Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens is your pick for the best place to view a holiday lights show. The Pine Mountain locale has been shining brightly during the Christmas season since 1992. Photo courtesy Callaway Gardens

YOUR PICKS
1. Callaway Gardens’ Fantasy in Lights
You say, “Callaway Gardens without a doubt is the best Christmas Light Show anywhere! There are ‘packages’ that make this family outing VERY affordable! I’ve been in the fog (which was a truly magical experience), I’ve been when it was soooo cold I couldn’t feel my fingers and toes, but we all sang along with the Carols and felt really special. I’ve been when the conditions were perfect and drove in a convertible which increases the experience beyond belief!”

2. Magical Nights of Lights at Lake Lanier
3. Stone Mountain Christmas
4. Lights of Life
5. Rock City

Life University's Lights of Life is our pick for best place to view a holiday light show. This annual Christmas tradition is one of the best …

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Everybody loves Yukon Cornelius, the bearded prospector from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." See Yukon, Rudolph, Santa, Hermey and the rest of the gang at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Photo: Clay Walker / Center for Puppetry Arts

FRIDAY
Stage: The beloved Rankin-Bass cartoon “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” comes to life in this puppet-tastic version from Jon Ludwig at the Center for Puppetry Arts. The show continues through Dec. 31.

Stage: “Sex and the Second City” takes a look at relationships in the age of social networking. This production from the acclaimed Second City comedy theatre opens Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 18 at the Alliance Theatre.

Stage: “The Super Villain Monologues” is a collection of the most powerful, beautiful, diabolical and stupid monologues in the history of masked villainy, as performed by humans and puppets through Dec. 3 at Dad’s Garage in Atlanta.

Stage: Theater Emory offers a new adaptation of Austen’s final novel with “Jane …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Nov. 11-13 »

Grand Champion BBQ may be the new kid on the block, but this new barbecue spot is already impressive. It was both the readers pick and our pick for best ribs in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

YOUR PICKS
1. Grand Champion BBQ
You say, “Tastiest ribs on this or any other planet are the baby back ribs at GC BBQ. Hickory smoked heaven.” and “Grand Champion has earned its name! Their ribs are moist and smoky and to sauce them would be a culinary sin! Perfection!”

2. Fat Matt’s Rib Shack
3. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
4. Community Q
5. JJ’s Rib Shack
6. Thompson Brothers BBQ

OUR PICKS
1. Grand Champion BBQ
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “Owner Robert Owens will convert devotees of BBQ spare ribs with the exceptionally thick and juicy baby back ribs he serves at Grand Champion BBQ in Roswell. Unlike most baby back ribs, Grand Champion’s will surprise you with the amount of meat on each bone, and Owens does a remarkable job of infusing the …

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FRIDAY

Music, stage: Queensryche. 7 p.m. Nov. 4. $22.50. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404- 577-8178, www.masq.com.

Music, stage: Caroline Herring. 8 p.m. Nov. 4. $18; $15 in advance. Eddie’s Attic, 515 N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404- 377-4976, www.eddiesattic.com.

Music, stage: Oglethorpe University Singers and University Chorale Fall Concert. 8 p.m. Nov. 4. Free. Conant Center for the Performing Arts, 4484 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta. 404- 261-1441, www.oglethorpe.edu.

Music, stage: The Black Angels, Dead Meadow, SpinDrift. 8:30 p.m. Nov. 4. $16. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404- 577-8178, www.masq.com.

Music, stage: Bruce in the USA. A Bruce Springsteen tribute. 8:30 p.m. Nov. 4. $15. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404- 524-7354, www.variety-playhouse.com.

Music, stage: Ron Pope, Zach Berkman, Alexis Babini. 8:30 p.m. Nov. 4. $15; $12 in advance. Vinyl, 1374 W. Peachtree St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-885-1365, …

Continue reading Weekend Best Bets: Nov. 4-6 »