Gladiators Invade Marlow's Tavern Duluth!

Everybody ready for the holidays yet? No?

Well, if you’re panicking looking for something fun to do with all those incoming family members on December 26th in the Duluth area, we’ve got you covered. Atlanta’s favorite minor league hockey team, the Gwinnett Gladiators, will be up against the South Carolina Stingrays at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m. After the game, four Gwinnett Gladiators will be heading to Marlow’s Tavern in Duluth for a post-game party, signing autographs and raffling off cool Gladiator gear!

Fans should head straight to Marlow’s to grab a spot as soon as the game is over, because the players will be arriving around 10 p.m. to get the party started! Marlow’s Tavern is located at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, #300.

We here at Atlanta Dish will be off tomorrow – we wish all of our readers a very merry Christmas! See you back here next week.

Still looking for what to do on New Year's Eve?

If you're like me, then you still haven't figured out what you're doing for New Year's Eve. Luckily there are options abound for whatever whets your palate. Here's a list of where you can begin the evening with a special dinner or to cheer in the New Year raising a champagne or "champagnarita" toast!

If you're in Buckhead then Aria has dreamed up a four-course prix fixe menu for $85 per person on New Year's Eve. Wine pairings will be available at an additional cost. For reservations, call the restaurant at 404-233-7673. (490 East Paces Ferry Road.)

Aqua blue has big plans for those ringing in the New Year outside the perimeter. For $59 per person, guests can choose from a variety of entrees on the night's prix fixe menu. Limited à la carte items also will be available. A DJ gets the party rolling at 9 p.m., along with party favors and a complimentary champagne toast. Seatings are available at 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For reservations, call 770-643-8886. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road.)

Spirited or subdued? Whichever mood you choose for New Year's Eve, Fifth Group Restaurants® has a table for you. To make reservations, click here or call each restaurant directly. For cutting edge Southern cuisine, book a spot at South City Kitchen Midtown or South City Kitchen Vinings. Both restaurants will offer their full dinner menus as well as a New Year's Eve special from 5 - 10 p.m. (South City Kitchen Midtown: 1144 Crescent Avenue; 404-873-7358. South City Kitchen Vinings: 1675 Cumberland Parkway; 770-435-0700. )

Celebrate Italian style at cozy La Tavola Trattoria in Virginia-Highland. Order your favorites from the regular menu or choose the four-course prix fixe menu at $50 per person. All items may be ordered à la carte ($7-$22). La Tavola will be open from 5:30 - 11 p.m. on New Year's Eve. (992 Virginia Avenue, NE; 404-873-5430.)

For a colorful and riotous celebration, head over to The Original El Taco, also in Virginia-Highland. The bar opens at 4 p.m., and the spirited cantina serves its full dinner menu from 5 - 10 p.m. Amigos will be toasting with "the champagne of beers," $2 Miller High Life and $5 champagnaritas. Adios 2009, hola 2010! (1186 N. Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656).

If plans call for ringing in the New Year with friends in Midtown, head over to European-inspired Ecco. On New Year's Eve, guests can choose from the full regular menu or a special New Year's Eve à la carte menu($3-$25). And don't worry about missing out on the bubbly. "Bubble Boy" will be circulating the restaurant selling champagne tableside. (40 7th Street, NE; 404-347-9555.)

Atlantans heading west toward 2009's last sunset can celebrate at JCT. Kitchen & Bar on the Westside. Start with dinner from the $55 four-course prix fixe menu that includes a complimentary champagne toast, then stay on to party with delicious drinks and live music by Justin Brogdon & One Story Town. (1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.)

Marlow's Tavern has a New Year's Eve plan that's good for your economy and stimulates your appetite for good food and fun. The tavern's $32 per-person, three-course prix fixe menu features some "Lobsters & Libations" selections as well as a complimentary glass of champagne. With six locations -- all serving food until midnight -- there's a Marlow's New Year's celebration near you. (Alpharetta at 3719 Old Alabama Road, 770-475-1800; Kennesaw at 745 Chastain Road, NW, 770-425-8777; Midtown at 950 West Peachtree Street, 404-815-0323; Vinings at 2355 Cumberland Parkway, 770-432-2526; Northlake at 4156 LaVista Road, 678-987-1197; and Duluth at 1950 Satellite Boulevard, 770-622-2033.)

For a more laid back take on New Year's Eve, head to Atlanta's newly-opened eatery, Ormsby's. With more than 18 beers on tap and games like bocce ball, darts and pool to keep the fun going all night long, it's sure to be a good time! (1170 Howell Mill Road, NW; 404-968-2033.)

Escort the old year out and New Year in by dining at Pacci Ristorante, one of Esquire magazine's "Best New Restaurants of 2009." Pacci's elegant setting surrounds you with style as you dine on selections from the Italian steakhouse's much-acclaimed dinner menu. We could get used to this! (866 West Peachtree Street, NW; 678-412-2402.)

Ray's on the River celebrated the big 25 in October and wants to keep the party rolling out of 2009 and into 2010 with a special prix fixe menu at several price points. Ray's on the River, along with Ray's Killer Creek, will offer menus ranging from $55 to $85 per person. Make reservations online or by calling the restaurants. (Ray's on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187. Ray's Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.)

Looking to spice up your New Year's Eve? Spice Market, in the W Atlanta Midtown, has sister locations in NYC, Istanbul and Doha, Qatar and a menu as vibrant as the Southeast Asian markets that inspired its name. On New Year's Eve, Spice Market guests can indulge in a five-course prix fixe menu. The $75-per-person culinary celebration includes party favors, DJ music and a champagne toast. Call 404-549-5450 for New Year's Eve reservations; make general online reservations through Open Table. (In the W Hotel Midtown, 188 14th Street, NE.)

New Year's Eve crosses the Atlantic, bringing together classic American comfort food and French culinary techniques at Toulouse American Bistro. From 5:30 - 11 p.m., the Buckhead restaurant will serve from its regular menu, including favorites such as braised lamb shank with herb roasted vegetables and a calamata olive-sweet pepper sauce. Call 404-351-9533 for reservations. (2293 Peachtree Road, NE.)

Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food has plenty to celebrate. Both locations will be open on New Year's Eve, serving up authentic border-flavored. (In Buckhead at 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. To-go line: 404-974-2991. In Sandy Springs at 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260. To-go line: 404-974-2991.)

Ormsby's Really Is a "Fun Place to Be"

When Warren Bruno told me his vision for Ormsby's he said "it'll be a fun place to be." And it is!
With two big bars (upstairs and downstairs), an incredible beer list (including my fave St. Bernardus) and yummy food like brats, onion rings and hand-cut fries with pot roast gravy, how could it not be fun?

Oh, and there are pool tables, bocce ball (yes, it's a huge space), shuffleboard, darts and other fun stuff to do. Last night there were a couple of Christmas parties going on downstairs and everyone was having a great time playing games.

Ormsby's has all the components of a fun place without any pretense. It's only been open 3 days but it's already bustling. Go there and have some fun!

(It's a little hidden. Park free in the White Provision deck. Walk out of the deck, cross the street you entered on, go down the steps and all the way to the right.)

Christmas Eve Options

This year, some of Atlanta’s top restaurants are open on Christmas Eve, giving all of us a break from the kitchen and a chance to enjoy good food with the ones we love. Check out our list of Christmas Eve openings:

Aqua blue is open for dinner until 8 p.m., serving signature cocktails and globally inspired cuisine. (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road; 770-643-8886.)

Aria is serving dinner from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. (490 East Paces Ferry Road; 404-233-7673.)

RA Sushi is open until 3 p.m. RA Sushi: 1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.)

Ray’s Restaurants: Ray's on the River and Ray's Killer Creek are open until 9 p.m., while Ray's in the City is open until 3 p.m. (Ray’s on the River: 6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187. Ray’s Killer Creek: 1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064. Ray’s in the City: 240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224.)

Newly-opened Truva is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (60 Andrew Young International Boulevard; 404-577-8788.)

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food will be open until 5 p.m. (Buckhead: 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767. Sandy Springs: 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260.)