Lion Dance + Free Polka Lessons

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What's up, neighbors!

This weekend Brookhaven throws a party for the whole world, and it's free. The 4th annual Brookhaven International Festival moved to Brookhaven Park on Peachtree Road this year, and it runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 6. There's a Chinese lion dance, a cumbia dance party, mariachi, flamenco, and a K-pop group closing out Sunday. It's our Event of the Week, and the full lineup and shuttle info are on the city's festival page.

Our Saturday plan is to take MARTA to Brookhaven/Oglethorpe, eat our way through lunch, then head up to the City Green in Sandy Springs for OktoberFEAST, with polka lessons and Bavarian pretzels under the tent. Getting in is free there too. We're going for the pretzels with beer cheese and to watch somebody's dad try the polka lesson.

Sunday the little ones get Goblins in the Garden, with a costume runway and pony rides at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. If you've got a teenager, the K-pop set in Brookhaven at 5 might win that argument.

One heads up for Sandy Springs voters: TSPLOST 3 is on your ballot, and we break down where the money would go. Plus pho on Buford Highway, a Dunwoody new build to guess the price on, and a fluffy tuxedo cat whose adoption fee is already paid.

- Andrew

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Brookhaven Park
4158 Peachtree Road NE, Brookhaven, GA
Saturday, October 17 & Sunday, October 18, 2026
11:00 AM-6:00 PM
Free admission, food and drinks sold separately
Plan your International Festival weekend

Brookhaven's big fall festival is back for year four, and it moved this year. It's now at Brookhaven Park on Peachtree Road, which the city officially took over and has been fixing up. That means two full days of live music, dancing and food from all over the world, about ten minutes from most of our driveways.

The stage lineup is pretty wild for a free city event. Saturday starts with a salsa lesson at noon, then African drummers, a Chinese lion dance at 2, and Olly Sholotan at 3:30 (yes, Carlton from Peacock's Bel-Air, turns out he sings too). Cumbiatron closes out the day at 5 with a full-on cumbia dance party. Sunday brings mariachi, flamenco, Brazilian batucada and the K-pop group DROP at 5.

Bring the kids. There's a Kidz Zone, a global marketplace for shopping, interactive chalk art and food trucks. Brookhaven sits right next to Buford Highway, home to some of the best international food in metro Atlanta, so come hungry.

A couple of tips so you don't spend half the day hunting for parking. The park only has ADA spots, so ride MARTA to Brookhaven/Oglethorpe or park nearby and catch the free shuttle on Apple Valley Road behind the station. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Outside food and drinks aren't, but bottled water is fine. Runners, Sunday's 5K is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier and the money goes to a free after-school orchestra for Buford Highway kids.

Free admission, a lion dance and a K-pop group in Brookhaven? You won't see that lineup again until next October. Grab a blanket and GO.

Vietnamese noodle house | More than 20 bowls of pho on Buford Highway, just in time for soup weather

Once October finally cools off, my wife and I start craving pho. Every year. Pho Bac in Chamblee is where we go when we want a big bowl of soup and don't feel like driving into town for it.

Fair warning, you might drive right past it. It's tucked into a shopping plaza on Buford Highway that's hard to see from the road. Inside it's red booths, quick servers, and a lunch crowd of office folks and families.

The menu has more than 20 kinds of pho, and every bowl is $18. I get the Pho Dac Biet, the special combo with rare steak, flank, fat brisket, tendon and tripe. The broth is clear and salty, and it barely needs the hoisin or sriracha on the table.

If tripe and tendon aren't your thing, the Pho Tai Chin (rare steak and well-done brisket) is the safe order. They also do a chicken pho and a vegan bowl with tofu, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

My wife goes for the Bun Bo Hue ($18), a spicy beef and pork soup with thick, chewy rice noodles. The bowl is huge. Splitting one is a real option.

The best deal in the building is the banh mi. The grilled pork Banh Mi Thit Nuong is $6.25, with pate, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro and jalapenos on a crusty roll. Add three fresh spring rolls for $6.50 and that's lunch for under $13.

Not a soup person? The broken rice plates run $16.50, like the Com Tam Suon Nuong with a grilled pork chop. Grab a Ca Phe Sua Da, Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, for $5.50.

Here's the honest part: it's no-frills. Food comes out fast, but nobody's going to check on you three times, and $18 for pho is on the high side for Buford Highway. You're paying for a big bowl, not a fancy room.

One more thing. They close early. The website lists 8 PM every day, and online pickup orders stop around 7:15 PM. Plan on lunch or an early dinner, and if you're grabbing takeout, order ahead from their full menu with prices on the online ordering page.

Price: $$
Hours:
Daily 10 AM-8 PM (online pickup orders close around 7:15 PM)
Website: orderphobacatl.com

Halloween is two weeks out. If your kid has already changed their costume plan four times, I feel you. Before you give up and grab whatever's left in the big box store's costume aisle, take a walk down Canton Street.

Pinkerton's Baby + Kids opened in downtown Roswell in August 2025. Brandi Rhodes runs it (yes, the former pro wrestler), and she named it after her dog, Pinkerton. She also owns Naked Mind Yoga + Pilates here in town, so she's been a local business owner for a while.

Her reason for opening it is pretty simple. Whenever her family travels, she and her daughter Liberty go looking for the local kids' shop. Back home in Roswell there wasn't one. At the grand opening, the line she kept hearing from parents was "We NEEDED this!"

The store carries newborn up to size 7/8: clothes, shoes, books, puzzles, plush toys and bath stuff. Right now the costume and dress-up rack has a Pumpkin Patch Princess dress with headband for $40.99, a hooded bat cape for $34.99 and a K9 police set for $44.99.

Got a kid who won't wear a costume? There's a Mud Pie sequin ghost sweatshirt for $37, and a bat sweater that comes in matching mommy-and-me sizes starting at $64. They also stock fall pieces from Quincy Mae and Rylee + Cru, roughly $24 to $68.

Parking is free, which is a big deal on Canton Street. Just know Mondays close at 3 and Sundays run 11 to 3, so plan your trip around that.

Price: $$
Hours:
Mon 10 AM-3 PM
Tue-Sat 10 AM-6 PM
Sun 11 AM-3 PM
Website: pinkertonskids.com

5 Beds
4.5 Baths
4,219 sq ft
0.39 acres

A) $1,425,000

B) $1,689,000

C) $1,950,000

D) $2,250,000

If you vote in Sandy Springs this year, you'll find TSPLOST 3 on the ballot. It renews the 0.75% sales tax that has paid for city road and sidewalk work since 2017. The tax is collected in the Fulton County cities outside Atlanta, and it can only be spent on transportation.

The city says the first two rounds paid for $97.2 million in projects, including about 11.4 miles of new sidewalks. If voters say yes on November 3, the new five-year tax could bring in up to $129 million through 2032.

The biggest item on the list is $44.6 million for phase two of the Hammond Drive corridor. Another $16 million would build about 4.4 more miles of sidewalk, and $6.1 million would rework the Roswell Road and Morgan Falls Road intersection. You can see every proposed project and what it costs on the city's TSPLOST 2026 page before you vote.

Source: Appen Media

California-based Raeden is buying the 88,000-square-foot data center at 40 Perimeter Center East, Dunwoody, GA. Coca-Cola built it, and it has been empty for nine years. Raeden plans to gut the inside and add new chillers, generators and power upgrades, which co-founder Jason Green said could cost up to $500 million.

City officials told Rough Draft the site could bring Dunwoody more than $300,000 a year, enough to make it one of the city's 10 biggest commercial revenue sources. It's set to open in late December at its current 10-megawatt approval with one tenant, Alembic Technologies, on a lease of at least 10 years. Growing to 43 megawatts, possibly in late 2027, would need the city's OK.

Neighbors in Dunwoody Springs told council on September 28 that demolishing the old parking deck rattled their houses and scared off wildlife, and that nobody warned them it was coming. Some also worry about how much water and power the center will use. Green says the center will reuse its cooling water in a sealed loop, won't build up or out, and will hire an outside firm to run a sound study and add a walking path outside the fence.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

Roswell's 2026 tax rate is set. On September 28, council voted 4-2 for 5.232 mills. That's a lot lower than the 7.732 mills Mayor Mary Robichaux asked for, and lower than the 5.9 mills council floated in mid-September.

The operating rate stays flat at 4.049 mills. The increase is all in the debt rate, which rises to 1.183 mills to pay off the bonds voters approved in 2022. On a $500,000 home, that works out to about $1,046 a year before exemptions, roughly $57 more than last year.

Bills mail in mid-October and are due 60 days after they're sent. Late fees start January 1. The mayor says the fire trucks, road paving and repairs she wanted the bigger increase for will come back in her 2027 budget, which she presents to council on October 26.

Source: Appen Media

The first contractor for Dunwoody High's stadium backed out. In a September 19 letter, SmithBuilt said it couldn't build the approved design for the money available. On October 5, the DeKalb school board moved to the second-ranked bidder, BlueGold Construction Management with Fortune-Johnson.

The $1.5 million fundraising effort covers about 2,000 seats, a press box, a concession stand, restrooms, a ticket booth and fencing. It would let Dunwoody play varsity games at home for the first time. Donors are paying for all of it through the Bring It Home campaign, and the stadium will be named for alum Ryan Seacrest and his family.

There's no new price or timeline yet. The board still has to approve the contract and a guaranteed maximum price at future meetings.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

Corso Atlanta, the senior living community at 3200 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA, is building a second phase. It's an 11-story tower with 110 more residences, plus new restaurants and wellness space.

Owner Galerie Living expects it to open in spring 2028. HKS designed it and Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor. If you're starting to look at options for a parent, or for yourself, you can check out the Corso Atlanta expansion plans on the community's site.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

Azula has been at PAWS Atlanta since January 8. That's nine months of watching other cats go home while she sits by the window watching birds. She's a 7-year-old longhaired tuxedo, black and white, 17.4 pounds of fluff, and she would really like you to tell her how pretty she is.

She's a little suspicious when she first meets you. Give her a minute, though, and she turns into a total attention hog.

Her previous owner called her outgoing, vocal, friendly and confident. The staff say once she trusts you, she'll ask you to brush that long coat every chance she gets. Head scratches and a wand toy work too. Mostly she just wants to hang out with her person.

She likes to set her own boundaries, so PAWS thinks she'd do best in a home without young kids. Let her warm up at her own pace and you get an affectionate, chatty cat who thinks you're the best part of the day.

Her adoption fee is already paid. An anonymous supporter covered it through the PAWS Secret Crush Club, so all you bring home is the cat, and she comes spayed, vaccinated and microchipped.

You can see Azula's photos and full profile before you go. Fill out the PAWS cat adoption application, then stop by the Decatur shelter any day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and ask for ID #PATL-A-64594.

PAWS Atlanta
5287 Covington Hwy, Decatur, GA 30035
(770) 593-1155 | pawsatlanta.org | Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

🧱 Brick or Treat - LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta at Phipps Plaza | 3500 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (last entry 3:30 PM) | From $24.99 online, $27.99 day-of | More: legodiscoverycenter.com
The Minifigure Monsters have taken over Phipps for October, with glow-in-the-dark ghost builds and The Great Monster Chase 4D movie, all included with admission. A good rainy-day backup with the under-10 crowd.

🎃 Scarecrows in the Garden - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 9:00 AM-7:00 PM | $27.95 adults, $24.95 kids 3-12 (weekday rate), under 3 free | More: atlantabg.org
For the Garden's 50th, the new Supersized Scarecrows tower up to 12 feet over the Great Lawn. Friday is the cheaper ticket day, and you can scan the QR code in the Hardin Visitor Center to vote for your favorite.

👻 Spookhouse Annie - Center for Puppetry Arts | 1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM or 11:30 AM | From $20 per person, ages 4+ | More: puppet.org
A haunted-house puppet romp where the monsters are more goofy than scary, including a vampire who landed in Pennsylvania instead of Transylvania. The ticket includes the museum, so plan an hour to wander the Jim Henson galleries afterward.

🐘 The Secret World of Elephants - Fernbank Museum | 767 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | $25.95 adults, $23.95 kids 3-12 | More: fernbankmuseum.org
The new exhibit has a full-scale woolly mammoth model, touchable tooth casts and a sound station where you feel low-frequency rumbles the way elephants do. The kids will lose their minds over the replica elephant dung.

🏛️ Goizueta Children's Experience - Atlanta History Center | 130 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | $31 adults, $27 youth 4-12 (weekday pricing) | More: atlantahistorycenter.com
Let the little ones loose in the 5,000-square-foot hands-on children's gallery, then walk the trails down to Smith Farm. Parking on site is free.

🎨 Double Vision Exhibit - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | $20 adults, $14 kids 3-12 | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Local painters pair up with nature photographers in this gallery show, now in its 11th year, and visitors vote for a People's Choice winner. Add a trail loop for an easy, quiet Friday.

👶 Preschool Storytime - Doraville Library | 2421 Van Fleet Circle, Suite 180, Doraville, GA | 10:30 AM | Free | More: events.dekalblibrary.org
A lively half hour of stories, songs and activities for 3- to 5-year-olds. An easy, free way to start the weekend.

🧵 Pumpkin Embroidery - Sandy Springs Library | 395 Mount Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA | 4:00 PM | Free | More: fulcolibrary.bibliocommons.com
An after-school fall stitching session where kids 8 and up embroider little pumpkins. No registration is listed, so we'll just show up.

🥨 OktoberFEAST - City Green at City Springs | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | 3:00-7:00 PM | Free admission, food and drinks for purchase | More: sandyspringsga.gov
Our free pick this week, details below. The Swinging Bavarians lead polka lessons under the tent while kids join the Ice Cream Parade.

🥕 Sandy Springs Farmers Market - City Springs | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA | 8:30 AM-12:00 PM | Free | More: citysprings.com
Fresh produce, baked goods and live music on the City Green, rain or shine. Do a lap in the morning and come back for OktoberFEAST in the afternoon.

🎃 Boo at the Zoo - Zoo Atlanta | 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | Included with Zoo admission (Any Day tickets $39.95 adults, $31.95 kids 3-11, under 3 free) | More: zooatlanta.org
About eight treat stations, carnival games, costumed characters and a free treat bag for kids while supplies last. The Science Guys of Atlanta do "Mad Sciences" at 12:30 and 2:30.

🧛 Monster Mash - Center for Puppetry Arts | 1404 Spring St NW, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-3:00 PM | $16.50 adults, $12.50 kids 2-12 (museum ticket) | More: puppet.org
The atrium turns into a costume dance party with trick-or-treating, a kids' DJ and walk-around puppets. New this year is a drop-in mask-making station, so your goblin goes home with a new face.

🛶 Family Canoe Day - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 12:00-1:30 PM | $25 per person, ages 5+ | More: chattnaturecenter.org
Guides teach first-timers the basics on calm Beaver Pond, and admission to the grounds is included. Registration closes today (Thursday), so book now and pack a picnic for after.

🍂 Fall Family Fun - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Included with Garden admission ($32.95 adults, $29.95 kids 3-12 on weekends), under 3 free | More: atlantabg.org
Fall-themed activities for young kids every October weekend morning, right in the middle of Scarecrows in the Garden. Catch the 10 AM frog feeding in the Fuqua Conservatory lobby first.

🐶 Paws and Pastries - Morgan Falls Dog Park | 100 Morgan Falls Rd, Sandy Springs, GA | 12:00-3:00 PM | Free, registration required | More: sandyspringsga.gov
Pastries for the humans and treats for the pups at the city's 7th annual dog meetup. For the costume contest, register your dog by 12:30, because judging starts promptly at 1:00.

👻 Goblins in the Garden - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | Included with Garden admission ($32.95 adults, $29.95 kids 3-12 on weekends), train rides $6, pony rides $7 | More: atlantabg.org
Kids can walk the Goblins Runway in costume at 10:30, 12:30, 2:30 or 3:30, then decorate mini pumpkins and catch Mr. Travis's music show. Rides are card-only, and ponies take riders 70 pounds and under.

🦉 Weekend Activities - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 12:00-5:00 PM | $20 adults, $14 kids 3-12 | More: chattnaturecenter.org

Docent-led trail walks at 1:00 and 3:00, plus a Creature Feature at 2:00 where kids meet one of the center's ambassador animals. The Nature Exchange trading post is included too.

🏛️ Bulloch Hall - Roswell Historic House Museums | 180 Bulloch Ave, Roswell, GA | 1:00-4:00 PM | Free | More: roswellgov.com
The 1840s home where Teddy Roosevelt's parents married, with docents on hand for questions. Arrive by 3:15 PM, since doors close promptly at 4.

💾 Mimms Museum of Technology and Art | 5000 Commerce Pkwy, Roswell, GA | 12:00-5:00 PM | $22 adults, $16 ages 4-17, $66 family of four | More: mimmsmuseum.org
Computing and video game history that grownups end up loving as much as the kids, plus the new Apple 50th anniversary exhibit.

🎤 Jerrod Carmichael: On Stage In Atlanta - The Punchline | 3652 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM | Tickets $31 plus tax and fees, 21+ | More: punchline.com
The Emmy winner behind Rothaniel plays our hometown comedy club for two Friday shows. It's phone-free (phones get locked in Yondr pouches), so plan on actually watching the show.

🎭 Ripcord - Stage Door Theatre | 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 7:30 PM | Tickets $36 | More: stagedoortheatrega.org
David Lindsay-Abaire's comedy about two senior-living roommates whose small bet turns into all-out war. It's the final weekend of the run.

👻 Roswell Ghost Tour - Roswell Historic Square Bandstand | 617 Atlanta St, Roswell, GA | 8:00 PM | $20 (cash or Zelle) | More: roswellghosttour.com
A 2.5-hour, one-mile walk past antebellum mansions, mill ruins and Founders Cemetery with guides who are paranormal investigators themselves. Reserve ahead, since a tour needs at least six people to run.

🍷 Night Mode - Mimms Museum of Technology and Art | 5000 Commerce Pkwy, Roswell, GA | 5:00-9:00 PM | $22 adults | More: mimmsmuseum.org
The museum stays open late with beer and wine for sale, so wander the Apple 50th anniversary exhibit and the supercomputer gallery after dinner. Nerdy date night, sorted.

🎨 Fright Night Paint & Sip: Laughing Lanterns - Muse Paintbar The Battery | 925 Battery Ave SE, Ste 1120, Atlanta, GA | 7:00 PM | $52 | More: musepaintbar.com
Halloween painting night at The Battery, and October painters get a complimentary fall specialty drink. A low-pressure date night where you leave with a jack-o'-lantern canvas.

🎶 Trap Karaoke - Coca-Cola Roxy | 800 Battery Ave SE, #500, Atlanta, GA | 6:00 PM | $87.18 GA, $116.54 VIP Balcony | More: trapkaraoke.com
A full concert-hall singalong where the crowd does the performing. Group 4-packs work out to $57.82 each, so bring the friend group.

🖼️ Material Poesy Exhibition - Spruill Gallery | 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 10:00 AM-6:00 PM | Free | More: spruillarts.org
Ceramic sculpture, installation and abstract painting by three Atlanta artists, Johanna Flores, Ato Ribeiro and Ivy Wu. The show closes October 29.

🧘 Yoga with Lainey - Spruill Center for the Arts | 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody, GA | 8:00-9:00 AM | Free, registration required | More: spruillarts.org
A beginner-friendly vinyasa and yin flow to start your Friday. Bring your own mat and a water bottle.

🥕 Peachtree Road Farmers Market - The Cathedral of St. Philip | 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA | 8:30 AM-12:00 PM | Free | More: peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com
Seventy-plus local farmers and makers, live music and a chef pop-up. Extra free parking is in the garage next to Fellini's.

🧣 Eco Printing Workshop - Atlanta Botanical Garden | 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 AM-1:00 PM | $110 ($105 members) | More: atlantabg.org
Press real leaves and flowers onto a silk scarf you take home. Bring high-tannin leaves like oak, maple or rose, and register by October 13.

🛶 River Canoe Trip - Chattahoochee Nature Center | 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell, GA | 4:30-7:30 PM | $39 ($34 members) | More: chattnaturecenter.org
A guided evening paddle on the Chattahoochee with all gear provided, timed so you're on the water near golden hour. Registration closes today (Thursday).

🎤 A-Train - The Punchline | 3652 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM | Tickets $28 plus tax and fees, 21+ | More: punchline.com
The radio personality and comic from DL Hughley's Family and Friends Tour headlines Saturday night. Reservations are required.

🎸 DeadCetera - From The Earth Brewing Company | 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA | 8:00 PM | Free | More: ftebrewing.com
A free Grateful Dead tribute show at the Roswell brewpub. Grab dinner and a pint first and stay for the long jams.

😂 Damon Darling - City Winery Atlanta | 650 North Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 10:00 PM | Tickets from $36 | More: citywinery.com
A fast, crowd-work-heavy stand-up set with wine and dinner served at your table. The 6:30 show is sold out, so this late show is the one to grab.

🎹 Dueling Pianos - Park Bench at The Battery | 900 Battery Ave, Ste 1060, Atlanta, GA | 8:30-11:30 PM | No cover | More: batteryatl.com
Two pianos and a room full of requests make a fun Saturday nightcap. Seating is first come, first served, so reserve a table if you're bringing a group.

🏃 Brookhaven International Festival 5K Walk/Run - Peachtree Creek Greenway | 1793 Briarwood Rd NE, Brookhaven, GA | 8:00 AM | $25 plus fees | More: brookhavenga.gov
A USATF-certified Peachtree Road Race qualifier along the greenway, and walkers are welcome. Registration fees go to We Love Buford Highway's free youth orchestra program.

🎷 Jazz Brunch at C. Ellet's - C. Ellet's | 2605 Circle 75 Pkwy, Ste 400, Atlanta, GA | 11:00 AM-3:00 PM | No cover, menu prices | More: batteryatl.com
A live jazz duo plays all through brunch at this Battery Atlanta spot. Reservations are recommended.

🎸 Bob Schneider - City Winery Atlanta | 650 North Ave NE, Atlanta, GA | 8:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM) | Tickets from $38.40 | More: citywinery.com
Austin's most-awarded musician brings the folk-rock-funk mix his fans call "FRUNK." Billy Harvey opens.

🎤 Willie Macc - The Punchline | 3652 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA | 7:00 PM | Tickets $28 plus tax and fees, 21+ | More: punchline.com
The College Hill alum turned stand-up is fresh off his special Good Dad, Bad Father. A laid-back way to finish the weekend.

🐾 Paint Your Pet - Muse Paintbar The Battery | 925 Battery Ave SE, Ste 1120, Atlanta, GA | 6:30-9:30 PM | $57 | More: musepaintbar.com
Send in a photo of your dog or cat and leave with a custom portrait you painted yourself. A good Sunday-evening date.

Sandy Springs is breaking out the steins for its third annual OktoberFEAST, and walking in won't cost you a dime. Seating under the tent is free too, so grab a table with your crew and stay a while.

The food is the headliner, hence the name. We're talking warm Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese, German sausages, chicken schnitzel and spätzle. Wash it down with an Oktoberfest lager or a mug of Glühwein (hot spiced wine, which is great once the sun drops). Food and drinks are paid separately.

The Swinging Bavarians handle the music with polkas and classic Oktoberfest tunes. There are polka lessons too, which is a great way to embarrass your teenager in public. Little ones get yard games, face painting and an ice cream parade.

It runs 3 to 7 both days, so you could do lunch at the Brookhaven festival and roll over to City Springs for schnitzel at dinner. Prost!

🚗 Click here to get directions on Google Maps

The first chilly night in October is when a lot of us light the fireplace for the first time since spring. Heating equipment is one of the leading causes of house fires in the U.S., and creosote that builds up in a chimney nobody has cleaned is a big part of that. Georgia's Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner recommends having your chimney and connectors inspected and cleaned at the start of every heating season, keeping anything that can burn at least three feet from the fireplace or space heater, and never plugging a space heater into an extension cord. Fire damage is often covered under a standard homeowners policy, up to your limits, but damage from skipped maintenance or normal wear and tear usually isn't. A chimney sweep now is cheap peace of mind.

Not sure how your policy handles fire or smoke damage, or whether your insurer needs to know about a wood stove? That's a quick question for a Peachy agent.