Monday updates

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This week's Buzz:

-D Morgan's closes with style; Rush Home also leaving Main Street.

-Booth Western Art Museum adds another 40,000 square feet.

-Web-savvy Gordon County government goes Tweet.

-All-Star Squad: Roy Clark, Pure Prairie League, Motown coming

-Peaks & Valleys: In praise of John Smoltz.

Latest forecast:

-Monday: 50% rain chance, high of 93, low of 72.

-Tuesday:  92 with a 40% rain chance. PM: Low of 71, 30% rain chance.

-Your extended forecast> Weather / Local radar > Radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable

-COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF 2009: Norman Arey breaks down the college football season in a 20-part series starting today.

Rome Braves' updates:

-Braves were off Sunday.

-Up next: In Hagerstown starting Monday.

-Latest Braves' photos by Mills Fitzner> Gallery

Three-Dot Buzz:

D Morgan's, even in closing, does it with style: A walk down Cartersville's Main Street on Saturday was a little distressing. First was the "obituary" in the front window outside D Morgan's. But what was written eased the pain a bit. The note to the restaurant's loyal customers read:

"We are closed to pursue a new opportunity and hope to reopen D Morgan's with a new concept in the near future. We want to thank each and every one of you who have supported D Morgan's over the last five years. It has been a truly awesome experience. . . .

"We truly value the relationships we have established in our community and look forward to bringing back something special in the near future..."

Just what that "something special" might be remains a mystery. We're still hearing very mixed reports on the proposed "Grace Bistro" concept at the Rome City Market location should it ever open.

Rush Home also on the way out: Just down the street from D Morgan's, you'll find the final days of Rush Home, an upscale furniture and home design shop. Discounts were as high as 50 percent this weekend and a regular stream of shoppers dropped by checking the remaining inventory.

And some good news from downtown Cartersville: Seeing two main players exit back-to-back is tough on any community. But adding some balance and lots of home for the future is one of Cartersville's economic engines, the Booth Western Art Museum. In October, the Booth will open a 40,000-square-foot addition (right) -- that's on top of the 120,000 square feet already under roof. The Booth's new wing will be home to more contemporary Western art, an expanded Civil War gallery, a two-story sculpture court and more than 100 Native American artifacts, according to a Booth media release. The museum also celebrates six years with a day full of events Aug. 22.

West side story -- Cartersville's thinkin' Arby's: The new CVS rising on the site of the former bowling alley and skating rink will soon be joined by an Arby's. Motorists on Ga. 113 have been curious about the project adjoining the booming pharmacy chain. As for Arby's (and partner Wendy's): You can check the second-quarter financial report by clicking Quarter

All-Star line-up at Cedartown Performing Arts Center this season: This is one of those circle-the-date-on-the-calendar seasons at Cedartown Performing Arts Center.  Roy Clark opens the season Sept. 4 and the cliched hits just keep on coming: Crystal Gayle, Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits), Firefall, Poco, Pure Prairie League, Motown Forever--and the list really does go on. We especially recommend Oct. 10, "A Day of Rock" as they're billing it: Firefall, Poco and the league all in one show. Click Cedartown Shows

The latest from Gordon County -- via Twitter: Northwest Georgia's growing Twitter followers have a new source to follow: Gordon County government. The county hooked into the Twitter network over the weekend with this first Tweet: "Public Notice: Regarding 2009 Property Tax Assessment Notices and Property Tax Bills -http://tinyurl.com/m7bsnq." Twitter is becoming a very quick, inexpensive and effective way to get your message out. Gordon County, in turn, has been among the more Web-savvy local governments when it comes to looking for new ways to talk with the community. Another good show by them.

 

The 2009 Where Kids Eat Free Guide (or at least at a discount)

By Natalie Simms

natsimms76@gmail.com

Now that the kids are going back to school, all those busy afterschool activities will be starting up. As most parents stay on the road shuttling children from one activity to the next, many don't have time to prepare a home-cooked meal.

Dining out is a staple for many families but in this tough economy, families are cutting back and looking for ways to eat cheap.

Many local eateries offer weeknight and weekend deals where families can eat and not "break the bank". Kids can eat free almost every night of the week somewhere in town. Plus there are several new restaurants offering discounts where the entire family can eat on a budget.

We also have news of two local businesses teaming up to offer budget-friendly family nights.

Backyard BBQ and Kangaroo Jake's in the Armuchee Village Shopping Center is offering a family deal on Tuesdays from 3:30-8 p.m. beginning Aug.18. The deal includes complete dinner for the family at Backyard BBQ, then entry into Kangaroo Jake's for the kids. Cost for family of three (two adults, one child) is $25; family of four (two adults, two children) is $30; and family of 5 (two adults, three children) is $35.

We've published this guide before but we've updated it with lots of new deals at more than 20 local restaurants. So here's your new guide to eating cheap with the kids!

Monday
Moe's Southwest Grill, 110 Shorter Ave. Kids eat free on Mondays from 5-9 p.m. Deal is one child's menu item free with purchase of adult entrée and drink.

Bella Roma, 3403 Martha Berry Highway. Kids 12 and under can eat free on Mondays after 5 p.m. Kids meal is free with purchase of adult meal. Limit of 2 children per family.

Deano's Pizza, 1800 Dean Ave. Family night with 20% off the entire menu for the entire family.

Tuesday
Las Palmas, 246 Shorter Ave. All day on Tuesday, kids 12 and under can eat free. One free kids meal with purchase of adult meal.

Golden China Chinese Restaurant, 1505 Shorter Ave. One free kids meal with one adult meal. Limit one free meal per family.

WOW Café & Wingery, 2817 Martha Berry Highway. $1.99 Kids Meal.

Wednesday
Provino's Italian Restaurant, 288 Shorter Ave. Kids 12 and under can eat free. One kids meal with purchase of each adult meal. Don't forget that Provino's offers a free meal on your birthday- for both kids and adults. You will have to show proof of your birthday.

Gondolier Pizza Italian Restaurant, 152 Shorter Ave. All day on Wednesday. One free kids meal with purchase of one adult meal.

Thursday
Fuddruckers, 595 Riverside Parkway. Kids 12 and under can eat free from 5-8 p.m. One kids meal per one adult meal.

333 on Broad: Kids eat free (one per adult entree)

>Do you know of more family friendly deals? Let us know. Click E-mail

 

PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to John Smoltz: His comeback attempted with the Boston Red Sox lasted barely a few weeks with a 2-5 record and an earned run average of 8.33. But what counts even more is that he tried to go another year, another season on a banged up wing against pretty grim odds. There's a chance he can move down in the organization or catch on with another team, perhaps in a bullpen spot. Or it might be time to hang 'em up. If so, then we say thanks, Smoltzie, for the wonderful memories and what's ahead, whether in the broadcast booth or the golf course.

Valley to Father Time: With Smoltz designated for assignment, Greg Maddux retired and Tom Glavine taking the rest of the season to examine his own options, we find this to be a troubling season in Major League Baseball. It is the first since the Atlanta Braves' heyday without the Big Three on some major league mound.  We haven't felt this sad since Skip Carey's passing a year ago this month (and that's still hard to believe as we still think we hear a crack or two from him on the radio).

Valley to state 'decision makers' considering scuttling the Sales Tax Holiday: Many of us saved seven cents on the dollar buying back to school supplies the other week. Now comes word that some state officials are concerned about the annual loss of tax revenue. The bottom line: Lawmakers might not be so anxious to renew the tax holiday next year. That is a bad idea and we'll give you two good reasons why: Alabama and Tennessee. Both adjoining states had their tax free holidays this past weekend. Here's hoping the state leaves well enough alone.