CL’s Crafts and Drafts 2016

Date:  Saturday, November 12th
Time: Noon

About: Who hates mall shopping during Christmas? A lot of you would probably like an alternative. Here you go. Creative Loafing Atlanta has your back with another event that takes the ho-ho-hum out of Holiday shopping: CL’s Crafts & Drafts. How do we do they do it, you ask? By using one magical ingredient: BEER.  Creative Loafing is currently recruiting 50 of the best local and regional independent crafters to gather in one spot in Atlantic Station so that you can knock out ALL your holiday shopping in one place, at one time! This event is free from what we can find. You’re welcome.

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Brookhaven Brunch Festival

INDIE CRAFT EXPERIENCE KICKS OFF ITS 2016 HOLIDAY GIFT MARKET SEASON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/8/16

INDIE CRAFT EXPERIENCE KICKS OFF ITS 2016 HOLIDAY GIFT MARKET SEASON

 

Hosting Four Not-To-Miss Seasonal Shopping Events and a Holiday Pop-Up Shop

 

Atlanta-Based Advocates for Handcrafted and Vintage Gift Markets Expand to Chattanooga, Tennessee

Atlanta, Georgia (November 7, 2016) – ‘Tis the season to shop and Atlanta-based Indie Craft Experience (ICE), purveyors of dynamic craft markets and pop-up shops throughout the year, will once again not disappoint.  Kicking off the 2016 holiday season last Tuesday, November 1st with the return of their popular pop-up shop in Candler Park, founders Shannon Mulkey and Christy Petterson are also set to host four shopping events before the end of the year, including their first market in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Since 2005, ICE has become known for its curated markets and pop-up shops celebrating local, regional and national independent artists, printmakers, jewelry makers, artisans, crafters, makers and more.  Once again transforming ICE headquarters in Candler Park (1390 McLendon Ave. NE) into a boutique at the start of the holiday season, Mulkey and Petterson will continue to add new vendors and inventory throughout the season and are the exclusive retailer of Tiny Doors ATL’s new line of branded jewelry and ornaments.  Atlantans and visitors alike are invited to explore the ICE Pop-Up Shop through December 23, 2016. For more information and hours of operation, visit www.ice-atlanta.com.

On December 1st, the ICE Pop-Up Shop will be hosting a “get serious about your holiday shopping” event from 6 to 9 p.m. Shoppers are invited to enjoy complimentary beer from Red Brick Brewing Company, complimentary cotton candy from Cult Carts, and for the first 100 attendees designed by Knoxville-based artist Kate Thurman of Smarty Pants Paper Co.  Tiny Doors ATL fans will also have the opportunity to experience the Tiny Tree Lot where they can select a tiny bottle-brush tree and a packet of decorations to create their very own Tiny Christmas Tree.

Always a favorite, the ICE Holiday Shopping Spectacular will return to the Georgia Freight Depot on Saturday, November 19th and 20th. Featuring 165 of the very best craft and vintage vendors from across the country, shoppers are also invited to enjoy offerings from 10 local food vendors, and take in the sounds of DJ Sea-Lark on Saturday and DJ Zano on Sunday.  The event will also have a special scavenger hunt sponsored by Clue Town Books and Tiny Doors ATL will host a Tiny Tree Lot both days 11 a.m. from 2 p.m.  The first 250 shoppers each day will also receive complimentary swag bags upon arrival designed by local artists Kristen Ramsey of Sign Me Up Signs and illustrator Lucy Ricketts. The event is opening from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Entry is $5 cash at the door and kids 12 and under are free.

Saturday, December 10th marks ICE’s debut in Chattanooga at the stunning Waterhouse Pavilion at Miller Plaza (850 Market Street). A one-day only event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the inaugural ICE Holiday Market boasts an array of handcrafted gift options. The first 100 attendees will receive complimentary swag tote bags designed by Tennessee artist Mary Helt of Maryink before exploring the wares from 50 craft vendors, local food offerings, and more. Entry is $5 cash at the door and kids 12 and under are free.

Finally, ICE will close out the season with a market at the Yaarab Temple (400 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE) in Midtown on Sunday, December 11th. An ideal spot for shoppers to pick up last minute gifts, the event will host 50 craft and vintage vendors, local food vendors, DJ Zano, and more from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The first 100 attendees will receive swag tote bags designed by Atlanta-based artist Leela Hoehn Robinson of Native Bear. Entry is $5 cash at the door and kids 12 and under are free.

For more information about the Indie Craft Experience and the 2016 holiday event lineup, visit www.ice-atlanta.com. Stay connected on Twitter and Instagram at @iceatlanta and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IndieCraftExperience.

About the Indie Craft Experience:
Founded in 2005 by Shannon Mulkey and Christy Petterson, crafters and advocates for handcrafted, ICE now produces events throughout the year: Summer ICE (June), ICE Holiday Shopping Spectacular (November), Salvage (April and September), the ICE Pop-Up Shop (November and December) and more.  ICE’s mission is to provide opportunity for crafters and vintage sellers, to educate shoppers on the benefits of buying handcrafted goods, and to encourage people to craft.

THE “FINAL” GREAT ATLANTA BEER FEST

Saturday, October 8th at 1pm

Location: Turner Field

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 10/15/16

 

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.

 

image-1As far as the beer, mainstays and favorites like Cinnamon Cocoa Drafty Kilt and Burnt Hickory’s Big Shanty Graham Cracker Stout were in full force. Here’s a rundown of a few things we tried and enjoyed, which included Red Hare’s Chocolate Porter. It was definitely chocolate forward but finished smooth like a traditional porter. Side note: Red Hare just had their Sticky Stout release and had a specialty Sticky Stout brewed with Thin Mints. Dear Red Hare, pretty please make this a seasonal? Gate City also brought their Terminus Porter. It was a dark, a little smoky, but smooth at the end. Let’s not forget Burnt Hickory’s Die Kreuzen Pumpkin Porter. One of the best porters of the festival, it had pumpkin and all spice up front but then ended like a smooth porter.

 

After that, we went off script with my love of stouts and porters to try Wicked Weed’s Old Fashioned Ale with orange and cherry. The cherry was very prominent on the nose, but it was also a little sweet like a bourbon barrel aged beer would! There was also a cranberry pumpkin beer from Terrapin called Cranberry Pumpkinfest. It was very tart but finished with a lot of pumpkin like their original Pumpkinfest. Even though this isn’t a beer, the Red Hare Root Beer soda is so delicious! Sugary sweet. A good little treat between treats.

 

It never amazes us the number of new breweries that pop up at these festivals, like Gate City Brewery, Dry County, Scofflaw and so much more. Not to mention, we’re excited Abby of the Holy Goats will have a Stout in February. You know where we’ll be then! It’ll almost just be in time for the new SunTrust Stadium to welcome its first Braves fans of 2017.