It's a weekend thick with festivals, from the Dogwood to Sweetwater 420 to Big Shanty to the Georgia Renaissance Festival. Pictured here are Maid Marian and a pair of fairies at the 2005 festival in Fairburn.

This is such a fun-filled weekend in Atlanta that the state Department of Transportation actually postponed a paving project on the Downtown Connector to reduce the traffic. It’s a small relief in the face of Braves games, the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park, the SweetWater 420 Festival in Candler Park and all the other games and events going on. There are also two events billing themselves similarly to the legendary Freaknik party. One is calling itself Freaknic, and details about it are hard to come by. Organizers of the other, iFreaknik, say they’re expecting 20,000 people, although many of them were likely to be in town for other events. (Read more about Freaknik events here.) Here are a few great events going on — be sure to check out the Atlanta Music Scene blog …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: April 16-18 »

The Coronary Bypass Burger (with those beloved tots) at the Vortex, along with the restaurant's signature brew, Laughing Skull.

YOUR PICKS

1) The Vortex

You say, “Vortex in Little Five is tops. Can you say tots?”

2) Six Feet Under

3) Brick Store Pub

4) Manuel’s Tavern

5) (tie) 5 Seasons Brewing

(tie) Flip

Bar manager Nick Hearin prepares drinks behind the bar at Restaurant Eugene. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

OUR PICKS

1) Restaurant Eugene

Dining critic Meridith Ford Goldman says, “Chef-owner Linton Hopkins has turned this lovely Buckhead gem into a four-star destination. And one of the best places to enjoy his offerings is at the bar, where the lively, old-fashioned cocktails pair beautifully with the kitchen’s well-sourced meats and vegetables.”

2) Leon’s Full Service

3) Bacchanalia

4) Bistro VG

5) Cakes & Ale

Continue reading Best place to eat at the bar »

This little one borrowed an engineer cap to climb in a train at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth a few years ago. Maybe your little ones can try the same during the museum's Caboose Days event this weekend. AJC file photo

Welcome to the new Weekend Best Bets list on our Best of the Big A blog! We’ve got a new name, a new location — this list used to live on our retired Inside Access blog — but still a long list of fun stuff to do around Atlanta this weekend.

If you’re looking for more music ideas, check out our Atlanta Music Scene blog for concert announcements and ticket info.

Happy weekend!

FRIDAY, APRIL 9

Art: Castleberry Hill Second Friday Art Stroll, 7 p.m., Castleberry Hill neighborhood, Atlanta. FREE.

• Subway Series photography show opens, The Granite Room.

Film: AtlantAmation screening of SCAD-Atlanta animations, 7 p.m., Earl Smith Strand Theatre, Marietta. Read more.

For families: Spring Break Storytelling Extravaganza continues, noon, The Wren’s Nest, …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: April 9-11 »

Sashimi platter at MF Sushibar in Midtown. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

YOUR PICKS

1) MF Sushi in Buckhead and Midtown

You say, “Hands down the best sushi is at MF Sushi, The sushi there tastes fresh in comparison to other places I even eaten in Atlanta. I prefer the location on Ponce. The Buckhead location is a nice place to take a gathering of friends.”

2) Sushi House Hayakawa in Doraville

3) Taka Sushi Café in Buckhead

4) Tomo in Vinings

5) Circle Sushi in Sandy Springs

6) Sushi Huku on Powers Ferry Road

Executive chef and owner Chris Kinjo preparing sushi in the omakase room at MF Buckhead.

OUR PICKS

1) MF Buckhead

Dining critic Meridith Ford Goldman says, “MF Buckhead has done something that no other restaurant in Atlanta has ever done on such a grand scale. Its 8,000 square feet of jaw-dropping space has finally combined the big, bold Buckhead look that Atlanta loves with an absolutely incomparable dining experience. No detail — from the perfect thickness of the …

Continue reading Best sushi »