Whirl Helicopter Atlanta

The work week can be pretty hectic and one of the best ways to slow down and reconnect with a loved one is to relax and plan a date night. A bit of shopping, a drink or two, a nice meal and a sweet ending can be just what the doctor ordered. In a car-centric city such as Atlanta, it can be easy to forget that the city has an abundance of neighborhoods that can be explored by foot, and the Virginia Highland neighborhood has been attracting visitors since the early 1900s. The epicenter of the neighborhood, located at the corner of Virginia and Highland Avenues near Midtown, hosts a number of restaurants, bars, and shops perfect for a night on the town. After parking your car, you won’t be needing it for the rest of the evening, take a stroll through the shops that line North Highland Avenue. Half Moon Outfitters offers a wide range of outdoor clothing and gear in an intimate environment and personal attention not found at your typical big box store. Stanton Home Furnishings, in its new location in the former Bella Cucina space, carries a selection of housewares, furniture and books. If you’re looking for gifts made by local artisans, boutiques Festivity and Urban Cottage have you covered. Following your shopping excursion, step into La Tavola Trattoria on Virginia Avenue, a neighborhood Italian restaurant with a small dining room and just a couple of seats at the bar( less than 10 seats) . The kitchen is partially open so you're able to see in - especially from the bar area. It’s likely that you’ll be greeted at the bar by long time barkeep Alli Royce Soble who would be happy to guide you through the restaurant’s wine list or create a cocktail to start off your evening on the right foot. In addition to being a master mixologist, she’s also a talented photographer and has exhibited work in Atlanta’s galleries. She can also help guide you to an appetizer or two, perhaps selected choices from their house cured meats, bruschetta, grilled calamari or feel free to choose an appetizer portion of any of their pastas. Just a few doors away, check out Genki Noodles & Sushi for the main event. You’ll certainly find hot sake on the menu, however I’d recommend the selection of premium sakes available that are served cold & are perfect for sharing on a date night. Try the Zipang, a fun sparkling sake from Japan, or the Rock Sake, a surprisingly refreshing sake from Oregon. Genki serves a variety of sashimi & sushi, noodle bowls and tuna dishes on their expansive menu. Start off with miso soup or salad, and then dive right into the Yokohama lobster, made with tempura fried Maine lobster tail with a tomato ginger sauce. Large enough to share, one of the best items on the menu is their chirashi don bowl. The dish includes an assortment of sashimi including tuna, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, escolar, shrimp, squid, egg cake and octopus over a bed of sushi rice. Finish off your Virginia Highland excursion with a nightcap at chocolate emporium Cacao Atlanta. Take your pick of coffee with beans by local roaster Batdorf & Bronson or try their own sipping chocolate in their gleaming white café or outside on the sidewalk patio. Owner Kristen Hard often makes trips to source the best chocolate used in her creations. A visit wouldn’t be complete without their acclaimed house made truffles. For more date night ideas, explore other things to do in Atlanta

Last weekend’s fireworks have fizzled and faded, but summer is just gearing up in Atlanta. This week’s to-do list includes a beloved Disney movie brought to life, the return of ‘90s alt-rockers the Goo Goo Dolls, a modern-art opening, more street food than you could shake a plastic fork at, and Georgia’s newest water park. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Atlanta. The Little Mermaid Midtown | Tuesday, July 8–Sunday, July 13 Before The Little Mermaid was one of Disney’s most beloved films, it was a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. That origin is further obscured by the Fox Theatre’s latest production, which recreates the kid-friendly Disney version onstage—complete with music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken. Singing crabs might not have been part of Andersen’s original vision, but they do make this Houston Theatre Under the Stars production a bubbly good time. (660 Peachtree St. NE; ticket prices vary; buy tickets here) Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry with Plain White T's Buckhead | Friday, July 11, 7 p.m. The Goo Goo Dolls have lived many lives since their first shows in a sweaty Buffalo club called the Continental. They went from ripped jeans to radio rock in the span of just a few albums, and the band’s evolution continues on their latest tour with alt-rockers Daughtry. To prepare for what promises to be a packed show at Chastain Park Amphitheater, check out our playlist of bands you wouldn’t believe the Goo Goo Dolls have shared a bill with. (4469 Stella Dr.; $39.50–$375; buy tickets here) Scott Ingram: Blue Collar Modernism Buckhead | Opening Friday, July 11, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Though he’s now based in Atlanta, visual artist Scott Ingram is a Midwestern boy at heart. As such, his work has always been heavily influenced by the modern architects of Chicago. That influence used to express itself in the minimalism of his work with nail polish, but now it’s starting to show up in the monumentality of his sculptures and installations. Blue Collar Modernism, Ingram’s latest exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, represents a return to the artist’s Midwestern roots, in which he explores minimalism through the eyes of the working man. (75 Bennett St. Suite A2; free to $5) Atlanta Street Food Festival Piedmont Park | Saturday, July 12, noon to 8 p.m. Summer brings no shortage of excuses to stuff your face, but none is more compelling than the Atlanta Street Food Festival. Dozens of food trucks will set up shop at Piedmont Park, and guests will have a hard time choosing from options that include fried green tomatoes, red velvet cupcakes, and Southern-style chicken with waffle fries. The festival also features live music and a Family Fun Zone with a superslide, rock-climbing wall, and mechanical bull. (400 Park Dr. NE; $10.50–$25; buy tickets here) Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Over Georgia Austell | Opening summer 2014 Six Flags was already bringing it with thrill rides such as Acrophobia and Goliath, but the park has outdone itself with this summer’s opening of the new Hurricane Harbor water park. Admission to Hurricane Harbor is included with a ticket to the park, meaning you can ride roller coasters in the morning and splash around on water slides in the afternoon. Don’t miss the Bonzai Pipelines, a trio of slides with sharp twists and a four-story drop. (275 Riverside Pkwy. SW, Austell; $41.99–$69.99; buy tickets here) Photos: Atlanta Street Food Festival, Goo Goo Dolls, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

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.