Sit and Sip with Ray’s on the River and Shafer Vineyards

Once the craziness of Halloween is over, the idea of a quiet and delicious night at Ray’s on the River sounds fantastic to ease into November! Good thing that on Thursday, November 3, Ray’s on the River will be hosting an intimate wine dinner with Quality Wine & Spirits’ Master Sommelier Michael McNeill from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The four-course dinner includes mouth-watering dishes like rosemary roasted veal tenderloin with sautéed cherries, farro and raspberry red wine reduction paired with Napa Valley Merlot! Dinner is $95 per person (including tax and gratuity) and will include a selection of wines from Shafer Vineyards in Napa Valley. There are only 4 seats left as we write this, so pick up the phone and call for your reservation at 770-955-1187. Cheers!

Saturday Fun with Urban Picnic in East Point

Wait until you see the spread Alisa Barry, creator of Bella Cucina, and social entrepreneur Donna Toepfer have for you this Saturday at their new farm-to-kitchen food center the two are opening in East Point. Down the street from Bella Cucina, the center will serve a wide variety of opportunities for community engagement -- kitchen space for local food businesses, classes for consumers and businesses, an edible learning garden and an abundance of events. The opening celebration is Saturday, October 29 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. See the garden handiwork of Crop Mob Atlanta, tour the kitchen facility, enjoy savory discounts on Bella Cucina products (made in East Point) during a sample sale and find out what's on the menu for this new community food center. While there, take an enlightening gardening class taught by Sustenance Design, sample mead from local meadery Obec Medovina and view the award-winning documentary "GROW!." Purchase tickets for $45 per person ($5 discount for Georgia Organics members) and enjoy the kitchen tour, lunch, garden class and movie (sample sale purchases are separate). All proceeds go toward opening the community food center. Bring your curiosity, enthusiasm and a picnic blanket! The Farm-to-Kitchen Urban Picnic will take place at Bella Cucina's kitchen located at 1870 Murphy Avenue, SW. Take I-85 to Langford Parkway. Take Langford Parkway west to the Fort McPherson exit and follow the Urban Picnic signs.

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

We love Halloween... and we think even Slimer would be tempted to take a sip of this delicious Ecto-Cooler at Briza, one of the many ghastly delights the restaurant will have on the cocktail menu from October 26 to 31! 

It's Follow Friday; Meet Our Tweep of the Week @SkinnyPeaches

You know the pit where you drown in your sorrows because you skipped the workout, overindulged or human-trash compacted the Halloween leftovers.  Self-professed workout and health food nut Zoë Levine tweets (@SkinnyPeaches). She's the little voice inside your smartphone steering you gently toward dietary corrections, suggestions and righteous workouts. She's a little bit louder on herSkinny Peaches blog.

Last Call for Oysterfest at Ray's in the City!

A new day means a new haul for Oysterfest at Ray’s in the City. This is the last week you can take in Ray’s pearl of an event that pairs ocean fresh oysters with New Belgium Brewery brews out of Fort Collins, Colo. Pairing examples are, say, Blue Point oysters from New York waters paired with New Belgium’s Fat Tire Ale; Fanny Bay oysters out of British Columbia’s western waters paired with New Belgium’s 1554 Black Ale; and Pine Island oysters out of New York paired with New Belgium’s Ranger IPA. New Belgium Hoptoberfest is also available to keep you and your friends afloat!

Ray’s in the City:  240 Peachtree Street, NW; 404-524-9224.

Fall and Spring Internship Opportunities at MLA

Are you a student who is passionate about food/ wine culture and public relations? Melissa Libby & Associates is currently seeking an intern for the remainder of fall 2011 and also for our spring 2012 program.  Interns will join the MLA team to work directly with all facets of agency life, including media communications, social media, events and client services. Creativity, positive energy and great writing skills are very important.

The ideal candidate will receive school credit for their experience with MLA.  Our internships are unpaid and 15 hours per week.  We strive to make it a hands-on experience that our interns can definitely benefit from in the future.  To find out more about Melissa Libby & Associates, please visit our website and our Facebook page.  If you are interested, please send your resume and availability to atlantadish@gmail.com. Please be sure to specify which semester you are interested in – fall or spring. Good luck!

Treat Yourself To Halloween Debauchery This Weekend!

Ready to haunt the streets of this city? It's all treats and no tricks when it comes to finding something fun to do in Atlanta this Halloween!

All three Smashburger locations are featuring a special Halloween deal for children under age 12. If they wear their Halloween costume to Smashburger on Friday, October 28 through Monday, October 31, they'll be treated to a free meal when their parent purchases a meal.

Get two for one at Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna on Saturday, October 29 when they host both the Smyrna Beer Fest and their own 9th annual Halloween celebration. From 1 - 6 p.m., there will be more than 100 beers to sample, live music, costume and pumpkin carving contests, bobbing for apples and more. The Halloween celebration kicks in from 10:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m. with a live DJ in the bar, more costume contests and other Halloween-inspired activities and decorations.

Over in Virginia Highland, Atkins Park Tavern kicks off Halloween with their annual pumpkin carving contest on Thursday, October 27 at 8 p.m. Join friends for a night of pumpkin carving, beer drinking, scary movie watching on the big screen and a chance to win great house prizes. On Saturday, October 29, DJ Lion spins tunes beginning at 9 p.m. followed by the Tavern's annual costume contest at the witching hour. And on Monday, October 31, get ready for the Halloween Hangover when Atkins Park serves up a trio including the "Rocky Horror Picture Show," Terrapin Big Happy Monster and Monday Night Football.

Dig those skeletons out of the closet and party your bones off at your nearest Marlow's Tavern on Saturday, October 29. All eight locations are hosting Halloween shindigs from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. There's no cover charge to attend, but you definitely want to come up with a costume -- you might win cash, gift certificates or other prizes. Music? You bet your bones there's a DJ or live music, depending on the location.

At Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant, the "Thriller Monster Bash: A Retro 80s Halloween Party" brings the 80s to life on Saturday, October 29. A spooky holiday and a kooky decade (fashion-wise) go together like tricks and treats when Fadó gets tricked out in full Halloween décor for the spooktacular event. Specialty cocktails come at a $5 treat of a price, and a DJ spins 80s tunes from 9 p.m. into the wicked wee hours. Why be shy about dressing up? Costumes are expected, and all are encouraged to enter the midnight costume contest for a chance to take home $1,001 in cash. There's a $5 cover charge for the 9 p.m. bash, although ladies get in free.

Aqua blue dresses up as "Aqua Boo!" for their 10th annual Halloween Monster Bash on Saturday, October 29. So what are you going to wear? Decisions, decisions! Do you go all out or do your best to be the worst for the 11 p.m. costume contest? Dressed up or down, you can still imbibe in specially priced creepy cocktails and gobble up ghoulish appetizers. The regular á la carte menu is available from 4 p.m. on into the witching hours. A DJ spins dance hits starting at 9 p.m.

RA Sushi doles out Boo Bites and Potent Potions at their Halloween night "Boo Bash 2011" on Monday, October 31. The fun starts at 8 p.m. as the DJ spins his haunting mix and thrills guests until closing. Dress up and enter the "Boo Bash" costume contest. Read up and RSVP on Facebook.

The Iberian Pig is a true party animal this Halloween night, lining up Decatur restaurants and bars for a Halloween Pub Crawl at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 31. The cost is $45 per person, which covers one featured drink at each stop. Look for a smoking punchbowl at the Iberian Pig along with snacks. Wear a costume and take part in the Brickstore's annual costume contest (hint, prizes) at tour's end. Other participating restaurants and bars include Square Pub, Mac McGee's, Eddie's Attic and Leon's Full Service.

For those in Marietta, Cumming and Suwanee, kids eat free at all four Chepe's locations on Halloween! Kids in costume on Monday, October 31, will receive one free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree.

Visit The Dish for more Halloween details.

Knocking Out Breast Cancer One Smashburger At A Time

There's still time to help "smash" breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Wednesday, October 26, metro Atlanta's three Smashburger locations will donate a percentage of the day's sales to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Chances are that you know someone who has been affected by this terrible disease. Knock it out, one Atlanta Smashburger, avocado club or spicy Baja at a time!

Atlanta Chefs Show Off Pumpkin Carving Prowess This Thursday

Thinking about carving your pumpkin but need a little inspiration? Watch local chefs battle it out for the top pumpkin carver crown at the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Fest-of-Ale on Thursday, October 27 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. We'll be cheering for Chef Janine Falvo of Briza as she cuts her way through the competition during the 25-minute contest (and if you miss seeing her at the pumpkin carving contest, you can catch her on Bravo's Top Chef Season 9, which starts on November 2). Guests are encouraged to clap loudly for their favorites as audience applause determines the winner. Once a winner has been picked, all of the chef-carved pumpkins will be sold in a silent auction to benefit the Garden, giving you another chance at an eye-catching jack-o-lantern for your own home.

Gear Up For Atkins Park Smyrna's Wii Bowling Tournament

Atkins Park is once again taking bar games to the next level. Get a crew together and find out who's kingpin (or queen) of the Wii bowling alley when Atkins Park - Smyrna rolls out a six-week Wii bowling tournament beginning at midnight on October 25. Anyone who wants to join in on the fun is welcome to participate in the tournament.

There's no sign up or league fee, and bowling shirts and shoes are optional. Best of all, each night's first- and second-place victors will walk away with house cash! Your points will add up week by week, and at the end of the six week bowling brouhaha, a tournament winner will be announced. The grand prize winner will receive a Fat Tire Cruiser bike, so get your team together now and start practicing your virtual bowling game so you can win this sweet ride! Follow along on Facebook.

Atkins Park Tavern: 2840 Atlanta Road SE, Smyrna; 770.435.1887