Ray's on the River Recycles Prom Dresses

Ah, prom season. Hoping for a cute date, planning a fun night with all your friends, and yes, shopping for the perfect dress. It's a right of passage for many girls. But some don't have the funds to splurge on a prom dress that will likely only be worn once (you know you aren't really going to shorten it and wear to a cocktail party when you're 21!). We have the solution! Take gently used prom dresses and evening dresses in current styles and drop them off at Ray's on the River before April 30. They'll be donated to Fairy Tale Endings, a local organization that provides prom makeovers for girls who might not be able to attend their proms due to financial limitations. Sweet ending for you: a complimentary appetizer or dessert at Ray's on the River. And if you need a memorable place to celebrate prom night, check out their special prom menu. There's a $30 - $50 price range (including tax and gratuity and choice of coffee, tea or soda) with entrée choices of vegetable stir fry, oven-roasted chicken, slow-roasted prime rib, broiled cold water lobster tail and charbroiled filet mignon. Guests may select a starter of field green salad or classic Caesar salad, and except for the vegetable stir fry, which comes with white rice, the other entrées are joined by goat cheese and chive whipped potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Dessert is available for an additional charge. For reservations, call 770-955-1187.

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

SocietySocial tweets it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. Do we hear an "amen" for that? Cut loose and incorporate some shop humor in your life, as in shopping, shopping, shopping. Get the quick tweet (@societysocial), or for serious shopping news out of NYC, peruse the Society Social website and blog.

Appetizing Aperture

Double dipping is so tempting when you're facing RA Sushi Bar Restaurant chips and salsa today for National Chips & Dip Day. Pinwheels of wonton chips hug a mound of spicy tuna tartare mixed with cukes, avocado and fresh salsa and sprinkled with bell pepper confetti. Dip once and devour entirely, lest someone get a chip on their shoulder over your brash behavior.   

Celebrate Spring Break with Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Now that we're two days into spring, it's only fitting that we start discussing spring break plans. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Spring Break Celebration is helping everyone celebrate the return of warm weather. This deal certainly won't "break" your bank. For $34.95 (excluding tax and gratuity), the Spring Break Celebration includes your choice of The Wedge salad or French onion soup; filet mignon AND North Atlantic lobster tail for the entrée; and French green beans or Fleming's mashed potatoes on the side.


This offer is not on the regular menu so mention the special when calling 770-698-8112 for reservations or reserve online. The Spring Break special is available through April 7. Traveling on your spring break? Stop by Fleming's Sandestin location for the same great deal!

When the Spirit is Right, You'll Have Fun All Night

Both Atkins Park Tavern locations in Smyrna and Virginia Highland invite you to come try their newest spirit, privately labeled Atkins Park Tavern Vodka. Not yet sold in package stores, Atkins Park Tavern Vodka comes in two flavors - house vodka and black pepper vodka. These special spirits are produced by Terressentia, a distillery located in Charleston, S.C.

Ray's at Killer Creek is creating its own refreshing liquor infusions for lounge and restaurant enjoyment. The $10 libations are shaken over ice and served in a glass -- perfect for spring sipping. Kiwi-cucumber infusion contains Fris Vodka, kiwi, cucumber and melon liquor. Pineapple infusion unites Fris Vanilla Vodka, coconut rum, simple syrup and pineapple. Chill, bro.

New England Country Soup Hosts a Southern Souper Battle

On Saturday, March 24, Southern soup lovers will compete for the chance to win the New England Country Soup Challenge. With the all-natural New England Country Soups available on Publix shelves, the Vermont-based creator of healthy, "tastes as good as homemade" soups has extended its Soup Challenge contest to the Southeast. The five regional finalists were chosen based on their original and family soup recipes, which they submitted online. This Saturday local souper-stars Jenny Levison of Souper Jenny and Chef Jim Gallivan of The Art Institute of Atlanta will help judge the 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. stockpot showdown at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta. The finalist who comes closest to matching the taste and nutrition of New England Country Soup offerings will win a foodie weekend getaway at The Hob Knob Eco Boutique Hotel on Martha's Vineyard. You do not want to miss out on this Southern Soup Showdown. This event is free and the aroma is certainly tempting. All you have to do is email info@soupchallenge.com to receive a free ticket that will hold your seat.

Everything's Bigger in Texas...Including the Flavor of Whisky

Texas is coming to town, and it's time to greet her with an Atlanta-sized appetite. Double Zero Napoletana is bringing the flavor of the Lone Star State to Atlanta-area diners next Tuesday, March 27, with a Balcones Distillery Dinner at 7 p.m. The Waco, Texas distillery produces small batches and uses blue corn; it's also the first-ever craft distillery "Icons of Whisky" award recipient. To complement the evening's whisky selections, Double Zero's Executive Chef Chad Crete is lining up a delicious series of small plates such as sautéed Brussels sprouts with bacon lardons and brown sugar peaches; a biscuit BLT with pancetta, spicy tomato jam and arugula; and smoked sweet potato puree, apple braised crispy pork belly and orange-mint marmalade. Cost is $59 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). For reservations, call 404-991-3666.

No.246 Gets Its 15 Minutes (Or Five Days) Of Fame As It Closes Temporarily For Filming

What’s better than dinner and a movie? Having dinner at a restaurant where a movie was filmed, of course! Unfortunately, you can’t dine during filming, meaning that No. 246 in Decatur will be closed to all of us regular, non-A-listers starting Sunday, March 25 until 6 p.m. on Friday, March 30. But with celebs like Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Jessica Alba, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jane Lynch starring in this upcoming comedy (called A.C.O.D., standing for “Adult Children of Divorce”), we’d say it’s worth the wait. No. 246 Owners Ford Fry and Drew Belline apologize to fans for the inconvenience, and they'd love for guests to come enjoy live music at the restaurant when it re-opens to the public. Music starts at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, but you don’t have to wait until then to start planning your meal; your mouth can water while reading the menus online! So even though you have to wait almost a week to dine out at No. 246, being able to say “Oh yeah, I ate there,” after the movie’s release, just might be worth it!

Good Morning, Atlanta - It's Time For The Dish

Fancy a little pollen with your coffee? It's time to grab the allergy meds, sit down and enjoy the week's best culinary news in The Dish. If you're not receiving the Dish every Tuesday morning in your inbox, you can sign up either here on our blog or on our Facebook page!

Grab Your Hula Skirt and Coconuts – It’s Time for a Luau at RA!

Spring has sprung, and all this warm weather calls for a celebration! On March 22, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant is throwing a Spring Luau that will have you doin’ the hula in no time! Say “aloha” to tropical drink specials ($8 each):  Bikini Martini, layering Blue Curaçao, Kai Young Coconut Shochu, vanilla vodka, pineapple juice and a splash of lemon-lime soda; Pineapple Express featuring Kai Young Coconut Shochu, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, pineapple juice, lemon juice and some bubbly prosecco; and Baby Umami Punch mixed with Southern Comfort, cold sake and tropical fruit juices. Memorize some of the menu specials: the Tropical Roll with cucumber, mango and avocado ($8); spicy shrimp mixed with masago and mango salsa ($8); pineapple cheese wontons ($7); and spicy pineapple chicken with ramen noodles, bell peppers, spicy chili sesame sauce and black sesame seeds ($8). Tiki torches and a guest D.J. keep things fired up at the 8 p.m. until close party. Wear a Hawaiian shirt or lei and you’ll fit right in at this big beach bash. Check out Facebook for more info!