Eat it and Tweep: Chesley Answers What's Up with the Weather and Other Ides of March

Spring is in the air and it's time to plan the days you will spend outside in the sunshine. Whether or not you follow 11 Alive Meteorologist Chesley McNeil (@Chesley11Alive) is up to you, but follow our tweet lead because you want him on your Twitter radar to know what's going on in Atlanta's ever-changing weather world. The "Wake Up with Chesley," webpage, builds more daily details such as a map of airport delays, lists of community events and the national weather map-in-motion.

Sample Tweet:  Cloudy skies this AM. Rain moving in this afternoon. High: 51 #gawx #news

What's New on Pinterest: Tastes Like Spring

Spring doesn’t officially begin until March 20, but our Pinterest board just couldn’t wait until then. An edible garden of recipes and ideas from accentuating asparagus to packing up for a picnic await. Oh, and a bevy of beverages and appetizers to enjoy when Daylight Savings Time shines the light longer on March 10. Yesss!

Buckhead Restaurant Week Starts Saturday

 

I'm so glad it's not Buckhead Restaurant Day. I'd have a hard time choosing! Luckily we have nine days to check out the great Buckhead restaurants during Buckhead Restaurant Week March 9 - 17. For a classic, we recommend Aria, in the heart of Buckhead, and for something brand new, check out Seven Lamps, in the Shops Around Lenox. Both have $35 menus filled with yummy options. And there are plenty of others to consider! It's a busy time so you'll want to make reservations online. Enjoy!

"Stay and Play" Package, Game Cards Top New Game-X Contest Prize List

Atlantans play to win, and they’re already warming up their thumbs and fine tuning their reflexes in anticipation of the 12,000-square-foot Game-X opening later this month downtown. Read more about Game-X on the Atlanta Dish blog. If you just can’t wait for the opening, register now on the website for the latest info and receive a $10 game play coupon! Don’t forget to like Game-X on Facebook to win big. One lucky Facebook fan will win one 1,000 chip game card each week for the next five weeks, so like the page now for the best chance to win big. Feeling extra lucky? The grand-prize winner will receive a "Stay and Play" package that includes a hotel room at the Hilton Garden Inn, one 1,000 chip game card and $100-$200 in food and drinks at Game-X. 

Start Hankering for White Oak Pastures Artisanal “Sausage of the Week”

You won’t want to miss out on the new artisanal “Sausage of the Week” series from  White Oak Pastures. Each week, White Oak Pastures offers a small batch of artisanal sausages handcrafted from their own grass-fed beef, lamb or pastured chicken. A new sausage varietal is available each week, always a savory companion for your grill or sauté pan. These are available only through the online store. Each $8.49 pack contains six links and weighs in at just over one pound. Order early to make sure your links are linked to you. Orders are shipped Monday through Wednesday. Be sure to sign up to find out about our weekly sausage specials.

Friday Forecast Calls for Sunset Wine and Cheese Pairings at Ray's on the River

I'll be honest, I am not a fan of this cold weather. That's why when I saw Friday's forecast calling for sunshine and warmer temperatures, I immediately began making plans for the weekend. The first thing on my list is to visit Ray's on the River for their Friday night Sunset Wine & Cheese pairings. From 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Sandy Springs restaurant is pouring hand-selected wines and offering plenty of cheese to go with that whine  wine.  The cost is $25 per person and includes tax and gratuity - gorgeous sunset views of the Chattahoochee River are free of charge.

James Patrick Morgan Brings the Tunes to 10th & Piedmont Sunday Brunch

  

10th & Piedmont in Midtown hosts their Bellini brunch every Sunday and has added a new component to the mix. From 1-4 p.m. James Patrick Morgan plays live music to accompany your meal. Sample some of his tunes here. You have plenty of time to fulfill your Sunday morning to-do list before brunch beginning at 11 a.m. Start your meal with a 10P Bellini, mimosa or house-made Bloody Mary. Move on to the 10P chicken & waffles, blueberry pancakes with bacon, sorghum stone-ground grits with applewood bacon and sweet corn, So-Co cured salmon roulade or biscuits with vodka tomato gravy, bacon and eggs. Had a late night? Go for the "Hair of the Dog" plate of toasted Cuban bread, smoked tomatoes, Asiago cheese, poached eggs, applewood bacon and vodka tomato gravy or "The Champion," a hearty winner of eggs, link sausage and country ham captained by a big buttermilk biscuit with vodka tomato gravy, bacon and grilled tomato. Maybe those pre-brunch hours should involve a quick walk or run!

Color the Whole Week Green for 17th Annual St. Pat's Party at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant

The largest St. Patrick’s Day party in Atlanta spans a fun-filled week that culminates in an annual celebration that spills out onto the streets around Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant in Buckhead on March 17. This year’s schedule is packed with seven days of live music, contests, charity events and food and drink specials.

First, sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win a four-day, three-night trip for two to Dublin, Ireland. The drawing will take place on Wednesday, March 20 and participants must be 21 and over to enter.

Start off the week of festivities on the right note on Monday, March 11 as Fadó hosts a traditional Irish music session at 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, the pub teams up with Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits for an evening filled with the "water of life" Bushmills Whiskey and food pairings hosted by Master of Whiskey, Kevin Mulcahy. The event starts at 7 p.m. and costs $39.95 per person with limited seating; make reservations here. On Wednesday, March 13, it's top o' the trivia to you and your team for the St. Patrick's Irish Pub Quiz hosted by Quizmaster Rob starting at 8 p.m. With passes to the St. Patrick’s Day party available as prizes, you’ll want to feed your brain for that competitive edge. Authentic Irish food and beverages including corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, boxty, and pints of Guinness, Harp and Smithwick's will fuel you and your team to victory. Thursday, March 14 is "Lucky Pint" Night from 8-11 p.m. Order Guinness, and if your pint of the iconic Irish dry stout wears a sticker on its bottom, you'll receive free tickets to Sunday's party. Friday brings on shear delight in the form of the Fadó 12th Annual St. Baldrick's Event from 2:30-6:30 p.m. "Shavees" plop down in barber chairs to have a lot taken off the top while raising donations for the St. Baldrick's Foundation for curing childhood cancers.

The two-day "Lost Weekend" festival opens on Saturday, March 16 with "St. Practice Day." At 10:30 a.m., a full day of RBS 6 Nations Rugby tournament viewing begins, and rugby fans will have a reserved viewing area for all three matches. At 6 p.m., the outdoor festival opens with traditional Irish rock music from Paddy & Marty, U2 cover band Desire and Irish dancers. A DJ steps in at 10 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are available online for $5 or $10 at the door.  Sunday, March 17 hails the giant St. Patrick's Day finale. Doors open at 7 a.m., and the party moves outside at noon for a street festival featuring live music, traditional Irish dancers and bagpipers. Desire, Andy Birdsall, Secret Sauce and Astral Freaks (Van Morrison cover band) keep the party rocking. Pre-sale tickets, (a fast sell out in 2012) are available now online for $10 or at the door for $15.  Guests also can purchase a two-day pass for Saturday and Sunday for $15 online. March 18? Sleep in.

Paint the ATL Green with Weeklong St. Patrick's Events at Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant Plus More in this Week's Dish

Plan out the week leading up to St. Patrick's Day with Fadó Irish Pub in Buckhead. With plenty of Irish fun and festivities, you don't want to miss out! Also, Atkins Park Restaurant and Bar in Virginia-Highland has a celebration planned to commemorate 91 years of business. There are plenty of parties and more in this week's Dish!

Bald is Beautiful! Celebrate St. Baldrick's at Fadó Irish Pub

Check out of work early next Friday, March 15 and tell your boss it's for a good cause. Then head over to Fadó Irish Pub's 12th Annual St. Baldrick's Event from 2:30 - 6:30 pm, where generous folks get their heads shaved to raise money for childhood cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.  As a company, Fadó has helped generate $700,000 in donations since 2004 and this year the Atlanta pub hopes to raise another $125,000. Get in the spirit and sign up to be a "shavee" or talk a long-haired co-worker into doing it and give him or her some dough! It's a fun time for everyone and a great reason to miss those uber-productive last few hours of the work week. 

Atkins Park Virginia Highland Celebrates 91st Anniversary with March 6 Patio Oyster Roast

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia Highland is celebrating 91 years! With 12,981,696 beers sold, the restaurant is firing up the Big Green Egg, pulling out the huge charcoal grill, tapping into the kitchen and bar and bringing in bushels of oysters on Wednesday, March 6. From 5:30-11 p.m., you can down "6 for $10" specials of smoked oysters with tomato jam, roasted oysters with melted Vidalia onions and pecorino Romano and bacon-wrapped BBQ oysters along with your favorite cool brews and beverages. Fried oyster sliders with kimchi at two for $8 will also be provided for munching. Don't miss out!

Bantam + Biddy + Baking: Lance Gummere Helps Out at 6th Annual Baking Contest for No Kid Hungry on March 5

A little sugar and a little spice will make for a lot of nice at the 6^th Annual Share Our Strength Baking Contest for No Kid Hungry. Join Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta on Tuesday, March 5 as professional and amateur pastry chefs, culinary students and children bake-off to fight childhood hunger. Lance Gummere of Bantam + Biddy in Ansley Mall is lending a pastry-making hand in this year’s competition. The annual fundraiser has become a key ingredient in the national nonprofit organization’s goal of abating childhood hunger in the U.S.A. Jenn Hobby of Kicks 101.5 FM hosts the 6:30-8:30 p.m. wine and dessert reception. Guests will sample tastes from some of Atlanta’s top pastry chefs and contest entrants. Event tickets are $35 each and may be purchased online. The college is located at 1927 Lakeside Parkway in Tucker.