Enjoy a Day at the (Soap Box Derby) Races

1. If you aren't aware of the local celebrations surrounding the 75th anniversary of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind going on today and Saturday, then you should be ashamed and turn in your Marietta residency card immediately. The is at the center of all of the festivities, and you can learn more through this Marietta Patchand this . You may also get more information at the official tribute site here.

2. An amazing tradition returned to Marietta in 2004 when the Marietta Kiwanis Club brought soap box derby racing back to the city. The 2011 races begin on Saturday but extensive pre-race inspections, meetings and trial runs begin today at .

The race is sanctioned by the All-American Soap Box Derby. For information, visit mariettasoapboxderby.com.

3. The Atlanta Lyric Theatre debuts the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning musical at 8 p.m. today at the .  The musical, loosely based on Puccini’s La Boheme, follows a year in the lives artists and musicians struggling to survive in New York’s Lower East Side.

The musical plays through June 26. Tickets range from $30 to $45 with discounts for seniors, students and groups. This play is for mature audiences. For information, visit http://www.atlantalyrictheatre.com, call 404-377-9948 or send an email info@atlantalyrictheatre.com.  

4. The Cobb County Master Gardeners from noon to 1 p.m. today will present “Lunch & Learn: Birds in the Backyard” at the . The program is designed to show bird lovers how to attract a wide variety of the feathered friends by choosing plants that appeal to specific species and by providing appropriate nesting and water sources to create a bird-friendly habitat. Bring your lunch.

5. Today is Iced Tea Day. Stories cite the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis as the launching spot of many food and drinks. Iced tea is among them and was thought to be "discovered" by a Richard Blechynden who dropped ice in his hot tea on this day in 1904 to make it more palatable on a blistery summer day. But other stories suggest that versions of "iced tea" were developed earlier. Either way.. it's a great drink. Where's the best iced tea in Marietta?