Autism Speaks Charity Night at Bantam + Biddy on Crescent Avenue is April 1

According to Autism Speaks, every 11 minutes another family discovers that their child has an autism spectrum disorder, the fastest-growing serious developmental disorder in the U.S. Bantam + Biddy executive chef and co-owner Shaun Doty actively supports causes relating to autism, and he’s holding an Autism Speaks Charity Night at the Bantam + Biddy Crescent Avenue location on Tuesday, April 1. Ten percent of all proceeds after 5 p.m. will benefit Walk Now for Autism Speaks.

$3 Three Taverns White Hops, Grilled Bites and Live Music at King + Duke Patio Party March 30

Photo by Brandon Amato

By Sunday, March Madness will have run its course. Leave those frenetic courts behind and bounce over to a more relaxing arena — the patio party at King + Duke starts at 3 p.m. on March 30. Situated where Peachtree and West Paces Ferry roads meet in Buckhead, King + Duke provides spring's best people-watching perches. The day looks even better when you're holding a $3 White Hops Belgian-style IPA from Decatur's own Three Taverns Craft Brewery. Chill out to live music from Amy Gerhartz, playing acoustic pop, rock, folk and soul from 4-7 p.m. Chefs are grilling up finger-friendly bites for $5: the Mini Duke on a soft bun with coal-roasted onions; grilled candied pork, lime and chili; local mushrooms and soft ripened cheese or angus steak skewers with green sauce and spring onion. Grilled, skewered Georgia shrimp flavored with lemon and garlic are $6.

Vote with Your Tastebuds on Hearth Tavern Pizza Contest Finalists

Rick Rocket Pizza at Hearth

Candidates are in for Hearth Pizza Tavern’s pizza contest. Each pie on the finalist slate will have its own week on the menu, in the oven and on customer tabletops. Sales determine which pizza developer will take home first prize of a $100 Hearth Pizza Tavern gift card and a coveted spot on the menu, a $75 gift card for second place or a $15 gift card for third place. Week one featured (Meat) Ballin’ Outrageous by Randy Robbins, topping homemade marinara sauce with premium cheese blend, chorizo, salami, meatballs, spinach and red onion. Through March 30, guests can try All Red Everything, a Facebook entry from Hannah, that’s well-red with homemade marinara, pepperoni, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic and fresh mozzarella (granted, mozzarella is cream-colored). March 31-April 6, opt for the Sardinian Shrimp pizza, a Facebook entry from Mark, swimming out of the oven with shrimp, basil, pine nuts and fresh basil tossed on top after exiting the oven. We may have to order one of each!

Optimist Taps into “Hoptimist” Cask Beer at NOLA Patio Party on March 29

Photo by Brandon Amato

The spirit of Mardi Gras lives on, out on the patio at The Optimist on Saturday, March 29, beginning at 3 p.m. While you’re toe-tapping to live music, bartenders will tap into special “Hoptimist” cask beer from Atlanta’s own Red Hare Brewery, which is yours for $5 a pour. New Orleans-themed punches ($8) put Bourbon Street to shame: Absinthe Frappe, The Hurricane, Milk Punch Redux and a New Orleans Pimm’s Cup. A NOLA crawfish boil satisfies your gullet with sausage, potatoes, corn and mushrooms for $18.

Bid on Gunshow Dinner for 10 and Pig Out at BaconFest 2014 on March 29

Have a swine time at BaconFest 2014, all porked out with beer, bands and 2,250 pounds of crispy bacon! The 14^th annual fundraiser for local improv and nonprofit Dad’s Garage caters to the over-21 crowd with a hefty portion of fun and adult carnival games at Masquerade Music Park on Saturday, March 29 from 1-6 p.m. Hoof it to the silent auction and bid on smokin’ hot items, including dinner for 10 at Kevin Gillespie’s Gunshow in Glenwood Park. Online ticket pricing and structure follow guidelines, depending on how much bacon and beer one plans on consuming ($27-$87). Feed on Facebook for details.