Suwanee

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.

Everyone in Atlanta knows about the touring Broadway productions that roll through the Fox Theatre, or the stunning large-scale shows that transform the Tony Award-winning Alliance. But not everyone takes the time to check out the smaller, independent theater companies doing wonderful work in and around the city. For a fraction of the cost of the bigger venues, one can catch edgier productions or local classics at many of these spaces. Here are some of the city’s best. Located in West Downtown’s King Plow Arts Center, on the grounds of a former plow factory, Actor’s Express is one of the more contemporary theater venues in Atlanta. From modern classics like Six Degrees of Separation to steamier fare like Venus in Fur, this tiny black box theater offers provocative, exciting productions for discerning theatergoers. And with plenty of restaurants nearby, it’s easy to make a relatively inexpensive evening into something fun and different. OnStage Atlanta is a more family-friendly company, with recent shows including CLUE: The Musical, Seussical Jr. (featuring local child performers), and The Drowsy Chaperone. Sure, the theater space is downright tiny, but that just makes patrons feel like they’re a part of the production, particularly with interactive shows like Chaperone. OnStage Atlanta is also a great way to introduce children to the theater, since they may be intimidated by more formal venues. On the avant garde side of Atlanta’s theater world, you’ll find Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theatre. The troupe performs in a church on Ponce de Leon Avenue and focuses on bringing newer, artistically daring staged pieces to the city. Recent productions have included works by current off-Broadway darling Annie Baker and alt-theater renegade Neil LaBute, as well as passion projects written by local playwrights. These shows are often not for the faint of heart or morally queasy, and they attract a younger demographic than at other theatres – and occasionally there may be as many people in a show’s ensemble as in the audience itself – but there’s no denying Pinch ‘N’ Ouch’s dedication to Atlanta’s thriving theater scene. Whether you are interested in a stimulating and challenging evening of theater, or you just want to take the kids to something fun, Atlanta’s local circuit of independent theaters offers plenty of year-round options.

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