The East Atlanta Village Strut brings its parade — and other festival favorites — to town Sept. 15.

TODAY
Festival, food: The Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival is the best way for meat lovers to kick off the weekend, bringing together more than 50 amateur and competitive barbecue teams from across the region. It starts at 7 p.m. Sept. 14 and then again at noon on Sept. 15.

Music: Jazz vocalist Gregory Porter will play cuts from his newest album, “Be Good,” at the the Jazz 91.9 WCLK Jazz Night at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Fest Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech.

Music: Hometown favorites The Indigo Girls play the Atlanta Botanical Gardens’ Concert in the Garden. The show starts at 8 p.m. Sept. 14.

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 observant Jewish community in Theatrical Outfit’s “My Name is Asher Lev.” It continues through Sept. 16 at the Balzer Theater at …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Sept. 14-16 »

A bowl of turnip greens accompanies a fish taco and a Memphis taco from Taqueria del Sol. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

YOUR PICKS
1. Taqueria del Sol
You say, “We still miss Chef Eddie’s original southwestern/mex place before Taqueria, but the greens are just as fine.”

2. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
3. Mary’s Mac’s Tea Room
4. Community Q
5. Busy Bee Cafe
6. Paschal’s

Chef/owner Bill Greenwood’s collard greens at his Roswell restaurant, Greenwood’s. Staff photo

OUR PICKS
1. Greenwood’s on Green Street
The AJC dining team’s specialist in Southern and Neighborhood Fare Jenny Turknett says, “With vinegar or without? Cooked with ham hocks or not? These decisions define your mess of Southern greens. I grew up eating greens stewed with ham hocks and still have a fondness for them. Yet, as an adult, I have grown to appreciate those made with vinegar like the al dente collards with a healthy dose of apple cider vinegar and garlic at Greenwood’s.”

2. Busy Bee Cafe
3. Community Q
4.

Continue reading Best greens »

Nick Arapoglou (from left), Lane Carlock and Brian Kurlander co-star in the Theatrical Outfit drama “My Name is Asher Lev.” Photo: Josh Lamkin

TODAY
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 observant Jewish community in Theatrical Outfit’s “My Name is Asher Lev.” It continues through Sept. 16 at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s. Take a look at our review of the show.

Festival: More than 400 artists and craftspeople from all over the country converge at the Yellow Daisy Festival, which continues through  Sept. 9 at Stone Mountain Park.

Music: Capitol City Opera Company presents  Mozart’s “Così fan Tutte” Sept. 7-9 at Oglethorpe University’s Conant Performing Arts Center.

Stage: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s memorable musical “The King And I” continues through Sept. 11 at the Fox Theatre.

Stage: The cherished children’s tale “The Velveteen Rabbit” …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Sept. 7-9 »

Bob Andres / bandres@ajc.com

YOUR PICKS
1. The Fox Theatre
You say, “Other than the Fox, there’s nothing special about any movie theaters in Atlanta; they’ve all been torn down or split up” and “If only the Fox were a more consistent movie house throughout the year.”
2. Cinebistro
3 The Plaza Theatre (tie)
3. Movie Tavern (tie)
5. Lefont Sandy Springs (tie)
5. NCG Cinemas (tie)

OUR PICKS
1. Fox Theatre
We say, “It isn’t always a movie palace, but when this Midtown jewel brings out the screen, it’s the best movie-going experience in town. The beautifully restored Strand Theatre in Marietta is a close second, especially when it brings classic films and silent-era gems back to the big screen.”
2. Earl Smith Strand Theatre
3. Northlake Movie Tavern
4. AMC Barrett Commons 24
5. Landmark Midtown Art Cinema

Continue reading Best movie theater »