CREATIVE LOAFING'S "BEST OF" VOTING IS UNDERWAY!

No mailers.  No phone calls.  No TV ads. Creative Loafing wants your "Best Of" opinions, pure and simple.  We would say short and sweet, but there are 319 categories to consider.  Short on time and patience?  You only have to offer five opinions to participate!  Voting closes on July 31; results will be published September 23. Read more and vote on their survey website.

WHEN IT'S HOT AS THE MOJAVE, TOSS BACK SOME AGAVE! DRINK TO NATIONAL TEQUILA DAY AT UNCLE JULIO'S AND THE ORIGINAL EL TACO

If the moon was shining, tequila wouldn't be. Aztec lore has it that a bolt of lightning jolted an agave plant into releasing tequila from its juicy interior. Toast the legend and the resulting libations on National Tequila Day, Saturday, July 24.  At The Original El Taco, the tequila portion of the drinks menu reads like a who's who of tequilas to be met straight up, face to face.  "FroMos" and on-the-rocks margaritas befriend mixed drink lovers by the glass or pitcher and include a variety of tequilas and mixers.  Welcome the Original, Palermo Texas, Key West, El Primo, Resales and El Big Boy margaritas to put some "Ole!" in your Virginia Highland visit. Over in Buckhead and Sandy Springs, 15 types of tequilas and their margarita relatives are equally sociable at both Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food locations. The Swirl, twirling frozen margarita and frozen sangria, is the most popular of the more than 200,000 margaritas and tequila drinks served monthly at Uncle Julio's restaurants nationwide. Popular cousins include the classic frozen, strawberry and Chambord margaritas and the Baja Gold frozen margarita, which mixes Corona with frozen margarita.  Uncle Julio's managers go through "tequila training" in Guadalajara, Mexico each fall to do justice to the magical elixir in drinks and recipes.

The Original El Taco:  1186 North Highland Avenue, NE; 404-873-4656. 
Uncle Julio's Fine Mexican Food:  In Buckhead at 1860 Peachtree Road, NW; 404-350-6767.  To-go line:  404-974-2991. In Sandy Springs at 1140 Hammond Drive, NE, Building K, Suite 100; 678-736-8260. To-go line: 678-736-8261.

DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT WEEK PLATES AND PLACES ARE WORTH RUNNING TO JULY 26 - AUGUST 8

Even the Braves' home plate may be upstaged by the hot plates and run-for-these deals going down during Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week, July 26 - August 8. Visit culinary treasures in the heart of the city and enjoy special dining promotions of three-course dinners for $25 or $35 per person, plus tax and gratuity.  It's as easy as reserving your table online  for dinner at Ray's in the City, Truva and more.  Truva's menu takes you to the Mediterranean for $25 per person.  Start with your choice of appetizer -- red lentil soup, Mediterranean salad or shepherd's salad; choose an entrée of lamb shank braised in coriander and mint sauce on a pillow of roasted eggplant, a nine-ounce Black Angus filet or swordfish kebab and Adana kebab; and end with Chocolate Fantasy, rice pudding or baklava.  Ray's in the City offers metropolitan appeal for $35 per person.  Choose from two appetizers -- chilled jumbo shrimp with watermelon, feta cheese, fresh mint and ginger syrup or a vegetable sushi roll with wasabi and pickled ginger; field greens salad with pecans, dried cranberries, blue cheese, roasted red onion and balsamic vinaigrette; and entrées of Parmesan-crusted flounder, campanelle shrimp pasta with wilted spinach and diced tomatoes, or grilled flat iron steak with macaroni and cheese, sautéed spinach and red wine demi-glace.

Ray's in the City:  240 Peachtree Street, NW: 404-524-9224.
Truva:  60 Andrew Young International Boulevard, NE; 404-577-8788.