Milk Street is loaded with useful kitchen tools, unusual pantry finds and gift ideas that feel more interesting than the usual holiday picks.

Current sale highlights include a hammered carbon-steel skillet for $69.95, a Pasta Pot for $99.95 and discounted Milk Street cookbooks.

The store is also featuring international sweets, sauces, oils and pantry ingredients, plus a $30 Store Pass with special pricing on more than 200 products and early access to sales and new arrivals.

Mount Berry — Bell Recital Hall, Berry College — October 27–December 4, 2026, at 7 p.m.

Seven upcoming evenings feature the Berry choirs (Oct. 27), faculty artists (Nov. 5), STELLARUM (Nov. 8), jazz ensemble (Nov. 12), community orchestra (Nov. 17), wind ensemble (Nov. 19) and the choirs’ holiday concert (Dec. 4).

All are open to the public; most are FREE, with admission details to be confirmed for each performance.

For the concert calendar and admission details click HERE.

Rome — Barron Stadium, Saturday, October 24, 2026: The Peach State Marching Festival & Competition brings regional high school marching bands to downtown Rome.

Performance times are pending; check the organizer’s schedule before attending.

Gate admission is $10 for ages 6 and older; ages 5 and younger are FREE.

Parking is limited at the stadium; the organizer recommends the 3rd Avenue Parking Deck at 131 West First Street.

For Tickets click HERE.

Chattanooga, October 23–25: Build a fall outing around bluegrass, local art and jazz.

IBMA’s ticketed concerts run Friday–Saturday, with a free Exhibit Hall from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. both days and free Pickin’ in the Park Saturday from 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Between the Bridges brings approximately 50 local artists to Coolidge Park Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, noon–5 p.m.

Sunday’s free Chattanooga Jazz Fest runs 11 a.m.–7 p.m. at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, followed by a Wanderlinger jam from 7:30–9:30 p.m.

FREE music options; tickets required for IBMA indoor festival concerts.

Ask six people where to get pizza in Rome, GA, and you may get six answers before anyone agrees on toppings. Schroeder’s New Deli, Gondola, Bella Roma, Andiamo, Mellow Mushroom and John Henry’s each bring a different reason to order a pie.

Andiamo focuses on 18-inch New York-style pizza; Mellow Mushroom encourages adventurous specialty toppings. Schroeder’s, Gondola and Bella Roma pair pizza with broader menus, while John Henry’s brings it into a grill setting.

This comparison combines online diner feedback, menu information and a few personal favorites, with attention to crust, cheese, toppings and what the rest of the table can order.

Review coverage varies, and the comments do not all come from verified Rome residents. Think of the guide as a starting point for your next pizza night: the best fit depends on your appetite, your companions and the style of pie you enjoy.

Click a linked restaurant name to open its Seven Hills Spotlight directory listing, with a map and directions for your next visit.

Italian restaurants in Rome, GA, offer several different ways to do dinner, from an evening built around Mediterranean dishes to a family meal of pasta, pizza and garlic rolls.

La Scala and Aventine suit diners looking beyond familiar red-sauce favorites. Provino’s and Olive Garden bring the recognizable Italian-American dinner, while Bella Roma and Gondola give a mixed group room to choose pizza, pasta or Mediterranean dishes.

Roma Mia and Pasquale’s round out the comparison with more choices north of downtown, including baked pasta, calzones and pizza.

The useful question is what kind of meal your table wants. These eight profiles compare menus, settings and locations so you can choose an occasion before choosing a restaurant. Leave room for the accompaniments—and check current menus before settling on a particular dish.

Click a linked restaurant name to open its Seven Hills Spotlight directory listing, with a map and directions for your next visit.

King Arthur Baking is offering up to 25% off On-Demand Baking Classes through October 28, a free Nordic Ware ornament with qualifying $99+ merchandise orders while supplies last, free appliance shipping, and an Ankarsrum accessory offer.

Purchases through the affiliate links help support Seven Hills Spotlight at no additional cost to readers.

Rome, GA — Rome High School Performing Arts Center, 1000 Veterans Memorial Highway: Chicago: Teen Edition’s one-act performances are October 21–22, 2026, at 7 p.m.

The full-length production follows November 20–21 at 7 p.m. and November 22 at 2 p.m.

Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly and a scheming courtroom cast bring Roaring Twenties ambition and theatrical mischief to the stage under director Alexis Tyson.

Tickets are $10 for the public and $5 for students and staff, available online and at the door.

The show includes sensitive themes; review the synopsis for younger audience members.

For Tickets click HERE.

Berry College’s fall concert calendar brings piano, choral music, jazz and instrumental ensembles to Bell Recital Hall, 2277 Martha Berry Highway in Mount Berry, from October 15 through December 4, 2026.

The eight performances in the announced lineup all begin at 7 p.m., starting Thursday, October 15, with pianist Junwen Liang.

All are open to the public, and most are free—a welcome combination for Rome neighbors looking for an evening of live music close to home.

After Liang’s recital, the calendar moves through the Berry choirs, faculty artists, visiting vocal ensemble STELLARUM, jazz, community orchestra and wind ensemble before reaching the holiday concert.

You can choose a favorite style or try something you do not usually hear, without turning the outing into an interstate expedition.

Put a date on the calendar, invite somebody along, and check the individual performance listing for admission and any schedule changes before heading to campus.

Abe Partridge performs Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. at The Screen Door Room at Cecil T’s Mercantile, 7 Broad Street in downtown Rome.

The event flyer advertises $20 tickets; check the purchase page for availability and any checkout fees.

The Mobile, Alabama, songwriter is also a visual artist, storyteller and documentary maker, giving this Saturday outing an appeal that reaches beyond a familiar name on a concert poster.

If your idea of a good night includes listening closely to a song and discovering the person behind it, this is a date to put on the calendar.

Make room for an early downtown dinner, then head to Broad Street for a live performance close to home.

Below, we look at Partridge’s music, his connection to Southern folk art and the practical details for planning your evening.

The Rome International Film Festival returns to downtown Rome, GA, November 5–8, 2026, opening Thursday with a 6:15 p.m. red carpet outside the Historic DeSoto Theatre and a 7:15 p.m. screening of The Accountant with special guest Ray McKinnon.

For four days, the next good story may be waiting inside a theater rather than on your television. Screenings and conversations also take place at Rome City Auditorium, SPAM Studios and Screen 417.

Danny McBride, this year’s Flannery O’Connor Award honoree, gives comedy fans an obvious entry point. Visiting filmmakers, independent features, documentaries and regional shorts offer plenty of other reasons to head downtown.

Friday expands the program, Saturday brings McBride appearances with event-specific admission terms, and Sunday closes with awards, films and a Dolly Parton tribute concert.

This preview highlights the weekend’s draws before you choose individual screenings. Check the official RIFF schedule for current venues, times and reservations.

Rome Little Theatre’s PLAYSPACE meets Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 6:30–9:30 p.m. at the RLT Building, 502 East First Street in Rome, GA, for a table read of John Bishop’s The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.

The session welcomes adults 18 and older to read characters’ parts, discuss the play and meet fellow theatre enthusiasts. Seasoned actors and newcomers can join the conversation.

A script and some company offer a friendly way into local theatre, with a comedy full of mystery and increasingly ridiculous complications waiting at the table.

Two October weekends give Rome readers a chance to explore Ellijay’s Georgia Apple Festival, with handmade crafts, demonstrations, music and food. Plan around the fairgrounds’ hours, $10 admission and pet policy, or consider the separate, free, pet-friendly Apple Arts event downtown.

The Andy Nevala Quartet will perform Thursday, October 15, at 7 p.m. at Rome City Auditorium.

The quartet replaces Doront’e Evans’ cabaret concert, which was postponed because of illness.

Nevala is director of jazz studies at Jacksonville State University and pianist with Rome’s Clock Tower Jazz Ensemble.

His 2025 album, El Rumbón (The Party), highlights his Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz approach.

Readers who saved the original date should note the new performers.

Excitement is rising in Rome, GA as the Rome International Film Festival gears up for its November return.

This year’s festival shines even brighter with acclaimed Georgia native Danny McBride joining as special guest.

He will be honored with the Flannery O'Connor Award, recognized for his darkly comedic portrayals of Southern life.

McBride’s appearance signals a milestone, drawing fresh energy to both local film enthusiasts and visitors.

He will also headline a masterclass at the Historic DeSoto Theatre, giving aspiring filmmakers an inside look at his creative process.

The festival features industry panels, red carpet events, and world cinema—surrounded by the charm of downtown Rome’s Broad Street.

Rising hotel bookings and bustling new local spots promise a vibrant, immersive celebration for all.

Rome’s youngest residents have a brand new space to explore — and adults might find it just as exciting.

The Children’s Museum of Rome opens Thursday, September 17 at Mount Berry Mall, following a ribbon cutting and community preview.

This hands-on museum encourages interactive learning, inviting children to dive right in rather than stand back.

Interactive experiences let kids role-play in a local bank, act as firefighters, care for animals, and splash at a water table shaped like Rome’s own Coosa River.

A Clocktower-inspired climbing structure offers a unique kid-sized view of the city.

The museum sits near the Mount Berry Mall food court, with tickets available online and limited walk-up admissions.

For families seeking educational and local fun, Rome’s fresh destination delivers a true community adventure.

The first weekend in October is shaping up to be one of those weekends when leaving town makes absolutely no sense. Weekends like this is why this newsletter exists.

From October 1 through 4, Rome will be loaded with festivals, theatre, music, history, art and enough activity downtown to keep most of us busy without ever getting in the car for a road trip.

Saturday’s Fiddlin’ Fest will bring live music, vendors, food and crowds to Broad Street, while the Georgia’s Rome Plein Air Showcase puts artists throughout downtown painting Rome as it happens.

And right in the middle of all that, the Armuchee Ruritan Car Show will take over the 300 and 400 blocks of Broad Street, filling downtown with classic cars, hot rods and enough polished chrome to require sunglasses.

Elsewhere around town, the Georgia Mushroom Festival runs October 2–3, while the FRLS271 Conference fills the Forum River Center.

Add Downtown History and Clocktower Tours, and you’ve already got a full weekend.

But apparently Rome wasn’t done.

The theatre lineup includes Boeing, Boeing at Berry College, Peter and the Starcatcher at the J.W. Tiscornia Studio Theatre and Broadway on Broad from Upstagers at the Rome City Auditorium.

Then there’s Rome Shakespeare Festival’s Poe Night at La Scala, just in case your weekend needs a little candlelight, mystery and Edgar Allan Poe.

And on Sunday, Rome Festival Brass closes things out at Garden Lakes Baptist Church.

So yes, Helen has Oktoberfest.

But this particular weekend, you may want to leave the lederhosen in the closet.

October 1–4, Rome is the destination.

If you own a restaurant or food truck, you need to order a few more groceries.

Helen is a little farther than we usually wander for Worth The Drive — about two and a half hours from Rome — but some fall events are simply too big to ignore.

The 56th annual Helen Oktoberfest is already underway and runs through November 1, with weekend celebrations through September and daily events beginning October 1. It is the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States, and year after year Helen lands among the country’s most recognized Oktoberfest destinations.

And if you’re going to drive that far, I’d...

I am a football fan.

More specifically, I am an SEC football fan. My version of the

Super Bowl is Georgia and Alabama meeting in a playoff game with everything on the line, everybody in the house yelling at the television and somebody wondering why the dog has gone into the other room.

So when professional indoor football came to Rome twenty years ago, I went.

And I remember the Rome Renegades bouncing people off the walls at The Forum.

That was not a figure of speech.

Arena football puts the action practically in your lap. The field is smaller, the game is faster and those padded walls along the sidelines are part boundary, part obstacle and occasionally part tackling dummy. Buy the right seat and you weren't merely watching professional football. You were close enough to wonder whether your nachos needed a helmet.

The Renegades were coached by David Humphreys, who happened to be my old Sunday School teacher and was already a familiar name to football fans throughout Northwest Georgia. Humphreys had coached the Rome Wolves and other area high school football programs before taking the reins of Rome's professional team.

And the Renegades were good.

Really good.

They reached the playoffs in their first Rome season and, in 2006, went all the way to the league championship game. Rome had a winning professional football team playing right in the middle of downtown.

Then, almost as quickly as they had arrived, they were gone.

The Rome Renegades had hit The Wall.

And this time I don't mean the padded one.

Owner Harry Pierce announced after the 2006 season that the franchise would cease operations. The problem wasn't what happened on the football field. The problem was what happened at the ticket window.

Pierce said The Forum's limited seating and parking made it difficult to generate enough revenue to make professional sports financially sustainable. He believed Rome needed a larger multipurpose arena, but with no new facility expected anytime soon, continuing to absorb the losses simply didn't make financial sense.

Think about that for a minute.

The Renegades didn't disappear because they couldn't win.

They disappeared after a championship-caliber season because winning football games and winning the business game turned out to be two very different things.

Now, twenty years later, somebody is walking back into the same building and taking another swing.

The Rome Red Cats were officially introduced September 8 and are scheduled to begin play at the Forum River Center in April 2027 as members of the American Arena League. The ownership group includes Kacee Smith, Richard Maslia and head coach and co-owner James Moreland. The team expects to play four to six home games, with tickets projected in the very fan-friendly $10 to $20 range.

Smith specifically remembers the Renegades. He says he was a fan.

So he knows Rome has seen this movie before.

The difference is that this time the new cat in town is red — although anybody who has ever owned a ginger cat knows they tend to arrive with a little confidence, a little attitude and absolutely no concern for what happened to the furniture before they got there.

The Red Cats are also entering a very different sports-business world than Harry Pierce faced in 2006.

Livestreaming can extend the audience far beyond the number of people who fit inside The Forum. Upgraded video boards create additional advertising inventory. Social media gives a small-market franchise direct access to thousands of potential fans. Sponsorship packages can now include digital exposure that barely existed when the Renegades were playing.

And perhaps expectations are different too.

The Renegades were trying to prove professional football belonged in Rome.

The Red Cats don't have to prove that.

The Renegades already did.

They put a winning team on the field, filled The Forum with noise and gave Rome two seasons of professional football that a lot of us still remember.

What they could not figure out was how to make the numbers work.

That is the question hanging over the Red Cats.

Not whether Romans will watch football.

We will.

Good grief, around here we'll watch two SEC teams play a meaningless September game and spend three days arguing about the offensive coordinator.

The question is whether today's combination of affordable tickets, sponsorships, streaming, digital advertising and a more modern entertainment model can overcome the same limitations that Harry Pierce identified twenty years ago.

Because the Rome Red Cats aren't really starting from scratch.

They're walking onto a field where another Rome team once came within one game of a championship.

And somewhere in the shadows of The Forum, you can almost hear those Renegades hitting that wall one more time.

The annual mushroom festival in Rome, GA, is quickly earning a reputation as a must-attend event for local outdoor enthusiasts.

This year’s festivities invite fans of wild food and nature to explore an expanded, action-packed schedule over two days.

Attendees enjoy immersive fungi foraging expeditions, hands-on workshops, and lively regional music in Rome’s scenic setting.

Expert guides lead participants through the woods, sharing tips for identifying unique edible and medicinal mushrooms that grow near the rivers and hills.

Workshops, art booths, and local food startups reflect Rome’s growing eco-conscious culture and commitment to sustainability.

Families, students, and tourists mingle as they debate rare finds, learn safe collecting practices, and celebrate the region’s agricultural roots.

Rome’s investment in new trails and conservation efforts is helping the festival flourish, knitting stronger community ties beneath the autumn canopy.

The DeSoto Theatre is reclaiming its spotlight in downtown Rome as major restoration work transforms the iconic landmark this year.

At a recent tour, community leaders and preservation supporters from across Georgia explored the ongoing theatre renovation, witnessing visible progress like new scaffolding and a restored proscenium arch.

Excitement filled the air as DeSoto Theatre Foundation leaders shared updates, highlighting a multiyear grant fueling the project’s ambitious scope.

Local artisans and contractors are hard at work reviving the venue’s ornate period features, lush velvets, and historic details.

Residents say the project reflects a surge of energy throughout Rome, as new businesses open near Broad Street.

The theatre’s revival is tied closely to downtown’s cultural and economic growth.

When completed, the DeSoto will host live shows, films, and community events, blending Rome’s past with its vibrant future.

Each fall, downtown Rome, GA bursts with life as the Fiddlin Fest and Street Festival return, transforming the city center into a swirl of music, color, and community spirit.

The event stretches from 100 to 400 Broad Street and now flows into the River District, welcoming crowds with expanded venues and fresh attractions.

Locals and visitors buzz with excitement over the festival’s vibrant energy and new features.

Classic car enthusiasts flock to the Armuchee Ruritan Car Show, which dazzles with vintage vehicles and rare finds.

Two stages host nonstop bluegrass, country, and Americana performances, while artists capture live scenes with plein air paintings.

Food stalls and sidewalk sales spill into the streets, tempting attendees and supporting local businesses with special deals.

An after-party concert in the River District keeps the festivities rolling after dark, capping off an event that celebrates community pride and Rome’s creative growth.

Anticipation is mounting in Rome, GA as the city prepares for the beloved historic homes tour this fall.

The Georgia Trust Fall Ramble invites locals and visitors to step inside Rome’s grandest residences, revealing stories etched across generations.

The tour opens Friday in Cave Spring, where antebellum homes and gentle springs evoke the spirit of old Georgia.

Saturday leads guests through the Between the Rivers Historic District and College Heights, showcasing lovingly preserved Victorian homes amid a thriving downtown.

Broad Street bustles with modern boutiques, while echoes of Rome’s rich heritage linger in every restored facade.

Berry College hosts Sunday’s finale, featuring its English Gothic halls and the landmark Oak Hill mansion.

Special meals and community gatherings enhance the experience, fostering pride, unity, and fellowship.

With tickets in high demand, Rome’s historic season promises unforgettable moments and a renewed celebration of local legacy.

Mark Chesnutt is set to light up The Forum in Rome, GA, generating a wave of excitement throughout the city’s music scene.

Fans of classic country are making plans to fill the venue, ready to relive chart-topping hits and Chesnutt’s signature honky-tonk style in the heart of downtown.

With a decorated career featuring platinum albums, Chesnutt stands as an enduring favorite for locals who value tradition and rich country storytelling.

There’s a special buzz around beloved tracks like "Bubba Shot the Jukebox" and "Too Cold at Home," fueling nostalgia citywide.

The Forum’s active calendar is energizing Rome’s downtown, as concerts and community events boost local shops and new restaurants on Broad Street.

Chesnutt’s visit highlights Rome’s rising status as a live entertainment destination and a driver of local business growth.

New Oak Theatre launches its 2026–27 season with four very different shows — and gives Seven Hills Spotlight readers another good reason to plan a weekend in Savannah.

Every once in a while, “Worth the Drive” gets a little personal.

My son Chase and daughter-in-law Sarah launched New Oak Theatre in Savannah last year, and I’ll admit right up front that Kim and I don’t exactly qualify as impartial theatre critics where this particular company is concerned.

But here’s the thing: these really are shows worth putting on your radar.

A lot of folks in the Seven Hills community watched Chase grow up on local stages — performing with Rome Little Theatre and in Sam Baltzer’s R.O.M.E. productions. Theatre has been part of his life for a long time, and it has been pretty special watching that journey lead all the way to helping create a theatre company of his own in Savannah.

And Savannah may not be quite as far away from Rome as we sometimes make it sound.

Okay... it’s not exactly Calhoun.

But plenty of us already head to Savannah for a long weekend, a wedding, a visit with family, a few days on Tybee, or simply because sometimes you need Spanish moss, pecan pralines, shrimp and grits, and an excuse to walk around carrying a drink.

If Savannah is already on your calendar, why not add a really good show while you’re there?

New Oak Theatre has announced a 2026–27 season at The Starland Playhouse, and they have put together a lineup with a little bit of everything.

First Up: She Loves Me

November 20–December 13

The season opens with one of musical theatre’s great romantic comedies.

She Loves Me takes us to a 1930s Budapest perfumery, where two co-workers spend much of their time getting on each other’s nerves.

There’s just one problem.

Neither realizes that the anonymous pen pal they have been falling in love with through a series of passionate letters is the person standing right there in front of them.

That ought to go well.

With a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick and a book by Joe Masteroff, She Loves Me is charming, funny and unapologetically romantic — a particularly nice choice for the holiday season.

Barefoot in the Park

January 29–February 21

Then New Oak moves from Budapest to a tiny New York apartment for Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park.

Newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter are discovering one of marriage’s little secrets:

Falling in love is one thing.

Living together in a small apartment is something else entirely.

Corie is spontaneous. Paul is considerably less so. Add a quirky neighbor, a meddling mother and all the little indignities of newlywed life, and Neil Simon does what Neil Simon does best.

He makes ordinary human aggravation extremely funny.

If you like a good old-fashioned comedy where the laughs come from recognizable people behaving exactly like recognizable people, this one should be a lot of fun.

Next to Normal

March 19–April 11

Then the season takes a dramatic turn.

Next to Normal is a Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical centered on a mother struggling with bipolar disorder and the enormous effect her illness has on the family around her.

This is not lightweight musical theatre.

The show confronts grief, depression, suicide, medication, psychiatry, addiction and the often messy reality hiding behind the front doors of seemingly ordinary suburban families.

But it does so with a powerful contemporary score by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey.

It is the kind of musical that can leave an audience sitting quietly for a moment after the lights come up — which is often the mark of theatre doing exactly what theatre is supposed to do.

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

May 7–May 30

And finally, New Oak closes the season with one of the giants of American drama.

Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night follows the Tyrone family through a single August day in 1912.

Over those hours, old wounds reopen, resentments surface and a family struggles with addiction, illness, disappointment and the uncomfortable truths they know about one another.

It won both the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize, and there is a reason it continues to be produced nearly 70 years after its premiere.

It is not necessarily a cheerful night at the theatre.

It is, however, one heck of a play.

Maybe Savannah Is the New “Worth the Drive”

One of the things we want to do with Seven Hills Spotlight is remind folks that our arts community doesn’t end at the Floyd County line.

Sometimes there is something terrific happening in Cartersville, Cedartown, Chattanooga or Atlanta.

And sometimes it is in Savannah.

Atlanta certainly offers an enormous amount of theatre, but by the time you fight the traffic, find a parking deck and figure out which Peachtree Street you are actually standing on, you may begin questioning some of your life choices.

Savannah presents another possibility.

Make a weekend out of it.

Have a good dinner. Walk the historic district. Head out to Tybee. Enjoy Savannah.

And then catch a show.

For Kim and me, New Oak Theatre is unquestionably Worth the Drive.

But I suspect some of you may discover that it is worth the drive for you, too.

New Oak Theatre’s 2026–27 season will be presented at The Starland Playhouse in Savannah.

Learn more and find tickets at NewOakTheatre.org.

The Rome High School Wind Ensemble is set to showcase its talents in the heart of Rome, GA, capturing the attention of music lovers across the region.

After months of dedicated preparation, these driven student musicians have been invited to take the stage at the highly regarded Music for All Festival.

This invitation places them among an elite group, as only a handful of high school ensembles across the Southeast are chosen to perform each year.

According to school leaders, the selection process for the festival is fierce and conducted with complete anonymity to ensure fairness.

The journey for the Rome GA high school band has been marked by unwavering commitment, with practice sessions that often stretch late into the evening.

Students and directors alike say this recognition goes well beyond a trophy—it's a testament to the drive found within local halls and classrooms.

Pride is running high through the streets of Rome as news of the invitation spreads.

Community members have applauded the win, noting how the band’s success uplifts the city’s profile and inspires future generations of musicians.

This event not only celebrates talent but signals a shift in the regional arts scene, positioning Rome as an emerging hub for musical excellence.

This year in particular, the Rome High School Wind Ensemble will be featured alongside other remarkable groups and engage in master classes with visiting industry professionals.

The festival offers students rare exposure to collegiate-level insight and valuable networking within the music education field.

As local leaders cheer on the ensemble, many hope for an even stronger future for the Rome GA high school band and its passionate supporters.

The anticipation is building for a performance that promises to echo long after the last note is played.

Work is progressing on the State Route 20 connector, a major highway project drawing keen attention in Rome and Cartersville.

Local leaders anticipate this long-awaited road will ease commutes and speed up freight traffic, addressing congestion that plagues both Bartow and Floyd counties.

Recent public meetings unveiled fresh route maps and a two-phase construction plan.

The first phase will link Grassdale Road to Old Grassdale Road, breaking ground within several years.

Following that, Phase Two will extend the connector from State Route 3 to Grassdale Road, according to project planners.

With traffic bottlenecks worsening on US 411 and US 41, and truckers facing costly delays, business owners along the corridor are hopeful.

The design features four lanes, landscaped medians, and modern roundabouts, highlighted by a redesigned I-75 interchange north of Old Grassdale Road.

While some residents welcome the changes, others worry about increased traffic and construction impacts.

The connector is expected to spark new commercial growth and real estate development, poised to reshape Rome’s future connections.

There is a new reason to make a Friday food run on the North Broad side of town.

Food Truck Friday at The Crossing at Callahan Street is set for Friday, August 1, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 12 East Callahan Street, near North Broad Street. The event brings together a strong lineup of local food trucks, including Steele Mealz, Plum Crazy Cuisine, QB’s Vending, Her Sweets, and Peach State Italian Ice.

That gives folks a little bit of everything: savory meals, fair-style favorites, sweets, and a cold treat to fight off the August heat. Plum Crazy Cuisine is known as a Rome-area hibachi-style food truck, while Peach State Italian Ice promotes itself as a refreshing alternative to traditional ice cream and shaved ice. The Crossing also lists Chef Russell “Steele Mealz” as part of its catering offerings, bringing food truck energy to events and gatherings.

This looks like the kind of simple local event Rome does well: pull in, look around, smell what’s cooking, and let everybody pick what they want. No committee meeting required. Just food trucks, local vendors, and a new gathering spot trying to build something regular.

Future vendors interested in participating can call 762-424-8004 for more information.

Seven Hills Spotlight has launched a brand-new events calendar designed for how locals actually plan their week.

This easy-to-navigate page features over 50 upcoming events happening in Rome, Floyd County, and nearby Northwest Georgia communities.

With search tools and month-by-month browsing, the calendar helps you quickly discover concerts, theatre, festivals, food gatherings, and arts performances.

You'll find highlights such as special food nights at ChopHouse, Poe Night at La Scala, Matilda the Musical at the Rome City Auditorium, local festivals, film events, and more.

Plus, there are listings from Calhoun, Cartersville, Ellijay, Marietta, and other destinations for those willing to take a short drive.

Local organizations and businesses are encouraged to post events to connect with the community and fill those seats!

Leo and Lucille Frank are a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the old red hills of Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. Riveting and gloriously hopeful, PARADE reminds us that to love, we must truly see one another.

With a book by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) and a rousing, colorful and haunting score by Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County, Songs For a New World), PARADE combines soaring music with a deeply human story.

Directed by Dawn Parker (Bright Star, 2025), this production brings the Tony Award-winning musical back to the very community where these events unfolded. The result is a powerful theatrical experience that confronts one of the most complex chapters in Georgia history while illuminating the endurance of love, hope, and conviction in the face of overwhelming odds.

Tickets are $27 to $42 and are on sale now! Purchase tickets 24/7 at strandmarietta.org, or get tickets through the box office at 770.293.0080 or 117 North Park Square.