things to do in Atlanta

Explore Atlanta: Where to Find the Best Burger in Atlanta

Posted on by Amanda Fard

According to the calendar, summer is slowly winding down which means the eventual end to backyard bar-b-ques, picnics and grilling. Luckily, you don’t really need a special season to enjoy a burger; and in Atlanta we have an abundance of burger joints to explore!

Our friends over at Garden & Gun magazine recently asked their readers to submit suggestions for the best Southern burger spots. And while we love our Southern neighbors, we’re kind of partial to good old Atlanta – so here are the best burger places in Atlanta according to Garden & Gun magazine readers:

 

Bocado | 887 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318  (404) 815-1319

Brake Pad | 3403 Main Street, College Park, GA 30337 (404) 766-1515

Canyons Burger Company | 335 Chambers Street, Woodstock, GA (678) 494-8868

Downwind Restaurant & Lounge | Inside Peachtree Dekalb Airport

Farm Burger | several Atlanta area locations

Flip Burger | several Atlanta area locations

George’s Bar & Restaurant | 1041 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306 (404) 892- 3648

Grindhouse Killer Burgers | several Atlanta area locations

H. Harper Station | 904 Memorial Drive, Atlanta, GA 30316 (678) 732- 0415

Holeman & Finch Public House | 2277 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA (404) 948-1175

Houston’s | several Atlanta area locations

Illegal Food | 427 Edgewood Ave, Atlanta, GA   (404) 401-7155

Stoney River | 1640 Cumberland Mall, Atlanta, GA 30339 (678) 305- 9229

The General Muir | 1540 Avenue Place, Emory Point, Atlanta, GA 30329 (678) 927-9131

The Varsity | 61 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308 (404) 881-1706

The Vortex | several Atlanta area locations

Wrecking Ball Brewpub | 292 Moreland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307 (404) 221-2600

Yeah! Burger | 1017 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306 (404) 437-7845

Happy eating everyone!
– Amanda

 

 

 

Explore Atlanta: Decatur Book Festival

Posted on by Amanda Fard

2014-poster-diterlizziI love curling up with a good book! I also love supporting local events – so this Labor Day weekend, I’m going to check out the Decatur Book Festival.

The AJC Decatur Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the country and one of the five largest overall. Since the festival’s launch nine years ago, more than 1,000 world-class authors and hundreds of thousands of festival-goers have crowded the historic downtown Decatur square to enjoy book signings, author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and more.

This year’s festival runs from August 29th through August 31st and features a full line-up of activities including:

  • A children’s stage featuring interactive activities and presentations by top authors and illustrators
  • Live music performed by nationally touring musicians
  • Cooking demonstrations by noted cookbook authors
  • Food and beer vendors, and a wine garden
  • The second annual art|DBF showcase
  • An opening day Children’s Parade, and a special Wizard of Oz parade on Sunday
  • A Youth Poetry Slam, for kids 12–18 years old and a poetry slam for adults.
  • A series on the sesquicentennial of the Civil War
  • Over 160 vendors in the book market and street fair

The festival is accessible by MARTA, just take the Blue Line to the Decatur stop, and you’ll exit the station in the center of the festival! If you decide to drive, there is plenty of parking available in decks, metered spaces, and paid private lots.  If you fancy a weekend bicycle trip to the festival, The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition has a free bike valet set up on N. McDonough Street, in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse. 

Hope to see all my fellow book lovers this weekend!

– Amanda

Explore Atlanta: The Piedmont Park Arts Festival

Posted on by Amanda Fard

What do you get when you co2014_Piedmont_postermbine arts and crafts, food, Piedmont Park and FREE admission? The perfect late summer activity!

The 5th Annual Piedmont Park Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow and features up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers and crafters spread throughout Piedmont Park.

The festival will also offer artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, a street market, children’s play area plus festival foods and beverages with healthy alternatives.  

Worried about parking? Don’t be, you can reserve a parking spot near Piedmont Park with Parking Panda!

The 2014 Piedmont Park Summer Arts Festival is organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, LLC , who also sponsor the fall fine arts Chastain Park Arts Festival and the Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival. 

Explore Atlanta: The Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival

Posted on by Amanda Fard

ATL_BBQ_Fest_logo_2I love Summer! It’s a great time to get out and explore all that Atlanta has to offer – like the 6th Annual Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival which kicks off this Friday, and runs through August 16th at Atlantic Station.  I can already smell the smokey, mouth-watering goodness!

During this 2-day celebration of all thing bar-b-que, 50 professional and backyard teams from across the Southeast compete for more than $10,000 in prizes by working their magic on the grill. From Texas, Memphis and Carolina to Kansas City and Kentucky – you’ll find all the finger lickin’ sticky sweet bar-b-que styles this weekend right here in Atlanta.

Voted as one of the best BBQ festivals and competitions in the country by the Travel Channel, festival goers have plenty to keep them busy when they need a break from chowing down. There are BBQ cooking demonstrations, a kids area, a BBQ marketplace, live music and new this year – the bourbon experience.

For more information, and to purchase tickets, check out the the Altanta Bar-B-Que Festival website.

See y’all there!

– Amanda

Explore Atlanta: Atlanta Downtown Restaurant Week

Posted on by Amanda Fard

downtownrw-2014Sometimes I get in a restaurant rut. My husband and I tend to visit the same places over, and over again. Does this sound familiar? Well, here’s your chance (and mine) to break out of that rut and discover all the great restaurants downtown Atlanta has to offer.

The 12th annual Atlanta Downtown Restaurant Week starts August 9th and runs through August 17th. During this nine-day culinary event, top chefs from over 30 participating restaurants offer diners signature menus at exceptional prices – great food at great prices people, that’s what I like to hear!!

Presented by Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), the annual Restaurant Week event gives Atlantans the opportunity to indulge in Downtown’s finest dining hot spots, and break out of their collective restaurant ruts!

Check out all the participating restaurants and deals at www.atlantadowntown.com, and join in the conversation by using #DARW2014.

Happy dining everyone!

– Amanda