Things To Do In Gainesville

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

On this week’s agenda: art in the park, celebrity basketball, cooking with children, and music from Tori Amos, William Green, and Kipper Jones. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. Piedmont Park Arts Festival Midtown | Saturday, August 16, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday, August 17, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Atlanta's largest public park is outdoing even itself with the fifth annual Piedmont Park Arts Festival, which will feature up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, and other crafters. Sorting through the dizzying array of artistic disciplines is only part of the fun—live acoustic music, a bustling street market, and (of course) fried festival foods round out the weekend's bill. (1215 Piedmont Ave.; free) Atlanta Celeb Fest's Celebrity Basketball Game Sylvan Hills | Saturday, August 16, noon Atlanta Celeb Fest has drawn some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports to Georgia's capital, and its celebrity basketball game promises to be a sloppy—er, star-studded—affair. The game will tip off at noon inside Atlanta Metropolitan College. General-admission seating will let fans scoot close enough to the action to cheer on their favorite celebs and get whiffs of their paparazzi repellent. (1630 Metropolitan Pkwy. SW; $25+; buy tickets here) Eat a Georgia Rainbow at Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta Downtown | Sunday, August 17, 1 p.m. The Children's Museum of Atlanta has always been known for its hands-on activities, but Eat a Georgia Rainbow takes it a step further by adding food to the mix. This seasonal program features fruits and vegetables harvested in Georgia, and kids aged 8 or younger will be able to cook up a dish using local produce. As for the parents? Well, they're the brave souls who have to eat it. (275 Centennial Olympic Park Dr. NW; $12.75+; free for children younger than 1; buy tickets here) Tori Amos Cumberland | Tuesday, August 19, 8 p.m. Tori Amos has been a musical force of nature since the mid-1980s, but the singer-songwriter and classically trained pianist looks to be just getting started. She released her first classical music album in 2011 and seemed to be heading down an entirely new path, but her latest effort, Unrepentant Geraldines, marks a return to pop rock. Wherever she goes next, Amos is bound to find a captivated audience. (Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy.; $42–$67; buy tickets here) Fabulous Fridaze Concert Series with William Green and Kipper Jones Mableton | Friday, August 22, 7 p.m. The latest installment in the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre's Fabulous Fridaze series features a pair of acts who have been doing this music thing for a while now. Keyboardist William Green has been playing since he was a child, and his talents have led him to appear alongside Curtis Mayfield and Jennifer Holliday. Joining Green will be Kipper Jones, who trained as as Motown singer at the age of 15 and has penned hits for everyone from Chaka Khan to Brandy. (5239 Floyd Rd. SW; $15+; buy tickets here)

Atlanta’s startup community is unlike that of any other. We don’t thrive in the advanced tech space like Silicon Valley; we don’t even start tons of social ventures like Chicago; we have something special: makers, creators, and independent small businesses. Atlanta is the place to make the American Dream a reality. Talent and ambition are just a couple of the many reasons crafters can see success in Atlanta. The supportive, friendly community is really what makes creators thrive, and it is largely due to the Indie Craft Experience. Also known as ICE, this independent vendor marketplace brings together the best of the best to present beautifully handmade items to the public. ICE is put on two times a year with limited vendor spots available, making for a carefully curated selection of goods at the event. The first big marketplace event is Summer ICE, which is usually held in late June, while the second show is Holiday ICE, typically at the end of November. At either ICE, shoppers will find goods like handmade jewelry, candles, clothing, photography, art and more. In addition to the goods, local eateries sell snacks, unique drinks and tasty treats. Just walking from booth to booth proves to be a fun experience, but amp it up by posing in the large photo booth, complete with props and professional photography. As with any fun, popular event, arriving early has its advantages; at each Indie Craft Experience, the first 200 attendees receive generous swag bags stuffed with goodies from the vendors of the event. Don’t worry about waiting in line, though. The street lined with food trucks and coffee trucks (yum!) make for a great, truly local experience, even before you enter ICE. Tickets are just $10 and purchased at the door. Looking to get your feet wet before attending the big show? Check out ICE’s Salvage events in between the shows in April and September, and check their website for surprise Pop-Up shops throughout the year.