UGA 2013 Grady Fellowship Inductee: Melissa Libby

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them," said Shakespeare. Well, William, we couldn't agree more with you about our inspiring leader Melissa Libby. Since graduating from the University of Georgia's Grady College in 1985, Melissa has impacted the PR and food industries with perseverance, grace and of course, greatness. Because of her dedication, influence and service to the media professions, Melissa, along with six other Grady College alumni and friends, will be inducted into the 2013 Grady Fellowship at the University of Georgia's Hotel and Conference Center this Thursday, November 21. Her more than 20 years in public relations has not only gained her the respect of her many clients but also of her peers. After working several years in hotel public relations promoting fine dining and cafés, Melissa's dreams grew even bigger. In 1992, she launched Melissa Libby & Associates and to this day has opened more than 250 restaurants. Not only is she committed to her firm and clients, but her community involvement as president of the Board of Trust for the Grady College, board member of Georgia Organics and Adopt a Golden Atlanta and active membership in several food-focused nonprofits makes her a role model for many. Of course her love of food isn't restricted to just the restaurants she serves - she loves cooking just as much as the chefs she works with. With two published cookbooks featuring top Atlanta chefs to add to her long list of accomplishments, we can only wonder what's next for this PR guru. Until then, we congratulate her on all of her successes thus far and wait eagerly for the next 20 years. Way to go, Melissa! 

Throwdown Before the Showdown at Marlow's Tavern's Midtown Block Party on Nov. 26

On Saturday, November 26, an epic battle of "clean, old-fashioned hate" between UGA and Georgia Tech will be fought on the field of Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium. These collegiate rivals have knocked it out on the football field 100 times since their first game in 1902! Dawgs and Yellow Jackets, show your team spirit at Marlow's Tavern's Midtown Block Party beginning at noon on game day and going way past the last touchdown with plenty of drink specials, giveaways and a fired-up DJ. The party lineup features outdoor grilling, tailgating fare, a mobile bar and four big-screen HDTVs with audio. Trucks from Atlanta-based SweetWater Brewing Company and Athens' own Terrapin Beer Company will be key block-party players.

Marlow's Tavern Midtown: 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323.

RA Sushi Puts the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets on a Roll

RA Sushi is revving up the rivalry between Georgia Tech (GT) and University of Georgia (UGA) with its recent offering of team-inspired sushi rolls. Now through Saturday, November 27, fans can show support for their favorite team by ordering the UGA Bulldogs Roll or GT Yellow Jackets Roll. Normally $8.50 each, the rolls will be half-off on the day of the big UGA-GT showdown, November 27. After game day, the winning team's roll will remain on the menu through the end of the year, and $2 from every winning roll sold during the month of December will be donated to the school's food education program. If Georgia Tech wins this year's game, funds raised will be donated to their Food Processing Technology Division. If University of Georgia wins the game, funds will be donated to the department of Food Science and Technology.



The UGA Bulldogs Roll features crab mix, cucumber, shrimp tempura and spicy mayonnaise rolled in rice and seaweed and topped with red tempura bits with a drizzle of eel sauce on the side. Going for the gold effect instead of red, the GT Yellow Jackets Roll incorporates mango and yellow tempura bits into its roll-play book along with sushi rice, crab mix, cream cheese, calamari tempura and eel sauce. Game day allegiance aside, you'll have to stage your own table-top showdown to determine your favorite.

RA Sushi: 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

Atlanta’s Top Tailgating Stops and Spots

This Saturday, November 28, the University of Georgia Bulldogs will take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at one of the biggest showdowns in the city. For those folks heading to the big game or just looking to be near all the action, we’ve got the scoop on Atlanta’s prime tailgating places!

A few blocks away from the Georgia Tech campus, Marlow's Tavern™ - Midtown is closing down the street and throwing a block party that is sure to get fans barking and buzzing all afternoon. The good folks at Marlow's have it all planned with a hot grill, cold drink specials and prize giveaways three hours before game time. No game tickets, no problem. Marlow's will pump up the game volume after kick off. (950 West Peachtree Street; 404-815-0323.)

If you usually park and pull out your Dawg or Jacket awning and cache of paraphernalia, swing by Pacci Ristorante beforehand. Atlanta's new Italian steakhouse has a special pre-game, take-out menu studded with champion items such as five flavors of wings, three flavors of ribs, Pacci chili, Brunswick stew, pork and beans, pulled pork sandwiches, jalapeño cornbread and a healthy veggie tray. Items are priced from $4 to $14; orders must be placed at least 24 hours before pick-up time. Fans burning with football fever can head upstairs, atop Pacci Ristorante, to AltoRex Rooftop Lounge (left) beginning at 2 p.m. for spirited drinks and football favorites including Johnsonville brats, Italian sausage, soft pretzels and more. (866 West Peachtree Street, NW; 678-412-2402.)

Before every Georgia Tech Saturday home game, WaterHaven has welcomed both the home team and guests (go figure on this showdown) to park and tailgate before and after the game -- and this weekend's showdown is no exception. The restaurant will open at noon so fans can power up on sandwiches and BBQ as well as regular menu items such as lamb sliders, fried green tomatoes, crab cakes and WaterHaven's classic burger, plus $5 mimosas and Bloody Marys. Cheer inside or outside on the 100-seat patio! WaterHaven will validate guests' parking tickets from the AT&T parking deck, located at Fifth and West Peachtree streets, with a minimum purchase of $25. (75 Fifth Street, NW; 404-214-6740.)

We can already hear both teams applauding for the freebie food offer that EVOS Feel Great Fast Food in Sandy Springs is kicking out there this game day. On November 28, Yellow Jacket fans who don gold and white or UGA fans wearing red and black will receive free Airfries™ and a drink with the purchase of a burger or wrap at the Sandy Springs EVOS restaurant in The Prado. (Open 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. at 5590 Prado Place off Roswell Road, Suite 140; 404-252-4022.)

Even though the game clock runs for 15 minute quarters, the clock keeps running for 16 hours of tailgating merriment at The Cypress Street Pint & Plate Rivalry Weekend Tailgate Party 2009, sponsored by New Belgium Brewery, on November 28. From 10 a.m. until 2 a.m., Cypress Street Pint & Plate is extending its patio, rolling out the grills and screens, going long with giveaways and quenching cheer-parched throats with $4 Fat Tire drafts. Rock on after the game with crowd pleasing tunes from the Francisco Vidal Band. (817 West Peachtree Street at the corner of 6th and Cypress streets behind the Biltmore; 404-815-9243.)