Things To Do In Gainesville

On this week’s agenda: Jerry Garcia’s birthday bash, a nocturnal nature hike, DIY spaceships and place settings, and the reunion of two alt-rock legends. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. Jerry's Birthday at The Family Dog Morningside – Lenox Park | Saturday, August 2, 7 p.m. As any Deadhead worthy of the name already knows, August 1 marks the birthday of the late, great Jerry Garcia. Chef Ron Eyester salutes the Grateful Dead guitarist with a specially curated menu at his cozy eatery, The Family Dog. Guests can expect the same creative pub cuisine this place has become known for, as well as tunes from the esteemed JGBCB (Jerry Garcia Band Cover Band) starting at 10 p.m. (1402 N. Highland Ave. NE; $10) Night Hike at the Chattahoochee Nature Center Roswell | Saturday, August 2, 8 p.m.–10 p.m. It's one thing to visit metropolitan Atlanta's largest nature center during the day, but quite another to explore its woodlands and wetlands after the sun has set. The center teems with nocturnal wildlife, so stay close to your guide on this nighttime hike. After a visit with some of the animals, the hike concludes with a marshmallow roast around the campfire. (9135 Willeo Rd., Roswell; $7–$10; buy tickets here) 3D Printing Workshop for Families: Make Your Own Spaceship Midtown | Sunday, August 3, 3:30 p.m.–5 p.m. Three-dimensional printing is likely the way of the future, so it's probably a good idea to get your kids acquainted with it now. This workshop at the Museum of Design Atlanta teaches the basics of designing in 3D with easy-to-use software. The end result for the kids? Their very own spaceship, which they can print out and take home in just a couple of days. A ticket grants admission for one adult and one child. (1315 Peachtree St. NE; $35–$40; buy tickets here) Craft Box Girls DIY Workshop Buckhead | Tuesday, August 5, 7 p.m.–9 p.m. Crafting is a lot more fun when there are cocktails on the menu. At least that's the idea behind Craft Box Girls' latest DIY workshop at fab'rik, which focuses on creating festive place settings for dinner parties. The workshop includes all the essentials for making four or eight place settings, including mats, napkin rings, and mason jars. The cocktails probably won't make your crafts any prettier, but nobody's complaining. (3400 Around Lenox Rd.; $35–$55; buy tickets here) Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden Lakewood Heights | Friday, August 8, 7 p.m. This may look like a concert bill straight out of the '90s, but their latest tour finds Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at the top of their respective games. This is no cash-grabbing reunion—both bands are touring on new material and looking toward the future (granted, Soundgarden did just release a deluxe reissue of Superunknown). Expect plenty of dark visuals and pummeling rock beats. (Aaron’s Amphitheatre, 2002 Lakewood Ave. SE; $30+; buy tickets here) Photos: John Kane; The Family Dog

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

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.