Podcast 289 – How Dunwoody Oktoberfest Starts With the 4th of July Parade – Denice Dudley & Katie Prellwitz

Dunwoody’s favorite fall festival is kicking marketing off early this year. Denice Dudley, the lead organizer of Dunwoody Oktoberfest 2025, and main sponsor Katie Prellwitz from Leverage Communications are using the city’s biggest summer stage, the 4th of July Parade, to build buzz for the September celebration.

Oktoberfest is returning to the grounds of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church on September 27 with beer, music, food, and fun. They’re also introducing a new 20-foot inflatable mascot, and the community gets to name it. It’s part of a playful campaign to get locals involved early and often. Proceeds from the festival benefit Malachi’s Storehouse and Anchor Place, two neighborhood gems that serve with heart. If your business wants to sponsor Oktoberfest, now’s the time. Early sponsors get July 4th exposure and a front-row seat to Dunwoody’s newest fall tradition.

Learn more and become a sponsor: whatsupdunwoody.com/oktoberfest

https://whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-289-how-dunwoody-oktoberfest-starts-with-the-4th-of-july-parade-denice-dudley-katie-prellwitz/

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.

whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

👙 Summer JCC memberships. whatsupdunwoody.com/jcc

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.

whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.

whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.

whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 288 – Smart Branding and Apartment Density Transformed Chamblee Over the Last Decade – Van Pappas

Chamblee has rebranded, reimagined, and revitalized itself. Van Pappas shares how smart city planning and a bold branding push turned an industrial corridor into one of North DeKalb’s hottest areas. The key? Apartment density, a clear identity, and big community pride. Van was there from the start, on the branding committee that helped bring the iconic red Chamblee sign to Peachtree Boulevard. He explains how signage isn't just decoration, it is declaration.

Van also dives into starting his Chamblee Area Restaurant Review Facebook Group during Covid, and growing it nearly as large as my Dunwoody version. What began as a way to support struggling restaurants became a digital town square, where locals post reviews and swap recommendations.

The Chamblee Rail Trail is more than a sidewalk. Van breaks down how the trail is expanding to connect key parts of the city and tie into a larger regional network. With plans to link Chamblee to Doraville’s Assembly development, Brookhaven’s greenways, and eventually the BeltLine, the trail is redefining how locals experience the city, without ever getting in a car.

Learn more about Van: oxygenfinancial.com/van-pappas

https://whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-288-smart-branding-and-apartment-density-transformed-chamblee-over-the-last-decade-van-pappas

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.

whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

👙 Summer JCC memberships. whatsupdunwoody.com/jcc

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.

whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.

whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.

whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 287 – Steel Gateway Signs and Matt’s Sold-Out Trolley Tour – Mark Galvin with Discover Dunwoody

Matt’s birthday trolley tour has already sold out! If you want to Rediscover Dunwoody, you’ll have to hop on next month’s ride. Mark Galvin from Discover Dunwoody joins Matt to talk about everything popping up around town—starting with those new steel gateway signs. He breaks down who paid for them, why they matter, and what they mean for the city’s future. The whole episode is really about what’s new.

Did you know High Street will eventually be even larger than Avalon? It’s gearing up to welcome Rosetta Bakery, Hampton Social, CRÚ Food & Wine Bar, Varuni Napoli, and Alo Yoga. Over at Campus 244, CT Cantina & Taqueria is drawing crowds with its chef-driven menu and hidden gem, Tierra Coffee. Stäge Kitchen & Bar is coming soon with upscale seafood, steak, and sushi. And Ashford Place is getting a big refresh with Stone Age Korean Steakhouse and Desi District moving in.

If you live in Dunwoody—or just love watching it grow—this episode is packed with what’s next.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-287-steel-gateway-signs-and-matts-sold-out-trolley-tour-mark-galvin-with-discover-dunwoody/

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.

whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

👙 Summer JCC memberships. whatsupdunwoody.com/jcc

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.

whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.

whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.

whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 286 – Empowering Patients During Cancer Treatment with myFriendMD – Dr. Sarah Friend

Dunwoody’s Dr. Sarah Friend is bringing something new to cancer care. Through her virtual service myFriendMD, she gives breast cancer patients and their families what the medical system often cannot. Time, clarity, and emotional support. With over a decade of experience including years at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute she now helps patients slow down, ask better questions, and take control of their treatment journey.

Her coaching model is built for the space between appointments. The part where fear sets in, questions build, and Google becomes your worst enemy. Dr. Friend steps in when patients need more than facts. They need perspective. They need to feel heard. You get to ask questions one through four during your doctor visit. She helps with questions five through twenty. The ones that matter just as much, but rarely get answered.

Know someone facing breast cancer or walking beside someone who is? Visit myFriendMD.com

https://whatsupdunwoody.com/podcast-286-empowering-patients-during-cancer-treatment-with-myfriendmd-dr-sarah-friend/

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.

whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.

whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.

whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.

whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 285 – How $37M Has Transformed the JCC Into Dunwoody’s Summer Destination – MJCCA CEO Jared Powers

Summer in Dunwoody has a new heartbeat, and it’s the MJCCA. CEO Jared Powers, who grew up riding his bike to the J and later rose from camp counselor to CEO, shares how the 52-acre campus became the city’s ultimate summer destination. Backed by a $37 million investment that upgraded both the Dunwoody campus and Camp Barney Medintz, the transformation has been bold, intentional, and community-focused.

The JCC offers elite day camps, a resort-style aquatic center, and a nationally recognized 15-court pickleball complex. Whether you're diving into splash pads, relaxing poolside, or grabbing a drink above the courts, there’s something for everyone. And yes, it’s open to everyone, even if you aren’t Jewish. The MJCCA welcomes individuals and families of all backgrounds, ages, and beliefs. It’s more than a gym or camp. It’s where Dunwoody summers come alive.

Explore camps: whatsupdunwoody.com/jcamps


Join for the summer: whatsupdunwoody.com/jcc

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city.


whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide.

whatsupdunwoody.com/food

📍 Find local businesses.

whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale.

whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade.

whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation here.

whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town.

whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt.


whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes.

whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast.


whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch.


whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 284 – Dunwoody’s Hottest New Restaurants and Hidden Music Spots - Mark Galvin - Discover Dunwoody

Mark Galvin from Discover Dunwoody breaks down the local hot spots, from live music at Parkwoods and Louisiana Bistro to murder mystery dinner theater at the Marriott. Plus: what’s holding back burger chains from moving to Dunwoody—and why locals are leaning into the no-drive-through lifestyle. Cuddlefish is now rolling sushi and brewing specialty coffee at High Street, while Steak & Grace brings a fresh take on upscale dining to the Village. CT Taqueria lights up Campus 244 with bold Tex-Mex and a clever coffee concept. Whether you’re living in Dunwoody or just hungry for something new, this episode has you covered.

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city. whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide. whatsupdunwoody.com/food

📍 Find local businesses. whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale. whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade. whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation here. whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town. whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt. whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes. whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast. whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch. whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 283 – Why Dunwoody Needs the DHA Now More Than Ever – Tim Brown

Before Dunwoody had a city council, it had the DHA. For decades, the Dunwoody Homeowners Association was the most organized and influential voice in town. It helped shape development, block unwanted commercial growth, and give residents a say in what happened next. Now, Tim Brown is stepping back into leadership with renewed energy after a challenging year. He shares why the DHA still matters, how Dunwoody is evolving, and how the organization will be there to stand up for you when it counts. Check out the DHA website to learn what a $40 membership means for the community and why it should matter more than a meal at Tim’s favorite spot, Joey D’s Steakhouse.

https://dunwoodyga.org

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city. whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide. whatsupdunwoody.com/food

📍 Find local businesses. whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale. whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade. whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation here. whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town. whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt. whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes. whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast. whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch. whatsupdunwoody.com/merch

Podcast 282 – 25 Years After the Tornado and the Legacy of Lemonade Days – Kathy Florence and Hope Follmer

After a tornado ripped through Dunwoody in 1998, neighbors came together to replant, rebuild, and reconnect. What started as a tree-planting campaign grew into something lasting—Lemonade Days, the city’s biggest celebration of resilience and community. Now in its 25th year, the festival continues to evolve while honoring its roots. Hope Follmer, who directs the festival for the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, and Kathy Florence, Communications Manager for the City and a former Honorary Miss Lemonade Days, have helped shape this milestone year. From carnival rides and food trucks to new features like chalk art, legacy lanyards, and local bands performing at the new Band Shell, 2025 feels like a perfect blend of nostalgia and new energy. While I won’t be emceeing Dunwoody Idol this year, the heartbeat of the festival is stronger than ever. Whether you’ve lived here for decades or you’re new to town, this is the week that reminds you of that small town feel we love.

🗓️ April 23–27 at Brook Run Park 🌐 More info: whatsupdunwoody.com/LemonadeDays

What’s Up Dunwoody Links:

📅 Local events around the city. whatsupdunwoody.com/events

🍔 Dunwoody restaurant guide. whatsupdunwoody.com/food

📍 Find local businesses. whatsupdunwoody.com/local

🏠 Homes for sale. whatsupdunwoody.com/homes

🇺🇸 Participate in the Parade. whatsupdunwoody.com/parade

🛎️ Book a hotel staycation here. whatsupdunwoody.com/hotels

🦷 Best orthodontist in town. whatsupdunwoody.com/village

🙋‍♂️ Get to know Matt. whatsupdunwoody.com/matt

🎧 All the podcast episodes. whatsupdunwoody.com/podcasts

📖 Origin story of the podcast. whatsupdunwoody.com/origins

👕 What’s Up Dunwoody merch. whatsupdunwoody.com/merch