We’d love to invite you to come and enjoy all that Athens has to offer at Avalon in Alpharetta! From pop-ups of local businesses like Condor Chocolates to fun, family-friendly activities with the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to live music featuring the Athens-based indie rock band taking TikTok by storm, the event is a taste of what Athens has to offer and will offer endless photo opps, activities and more.
Additional event activities throughout the day include:
A sampling of Athens’ renowned craft beer from noon to 7:30 p.m.
A live, interactive art mural where anyone can paint on a canvas and an Athens artist will create a unique art piece from everyone’s contributions
Chocolate samples from Condor Chocolates
Trivia with prize giveaways
Live music concert in the evening (AD Blanco and Hotel Fiction)
Situated near the bustling downtown Alpharetta City Center, the brand-new Hamilton Hotel theme is based on the Western & Atlantic Railway, clean lines, vintage details, and classic design that culminate in a homage to the transportation history of the area.
From the spacious, clean lobby, to the multiple gathering and seating areas throughout the main floor with vintage touches, to the stunning, industrial King Suites, you’ll fall in love with the aesthetics and want to stay awhile. Beyond the space, one of our favorite things about The Hamilton Hotel is the incorporation of curious artwork like the Lilies at Sunset by Luciou Carvalho. This piece is sleek polished, and new, but presents a bust of a woman from the 1800s all while adorning a modern motorcycle helmet on her head. They also have a series of Chic Evolution art like the Green Torso statue by Niso Maman or the Bonhomme Purple by Henri Iglesis. No matter what draws you in to The Hamilton Hotel, you’ll enjoy every minute of it. Let’s take a ride.
The moment you walk in the doors, you find beautiful modern, industrial architecture, clean lines, warm wood tables, sweeping marble floors, and cozy chairs that welcome you to stay awhile. The front dining area is stunning with a large piece of vibrant artwork in the middle called The Consciousness of Koi by Topher Goodie. To the right of the check-in desk is a large hallway to the elevators. It has vertical floor to ceiling mirrors juxtaposed by round, ornate tile and in the center, on a table, a small clock that says, “grand hotel.” Just down that hall are multiple seating areas, one that’s more intimate and hidden with a soft sofa. In the middle is a lounge space with two gray chairs, colorful carpet, and two gold, modern room dividers. Next to it is a long gray couch and hanging above is the painting we mentioned before, Lilies at Sunset. All these spaces are to invite you to relax downstairs!
One of the most beautiful spots in all the downstairs area is the outdoor space that is shared with their restaurant, Carrie’s. On one side next to the restaurant is a large, covered patio dotted with patio tables and chairs welcome brunch guests on a warm Saturday. While on the other side of the patio are enormous patio umbrellas and low lounge seating for larger groups to gather and hang out. There is also a green space for kids to play in near the back. Inside, the restaurant is a long corridor with large sweeping transportation murals, rounded modern lighting juxtaposing the marble floors and neutral wood tables. The large bar lines the wall of windows that showcase the outdoor space. They also have a few high-top tables in the front and a seating area with low table if you prefer to sip a cocktail there.
Up the elevators to the top floor, entering the corner King Suite, you’re immediately drawn to the floor to ceiling windows that line the entire room. In the bedroom side of the suite, a large blue, cushioned, headboard is symbiotic with the mosaic blue, gray accent wall and blue carpet. The massive, comfy bed is just below in between two wood accented nightstands and some beautiful modern lighting. Across from the bed is the TV and dresser area with a beautiful large blue dresser with 20s arched mirrors on top and a cool spot to rest your bags. In the suite area is a table to enjoy a treat, a TV, cushy couch to lounge in, and a small corner bar with fridge, water, and coffee station. This hides the closet where you can hang your hat. The space has Western & Atlantic transportation décor in a mix of pictures, signs, and diagrams throughout the suite and hallway. The bathroom’s tile is a stunning neutral brown start pattern that goes well with the all-white motif and soft wood vanity. Make sure to use the comfy robe and slippers during your stay. You’ll feel like royalty.
While you’re there, you must eat a meal at Carrie’s. It is a premiere restaurant with divine dinner service like their steelhead trout surrounded by creamy, earthy farro or if steak is your thing, they have an amazing filet paired with charred, sweet acorn squash and a nutty puree that elevates the dish. The best dessert I’ve had all year was the chocolate pot. Rich chocolate mousse encased in pistachio brittle all atop short bread crumbles. Feel like brunch or cocktails? They have a great cocktail program with beautiful, delicious cocktails like the Bardstown Cider or the new spring menu cocktail with empress gin, lavender, and a creamy head. Don’t hit snooze on their brunch either, they have a sensational smoked salmon benedict and superb stuffed French toast.
Outside the hotel, there are so many shopping, dining, nightlife options to choose from, like downstairs in the basement of the hotel is Roaring Social, a 20s themed speakeasy bar. It isn’t affiliated with the hotel, so you will need to make your own reservation there. If you’re looking for shopping, Alpharetta City Center has a ton of options including clothiers and even a record shop. Once you’ve tried Carrie’s, if you need dining options, you have so many to choose that it really is anything you want, steak, seafood, beach food, Indian, Mexican, you name it!
Doesn’t a stay at the Hamilton Hotel sound perfect?
Taste Around Town celebrates the best the city of Alpharetta’s top-rated chefs have to offer; a rich local food culture, wine, beer, cocktail tastes, interactive cooking demonstrations, live music, and more! An all-inclusive ticket provides participants 21+ with unlimited bites, bottomless beverages, and fabulous live music. Taste Around Town is presented by Taste of Atlanta in partnership with the City of Alpharetta and the Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau. For additional information and to get tickets, visit www.Alpharetta.TasteofAtlanta.com.
Taste Around Town Alpharetta has 3 sessions over 2 days!
The beautiful white building sits next to a sprawling green that makes its large “steeple” stand out amongst the downtown space. Is that a lighthouse? Inside, warm decorative lighting descends upon the large, ornate bar. The enclosed sunroom is stunning with earthy wood tables, mixed media ceiling, and beautiful lighting. Lapeer not only is stunning in ambiance but also in their wonderful food! Like this steak, a perfectly cooked filet that literally melts in your mouth and has the right amount of seasoning. No sauce required! It’s really the PERFECT piece of meat! But, the newly rebranded steakhouse doesn’t stop there, everything from the savory steak sauces to the elevated cocktails, the amazing apps, and even some of the best chocolate cake is all top notch! This is the perfect spot for a date night!
Why not start out with a cocktail? They have some good ones like the 5pm Somewhere! This great, balanced cocktail is tart and tangy with a good bit of creaminess from the foam. They also have an extensive wine list with several varieties of wine by the glass and even more bottles!
Starting with the amazing apps, the Beef Tartare and Seafood dip, the tartare starts out with a ton of savory meat, while the onion and mustard bring out the flavor with tang! The entire bite ends up tangy, creamy, savory, and then a crunch of the buttery bread. One the other hand, the Lapeer Smoked Fish Dish has a myriad of flavors from the creaminess of the dip to the saltiness of the fish and then a smokiness on top. Whatever you do make sure to mix it with the Kraken Blood hot sauce, it gives it a kick!
We opted to share a beautiful center-cut filet mignon and got almost every side you could imagine. Of all the sides, the crave-able Creamy Potatoes Gratin is hands down the best side. It is one part rich and creamy, then on the other side sweet and savory. Icing on the cake is the crunchy cheese on top! The Broccolini is earthy and tender inside with a nice char and crisp on the outside. This delicious side has a ton of flavor! On to the Charred Cabbage, which is tender and mild then on the top a healthy char. Underneath, the moat of savory sauce blends with a perfect amount of tang and sweetness. Last but not least are the creamy, dreamy whipped mashed potatoes that definitely pairs well with any of the steak sauces. They are buttery, creamy, and just right! We recommend pairing with the amazing steak jus sauce for ultimate bite.
The star of the show, though, had to be the Center-Cut Filet. It is perfection with the right amount of seasoning outside and juicy and savory inside. As we mentioned earlier it doesn’t really need any sauces, but they have some great ones that pair well with it. On the side they have roasted garlic, so we rolled that up with the Steak Jus and this was a great combo with the steak or even those crispy fries on the side! You really can’t go wrong with any of them!
To end the night, we opted for the amazing Chocolate Cake. It’s really the perfect amount of chocolate, not over-powering or over rich. The cake itself is darker chocolate with a little more flavor and then the icing gives it depth with a milkier flavor. It’s a great combination. On top, they added chocolate crunchies that add a fun texture to the bite. The perfect way to end an incredible meal.
Summer Concert Series Featuring Suburban Road, The Genuine Tailgate Jammin’ Show, Stranger Company, Midlife Crisis And More
Kicking Off Thursday, July 8, 2021 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Starting to hear the sweet sounds of summer? CHIRINGA and Home Town Mortgage have joined forces to bring to a tidal wave of melodies to downtown Alpharetta with the inaugural Surf N Turf Concert Series. Kicking off the summer series on Thursday, July 8th, revelers can admire the charming Town Green Fountain and brand new, luscious astroturf while jamming out to the live acoustics of Josh Jeffords from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Suburban Road, an Atlanta-based classic rock n’ blues band that pumps out hits from the 70s and 80s, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Keeping the groove flowing through CHIRINGA’s breezy patio all summer long, music enthusiasts can also revel in high energy performances fromThe Genuine Tailgate Jammin’ Show (7/23); Beggar’s Bandits (7/30); Stranger Company (7/31); Better than the Beatles (8/6); The Side Cars (8/20); Midlife Crisis (8/27) and more.
CHIRINGA’s full menu is accessible online and includes saltwater staples, elevated proteins and fresh produce that creates signature favorites like house made Guacamole, Lobster Rolls, Fish Tacos, Chop Chop Bowls, Caribbean Jerk Chicken Wings, Shrimp Baskets, Bacon & Guacamole Cheeseburgers and so much more. Imbibers looking to sip into the summer season can also enjoy freshly squeezed juices, beach-inspired cocktails including the infamous Frosé and frozen OG Margarita, craft beers and wines. and For all ages, the Surf N Turf Concert Series is free to attend and will be held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on scheduled show days. For more information and to order online, visit www.chiringa.com or call 770.802.8940. Follow the Kite on Instagram at @chiringaatl and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/chiringaatl. For more information about Home Town Mortgage, visit www.hometownmortgage.net.
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.
Live From The Drive-In: The Music Of Led Zeppelin with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, October 18
8:00 pm
Ameris Bank Amphitheatre – Alpharetta
Bridging the gulf between rock n’ roll and classical music, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs The Music of Led Zeppelin this Sunday, October 18. Amplified by a full rock band and accompanied by singer Randy Jackson’s screaming vocals, creator Brent Havens guest conducts the ensemble as they capture Led Zeppelin’s “sheer blast and power,” riff for riff while churning out new musical colors. Expect hits from Led Zeppelin’s extensive music catalog such as “Ramble On,” “Kashmir,” “Black Dog,” “Going to California” plus a few surprises. Created as a way to reimagine the live music experience during a time of social distancing, the Live From The Drive-In concert series allows you to enjoy concerts from your own individual tailgating zone! The safety of fans, artists, crews and staff is a top priority. The drive-in shows are designed to maximize social distancing, and every event will meet all local health and safety standards, as well as state regulations. Concert goers are not required to wear masks while in their assigned tailgate area, however, masks will be required if leaving your space to use the restroom facilities.
We were thinking and someday we will look back fondly upon our time as Adventures in Atlanta, where we reviewed food, went to breweries, and promoted events. With that, we’re sure Carson Kitchen will definitely stick out as one of the best of those experiences because they have phenomenal food, some of the nicest and amazing staff around, and a killer drink menu. Now, they have brunch, could it get any better? We figure not, but we sampled our way through a few of the brunch menu options like the amazing Spam Benedict, savory Chicken and Waffles and Oxtail Hash, sublime Avocado Toast, and don’t get us started on their brunch cocktails. Their slogan Resting Brunch Face is spot on. Hitting it out of the park once again with so many unique flavor combinations, textures, and stellar brunch fare. Spam Benedict, anyone?
When we tell you, we’ve found our brunch bff drink, you know it must be good. The Alexa Play, “Georgia Peaches” is fresh, crisp, sweet, yet mellow. If I (Liz) could have one drink the rest of my life, it would be this beauty with the right mix of champagne and peach puree. Plus, we know they said this was their take on a Bellini but never had a Bellini so refreshing and crisp. Do they make this puree in house? I mean, they have to! We also REALLY liked the Tangled up in Blue. It was a crisp and refreshing vodka cocktail with blueberry puree that was sweet and tart that mixed perfectly with the ginger beer and lemon.
Right now they’re doing a limited brunch menu with fun dishes like a dynamite Spam Benedict or savory Oxtail Hash, as well as a Pork Belly, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich, Chicken and MAC-N-CHEESE (yes all caps) Waffle, Avocado (and cheese) Toast, and so many other little bites. How did we get so lucky? Starting with the Chicken and Waffles, it was a savory waffle dish with mac and cheese literally baked into the waffle dough with crispy chicken on top. Adorned with a drizzle of a good amount of cheddar cheese sauce, so as you eat it you get the crisp of the chicken and savory of the waffle and macaroni mix. It was like a fun take on mac n cheese. The only thing we’d like to see is a little sweet, like maybe some honey or something sweet that pairs with the cheese on top. Still delicious.
Let’s discuss Avocado Toast. You know, this can be so healthy, but why not try something different? With the perfectly cooked egg, avocado, and a little bit of beer cheese with a sharp bite, this Avocado Toast is crunchy, creamy, earthy, and unforgettable. With the toast, we also decided to sample the Oxtail Hash. If you haven’t had oxtail what are you waiting for? It’s a lot like pulled pork, but it’s a little richer and has a little more flavor than a regular pulled pork. Then you pile on the potatoes, onions, and peppers it rounds out the dish. You can’t get a hash without the egg, and this one was a beauty that was perfectly cooked, and the yolk ran through the potatoes and oxtail to create a savory sauce. Yum.
Of the brunch fare, our favorite had to be the Spam Benedict. They were out in our brunch initial visit and we couldn’t stop thinking about trying it so we went back. WORTH IT. Boy, we’re glad we did with the perfectly cooked and meaty spam, topped with a savory egg and the right amount of cheese, it was an amazing bite. But you know what was the showstopper? The fried green tomato. It was perfectly crisp and ripe and instead of bread held the entire dish together. Just imagine a crispy, crunchy, and earthy tomato topped with pork spam perfectly pan fried and topped with sauce and a gooey, runny egg. Cut up all the ingredients and mix it up, bite. Heavenly.
On August 26th, Carson Kitchen is expanding their hours and menu with even more bites to choose from like everything bagel flatbread to German potato salad to a pork tenderloin. Chicken thighs are still on our list to try, plus we can’t say no to pork tenderloin or everything bagel flatbread. What would you want to try first?
About: Six Alpharetta City Center restaurants, including Holmes, Lapeer and South Main Kitchen, are teaming up to host a Mardi Gras Bar Crawl on February 22nd! Festivities will include Nola-inspired cocktails and bites at each restaurant, in addition to Mardi Gras beads, dancing, live music in the South Main Kitchen alley, and more. Tickets are $50.
