BYE-BYE BROWN BAG, HELLO MARKET STREET CAFÉ -- NOW OPEN IN PROMINENCE IN BUCKHEAD

Sterling Hospitality is the parent company of Aqua blue, Aqua blue Catered Events, Marlow's Tavern and Sterling Spoon Culinary Management.  Sterling Spoon Culinary Management owns and operates public and private corporate cafés throughout Georgia such as Bistro 191 and Market Street Café. 

Market Street Café:  3475 Piedmont Road; 404-816-4911. 

SPRIG HOSTS ATLANTA'S TABLE SUPPER CLUB ON JUNE 14

Sprig:  2860 LaVista Road near Oak Grove in Decatur; 404-248-9700.

USE YOUR Starwood Preferred Guest OR BUSINESS Credit cardS TO SAVE 25 PERCENT AT SPICE MARKET STARTING JUNE 15   

Culinary Concepts invites you to savor the flavors of Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and save 25 percent on food purchases at participating eateries, including Spice Market in the W Atlanta-Midtown.  Parties of 12 or fewer can take advantage of this offer and enjoy international tastes and innovative dishes from June 15 through September 15, 2011.  The offer applies to meal purchases only (excludes alcohol, beverages, tax and tip), is not valid for private party meals and may not be combined with other offers or promotions.  Meal purchases must be fully charged to a Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card or a Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card. 

Spice Market:  In the W Atlanta-Midtown, 188 14^th Street, NE; 404-724-2550.

WHAT IF YOU WERE ALONE AND RECOVERING FROM A LIFE-CHANGING ACCIDENT?  SOMEONE IS, AND YOU CAN HELP TWO WAYS WITH RAY'S AT KILLER CREEK

Ray's at Killer Creek:  1700 Mansell Road, Alpharetta; 770-649-0064.

STUFF YOUR FACE(BOOK) WITH RA SUSHI FOR AN INTERNATIONAL SUSHI DAY SPECIAL ON JUNE 18

As long as you're reeled into their Facebook page, go ahead and sign up for "The Hook-Up" newsletter so you can stay ahead of the game on menu and bar specials and promotions.

RA Sushi:  1080 Peachtree Street at 1010 Midtown; 404-267-0114.

SLOW FOOD ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS JUNE 18 AT THE PEACHTREE ROAD FARMERS MARKET! EAT FAST BEFORE IT MELTS AWAY AND DON'T FORGET YOUR SPOON

Spoons don't melt and disappear.  Bring one from home or purchase a compostable spoon for $1 at the social.  Attendance is limited, and tickets are available online.  Rain location:  inside The Cathedral of St. Philip.   

Peachtree Road Farmers Market:  The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, NW.

FATHER'S DAY IS JUNE 19 -- DON'T "PUTTS" AROUND; MAKE PLANS TODAY   

Psst.  Is Dad out on the links?  Great!  He won't see you hit the link to our list of Father's Day specials.  Some last a day, some are good all week -- all are straight shots to honoring dad and spending time together!

Aqua blue is offering a Father's Day dinner that is sure to please.  Dads can pick from two delicious options: Aqua blue's surf & turf plate for $25 or a $35 prix fixe menu.   Both options include a combination of New York strip and lobster dishes along with an array of other tasty menu items.  Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 770-643-8886.  The restaurant is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Father's Day.  (1564 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.)   

SUMMER IN THE CITY - A NIGHT OF EPICUREAN DELIGHTS WILL BENEFIT SHEPHERD CENTER'S MILITARY PATIENT AND ADOLESCENT PATIENT PROGRAMS

CHOCOLATE! 2011 MOVES ANNUAL CYSTIC FIBROSIS FUNDRAISER TO MIDTOWN ON JUNE 23   

Oozing more chocolaty goodness than ever, Chocolate! 2011 celebrates its 11th year as a major annual fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) on Thursday, June 23 from 6 - 10 p.m. at Opera in Midtown.  Presenting sponsor SparkQuest and Atlanta's top bakers, chefs, vintners and caterers have more rich bites planned than Forest Gump has in his chocolate box!  We can't wait to see what chefs from Woodfire Grill and Briza have up their sleeves -- and what specialty drink tastings, chocolate lagers and chocolate cappuccinos are going down.  Along with tapas and all-you-can-eat chocolate treats, a silent auction and music by DJ McCracken featuring American Idol's Paris Bennett will entertain guests.  This unique Atlanta event has raised more than $600,000 for CFF over the last 10 years.  Tickets: $75 in advance, $85 at the door and an exclusive VIP experience is available for $125. 

GET DINNER AND A SHOW WITH A CHARITABLE TWIST FOR DAD'S GARAGE   

Yes, it's tried and true, but ye olde date night tradition of dinner and a show can get a little humdrum if you don't watch out.  Skip the movie popcorn this time for some finer eats and funnier things to watch.  To mix up your routine for a charitable cause, head to Inman Park on Thursday, June 23 for a benefit for Dad's Garage at Sauced. It's easy -- just make a reservation to dine at Sauced that night between 5:30 and 10 p.m., and all proceeds will go to the popular Atlanta non-profit theatre company!

After dinner, be sure to head over to Dad's Garage for a show at either 8 or 10:30 p.m., because you'll have a coupon for half-off tickets in hand just for dining at Sauced!  For more information, please visit the fundraiser's Facebook event page.

WE WARNED YOU!  THE KILLER TOMATOES ARE RIPENING ON THEIR VINES AND PREPARING TO ATTACK AT JCT. KITCHEN & BAR ON JULY 17   

In patio pots, in garden beds and in sustainable farm fields across the Southeast, Better Boys, Romas, Heirlooms and their fruitful genre are growing, plumping, preparing to ripen and yield to plucking from their vines.  Tomato forces roll into JCT. Kitchen & Bar on Sunday, July 17 to meet their match:  the crafty minds, sharp knives and skilled spoons of Atlanta chefs and mixologists.  Lucky you that you can witness the onslaught at 1 p.m. and relish the outcome through 5 p.m.  There will be no tomato-fortified drink or dish left standing when the battle is over.  Big Boy JCT. Executive Chef/Owner Ford Fry is behind the showdown, hosting more than 40 of the Southeast's best chefs, farmers and mixologists to join forces to benefit Georgia Organics.  The Spazmatics and local chef band Five Bone Rack will provide the live-music soundtrack to this summer epic.

Cost is $55 per person for Georgia Organics members and $60 for non-members ($70 for last-minute tickets). Purchase tickets online. For more information, visit the festival's Facebook page.

JCT. Kitchen & Bar:  In Atlanta's Westside Urban Market at 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18; 404-355-2252.

BEAT SUMMER'S HEAT. SOAK UP THE NEW COCKTAIL MENU AT WOODFIRE GRILL

YELPER STEPS BACK TO THE 70S AND SOUTHERN FOOD AT THE COLONNADE ON CHESHIRE BRIDGE    

Groovy!  Yelper Tom C. conquers two bucket list ventures at once:  stepping back in time to the 70s and digging pure Southern hospitality and food.  Hmm, after fueling up on bone-sticking Southern fare at The Colonnade, do you go pole dancing next door to work off the calories?

Want good Southern cooking?

Then go to the seediest section of Chesire Bridge Rd and amidst the strip clubs, sex shops, and "massage" places is a good southern food restaurant The Colonnade. The restaurant seems like the odd ball out in the area especially with the saturation of strip clubs and sex shops. What's funny is the majority of customers at the Colonnade are senior citizens and conservative southern families dining here (or they looked like they were). So they must be hitting up the strip clubs afterwards for dessert. YEA!!! GRANNY! GET LOW!!! WALLY WORLD!!! LOL

Anyways, the Colonnade has good southern food. I would describe it as eating a good home cooked meal by your mom. I was really impressed with how they were able to maintain quality food even with the volume of people dining in.

With a group of friends we had short rib, country fried steak, country fried chicken and salmon croquettes. The short rib dish was soooo tender! It fell off the bone! Country Fried Steak tasted salty on the first bite and saltier thereafter, so watch out there. Country Fried Chicken is good and is what all southern fried chicken should taste like. They only give you two salmon croquette patties and I wish they gave more!

The sides we had were mac n cheese, fried okra, corn stew, and bean of the day. They were good but not extraordinary.

The service is decent and did the job. The host was friendly and accommodating. We had two little kids and the host was helpful in getting booster seats and providing Southern Hospitality. Not a bad place for Southern Cooking.

Oh yea....with the senior citizens and the décor at the restaurant, I felt like I was in the 70s. So if you want to eat good southern food, time travel back to the 70s and afterwards watch human acrobatics on poles or watch a shoe show for stilettos, then come here ;-)

The Colonnade:  1879 Cheshire Bridge Road, NE; 404-874-5642.

EAT IT AND TWEEP:  GO WHERE THE ACTION IS ON TASTE & TOUR OF CHESHIRE BRIDGE

Cheshire Bridge Road has taken a lot of rap over the years, which only adds to its quirky edge. Where else in Atlanta can you find fabulous food, antique stores, boutiques and strip clubs without making any turns?  Learn more about the road's colorful history and colorful offerings by taking the Taste & Tour of Cheshire Bridge from 5 - 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, July 20 and 21.  Ticket prices are $15 per person per day or $25 per person for both days until July 1; after July 1, they're $20 and $35 respectively.  Follow the event on Twitter (@tourofCB) for timely info. 

Sample Tweet:  We have sponsorship opportunities for this year's Taste & Tour. If you want to wrap a trolley with your business's sign, let me know!