YOUR PICKS

1. Mary Mac’s Tea Room

You say, “Mary Mac’s. No question about it. It’s impossible to pick four between the tomato pie, broccoli souffle, dumplings, mac and cheese, turnip greens and squash souffle.”

2. The Colonnade

3. Carver’s Country Kitchen

4. Watershed

5. Matthews Cafeteria

Restaurant Eugene's succotash, based on the recipe of Linton Hopkins' grandfather.

OUR PICKS

1. Restaurant Eugene
The vegetable plate at Restaurant Eugene is seasonal and typically has tastings of six or more vegetables served in little cast-iron crocks.
These fresh local vegetables are prepared simply and the vegetable is always the star of the dish — never overwhelmed by saucing or seasoning.  Even the most  vegetable-averse will be converted.

2. JCT Kitchen

3. Watershed

4. Matthews Cafeteria

5. West Cobb Diner

Continue reading Best vegetable plate »

Shawn Megorden belts out the '60s classic "River Deep, Mountain High" in the Atlanta Lyric Theatre's production of "Leader of the Pack." Photo courtesy Atlanta Lyric Theatre

FRIDAY

Gardening, family: The 24th Southeastern Flower Show, an annual harbinger of spring, has a musical theme this year. “In Tune With Blooms” will stoke your spring fever with sights and sounds to inspire you for the coming growing season. It’s at the Cobb Galleria Centre Feb. 25-27. Take a look at our preview.

Stage: Georgia Ensemble Theatre revisits “Inherit the Wind,” a fictionalized account of the 1925 trial of John T. Scopes, who was convicted for teaching evolution in a Tennessee school. It opens Feb. 24 and continues at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center through March 13.

Stage: In Horizon Theatre Company’s “Superior Donuts,” the neighborhood, the donut shop and Arthur have all gone to pot. When young Franco Wicks busts in with fresh dough and even fresher dreams, even Arthur can no longer …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Feb. 25-27 »

General manager Michael Fuhrman with a pitcher of Mary Mac's beloved iced tea. It's your pick for the best non-chain sweet tea in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

YOUR PICKS (Local)
1. Mary Mac’s Tea Room
You say, “Mary Mac’s Tea Room hands down! Big ups to all the true southerners that responded in kind.”

2. Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q
3. OK Cafe
4. The Sun Dial
5. Wright’s Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe

Chick-fil-A is your picks for the chain with the best sweet tea. Photo: PRNewsFoto

YOUR PICKS (Chain)
1. Chick-fil-A
You say, “The best iced tea on the planet, including Atlanta” and “Are you serious? Chick-fil-A has the best. No question about it. Always very great! When I think sweet tea, I think Chick-fil-a.”

2. McDonald’s
3. Zaxby’s and Cracker Barrel (tie)
4. Bojangles’
5. Captain D’s

OUR PICKS
1. Greenwood’s on Green Street
The sweet tea at Greenwood’s on Green Street is a winner because it avoids the two main pitfalls of sweet tea.  It isn’t bitter (due to …

Continue reading Best sweet tea »

Johnathan Lee Iverson is the first African-American ringmaster in the history of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. He was also the youngest ringmaster when he signed on with the circus in 1998 (at age 22). Photo: Heinz Kluetmeier

FRIDAY

Circus, family: The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returns with “Barnum’s Funundrum,” its latest production. This weekend, the show happens at Philips Arena Feb. 18-21. Next week, beginning Feb. 24,  it’s at Gwinnett Arena. Take a look at our preview of the circus, including an interview with ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson.

Stage: Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents “Leader of the Pack,” a celebration of the life and times of songwriter Ellie Greenwich, with a sampling of some of her best-loved songs, including “Chapel of Love,” “Da Do Ron Ron,” “Be My Baby,” “Hanky Panky,” Do Wah Diddy,” “And Then He Kissed Me” and “River Deep, Mountain High.” the show opens Feb. 18 and continues through March 6 at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre  …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Feb. 18-20 »