Star Grazing

British actor Sacha Baron Cohen was spotted dining at Umi in Buckhead on a July Saturday. To copycat, sit at table 61, tilt some Moscow Mules and relish Umi starters of yellow tail jalapeño, spicy tuna crispy rice, madai carpaccio and sanmori followed by specialty typhoon and soft shell crab rolls.

Marlow’s Tavern Raises More Than $38K for Special Olympics Georgia during June

Marlow’s Tavern friends and neighbors came through with donations for Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) during the restaurant’s June donation drive. For every donation of $1 or more, guests received $5 gift cards to use on a future visit. The June drive raised a total of $38,976 -- $18,000 more than last year’s drive. Fundraising swings to the greens on Sept. 18 for the 19^th Annual Marlow’s Tavern Golf Classic hosted by Marlow’s Tavern and Sterling Spoon Culinary Management. Since 1999, this annual event has raised more than $685,000 for SOGA athletes. This year’s tournament goal is to raise $95,000. Information on sponsorships, attending and making donations can be found online.

Willy’s Wows Parents with $2.99 Monday Meals for Kids through Labor Day

Dinner under $3? It’s a reality on Mondays at Willy’s Mexicana Grill. From 3-10 p.m., children, ages 12 and under, can grab a Kid’s Combo for $2.99. Choices include cheese quesadillas or chicken burritos, tacos or quesadillas (+ $.50 for steak), fresh tortilla chips, a cookie and a fountain drink. Mom and dad, you can take advantage of this deal for your kids even if you don’t buy an entrée for yourself. But then, how can you resist? And remember your Willy’s refillable cup for a thirst quencher. The $2.99 promo holds at all Willy’s locations except Peachtree Center, AT&T Midtown, Georgia State and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Touting $2 1800 Tequila Shots at Tin Lizzy’s during National Tequila Day Week, July 24-30

National Tequila Day on Monday, July 24 is a holiday well worth its salt. Tin Lizzy’s Cantina partners with 1800 Tequila to carry the spirit of the day through the whole tipsy-turvy week of July 24-30. Guests can sip or toss back $2 shots of 1800 Tequila (limit two per person) at any of the 13 FlexMex taqueria locations. Top-shelf quality, cheap-shot price. Leaves more moolah for chips, guac and tacos.

Support Your Local Pastured Birds and Restaurants during Pastured Poultry Week July 24-30

Pastured Poultry Week, July 24-30, roosts at the top of the pecking order as far as chicken chowing (and chowing down on chicken) goes. Who wants to be cooped up when there’s a world to explore and taste? You certainly don’t and neither do these happy birds. These slower-growing breeds have continuous daytime access to outdoor pastures for at least half their lifetimes (extreme weather exception), shelters for safety and pre-slaughter stunning. During Pastured Poultry Week, savor their superior flavor in special dishes featuring pastured poultry at Aria, The Federal, Gunshow, Revival and Seed Kitchen & Bar.

Fill Up on Low Country Boil and Abita at Taco Mac The Prado July 22

It’s hot as a low country boil outside, so go ahead and enjoy one on the breezy patio at Taco Mac in The Prado, Sandy Springs. The party rolls on Saturday, July 22 from 12-6 p.m. Tickets, available through July 22, are $30 each and include all-you-can-eat crab, shrimp, sausage, potatoes, onions and corn plus two frosty Abita beers.

Feed Your Appetite for Art at Historic Roswell Galleries

To quote Dr. Seuss, “Today is your day! You’re off to great places! You’re off and away!” Count Historic Roswell as a nearby “great place” for art lovers. The Ann Jackson Gallery on Canton Street is one of only 30 galleries worldwide licensed to represent The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection along with showcasing some of the finest artwork available in the Southeast. Dabbling the day away here is an art lover’s dream because so many galleries are within walking distance of one another: Taylor Kinsell Gallery, Ford Smith Fine Art, Muse & Co. Fine Art, Peter Brandi Gallery & Estate Sales, Raiford Gallery, Synergy Fine Art Gallery, Vinings Gallery in Historic Roswell and Vinings Gallery on Canton Street for a multitude of mediums and styles from local, emerging, established and global artists. See artists at work and their masterpieces on display at My Art Studio on the Square, a working studio and gallery. Express your own artistic bent by taking a workshop at FlameTree Glass, which also sells glass art and glass-blowing supplies. Along the way, feed your inner artist at one of Roswell’s many eateries and pencil in some calendar dates such as Explore Roswell’s First Friday Art Walk on Aug. 4 or an upcoming Muse & Co. Fine Art studio ON live music experience in the gallery’s artful setting.

Georgia, Dine Out Again and Again during Georgia Restaurant Week July 17-23

Not just a city’s worth, Georgia Restaurant Week dishes out prix fixe dining deals all over our peachy-keen state. There’s even an interactive map for zeroing in on wherever the road takes you during the week. Atlanta restaurants come through with $25 and $35 three-course lunch and dinner menus offering choices for each course and crammed with Georgia products from cheese and ice cream to meats and North Georgia trout. Our “A” list for Georgia Restaurant Week tables to reserve around Atlanta:

• 5Church Atlanta in Midtown offers a dinner menu priced at $35 (reservations).
• Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland serves a lunch and dinner menu for $25 per person (not offered 11 am-3 p.m. July 22 or 23) (reservations).
• Avalon in Alpharetta is the port o’ call for a Brine Modern Seafood Shack dinner menu, $35 per person (reservations).
• Chicken and the Egg in Marietta cracks open a dinner menu highlighting Georgia producers; $25 per person (reservations).
• Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar at the Avenue East Cobb casts a $35 dinner menu (reservations).
• Seed Kitchen & Bar in East Cobb plants delicious choices on its $35 dinner menu (reservations).
• Stem Wine Bar plans a special three-course tasting menu priced at $25 per couple.

Wine Spectator Pours “Best of” Awards over Aria, Ray’s in the City and Umi

Could it be the toast heard ‘round the world? Wine Spectator magazine raises a glass to its 2017 “Best of Award” recipients, honoring restaurants exhibiting outstanding dedication to their wine programs. Award winners hail from all 50 states and more than 75 countries. In Atlanta, “Wine Spectator” applauds Aria, Ray’s in the City and Umi among a cast of outstanding restaurants. Ray’s in the City and Umi each claim an “Award of Excellence” commending merit in satisfying discerning wine lovers with well-chosen assortments of quality wine producers and prowess in achieving a thematic match of wine price and style to restaurant menus. Ray’s in the City offers a lengthy wine list of wines by the bottle, including alternative reds and whites, global labels, French wines, Champagnes, sake and dessert wines in a wide price spread. The downtown restaurant pours a well-curated selection of wines by the glass to complement executive chef Dean Berthelot’s menu of premium seafood, sushi and prime, hand-cut steaks and chops served daily at lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. At Umi, an exceptional wine and craft sake list enhances the sophisticated evening dining experience afforded by chef Fuyuhiko Ito and his team. Reservations are suggested to enjoy Umi’s menu of modern and classic Japanese fare and sushi prepared using the highest quality fresh fish flown in daily from around the world.

Aria, chef/owner Gerry Klaskala’s Buckhead jewel, goes a step further and brings home the “Best of Award of Excellence” accolade. In addition to mastering “Award of Excellence” criteria, attaining “Best of“ status lauds the restaurant for a wine program that excels in breadth across multiple regions and/or significant vertical depth of top wines and carries out superior presentation. Stunning contemporary American cuisine, incomparable hospitality and an award-winning wine program land Aria on “Best of” lists year after year. Reservations are suggested at Aria for dinner served evenings Monday through Saturday.

Willy’s Summer Road Trip is Off and Running through Aug. 12, Driving Quest for Year of Free Burritos

You’re in the driver’s seat for Willy’s Summer Road Trip 2017 -- you and an insatiable appetite for fresh guac, burritos, bowls and other beloveds at Willy’s Mexicana Grill locations…ALL of the locations. Download and put the road trip map to work charting your way to every Willy’s location (see airport exception below) and enjoying your faves. To enter, prove you’ve landed at each destination by saving every receipt (or photo of receipt) to submit at the end and posting a selfie or Willy-wild photo at each cantina. The first five guests to visit ALL Willy’s locations receive free burritos for a year in the form of 52 free entrée cards per winner. The first one done also wins a Willy’s catered party for 20 amigos. Those passing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have a chance to win a bonus. Since this Willy’s is past the security point, any of the five winners who have also touched down here will win a $50 gift card. Be sure to post your “Burrito Love” on social media using #WillysRoadTrip17 to have a chance to win a prize even if you aren’t one for the first five speedsters to complete the challenge. Whoever “tacos” the most creative photo, as determined by the Willy’s team, wins a Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 instant film camera. Start your road trip right by purchasing a Willy’s souvenir cup to fill up with $1 refills at each location shown on the Willy’s Road Trip map. Willy’s Summer Road Trip ends Aug. 12; find complete details here.

What’s New on Pinterest: Cool Down with Pops

Cool Down with Pops and stick it to hot days by converting favorite foods and cocktails into luscious licks on sticks. Start by exploring 50 ice pop recipes for the whole family. Strawberries make merry with chia seeds, moscato, dairy-free cream and in fresh fruit salad ice pops. Happy hour calls for boozy mimosas, blueberry mojitos, tropical tequila sunrises or margarita frozen pops. Switch up afternoon tea or iced coffee breaks with creamy matcha green tea, chai tea latte, coffee and coconut milk vegan-paleo or cold-brew iced mocha pops. Turns out if it’s freezable, it’s good to go.

#Foodgram: Salty Seattle

Pasta goes Technicolor @SaltySeattle. Linda Miller Nicholson possesses skills for creating vegetable-dyed pasta. See stills of her patriotic pasta and other artistry on Instagram, watch her live show on Food Network’s Facebook page each Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. EST and look for her 2018 book release from Harper Collins.