FIRST ANNUAL VALDOSTA BLUESBERRY FESTIVAL

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/4/23

Valdosta Hosts First-Ever Bluesberry Festival

The two-day festival features a variety of blues music, blueberries and brews at Unity Park Amphitheater in Downtown Valdosta

FREE!

The first annual Valdosta Bluesberry Festival will take place in the heart of Downtown Valdosta this spring. On April 14 and 15, guests of all ages are invited to attend the blueberries, brews and blues festival at Unity Park Amphitheater, complete with a lineup of live entertainment, family friendly activities, blueberry-themed food and drinks, and even the Blueberry Olympics.

The two-day festival features the following musical performances and activities:

·       Blues musical acts include Dirty Bird and the Flu, Tom “Bones” Malone and Lou Marini, The Page Brothers and many others

·       In the Blueberry Olympics, participants will compete in a series of events including a blueberry pie eating contest, blueberry throwing game and more for a first place prize of $150 Downtown Dollars, second place prize of $100 Downtown Dollars and third place prize of $60 Downtown Dollars. Downtown Dollars are accepted at most Downtown Valdosta merchants. Learn more at ValdostaBluesberry.com

·       Calling all bakers! The Blueberry Bake Off is looking for the best blueberry pies, cakes, muffins and other baked goods. Learn more about prizes and how to enter at ValdostaBluesberry.com

·       Farmers market featuring local vendors with special blueberry themed merchandise

·       Kids’ zone with bounce houses, basketball, rock climbing wall and more  

·       Food trucks offering BBQ, funnel cakes, seafood and more

“Hosting the inaugural Valdosta Bluesberry Festival is a momentous occasion for our city,” said Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson. “It has been an honor to see the hard work of so many people in our community come together to bring this idea to life. This is the beginning of a new tradition here in Valdosta for everyone around the south to enjoy.”

General admission to the Valdosta Bluesberry Festival is free. Guests should bring a blanket or lawn chair and find a comfortable spot on the lawn for a weekend jam-packed with live music and entertainment. For guests wanting to get closer to the action, VIP tickets with a hotel room, upgraded seating and access to exclusive after-hours events are available for purchase.

“The Valdosta Bluesberry Festival will not only be a great weekend of entertainment for the whole family, but it also allows our local businesses and destinations to share their unique offerings with each other and out of town visitors,” said David DiSalvo, Executive Director of Visit Valdosta.

The inaugural Valdosta Bluesberry Festival is made possible with the support of Visit Valdosta, Valdosta Main Street, the City of Valdosta, Coleman Talley, South Georgia Medical Center, The McKey, Pepsi and others.  

To purchase VIP tickets, view the full lineup, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.valdostabluesberry.com. 

DINNER WITH A VIEW ATLANTA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/2/23

Unique Pop-Up Dining Experience Opens Domes in Piedmont Park for a Limited Time

Part pop-up restaurant, part outdoor oasis, Dinner With A View will bring an immersive and elevated culinary experience with a one-of-a-kind view to Atlantans this March! Starting on March 2nd, the premier pop-up will offer guests a new perspective on outdoor dining from the comfort of a private, climate-controlled, clear and frameless geodesic dome with stunning views of Piedmont Park in Midtown.

“We couldn’t think of a better city to set up in than the inspiring cultural melting pot that is Atlanta, just in time for the beautiful spring season,” says Ryan Rearden, Partner of Dinner With A View Atlanta and founder and CEO of GRAÉ HOSPITALITY group. “We are proud to offer something truly original to Atlantans with our fully immersive event that excites the senses with its unique environment-enhancing domes and incredible dining experience.”


Located within The Promenade at Piedmont Park, near the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Magnolia Hall, the experience will feature 33 thoroughly-decorated domes with elegant lighting consciously placed across the green space, providing stunning views of the surrounding park and city skyline from each and every seat.mGuests will enjoy a three-course meal expertly crafted by Atlanta’s own GRAÉ HOSPITALITY’s award-winning Executive Chef Andy Merritt-Carter. Using influences from cuisines around the world, diners will have the opportunity to select from four menu categories – beef, chicken, fish, or vegan – all of which feature Chef’s exquisite array of flavors to pair effortlessly with the vibrant surrounding ambiance. A full beverage menu will also be available offering guests a variety of drinks for purchase.


The Dinner With A View experience will be open to guests from Thursday, March 2nd through Sunday, April 2nd, 2023, operating Thursday with seatings at 8:15 p.m., Friday and Saturday with seatings at 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., & 9:30 p.m, and Sunday with seatings at 5:00 p.m, 7:00 p.m., & 9:00 p.m. Dome reservations are now available online for $199.99 and dinner bookings are $129.99 per guest. A minimum of 4 guests are required per booking, and domes can accommodate a maximum of 6 guests.

To learn more about Dinner With A View, advantage of special promotions, first access to premium dates and
seating times, or event updates, please visit https://www.dinnerwithaview.ca/atlanta-2023.

COBB BUBBLES AND BREWS 2023

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/2/23

March 1-31

Bubbles & Brews, a month-long celebration ofCobb County’s craft beverage makers, is back for its fourth year to shine a spotlight on local breweries, distilleries, and wineries.

During the month of March, enthusiasts can travel along the Cobb Ale Trail to sample unique craft beverages. A free ‘BrewPass,’ available online or at participating Hop Spots, will guide visitors to each location where they can collect stamps and win sweet prizes from Cobb Travel & Tourism.


Guests can earn double stamps in their BrewPass by attending Bubbles & Brews Night events where each Hop Spot will feature fun activities and themed giveaways. Visitors will also have the chance to vote online for their favorite best-sellers, unique brews, and various other categories.


New in 2023, dog-friendly locations will also have Bubbles & Chews bandanas for your fourlegged friends on Bubbles & Brews Nights. Participants can enter to win a curated dog gift box by posting a photo of their dog with swag and using the hashtag #BubblesAndChews. “The craft beverage industry in Cobb continues to thrive, with new locations opening each year,” said Holly Quinlan, President & CEO of Cobb Travel & Tourism. “Since beginning Bubbles & Brews in 2020, we have seen these small businesses adapt, change, grow, and make Cobb County a sweet spot for beverage enthusiasts. Not only are we highlighting these makers during the month of March, but also recognizing their role as a year-round tourism asset in our community.”


Nineteen of Cobb’s craft beverage makers are participating in the 2023 event, including:


• ASW Distillery (Cumberland)
• Atlanta Hard Cider Co. & Distillery (Marietta)
• Broken Anchor Winery (Acworth)
• Burnt Hickory Brewery (Kennesaw)
• Dry County Brewing Company (Kennesaw)
• Glover Park Brewery (Marietta)
• Horned Owl Brewing (Kennesaw)
• Ironmonger Brewing Company (Marietta)
• Lazy Guy Distillery (Kennesaw)
• Red Hare Brewing & Distilling (Marietta)
• Red Hare – Still on the Square (Marietta)
• Red Top Brewhouse (Acworth)
• Reformation Brewery (Smyrna)
• Schoolhouse Brewing (Marietta)
• Shezmu Cellars (Kennesaw)
• Skint Chestnut Brewing Company (Powder Springs)
• Terrapin Taproom (Cumberland)
• Treehorn Cider (Marietta)
• Viking Alchemist Meadery (Smyrna)


In addition to the special events throughout the month, several participating Bubbles & Brews
locations will be featured in the “Bubbles & Brews Alley” at the Georgia Food + Wine Festival
on Saturday, March 25, at Jim R. Miller Park. Guests will be able to sample the unique drinks
from participating craft beverage makers at this festival that celebrates the best of Georgia and
the South.

For more information on Bubbles & Brews, visit bubblesandbrews.com.

MEATBALL PALOOZA HOSTED BY MEATBALLERZ ON SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/28/23

Mamma Mia! Meatballerz hosts first-ever Meatball Palooza on Saturday, March 11

Atlanta eatery and food truck will celebrate National Meatball Day with foodie event at Eventide Brewing

1-5pm, FREE!

Join local favorite Meatballerz on Saturday, March 11, at Eventide Brewing to celebrate National Meatball Day with authentic Italian classics, live cooking demos, food eating competitions, beer and more! 

Whether you just love Italian cuisine or fancy yourself an amateur gurgitator, this is a foodie festival you don’t want to miss.

The “meaty” festivities will begin at 1 p.m., with competitive events kicking off at 2 p.m. Registration is open to the public until each event begins, and spectators can have a “ball” watching the fierce competitions from the sidelines.

  • First up are two warm-up events: a mozzarella triangle cheese pull and a meatball relay race. 
  • The big showdown is a meatball eating contest featuring an envy-inducing grand prize for the first place winner…free Meatballerz Ball-in-a-Hole sandwiches for a year! 

Cara and Cathy DeLalla, the mother-daughter duo behind Meatballerz, will host a live cooking demonstration of their beloved Mama’s Chicken Piccata. 

If you’re hankering for a hearty meal, the Meatballerz food truck will be parked on site so attendees can enjoy a taste of Italy throughout the day. (Pro tip: dishes pair perfectly with Eventide Brewing’s Mozzafiato Italian Pilsner, which will be available for purchase!)

For more information, please visit the Meatball Palooza Facebook event page.