🎭 Mean Girls Opens + Brother Maven Sunday

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What's up, Perimeter neighbors!

Sunday night, Brother Maven kicks off the free Concerts by the Springs series on the lawn at Heritage Amphitheatre. Gates at 5, food trucks at 5:30, music at 7. We're planning to grab a blanket and roll over after dinner. It's the first of five free concerts running through September, so if you've never made it out, start here.

Saturday has two solid options. The Roswell Spring Arts Festival sets up on the City Hall lawn with around 100 artists, food trucks, and dogs welcome. We'll probably hit it mid-morning. Canton Street is right there if anyone needs a snack break. For Saturday night, Monarchs & Margaritas at the Dunwoody Nature Center is the 20th annual fundraiser. It's $150, 21 and up, and every dollar goes straight back into the trails and the new Wildcat Creek Learning Lab.

One Mother's Day heads up while we're here: Sandy Springs Flowers on Roswell Road has been doing this since 1987 and they actually pick up the phone when you call. Don't wait until next Saturday night.

Local news, a Brazilian steakhouse worth knowing about, three Dunwoody listings, and a Poodle named Rudolph 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 ECC10 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.

Dunwoody Nature Center
5343 Roberts Dr, Dunwoody, GA 30338
6-9 PM
Saturday, May 2
$150 (21+)
Visit official event page

This is the Nature Center's 20th annual fundraising gala, and it's the one night a year the place gets dressed up.

Dinner and open bar under a big tent in the park, plus a tequila tasting with Pedro Furtivo, live music, a paddle raise auction, and a tour of the brand-new Wildcat Creek Learning Lab.

That Learning Lab is a $2.5 million education space the City of Dunwoody kicked in $1 million toward.

So if you've ever walked the trails, sent a kid to camp there, or just spent a Saturday morning at the park, this is where that money goes.

It's 21+, it's hyperlocal, and the dollars go straight back into the programming and the 22 acres that make Dunwoody Park what it is.

Heads up: seated patron tables are already capped on the ticket portal, so check availability before you commit.

If you've been looking for a real reason to put on something other than athleisure on a Saturday night, this is it.

Rio is a Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouse on Powers Ferry, and it's great for a group or a hungry family. The whole concept is relaxed and fun. Gauchos keep bringing different types of meat around to your table and you just say yes or no.

The barbecue is the main event, but do not skip the cheese bread. It's warm and pillowy and people talk about it constantly. They also have feijoada, which is a hearty Brazilian black bean stew, if you want something beyond the meat.

They're open seven days a week and stay open late on weekends, so it works for a weeknight dinner or a Saturday night out with friends.

Phone: (770) 952-9556
Hours:
Sun-Thurs 10AM-10PM
Fri-Sat 10AM-11PM

🚗 Get directions to Rio Steakhouse & Bakery

Mother's Day is a week from Sunday, and this is the call to make now if you don't want to end up at a grocery store next Saturday night.

Sandy Springs Flowers has been on Roswell Road since 1987. Owner Charley Brown is a second-generation florist who has been around flowers since she was eight years old. She runs an actual shop, not one of those 1-800 services pretending to be local, which matters more than people realize when the arrangement actually shows up.

Reviews keep landing on the same things. Flowers that stay fresh for two weeks. Custom arrangements that look better than the website photo. Little personal touches like peacock feathers tucked into a bouquet to symbolize past, present, and future. Charley flies in fresh flowers weekly, and the shop has won Sandy Springs Business of the Year.

They are open Monday through Friday and Saturdays until 2pm. For Mother's Day weekend, call ahead and talk to someone in the actual store. That is the whole point.

Phone: (404) 250-0957
Hours:
Mon 9am–5:30pm
Tue–Fri 9am–6pm
Sat 10am–2pm
Closed Sun

6 beds
8 baths
5,695 sqft
0.45 acres lot

A) $1,900,000

B) $1,300,000

C) $1,150,000

D) $1,780,000

GDOT, the State Road and Tollway Authority, and SR 400 Peach Partners formally broke ground on the SR 400 Express Lanes Project on April 22, kicking off what's now the largest transportation public-private partnership in U.S. history. The $4.6 billion, 16-mile project will add dynamically priced toll lanes from the North Springs MARTA station to McGinnis Ferry Road, with two lanes in each direction along the southern half and one in each direction up north. MARTA bus rapid transit will eventually share the express lanes for about 12 miles.

For Sandy Springs and Dunwoody commuters, this means orange barrels on 400 are part of the routine for the next several years. Three construction segments are kicking off this spring, including one running from the North Springs MARTA station to Woodland Elementary, and heavy construction is expected to ramp up in July. Plan for lane shifts and longer drives.

Sources: Rough Draft Atlanta | Parsons announcement

The Sandy Springs Planning Commission voted April 30 to recommend approval of a 21-home subdivision on 7.9 acres at 1265-1369 Spalding Drive, right along the Dunwoody border. The plan from The Providence Group would replace five existing homes with detached single-family homes averaging 4,000 square feet, and includes a new signalized intersection at Spalding and Pitts Road to address access concerns. After a rocky first community meeting, the developer met with three nearby neighborhoods (Stratford Manor, Spalding Springs, and Whitehall Pointe) and agreed to HOA-required perimeter walls, buffers, and landscaping, which got most neighbors on board.

A few caveats: up to three of the 21 homes would sit inside Dunwoody city limits and require a separate rezoning there, and neighbors flagged ongoing traffic concerns at the five-way intersection of Dunwoody Club, Spalding, and Roberts. The Sandy Springs City Council vote is scheduled for May 19. If you live nearby, that's the meeting to show up to.

Source: Rough Draft Atlanta

The Dunwoody City Council held a public hearing April 27 on a proposed ordinance regulating vape shops, with a final vote scheduled for the May 11 meeting, the same day the city's 90-day moratorium on new vape shop permits expires. The ordinance defines a vape shop as any retailer that derives 25% or more of its sales from alternative nicotine products or dedicates 25% or more of its floor area to them, and would set parameters on where they can operate.

The path has been bumpy. The Dunwoody Planning Commission did not recommend the ordinance in a split April 14 vote, with some members arguing CBD and Delta-8 THC products should be included. Several council members have also pushed back on letting any vape shops into Dunwoody Village. If May 11 doesn't go anywhere, the moratorium ends and current rules apply.

Sources: Rough Draft Atlanta | Appen Media

Early voting started April 27 for Georgia's General Primary and runs through May 15, with Election Day on May 19. The ballot is heavy this year: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, U.S. Senate, and every Georgia congressional seat are all up, plus nonpartisan judicial races where the May 19 vote actually decides the winner.

You can vote at any early voting location in your county. Closest spots for Perimeter Post readers: Sandy Springs Library (395 Mount Vernon Hwy) and North Fulton Service Center (7741 Roswell Road) for Fulton voters; Dunwoody Library (5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd) and North DeKalb Senior Center (3393 Malone Drive, Chamblee) for DeKalb. Pull your sample ballot at the Secretary of State's My Voter Page before you go so you're not figuring out judicial races at the booth.

Sources: Georgia Secretary of State | WABE early voting locations

Rudolph is an adult male Poodle, and he's available right now through Rescue Me, GA in Dunwoody.

His full bio hasn't been written yet, so we're working with what we've got, but Poodles are worth paying attention to regardless. They're sharp, they're loyal, and they tend to bond hard with the right person.

The photos show a dog with some personality behind the eyes. Not the kind of dog who fades into the background.

Adult Poodles and Poodle types are often already past the chewing-everything phase and ready to just be someone's dog, which is a pretty great place to start.

If you've been thinking about a smaller, lower-shedding dog and keep putting it off, Rudolph is a decent reason to stop waiting. Reach out through his Petfinder listing to ask about his temperament and set up a time to meet him.

📚 Free Comic Book Day - Sandy Springs Library (395 Mount Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs) | 10:00 AM-6:00 PM (during library hours, while supplies last) | Free | More: fulcolibrary.org
The Fulton County Library System is giving away single-issue comics from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, IDW, and more at every branch. First-come, first-served. Perfect post-farmers-market stop with kids who like superheroes (or any reader you're trying to hook).

🥕 DHA Farmers Market - Brook Run Park (4770 N. Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody) | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | Free | More: dunwoodyga.org
North Atlanta's most convenient market with 30+ vendors, live music, and breakfast biscuits worth showing up for. Year-round, rain or shine.

🚶 Walk to Cure Arthritis (25th Anniversary) - Brook Run Park (4770 N. Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody) | 9:00 AM | Free to attend, fundraising suggested | More: events.arthritis.org
Festival-style morning with Zumba, yoga, a family fun zone, and a community walk. Doubles up nicely with the farmers market right there.

🎬 Flicks on the Green: Monsters, Inc. - Peachtree Corners Town Green (5140 Town Center Blvd, Peachtree Corners) | 7:00 PM (YMCA family activities at 6:00 PM) | Free | More: peachtreecornersga.gov
The free outdoor movie series kicks off the season with Monsters, Inc. Pre-show YMCA activities at 6, food from Town Center restaurants, blankets and lawn chairs welcome.

🥕 Sandy Springs Farmers Market - City Springs | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs | 8:30 AM-12:00 PM | Free | More: citysprings.com
About 65 vendors with produce, pastries, meats, and live music on the green. The kid-friendly chaos peaks around 10 a.m. when the breakfast tacos are flowing.

🥬 Brookhaven Farmers Market - Brookhaven Farmers Market | 1375 Fernwood Cir NE, Brookhaven | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | Free | More: brookhavenfarmersmarket.com
Smaller and tighter than Sandy Springs, with a strong pastry corner and live music most weeks. Easy stop on the way to anywhere else.

🎨 Roswell Spring Arts Festival - Roswell City Hall Grounds | 38 Hill St, Roswell | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | Free | More: roswellartfestival.com
Around 100 artists set up on the lawn for two days of paintings, photography, jewelry, sculpture, and food trucks. Easy walk to Canton Street if anyone gets restless. Dogs welcome.

🎨 Roswell Spring Arts Festival (Day 2) - Roswell City Hall Grounds | 38 Hill St, Roswell | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | Free | More: roswellartfestival.com
Same setup as Saturday with a slightly later start. Sunday tends to be the calmer browsing day if you missed the energy of opening day.

🎶 Concerts by the Springs: Brother Maven - Heritage Amphitheatre at City Springs | 6110 Blue Stone Rd, Sandy Springs | 7:00 PM (gates 5:00 PM, food trucks 5:30 PM) | Free lawn admission | More: sandyspringsga.gov
The free outdoor concert series kicks off the warm-weather season. Brother Maven is a Nashville rock and soul band that should land well with parents who like rootsy stuff and kids who like running around. Bring a blanket.

🎭 Mean Girls (Opening Night) - Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs | 8:00 PM | Tickets from $70 | More: cityspringstheatre.com
City Springs Theatre Company kicks off its regional premiere of the Tina Fey musical. Opening night energy in a 1,070-seat house, walkable to dinner on the City Green.

🧘 Yoga with Marianne - Sandy Springs Library (395 Mount Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs) | 10:30 AM-11:30 AM | Free | More: fulcolibrary.bibliocommons.com
Weekly Saturday gentle yoga in the library meeting room. BYO mat, no registration needed. Easy reset if your week ran hot.

🦋 Monarchs & Margaritas - Dunwoody Nature Center | 5343 Roberts Dr, Dunwoody | 6-9 PM | 21+, ticketed fundraiser | More: dunwoodynature.org
The Nature Center's annual gala under the tent. Dinner, open bar, live music, and a tour of the new Wildcat Creek Learning Lab. The funds go right back into the trails and programming.

🤠 Derby de Mayo Roswell Block Party - Gate City Brewing & Roswell Entertainment District | Canton Street, Roswell | 2:00-10:00 PM | Wristband ticket $15-$25 | More: bigtickets.com
Kentucky Derby crashes into Cinco de Mayo. A ten-tab wristband gets you specials at participating bars and restaurants, a roaming mariachi, a hat contest, and the Derby on a big screen at Gate City Brewing.

🎭 Mean Girls (Saturday Matinee) - Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs) | 2:00 PM | Tickets from $70 | More: cityspringstheatre.com
Afternoon option if Friday opening or a late Saturday show doesn't work. Same regional premiere, easier on the schedule. Recommended for ages 13+.

🎭 Mean Girls (Saturday Evening) - Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs) | 8:00 PM | Tickets from $70 | More: cityspringstheatre.com
The classic dinner-and-show Saturday night move. Walkable to City Green spots before curtain. Ages 13+.

🎉 Cinco de Mayo Kickoff Rooftop Party - PURE Brookhaven (3589 Durden Dr NE, Brookhaven) | 8:00 PM-1:00 AM | Free admission and parking | More: eventbrite.com
Saturday warmup for Cinco with drink specials, bites, live Latin and international music, and DJ sets. Free in, free park, easy night out.

🎭 Mean Girls (Sunday Matinee) - Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center | 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs | 2:00 PM | Tickets from $70 | More: cityspringstheatre.com
If Friday opening sounds like too much, the Sunday matinee is the chiller move. Easy lunch at one of the City Green spots beforehand and home in time to make dinner.

🌹 Live Latin Music & Tapas at Eclipse di Luna Buckhead - Eclipse di Luna | 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Dunwoody | Sunday evening, live music seven nights | À la carte | More: eclipsediluna.com
Spanish tapas, sangria, and a salsa floor that fills up by 8. The Sunday crowd skews more dinner-and-listen than dance-it-out, which is the right energy for a weekend wind-down.

Heritage Amphitheatre
6110 Blue Stone Rd, Sandy Springs
7pm (gates 5pm, food trucks 5:30pm)
Sunday, May 3
Free

Sandy Springs' free Sunday concert series is back, and Brother Maven kicks off the season. They're a Nashville rock and soul band. Four guys (Daniel Mason on vocals and guitar, JP Presley on lead, Jeremy McCoy on bass, Joel Burns on drums) who pull from R&B, Southern soul, rock and roll, and a little country. The result fills up a lawn instead of just playing in the background. They've opened for John Rich, Lonestar, and Brantley Gilbert, so they know how to handle a crowd that's eating dinner and only half paying attention.

Here's how the night runs. Gates open at 5, food trucks roll in at 5:30, music starts at 7. Bring a blanket or low-back lawn chairs. Pack a picnic if you don't want to wait in food truck lines. If you want a guaranteed spot up front, you can call the Box Office at (770) 206-2022 to reserve a table, but the lawn is FREE and that's where most of the action is. No pets, but service animals are fine.

This is the first of five concerts running through September (Brother Maven in May, then Canyonland with Michelle Malone in June, Radio 80's in July, Cat Ridgeway & The Tourists in August, and R&B Inc. in September), so if you've never made it out to Heritage Amphitheatre, it's a low-stakes way to see what the series is about. Pack the kids, pack a friend, pack a bottle of wine. Sunday evening on a lawn in Sandy Springs is a pretty good way to close out a weekend.

Mother's Day is the second-biggest jewelry-buying weekend of the year, behind only the December holidays. If you're thinking about pulling the trigger on a real piece this year, or you got one last year and never told your insurance company about it, this is a 10-minute conversation that could save you money down the line.

Here's why. Standard homeowner's policies cap personal property coverage at a percentage of your dwelling limit, and within that, jewelry is usually capped even lower. Most policies pay between $1,000 and $2,500 total for jewelry, regardless of what you actually own. If your wife has a $5,000 ring and the house gets broken into, you'd see $1,500 back, not $5,000.

The fix is something called scheduling. You add the specific piece to your policy as a "scheduled item," provide an appraisal, and pay a small additional premium. Most pieces add about $5 to $15 a year per $1,000 of value. In return, you get full replacement coverage, no deductible, and protection for things standard homeowner's policies don't cover, like accidental loss when a stone falls out or a piece slips off in the ocean.

A few things worth doing this week:

1. Check your declarations page for the current jewelry sublimit. It's listed under personal property limitations.

2. If you have anything over the sublimit, get an appraisal. Rings, watches, heirlooms, anniversary gifts. Some jewelers will do appraisals at the time of purchase. Others charge $50 to $150 for an existing piece.

3. Email Peachy a copy of the appraisal. They'll walk you through scheduling it and quote the additional premium before you commit.

If you're shopping for Mother's Day this week, mention to the jeweler that you'll be insuring it. They're used to the request and most will provide an appraisal at sale, which makes step 2 free.

Call (404) 600-1660 (Closed Saturdays and Sundays)

Cowart Family YMCA in Brookhaven is hiring lifeguards, swim instructors, and day camp staff ahead of Memorial Day pool opening.

👉 Browse openings

DeKalb County School District is hiring teachers, paras, bus drivers, nurses, and admin for 2026-27 with $2,000-$2,500 sign-on bonuses on high-need roles.

👉 Browse openings

Northside Hospital has hundreds of openings across nursing, allied health, and admin in Sandy Springs, including the Summer 2026 Mom-Baby RN Residency.

👉 Browse openings

City of Dunwoody Police is recruiting certified and non-certified officers plus a Prisoner Transport role, with lateral hires welcome.

👉 Browse openings

Bonus help (free): WorkSource DeKalb offers free career coaching, resume help, and job matching (call 404-687-3400 while in-person walk-ins are paused).

👉 Visit WorkSource DeKalb