NEW: Rebranding City Winery Speakeasy As ABV

New Happy Hour Spot Intown:

ABV by City Winery Alcohol by Volume, A Modern Drinkery City Winery's rebranded speakeasy has dropped the password, doctored up new drinks, added happy hour, and scaled down pricing Industrial swagger, intriguing cocktails, and modernized provisions Open Daily 5pm-Midnight The Best Damn Happy Hour 5-7pm Every Day Entrance is directly to the left of Binder’s Art Supplies at Ponce City Market

mailing address is:  City Winery Atlanta Ponce City Market, 650 North Ave NE, Suite # 201 Atlanta, GA 30308

City Winery Atlanta

This new concert venue at Ponce City Market is an excellent way to see a show! They have wines on tap and full dinner. If you are not catching a show you can also hang out at the bar/restaurant upstairs. I had the shrimp and grits and it was phenomenal. Looking forward to going back to catch one of their jazz brunches sometime soon.  NOTE:  I love that they have a doggy menu too if you bring a pooch to the patio:  Click here for doggy menu!

See full schedule of upcoming shows:  www.citywinery.com/atlanta/

650 North Avenue, Ponce City Market, Atlanta, GA, 30308

404-946-3791

Beef Jerky Bar???

Wandered into Biltong Bar at Ponce City Market recently and was very surprised/excited/impressed. This South African snacks bar has great ambiance with huge windows and bar seating overlooking Ponce and part of the Beltine.  Great music selection and craft cocktail menu.  Perfect place to unwind and have a "Something Something DANGER ZONE" or a "See You Space Cowboy".  Check out the beef jerky menu and definitely have the red bean hummus!

http://biltong-bar.com/

Address: Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave NE ne152, Atlanta, GA 30308

Phone: (678) 515-0620

Bike the Atlanta Beltline on this Patio Bar Tour

Saw this article for the AJC written by Lesli Peterson on a "Bike The Beltline Tour" with places to stop and have a cocktail and enjoy a patio.  Some don't look to be exactly on the Beltline but could be fun to try this:

Kevin Rathbun Steak’s outdoor patio sits just feet from the Beltline. CONTRIBUTED BY: Blake Burton & Square Feet Studio

We all love the Beltline, and spring makes it even better with longer days and warmer weather. Tune up your bike, grab a friend and take our self-guided tour of these 10 patios, heading north to south along the Beltline.

Orpheus Brewing. Orpheus overlooks Piedmont Park, with optimal people-watching opportunities. It's an artisanal brewery offering free tours and tastings, with an incredible patio. Thursday - Sunday visitors purchase a $12 tasting glass that Orpheus fills with free beer. There are no bar snacks or fancy hors d'oeuvres, but you're welcome to bring your own. Doggies are welcome, too.www.orpheusbrewing.com. 1440 Dutch Valley Place, NE, Atlanta.

Loca Luna. Move from brews to mojitos at Loca Luna, the Beltline's Brazilian stop for tapas and live music every night. The party patio includes draped string lights and a waterfall view; it's a South American oasis. loca-luna.com. 550-C Amsterdam Avenue NE, Atlanta.

4thand Swift. Think farm-to-table dining, with a craft bar program. Across from Ponce City Market, you'll find 4th and Swift. An awning protects you from the heat; the industrial chic atmosphere will have you lingering well after you've cooled off. Try a classy cocktail or a craft beer, and bring your canine to the party. Dogs are welcome on the patio. 4thandswift.com. 621 North Avenue N, Atlanta.

TWO Urban Licks. Sit on the patio at TWO, people watching the passersby on the Beltline. Live music and a packed establishment mean high-energy fun. Drinks may take a while, but relax, the tour has only just begun. Biking with Fido? Not a problem; dogs are welcome on the bottom patio but not upstairs.www.twourbanlicks.com. 820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, Atlanta.

Pure taqueria. Make your way to Pure, where the patio awaits you with a bit of shade and great views of the street. Sure, it's known for it's OTP status, but Pure has no lack of friends at the Inman Park location. You'll want to order the Margarita here. Need some delicioso carbs before your next bike haul? Try the jalapeno mac and cheese. puretaqueria.com/inman-park. 300 N. Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta.

Barcelona Wine Bar. Communal spaces near the outdoor fireplace are the perfect place to grab a glass of vino or try a small plate. If you're looking to eat,Barcelona's patio is also the best choice. It's quieter than the inside and likely to get you seated more quickly. www.barcelonawinebar.com/atlanta.htm. 240 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta.

Parish Neighborhood Café. Rustic charm and deep-seated leather sofas encourage you to take a load off. Don't miss the Parish patio; it's hard to see from the Beltline. You'll need to leave your bike at the top of the stairs and head below ground-level. Doggies welcome. www.parishatl.com/p/the-neighborhood-cafe.html. 240 N Highland Avenue, Atlanta.

Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall. Rustic and modern mesh at this perfect snack stop. Set up at one of the communal tables and watch dusk roll in under the string lights. Bring your dog, soak up the sunshine and enjoy a fun cocktail at Ladybird.www.ladybirdatlanta.com. 684 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue NE, Atlanta.

Kevin Rathbun Steak. Relax on the breathtaking brick patio of Steak. Take your drink on the side at one of the tables, or relax near the fireplace lounging area. If you're not up for another cocktail, try the coffee. They serve J. Martinez & Company's Sumatra Mandheling, a spectacular gourmet blend.www.kevinrathbunsteak.com/menu.html. 154 Krog Street, Atlanta.

Superica. Krog Street Market overflows with quaint shops and satisfying restaurants, including Superica. Try Tex-mex meals in a cozy comfortable atmosphere. With a bike rack right beside the patio, this is the place for a margarita stop. Visit on the weekend for live music. supericaatl.com. 99 Krog Street, Atlanta.

No bike? No problem. Begin your tour at the Irwin Street entrance, where you can rent bikes from Atlanta Beltline Bicycle for as little as $15 per day. www.atlantabeltlinebicycle.com. 151 Sampson Street NE, Atlanta.

Leap Year Deal in Inman Park!

CELEBRATE LEAP YEAR  WITH WINE & FOOD!!!   February 29, 2016  - Monday Wisteria for Wine Tasting Leap Year Style. Enjoy 5 spectacular wines and hors d'oeuvres that will make any celebration memorable.   $25 per person. As always, all participants receive 10% off dinner that evening. Please RSVP as seats are limited - 404.525.3363

Some Events at Wisteria in Inman Park

Start your week off with these special events at our bar.    Mussels Mondays All you care to eat Mussels! Join Ryan at the bar on Mondays. $15 per person Check out our special wines by the glass on Mussels Mondays.     Tapas Tuesdays Enjoy our special small plates menu at the bar with Andrew, all tapas only $5. Small plates of wonderful southern goodness. We will have a special cocktail every Tuesday night for Tapas Tuesdays.     Wine on Wednesdays Half off all bottles of wine priced $70 and under when dining at the bar. Clifford can assist with answering your vigneron questions.     Fine Print:  Our promotional event and pricing is for those dining at the bar only. First come first serve as some inventory may sell out due to demand. Offer limited to the number of seats available at the bar. We do not take reservations for seating at the bar.

Best Place to see Santa in Atlanta

After going to a few malls around town I have to say I really like the Ponce City Market Santa setting.  There was no line, no cost and the Elves were really "giving it their all".   They stayed in character the whole time.  I like their retro makeup and lit up hover boards as well.   Stop by and check them out.  Another tip:  parking is free for 30 minutes in a designated spot.  

Atlanta Food & Drink Specials

After living in Southern California and then moving back home to Atlanta, I realized how much people love happy hour drinks on the East Coast.  There are so many social events that evolve around drinking here.  Why not take advantage of some of the drink specials around town then?  I broke down by day what I know of in town.  Some of this changes around from time to time.  Let me know if you have recommendations to add to this list:

Sunday's

• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Industry Tavern
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Parish starting at 5:30
• Bottomless mimosas at Venkman's
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Kyma 

Monday's

• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Barcelona Inman Park
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Poor Calvin's
• /2 off bottles of wine at Baraonda
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Einstein's
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Olive Bistro
• 1/2 off Classic Cocktails at The Mercury
• 1/2 off well drinks Eclipse di Luna

Tuesdays:

• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Venkman's
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Einstein's
• $3 glasses of sangria at Calle Latina in Decatur
• $3 margaritas at El Bandidos in L5P
• $3 select beers at Olive Bistro
• 1/2 off well drinks Eclipse di Luna
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Osteria 832 

Wednesday's

• 1/2 off Whiskey cocktails & $5 burgers (3-5 pm) at The Pinewood
• The Lawrence:  3 oysters and a cocktail for $10
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Gekko Sushi
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Wahoo Grill in Decatur
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Wisteria 
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Olive Bistro
• 1/2 off well drinks Eclipse di Luna
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Mediterranea in Grant Park
• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Campagnolo

Thursday's

• 1/2 off bottles of wine at Cypress Street
• 1/2 off cocktails at Poor Calvin's
• 1/2 off bottles of wine and sake 5-9 at Steel Restaurant
• 1/2 off well drinks Eclipse di Luna

(updated 6/28/17)

What to order at Sweet Auburn BBQ in VA HI /Poncey Hi

This off shoot of Sweet Auburn Curb Market is located on Highland Avenue in the Virginia Highlands area.  I highly recommend their "Award Winning" wings.  We split the naked smoked wings as well as the buffalo and they were amazing.  I also like that they have bbq tacos on the menu. Great little bar.  Unfortunately parking is hard to find and hopefully that will be solved now that Cafe 640 has closed.  Would be nice for them to be able to use their old lot right there.

More info:  http://sweetauburnbbq.com/

Filed Under: Good Deal

If you are a yoga or Pilates enthusiast and you live in town, this is a good deal.  $49 for unlimited Urban Body Studios Classes for a month.  Get the discount on Scout Mob.  They are located at 730 Ponce de Leon Place in Poncey Highlands off of the BeltLine.  Must activate within 90 days of purchase.

Click here for the deal

Minero at Ponce City Market

Tried this yum Mexican place for lunch yesterday at Ponce City Market.  Just opened on Monday and they don't have their liquor license yet.  There was a wait of about 20 minutes.  We sat up at the bar immediately and loved our food and the experience.  I had the Green Chorizo Taco with Potatoes and Grilled Onions and the Fried Catfish Taco with pickled green tomato tartar, cabbage, red onion.  Both were tasty...especially the green chorizo.  I'll be back.  My friend had the veggie "Minero Burrito" and it was massive.  

Best Dirty Martini in a while

The Bookhouse Pub.  That martini.  It was shaken so that there were tiny ice shards in the glass.  Yummy.  Their veggie burger, salad and vegetable plate are all amazing.  Very dark and lodge like.  It's usually crowded and seems to attract a lot of Hollywood types.  After living in LA I can spot the film crew a mile away.