Things To Do In Buford

All is well in the ATL this week, with the Braves jumping into first place and the Fourth of July fast approaching. Beyond baseball and fireworks, it’s going to be a busy week: concept cars continue to dazzle at the High Museum of Art, there’s drinking to be done in Buckhead and Midtown, Radioactivity brings bubblegum punk to The Earl, and a mixed-media art show at The Mammal Gallery promises to be a hot and sweaty affair. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. Dream Cars Midtown | Through Sunday, September 7 Back in the 1950s, owning a car was a big deal. But owning a car shaped like a rocket ship was an even bigger deal. Sadly, few people actually accomplished the latter, but that doesn’t mean automakers weren’t dreaming up some truly insane designs. The newest exhibit at the High Museum of Art explores the concept cars of yesteryear, most of which never saw the production line. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to drive an egg, well, here’s your answer. (1280 Peachtree St. NE; $12–$19.50; buy tickets here) Cocktails in the Garden Midtown | Thursday, July 3, 6 p.m.–10 p.m. The gardeners and landscapers at the Atlanta Botanical Garden aren’t afraid to think big. Their latest exhibition, Imaginary Worlds, proves as much with 28 massive living sculptures shaped like frogs, gorillas, and unicorns. The best time to explore these new plant designs is at night, during a Cocktails in the Garden event that also features a chef demo, cultural performances, and live DJs. Every month comes with a new cocktail theme, and July’s Gettin’ Fizzy theme promises a bubbly affair. (1345 Piedmont Ave. NE; 21+; $18.95; free for members) Red, White, and Brews Pub Crawl Buckhead | Thursday, July 3, 6 p.m.–11 p.m. Freedom means being able to celebrate the Fourth of July a day early, and there’s no better way to do it than the Red, White, and Brews Pub Crawl. Gear up for the summer’s most patriotic weekend with this Thursday-night marathon, which visits five of Buckhead’s most popular watering holes. Pub crawlers will enjoy drink specials throughout the night, including complimentary red- and blue-colored shots. (Pub crawl meets at Big Sky; 3201 Cains Hill Pl. NW; $15–$20; buy tickets here) Radioactivity at The Earl East Atlanta | Friday, July 4, 9 p.m. On the Fourth of July, Radioactivity will light up The Earl’s stage with a frenetic set that will surely prove just as explosive as anything going on outside. These Texas garage punks recently released their debut album on esteemed indie label Dirtnap Records, and its 30 minutes of bubblegum punk will be ringing in your ears long after this one’s over. Bad Sports opens. (488 Flat Shoals Ave. SE; $10; buy tickets here) Legendary Children: In Heat Downtown | Saturday, July 5, 8 p.m. This mixed-media art show promises to be a hot and sweaty affair with plenty of shameless dancing and scandalous drag outfits. It all starts with a cocktail hour at 8 p.m., during which guests can peruse the gallery’s installations, photos, and drawings. Things really kick into gear when the downstairs opens at 10 p.m. with a set from DJ Vicki Powell and a full bar. Attendees are encouraged to dress in drag or “wear their fetish,” be it fur, candy, or unicorns. (The Mammal Gallery, 91 Broad St. SW; $9–$12; buy tickets here) Photos: High Museum of Art; Atlanta Botanical Garden; Radioactivity

Once the sporadic winter storms have passed, everyone in Atlanta is eager to get outside and enjoy the city. However, you may find yourself all jazzed up with no place to go if you’re not familiar with all the activities that Atlanta has to offer. It seems like there’s a festival going on just about every weekend once the sun comes out for good; you just have to choose the ones that interest you and make a plan! For art lovers, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is the real kick-off to the spring festival season. Each of these occasional outdoor art parties basically act as expansive galleries, featuring works in every medium imaginable, from paintings and sculptures to more everyday objects like jewelry and glassware. There are even performance artists and musicians on hand for live entertainment, many of which are perfectly suitable for families and children of nearly any age. The fest has been going on for almost 80 years, so it’s developed a reputation and prestige that allow it to attract some of the best artists from all over the country. The Dogwood Fest is followed quickly by similar events all over town, often in areas like Inman Park and Buckhead, which provide similar artistic outlets for Atlanta’s varied cultural scene. And each, in their own way, brings a wholly unique collection of works to display. Of course, there are other themed parties as well, like the annual Georgia Renaissance Festival, the SweetWater 420 Fest and the Atlanta Caribbean Festival, which highlights the area’s expansive Caribbean community. The latter is also the site of many amazing eats, local beer and the ever-present smell of jerk chicken, while the Renaissance Fest is an opportunity to don period-specific costumes and recreate a long-gone era. Of course, you’ll also find spectacularly-dressed entertainers at the Caribbean festival as well. If you’re truly focused on food, you’ll want to hit up the Mother Clucker Fried Chicken Festival Rosebud. A sensory overload of fried poultry done up in pure Southern decadence, this annual cook-off allows hungry patrons to enjoy a great sampling of many of Atlanta’s best restaurants. Also be on the lookout for Buckhead Restaurant Week in mid-spring, which gives diners a chance to try out some of the tonier establishments in town, at bargain prices. After all that, it’ll be time to hit the gym to achieve that summer beach body look.

On this week’s agenda: kids make contemporary art, Weezer takes the field after the Braves, T-Pain and Brad Paisley bring the noise, and a barbecue festival invades Midtown. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. Contemporary Kids: Summer Sunprints West Midtown | Saturday, August 19, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. In conjunction with its current Be Here Now exhibition, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center invites children aged 2 or older to spend some time making art in the sun. Kids will walk away with their very own sunprint, a unique work of art that uses natural sunlight as a developing agent. (535 Means St. NW; free) Atlanta Braves Summer Concert Series: Weezer Turner Field | Tuesday, August 12, 7 p.m. The Braves are once again in the thick of the playoff race, but even the hometown team might be eclipsed by the latest entry in Turner Field's Summer Concert Series. The reinvigorated Weezer takes the field shortly after the Braves face the visiting Dodgers, and all ticket holders can attend the show for free. Though their 10th album is due out this summer, Weezer's sure to trot out crowd favorites "Say It Ain't So" and "Buddy Holly." (755 Hank Aaron Dr. SE; $10–$89; buy tickets here) T-Pain's "Drankin Patna" Tour at The Masquerade Old Fourth Ward | Wednesday, August 13, 7 p.m. T-Pain is a lot of things. He's a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, a rapper known for hits such as "Up Down (Do This All Day)," and a guy who spends a lot of his time in the ATL. He'll be taking his swagger and his bionic vocals to the stage at The Masquerade for an all-ages hometown hip-hop bash that promises to be more party than show. (695 North Ave. NE; $25; buy tickets here) Brad Paisley's Country Nation World Tour Lakewood Heights | Thursday, August 14, 7 p.m. Moving to the opposite side of the musical spectrum, country star Brad Paisley brings his rollicking live show to Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood as part of his Country Nation World Tour. Blending humor and pop-culture references with hot guitar licks, Paisley is a true modern star. He'll be touring on the back of his new album, the folksy-named Moonshine in the Trunk. (2002 Lakewood Ave. SE; $28.25+; buy tickets here) Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival Midtown | Friday, August 15, 4 p.m.–10 p.m. The sixth annual Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival casts a wide net, pulling in pulled pork and ribs from Texas, Carolina, Memphis, and other barbecue-loving locales. The two-day celebration kicks off on Friday, and you'll want to get there early if you're planning on trying everything. Our advice? Opt for the Bourbon Experience Ticket, which gets you admission to the festival along with a commemorative sample glass and samples of premium bourbons. (1380 Atlantic Dr. NW; $6–$25; buy tickets here) Photos: Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival and Craig O’Neal (Brad Paisley)