Laughs All Around - Dad's Garage

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Location: Midtown
Ages: Teens & Adults
Hours: Visit their website for show times: http://www.dadsgarage.com/calendar/

Laugh until you cry, pure ridiculousness, and audience involvement are some ways to describe the environment at Dad's Garage. Founded in 1995, this warehouse housed theatre group has been entertaining Atlanta for 15 years. The shows are reasonably priced at $13-$15 and every once in a while they host PWYC (pay what you can) nights.

If you attend a Thursday showing of Improv Revolution be prepared for adult humor and exciting competition as actors compete in various improv games. If Improv is not your cup of tea and you prefer an actual show, Dad's Garage is performing "Spoon, the Musical" the entire month of July at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For a description of the musical visit: http://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/TicketRequest?eventId=198936&presenter=DADS&venue=&event=

Last, but definitely not least, is their longest running show, TheatreSports. If you are looking for audience involvement, this is the show to be at. You will yell, scream, give suggestions, and hopefully laugh. In this show, improv artists are divided into two teams who compete against each other in a series of improv games. In the end, the judges decide who wins. TheatreSports is performed every Saturday night at 10:30 p.m..

Breakfast All Day - West Egg Cafe

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Mon.-Fri: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. & Sat.-Sun.: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Price Range: $7 - $12
Food Type: Breakfast/Baked Goods

Breakfast all day is a statement few can refuse, but it's even better when combined with fancy coffee and freshly baked goods. Welcome to West Egg Cafe, located on the corner of Howell Mill and Brady Avenue not far away from Atlantic Station and the GA Tech campus, this restaurant is keeping breakfast enthusiasts in midtown extremely happy.

After parking in the free deck next door, patrons will walk up to the glass facade that houses the cafe. As a customer you can choose to order coffee and a pastry to go or choose to be seated indoors or outside on the patio. The restaurant has a modern feel with a high school theme. Menus come in file folders, old science desk are used on the patio, and the silverware appears in an old library card box, but do not worry, the food is nothing like that found in your old high school cafeteria!

When ordering from the menu keep a couple of things in mind. First, West Egg is well known for their Egg Sandwich served with a side of soup. Second, if you're in the mood for something lighter, their Coca-Cola Cupcake has won them a few awards. Otherwise, order anything your palate desires and you are not likely to be disappointed. My personal pick: two eggs with black bean cakes and a choice of potatoes or grits.

For guests who do not enjoy eating breakfast at 8 pm, West Egg offers a dinner menu in addition to their all-day breakfast menu. Customers can choose from southern staples such as Pig & Grits or Chicken & Dumpling Pot Pie. Furthermore, many of their breakfast accompaniments such as Fried Green Tomatoes or Black Bean Cakes can be ordered as an appetizer instead. The key thing to remember: save room for dessert...

http://www.westeggcafe.com/

A Persian Paradise - Fanoos Persian Cuisine

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Location: Sandy Springs
Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. 
            Fri.-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Price Range: Lunch Buffet: $12.99 (weekdays) $14.99 (Sunday)
                     Dinner: $14 - $20 per entree
Food Type: Persian


Fresh bread, fabulous food, and fun, fun, fun are the thoughts that come to mind when describing Fanoos Persian Cuisine! Located in Sandy Springs off of Roswell Rd. and just north of I-285, Fanoos is an exciting place to bring large groups of friends and family. 

Monday to Friday I highly recommend the lunch buffet which features salads, fresh hummus, nan bread made fresh in the restaurant, a few types of rice, lamb, chicken, vegetables, and unlimited baklava for dessert! The meal can also be paired with a cup of Persian tea or one of their many bottles of wine.

Friday and Saturday nights the fun begins! Fanoos features live belly dancing both evenings on their stage. The dancers also wander around the restaurant keeping customers entertained. Large parties can choose to have their meal in traditional Persian style by having a seat on one of the many raised platforms that contain cushions and a low table. This is also the perfect setting to try one of the many flavors of hookah offered at Fanoos. Patrons may choose from regular flavors such as blueberry and banana or they can opt for a more exotic taste by ordering caramel or mojito.

Whether it be for the atmosphere or the traditional food, Fanoos is definitely a well-hidden gem that all fun-loving and adventurous diners should try.

http://www.fanoospersiancuisine.com/hookahs.html

Ludacris Style Dining - Straits

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Location: Midtown
Hours: Sun.-Wed. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. & Thurs.-Sat. 5 p.m.-11 p.m.
Price Range: $12 - $24 per dish
Food Type: Asian Fusion (Singaporean)
 

Known to many in Atlanta as Ludacris's restaurant, Straits blends fine dining with family-style cuisine in the form of Asian fusion. Located on the corner of Juniper St. & 5th St. patrons are greeted by an adorable, well decorated patio.

Around 6 p.m. on a Saturday evening, the restaurant is relatively empty and my party of 6 was quickly seated, but reservations are recommended on weekends for large parties.

Begin your dining experience at Straits by looking at their extensive and unique drink menu. Their cocktails are around $10 a piece and feature exotic items such as a Lychee-tini or a Blueberry Red Bull.  These drinks can be accompanied by some exciting appetizers! I highly recommend their Samosas and the Starfruit and Mango Salad. Samosas, a flaky pastry filled with a vegetarian curry, are served four on a plate, but can easily be split in half if your party is larger. In contrast, the Starfruit and Papaya Salad brings a more mild and sweet flavor to the table adding a light and refreshing twist to the meal.

Moving into the main course it is best to remember that although Straits is fine-dining, the food is meant to be shared! Order two to three dishes depending on your party size. One of my favorite entrees is the Half Chicken and Vegetables. Shown in the picture below, this succulent dish pleases most pallets. Consisting of crispy skin lightly covered in a sweet sauce on the outside, and meat that falls apart with the smallest pull on the inside,  this chicken dish will quickly be devoured by all carnivores at the table.

Last, but not least, the final course, dessert, is a requirement. Choose from Sweet Potato Creme Brulee, The French Kiss, Peach Cobbler, Pineapple Bread Pudding, or Sorbet. My personal favorite is the Pineapple Bread Pudding, featured below followed by the Creme Brulee.

Swimming With Fish, Whales, and Sharks - The Georgia Aquarium

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Location: Downtown
Ages: All
Hours: Visit http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/plan-your-visit/ as the times change year-round.

THE OBVIOUS
The Georgia Aquarium is one of Atlanta's finest tourist attractions. Located on the Northern end of Centennial Olympic Park, it is easy to access and an exciting place for children and adults alike. Considered to be one of the largest aquariums in the world as it contains more than 8.1 million gallons of water, the aquarium is home to all types of aquatic life ranging from beluga whales to Georgia's own loggerhead sea turtles. The aquarium offers six separate exhibits as well as a 4D theater showing Deepo's Undersea 3D Wondershow. Be prepared for large crowds during the summer season and on weekends and if you want to skip the lines you can always purchase tickets in advance online just go here:http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/acb/stores/1/category.aspx.  

The Unknown
What very few visitors know is the Georgia Aquarium offers a Free jazz concert (with the purchase of a day visitor's ticket) every Friday night May - September from 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.. During the concert, the aquarium offers specialty picnic baskets that you can order in advance. For jazz and fish lovers this could be the perfect date!
Visit http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/explore-the-aquarium/events-and-programs/jazz-journeys.aspx to learn everything you need to know and enjoy!

Penang Restaurant

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Location: Chamblee

Hours: Mon.-Sun. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Price Range: $8 - 15 per dish

Food Type: Asian (Malaysian & Thai)

Penang is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Atlanta and I have yet to introduce the restaurant to a friend who does not fall in love with it! Located on Buford Hwy., the road known in Atlanta for its authentic and international cuisine, Penang offers customers excellent Malaysian and Thai dishes that please most pallets. 

Begin your dining experience with one of their flavorful appetizers. For those who find themselves dousing their mouths with water when it comes to spice, there are the non-burning dishes such as Satay (Chicken or Beef grilled on stick with a peanut dipping sauce) or Penang Popia (a non-fried vegetable spring roll also served with a peanut dipping sauce). For the more adventurous there is the Roti Cani (a light fried bread that is dipped in curry sauce) or the Satay Tofu (Tofu stuffed with cucumber and a spicy peanut sauce). 

Moving into the main course, the choices are more difficult to make. As a dinner guest you must decide if you want to enjoy a couple of noodle dishes or if you want to settle on rice for the evening with a few plates to share. When it comes to noodles, the Penang Char Kway Teow is a must try, but beware of its spiciness! For those who prefer a more mild noodle I would recommend the Hokkien Char Mee. If you decide to order rice and have a family style meal I would recommend the following dishes:

• Sarang Burong - nicknamed the bird's nest because it looks like one this dish is made of friend taro shaped like a nest and filled with chicken, shrimp, and vegetables.
• Kari Sayu - a vegetable curry with lots of flavor and great for soaking into rice.
• Lamb Rendang - a spicy lamb dish that melts in your mouth.
• Volcano Spare Ribs - these tasty sweet and sour ribs will show up at your table still on fire!
• Mango Chicken - mango and chicken cooked together in a sweet and sour sauce and served in the mango peels.

Last, but not least, you must try dessert. Penang offers two Malaysian specialties: Peanut Pancake and Ice Kacang. The first is a sweet peanut sauce wrapped in a thin, crispy pancake. It can easily be shared amongst the whole table. The second is the Malaysian version of a snow cone, but instead of flavored food coloring you get red beans, corn, palm seeds, and Chinese jelly topped with a sweet syrupy sauce. 

Now you have the scoop on one of the finest Malaysian/Thai restaurants in town. Let me know what you think of it!

Centennial Olympic Park - The Fountain and the Local Music

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Location: Downtown Atlanta

Ages: All

Hours: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.

THE OBVIOUS
There's no better place to start a journey through Atlanta than Centennial Olympic Park. Located in the center of the city and created during the 1996 Olympics the park has much to offer. Children and adventurous adults enjoy running through the fountains in the summer heat, couples and college students enjoy picnics on the long lawns, and visitors from around the world take pictures and read the inscriptions on the thousands of engraved bricks.

THE HIDDEN
What many people do not know is Centennial offers two local concert series. April through September the park hosts musicians from noon - 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. It's a great place to enjoy lunch while taking in some relaxing tunes! See which artists are playing this week by visiting: http://www.centennialpark.com/events/man.html.

Furthermore, every Wednesday evening, April through September, the park hosts a concert series called Wednesday WindDown from 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.. Artists who have played in the past include Phil Davis and Joey Sommerville. Consider it a wonderful way to avoid Atlanta rush hour and relax instead! If you want to check-out the upcoming schedule visit: http://www.centennialpark.com/events/wwd.html.

Removing the Blindfold

When people across the United States and around the world discover I'm from Atlanta they often ask me one of three things:
1) Atlanta, that's the city where all the rappers come from right?
2) Isn't that where Coca-Cola's headquartered?
3) Didn't you host the Olympics a while ago?

While all of these rhetorical questions are either true, or somewhat true in the case of #1, Atlanta is so much more than these three statements. What the world fails to realize is Atlanta is also a cosmopolitan and vibrant city full of history, culture, and an exciting assortment of cuisine! It is a city begging to be explored starting with its most obvious tourist attractions such as the Coca-Cola Museum, and ending with its unique and well hidden restaurants. So, I invite visitors and native Atlantans alike to follow me on a journey through the best Atlanta has to offer and hope in return each of you, new or old to the city, will discover everything Atlanta has to offer.