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.
YOU`VE GOT 11 MONTHS UNTIL YOU HAVE TO PAY YOUR TAXES AGAIN - LET`S CELEBRATE!!
In the world of fashion, fabulous spring weather means even more fabulous fall trunk shows. Don`t miss the Lela Rose Fall Collection - for two days only - at
Tootsies this Thursday, April 15 and Friday, April 16. You can`t go wrong with Lela. And fall will be here before you know it (well, sort of).
The weather is so darn beautiful and one of the best ways to enjoy it is in Piedmont Park this weekend during the Dogwood Festival. Don`t miss
HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern and the
Sun Dial Restaurant & Bar on Saturday and
Livingston Restaurant + Bar on Sunday at the "
Friends of Dogwood Pavilion ," a ticketed event, offering an upscale hospitality experience. This fabulous food and wine fete will be held in the newly renovated, multi-million dollar, Greystone event facility in the heart of Piedmont Park.
When you`re not basking in the beautiful weather, check out some of the fabulous films at the
Atlanta Film Festival April 15-23, featuring tons of movies, parties and signature events. Of note, Grammy Award-winning performance artist Chris "Ludacris" Bridges will present the Academy Award-nominated "Crash," on Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema with an after party following the screening at
Straits .
Another awesome event you won`t want to miss is
The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center`s first Nexus Award, Wednesday, April 21. The award is presented in recognition of demonstrated excellence and achievement by individuals who have made a profound contribution to the visual arts in Atlanta and beyond. And this year`s winners are.....(pan the audience).....(pregnant pause).....Dr. Andrea Barnwell Brownlee - Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, and Dr. Jerry Cullum - Editor at Large of Art Papers. Woo hoo!!! Tickets are $60 per person in advance/$75 at the door. For more information go to
www.nexusaward.com It`s that time of year again: the
Inman Park Festival kicks off Friday, April 23 with the Butterfly Ball, the most irreverent black tie ball in the city. The festival continues through the weekend including the Atlanta`s biggest arts market, the most hilarious parade ever, a tour of city`s finest Victorian and Craftsman style homes, live entertainment and our favorite - corn dogs galore. Yes - carnival food. You know you love it. We do too!!
And speaking of foods we love - what is it with loving foods we have to work for?? Ok we`re not out in the fields farming - although we have immense respect for farmers - but waiting until 10 p.m. for a burger is work!! Now we have a new workout goal:
Bone Garden Cantina`s Sonoran Hot Dog, only available between 2 and 6 p.m. Frankly, this is more do-able for us than, say the 12 a.m. Dollar-Makes-You-Hollar Hot Dog at
HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern , but for night owls - that`s a deal. And while both are worth checking out, Bone Garden puts some work into theirs - it`s candy-cane wrapped in bacon and grilled, fusing the two delicious flavors into one. Then its stuffed in a fresh Bolillo, topped with seasoned pinto beans, pico de gallo, grilled onions, jalapenos and mayonnaise and served with a side of tomatillo-guacamole sauce. Night owl or afternoon snacker?? Have it your way!!
Don`t miss the next Spotlight on Design at
SWITCH Modern, on Wednesday, April 28, featuringthe fabulous architect Yong Pak. Mix and mingle with your designer friends, sip wine, nibble on cheese and hear Yong discuss the Modern sensibility hebrings to Traditional and Classical architecture
WE PITY THE FOOL WHO ISN`T OUT ENJOYING THIS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. WITH SO MUCH TO DO - WHO HAS TIME TO FRET ABOUT THE CRUELEST MONTH?
Don`t miss tonight`s Spotlight on Design at
SWITCH Modern featuring none other than the fabulous interior designer,
Bill Peace of Peace Design. Mix and mingle with your designer friends, sip wine, nibble on cheese and hear about Bill`s thoughts on timeless design, the contrast of Modern and Rustic and the art of creating a lifestyle through design.
PLEASE RSVP NOW.
The Easter Bunny`s working overtime this Sunday with so many places to go!!
Livingston Restaurant + Bar will showcase Chef Gary Mennie`s spring-inspired all-day buffet, carving station and bottomless Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar. Adults pay $35 and just $12 more for the Bottomless Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar. Children ages 6-12 are $12.50 and kids 5 and under eat free.
The Sun Dial Restaurant, Bar & View has tricks for the kids by magician Ken Scott and a special three-course $45 brunch menu for the young at heart from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Our favorite Buckhead spa -
Entebello - is helping us celebrate spring with $35 mani/pedis. There`s no better place to get pampered and with so many hot new nail polish colors we`ll be toe-tapping in our Louboutins!!
At
Tootsies on Thursday, April 8, Michele Caplinger, Sona Chambers, Omara Harris, Jen Hobby, Tammy Hurt, Patti Krohngold, E. Vincent Martinzez, Robanne Schulman and Jan Smith will host a night of private shopping to benefit MusiCares including an in-person appearance by hot young designer Caycee Black.Guests can enjoy cocktails, Chocolate Pink Pastry Cafe cupcakes and Caycee Black`s Spring 2010 Collection.
Castleberry Point presents art, a movie, wine and more on Friday, April 9, during the Castleberry Art Stroll. PROJECT PUSHPIN, a bi-monthly event which invites photographers to post and sell photos with 50% of the proceeds benefitting the American Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. The event will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. in two adjacent spaces around the Castleberry Point courtyard: ZuCot Gallery and Castleberry Point`s raw retail area. In addition, there are two site-specific installations in the retail space: One is by the installation art class of SCAD Atlanta and the other the artist HENSE. Castleberry Point`s will also premier the film "Sideways," in partnership with Atlanta Film Festival 365 and Castleberry Point’s fabulous wine store, The Wine Shoe.The Wine Shoe will begin $10 wine tastings at 6 p.m. The movie starts at 9 p.m.There is free covered parking for all Castleberry Point revelers.
We are super excited about
The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center`s first Nexus Award, Wednesday, April 21, in recognition of demonstrated excellence and achievement by individuals who have made a profound contribution to the visual arts in Atlanta and beyond. And the winners are.....(drum roll).....(baited breath).....Dr. Andrea Barnwell Brownlee - Director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, and Dr. Jerry Cullum - Editor at Large of Art Papers. Woo hoo!!! Tickets are $60 per person in advance/$75 at the door. For more information go to
www.nexusaward.com
