An Atlanta institution, The Whiskey Gentry has announced it will be returning to the Variety Playhouse on December 8, 2018 for the 10th Annual Merry Y’alltide Celebration. The announcement comes with the news that this will officially be the final performance by The Whiskey Gentry. Recent months have seen the band take fewer engagements, as lead singer, Lauren Morrow has emerged with a new sound and self-titled solo EP. Rolling Stone profiled Morrow in its latest issue as one of their “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know” creating further buzz to already exciting news.

In celebration of the brand-new production of The Nutcracker debuting in 2018, Atlanta Ballet has revealed plans for its pre- and post-performance Opening Night Gala on December 8, 2018 at the Fox Theatre. Chaired by Barbara Joiner, The Nutcracker Opening Night Gala will kick-off at 5 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by dinner in the Egyptian Ballroom. With the timeless décor by esteemed Tony Brewer & Co., guests will be transported to a time of European elegance and treated to an exquisite meal prepared by Affairs to Remember. Guests will then take their seats in the theatre, where they will experience the extraordinary premiere of Atlanta Ballet’s new production of The Nutcracker. The excitement will continue with a high-energy after-party, The Nutcracker Act II, featuring an open bar, late-night bites, and dancing with Atlanta Ballet Company dancers.

The Holiday Season wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Atlanta Christkindl Market, Atlanta’s authentic German Christmas Market presented by the German American Cultural Foundation. Join us at Atlantic Station in our winter wonderland for our month-long celebration featuring the Atlanta Christkindl Market, entertainment, nightly snow shows and ice skating. Stroll through the Atlanta Christkindl Market which offers handcrafted gifts such as ornaments, nutcrackers, toys and more. Come hungry and enjoy a selection of delicious German food such as bratwurst, roasted nuts, pastries, pretzels and more. There will be plenty of beverage options including German beers and the traditional glühwein, a hot spiced mulled wine, perfect for warming you up in the up the crisp winter weather. While you are there, experience Atlantic Station’s nightly snow shows, visit with Santa at Santa’s Cottage, the newly expanded ice-skating rink and take pictures in front of the giant Christmas tree adorned with more than 10,000 lights.

Posman Books and City Winery Atlanta, both located at Ponce City Market, have announced Nappily Ever After by author Trisha R. Thomas as the November selection for the popular monthly book club, Books & Booze. Featuring lively discussions among fellow readers, the free event will be hosted by Marc Stiles, Posman Book’s General Manager, and will be held at the award-winning urban winery on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, beginning at 7 p.m. For the November Books & Booze installment, City Winery’s sommelier, Briana Pope-Pettis, has created a themed Literary Libation, Something Different, a delightful mix of Créme de Violette, St-Germain, Old 4th Ward Gin,13th Colony Southern Vodka, lemon juice, Havana and Hide Bitters. City Winery’s expansive wine, cocktail and craft beer offerings will also be available.

This holiday season, Park Tavern in Piedmont Park is pulling out all the stops for its popular ice skating rink that has become a beloved annual tradition for all ages. Presenting Fire & Ice at The Rink Powered by Pepsi, Park Tavern will welcome guests Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, November 23, 2018 through Monday, January 21, 2019 to a completely transformed environment that boasts an enchanted Neo-Victorian feel and design elements, charming holiday decor, fun and games, special events, seasonal signature cocktails, delicious fare, and much more. The Fire & Ice season of The Rink at Park Tavern will once again bring patrons unobstructed views of Piedmont Park and the Midtown skyline. Skaters will stay warm under the heated Garden Tent and enjoy a state-of-the-art sound system and an 85-foot long and 40-foot wide rink that comfortably accommodates 200 day and night. Observers are invited to sit back and relax and catch up with family and friends by stone fire pits and fireplaces, in private cabanas, and ample seating while catching their favorite teams on multiple flat screen TVs. In addition to rink and park-side dining, seasonal cocktails and house-made brews from one of Atlanta’s oldest breweries, guests can also take advantage of 1/2 price wine bottles every Wednesday, 1/2 off fresh sushi, sangria, Park Tavern drafts and Frosé from 9 p.m. to midnight, s’mores, and a variety of events and games - from frozen turkey bowling and weekly Steampunk skate parties to celebrating New Year’s Eve during their annual, sold-out bash with Yacht Rock Revue.

Now in its fourteenth year producing craft and art markets, the Indie Craft Experience presents its Holiday Shopping Spectacular November 17-18. The event features 170+ craft, art, and vintage vendors as well as a dozen local food vendors, DJ Zano, and swag bags for the first 250 attendees each day designed by Janae Easton of Platypusfile and Sarah Watts of Crafted Moon. The event takes place at the Georgia Freight Depot, the oldest standing building in downtown Atlanta.

This November and December, Ponce City Market's holiday spectacular will return to the historic community destination for merry celebrations throughout the season. Free and open to the public, The Yard will transform into a winter wonderland complete with King of Pops’ Tree Elves Lot, visits with Santa, revelry from the Grinch, a menorah lighting celebration and more. Featuring a lush, winding forest of trees for purchase beginning late November, The Yard’s winter wonderland welcomes guests to either choose a tree to take home or place an order for the King of Pops Tree Elves to deliver the green prize right to their doorstep. The Tree Elves will also pick up trees for easy recycling after the holidays! Holiday cheer will be spread all around Ponce City Market, and festivities kick off on Friday, November 23, when The Yard becomes ground-zero for one of the biggest holiday brouhahas Atlanta has ever seen. It’s the Ultimate Showdown of Naughty vs. Nice, with the green, mean, anything but clean Grinch and his Punishing Posse in one corner and the man in the famous red suit with a sack of menace slung over his shoulder in the other! Come one, come all, and claim a ringside seat to witness up close a wrestling match for the ages. Mayhem at the Market is free to all and begins at 11am, but come early for face-painting, poster-making, temporary tattoos and more starting at 10:30am.

Back for another wine-infused affair, the Uncorked Atlanta Wine Festival hosted by The Atlanta Sport & Social Club returns to Park Tavern in Piedmont Park on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Beginning at 12 p.m., wine aficionados can enjoy over 50 varieties of complimentary wine and craft beer tastings, including an extensive list of cabernets, chardonnays, merlots, Park Tavern’s handcrafted brews, and much more. Revelers can also celebrate their love of wine with a variety of wine-themed activities while enjoying DJ performances throughout the day. In addition to tastings, music and all things wine, attendees will walk away with an official Uncorked Atlanta tasting glass as a souvenir. For ages 21 and up, tickets are available for the Uncorked Wine Festival for $48 before Thursday, November 8th and $54 from Friday, November 9th through Friday, November 16th. Tickets, if available, will also be sold for $60 at the door. To purchase tickets or more information, visit www.parktavern.com.

The Atlanta Beer Bus, a HOP-on/HOP-off shuttle service that transports beer enthusiasts between Atlanta’s finest breweries, has officially launched. Offering wallet-friendly entertainment for just $15 per person, riders receive unlimited access to the Atlanta Beer Bus shuttles that travel along a continuous loop where they create their own brewery adventure – staying as long or as little as they like at any location every Friday through Sunday.

It’s worth your while to travel just a few minutes OTP to try a new gem in Roswell, From the Earth Brewing Company. With a brewery-style bar and full restaurant, we were blown away by the quality of both the beer and the food. Beyond that, when you think brewery, you would think the food might be lacking, but it was spot on, right up there with the best restaurants around our foodie-rich town. Making you hungry? Let’s dive-on in!

From octopus to lamb pasta and arugula salad, brussels sprouts to wagyu flank steak, Allora is a diverse new Italian concept from our friends Concentrics Restaurants. The restaurant is nestled down in a cozy building on the corner of Atlantic Station and 17th. The décor was also cozy and warm with low lighting and a stunning wood bar, but of course, the star of the show was the food! Let’s take a walk through the menu together.

Keune Haircosmetics, a global hair care company with North American headquarters in Atlanta, launched its much-anticipated new hairstyling product line BLEND at an exclusive, invite-only event on January 22, 2017. Produced by Bill Kaelin Marketing and located at the striking Southern Exposure venue within King Plow Arts Center on Atlanta’s Westside, the event hosted over 250 hair stylists and tastemakers, and played off of a “blended” theme throughout, including a variety of unexpected artistic experiences, entertaining performances, and creative food and drink.

We were invited on Tuesday, November 29th to experience Fogo de Chao's newest location in Dunwoody. They have tons of offerings from salmon to heart of palm to black pepper candied bacon on their salad bar, as well as every meat imaginable. The best was the bacon wrapped filet, followed by the lamb chop, and the parmesan pork. Everything is delicious and the drink list is impeccable. Beyond that, they have stepped it up a notch with modern, yet inviting decor. Here's more information about Fogo de Chao's newest location below, as well as menu offerings. Enjoy!

With a little dust in the eye, the days of Turner Field, or as Atlanta’s refer to it, the Ted, has come to an abrupt end. Gone with it are 20 years of Braves hits and misses, the beauty of the green field, the chop house, and that large Chick-fila cow looming over our heads. Au revoir, auf Wiedersehen, sayonara. But let's not be sad, let's celebrate that tradition with one last hurrah to pay homage to the memories. The Great Atlanta Beer Fest accomplished that this year by letting us lose in the dugout, on the field, and letting us run the bases from IPA to stout.