The City of Alpharetta will host its 29th Annual Taste of Alpharetta on Thursday, May 2 from 5:30- 9:30 p.m. in downtown Alpharetta and feature samples of appetizers, desserts and entrees from over 60 Alpharetta restaurants. The event will also feature cooking demos, culinary collaborations and music vignettes throughout the streets of Downtown alongside a variety of music genres.

Admission is free, you may purchase food tickets on site for $0.50 each. Restaurants participating in the Taste of Alpharetta will not accept cash (tickets only). Restaurants charge $1-4 per food sample.

According to the City of Alpharetta, A Culinary Competition Stage will pair top area chefs against one another in five categories – Best Appetizer/Salad, Best Fast Casual, Best Fine Dining, Best Presentation and Best Dessert. Award winners are presented at approximately 8:30 p.m. Vote for the People’s Choice Award at the Culinary Competition Stage prior to 7:00 p.m.

Come visit us at the Berkshire Hathaway table at the event and while you're in downtown Alpharetta take a look at our brand new beautiful office building located in Liberty Hall at 33 S Main Street. Attendees can park in the City Hall Parking Deck at 2 Park Plaza or take a park and ride shuttle from Wills Park at Wacky World or Wills Park Equestrian Center.

Featured restaurants include:

• 2B Whole Gluten-Free European Bakery
• 3:8 Juice & Eatery
• Andretti Indoor Karting and Games
• Another Broken Egg Cafe
• Atlantic Seafood Company
• Bagel Boys Cafe
• Benihana
• Bite Bistro & Bar
• Black Walnut Cafe
• Brine Seafood Shack
• BurgerFi
• Butcher & Brew
• Cedar Cafe
• Ceviche Taqueria
• Chuy’s
• Citizen Soul
• Central City Tavern
• Clean Juice
• Coalition Food and Beverage
• Colletta
• DaVinci’s Donuts
• Dominos Pizza
• Dos Margaritas
• Dreamland BBQ
• E.M. Bop
• Favors & Flavors Cajun Twist
• Fire and Brimstone Tavern
• Flatlands Bourbon & Bayou
• Flavor Juicery and Eatery
• Four Fat Cows Ice Cream
• Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
• Heidi’s Heavenly Cookies
• La Casa Italian Grill
• La Teda Tapas and Tequilas
• Lapeer Seafood Market
• Loyal Q and Brew
• M Thai Street Food
• Madras Chettinaad
• Mama’s Pizza
• Maple Street Biscuit Company
• Miller’s Ale House Restaurant
• Minnie Oliva /Wood Fire Pizzeria
• Mondo Italian Kitchen
• Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Oak Steakhouse
• PITA Mediterranean Street Food
• Publix Aprons Cooking School
• Ray’s at Killer Creek
• Restaurant Holmes
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Sally’s Gluten Free Bakery
• Salt Factory
• Scream’n Nuts
• Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar
• Seven Seas Mediterranean Cafe
• Shade Street Food + Bar
• Smallcakes of Alpharetta
• Smokejack BBQ
• South Main Kitchen
• Southern Baked Pie Company
• Taqueria Tsunami
• Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe
• The Melting Pot
• Vitality Bowls
• Wildflour

Springtime (and pollen) is finally here and Alpharetta and Johns Creek are hosting a variety of Easter Egg Hunts in the coming weeks for children of all ages.  

The Alpharetta Welcome Center will host the Easter bunny and offer free photos and visits for children of all ages from on April 13 from 10:00 a.m. - Noon at the Alpharetta Welcome Center at 178 South Main Street. No reservations are required and the event is free to the public. A photo will be printed onsite and emailed for you to take to share with family and friends.

Alpharetta’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on April 13 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the North Park Softball Fields and include face painting, balloon art, train rides and a petting zoo. The Egg Hunt for ages 3-6 will start at Noon.  Instead of a hunt area, a special goody bag will be given to the first 250 children ages 2/younger and 7/older. The event is free to the public.

Johns Creek’s Annual Easter Egg Dash and Spring Park Party will take place at 11:00 am on April 13 at Shakerag Park for children ages 10 and under. The event will feature over 20,000 eggs and is free to the public. Egg dash start times vary by age and times include: Ages 0-2: 11:30 a.m., Ages 3-4: 11:30 a.m., Ages 5-7: 12:30 p.m., Ages 8-10: 12:30 pm

A Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt is being held by the City of Johns Creek at 10:00 a.m. on April 13 in Newtown Park. The event is free to the public and will include games, activities, an Easter egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

Avalon in Alpharetta will host an Easter Egg Hunt on April 20 and will include live bunnies from the Georgia House Rabbit Society. Children will collect ten eggs from the Plaza and bring them to the trade-in tent to receive a bag of treats. No registration is required and the event is free to the public. Ages 0-3 start at 8:30 am and ages 4-7 start at 9:30 a.m.

The city of Johns Creek is consistently recognized as one of the most affluent golf communities in the Metro Atlanta area because of its seven champion 18-hole golf courses. Offering over 50,000 yards of golf and recognized by both the U.S. Golf Association and Professional Golfers Association, these private and public courses offer year round golfing because of our mild climate.

Johns Creek has hosted many championships over the years, including the 1976 US Open Championship, the 1981, 2001 and 2011 PGA Championship, the 1990 US Women’s Open, the Champions Tour Nationwide Championship from 1991-1994 and the U.S. Amateur in 2014. These courses were designed by some of the sport’s best, which include Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones, Thomas Fazio, Joe Lee and Arthur Hills.

The popularity and prestige of these courses consistently produces nationally ranked top area junior golfers from men’s and women’s golf teams at each of the four area high schools in Johns Creek. With the help of the City of Johns Creek, we’ve brought you a breakdown of each golf course located within the city. Call us today for a private VIP home tour within and around these luxurious communities.

Atlanta Athletic Club (private)

Founded in 1898 in downtown Atlanta, the Atlanta Athletic Club moved to Johns Creek in 1967, and is the home club of golf legend Bobby Jones. It offers two 18-hole championship courses (Highlands, Riverside) designed by Robert Trent Jones and one nine-hole, par-3 course. The Atlanta Athletic Club hosted the 2011 PGA Championship.

Country Club of the South (private)

Founded in 1987, the Country Club of the South is a 900-acre, gated residential community with an 18-hole championship course originally designed by Jack Nicklaus. Its 18-hole championship course is 6,950 yards, par 72. Of all the Jack Nicklaus golf courses in Georgia, the Country Club of the South presents one of the most challenging layouts.

Rivermont Golf and Country Club (private)

Founded in 1973, the Rivermont Golf and Country Club's 18-hole course is 6,767 yards, par 72. Originally designed by Joe Lee, the course saw a $3.6 million renovation in 2007 by Michael Riley and offers a relaxed, family friendly retreat from the busyness of Atlanta.

River Pines Golf (public)

Founded in 1990, River Pines is nestled along the Chattahoochee River, and features one 18-hole championship course and one nine-hole, par 3 course. Designed by Denis Griffiths, the 18-hole course is 6,002 yards, par 70. Mike Perpich, a Golf Magazine "Top 100 Instructor," is based at River Pines.

St. Ives Country Club (private)

Founded in 1989 and completely renovated in 1999, St. Ives Country Club is a gated residential community with an 18-hole championship course. Designed by Thomas Fazio, ASGCA, the course is 6,932 yards, par 72.

Standard Club (private)

Founded in 1866, the Standard Club is the oldest golf club in Atlanta. It moved to its present location in Johns Creek in 1987. Its 18-hole championship course (7,075 yards, par 72) was originally designed by Arthur Hills and redesigned in 2005 by Michael Riley. In addition to the golf course, the Standard Club offers a 125,000 sq. foot clubhouse that features 4 indoor air-conditioned tennis courts, 8 outdoor clay courts, 4 outdoor hard courts, a state of the art fitness center, pool complex, racquetball and basketball courts.

The Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell has partnered with American Adventure Park Systems and Historic Banning Mills to bring thrill seekers an experiential adventure in the trees. Guests can now take an adventurous trek around the treetops on an Aerial Adventure Course or take to the skies a get a bird’s eye view of the nature center with the Zipline Canopy Tour.

The Aerial Adventure Course is designed for children ages “2 to 204” and participants can expect to experience up to 28 challenge elements after harnessing up in cutting edge safety gear. Challenge elements include up to four ziplines, suspension bridges, ropes and more. The cost for the Adventure Course is $34.95 per person not including the Chattahoochee Nature Center admission fee paid on arrival.

The Zipline Canopy Tour is designed for children ages “8 to 208” and takes participants on a tour of the aerial ecosystem of the Nature Center while zipping twice over Beaver Pond and experiencing up to 55 feet in the air on one of the 7 ziplines that stretch up to 500 feet long. The Eco Zipline Canopy tour offers up to 12 challenge elements and costs $49.95 per person not including the Chattahoochee Nature Center admission fee paid upon arrival.

And if you’re feeling extremely adventurous, you can book a combo tour which includes 3 hours of adventure challenge elements and ziplines for $79.95 not including the admission fee. Chattahoochee Nature Center is located at 9135 Willeo Road in Roswell. 

We are excited to welcome 6 Bridges Brewing to Johns Creek as our city’s first brewery. Father/son duo Charles and Clay Gridgley opened 6 Bridges in November 2018 and their taproom features 10 different taps of beers and an outdoor beer garden. 6 Bridges is named after the six bridges that once crossed Johns Creek. 

Beers on tap include Shelby Golden Ale, Newtown American Pale Ale, State Bridge American Stout, Sour Continuum with Pink Guava, State Bridge S’mores Stout, State Bridge w/Cold Brew Stout, Kaiser’s Last Stand Sour Berliner Weisse, Tag Along Shake Porter and No Not Really American IPA. Full pints, half pours and small tasters as well as flights of each beer are available. You’re also welcome to bring in outside food to consume at the taproom although some nights 6 Bridges has food trucks available for your dining pleasure.

6 Bridges Brewing is open from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm most days and you can find their full business hours here. In addition, Taproom tours are offered at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm on Thursdays and 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Sundays. Big screen tvs are set up for sporting events and dogs and children are also welcome. March Madness offers the perfect opportunity to give Johns Creek’s first brewery a try. Let us know what you end up sampling!

The warmer weather and start of Daylight Saving time is the perfect opportunity to tackle your spring home maintenance must-dos. We’ve put together the checklist below to undo any damage from winter and start your warmer months with your Johns Creek home in great condition with a spring home maintenance tune-up.

Tree Trimming
Look in your yard for any dead branches or areas that need to be trimmed. It’s much easier to clean up these trees before they’re fully bloomed. Don’t forget to check that dead branches aren’t hanging over your house since this can cause leaf backup in your gutters.

Roof 
Check for cracked shingles, failed fasteners and nail pops. Also check for any branches that may have landed on your roof during winter. Hint: you don’t have to get on your roof to observe potential issues, just grab a pair of binoculars as a safe option.

Gutters
Make sure your downspouts are still pointed away from your home’s foundation and that your gutters are clear of debris leftover from winter.

Windows
Double check that your caulking and weather stripping is still in tact. You can also easily clean your outside windows with one cup rubbing alcohol, one cup water and a tablespoon of white wine vinegar.

Air Conditioning
Either call an HVAC technician to perform a tune up on your A/C or head outside yourself to ensure your air conditioning is in good working order before summer hits. You can easily change your A/C filters, check that drain pans are draining freely and ensure hose connections are free of any leaks.

Attic
It’s always a good idea to check your attic for signs of colonization of insects and critters that make have occurred over the winter months. Also check for roof leaks and potential mold spots.

If you’re weary of handling spring home maintenance yourself, hiring a licensed handyman or contractor to go through your checklist is never a bad idea. We have a whole network of contacts and contractors, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need help.

With Spring Break around the corner, many parents are looking for ideas to keep their kids entertained throughout the week off. Peachtree Corners and Johns Creek have multiple options to keep your elementary schooler busy by offering a variety STEM camps. Most camps run half day programs and many have the opportunity to add extended care. Check out the options below that are a close drive to your Johns Creek home.

Lego Spring Break Camp

The Johns Creek Parks and Recreation Department is offering a Lego Spring Break Camp in the Newtown Community Clubhouse on Monday, April 1- Friday April 5. The camp is $150 for residents and $225 for non-residents. Registration opened on March 1 and ends on March 22. Ages 5-7 will attend from 9:00 am to noon and ages 7-12 will attend from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Campers will explore LEGO building systems with guidance from Play-Well Teknologies and prepare young builders for the challenge of engineering 'FUN'damentals.

Johns Creek STEM Camp

Youth Technology Learning Center Johns Creek is offering a Spring Break STEM Camp with five different tracks for kids ages 3 and up. The cost for camp is $175 for all five days from 9:00 am to noon with the option to add extended care hours. Various tracks include LEGOs and K’Nex, Robotics, Video Game Creation, Digital Movie Making and Kids Computer Science Coding. The camp will be held in two locations: Johns Creek Christian Preschool and Chandler Academy in Alpharetta.

Imagine That! And Future Tech STEM Camps

Imagine That! And Future Tech in Peachtree Corners is hosting two STEM camps on Monday, April 1- Friday April 5. Minecraft and Architectural Design Camp will allow students to use Lego Architecture Studio along with specifically designed graph paper to draw and design their own creations and expand their ideas and designs on a larger Minecraft scale. The camp is for ages 8-12 and the cost is $285 with options to add extended care.

Technoscience Fun Camp will combine mystery science with Lego Education’s WeDo Robots, Simple Machines and Programming with Scratch and will improve your child’s problem solving skills while encouraging teamwork and having fun. This camp is for ages 5-7 and costs $265 with options to add extended care.

If you’ve been wanting to try out some of Alpharetta’s newest restaurants but don’t want to shell out an arm and a leg, Alpharetta Restaurant Week offers a great opportunity to dine out at a fixed price. This year, Alpharetta Restaurant Week takes place on February 21 through March 2 and features over 20 participating restaurants. Each meal ranges from $20 to $40 per person for three-course dinners and $15 to $30 per person for three-course lunches.

A full list of participating restaurants is below and include four that are within walking distance to our new downtown Alpharetta office located at 33 South Main Street within Liberty Hall. Check out Citizen Soul, Coalition Food and Beverage, Made Kitchen and Cocktails, Pure Taqueria and Salt Factory while you’re in our neighborhood! Don’t miss this great opportunity to dine out and support our local businesses.

Below is a full list of participating Alpharetta Restaurant Week establishments. Check out Awesome Alpharetta's website for a full list of menu offerings.

Alpine Bakery & Trattoria

12315 Crabapple Rd.

770-410-9883

Atlantic Seafood Company

2345 Mansell Rd.

770-640-0488

Branch and Barrel

4100 Avalon Blvd.

678-436-5655

Cabernet Steakhouse

5575 Windward Pkwy.

770-777-5955

Citizen Soul*

60 South Main Street

678-317-3232

Coalition Food and Beverage*

50 Canton St. Ste 108

470-839-6725

Colletta

900 3rd St.

678-722-8335

Cru Food & Wine Bar

300 Avalon Blvd.

678-248-5181

District III

7140 Avalon Blvd.

404-977-1779

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill

2665 Old Milton Pkwy.

678-225-8611

Hudson Grille

7955 North Point Pkwy.

770-777-4127

La Casa Italian Grill

37 Old Roswell St.

770-609-6311

MADE Kitchen & Cocktails*

45 Roswell St.

770-452-6233

Oak Steakhouse Atlanta

950 Third St.

678-722-8333

Pure Taqueria*

103 Roswell St.

678-240-0023

Ray’s at Killer Creek

1700 Mansell Rd.

770-649-0064

Salt Factory Pub*

102 South Main St.

770-752-1888

Secreto Kitchen & Bar

6195 Windward Pkwy.

770-752-0922

Village Tavern

11555 Rainwater Dr.

(770) 777-6490

Vinny’s on Windward

5355 Windward Pkwy.

770-772-4644

*Within walking distance of our Downtown Alpharetta office in Liberty Hall at 33 South Main Street

Have you ever wanted to create a DIY wood project without having to buy all your own supplies and figuring it all out by yourself? Board and Brush Johns Creek offers the perfect opportunity to create your own DIY wood project and is celebrating their grand re-opening on February 23, 2019. 

The Johns Creek store will offer the opportunity to “build on-trend, farmhouse-classic, inspirational pieces of décor for your home, office or cottage” and each Board and Brush workshop offers a hands-on wood making experience that teaches you the techniques needed to create custom pieces that look professionally made. Each workshop also provides all the supplies you need for a project including high quality wood, glass, chalkboard, canvas pillows, slate and terra cotta pots depending on the type of workshop you choose to partake in.

Classes start at $65 a person and include all supplies and a teacher to help you along the way. Each class is also BYOB for beer and wine unless you register for a Wine Down Wednesday class, where Board and Brush will include a complimentary glass of wine with your project. So whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, a relaxing evening to unwind or an opportunity to learn a new skill, Board and Brush Johns Creek has an opportunity for you.

Board and Brush’s grand re-opening will be held this Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm and the first 50 people will receive a free gift bag and a $10 off coupon for their next workshop. Snacks and treats will be served and you’ll have the chance to walk the studio to preview the projects available to choose from for upcoming workshops. No registration is necessary.


If you can’t make the grand re-opening check out one of their many upcoming classes here, which range from “Pick Your Own Project”, “Make and Take”, “Fun Friday” and “Wine Down Wednesday”. Board and Brush Johns Creek is located at 11705 Jones Bridge Road Suite B101 across from the Ocee Library.

According to Niche, an online site that touts itself as the “the best place to research US colleges, schools, neighborhoods and companies”, 9 out of the top 10 public high schools and 8 out of the top 10 private high schools in the state of Georgia are located within Metro Atlanta.

Niche analyzed academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, along with test scores, college data and ratings collected from millions of its users. The Gwinnett School of Mathematics located in Lawrenceville came in at the number one spot for the second year in a row on the list of top ten public schools. Recently moving from a charter school to a lottery based acceptance, eligible participants at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics must live within Gwinnett County Public Schools’ attendance zone, enrolled in a recognized 8th grade curriculum and complete all requirements to ninth grade status by the spring semester and be currently enrolled in and successfully complete a full unit of Carnegie eligible Algebra or higher.

Northview High School in Johns Creek closed in very closely at second place on the list and according to the AJC, “received a grade of A+ in academics, college prep and health and safety and an A in teachers, administration and diversity.

The spot for the number one private school in the state of Georgia went to The Westminister Schools in Atlanta, which boasts “experiences that extend beyond the classroom, into our city, throughout our country and across the globe.” It sits on a more than 180-acre campus in town Atlanta and offers a need-blind admissions process and financial aid funding at the 99% level for students. Tuition for pre-first through Fifth grade is $26,370 per year and sixth through twelfth grade is $30,330 per year.

Pace Academy grabbed the second place spot on the list and the intown Atlanta school offers an opportunity to “develop meaningful relationships with one another and with their teachers” and a place to “come together within a safe, supportive environment to form the “Pace family.” Lower School tuition is $25,800 per year and Middle and Upper School tuition is $29,715 per year. Pace Academy administers more than $2 million annually in need-based financial aid. 

We have included the full list of school rankings from Niche below. 

Georgia’s Top 10 Public Schools

1. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology in Lawrenceville


2. Northview High School in Johns Creek


3. Walton High School in Marietta


4. Columbus High School in Columbus


5. Alpharetta High School in Alpharetta


6. North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee


7. Lambert High School in Forsyth County


8. South Forsyth High School in Cumming


9. Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek


10. Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek


Georgia’s Top 10 Private Schools

1. The Westminster Schools in Atlanta


2. Pace Academy in Buckhead


3. The Paideia School in Druid Hills


4. The Lovett School in Atlanta


5. Woodward Academy in College Park and Johns Creek


6. Atlanta International School in Atlanta


7. Holy Innocents' Episcopal School in Sandy Springs


8. The Savannah Country Day School in Savannah


9. Athens Academy in Athens


10. Marist School in Dunwoody