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Atkins Park 5th Annual Crawfish Boil & Music Festival

Atkins Park is hosting their 5th Annual Louisiana Crawfish Boil & Music Festival on Saturday, April 28 from 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m in Smyrna Market Village. Proprietors Kevin Drawe, Stuart Corriher and Rusty Hamlin are Louisiana natives so you can be sure this event is as authentic as it gets.

Live music starts at 3 p.m. featuring the the Squirrelheads. There will be live music, great Cajun food and beer all day. This event is in conjunction with Smyrna’s annual Spring Jonquil Festival. Cover is $5 and proceeds benefit the Owen T. Wheeler Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

Sunday afternoon, my family was enjoying a relaxing time on the patio at Zuccas. The weather was fabulous. Can’t remember a cooler April in Hotlanta, but I’m not going to complain. Rather, it’s a great time to enjoy the restaurants that have a cool outdoor dining area. Afterall, that is one of the great things about living in the South, we’re sitting outside sipping a beer while others in the northeast are still shoveling snow.

As the band started playing, I came up with a list of other local restaurants with some great outdoor dining options. Here are my top five Smyrna Vinings outdoor dining hotspots.

Zuccas

Atkins Park

NY Pizza Exchange

Mellow Mushroom

Garrisons

I’m sure I’ve overlooked some other great ones, so feel free to leave a comment and let us know about your favorite restaurant patio.

The Smyrna Vinings Sunday Tour of Homes will be running from 2-4 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2007. There are three homes on the tour and if you you preview all three homes, you will be able register for a $75 gift certificate to Soho in the Vinings. The following homes are on tour.

32 Dunaire Court

4204 Terrace Ct       4213 Terrace Ct

The Tour of Homes starts at 2pm.

Directions are as follows:

1. From S. Cobb Drive go west on East-West Connector.

2. Turn left on Fontaine Road

3. Turn right on Nickajack Road

4. Turn right into Glenleigh subdivision and proceed to the T.

5. Turn right on Kinvarra Circle, then right on Dunaire Court.

6. The first home is on your right at 32 Dunaire Court.

7. From Glenleigh neighborhood exit, turn right onto Nickajack Road.

8. Turn right on Windsor Drive

9. Turn right on Concord Road and proceed through covered bridge district

10. Turn right on Concord Lane (just before CVS).

11. Turn right on N Cooper Lake Road.

12. Turn left into Austin Lake on Austin Lake Drive.

13. Turn right on Terrace Court, next home on right at 4204 Terrace Court.

14. Continue down Terrace Court to 4213 Terrace Court.

You have completed the tour. Be sure to register at each location in order to qualify for the drawing. If you have any questions, call Aaron Hofmann at 770-653-9601.

Due to the huge popularity of the Silver Comet Trail, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area trails and the trails at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and the increasing need to find transportation alternatives, Cobb County has developed an extensive program to develop additional trails not only in the Smyrna Vinings area, but also throughout Cobb County.

Before long, these new trails will not only provide easier access to having fun and getting exercise, but due to the interconnectivity of the trails, you will literally be able to get anywhere in the area on your bike without having to worry about getting run over.

You can click here, Cobb County Trail System, to see a map of the trail plan. The trail projects on the Cobb County system map are in different phases of development:

Red indicates existing, usable trails
Yellow (programmed) indicates that funding for the trail has been identified and construction will follow
Green (proposed) indicates proposed trail contruction when funding is available

A portion of the Cobb County trail system is accessible via transit. All Cobb Community Transit (CCT) buses are equipped with front-loaded bicycle racks. All CCT Park and Ride Lots have loop bicycle racks.

Following is a description of all existing, programmed and proposed trails that will have a wonderful impact on the Smyrna Vinings community.

Existing Trails

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area Trails
There are five sections of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area located within Cobb County along the eastern boundary of the County.   These include: Cochran Shoals/Sope Creek, West Palisades/Paces Mill, Johnson Ferry South, Johnson Ferry North, and Gold Branch.   The National Recreation Area includes approximately 20 miles of trails within Cobb County. The recreational trails will connect the proposed East Cobb Trails, the proposed Wildwood Trail, the programmed Interstate North Parkway Trail, and the proposed Mountain-to-River Trail.

Heritage Park Trail
This two-mile long trail begins at Heritage Park and crosses the wetlands on a boardwalk.   It then crosses Nickajack Creek and parallels the creek for about a mile and a half. The trail traverses an old mill site that was operational in the late 1800s and connects to the Silver Comet Trail.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield (KMNB) Park Trails
There are numerous recreation trails within KMNB Park. The most popular trail is the paved road to the top of the mountain. This trail winds over a mile from the base of the mountain near the Visitors Center to a parking lot near the top of the mountain. The park lists more than 17 miles of trails.

Silver Comet Trail
The Silver Comet Trail is part of a larger system that utilizes the railroad track bed that connected Atlanta to Birmingham. This paved pathway extends over 12.8 miles from south Cobb to Paulding County. The eastern extension of the trail will extend to the Cumberland-Galleria area, the largest employment Center in Cobb County.  The Silver Comet Trail will include 10 pedestrian bridges when the complete: Cooper Lake Road; East West Connector at Heritage Park Trail; Nickajack Creek; Olley Creek; Noses Creek; Lucille Creek; Powder Springs Creek; C.H. James Parkway; Mount Wilkinson Parkway; and Cumberland Boulevard.

For additional information on the Silver Comet, refer to my March post, Smyrna Vinings Trails - Silver Comet Trail. Click here for map of the Silver Comet Trail.

Programmed/Proposed Trails
 
Akers Mill Trail
This multi-use trail along Akers Mill Rd. will begin at Cumberland Blvd. The trail will link to the Rottenwood Creek Trail, Silver Comet Cumberland Connector and the Kennesaw Mountain to Chattahoochee River Trail. This trail will connect to the new Cobb Energy Centre for the Performing Arts, Cobb Galleria Complex and Cumberland Mall.

Cobb Parkway Trail
The Cobb Parkway Trail is a proposed one-mile multi-use pathway, which will link Cobb Galleria/I-285 and Cumberland Boulevard. This proposed trail is part of a streetscape beautification project in the Cumberland area along Cobb Parkway and will connect to the programmed Mountain-to-River Trail, commercial and office complexes, and CCT bus routes.

Concord Road Trail
The proposed Concord Road Trail will link to the Silver Comet Trail at the southernmost end. It will also provide a link to the Mountain to the River Trail and connect with an existing trail on Spring Road.

Floyd Road Trail
This two-mile trail will connect the Silver Comet Trail and Fontaine Road serving the Mableton community, providing a link to the Mable House Cultural Arts Center and Amphitheater.  The Floyd Road Trail will be served by CCT Route 30

Interstate North Parkway Trail
This programmed multi-use pathway will extend 1.5 miles along Interstate North Parkway, connecting the Cumberland/Galleria area, the programmed Rottenwood Creek Trail, and the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. CCT Routes 10B and 50 run along Interstate North Parkway.

Johnston’s River Trail
The proposed Johnston’s River Line Trail is approximately 1.5 miles and would afford visitors the opportunity to visit a series of historic embankments along the Chattahoochee River.

Part of the long-range plan is to provide a parking area adjacent to Discovery Boulevard. Included in the proposal is a trail that would connect to the Nickajack Creek Trail.

Kennesaw Mountain to Chattahoochee River Trail (Mountain-to-River)
The trail is a 13.5-mile multi-use urban trail, which runs through the heart of Cobb County, from Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to a connection with the City of Atlanta’s Trail System at the Chattahoochee River.

The project fills gaps between programmed trail projects at Tower Road, Marietta Station Walk, Atlanta Road, and Spring Road.

Laurel Creek Connector
The Laurel Creek Connector will link the Nickajack Trail with the Silver Comet Cumberland Connector.

Nickajack Creek Trail
The proposed Nickajack Creek Trail will be approximately 5.2 miles.   It will connect with the Heritage Park Trail in the north and end at the Johnston’s River Line Trail. It will run parallel to the Norfolk Southern rail line.

Rottenwood Creek Trail
This trail is programmed from the National Park Service land at the Chattahoochee River to Interstate North Parkway with the remaining segment proposed from Interstate North Parkway to Terrell Mill Road. Once completed, the trail will link to the University Trail in Marietta. The majority of the trail length is in the Cumberland-Galleria regional activity center.

Silver Comet Trail – Historic Mableton Connector
This proposed multi-use trail will begin at the Silver Comet Trail at the East-West Connector and traverse into Historic Mableton. The trail will begin at the proposed Fontaine Road trailhead, and will link Heritage Park, Thompson Park, South Cobb Regional Library (under construction), Mable House Cultural Arts Center, and the proposed CCT Park Ride lot. The Park Ride lot will service CCT Route 30.

Smyrna-Atlanta Road Trail
This trail is nearly three miles long, with its location proposed between Concord Road/Spring Road and Paces Ferry Road. The link would connect the Mountain-to-River and Concord Road Trails in the City of Smyrna, with the Silver Comet Cumberland Connector.

Wildwood Trail
This trail is programmed and will connect the National Park Systems’ Cochran Shoals Trail, Rottenwood Creek Trail, and other segments of the county’s trail system from Wildwood, a mixed-used development, which includes residential, commercial, and office centers. The Wildwood Development is located at Windy Hill and Powers Ferry Road, adjacent to the National Park Service land on the Chattahoochee River.

Spring Road
A vital link that unites three trail systems (Silver Comet, Kennesaw Mountain to Chattahoochee River, and the Concord Road trails). The connector will link to many destinations including Cumberland/Galleria area, the Chattahoochee River, the National Park Service lands, and the proposed Chattahoochee River Trail.

This extensive trail system is yet another huge benefit for living in Smyrna Vinings and further explains the excitement everyone in the community has shown.
 

Jonquil Plaza redevelopment will result in the new new $130 million Jonquil Village at the intersection of Spring and Atlanta Road. As you can see in the Jonquil Village sitemap, a grocery store will be included on the southern edge of the project (along Spring Road), which everyone is excited to hear will be Publix.

There will be in excess of 270 luxurious condos, 150,000 square feet of retail space, 350+ street level parking spots serving the grocery store and other retail shops and restaurants. There will be an additional 1,000 parking spaces in an underground parking deck.

The project was originally scheduled to start demolition in January, but as construction goes, the demolition will now begin in May. The Jonquil Village project is expected to be completed in May 2009.

All but McEntyre’s Bakery and Jonquil Sporting Goods have moved out in anticipation of the demolotion. Seemingly, the largest concern over the redevelopment was what would happen to McEntyre’s and Jonquil Sporting Goods. McEntyre’s Bakery will be relocating to 1184 Concord Road on April 17th and Jonquil Sporting Goods will be relocating to 1848 Spring Road on April 18th.

April 28, 2007: Spring Jonquil Festival : Admission: Adults $1; children under 12 and seniors 55+ free.
Arts and Crafts around the Village Green

Sat., April 28– 10a.m.-6p.m.; Sun., April 29 – 12 p.m. – 5p.m.

The City of Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival showcase arts and crafts by more than 150 artists/crafters from across the country. There is fun for the entire family. You can experience a wide selection of festival foods while you shop the arts and crafts market in our stylish and blooming downtown. Admission: Adults $1; children under 12 and seniors 55+ free. For vendor and/or sponsor information,contact JRM Management Services 770-423-1330 or www.jrmmanagement.com. General information 770-434-6600.

April 28, 2007: Jonquil City Jog :

Admission: Register online www.active.com, additional registration info www.smyrnacity.com; $15 pre-registration, $12 children 12 & under; $12Group (10 or more); Tot Trot (kids 5 & under, no t-shirt) free; $20 race day

Sat., April 28– 7:00 a.m. registration & packet pickup; 8 a.m. - 5K Run/Walk; 9 a.m. - Fun Run & Fitness Walk; 9:15 a.m. - Tot Trot Register online at www.active.com Run for fun, education, and PIE! The Jonquil City Jog—part of the Run and See Georgia series—is an accurately measured, scenic and fast 5K course down Atlanta Road. The course begins on Bank Street surrounded by the famous Village Green, and the new Market Village, turns right on Hamby Street, proceeds onto Powder Springs Road and loops onto Atlanta Road where the pace picks up for a fast and furious race to the ultimate prize– a Kenny’s Key Lime pie for the first-place finisher in each age group. The return turns left on Church Street, right on King Street and finishes in front of City Hall and the Market Village.

Proceeds benefit the Campbell High School Educational Foundation, Inc.—a non-profit organization that provides financial and community support for Campbell High School students. Register online at www.active.com, look for additional registration information on www.smyrnacity.com. Registration/race information call 770-518-8002. General information call 770-434-6600 or go online at www.active.com or www.smyrnacity.com

Table Reservations for 2007 Summer Concert Series :

Reserve a table for one or all of the indicated City of Smyrna events. Table reservation rates are noted below.

• Concert with “7 Sharp 9″ - May12 - Table $20
• Concert with “Prime” - June 9 - Table $20
• Concert - Dance Night! - July 14 - $20
• Birthday Celebration - Fireworks after Dark - August 4th - $25

Reservations must be made in advance and in person at the Community Center–200 Village Green Circle–on Monday, April, 16, 2007 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.–Residents only. Proof of City residency is required.

The City of Smyrna reserves the right to adjust or limit the number of tables, and/or adjust table placement and location. Reservations are made on a first-come-first-serve basis and are limited to two tables per party. Tables are 48″ rounds with seating for six (6). There will be no refunds for no-shows. Cancellations must be made one week prior to the concert date to be eligible for a refund. (No shows are subject to loss of table reservations for the remainder of the concert dates.) Table reservation prices and event dates are listed below. For additional information, contact the Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department at 770-431-2842.