Atlanta Galleria Now

Galleria Chat: Dec. 12, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Jingle All The Way. For a fun treat while you're doing your holiday shopping, head on over to Vinings Jubilee this Friday. Shoppers can enjoy complimentary horse-drawn sleigh rides around the shopping center from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Click here for directions to Vinings Jubilee as well as a directory of stores and restaurants.

Disney Junior Live! See beloved Disney characters Sofia the First, Jake and the Neverland Pirates when the “Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure” comes to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this weekend. The show includes songs and appearances by Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Shows will run this Saturday and Sunday. Tickets and show times are available at Ticketmaster.com.

Breakfast with Santa. If you haven't had a chance to tell Santa all of your Christmas wishes, then you'll have your chance this Saturday. Several J. Christopher's restaurants — include one in Kennesaw and two in Marietta — will host breakfasts with Santa that day.

Children will have the chance to take complimentary photos with Santa, tell him their Christmas lists, and enjoy a hearty breakfast with him and Mrs. Claus.

Click here for more information on breakfast times at each restaurant location.

Miracle on 34th Street. Come toThe Earl Smith Strand Theatre this Sunday evening for a showing of a Christmas classic: the movie “Miracle on 34th Street.”

This 1947 film presents the touching story of people who attend the Macy's Day Parade on Thanksgiving and begin to wonder if the department store’s Santa is the real one.

The show starts at 8:00 p.m., and tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for students, seniors and military personnel. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Galleria Chat: Oct. 24, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Halloween Hikes. There is a non-scary alternative to traditional Halloween events this weekend at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. Halloween Hikes will take place Friday and Saturday evenings, and will feature safely lighted, guided trail walks where nature-costumed characters will greet and interact with children. There will also be arts and crafts, face painting and live music for all to enjoy.

The event lasts from 7 p m. to 10 p.m. each night, and admission is $9 per person (children ages 2 and under will be admitted for free). The Chattahoochee Nature Center is located at 9125 Willeo Road in Roswell. For more information, visit the center’s website.

Up, Up and Away. Take an opportunity this Saturday to visit Owl O’Ween, Atlanta’s first major hot-air balloon festival, at the Kennesaw State University Sports & Recreation Complex.

The festival will include pyrotechnic skydivers, a balloon glow, tethered balloon rides, trick-or-treating, local foods, live music and a whimsical forest kids area.

The festival will be held from 4 p.m. to midnight at 3000 George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw. Admission for children ages 4 and older is $8, and adult tickets are $15.

For more information, visit the festival's website.

Halloween with Goldilocks. The Young Actors Playhouse gets in on the Halloween festivities this weekend with its presentation of the spooky musical “Goldilocks and the Curse of the Porridge.”

The show runs this Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Theatre in the Square, located at 11 Whitlock Avenue in Marietta. Parking is available on the Marietta Square. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Young Actors Playhouse website.

Dance Party. Finalists from the hit television series “So You Think You Can Dance” are touring the country this fall and will bring their show to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this Friday at 8 p.m. 

Come out to watch the Season Ten finalists as they perform some of the most popular routines from the show as well as original, never-before-seen routines created for the tour.

Tickets range from $37 to $62 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.

Galleria Chat: Oct. 17, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado …

Let’s Have a Songversation. Musical artist India.Arie will perform this Friday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m. at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Her current concert series follows the recent release of her fifth studio album, “Songversation.”

Tickets range from $38 to $94 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster or at the Bank of North Georgia Box Office at Cobb Energy Centre.

Busy Weekend on the Square. The Marietta Square is the place to be this weekend for lots of family fun. For starters, the Harvest Square Arts & Crafts Festival will take place there on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Held in conjunction with the festival, Halloween Happenings, an annual event for children ages 12 and younger, will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature a variety of activities, such as costume contests for both children and pets.

Free parking will be available in the Cobb County Parking Garage on Cherokee Street.

Additionally, the third annual Marietta Zombie Walk will be held on the Square on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All proceeds from the walk will benefit MUST ministries, and canned food donations will be accepted throughout the event. After the walk, there will be a double feature of the movies “Attack of the Monsters” and “Night of the Living Dead” in Glover Park, which will last until 11 p.m.

For more information, visit www.MariettaZombieWalk.org.

Superheroes vs. Villains. Dress up as your favorite superhero or villain and participate in the Superheroes vs. Villains 5K race this Saturday. The race will start at 8 a.m. at Required Fitness in west Cobb, near the intersection of Mary Eliza Trace and Due West Road. The event will also feature a fun run for kids and the Superhero Super Block Party, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Registration costs $30 before Saturday and $35 onsite. Children’s fun run registration is $15. All registered runners get a medal, t-shirt and prize bag to take home with them.

For more information, visit http://superheroesvsvillains5k.com/.

Art of Wine Expo. The Marietta Wine Market will host the seventh annual Art of Wine Expo this Sunday at 2 p.m. This event will take place at the Marietta Educational Gardens at 505 Kennesaw Ave. in Marietta. There will be more than 200 wines for tasting as well as a fabulous selection of food, live jazz and artwork from local artists.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Purchase tickets by calling the Marietta Wine Market at (770) 919-1574.

Galleria Chat: Oct. 10, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado…

Theater on the Square. A new play opens on the Marietta Square this week, presented by the Marietta Players. “The Boys Next Door” provides a snapshot into the lives of four men with mental disabilities who live in a group home.

The show runs Oct. 9 though Oct. 27 on Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m. Shows take place in the former Theatre on the Square space at 11 Whitlock Avenue. To purchase advanced tickets, click here.

Media Frenzy. Whether you’re looking for new books, movies, magazines, music or even comic books, you’re in luck this weekend. The Cobb County Library and the Friends of the Library are hosting a book sale at Jim Miller Park on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Drop in to purchase items from the library’s collection, each on sale for $2 or less. Proceeds go toward purchasing new books and other materials for the library.

Keep in mind that only cash and checks are accepted. Jim Miller Park is located at 2245 Callaway Road in Marietta.

Well-Read Felines. Who doesn’t love a good book and a sweet cat? Rescue a loving pet and pick up a new read at this Saturday’s Literary Cats Adoption Event at The Book Stop in Smyrna. 

Half the Way Home, an organization that helps shelter cats get adopted, will be at the book store with a number of pets waiting to find their new homes. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3599 Atlanta Road.

For more information, visit www.halfthewayhome.org. 

Comedy Gold. Ready to laugh? Jimmy Fallon’s Clean Cut Comedy Tour will stop by the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

The late-night talk show host and former Saturday Night Live star joins guest comedians Julian McCullough, Nate Bargatze and Nick Thune for a full night of comedy.

Tickets are $42 plus applicable fees and are available through Ticketmaster or the Cobb Energy Centre box office.

Galleria Chat: Sept. 19, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado…

Community Celebration. The Marietta area is full of festivals this weekend. Start off Saturday morning with the 18th Annual East Cobber Parade and Festival, a community event sponsored by the East Cobber monthly newspaper.

The morning begins at 10 a.m. with a parade down Johnson Ferry Road, beginning at Mt. Bethel Elementary School and ending at The Fountains of Olde Towne Shopping Center. The parade will feature more than 2,000 participants with floats, marching bands, classic cars and more.

Stick around at the end of the parade route for entertainment, arts and crafts, food and games until 3 p.m. Visit www.eastcobber.com/parade for more details.

Fireworks in September. After the East Cobber Parade, head to the Marietta Square for the 22nd Annual Marietta StreetFest, a huge celebration from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. presented by the Marietta Museum of History.

Check out arts and antiques at more than 50 booths, visit the Hubcaps and History Classic Car show, hear music from local talent, and join in on activities and games.

Most importantly, stay until dark for the City of Marietta’s July 4th fireworks display, which was postponed earlier this summer due to weather.

Read all about it at www.mariettastreetfest.com.

Marietta’s Music Talent. In conjunction with the Marietta StreetFest is the Marietta Grassroots Music Festival, which takes place this Saturday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Marietta Square.

Local talent representing a wide range of musical genres will play on two different stages at the Square’s Glover Park. Musical acts include everything from country artist Ali Bartlett to indie rock group The Derek McCloud Band to reggae-funk band No Parachute.

Visit www.mariettagrassroots.org for the full lineup.

The Jazz Greats. Longing for the days of Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams and Count Basie? Join Atlanta’s Jazz Roots series for “A Tribute to Ella, Joe & Basie” on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 8 p.m. at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. This concert homage will feature Kevin Mahogany paying tribute to Joe Williams, Grammy-winning vocalist Janis Siegel as Ella Fitzgerald and the legendary Count Basie Orchestra.

Tickets range from $29 to $89 plus applicable fees. Purchase tickets and learn more about the event here.

Galleria Chat: Sept. 5, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado…

Tour de Marietta. The first Friday of the month is here, which means it’s time for another First Friday Art Walk. The Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour of the Marietta Square art scene that lasts from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Stop at participating restaurants, galleries, museums, venues and boutiques to see featured work from local artists.

For maps of the tour, visit www.artwalkmarietta.com.

Get Cultured. Avery Gallery is hosting a special art and music event this Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in conjunction with the Marietta First Friday Art Walk.

Avery will showcase Native American art from Hubert Wackermann and music by Sons of Natives, a group of Native American flutists, and Marjan Tavakoli, who plays traditional Persian music. Refreshments will be served by GG’s Creole Cuisine. 

This is a free event and open to the public. Avery Gallery is located at 390 Roswell Street in Marietta.

Wellness Weekend. Looking to get the whole family on a path toward better health? The city of Marietta and WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center are teaming up for a free community wellness workshop this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Marietta Square Farmers Market.

The workshop will feature health education seminars from WellStar. The hospital’s representatives will provide free screenings for cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure. WellStar executive chef Ben Behimer also will be on hand for a cooking demonstration from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Get in on the activity with free yoga instruction at 9 a.m. and a free Zumba class at 11 a.m., both in Glover Park at the Marietta Square.

For more information, visit Marietta Patch.

Nationally Known. Have you heard the indie rock band The National yet? In the last few years, the band has gone from underground stars to rock institution. 

The National is currently on tour behind its newest album, “Trouble Will Find Me,” and will visit the Cobb Energy Centre on Monday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m. Catch the group before they get even hotter on the indie music scene.

Tickets range from $22 to $34.50 plus applicable fees. Purchase them by visiting www.cobbenergycentre.com or visiting the Cobb Energy Centre box office. Hear The National’s music at www.americanmary.com.

Galleria Chat: April 4, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado…

The Peanuts Gang Onstage. If you’ve always loved the Peanuts comic strip, now is your time to catch them onstage in the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which opens this weekend at the Alley Stage Theatre.

Presented by Next Stage Theatre Company, the musical comedy brings to life some of the comic strip’s most memorable situations involving Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Sally, Lucy and the rest of the group.

The show begins Friday, April 5, and runs through Saturday, April 20. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and $15 for children under the age of 12. However, if you purchase two children’s tickets, an adult ticket is free.

Tickets and show times are available by visiting www.nextstagetheatrecompany.com. The Alley Stage is located at 11 Anderson Street in Marietta.

Art Appreciation. This Friday marks the beginning of the 2013 First Friday Art Walk season. The Art Walk is a self-guided tour through the Marietta Square’s art scene, with stops at local galleries, museums, cultural venues, restaurants and boutiques. Participating venues will have official banners in their windows. The Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of each month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information on the Art Walk, visit www.artwalkmarietta.com.

A Winning Collaboration. Grammy-winning artists Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, who for decades have stated their desire to work together again, have teamed up for their first album collaboration since Crowell played in Harris’ band in 1975.

The two are touring to promote that album and will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, April 4, at 8 p.m. The Richard Thompson Electric Trio, featuring legendary guitarist Richard Thompson, will open for the duo.

Tickets range from $33 to $63 plus applicable fees. More information on purchasing tickets is available on the event webpage.

Shop for SafePath. On Wednesday, April 10, Harry’s Farmers Market in Marietta will donate 5 percent of that day’s net sales to the SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center. For information on SafePath, visit www.safepath.org.

Harry’s Farmers Market is located at 70 Powers Ferry Road in Marietta.

Galleria Chat: Feb. 28, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado…

Honoring Heroes. The Marietta Museum of History is presenting the fourth-annual Hearts for Heroes event this Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m. at the Strand Theatre in Marietta. Hearts for Heroes is a night to celebrate, honor and remember local military members for their service to the country.

The event will feature inspirational speeches from three Medal of Honor recipients and a celebration of “citizen-soldiers” who have made the transition from serving in the military to civilian service, according to a story in the Marietta Daily Journal.

Local singer-songwriter Corey Crowder, whose songs have been featured on television shows such as “One Tree Hill” and “The Real World,” will also perform. The city of Marietta and Cobb County will be recognized for their contributions to local military personnel.

Tickets are $30 for a general ticket or $125 for VIP tickets, which include a reception at the home of former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes. Tickets can be purchased online.

Your Name in Lights. Have you always wanted to be in the spotlight? The Smyrna Village Players are holding open auditions for its summer production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The company is looking for actors of all ages and experience levels.

Auditions will be held Sunday, March 3, and Monday, March 4, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Smyrna First United Methodist Church. Actors can come any time during those hours with a photo and resume. Actors will perform cold readings. Men will be asked to sing “If I Were a Rich Man,” and women will sing “Matchmaker.”

Smyrna First United Methodist Church is located at 1315 Concord Road. For more information, contact Kimberly Withka at Kimberly@faithumcng.org or call 770-435-9722.

Eat Right. The Greater Atlanta Dietetic Association is hosting a free screening of HBO’s “Weight of the Nation,” a documentary about America’s health problems, on Saturday, March 2, at the Cobb Central Library. A question-and-answer session with registered dietician Sherry Collins will follow the screening.

The event lasts from noon to 1:30 p.m. Cobb Central Library is located at 266 Roswell Street in Marietta.

Begin March with Verdi. The Atlanta Opera’s rendition of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” begins this weekend at the Cobb Energy Centre. The opera, which will be sung in Italian with projected English translations, is a romantic tragedy that deals with family strife, unfortunate misunderstanding and selfless sacrifice.

The show runs as follows:

Saturday, March 2, at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 8, at 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 10, at 3 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or through the venue’s box office. Visit the Atlanta Opera online at www.atlantaopera.org for more information.

Galleria Chat: Feb. 7, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado… 

Good News for Oyster Lovers. Does an all-day oyster festival sound like your idea of a Mardi Gras celebration? How about a five-day oyster festival? Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Smyrna is back with its second annual Oyster Festival, featuring live music, New Orleans fare, crowning of a “King” and “Queen,” prizes and, of course, oysters.

The event lasts from Friday, Feb. 8, to Tuesday, Feb. 12. Each day features something a little different, such as music all day Saturday, a brunch on Sunday and a family-friendly celebration on Monday.

For a full lineup of music acts and events, visit the event’s website.

One Party of a Road Race. If you’d like a little more exercise in your Carnival season celebration, then perhaps the Marietta Mardi Gras 5K this Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Marietta Square is more your style.

The fourth annual event, which benefits the Junior League of Cobb-Marietta and its community partners, includes a 5K run beginning at 8 a.m., a 1K beginning at 8:45 a.m. and a “tot trot” that starts at 9 a.m.

The Junior League is teaming up with Shoes for the Cure, a professional recycling company that aims to keep shoes out of landfills by using them in recycled materials. Shoes for the Cure will be hosting a shoe drive at the event and asks for donations of any and all shoes.

For more information and to register, visit www.marietta5k.com.

Back by Popular Demand. Atlanta Ballet’s rendition of Michael Pink’s “Dracula” is back at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre starting this Friday, Feb. 8. The Atlanta Ballet will present an eerie, haunting take on the Dracula tale based on the original score.

The dates run as follows:

Friday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 10, at 2 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or through the Cobb Energy Centre’s box office. For more information, visit www.atlantaballet.com.

Grab Your Dancing Shoes. Marietta Parks and Recreation is hosting its annual Daddy-Daughter Dance this Sunday, Feb. 10, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mansour Center in Marietta.

Fathers and their daughters ages five to 12 are invited for music, dancing, activities and refreshments. This year’s event has a “Picnic in the Park” theme, and dress is semi-formal to formal.

Registration is required, and tickets are $30 plus $5 for each additional daughter. Register by Friday, Feb. 8, by visiting the City of Marietta online.

Galleria Chat: Jan. 31, 2013

The Galleria Chat appears on this blog each week. The Chat provides a hearty helping of events and announcements to keep you in the know about the area surrounding the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. So without further ado… 

Wellness with Wellstar. Was your New Year’s resolution to focus more on your health? If so, you might want to check out the Community Health and Wellness Expo at Wellstar Health Place in Marietta on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

The Expo features information from health professionals, free health screenings, fitness-equipment giveaways and more. Wellstar Health Place — a fitness club with gym, spa, racquetball courts, tracks and pool — is located at 330 Kennestone Hospital Boulevard in Marietta.

That Famous Red Dog. This weekend marks your chance to see everyone’s favorite big red dog — perhaps the only big red dog — in person. “Clifford the Big Red Dog Live!” comes to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre this Saturday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m.

The Emmy-nominated musical is geared for the whole family, and follows Clifford and Emily Elizabeth on a big adventure. 

Tickets, which range from $15.50 to $30.50 plus applicable fees, are available online through Ticketmaster or by calling 800-745-3000.

The Cobb Energy Centre is located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway.

For the Grownups. If you’re looking for humor that’s a little more grownup, maybe a night with comedian Ron White would be more your cup of tea. The comedian is presenting his newest stand-up show, “A Little Unprofessional,” this weekend at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. 

The show runs this Friday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $47.75 or $57.75 plus applicable fees and can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or by calling 800-745-3000.

Kick Off the Giving. Relay for Life of Vinings is hosting a free kick-off party this weekend during which locals can learn how to get involved in the organization, which sponsors relay-race events to raise money for cancer research.

The party starts this Saturday, Feb. 2, at 1:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Cobb Galleria. The Hyatt is located at 2876 Spring Hill Parkway in Smyrna. For more information contact Amy Haygood at Amy.Haygood@cancer.org.