Wet Weather To Wash Out Good Weekend Times?

Wet weather is on the way, which could put a damper in more ways than one on your planned weekend outdoor events and activities.

Friday’s forecast calls for overcast skies with patchy drizzle and windy conditions. The precipitation moves in more as evening approaches with periods of heavy storms after midnight and throughout the day and night on Saturday. Sun will mix with clouds on Sunday afternoon with Sunday evening lows reaching the mid 30s.

The is hoping the wet stuff holds off on Saturday as they invite the public to join firefighters for a benefit picnic for the family of firefighter Joe Paul. It will be held from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Brinkley Park, which is located behind the American Legion Post 160.

Paul's wife is facing surgery to remove a tumor from her eye and this fundraiser is for medical costs not covered by insurance. For information, call 770-842-5768.

• Georgia Department of Transportation officials will also be hoping for dry skies as they attempt to continue their I-75 resurfacing project.

As with last weekend, expect moving double right lane closures in both directions on the interstate between Cumberland Boulevard (Exit 258) and Techwood/16th St./14th St. (Exit 250) from 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.

“The weather doesn’t look too promising but as of this moment, we are still planning to work this weekend,” said DOT District Construction Engineer Lee Upkins. “We are asking motorists to slow down and be alert as they move through this work zone.” 

Several ramps will be closed at various times during the weekend including southbound off ramps from I-75 to Cumberland Boulevard, from I-75 to I-285 eastbound (Friday night to Saturday morning), and from I-285 eastbound and westbound to I-75 southbound (Saturday night to Sunday morning). Northbound ramps include on from Cumberland Boulevard to I-75 and off from I-75 to I-285 eastbound (Friday night to Saturday morning)

Georgia DOT urges travelers to call 511 for updated information about this project or see www.511ga.org.

• Of course, there are local happenings where bad weather won’t be able to deter the good times. At tonight, there will be some swaying and jiving on the dance floor to the rock’n’ sounds of Men In Blues. This Atlanta cover band favorite plays it all from funky classic rock and roll to soul to R&B to funk to the blues.

And over in Smyrna’s Market Village, the and late night regulars will be bumping into each other as they manuever back and forth between the popular drinking establishments. The Zucca DJ pumps it loud and gets the dance floor moving once the eating tables are cleared. And check out the recently displayed photo gallery of classic Atlanta and national sports figures of the 1970s and '80s near the bar.

• If the rains do come as predicted on Saturday, why not take in a cup of java at ? Mableton author Wayne E. Beyea, will be on hand from 1-3 p.m. to sign his latest novel, “The Treasure of Valcour Island.’’ This is the sixth book from the former longtime New York State Police trooper and investigator, and the crime fiction is said to be a mixture of science, history, science fiction, terrorism and murder.

Also Saturday is “Seuss Spectacular’’ at the . This celebration of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, will feature Seuss-themed story-time fun with books and songs, plus a special appearance by ‘The Cat in the Hat’ himself. The two time slots are for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., but note that space is limited. Contact Youth Services at 770-431-2860 for more information.  

And one last thing you can do from the dry and comfy indoors is to take a crack at the Atlanta Galleria’s twitter contest to win free tickets to next weekend’s American Craft Council Show Atlanta. The event runs March 11-13 and is the mecca for handmade goods.

The first five people to reply to the @atlantagalleria trivia question - When was the American Craft Council Show in Atlanta founded? – will receive free entry to meet the artists, browse the works and observe live demonstrations.

For others who want to attend, tickets are $12 for one day, $18 for a two-day pass and $20 for all three days when purchased on the Craft Council website. American Craft Council members and children 12 years or younger are free all weekend.