Atlanta weekend food events: July 17-19

• Rachel Hortman
• Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week kicks off Sat., July 18 with prix-fixe menus at downtown’s best restaurants.

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Wine dinner? Beer tasting? Cooking class? Let us know. Create a CL account and submit your Food and Drink happs here.

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Friday

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Whole Foods Market, Sandy Springs Fri., July 17, noon-2 p.m. Ice Cream Social Celebrate National Peach Ice Cream Day with favorite local frozen treats from High Road Craft Ice Cream, King of Pops, Honeysuckle Gelato, and Whole Foods peach ice cream. Treat yourself to a fresh gelato kombucha float or a beer float for $5 at the Fermented Float station. The pint glass is yours to keep! All proceeds benefit Whole Kids Foundation. Details.

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Ray’s on the River Fri.-Sat., July 17-18, 6:30-9 p.m. Summertime Lobster Boil Enjoy a summertime lobster boil featuring lobster tails and claws, peel and eat shrimp, red potatoes, roasted corn coleslaw, homemade desserts and more. Details.

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Paris on Ponce Fri.-Sun., July 17-19 Fourth Annual Bastille Day Festival Music, food, and libations will be available for attendees, along with a Beltline scavenger hunt sponsored by Orpheus Brewing. Guests can also win MBikes and longboards, see local shorts films and puppetry shows, participate in contests and win raffles. Details.

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Maggiano’s Fri., July 17, 7-10 p.m. Gluten-Free Dinner and Wine Pairing Enjoy a dinner and wine pairing featuring gluten-free dishes such as sausage and peppers, grilled jumbo shrimp, sweet corn relish, parmesan cheese ravioli with spring vegetables and truffle mascarpone, and flourless chocolate cake. Details.

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Saturday

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Downtown Atlanta July 18-26 Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week More than 35 restaurants are participating in the 13th annual Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week. Hit the town for nine days of signature prix-fixe menus during brunch, lunch, and dinner at some of the city’s best restaurants. Prices are per person and do not include tax or tip. Details.

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Steel Restaurant and Lounge Sat., July 18, 3-5 p.m. Camp Sushi - For Kids In this interactive class, your kids will learn about seaweed, sushi rice and fillings, and they will discover the art of assembling sushi rolls. At the end of the class, they can enjoy their tasty creations, plus they’ll head home with their very own sushi kit to practice their new skills! Ages 7-12 recommended. Details.

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Buckhead Saloon Sat., July 18, 5-10 p.m. Buckhead Country Bar Crawl Grab your best country-themed garb and head to Buckhead for drinks specials and freebies at Big Sky, Kramers, Lost Dog, Buckhead Saloon, and Stagecoach. Enjoy deals like $3 Sweetwater drafts, $3 fireballs, and $4 hour-long all-you-can-drink drafts. Atlanta Bar Crawls has partnered with Jim Beam Models and Warner Bros. to get you access to free early showings of “Vacation” and plenty of swag. Details.

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Red Brick Brewing Sat., July 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Great Southern Craft Beer Competition Head to Red Brick Brewing to sample beers from competition finalists and vote for your favorite. Enjoy live music from Neil Cribbs while you nosh on beer-based food pairings from Publik Draft House, sip on Red Brick beers like Hoplanta IPA and A-Town Brown Ale, and tour the Red Brick brewery. Details.

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BlueTarp Brewing Co. Sat., July 18, 6:30-9:30 p.m. BBQ & Brew with Herman CainJoin the DeKalb Republican Party for an unforgettable evening with American author, business executive, radio host, syndicated columnist, Tea Party activist from Georgia, and former presidential candidate of the United States Herman Cain. Enjoy an evening of BBQ, beer, and conversation. Tickets include entrance to Herman Cain’s speaking event, beer samples, a barbecue dinner, a silent auction, and a souvenir cup. VIP tickets will provide other bonuses, including a personal tour of the brewery with Herman Cain. Details.

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Sunday

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JCT. Kitchen Sun., July 19, 1-5 p.m. JCT’s Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival Each year, JCT puts on this tomato crazed festival to raise funds for Georgia Organics and The Giving Kitchen, a non-profit that assistants restaurant workers in crisis. Last year they raised $120,000. More than 50 of the South’s top chefs, Atlanta’s most skilled mixologists, and over 30 farmers are all working together to raise money. So sit back, eat a tomato treat and enjoy. Details.