TASTE OF ATLANTA 2018

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/14/18

17th ANNUAL TASTE OF ATLANTA WILL BE

OCT. 19-21st IN HISTORIC FOURTH WARD PARK

 

The City’s Favorite Food & Drink Festival to Feature More than 100 of Atlanta’s Best Restaurants

 

 

Taste of Atlanta, the city’s award-winning food, craft beer, wine and spirits festival showcasing the local restaurant scene, will take place for three days from Friday, October 19th to Sunday, October 21st. Now in its 17th year, the festival will return to Historic Fourth Ward Park (680 Dallas Street), adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine.

 

Taste of Atlanta is proud to feature craveable bites and bevs from more than 100 of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants for the three-day festival. Bringing together food lovers and chefs from neighborhoods across Atlanta, the event welcomes attendees of all ages. Local chefs and hospitality pros will lead on-stage cooking demos and hands-on cooking classes, while guests sample food from restaurants plus craft beer, wine and cocktails. The annual event also marks the culmination of the 10th annual barcraft competition where one mixologist is crowned the winner.

 

Prior to the event, ticket holders receive wristbands equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, making  Taste of Atlanta a cashless festival. The wristbands are pre-loaded with Taste Points which can be used for drink and merchandise purchases as well as food samples ranging from one to three points each. General admission ticket holders will receive 10 Taste Points, and additional points can be purchased for $1 each online or at Taste Point tents located throughout the festival. Wristbands track tastes sampled and provide attendees with a post-event tasting list, serving as a customized roundup of restaurant recommendations for future dining out.

 

The VIP Grand Tasting Experience provides access to an exclusive lounge area with tastings from 10 select restaurants and pours from craft beer, wine and cocktail makers. VIP ticket holders will receive 20 taste points and a commemorative drinking glass.

 

Prompted by her passion for Atlanta’s restaurant scene and the desire to support Atlanta’s food entrepreneurs, Dale DeSena founded Taste of Atlanta in 2001. The festival has helped chef-driven food concepts reach new audiences, and Dale has been honored to turn tasters into diners for nearly two decades.

 

“We’re excited to return to Historic Fourth Ward Park for this year’s festival,” says DeSena. “We love celebrating 100 of metro Atlanta’s best restaurants all in one place, where we can gather together, taste dishes from a wide variety of neighborhoods and support several Atlanta non-profit organizations.”

 

Single and multi-day tickets for Friday, October 19th’s Kick-off Party and the weekend’s main events will be available for purchase beginning this summer, and guests are encouraged to buy early. Ticket prices begin at $25.

 

To keep up with Taste of Atlanta details, check out the official festival website at www.TasteofAtlanta.com, sign up for the Bite of News newsletter and follow Taste of Atlanta on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

2018 FROG TOSS FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/13/18

Sweetwater Mission has partnered with CHEENGZ and West Georgia Cornhole to create the first annual Frog Toss Festival in lovely downtown Austell on September 15th, 2018.

Debbie Ginocchio states “the City of Austell has really stepped up to prepare the site for the festival. We will be hosting a Disc Golf Tournament, Cornhole Tournament, Chili Cookoff, Tiny Home Expo, Kids Zone, Live Music, Beer Garden and Chain Saw Carving Exhibition at the Frog Rock Disc Golf Course in Louise Suggs Memorial Park in Downtown Austell”

Disc Golf Sportswear company CHEENGZ VP of Marketing, Troy Burns states “When we learned Sweetwater Mission wanted to put together a Disc Golf Tournament at Frog rock we were all in. As we sat in on the meetings we realized we were becoming part of something very unique. Disc Golf tends to stay in its own little universe, growing exponentially, but not garnering much attention in mainstream sports coverage. This festival introduces the sport and this incredible course to the Austell community and region in general. With little to no elevation changes it is a great disc golf course for those who may have difficulty walking or may be bound to a wheel chair. It is the most accessible course I have ever played that has such a fun and challenging layout.

When we were working with Sweetwater Mission to develop the overall brand identity of the festival it all just came together. A rock formation near the park known as “Frog Rock” was a core element of the festival name. Then we looked at both sports competitions involving the tossing of discs and corn bags and a name as fun as the festival it represents was born. To have the two sports compete in the end for a final champion was just too much to pass up. And we promise, there will be no tossing of actual frogs during the festival!”

This festival is free to the public. More information here: http://douglascountychamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/frog-toss-festival-5664

Viva Tequila Festival Atlanta 2018

Date: Saturday, September 15th

Time: 11 am

About: On Saturday, September 15th Viva Tequila Festival hits Atlanta! Foodies, friends, and anyone who loves a fiesta won’t want to miss this exclusive, one-of-a-kind tequila tasting experience. Come sip and savor hand-crafted, small-batch tequilas from Mexico paired with small plates from Atlanta’s top restaurants. It’s an all-day celebration of Mexican culture like no other. It’s ¡Viva Tequila! The all-day festival ticket is from 11 am to 5 pm and includes 6 sips and 6 plates, live music, DJ, art, and culture. There are additional tasting tickets are available on site for purchase. Beyond that is the Viva Noche After Party that is from 6 pm to 9 pm and is all-inclusive includes tequila, local craft beers, wine, food by The Real Mexican Vittles, DJ, and more. Why not go all in for VIP? VIP expands on the all-day ticket and the after party and includes all day sips and bites, exclusive VIP tequilas, and a full VIP experience and lounge. Tickets run from $54 to $135.

Whether you’re a tequila aficionado or just want to learn more about the finer qualities of world-class boutique tequilas, the ¡Viva Tequila Festival! will give you the taste you’re looking for. We’ll feature over 25 small-batch, hand-crafted Mexican tequilas not yet widely available in the U.S. Our top-shelf and higher selections include a range of Blancos, Reposados and Añjeos served up for sipping or stirred and shaken by expert mixologists in cocktails that highlight their essence and flavors.

From fine dining and farm-to-table to authentic ethnic street food, it’s no secret that Atlanta’s food scene is full of fabulous chefs innovating deliciously. ¡Viva Tequila Festival! will tap into the best Atlanta’s culinary masters have to offer, bringing you tastes to savor. Chefs from a diverse group of top restaurants will serve up small plates designed to pair perfectly with a specific tequila or cocktail from our exclusive selection, giving you a mouthwateringly unique tasting experience.

While our sponsors Visit Mexico, Delta and AeroMexico can literally transport you to Mexico, ¡Viva Tequila Festival! is your passport to inspiration. You’ll enjoy a full day of Mexican tastes, traditions, art, music — and of course, tequila in a fun, yet refined setting. Come experience a fresh take on Mexican culture that will transport you to the agave fields of Jalisco and beyond with every sight and every sip.

TICKETS AND/OR INFORMATION:

All information here

East Pole Coffee Co One-Year Anniversary Party Weekend

Date: Friday, September 14th to Sunday, September 16th

Time: See website

About: Local Atlanta coffee company East Pole is hosting a one-year anniversary party at their roastery and shop at Armour Yards (255 Ottley Drive, Ste. 105) on Friday, September 14 from 7-11 p.m. During the weekend, East Pole will also join local restaurant and bar Whiskey Bird for a pop-up brunch event and launch their new “Sunday School” series of weekly coffee classes designed for home brewers. In honor of their brick-and-mortar coffee shop’s first full year in business, East Pole is kicking off the weekend with a special, ticketed anniversary bash on Friday, September 14 from 7-11 p.m. At the event, guests can enjoy complimentary coffee alongside light bites and sips from sponsors Creature Comforts, ASW Distillery, BOCADO and Happy Camper, with live music from local musician David Mason Gentry and folk-pop duo Wendlo. Tickets are available online for $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and all proceeds from sales will be donated to local non-profit Giving Kitchen, which provides emergency assistance to restaurant workers through financial support and a network of community resources. On Saturday, September 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., East Pole will join neighborhood spot and wholesale partner Whiskey Bird (1409 North Highland Ave. NE) to host a coffee pop-up. Throughout the morning, their team will be serving up a handful of espresso-based drinks. Patrons can also find East Pole brewed on drip daily at Whiskey Bird. The anniversary weekend will also mark the first installment of “Sunday School,” East Pole’s new series of ticketed coffee training classes that are open to the public and held quarterly at their roastery on Sundays. Led by East Pole’s team, the ongoing classes are designed to equip coffee novices and experts alike with the know-how, tools and tricks needed to brew exceptional, barista-level coffee at home. On Sunday, September 16, the inaugural, 90-minute class will cover how to brew coffee using a Kalita Wave and include samples, hands-on training and a 12 oz. bag of East Pole’s freshly roasted coffee to take home and enjoy. Tickets ($20) are available for purchase online. To close out their weekend-long anniversary celebrations, East Pole will also be offering free drip and iced coffee beverages at their shop throughout the day on Monday, September 17.

TICKETS AND/OR INFORMATION:

All information here