Not local to Serenbe + Chatt Hills? This is Around Here, a subsection of Life at Play, my way of keeping our local community connected. It goes out twice a month. If it’s not your thing, you can update your email preferences at the bottom anytime.
Lately I’ve been making more space for no plans. Open calendar, front porch, watercolor painting, bugs. It’s felt really good.
Anyway. Getting straight into it.
One quick thing– scroll to the bottom of this email. There’s a whole row of ways to get involved, submit events, get listed in the directory, or send me something worth sharing. At just shy of 1k subscribers, the more people use it, the better this gets.
Around Here is supported this week by Reality Bites, the debut novel from our neighbor Amy Mass.
Amy spent 12 years writing TV comedies in LA (Last Man Standing, The Goldbergs, plus those Verizon “Can you hear me now?” commercials). So yes, she is wildly funny (and so is her instagram). The book: It’s about a scientist who ends up on a reality dating show. It’s been described as “juicier than a season of Love Island and funnier than your favorite sitcom,” which is exactly the kind of thing you want to read on a porch this time of year.
She’s signing copies at Hills & Hamlets this Saturday, May 23, 10am-12pm. Or grab one online here.
You Should Know
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CERES broke ground. The new development in Chattahoochee Hills, rooted in food, nature, and connection, officially started construction. 80 homes, 40 lofts, a chef incubator, cookery school, inn, edible landscaping, orchards, and more.
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The General Store is now scooping ice cream. Small batches, made from scratch. Afternoons, starting this week. Follow their socials for current hours.
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SpringFest 2026 | May 29 The annual end-of-school celebration. Inflatables, games, snacks, music. This year it’s community-funded — the more raised by May 22, the bigger it gets. Support here to help make it happen: Custom Amount | $50 |$100 | $500.
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EMDR therapy is new to town with Haven Psychotherapy. wait… what is that? EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a research-backed therapy for processing trauma, stress, and anxiety. It helps your nervous system get unstuck from experiences it couldn’t fully process at the time.
On the Calendar
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May 16 | Brandon Phillips & Friends Stand-Up Comedy | Gainey Hall They are back! Doors 8pm, show 8:30pm.
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May 17 | Pause With Purpose Lab with Dorthy Vollmer For women at a midlife threshold. $20. Guided reflection, creative tools.
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May 19 | Chatts and Chews with District 5 | Halsa, 6pm $25 three-course dinner with Commissioner Rodney Peek and neighbors from across Chatt Hills. A good excuse to meet the people who actually live around you. RSVP here (deadline is today, May 14)
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May 30 | A Conversation with Curtis Patterson | Deer Hollow Park, 10am — FREE Art Farm hosts sculptor Curtis Patterson — creator of the Serenity for Shango piece — in conversation with The Atlanta Voice, set right at the work itself. RSVP here
Tiny, (not so fun) poll.
ok for me it’s been 5 years. I assumed this was something being checked on for me… but just learned it’s not, and now have to get ours pumped. So spreading the word! You should have it looked at every 3 years. I used Stephen Ward with Alternate Systems: 770-616-2742.
If You Missed It
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Community Brickworks turned 20 and threw a party. The Backyard Bash was last weekend. If you weren’t there, it’s not too late to support. Our local Brickworks does quiet, consistent good throughout this community.
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Terra School’s 3rd Annual Fête raised over $140,000. If you haven’t seen what was accomplished this year or want to help close out what remains, take a look here. Also: Terra just announced the building of an outdoor classroom!
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Ultimate Frisbee started back up. Tuesdays, 6pm, Athletic Fields. Two fields — one for adults, one for kids. Jump in anytime. Sign up
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Sunset Stretch May 17th at 9pm with Collette Appert at Sunset Park in Serenbe. Free, come as you are.
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Liz Morris Styling just launched. Our neighbor Liz is now offering personal styling services — the kind where someone helps you figure out what you actually want to wear, not just what’s on trend. 20% off your first two hours in May.
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New Mat Pilates at Serenbe Yoga. Non-heated, Thursdays 9:30-10:30am with Collette Appert.
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Sheena, who works at The Hill, lost her husband suddenly this week. She has two young boys. If you can help: gofundme.com/f/support-for-sheena-and-her-boys
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Preserve in Douglasville (a 15 minute drive) This Friday’s painting class in the Koi pond is sold out, but they’re just getting started, and a restaurant is rumored to open to the public for this summer.
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May 15-17 | M.A.C.B.E.T.H. | Art Farm, Wildflower Meadow, 7:30pm | FINAL WEEKEND Shakespeare’s Macbeth reimagined as a ‘90s TV sitcom. Outside, under the stars. Starts funny, gets dark. This is the last weekend. Get tickets
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The My Chatt Hills app. Official city alerts and community updates on your phone. Search “My Chatt Hills” in the App Store or Google Play.
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May 21 | Terra Middle School Intergenerational Play Expo | Terra School, 1:30-2:30pm Terra students have spent months developing ideas for meaningful cross-generational connection through play — baking, games, sports, tech, drama. They’re looking for community “feedback partners” to help shape what these projects become. Sweet invitation. Sign up
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May 22 | City of Chatt Hills Blood Drive | City Hall, 1-6pm Rescheduled from May 1. Eat something iron-rich beforehand, bring your ID, pre-register here with Sponsor Code: ChattHills.
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May 30 | A Conversation with Curtis Patterson | Deer Hollow Park, 10am — FREE Art Farm hosts a live-recorded conversation with acclaimed sculptor Curtis Patterson — creator of the Serenity for Shango piece at Deer Hollow. Free and open to all. RSVP here
Currently in Season Locally
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At the market: Basil, parsley, chives, strawberries. early blueberries and peaches.
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Support local: Good Place Farm– eggs, meats, sourdough, kombucha brewed by BreeAnne, and baked goods from her mom at their 24/7 honor-system farmstand. And if you haven’t been, what are you waiting for? You can schedule a U-Pick, book a farm tour, or arrange a baby goat snuggle session. + She is a genuinely fun follow on instagram.
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Preorder by June 1: Heritage turkeys for Thanksgiving at Good Place Farm. $225 reserves your bird, gets you farm visit access, and weekly updates on your flock. A different way to do Thanksgiving. thegoodplace.farm/turkeyshow
Lucky Links
Links to the unknown.
Enjoy!
See you on the trails.
xx, Gina
P.S. If you’ve been quietly thinking about what comes next (in work, in life, in whatever chapter you’re currently in the middle of) I’m hosting a small day in Serenbe on June 26th for exactly that. Life at Play Day — No. 01
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