Things To Do In East Point

The mercury will keep climbing throughout the month of July, but summer in Atlanta is already in full swing. This week’s to-do list includes three courses of seafood, the triumphant return of Kiss, an urban art social, and a pair of culinary fests that celebrate crabs and tomatoes, respectively. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. BLT Steak’s Whole Animal Dinner Series Downtown | Monday, July 14–Saturday, July 20 Whole-animal cookery has been a growing trend in recent years, thanks in large part to chefs such as BLT Steak’s Nicholas Alicea. Taking inspiration from French butchery techniques, Alicea is spending his summer highlighting creative ways to incorporate a whole animal into a three-course dining experience. This week is “fish week,” but that really extends to crustaceans, too. The menu promises grilled sardine crostini, scallops on the half shell, and shrimp fritters. A wine pairing is available for an extra $35. (45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. NW; $80 per person) Kiss and Def Leppard Lakewood Heights| Friday, July 18, 7 p.m. The copiously painted members of Kiss have been pounding disco into the ground for 40 glorious years now. Original members Paul Stanley and the immortal Gene Simmons are back to rock the wooded acres of Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood, and they’ll be joined by esteemed English rockers Def Leppard. Fans can expect lots of pyrotechnics, as well as complete strangers imploring them to “Pour Some Sugar on Me.” (2002 Lakewood Way; ticket prices vary; buy tickets here) ARTiculate Atlanta Peachtree Hills | Friday, July 18, 7 p.m. “Art” is a term that can be interpreted pretty broadly these days. Sculpture, graffiti, body painting, photography—it’s nearly impossible to list all of the means through which artists express themselves. ARTiculate Atlanta celebrates this diversity with an urban art social that showcases everything from contemporary music to graphic design. Guests can chat with 35 visual artists and even buy their work on the spot. If your pockets aren’t that deep, don’t worry—the event also promises complimentary cocktails and live demonstrations throughout the night. (349 Peachtree Hills Ave.; $10–$30; 21+; buy tickets here) Atlanta Crabs and Beer Fest Underwood Hills | Saturday, July 19, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. SouthEast Crab Fest has partnered up with Red Brick Brewing Co. for this family-friendly summer festival, which pairs the former’s crustaceans with the latter’s craft beers. There’s enough live music and games to keep the kids interested, but adults will probably want to focus on the all-you-can-eat spread of Maryland blue crabs and brews such as Red Brick’s flagship Hoplanta IPA. (2323 Defoor Hills Rd.; $10–$50; buy tickets here) JCT’s Attack of the Killer Tomato Fest Blandtown | Sunday, July 20, 1 p.m.–5 p.m. JCT. Kitchen & Bar wraps up the weekend with the sixth annual Attack of the Killer Tomato Fest, which is a lot less terrifying than its name implies. Chef Ford Fry has invited more than 40 of the South’s top chefs—plus 17 mixologists and more than 30 farmers—to the Goat Farm Arts Center, where they’ll all try to create the best tomato-based dishes and drinks they can. This contest could easily devolve into a nightmarish La Tomatina–esque battlefield, but at least the proceeds will help support Georgia Organics and The Giving Kitchen. (1200 Foster St. NW; $50–$85; buy tickets here) Photos: KISS; BLT Steak; Atlanta Crabs and Beer Fest

Atlanta isn’t exactly known for its art scene. Sure, there’s the world-famous High Museum, but even locals can have a hard time figuring out where to go beyond that. That’s a shame, because it’s in the small, local galleries where Atlanta’s art scene truly shines. These places aren’t always easy to find. Some are tiny and somewhat hidden, whereas others stretch the meaning of “gallery” by taking the art outdoors. You have to know what you’re looking for when it comes to art in Atlanta, so we’ve made a list of our favorite galleries to check out around town. Onward! Young Blood Gallery | Poncey-Highland First up is Young Blood Gallery (632 N. Highland Ave. NE), a favorite of local artists and crafters. Young Blood has been showing and selling “low-brow art” (their words, not ours) since 1997—that’s way before Esty was invented. Over the years, the gallery has evolved and become more sophisticated, but the homegrown charm is still there. Since the new owners took over in 2013, the gallery is more boutique than art space, but it’s still a great resource for local, handcrafted artworks. MINT | Poncey-Highland MINT (636 N. Highland Ave. NE) is one of those hidden galleries. Fortunately, it’s located right next door to Young Blood—to find it, enter through the hallway at 634 Highland and take the first door on the right. The gallery was started by some local college grads in 2006, and they’ve been dedicated to exhibiting new and emerging artists ever since. This is the place to go to discover the freshest, youngest talent Atlanta has to offer. The nonprofit space features a full calendar of exhibitions run completely by a volunteer staff; check it out here. Beep Beep Gallery | Midtown In a similar vein—and not too far from MINT— is Beep Beep Gallery (696 Charles Allen Dr. NE). This tiny Midtown space is one of the most active art spots in town, with a constant rotation of exhibits featuring cutting-edge artworks. It’s known for its epically cramped (but amazingly fun) monthly openings, which usually feature multiple emerging artists. Kibbee Gallery | Poncey-Highland Another hidden gem in Poncey-Highland, Kibbee Gallery (688 Linwood Ave. NE) features both emerging and established Atlanta artists. The place has a welcoming, unpretentious vibe, though you might be taken aback when you see the giant installations on the ground floor of a 100-year-old home. There are new exhibitions almost every month of the year; check the gallery’s schedule for upcoming exhibitions. Outdoor Art: Living Walls and Art on the Atlanta Beltline Living Walls and Art on the Atlanta Beltline are two fantastic outdoor art experiences that have to be included in a guide to Atlanta gallery-hopping. Living Walls is a year-round program that commissions artists to paint street murals around town. From Decatur to East Point, more than 30 walls have been brought to life thanks to LW’s artist program. As its name implies, Art on the Atlanta Beltline features temporary public artworks along the Beltline between September and November. Hundreds of visual artists, performing artists, and musicians have taken part in the program since it began in 2010. If you’re unfamiliar with the Beltline project, this is a great way to acquaint yourself with the city’s largest connected green space. Photos: Catherine Lee (wall murals), Joeff Davis (Young Blood Gallery), Beep Beep Gallery Discover more things to do in Atlanta with Groupon.

It is rare to find something in this world that is virtually universally loved. A few things come to mind: laughing, love, happiness. But there’s something that can arguably be added to that list: pizza. There’s something just so irresistible about the simple, yet ingenious combination of bread and cheese. Pizza is a food variety that has been mastered in Italy and vehemently attempted in the United States. But some local Atlanta pizza restaurants offer up the real deal. Crispy Crust: Jack’s Pizza and Wings Walking into Jack’s feels like deja vu from college days. The cool, laid back joint has arcade games, graffiti, and even old school lunch boxes used as décor. Jack’s Pizza and Wings is very well known in Atlanta for their wings, but for many, it’s the pizza that keeps them coming back for more. Jack’s Pizza is the perfect balance of generous toppings, melty cheese and crispy crust. The crust isn’t paper thin, like you’d find in some NYC pizzerias; the crust is thick enough to support the toppings of their many specialty pizzas (including mac & cheese!), yet remains perfectly crisp on the bottom. Traditional Pizza: Fellini’s If you’re looking for a well-made, fresh pizza, then head over to Fellini’s. Their no-gimmick, no-fuss approach to pizza is one that’s sure to please. Their philosophy is simple: they use fresh ingredients, dynamite recipes and thoughtful care to create a little slice of cheesy heaven for each and every customer. Their signature neon lettering and twinkling light décor, combined with their lovely outdoor seating make the whole experience of dining at Fellini’s special. Authentic Neapolitan Pizza: Antico Antico is a local go-to for any pizza lover. With its unbelievably fresh ingredients and imported Italian ovens, it’s tough to compare any pizza in Atlanta to Antico. The unique atmosphere is open and inviting with large tables open for parties to share. This traditional Neapolitan pizza is as authentic as it gets in the Atlanta area. The thin, fluffy crust complements the robust flavors of the buffalo mozzarella and other mouth-watering toppings in a way that makes it clear why this pizza establishment has been around since 1889. Creative Toppings: Shorty’s Located in the Northern area of Atlanta, Shorty’s Pizza offers a fun, creative spin on pizza. In traditional Italian sit-down restaurant style, the thin crust cooked in a wood fired brick oven is enough to draw in a crowd, but the unique topping options make this pizza joint one of a kind. Unconventional foods like potatoes, fried eggs, avocado and taco seasoned ground beef are all available for toppings, making for some interesting combinations. Local Favorite: Varasano’s Pizzeria With tons of awards under their belt, including one of the 'Elite 8' Pizzerias in the US by Every Day with Rachael Ray, Varasano’s has quickly become a local favorite in Atlanta. Located in the Buckhead neighborhood, this pizzeria serves a delicious take on Neapolitan pizza. The flimsy crust made of sourdough bread just begs to be folded for the perfect bite. And in the unlikely event you have room for desert after one of their signature pizza pies, Varasano’s offers decadent Italian style doughnuts. As if their savory pizza wasn’t enough to keep business booming, the crystalized sugarcoated fried confections are the perfect cherry on top of one satisfying meal. All photos by Johnny Cheng Photography