The Bluebird Patch

Festival’s charities partners include Bert’s Big Adventure, Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program and more! “ Bucket List Bash ” kickoff party to benefit The Giving Kitchen ATLANTA (August 27, 2015) –  This year’s  Taste of Atlanta  is set to serve up phenomenal fun and food that is not only tasty on the tongue, but also good for the soul. The festival, returning to Midtown at Tech Square  Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 27 , has once again partnered with several nonprofits to benefit local charities and to provide support for Atlanta families in need. New this year, Taste of Atlanta has partnered with  Bert’s Big Adventure , an organization that provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families, and  The Giving Kitchen , an organization that provides emergency assistance grants to Atlanta area workers facing unanti...

PLAYING AT ATLANTA’S FOX THEATRE FOR ONE WEEK ONLY: NOVEMBER 3-8 Tickets on sale August 30 RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA , the 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of  South Pacific  and  The Sound of Music , will play at the Fox Theatre for a limited engagement from November 3-8 as part of the 2015/2016 Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta Series. Tickets go on sale  Sunday, August 30.   Tickets start at $33 and are available at by visiting  www.FoxTheatre.org/Cinderella , calling  1-855-285-8499  or visiting the Fox Theatre Box Office (660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308). Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling  404-881-2000 . Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit:    www.CinderellaOnBroadway.com  or  www.BroadwayInAtlanta.com . RODGERS+HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELL...

PAWmazing News!  DOG ADOPTION FEES WAIVED ALL DAY ON AUGUST 26, 2015   ATLANTA, GA – (August 25, 2015) – LifeLine Animal Project, the nonprofit which recently pledged to have its county shelters reach no-kill levels by the end of 2016, invites everyone to celebrate National Dog Day with free adoptions!  Adopt a dog on August 26 at any of LifeLine’s shelters, including DeKalb County Animal Services, Fulton County Animal Services or LifeLine’s Dog House, and the adoption fee will be waived!  Standard screening criteria still applies to ensure the dogs go to good homes. According to LifeLine Animal Project CEO Rebecca Guinn, National Dog Day is a great time to adopt a dog, because shelters typically have the highest intake of dogs during the summer.  “With 30 to 40 animals entering the shelter daily, we need public support to help us save lives,” says Rebecca.  “By waiving adoption fees on National Dog Day we hope to see a record number ...

WIN A SPROUT MARKET GIFT CARD  Crowds expected for 7 a.m. Grand Opening WHAT:              Sprouts Farmers Market Sandy Springs Grand Opening! The new store will be the eighth Sprouts store in Georgia.  WHO:                Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. is a healthy grocery store offering fresh, natural and organic foods at great prices. We offer a complete shopping experience that includes fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, packaged groceries, meat and seafood, baked goods, dairy products, frozen foods, natural body care and household items catering to consumers' growing interest in health and wellness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Sprouts employs more than 19,000 team members and operates more than 200 stores in 13 states. For more information, visit  www.sprouts.com  or @sproutsfm on...

Sip of Sweet Tea = $$ For Big Brothers Big Sisters Imagine if every time someone sampled some yummy sweet tea, money would be donated to a kid’s charity? Well that is EXACTLY what is happening over the next week. Sweet’N Low will be in Atlanta Friday, Aug. 14 through Monday, Aug. 24 as part of their Don’tHesita(s)te Tour . For every Sweet’N Low sweetened sweet tea, the company will be donating money to help Big Brothers Big Sisters , including our local Atlanta Chapter. The Sweet’N Low team will be roaming the streets of Atlanta in their branded truck bringing sweet tea to Atlantans. They will also be at the Piedmont Park Arts festival this weekend and Atlantic Station next weekend. Enter the#donthesitastephoto contest Upload a pic of your favorite Sweet’N Low®-sweetened drink for a chance to win money, prizes and more! don’t forget to include #donthesitaste, #contestentry and a Sweet’N Low® packet in your pic to qualify.

Atlanta Nonprofit Hosts Enchanted Purse Exchange to Raise Funds for Mentoring Program The Enchanted Closet Inc., a volunteer-run nonprofit organization serving teenage girls from low-income households across metropolitan Atlanta, will host the  Enchanted Purse Exchange  on Saturday, August 23, 2015 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the TMAC-Lindbergh City Center, 573 Main St NE Atlanta, GA 30324. The purpose of the event is to raise funds to support the operation of the GIRL$ Program, a program defined as a Service-Learning Program designed to increase the self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency of middle and high school girls, residing in metropolitan Atlanta. The event cost is a tax-deductible donation of $25. Attendees will have the opportunity to snag a great purse, save money and support the empowerment, and social and professional enhancement of the girls in metropolitan Atlanta. There will be also be an “auction” of enchante...

SATURDAY, October 24th 1PM-6PM  AT PIEDMONT PARK IN THE MEADOW The Atlanta World Kite Festival and Expo’s mission is to provide an opportunity to celebrate the many cultures of metropolitan Atlanta by bringing together families, food, entertainment, and kite flying. In bringing all of these different cultures together, we can get an appreciation for everyone’s personal perspective on kites and how they have influenced the many different cultures represented here in the city of Atlanta.  The goal of our festival is to introduce or re-introduce the art of kite flying and highlight the importance of the family culture and outdoor activities. They encourage you to share your childhood memories and create new adult ones with the ones you love. This event is free to the general public courtesy of our corporate and locally grown sponsors, affiliates and vendors. 

October in the Garden! The cooler days of October bring super cool events to the Atlanta Botanical Garden – from scarecrows and beer fests to pumpkin carvings and craft activities: Scarecrows in the Garden:  Nearly 100 creations by area schools, artists, designers and families are perched throughout the Southern Seasons Garden, ready for their close-ups,  October 8-31 . In addition, enjoy family fun games and crafts weekends from  10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Fest-of-Ale:  Celebrate autumn with specialty brews and live bluegrass music Thursdays,  October 8 , 15, 22 and 29 from  5-9 p.m. Arts & Ales:  Meet local artisans offering unique crafts and gifts  Thursday, October 15  from  5-10 p.m. Goblins in the Garden:  A favorite holiday tradition returns with a kids’ costume runway, storytelling, crafts, pony rides and more  Sunday, October 25  from  10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pumpkin-Carving Contest:  Cheer on the slicing...

Happy end of Summer to you! To celebrate the end of another wonderful Summer season Callaway Gardens is offering you and your family and friends FREE Admission to Callaway Gardens and its many attractions on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, 2015. Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.callawaygardens.com

Three mini-series packages provide unparalleled access for theatre fans In celebration of 35 years presenting the best of Broadway to Atlanta audiences, Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta is now offering Atlanta audiences the opportunity to experience three Broadway sensations from its expanded 2015/2016 Blockbuster season. Each themed package features three hit shows from the upcoming Broadway in Atlanta lineup. Package choices include: Fan Favorites The Sound of Music  (March 1-6, 2016) Kinky Boots  (March 29-April 3, 2016) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical  (May 24-29, 2016)

MUST Ministries will hold their 3 rd  annual MUST Charity Golf Tournament presented by Op5, Monday, Sept. 21 at  PinetreeCountry Club . This is the first year the tournament is being held at the private club in Kennesaw. We need your help in getting the word out! In 2013 and 2014 the golf tournaments raised a total of $30,000, this year our goal is $25,000. MUST Ministries is looking for sponsors and about 100 participants to make this year just as successful as years past. The tournament will include a 4-person scramble, breakfast at registration, lunch, a raffle and an awards reception following the golf. Awards include top teams, longest drive, a putting contest and more! Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.

SUGARLOAF MILLS BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH We all know that first impressions are everything on the first day of school. For most of us, finding that PERFECT back to school outfit is a must.. If you know me personally then you know that I'm an Air Force JROTC cadet, a competitive shooter, and a have an obsession with fashion. I truly enjoy going to the mall and shopping with my friends, and finding the perfect outfit for the perfect occasion. One of my favorite malls is Sugarloaf Mills. On Saturday, August 1 st ,2015, Sugarloaf Mills hosted a back-to-school bash, where multiple fashion segments occurred throughout the day. I was given the chance of hosting two of those fashion segments. It was such an amazing opportunity that I will never forget! It was my first hosting gig and I think I did pretty good considering I had no previous experience. Check out the pictures below! Mom and daughter selfie before the show. Head-to-toe outfit from Sugarloaf Mills

Did you know that according to Pew Research Center’s data, teenagers average 3,339 messages a month. 5 seconds is the minimal amount of attention that a driver who texts takes away from the road. If traveling at 55 mph, this equals driving the length of a football field without looking at the road. Scary stats! Because texting can makes a crash 23 times more likely to occur we have partnered with @TeenLifeMedia to help teens understand the dangers of texting and driving. Joining us for a twitter chat with Adam Garner  @Garntastic , the National Center for Fathering  @NCF4Dads , the Ad Council  @AdCouncil , @DoSomething and @MommyBlogExpert . There's no need to RSVP just follow us at @BluebirdPatch  and follow the #TeenChat hashtag on August 6 at 4pm.

School is back in session in many cities across Georgia. The first day of school is always exciting, new friends, new teachers, new adventures. But with a new school year there's always multiple concerns from parents. From establishing bedtime routines, packing healthy lunches, and empowering kids to stand against bullies, no school year is ever the same and they always come with a unique series of challenges. Our friends at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta want to help you ease your child transition to their new school year with a dedicated website that is full of tips and important information for a healthy and happy life. Some of the topics you can find include: Pack Smart - Backpacks are a handy way for your child to carry hisbooks and other school materials, but if used incorrectly can put strain on his back muscles and joints causing lower back pain and injury. Breathe Easy - Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in children and ...