This weekend is really going to the dogs, and many of them will be in costume. There’s Boxerstock in Marietta, Strut Your Mutt in Sandy Springs, the disc Dog World Finals in Cartersville and Pets Are Loving Support’s Howl-o-Ween fundraiser in Midtown. Photo: Ana Laura Araya

FRIDAY
Festival: Enjoy some unusual competition at the Stone Mountain Highland Games & Scottish Festival, which happens Oct. 19-20 at Stone Mountain Park.

Festival: Join the artists, craftspeople and musicians at Emerson Art and Crafts Fair on Oct. 19 and 20 at Emerson Unitarian Universalist in Marietta.

Festival: Get your fill of great entertainment and awesome food at the annual Cumming Greek Festival, happening Oct. 19-21 at Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming.

Halloween: Relive your worst nightmares in the smoke-filled, strobe-lit darkness at Frightmore, which continues through Oct. 31 at 1912 Mt. Zion Road, Building 1865 C, in Morrow.

Halloween: Imagine being cast in a …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Oct. 19-21 »

Nordstrom is your pick and our pick for best place to buy shoes in and around Atlanta. Photo: George Frey / Bloomberg News

YOUR PICKS
1. Nordstrom
You say, “It is hard to beat Nordstrom’s for shoes in Atlanta. They have a great selection and service especially the Perimeter Mall store.”

2. Bennie’s Shoes
3. Goodee 2 Shoes
4. Emly Benham
5. Sole

OUR PICKS
1. Nordstrom
Atlanta Bargain Hunter Nedra Rhone says, “Tops for the selection, service and sales like the brown leather, knee-high Frye Boots I got two years ago for $50 dollars! Of course, during sale season, you can find great prices on designer brands at several other local shoe sellers including the four below.”

2. Emly Benham
3. Jeffrey Atlanta
4. DSW
5. College Park Shoes

Continue reading Best place to buy shoes »

The Georgia Apple Festival gets under way this weekend in Ellijay and continues next weekend. Guests are allowed to each pick apples straight off of the trees at Red Apple Barn at Little Bend Orchard. Photo: Red Apple Barn at Little Bend Orchard

FRIDAY
Festival: The annual Atlanta Pride Festival takes place all weekend, but the big event is Sunday’s parade down Peachtree and 10th streets, which ends in Piedmont Park.

Stage: The Alliance Theatre presents the premiere of Alfred Uhry’s new play “Apples and Oranges.” It continues through Oct. 28.

Stage: Go through the change in song with the women of “Menopause the Musical,” which continues through Oct. 14 at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center in Duluth.

Stage: Georgia Shakespeare revisits the 1936 Orson Welles production of “Macbeth,” which moved the action to the Caribbean with an all African-American cast. The show runs through Oct. 28 on the Oglethorpe University campus.

Stage: “Lovecraft’s Nightmares” offers a different …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Oct. 12-14 »

The gyro plate at Kouzina Christos, your pick for the best gyros in and around Atlanta. Photo courtesy Kouzina Christos

YOUR PICKS
1. Kouzina Christos
You say, “Being from Chicago, I am used to gyros that are packed so high with meat that you have to eat half the meat before you can make a sandwich out of it, and Christos does it just like that. I honestly think Christos has even better gyros than the ones I used to get when I lived up north.” and “Wonderful, mouthwatering meat and the best dressing you will ever have. Yummo!”

2. Gyro Gyro
3. Athens Pizza
4. Nick’s Food to Go
5. Blu Greek Taverna
6. Grecian Gyro

One of Cafe Agora’s classic gyros, our picks for the best in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special

OUR PICKS
1. Cafe Agora
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “Cafe Agroa, with its friendly and eccentric owner, consistently serves up my favorite gyro in town. While the prices seem to change depending on the day of the week, a trip …

Continue reading Best gyro »