Have a Ball & a Few Beers at Atkins Park in Virginia-Highland's Pong Wars Tournament

Speed, agility, accuracy and New Belgium Fat Tire beers will all play a big part in who wins the Pong Wars Ping-Pong tournament at Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland on Wednesday, August 28. Balls start flying at 9:30 p.m., and only the tournament victor will take home a brand new New Belgium Fat Tire cruiser. Sorry, no cruiser for the loser, but all who enter are sure to have a ball and a few beers. Registration is free after a New Belgium Brewing purchase. Plus, a dollar from every New Belgium product purchased will be donated to the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to help fund Atlanta Streets Alive.

Fast Times, Decatur-Style: No. 246 Adds Call-Ahead Lunch Menu and Summer Sunday Ping-Pong Tournaments

 

Time flies on a lunch hour. Downtown Decatur workers, squeeze a leisurely Italian lunch fix into your precious lunch break via the new call-ahead menu at No. 246. Call before leaving the office and your meal will be ready when you arrive. Delizioso plates include a chicken Parm sandwich, wood-baked ziti and meatballs, and mushroom pizza ($8-$16). Share or go solo on some crispy cheese, garlic knots, chicken wings and soup ($5-6) or salad and side options like the chopped salad, house salad, flatbread, roasted potatoes and crispy onions ($3-$12). See a sample menu on Facebook. For more information or to place a call-ahead order, call 678-399-8246.

Ping-Pong players sign up now! Come Sunday, June 2, fast-paced Ping-Pong takes over in the backyard area from 5-8 p.m. Drew Belline's winning snacks keep energy levels high and include a selection of toasts ($5-$13) with a variety of toppings like arugula almond pesto and house ricotta; pork rillettes, beet pickled farm eggs, whole-grain mustard and local parsley; cannellini beans, Parmesan and EVOO; red pepper, basil and EVOO; and tuna conserva, citrus and olives. Bites ($5) include the No. 246 meatball and French fries with salt and Parmesan. Pizzas also are offered and include Margherita with tomato, fior di latte and backyard basil ($10) and local mushroom with mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes and arugula ($13). Toast sweet victory with Yuengling, Dale's Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout ($3-$6) or one-ounce shots of rye whiskey and Fernet Branca ($3 apiece). Sign up for tournament times by emailing Clarke Anderson at canderson@rocketfarmrestaurants.com.

MLA Taste and Tell: Drink Up!

MLA Client Services Manager Tuan tells us his top three favorite places to pick up pleasing summer beverages. Watch on YouTube as he spills all the details on where to find the best adult slushies and reusable tiki glasses. Bottoms up!

Summer Fun Begins Early At Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland with Pong Wars & Summerfest

Short work weeks are something to celebrate, so make plans to do just that at Atkins Park Tavern in Virginia Highland this week with a spirited paddle battle! The restaurant is setting Pong Wars in motion starting on Wednesday, May 30 with single elimination rounds starting up at 10:30 p.m. Sam Adams sponsors the fast-paced event that leads to a Sam Adams tailgate grill and awesome cooler (each valued at $150) for first- and second-place winners. Be there early to get a seat and get in the lineup!

Also coming up in the neighborhood and celebrating 29 years of art, food and fun, Virginia Highland Summerfest 2012 will be taking over on June 2-3.  Visitors can shop for original art at the artist market, enjoy great food, run the 5K and listen to live music presented by 92.9 dave-fm. There’s also a KidsFest area in John Howell Park to keep the little ones entertained. Look for the Atkins Park Tavern food tent while you’re there. At this year’s festival, we remember our friend Warren Bruno, owner of Atkins Park and Ormsby’s, who passed away earlier this month. Warren was one of the original organizers of this popular summertime festival.