At long last and after a lot of paperwork, Sparkles Roller Rink proudly announces its brand new Beer and Wine License. They will commence selling “adult beverages” on Sunday night. No longer limited to sipping “Suicides” and wild cherry Icees, adults will now be able to get their groove on and order up a glass of merlot or a brew to enhance the skating experience. By the way, Sunday nights are always “Adult Night” at Sparkles, when the doors are open for 21 and over beginning at 8 p.m. and lasting until midnight. That’s right: no kids allowed; just the young at heart and fleet of skate. …
Our favorite local java joint is at it again this weekend with back-to-back festivities for do-gooders. Opening its doors to the community, Rev Coffee is graciously hosting these two benefits. First on Friday, Songs For a Cause is the brainchild of Natalie Saxon, an interior designer with a big heart. Her goal is to design and repurpose a battered women’s shelter in south Atlanta. Donating her time and talents to “The Repurposing Haven Project,” Saxon is in need of additional funding to complete renovation of the 17 bedrooms and five bathrooms of the two houses in the shelter. The evening …
Many of us “uncultured” folk have never experienced the opera in real life. If you are indeed one of us, why not take the short jaunt to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre to see The Atlanta Opera perform Lucia di Lammermoor. The website summarizes the story thusly: “Lucia’s forced marriage sets off a chain of tragic events that leads to the most spectacular mad scene in opera. Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor reveals chilling tragedy on a grand scale and will leave you breathless.” Authentic opera is always sung in Italian, but there will be helpful English supertitles above the stage. …
On Saturday, The American Legion Post 160 will be holding its inaugural Family Fall Festival. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., activities galore will beckon: costume contest, face painting, ring toss, duck pond, coloring, hula hoops and sticker books. Parents will also be interested in the artist exhibits, arts and crafts booths, handcrafted jewelry, merchant booths and Legion family info booth. Certainly no one will go hungry, because there will be food and beverages available for purchase, and a live auction takes place from 1 to 2 p.m. Call 770-436-2501 for more information and the legion is …
This weekend’s 23rd Annual Fall Jonquil Festival in Smyrna promises to be fun for the whole family with performances by Laughing Pizza and Scott Thompson of Peachtree Station, as well as more than 175 arts and crafts and food vendors. The festival gets underway on Saturday at 10 a.m. in downtown Smyrna on the Village Green. Laughing Pizza, a fun, family band often featured during “pizza breaks” on PBS Kids, will bring their colorful pop sound to the local entertainment stage at 3:30 p.m. The band will sign autographs after the show. Stick around after Laughing Pizza’s performance to catch a …
Sip and stroll around town this Saturday afternoon as Atlanta Bar Tours rolls out its fantastic 7th Vinings Wine Crawl event. Capitalize on that balmy fall weather whilst taking advantage of some terrific specials on vino and victuals at a handful of Vinings’ best-loved establishments. The event lasts from 1-7 p.m. and registration begins at Vinings Fish Company. The "grand tour” includes Noche Tequila and Tapas Bar, Vinings Inn, and Social Vinings. Wines from regions all over the world will be featured and terrific low prices are offered at each restaurant. Vinings Fish Co. has $6 glasses of…
Everybody’s workin’ for the weekend and nothing says TGIF like hanging out on a patio with friends after the workweek winds down. The last installment of the McCray’s Tavern Leinenkugel Acoustic Patio series happens Friday night. Sip cold beverages on the patio from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with some work pals, while enjoying the live acoustic music. Bargain $2.50 pints of Leinenkugel Summer Shandy will be on hand (a side note: in England, a “shandy” is a refreshing concoction of lemonade and draft beer, but Leinenkugel has ingeniously bottled it) as well as a complimentary taco bar. If it’s been a …
Promenade out for an evening at the theatre (this sounds superior when said in a faux-British accent) to see “The Dixie Swim Club” at The Strand Theatre in Marietta. This lighthearted, entertaining play features a gaggle of Southern belles who began their friendship decades ago on a college swim team. The ladies now meet once a year at a beach cottage in the Outer Banks to catch up, laugh, wax nostalgic and solve current problems. Performed by the Mount Paran Players, all proceeds from this play will benefit Smyrna’s MUST Ministries. “The Dixie Swim Club” will be presented Friday, August 12 …
What is about to be revealed is certainly no secret to the hipsters among us (and you know who you are). Raved-about Indie band Bon Iver is coming to Smynings Thursday night. Following up their 2007 album "For Emma, Forever Ago" is a new self-titled release. Not to be confused with Bon Jovi, Bon Iver’s music is comprised of melodic, folkie, dreamy, atmospheric layers. Fronted by singer Justin Vernon and his regular band members, Bon Iver’s sound has evolved from a more acoustic sound on the first album to a fuller, more fleshed-out sound. On this tour, several other people heavily pedigreed …
Summertime and the livin’ is easy. People from out of town and other assorted non-natives may be perplexed when someone uses the term “Shoot the Hooch.” The local lingo for a fun-filled rafting trip down the Chattahoochee River is a surefire fun afternoon activity with friends or family. By turns relaxing and interspersed with mild rapids, there’s always something happening on this section of the ‘Hooch. The appropriately named Shoot the Hooch company rents out rafts, canoes, kayaks and tubes for a day of outdoor water shenanigans. High Country Outfitters also rents the equipment needed …
REV’D UP Comedy Jam has snowballed into a raucous laugh riot, an eventful evening of veritable comedy Olympics. This go-round, the Comedy Jam happens on Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at REV Coffee. The competition will help benefit an amazing organization called CURE Childhood Cancer, which works to help children who have cancer, their families and loved ones through the various hardships they endure. At the REV’d Up Comedy Jam, the audience gets to judge the local funnymen and women hamming it up and competing for cash prizes. Comedy is guaranteed to be clean, but this is an adult-…
Sweetwater Brewing Company has allied itself with the local Save the Hooch movement to help preserve the quality and beauty of the Chattahoochee River drifting through the Smyra-Vinings area. Fittingly enough, the awesome Vinings Fish Company is hosting an event Thursday night to help benefit said cause. The Save the Hooch Beer Dinner evening kicks off with a festive reception at 6:30 p.m. and just gets better. This excellent triple-threat meal will include delicious beer pairings with each course. Vinings Fish Company has recently made a splash on our restaurant scene by serving the most …
Kick back at Marlow’s Tavern tonight to enjoy some free live music. Eric Hinton and Troy Rushing play acoustic alternative beginning at 8:30 p.m. A talented guitarist since the age of 14, Hinton played with Zac Brown’s college band, Far From Einstyne, and now entertains crowds with his own impressive talent. The always-welcoming Marlow’s Tavern boasts an excellent repertoire of classic and creative cocktails along with outstanding bar food. Whether you come to eat dinner, nosh on appetizers, throw back a few beverages, listen to music, or all of the above, we guarantee Marlow’s will fit the …
Admit it. Over the years, dear old Dad has pretty much been a meal ticket for you and taken you out for plenty of dinners. Maybe he even helped you out with college tuition, rent or car payments. Show your dad some Father’s Day love by treating him this time and bringing him to SOHO Atlanta for an outrageously good Low Down Lobster Boil. From 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, $25 per person entitles guests to a whopping 1.5-pound Maine lobster served with fresh corn on the cob, creamer potatoes, spicy Andouille sausage and a crisp green salad. Quite a deal! Reservations are required, so visit SOHO’s …
Have you heard that Vinings’ own La Paz has gone to the dogs? At “La Paz for Pups,” you can enjoy a festive fiesta and help raise dinero for the dogs at the same time. On Friday, South of La Paz (downstairs venue) invites dog lovers for an evening of terrific food and drinks benefiting Atlanta Boxer Rescue, an organization dedicated to the rescue and adoption of Boxers in the metropolitan-Atlanta area. For a $15 donation, the executive chef at La Paz promises a spectacular spread featuring Boxer Burritos, Tamale Tails and Wolf ‘em Down Tacos. Bone-shaped Sopapillas for dessert are the icing …
Shake Your Groove Thing at Sparkles Roller Rink Family Fun & Fitness Nights this summer. Every Thursday night during the long, hot days of summer, Sparkles has an offer you can’t afford to refuse: Admission is free from 6 to 9 p.m. and skate rental is just $3. What other incentive do you need to get out there on wheels and re-live the days of your own youth? Skating is terrific exercise and just imagine how much your kids would love getting you out there on the floor. A soft indoor playground, video games, and a groovy snack bar complete the generously air-conditioned atmosphere. The music …
Like or dislike, most people have an opinion about comedian Bill Maher. If you belong to the former category, this is your lucky chance to see the funny guy do his irreverent stuff at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Beginning as a stand-up comic way back in 1979, Maher’s career has followed an impressive ever-upward trajectory. Always pushing the envelope, Maher sharpened his TV chops on the un-P.C. Comedy Central show "Politically Incorrect." Later, Maher had a successful run on HBO’s "Real Time," for which he earned 21 Emmy nominations. In 2007, his documentary “Religulous” poked …
Wondering how to whimsically fill a Wednesday night? Be whisked away on a “Flight Night" at SOHO Atlanta Restaurant in Vinings Jubilee. The luscious wines of Napa Valley are featured on Wednesday nights throughout the month of May. Inquisitive wine aficionados are able to learn more and satisfy their curiosity about a certain region. From 5:30-10 p.m. guests may sample each wine in a flight and a paired tapas plate for $18, but wines and tapas may also be purchased individually. 2009 Decoy Sauvignon Blanc paired with tuna carpaccio with capers, lemon and extra virgin olive oil, 2009 Ramspeck …
Don’t forget about The Smyrna Garden Tour on Saturday, but if gardening isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps participating in the 1st Annual Hope Walk will draw some of you generous do-gooder types hoping to make a difference. Sponsored by Journey Transitional Housing For Women, Inc., The Hope Walk on Saturday will help raise much-needed funds to assist homeless women and their children. This five-mile walk begins at Heritage Park (Silver Comet Trail) at 8 a.m. At the end of the walk, a reception greets and rewards participants for a job well done. Journey Transitional Housing, Inc aims to help …
As the mischievous Speedy Gonzalez says, “Andale! Andale! Arriba! Arriba! Yii-hah!” This could be a fairly accurate description of your evening if you join the folks at Lime Taqueria & Tequila Bar to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Thursday. Large, frosty 16-ounce margaritas are only $5; $3 buys Dos Equis; and plentiful Jose Cuervo will stir up the festivities. Of course, the spicy South-of-the-Border food at Lime is always a given. If you’re a regular Tom Selleck, Salvador Dali, or Josef Stalin when it comes to facial hair, the Mustache Contest is for you, amigo. All ‘stache-sporting celebrants…
