Cobb Life March 2015 by Otis Brumby III

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Cobb Life March 2015 Volume 11, Issue 2

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

Otis Brumby IIl

GENERAL MANAGER Lee B. Garrett

V.P. ADVERTISING Wade Stephens

EDITORIAL STAFF DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINES Mark Wallace Maguire

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Stacey L. Evans, Mark Wallace Maguire

CONTRIBUTORS

Stacey L. Evans, Tammy DeMel, Therra C. Gwyn, Meredith Pruden, Michael Venezia, Jennifer Hafer, Michael J. Pallerino, Joel Groover, Katy Ruth Camp

PHOTOGRAPHER Shanda Crowe

PHOTOGRAPHY

Sam Bennett, Kelly Huff

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Acorn Home & Garden 36 Alpha Travel 54 Aqua Guard Basements 81 Atlanta Air Charter 75 Atlanta Communities 31 Atlanta Fine Homes - Jim Glover 81 Barter Comapny 72 Bellamy Funeral Home 31 Blackwell’s Jewelers 48 Brawner Hall 71 Brookwood Christian School 14 Brumby Chair 76 CAMP - Spring Chicken Run 15 Childrens Healthcare 3 COBB EMC 49 Cobb Hardware 78 Cumberland Diamond Exchange 67 Debbie Redford - All Around Atlanta Realty 73 Dermatology Consultants 44 Edward Johns Jewelers 39 Edward Jones - Udel Richardson 45 Elon Salon 27 Estes Earthworks 55 Exactech 62 Fleming Carpet 37 Fur Kids Thirft Store 63 Gaines Park Senior Living 74 Geico 13 Georgia Cancer Center 26 Happy Trails Pet Center 13 Harry Norman - Cobb Marietta 77 Henry’s Louisiana Grill 20 Indy Style Salon 54 Ivy Lane 46 Johnson Ferry Baptist Church 30

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Julep’s Home Décor 45 Life Grocery 6 Loud Security 51 Manders Dental 80 Marietta Podiatry 35 Marlowes 21 Mayes Ward - Dobbins Funeral Home 59 Medford - Peden Funeral Home 16 Miracle Method 70 Mt. Bethel Christian School 53 Mt. Paran Christian School 41 North Cobb Spine & Nerve 17 Northside Hospital 5 Northside Sleep Center 24 Parc @ Piedmont 50 Pediatric Dental School 56 Pinnacle Orthopaedics 9 Plastic Surgery Center of the South 38 Presbyterian Village 79 Roswell Street Baptist Church 10 Salon Spa Venessa 73 Skin Cancer Specialists 25 Smith Gilbert Gardens 66 Soriah Michelle Salon 35 Sterling Estates Senior Living 12 Superior Plumbing 2 Superior Plumbing 76 The Barter Company 72 The Bottoms Group 7 The Framery 20 WellStar 84 Wendy Bunch 83 West Cobb Funeral Home 11 White Rabbit 4 Winnwood Retirement 58

PROOFREADER Whitney Betts

ADVERTISING STAFF ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tara Guest

COBB ADVERTISING MANAGER Becky Opitz

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Stephanie deJarnette, Paula Milton, Jill Abbott Jordan Emerson, Kim Fowler, Katy Ruth Camp

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Beth Poirier, Jennifer Hall, Carlos Navarrete

PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Leigh Hall

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Dave Gossett

INFORMATION Cobb Life is published 10 times a year by the Marietta Daily Journal and distributed to more than 30,000 homes and businesses. To subscribe, email circulation@ cobblifemagazine.com or call 770.795.5001 To advertise, contact Wade Stephens at 770.795.4001 Please send all editorial correspondence to mmaguire@cobblifemagazine.com

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WHAT’S INSIDE

18 28 features 28 GET REAL! Preview of the Atlanta Ballet’s Camino Real coming to Cobb this spring 32 FAMILY TRADITION Meet some of Cobb’s multi-generational family-owned businesses 60 THOSE EYEBROWS Our writer reflects on ‘Gone with the Wind’ and its fashion sense

departments 18 SPICE Get to know Freckled & Blue’s unique journey 22 HEALTH AND WELLNESS We check out Orange Theory and other unique exercises in Cobb 64 WINE Our wine guru enjoys the festivities in Athens 68 TRAVEL Amelia Island is a great trip to beat the late winter blues

in every issue

Cobb Life March 2015

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FROM THE DIRECTOR

TALK OF THE TOWN

KID-FRIENDLY COBB

NEWS & NOTEWORTHY

HIGHLIGHTS

SCENE

REFLECTIONS

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FROM THE DIRECTOR

The name is Bond...

slightly-censored, fast-forwarded

James Bond

I might be the only father in America who hasn’t seen the movie “Frozen.” And I can state quite honestly I haven’t even heard the song “Let it Go.” I’ve heard the movie and song referenced, but through some strange vortex in the space-time continuum, I have been spared the songs that parents I know say make them a tad loony. And the vortex I inhabit is because of having two sons who have little interest in princesses or ice skating, or whatever else that movie is about. If this sounds smug, I should apologize, but I will take my small victories where I can these days. That said, I haven’t been safe from all childhood movies and their accompanying soundtracks. For much of 2013 and 2014, I heard the “Lego” theme song, “Everything is Awesome” over and over. And over and over. Again and again. However, in the past several months, my oldest son Patrick, turning 9 this month, is entering a new phase of movies focused strictly on action and adventure. (My youngest – at 7 - still doesn’t have the attention span for a complete movie). Granted, Patrick and I have always enjoyed the “Star Wars” movies and their endless spin-offs. I even tried to tempt him to “Star Trek,” perhaps to whet his science appetite. But, like his dad, he prefers Darth Vader to dark matter and Kenobi to Kirk. He also said he couldn’t take a spaceship that looks like a dinner plate with two cell phones attached seriously. I tend to agree. No offense to The Enterprise, trekkies. His words, not mine. So, with the science fiction genre on his radar, he was ready to explore more films with action and less with cartoons. We enjoyed the usual sword and bows and arrows films such as “Troy” and “King Arthur” – pieces not too gory, and with somewhat of a story and the occasional moral compass. But, then Mr. Bond, James, that is, walked into the picture. Patrick had seen a few scenes from Bond movies here and there and, like most boys his age, loved the gadgets, the action, the larger-than-life villains and the overall smoothness of 007. When he discovered in January that NetFlix was withdrawing their James Bond films, we went on a binge watching fest.

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I was pepped to show him my two favorite Bond movies, “Goldfinger” and “Skyfall.” I also steeled myself to suffer through a fit of beyond-average-Bond hijinks during the Roger Moore period and I even gained a new respect for the dark Bond, Timothy Dalton. It was fun introducing Patrick to the great Bond villains, pointing out to him how Bond was always polite, even when deadly, how he possessed an unparalleled wit and, of course, admiring the great gadgets he had. I also discovered, watching Bond with a 9-year-old provides a few challenges, mainly the “cuddle scenes” as I call them. You know when Bond and one of his, shall we say, “lady friends,” have an embrace per se. That was when I learned to quickly fast-forward through these scenes, explaining to Patrick, “This is a really boring scene, they just cuddle and hug and talk about dresses.” Of course, I had forgotten how many “cuddle scenes” old rascally James had in each movie. Goodness. Fast-forwarding actually shortened each movie by about 20 minutes. I would almost feel guilty, but, then again, my father took me to the theater to see James Bond movies – and he was a Baptist minister. The good news is that through the years Bond has become less promiscuous since Daniel Craig took over the role and the female characters tend to get portrayed in a stronger light, especially with the grand Dame Judi Dench as M. That all bodes well for me, of course. The next Bond movie, “Spectre” is slated to hit the theaters later this year. I hope to take Patrick. In the theater, though, there is no way to fast-forward any racy scenes. I reckon I’ll have to use my hands. As they said in “Skyfall,” “Some times the old ways are the best ones.” Best, Mark Wallace Maguire

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TALK OF THE TOWN AWARDS and CEREMONIES Next time you are in a Marietta City School, look for the GEM plaques honoring teachers and students that have “Gone the Extra Mile.” GEM, a Kiwanis Club of Marietta program developed by Jan Blodgett and Jackie Whitt, recognizes educators and students quarterly who have exhibited extraordinary commitment to their schools and community. This special program has become a time-honored tradition between the Kiwanis Club of Marietta and the Marietta City schools and is a coveted award for both staff and students at every school. Awarded at a luncheon at the Hilton Marietta Conference Center, the January 2015 recipients were introduced and honored for their contributions. This year’s recipients are as follow: Cindy Farr and student Andrew Owens for A.L. Burruss Elementary; Tywanna

Peoples and student Larry Blevins for Marietta High School; Dianne Terrell and for Dunleith Elementary; student Jerome Board for Marietta Beth Silvey and student Performance Learning Center; and Michelle Flores for Susan Herr for the Department of Hickory Hills Elementary; Special Services. Congratulations to Tamille Wilson and all of these winners. student Kevin Sarmiento for Park Street ♦♦♦ Elementary; Stephanie Paige and student CELEBRATIONS Giavonna Thomas for The Cobb Galleria Centre was all Lockheed Elementary; a chatter in late January for the Cobb Patti Natalino and Chamber of Commerce 72nd Annual student Aziza Williams By Sally Litchfield Dinner – see photos from the event for Sawyer Road in our SCENE section. People simply Elementary; Patricia Love don’t get enough time to talk — and networking and student Joe Bird for West Side really is what these things are all about. The Elementary; Tracy Williams and evening began with a cocktail reception that student Shaan Patel for Marietta moved to the ballroom for the evening agenda. Center for Advanced Academics; MDJ publisher Otis Brumby III presented the Holly Smith and student Hector Citizens of the Year Award to Elf on the Shelf Barocio for Marietta Sixth Grade creators and gracious award recipients Carol Academy; Sheila Hypsher and Aebersold, Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts. student Kaitlyn Brown for Marietta Different Cobb Countians who made Middle School; Robyn Dunnam outstanding contributions to the county and and student Kevin McLemore the Cobb Chamber were recognized such as outgoing chair Ben Mathis of Freeman, Mathis, & Gary who turned over the baton of leadership to WellStar’s Kim Menefee along with Rob Garcia of Bank of North Georgia who received the Mack Henderson Public Service Award; Justin O’Dell, of O’Dell and O’Neal Attorneys who received the Chairman’s Award; Max Lenker of RaceTrac and Todd Helms of Genuine Parts who received the Len Gilbert Award; Kennesaw State University President, Dr. Dan Papp who received the Leadership Award; and David Connell, president and CEO of the Cobb Chamber who received the Robert A. Lipson Award. ♦♦♦ EVENTS

On Jan. 15, the Bridal Wreath Garden Club met at the Marietta home of Cameron Watson. Instead of flowers, this meeting was about fashion. Edra Matthews, co-owner of Nicole Miller at Lenox Square in Atlanta, spoke about what to expect this spring. Christen Watson (Cameron’s sister-in-law) showed her jewelry line, Watts Jewelry. At the conclusion of the program, the ladies tried on samples of the spring line. Afterwards, a healthy buffet of grilled pork tenderloin, salmon and roasted vegetable was enjoyed in Watson’s newly remodeled kitchen. Laurie Clark, Angie Halliburton, Lettie Primeaux, and Millie Reddick also hosted the affair. Cobb Life March 2015

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EVENTS SkyView Atlanta has welcomed a new food truck to its culinary lineup. Edgard Sanchez, a graduate of the Culinary Apprenticeship Certificate program at KSU’s College of Continuing and Professional Education, will be on-site at the 200-foot ferris wheel daily through April. The military veteran turned entrepreneur serves unique Cajun cuisine as part of his new business, C’est Tout Bon 2 Eat. Follow his adventures on Instagram and Twitter at @cesttoutbon2eat. For more on the Culinary program at KSU, visit ksuculinary.com. ♦♦♦ Celebrating 100 years young is quite an accomplishment. On Feb. 3, Marietta resident Joe Probasco achieved just that. He celebrated his 100th birthday at a party on Jan. 31 at the Marietta home of his daughter and son-in-law Darlene and Read Williams. Also hosting the party were his three other daughters Karen Baker; Kathy Chappell; and Melanie Metcalf. Joe and his wife, Betty, moved to Marietta in 1951. From 1951 until he retired in 1979, he worked as an aircraft draftsman at Lockheed Martin. He is a World War II veteran and served two years in the Navy Seabees in Guadalcanal. He worked as a volunteer at Kennestone Hospital for more than 15 years in the 1980s and 90s. Joe and Betty are members of Roswell Street Baptist Church where he continues to attend the Agape Sunday School class. More than 40 people joined in the celebration. In addition to his daughters, seven of his eight grandchildren and 10 of his 12 great-grandchildren attended the party along with two nephews and their families including Greg Baker, Richard Baker, David Baker, Joseph Read Williams, Anna Watson, Dan Chappell, Katie Chappell, Bud Probasco and Carl Smith. ♦♦♦ It was a full house at Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art in January for the opening reception of “Corey Barksdale and Felix Berroa: Afro Vision and James Partee, Jr.: My Brush with Wildlife.” The exhibits run through March 29. Pat Chilton, Melinda and Laing Heidt, Pam Hubby, Julianne and Boozer McClure, Benjamin Patterson, Kim and Marc Patterson, Olivia Reardon, Jim Rhoden, Colonel Michael Rumson, Trapp and Peter Tischner, and Larry Zenoni were among the crowd. Along with Jack Allocco, Bernie Anderson, Scott Anderson, Dawn Baker, Linda, Ian and Stoney Baker, Diana Bird, Bridgette and Jack Britt, Graham Browne, Michael Butler, Carol and Ronald Casteel, Cindy and Dennis Debis, Lauren and Chad Dempsey, Kathy and Jeff Dietz, Dotty Etris, Chester Graham, Renita and Greg Hayes, Diane and Dale Harrell, Clarise and Mitch Heidenheimer, Savannah and Jaden

Hernandez, Marsh and David Lutz, Julie and Jeff Mahaffey, Susan Mathis, Sherri Nichols, Peggy Pilgrim, Dayle Robertson, Alan Summersill, Rick Summersill, Richard, Betty and Chloe Waite, Jill and Michael Wall, and Diane Wall. ♦♦♦ The Marietta Charter Chapter/ABWA collected kitchen items in November and December to be donated to the YWCA. Holly Walquist, the speaker at the September meeting, was

also the recipient of the Chapter’s Annual Award to a person who has contributed much to the community. She relayed information about the new Transitional Apartments facility for the abused victims and their family and the need for items to furnish the kitchen. Linda Miller and Mary Frances Grisham, Chapter members, delivered these items on Jan. 14 to CEO and executive director Holly Tuchman and member Holly Walquist at the YWCA. The Marietta Charter Chapter/ABWA celebrated 51 years in January.

At West Cobb Funeral Home, we have been committed to serving the families of our community for the past 18 years. Recently, we have renovated and added a tranquil pavilion which adjoins our spacious family reception room. See why more families are choosing our home, our services and our facilities.

March 2015 Cobb Life

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KID-FRIENDLY COBB Eve nt s and ac t iv it ie s for ch i ldren 10 and under Touch-A-Truck

Depot Park 2828 Cherokee Street NW, Kennesaw March 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Cost: Free Get up-close and personal with largerthan-life trucks, heavy construction and public safety equipment, cars and specialty vehicles. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Hosted by the City of Kennesaw’s Parks & Recreation, Public Works and Police Departments, the event will have over 40 vehicles on display, along with other children’s activities. 770.422.9714

Model Railroad Train Show

at Cobb Galleria Centre Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 30339 March 14 to 15, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $10 adults; 12 and under are free The Southeast’s premier train show will have six operating layouts to view, a junior layout for kids to run, more than 260 tables of model train dealers, white elephant tables where you can sell your own model trains, raffles and door prizes. www.themodeltrainshow.com

YOU CAN UKULELE!

at The Art Place Mountain View 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta March 18 to May 13 (eight week program) Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Ages: 7 to 13 Cost: $75.00 (Resident) 100.00 (Non-resident) Learn to play the ukulele with Stu (Stukulele) Zonder. The focus will be on basic cords and strumming patterns from popular songs and classic favorites. Bring your own ukulele. TAP has limited instruments, call ahead to reserve. 770.509.2700 For a ukele: Mike at Uke Republic 770.235.6606 ukerepublic.com

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

at Lyric Studio Theatre in the Square 12 Powder Springs Street, Marietta March 21 to 29, showtimes vary Ages: 4 to 10 (recommended) Cost: $15 to $20 Laugh and sing along with Alexander’s misadventures in this musical comedy by Judith Viorst, author of the best-selling book. Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, he trips on a skateboard, and then he accidentally drops his sweater in the sink – all before breakfast! http://atlantalyrictheatre.com

Creative Dramatics — Beginning

at The Art Place Mountain View 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta March 21 to May 16 (eight week class on Saturdays, two class times) Ages: 4 to 10 Cost: $75.00 (Resident) 100.00 (Non-resident) An intensive Young Actors Performance Academy drama class that approaches the fundamentals in a unique and fun way. The last class will serve as a demonstration for friends and family. http://tapmarietta.com; 770.509.2700

Art Series: Teatime with Alice in Wonderland

at Smith-Gilbert Gardens 2382 Pine Mountain Road, Kennesaw March 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Ages: 4 to 12 Cost: $15.00 children of members; $20.00 others This monthly children’s art series allows children to be inspired by the garden setting and create a piece of art. No art experience needed. All supplies provided. Reservations required. This is a drop off class, so parents are not required to stay. 770.919.0248 ; www.smithgilbertgardens.com

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Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt & Movie By Moonlight

at Tolleson Park, 3515 McCauley Road, Smyrna March 28 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. (Rain date is Saturday, April 4) Ages: up to 10 Cost: $5 per family in advance / $10 at gate Bring a flashlight and Easter basket. Children ages 5 years and younger will begin their hunt at 7:30 p.m. and children age 6 to 10 years begin their hunt at approximately 8:00 p.m. An outdoor movie will follow. Register at www.smyrnacity.com, at the Smyrna Community Center or the Wolfe Adult Recreation Center; 678.631.5541

Bunny Breakfast

at Ben Robertson Community Center 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw March 28 from 8:00 to 11:15 a.m. Cost: $6 advance, $8 at door (space is limited) Enjoy a hot breakfast and personal visits with the Easter Bunny. The “all-you-care-to-eat” pancake breakfast will also consist of sausage, bacon, fresh fruit, juice, coffee and a few surprises. Two seating options are available: 8 to 9:15 a.m. and 10 to 11:15 a.m. 770.422.9714

Easter Egg Hunt

at Acworth Sports Complex, 4000 S. Main Street, Acworth March 27 at 7:00 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be skydiving in before the hunt for 50,000 eggs begins. Activities and concessions begin at 6:30 p.m., and the first hunt begins at 7:30 p.m. http://acworthegghunt.com; 770.917.1234

Coastal Alliance Cheer Competition

at Six Flags Over Georgia 275 Riverside Parkway SW, Austell March 28 from noon to 8:00 p.m. Cost: General admission prices for Six Flags Cheer squads from all around America will be competing for gold at the theme park. www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia L I BR ARY E V E NTS

Wiggle Worms! Toddler Story Time : Spring Babies

at Gritters Library March 10 from 10:05 to 10:45 a.m. Age: Toddlers Stories, songs and bubble and parachute play time. Read about animal babies and

parents. Craft: Make a fluffy paper plate chick. 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta 770-528-2524

Ms. Frizzle’s Science Lab

at Powder Springs Library, 4181 Atlanta Street, Bldg. 1, Powder Springs March 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Age: Elementary school Ms. Frizzle is ready to solve the mystery of physics with science experiments, Caregivers need not be present in the room but must remain in the library at all times. No registration necessary. Contact Miss Tara at 770.439.6664.

Diameters and Digits on Pi Day

at Mountain View Regional Library 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta March 14 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Ages: Kindergarten through 5th graders Celebrate International Pi Day by learning about the mystery of numbers. Children will measure, calculate, and muse about 3.14. Create your own patchwork circle with other Pi Pals. Held in the Children’s Programming Room. Registration is required at the Children’s Desk or by phone at 770.509.4964.

March 2015 Cobb Life

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news & noteworthy [business]

Cobb Life Publisher Otis Brumby III awards the Citizen of the Year award to Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts of ‘The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition.’ File photo

Brookwood Christian School The Dyslexia School 4728 Wood St. | Acworth, GA 30101 At the corner or North Main St and Wood St, north of the Hwy 92 overpass

BrookwoodChristian.com Kim.Wigington@BrookwoodChristian.com 14

‘Elf on a Shelf’ creators named 2014 Citizens of the Year The creators of ‘Elf on a Shelf’ who are longtime Cobb entrepreneurs and Cobb Life favorites were honored at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s 73rd Annual Dinner in January. The event took place at the Cobb Galleria Centre. Cobb Life and Marietta Daily Journal publisher Otis A. Brumby III honored “Elf on the Shelf” creators Carol Aebersold, Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts as the 2014 Cobb Citizens of the Year. “These recipients are truly a great American success story,” Brumby said. “This company was founded around a kitchen table in Cobb County. … Our recipients are homegrown Cobb County products, educated in our public schools and raised in our community.” Aebersold was not in attendance and her twin daughters, Bell and Pitts, accepted the awards. “We want to thank Cobb County because without you guys, we would not be where we are. We got started here,” Bell said. “Our very first book-signing was at the Marietta Museum of History, sponsored by family and friends.” It all began in 2004, when Cobb natives Aebersold and Bell decided to write a book about an elf, which was based on an elf who sat in the family’s kitchen since the 1970s. Aebersold would explain to her daughters Santa really knew who was naughty and who was nice because the elf served as a scout who would give Saint Nick nightly updates on the activities of the Aebersold clan. This little family tale would become the seed from which “The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition” would grow into a highly successful children’s book and related products. “There was no sense at the

time that [‘Elf on a Shelf’] was going to be a business. It was really about sharing a family tradition we had with our friends and family,” Bell said in 2010. The family launched their company, Creatively Classic Activities and Books, in 2005, with Aebersold as the managing partner. Bell and Pitts, who grew up in Powder Springs, are co-CEOs — Bell handles the creative side and Pitts focuses on the marketing and sales side. The company has had some help along the way, including a Small Business Administration loan and input from the Small Business Development Center at Kennesaw State University. The book has now sold more than six million copies. The hardbound picture book comes in a keepsake box with a small soft scout elf toy. It can be found in more than 12,000 stores, including Macy’s and Barnes & Noble, which is a far cry from the original 18 in the company’s first year. In addition to the millions of copies sold, the book has spawned its own expansive product line, including several other books such as “The Elf on the Shelf: A Birthday Tradition” and “Elf Pets: A Reindeer Tradition.” By 2010, the product hit No. 1 on Publisher’s Weekly’s bestseller list and No. 2 on Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list. The company was ranked No. 222 on Inc. magazine’s 500/5000’s list and reported $7 million in revenues. In 2011, the entrepreneurs financed and produced an animated holiday show, “The Elf on the Shelf: An Elf’s Story.” In the following year, an “Elf” float was part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. In 2013, the company moved its corporate headquarters to Cumberland Riverwood Center, 3350 Riverwood Parkway in the Cumberland area.

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[food and dining]

New restaurant opens on Marietta Square Kish Restaurant & Bar in Marietta brings another fine dining option to the Marietta Square. The Mediterranean restaurant, which officially opened three months ago, celebrates its grand opening during dinner hours in late February. “We offer Mediterranean food, a Persian cuisine such as shish kabob, Cornish hens, lamb,” said Karim Nankali, a Smyrna resident who owns the restaurant. Everything is made to order at Kish. “The food is absolutely delicious. It’s all fresh. Nothing is frozen and we cook it on the grill,” he said.

Nankali recommends first time customers try the house specialty tenderloin or chicken shish kabob that are marinated and grilled to perfection. “The shish kabob is what we are known for. Most people who come here love our food,” said Nankali, who came to the U.S. from Iran. He has lived in the Atlanta area for 20 years. Kish is at 105 North Park Square, Marietta. Kish is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and on weekends 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, visitwww.kishatlanta.com or call (770) 672-6803.

Patrick Albrecht, center, owner of Social Vinings, accepts the 2014 Vinings Business of the Year Award as chairman Glenn Christian looks on during the Vinings Business Association’s luncheon. Photo by Samantha M. Shal

Vinings Biz Association honors restaurant The Vinings Business Association looked to a familiar face when it named its 2014 Vinings Business of the Year in January. Social Vinings restaurant, which since 2009 has hosted the association’s monthly lunch meetings, including last month’s, won the award over fellow nominees Tommy Clyatt Insurance, The Meyring Law Firm, PrintWave and the Vinings Village Civic Club. “So in December, when (association Chairman) Glenn (Christian) said to be sure to be here, I sent an email to Glenn saying, ‘Always a bridesmaid; never a bride.’ We’re going on our sixth year hosting the meetings and we’ve been nominated for the award every year,” Social Vinings owner Patrick Albrecht said while accepting the honor. “It’s nice to see this (organization) grow every month. We need to build a bigger restaurant. I want to thank my staff. Our staff is not just treated as employees but as our friends.” After the meeting, Albrecht talked about what the award means to the restaurant. “It’s awesome. … We’ve got Vinings in our restaurant’s name and are ingrained in the community of Vinings,” he said. “We’re delighted to be the Vinings Business of the Year.”

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March 2015 Cobb Life

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news & noteworthy [arts]

Local artists show work at American Craft Council Show in March

“Reflect & Celebrate” cake plate by ceramic artist Beth Tarkington of east Cobb, who was chosen by the American Craft Council to exhibit in the show held at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

Several Cobb residents will be among the hundreds of the country’s top fine craft artists presenting handmade creations in jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor at the American Craft Council Atlanta show. The esteemed show is held at the Cobb Galleria Centre March 13 to 15, and routinely draws nearly 10,000 visitors over the three days. Artists are selected through a rigorous jury process. Ceramic artist Beth Tarkington, an east Cobb resident, will be displaying and selling her vibrant handmade creations which include bowls, candle holders, pedestals, tea pots, sculptures, wall art and more. Instead of using a potter’s wheel, Tarkington hand-builds each piece. Marietta potter Timothy Sullivan will also be at the event. His dynamic creations include lamps, wall art and sculpture. Husband and wife artists P.J. Floyd and Ricky Frank, of Marietta, were also both invited once again to the show. Floyd, an Atlanta show favorite, produces stylized figurines with wire, wool, found objects and recycled, vintage and new textiles. Most pieces are whimsical and convey her fascination with nature. Frank is a cloisonné and enamel jewelry artisan.

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-6 16; p.m. ia ets: 4 ay for a ass. A box by Mariettta artisan Tim Sullivan.

The American Council Craft Show takes place March 13 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; March 14 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and March 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance show tickets are $12 for a one-day pass, $26 for a 3-day pass. Onsite admission is $13 for a one-day pass and $28 for a three-day pass, with a special Friday evening admission price of $5 after 5 p.m. A Preview Party is March 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. (tickets must be purchased in advance). Information and tickets: www.craftcouncil.org/Atlanta

[home and garden]

Atlanta Home Show returns The Spring Atlanta Home Show, Georgia’s largest home show, will return to the Cobb Galleria Centre Friday to Sunday, March 20 to 22. The popular annual event will bring together over 350 experts in the home remodeling and landscaping industries to showcase the latest products and services designed to remodel, repair and refresh homes of all sizes and styles. Information: www.AtlantaHomeShow.com.

Cobb Life March 2015

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Finally Free from Arthritis Pain without Drugs and Harmful Side Effects Living with arthritis pain can affect every part of your life.

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Supartz Is… Non- surgical non-pharmacologic therapy for knee Osteoarthritis. SUPARTZ therapy can relieve your pain, improve your mobility and get you back to normal activities. SUPARTZ restores the cushion and lubricating properties of normal joint fluid. • • • •

FDA approved Considered a treatment therapy and not a drug. Supartz was the world's first hyaluronan joint fluid therapy Approved for those who have failed to respond to painkillers, exercise or physical therapy.

Pain Is Not Just ‘Old Age’ Have you had one doctor after another telling you this is just the natural process of the body getting older that you should expect to have arthritis. Sure, if you don’t take care of your damaged joints now, as you get older they will be worse (which is why you shouldn’t wait any longer to see if I can help you.) However, old age is not the cause of your arthritis. I’ll venture to say all 360 joints in your body are the same age, yet arthritis and joint degeneration has not affected every one of them – only your previously injured joints that never healed properly.

“I only wished I had found you sooner” I hear this too often, so I decided to do something about it and run this ad. Just call before March 15th and get a Arthritis Consult for $20! • An in-depth consultation about your arthritis where I will listen…really listen. • A complete nerve, muscle and spinal exam to find the “cause” of your problem. • A full set of specialized x-rays to look for joint degeneration (arthritis)… (NOTE: These would normally cost you at least $200). • A thorough analysis of your exam and x-ray findings so I can show you how to fix the problem.

I’ll answer all your questions about arthritis pain. The appointment will not take long at all and you won’t be sitting in a waiting room all day either. To take me up on this special offer, you must call before March 15th. Call today…Phone 678-574-5678.

Feel the Improvement and Say “Yes” to Life Again Listen to what our patients are saying about it… I came into the office for severe Knee pain. I started to feel better soon after I started treatment and the mobility in my knee greatly improved. I can now walk without limping and I realize I shouldn’t have waited so long to get treatment. I have more energy and can enjoy life. Before I came into the office I had no hope. What amazed me most about my care is their loving and caring atmosphere and the excellent, personal attention. God Bless, Carmen Gonzalez I came to North Cobb Spine and Nerve Institute with terrible knee pain. Since being treated here, I no longer have pain in my knee. I can now climb up and down the stairs without feeling pain. I can get on with my busy life with far less pain and stiffness! Thanks, Donna Adams

My name is Dr. Amy Valente owner of North Cobb Spine and Nerve Institute. Over the past seven years since we’ve opened the doors, I’ve seen hundreds of

With my “Arthritis Evaluation”, we can find the problem and then correct it. Think of how you could feel in just a few short weeks. See and feel your life change for the better. Start your body on the way to pain-free, normal living. Feel tight joints rest, relax, free up. Feel muscles tied in knots become suppler. Feel strength in your muscles increase. As you begin to see motion returning to your joints, you’re preventing and reducing chances of disability and a crippling future. You’re playing golf again -- hitting longer drives, smoother putts, and lower scores… without pain.

Arthritis can be successfully treated. Healthy, pain-free living should be yours. Please call our 24 Help Line at 678-574-5678 and tell the receptionist you’d like to come in for the Special Arthritis Evaluation before March 15th. We can get started with your consultation, exam and x-rays as soon as there’s an opening in the schedule. North Cobb Spine and Nerve Institute is located at 3451 Cobb Pkwy., Suite# 4 in Acworth. (On the corner of Mars Hill Rd. and Cobb Pkwy). I look forward to helping you get rid of your pain so you can start living a healthier, more joyful life. Sincerely, Dr. Amy Valente, D.C. P.S. The only real question to ask you is this… Life’s too short to live in pain like this. Call us today and soon I’ll be giving you the green light to have fun again!

CALL TODAY!

678-574-5678 North Cobb Spine & Nerve Institute 3451 Cobb Pkwy Ste. 4 Acworth, GA 30101

PA I D A DV E R T I S I N G

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By Meredith Pruden Photography by Shanda Crowe

from

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The Lindley’s describe their food as ‘modern southern.’ Above, pulled Pork & Grits make an appetizing dish. Opposite page: From left, Tyler Lindley, his wife Juliana, and chef Daniel Craft of Freckled & Blue.

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How would you like your bean salad with a little pep? Freckled & Blue serves up White Bean Salad and Black Eyed Pea Salad with a variety of garnishments including garden fresh corn, celery, red onion, red pepper, dill & house dijon vinaigrette and crunchy kale.

For husband and wife team Juliana and Tyler Lindley, a Clemson University marketing class started more than just a budding romance. “We both went to Clemson and met in class there,” Tyler said. “We graduated and got corporate jobs, but it wasn’t the best fit. I decided I wanted to start my own business, and we moved back to Atlanta.” The couple’s move back happened to coincide with the rise of home grown food trucks in the city, and the burgeoning food truck frenzy spoke to Juliana’s longstanding passion for food. The rest, as they say, is history. After a lot of research (that included dining at many of these new four-wheeled eateries), Tyler wrote a business plan and launched Freckled & Blue, a reference to Juliana’s freckles and Tyler’s baby blues, in September 2012. “Our menu is modern Southern,” Juliana said. “We took things that were familiar and put a spin on them. We had our truck and this was just our commissary. We found out truck season really slows down when the weather gets cold, so we ended up opening this [brick and mortar] sooner than we thought.” Just a few months later, in January 2013, the Smyrna storefront was open to the public, serving up elevated Southern cuisine in a comfortable, casual environment. “We don’t wear chef jackets everyday,” Tyler said. “We just wear T-shirts, but this is how we look on our catering jobs. We want to be approachable, but our biggest thing is quality in food and service.”

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In May 2013, chef Daniel Craft joined the Freckled & Blue team, using his full service dining experience to spearhead a bit of culinary innovation and begin rolling out seasonal menus and signature sauces. “Since Daniel came on board, it’s revived my passion for food,” Juliana said. “He’s technically trained and gets creative. I’m the finesse, Tyler is the brain and Daniel is the brawn. That’s why it works.” Whether the team is dishing up menu items in the fast casual restaurant, catering events from large to small, selling its renowned pimento cheese at Farmer’s Markets or behind the wheel of the truck, work it does. The restaurant’s Deviled Eggs are a tasty twist on a beloved picnic favorite. They come in three varieties: Artichoke & Feta, Sweet & Sour Pickles and Traditional and are so good they’d make grandma jealous. But, they’re not to be outdone by the Fried Green Tomatoes with herbed goat cheese and cider vinegar glaze. The zingy goodness of these tart green tomatoes balances effortlessly with the sweet cornmeal breading, rich goat cheese topping and herby freshness. Entrees like the Pulled Pork & Grits exemplify the modern Southern menu, showcasing all the best tastes about living in the South in one dish. The super tender eight-hour smoked pork shoulder is served on a heaping pile of stone ground bacon cheddar grits and topped with spicy ranch, BBQ sauce and chives. It’s lip-smacking, finger-licking fare that will have you wanting more. If burgers are more your speed, the Pimento Cheese Burger comes in a single or double size on a Holeman & Finch bun. Choose your pimento cheese from among the flavors on the wall and get your fixings on the side. These perfectly seasoned certified Angus beef burgers are juicy and delicious (even though served well done — who knew that was possible?!) and make for the perfect lunch break from your busy day. Before you leave, be sure to grab a to go container of one of the popular pimento cheese flavors — the classicly mild Original, the smoky Pepperjack Poblano or the spicy Jalapeño Bacon — so you can take a little bit of FAB yumminess home with you. Though, trust us, you’ll be back soon!

The Pimento Cheese Burger is a juicy certified Angus beef patty covered with your choice of pimento cheese.

information www.freckledandblue.com info@freckledandblue.com Call-Ahead Ordering: 678-214-5564 Freckled & Blue Kitchen 4585 S Cobb Dr SE Ste 100 Smyrna, GA 30080 March 2015 Cobb Life

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UNIQUE

WORKOUTS Not for resolutionaries Looking for a fresh take on the old workout routine? Feeling the motivation from that New Year’s resolution wearing off? These days, there’s an exercise option for just about any person or preference, so there’s never a need to feel uninspired by your training. Whether you’re looking for accessible and low impact or high energy and intense, we’ve rounded up four new fitness alternatives that will have you in beach body shape faster than you can say, “bathing suit season.” Photography by Shanda Crowe By Meredith Pruden

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HOT YOGA

Ann Marie DePasquale participates in “Be hot basic” at Be Yoga in Marietta.

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Far left, Ingrid Munoz pauses in a yoga pose during a class at Be Yoga in Marietta. Left, Erin Beadle gets into position during the class.

HOT YOGA A relatively new practice, as compared to more traditional yoga that dates back to at least the sixth century BCE, hot yoga is practiced in a heated room to detoxify the body, enhance flexibility and deeper poses, and mimic the environmental conditions found in India (the birthplace of yoga). At Be Yoga on Marietta Square, this means their Hot Vinyasa Yoga, Hot Power Yoga and Warm Yin Yoga classes are held in a 95-degree room where students

can expect to move and work the body in places often untouched by other forms of exercise in an easygoing and friendly environment, according to owner Julie Eubanks. While anyone can practice yoga, hot yoga isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for everybody, but benefits include increased muscle strength and tone, improved posture, concentration, balance, lower blood pressure and a calmer more focused mind. Now get out there and sweat it out!

Be Yoga Atlanta 105 Church St., Marietta 30064 404.642.1877 www.beyogaatlanta.com

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BARRE Originating in 1959 when an injured British dancer merged her physical therapy with her ballet training, barre fitness is a low impact exercise routine designed to give you a dancer’s physique by combining the elements of ballet, yoga and pilates into one effective workout that anyone can do. Barre workouts can vary by studio and instructor, but all use bodyweight as resistance to burn fat and build muscle with a series of isometric holds, controlled and dynamic movements and, of course, a ballet class style barre. No tutu required.

Caroline Tezza participates in “Be hot basic” at Be Yoga.

Barre3 The Avenues | 4475 Roswell Rd., Marietta 30062 770.726.0839 | www.barre3.com

The Bar Method 1281 Johnson Ferry Rd., Marietta 30068 770.578.4655 | www.atlanta-eastcobb.barmethod.com

TRX SUSPENSION TRAINING Developed by a former Navy Seal as a way to keep in shape when deployed, TRX Suspension Training uses a systems of straps, gravity and your own weight to perform exercises that will improve flexibility, strength and balance by suspending all (or part) of the body. There are literally hundreds of different multi motion exercises in the TRX arsenal, and each of them can be be modified by simply changing the length or angle of the straps, which makes 255 Village Pkwy. this high intensity Ste. 240 workout suitable for Marietta 30067 all fitness levels and 678.234.0202 ages — even bubblewww.pilatestutor.com gummers straight out of bootcamp.

Pilates Tutor

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ORANGE THEORY FITNESS Since launching in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in 2010, Orangetheory Fitness has swept the country and become something of a phenomenon with its 60-minute, five zone, heart-rate-based interval training. The concept, based on a heart-rate-monitored personal group fitness workout approach, is designed to maintain a target heart zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy using a variety of equipment, including treadmills, rowing machines, free weights and more. Tens of thousands of fitness enthusiasts have witnessed firsthand its myriad benefits, such as more energy, visible toning and an extra calorie burn for up to 36 hours post workout. Never quite the same workout on any two visits, one thing that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t change is it never takes longer than an hour â&#x20AC;&#x201D; making it a great fit for busy schedules.

East Cobb

1401 Johnson Ferry Rd. Ste. 320 Marietta 30062 678.920.9455

West Cobb 3600 Dallas Hwy. Ste. 100 Marietta 30064 770.876.4339

www.orangetheoryfitness.com

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CAMINO REAL World Premiere of ballet by Helen Pickett at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre

By Stacey L. Evans Photography by Shanda Crowe

We all search for connection. To a person, to a place, to a moment. And we all have moments of struggling with ‘good’ and ‘bad,’ especially when in pursuit of our dreams. Tennessee Williams was a master of telling emotionally-charged stories, and his play “Camino Real” is no exception. It has love, pain, the struggle between good and evil, rich and poor, and the underlying desperation often aroused by it all. The play was a minor success on Broadway in 1953, and had several revivals since the ’70s. But for the first time ever, it will be presented in ballet form, from March 20 to 22 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The performance is the vision of Helen Pickett, the Atlanta Ballet’s resident choreographer. Pickett was intrigued by Williams’ play when she first read it several years ago. “It has all these characters from literature and that completely blew me away,” she said. But the play was a bit difficult to grasp at first, she admitted. She put the book away, but couldn’t quite let it go. So a year later she tackled it again. “It started to make me think, and whenever I think, I’m interested,” she said. “[It was] making me curious to the point I had to figure it out.” “Camino Real” is told from the perspective of its hero Kilroy, a character based on patriotic iconography from the WWII-era. He embodies hope, courage and honor. The main antagonist, Gutman, is a tyrannical man who controls Camino Real, the fictional setting of the play. The “city” is divided by class; one side of the stage illustrates the ritzy side, and the other the poor, run-down section. Its residents are more or less trapped there, and both sides long to escape. The story depicts everyday struggles, loss, betrayal, unfulfillment and desire for a better life. But there are moments of happiness and beauty, especially in the love scenes. “With the lovers Marguerite and Jacques you have old love, and then you have Esmerelda and Kilroy, which is this new budding love that’s only happening out of a need to connect to somebody, because we all have that need. I’m really trying to bring that home in this play — the need to connect is in us all,” said Pickett.

Even Gutman has that desire, which is shown in a poignant scene. “In every person lives evil and tenderness and good,” said Pickett. “None of us are one thing. We all have the capacity for both.” Pickett decided to include some spoken dialogue in the ballet to help audience members unfamiliar with Williams’ work better understand the story. “Normally as dancers we tell the story with our bodies, which this will be too, but we take it a step further and are vocal,” said dancer Pedro Gamino. “It’s not a play and not a ballet, it’s like a fusion of the two.” The ballet will also be somewhat of a fusion in dance styles, not a “typical” traditional ballet. “My idea of normal ballet is certainly not in the realm of what others think of normal ballet,” said Pickett. “I was classically trained, but with my theatre background and my professional background, I saw what dance performance could be and my whole idea of ballet kind of split open. I realized we are the only people making confines on what is called modern dance. So I’m more of the mind that in this day and age it has to be more of a fusion. I love pointe work and I won’t give that up, but because I know what pointe work can be — it can be edgy, it can be off-balance, it can be low — that’s my version of ballet.” Dancer Sara Havener said audience members can expect big, dramatic movements that express the overall mood many characters feel: desperation. “It’s basically a craziness that [the characters] feel,” she said. “When everyone is dancing together it’s an exciting movement, but also there is a lot of acting and story portrayal.” The intensity of the dance, along with the lines peppered throughout, what Pickett calls the ‘evocative spice,’ will really connect the audience with the characters and the story, she said. Patrons will find many moments to relate to,

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From left, Atlanta Ballet dancers Alexandre Barros of Smyrna, Sara Havener of Smyrna and Pedro Gamino of Mableton have some fun on stage at the Cobb Energy Performance Art Centre before practice.

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said Pickett. She points to a scene depicting a drunken character as an example. “In this scene I was telling them to get out of the ballet pose — it’s pulling more of the individual out to make this more tangible so you, me, as an audience are going to say, ‘oh, I could be in that picture.’ It feels very attainable,” said Pickett. Dancer Alexandre Barros said Pickett has devoted a lot of time to character development, especially with the dancers who have dialogue. “It’s not just about saying it, it’s conveying what the character really means. She has also given the dancers

a chance to make it their own. They are becoming that character, so they can dance and speak how their character would,” said Barros. Perhaps what makes “Camino Real” so intriguing is that it has the power to touch people in a variety of ways. “It’s not cut so black and white,” said Havener. “There is a story, but at the same time there is a lot of room for interpretation, which makes it interesting. Human nature is we want to have a better life and escape reality, but a lot of times we are just talk versus actually taking risks and going for what we really want. That’s what I got from it.”

Above, a miniature version of the planned set for “Camino Real.” Above left, Helen Pickett instructs dancers during a practice.

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Pedro Gamino (Mableton resident) Pedro Gamino, a San Franciso native, grew up playing soccer and baseball. His parents encouraged him to also try dance, and a year of classes cemented his love for the art. “My parents were first generation Mexican-Americans who didn’t have a whole lot of opportunities, so they tried to give my sister and I as many opportunities by experience as possible,” he said. This is his fifth season with the Atlanta Ballet. In “Camino Real” he plays Lord Byron. “He’s an individualist. He doesn’t really live by anyone’s rules. He’s the one that chooses to leave, and if you leave Camino Real in any way — you don’t come back.” Sara Havener (Smyrna resident) This is the premiere season with the Atlanta Ballet for North Carolina native Sara Havener. She began jazz and tap at age 5, but was drawn more to ballet after her first class. “I just loved the simpleness of it, but it was the most challenging,” she said. “That’s what I liked most, that it was constantly challenging me.” She says her role as a market woman in “Camino Real” speaks to the overall theme of the play. “They want to get out but they can’t, they are too afraid to. Some of them become comfortable where they are, even though they are miserable and depressed. My character is from skid row and she doesn’t have much money. She slinks around and wants attention from all the boys. She isn’t really happy, but isn’t really unhappy. At one point she tries to escape but doesn’t make it , so I think a part of her wants more, wants to get out, wants freedom, but another part of her is content with being miserable.” Alexandre Barros (Smyrna resident) Barros first became interested in dance in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when he accompanied his sister to ballet classes. “They changed her class time to night and Rio is not very safe, so my mom said ‘go with her. ‘ I was a skinny boy and they said ‘you should come to class.’ So I did one, and three, and five times and never stopped,” said Barros. He joined Atlanta Ballet in 2011. In “Camino Real,” he portrays one of two guards. “We do Gutman’s dirty work,” he said. “We are pushing people out of the way and making sure he has a clear path. Everyone is scared of him.” INFORMATION: The world premiere of Camino Real will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre March 20 to 22. See showtimes and buy tickets at www.atlantaballet.com. March 2015 Cobb Life

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FAMILY BUSINESSES

An organization, no matter how well designed, is only as good as the people who live and work in it. - American businessman Dee Hock

For Cobbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second, third and, even, fourth-generation family-owned businesses, this quote rings true. To stay in business, grow your company and survive economic downturns and massive shifts in technology are just part of the challenge. Meet ten Cobb family-owned businesses who are meeting that challenge.

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EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE: Cobb County is fortunate to have hundreds of multigenerational family businesses. These are just a handful of the many success stories. In the years to come, we look forward to highlighting even more family companies that have called Cobb home for generations. If you know one we should feature in future issues, drop us a note at mmaguire@cobblifemagazine.com.

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FAMILY BUSINESSES

Retired CEO of R.F. Knox Fred Knox of Marietta, and his son and current President of R.F. Knox, Jack Knox.

Masters of Metal

R.F. Knox Co. has made high-quality metalwork since 1914 “Even though we are a 101-year-old company, our employees bring so much enthusiasm it feels like being at a startup,” says Jack A. Knox, president of R.F. Knox Co. The Smyrna-based metal contractor, which got its start way back in 1914, is known across the Southeast for fabricating and installing HVAC ductwork for big commercial projects such as the Georgia Dome, Peachtree Plaza, the Atlanta Merchandise Mart and the Georgia World Congress Center. It also handles a wide variety of custom projects— handrails, signs, weathervanes, elevator doors, wall accents and more made from decorative metals such as bronze, brass, copper and mirrored stainless steel.

“Our architectural and ornamental portfolio includes work for the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Zoo, the Atlanta Falcon’s Owner’s Club at the Georgia Dome, and even the very sturdy cages for a gorilla sanctuary near Blue Ridge,” Jack says. Having begun his apprenticeship in 1890, Jack’s great-grandfather Robert Fletcher Knox co-founded the company with partner J.J. Maier in 1914. In the early days, R.F. would ride Atlanta streetcars with a smudge pot in one hand and a foldup ladder in the other, Jack says. “Air conditioning had only just been invented, so he spent his early years working on jobs involving things like stovepipe,

By Joel Groover Photography by Sam Bennett

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fascia, slate roofing and boiler breeching stacks,” he explains. The company, which tackles up to 2,500 projects each year, started on Marietta Street and then moved to what is now Ralph McGill Boulevard in 1946. It relocated to its present location in Smyrna in 1974. How has R.F. Knox Co. managed to stay in business for more than a century? Jack points to generations of dedicated employees, not just to his forefathers. (In the 1960s, Jack’s grandfather John D. Knox oversaw strong growth of the company’s HVAC business. Fred Knox, Jack’s father, served as president from 1969 to 2007.) “This isn’t about the Knox family,” Jack says. “It’s about our employees and what they have done and allowed this company to do.” During the financial crisis after 2008, a backlog of projects for expanding clients such as WellStar Health System, Piedmont Hospital and Northside Hospital helped R.F. Knox Co. survive, Jack says. Of late, the company has kept busy with work for Kaiser Permanente, Northside, Emory University Hospital, WellStar and Baxter Pharmaceutical, to name a few. “We continue to be blessed with good work in the health care, technology, pharmaceutical, and higher education market sectors,” Jack says. “Our employees are energetic and excited about these new opportunities.” R.F. Knox Co. was the Cox Century Winner in the 2014 Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards, sponsored by the Cox Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University. “We were very proud to receive the recognition,” Jack says. “We have very low turnover, with quite a few employees who have been with us for 15 or 20 years, or even more. That gives us a strong sense of being, not just a family-run business, but one big family as well.”

R.F. KNOX CO.

Metal contractor President: Jack A. Knox Number of employees: 320 Years in business: Founded in 1914 4865 Martin Court Southeast, Smyrna, GA 30082 770.434.7401

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FULL SPEED AHEAD The Pugmire family grows business into three car dealerships and insurance agency since 1960 By Jennifer Hafer Photography by Shanda Crowe

There’s an old adage about family-owned businesses: The first generation builds it; the second generation maintains it; and the third generation blows it. Not so, in the case of the Pugmire family. “I don’t know if there is a secret to running a successful family-owned business,” said Austin Pugmire, a third-generation car dealer. “It’s been easy for us because Dad has allowed me to really take the reins and lead and manage my way. He always encouraged my ideas and desires to do different things.” Along with his dad, Richard, Austin co-owns Pugmire Lincoln Mercury of Marietta, Pugmire Ford of Cartersville and Pugmire Ford of Carrollton. And, just this year, they opened the Pugmire Agency, a full-line, full-service Allstate insurance agency, which operates out of the Marietta location with an office in Cartersville. His sister, Helen Pugmire Skipper, joined the

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FAMILY BUSINESSES A father himself, Austin said he’ll follow the example his dad set and won’t push or press his three daughters into the car business, but he concedes “fourth-generation family business” has a nice ring to it. “I’ve had the opportunity to carry on a name that’s been in Atlanta for 55 years that people know,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade the decision to come into the car business for anything.”

PUGMIRE FORD, PUGMIRE LINCOLN, THE PUGMIRE AGENCY Specialty/area of focus: Automotive sales, service, parts, collision repair, and insurance sales and service CEO/President: Richard and Austin Pugmire Number of employees: 77 Years in business: 55 1865 Cobb Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060 770.952.2261; www.pugmire.com

Austin Pugmire, Helen Pugmire Skipper and Richard Pugmire outside of the Cobb Parkway location of their family-owned Lincoln auto dealership in Marietta.

ranks of the family business about a year ago. “My dad never pushed me growing up or even encouraged me growing up to be in the car business,” Austin recalled. “I wanted to be in the timber business, and after graduating with a master’s degree, I was a timber buyer for three years.” It was Austin’s grandfather, John Pugmire, who started the business in Atlanta in 1960. The current facility on Cobb Parkway was built in 1973. Though his previous career of timber buyer allowed him much more time to pursue his hobbies of hunting and fishing, a desire to carry on his family’s legacy proved too powerful an urge to resist. “I started growing a greater appreciation for what my dad and grandfather had done and realized it’s all gonna stop with my dad if I don’t do something about it,” he said. “I joined the company in 2002, and worked my way up through the ranks from sales to sales manager to general manager five years ago.” Family businesses fight long odds to become legacies. Only about 30 percent of family businesses survive into the second generation, 12 percent are still viable into the third generation and only about 3 percent of all family businesses operate into the fourth generation or beyond. “The best thing about being involved in a family business is having the opportunity to expand a business that my grandfather started, that dad built, and then he and I together have been able to further,” Austin said. “My greatest joy though is getting to work with him.” March 2015 Cobb Life

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Multi-generation motoring

From left, Becky Diemer (Calvin’s mother, secretary and treasurer), Calvin Diemer (president and owner), and Daniel Diemer (general manager), of Day’s Chevrolet in Acworth.

By Jennifer Hafer Photography by Shanda Crowe

very day Daniel Diemer goes to work with people he loves. In fact, he’s carrying on a family tradition that dates back to his great-grandfather. “My great-grandfather started the business with his son-in-law,” said Diemer, the fourth generation owner of Day’s Chevrolet in Acworth. “They bought an existing dealership and moved to Acworth from Smyrna in 1959.” Today, the Diemers own and operate the Acworth dealership, as well as another Chevy dealership in Jasper and a pre-owned supercenter in Rockmart. “At the time my grandfather bought the dealership he was working at Lockheed,” Diemer said, “but he had bought and sold cars along the way, so he was somewhat familiar with the car business. He and his son-in-law wanted to go into business for themselves and that is the opportunity that came along.” Like most multi-generational family-owned businesses, Diemer began working at the dealership at a young age washing cars. As he got older, he worked in everything from the parts department to the service department, learning the business from the ground up. “The good thing about working with family is we get to spend a lot of time together,” he

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FAMILY BUSINESSES DAY’S CHEVROLET OF ACWORTH, DAY’S CHEVROLET OF JASPER, DAY’S PRE-OWNED SUPERCENTER, ROCKMART Specialty/area of focus: Car sales CEO/President: Calvin Diemer, president of company; Andrew Diemer, dealer/operator, Jasper; Daniel Diemer, dealer/operator, Acworth Number of employees: 165 Years in business: 56 3693 Cobb Pkwy NW, Acworth, GA 30101 770.974.4242; www.dayschevrolet.com said. “The bad thing about working with family is, we get to spend a lot of time together.” Today, Diemer works alongside his younger brother Andrew, his father Calvin and his grandmother Becky, who serves as the co-office manager. “I enjoy being able to work with my family and see them every day,” he said. “I think we’ve been fortunate for all the generations; everyone has had a pretty good work ethic and certainly didn’t mind working hard. We all get along and there’s good communication between all of us.” Earning degrees in family business

from Auburn University, Diemer said he and his brother always intended to stick with the family business. “We grew up in this business,” he said. “We watched our dad and uncle do it, and we just kind of followed in their footsteps.” As for a fifth generation of Diemers in the family business, only time will tell. “I have a son that is 10 months old, and my brother has a son that is 16 months old, so it’s a little early to say,” Diemer said. “But, I think it would be a great story, and it would be fun to see our family business continue.”

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FAMILY BUSINESSES

the Futren Way

Mitch Rhoden followed father’s footsteps in club management and development company

Mitch Rhoden can still remember those days workWoodland Hills Golf Club, and The Orchard Golf and Country Club. ing on the grounds crew at the Indian Hills Country Today, the family-owned business continues to be a leader in the Club in Marietta. There was a greater purpose behind club management and development business throughout Georgia, the time the 12-year-old logged on the Florida and North Carolina. “We learn something new fairways in the hot Georgia sun. It was every day,” Mitch says. “In a family business, it is nice By Michael J. Pallerino all a learning process. The grounds to talk to the guy (today, Jim serves as chairman) who Photo by Shanda Crowe started it over 40 years ago, and discuss your ideas and crew job would be the first of many the future president and CEO of the Futren initiatives. Often times, a new idea is something that has Corporation worked on his way to been tried before. By having these conversations, and learning the family business from his father. having the continuity that comes from a family business, you can, Jim Rhoden started the Futren Corporation, a club hopefully, avoid making the same mistakes more than once.” management and development company, in 1971, One of the foundations the Rhodens have always taken in their after working as an asset manager for a local bank approach to the business is to treat their employees as family, a that owned Indian Hills. The Tallahassee, Fla., native decision that has proved wildly successful across every aspect of the eventually purchased Indian Hills with limited partners business. “We take the family approach in each area of our busiin 1977, paving the way for the acquisition and develness,” Mitch says. “We spend a significant amount of time working opment of an impressive portfolio of metro Georgia on and talking about our corporate culture – both at the clubs and at clubs and facilities, including The Georgian Club, The the corporate office.” Ashford Club, Brookstone Golf and Country Club, For example, during training sessions, Mitch reminds his managers not to get bogged down in the overwhelming scope of HR rules and Cobb Life March 2015

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regulations. Every employee, up and down the chain, is to be treated as family. “Of course we follow the guidelines, but I tell our managers that if they treat our employees and prospective employees like family members, they don’t have anything to worry about. We are lucky to have so many incredible people in our organization. They are the ones who make our company successful.” In a business model committed to customer service, Futren enjoys a reputation of excellence, customer service, and commitment toward its members and customers. It all starts with its family approach to the business. “The key to our success is people. It sounds like the standard corporate line, but it’s true. You can feel the vibe of the staff when you walk into a restaurant or club. If you have a group of unhappy folks working there, it shows in everything they do. We certainly don’t get things right 100 percent of the time, but we recognize that the success of our company depends on the people who are there day in and day out making it happen. We try to make sure they know they are important and appreciated.” Along with having a father, Jim serves as chairman today, committed to showing him the ropes; Mitch also attributes some of his learning to his military background. The Marine Corps vet says that while Futren and The Marine Corps have very different missions, they both required people committed to the task at hand. “The leadership lessons that stand out are leading by example, don’t ask people to do what you’re not willing to do, and never forget who the important people are. If you take care of them, they will take care of the rest. We are blessed to have a very seasoned senior leadership team, who, along with my father and me are responsible for running the company. If something happened to us, they could run the business.”

And while Jim and Mitch still hold the day-to-day leadership roles, like his father before him, Mitch gives a lot of credit to the ones behind the scenes. “I give my mother a lot of credit for the success of the business, especially in the early days. Like my wife does now for me today, she provided my dad with ‘unfiltered’ feedback regarding decisions that were important to the business. Having someone to discuss things with, especially someone that looks at things differently than you do is important.” Does the father of three boys see the Rhoden legacy carrying on? “Who knows if one of them will decide to come into the business or not,” Mitch says. “I can tell that the future looks bright. We are blessed to have our largest business operations here in Cobb County. We all know about the many great things that are happening and will continue to happen here. Our county, region and state are growing, and that is good for all of us. Our goal is to continue to do the best job we can for our customers and our team members, which we call The Futren Family.”

FUTREN CORPORATION Specialty/area of Focus: Private country clubs and business dining clubs President and CEO: Mitch Rhoden No. of Employees: Approximately 200 Years in Business: 44 1985 North Park Place Atlanta, GA 30339-2004 770.953.1225; www.futren.com March 2015 Cobb Life

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FAMILY BUSINESSES

Recipe for

success Second and third generation owners of Old South Bar-B-Q blend tradition with new forays in business By Jennifer Hafer n Photography by Shanda Crowe

The directions to Old South Bar-B-Q are simple, according to second-generation owner Bruce Llewallyn: When you get to Smyrna, roll down your window and follow the smell. “Our Brunswick stew is the best in Georgia,” Llewallyn said. “We’ve won the title for the last three years in a row without even entering the contest.”

It was a recipe handed down by Llewallyn’s grandmother and perfected by his mother, he said. In fact, his grandmother used to pass out quarts of her Brunswick stew to homeless people around town, known in her time as “hobos.” From left, Rex, Joy and Bruce Llewallyn, siblings and owners of Old South Bar-B-Q.

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“It looked horrible to me as a kid, so I never would eat it,” Llewallyn recalled. “When I finally tasted it, I thought of all the Brunswick stew I had been missing all my life.” Old South Bar-B-Q is Smyrna’s oldest restaurant and is still housed in the single-family home Llewallyn’s parents, Helen and Jim, converted into the restaurant back in 1968. In fact, patrons of the establishment sit at the same wooden tables and in the same wooden booths Jim Llewallyn built by hand. “My parents would host neighborhood barbecues around a pit in our backyard, and the neighbors would say, ‘you oughta open a restaurant,” Llewallyn said. “So, my dad, who was an advertising director, just quit his job and built the restaurant.” Forty-eight years later, second-generation operators Llewallyn and five of his siblings work alongside the first third-generation owner, a nephew, Keith Hayes. “There were seven children in our family, and we were just always a close knit type family,” Llewallyn said. “We just love and trust each other.” Boasting the “best of everything,” Llewallyn said they smoke their barbecue for 12 to 16 hours, depending on the cut, and offer eye of the round beef and Boston butts. The

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From left, Karla, Rex, Ginger and Bruce Llewallyn. Below, Joy Llewallyn takes an order at Old South Bar-B-Q.

original sauce is his mother’s recipe, but the sweeter version was a creation of the second-generation owners. “You can’t have a bad day; every plate that goes out or sandwich that we make, it’s like we’re making it for our own family,” Llewallyn said. “If all of us didn’t think we had the best barbecue around we would have just closed it.” With plans to start operating a food truck this year, and more third- and even fourth-generation owners waiting in the wings, the fires of Old South Bar-B-Q’s open pit are expected to burn hot for many years to come. “We just hope the restaurant will keep going,” Llewallyn said. “Keeping it going is a great tribute to my mother and father.”

OLD SOUTH BAR-B-Q

Specialty: Barbecue and Brunswick stew Owners: Rex Llewallyn, Bruce Llewallyn, Joy Llewallyn, Danny Llewallyn and Keith Hayes Years in business: 48 years Number of employees: 19 601 Burbank Circle, Smyrna, GA 30080 770.435.4215

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From left, Jason Wallace of Acworth, Eric Wallace of Dallas, Cecilia Wallace of Acworth, Jay Wallace of Acworth, Nick Wallace of Acworth, Emily Wallace of Dallas and Jackson Wallace, 9 months.

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FAMILY BUSINESSES

By Michael J. Pallerino Photography by Sam Bennett

Adventure Outdoors meets Storage Wars It was “Storage Wars” before the hit A&E show was even a twinkle in its producers’ eyes. In 1977, Jay Wallace and his brother, David, would buy items from auctions and lost freight — everything from paperback books, stereo equipment, musical equipment, tools and miscellaneous household items. The business, Scavenger’s Nest, was located in the Belmont Hills Shopping Center in Smyrna. Two years later, the brothers opened Smyrna Pawn Brokers in Jonquil Plaza in Smyrna. A year later it moved to its current location on what now is Windy Hill Road (it was Cherokee Road then). It was that second business, Smyrna Pawn Brokers,

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that got the Wallace family — Jay and his wife, Cecilia, and their sons, Eric, Jay and Nicholas — involved in the firearms business. That eventually paved the way for two other businesses, Adventure Outdoors (sporting goods and firearms) and Smyrna Police Distributors (law enforcement firearms supplier). Today, Adventure Outdoors is the expanded version of their business — the 80,000-square-foot facility on South Cobb Drive includes a shooting range, Remington Cafe and a large banquet facility called Remington Hall. Employing between 100-115 people, the familyowned business has more than 15,000 firearms in its

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The Wallace Family: From left, Eric, Cecilia and Jay, Nick, Emily and her son Jackson.

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FAMILY BUSINESSES inventory. Close to half a million people visit the store each year. Adventure Outdoors is a true Wallace family endeavor. In 1991, when David decided to retire, Jay, who now serves as president and CEO, purchased his portion of the business. After the buyout, Jay’s wife, Cecilia, a nurse at Smyrna Hospital, became more involved in the business. As time went on, their three sons, Eric, Jason and Nicholas, began to work in the stores. Eric, the oldest, manages the Adventure Outdoors location, Jason, the middle son, manages the Smyrna Pawn Brokers location, while Nicholas, the youngest, manages Smyrna Police Distributers. Nicholas’ wife, Emily, also works in the business as the human resources manager. “One of the most obvious benefits is that the family is always interacting and communicating,” Cecilia says. “Another is that the family has the opportunity to set their own goals. We’ve created three different businesses, whereby giving each son an opportunity to accomplish and succeed while each business is indirectly tied and is mutually beneficial. With each member of the family running their own entity, there is an innate aspiration for each department to succeed. As long as each family member puts in the effort to look out for the customers and employees, the business will continue to prosper.” One of the key tenants to its success is Adventure Outdoors’ commitment to the community. The brand’s mark can be seen in its sponsorship of a Boy Scout troop, The Venture Scouts, and its commitment to its Christian faith in organizations such as Truth in Nature, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The store is also involved with shooting sports functions such as Friends of NRA, Safari Club International, Ducks Unlimited, Buckmasters, Hunting for Heroes, National Wild Turkey Federation, American Firearms Retail Association, Sports Inc., the National Shooting Sports Foundation and American Firearms Retail Association (AFRA). The Wallace family also has made a commitment to teaching the respect and safety practices involved with owning a firearm. For example, it hosts a complimentary firearm safety course the first Saturday of each month. On the last Saturday of each month, there is a basic pistol course offered, which gives our customers range time with an instructor. “This gives our patrons an opportunity to learn the basic safety functions of a firearm,” Jay says. “While we hope that customers never have to be put in a situation where they are in danger, we do want them to prepared and be able to protect themselves. Giving our patrons the means to defend themselves and their families is a great success.” As for the future, the Wallace family will continue to educate Cobb residents who are interested in firearms and firearm safety. “We will continue to be politically active and support this country’s Second Amendment rights,” Jay says. “Future plans consist of the expansion of Smyrna Police Distributers and Smyrna Pawn Brokers. As far as expanding capabilities and opportunities for Adventure Outdoors, our family will trust in the Lord and let him lead us in the right direction.”

ADVENTURE OUTDOORS, SMYRNA PAWN BROKERS, SMYRNA POLICE DISTRIBUTORS

Specialty/area of focus: Shooting Sports Retailer CEO/President: Jay Wallace Number of employees: 113 Years in business: 38 South Cobb Plaza Shopping Center, 2500 S Cobb Dr, Smyrna, GA 30080 770.333.9880; www.adventureoutdoors.us

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POWER

STEERING Family tradition continues to drive the Voyles business By LaTria Garnigan | Photography by Jennie Farnsworth

Keeping it “all in the family” is the motto, said Valery Voyles, chair and CEO of the Ed Voyles Automotive Group. For more than 60 years, the Voyles name has been a well-established and recognizable moniker in the automotive industry. What began as one dealership has now branched off into eight franchises under six roofs. Brands include Honda, Hyundai, Acura, KIA, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. All of the operations are headed out of their main location on Cobb Parkway in Marietta. While Valery serves at the helm of the family business — which she assumed after her father’s death — her brothers Bill and Ben are also highly involved as executive vice presidents. Ben and Bill have always worked for the business, starting in the parts department when they were teenagers. “They worked in the family business throughout high school and came to work here shortly after graduating from college,” Valery said. After a five-year modeling career and then staying home to raise her children, Valery joined the company and has been involved for almost 30 years. She said it was no secret she and her brothers would eventually follow in their father’s footsteps. “I truly love the car business and all it includes,” said Valery. “They [brothers] nor my father ever had any other expectation. We all knew that we would be running the business someday.”

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FAMILY BUSINESSES Even though the second generation is in control now, not much has changed with business operation. The same set of principles instilled by her father are still being implemented today, said Valery. “With some new faces and changes made in the senior management of the organization, there have been a few policy and procedure changes, but not many,” she said. “My father always ran the business lean and we have continued to do so. Our organization has weathered many storms in the 65 years we have been in business, but by staying lean we have managed to come through relatively unscathed.” The Voyles’ have managed to keep the family feel with their business, even as it has expanded throughout the years. Valery said one of the most important aspects of their business is the commitment to their customers, the community and employees. “We feel our niche is our longevity, little employee turnover and the ability to have lasting, real relationships with our customers,” she said. “Our organization/owners are extremely involved in the Cobb County community and we are major contributors to many [local] charities and organizations.” She added taking care of customers and employees has helped the business compete successfully. Part of that success includes a list of accolades, some of which are — in June 2005 the Ed and Dora Voyles Breast Health Center was named after Valery’s parents thanks to a donation from the estate to St. Joseph’s Breast Health Center; in 2012 Valery was named the Georgia nominee for the TIME Magazine Dealer of the Year award; Ed Voyles Honda has received the President’s Award by American Honda Motors for 2005, 2006 and 2008; in 2013 the business won the Sam Olens Business Community Service Award for service

to the community. While Valery and her brothers are all in executive roles, she said not all of the children in the family will continue on that path. However, she is gearing up for a few up-andcomers who are preparing for roles within the organization. “We look forward to welcoming them into the family business,” she said.

ED VOYLES AUTOMOTIVE GROUP Specialty: Automotive sales CEO/Chair: Valery Voyles Employees: about 600 Years in business: 60 plus 2103 Cobb Pkwy., Marietta, GA 30067 770.951.2211 www.edvoyles.com

Call for A FREE Consultation March 2015 Cobb Life

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FAMILY BUSINESSES By LaTria Garnigan

Special photos

From left, Charles Bronner, James Bronner, Nathaniel Bronner Jr., Bishop Dale C. Bronner, Bernard Bronner and mother Robbie Bronner.

Bronner Bros. maintains an international presence in the beauty and hair care industry

What began as a means of teaching cosmetology to African-American students at the Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta has evolved into an internationally-known hair care and beauty empire. One could say the name Bronner Bros. is as synonymous with the metro region as Coca-Cola and Chick-fil-A. In 1947, it started with a few students and an attendance of 300 for the first trade show. The Marietta-based company has now morphed into beauty products, worship centers, a magazine and now the Bronner Bros. International Beauty Show is the largest multicultural trade show in the U.S. The show has attracted many renowned speakers, including Jackie Robinson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Benjamin Mays, according to James Bronner,

senior vice president of trade show operations. Distribution for the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products reaches 50 states and they are available in retail outlets where African-American beauty products are sold. The company ships out 59 skews in its retail line and about 20 in its professional line each year. In addition to James, the second generation-led company includes Bernard Bronner, president and CEO; Nathaniel Bronner, executive vice president and Charles Bronner, purchasing director.

BRONNER BROS.

Specialty: Hair care President/CEO: Bernard Bronner Employees: 100 Years in business: 68 2141 Powers Ferry Road Marietta, GA 30067 770.988.0015 www.bronnerbros.com

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Family and faith are the foundation of the company, with its empire featuring two worship centers — The Word of Faith Family Worship Center and The Ark of Salvation Worship Center. Maintaining a business throughout changing times in the beauty industry can be challenging, but James said they have managed to meet those challenges head on. “As times have changed we have not changed our values and that has given us stability,” he said. “But we do respond to the changes in the industry with new products. The other key to our longevity has been proper planning and training for future generations. We are now training the third generation just as we were trained by the first generation.” Among recent changes has been the rise of African-American women wearing their hair in its natural state, sans chemical relaxers. As a hair care company, James said Bronner Bros. has managed to transform with the industry needs and has created several lines for naturals. Those lines include 4Naturals, Tropical Roots and Isabella’s Own. “We have maintained a standard of natural importance with our customers,” said James. “We have not stopped the process of creating new products and enhancing the natural selection of the company. Not to mention, the majority of our original product line is for natural hair — SuperGro, Castor Oil and Pump It Up.” Even though the company has grown leaps and bounds throughout the decades, being a family-owned business has helped in maintaining a unique voice in the industry, said James. Recent accolades include the Legacy Award at the 2014 Trumpet Awards, Kennesaw State University’s Family Business of the Year award and the WalMart Minority Vendor of the Year award.

James Bronner, senior vice president of trade show operations.

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FAMILY BUSINESSES

From left, manager Scott Taylor, owner Martha Wallace Taylor, owner Mickey Taylor and manager Mark Taylor at their family-owned restaurant Wallace Barbecue. / Photo by Shanda Crowe

ALPHA TRAVEL

For All of Your Travel Needs

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A taste

for business

Family harmony and a special sauce are secrets of Wallace Barbecue success

FAMILY BUSINESSES WALLACE BARBECUE

Specialty: Pit-cooked beef and pork barbecue to Brunswick stew and such Southern staples as ribs, chicken, hotdogs, hamburgers and steaks Owners: Mickey and Martha Taylor Number of employees: 32 Years in business: Old Hickory, 1947; Wallace, 1966 3035 Veterans’ Memorial Highway, Austell, GA 30168 770.739.1686

By Jennifer Hafer Sure there’s a secret sauce, but there’s more to the success of Wallace Barbecue than just family tradition. “I love keeping the history of the restaurant going,” said Scott Taylor, a third-generation proprietor of the Austell eatery. “I love seeing the customers who say they ate with our grandfather in the ’40s and ’50s in Atlanta, and they’re still eating with us today.” Specializing in everything from pit-cooked beef and pork barbecue to Brunswick stew and such Southern staples as ribs, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and steaks, Wallace Barbecue traces its roots to Old Hickory Barbecue, started by current owner Martha Wallace, Scott Taylor’s father, Winton Wallace, and uncle, Willie Wallace. The restaurant moved to Cobb County in 1966, when Taylor’s older brother, Gerald Wallace, opened Wallace Barbecue in a small home in Austell. Martha and her husband, Mickey, took over ownership of the business in 1972, and moved the restaurant about a block north of its original location in June 1988. “We have always been a close, close family,” Taylor said. “I’ve always enjoyed working with the boys.” Scott, along with his youngest brother, Mark, oversee the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. “I started helping Daddy when I was 9 or 10 years old, washing dishes and filling in if someone was out,” Scott said. “It’s all I’ve ever done and pretty much all I ever wanted to do.” While sibling rivalry has torpedoed many a family business, Scott said he and his brother work well together. “There’s not been any great conflict between us, and I credit that to how our parents raised us,” he said. “I’m not making this up; Mark and I have never had any problems that I can remember at all.” But even family harmony and a special sauce aren’t enough to account for the business’s success. When it comes to barbecue, taste is what keeps customers coming back. “We’ve always tried to put out the best product we can, the best quality and good customer service,” Mickey said. “I’m very proud the boys wanted to take over the business.” Though none of Scott’s three children have gone into the business, he hopes Wallace Barbecue will someday be a fourth-generation enterprise. “I’ve got two grandchildren comin’ up, so who knows,” he said. March 2015 Cobb Life

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FAMILY BUSINESSES

‘Live. Work. Play.’ Wharton Management takes a trend-right approach to real estate BY JOEL GROOVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANDA CROWE

mart real estate strategies often hinge on making educated guesses about how broader trends will shape demand. This is precisely how, starting in the late 1940s, J. Robert Eubanks laid the groundwork for what would eventually become Wharton Management, Inc.— a commercial real estate firm with 160,000 square feet of rental property and more than 70 leaseholders in and around the Marietta Square and elsewhere in Cobb. “My grandfather started out in construction, and he built a lot of houses in east Marietta for GIs returning from World War II,” explains James S. Eubanks, a 36-year-old Marietta native who became president of Wharton Management in 2012. “He built on that success by developing strip shopping centers near those houses.”

Some 70 years later, Wharton Management’s leasing and development strategies continue to hinge on broader trends in society — in particular, the growing appreciation for so-called “live-work-play” environments and for retail tenants that provide meaningful experiences as opposed to the kinds of commoditized goods sold by Amazon and eBay, James says. “On the Square, there has been a big shift toward more service- and experience-related retail tenants,” he says. Examples include Wharton tenants such as the nostalgic, throwback-style Lenny’s Hair Salon at 95 Church St. as well as Be Yoga at 105 Church St., which is owned by James’s wife, Julie. All told, Wharton manages 10 retail tenants on Church Street. On the office side, meanwhile, local business owners enjoy spending their workdays at the likes of Marietta Station — three century-old, red brick buildings originally built by J.R. Brumby for the Marietta Chair Co. around 1892. “Prospective office tenants frequently tell us ‘We want something that is cool and close to home,’” James says. “People are tired of spending hours commuting in their cars every day. They want to live, work, worship and play all in the same place. It’s fantastic because it builds a sense of community. You can walk down the street knowing there’s a good chance you’ll see someone you know.”

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James Eubanks, today, above. Right, Eubanks as a child with his father, Gary and grandfather J. R. from Easter of 1984.

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WHARTON MANAGEMENT, INC. Commercial real estate President: James S. Eubanks Employees: Four Years in business: Founded in 1995, with roots in 1940s Marietta 127 Church Street #130, Marietta, GA 30060 770.795.8644

Other Wharton office projects include the 1920s-era Stephens Building, at 145 Church St., and 1770 The Exchange, a 31,000-sq.-ft. office building located just off I-75 and Windy Hill Road. Unlike some commercial real estate investors who concentrate on putting together short-term deals, Wharton is focused on long-term stewardship of its properties, James says. This long-term perspective is evident in the pedestrian bridge connecting Marietta Station to the parking lot on Polk Street. It is the only private pedestrian bridge over the railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga. “It look my father over three years to get permission from the state, which owns the railroad line, to build the bridge,” James says. “We have been purposefully patient as we work on plans to develop that side of the tracks with something that will benefit downtown Marietta.” His father, longtime Marietta attorney

Gary F. Eubanks, formally organized the family’s real estate holdings into Wharton Management in 1995. “My father practiced law most of his career, but he learned management and development skills from his father and passed those along to me prior to his untimely death two years ago,” James says. Having earned mechanical engineering degrees from Rice and Stanford universities, James worked at Ford in Dearborn, Mich., and at Accenture in Chicago before joining Wharton in 2007. He and Julie live with their three children just off the Marietta Square. Like many of Wharton’s tenants, they are big fans of the live-workplay lifestyle. “I know what driving twenty-plus miles in rush-hour traffic is like,” James says. “So when we moved here, we purposely chose a house close to the square. My commute is less than half a mile. It’s amazing how much time I save every day.”

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Vivien Leigh, as Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone With the Wind,” was known for her expressive eyes. Here’s the inside scoop behind those brows.

Gone with the Wind

…but not the

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File photos

“Gone With the Wind” cast member Ann Rutherford, who played the role of Carreen O’Hara, answers a question while visiting The Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the movie in 2009. Top left, Rutherford posing for a test shot on “Gone With the Wind.”

By Katy Ruth Camp

When most people think of “Gone With the Wind,” they think of Vivien Leigh’s tiny waist, “I will never go hungry again,” the curtain dress or Clark Gable’s gorgeous self. There are so many moments that have made their marks on our minds. But when I think of “Gone With the Wind,” the first word that pops into my head is eyebrows. Yes, eyebrows. In 2009, mere weeks into my life as a full-time journalist, I was assigned to cover the 70th anniversary celebration of the film “Gone With the Wind” on the historic Marietta Square. There would be local politicians breaking the Guinness World Record for the Virginia Reel, dressed in period clothing and taking a break from their usual suits, pearls and ties. There would be GWTW enthusiasts from all over the world, reveling in the nostalgia surrounding them. There would be a giant, 8-feet long, 6-feet tall cake made to look like Scarlett’s home, Tara, which took three people 40 hours to make using 250 pounds of fondant icing. There would be Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies, sharing the history of the film and introducing some of the stars of the celebration. And there would be Ann Rutherford. While the name might not be familiar to most – certainly not as familiar as Gable and Leigh – Rutherford did have a speaking role in the film. Rutherford played Carreen O’Hara, Scarlett’s sister, in the film.

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Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum Director Connie Sutherland admires a Joseph Yakavetic painting of Ann Rutherford who was a frequent visitor to the anniversary celebrations of the Cobb County landmark before her death. File photo by Kelly J. Huff

She also had roles in the classic film “Pride and Prejudice” and as Polly Benedict in the famous Andy Hardy films. While her role in GWTW might have been small, Rutherford knew it was her legacy. “It was a nothing part — it’s still a nothing part — but that nothing part has turned my golden years into platinum. Long may she wave,” she animatedly told me at the event. What a quote. But that was not the most lasting (or surprising) moment from our conversation. As I was reliving Rutherford’s memories with her on that beautiful day under the Glover Park stage made of white antebellum-style columns and surrounded by history, Rutherford gave me a history, and a beauty, lesson of her own. “Your eyebrows are just beautiful, honey. Don’t you ever let anyone touch them,” she said, happily interrupting one of my questions. My…eyebrows? I inherited my grandmother’s insanely long eyelashes so I have heard people ask me about those a time or 20 but, my eyebrows? That was definitely a first and I wasn’t exactly sure how to take it. So, letting my journalistic curiosity flag fly, I prodded her for more. “Oh, honey, let me just tell you a story!” she replied. Rutherford spoke with disdain about the beauty trend of the time to pluck and wax women’s eyebrows to the point where there was barely any hair left. Dark, full, statement eyebrows were for those who cared nothing of their beauty. But that would soon change, thanks to Rutherford’s friendship with Leigh and the film’s makeup artist. Leigh was having her makeup applied before filming one day when Rutherford said she saw the artist pull a pair of tweezers out of her makeup kit. “Don’t touch her with those tweezers,” Rutherford said she told her, explaining that Leigh had these dark and full (at least for the time) eyebrows that would be beautiful and expressive on camera. So Leigh and the artist listened and took a chance on betraying the fashion magazines of the time. Not only did she do very little plucking to Leigh’s eyebrows other than to shape the arch, the artist also lined them with a dark pencil to make them even more prominent. The result was spectacular. What Leigh and GWTW would have missed without that infamous arch of Scarlett’s brow! And to think, Carreen O’Hara was the cause, unbeknownst to perhaps all. Once the movie came out and Leigh’s chance paid off, she and the artist (and the shadow of Rutherford) changed the course of beauty and the days of barely-there brows were gone. I am openly and admittedly lazy with tweezing my eyebrows. I should get them arched, I should get them waxed, I should pay more attention to them like most of my fellow beauty-conscious friends. But every time I walk past a nail salon flashing a sale on eyebrow shaping, Rutherford’s smooth, sassy voice pops into my head: “Don’t you ever let anyone touch them.” Long may she wave.

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ON THE WINE ROAD

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Above, Teresa Ely at the event. Top, Michael Venezia’s lecture at the event was entitled ‘Spectacular Sparklers.’

sparkling time at Athens Wine Weekend

Many of you have traveled to Athens as devoted alumni and fans of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Over the past decade, the city has evolved into one of our state’s most prized and respected culinary and beverage destinations. Talented chefs, creative mixologists and passionate wine sommeliers are continually raising the bar and elevating food and beverage opportunities for residents, students and visitors. By Michael Venezia

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The wine road took me to Athens the last weekend of January for the sixth annual Athens Wine Weekend. Recently selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events, it was also named Best Event in the Athens Banner-Herald’s 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards. As a veteran of dozens of wine festivals, the Athens Wine Weekend didn’t disappoint. With the support of the talented and hardworking staff of The Classic Center, local culinarians, wine and food purveyors, as well as community volunteers, the event was flawlessly executed. The event benefits The Classic Center Cultural Foundation, which provides resources to entertain and educate the community by supporting diverse performing, visual and culinary arts programs, while using funds raised to offer scholarships to upcoming students of the arts. The Friday evening kickoff reception entitled “Amuse” featured chefs presenting small tastes highlighting the selected toques’ cooking artistry. Chef McCook of the Athens Country Club, Patrick Anderson of Speakeasy, Jennifer Price of the Waterfall Club and Daniel Massie of Levy Restaurants presented their skillfully prepared tastes with selected wines that aroused the palate. Hundreds of wines were offered at the Saturday Grand Tasting. Educated distributor personnel poured samples, engaged the attendees with wine conversation and presented an international portfolio to keep the participants socially engaged in the experience. Several break out wine seminars were offered by talented professionals. I attended a great tasting presented by Svetlana Rostova, a

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Frank Abbinanti speaks at Athens Wine Weekend.

wine consultant at the Five Points Bottle Shop. She addressed the up and coming wine revolution occurring in Portugal, as well as a stimulating overview of the Portuguese cork industry. My seminar entitled Spectacular Sparklers offered a selection of bubbles from Italy, France, California and North Carolina. Topping off the day was a six course gourmet dinner featuring dazzling presentations prepared by the chefs of The National, Five and Ten, Athens Country Club and Levy Restaurants. Of course each item was paired with a wine chosen to complement this amazing menu. The weekend concluded with a Sparkling Wine Sunday Brunch. Sharon Fenchek, wine maker of Biltmore Estate, was the featured guest and the Biltmore Blanc de Blancs beautifully complemented the Eggs Benedict. A silent auction ran throughout the weekend, and active bidding for Dawgs memorabilia. Concert tickets and trip opportunities were very popular. I tried desperately to be the winner of a B 52â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poster of a performance at the famed 40 Watt Club. The poster was signed by each band member. I dropped out of the competition when my rival revealed that he was planning to have it custom-framed and give it to his son for his birthday. So if you travel near to the Athens in Georgia or far to Athens, Greece, the wine road will bring you to exciting destinations where you meet like-minded folks who will generously share their enthusiasm and their money for the opportunity to enjoy fine wine. March 2015 Cobb Life

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Photos courtesy of Amelia Island CVB

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love

fall in

with Amelia Island

Chocolates and wine by a firepit overlooking the ocean. Hammock massages. Culinary sensations that you’ve never tasted before. Sunset cruises with views of wild horses. Early morning bird-watching walks along the marsh. It’s easy to fall in love with Amelia Island. Just 30 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida, this small island has managed to retain a quiet Southern charm despite having garnered awards such as being named among the Top 10 North American islands by Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards for seven consecutive years and recognized as a Top 25 Island in the World. Amelia Island is cherished for its serene beaches, unspoiled beauty, unique history and charming seaport character. So pack your bags, grab a loved one and set off for a romantic getaway. By Stacey L. Evans

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AMBH Photography

The Ritz Carlton’s resident macaw says hello to visitors. Left, the beach in front of the Ritz.

Where to stay: The 13-mile long island has a number of quaint bed and breakfasts, cottages, condos and economical hotels, but if you really want to pamper yourself, the place to be is the Ritz Carlton-Amelia Island, named one of the top U.S. resorts in 2014 by Travel and Leisure magazine and recognized on the gold list of Conde Nast Traveler 2014. At the Ritz, you’ll get premium service throughout the resort. Doors are opened and luggage is whisked away before you even lift a finger. Lounge chairs are set up on the beach for you. The resort’s aim is to make you feel pampered and stress-free. So you can devote your precious hours to lazily soaking up the sun, piña colada in hand while the salty, cool breeze rising off of the gentle Atlantic Ocean refreshes your body and spirit. Or you may want to take a leisurely stroll down the soft sand beach, hand-in-hand with your loved one, collecting seashells and memories. The Ritz’s spa is first-class, and offers an array of services including diverse ones such as a hammock massage, four hands (which is two therapists), hadashi (therapists use their feet to

massage) and a honey butter wrap. If you’re on a romantic getaway, indulge in A Wrap to Remember for couples, a two and a half hour treatment complete with rose petals and champagne. With several top-rated restaurants also at the resort and an abundance of activities to choose from, you can stay nestled on the exclusive part of Amelia Island blissfully for the duration of your stay. Where to go: But it’s worth venturing out to downtown Fernandina, which is full of charming shops and restaurants. If you’re a shopper, you’ll find a plethora of unique items and great deals, including many handmade goods. The downtown also frequently has entertainment near the waterfront. Even strolling along the dock and city streets is an enjoyable way to spend the evening. The 30-block area is on the National Register of Historic Places and has an interesting history. It is the only municipality in the U.S. that has flown eight different national flags. France was the first to settle and take claim in 1562, followed by Spain, Great Britain, Spain (again), the Patriots of Amelia Island, the Green Cross of Florida, Mexico, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. Known as the “Isle of 8 Flags,” the port city became overrun with pirates, smugglers and illegal slave traders in its early days. But by the 1870s the area cleaned up its act and became a tourist destination filled with Victorian houses with gabled roofs and ornate verandas. Things to do: >> If you are the type of couple that bonds over action or adventure, you’ll find plenty to do. In addition to golf and tennis, you can enjoy deep-sea fishing, horseback riding on the beach, kayaking, sailing, surfing, bicycling or exploring the nearby Fort Clinch State Park or Talbot Island State Park. >> For more leisurely exploration, hop on one of the many river cruises and take a tour around Amelia and neighboring islands. From there you can get a glimpse of the wild horses roaming Cumberland Island, and learn about this history-rich part of north Florida. To make it romantic, take along a bottle of wine on the sunset tour. >> A trolley tour of downtown Fernandina takes you on a journey full of historic homes, many with stories as beguiling as their character and charm. >> Get a mocha coffee from Fantastic Fudge. It’s simply to-die-for. They dip a heaping spoon of chocolate into your cup for you to swirl around until it melts (and take a few licks of — who can resist?). You can also watch the fudge-making on site. 218 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, FL. (904) 277-4801

TOURIST INFORMATION & PLANNING v www.AmeliaIsland.com; 800.226.3542 vAmelia Island Trolleys : www.ameliaislandtrolleys.com vAmelia Island River Cruises & Charters: www.AmeliaRiverCruises.com vRitz-Carlton, Amelia Island : www.RitzCarlton.com/AmeliaIsland vOmni Amelia Island Plantation : www.OmniAmeliaIslandPlantation.com vElizabeth Pointe Lodge : www.ElizabethPointeLodge.com vJack & Diane’s : www.jackanddianescafe.com vTransportation: We used 8 Flags of Amelia Island to get around and they

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were friendly, fast, and knowledgeable about the area. They also pickup and dropoff at Jacksonville airport. www.ameliaislandtaxicab.com; 904-415-0580

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AMBH Photography

Dining at SALT at the Ritz Carlton is an unforgettable experience.

Dining: SALT at Ritz-Carlton. Even if you do not splurge for a stay at the Ritz, you should splurge on a night at their premier AAA Five Diamond Award winning restaurant. It’s not just exceptional food and atmosphere, it’s an experience. First, stop in for a brief class and tasting in the SALT gift shop. The shop and restaurant features over 40 types of salt from around the world, including infusions such as Adriatic Citrus, Trapani Balsamic Sea Salt or Blue Lavender Velvet, which has the consistency of flour and a buttery taste. One popular and delightful dish is “steak and eggs,” a beef tenderloin with a side of quail eggs served in your own tiny frying pan, to be cooked on your personal Himalayan salt block. The food at SALT is as inventive as it is tasty. It is an experience you won’t forget and will be raving about for days. Downtown Fernandina has a variety of choices, including the state’s oldest saloon, Palace Saloon, dating back to 1878. A casual restaurant in downtown Fernandina with plenty of creative flair is Jack & Diane’s, which has an expansive and ecletic menu featuring sandwiches, surf and turf entrees, and delicious bowls like the melting pot pie, which has chicken, grits and veggies layered with puff pasty and country gravy. Breakfast: Jack & Diane’s also has a fresh and creative breakfast menu featuring burritos and crepes in addition to morning staples. If you want an exceptional buffet, head over to the Omni Resort Amelia Island Plantation’s Sunrise Café. The “Art of Breakfast” buffet features organic cereals, local fruit, fresh baked pastries, made-to-order cage-free omelets, maple-blueberry organic sausage and more, with plenty of gluten-free options. Rum & Tequila: If you’re deciding where to stay, one thing to add to the plus list at the Omni Resort: The Rum and Tequila Experience, a poolside bar featuring a huge selection of rum and tequila, along with a variety of specialty cocktails from the resident mixologist. You can sample several with a premium flight.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

March 13-15 See over 250 rare vehicles from collections around the world at The Golf Club of Amelia Island and The RitzCarlton, Amelia Island. www.ameliaconcours.org.

Garden Show at Central Park

April 18 and 19 Enjoy exhibitors from around the Southeast and an array of family-friendly activities focused on the beauty of nature and wildlife, including The Raptor Experience, an up close encounter with live birds of prey.

Photo courtesy of Omni Plantation

Marsh View Bar & Grill at the Omni Plantation overlooks the ninth hole of the Oak Marsh course and the marshlands of Amelia Island. The grill serves Southern-inspired casual fare under a canopy of live oaks.

Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival

May 1-3 Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry, and this celebration showcases fine arts and crafts, antiques, regional and local music, shrimp caught and served locally, seafood dishes, parade, fireworks, pirates, and family events in the historic downtown.

Wild Amelia Festival

May 15-17 The festival has events, an expo and nature tours designed to showcase and educate participants about the local environment and wildlife. www.wildamelia.com March 2015 Cobb Life

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ighlights

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

A closer look at events happening in Cobb during March RIGOLETTO >> The Atlanta Opera stages Verdi in a new coproduction with the Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Omaha. Hunchbacked jester Rigoletto turns vengeful when he cannot protect the person he most loves from the person he most loathes. A new production directed by artistic director Tomer Zvulun that’s hailed by the Boston Globe as “energetic.” Baritone Todd Thomas sings the title role. In Italian with English supertitles. When and where: March 3; 7:30 p.m.; March 6; 8 p.m.; March 8; 3 p.m.; Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Tickets: Two-show subscription tickets to the Opera range from $44 - $226. Very limited individual tickets are available for this show. Parking can be purchased in advance with tickets. More info: 404.881.8885 or www.atlantaopera.org ATLANTA CHAMBER PLAYERS >> The Atlanta Chamber Players, a mixed ensemble of strings, winds and piano, were founded in 1976 and are now in their 37th season. When and where: March 9; 8p.m.; Bailey Performance Center, Morgan Hall, Kennesaw State University Tickets: $11 - $15 ticketalternative. com More info: www.kennesaw.edu

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ONSTAGE >> Based on one of the best-loved TV shows of all time, this live production takes audiences back to 1952 to DesiLu Studios with Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel as they film an episode for this newfangled thing called “television.” When and where: March 13 at 8p.m.; March 14 at 2 & 8 p.m.; March 15 at 1 p.m.; Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Tickets: $41 - $61 plus fees More info: group sales 404.881.2000 AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL SHOW >> Hundreds of the country’s top fine craft artists presenting handmade creations in jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor. The show routinely draws nearly 10,000 visitors over three days. When and where: March 13; 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; March 14; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; March 15; 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Cobb Galleria Centre Tickets: Advance $14 for a one-day pass or $28 for a three-day pass. Onsite is $30 for a three-day pass. Parking is free. More info: 800.836.3470

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ATLANTA BALLET & ORCHESTRA – CAMINO REAL >> World premiere, based on the 1953 Tennessee Williams play. A new score was commissioned for this full-evening ballet and will be performed live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. When and where: March 20, 21 at 8 p.m.; March 21, 22 at 2 p.m.; Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Tickets: vary for subscription, single tickets. Groups of 10 or more discounted up to 30 percent. More info: www.atlantaballet. com KINDERMART CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE >> Annual Spring/Summer sale offering savings on clothing, toys and more for children and babies. When and where: March 20; 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.; March 21; 9 a.m.- noon; Smyrna First United Methodist Church, 1315 Concord Rd. Tickets: FREE event. Financial contributions support the Sarah Davidson Scholarship Fun and Must Ministries. More info: kindermartsale.com ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH MILOS KARADABLIC, GUITAR >> Miloš Karadaglic and the ASO perform Rodrigo’s second concerto for guitar and orchestra, originally written for the grand master of classical guitar, Segovia. Guest conductor Jacomo Bairos leads the Orchestra in two homages to art: Mussorgsky’s piece inspired by the art created by his dear friend Viktor Hartmann, and Falla’s love letter to Spanish music. The final of three performances of the Orchestra’s extended residency at KSU. When and where: March 20; 8p.m.; Bailey Performance Center, Morgan Hall, Kennesaw State University Tickets: $15 $55 ticketalternative.com More info: www.kennesaw.edu HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE CONCERT >> “Music of Resistance and Survival” features performances by KSU faculty performers and ensembles with musicians from The Temple in Atlanta. Presented in cooperation by the KSU School of Music, KSU Museum of History and Holocaust Education, and the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. When and where: March 23; 8p.m.; The Temple, Midtown Atlanta Tickets: FREE event. More info: www.kennesaw.edu RON WHITE >> Chart-topping, cigar-chomping, Grammynominated White is a comic crowd pleaser, whether he’s telling the story of his “Tater Salad” nickname, talking about growing up in Texas or making note of all the ways life makes us crazy and vice versa. All four of his comedy albums charted number one on Billboard and for almost a decade he’s been one of the top three touring U.S. comedians in terms of box office receipts. When and where: March 28; 7 & 9:30 p.m.; Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Tickets: $61.75 plus fees at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone or online or Cobb Energy box office Mon. - Sat. More info: 880.745.3000 or www.cobbenergycentre.com 13th ANNUAL SPRING CHICKEN RUN >> Comedian Kenn Kington presides over a health-minded, community event, subtitled “A Race Against Hunger.” Featuring a 5K and one-mile run/walk and a Tot Trot, all to benefit Sweetwater Mission. When and where: March 28; 8:30 a.m.; West Cobb/Powder Springs campus of Macland Presbyterian Church. More info: SpringChickenRun.com or 770.235.0413 FRANKIE AVALON >> Rare chance to see the iconic Avalon live in concert. The all-American actor, singer, playwright and former teen idol got his start on television playing trumpet. His films with Annette Funicello were wholesome and romantic and defined the era of the teen beach party movie. When and where: March 29; 3 p.m.; Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Cobb County Civic Center Complex, Marietta. Tickets: $40.00 plus fees at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone or online. More info: 770.528.8490

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SCENE

The Pavillion at Olde Towne Grand Opening

The Pavillion at Olde Towne held its grand opening at its location in east Cobb. The special event facility was formerly the Olde Towne Athletic Club, but was relaunched and rebranded. 1. From left, Deb Lenox of Roswell, Lauren Fischner of Marietta, Ryan Matzkow of Roswell, Sherry Matzkow of east Cobb and Marcia Easton of Marietta. 2. Brad Hanner and Jillian VanLoan, both of east Cobb. 3. Megan Benson of Marietta, Kelly Venable of Marietta and Troy Wiese of Atlanta. 4. Lou Ladinsky of east Cobb, Kaylene Rudy of east Cobb and David Covell of Vinings.

3 PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM BENNETT

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The Pavillion at Olde Towne

SCENE

5. Nan Gardner and Kelly Gardner, both of east Cobb. 6. Faith Kart and Lauren Dudley, both of Marietta. 7. Jenni Ginepri and Tammy Johnston, both of east Cobb. 8. Will Godfrey of Decatur and Lindsey Rogers of Roswell.

Want to be SCENE? Email your event to mmaguire@cobblifemagazine.com

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March 2015 Cobb Life

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SCENE

The Pavillion at Olde Towne Grand Opening

9 9. From left, Cathy Zeewy of Sandy Springs, Sheryl Covell of Vinings and Semmes Van Brocklim of Vinings. 10. Joyce Chrisman of Dunwoody and Lee Chrisman of Duluth. 11. Lisa Hanner, Alison Baster and Lisa Wrenn, all of east Cobb. 12. David Covell of Vinings, Sheryl Covell of Vinings and Troy Wiese of Atlanta. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM BENNETT

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Coffee Fest at Cobb Galleria

SCENE

1 The 2015 Coffee Fest took place at the Cobb Galleria Centre in early February. Hundreds attended the event which featured 200 exhibitor booths, barista certifications and espresso competitions. 1. O. Tyler Pearson of Thrive Farmers pours up some Bloom coffee. 2. Marietta’s Cool Beans Coffee Roasters had a booth and participated in the best espresso contest. 3. Wicked Jack’s Tavern rum cake made by Aroma Ridge in Marietta.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANDA CROWE

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SCENE

Health and Style Institute Grand Opening

2 1 Health and Style Institute held a red-carpet grand opening celebration in late January at its campus in Kennesaw. 1. From left, Veronica Long of Marietta and Christina Dunbar of Marietta. 2. From left, Josh Butela of Woodstock, Megan Townley of Kennesaw, and Brent Brock of Acworth. 3. From left, Lisa Warner of Marietta, Rhonda Francis of Fayetteville and Robyn Taylor of Marietta.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANDA CROWE

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8 4. From left, Gail, Audrey and Mike Fredericks of Kennesaw. 5. Josh Taves, CEO, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of the Health and Style Institute in Kennesaw. 6. From left, Allison Galusha and Marina McCoy, both of Kennesaw. 7. From left, Quianna Nall of Acworth and Nia Martin of Kennesaw. 8. From left, Katara Nix of Acworth and April Brogdon of Kennesaw.

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SCENE

Cobb Chamber of Commerce Gala

1 The Cobb Chamber of Commerce Gala was held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in January. 1. From left, Kristen Lord, Kari Hackett, Stephen Matthews, Wendy Bruntley, Kelly Bush, Greg Shenton and Derrick Vincent. 2. Tiffany Harworth, Pam Fennimore and Melissa Sabia. 3. From left, Judge Marsha Lake, Judge Stephen Schuster and Reva Schuster. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHRYN INGALL

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Cobb Chamber of Commerce Gala

SCENE

6 4. From left, Nick Sabia, Janey Jones and Anthony Dyches. 5. From left, Cindy Fennel, Amy Selby and Paul Selby. 6. From left, Maria Romero, Myra Bohannon and Hannah Orr.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHRYN INGALL

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REFLECTIONS

By Tammy DeMel

How do you define

‘soul mate?’

Years ago, a friend of mine was going through a rough patch in her marriage and asked me if I believed in soul mates and, if so, did I consider my husband to be my soul mate. At the time I had been married about five years and gave her what I thought was a truly enlightened answer. I told her that I didn’t believe in one soul mate, rather I believe that we have many soul mates. And yes, my husband is one of my them. Well, that was almost 15 years, one child, and at least four or five jobs ago. So now, after close to 20 years with my prince charming, I wonder, does he still fit the bill? Is my husband my soul mate? I mean, really, wouldn’t my soul mate intuitively know that my vision of cleaning the kitchen includes wiping the crumbs off the table and counters? After a quick search online I found a lot of articles to help solve the mystery. There’s “10 Traits of Your Ideal Soul Mate,” “How to Know When You’ve Found Your Soul Mate,” and lots of quizzes including “What Candy is Your Soul Mate?” (mine was a Mars bar, chocolate and caramel — now there’s a surprise). And there are the definitions. Most of which romanticize the idea of soul mates, like this one from Dictionary.com: “Your soul mate understands and connects with you in every way and on every level, which brings a sense of peace, calmness and happiness when you are around them. And when you are not around them, you are all that much more aware of the harshness of life, and how bonding with another person in this way is the most significant and satisfying thing you will experience in your lifetime.” Seriously? If this defines your relationship then more power to you, but I don’t think it’s a sense of peace, calm or happiness that I feel at three in the morning when I get woken up from a sound sleep because my soul mate is

conducting a symphony of teeth grinding and snoring. Don’t get me wrong — I like romance. I’ve watched the movies and read the books. I too had visions that one day a man would walk through my door and say, “You complete me.” And I love my husband very much, we have a wonderful life together and he is very supportive. But does he complete me? Do we connect in every way and on every level? The honest answer is no. But what if a soul mate is something entirely different? What if your soul mate is someone who makes life more difficult by challenging you to see the things about yourself that you didn’t want to see? Would that be someone with whom you’d want to share your life? Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, defines soul mate this way: “A true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back...A true soul mate... tear(s) down your walls and smacks you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.” Yikes, someone who exposes my insecurities, who “tears me down,” who makes me look at my imperfections. If my husband did that he’d be out on the street. So, no thank you. I don’t think I need my husband to be my soul mate. I’m perfectly happy believing him when he tells me that my outfit doesn’t make me look fat and that he really does like my cooking. Afterall, it’s those little white lies that we tell each other that bind us together. The ones that pump us up rather than tear us down. It’s being there for each other, through thick and thin, good times and bad that really matters. Soul mate? That’s for the movies and shows like “The Bachelor.” Because when it comes right down to it, what’s a few crumbs on the counter when you have someone who loves you, flaws and all.

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