Cherokee Life January 2016

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January/February 2016 | Cherokee Life

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Cherokee Life

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WHAT’S INSIDE

January/February 2016 Volume 11, Issue 1

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Lee B. Garrett

V.P. ADVERTISING Wade Stephens

EDITORIAL STAFF DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINES Mark Wallace Maguire

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINES

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LaTria Garnigan

BEST OF CHEROKEE 8 BEST OF CHEROKEE! Dining, relaxing, shopping and more: You voted, here are the winners for 2016’s Best Of Cherokee!

ON THE COVER:

CONTRIBUTORS

in every issue FROM THE DIRECTOR HIGHLIGHTS

Carla Barnes, Jennifer Carter, Jennifer Hafer, Meredith Pruden, Therra C. Gwyn, Michael Pallerino, Meredith Pruden

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PHOTOGRAPHER

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Katherine Frye

SCENE 30 REFLECTIONS

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jennifer Carter, Erin Gray

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LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Marlow and Harper Chastie of Cherokee.

LaTria Garnigan, Mark Wallace Maguire

Photo by Erin Gray

PROOFREADER Nicole Price

ADVERTISING STAFF

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Aqua Guard Basements

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Medical Associates of North GA

Bedoe’s Bar & Grille

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NH Vascular Surgery

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Cameron Hall

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NHC Pediatrics

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Northside Hospital - Cherokee

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Canton Tire and Wheel

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Cherokee Charter Academy

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Perimeter North Family Medicine

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Cherokee County Arts Council

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Pinnacle Orthopaedics

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Cherokee County Democratic Party

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Pinnacle Orthopaedics

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Cherokee County Farm Bureau

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Plastic Surgery Center of The South

City of Canton

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Crooked Creek Furniture & Gifts

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Reinhardt University Falany Performing

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Salon • Spa Venessa

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Sosebee Funeral Home

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Darby Funeral Home

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Decorating Den

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Fowler Electric

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Frosty Frog Creamery & Café

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Funk Heritage Center

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ADVERTISING MANAGER

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Georgia Animal Project

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Jake’s Produce

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Kennesaw State University

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Superior Plumbing The Lindsey Haas Team

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Woodstock Funeral Home

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tara Guest

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Paula Milton, Becky Opitz Katy Ruth Camp, Ginny Hrushka, Tracy Avis, Jill Abbott

GRAPHICS COORDINATOR Beth Poirier

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jennifer Hall, Carlos Navarrete

PRODUCTION

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WellStar 2 Willows Gift Shop

Kim Fowler

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CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Dave Gossett

INFORMATION Cherokee Life is published six times a year by the Cherokee Tribune and distributed to more than 20,000 homes and businesses.

To subscribe, email circulation@ cherokeelifemagazine.com or call 770.795.5001 To advertise, contact Kim Fowler at 770.795.3068 Please send all editorial correspondence to mmaguire@cherokeelifemagazine.com

Cherokee Life | January/February 2016

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FROM THE DIRECTOR

What’s your Best Of Cherokee?

Each year, I ask our contributors to provide their personal ‘Best Of Cherokee’ for this issue.

While our official best of Cherokee winners are voted on by you – our readers – and run as the main focus of this issue, this provides us with a space for our staff to name a few of their favorite things, places and people throughout the county..

For me, I am a huge fan of Reformation Brewery. The brewery — whose name is inspired in part by the spirit of Martin Luther — has evolved into a burgeoning business and also a cultural and culinary hub in Woodstock. (Yes, they have groups that meet there and range from beer and Bible discussion to beer and cookies.) They also make a dadgum good porter. Well done guys.

For best outdoor vista, I would have to say anything in North Cherokee. The area around Ball Ground, in particular, is quite stunning in its bucolic beauty.

Cherokee is home to a wealth of historical landmarks. The Cherokee County Courthouse’s visage is extremely impressive and a favorite of mine.

Cherokee Life Assistant Director LaTria Garnigan gives her list: >>>Best Place to Try Something New: With 300 flavors, many being seasonal – there is always something different to try at Frosty Frog Creamery & Café in Canton. You can truly taste the care and love it took to create the flavors of the homemade ice cream. But make sure to save room for all of the other desserts available. >>>Best Dinner Spot For Girls Night: Fish Thyme in Acworth is sort of a hidden gem due to its location – but once inside you realize that its quite a happening spot. The always busy restaurant offers accommodating space for large parties, great service as well as food that is second to none. They specialize in seafood and its evident by the taste and presentation of each dish. If you love crab cakes, this is the place to try them.

Longtime contributing photographer and Woodstock resident Jennifer Carter’s list: >>>Best Place for Soup, Sandwich, and a Side of Nostalgia: The R & M Sandwich Shop in Canton is my beloved go-to for the ultimate in comfort foods: a grilled cheese sandwich and vegetable soup. There’s really nothing better than this no-frills treat to warm you up on a winter day.

What’s more, the walls are filled with historical Canton photographs to explore and they remind you of all those who’ve come before you and walked where you’re walking. (That’s also a great comfort — to feel as if you’re a part of something that goes beyond you, beyond today.) >>> Best Vet to Trust My Hound To: Whoever said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend obvious-

ly never had a dog like my Sadie. That said, I wouldn’t trust her to just anybody’s care. I’ve come to really rely on Dr. Skees of Family Pet Hospital in Woodstock for his sage advice, experience and truly stand-up ways. He’s honest, knowledgeable, and takes his time while listening to my concerns, thoroughly answering all of my questions. The staff is also one of the friendliest and accommodating I’ve ever encountered. >>>Best Restaurant to Remind Me of My Upbringing: When I was growing up, military uniforms hung pressed on hooks and spit-shined combat boots gleamed from the corner. My dad was an Army infantryman, and our Army quarters around the world bore every sign of it. So imagine my feeling of “being right at home” when I recently walked in to Woodstock’s Semper Fi Bar and Grille and beheld the military memorabilia adorning the booths and bar. The owners, both former Marines, have taken great care to promote their mantra, “For Veterans,

By Veterans.” And whether you’re a veteran or not, go just because they have the most excellent burgers and fries. (Try the Semper Fi burger with candied bacon.

You won’t be sorry.) >>>Best Salon to Make You Feel Like the Best Version of Yourself : I spent my first 40 years thinking that I needed to be someone else, someone better. I finally realized the error of my ways and that all I really had to be was the best version of myself. Salon Gloss is helping me get there. They were named one of the top twenty salons in the nation by Modern Salon Magazine, and for good reason. They are kind, attentive, talented and reveal to you the potential that you had all along.

Fashion writer Meredith Pruden says: Here are some of my favorite things in Cherokee: >>>The whisky selection at Freight. >>>The drive north on 575 in the fall when leaves are changing and the air smells crisp. >>>Foxtale Bookshop for unusual reading material and really cute gifts. >>>Saigon Café for pho (I can’t always be running to Buford Highway) >>>Discount Tire at the corner of Trickum and Hwy. 92. These guys are knowledgable, expedient, helpful and super friendly. They always go out of their way to make sure I know what the best options are and make sure I’m in and out quick. >>>The wings with sweet and spicy sauce at Bub-Ba-Q. Can’t get enough. Have perhaps dreamed about them on occasion. Love to wash them down with a Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan Ale. Yum. >>>Trickum Ridge Animal Hospital takes amazing care of our critters. I’m pretty sure they love our furkids as much as we do! Can’t recommend them highly enough.

As we enter a new year, let us know what your favorite part about Cherokee is. We love hearing from our readers.

Best, Funk Center.qxd 12/8/2014 9:22 PM Page 1 MarkHeritage Wallace Maguire

The Funk Heritage Center of Reinhardt University

Georgia’s Official Frontier and Southeastern Indian Interpretive Center • Hall of the Ancients and artifacts • Huge collection of historic hand tools • Native American art • Visit historic 1840’s log cabins • A certified National Park Service Trail of Tears Interpretive Site 7300 Reinhardt Circle, Waleska, GA 30183 • 770.720.5970 www.reinhardt.edu/funkheritage Tues. - Fri. 9am-4pm • Sat. 10am-5pm • Sun. 1pm-5pm

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[letters to the editor]

Thank you for the column Mr. Maguire, Just wanted to share with you I recently read your column, “This is the best holiday season ever,” in the November/December Cherokee Life. I found it very appropriate for the season and plan to share it with the families I serve in Hospice Care as well as in our private office practice.

Thank you for being point on with your writing, as well as offering solid suggestions to others who may be struggling during this beautiful season of love and thanksgiving.

With warmest regards, Patsy Driver

STAY IN TOUCH! www.cherokeelifemagazine.com

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Visit our website for exclusive content and contests. You can also follow us on Facebook to find out what we’re up to with our behind-thescenes photos, videos and exclusive photo galleries of the people we meet while out and about.

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news & noteworthy [what we like]

Grace Deluxe Sleeve Suggested retail: $59.95 Website: www.stmbags.com/catalog/laptop-sleeves/ If you’re looking for a more stylish, slimmer laptop bag for your MacBook or ultra-slim design laptop, the Grace Deluxe Sleeve by stm is the perfect fit. Available to fit either a 13- or 15-inch laptop, the bag will help carry your precious hardware plus a few extra daily essentials. The main compartment cradles the laptop in a protective foam and plush, super soft lining and the magnetized front flap allows for easy access.

The front zippered pocket is great for storing pens, mobile phones, cards and more.

The bags come in an array of colors: night sky, coral dove, dark purple and teal dot/night sky.

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Presenting our annual Best Of Cherokee winners voted on by you — our readers!

Enjoy reading about some of Cherokee’s finest people and places. >>Words by Michael J. Pallerino, LaTria Garnigan, Jennifer Carter, Jennifer Hafer and Meredith Pruden >>Photography by Katherine Frye and Jennifer Carter

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Local spaghetti squash salad with a goat cheese mousse and truffle vinaigrette.

Best Fine Dining Century House Tavern

125 E. Main St., Woodstock (770) 693-4552 www.centuryhousetavern.com For a touch of class and refinement, Cherokee County residents can venture over to Century House Tavern.

Located in historic downtown Woodstock in a home built in 1894, the restaurant offers what General Manager and Managing Partner Jon Hayano calls a “continental” menu. While Cherokee voters chose the 4-year-old restaurant as its favorite fine dining spot in the area, Hayano says they offer more including an array of seafood and steaks, while also offering casual fare like sandwiches and salads.

Hayano said their quality of food, which he feels is the best in Woodstock, is the No. 1 reason why patrons continue to return.

“Combine that with the coziness of a 110-year-old house

and very friendly staff,” he said. “We try to get to know everyone by name.”

If you’re looking to visit Century House for the first time, you’d be interested in their weekly tasting experience. Each Friday Executive Chef and Partner Daniel Porubiansky has a three-course chef tasting menu with an appetizer, entrée and dessert.

Visitors can get it all for one set price or order `a la carte.

The tasting menus change every weekend and the featured dishes — along with photos — are posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page by 5 p.m. each Friday. The tasting is offered to showcase the chef’s creativity and to offer something each week that is not on the menu, which changes frequently.

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Best Golf Course Canton Golf Club

480 Golf Course Road, Canton (770) 479-2772 http://cantongolfclub.com/ Canton Golf Club is a nine-hole track in the Canton Creek Valley in downtown Canton. It was built by famed golfer Bobby Jones’ grandfather, Robert Tyre Jones Sr., in 1938.

Steeped in history, the semi-private club is owned by its 250 members and is open to the public only on Mondays.

“The members bought the club from the Jones family in 1982, when the local cotton mill went bust,” said General Manager Robert Poole. “We’re a small club; everybody knows everybody.”

Though there are still a small number of families that have been members of the club for generations, the Great Recession changed the makeup of the club significantly, Poole said.

“When the recession hit, we lost a lot of the older members, who were on fixed incomes,” he explained. “And, around that time is also when the members decided to open the course to the public on Mondays; they needed a new revenue stream to survive the recession.”

Canton Golf Club has an easily walkable flat course, Poole said, with small greens that can be deceiving.

“Four years ago we converted the greens to mini-verda,” he said. “It appears to be an easy playing course because the greens are small, but you have to be able to hit a good approach shot.”

Best Local Festival Riverfest

www.serviceleague.net.

Despite torrential rain in 2015, locals voted Cherokee’s annual Riverfest the best festival.

Hosted by The Service League of Cherokee County, thousands of residents attended the event which generated $86,288 to help with the league’s charitable work in the community.

The festival took place at Boling Park Sept. 26 and 27 and featured about 200 vendors, artists and craftspeople.

Vendor applications for Riverfest 2016 are now available on the League’s website, www.serviceleague.net.

Riverfest is the cornerstone of the Service League’s many fundraising endeavors, with all proceeds benefiting the disadvantaged children of Cherokee County. The funds raised will be used throughout the upcoming year to provide assistance with everything from health care and eyeglasses for children in need to rent and utilities for their families.

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Best Landmark Rock Barn

658 Marietta Hwy., Canton (770) 345-3288 www.rockbarn.org

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The decision was easy. After a fire burned his wooden barn to the ground, killing his invaluable racehorses, Augustus Lee Coggins knew that something better had to be done.

So, to help rebuild one of the anchors of his 400-acre Crescent Farm estate, Coggins reconstructed his new racehorse stable with rock quarried from the banks of the Etowah River.

The Rock Barn, known to be one of the only in the state, was widely known in racing circles because of Abbedale, a world-class racehorse listed in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y. Today, the Rock Barn continues to be one of Cherokee’s most cherished landmarks and a unique multi-use facility that accommodates business meetings, wedding receptions, family reunions and other events.

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Best Florist Gail’s Flower Shop & Gifts

105 Riverstone Pkwy., Canton (770) 720-6022 www.gailsfloristof canton.com

There’s just something about fresh flowers that makes the heart sing. For almost two decades, Gail’s Flower Shop & Gifts in Canton has been playing the tune with one-of-a-kind arrangements for everything from weddings and proms to holiday decorations and funerals.

No matter the reason, the team at Gail’s Florist always will listen to what a client wants and provide a product that’s a perfect fit for your personality.

“We pride ourselves on fresh flowers and long-lasting arrangements,” said Virginia Painter, a master florist and long-time Canton resident

who is helping owner Gail McDonald at the store.

“If you’re not happy, we’re not happy.”

It’s this customer-centric philosophy and unique floral design perspective that has garnered the small shop consistent business from Canton and beyond — from as far away as Australia, in fact — and this year’s Best Florist award.

Customers should feel free to come in and pick flowers from the cooler or work with the team to compose an arrangement of any style.

Arrangements and even custom-designed gourmet baskets, can be wired all over the U.S. and Europe.

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Best BBQ Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q 1600 Marietta Hwy., Canton (770) 345-9067 www.williamsonbros.com

For 25 years, Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q has been feeding the metro area and we’ve all been better for it. Brothers Danny and Larry Williamson brought their barbecue concept to the area from Alabama.

The open-pit restaurant features a rich menu with meats cooked on the open fire daily with hickory and hardwood. Staples include baby back ribs, pulled pork and chicken.

Everything in the restaurant is homemade and the brothers stay true to the Southern style of barbecue. Williamson said the customers’ pick is definitely the chopped barbecue pork day in and day out.

“That’s always been No. 1,” said Williamson. He said Boston butts are cooked for eight hours, chopped up and topped with the restaurant’s signature barbecue sauce.

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Deposit services • Credit cards Vehicle loans • Business services Equipment loans • Mortgage loans

Best Local Artist Cherokee Chorale

770-479-1481

101 Woodland Way #1B | Canton

www.cherokeechorale.org

Five Star Senior Living in Cherokee County With almost two decades of history in Cherokee County, Cameron Hall of Canton Assisted Living & Memory Care, provides the best of experienced senior care with the down home touch. We invite you to visit our recently renovated community to see how we can provide quality care for your loved ones.

240 Marietta Highway | Canton, GA 30114

Call or email to arrange a tour or request additional information

imullin@5ssl.com | 770-720-0290

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www.cameronhall.net

Like all great things, it begins and ends with a community. That’s where the foundation of the Cherokee Chorale began. In 1987, Genevieve Miller, Judith R. MacMillan and Donald Stafford joined forces to create an outlet for local singers and musicians wanting to spread their musical wings. In December 1988, the Cherokee Chorale, as they would come to be known, performed Christmas selections from Handel’s “Messiah.”

Directed by Stafford and accompanied by members of the Atlanta Symphony, the concert included traditional Christmas carols, pieces by the Cherokee Concert Band directed by Harold Sharp and a suite by a string quartet from the Atlanta Symphony.

This event was so well received that it became a holiday tradition and has gone on to become a staple for musicians in the Cherokee community.

Today, the Chorale, which consists of singers from all walks of life in Cherokee and beyond, is open to anyone interested in choral music. Its reach can be seen across the music community. For example, it supports the music programs at all six county high schools through annual grants and gives a scholarship each year to a music student at Reinhardt University.

“It’s a group of people that brings music lovers together,” said Jaime Merino, president of the Cherokee Chorale board.

“The group is a fabric of the community because of the differences we all bring to the group. It is a good representation of the community, which includes former music teachers, band directors, business leaders and people who sing for the joy and love of chorale music. Music can calm you or stir you. Coming to the performances will be a treasure you never would have expected to hear in Cherokee County.”

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Best Celebrity Chandler Riggs

Ah, “The Walking Dead.” Who could’ve predicted it would have been such a hit?

And that one of its stars would hail from Towne Lake?

Such is the life of Chandler Riggs, son of William and Gina Ann Riggs of Woodstock.

Chandler plays the role of Carl Grimes on the hit AMC television show.

In addition to the mere fame from the show, Chandler’s acting has earned him several awards and he’s also been featured in movies.

What’s next? Stay tuned.

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Best Local Athlete C.J. Stewart

DiamondDirectors.com

Dexter Fowler (Chicago Cubs). Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates). Jason Heyward (St. Louis Cardinals). These players are not only some of the best young talent in Major League Baseball, but also have the distinction of being tutored by local professional hitting instructor C.J. Stewart. A former professional baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and former area scout for the Cincinnati Reds, Stewart continues to build his reputation as one of the nation’s foremost swing coaches.

As the founder and CEO of Diamond DirecFrom left, Dexter Fowler, C.J. Stewart tors Player Development, he created the AT-BATS and Jason Heyward. system, a trademarked, comprehensive method of professional training and development designed to boost baseball performance through the improvement of specific areas in the development process, including assessment, strength training, approach and attitude, training skills and situational hitting.

“My clients understand that there aren’t any quick fixes or magic wands,” says Stewart, who, along with his wife, Kelli, also runs L.E.A.D., an organization that helps empower at-risk youth. “Learning to play the game is an ongoing process. You have to be committed to the process. I have to be committed to that process. Diamond Directors exists because the world needs significant people doing significant things for the world. Baseball is my way of developing significant people.”

Best Place To Spend Day With Kids Tanglewood Farm

171 Tanglewood Dr., Canton (770) 667-6464 http://www.tanglewoodfarm miniatures.com/

Best Entertainment Venue Elm Street Cultural Arts Village 8534 Main St., Woodstock (678) 494-4251 www.elmstreetarts.org

President John F. Kennedy famously said, “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”

For Cherokee County residents, nowhere is this truer than at the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village in Woodstock. Founded in 2002 by Gay Grooms as the Towne Lake Arts Center, the project evolved into Elm Street in 2010 with a move to Main Street, a private-public partnership with the city and the addition of partners Shawn McLeod and Ann Litrel. Today, the group has teamed up to not only renovate a temporary space but develop four acres of land dedicated to the performing, visual and culinary arts.

Phase I, an event green and outdoor stage, is completed and Phase II, the renovation of the old Reeve’s farmhouse as a visual arts center is just beginning.

Ultimately, Elm Street is out to engage the community through relevant art experiences every day and, according to our readers, they’ve been doing a great job with their productions, classes, summer camps, improv troupe and more. For a full calendar of events, please visit their website.

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“Build it, and they will come.” That was Michelle Standing Chief’s belief 23 years ago when she set about creating Tanglewood Farm, home to more than 150 miniature, rare and heritage breed farm animals.

“I’m from Nebraska, and Tanglewood Farm was a dream really when I moved down here,” she said. “I found this piece of property, and it had been abandoned.”

To finance her dream, Standing Chief drove county school buses and worked at what was then the new Home Depot on Riverstone Parkway.

With her new found carpentry skills, Standing Chief began renovating the 10-acre property, including the construction of a one-acre Wild West Town complete with a Farmer’s Bank, Grand Hotel, Last Chance Saloon and livery stable.

There are miniature horses, miniature donkeys, Nigerian dwarf goats, miniature Shetland sheep, miniature

baby doll sheep, miniature pigs, miniature alpacas and miniature yack, just to name a few of the 25 different breeds represented at the farm.

“It’s a menagerie with the backdrop of a Wild West town,” Standing Chief said.

Tanglewood Farm was the first to introduce to the U.S. many breeds of miniatures to create “foundation bloodlines,” preserving once near extinct breeds.

“Most of these animals are from areas where food is scarce and the small survive,” Standing Chief explained. “We strive to harmonize preserving rare breeds and the cultures that support them. We also created a nonprofit foundation to encourage the preservation and promotion of rare and heritage breed domestic animals, as well as the Native and agriculture heritage connected to them through education, advocacy and conservation.”

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Right, A homemade ice cream cone featuring lemon crème, blue moon and black cherry ice cream with sprinkles. Far right, Frosty Frog Creamery & Café owners Glenda (left) and Frank Cole (right) and their baker, Sharon Murphy (center).

With over 300 flavors of homemade ice cream — of which 32 can be found in store each day — it’s no wonder that Frosty Frog Creamery & Café in Canton was voted for Best Dessert.

Owners Frank and Glenda Cole have taken much pride in the creation of their various desserts since opening their doors in 2002.

Although the ice cream might be the star of the show, there are plenty of other decadent sweet treats to savor.

The Coles also serve a variety of whoopie pies, cookies, brownies, fudge, pies, cakes, parfaits, cheesecakes, sherberts, sorbet and no sugar added ice creams.

“I think having the heart for it is what has kept us in business,” said Glenda. “And we enjoy it. I baked about 25 pies for Thanksgiving and I loved baking every one of them.”

If you’re looking for a new treat, do yourself a favor and ask for Blue Moon, which tastes like a big spoonful of Fruit Loops cereal. Frank — who handles all ice cream

Best Dessert Frosty Frog Creamery & Café

6205 Hickory Flat Hwy., Suite 112, Canton (770) 704-9333 www.frostyfrogcreamery.com

making and helps conjure up flavors for other desserts — takes pride in coming up with new tastes and turning an “oops” into an “ahhh.”

Certain flavors, such as blueberry french toast ice cream, amaretto chocolate chip cheesecake and honey cinnamon oatmeal cookie that can only be found at Frosty Frog.

Frank makes about 40 gallons at a time and everything begins with a chocolate or vanilla base.

Glenda is constantly researching new recipes and has made a few based on what people have brought in to her.

“We have a list and it keeps growing,” she said.

Having a business and residence in the same community has been a positive for the Coles, who say meeting their customers is what they enjoy most. They managed to survive the recession and credits the community for their continued support.

“We know the community wants to support us and they don’t want us to be gone,” said Glenda.

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Best Mexican La Parrilla l1810

Cumming Hwy., Suite 1000, Canton (770) 479-8781 l6110 Cedar Crest Road, Suite 110, Acworth (770) 974-4600 l1065 Buckhead Crossing, Woodstock (770) 928-3606

TREEHOUSE STUDIOS

"Drawing 101" "Mommy & Me Masterpieces" "Saturday Kids Club Workshops"

CLASSES Kim Bates

"Basic Digital Photography"

Elly Hobgood

"Watercolor Firm Foundation Workshop and Paint Group"

Michelle Hardie

NEW! Musical and Acting Classes for ALL Ages In the THEATER: Gospel Fest

February 6th at 7 p.m.

Randy Richards Concert February 13th at 7 p.m.

"Lunchtime Yoga"

Linda Maphet

"Oil and Acrylic Painting"

John Horne "Teen Drawing"

To sign up for classes call 770-704-6244 or e-mail info@cherokeearts.org. Include name and phone number.

Check our website for dates, times and fees.

94 North Street | Canton, GA 30114

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It never fails that when my friends and I are planning our occasional dinner meetup, which we affectionately call a “soiree,” one place is consistently offered up as a dining destination.

That place is La Parrilla.

And it is no question as to why Cherokee Life voters also chose it as the go to place for Mexican cuisine.

The casual and lively atmosphere, coupled with great service, delicious food and tasty drinks makes it a top destination to celebrate birthdays, work promotions or anything new and exciting happening in life.

Not to mention, if it is your birthday you’re treated with a sombrero, a plate of perfectly crispy sopapillas drizzled with chocolate sauce and a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

While there recently, I ordered the tacos de camaron.

They are shrimp tacos that you can get grilled or breaded, topped with Mexican coleslaw, chipotle mayonnaise and pickled jalapeños (which I wasn’t brave enough to endure). Mexican rice and charro beans are included as sides. Friends ordered (and RAVED about) the Texas grilled quesadilla, which has skirt steak, marinated chicken and shrimp along with bell peppers and onions.

And from their praises and the smell, I know what I’ll be ordering next time. Follow that up with a perfectly mixed prickly pear margarita and you have ingredients for a top notch outing.

No matter where you live, there is bound to be a La Parrilla within a reasonable distance. So the next time you get a pining for a taco or a nice beverage, pull on in and thank me later.

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The Three Pigs omelet has bacon, ham and cheddar cheese. It’s served with an assortment of fresh fruit.

Best Breakfast Featherstone’s Grille at BridgeMill

HELP US SAVE LIVES. Please fix your dog or cat.

1190 Bridge Mill Ave, Canton (770) 345-5500 www.bridgemillathleticclub.com/dining Featherstone’s Grille at BridgeMill Athletic Club in Canton is a very open, bright and cheerful venue, perfect for a companionable brunch.

Tables are sensibly spaced so no one feels crowded.

Don’t look for a buffet here. Instead, the restaurant has put together a well-thought-out selection of made-to-order brunch dishes that has something for all appetites.

Our table ordered the Three Pigs omelet and a shrimp omelet, something I hadn’t encountered before. Some very addictive and complimentary blueberry scones began our meal.

The shrimp omelet with cheddar jack cheese was delicately seasoned, light and fresh, while the Three Pigs with its bacon, sausage and ham filling was hearty and flavorful.

Accompanying the dishes was a mound of fresh fruit and some of the best breakfast potatoes ever. They were seasoned with spices like garlic and mild chili powder and roasted with bell peppers and onions, and the result was so good I would love to try replicating this at home.

Help Us End Euthanasia Please donate today! www.theanimalproject.org

770-704-PAWS (7297) Georgia Animal Project is a GA 501c3 nonprofit organization.

January/February 2016 | Cherokee Life

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Cherokee Life | January/February 2016

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Pinnacle Orthopaedics Ambulatory Surgery Center At Pinnacle we are constantly striving to increase the level of service and convenience we offer to our patients.

Continuing with that effort, we have an on-site Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) in our Woodstock location. This ASC has fully functioning operating rooms for all types of outpatient orthopaedic surgeries.

Pinnacle’s ASC opened in 2011 and since then, we have performed thousands of outpatient surgeries, giving our patients the ease and comfort of having surgery close to home.

We are an orthopaedic specialty facility and perform many outpatient procedures including total knee and hip surgery and certain outpatient spine procedures along with ALL orthopaedic sports- related injuries.

We perform over four hundred procedures a month.

We have 20 employees within the center and several employees on call on an as-needed basis. The most common surgeries our physicians perform here at the surgery center are knee and shoulder arthroscopies, carpal tunnel procedures and spinal pain management injections.

In November 2010, Pinnacle relocated their Woodstock office to their own building at 1505 Stone Bridge Parkway next to Walgreens at Towne Lake Parkway and I-575.

“Pinnacle Orthopaedics has been in Woodstock for over 18 years now and we have seen the area grow and have grown with it,” states Dr. Michael Kuczmanski, Managing Physician of the Woodstock Office and Medical Director of the Surgery Center.

This building, at just over 33,000 square feet, houses the Pinnacle Physicians office, Pinnacle Physical Therapy and Pinnacle Imaging Center, including MRI, and the Outpatient Surgery Center. “This full service office is a way to better serve our patients, with better space, equipment and technology,” says Dr. Kuczmanski.

“This is a great asset to our patients.”

1505 Stone Bridge Parkway, Suite 120 Woodstock, GA 30189 Phone: 770-926-6975 Fax: 770-928-6925

Our physicians will evaluate new patients at one of our several locations and can usually schedule surgery at the center quickly. If the surgery is more urgent, then accommodations will be worked in the schedule.

For more information about the procedures that can be performed in the Pinnacle ASC, speak to your Pinnacle physician, or call 770-926-6975 for information regarding the Surgery Center.

January/February 2016 | Cherokee Life

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Best Place to Take an Out-of-Town Guest Gibbs Gardens

1987 Gibbs Drive, Ball Ground (770) 893-1881 http://www.gibbsgardens.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gibbsgardens If you’re hoping to share one of Cherokee County’s most enchanting features with visiting guests, look no further than Gibbs Gardens’ meandering paths, manicured gardens and tasty meals at Gibbs’ on-site eatery Arbor Café. Located in Ball Ground, this treasure for both locals and tourists has become a popular destination for not only garden enthusiasts, but also hikers, nature photographers and those just searching a respite from the hustle and bustle of the everyday.

From March to December, these gardens’ lush grounds become an ever-changing display of colorful blooms and foliage, and every two-week interval brings a shift in the seasonal scenery. Undoubtedly the most popular draw to this Cherokee masterpiece is its springtime daffodil garden, which boasts more than 20 million daffodil blossoms covering 50 acres of hillsides and valley. The annual Daffodil Festival begins in March and runs through April 15 as early, mid and late season varieties bloom.

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No less compelling, however, is its dramatic autumn display of color showcased during the Japanese Maple Festival. Featuring 2,000 Japanese maple trees, the intense red and gold hues reflected in the pools of the Japanese garden is a breathtaking spectacle. According to their website, the Japanese hill and pond stroll garden, “Tsukiyama,” is over 40 acres and the largest Japanese garden in the nation.

To enjoy the full experience of Gibbs, guests opt to invest in the economical four-seasons pass, which allows unlimited access to the gardens during business hours for 365 days from the date of purchase. This pass also includes entry into the “Twilight Music Series,” which affords the opportunity to experience the garden at sunset while enjoying live music. (Insider Tip: They often run special incentives to purchase the seasonal pass, such as free guest passes!)

Check the website at www.gibbsgardens.com for the bloom calendar, hours and current admission prices.

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Best Burger Crave Burgers & Wings

12195 Hwy. 92, Woodstock (678) 909-2658 www.craveburgersandwings.com

Cook Chandler Neal holds the signature Crave burger, made with bacon, grilled onion, American and pepper jack cheese, and Crave sauce with lettuce and tomatoes added and served on a toasted bun along with hand-cut fries.

By 2010, the Atlanta Burger Wars were in full swing, spurred on by one limited-edition only-inthe-evening burger, one celebrity chef, and a double stacked trend toward red meat chic. If Crave Burgers & Wings had been around back then, they would have won the offensive hands down.

Fortunately for Cherokee residents, Crave was still a few years off and a county away from the battlefields. Today, Crave owners Maurice “Mo” Logan and Jerry Kay, Jr. are serving up 100 percent hand rolled, hand-patted, and fresh black Angus beef burgers with a heaping side of good times and hand-cut fries.

That’s probably why they’ve garnered Best Burger accolades during only their second year in business.

“We do it fresh and use premium ingredients,” Logan said. “Nothing is processed or frozen. That’s the true thing about our burgers.”

The other true thing is that this is a fun-loving family business — Logan lives just a few miles up the road — where fresh, quality ingredients and amiable service combine to ensure customers always leave with a smile on their face. Grab a brew to whet your whistle, then settle in for one of the best burgers around.

January/February 2016 | Cherokee Life

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Best Jeweler Art Jewelers

136 Woodstock Square Ave., Ste. 400, Woodstock (770) 924-3133 http://www.artjewelers.net

The story of Art Jewelers begins with a family legacy encompassing four generations and multiple stores (and U.S. states) dating back to 1926. Nestled discretely next to the Highway 92 Super Target, the family, today, includes multiple award-winning jewelry designers and gold smiths who can custom design anything and everything a customer could ever desire. They even work with the latest 3D CAD cam technology and create wax mock ups for customers to try on.

Family owned and operated — in fact, everyone who works in the store is related in some way — Art Jewelers

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stocks a mix of everything a jewelry store should have. Sure, they’re a whiz with bridal and diamonds, but they also carry a unique mix of boutique lines you won’t find elsewhere. Popular, but unusual jewelry lines include Pyrrha symbolic talisman necklaces, WeWood wooden watches, and Mickey Lynn and Nina Nguyen natural stone jewelry.

Of course, they also carry tried and true classics like Pandora and Citizen.

No matter your preferred style or price range, the team at Art Jewelers can help you find just what you’re looking for — and that’s why they’ve been voted Cherokee’s Best Jeweler!

Dave Meadows, CEO and Master Jeweler at Art Jewelers, inspects a diamond.

Cherokee Life | January/February 2016

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Best Salon Jyl Craven Hair Design

7970 Knox Bridge Hwy., Canton (770) 345-9411 www.jylcraven.com Having a bad hair day? Hot date on the horizon? Just need a little off the back? No matter your coif 911, the team at Jyl Craven Hair Design will ensure your experience transcends the service and you’ll leave with a look you love.

Since 1999, this pleasantly hip salon, owned by Jyl and Jason Craven, has been wowing clients in Canton and beyond. This is the second time our readers have voted Jyl Craven the Best Salon in Cherokee County and, with its comfortably upscale ambiance, friendly staff and cutting-edge approach to hair, that’s no surprise!

Jyl Craven Hair Design is a full-service Kerastase and L’Oreal salon featuring innovative color techniques and treatments for fine, thinning hair. Of course, they’re also masters of the cut, thanks, in part, to Director of Education (and former Sassoon Academy instructor) Mark Dotson, as well as regular educational trips across the U.S. and abroad.

There’s never been a better time to book an appointment at this two-time Best of Cherokee winner.

The Cherokee County Democrats say...

Let Freedom Ring!!!

Martin Luther King, Jr. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal

Jyl Craven in Canton won the vote for “Best Salon” with their services in hair cutting and coloring and makeup.

Why not join us? Here’s how: www.cherokeedemocrats.com ccgadems@gmail.com www.meetup.com/cherokeedems Twitter: @cherokeegadems

January/February 2016 | Cherokee Life

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Best Pizza Vingenzo’s

105 E Main St., Suite 100, Woodstock (770) 924-9133 www.vingenzos.com Ask Chef Michael Bologna, and he’ll tell you that it was the sense of hospitality and freshness he encountered on his many trips to the Campania region of southern Italy that inspired the culinary masterpieces he creates every day. All you have to do is try the pizza once at Vingenzo’s to see that what Bologna serves – as one reviewer said – is “what they eat in Italy, not your idea of what they eat in Italy.”

Zagat’s recently added it to its 2016 “8 Culinary Experiences in Atlanta” list.

Everything about Vingenzo’s, strategically nestled on the edge of Woodstock’s historic downtown district, conjures up

Best Volunteer Organization Junior Service League of Woodstock

http://jslwoodstock.org/ https://www.facebook.com/JSLofWoodstock

Top, the Junior Service League of Woodstock organizes the annual Tour of Homes, which raises funds for local charities.

Above, Past President Dr. Jennifer Paulo, Past President Mandy Moyer of Ball Ground, Current President Laura Craft of Woodstock, and Past President Kay Durst of Woodstock.

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memories of the Old Country. To add to the flare, Bologna installed a tiled, wood-burning oven from Italy in the restaurant’s open kitchen to bake pizzas and the other Italian dishes. Nearly everything – mozzarella, sausage, etc. – is made in house, desserts included. And the restaurant’s moniker? Bologna says it’s an old family name. He replaced the “g” with a “z” so his customers could say it correctly.

“There is a sense of community here in Woodstock that is unlike anywhere else,” Bologna says. “Our customers are not customers, they are family. Every day is like hosting a big family dinner.”

An organization that just celebrated 25 years of service in 2015, the Junior Service League of Woodstock is a women’s group committed to improving the local community through volunteerism and fundraising. Their primary purpose is to serve Cherokee County families by making a positive impact on their lives and their futures, and to this end, they’ve raised almost $400,000 — $17,000 last year — that has gone directly to local charities.

Mandy Moyer, immediate-past president, is proud of the league’s accomplishments, but also recognizes the personal enrichment that comes from lending a helping hand.

“Being a part of the League has encouraged my community awareness, while providing an opportunity to help with the community’s needs and grow relationships with like-minded women,” said Moyer. “It’s a great way to get and stay involved locally, and the friendships I’ve made continue to be a source of motivation and support for me.”

The JSL of Woodstock has organized a multitude of fundraisers throughout the years, such as golf and tennis tournaments, the Woofapalooza, and their ever-popular mainstay, the annual Holiday Home Tour.

“It has been a fantastic 25 years for the Junior Service League of Woodstock and we are looking forward to a fabulous 2016! As we continue our support of Cherokee County charities, we are excited to announce our involvement with the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs,” said Laura Craft, Junior Service League of Woodstock president. “Through our membership with GFWC, we will have access to additional support and resources - providing us with a stronger foundation to serve those in our community. Additionally, 2016 is an exciting year for the League as we look forward to celebrating our 20th anniversary of the annual Holiday Tour of Homes in November. All of the financial and volunteer support we provide the community is not possible without our fantastic membership. We encourage anyone with a heart for service to join us!”

Their first service project of 2016 will be gathering much-needed items for Rooted in Love, a nonprofit in Cherokee County that provides homeless individuals and families with food, toilet paper, water, clothes and bags full of necessities.

If you’re interested in joining the league in their efforts, they will be accepting new members beginning this month. Be sure to check their website at www.jslwoodstock.org for an exact date and location for their new member mixer, as well as membership requirements. If you have any questions, email jslofwoodstock@gmail.com.

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Best Asian Cuisine Saigon Café

12195 GA-92, Woodstock (770) 384-8599 http://saigoncafeusa.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ EatSaigonCafeWoodstock/ Right, Com Bi Cha Thit Nuong: Pork slices are charred to a carmelized thin crust to bring out the sweet marinade and scent of lemon grass, fresh garlic and shallot onion.

Tucked away in a Publix shopping center on the corner of Highway 92 and Trickum Road, Woodstock’s Saigon Café has captured the hearts of Cherokee County residents who are ready to embark on a culinary tour of “that other Southeast.” Their menu, which is a seamless fusion of traditional Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese dishes, has become a one-stop shop for Southeastern Asian cuisine.

The Woodstock restaurant is one of eight locations in the Atlanta metro area begun by David Lee, the founder and CEO of the Saigon Restaurant Group. In a true “American dream” story, Lee arrived as a refugee and worked part-time as a server and kitchen help while he received his education in architecture. He began his own construction company in Atlanta, but then decided to switch his focus to the restaurant business, which had been his family’s livelihood in Vietnam.

Nowadays, Cherokee families are the ones benefitting from this decision, taking advantage of the quick but comforting meals.

Although there is a shocking array of menu selections, owner and chef at Saigon Café’s Woodstock location Simon Tang admits that “pho” is still their most sought-after dish. The ultimate comfort food, pho is an aromatic broth served with rice noodles, your choice of meat and a plate of fresh sweet basil, a heap of bean ~ slices. So sprouts, cilantro leaves, lime wedges and jalapeno restorative is the broth-based dish that Tang’s wife, Ellen, who also works in the restaurant, confesses to eating it every day for breakfast.

If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, you can finish off your meal with Thai bubble tea, a traditional concoction that includes tapioca pearls at the bottom of a sweet, milky tea.

Dine in, takeout and online ordering options are all available.

Best Italian Food Provino’s Italian Restaurant Provino’s Managing Partner Dan Clifford displays customer favorite Lasagna Napoletana, garlic rolls and a house vegetable salad.

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1365 Riverstone Pkwy., Canton (770) 720-9676 http://www.provinos.com

It’s not particularly difficult to find an Italian restaurant in the metro area, but it can be a bit trickier to find one with authentic fare, friendly service and a family style atmosphere that will keep you coming back for more. Enter Provino’s Italian Restaurant in Canton, where every visit feels a bit like a trip to Grandma’s house — if Grandma was an Italian Julia Child. Opened in 1999, the locally-owned chain’s Riverstone Parkway location is intimate, casual and comfortable, serving up consistently delectable cuisine to everyone from smartly dressed business types to families on their way home from the lake.

Managing partner Dan Clifford has been with the company since 1978, just a year after the first location launched in Stone Mountain, and is a Canton local living just a few miles from the restaurant. What’s his secret to success?

“When you’re in one location this long, you get to know everybody and we’re fortunate to have a lot of repeat business,” he said. “I try to greet our regulars by name. We turn customers into friends here.”

With its Best Of Cherokee win, it certainly appears the Provino’s team has succeeded in its mission to ` transform hungry patrons into satisfied pals. Salud!

12/15/2015 12:12:28 PM

Best Home Decor Willows Gift Shoppe

2022 Cumming Hwy., Canton (770) 479-3301 https://www.facebook.com/WillowsGift-Shoppe-517280958362229/ “A good general gift shop.” That’s how Willows’ owner Donna Hacker describes her shop in Canton Marketplace.

“We have gifts ranging in price from $1.95 to thousands of dollars,” she said. “I just wanted to give people an option. We’re not a boutique with brand-specific lines; we wanted to add to the customer shopping experience.”

Having opened its doors just over two years ago, Willows has found a niche in the Cherokee County gift shop market with its in-house monographing services. Hacker and her five employees can monograph everything from totes, blankets and phone covers to jewelry, acrylic glasses and barware. Hacker said they can monogram “virtually anything that is soft.”

“We just believe a personalized gift is a very special gift,” she said.

With the opening of Willows, Hacker is returning to her retail roots. She previously owned a chain of 12 Hallmark stores in Ohio, before “sort of” retiring and spending several years in Naples, Fla. A one-time resident of Cumming, Ga., Hacker used to shop in Canton Marketplace.

“I wanted to be active and I love Canton,” she said. “As strange as it sounds, the idea for Willows came to me in a dream. I thought maybe I need to start thinking about this and it just kept coming up. I believe God directed me here.

So be it.”

Willows in Canton maintains numerous Georgia inspired products and gifts including the Home clothing line produced in the U.S. and seen on Shark Tank.

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Best Spa Afterglow Day Spa

1431 Riverstone Pkwy., Suite 100, Canton (770) 720-1134 afterglowspa@hotmail.com Promising relaxing and rejuvenating indulgence, Afterglow Day Spa offers numerous services and products to make good on its promise.

Customers can choose from massages, skin care treatments, body treatments, waxing, nail care, resurfacing treatments and tinting services.

“We have a highly trained and caring staff,” said Owner and Manager Karen Barrie. “True relaxation is underrated. Our full-service spa routinely provides undeniable physical and psychological benefits to those who indulge.”

Barrie said she holds a strong belief in alternative medicines and holistic health. Her passion has been to create a space where people can retreat from everyday stress and rejuvenate their mind, body and spirit.

“Our goals are to be mindful of the needs of our clients and to do our very best in achieving them,” she said. “It is equally important to treat my practitioners like family and contribute to the community through a variety of charities and supporting local fundraisers.”

January/February 2016 | Cherokee Life

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Do you have an event? Just email Therra C. Gwyn at WhatsHappeningGa@gmail.com

ighlights A closer look at events happening in Cherokee during January JOE GRANSDEN & HIS BIG BAND>>A native New Yorker, Gransden is now a Georgia guy — that is, when he’s not playing around the world solo or with his 16-piece band. A well-reviewed singer and trumpet player in the jazz scene, he’s released 14 CDs to date.

When and where: Jan. 14; 7:30 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt University, Waleska, Tickets: $15-$37.50 More info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@ reinhardt.edu ON GOLDEN POND>>A favorite love story for decades of audiences. The stage play has proved just as enduring as the award-winning film. Ethel and Norman Thayer are returning to their summer home on Golden Pond for the 48th year. Time, they know, is now against them, but the years have been good and perhaps, another summer on Golden Pond still awaits. This stage play is considered PG-rated. When and where: Jan. 15-24; Fri-

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day and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m.; City Center Auditorium, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 day of show. More info: 678.494.4251 THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA>>The 1930’s and 40’s were a spectacularly successful time for Glenn Miller and his orchestra. The music of that era echoes into this century with these original arrangements played by an 18-member ensemble led by Nick Hilscher.

When and where: Jan. 21; 7:30 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt University, Waleska, Tickets: $15-$37.50 More info: atlantasymphony.org, 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt.edu THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA>>Atlanta’s leading orchestra, now in its 70th season, has racked up an impressive collection of Grammy Awards and is easily considered the leading cultural organization in the

Cherokee Life | January/February 2016

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region. Before this performance an ASO guest artist will host a master class with performing arts students. As part of a community outreach, this master class is free and open to the public. Attendees to the main concert will not only see the artist teaching students, but will also learn about the music, music history and more. When and where: Jan. 29; 8 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt University, Waleska, Tickets: $20-$50 More info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt.edu DAVID BURGESS>>Highly regarded Latin guitarist and chamber musician. Burgess has performed in concert halls internationally. Through extensive travels in Spain and Latin America, he’s explored traditional, popular and folkloric guitar styles. Burgess has acquired one of the largest collections of Latin American guitar music in the U.S., from which he often draws unusual works for his audiences. When and where: Feb. 2; 7:30 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt University, Waleska, Tickets: $10-$27.50 More info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt.edu THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY>>Based on audience suggestions, The Improvised Shakespeare Company creates a fully improvised evening of Shakespearean comedy off the cuff. Each of the players has brushed up on his “thee’s” and “thou’s” to bring the language and themes of the Bard. Nothing has been planned out, rehearsed or written. Crated on the spot, the performance might reveal a tragedy, comedy or history. Each play is completely improvised, so each play is entirely new. For mature audiences only. When and where: Feb. 11; 7:30 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt University, Waleska, Tickets: $30-$37.50 More info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt.edu DANCING AT LUGHNASA>>Reinhardt University Theatre presents Brian Friel’s memory play that first premiered on Broadway in 1991 and has been a season staple of playhouses ever since. Set in the fictional Irish town of Ballybeg, Michael recalls the summer he spent at his aunts’ home when he was 7 years old. The five unmarried Mundy sisters all live in a big cottage just outside of town. During the summer Michael is with them, he sees his aunts’ search for and discover the potential for love, only to lose it as the hardships of life begin to cripple them. When and where: Feb. 19-21; 7:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Falany Performing Arts Center, Reinhardt University, Waleska, Tickets: $12.50 More info: 770.720.9167 or boxoffice@reinhardt. edu NEXT TO NORMAL>>Dubbed “A feel everything musical” this stage play presents both a straight-ahead and sensitive look at a suburban family struggling with the effects of mental illness. They all seem bright and normal on the surface but as the characters are explored the family’s true story is told. Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, “Next To Normal” was also chosen as one of the year’s 10 best shows by critics and media outlets. Directed here by popular local actress and director Shelly McCook. Music by Tom Kitt. Book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Runs two hours with intermission and is appropriate for adults and children over 13 years. When and where: Feb. 19-March 6; Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m.; City Center Auditorium, 8534 Main St., Woodstock. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 day of show. More info: 678.494.4251

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1. Suzanne Taylor and Kade Queen, both of Canton. 2. Jeff Glover of Canton. 3. A necklace and earring set from Z Couture Jewelry during the silent auction. 4. Jeremy Kitchen of Alpharetta and Scott Merritt of Canton.

5. Jon Hough of Canton. 6. The BridgeMill Athletic Club hosted the charity tournament. // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER CARTER //

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January/February 2016 | Cherokee Life

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TOUR OF HOMES. The Junior Service League of Woodstock’s preview event of the 2015 Tour of Homes was held at the home of Woodstock residents Renee Gable and Nick Baker. 1. Homeowners Chris DiTota and

Karen Wintering with President Laura Craft. 2. Homeowner Renee Gable and her son, Max McColl. 3. Designer Shelley Herod of Designing Women and Homeowner Renee Gable. 4. Sean Frost and League Secretary Claire Frost. // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER CARTER //

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5. Sponsors Ryan Mierzejewski, Darren Surma and Jennifer Paulo, of Ridgewalk Chiropractic & Massage, with President Laura Craft.

6. Darcy and Sean Fagan, of Copper Union Distillery, providing signature cocktails for the preview party. 7. Designer Lisa Bosworth, of Fun Finds and Designs, and President Laura Craft. 8. Designer Shelley Herod, of Designing Women, homeowner Renee Gable and Nick Baker. 9. Past President and Senior League Member Dr. Jenn Paulo and her husband, Bryan Paulo, of Woodstock. 10. Jon Burt and Senior Member Heather Burt.

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reflections

A piece of cake?

BY CARLA BARNES

One of my favorite pictures of my mother shows an angry-faced little girl in full pout mode wearing a party dress. My grandmother’s handwriting in the white border reads, “Someone took Linda’s cake.”

My mother’s love of cake, pastries and other desserts dates back to her childhood and has not lessened one bit over the years. I can still remember in my childhood watching her as she reverently opened the Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies on Easter Sunday — her reward after having given up chocolate throughout the season of Lent.

It was clearly a religious experience for her and I am quite certain that with every bite she was transported to a sugar-coated land of happiness far away from the chaos we caused her daily.

The older I get the more I can relate to that feeling.

In my youth I preferred salty things, but today unfortunately, I love all kinds of cakes which demands a great deal of restraint for me to decline a piece when someone offers it.

My dear friend who just happens to be a baking aficionado shared a funny bakery sign that made us both laugh out loud. “The more you weigh, the harder you are to kidnap. Stay safe. Eat cake.”

I’m definitely not in much danger these days.

I fell victim to the recently opened Mary’s Bread Basket in Canton on my birthday this year. The well-timed suggestion from a friend and the promise of a tasty dessert with lunch of course was the perfect way to celebrate.

We arrived to a packed house, but didn’t mind because we knew the wait would be worth it and it would give us a chance to peruse the cooler filled with cake slices — strawberry, coconut and carrot varieties. The cookies, each about the size of a human head, were across the room, safe — at least for now. One by one we selected our cake, each

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revealing important things about ourselves — flavor, size, the amount of creamy icing.

I selected coconut cake. In a jiffy our lunch was ready along with our decadent rewards to carry back to work where the group of us found an empty conference room and dove in. I only made it about halfway through my slice, promising myself I would eat the other half tomorrow.

Carrying it home, I placed it in the deli drawer of the fridge and made plans for the two of us to rendezvous later.

Would I carry it for lunch? Would I eat it when I came home the next day? Would it be safe from the household predators who are known to eat every sweet thing in sight?

Surely it would be okay so I opted to save it for the next day after work.

It was still there when I came home. I told myself I would prep dinner and then enjoy. After I completed my tasks I decided I would wait and enjoy it after dinner. “Eat the cake already!” I told myself as I went to the refrigerator to retrieve it, but this time it was gone.

“Where is my cake?” I spoke to my family with an alien voice that revealed a person who is indeed deeply disturbed. Deep down I knew the culprit — my husband, Doug, and it’s not what you think. He didn’t eat it. He chucked it in the trash mistaking it for week old restaurant leftovers left behind by my parents who are frequent guests. Stunned and shocked by my agitation, he went dumpster diving through the garbage (thankfully a new bag had been inserted very recently) to find the plastic bag holding inside the clear, square container with my precious cake.

“I haven’t seen you this animated in a while,” he said as he passed it over to me to bring this melodrama to a close. The package found, thankfully unscathed, I promptly insisted he take a bite. It was clear he would not make that mistake again.

It just so happens that over in Cartersville, that same day, the friend responsible for our excursion the day before experienced marital strife over her half-eaten strawberry slice of cake. She had plans for her cake as well…and the cheesecake bar and cookie she had brought home from lunch. She was considering sharing the other items, but the cake…not so much. As she prepared to leave for work she found her cake neatly stacked on her husband’s lunch on the kitchen counter. Her response to him, “What are you doing?” Needless to say, she had her cake and ate it too.

12/15/2015 12:20:01 PM

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12/15/2015 12:21:04 PM

Helping Families Create Meaningful Memories for Over 75 years 191 Jarvis Street • Canton, Ga 30114 770-479-2131 www.SosebeeFuneralHome.com Family Owned and Operated by Casey L. Guyton 36

Cherokee Life | January/February 2016

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12/15/2015 12:21:50 PM