What's going on?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, June 18, 2009 – Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Diving Through Decades

• Piedmont Park Pool
• Thursday, June 18, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
• $75.00 (benefits the Piedmont Park  Conservancy
• Check out the new digs and enjoy drinks and food
• www.piedmont.org

Carmina Burana & The Barber of Seville

• Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta
• Saturday, June 20 @ 8:00 pm
• $21 - $59
• Two classics, one night
• www.atlantasymphony.org

Moore in the Garden

• Atlanta Botanical Garden
• Daily, 9:00 – 7:00
• $12.00 or $15.00
• Time’s top 10 museum exhibits in the country
• See 20 larger-than-life sculptures
• www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Wood is Wonderful (gallery)

• 2312 Benjamin E. Mays Drive in Southwest Atlanta
• M – F 9:00 – 3:00
• Handcrafted art and classes
• www.woodiswonderfulgallery.com

Decatur Beach Party

• Downtown Decatur
• Saturday, June 19, 5:00 – midnight
• $6.50 in advance, $10 at the door
• 60 tons of sand, live music, boardwalk games and festival food
• www.decaturga.com

Midsummer Music Festival

• Candler Park
• Saturday, June 20 @ noon
• FREE ($10 for a bracelet to buy beer)
• Guster & Rusted Root 
• www.midsummermusicfestival.com

Jersey Boys

• Fox Theatre
• Nightly, through June 21
• $22.50 – $67.50
• Follow Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from Jersey to fame and back
• www.foxtheatre.org

What's going on?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, June 11, 2009 – Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Bill Maher

• Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
• Friday, June 26 @ 8:00 pm
• $39 - $72
• Former star of Politically Incorrect and host of Real Time
• www.cobbenergycentre.com

Jersey Boys

• Fox Theatre
• Nightly, through June 21
• $22.50 – $67.50
• Follow Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons from Jersey to fame and back
• www.foxtheatre.org

Easy Gardens of the South with Pamela Crawford

• Barnes & Noble in Marietta
• Saturday, June 13 @ 2:00pm
• FREE
• Gardening workshop with the author
• www.bn.com

Whine About the Economy

• Downtown Newnan
• Friday, June 12, 5:00 – 9:00
• $20 in advance, $25 at the door
• Grab a glass the start your own bailout
• Try the restaurants on Main Street while you are there
• www.mainstreetnewnan.com

The Princess and the Pea

• Kudzu Playhouse in Roswell
• Through June 25
• $8.00
• You know the story, but the kids might not…
• www.kudzuplayhouse.org

Premiere Party

• Opera
• Saturday, June 13, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
• $25 (VIP packages available) benefits CHRIS Kids
• Food, drinks, all the cool kids plus a silent auction to die for
• Did I mention all the money benefits homeless youth?
• www.premiereparty.org

What's going on?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, June 4, 2009 – Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Georgia Mountain Roots & Music Festival

• Hiawassee
• June 5 – 6 (see site for times)
• $15 – $35
• Music, arts, crafts and… (you know what’s coming next) FESTIVAL FOOD
• www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

NKOTB (New Kids on the Block)

• Lakewood Amphitheatre
• Thursday, June 4 @ 7:30
• $10 – $79
• Five words: Danny, Donnie, Joey, John, Jordan
• www.nkotb.com

Virginia Highlands Summerfest

• Virginia Highlands
• Saturday & Sunday
• FREE (but donations to VA-HI neighborhood association are accepted)
• I love the chance to drink in the middle of the street in the middle of the day (and buy art)
• www.vahi.org

Dancing4fun's Latin Rhythm & Swing hor d'oerves and Dancing in Gwinnett 

• Downtown Lawrenceville
• Saturday, June 6, 6:45 pm – 2:00 am
• $15 for food, drink and food and drink calorie-burning (they call it dancing)
• Dance the night away – literally
• www.dancing4fun.com

Tellus (Northwest Georgia Science Museum

• Cartersville (40 minutes North of Atlanta – of Row, row, row your boat 53 times)
• Now Open!
• $8 – $12 – includes a fossil dig
• Tonight (Thursday, 06/04) Astronomer Rick Williams talks about dwarf planets
• www.chattnaturecenter.org

What's Going On?

WhatComing out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, May28, 2009 – Wednesday, June 3, 2009

If you missed it this morning, Alex joined me to discuss marriage equality. I'll try to get the audio up later so you can listen.


Alter Ego Pop Art

• Art Station Gallery in Stone Mountain Villaga
• Opens Friday (with reception 7:00 – 9:00 pm); closes Aug 22
• FREE (donations accepted)
• Great pop art from a talented local artist
• www.artstation.org or www.alteregopopart.com

Super-Duper Mini Chefs

• Discover Mills
• Saturday, may 4, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
• FREE
• Fun in the kitchen, learn kitchen safety and how to cook, and bring canned goods to help the less fortunate
• www.discovermills.com

Dachau before Dachau

• Oglethorpe University Museum of Art
• Now through Tuesday
• $10
• First a burgeoning artist colony, then the first German concentration camp – see the rare collections of artists from Dachau
• http://museum.oglethorpe.edu

Brenau Barbecue & Banjos Cookin’ College

• Brenau University Amphitheatre
• Friday, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
• $69
• Taugh by two-time international barbecue champion Bill Morris, you’ll know all you need to know about all the parts of a pig (and a little ‘bout the banjo, too)
• www.brenau.edu/bbq

Friday Night Flicks

• O’Neal Pizza in Douglasville
• Friday, entertainment @ 8:00 pm, movie @ 9:00 pm
• FREE
• Enjoy Grease and some not-so-greasy pizza
• www.visitdouglasville.com

Free Films on the Green

• Swift -Cantrell Park in Kennesaw
• Friday, movie starts at dark
• FREE
• Enjoy Hotel for Dogs this week
• http://www.kennesaw-ga.gov

What's Going On?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, May 14, 2009 – Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Petapalooza

• Suanee Town Center
• Saturday, May 16, noon – 6:00 pm
• FREE
• Bring the pets and the kids for live music, pet adoptions, Frisbee demos and festival food
• www.star94.com

Zanna, Don’t!

• Actor’s Express Theatre
• Opens Thursday (through June 20)
• Recession-Buster tickets as low as $15 (regular $25 - $30)
• An award-winning musical romp through Heartsville High
• www.actors-express.com

Cocktails in the garden

• Atlanta Botanical Garden
• Every Thursday, 6:00 – 10:00 pm
• $15 for adults, $9 for seniors
• Moore (and Martinis) in the Garden this month (that’s Henry Moore)
• Flower Hour (6 – 7) drinks are only $3.00
• www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Go Green Get Rewards Festival

• Underground Atlanta
• Saturday, May 16, noon – 5:00 pm
• FREE
• Celebrate the launch of a new website to support environmentally-friendly nonprofits
• Crafts, green vendors, green fashion show and a live performance by Dionne Farris
• www.GoGreenGetRewards.com

Emerging Art Scene at the Stacks

• The Stacks at the Fulton Cotton Mills
• Friday, May 15, 6:30 – 9:00 pm
• FREE
• Wine & Cheese & Emerging Art
• www.leitchfineart.com

Black Carpet Premiere

• A private Buckhead Residence
• Saturday, May 16, 6:30 – 11:00 pm
• $150 (benefits the Dallas Austin Foundation)
• Call for tickets - (678) 686-5676
• Wine, dine and hang with Tyler Perry, Fantasia, Sean Combs, Outkast and Russell Simons in old Hollywood style
• www.dallasaustinfoundation.org

What's Going On?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe
Thursday, April 30, 2009 – Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Third Annual Purple Dress Run

• Starts at Blake’s on the Park
• Saturday, May 2, 12:00 pm
• $25 in advance, $30 at the door – you provide the purple dress
• Raise awareness of Atlanta Rugby and funds for YouthPride
• www.purpledressrun.org

Where’s the Festival?
25^th Annual Sweet Auburn Springfest

• Auburn Avenue at Courtland
• Friday – Sunday (see site for times)
• FREE (but you know you gotta eat!)
• Celebrate the largest multicultural festival in the southeast
• This year’s theme is Linking the Global Family
•  www.sweetauburn.com
  

Shecky’s Girls Night Out

• Biltmore Hotel Ballroms
• Wednesday & Thursday, May 6 & 7, 5:00 – 10:00pm
• $25 - $30 in advance (FREE for insiders)
• Food, drinks and fashion
• girlsnightout.sheckys.com

HRC Dinner & Silent Auction

• Hyatt Regency Downtown
• Saturday, May 2, 5:00 - 11:00 pm
• Support equality in Atlanta and throughout the country
• Buy your ticket by Saturday
• www.atlantahrcdinner.org

Fiesta Atlanta

• Centennial Olympic Park
• Sunday, May 3, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
• FREE (all day!)
• Concerts, drinks, crafts and authentic food
• Bring the kids
• www.fiestaatlanta.com
• Then head over to No Mas Cantina in Castleberry Hill for more fun

Restaurant of the Week – Serpas True Food

• Studioplex Lofts (by the huge tower on Auburn Street in the Old Fourth Ward)
• Unique Converted cotton mill is unique while still honoring its past
• Scott Serpas was at Two Urban Licks (if you liked it there, you’ll love it here)
• One more day for the fried oysters, but you can still try the eggplant hushpuppies, tuna tartar and the mushroom tostadas
• Dinner would be wonderful with either the curried scallops or the beef shortrib with celery root gratin
• End with a light ice cream sandwich, and your thanks to the chef!
• Make your mother’s Day brunch reservations today (get sunny side eggs in their own skillet + breakfast sandwiches)
• www.serpasrestaurant.com
• More details about my dinner later this week right here on the blog
  

What's going on this week?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, April 23, 2009 – Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Inman Park Festival

• Inman park Neighborhood
• All weekend
• FREE to attend
• Live music, artist market, tour of homes and the most fun parade allowed my law
• www.inmanparkfestival.org

Fallout Boy

• Gwinnett Arena
• Thursday @7:00
• $25 - $35
• My favorite – Pete Wentz – is in town…he brought his band, too
• www.falloutboy.com or www.gwinnettcenter.com

Shaken Not Heard

• Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur
• Friday & Saturday @ 8:00; Sunday @ 3:00 & 5:00
• $15; $25; $35; $45 (save $5.00 on matinees)
• Not to miss if you grew up in or around religion
• Panel discussion following each performance
• www.agmchorus.org

Del Shores: The Storyteller

• Actors Express Theatre
• Friday @ 11:00 pm – one night only
• $25
• Meet the man and hear the stories behind Sordid Lives
• www.actors-express.com

Big To-Do at the Zoo

• The Zoo, duh
• Saturday @ 5:30 pm (come early to see the animals)
• $70 for adults, $35 for kids (benefits pediatric care for Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta)
• Music and entertainment, food and drinks, meet the animals and more
• www.hospice-atlanta.org

Atlanta Film Festival

• Locations all over town
• Wraps up April 25
• $10 for an individual; $300 for all-access pass
• 10 days; 166 films
• Still to come: teen screen, comedy shorts, documentaries and Rudo & Cursi
• Staring Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna from Y tu mamá también
• www.atlantafilmfestival.com

What's Going On?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, April 16, 2009 – Wednesday, April 22, 2009

73^rd Annual Dogwood Festival

• Back in Piedmont Park
• All weekend (see site for times)
• FREE to go, but you’ll want to do some shopping
• Artists, live music and FESTIVAL FOOD
• www.dogwood.org 

Atlanta Film Festival

• Locations all over town
• Now through April 25
• $10 for an individual; $300 for all-access pass
• 10 days; 166 films
• Celebrate Mexican filmmakers and Gone With the Wind turns 70!
• www.atlantafilmfestival.com

Love Makes a Family

• Embry Hills United Methodist Church
• Saturday, April 18, 3:00 – 6:00pm
• $5.00 per person; $20 max for a family tickets are limited
• Books, art and a concert for all types of families
• www.embryhillsumc.org

219: The Show

• Fine Line Gallery( 465 Boulevard SE)
• Saturday, April 18, 7:30 – 11:00 pm
• FREE, but $20 gets you a bottomless glass & a raffle ticket ($25 @ the door)
• Raise awareness and funds to help the pet overpopulation problem in Atlanta
• The art (all 219 pieces) represent the number of animals killed each day in Atlanta shelters
• www.aarfatlanta.org

The Georgia Renaissance Festival

• The Fairground in Fairburn
• Opens this weekend
• $19.95; $17.95 60+; $8.95 kids
• Get dresses up and eat some food on a stick!
• www.georgiarenaissancefestival.com

Restaurant of the Week – craft

• Located next to the Mansion in Buckhead
• Great modern American cuisine
• Farm-fresh, locally-grown, seasonal products
• Oysters (until the end of the month)and  braised beef short ribs
• Try several sides (you can’t miss)
• www.craftrestaurant.com

what's Going on This Week

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe
Thursday, April 9, 2009 – Wednesday, April 15, 2009

25th Annual Sweet Auburn Springfest
• Auburn Avenue at Courtland
• Friday – Sunday (see site for times)
• FREE (but you know you gotta eat!)
• Celebrate the largest multicultural festival in the southeast
• This year’s theme is Linking the Global Family
• www.sweetauburn.com

Atlanta Braves – Home Opener
• Turner Field
• Friday, April 10, 7:35 PM
• $6 – $80
• The boys of summer take the field
• www.atlantabraves.com

Robin Thicke and Jennifer Hudson
• The Fabulous Fox Theatre
• Tuesday, April 14, 8:00 pm
• $49.50 - $87.50
• Who is the bigger diva?
• www.foxtheatre.org

Where in the world is Hot Gay Joe?
Lady GaGa
• Center Stage Atlanta
• Thursday, April 9 @ 8:00 pm
• $20.00
• A-red wine….Ga-Ga
• www.centerstage-atlanta.com

Restaurant of the Week - Market
• Located in the W Hotel in Buckhead
• Beautiful, two-story, modern ambiance
• I enjoyed the goat cheese custard with pecans and beets; lamb sausage pizza and the short ribs with carrot puree
• www.marketbuckead.com

The Atlanta Film Festival begins next week – get your tickets now; details on April 16 @ 8:15 am

What's Goin' On?

Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Thursday, April 2, 2009 – Wednesday, April 9, 2009

Uncork a Cure

• The Foundry at Puritan Mill
• Thursday, April 2, 6:00 – 9:00
• $100 for tickets (benefits AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta)
• Sample the best wines and help find a cure (21+ only)
• After Party at Tongue & Groove
• www.uncorkacure.org

Where in the world is Hot Gay Joe?

Lady GaGa

• Center Stage Atlanta
• Thursday, April 9 @ 8:00 pm
• $20.00
• A-red wine….Ga-Ga
• www.centerstage-atlanta.com

Big Heart Casting

• In Atlanta this week
• Are you single and comfortable with your appearance?
• Do you want to find love?
• From the producers of “The Bachelor” comes a show for REAL women
• www.bigheartcasting.com

Ben Deignan

• Hard Rock Café Atlanta (The Velvet Underground)
• Thursday, April 2, 8:00 pm
• $8 in advance; $10 at the door
• Up and coming local artist
• www.myspace.com/bendeignan