THE TASTING CARD: JF&CS FUNDRAISER

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/9/21

JF&CS (Jewish Family and Career Services) is large nonprofit operating out of the Dunwoody area that offers invaluable human services to people all over Atlanta. This month, JF&CS is holding a fundraiser that is perfect for Atlanta area foodies, The Tasting Card. For the $75 purchase of the virtual card, buyers will receive a 20% discount* at over 70 Atlanta area restaurants and specialty food providers for the 2-week period of May 10th -24th . Participating restaurants include popular eateries such as Grana, Ecco, C&S Seafood, and Bistro Niko, just to name a few. All coupons and the virtual card are housed on our app, The Tasting Card, available for free download on the App Store and Google Play. All proceeds of the card purchase go towards JF&CS’s Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living Program, a nonsectarian program designed to help adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities live as independently as possible in shared homes with 24-hr care. They can learn basic life skills, build friendships, and receive the care and support they need. The card is also designed to help bring increased business to these local restaurants who have suffered during COVID-19.


For more information, to see a list of participating restaurants, and to purchase your card, visit www.thetasting.org. To learn more about the Z-H ILP and JF&CS’s services, please visit www.jfcsatl.org/zhilp. Thank you in advance for your support of this wonderful cause and these amazing restaurants!

*Discount exclusive of alcohol, additional restrictions may apply

THE BATTERY ATLANTA IS SPORTING A FULL LINEUP OF FAMILY FRIENDLY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS MAY

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/7/21

Select restaurants at Atlanta’s premier entertainment district offer specialty Mother’s Day brunches

The metro-Atlanta community can make the most of The Battery Atlanta’s sports and entertainment experience this May! The Farmers Market presented by UnitedHealthcare returns to the Plaza Green this month; visitors are invited to shop fresh and locally grown goods on non-event Sundays. All ages can take a swing at baseball, football, golf and more at Mizuno Experience Center or Good Game presented by Topgolf Swing Suite – or put their teamwork skills to the test at The Escape Game.

Atlanta Braves fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the Plaza Green to watch the Atlanta Braves take on teams on the jumbo screen. To-go drinks and take-out meals are available from participating restaurants located along Battery Avenue and Battery Walk.

Mother’s Day Events:
Mother’s Day Brunch at CRÚ Food & Wine Bar

Sunday, May 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Pamper Mom with a three-course prix fix ($45) or a take home brunch for two ($80) at CRÚ Food & Wine Bar. Choose from entrees such as crab cake benedict, roasted beef tenderloin or lobster and sip on $3 mimosas and bellinis. Call (770)-485-9463 for reservations.

Jazz Mother’s Day Brunch at C. Ellet’s
Sunday, May 9 from 11a.m.-2 p.m.
Mothers and grandmothers can dine from special offerings like Pancake Palooza for Two, Prime Rib, Shrimp and Grits, Eggs Benedict, All You Can Eat Southern Fried Chicken, Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary and more – all while listening to a live jazz trio. Call (678)-996-5344 to make a reservation.

Mother’s Day Brunch at Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta
Sunday, May 9 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
The official hotel of the Atlanta Braves is hosting a bountiful brunch complete with music! Adults ($70) and children ($20) can indulge in a Southern-inspired buffet. Tickets here.

HOAM Candle Co. Trunk Show at Sugarboo & Co.
Sunday, May 2 to Saturday, May 8 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The whimsical home decor store is hosting HOAM Candle Co. at The Battery Atlanta location for a hand-poured luxury candle trunk show, May 2-8 – just in time for Mother’s Day and special graduation gifts!

Outdoor Activities:
Farmers Market presented by UnitedHealthcare

Sundays from 1-4 p.m.
Families and friends are invited to stroll and shop a variety of handcrafted and homegrown products on non-event days at the Plaza Green. Local rotating vendors at the open-air market include: Organix by Tay, Basegrain LLC, Lumeria Body Care, Mind Your Own Beeswax LLC, Eat Dessert First, Southern Crust, Always Cake, Sweet Auburn Bread, Hot Rod Popcorn, Brooklyn Shea, Davids Garden Super Bee, Koala Sprouts, Ice Cream Candle and Farm Hounds.

Wellness Series: Yoga by Kaiser Permanente
Mondays from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Start the week off stress-free with a limited capacity, outdoor yoga class presented by Kaiser Permanente on non-event days at the Plaza Green. Pre-registration and event participant waivers are available online. Participants are required to bring a mat and are encouraged to bring water. A live stream on Facebook and past sessions on YouTube are also available to fitness fans virtually on event days.

Cornhole ATL Spring League
Tuesdays from 6:45-9 p.m.
A tailgate favorite is now a league of its own! Spectators are encouraged to watch the action and cheer on league participants as they play games leading up to the spring season’s final tournament. League winners will receive a championship trophy and other prizes.

The Battery Atlanta Walking Trail presented by UnitedHealthcare
A brisk walk can curb cravings, reduce stress and offer a healthy way to catch up with friends and family! Get out and get active on the 1.5-mile loop circling the campus.

Coming Soon:
Silverspot Cinemas

The two-story theater is scheduled to open its doors this month and will include ten state-of-the-art auditoriums featuring custom-designed reclining seats, Barco Laser Projection, Dolby Digital Sound Systems and more. Guests can expect a fully curated in-theater dining experience with a brand-new chef-driven menu featuring refined and modern American cuisine. The new space will also house a standalone S Bar cocktail lounge.

Select Retail and Restaurant Promotions:
Margarita Monday at El Super Pan

Patio diners can treat themselves to $6 hibiscus, spicy or passionfruit margaritas every Monday starting at 5 p.m.

All You Can Eat Southern Fried Chicken at C. Ellet’s
The restaurant showcases its take on comfort food with All You Can Eat Southern Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, butterbean and summer corn succotash and buttermilk biscuits for only $19.99 per person every Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Diners can also enjoy live jazz music every Saturday and Sunday during away games.

Ketel One Thursday Special at BURN by Rocky Patel
Cool off with a refreshing botanical cocktail for just $8! Guests can enjoy new Ketel One Botanicals – a vodka distilled with real botanicals and infused with natural fruit essences.

Best of Atlanta Comedy Showcase at Omni Comedy Club
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Audiences can laugh it up at the luxury hotel on non-event days with 10 of the city’s best comedians as they perform eight minutes each for the ultimate night out! Each ticket includes one drink and can be purchased here.

Park Bench Events:
The popular dueling piano bar and live music venue has announced a line-up of live shows this month, in addition to its DJ party and Karaoke Wednesday at Park Bench programming. Visit parkbenchbattery.com/calendar for more information.

  • Cinco De Mayo Celebration
    Wednesday, May 5 at 9 p.m.
  • 90 Proof Band
    Friday, May 7 at 10 p.m.
  • Nick Bryant One Man Band Acoustic Show
    Tuesday, May 11 at 10 p.m.
  • Caleb Little Acoustic Jam
    Wednesday, May 12 at 10 p.m.
  • Rockin’ Roundup Band
    Friday, May 14 at 8 p.m.
  • 3-Player Rockin Dueling Piano Show
    Saturday, May 15 at 7 p.m.
  • Nick Bryant One Man Band Acoustic Show
    Monday, May 17 at 10 p.m.
  • Rickey T. Cole Acoustic/Electric Duo
    Tuesday, May 18 at 10 p.m.
  • John David Hilliard Piano/Multi-instrument
    Wednesday, May 19 at 10 p.m.
  • Corbette Jackson
    Thursday, May 20 at 10 p.m.
  • Clay Barker Band
    Saturday, May 22 at 10 p.m.
  • The Punchline Comedy featuring Headliner Mike Speenberg
    Tuesday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Elija Borders Band
    Friday, May 28 at 10 p.m.
  • 3-Player Rockin Dueling Piano Show
    Saturday, May 29 at 7 p.m.

Coca-Cola Roxy Events:
The Battery Atlanta’s iconic concert venue is back! This month, Coca-Cola Roxy brings country, blues and heavy metal artists to the stage. Review enhanced venue safety guidelines here.

  • Rumors: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute
    Saturday, May 1 at 8 p.m.
  • Drake White
    Thursday, May 6 at 8 p.m.
  • Corey Smith
    Friday, May 7 at 8 p.m.
    Saturday, May 8 at 8 p.m.
  • Muscadine Bloodline
    Friday, May 28 at 8 p.m.
    Saturday, May 29 at 8 p.m.

An up-to-date list of restaurant and retailer happenings is available on the website. Details and hours of operation are subject to change. Visitors are asked to follow public safety guidelines while on property.

SONIC REBEL’S DEBUT EP, WE MADE THIS WITH OUR HANDS, SET FOR JUNE 17 RELEASE

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/21

New Single And Video, “This Vibe,” Out Today
June 24 EP Release Show At Smith’s Olde Bar In Atlanta Announced
Hailed As “Electrifying” By The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 
Sonic Rebel’s Founder Tammy Hurt Collaborates With Grouplove’s Dan Gleason & Ben Homola, TJ Elias And Kevin Spencer On EP
View Video, Created By Greg Ellis (Pretty Lights), HERE

Download / Stream “This Vibe” HERE

 We Made This With Our Hands, the debut EP from Atlanta-based Sonic Rebel, will be released on June 17. The five-song collection calls to mind the genre-fluid discography and live sets that acts like Girl Talk, Beastie Boys, Fatboy Slim and Travis Barker have churned out coupled with the drum ‘n bass rabbit hole Sonic Rebel founder Tammy Hurt fell into for a spell. The sequence on We Made This With Our Hands provides the out, loud and proud, self-proclaimed “kick ass rock and roll drummer” the latitude to churn out a kaleidoscopic medley of sonic treats, aided by Grouplove’s Dan Gleason and Ben Homola, engineer TJ Elias and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Spencer. See below for track listing.
Today, Sonic Rebel shared “This Vibe,” the hypnotic new single from We Made This With Our HandsMr. Romanowski’s Dolby Atmos® mix of “This Vibe” will be released tomorrow, May 7 – so grab your headphones. Greg Ellis (aka theLazerShark), who is known for his remarkable lighting production on global tours for Pretty Lights and Steve Aoki, created the official video for “This Vibe” in 4K, which debuted today. View HERE.
Sonic Rebel’s debut live performance will be at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta on Thursday, June 24. The EP release event, which kicks off at 9:00 PM, will also feature a DJ set from special guest Chozen. Tickets are available HERE.
In this feature article, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, hailed Sonic Rebel as “electrifying…[a] fusion of organic instrumentation and electronic razzle-dazzle.” Simply put, Sonic Rebel combines Hurt performing and layering aggressive rock drums over loud guitars, video game soundtracks, hip-hop beats, melodic pop, ambient/electronica orchestrations, and mesmerizing visuals. Beat keeping the bulk of her career for acts such as Paper Dolls, Indigo Girls, She Said!, Van Hunt, Michelle Malone, Wendy Bucklew and Minority Rules, Sonic Rebel is Hurt’s ambitious alter ego that’s evolved from being a traditional “sideman” acoustic drummer to a tenacious hybrid focal point armed with custom tracks perfect for remixes, mashups and licensing.
“I believe most music sounds better with live drums,” says Tammy Hurt, a native of Marietta, GA. “I wanted to give the music I love so much a little more grit and distortion. I can’t wait to start performing these mashups and taking them on the road in front of a live audience.
We Made This With Our Hands was recorded at Big Trouble Recording in Atlanta’s Little Five Points, where it was mixed by GRAMMY® Award-winning mixer Miles Walker. It was mastered by GRAMMY nominee Michael Romanowski at his San Francisco studio. As president of the Georgia Music Accord, Hurt was instrumental in developing the partnership with the GRAMMY Museum Foundation that will bring a GRAMMY Museum to Atlanta. She was featured on Billboard’s 2020 Pride list of industry-shaping LGBTQ executives. Hurt lays out her vision for Sonic Rebel in this mini-documentary.
Track Listing – We Made This With Our Hands
  1. Run
  2. Reign
  3. This Vibe
  4. Air Raid
  5. Big Riff

ACTIVITIES ABOUND AT SANDESTIN, FL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/21

Activities Abound at Sandestin, FL

As the sunsets over the luxurious rooftop bar, the rays hit the beautiful bay water throwing up shades of purple, orange and pink, enveloping all spectators in the final moments of the day’s light. Down below a large stream interconnects with lakes, rivers, and eventually into the ocean where sunbathers sip cocktails under branded umbrellas. There’s also a walkway covered in palms and other lush trees where a couple walk hand-in-hand pass a treehouse and a large bridge with marina views. The rows of boats bob up and down in the water as the blue and purple of the evening sky meet at the horizon. Did you feel that? That’s Sandestin.

Grounds

The gates opened to the Bayside of Sandestin, and we drove around the first traffic circle and exited to the first right. Just to the right is one of our favorite spots on all the grounds, what we call the long walkway! The entrance to the wooden walkway and pier is wrapped in palms and other greenery and as you pass through, the long walkway opens into a breathtaking view of the bay dotted with grasses and lone trees. Go to the end and take in the beauty of the entire space. When you’re done there, keep going toward the Lakeside area, you’ll notice that it’s lined with a canopy of arching trees that create a beautiful dance of contrasting light and dark. It’s worth just driving through it to enjoy the natural beauty. Beyond that, the golf grounds are pristine and lush, the beach is gorgeous, and everything is freshly landscaped. There is not a lack of beautiful spots in Sandestin, so find your favorite locale.

Osprey Pointe – Accommodations

Near the Marina and Baytowne Wharf, the luxurious Osprey Pointe has 2, 3, and 4-bedroom condos that are great for couples, groups, and families. The second you enter the spacious condo, you feel right at home. With all the bells and whistles, the impeccably decorated kitchen has a full group of appliances and everything you’d need to make a meal! The kitchen is open to the living space and looks out onto the beautifully landscaped bay nearby. Out on the patio, you could sit all day and gaze at the bay view! This 2-bedroom has 2 bathrooms, and the master is spacious and has a huge, sparkling master bath with two showers! Beyond the beautiful condo, Osprey Pointe boasts a beautiful pool with a ton of seating, tables, and shade! So, take a dip in the pool, then take a bike ride or walk down to the Marina and Baytowne Wharf. It’s just minutes away. Even if Osprey Pointe isn’t for you, they have so many accommodation options from beachfront to bayfront.

Beach

Speaking of Beachfront, the wooden walkway maneuvers gracefully through the large sandy dunes and opens onto a spectacularly white and pristine beach. Dotted with blue, branded chairs, people lounge in the shade, build sandcastles, and play in the clear, blue-green water. Beyond relaxing and gazing at the beautiful water, there’s so much to do at Sandestin Beachside! You can grab a drink at the beach bar on the beach, lounge in a beach chair and umbrella with a good book, stay for lunch at The Beach House, get a sandcastle building lesson, or even take a ride on a jet ski or kayak.  We’d recommend a key lime daiquiri from The Beach House, then opt for a pair of chairs and an umbrella to enjoy the natural beauty of the beach!

Marina

Rows and rows of all types of boats bob up and down as the water ebbs and flows in the beautiful bay. Diners at the Marina Bar and Grill sip on cocktails and bite into tasty tacos, as they watch the sun set over the boats and disappears into the horizon. The Marina Bar and Grill is a chill little outdoor spot on the Marina with some serious eats like the grouper sandwich and fried fish tacos! Wash it down with a cocktail! Plus, they have a spot that you can bring your own fish, clean it, and they will cook it for you right there!! On one side of the restaurant is the resident Macaw, Mary Ann. She is out during the day when the Marina Bar and Grill is open and is a great photo op for you to catch. She was born in 2010, and did you know Macaws can live 50 years?

Next to the restaurant and set back from the water is the bike rental where a row of bikes are available for Sandestin guests and owners to use at their leisure. It’s so easy to bike around Sandestin, and beyond the golf cart parade we witnessed daily, is the preferred way to get around. On the other side of the lot is where you can rent kayaks and water toys to explore the bay even more.

Our favorite spot at the bay, is the wooden path between the Marina and Baytowne Wharf. Entering next to the Marina Bar and Grill, the thick trees feel like a jungle on one side with beautiful Marina and water views on the other. As you walk, the wooden path winds through the trees and views of the Marina and the boats are stunning. Stop off at the treehouse for the best top views of the entire area! As you find your way around from there, you’ll come upon a long wooden bridge where the marshy grounds turn into a beautiful stream and empties into the bay. It’s gorgeous. You’re reward is at the end with Baytowne Wharf upon you.

Baytowne Wharf

THE spot to shop, dine, and drink IS Baytowne Wharf. Taking a tour in a circle, your greeted with the sound of children laughing on the brightly lit carousel. Beyond that everything a child could want waits for them with an arcade, sweet shops, games, and a ton of activities! If you follow the circle around from there is where the dining and drinking options start. If you like bull riding or country music is your thing, they have it. If you want to sit with the view of the bay while you sip and nosh, they have that too at Hammerheads and Village Door. Village Door has a large 40 oz cocktail with a souvenir cup so you can remember your time there, plus they also have a great spot to eat on the bay. Hammerheads has a fantastic happy hour daily from 4 to 6 pm. We’d suggest grabbing a seat right at 4 pm on the water!

Sandestin doesn’t have a lack of places to see the sunset, so you should stay for the sunset here and walk out to the Wharf Pier and watch the sun disappear into the watery horizon. For the kiddos, they have fish food you can purchase and feed the fish below.

Continuing the circle, there’s a street that mimics New Orleans! That’s our favorite spot in Baytowne Wharf with several food and drink spots like Hartell’s Diner and Fat Tuesday, as well as a row of cute shops! Fat Tuesdays has great deals on daiquiris for $8 bucks and a shot for $1 extra. We’d recommend the Miami Vice or 44 Magnum. Plus if you’re looking for a fun evening out? Start at Fat Tuesday, then head over to Rum Runners for a dueling piano experience. You can pick your favorite songs for the piano players to sing, take a seat, and sing along!

Our favorite restaurant in the Wharf has to be The Marlin Grill. We stopped by there for dinner our first night and we fell in love with the Roasted Duck and the Scottish Salmon appetizer. Please make sure to make a reservation because they’re always busy or cross your fingers for a spot at the bar.

Hotel Effie

Only steps from Baytowne Wharf, Upscale, modern, yet, inviting, Hotel Effie is THE SPOT to stay in Sandestin. She is adorned with Ara Rooftop Bar where a luxurious rooftop pool meets the sky, cabanas, and a stunning almost 360 view of the entire Sandestin grounds. Stop by for a fantastic Toasted Coconut daiquiri and catch the sunset from multiple views! Downstairs, you should also visit the newest and hands-down best restaurant in Sandestin, Ovide. From Atlanta Chef, Hugh Acheson, this lavish dining spot has wonderfully crafted cocktails like the grapefruit forward Sun Kissed or our favorite cocktail, Shore Leave. They have fantastic dishes like the stellar filet mignon, flavorful blackened mahi mahi, uniquely good farm egg, rich prime beef tartare. We’d recommend anything on this menu, it’s that good.

As the gates closed on our time at Sandestin, we reminisced about our favorite memories and thought about all the wonderful food, drinks, and sunsets we got to witness. We felt we actually needed more time to explore even more that Sandestin had to offer. We’d recommend at least 4 nights to get the full experience. What would you like to experience most?

Sandestin, FL is located in Miramar Beach, FL in between Destin and Santa Rosa Beach on the Emerald Coast.

Website: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort | Your Place in the Sun

ACC SPRING FLING 2021

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/5/21

Alpharetta City Center

Sunday, May 16th Noon to 2 pm

Tickets here.

The first-ever ACC SPRING FLING fashion show & brunch is here! On May 16th, from 12-2 p.m. experience, a taste of some of the best brunch bites & beverages AND enjoy an unforgettable runway display featuring seasonal trends from some of their retail neighbors.
ACC Spring Fling tickets are $45 and include front row seating, six food-tasting tickets, and a swag bag of ACC goodies. A portion of the proceeds will also benefit @nfcchelp. Head to @alphacitycenter to purchase tickets through the link in bio.

MONSTERS OF SMOKE TOUR COMES TO GEORGIA WITH INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE AND TASTINGS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/4/21

Thursday, May 6 to Sunday, May 9

Various Atlanta Locations Below

Monsters of Smoke Tour by Ardbeg, the Ultimate Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

 

Ardbeg will be dispensing drams to smoky whisky lovers throughout Georgia. Two oversized all-terrain tactical vehicles, appropriately named Wee Beastie and An Oa will offer tastings, surprises, giveaways, and Augmented Reality photo opportunities for participants. Whether or not you are a fan of peated malts, this experiential tour presented by Ardbeg will be fun, interactive, and Covid compliant.  This is the perfect opportunity for whisky, spirits, and cocktail enthusiasts to experience a whisky with over 200 years of history. Attendants must be 21 or older to participate.

 

WHERE: 

5/6 Thursday, 4 PM to 7 PM

Local Vine (3101 COBB PKWY SE ATLANTA GA 30339)

 

5/7 Friday, 12 NN to 3 PM

Jax Buford (2437 HANCOCK DRIVE BUFORD GA 30519)

 

5/7 Friday, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Mega Package (2820 LAWRENCEVILL-SUWANEE RD SUWANEE GA 30024)

 

5/8 Saturday, 12 NN to 2 PM

Tower (2161 PIEDMONT RD NE ATLANTA GA)

 

5/8 Saturday, 4 PM to 7PM

Total (380 NORTH POINT CIRCLE ALPHARETTA GA 30022)

 

5/9 Sunday, 12 NN to 3 PM

Pop’s (3121 PEACHTREE PKWY SUWANEE GA)

2021 AFFPS ANNOUNCES SPRING AND SUMMER FESTIVAL LINE-UP

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/2/21

2021 AFFPS Festival Lineup

Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival — May 15-16, 2021

Duluth Spring Arts Festival — May 22-23. 2021

Spring Festival on Ponce — June 5-6. 2021

Roswell Spring Arts Festival — June 12-13. 2021

Piedmont Park Arts Festival — August 21-22, 2021

Chastain Spring Arts and Crafts Festival
To kick off the spring festival season, on Saturday, May 15, and Sunday, May 16, 2021, the annual Chastain Spring Arts & Crafts Festival presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces returns to Chastain Park. Celebrating its 12th year, the award-winning event will feature 175 artists and artisans painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft artisans, glass blowers, jewelers, and more. Festival-goers are also invited to enjoy live acoustic music, an array of bites and beverages including fare from local food trucks, and take advantage of a fun-filled children’s area. The festival is free to attend, open to all ages, and dogs are welcome. For more information, visit http://chastainparkartsfestival.com or www.affps.com.
Duluth Spring Arts Festival
The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces is thrilled to present the fourth annual Duluth Arts Festival on Saturday, May 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 23, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The two-day festival will be held in the fun, vibrant, and culturally diverse City of Duluth; recognized as one of the fastest-growing communities in the North Atlanta region and home to one of the largest and most enthusiastic art buying communities. Created for artists by artists, the festival will feature more than 85 painters, photographers, sculptors, metalwork, glass artists, jewelers, and more. Festival-goers will also have the opportunity to view artist demonstrations and enjoy gourmet food trucks, live acoustic music, dance performances, and much more. The festival is free to attend, open to all ages, and dogs are welcome. For more information about the festival, visit http://www.duluthartsfestival.com or www.affps.com.
Spring Festival on Ponce
The ninth annual Spring Festival on Ponce will be held on Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, 2021, in Atlanta’s historic Olmsted Linear Park. The sister festival to the Fall Festival on Ponce (October 9 and 10, 2021), the Spring Festival on Ponce will transform the park, which was carefully restored by the Olmsted Linear Park Alliance, into an outdoor art gallery to the backdrop of budding spring foliage. The two-day event will feature over 125 displays of local and regional fine art and crafts, utilizing the gorgeous landscape designed by one of America’s most celebrated landscape architects, Fredrick Olmsted, Sr. In addition to the abundance of unique art, there will be a children’s area, gourmet food trucks, beverages and a stage for acoustic musical performances. The event is free, open to all ages, and dogs are welcome. For more information, please visit http://festivalonponce.com/ or www.affps.com.
Roswell Spring Arts and Crafts Festival
The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces is delighted to announce the return of the Roswell Spring Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13, 2021. Located in Historic Roswell, the two-day outdoor event celebrates the city’s rich history and features approximately 100 artists including painters, photographers, sculptors, metalwork, glass artists, jewelers, and more. Event-goers are also invited to dive into bites from gourmet food trucks, enjoy live acoustic music and artist demonstrations along with entertaining music and dance performances. Free to the public, the event is open to all ages and dogs are welcome. For more information, please visit www.roswellartfestival.com or www.affps.com.
Piedmont Park Arts Festival
Recognized as one of the best outdoor festivals in Atlanta, the Piedmont Park Arts Festival returns to the heart of Midtown Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22, 2021. Presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces in picturesque Piedmont Park, the 10th annual festival will feature approximately 250 artists including painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers, and crafters. Festival enthusiasts are also invited to enjoy live acoustic music, a children’s play area, and a variety of festival food and drink. Free to the public, the event is open to all ages and dogs are welcome. For more information, visit piedmontparkartsfestival.com or www.affps.com.

THE COLLECTIVE FOOD HALL SPRING HAPPENINGS 2021

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/2/21

Spring Events, and Spring Fling Live Music Fridays

During the normal operating hours throughout the week, The Collective Food Hall runs a chef-driven dining oasis powered by some of ATL’s most popular chefs and food brands. Chef Hector of El Super Pan fame has his El Burro Pollo concept in full swing serving burritos, ceviches, and other goodies alongside a fully stocked bar. Aviva by Kameel, ATL’s most highly rated restaurant, is headed by Chef Kameel and his son Nas as they continue to dish out the same signature unbeatable Mediterranean cuisine they are so well known for. Poke Burri, the most award-winning poke brand ever, is offering their standard menu coupled with location-exclusive secret menu items that have given them a social media cult following. Wildleaf Salads is steady slinging salad goodness that is giving the neighborhood a much-needed source of green goodness. Additionally, By Weight and Measure (a new cocktail bar concept by the good folks behind Joystick Bar and Georgia Beer Garden) and Smo’Que Burger (another new concept, offering a mixture of southern-inspired BBQ and classic hamburger dishes) will be opening soon as well.
Past that culinary roster, The Collective Food Hall is proud to announce a brand new lineup of programming and happenings! Our events page on thecollectivefoodhall.com site lists a slew of streaming for sports, entertainment, and more on the 50 foot wide BIG SCREEN media wall we have in the plaza area of the space. Some of the upcoming highlights include watch parties for Atlanta United and The Kentucky Derby!
The most exciting programing “hitting our stage” though, is our preeminent Spring Fling Live Music Fridays starting this week on 4/30 with concerts running throughout the month of May until 5/28. Ante/Meridien Records has partnered with The Collective Food Hall to curate a stunning queue of talented musicians to perform each Friday night in the heart of our venue for the next several weeks. Amelia, one of ATL’s most exciting new singers, is the “headliner” and will be performing a full set of signature songs, covers, and medleys on 5/7. A list of all the artists can also be found below, including their social channels and links to their music. Each concert will start at 6:00pm and then run again featuring another artist at 7:15pm. The beauty of those performance times is that the golden hour from the sunset is happening around then creating a gorgeous, warm glow throughout the plaza and inside the food hall space. And of course, all of our vendors will be available with tasty food and yummy drinks to enjoy before, during, and after the performances!
Oh, yeah- bright, colorful, spring-time-themed floral fixtures have been added throughout the entire space to help create a secret garden escape in the heart of midtown! Orchids, wisteria, eucalyptus, and more now cover every nook and cranny offering tons of “Instagram-able” backdrops for your digital documenting delights.
Artist Spotify/ YouTube links: