Why concerts, movies are key to our downtown communities. Roman Roast is smokin'. Berry's stunning new Kilpatrick Commons

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Free concerts, movies bring thousands downtown starting tonight

The 2009 First Friday season opener at Bridgepoint Plaza/Photo by Mills Fitzner

Some 1,500 people are expected to pack Downtown Rome tonight for the 2010 premiere of the First Friday concert series. Another 500-plus are expected to fill Cartersville's downtown square for the kick-off of the First Friday Family Fun Nights movie series (with concerts on second Saturdays). And Calhoun will launch the Concerts in the Park series on May 21. The overall goal: getting more people to our downtowns and shopping locally. Natalie Simms reports> Buzz

Berry's newest amenity an absolute stunner

As crews readied Berry College for Saturday's commencement ceremonies, workers also were hustling Thursday to complete landscaping around the newest amenity on campus: Kilpatrick Commons, an oasis complete with a cascading, multilevel fountain. Kilpatrick Commons has been added just off the renovated Krannert Center adjacent to The Cage. For more background on Kilpatrick Commons, please check this page from Berry magazine (Click). For additional photos of the just-about-final design, please see below and click Campus Headlines.

Roman Roast on the River already smokin' at Ridge Ferry Park

Barbecue crews were in place Thursday evening at Ridge Ferry Park and the vendors weren't far behind as the first Roman  Roast on the River gets under way this afternoon and continues Saturday. Thursday, the cooks, event sponsors and others gathered for a fajita dinner catered by Santa Fe Cattle Co. Gates open today at 3 p.m. For more, click Roast

Friday's Buzz:

-Graduation updates, other education news from the colleges, local public and private schools> Click

-Bartow to test new voter check-in process during Tuesday's election> BH

-Redmond Regional celebrates Nurse's Week; trio honored> Click

-Rome's ServiceMaster by Twins' in Nashville to help flood victims: Owner Larry Alford and a professional disaster response team are working nonstop to pump stagnant water and slug out of hit structures, including Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. "We are working to quickly restore it like new," Alford says.

-May 8-16/One Book, Many Voices will partner with Barnes & Noble to hold a book fair. By mentioning number 10187409 when you purchase items at the store, One Book Many Voices will receive a portion.  Vouchers can also be picked up all week at the Rome-Floyd County Library.

-May 10-11/RLT's auditions for Peter Pan at DeSoto Theatre. 6-9 p.m. both days; register at 5:30 p.m.

-What's ahead in Northwest Georgia tourism> Click

Latest public health restaurant inspection scores> Click

-Plus: What's new on the dining scene.

-Last-minute Mother's Day bailout? Try the wineries> Wine

Your weekend forecast: Hot Friday, mild Mother's Day

-Friday: 92 degrees; overnight low of 64; 30% rain chance at night. -Saturday: Cooler, high of 78; 30% rain chance. Overnight: Low of 45.

-Mother's Day: Mostly sunny, high of 69, low of 47.

-Extended forecast> Click  / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable> Arey 

-Who'll win in a hotly contested run for Sportsman of the Year, Tiki or Tiger?

Rome Braves> Sports 

-Grand slam powers Rome Braves' 9-5 win over Hagerstown.

-30-photo gallery courtesy of Mills Fitzner's latest game photos (right)> Click

-Up next at State Mutual: 7 p.m. Friday vs. Asheville.

-Rome Braves' May 16 game changes to a 4 p.m. start.