for the holidays. As a small but mighty family they are delighted to share this season with their friends and neighbors in Canton.
s we venture into the “-ber” months, it’s time to bring on the bubbly! Tucked inside The Mill on Etowah is Suds and Bottles, Canton’s new favorite wine and beer spot to mingle, relax, kick back, and sip high-quality, biodynamic wines.
Husband and wife duo Nick and Christina Caruso and their fan-fave pup, Buoy, are the creative geniuses behind the Suds and Bottles brand. They specialize in wine and beer, plus their mocktails offer something more for everyone to enjoy.
Christina
Nick Caruso
their pup, Buoy, cozy up
‘‘ At our bar you may not have known the person sitting next to you, but you might have a new friend by the end of the night.”
— Christina Caruso
Local Flavor, No Commute
Convenient to Cherokee County, Suds and Bottles provides an original experience for lovers of vino and IPAs, and there’s no need to drive far, when you can find it all in Canton.
Nick says, “There wasn’t a wine aspect to Canton when we first moved here—not at The Mill or in downtown Canton. We wanted to bring that to The Mill. You don’t have to go to Atlanta to find a wine and beer bar. We wanted to bring something new and refreshing to the community.”
Across the high-top bar, locals, visitors, and Suds and Bottles regulars enjoy crafted beers and wines. Christina laughs and admits, “Sometimes with our regulars, I know exactly what they want. When they sit down, all I have to do is give them their favorite drink of choice.”
Natural Goodness: A Taste of Georgia and Beyond
Christina and Nick understand their guests and their needs, as seen in their wine and beer selection, often featuring rotating Georgia-made brews, including Pontoon Brewing in Sandy Springs and Two Tides Brewing in Savannah. Suds and
Bottles wine and beer products are tasty without pesticides, additives, or chemicals—just natural goodness. “The flavor of wine and beer from our farmers and brewers changes yearly,” Nick explains, “because the flavor fluctuates yearly when wines are naturally produced.”
Nick adds, “We love getting to know what our customers like and dislike, and we’re always happy to help them find what they’re looking for.”
As for where the name Suds and Bottles came from, Nick and Christina agreed that after trying a few names, they felt that the name “flowed off the tongue.” After consulting with Nick’s brother-in-law, Rodrigo Chaves, the couple decided the name was a great fit. Experienced in graphic design and marketing, Rodrigo created the brand’s logo and marketing elements. Inspired by the logo, Nick sketched the brand’s signature octopus on the wall, adding a playful personal touch.
While art is Nick’s hobby, with oil painting being his preference, he finds his work at Suds and Bottles to be the most fulfilling. Christina does too. They’re both grateful to be involved with the local community.
Buoy peers over the counter to invite future friends into Suds and Bottles for a pleasant and personalized bar experience.
“When we moved here years ago, it was hard to meet people,” Christina says. “At our bar you may not have known the person sitting next to you, but you might have a new friend by the end of the night.”
Suds and Bottles Holiday Gifts
Christina and Nick have plenty of tips for gifting beers, bubblies, and more to those on your holiday list. Here’s what they had to share:
Holiday Cheer (With Beer)
IPAs and stouts are great for beer lovers this holiday season. Suds and Bottles offers plenty of seasonal and themed beers, so there’s something for everyone. Additional options include candy- and pumpkin-themed beers for fall and dessert-themed beers for December.
Pinot, Please
It’s easy to find a great wine when you know what’s on your holiday menu. Pinot noirs often pair well with traditional Thanksgiving favorites. Nick adds, “If we know the kind of food you’re preparing, it’s easy to find a wine to go with it. We can lead you in the right direction.”
Squeaky Clean Mocktails
Spritzers are a tasty zero-proof choice for those still wanting to drink and be merry without the buzz. Dark berry and fruit flavors paired with cranberries, rosemary, apple cider, or thyme are great. For something cream-based, a nonalcoholic eggnog or coffee-flavored drink does the trick.
Bring On The Bubbly Champagne has been and always will be a holiday staple. Bubbly, bright wines are refreshing and pair well with just about any food. From cheese to almonds to pasta or a tasty winter dessert, champagne and its bubbly relatives are total crowd pleasers. An Italian classic prosecco is also a perfect hostess gift for holiday gatherings.
Get a taste of what Suds and Bottles has to offer during its “Stock the Cellar” event on November 16 and stock up for gift-giving this season.
For more details on fun-filled holiday-themed events, visit SudsAndBottles.com.
A Very Good Buoy
STORY BY Taylor Haymore, Canton
A man’s best friends are his dog and a bar. Suds and Bottles offers a fun-filled package of both. Since Suds and Bottles opened in March customers have fallen in love with a furry friend behind the bar: Buoy. A potcake—a Caribbean mixed-breed canine so called because islanders fed the caked remains of their cooking pots to their dogs—Buoy embraces patrons as his extended family. Buoy started as a family dog when his parents, Nick and Christina Caruso, fell in love with him as soon as they found him up for adoption in Florida. Buoy has become well accustomed to the “brew-y” lifestyle. He recognizes regulars as if they are his best friends, and he has made many friends with the success of Suds and Bottles.
Nick and Christina love having Buoy alongside them at work. They’ve learned how to thrive together. Nick laughs when he shares one of his favorite parts of having Buoy around: “He literally is our customer relations specialist.”
Friends quickly reciprocated Buoy’s love and buoyantly started tipping him. Originally the tips were meant to benefit Buoy, but after Nick and Christina saw the potential for more, they began donating the tips to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter.
Shelter Director Susan Garcia affirms, “The shelter is always thrilled to receive any donation.” Donations benefit the shelter’s programs to support animals in Cherokee County. To date, the Suds and Bottles team has provided the shelter with about two hundred dollars in wish-list items and donations, and as long as Buoy’s friends continue showing him love, he will keep donating.
Nick examines the wine wall, containing a wide selection of wonderful wines perfect for winter.
It’s no secret to locals that Cherokee County is full of picturesque backdrops and charming communities. Screenwriter Cheryl McKay Price knew this fact when she chose to film her new series, These Stones, primarily within the county. Cheryl, a Woodstock resident herself, adapted These Stones from its original concept as a play and developed it into a six-episode miniseries with the potential for more to follow.
These Stones, a faith-based series, airs on UP Faith & Family, a streaming service dedicated to wholesome and uplifting content. Cheryl formed the production company Stone Impact Media with three business partners to develop the project here in Georgia. With vast experience writing faith-focused projects, Cheryl’s passion for working in this niche sector is her drive to do good through her work. Cheryl believes there is “power in the pen” and takes pride in working on projects that inspire audiences. The combination of an inspirational story and scenic settings around Cherokee County comes together to form the striking new series.
Actors from These Stones remember their time here fondly and recall the impact our community had during their time here filming two years ago.
Rusty Joiner, one of the show’s leads, recalls the beauty of a North Georgia fall and the kindness of local residents, saying of local crew members that he remembers “everybody making the other person more important than themselves.” He describes his time here as a breath of fresh air at a time when he wanted to step away from the Hollywood scene.
Actor Charlene Amoia was so moved by our region’s beauty that she has since moved to the area from Los Angeles.
Familiar Scenery
Cheryl jokes that she used only a tank and a half of gas during the five weeks it took to film These Stones. This is no coincidence. Molly Mercer, film project manager at Cherokee Office of Economic Development [COED], appreciates that Cheryl prioritizes filming her projects locally. As we sit inside Circle of Friends at Circuit Café in Woodstock, Cheryl tells me this location and others were top of mind when writing scenes for the show. In fact some episodes were written with the settings already decided.
When filming time rolled around in the fall of 2022, Cheryl says she left only about four new locations for the scouting team to find, one of which was a staged homeless encampment at Twelve Oaks Landscaping in Canton.
Viewers may recognize additional familiar sights including River Park, Dupree Park, Rootstock, and First Baptist Woodstock. Local residents opened their homes and farms to the film crew as well. The Circuit Café at Chattahoochee Technical College served as a major filming location with episode two revolving around Circle of Friends.
Cheryl says she was inspired by the mission of Circle of Friends Coffee Shop after spending time in The Circuit Café, a coworking space open to the public. The coffee shop and its sister location, Flourish Café in Hickory Flat, employ adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to foster a sense of independence and accomplishment. Cheryl says she was so moved by the concept she based an entire episode of These Stones on a character, Jimmy, played by David DeSanctis, working in the coffee shop. The film crew filmed the episode at Circle of Friends with real employees serving as background actors.
Economic Impact
‘‘As funny as this sounds, filming in Cherokee County changed my life. I was shooting here during the fall, and one day I was driving on a highway surrounded by trees and was just blown away by the beauty of the town. I thought, ‘Here I am driving on a freeway that looks like I’m in the middle of a beautiful forest.’ I was confronted with the contrast of driving in Los Angeles and what it looks like in comparison. On a whim I called my husband and asked him if he would be open to moving here, and six months later we found a house, packed up our stuff, and moved across the country.”
— Charlene Amoia
The television and film industry has a strong presence in Georgia and is lucrative for the state’s economy. According to Governor Brian Kemp, the industry spent $4.1 billion in Georgia in 2023. Projects like These Stones are rewarding for the locations where they film. As a local, Cheryl was particularly careful to hire local workers as often as possible. According to Molly and COED, television and film projects such as These Stones greatly impact the local economy. The production of this particular project led to the hiring of thirty-five crew members, twenty cast members, and fifty background actors with Georgia residency. In addition to hiring locally, production and film crews for projects flood the local economy through support of local businesses, catering, and equipment rentals.
A Show to Be Proud of
Viewers of These Stones can be sure they’ll see a wholesome story with an inspirational message. The plot follows McKenna, played by Madeline Carroll, who’s tasked with pairing characters from the Bible to help people of today through real and relevant struggles. Charlene, who portrays McKenna’s mother, Eliana, promises subject matter that addresses “deep and challenging universal human struggles, and the episodes approach these things with truth, grit, and ultimately hope.”
Rusty agrees, adding that hope is often noticeably missing in network television. The cast expects the series to help people work through hard times in their own lives. To watch the episodes and spot familiar faces and scenery, stream all six episodes of These Stones on UP Faith & Family.
Use discount code STONES30 for 30 percent off the first month of a subscription to UP Faith & Family. To use this discount code, visit UpFaithAndFamily.com online first and click Join Now to sign up.
ABOVE A behind-the-scenes look at filming on location at The Circuit Café in Woodstock
RIGHT Actor David DeSanctis on set at The Circuit Café
for the
HOMELESS HOLIDAYS
STORY BY Bruce Baker, Canton
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Daniel Shaver
Since retiring Jim Lindenmayer finds himself working harder than ever. He serves as director of the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this Veterans Day.
A thirteen-year Army vet himself, Jim met with me at Cherokee Veterans Park next to the only statue in the nation dedicated to homeless veterans, according to the National Register. Every December 21 at sundown—the longest night of the year—a candlelight vigil is held at the statue for the many soldiers who served their country honorably, only to find themselves living on the streets.
It’s frustrating that only 20 percent of Georgia counties complete the Homeless Point-in-Time surveys each winter, but estimates on the homeless veterans in Georgia vary from three thousand to thirteen thousand.
Former soldiers are among the least likely to say they need help. Jim says female veterans often won’t ask unless they have children to support. What is well documented is that 750,000 veterans live in the state of Georgia and 40 percent are living at or below the poverty level, some permanently disabled and unable to work.
Addressing the problem is complicated. Each situation must be carefully assessed to ensure that the individual is a veteran who served, was discharged honorably, and genuinely needs help.
Nationwide 40 percent of homeless veterans have mental health issues that need to be addressed. As the Veterans Administration ratio is estimated at three hundred patients to every therapist, providing help with mental health presents another serious challenge.
At the other end of the spectrum, some veterans are talented, trained, and need just a push to get restarted in the civilian sector. Many veterans have enviable job skills and training that employers need. Jim has helped place welders who were fully trained in the Army but lacked the connections to find work.
Some veterans lack necessary transportation. The Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program has given sixty-three used vehicles to homeless veterans for that purpose.
Many veterans qualify for Veterans Administration help but can’t get it because they’re homeless. A “home of record” is required, plus they have no phone so can’t be reached for the follow-ups needed to complete the process. To meet this need, the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program partners with Alpharetta-based nonprofit Cellphones for Soldiers, which provides iPhones for up to a year.
Looking at the Big Picture
The larger picture of homelessness isn’t lost on the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program. It often works in tandem with the Homeless Coalition of Cherokee County that Marianne Butler leads.
Jim shares, “When they encounter a homeless person who’s a vet, they send them our way, and when we encounter one that isn’t, we send them their way.”
Jim estimates that the Cherokee County magistrate court daily handles ten to twelve dispossessory affidavits—the first step in the legal process to evict a tenant—resulting in more than 7,200 dispossessory cases since January 2021. According to Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, the agency carried out an average of fifteen evictions each month so far in 2024, up from a monthly average of thirteen in 2023.
Cherokee County School District Chief Communications Officer Barbara Jacoby says that some two hundred children receive school district support as “homeless students,” which includes children living in shelters and children living temporarily with extended family or friends or in extended-stay hotels.
Despite those facts, Cherokee County doesn’t offer a single temporary housing facility for the homeless. Jim, Marianne, and their teams are working to change that.
In 2021 the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program purchased the former Hill House property on Faye Drive, just off Bells Ferry Road in Canton. The organization has applied for permits to convert the house into a transitional housing facility for up to fifty male veterans. Construction should begin in January 2025, with a goal of opening around January 2026. A second facility for females is also planned.
Plans for the first facility include an onsite resident assistant, the first paid position in the organization, which to date relies 100 percent on volunteers. It will include mental health and other medical facilities, a food pantry, and computers, so residents can conduct job searches. Intended to be transitional, the facility will have a nine-month maximum length of stay, long enough to get veterans back on their feet and self-supporting. It’s not a handout; it’s a hand up.
Viola Ross, American Legion Unit 45 Auxiliary vice president, has been operating a thrift store out of the building in Canton while waiting for permit approvals. Proceeds from the store, as well as several fundraisers organized by the American Legion women’s auxiliary unit, help fund the renovations. “Jim’s heart is so big; I can’t count the number of homeless veterans he’s gotten back on their feet,” Viola says, adding, “We need $2.5 million, and I’ll do this for as long as it takes us to get it.”
availability. Cherokee County didn’t qualify for the funds because it was deemed too large to be considered rural. Passion for the people the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program serves, however, keeps the organization going. The statue erected in Veterans Park bears the organization’s marching orders: “No one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, a roof over their head, or the healthcare they need.”
Domestic violence is an issue here also, with more than a dozen female veterans reporting domestic violence experiences over the last fifteen months. Plans are underway to make the county an anchor site for a veteran-focused domestic-abuse program.
‘‘ No one who fights for this country should have to fight for a job, a roof over their head, or the healthcare they need.”
Other issues also cause housing complications. For instance, veterans here can’t take advantage of VA-assisted housing because of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] program requirements. Federally funded rent support is available to homeless veterans through HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing [VASH] program; however, HUD confirms that the 145 public housing units in the HUD-funded Canton Housing Authority— which operates independently from the City of Canton—aren’t eligible because the housing authority doesn’t provide case management, a requirement of the VASH program.
Success Story
All money received from grants, donations, and fundraising supports the people the program serves.
A Fight for Funding
Funding can be a frustrating factor. In 2021 the federal government allocated $363 million in grant money to address “rural homelessness,” including $42 million for the state of Georgia. The money went unused because many counties weren’t notified of its
Recently Jim and his team learned of a homeless young man who wanted to join the armed forces when he turned eighteen, but he wasn’t a high school graduate, a requirement for enlistment. Although he wasn’t a veteran, he wanted to serve his country, so the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program assisted him. A volunteer recruited Karen Lawrence, a Woodstock Marine Corps League member and former teacher, to help the young man study. He then passed the GED test with twice the minimum score needed. He’s now training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina. All he needed was a chance. The same can be said for countless homeless veterans. Thanks to the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, some veterans are getting that chance.
STORY BY Jose Barrera Bales, Woodstock
Each year the Department of Housing and Urban Development partners with local organizations to conduct its annual Homeless Point-in-Time count in all fifty states. Regardless, getting an accurate count of the precariously housed population is difficult, even here in Cherokee County.
Marianne Butler, director of the Homeless Coalition of Cherokee County, stresses the importance of understanding the broad diversity of our unhoused population. “People come in a wide range. Yes, we do have people in camps or in wooded areas, but we also have them in cars and people in hotels living paycheck to paycheck. It is a very fluid situation.”
Marianne highlights the innate difficulty in measuring the unhoused in our county, specifically during this year’s Pointin-Time count, often referred to simply as PIT. During the count, multiple organizations split up the county into quadrants. The quadrant to which Marianne and her group were assigned found evidence of unhoused individuals but found no people at the sites at that time.
One of the biggest challenges to the PIT count is that it takes place over the course of just one day. Marianne expresses, “You know there may be people there, but there aren’t any at the times we go.” She draws attention to the fact that factors ranging from the weather to the diversity of their situations can impact the unhoused in ways that hinder volunteer teams from being able measure the count properly.
While it is disheartening not having accurate data regarding something as important as the people in our community experiencing homelessness, we can do more. Marianne says, “There is not one clear solution for individuals, so sometimes listening and hearing the stories is all we can do. When people are heard and seen, it really is invaluable.”
Angels
STORY BY Ana Markosi, Canton
The Canton Pantry Angels, a group of community-run food pantries founded by longtime Canton residents Laine Kirby Wood and Jory Seidel Cannon, are making strides to serve Cherokee County’s underserved communities.
Community members who communicate through the Canton Pantry Angels Facebook group fully stock the little yellow cabinets. When stocking a pantry, community members are asked to post photos to show what they contributed and to which location.
The pantries serve the community’s vulnerable populations experiencing food insecurity, including some of Cherokee County’s homeless veterans. According to Feeding America, 47 million people in the United States, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity annually.
In Laine’s time running the pantries, she has formed relationships with some of our homeless and at-risk veterans. Terry, a veteran in need, says he simply wants to be seen. “What I like about you, Laine, is that you call me by my name. You see me,” Terry told her. Her friendship with Terry opened her eyes to the way the homeless are too often cast aside. “They’re invisible,” Laine says. “The simplest thing you can do is see people, recognize them, and not judge them. And call them by their name.”
Community members can help feed Cherokee County’s underserved populations by placing donations directly in the yellow pantries. Individually wrapped food items are best. High-protein foods such as canned tuna are extremely satiating. The Salvation Army pantry also has a space to donate toiletries and personal care items.
Canton Pantry Angels | Food Pantry Locations
Community Garden: 227 West Marietta Street, Canton Salvation Army: 241 Marietta Road, Canton St. Clement’s Episcopal Church: 2795 Ridge Road, Canton
More information on the Canton Pantry Angels, including donation guidelines, can be found at the Canton Pantry Angels Facebook group page.
STORY BY Bobbie Christmas, Woodstock
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Caitlin Brown
At the August meeting of Holbrook for a Cause, Lifestyles Activities Director Pam Jones welcomed about forty attendees who stared in awe at the gigantic piles of essential items they had collected for two local nonprofits. Holbrook Woodstock, an active senior living facility so large it takes up almost a city block along Highway 92, is home to more than two hundred residents, many of whom are active in the Holbrook for a Cause club.
Spiritual Satisfaction
Pam, a bundle of energy topped with a bright smile, creates and oversees multiple activities, events, clubs, and presentations at Holbrook. Hired before the senior living facility opened in 2021, she arrived overflowing with plans to keep residents active, passionate about life, and assisting others.
Pam Jones displays a tiny portion of items Holbrook for a Cause collected and donated to two local charities.
Pam Jones
The Holbrook for a Cause club fills many of those conditions. Club members address the needs of children, veterans, and animals in need in Cherokee County and have held events, bazaars, and other fundraisers to benefit a variety of charitable organizations. Pam also started similar charitable clubs at other senior living facilities in Georgia.
“A large part of being spiritual,” Pam explains, “has nothing to do with religion. Giving to others is the most spiritual thing a person can do. It feels good when you help others. Holbrook for a Cause is purpose-driven,” she says, “and we need to know where our time and money is going.”
In preparation for the new school year, members of Holbrook for a Cause picked The Children’s Haven as one of its most recent beneficiaries. The Children’s Haven in Canton provides services to children in foster care, children in need of tutoring or mentoring, parents in need of supplies for their children, and parents who would benefit from guidance.
During the summer, members collected school supplies, and at the August meeting Pam presented Daphne Mullen, director of operations at The Children’s Haven, with more than a thousand pencils; forty-five pens; 389 glue sticks; 2,467 crayons; 163 pairs of scissors; almost a hundred composition books; piles of notebook paper; a substantial amount of construction paper; and multiple binders, clips, dry erase markers, and much more. In addition Pam presented The Children’s Haven with a generous check from Holbrook for a Cause.
Daphne remarks, “Wow! The residents were so generous, kind, and thoughtful to help with school supplies and an additional surprise contribution of $2,000 to help fill back-to-school needs for local children experiencing foster care.” She points out, “Our programs include CourtAppointed Special Advocates, a Wellstar Family Visitation Center, PCA Cherokee to prevent child abuse, and Chin Up mentoring.” The nonprofit served more than 500 children in 2023. “We are here for children from infants to teens,” Daphne says.
Like a Dog with a Bone
Unwaveringly dedicated to giving, Holbrook for a Cause members also worked hard this summer to build an enormous collection and cash to donate to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter. Executive Director Susan Garcia expressed gratitude for the money, towels, pet food, medical supplies, and more, including a brand-new doggie bed, thanks to John West, a Holbrook resident who bought the new bed and donated it.
Susan explains that at the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, “Every pet is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before it is available for adoption. It’s the only way to control our overpopulation.” She adds, “We provide free pet microchipping for people living in Cherokee County, so there’s no excuse not to have your pet microchipped.”
Many Ways to Give
Since the start of Holbrook for a Cause, members in their sixties to their nineties have approached giving in myriad ways. They’ve collected small plush toys for first responders to comfort children in difficult situations. Members arose early one morning to serve a hot breakfast to first responders. Members have made reading pillows for early readers: pillows with a pocket filled with an appropriate book. They’ve collected coats, jackets, and food for people in need. They gave costumes to hospitalized or needy children so they too could celebrate Halloween.
WORTHY CAUSES
Here are a few of the charitable organizations
Holbrook for a Cause has assisted so far:
Cherokee County and Woodstock EMS
CherokeeCountyFire.org
Cherokee County Animal Shelter
CherokeeGa-Animals.org
Cherokee County
Homeless Veterans
CherokeeHomelessVets.com
Foundation for Hospital Art HospitalArt.org
Mary Hall Freedom Village
MaryHallFreedomVillage.org
MUST Ministries
MustMinistries.org/Canton
The Children’s Haven CherokeeChildrensHaven.org
Holbrook’s members painted murals that the Foundation for Hospital Art then sent to hospitals, nursing homes, and other places to brighten walls and cheer up people who are suffering. For the Holbrook for a Cause Christmas Bazaar, club members made and sold holiday ornaments, baked goods, artwork, knitted wear, and more, with the proceeds going to another worthy cause.
Age-Old Traditions
Retirement from working doesn’t mean retirement from everything. Holbrook for a Cause members continue their family traditions. Trish Camina recalls, “Our parents always donated their time and money; we grew up knowing it was the right thing to do. It feels good to give back to the community.”
Many Holbrook for a Cause members attended a recent meeting to see their thousands of dollars' worth of donations go to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and The Children's Haven.
Gayle Madison also grew up with parents who volunteered and donated to worthy causes. She appreciates Holbrook for a Cause and says, “We can see exactly where our gifts and donations go.”
Years ago a few homeless men lived in the woods behind Barbara Bedwell’s childhood home, and her mother often left food out for them. Today Barbara says, “Where my husband, Dana, and I used to live, we knew the places in our community that could use our help, but when we moved to Woodstock, we didn’t know anything about who needed what. We’re used to volunteering our time and helping others, but we didn’t know where to turn. Holbrook for a Cause was the answer. We were thrilled to learn of the organization right here where we live.”
Sue Huebsch’s husband, Bob, was still living when the two of them joined Holbrook for a Cause as soon as they moved into Holbrook Woodstock. Sue also grew up in a family accustomed to helping others. Her father used
to own a deli and grocery store. “I asked him why he sometimes tore up a customer’s bill. He explained that they couldn’t pay, so it was his way of giving.”
Howard Morin, a veteran, and his wife, Jan, are members of Holbrook for a Cause because, as Howard explains, “The group works closely with the Holbrook Veterans Club and has been generous with improving the lives of homeless veterans.” He says of the residential complex, “We’re fortunate to enjoy what Holbrook has to offer, and giving back to the community we live in is the least we can do.” The Holbrook Veterans Club also actively helps veterans and others.
Holbrook for a Cause members prove the principle that giving is indeed more rewarding than receiving. In every way they can, members use their time, wisdom, and resources to help people in Cherokee County who need a little assistance.
ART getspersonal PUBLIC
STORY BY Ashley Velez, Woodstock
In the heart of Woodstock stands a statue of a bird with a story that transcends its metal form. Crafted from thick-gauge steel, the sculpture affectionately known as Bob the Turkey is a symbol of community and history: a monument to a figure that captured the town’s heart and imagination.
Let’s Talk Turkey
Who exactly is Bob? First spotted in 2011, the original Bob was a wild turkey that wandered the streets of Woodstock. The community’s deep affection for Bob grew as he strutted through town, especially around the Serenade neighborhood located off Main Street. Eventually his self-assured swagger earned him the nickname of Mayor of Woodstock.
Bob wasn’t just a fleeting figure in our city’s history. He had more than two thousand followers on Facebook, a significant following at the time. In January 2012 Bob unfortunately fell victim to a hit-and-run accident, and the community mourned the passing of the public figure they’d grown to love. Longtime resident Diane Geeslin recalls, “When he passed, it was devastating for many people, especially the kids who looked for him while they rode to and from school. He was a character for sure.”
Memorializing Bob
Determined to honor Bob’s memory, Diane, a local artist and advocate for the arts in Woodstock, took it upon herself to ensure that the community would remember the beloved turkey. “It wasn’t just, ‘Hey, I want a sculpture made.’ I had to present it to the city council, and I worked with the artist to make it happen,” she explains.
Bruce Weinzetl, a professional metalworker from Acworth, connected with Diane through her contacts at Blue Frog Imports. Local businesses in Woodstock, Holly Springs, and Marietta donated all the scrap metal Bruce used to craft the sixty-pound, life-sized bird. He used a refrigerant tank for the body and anointed it with more than seven hundred individual feathers. The project was a labor of love for both Diane and Bruce, who said he was proud the city commissioned him to create a sculpture of Bob.
Photo Credit: Andrew Lowry/ Andrew Rayn Photography Courtesy of Nicole Lampl
Once Bob the Turkey was complete, the next challenge involved finding its perfect location. Diane met with Woodstock City Manager Jeff Moon, and together they explored Main Street searching for the ideal spot.
“At first they wanted to put the statue of Bob in a park, but I said, ‘No, I want it where people can see it,’” Diane recalls. Thanks to her perseverance and community support, Bob found his home in a prominent spot at the corner of Main and Oak Streets in front of Reel Seafood. “Thank goodness we have a great city manager open to the arts, even back then,” she shares. “Public art at that time was not even talked about, so Bob was the first sculpture in downtown Woodstock.”
Diane takes care of Bob the Turkey annually. “I spray it once a year to prohibit further rusting,” she explains.
Honoring Bruce, The Junkman Artist
Its creator, Bruce Weinzetl, was a heavy-equipment operator and welder by trade. As an artist he turned pieces of scrap metal into works of art that adorn many local restaurants, homes, and of course, downtown Woodstock. His work earned him the nickname The Junkman Artist.
On Bruce’s passing in 2021, Diane visited local florist Brenda’s House of Flowers and had a bright ribbon made with the artist’s name on it, and she placed it around the neck of Bob the Turkey. “Bruce’s family said to me [that Bob the Turkey] was the proudest thing he did. It meant a lot to him. There’s a lot [of Bruce] in Bob.”
Bob’s Burial Site
The new City of Woodstock sign on Main Street displaced the brick that originally marked Bob’s burial site near the corner of the Serenade neighborhood, so later this month the city will place a new brick at the site.
Diane’s advocacy for public art continues, encouraging the city to spread sculptures and artwork beyond the downtown area. “We do need more art in Woodstock,” she says passionately. “It’s not just about me. It’s about love, passion, and perseverance to make something happen. I would love to see more art as our city grows.”
‘‘ When [Bob] passed, it was devastating for many people, especially the kids who looked for him while they rode to and from school. He was a character for sure.”
— Diane Geeslin
Propped up on large stones and surrounded by an arrangement of colorful flowers, Bob the Turkey stands at attention in downtown Woodstock. The statue is part of the regularly scheduled Weird Woodstock Walking Tours that Woodstock Tourism Manager Kyle Bennett conducts.
The legend of Bob, the turkey-turned-statue, lives on in Woodstock, reminding future generations of the importance of community, the arts, and the stories that bind them together.
COZY COUTURE
STORY BY Amecia Matlock, Canton
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Hillary Nichols
Samantha “Sami” Snider was thirty-eight weeks pregnant when she began her hunt for the perfect personalized embroidered swaddle. After she scrolled through Etsy and saw the price tags on one-of-a-kind swaddles, she wondered, “Is this something I could make?” Inspired, she ordered a swaddle, hurried to a craft store for supplies, and spent hours on YouTube teaching herself various stitches.
“In that week I made the baby a swaddle, then I made her a onesie, then I made her a sweater. I literally couldn’t stop,” she recalls. Sami has always been a crafter, and what started as a simple task quickly accelerated into something larger than she could’ve imagined.
Embroidery became a therapeutic practice for Sami. She made personalized pieces for her nieces and expectant friends. She had honed her craft when she realized it could be more than a hobby. A month after giving birth to daughter Piper, Sami launched 22nd & Sloane Co.
Heart and Soul
For Sami to perfect her first design, she stayed up twenty-four hours straight. “I put my entire effort into each piece. There’s not a single stitch that I’m not trying to perfect,” Sami says. Fueled by the knowledge that her creations will be part of the memories people will have for years to come, she hopes customers see the level of care and intentionality she puts into each order.
Her favorite pieces are holiday designs that stretch her creativity. She sometimes wakes at 5:00 a.m. with an idea and immediately gets to work bringing it to life.
It’s a Family Affair
The daughter of two business owners, Sami attributes her entrepreneurial spirit to the example her parents set. Her mother, Dani, is a vendor at River City Antiques and Interiors in Rome, Georgia, where she also sells some of Sami’s handmade goods. Her father, Tony, a civil engineer, owns a septic-tank business. Sami beams when she shares her gratitude for the self-starter attitude and strong work ethic her parents instilled in her.
Sami laughs while recalling the 22nd & Sloane Co. start. “I don’t know how to do something easily,” she says. “It’s all or nothing for me, so this was no exception.”
Sami often gets input from her mother, sister, and in-laws about products before
they reach the public, and her support doesn’t end with family. Residents of Cherokee County have been a tremendous support system; she holds dear the fact that the community has embraced her. “Filling an order for anybody anywhere is special,” Sami expresses, “but doing something for someone who might live next door or who I might run into is super cool.”
Balancing Act
Besides being a business owner and mother, Sami works full-time in real estate. As is the case for many mothers, the decision was not easy for Sami, though she has an optimistic approach to balancing working from home and spending time with family. In her advice to working moms, Sami says, “Give yourself the time you deserve to pour into your career that will in some aspect pour back into your kids.” She hopes to set an example for her daughter to pursue her passion and that no matter how many things she chooses to pursue, she can be great at all of them.
Sami says that prayer and faith help her maintain a sense of peace and mindfulness while she juggles multiple responsibilities. Having a busy schedule makes her value even more the bonding time she gets with her daughter.
Personal Pieces
Even when Sami doesn’t have orders to fill, she embroiders and devises new designs. Her most popular designs are personalized keepsakes, such as name-embroidered sweaters and personalized blankets. Sami’s design possibilities are virtually endless. “Anything you can think of me embroidering or any type of design, I can make it happen,” she says.
For a client’s Lord of the Rings-themed order, Sami watched the movies and did extensive research to create an authentic original design. She gushes, “Whenever a new order comes in, it’s honestly geeky how excited I get.”
A Wife, a Mother, a Business Owner
A one-woman show, Sami designs and makes all of the pieces and manages the marketing and e-commerce. She aspires to bring family on board to help in the future. Family is the heart and soul of her business and is ingrained in the name 22nd & Sloane Co. Her husband, Davis’s, birthday is July 22, and their daughter, Piper’s, middle name is Sloane. Sami attributes them both as being significant motivators and supporters in her journey.
Sami loves creating meaningful mementos her clients can put on their newborns.
‘‘ I put my entire effort into each piece. There’s not a single stitch that I’m not trying to perfect.”
— Sami Snider
Find Sami’s designs online at TwentySecondandSloaneCo. square.site or on Etsy [@22ndandSloaneCo], or shop in person at River City Antiques and Interiors in Rome.
STORY BY
Heather Thompson, Canton
In Cherokee County we embrace the holiday season with joy and fond memories as families and friends come together with longstanding traditions that make the season what it is. Our mayors are no different.
Cherokee’s city leaders share their family traditions, some passed down through generations and others they’ve started themselves, all of them making Christmas a special time of year.
Steven Miller, Holly Springs Mayor
Holly Springs Mayor Steve Miller recounts some of his favorite Christmas memories from childhood when most mornings were quiet with his parents and siblings. “We would open presents together, laugh, and spend the day enjoying each other’s company,” Steve recalls. “I really cherish the closeness we shared, and I believe those simple, cozy Christmases were what brought us all so close. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade those quiet mornings for anything.”
Those mornings, Steve reminisces, were full of excitement. He and his siblings raced to the tree in awe and wonder, but no present was opened until after the family enjoyed the delicious Christmasmorning breakfast his parents made. “After breakfast we’d finally sit down together and open our gifts, taking turns so everyone could enjoy each moment.” Steve shares that the simple traditions made the biggest impact.
As an adult Steve says his family saves Christmas Eve for his wife, Heather’s, birthday. On the evening of December 25, he and his family open their home to family members who want to celebrate together, and celebrate they do, with a viewing of a Christmas classic: Die Hard.
When asked which type of Christmas tree Mayor Miller prefers, he says, “An artificial tree with a Christmas tree candle: same vibe with less clean up.”
Mary Helen Lamb, Waleska Mayor
Mayor Mary Helen Lamb has spent her whole life in Waleska. Around 1968 her parents began opening their home to the community at Christmastime. “That time was always fun for me because it had a sense of giving,” Mary Helen says. “Giving is something my parents stressed to me, and I stressed to my children.” The open house became a magical Christmas tradition that lasted for decades, as people gathered with the spirit of fellowship and reflected on the year behind and the year ahead.
Mary Helen hasn’t stopped giving. Each year she participates in the Angel Tree program at her church, Waleska United Methodist. Angel Tree gives people an opportunity to provide Christmas gifts to a specific child, in this case children from R. M. Moore Elementary School. This tradition reminds the mayor and Waleska residents that Christmas is not about you, but about others.
As an adult Mary Helen soaks up being with her family on Christmas Eve at a church service before the family goes back to her house for a meal together, although she insists on waiting to open presents until Christmas morning. On Christmas morning, though, it’s a green light.
When asked about her Christmas tree preference, Mayor Lamb says she prefers an artificial tree at home and a real tree for the Waleska tree lighting, but maybe because it’s outside and there is less mess.
Rick Roberts, Ball Ground Mayor
A longstanding Christmas tradition for Mayor Rick Roberts happens on Christmas Eve. On that night his family gathered at his grandmother’s house for dinner, all the way up until she passed away in 1997. His mother then took over the tradition until her passing in 2022. Rick smiles and says, “My whole life I remember being with family on Christmas Eve.” After his mother’s
TOP LEFT Then-five-year-old Mayor Bill Grant received a memorable gift on Christmas morning 1966: his very first bicycle. TOP RIGHT Heather Miller and Mayor Steven Miller with their children, Stephanie and J.T. CENTER LEFT Mayor Sylvia Green dons her elf apparel with jolly old elf Santa at Nelson's City Hall. CENTER Mayor Mary Helen Lamb and family commemorate the holiday season with a photo. CENTER RIGHT Guess who? It's Mayor Rick Roberts in a Christmas flashback photo. BOTTOM Mayor Michael Caldwell and wife Katie with their children, Oliver, Charlotte, and Elizabeth.
passing, Rick continued the tradition in her home using her dishes and cookware and the recipes the family knows and loves.
With his own children Rick created a Christmas Day scavenger hunt. To solve clues and puzzles, his sons had to meander all through the house he and his wife, Elaine, built in 1989 in Ball Ground. “The last clue told them where the gift was, and they loved it because they had to do things such as translate Spanish, find antiques, or calculate math problems.”
The mayor says he also loves Ball Ground’s annual Christmas Parade, which sees ten to twelve thousand visitors from all over. Parade organizer Tim Cavender has turned it into a must-see event and the largest of its kind in North Georgia.
In 1989, for the first Christmas at his new house, Mayor Roberts bought a live six-foot Norway spruce tree and planted it in his family’s yard, where it now stands over thirty feet tall. “I don’t like fake Christmas trees,” Rick says.
Sylvia Green, Nelson Mayor
Mayor Sylvia Green delightfully reminisces about Christmas Eve with her mother and four siblings at home in the small fishing community of Suwanee, Florida. Her mother would make a special holiday dinner for the family.
Sylvia also fondly remembers Christmas Eves spent with her uncle, the local sheriff. “When I was a little girl, he would pick my youngest brother and me up in his police car, and we drove through the community on Christmas Eve ringing a huge bell in the cruiser.”
As an adult Sylvia starts Christmas Eve midday at the Green home in Nelson with traditional holiday staples such as gingerbread houses and cookie decorating, but it’s a little more than fun and games: “My kids are competitive, and my daughter-in-law is majorly competitive.” Sylvia smiles at her family’s traditions turned Olympic games. Afterward they gather for Christmas Eve dinner and gift opening. “When I was growing up we got one present to open on Christmas Eve, and I thought that was terrible.” Sylvia laughs. “Christmas Day is for Santa Claus, but Christmas Eve is for presents.”
Mayor Green prefers an artificial tree but adds, “A real one can be outside."
Michael Caldwell, Woodstock Mayor
Mayor Michael Caldwell’s fondest childhood holiday memory was when his father gathered all three boys on Christmas Eve to read an old hand-me-down copy of ’Twas the Night before Christmas: “I have that book now and read it to my kids every Christmas Eve.”
He and his brothers used to pick one gift each to open on Christmas Eve, and Michael continues that tradition with his three children, Oliver, Elizabeth, and Charlotte, although he and his wife, Katie, pick the presents. He adds, “In good Woodstock fashion we set out cookies, a glass of milk, and a glass of whiskey for Santa.” Michael chuckles as he explains that the reindeer get their treats thrown out into the backyard because they will obviously be outside.
Woodstock’s Christmas celebrations culminate with a festival, a visit from Santa, and a parade in which Michael and his children participate with their golf cart. “We are a city built on community, and we get to see that fact especially during the holidays because the entire holiday becomes a city celebration.”
Mayor Caldwell prefers a real tree, but says the cleanup of an artificial tree is much easier. Because his family lives close to Woodstock’s City Center, he takes his children to see the real tree for Woodstock’s tree lighting.
Bill Grant, Canton Mayor
Being smack in the middle of five children, Mayor Bill Grant lived in a ranch-style house with a long living room and hallway, which he says made for a great runway for his first bicycle with training wheels. Upon finding the gift under the tree, five-year-old Bill jumped on and zoomed down the hallway only to discover he didn’t know how to stop, but it was okay, because the wall did it for him. “My father came over and said, ‘Don’t worry about it; we can fix the wall and teach you how to stop tomorrow,’” Bill recalls with a smile.
In his adulthood and with his extended family, Bill loves to share that childhood magic during a yearly trip to a cabin where they open gifts, cook, and even sing karaoke. The magic doesn’t stop there, because Christmas in Canton gives the children in the community the same kinds of memories with Santa, snow machines, and reindeer petting zoos. “We are creating new memories for the kids and the families in Canton, which takes me back to being a kid again and the wonder of Christmas,” Mayor Grant says.
Mayor Grant overwhelmingly says he prefers real Christmas trees, and he is a proponent of opening gifts on Christmas Eve. Bill says of when he was young, “Christmas Day was more for family and playing with our toys.”
Mayor Steven Miller, Holly Springs
Mayor Mary Helen Lamb, Waleska
Mayor Rick Roberts, Ball Ground
Mayor Sylvia Green, Nelson
Mayor Michael Caldwell, Woodstock
Mayor Bill Grant, Canton
ABOVE The Canton Drug Company’s annual Boys’ and Girls’ Contest in the 1950s and 1960s offered children a chance to win toys in the drugstore’s Christmas contest. Jack Fincher, Sr., in the white jacket, whose family opened the drug store in 1900, awarded prizes in the 1962 contest. Among the children who earned prizes were, fifth from left, Debra Swords Goodwin; third from right wearing a hat and plaid coat, Susan Buice; little girl with the bicycle is Robin Wallace Gottlieb; girl with the flower corsage is Kay Debord Sims; and Tony Grambling is to the right of the boy with the bicycle. Others in the photograph include Sharon Densmore Majors and Ronnie Reece, far right.
Memory MemoryLane At the Corner of Main Street &
CORNER DRUGSTORES A PRESCRIPTION FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS
STORY BY Rebecca Johnston, Canton
PHOTOS COURTESY OF History Cherokee
For those growing up in Cherokee County in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the corner drugstore was an important part of everyday life, especially during the holiday season.
Back then the local drugstore was for many communities a primary gathering place for school children and a social center for adults, all drawn there by the sweet confections of the soda fountain. The popular shops served tasty beverages, ice cream, and a unique experience unavailable today. People connected over a malt at the drugstore counter at a time in American history that cannot be duplicated.
When Christmas approached in the days before chain stores and malls, Canton Drug Company in Canton and Keenum Drugs in Woodstock lit up with decorations and music. Their cash registers rang with sales of gifts and toys. The pharmacies held contests for children who shopped there, and there could even be a chance of a visit from Santa himself for good boys and girls.
Canton Drug Company Rings In Holidays
Brothers Bill and John Fincher remember the days when their father, Jack Fincher, Sr., was the owner of Canton Drug Company on the corner of East Main and Church Streets in downtown Canton. Bill and John’s grandfather W. W. Fincher, Sr., first opened a drugstore on that corner in 1900. The original building was later replaced in the early 1920s.
ABOVE The Canton Drug Company was built on the corner of East Main Street and Church Street in downtown Canton in 1900. The corner drugstore was owned by the Fincher family for more than 100 years and was an institution in the town. The building burned in a fire in December 2009. The city of Canton now has the Fincher-Atkins Park at the corner.
BELOW Pictured in Canton Drug Company are, from left to right, Jack Fincher, Grady Cagle, W. W. Fincher, who founded the drugstore, Harold Garner, Boyd Chandler, and Stanley Davis.
John says the family decorated the store, but decorations never went up until after Thanksgiving. “After Thanksgiving lunch the family would go to the store and get the decorations up that afternoon,” John reminisces. “We hired high school students to wrap the packages during the holidays. There are a lot of folks still around who remember working there when they were in high school.”
Bill describes Canton Drug Company as a general store of the times. “We had barrels where you could scoop candy and weigh it to purchase. Coca-Colas were a nickel back then but later went to six cents, which was controversial.”
Transistor radios, Bill says, were one of the most popular items the store ever sold. The year they came out, the store sold more than a thousand battery-powered radios. The local radio station had recently opened, and children enjoyed calling in to WCHK and talking to radio personality Byron Dobbs on Christmas morning to report what Santa brought them. “Byron Dobbs; he was the glue that held us all together,” Bill recalls.
Cameras were also popular items. In the 1950s the Canton drugstore sold Kodak Brownie cameras and later moved first to Kodak’s Instamatic cameras and then to the Polaroid in the 1970s. Many customers bought cameras around Christmas, used them to take their Christmas pictures, and then brought the film to the drugstore to be developed.
arranged for the school bus from Cherokee High to stop in front of our drugstore,” Bill recalls with a laugh.
Bill remembers the fun he and his family had together. “Canton was a small town, and we all pulled together, and we loved it. What a way to grow up! We grew up in a fabulous place,” Bill says. “We scooped ice cream. We delivered Christmas gifts and even food from the Warrior Room to people. We sold pogo sticks. I would get out in front of the store and jump on one. Those were great times.”
Woodstock Corner Drugstore Comes to Town
In 1961 Don and June Keenum, both pharmacists in Atlanta at the time, moved to Woodstock and opened Keenum Drugs downtown. The town’s new drugstore featured a counter lined with stools where local residents gathered for breakfast, lunch, and all the popular soda fountain treats of the day, such as malts, sundaes, and milkshakes.
Keenum Drugs opened on Main Street in a building in Woodstock that originally housed Perkinson-McAfee General Store. With no toy store in Woodstock, Don converted the upstairs into a spot where children came to pick out their holiday wish lists, and parents came to find the perfect gifts for their children, according to Woodstock Historian Juanita Hughes, whose daughter, Sarah, worked there during the holidays. The store also sold Christmas decorations.
A highlight of the Christmas season in downtown Canton was the drugstore’s Boys’ and Girls’ Contest. Bill explains of the popular holiday contest, “We did a special event for local kids; the prizes were really nice: good bicycles, even a go-kart. Kids got points for purchases made by their families, and other people and relatives could donate their points to that child as well.”
Celebrating School Spirit: The Warrior Room
Bill says his father got the idea for a much larger soda fountain in 1958 and decided to call it the Warrior Room for the Cherokee High School sports mascot. Jack Fincher, Sr., purchased the building next door to expand the drugstore, including the new soda fountain. Decorated in the school colors of red and white, the Warrior Room featured a large marble counter, red stools, tables, and booths. He had local photographer Buddy Alexander fly over Cherokee High School and take aerial photographs of the then-new school and football field. Jack framed the pictures and decorated the walls of the new spot with them. “He also
Don would often hold model-car contests at the drugstore. For every toy children purchased at the store, they earned points that counted toward another toy, according to Georgia’s Woodstock: A Centennial Tribute by Felicia S. Whitmore, released in 1997.
Don opened a second location in Ball Ground, where Tim Cavender, Cherokee County’s well-known Santa, first met him, Juanita says. In the 1970s Don asked Tim to play Santa at the pharmacy in Ball Ground, and Don also helped Tim purchase his first Santa suit. Don later grew a long, white beard and started playing Santa for the city of Woodstock in the 1990s.
In those days, Juanita recalls, the town Christmas tree was erected on the loading platform of the railroad depot downtown, and Girl Scouts turned on the lights at a ceremony. The churches performed cantatas, the school gave programs, and Georgia Power furnished manpower to hang lights above Main Street. On those nights the Keenum drugstore was the main spot for shopping, and the only toy store ever to operate in Woodstock, Keenum’s Toyland, was the busiest shop in town.
Don embodied everything people love about Santa Claus. Kind and jolly, he always had a smile on his face and gave to others before himself so it was natural that he don the white-furtrimmed red velvet suit for Christmas.
Roberto’s Deluxe
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Raymond Werner & Daniel Shaver
Roberto’s Deluxe Oysters and Fine Fish is making waves on Main Street in landlocked downtown Woodstock.
Walk into Roberto’s, and you’ll feel welcome. It’s bright, meticulously clean, and painted a nautical blue. To the left of the bar, you’ll see a large picture of a friendly Hispanic man, Roberto Olmeda, the restaurant’s namesake. Before Roberto passed in 2020, he worked many years for Jason Sheetz and William Sigley—now the owners of Roberto’s. They loved him dearly and wanted to honor him, which is the vibe you’ll get from Roberto’s, a place where the food is made with love, and where you’ll be treated like family.
Executive Chef Josh Coker
Executive Chef Josh Coker, a Montgomery, Alabama, native who has worked in some of the finest seafood establishments, developed the original and delectable menu that’s sure to make you come back again and again. Chef Coker truly has a gift.
The star of the show at Roberto’s is the delightful variety of oysters sourced from across Canada and the United States, depending on freshness and availability.
Menu Says: Roberto’s Deluxe (PEI)
Hayden Says: Hailing from Prince Edward Island— distinguished for its world-class shellfish—these Roberto’s Deluxe signature oysters have an aroma sure to bring back your favorite beach memories. Served with cocktail sauce, fresh-made horseradish, and a vinegar-based shallot mignonette for dipping, the Roberto’s Deluxe oyster plate delivers a harmonious blend of mild, briny notes characteristic of East Coast oysters.
A staple on the raw bar menu, the Roberto’s Deluxe oyster is always available, while other selections vary due to availability.
Menu Says: Hearth-Roasted Oysters
Hayden Says: If your palate is experiencing oysters for the first time and you aren’t quite ready to order from the raw bar menu, choose the baked Hearth-Roasted Oysters. These wood-oven-roasted Virginia Arrowhead oysters topped with bacon, jalapeños, and breadcrumbs are a hit with everyone, even guests looking for gluten-free options. The restaurant’s gluten-free menu includes the HearthRoasted Oysters minus the breadcrumbs, along with more than twenty other gluten-free selections.
Menu Says: Crispy Octopus
Hayden Says: The most popular starter at Roberto’s is the crispy octopus garnished with chili, honey, soy pickles, and citrusy yuzu. You must try it. With an unexpected texture and scrumptious taste, the octopus defies explanation: you deserve the experience.
Menu Says: Tuna Tartar
Hayden Says: The tuna tartar starter is a visual treat and a unique culinary offering. It features the highest-quality ahi tuna atop a bed of subtly sweet wakame and salty peanuts in a rich Asian sauce with a hint of spice at the finish. The defining visual element adorning the tuna tartar is a bouquet of rice noodles, evoking an image of white coral.
Menu Says: Roberto's Hushpuppy
Hayden Says: Sweet, tangy, and light, Roberto’s take on hushpuppies, a classic Southern dish, is bound to leave you wanting more. Available as a side, the combination of crawfish, pepper jelly, and scallions creates a delightful blend of sweetness and umami.
Tuna Tartar
Roberto's Deluxe (PEI)
Crispy Octopus
Hearth-Roasted Oysters
Menu Says: Lobster Roll
Hayden Says: On a soft bun with a lightly toasted crunch, the Lobster Roll is a Roberto’s showstopper with large chunks of Maine lobster so fresh you might expect to see the rolling sea out your window. Dodging the debate over butter or mayonnaise with your lobster roll, this dish is served with both. Why has no one thought of this perfect solution? The lobster roll is a palate-pleasing option on both the lunch and dinner menus.
If you’d rather scale back on the seafood, no worries. Roberto’s offers a “Not Seafood” section just for you. It features Smokebox Chicken with Hoppin’ John, salsa verde, and lemon; Prime Hanger Steak with chimichurri, bone-marrow butter, and fries; and the superstar of the Not Seafood menu, Roberto’s Double Stack Burger. Served with a side of fries, the burger features top-quality meat seasoned perfectly with 50/50 sauce and topped with American cheese, red onion, and pickles.
BAR from the
Menu Says: Añejo Old Fashioned
Lunazul Añejo tequila, Earl Grey simple, and barrel-aged bitters
Hayden Says: You’ve never had an Old Fashioned like this one! It’s smooth and smoky, and it has some familiar notes of the typical Old Fashioned. A new and interesting twist on the classic cocktail: there is no bourbon or whiskey in it, but tequila aged in bourbon barrels. It turns out that tequila pairs well with seafood, especially oysters.
Menu Says: Gingered Guava Rita
Lunazul Blanco tequila, guava puree, lime, and ginger cordial
Hayden Says: This pretty-in-pink margarita has a rosepetal garnish that visually entices you. The drink delivers a refreshing taste with flavors that blend like a symphony.
Roberto’s is everything a restaurant should be: original and serving delicious, unique, high-quality food.
Whether you’re downtown for lunch or a night out, you’ll feel like a special guest at Roberto’s, and Roberto would be so pleased.
Roberto’s Deluxe Oysters & Fine Fish is located at 8212 Main Street, Suite 1102, in Woodstock.
Happy Hour: Tuesday–Sunday, 4:00–5:00 p.m. | Lunch Menu: Friday–Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Raw Bar: Friday–Sunday, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
The holidays are here in Cherokee County and our community is buzzing with excitement and festive cheer. This year, we’ve curated a delightful Holiday Happenings Guide to help you save the dates.
From charming markets and dazzling light displays to heartwarming performances and family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Dive in and discover the magic awaiting you this holiday season.
ACWORTH
Acworth Turkey Chase
November 23 | 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Main Street, Historic Downtown Acworth
Official Peachtree Road Race Qualifying Event
AcworthTourism.org
Santa's Arrival
December 6 | 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee Street
AcworthTourism.org
FREE ADMISSION
Christmas in Acworth
December 7 | 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Depot Park, Historic Downtown Acworth
AcworthTourism.org FREE ADMISSION
Breakfast with The Grinch
December 14 | 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Acworth Community Center, 4361 Cherokee Street
Acworth-GA.gov
Light Up Main Golf Cart Parade
December 18 | 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Cauble Park, 4425 Beach Street
AcworthTourism.org
BALL GROUND
Holiday Pop-Up Market
November 9 | 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Southern Oak Provisions, 230 Gilmer Ferry Road SouthernOakProvisions.com
