See & Do May 25 2005

Music
Sax in the city
The 28th ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL wraps up a solid month of swingin’ entertainment MAY 28-30 with free and ticketed events all over the city, including Centennial Olympic Park, Underground Atlanta and Churchill Grounds. As the weekend unfolds, Piedmont Park is a great place to kick back and unwind with great jazz sets that start early and play into the evening. Among the highlights on the Main Stage: Vocalist Deborah Brown on Saturday at 7 p.m., the spicy Latin soul of the Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra (below) on Sunday at 8:30 p.m., and former Ray Charles sax man David “Fathead” Newman and his quintet Monday at 8:30 p.m. Visit www.atlantafestivals.com for a full lineup. 404-817-6851.

Holiday
Memorial Day
The Jazz Festival may be the grande dame of the city’s Memorial Day weekend activities, but should the sax leave you feelin’ less than jazzy and the vocal stylings have you wondering what all the jazz is about, then perhaps you’ll find that these family-friendly events are the ticket for a weekend of fun.

At the Atlanta Dragway, the Stone Mountain Harley Davidson Southern Nationals (above) take place May 28-29. An all-Harley drag meet, it features 15 classes of competition including Nitro Harleys, modified gas bikes, Pro Stocks, V-Rods and even street bikes. For the uninitiated: Bring earplugs. $25-$40. Gates open at 8 a.m. daily. 500 E. Ridgeway Road, Commerce. 336-924-2095. www.atlantadragway.com.

Stone Mountain Park hosts its annual salute to the troops may 27-30. The four-day affair includes armed forces bands, an interactive flight simulator and a special patriotic laser show featuring neon lights, characters, stories and fireworks, all set to American music favorites. $17-$20. Park opens daily at 6 a.m. Laser show is at 9:30 p.m. Highway 78 East, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690. www.stonemountainpark.com.

Beat the heat at Lake Lanier Islands’ Beach and Waterpark, where a memorial day family fun fest is set for May 29. Live DJs spin the latest hits on the beach while family-friendly games like a hula-hoop contest and an evening fireworks display keep wee ones and grown-ups entertained, just in case the wild water slides and rides aren’t enough. $16.99-$26.99. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 7000 Holiday Road, Buford. 770-932-7200. www.lakelanierislands.com.

Theater
Peeping Tom
Imagine a one-night stand between Kinsey and Sex, Lies and Videotape and you might get a peep at Synchronicity Performance Group’s The Sex Habits of American Women. Opening May 27, the comedy juxtaposes a German psychoanalyst’s research on American sexuality in the 1950s with a present-day documentary filmmaker’s exploration of modern-day dating and mating. $15-$20. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m. Through June 25. 7 Stages’ Back Stage Theatre, 1105 Euclid Ave. 404-325-5168. www.synchrotheatre.com.

Exhibit
Gross out
If you are between the ages of 5 and 15 and your feet smell worse than a Dumpster filled with rotting fish, then you are perfect for the Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneakers Contest. Judges are sniffing out the stinkiest, smelliest sneakers in Georgia. The winner will receive $200 and a new pair of sneakers, while the stinky pair heads off to Vermont to compete in the finals. The contest kicks off Grossology, Fernbank’s brand-new exhibit offering an up-close-and-personal look at the nasty things that come from the human body. $10-$12. Contest begins at 11 a.m. To register, e-mail gross.sneaker@fernbank.edu. 767 Clifton Road. 404-929-6400. www.fernbank.edu/museum.

May 26 Thursday
Here’s a pop quiz: What’s better than a hot wing? We’ll let you answer that tonight at Hooters Kennesaw, where the restaurant chain collects its loveliest servers in their skimpiest sets for the Hooters Swimsuit Contest Atlanta Regional Finals. More than 35 Hooters girls are competing for just two spots in the Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant this June in Miami. Before the pageant, last year’s winner (shown) and other contestants are available to sign calendars and posters. 8 p.m. 2102 Old Highway 41, Kennesaw. 770-590-8820. www.hooters.com. (LB)

May 27 Friday
As creators of lush, soulful ballads meshed with the swagger of new jack swing, Boys II Men were one of the most successful R&B groups of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Now more men than boys, the group has its own label and continues to produce the same flawless vocal harmonies and romantic balladry as before, only now from a slightly more mature perspective. $15-$36. 8 p.m. Mable House Amphitheatre, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. 770-819-7765. www.mablehouseamphitheatre.com. (LVS)

Those wacky pop-punkers SIMPLE PLAN are touring the country with Good Charlotte and Relient K., playing to thousands of screaming fans every night. A recent post on the group’s website states that the Montreal-based band recently purchased a ping-pong table to combat daily boredom. So much for backstage debauchery. $28.50. 5:30 p.m. HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, 2002 Lakewood Way. 404-249-6400. www.hob.com. (LVS)

May 28 Saturday
Has Slash’s stint with Velvet Revolver left you feeling down? Axel’s moonlighting on video games got you distraught? For all you loyal GNR fans, Appetite for Destruction is here to cure your blues. The tribute band channels the original Guns N’ Roses through lead singer Chad Atkins’ voice and unadulterated, rockin’ covers. $10-$12. 8 p.m. Andrews Upstairs, 56 E. Andrews Drive. 404-467-1600. www.eastandrews.com. (Alejandro Leal)

May 29 Sunday
Who cares what the weatherman says today? The AMERICAN INDIAN FESTIVAL may be expecting light showers after the rain dance that’s planned. Other activities expected at the colorful and cultural extravaganza are Native American dancing, drum making, storytelling, flute music, fine arts and crafts. $4-$7. Sat., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville. 770-963-6522. www.gwinnettcountyfair.com. (Jaiye Andrews)

May 30 Monday
If you couldn’t get to the beach this weekend, why not catch a little island life while staying in town? The Atlanta Caribbean Folk Festival celebrates the rich tradition of the island chains through a marketplace, dance and a children’s carnival. The four-day affair closes today with a parade of bands highlighting everything from calypso to hip-hop. Just thinking about it has our hips swinging to imaginary steel drums. $5-$10. Events begin at 10 a.m. May 27-30. Green Lot at Turner Field, 755 Hank Aaron Drive. 404-730-0185. www.atlantacaribbeancarnival.com. (Anisa Lewis)

May 31 Tuesday
The Art Institute of Atlanta is currently showcasing work by four of China’s premiere designers - Jianguo Liu, Huang Gang, Han Ran and Li Wei - in the areas of graphic design, interior design, architecture, industrial design and painting in the exhibit Contemporary Chinese Design: An Exploration of Fine and Applied Arts. Free. Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Through June 10. 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, 100 Embassy Row. 770-394-8300. www.aia.artinstitutes.edu. (JA)

June 1 Wednesday
Dreading another day stuck in the house with the kids? Instead of moping around, pack up the minivan and head to a gallery. The Visual Arts Network of Atlanta has organized its first Family Treasure Hunt. Starting today, VANA venues in Atlanta will have treasure guides jam-packed with creative questions and clues leading your little explorer through the art. Through June 30 at participating VANA venues. www.visualartsatlanta.com. (RF)??