$2 menu @ BLT Steak

BLT Steak is treating Atlantans to a refreshing summer escape with its new “Bar 2 Bar” menu offering chilled $2 oysters, $2 oyster shooters and handcrafted Flying Dog Pale Ale for $2 every Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., beginning Thursday, May 27. BLT Steak is located at W Atlanta Downtown, 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. 404.577.7601. www.bltrestaurants.com

Sinless Margarita Launch Party Tonight

Sinless Margarita, the all-natural and sugar-free margarita mix with only five calories per serving, is pretty tasty. It's naturally sweetened with stevia and is made from real lemon and lime juice. I voted it damn near perfect in a recent taste test I conducted (and if you know me, you know I take my margarita consumption very seriously). And now the homegrown company is throwing a party. Join them tonight at Twisted Taco (located directly across from Perimeter Mall at 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road). The party will be from 6 to 9 p.m. and will host Antoine Dove and Alexandra Whit, the two recently engaged contestants from NBC’s The Biggest Loser, and the Sinless Margarita Angels. Everyone who attends can enter to win a free bottle Sinless Margaritas. Drawings are every 15 minutes!
What: The launch party of the Sinless Margarita
When: May 20, 2010; 6-9 p.m.
Where: Twisted Taco Perimeter, 4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road (Directly across from Perimeter Mall)
Why: With only 5 calories and no sugar, you can drink margaritas anytime, guilt-free.

Heather Heron Trunk Show Tonight

The Heather Heron trunk show takes place tonight, Wed. May 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the environment furniture showroom (1170 Howell Mill Road #P-18, Atlanta, GA 30318). An eco-accessories pioneer, the L.A.-based designer specializes in handcrafted bags and scarves made with organic hemp textiles, reclaimed vintage U.S. military textiles and surplus Japanese denim. A self-taught designer, Heather was previously a photographer for Alanis Morissette (pictured wearing a Heather Heron scarf) and assistant to director Brian de Palma. She lives/works in Los Angeles and this will be her first show in Atlanta. Visit www.heatherheron.org for more info.

Honor Thy Mother

It always feels good to shop and do good for the world at the same time. That's why when I spotted this wire-wrapped brass-cuff bracelet at eco-smart Green Heart Shop's online store, I knew it was the one for moms and special ladies alike. The fair trade cuff bracelet, $16, was made through World Finds, a Chicago-based organization that partners with fair trade organizations, women's self-help groups, and small families of artisans in India, Nepal, and Indonesia. This bracelet was made in India by artisans that received a fair wage for their products from World Finds. By purchasing this bracelet, you're helping Indian women have a higher standard of living—and making the women in your life super happy. Happy Mother's Day to fantastic moms everywhere.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Why not switch things up with a rum-based margarita?

Abuelo’s RumRita

Ingredients;
2 ounces Ron Abuelo Añejo Rum
1 ounce triple sec
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

Instructions:
In a shaker filled with ice add all ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain into an ice filled rocks glass and garnish with lime wedge.

AVENUE Q comes to Atlanta

So this is what I am doing with my B.A. in English...

The fun-loving Tony Award–winning musical AVENUE Q is coming to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre May 18-23, and you might just get a chance to score stellar tickets for cheap.

In keeping with thematic issues in the show such as living in New York with big dreams and a tiny bank account, the producers of the show are committed to offering these special priced seats in each city the show will play. A limited number of seats in the first 10 rows of the orchestra will be made available for $25 for every performance.

The tickets go on sale at the Cobb Energy Centre box office, on the day of performance only, two hours prior to the show and are available through a ticket lottery with a limit of two tickets per person, while supplies last.

AVENUE Q is a lively performance that tips its hat to people who are different and unique. Adult in nature (the show features a few full-puppet nudity scenes, so the age recommendation is 13 and up), it's wildly funny and educational, with thought- and laugh-provoking songs such as "Everybody's a Little Bit Racist," "My Girlfriend, Who Lives In Canada," "There Is Life Outside Your Apartment" and "If You Were Gay."

For general ticket information, call 800-982-2787 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Viva México

Photo/Courtesy of Corzo

Corzo Evolutionary Margarita
By Jonathan Pogash
Ingredients:
2 parts Corzo Reposado Tequila
1/2 part Grand Marnier
½ parts agave nectar
3/4 parts fresh lime juice
6-8 small chunks of your choice of pepper (yellow, red or orange)
Instructions:
In a mixing glass, muddle the pepper in the agave nectar and lime juice. Add remaining ingredients, and shake well with ice. Strain over ice into rocks glass. Garnish with pepper “flag” and lime “bow tie” and optional salt rim.

Despite our government’s and our society’s overall treatment of people moving to the United States from south of the border, this country continues to embrace the culinary creations and libations from Mexico. And what’s not to love? Creamy, tangy guacamole; dance-on-your-tongue salsas derived from chiles, herbs and onions; filled carnitas, tacos, burritos and chile rellenos; melt-in-your-mouth doused pork; baked-in-the-sun corn tortillas; chocolate with spicy chile; flavorful cerveza (beer); and, of course, the sacred ever-refreshing margarita. We’ve rounded up a few authentic joints in town celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the holiday that celebrates the Mexican victory over the French in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, as well as some killer margaritas.

Fiesta Atlanta holds its annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo Sunday, May 2, in Centennial Olympic Park with a free, all-day festival featuring Latin cuisine such as tacos and aguas frescas, live Latin music, artisans selling traditional crafts, and a children’s stage with Mexican folkloric dancers, clowns and storytellers.

North of the Atlanta border, the recently opened INC Street Food features street and market fare from Latin America, including a taco stand serving favorites such as adobo-braised chicken tacos, chili-rubbed skirt steak tacos and crispy shrimp tacos. 948 Canton St., Roswell. 770-998-3114. www.incstreetfood.com.

In Midtown, the Original El Taco is throwing a culinary fiesta of its own with drink specials including $18 buckets of Dos Equis Amber or Lager, $6 margaritas, $4 pineapple-infused tequila shots and $3 Tecates. Be a responsible drinker, and grab some casual gourmet grub, too, like the smoked trout with spicy masa cake and salsa borracho. 1186 N. Highland Ave. 404-873-4656.

Southwestern star restaurant Agave is going all out this Cinco de Mayo with Dos Equis, 1800 tequila and margarita drink specials, as well as traditional Mexican dinner specials on May 3, 4 and 5. On Monday, May 3, the Cabbagetown restaurant hosts a Dine-Out for ARCA (AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta), and will give a portion of the night’s sales directly to the organization. 242 Boulevard SE. 404-588-0006. www.agaverestaurant.com.

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food makes drinking even more fun with its signature Swirl cocktail (frozen marg swirled with frozen sangria). Share some sizzling fajitas with amigos on the lively patio at either Atlanta location: 1860 Peachtree Road NW (404-350-6767) or 1140 Hammond Dr. NE (678-736-8260). www.unclejulios.com.

Though not technically a Mexican restaurant, the newly minted Thirsty Dog Tavern is getting in on the action with a taco bar from 5 to 7 p.m., and drink specials all day long, including $5 margaritas, $14 sangria pitchers and $3 Coronas. I think we’re all taking a personal day for this, no? 2110 Peachtree Road NW. 404-367-8482. www.thirstydogtavern.com.

Over on the West side of town, Bone Garden Cantina is throwing a fiesta of its own on its recently expanded patio with Sonoran hot dogs (bacon-wrapped dog stuffed into a bolillo and topped with seasoned pinto beans, grilled onions, jalapeños, pico de gallo and mayo), brochetas (mini grilled shish kabobs), $6.50 Herradura margaritas, $5.50 La Vida Baja (a can of Tecate with a shot of tequila), Mexican beer specials and Sister Louisa sangria, as well as live music from 6:30 p.m. to close and a promised visit from Dames Aflame dancers. 1425 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. 404- 418-9072. www.bonegardencantina.com.

While a typical from-scratch margarita certainly isn’t as harmful to your diet as a one made from a mix, an easy-to-make limeade-triple-sec-tequila margarita nets you around 750 calories in one refreshing sugary, additive-laden cocktail. When you’re scarfing down chips and queso and you’re craving a lime-y beverage but don’t feel confident in your mixology abilities, don’t succumb to the limeade. There’s a better option in town now. Marietta-based Sinless Margaritas has just launched its five-calorie margarita mix … and it’s darn near perfect in flavor. The sugar-free cocktail assistant is made from stevia extract, a natural ingredient hailing from a South American plant. Add two parts Sinless Margaritas to one part tequila and ice, and you’ll be saying adios to worrying about counting calories. $7.99 a bottle. Sold at Mac’s Beer and Wine Shop, as well as other local retail locations. www.sinlesscocktails.com.