Things to Do in Canton

From its roots as a Georgian stained-glass manufacturer in 1977, the now international Armstrong Glass Company has slowly added more and more design elements to its inventory—from textured to fused to cabinet to iridescent glass. Each of Armstrong's handcrafted products differs slightly in coloring as it takes shape. This lends individuality to every piece, even if they’re identically designed. The company tackles custom projects with ease, such as tabletops, glass sinks, room dividers, and houses for people who don’t throw stones.

Skaters of all ages sail across Hot Wheels Skate Center's recently coated roller rink, surrounded by bright murals lit by the glow of disco lights. The large skating rink provides a smooth surface and ample room to glide, and black-light-activated carpet designs entertain off-duty skaters. Rentals catapult feet across several millennia of evolution, fueled by molten pizza cheese. Disco lights dance off the floor's reflective surface, and murals of painted cars riding along rainbow roads burst alive from the walls just like the painting of Great-Grandma does after everyone is asleep.

All Fired Up’s owner, Noelle, opened the small pottery shop as a wholesome place where families could come together to create art and bond in a fun, supportive environment. She and her helpful staff aid in the creation and kiln firing of one-of-a-kind dishware, piggy banks, and ceramic socks, with occasional pop-ins from her wayfaring sister and store manager Laura. The sturdy shelves lining each wall of the cozy shop brim with unglazed porcelain, dozens of paint colors, and an array of inspirational stamps, stencils, and design books. In addition to scheduled pottery wheel lessons led by Laura herself, All Fired Up fuels creativity through children’s art classes, summer camps, and birthday parties.

Just walking through the door of All Fired Up can lead to artistic inspiration for paint-your-own-pottery sessions. Paper butterflies, flowers, and stars speckle the floor-to-ceiling windows, and ceramic tiles in the shape of birds, hearts, and trees cover the back wall. Artists of all experience levels can select a bisque piece to decorate with the studio’s vast supply of paints and melted Skittles.

Established in 1982, Kennesaw State's athletics program first competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. In the mid-90s, the Owls migrated to the NCAA, where they claimed 7 Division II championships in activities as diverse as men's basketball, cheerleading, and women's soccer. Just as a real owl hones its night vision until it stops stubbing its talons on branches, the school continued its ascent until it joined the Division I Atlantic Sun Conference, netting two national tournament appearances in women's soccer as well as championships in men's track and field and women's cross-country.