Lemonade Days + Carbonara Trattoria

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What's up, neighbors!

We're heading out Friday night for some live music, destination TBD, but we're keeping it local. If you want a reason to be outside Friday without overthinking it, the Lemonade Days beer and wine garden opens at Brook Run with Galactic Acid Band on the bandshell at 7pm. Free to get in, pay at the bar. Honestly not a bad way to start the weekend.

Saturday is the main event. Lemonade Days runs all day at Brook Run, 10am to 10pm, and this is the day worth clearing your schedule for. Ponies and petting zoo until 6pm, Nashville recording artist Sonja Gardner plays 1-4pm, carnival rides all day, and District 5 Band closes it out at night. If you've got kids, Saturday is a full day. If you don't, Friday night beer garden is probably your move.

One thing worth knowing about Lemonade Days before you go: it started in 1999 as a community relief effort after a tornado tore through Dunwoody the year before. Twenty-six years later it's still raising money for the neighborhood, and every dollar stays in Dunwoody. It's worth going just for that.

Full weekend planner, a great dinner spot, and a wine bar worth checking out are all below.

- Andrew

^{This issue is sponsored by Via Citrus}

Mother's Day is May 10, and if you want something better than flowers that die in four days, the ordering window is basically now.

Via Citrus is an Atlanta-based company that ships live, Florida-grown citrus trees to your door in two to four days. Small enough for a sunny kitchen counter or a patio, hardy enough to keep producing fruit year after year. Founder Danny Trejo (not the actor) grew up on his family's 80-acre citrus nursery in Central Florida, where his dad still runs the farm.

The Calamondin is where most people start, and it's the one we'd pick. It blooms spring, summer, and fall, handles neglect better than most houseplants, and produces tart little citrus that's great for cocktails and cooking. For our climate: outdoors April through October, inside when temps drop into the low 40s.

Trees are $70. They also sell Meyer lemon, kumquat, key lime, Yuzu, and harder-to-find varieties like Australian finger lime. The press stack (Today Show, Southern Living, Martha Stewart, Oprah, Atlanta Magazine) is impressive for a company this size, and Etsy reviews sit at 4.75 stars across 1,100+ ratings.

ECC readers get 10% off any tree with code PP10 at checkout. Order this week and it lands in time for Mother's Day. Great for teacher gifts, housewarmings, or a patio upgrade that doesn't involve hiring anyone.

Brook Run Park
4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338
Friday–Sunday, April 24–26
Free admission

Most people show up for the funnel cakes and don't think much beyond that. Fair enough. But Lemonade Days has a story worth knowing before you go.

In 1998, a tornado tore through Dunwoody and destroyed entire neighborhoods. The Dunwoody Preservation Trust organized a community event the following year to help families recover and replant what was lost. That was the first Lemonade Days. Twenty-six years later it draws over 30,000 people to Brook Run Park every spring, and every dollar raised goes back into the community for historic preservation, education, and the only history camp for kids in Dunwoody. It's a REAL community event, not just a carnival that showed up.

The weekend lineup has something for everyone. Friday night brings country artist Elle Jarell followed by Galactic Acid Band at the bandshell, plus a beer and wine garden. Saturday is the biggest day: Nashville recording artist Sonja Gardner plays 1-4pm, ponies and petting zoo run until 6pm, and District 5 Band closes it out at night. Sunday is the mellow send-off, noon to 6pm, before the week resets.

Free admission all three days. Ride wristbands are $35. Go Saturday if you want the full experience, or Friday night if you want the beer garden without the crowd.

My wife and I drove past the strip in Dunwoody Village a hundred times and never stopped here. We finally made a reservation last month and immediately understood why people keep coming back.

Rafik Cressaty and his son Patrick have been running Carbonara for 13 years. It's a proper family restaurant, warm earth tones, soft lighting, tablecloths, the kind of place that makes a Tuesday night feel like a real occasion. Rafik walks the room personally, and that actually means something when you're there.

The dishes people keep coming back for are the Tagliatelle Bolognese, Chicken Piccata, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Parmesan-Crusted Trout. The braised short ribs show up in a lot of reviews too. Start with the fried green tomatoes. Close with the tiramisu, which comes as an actual slice, not a tiny cup. Half off wine bottles on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Dinner only, Tuesday through Sunday starting at 5pm. Make a reservation and ask for a table inside.

Price: $$
Hours:
Tue-Thu & Sun 5-9pm
Fri-Sat 5-10pm
Mon Closed

My wife kept telling me we needed to check this place out and I kept putting it off. She was right.

Vino Venue on Chamblee Dunwoody Road is part wine bar, part wine shop, part cooking school, and the combination works better than it sounds. The signature feature is the Enomatic machines, 32 wines on tap that you pour yourself by the ounce. A 1oz taste of something you've never tried runs a couple bucks. You can work through half the board on a Tuesday afternoon without committing to a full glass of anything. The retail shop has over 200 bottles and staff who know what's on them.

The cooking classes are what people keep coming back for. Chef David runs hands-on sessions where you actually cook, not watch. Brunch in Burgundy, pasta classes, wine pairing dinners. Most run two to three hours and include the food and wine you made. Reviews call it the best date night in Dunwoody, and 315 reviews at 4.8 stars is hard to argue with.

Price: $$
Hours:
Tue-Thu 12-7pm
Fri-Sat 12-8pm
Mon/Sun Closed

5 beds
5 baths
3,600 sqft
0.45 acres lot

A) $1,045,000

B) $1,195,000

C) $1,255,900

D) $1,300,000

The Dunwoody City Council unanimously approved a renewed contract with Flock Safety, the Atlanta-based license plate reader company, despite vocal opposition from residents. The deal includes a $200,000 service contract for the city's roughly 80 automated license plate readers, plus a separate $15,000 agreement for Flock's 911 dispatch software. New terms block Flock from using city data to train its algorithms and require the company to notify the city of any data breach.

Thirteen of 15 public commenters opposed the contract, raising concerns about data security and oversight. City leaders acknowledged the debate but said the new guardrails address the main concerns. The cameras have been in Dunwoody since 2019, and police credit them with reducing crime.

Source: WSB-TV

MARTA launched its NextGen bus redesign this weekend, the largest overhaul of bus routes in the transit authority's history. The changes aim to run more buses more often on the busiest corridors, but some routes are being eliminated entirely. Riders in Sandy Springs and the broader Perimeter area should expect their current routes and schedules to look different.

If you ride MARTA buses, now is the time to check the updated route map at itsmarta.com before your next commute. Routes, stop locations, and frequencies may all have changed.

Source: WSB-TV

The Sandy Springs Conservancy named John Maximuk as its new executive director on April 13. Maximuk brings a background in advocacy and government, and will lead the nonprofit's work protecting green space, parks, and natural areas throughout the city.

The Conservancy manages several beloved local trails and open spaces. Residents interested in volunteering or learning more can visit the organization's website.

Sources: Rough Draft Atlanta | Appen Media

The Community Assistance Center, the nonprofit working to prevent hunger and homelessness in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, is reporting a record-breaking year of community impact. The organization connects residents in need with food, school supplies, and emergency financial help, and relies heavily on local volunteers and donors to do it.

If you have unused school supplies, non-perishable food, or time to give, the CAC accepts donations and volunteers year-round.

Source: Appen Media

Dunwoody High School's golf team has repeated as champions, with five Wildcats finishing in the Top 10 of the tournament. Freshman Caroline Brandenburg (93) and sophomore Katelyn Allen (96) led the scoring, while juniors Sydney Borman and Gracie Benson added seventh and eighth-place finishes to seal the team title.

It's back-to-back championship gold for the Wildcats program.

More: The Champion Newspaper

When he got to Rescue Me Georgia in late fall 2024, Morrie was in rough shape. Emaciated, with a severe skin infection, and what looked like years of neglect behind him. It took months of quiet foster care to get him healthy. Now he's around 18 pounds, somewhere between nine and ten years old, and apparently nobody told him he's supposed to slow down with age.

His foster mom calls him goofy and hilarious, the kind of dog who makes her laugh without really trying. He's an Italian Greyhound, senior on paper but spunky in practice, and he's great with other dogs. If you already have one at home, he'd fold right in.

A few things to know. He doesn't do well with cats, and his comfort level with kids is still being figured out, so a meet and greet makes sense if you have little ones. He's fully vetted: vaccinated, neutered, microchipped, heartworm tested. All the boxes are checked.

Rescue Me Georgia is a foster-based rescue out of Dunwoody, which means Morrie is in a real home right now and the team knows exactly how he lives day to day.

Rescue Me Ga Inc
Dunwoody, GA
rmgdogs.org
Visits by appointment only

🎪 Dunwoody Lemonade Days Festival (Opening Weekend) - Brook Run Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody | 4:00-10:00 PM | FREE admission (pay per ride) | More: Dunwoody Preservation Trust
The festival everyone circles on the calendar. Carnival rides, food court, chalk art station, and live music at the bandshell featuring country artist Elle Jarell (5:30-7 PM) followed by Galactic Acid Band (7-9 PM). Proceeds support the Dunwoody Preservation Trust.

🎨 Wesleyan Artist Market - Wesleyan School | 5405 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners | 10:00 AM-7:00 PM | FREE admission + parking | More: Wesleyan Artist Market
Just up the road, one of the Southeast's premier school-sponsored art shows. Over 85 professional artists plus student work across fine art, jewelry, and handcrafted goods. Family-friendly and open to the public.

🏃 Junction 311 Lemonade Days 5K - Brook Run Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody | 9:00 AM start | Registration required | More: Dunwoody Preservation Trust
Kick off Saturday with the annual 5K before the festival gates swing open. Family-friendly route through Brook Run. Register in advance.

🎪 Dunwoody Lemonade Days Festival (Saturday - Full Day) - Brook Run Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody | 10:00 AM-10:00 PM | FREE admission | More: Dunwoody Preservation Trust
The biggest day of the festival. Ponies and petting zoo (10 AM-6 PM), carnival rides, chalk art, and bandshell music with CMBT Stingers at noon, Nashville recording artist Sonja Gardner (1-4 PM), and District 5 Band closing out the evening.

🦅 Spring Birding with Master Birder Rose Guerra - Dunwoody Nature Center | 5343 Roberts Dr, Dunwoody | 8:00-10:00 AM | $15 (members 50% off with code BIRD25) | More: Dunwoody Nature Center
One of Atlanta's best birding spots at peak spring migration. Open to ages 13+. Binoculars available to borrow. A lovely morning ritual before the Lemonade Days crowds arrive.

⛺ Spring Family Campout - Dunwoody Nature Center | 5343 Roberts Dr, Dunwoody | Sat 4:00 PM - Sun 9:00 AM | $35 | More: Dunwoody Nature Center
Pitch your tent on the grounds of the Nature Center and spend a magical night under the stars. Kids (and parents) get a rare chance to sleep outside in the middle of the city. Registration required, space limited.

🎨 Wesleyan Artist Market (Final Day) - Wesleyan School | 5405 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM (Sponsor Preview 9-10 AM) | FREE | More: Wesleyan Artist Market
Last day to shop the 85+ artists and student booths. Great rainy-day backup if the weather turns.

🎪 Dunwoody Lemonade Days Festival (Final Day) - Brook Run Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody | 12:00-6:00 PM | FREE admission | More: Dunwoody Preservation Trust
Last chance for carnival rides, funnel cakes, and chalk art before the festival packs up for another year. Shorter hours make it a solid afternoon outing before the school-week reset.

🦕 Stone Mountain Dino Fest (Closing Day) - Stone Mountain Park | 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd | Park daytime hours | Attractions Pass required | More: Stone Mountain Park
The last day of the season-long Dino Fest. High-flying dinosaurs, a 4-D dinosaur show, and a daytime lighted dinosaur parade. If your kids have been asking all spring, this is the final call.

🎤 Funny Fridays with Joel Byars - Sandy Springs PAC Studio Theatre | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs | 7:00 PM (Happy Hour at 6:00) | Tickets required | More: Sandy Springs PAC
Atlanta's award-winning comedian Joel Byars hosts a rotating cast of top local comics. April 24's lineup: Greg Behrens, Shelley Gruenberg, and Mark Kendall. Studio Theatre feels like a proper comedy club. Ages 16+.

🍺 Lemonade Days Beer & Wine Garden + Galactic Acid Band - Brook Run Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody | 7:00-9:00 PM (band) | FREE entry, pay at the bar | More: Dunwoody Preservation Trust
The grown-up way to do Lemonade Days. Beer and wine garden plus funk rock from Galactic Acid Band at the bandshell. Stroll the festival grounds after dark with a cold one.

🎤 Karaoke Night with DJ Buzz City - Battle & Brew Sandy Springs | 5920 Roswell Rd, Sandy Springs | 9:00 PM-11:59 PM | No cover | More: Battle & Brew
Low-pressure, judgment-free karaoke at the gaming bar. Huge song library, strong drinks, and the kind of crowd that actually cheers when you nail the high note.

🍺 Lemonade Days Saturday Night + District 5 Band - Brook Run Park | 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody | 6:00-9:00 PM (band) | FREE entry | More: Dunwoody Preservation Trust
The festival's biggest night. Beer and wine garden, food trucks, and District 5 Band headlining the bandshell from 6-9 PM. A great local-first Saturday night without leaving Dunwoody.

Thirty one acres of mature hardwood forest sitting right on Roswell Road, and most people drive past the entrance every day without realizing it's there. Small parking lot, a wooden bridge, and then you're in. The traffic noise drops off almost immediately once you're past the trailhead. You can hear Roswell Road for maybe 200 feet, and then it's just birds and leaves.

Morning move (7 to 10 AM): Get there in the first hour after sunrise for the best light through the canopy. Total trail mileage is around two miles if you walk all the loops, and everything is well-maintained with footbridges over Powers Branch Creek. Mostly shaded, mostly flat, and the Back Country Loop is the one worth doing if you have the time. Dogs on leash are welcome. Benches are scattered along the trail if anyone in the group needs a break.

Afternoon plan (2 to 5 PM): The Heritage Trail is a tenth of a mile and paved. Good for strollers, toddlers, or anyone who just wants to step into the woods for ten minutes without committing to a real hike. The main forest entrance has restrooms and a water fountain, which is genuinely rare for a free preserve this size.

Why this weekend: Lemonade Days is going to pack Brook Run all three days. If the festival crowd gets overwhelming, or Sunday's rain opens up a dry window in the morning, this is the quiet reset. Twenty minutes in the forest and you have earned the rest of the day.

Most East Cobb homeowners and renters have more stuff than they think, and if something ever happens, whether it's a fire, theft, or a pipe that bursts at 2 a.m., your insurance company is going to ask you to prove what you owned. That's a lot harder than it sounds after the fact.

The easy fix: grab your phone, walk room to room, and take a slow video. Open closets, pull out drawers, pan across bookshelves, zoom in on serial numbers for TVs, laptops, tools, and appliances. Talk as you go ("this is the espresso machine we got last Christmas"). Audio notes count. Then email the video to yourself so it lives in the cloud, not just on your phone.

While you're at it, double-check that your policy's personal property limit actually matches what you'd need to replace. Jewelry, musical instruments, and home office gear often need separate riders.

Not sure where your coverage stands? The team at Peachy Insurance is right here in the community and happy to do a quick no-pressure policy review. Give them a shout.

Community Assistance Center (Sandy Springs & Dunwoody) - The largest human services nonprofit in our area runs on about 400 monthly volunteers across three food pantries, a thrift store, adult education classes, and a career center. The biggest current need is adult education tutors, especially for English language learners coming from Sandy Springs and Dunwoody.

👉 Volunteer at CAC

Dunwoody Nature Center - Second Saturday Volunteers welcomes anyone, all ages, to help clear trails, pull invasive plants, and plant natives across 22 acres. No experience required, kids are welcome with a parent, and it's one of the easiest ways to leave visibly better than you found it.

👉 Learn More

Sandy Springs Conservancy - The group behind the Springway trail system and 100+ acres of parks coordinates volunteer workdays, Trail Blazers guided walks from March through October, and event support at farmers markets and festivals. Good fit if you want to help build and maintain the trails and green space you already use.

👉 Get Involved

Rainbow Village (Duluth, serving Peachtree Corners families) - A transitional housing nonprofit just up the road that has served Peachtree Corners families for years. Volunteers help with meal preparation, Fun Friday youth programming, and evening programs, with individual and group options available after an orientation meeting.

👉 Volunteer