First Friday Art Walk Goes Folksy and Public

1. As Marietta's First Friday Art Walk goes into its fifth installment of 2011, some of the merchants have added a little twist. Stop by for its Red, White, or Blue: A Folk and Outsider Art Show exhibit of legendary and upcoming folk artists, including the quilting women of Gees Bend and the late Rev. Howard Finster. Then hop on over to the to see local artist Frank Buckner and his new exhibit “Red, White and Blue—and Other Colors Too.” Buckner will invite visitors to “paint the town” with an interactive display of Marietta landmarks. The Brickyard will provide the canvasses, brushes and paints, you just need to bring your own creative genius.

Marietta Patch will be there!

2.Today is another Cobb County furlough day, meaning that all county offices (save for essential police and fire services) will be closed. Cobb's Citizen Oversight Committee, by the way, gave the furlough ideas a this week when it presented its final report to the Cobb County Commission.

3. Leave it to the Marietta Museum of History to create a bright spot for a furlough day. The museum is offering all furloughed county employees and their families a free day at the museum. Just show your county badge and enjoy some Marietta history!

4. The brings Motown to Marietta this weekend when it debuts Salute to Motown, a musical revue of some of the greatest hits from the Temptations, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes and the Jacksons.

The show follows the life of Berry Gordon from when he opened Motown Records in 1959, proclaiming it Hitsville, USA, and through the sixties and seventies.

Shows will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on the day of the show.

For information, visit www.EarlSmithStrand.org , call 770-293-0080 or send an email to friends@earlsmithstrand.org.

5. Today is International Chicken Wing Day. So tell us, Marietta, where are the best chicken wings in town?