First Friday Art Walk at Marietta Square a Definitive 'Get Out' Candidate

Essential Marietta happenings for the weekend:

1. Take a Walk on the Marietta Arts Side. For the fourth year, the merchants of Historic Marietta Square have turned over downtown for the city's burgeoning arts scene. Held the first Friday of the month (that means this Friday), the First Friday Art Walk is a free, self-guided tour in which stores, restaurants, art galleries, museums and boutiques feature artists and musicians.

The walk runs from 5 to 9 p.m., and maps are available at participating merchants, the Marietta Welcome Center & Visitors Bureau or online at www.artwalkmarietta.com.

This year's Art Walk also features the Artists Alley at , in which student artists participate in a juried exhibit across numerous styles. For information, call 770-429-1115.

2. Brew with a View. Local attorney Bert Reeves lends his guitar for the first 2011 Brew with a View at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. Reeves, a former assistant district attorney, offers covers of Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows and John Mayer. The event has no cover charge. Go to the Strand Web site for information.

3. Twist again. Chubby Checker, who taught the world to Twist and Limbo Rock, arrives in Marietta on Saturday as the latest entry in the 's "Encore Series." The concert begins at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $40. For information, call 770-528-8490 or search for tickets at ticketmaster.com.

4. Bluegrass Mass by the Cobb Symphony Orchestra. For something truly different for the weekend, you must drop by , 56 Whitlock Ave., around the 8 o'clock hour on Saturday. The Cobb Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus will present The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass. Yes, sir. You don't hear the words "bluegrass" and "mass" in the same sentence to often. The Chamber Chorus brings Carol Barnett's "Bluegrass Mass" to life "combining sophisticated choral sounds with the jubilant harmonies of a bluegrass string band." Tickets are $8 to $10. For information, visit http://www.cobbsymphony.org, call 770-429-7016 or send an e-mail to info@cobbsymphony.org.

5. Buy old clothes for the newborn. If you are a new or expectant parent, what better way to spend part of your weekend than shopping for that new bundle of love. Born Again Blessings has made it cheap and easy for Friday as it holds its biennial children's consignment sale from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the .

The sale features maternity clothing, shoes, toys, nursery items, baby items, furniture and more. For the first-time parents, a special preview sale opens at 7 p.m. Thursday.