Jodi Benson, best known as the voice of Ariel in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” joins the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for “A Very Merry Holiday Pops” on Dec. 21 and 22. Photo courtesy the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

FRIDAY
Family: Synchronicity Theatre brings back its family-friendly holiday hit “A Year With Frog and Toad,” which continues through Dec. 30 at 14th Street Playhouse.

Holiday: The Atlanta Botanical Garden sparkles during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, which continues through Jan. 5. For more places to experience holiday light shows, check out this list.

Holiday: Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s Magical Nights of Lights continues 5-10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31 in Buford.

Holiday: More than 1 million lights fill Hampton’s Atlanta Motor Speedway in Gift of Lights, a 1.5-mile drive-through experience. The display continues through Jan. 6

Holiday: Enjoy a Presidential look at the holiday season at A White House Christmas at Bulloch Hall. It runs through …

Continue reading Best bets: Dec. 18-24 »

Stats is your pick for best sports bar in and around Atlanta. The upscale food choices are a big draw, but the numerous TVs and convenient beer taps are pretty awesome, too.

YOUR PICKS
1. Stats
You say, “Stats on Marietta St. downtown is also a winner! Beer spout at your table can’t be beat plus lots of widescreen TV’s.”

2. Famous Pub (tie)
2. Hudson Grille (tie)
3. Woofs (tie)
3. Brewhouse Café (tie)
4. Coldbrews Sports Bar and Grill (tie)
4. Dantanna’s (tie)

Buckhead residents Mary Elizabeth Brice (left) and Leigh Ann Reid enjoy dinner together while watching sports in the bar at Dantanna’s near Lenox Mall in Buckhead. The ‘upscale sports restaurant’ is our pick for best sports bar. Photo: Phil Skinner, pskinner@ajc.com

OUR PICKS
1. Dantanna’s
We say, “It isn’t a sports bar, according to the website, but an ‘upscale sports restaurant.’ Numerous televisions have the sports part covered, and the menu offers Zinfandel short ribs, rosemary roasted Springer …

Continue reading Best sports bar »

Demetria McKinney and Danny Johnson star in "The Mountaintop."

FRIDAY

Stage: “The Mountaintop.” True Colors Theatre Company presents this re-imagining of events the night before the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Continues through Dec. 16. $20-$60. Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road, Atlanta. Here’s a review of the show.

Stage: “West Side Story.” Part of the Gas South Broadway Series. Dec. 13-16. $17-$60. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta. 770-916-2800.

Comedy: Maz Jobrani. Dec. 14-15. $25. The Punchline, 280 Hilderbrand Drive N.E., Atlanta. 404-252-5233.

Family: Synchronicity Theatre brings back its family-friendly holiday hit “A Year With Frog and Toad.” $15-$40. 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-484-8636, www.synchrotheatre.com.

Holiday: The Atlanta Botanical Garden sparkles during Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, which continues through Jan. 5. For more places to experience holiday …

Continue reading Best bets: Dec. 11-17 »

Taco Mac, with locations all over metro Atlanta and in several other Southeastern locations, tied with the Brick Store Pub as your pick for the spot with the best beer selection. Staff photo

YOUR PICKS
Bars
1. Taco Mac and Brick Store Pub (tie)
You say, “Just about any Taco Mac will have the largest selection of beer on tap in the Southeast. Brick Store Pub in Decatur has the rarest Belgium beers in bottles and on tap in the Southeast if not the nation.”

3. Porter Beer Bar
4. Summits Wayside Tavern
5. Local Republic

Retail
1. Total Wine & More
You say, “Total Wine … for service, selection & price” and “Total Wine always has a huge selection.”

2. Ale Yeah
3. Hop City
4. Tower Beer, Wine and Spirits
5. The Beer Growler

You can’t beat the Brick Store Pub for the total beer experience. It’s our pick (and one of yours) for best beer selection in and around Atlanta. Staff photo

OUR PICKS
1. Brick Store Pub
We say, “You can’t beat this Decatur gem. You don’t just drink beer here, …

Continue reading Best beer selection »