The Hug Box - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Update: The Sub Box now has a physical location in downtown Newnan located at 2C Jackson St. Newnan.

Imagine having a bad day. You open the mailbox and inside is a hug from an old friend. A beautifully packaged box filled with treats to make you smile along with a sweet note of support.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

This is exactly the kind of service The Hug Box provides every day. 

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We were so excited to get the chance to speak with Vicki Wahl Sanders, founder of the Hug Box.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The idea for a gift box that is more personal than the standard basket stuffed with generic items came to Vicki fifteen years ago. 

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

At the time, she was steeped in corporate culture working as a graphic designer. While she found many positive aspects to this job, it didn’t touch on her desire to give back to her community.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The opportunity to embark on a new journey came four years ago when she unexpectedly lost her job. 

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

She remembered the idea of sendable hugs that she had jotted down in her journal so many years ago.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Hug Box became a business where she could put her desire to give back into practice.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

As we looked at the shelves of beautifully personalized gift boxes, we were astounded at the care that went into selecting each item in the boxes as well as the packaging.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Every aspect of a Hug Box, from the ribbon it’s tied with to the carefully crafted goodies inside, is focused on sustainability and supporting local businesses.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The artisans that produce the unique, one of a kind products that go into each Hug Box are located somewhere in the United States and source their materials ethically and sustainably.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Vicki also looks for artisans that use all natural materials and give back to the community. 

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The pretty and simple packaging is all made from recycled materials.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

“I didn’t print on it in the hope the receiver will reuse it." says Vicki.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Her graphic design background shows in the cute and cohesive branding of The Hug Box.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

When you decide to send someone a hug, you can choose an occasion, such as cheer up or new baby

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Nestled in your box are handmade gifts, like organic tea or a hand knit coffee sleeve, that can’t be found at just any store.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Vicki wanted to include things that are useful and will make your friend think about you and the warm feelings a hug inspires every time they use the item.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Vicki is also happy to help you put together a custom box for your loved one. 

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

At the moment, a portion of the Hug Box sales go to Camp Sunshine and Atlanta Pet Rescue. Vicki plans to continue to increase her charitable donations as her business grows.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We loved the passion she has for spreading warmth and joy in the world and supporting small businesses. 

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

You can make someone’s day with a packaged hug by visiting her website.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

You can also find The Hug Box on Facebook and Twitter.

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

 © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Newnan Art Rez Artist in Residence - Christina Laurel

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Newnan Artist in Residence
Christina Laurel artist

Each month, Newnan Art Rez invites a talented artist to live in Gray Cottage and simply spend time creating and interacting with the Coweta community.

Christina Laurel Art

This April, Christina Laurel left her home in Greenville, South Carolina to sample some Georgia hospitality and create an installation.

Newnan Art

We visited Gray Cottage to speak with Christina and view her latest installation.

Christina Laurel Art Installation

Christina was not always an installation artist. Early in her career her preferred medium was colored pencils.

Artist Christina Laurel

During her time as an art student at State University of New York Brockport, her professors recognized that she was not pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

Newnan Artist in residence program

They encouraged her to explore the outer limits of her creativity. This is when her art moved out of the realm of two dimensions.

Newnan Artist In Residence Art Rez program

Her first three dimensional piece was a deconstructed kimono installation.

Christina Laurel Artist

Christina explained to us that she is drawn to Japanese culture and aesthetics.

Newnan, GA Art Installation

Her kimono installation preceded many Japanese inspired installations.

Newnan, GA Artists

Later installations included Japanese cultural icons such as the fan and the ginkgo leaf.

Christina Laurel Art

A colleague introduced her to Japanese shoji paper. An almost translucent fabric-like material.

Christina Laurel Artwork

Because Christina once aspired to be a fashion designer, it seems natural for her to be drawn to this paper, which lends itself to the same manipulation as certain fabrics.

Newnan Artist in Residence Art Rez Christina Laurel

Christiana’s current installation is a series of shoji paper lilly pads on a collage background.

Newnan Art Scene

The installation is deceptively simplistic. 

Newnan Art Rez Christina Laurel

Christina compares her art to the work of a sous-chef. She spends hours preparing the “ingredients” for her installations.

Artist Christina Laurel

Her collages are formed of found paper, which includes pieces of her previous art, deconstructed books, and gifts from friends.

Newnan Artistic Talent

She often modifies the paper by removing layers or adding texture through distressing and tools.

Christina Laurel Artwork

Her goal for finished installations is an intimate, relatable work that has echos of nature.

Newnan Art Rez

She enjoys viewing her art through other’s eyes. Viewer’s feedback often gives her a fresh perspective on her work and allows her to see it in new ways.

Christina Laurel Artist in Residence Newnan, GA

You can learn more about Christina's work and process on her website and blog.

Newnan, GA Artist in Residence Christina Laurel

To find out more about past and current artists in residence, visit the Art Rez website.

Christina Laurel Artwork

Greenhouse Mercantile - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

We have made no secret of the fact that we love to buy local!

We prefer to buy our gifts, groceries and clothing from makers right here in Coweta.

Kenya Brantley, owner of Greenhouse Mercantile, is passionate about running a boutique that supplies a range of locally and sustainably produced merchandise.

She wants to be sure that what she sells strengthens and gives back to the community.

It is important to her that her offerings are made in the United States, are fair trade or in some way contribute to society.

We loved the giving keys, simple engraved key necklaces that provide employment for the homeless and give a percentage of sales back to those without a place to live. 

Stepping into Greenhouse Mercantile, Kenya’s stripped down chic style was instantly evident.

Kenya has curated a range of products that line up with her values, but come together in an effortlessly simplistic way that is distinctly Greenhouse.

The minimalist style makes a soothing shopping experience where you do not feel overwhelmed by the merchandise.

Greenhouse offers unique jewelry, local art, beautiful home decor, bath products, coffee, food and clothing.

It’s the perfect place to find a one of a kind gift or treat yourself to something lovely or delicious.

Greenhouse Mercantile was conceived several years ago when Kenya and her family were moving.

She had a lot of beautiful pieces that she didn’t need anymore.

She decided to sell them at a booth in Stairway to Heaven Antiques.

She immediately knew that she had found something she loved and could do for the rest of her life.

From Stairway, she moved to different locations around Coweta County where she developed her unique style, which she describes as East coast meets West coast.

Greenhouse isn’t your typical boutique. Kenya wants people to feel free to come and stay awhile. She offers pour over coffee by the cup, free wifi and a comfy couch. 

People will often stop in with their computers just to get some work done in a relaxing environment.

When you visit Greenhouse Mercantile, be sure to take a look in the back room where you will often find a pop up shop.

Kenya wants to help talented local artists and makers get exposure and grow, so she offers her back room as a temporary shop at a reasonable price.

Kristin Schriks and Gail Ross are the upcoming artists occupying the pop up space.

Visit Greenhouse Mercantile online to shop. You can keep up with the latest events and sales on their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

Kenya also has a Pinterest where she posts inspiration and ideas.

You can also catch Kenya on the entertaining web show Real Talk on the Square.

Make Me Up Beauty Studio - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Update: Make Me Up Beauty Studio is now Evergreen Beauty Studio and is by appointment only. 

Stepping into Make Me Up Beauty Studio right off the square in downtown Newnan, we were greeted by a warm, sweet aroma and the cheerful welcomes of owner and makeup artist, Lyssa Pfauth. 

Make Me Up is a recently opened makeup studio that offers a range of organic beauty products, make up artist services, classes, and much more.

The bright, spacious studio is located in a portion of the former Gold Star Hotel, a one time Newnan landmark established in the mid nineteenth century.

The interior retains the handmade brick walls and well worn hardwood flooring of the original hotel. 

Lyssa has always been passionate about makeup and helping women feel amazing by highlighting their beauty.

This magical quality of makeup was introduced to her by her grandmother whose lipstick and rouge were a necessary accessory.

She laughs as she recounts her first job as a makeup artist at the tender age of eleven. She led the bride to believe she was sixteen and ended up doing the makeup for the bride and entire wedding party.

This story has a happy ending, because the bride loved her look, and Lyssa knew she had found a special talent.

She continued to do makeup for her friends, sisters and proms until she landed a job doing makeup at Estée Lauder at the age of eighteen. 

From there, she pursued an esthetician license and also became licensed as a laser technician.

For years, Lyssa was completely content to coat her face in the season’s trendiest cosmetics.

This changed with the birth of her oldest son. For the first time, she began to examine what she was introducing into her home in the light of her child’s health.

Suddenly, not paying attention to the ingredients in her cosmetics was not an option.

As she researched ingredients commonly found in makeup and skincare products, she was astounded that many of the chemicals are toxic, particularly to children.

Hormone disruption, cancer and neurological damage are just some of the conditions linked with these chemicals.

Lyssa now has two young boys and described to us how they are affectionately all over her, ingesting whatever cosmetics she has put on her face.

She wanted to be able to snuggle with her boys without worrying about her cosmetics damaging their health.

The switch to organic makeup and skin care felt good for her.

Unfortunately, these products were unavailable here in Coweta County.

Her determination to provide these products to local women prompted her to open Make Me Up Beauty Studio.

We were delighted to find that the studio extends beyond a place to buy earth friendly cosmetics or have your makeup done.

Lyssa has created a warm environment for women to learn, pamper themselves and laugh.

Lyssa is enthusiastic about education regarding the harmful effects of chemically laden products.

“Almost every drugstore brand lipstick contains lead" she tells us. “And we eat our lipstick. And reapply it all the time.” 

The cosmetics she sells are all 30 to 90 percent organic.

“If these were 100% organic they would have to be refrigerated” she explains to us.

One of her regular customers, an oncologist, recommends her patients purchase all their cosmetics from her shop.

“It’s possible to be beautiful and toxic free!”

Make Me Up doesn’t leave out the guys. They can shop from a line of men’s skincare, beard oil or an old fashioned straight razor set.

Make Me Up has a delicious buffet of options for women looking for a makeup artist.

Bridal parties can utilize the huge studio space to have a relaxing place to get ready while they have their hair and makeup done.

While Make Me Up doesn’t yet offer hair stylist services, there is plenty of space for a hair stylist to work and this may be an option available in the future.

Lyssa is an accomplished stylist and offers styled photo shoots. The tinted windows offer privacy while still letting in ample natural light.

Girls can attend classes, have group or one on one makeovers, makeup lessons or a girls night in with wine and appetizers.

We love the date night package where you can have everyday makeup done when you want to look perfect but don’t feel like putting in the effort.

This would be perfect if you need to look your best for a presentation, job interview or first date where you are likely to be nervous and need that extra boost of self esteem.

Many of the products on Make Me Up’s shelves are locally produced from farm to bottle.

Lyssa has many exciting plans for the future of the business. She may even create her own line of difficult to find organic products. 

To learn more about safer beauty care products, visit Make Me Up on the web, where you can shop from home. You can also follow Make Me Up on Facebook and Instagram.
 

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch-Grantville

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

It’s officially fall, and probably our favorite time of year!

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Halloween, cool weather, crunchy leaves and pumpkin flavored everything. It’s all right up our alley!

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also love a good pumpkin patch.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo’s Pumpkin patch is a great place to go for free fall family fun.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Corey and Monica Wargofcak live on the family farm that has been passed down through generations.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

They always wanted a fun place to take their kids in the fall to celebrate the autumn season.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

As a service to the community, they decided to open their property to visitors each October.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The endeavor begins as a family affair way before the air gets that telltale crisp. In early June, the family sows a variety of pumpkin seeds in their fields. The pumpkins are tended until early October when they are harvested. This is a labor-intensive process as it is all done by hand.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

In addition to a large variety of pumpkins, Wargo’s offers a range of delicious fair food and fun activities for the kids like painting, a small petting zoo and hayrides.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The animals in the petting zoo are the family’s goats and chickens. Monica laughs as she describes to us how friendly the chickens are. Apparently, they get lots of love from the Wargofcak kids and they eat up the attention. For those who can’t get enough of local markets, there will also be handmade items for sale from local artisans and crafters.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Adam’s Honey will also be back. This is an award winning local honey brand that is delicious!

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's will open October first and be open every weekend of October and admission, parking, hayrides, painting and the petting zoo are all completely free.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The pumpkins are all for sale, but the Wargofcak's choose a different charity each year and donate the proceeds. Grantville is a short drive from Newnan and the Wargo’s signs are everywhere showing the way to the farm. For more details, check out the Wargo’s Facebook page.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Grantville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Happy fall! If you make it to Wargo’s, we would love to see your photos and hear about your experience!

Handcrafted in Coweta - Katie's Carriage

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Wendy Foskey, owner and designer of Katie’s Carriage, is very modest when it comes to her intricately designed dog carriages. 

For many dog owners, their animal represents a companion they can take on walks, play ball with and snuggle.

For a select few dog owners, their canine companion is all these things and also a show dog.

Show dogs are just like any other dog. They run and play and give sloppy kisses until show day, when they don their couture finery and walk the runway, competing against other show canines for top prizes.

Generally, dogs participating in shows will walk alongside their owners who are dressed to match them. 

Wendy Foskey’s custom made carriages have changed the focus of the audience and judges so that their attention is unwaveringly drawn to the dog.

When we drove up to Wendy’s home studio, we could already hear her six little dogs barking.

They are tiny fur balls that look like stuffed dogs come to life. “All together they weigh under twenty pounds” Wendy told us.

Wendy’s first carriage was made for Katie, her aging show dog. Katie was no longer able to walk comfortably on her own, so Wendy created a vehicle that would be beautiful as well as functional. 

Wendy’s skills have come a long way since that first carriage. The skills she has acquired to make the stunning creations she turns out today are mostly self taught.

Walking through her studio, our eyes were dazzled by the array of glittering baubles and silky fabrics.

Each carriage is inspired by an overarching theme. From Gone With the Wind to Indian architecture, Wendy uses these larger themes as a jumping off point.

Sometimes the theme is chosen by her client, and sometimes an entire theme is inspired by a single piece of jewelry or fabric.

Once Wendy has been inspired, there is little that can stop her from achieving her finished piece. We listened in fascination as she recounted some of the innovative methods she has come up with to achieve a desired result.

The final products show her devotion to detail. Hand beading representing hundreds of hours of work sparkles on one carriage. Another is adorned with thousands of yards of tulle. 

Attention to detail and perfectionism are present in every single piece of art she completes. “I have a really good relationship with my seam ripper” Wendy tells us jokingly.

When you look at one of her carriages, it feels as if you could look forever and still not take in all the details. 

One of her main goals with each creation is to bring attention to the dog without having it get lost in the carriage.

Each carriage takes months to complete, and since she does everything by hand, she can only fill a few orders a year.

When we visited, she was just putting the finishing touches on two carriages to be used in a dog cotillion.

She showed us how she inserts two foam pads into each carriage so the dogs will be comfortable and visible. Each carriage also has a Fabuleash as a safety feature to keep the dogs from falling out.

The unique designs from Katie’s Carriage are beginning to gain attention in the pet fashion world. Wendy’s carriages have been showcased at New York Fashion Week, and she counts Lisa Vanderpump among her happy customers.

You can find out more about Katie’s Carriage by visiting her on Facebook or following her on Twitter

The Barn at Oak Manor - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Recently, we headed out into the wilds of Coweta to tour one of Newnan’s newest event centers. We received a warm welcome from The Barn’s manager, Ashley. Ashley was cheerful and energetic as she guided us around the large property.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The barn is a rustic structure set in the middle of a green field beside a large, beautiful pond.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The enclosed kitchen, bar, fire pits and vintage church pews make it stand out from similar venues.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

We were impressed by the simple, rough wooden tables that were each hand made.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

A few feet away from the barn is a large, old oak tree that will see many couples pledge their forever love to each other.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Lush plants surround a small wooden platform under the tree.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

We noticed strings of lights and lanterns everywhere and can only imagine that it turns into a glittering magical place in the evening.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Not far from the barn is a large, classically southern house with a wraparound porch. 

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

This is where bridal parties can spend the hours before the wedding relaxing, getting ready and preparing for the big event.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The bottom level of the house is fit up for the boys. It has a weight rack, large raquetball court, sauna and large screen TV.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The middle floor has a large living area, a kitchen and a lovely area for smaller events.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

With large windows and wooden walls, this space mimics the rustic feel of the barn.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The upstairs of the house contains the bridal suite. It’s a beautifully decorated space dotted with comfy couches. There is a large bathroom, a 360 degree mirror with a pedestal and an airy veranda that overlooks the pool.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Ashley laughed as she told us that she is constantly adding new amenities to The Barn.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

As the founder and owner of Flower Child Weddings and former employee of “Say Yes to the Dress”, she came to this job with the knowledge of what brides want in a venue. She works hard to make sure the bride has the a relaxed wedding day. She does this by being very flexible with wishes and requests.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The decor in the main house is customizable to the bride’s wishes, the venue pricing is nearly all inclusive and the wedding party gets the space for the entire day for no additional charge.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

As she is talking to us, it is easy to see that she has found her passion in life in helping brides have their perfect day. 

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

Her creativity and unique eye is apparent in every aspect of the venue.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

You can keep up with The Barn at Oak Manor on Facebook and Instagram.

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Barn at Oak Manor Newnan, GA Photo ©Susan Crutchfield Photography

LillyBlu - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Update: Unfortunately, LillyBlue is now closed. Please support Coweta businesses to prevent the loss of great restaurants like LillyBlu.

We’re always excited when a new locally owned restaurant opens in Coweta County!

It’s even better when the food is delicious and there is a spacious wrap around porch where you can enjoy the sunshine with your meal.

LillyBlu is located just off the square in the former Classic Café space. It retains the same small town charm of an old southern house with warm oak floors and crown molding.

The inside has been beautifully refitted to accommodate a deli style café.

We were lucky enough to go on a warm, sunny day perfect for porch sitting.

The menu consists of breakfast foods served until eleven and sandwiches and deli style sides for lunch.

I can’t stress enough how much we love breakfast food! Our favorite dinners growing up were breakfast for dinner nights. In our opinion, there aren’t nearly enough breakfast places in Coweta, so we were ecstatic to try the offerings.

LillyBlu offers two ways to dine. You can grab a ready-made sandwich and side out of the case, or you can order a craft sandwich and side from the menu.

The case is also stocked with a variety of mouth watering baked goods, including a large selection of gluten free items.

In addition to food, LillyBlu offers a full coffee bar and a selection of loose leaf teas.

We started our meal with coffee and tea, which were amazing and served in beautiful mugs handmade just for LillyBlu.

The coffee is locally roasted and was light and citrusy.

We also had to try one of the specialty coffees. The syrups are all made in house and you can tell. We tried a caramel latte topped with freshly made whipped cream. It was so delicious, exactly what an espresso drink should be.

We tried the breakfast croissant sandwich, a flaky toasted croissant stuffed with crisp, perfectly cooked bacon, cheesy buttered eggs and sausage.

We also got the chorizo hash with a side of grits.

It is a concoction of savory fried potatoes and ground chorizo sausage topped with sour cream, a tangy cilantro sauce and a golden sunny side up egg. It was a flavorful combination of spicy and zesty.

The grits, which were hearty enough to make a meal, were so creamy, with a pleasing cheesy garlic flavor. They were by far our favorite part of the meal.

If you have a craving for elegantly presented artisan pastries, the LillyBlu pastry case will be your nirvana.

It was a tough choice when you have options such as a strawberry lemon tart, chocolate trifle or a cream stuffed canola. We finally settled on the raspberry lime donut, New York style cheesecake and strawberry lemon tart.

Citrus seems to be theme for the spring, which was perfect for us. The strawberry tart was a light fruity, lemony filling inside a thick, flaky crust topped with cream and fresh strawberries. Unbelievably delicious.

The New York cheesecake was also to die for. It was thick, creamy and very flavorful.

As regular readers know, we can’t resist an artisan donut and the raspberry lime confection perfectly fit the bill. The bread was moist, yeasty and not too sweet. The berry lime icing was sweet and summery.

Since we loved the breakfast food so much, we decided we must go back for lunch.

This time, we tried two of the sandwiches. The fried pork sandwich was a perfectly battered and fried nod to the south on a roll.

The vegetable sandwich was a mass of lightly sautéed veggies served on chewy, herb filled focaccia bread.

Of course we had to dip back into the pastry case. We decided to go with good old-fashioned staples.

The cinnamon bun was perfect. It was an explosion of yeasty cinnamony goodness topped with a sugary icing.

The macaroons were unbelievable. They were almost juicy on the inside while retaining a golden crunchy crust on the outside.

We loved that the portion sizes were perfect. We felt completely full without being stuffed after cleaning our plates.

Beside a chilled case of bottled beverages, you can find a selection of cookbooks or buy a pound of Fire Mountain Coffee. LillyBlu also offers custom cakes from their bakery.

Follow LillyBlu on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with ever changing daily offerings or get sneak peaks of their elegant cakes.

Newnan Artist in Residence - Christine Cassano

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Coweta is home to a number of talented artists. The Coweta art community is constantly flourishing. In order to further cultivate the arts in Newnan, an artist residence program was formed.

In conjunction with The University of West Georgia, The Newnan Artist Rez program invites artists from all over the world to spend time in Newnan engaging with the community and enriching Coweta through their artistic expression.

Previous artists have included talented painters like Peter Tudhope and brilliant poet B.H. Fairchild.

The program houses its artists in the charming Gray Cottage. The little house is nestled in a quiet area next door to the McRitchie-Hollis Museum.

It’s close enough to downtown that the artist in residence can easily walk or ride a bike downtown, but also have a tranquil area to inspire creativity. This spring, The Artist Rez program was fortunate enough to secure Phoenix artist Christine Cassano.

She was kind enough to invite us to Gray Cottage to take a look at her current works in progress and learn more about her process. As soon as we walked into the cottage, our eyes were met with the results of art she has been immersed in while staying in Newnan.

The floor was covered with what at first glance appeared to be the fossilized remains of some long gone sea creature, but upon closer inspection were delicately constructed porcelain pieces stamped with a motherboard. 

 

Christine is a small woman with masses of thick, wavy brown hair. She spoke of her art with an enthusiasm that left us in no doubt of the passion she feels for her chosen profession. 

She began her artistic career as a two dimensional artist. Eventually, her work evolved beyond the canvas and she found she could express herself better with a three dimensional format.

Her art is not confined by conventional mediums. She works with a variety of unusual materials.
In addition to incorporating found objects into her pieces, she also uses metal, clay, concrete and even her own hair.

Much of her recent art looks as if it was excavated from an archeological site or found growing in the wild. When you look closer however, you will find elements of technology embedded in the piece.

This reflects her keen interest in biology as it relates to technology. Everything she puts into her art emphasizes this connection. 

She showed us a beautiful study of a very organic looking porcelain piece that was stamped with a motherboard. There were holes pierced through each point of electrical connection. Through this she weaves sutures made from her own hair. This is her expression of how similar the cellular function of the body is to the programming of a computer.

A series of serious health problems forced Christine to closely examine human biology and the way in which it interacts with modern technology. She takes these deeply personal issues and through her art, applies them to the whole of human history and evolution. The results are beautifully provocative and relatable pieces.

Christine is enjoying her stay in Newnan. Her removal from the blanching desert environment of Arizona to the lush foliage of Georgia has shifted her focus. She also loves the challenges that come with being removed from her studio. Being in an environment with limited materials has pushed her out of her comfort zone, inspiring new thoughts and ideas.

While she is here, she has been working on an installation piece for the university’s permanent display. The piece incorporates rolled porcelain stamped with a motherboard and medical vials filled with Newnan memorabilia. The university also purchased an additional piece that will go in their permanent collection as well.

This is Christine’s very first artist residency and she has been impressed with the kind welcoming hospitality that she has received from the residents of Newnan, the Artist Rez members and The University of West Georgia faculty and staff.

You can view her art in West Georgia’s permanent collection or by visiting her website. To learn more about her process and art, visit her blog or follow her on Instagram

Barrington Farms Apiary - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Spring is in the air! Looking around Coweta, you can see the flowers starting to burst into bloom. And then there is the pollen.

The invisible sneeze maker and the not so invisible yellow coating on our cars and decks.

Those tiny granules that we find so annoying represent life.

We got the opportunity to witness one of the most important steps in the human food chain with Steve Page, president of Coweta Beekeepers Association and the owner of Barrington Farms Apiary.

He was kind enough to invite us to one of the several colonies he has around Coweta County.

We arrived at the hives excited and also a little nervous about being in such close proximity to thousands of stinging insects.

We visited the hives at the perfect time of year. The bees are busy gathering pollen and nectar and are just beginning to turn them into the fragrant, sticky honey that we love to eat!

When it comes to bees, Steve is passionate and effusive. He is a great teacher and explains the ins and outs of honey bees in simple, easy to understand terms.

Steve became interested in beekeeping around 2007 when he realized his vegetable garden wasn’t living up to its full potential because of the lack of pollinators.

He decided to remedy the problem by investing in beehives and raising his own pollinators. He became fascinated with the beekeeping process. “It’s cheaper than a bass boat and it keeps me out of trouble” he quipped.

At first, the process left him frustrated as the cold winters killed off his colonies. Purchasing new queens was a risky venture, as he never knew if the queen would even arrive on his doorstep dead or alive.

Instead of throwing in the veil like many new beekeepers, he immersed himself in the subject and studied the methods of other successful beekeepers.

He realized that the only way to be successful was to practice sustainable beekeeping. In order to achieve that, he invented a new beekeeping method for Coweta County by taking the sustainable practices of well-known keepers from around the country and adapting them to fit the conditions of this area.

And his method is working. In Georgia, the average rate of colony loss over the winter is 33 percent. Steve has reduced that over winter loss to around 16 percent using his sustainable methods.

We have to be honest, getting the chance to look inside of a working beehive is one of the most fascinating things we have ever done.

To look at the plain white boxes that house the colonies, you wouldn’t imagine the drama that is playing out just inside the wooden frames. Hive happenings are enough to make daytime soap operas seem dull and uninspired.

The first step of getting inside the hive is to smoke the bees with a cool, white pine smoke. This masks the pheromones that the bees rely on to communicate.

The smoke also serves to distract them. To bees, smoke means fire and they will try to consume as much of their precious honey as possible so they can carry it away in their digestive system before their home burns.

Of course it isn’t a real forest fire, but the distraction works perfectly and as Steve pries the top off the super (beekeeper speak for the colony boxes), the honey bees are surprisingly calm.

Almost instantly, we can smell the aromatic scents of sweet, flowery honey in the making.

After all his bee experience, Steve is still fascinated by the little insects. “It’s amazing how perfect they make their world” he marvels as he holds up a frame with faultlessly uniform hexagonal wax formations.

We could see many of the worker bees with their abdomens sticking out of the cells eating honey like there was no tomorrow.

The majority of the bees are female. They feed and raise the young, clean the hive, make the honey, forage and store nectar and pollen and care for the queen. The males, called drones, mate with a virgin queen to make new little bees.

Unfortunately for them, mating signals the end of their usefulness and they die shortly afterwards. They also have no stinger. It’s a tough life for boy honey bees.

The main concern of the hive is the queen. Without her, the population cannot grow and much of the drama centers on her.

Like every other honey bee the queen begins her life as an egg. Queen eggs are larger and as they progress through the stages of life, are only fed on royal jelly. This produces a bee that is noticeably larger than any other in the colony.

The fully formed queen emerges out of her wax-capped cell with a mission. She must be the only queen in the hive.

She makes a high-pitched sound (called piping) that calls all other virgin queens to come to her so they can fight to the death. Unlike all other female bees, the queens have a barbless stinger that allows her to sting multiple times without perishing.

The last virgin queen left takes over the colony. Her only job is to produce as many offspring as possible over the span of her life. Because all other female bees are sterile, it’s up to her to ensure the continuity of the hive.

The queen lays up to 2,000 eggs a day. She can fly up to five miles away to find suitable drones to mate with. Since drones can only fly a couple of miles from home, flying so far ensures a good genetic variety among the colonies.

The queen is constantly fed with royal jelly to ensure she stays strong, healthy and able to continuously lay eggs.

When new queen eggs are laid, the ruling queen takes around 70 percent of the hive and they fly away to find a new home. She lands on high up and the colony gathers all around her. Scout bees leave the swarm to find the perfect new place to build a hive (often a hollow tree).

We were lucky enough to visit at a time when part of a colony had just swarmed. Hundreds of honey bees were clustered together on a pine bough. We were astonished as Steve stuck his hand right on top of the swarm.

He explained to us that he could do this because the bees had no brood or honey to protect and so were not in a fighting mood.

We weren’t brave enough to test this and just watched in fascination as the bees calmly crawled around his hand.

He enjoys getting a little more up close and personal with the bees than we ever would. “I’m a crazy beekeeper” he told us, and then proved it by scooping his finger through the golden honey and sticking it directly into the hive.

The bees began to crawl on his finger licking up the honey with their long tongues (called a proboscis). The bees love the honey.

Honey is their lifeblood. It is how they make it through the winter so they can go on to make more little bees.

Caring for the brood is an extremely important part of maintaining the hive and many of the workers have tasks that just revolve around getting the young from eggs to full adults.

We got a chance to see some of the tiny curved eggs. They were so small that you have to get in very close to look at them.

Once the eggs hatch to larva, the bees are fed for a while on royal jelly and then honey and pollen. The pollen provides the source of protein that helps them mature into adult bees.

So that gritty powder that coats the world in the spring is the way plants reproduce. The bees help that by moving the pollen from the plant to plant. This makes the plants more productive, which gives us, and the animals we eat, a source of food.

Steve told us of a colony he placed by a cow field. The bees pollinated the clover that grew in the field, so that the next year the cows had more clover to eat, which is a better source of nutrients that grass. In turn, the cow’s milk production increased and the farmers had a better yield.

Not only are honey bees responsible for increasing our food yield, but they also make an incredibly delicious sweetener that is purported to have numerous health benefits.

Steve sells his honey at The Country Gardens store and at 180 Degree Farms. He also teaches workshops on sustainable beekeeping. Workshops are open to all members of Coweta Beekeepers Association. Membership is only $20, and anyone is welcome, even those outside of Coweta County.

You can visit the Coweta Sustainable Beekeeping Facebook to learn more about meetings, workshops and other upcoming events. Be sure to visit their website and subscribe to the newsletter. Steve sends out handy reminders to beekeepers to let them know what they should be attending to in their hive.

Steve has exciting future plans for expanding Barrington Farms Apiary and educating anyone who wants to learn on beekeeping in a sustainable way, so be sure to follow him.

Outside Coweta - The King's Donuts - Fairburn

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

We are not really big fans of the month of February. It’s generally unbearably cold (to our native Georgian sensibilities) and aside from Valentine’s Day it is relatively uneventful.

Finding anything that adds joy to this dreary month is a big plus, and what could be more joyful than a dose of comfort food?

Donuts may be the ultimate comfort food for us. Growing up, sugar was a treat that was almost never allowed, but every once in a while our dad would show up with a box of powdered sugar donuts for us to split.

With such positive feelings regarding this sugary pastry, we were excited to discover a local donut shop not too far away.

The King’s Donuts is a locally owned, faith-based business off of Highway 74 in Fairburn. They have been open almost a year now.

They offer a daily selection of freshly made gourmet donuts, croissants, cronuts and fritters. They also have a full coffee bar and breakfast sandwiches.

The décor, which we dubbed suburban gothic, is spacious and inviting. There are two gas fireplaces with large, leather armchairs cozied up nearby.

An imposing tiered iron chandelier draws the eye to the ceiling and the walls are lined with dark paneled wood accentuated with iron studs.

Despite the imposing décor, our eyes were immediately drawn to the two large cases on the counter, which were stocked with the freshly baked goods.

There were your classic glazed, Bavarian cream and old fashioned as well as creative flavors like almond joy, caramel apple and butterfinger.

They all looked delicious, but we weren’t sure if the taste would match the looks.

We don’t think we exaggerate when we say these donuts are exquisite.

You can taste the fresh, real ingredients. Each type of donut has a rich, true to kind flavor.

We tried several of the flavors and liked them all equally.

We also tried one of the non-donut pastries.

The King’s log is a decadent maple and bacon confection. It was the perfect combination of salty sweetness.

Of course we had to get coffee to go with our donuts. The King’s Donuts brews Safehouse Coffee Roasters blends. There is also a selection of Rituals tea for those who prefer tea.

We think this is the perfect place to go to catch up with an old friend. There are two large televisions if you need a place to go hang out and get away from life for a few minutes.

Beginning February 14th, The King’s Donuts is open seven days a week. They have regular hours, but sometimes close early if they sell out of donuts.

Follow the King's Donuts Facebook page for updates about what’s baking and upcoming events. If you try these donuts, please let us know what you think and what flavor you can’t live without.

Blue Fern Merchant - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Update: Blue Fern has moved to 167 Greenville St. Newnan.

Happy 2016, Coweta County! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season full of friends, family, amazing food and local shopping!

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

A few weeks ago, before the holiday madness began, we headed over to the newest store in town to talk to one of the owners, Lori Gillson Duncan.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant was conceived about five years ago by Lori and her sister Staci Gillson Mandrell.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The Fayetteville natives are both talented designers. Lori is an interior designer, mainly working with Atlanta builders. Staci is a graphic designer with a successful Atlanta based firm.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The sisters wanted to combine their design aesthetics to create a local shop that expressed their eclectic tastes.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

As soon as we walked into Blue Fern, we felt as if we needed more eyes.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The shop is filled with so many wonderful treasures, each one more unique than the last.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Coming from a very close family, Susan and I loved the little details in the store that make Blue Fern a truly family business.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The name of the shop is taken from the first name of their maternal grandmother and the maiden name of their paternal grandmother.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Additionally, each of the price tags on the merchandise features an old family photo, which gives you a glimpse into the sister’s family life and makes you feel right at home.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The store is 90% vintage, repurposed and found items.

      Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

      Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern is the kind of store you can step into and find something for yourself and everyone in your life in one place.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

In addition to home décor, jewelry, footwear, bath products and garden decorations, Blue Fern also has furniture, floor coverings, wallpaper and window treatments.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

We love the repurposed furniture, but those who want something more personalized can also order custom sofas, chairs and ottomans.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

You can also bring in your own special piece of furniture and have it reupholstered to your taste.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

We love the fact that you can step into Blue Fern and purchase entirely customized items including linens, window treatments and rugs.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

This ability to customize furnishings and décor goes hand in hand with the Blue Fern design services.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Lori and Staci use their carefully honed talents and unique eye to work with clients who want to re-imagine their spaces.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

The design services they offer range from designing a single room to a complete home restyling.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

They can merge their experience and eye for design with the specific style of the client.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Lori emphasized that they sincerely want to make the entire design process fun.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

As you probably know by now, we love to shop local and buy from local artists.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern also tries to stock a wide selection of items by local artisans and craftsmen.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Because of the unique nature of the merchandise, there is always something new to see at Blue Fern as more pieces are acquired and sold.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern is located right in downtown Newnan in the old Dubose jewelry building.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Gift cards are now available if you want to share the gift of design with friends or family.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

You can find out about special discounts, promotions and upcoming events on the Blue Fern Facebook page.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern is also on Instagram.

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

We would love to see any of your Blue Fern pieces “in action”. Post your pictures to our Facebook page!

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Blue Fern Merchant Newnan GA Photo © 2016 Susan Crutchfield Photography

Outside Coweta - Wargo's Pumpkin Patch - Luthersville

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

It’s officially fall, and probably our favorite time of year!

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Halloween, cool weather, crunchy leaves and pumpkin flavored everything. It’s all right up our alley!

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also love a good pumpkin patch.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo’s Pumpkin patch is a new place to go for free fall family fun.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Corey and Monica Wargofcak live on the family farm that has been passed down through generations.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

They always wanted a fun place to take their kids in the fall to celebrate the autumn season.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

As a service to the community, they decided to open their property to visitors each October.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The endeavor begins as a family affair way before the air gets that telltale crisp.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

In early June, the family sows a variety of pumpkin seeds in their fields.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

They pumpkins are tended until early October when they are harvested.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

This is a labor-intensive process as it is all done by hand.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

In addition to a large variety of pumpkins, Wargo’s offers a range of delicious fair food and fun activities for the kids like painting, a small petting zoo and hayrides.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The animals in the petting zoo are the family’s goats and chickens. Monica laughs as she describes to us how friendly the chickens are. Apparently, they get lots of love from the Wargofcak kids and they eat up the attention.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

For those who can’t get enough of local markets, there will also be handmade items for sale from local artisans and crafters.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We were excited to see Adam’s Honey had a booth. This is an award winning local honey brand we had never heard of, but are excited to try out.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo’s is open every weekend of October and admission, parking, hayrides, painting and the petting zoo are all completely free.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The pumpkins are all for sale, but the Wargofcak's choose a different charity each year and donate the proceeds.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We love the Wargo’s Pumpkin Patch t-shirts that feature the original artwork seen on the signs. These will be for sale alongside the arts and crafts.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Luthersville is a short drive from Newnan and the Wargo’s signs are everywhere showing the way to the farm.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

For more details, check out the Wargo’s Facebook page.

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Wargo's Pumpkin Patch Luthersville, GA © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Happy fall! If you make it to Wargo’s, we would love to see your photos and hear about your experience!

New Leaf Community Garden - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Gardening and farming runs in our family. Our grandfather was a farmer in rural Georgia for much of his life and our dad naturally helped out on the farm.

We both love organic gardening. Rebekah loves getting her hands in the dirt and learning new ways to have healthy, organically grown plants, and Susan loves eating the produce.

Ok, so Susan seems to have missed out on the gardening bug, but she loves wandering through a beautiful garden taking photos.

This is just what happened on a recent sunny Wednesday.

We had seen New Leaf Community Garden at market days, but were not really clear on everything they did.

Then, Phyllis from Let Them Eat Toffee mentioned that they are doing great work in the community and encouraged us to stop by and take a look.

We took her up on that advice.

New Leaf Community Garden is just off the square across from a monstrous industrial building with various shades of old glass in the window, making it look like a mosaic (you may recognize this building if you are a fan of The Walking Dead).

When we pulled up to the garden, there was a lone gardener pulling weeds from her raised bed plot in the hot sun.

Of course we couldn’t let her tackle the weeds alone, so we lent a helping hand while she told us a little about how the garden fits in the Newnan community.

Not too long ago, the lush landscape of New Leaf was a crumbling, abandoned parking lot. Founder Nicole Coleman saw potential for a greater purpose, and New Leaf Community garden was conceived.

New Leaf basically serves two functions. First, it gives gardeners who may not have land to grow on a space where they can grow organically and sustainably in company with like-minded growers. The garden also functions as a way to give back to the community.

Garden plots with raised beds constructed of cedar are rented out to gardeners from around the area. Additionally, a certain number of plots are reserved to grow produce to meet community needs.

Those who rent plots volunteer to tend the shared space. New Leaf also welcomes volunteers from the community who don’t rent space, but just want to help out.

Through this volunteer program, local food banks receive hundreds of pounds of fresh, organic produce to feed the needy.

To the rear of the garden, the gardeners work together to grow produce in the sustainability section. This food gets sold at local markets and to area restaurants. The proceeds from the sales goes right back into the garden.

New Leaf frequently hosts fun and educational events.  

Be sure to like them on Facebook to learn about these upcoming programs.

We had a lot of fun just socializing and pulling weeds. The beautiful plants, butterflies and delicious smells provide a very relaxing atmosphere.

We really admire New Leaf Community Garden’s dedication to keeping toxic chemicals out of our environment and bringing nutritious food to the Newnan community.

A gardener’s job is never done and more hands lighten the burden. If you would like to volunteer, visit the New Leaf website.

You can apply for your own plot through this link.

If you don't have time to get your hands dirty but would still like to help, consider making a donation.

Outside Coweta - Providence Canyon State Park

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

As Cowetans, we have a love hate relationship with the rich, red Georgia clay. We have cursed it for clinging to our cars, shoes and pets. We also love the beauty that it lends to our Southern landscape.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in Providence Canyon State Park.

This series of canyons, nicknamed Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon, offers a spectacular display of the colors of the Georgia soil.

The most prominent of these is the deep reddish brown of the familiar clay.

The beauty of Providence Canyon has an unfortunate beginning.

Prior to the 1800s, the Cherokee people who had lived there since before recorded history tended the land where the canyon now lies.

The Cherokees were familiar with the sandy nature of the local soil and worked the land using techniques that preserved the integrity of the landscape.

In the early 1800s, soon after the Cherokee people were forced to cede their land, settlers moved in to farm the area.

They were unaware of the need to practice a different type of farming from that they knew. They worked the land using a plow.

Wind, water and time quickly began to turn the furrows in the land into deep gulches.

In less than 150 years, the deep gashes turned into canyons that are as deep as 160 feet.

Despite the canyon’s disastrous beginnings, they are absolutely stunning.

We made the hour and a half journey on one of the first days of summer that has not been oppressively hot.

The state park lies slightly south of Columbus near the small town of Lumpkin.

The canyon takes its name from the church established by the first people to settle the land after the Cherokee cession.

We enjoyed the light breeze as we took the steep trail that descends to the canyon floor.

The bottom of the canyon is below the water table, so it is always wet and muddy.

We suggest if you go that you wear shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. By the time we were done, we were up to our calves in mud.

The bottom of the canyon is stunning.

The trail is a path composed of muddy clay and sand.

We spotted several gorgeous plants, and the area was alive with beautiful butterflies.

Because it is so wet, there are a lot of pesky bugs.

We actually got the chance to try out the Bliss Creek Farm Buzz Off bug spray we purchased at the Newnan farmer’s market and were pretty amazed at how well it worked.

A short hike from the floor takes you into the canyons. There are nine of these.

When the canyon walls began to close in around you, it feels as if you have left Georgia and stepped into the American southwest.

The red Georgia clay is streaked with rose pink, light purple and stark white sands that make the canyon walls look like a sunset.

The erosion pattern causes some of the wall to rise into the sky like a giant chimney formation that would be more at home in a desert.

We were completely awe struck as we craned our necks to look up at the hundreds of feet of geological wonder.

The constant trickle of water has left some of the walls smooth and curvy, while others are jagged and rutted.

We took our time exploring and enjoying the beauty.

We only took the canyon trails because of the heat, but in the fall we would definitely consider doing the longer hike that leads out of the canyon and through the pines.

Along the canyon rim trail, you can view the rusted out remains of old cars that belonged to a long abandoned homestead.

The local wildlife has made a home of these automobile shells, and for this reason they are left to decay on the side of the trails.

At the top of the canyon, there are overlooks that offer a spectacular view of the entire area.

Standing there, we could not believe that this beautiful vista was created by a few donkey driven plows just a few decades ago.

Just as we were admiring the view, we heard a rushing noise from the canyon and realized a wall of water was headed our way.

We made it to the car just as a pounding summer rain drenched the landscape.

We think this beautiful hike is definitely worthy of a day trip.

Bring old, comfortable shoes, bug spray and a picnic.

The visitor’s center is closed during the week, but maps and restrooms are always available. Please let us know if you have visited Providence Canyon. We would love to hear your thoughts!

Handcrafted in Coweta - Bliss Creek Farm

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

As you may have noticed by now, we love attending local markets and fairs. They are such a great place to find amazing artists and delicious new products we can’t believe we lived without. Bliss Creek Farm’s handmade soaps falls squarely into this category. 

We discovered these hand created goat’s milk bath products at the weekly Newnan farmer’s market on the square.

To Linda Schmidt, the creator of Bliss Creek, soap making is more than a hobby it is a labor-intensive process that she undertakes with love.

She and her husband George are involved in every step of the process from delivering the newborn kid goats to wrapping the finished bars in the Bliss Creek label.

Linda allowed us to come into her home studio to learn about her soap making process and tour Bliss Creek Farms.

Driving up to Bliss Creek Farms, we felt as if we had been transported into a Disney movie. As soon as we stepped out of the car, we were greeted by a throng of friendly farm animals.

Linda is an energetic woman with a warm personality and musical laugh. She led us into her basement studio that she affectionately called ‘the dungeon’. Our noses were immediately met with a bouquet of delicate fragrances.

All the Bliss Creek soap recipes are proprietary blends carefully created and tested by Linda and her family before being made available for purchase.

Bliss Creek Farm soaps are made the old fashioned way with a cold process method.

Lye and one hundred percent goat milk are combined to begin a chemical process in which the molecules are broken apart and reconstituted as a creamy, silky soap.

The cold process of soap making is a precise one. Too much of any ingredient can result in an inferior soap.

As she shows us her digital scale and hand blender, she tells us the process is not unlike baking. The soaps do look good enough to eat!

Beginning with high quality ingredients is also important to producing the best results, so Linda is very careful to source the best oils and butters for her soaps.

Linda began making soap around twenty years ago.

She found handmade soap in a Canadian store and decided she could make it too, so she ordered an instructional book and begin to make soap.

It was only after she began raising goats, that she realized the difference milk made.

Milk makes a silkier soap that is more nourishing to the skin. Goat’s milk has the advantage of having a higher butter fat content and being rich in vitamins and minerals that are good for the skin. Linda learned her craft through much trial and error. She laughingly recounts her first attempt at making goat’s milk soap.

She missed a vital step that accelerated the chemical process and left her house smelling burnt for months.

Learning about the soap process was fascinating, but getting to meet the baby goats was the highlight of our visit.

We firmly believe that your life is incomplete if you have never gotten to hang out with baby goats.

There were four kids ranging in age from three to nine weeks, and they could not have been more adorable.

They are energetic and curious. They love to play and snuggle. We could have watched them play and explore for hours.

Each of the Mini Nubian goats had long, floppy ears and very distinctive personalities. They are extremely intelligent animals. The Bliss Creek goats all know their names and are sometimes a little too clever.

We watched as Clementine opened the door to the milking room by sliding back the bolt and nudging the door open with her nose.

She can also unscrew the lid on the feed jar for an illicit treat.

We were surprised to learn that the goats love being milked.

They get to stand and munch on extra delicious food while they are milked and apparently having extra milk drained from their udders relieves uncomfortable pressure.

We found it amusing that every time someone went in the milking room the goats mobbed the door trying to get in.

We were very excited to get a milking demonstration from Linda.

The goats are thoroughly cleaned and milked. The milk is then immediately strained and chilled.

The free-range chickens wander in and out of the goat pen.

They are very friendly and will come right up to you.

We also found out that the popular conception of goats eating everything from laundry to tin cans is a myth.

They only eat specific things, usually preferring plants, and we learned that they will not touch anything another goat has licked.

Linda and George work very well as a team. She makes the soap and he takes it to the markets to sell it.

You can find Bliss Creek products, including soap, lotion, bugspray, bath salts, tea soak, aromatherapy sprays, free range eggs and goat’s milk, for sale at different markets around the area.

The products are also for sale on the Bliss Creek Farm website.

Follow Bliss Creek on Facebook to keep track of new scents and upcoming markets and keep up to date on current news in goat dairy products.

Garlic Thai - Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We adore a good patio dining experience, and Garlic Thai in downtown Newnan has a cute little sidewalk patio!

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

In addition to the charming atmosphere created by sunny yellow walls with an exposed brick wall on one side, Garlic Thai has amazing cuisine.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We started out our meal with cups of tea.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Both the jasmine tea and the Thai iced tea were delicious. One was light and flowery, while the other was thick, milky and syrupy sweet.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We arrived at the restaurant beyond the point of hunger, so we immediately ordered coconut soup to stave off a state of hangry.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We’ve never really met a cup of coconut soup we didn’t like, and this was no exception. The green onions floating on top really brought out the rich, salty flavor of the broth.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

After we felt we had enough food in us to have a civil conversation with each other, we ordered a California roll to share.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The crab and avocado were very fresh, and the robust flavor of the sesame seeds on top was a nice addition.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Susan is a huge pad Thai fan, so she ordered the Garlic Thai version, which was loaded with shrimp and peanuts. She was very impressed with the delicious, chewy glass noodles and the buttery shrimp flavor that permeated the dish.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We also tried one of the specials, the curry puff, a flaky potato based pastry served with yellow curry sauce and a sweet cucumber salad. The green curry potato paste that filled the fried shell was just the right level of spice.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The heartiness of the dish made it extremely filling. We couldn’t resist ordering dessert to finish our meal.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The durian cheesecake was heavenly. The creaminess was cut by the fibrous durian fruit. It was not too sweet and almost had the flavor of a hard cheese. It was drizzled with a delicious fresh raspberry sauce and served with whipped cream and cherries.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

The red bean ice cream was a nice summer treat. It was served in a triangular slice and topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and cherries.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

It actually tasted pleasantly fruity and the creamy dessert was extra textured, almost grainy.

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

We left the restaurant full of delicious food with the well wishes of the extremely friendly staff. Garlic Thai is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. You can also order the food to be delivered to your home. Check out their Facebook page for changing menu items and specials. If you have ever dined at Garlic Thai, we would love to know what your favorite dish is!

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Garlic Thai Newnan, GA Photo © Susan Crutchfield Photography

Coweta Snapshot- The Founder Movie Location-Downtown Newnan

PLEASE NOTE COWETA LIFE IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE PLACES, PEOPLE, OR THINGS WE COVER. PLEASE CONTACT EACH BUSINESS OR PERSON DIRECTLY IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SENDING AN EMAIL THROUGH OUR CONTACT PAGE WILL NOT GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH THE BUSINESS BUT WITH COWETA LIFE. WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLY OR FORWARD EMAILS MEANT FOR THE BUSINESSES WE COVER. THANK YOU!

The movie set of The Founder in the parking lot of the Coweta County Administration building.  The movie The Founder about McDonalds founder Ray Kroch starring Michael Keaton is being filmed in the parking lot and across the street at…

The movie set of The Founder in the parking lot of the Coweta County Administration building.  The movie The Founder about McDonalds founder Ray Kroch starring Michael Keaton is being filmed in the parking lot and across the street at Thriftown and Arnall Grocery.