During the summer months, families not only get a hankering for picnics and barbeques, they search out dining establishments that cater specifically to family situations. And that involves finding a dining experience that makes it worthwhile to get out of the house but does not focus on just the kids or just the adults. It’s involves a mix of ages and a mix of appetites. So when it comes to searching for the best in family dining, sometimes I cannot help but think of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. You want something that’s not too formal (you really want to try to get your …

You saw the headline and thought, "Great. Someone with some real Father's Day ideas!" Perhaps you should be prepared to be disappointed. Truth is, most fathers don't want much for Father's Day, if anything at all. A "no gifts allowed" policy is not a bad idea. Marietta Patch's father mostly wanted a buddy to watch sports with and maybe play catch for an hour or so or hit some kind of ball, tennis, football or baseball or otherwise. Marietta Patch's daughter probably gets tired of hearing this answer to her queries: "Nothing. Well, how about just be a great kid." That should be enough, right? …

Each week as part of this feature, Marietta Patch takes on a subject--usually timely--and provides a convenient (but not necessarily definitive) list so as to either compile things or to spark a bit of discussion. This week is about small, innovative businesses, a matter of which Marietta has quite a few. So which ones to choose? The Cobb Chamber of Commerce made this week's selection easy since the business association this week honored its Top 25 Small Businesses for 2011 at its First Monday breakfast. And it so happens that five of the businesses operate within Marietta city limits, making…

The first and main purpose of Memorial Day, of course, is to honor those who have sacrificed and dedicated their lives in protecting the United States of America. In fact, that’s a necessity any day of the year … to thank those who have sworn to protect our freedoms. And because of their service, we have the ability (aye, the luxury!) to reflect upon the other essential purpose of Memorial Day. (No… not recover from the Indianapolis 500.) Celebrating the first official day of the year for grilling. Our Patch Picks assignment of the week was to provide several recipes for Memorial Day. And …

First, a confession:  Marietta Patch is not a foodie. In fact, we can enjoy anything at the Big Chicken, Williamson Bros. BBQ and Rocco's Pub almost as much as the fare at [insert name of what you think is the finest dining establishment in Marietta]. But the Patch HQ assignment for this week's Patch Picks involved listing some of the "Top Chefs" in Marietta. (Yeah, set us up for a debate.) We put the word out on Facebook and Twitter and got a smattering of names for this week's column. Once again, we are pulling out the usual Patch Picks disclaimer: This isn't a definitive list but merely …

Normally, here's the spot where Marietta Patch can wax poetic about the Patch Picks topic of the week, and plenty of folks have said things about life in terms of picnics. (Heck, we just threw one in the headline.) But aren't you a bit sick and tired of the tough times of late being compared to picnics? Can't we just have the picnic? And that's one of the many great things about Marietta ... picnic spots. There are plenty of places to just grab a basket or bucket or bag of food and plop down in the grass or sit under a pavilion and eat and socialize. We normally come up with at least five …

Many folks just don't understand the real importance and significance of Cinco de Mayo, either thinking it's Mexican Independence Day or just a day for margarita consumption. (It's definitely not the former, and there are tequila mixed drink lovers who would contest the latter.) In truth, Cinco de Mayo honors the Mexican Army's incredible defeat of French fores at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. And it is a day that is primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla and in the United States to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride. But many don't want the history lesson, so here are a few …

The simple name "Earth Day" makes the idea of doing something for the Earth and the environment somewhat daunting. How can I as one person curb the enormous amounts of carbon dioxide being pumped into the atmosphere or slow or end the constant destruction of animal and plant habitats around the world? Here's the secret: You can only do your own little part. First, don't take a bulldozer and don't tear out 200 acres of woods and then set fire to all of the resulting timber. Now that you have talked yourself out of that, here are a few real and easy Earth-saving efforts: 1. Switch to energy-…

The income tax filing deadline is almost here. But due to the observance of Emancipation Day in Washington D.C., tax payers have been given until April 18–rather than the traditional April 15 deadline—to file. Some good news: E-filing makes the whole process easier. According to IRS spokesman Mark S. Green, the numbers of Georgia residents filing electronically are up 8.7 percent and that more than 2.6 million returns out of an estimated 4.1 million have already been filed that way. If you are one of those people who have been procrastinating (you aren’t alone as about 20 percent of Georgians…

With Passover approaching, many families begin worrying about the food and what to serve for the Seder as well as the rest of the holy festival. The main symbol of the Passover holiday is matzo, or unleavened bread, so that's essential, but so is a good brisket, something for the kids and something for dessert. Here are some recipes to help you out: Matzo Ball SoupIngredients2 (10 ounce) packages matzo crackers1/2 cup butter6 eggssalt and pepper to taste3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley2 onions, minced5 ounces matzo meal96 ounces chicken broth Directions Bring a large pot of lightly salted …

Spring Break for Cobb County and Marietta schools and many colleges is just around the corner, and no doubt most members of the younger set are clamoring for a beach trip or some other amazing getaway. But you want to keep the vacation closer to home. You have your reasons—traffic, budget issues, gas prices, aversion to sand, whatever—and you need some ideas. Thankfully, you live in Marietta, and there are many alternatives to the expensive weeklong getaways.  And if the list below doesn’t quite work for you, you must visit the Marietta Welcome Center either in person or virtually. In fact, …

If you want the perfect representation of jealously, take a picture of the face of the person in conversation with someone who has just spent hours at a day spa. Check out the seething envy as that person hears about the amazing facials, the hot stone massage, the exotic scents of aromatherapy, the manicures and pedicures. Indeed, there are few things as physically and emotionally pleasing as a visit to the day spa. Or so Marietta Patch has heard ... we have never been to one. (So don't test the jealousy theory by telling us about your day spa adventures; write about them in the comment …

We are not sure where the tradition of pinching non-green wearers originated, but Marietta Patch does not have to worry. We always wear green! And in case you're keeping score, we are a little early with our Patch Picks today so that our readers can take full advantage of St. Patrick's Day. With no further delays, here's a list (and as always, not necessarily the definitive list. Please add your suggestions in the comments!) 1. Johnnie MacCracken's Celtic Pub. An easy, obvious pick for Marietta since the words "Celtic Pub" are in its name, and owner Gary Leake opened it in honor of his father…

Yeah, so Marietta Patch might have dated itself with the reference to a certain Allen Sherman song bemoaning the first day of summer camp. The concept of "summer camp" has evolved considerably from when parents shipped kids for weeks at a time to some remote outpost in some godforsaken woods. Those camps exist today and flourish, but the options for camp abound. Rather than give a Top 5 list of individual camps, Marietta Patch prefers to offer a five-point list of types of camps and offer a smattering of programs available locally and, in the case of traditional camps, in the nearby mountains…

Ok, so the National Education Association has not really made up its mind about Read Across America; that is, do they label the event as a "day," which happens to land on March 2 and the birthday of Theodor Geisel, otherwise known as Dr. Seuss? Or do they label it a "week?" A "month?" Or all three? If everyone in America read that day or this week or this month, then it probably doesn't matter. If we go for the "week," then not by happenstance, the Friends of the Cobb County Public Library System caps off the week by hosting its semi-annual book sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday …

So the challenge this week for Patch Picks was to choose five boutiques in Marietta. The first hurdle, what exactly is a "boutique." A paraphrased definition from Webster's suggests that a boutique is a small shop that sells custom-made or uniquely fashionable clothes, jewelry and the like. Fair enough. Second hurdle, limiting the list to only five. Not quite fair. Here's the deal: The list below should not be construed as the starting point or ending point of boutiques in Marietta, nor a definitive, comprehensive one. This is simply a list. After reading the list, the challenge turns to you…

Many things in Marietta get the spotlight. Perhaps it's the Big Chicken or Williamson Bros. on the culinary end or maybe Marietta Square or the Strand on the landmark end. Marietta has had its share of high-profile politicians from congressmen to a governor and high-profile military connections with Dobbins Air Reserve Base and Lockheed. Marietta does its best to highlight nonprofit organizations. The Humane Society of Cobb County just this past weekend held its immensely popular "Puttin' on the Ritz" fundraiser, and many downtown merchants hold fundraisers in support of charitable groups. …

Finding the perfect romantic dining establishment for the Valentine's Day weekend can be quite challenging. Marietta Patch turned to its readers for assistance, and we must give a special shout out to Cassandra and Brian Buckalew of the Historic Marietta Trolley Co. for these suggestions. 1. Kiosko Restaurant, 48 Powder Springs St., 678-337-7999. This unassuming restaurant sits just a couple of blocks from the southwest corner of the Square, but is worth the small trek. This is a family-owned Colombian restaurant, and it shows as they are always there preparing dishes. The Buckalews swear by …