Kate Kimball searches shops as her son, Cayden, 3, sleeps through the search for bargains at the Johns Creek Goodwill Store, which is just one of many locations around the metro area. Goodwill was your pick for best thrift store in and around and Atlanta. Photo: Brant Sanderlin, bsanderlin@ajc.com

YOUR PICKS
1. Goodwill (many locations)
You say, “Goodwill might charge a little more for their merchandise, but they are clean and organized. (I like to look at the racks with the clothing sorted by colors and the rainbow effect!) … Goodwill has a slightly higher standard for their merchandise I think.” and “And I love Goodwill. I am actually wearing a Brooks Brothers dress shirt I bought at Goodwill. 4-5 dollars for Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, Jos A Banks, Lacoste, and J Crew is not over priced!! Try shopping at these stores @ Lenox!!!”

2. Value Village (12 locations)
3. Last Chance Thrift Store (four locations)
4. Humane Society of Forsyth County (Cumming)
5. Salvation Army …

Continue reading Best thrift store »

Brian Clowdus and Laura Floyd star in the premiere of the two-character musical “Time Between Us,” which is being presented by Serenbe Playhouse. Photo: Breanne Clowdus

FRIDAY
Festival: Shirley Caesar, Montell Jordan, Regina Belle and many more will perform at the Atlanta Gospel Fest, but they’ll also have workshops, a fashion expo and many other activities at the Georgia World Congress Center July 27-28.

Stage: Serenbe Playhouse’s premieres the musical “Time Between Us,” a tale of two best friends attempting to balance professional success and personal fulfillment across 30 years. The show continues through Aug. 18.

Stage: The bluegrass gospel musical “Smoke on the Mountain” has been a fixture at the now-shuttered Theatre in the Square, but the Atlanta Lyric Theatre has taken up the torch and will be performing the show at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre in Marietta. It opens July 27 and runs through Aug. 5.

Performing arts, music, film: Actress and singer Sally …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: July 27-29 »

There might be a touch of grease on those golden rings, but those crispy circles of deliciousness are still the best in town. Both readers and our critic put them at the top of the list. Photo: Elissa Eubanks, eeubanks@ajc.com

YOUR PICKS
1. The Varsity
You say, “The Varsity, they may be greasy and can get on the soggy side but they use a great tasting batter and even better tasting onions which I believe are sweet Vidalia onions. MMMMM.”

2. Barker’s Red Hots
3. Ted’s Montana Grill
4. Zesto
5. Sonic

OUR PICKS
1. The Varsity
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “If there were any single flavor that encapsulates The Varsity, it would have to be the onion rings. The light, though often greasy, batter on the thinly sliced rings has made this a nearly iconic dish for long term residents of Atlanta.”

2. Bone’s
3. Ormsby’s
4. Grindhouse Killer Burgers
5. Barker’s Red Hots

Continue reading Best onion rings »

The B-52s bring their 35th anniversary tour to the Fox Theatre on Saturday, July 21.

FRIDAY
Sports: Catch some quality tennis in the heart of Atlanta at the BB&T Atlanta Open. This annual event is the first ATP tournament in eight-tournament series leading up the US Open, which begins Aug. 27. Quarterfinals are July 20, semi-finals July 21 and the final takes place July 22.

Stage: Out of Box Theatre presents “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged),” which offers up all 37 plays in 97 minutes, at the Alley Stage at Next Stage Theatre (in the former home of Theatre in the Square). It runs through July 21.

Stage: Georgia Shakespeare presents “The Emperor and the Nightingale,” based on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of a Chinese emperor transformed by the song of a nightingale. It continues through Aug. 3 at Oglethorpe University.

Stage: Two daring paleontologists turn back the clock to discover how dinosaurs came to rule the Earth in “The Dinosaur Show,” …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: July 20-22 »