ATLANTA RESTAURANTS HAVE PRE- AND POST-THANKSGIVING PARTIES PLANNED AND SCRUMPTIOUS MEALS THE DAY OF

Like stuffing spilling out of the roast turkey, celebrating Thanksgiving with friends easily spills out over the holiday!  We can't even fit all of our Thanksgiving options here so jump over to our blog to get the T-Day lowdown on what's happening at Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, Deadwood Saloon, South City Kitchen Midtown and South City Kitchen Vinings, Spice Market and Toulouse, just to name a few. 

Both Atkins Park locations have planned Thanksgiving events so you can spread around your quality time with friends.  Atkins Park - Smyrna is hosting a Thanksgiving Eve celebration at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24.  Good People will provide live music, and SweetWater beer and Jack Daniels drink specials will flow.  On Thanksgiving Day, a $25-per-person menu is in play from 3 - 11 p.m.  Feast on Cajun-injected roasted turkey breast, maple and cherry glazed ham, New Orleans dirty rice, home-style green bean bake, sweet potato with campfire marshmallows, Maw-Maw's dressing and fresh cranberry sauce.  Save some room for the apple pecan cobbler.  Friday night, November 26, it's back to the mic for Brandon Perry.  Want more?  Georgia's own Patrick Scott will pack them in on Saturday, November 27.  Atkins Park - Smyrna has an abundance of beer, wine, stiffer drinks and hearty food that's not bird-centered for those who will have had their fill of turkey by then. (In Smyrna at Market Village, 2840 Atlanta Road; 770-435-1887)

Atkins Park - Virginia Highland has similar pre-T-Day plans, cranking up live music from Lost City at 9 p.m. on Wednesday and offering the same drink specials as the Smyrna location.  Next day, the restaurant opens at 5:30 p.m. with a special menu that's $20 for adults, $15 for young adults and $8 for children 10 and under.  (In Virginia Highland at 794 North Highland Avenue; 404 -876-7249)

Ormsby's has been ready for Thanksgiving for weeks.  They've already been dishing out a lot of turkey leg confit with cranberry chutney, which involves those giant turkey legs you see at fairs and festivals.  Ormsby's will be open Thanksgiving Day from 6 p.m. until 3 a.m. and has Black Friday specials lined up -- read on below to find out more! (1170 Howell Mill Road, NW; 404-968-2033)

The chefs are pulling out the stops at Ray's at Killer Creek and Ray's on the River for fabulous Thanksgiving Day dining.  Ray's at Killer Creek offers a Thanksgiving Day menu that includes many of their regular dinner options as well as a $25 turkey dinner and a three-course turkey dinner starting at just $35 or $39 with wine.  Ray's at Killer Creek will be open from 11a.m. - 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Call 770-649-0064 for preferred seating. Ray's on the River will serve their award-winning Thanksgiving Day buffet from 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.  $40 for adults; $20 for kids ages 5-10.  Call 770-955-1187 for Ray's on the River's preferred seating.  (Ray's on the River:  6700 Powers Ferry Road; 770-955-1187.  Ray's at Killer Creek:  1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.)

HEY GUYS, LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE TO BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING -- YOU CAN HANG OUT AT ORMSBY'S BLACK FRIDAY BEER LUNCH

Did you really want to spend the whole day immersed in the Black Friday shopping experience?  Strategy adjustment.  Let the gals bargain hunt while you and the guys roll into Ormsby's for the Black Friday Beer Lunch, available all day on November 26 for only $18 per person.  No couponing or waiting in check-out lines.  You can embrace a flight of three black beers (five-ounce pours) -- Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Black IPA,  Dogfish Head Chicory Stout and Smuttynose Robust Porter -- and a hearty tasting plate with potted chicken liver and toasts, Flat Creek Lodge natural rind cheddar, duck leg confit gnocchi and caramelized grapefruit tart.  Ormsby's has lots of other entertaining pursuits beyond food and drink -- backgammon, bocce, darts, pool, shuffleboard and sports-viewing screens.  And, gals, it works both ways.  There's absolutely no reason why you can't send him shopping, and you come to Ormsby's instead!

COULD THIS BE THE ADULT VERSION OF SUGARPLUMS?  TOULOUSE WINE TASTING SPOTLIGHTS PORT AND DESSERT WINES

Learn some smooth liquid ways to end the dinner party on a sweet and mellow note at the port and dessert wine tasting on November 28 at Toulouse in Buckhead.  As always, the monthly Sunday night tasting starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes a flight of wines and palate cleansing passed hors d'oeuvre.  These fortified wines and the humorously informative Toulouse Wine Guy will send you into the cold night warm with good cheer!  $30 per person.  Call 404-351-9533 for reservations.

Toulouse:  2293 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite B; 404-351-9533.

YOU'VE MADE YOUR LIST, NOW HEAD TO RAY'S AT KILLER CREEK SO SANTA CAN SEE WHO'S BEEN NAUGHTY OR NICE

Load up the family and head to Ray's at Killer Creek for Sunday brunch this holiday season. Executive Chef Tracey Bloom has a new à la carte brunch menu, and Santa will be touching down for two special visits.  On Sunday, November 28 and Sunday, December 19, the jolly man in the red suit will be at Ray's at Killer Creek to visit with guests from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Sunday brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.  Don't miss out; call 770-649-0064 for reservations.

QUICK, MA!  GET THE ROLLING PIN!  "COOKIE SWAP!" AUTHOR LAUREN CHATTMAN TALKS COOKIES AT THE COOK'S WAREHOUSE ON DECEMBER 2

When was the last time you participated in the classic holiday cookie swap?  Did you fall back on chocolate chip cookies?  Don your holly jolly apron and come hear former pastry chef and "Cookie Swap!" cookbook author Lauren Chattman discuss "how to hold a cookie-swap party" at The Cook's Warehouse - Ansley Mall on Thursday, December 2 from 7 - 9 p.m.  The former pastry chef is all for a no-fuss approach and for making family pleasing (not so frou-frou) foods. You'll soon be wielding the rolling pin and stirring up a flour cloud as you gear up for your own swap meet and eat. Pick up a few copies of the book, and Chattman will personalize them -- for you, for gifts and for a snappy prize for the bearer of the best cookies at your swap!  Register online; cost is $45.

BUILD GINGERBREAD HOUSES AND DECK THEIR HALLS AT DAVIO'S ON DECEMBER 4 AND 11

Not all cookies are meant to be swapped!  At Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, gingerbread is meant to be decorated, as in decking the halls of gingerbread houses with Davio's Pastry Chef Kathleen Miliotis. 

Add curb appeal to the basic structure with colored frosting, candies, sprinkles and more from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 4 and Saturday, December 11.  $25 per child; each child must be accompanied by an adult.  Call 404-844-4810 to make your reservation.

HOLD ON EAST COBB!   MARLOW'S TAVERN OPENS MID-DECEMBER
 

Just in time for winter's longer nights, Marlow's Tavern is slated to open its seventh location on Tuesday, December 14 in East Cobb's Merchant Walk retail center.  Same satisfying tavern fare, ditto on the wine, beer and drink menu, and equally welcoming décor and staff.  Only it's better for East Cobbers because this Marlow's Tavern will become their neighborhood eatery, watering hole and sports viewing go-to!  We're salivating already, just thinking about the "Start, Snack, Share" section of the menu and Marlow's juicy "Classic Tavern Burgers."

Marlow's Tavern - Merchants Walk:   1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 208; 770-977-7747.

BIRTHDAYS ARE BETTER AT SPICE MARKET BECAUSE THE BIRTHDAY BOY OR GIRL CAN RECEIVE A FREE ENTRÉE

Those with birthdays coming up will want to drop the hint on Spice Market's birthday offer.  During their birthday month, birthday boys and girls who show their IDs to their server will receive a free entrée when someone else at their table purchases an entrée.  (Discount applies to food only. One coupon per table; tax and gratuity excluded.  Free entrée will be equal or lesser price; not valid with other promotions.)

Funny you should ask about Spice Market's weekly Wednesday trivia contest!  Here's the how to:  check the Spice Market Facebook page every Wednesday for the weekly trivia question and submit your answer.  A winner is randomly selected from each week's entrants.  You might win a free dessert, a free peach saketini or a "super prize." 

HEIRLOOM MARKET BBQ IS HARD TO FIND, BUT ONCE YOU GO, IT'S A KEEPER SAYS YELPER

Yelper Diana L. learned her lesson.  Never try to find a place you're hungry for on an empty stomach.  Once you find Heirloom Market BBQ though, you're sure to go back for the food, friendly service and the opportunity to sup with perfect strangers.

OMG, where is this place! Note: don't talk on the phone, blare them beats, and fiddle around with an aged GPS while trying to find this place on an empty stomach... Not that I'm into that...

Went for dinner. Ordered Georgia something, some kind of platter.
- brisket
- Brunswick stew: I liked everything, but I liked this the least.
- short ribs
- some dinner rolls
- fried green tomatoes: GOOD, but a little bit salty. Lil bit.
- some kind of cooked cabbage side
- spicy sauce

The more I ate the better I liked the food. There was something familiar about the taste...

Friendly service. Place got packed real quick. It is next to some kind of tiny food mart. I allllmost missed it.

Inside is smallllll. Will probably have to share a table with strangers if you dine-in. So... order to-go if you have stranger fear.

I need to go again. The end.