So, now that the weekend’s over, what were your thoughts about Mayretta Daze, Mayretta?? Let us know what you thought about the whole show….. certain artists that caught your attention, some new piece of art you bought, something that got under your skin….whatever you want to share with your fellow neighbors. This was supposed to be the largest show yet, so let us hear your feedback!

Good evening everyone, I would like to officially announce the new “Arts and Living” section on WhitlockAvenue.com. This new section of the site will be an all encompassing look at the arts and living topics as well as current events in the city including culture, arts, theatre and just about anything else related to what’s going on in the downtown Marietta. Our newest contributing editor for the Arts and Living section is Susan McNeel.

Susan is a Marietta native whose family has been established here since the late 1800s. When she’s not working as a Communications Specialist for The Home Depot, she is contributing articles for WhitlockAvenue.com. Susan enjoys writing, cooking, and all things related to the arts: culture, art, music, literature, dance, theatre, and history.

She advocates the growth of Marietta through revitalization and preservation, while maintaining the historical integrity of our landmarks and neighborhoods.

If you have any Arts and Living topic or news suggestions, please contact us with the details of your suggestion. Thanks and please give a warm welcome comment or note to Susan!

We wanted to follow up on a story we reported a few weeks back - The restoration of the Strand Theatre. The Friends of the Strand group is working to restore the Strand Theater to its original 1936 art deco design. Currently, the group is working to attract a coffee house or other type establishment to be located in the inside of the renovated theatre, according to our sources.

Recently, the Friends of the Strand asked the Cobb County Commission to make a $250,000 donation to its effort to restore the old Strand Theatre on the Marietta Square. What are your thoughts on this project? Will it have a positive impact on the Marietta Square? What are your opinions? Share them below by clicking the “Share your Opinion” icon.

thanks to Andy Sharp/AJC for the detailed article..

The Friends of the Strand has raised about $1.2 million to renovate the Strand Theatre on Marietta Square. The non-profit organization is trying to raise $5 million to restore the theater.

The not-for-profit organization is trying to raise $5 million to restore the building and create an endowment. The group is asking Cobb to make the $250,000 grant when its fund-raising effort reaches $2 million. So far Friends of the Strand has raised about $1.2 million, said Earl Smith, the group’s chairman.

When finished, the theater will seat 500 people and be used to show classic films, for hosting film festivals and for live productions and concerts. The upper story will be used as a reception area with open-air seating overlooking the Marietta Square. It will be available for rental to the public.

WHO’S AFFECTED
Everyone who pays taxes in Cobb or visits the Marietta Square.

THE MEETING
The Cobb Commission meeting will be 9 a.m. Tuesday, 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta.

LEARN MORE
Contact your commissioner. Telephone and e-mail addresses can be found at www.cobbcounty.org

Our local community ensemble group is having a performance of Mozart’s Requiem at the First Presbyterian Church, starting at 8:00 pm this Saturday. The Marietta Master Chorale is a non-profit community based ensemble, which performs a variety of choral literature, including a cappella and orchestrated choral works from a range of musical genres. “The concert this weekend is an opportunity for us to give high school aged students the opportunity to sing with a massed choir, orchestra, and professional soloists,” reports Jerid Morisco, the MMC’s artistic director and conductor. This is all part of the group’s “G.R.E.A.T.” program - “Generations Relating Education And Talent.”

The Marietta Master Chorale was founded in 2001 with the mission to provide musical opportunity and enrichment. They have performed at countless civic events and local area churches. The MMC has also travelled internationally to countries such as Germany and Austria. The chorale will perform at the prestigious Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina for the third year in a row this summer.

If you are interested in having fun making serious choral music, please email conductor@mariettamasterchorale.org.

This weekend, the Square plays host to yet another springtime tradition - Mayretta Daze. The arts and crafts bonanza will be held Saturday from 10am-6pm and Sunday from 11am-5pm. Admission is free. Come out and support our local artisans! Call 770.794.5609 for more information.

This Saturday, May 6th, at Lockheed Elementary School from 9:30 am to 11 am, there will be an MCS (Marietta City Schools) Board listening session. The board welcomes you, the community, to come and share your thoughts and concerns about our great school system. Visit the Marietta School Board website for more information.

Thanks to Randy Weiner for this update.

Since ancient times, spring has long been celebrated as a season of new life. And though the calendar marks the beginning of spring in late March, it never seems to officially begin until the Square and the city of Marietta are brought back to life. On a social calendar, this was the weekend that spring began in Marietta.

Friday night kicked off the warm season tradition of the Glover Park concert series. Locals and visitors alike made the annual pilgrimage to the Square early Friday evening to set out blankets, chairs, and picnics to reserve their seats for a twilight show. Concert goers wined, dined, and danced to the classic oldies music of Tyn Tymes. The smiles, laughter, and cheers served as evidence that a good time was truly had by all. Whether you missed this event or can’t wait to relive it, you can catch the next concert featuring Jesters on May 26.

The fun at Glover Park was only the initial sign of the weekend spring commencement. Residents and visitors were drawn back outside for the Blue Angels Air Show on Saturday. Time seemed to stand still that afternoon when the Blue Angels took flight around 3:00. The people in and around Marietta were be stilled, even if only for a moment, by the Blue Angels demonstrating their highly skilled tactical maneuvers in Naval aviation. Though high winds and low clouds limited the Angels’ practical ability to really “spread their wings,” the show was impressive nonetheless. They were still able to display such moves as the diamond formation, the starburst, inverted flight, and upward and downward spirals. You can learn more about the Blue Angels at their official website.

Although the weather for a flight demonstration was surprisingly more favorable on Sunday, many Marietta residents settled for only momentary glimpses of the Blue Angels while enjoying the Taste of Marietta.

This annual event reflects the diversity of culture that can be found in our fair city, while reminding us of our beloved southern culture (through the mere abundance of barbecue restaurants alone). Patrons could taste Marietta’s cultural diversity through restaurants such as Brazilian steakhouse, Sal Grosso , the local Irish pub food of Johnnie Maccracken’s and the Asian samplings of Thaicoon and Sushi Bar. Taste was just one of the many senses that were satisfied at this event. Music fans of most genres could find their preference among the variety of bands who entertained with their tunes of country, blues, or rock. The diversity of Marietta was not only experienced through taste and sound, but also through site. The people who participated in the event reaffirmed the cultural variety that Marietta so rightly claims as an attribute to the city. The Taste of Marietta is many things to many people. For nostalgists, it brought the comfort of heritage and tradition. For adventurers, it gave the excitement of trying something new. For most residents of Marietta, it was the experience of both.

This past weekend was one of the best showings Marietta could offer. This weekend represented the annual rebirth of our city, proving it to be a wonderful place to live and visit.

Susan I. McNeel - Arts and Living Editor - WhitlockAvenue.com

Good morning everyone! In an effort to enhance your reading experience on WhitlockAvenue.com, we have redesigned the site using a new layout. The main content area is now larger and we have moved all the site sections, links, categories, recent posts, and sites we like to the left hand column. All our sponsors can now be seen in the right column on the site. Please let us know what you think! We have tested and tested, but if there is any site functionality that isn’t working correctly, just let us know!

For those of our readers in west Cobb, we’re sure you’ve at least heard mention of the new Allatoona High School, which is planned to open in late 2008. In a Marietta Daily Journal article from today’s paper, it’s reported that the new school might run as much as $6 million overbudget.

Salmon [an executive from The Facility Group, which handles construction projects for the Cobb school district] said a number of factors have contributed to the projected overrun, including global economic factors, Hurricane Katrina and rising oil prices. The events of the Sept.. 11 2001, terror attacks, combined with Katrina, have hit insurance companies hard, he said.

He cited the wholesale cost of asphalt, which in March 2004 was $24 a ton, but in March 2006 was $33.50 a ton, and diesel fuel, which in 2004 was $1.09 a gallon but now is $2.25 a gallon.

Fortunately, superintendent Fred Sanderson reports that the district is under budget in some other areas, which creates a surplus to work with.

What is your opinion on the costs of schools these days? Do you believe your tax dollars are being used to their greatest potential? With the cost of construction projects rising, do you think our school districts can afford to keep up with the demand for more educational facilities? Share your opinion!

Thanks to Jon Gillooly for the MDJ article.

We just got an alert that the city is working with the Southern Polytechnic School of Architecture to redesign and make improvements along Powder Springs Street. This is a much needed effort and will really help in the city’s redevelopment surge. What are your thoughts and opinions on the Power Springs street corridor today? What ‘face’ would you like it to have in the future?

CITY OF MARIETTA, GEORGIA

MEDIA ADVISORY

Marietta, Southern Polytechnic partner to improve Powder Springs Street

WHO:
City of Marietta
Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) School of Architecture

WHAT:
The City of Marietta and SPSU School of Architecture have formed a collaborative to provide students real world experience while offering the City new approaches to design challenges. Students will present to city officials design ideas from this semester’s collaborative project focusing on improving Powder Springs Street from South Marietta Parkway to Whitlock Avenue.

WHEN:
Wednesday, May 3rd at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:
Southern Polytechnic State University
Architecture building auditorium
1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta
678-915-7778
http://www.spsu.edu/home/about/campusmap.html

PHOTO/VIDEO:
Design presentations

INTERVIEWS:
City officials, SPSU professors, SPSU architecture students

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