'Life' vs.'Choice'

For the past 33 years, women have had the right to choose whether to terminate their pregnancies. That right has sparked heated debates, as well … »more

A vote for Pedro

One of the most distinctive voices in contemporary world cinema, art-house firecracker Pedro Almodóvar is a veritable gazpacho of heartbreak and kink pulverized into a … »more

And the nominees are ...

The Suzi Bass Awards for excellence in Atlanta professional theater expanded its scope with its nominations for 2006.

Founded in 2003 by Atlanta actor and … »more

At what price glory?

Cocoa-dusted marshmallows, apricot jellies and tiny chocolates sit in a military-straight line on a lithe tray. They have been offered as our meal's crowning flourish, … »more

Best Art Neighborhood

Though at this point there is hardly a glut of galleries, things are definitely on the rise on THE WESTSIDE. Yes, it’s home to Howell … »more

Best “Best Club” Curse

Atlanta clubs shouldn’t strive to be the “best club,” just a really good club. In Atlanta, for some strange reason, IF A CLUB GETS NATIONAL … »more

Best 24-Hour Dining

In most cities situated more than 5,000 miles from Seoul, it’s hard enough to find a silky, sizzling bowl of tofu soup at a normal … »more

Best Acoustic Music Club

There’s a reason EDDIE’S ATTIC dominates this category year after year — the venue earns it! Even changes in ownership (now in the loving hands … »more

Best After Hours/Late-Night Spot

When the bars in Fulton County began closing at 2:30 a.m., we sorta thought people might start going out earlier to pack in the same … »more

Best All-ages Author

In the Owly series of graphic novels published by Marietta’s Top Shelf Productions, Lilburn native ANDY RUNTON gives “wholesome” a good name through the black-and-white, … »more

Best All-around Play

In a year blessed with numerous world-premiere productions, none proved more heartfelt, insightful or quintessentially “Atlantan” than Theatrical Outfit’s debut of Thomas Ward’s KEEPING WATCH, … »more

Best Alternative Art Space

Artists have always loved EYEDRUM ART & MUSIC GALLERY. The scrappy nonprofit features a democratically programmed repertoire of everything from cutting-edge sonic experiments to conceptual … »more

Best Annual Event

Atlanta is a city of festivals. There’s the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park, Pride Week, the return of the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Downtown Festival … »more

Best Antique Store

There are plenty of highfalutin antique stores around Atlanta where rich folks can drop a mess of cash on old European gewgaws. Then, there are … »more

Best Art Blog

Local artist and craft fan Garth Johnson has one of the most impressive artsy-craft-centric websites going, period, at WWW.EXTREMECRAFT.COM. Its visual panache is matched by … »more

Best Art Event

The place to both look at art and be looked at looking at art is the CASTLEBERRY HILL ART STROLL. The diverse Friday night scene, … »more

Best Art Exhibit In A Gallery

Few shows this year generated the laugh-out-loud chuckles of DAVID HUMPHREY’S NEW PAINTINGS AT SOLOMON PROJECTS. The New York artist’s über-kitsch paintings feature oddball imagery … »more

Best Art Exhibit In A Museum

ORIGIN: ANDREW ROSS INSTALLATIONS was the breathtaking solo show featuring former Atlanta artist Ross’ meditation on the fragile history of humankind. It delivered the conceptual … »more

Best Athlete

It wasn’t so long ago that ANDRUW JONES walked into the office of Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz without his agent and agreed to … »more

Best Bakery

We’ve been addicted to the lamb sandwiches, croissants, chocolate-chocolate cookies and country French bread at ALON’S BAKERY for more than a decade. In recent years, … »more

Best Ballet — and Stoning

Though we’re slightly concerned that they may have emboldened our enemies, we loved Brooks & Company Dance’s ominous take on unquestioning allegiance in THE LOTTERY. … »more

Best Bar Food and Best Beer Selection

Fried food at bars is a given, but vegetables? That’s the BRICK STORE PUB for ya. Its food menu offers both expected pub fare like … »more

Best Barbecue

We dread this selection more than any other, since really good ‘cue in town. We like the fair prices, the great staff and an ambiance … »more

Best Beach Retreat

With rapid construction overtaking Atlanta’s already jammed streets, there’s no better way to escape than to cruise down to CUMBERLAND ISLAND. It’s Georgia’s biggest barrier … »more

Best Big Box Shopping Center to Attract Local Businesses

Big boxes usually do their best to eclipse the little guy. But at Reynoldstown’s EDGEWOOD RETAIL DISTRICT, there are living, breathing independent retailers operating in … »more

Best Bizarro News Story

Atlanta’s tangential relationship to the murder of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey just gets stranger and stranger. JonBenet was born here and is buried here, even though … »more

Best Blues Club

Other clubs may have luxuries such as nice tables, easily accessible bathrooms, parking spaces and stages that can be seen from everywhere in the room. … »more

Best Book By An Atlanta Author

The short stories of Jack Pendarvis find security guards watching over a shock jock buried alive, an unemployed man spying on sinister squirrels, and a … »more

Best Book Set In Georgia

Atlanta author Joshilyn Jackson puts a new twist on the family feud in BETWEEN, GEORGIA, in which the biological daughter of one family is raised … »more

Best Bowling Alley

Inspired by L.A.’s Lucky Strike Lanes, the revamped MIDTOWN BOWL brings the concept of boutique alleys to Atlanta. Opened in 1960, the 32-lane emporium now … »more

Best Breakfast

We tend to be traditionalists when it comes to the morning meal and SILVER SKILLET is about as traditionally Southern as you can get. One … »more

Best Brunch

THE GLOBE is the kind of restaurant we’d love to see more of. Sleek design, friendly staff, a library room with Wi-Fi — it incarnates … »more

Best Burlesque Performer

MONKEY ZUMA takes the banana crème cake when it comes to beast burlesque performer. Wait, “best”? Well, that too, if for no other reason than … »more

Best Camp Drag Queen

Laughter can cure almost anything — just ask the countless number of people whom BUBBA D’LICIOUS has helped over the years. Then, you’ll understand the … »more

Best Car Wash

The difference between AUTO GLO HAND CAR WASH and some other car washes in town is that at Auto Glo, it’s all hands all the … »more

Best Carryout

Mitchell Anderson, formerly Ross on the Fox’s “Party of Five,” opened METROFRESH after a stint at Souper Jenny’s in Buckhead. Here, as there, you’ll find … »more

Best Cartographic Dance

You’d think we would make some joke about stopping to ask for directions, but directions are far too linear for the wandering explorations of Beacon … »more

Best Caterer that Caters to Those Without Trust Funds

Twenty years ago, a little catering outfit called TUOHY’S filled baskets for Chastain Park picnickers and dished up meals for modestly sized private parties. Today, … »more

Best Celebrity

This time last year, CEE-LO was another B-level celebrity known as much for his role as the indulgent father on MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16” … »more

Best Cheap Eats

East Atlanta lucked out last year when CANTINA LA CASITA opened, serving wonderful, cheap Mexican food in a friendly dive-bar setting. La Casita is a … »more

Best Chef

Despite the recent soap opera over his decision to leave Atlanta and then to stay, GUENTER SEEGER continues to cook with a level of invention … »more

Best Cinematic Shout-out

ATL appreciated Atlanta’s color and geographic divides. First-timer Chris Robinson’s sweet coming-of-age movie also featured a bevy of local flavor, including Eddie’s Gold Teeth, Value … »more

Best Classical Music Act

The ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS should be counted as one of the city’s true major-league teams, alongside the Braves. With more than 100 CDs … »more

Best Club Anthem

Mix together a hypnotic five-key piano melody played like an arpeggio, and a growled, perfectly timed chorus. What do you get? YUNG JOC’s “IT’S GOIN’ … »more

Best Coffee

Atlanta was nothing but perked dishwater until AURORA COFFEE opened here in 1992. Its two shops, which are now owned by the same folks who … »more

Best Coffeehouse to See Art

Most coffeehouse art makes us cringe, but AURORA-LITTLE FIVE POINTS — the happening java joint sharing a Moreland Avenue strip with Criminal Records and Junkman’s … »more

Best Coffehouse

Whether you’re looking for the perfect latte, a great office away from the office with free Wi-Fi, a tasty lunch sandwich or a super-chill place … »more

Best Columnist

Ever the fair-minded, we excluded CL’s own columnists for critics’ consideration in this category. But that shouldn’t detract from our admiration for AJC Editorial Page … »more

Best Comedian

With his quick wit and smooth delivery, DREW THOMAS has become a force in Atlanta’s comedy scene. Aside from hosting the weekly open-mic night at … »more

Best Comedy Club

This year, UPTOWN COMEDY CORNER returned to Atlanta better than before. In the few months since its reopening, the club has featured Paul Mooney among … »more

Best Concert Venue

You can get to the VARIETY PLAYHOUSE early and find a comfortable seat where you can see, or you can get there late and join … »more

Best Consignment Shopping

If you don’t like the cost listed on the price tag at FINDERS KEEPERS, check out the date. For every 30 days that have passed, … »more

Best Cooking Class

Billed as “the most enjoyable school on Earth” — where even the homework is fun — VIKING COOKING SCHOOL hosts nearly 70 classes per month. … »more

Best Country Music Club

In Roswell, there’s a nondescript but delicious barbecue restaurant that’s a bit too easy to miss. Every weekend, THE SWALLOW AT THE HOLLOW treats fans … »more

Best Country Radio Station

Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Tift Merritt, Del McCoury, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss — don’t you wish there was a … »more

Best Crash and Burn

Last time we checked, the ATLANTA BRAVES had won 14 straight division titles. But last time we checked this year, they were more than 15 … »more

Best Cuban

LAS PALMERAS may also be the best value in Midtown. The tiny, ambiance-free restaurant — not surprisingly located in the neighborhood that was home to … »more

Best Cupcakes

Gazing in the bakery case at STAR PROVISIONS, it’s hard to settle on just one thing. But if you must, let it be a cupcake. … »more

Best Dance Club

The predictably unpredictable nature of MJQ CONCOURSE keeps crowds rolling in. In theory, a “best dance club” has a huge dancefloor, but MJQ has a … »more

Best Dance-community Response To Hurricane Katrina

Dancers are plenty familiar with people not eating, but this time they danced to fill others’ tummies. Pamela Dionne’s CityDance Ensemble brought together nine Atlanta … »more

Best Deli

Chef Todd Mussman and food and beverage management expert Ryan Turner are the names behind MUSS & TURNER’S. Yeah, we know. As soon as you … »more

Best Desserts

Atlanta is a great town for dessert, and it just keeps getting better as pastry chefs branch out and move slowly from safe favorites into … »more

Best Dim Sum

CANTON HOUSE is the favorite for dim sum in Atlanta’s Chinese community. We’re not surprised. Few dim sums are operated with such efficiency and such … »more

Best Dive Bar

Stepping into THE PHOENIX is like walking onto a David Lynch movie set. The oddly lit bar hosts a cast of characters who will leave … »more

Best Doctors to Give You Perfect Perky C Cups

Looking at the list of doctors at PACES PLASTIC SURGERY AND RECOVERY CENTER, you’ll find the chief of the division of plastic surgery at Emory … »more

Best Dog Trainer

Atlanta has its own dog whisperer, and her name is KATE JACKSON. Jackson understands dogs — anxious ones, aggressive ones, destructive ones — and she … »more

Best Ear to the Ground

For years, the AJC’s Peach Buzz gossip column was a fluffy time-killer that served to keep readers abreast of the latest celebrity sightings and highbrow … »more

Best Emerging Visual Artist

Winner of this year’s prestigious Santa Fe Prize for Photography, SHEILA PREE-BRIGHT is an enormously talented Atlanta Contemporary Art Center studio artist. She has created … »more

Best Established Visual Artist

With an important public art commission for the City Court of Atlanta this year, an ongoing installation at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport’s baggage claim, and a … »more

Best Example Of Getting Stuck On Dance

How can we miss her when she won’t go away? Coriolis Dance Project artistic director Elizabeth Dishman recently moved to New York, but she keeps … »more

Best Farmer’s Market

There is something immensely comforting about buying your food from the person who grew it. And so, while there is an abundance of fine shopping … »more

Best Female Actor

No single actress delivered a performance so wrenching, surprising and even humorous as the NINE-PERFORMER ENSEMBLE OF WOMEN + WAR, from Synchronicity Performance Group. The … »more

Best Film Festival

The 30 year-old ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL has caught some criticism and suffered some turnover in recent years. But it remains the city’s pre-eminent film event … »more

Best Film Series

Andy Ditzler’s frightfully ambitious, dedicated series at Eyedrum, FILM LOVE, devoted to avant-garde and experimental film often unavailable to consumers by the likes of Stan … »more

Best First Date

Fabulously stylish yet refreshingly unpretentious, THE GLOBEwas custom-made for a getting-to-know-you night out. The menu is modern and unfussy, with a cocktail list to die … »more

Best French

There is some great high-end, high-price French food in this town, but no place captures the spirit of Paris better than LE FLEUR DE LIS … »more

Best Friend of the Arts

LUCINDA BUNNEN is a collector and philanthropist, a major proponent of photography in the city and an important patron of the High’s growing photography collection. … »more

Best FrouFrou Martini

It’s a match made in heaven: “SRF (single, ruby-red fruit) looking for an elegant and exotic companion. Some call me bitter (I prefer ‘tart), but … »more

Best Gallery

The tiny, adventurous ROMO GALLERY in Castleberry Hill consistently surprises — and sometimes confounds — visitors with its mix of emerging and established artists, and … »more

Best Gay Bar

When the legendary Backstreet closed its doors, Atlanta’s nightlife scene had already experienced major blows and was losing its big-city club creditability. Fortunately, the spirit, … »more

Best Georgia-based band MySpace page

MySpace is the 21st-century equivalent of a Trapper Keeper binder — it’s covered in unicorns, dragons, notes from friends, and rock ‘n’ roll fantasies. Except … »more

Best Georgia-based Music Blog

Local DJ, promoter and band manager Preston Craig launched KISSATLANTA.COM in March 2005, according to its first post, “so that people might gain a better … »more

Best Glam Drag Queen

Local drag celebrity NICOLE PAIGE BROOKS is like one big “Mindfreak” episode storming through town, taking the art of illusion to a level that Criss … »more

Best Golf Course

If you’re a golf snob, then you don’t mind the drive to some of Georgia’s premiere golf courses with lush grounds, breathtaking views and heart-stopping … »more

Best Greasy Spoon

We’ve tried them all. We’ve gone here and there all over Atlanta, gobbling up the grease. But we keep coming back to POT AND PAN … »more

Best Guerrilla Art

OK, maybe reconstituted thrift-store clothes and witty handbags don’t exactly jibe with the traditional macho, street-art, culture-jamming definition of “guerrilla.” But with the second annual … »more

Best Guest Actor

Out-of-towner J.D. GOLDBLATT had some big tap shoes to fill by playing pioneering jazz pianist Jelly Roll Morton in Jelly’s Last Jam, a role created … »more

Best Guilty Pleasure (And Best Party)

While nobody really reads Ocean Drive magazine, it sure looks pretty on the coffee table, and it has gorgeous pictures of the “beautiful people” inside. … »more

Best Hair Salon

At Candler Park’s appropriately named ROCKIT SALON, stylists like to name-drop the list of rock-star hair they’ve done, from the mops of Tommy Lee and … »more

Best Hamburger

Don’t make the mistake of setting your baby on the counter at ANN’S SNACK BAR, or you’ll probably be asked to leave, according to a … »more

Best Hip-hop Hooray

Arc the Finger Records once again brought the “true school” to The Loft for the A3C INDEPENDENT HIP-HOP FESTIVAL, the indie alternative to the big-name … »more

Best Ice Cream

The little plastic tasting spoon isn’t necessarily your friend at JAKE’S ICE CREAM. The merest sample can induce you into ordering at least a scoop … »more

Best Independent Boutique with Hard-to-Find Labels

From porch parties to “mystery designer” Sunday sales, Midtown’s cozy VERUCA BOUTIQUE knows how to show off its stuff. And much of that stuff is … »more

Best Indian and Best Vegetarian

We keep looking, but, year after year, nothing comes really close to Narenda Patel’s MADRAS SARAVANA BHAVAN. There isn’t a thing on the South Indian … »more

Best Intown Park

Perennially overshadowed by its flashier Midtown sibling, the 131-acre GRANT PARK has something of a split personality. On its western side, the city’s oldest park … »more

Best Italian

Who would have thought that the best Italian food in town could be found in a strip mall in Alpharetta? “Eat little, well, and often” … »more

Best Jazz Club

Sometimes a quiet evening of jazz is better than a night in a loud and smoky rock club. Yeah, we know that sounds crazy. But … »more

Best Jogging Path

For years, cross-country teams have jogged on the rooted paths and trekked up the grueling hills of KENNESAW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK. The park offers … »more

Best Karaoke Night

Fortunately, the drinks are cheap and stiff at Atlanta’s most surreal setting, the fallout shelter/basement called the Clermont Lounge. At KARAOKE TUESDAYS, you’re going to … »more

Best Korean and Best Late-Night Dining

You’re up at 4 a.m. and looking for something more than a Waffle House? In the mood to do some grilling? Go to HAE WOON … »more

Best Kosher

Oy vey! What’s a Jew gotta do to get a good kosher bite to eat in Atlanta? Go to the QUALITY KOSHER EMPORIUM, where the … »more

Best Latin Club

It used to be that if you wanted a good night of hip-shaking, booty-peppering, sweat-inducing salsa, you’d have to wait for that time of the … »more

Best Lesbian Bar

Saturday nights at THE RED CHAIR feels like watching an episode of Showtime’s super sexy hit series, “The L Word.” The lesbian wet dream finally … »more

Best Local Artist on the National Scene

AMALIA AMAKI was featured in a major retrospective at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art and a smaller show at Sandler-Hudson this year — all … »more

Best Local Band To Reinvent Itself

When word spread that A FIR-JU WELL was playing its “last show ever,” rumors of the band’s death were greatly exaggerated. Of equal exaggeration was … »more

Best Local Blues Act

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Oliver Wood enjoys a sizable following for his heavy blues band, King Johnson. So it’s no surprise that Ways Not to … »more

Best Local Brew

Simply because we are gimmick cynics, we were a little skeptical upon first hearing that Bob Amick and the Atlanta Brewing Company were teaming up … »more

Best Local Club Promoter

The glow sticks and UFOs may have matured into iPods and Diesels, but the party still rocks whenever Liquid Groove — ahem, LIQUIFIED, in its … »more

Best Local Concert Promoter

As club promotion crew TIGHT BROS. NETWORK knows all too well, rock and roll is a messy thing. Randy Castello and Nisa Asokan mostly operate … »more

Best Local Country Music Act

NO RIVER CITY is a rustic combo that sure has somethin’ flowin’. The actively touring quintet can range from twangy rue to resolute roots stomp, … »more

Best Local Curator

When the Atlanta College of Art folded, STUART HORODNER’s future helming its prestigious ACA Gallery seemed uncertain. But thankfully, this well-connected, extremely knowledgeable recent Atlanta … »more

Best Local Do-Gooder(s)

After the killing waters of Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and Mississippi, Atlantans reached out to help. Among them were CAROL AND BOAKE MOORE, who … »more

Best Local Electronic Act

Perhaps mashing drum ‘n’ bass troupe EVOL INTENT should change its name to “Evol Knievol.” After all, the Evol Intent trio has leapt some prodigious … »more

Best Local Emo Act

CARTEL’s music is big: beefy hooks, a ringing voice in group leader Will Pugh, and an ambition to become one of the country’s best emo … »more

Best Local Experimental Music Act

DEERHUNTER’s most compelling asset is its penchant for unpredictability. No two performances are the same, yet the group’s cerebral fingerprint shines through its constantly morphing … »more

Best Local Hero

When Hurricane Katrina tore into the Gulf Coast, it created a perverse, but tempting, chance to make a point about global warming. Scientists had long … »more

Best Local Hip-hop Act

It’s been a big year for big butts, particularly for Big Boi’s PURPLE RIBBON ALL-STARS. Every rap label has its token white boy, and Purp’s … »more

Best Local Instrumentalist

Whether leaping burning Led Zeppelin riffs or standing still enough to balance a bar glass on his head while zooming through a Pagannini, violinist BOBBY … »more

Best Local Jam Band

Ever since Jerry faded into the psychedelic sunset, followers of the Dead have been searching for a new groove. Fortunately, before the drugs wore off, … »more

Best Local Jazz Act

Pianist TAKANA MIYAMOTO is probably the hardest-working lady in the Atlanta jazz scene. She plays weekly at local clubs; records and performs solo and with … »more

Best Local Label

In May, ARC THE FINGER RECORDS celebrated its fourth anniversary. Its dedication to quality hip-hop and sound business practices ensures plenty more birthdays to come. … »more

Best Local Latin Music Act

The dearth of Latin-themed parties is long gone. There’s always somewhere to go to shake your booty to some buena música, and though international stars … »more

Best Local New Music Act

GHOST TOUR is an indie-rock band with country influences, not vice versa. The group’s jangle-pop chops bare the burdens of working man’s music but there’s … »more

Best Local Overall Music Act

T.I. calls himself “king of the South” with some justification. Much like Jay-Z, he takes commercial rap to its zenith. On each of four albums, … »more

Best Local Playwright

For more than a year, playwright STEVE YOCKEY has seemed all but ubiquitous, debuting such scripts as the full-length, darkly comic <>Cartoon for Out of … »more

Best Local Politico

Georgia has no lack of bad politicians. Linda Schrenko, Bill Campbell, Ralph Reed. You name ’em. What’s often missed is that we have some damn … »more

Best Local Rock Act

Garbled garagists THE BLACK LIPS are a beautiful disaster spreading bruised pop like a social disease. Like everything about the Brian Jonestown Massacre, everything about … »more

Best Local Singer/songwriter

What sets ANNA KRAMER apart from the troubadour masses isn’t just the honesty in her songs, but her ability to wander through an array of … »more

Best Local Television Anchor

Because he’s sat next to a shining star such as Monica Kaufman for all these years, it’s been too easy to overlook JOHN PRUITT. But … »more

Best Local Traditional Folk Act

To confine ELISE WITT to the narrow realm of “traditional folk” would be a mistake. True, those are her roots, and she’s careful not to … »more

Best Local Tribute Band

Gasp! Pop-culture guru Jon Waterhouse leads a double life. By day, he’s a mild-mannered, erudite raconteur, lady charmer and astute wordsmith with a penchant for … »more

Best Local Troublemaker

Meet JOE PARKO, and you think “ordinary guy.” The retired Georgia State professor is anything but. Behind a gentle smile and shock of white hair … »more

Best Local Vocalist

Mention the name INDIA.ARIE and you’ll conjure images of ever-changing hairstyles, sweet-smelling incense and colorful headwraps. But bug all that: The lady can sing, as … »more

Best Male Actor

For years, local actor DAVID SILVERMAN established a reliable, boyish stage persona with occasional departures, like his gleefully nasty eBay addict in Jewish Theatre of … »more

Best Margarita

Atlanta’s a town with lots of good margaritas, but POZOLE takes it to the next level. It’s the shaved ice that does it, transforming Pozole’s … »more

Best Middle Eastern

Forget clowns. Send in the belly dancers; there have to be belly dancers. At IMPERIAL FEZ, they undulate about the room with candles on their … »more

Best Mixtape DJs

In the capital of the Southern hip-hop movement, the APHILLIATES DJ camp (Don Cannon, Drama, Sense, Jamad, Ox Banga, and Jaycee) speaks loudly. You can … »more

Best Morality Tale

If you didn’t believe BILL CAMPBELL was a crook when he was mayor, then you weren’t paying attention. A puzzling jury verdict acquitted the slickster … »more

Best Mountain Escape

BEST MOUNTAIN ESCAPE

In the early 1970s, the CHATTOOGA RIVER was officially dubbed one of the nation’s first “Wild and Scenic Rivers.” That remains an … »more

Best Museum

Though it works with a quirky, out-of-the-way exhibition space in the shade of the Marriott Marquis hotel, the small but deeply relevant MUSEUM OF DESIGN … »more

Best Nana-Na-Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye!

We Georgians may be a little slow occasionally, but at least we’re not dumb enough to elect RALPH REED lieutenant governor. Reed cut his teeth … »more

Best Neighborhood Festival

We know it’s won several years in a row, and we like to vary our picks when possible. But the INMAN PARK FESTIVAL proves it’s … »more

Best New Building

TERMINUS 100 may not be quite finished yet, but when it’s completed in the spring, the 26-story glass-and-steel high-rise will bring a Fifth Avenue vibe … »more

Best New Gallery

COMPOSITION GALLERY, a labor of love undertaken by Movies Worth Seeing staff member Ron Hughes, has brought contemporary photography — at an affordable price point … »more

Best New Neighborhood Bar

“Here you are, two Hoes and a Hummer,” a waiter is overheard telling a trio of ladies. He’s talking about beer: two Hoegaarten and one … »more

Best New Restaurant

Beauty and intelligence — now that’s not something you find every day on Atlanta’s hip restaurant scene. From fantastic cocktails to a delicious and thoughtful … »more

Best New Thing About Atlanta

Not a strip of sod or a splotch of asphalt has been laid for the BELTLINE. But only months after local governments gave it the … »more

Best New Trend in The Arts

AFFORDABLE ART is showing that, even if big-time collectors aren’t doing enough to support the big-money artists in town, there are a number of galleries … »more

Best Newcomer Club DJ

Having lived his entire life in the ever-increasing bulge that we call Atlanta (we know this ‘cause his mom was once a Loafer), DJ DREW … »more

Best News For The Arts Scene

CONTEMPORARY ART AT THE HIGH MUSEUM! The High brings contemporary and regional artists into the Dead Guys mix with the traveling Chuck Close: Self-Portraits show, … »more

Best Non-Commercial Station

Back when RADIO FREE GEORGIA, WRFG-FM (89.3), went on the air in 1973, people who listened were like a secret society. The signal didn’t go … »more

Best Old Thing About Atlanta

It’s tough to find much of anything in Atlanta older than OAKLAND CEMETERY, and arguably no place in this city wears its age more gracefully. … »more

Best OTP Park

The name Kennesaw comes from the Cherokee word “gah-nee-sah,” which means burial ground. Fitting, since the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain ended the lives of an … »more

Best Overall Radio Station

Year after year, as other radio stations fall in and out of favor and change formats and call letters, ALBUM 88 never seems to change. … »more

Best Overall Restaurant

Walk through the bar bustling with the bejeweled and the beautiful, up the curving staircase, and into the hushed DINING ROOM AT THE RITZ-CARLTON BUCKHEAD. … »more

Best Patio Dining

The dining room at WAHOO is so adorably cozy that you may be tempted to take a table inside. But press on through the French … »more

Best Person You Hate to Love

He’s corny and occasionally hokey. His sincerity seems too good to be true. He’s too nerdy to be cool. But WSB-AM (750)’s CLARK HOWARD has … »more

Best Person You Love to Hate

Well, if it isn’t our own John Sugg, then it has to be Atlanta’s contribution to big-league talk radio, NEAL BOORTZ. Whether Boortz is trumpeting … »more

Best Pizza

Atlanta is blessed with a wide range of pizzerias, from Chicago-style deep dish to the razor-thin, New York-style crust, and, more to the point, the … »more

Best Place for a Cheap Date

Remember the first time you went to a drive-in theater? The thrill of being up past your bedtime and crawling around the car in your … »more

Best Place for an Expensive Date

How would we know? Do you know how much journalists make? Why don’t you check out some of those fancy restaurants in the ORAL PLEASURES … »more

Best Place to Bike

Named after a passenger train that ran along the same route from 1947 to 1968, the SILVER COMET TRAIL is a gorgeous stretch of pavement … »more

Best Place to Find Unique Formalwear for Any Occasion

Little Five Points’ STEFAN’S stocks the best selection of period pieces in town. And though you’re sure to find a fabulous Western button-down or a … »more

Best Place to Get a Grill (And We Don’t Mean the Kind for Cooking)

If you want to take a pilgrimage to the mecca of gold teeth, pack light, because it’s right here in A-Town. Eddie Plein, owner of … »more

Best Place To Hear Local Music

Throughout 2006, there’s been an ongoing debate around the office: Does fried okra and nitrates on a stick make music better? Well, recent trips to … »more

Best Place to Mountain Bike

The beautiful part of the YELLOW RIVER MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL is its accessibility. No, we’re not talking about how close it is to town (although … »more

Best Place To See A Movie

LEFONT GARDEN HILLS, the cozy Buckhead 1946 cinema, provides the perfect old-school environs for catching local independent cinema mogul George Lefont’s diverse repertoire of art … »more

Best Place to Shop for Local Designers

Petra Geiger had grown weary of lugging her handmade handbags to neighborhood festivals and seasonal markets. So she came up with a clever alternative. Rather … »more

Best Place to Splish Splash

For continuous whitewater fun within a couple of hours of a major city, it’s hard to match the OCOEE RIVER. Just north of the Tennessee … »more

Best Place to Spot Celebs

Now that Vision has closed, where do you go to see Britney, K-Fed, Nelly and Usher? Sure, the newly minted, über-plush B.E.D. is becoming something … »more

Best Playground

Across from Inman Park Middle School, JOHN HOWELL PARK features two playgrounds: one for tots and one for school-age kids. Though neither playground is particularly … »more

Best Public Art

In a town that has been fighting to get its fair share of public art, the Atlanta Botanical Garden has been quietly shaking things up … »more

Best Quirk About Atlanta

Hang out in Atlanta long enough and you’ll discover that MOST ADULTS WHO LIVE IN ATLANTA AIN’T FROM AROUND HERE. Just ask around. Atlanta sucks … »more

Best Radio DJ

He stumbles over words. He screws up his PSAs. He’s a total spaz. And he undoubtedly grates on some listeners’ nerves. But those people are … »more

Best Real TV Journalist

You’ve heard the jokes about TV newspeople. The “blow-dries.” The “news babes.” The “rip-and-read” anchors. The “if it bleeds, it leads” sensationalists. They’re all true, … »more

Best Reason to Barbecue

Once, when we arrived at a friend’s barbecue, we were disappointed to learn we’d be eating pizza. Then, out on the back deck, we spied … »more

Best Reason to Believe in Atlanta

SHIRLEY FRANKLIN was elected mayor in 2001. The city was in shambles. She faced a budget crisis and — even more — City Hall faced … »more

Best Reason to Buy A Nintendo Classic

If you pick up a classic console, you can infinitely replay the eight-bit jams performed live by CONTRABAND, the alter ego of Athens’ post-hardcore math-rock … »more

Best Reason to Look Before You Leap

The way politicians and the media congratulated each other when the city stepped in to pay $32 million for the papers of the Rev. Martin … »more

Best Reason To Shout Out “Eureka!”

The way we heard it, EPIPHANY was originally supposed to be a small, simple piece, something easy to keep the Ballethnic Dance Company occupied while … »more

Best Reason to Suspect There's Something in the Water

The least welcome Atlanta fad of recent years has got to be the legions of OVERPASS JUMPERS who hold up rush-hour traffic while threatening to … »more

Best Restaurant to Get a Great Meal Where Your Kids Will be Tolerated

There are places that are designed for kids, and then there are places that you feel guilty bringing them. Somewhere in between is WISTERIA, a … »more

Best Restaurant to Take Visitors

It there’s one thing your out-of-town visitors may not be able to get in other big cities, it’s genuine, delicious Southern soul food, served up … »more

Best Restaurant Trend

BEST RESTAURANT TREND

Americans are finally learning to eat at a leisurely pace. Over recent years, more and more restaurants have been forgoing the three-course … »more

Best Restaurant With a Social Conscience

With many restaurants becoming more active members of the community, we wanted to give a good citizen’s award this year to encourage the do-gooders in … »more

Best Restaurant Worth the Long Trip

There are many restaurants around the world that we wish we could visit more often. Most are located in far away places like Paris, California … »more

Best Rock Club

All sorts of musical acts perform on LENNY’S stage — the ongoing experimentation of Kirkwood Ballers Club, hip-hop from the 2nd Sight Crew, and various … »more

Best Rock Station

“Rock is dead, they say,” was the Who’s infamous proclamation in the ’70s, and they may have been more prescient than they realized. It’s no … »more

Best Sandwich

Once you’ve eaten at KOOL KORNERS on 14th Street, you’re in the club — you’re officially an Atlantan. But first you have to participate in … »more

Best Shopping District to Maintain its Character

Step onto the sidewalk at the corner of North Highland and St. Charles avenues. Start walking north. Don’t stop for half a mile, until you … »more

Best Sign Atlanta Isn't like L.A.

Maybe we should start with the things that are similar. Smog. Check. Traffic. Double-check. Self-absorbed stars. Check. L.A. is surrounded by ocean and desert, but … »more

Best Sign Atlanta Isn't Like the Rest of Georgia

In a state where there was going to be a special session of the friggin’ Legislature to reinstitute a ban on gay marriage — a … »more

Best Sign of the Changing Political Landscape

Last spring, as the state Legislature crafted one of the nation’s most Draconian immigration bills, a new and surprising political force was born. Metro Latinos … »more

Best Simulation of Daigon Alley

Looking for the ingredients to fill an assignment from Professor Snape’s potions class? Well, how about the makings for a nice pot of tea instead? … »more

Best Snap Music Act

Some will rightfully argue over who pioneered the snap music sound, but DEM FRANCHIZE BOYZ — Buddie, Jizzal Man, Parlae and Pimpin — are the … »more

Best Sommelier

We’re not sure if we will ever get over our infatuation with CHANTELLE GRILHOT, the 24-year-old sommelier at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. She is beautiful, brilliant … »more

Best Soul Food

You can’t get dinner at RED’S TASTY EXPRESS, but lunch at this counter inside the Sweet Auburn Curb Market is the best test of your … »more

Best Southwestern

Looking to sample an infinite variety of tequilas and chow on superb posole or green chili? Head to Cabbagetown’s AGAVE. This mid-priced restaurant has terrific … »more

Best Spoken Word Series

Atlanta’s Word Diversity Collective shook up the spoken word scene with ART AMOK, a semi-regular poetry slam packed in an all-out multidisciplinary art party, complete … »more

Best Sports Bar

With two giant projector screens and dozens more televisions scattered about, FAMOUS PUB AND SPORTS PALACE has a setup that allows you to watch every … »more

Best Sportscaster

A few years ago, when WXIA-TV/Channel 11’s FRED KALIL made his return to the Braves clubhouse at Turner Field following his recovery from surgery to … »more

Best Stage Director

Never less than a bold, provocative director, KENT GASH — the Alliance Theatre’s associate artistic director — exceeded his already impressive standards with three musicals … »more

Best Steak House

There surely are swanker steakhouses in town, but what does that matter when the steak on your plate at BONES tastes like butter? No other … »more

Best Store for Fighting Bad Juju

RONDO’S TEMPLE SALES is the sort of store you might expect to find under an L-train track in the Bowery circa 1940. Inside the dingy, … »more

Best Straight Bar

Let’s face it, in Buckhead, just about any bar is fertile grounds for girls and boys on the prowl. But ANDREWS UPSTAIRS comes closest to … »more

Best Street Character

Certainly the city has edgier street people and those who have been around longer. But in the two years since he arrived intown, BATON BOB … »more

Best Suburb

There’s no suburb in Atlanta where you’ll hear Vietnamese, Somali, Urdu and Serbo-Croatian as commonly spoken as it is in CLARKSTON. The town popped up … »more

Best Supporting Performer

In numerous recent roles, YVONNE SINGH achieved the goal of any theater artist: to make the artifice of stagecraft appear real. Singh brought grounded credibility … »more

Best Sushi

MF SUSHIBAR celebrates the “magic fingers” of chef Chris Kinjo, who owns the restaurant with his brother, Alex, an equally talented artist who created an … »more

Best Swan Dive

When she kicked off her quest to become governor last year, Georgia Secretary of State CATHY COX had everything going for her. She’d raised more … »more

Best Tapas

You can hit a tapas restaurant practically anywhere in town these days, but none are as true to the Spanish vision as KROG BAR in … »more

Best Taqueria

There are zillions of totally authentic taquerias all over Atlanta, thanks to our growing Mexican population. But we haven’t encountered anything quite like the taqueria … »more

Best Tattoo Artist

In-the-know first-timers and the already heavily inked venture to Poncey-Highland to get drawn on by Liberty Tattoo’s PHIL COLVIN. Colvin specializes in highly realistic, photograph-quality … »more

Best Thai

Yes, one of intown’s most inexpensive restaurants is also its best Thai restaurant. We know there are gourmet Thai spots in town, but they don’t … »more

Best Theater

After 25 years of solid, occasionally controversial work, the Marietta playhouse THEATRE IN THE SQUARE has perfected the formula to meet its artistic and commercial … »more

Best Theatrical Gimmick

Georgia Shakespeare has never shown fear of elaborate “concept” productions, like its “Huey Long” version of Julius Caesar set in New Orleans, or its Wild … »more

Best Theatrical Makeover (Cosmetic)

OK, no one’s going to mistake the still-seedy stretch of Peachtree Street for Stratford-on-Avon. Nevertheless, THE NEW AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE TAVERN’s $300,000-plus Elizabethan-era façade goes a … »more

Best Theatrical Makeover (Mission)

After 27 years, Neighborhood Playhouse made a bid to move beyond its often wheezy, predictable fare by changing its name to THEATRE DECATUR and by … »more

Best Thing for Your Body, Mind and Spirit

It goes without saying that Kashi Atlanta’s 10-DAY YOGA DETOX isn’t, um, a cakewalk. No sugar, no caffeine, no alcohol and a three-day juice fast … »more

Best Unspoken Spoken Word

We cramped our brains a little trying to figure out whether it still counts as “spoken word” if you print it in a book, but … »more

Best Urban Music Club

For years it’s been known as “the club formerly known as Yin Yang Cafe,” but no one can deny that APACHE CAFÉ established its own … »more

Best Urban Radio Station

Check the playlists at some of the urban stations in the A, and it’ll seem as if the program directors are stationed in New York. … »more

Best Use of a "Get Out of Jail Free" Card

DALLAS AUSTIN, dude, what were you thinking? We’ll wait to see whether Austin’s bust earlier this year in Dubai will damage the good-guy reputation the … »more

Best Use Of Sharpie On Flesh

Many rockers are heavily inked with colorful tattoos, but look closely at the Swear’s intense but beguilingly beautiful ELIZABETH ELKINS. You’ll notice self-inflicted graffiti, scrawled … »more

Best Vietnamese

COM VIETNAMESE GRILL took the foodie population by storm when it opened more than a year ago. Food & Wine magazine even gave it national … »more

Best Waitstaff

It makes sense that QUINONES AT BACCHANALIA would have such good service. The 40-seat restaurant with a slightly Old South décor was named after the … »more

Best Weekly Club Night

Although drum ’n’ bass may not be the average person’s choice of music, THURSDAYS AT THE MARK offer up consistency, quality DJs, a supportive venue … »more

Best Wi-Fi Location

With everyone seemingly owning a laptop and Wi-Fi coffee shops popping up all over town, more and more people are escaping the office or classroom … »more

Best Wine List

There are many phonebook-sized wine lists in town, but none as accessible or as fun as sommelier Philippe Buttin’s list at JOËL. The well-organized selection … »more

Best Wine Shop

The crusty, placard-bearing poodle sprawled on the sidewalk out front says it best: “Buy at Ansley Wine.” If that isn’t convincing enough, check out ANSLEY … »more

Best-Looking Waitstaff

At last, a reason for everyone to adopt a bisexual lifestyle — dining at APRES DIEM. The only thing that would improve the appearance of … »more

Body-snatching invasion

I'm breaking in a new editor for this column this week, so rather than make a standard article with things like structure and complete sentences, … »more

Brookhaven project faces opposition

A wildly ambitious, $400 million retail, residential and office development proposal by Sembler Co. for a 50-acre site in Brookhaven will likely need to undergo … »more

Criminal Records

Eric Levin doesn't consider himself a survivor. The 36-year-old can rattle off a long list of record stores that have disappeared in the years since … »more

Don't fear the Cult

"I'm steeped in monster movie and science fiction lore," says Blue Öyster Cult singer/songwriter/guitarist Eric Bloom. "And, you know, we've played 4,000 shows, but I … »more

Don't grunt

Perhaps the oddest cause célèbre I've encountered in some time is that of Albert Argibay, a New York state corrections officer who was recently expelled … »more

Driving stoned, rolling on

Apropos of nuttin', I'm rolling down the interstate this weekend when "Tumbling Dice" comes on the radio. And it gets me thinking about what's wrong … »more

Exploring the cavities of Atlanta

Welcome to Peep Show, a new feature where CL photographer Joeff Davis and I will bring you offbeat and provocative images from the past week's … »more

Face of tragedy

No one image, no one article, no one TV show, no one film -- no one anything -- can even begin to tell the story … »more

Feeding frenzy

It was a daunting prospect. Having been in Atlanta for three months, I looked at my editorial calendar and realized that within a matter of … »more

Fight over Va-Hi theater heating up

It doesn't seem like a topic that would warrant much discussion. After all, how many ways can you measure 300 feet?

When it comes to … »more

Hate me now

We, the genius-level minds behind Creative Loafing's editorial content, are often unfairly categorized as snobs.

Perhaps we're assigned that label from time to time because, … »more

Hell On wheels

Like many bands, Jucifer says its home is on the road. But this duo really means it. Since 2002, a well-worn Winnebago has been home … »more

How can the city get the Beltline back on track?

Now that negotiations have disintegrated between the city of Atlanta and the mega-developer who owns nearly a quarter of the Beltline, a proposed 22-mile loop … »more

HubCap

For some time now, the Castleberry Hill neighborhood in a still-industrial-feeling southwest corner of downtown has been growing like gangbusters. Its ascendant status as an … »more

Hungry heart

Theatrical Outfit's fleet medical drama The God Committee plays like a combination of Twelve Angry Men and the TV show "24," only with a surgical … »more

I changed my sex. Now what?

Signs Scott Turner Schofield is a man:

He looks, dresses and sounds like a man.

He has a masculine name.

He's prone to let the … »more

In search of ... Bill Berry

The phone rings. Finally, those late-night cable ads for my detective agency are paying off. It was a music journalist looking for information. His deadline … »more

Is funny, no?

Borat Sagdiyev is the fourth most famous person from Kazakhstan, a television personality known for hosting such broadcasts as "The Running of the Jew" and … »more

James Brown, dead at 73

There was only one Godfather of Soul.

James Brown, who died Christmas Day at Emory Crawford Long Hospital at the age of 73 of congestive … »more

Latin love

In an economy that favors the corporate big guy over everyone else, the small restaurant owned by a chef-turned-entrepreneur is an increasing rarity. The Wal-Marting … »more

Lesson No. 1

People can draw plenty of lessons from last week's election.

I've got one for congressional Republicans: Reality catches up with you.

Did you really believe … »more

Letters to the editor

Think Twice

I was always curious about what happened to the BMF crew (cover story, "BMF: Hip-hop's shadowy empire, part III of III" Dec. 21). … »more

Life goals

The website www.43things.com lists the 692,836 things that 619,213 people in 9,394 cities hope to accomplish in life. The site lumps popular goals by city, … »more

Local R&B/soul Act

It took damn-near forever, but local soul vocalist ALGEBRA finally broke onto the national scene. Born and raised in Atlanta, Algebra has been kicking around … »more

Long time gone

Dozens of "dinosaur bands" go on tour every summer on the amphitheater circuit for a pleasant, and occasionally, inspired night of nostalgia. It seems almost … »more

Lust List 2006

For each of the past four years, we've asked you, dear reader, to tell us where to find the sexiest Atlantans.

You've described how you … »more

Mark Taylor's best buddy

The last time Garrett Michael Hayes ran for governor, he won 2.3 percent of the vote. That was four years ago.

This year, Hayes -- … »more

McMansions may uproot historic Queen Anne

At 332 Murray Hill Ave. in Kirkwood is a gold-colored Queen Anne-style farmhouse as old as the neighborhood itself. Astute film buffs may know it … »more

Most Welcoming Restaurant For Kids

DAKOTA BLUE in Grant Park actually encourages kids rather than tolerates them. A whole corner of toys and coloring books to keep your child occupied … »more

Moving on up

Stories of people who dramatically change their lives are the backbone folklore of American life. It is what we believe about our country -- that … »more

Obey our mesmerizing endorsements completely

Your eyes are becoming heavier and heavier from watching so many negative campaign commercials. You are getting sleepier and sleepier. You are falling into a … »more

Old-timey treasure

"Flash has no place in playing. It might impress the kids," says the venerable Doc Watson, "but it's great songs that endure."

At 83, the … »more

On the Day Before Ashes

The devil stood in the middle of the street, refusing to budge. "I don’t care if a car hits me," said the devil, tightening up … »more

One need not be a lonely number

Whether we travel or stay at home, this week is the busiest week of the year. For one meal. We scurry through airports, plow through … »more

Out of Africa

It can begin in the belly -- "the Belly" of Django Gypsy Kitchen and Saloon, specifically. This downstairs dance club on Peachtree Street is the … »more

Parisian Charm

In my humble opinion, the restaurant in its most perfect form is not necessarily found in the hallowed rooms of haute cuisine. It's in the … »more

Pop star

I have a pop-culture disorder that resists treatment. I've disliked television all my life and have rarely watched it. There's nothing elitist in this, because … »more

Protecting the Beltline

It's been three weeks since the mega-developers who proposed two condo towers overlooking Piedmont Park decided to walk away from the deal, throwing a serious … »more

Pure fun

Like most American food writers, chefs and generally food-obsessed folks, I have a severe case of Europe envy. That is to say, I envy Europeans' … »more

Reparations? Hell, yes

"Your father isn't here to pay. My father isn't here to collect. But I'm here to collect and you're here to pay."

-- Malcolm X, … »more

Republicans explain what happened

… »more

Richard Jewell gets the 'hero' treatment -- finally

Last week, almost 10 years to the day that he saved untold lives when he discovered a bomb hidden under a bench in Centennial Park, … »more

School of hard knocks

Once upon a time, there was a president named Ronald Reagan, a lousy economy, a pox upon the land called disco and a passel of … »more

Sell Out Center

Unlike the usual gaggle of pussies who comprise my close friends -- all of whom scattered like fruit bats at the first sign I might … »more

Should Atlanta be building itself a Wi-Fi network?

Daniel: It would be nice to have, but it's too far-fetched. That is not necessary for our culture to survive. The city can survive without … »more

Sleeping beauty

From the moment Mr. Brown begins, Sleepy Brown confidently asserts that he is the modern definition of soul, a cipher for burnished sexuality and Southern … »more

Stand-up and deliver

It's Monday night, and I'm pacing around outside the Star Bar in Little Five Points, going over my set of jokes for the evening. I've … »more

Stream of consciousness

Beep Beep Gallery is a tiny, indie-art gallery that hugs a frantic stretch of Ponce de Leon Avenue. That grand artery separates the dealers in … »more

The 17th annual Golden Sleaze Awards

Could anyone tell that 2006 is an election year? If so, what was the giveaway?

The numerous Bible-friendly bills that sailed through the House like … »more

The 585

Inside a new music venue on 585 North Ave., a pair of girls glide on a swing hung from the rafters. People sit on plush … »more

The art of seduction

"Sexy" is not a word I like to use to describe restaurants. It is overused, and generally ends up meaning gaudy and over-designed. But there … »more

The Blotter

A THIN WOMAN walked into a check-cashing business on Forsyth Street. She took off her top and exposed her breasts to customers. Then, she took … »more

The Celestine prophecy

Celestine Sibley chronicled life in the South in a career that spanned more than 20 books and roughly 10,000 columns for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Across … »more

The crack in everything

It's been two months since my mother died on June 28.

Her death occurred while I was still impaired by the surgery I had on … »more

The crazy sister

So, hell no, I did not drag a goddamn safe all the way to Nicaragua like my sister asked. It's not like they don't sell … »more

The last supper

Atlanta is losing its greatest chefs at an alarming rate. When Sotohiro Kosugi closed down Soto and left town, we hoped that one day … »more

The simple life

Living on the highways and in the neighborhoods of Atlanta, it is sometimes difficult to remember that the city is sitting in the midst of … »more

Theory and fact

Uh oh. Just as this year's war on Christmas was winding down, the Cobb Country school board threw in the towel and decided to end … »more

Three women

In terms of subject matter, you probably couldn't find three female artists more different than C. Dawn Davis, Pamela Murphy and Gwen Wong.

Davis' darkly … »more

Tricks of the Trader

Some things are so kitschy, so laden with sentimentality and nostalgia, that you have no choice but to love them. I love Trader Vic's in … »more

Vive le Louvre!

Only recently the French -- and their toast and fries -- were Public Enemy No. 1. The French pooh-poohed our war in Iraq (my, have … »more

Waiting for a ride

On a Sunday night in late March, 23-year-old Alexia Howard shivered in the cold air that swept through MARTA's Hamilton Holmes Station. The temperature was … »more

Waterlogged

It's been more than four years since a devastating flood brought vast property damage to at least 70 homes in southeast and southwest Atlanta, but … »more

Watery grave

Spike Lee has made a career of cultural archaeology, reanimating American history and experience through African-American eyes in films that range from Bamboozled to Malcolm … »more

What the ...?

When you give your documentary a name like Fuck, you know you're in for a marketing challenge. Many posters and publications identify it as F*ck … »more

Whoa there, Jimmy

For a man who promotes peace, former President Jimmy Carter's new book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid has ignited a lot of controversy. House Democratic Speaker-to-be … »more

William Christenberry

For five decades, artist William Christenberry has been documenting the barbecue shacks, juke joints and crumbling rural homesteads devoured by kudzu in his native Hale … »more

Best 24-Hour Restaurant

Best 24-Hour Shopping

Best Acoustic Music Club

Best Adult Toy Store

Best Adult Videos (Tie)

Best Adult Videos (Tie)

Best After Hours/Late Night Spot

Best Alternative Art Space

Best Annual Event

Best Antique Store

Best Appetizers

Best Art Event

Best Art Exhibit in a Gallery

Best Art Exhibit in a Museum

Best Art Supplies

Best Baby Store

Best Bakery

Best Band to Get Fans to Vote

Best Bar Food

Best Barbecue

Best Barbershop (Tie)

Best Barbershop (Tie)

Best Bartender

Best Beach Retreat

Best Beer Selection

Best Beer Selection at a Liquor Store

Best Bike Shop

Best Bikini Wax

Best Biscuits

Best Bizarro Local News Story

Best Blues Club

Best Body Treatment

Best Book About Atlanta

Best Book by a Local Author

Best Bookstore

Best Bowling Alley

Best Breakdancer

Best Breakfast

Best Brew Pub

Best Budget Menswear

Best Budget Women's Wear

Best Buffet

Best Burlesque Performer

Best Burritos

Best Cajun

Best Camera Shop

Best Car Wash

Best Caribbean

Best Carry-out Food

Best Caterer

Best CDs

Best Cheap Eats

Best Chef

Best Chinese

Best Cigar Store

Best Climbing Wall

Best Club DJ

Best Club Event

Best Coffee

Best Coffee by the Pound

Best Coffeehouse

Best Columnist

Best Comedy Club

Best Comic Bookstore

Best Computer Store

Best Concert Venue

Best Contemporary Furniture

Best Cookies

Best Cooking Classes

Best Cosmetics

Best Country Music Club

Best Country Music Radio Station

Best Cuban

Best Cupcakes

Best Cupcakes

Best Dance Club

Best Dance Company

Best Dance Performance

Best Dance Squad Or Troupe

Best Dating Service

Best Deli

Best Desserts

Best Dim Sum

Best Dive Bar

Best Doggie Daycare

Best Drag Queen

Best Drag Wear

Best DVD/Video Rental

Best East Asian Food Market

Best Electronics Store

Best Emerging Visual Artist

Best established visual artist

Best Expense Account Lunch

Best Film Festival

Best Film Series

Best Flea Market

Best Florist

Best French

Best Fried Catfish

Best Fried Chicken

Best Friend of the Arts

Best Frou-Frou Martini

Best Furniture on a Budget

Best Furniture on Someone Else's Budget

Best Gallery

Best Gamers Shop

Best Garden Shop

Best Gay Bar

Best Gay-themed Store

Best Georgia-Based Band MySpace Page

Best Georgia-Based Music Blog

Best Golf Course

Best Golf Course

Best Golf Course

Best Greasy Spoon

Best Grits

Best Guerrilla Art

Best Hair Salon

Best Hamburger

Best Hardware Store

Best Head Shop

Best Health Club

Best Health Food Store

Best Ice Cream

Best Improv Group

Best Independent Clothing Boutique

Best Indian

Best Indian/Pakistani Food Market

Best Indie Crafter

Best Intown Dry Cleaner

Best Intown Park

Best Italian

Best Japanese

Best Jazz Club

Best Jazz Radio Station

Best Jewelry

Best Jewelry Designer

Best Juke Box

Best Karaoke Night

Best Kids' Clothing

Best Kitchen Tools

Best Korean

Best Kosher

Best Latin Music Club

Best Latino Food Market

Best Lesbian Bar

Best Lingerie

Best Liquor Store

Best Literary Event

Best Local Actor on the National Scene

Best Local Artist on the National Scene

Best Local Athlete

Best Local Author

Best Local Band To Break Up

Best Local Blogger

Best Local Blogger

Best Local Blues Act

Best Local Brew

Best Local Celebrity

Best Local Clothing Designer

Best Local Country Music Act

Best Local Do-Gooder

Best Local Do-Gooder

Best Local Electronic Act

Best Local Experimental Music Act

Best Local Female Actor

Best Local Filmmaker

Best Local Filmmaker

Best Local Hero

Best Local Hip-Hop Act

Best Local Instrumentalist

Best Local International Music Act

Best Local Jazz Act

Best Local Label

Best Local Latino Music Act

Best Local Male Actor

Best Local Neighborhood Bar

Best Local New Music Act

Best Local Overall Music Act

Best Local Place To Commune With Nature

Best Local Playwright

Best Local Politico

Best Local Promoter

Best Local R&B/Soul Act

Best Local Recording Studio

Best Local Rock Act

Best Local Rock Act

Best Local Rock Act

Best Local Singer/Songwriter

Best Local Spoken Word Artist

Best Local Traditional Folk Act

Best Local Troublemaker

Best Local TV or Newspaper Reporter

Best Local Vocalist

Best Local Website

Best Locally Produced Podcast

Best Locally Produced TV Show

Best Looking Waitstaff

Best Margarita

Best Meat and Three

Best Mexican

Best Middle Eastern

Best Mojito

Best Morning Drive-Time Radio Show

Best Mountain Escape

Best Museum

Best Musical Instruments

Best Nail Salon

Best Natural Hair Salon

Best Neighborhood

Best Neighborhood Festival

Best New Building

Best New Gallery

Best New Loft/Condo Development

Best New Restaurant

Best New Shopping District

Best New Shopping Mall/Center

Best New Thing About Atlanta

Best New Trend in the Arts

Best New Vinyl (Dance Music)

Best Non-Commercial Radio Station

Best Old Thing About Atlanta

Best OTP Dry Cleaner

Best OTP Music Club

Best OTP Park

Best Outdoor Music Venue

Best Outlet Shopping

Best Overall Radio Station

Best Overall Restaurant

Best Patio Dining

Best Pawn Shop

Best Person You Hate To Love

Best Person You Love To Hate

Best Pet Store

Best Piercing Place

Best Pilates Instructor

Best Pizza

Best Place For A Cheap Date

Best Place For An Expensive Date

Best Place Register for Your Wedding

Best Place to Accessorize

Best Place To Hear Local Music

Best Place To Hear Music For Free

Best Place to Hear Spoken Word

Best Place to Mountain Bike

Best Place to Road Bike

Best Place to See a Movie

Best Place To Splish-Splash

Best Place to Spot Celebrities

Best Plastic Surgeon

Best Play

Best Playground

Best Pool Hall

Best Prank Latino Music Act

Best Private Art Collection

Best Public Access TV Show

Best Public Art

Best Quirk About Atlanta

Best Radio DJ

Best Redneck Bar

Best Restaurant for a First Date

Best Restaurant for Late-Night Dining

Best Restaurant to Bring the Kids

Best Restaurant to Take Visitors

Best Restaurant Trend

Best Restaurant When Someone Else Is Paying

Best Restaurant with a Social Conscience

Best Restaurant Worth The Long Trip

Best Rock Club

Best Rock Station

Best Sandwiches/Subs

Best Seafood

Best Shoes

Best Shopping District

Best Shopping Mall/Center

Best Sign Atlanta Isn't Like L.A.

Best Sign Isn't Like the Rest of Georgia

Best Signature Cocktail

Best Soul Food

Best Southern

Best Southwestern

Best Spa

Best Sporting Goods

Best Sports Bar

Best Stage Director

Best Steaks

Best Steaks

Best Straight Bar

Best Street Character

Best Strip Club

Best Stripper

Best Student/Discount Body Treatment

Best Suburb

Best Sunday Brunch

Best Sushi

Best Sushi

Best Tapas

Best Tapas

Best Tattoo Studio

Best Thai

Best Theater Company

Best Theater Premiere

Best Thrift Store

Best Touring Play

Best Tourist Spot

Best Toy Store

Best Traditional Furniture

Best Traditional Martini

Best TV Anchor

Best TV Sports Anchor

Best TV Weather Person

Best Urban Music Club

Best Urban Radio Station

Best Used Bookstore

Best Used CDs

Best Used Vinyl

Best Vegetarian

Best Veggie Burger

Best Vietnamese

Best Vintage Clothing

Best Vitamin Store

Best Waitstaff

Best Wedding Store

Best Weekly Club Night

Best Wi-Fi Location

Best Wine Bar

Best Wine By The Glass

Best Wine List

Best Wine Shop

Best Yoga Instructor

Best Yoga Studio

'Life' vs.'Choice'

For the past 33 years, women have had the right to choose whether to terminate their pregnancies. That right has sparked heated debates, as well … »more

A vote for Pedro

One of the most distinctive voices in contemporary world cinema, art-house firecracker Pedro Almodóvar is a veritable gazpacho of heartbreak and kink pulverized into a … »more

And the nominees are ...

The Suzi Bass Awards for excellence in Atlanta professional theater expanded its scope with its nominations for 2006.

Founded in 2003 by Atlanta actor and … »more

At what price glory?

Cocoa-dusted marshmallows, apricot jellies and tiny chocolates sit in a military-straight line on a lithe tray. They have been offered as our meal's crowning flourish, … »more

Best Art Neighborhood

Though at this point there is hardly a glut of galleries, things are definitely on the rise on THE WESTSIDE. Yes, it’s home to Howell … »more

Best “Best Club” Curse

Atlanta clubs shouldn’t strive to be the “best club,” just a really good club. In Atlanta, for some strange reason, IF A CLUB GETS NATIONAL … »more

Best 24-Hour Dining

In most cities situated more than 5,000 miles from Seoul, it’s hard enough to find a silky, sizzling bowl of tofu soup at a normal … »more

Best 24-Hour Restaurant

Best 24-Hour Shopping

Best Acoustic Music Club

Best Acoustic Music Club

There’s a reason EDDIE’S ATTIC dominates this category year after year — the venue earns it! Even changes in ownership (now in the loving hands … »more

Best Adult Toy Store

Best Adult Videos (Tie)

Best Adult Videos (Tie)

Best After Hours/Late Night Spot

Best After Hours/Late-Night Spot

When the bars in Fulton County began closing at 2:30 a.m., we sorta thought people might start going out earlier to pack in the same … »more

Best All-ages Author

In the Owly series of graphic novels published by Marietta’s Top Shelf Productions, Lilburn native ANDY RUNTON gives “wholesome” a good name through the black-and-white, … »more

Best All-around Play

In a year blessed with numerous world-premiere productions, none proved more heartfelt, insightful or quintessentially “Atlantan” than Theatrical Outfit’s debut of Thomas Ward’s KEEPING WATCH, … »more

Best Alternative Art Space

Artists have always loved EYEDRUM ART & MUSIC GALLERY. The scrappy nonprofit features a democratically programmed repertoire of everything from cutting-edge sonic experiments to conceptual … »more

Best Alternative Art Space

Best Annual Event

Atlanta is a city of festivals. There’s the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park, Pride Week, the return of the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Downtown Festival … »more

Best Annual Event

Best Antique Store

There are plenty of highfalutin antique stores around Atlanta where rich folks can drop a mess of cash on old European gewgaws. Then, there are … »more

Best Antique Store

Best Appetizers

Best Art Blog

Local artist and craft fan Garth Johnson has one of the most impressive artsy-craft-centric websites going, period, at WWW.EXTREMECRAFT.COM. Its visual panache is matched by … »more

Best Art Event

The place to both look at art and be looked at looking at art is the CASTLEBERRY HILL ART STROLL. The diverse Friday night scene, … »more

Best Art Event

Best Art Exhibit in a Gallery

Best Art Exhibit In A Gallery

Few shows this year generated the laugh-out-loud chuckles of DAVID HUMPHREY’S NEW PAINTINGS AT SOLOMON PROJECTS. The New York artist’s über-kitsch paintings feature oddball imagery … »more

Best Art Exhibit in a Museum

Best Art Exhibit In A Museum

ORIGIN: ANDREW ROSS INSTALLATIONS was the breathtaking solo show featuring former Atlanta artist Ross’ meditation on the fragile history of humankind. It delivered the conceptual … »more

Best Art Supplies

Best Athlete

It wasn’t so long ago that ANDRUW JONES walked into the office of Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz without his agent and agreed to … »more

Best Baby Store

Best Bakery

Best Bakery

We’ve been addicted to the lamb sandwiches, croissants, chocolate-chocolate cookies and country French bread at ALON’S BAKERY for more than a decade. In recent years, … »more

Best Ballet — and Stoning

Though we’re slightly concerned that they may have emboldened our enemies, we loved Brooks & Company Dance’s ominous take on unquestioning allegiance in THE LOTTERY. … »more