Quick Bites: AJC names new food critic, Sidebar turns 12, and more

? Ligaya Figueras, most recently executive editor of Sauce magazine in St. Louis, will pick up where former Atlanta Journal-Constitution dining critic John Kessler left off. As the AJC’s new food and dining editor, Figueras’ duties will include writing “weekly content that might include a mix of critical reviews, food/dining news, blog posts, columns, or enterprise,” according to an online job posting. Her last day with Sauce is Aug. 28.
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? Concentrics Restaurants have announced that that chef David Connolly has taken over the reins at TAP. Connolly replaces former executive chef Nick McCormick, who left in May to take over at The Cafe at Linton’s, Linton Hopkins’s Atlanta Botanical Garden eatery. Connolly, a graduate of The Institute of Culinary Education (NY), has a CV that includes stints at nationally acclaimed Chicago restos like MK the restaurant and Michelin-starred Spiaggia. He was most recently executive chef of The Old Port Sea Grill and Falmouth Sea Grill in Portland, Maine.
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? For its 12th anniversary, Fairlie-Poplar hotspot Sidebar is having a big bash this Friday, August 28. Starting at 5 p.m., the bar’s block party will include live music from 1st Generation Band and a DJ, plus food and drink specials and special guest WWE legend Ric Flair.
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? In preparation for its September 12 opening, Juice Bar Virginia-Highland is inviting neighbors to check out the new location with two days of complimentary tastings Thurs., Sept. 10 through Fri., Sept. 11. In its newest location (1402 N. Highland Ave.), visitors will get their happy juices flowing with a “juice flight” of sweet greens, fresh greens, Orange You Glad, and You’ve Got the Beet, or cool down with tastings of the cocoa banana and green smoothies.
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? Southern Season, a Chapel Hill, N.C.-based gourmet food and gift retailer – think a Southern-fried Dean and Deluca – plans to open its first Atlanta location in Buckhead at Powers Ferry Square shopping center. The 25,000-square-foot store at 3714 Roswell Road will include a full-service restaurant, a cooking school, a florist, a bakery, a deli and cheese departments, along with a large selection of gourmet food items and gifts. The store is slated to open the second-quarter of 2016.