Atlanta Events

I’ve been wanting to go apple picking for years and am now determined to make it happen, but had no idea where to go! I polled friends via Twitter and got a ton of great suggestions and will follow up with a full report when I finally hit the orchards in Sept/Oct. Have to wait for it to cool off just a little bit more….

Here are the places/events I was recommended, so you can plan your own apple picking adventure this Fall! Be sure to click on the site links to get the costs of the actual apples (pecks, bushels, etc).

Mercier Orchards- Blue Ridge, GA. Sat/Sun 10-4pm. Free tractor rides and U-Pick Apples. Bakery, deli, market with apple items and home decor.

Hillcrest Orchards - Elijay, GA. Sat/Sun 9-6pm. $6 entry.U-Pick Apples, Petting Farm ($3), bakery and ice cream parlor, farm market.

Reece Apple Orchards - Elijay, GA. In Sept/Oct daily 8am-6pm. $2 ride to U-Pick orchard, petting farm, wagon rides, apple cannon, and bakery with famous fried apple pies. Not just apples, peaches too!

Red Apple Barn - Elijay, GA. In Sat/Sun. $5 tractor ride/tour. 1/4 peck from $4. Market features apple bread, muscadine & blackberry cider, fritters, jams/jellies, and more!

Georgia Apple Festival - Elijay, GA. 10/13-14, 10/20-21. $5. 300+ vendors, demos, crafts, car show and parade.

Embrace this fun Fall activity and support our local farmers in the process!

As the weather starts to cool down, it’s a great excuse to warm up with a cup of tea. We have some great tea rooms in Atlanta, both individually owned and also those in large hotels that are a great place to spend time with a friend over tasty treats and a steaming cup.

I’ve taken tea at the Savoy in London, The Ritz on Park Avenue, Alice’s Tea Cup in New York, tiny tea shops in Seattle/Charleston/Houston, The Beverly Hills Hotel, and the grand dame of them all - The Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. I consider myself to be pretty well-versed in the history and traditions of afternoon tea (considered to be started by the Duchess of Bedford) and now I want to share that passion with you.

Here are some of my favorite spots to take tea with friends and family here in the Atlanta area - be sure to make reservations before you go as these places book up fast!

Tea Leaves and Thyme - Woodstock. $14.50 full afternoon tea. Owned by the lovely Kim with exec chef Kristin, Tea Leaves and Thyme is by far my favorite tea room in the Atlanta area. For those ITP - it may seem like a hike, but it’s worth the effort. Three tiers of delicious food including scones, chicken salad sandwiches, tea sandwiches, desserts and more. The food, service and tea selection is the best you will see for the really low price. Set in a charming home in the Historic Woodstock area, they are also open for lunch.

Roswell Tea House - Historic Roswell. $20+ afternoon tea. Another charming house a couple blocks walk from the Historic Roswell area, this tea room eschews the lace and hats for a more modern aesthetic. Cast iron Japanese tea pots and an art gallery are featured in this tea room, as well as fantastic food. Great selection of loose leaf teas and they are also now open for dinner as well.

Dr. Bombay’s Underwater Tea Party - Candler Park. $30 = Tea for 2. Tea is served from 3:30-5pm everyday, reservations recommended. You will enjoy a pot of tea for 2, including milk, honey, lemon, sugar. Served with assorted cookies and mini cupcakes, 2 scones, jam, imported Devonshire clotted cream, and finger sandwiches. Dr. Bombay’s has recently expanded is now available for bridal/baby showers and other fun parties/events.

Want to go high-end? Major hotels in town also offer a luxurious version of afternoon tea here in Atlanta.

Ritz-Carlton - Buckhead. $34+. Afternoon tea is served on Sat and Sun at 2:30pm and 3pm in The Lobby Lounge. Tea is served in the English tradition, with seasonally-inspired tea sandwiches, pastries and warm scones. Upgrade to a ‘Royal Tea’ which includes champagne for $43 and the cost $21 for children.

Four Seasons Park 75 - Midtown. $32. Afternoon tea is served Saturday & Sunday only from 2-4pm. Traditional tea service with scones, sandwiches, fruit, cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries. See the menu here. Add champagne to your experience for $10/glass.

Wherever you decide to, tea is a great way to just slow down and savor the moment.

I’m convinced I was a mafia moll in a past life, since I have always been fascinated by the mob and speakeasies. Some great ones I’ve hit around the country include Prohibition and The Noble Experiment in San Diego, Williams & Graham in Denver, and Bathtub Gin & Co in Seattle. Here in Atlanta, we also have Prohibition and a haven for beer enthusiasts, The Fred.

With the rise of Mixologists and the return to old school cocktails, the speakeasy era is back and a great way to jump right in is the Speakeasy Fest here in Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend.

Details: Sat & Sun 9/1-2 at Georgia World Congress Center. $25+.

Prepare to be immersed into the Prohibition era world of ‘speakeasies’ with secret compartments and drop-shelves filled with alcohol, for a weekend of mixology, cuisine and culture.

Tickets include access to the The Speakeasy Fest Cocktail Gala each night and if you upgrade to the Tasting Ticket or VIP, it includes tasting tickets and more. Click here for a rundown on what your pass gets you access to.

So don your favorite fedora or flapper dress, it’s time to get into some great cocktails and experience the best of a bygone era.

Being in a landlocked town, I love it when the water comes to us in whatever form that may be. Let Lure, the latest seafood concept from Fifth Group Restaurants, take you out for a night on the high seas for an amazing culinary adventure.

Since they opened within a month of each other and both feature seafood, there have been a lot of comparisons to The Optimist. In my opinion, while The Optimist invokes the feeling of beachside dining, with Lure I feel like I’m on a ship that is stopping at exotic ports and offering up different takes on traditional seafood cuisine.

Starters are a must and there are some great options on the menu. Plates to share include the smoked seafood platter that features cold-smoked salmon with cucumber, cape bluefish with pickled beets and crème fraiche, rainbow trout paté with boiled egg and horseradish. I also really enjoyed the chilled seafood platter peel-and-eat shrimp, salmon tartare, ceviche, whelks, and crab crudo.

The decor features dark woods, antique brass accents and really makes you feel like you’re about to go hunting for Moby Dick, but with very cool cocktails and delicious Tom Yum Shrimp Bisque to warm your belly.

The Asian influences are a great complement to the food and drink menus, but I wouldn’t consider this Asian fusion by any stretch. The Shochu drink menu, Punch Bowls and Prosecco on tap are unique and inspired. Other great items on the menu to share that I loved were the French Horn Mushrooms, the Fried Oyster Sliders and the Grilled Octopus & Pork Lettuce Wraps.

Great atmosphere, killer menu, original ideas with their drink offerings definitely equals a big dining success in my book. Also, they offer a free valet right off Crescent Ave, so no hassle parking. Be sure to touch the antique anchor in front of the entrance to Lure for good luck, you know how superstitious sailors can be.

A really fun local event is helping close out the summer in ATL- the Cypress Street Annual Pig Roast is happening on Sat 8/25. $10 gets you a plate of pig, and a day of live music, Sweetwater brews, and a fun time with friends.

Whether you’re a full-fledged Browncoat (super fans of the sci-fi show Firefly) or just a fan of having a good time and supporting great organizations, you should check out the annual Can’t Stop The Serenity Screening happening here in Atlanta and you should be there!

Details: Screening of the movie Serenity, 9/30 6-9pm. Plaza Theatre. Early bird: $12 or 2 for $20. Silent auction, prizes, more!

Profits from the screening are donated to Equality Now and attendees can donate canned goods to Atlanta Community Food Bank on site and receive additional raffle tickets! Besides, attending will make you a Big Damn Hero!