What’s Up Dunwoody

Podcast 238 - DinoWoody - Lisa Torres 🦖 Lisa started displaying positive and inspirational messages in her yard back in 2020 during the Pandemic. The words were surrounded by inflatable dinosaurs that made local children (and adults) smile, and neighbors embraced it. Last month, one individual tried to bring it all to an end it all by filing a sign ordinance complaint with the city. That’s when the Dunwoody Community stepped up to offer help and encouragement by collecting over 2000 signatures on a change.org site to “Save the Dino House”. Over the last few weeks, you've probably noticed inflatable dinosaurs all over the city in support of the Torres Family. The story has been covered by all types of local media including WSB, Rough Draft, 11Alive, and the AJC. Here's the whole story straight from Lisa.

Podcast 237 - Politan Row Food Hall at Ashford Lane - Will Donaldson Dunwoody waited a long time for this food hall... then it disappeared after only a couple months. Will Donaldson and Politan Row have stepped in to take it over with a proven track record at Colony Square in Midtown and across the southeast. There will be 9 unique food stalls with great options including Pretty Little Taco, Tandoori Pizza & Wings Co., Gekko Sushi, 26 Thai, Sheesh Mediterranean, Smokehouse Q, and a new rendition of Jojo's Beloved Bar. You may notice they are adding an enclosed patio and painting a huge mural on the side of the building soon. Mid-November is the projected opening for the Dunwoody location, and there is an additional Politan Row Food Hall coming soon to the Forum in Peachtree Corners.

Podcast 236 - DaVinci’s Pizzeria - Jason Black and Beau Dameier DaVinci’s was a huge hit at the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade this year, giving out t-shirts and coupons and working the crowd in the rain! They opened in 2019 in the Orchard Park Center at Jett Ferry and Dunwoody Club Drive. Since then, they’ve done a great job teaming up with local schools for spirit nights and getting their name out in the community. Go check them out and tell Beau you saw him on the podcast!

Podcast 235 - Rabbi Eric Feld - Congregation Beth Shalom This was a fun episode with my new friend Eric Feld. I ask him about his first impressions of the city since moving to Dunwoody about a year ago, and then I force him to choose his favorite restaurants. Eric talks about his journey of becoming a rabbi, what makes Beth Shalom such a special place, and he teaches me a little about Judaism along the way. Be sure to check out their Back to School Celebration on August 20th. Bring canned goods to support Backpack Buddies and enjoy the pancake brunch, ice cream truck, dunk tank, photo booth, and a performance by Dad's Garage.

Podcast 234 - Jeff Henderson - Know What You're For This is one of my all-time favorite podcast conversations. Jeff Henderson is an author, motivational speaker, and leadership coach. We talk about what he’s learned from his experiences in marketing and community impact initiatives during his time at Chick-fil-A and North Point Community Church. Jeff aims to motivate audiences to make a meaningful difference in their work AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. I’ve taken so much from his book Know What You’re For, and am so excited to introduce him to the What’s Up Dunwoody audience. Special shoutout to Karissa Tuttle with Simply Done Donuts for introducing us and helping make this possible!

Dr Kevin Jenkins Podcast 233 - Dunwoody Christian School - Dr Kevin Jenkins Dunwoody Christian School has found an amazing new leader and Head of School in Dr Jenkins. His first real outing with his new "family" is at the Dunwoody July 4th Parade, where he’ll be riding in an old vintage Bronco. Make sure you wave and welcome him to Dunwoody. Dunwoody Christian had one of the largest turnouts at last year's Parade! We're thankful to them and all of the wonderful sponsors that help make the event a success! The Dunwoody 4th of July Parade is presented by the DHA and Rough Draft: Dunwoody Homeowners Association www.dunwoodyga.org Rough Draft Atlanta www.roughdraftatlanta.com Platinum Sponsor: Xfinity www.xfinity.com Gold Sponsors: City of Dunwoody www.dunwoodyga.gov Discover Dunwoody www.discoverdunwoody.com EEP Events www.eepevents.com Brightworks Dentistry www.brightworksdentistry.com Silver Sponsors: Atlanta Falcons www.atlantafalcons.com Dunwoody Animal Medical Center www.dunwoodyamc.com Dunwoody Christian School www.dunwoodycs.org Atlanta Academy www.atlantaacademy.com Rotary Club of Dunwoody www.dunwoodyrotary.org Piedmont Bank www.piedmont.bank Dunwoody Urgent Care www.dunwoodyurgentcare.com Crema www.cremaespressogourmet.com Village Orthodontics www.village-ortho.com Lisa Torres Insurance Agency www.lisatorres.org Visiting Nurse Private Home Care http://visitingnursephc.com The Dino Family Bronze Sponsors: NFA Burger www.nfaburger.com The Village Dunwoody www.thevillagedunwoody.com The Mount Vernon School www.mountvernonschool.org Stage Door Theatre www.stagedoortheatrega.org Dunwoody Pharmacy www.dunwoodypharmacy.com The Robin Blass Group www.robinblass.com What's Up Dunwoody www.whatsupdunwoody.com Dunwoody Senior Baseball www.dunwoodyseniorbaseball.com Karate Atlanta - Dunwoody www.karateatlantadunwody.com Custom Signs Today www.signsatlanta.com

Podcast 232 - Discover Dunwoody - Mark Galvin Discover Dunwoody is the destination marketing organization for Dunwoody. They encourage visitors to discover the unexpected experiences found in the community. As an organization, Discover Dunwoody is the city’s premier partner in hospitality as well. Mark Galvin is the Director of Marketing and an all-around good guy. They have made some amazing changes over the last couple years engaging with the community at all levels. Discover Dunwoody will be loud and proud with their Trolley Bus in the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade this year, handing out DUN stickers and squishy balls. We are so thankful for their amazing support of the Parade, so be sure to scream and wave at them on the Parade path. Here’s a full list of all of 2023’s amazing sponsors. The Dunwoody 4th of July Parade is presented by the DHA and Rough Draft. Dunwoody Homeowners Association www.dunwoodyga.org Rough Draft Atlanta https://roughdraftatlanta.com Platinum Sponsor: Xfinity www.xfinity.com Gold Sponsors: City of Dunwoody www.dunwoodyga.gov Discover Dunwoody www.discoverdunwoody.com EEP Events www.eepevents.com Brightworks Dentistry www.brightworksdentistry.com Silver Sponsors: Falcons www.atlantafalcons.com Dunwoody Animal Medical Center www.dunwoodyamc.com Dunwoody Christian School www.dunwoodycs.org Atlanta Academy www.atlantaacademy.com Rotary Club of Dunwoody www.dunwoodyrotary.org Piedmont Bank www.piedmont.bank Dunwoody Urgent Care www.dunwoodyurgentcare.com Crema www.cremaespressogourmet.com Village Orthodontics www.village-ortho.com Lisa Torres Insurance Agency www.lisatorres.org The Dino Family Visiting Nurse Private Home Care www.visitingnursephc.com Bronze Sponsors: NFA Burger www.nfaburger.com The Village Dunwoody www.thevillagedunwoody.com The Mount Vernon School www.mountvernonschool.org Stage Door Theatre www.stagedoortheatrega.org Dunwoody Pharmacy www.dunwoodypharmacy.com The Robin Blass Group www.robinblass.com What's Up Dunwoody www.whatsupdunwoody.com Dunwoody Senior Baseball www.dunwoodyseniorbaseball.com Karate Atlanta - Dunwoody www.karateatlantadunwody.com Custom Signs Today www.signsatlanta.com

Podcast 231 - Create Dunwoody - Jennifer Long Create Dunwoody was established to work in partnership with the City of Dunwoody to establish and support public art in the city. They partner with other organizations to support the growth of placemaking and improve the quality of life for all who live, work, and play in the City of Dunwoody. Jennifer Long was named Executive Director in March, and she also hosts KISS 104.1 Sunday Vibes as Shea Love and The Georgia Lottery.

Podcast 230 - Tom Lambert - Dunwoody Trails and the Bond Vote in November Dunwoody City Council made 2 big moves this week, approving the Dunwoody Trails Master Plan and calling for a bond vote to help pay for it. The approval puts the decision in the hands of Dunwoody voters on November 7th. If approved, the City of Dunwoody would work on capital improvements in the following areas using bond funding, along with other revenue sources. Note that the list below is not ranked by preference and is subject to modification based on the needs of the City: Parks: Roberts Drive Park, Homecoming Park on Vermack Drive, Softball Fields, Waterford Park, Brook Run Park Trails: Village Crossroads (Chamblee Dunwoody Road), continuance of the Winters Chapel Multi-use Trail, North Peachtree Road, Mount Vernon Road This is how you'll read it on the ballot: “Shall the City of Dunwoody, Georgia (the “City”) issue general obligation bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $60,000,000 for the purpose of financing (a) the acquisition, construction, installation, improvement and equipping of (i) parks and recreational areas, (ii) greenspace and (iii) trails, (b) the costs of issuing the bonds and (c) capitalized interest on the bonds? Such approval shall also constitute an approval of the increase in the City’s current millage cap of 3.04 only to the extent necessary to repay the bonds.”

Podcast 229 - Dunwoody Parks and Recreation - Brent Walker Brent Walker has been our Director of Parks and Rec since 2010. He has been here from the very beginning, and we should be proud of what he and the city have helped build here. We talk about Two Bridges Park, Homecoming Park, and plans for the former Austin Elementary School site on Roberts Drive. There's going to be a lot of talks over the next few months about Trailways and Parks here in Dunwoody, and nobody knows them better than Brent.

Podcast 228 - Stage Door Theatre Presents Peter and the Starcatcher - Lauren Morris There’s been such a push for the Arts in Dunwoody over the last few years, but it’s not all about murals on parking decks and painted picnic tables. Stage Door Theatre is a gem in our city. One of their best performances to date opens tonight and runs through May 28th, as Lauren Morris directs Peter and the Starcatcher. Lauren was an absolute pleasure to talk with, and I can’t wait to see the show! https://stagedoortheatrega.org/peter-and-the-starcatcher/

Podcast 227 - Simply Done Donuts - Karissa Tuttle Karissa and Joey Tuttle live in Dunwoody. They opened their first mini donut shop in Duluth back in 2017. Since then, they've been driving their donut truck "Sprinkles" all over Atlanta hitting up catering jobs and food truck events. About a month ago, they found a temporary home for Sprinkles at the old Burger King in the Village and have been a big hit in Dunwoody since then. They are also a lot of fun!

Podcast 226 - Shortbarrel Bourbon - Clinton Dugan and Patrick Lemmond You're going to hear Shortbarrel more and more around the city of Dunwoody. These guys are everywhere. What started as a small group of friends in a barrel picking group in 2016, the Shortbarrel name has become a staple on the shelves of home bars. They recently purchased Old Fourth Distillery and have relocated it to Norcross. These are some fun guys and I really enjoyed getting to know them on the podcast.

Podcast 225 - Lemonade Days 2023 - Hope Follmer, Mark Gallegos, and Jan Slimming Lemonade Days is this week! Hope tells us about the history of the history of the event, and some cool changes this year. Mark breaks down the music scene including Dunwoody Idol and the other bands that will be playing throughout the weekend. Jan Slimming runs the Dunwoody Authors and Friends Bookstore, where you can meet local authors and get your book signed. Here's some more details: Featuring full-scale carnival rides (daily wristbands for unlimited rides are available – $20/day Wednesday & Thursday Family Nights; $30/day Friday-Sunday, individual ride tickets/$1.25 each), fabulous food and beverage vendors, two days of center stage performances and the popular Dunwoody Idol contest. The Dunwoody Preservation Trust’s Lemonade Days has become a highlight of the city’s calendar and its most popular family event of the year. Schedule: Wednesday 4pm – 10pm Thursday 4pm – 10pm Friday 4pm – 10pm Saturday 10am -10pm Sunday 12pm – 6pm For daily specifics and map, click here. Lemonade Days is held at Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338. Admission to Lemonade Days is FREE! Individual ride tickets are $1.25 each Buy UNLIMITED daily ride passes (wristbands) for just: $20 on Wednesday & Thursday – FAMILY NIGHTS $30 per day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday Wristbands valid for day of purchase only

Podcast 224 - The Burger Benefit - Billy Kramer (NFA Burger) The Burger Benefit will bring chefs from around the world for a one day event to raise money for The Giving Kitchen on May 7th in the Village. Each chef will cook their own version of the cheeseburger from The Menu for one hour. Approximately 60 burgers per participant will be available to purchase. Attendees will get to choose their time slot, but the chefs will be assigned their time slot randomly. This is Billy's dream come to life. He has made friends with renowned chefs from around the country, and they are all flying into Dunwoody for one special day. Don't miss this! burgerbenefit.com

The Dunwoody Police Department plays a huge role in our Dunwoody Community. You'll find them out on the streets keeping our city safe, but also at every area event hanging out and talking to citizens. Chief Grogan also puts a huge emphasis on social media to help the city get to know the individuals in the department. You'll probably recognize Anwar from his many years in Dunwoody. He's one of the best!

Dunwoody High School is opening its doors for all past, present, and future Wildcats! Come help us celebrate our last 50th Anniversary event on Saturday, April 15th from 11:30am-4pm! What you can expect: -Legendary teachers from the past -Music & Food Trucks -DHS Art Gala -Performing Arts "Show" Down -Clubs & Careers "Pathway" Exhibition -Alumni Flag Football Game "Red vs Blue" You can also help support us today by donating to DHS' future @ dunwoodyalumni.org/DHS50

Last year’s Big Green Eggs & Kegs was one of the biggest Dunwoody parties in years. It’s not just his restaurants either. He teams up with many local Dunwoody businesses. Check out the list of sponsors below. They’ll sell out quickly, so don’t miss out this year! Big Green Eggs & Kegs 2023 at The Village Dunwoody D on't Miss out on the best party in the 'burbs! 2022 sold out so buy your tickets today! 2nd Annual Green Eggs & Kegs Festival at The Village Dunwoody A Community Gathering in Support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Big Green Eggs & Kegs 2023 will showcase local hospitality owners, live music, beer, and spirits. This ticketed event will be hosted throughout the Dunwoody Village courtyard and parking lot in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). TICKETS VIP ticket holders gain exclusive entry at noon. VIP priveleges include exclusive tastings from 12-1pm, unlimited food and beverage, event t-shirt, private lounge and restrooms. General Admission ticket entry starts at 1 p.m and unlimited food and beverage is included. L ive Music! Headlining: Family Truckster & Sucker Punch with Mike Casey and Jason Martin playing for VIPs from 12-1pm. Great Food! 18+ food stations! All cooking will be done on donated Big Green Eggs. This community event is made possible by Discover Dunwoody with help of our sponsors: Big Green Egg, Regency Centers, ASW Distillery, Califino, Kona Brewing, Tucker Brewing, Wicked Weed, Babylonstoren, New Belgium Brewing, The Ned, Old Forester, Gate City Brewing, Bacardi Rum, Sweetwater Brewing, Tres Agaves, United Distributors, Eagle Rock Distributors, Chatel Farms, Aussie Select, and Sysco. People's Choice Best Taste Voting Contest!! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/512970116427