The Atlanta Botanical Garden's new 40-foot-high, 600-foot-long Canopy Walk opens May 1, along with a new Cascades Garden and Edible Garden. They're part of a $55 million dollar renovation. AJC/Johnny Crawford

Here’s your weekly list of festivals, concerts, musicals, hikes and more to keep you busy this weekend. One of the biggest events will surely by the opening of the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s new Canopy Walk, but you can check out our Atlanta Music Scene blog for more info about live shows, or Rana Cash’s Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog for ticket discounts and cheap dates. For even more ideas about fun stuff to do, try the full AccessAtlanta.com calendar. As always, more suggestions are welcome in the comments!

FRIDAY, APRIL 30

Food: Atlanta’s Urban Picnic, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Sweet Auburn Curb Market, Atlanta. FREE

For kids: “Between the Lions” performances, 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., Center for Puppetry Arts, Atlanta.

Music: On Broadway with Marvin Hamlisch, 8 p.m., Atlanta Symphony …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: April 30-May2 »

Harold's beloved Brunswick stew

YOUR PICKS

1) Harold’s

You say, “Harold’s. After over thirty years of eating all manner of BBQ in the South, there’s no better. It’s so good I should say it again: Harold’s.”

2) Old Hickory House

3) Fox Bros.

4) Fresh Air

5) Wallace BBQ

The Brunswick stew at Harold's with a few treats to go along with it. The cracklin' cornbread is a must.

OUR PICKS

1) Harold’s

Dining critic Meridith Ford Goldman says, “A big bowl of tomatoes and corn, with tons of shredded meat and a hint of spice, just like my father used to make. Warm, never hot. And no potatoes or beans, and that’s just as it should be.”

2) Hometown Barbecue

3) Fox Bros.

4) Community Q

5) Dreamland

Continue reading Best Brunswick stew »

Members of the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable take to the streets during last year's Inman Park Spring Festival. The popular neighborhood festival returns this weekend. AJC file photo

This weekend won’t be as wildly busy as last weekend in Atlanta, but there’s still a great mix of festivals, performances, outdoor and families activities around Atlanta this weekend. Check out our Atlanta Music Scene blog for more info about live shows, or Rana Cash’s Atlanta Bargain Hunter blog for ticket discounts and cheap dates. For even more ideas about fun stuff to do, try the full AccessAtlanta.com calendar. As always, more suggestions are welcome in the comments!

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

Art: Studioplex Art Stroll, 6-9 p.m., Studioplex, Atlanta. FREE.

Comedy: Cedric the Entertainer performs, 8 p.m., Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta.

Dance: The Best of Ballethnic, 8 p.m., Southwest Arts Center, Atlanta.

Drink: Martini Fridays at “Diana: A Celebration,” 5-8 p.m., Atlanta Civic Center, …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: April 23-25 »

OK Cafe's macaroni and cheese

YOUR PICKS

1) OK Café

You say, “OK Cafe’s is really great. They season it with Ranch dressing, would you believe? We go there just for that!”

2) Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

3) South City Kitchen

4) Community Q

5) Sam’s BBQ1

6) Dave Poe’s BBQ

Community Q's sliced beef brisket sandwich with a side of macaroni and cheese and collards

OUR PICKS

1) Community Q

Dining critic Meridith Ford Goldman says, “The AJC has printed the recipe not once, but twice in our food pages, and it remains one of our readers’ favorites on accessAtlanta.com. Owner David Roberts uses rigatoni pasta, coats it with sharp cheddar, Monterey jack and Parmesan cheeses and lots of heavy cream, then bakes it until it melds into a mass of oozing, cheesy, almost unidentifiable heaven.”

2) JCT Kitchen

3) La Pietra Cucina

4) 4th & Swift

5) The Colonnade

Continue reading Best macaroni and cheese »