The Atlanta Arts Festival includes 200 artists from Georgia and across the country, including Georgia-based Nigerian artist Nnamdi Okonkwo. The artist's "Kindred Spirits" is seen above, on display at the 2009 edition of the festival. Photo: Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com

FRIDAY
Fair: Rides, music, food and lots more are on offer at the Gwinnett County Fair, but don’t miss the livestock competitions and the pageants. The fair continues through Sept. 25 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville. For more on the Gwinnett County Fair, see our round-up of upcoming fairs in the area.

Stage: Get the story behind the witches of Oz in the tuneful musical “Wicked.” The touring show returns to Atlanta for a four-week run, playing at the Fox Theatre through Oct. 9. Check out our interview with Mark Jacoby, the Tennessee native and one-time Atlantan who plays the Wizard.

Stage: In Aurora Theatre’s “Underneath the Lintel,” a quirky Dutch librarian turns into a globe-trotting …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Sept. 16-18 »

YOUR PICKS
1. Steamhouse Lounge
You say, “Are you kidding…..The Steamhouse in Midtown hands down!! Was there Sunday for their Oyster roast and Falcons home opener, always great raw Oysters on the half shell….their deck and patio, sweeeeet!!”

2. Fontaine’s Oyster House
3. C & S Seafood & Oyster Bar
4. Six Feet Under
5. Oyster Bay

A dozen Salt Pond Selects from the bar at C & S Seafood and Oyster Bar, our pick for best raw bar in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

OUR PICKS
1. C&S Seafood & Oyster Bar
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “C&S Seafood & Oyster bar in Vinings carries one of the most impressive and diverse rotating selections of oysters in town. While Apalachicola oysters are a dime a dozen at raw bars in Atlanta, C&S gives diners between 8-10 options from all over the world.”

2. Dantanna’s
3. Fontaine’s Oyster House
4. Steamhouse Lounge
5. Six Feet Under

Continue reading Best raw bar »

A view of part of the September 11 Memorial at the Pentagon in Washington. More memorials will be dedicated, remembrance ceremonies conducted and heroes celebrated over the next several days in and around Atlanta as we mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Photo: Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP

Here are a few of the events in the metro Atlanta area marking the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Cobb County
What: A parade and memorial service at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Where: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
When: The parade is at 8 a.m. Saturday and starts at Grace Community Church and ends at the park, 770 Kennesaw Ave., Marietta; the memorial service is
8:30 a.m. Sunday at the park.

What: Organist Steven Schneider will perform a concert to mark the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11
Where: St. James Episcopal Church, 161 Church St., Marietta
When: 5 p.m. Sunday

What: 9/11 Memorial  with 15 churches participating including the …

Continue reading 9/11 memorial events around Atlanta »

Bring your mummy (and your daddy, too) to see “Life and Death in the Pyramid Age: The Emory Old Kingdom Mummy” at the Michael C. Carlos Museum. This Kneeling Statuette of Pepi I (from ca. 2338-2298 B.C.E.) from the Brooklyn Museum is among the artifacts on view. Photo: Brooklyn Museum

FRIDAY
Festival: The Yellow Daisy Festival, one of Atlanta’s most popular festivals, is celebrating its 43rd year with arts and crafts from more than 400 artists from 38 states and two countries. There will also be live entertainment, a Children’s Corner and demonstrations throughout the four-day event. The fest5 takes place in Stone Mountain Park  Sept. 8-11, and though the festival is free, vehicle entry to the park is $10 for a one-day permit or $35 for an annual permit.

CANCELED: The Heroes Music Festival has been canceled.

Kids, family: Sesame Street Live returns to Philips Arena Sept. 8-11 with “Elmo’s Super Heroes,” in which Elmo (as Captain Fuzzy) helps his pal Super Grover …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Sept. 9-11 »