My family and I were on the Square last night. After enjoying a meal at the Pizza Company, we were walking by the fountain and noticed that the lights were still on at Sugar Cakes Patisserie. During the week, I’ve always seen the charming dessert house, but it’s been closed. This being the weekend, though, was to our advantage as we walked into the entrance of the shop around 9:30 pm.

Before even eating the inviting foods, the decor of the location is aesthetically pleasing: warm, simple, modern. The chairs have a whimsical “coffee-cup-with-steam” carving in the backs of them. The pastry case is the main draw. It’s large, open, and showcases each creation for the customer’s viewing (and eventually, eating) pleasure. I really liked the small, orange lights in the cafe; they draw you in from outside.

The owner and dessert artist, Ted Arpon, was at the bakery last night. He has been working with pastries for 7 years. Arpon attended culinary school in Chicago, where he studied under a French mentor. Sugar Cakes definitely boasts an elegant, European-style preparation in their dessert making.

For our desserts, we enjoyed a chocolate cake with a raspberry filling, along with a nice dish of creme brulee. The chocolate was fine and subtle, without being overpoweringly sweet. The combination of chocolate and the raspberry filling was amazing, and the presentation was exquisite. The dish of creme brulee was delicious; the server behind the counter even let me come back to watch the sugar being carmelized on top of the dessert. Our daughter enjoyed a thick, rich chocolate chip cookie for her nighttime snack.

I would recommend this wonderful establishment to anyone looking for dessert on the Square. Sugar Cakes Patisserie has been opened for approximately 3 months and is located at 101 North Park Square. Their phone number is 770.218.9994. A website (www.sugarcakespatisserie.com) is coming soon.

From the looks on the sign, which already announces the new business’ name, Sam & Dave’s BBQ2 will be arriving on the scene shortly. Located in the shopping center which houses Xpress Fitness 24/7 and the now-defunct Metro Market, the new Sam & Dave’s BBQ is not yet open. We have no details as to when the first day open will be, but if you’d like to check out Sam & Dave’s before they arrive on our side of town, you can check out this review from the AJC. Or you can visit their first location on Lower Roswell Road yourself for a personal preview. Keep your eyes open for further developments…..

Tucked among a row of outdoor eateries along North Park Square is a seemingly unassuming mediterranean grille also know as Efe’s. The menu posted outside features dishes in a foreign language, but recognizable to anyone familiar with some of the region’s more popular cuisinal offerings, such as kebabs and falafal. However, to capture the true essence of this establishment, you must venture inside, past the front of the house and down a small corridor. The end of the little hall spills into a more vast opening than you might expect with continous sofa-like seating that wraps around three sides of the room. The fabrics that dress the tables, seats, pillows, and walls boast the rich hues of gold and burgundy.

As you take a comfortable seat, you’ll need a few minutes to peruse the extensive offerings of mediterranean fare and Turkish dishes. Though, you shouldn’t begin your main course without a sampling of the Cacik or Falafel. Whether you opt for the Kebabs or one of the traditional Turkish dishes as the main entree, your portions will be generous, but if you want more flavor, go for the Kebabs.

After you order and have time to look around the room, you may notice that the seating does not extend past the tables along the wall. And if you are there on a Friday or Saturday night, you’ll quickly understand why. At 7:00 the quiet atmosphere instantly transforms as sounds of middle eastern melodies reverberate through the room. The gentle clanging of finger symbals introduces the feature entertainment for the evening: a belly dancer.

The décor, dining, and dancing culminates into a melting pot of a middle eastern experience. Though it doesn’t rank among the likings of Atlanta’s Imperial Fez, it is a great spot in our neighborhood for a dinner and a show with a foreign flare.

Having lived within two miles of the Marietta Square for the better part of two decades, my memories of this historic place are innumerable to say the least. One of my favorite childhood memories to recall is how my mother and I would spend Saturdays on the Square.

With morning chores and dance lessons over, Mom and I would set out for the afternoon together. We window-shopped among all the antique stores that lined Church Street and North Park Square. As a little girl, I developed the habit of remembering all the things my mom pointed out. When special events came around, my dad would take me to the same antique shops to help him select gifts for my mom.

Shopping on the Square with Mom always included lunch. Along West Park Square sat the Dunaway Drug Store. Inside, there was a small grille and we’d stop in for a club sandwich and milkshake. Each time my mom would remind me that up north it’s called a “grinder and a cabinet.” I thought it so strange that they would rename their food after furniture.

This morning, I decided to walk up to the Square for breakfast and a little shopping at the Marietta Farmer’s Market. The weather was ideal for such an outing. I picked up a paper on my way to the Three Bears Café. I sat outside, read, enjoyed a healthy breakfast, and basked in the quiet beauty of my surroundings. Afterwards, I walked around the corner and a little down the street to the market.

A small crowd of people hovered around the fresh selections of produce set out by local farmers and vendors. I overheard more than once that most of the produce came in from Florida and it wasn’t quite produce season yet for Georgia. Late June and July is when the market will be filled with Georgia fruits and vegetables.

Other vendors offered homegrown spices and plants, homemade honey and bread, and handmade soaps and creams. After buying a few tomatoes, cucumbers, and peaches and some soap and lotions, I headed back home thinking that next time, I’ll be sure to bring my mom along with me.

I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a quiet morning on the Square. I felt as though I rediscovered a simple pleasure from my past that I will be sure to experience again.

Let us know what simple pleasures you treasure about the Square. We’d love to hear about it!

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, today, Sunday, 4/30 is the much awaited Taste of Marietta. The WhitlockAvenue.com team will be out handing out “Blog What?” magnets and handouts to let the community know about our interactive site about Historic Marietta. For those of you that are just visiting us for the first time today, let me welcome you to our site. If you have any news story you want to suggest to us, just click the navy “Suggest News” button in the header of the site and let us know what’s on your mind.

If you want to share your opinion about any post on the site, just click the “Share your Opinion” link below every post and let the community know what’s on your mind!

That being said, let’s talk about the Taste of Marietta! Who had the best food? The best presentation? Style/Uniqueness/Taste etc? This coming week, our official restaurant section will be launching. We will use comments and reviews from the Taste of Marietta to get some initial reviews. If you would like to review a restaurant for us, please either click the “Share your Opinion” button or let us know here!

We are excited to be headed out today, look for us in our Blog What shirts and thanks for your support! It’s you, our readers that breathe life into the WhitlockAvenue.com site. It’s your city, your blog Marietta.

This is the first of a new section we’re starting here @ WhitlockAvenue.com, entitled, “Arts/Living.” Soon, the site will be redesigned with this new section available to access. Until then, enjoy the post by our newest contributing editor, Susan I. McNeel!

Every Wednesday, Shilling’s upstairs dining room “On top of the Square,” plays host to Martini’s and Music from 7pm-10pm. Their martini special features $5 martinis to be enjoyed while listening to the musical stylings of the Jazz Trio. I decided to check out this classier version of happy hour and brought along my friend. We could hear the relaxing tones of the band at work before we reached the top of the stairs. The tables were set for fine dining with white linens and full place settings. We opted to sit at the bar and found the bartenders to be friendly and extremely knowledgeable of the fare and history of Shillings. We upgraded from the $5 martinis to Grey Goose. I ordered mine “Straight up, extra dirty” and my friend went for the Cosmopolitan. Our drinks were perfect, one of the best martinis I’ve had anywhere in Marietta.

It was difficult to decide what to order; everything on the menu appeared to appeal to all the senses. We settled on sharing a couple of appetizers. Though their specialty appetizer is Mushroom and Artichoke Mélange, we decided to go surfing and order fried calamari and crab cakes. The calamari came out drizzled with a delicate teriyaki sauce. Instead of the standard marinara sauce for dipping, it was accompanied by a sweeter, fruit based sauce The crab cakes had a crispy crust and tender inside and were accompanied with a spring salad mix. . None of it could have been prepared any better. It was absolutely delicious.

Though the staff, food, and drinks were all amazing, the décor left something to be desired. The view of the square was hindered from the bar by a large valance over the window. The exposed brick lost some of its charm by housing some generic and obsolete artwork.

Despite the need for a design upgrade, the overall experience at Martinis and Music on Top of the Square was quite enjoyable. The band was entertaining. (Though, I didn’t find the opportunity to ask them why their name was the Jazz Trio when they ended up having four members.) The food, drinks, and staff were everything you could want from a dining experience. It’s not the best spot in Marietta for a happy hour scene, but it is ideal for a romantic mid-week date.

Be on the lookout for more news in the Arts and Living section of the site in the coming weeks!

We recently had the pleasure of eating at a new restaurant, Canvas, located just south of Kennestone Hospital. This hip, stylish location is inviting just on exterior looks alone. Once inside, you’ll see a clean, almost minimalist layout in the design. The room is warm and spacious, with high ceilings and plenty of room to move around. When speaking with one of the owners, Chris, he told us that, at one time, he had wanted to be an architect and that he designed both the interior and exterior of the building. If that’s not impressive enough, as you move inside the front door, you’ll see what people come for: the food.

We were there during breakfast time, so my choice was the banana bread and coffee. While the coffee was nothing extraordinary, the bread was delicious. Moist and flavorful, the banana bread is something I’d recommend for anyone who enjoys that homemade goodness. I’ve been told that the sandwiches are amazing. That will have to be something I try on a return visit! Canvas offers catering as well. Be sure to check out and support one of our newest culinary contenders, Canvas.

The Marietta Square has gone through quite a rebirth in the past few years. Restaurants such as Willie Rae’s and the Marietta Pizza Company are staples on the dining map, while newcomers such as Thaicoon and Kiosco already welcome back loyal patrons. With the campaign to bring back The Strand theater in full swing, you know that what goes around, comes around.

We’d love for you, our loyal readers, to share your memories and stories of “the Square” with us. Anything you’d like to contribute, whether it’s a recollection of the Square when you were a child, old pictures of the Marietta Square or a first impression you had when you moved here, is welcome. We’d also like to hear your thoughts on where you think the Square is going and any ideas for improvements. Blog away, Marietta!

At the Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta, they know how to start the weekend off right. Stop by their luxurious hotel every Friday from 5pm to 12am and ease into the evening with delicious cuisine, specialty cocktails and the rich sounds of local jazz. Their dinner menu features exquisite salads, appetizers, entrees and specials, while our grill is used to prepare only the finest cuts of chicken, pork chops and filet mignon. If you’re in the mood for something on the lighter side, consider ordering from our Lounge’s innovative tapas-style menu, or from the bar’s collection of specialty martinis, cosmopolitans and outstanding wines. After your meal, savor a delectable dessert or after-dinner drink as you sit back and enjoy the final melodies of the evening.

For more information click here or call them today at 770-956-1234!