Welcome to September's issue!
Our cover star from Marietta is a familiar sight to me. I grew up in nearby Smyrna, and my family often drove by or stopped to eat at The Big Chicken, always hoping to see its beak and eyes move as if to say a friendly “Hello!”
Back during Senior Week in high school, my friends and I detoured by the bird before a picnic for a quick photo to commemorate the time and our favorite local landmark.
The beloved bird has its own fan base and appears as a beanbag toy and on T-shirts, hats, pottery pieces, birdhouses and even a set of locally produced mahjong tiles. When giving directions, locals might tell you to turn left or right at The Big Chicken.
To learn more about this iconic attraction, turn to “Something to cluck about” on page 26.
Another place, Thomasville, is in the spotlight for its landmark Big Oak alongside all the charm and Southern hospitality the town offers. Read more about the local shops, restaurants, festivals and more that you’ll find here in Around Georgia, starting on page 21, then plan your visit.
For fans of Georgia’s aquaculture, learn about the state’s oyster industry (and oyster-shell recycling partner-ships) on page 19, then see how the Bramlett family of Suches supplies live rainbow trout to restock streams and also provides fresh trout for restaurants to serve. Read more on page 29 and try this month’s featured trout recipes.
We have some heartwarming stories this month, too. The nonprofit Global Blessing helps senior citizens in need (see page 16). And turn to page 34 to meet Rose Diggs, who has fostered more than 400 children and teens over the past 15 years.
Enjoy these stories and more in this month’s issue.
Jennifer J. Hewett
Editor
