Tag Archive for: adventures in atlanta

Best of Dragon Con Wednesday Through Friday 2019

Panels, Wallops, A Mai Tai, A Wonder Woman T-Rex, Random Celebrity Sightings, and Parking Lot Karaoke!

Wheeeew, We were busy!

Fandom. Nerdom. Fanatics. Whatever you want to call it descended on downtown Atlanta as the first few days of Dragon Con came and went, but thank goodness it’s Friday. Welcome home to Dragon Con 2019! Wednesday is the new Thursday with the welcome home party and even a T-REX dance party in the Hilton. Thursday is quickly becoming the new first must-do night with their fun late night parties like the End Game Neon Party and late night tunes, like The Tomb Tunes. There’s also $6 Mai Tais at Trader Vic’s! Finally, Friday is the first full day full of panels, parties, and more. Let’s check out all the Friday shenanigans in depth!

First, the Wallops. We snaked like a super hero this evening, while hanging out with Hight Road Craft Ice Cream out of Marietta, GA (local!). A little ball of deliciousness has a delicate ice cream center, cookie dough outside, and crispy shell. Our favorite was definitely the sweet cream ice cream and cookie dough, but the almond was also very good. Wait, they ALL were good. What a nice bunch of people to hang out with for a while! You should check out their large wallop and background you can take a picture with! It’s bigger than your head! They are going to be in the pool area of the Hyatt Regency Saturday too until 6 pm (or gone). Get Walloped!

Second, panels. There are so many tidbits, behind the scene jokes, and more that you find out about actors and even shows that you didn’t know that are a complete surprise to everyone. The best things that happen can be surprise guests, show spoilers, story lines that COULD be, and more. Here’s some of the best of the panels:

THIS PORTION OF OUR ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM LUCIFER AND GOTHAM. Like this afternoon, we got to hear from Aimee Garcia and DB Woodside a few interesting things about Lucifer currently airing on Netflix. DB said in the first season that his character Amenadiel was to fall in love with the demon Maze, but she was going to die. He is so distraught that he brings her back to life and that’s how he looses his powers and wings. Interesting. He does lose his wings in season one into season two, but it wasn’t for this reason. Fox was hesitant about this story line and it got scrapped. Then, Aimee, is hoping her character, Ella, turns out to be God (and so did one fan who asked about it). In the comics, Elaine Bella is a character that turns out to be God and with name Ella… could be? Probably not, but it is a fan theory and a rumor around the lot.

As for Gotham that just ended it’s run on Fox, we got to spend some time with a bunch of the main actors like David Mazouz, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, Maggie Geha, and SURPRISE Donald Logue showed up. Right off, Robin Lord Taylor is a blonde(!). So, he had a wonderful story about how Jada Pinkett Smith took him under her wing and really showed him the ropes of acting on a series, almost like her character Fish Mooney mentored Cobblepot, who became Penguin and he was eternally grateful. He also said he really used Danny Devito’s Penguin and his “look” as a roadmap to his character. Beyond that, it was interesting to hear that Fox/the producers didn’t tell the actors what roles they were auditioning for in the beginning. Sean P said if he knew he was auditioning for Alfred he would have done things differently. David M mentioned they said his scene for audition was that his brother has just died and he is having a hard time with it. So interesting to hear this! What struck us is that these actors were all very close. Donald Logue said this was the closest, most family like cast he’s worked with and that means a lot seeing as he had just done Sons of Anarchy, Vikings, and a stint on SVU. They all hugged when he showed up. He wasn’t supposed to be at the panel, so it was a treat for all!

On the way back from dinner, we were walking by the Marriott and we ran into a man standing on the street talking to another cosplayer. He turns around and it’s Mark Sheppard. If you watched the show Supernatural on the CW and the demon, Crowley, rings a bell, you know who we’re talking about! I (Liz) asked for a selfie or photo but he said it was against the rules, so we can’t give you a proof of encounter, unfortunately. But, I did get to waved to his wife Sarah who was on Facetime with him, and he was very nice. We told him we were big Supernatural fans and left it at that. SPOILER We hope he gets to come back for the final season.

Finally, we ran across something cool tonight, a parking lot karaoke party. A bunch of random people, belting their favorite songs, behind a car, and a bunch of people around cheering them on. It was a lot of fun and interesting to watch everything go down.

That’s a wrap for now. More on Saturday and Sunday to come!

HYATT REGENCY ATLANTA – THE DRAGON CON 2019 FOODIE AND DRINK AFICIONADO DESTINATION

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/27/19

HYATT REGENCY ATLANTA – THE DRAGON CON DESTINATION FOR 2019
Hotel to Offer ‘Mission to the Moon’ Burger, Legendary Voodoo Bucket & More!

Hyatt Regency Atlanta will once again welcome thousands of guests for this year’s Dragon Con – the largest multi-media convention focused on fantasy, science fiction, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film. Dragon Con 2019 is expecting some 85,000 attendees with an estimated local economic impact of $93 million.

Hyatt Regency Atlanta has been a central hub and popular gathering spot for the convention since it first took place at the hotel in 1987.

The hotel’s Twenty-Two Storys gastropub will feature the “Mission to the Moon Burger,” honoring the Moon Landing’s 50th Anniversary. The double grass-fed burger ($17) is served with star shaped tots and topped with:

– Galaxy Bun
– Blue Moon Ale Infused Caramelized Onions
– Crater Cheese
– Chicharrones
– Garlic Aioli

New for 2019: High Road Craft Ice Cream “Wallops!” – Super Premium ice cream wrapped in handmade cookie dough and covered in chocolate (the ‘Snack Super Hero’) – in partnership with Atlanta’s own hand-crafted ice cream maker.

The famous Voodoo Bucket, a mix of select rums and fresh fruit juices ($14).

The 22 oz. “Phantom” slushie ($16) adult beverage – back by popular demand!

They will also have local beer from Scofflaw available, more information to come.

10TH ANNUAL SOUTHERN CHEFS POTLUCK

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/25/19

The Foundry at Puritan Mill

Sunday, September 15th at 4:30 pm VIP / 5:30 pm GA

The South’s favorite chefs are getting out of the kitchen and into the spotlight for Southern Chefs Potluck, a Sunday supper celebrating the 10th anniversary of Wholesome Wave Georgia on September 15th at our new location at The Foundry at Puritan Mill.

Local chefs will bring their favorite dishes to complement a whole hog roast from Jim N Nicks Bar-B-Q. You will dine in style while enjoying live music and mingling with chefs and farmers in our new location on Atlanta’s popular Westside.

In addition to good food and fellowship, the celebration will feature local beer, wine, and cocktails prepared and served by renowned mixologists, plus silent and live auctions for one-of a-kind gifts and experiences.

American Cookbook of the Year award winner Chef Todd Richards will host a VIP pre-party featuring Uncle Nearest whiskey and Cathead Vodka tastings, chef demonstrations, small appetizers, and culinary SWAG bags.

James Beard award-winning chef and founder of Wholesome Wave Michel Nischan will be recognized as Special Guest of Honor, and Wholesome Wave Georgia co-founders Judith Winfrey and Kate Barney will serve as Honorary Co-chairs.

All proceeds will benefit Wholesome Wave Georgia, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting 1.4 million food-insecure Georgians with access to fresh, healthy, and locally-grown food. Join us and help invest in the families and farmers we serve!

Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4273721

SANDY SPRING WINE FESTIVAL 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/25/19

Heritage Sandy Springs

Saturday, September 28th at Noon

Purchase tickets here.

Join us on Saturday, September 28th for the second annual Sandy Springs Wine Festival at Heritage Sandy Springs!

From 12:00pm – 5:00pm enjoy complimentary wine and craft beer tastings, music performances, and fun wine-themed activities on the entertainment lawn at Heritage Hall.  Additionally, enjoy the entire Sandy Springs Festival ranging from Sandy Springs Place to City Green. Tickets at the time of posing were $42 and will go up.

Tickets Include:
• Souvenir Tasting Glass
• Complimentary Wine and Craft Beer Tastings (50+ varieties)
• Live Music performances from Heart of Pine, and The Sagas  and DJ 2-Smooth
• Wine-themed activities

Food Available for Purchase
Sandy Springs Wine Festival is a 21+ event, however the Sandy Springs Festival is open to all ages.

SERPAS TRUE FOOD PRETORIA FIELDS BREWERY BEER DINNER 2019

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/24/19

Serpas True Food

Thursday, September 12th at 6:30 pm

Join in on the beer, food, and fun at Serpas True Food right off the bustling Atlanta BeltLine! Join Chef Scott Serpas and Pretoria Brewery for a custom menu beer pairing. Chef Scott will provide passed appetizers barside followed by a three-course, seated dinner pairing beer from Georgia’s own Pretoria Fields Brewery. Tickets are $65 per person (tax and staff gratuity not included).

Tickets here.

GEORGIA GROWN PRESENTS SOUTH BY NORTH NEW ENGLAND CHEFS IN A NEW SOUTH KITCHEN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/24/19

The White Bull

Sunday, September 1 at 12:30 pm

On Sunday, September 1, Georgia Grown invites you to gather ’round the table for a Sunday Supper at their South by North event. Located at The White Bull and hosted by Chef Pat Pascarella, the event will feature a book signing with our client, Chef Bruce Moffett of Moffett Restaurant Group, who will be coming in from Charlotte for the Decatur Book Festival!

Tickets will include a five-course Sunday Supper with dishes from the cookbook, a complimentary welcome cocktail, and a signed copy of Bruce Moffett Cooks. Tickets are $65.

Tickets here.

Southern Wing Showdown 2019

Date: Sunday, August 25th

Time: 2 pm (1 pm VIP)

About: Springer Mountain Farms Southern Wing Showdown, the favorite all-inclusive summer festival celebrating unique takes on a Southern staple, will return for its fourth year on Sunday, August 25 at The Fairmont (1429 Fairmont Ave NW) in Atlanta’s West Midtown neighborhood from 1pm to 5pm. Sponsored by Springer Mountain Farms and Big Green Egg and produced by Taste of Atlanta, the event will feature creative talent from over 30 prominent Southeastern chefs hailing from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including Atlanta’s Matt Basford of Canoe (2018 ‘Best Wing’ Winner) and Drew Van Leuvan of Seven Lamps, Charlotte’s Greg Collier of Loft & Cellar and more. While enjoying wings and sides from acclaimed chefs, attendees can also sip beer, wine and specially crafted cocktails that complement chef creations. Local purveyor Springer Mountain Farms will provide chefs with chicken that’s raised without antibiotics, steroids, growth stimulants or hormones, and each chef will serve their unique recipe as they battle it out to win ‘Best Wing’ in a competition judged by festival goers and a panel of wing aficionados. The winner of Southern Wing Showdown will win a Big Green Egg to take home. Angel Flight Soars, a volunteer pilot organization located at Dekalb Peachtree airport and providing flight services to patients in need of medical-related care, will be a nonprofit beneficiary for this event and will host a silent auction on-site. The festival will also support Second Helpings Atlanta – a nonprofit food rescue organization that fights hunger and reduces food waste in the city – who will be doing food recovery onsite. Tickets will be available for purchase online and will grant access to all-you-can-eat tastes and drinks, including signature cocktails, beer and wine, plus live music from Luke Latimer. There will be both General Admission and VIP tickets, with the first hour of the events reserved for VIP First Taster attendees. The event sells out every year, and last year, approximately 28,000 wings were eaten by attendees.

More Information:

http://southernwingshowdown.com/

Jeffrey Fashion Cares Atlanta 2019

Date: Monday, August 26th

Time: 7 pm

About: Atlanta’s most philanthropic and fashionable affair, Jeffrey Fashion Cares, is set to celebrate 27 stylish years on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 7 p.m. The annual event, which has become a mainstay on Atlanta’s social circuit, is founded by acclaimed retailer and arbiter of style, Jeffrey Kalinsky, who recently expanded his Atlanta store in Phipps Plaza and is now offering both men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry.  What is always an unforgettable evening, Jeffrey Fashion Cares will kick off with a cocktail reception and dynamic silent auction followed by a high-energy live auction.  The evening’s pièce de résistance, a runway show featuring Kalinsky’s style selections from high-end designers, once again promises to dazzle with looks from Celine, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Dries Van Noten, Sacai, Saint Laurent Paris, Balenciaga, Valentino, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik. The 2019 event will be held at Phipps Plaza and benefit Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta AIDS Fund (AAF), and the Medical University of South Carolina. New this year, Marsha Archer, CEO and President of M Squared Public Relations, joins veteran co-chairs Lila Hertz and Louise Sams to continue Kalinksy’s mission to raise as much funds and awareness for the event’s beneficiaries as possible.  Selling out year after year, guests will slip into a completely transformed and private environment in the Monarch Court at Phipps Plaza located in the heart of Buckhead.  Last year’s event raised nearly $625,000 for the organizations, and in its history, Jeffrey Fashion Cares has grown into one of the largest combined AIDS and breast cancer benefits in the country. For more information, visit jeffreyfashioncares.com.

More Information:

Jeffrey Fashion Cares

Atlanta Magazine’s DINES 2019

Date: Thursday, August 22nd

Time: 6 pm

About: Atlanta magazine’s editorial team takes a fresh look at the metro area’s culinary scene. Which favorite restaurants are still at the top of their games? And which newcomers deserve recognition? Our critics assemble Atlanta’s most authoritative list of the top dining spots, from fine restaurants to food stalls. Atlanta magazine brings that mouthwatering content to life by hosting the hottest all-inclusive ticket in town—DINES: A Taste of the City’s Best Restaurants, showcasing dozens of dining spots that were featured throughout the year. In addition to a vast food selection from the participating restaurants, guests will enjoy complimentary handcrafted cocktails, live music, and event activations throughout the evening! Sneak peek of restaurants include Tiny Lou, Atlas, The White Bull, Nina & Rafi, Das BBQ, Rising Son, Sublime Doughnuts. Benefits The Giving Kitchen.

More Information:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atlanta-magazines-dines-tickets-63124250332

ATLANTA ROSE FESTIVAL 2019

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

Saturday, September 21st at Noon

Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark

It’s a rose soiree on the Beltline! Join us on Saturday, September 21st for the Atlanta Rosé Festival along the Atlanta BeltLine at the Old Fourth Ward Fall Festival. From 12:00pm – 4:00pm enjoy complimentary wine and craft beer tastings (over 75 varieties), music performances, and fun wine-themed activities. Tickets are $40

Tickets Include:
Souvenir Rosé Festival Tasting Glass
Complimentary Wine and Craft Beer Tastings (75+ varieties)
DJ and Live Music performances
Food Available for Purchase

Atlanta Rosé Festival is a 21+ event, however the Old Fourth Ward Fall Festival is open to all ages.

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/atlanta-rose-festival-tickets-66866779337