Today is the busiest day of the year if you're in the restaurant business. If you want to take Mom out today, but not sure where to go, we've composed a local Mother's Day Patch Picks! Giovanni's at 2495 East-West Connector is offering 50 percent off all meals for mothers today. Believe us, the calamari and eggplant lasagna are incredible! O'Charley's at 4131 Austell Road at  is a great place for those on a budget with their two entrees for $14.99 deal and their Sunday brunch offered until 3 p.m.  If you aren't quite sure what Mom wants to eat (and neither is she,) then just let her try a …

Today is Earth Day, which began on this day in 1970, the year after a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif. Forty-one years later, and one year after the infamous BP oil spill, people are still taking time out on this day to appreciate the natural environment around them and to help it remain for future generations to enjoy. Mableton Elementary held another Walk to School Day event this morning in celebration of Earth Day. Michelle Moday, Mableton Elementary’s Walk to School champion, scheduled the event on Earth Day to get families out of their cars and to help reduce air pollution.  …

It’s Spring Break! Maybe you didn’t have the funds or the time off from work to take a vacation with the little ones, but there’s plenty to do here in the South Cobb area or nearby for an incredible staycation. 1.     Six Flags over Georgia, usually open only on weekends until May 27, will be open all week long for Spring Break. 2.     The Mable House Arts Center will have its spring break art camp Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students will be required to bring their own lunches. The cost of the weeklong class is $90 for residents, $115 for nonresidents with an additional…

Wondering why #LuckyCharms is trending on Twitter? It's St. Patty's Day, the day for green beer, shamrocks and leprechauns. Here are the South Cobb places for St. Patty's Day fun: At Chili's you can (sham)rock out and watch local games while drinking green beer. They will also have their regular Happy Hour specials. At The Sports Grill, you can get your fill of all the Guinness and green beer that you can handle tonight. OK, it's not technically in South Cobb, but it is a good bet for fun on St. Patty's Day: McCray's Tavern. Also, not able to handle St. Patty's Day fun and get up for work the…

Every week, we bring you the Patch Picks of  everything from best restaurants to best places to get free wi-fi in South Cobb. This week, America celebrated Read Across America Day on Wednesday, which also would have been Dr. Seuss' birthday. In honor of that, we decided to bring you the top children's books, all of which can be found at the South Cobb Regional Library. Tracy Phillips is a librarian there and here are her top picks.

South Cobb is not quite known for its boutiques, but we do have a few that are worth noting and patronizing. Bobbie’s Place Upscale Boutique: Bobbie Minter owns this lovely boutique. The stylish fashions can be seen from Veterans Memorial Highway, its main entrance is on the downtown side, in front of the fountain. Mableton Bridal Boutique: It may be small, but they pack a mighty assortment of bridal gowns in there. They also sell bridesmaid dresses, mother-of-the-bride ensembles and prom gowns, along with accessories. For added convenience, an event/party planning facility is adjacent to the…

Pebblebrook Junior Falcons--This youth organization began in 1983, and nearly 15 years ago, Albert McCrae became the head of the organization, which has grown immensely in that time. McCrae, who is a leader within the South Cobb community and an alumnus of Pebblebrook High, has dedicated much of the last 14 years of his life to this organization, and he said 2011 will be the biggest year yet. The organization, which initially focused primarily on football, now has cheerleading, track & field, soccer and basketball. Because of McCrae and his relationships throughout the community, the …

Still not sure where to take your special someone for Valentine’s Day? You can always be very impressive and cook a meal yourself in your own home with candlelight and some decadent dessert. However, here are some other alternatives for celebrating Valentine’s Day: Giovanni’s.  Usually closed on Mondays, but will be open from 4  p.m. to 10 p.m. on Valentine’s Day. They have a Valentine’s special that is running the whole month of February: $39.95 for an appetizer, bread, two salads, two main courses, dessert to share and two glasses of wine. Giovanni’s was voted one of the best restaurants in…

Since I work from home or essentially anywhere in South Cobb, I have found the best free wi-fi spots in South Cobb. Now, they're not exactly free. You can't be a wi-fi-stealer! It's rude and uncouth, but you may have no shame. It's best to purchase a cup of coffee, a bagel or something to "pay" for your time, space and use of the wi-fi Internet. Best Free Wi-Fi Hotspots in South Cobb: Borders at East-West Connector: This is by far my favorite place because the baristas are friendly. You get great deals and sometimes free things by using your Borders Rewards card. It's usually warm and you …