Showing posts with label "Aria". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "Aria". Show all posts

Monday, October 9, 2017

Buy Tickets Now for Chefs Cook for Hunger Benefitting Atlanta Community Food Bank Oct. 12


Atlanta chefs are coming together at Davio’s Atlanta to do what they do best (cook) to raise funds for the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). Join Davio’s Atlanta, Flavors magazine, Christine Pullara of NBC’s “Atlanta & Company” and some of Atlanta’s most prestigious chefs for Chefs Cook for Hunger, a multi-course dinner with wine pairings at 6 p.m. on Oct. 12. Aria chef/owner Gerry Klaskala, Rathbun’s Restaurants chef Kevin Rathbun, The Cook’s Warehouse chef Mary Moore and Davio’s executive chef Matthew Rosekrans and VP/culinary director Rodney Murillo are teaming up to create the evening’s menu. Guests arrive to a “Benvenuto” of smoked trout mousse flatbread, spicy salmon tartare, Springer Mountain chicken liver crostini, pan-seared lump crabcakes and Philly cheesesteak spring rolls accompanied by NV Col de Salici brut blanc and 2015 brut rosé DOCG Valdobbiadene prosecco. Klaskala prepares an antipasto of chilled Springer Mountain chicken with roasted red peppers, French beans, limestone lettuce and lemon-basil vinaigrette served with 2016 Calafuria rosé, Salento. Other courses include hand-rolled potato gnocchi with organic mushrooms, basil, white truffle oil and shaved black truffles paired with 2015 Erath Resplendent pinot noir, Oregon; and chargrilled rib-eye cap, butternut squash-chevre purée and preserved lemon Brussels sprouts paired with 2015 Chateau Ste. Michelle “Indian Wells” cabernet sauvignon, Columbia Valley. Dinner ends with dolce of peach upside-down cake, caramel, toasted almond ice cream and 2015 Eroica riesling, Columbia Valley. Buy tickets online, $150 per person (plus tax and gratuity); advance purchase only. All ticket sales will be donated to the ACFB. Call 404-844-4810 for more information.

Monday, May 22, 2017

Appetizing Aperture: Aria's Cabrio Tour


Aria’s bartenders sure know how to mix a mean cocktail! The Cabrio Tour is handcrafted with brandy, sloe gin, green chartreuse and egg white and is featured on the new spring cocktail menu. Smooth and frothy, this mixology masterpiece is the perfect start to a night on the town. Hurry in to snag a seat at the bar, then savor every second. Make dinner reservations online.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

2017 Taste of the Nation Showcases Celebrity Chefs and Atlanta Faves April 20


Atlanta’s annual Taste of the Nation is always one of the city’s most highly anticipated culinary events. This year promises an even greater abundance of chefs, restaurants, surprises and an intimate VIP Dinner Experience at the Thursday, April 20 extravaganza filling downtown Atlanta’s Southern Exchange at 200 Peachtree. TV personality and restaurateur Cat Cora, who opened Cat Cora’s Kitchen at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in partnership with Hojeij Branded Foods, will serve as the event’s honorary chef. Aria chef Gerry Klaskala, Umi chef Fuyuhiko Ito and Gunshow chef Kevin Gillespie take their talents to the tables for the ultra-exclusive VIP Dinner Experience featuring a multi-course dinner prepared tableside by the chefs and fine wine pairings. Guests opting for the 7-10 p.m. Grand Tasting experience will sample signature fare and spirits from more than 50 of Atlanta’s premier restaurants -- including Cat Cora’s Kitchen, Chicken and the Egg5ChurchGypsy KitchenMarlow’s TavernSeed Kitchen & Bar and Umi -- along with the excitement of auctions, wine tastings and live entertainment. “Cat Cora’s California Trip” is sure to stir a feeding frenzy of hot bidding in the live auction. Taste of the Nation events are held in more than 30 cities across the nation. Proceeds support Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger in the U.S.A. Buy Grand Tasting experience tickets here, $250 per person.
 

Friday, March 24, 2017

Top Kitchen Talents Throw Two Fundraisers -- KUDU Garden Barbecue and Potluck Dinner -- to Help Cancer-Battling Chef Mar. 26


Jason Fisher, 29-year-old sous chef at No. 246, is battling a rare form of cancer for the second time in two years. The industry veteran’s associates, a list loaded with lauded Atlanta chefs, are supporting Fisher by doing what they do best -- cooking and KUDU barbecuing on Sunday, Mar. 26. The fundraising Sunday opens with Eat the Wild, a 2-6 p.m. garden barbecue at Kimball House. Fisher’s friends are firing up the South African-inspired KUDU Safari Braai for open-flame, outdoor cooking: splay-roasted lamb al asador, vegetable-stuffed suckling pigs, fire-roasted whole chickens, grilled oysters and grilled sausages and vegetables. Food is paired with Three Taverns Craft Brewery beer and Kimball cocktails. Tickets are $40 and are available at the door.
How about a second helping of helping out? Sunday evening, Gerry Klaskala of Aria is among the more than 20 chefs contributing to a potluck fundraiser dinner for Fisher and The Giving Kitchen at No. 246 in Decatur. Come on over to the 5-8 p.m. backyard affair and enjoy Ping-Pong, the Packway Handle band, chow and beverages from Heaven Hill Distilleries and Terrapin Beer Company. A discretionary $40 donation per person is suggested and may be made online on Fisher’s up-and-rolling GoFundMe page.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

The Federal, Aria, Kevin Gillespie are James Beard Foundation 2017 Restaurant and Chef Awards Semifinalists


News flash! The James Beard Foundation (JBF) has announced the 2017 semifinalists for its prestigious Restaurant and Chef Awards. Yes, we have to brag on several from our own town: 

Best New Restaurant -- The FederalOutstanding Service -- AriaBest Chef: Southeast -- Kevin Gillespie, Gunshow
What’s next? JBF will announce the final Restaurant and Chef Award nominees on Wednesday, Mar. 15 and post the names in real time on Facebook Live and Twitter. The 2017 James Beard Awards Gala will take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on May 1.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Lean In to Lent with Seafood and Vegetarian Specialties


When Mardi Gras’ excess and fast times roll out, Lenten simplicity and fasting wash in. Atlanta restaurants have their ways with seafood and vegetarian dishes to help Lenten diners stay dedicated all the way to Easter dinner (but that’s another story).
 In Town5Church Atlanta pleases with Midtown lunch and dinner options such as appetizers of ahi tuna poke, charred octopus or butternut squash agnolotti. Lenten lunchers can bite into a crispy beet burger while the dinner crowd can savor a hearth-roasted whole fish. For dessert, save room for the Triple Scoop. Those forgoing meat for Lent can indulge on an elegant dinner of butter-braised lobster with truffle potatoes and broccoli mousseline presented with impeccable service at Aria in Buckhead. At Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland, catch cornbread-crusted Georgia trout, mashed potatoes, green beans and bourbon brown butter apples on the lunch and dinner menus. Weekend brunch throws in fried green tomato Benedict and a vegetarian skillet. Bank on The Federal in Midtown for a satiating lunch or dinner appetizer of chopped chicken liver, toast and cornichons. Midday, make the main thing a veggie grilled sandwich. Come dinnertime, latch onto whole loup de mer with chickpea pancake, fennel, olives, saffron yogurt and bee pollen. Mom would be proud of the HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern Super Food Plate, assembling a very veggie family of Mother Nature salad, fried green tomatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables for a Midtown dinner. Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila heats up lots of Lenten “Ole!” in Brookhaven with seafood tacos filled with crispy calamari or “Baja fish” with slaw, pico de gallo, guac and serrano tartar sauce; Margarita shrimp tacos with green chili grits, cotija and picante and more. Order a couple of the same or go crazy and order a basket of several varieties.
On Atlanta’s Westside, harvest a veggie bowl at Ormsby's for the garden goodness of butternut squash risotto, asparagus, roasted red peppers and beurre blanc. Lenten diners can stay the course at Revival in Decatur where they’ll find dinner dishes such as local kale salad with apples, charred onion, artisan cheese and boiled dressing and savory Sunday brunch specialties such as cornmeal fried catfish served with smoked cheddar grits, milk gravy and hot sauce or a French-style omelette with soft herb cheese and roasted mushroom jus. OTPIn East Cobb, a stop at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at the Avenue East Cobb nets oysters from North American waters and at the Raw Bar, wood-roasted octopus as a starter and those luscious lobster rolls. Stop in for lunch or dinner or a relaxing Sunday brunch. At Seed Kitchen & Bar, white corn grit fritters with jalapeño pepper jelly and Thomasville tome spice up Lenten lunches and dinners. Bay of Fundy salmon with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, melted leeks and truffle vinaigrette fills the bill come dinnertime. At neighboring Stem Wine Bar, choose non-meat small plates like Gulf shrimp al ajillo with garlic, chili, parsley, lemon and extra virgin olive oil and Spanish octopus braised in red wine with fava beans, Fresno chili and spring onion vinaigrette. Multiple LocationsMarlow’s Tavern offers seafood selections to please any appetite including “AB Style” Firecracker Shrimp with Tempura Fried Shrimp, Red Bell Peppers, Pepperoncini, Sweet Chili and Cracklin’ Spicy Sauce and Crispy Pan Roasted Rainbow Trout, with Sauteed Farro, Tiny Green Beans, Parsnip, Buerre Blanc and Apple Shallot Gastrique. Items available at all locations.
Willy’s Mexicana Grill wraps up burritos to please, and tofu steps in perfectly when meat is off your list for Lent. Or, ask for Willy’s salad topped with black beans, pico de gallo, black olives, cucumbers, roasted red peppers and jack cheese. All locations. While fish fries are popular on Fridays during Lent, Taco Mac locations turn out beer-battered fish tacos daily that are plump with SweetWater 420 beer-battered North Atlantic cod, ancho chili aioli, house-made slaw and mango pico de gallo. Is that much fun allowed in a meal?

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Aria, Ormsby’s, Gunshow and Milton’s Ambush Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival July 17


The stockpile is deep and ripe. Chefs, mixologists and farmers exchange code words like “Green Zebra,” “Mr. Stripey” and “Cherokee Purple” and strategies such as juice, dice, slice and fry. It’s time to roll. The Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival is going down Sunday, July 17, at Park Tavern in Piedmont Park, and chefs from AriaOrmsby’s,Gunshow and Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails are elbow deep in the action. Who will contrive the tastiest tomato dishes and the best adult elixirs during the 1-5 p.m. battle backed by live music? One way to find out: Buy tickets to this eighth annual bombardment benefiting Georgia Organics. General admission tickets are $45 each; Georgia Organics members pay $40 per person; Garnish & Gather AKTF package is $70 per person. Buy tickets at Xorbia through July 16 (small service charge added at checkout).

Saturday, July 9, 2016

These Birds are Outstanding in Their Field and Flying to Atlanta Restaurants during Pastured Poultry Week, July 11-18


Imparting superior taste and nutrition, enjoying a humane, less stressful life and leaving a positive environmental footprint are a few of the outstanding characteristics of pastured poultry. Georgia’s fifth-annual Pastured Poultry Week, July 11-18, shines the spotlight on these happy, sustainably raised campers and their poultry prowess. Restaurants across the state are flocking to join in by featuring pastured poultry on their menus. Here in the metro area, wing it to AriaBellina AlimentariGunshowMilton’s Cuisine & Cocktails and Seed Kitchen & Bar to gobble specialty dishes centered on pastured poultry.

Those hungry to learn more can attend the 
White Oak Pastures Pastured Poultry class at Bellina Alimentari on Monday, July 11. Bellina’s own chef Gizzy Barton will demo how to break down and cook a whole chicken during the 6:30-8 p.m. class. Buy tickets online. As they say, a pastured bird in the hand is, well, going to be delicious. 



Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Steady Spoons for Atlanta Food & Wine Festival June 2-5


Music lovers revel in Shaky Knees and Boots. Food and drink lovers, however, dare not jostle shaky spoons or glasses lest they waste coveted tastes of some of the South’s best bites and beverages at this year’s Atlanta Food & Wine Festival(AFWF). The 2016 festival spills out from Midtown June 2-5 and introduces a new Southern spring sport -- Friday Night Bites -- underneath big-top tents in Piedmont Park. For the first time, tasting tents will be open on Friday evening from 3:30-9:30 p.m. as well as on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Key tastemakers include Atlanta chefs Gerry Klaskala (Aria), Kevin Gillespie (GunshowRevivalTerminus City), Joey Ward (Gunshow), Matthew Ridgway (Gypsy KitchenThe Southern Gentleman) and Reid Harrison of White Oak Pastures. RJ Cooper of Midtown newcomer 5Church Atlanta is chomping to let attendees sample some of his dishes, too. The soon-to-open restaurant is located at 14th and Peachtree streets, pretty much at the AFWF epicenter. Buy Friday Night Bites tickets online and peruse the mouthwatering schedule of other day and class passes and ticket options.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Chef Dinner at Umi Raises $24,000 for Charity on May 1


A sold-out, all-star chef dinner hosted by food writer Kate Parham Kordsmeier and photographer Heidi Geldhauser, held May 1 at Umi, raised nearly $24,000 for charity. The inaugural event for the Emily Cameron Art Scholarship, honoring the late photographer Emily Cameron, gave $10,000 to Atlanta-based painter Natalie Escobar. Kordsmeier and Geldhauser, along with Cameron’s parents, established the scholarship to change the life of a service-industry worker pursuing a career in the arts. The remaining $14,000 in proceeds was donated to The Giving Kitchen to go toward crisis grants for members of Atlanta’s restaurant community facing unanticipated hardship. Some of Atlanta’s most-celebrated chefs, including Fuyuhiko and Lisa Ito of Umi, Gerry Klaskala of Aria and Joey Ward of Gunshow, united to prepare the multi-course meal at Umi. To toast the occasion, Gunshow’s Mercedes O’Brien mixed a signature cocktail named “The Emily,” featuring bourbon, SHISO liqueur, honey, lemon, seltzer and strawberry absinthe ice pearls.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Glory Be! Fourth of July Sparkles at Atlanta Restaurants

Fly the flag, find the sparklers and pick a parade and fireworks to watch. Our nation’s founders had no idea we’d make such a party out of their fight for freedom, liberty and independence, but if they were here, they’d probably be celebrating in red, white and blue right along with us. Atlanta restaurants are equally patriotic, declaring they’re open for dining in or packing up meals to grab and go. Some are closed for the day, but hey, even restaurateurs love going to picnics and firework displays.

Saturday night is for sparklers and Roman candle displays, Friday night is for candle-light dinners at
Aria. The Buckhead restaurant will be closed on Saturday so staffers can celebrate Independence Day with friends, family and fireworks.

Hurray for the “Red, White and Boil” Low Country boil and brunch at
Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland on July 4. Brunch hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m. are ideal for Peachtree Road racers, and the Low Country boil and oyster roast will be ready to devour at noon. In the boil: wild Georgia shrimp, snow crab legs, black mussels, andouille sausage, new potatoes, sweet corn and Vidalia onions steamed in beer with Old Bay. Rip into one pound for $17.76 -- the price and year our great nation was officially founded. Includes okra fritters plus spicy remoulade, pepper vinegar and cocktail sauce. Pay $10 for a half-dozen smoked Gulf oysters on the half shell with melted leeks and Parmesan.

All four
Bantam + Biddy locations (Ansley, Crescent, Lenox and Avalon) will be open for business as usual. Peachtree Road racers, celebrate your accomplishment over food and drinks at Ansley Mall, Crescent Avenue and Lenox locations. Free up your day for holiday parade watching and pool time -- order a Bantam + Biddy family meal to go ($52, feeds 3-5 folks). If Lenox fireworks are on your horizon, picking up dinner at the Lenox location is a tailgating no-brainer. Meal includes your choice of a whole roast chicken, meatloaf or pork loin (24 oz.) served with an organic green salad, choice of dressing, cornbread (gluten-free bread upon request +$3), three generous sides and a half gallon of fresh-brewed tea. Family meal rules: take-out only, allow 30 minutes to prepare, no substitutions, 5 percent eco-friendly packaging fee added. Remember dessert! After all, it’s a holiday.
 

Chick-a-Biddy in Atlantic Station will remain open, serving brunch and dinner during its normal hours. Go all-American with waffles, healthy smoothies, chicken dishes (grilled or fried), Southern breakfast all day and your favorite cold beverages.

Raise a glass of sangria ($5) or tinto de verano ($4) to cheer Spain’s part in U.S. history and dine on fare influenced by the nation’s diverse cultural areas at
Gypsy Kitchen. Basque in the sunset on the Buckhead Atlanta restaurant's patio; open for dinner July 4 from 5-11 p.m.

Twenty-one bun salute? Close.
Marlow's Tavern is sending Insiders an email for a free burger with the purchase of an entrée. Sign up for the Insider’s Club online. Shout out: the Dunwoody 4th of July Parade sets off at 9 a.m. Saturday and concludes right outside the Dunwoody Village Marlow’s Tavern.
 

MAX's Wine Dive in Midtown is extending weekend brunch from Friday, July 3 through Saturday and Sunday. Peachtree Road Race fans, chicken and champagne call your names and numbers.

All three
Ray's Restaurants -- Ray’s in the City, Ray’s on the River and Ray’s at Killer Creek -- are open noon-8 p.m. For a tastes-rich, costs-little coastal treat, order the $16.95 lobster special featuring a one-pound whole Maine Lobster joined by drawn butter and side of your choice.

On July 4,
Smokebelly BBQ in Buckhead waves the Red, White and Q flag, pulling pork from a whole hog roast starting at 4 p.m. (while supplies last) followed by live music from 6-9 p.m. Cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon are $2 each. Reminiscent of a spiked watermelon, From the Vine mixes vodka, watermelon juice, lime juice and simple syrup for $5 (usually $7).

The Fourth of July barbecue pack from
Kevin Gillespie’s Terminus City satisfies four to six of your most-spirited friends with two pounds of barbecue pork, one pint each of coleslaw and Revival potato salad, six sandwich rolls, barbecue sauce, pork cracklings and six chocolate chip cookies for $50. Throw in a copy of Gillespie’s new cookbook “Pure Pork Awesomeness” for just $25. Orders can be placed the day of, but orders placed by July 1 are guaranteed. Pick up orders at Gunshow. To place an order or discuss catering for a larger party, call the restaurant at 404-380-1886. More info: terminuscity@gunshowatl.com.

Skipping beach-bound traffic over the holiday weekend? Sub in Buckhead-bound. Flip-flop over to
The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill for Berry United cocktails -- New Amsterdam vodka, strawberries, lemonade, simple syrup and blueberries ($7.50) -- and live music from 1-5 p.m. and 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.
 

The Southern Gentleman is a patriotic gent. The gastropub atop Buckhead Atlanta serves its modern take on Southern dish and libation traditions at lunch from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5-11 p.m. on July 4. Foil the hot day with a few $2 Miller Lites, especially refreshing post-Peachtree Road Race or pre-Lenox fireworks.

Fire up the grill and toast land stewardship, sustainability, American entrepreneurship and independence from factory-farmed meats. Order
White Oak Pastures’ grass-fed meats and pasture-raised poultry online or look for them at local stores including Atlanta-area Whole Foods Markets.

Wear your 2015 Peachtree Road Race T-shirt to
Willy’s Mexicana Grill locations on July 4 and buy a burrito for $5 (excludes airport eatery).

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Mom’s the Word at Atlanta Restaurants on Mother’s Day May 10


She’s your biggest fan. She cheers, she chauffeurs, she chefs. She chooses what she feels is best for you. Now you can choose some of Atlanta’s best brunch and dinner spots to honor her on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10.
  
Stroll Piedmont Park’s paths and gardens then sit down for Sunday brunch at G’s Midtown or 10th & Piedmont from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The two Midtown eateries serve both hot and cold brunch specialties such as challah bread French toast and chilled house-smoked salmon. Brunch is $34.95 per person. Reservations: 404-602-5510.  

A big heart deserves a big feast, and Aqua blue in Roswell comes through with $15 bottomless mimosas and a brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tempt taste buds with eggs Benedict, blackened fish with lobster sauce, dessert favorites like a chocolate fountain and loads more. $34.95 for adults and $9.95 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under 4 eat free. Rather do dinner? Aqua blue will serve its à la carte menu from 5-9 p.m. Reservations: 770-643-8886.
  
A tad north of Atlanta in historic Crabapple, Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails executive chef Derek Dollar presents prix fixe Mother’s Day brunch and dinner menus. Brunch is $32 for adults; $16 for children 12 and under. Featured selections include French toast with fresh berries and smoked bacon or sausage, prosciutto eggs Benedict and blackened salmon. If afternoon activities knock brunch out of the ballpark, reserve a table for dinner -- $38 for adults, $19 for children -- and enjoy shrimp and grits, Southern fried chicken breast or an eight-ounce New York strip. The regular kids menu also will be available. Reservations: 770-817-0161 or OpenTable.

Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs is offering its award-winning buffet from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. with brunch, lunch or dinner options as the day progresses. $42.95 for adults; $21.95 for children ages 5 to 10. For preferred seating, call 770-955-1187. In Alpharetta, Ray’s at Killer Creek is serving a buffet from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. $34.95 for adults; $17.95 for children ages 5 to 10. For preferred seating, call 770-649-0064. A downtown outing must-do is Ray’s in the City where a Mother’s Day buffet pleases all from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ($34.95 adults; $17.95 children ages 5 to 10), and the regular à la carte menu service kicks in from 5- 9 p.m. For preferred seating, call 404-524-9224.

Mom is special every day. Mother’s Day or any day, these Atlanta-area brunch spots are her cup of tea. 


Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland serves classics like deviled eggs and more stylish options such as chorizo and egg tacos.


It’s mom’s lucky day! Aria, usually closed on Sunday evenings, will be open and serving dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Sophisticated Aria pampers like no other. Make reservations online.


All four Bantam + Biddy locations (Ansley, Crescent, Lenox Square, Avalon) are offering their regular brunch menus, loaded with mom’s favorites (and she might share her chicken and waffles if you’re sweet).


Brunch and dinner are in the cards at The Southern Gentleman, open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Mother’s Day. The day begins with morning and midday fare such as fried soft-shell crab Benedict, a traditional Monte Cristo, Gulf red snapper and cornmeal and ricotta pancakes served 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Dinner selections are available 4 – 7 p.m., including carbonara pasta, duck and dumplings, roasted Carolina mountain trout, pepper-crusted New York strip, and buttermilk-poached Grassroots Farm chicken breast. Shrimp and grits plus starters of jumbo lump crab risotto with country ham, salt and sugar cured green tomatoes and warmed Gulf oysters grace both à la carte menus. Make reservations online.


All moms visiting any Willy's Mexicana Grill location on May 9 or May 10 will receive a coupon for $5 off any order of $15 or more for their next visit.

Welcome weekend leisure time by taking mom to Atlantic Station for Chick-a-Biddy’s brunch of signature chicken and waffles with traditional flavors or twists like red velvet.


In Midtown, HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern serves breakfast pizza, healthy frittatas and fresh farmer's omelets to power up her day.

Marlow’s Tavern is the perfect neighborhood spot for classic American brunch fare with an upscale twist. Find a Marlow’slocation near and dear to Mom’s heart.



Friday, February 13, 2015

Andres Loaiza Raises Funds for Eating Disorders Information Network


Aria guests know how smoothly Buckhead restaurant general manager and wine director Andres Loaiza covers Aria’s chic interior. Wait until he hits a real dance floor. Loaiza is one of the Atlanta celebrities partnering with professional dancers and choreographers to dance the night away and compete for fan votes at the Eating Disorders Information Network (EDIN) 5th annual Celebrity Dance Challenge in the Buckhead Theatre on Thursday, February 26 from 8-11 p.m. The competition takes cues from the hit shows “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Anyone can visit the EDIN website to vote for their favorite dancers for a mere $1 per vote. All proceeds benefit EDIN and its mission to increase education and awareness of disordered eating and body image issues in the Atlanta area. Tickets start at $25 and twirl on up to $1,250 for a 10-guest table. Buy tickets online. We’re expecting a cha cha-champion event, barre none.