Nichelle Nichols, best known for her portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura on the original “Star Trek,” is one of the many actors, musicians, authors, artists and celebrities on hand for this year’s Dragon-Con. Photo: Getty Images

FRIDAY
Festival: The AJC Decatur Book Festival kicks off Friday night with a sold-out keynote address from Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. poet laureate and Decatur resident Natasha Trethewey. Events continue Sept. 1 and 2 in venues all around Decatur.

Festival: Atlanta’s biggest pop culture celebration, Dragon-Con takes place in several hotels and other venues around downtown Aug. 31-Sept. 3. The parade, always a highlight, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday on Peachtree Street.

Music: Celebrating the beginning of college football season, the Downtown Touchdown Concert will have performances by Phillip Phillips, Lonestar and Cody Webb starting at 5 p.m. Aug. 31. Smash Mouth, Sister Hazel, Heidi Newfield and the Lost Trailers will play beginning at 2 p.m. Sept. 1. The …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Aug. 31-Sept. 3 »

YOUR PICKS
1. Bell Street Burritos
You say, “Bell Street Burritos is by a wide margin the best burrito joint, either in Mid or Downtown. The Pork and Green Chili burrito is my favorite and I usually can’t break from it. As mentioned the tamales are dynamite as well. The tomatillo salsa is a wonderful addition to any item on the menu. The fellows are always adding new items (lemonade, tamales, and milk shakes so far) but I can’t help but get that Pork and Green Chili, mmmmmm. Oh, and a mexican Coke to wash it down.”

2. Willy’s
3. Raging Burrito
4. El Taco Veloz
5. Sheik Burritos and Kabobs

OUR PICKS
1. Bell Street Burritos
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “Amid the explosion of burrito chains in Atlanta that began over a decade ago, Bell St. Burritos is one of the few local upstarts that stands out against the Moe’s and Chipotles of the world. Beginners should go straight for the pork and green chile grilled burrito.”

2. Sheik Burritos …

Continue reading Best burritos »

Join the humans and animals enjoying more than 100 flavors of ice cream at the eighth annual Miss Mary’s Ice Cream Crankin’. Gertie, above, is lapping up some vanilla at last year’s event. Photo: Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com.

TODAY
Fair: Fayette County Fair continues through Sept. 3 at the Kiwanis Fairground in Fayetteville.

Festival: The City of Kennesaw’s Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival celebrates two of Georgia’s favorite things. It takes place 6 to 11 p.m. Aug. 24 and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. at Adams Park.

Music: Country icon Loretta Lynn plays Chastain Park Amphitheatre this weekend. Atlanta’s Sonia Leigh opens the show at 8 p.m. Aug. 24. Check out our interview with the living legend.

Movie: “The Amazing Spider-Man” screens as part of the 2012 Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Fox Theatre.

Stage: Born into a Hasidic family in post-World War II Brooklyn, Asher Lev’s artistic genius threatens to estrange him from his parents and his …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Aug. 24-26 »

A view of the harbor in Charleston, which was your pick for best one-tank vacation destination. Though the one-tank designation might be considered a stretch by some, it’s still a great getaway that won’t break the bank if you get decent gas mileage. Photo courtesy Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau

1. Charleston
You say, “Charleston is only a few hours away from Atlanta, and the beaches are never really crowded when I go, surprisingly.”

2. Savannah
3. Chattanooga
4. Blue Ridge
5. Callaway Gardens/Pine Mountain
6. Helen

A waterfall near Lake Seed in Rabun County. The natural beauty of the area is one of many reasons to visit the northeast corner of our state. Staff photo.

1. Rabun County
We say, “The unspoiled northeastern corner of Georgia is one of the state’s most gorgeous spots. The serene, picture-postcard beauty of Lake Burton, Lake Seed and Lake Rabun tops the list of reasons to visit this county at the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Check …

Continue reading Best one-tank vacation destination »