’s the Tylenol?”

The Third Door, at 131 Church St. in Marietta, is open Tuesday through Saturday at 5 p.m. It closes at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, midnight Thursdays and 1 a.m. on weekends.

Above: The Third Door’s patio is a favorite neighborhood gathering spot in the converted McPherson’s Tire Shop, featuring a tribute mural by local artist Lindsey O’Shields.

Right: The Third Door’s award-winning bartenders serve up specialty craft cocktails.

ELEANOR’S Smyrna

Nestled behind a secret entryway in Muss & Turner’s restaurant, Eleanor’s offers the most clandestine vibe. Curious diners will watch people venture through a freezer door in the back of the restaurant and never come out. Even Eleanor’s website is hidden behind a secret door. Eleanor’s is known for its unique lunch and dinner menus and top-notch craft cocktails. It’s a great spot for an evening date night or an elevated get-together. House favorites include specialty sandwiches, honey-miso brussels, the M.O.T. salad and heaping plates of french fries. The Brown Thrasher is one of the best-selling cocktails, featuring Old Forester bourbon. Fall and winter specials include holiday brunches and ramen Sundays.

The origin story of Eleanor’s is as intriguing as its speakeasy culture. Co-owner Ryan Turner describes it as a living tribute to a very special woman, Eleanor Seale, who was the second employee hired for Muss & Turner’s local restaurant group almost 20 years ago. Hailing from New York City, Seale has owned a liquor store, an oil company and managed a doctor’s office through the years. At 63, she decided to pursue her life dream and enrolled in culinary school, where she met Turner. Turner says Seale’s cooking skills were great, but it was her business insight that quickly became invaluable to the company. When the team considered expanding the Smyrna restaurant with an engaging concept, Turner says the speakeasy theme was a chance to “add another ride in the amusement park for regular Muss & Turner fans and to offer something unique for Cobb County.”

When it came time to name the new speakeasy, Turner thought of Seale’s ongoing contributions to the company and decided to name it after her.

“Typically people are not properly honored for their contributions while they are still alive,” Turner said, adding the speakeasy’s name brings great meaning to

Above: Eleanor’s secret freezer door for entry hides in plain sight.

Left: Eleanor’s namesake Eleanor Seale in earlier days.

the entire staff.

“When you walk in you think you’ve arrived home, welcomed with open arms — a family of employees and guests,” Seale said of Eleanor’s community-centered dynamic.

First-time visitors to Eleanor’s

can ask the team at Muss & Turner’s for the secret back-room tour.

Located at 1675 Cumberland Parkway, Eleanor’s is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

PROPAGANDA Smyrna Market Village

The newest speakeasy club to Cobb, Propaganda is like a 1970s listening room and immersive art experience. Guests will immediately be drawn to the vintage vinyl collection of rock music albums that cover the walls and ceiling of the space. Propaganda fits the speakeasy feel with its hidden-inplain-sight location above Zucca Pizza in Smyrna Market Village. The cozy club accommodates 25 to 35 people in a mix of bistro, bar and small vintage living room seating areas.

The space opened in May 2024, with partners Heather Tazza and her fiance, who goes by Mr. Wattson, at the helm. Wattson said the project began with an idea as an art installation, where people could come and enjoy art, and grew into the appreciation of sharing amazing music. Tazza said it has created an inspiring blend of design and nostalgia, showcasing her Fashion Institute

of Technology education and style. Wattson brings his creative chops to the mix with his background as a professional photographer and former curator of a Buckhead chocolate shop and special event venue.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Wattson spins actual records alternating between two turntables, with ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and some early ‘90s favorites.

“Sometimes the vibe is chill, sometimes it’s dance, it just depends on the crowd,” Wattson said.

Propaganda offers weekend reservations in two-hour intervals from 7 to 9 p.m., 9 to 11 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., to keep the flow moving in the small space. Thursday is Jazz Night, featuring a live trio on the upright bass, keys and vocals. Sunday showcases Sonic Suite house sessions, drawing a diverse crowd with DJs spinning hip hop, R&B and soul music.

A seasoned bartender crafts cleverly named cocktails that fit the throwback theme of what Wattson called “the era of propaganda.” Selections include The Warhol, a Classic Pomegranate Martini; The Watergate, Hemingway Daiquiri; and Bohemian Rhapsody, Disco Lemonade. Food is not allowed

in the space, unless reserved for a private event, but it’s easy to grab a bite before or after visiting Propaganda with Zucca Pizza right downstairs. They also serve late-night pizzas to accommodate the after-midnight crowd.

Heather and Wattson said their biggest surprise since opening is the overwhelmingly positive response from guests and how many people turn out in groovy ‘70s garb. A style guide is provided on their website for anyone looking for inspiration as they do try to enforce a nightclub-style dress code.

Both Heather and Wattson grew up with family influencing their love of vintage rock and disco classics. The couple spent months scouring vintage record shops around the Southeast to build the music and album cover collection in the space.

Through their labor of love, they say they have also enjoyed “bringing an in-town energy to the suburbs and creating a spot for socializing and celebrating great art, music and craft cocktails.”

Propaganda is upstairs at Zucca Bar & Pizza at 2860 Atlanta Road. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 3 to 10 p.m.

Propaganda’s interior showcases art and design featuring vintage furnishings and album covers across the walls and ceiling.

Propaganda co-owners Mr. Wattson and Heather Tazza.

Savor w SEASON

WRITTEN BY Matthew DeBusschere aka Marietta Food Guy

recipe

Season’s greetings! It’s hard to believe this is the third holiday article I’ve written for Cobb Life Magazine. In the last few years, I’ve gone from two kids to four. As my family has grown, so has my desire for easy recipes. I love entertaining, but to ensure that I’m a calm, cool and collected host, I often look for simple recipes because I’m still parenting four young and curious kids that always want to “help” daddy cook.

With an always full and energetic home, it can be a struggle to prepare for a gathering and maintain composure. I also have to remind myself not to get lost in the logistics. We typically gather for special moments, and the holiday season is one of the most precious, especially for my kids. I once read that it’s important to “invite yourself to the party.” I hear this phrase in my head every time I host an event. As a parent, I’m learning that it’s important to include your kids in all the preparations — or at least as much as you are able to. I remember throwing a birthday party for my oldest daughter when she turned 2. I spent so much time trying to make sure everything was perfect. In order to do that, I put my daughter in front of the TV for most of the day. I carried a lot of guilt for doing that after asking myself the question, “What is the real purpose of all of this?” The answer was simple: “To celebrate her.”

So, without judgment or guilt, let me offer a friendly challenge to all you perfectionist hosts out there: try to involve your kids as much as possible.

As the host, it’s likely that you are the only one who sees a mess left behind, or a few unfinished touches. What’s really important during the holidays is the warmth of the space you invite others into. Maybe I’m just writing this to myself, but every time I find myself obsessing over the details of food and decor, I have to remember that these moments of preparation are core memories for my children and my guests. I’d rather keep things simple and leave a little mess than for my kids to miss out on having fun and learning to develop a passion for hosting the ones they love.

Matt DeBusschere is the co-owner of Marietta Melt Yard. He has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 15 years. Follow his Marietta food journey on Instagram @mariettafoodguy

MAPLE SPIKED

Egg Nog

This recipe will make one serving of eggnog using a cocktail shaker. If you’re entertaining, simply multiply each ingredient by the number of guests you are serving. To make a large batch, I would recommend combining all ingredients into a blender for 15 seconds and then chill your eggnog in the fridge for an hour before serving. The alcohol content is light in this recipe, which makes for a very refreshing sip, but you can increase the proportion of whiskey and/or rum to your liking. After making this recipe at home, I made another batch without alcohol or egg and gave it to my kids as a treat. They loved it!

This maple spiked eggnog, with cinnamon, maple syrup, whiskey, rum and heavy cream, is sure to keep your guests entertained this holiday season. Don’t forget to make an extra batch (minus the booze) for the kids, too!

Instructions:

MAPLE SPIKED HOLIDAY

Egg NogPinwheels

Ingredients:

3 oz heavy cream

½ oz whiskey

½ oz dark rum (or brandy)

½ oz granulated sugar

¼ oz maple syrup

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

2. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

3. Strain and pour into a rocks glass.

4. Garnish with an additional sprinkle of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick.

This recipe only takes about 10 minutes to prep, and then another 15 minutes in the oven. It’s fun to prepare and kids will have a great time dressing and rolling the crescent dough. These ingredients can be used for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any time in between! Want to mix it up? Go for it! This recipe is similar to constructing a pizza… you can substitute any of these ingredients depending on what’s already in your kitchen or any flavor preferences you may have.

Ingredients:

1 tube of crescent dough (pre-rolled)

½ lb. sliced turkey

¼ bottle of grainy (or dijon) mustard

¼ can of jellied cranberry

Instructions:

1 small round of brie

Half stick of butter

¼ tsp. Garlic powder

2 tbsp. Freshly chopped parsley

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease (spray or butter) and 8”x8” baking pan (size can vary, but this is optimal).

2. Mix cranberry and mustard together in a small bowl until both are fully combined and texture is smooth.

3. Cut brie into long thin pieces.

4. Melt butter in the microwave (30 seconds) and add in garlic powder and parsley

5. Lightly flour a large cutting board (or countertop) and unroll crescent dough on top.

6. Fully spread cranberry mustard over dough, then layer with turkey followed by brie.

7. Roll everything up into a log. This is a great opportunity to find a little helper. Make sure you roll the dough slowly and carefully so that it doesn’t tear.

8. Slice up the log so that you end up with 16 pinwheels, then pack them into the baking pan side by side. Place in the oven for roughly 15 minutes, or until dough is golden brown.

9 Once the pinwheels have finished baking, pull out the pan and brush the top with the melted garlic butter mix. Enjoy!

Marietta Food Guy’s holiday pinwheels are quick, easy and can serve as a great appetizer or even a side dish in a holiday feast.

travel Mountain Magic

Mountain towns have always been a draw for their magnificent views and fresh air, but these days the towns themselves are just as fun. Year-round you can count on these near and far places as solid travel choices.

Written by LISA MOWRY

Ellijay,Georgia:

Wineries & apples galore

There’s a reason why Ellijay (and its sister town, Blue Ridge) have become go-to places to visit: in just an hour’s drive from metro Atlanta, this north Georgia destination has something for everyone, from farms to pinot noir to a Sasquatch museum. City time: This Mayberry-esque town square is chock-full of restaurants, with The Cantaberry restaurant, Cornerstone Café and Ellijay Coffeehouse always good ideas. Antiques stores and other specialty stops make it a great place for exploring the downtown area, but make sure to allow plenty of time for apples and wine. Apple orchards such as Hillcrest, Mercier, Panorama and BJ Reece provide apple-picking, farm mazes, petting farms and stores filled with apple delights. More than a dozen wineries and breweries — plus a distillery and hard cider opportunity or two mixed in — define Ellijay as the closest place to winery-hop. The chamber of commerce website has suggested wine itineraries and even transportation to make a day of it. Live music on weekends makes it even more fun. Looking for something different? The “world’s largest Bigfoot museum,” otherwise known as Expedition Big Foot, is located in the Cherry Log neighborhood. Where to stay: Ellijay is known for its hundreds of rental cabins (2,000 to be exact), so it’s fun to peruse the tourism board’s website for one that has all the amenities your group might need. For a smaller travel group and city amenities, check out Blue Ridge Inn B and B, with its

This quaint mountain town gets festive during the holidays, with events such as Light Up Ellijay. Courtesy Gilmore County Chamber

Roanoke, Virginia:

Gateway to the Blue Ridge Parkway

Nestled into the Blue Ridge Mountains — and a gateway to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway — the Southern Virginia town of Roanoke is an outdoor lover’s paradise, but it’s also a charming town for its culinary scene and the arts. Roanoke is about a seven hours’ drive from metro Atlanta, or a 1.5-hour flight.

fantastic location in downtown Blue Ridge, walkable to all the attractions.

Mountain time: Fresh-air opportunities abound in these parts. As a fun fact, the famed Appalachian Trail starts near Ellijay, and even dayhikers can venture onto the route at Springer Mountain. As another hiking option, Bear Creek Trail is a two-mile roundtrip walk to see an enormous Tulip Poplar tree, one of the dozens of great hikes in the area. Cartecay Bike Shop Brewery can set you up with the mountain-bike experience (plus, pour a cold one). Zipline Canopy Tours in Blue Ridge give you a bird’s eye view of the area, and nearby is Blue Ridge Fly fishing school for classes and equipment to have a successful day in the river.

City time: The city’s boutique hotels are a destination in themselves. Check out The Liberty Trust, a historic hotel that was once First National Bank headquarters, and still shows off its Beaux Arts details such as marble and brass touches everywhere. Nearby Fire Station One Hotel has architectural features from its days as a local fire station — including a brass pole and original circular staircase — and inside its all chic rooms with a boho or Parisian-style slant.

When it’s time to explore downtown Roanoke, dozens of shops and museums are walkable. Highlights include the Taubman Museum of Art, with its striking architecture and views of the city, and the artisan-packed Crafteria — think vintage records, jewelry and coffee drinks in a unique midcentury building. Stop for drinks at Stock Bistro and Bar in Fire Station One and then dinner

at Lucky restaurant, a chef-driven cozy eatery. Don’t miss driving up to the Roanoke Star, with views for miles at this iconic landmark.

Mountain time: You can get outdoorsy without going too far from the city by riding bikes on the Greenway with Roanoke Mountain Adventures. (Stop in the nearby Black Dog Salvage warehouse for treasures.) Head to Explore Park along the Blue Ridge Parkway as a gateway for fresh-air adventures. Here they have a treetop adventure course, 14 miles of trails for hiking and biking, a brewery and even glamping possibilities. A bit further is Washington and Jefferson National Park, with its Roaring Run waterfall hike and more. The Blue Ridge Parkway itself is only 10 minutes north of Roanoke, winding along 400-plus miles of treelined roads with a stunning vista around every corner.

With its 22 varieties of apples produced in the summer and fall, Ellijay is known as the Apple Capital of Georgia. Farms where you can pick apples are a popular destination, as well as orchards with jams, pies, ciders and other apple treats for sale. Courtesy Gilmore County Chamber

Often known as the east coast’s mountain-biking capital, the Roanoke/Blue Ridge area has a huge biking culture. Dody Ridge Mountain trail is a 12-mile loop east of the city.

Photo VisitVBR/Sam Dean Photography

Denver, Colorado:

The Mile-High city has it all

Mountain views and urban experiences combine quite nicely in this Colorado town. Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Denver’s city attractions are a good starting point for exploring the state. You don’t have to go far for quintessential Colorado adventures, however, since metro Denver includes iconic sites such as Red Rocks Amphitheater and Rocky Mountain National Park.

City time: After a three-hour plane ride into Denver International Airport, we picked up a rental car and drove to The Ramble Hotel, a new-to-look old boutique destination near downtown. Rooms are spacious and chic, but one of the main draws is its elegant lobby, the home base for breakfast and then afternoon drinks courtesy of Death & Co, with an impressive menu for dinner. The hotel is in the RiNo district (short for River North Arts District), and walkable to downtown attractions such as Coors Field and Union Station. The artsy Denver Central Market (think murals and young artists) is a food market with an international, bohemian flair. A highlight was our trip to Denver Botanic Gardens, the city’s No. 1 attraction and one of the top botanical gardens in the country.

Mountain time: You don’t have to drive far outside of Denver to experience bucket-list activities. At the top of anybody’s wish list should be an evening at Red Rocks Amphitheater, the spectacular open-air concert venue, where dramatic cliffs and starry skies are as much a part of the experience as the performers. The Red Rocks concert series runs April to November, but the park is open year-round for hiking, yoga classes and more. Our tip: as a home base for

concerts, book a room at Origins Hotel Red Rocks, a colorful hotel that can provide shuttles to the concert (book in advance) or provide parking information (parking is free to ticket-holders). They also have good tacos for a pre-concert meal.

Head to Rocky Mountain National Park another day for gorgeous outdoor opportunities that are — remarkably — still in metro Denver. RMNP has some of the highest elevations of any national park — with snow-covered peaks above 14,000 feet above sea level — so bring snacks for a fantastic road trip winding up its scenic roads. Don’t miss Bear Lake, and keep an eye out for elk, longhorn sheep and many other native animals. As always with a national park, check the government website for information about entry times, which roads are open and weather updates.

As a celebration of 50 years for the “Virginia is for Lovers” slogan, creative LOVE signs are fun to spot all over the state. Check out this Roanoke one, appropriately made of found objects at Black Dog Salvage, a 40,000-square-foot warehouse of fun finds. Photo Lisa Mowry

The Roanoke Pinball Museum has restored and playable machines from as early as the 1930s up to present. It’s located in the Market Square building that’s home to other museums and attractions. Photo VBR

Just a 1.5-hour drive from Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park is a treasure for exploring nature. Its 355 miles of hiking trails, 100-plus lakes, plentiful wildlife and tall mountains are a draw; Bear Lake is a popular place for its crisp mountain views. Photo Lisa Mowry

The small town of Golden, Colorado is a gateway to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and has plenty of charms for visitors for a stop: downtown restaurants and shops, Coors Brewery tours and a walk along the paved trails of Clear Creek Trail.

Photo Lisa Mowry

Adventurous cocktails and views of downtown Denver are just part of the charm at the Garden bar in The Ramble Hotel, an artsy place to stay near the city’s attractions.

Photo Lisa Mowry

Luxury

Anew VIP lounge with sweeping views of the Atlanta skyline has become a fixture at one of Cobb’s main tourist attractions.

Ahead of the holidays, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre unveiled its new Skyline Lounge in September. The space, on the venue’s Grand Tier floor, serves as an exclusive, pre-show experience, offering signature cocktails, curated hors d’oeuvres and desserts, cozy lounge seating and, of course, unbeatable views of the city.

Tom Rowland, CEPAC’s marketing and programming director, said the pre-show concept has been in the works for a couple of years, with CEPAC management brainstorming ways to transform the venue’s “underutilized” third floor into a new amenity.

“What really struck me, both for the name and the space, is you can see the skyline from Buckhead all the way down to Midtown and Downtown,” Rowland explained. “The combination of the views and being up here with the chandeliers — (the lounge) just has a really great feel to it. Having this spacious and comfortable seating really sets it apart because you don’t really get that downstairs.”

The main draws of the lounge, Rowland said, are that showgoers can arrive at the venue early, beat the crowds and avoid long concession lines downstairs — and for a fair price of $55.

A wide shot of the new Skyline Lounge at the Cobb Energy Centre.

Photo by Chris Savas

“For that ticket, you’re getting exclusive access to this space, appetizers and specialty cocktails that you can only get here,” he said. “You also get two complimentary drink tickets: one alcoholic drink and one nonalcoholic drink.”

Patrons can enjoy rotating signature cocktails, such as the Pamplemouse Panther, with gin, pink grapefruit rosé, lavender bitters and soda, and the Pineapple Old Fashioned, with bourbon, pineapple juice, brown sugar and bitters. For appetizers, the lounge offers small plates, including chicken and apple meatballs, bacon-wrapped scallops and strawberry cream puffs. With the Atlanta Ballet’s upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker,” from Dec. 7 to 24, showgoers can also expect holidaythemed drinks and bites at the lounge on select dates.

Come sample our Japanese sushi, Hong Kong noodle soup, Hibachi, and a variety of salads. With 250

At the new Skyline Lounge, showgoers can choose from a wide array of signature craft cocktails, curated by CEPAC’s food and beverage team.

Chicken and apple meatballs, with brie, fennel and a honey glaze.

Beyond the holidays, though, Rowland said CEPAC’s food and beverage team is working to curate offerings that appeal to each show’s unique audience.

“We don’t want to have a carbon-copy, cookiecutter menu for each event,” he said. “When we have a younger demographic coming in, what they’re going to want in that space could be very different from what a crowd 55-plus would want. So, we’re taking a creative approach to this and thinking outside the box.”

Despite being dubbed a pre-show experience, Rowland said they’re also exploring ideas of keeping the lounge open 15 to 20 minutes after a show starts or reopening it during intermissions.

“We’re using the first few months to kick the tires and see how the lounge is working,” he said. “If we need to tweak things one way or the other, then we’ll do that, but for now, so far so good.”

Strawberry cream puffs, with strawberry mascarpone, Chantilly cream and strawberry dust.

Views of the Atlanta skyline at Cobb Energy Centre’s new Skyline Lounge.

From left, Joanne Truffelman, board president of Arts Bridge Foundation, a Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre nonprofit; Sue Hammock, corporate sales manager of Cobb Galleria Centre; Bassem Maarouf, food and beverage director of Cobb Galleria and Cobb Energy Centre; and Ellia Dye, banquet event coordinator of Cobb Galleria Centre, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at CEPAC’s new Skyline Lounge.

CEPAC was the first major performing arts venue built in metro Atlanta in four decades when it opened in 2007, and became one of metro Atlanta’s premier venues for Broadway shows, ballet, concerts and operas. It also hosts two resident companies: the Atlanta Ballet and the Atlanta Opera.

“It’s our 17th anniversary, and what continuously amazes me is we have such a diverse programming schedule,” Rowland said. “Like in a given week, we could have a K-pop show, Latin show, Frankie Valli and a ballet, so every night, there is a different crowd coming into the building.”

Skyline Lounge tickets can be bundled with show tickets or purchased separately. For more information on the new lounge or to purchase tickets, visit cobbenergycentre.com.

feast your eyes on the convenient, modern location. Revel in the exceptional customer service and superior food experience. Cheer on the shows in our Cobb Energy Centre. Engage your audience in ways they’ll always remember. The word is out: one meeting place has it all.

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Above:

Tom Rowland, marketing director for the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, and Vickie Hubbard, managing director, are at the helm of the venue’s new Skyline Lounge.

Left: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre ushers and longtime friends Pat Ketchum and Pat McGinnis — also known as Pat K and Pat M at work — enjoy the new Skyline Lounge.

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WRITTEN BY SKYLER HEATH PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN RAYNE

Meet 5 Clauses keeping the Christmas spirit alive in Cobb Brotherhood of the Red Suit

AsChristmas Eve approaches, tradition says Saint Nick is hustling around the North Pole, making his lists, checking them twice and keeping elves ahead of schedule for the big night. But what often goes untold is there are honorary members of the Claus family right here in Cobb County, working year-round to spread Christmas cheer and lend a helping hand to the jolly man himself.

“We’re professional Santa Clauses,” said Rick Rosenthal, owner of Northern Lights Santa Academy in Atlanta. “We represent the neatest guy on earth. There’s a whole industry of professional Christmas performers: Santas, Mrs. Claus, elves.”

Rosenthal, who goes by Santa Rick, has been a member of the Claus family for 55 years. Carrying the Claus name, he said, involves far more than sporting a red suit, practicing a hearty “Ho, Ho, Ho” and asking children what they want for Christmas.

“There’s a difference between looking like a Claus and being part of the Claus family,” Rosenthal said.

Meet five metro Atlanta men who have dedicated their lives to continuing the Christmas tradition and legacy of Saint Nick. From learning the nuances of storytelling to maintaining the iconic snow white beard, these locals have transformed their love for the

holidays and children into a full-fledged profession.

‘Community of Clauses’

For Yates Cantrell, of east Cobb, his journey into the red suit began six years ago during a fortuitous encounter with one of Santa’s helpers.

“I met a lady and she was an elf,” Cantrell said with a laugh. “She asked me if I ever thought about being Santa Claus.”

That brief conversation, he said, ended with an invitation to the Northern Lights Santa Academy in Atlanta.

“I went and didn’t really know what to expect, but it was just a great community of Clauses — it was like one giant family,” said Cantrell, whose professional name is Santa Yates.

With a background in children’s ministry, Cantrell said stepping into Santa’s boots was a natural fit. Similarly, with a jovial spirit and love for the holidays, Acworth family man Cesar Janeira was practically born to be a Claus.

“I was always the kind of guy that loved Christmas,” said Janeira, who goes by Santa Cesar. “My house was always done up, lights everywhere, reindeers on the front lawn. It was almost ridiculous, the amount of stuff that I did.”

Six years ago, Janeira was approached by a man who closely

The Clauses of Cobb County — Rick Rosenthal, Yates Cantrell, Cesar Janeira, Kenny Harper and Michael Elliott — work on their naughty and nice lists at the Marietta Daily Journal ahead of Christmas Eve.

resembled Saint Nick at an Atlanta United game.

“I’ve been a sucker for Santa for a long time, so when he came closer to me, I put my hand up and said, ‘High five Santa!’” he said.

After reciprocating a high five, the Kris Kringle look alike stopped Janeira, who at the time was sporting a white goatee, and asked if he ever considered being a Santa Claus.

“That floored me,” Janeira quipped. “‘Me? Santa Claus? But I don’t have a beard.’”

“We can work on that,” the man said.

That man, Janeria said, was Santa Rick Rosenthal.

“We’re always looking for new Santas,” Rosenthal said. “As soon as I saw Cesar, I knew he had it.”

Rosenthal’s Santa journey is slightly unorthodox. Not only has

he been a Claus since he was 16, but he’s also Jewish. Nevertheless, his age and religious faith never discouraged him from donning the red suit.

“Growing up, I was always a little different from everyone else,” he said with a hearty laugh. “I was born with a North Pole sense of humor.”

Rosenthal cut his teeth as Santa in 1968, with the intention of giving classmates some comedic relief at school. But when the Santa stint followed him to college and he started interacting with children, Rosenthal realized that being a Claus was his true calling.

“It transitioned overnight from being fun to being incredible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Austell resident Kenny Harper was recruited into

Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and Elves at a previouslyheld Northern Lights Santa Academy session.

Photo by Nick Cardello

December 13th & 14th, 2024

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The 8th Annual

Has helped raise almost a million dollars

the Santa suit 18 years ago by a family-friend who was also a Claus.

“He told me there was a shortage of Santas, and that I ought to grow my beard out,’” Harper, aka Santa Kenny, said.

Harper came home and talked to his wife about the Santa pitch, ultimately deciding to let his beard run its course. He’s been a member of the Claus family ever since.

Michael Elliott, of Mableton, was also just a beard away from fitting the Santa bill.

“I started growing this out in 2021, ‘cause why not?” Elliott said, while smoothing down the flyaways of his snow white beard. “About a year and a half into it, I kept getting stopped as Santa. I mean everywhere, in restaurants, at the supermarket, even in my car sitting at an exit.”

One day, Elliott came home and searched, “How to become a Santa,” on the internet, where one of the first links took him to the Northern Lights Santa Academy. When he saw the academy’s fall 2023 session was coming up, Elliott decided to take a poll on social media, asking friends if he would make a good Saint Nick.

“A majority of everyone said yes, so I decided to go for it,” said Elliott, who goes by Santa Michael.

Santa School

Twice a year, Clauses from across the Southeast and beyond gather at the Northern Lights Santa Academy to refine their Santa skills. The school is typically held at various hotels across metro Atlanta, with an average of 150 students in each class.

“Just seeing all these men coming out of their cars with these big white beards, you’re like, ‘This is real!’” Elliott exclaimed. “Then you put us all together in a room and it’s like real-life magic.”

The three-day academy, held in the fall and spring, covers a wide curriculum, from beard whitening and manicuring to storytelling, performing and writing contracts.

“We tell people that you can’t just put on a red suit from Walmart and be Santa because there’s so much practice, preparation and education to it,” Janeira said, adding the biggest takeaway from school is the camaraderie. “Between us Santas, there’s no competition. We’re like a brotherhood of the red suit.”

Aside from brushing up on their Santa education through lectures, students also participate in hands-on workshops, including special-needs training. While one Santa visits with a special needs child, the interaction is broadcast on a big screen next door, with hundreds of Kris Kringles watching and taking notes.

“The way the children react is just incredible,” Santa Michael Elliott said. “There are like 150 Santas just balling in the other room because it’s just a beautiful thing to watch.”

After the visits, students will then participate in a Q&A session with the children’s parents for feedback and pointers. Rosenthal also brings in professionals from outside the Christmas industry, including lawyers and actors, so the learning experience remains fresh — he’s even had professors and rocket scientists, who specialize in aerodynamics and combustion, teach Santa physics classes.

“A huge part of learning is hearing war stories from other Santas, but we like to bring in the professionals from other fields for credibility,” Rosenthal said, who founded the school with his wife, Tracy, in 2016. “No one wants to hear the same person talking for hours at a time. We’ve never had less than seven (instructors) and we’ve had as many as 22.”

Rosenthal may be the dean of Northern Lights, but he’s a

“Christmas is for children of all ages, and Santa is that guy who can transcend that happiness, whether you’re 2 or 92,” said Santa Rick Rosenthal, dean of the Northern Lights Santa Academy. “It’s a beautiful thing.” Photo by Terressa Cline.

student, too, because there’s always room for growth at the North Pole.

“Whether you’re a first-year Santa or a 55-year Santa like me, you can always learn something new,” he said. “This is a role where you should never stop growing.”

When Rosenthal isn’t mentoring other Santas, at a gig or visiting with children, he’s serving as an agent for his company, the National Santa Agency, which provides Santas, Mrs. Claus and elves for clients around the U.S. and abroad.

What would Santa do?

Though the saying, “Santa’s always watching,” rings true, it often goes both ways. Professional Santas are in the limelight year round, even when they aren’t in Christmas garb, which means they always have to be on their best behavior.

“Santa is the most photographed persona in the world, he’s a public figure,” Janeira said. “Across the board, all the Santas are always being watched — or we have to assume we are always being watched. You can’t go into public without being acknowledged. You always have to be in character.”

Part of being a member of the Claus family also means making significant lifestyle changes and maintaining high morals like Saint Nick.

“Santa doesn’t touch liquor, he doesn’t sit behind bars — Santa drinks hot chocolate and eats cookies,” Janeira said.

The real key to being a Claus, Rosenthal said, is for Santas to ask themselves “What would Santa do?” or “What would Santa say?”

Acworth resident Cesar Janeria, left, and Rick Rosenthal, dean of Northern Lights Santa Academy, exchange jolly laughs at Santa school. Photo by Terressa Cline.

Holiday hustle

When the holiday season rolls around, the five Clauses of Cobb are booked and busy, with events across the county, from appearances at Truist Park and the Battery Atlanta to government luncheons, malls and Christmas festivals. These local Santas may be popular among Cobb Countians, but they’re also booking gigs across the Southeast and beyond.

“This past year, I worked at a ritzy event in West Palm Beach, where I saw Sylvester Stallone,” Santa Cesar Janeira said. “I’ve had an opportunity already to go to Dubai and Miami.”

While the Clauses’ peak business is November through December, they’re still working events in the off season like weddings, birthdays and engagement parties. A few years back, Santa Kenny Harper said he worked the Marietta Independence Day Parade, sporting a patriotic red, white and blue suit.

Because of the constant hustle, Santa Yates Cantrell, of east Cobb, says it’s often hard to keep up. That’s why every night after a day’s work, he’ll sit down and journal his memorable happenings from the day.

“As the years go along, it all goes so fast,” Cantrell said. “For me, it’s hard to find a favorite memory because every night, I’ve sat in that chair with 500 children and something memorable always happens.”

Keeping the spirit alive

Being a professional Santa may require high standards, education and a booked holiday season, but the Clauses of Cobb collectively agreed that they couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

With a jovial spirit and love for Christmas, Cesar Janeira, of Acworth, was practically born to be a Claus.

“The most rewarding part of being Santa is being able to bring a smile to not only children, but also adults,” Santa Kenny Harper said. “Especially right now in the world we’re living in — everyone deserves to smile.”

For Santa Michael Elliot, a Black man from the Dominican Republic, representation in the Santa Claus industry — traditionally dominated by the image of a white man in a red suit — is important.

“A lot of the gigs that I go to have been Black communities and the response that I get from the family members, the parents with the children are like, ‘Oh, my God, finally!’” Elliott said with a smile. “Children are children. They don’t see color like we do as adults, so they don’t really care, but the fact that they see (a Santa) that looks like them is just an extra sprinkle on top.”

Reflecting on his six-year career as Santa, Janeira may have mastered the jolly laugh and captivating storytelling, but he’s also adopted the true spirit of Saint Nick.

“I’m a totally different person than I was six years ago,” he said. “Santa has changed me and made me a better person.”

When asked for advice to those considering stepping in Santa’s boots, Santa Rick Rosenthal said to not look at it as a job or a career, but as a lifestyle.

“There is this basic primal instinct that we’ve developed into our culture that Santa is the guy. When you’re able to connect with that primal instinct I believe people have about Christmas, it’s so endearing, so humbling,” Rosenthal said. “You have to love yourself first and have to be able to love people second. You have to believe that there’s good in everybody — your job is to find that. It’s not a good and bad list, it’s a nice and naughty list, and everyone deserves to be on the nice list.”

For more information on the Northern Lights Santa Academy, visit northernlightssantaacademy.com.

From left, Kenny Harper, Yates Cantrell, Rick Rosenthal, Michael Elliott and Cesar Janeira are the Clauses of Cobb County, working year-round to spread Christmas cheer and lend a helping hand to Saint Nick.

Santa Cesar

ACWORTH

Nickname: Trilingual Santa (fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English)

Years in the Claus family: 6 years

Side hobbies: Sleeping, cookie tasting, reindeer training and occasional Nerf Gun games with the elves.

Funniest gift request: “A large group of pre-teen girls all asked me for two of the same things: Lululemon and a boyfriend. I told them, ‘We make toys, not boys at the North Pole.’”

Santa Yates

EAST COBB

Nickname: Excited Santa

Years in the Claus family: 6 years

Side hobbies: Board games, weight lifting, going to estate sales and playing video games with family

Santa Michael

Nickname: Bilingual Santa (fluent in Spanish and English)

MABLETON

Years in the Claus family: 1.5 years

Side hobbies: Working at the Georgia State Capitol, DJing

Santa Rick ATLANTA

Nickname: Out-of-the-box Santa, Dean of Northern Lights Santa Academy

Years in the Claus family: 55 years

Side hobbies: Gardening, singing and metal detecting.

Funniest gift request: “I had a child ask me for a bathroom.”

Santa Kenny AUSTELL

Nickname: Cheerful Santa

Years in the Claus family: 18 years

Side hobbies: Going to church and watching Georgia Bulldogs football

Funniest gift request: “One child asked me if I could wake him up on Christmas so he could meet Rudolph.”

There’s always something exciting happening in Marietta. Our event scene runs year-round!

Enjoy culture, music, art, and love of a fun time under our scenic backdrops. From holiday home tours to shopping, dining and play, all roads seem to lead back to our historic Square.

James Thomason, founder of north Georgia-based Mountain Man Beard Products, gives a Santa student beard care tips and tricks. Thomason’s company offers the “Ultimate Santa Package,” which consists of beard oil, beard whitening, beard butter, among other necessary products that help Santas maintain their iconic snow white beard. Photo by Terressa Cline.

Written by Matthew Terrell

Next time you crave Mexican fast-casual fare, look toward a hidden gem on Cobb Parkway that you’ve probably noticed catty-cornered from the Big Chicken. La Suprema Bakery serves up authentic versions of your Mexican favorites, with several fresh options to customize orders. Plus, those with a sweet tooth can satisfy their cravings with Mexican baked goods, including sweet rolls, croissants and more.

The original La Suprema opened up in 1998 on Windy Hill Road, which was one of Cobb’s first Latin bakeries. The La Suprema on Cobb Boulevard is a second

location and has both a bakery and a grill. La Suprema is Mexican-owned, and many of the employees are immigrants or first generation Americans.

The fresh grill section of La Suprema’s menu is very fresh and extensive. Here, you can get all the usuals — like tacos, burritos and quesadillas — but also tortas (rich and savory sandwiches), breakfast items and authentically-refreshing Mexican beverages. With a wide array of freshly prepared toppings for your order, it’s possible to get a balanced and flavorful version of authentic Mexican food. The grill is also popular with police and firefighters, who get a 25% discount.

For something satisfying and healthy, try the veggie quesadilla. You can choose a wide variety of add-ins to

melt and mingle with the white cheese, such as rice and beans (charro or black beans), mushrooms, roasted red peppers, pickled jalapenos, onions, lettuce, spinach and cilantro. Pico de gallo and guacamole, both freshly prepared, can be added in or to the side of your items. Several homemade salsas are available self-service, including a smokey tomato, a spicy tomatillo and a bright habanero salsa.

Make sure to browse the bakery section of the store. What you need to know about Mexican baked goods — especially the iconic Concha buns with their bulging sugar coating — is that to American standards, they are a bit dry and not sweet enough. Many of the treats are meant to be enjoyed dunked into coffee or hot chocolate.

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A typical purchase from a customer. In the local Mexican community, La Suprema’s baked goods are an impressive treat to bring to parties and family gatherings.

For those new to Mexican baked goods, try something in the croissant category — because croissants are delicious no matter what — or purchase something that resembles your favorite grocery store snack cake. At La Suprema, they have several of their own homemade dupes of Little Debbie and Hostess cakes. While La Suprema’s baked goods aren’t necessarily less calories than the grocery store variety, they are a lot fresher and don’t have any of the preservatives and stabilizers you get with the shelf-stable varieties. In case you are wondering about the ingredients, La Suprema has laminated sheets by the bakery items detailing what’s in them. Yes, they use real dairy and eggs in their pastries, not the mystery hydrogenated oil and corn syrup you’d find in the shelf stable ones.

Consider also buying a bolillo, which is the classic Mexican sandwich bread. They are elongated, single-serving white bread rolls, perfect for making po’boys and hoagies. Be warned, unlike grocery store bread, these bolillos don’t have the dough conditioners that keep them soft indefinitely. These all-natural Mexican breads will get stale after a day or so, and need to be turned into bread pudding at that point.

Once you try La Suprema, it will be added into your regular rotation of meals when you want Mexican food fast, that isn’t necessarily “fast food.” With their expansive menu, and freshly prepared toppings and salsas, everyone can make the taco, quesadilla, torta or burrito they dream of.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! VOTE ALL SEASON LONG TO HELP PICK THE LOCAL PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK!

Matthew Terrell writes, makes art and loves to eat in Marietta. He teaches in the School of Communication and Media at Kennesaw State University.

La Suprema grill cook, Ari Arcos, prepares tacos for a customer. La Suprema’s cooking area is impeccably clean, and they make a point to ensure the entire restaurant looks spotless.

The Supreme-sized Veggie Quesadilla is so filled with fresh toppings that you can make a complete, healthy meal out of it.

Melisa Perez, a Marietta High School student who has been working at La Suprema for two years, holds a cake that has just come from the bakery. Perez said her favorite item is the tres leches slices, available in the dessert cooler.

The daily selection of baked goods changes, but the bakers make sure to list all the ingredients of each pastry.

The croissants at La Suprema are just as good as a French bakery, but here they come in many more creative varieties!

CLIFF YEARGIN

Cliff Yeargin has spent his life as a storyteller, traveling the U.S. as a writer/ producer/photographer and editor in broadcast journalism. Yeargin spent most of his career covering sports. His travels took him to dozens of Major League ballparks, World Series, Super Bowls and a host of college sports. His started out at his hometown radio station, WSGC in Elberton, Georgia, followed by stints at WLOSTV in Asheville, NC and over twenty years with WMAR-TV in Baltimore, MD. In 2009, he returned to his native Georgia, joining CNN as a creative producer/editor, retiring at the end of 2024. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and now lives in Atlanta. He is the author of the award-winning Jake Eliam ChickenBone Mystery Series. You can follow the ChickenBone series @ cliffyeargin.com

CL: How did the idea for “ButterBean ShingALing” come about?

CY: Most of the ChickenBone Series is about sports, in particular baseball, since the lead character, Jake Eliam, is a lifetime baseball man and ‘reluctant’ PI. But this idea came about after a phone call with a long-time friend and college buddy. We talked at length about our mutual love of Carolina Beach Music, and he spent the bulk of the call telling stories about how many times he had seen the legendary Swingin’ Medallions, telling stories about standing on the porch of a fraternity house at Georgia, beer in one hand, sorority girl in the other, listening to ‘Doubleshot’. So, I hung up, took the outline I was working on, trashed it, and set down to figure out how to come up with a story that revolved around Carolina Beach Music. Sometimes an idea just falls into your lap, and you have to steal it while you can.

CL: What separates this book from other pieces you’ve written? What connects it?

CY: What is different is the basic theme detours from sports to music. Three of the books, Rabbit Shine, BirdDog Boogie and SweetTater Tango are all baseball themed. MudCat Moon revolves around A Georgia-Alabama football game and Hoochy Koochy does involve old music, but is more about Jake ending up in a mess on a Snake Farm. But what connects it to the others is the same gang of main characters. Jake is pulled into his PI job by his best friend Catfish, a former UGA Bulldog football star and owner of the 3 Pigs BBQ. In each of the books, Jake, Catfish and a host of oddball characters who tag along, do not plan to get deep into trouble…but somehow, they always do, leaving Jake to once again wonder why he let Catfish lead him down another rabbit hole.

CL: What can readers expect from your sixth book?

CY: More of the same, but with a twist. If you love Southern Carolina beach music, ever got romantic in Myrtle Beach to the Drifters, you will enjoy the ride. Bobby Springs was a rising star on the Fraternity Circuit. On the verge of a hit record, Springs took his own life, a head-first dive off a water tower. Decades later, Sax Simpson, who played horns for him, still believes Springs was

murdered. He teams up with a reporter to find out. Enter Jake Eliam, in debt and indebted to the reporter, he, Catfish and a motely group of help, head deep into the swamps to find the truth. Digging up bones, they must tangle with the most powerful man in South Georgia, plus a swamp filled with angry gators, and Jake is not sure which one is the most dangerous.

CL: How does inspiration strike you?

CY: I have friends who swear, based on some of the characters I create, that my inspiration comes from a large bottle of Tennessee Sipping Whiskey. But for me, inspiration comes from just observing. Open your eyes and ears and it is amazing what you can gather up to use in a story. And my books are filled with offbeat characters, many of them inspired by people I grew up with. Everybody who grew up deep in the rural south had a nickname. So, I create characters with names, like DumpTruck, BoobyTrap, RoadKill and Cool Breeze. I come up with the name first, and the name easily leads to my inspiration for how I will develop the character and what role they will play in the story. The fun part is seeing where you can take them.

CL: Do you have any rituals/best practices for writing?

CY: I wish I was more disciplined. Many writers use fancy software programs to organize work, some use big boards filled with index cards, others will do dozens of re-writes of each chapter. I come from the messy world of journalism. You learn to work with distractions all around you. Noisy newsrooms, scribbling on a tiny notebook in a snowstorm, in the corner of a locker room, or in a late-night hotel bar on karaoke night. So, my method is a bit flawed. I outline a book on one page of a legal pad, then flush out the chapters and characters on the same pad, maybe ten pages. After that, I shove the cat off the keyboard, sit down, turn on a ballgame in the background and start writing. I go back through it one time, clean it up best I can and move on.

CL: What advice can you share with other local aspiring authors?

CY: Find your own voice. When I first tried to write fiction, I copied

the style of my favorite writers. After a pile of rejection letters, I went back over my work, and it was easy to tell it was not good. So, I learned to ‘dumb’ it down to my level, and slowly my own voice emerged. Good or bad, it has got to be your voice. Secondly, writing is by nature isolating, and if you are going to invest a large amount your time to a book or especially a series, then create characters you enjoy spending time with and can’t wait to get back and hang out with them. And if you are serious about writing, then no excuses. Treat it like a job. Sit yourself down in the chair and do the work.

CL: How has your environment influenced your work?

CY: Two ways. First, my career in journalism. I spent most of my years covering sports. So, you spend a lot of time in locker rooms, dugouts, practice fields, buses, planes, hotels and there is a lot of down time. Sit around with some players, some old coaches, or a group of sportscasters and sportswriters and you can collect enough stories to file away to use for years to come. And then it is the rural, off the beaten path background. I grew up around some real interesting folks, many whom were great liars, but great storytellers! And some were family members. So, when asked where I find my characters, I just tell people I disguise my relatives JUST enough, so they don’t recognize themselves.

CL: What’s your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite?

CY: It is simple. The story -- I love storytelling and have been a storyteller all my life. Matter of fact, as mentioned above, during some late-night hotel bar storytelling sessions, there were a good many friends who would tire of me telling some odd, offbeat story and let me know. It did not stop me. Now I just put them in my books. The least favorite part, getting my manuscript back from the Copyeditor marked up in RED like one of my college papers.

CL: Who are you currently reading?

CY: Two authors right now. Ace Atkins, a Southern mystery writer (and former Auburn Football player) who has a long list of mysteries set in Mississippi or New Orleans. His current, Don’t Let The Devil Ride is a gritty Southern noir story with a witty edge. The second is a nonfiction book, Bottom of the 33rd by Dan Barry, a New York Times columnist. It is the story of the longest baseball game in history. In 1981 a Triple-A Minor League game was suspended after 32 innings, tied at 2-2 at 4 a.m. It resumed two months later, when the Pawtucket Red Sox finally beat the Rochester Red Wings 3-2 in the bottom of the 33rd inning. Two Hall of Famers, Cal Ripken and Wade Boggs played in the game.

CL: Why did you start writing? What made you take the plunge?

CY: I started in High School. I was terrible at math and science, so I wrangled my way into a journalism class, where I could write for the school paper and yearbook. First time I saw something I wrote in print, I was hooked. Late in my career, I returned to Georgia to work at CNN as an editor. One day, working with our Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, I listened as he discussed his schedule with his producer. He had a marathon to run, was headed overseas to a war zone, then to LA where his novel was being made into a TV show, PLUS he also had brain surgery on his schedule. When they left, I said aloud… “I am the laziest person I know…” I went home that day and started work on creating the Jake Eliam Series. Doctor’s orders. Take The Plunge!

CL: What/who is your favorite book/author of all time? Why?

CY: Any book by Carl Hiaasen. He began as a columnist for the Miami Herald, railing against development and corruption in South

Florida. That led to novels, comic novels, with names like Bad Monkey, Strip Tease, Sick Puppy and many more. They all feature greedy rich bad guys and a host of flawed sidebar characters that will make you laugh out loud. My favorite is a guy named CHEMO who appears in two of his novels. He’s a hit man who lost one of his arms to a barracuda in Biscayne Bay, and Hiaasen decided to give him a Weed Whacker as a prosthesis. That’s my kind of writer and my kind of character!

CL: What makes your work stand out from other authors in the same genre?

CY: When most people pick up a book and the last word in the sub-title is mystery, they have a certain expectation. First, a murder, a slick investigator and 300 pages of twist and turns and on page 299, a stunning twist. Well, if you pick up one of my books expecting that, then you have made a serious purchasing error. It is just a good story. It’s more like a bunch of friends sitting around a fire and one guy starts to tell some tall tale. Rambling, running off into the ditch, drinks are getting warm, and you are asking yourself… when the heck is he going to tell us what happened. Then, maybe an hour later, you are leaning into the fire, hanging on for the fun ride to the finish. You just have to empty the cooler and burn through a pile of good oak to get there.

The following is an excerpt from Cliff Yeargin’s book, “ButterBean: ShingALing.”

“Robert Chase is a rich man, well known for being a do-gooder, as long as he gets all the credit for doing the good. Every year, he opens up his private island and estate for a huge fundraiser event which attracts the richest of the rich,” Elvis said. “It attracts a big pile of fraternity and sorority folks from around the South, all with deep pockets and looking for an excuse to party. These are a bunch of old frat guys and sorority gals, so the party is all about Carolina Beach Music. Every year, they wrap it up with a beach-side moonlight concert by the original legendary Swingin’ Medallions.”

“The Medallions,” Catfish said, “Dang, I fell down a lot of steps, passed out a many of times at some frat house while they played on the front lawn.”

“Who are The Swingin’ Medallions?” I asked.

They both stared at me like I had killed a kitten with my bare hands.

“Jake, you don’t know who The Swingin’ Medallions are?” Elvis asked. “That’s like not knowing chicken can be fried.”

“What do you think I did most of my life? Every weekend of my life from a teenager until I was forty, I was playing or coaching baseball. Then I was on some bus in the middle of the night, ten hours, rolling toward Topeka. Not a lot of time left to party or dance.”

“They don’t dance, they shag,” Elvis said. “Shag is a dance, native to the beaches of the Carolinas.”

“Believe it or not,” I said. “I know what the Shag is. Introduced to me by a beautiful former hippie lady, who ended up marrying rich and had a fundraiser of her own where folks were enjoying the shag.”

“So, you and the hippie lady did some shagging?”

“We did not. I do not dance. Never have and I never will.”

Catfish snorted. “The day you see him dance is the same day you will see a possum win the Kentucky Derby.”

“Man,” Elvis said. “Baseball messed you up big time.”

“It is a cruel game.”

COBB EATS’ DINING DEETS

compiled by skyler heath

From new Italian eateries and mother-son brunch joints to 40-year restaurant celebrations, Cobb’s dining scene is as busy as ever just in time for the holidays. Check out the latest restaurant news and get to eatin’!

Restaurateurs Randy McCray — owner of Mac’s Chophouse and Mac’s Raw Bar & Market on Marietta Square — and Gianni Betti — a Florence born and trained chef who runs Cibo e Beve in Sandy Springs — will open Gianni & Mac’s Ristorante, a family-friendly Italian restaurant on Church Street in December or early 2025. The official opening date was unavailable at press time.

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened a new location on Jiles Road in Kennesaw in August. The restaurant, located across from the Shiloh Square Shopping Center at 4194 Jiles Road, features the first Chipotlane in Kennesaw.

Mangiamo Ristorante and Pizzeria opened in June in front of the Cobb Parkway Walmart Supercenter off Jim Owens Road. The Italian restaurant is known for using only New York water for everything, pizza dough and pizza sauce to espresso. The pizzas come in two sizes, 12-inch and 18-inch, and a variety of toppings. Pizzas flavors include margherita, Toto’s Meat Preferito, with ham, Italian sausage, prosciutto and pepperoni, and cacio e peppe, with pecorino romano, black pepper and olive oil. The menu also includes other Italian classics like chicken parmigiana, mushroom risotto, rigatoni, calzones and antipasti.

Randy McCray, owner of Mac’s Chophouse and Mac’s Raw Bar & Market, will soon open Gianni & Mac’s Ristorante, a family-friendly Italian restaurant on Church Street that is still under construction.

Owner Victor Sevilla shows a crust made with tap water versus with New York water at Mangiamo Ristorante and Pizzeria.

Randy McCray, owner of Mac’s Chophouse and Mac’s Raw Bar & Market, will soon open Gianni & Mac’s Ristorante, a family-friendly Italian restaurant on Church Street that is still under construction.

A mother-son duo opened Ashland’s Kitchen on the ground floor of the One Overton Park office building in Cumberland. The 95%-made-fromscratch restaurant serves seasonal breakfast and lunch five days a week, with a variety of sit-down and take-out food and drink options. Menu offerings include eggs benedict, berry cinnamon sugar pancakes, biscuits and a variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads and lunch entrees. The eatery also has several vegan, keto, gluten-free and dairy-free options.

Paul’s Pot Pies on Marietta Square recently celebrated four decades in Cobb County. New Jersey natives Paul Lubertazzi and his mother, Patricia Bowen, opened the pie shop on Halloween of 1984 as a catering business. The business evolved into a takeout-only pie shop. Today, the business offers around 14 different flavors of frozen pot pies, from the classics to new creations like chicken curry, seafood chowder, southwestern taco and even a vegetarian option.

Superhero-themed pizza restaurant Savage Pizza opened its third location near Town Center Mall in Kennesaw. The menu features a wide selection of specialty pizza, from their Chicken Cordon Bleu, Southern Cue and Cajun. The restaurant features a superhero-themed décor and classic arcade games, like Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat II and NBA Jam, that customers can play for free.

COBB EATS’ DINING DEETS

Robyn Thompson and son Jacob Higbee prepare chicken pesto paninis at Ashland’s Kitchen in Cumberland.

Chris Hawkins, Savage Pizza’s Kennesaw location owner, places a freshly-baked pizza on a tray, ready to be served.

Paul Lubertazzi, owner of Paul’s Pot Pies, inside the Marietta Square storefront that’s been open for 40 years.

Paul Lubertazzi, owner of Paul’s Pot Pies, inside the Marietta Square storefront that’s been open for 40 years.

COBB EATS’ DINING DEETS

Mableton resident Karen Ervin opened Yams Foods, a sweet potato bakery that specializes in all things sweet potato — from cookies and doughnuts to pound cakes and cornbread.

Italian bakery Giulia, sister restaurant Luga and sushi restaurant Tenku Sushi Elevation are scheduled to open at Avenue East Cobb in late 2024 or early 2025. Giulia specializes in pastries, croissants and a wide selection of coffee drinks. Luga, which will occupy the former Drift Fish House and Oyster Bar space, will offer a variety of Italian cuisines like Roma-style pizzas, house made pastas and fresh antipasti. Tenku Sushi Elevation will be located inside the mall’s new “jewel box buildings” which include outdoor patio dining and a rooftop bar. Their menu features their signature rolls and unique appetizers like their flame-seared marinated octopus.

The Drafty Dane Park and Pin, a combination dog park and bar business, has opened Marietta, offering residents a chance to bond with other pet-owners over drinks. The 19,000-square-foot space, at 942 Roswell St., features two bars/lounges (one for members and one for non-members), artificial turf, water fountains and shaded areas.

A sweet potato pound cake from Yams Foods.

From left, The Drafty Dane co-owners Emily Matthews, Fitz Johnson, Suzann Wilcox and Brennen Matthews with the Matthews’ European Great Dane Knox.

Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Y2K

Wicked

Rated PG

In theaters Nov. 22

Tells the story of how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. “Wicked” is a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz.

Gladiator II

Rated R

In Theaters Nov. 22

The Gladiator sequel’s story will center on Lucius, the son of Lucilla and the nephew of Phoenix’s Commodus.

Moana 2

Rated PG

In theaters Nov. 27

Three years since her first voyage, Moana is on an expansive journey in search of people beyond the shores of Motunui. Joined by Maui and a brand-new crew of unlikely seafarers,

Rated: N/A

In theaters Dec. 6

Set on New Year's Eve 1999, two high school students decide to crash the last big party before the new millennium. When the clock strikes midnight, the night gets more insane than they ever could have imagined.

Kraven the Hunter

Rated R

In theaters Dec. 13

“Kraven the Hunter” is the visceral, actionpacked origin story of how and why one of Marvel's most iconic villains came to be. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays Kraven, a man whose complex relationship with his ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe), starts him down a path of vengeance with brutal consequences, motivating him to become not only the greatest hunter in the world, but also one of its most feared.

Mufasa: The Lion King

Rated: N/A

In theaters Dec. 20

“Mufasa: The Lion King” enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka — the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny — their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

The Piano Lesson

Rated: N/A

Streaming on Netflix Nov. 22

A family clash over an heirloom piano explodes. The battle between brother (John David Washington) and sister (Danielle Deadwyler) — one hopes to sell it, the other refuses to give it up — unleashes haunting truths about how the past is perceived and who defines a family legacy.

Blitz

Rated PG-13

Streaming on Apple TV+ Nov. 22

Sir Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his

mom and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.

Spellbound

Rated PG

Streaming on Netflix Nov. 22

Set in the world of magic where a young girl must break the spell that has split her kingdom in two.

Win or Lose

Rated: N/A

Streaming on Disney+ Dec. 6

This new series reveals what it feels like to be in the shoes of eight different characters — the insecure kids, their helicopter parents, even a lovesick umpire — as they prepare for a championship softball game. Will Forte lends his voice to the coach.

The Six Triple Eight

Rated PG-13

Streaming on Netflix Dec. 20

Tells the inspiring true story of the incredible and brave women of the only all-Black female World War 2 Battalion.

The Fire Inside

Rated PG-13

Streaming on Prime Video Dec. 25

The story of Claressa ‘T-Rex’ Shields, a boxer from Flint, Michigan who trained to become the first woman in her country’s history to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport.

November/December RELEASES

Where the Library Hides

By Isabel Ibañez

Released Nov. 5

The stunning conclusion to the story that started in What the River Knows. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivalsto-lovers romance like no other.

The Sunflower House

By Adriana Allegri

Released Nov. 12

Family secrets come to light as a young woman fights to save herself, and others, in a Nazi-run baby factory—a real-life Handmaid’s Tale—during World War II.

A Queen’s Game

By Katharine McGee

Released Nov. 12

The New York Times bestselling author of the American Royals series invites you to visit 19th-century Europe amid the glamor and intrigue of the Victorian era. In this historical romance inspired by true events, three princesses struggle to find love—and end up vying for the hearts of two future kings.

Dust

By Alison Stine

Releases Dec. 3

In this haunting, speculative coming-of-age novel about finding your place in an unforgiving environment, a partially deaf teen questions everything she knows about family, love, and her future.

The Rivals

By Jane Pek

Releases Dec. 2

A prescient literary mystery about corporate espionage, family dynamics, and the follow-up to Jane Pek’s “thoroughly modern twist on classic detective fiction.”

What the Woods Took

By Courtney Gould

Releases Dec. 10

A group of troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program finds themselves stranded in a forest full of monsters eager to take their place. Atmospheric and sharp, What the Woods Took is a poignant story of transformation that explores the price of becoming someone—or something—new

cobb life events

Holiday Happenings: Five choices for ‘The Nutcracker’

Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre

Nov. 29 — Dec. 1

Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE in Marietta

Cost: $22.50 to $37.50

Information: georgiametrodance.org

The Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre will kick off the holiday season with its annual production of the holiday classic, featuring brilliant sets, costumes and special effects that spark awe and wonder alongside Tchaikovsky’s timeless music.

Atlanta Ballet

Dec. 7 — 26

Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in Atlanta

Cost: $30 to $108

Information: atlantaballet.com

Atlanta Ballet’s magical world of The Nutcracker returns to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center this December. The production features state-of-the-art technology combined with lavish sets and costumes, creating an immersive fantasy world befitting the most popular ballet of all time. Based on the original book by E.T.A Hoffman, the story takes Marie and her magical Nutcracker doll away from a family Christmas Eve party and into a fantastical realm led by a mysterious inventor.

Georgia

Ballet

Dec. 5 — 9

Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 South Marietta Pkwy SE in Marietta

Cost: $39 to $59

Information: georgiaballet.org

Georgia Ballet’s rendition of the Tchaikovsky classic returns to Marietta.

NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet

Dec. 19 and 20

Fox Theatre, 600 Peachtree St. NE in Atlanta

Cost: $38.50 to $114 plus applicable fees

Information: foxtheatre.org

Enjoy the magic of the “NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet” at the Fox Theatre. Watch worldclass dancers perform with towering puppets, breathtaking acrobatics, and dazzling costumes. Gather the family close and make it a holiday to remember with this magical Christmas ballet.

Metropolitan Ballet Theatre

Dec. 13 — 15

Innovation Academy, 125 Milton Ave. in Alpharetta

Cost: $20 to $40

Information: metropolitanballet.org

Celebrate 23 years of this traditional holiday classic, presented by Maniya Barredo’s Metropolitan Ballet Theatre. Metropolitan’s fulllength Nutcracker production features all the music, all the color and all the exquisite ballet brilliance of the Tchaikovsky classic.

Book early for the best seats and don’t forget the special matinee event ticket: Sugarplum Storytime — a pass that includes a matinee performance and a souvenir storytime with the famous fairy in all the characters from the Land of Sweets.

Atlanta Ballet nutcracker, Jamestown

Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre

Tree Lightings

Marietta

Dec. 5, 4 to 8 p.m.

Glover Park, 50 N Park Square in Marietta

Information: mariettaga.gov

The city of Marietta’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be in conjunction with the arrival of Santa Claus in Glover Park on Marietta Square. The event begins at 4 p.m. with performances by local school choruses and an Ugly Holiday Sweater Walking Parade at 4:45 p.m. Santa will make his grand entrance at 5:15 p.m., followed by the lighting of the City’s Christmas Tree at 6 p.m.

cobb life events

Powder Springs

Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m.

Thurman Springs Park, 4485 Pineview Drive in Powder Springs

Information: cityofpowdersprings.org

Come welcome in the Christmas season as residents line Marietta Street to experience the magic of the Christmas Parade as Santa makes his entry into Powder Springs!

After the parade head over to Thurman Springs Park to see the lighting of the beautiful Christmas Tree! Enjoy the complimentary cocoa, cookies and photos with Santa.

Acworth

Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m.

Downtown Acworth

Information: acworthtourism.org/events/santas-arrival/

The city of Acworth, along with their partner NorthStar Church, is excited to host this year’s Santa’s Arrival! Santa arrives in Historic Downtown Acworth on Center Street on Friday, Dec. 6. Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. and Santa is scheduled to arrive at 6:30 p.m. There will be a host of live performances and activities until 8:30 p.m. to help Santa kickoff the holiday season.

Bring the entire family to hear Mayor Tommy Allegood read “The Night Before Christmas” and watch the lighting of the tree on the Plaza behind Henry’s. Enjoy pictures with Santa, eat candy canes with all his elves and fill the streets with holiday spirit. Pictures with Santa are free each year and begin at 6:45 p.m. There will not be a photographer onsite, so please plan on bringing your camera to capture the special moment.

Kennesaw

Dec. 7, 1 to 6 p.m.

Downtown Kennesaw and Depot Park Information: kennesaw-ga.gov

Kennesaw will have a day with Santa. The event will feature a parade at 2 p.m. and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at 6 p.m.

East Cobb Park

Dec. 8, 5 to 8 p.m.

East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road in Marietta Information: eastcobbpark.org

Mark your calendars for the annual Holiday Lights Event at East Cobb Park, with live music, outdoor fun, tree lighting and a visit from Santa.

Santa’s arrival Marietta Square

10K

5K

5K

1K

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cobb life events

Light Shows

Garden Lights, Holiday Lights

Nov. 16 to Jan. 12

Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE in Atlanta

Cost: Ranges from $24.95 to $47.95

Information: atlantabg.org

Back for its 14th year, the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, presented by Invesco QQQ, will shine brighter than ever with the world’s largest curtain of synchronized light and sound, “Nature’s Wonders.” Expect new music and choreography with more vertical lights than ever.

Lights of Joy

Dec. 1 — 29

1510 Ben King Road NW in Kennesaw

Cost: Free

Information: lightsofjoy.net

The largest residential Christmas light display in Georgia with over 1.2 million lights.

Lights of Life

Nov. 28 - Dec. 31

Life University, 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta

Cost: $20 for buses, $10 for cars/trucks

Information: life.edu/lights-of-life

Life University introduced the Lights of Life in 1989, as a gift to the local community. It has since grown to be one of the most popular light shows in the Southeast, attracting nearly a half million spectators. Cars, vans and buses can cruise through the campus on a 1.5-mile drive. The event also features pony rides, trains, a petting zoo and a concession stand.

Theater and musical performances

Kennesaw State University’s Holiday Concert

Dec. 7, 2 to 4 p.m.

Bailey Performance Center, 488 Prillaman Way in Kennesaw

Cost: $24 to $30 (Students $5)

Information: kennesaw.edu/arts

Join the Bailey School of Music choirs, symphony orchestra and wind ensemble for a performance featuring holiday favorites for the whole family.

GSO presents Holiday Pops!

Dec. 7, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Dec. 8, 3 to 5 p.m.

Marietta Performing Arts Center, 1171 Whitlock Ave. NW in Marietta

Cost: $32 - $40

Information: georgiasymphony.org

A Cobb and Marietta tradition, the GSO’s Holiday Pops returns for another year. Friends and family will have a great time celebrating the season with Cobb’s favorite symphony. Be sure to grab a picture with Santa after the concert.

A Christmas Tradition

Dec. 13 — 22

Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre, 117 N. Park Square NE in Marietta

Cost: $32 - $42

Information: earlsmithstrand.org

“A Christmas Tradition” returns to The Strand stage for another unforgettable year of sharing the holiday spirit through sparkling song and dance! This hometown favorite holiday revue features costumed singers and dancers performing both traditional and funky Christmas favorites. A Christmas Tradition’s non-stop, high-energy spectacle is the perfect way to put the whole family in the Christmas spirit this season!

Marietta Pops Orchestra

Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

First Baptist Church Marietta, 148 Church St.

Cost: $20 (Children under 10 are free)

Information: mariettapops.org

Fun, traditional holiday music for the whole family.

Lights of Joy

Garden Lights, Holiday Lights

Voted Cobb County’s Best Retirement & Assisted Living Communities for 6 Years in a Row!

Constitution Day on Marietta Square

Dozens rang in Constitution Day on Marietta Square Sept. 18, marking the 237th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.

The celebration was hosted by the Fielding Lewis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who brought bells for all guests to ring when the clock struck 4 p.m. — the exact time the constitution was signed in 1787.

The event also featured performances by singer-songwriter Mac Powell, the presentation of the colors by the Marietta High School Air Force JROTC and a speech from former Gov. Roy Barnes.

1: Marilynn Carol Parker, who does public relations for the Fielding Lewis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, dressed up as Dolley Maddison, wife of President James Madison, for the Constitution Day Ringing of the Bells Celebration on Marietta Square.

2: Cobb County Commissioner JoAnn Birrell, left, read the American’s Creed

3: Julie Cone, left, and Cynthia Simmons celebrate Constitution Day on Marietta Square.

4: Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin, center, leads the Pledge of Allegiance, while Karen Kivette, regent of the Fielding Lewis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and former Gov. Roy Barnes recite the pledge.

5: The Marietta High School Air Force JROTC prepares to present the colors at the Constitution Day Ringing of the Bells Celebration.

Local public safety heroes honored

at Cobb Chamber Public Safety Luncheon

The Cobb Chamber honored Cobb County’s finest during its annual Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon Oct. 7 at the Coca-Cola Roxy. The event kicked off Public Safety Appreciation Week, a community-wide effort to say “thank you” to the men and women who work tirelessly to keep Cobb County safe.

1: Smyrna Fire Department’s Engine 3 crew receives the Medal of Valor award during the 2024 Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy Oct. 8.

Photography by ANNIE MAYNE

Photography by COBB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2: Officer David Hubbart, second from right, received the Medal of Valor at the 2024 Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy Oct. 8.

3: 2024 Public Safety Award recipients pose for a photo at the Coca-Cola Roxy.

4: Cobb Chamber CEO and President Sharon Mason, left, and Melissa Alterio, 2024 public safety chairwoman and Cobb Department of Emergency Communications director, right, present the Medal of Valor award to former Cobb Police Officer Thomas Weldon.

5: Tanya Smith, director of The SAFE Center at Kennesaw State University, receives the Outstanding Community Contribution Award at the 2024 Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy.

6: Cpl. Eric Mistretta of the Acworth Police Department receives the Outstanding Community Contribution Award at the 2024 Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy.

7: Lance LoRusso of LoRusso Law Firm speaks at the 2024 Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy.

Acworth Throws Black and White Ball

Photography by ROBIN RAYNE

Acworth residents toasted the Lake City’s history Oct. 6 while dancing the night away during the Save Acworth History Foundation’s Black and White Ball.

The masquerade held at the Acworth Community Center was a fundraiser for the foundation. Around 200 guests attended the party dressed in black and white and wearing masks.

The theme was “Welcome to the Past: A Look back to the 60s and 70s in Acworth,” celebrating the city’s history through those eras.

1: Elaine Johnson dances with her husband Kurt at the Save Acworth History Foundation’s Black and White Ball.

2: Dancing to ‘70s music at the Save Acworth History Foundation’s Black and White Ball.

3: Mark and Misty Howell savor the moment as they dance to 70s music at the Party of the Century, a fundraiser for the Save Acworth History Foundation.

4: Cindy Hudson and Judy Fowler add finishing touches to their masks.

5: Deborah Hill rocks her outfit as she dances to ‘70s music at the Party of the Century, a fundraiser for the Save Acworth History Foundation.

6: Terry Graves sports a mask at the Save Acworth History Foundation’s black and white ball at the Acworth Community Center.

7: Kimberly Haas sports wild shades at the Party of the Century to raise funds for the Save Acworth History Foundation.

now & then

Christmas time capsule: The Clauses of Cobb

Santa Claus, aka Mark Turpin, performs his patriotic duty and votes in November 1996 at Shallowford Falls Elementary School. Turpin ran an instant photo shop in Marietta where children could have their pictures taken with him.

Five-year-old Dana Gallaty, daughter of Holly Bradfield, getting a hug from Santa in November 1996 after discussing her Christmas wish list with him during the third annual Atlanta Christmas Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

From the Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1967, Marietta Daily Journal, St. Nick gets a helping hand from two of the 800 youngsters, children of Dobbins Air Force Base personnel and civilian employees, that attended the 12th annual base Christmas party the Saturday before.

Left: St. Nick receives a lift from Detective Paul Moore, who was driving a vintage 1968 Plymouth cruiser, in December 1996 in Powder Springs.

Santa Claus pays an early visit to St. Joseph’s Church in Marietta on Dec. 3, 1967. From left are Tony Odeguard, Nick Pascullian, Dale Odeguard and Paulette Carter.

Photos courtesy of MDJ archives

Warmest holiday greetings from our family to yours.