In This Issue

Article 14 Atlanta Botanical Garden Fresh Plate Series

Atkins Park Virginia-Highland Music Series

Orpheus Brewing Atlanta Seafood & Craft Beer Festival

Atlanta Downtown Restaurant Week

no. 246 Ping-Pong Tournament

Article 14 High West Distillery Dinner

STATS NASCAR Drivers

#foodgram

Appetizing Aperture

What's New on Pinterest

ABOUT THE DISH

Looking for the latest restaurant openings, weekly wine tastings and drink specials or other culinary happenings? Whatever makes your mouth water, Melissa Libby & Associates will point you in the right direction.

up-to-date on new and ongoing restaurant events around Atlanta!

Christopher Blobaum of Article 14 Fills Atlanta Botanical Garden Fresh Plate Series on August 6

Outdoor kitchens merit super-cool ratings any time of year, especially the big outdoor kitchen within the Edible Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Chef Christopher Blobaum of Article 14 escapes the heat of his restaurant's stove on Wednesday, August 6 to prepare some of his signature dishes for guests attending the Atlanta Botanical Garden Fresh Plate Series. From 6:30-8:30 p.m., Blobaum will talk shop, chop and dollop his specialties as guests sip, chat and dine on his four-part small-plate menu. Cost is $59 per Fresh Plate session for nonmembers or $54 for Atlanta Botanical Garden members.

Trader Vic's Live Music and Mai Tais Throw Thursdays Back into the Happening Zone

At Trader Vic's Atlanta, Thursday nights are more than placeholders between weekends. They rock in their own right as a mini-Polynesian escape serving up the Trader's legendary mai tais for $6 each all night long and a solid lineup of musical entertainment from 7-11 p.m. Lloyd's Rocksteady Revue opens the month on Thursday, August 7 with island music and soulful sounds of 60s and 70s Jamaica. Andrew & the Disapyramids follows on August 14, showing off a beach-party blend of late 50s sock hop, 60s frat rock and English Beat/mod covers. On August 21, Bogey & the Viceroy captivates the crowd with a positive vibe, hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s and the latest chart toppers. Big Mike's Tongo Hiti closes out this month's lineup Don Ho-style on August 28. You won't have to travel far for this tropical vacation as Trader Vic's anchors the lower level of the Hilton Atlanta.

Atkins Park Virginia-Highland Turns Up the Volume with PBR Thursday Night Music Series

Atkins Park Restaurant & Bar in Virginia-Highland is releasing its August Thursday night music series schedule, backed by sponsor Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Trailing Tinsley, a Lawrenceville-based brother/sister duo whose melodies and acoustic style have built quite a following, takes the stage August 7. Homefront delivers classic rock and blues on August 14. Marshall Coats syncopates rock and jazz on August 21. Atlanta-based and adored Sailing To Denver draws strings, vocals and strong harmonies to the stage on August 28. Music cranks at 10 p.m. on the stage in the bar area. Get your swag on with PBR giveaways every Thursday night, and hey, hey there's no cover charge for these summer concerts.

Soak Up Orpheus Brewing Craft Brews at Atlanta Seafood & Craft Beer Festival on August 9

Piedmont Park becomes your port o' call this weekend when the Atlanta Seafood & Craft Beer Festival (ASCF) casts out opportunities to enjoy local craft brews in a beer garden, feast on seafood and barbecue, break for food truck fare and fill in the pauses with live musical entertainment. Admission is free to the Saturday, August 9 fest, which opens at noon and continues on until 8 p.m. Orpheus Brewing joins nine other Atlanta-area craft breweries in the beer garden. The artisanal brewery overlooking Piedmont Park and the Atlanta BeltLine is known for its unique-to-the-South saisons, sours, hops and barrels. Craft beer connoisseurs can purchase a $10 wristband that entitles the wearer to one 16-ounce beer of his/her choice and clearance to purchase other beers and beverages in the beer garden. A VIP wristband ($35 advance/$45 at the gate) promises 10 five-ounce pours from any beer or tap plus covered seating in a VIP tent. (Small service fee applies to online wristband purchases.) Listen up for live band music beginning at 12:45 p.m. Note: pets will not be admitted so leave your furry friends at home.

Fork into Prix-Fixe Menu Deals during Atlanta Downtown Restaurant Week -- August 9-17

Atlanta Downtown Restaurant Week trumps other summer sales with its delicious bargains of $15, $25 and $35 three-course, prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at some of our city's favorite dining establishments. Be sure to snag some seats the week of August 9-17. At Der Biergarten, one $25 menu encompasses lunch and dinner. Game-X sports one $25 lunch and dinner menu while Glenn's Kitchen breaks out a $15 lunch menu and $25 dinner menu. Max's Coal Oven Pizzeria pulls from its oven a $25 lunch and dinner menu for two. Ray's in the City features seafood pasta, tender culotte steak, Salmon Oscar or roasted half chicken on its $25 menu and offers choices of a one-pound live Maine lobster, Steak Oscar or horseradish crusted grouper on its $35 dinner menu. STATS scores major points with hearty $15 lunch and $25 dinner menus. Lasso the $25 menu at Ted's Montana Grill (downtown) to savor cedar plank salmon, braised bison short ribs or Ted's bison filet at lunch or dinner. Trader Vic's Atlanta's $35 dinner menu sails tempters such as Asian summer noodle salad, steamed bean curd roll, smoked oven sirloin and wok teriyaki chicken. American Express cardholders, take advantage of special cash-back incentives during Atlanta Downtown Restaurant Week. (All prices are per person and exclude alcohol, tax and gratuity.) Reservation links can be found here.

Be a Bouncer: no. 246 Ping-Pong Tournament and Wild Heaven Craft Beers Dominate August 10

Table the usual Sunday afternoon plans and net an afternoon of high-speed Ping-Pong action and Wild Heaven craft beers priced at $2.46 each -- all in the backyard of no. 246 in Decatur on August 10. Tournament participants paddle it out for no. 246 gift cards and other prizes, and everyone over 21 can take advantage of the beer specials from the Decatur-based brewery (technically located in Avondale Estates). Sign up to play beginning at 3 p.m.; tournament action starts when the eight-player bracket is filled or at 4 p.m.

No Snow Job: Article 14 Welcomes World's Only Ski-In Distillery to Whiskey Dinner on August 12

Bootleg whiskey takes on a whole new definition when High West Distillery enters the conversation. Legs in ski boots are commonplace at the Park City, Utah distillery, which bills itself as the world's only ski-in distillery. Being that their reps will be in Atlanta for the Article 14 High West Distillery Dinner on August 12, we're doubting ski boots or snow boots will enter the picture. But hey, feel free to fling the flip-flops and go for it. Gather for a 6:30 p.m. chow down of ribs, brisket, chicken, fixins and whiskey pairings while High West representatives feed your brain the top-10 most-important things to know about whiskey. $50 per person (not including tax and gratuity). For reservations, call 404-443-8432 or reserve your place online.

Rev Up Your Engines with 680 The Fan and NASCAR Drivers at STATS on August 12

Zoom into STATS on Tuesday, August 12 for an evening of fast-paced fun as 680 The Fan, Atlanta's Sports Station, broadcasts live at downtown's hub for serious food, drink and sports. NASCAR drivers Ty Dillon and Dylan Kwasniewski will be there, working diligently as celebrity servers during the 5-8 p.m. event. Be sure to tip well as all tips will be collected and passed along to Speedway Children's Charities and Feed the Children. Personal fuel gauge on low? Get pumped for your favorite brews, cocktails and wine as well as American classic fare, including generously portioned appetizers to share, juicy burgers, hearty salads and entr�es. Recruit your pit crew to come along!

#foodgram

This crew is dedicated to helping us all become "smarter, happier cooks" -- and healthier eaters. Variety is the spice here @food52, and snaps of foods found on worldly travels, summer bounty ideas, easy meals, gardens and interesting characters vie for your attention. Makes you want to reach in, grab a few and segue to their Provisions!

Appetizing Aperture

The front lawn at Smokebelly is what they call foot-traffic friendly and water-savvy, i.e., it's proud to be a patio wearing a patch of manmade turf. Less fuss. That means more time to concentrate on menu mainstays such as Belly Bites of Disco Q fries topped with chopped smoked pork and sweet q sauce or cherry cola ribs; a plate of 21-hour Angus beef brisket, smoked combo plate or BBQ glazed grilled salmon; a grilled smoked sausage or pimento cheese BLT sandwich; or a Smokebelly lettuce wrap. More? Sure. Sip a blackberry whiskey smash or watermelon-laced "From the Vine" cocktail off the Swig & Sip menu and enjoy live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

What's New on Pinterest

If you're pressed for time (and who isn't these days), better open up our Panini Perfection board. It's not like you're loafing around on Pinterest when your to-do list bellows. Drawn in by steak and onions, pancetta mac and cheese, eggplant Parmesan, waffle breakfast sandwich, apple pie and strawberry Nutella panini, you're simply pinning these smash hits for impending mealtime moments.