Dunwoody diversions
Dec. 10 — It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Dunwoody. Yesterday was my birthday, and I had the chance to enjoy privileges usually reserved for toddlers or elderly people – getting to cheat on games and win, suffering public humiliation in the form of a song, being driven around town, and having people cut up my food – that kind of stuff.
🥳 It was a great day, and as they say, I’d rather be one year older than six feet under.
🎤 Speaking of transitions, this week is full of them with news about Dunwoody High School’s tribute to a favorite son, the opening of Big Play, and the not-closing of CVS, a new Stage Door Theatre play that’s truly wonderful, and some of our dining team’s top stories of the year, which includes a Dunwoody favorite.
👾 Enjoy your Wednesday
Cathy
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Big Play makes one
🤒 The Mount Vernon Shopping Center has big news this week, with the entrance of a big tenant and new life for a pharmacy that was supposed to be closing.
The long-anticipated Big Play, a family-friendly complex with bowling, laser tag, arcades, mini-golf, and a restaurant, will open on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m., according to an announcement by the company.
In related news, the CVS Pharmacy at the corner of Jett Ferry and Mt. Vernon roads will not close as previously thought, according to CVS officials.
♥️ It turns out Big Play purchased the shopping center and renewed the CVS lease. Here’s the story.
Fashion meets art at the High Museum!
SPONSORED BY THE HIGH MUSEUM
👗 Experience Viktor&Rolf: Fashion Statements – a bold, breathtaking exhibition celebrating avant-garde fashion visionaries who blurred the line between haute couture and art. Only at the High, the exhibition’s sole U.S. stop.
➞ On view through Feb. 8, 2026.
Seacrest for the win
🏟️ One of Dunwoody’s most famous sons will be recognized with the naming of the Dunwoody High School’s soon-to-be expanded stadium.
At its Dec. 8 board meeting, DeKalb County Board of Education approved in a 5-2 vote the naming of the stadium after “Wheel of Fortune” host and Dunwoody native Ryan Seacrest.
The Seacrest Stadium will “recognize the contributions, achievements, and long-standing connection of Ryan Seacrest to Dunwoody High School and the broader DeKalb community,” according to the resolution.
🛞 Read more about Seacrest and the campaign here.
🌟 Your future in nursing starts here. Herzing University–Atlantahas no wait lists and offers flexible learning, hands-on clinicals, and accelerated pathways. Train where you live and join Georgia’s next generation of nurses making an impact today. SPONSOR MESSAGE
A new twist on an old classic
🎶 Stage Door Theatre’s unique twist on “A Christmas Carol” engages the audience to use its imagination while spinning out a well-acted rendition of the holiday classic.
Adapted by local playwright Claire F. Martin and directed by frequent Stage Door collaborator Lauren Morris, the lyrical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella embraces the magic of theater with only seven actors on the stage playing a variety of roles.
Stage Door does a lot with a little, with the only scenery change indicated by a revolving appearance and disappearance of a fireplace, along with flowing curtains and artful lighting.
🎟️ Here is my review and information about show times and tickets.
Delicious dining news
👨🏾🍳 Our dining team did a deep dive on its most-read dining stories for 2025, and NFA’s second location at the Avalon made the list, along with other mouth-watering stories.
One question I have, however, is when the expanded gas station location in Dunwoody will open? It appears to be finished, but I haven’t seen any action yet on the migration. I’m getting on that next week.
🍔 In the meantime, here’s the wrap-up of the year’s top dining news.
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