Things to do in and around Atlanta for Monday, July 30

Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, and Julio Jones (seen here playing in Philadelphia back in January) will practice in one of their few open-to-the-public training camp sessions on Monday morning.     Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, and Julio Jones (seen here playing in Philadelphia back in January) will practice in one of their few open-to-the-public training camp sessions on Monday morning. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Julio Jones will be there.

What about you?!

If you thought this was just going to be another blah Monday, think again. The chance to see Jones and other Falcons players up close and personal and sweaty is one of the best things this start-of-the-work-week has going for it.

But not the only one.

As August looms and Summer in the South starts ever so slowly drawing to a close, here are a few ideas for making this Monday feel like an endless vacation.

“AT&T ATLANTA FALCONS TRAINING CAMP”

Rise up and get yourself to Flowery Branch as the Birds take part in one of their few open-to-the-public training camps of the summer. Camp opened on Thursday with the first practice held on Friday. By then, the Falcons had broken the extremely good news that the team had come to an agreement with its all-world wide receiver Julio Jones and he'd be in camp (Well, it's good news except for anyone who doesn't want to see the Falcons return to the Super Bowl in their hometown this season). Gates open 8:20 a.m., practice at 9:20 a.m. Free. 4400 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch. 770-965-2752, www.atlantafalcons.com

“GOLDEN LEGACY: ORIGINAL ART FROM 75 YEARS OF GOLDEN BOOKS”

Maybe you have kids of your own. Or maybe you simply yearn for those simpler days when your biggest concern was whether the Little Red Hen would get her wheat planted or why the Poky Little Puppy was so darn, well, poky. Kids of all ages will appreciate this display of 65 pieces of original illustration art from the classic picture book series. Includes artwork from "Tootle," "The Kitten Who Thought He was a Mouse," "The Poky Little Puppy" and numerous other books. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free. Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking at Georgia Tech, 500 10th St., Atlanta. paper.gatech.edu.

“BUTTERFLY ENCOUNTER”

There's just one more day before this perenially popular summer event goes back into its cocoon again for the winter. Where else will you find such a gorgeous living exhibition featuring hundreds of native butterflies in a plant-filled setting? Along with having plenty of photo opportunities, visitors can walk away with some of the tools needed to start or enhance their own butterfly gardens. Continues daily through July 31. 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday. Included with general admission: $10; senior citizens and students ages 13 and older, $7; ages 3-12, $6; free for children ages 2 and younger. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055, chattnaturecenter.org


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