DURING THE LAST FULL WEEKEND OF APRIL EVERY YEAR, REVELERS DESCEND ON THE BEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY FOR OUR FAVORITE FESTIVAL. HERE`S AN INSIDER`S GUIDE TO THE 39TH ANNUAL INMAN PARK FEST

Festival kicks off with the annual Butterfly Ball, Friday, April 23, under the tent and featuring the toe-tapping sounds of King Sized. Of course heels kick, elbows fly and spirits soar. You may find yourself do-si-do-ing with that annoying neighbor whose Doberman uses your front lawn as his own personal bathroom. Sure, you cuss said neighborhood 364 days a year but on this night - kisses!!

Friday night is also is a great night to try Inman Park`s fabulous restaurants.Don`t just visit one - dine around and sample a little something at each spot: We love the Bacon Peanut Brittle at Sauced, East Village-Style Chopped Liver at Shaun`s, Fried Mushrooms at Fritti, Tre P Pasta at Sotto Sotto (only availalbe in the spring), YaYa Fries at Rathbun`s, Cheese Plate at Krog Bar, Steaks at Rathbun Steak and the Burger at Serpas. Whew!


Spring cleaning abounds during the weeks leading up to Festival. All eyes will be on Inman Park so you`re not just mowing your lawn to keep up with the Joneses, you`ll want to impress the Smiths, Roths, Browns, Greens and Whites who will be checking out your garden all weekend long. In preparation, you`ll find weekend warriors weeding, planting, painting and waxing. Wait, what?? Yes - you heard us - waxing. Spring cleaning abounds at our favorite waxing studio - where everything must go - WAX!!

Inman Park is the last standing Victorian neighborhood. Originally developed in the late 1800s, it was the city`s premier neighborhood and home to the bon vivant. A fickle aristocracy migrated to Druid Hills, Ansley Park and Buckhead leaving the neighborhood to fall into disrepair from the 1910s to the late 1960s when a band of young doctors, lawyers and such moved into these spectacular homes, seeing potential in their run down facades. Today the neighborhood shines and we`re so darn proud to be a part of it. Be nosey and take the Tour of Homes to see what`s inside some of these amazing homes.


On Saturday at 2 p.m. the city`s quirkiest and most colorful parade kicks off, led by the Inman Park Butterfly followed by floats, bands, art cars, politicians, drill teams, Kelly`s Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band, clowns, jugglers, and more. Best spot for parade watching: two fabulous homes along Edgewood Avenue belonging to Atlanta advertising legends. Who are they?? We`ll never tell!

We`re super excited about the debut of 145, a gallery collaborative including Barbara Archer Gallery, Wm Turner Gallery, Opal Gallery and whitespace. The group will premiere with the "The Skies Over Atlanta: Where Euclid Meets Edgewood," a video and sound installation in a former church called Lizzie Chapel. The piece, created by Neil Fried, Evan Levy, Priscilla Smith and Jerry Cullum, is an homage to changing neighborhoods. It uses film footage that Fried has shot over the years in the Inman Park and Fourth Ward areas, plus new footage shot expressly for the piece and a sculpture by Levy.The image here is of Deacon Lunchbox`s early 1990s funeral in Little Five Points -- a sad day for Atlanta`s music community.


Saturday night marks the 20th annual Theater Night, starting at 7:30p under the tent. After doing the funky chicken at the Butterfly Ball and a day of party hopping revelry, a dedicated band of theater-goers plows on where others have passed out. They load their golf carts with picnic baskets and bottles of wine to see four theater companies including our favorite - Dad`s Garage - along with Horizon Theater, 7 Stages and Synchronicity. Tables are sold out but "stadium seating" is available for the first time this year for $20. If you just can`t rally by 7:30p - and we don`t judge - head on over to Dad`s Garage for TheatreSports at 10:30p

Throughout the weekend you can stroll through Atlanta`s biggest street market, offering everything from antique furniture to handcrafted wares, as well as ajuried arts and crafts show featuring some of the Southeast`s finest artists. There`s also music under the tent and in the park. Of course our truly favorite part of Festival is the carnival food. Sizzling hot corn dogs and fresh squeezed lemonade can be found at the corner of Hurt Street and Euclid Avenue. There`s great gyros along Euclid before you get to the tent if you`re walking toward downtown. You`ll find fries drenched in bacon, cheese and ranch dressing at the corner of Waverly and Edgewood. And you can find the most fabulous funnel cakes near the corn dogs at Euclid and Hurt as well as on Euclid by the tent going away from downtown.