Benefit: 500 Songs for Kids

As VH1's Save the Music dwindles down, other foundations benefiting children through music are taking over. Atlanta's Songs for Kids Foundation hosts 500 SONGS FOR … »more

Benefit: Save Water, Drink Beer

There's no better way to celebrate the coming of spring than with a nice, cold beer. The Georgia Conservancy presents Generation Green's SAVE WATER, DRINK … »more

Best 7-inch can of whoop-ass you'll open all year

Predator's debut single, "HONEST MAN" (Rob's House), catches the band at its anxiety-ridden finest. Three cuts of razor-sharp guitar, bass and drums collide with two-part … »more

Best amenity-laden hotel

A decade ago, Atlanta was pretty much devoid of high-end boutique hotels. Sure, there was the Westin and Four Seasons and the Ritz, but the … »more

Best annual release of aggression

Road races give you blisters. Beer festivals get you bloated. And, considering the state of some seats on public transit, the lovable urban prank No … »more

Best antiques

The two cavernous Atlanta Exposition Center buildings off the southern edge of I-285 that house SCOTT ANTIQUE MARKET one weekend a month have high-end pieces … »more

Best art exhibit in a gallery

Atlanta artist Pandra Williams presented a complex and meditative study in the biology of technology (and vice versa) with her moody installation "Radicis," one of … »more

Best bag for a last-minute trip

What is it about the smell of leather that makes you feel like everything will be OK? That your upcoming trip won't be a complete … »more

Best band to outlast the after party

By law, Atlanta's local watering holes have to close their taps at 2:30 a.m., but that doesn't mean the party's over. The after-hours scene is … »more

Best band to rock the casbah

No one gets a party started quite like NOOT D' NOOT. If the collective experience of eight musicians who've spent their time in the trenches, … »more

Best banh mi

QUOC HUONG BANH MI FAST FOOD's banh mi will make you swear off all other "fast food" for good. A crusty Vietnamese-style baguette rains crumbs … »more

Best bar for electronic/DJ music

The folks from Top Flr have once again transformed an awkward slice of staircases and rooms into a fully functional restaurant and lounge. In the … »more

Best bar snacks

If the dudes over at THE SOUND TABLE know how to do one thing, it's make food to drink with. Belly up to the bar … »more

Best barely ITP park

Tucked back into a quaint neighborhood and situated on a bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee River on the very northwestern edge of the city, WHITTIER MILL … »more

Best bargain boutique for trend-setters

Cash-strapped fashionistas used to be relegated to rummaging through the racks at Forever 21 to find trend on a budget. But FAB'RIK changed all that … »more

Best bargain men's haircut

Our city boasts a healthy supply of coiffeurs who know how to transform a hirsute mess into a dapper, clean-cut gent. Very few, however, can … »more

Best bargain women's haircut

There's an old adage that you get what you pay for, but if you're like most people slogging through the recession, you'll take your chances … »more

Best bet for next hot 'hood

It's been revving up for a while, fueled by a restaurant boom along Edgewood Avenue, but the OLD FOURTH WARD seems on the verge of … »more

Best bikini wax

A sleek space, staffers who can talk you through nerves or make pleasant conversation if you're an old pro, and a choice of two unused … »more

Best bizarro news story

In saner states, legislative hearings to address the problem of involuntary implantation of microchips would easily score as the year's weirdest news story. But in … »more

Best black box theater

An intimate venue even by the minuscule standards of black box spaces, DAD'S GARAGE TOP SHELF offers an incubator of raw local talent, notably Griefers, … »more

Best blockbuster theater

The corporate name may not be inspirational, but every other aspect of the COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE never fails to impress, from its sleek … »more

Best bookstore

Kindles and iPads may be killing traditional books but EAGLE EYE BOOK SHOP in Decatur proves there's still some life left — and that a … »more

Best burger

Pizza wars. Burger wars. Can't we all just get along? If there has to be a winner, the prize goes to BOCADO, ironically a restaurant … »more

Best burlesque troupe

It doesn't get any sexier than a gal with dry wit — unless, of course, she's topless. Case in point: BLAST-OFF BURLESQUE, whose regular roster … »more

Best cathartic 7-inch experience

"GEORGANNE" (Double Phantom), the latest indie brat rant from the Balkans is a melodic ride where Frankie Broyles' musings on isolation bleed into a haze … »more

Best CD store to satisfy your soul

LITTLE 5 SOUL has not only survived, it's grown from a stall in the Bazaar at Little Five Points to its current location, where you … »more

Best cheap eats

How he does it is a mystery, but at LUNACY BLACK MARKET, Paul Luna is serving some of the tastiest food around at prices that … »more

Best Chinese noodles

The family-owned MING'S BAR B Q is small and sparse, but the offerings overshadow any design follies. The window facing the parking lot houses a … »more

Best collective artistic "Oh, hell naw!"

When artists, arts organizations and their supporters first learned last April that the Georgia House of Representative's proposed state budget for 2011 eliminated funds for … »more

Best comic books

The comic bubble burst in the '90s, but fanboys, geek girls and graphic novel enthusiasts still crowd OXFORD COMICS & GAMES every Wednesday for new … »more

Best country music act

When SODAJERK singer and guitarist Bucky Goldstein's slide, twang and ramped-up recollections ring out over the group's highway rock 'n' roll beat, it's obvious that … »more

Best dance company

The emergence of dancemaker Lauri Stallings' GLOATL over the past year has been the artistic equivalent of a fire alarm going off in the middle … »more

Best dessert trend

Where better than Atlanta, home of the Varsity, to revive the tradition of FRIED PIES? Upscale restaurants such as Craft and Holeman & Finch are … »more

Best dining deal

BLT STEAK'S 5 AT 5 outshines other dining deals for many reasons — because it's available every day, because it includes booze, and because there's … »more

Best display of the power of the MSM

This year's turnover in state House leadership wasn't brought about by voters, prosecutors or an act of God. Instead, it was due to the SUSAN … »more

Best DJ to free your soul

You already know: Nowadays everybody's a damn DJ. But DJ KEMIT is so much more. A former founding member of early '90s alt/hip-hop group Arrested … »more

Best doggie day care

Is Nacho acting like a rabid wildebeest, devouring your recently acquired Ray-Bans and gnawing the painstakingly detailed woodwork right off that pristinely restored fainting couch? … »more

Best doughnut

Kamal Grant's doughnut shop, SUBLIME DOUGHNUTS, is big on flavor and personality. Grant, the sweet-talking Pharrell Williams look-alike, charmed his way into our doughnut-loving hearts … »more

Best dumplings

CHEF LIU's new location has renewed the restaurant's cherished place in our dumpling-loving bellies. The expansion means a bigger kitchen and a larger menu that … »more

Best electronic act

No one has done more to foster a sense of community within the electro-rock scene than SONEN. The group's monthly Laserbeam Kitty nights at the … »more

Best emerging visual artist

LUCHA RODRIGUEZ's examination of the body as a web of thoughts and organs manifests itself in the ethereal delicacy of her voluminous hand-cut paper installations … »more

Best evidence of social progress

They still can't marry in Georgia, but it's clear that GAY ELECTED OFFICIALS are finding more public acceptance than ever before. Voters have sent two … »more

Best evolution of farm-to-table dining

For years, organics, slow food and locavorism have been struggling with their identity as a movement confined to high-end restaurants and high-priced marketplaces. But this … »more

Best excuse to get drunk with your dad

Soft, soaring guitars, sugary keyboards, insipid vocals — this ain't your daddy's rock 'n' roll! Wait, yes it is. For YACHT ROCK REVUE, the past … »more

Best Experimental Music Act

It's easy to mistake the THE BACK POCKETS' ragged display of noise-folk and performance art for an urban art-hippie thing. But there's not a lot … »more

Best falafel

There are a lot of balls out there, but most don't deserve a place in your mouth. The crunchy golden balls of fried chickpea and … »more

Best fiction author

Scorch Atlas author BLAKE BUTLER doesn't just write fiction, he creates interlocking worlds, apocalyptic visions raining gravel or glass or glitter. His thin volumes swell … »more

Best food event

The cry to "legalize Atlanta street food!" spread across the interwebs this year with surprising enthusiasm. The folks behind the Atlanta Street Food Coalition took … »more

Best gallery

With its exposed brick walls and airy, modern layout, Susan Bridges' Inman Park carriage-house-turned-gallery WHITESPACE is at once nostalgic and modern. The same can be … »more

Best gallery spotlighting local artists

Throughout its nearly five-year existence, Poncey-Highland hole-in-the-wall BEEP BEEP GALLERY has been a major factor in transforming Atlanta's underground and emerging art scenes, from shows … »more

Best gay strip club

Word is that a handful of the strippers at SWINGING RICHARDS are actually straight, but no bachelorette parties allowed — just gays and the occasional … »more

Best graf writer

Casting a critical eye at graf writers is a little counterintuitive. We're not about to impose a set of rules where they clearly don't belong, … »more

Best graphic novelist

Terms like "subtlety," "innocence," and "whimsy" seldom describe contemporary graphic novels, but of all the creators in our lively, local comic book scene, Lilburn's ANDY … »more

Best guest actor to throw his money around

Powerhouse monologist MIKE DAISEY took the Alliance Theatre by storm last spring. Marrying the verbal and thematic ingenuity of the late Spalding Gray with the … »more

Best gym deal

You might think it's an odd choice, but LA FITNESS pretty much has the market cornered on the affordable workout. Less than $40 per month? … »more

Best health trend

Burpees, anyone? Pushup drills? Suicide runs? It may seem torturous, but BOOT CAMPS such as Operation Boot Camp, BTB BootCamp, and the American Boot Camp … »more

Best high-end vintage garb

STEFAN'S VINTAGE CLOTHING is held in high esteem for its orderly racks of formalwear, and for good reason. The Little Five Points institution has anchored … »more

Best highfalutin furniture

In recent years, the Westside has become a furniture-shoppers paradise, with big chain names like Room & Board opening as well as an impressive string … »more

Best hometown Internet sensation

Following in the footsteps of such Atlanta-based cyber-heroes as MailChimp and Regator, the eight-month-old SCOUTMOB has already become a must-have app on local smart phones. … »more

Best hope for Atlanta gridlock

After three years of trying and failing — and failing and failing — the Georgia General Assembly this year finally passed a REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION TAX … »more

Best hotel bar

The W Downtown watering hole DRINKSHOP is where you go when you're rich, beautiful or hoping to brush shoulders with either (or preferably both). The … »more

Best ice cream flavor

What's been missing from our ice cream all these years? Salt! OK, maybe not all of our ice cream needs it, but MORELLI'S SALTED CARAMEL … »more

Best ice cream sandwich

When the restaurant opened for lunch earlier this year, MILLER UNION gave us more to celebrate than just a classy Westside midday option. For dessert … »more

Best intown hipster hootenanny

Cold draft beer, live bluegrass and all the chili you can eat (until it runs out). What's not to love about Cabbagetown's annual CHOMP AND … »more

Best intro to Atlanta history

Sherman might've burned the joint, but it was the automobile that truly destroyed Atlanta. Led by local architect Jeff Morrison, the UNSEEN UNDERGROUND WALKING TOUR … »more

Best Karaoke Night

Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name — and your favorite karaoke jams. On a scale of neighborhood bars, Pal's Lounge falls somewhere … »more

Best kids' radio show for non-kids

Airing Saturdays on 1690 (WMLB-AM), THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT touts itself as "kids' music for everyone." But that tag undersells the product. Each DIY-ish broadcast … »more

Best local athlete you've never heard of

Having recently celebrated his 19th birthday, EVANDER KANE's name probably doesn't ring any bells for most Atlantans — or maybe it's just because he plays … »more

Best local blogger

Nowhere will you find more cleverly written posts on such Atlanta-centric topics as beer-swillin' 1930s circus elephants, the city's first parking deck or downtown's hidden … »more

Best local celebrity

What's red and bushy, has fancy W Hotel parties thrown in its honor, can be spotted at local joints including Morelli's Ice Cream and the … »more

Best local comedian

It's been said that the best comedy comes from pain. If that's really the case, then somebody must have kicked the shit out of ANDY … »more

Best Local DIY or die band

Since CARNIVORES released their debut LP, All Night Dead USA, the last year has taken them on a whirlwind East Coast and Midwest tour, earning … »more

Best local female actor

In recent years, Atlantans have been short-changed the charms of PushPush Theater co-founder SHELBY HOFER, primarily due to her having a child. Hofer renewed her … »more

Best local mainstream artist to give the industry the middle finger

As track after track leaked from the unreleased Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, everyone within earshot (or a Wi-Fi hotspot) began … »more

Best local male actor

A mainstay of Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company, E. ROGER MITCHELL proves the best kind of utility player by putting fresh spins on vivid … »more

Best Local overall music act

Over the past year, ZOROASTER has become as mammoth a metal band as that other iconic act, the one that put Atlanta on the metal … »more

Best local sports romance

Based simply on the ubiquity of Braves T-shirts with his name on the back — spotted at the mall, the grocery store, a friend's wedding, … »more

Best martial arts studio

MADHOUSE TRAINING is where the practicing mixed martial arts pros go, but that doesn't mean you should be intimidated. The studio, headed by six-time world … »more

Best men's clothing store

Having recently relocated to Midtown's stylish Metropolis building, DREW LEWIS is right at home. In fact, the scene is not unlike shopping at the loft … »more

Best Mexican fusion

Don't let the margarita-swilling EAV hipsters lounging on the patio fool you. Behind the any-old-taqueria façade of HOLY TACO lies a menu that will transport … »more

Best Mixologist

The large square bar at Abattoir is a lovely place to hang out and eat, and it's the well-tended territory of barkeep BRIAN STANGER. Stanger's … »more

Best mixtape to bump in your box Chevy

Seems like we've been heralding Gadsden, Ala., transplant Yelawolf as the next big thing since he was hood-high to a Chevy. With TRUNK MUZIK, the … »more

Best mixtape to play while assuming the lotus position

It's as if Sa-Roc materialized out of the ether. Without warning, the D.C.-bred MC with the metaphysical flow has overtaken Atlanta's underground scene, bearing lyrical … »more

Best movie theater

None of Atlanta's slick corporate cinema chains feels as much like a picture show by and for the community as the 71-year-old PLAZA THEATRE. The … »more

Best neighborhood for after-hours

Atlanta's "last call" doesn't have to mean "good night." Just outside the city limits, late-night carousers and party animals flock to BUFORD HIGHWAY to seek … »more

Best neighborhood for artists

There's a fairly reliable life cycle applicable to artists' neighborhoods: In the beginning, no one gives a shit about them, not even the artists. The … »more

Best neighborhood for ethnic eating

DULUTH, Atlanta's unofficial Koreatown, may be the best thing to come out of Atlanta's monstrous urban sprawl since the venerated Korean barbecue house, Hae Woon … »more

Best new kid behind the soundboard

A good soundman is hard to find. So when Curt Wells, the Earl's in-house man behind the board since 2007, decided it was time to … »more

Best new park for catching air

For decades, Atlanta skateboarders have ducked rent-a-cops or schlepped OTP to grind curbs and ollie gaps. Thanks to the Beltline, they'll soon be able to … »more

Best new restaurant and best pizza

Which restaurant has changed the face of Atlanta dining the most since opening in the past year? The restaurant that finally brought us world-class pizza. … »more

Best non-mainstream mixtape to mainline intravenously

The aptly titled 1140: THE OVERDOSE paired Atlanta's up-from-dirt MC Pill with mixtape royalty DJ Drama in a release that is the polar opposite of … »more

Best noncommercial radio station

For 36 years, WCLK has been home to the city's best selection of jazz — from breezy vocals to funky grooves — in addition to … »more

Best nonfiction author

After reading MARA SHALHOUP's vivid and kaleidoscopic exploration of the Black Mafia Family, BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia … »more

Best one-stop beer shop

HOP CITY opened on the Westside in 2009 with an excellent selection of some 1,700 craft brews organized by style. Aisles are cramped with smoky … »more

Best organic farm

Judith Winfrey and Joe Reynolds could very easily have thrown up their hands and moved on after the 2009 floods nearly washed away LOVE IS … »more

Best OTP park

You don't have to be a Civil War buff to appreciate the 2,900 acres and 18 miles of hiking trails at KENNESAW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD … »more

Best outdoor farmers' market

The Morningside Farmers Market used to be the only exciting produce spot in our city. That was until the PEACHTREE ROAD FARMERS MARKET pitched its … »more

Best overall neighborhood

In Atlanta, where a drive to the Westside can feel like a drive to the West Coast, a good neighborhood minimizes the necessity to hop … »more

Best overall restaurant

It may not be the fanciest restaurant in Atlanta, or the one with the most formal service, or even the one with the highest star … »more

Best overlooked tourist spot

Off the beaten path and underpublicized, WESTVIEW CEMETERY is one of the most picturesque spots in Atlanta. At nearly 600 acres, it's the largest cemetery … »more

Best person you love to hate

Back in the olden days (2007 or so), we genuinely liked Maconite Republican blogger ERICK ERICKSON, even though the only political issue we've ever agreed … »more

Best photo finish

It's safe to say that the last five years JULIAN COX has spent as the curator of photography at the High have been some of … »more

Best place to fix your bike

If you're going to brave the streets on two wheels, it will probably prove important to know how to change a flat or lube your … »more

Best place to people-watch

Generally, airports are considered unpleasant places — stuffy, crowded sumps of humanity where you get price-gouged for coffee and forced to slide around in stocking … »more

Best play

Ironically, Alliance Theatre Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition finalist FAIR USE proved to be more felicitous and satisfying than any of the Kendeda's storied winners to … »more

Best playwright

As artistic director of Essential Theatre, PETER HARDY has been Atlanta's de facto midwife of new local plays. In the summer of 2010, however, Hardy … »more

Best po'boy

Soft-as-a-cloud rolls lined with butter lettuce set the stage for STAR PROVISIONS' dreamy, unorthodox riff on the New Orleans classic. Texture is king as you … »more

Best poet

Using his own experiences as a quadriplegic, PAUL GUEST explores the way any of us — all of us — can or can't move and … »more

Best popsicles

When former insurance company analyst Steven Carse, better known on the streets as the KING OF POPS, first showed up on the corner of North … »more

Best public art event

In August, more than a dozen of the world's most prolific and noted street artists descended on Atlanta for LIVING WALLS: THE CITY SPEAKS, a … »more

Best public art performance

Working with an old house in the historic Old Fourth Ward, a softball field, a vacant lot, and a growth of kudzu behind a strip … »more

Best ramen

Ramen lust has exploded all over Atlanta in the past couple of years. However, no ramen-ya exhibits such a level of quality as YAKITORI JINBEI. … »more

Best reason to ditch your computer

With the Internet providing a seemingly infinite amount of free porn, adult video stores have taken a hit over the past decade — though you … »more

Best reason to navigate the urban jungle

Forget gallery walls, this year artists have been vying for representation in public spaces, most significantly as part of the sprawling, multidisciplinary project ART ON … »more

Best reason to scrap Evites

Yeah, it's convenient to ask your besties over for a dinner party using Evite or invite everyone you know to your friend's new band via … »more

Best recession-proof neighborhood

The economy has taken a bite out of development all over town, but Atlanta's WESTSIDE is still humming. It's a hot dining destination — with … »more

Best record store with actual LPs

In the age of the download, no record store in Atlanta has held up with more grace under pressure than CRIMINAL RECORDS. Not only has … »more

Best recording studio

THE LIVING ROOM sits in a 104-year-old house on the Westside, where owners/engineers Ed Rawls and Justin McNeight foster a relaxed vibe that's lost in … »more

Best restaurant décor

There's no shortage of design firms around these days, and no doubt you can hire someone to create a great-looking restaurant. But we prefer a … »more

Best restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner

No restaurant this year has garnered as much anticipation as EMPIRE STATE SOUTH, Athens chef Hugh Acheson's foray into Atlanta dining. While it's still a … »more

Best restaurant with a bar scene

"Bar" comes before "deli" in the name of this brave little establishment, and for good reason. A charming Italian restaurant in the respectable hours, a … »more

Best rooftop view of lower Midtown

You can get higher than the 19 floors occupied by the newer wing of the GEORGIAN TERRACE HOTEL, but you'll likely be looking out a … »more

Best service

For years, Neal McCarthy set the feel and tone for service at Inman Park classic Sotto Sotto. Now, he's moved on to open his own … »more

Best shaved ice

This ain't your daddy's snow cone. Towering mounds of finely shaved ice milk melt on your tongue at SUNO DESSERT. Suno makes the health claim … »more

Best shooting range

Atlanta might be a liberal blue speck in a vast sea of right-wing red, neither color is bulletproof. In fact, Georgians without the slightest hint … »more

Best shop to go nuts for candy

Is it just us, or is everything cuter in Decatur? In the fall of 2008, the Brothers Greene (that would be Tommy and Phil Greene … »more

Best sign that Atlanta's a new mini-Hollywood

Between Tyler Perry's Atlanta-based media empire, Georgia's financial incentives for film production, and Screen Gems' new deal to convert Lakewood Fairgrounds into a soundstage, the … »more

Best sign that gay media is still alive

Even before this year's shuttering of Southern Voice, the popularity of PROJECT Q stood as evidence that the new media (i.e., a website) can keep … »more

Best sneaker store

There's no better place than downtown Atlanta landmark WALTER'S for browsing Air Jordans, Air Force Ones, Adidas shell-toes and Chuck Taylors — all while brushing … »more

Best soundtrack for two-fisting it in L5P

Atlanta's consummate power-pop songwriter Blake Rainey takes a drunken stroll through the bars of Little Five Points on the 7-inch "FUCKED UP IN PUBLIC" from … »more

Best stage director

Actor's Express artistic director FREDDIE ASHLEY benefits from the law of averages in this category: He's such a prolific director that if you've seen a … »more

Best strip club DJ

Whenever the economy goes south, strippers are the first to feel the pinch. Likely because, as Big K.R.I.T. raps, "[dudes] pay to get in, but … »more

Best strip club event

Besides being Atlanta's oldest strip club (and featuring some of Atlanta's oldest strippers), Clermont Lounge remains the freakiest trip in town. And on Saturday nights, … »more

Best tattoo studio

A shitty haircut will eventually grow out, and an embarrassing sweater will, with the help of a good friend, find its way to the nearest … »more

Best theater company

Perhaps something's in the water in Lawrenceville. Since AURORA THEATRE debuted its new playhouse there in 2007, the once-tame suburban theater has seen increasing creative … »more

Best thrift threads

Everyone else's trash is your treasure at VALUE VILLAGE. A dogged dig through the seemingly endless racks and aisles will turn up hip plaids, tweed … »more

Best throwback soul band

Egomaniacal frontmen (and women) take note. Lest there be any doubt about magnanimity in the ranks of the classy and copious SOULPHONICS & RUBY VELLE, … »more

Best tofu

BISHOKU is the brainchild of Jackie Fukuya-Merkel, the daughter of the former owners of the venerable Sushi Huku in Sandy Springs. Merkel's endeavor is a … »more

Best torta

The Milanese torta at TAQUERIA LA OAXAQUENA is the kind of sandwich that, once you've had it, trumps all other meat and bread combinations. A … »more

Best trend in the arts

Atlanta's art scene has experienced a changing of the guard over the past couple of years: The collective has become king. And while the twenty- … »more

Best tuna sandwich

Each bite of the Tunisian tuna sandwich at ALON'S BAKERY transports you to a seaside café in a European coastal town. The sandwich smacks of … »more

Best underestimated suburb

Let's face it: MARIETTA gets a bad rap as surrounding Cobb County casts a sad shadow with its aging McMansions and soulless strip malls. But … »more

Best underground art space

Tucked away in the nether regions of the Sampson Street Lofts, MINT GALLERY makes itself known with an unassuming orange door. The artist-run nonprofit gallery … »more

Best use of Krog Street tunnel

As BP's busted well continued to gush oil into the Gulf of Mexico nearly two months after the Deep Water Horizon's "blowout preventer" failed to … »more

Best validation of the big-city daily

The ongoing coverage of the standardized test cheating scandal involving Atlanta schools by ALAN JUDD AND HEATHER VOGELL shows why a large daily newspaper is … »more

Best vegetarian splurge

Kevin Gillespie may be pork-obsessed, but when it comes to budget-busting special occasion meals, America's favorite bearded, pig-tatted chef is an equal opportunity employer. WOODFIRE … »more

Best vintage accessories

FROCK OF AGES shuttered the doors of its Candler Park outpost in 2008 after 18 years, but has since migrated to a sizable corner booth … »more

Best volunteer program

It's no concrete jungle, but Atlanta isn't exactly known for a proliferation of public green space. In fact, before the Beltline increased per-capita parkland acreage … »more

Best way for women to get over their Sid Mashburn envy

At long last, ANN MASHBURN, wife to Esquire's best-dressed Sid and a style icon in her own right, opened her eponymously named boutique alongside her … »more

Best way to deal with historic properties

Rather than simply razing Atlanta's most historic structures to make room for cookie-cutter condo buildings, some creative developers had a better idea: REUSE THEM. Consider … »more

Best way to dig yourself out of the doghouse

Did you stay out late and forget to call? Again? Inman Park's adorable ADAPTATION FLORAL DESIGN can be your ticket to redemption. Whether your girl … »more

Best way to see the city in a new way

After years of being promised connected neighborhoods via shiny, happy artist sketches, the Beltline has finally delivered on some of its pledged perks. Residents and … »more

Best wine list

With the shuttering of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton and Joël, two of the great wine lists in our city are gone. But there's … »more

Best yoga deal

OK, so $89 for eight yoga (or pilates) classes per month is about the norm. Even factoring in the sheer number of classes offered a … »more

Best young punks

RALPH's buzz-bomb guitars and screaming tornado-punk whir sound more like gems plucked from the grooves of a Killed by Death '80s punk compilation than anything … »more

Books: Anya Kamenetz

I bet my student loans cost more than your mortgage – and I'm saying that with a straight face. Before ditching the dorm and buying … »more

Books: Carolyn Jessop

She escaped from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seven years ago, and now CAROLYN JESSOP comes to Decatur to share what … »more

Books: David Anthony Durham

Sponsored by Kennesaw State University, the creator of the Acacia trilogy DAVID ANTHONY DURHAM discusses and signs the latest addition to the trilogy, Acacia: Other … »more

Books: David McConnell

Something is always up when a young man is hired by sketchy investors to protect their large sum of money. Things become even trickier when … »more

Books: Evan Thomas

EVAN THOMAS appears at the Atlanta History Center for a discussion and signing of his book The War Lovers. While we could never relate to … »more

Books: Frances Smith Foster

Emory University scholar FRANCES SMITH FOSTER discusses her new book, 'Til Death or Distance Do Us Part: Love and Marriage in African America. This acclaimed … »more

Books: Isabel Allende

Atlanta History Center hosts Chilean author ISABEL ALLENDE. Inducted into the American Academy of Arts in 2004 for such well-regarded magical-realism works as The House … »more

Books: Janice Y.K. Lee

Natural talent is so readily apparent, especially in the case of author JANICE Y.K. LEE. Despite the unpaid workload of motherhood, the Korean author's former … »more

Books: Jonathan Alter

Looking for the inside scoop on the Obama administration? Author JONATHAN ALTER discusses The Promise: President Obama, Year One at the Atlanta History Center. As … »more

Books: Kevin and Hannah Salwen

Generosity and justice add up to the story of KEVIN AND HANNAH SALWEN. Inspired by his daughter Hannah's concerns about homelessness in Atlanta, former Wall … »more

Books: Peter Hedges

Perhaps best known for writing What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Academy Award-nominated PETER HEDGES has also written and directed Pieces of April, Dan in Real Life … »more

Books: Roy Morris Jr.

Thanks to Mark Twain, we're able to venture down the Mississippi River with Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in antebellum Missouri. But most people don't … »more

Books: RuPaul

Diva, style icon and the epitome of fabulous is coming to Atlanta in one of only three stops on a national book tour. World-famous drag … »more

Books: Thomas Cahill

Hosted by Decatur Library and Georgia Center for the Book, THOMAS CAHILL discusses A Saint on Death Row: The Story of Dominique Green, a tale … »more

Books: Wes Moore

Former Rhodes Scholar, White House Fellow and U.S. Army Captain WES MOORE discusses and signs his book, The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates, … »more

Comedy: All-Star Comedy X-plosion

Mothers and comedy don't have to only coincide in yo' mama jokes: Urban comedy's brightest stars come together at the Atlanta Civic Center for the … »more

Comedy: Bill Burr

Comedian BILL BURR makes skepticism humorous like very few can. With a wide range of material, Burr shares his cynical perspective on inciting issues like … »more

Comedy: Chelsea Handler

Author, comedian and talk-show host CHELSEA HANDLER hits Atlanta for her book and stand-up comedy tour of the same name, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, her … »more

Comedy: Craig Ferguson

If you're up late at night and hear a Scottish accent coming from the television, it's probably "The Late Late Show" host CRAIG FERGUSON. He's … »more

Comedy: Dave Attell

Pour your shots, tap your kegs and get ready to laugh and/or cry, because comedian DAVE ATTELL is coming to town. Stand-up's most notorious angry … »more

Comedy: Donnell Rawlings

Yes, DONNELL RAWLINGS was hilarious as Ashy Larry on Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show," but the show has been off the air since 2006 and life … »more

Comedy: Doug Stanhope

America loves a good redemption story, and comedian DOUG STANHOPE deserves just that. Unfairly blamed for the demise of Comedy Central's once popular "The Man … »more

Comedy: Jarrod Harris

Coming off a recent semifinalist showing at the San Francisco Comedy Festival, Atlanta's own JARROD HARRIS is back home and bringing his sarcastically whispered punch … »more

Comedy: Leslie Jones

Standing at 6 feet tall, comedian LESLIE JONES has a whole lot of funny bone. The Katt Williams apprentice who got her big break opening … »more

Comedy: Lewis Black

Not since The Incredible Hulk has anyone gotten as much mileage out of getting angry as comedian LEWIS BLACK. His "Back in Black" segments on … »more

Comedy: Maria Bamford

If originality were measured in dollars, then comedian MARIA BAMFORD would be a multimillionaire. One of the truly unique thinkers and performers working the circuit … »more

Comedy: Rob Schneider

Whether you know him from his days on "Saturday Night Live," as the star of the Deuce Bigalow films, or as that dude who plays … »more

Dance: Cinderella

Everyone knows the story of the glass slipper and the evil stepmother. But in Atlanta Ballet's version of CINDERELLA, the tortured maiden-turned-princess has stepbrothers. This … »more

Dance: Kuchipudi Dance Drama

Say it slowly: kuch-i-pud-i. No, it's not something you can find at adult novelty shop Starship Enterprises. The Indian art of kuchipudi is based on … »more

Dance: Lift

Many people have the mistaken notion that dance is only for little girls in tutus. LIFT, Atlanta's first all-male dance production, proves those haters wrong. … »more

Dance: Nava-Vidha Bhakti

From the country that brought you tandoori chicken and the hookah, the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center presents NAVA-VIDHA BHAKTI: INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE. The evening includes … »more

Dance: Sheer Exhilaration

This Mother's Day weekend, celebrate the finale of Atlanta Ballet's 80th anniversary season with SHEER EXHILARATION, an eclectic reflection of the company's history that includes … »more

Dance: Shen Yun

SHEN YUN reanimates China's millennia-old artistic traditions with classical, ethnic, folk and story-based dance in a colorfully choreographed and omnivorous rendition of Eastern culture old … »more

Dance: The Dance Project

Although THE DANCE PROJECT is their fourth collaboration, Emory Dance faculty members Gregory Catellier and George Staib's choreography is anything but predictable. Each choreographer will … »more

Dance: The Progressive Realization of Dreams

Season two of African American Dance Review's THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF DREAMS is an improved production of moving imagery and history in motion. The extensive … »more

Dance: Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Atlanta Ballet presents the U.S. premiere of VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. James Kudelka, Canada's most celebrated classical choreographer, brings … »more

Dance: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

No dance company combines modern dance, African dance, jazz and ballet like the ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER. The high-flying dancers make a stop at … »more

Dance: Tao: The Martial Art of Drumming

Fire up your Friday night with the explosive energy of rigorously trained Taiko drummers. The Ferst Center for the Arts presents TAO: THE MARTIAL ART … »more

Film: Arabia

Spanning 2,000 years of history told by three modern-day Arabian citizens, IMAX film ARABIA travels to the exotic and fascinating land to explore the ancient … »more

Film: Back to the Future

The Plaza Theatre presents the classic '80s flick BACK TO THE FUTURE. Who can forget Michael J. Fox as the too-cool-for-school Marty McFly – possibly … »more

Film: Citizen Architect

Rural Alabama is full of old barns and hay bales, but that's not all that fills the state's countryside. In 1993, architect and MacArthur Genius … »more

Film: Died Young, Stayed Pretty

Ever wonder about the story behind that awesome band poster you saw hanging on a bulletin board in Little Five Points? DIED YOUNG, STAYED PRETTY … »more

Film: High Fidelity

Top five reasons to go see HIGH FIDELITY at Plaza Theatre: 1) Nick Hornby, author of the book the movie is based on, raved about … »more

Film: Ichi the Killer

Once again, Plaza Theatre plays host to the most unique, gore-alicious cinema around. ICHI THE KILLER, presented by Splatter Cinema, features the ultra-violent film based … »more

Film: Moon

If your idea of a good sci-fi movie is 2001: A Space Odyssey rather than a ubiquitous action-heavy blockbuster, then check out MOON at Georgia … »more

Film: Running the Sahara

Would you be able to run a marathon? How about 4,300 miles across the world's largest desert? Along with two other extreme runners, North Carolinian … »more

Film: Soundtrack for a Revolution

Imagine a time when songs were actually meaningful and more than just some catchy, ass-shakin' tune. Freedom songs like "We Shall Overcome" enabled African-Americans to … »more

Film: The Room

Maybe you've heard of the THE ROOM, a love triangle movie melodrama whose hilarious incompetence has turned it into the decade's most notorious and beloved … »more

Film: The Terminator

Men everywhere are doing the "I Told You So" dance, because 1984's original The Terminator and art will be one in the same, if only … »more

Film: Under Great White Northern Lights

American rock outfit the White Stripes road-trip across Canada in UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS, a film that documents Jack and Meg White's ambitious 2007 … »more

Film: Wild Ocean

Fernbank Museum of Natural History presents WILD OCEAN, an inspiring IMAX documentary that dives deep into the relationship between humans and the ocean ecosystem. Wild … »more

Film: Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

For the 10th year, the Atlanta chapter of the American Jewish Committee presents the ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL. The 12-day event features more than 50 … »more

Film: Campus MovieFest

Tapping into the creative minds of college students across the country, Campus MovieFest supplies eager young filmmakers with everything they need to create a short … »more

Film: Cars on Screen

A classy, expensive car can definitely up a person's sexiness factor. The High Museum's current exhibit, THE ALLURE OF THE AUTOMOBILE, puts that appeal on … »more

Film: CinErotic Film Fest

No subject is taboo during the three-day CINEROTIC FILM FESTIVAL, a sex-positive celebration of erotic cinema performed by amateurs and independent artists. Produced by Andy … »more

Film: Coca-Cola Summer Film Fest

The COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL is back, and with tickets only costing $8, it's something the whole family can enjoy. Football, angsty teenagers, witches and … »more

Film: French Film Yesterday and Today

Aimez-vous les films français? FRENCH FILM YESTERDAY AND TODAY at the High Museum of Art features four French movies, one each Saturday through the month … »more

Film: Screen on the Green

Movie enthusiasts and cheap dates unite! Peachtree TV's SCREEN ON THE GREEN is back in Piedmont Park for another summer of movies and mayhem, starting … »more

Food: Buckhead Restaurant Week

A premier area of Atlanta serves up its best for BUCKHEAD RESTAURANT WEEK. More than 20 restaurants showcase three- and four-course menus for $25 a … »more

Food: Paula Deen, Bobby Flay and Mario Batali

Of course y'all looove butter, but probably not as much as Paula Deen. See the Southern chef along with Southwestern food enthusiast Bobby Flay and … »more

Holiday: Cinco do Mayo

¿Cómo se dice "get your drink on" en español? Head down to Virginia-Highland's CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION & BLOCK PARTY and find out. It's Va-Hi's … »more

Music: The 808 Experiment, Vol. 2

Following the success of last year's SMKA Productions The 808 Experiment mixtape, which included the various underground sounds that give flair to Atlanta's hip-hop scene, … »more

Music: A Storm of Light

A STORM OF LIGHT is the droning, doom-laden behemoth fronted by Neurosis' guitarist and visual artist Josh Graham. The group is touring in support of … »more

Music: Bobby Ubangi Benefit Show

Die Slaughterhaus Records is sitting on the last unreleased recordings from Bobby & the Soft Spots, made before Bobby Ubangi (née B Jay Womack) lost … »more

Music: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

The thuggish, ruggish boys from Cleveland are back with a brand new single dubbed "Rebirth," offering just a glimpse of what their forthcoming album, Uni5: … »more

Music: Brother Ali

Minneapolis rapper BROTHER ALI possesses a singular lyrical skill fueled by intensely social and political perspectives that make his latest CD, Us, one of the … »more

Music: Bubbapalooza

Memorial Day weekend is upon us once again, which means it's time for BUBBAPALOOZA. The Star Bar's annual redneck rock 'n' roll and hillbilly punk … »more

Music: Cannibal Corpse

CANNIBAL CORPSE has pissed off more parents and more conservative types than any other metal band on Earth by vomiting forth a spew of extreme … »more

Music: Cold Cave

Under the direction of synth player, poet and all around angst-ridden Renaissance man Wes Eisold, Philadelphia's COLD CAVE communes with the dark side of new-wave … »more

Music: Drink Week

Creative Loafing kicks off DRINK WEEK, a drunken eight-day safari through Atlanta's various bar scenes beginning at the Star Bar. In addition to the debauchery … »more

Music: Elvis Birthday Bash

It's time once again for Big Mike Geier and the Kingsized Orchestra to throw their annual ELVIS BIRTHDAY BASH. If you were to sum up … »more

Music: Elvis Costello

A kinder, gentler, thinner ELVIS COSTELLO presents his newest foray into the depths of classic Americana and bluegrass. With the best pickers in Nashville the … »more

Music: George Clinton

There is no denying GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC's place in the history of R&B and funk, but while his concerts are never less than … »more

Music: Guthrie Family Rides Again

Pretty much the entire Guthrie clan (15 of Woody's kids and grandchildren, and Arlo's longtime drummer Terry A La Berry) take the stage when the … »more

Music: Henry Rollins

Does HENRY ROLLINS have a Pulitzer yet? The one-time singer for L.A. hardcore denizens Black Flag and the Rollins Band now blogs a mighty roar … »more

Music: Janelle Monáe

Grammy-nominated cyber-soul songstress and hip-hop artiste JANELLE MONÁE is honing her mesmerizing voice and stage presence with a series of nationwide residencies in preparation for … »more

Music: Jim Lauderdale

Country, bluegrass, folk, pop, honky-tonk rocker JIM LAUDERDALE is a nonstop workaholic, leaving the recent Elvis Costello tour just in time to promote his soulful … »more

Music: Laura Veirs

Seattle songstress LAURA VEIRS comes through town in support of her latest album, July Flame (Raven Marching Band Records). The former Nonesuch recording artist has … »more

Music: Leslie and the LYs

Leslie Hall, aka Mother Gem, is the gold-plated sexual dynamo at the front and center of LESLIE AND THE LYS, the pride of Ames, Iowa. … »more

Music: Local Natives

On the surface, LOCAL NATIVES are the kind of perfectly dressed indie-rock quintet that cranks out the safest, post-Talking Heads brand of collegiate pop that … »more

Music: Minus the Bear

MINUS THE BEAR's shifty arrangements are shaped by prog and math rock, infused with soothing Northwestern pop melodicism reminiscent of Death Cab and Modest Mouse. … »more

Music: Movits!

Rare is the Swedish pop band that can build up the steam to break through to American audiences. ABBA and Ace of Bass come to … »more

Music: Nick Oliveri

Since being ousted from Queens of the Stone Age in 2004, bassist NICK OLIVERI has appeared alongside several acts, including Turbonegro, the Knives, and his … »more

Music: Night Driving in Small Towns

The walking dead descend upon Virginia-Highland for a zombie dance party celebrating Valdosta indie-rock duo NIGHT DRIVING IN SMALL TOWNS' latest CD, Serial Killer. Shane … »more

Music: Passion Pit

Boston-based electro-pop darlings PASSION PIT make their way back through Atlanta for another round in support of last year's breakthrough CD, Manners (Columbia/French Kiss). Frontman … »more

Music: Past Lives

The Blood Brothers had the right idea in changing their name and taking a hard left turn away from their particularly acerbic brand of post-post-hardcore … »more

Music: Post Inc. (International Noise Conference)

The POST INC. (INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONFERENCE) descends upon Eyedrum like a strange, chaotic tournament that would have a free-form feel if it weren't for all … »more

Music: Reverend Horton Heat

The REVEREND HORTON HEAT exposes his split personality over a two-night bill divided into Sunday's "psycho" night, when Heat and the boys will be performing … »more

Music: Simon Joyner

SIMON JOYNER's name is deeply ingrained in the secret history of indie rock, and his songs have been praised by everyone from Beck to Bright … »more

Music: Sonen and the Silent League

Local indie electro act SONEN plays synth-heavy dance rock with a slightly goth edge. THE SILENT LEAGUE's chamber pop is sublimely executed by members of … »more

Music: Soweto Gospel Choir

In 11 official languages, six of which are South African, the vibrant and energetic SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR gets the crowd excited with natural rhythms and … »more

Music: The Spits

Seattle trio the SPITS crank out a perfect blend of sloppy, lo-fi new wave, garage and warped punk weirdness. Think Devo, Jay Reatard and XTC … »more

Music: Unsigned Urban Showcase

Drake, Travis Porter and Lloyd all in one place! But this is no concert; it's BMI's UNSIGNED URBAN SHOWCASE. Lloyd hosts the event with music … »more

Music: Van Morrison

He was born George Ivan Morrison, but to his fans, he's "Van the Man." The Belfast, Ireland-born singer/songwriter has hypnotized audiences for the better part … »more

Music: Ween

Hot on the heels of a series of vinyl reissues of such classic WEEN titles as The Mollusk, The Pod, 12 Golden Country Greats and … »more

Music: Wilco

Heralded as "the world's most exciting rock band" by London's Sunday Telegraph, WILCO graces the stage at the Fox Theatre. Jeff Tweedy and Co. have … »more

Opera: Aida

The celebration of Atlanta Opera's 30th anniversary season continues with AIDA at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for the first time. Based on Italian … »more

Opera: The Magic Flute

Today, a name like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart would probably merit you a good ass-kicking. But in the 18th century, such a name could get its … »more

Special event: Atlanta Streets Alive!

May is Bike Month, and on Sun., MAY 23, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition celebrates by ushering in the city's first-ever ATLANTA STREETS ALIVE!, designed to … »more

Special event: Cask Ale Festival

SweetWater Brewing Company invites the beer lovin' masses to its "Brew Your Cask Off" CASK ALE FESTIVAL. Atlanta's award-winning brewery has lined up more than … »more

Special event: David Copperfield

Do you believe in magic? Well, OK, maybe not magic – more like illusion. DAVID COPPERFIELD comes to the fabulous Fox Theatre for An Intimate … »more

Special event: Fiction Contest Party

Every year, Creative Loafing hosts its Fiction Contest, when we open the floodgates for works of fiction penned by our dear readers. It's only par … »more

Special event: Rock 'n' Roll Monster Bash

Starlight Six Drive-In hosts its annual ROCK 'N' ROLL MONSTER BASH. Rain or shine, Professor Morte from the Plaza Theatre's Silver Scream Spook Show hosts … »more

Special event: SweetWater 420 Festival

It's time to kick off the festival season with warm weather, a frosty brew and old-fashioned, earth-friendly activities in a nod to Earth Day at … »more

Sports: Atlanta Braves

It's finally baseball season. Grab your favorite cap, the kids and $100 for a hotdog and head down to Turner Field for the first night … »more

Sports: Atlanta Braves

The ATLANTA BRAVES play the Philadelphia Phillies after a pregame Memorial Day celebration and special salute to honor our troops. Some 250 active duty soldiers … »more

Sports: Atlanta Dream

The ATLANTA DREAM plays the Chicago Sky at Philips Arena. Ranked first in the Eastern Conference with a 4-0 standing, the Dream will lean on … »more

Sports: Atlanta Hawks

Ladies, watch yourselves; Kobe's coming to town. Joe Johnson and the ATLANTA HAWKS face off against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. The last … »more

Sports: Atlanta Hawks

The ATLANTA HAWKS take on the Sacramento Kings at the Highlight Factory at Philips Arena. Although lately nicknamed the "Lowlight" Factory due to the Hawks' … »more

Sports: Atlanta Rollergirls

The ATLANTA ROLLERGIRLS kick off their hard-hitting, free-wheelin' 2010 season. Following a sold-out 2009 season, Atlanta is once again ready for the derby girls to … »more

Sports: Atlanta Rollergirls

Get ready for a brawlin' babe double header with everyone's favorite roller derby team, the ATLANTA ROLLERGIRLS. The ARG's four home teams stop, drop and … »more

Sports: Atlanta Thrashers

Former ATLANTA THRASHERS captain Ilya Kovalchuk allegedly turned down offers of $70 million and $101 million this month to remain with the organization, instead opting … »more

Style: Design Is Human

Modern art is definitely the most inclusive – mainly because it shapes our world, quite literally. What would downtown be without all the architectural eye … »more

Style: SCAD Style

The best things in life are free – especially when you're broke. Gurus flock to Atlanta to dispense free advice on everything from fashion to … »more

Theater: 100 Saints You Should Know

At least two Atlanta actors you should know star in the Actor's Express production of 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW. Doyle Reynolds brilliantly carried Actor's … »more

Theater: Annie

Sure to lift spirits – and put bad holiday gifts in perspective – hit musical ANNIE opens at Fox Theatre. Follow lovable Annie and her … »more

Theater: Another Teenage Werewolf Musical

Following Benicio Del Toro's Wolf Man remake and the Twilight franchise's "Team Jacob," werewolves have become pop culture's new vampires, being fanged monsters with potentially … »more

Theater: Avenue Q

The Broadway Across America series puts its hand back inside the puppet head with a return trip to AVENUE Q, a "Sesame Street" parody from … »more

Theater: Avenue X

Could a cappella singing be the next big trend in musical entertainment? On the heels of NBC's "The Sing-Off," Alliance Theatre presents the musical AVENUE … »more

Theater: Clash Titan Clash!

Clash of the Titans, the big-screen heroes vs. monsters action film, got bumped a few weeks to April 2 so it could be released in … »more

Theater: Frankenstein

The Center for Puppetry Arts brought home the gold in the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival with Frankenstein, which won acclaim from Newsweek and other national … »more

Theater: Good Boys & True

A sex scandal threatens a private Catholic school in the 1980s in the Southeastern premiere of GOOD BOYS & TRUE at Actor's Express. Melissa Foulger, … »more

Theater: Griefers

The great thing about the Internet is that it connects users with a huge diversity of people. That's also the worst thing. Dad's Garage Theatre's … »more

Theater: Jitney

When August Wilson's JITNEY premiered in 1982, few people guessed that it would kick off the playwright's 10-play "Pittsburgh Cycle" of dramas, each set in … »more

Theater: Lookingglass Alice

The Alice in Wonderland craze is in full swing, and it doesn't stop with those dorky 3D glasses. You can see the Cheshire Cat, the … »more

Theater: Mary Poppins

Start practicing your British accent: The classic story of the world's most famous nanny, MARY POPPINS, begins its Atlanta engagement at the Fox Theatre. Inspired … »more

Theater: Our Town

True Colors Theatre Company pays an unconventional visit to Grover's Corners when artistic director Kenny Leon directs Thornton Wilder's OUR TOWN. Leon's production will break … »more

Theater: Shooting Star

While most romantic comedies begin when the attractive leads "meet cute," Horizon Theatre's SHOOTING STAR depicts former college flames who "reunite cute" unexpectedly at a … »more

Theater: Spring Awakening

It's no wonder that SPRING AWAKENING won eight Tony Awards in 2007, including Best Musical. Based on the 1891 Frank Wedekind play, the show … »more

Theater: Tales of Edgar Allan Poe

The Center for Puppetry Arts' TALES OF EDGAR ALLAN POE gets high schoolers interested in 19th-century American literature by scaring the bejesus out of them. … »more

Theater: Tennis in Nablus

Tragedy, politics and even some comedy come together in TENNIS IN NABLUS on the Hertz Stage at Alliance Theatre. Newcomer playwright Ismail Khalidi tells the … »more

Theater: The Bluest Eye

Thirty-five years ago Jasmine Guy danced on Spelman College's Baldwin Burroughs' stage, and now she's back. Only this time around, the acclaimed actress has stepped … »more

Theater: The Break Up

As singer Gary Numan might say, THE BREAK UP is a short play that takes place entirely "in cars." As part of the Inman Park … »more

Theater: The Day of Murders in the History of Hamlet

Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play and in the wrong hands can really feel like it, despite the soaring poetry and intriguing murder mystery. 7 Stages … »more

Theater: The Last Cargo Cult

What do remote Pacific Islanders have to do with the American financial system? Practically everything, according to Mike Daisey in THE LAST CARGO CULT. The … »more

Theater: The Storytelling Ability of a Boy

THE STORYTELLING ABILITY OF A BOY doesn't exactly have a graceful title, but Aurora Theatre's production sounds quite intriguing. An idealistic young English teacher (the … »more

Theater: Young Frankenstein

Based on the Oscar-nominated 1974 film and classic book by Mary Shelley, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is now a musical comedy, the brainchild of three-time Tony Award … »more

Visual art: Adapting Suburbs in the 21st Century

As the saying goes, "Out with the old and in with the new." ADAPTING SUBURBS IN THE 21ST CENTURY at the Museum of Design Atlanta … »more

Visual art: Blue Peony and Impure Thoughts

It's been two years since conceptual artist Jiha Moon last set up shop at Saltworks Gallery with her solo exhibition No Peach Heaven: MuRung Dowan. … »more

Visual art: Breaking the Grid

MacGyver meets Martha Stewart: Artist Prema Murthy explores the deconstruction of grids through the placement of lines in space, makes a living organism from lines … »more

Visual art: Disobedience: Art as Agent of Change

From En Negro y Blanco's photographic exploration of Argentina's civil war to Disobedience Archive's study of Seattles anti-globalization protests, both parts of DISOBEDIENCE: ART AS … »more

Visual art: Dr. Seuss Goes to War

DR. SEUSS GOES TO WAR ... AND MORE highlights Theodor Seuss Geisel's original works at the Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum. Many know Dr. … »more

Visual art: Entwined

The connection between the physical and psychological will be displayed in ENTWINED, a photography exhibit that showcases the human body. This unique collaboration between Lia … »more

Visual art: European Design Since 1985

Exploring design heavy hitters from across the pond who have defined the last couple decades in decorative arts, EUROPEAN DESIGN SINCE 1985: SHAPING THE NEW … »more

Visual art: Kung Fu

Unlike the fuzzy fan art of most cult television shows, SCAD instructor Todd Schroeder's new exhibition KUNG FU presents the artist's appreciation for the '70s … »more

Visual art: Let Your Motto Be Resistance

LET YOUR MOTTO BE RESISTANCE features stunning and revealing portraits of African-American pioneers, superstars, athletes and advocates. The first of four exhibitions presented as part … »more

Visual art: Marcel Breuer

Way before modular furniture became synonymous with a certain flat-packing Swedish retailer, Hungarian-born furniture designer and modernist pioneer Marcel Breuer debuted the tubular steel Wassily … »more

Visual art: Play War

If war isn't a game, why does American culture have so many? Last year, Ruth Dusseault investigated homemade recreational battlefields in the form of paintball. … »more

Visual art: Tangent

Like many artists, Tommy Taylor moved to NYC for work. But when the South Carolina native returned to his home state after eight years, he … »more

Visual art: The Local Haunt

We'll have a double ... entendre, that is. Alcove Gallery, our local haunt, presents artists Brian Colin, John Fesken and Gus Fink in their exhibition … »more

Visual art: Transitions

The High Museum of Art presents a firsthand observation of the political and social realm in South Africa from 1974 to 2002. Through 13 works … »more

Visual art: Woman's Image

If a picture paints a thousand words, then the WOMAN'S IMAGE could fill a library. Words like "virgin" and "whore" are simplistic, dichotomous labels, but … »more

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Best annual event

Best antique store

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Best Asian food market

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Best off-the-beaten-path tourist destination

Best opening

Best OTP music club

Best OTP park

Best outdoor farmers market

Best outdoor music venue

Best overall neighborhood

Best overall radio station

Best overall restaurant

Best overrated thing about Atlanta

Best party school

Best patio dining

Best pawn shop

Best person you hate to love

Best person you love to hate

Best personal trainer

Best pet store

Best photogenic dish or dish presentation

Best photographer

Best picnic spot

Best piercing parlor

Best Pilates instructor

Best Pilates studio

Best pizza

Best place to hear local music

Best place to hear music for free

Best place to hear spoken word

Best place to make yourself look fancy for less

Best place to people-watch

Best place to ride your bike

Best place to score affordable art

Best place to see a movie

Best place to throw a party that's not your house

Best play

Best playground

Best pool hall

Best power couple

Best public artwork

Best public basketball court

Best public pool

Best public skate park

Best public tennis court

Best radio DJ

Best radio show

Best restaurant decor

Best restaurant for a first date

Best restaurant for adventurous eaters

Best restaurant for late-night dining

Best restaurant to bring the kids

Best restaurant to close in the past year

Best restaurant to take visitors

Best restaurant trend

Best restaurant when someone else is paying

Best rock club

Best rock radio station

Best sandwiches

Best seafood

Best sex club

Best shooting range

Best shopping district

Best sign that you can't keep a good music scene down

Best sketch comedy troupe or venue

Best sneaker store

Best soul food

Best Southern

Best Southwestern

Best spa

Best specialty market

Best sporting goods

Best sports bar

Best stage director

Best steaks

Best street art

Best street character

Best strip club

Best stripper

Best suburb

Best Sunday brunch

Best sushi

Best tacos

Best tapas

Best tattoo studio

Best taxi cab service

Best Thai

Best theater company

Best thrift store

Best tofu

Best touring play

Best toy store

Best trivia night

Best under the radar restaurant

Best underground art space

Best underrated thing about Atlanta

Best uplifting local news story

Best urban music club

Best urban radio station

Best used bookstore

Best used CDs

Best vegetarian

Best veggie burgers

Best veggie meal at a non-vegetarian restaurant

Best venue for stand-up comedy

Best Vietnamese

Best vintage clothing

Best vinyl

Best volunteer program

Best waitstaff

Best weekly club night

Best wine list

Best wine shop

Best yoga instructor

Best yoga studio

Best-looking waitstaff

Public art event

Benefit: 500 Songs for Kids

As VH1's Save the Music dwindles down, other foundations benefiting children through music are taking over. Atlanta's Songs for Kids Foundation hosts 500 SONGS FOR … »more

Benefit: Save Water, Drink Beer

There's no better way to celebrate the coming of spring than with a nice, cold beer. The Georgia Conservancy presents Generation Green's SAVE WATER, DRINK … »more

Best 7-inch can of whoop-ass you'll open all year

Predator's debut single, "HONEST MAN" (Rob's House), catches the band at its anxiety-ridden finest. Three cuts of razor-sharp guitar, bass and drums collide with two-part … »more

Best acoustic music club

Best adult toy store

Best advocate for the arts

Best affordable day care

Best after hours or late-night spot

Best amenity-laden hotel

A decade ago, Atlanta was pretty much devoid of high-end boutique hotels. Sure, there was the Westin and Four Seasons and the Ritz, but the … »more

Best annual event

Best annual release of aggression

Road races give you blisters. Beer festivals get you bloated. And, considering the state of some seats on public transit, the lovable urban prank No … »more

Best antique store

Best antiques

The two cavernous Atlanta Exposition Center buildings off the southern edge of I-285 that house SCOTT ANTIQUE MARKET one weekend a month have high-end pieces … »more

Best appetizers

Best art exhibit in a gallery

Atlanta artist Pandra Williams presented a complex and meditative study in the biology of technology (and vice versa) with her moody installation "Radicis," one of … »more

Best art exhibit in a gallery