Zoom in on zodiac cocktails at G’s Midtown -- light years closer than a
Pluto flyby. Twelve star-struck sippers, priced at $10 each, embody the
unique characteristics of each sign. Cancer, the nurturing traditionalist, is
true blue to Stoli Blueberry, lemon juice, simple syrup and blue curaçao. Leo
is loyal to a generous blend of SweetWater 420, Absolut Peach vodka, peach
puree and orange juice. Time for a lunar landing in Midtown.
Scratch chicken feed, big clucks and bucks are
on the line. Enter the Menu Mania sweepstakes, presented by Farm Star Living and Springer Mountain Farms for a chance to win a
$100 gift card to a farm-to-table restaurant. Two runners-up will receive $50
gift cards to buy Springer Mountain Farms chicken. Could be you, feeding your
flock -- if you enter before July 31. Kaleidoscope Bistro & Pub in Brookhaven and MAX’s Wine Dive in Midtown are two Georgia
restaurants featuring all-natural Springer Mountain Farms chicken on its menus.
Tin Lizzy’s Cantina
is open in The Mall at Peachtree Center, just a quick salsa away from the
College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia World Congress Center, convention
hotels, marts and offices. Now downtown visitors can easily enjoy FlexMex
favorites at the 10th location of Atlanta’s hometown cantina, and the extensive
margarita list gives the starched shirt set an incentive to loosen up a bit. A
menu boasting shareable dips, signature tacos, salads and sensational cast-iron
skillets, as well as multiple TVs for sports viewing, keep everyone happy. The
over-21 crowd will find clever cocktails and more than 30 beer selections to
temper the heat of summer’s city streets. Tin Lizzy’s downtown is open daily
for lunch, dinner and late-night dining. For information, call 404-671-9450 or
visit the downtown cantina’s Facebook page.
The August debut of Cotton Calf Kitchen in the 111-year-old Braselton Brothers Department Store building
circles the storefront back to its origins as a community hub satisfying
appetites for good taste and providing attentive service. This time, however,
groceries and dry goods give way to a classic American steakhouse where
dry-aged steaks sizzle and cocktails and conversation flow. Partners Matt
Ruppel, Hudson Tang and Cindy Green want Cotton Calf Kitchen to become an
integral part of Braselton’s balance of historic preservation and a
live/work/play/dine environment. To this point, the restaurant sits across
Davis Street from a turn-of-the-century cotton gin building yet the patio will
overlook the town’s anticipated new amphitheater. Open daily for cocktails and
dinner from 4-11 p.m., Cotton Calf Kitchen will feature quality dry-aged beef,
heirloom vegetables and tapas-style appetizers. Watch the progress unfold on Facebook.
Ray’s Rio Bravo is
back with its famous tortilla press and beloved Mexican cuisine. The Powers
Ferry Road icon is raising the roof and mucho dinero in honor of Make-A-Wish Georgia
on Thursday, July 30 from 7-10 p.m. Buy a ticket, $25 and up, to take in mariachi music
and a fiesta buffet of tasty tacos and fajitas with all the trimmings, chips
and salsa, chili con queso, tamales and non-alcoholic beverages. Cash bar and
drink specials will be available. Georgia’s Make-A-Wish chapter founder Debbie
Tillman shares “wish” stories more heartwarming than salsa. 100 percent of
ticket sales goes to Make-A-Wish Georgia. Complimentary valet parking. No can
go? Donations are mucho encouraged.
Lovin’ local, four area chefs are banding
together with Skylight Farm founder Justin Aiello to host
“Skylight Supper,” a five-course farm-to-table feast benefitting Westside Provisions District Farmers Market
(WPDFM), on Thursday, July 30 at Skylight Farm in Douglasville, Georgia. Chefs
Nick Leahy (Saltyard), Jarrett Stieber (Eat Me Speak Me),
Jason Assenmacher (Dine With Jason) and Kenan Hill (Kitchen
1204) cull a local larder for the fundraising dinner, including organic produce
from WPDFM purveyors and Skylight Farm, Riverview Farm pork, craft brews from
Atlanta’s own Monday Night Brewing, and MOSCAI all-natural craft cocktails.
Farm tour and five-course dinner follow 5 p.m. cocktail hour, all for $80 per
person (plus tax and gratuity). A limited number of tickets are available here.
This weekend, MAX’s Wine Dive chef Patric Bell-Good does the
demo honors at the Westside Provisions District Farmers Market
going on from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Bell-Good is a finalist in the
Georgia Voice “Best of Atlanta 2015” competition (winners will
be announced July 24) -- and a key component in MAX’s Wine Dive nominations in
the “Best Restaurant,” “Best New Restaurant,” “Lunch Spot” and “Bar Spot.” The
market is about two miles away from MAX’s Wine Dive at 12th and Crescent in
Midtown.
Halfway to Christmas Day 2015, and there’s
trending news about an anticipated Santa sighting at this Saturday’s Christmas in July party at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in
Virginia-Highland. Santa’s summer hangout glows with spiked eggnog, a gift
giveaway, SweetWater Festive ale and a secret Santa you won’t want to miss.
Starts at 9 p.m. on July 25 -- six months ‘til the big day, but who’s counting?
The Ice Bucket Challenge has run its course, but you can have a splash or two of your favorite beverages and raise money for the Atlanta ALS Association at STATS on Thursday, July 23. Join Cook’s Crew, a non-profit group honoring Alphonso "Prune" Cook, who lost his battle with ALS, for drinks, appetizers or dinner at the Luckie Marietta District restaurant and sports bar between 6-9 p.m. when 10 percent of sales goes to ALS research.
Saltwood Charcuterie & Bar will host a “Frenchman in Thailand” reception and four-course dinner with champagne pairings on Wednesday, July 22. Why Thai? In May, Saltwood executive chef and Master Chef of France Olivier Gaupin honeymooned in Thailand. Returning enamored with Thai cuisine (and his bride), Gaupin called upon Saltwood sous chef Chris Espanol, award-winning Thai chef Dee Dee Niyomkul (Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft) and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne expert Olivier Zorel to create an intriguing cuisine and French Champagne pairing melding Thai flavors with the tastes and techniques of his own native France. $75 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). Limited seating. Reservations: 404-745-5745. Complimentary valet parking.
Cheer on the U.S. Men’s National Team as they square off against Jamaica in CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015 semifinals on Wednesday, July 22. Just around the corner from the Georgia Dome action, Der Biergarten pulls liter drafts of Spaten Lager for $9 and tunes in multiple flat-screened TVs throughout the indoor/outdoor beer garden. The STATS All-American Combo ($10), available through July 22, unites a Budweiser and a Messi double-stack burger with American cheese, lettuce, onion and a pickle. Seventy viewing screens, five bars and pour-your-own-beer tables kick in extra points.
With outside temps in the 90s, we’re roasting like hot dogs. Probably why July is National Hot Dog Month. Relish the prompt to unleash the good old dogs and teach them some new Hot Diggity Dog tricks such as mummy or octopus dogs, bacon-wrapped with pineapple salsa, Thai-style, corn dog mini muffins, pretzel dogs, Mediterranean chickpea wraps and healthier beach hot dogs.
Every bottle has a story in The Liquor Cabinet, be it in a martini, highball or hurricane glass. Open the cabinet and look for a virtual happy hour, no hangover.
Turn your phone sideways and pump the volume before tapping this link to watch Seed Kitchen + Bar mixologist David Peek shake up a cool Summer Pisco cocktail then blowtorch the top. Talk about fanning the flames of desire.
