-- What's happening under the Gold Dome? Three East Cobb-area lawmakers are holding a town hall meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mountain View Community Center, 3400 Sandy Plains Road. Sen. Judson Hill and Rep. John Carson, both East Cobb Republicans, and Sen. Chip Rogers of Woodstock, the Senate majority leader, will update constituents on the Georgia General Assembly session thus far.  -- The Wheeler and Walton wrestling teams are competing close to home in the Region 5AAAAA sectional meet that concludes Saturday at Marietta High School. Pope is competing in a sectional meet at Northside …

This week House Hunt offers Open Houses and Featured Homes ranging in price from 150,000 for a three-bedroom home on Pondside Court to a seven-bedroom home on Oakmont Circle for $5,500,000. Click on a picture in the photo gallery to see a listing description. Click on an address listed below and get directly linked to AOL Real Estate for the complete listing information. You'll find helpful tools such as mortgage calculators, credit prequalifying, home buying tips, maps and contact information for the listing you choose. 885 Park Creek Court, Marietta 30064. 178,700. Open House: 1 to 3 p.m. …

On Saturday bring paint, metal, electronics, documents and other items to Pope High School for the Pope Band Recycling Day.  The hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school, located at 3001 Hembree Road. Donations requested: $10 minimum. TVs and CRTs: $15. Paint, up to 10 gallons: $15. Paper: $5 per file storage box. Pick up service available. For more information, contact Joshua Rudolph. Keep Marietta Beautiful Scavenger Hunt Looking for something new to do in Marietta? Keep Marietta Beautiful has a way to have family fun, see the sites of Marietta and spend time outside—geocaching. On the…

-- The Artist Attic Holiday Show and Sale takes place at The Art Place Mountain View through Dec. 17. The event includes all hand made items by TAP students, instructors and staff. -- Centerstage North's Holiday Show Got a Hankerin' for Holiday Hijinks? will take continue through Saturday. The Jones Hope Woeten Comedy will show at the Art Place Mountain View. Call 770-516-3330 for more information. -- The Cobb Christmas Distribution at Jim Miller Park continues through Sunday. -- The 1940's Radio Hour will run from Dec. 17 through Jan. 1. This beloved show was a hot hit in Theatre in the …

-- The Gift of Christmas Concert at Mt. Paran North Church of God is Friday at 6 p.m. 1700 Allgood Road, 770-578-9081. -- Johnson Ferry Baptist Church will celebrate its Christmas Festival on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Music, visuals and a special Christmas message will be featured. Admission is free. 955 Johnson Ferry Road. 770-973-6561. -- The Empty Bowl Brunch at The Art Place in East Cobb will take place on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will benefit area charities. The cost is $10 for soup or chili and guests will be able to keep a bowl created by a …

1. East Cobb Park Tree Lighting -- Holiday songs, cheer, Santa Claus, bell ringers and the lighting of a 40-foot park tree take place this Sunday, Dec. 4, starting at 5 p.m. It's the community's signature public commemoration of the holiday season, and the public is invited.  2. The Holiday Walk at Merchant's Walk -- East Cobb's newly redeveloped retail hub is holding its debut celebration of the season Thursday (today) starting at 6 p.m. A total of 15 retailers, including Whole Foods, The Cook's Warehouse and Marlow's Tavern, will have extended opening hours.  There also will be a holiday …

1. Football is still in the air this weekend as two East Cobb teams continue on in the playoffs. The Walton Raiders host the South Cobb Eagles, and the Pope Greyhounds host Tri-Cities. Stay with East Cobb Patch for the latest scores tomorrow night and complete highlights and recaps Saturday.  2. Visit the 29th Annual Sprayberry Arts & Crafts Show with over 150 arts, crafts, raffle and great food. Proceeds go to Sprayberry High School PTSA. Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday: 12-4 p.m. Sprayberry High School, 2525 Sandy Plains Road. More info: 770-578-3200. 3. Author Bruce Gillett and illustrator …

Just before the holiday season gets started, a number of church craft fairs will be going on this weekend in East Cobb to get you in the mood.  The Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Craft Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church, located at 1770 Johnson Ferry Road. This is the 26th annual event sponsored by the Mt. Zion United Methodist Women. The work of more than 50 artists will be on display, along with prizes, a bake sale and more. Free admission.  On Saturday, Faith Lutheran Church is holding the Faith Craft Shoppe. This arts and crafts sale, a …

1. Marietta Tree Keepers and the Rotary Club of Marietta are joining forces to raise money for tree-planting with the Oktoberfest Party at Historic Oakton Friday at 7 p.m. The Oktoberfest Party will feature fire-grilled bratwurst and a festive, German buffet, plus  ice-cold beer. The goal is to raise enough money to plant 2,000 trees at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. The event is open to the public for $50 a person or $75 a couple at 581 Kennesaw Ave. For more information call 770-424-4664. 2. Would you like a bird's eye view of Northeast Cobb and all of Marietta? Take a …

1. A book signing featuring Sophie May and the Shoe-Untying Fairy will be held on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Uppity’s, 1205 Johnson Ferry Rd., Suite 103. Written by East Cobb teachers Rosalind Bunn and Kathy Howard, Sophie May and the Shoe-Untying Fairy is a picture book for ages 4 to 7 that combines fantasy and a skill lesson. Bunn teaches fifth grade at East Side Elementary. Howard teaches kindergarten at Sope Creek Elementary. The books will be carried in local shops, including The School Box. 2. Sample the culinary talents of restaurants during the last days of Cobb Restaurant Week, which…

1. Cobb County Master Gardeners Lunch and Learn. Native Plants in the Home Landscape will be presented by Beck Blades. Plants that call Georgia home can add beauty throughout the year to your garden, plus provide habitat for native birds and butterflies that bring even more color to your garden. Bring your lunch. Friday 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Free. Cobb Water System, 662 S. Cobb Drive. More information, call 770-528-4070. 2. Cobb Executive Women Luncheon. Speaker Chanda Bell, co-author of Elf on the Shelf and co-founder of Creatively Classic Activities and Books, will talk about her work and …

Feeling festive? Getting hungry? Ready to savor the last holiday weekend of the summer? There's so much to do in and around Marietta, East Cobb and Northeast Cobb that we can't put every worthwhile event here. But we've compiled what we think is a highlight calendar of fun for every taste. Whatever you do with your weekend, enjoy! All you can eat Temple Kol Emeth's Nibble & Noshfest has the full spread of traditional Jewish food and other ethnic items for your sampling, but that's not all that's featured at the East Cobb synagogue on Sunday and Monday.  On Sunday night, former Seinfeld, …

Essential Cobb-area happenings this weekend: 1. Who doesn't love ice cream? The whole family will enjoy the 7th Annual Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’ benefiting The Drake House which provides short-term crisis housing to homeless mothers and their children. Taste over 100 unique flavors of homemade ice cream. There will be ice cream eating and stacking contests, music, entertainment, face painting and children’s games. Sunday 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. $5/individual. $15/family. Historic Roswell Town Square, 616 Atlanta Street, Roswell (corner of Mimosa Blvd and Marietta Highway). For more …

Essential Cobb happenings for the weekend:1. Run a race and enjoy food, beverages and music at the Walton Raider Chase/2011 East Cobb 5K Road Race on Saturday. Awards for top finishers.  $20 advance registration at Big Peach Running Co. or www.active.com. Race day registration and race number pick 7 a.m. The race starts at 8 a.m. Walton High School located at 1590 Bill Murdock Road.2. East Cobb Whole Foods is offering a variety of weekend events that will tempt your palate. Friday sample a variety of wines from around the world from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday enjoy a cooking demonstration at 2 p.m…

1. Dust off your running shoes! The 6th Annual Dog Days Run 5K, a 5K/Mile/Tot Trot, steps off Saturday at the Well Star Physicians Group located at 1010 Johnson Ferry Road. All net proceeds benefit local and international service projects of the East Cobb Rotary Club. Fees: $25 race day, $25 phantom runner (unable to run but want to support). T-shirts guaranteed to pre-registered applicants. Register online at active.com or at Fleet Feet located at 224-B Johnson Ferry Road. For more information, call Des Yawn at 404-401-6502 or Joe Murphey at 770-354-3365. 2. The Covenant Churches of East …

Essential Cobb happenings for the weekend: 1. Dance to a Jimmy Buffet Tribute Show with Jeff Pike. This energetic, outrageously fun Buffett band will whisk you away to a beach where it’s 5 o’clock somewhere–margarita time! Ages 18+. Friday at 8 p.m. $12 in advance. $15 day of event. Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square. More info: 770-291-0080. 2. Free Home Depot kids workshop. The first Saturday of the month at most Home Depot stores from 9 a.m. to noon. They’re geared toward kids ages 5 to 12 as a way to teach do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, but even toddlers can get in …

1. Whole Foods Sneak Preview Tours After months of anctipication and buildup, the official countdown for the opening of the Whole Foods store at Merchants Walk shopping center in East Cobb gets underway this weekend.  Sneak preview tours will be conducted on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with proceeds to benefit Keep Cobb Beautiful's Dig 'N Dirt program for school gardens.  The cost is $5 and tours last approximately 45 minutes. Please click here for more information and to RSVP online. Whole Foods officially opens on Wednesday. Merchants Walk is …

1) The Cobb County Chargers will debut in the opening game of the 2011 Southern Football League semi-pro season at 7 p.m. Saturday, when they play the Georgia Falcons. The game will be a home game for the Chargers played at Osborne High School. 2) Cobb Parks will be hosting the Annual Fishing Rodeo from 9 to 11:00 a.m Saturday at Lost Mountain Park. Four age divisions will be offered: 3–6, 7–9, 10–12 and 13–16. Trophies will be given to 1st–3rd places in each division and for the “Overall Big Fish”. The event is free, so grab your fishing pole and join us for a morning of fishing and fun!! …

1. Rose & Crown Celebrates. The first anniversary of the English-themed tavern on Powers Ferry Road takes place on Friday with live music, drink specials and a buffet served from 5-8 p.m. Located in the former Le Madeleine space, the Rose & Crown's opening has signalled a gradual revival of restaurant, entertainment and shopping options in that corridor.  2. Go to a rodeo. The Down and Dirty Rodeo arrives this weekend at Jim Miller Park, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and again at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. This rodeo features champion bulls and bullriders, but competitions also include team …

1. Mount Paran North Church is offering a free Fourth of July event at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks and patriotic music featuring the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. For information, call 770-429-7016 or go to georgiasymphony.org. 2. A full day of celebration in Marietta kicks off with the Marietta Freedom Parade 2011 at 10 a.m. from Roswell Street Baptist Church and along a route that travels past Marietta Square. The city’s Fourth in the Park also includes free live concerts, museum tours, an arts and crafts show with more than 80 vendors, food, carnival games and …