Flag these Atlanta Restaurants for July 4

You have to eat sometime amid the cavalcade of July 4 activities, or you’ll fizzle out before the fireworks begin. Blast off to our blog where we’re taking the liberty of listing Atlanta restaurants paying tribute to the holiday with their own stars -- dine-in brunches, lunches and dinners, to-go meals, live music and drink specials -- and stripes, fresh from the grill. 

Set Your Mind on Sweet Tea Smoked Chicken -- Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails Kicks Off BBQ & Blues Series June 28

Tangy sauce and twangy tunes are coming to Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails in Crabapple on the Sunday between Father’s Day and the July 4th weekend. The farmhouse-turned-restaurant throws summer’s first BBQ & Blues evening on Sunday, June 28, ushering in lazy evenings with live music, cornhole, craft brews and cocktails. Eats? Right on cue, chef Derek Dollar presents a choice of three meats basking in the glory of distinctly different sauces: sweet tea-smoked chicken with Carolina gold BBQ sauce and cheddar corn muffins ($18), pulled BBQ pork shoulder with Crabapple BBQ sauce and Texas toast ($17) or a half rack of ribs with Georgia red BBQ sauce and cheddar corn muffins ($20). Choose two of these Southern sides to round out your entrée -- white cheddar-and-bacon mac, creamed Silver Queen corn, garden potato salad or cracked mustard coleslaw. Feel free to make a meal of sides ($4 each) or order them alongside a bowl of thick Brunswick stew ($7). Shindig runs 5-9 p.m. Pull your phone out and call 770-817-0161 for reservations, then flag the remaining three BBQ & Blues 2015 dates: July 26, August 30 and September 27. 

This Little Piggie is Going to Open Streets DeKalb and Ink & Elm for a Pig Roast, Craft Beers and Cocktails on September 21

                                      Credit: Chris Watkins

For a few hours on Sunday, September 21, you'll be able to reclaim the busy streets and embrace your inner pedestrian. At Open Streets DeKalb, experience street performers, music and of course, fun in Emory Village from 3 - 7 p.m. All this walking will surely make you hungry, Ink & Elm will be roasting a whole pig to satisfy your taste buds! Wash the pork down with ice-cold craft beers and bourbon cocktails. If all that walking has worn you out, pull up a seat in the main dining room. 

Enjoy a Night of Food, Drinks and Music at People's Fest

Party down at Atlantic Station with People's Fest 2013 on Saturday, June 22 at 6 p.m. “Feel good food” tastings will drive away hunger while rocking all night to live music from Marc Broussard, Sonia Leigh, Ben Deignan and Jameson Elder. Sip drinks throughout the night while rooting on chef favorites in a friendly cook-off. Tickets are $25 and benefit City of Refuge!

Party with the People's on Saturday, June 22

Nothing says summer more than an evening filled with food and drinks, live music and a good, old-fashion cook-off, right? People's Food Truck couldn't agree more! Start the warm season off the right way by partying with them on Saturday, June 22 as they celebrate the launch of their food truck. Ford Fry will be cooking, Marc Broussard will be rocking the stage and Chef Shaun Doty will be stirring up some friendly competition.  People's Fest tickets start at just $25 and benefit City of Refuge.

Spice Market, Skylines & Spirits - Oh My!

Relish the pleasant fall temps and admire the Atlanta city skyline at dusk; September is the last month -- and maybe the best month -- to visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden for a Thursday night Cocktails in the Garden. This month's theme is "Skylines & Spirits." Step out to enjoy the crisp, autumn evening air in the company of fabulous food, drinks, and friends on September 22, when Midtown's own Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown provides the complimentary light bites. The “spirits" will be available to purchase at the full cash bar. If you can tear yourself away from the tasty appetizers and tantalizing cocktails, groove into the evening to the sounds of Lethal Rhythms Atlanta DJs. The event is from 6-10 p.m. Admission is free for Garden members; $18.95 for everyone else. Guest passes accepted. Don’t miss one of this year’s last chances to attend Cocktails in the Garden!

Post-Paddy’s Irish Fun at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

Did St. Patrick’s Day celebrations leave way too soon? With your luck of the Irish, you can still have “craic” (Irish for big-time fun) at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant in Buckhead. Have a few pints during the Pub Quiz on Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m. with Irish host Rob Kiely. The top three teams win prizes; those teams with clever names get prized in its own way. Later in the week, come back to Fadó on Friday, April 15 to get your Irish jig on with DJ mixes from the 80s, 90s, U.S. to U.K. starting at 10 p.m. Irish musicians gather at Fadó on Monday, April 18 for a night of Irish music. Be prepared to dance and musicians are welcome to come add their talent to the evening.

Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant: 273 Buckhead Avenue; 404-841-0066.

VITA Rocks Your Week With Live Music

Head to Tony LaRocco's VITA for live music and heaping plates of New York Italian-style cuisine every Wednesday through Saturday night starting at 9:30 p.m. The Darren Winters Band plays on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and the Atlanta Soul Band performs on Fridays and Saturdays. No cover charge, and the kitchen cooks until 1 a.m. Reserve your table by calling 404-367-8482.

Daily Reasons to Go to the Globe

I remember the day the Globe opened. All types of people were there, enjoying the vibe, the food, the drinks, and each other. This hasn't changed. It remains one of the coolest spots in the city. And this time of year their patio beats all others. Check out their May Sundown Sessions with enticing art and live jazz events scheduled throughout the week. Here's the breakdown:

Mondays, head on over for “Midtown Mondays” -- mojitos, margaritas and martinis are merely $5.

Wednesdays, Palette brings an evening of art and wine to the patio “gallery” with paintings by local artist Shana Robbins from 6-9 p.m. No cover. Four-by-four wine tasting (four wines, four bites) is just $15 from 5 – 7 p.m. Jazz artist Kirstin Mitchell performs with visuals provided by film-maker Robbie Land.

Thursdays, The Jacob Deaton Trio performs jazz standards and more from 7:30-11:30 p.m. No cover. Chill with $3 Peroni draft beer and $5 mint juleps and martinis after 5 p.m.

Fridays, get down for the weekend as members of Noot D’Noot and a DJ fill the night with electronic soul, funk and jazz from 8 p.m. until midnight. No cover. $3 Imperial beer after 5 p.m.

Saturdays feature The Spencer Garn Quartet “SG4” with their own style of soul, jazz, funk, boogaloo and heavy organ grooves. What will be the surprise drink special by mixologist Russell? Come find out! 8 p.m. until midnight. No cover.

No plans for this weekend yet? Here ya go: Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, the Tenacity Trio stirs up its own blend of soulful, “make-you-feel-good” jazz and funk. 8 p.m. – midnight. No cover.

The GLOBE: 75 Fifth Street, NW; 404-541-1487.