NWGA'S PREMIER FEATURE MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2021
PUTTING ON THE
FIT
Regardless of your goals, Crossfit Rome is here to help one and all become a better version of themselves.
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Chances are, the birth of your baby will be a happy, healthy experience. Still, peace of mind is priceless, and it’s good to know that Floyd stands ready 24/7 with the advanced care necessary should your baby need intensive care following birth. As the area’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, our expert team of doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists provides high tech care with a compassionate touch for the tiniest newborns.
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JANUARY2021 COLUMNS 10
With hardships seemingly all around, Tammy Barron considers the choices we make and that what defines our lives is the hard that we choose.
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Jim Alred contemplates the inequities present in the Big 10's playoff strategy.
FEATURES 20 4
If you’ve resolved to improve your eating habits in 2021, Ideal Meals and Three Rivers Nutrition are here to help.
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FEATURES 30
Jeff Holloway, owner of CrossFit Rome, shares how the combined approach of training, community, and nutrition can push you to move the needle toward your fitness goals.
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Hear from the head of the Rome Historic Preservation Commission as she shares the city’s history with preservation, some of its best stories and ongoing projects, and her hopes for what’s next.
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Take a look inside the mind behind the Emotions Clothing Line, a brand created by local businessman, Tyrone Griffin, Jr.
Happy New Year from the Family and Staff of Henderson & Sons Funeral Homes and Rome Memorial Park
“Rome’s Locally Owned Funeral Homes” Barry R. Henderson
Joe Paul Henderson (1919-2008)
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Publisher's Note OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin MANAGING PARTNER Chris Forino MAG DESIGN Elizabeth Childers WRITERS
O W N E R & C E O Ian Griffin Welcome 2021. It’s time for a little pep talk. We greet you with open arms and endless optimism. You are following a year that certainly sets you up for success. Most years are viewed as a fresh start and an opportunity for growth, but you are probably the most anticipated new year since the turn of the millennium, and we were all terrified then that Y2K would spoil that special occasion. You, on the other hand, have the advantage of all the transgressions of your predecessor to catapult you to adoration. I refuse to speak its name in this column, but the other year was really unpleasant. It was dealt a tough hand with a global pandemic breezing across the planet that changed our way of life, so try to keep that in mind. It did the best it could. It did instill a lot of motivation, however. People reevaluated and made plans for their future, and most of those plans will be executed during your time with us. Vaccines are on the way and with them, the real hope of a return to the way of life we were used to feels tangible. Concerts? Yes please! Sporting events with real fan noise? Now you’re talking! Hugging an at-risk family member? Jackpot! The list goes ever on, but you 2021, you hold this potential…or at least movement towards the return of normalcy. Don’t let all this positivity go to your head now. I have a feeling you will get a lot of love due to the circumstances, but please feel free to earn it on your own merit. There will be ups and downs. All years have them. You just be you and give it your all in the 12 months you’ve got. We’re all along for the ride no matter what, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that we’re glad that you’re here. Now go get em tiger!
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Jim Alred, Tammy Barron, DeMarcus Daniel, Ian Griffin, Cassie LaJeunesse, Nina Lovel PHOTOGRAPHERS Andy Calvert AD DESIGN Elizabeth Childers PUBLISHER V3 Publications, LLC CONTACT 417 Broad Street Rome Ga, 30161 Office Phone 706.235.0748 v3publications@gmail.com CREATOR Neal Howard V3MAGAZINE.COM
Independent Living | Personal Care | Memory Care 706.295.0014 • 3126 Cedartown Hwy SW, Rome, GA 30161-4314 • www.RenaissanceMarquis.com READV3.COM | JANUARY 2021 V3 MAGAZINE
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New Year
Continued Commitment to Our Community eBANK: Always Open at www.heritagefirstbank.com MAIN OFFICE: 501 Broad Street 706.378.5300
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It is a new year, and like everyone else, I consider my options for new beginnings. LET’S BE HONEST, 2020 WAS A BUST. I for one am rather eager to leave it behind, and with it the infinite insecurities it introduced to my life. Typically, I avoid New Year resolutions as they often turn into six-week-old excuses. However, I saw a post online that really resonated with me. Marriage is hard, Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being Fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not 10
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communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can pick our hard. Pick wisely. -Devon Brough
What I appreciate about this quote is the simplicity in which our power is implied. Within the challenges we face as individuals, partners, or parents, we are imbued with ownership for the way we participate in our own lives. Choose your hard. This is not meant to undermine external events that mark pivotal moments in our lives — loss of a loved one, an illness, or layoff, etc. — however there always remains the choice how we react to these events. The common phrase in my household, “Life is only ten percent of what happens to you and ninety percent how you react to it.” — just now — bounces from my lips. I say this a lot when trying to help my kids explore their reactions and impulses. Never forgetting, being a kid is tough. As a child, you don’t get to dictate your own schedule, you are at the whim of a parent’s agenda and constantly at
the mercy of tyrannical siblings. Disappointment, frustration, and heartache happen to everyone, young and old, I remind them; how you choose to react is completely up to you. It doesn’t matter that you are a kid, you have the power to determine how to move forward. At the close of a year which, for millions of people, was marked with unfathomable loss and hardship, it is a challenge for me to spew silver linings rhetoric. The events that will place 2020 in history books are not for the faint of heart: hundreds of thousands of Americans dead, millions out of work and without benefits, families divided, and children experiencing hunger as they fall further behind academically each day; this is a tough scenario — for some seemingly impossible. Life is hard, but there is always the possibility to let the hardship lead to a place beyond the struggle. For many, the answer led to record breaking attendance at the polls; for others the answer has been advocacy and outreach programs. Americans are looking to participate in
Choose Your Hard opened doors By Tammy Barron
our lives once again.
Action versus Inaction My life is a set of two lists. I accept the challenges in the first list, so I don’t have to struggle with the difficulty of the second list. Eating right, exercising, and self-care are all active choices in my first list that help me design a lifestyle I desire; they help me avoid the hardship of poor health and well-being in the second list. My first lessons of choosing my hard were back in college. As a grossly unprepared 18-year-old freshman, I didn’t have a clue how to manage my finances. Each semester came crashing on top of me, threatening to bury me alive. I scrambled and down-right hustled to buy books and make rent. My cash flowed unpredictably as a breeze, but the stress was a violent alarming squall — keeping me ever worried that this will be my last month I could afford to stay at the university. It wasn’t until I learned how to make and adhere to a monthly budget that
I found my way out of the struggle. Every penny had a purpose. I chose to take action and find a path toward stability and my degree. The journey was desperate and tough at times, but having found a way out of the hardship shapes the image I have of myself today: a resilient and resourceful woman. There are times in adulthood when the choice of action or inaction is no longer so simple. Relationships can challenge our long-formed habits and baggage: to teach an old dog new tricks often requires some soul searching. It’s within the construct of relationships that many people feel the most unsure of themselves. Somewhere along the way, we convince ourselves that love means sacrifice. We sacrifice for our careers, our families, and our partners in some shape or form. Foolishly, throughout the years we often find we give up too much. It is not so much the inability to say “no” in relationships, but rather a lack of confidence in recognizing healthy boundaries that pose the most common challenge. I recognize similar self-doubt echoed in myself at times. I wonder
where did we pick up this notion that something has to be lost when we are in a relationship? There is an immediate implication of powerlessness — of being at the mercy of the relationship’s gender roles, timetables, and expectations — that is confounding. Choose your hard is a call to participate in your life on your terms. It enables us to actively engage in the path we choose for ourselves especially within our relationships at work and at home; to slough off the roles handed to us by others. As we all look for new perspectives in 2021, this year I will consciously make the choice to run toward the hard I want in my life. To empower myself and design the lifestyle I desire. No excuses.
*The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine
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Saturday Night Mayhem
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
With Jim Alred 14
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THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN, AND I’M NOT SURE THERE IS A WAY TO FIX IT. A few months back on a local sports radio show, the question was posed to me about what I thought of the Big 10 reversing decision and deciding to play football. I took in a long, deep breath and let loose with about 10 solid minutes of my thoughts. Key amongst them was the lone fact and only reason I saw behind the Big 10’s reversal: they had to get Ohio State into the playoffs. Roughly three months later, the plot worked. Ohio State, who only played six games, two on the road and beat exactly two teams with winning records, is the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. Another quick note about the Buckeyes. Because Ohio State only played five regular season games, the conference had to convene a special meeting and vote to change the rule allowing Ohio State to even play in the title game. But of course, there was never any doubt that the conference that mocked the others for playing during COVID-19 would do everything in its power to ensure its flagship football program reached the playoffs. And the playoff committee allowed all of it to happen, while praising the Buckeyes the whole way. When college football scrapped the BCS for the current four-team playoff system to determine the national champion, pundits praised the idea and talked about how it would allow all sorts of teams to now have a chance to win the national title. In reality, the playoff has become a big snob party allowing a handful of teams to compete for the national title while making sure that certain conferences and any team not in a power five conference has almost no chance of sneaking in. And while the playoff committee has a long list of criteria it uses to evaluate teams with the majority having no true quantifiable measure, perhaps the biggest criteria is name. So, this season as Texas A&M finished 8-1 with its lone loss coming to Alabama, and Cincinnati managed to finish 9-0, the two teams had almost as much of a chance of reaching the playoffs as I had of winning this year’s Heisman Trophy - in a word - none. So while the Big 10 fell all over itself, reversing decisions not because of health and safety but because it might lose out on the big fat playoff checks coming. The Big 12 that helped ensure the season would be played got left out in the cold, and the Pac 10 wasn’t even a factor.
The sad part in all of this is that the playoff committee hammered Cincinnati in its rankings a few weeks ago, dropping them a spot or two because the Bearcats couldn't play a couple of games due to COVID-19. At the same time, the playoff committee boosted Ohio State, who also lost games to COVID-19. So apparently, Ohio State’s games they didn’t play were much better than the games Cincinnati didn’t play. The real reason was the committee panicked and had to drop the Bearcats a few spots in case some upsets happened. A couple of years back, I wrote a column wishing the playoff would grow to eight teams and made a solid case for it. My hope now is that the non-power five schools will band together and walk away from the playoff and form their own. It’s obvious the playoff committee will never allow them a spot, so why not? The bowl system is on life support. Unless the bowl happens to be the semifinal or final game, teams and fans don’t care. Key players opt out of the games to get ready for the NFL draft, leaving games lacking key draws for the fans to plunk down big money and travel dollars. The funny thing is the playoff committee had a great chance to prove the playoff system isn’t rigged. This year has been beyond crazy. No one would have faulted the committee if they chose to give the Big 12 and a non-power five school a pat on the back and include them. Granted, I didn't want Oklahoma in the playoffs again, but Cincinnati earned their shot. So what if Alabama might beat them by four touchdowns? It’s not like Notre Dame will do any better. At the end of the day, I can talk till I’m blue in the face and it won’t matter. The system is and will remain broken. If only the committee could find a conference they could emulate. Say, one that looked at its rules and changed every one possible to ensure the outcome it wanted. So maybe there is hope that one day the committee will use the Big 10’s shining example of rigging the game. Except this time, they rig in favor of the schools on the outside looking in. Not saying that would fix the system, but at least at that point it would be much closer to what it should be. *The views expressed in this column are those of the writer, and do not represent the opinions of V3 Magazine
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A Paint Party is the best party!
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Healthier Eating Starts
HERE Healthy eating benefits your overall health, helps prevent future medical problems, and improves your mood — and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Text: Cassie LaJeunesse | Photos: Andy Calvert
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L-R: Casey Gray, Amanda DeWitt
Ideal Meals
AMANDA DEWITT AND CASEY GRAY, owners and operators of Ideal Meals, want everyone to know that healthy eating can be convenient. This is the guiding principle behind their business, a prepared food service that offers healthy and affordable premade meals. “[Healthy eating] doesn’t mean that you have to do your own grocery shopping, prepare your own food,” Gray says. “That’s why we’re here, to try and replace fast food.” DeWitt adds, “Eating healthy can be affordable. That’s important to us too, to make our prices comparable to fast food.” So how does it work? Every Sunday, DeWitt and Gray release a menu for the following week. The menu provides descriptions and nutritional information for each meal option, and DeWitt and Gray make an effort to include something for everyone. “We like to make sure there’s a good combination of proteins and… a wide variety of 22
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things,” DeWitt says. “There’s usually a meal on there that you could feed your kid, but it’s a healthier version. We try to make it so that it fits a wide variety of lifestyles.” Orders must be placed by Friday at 5 p.m. for pick-up or delivery the following Sunday or Monday. Meals are individually portioned and cost $5-7 per serving. According to the Ideal Meals website, meals can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days or frozen for up to 30 days. All meals can be microwaved in their containers. The idea for Ideal Meals grew from a conflict between DeWitt’s appreciation for healthy eating and her busy nursing school schedule. Because she saw a decline in her nutrition due to her lack of time, she decided to start meal prepping. “I started doing it, and then people kind of approached me and asked ‘would you do this for me?’” DeWitt says. “I started thinking about it and put out a Facebook post asking who else would be interested in having their meals prepped. I got a pretty big response. It grew and grew.” Gray became involved when she and DeWitt met at the gym. She was a stay-at-home mom and missed working, so she jumped at the chance to get involved. “I really love food, my whole family really loves food, so I saw it as a great opportunity to start working and start something from the ground up,” she says. Since starting Ideal Meals in 2015, they have seen consistent growth in demand for the service. They started with a small building, outgrew it in a year, and have now expanded to a 3,000-square-foot facility and three locations. “We have a central hub location where we cook everything so that we can control the quality of the product that we put out,”
DeWitt says. “That’s our number one priority.” They currently ship meals to pick-up locations in Calhoun and Cartersville, and they are looking to expand to another hub store with more pick-up locations. Both DeWitt and Gray believe that it’s important for people to focus on changing their relationship with food if they want to eat more healthily. “We don’t believe in diets,” DeWitt explains. “We believe that food and portion control, that’s what changes your relationship and eventually changes your lifestyle with food. Portion control is the most important thing that you can teach yourself.” Gray adds, “We don’t want anybody to feel like they’re missing out or like they’re denying themselves anything while they’re eating healthy." For more information including menus and ordering,
visit idealmealprep.com or find them on Facebook at Ideal Meals – A Meal Prep Service.
“Planning is a big thing. If you fail to plan, you basically plan to fail. We have to pack our snacks and our water for the day… that way we don’t get caught hungry without any healthy options around us.” For more information on Three Rivers Nutrition and their offerings, visit their Facebook page: Three Rivers Nutrition (@3threeriversnutrition).
Landon & Emma Rikel
Three Rivers Nutrition
WHEN EMMA RIKEL worked at a nutrition club during college, she got healthier and gained energy. She also fell in love with the community aspect of the business. “It was kind of like a club or a healthy bar where people would just hang out and be in a positive, fun, uplifting environment,” she says. “We could help people with meal plans or workout plans, and the community was so amazing that I wanted to put something like that in Rome. We had some healthy choices in Rome, but not a community for health and wellness.” Three Rivers Nutrition was the result of this desire. All of the products at Three Rivers are from Herbal Life Nutrition, which Rikel says is the number one nutrition company in the world. “We researched them before we started this and could trust that this was something that I was comfortable consuming, that I could give my kids and my family, and we can know that it’s safe and high-quality,” she says. Three Rivers offers healthy shakes, herbal teas and supplements to help with aspects of health and nutrition such as weight, energy and sleep. Rikel and her husband opened Three Rivers in June of 2019 and have seen lots of support from the community. She says that business has been even busier during the pandemic because people have been more concerned about maintaining their health. “It’s well-rounded nutrition for everyone, it’s not specific to weight loss,” Rikel explains. “We can help customers lose weight if that’s what their health is needing, but we’ve just been able to really help people stay healthy during all of this.”
According to Rikel, one of the most common misconceptions people have about healthy eating is that it needs to involve slashing your calorie intake. “It’s actually super important to get enough calories for your body and enough protein for your body,” she says. Like the owners of Ideal Meals, Rikel wants everyone to know that adding healthier eating choices to a busy lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated. “There are really simple things that you can do to make your daily routines healthier,” she says. READV3.COM | JANUARY 2021 V3 MAGAZINE
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It’s All In Our Name...
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THE VEIN CENTER AT HARBIN CLINIC
treats more than superficial varicose veins. Vascular Surgeons Dr. John Kirkland and Dr. Michael Rogers, and Dr. Billy Chacko, Vascular Medicine Physician, team up to deliver a comprehensive approach to patient care which aims to discover and treat the underlying conditions causing venous disease. “We perform surgical interventions for varicose veins, of course, but most importantly we seek the root of the symptoms. Is there a history of blood clots, heart disease, or genetic factors-something in our patient’s system- that puts them at risk? We address that,” says Kirkland. Preventative strategies can save lives.
and money, and the convenience of returning to work quickly is important to families.” The Vein Center offers sclerotherapy injection, VenaSeal™, microphlebectomy, Veinwave™, and ClosureFast™ procedures in the office, allowing you to get back to living your best life, free from the pain and complications of venous disease.
How do you know if you are suffering from venous disease?
“Most folks are aware if they have spider, reticular, or varicose veins, but the broad range of symptoms: aching, itching, throbbing, swelling, and subtle skin changes are also key indicators of an underlying issue affecting vein health,” says Kirkland. Many people are surprised to hear that vein disorders affect the young and old alike. It is typically an inherited condition that can be exacerbated by pregnancy, injury, and certain lifestyles. “When we have a patient exhibiting symptoms of venous disease, we make sure to take a step back and look at the whole picture. We’re trained to ask ourselves ‘What else could this be?’ and think outside the box,” explains Chacko.
Advancements in endovascular science
For more than fifteen years, the Vein Center has delivered the professional expertise and patient-centric convenience with out-patient surgical interventions. “With medical advancements in the field of vascular medicine, procedures that once required general anesthesia, a four- or five-day hospital stay, and more than a month of at-home recovery can now be performed in the office under local anesthesia in under an hour with patients returning to their regular routines within a day,” says Kirkland. “The implications are astounding,” he continues. “With the use of local versus general anesthesia many patients are eligible for treatment who would otherwise not be considered for these procedures due to age or existing heart conditions. Our minimally invasive techniques save patients’ time
Dr. John Kirkland
Dr. Billy Chacko
A leader in the field
Harbin Clinic’s Vein Center is a leader in the field of vascular medicine. Dr. Chacko’s expertise in blood analytics and the medicinal implications of venous disease completes the holistic offerings of the Vein Center. “My work is grounded in scientific truths with the goal of delivering the best quality of care in a compassionate way,” says Chacko. Hundreds of physicians have turned to the Vein Center for training and professional development. Since 2009, the experts at the Vein Center have offered courses to physicians, training them in revolutionary surgical procedures and best practices that have transformed the field. In parallel, Registered Vascular Technologists from regional and national institutions have received advanced training at Harbin Clinic’s IAC (Intersocietal Accreditation Commission) accredited Vascular Lab. The Vein Center is an AAAASF accredited Surgery Center, and the Registered Vascular Technology certified professionals perform ultrasonographic testing in all areas arterial and venous, including abdominal, carotid, and cerebrovascular. It is the longest running comprehensive ultra-sound center in the state of Georgia. While many vein clinic competitors are quick to cosmetically address patient concerns; marketing episodic care and with little commitment for follow-up, the Harbin Clinic Vein Center is dedicated to support long term care for patients. “At the Vein Center, we are committed to finding the best holistic solution to
treat and prevent recurrences for our patients with a spectrum of strategies tailored to suit the individual; we treat the person not just the symptoms and can offer the full palette of specialties at Harbin Clinic to optimize their health,” explains Chacko. There is a broad spectrum of preventative strategies available to patients struggling with leg pain and swelling. “Vein disease is a lifetime condition- we want to be their primary physicians for vein health. We engage in follow-up visits as well as education. Patients need to know what they can expect in their journey of treatment and healing,” says Kirkland.
The Vein Center advantage
“An added benefit of having your veins evaluated at the Vein Center at Harbin Clinic is we are a multispecialty group. At a patient’s initial comprehensive evaluation, if we discover more pressing underlying conditions- such as heart failure or kidney failure - our notes and all the tests are available via the Harbin electronic health record to primary care and specialists throughout Harbin Clinic. They have immediate access to all the information. From the very first appointment, the health care team is engaged to solve the problem,” says Chacko. For more information, visit HarbinClinic.com/veincenter or call 762-235-3760
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CHRISTMAS COOKIE COMPETITION RECAP: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE DUCKY On December 3rd, 2020, Advocates for Children brought their Annual Christmas Cookie Competition to a close with a judging event that took place in Downtown Cartersville at the Friendship Plaza Stage. The judging was the final stage of a month-long fundraiser that benefited the Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter and Advocates for Children as a whole. During the last two weeks of October, the participating teams met with a resident of the Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter and created and designed their cookie. The teams were The City Cellar & Loft, Noble & Main, Neena’s Pizza, Fire Station 1, Cartersville Country Club, and Bridge House Café. Once the teams had created their cookie entry, the fundraising began. From November 2nd to December 3rd, people were able to vote for their favorite team by donating to Advocates for Children. Every dollar donated was the equivalent of 1 vote for the team. Teams worked hard to fundraise for Advocates by spreading the word to their guests, family and friends, and their followers on social media. Once the fundraising came to an end, a panel of local celebrity judges tasted each cookie. The judges were Chef Dorian Hunter, winner of Master Chef, Johnny Mitchell, Mayor Matt Santini, Danae Gamble, and Advocates for Children’s very own Quacky the Duck! In order to maintain social distancing, each judge was seated at their own individual table while tasting the cookies. “Safety was a high priority for us,” says Renee Shields, event organizer and Director of Development at Advocates for Children. “Coming from a hospitality background, I know the importance of food safety, but additionally we had to contend with COVID precautions as well. That’s why we set up a hand washing station, and had the server wear gloves and a mask.” Judging began at 4:00 pm and was concluded by 4:30 pm. The winning team, Bridge House Café, was announced at 5:00 pm to the gathering crowd waiting to see the Cartersville Christmas Parade. The Bridge House team cookie was a delicious chocolate turtle cookie stuffed with pretzels and nuts, drizzled with chocolate, and topped with a Rollo. The finishing touch was a sprinkling of French sea salt to accentuate the sweet and salty taste. Andrea Wallace, co-owner of Bridge House Café, said this about winning the competition: “Thank you so much! What a wonderful surprise and honor. Thank you to Advocates for all that you do.”
Matt Santini
Chef Dorian Hunter
Danae Gamble
Johnny Mitchell
And with that, Advocates for Children closed the book on their second Annual Christmas Cookie Competition. The teams raised over $2,000 for Advocates for Children and brought some Christmas joy to the residents of the Flowering Branch Children’s Shelter. “We are always so grateful to our donors, sponsors, and other participants in all our events, but this event is particularly special to us,” says Shields. “The kids really enjoy these outings, and it is a good opportunity for them to grow and learn about something new. For our community partners to take time out of their busy schedules for these kids— their time is one of the greatest gifts they could give.”
Advocates for Children is a non-profit organization that is committed to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Founded as a children’s shelter in 1983, Advocates for Children has since expanded and now includes eight different programs across eleven counties. The mission of the organization is “To strengthen our community of families by offering safety, comfort and hope to children and preventing child abuse in all its forms.” If you would like to learn more about Advocates for Children or how to get involved in these upcoming events, contact Renee Shields, Development Director, at renee@advochild.org. 28
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TO DONATE VISIT ADVOCHILD.ORG
BRIDGEHOUSE CAFÉ is a contemporary, casual dining concept that marries a blend of fast
casual with full service, all while offering delicious menu selections. When BridgeHouse Cafe opened in February of 2018, it was located in the back section of its current location and enjoyed a thriving and loyal lunch clientele. Following the shutdown in March of 2020, the owners decided to use that period to begin expansion into the entire space. Owners, Andrea and Jackie Wallace, who also own Appalachian Grill and Ate Track Bar & Grill, detailed the newly renovated concept's inspiration and design. "We have designed the ‘new’ BridgeHouse Cafe to have an open and fully enabled kitchen, as well as a beautiful full bar, the addition of booth seating, and of course, the signature vintage and funky face art along with classic yet modern style lighting to bring the existing and new spaces together,” says Andrea. The expanded kitchen enables the Cafe to offer a broader selection of signature entrees and appetizers, while also keeping customer favorites such as the Ham and Pimiento cheese sandwich. “That's just something we couldn’t take off our menu,” she says. BridgeHouse Café was the winner of the Advocates for Children Christmas Cookie Competition. Their cookie was a Sea Salt Turtle cookie which was chock-full of chocolate chips, caramel, pecans, and pretzels. "We took a traditional Turtle concept of chocolate, pecans and caramel and made a loaded cookie with it. The base had the chocolate chips and pecans, a Rolo in the middle for caramel, and pretzels on the outside. Immediately after coming out of the oven, French sea salt was lightly sprinkled on top,” Andrea describes. Look for the opening of BridgeHouse Cafe in February. In addition to the expanded physical space, the Cafe will also expand its service into dinner hours. Andrea and Jackie are looking forward to its unveiling, which they hope will make it a diner's destination.
ANDREA WALLACE
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Text: Tammy Barron | Photos: Andy Calvert
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MOV NEE
T H E
VING EDLE
For those seeking a fresh start in a new year, CrossFit Rome is a program designed to help everyone lead strong, agile lives, and to become comfortable being uncomfortable.
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“ Transforming lives through fitness, that’s what we do here at CrossFit Rome!” EXCLAIMS JEFF HOLLOWAY, owner of the facility located at 314 East First Avenue, Rome, Georgia. Holloway describes what makes CrossFit Rome more than just another gym: “The combined approach of training, nutrition, and community can push you to move the needle toward your fitness goals. Whether you are training for an upcoming event or simply want to be able to pick up your grandchildren, bottom line, there is something for everyone regardless of age and fitness level here at CrossFit Rome.” This is a program designed to help everyone lead strong, agile lives.
What is CrossFit? Technically speaking, CrossFit is three components: constantly varied functional movement that’s executed at relatively high intensity. The goal of CrossFit is to increase work capacity over broad time and through modal domain. What does this mean in layman’s terms? CrossFit is essentially constantly changing various movements that you are going to use in everyday life performed at moderate intensity. Holloway explains, “The programming is individualized for the clientele in a group setting, all the while keeping in mind the needs of all athletes stay the same — what changes is the degree of intensity. For example, my 68-year-old mother needs to be able to pick something off the floor just as 32
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an Olympic athlete needs to pick something off the floor. The only difference is that the Olympian needs to be able to pick up 500 pounds, whereas my mom needs to be able to pick up the groceries.” So how does this work? “When approaching movement intensity there is someone’s comfort zone, where they say, ‘I can do that.’ Right outside of that zone is the stretch zone where, by increasing to relative intensity, they will start pushing their boundaries and experience growth. This is where we want everyone to be. Outside of that is what we call the panic zone, or the maximum intensity zone. We aim for relative intensity for a sustainable program. What people see on TV at the CrossFit Games, those are professional athletes pushing themselves to their absolute limits. This is often what creates the misconception people have that CrossFit is a maximum intensity workout. In truth, this is a fitness program that is available to all people, ages, and fitness levels for the long term,” Holloway says.
How is CrossFit Rome different from other gyms? “I really enjoy coaching, but it is the relationships at the gym that gets me up in the morning,” Holloway explains as his face lights up. “I really like the ability to
be engaged in people’s lives and to see their progress. That is hands-down my favorite part.” People come to CFR to find results, and what they discover along the way is a unique community of solidarity. It is a place that is family-oriented and focused on unity and inclusion for all members. Holloway goes further to say, “You can walk into any CrossFit gym in town, Calhoun, or Cartersville —anywhere you go — the culture will be different in every single one of them. In some gyms, performance is king. The culture we build here is one of family; it’s a culture of inclusion where everyone has a place as they strive to be the very best physical version of themselves.” CFR has a dedicated masters program for members fifty-five years and older directed by Lindsey Bellcase, DPT, CFL1. The facility also has various CFR kids programs for children ages three to twelve years old led by Coach Amber Pewit, RN, PN1. At CrossFit Rome, community support is king. Nowhere is this more evident than the dedicated awareness Workout of the Day (WOD) or a benefit WOD to honor a member of the community that is sick or has passed. The WOD brings members together with a greater purpose than merely burning calories.
Hero WODs A perfect example of this greater purpose is the nationally recognized Hero WODs. A Hero WOD is a tribute to a fallen first responder or member of the military who dies in the line of duty. At CFR, these tributes begin with a biography of these heroes to personalize who these men and women were and to honor the full scope of the sacrifices they made for their country. “Once again, you see how we instill the ideas of community and unity when we come together to memorialize a person that made the ultimate sacrifice in service of others,” Holloway says. “What I find particularly special about the Hero WODs is that it can be a reminder that we all do hard things in this life. We get through it, and then to go on to do other hard stuff. People talk about CrossFit as being painful, but if we are honest, CrossFit is uncomfortable. There are things in life that are painful, like losing a spouse or a child; facing disease and loss. These things are painful; doing burpees — when you don’t really want to — that is uncomfortable. I firmly believe doing things that are uncomfortable makes it easier to mentally and physically overcome things that are painful. Here at CFR, we work to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
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Nutrition Program Amber Pewitt, RN, PN1, is the certified nutrition coach for CrossFit Rome. She works tirelessly to educate and support clients through the five basic principles of a successful nutritional program. She describes the five principles:
1. Eat real food (mostly vegetables) with appropriate portion sizes “It begins with educating our members using a range of tools for them to be independent and successful in their journey.”
2. Sustainability “We avoid stifling diets that count calories or carbs because many of them are not sustainable long term. People may find that they can strictly cut these things out of their diet and over the course of six weeks they aren’t very happy, they may lose the weight but studies show that many of these diet programs will result in people gaining the weight if not more back within a year. We take the 80:20 approach: 80% of the time I eat the good stuff, real food, mostly vegetables, not too much; and 20% of the time I enjoy something that I really love. 3. Metrics “Two components make up this principle: quantitative is a body composition scan; we look at weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and muscle mass percentage; qualitative is the explorations of the mindset we have with food. What is our awareness of hungry cues, emotional eating impulses, and how do you feel throughout your day.” 4. Consistency “Similarly to our approach to workouts, there is a balance within exercising every day at relative intensity; a healthy nutrition program follows the same methodology. It is more important to make small tweaks that can be sustained, making dietary choices that become habits for two weeks, a month, six months, etc.”
5. Accountability “This is the component where our coaches really play a big part in someone’s program. They will come in with specific goals in mind. The other coaches and myself help get people from where they are to where they want to go. Our job is to remind them of those goals. Weekly check-ins and monthly body composition scans help us support clients on their journeys.” Ultimately, CrossFit Rome wants to help people achieve their fitness goals and teach them good, healthy habits that will serve them well for a lifetime. The nutrition program can be done separately or in conjunction with a gym membership. There is a three-month program to help individuals reach shortterm goals and a one-year program that is a more habits-focused program with sustainability in mind. To learn more about CrossFit Rome, visit CrossFitrome.com or call 770-906-0176.
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Lindsey Bellcase
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Preser the Past
ing “Historic preservation IS Rome,�
Associate Planner Brittany Griffin says. Take a peek behind the walls of a few local buildings to find the stories waiting to be told. Text: Cassie LaJeunesse | Photos: Andy Calvert
Did you know that ROME, GEORGIA, WAS ONE OF THE PIONEERS of historic preservation in the state? How about that Rome has the oldest and largest intact Victorian main street in Georgia? These are just a few of the fascinating facts that Brittany Griffin, associate planner, has to share. Griffin has led the Rome Historic Preservation Commission for the past four years. “If you ask me why historic preservation is important to Rome, I can’t give you a straight answer other than historic preservation is Rome,” Griffin says. “If we didn’t have historic preservation, I personally don’t think we would have what we have in Rome today.”
A State Pioneer
When Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966, Rome was one of the first Georgia cities to jump on board the national movement, passing its own historic preservation ordinance in 1978, two years before the state adopted its preservation ordinance in 1980. “Because we adopted our ordinance before the state ordinance, we are still one of the nine that are grandfathered in, so we are lucky enough to make our own rules and make our own pace,” Griffin says. Rome’s decision to join the national push for historic preservation had a lot to do with Broad Street, now the oldest and largest intact Victorian main street in the state of Georgia. According to Griffin, a nationwide movement from city centers to suburbs in the 1970s meant that businesses on main streets began to struggle. “When you participate 38
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in historic preservation, it opens you up to a lot of state funds, so that’s why they jumped on it so early,” Griffin says. “[Rome] saw that they had something great here downtown that was still intact, and those early pioneers in Rome decided to do something about the fact that all the businesses were shuttering.” According to Griffin, one of the benefits of historic preservation is the possibility for state and federal funding. Rome has taken advantage of state funding in order to maintain its standard of conservation, eventually leading to a statewide order called the Rome Rule. “Rome was getting way too many funds at one point, for the rehab of our downtown and our historic districts, that they actually had to cut us off so that other municipalities could get money statewide,” Griffin explains.
Continuing Preservation
Rome has five local historic districts: the largest, Between the Rivers, contains 553 parcels. The others are East Rome, Oakdene, Avenue A and College READV3.COM | JANUARY 2021 V3 MAGAZINE
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Heights. The Historic Preservation Commission oversees these districts, reviewing any exterior changes to the buildings and landscaping on the parcels. “A lot of the residents move in because the houses look a certain way, because their neighbors have to keep up their residences,” Griffin says. This commitment to maintaining historic properties comes with its challenges. According to Griffin, one of the biggest challenges historic preservationists face is telling people what to do. “People do not like being told what to do with their property,” she says. However, there is a certain level of upkeep required in owning a historic property. “Those old buildings, they’re like a grandparent — you love them, but they’re going to constantly need some type of maintenance,” Griffin says. “You rehab a building that’s 100 years old, and 10 years 40
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later you’re going to have to rehab that exact same thing you rehabbed… You’ve got to care about what you live in.” In reality, Griffin says, everything in Rome is an ongoing preservation project. Look at 212 E Fourth Avenue. This apartment building with 98 windows was the first project Griffin took on when she started in historic preservation, and it is still in the works. City Hall recently underwent a $1.5 million dollar SPLOST rehab, but a leak in the ceilings means there is more work to be done. The DeSoto Theater is currently undergoing a renovation that has gotten statewide recognition. “With historic buildings, it doesn’t matter how many times you rehab them, something the next day is going to happen,” Griffin says.
City of Stories
The city of Rome contains 1,796 historic resources. Unsurprisingly, there are a wealth of stories that have been preserved along with their properties. “Rome, if you actually start to dig in the history of it, has a lot of history for the fact that it is so far away from Atlanta. The people of Rome realize that,” Griffin says. Take the house at 615 W First Street, for example. Known as the Omberg House, this home was the site of the first bilateral oophorectomy, an operation to remove the ovaries. In 1872, Dr. Robert Battey performed the procedure on Julia Omberg while a mob of people waited outside, ready to lynch the doctor if Omberg died in surgery. She survived, however, and lived another 50 years.
“If we didn’t have historic preservation, I personally don’t think we would have what we have in Rome today.” The story of the biggest ongoing historic preservation project in Rome is a much more tragic one. The Hillyer House at 2 Coral Avenue was operating as a bed and breakfast in 2005 when it caught fire. A newlywed woman there on her honeymoon died in the fire, and her husband was critically injured. Griffin says that the house was just a shell after the fire, leading her to believe that someone would tear it down and build new. However, the house is currently under renovation, and Griffin says it’s an amazing project. “They’ve been working on it for the past three years or so, nonstop,” she says. “The fact that they were actually able to save that house is nothing short of phenomenal.” These are just a few of the stories that surround Rome’s historic places. Events in American history such as the Civil War and the Trail of Tears have connections to Rome, and an ongoing project hopes to discover the sites of slave and freeman cemeteries in the area. Griffin hopes to see the future of historic preservation include even more stories from marginalized communities.
The Future of Preservation
“The minority stories that we don’t highlight, those are my favorite,” Griffin says. Currently, there is a national movement to include more LGBTQ+ history, women’s history, African American and people of color’s history in historic preservation, but Griffin says that this is a very new movement in the grand scheme of things. “It’s definitely something Rome has not caught onto yet,” she says. “We have some small movements, but we are still not where we need to be. One day, we will be more inclusive.” She adds, “I’m tired of only preserving the big and beautiful. So many stories happened in these smaller houses that you drive by, stories that are honestly as important if not more important than the stories that happened elsewhere.”
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No matter what you are going through, the Emotions Clothing Line is providing a way for young and old alike to wear their feelings on their sleeve.
Text: Oliver Robbins Photos: David Johnson READV3.COM | JANUARY 2021 V3 MAGAZINE
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Long before anyone had an inkling of what 4K is, living in HD was just the way it was for a generation as vibrant as their style. From high-top fade haircuts that grazed the tops of door frames to platform Mary Janes, the style in the early, mid and late 90s was meant for Generation X, a group of adults who understood that three-wheel motion had nothing to do with a tricycle and everything to do with a culture and a feeling of being beyond ordinary. Those who called this decade home to their adolescent years can identify with the bold way they wore their emotions out loud, and their choice of attire followed in lockstep. Inspired by brands like Cross Colors, Nike’s brief dance with MJ and everyone’s favorite crafty rabbit, and the line that literally changed hues with a touch of the hand, Hypercolor, fabric meant for wearing was a statement. The teenagers from this time were poised to lead the way in a creative revolution that fell in line with nothing and meant everything to those who wished to express themselves with fashion. Paired with Duck Head deck shorts, brightly colored sneakers literally left a rainbow of style on the 90s. And if your gear was not tight, well, your closet’s shortcomings would spread faster than a Facebook rumor. For one local entrepreneur, returning today’s youth to the glory of his generation was not only about the clothes, but more about the values instilled in him by a family that never left his side. Tyrone Griffin, Jr. was the example of current during his years roaming the halls of Rome High School and scoring big as an athlete. Griffin was the epitome of what it meant to be popular. Ball was life, and when he breaks it down it is easy to see 44
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where he learned to work harder than expected and give most of himself to those whom he loves most. Now the owner of The G.O.A.T. Clothing and his new line, Emotions, Griffin is not done shocking the world with what he has to offer. Perhaps the most admirable quality he has is his dedication to leaving a legacy for his children, just like his parents did for him. Those who know Griffin today, long after he made noise on the gridiron at Historic Barron Stadium and later for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will likely tie him to the success of his five children. Griffin has four sons who led the Rome High Wolves football team to back-to-back state championships (2016-2017), and all have gone on to play sports at the next level. He also has a daughter who has taken to hoops, and as a freshman in high school, she is primed to be mentioned with the greats of Floyd County, just like her brothers. That story is for another day and time. This bit of babble is about something he has created that not only celebrates the accomplishments of his children, but also has given his community a reason to get behind a local brand. The G.O.A.T. Clothing is a line created by Griffin that combines the idea of hard work with the glory that comes along after the sweat has dried and the muscles are achy. The G.O.A.T. Clothing was spun six years ago from the threads of Griffin’s training camp for aspiring athletes, Camp Joe Jackson. With a humorous take on Joe Jackson, the man responsible for turning his family into international R&B superstars and later opening the door for Michael Jackson to be the biggest name in music on the planet, Griffin has attracted youngsters from across the state to train with him. With the tag line, “Why be good, when you can be great,” this local business
owner and creative wanted to pass on through clothing what led to the huge success of not only his children, but also of the man behind the brand. Now, Griffin has launched a new brand he calls Emotions. Both lines are bold; they bring the feeling of times past to those who remember letting their clothes speak for them. And for Griffin, this is exactly what he intended when he noticed the 90s trends creeping back into the mainstream. “Having young kids really inspired me to create both clothing lines,” he says. “I was trying to keep up with them, you know, and watching them when they went shopping. I wanted their feedback about what they were looking for, and more importantly, what they were not able to find. They wanted different colorways to match the throwback sneakers that are now in style and I used to wear when I was their age. I wanted to dig deeper and research more. The plan was a hit and miss along the way, but I have found something that I feel we could roll with.” Griffin said he has drawn from the trends of the past, but he wanted to provide a new take with Emotions. His goal was to not only provide outerwear for the children, but also to design his clothing for everyone who wanted to express themselves with what they wear. Emotions fits the mold. Using high-quality materials, Griffin offers gear that stacks up against the competition in durability and design. His logos are embroidered, the cloth is substantial and if you were to see his line hanging next to national brands, one would likely say his clothes are above the bar. Classic polo-style shirts, t-shirts, and full sets of athletic wear are all a part of his offerings. “It takes money to make money, so we are adding different options to our line as fast as we
can,” Griffin says. “I am always trying to find new options based on feedback from the people who support the clothing line.” He goes on to offer the philosophy behind his designs. “Some people have a hard time expressing their emotions and what their mood is for the moment,” he explains. “What the Emotions line does for people is to allow them to wear their emotions on their sleeve. If you wear your heart on your sleeve, then others can read you just by looking at you. So, that is what I am hoping to bring to the fashion. Every shirt has a certain heart that may have an angry face, a sad face, an excited face and more. I hope that this brand says to others that having emotions is a part of life. It is what we are going through.” Griffin has even created a heart face with a mask to signify the difficulties associated with the recent pandemic. His goal is to move the line with the times, further offering his customers a way to be fluid with style and connect how they feel with the world around them. “That is why I want to push the Emotions line, because the moment is right,” Griffin says. “People are going through so much, and I feel that these clothes speak to that struggle. We are all trapped in different emotions right now and we are all going through different things. With Emotions, you can make a statement about feelings that are normally internal.”
Top-bottom, Left-Right: Jamious Griffin, Ja'Kolbi Griffin, Jada Cross, Breanna Griffin, Jaylen Griffin, Da'Niyah Primus READV3.COM | JANUARY 2021 V3 MAGAZINE
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Taking a snapshot of the local youth, it is almost impossible to not find his line sprinkled into the group. The popularity of the clothing line has even breached the county lines, with high profile athletes and musicians in the Metro Atlanta area sporting Emotions for their Instagram accounts. Griffin said that his hustle is what has made the difference in his life, and he had a great example of the art growing up with Tyrone “Big Griff” Griffin, Sr. “Since my sister and I were born, my father has been a hustler,” Griffin says as he fought back tears of pride in his old man. “He worked for a local steel mill, Bekaert, for 30 years. Outside of Bekaert he would cut grass, do handyman work for his community and any odd job he could find. Sometimes, he would bring me along and I was able to see firsthand his work ethic. He did it all so that his family could be comfortable and live better than he did. He is my inspiration. So, that is what I hope to offer my children, and that is why they are partners in this company.” Griffin says that his ultimate goal is to teach his children how to own and operate a business, a skill that will be valuable long after the last touchdown is scored, the last home run leaves the park, the last three hits the bottom of the net, or the last QB falls in the backfield at the hands of a Griffin. “I hope that they will have the blueprint to make all things successful in their lives,” Griffin said. “In the end, everything we do is for family. If they never pick up a ball again, I want my children to know how to grind, and know that they can make it.” One thing is for certain, and that is you had better have a dump truck full of dough to bet against the success of a Griffin. For more information about how you can get your hands on his line visit www.thegoatclothingline.com. Or, you can find the clothes on Facebook and Instagram by searching The GOAT Clothing Line or _Emotions Clothing.
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stro
THE DISH MEDITERRANEAN
bistro
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www.lascalaromega.com 413 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
706-238-9000
Hours: Mon - Sat: 6pm - 10pm 400 Block Bar & Lounge: 4pm-1:30am Live music each weekend.
La Scala offers both first-rate service and terrific Italian Cuisine in an upscale casual atmosphere. 50% off cafe menu from 4-6 p.m.
www.schroedersnewdeli.com 406 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
706-234-4613
Hours: Mon-Thur: 11am-9pm Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm Sun: 11:30am-3pm
Schroeder’s menu includes sandwiches, calzones, soups, salads, potato skins, nachos, wings, and more. And don’t forget our pizza! It’s the best in town... and for a sweet treat, try our Cheesecake Calzone! (Draft and Bottled Beers & Wine also offered) Famous for: Their Roast Beef Relief!
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1204 Turner McCall Blvd • Rome, GA 30161 2300 Shorter Ave • Rome, GA 30165 3110 Cedartown Hwy • Rome, GA 30161 104 S Tennessee St • Cartersville, GA 30120
We’re known as the place to go for juicy, delicious charbroiled burgers & made from scratch biscuits. Because if you’re gonna eat, you should Eat Like You Mean It!
429 Broad St Rome, GA 30161
706-295-5330
Hours: Monday: 11am-3pm Tues-Sat: 8am-3pm
706-314-9544
Jamwich - Serving distinctive sandwiches, salads, and soups. Sandwiches built with the finest ingredients: Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, Zelma’s Blue Ribbon Jams and Jellies, fresh sourdough bread, premium Boars Head thick cut bacon and farm-to-table produce.
www.moesoriginalbbq.com/rome 101 West 1st Street Rome, GA 30161
706-622-2977
Hours: Sun-Thu: 11am - 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am - 2am
Moe’s Original BBQ is a Southern soul food revival where great food is served in an atmosphere that is relaxed, spontaneous, yet civilized….well, sometimes.
www.swheatmarketdeli.com Hours: Mon-Sat: 5am-10pm Sun: 6am-10pm
706.291.2021
www.elzaraperome.com
510 Broad Street Rome, GA 30161
5 E Main St Cartersville, GA 30120
770-607-0067
Hours: Mon and Tue 11-4 Wed and Thur 11-4 Fri and Sat 11-8 Sun 11-3
Casual counter serve offering sandwiches, salads & American comfort food
www.maineonmain.com Hours: Mon - Thu: 11am-9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am-10:30pm Sunday: 11am-4pm
Colorful, casual outpost serving Mexican street tacos & fajitas, plus beers & tequila drinks.
24 W Main St Cartersville, GA 30120
770-334-3813
Hours: Mon - Thurs: 11am - 9pm Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm Sun: 11am - 8pm
At Maine Street Coastal Cuisine, in the heart of historic downtown Cartersville, we pride ourselves on sourcing seafood from sustainable fisheries. Our passion is to provide a restaurant free of artificial flavors and ingredients.
Make it a meal worth remembering. Where to eat in Northwest Georgia. READV3.COM | JANUARY 2021 V3 MAGAZINE
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