Black Walnut Cafe: Fine Dining in a Fast-Casual Setting (Atlanta Locations Closed)

Black Walnut Café out of Houston, TX, has opened in Atlanta, settling near all the action in Peachtree Corners and Alpharetta. This café has a lounge where you can sit and chat with your friends, a bar where you can grab a drink and an appetizer, or you can order at the counter and sit in the dining room. Opting for the bar at the Peachtree Corners location, we got several delicious fast-casual dishes that ate like fine dining. From the Salmon to the Shrimp and Grits, as well as the hand-made cocktails, Black Walnut Café really does fine dining in a fast-casual setting.

We sampled the BWC Grand Mimosa and the Ginger Peach Lemonade. The mimosa was a good balance of champagne, orange juice, and Gran Marnier, while the Ginger Peach Lemonade mixed the sweet peach syrup, fresh sliced peaches, and tangy ginger. Both drinks were tasty! Fun fact: the bar tenders hand squeezed the juice themselves!

As far as the main entrees, the salmon was cooked perfectly to a silky quality that melted in your mouth. Contrasted to the smooth fish was the sweet and savory of the honey ginger sauce that was deep and tangy. You combine that with the crunch of the peppers and snap peas rounded out the dish with some brightness and depth! Along with the fish, we had the Shrimp and Grits that was perfectly seasoned with the right amount of spice to offset the creaminess of the grits. On top of that, the grits could have stood on their own with the addition of savory bacon and crunchy scallions. Both great dishes all the way around.

Yum.

IMAGINE RELEASES ITS FULL 2019 LINEUP AND WITH IT, A FOURTH DAY OF MUSIC

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/2/19

Thursday, September 19th to Sunday, September 22nd

Atlanta Motor Speedway

G Jones, Lane 8, Space Jesus, Blunts & Blondes, Boogie T, Squnto, Sullivan King, Kai Wachi, Kompany, and Over 50 Other Artists Join Lineup
 
TechYes / Guerrilla 360 Stage Added Featuring Full Tech House Lineup

Going to great depths to ensure that this is the most immersive Imagine Festival yet, Iris Presents has announced that Imagine will be expanding to four days, which will be accompanied by full music programming on the Disco Inferno stage, early arrival camping, and an extra day of fun. Taking place at Atlanta Motor Speedway this September 19-22, 2019, the added day will be free to everyone who purchases a 3-day ticket and available for a limited time until August 15th. Imagine has also unveiled the full lineup, in addition to several other big announcements, including a brand new stage- TechYes / Guerrilla 360 and a Saturday pool party.

The full lineup by stage, listing artists additions first includes:

OCEANIA STAGE:  Drinkurwater; Eddie Gold; Mantis and Midnite Panda.  Previously announced artists for Oceania include: Diplo; REZZ; Above & Beyond; Alison Wonderland; Zeds Dead; Marshmello; Alan Walker; KSHMR; Matoma; 1788-L; Ghastly; K?D; Leah Culver; Said the Sky and Svdden Death.

AMAZONIA STAGE:  G Jones; Jade Cicada; JuJu Beats; Scales and Zen Selekta.  Previously announced artists for Amazonia include:  Louis the Child; Tipper; Cherub; Detox Unit; Goldfish Phantoms and Thriftworks.

DISCO INFERNO STAGE:  Lane 8; Space Jesus; Blunts & Blondes; Sullivan King b2b Kai Wachi b2b Kompany; Boogie T; Squnto; Alex Lucas; Otica; Ployd; Throwdown; Vivid and White Rhino. Previously announced artists for Disco Inferno include:  laude Vonstroke & Dirtybird Players Stage Takeover; Anna Lunoe; Dr. Fresch; J.Philip; Justin Jay; Justin Martin; Nora En Pure; Rusko; Wax Motif; Grave Gang b4b set with Subtronics, HE$H, joined now by Boogie T and Squnto.

TECHYES 360:  Amine Edge & Dance; Anthony Attalla; Black v Neck; Charles Meyer; Ciszak; Clyde P; Doons; Dr Boom; Ernesto; Franklyn Watts; Galo; Greco; Hunter Reid; Lee K; Mark Starr; Ronnie Lopez; Techneekz; Tim Baresko and Treasure Fingers.

AERIA / SIX FEATHERS STAGE:  Eddie Gold b2b Midnite Panda; Big Mansions; DaddyDough; Ian Live & Friends; Julian Gray; Laser Assassins; MC Word; Nhexis; NOA|AON; Paraleven; Reliquary; Ricky Raw; Torch x Elevate Block; Previously announced artists for Aeria include:  BT; Darude; AK1200 and Reid Speed.

SILENT DISCO STAGE:  Bandikook; Chachuba; Comisar; D:RC; Deep Technicians; Deff Jeklyn; Dose Dromer; Exit 9; Fear & Lowe; JD; JStella; Kozmic; Krushendo; LaGoons; Leet; Magnesk; Mettapattern; Mike’s Revenge; Movin Keys; Octl; Riven; Shakes; Stranger Candy; Sylo; Tripnotic; White on Rice; Xenotype and Zubah. Stage takeovers by Ian Live & Native Groove.

IMAGINE MUSIC FESTIVAL OFFICIAL 2019 LINEUP TRAILER

In addition to music pulsing throughout the festival grounds and into camping, Imagine has partnered with Beatbox Beverages to host a Vegas-style daytime pool party on Saturday. All festival-goers are invited to the party and can add the pool party to their ticket.  VIP campers will automatically have the pool party included as a part of their pass.  DJs for the pool party will be announced in the coming weeks.

Finally, for those Imaginers looking to get a head start on the week, Imagine is opening up the camping grounds for early arrival on Thursday, September 19th.  Early arrival camping passes can be purchased as a part of a 4-day combo pass or as an add-on for those who already purchased their camping passes for Friday through Sunday.

For a limited time, up until August 15th, 4-day General Admission passes are available starting at $269- the same price as a 3-day pass and $289 for a 4-day pass with Early Arrival GA camping. VIP passes with express entry into the festival, exclusive viewing areas, VIP bars, and lounges, and private air-conditioned VIP trailer restrooms start at $369 for a 4-day pass and $539 with a 4-day pass with camping. Payment plans are still available for a limited time. Tickets are available online at www.imaginefestival.com. Imagine Music Festival is an 18 and over event.

Imagine Music Festival is produced by Iris Presents. Visit www.imaginefestival.com for the most up-to-date information.

CITY WINERY ATLANTA’S AFTERNOON WITH BLACK BEVERAGE ARTISANS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/2/19

Tasting features exclusively black-owned wineries, breweries, and distilleries
 
Saturday, August 31st from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

City Winery celebrates black-owned wineries, breweries and distilleries on Saturday, August 31st during An Afternoon with Black Beverage Artisans.

Beverage Director, James Brim, has curated a tasting menu featuring some of the best African American-owned and produced beer, wine, and whiskey.

Attendees will wander the spacious patio, sampling from companies such as Brown Estate Wines, Mouton Noir Wine, McBride Sisters Wine, Uncle Nearest Whiskey, Khonso Brewing, and Atlanta’s own Down Home Brewing.

Sommeliers will be on hand to guide the experience. Guests will enjoy music courtesy of a DJ until 6 p.m., when Wine Down Weekends (free live music) begins on the patio.

Cheese and charcuterie are included.

Tickets are $40 available here.