Free Family Night at the Fox Theatre

Broadway Across America–Atlanta is throwing a fun-filled family event at the Fox Theatre on Sunday, May 2. Hosted by Radio Disney AM 590 Atlanta, the Kids Night on Broadway celebration will take place in the Egyptian Ballroom (located inside the Fox Theatre at 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308) from 5 to 6 p.m. Kiddos and their guardians can indulge in cookie decorating, face painting, arts and crafts, a prize wheel and ice cream sundaes during the free event. Plus, the four actors who alternate the roles of Jane and Michael Banks in Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins” will stop by to sign autographs. To sweeten the deal, there will also be a special buy one, get one free ticket deal for the 6:30 p.m. performance of “Mary Poppins” that evening.

Entry to Kids Night is free. The Buy One, Get One Free Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. performance of "Mary Poppins" on May 2 can be purchased using the code ATLFAM at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 800-982-2787 or at the Fox Theatre box office.

For more information, visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

Steeplechase Soiree at Market

Ladies, grab the biggest hat you can find. Gents, shave that scruff and clean yourself up. We're going to the races! Or at least, let's look like we are, but just do the more humane, fun thing by drinking instead. Market at the W Atlanta Buckhead hosts a Steeplechase party on the patio on Saturday, April 24 from 6 to 10 p.m. It promises to be a fun evening of live music, $5 cocktails, including lemongrass mint juleps, as well as $5 menu items including sliders from the outdoor grill, pizzas and crab fritters. Guests are encouraged to wear their derby hats and race day attire. All guests for the event will receive VIP access to Whiskey Blue before 11 p.m.

Earth Day fun in Atlanta and beyond

Souper Jenny and the Atlanta Street Food Coalition get in on the Earth Day action with a fun, family-friendly festival on Thursday to support the campaign to bring safe, affordable and legal access to street food in Atlanta. More than 10 vendors —including Souper Jenny’s Incredible Flying Soup Mobile, the Good Food Truck, Taqueria del Sol, the Pickle, Artichoke Bliss and King of Pops—will gather in the Souper Jenny parking lot at 56 E. Andrews Drive in Buckhead and offer guests a wide variety of fun, inexpensive and wholesome fare—including items with kid appeal. Each of the participating businesses is committed to environmental responsibility, so there will be plenty of green-themed giveaways Complimentary wine also will be served while supplies last. The Super-Secret Underground Food Truck Extravaganza takes place Thursday, April 22, 6-9p.m. at Souper Jenny, 56 E. Andrews Drive. www.souperjennyatl.com

GEORGIA ON MY MIND

Pacci Ristorante shows its passion about preserving the environment by celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22 with a special three-course menu from Chef Keira Moritz. For $35 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, guests will dine on a menu featuring many Georgia grown ingredients, such as Sweet Grass Dairy goat cheese croutons, Georgia peaches, Georgia shrimp, Springer Mountain chicken breast and Savannah tupelo honey. The regular menu will be available as well. Pacci does a lot more to support sustainability: All seafood served is solely sustainable, and 30 percent of Pacci’s wine lists feature eco-friendly selections. The restaurant also has partnered with ReCork America (www.recorkamerica.com). To help ReCork America obtain more corks for reuse, Pacci is asking patrons to bring in real corks from wine bottles and to buy a bottle of wine with their dinner. The restaurant will deduct 2 percent off the total bill for every cork brought in up to a maximum of 20 percent off. Only natural corks need apply—no plastic or metal. Wine corks are 100 percent natural, biodegradable and renewable. The ReCork program runs through April. 866 West Peachtree St. NW. 678-412-2402. www.pacciatlanta.com.

BREAK OUT THE BUBBLY

Mother Earth deserves a toast, doesn’t she? France’s champagne house Pommery has introduced the new POP Earth NV Champagne ($55/750 ml), an eco-friendly Brut-style addition blended from 70 percent pinot noir, 20 percent chardonnay and 10 percent pinot Meunier. The new champagne is intended to reflect Pommery’s ongoing commitment to making outstanding champagne while using sustainable practices. For example, the house practices sustainable wine growing, managing waste and limiting water and energy consumption. To be kinder to Mother Nature, the new POP Earth bottle uses lighter glass (only 1.85 pounds) than conventional champagne bottles (2 pounds), which in turn reduces pollution and energy costs during shipping. The bottle features a label made from some recycled materials and is printed with water-soluble inks. Pommery also uses sea transportation instead of air, which saves on fuel costs and energy usage. Available at most fine wine stores and www.sherry-lehmann.com.

FARM-TO-TABLE
Miller Union continues to walk the walk with its fresh, sustainable menu. Executive Chef Steven Satterfield’s culinary offerings change very often, sometimes even daily, based on the freshest harvest of local farmers. Miller Union features a complete composting and recycling system, which in its first two months of being open diverted more than three tons of waste. Ninety-four percent landfill-free, Miller Union composts fish, fruit, meat and vegetable scraps. With the exception of non-recyclable metal bottle tops and plastic wrap, Miller Union recycles paper products, cans, bottles and all other recyclable packaging. Not only adding to the restaurant’s rustic and relaxed atmosphere, the lack of tablecloths greatly reduces water usage and the need for detergent, as well as saves energy from using washers and dryers needed to clean them. Also, by sourcing from local farms and growers, Miller Union helps cut down on the transportation effects and pollution from products being shipped across country. Satterfield’s farm-fresh dishes are now available for lunch, so you can stretch your Earth Day celebrations throughout the day. 999 Brady Ave. 678-733-8550.
 www.millerunion.com.

Pollen got you parched? We've got just the thing for that.

By the looks of that thick layer of pollen on your throat, your car, your home and even your scruffy pooch, spring has definitely sprung. With the arrival my favorite drinking season (I have four altogether), I rounded up a few new items, events and places to celebrate with.

FARM TO BOTTLE
SweetWater, one of Atlanta’s well-known breweries, is throwing a big, fun carbon-neutral party this weekend (April 17 and 18) in Candler Park. The beer-filled event, which attracts nearly 20,000 visitors per day, is a platform for nonprofits and environmental organizations to share their products and “going green” strategies, with exhibitions, workshops and creative interactive events taking place in the Planet 420 tent throughout the weekend.  Of course, there’s a ton of music, too. You can learn more about that aspect at www.sweetwater420fest.com.

DOGGIE STYLE
Man’s best friend has somewhere to hang out while you get your drink on with the opening of Thirsty Dog Tavern. The new restaurant, which opened March 25, is housed in the old Vita space. The extensive menu at Thirsty Dog Tavern features an Italian twist on upscale pub favorites. Prices range from $4 to $16, and 90 percent of the menu options are under $10. Thirsty Dog is both child- and canine-friendly, and features a menu for each set. The lower patio offers a space for puppy prancing and dining. The drinking fun contines with two beer pong tables, 15 big-screen TVs tuned into a variety of sports games, and a separate smoking bar and dining area (which we really hope stays separate). Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Lot parking. 2110 Peachtree Road NW. 404-367-8482. www.thirstydogtavern.com.

ON THE MENU
I’ve just spotted the new spring cocktail menus at two great watering holes: JCT Kitchen & Bar and Diesel Filling Station.

Mixologist Lara Creasy at JCT (1198 Howell Mill Road, 404-355-2252, www.jctkitchen.com) has created a few new masterpieces for spring sipping. The JCTea combines iced tea–infused gin, Grand Marnier, lemon and Fee Brothers orange bitters, served up, $10. For a clean feeling, try Leaves of Grass: Bison Grass Vodka, Dolin Blanc, lemongrass syrup and fresh tarragon, served up, $11. Get your Kentucky on with the Westside Smash, a simple but terrific beverage of Elijah Craig 12-year old bourbon, Meyer lemons and mint, on crushed ice, $9. Creasy takes rhubarb to a new level with Crimson and Clover, a blend of rhubarb puree, gin, lemon, tonic water and candied rhubarb, served tall and on the rocks, $10. I’m probably most excited about the Strawberry Alarm Clock, which speaks to several of my favorite flavors with fresh strawberries, lime, cachaca, brown sugar and Balsamic syrup, served on the rocks, $10. For the grown-ups who loved Applejacks as a kid, try Ginger Jack Rose, a sophisticated gentlemen’s drink of Laird’s Applejack, housemade grenadine, lemon and Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, served up, $10.

Inspired by the Virginia Highland filling station that once stood in its place, Diesel Filling Station (870 N. Highland Ave., 404-815-1820, www.dieselatlanta.com) is a neighborhood destination that is equal parts pub, restaurant and late night hangout. In addition to a 50-plus beer menu featuring craft and high-gravity beers, Diesel just rolled out its new spring cocktail lineup, including the Motor Oil Martini (Level Vodka, raspberry liqueur, blue Curacao, $8), Jalapeno Margarita (a little spice with a lotta Jose Cuervo, $7), Cherry Cosmo (cherry vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice and sour mix, $8), Pink Lemonade (so decidedly Southern with Absolut Citron and Diesel’s secret mix, $6), Peach Drop (shot of sweet tea vodka and peach schnapps dropped into a glass of lemonade, $6) and shots: Rope Candy (vanilla vodka, Frangelico, raspberry liqueur, orange juice and cranberry, $7) and Sugar Daddy (Catdaddy Moonshine Kamikaze, $6). 

Sustainable Sandwiches

Finally a way to get rid of plastic sandwich baggies! Greenheart, an online eco-friendly shop that has a brick-and-mortar version in Chicago, sells these handy dandy reusable sandwich sacks from Snack Taxis. Just think of all the lunches moms and dads make for their kids, as well as folks who take their lunch to work who could benefit from this one little envelope for their pastrami on rye or old school PB&J—saving tons of money each year, as well as taking an extra step to reduce plastic from our growing landfills.

The exterior is made from 100 percent cotton and is lined with a waterproof material that consists of nylon with a polyurethane coating. Both the cotton and the lining have been tested to ensure that they are free of heavy metals (including lead), phthalates, PBBs, and PBDEs.

Clean in your washer or your dishwasher. $8.99. Greenheart Shop

Smart Glass Jewelry Trunk & Sample Show

Kathleen Plate, founder/designer of Smart Glass Jewelry, hosts a sale at her studio in Candler Park this Friday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you have a piece of Smart Glass that needs to be replaced, have an exchange or just want a great deal on a new necklace, drop by this Friday. The address is below, and the parking is free. She will have different boxes of necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, cufflinks and more marked down with special pricing–so a great opportunity to add multiple pieces to your wardrobe for a great price.


Smart Glass Jewelry Sale
This Friday, April 9
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Smart Glass Jewelry
195 Arizona Ave. NE #LW5
Atlanta, GA 30307
Free parking

http://www.smartglassjewelry.com

Name That Burger Joint

BLT Restaurant Group has launched a national online “Name Game” contest. The acclaimed restaurant group is in search of a great name for the three new burger restaurants it plans to open later this year in New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, DC. (Fingers crossed for Atlanta next year!) Contestants can enter online at www.bltrestaurants.com, and one lucky winner will claim a $4,000 grand prize.

These new burger restaurants will be updated versions of the classic American burger joint, including hand-scooped milkshakes and plenty of beer (more than 20 beers on tap), as well as cocktails. The casual restaurants will feature exposed brick walls, naturally worn wooden floors and a dark pressed tin ceiling. Rock ‘n’ roll music and flat-screen televisions with live sports will make these fun, energetic spots for lunch, dinner or a late-night bite.

All they need is a name. From now through Friday, April 30, contestants can enter their suggestions for the name of the new burger joints. From the entries, the BLT Restaurant Group partners will select their top three choices, which will be posted on Wednesday, May 5 and opened up to the public for a final vote. After five days of heated competition, the $4,000 cash prize winner will be announced online at www.bltrestaurants.com on Monday, May 10. The two runners-up will also be announced and each awarded $250 gift certificates to BLT Restaurants.

To play the Name Game and view contest rules, please visit www.bltrestaurants.com. Contestants must be 13 years or older to enter.

BLT Restaurant Group currently operates 17 restaurants around the world with several projects slated for 2010.

BLT Steak is located in the W Atlanta-Downtown. 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30308-3052. 404-577-7601.

"Glee" comes to Atlantic Station

The feel-good singing show "Glee" is coming to Atlantic Station on Tuesday, April 13,, with a free outdoor screening of the season premiere. The award-winning series will kick off the first of nine all-new episodes at 9 p.m., and Atlantic Station is inviting fans of the show to enjoy a free viewing of the premiere from Central Park.

As a part of the special screening, Atlantic Station restaurants will offer meal deals from 6 to 9 pm. And, prior to the start of the premiere, attendees will have the chance to win prizes from FOX 5 and Atlantic Station restaurants.


WHEN: Tuesday, April 13, premiere begins at 9 p.m.


WHERE: Central Park in Atlantic Station

PARKING: Visitors may park in Atlantic Station’s parking deck; first two hours of parking are free

For additional details regarding the spring premiere of "Glee" in Atlantic Station, visit http://www.atlanticstation.com/events.php.