- The Smyrna Vinings Steward
- Posts
- A Slice of Smyrna-Vinings: Weekly Wonders from Our Corner of Georgia
A Slice of Smyrna-Vinings: Weekly Wonders from Our Corner of Georgia
This week, discover the flavors, gardens, and melodies that make our city sing.
Ravi Patel
April 22, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
Dear Stewards
This week, we’re bringing you the flavors, sounds, and stories that make Smyrna & Vinings shine.
Whether you’re strolling, sipping, jogging, or jamming—there’s no shortage of things to savor. The city is calling.
— Your Voice for Local Prosperity
In Today's Edition
🎨 Smyrna Arts Council: Sparking Creativity Across the City
🍕 Ruby's Pizza: The Science Behind the Perfect Crust
🌸 Backyard Garden Tour: 5 Private Gardens Open for One Day Only
🚲 Bike Donation Drive: Help Smyrna Kids Ride
🎷 Jazz Under the Stars: Spring Nights with Smyrna Arts
🍪 Cookie & Cake Craze: Smyrna’s Sweetest Community Picks
🍺 Smyrna Beer Scene: How New Tariffs Are Changing Local Taps
🌼 Jonquil Festival: Smyrna’s Biggest Spring Celebration
🎟️ Win 2 Braves Tickets & A Limited Edition Racecar
This is more than a giveaway.
It’s a memory waiting to happen.
CobbTalk is giving one lucky member 2 free tickets to the Braves vs. Reds game on May 6 at 7:15 PM.
And here’s the kicker:
First 15,000 fans get a limited-edition Braves Racecar Collectible 🏁
Hard to find. Easy to brag about.
"Always been a Braves fan since I was a kid. Would love to take my son to his first game. We’ve been talking about it for a while, and this would be a great one."
📅 Enter by: April 29, 11:59 PM
📣 Winner Announced: April 30
What’s CobbTalk? Think of it like Reddit meets your neighborhood Facebook group—except it actually works, and everyone’s local.
💬Join the conversation on CobbTalk
🪴 Difference Makers
Smyrna’s Creative Spark Starts Here
Smyrna’s got more color than you think—and that’s no accident.
You’ve probably felt it:
A mural that made you smile, a music night under the stars, a chalk dragon outside the library.
That quiet magic?
It’s the work of the Smyrna Arts Council (SAC)—and they’re not just supporting art.
🖌️ They’re shaping the soul of Smyrna, one creative spark at a time.
"The voice of the artist is often unheard. SAC listens to the artists in their community and affords them the opportunity to speak to a larger audience."
You’ve probably experienced their presence without even knowing it—walking past a painted rock tucked into a planter, pausing at a pop-up gallery, or humming along at a music night under the stars.
Here’s how they do it:
🖼️ Real platforms for local artists — from public exhibits to park installations
🤝 Collaboration with schools, businesses, and the city — to make art more accessible
🌟 Surprise moments of beauty — in places you didn’t expect
🎭 Community-first programs — built for residents of all ages
And now, they want you in the picture.
Whether you're an artist, a teacher, a parent, or just someone who believes in more color, connection, and creativity—your voice belongs here.
The one thing the SAC wishes everybody knew about them? They answered below 👇
"The Smyrna Arts Council is dedicated to creating and sustaining a thriving arts scene for Smyrna by providing leadership in advocating, initiating, and integrating arts in our community."
Here’s how to be part of it:
🎟️ Attend events and exhibits
🫶 Volunteer your time or talent
💬 Share art happenings for them to amplify
💸 Donate to fuel future programming
🔗 See upcoming events and opportunities
📲 Follow on IG: @smyrnaartsacouncil
They don’t just make dough—they culture it.
Ruby’s sourdough starter is naturally fermented over time, unlocking a crust that’s tangy, crispy, and shockingly digestible.
It’s pizza you actually feel good eating. You’ll taste it on the first bite. You’ll remember it on the second.
Source: @rubyspizaatl on Instagram
We met Ari (pictured above) while he was pulling pies from the oven—friendly, focused, and proud of the product. The kind of person who makes you trust the food before you even take a bite.
“Nice addition to the Smyrna area. Really great indoor/outdoor atmosphere with areas for kids and dogs to hang out. I’ve been twice now—last time they had live music outside, which was fun.”
It’s pizza with a PhD, and it still pairs perfectly with a cold beer. You’ll get the science and the soul in every bite.
Why this crust hits different:
🧪 Complex, savory layers from sourdough science
💥 That golden, chewy-crisp bite
🌾 Gentler on your gut (thanks, fermentation)
🥗 More nutrients, fewer blockers
🧊 Stays fresher, longer—naturally
🎯 Try the “Jonquil Special” – a nod to Smyrna itself.
Crushed tomato sauce, mozzarella, Ezzo sausage, sweet peppers, roasted onion
Take a seat, meet Ari, and taste the crust everyone’s talking about—it's pizza like you’ve never had before.
📍 Ruby’s Pizza & Bar | 4580 S Cobb Dr SE Suite 100, Smyrna, GA 30080
📝 Cashless Only
🌐 Explore Menu: Visit their Website
Dine-in, delivery, and good vibes daily. Spread the word by leaving a review!
🥾 Backyard Adventures
One Afternoon. Five Gardens. Endless Backyard Inspiration.
You don’t need a landscaper or a five-figure budget to create beauty right outside your door. Sometimes, all it takes is a walk through someone else’s garden to spark your imagination.
This May, join us for an intimate self-guided tour of five private Smyrna gardens—lush, local spaces full of personality, creativity, and blooming inspiration.
Whether you’re a lifelong gardener or just love a peaceful walk among flowers, you’ll leave with fresh ideas (and maybe a few new plants, too).
🕐 Saturday, May 3 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Reed House & Five Smyrna Gardens
🎟️ Tickets | $20 in advance, $25 day-of | Free for ages 12 and under
☕ Includes: Tea Room access for delicious refreshments
🌱 Plant Sale: Open to the public at the Reed House
💚 Want to Volunteer?
Help the event bloom and enjoy garden access during your off-shift. No green thumb required!
👉 Volunteer Sign-Up
🧬 Family Favorites
Give a Wheel, Gift a Smile: Help Smyrna Kids Ride!
Got a bike your kids outgrew? This Saturday, turn it into pure joy for a Smyrna child!
Be a steward of fun! Donate your gently used bikes to FB4K (Free Bikes 4 Kidz) this Saturday. It's a simple way to empower local kids with mobility and create smiles.
👧 Spark Joy: Imagine a child's first ride, thanks to you!
🚴 Healthy & Happy: Bikes mean outdoor fun and exercise.
🌟 Community Impact: You're directly helping Smyrna kids.
Invest in Kids - 🚲 Donate Your Bike!
⏰ Saturday, May 3rd | 10 AM - 12 PM
📍 Campbell High School Performing Arts Center Parking Lot | 1001 Fleming St., SE, Smyrna
Be a Smyrna Steward – Share this opportunity with your neighbors.
🎷 Jazz Concert Under the Stars
Looking for a night that hits all the right notes? Grab a blanket and someone you love—this isn’t just a concert, it’s a vibe.
Join the Smyrna Arts Council for Jazz Under the Stars, a relaxing and soulful evening on the lawn of the historic Old Smyrna Firehouse.
Picture it: twilight skies and jazz melodies rolling through the spring air. Your ticket includes light bites and beverages, and there’s plenty of 🚗 free parking on-site.
Proceeds support the Arts Council’s mission to enrich Smyrna’s arts scene!
🕐 Saturday, May 3 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Lawn Opens 6:30PM)
📍 Old Smyrna Firehouse Lawn | 2889 Alexander St SE, Smyrna, GA 30080
🎟️ Tickets Required ($30) | Includes beverages & light bites
🧺 Bring a blanket or towel for seating
🗓 Add to Your Google Calendar - click here
🎫 Reserve Your Spot
Craving something sweet? This week, a simple question on r/Smyrna stirred up a swirl of sweet opinions.
Here are the must-try places, as recommended by our community of Smyrna residents:
Bernhard's German Bakery 🇩🇪
Fresh, rich German cakes and pastries that hit the spot every time.McEntyre's Bakery 🧁
Chewy cookies and decadent cakes made from scratch.Douceur de France 🇫🇷
A charming French bakery with delicate pastries, tarts, and sweets that feel like Paris just outside Smyrna.Muss & Turner's Evil Cookie 🍪
A giant, irresistible cookie that’s crispy on the outside, gooey inside. The perfect indulgence!Nothing Bundt Cakes 🎂
Delicious, decadent Bundt cakes delivered straight to your door!
✨ Tell them the Steward sent you!
Local businesses love hearing where their customers come from—it helps us all stay connected and keep Smyrna sweet. 💛
Craving something frozen? Next week, we’re diving into the best ice cream, gelato, and frozen treats around Smyrna! 🍦 Stay tuned and make sure you don’t miss out!
🪙 The Rundown
Price Hikes & Pour Decisions: Smyrna’s Beer Market Faces New Pressures
New tariffs on imported alcohol could raise prices in the next 30–60 days.
Smyrna’s United Distributors (one of the biggest employers in the city) reports a sharp drop in Mexican beer sales—Modelo and Corona included—as immigration crackdowns ripple through Hispanic communities.
“Hopefully, we do not have to change any prices. We always try to keep everything reasonable.”
First Watch: Temporarily Closed
First Watch temporarily closed for renovations 🛠️
Expected reopening around May 1st 📅
No specific date set, but locals anticipate it soon ⏳
Look forward to a refreshed brunch spot! 🍳🥓
🎤 Speak Up, Smyrna
Spring Vibes & Community Impact: Smyrna's Jonquil Festival
Join us outside for Smyrna’s signature spring event.
📍 Village Green | 🕘 Apr 26: 10 AM – 6 PM | Apr 28: 12 PM – 5 PM
🎪 175+ booths | 🎨 Handmade art | 🍿 Festival food | 🏰 Kids’ zone | 🎵 Live Music | 🎠 Rides
🌟 Pro Tip: Bring a reusable bag and sunscreen!
Don’t forget to stop by and meet the Smyrna planning team to learn more about how you can help shape Downtown Smyrna.
Community Visioning Meeting #1
🕠 Monday, April 28 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Smyrna Community Center
Share your ideas and help guide the future of Downtown Smyrna. This is your chance to make an impact!
Your Move, Smyrna-Vinings Residents!
🌻 Good things grow when neighbors share. Forward this to a friend.
🧭 Support our local businesses! Visit our directories for Smyrna & Vinings
📣 Got a local gem or listing? Send it our way
💬 Chat with your neighbors: CobbTalk Forum
📜 Quote of the Week
“Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care. It is not about ownership, but about faithfulness in the use of what has been given.” — Anonymous
📬 Stay in the loop: Sign up for Smyrna-Vinings news delivered right to your inbox every Tuesday @ 8 AM
Thanks for reading, and for being a good steward of your community. We'll see you next week!
— The Stewardship Group
🧹 P.S. Stewardship Challenge of the Week.
Pick up 3 pieces of litter in your neighborhood or park this week. A cleaner community starts with you—and hey, you might even burn a few calories in the process!