Cobb Life - Fall 2024

CL COBB LIFE Cocktails& Chemistry

HOME BAR NETWORK

How a husband-wife duo’s passion for cocktails turned into a thriving mobile bar business

Leave With Memories

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The Fall Issue

SEPTEMBER 2024

contents

30 COVER STORY

Haleigh and Cody Brown, of Smyrna, are textbook cocktail connoisseurs. They fell in love over a shared passion for cocktail culture, have traveled the world to experience original cocktails, like the mojito in Cuba, and have collectively garnered over 25 years in the professional beverage industry. Meet the husband-wife duo behind Home Bar Network, a thriving mobile bar company taking Cobb’s cocktail scene to the next level.

Features

10 Recipe

Matthew DeBusschere aka Marietta Food Guy has curated a childhood favorite with a grown-up twist: Boozy Capri-Suns. Perfect for tailgates, barbecues or a lazy afternoon on the porch, this easy-to-make cocktail will transport you back to carefree days, while adding a splash of adult fun.

14 Travel

The Mississippi River is a key part of American culture, from the writings of Mark Twain and magnificent oak trees to the birthplace of Cajun food and rock ‘n’ roll. Tag along with travel columnist Lisa Mowry as she explores beloved cities along the Mississippi on a nine-day river cruise.

22 Ecologie

Buying vintage has replaced thrifting as the trendiest, most sustainable way to shop, according to Nancie Vann, owner of Ecologie, a vintage clothing and homegoods store in Kennesaw. Read how Vann and the Ecologie team practice sustainability every day, challenge the fastfashion industry and prove to locals that they can shop vintage without compromising on style.

40 Arts

Cobb Countians don’t need to go far to be entertained in the arts. From operas and symphonies to ballets, there’s a plethora of world-class performing arts right here in Cobb. Meet four local performing arts companies to learn about their beginnings, what their seasons look like and how they value calling Cobb home.

letter from the editor

Greetings, Cobb Lifers,

The leaves are turning, the air is cooling and that unmistakable autumn nostalgia has returned. Happy fall, y’all! If you know me, you know that fall is unequivocally my favorite season (my middle name is Autumn and my birthday is the day before fall, so it’s practically in my DNA). From the pumpkin spiced lattes and cozy sweaters to bonfires, football games and haunted houses, September through November always lifts my spirits and gives me a surge of dopamine.

Now that my obsession is clear, I have a question: when is it appropriate to whip out fall decorations? In the past, I thought Sept. 1 was a good rule of thumb, but I fear I’ve jumped the gun this year.

Over the summer, my boyfriend, Matt, and I wanted to refresh our living room with new curtains. One Saturday in mid-July, I dragged him — and his wallet — to our neighborhood HomeGoods (which he may or may not call his personal purgatory). As soon as I walked through the double doors, I was greeted by aisles of Halloween and fall decorations. From “falloween” garlands and pumpkin-shaped throw pillows to candy apple-scented candles and soaps, I was like a kid in a candy shop. After a few minutes of me gawking at the decor, Matt rolled his eyes and murmured, “Skyler, it’s July. Let’s go look at the curtains, please.”

Spoiler alert: We didn’t leave with curtains. Instead, we left with a few industrial-sized bags of nonsensical fall decorations. Is it bad that my apartment looked straight out of a scene from “Gilmore Girls” in early August? Nevermind, don’t answer that.

It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Fall issue of Cobb Life Magazine — we really do have a little something for everyone this year.

beverage industry. Check out their inspiring story on page 30. Plus, enjoy two signature HBN cocktails that are perfect for fall.

For the trendsetters, vintage is making a resurgence in the fashion industry across the world, and Cobb County is no exception. Check out our feature story about Ecologie Vintage, a trendy clothing and homegoods store in Kennesaw. Hear how owner Nancy Vann and Ecologie staff practice sustainability, stay ahead of trends and educate the community about fast fashion’s unethical business model on page 22.

Atlanta may be an arts and culture hub, but did you know that Cobb County is, too? From orchestras and ballets to opera, there’s an entire world of world-class performing arts right in your own backyard, making a trip to Atlanta less than a necessity. Meet four of Cobb County’s classical performing arts companies to learn about their beginnings, what their seasons look like and how they value Cobb as a premier destination for the arts.

Of course, our fall issue would be incomplete without our recurring travel and recipe features. Join travel columnist Lisa Mowry as she explores beloved cities along the Mississippi River on a nine-day river cruise. For recipes, Matthew DeBusschere aka Marietta Food Guy has curated a childhood favorite with a grown-up twist: Boozy Capri-Suns, which are perfect for tailgates, barbecues or lazy afternoons on the porch.

As always, don’t forget to scan through the upcoming September releases, fall events, familiar faces in Cobb scene, an author Q&A, our Now & Then photo segment and Cobb Eats’ Dining Deets, a noteworthy news section and spin off of MDJ’s Cobb Eats page that rapid fires local food and restaurant news.

Finally, I want to give a special shoutout to my summer interns, Ashly Hospodka and Ella Kroll — thank you for your hard work. You both are rockstars.

For our cover story, meet husband-wife duo Haleigh and Cody Brown, who are the co-founders of Home Bar Network, a thriving mobile bartending company based in Smyrna. Don’t be mistaken, HBN isn’t your average mobile bar company and the Browns aren’t your average bartenders. This couple literally fell in love over a shared passion for cocktail culture. They’ve even traveled across the world to experience original cocktails — like the mojito in Havana, Cuba and bloody mary at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. Haleigh and Cody are as professional as it gets, collectively garnering more than 25 years in the

I hope everyone’s fall is filled with warmth, connection and joy. Up next, the holidays!

Cheers, Cobb Life Editor

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Nostalgia with a Twist

Written

and photographed by

MATTHEW DEBUSSCHERE

DIY Boozy Capri-Sun Cocktails Unique Drinks That Will Impress Your Friends

Many years ago, I was managing a restaurant in Atlanta called Sun in my Belly. It was (and still is) a really charming neighborhood cafe that served brunch seven days a week. The cafe closed at 3 p.m. every day, and we often experimented with other uses of the space at night.

One of those experiments was an ‘80s-themed dinner pop-up (when I say “pop-up,” I’m referring to a limited time, themed dining experience). We had a lot of fun with this idea. I went to a few thrift stores and bought a bunch of ‘80s movies on VHS, including “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty In Pink,” to name a few. Then, I got a VCR, and used a projector to display these movies on an entire wall of the restaurant. The old VHS tapes were grainy and would glitch throughout, which added authenticity to the dining experience. I also found a Nintendo and an Atari that I hooked up to a couple of TVs so that guests could play ‘80s video games before or after their meal.

Aside from the vibe and decor, I knew the cocktails needed to be approached with the same level of creativity. I contemplated nostalgia when I found inspiration from my own childhood, and thought, “What if we made Capri-Sun cocktails?”

My team ran with this idea, and while the ‘80s pop-up wasn’t necessarily a hit, the Capri-Sun

cocktails have continued to be one of my go-tos.

These drinks are really fun and unique, are easy to make and can be made way in advance. Plus, you can elevate them by adding stickers or even designing your own. I use a free design app called Canva — it’s very user friendly (no experience required), and after creating your own design, you can email it to a printing company, like Minuteman Press in Marietta, and they will print up as many stickers or labels as you want. By “branding” your own creations, you can offer your guests, friends, family or coworkers a one-of-a-kind drink that’s tailor-made for any occasion. Whether it’s a birthday party, engagement party, bridal shower, tailgate or anything that brings people together, all you have to do is add a sticker that commemorates the moment, and your guests will be pleasantly surprised.

The key to making your boozy Capri-Sun is selecting a recipe that does NOT include anything bubbly, such as soda or champagne. Sparkling drinks are hard to funnel into the pouch, and will go flat before they’re consumed. Instead, think about making a margarita, daiquiri or spiked punch. You really can’t go wrong here — just make a large batch of whatever drink you want, and funnel it in each pouch one by one.

Here’s an easy recipe to help jump start your next Capri-Sun party. We used this recipe last year at Marietta Melt Yard to play up the “Barbie” movie. This recipe should make roughly 10 Capri-Sun cocktails.

“Barbie Booze”

20 oz Watermelon Vodka

10 oz Strawberry Liqueur (you can use strawberry syrup for a lighter taste)

60 oz Lemonade

The pouches can be purchased on Amazon, just search for “clear plastic flask” and it’s a top result. You can get 100 pouches for less than $25, and your order will come with funnels as well. I believe in this fun idea so much that I will even help you design a sticker and create a custom cocktail recipe for your next gathering (for free). Just shoot me an email: matt@meltyard.com.

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.

Mighty Mississippi The travel

Take a journeythrough fascinatingtowns alongthe lower Mississippi River

Written by LISA MOWRY

Asone of the world’s most important rivers in terms of size, biodiversity and as a commercial waterway, the Mississippi is also a key part of American culture. From the writings of Mark Twain and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll to a mecca for both barbecue and Cajun food and the magnificent oak trees in Louisiana, there are so many unique experiences associated with this 2,000-plus-mile-long river.

My recent river cruise on American Cruise Lines was a chance to explore the history, cuisine, musical influences and nature from Memphis to New Orleans (The cruise line also has voyages that cover the upper part of the Mississippi, with stops in St. Louis, Missouri and St. Paul, Minneapolis — and even a 23-day cruise that traverses the entire river). The eight-night and nine-day Lower Mississippi itinerary travels through three states, with the opportunity to observe the bridges, barges and rural areas of this part of the South. As always on a ship, a lot of the pleasure comes from smaller moments: sunsets on the water, locals waving hello when you come to port and waking up in a new place every day. Of course, you could also drive or fly directly to these cities and come up with a road trip that charts a similar course.

Memphis, Tennessee travel

From civil rights history to Elvis’s former home, this river city has a lot to show off. We started a tour through historic neighborhoods, then got out at The Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, and is now part of the National Civil Rights Museum — the motel is kept as it was all those decades ago as a tribute to him.

We strolled along legendary Beale Street, home to live blues clubs and barbecue, then popped into the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum for a refresher on how the two genres grew simultaneously. A highlight in the afternoon was touring Sun Studio, known as “the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll” and where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis got their start. Another popular option is to tour Elvis’s famous Graceland, with its over-the-top opulence.

The legendary Sun Studio stands much as it did in the 1950s, when it launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, B.B. King and Johnny Cash. Guided tours take you into the very rooms where musical history was made.

PHOTO CHRIS MOWRY

Vicksburg, Mississippi travel

Vicksburg’s location as a key battle in the Civil War makes it a noted stop in Southern history. More than 17,000 veterans are buried at the cemetery, although the park is more than about graves, with reenactments, film about the battle, guided tours and more to see. Elsewhere in downtown Vicksburg, visitors can tour the Biedenharn Coca-Cola museum (where the iconic beverage was first bottled in 1894), stop in the historic courthouse, and peruse shops and all the colorful murals.

The 1863 battle in Vicksburg is covered in detail at The Vicksburg National Military Park as part of a complimentary excursion on the American Cruise Lines’ cruise. A highlight includes this monument modeled after the Roman Pantheon. PHOTO CHRIS MOWRY

A peaceful journey through the bayous of the Mississippi Delta is part of the charm on an American Cruise Lines “Lower Mississippi River” cruise. The cruise is book-ended by Memphis and New Orleans, with several stops in between to explore towns in Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

PHOTO AMERICANCRUISELINES.COM

Natchez, Mississippi

This former French settlement town is now known for having more Antebellum homes than anywhere else in the U.S. Start a walking tour along the Natchez Bluff, an elevated walking path overlooking the river, then stroll the streets full of 19th-century homes, with some — such as Rosalie Mansion and Magnolia Hall — open for tours.

The Greek Revival-style Stanton Hall — built in 1857 and open for tours — is an example of the gracious homes along the streets of Natchez, Mississippi.

PHOTO LISA MOWRY

A seafood salad with a Creole kick is served on the “American Symphony” ship for lunch, part of the culinary efforts aboard American Cruise Lines ships to serve dishes that reflect the area. PHOTO LISA MOWRY

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The state capital is also home to LSU, so it’s full of landmarks and historic buildings. A lot of the fun is near the water, however, so make sure to take a harbor cruise and also visit the USS Kidd. This World War II destroyer ship, also known as the “Pirate of the Pacific,” is available to take a self-guided tour, a fascinating walk through several floors of this large vessel.

The magnificent oak trees at Oak Alley Plantation, outside of New Orleans, are one of the draws to tour this Antebellum home. In addition to guided tours inside the big house, the grounds have exhibits about slavery during the era. PHOTO LISA MOWRY

New Orleans, Louisiana travel

The “Big Easy” is known for its melting-pot culture of French, African and American cultures, with food and music unparalleled in any other city. The immensely walkable neighborhoods of the French Quarter and the Garden District are full of fascinating architecture, cafes and shops. The number one activity these days, per TripAdvisor and other sites, is The National World War II museum, an all-day experience that some say is even worth a second day visit. Not sure where to start on a trip here? Take one of the dozens of tours — including excursions devoted to swamps, cocktails, cemeteries, neighborhoods, Mardi Gras and of course, food.

Any trip to New Orleans needs to include a beignet, these powderedsugar donut treats. Tip: Visit this popular location of Café Beignet on Royal Street in the less-busy afternoon for a coffee and sugar pick-me-up, since the morning crowds create lines out the door.

PHOTO LISA MOWRY

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Vintage is Vogue

Photography by ROBIN RAYNE

Written by ASHLY HOSPODKA

Ecologie Vintage is staying ahead of the curve this fall, not just following trends

Move over, fast fashion — vintage is making a resurgence in the fashion industry, and, according to Vogue magazine, it’s here to stay.

“Over the past couple of years, by way of Instagram fashion archives and the advent of TikTok and Depop, vintage reselling has evolved from a niche pursuit to a fully fledged industry,” wrote José Criales-Unzueta, of Vogue.

Vintage clothing sales have increased by 38% in the past year, with the resale market poised to double in the next five years, reaching $51 billion by 2029, according to a World Metrics 2024 report.

The media has served as a main catalyst for the vintage shopping revival, drawing negative attention to the unethical practices in the global fast fashion industry. The United States and Europe consume around 36 billion pieces of clothing a year, and 85% of that is discarded, according to Max docuseries “Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion.” Additionally, 15 million clothing items are dumped at Ghana’s Kantamanto Market, the largest second-hand economy in the world, a week.

These realities of the fast fashion industry have hit shoppers — hard. 64% of consumers are willing to pay more for vintage clothing to support sustainability, per the World Metrics report.

Vintage is a solution for those who love to shop, be on trend and practice sustainability. Vintage stores are specially

From left, Ecologie Vintage owner Nancie Vann and business partner Chelsea Marquez in the retro home goods section of the Kennesaw storefront, sporting groovy clothes straight off the rack.

Ecologie store employee Brittany West cuts up denim scraps, many of which are the byproducts of cutoff shorts, and uses them to tie up merchandise for customers.

MAIN STREET ON THE MOVE

curated, where thrift stores are not, and usually have higher quality pieces than both thrift stores and fast fashion retailers. Luckily, Cobb Countains who want to shop vintage don’t have to travel far.

A shopping solution

Nestled in the Town Center Oaks shopping center off George Busbee Parkway is Ecologie Vintage, a trendy clothing and home-goods store that has become a leader in Cobb’s resale industry. Nancie Vann, owner of Ecologie, her business partner Chelsea Marquez and their team prove to locals

Emily, a freshman at Kennesaw State University, shops for back-to-school outfits on Ecologie’s rainbow organized clothing rounders.

An antique“sculptura” style rotary phone circa 1970 sits on top of a stack of books in the homegoods section of Ecologie.

everyday how accessible it is to buy vintage without compromising on style. All of the clothing, including shoes, bags, belts and home decor, at the storefront are vintage or previously owned.

“Ecologie is the absolute best of the best of every thrift store you could go to for a month,” Vann said.

Vann and her staff strive to educate shoppers on fast fashion’s unethical business model, which profits from overconsumption, waste and exploitation — that’s why Ecologie’s social media boasts information about sustainability, slow fashion and taking care of things you already own.

Every month, Ecologie’s inventory buyers take tests on what styles, patterns, colors, silhouettes and fabrics are fashionable. Ecologie employee Milo Gant, who serves as the store’s head buyer, takes inspiration from high fashion and fashion weeks, and will send out a guide informing buyers of what they should be on the lookout for. Ecologie also keeps its customers ahead of the curve as early adopters of trends, not part of the late majority.

“Generally, for Kennesaw, what you’re seeing in (Ecologie) now will be mainstream this time next year,” Vann said.

This fall, Ecologie will carry unisex and

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The business-savvy brains behind Ecologie: Co-owners and mother-daughter duo Julie and Nancie Vann and business partner Chelsea Marquez surrounded by Ecologie’s vintage merchandise.

off-the-shoulder sweaters, bell-sleeve tops and women’s vests of all kinds, including corduroy, patchwork, tapestry and more, said Lindsey Dent, Ecologie buyer of four years. Plaids, pinstripes, fringe, tiny rips, zipper details and simple silhouettes will also be trending.

“Almost always, fast fashion or any fashion is reproducing something that’s already been so, there’s almost always a vintage component to a new trend,” Vann said. “We will seize that.”

Reuse, repurpose, recycle

In addition to sourcing vintage clothing and home decor, Ecologie is bagless and uses its leftover scraps of denim to tie up purchased merchandise. Nothing goes to waste because Ecologie staff make sure everything is repurposed, either to spruce up a clothing item or keep waste out of landfills.

“Sometimes we’ll manipulate things, like we crop things, we cut sleeves out of things, we’ll add a little patch or something,” Vann explained. “We reproduce whatever’s trending with vintage and manipulate it if possible.”

The practice of repurposing or redesigning items to fit what is currently in fashion is a great way to reuse and appreciate vintage clothing. The store recently added a seamstress that offers in-store alterations so that clothing can be repaired, adjusted or existing pieces can be revamped, allowing consumers to wear their pieces for an extended period of time.

“It is important to understand the value of things that we own — to take care of what we own, recycle clothing (and) reduce the number of clothing being bought,” Dent said.

Eclectic, creative team of Ecologie Vintage — from left to right, back to front, Samuel Dennis, Sky Meeks, Lindsey Dent, Alden Fasola, Milo Gant, Brittany West, Reagan Abrahamson, Nancie Vann and Chelsea Marquez — welcomes shoppers into the Kennesaw storefront.

These values seep into every aspect of Ecologie’s business model under the helm of Vann, her daughter, Julie, and Marquez.

“Sustainable clothing is expensive, but the whole point of that is you buy one piece, and it lasts you the rest of your life,” Vann said.

Vann has a long history of advocating for sustainable fashion locally. She helped start Kennesaw State University’s Owl Swap, a program that facilitates a campuswide trade of students’ unwanted clothing. She continuously collaborates with the KSU Care Center to distribute Ecologie gift certificates to students that are clothing insecure.

Vann also found the time to give lectures on the impact of fast fashion at the university in an effort to educate students on the negatives of the industry.

“I like when things have stories,” Dent said. “Clothing holds stories and memories, and Ecologie has a lot of stories to tell.”

Bus: 770-432-7775 sean@seanperren.com

Vann having a fun moment showing off the mannequin that her daughter, Julie, styled with vintage clothing pieces from Ecologie.

Vintage is personal

Ecologie also serves as a place of expression, where shoppers can experiment with personal style and individuality.

“When you think about personal expression, (vintage shopping) just opens up the whole world because you can dress any way you want,” Vann said. “There are so many different genres within vintage, so you can recreate anything. If you just start looking for your aesthetic, you can find it if you have a good eye.”

For Vann and her team, fostering a welcoming atmosphere is at the forefront of Ecologie’s mission — the store is a no judgment zone, where everyone can feel safe and comfortably shop.

“We try to have something whether you’re a vintage buyer, or not, whether you’re 18 or 80,” Vann said. “When somebody walks into this store, I want them to enjoy themselves by what they’re seeing, I want them to leave feeling like maybe they’re just a little cooler than they were when they came in and for there to be no judgment.”

For those interested in shopping sustainably this fall, check out Ecologie’s upcoming fall market or get styled by its fashion experts. Ecologie is at 2615 George Busbee Parkway NW in Kennesaw. For more information, visit ecologievintage.com.

A classic, colorful “Wizard of Oz” collector’s book displayed on a chunky-knit blanket.

Cocktails&Chemistry

Written by SKYLER HEATH

and

Haleigh and Cody Brown, of Smyrna, are the co-owners and founders of Home Bar Network, a mobile bartending company that offers a slate of professional services, including bespoke cocktail classes, private bartending for special occasions

bar consulting for restaurants across metro Atlanta.

Photography by JUSTIN HADLEY

On the day of a Home Bar Network event, Haleigh and Cody Brown will use a manual hand press to squeeze citrus fruits and make fresh-squeezed juices for their cocktails, whether they’re prepping for a guest list of 9 or 90. “There will be a situation where maybe we didn’t run out of fresh lime juice from the night before and we have another event the next day, we will still pour it out because it’s not juiced that day,” Cody said. “Even if it makes the cocktail just 1% better, that’s what we do for our clients.”

How a husband-wife duo’s passion for cocktails turned into a thriving mobile bar business

Cocktail culture is personal to Haleigh and Cody Brown — in fact, it’s a cornerstone of their relationship. The husband-wife duo fell in love over a shared passion for travel and imbibing. They’ve journeyed across the globe to experience original cocktails, like the mojito in Havana, Cuba, and have made the art of the cocktail a lifestyle, collectively garnering over 25 years of experience in the professional beverage industry.

So, naturally, when COVID-19 hit and the bars closed in spring 2020, the couple was eager to keep happy hour alive. Cody, who served as beverage director for a local restaurant group, kept thinking about his weekly bar regulars. They, too, were stuck at home, but weren’t able to enjoy the signature cocktails that he made every week. That’s when Haleigh and Cody started brainstorming ways to safely share their cocktail recipes with friends and family.

“At the beginning of COVID, people were kind of getting into different hobbies and crafts and exploring new things,” Haleigh said. “We’ve always had a passion for hospitality and cocktails

and imbibing and food, so we thought, ‘Okay, everyone’s at home, let’s use an online platform to kind of share that love and share our favorite cocktail recipes.’”

The husband-wife duo started with a popular cocktail that is simple, versatile and can be enjoyed year-round: an old fashioned. Haleigh recorded Cody making their rendition of the classic bourbon drink, and shared it on Facebook for their friends to see.

“People were like, ‘Oh, my god, this is awesome.’ ‘I’m going to try this tonight.’” Cody said.

Due to popular demand, Cody made a margarita the next day, then a martini, followed by a Manhattan, with each video receiving more engagement. That’s when the couple had several realizations: their friends and regulars had no idea how to make a proper cocktail, alcohol sales were skyrocketing and when people drink at home, they tend to stick to what they know — even if it’s repetitive and mundane.

“They’re having beer, wine or the same thing that they’ve been comfortable drinking or pouring for 40 years,” Cody said. “But when you’re at home and know about what you’re making, it makes things taste better and then you’re not just drinking blindly — you’re kind of drinking for a purpose. Plus, it’s fun to try new recipes… it gives you a little bit more of an intention when you decide to drink.”

Vodka-sodas be gone

The Browns continued sharing daily cocktail tutorials on Facebook, but began posting them on other platforms, including YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Their videos, which

initially started as means to keep friends sane during the pandemic, evolved into a dream of having their own cocktail show on television.

“We think that if there’s a kind of network dedicated to teaching you how to use an at-home bar, then it could be really useful for most people to learn new things and become more comfortable with exploring new cocktails without it being too complex,” Cody explained.

When it came time to name their venture, Haleigh and Cody thought of the Food Network, an American TV channel dedicated to cooking and food.

“The name ‘Home Bar Network’ kind of just came to use because people have been watching cooking shows since TV really began,” Haleigh said. “But to have a true network dedicated to the art of a cocktail isn’t something that has caught on yet.”

Haleigh, a former social media director for a Tennesseebased whiskey brand, leveraged her digital marketing expertise to create a website for Home Bar Network. When the pandemic showed no signs of tapering off, the husband-wife duo took their business up a notch, connecting Home Bar Network to other communities beyond their followers on social media.

“In the nature of 2020 and COVID times, everyone was working from home and more companies were looking for ways to connect with their employees,” Haleigh said. “So, instead of just being an online platform and people following us on Instagram and Facebook, Home Bar Network was engaging

The Browns started hosting corporate cocktail classes and happy hours virtually on Zoom, which, they said, helped get their business off the ground. They took a new approach to after-work cocktails, steering away from its traditional, reserved atmosphere to make the experience interactive, intentional and fun.

“Corporate companies have been doing happy hour forever, but we’re elevating the process of happy hour,” Haleigh said. “Instead of getting together and throwing back a couple drinks, our classes make it an experience, where it’s not just about the drinking, but it’s more about the fellowship and camaraderie.”

‘Upper echelon’

Today, Home Bar Network has evolved into a thriving mobile bartending business, offering a slate of professional services, including bespoke cocktail classes, private bartending for special occasions and bar consulting for restaurants across metro Atlanta. It’s no secret that mobile bars are cropping up across metro Atlanta and the country, but Haleigh and Cody said the industry is often misunderstood.

“... A lot of people still view a ‘mobile bartender’ as someone who will show up and pour spirits with low quality storebought mixers, but we’re redefining what the mobile bar experience can be.” Haleigh said. “The amount of effort and time we take planning, prepping, shopping and curating these cocktail menus — we are here to create an entire cocktail experience from start to finish, and I think a lot of people don’t

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realize this type of niche bar service exists.”

From preparing fresh-squeezed juices before every event to curating craft cocktails that cater to each client, the Browns leverage their 25-plus-years of bartending experience to separate Home Bar Network from the competition.

Ultimately, the husband-wife team said they’re bringing an unparalleled hospitality and craftsmanship found at high-end cocktail bars right into someone’s personal space.

Haleigh and Cody Brown spend a large amount of time in the lab, aka their athome bar in Smyrna, where they cultivate bespoke cocktails for upcoming Home Bar Network events.

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“We want to be cemented in people’s brains as the absolute upper echelon mobile bar company available,” Haleigh said. “So, if you’re hiring Home Bar Network, you know everything is being crafted and vetted by industry leaders.”

To the lab

When a client books Home Bar Network for an event, Haleigh will schedule a “cocktail consultation” call, where she learns more about their occasion, preferences and potential allergies. In many cases, the Browns said clients are hiring Home Bar Network for a niche occasion, such as a wife’s birthday or recreating a cocktail from a specific memory. One recent client, the couple said, was hosting a celebration-of-life party for their late grandmother, who was famously known among family and friends for her strawberry rhubarb pie.

“Our client asked if we could recreate her grandma’s strawberry rhubarb pie into a cocktail,” Cody said. “So, of course, that’s what we did.”

“You really can get super custom with us and I think we might be the only company that gets this custom,” Haleigh added.

After finalizing the client’s cocktail list on paper, the Browns head to the lab, aka their at-home bar in Smyrna, where they experiment with different ingredients and ratios to cultivate the perfect product.

Occasionally, Haleigh and Cody will get lucky and perfect a drink after a few tries, but oftentimes, they’re making several versions of a cocktail, collaborating with each other to reach a desired flavor profile and presentation. Regardless, the duo said they never settle on a cocktail until it tastes just right.

“Cocktails are a lot like baking, it’s all about your different ratios,” Haleigh said. “If you have too much citrus or sweetness, you’re going to throw (the drink) off. It’s not just about figuring out what we want to put in a cocktail, but it’s also about how much of each ingredient makes the most sense.”

Once Haleigh and Cody finalize their client’s bespoke cocktail menu, the customization doesn’t stop there. On event day, the couple will cater each cocktail to a guests’ unique preferences, whether they want it sweeter, more bitter or even alcohol-free. If someone has a question about an ingredient or spirit — like where it’s from and how it’s made — Haleigh and Cody are eager to answer.

“This is our lifestyle,” Haleigh said. “We’ve read hundreds of cocktail books, fine-tuned over 200 personal recipes and traveled the world to experience original cocktails and replicate that experience here. We know cocktails, their history, origination and we want to share those interesting facts and stories with our clients.”

Meanwhile, the Browns said many mobile bars that dub themselves as “professional bartenders” pre-make their drinks before events.

“They’re pulling on a tap handle and pre-mixed cocktails from a barrel funnel out,” Cody said. “They’re not shaking the cocktail in front of you, so you’re likely lacking aeration, proper dilution and showmanship, all things that add to the enjoyment of a cocktail. That is a cool service for certain applications, but it is not high end, custom, craft bartending.”

1.

2.

Cody Brown, co-founder of Home Bar Network, said the most important tool behind the bar is a jigger because it precisely measures ingredients and keeps cocktails consistent, regardless of when it’s made or who makes it.

Cody Brown double strains a Home Bar Network gimlet, made with the Botanist dry gin, homemade lemongrass simple syrup and fresh-squeezed lime juice, at an event.

If there’s one thing to know about Haleigh and Cody, it’s that they never cut corners. Whether they’re traveling across metro Atlanta to source the freshest ingredients or pouring out leftover juices from the night before because it’s not technically fresh-squeezed, the husband-wife team will go the extra lengths to keep their cocktails consistent.

“Sometimes, for one menu, we’re making five different stops just to source the best ingredients,” Haleigh said. “From Restaurant Depot and farmers markets to Korean supermarkets, we really care about the quality of our product.”

When asked about the most important tool behind the bar, Cody confidently responded: “a jigger,” which is used to measure and pour ingredients into a cocktail. But using a jigger, he said, has become a lost art. Bartenders are free pouring ingredients or using a jigger incorrectly, both of which negatively affect a drink’s overall quality.

“Most restaurant bars don’t emphasize the importance of jiggers or train bartenders how to properly use them, so what you end up lacking is consistency,” he said. “How many times have you ordered a cocktail and really enjoyed it, so you ordered it again and it tasted completely different? That’s because the bartenders aren’t using the same measurements. What we really pride ourselves on is consistency, technical expertise, using and knowing how to use bar tools correctly.”

But, above all, Haleigh and Cody said homemade syrups and fresh-squeezed juices are like “Home Bar’s Ten Commandments.” This includes combining superfine sugar, filtered water, fresh lemongrass and artisan sea salt to make an elevated simple syrup or using a manual hand press for fresh citrus juice, whether they’re prepping for a guest list of 9 or 90.

Haleigh and Cody Brown met in Madrid, Spain through a mutual friend in 2009, and, shortly after, had their first date in Lisbon, Portugal. They fell in love over a shared passion for travel, food and imbibing. “As soon as I landed home in America, I picked up the phone and called Haleigh,” Cody said. “And we’ve been inseparable ever since.”

“We’re pretty hardcore,” Haleigh quipped.

Building a Home Bar Network

Haleigh and Cody have a bright future planned for their mobile bartending company, with goals to expand Home Bar Network beyond metro Atlanta to other pockets of Georgia and the country.

“The name Home Bar Network, we think, is positioned really well because we want it to eventually be a network of home bartenders in multiple cities and multiple states,” Cody said. “Whether you live in Charleston, Nashville or Miami, you can reach out to us, schedule a cocktail consultation and then find somebody who’s local to you that we’ve trained to work your event.”

The cocktail connoisseurs said they can easily teach

bartenders how to properly make a drink, but that’s not their one goal — they’re cultivating a team of seasoned professionals, who share the same dedication for cocktail culture as they do, so that Home Bar Network delivers the same standard of professionalism, service and consistency 100% of the time.

“Finding someone who can confidently teach a cocktail class where you talk about the history of spirits and cocktails and the storytelling and kind of hospitality that comes along with it is hard to find, but it’s not impossible,” Cody said. “I have no doubt we’ll get there.”

“This is just the beginning for Home Bar Network,” Haleigh added with a smile.

For more information on Home Bar Network and the Browns, visit homebarnetwork.com or @homebarnetwork on all social platforms.

Haleigh Brown may spearhead Home Bar Network’s social media pages and website, but she also brings a wealth of professional bartending experience to the husbandwife team. “When you’re pretty much the only ones running the business, you wear every single hat,” Haleigh said. “But we definitely have our strong suits.”

Elevate your seasonal celebrations with Home Bar Network’s fall-themed cocktails

Espresso Martini

2 oz Vodka

¾ oz Borghetti Espresso Liqueur

2 oz Freshly Brewed

Espresso (or cuban coffee like Café Bustello)

¼ oz Rich Demerara Syrup

*3 dash Angostura Cocoa Bitters

4 drops Maldon Salt Solution**

Garnish: 3 Coffee Beans

Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice until well-chilled. Strain into coupe or martini glass and garnish w/ three espresso beans.

*Rich Demerara Syrup: Add 1 cup Demerara (or Turbinado) sugar and 1/2 cup filtered water to a pot. Heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Let cool. Bottle and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

**Maldon Salt Solution: Heat 100 g still mineral water with 25 g Maldon Salt until dissolved. Pour into a glass dropper bottle and refrigerate for up to four weeks.

2 oz Rye or Bourbon

1/4 oz Rich Demerara Syrup

4 dashes Angostura

Aromatic Bitters

Garnish: Orange Peel

Directions: Add whiskey, syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain over a large cube and garnish with an orange peel expression – or, book a Home Bar Network cocktail class experience to learn how to flame the orange peel over the glass!

1. Home Bar Network’s signature old fashioned and espresso martini.

2. “When you squeeze an orange or lemon peel over a cocktail, the peel’s oils, also known as limonene, are released into the air and add a citrusy aromatic quality to the drink. If you do this over an open flame, the oil ignites and a flame unfurls over the drink, resulting in a smoky, cooked citrus aroma,” Cody said.

Inside Cobb’s rich performing arts scene

Curtains up

Written by Ella Kroll

Georgia Symphony Orchestra’s mission is to “break down the barriers that keep people from coming to experience classical music.”

Photo by Chris Savas

Atlanta Ballet dancers in “Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon” in February 2024.

Photo by Shoccara Marcus

These 4 performing arts companies are bringing the big stage to Cobb

Perched next to the arts and culture hub that is Atlanta, Cobb County’s performing arts scene can often be overlooked. But, in reality, Cobb is undoubtedly rich in the arts — from orchestras and ballets to opera, there’s an entire world of performing arts right in our own backyard, making a trip to Atlanta less than a necessity.

Meet four of Cobb County’s classical performing arts companies to learn about their beginnings, what their seasons look like and how they value Cobb as a premier destination for the arts.

Georgia Symphony Orchestra

Music Director: Timothy Verville

Performing venues: Marietta Performing Arts Center, Bailey

Performance Center, The Strand Theatre

Upcoming shows:

- Rhapsody in Blue: Oct. 12

- Holiday Pops: Dec. 7-8

Founded in 1951, Georgia Symphony Orchestra is more than just a symphony orchestra — a chorus, a jazz ensemble and a youth orchestra are all additional pillars of the organization’s variety of opportunities.

GSO Music Director Timothy Verville came into his role in 2016. Since then, he has implemented initiatives that highlight diverse musicians and reach out into the Cobb community across generations and economic backgrounds to broaden the organization’s depth.

“We think that music is transformative. We think it pulls communities together and it transforms you individually,” GSO Executive Director Suzanne Tucker said. “You feel something when you’re at a symphony concert, so we want everybody to feel that.”

In addition to their formal season, GSO offers sensory concerts geared toward the autism community, making classical music accessible in a welcoming environment that allows concertgoers to anticipate what’s coming without elements that can be surprising in a typical concert.

They also maintain general accessibility by keeping ticket prices low, performing at local Cobb venues and fostering a relaxed atmosphere at shows that contrasts the typical formal nature of a symphony concert. Verville even takes time at shows to address the audience and explain the history and contextual connections of each piece of music.

“The word that I think of the most when I think of GSO performances is accessibility,” Tucker said. “Our mission is to break down the barriers that keep people from coming to experience classical music.”

Tucker said that coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for rebuilding their audience, and that GSO hopes to broaden their base of patrons in Cobb moving forward. Being founded in Marietta and having grown alongside the city, they are excitedly planning for their 75th anniversary celebration in 2025.

“We have such deep roots, especially in Marietta, but really all of Cobb County,” Tucker said. “Because of the resources this county has and the proximity to other things, we are capable of having world class

Georgia Symphony Orchestra organizes sensory concerts for the autism community, bringing classical music to a comfortable environment where all can enjoy. Photo by Casey Gardner Ford

GMDT keeps a busy schedule — rehearsals are every weekend throughout the school year for a total of three productions, with one each in the fall, winter and spring. Photo by Abigail Photos

Atlanta Ballet dancers rehearse for “Corridors” with choreographer

Juliano Nuñes.

Photo by Abigail Photos

musicians and artists that are just right here. I think that’s what makes Cobb County really unique.”

Georgia Ballet

Artistic Director: Daet Rodriguez

Performing venues: Jennie T. Anderson Theatre

Upcoming shows:

- Sleepy Hollow: Oct. 4-6

- The Nutcracker: Dec. 5-8

The Georgia Ballet is Marietta born and raised. Founded in 1960, it is the only professional ballet company in Marietta. With a diverse and decorated resident company, Georgia Ballet delivers a vibrant array of performances each year that Cobb Countians won’t want to miss out on.

“We’re definitely all such a family. The support among the staff and the company members is really unparalleled,” company dancer Georgi Hyde said. “We share so much passion for dance that really just extends beyond the studio walls.”

Hyde explained that some days during the season, the ballet performs early mornings for Cobb elementary schools and evenings for the public

— all on top of their busy rehearsal schedule, which is usually four to five hours per day, five days a week. After their annual winter show, “The Nutcracker,” they have a two-week break before commencing rehearsals for their spring show.

“It’s definitely hard work, but it definitely pays off in the end,” Hyde said.

Executive Director Alexa DeStefano said that in her experience, both as a dancer in the professional company and in her role on the executive side of GAB, Cobb County has always had a very supportive arts scene, and other Cobb arts organizations are highly collaborative and willing to work together.

“Cobb County does a great job of having arts organizations that support each other, and that’s really important, especially in today’s social climate,” DeStefano said.

This upcoming season boasts the largest company that the Ballet has had since DeStefano joined as a dancer in 2013. DeStefano said that the growing size of the company signifies that GAB is on track to become a nationally recognized ballet company — a goal that they recently established for themselves.

“I think that the art of classical ballet itself is not as well known as it used to be, and it’s not as preserved as it used to be,” DeStefano said.“We as the Georgia Ballet put our focus on still being able to bring classical ballet to our community.”

Atlanta Ballet

Artistic Director: Gennadi Nedvigin

Performing venue: Cobb Energy Centre

Upcoming shows:

- Fall Into Rhythm: Sept. 13-15

- The Nutcracker: Dec. 7-26

Clocking in at 92 years since its establishment, the Atlanta Ballet is the oldest ballet company in the U.S., and the official State Ballet of Georgia. While the ballet company rehearses at studios in Fulton County, Cobb Energy Centre serves as their principal performing venue, making Cobb instrumental to their season each year.

The company season goes from August until the middle of May, with rehearsals lasting from about 9:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. There, the company prepares for their upcoming fall and winter shows: “Fall Into Rhythm,” a mixed bill featuring musical styles ranging from jazz to neo-classical, as well as the signature holiday classic, “The Nutcracker.”

The Atlanta Ballet also hosts the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, whose mission is to spread the world of dance to everyone in the community, meaning students of all ages and levels of skill and talent are welcome to dance education and professional training. It serves over 23,000 people in metro Atlanta each year, and some students of the school even advance to the professional company.

“We pride ourselves in being a very non-competitive school,” Sharon Story, dean for the Centre for Dance Education, said. “That’s really the journey we want. We’re open for all ages, all levels, all talents.”

Story grew up in Cobb and moved around the country following her career, but still values Cobb as a destination for the arts. With Cobb Energy Centre serving as a performing venue for the Atlanta Ballet,

Georgia Ballet dancers photographed for “Sleepy Hollow.”

Photo by Shoccara Marcus

Georgia Ballet dancers performing “Cinderella” in October 2023. Photo by Susan Kettering

Atlanta Opera and other dance companies, it is a prime location for audiences to experience what Cobb has to offer.

“I think Cobb County has been on the forefront of a lot of the arts scene, especially with the Cobb Energy Centre,” Story said. “It’s really exciting to have something so attainable for everybody.”

Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre

Artistic and Associate Artistic Director: Ashleigh Whitworth and Gray Stoner

Performing venues: Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Kennesaw State

University Dance Theater

Upcoming shows:

- Dracula: Oct. 18-20

- The Nutcracker: Nov. 29 - Dec. 1

Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre, a pre-professional company housed in the studios of Georgia Dance Conservatory on Marietta Square, is one of Georgia’s oldest nonprofit arts organizations. Founded in 1956, it is home to young dancers that have gone on to dance professionally with nationally recognized ballets.

“We work very hard to make it look as professional as possible, including our students,” Associate Artistic Director Gray Stoner said. “Ballet

Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theatre is home to dancers ages 7 to 18. Photo by Abigail Photos

attracts overachievers and perfectionists, and all these kids just really, really put a lot into what they do.”

GMDT keeps a busy schedule — rehearsals are every weekend throughout the school year for a total of three productions, with one in the fall, winter and spring. But this upcoming season will be their last time producing a fall show, and they’re bringing back “Dracula,” a company favorite, to go out with a bang in October.

When describing her creative process in collaboration with fellow artistic director Ashleigh Whitworth, Stoner said they like to utilize entertaining and exciting storylines that draw audiences in. They also keep in mind what the company and community would like to see, and make their performances accessible to local patrons.

GMDT’s home studio on historic Marietta Square boasts a colorful mural of a ballerina on the side of its building — a tangible representation of the value of dance in the community. Stoner said she feels that GMDT has always been highly supported by fellow local arts organizations and the city of Marietta.

“Being based on the Marietta Square, Marietta is a community that just really loves the arts,” Stoner said. “I definitely think that’s a gem and something that is unique.”

Stoner noted that GMDT dancers are incredibly hard workers and develop skills throughout dance that can be applied to any profession, regardless of whether or not they go on to become professional dancers.

“Our hope is that our students, no matter what (or) where they go in life after they graduate… always take the life lessons that they learn from dance and always have a love of the arts,” Stoner said.

or call (678)

to learn more. Join us for our all-school Open House on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025.

Georgia Ballet company dancers perform in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in March 2024.

Photo by Susan Kettering

“We work very hard to make it look as professional as possible, including our students,” said Gray Stoner, associate artistic director of GMDT. Photo by Abigail Photos

SUDHANVA CHAR

Sudhanva Char obtained his Ph.D. in industrial economics at Gokhale Institute of Economics in Pune, India in 1978. He has served as an executive with a unit of the Mahindra Group and later as professor of statistics and economics at Life University in Marietta. Currently, he serves at Life University as adjunct professor of biostatistics. He has won several excellence awards for research and for teaching. Char obtained his yoga teaching certification in 1985 from Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute in Mumbai, and has been teaching yoga ever since.

CL: How did the idea for “Yoga Vade Mecum - Health Outcomes of Yoga Intervention” come about?

SC: The easy answer: It was sheer happenstance! But a more real and hard answer is somewhat different. I was chewing this cud in my mind about telling people what random clinical trials or tests have been stating about yoga intervention in stress management, asthma, arthritis, upper and lower backpain, COVID or SARS, diabetes, high BP and heart disease, palliative care for cancer, immunity, slowing aging, and happiness itself.

For over two decades, at my yoga classes, we used to have an annual session on scientific aspects of yoga. Medical professionals attended these sessions. I used to circulate the summary discussions, but it was not possible to make the discussions accessible to the wider public. And then came COVID, enforcing almost universal home confinement. The long-clipped idea of a yoga-book of evidences got unclipped and started flying. At the end of some 90 days of 16 to 17-hour work days, the 200-plus page manuscript was press-ready.

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

SC: Over the past 20 years or more, much of my writing has been health-oriented, given the fact that America’s health bill totals as much as $4.5 to $5 trillion or about 19 to 20% of America’s GDP. There is also the fact that my employer is a medical chiropractic school. It’s fine for America to be exceptional, but not like this, spending over $14,000 per American every year, as if we are an eternally sick nation, with not even a small percent of people in robust vigorous health.

Health has been the key topic connecting previous writings and YVM. Yoga prophylactics, lifestyle changes, and the retaining of other health care modalities are known to reduce the costs. So, I wrote about them. Prior to that I wrote about economic issues, farm taxation, the modus operandi for happiness and the meteoric rise of the Indian economy.

CL: What can readers expect from your book?

SC: Readers will be happy to note that the book avoids all platitudes and cliches about yoga and focuses on presenting hard evidence, often from random clinical tests as available in peerreviewed medical journals including Journal of the American Medical Journal, Lancet, British Medical Journal, International Journal of Yoga, and scores of others. There is surprising information about the scientific aspects of yoga, such as, how yoga maneuvers the biochemical factory that the human body is into wellness.

CL: How does inspiration strike you?

SC: For fiction writers, there are always urges to express themselves, depict society in its many facets, but for professionals and non-fiction writers, it is pretty often the Eureka moment in their research, which compels them to keep the nose to the grindstone, and tell people what they found.

Benefits of yoga were known to people for hundreds of years. Just to give an example, the eminent yoga Guru and champion BKS Iyengar, in his pioneering yoga work: Light on Yoga (1966) in Appendix II of his book gives a long list of “Curative Asanas for Various Diseases” from acidity and anemia to tumors and varicose veins. Iyengar’s book has a Foreword by the violin maestro Yehudi Menuhin. But the Doubting Thomases wanted hard RCT evidence. Hence my book, consolidating in one place, the RCT evidence about yoga intervention for various morbidities.

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

SC: The easy and yet true answer is, yes. The rituals are stress management through yoga exercises, abdominal breathing, and the shavasana or the corpse pose. Whenever writer’s fatigue started to set in while writing, I would do these rituals. They did help me overcome the fatigue and enabled me to resume writing with a fresh start, much more than a hot cup of South Indian flavorful coffee could ever do!

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

SC: The best advice I would give to an author: Get serious! Brainwash yourself that your life depends on finishing and publishing the book. For this sake, equip yourself with robust health to sustain yourself through tough writing schedules.

CL: How has your environment influenced your work?

SC: The work environment has a big effect on plans like book writing. When you work full-time and do not want the peace at home to be disturbed, it is very hard to find time to embark on your mission to come up with an exceptional book. Yes, much understanding and support from the wife, family and colleagues at work are essential. Irresistible incentives too are needed (unless you are sanyasi) to take it to a finishing point amidst all the hardship. COVID was indeed a ruthless killer, but for many writers, it gave the much-needed space at home and in time, by shutting down pretty much everything else.

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

SC: My favorite part of writing the book was presenting anecdotal proof by very eminent persons. My least favorite part was writing in my own words the often equivocal evidence found in RCTs. This was stressful because some RCTs found there was just about a placebo effect in yoga intervention, and little compelling proof. I had to be more than objective in handling such unhelpful evidence and present that without any spin.

CL: Who are you currently reading?

SC: There is real need to periodically update the evidence coming out from peer-reviewed journals and yoga institutes about outcomes of yoga intervention. This calls for accumulating the evidence, trying out meta-analysis of numerous studies and obtaining a summary effect of yoga intervention whether for diabetes or high BP or any other health issue. So, I keep reading technical journals. At the same time, economic issues continue to grab my attention and so I browse publications, from American Economic Association to American Statistical Association and others.

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

Local Scribes:

SC: I was all of 18 years of age in 1961 when the editor of Industrial Times found my article on an economic issue interesting and published it and even paid me handsomely for it. I haven’t looked back since. I have served as a columnist for Economic Times, Commerce, Financial Express, Gentleman and others. It was my quantitative research and writing skills that landed me a job at an automobile association, a chamber of commerce, at a major business house, and in 1997 at Life University. Earlier they helped me earn a Ph.D. in economics 1977.

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

SC: The Indian epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata which includes the holy Bhagvad Gita, a Manual for Daily Karmas or Action, depict the evolution of Indian civilization and its core character. Maya Angelou’s “Why the Caged Bird Sings”, Mahatma Gandhi’s “The Story of My Experiments with Truth’’ and Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Discovery of India” did sway my thinking at one time, till I got wiser. Mark Twain, T.S. Eliot, Henry David Thoreau, Hemingway, Walt Whitman, were other influences. For yoga buffs, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, written before Christ, is a daily reference.

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

SC: It was brave of me in 1968 to take up the taboo topic of farm taxation and advocate its enforcement for the sake of equity in taxation. Other authors, by comparison, were and still are pusillanimous about implementing evenhandedness in farm taxation. There are any number of good articles in scores of journals about how effective yoga treatment is for a given health problem like cancer, diabetes, heart problems or stress management. However, Yoga Vade Mecum is to my mind the first of its kind in compiling solid evidence from scattered sources in medical journals the world over, of the effectiveness of yoga treatment for a good number of maladies, and presenting all that in one book.

In addition to our Q&A with a local author, be sure to check out these new releases written by local authors in Cobb County.

Marietta author Michael Ruski has published “The Vow: A Love Story and the Holocaust,” a true story based on the lives of two people whose love, faith and will to survive transcended one of the darkest periods in human history.

Retired Bells Ferry educator Robin Pullen has published “CARO'S COMET, The Celestial Cinderella!” a children’s book about Caroline Herschel, the first female astronomer to discover a comet.

Kennesaw author Guy E. Williams Jr. has published “A Life's Journey of Heartache, Anger, and Pain. Love, Happiness, and Joy,” a literature collection of stories and poems, covering family and the ups and down of relationships like heartache; and becoming a father and husband.

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT FROM SUDHANVA CHAR’S BOOK,

Yogic Wisdom

When we are angry, bitter, emotionally upset, negative in any way, even vengeful, we are basically forgetting one of the fundamental characteristics of a wise human being: being detached from outcomes, even while being neck deep in worldly transactions. However, there is a scientific (health) reason why we need to maintain equanimity of the mind, regardless of the provocation, the magnitude of the failure, loss, or sorrow. As a matter of fact, scientifically and physiologically speaking, it may be better to err on the side of celebration, exhilaration and happiness (in moderation) rather than on the side of grief, sadness, or what is worse, depression.

When the word Sukha was coined or minted, it actually defined the meaning of the word. In Sanskrit language Su means good and kha means freedom or space. Together, the total meaning is good space. Here good space refers to the space within and without. We all want space, and resist piling on each other like in the adage: ‘packed like sardines’! There is no space when we stand in line for anything. Time slips away. We just watch helpless. We would be more comfortable if we could all have ample elbow and leg room wherever we go and the time to boondoggle or indulge in what is of utmost interest. Similarly, duh in duhkha means inadequate, and kha again has the same meaning.

Sukha and Duhkha

Sukha is the ‘comfort zone’ we speak of, with a psychosomatic variation to it. There is also a yogic, inner physical meaning for sukha: the comfortable space within our own body, between body parts, and particularly in the rib cage that houses our cardio-vascular (heart + lungs) system. Inside the rib cage the heart is wedged between the right and left lungs. There is just enough space for the lungs to inflate like a balloon when we take a deep breath. When there is duhkha or grief, gloom or sadness, the skeletal-muscular structure of the upper part of the body, including the rib cage, tightens and even shrinks, reducing the space for the lungs. When we are cheerless we shrink the lung’s sukha! People experiencing grief are unable to take a deep breath. When this occurs, there is not enough oxygen flowing to the trillions of cells in the body that must be nourished to stay healthy. The cells quickly begin to weaken without adequate oxygen. People who grieve thus have a double whammy of loss, not just whatever sad event they have suffered which made them sad in the first place, but also the weakening of their body!

COBB EATS’ DINING DEETS

compiled by skyler heath

La Bottega Italian Market & Pizza, an Italian-style grocery and restaurant, opened on Marietta Square in May, featuring a wide array of authentic Italian cuisine, like Roma-style pizza and focaccia Toscana sandwiches, to name a few. The eatery is owned and operated by Naples native Raffaele

Crispino and his family.

Seed Kitchen & Bar, at 1311 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta, announced the completion of its newly weatherproofed patio. The patio now features a louvered roof and vinyl panels, fans and built-in heaters. Flexible seating arrangements can also accommodate

celebrations for the 74-seat space.

Suwannee-based StillFire Brewing said its brewery planned for downtown Smyrna will start to see “visible progress” early this fall. StillFire held a groundbreaking ceremony in Smyrna Market Village in September 2023, but officials say delays were caused by inflation, increased construction costs and higher interest rates.

Brass Tap Beer Bar opened on Terrell Mill Road near Powers Ferry Road in early June. Spearheaded by brothers Meghl and Raj Patel, the new brewery boasts 60 taps of craft beer, 30 of which are constantly rotating, and classic pub fare, like wings and nachos.

Pictured is a rendering of the StillFire Brewing brewery slated for construction on Atlanta Road in downtown Smyrna this fall, with a planned opening next year.

Seed Kitchen & Bar in Marietta announced the completion of its newly weatherproofed patio.

From left, Raffaele Crispino, owner, Sofia Crispino, his daughter, and Pasquale Donnarumma, manager, pose for a photo outside of La Bottega Italian Market and Pizza on Marietta Square.

Charlie Gozzo, manager of the Brass Tap in Marietta, pours one of the 60 beers on tap.

COBB EATS’ DINING DEETS

Sangster’s Cafe, a Jamaican coffee shop, opened in downtown Powder Springs in middle June. The cafe, owned by Bindley and Melissa Sangster, roasts and serves coffee from their family farm in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains.

Propaganda, a ‘70s-themed cocktail

bar, lounge and art exhibition, opened in June above Zucca Bar & Pizzeria in the Smyrna Market Village. The bar, co-owned by couple Heather Tazza and Mr. Wattson, is a nod to the 1970s, featuring groovy cocktails, live DJs spinning vinyl and funky art.

Round Trip Brewing Co., an Atlanta-based brewing company anchored in West Midtown, opened a new location at Avenue East Cobb Round Trip specializes in German-style beers, the Pilsner, an Extra Pale Kölsch and a Hefeweizen. The brewery also has standard bar fare, including boiled peanuts, fried pickle chips and waffle fries.

The Peach Cobbler Factory, a dessert parlor franchise, opened at the Avenue West Cobb, featuring a variety of sweet treats such as cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, milkshakes and, of course, cobblers.

Propaganda, a cocktail bar, lounge and art exhibition from artists Heather Tazza and Mr. Wattson, opened in June above Zucca Bar & Pizzeria in Smyrna Market Village.

William Rudolph is a part-owner and director of marketing at Round Trip Brewing Co., which opened its second location in east Cobb in June.

Bindley Sangster, co-owner of Sangster’s Cafe, inside of his cafe in Powder Springs.

Dessert enthusiasts can order a cup of apple cobbler at the newest Peach Cobbler Factory location at Avenue West Cobb.

COBB EATS’ DINING DEETS

Pochino Italy, a new fast-casual Italian restaurant, opened its doors in May in The Village at Town Park shopping center near Kennesaw State University. The menu features a wide variety of buildable bowls, Roman-style, hand-pressed pizzas, salads and desserts.

Marietta couple Daysha and Mark Mayfield opened Sweet Living Bakery at 999 Whitlock Ave in late July. Some of the bakery’s popular items include carrot cake, banana pudding and peach cobbler. They also sell a variety of breakfast and lunch items, including breakfast sliders, Cajun bowls and salads. Everything on the menu is made from scratch, from the cookies to the vinaigrette dressing.

1885 Grill has opened a second location in downtown Kennesaw. Its flagship location is in Acworth. The restaurant serves Southern coastal food, like shrimp and grits, fried flounder and a coastal crab cake sandwich, as well as southern classics, including fried chicken and collard greens.

Co-founder Jennifer Erdman and General Manager Steven Moo stand outside of Pochino Italy in Kennesaw.

Managing partner Cheyenne Williams, executive chef Lauren McCormick and managing partner LaShauna Jones pose for a photo outside of 1885 Grill in Kennesaw.

Sweet Living Bakery co-owner Daysha Mayfield co-founded the bakery with her husband, Mark Mayfield.

Transformers One

Rating: N/A

In theaters Sept. 20

Set on Cybertron, the home planet of Optimus Prime and Megatron, this is the origin story of how these sworn enemies were once friends as close as brothers, and how together they changed the fate of Cybertron forever.

Lee

Rated R

In theaters Sept. 27

Fashion model turned war correspondent, Lee Miller (Kate Winslet), travels to the front lines of World War II to capture some of the most unforgettable images of the war effort. Her work, which focuses on women and victims of the war, shocks Americans by emphasizing the blatant atrocities committed by the Axis powers in Europe. Miller went to dangerous lengths to capture these pictures, such as her iconic self-photographed shot in Hitlers’ private bathtub.

Based on the real Lee Miller, this portrayal by Winslet promises to be every bit as risk-taking and tenacious.

A Different Man

Rated R

In theaters Sept. 20

Edward (Sebastian Stan) is a struggling actor with a facial disfigurement and blames his lack of success on his appearance. After going through an experimental drug program, his facial tumors disappear. Consequently, he fakes

his death as Edward to become “Guy.” But, when he loses out on a role he is desperate for, he tries to reclaim what he lost before he was handsome.

Agatha All Along

Rated: N/A

Streaming on Disney+ on Sept. 18

This “Wandavision” series spinoff takes place right where the series left off–with Wanda, the Scarlet Witch, draining Agatha’s powers.

When a series of tragedies strike in Westview, Agatha works with some unlikely allies in her quest to regain her former powers, discover what is causing chaos in the city and earn redemption for her past mistakes.

The Perfect Couple

Rated: N/A

Streaming on Netflix Sept. 5

Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson) is about to marry into one of the wealthiest families on Nantucket. However, when a body washes up on the shore mere hours before the wedding ceremony, everyone attending has become a suspect.

Featuring Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning and more, this murder-mystery book adaptation is sure to be shocking. Short and sweet, “The Perfect Couple” is a mini-series with only six episodes.

Nobody Wants This

Rated: N/A

Streaming on Netflix Sept. 26

Based on Erin Foster, the cocreator’s own life, this rom-com follows Joanne, (Kristen Bell) a brutally honest, provocative agnostic woman, and a playsit-safe but charming Rabbi Noah (Adam Brody).

This season follows the pair’s unlikely relationship, as well as their close friends and family as everyone navigates this odd new dynamic.

his bad day turns into an even worse night and sends him on a bloody path.

Blue Sisters

By Coco Mellors

Releases Sept. 3

Three estranged sisters return to their family home in New York after their fourth sister’s untimely death.

Avery is the oldest and a recovering addict who turned her life around to become a lawyer in London. However, she is hiding a secret that could ruin her life forever.

Bonnie is a former boxer who now works as a bouncer in Los Angeles to escape her recent defeat, but jeopardizes everything after a reckless decision one night.

Lucky is the youngest, most rebellious sister. She lives as a model in Paris, but after a long time of trying to outrun her party lifestyle, she realizes it’s catching up to her.

When Nicky, who was the glue of the family unexpectedly dies, the sisters have to return to New York to save the apartment they grew up in. Over the course of a year the sisters contend with the loss of Nicky, confront childhood disappointments and navigate addiction, grief and ambition.

Midwestern Gothic

By Scott Thomas

Releases Sept. 17

A collection of four distinct gothic horror short-stories.

“The Door in the Field:” A construction worker has a bad day at work and stops off at an off-the-books bar. Unfortunately,

“The Boy in the Woods:” Something evil infects the counselors at summer camp and a young boy has to do anything he can to survive the night.

“One Half of a Child’s Face:” A woman spying on her daughter and ex-husband unwittingly notices a strange painting hanging in an empty apartment that seems to beckon the building’s children.

“Wear Your Secret Like a Stone:” An employee of a big-box store realizes that the book she chose to feature in the Halloween display parallels a dark secret hidden in her seemingly idyllic town.

The Slowest Burn

By Sarah Chamberlain Releases

Sept. 24

Ellie Wasserman is a successful ghostwriter for celebrity cookbooks. After becoming widowed three years ago, she has no interest in taking chances– not on her love life, not on writing her own cookbook and not telling her in-laws that she wants to move out.

Kieran O’Niell is a disorganized, upand-coming chef who gained fame from a popular reality TV competition. He’s always making a mess and cracking jokes which puts him completely at odds with his frigid family.

When Kieran and Ellie are forced into a kitchen to work on his cookbook together, they spend weeks softening their judgments against each other and their animosity turns into attraction. Forced to confront their difficult pasts, will they be able to work through them and turn their love into something long lasting?

cobb life events

September

Dog Days at the Gardens

Attention all dog lovers! Let your furry friends experience the beauty of Smith-Gilbert Gardens with Dog Days at the Gardens from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 21, Sept. 28, and Oct. 5. For just $3 per visit, your pup can explore the beautiful 18+ acres of gardens alongside you. Smith-Gilbert Gardens is at 2382 Pine Mountain Road in Kennesaw.

Cobb County Foodie Week

Taste the best of what Cobb County offers during Cobb Foodie Week! From Sept. 7 to Sept. 14, diners can redeem digital coupons using their Cobb Foodie Week Meal Deals Pass at several of Cobb’s most delicious restaurants. With discounts, giveaways and prix fixe menu options to enjoy, Cobb Foodie Week is the best time to eat your way around the county, sampling old favorites and discovering hidden gems. Visit cobbfoodieweek. com for more information.

North Georgia State Fair

Bring the whole family to the North Georgia State Fair and welcome the fall season! The 92nd annual fair will come to Jim R. Miller Park Sept. 19 through Sept. 29. Considered the largest fair in metro Atlanta, the fair features live music, a variety of free attractions, world-class ground acts from around the globe, two petting barns featuring barnyard and exotic animals, flower shows, artwork of all kinds, local entertainment, and delicious fair foods, including all of the traditional fare as well as lots of unexpected culinary delights. The fair is open Monday through Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m, Fridays from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to midnight and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Jim R. Miller Park is at 2245 Callaway Road in Marietta.

The Color Purple: The Musical Experience Marietta’s Theatre in the Square’s largest show to date as they approach 10 years in the community! “The Color Purple: The Musical,” directed by Emil Thomas and based on the 1982 novel by Alice Walker, runs Sept 6. through Sept. 22. Ticket prices range from $13 to $59. Marietta’s Theatre in the Square is at 11 Whitlock Ave.

Harvest Hustle 5K

The Kennesaw Grand Prix Series will host its Harvest Hustle 5K Saturday, Sept. 28 at 8 a.m. in downtown Kennesaw. The course is mostly asphalt and is flat and fast. The race begins at Kennesaw First Baptist Church, heads north on Main Street, meanders through Swift-Cantrell Park and finishes in historic downtown Kennesaw. Runners will cross the finish line into a post-race party for the awards ceremony and celebration. Registration is $35 to participate in the 5K. There is also a tot trot ($5) and a 1-mile fun run ($20).

cobb life events October

Chalktoberfest

Enjoy beer, wine and chalk art at Marietta’s annual Chalktoberfest Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This family-friendly event features arts and crafts vendors, live music, food trucks and live chalk art both days. The Craft Beer Festival will take place Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. — Come out and experience the taste of over 120 different craft beers and 25 varieties of wine while walking the painted streets of Historic Downtown Marietta. Chalktoberfest will take place on Atlanta Street and Anderson Street, both of which run around the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art at 30 Atlanta St. in Marietta.

Six Flags Fright Fest

Fright Fest returns to Six Flags Over Georgia Sept. 14 through Nov. 3! Get ready for the best Halloween event of the season, featuring family-friendly thrills during the day and the scariest frights by night. Six Flags Over Georgia is at 275 Riverside Pkwy in Austell.

Fall-O-Ween

The city of Kennesaw Parks & Recreation beckons area ghouls, ninjas, superheroes and princesses to “Spook-Central Park” for its annual FallO-Ween Fest at Swift-Cantrell Park on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 3 to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Activities include a candy trail, costume contests, scavenger hunt, crafts, field games and music. Concessions and unique merchandise from local crafters will be available for purchase beginning at 3 p.m.

cobb life events October

Taste of Acworth

Flock to Historic Downtown Acworth for the annual Taste of Acworth event on Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring over 150 booths from local restaurants and businesses. Admission is free and food samples vary in price from $1 to $4. The event will also feature two live entertainment stages and a kid’s zone with children’s activities, inflatables, a quad bungee and games.

HarvestFest

Grab your friends and family and flock to Glover Park on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Marietta's HarvestFest, an annual festival held each October, featuring the HarvestFest Arts & Crafts Show, Pie Eating Contest, Touch-A-Truck, Scarecrows In The Square, Costume Contest and a Halloween Happenings kids’ festival. Glover Park is at 50 N Park Square NE in Marietta.

33rd Annual Cobb Sheriff’s Shrimp Boilin’

Photography by J ON GILLOOLY

The 33rd annual Cobb County Sheriff’s Low Country Shrimp Boilin’ packed the Jim Miller Park Event Center July 8.

Attendees enjoyed a seafood boil, barbecue, hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, ice cream and fellowship.

1. From left: state Sen. Michael “Doc” Rhett, D-Marietta; Sheriff Craig Owens; and former state Sen. Lindsey Tippins, R-west Cobb, show off some of the cooking ahead of the 33rd annual Cobb County Sheriff’s Low Country Shrimp Boilin’ at Jim Miller Park July 8.

2. Former Marietta Councilman Reggie Copeland, and Michael McNeely, Mableton Improvement Coalition board member, serve up the food.

3. Jesse and Deane Bonner, president emerita of the Cobb County NAACP.

4. Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris and husband, Jim Harris.

5. From left, Tahnicia Phillips, candidate for Cobb State Court clerk; Cobb school board candidate Laura Judge and Commissioner Monique Sheffield.

6. Brenda Borden, Cobb Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor and Bill Borden.

7. Tax Commissioner Carla Jackson and Commissioner Jerica Richardson.

Kennesaw’s Salute to America Celebration

Photography by ROBIN RAYNE

The city of Kennesaw celebrated Independence Day with its annual “Salute to America” celebration on July 3. “Salute to America” has been running in Kennesaw for over 50 years. It has taken place on July 3 since 1965.

Attendees were treated to multiple festivities such as live music, street entertainment, inflatable amusements and other familyfriendly activities.

The festivities concluded with a fireworks show that was visible throughout Depot Park.

1. Jasmine Lander and Robbie McMinn are dressed for the occasion at Kennesaw’s Salute to America celebration.

2. Two attendees dance to the music during Kennesaw’s Salute to America celebration at Piedmont Bank Amphitheater.

3. Troubadour Band at Kennesaw’s Salute to America concert.

4. Leona and Vincent Price from Kennesaw sample cotton candy at the city’s Salute to America celebration.

5. Lexi Irwin, 22, cheers for the Troubadour band at Kennesaw’s Salute to America celebration at the city’s new outdoor concert venue.

Marietta seniors continue tradition of rolling campus

Photography by ROBIN RAYNE

Marietta High School seniors decorated their campus with roll after roll of toilet paper July 31 ahead of the first day of school.

The campus rolling is a tradition of the senior class and a way to celebrate the launch of their final year of high school. According to Kaleb Whitlow, student body president, about 220 seniors showed up and each brought an average of a dozen rolls.

1. Libby Barnes uses a leaf blower to help thrust rolls of tissue high into the trees.

2. J.D. Chalfont holds fresh supplies as Marietta High School Class of 2025 seniors continued the tradition of decorating their school with rolls of toilet paper Wednesday evening ahead of the first day of school.

3. Cindy Kerr, Nathell Evans, Makayla Baptiste, Santianna Mayor, Chalzyn Moss and Princess Richardson proudly display their work.

4. Mercedes Avanon, Sofia Hawkins, Aisha Award and Sky Davis. Marietta High School Class of 2025 seniors continued the tradition of decorating their school with rolls of toilet paper Wednesday evening ahead of the first day of school.

COBB SCENE

Kennesaw Farmers Market

Photography by ISABELLE MANDERS

Cobb residents and visitors alike shopped for fresh produce, handmade goods and more during the 2024 Kennesaw Farmers Market season, which debuted in May and ran through Aug. 26. The market, located at the corner of Moon Station Road and Main Street in downtown Kennesaw, hosted a variety of vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods and specialty items.

the weekly Kennesaw Farmers Market.

1. Siblings Finn, 4, and Mabry, 2, Commins during

Kennesaw Farmers Market

3.

4.

2. Jennifer Reid, sales rep for Hometown Honey, speaks to customers during the weekly Kennesaw Farmers Market.

Paul Hardy, owner of Hardy’s Bakery, shows off baked goods during the weekly Kennesaw Farmers Market.

Noemi Espinoza, owner of Noemi's Tamales, prepares a to-go container with a handmade organic chicken breast tamale and organic black beans and brown rice during the weekly Kennesaw Farmers Market.

5. Tim Gray of Tim Gray Farm with his product during the weekly Kennesaw Farmers Market.

6. Larry Brooks of 2 Old Nuts poses with a melon grown at his farm during the weekly Kennesaw Farmers Market.

Photography by ISABELLE MANDERS

The 92nd annual North Georgia State Fair, presented by Superior Plumbing, will be Sept. 19 through 29 at Jim R. Miller Park, 2245 Callaway Road SW in Marietta. As the largest fair in metro Atlanta, it attracts over 300,000 people every year from north Georgia and neighboring states, featuring free attractions and shows, farm animals, flower shows, blue ribbon competitions, local entertainment and fair foods. There are also games and rides on the Great James H. Drew Exposition midway — one of the largest carnival midways in the U.S., with the Wildcat Rollercoaster, Georgia Mountain Lift and the Mega Slide.

For more information, visit northgeorgiastatefair.com.

RIGHT: The family owned and operated Great James H. Drew Exposition Midway is the cornerstone of the North Georgia State Fair, featuring over 35 rides for all ages. Photo courtesy of JRM Management/North Georgia State Fair

Passersby can hear the screams from riders on the Cyclone at the North Georgia State Fair, presented by Superior Plumbing. Photo by Skyler Heath

Scene from the 91st annual North Georgia State Fair, presented by Superior Plumbing. Photo by Robin Rayne

An employee of Florida-based Spivey’s Southern Grill, which specializes in cheesesteak sandwiches, shows off one of his creations during the 91st annual North Georgia State Fair, presented by Superior Plumbing. Photo by Joel Elliott

The Balloon Ride returns to the 92nd annual North Georgia State Fair, presented by Superior Plumbing. Photo courtesy of JRM Management/North Georgia State Fair

John Murphy, of Marietta, poses with his food at the 90th annual North Georgia State Fair, presented by Superior Plumbing. Photo by Robin Rayne

The 92nd annual North Georgia State Fair, presented by Superior Plumbing, will welcome back Monster Trucks to this year’s Carriage Kia Grandstand Event Series.

Photo courtesy of JRM Management/North Georgia State Fair.

now & then

The first North Georgia State Fair, originally known as the Cobb County Fair, was in 1924. During this time, the fair leased property from Dobbins Air Force Base on South Cobb Drive across from the Glover Machine Shop. The fair ran continuously until 1941 during World War II. After a hiatus, the 18th annual Cobb County Fair was held in 1950. After a second move to Powder Springs Road, on a hill across from Westside Shopping Center, the fair moved to its current location on Callaway Road in 1966. The Cobb County Fair was changed to the North Georgia State Fair in 1967.

From the Tuesday, Sept. 19, 1967, Marietta Daily Journal. Below are photographs, from a series titled “Reigning Beauties of Cobb Fair”

Rachel Bramlett, 14, of Marietta, right, laughs as Laura Ferrer drives her around in the bumper cars at the North Georgia State Fair in September 2008. MDJ File

Nightmare Alley attraction at the North Georgia State Fair in 1976. Photo courtesy of the Old Marietta Facebook Page and Davis McCollum

North Georgia State Fair’s ferris wheel ride. Photo courtesy of JRM Management/North Georgia State Fair.

Rabona Frady of Smyrna, who was named the North Georgia State Fair’s Junior Miss, being crowned by the 1966 queen Jan Hook. Looking on is Fair official Art Schultz. MDJ File by Mike Keza

Senior Miss North Georgia State Fair Rebecca Ann Stanley of Marietta being crowned by Dr. J.H. Henderson. MDJ File by Mike Keza

Pictured in the Monday, Sept. 23, 1996, Marietta Daily Journal was a photograph of Tod Miller, who was listed as having taken over running the North Georgia State Fair, metro Atlanta’s largest state fair, at age 22. MDJ File by Bill Clark

Shelly Porter of Marietta and her 10-year-old daughter, Jessica, hanging on for dear life on The Pirate ride the night before at the 64th Annual North Georgia State Fair in September 1996. MDJ File by Bill Clark