Atlanta Events

UPDATE: Contest is closed!!! Thanks to everyone who tweeted/emailed me!! Enjoy the show!!

How would you like to have 2 free tix to the new IMAX movie “Tornado Alley” showing at Fernbank Museum for this Sunday, 4/3?

We have three times for the show: 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.

Here’s your chance! Just tweet:

Hey @ATL_Events! I want to be blown away this Sunday at the @FernbankMuseum #TornadoAlley screening at (insert which show time here)

Or email me the same message! Easy enough eh? First 15 tweets/emails per show time get 2 tix each! Love it!

After the film, take an up-close look at the Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) featured in the film and meet  filmmaker and star Sean Casey, who will be signing autographs at 1pm and 3pm.

Congratulations to Chef Ron Eyester of Rosebud fame on the opening of his new bar to the public at 4pm today, The Family Dog! Located conveniently right across from his restaurant in Morningside/VaHi area - this new watering hole had its opening party on Monday at midnight.

What can you expect? A very long menu of specialty drinks, high end liquors, craft beer (bottles and draft), wines and most excellent noshes from The Angry Chef himself! Those who stayed up late on a school night got to try the lobster egg rolls, chicken liver toast, pork rinds with cheese, and more! Great crowd turned out to cheer on Chef Ron including Kevin from Heavy Seas, Broderick of Savory Exposure, Amy, Katie,James, the infamous Jon Macklin,Sarah-Ann Soffer from Eat Drink Repeat, Rosebud fans and neighbors.

So if you are looking for a new place to hang with friends, be sure to check out The Family Dog! On Facebook and Twitter!

I love any excuse to get together with friends and try new dishes around town. We have a great one for you coming up on Wednesday, 4/13 at 6pm! I’m teaming up with Atlanta Dish to co-host the first ever Wiener Wednesday Tweet-Up!

Starting in early April, JCT. Bar is serving three different preparations of wieners with various toppings Tuesday through Saturday for $4 apiece. On “Wiener Wednesdays,” these wieners will be specially priced at only $2!

The wiener selections will change from week to week, but include options such as the smoked Coca-Cola BBQ wiener with Vidalia onion relish; cider braised fennel and onion wiener with Sweet Grass Dairy Asher Bleu cheese; chicken liver wiener with apple butter, house mustard and tiny pickles; and the “corn dog” wiener with hush puppy crispies, green tomato relish and rémoulade.

Come out and enjoy one of these awesome new Wieners for only $2 and meet new friends in the process!

RSVP here!

Being from Texas, I’ve had occasion to enjoy a cool theater chain that started in Austin called the Alamo Drafthouse. Basic premise is that it’s a regular theater that in addition to popcorn and candy, also serves food, drinks, beer & wine that you enjoy during the film. Brilliant really! Here are some theaters in town who have taken this experience and made it their own:

AMC Fork & Screen (formerly called the Buckhead Backlot)

Working ITP, friends and I would take advantage of the $5 discounted tix during the week and targeted films that could be improved with a pitcher of beer and snacks.

Some flicks we have seen there include The Hangover, Tropic Thunder, Transporter 3, Pinapple Express….you get the idea. Fine if you live in town and want to battle the Buckhead traffic, but now there are more options for those who want to enjoy food & a flick closer to home.

Northlake Movie Tavern - Tucker

Just barely inside the Perimeter, this theater has some fun promotions including Breakfast and a Flick, which offers a special menu for those attending the 9am films on Saturday and Sunday.

For adults not willing to get up that early for flicks, you can enjoy Retro Cinema on Tuesdays at 7pm and Thursdays at 9:30pm. Classic movies you know almost all the words to, including Labyrinth on 3/31 & 4/5, The Breakfast Club on 4/7 & 4/12, The Blues Brothers on 4/14 & 4/19 and more for $8 (adult tix).

Studio Movie Grill - Alpharetta

Just checked out this theater over the weekend and was really impressed. Brand new and huge, it’s the Buckhead experience in a full-sized theater. Food was pretty good and they also offer ‘adult’ milkshakes, in addition to beer/wine/mixed drinks. In addition to kids movies/toons in the mornings during the week, they have daily specials as well including $2 Margarita Mondays.

Regular ticket prices, unless you hit films before noon and then it’s only $5. They also have classic movies for $1, with the next flicks including Ridley Scott’s Alien on Thurs 4/21 at 7:30pm.

There are tons of great movies coming up soon, so be sure to keep these great movie houses in mind when making your plans for what I’m calling Super Hero Summer!

Despite the rain, this year’s BaconFest was definitely bigger and better (although wetter) than last year’s! Great bands and a huge silent auction that took over the inside of the theater, this lively annual fundraiser for Dad’s Garage sold out the morning of the event.

Definitely going again next year and will only hope for better weather! Great turnout from friends I’ve made through Twitter - including Spencer and his team from Black Tie BBQ (who cooked 1,000 lbs of bacon!), Chris from Who Eats That Stuff, Kathleen from Yelp Atlanta, Rawle of Tank Goodness, Kelly from Urban Daddy ATL, and Broderick of Savory Exposure. Check out pics from the event and be sure not to miss this next year!

In other major cities, the Street Food Movement has been in high gear for some time, but we are definitely just getting started. Luckily here we have the Atlanta Street Food Coalition to help support this growing trend locally and get the word out about all the great vendors cruising the streets with tasty treats.

One way to find them is to attend the monthly Urban Picnic at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market!

The last Friday of the month (that is today!!), local street food vendors flock to the market parking lot and set up from 11am-2pm.

Some of our fave vendors that may be on hand from month to month include Yumbii, Good Food Truck (home of the famous poodle), Yum Yum Cakes, Westside Creamery, The King of Pops, Grace’s Goodness, Hector Santiago’s Burrito Stand and more!

Be sure to follow the Atlanta Street Food Coalition on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates on legislation, vendor locations and cool events like the Urban Picnic!

Urban Picnic - Last Friday of the Month (11am-2pm)

Sweet Auburn Curb Market

209 Edgewood Ave. SE,

Atlanta, GA 30303

Now that the weather is nice, patios are all the rage around town! Starting on April 7th, you can now include your favorite pup in your after work plans every Thursday 5-10pm for Canine and Cocktails at the Hotel Indigo in Midtown!

As you sip on their signature drinks (Greyhound, Salty Dog and Yellow Lab) - $1 from every drink goes to support the Atlanta Humane Society

Your four-legged friends can join in on the fun with free treats (vegan, traditional and organic) and dine on gourmet steak & chicken, bottled water and more from their famous Doggie Menu! Afterward they can get a picture in the iconic Hotel Indigo chair!

So get your friends, furry and human, together and take a break at the Hotel Indigo, which is right across from The Fox Theatre in Midtown! Every Thursday night from April 7th through June 2nd.

Everyone is so happy Spring is here! Get a jump start on making your pots, yards, decks, or balconies come to life with flowers and greenery from Pike Nurseries!

This Friday 3/25 from 5-8pm, enjoy a Happy Flower Hour at ALL Pike locations in ATL! It’s free to attend and guests can enjoy 20% off purchases, complimentary apps and a wine tasting!

Also, Pike experts will be on hand to offer advice and know-how on spring gardening to ensure that even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can create a successful garden or flowery addition to your home!

Find a location near you here!

Most of my favorite foods involve melted cheese in some form, so when I saw that [three sheets] in Sandy Springs was hosting a gourmet Grilled Cheese with Wine Pairings dinner every month - I had to check it out.

I have friends that live in the area near the restaurant, but had never been in before. Boy was I surprised! When you enter, you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a swanky lounge that should have a velvet rope at the door. Plush, elegant, and more than a little sexy - [three sheets] will transport you!

Now let’s get to the food! The $30 (+ tax & gratuity) prix fixe meal features 5 different gourmet takes on grilled cheese. Mine were 1) Proscuitto, Taleggio and Apple on Holeman & Finch sourdough bread, 2) Gorgonzola on Ciabatta with a Pear & Basil Honey Truffle Butter, 3) Asiago Fresco and Oven Roasted Tomatoes on H&F sourdough, 4) Fontina and Roma Tomatoes on Country Italian Bread w/crunch Parmigiano-Reggiano crush and 5) Provolone and Soppresata Panini.

Each course was paired with an Italian wine selected to match the flavor profiles of the cheese and were amazing. We had a Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Valpolicella, Mont D’Abruzzo and a Sangiovese that were all perfect. I’m on the hunt for the Pinot Grigio locally - it was amazing.

The wine rep for [three sheets] sat down at our table for each course and walked us through what type of wine we were tasting and why they selected it for that particular sandwich. It was a very nice touch and really added to the experience.

We ended the dinner with a mini Espresso martini and chocolate truffle. Decadent!

So for a great date night, or an evening out with friends, consider hitting [three sheets] Grilled Cheese & Wine Pairing Dinner! It’s the third Tuesday of each month and tickets sell out fast!

It’s that time of year! Move over March Madness, it’s time for Restaurant Week Madness here in Atlanta! These week-long events are great opportunities to check out all the fantastic restaurants here in Atlanta at a reasonable price.

Next up is Inman Park Restaurant Week! I love this neighborhood and I’ve mentioned a couple times that one of my fave go-tos for a date night or a fun outing with friends is a great meal at one of the Inman Park restaurants and walking over after for a show at Dad’s Garage. Here’s your chance to sample the best the neighborhood has to offer!

Dates: Monday 3/28 - Sunday 4/3

Prices: Prix Fixe menus from $15-$35

Reservations: Click on the restaurant logo of your choice to make your res!

Win/Benefit: When you’re dining, be sure to get some $1 raffle tickets for the chance to win a hosted hor d’ouerves, beer and wine party at Kevin Rathbun’s Steak’s Patio for ten of their friends. All raffle ticket sales benefits Open Hand.

Twitter: Be sure to follow @InmanParkRW for updates!

$15 Menus

Pure Taqueria
The Albert
North Highland Pub
Victory Sandwich Bar

$25 Menu

Wisteria
Parish Food & Goods
Fritti
Park’s Edge
Rathbun’s
Sauced
Sotto Sotto

$35 Menu

Kevin Rathbun Steak

I’m a big fan of Souper Jenny and was excited to hear that she was opening a second location in Buckhead - Cafe Jonah and the Magical Attic. Named after her son, the cafe features breakfast/brunch and lunch offerings that include sweets from Highland Bakery & Sally’s Bakery (gluten-free treats), as well as fresh Holeman + Finch bread.

We had a crew head over for brunch last weekend and I honestly fell in love with the place. Darling house converted into a cafe, bright colors, country cottage vibe with great food.

I had the ham, spinach and Gruyere cheese quiche with fresh fruit and had to indulge in their hot chocolate- that features handmade marshmallows! Everything is fresh and they emphasize organic in their ingredients.

Other highlights included a goat cheese and veggie frittata, amazing blueberry coffeecake/crumble and sides included fresh fruit or cheesy grits - which were creamy and delicious.

If you climb the stairs to the ‘Magical Attic’ you will find a selection of New Age products such as incense, candles, books, crystals and dried sage. A rotating schedule of different artists are also on hand to give readings via tarot or other methods pending the day/time.

So for a relaxing brunch or lunch getaway, you’ll find it at Cafe Jonah and the Magical Attic.

Big thanks to everyone on #TeamTweet, Allison at the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the organizers for the 2011 Hunger Walk/Run for a fantastic time on Sunday! It was a gorgeous day and as this was my first official ‘race’, it was an amazing experience. The more than 12,000 participants enjoyed music, carnival performers, kids activities, and seeing local celebs like 92.9 FM’s Mara Davis and 11 Alive’s Commuter Dude!

We hung out at the official ‘TweetUp Tent’ and had people add their Twitter account addresses in the front in chalk. We had a special mascot for our team - Giggy A. Dinosaur from the Fernbank Museum! Follow Giggy on Twitter to see all his fun adventures at the race.

Check out the cool shirts Stephanie made for us! Team Tweet on the front, on the back ‘Follow me @(your twitter account here)’ So cool! We definitely stood out in our personalized light blue t’s!

Again, awesome event and so glad I went! Everyone had a great time and can’t wait for next year!

Last year I attended BaconFest, an annual fundraiser for local improv company Dad’s Garage, with friends and had an absolute blast. Live music, all you can eat bacon and all you can drink beer + fun carnival games, cool silent auction (tons of Adult Swim items, local restaurant & hot spot certificates) and raising money for the arts = big win. I will absolutely be there again this year.

This year Dad’s has upped the stakes and now BaconFest is even bigger and better than ever! Four local bands will be performing and neighbor P’Cheen will be rolling out a slow smoked whole hog for the top tier ticket holders.

Big note for beer fans when buying your tickets: ‘Whole Hog’ = Wild Heaven Craft Beers on draft & ‘Bottomless Bacon’ = TBD Beer (last year it was Terrapin)

Date/Time: Saturday, 3/26 from 1-6pm

Ticket Prices: (last year sold out, so don’t wait until the last min to get tix!)

Portioned Porking: $25 online, $35 phone & door
Bottomless Bacon: $50 online, $60 phone & door
Still not enough swine? Go Whole Hog!: $100 online, $110 phone and door

Be sure to ‘Like’ BaconFest on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for all the juicy updates!

It’s been a blur of fun events the last couple of weeks, so here’s a recap of two of the most recent outings!

Pinkberry Buckhead Opens!

Now swirling across from Phipps Plaza on Peachtree is the newest location of froyo sensation - Pinkberry! Fresh seasonal flavors and toppings make this a guilt-free treat. The event had a DJ pumping out toons, giveaways and free Pinkberry for everyone who attended that evening!

Lots of Twitter peeps came out to check out the opening, including Chris from Eat.Drink.Repeat, Billy of RestaurantsATL, Maura of 365Atlanta and Broderick of Savory Exposure.

That same night - the first ever #TikiTweetUp was held in Atlanta at Trader Vic’s in the Hilton Downtown! I’ve never been to the Polynesian-themed bar/restaurant - but was told by tiki expert Chad Elkins (@ratpack) that Thursdays nights is when you need to go. Not only do they feature $6 Mai Tais (that are way too good), but you can also listen to the rocking sounds of Tongo Hiti - a theme band from ATL’s own Kingsized group featuring ‘Big Mike’ Geier! Good times!

Great group of people attended the #TikiTweetUp including Lauren & Lindsay from The Quick + Dirty Dirty blog, Erin of Like Atlanta, and Tessa & Maigh - ATL social media mavens. Stephanie (@soxprincessatl) discovered drinks are infinitely more fun with a parrot in them! Also making the scene were Yelp Elites James & Alexa!

More events to come…..the year has only just begun!

If you follow me on Twitter, I’ve been posting a lot about the upcoming Atlanta Hunger Walk that benefits the Atlanta Community Food Bank this Sunday 3/13 at Turner Field.

It’s a 5K Run/Walk and I’ve been fortunate enough to have several friends from Twitter join me to raise awareness and money for the ACFB!

We even have a mascot! Giggy A. Dinosaur from the Fernbank Museum!

It’s not too late to join Team Tweet, or if you can’t make it this Sunday, here’s a couple ways to support the ACFB:

- Make a donation to Team Tweet or create your own team!

- Eat at Antico Pizza this Tuesday night (3/8) for the monthly ACFB Supper Club! 20% off the proceeds benefit ACFB and you get to enjoy some of the best pizza in Atlanta!

(picture from Creative Loafing’s Omnivore column)

Thanks to all my Team Tweet members and supporters: Stephanie, Angie, Victoria, Maura, George, Deanna, Kelly, Katie, Sue, Tami, my parents & sister, my aunt/uncle & cousin, & my good friend out in LA - Heather.