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Hot Flash Meets Cold Dessert
Published about 1 month ago • 14 min read
Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek & Roswell Events: Oct 30 – Nov 05
Some weekends feel like a fever dream—this one just happens to come with better lighting and dessert samples. Between 80s anthems at Roaring Social, a llama-led pub crawl, and comedy that literally goes to hell and back, Alpharetta’s leaning hard into chaos with charm.
Balance it out with a craft market sugar rush or a slow sway at Latin Nights, and you’ve got the city’s signature mix: a little wild, a little sweet, and totally impossible to skip.
Now cue the lights and turn up the volume—🎤 On the Record starts here.
Naray Publisher, A Side Of Town
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30 Days to Ready: Thanksgiving Edition
What to do everyday for the next 30 days to create space in your home for peace and joy.
THURSDAY Oct 30 Alpha Loop “Sip & Stroll” 📍 Alpha Loop Trail, Alpharetta 🕜 Thu, Oct 30 @ 6 PM What: Evening walk featuring local sips, stories, and new favorite shortcuts. Locals know—this is the real inside loop. Hocus Pocus Pop‑Up 📍Mercantile Social 🕓 5pm-11pm What: A themed, immersive bar experience inspired by Hocus Pocus—seasonal flair meets community fun. FRIDAY Oct 31 Halloween @ Roaring Social 📍 Downtown Alpharetta Speakeasy 🕜 Fri, Oct 31 @ 8 PM – 12 AM 🕺 What: Swing-era cocktails, costumes, and big band beats. It’s giving Gatsby after dark. Scarecrow Harvest 📍 Downtown Alpharetta City Center 🕒 Fri Oct 24 | All day 💵 Free What: Scarecrow Harvest takes over downtown — hundreds of handmade scarecrows, a little civic pride, and peak “fall in the South” energy. Stroll Main St with a pumpkin latte and enjoy all month
SATURDAY, Nov 1
Big Screen by The Green 📍 CHIRINGA, 34 S Main St 🕒 Sat Nov 1 • 10 AM – 7 PM (Recurring Saturdays) 💲 Free What: College Football game day takes over Downtown Alpharetta with cold drinks, lawn chairs, and live sports streaming under open skies.
Fermented Saturday Wine Tasting 📍 Fermented, 50 Canton St #106 🕒 Sat Nov 1 • 3 – 7 PM (Recurring) 💲 Tasting fee What: Sample 5 wines from family vineyards and compare notes with fellow oenophiles—it’s basically research.
Día de la Llama Pub Crawl 📍 Downtown Alpharetta 🕒 Sat Nov 1 • 5 – 9 PM | 21+ 💲 Ticketed crawl What: The inaugural Llama Pub Crawl—yes, with actual llamas. Drink, stroll, and snap the most Alpharetta Halloween encore ever. SUNDAY, Nov 2 Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon & 5K 📍 Avalon, 400 Avalon Blvd 🕒 Sun Nov 2 • 7 AM – 12:30 PM 💲 Registration fee What: Lace up for one of the city’s signature races, then cool down with a victory latte at Avalon. Elite Show Jumping 📍 Wills Park Equestrian Center, 11915 Wills Rd 🕒 Sun Nov 2 • 8 AM – 5 PM (Recurring) 💲 Spectator entry fee What: Riders and horses take flight at Alpharetta’s top equestrian event—equal parts grace, grit, and gravity-defying photo ops. GameDay at Avalon Every Sunday
ON-GOING (Catch them while you can!) Off the Beds and Onto The Walls Exhibit The Chattahoochee Stars Quilt Guild invites the community to come check out the many ways the art of quilting enhance our lives. Displayed Oct 1 - Nov 15 📍Alpharetta Arts Center, 238 Canton St 💲free
*Some items throughout this newsletter may be affiliate links which means the publisher may get a small commission at no additional cost to you.*
This Week’s Poll: Coziest reading nook in Alpharetta? As the chill sets in and daylight clocks out early, we’re on a mission to find Alpharetta’s coziest reading nook. Is it tucked in a café corner, wrapped in sunlight by your bay window, or hidden somewhere between caffeine and quiet at Valor or Nest?
Tell us where you curl up with a book — we’ll share the top spots next week so everyone can borrow a little inspiration (and maybe a latte idea or two). ☕📖
Editor’s Picks — for your own stay-home chapter:
🛋️ Knit Throw Blanket The kind of blanket that feels like a hug and looks like you have your life together. Bonus points if it doubles as a nap trap.
💡 LED Reading Lamp Good lighting = longer chapters. This flexible lamp keeps your page bright and your eyes happy, even when “just one more page” turns into 2 AM.
☕ Ceramic Mug A sturdy mug with just the right heft — because half the joy of reading is having something warm (and refillable) within reach.
📚👜 Wildcard Hit: “So Many Books” Tote Bag Because self-control is overrated. Perfect for bookstore binges, library runs, or smuggling in snacks for your next book club.
Next Week’s Teaser: Favorite place to buy fresh flowers?
Next Week’s Teaser: best place to buy fresh flowers 💐?
THURSDAY Oct 30 ⭐️ Downtown Alpharetta Craft Market & Dessert Crawl 📍 Town Green 🕜 Thu, Oct 30 @ 5 – 9 PM 🧁 What: Pop-up shops and sweet treats worth breaking your “no shopping on weeknights” rule. HAHAWEEN Night 📍Cafe Efendi 🕓 Oct 30, 7:30pm reserve tickets What: A Halloween comedy night with mezze, mischief, and Mediterranean flair. Costumes optional, laughter guaranteed. Nanutria (THIS SHOW IS COMPLETELY IN SPANISH WITH NO TRANSLATION) 📍Helium Comedy Club 🕓 Oct 30 7pm-11pm What: Venezuelan comedian Nanutria brings rapid-fire wit and Latin spice to the stage—an all-Spanish set that proves humor doesn’t need translation. Friday Oct 31 HALLOWEEN: Toni Redd & Leonard Julien 📍 The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy 🕒 Thu Oct 31 • 7:30 & 9:30 PM 💲 Ticketed show What: Spellbinding vocals meet velvet-smooth soul as Alpharetta’s classiest jazz room turns downright bewitching for Halloween night.
HOT FLASH – 80s Dance Tribute 📍 Roaring Social, 35 Milton Ave 🕒 Thu Oct 31 • 8 – 11:30 PM 💲 Ticketed event What: The ultimate 80s new-wave and alt-rock dance tribute—scientifically engineered to get you up and singing “Don’t You (Forget About Me).”
HALLOWEEN @ Roaring Social 📍 Roaring Social, 35 Milton Ave 🕒 Thu Oct 31 • 8 PM – 12 AM 💲 Free entry | Costume Contest What: Step into Roaring Social’s speakeasy for a costume party full of mystery, music, and maybe a midnight twist.
Avalon Nights Live – Outdoor Music Finale
📍 Avalon Plaza, Alpharetta 🕒 Fri, Oct 31 6 – 8 PM 💲 Free What: Avalon closes out its fall concert series with local bands, outdoor patio vibes, and just the right amount of swagger. Bring a blanket and your best “casual head-nod” energy.
Groovin’ on the Green – Halcyon Live Music
📍 Halcyon Green, Alpharetta 🕒 Fri, Oct 31 6 – 8 PM 💲 Free What: Halcyon’s plaza comes alive with live bands, string lights, and food from local restaurants. It’s the kind of small-town Friday night that feels big.
Saturday Nov 1 Legendary Cuban Drummer Calixto Oviedo 📍 The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy 🕒 Sat Nov 1 • 7:30 & 9:30 PM 💲 Ticketed show What: Grammy-nominated percussion legend brings Latin-jazz fire to the Velvet Note’s intimate stage. THE DECADES BAND 📍 Roaring Social, 35 Milton Ave 🕒 Sat Nov 1 • 8 – 11:30 PM 💲 Ticketed event What: Classic rock from the 60s → today, played loud, live, and best enjoyed with something on the rocks. Sunday Nov 2 ⭐️Bluesman Freddy B: Tribute to Johnnie Taylor & Lou Rawls 📍 The Velvet Note, 4075 Old Milton Pkwy 🕒 Sun Nov 2 • One Show Only @ 7 PM 💲 Ticketed show What: A soulful evening of smooth baritone and timeless grooves as Freddy B channels the golden age of R&B—equal parts velvet, swagger, and Sunday-night slow jam. In The Other Room: Dante’s Inferno 📍 Helium Comedy Club, 3070 Windward Plaza 🕒 Sun Nov 2 • 7:30 – 11 PM 💲 Ticketed event What: A comedy descent through the nine circles of suburban chaos—where PTA meetings, traffic on 400, and HOA fines all get their moment in the fire. Monday Nov 3 Twisted Trivia Monday – Cherry Street Brewhouse
📍 Halcyon, Alpharetta 🕒 Mon, Nov 3 7:30 PM 💲 Free to play What: Trivia night with a twist and a beer list that’s borderline poetic. Perfect for small groups who claim they’re “bad at trivia” but secretly competitive. Tuesday Nov 4 ⭐️Kids Eat Free Tuesday – Halcyon
📍 Halcyon Restaurants, Alpharetta 🕒 Tue, Nov 4 5 – 9 PM 💲 Kids eat free with adult entrée What: Dinner without the “are we really spending $12 on mac & cheese?” guilt. Halcyon’s lineup of restaurants offers family-friendly deals every Tuesday night.
Alpharetta Business Association Breakfast
📍 Smokejack BBQ, 29 S Main St, Alpharetta 🕒 Tue, Nov 4 7:30 – 8:30 AM 💲 Small registration fee What: Morning coffee, bacon, and business cards. The ABA breakfast is where local entrepreneurs swap ideas (and maybe insider lunch recs).
⭐️Enterprising Associates Referral Network Meetup
📍 Alpharetta/Roswell Hybrid (see Meetup) 🕒 Tue, Nov 4 8 AM 💲 Free or low cost What: A friendly referral exchange and networking meet-up for professionals looking to grow local connections — without the awkward pitch energy.
Latin Nights at Halcyon
📍 Halcyon Plaza, Alpharetta 🕒 Tue, Nov 4 7 PM 💲 Free What: Live salsa music and free dance lessons under the lights. Whether you’ve got rhythm or just good sneakers, the energy’s contagious./
If your reading nook is begging for a glow-up, skip the big-box lampshade and head to Urban Fresh Home. This local studio hand-crafts drum-shaped lampshades using fabrics from around the world—so your lighting + linen mix says “I curated this” rather than “I grabbed it from a clearance bin.”
Bonus: They run workshops where you can pick the fabric, bring a friend, sip something good—and walk away with a shade that’s yours. A perfect late-fall pastime between chapter breaks. URBAN FRESH HOME
🛍️ Best for: Gifts, room refreshes, and lighting with personality. 💡 Insider tip: Ask about their “make-your-own” class and whether you can bring your own fabric swatch for a totally custom finish.
📸 Guess the Photo
This is a photo of an object around town, tightly zoomed in, can you guess what it is? 👉 Do you know what it is?
Answer revealed next week!
⭐️Kids Eat Free Tuesday – Halcyon
📍 Halcyon Restaurants, Alpharetta 🕒 Tue, Nov 4 5 – 9 PM 💲 Kids eat free with adult entrée What: Dinner without the “are we really spending $12 on mac & cheese?” guilt. Halcyon’s lineup of restaurants offers family-friendly deals every Tuesday night.
North Point Mall FairyTale Village 📍 North Point Mall Atrium 🕜 Oct 23 – 31 @ 10 AM – 7 PM Daily 🧁 What: A candy-coated immersive fall experience. The kids love it, the Instagram grid loves it more.
⭐️ Scarecrow Harvest 📍 Downtown Alpharetta Green 🕜 Oct 23 – Nov 2 (All Day)
Family Fun Day at Cherry Street Brewhouse📍 Halcyon, Alpharetta 🕒 Sun, Nov 2 11 AM – 3 PM 💲 Regular menu pricing What: Sunday brunch meets family playdate. Think craft brews for parents, cornhole for kids, and plenty of patio time.
📍 3000 Heritage Walk STE 100, Alpharetta, GA 30004 What: Vice Steak Bar raises its own F1 American Wagyu and Grass-fed cattle, processed at our USDA facility in Ellijay, GA and served in Milton, GA. Lviv Croissants Sandwiches + Coffee 📍610 W Crossville Rd Suite 200, Roswell, GA 30075 Located in Stonebridge Square What: Ukrainian chain specializing in flaky croissants filled with savory options and sweets. Haochi Asian Street Food 📍11550 Webb Bridge Way ste B3, Alpharetta, GA 30005
What: Journey to the streets of Asia Vincent Bakery + Cafe 📍 Medlock Promenade: 10900 Medlock Bridge Rd, Johns Creek, GA 30097 What: They take pride in bringing only the most authentic Korean pastries with a modern twist.
City of Johns Creek Volunteer Program
📍 City of Johns Creek Programs 🕒 Anytime this week 💲 Free What: The city offers year-round opportunities to lend a hand at events and civic programs — because “giving back” feels better when it’s this close to home.
Roswell Inc “Connect” Business Mixer
📍 Roswell (venue varies) 🕒 Check schedule this week 💲 Usually free or low cost What: Local professionals, craft cocktails, and actual useful connections — Roswell Inc keeps networking casual, not corporate. Roswell's All-Inclusive Wine Festival 📍The Mill Kitchen and Bar 🕓 Sat Nov 8 What: 100+ world-class wines to taste, gourmet food from Chef Dollar, and live music ＄Tickets Naturally Artistic Exhibit – Chattahoochee Nature Center
📍 CNC, 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell 🕒 Through Nov 30 10 AM – 5 PM 💲 General admission What: Local artists turn the trails into a gallery with nature-inspired sculptures and installations. It’s part art show, part leaf-peeping.
Candle Bar Workshop – Roswell
📍 The Candle Bar, Roswell 🕒 Ongoing through Nov Various times 💲 Workshop fee varies What: Pour your own custom candle in a cozy studio setting. BYO playlist and a friend who also secretly loves fall scents.
Stephen King’s home in Bangor, Maine.Photo: Tom Herde/Boston Globe/Getty Images
Where the King of Horror Calls Home
Growing up I was an avid reader. I read everything I could get my hands on—usually two or three books at once. Back then, no one was studying the reading habits of middle-schoolers, but I was deep into the kind of stories that made you forget dinner was ready. All through junior high and high school (and into adulthood, if I’m being honest), my favorite author was Stephen King.
The reason I loved his books so much? They were long. Bag of Bones and Nightmares and Dreamscapes easily clocked in at 500–800 pages. He was writing sprawling, cinematic stories long before J.K. Rowling came along. If I checked out one of his novels from the library, I knew I’d be lost in that world for at least a week.
With all the eerie plots he’s penned, have you ever wondered what Stephen King’s actual house looks like? Spooky? Haunted? Maybe guarded by possessed typewriters? Not quite.
King’s famed red-brick Victorian in Bangor, Maine is exactly what you want the King of Horror to own—a gothic-style home wrapped in wrought-iron fencing shaped like bats and spiders. It’s dramatic, a little eccentric, and dripping with storybook energy. But here’s the twist: King and his wife Tabitha have turned the property into a writer’s retreat and nonprofit archive for other authors. The monsters, it turns out, all live on the page.
If King ever traded Maine for Main Street Alpharetta, you’d probably find him tucked into a historic Craftsman with a turreted reading nook, a moody study, and a porch perfect for plotting. The vibe? Think spooky, but make it Southern charm.
Can you solve this week’s scramble? Scramble:DYONSAW Hint: The school-cancelling joy of winter _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (number of letters) Answer revealed at the bottom see The Fadeout section! 👇
Look Up: The Fifth Wall Is Having a Moment
Remember when an accent wall felt bold? Well, grab your roller—because ceilings are stealing the spotlight. Designers are calling it the rise of the “fifth wall.” A painted, papered, or textured ceiling adds instant drama and makes a room feel finished-finished. Color-drenching rooms in rich color creates a cozy cocoon-like feeling. Perfect for hibernating this season. Wallpaper looks especially striking on a ceiling, like in a powder room. Such a splash of whimsy.
Skip the default white and try a soft tint, moody hue, or even a subtle pattern overhead. It’s especially striking in dining rooms, bedrooms, or cozy nooks where a little mood goes a long way.
✨ A-Side Tip: When ceilings are high, go rich and saturated; when they’re low, stay tonal or softly reflective. Either way, the best design moments happen when guests look up—and say wow.
👋Hey Neighbor, So You Moved to Alpharetta… Now What?
Welcome to the neighborhood! You’ve officially landed in a town where the street medians have better landscaping than most backyards and the garbage trucks run like clockwork (usually).
Skip the mystery—head straight to the City of Alpharetta website to set up your residential portal for everything from reporting potholes to checking your next recycling day. Then stick around here on A Side of Town for the good stuff—local events, civic updates, and insider finds that make Alpharetta feel like yours faster than you can say “where’s the best brunch?”
And don’t forget: North Fulton Community Charities are a low-key way to meet good people.
Volunteer with World Vision – Community Service Event
📍 Mount Pisgah Church, Johns Creek 🕒 Sat Nov 1, 7 PM 💲 Free What: Join neighbors for a hands-on volunteer night with World Vision and Loop Volunteers. It’s an easy way to do some good and meet a few kind souls along the way.
Job postings for the creative economy (by which I mean totally made up 😉) But A Side Of Town would love to post your real jobs, gig, service, or help wanted ads. 🦃 Pie Logistics Coordinator — Thanksgiving Prep Zone Must possess nerves of steel and refrigerator Tetris skills. Duties include transporting desserts without “sampling” them and explaining, repeatedly, that Cool Whip is not whipped cream.
📸 Holiday Card Photographer Wrangler — Wills Park Seeking brave souls to coax smiles from toddlers, Labradoodles, and reluctant husbands—all before the golden hour disappears. Payment: one hot chocolate and eternal gratitude.
🕯 Gift Wrap Strategist — Avalon Retail Row Precision folder wanted. Should be fluent in tape corners, ribbon curling, and pretending not to judge people who use gift bags.
🐾 Neighborhood Elf on the Move — Alpharetta Suburbs Job description: stealth overnight toy placement, creative mischief staging, and answering questions about why the elf looks tired. No benefits, but a lifetime supply of giggles.
Got a real-life gig, side hustle, or pop-up that needs an extra pair of hands? Let’s get it posted next week! Click 👉 here to submit your listing.
Got a real-life job you need seasonal help with? Let's get it posted next week? Click 👉 here to submit your posting
Image via Barnsley Resort
Barnsley Resort (Adairsville, GA) Tucked in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, Barnsley Resort offers a lush, secluded retreat that still keeps you within striking distance of Alpharetta. Relaxation and romance wrapped in countryside charm. Weekend idea: Friday evening arrival with a fireside drink. Saturday: couples massage at the spa, late-lunch outdoors, play golf, or a stroll or horseback ride through the grounds. Sunday: brunch, quiet checkout, and a scenic drive home. Pro tip: Book one of their “couples packages”—chocolate, wine, view included.
🔥 Roast: To whoever thought raking leaves into the street counts as “mulching.” The wind disagrees. So does everyone’s windshield.
💅 Boast: To the early decorators who’ve already swapped skeletons for string lights. Your seasonal hustle is unmatched, and your storage closet deserves its own applause.
🍾 Toast: To the local baristas powering us through the post-Halloween sugar crash. Your latte art and emotional support espresso shots are keeping Alpharetta upright this week.
Keep it kind + local. We may edit for clarity/length.
🧤Wanted: One Matching Glove Left behind its twin somewhere between Avalon and ambition. Will trade one slightly used mitten and eternal gratitude.
🪵 For Sale: Firewood, Kind Of Technically decorative birch logs, but they look flammable. Perfect for anyone whose fireplace is more aesthetic than functional.
🍷 Trade: One Bottle of “Host Gift” Wine Still unopened since last Thanksgiving. Tastes like oak, exhaustion, and your aunt’s unsolicited advice. Open to swapping for something with bubbles—or therapy. Do you have a real classified you would like to post? Click 👉 here to submit your item / opportunity.
Word Puzzle Answer: Snow Day
Last Week's Guess the Photo Answer: Welcome Bear
If you made it this far, you’ve officially survived peak pumpkin season — congrats. Next week, we pivot from hayrides to holiday lights, from “just one cider” to “what’s the Wi-Fi at grandma’s?”
Until then, find your rhythm (maybe at Latin Nights), your quiet (a cozy coffee shop), and your local joy — preferably within walking distance of something baked.
See you around town. Same side, same vibe.
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" If you live in Alpharetta, this is a MUST read. 🎯 🍔 🎭 🌳 🚲"!
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*NEW FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER* covering community happenings, events, new business openings, job postings, new restuarants you didn't know existed, contractors you can hire, weekend getaways, and more-- all delivered straight to your email. New editions Thursday at 7am. 💌 Subscribe for free! ⬇️
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