Waffle House is your choice for best place to dine alone in and around Atlanta. Photo: Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

YOUR PICKS
1. Waffle House
You say, “Waffle House with my ajc – great place to eat and slyly watch others come and go” and “The best place is home. However dining out, Waffle House is good, they have a friendly greeting when you walk in.”

2. Taqueria del Sol
3. Houston’s
4. Manuel’sTavern
5. Holeman & Finch

Star Provisions is our pick for best place to dine alone. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

OUR PICKS
1. Star Provisions
The AJC dining team’s specialist in International Cuisine Gene Lee says, “Chef Anne Quatrano’s gourmet food market makes an ideal destination for dining solo. Choose from Star Provision’s bounty of snacks, sandwiches and hot foods and then make your way to nearby tables to nosh right on the spot. The market also offers plenty of food-centric eye candy to keep you distracted long after you have finished your meal.”

2. Sushi Hayakawa
3. Sotto …

Continue reading Best place to dine alone »

Ryan Walden plays Harry Boychick in Company J's “The Boychick Affair,” an interactive play about a young Bar Mitzvah boy who aspires to be a rap star. Walden is joined by, from left, Amy Feinberg, Grace Hancock and Sylvee Legge. The show continues through Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta in Dunwoody. Photo: Heidi Morton

FRIDAY
Dance: Atlanta Ballet presents the world premiere of Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess & the Goblin,” a  full-evening ballet co-produced with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Performances begin Feb. 10 and continue through Feb. 19 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Nature, exhibition: “Wildlife Rescue” explores the efforts of everyday people dedicating their lives to helping animals survive. Discover how waterfowl are being saved from oil spills, how orphaned elephant calves and baby orangutans are being raised and released back into the wild and more in this interactive exhibition, which runs through May 6 at Fernbank …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Feb. 10-13 »

The meatloaf meatballs at Table & Main are just one reason why you named the Roswell restaurant your favorite new spot of 2011. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

YOUR PICKS
1. Table & Main
You say, “Table and Main is a wonderful addition to Roswell!”

2. The French Market & Tavern
3. Grand Champion BBQ
4. No. 246
5. Bell Street Burritos

Fried Mississippi rabbit with parsley caper salad is one of many adventurous dishes from Chef Robert Phalen at One Eared Stag, our pick for favorite new restaurant of 2011. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

OUR PICKS
1. One Eared Stag
Chief Dining Critic  John Kessler says, “Chef Robert Phalen has fun, takes chances and can create the kind of food that lives long in your memory after the meal’s over. One Eared Stag is kind of a garage band of a restaurant, but that’s part of the appeal.”

2. No. 246
3. Seed Kitchen & Bar
4. The Bakery at Cakes & Ale
5. Alma Cocina

Continue reading Favorite new restaurant of 2011 »

A group of jugglers practice passing clubs during last year's Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival. The 34th annual event takes place this weekend at the Yaarab Shrine Center on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Midtown. Photo: Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com

FRIDAY
Festival: The Yaarab Shrine Center in Atlanta hosts the 34th annual Groundhog Day Jugglers Festival, which brings jugglers and fans together for three days of gravity-defying fun Feb. 3-5. Most events are free for spectators, including the competitive performances late-night cabaret at 10 p.m. Feb. 4, $5; registration $20 for festival participants.

Stage: The 2010 Tony Award winner for best musical, “Memphis,” comes to the Fox Theatre. Check out our interview with one of the show’s authors, David Bryan, and our review. It continues through Feb. 5.

Music: Hollyfest IV is the latest installment of an annual celebration of music from Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, marking the anniversary of the plane crash …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Feb. 3-5 »