Decatur singer-songwriter Caroline Herring will be part of two shows at the AJC Decatur Book Festival this weekend. She'll perform songs from her lovely album "The Little House Songs," based on the children's book by Virginia Lee Burton, on the Children's Stage at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 3. Later that night, she'll be at Eddie's Attic for an early look at Theatrical Outfit artistic director Tom Key’s stage adaptation of Eudora Welty’s "The Optimist’s Daughter," with original music composed and performed by Herring and Kate Campbell. Photo: Jeffrey Fasano

SATURDAY
Festival: There is plenty to see and do at the AJC Decatur Book Festival , which is centered around Decatur Square.

Festival, convention: DragonCon is an annual multimedia, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, television and film. It’s happening at several downtown Atlanta hotels Sept. 2-5, with the Hyatt Regency serving as the headquarters. Day …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Sept. 2-5 »

One of the gorgeous specialty cupcakes from the Lily Torte Baking Company, your pick for best cupcakes in and around Atlanta. Photo courtesy Lily Torte Baking Company

YOUR PICKS
1. Lily Torte Baking Company
You say, “They have so many flavors it is like being a kid in a candy store. My favorites are salted caramel and cookie monster yum” and “Lily Torte has the perfect cupcake for every occasion. Family owned. Great family, even better cupcakes. You can never have just one!”

2. CamiCakes
3. Cake Cafe Atlanta
4. Piece of Cake
5. GiGi’s Cupcakes

Atlanta Cupcake Factory co-owner Jamie Fahey frosts some of the delicious treats available at the Poncey-Highland shop. Photo: John Spink, jspink@ajc.com

OUR PICKS
The AJC dining team’s specialist in Southern and Neighborhood Fare Jenny Turknett says, “Atlanta’s cupcake scene has exploded over the past year. As I compared cupcakes from many of our local shops, the unique strengths of each bakery revealed themselves. Instead of …

Continue reading Best cupcakes »

An aerial pas de deux from Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion," which is it Philips Arena this weekend and moves to Gwinnett Arena next week. Photo: Daniel des Marais

TODAY
Stage: They won’t be bringing the distinctive tents this time around, but the fanciful Cirque du Soleil folks will still inspire wonder and amazement with “Dralion,” their latest production. The show is at Philips Arena this week and at Gwinnett Arena next week.

Music, arts: Nophest is a showcase for up-and-coming talent and left-field experimentalism in music and art in East Atlanta Village. It’s happening nightly through Aug. 27. $7.50 one-day passes in advance, $10 at the door. All venues are on Flat Shoals Avenue, including 529 at 529 Flat Shoals Ave. N.E., Atlanta.

Comedy: Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member and star of “Weeds” Kevin Nealon brings his stand-up comedy to the Punchline in Sandy Springs Aug. 26-27.

Festival: Get your fill of the tasty treats (and live entertainment) at …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Aug. 26-28 »

Staff photo

YOUR PICKS
1. DeKalb Farmers Market
You say “Great pricing, full disclosure of seafood origin, offers select fish as sushi grade and explicitly labels fish as wild or farm raised.”

2. Whole Foods
3. Buford Highway Farmers Market
4. Fulton Bay Seafood
5. Southern Seafood

Grab a live crab, as Cynthia Rosario is doing here, or one of the many other fresh seafood options at the Buford Highway Farmers Market. Photo: Hyosub Shin / hshin@ajc.com

OUR PICKS
1. Buford Highway Farmers Market
The AJC dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “Let’s face it, Atlanta is a landlocked city, so local markets have to import our seafood. The criteria then becomes: who handles seafood the best and adheres to quality standards the highest? My choice is Buford Highway Farmers Market. I’m consistently pleased with the store’s quality and large variety, which includes some live sea critters still perky with a lot of fight left in them.”

2. Dekalb …

Continue reading Best place to buy fresh seafood »