So Long Sleigh! Come Cycle With Santa and Atkins Park Tavern on Wednesday, December 7

For the past five years, Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland has pedaled in the Christmas season with an annual 15- to 20-mile Santa Ride. This year's ride takes place on Wednesday, December 7, setting out from the tavern in Virginia Highland at 6 p.m. and braking several times en route for holiday cheer. 

 

This is the time for you to haul out that holiday cycling attire: Santa hats and antlers affixed to helmets, elf costumes and jingle bells for you; front, back and wrap lights plus more jingle bells for the bike. Since it will be dark, add a Rudolph nose for extra glow. This 2012 Georgia Chain Gang fundraiser benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Enter yourself or come wish the athletes a merry bike ride, enjoy dinner and drinks and welcome the yuletide riders home around 9 p.m.

 

Atkins Park Tavern - Virginia Highland:  794 North Highland; 404-876-7249.

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

"Badass" La Tavola Trattoria Barkeep Alli Royce is artsy in so many ways. Libation creations at the bar. Eat-it-up food and party photography. Serious documentary pix. Abstracts involving paint and canvas. 


Even though she's a "badass," this Atlanta native is an all-around nice gal, as anyone can see by her tweets (@roycetakespics). For those good-enough-to-lick photos, check out her website. 

Announcing Our Battle of the Beards Ticket Winners...

Thanks to everybody who entered our Battle of the Beards ticket contest! We loved all your answers! 

Our random generator has picked four lucky winners who will each get a pair of tickets to attend this Saturday’s showdown. If you are one of the below commenters, just email your full name to atlantadish@gmail.com by 3 p.m. today and we'll hook you up!

ATLMich

MC5

Randy

Olivia

Our Appetizing Aperture of the Week

December 5 is National Comfort Food Day, and it doesn't get much more comforting than macaroni and cheese! With smoked cheddar and leeks, we love the twist on the classic dish with this Chipotle Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese from Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Find out Whose Beard is Most Feared at the Battle of the Beards on Saturday

With the mustachioed month of Movember over, it’s time to show off Atlanta’s finest beards. Make sure to use your beard bars to look your bearded best, and head on over to the first ever Battle of the Beards! On Saturday, December 3, Woodfire Grill's Kevin Gillespie and his fiery red beard will be one of the celebrity judges plucking winners from the chin-coiffed pack. Open to ages 21 and older, the party at the Highland Inn Ballroom will have events the hirsute and not-so-hairy will enjoy including festival merchandise, local artist vendors, live music, stand-up comedy, food trucks and a full bar. Be on the lookout for "Best Beard," "Best Stache," "Best Partial Beard," "Most Creative," "Best Grooming" and "Overall Champion." For ladies who want to join in on the fun, we’ve got you covered. Get creative and enter the “BEST LADY BEARD" category! A portion of the proceeds from the 7 - 10 p.m. event will go to Mustaches for Kids' fundraising efforts for CURE Childhood Cancer. For tickets, visit battleofthebeards.net.

We’re also giving four lucky facial hair fans a chance to win their way into the Battle. Leave a comment below by 10 a.m. tomorrow and tell us your favorite celebrity beard for a chance to win a pair of tickets. Winners will be chosen at random and tickets will be available for pickup at the event. Good luck!

Take a Holiday Shopping Break at Truffles Grill This Week

Be sure to jump over to the Truffles Grill Facebook page today through December 6 to see their special offer! “Like” their page to receive a free appetizer with any entrée purchased through Tuesday, December 6. 


Shopper alert: Truffles is right there in the thick of all the retail action, near Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza and all of those Buckhead boutiques. Guests taking a lunch or dinner break may want to try Truffle’s new seared sesame tuna wonton, ham and brie on a fresh croissant or the chile relleno risotto! 

You'll "Like" This Offer from Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig & Sugo

There's already a lot to "like" about the food, drinks and ambiance at Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig and Sugo, and now we have one more reason to love them! When new fans "like" the Facebook pages of Double Zero Napoletana, The Iberian Pig or Sugo, they will receive a $10 gift certificate to use toward their next bill at any one of these Castellucci Hospitality Group (CHG) restaurants. 

If you're already a CHG fan, hit the "Special Fan Offer" tab to claim your gift. Certificates expire on December 31 so go ahead and plan on connecting with friends for small plates and drinks or enjoying a post-holiday shopping dinner out.

Alma Cocina Turns Mexican Fare Up a Notch Next Tuesday

Next Tuesday, December 6, Fifth Group Restaurants' latest dining establishment will arrive at 191 Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta. The long-awaited Alma Cocina ("alma" means soul in Spanish) came about after a lot of research, discussion and travels helmed by Fifth Group Restaurant Partners Robby Kukler, Steve Simon and Kris Reinhard. While contemporary Mexican cuisine is at the heart of Alma's menu, Latin American flavors infuse the restaurant's spirit. Alma's Executive Chef Chad Clevenger has created dishes such as guacamole with butternut squash, chipotle and queso fresco; smoked pork ribs with tamarind BBQ sauce; green chorizo tostadas; taquitos stuffed with crispy cod; red snapper mole Amarillo with Swiss chard (pictured above); braised goat huaraches; and Mexican Coca-Cola panna cotta. The restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner, and gluten-free and kids' menus are available upon request, so mark your calendars! Work in downtown Atlanta and need a new space for your company's holiday party? Alma has you covered in that department, too. In addition to the main dining room seating for 200 guests, the restaurant also provides two bar areas with booths and communal tables. Autumn Woods can help arrange group or private dining and can be reached at 678-302-3264. For more information, call Alma at 404-968-9662.

Giving is Receiving with Toys For Tots at Ray's

Give a gift and get a gift by participating in the Toys for Tots collection at all three Ray's Restaurants locations. Receive a free appetizer by bringing in a toy for the Toys for Tots collection going on from November 26 through December 17 at Ray's on the River, Ray's Killer Creek and Ray's in the City. We're predicting a Santa sighting inside Ray's Killer Creek in Alpharetta on Sunday, November 27 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Santa knows that Chef Tracey Bloom's Sunday supper will fill his belly with a choice of Southern favorites such as buttermilk fried chicken, house-cut pork chops or turkey with dressing, bottomless sides and oven-fresh cornbread or biscuits for $16 per person. (Okay, so maybe Santa eats for free -- Ray's wants to stay on his good side.) Visit Ray's online for location information and call 770-649-0064 to make your reservation with Santa at Ray's Killer Creek.