Newcomer Magazine | Fall 2023

Fall 2023

DISCOVER ATLANTA’S FAMILYFRIENDLY PLACES p.14

FAITH-BASED

EDUCATION

LEFT OUT OF THE IN CROWD HOW TO DEAL WITH CLIQUES AT SCHOOL A GUIDE TO HAUNTED HOUSES , CORN MAZES & PUMPKIN PATCHES

STRONG ACADEMICS & A FOCUS ON VALUES

Atlanta is known for its festive Halloween events. Here’s our guide to Atlanta’s scary haunted houses, fun corn mazes and pumpkin patches.

Family

Newcomer’s

Our annual look at Atlanta education includes the many benefits of faith-based education, how to help your child cope with cliques at school and much more.

Charleston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

38 21 10 DEPARTMENTS

Relocation Guide 43

48 Get caught up on the best exhibitions, theatrical productions, special

We wish to thank all the people who made this publication possible through their valuable time and dedication. Many thanks to our advertisers for their support of Newcomer magazine.

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Everett Catts

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Jeff Thompson

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inFOCUS

NEWS BITES FROM AROUND ATLANTA

EMOTIONS IN

MOTION

Based on the hit animated film, Emotions at Play With Pixar’s Inside Out teaches children about the important role emotions play in everyday life, with hands-on and digital encounters focused on the five emotions highlighted in the film, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear. Sept. 16 through Jan. 7 at Children’s Museum of Atlanta. For tickets and more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES

Enter a world where nothing is as it seems at Museum of Illusions Atlanta. The immersive new attraction at Atlantic Station features more than 80 exhibits and installations showcasing mind-boggling optical illusions and holograms. Gain a new perspective in the museum’s illusion rooms and experience such highlights as the Cloning Table and the Vortex Tunnel! For tickets and other information, visit moiatlanta.com.

Excellence in Education

The 2023-24 school year has arrived, but we wanted to take a moment to congratulate some outstanding students in Atlanta International School’s class of 2023: Valedictorian Kate Foglesong, salutatorians Elliott Faa, Nelson Mendels and Sofia Nystrom, as well as Asanshay Gupta, who was recognized as AIS’ STAR student of the year and also received the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup. In addition, educator Maanya Madan was awarded the European Council of International Schools’ Award for International Understanding. Congrats to all!

Kate Foglesong

Set Sail for the Middle Ages

Step into a whole new world of history and adventure with Vikings: Warriors of the Sea at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. This fascinating exhibit provides a deep dive into Viking culture, traditions, art and innovations and dispels common myths and stereotypes about this complex society. The exhibit includes 140 authentic artifacts including jewelry, weapons and clothing, and hands-on interactive features that let you dress a Viking and row a Viking ship. Oct. 7 through Jan. 1. Fernbankmuseum.org.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Museum of Illusions

PHOTO: Atlanta International School

PHOTO: The National Museum of Denmark

A Couple of Holiday Treats

Halloween and Christmas are just around the corner, and the Center for Puppetry Arts is getting into the spirit with a pair of delightful all-ages productions! First up is The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Silly Hollow (Oct. 1829), a fun, kind-friendly take on “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” And it wouldn’t be the holidays without Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Nov. 8-Dec. 31) bringing everyone’s favorite Christmas helper and his friends from the beloved animated classic to life. For tickets and other information, visit puppet.org.

PHOTO: Clay Walker

fall festivities

A Guide to Atlanta’s Haunted Houses and Corn Mazes

By Karin Pendley Koser

Haunted houses

are both popular and abundant in the Atlanta and north Georgia area; if you, your friends and family members enjoy the frights and low lights of all that fall brings, read our recommendations for haunted houses and haunted (and non-haunted) corn mazes for those looking for some after-dark haunts.

Some have hard and fast rules for children’s ages and others leave the decision up to the parents' discretion. As a movie industry hub, Georgia has plenty of experienced special effects, costumers and escape room professionals working to ensure your experience at haunted houses is as fear-inducing as possible. Are you ready to check all of them out?

HAUNTED HOUSES NETHERWORLD

NETHERWORLD celebrates its 27th anniversary this year and has a national reputation for frightening the heck out of its patrons. While its Escape Rooms and Laser Adventure are open year-round, the Halloween season of terror starts Sept. 22 and lasts until Nov. 11 with

the venue closed some of those days. Walk through a spookily dark attraction filled with monsters, live actors (who will never touch you) and amazing special effects. You can bring children as young as 5 years old, though the attraction doesn’t recommend carrying them through the grounds.

“It’s pretty amazing,” NETHERWORLD co-creator Ben Armstrong says. “You start out on something like this and you never think ahead 27 years. It’s pretty crazy. We’re almost within spitting distance of 30 years. It’s an absolute milestone.” Armstrong added that “every year we try to outdo each other,” but this year he’s tripling NETHERWORLD’S efforts in an attempt to wow both new and returning fans. Located at 1313 Netherworld Way in Stone Mountain. fearworld.com

PARANOIA HAUNTED HOUSE

This indoor haunted house prides itself on helping you face all your phobias with two super-spooky attractions to choose from. Experience shocking special effects and horrifying live actors as you walk unguided through its hallways to face your worst fears. Monsters roam around outside for picture taking while you wait in line. Paranoia strongly suggests that guests under 13 come with an adult as the show is intense.

Paranoia opens for the Halloween season in October and is open every weekend that month and some weekdays. Lines close at 11 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and at midnight Fridays and Saturdays. You can stay all night if you want once you’ve gotten through the ticket line. Located at 2075 Marietta Hwy. in Canton. paranoiahaunt.com

NIGHTMARE’S GATE HAUNTED HOUSE

Voted one of the best haunts in Georgia by its Facebook fans, Nightmare’s Gate certainly lives up to its name. It’s oriented for adults but has no age restrictions if a child wants to go through on his/her own. Its owners bought the old Sparkle’s Skating Rink within walking distance of its current location off Interstate 20. For its 14th season this year, Nightmare’s Gate is planning two shows: Terror Falls and the Hauntings of Longview Estate, according to its website. Both haunted houses will be open from 8 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 22 through Oct. 28 and from 8 to 11 p.m. on Sundays, Oct. 1-29 and on Halloween night. “Our job is to sell an emotional experience,” says

Craig Newton, Nightmare’s Gate’s owner. “The highs and lows in our shows are perfect for first dates and team-building activities.” Located at 3931 Longview Drive in Douglasville. nightmaresgate.com

CONTAINMENT HAUNTED HOUSE

Containment Haunted House advises its patrons to leave children under 13 at home, though there’s no hard and fast rule. It’s been named one of the Top 3 haunted attractions in the nation by USA Today reader votes. Containment offers both classic horrors embracing the spirit of Halloween and scenes of more modern torture and terror. It features include live actors, cutting-edge special effects, animatronics and interactive monster uppets. After spending seven years in

PHOTO: (Top Left) Courtesy of NETHERWORLD Haunted House

The Collector at NETHERWORLD Haunted House.

A family walks through the Buford Corn Maze.

Two boys check out the pumpkins at the Buford Corn Maze.

Lithia Springs, it’s moving to a new location to be announced and should reopen in September. containmenthauntedhouse.com

CORN MAZES & PUMPKIN PATCHES UNCLE SHUCK’S CORN MAZE & PUMPKIN PATCH

A longtime staple for north Georgia families and school and Scout groups, Uncle Shuck’s has a large field full of pumpkins ready to select from, farm animals to pet, a kids maze and more. This fall, the attraction offers The Dark Rows on Friday and Saturday nights in October, a haunted trail through some of the most twisted parts of the corn fields. Running Sept. 16-Nov. 12, Uncle Shuck’s is open Fridays through Sundays in September and November and seven days a week in October. Wear sturdy shoes and no heels, everyone!

Children ages 12 and under must be accompanied in the haunted corn maze by a parent. Located at 125 Bannister Road in Dawsonville. uncleshucks.com

MITCHAM FARMS CORN MAZE

During the day, Mitcham Farms Corn Maze is open for walks through the 7-acre Colonel Cob’s Corn Maze that has a different theme each year. In the fall, it will be open from September through November (dates to be announced). Mitcham Farms also features a pumpkin patch, cow train, super slide, corn cannon, hayrides and more. Brave visitors are encouraged to come in the evening to experience the maze after dark for Flashlight Nights on Fridays and Saturdays. Located at 797 W. Macedonia Church Road in Oxford. mitchamfarm.com

BUFORD CORN MAZE AND HAUNTED FOREST

This attraction has been named to Country Living magazine’s list of 33 Best Corn Mazes three years in a row, ranking 18th in 2021. The corn maze section opens Sept. 2, followed by the Haunted Forest on a date to be announced. The theme of the haunted forest changes every year, and it is recommended for children ages 10 to adult. Located at 4470 Bennett Road in Buford. bufordcornmaze.com

The Boiler Room inside Nightmare’s Gate Haunted House.

EXCITING ATTRACTIONS FOR ALL AGES

By Kevin Forest Moreau

By now, you might already know that metro Atlanta is filled with great neighborhoods, restaurants, entertainment venues and other draws for adults. But it also has plenty to offer for families with children, including attractions filled with history, fascinating wildlife and exhilarating activities. Now that fall is here, it’s the perfect time to pack everyone into the car and explore your new city’s family-friendly destinations. Here are 15 that everyone can enjoy.

ATLANTA BRAVES

Atlanta is home to the Atlanta Braves, its own Major League Baseball team, and Truist Park, located just northwest of Atlanta, is the current home of the Braves. Travel to the ballpark, located inside The Battery Atlanta complex, to cheer on the team. Come early to watch batting practice, stay after the game on Fridays for the free Friday Night Fireworks show and check the team’s website for special themed

days, giveaways, postgame concerts and more. 404-577-9100, braves.com

ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER

Dedicated to highlighting and celebrating Atlanta’s rich past, this 33-acre complex in the Buckhead neighborhood allows kids and adults alike to step back in time and tour the Swan House, an elegant 1928 mansion. Visitors can also experience a glimpse of life dur-

Center PuppetryForArts

ing the Civil War at the Smith Family Farm, where they can interact with characters from the period and participate in daily chores. The permanent exhibit Turning Point: The American Civil War features more than 1,500 artifacts, including cannons, flags and other items guaranteed to capture your child’s imagination. 404-814-4000, atlantahistorycenter.com

CENTER FOR PUPPETRY ARTS

Learn about puppets from all over the world and create your own puppet at this entertaining and educational attraction in Midtown Atlanta. The center also hosts special exhibits as well as performances and film screenings for families, teens and adults (current shows include Brother Coyote, Sister Fox, Sept. 6-24, and The Rainbow Fish, Oct. 4-15). The center features the Jim Henson Gallery, an interactive exhibition following his life as a puppeteer. Visitors can view icons like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. 404-873-3391, puppet.org

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

PHOTOS: (Top) Chris Hunt; (Left) Fernbank Pterosaur Exhibit, © AMNH/D.Finnan

CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK

Located in downtown Atlanta, Centennial Olympic Park opened in 1996, when the city hosted the Summer Games. Since then the 22-acre greenspace has served as a tribute to the Olympics with several landmarks and features, including the Fountain of Rings Plaza, the Gateway of Dreams sculpture and every child’s favorite, the Fountain of Rings. The park also includes more than 500,000 commemorative engraved bricks that were installed before the Games. 404-223-4000, gwcca.org/centennial-olympic-park

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA

Located in downtown Atlanta, the nonprofit Children’s Museum of Atlanta encourages creative, imaginative play with interactive exhibits. Watch your children climb through the layers of the Earth, catch colorful fish, create art on a giant paint wall, climb on a John Deere tractor and more. The museum’s current special exhibit, Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out (running Sept. 16-Jan. 7), provides children with experiences based on Disney and Pixar’s animated film. 404-659-5437, childrensmuseumatlanta.org

CHICK-FIL-A COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

Located in downtown Atlanta, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame pays tribute to the game that dates back to 1869. While there visitors can do everything from testing out their skills at Kia Building a Champion or the Indoor Playing Field and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Skill Zone to taking in a short film at the Game Day Theater to checking out ESPN’s Celebrating 150+ Years of College Football at the Game Time Gallery. 404-880-4800, cfbhall.com.

FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

From the bronze dinosaurs that greet you on your way inside to eye-popping documentaries screened in its IMAX theater, the Fernbank Museum is a fun mix of education and entertainment with indoor and outdoor exhibits. Walk beneath skeletons of two of the world’s largest dinosaurs in the Great Hall’s Giants of the Mesozoic exhibit, and explore the history of the planet and the state via A Walk Through Time in Georgia. Or catch the special exhibit Vikings: Warriors of the Sea (Oct. 7-Jan. 1), which sheds new light on the Viking Age. 404-929-6300, fernbankmuseum.org

GEORGIA AQUARIUM

Home to more than several hundred species from around the world, this downtown Atlanta landmark offers a truly immersive experience. You don’t have to be a budding marine biologist to be amazed by the Georgia Aquarium’s impressive collection of whale sharks, beluga whales, manta rays, penguins and many more aquatic creatures—more than 100,000 in all, inhabiting more than 11 million gallons of fresh and marine water. Exhibit galleries include Truist Pier 225, featuring California sea lions in an intimate setting, and Aquanaut Adventure: A Discovery Zone, which permits guests to learn about aquatic life in some of the Earth’s most extreme environments. 404-581-4000, georgiaaquarium.org

LEGO DISCOVERY CENTER

Located on the top floor of Phipps Plaza in the Buckhead neighborhood, the Lego Discovery Center Atlanta features 10 different zones for children ages 3 and older. Kids can learn how Lego bricks are made at the Factory Tour, destroy trolls and skeletons in the Kingdom Quest ride, create their own spaceships and check out Miniland, a replica of Atlanta’s landmarks. Guests can also participate in the Great Lego Race VR Experience, where they can ride both on the ground and in the air in a virtual reality competition. 404-848-9252, legodiscoverycenter.com/atlanta u

College Football Hall of Fame

Georgia Aquarium

Lego CenterDiscovery

PHOTOS: (Top Right) Brian Lowe; (Bottom Right) Lego Discovery Center

SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA

Featuring everything from pulse-pounding thrill rides to kid-friendly entertainers, this amusement park is on every Atlanta kid’s todo list. Your little ones can take a tour of the park on a steam-engine locomotive, indulge in good-natured fun in the bumper cars or take a ride in a log down a mountain river.

Don’t forget the Dare Devil Dive and exciting roller coasters including Goliath, Georgia Scorcher, Great American Scream Machine and Superman: Ultimate Flight. There’s also a water park, Hurricane Harbor, which offers a wave poll along with several rides. 770739-3400, sixflags.com/overgeorgia

SKYLINE PARK

Located at Ponce City Market, situated right on top of the building, you can hit the skies at Skyline Park. Enjoy fun carnival games, the Skyline slide, mini golf and more as you look out at the amazing view of the city. Sky line Park has fun events throughout the year, such as Rooftop Igloos to dine in during the winter, so keep an eye on its calendar to plan your visit around the perfect event for you! 770-999-1530, skylineparkatlanta.com

SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF CIVIL WAR & LOCOMOTIVE HISTORY

The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw is the place to be for all train enthusiasts,

offering locomotives of all sizes. It features The General steam locomotive, the train used in the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War. The facility includes permanent exhibits on not only the Chase and The General but also Civil War railroads and the Glover Machine Works collection. Its 8,000-squarefoot Jolley Education Center hosts the weekly Mommy & Me preschool program and the monthly Homeschool Workshop series. The museum, which opened on April 12, 1972, celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Each January the museum hosts Trains, Trains, Trains!, a locomotive lover’s dream. 770-4272117, southernmuseum.org

STONE MOUNTAIN PARK

One of Georgia’s most popular attractions, this beautiful 3,200-acre park offers a non-stop array of events and activities. Climb (or take a cable car) to the top of the mountain, brave the SkyHike adventure course or cool off in the Geyser Splash Pad. Go camping, fishing or hiking on the property, enjoy a train ride

PHOTOS: (Top Left) Amy Sinclair; (Middle) Stone Mountain Park, Stone Mountain, Ga.; (Bottom Right) Southern Museum

Six Flags Over Georgia

Skyline Park

Stone Mountain Park’s SkyHike

Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History

around the park or play a little golf while the kids enjoy some live entertainment. Then cap it all off with the famous Lasershow Spectacular. 800-401-2407, stonemountainpark.com

WOODRUFF ARTS CENTER

Located in Atlanta’s Midtown community, the Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and the High Museum of Art. The Alliance, which hosts award-winning plays and musicals, including children’s ones, will

bring The Shining to the stage Sept. 15-Oct. 1 and Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale Oct. 14-Dec. 23. The High, which boasts of a variety of art genres and exhibitions, will host In the City of Light: Paris, 1850-1920 Sept. 1-Dec. 31 and A Long Arc: Photography and the American South since 1845 starting Sept. 15. ASO hosts a variety of concerts ranging from classical to rock and roll. 404-733-4200, woodruffcenter.org

ZOO ATLANTA

Sprawling over nearly 40 acres in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta, Zoo Atlanta is home to more than 1,000 animals representing over 200 species. The zoo boasts one of the largest populations of gorillas in North America, and it is one of only four in the country to house giant pandas. Other famous residents include crocodiles, lions, meerkats, Southern white rhinos, macaws and a Komodo dragon. The zoo also features train rides and Savanna Hall, its event space overlooking African animals such as elephants and giraffes. 404-624-5600, zooatlanta.org

Family Fun destinations: A Short Drive From Atlanta

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

(Chattanooga, TN): Featuring three top-rated, world-famous natural attractions—including America’s deepest cave and largest underground waterfall accessible to the public— Lookout Mountain is the perfect getaway for extraordinary experiences and breath-taking beauty. 800-8258366, lookoutmountain.com

BILTMORE ESTATE (Asheville, NC): As the largest private home in the country, this 8,000-acre property sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers visitors tours of the historic locale built by George Vanderbilt along with sweeping vistas from its spacious gardens. 800-411-3812, biltmore.com

AMELIA ISLAND (Amelia Island, FL): Enjoy one of the Sunshine State’s best-kept secrets with this beach town nuzzled up to the Georgia border at the Atlantic coast that boasts an array of lovingly preserved Southern Victorian homes. 904-277-0717, ameliaisland.com

High Museum of Art

Rock City at Lookout Mountain Amelia Island

Zoo Atlanta

Chick-f il-A College Football Hall of Fame

Experience an unforgettable celebration of college football

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Becoming a member opens doors to an exclusive community deeply connected to college football. Access behind-the-scenes content and unlock the opportunity to preserve the legacy and tradition of college football. Discounts on merchandise, VIP access and personalized experiences are also part of this extraordinary membership.

THE SPIRIT OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Nestled in the heart of Atlanta’s Centennial Park District, the College Football Hall of Fame stands as a beacon to all enthusiasts of the sport and tourism. From individuals seeking an immersive experience to group organizers planning an unforgettable trip, and those intrigued by exclusive membership benefits, the Hall has something for everyone.

FOR THE INDIVIDUAL ENTHUSIAST

Imagine stepping onto a state-of-the-art indoor playing field, reliving legendary game moments. The Hall offers interactive exhibits that put you in a player's shoes, allowing you to make game-changing decisions and relive the thrill of victory. Tailor your experience throughout the 50,000-plus square feet of exhibits that encompass all things college football.

FOR GROUP TRAVEL AND EVENTS

Planning a group outing? The Hall offers tailored packages that ensure an enriching experience for all. From guided tours that delve into the sport's history to team-building activities on the field, your group will bond over shared experiences. With versatile event spaces, you can host gatherings that seamlessly blend education and entertainment.

The College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta transcends its role as a museum. It's a dynamic celebration of the sport that holds a special place in the hearts of millions. Whether you're drawn by the allure of reliving historic moments, planning a group excursion or yearning to become part of an elite circle, the Hall has crafted experiences to match your passion. Step into a world where the past, present and future of college football converge. Feel the camaraderie, immerse yourself in interactive exhibits and unite with fellow enthusiasts. Visit the Hall of Fame and embrace the spirit of college football that continues to inspire. For more information, call 404-880-4800 or visit cfbhall.com

PHOTOS: Brian Lowe

Offering Strong Academics and a Focus on Values

By Everett Catts

Parents searching for a school for their child have a variety of education options to choose from, including public schools, charter schools, magnet schools and independent schools. Among those, one of the more popular options is faith-based schools. Of the more than 32,000 independent schools in the United States, 84% are religious, according to the website of the Noah Webster Educational Foundation.

Faith-based schools, or religious schools, are independent schools that are supported by or affiliated with a particular church or religious organization, and incorporate elements of that religious faith into their curriculum.

Examples of local faith-based schools include The Westminster Schools and Mount Paran Christian School (Christian); St. Pius X (Catholic); The Davis Academy (Reform Jewish); St. Martin’s and Holy Innocents’ (Episcopal); The Mount Vernon School (Presbyterian); The Friends School (Quaker); and Dar un Noor Academy (Islamic).

Parents who choose a faith-based school for their child may do so for a number of reasons.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

One big advantage of faith-based schooling, of course, is that students receive a strong foundation in the teachings of their religion.

Parents who prioritize a religious education for their child take comfort from knowing that he or she will learn and grow surrounded by friends, teachers and clergy who share their same faith and sense of morality.

At Mount Paran Christian School, a K-12 school located in Kennesaw, “we approach everything with a Christian worldview, in the classrooms and also through chapel, through Bible classes, through prayer in small groups,” says Tiffany Westbrook, the school’s director of marketing and communications. “It’s in everything we do.” Chris Cleveland, head of school at Wesleyan School, a K-12 college-preparatory Christian school in Peachtree Corners, says the

school encourages its teachers to “inject their faith into their daily lesson plans.”

The Davis Academy, which serves Reform Jewish students from pre-K through eighth grade on two Atlanta campuses, “provides an immersive Jewish environment where children are invited to explore the many facets of Jewish faith, culture and tradition,” says Rabbi Micah Lapidus, director of Jewish and Hebrew studies.

“Reform Judaism believes that all aspects of Jewish religion, culture and heritage have the potential to imbue our lives with spirituality and meaning,” he continues, “but that each person ultimately makes choices about which Jewish practices are most personally relevant to them at different stages of their life.”

BUILDING CHARACTER

One essential element of a faith-based curriculum is an emphasis on morals and values that help to establish character.

“At the heart of The Davis Academy are our

Menschlichkeit values of community, respect, wisdom, spirit and righteousness,” says Lapidus. “In addition to a welcoming and inclusive spirit, Reform Judaism is deeply committed to the concept of Tikkun Olam: repairing the world. Good faith-based education draws on the richness of religion and spirituality so that children develop not only physically, emotionally and intellectually, but also ethically, morally, spiritually and religiously,”

At Mount Paran, students and their parents have the opportunity to serve their community during Serve Saturdays, which is a monthly volunteer program.

This focus on developing a strong sense of values and character is a component of faithbased education that even non-religious parents find attractive.

“There are people who come to our school who aren’t Christians but want those Christian values ingrained in their children,” Cleveland says. “The value of a faith-based education is

really creating a culture in which the values of the school reflect the values of the home.”

AN ACADEMIC EDGE

In addition to religious and moral instruction, many faith-based schools offer high-quality academic programs that give their students an advantage when applying to colleges.

Mount Paran, for instance, offers 56 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, and applies the principles of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) beginning in preschool.

“We have a pretty rigorous curriculum,” says Brian Dooling, director of marketing and enrollment at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta’s Office of Catholic Schools, which oversees 18 Catholic schools under the umbrella of the Archdiocese in the metro area, Athens and Rome.

According to Dooling, the Archdiocese’s schools benefit from a 100 percent graduation rate, and its students achieve better test scores than their peers in public and independent schools. “We have excellent results with regard

to getting our kids into the colleges of their choice,” he says.

CHOOSING A SCHOOL

Parents whose children aren’t part of a school’s particular religion may worry that a faith-based school won’t welcome their child. But while some local religious schools, like Catholic schools, remain steeped in a particular faith, others have evolved into nondenominational schools, serving multiple denominations within their faith.

While The Davis Academy is recognized as the nation’s largest Reform Jewish day school, it welcomes students of all Jewish backgrounds. “Reform Judaism embraces all different types of Jewish families, including families where one or more parents may identify with a religion other than Judaism,” Lapidus says. Mount Paran’s student body represents 120 different churches, says Westbrook. And some schools, like Wesleyan, welcome students from outside their faith.

So how can a parent narrow down their options to find the right fit for their child? Taking a tour or attending a school’s open house event

can help both parents and their children get a feel for the school. Talking with faculty, staff and other students can help them get a sense of the school’s academic curriculum, its approach to teaching its faith and its overall atmosphere. Is there a strong roster of extracurricular activities? Do the teachers and administrators seem warm and welcoming?

Do the students seem happy to be there?

Just as important, can you and your child envision him or her thriving at a particular school, not just academically and morally but as a fully balanced, multifaceted citizen of the world?

“Faith-based education can be one of the most profound and influential gifts a family can provide to their child,” says Lapidus. “Only faith-based schools can help children develop in all areas of their lives, as opposed to just some areas. Well-rounded development is in the best interest of every child.”

To learn more about some of Atlanta’s top Faith-Based Schools, turn to page 34. >>

By Michelle Bourg

How to Deal with School Cliques

Things are going well:

your children are enrolled in a good school, doing well in their classes and seem to be happy. Then one day, your second-grader comes home in tears after finding out she was the only one not invited to Susie’s birthday party. Or your usually gregarious high-schooler becomes withdrawn and is noncommittal when asked about his friends. They’re experiencing something virtually every child encounters at some point during their school years: cliques.

It seems that cliques have been around, causing distress to kids and parents, as long as there have been schools. It’s unfortunate, but it’s also likely inevitable; human beings are social animals, with an innate need to define themselves in relation to a social group. As kids are growing

up, it’s sometimes a bumpy road as they learn to define themselves outside of their first social group—their family.

Cliques differ from friend groups in being based not on mutual interests and values, but instead on a sense of insecurity. Unsure of their own social standing, members band together to maintain an appearance of popularity, with leaders who determine who and what is “in” and “out.” They often create a vortex of peer pressure that sucks others in, prompting even unattached individuals to behave in ways they wouldn’t on their own, such as mocking or gossiping about a friend. And even well-liked kids who befriend those less popular or “don’t follow the rules” aren’t immune to being subjected to gossip or shunned by them.

Cliques are particularly prevalent during middle school, when pre-teens are focused on establishing their place in the social order. However, parents and educators are increas-

ingly reporting exclusionary behavior as early as preschool, as children compete for playmates’ attention at earlier ages. While girls are most often associated with cliques, boys are also affected by them, although usually not until high school. The good news is that generally, most of these secret clubs have faded by the time high school graduation rolls around.

What should you do when your child finds himself or herself left out of “the in crowd?” While rejection always stings, there are some actions you can take to ensure that your child maintains his or her self-esteem and is able to forge genuine friendships:

• Be present for your child: Offer advice if asked, but just listening and letting your child know you’re there for them is often what they most need from you.

• Share your experiences: If cliques affected you as a kid, show your child

that it’s a universal experience by talking about it. Also, books like “Harriet the Spy” or movies like “The Breakfast Club” are entertaining ways to convey messages of self-esteem and empathy.

• Discuss the social dynamics: Explain the true motives behind exclusionary behavior and point out the fact that members not conforming to the group’s unwritten “rules” can quickly find themselves among the excluded.

• Talk about times that your child may have disliked someone: Remind them that not everyone will be their best friend, and also that feelings often change.

• Encourage outside activities: Getting involved in an activity that he or she is interested in, whether at school or outside of it, will help your child meet new friends and improve his or her confidence, something that in turn attracts friends. u

While girls are most often associated with cliques, boys are also affected by them, although usually not until high school. The good news is that generally, most of these secret clubs have faded by the time high school graduation rolls around.

• Respect your child’s need to be accepted, but don’t get caught up in it: Don’t trivialize your child’s pain, but also don’t make it your mission to fix things by trying to buy your child’s way into a group with things like the “right” set of expensive headphones, and don’t express any distress you’re feeling by speaking badly of other children or their parents in front of your child. Model respectful behavior, and remember that children quickly identify attempts to curry favor for what they are.

• Talk to your child’s teacher: If your child has difficulty making or keeping friends, talk to a teacher that sees him or her regularly to get a sense of social dynamics in the peer group and how your child interacts with others. It’s possible your child is unwittingly exhibiting behaviors that antagonize others, such as boastfulness or attention seeking, that can be modified with gentle coaching.

• Monitor online activity: With the internet, issues no longer stop at the front door. Being aware of your child’s online activity

and any social media accounts may offer clues to what’s going on at school. Conversely, if your child is avoiding contact with others online, it may be a sign of problems.

Another thing you can do is to help your child expand his or her social circle. Encourage him or her to take part in activities, sports or classes that will involve interacting with new kids. (This is also the best route to take when, as often happens, your child finds him or herself suddenly on the “outs” with a peer group). Also, while it doesn’t work to try to actively break up a clique, you may want to talk to a teacher about mixing things up in the classroom by changing seat arrangements or assigning different pairs or groups to work together on projects.

It’s never too soon to discuss values with your child and model behaviors of healthy selfesteem, empathy and respect. Encouraging kids to remember the Golden Rule will go a long way toward helping them negotiate cliques throughout their lives, whether they find themselves “in” or “out.”

Atlanta is home to many excellent schools and learning resources, which means you can find exactly the right environment for a challenging and nurturing education for your child. The following profiles represent a selection of independent schools and nearby boarding schools serving the metro Atlanta area. For additional information about the schools listed below, including location, tuition, class size and open house dates, turn to “Beyond the Basics” on page 36.

Atlanta International School

Atlanta International School (AIS) is an inclusive, intercultural, community providing a world-class education to over 1,300 US and international students from kindergarten (starting with 3-year-olds) to Grade 12.

Offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) to all, AIS provides a rigorous academic program that is complemented by unique language acquisition programs beginning with a full-immersion preschool program in French, German, Chinese or Spanish.

In addition to the prestigious IB diploma, AIS offers STEM- and STEAM-endorsed and bilingual diplomas. The curriculum is further enhanced with a wide range of activities to expand learning beyond the classroom. Students participate in award-winning performing and fine arts opportunities, competitive athletics, and an impressive range of global experiential learning options, all designed to help students realize the school’s mission: To develop courageous leaders who shape their world for the better.

Atlanta Academy

Atlanta Academy, located in Roswell, serves 385 private preschool through eighth-grade students in surrounding North Fulton communities. Small class sizes allow teachers to understand students' strengths and help them discover their unique talents. This warm, nurturing culture fosters good character alongside academic success, and research shows that this learning environment enriches students' academic performance, well-being and happiness.

The school's forward-thinking curriculum focuses on building confidence and skills while providing various opportunities for students to succeed at public and prestigious private high schools. Its graduates thrive in a range of exceptional college-preparatory high schools, with over 96 percent of Atlanta Academy graduates being accepted into their top-choice high school.

High-performing student achievement is nurtured in the school's inclusive, non-denominational, family-engaged atmosphere. Teachers model and instill values encouraging social and emotional development, such as empathy, integrity, resiliency and honesty. The Atlanta Academy faculty ranks among some of the industry's best educators. The school is fully invested in helping children grow into well-educated, independent problem solvers prepared to excel in high school and beyond. To schedule a tour, call 678-461-6102 or visit atlantaacademy.com

Along with the authorization to offer IB education, AIS is also accredited by the following academic programs: AdvancED/Cognia, Agency of French Teaching Abroad (aefe), Council for International Schools (CIS), The Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). For more information, visit aischool.org or call 404-841-3840.

The Cottage School

Building a sense of self for students with special learning needs through academic and experiential programming, The Cottage School (TCS) prepares individuals for fulfillment of their true potential as confident, productive and independent adults.

TCS provides an educational environment for students with learning differences in grades 3-12 by meeting the students where they are today. Recognizing that all students learn differently, it is the school’s approach to teach differently. Based on the three pillars of strength: academic, social and emotional, TCS offers:

• Experiential learning

• Small class sizes (10-student average) for individualized learning

• Customized education plans for every student

• A business-based model that teaches life skills.

• Technology, athletics and fine art programming available to all students

• Post-secondary planning that promotes continued success after graduation

Visit the school’s beautiful 23-acre campus by contacting the director of admissions for an appointment today. For more information, call 770641-8688 or visit cottageschool.org

Baylor School

Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Baylor School is among the finest college-prep schools in the country and is only two hours from Atlanta. Since 1893, academics has been a mainstay in Baylor’s history through a college-preparatory program that engages, challenges and inspires students to achieve their greatest academic potential at both Baylor and beyond.

While Baylor is first and foremost an academic institution, it believes that prepping students for college requires attention to the body and the spirit as well as the mind. That commitment is reflected in every aspect of Baylor life outside the classroom.

Its students find that balance on what is arguably the most beautiful independent school campus in the Southeast, with 690 acres along the Tennessee River and an abundance of extracurricular opportunities. The campus is home to boarding students from 15 countries and 23 states who enjoy a deep sense of community while discovering an independence most students are not able to experience until college. For more information, visit baylorschool.org or call 423-267-5902.

The Friends School of Atlanta

The Friends School of Atlanta (FSA) provides a progressive curriculum in a diverse environment, drawing on the Quaker values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality and stewardship to empower its students to go out into the world with conscience, conviction and compassion.

Founded as a model of diversity in 1991, FSA embraces an inclusive learning environment where diversity is cherished and celebrated. Its curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning, critical thinking and the development of strong moral values. The school encourages students to be active participants in their education, promoting their natural curiosity and helping them discover their unique passions and talents. And, through embracing diversity and inclusion, the school aims to cultivate global citizens who appreciate different perspectives and work towards creating a more equitable and just world.

Offering classes for children from PreK3 through eighth grade, FSA’s program is designed to prepare students for a successful high school future and a lifetime of engagement as thoughtful citizens. Enrolling for 2023-24, class space permitting. For more information, visit friendsschoolatlanta.org or call 404-373-8746.

High Meadows School

For 50 years, High Meadows School has inspired children to think critically, learn creatively, act globally and live compassionately. High Meadows is about learning and laughter, exploration and discovery, and friendship and connection. At a school built on 42 acres of historic farm property in Roswell, students from 3 years old through eighth grade experience a school environment where adventure and play go hand-in-hand with extraordinary academic preparation and exemplary student outcomes. From the outstanding faculty and breathtaking campus to the small class sizes and acclaimed International Baccalaureate curriculum, a High Meadows education is unlike any other. Visit us to experience the magic of High Meadows, located at 1055 Willeo Rd., Roswell, GA 30075. For more information, visit highmeadows.org or call 770-993-2940.

Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia

A Montessori education develops children who are responsible, creative, innovative, respectful and kind. Montessori children are truly the citizens of the future, equipped to face challenges with confidence and competence.

Located near the intersection of Ga.141 and McGinnis Ferry Road in Johns Creek, Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia provides excellence in Montessori education for infants, toddlers and children up to 6 years old. JCMSOG provides an authentic Montessori environment, where each individual’s needs are respected, and everyone works together for the good of the community. The focus is always on helping the children develop themselves in a caring, peaceful environment. By helping children develop independence, the school assists them in their physical and emotional development. As their sense of security in their ability to care for themselves and their environment grows, their brains have more energy or “bandwidth” for increased academic learning. Additionally, this focus on development of muscular control is a first step in developing self-discipline. The JCMSOG difference is best experienced in person. To schedule a visit with your child to observe their “Montessori Magic,” call 770-8148001 or visit jcmsog.org

Oak Meadow Montessori School

Oak Meadow Montessori School (OMMS) is celebrating 30 years of awakening children’s natural desires to learn. Its high-fidelity Montessori environments serve children ages 15 months through sixth grade. Well-equipped Montessori classrooms and the school’s dedicated, experienced staff combine to cultivate a nurturing, inclusive and vibrant Montessori experience that fosters independence, self-motivation and a lifelong love of learning. Exploration of its classroom and outdoor environments ignites students’ natural curiosity and its guides (or teachers) fan their flames of interest, allowing students to maximize their potential.

OMMS is accredited by both the American Montessori Society and SACS/Cognia, ensuring the highest of Montessori and academic standards are met. Schedule a visit and see what the excitement is all about. For more information, visit oakmeadowmontessori.com or call 770-963-8303.

Saint Francis School

With campuses in Milton and Roswell, Saint Francis School’s mission is to provide a college-preparatory education to K-12 students with varied academic abilities in a structured, challenging and supportive environment. Opened in 1976, the coed school is fully accredited and non-sectarian.

With a 14-1 student-teacher ratio, Saint Francis is able to maximize each student’s learning potential in all areas of study. Saint Francis has a 100 percent graduation rate, and all of its seniors take the SAT or ACT and are accepted to a college or university. The school offers Advanced Placement, Honors, Traditional and Support classes.

In middle and high school, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is popular both as a class and after-school club at Saint Francis. Students are encouraged to rely on logical thought processes and problem solving to develop solutions to real-world scenarios and problems.

Broadcasting is also a very popular class as well as after-school activity. The Broadcasting Club is a hands-on, student-driven group that provides participants with the ability to plan, record, edit and create a “news” type program suitable for broadcasting.

The school also offers a top-notch athletic program, offering 20 teams in 17 high school sports. In Saint Francis’ history, its boys’ and girls’ basketball squads have won four state titles each, its boys’ tennis squads have captured two state championships and its boys’ soccer team won one.

Saint Francis’ high school is located at 13440 Cogburn Road in Milton, and its middle and lower schools are located at 9375 Willeo Road in Roswell. For more information, call 770-641-8257 (elementary and middle schools) or 678-339-9989 (high school) or visit saintfrancisschools.com.

Springmont School

Springmont, the oldest Montessori school in the Southeast, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this school year. Offering students 18 months through middle school an authentic Montessori experience that is extraordinary by design, individualized learning inspires students to become creative, independent and globally minded. Classrooms are large, light filled and thoughtfully prepared while the campus’ many natural areas, class gardens, and farm animals afford rich outdoor life science lessons.

Specially designed Montessori materials support children’s developmental needs and offer students a wide variety of hands-on activities that concretely reinforce skills, lessons and concepts. Highly-experienced teachers guide students through an individualized curriculum that develops the whole child—socially, emotionally, and academically. Multi-aged classes allow younger children to learn from older ones and older students to mentor younger classmates.

Art, music, physical education, and Spanish are important parts of each student’s experience. At Springmont, each student is challenged to reach his or her fullest potential and is empowered to help steer his or her own education. Students’ innate curiosity grows into a lifelong love of learning and a quest for meaningful discoveries and deeper knowledge.

Middle school students run micro-economies, compete in regional academic competitions, and enjoy a week-long trip at the end of each school year. They have opportunities to hone time-management skills, experience active leadership roles, articulate complex ideas, and work both independently and in diverse groups.

Springmont graduates are confident, collaborative, engaged learners, prepared for success in Atlanta’s premier high schools as well as life beyond academics. Springmont School—Extraordinary by Design. For more information, call 404-252-3910 or visit springmont.com

Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

Founded in 1903 and located just two hours north of Atlanta, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School prepares young people for college, career and a lifetime of leadership and service. On its beautiful mountain campus, Rabun Gap inspires students to grow in character, intellect and spirit. The school values educational accessibility and fosters a community of learners whose diversity is honored and reflects the world. Rabun Gap is the most geographically diverse boarding school in the nation, made up of a student body from 56 countries and 15 states.

The 1,400-acre mountain campus provides many opportunities for hands-on learning, as well as arts and athletic activities. Rabun Gap students graduate ready for college: 100% attend the top colleges and universities in the U.S. and around the world. Rabun Gap makes a boarding school education a reality for families, with more than 75 percent of students receiving financial aid and merit scholarships. For more information, call 706-746-7720 or visit rabungap.org

The Walker School

At The Walker School, the infinite worth and dignity of each student defines our approach to learning. Walker is the top pre-K3-12th-grade school open to all faiths in metro Atlanta. At Walker, students engage in advanced academics taught by dynamic faculty. With an average class size of 15 students, each child is challenged, supported and encouraged to explore all opportunities on its campus.

At Walker, you can star in the fall musical, represent your school on the soccer field and design your own genetic research project. Upper school students are able to customize their high school experience, choosing from a wide range of academic offerings, including 26 of the 31 College Board Advanced Placement courses. Most of all, your child is known.

One hundred percent of graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities. Walker students are excited and confident about college and beyond. Walker is located 2 miles from the Marietta Square, and it offers more than 20 bus routes in the metro area. At The Walker School, tuition assistance is available to bridge the gap between the cost of tuition and a family’s ability to pay. For more information about the wonder of Walker, visit thewalkerschool.org/ admission/why-walker

Woodward Academy

With renowned college-preparatory academics and a community defined by its geographic, racial, spiritual, economic and cognitive diversity, Woodward Academy is Atlanta at its best. From pre-K through 12th grade, Woodward is a place where a child can study Gauguin and golf, Copernicus and coding, rhetoric and robotics—all in one day.

With 2,500 students across two campuses spanning 133-acres, complemented by the intimacy of a 6:1 student-teacher ratio, Woodward offers the vast resources and opportunities of a college or university coupled with the intimacy and attention of home. Students learn how to think about and engage in the world outside of themselves, making a commitment to do their best, and gaining the confidence to make a difference. This shared purpose is something the school calls The Woodward Way.

Woodward challenges its students to explore new academic frontiers and reach their fullest potential. What does success look like? Look no further than the 24 AP classes, the renowned Transition Program for students with mild learning differences, more than 100 clubs and cocurriculars 75 yearly arts performances and 18 varsity sports. Woodward’s Global Connections Program offers extensive international study abroad programs, and its innovative STEAM programs are woven into the curriculum—from coding for kindergarteners to the Independent Scientific Research program, which pairs juniors and seniors with university professors to work on real-world problems.

At Woodward, students don’t just gain knowledge. The Woodward Way imbues them with skills and traits such as respect, social awareness, empathy, open-mindedness, accountability and dedication to service, which will serve them throughout their lives and enable them to make their mark in the world. A typical Woodward graduating class attends more than 100 different colleges and universities, devotes 5,000 hours to community service and earns more than $20 million in merit scholarships. For more information, visit woodward.edu

Faith-Based Education

Atlanta offers a wide variety of faith-based schools to choose from, which means you can find exactly the right environment for your child’s values, academics and foundation. Faith-based schools, or religious schools, are independent schools that are supported by or affiliated with a particular church or religious organization, and incorporate elements of that religious faith into their curriculum.

The following profiles represent only some of the faith-based schools in the metro Atlanta area.

Landmark Christian School

At Landmark, students are prepared to impact the world for Christ. Toward this goal, the school offers a world-class education in a Christ-centered environment. Landmark students step into college ready to live out their faith, equipped to lead well and prepared to steward God’s unique purpose for their lives.

Its faculty and staff members steward the daily opportunity to prepare students for this goal of impact in the context of a college-preparatory education and in covenantal partnership with Christian families.

Landmark is ranked as one of the best schools in the state and nation, serving grades PK3-12 in Fairburn. The school invests in children's spiritual, academic and overall development with engaging academics, Christian values and immense opportunities. One-hundred percent of graduates have college acceptances, most with scholarships and college credits.

With intentionally small class sizes and a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:8, world-class faculty offer dynamic learning environments helping students discover their passions and develop their talents to impact the world for Jesus Christ. Students are immersed in hands-on learning stimulating imagination and invention. Innovative offerings include aviation, music, film, leadership, visual arts, engineering/STEM, leadership and fashion.

Holy Spirit Preparatory School

Holy Spirit Preparatory School is a classical Catholic school serving preschool-12th grade. Its curriculum combines the best of classical pedagogical traditions in a joyful, engaging and thoroughly Catholic environment. This curriculum includes STEM-based coursework, fine and performing arts and a robust athletic program. Through these, it seeks to enkindle in students the desire to pursue excellence in every endeavor they undertake and provide them with all the tools necessary to lead successful, rewarding lives in a manner consistent with the sublime end for which they have been created: eternal life with God. This vision informs its curriculum and animates its efforts to help students grow in virtue and to love truth, goodness and beauty.

For more information, call 678-904-2811 or visit holyspiritprep.org

Dual enrollment taught uniquely on campus, AP and honors courses, paired with numerous sporting and arts opportunities, create an exceptional student experience. TED, Spotlight Theatre and Imagination Stations stir the minds of the youngest. A new state-of-the-art high school opened in 2021.

For more information, call 770-692-6742 or visit landmarkchristianschool.org

Wesleyan School

Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. The school leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them.

The school is located just outside of I-285 at Peachtree Corners. Wesleyan started the 2023-24 school year with 1,206 students enrolled in grades K-12. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area and has morning and afternoon options. For more information or to schedule a campus tour, call 770-448-7640 or visit wesleyanschool.org

Whitefield Academy

Whitefield Academy’s college-preparatory education is built on Christ-centered values and beliefs, enabling students to succeed in both college and life. Whitefield teachers engage deeply with their students in the pursuit of knowledge and truth with shared experiences, grace and accountability. And because students are known, valued and loved, they thrive academically and are equipped to face the challenges of the future.

Located just off I-285 in Smyrna, Whitefield maintains a solid academic reputation with its numerous Advanced Placement and honors courses, and a rigorous curriculum that sets the framework for 100 percent of its graduates to matriculate to colleges and universities. With more than 50 sports teams, including 20 varsity squads, Whitefield athletes have multiple opportunities for both participation and success.

Whitefield’s award-winning fine arts programs and newly debuted Innovation Lab are allowing students to explore and develop their passions in theater, music and visual arts, as well as STEM subjects, such as engineering and robotics. For more information about Whitefield or to register for a virtual tour, visit whitefieldacademy.com

BE YOND T HE BASICS

C R T L H S N A E O

By Everett Catts

If you and your family are looking for a relaxing fall getaway with a dose of history, Charleston, South Carolina, is the place to be. Autumn is also the perfect time to visit the Holy City, when the summer heat has given way to cooler breezes plus fewer crowds and lower lodging rates. It’s just under five hours from Atlanta by car—far enough to leave your worries behind but close enough to make a weekend trip possible.

Founded in 1670, Charleston was named after England’s King Charles II and is South Carolina’s oldest and largest city. It embraces its history with must-visit attractions such as the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic Park, which includes the two forts that guarded Charleston Harbor in the Civil War and American Revolution, respectively, and the International African American

Museum, which opened in June and is devoted to telling “the unvarnished stories of the African American experience across generations.”

If you’re seeking a glimpse into military history, check out Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, the home of the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier. But it also hosts the Patriots Point Museum and a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships, the Cold War Memorial, the only Vietnam Experience Exhibit in America, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the agency's official Medal of Honor Museum. Even the city’s shopping comes with a side of history. Be sure to check out Charleston City Market, which dates back to 1807 and is a popular open-air shopping destination that also includes two restaurants. Also stop

by Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark that dates back to 1675 and includes an inn. Be sure to visit the McLeod Plantation Historic Site, a 37-acre Gullah Geechee property that dates back to 1851 and has been sensibly preserved to distinguish its cultural and historical significance. And check out the Aiken Rhett House, built in 1820 and declared one of America’s best-preserved townhouse complexes after being converted to a house museum in 1975.

The city hosts festivals in the fall and throughout the year, paying tribute to everything from food & beverage to the arts to antiques, with the biggest being the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in late May and early June. But the festivals also celebrate history, and the Fall Tours showcasing Charleston’s architecture, history and gardens, set for Oct.

Antebellum homes on The Battery

Hunting for crabs in the Lowcountry

Mason Jar cocktails

11-Nov. 4, are a wonderful way to see what the city has to offer.

With its cobblestone streets and historic homes, Charleston should be explored on foot or by bicycle. The city has its share of bicycle rental businesses, including Bilda Bikes and The Bicycle Shoppe, both located downtown. If you’re looking for an inside glimpse of the city, reserve a spot with Bulldog Tours, which offers walking history, food and ghost tours of the area.

On or off the tour, be sure to visit King Street, which was named one of the nation’s top 10 shopping streets by U.S. News & World Report, and Rainbow Row, a set of brightly-colored homes on East Bay Street along the Battery. Another must-do is the city’s Gateway Walk, which opened in 1930 and was named for the 10 pairs of wrought-iron

OUTSIDE ATLANTA

gates you enter along its course through some of Charleston’s most beautiful gardens.

If you’re looking for some quiet beach time, the Charleston area has five to choose from: Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island and Sullivan’s Island. If you plan to explore the area’s waterways, Charleston Outdoor Adventures and Nature Adventures each rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards and offer guided tours.

Charleston’s waterfront location makes it ideal for a round of golf, and the city has 17 championship courses to choose from. RiverTowne Country Club, an 18-hole course, is the only local one designed by Arnold Palmer. Wild Dunes has two 18-hole courses designed by Tom Fazio, Links and Harbor. The 18-hole Charleston National,

the only local course designed by Rees Jones, is rated as a top non-resort course. The Links at Stono Ferry, built on the grounds of the 1779 Battle of Stono Ferry, has also been rated as a top local course.

Charleston is known for its cuisine, especially seafood, but it also has an eclectic mixture of options sure to please everyone. Start your day at Mercantile and Mash, which serves a variety of coffees, espressos, teas, smoothies and specialty drinks. It also has an all-day breakfast that includes a house ricotta bowl and a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. Or try Millers All Day, which serves breakfast staples such as waffles and biscuits & gravy and has a plethora of coffees and teas.

For lunch, try Lewis Barbecue, which pays tribute to Texas and Mexico with dishes

PHOTOS: Explore Charleston

Shopping at Charleston City Market

Middleton azalea path

Shopping for sweetgrass baskets

Spring blossoms at a Charleston home

Children visit the USS Yorktown

such as sliced or chopped brisket and the El Sancho sandwich made with brisket, sausage or pork or all three. For dinner, head to Poogan’s Porch, which serves comfort food ranging from pimento cheese fritters and shecrab soup to shrimp & grits and its famous bone-in fried chicken.

If you’re in the mood for pizza, check out Frannie & The Fox, which serves shareable, wood-fired Italian dishes such as the prawns small plate and pizzas made with fennel sausage or peach and pancetta. And if you crave more comfort food with a local twist, try Hannibal’s Soul Kitchen, which serves

Gullah Geechee fare such as crab/shrimp rice, lima beans with rice, smoked neck bones and pigtails, okra soup and shark steak.

If you’re an oyster lover, try 167 Raw Oyster Bar, a New England-style oyster bar serving oysters, clams, shrimp, caviar and lobster rolls. If you’re seeking an intimate spot for dinner with just you and your spouse on a night when the kids are with the babysitter, head over to FIG, which serves appetizers ranging from B-Liner snapper crudo to broiled steamboat creek oysters and entrees ranging from sauteed golden tilefish to bouillabaisse.

Lodging options are plentiful, including

some top new award-winning hotels. The Ryder, a boutique hotel that opened two years ago, offers rooms and suites with queen and king beds. The Spectator Hotel, which pays tribute to the Jazz Age and Old South charm, offers personal butler services for each guest and gourmet breakfast in bed.

Emeline, a boutique hotel that opened in 2020, offers rooms and suites with king beds. Hotel Bennett, which at nine stories is Charleston’s tallest hotel, boasts a rooftop whose pool and bar & restaurant, Fiat Lux, offer arguably the best views of the city. The Palmetto Hotel offers rooms with king

The Folly Beach Pier Fort Sumter

Carriage tours in Charleston

Pineapple Fountain

Businesses on historic Broad Street

beds and a penthouse suite.

If you’re looking for accommodations on the beach, try Wild Dunes, which is on the Isle of Palms and includes two inns, vacation rental homes and amenities such as a spa and tennis courts. Another similar option is Kiawah Island Golf Resort, which offers a hotel and homes to rent plus tennis, recreation and nature outings.

So whether your plans are to hit the ocean or visit Charleston’s historic sites, it’s a prime spot for a fall break of rest and relaxation. As the city’s slogan says, “History loves company.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Explore Charleston/Charleston CVB: charlestoncvb.com

Gateway Walk: thegardenclubofcharleston.org/gateway-walk Charleston Golf Guide: charlestongolfguide.com

PHOTOS: Explore Charleston

Philadelphia Alley

Relaxing on a rooftop terrace

Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Roshambo A Taste of Atlanta’s History

By Jon Styf

From the décor to the menu, Roshambo’s creators want you to see, touch and taste Atlanta’s past from the moment you walk in the door.

Likely the first thing you’ll see is a three-layer Atlanta skyline inspired by three photos from the Jackson Street Bridge over the years on a side wall. In the back you’ll find a shrine to legendary Atlanta music shop Turtles that includes a wall filled with cassette tapes.

Chris Hall, a partner with Unsukay, the restaurant group that owns Roshambo, calls it a “love letter to Atlanta.” Unsukay also owns Muss & Turner’s and MTH Pizza in Smyrna and Atlanta’s Local Three.

The menu, a fresh take on a classic three-meal diner with breakfast, lunch and dinner menus served all day long in their own unique Roshambo way, also pays tribute to the city. The name — slang for rock, paper, scissors — is an homage to those three meals.

Unlike most diners, you won’t even find French fries on the menu. Instead, you’ll learn to love Disco Tots, a genius potato platter with tots covered in cheesy pimento mornay with bacon and scallions on top.

Bring a huge appetite, and some friends, and try an Atlanta staple of Southern fried chicken with the Bucket o’ Chicken, a whole bird cut eight ways and fried to perfection in Roshambo’s pressure fryer so that it consistently comes out juicy, crispy, perfectly golden brown and delicious.

Pair it with a bottle of Moet champagne and you’ll have a meal you won’t soon forget with a variety of sauces including chicken gravy, Alabama white, honey mustard and house hot sauce with whipped potatoes, cole slaw and biscuits on the side.

“We take it the long way around to the table so that everybody can see it,” says Roshambo Chef De Cuisine Kevin Leveille. “When it goes out in the dining room, it’s kind of a showstopper.”

in season,” says Leveille. “… We want to serve a product that lets the ingredients speak and take over.”

The ingredients at Roshambo have plenty to say, and so do the diners, who keep coming back for favorites like the crab and avocado toast on General Muir bread, the Double Stack Burger with Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon and a fried egg on top or the chicken parmesan, a huge portion of butterflied chicken breast on top of spaghetti

The direct area’s history is even incorporated into some entrees, like Jim White’s Blackened Market Fish “Pontchartrain,” an homage to the old Jim White’s Half Shell restaurant that sat on the same Buckhead spot years ago. Or the Georgia Peach French Toast, a seasonal breakfast specialty using bread from Atlanta’s General Muir and both peaches and pecans from Pearson Farm in Fort Valley.

“We believe in serving the best food possible based on what we can get that is

THE DETAILS

Attire: Upscale Casual Atmosphere: Relaxed

Recommendations: Disco Tots, Crab and Avocado Toast, Georgia Peach French Toast, Crispy Fish Tacos, Double Stack Burger Reservations: Recommended using Open Table app or website; walk-ins welcome

with homemade marinara and bubbling, browning extra cheese on top. Or stick with the lunch favorite crispy fish tacos, which Leveille describes as kind of like a Vietnamese Banh Mi in a flour tortilla. Don’t be afraid to enjoy them with Roshambo’s prized pitcher dubbed the three-martini lunch.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon-Thurs, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday Location: 2355 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 Contact: 404-835-7373, Info@roshamboatl.com

No matter what you may decide to order, leave yourself plenty of time to look around, enjoy Atlanta’s history and taste it, too. N

Photos:

(Left) Andrew Thomas Lee;

(Right) Layla Ritchey

Above: Roshambo’s dining room includes mounted deer antlers in homage to Buckhead. Left: The 10-ounce strip steak served with Disco Tots.

TO HERE THERE

Vehicle Emission Inspection

Mass Transit

One way to avoid long commutes is to take advantage of the city’s local transit system, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Offering both train and bus service, MARTA is a convenient way to travel to downtown or the airport. The fee for traveling one way is $2.50 including transfers, and payment is even easier now with the Breeze limited-use and extendeduse cards. Weekly and monthly passes can be obtained at discounted rates. For fares, schedule and route information call 404848-5000 or visit itsmarta.com.

Vehicles that are 24 model years old and later (except the three years prior to the current year) must be checked yearly for emission standard compliance. Visit a statedesignated inspection station for the service. Call 800-449-2471 or visit cleanairforce.com.

Driving Tips

The Georgia DOT provides daily updates of road work, road closings and traffic delays, which are helpful when commuting. Updates can be obtained by calling (toll free) 877694-2511, by dialing 511 or by visiting dot.ga.gov.

MARTA

MARTA Rail Service

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com for a list of private schools in this county.

UTILITIES & CONTACTS

ELECTRICITY

Amicalola EMC 706-253-5200

Cobb EMC 770-429-2100

Georgia Power 888-891-0938

Sawnee EMC 770-887-2363

GAS

Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated. For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

Cherokee County QUICK INFO

County cherokeega.com

Neighborhoods cantonga.gov

woodstockga.gov

cityofballground.com

hollyspringsga.us

cityofwaleska.com

Median household income: $75,477

Median age of residents: 38

Population: 235,896

Sales tax: 6%

Chamber of Commerce

Cherokee County 770-345-0400, cherokeechamber.com

Property Taxes

Per $1,000 of assessed value is:

Unincorporated Cherokee County, $21.46; Incorporated Cherokee County, $21.46.

Tax Commissioner: 678-493-6400

TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV

AT&T att.com

Cobb EMC cobbemc.com

Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com

Direct TV directv.com

Dish Network dish.com

ETC Communications etcnow.com

Spectrum spectrum.com

TDS Telecom tdstelecom.com

Windstream windstream.com

Located

Cherokee

The county seat,

called Etowah, was established in 1833 and renamed Canton in 1834. Today, the city is enjoying its greatest economic boom in its history since more than $60 million was invested in residential and commercial development in 1998. Despite developing its own industrial base, Cherokee County remains idyllic and serene. Farming, especially poultry processing, remains a leading industry.

to live, work and play in Cherokee County include the cities of Ball Ground, Holly Springs and Waleska.

Neighborhoods Canton

Mountains and along the banks of the Etowah River, Canton is a prime location for development.

Woodstock

Located 12 miles south of Canton, Woodstock is one of Georgia's top 10 fastest-growing cities and a community recently named one of the Top 50 Cities Places to Live in the U.S. by Money magazine.

Residents also enjoy easy access to 575 and 92, allowing short commutes to Cobb and Fulton counties.

WATER

Cherokee County Water Authority 770-479-1813

City of Ball Ground 770-735-2123

City of Canton 770-704-1500

City of Waleska 770-479-2912

City of Woodstock 770-592-6006

HOSPITALS

Northside Hospital-Cherokee 770-224-1000

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital

770-793-5000

Canton and the neighboring community of Woodstock have seen tremendous growth as subdivisions crop up to accommodate newcomers. In fact, nearly 60 percent of the county’s population are commuters. According to Zillow.com, the median value of homes is $283,573. Homes for well over $1 million can be purchased in such neighborhoods as Bradshaw Farm, BridgeMill and Towne Lake Hills.

Interstate 575 and Ga. Highway 92 traverse the county, affording residents easy access to Atlanta and the nearby attractions of Town Center Mall, Lake Allatoona and the North Georgia Mountains. Other great places

Canton was incorporated in 1833 and renamed in 1834 at the request of two founding fathers who had visions that the town might become a silk center similar to what existed in Canton, China. Canton did become famous for its “Canton Denim,” known worldwide for the high-quality denim produced by Canton Cotton Mills.

Today, Canton is attracting new industry and residents. As a result, the city is reinvesting in its downtown. As part of its Streetscapes program, downtown Canton will be restored to its historic look and features a newly designed theater on Main Street. Located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge

While affording convenience to big-city attractions, Woodstock still maintains its small-town appeal. Buildings dating back to 1879 characterize the downtown area, where antique and other specialty shops are located.

Various golf courses are located in Woodstock, including Arnold Palmer’s Eagle Watch, a course with wooded countryside views that is considered to be one of the top places to play in Atlanta. The 11,860-acre Lake Allatoona provides additional recreation. Woodstock is also convenient to more than 13 state parks. N

For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our Website at newcomeratlanta.com

northwest of Atlanta, Cherokee County gets its name from the original inhabitants of the area, the

Indians.

then

Old Sixes Mill

Cobb County

Cobb County came into being in 1832 when the state redistributed land once part of the Cherokee Nation. Named after Thomas Willis Cobb, the county experienced a devastating setback during the Civil War when most of it was destroyed during the famous Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

QUICK INFO

County cobbcountyga.gov

Neighborhoods austellga.org mariettaga.gov smyrnaga.gov kennesaw-ga.gov cityofpowdersprings.org smyrnacity.com

Median household income: $75,654

Median age of residents: 36.6

Today, Cobb County, located northwest of Fulton County, is one of the state's most thriving counties. With a diverse economic base that includes jobs in the service, retail, aerospace and technology sectors, Cobb County offers a quality of life unsurpassed in the Southeast. Nearly $900 million has been spent on transportation improvements in recent years, allowing residents easy access to Atlanta and the commercial districts of Vinings Overlook, Cumberland Parkway and the prestigious Platinum Triangle in the popular Galleria area.

Population: 755,754

Sales tax: 6%

Chamber of Commerce

Cobb County 770-980-2000, cobbchamber.org

Property Taxes

The property tax is $33.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. Tax Commissioner: 770-980-2000

Neighborhoods Kennesaw

One of Family Circle magazine’s Ten Best Towns for Families, Kennesaw takes pride in its smalltown atmosphere and boasts abundant parks and greenspace, exceptional recreational programs and top-notch schools, including Kennesaw State University. Kennesaw’s historic downtown features shopping, dining and attractions such as the Smithsonianaffiliated Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, the Smith-Gilbert Gardens and nearby Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

Smyrna

UTILITIES & CONTACTS

Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated. For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

A variety of housing options exist in Cobb County, including luxury apartments and condos near

Cumberland Mall, secluded subdivisions in East Cobb and horse ranches in the northwest cor ner of the county. The small towns of Marietta, Vinings, Smyrna and Austell still retain their Southern charm amidst urban settings. According to the Census Bureau, the median value of homes in 2018 was $237,800.

Rapidly defining what’s new and progressive in quality of life and citizen services, Smyrna delivers an amazing sense of style and love of life. The Market Village district, home to fabulous restaurants, bars and upscale shops and services, is the final piece of a master plan for success. Call it “Main Street USA” or “Disneyland,” but don’t overlook its charm and ability to offer the best in fresh, trendy lifestyle options. N

For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our Website at newcomeratlanta.com

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Truist Park

COUNTY INFORMATION EDUCATION

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

UTILITIES & CONTACTS

ELECTRICITY City of College Park 404-669-3759 City of East Point 404-270-7010

City of Fairburn

City of Palmetto

770-964-2244

770-463-3322

Georgia Power 888-891-0938

GAS

Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated. For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV

AT&T att.com

Comcast (Xfinity) xfinity.com

Direct TV directv.com

Dish Network dish.com

WATER

Fulton County 404-612-6830

HOSPITALS

Atlanta Medical Center 404-265-4000

Atlanta VA Medical Center 404-321-6111

Center for the

Visually Impaired 404-875-9011

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding 404-785-9500

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite 404-785-2273

Emory University Hospital Midtown 404-686-4411

Grady Memorial Hospital 404-616-1000

WellStar North Fulton Regional Hospital

Northside Hospital

770-751-2500

404-851-8000

Piedmont Hospital 404-605-5000

Shepherd Center 404-352-2020

Emory St. Joseph's Hospital 678-843-7001

Fulton County serves as the center of the metro Atlanta area. With 90 percent of the city of Atlanta, including the state’s capital building, located within its borders, it sits at the hub of the area’s financial, transportation, retail, communications and cultural services. A number of Fortune 500 companies, including the Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines and UPS, are headquartered here.

More than one million people live in Fulton County, drawn by its convenience to Interstates 75, 85 and 285 and Georgia State Route 400. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median value of homes in the county is $290,400.

Fulton is home to many of Atlanta’s signature neighborhoods, including its bustling downtown district. Older neighborhoods like Inman Park, Grant Park, Candler Park and Virginia-Highland offer affordable housing, pedestrianfriendly layouts and plentiful parks and recreational options. Midtown is the heart of Atlanta’s cultural scene, with the Woodruff Arts Center (home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art) and the historic Fox Theatre, as well as a host of art galleries. Midtown’s Piedmont Park, the city’s most popular greenspace, hosts many outdoor festivals and concerts.

Neighborhoods Buckhead

Buckhead is “where old money lives and new money parties,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With its mixture of mansions and uniquely styled homes, Buckhead is a favorite among architecture and history buffs. Convenient to Georgia 400, Interstate 85 and MARTA, it’s filled with high-rises, upscale restaurants, the Governor’s Man-

sion, the historic Swan House and the Atlanta History Center. Buckhead is also an entertainment and dining hotspot. With luxury hotels, shops, bars and more than 250 restau rants, the Buckhead area is a magnet for young pr als.The neighborhood also offers numerous antique stores, art galleries and mall shopping at both Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza.

Fulton County QUICK INFO

County co.fulton.ga.us

Neighborhoods alpharetta.ga.us buckhead.net

cityofmiltonga.us virginiahighland.com collegeparkga.com

eastpointcity.org

hapeville.org

johnscreekga.gov roswellgov.com

sandyspringsga.gov

Median household income: $65,037

Median age of residents: 35.5

Population: 1,050,114

Sales tax: 7.75%, Atlanta City: 8.9%

Chamber of Commerce

Greater North Fulton 770-993-8806, gnfcc.com

Metro Atlanta

404-880-9000, metroatlantachamber.com

South Fulton 770-964-1984, southfultonchamber.com

Property Taxes

is home to about 64,000 residents, drawn to its affordable housing, parks, shopping at North Point Mall and concerts at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre. The city's historic downtown boasts an appealing town square. Called Alpharetta City Center, it features locally owned shops and restaurants, and hosts events year round.

Johns Creek

Incorporated in 2006, this thriving community of 84,000 was ranked fourth among 50 Best U.S. Cities to Live In by USA Today. It boasts a diverse economic base, coupled with a peaceful environment: the city contains over 400 acres of parkland and nature reserves and contains five access points to the Chattahoochee River.

Milton

The property tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value is: $40.92 for the City of Atlanta; $29.18 for incorporated Fulton County; $40.76 for unincorporated Fulton County; $33.54 for Johns Creek; $33.91 for Sandy Springs. Tax Commissioner: 404-613-6100

Alpharetta

One of metro Atlanta’s most vibrant and affluent cities, Alpharetta

Also incorporated in 2006, Milton combines a pastoral setting with forward-thinking city planning that offers what's been called "The best quality of life in Georgia." N

For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com

Piedmont Park

Gwinnett County

EDUCATION

railroad aficionado.

Some of Duluth’s neighborhoods include Edgewater Estates, Sweet Bottom Plantation and Riverbrooke. Affluent estates with antebellum architecture can be found as well as apartment communities, older brick, ranch-style homes and subdivisions. Duluth still retains some of its original small-town businesses, along with chain businesses, many accessible by Ga. 400 and I-85.

Suwanee

Originally part of Georgia’s Native American territory, Gwinnett County was created by the State Legislature in 1818 and named after Button Gwinnett, one of Georgia's three signers of the Declaration of Independence and a former governor.

While the county was once largely rural with small towns, country stores, farms and forests, today it is home to about 600 international companies and 450 high-tech firms. With an average of 21 new professional and industrial companies relocating to the county each year, attracting almost 21,000 new jobs, Gwinnett County remains in the top 10 ranking for growth nationwide. The county supports many cultural events, r estaurants and shopping opportunities, including the Mall of Georgia in Buford.

Gwinnett County remains affordable for renters and firsttime home buyers, many of whom find homes in the communities of Doraville, Lawrenceville and Snellville. The median value of homes in 2018, according to the Census Bureau, was $200,400.

Neighborhoods

Duluth

Amidst the pristine setting

QUICK INFO

County gwinnettcounty.com

Neighborhoods cityofbuford.com duluthga.net cityoflilburn.com snellville.org suwanee.com

Median household income: $68,914

Median age of residents: 35.3

Population: 920,260

Sales tax: 6%

Chamber of Commerce Gwinnett County, 770-232-3000, gwinnettchamber.org

Property Taxes

Suwanee is named after the Shawnee Indians who settled here in the latter part of the 18th century. Following the official founding of the city in 1837, Suwanee became a railroad stop along the Southern Railroad route. It remained a small country town well into the ’70s when construction of I-85 and U.S. 23 brought easy access to the region.

UTILITIES & CONTACTS

The property tax in unincorporated Gwinnett County is $28.84 per $1,000 of assessed value. Tax Commissioner: 770-822-8800.

of Gwinnett County, Duluth has some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in metro Atlanta and is home to some of the best golf courses and private tennis clubs. There are numerous parks for recreation and participatory sports, including Bunten Road Park and Shorty Howell Park. North Point Mall, a major shopping center, is located near Duluth. The Southeastern Railway Museum, which preserves and operates old railroad equipment, is a must-see for any

Since then, Suwanee has experienced tremendous growth, from 2,412 residents in 1990 to more than 20,000 today. To help manage growth, the city has developed a comprehensive development plan that promotes pedestrianoriented development and mixed-use zoning. The city was designated a Tree City USA for 29 years for its commitment to preserving 27 percent of its land as greenspace.

Such foresight has allowed Suwanee to retain its old-fashioned charm while providing contemporary convenience. Only 35 miles from downtown Atlanta, Suwanee is close to big-city attractions, business districts and shopping. Many antique shops and historic structures, including several Victorian and regional farm-style homes, are located near downtown Suwanee. N

For more counties and neighborhood information, visit our website at newcomeratlanta.com

Georgia’s natural gas market is deregulated. For a list of providers for this county, visit newcomeratlanta.com.

TELEPHONE/INTERNET/TV

City Hall and the Town Green in downtown Duluth

Theater & Concerts

Brother Coyote, Sister Fox, Center for Puppetry Arts

Seattle’s Thistle Theatre presents this bilingual adaptation of the popular Mexican folktale. Brother Coyote wants to eat Dona Conchita’s plump chickens, but clever Sister Fox has plans to keep them all to herself. Sept. 6-24, puppet.org.

Paw Patrol Live! Heroes Unite, Fox Theatre

Your favorite TV characters face their greatest challenge yet when Mayor Humdinger dognaps and clones Robo Dog, causing chaos all over the world! Sept. 8-10, foxtheatre.org.

Sting, Cadence Bank Amphitheatre

The 17-time Grammy Award-winning musician performs hits from across his career both with the Police and as a solo artist. Sept. 15, livenation.com.

Black Panther: Live in Concert, Atlanta Symphony Hall

Enjoy the hit Marvel Studios film as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs its Academy Award-winning score live. Sept. 15-17, aso.org.

The Shining, Alliance Theatre

The Alliance Theatre and the Atlanta Opera present a stirring adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel. Sept. 15-Oct. 1, alliancetheatre.org.

Colin Jost & Michael Che, Fox Theatre

The “Saturday Night Live” stars—hosts of the popular “Weekend Update” segment—perform. Sept. 16, foxtheatre.org.

Squeeze and the Psychedelic Furs, Cadence Bank Amphitheatre

Squeeze, the British rock band known in the U.S. for hits like “Tempted” and “Black Coffee in Bed,” performs alongside the Psychedelic Furs, whose hits include “Love My Way” and “Pretty in Pink.” Sept. 16, livenation.com.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Aurora Theatre

This biographical musical follows the life of the Grammy Award-winning musician from teenage songwriter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Through Sept. 17, auroratheatre.com.

English, Alliance Theatre

Four Iranian adults struggle to learn English in this Obie Award-winning play that deals with themes of communication and identity. Through Sept. 17, alliancetheatre.org.

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band, Fox Theatre

Former Beatle Starr performs with the latest iteration of his band of hitmakers, including Steve Lukather (Toto), Colin Hay (Men at Work), Edgar Winter (The Edgar Winter Group), Hamish Stuart (Average White Band), multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham and veteran drummer Greg Bissonette. Sept. 27, foxtheatre.org.

Chicago, Cadence Bank Amphitheatre

The enduring rock and pop ensemble whose hits include “25 or 6 to 4,” “Saturday in the Park” and “If You Leave Me Now” performs. Sept. 30, livenation.com.

The Jonas Brothers, State Farm Arena

The chart-topping siblings perform five albums of hits from across their career. Oct. 1 and 18, statefarmarena.com.

Rainbow Fish, Center for Puppetry Arts

Explore the wonders of the deep in this adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s story “Rainbow Fish,” presented with two companion tales by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Canada. Oct. 4-15, puppet.org.

Aerosmith, State Farm Arena

The legendary classic rock band runs through its catalog of hits on the “Peace Out” farewell tour. Oct. 14, statefarmarena.com.

Depeche Mode, State Farm Arena

The British electronic rock outfit performs in support of its 2023 release “Memento Mori.” Oct. 15, statefarmarena.com.

Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale, Alliance Theatre

Peter Rabbit’s animal friends have gathered to throw him a surprise party. But they soon learn that Mr. McGregor has terrible plans for the land around Peter’s burrow. Oct. 14-Dec. 23, alliancetheatre.org.

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Live in Concert, Atlanta Symphony Hall

Rainbow Fish, Center for Puppetry Arts

Just in time for Halloween, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra plays composer Danny Elfman’s score live alongside a screening of the classic animated film. Oct. 27 and 28, aso.org.

PHOTO: Chris Helton

PHOTO: Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Aurora Theatre

MJ the Musical, Fox Theatre

Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta presents this production of the Tony Award-winning musical about the life of the late Michael Jackson, featuring over 25 of the performer’s classic hits. Atlanta native Roman Banks stars as Michael Jackson. Oct. 28 and 29, foxtheatre.org.

The Eagles, State Farm Arena

The popular rock ensemble bids farewell on its “Long Goodbye” tour with special guest Steely Dan. Nov. 2 & 4, statefarmarena.com.

Peppa Pig Sing-Along Party, Fox Theatre

Join Peppa, George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and friends as they teach you some of their favorite songs in this interactive musical adventure. Nov. 12, foxtheatre.org.

The Wiz, Fox Theatre

This national touring production of the Tony Award-winning adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” comes to Atlanta. Presented by Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta. Nov. 14-19, foxtheatre.org

Exhibits & Events

Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way, Children’s Museum of Atlanta

This brand-new exhibit featuring the star of the stop-motion animated series “Shaun the Sheep” helps young visitors ages 3 to 9 hone their problem-solving skills, and also includes a “tot spot” for children under 3 years of age. Through Sept. 4, childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Survival of the Slowest, Fernbank Museum of Natural History

This exhibit explores why it’s sometimes better to be slower in order to survive longer, providing a look at the adaptations and strategies of animals like the sloth, green iguana and bearded dragon. Through Sept. 4, fernbankmuseum.org.

Building Blocks, Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Prepare your child for pre-K with this new weekday morning program designed to support active learning and creativity through play. Building Blocks is a drop-in program and is included with admission and/or membership. Launching Sept. 5, childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Les Bon, Duluth Town Green Fountain

Good Word Brewing hosts a celebration of oysters, mixed-fermentation beer, ciders and other beloved beverages. Oysters provided by farmers from across the Southeast. Sept. 9, duluthga.net.

Duluth Farmers and Artisan Market, Duluth Town Green

Shop locally grown produce, baked goods and other homemade items like candles, soaps and pottery at this monthly event showcasing local farmers and vendors on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Sept. 10 & 24, Oct. 8 & 22, and Nov. 12 & 26, duluthga.net.

Samurai: Armor From the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller, High Museum of Art

This exhibition features more than 150 helmets, swords and other objects spanning almost nine centuries, highlighting their extraordinary design and craftsmanship. Through Sept. 17, high.org.

Trolls: Save the Humans, Atlanta Botanical Garden

This outdoor art exhibit by Thomas Dambo calls attention to the importance of sustainability and protecting the environment with amazing troll sculptures created from reclaimed wood. Through Sept. 17, atlantabg.org.

Duluth Fall Festival Concert, Duluth Festival Center

The high-energy party band Platinum performs at this free event courtesy of the Duluth Fall Festival. Sept. 23, duluthga.net.

Duluth Fall Festival, Downtown Duluth

Celebrate the fall season with arts and crafts vendors, food booths, live entertainment and a parade. Free and open to the public. Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, duluthga.net.

Duluth on Tap, Downtown Duluth

Enjoy an afternoon of beer, sausage, giant pretzels and all the German food you can handle, as well as oompah music, local beers, axe throwing and other fun activities. Oct. 14, duluthga.net.

Howl on the Green, Duluth Town Green

Get into the Halloween spirit at this familyfriendly event featuring great food, sweet treats and out-of-this-world entertainment including fire dancers, mystical creatures and aerialists hanging from the Festival Center Stage. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 27, duluthga.net.

Andrews’ Raiders Room, Marietta History Center

This permanent exhibit recreates the decor of an 1860s hotel room much like the one James Andrews stayed in (located in the same building that now houses the museum) before taking part in a famous Civil War event known as the Great Locomotive Chase. Ongoing, mariettahistory.org.

Shaheen Collection of French Works, High Museum of Art

This installation from the High Museum’s permanent collection focuses on French artwork of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ongoing, high.org.

Trolls: Save the Humans, Atlanta Botanical Garden

Les Bon, Duluth Town Green Fountain

PHOTO: Atlanta Botanical Garden

THE DETAILS

LOCATION: 3500 Peachtree Rd., Suite G-1, Atlanta, GA 30326

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday

COST: $25.99 to $43.99 for day tickets, $49.99 to $57.99 for annual passes

CONTACT INFO: 404-848-9252

WEBSITE: legodiscoverycenter.com/Atlanta

hidden ATLANTA

BUILDING A WORLD OF FUN

By Lindsay Oberst

The Lego Discovery Center Atlanta is a dream come true for adults and children alike — a dream constructed out of 2.5 million colorful Lego bricks. This 35,000-square-foot space at Phipps Plaza in Buckhead is an indoor, interactive playground that sparks kids’ creativity at every turn and offers a little education along the way.

Following a six-month, $5 million renovation, the center reopened in March. It covers 10 zones varying from building areas to a 4D theater.

Designed for children ages 3 through 10, the center lets visitors see how these beloved bricks are made in the Lego factory, and then pick up building tips from the pros at the Master Builder Academy. The journey starts in the Minifigure Creator zone, where kids can customize their own Minifigure they can take with them.

From there, it’s on to wonders like the 4D Cinema, where viewers become part of the story unfolding onscreen as they experience bursts of wind, rain, snow and even lightning. Toddlers will enjoy activities such as duck fishing and riding on the dinosaur carousel at Duplo Park.

Adults will appreciate the center’s educational benefits, including school trips that get students excited about using math and introduce them to basic concepts of physics and engineering. Grownups will also get a kick out of Miniland, a miniature Atlanta complete with tiny versions of the Fox Theatre, Stone Mountain and Centennial Olympic Park.

Of course, no matter how long your visit, your little ones will be shouting, “When are we coming back?” before you’ve even left.

PHOTOS: LEGO Discovery Center