The red velvet cake from Piece of Cake was your pick for the best in town. Piece of Cake has three locations: Buckhead, Roswell and Decatur. Photo courtesy Piece of Cake.

1. Piece of Cake

You say, “Piece of Cake make THE BEST! My family looks forward to their red velvet cake every year; it’s what I request for my birthday cake. So yummy!”

2. Sweet Blessings

3. Gabriel’s Desserts

4. Southern Sweets

5. Amazing Cakes

Alpine Bakery in Alpharetta is our pick for the area's best red velvet cake. Photo courtesy Alpine Bakery.

1. Alpine Bakery
AJC Food and More Southern and neighborhood fare blogger Jenny Turknett says, “This Alpharetta spot has an undiscovered gem: the red velvet cake. Stacked four layers high and dusted with red velvet crumbs, this cake is not only gorgeous but is incredibly moist.  The thick layers of cream cheese frosting – not overly sweet – are more like cheesecake than frosting.  This cake is my hands-down favorite red velvet cake around.”

2.

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The Macy's Great Tree Lighting is a Thanksgiving tradition. "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee is this year's musical headliner. Photo: Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com

THURSDAY

Holiday, lights, music: Katharine McPhee, Chuck Wicks, Bobby V and Austin Renfroe are among the performers set to appear at this year’s Macy’s Great Tree Lighting Celebration at Lenox Square in Buckhead. The pre-show concert begins at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 25; tree-lighting celebration 7-8 p.m.

Light show, holiday: Lake Lanier Islands Resort shines again with the Magical Nights of Lights, a seven-mile drive-through tour of animated holiday light displays. At the end, the Holiday Village awaits with carnival rides and games, pony rides and holiday treats. The lights sparkle 5-10 p.m. daily (including holidays) through Dec. 30.

Holiday, lights: Head to the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville for the 23rd annual Lighting of the Tree. The free festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 25.

Stage: The …

Continue reading Weekend best bets (with a side of Turkey Day): Nov. 25-28 »

What'll ya have? Well, this week, you'll have the pimento cheese from this Atlanta institution. It was chosen as your favorite spot for pimento cheese, whether it's on a hot dog, a cheesesteak or as a grilled cheese sandwich.

YOUR PICKS

Local

1. The Varsity

You say, “Pimiento cheese slathered on a chili dog and grill pressed to toasted perfection” and ” grilled pimento cheese steak…makes me hungry just typing it.”

2. Watershed
3. Empire State South
4. Southern Sweets Bakery
5. Brick Store Pub
6. Relish

Statewide

1. Harvest Moon Cafe in Rome

You say, “On Saturday at the Georgia game, I had some of Harvest Moon’s PC for the first time at a Rome tailgate. It was outrageously fabulous — probably the best I’ve ever had. Everybody was talking about it” and “Harvest Moon in Rome, GA has the absolute best pimento cheese! It’s called Wicked Pimina Cheese. If you haven’t tried it, then you need to make the drive up to Rome for lunch at Harvest Moon to try their pimento …

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The Center for Puppetry Arts presents director Jon Ludwig's adapatation of the beloved animated television special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Hermey, the elf who'd rather be a dentist, is among the show's many memorable characters. Photo: Clay Walker / Center for Puppetry Arts

Stage: Center for Puppetry Arts Artistic Director Jon Ludwig’s faithful adaptation of the beloved animated holiday special “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” includes characters such as Hermey, the elf who wants to be a dentist, and the discarded playthings on the Island of Misfit Toys. The show continues through Jan. 2 at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

Stage: The fanciful and awe-inspiring Cirque du Soleil returns with “OVO.” It continues through Dec. 19 under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau at Atlantic Station.

Stage: “The Second City: Miracle on 1280 Peachtree Street” pokes a little fun at Atlanta. The show continues through Dec. 12 at the Alliance Theatre.

Stage: …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Nov. 19-21 »