Things To Do In East Point

As a female, one of the challenges of a sprawling city like Atlanta is finding fun things to do when your friends are spread out all over town. The trick to getting your gal pals to coordinate their schedules and actually put something on the calendar is often as simple as finding a unique activity that everyone can enjoy. From the arts district of Castleberry Hill to drag queen bingo on Buford Highway, there are adventures any night of the week if the right woman knows where to look. Castleberry Hill’s monthly art stroll takes place on the second Friday evening of every month, and makes for a fantastic excuse to get the girls together. Meet for a drink or appetizers first at No Más! Hacienda & Cantina, and then hit up the volunteer information booth in front of the restaurant to get a map of galleries participating in the evening’s tour. Walk through the neighborhood at your own pace, checking out the wide variety of styles and immense talents of Atlanta’s art scene. Some galleries offer wine and snacks, and you can always end the night with an inexpensive tasting at Wine Shoe, a woman-owned wine bar run by one of the local gallery owners. If the crew is in a rowdier mood, head out to Buford Highway for drag queen bingo at Lips on Wednesday nights. Dozens of disco balls hanging from the ceiling and the giant bedazzled stilettos set the tone for the party officially known as Bitchy Bingo, and the hostess never fails to deliver a side of attitude with your drinks. Speaking of which, the pours at Lips are stiff, with lots of options to choose from. You can take in the scene from a few seats at the bar, but it’s best to get to one of the tables up front to really appreciate the show. And besides, it’s all about the laughs and the chance to just be one of the girls.

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

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