Java. Cup o’ Joe. Lead in your pencil. Fuel in your tank. So many of us are very dependent on our morning (and sometimes afternoon) cup of coffee. Do you take it black? With cream and sugar? With honey and cinnamon? In the Old West, the pioneers would boil crushed coffee beans in a pot over a campfire, maybe put some egg shells in the pot to settle the grounds, and drink their very strong tar-like coffee to start the day. When my husband and I were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, we participated in the traditional coffee ceremony. This ceremony, which can take up to two hours, is used to welcome visitors in the home or celebrate a special occasion. Beans are roasted over a fire, hand ground, and added to the boiling water in the jebena, or the traditional Ethiopian coffee pot. In Sweden, the work or school day is interrupted in mid-morning and again in afternoon for a fika, or coffee break. This daily downtime is so important to the Swedes that it is guaranteed for all employees by national law! These days, coffee can also get expensive and complicated. We can drive through the local coffee shop and order a tall latte with 3 shots of espresso, extra foam, Indian cashew milk, served at a perfect 175 degrees for just $6.25. No matter how it’s prepared or how we like it, coffee has proven to be an important part of our world history and culture, and for some of us, our daily survival! So brew a strong pot, wake up and get going, and check out one of the local events happening this weekend in the lovely Atlanta area.
If you love the festival atmosphere in the spring, visit the 79th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival. Music, art, activities for kids and more awaits the entire family at beautiful Piedmont Park. For the car enthusiast, Red Oak Unite Methodist Church in Covington presents the Red Oak Car Show. In addition to the display of fabulous classic cars, this year’s show includes vendors, 1950’s music and activities for kids. Baseball fans grab your mitt, cap and jersey and head down to Turner Field for the Atlanta Braves home opening weekend against the New York Mets. For your weekend evening entertainment, visit Morehouse College’s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center for their nationally renowned jazz ensemble or check out the Boom-Boom Room Dinner Theatre performance at the Mystery Theater in Covington.
Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Friday-Sunday, Apr. 10-12, various times
Cost: Free
Spring is in the air and the dogwoods are in bloom. Enjoy fine art, music, bbq and brew tasting, an eco-village, Disc Dogs, kids area and more at the 79th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival at the lovely Piedmont Park.
http://www.dogwood.org/About
Red Oak Car Show
Saturday, Apr. 11, 10:00am-3:00pm
Red Oak United Methodist Church
Enjoy cars from over the decades, food, craft vendors, activities for kids and more at the Red Oak UMC Car Show, 15105 Ga. Highway 36, Covington GA. Want to enter your car? Pre-registration is $20 and day of show is $25, Call 770.786.5528 for more information.
Atlanta Braves Home Opening Weekend
Friday-Sunday, Apr. 10-12
various times
Cost: $10 and up
There isn’t a much more exciting time then the home opening day with the Atlanta Braves. Bring your mitt and get to Turner Field for hotdogs, popcorn and a great weekend of America’s pastime as the Braves take on the Mets in a three game series.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=atl#y=2015&m=4&calendar=DEFAULT
Morehouse College Jazz Ensemble
Friday, Apr. 10, 7:00
Cost: Free
The Morehouse College Jazz Ensemble has been acclaimed as one of the finest College Jazz Ensembles in the country. This talented group has toured all over the United States during the last 40 years. Come out Friday night to the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College for a fantastic night of jazz music!
http://www.rockdalenews.com/Spingo/#/event/4037818-morehouse-college-jazz-ensemble?radius_miles=25&location=30012-conyers§ions=all&date=2015-04-10
The Boom Boom Room, Dinner Theater
Saturday-Sunday, Apr. 11-12, 7:00pm and 4:00pm
Cost: $35
Reserve your seats for this fun and audience-interactive dinner show that will have you talking for weeks! The Boom-Boom Room is a 40's style dinner theater show which includes a fabulous fried chicken dinner. Guest are welcome to bring their own bottles of wine and must be 21 or over to attend.
http://dramaticartsproductions.com/dinner-theater.html
