Things To Do In Conyers

On this week’s agenda: Japan comes to Atlanta, spotlights shine on indie films and music, Decatur’s Iberian Pig celebrates an anniversary with lots of ham, and Bodies: The Exhibition leads guests on an intimate voyage through the human body. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. JapanFest Duluth | Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21 This weekend, Gwinnett Center in Duluth hosts one of the largest Japanese festivals in the country. Take in a taiko drum concert, learn how to cultivate your own bonsai tree, or simply watch a bunch of kids run around in cute kimonos. Speaking of kids, children 6 and younger are granted free admission. (6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy.;$8, free for kids 6 and younger; buy tickets here) The Peach State Film and Music Festival at Atlanta Adamsville Rec Center Adamsville | Saturday, September 20, 7 p.m. Comedian Katrina Pope hosts this all-out feast for film and music lovers, which kicks off with two independent films, including The Next Day—a story of sordid romance, murder, and secrets, starring singer Deanna Dawn. Guests are then treated to soothing neo-soul from Takiya Mason and Deanna Dawn, and uplifting gospel from Christian singer Wumi Abe. A three-course meal and beverage come with admission. (3201 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW; $49+; buy tickets here) Joyce Manor at The Mammal Gallery Downtown | Saturday, September 20, 8 p.m. Against all odds, 2014 is shaping up to be the Year of Emo. Even before genre heavyweights Mineral and American Football reunited, younger bands such as Southern California's Joyce Manor were wearing their hearts loudly on their sleeves, playing songs that feature loose guitars and wailing vocals. Joyce Manor is among emo's most promising new bands, and they proved so much with this year's fantastic Never Hungover Again. Don't miss them at the Mammal Gallery, Downtown Atlanta's finest DIY arts space. Des Ark, the Exqusites, and Places To Hide open. (91 Broad St. SW; $12–$14; buy tickets here) The Iberian Pig's 5th Anniversary Bash Decatur | Tuesday, September 23, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Iberian Pig has been bringing creative iterations of pork and other Spanish dishes to Decatur Square for five years now, and the chefs are celebrating in a big way. How big? Well, they’re toasting the occasion with a whole suckling pig roast, free churros from their in-house churro cart, live music, and a carving of their oldest cured leg of Iberico ham. Call ahead to reserve a spot. (121 Sycamore St.; varies; buy tickets here) Bodies: The Exhibition at Atlantic Station Midtown | Through November 16 Bodies: The Exhibition leads guests on an intimate, education-packed voyage through the human body and its collection of intricately assembled systems. Numerous actual full-body specimens and more than 100 real human organs—each meticulously dissected and reverently displayed—provide a behind-the-scenes peek into anatomical inner workings. (265 18th St.; $18+; buy tickets here)

The BeltLine is an ongoing project Atlanta is proudly creating to bring energy, creativity and community to its citizens. This progressive city connection spans over thirty-three miles through the city’s most eclectic and naturally beautiful spaces. The BeltLine is broken down into four main trails, all of which are ready for exploration. Arguably the liveliest sector of the BeltLine, the Eastside trail runs from Piedmont Park on 10th and Monroe, down to Old Forth Ward and Inman Park. The smooth, 2.25 mile-long path encourages walking, jogging, bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading and more. The trail itself is filled with children, pets and Atlantans of all types. From students reading their favorite books on one of the many trailside benches, to young families sharing the experience of the BeltLine with their loved ones, the Eastside trail welcomes all walks of life. In addition to simply enjoying the beautiful outdoors, the BeltLine offers several unique experiences along the Eastside trail. A great way to start a day at the BeltLine is by renting a bicycle at Atlanta Beltline Bicycle in Old Forth Ward.  At only $15 per bike for the day, the price can’t be beat; plus, it’s located right at the southern end of the Eastside trail, making it a great starting spot. (Be sure to ask for a bike lock in case you want to stop to eat and/or shop.) Starting from the southern tip, the trail begins with an art installation that flows with the wind, creating beautiful color patterns. A series of vertical strings hold together several multi-colored triangle pieces, creating the illusion of floating ‘colors of the wind’. The Eastside trail of the BeltLine boasts several more art instillations along its path. Continuing north reveals several housing complexes with lovely balconies studded along the trail. One can only imagine the spacious, yet cozy loft space that must exist inside. On Sundays, The BeltLine Shed at Ponce City Market (a large retail, office and resident space opening in 2014) hosts Food Cart Sundays. With a great selection of different types of foods and drinks, including delicious iced coffee, this stop along the BeltLine is a great choice to please everyone in your group. If you’re more of the sit-down type, just around the corner is Inman Park. Right off the BeltLine, this lovely neighborhood has tons to offer, including Fritti, an Italian restaurant, well-known for its pizza, and Pure Taqueria, an Atlanta couple’s “sophisticated and fun” take on the authentic Mexican taqueria. For a quick treat, an incredibly popular choice is the local favorite, King of Pops. There are three places along the 2.25 mile-long stretch of the Eastside BeltLine to buy the creatively flavored popsicles, but if you’re looking for the most flavor options, head to their headquarters in Inman Park. Just a few feet off the BeltLine, this place offers almost all (due to limited quantities, some flavors sell out) of their tasty flavors from blackberry mojito to banana pudding and sea salt chocolate. Finally, for shopping, stop by Paris on Ponce for a well-curated warehouse space filled with over 30 unique boutique shops featuring local creators of all types. Find a home décor steal at the Parisian inspired Objet booth or get crafty with Terraria and make your very own terrarium. Paris on Ponce carries all kinds of items—from furniture and antiques to clothing and gifts—the variety is exceptional with its hodgepodge of beautiful, one of a kind goods. Overall, the Eastside trail of the BeltLine is a wonderful way to spend a leisurely, yet lively day taking advantage of wonderful local establishments. With ample eats, treats, and goods, the 2.25-mile span from Old Forth Ward & Inman Park to Monroe & 10th is a fun trip with lots of opportunities for friendly encounters. Photos by Johnny Cheng Photography | Explore more things to do in Atlanta

Recently, I shared the liveliest, most popular trail of Atlanta’s BeltLine. But there’s a lot more to this new city path than most Atlantans know. In addition to the shops, eats and art that the Eastside trail boasts, the beltline also offers some quiet observation of the natural beauty that Atlanta has to offer. One of the most common first observations newcomers make of Atlanta is the vast amount of greenery and trees. We are a nature-loving group and this southern city is proud of what separates us from other US metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles; which is exactly why the Northside trail of the Atlanta BeltLine was created. The BeltLine’s most rugged open trail, the Northside trail is accessible from three points: Armore Road, Collier Road, and Goodson Lane. It runs along Tanyard Creek and through Tanyard Creek Park, connecting Ardmore Park, Collier Hills and Collier Hills North neighborhoods. As the first part of the BeltLine to open in North Atlanta, local residents have taken advantage of this glimpse into the nature of Atlanta. In fact, the Northside trail even holds its own annual 5k race, bringing Atlantans together to enjoy the BeltLine. Although the Northside trail can be considered rugged and more nature-centric than the Eastside Trail, it still provides a smooth concrete path for walking, jogging, running, bike riding, or skating—even the stretch through Tanyard Park. The goal while creating this trail was to “minimize the visual impact on the meadow,” according to Beltline.org. The official BeltLine website goes on to explain, “the trail was routed through existing naturalization areas.” This has proven to be a successful feat, as Tanyard Park remains aesthetically pleasing. In an effort to keep Atlanta green and naturally beautiful, the Northside trail was created in a way that not only lets nature continue to prosper on its own, but also to enhances the flow of nature. Along the trail, design features have been installed to preserve natural growth. These same design features, as well as a few more, provide an escape route for excess rainwater to prevent overflows of Tanyard Creek. The one-mile stretch that is the Northside trail of Atlanta’s BeltLine is a wonderful option for casual strolling, nature walks, or light cardio exercise. Since 2010, North Atlanta residents have made this area a favorite, especially those who reside in the neighborhoods in Collier Hills that are now linked together. It has made for much easier foot access both between neighborhoods and to the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta Memorial Park. If you’re looking for a nice quiet, scenic route, check out the Northside trail of the BeltLine. You can read up on the Eastside trail in part one of the BeltLine series. Stay tuned for more info on the other trails, parks, public art and historic preservation that Atlanta’s BeltLine has to offer. Photo courtesy of AsianCajuns.