James September-October 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 19
and other caring adults, so we can
say ‘yes’ to what teachers do better
than anyone else: teach.” According
to a district spokesperson, Cobb is
the highest achieving district in the
metro area, and the students lead
their Georgia peers on the SAT,
ACT, and Georgia Milestones. They
explained that this year’s 8400
graduates earned a record-setting
$154 million in scholarships. And a
new and innovative learning system called “Prisms of Reality” will
offer students an immersive virtual
reality to enhance how they learn
math and science.
Food, glorious food, is always a
popular topic, and I ate more than
my fair share as a judge at this
year’s Taste of Marietta— one of the
longest-running and best-attended
food festivals in Atlanta. Some of
the most superlative restaurants
in Cobb compete for recognition
for being known as taste winners,
and it wasn’t easy to narrow down
the best of the best. We are very
fortunate to have such a variety of
delicious eateries in our community.
Spring is a James Beard
Award-nominated intimate spot that
offers artfully prepared cuisine with
a precisely curated wine list and
impeccable service. Brian So, the
owner and chef, is opening a second
location in Marietta Square’s newly
redeveloped Church Street section
that will be a more casual environment— serving what he likes to eat
on his days off, such as bimbimbap,
hot pots filled with a protein, veggies, and a spicy broth, along with
other various dishes from his childhood. Bridger Properties bought a
large swath of buildings in this area
and is rehabbing them to accept
new establishments, including a
locally owned Mexican restaurant,
Woody’s Cheesesteaks, and a beer
tasting room.
Tourism in Cobb and Marietta
is largely on an uptick due to the
aforementioned Atlanta Braves, but
also on a smaller scale at various
locales such as Marietta Square.
I spoke with Executive Director
Brittney Gray at the Visit Marietta
Welcome Center and she confirmed
“tourism is the largest industry in
Cobb, bringing in an estimated
2.4 billion annually and employing
over 18,000 people.” She added,
“With more options for arts, culture,
dining and entertainment, Marietta
has been gaining a greater reputation as a destination of preference
as families and individuals decide
how to spend their weekends or
nights out.” I certainly agree with
her, and we are fortunate that we
live within walking distance of
Marietta Square and love taking
a leisurely stroll to support local
businesses, theatres and eateries.
I am a rare Atlanta native who
has lived in various neighborhoods
around this large metropolis. Living
in Cobb since 2003 and moving to
the city of Marietta in 2018, I have
seen things grow and prosper in a
multitude of favorable ways. Cobb
has many diverse cities, including
Smyrna, Mableton, Acworth, Kennesaw, Powder Springs Austell and
Marietta. All have their own unique
personality, and some still retain
that small-town USA feel, where
you don’t think twice about swapping tomatoes with your neighbors
or borrowing a cup of sugar. That,
to me, puts the “unity” in “community.” Environment matters in your
day-to-day life and living in Marietta/Cobb feels like wearing a comfy
pair of jeans that make you want to
sit down on the front porch with a
cold iced tea and stay a while.
Advocating for housing
affordability on behalf of home
builders and owners in support
of private property rights,
responsible regulation and
industry integrity.
Austin Hackney
E X EC U T I V E V I C E P R E S I DE N T
Cindy Morley
D I R EC TO R O F P U B L I C A F FA I RS
Brian Benefield is an Atlanta native who writes
about community, culture and cuisine. Find more
of his writing at cobbcountycourier.com
404.763.2453
