Still not that crazy after all these years
April 25 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Tucker. For some reason, I’m limping into the weekend, which has nothing to do with going out for four nights in a row. Luckily, I’m blessed with the maturity of a 25-year-old and the endurance of an 85-year-old. How does that look? Bombing out of the house ready to party at 5:30 and back home in bed at 9:30. If there were more places that welcomed people dressed in their most attractive pajamas, I’d extend to 10 p.m.
🚌 This week’s newsletter has plenty of information about upcoming events that will put you aboard the fun bus – Blue Jeans, BBQ & Blueprints, Tucker Day, and a soon-to-close Science Gallery exhibition. I’ve also thrown in a story about Wellroot Family Services and how bargaining can get you a flashy new jacket.
Have a great weekend,
Cathy
🐾 The Midtown Mutt Gala returns Sun., May 4! Inspired by the Met Gala, enjoy food, music, vendors, and costumed dogs on the red carpet. Free to watch; small fee to enter your pup (register by May 1). Details here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
Wellroot Family Services gets its sparkle on
🌱 Tucker-based Wellroot Family Services, an agency of the United Methodist Church in North Georgia, is leading the effort to transform the lives of children and young adults, sometimes providing help even before birth.
Formerly the United Methodist Children’s Home, Wellroot for more than 150 years has provided homes for children, teens, young adults, and families. Its CEO Allison Ashe, who has been at the helm almost five years, said the organization saw the need for preventative services that could divert a crisis situation resulting in children being removed from their homes.
At a recent fundraiser, Mayor Frank Auman struck a mutually beneficially exchange involving a donation to Wellroot for the auctioneer’s glorious jacket (pictured above).
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Read about Wellroot’s mission here.
Share The Harvest, Know Your Farmer
SPONSORED BY FRESH HARVEST
🥕 We are Fresh Harvest! We deliver Georgia-grown, organic produce and groceries across Atlanta. Share the Harvest is our food access program, funding farmers markets for refugee and immigrant families in Clarkston, GA.
📦 We commit 10% of our profits to this work because we believe fresh food should be accessible to everyone. Every produce box, donation, and shared story helps grow a better food system.
➡️ Try us out, because when you eat well, so can your neighbors. We deliver to Tucker on Wednesdays each week. Learn more at FreshHarvest.com.
These scholarships aren’t chicken scratch
🐔 Two Tucker Chick-fil-A restaurants announced that 39 of their team members have been awarded $75,000 in scholarships from Chick-fil-A, Inc. through the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarships initiative.
According to a company release, Chick-fil-A Northlake Festival’s 20 recipients and Chick-fil-A Tucker Hugh Howell’s 19 recipients are among more than 15,000 employees across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada to receive scholarships.
This year, Chick-fil-A, Inc. awarded more than $27 million in scholarships, investing in higher education for more than 15,000 employees, according to the release.
👨🏽🎓 Here’s more about the scholarship program and the two special Tucker honorees.
ARTucker doesn’t go to the dogs
🐩 I went to ARTucker last weekend, and it was just, as my friend Nancy says, “good clean fun.” The day was pleasant, the vendors were well-spaced out, and everyone seemed happy to be out, enjoying friends and buying lots of merch. Apparently there was a glitch about the “no-dogs” policy that rankled a few people, but the team addressed it on their Facebook page, and put it to rest.
NOTE: I was at the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park the previous weekend, which communicated very clearly that people should leave their dogs at home, and yet, I saw dozens of pets tucked away in people’s purses or peeking out of backpacks. I get the deception involved in sneaking in your toy poodle, but I also observed some 100-pounders sashaying around the park like they owned the place. And noted a security guard sitting at the entrance who appeared to be fast asleep, which may explain it.
👨🎨 Here is ARTucker’s Facebook page with some great photos that captured the day.
🐾 The Midtown Mutt Gala returns Sun., May 4! Inspired by the Met Gala, enjoy food, music, vendors, and costumed dogs on the red carpet. Free to watch; small fee to enter your pup (register by May 1). Details here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
Crazy quilts, Science Gallery, First Friday and BBQ
🤪 This year’s theme for Tucker Day, “This Crazy Quilt we call Tucker” explained by organizers: Tucker is an eclectic mix of historical roots and modern-day development with many unique characteristics and a vibrant community spirit. Tucker’s charm lies in its ability to stitch all these things together into a cohesive, wonderful, and welcoming community, and it’s these qualities that make Tucker feel like a beautiful, intricate crazy quilt!”
The festivities on May 3 have as a highlight a human-powered parade (I think that means no cars, which is great), food, entertainment, and of course, people watching. You have to sign up for the parade in order to participate.
🚶♂️➡️Check out the details here.
🔬 The folks at Northlake’s Science Gallery Atlanta sent me a note to say that Sacred Breaths, the innovative art-science installation by conceptual artist Bea Lamar, closes permanently on April 30, offering just two final weeks for visitors to engage with an exploration of environmental interconnectedness.
Sacred Breaths merges art with cutting-edge environmental science through a collaboration with Dr. Eri Saikawa of Emory University. “The installation features a functional greenhouse ecosystem equipped with real-time air quality monitoring, creating a dynamic space where visitor interactions directly influence the environment,” the announcement said.
🦠 Find more about Science Gallery here.
🪨 The First Friday concert on May 2 kicks off Tucker’s Summer of Fun series. First up is The American Flyers, described as “a collection of career musicians with decades of experience in the recording and concert industry. This show is a commemorative of smash hits from the sixties rock trios to the big R&B groups that have filled the dance floors and dominated radio.”
The public is welcome to set up chairs at the Church Street Greenspace beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a scheduled 7 p.m. start time. Blankets and chairs, visiting with friends and enjoying a picnic meal are all encouraged, however glass, tables and pets are not permitted. Did we all hear that?
🦴 This caught my attention – Nick & the Knacks are playing on Aug. 1. Gen Z will not understand this emoji. Your loss.
🎵 More info about the concert series is here.
👖 BBQ, Blue Jeans, & Blueprints celebrating the achievements of one of my favorite charities, Habitat for Humanity, will be held Saturday, April 26 at 2380 4th St. in Tucker. The event highlights its achievements over the past year while raising funds to support our mission.
They will recognize exceptional volunteers, donors, and sponsors with the Golden Hammer Awards, and there will be food, music, and family-friendly activities. Added bonus: teams of 8-12 will build and decorate custom playhouses, competing for awards like “Best Build,” “Best Design,” and “People’s Choice.”
🍖 All you need to know is here.
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