Beauty

Moxie Salon & Beauty Bar

Meet owner Ashli Dyas Article by Ana Markosi Ashli Dyas, owner of Moxie Salon & Beauty Bar in Kennesaw, was first introduced to the Moxie brand in 2017 while living in New Jersey. “A girlfriend asked if I wanted to go get my hair and makeup done for an event we were going to, and she took me to Moxie,” Dyas says. “I loved the colors and the vibe, and the energy was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. They took such great care of me that I felt like a celebrity, and I walked out of there...

Food + Beverage

Savor the Flavor!

Taste of Smyrna Returns to Village Green Article by Ana Markosi Get ready to savor the flavor! On Saturday, September 6, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Taste of Smyrna “Festival of Delectable” offers you a chance to sample delectable dishes from Smyrna’s restaurants at the Village Green in downtown Smyrna. Admission is free, and samples can be purchased for $1 to $10.  While the adults sip, savor and enjoy live music, kids can play at the Kids Zone, featuring interactive inflatables, a giant slide...

Home Services

Brawner Renovations

The Brawner style of outdoor living Article by Ana Markosi Family is deeply important to Heather and Wesley Brawner. When they started Brawner Renovations, they intended to create custom outdoor spaces for families to enjoy and make memories. As such, the couple started their business out of their own family home 14 years ago, carrying on a family tradition of construction. “Wesley grew up around construction, and it runs deep in his roots from his grandfather to his dad,” Heather says...

Style + Beauty

Where grooming and culture integrate

Meet Alphonza Hicks, owner of True Culture Barber Lounge Article by Ana Markosi Looking to regain freedom and time with his family, Alphonza Hicks, owner of True Culture Barber Lounge, opened his first location. Growing up in a small rural town, Hicks didn’t always plan to become a barber or even a business owner. “I was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, in a small country town with not a lot of opportunity,” Hicks says. “I moved to Atlanta with my dad in the 10th grade after getting in too...

Home + Design

Downtown Kennesaw's Evolving Architecture

From railroad shanties to modern development, Kennesaw’s evolving architecture mirrors its transformation from a rugged frontier town to a thriving suburban community near Atlanta. Article by Andrew Bramlett Since the community’s founding in the 1830s, Kennesaw, originally known as Big Shanty, has changed from a rough town in Georgia’s frontier to a modern suburb of Atlanta. As the city has grown and developed, so too has the city’s architecture. The earliest structures built in Big Shanty...

Education

City's Choice

3 Books to Read to Your Child Starting School Article by Ana Markosi 1.  School Is Wherever I Am by Ellie Peterson This story fosters excitement for learning, following a boy as he finds new and interesting things everywhere he looks. 2. How To Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst This humorous story follows an octopus who is nervous about starting school as he finds clever places to hide at home. 3. The Smallest Spot of a Dot by Linsey Davis and Michael Tyler When...

Food + Beverage

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The perfect midday treat Article by Ana Markosi Chewy, buttery, and perfectly sweet. These delectable cookies that melt in your mouth are the perfect lunchbox treat to squeeze a little joy into busy days. This simple recipe makes around 24 cookies to enjoy throughout the week. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar, packed 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 large eggs ...

Life + Culture

Furry Friend Foundations

A focus on local animal organizations and the people that make them possible. Article by Wendy Edwards Good Mews Sometimes you're just born with it—a compassionate nature and a drive to make a difference. For Nikki Healy, Executive Director of Cobb County’s Good Mews, that determination led her to the abandoned and underserved. In return, she found family and some of the most loved felines in the world. Healy’s passion began early. “I have raised all sorts of wild birds, squirrels, kittens...

Arts + Culture

Kennesaw First Baptist Church

Article by Andrew J. Bramlett In October 1877, the Christian Index, an Atlanta Baptist newspaper, recounted the founding of what is today Kennesaw First Baptist Church. According to the paper, in 1874, our “community was largely composed of Universalists, and there were many professed…Infidels.” At the time, Downtown Kennesaw had no churches, with the nearest religious building being Shiloh Church northeast of town. A Baptist preacher was sent to the community and began building a congregation...

Sports + Recreation

Hike West Cobb

Kid-friendly trails to explore this summer Article by Ana Markosi Trail Guide Rusty Bucket Trail, Allatoona Creek Park This one-mile loop weaves through pine thicket and hardwood forest, a gorgeous backdrop to your walk. The trail was named after the hundreds of rusted paint buckets found when it was built, which hikers can find decorating trail markers.  Environmental Trail, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park This trail provides an opportunity to discover Kennesaw...