Smooches of Peach Drops past. Expect hours of music this year, followed by midnight kisses. AJC file photo

We reported yesterday in The Buzz that funk fellows Morris Day and The Time will headline this year’s Peach Drop New Year’s Eve Celebration in Underground Atlanta, but if you want more details, I’m posting the full Peach Drop schedule below. Keep an eye out later this month for a Know Before You Go post with all the tips and info you need to have fun on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta!

Peach Drop 2010 Lineup and Schedule

Main Stage Schedule
6 p.m. Stellate
7:15 p.m. Ben Deignan
8:30 p.m. TBA
9:45 p.m. The WannaBeatles
11:15 p.m. Morris Day and the Time

Kenny’s Alley
1 p.m. Marshall Ruffin
2:30 p.m. The Apostles
4 p.m. Akia & Cosmicsol
5:30 p.m. Zoe Myers
6 p.m. Holla Front
7 p.m. The 54
8:30 p.m. Hanna Thomas
9:30 pm. The Soulphonics and Ruby Velle
11:30 p.m. The Regulars Band

Budding Peach Stage
Noon Stephanie Schecter
1 p.m. Coastal Talent
2 p.m. Taylor Reid
3 p.m. Joy …

Continue reading Underground Atlanta’s 2010 Peach Drop lineup: Morris Day and the Time, The WannaBeatles, Ben Deignan, Stellate »

Stone Mountain Park becomes Snow Mountain Park! AJC/John Spink

Here’s something to cheer you up on this decidedly gray, rainy day: there’s snow on the way. Don’t you feel better already?

What I’m talking about, though, is the best kind of snow — fluffy stuff that will never back up traffic, but happens to be perfect for tubing. As of Dec. 26, Stone Mountain Park becomes Snow Mountain Park, complete with tubing on the laser lawn, snow play areas for building igloos and snowmen, special spots for little kids and areas to take it all in or warm your feet by the fire.

Like in past years, Snow Mountain uses a closed-loop system that chills snow from Stone Mountain Lake. They’ll take several weeks to pile on layers, creating a nice slick for the daredevils who arrive on opening day. Here are some photos of Snow Mountain construction, shot yesterday by AJCer John Spink. The attraction opens a little earlier this year, catching that post-Christmas crowd that so badly needs to get …

Continue reading Stone Mountain becomes Snow Mountain Dec. 26-March 7 »

After tallying your nominations and analyzing your votes, the clear winner for Atlanta’s Best Event of 2009 was The Green Concert at Piedmont Park with Sir Paul McCartney.

Paul McCartney's Green Concert at Piedmont Park was voted Atlanta's Best Event of 2009. AJC file photo

Why, despite the huge crowd, rough weather and ticketing troubles? Just check out this user-submitted photo gallery.

Or consider what one commenter wrote: “Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park reminded us all of what an amazing feeling you get when you join with thousands of other people to experience the performance of a musical legend and master communicator.”

Indeed, much of Atlanta seems to be celebrating Piedmont Park — now drought-free, three of the five most popular events were held there.

Of course, all the finalists drew big crowds, and I hope we’ll see all those festivals and events grow and get more creative. More fun=better Atlanta.

Here are the other events that filled out your Top 5 Atlanta Events …

Continue reading Best Event of 2009: Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park »

It's the Pink Pig at the Lenox Square Macy's! Photo by Barry Williams

The guesses for this week’s Access Points photo game were a-plenty — The Vortex, the eye of the Atlanta Hawk, the Big Chicken, an Elmo float — but in fact, it was a little Atlanta holiday tradition you can find these days at Lenox Square.

Yes, Laura, it is the Pink Pig at Macy’s. You were the first to identify it, so you win four passes from Macy’s for two rides aboard the Pig!

Percival, one of the Monorail Twins, in their glory days. AJC file photo

The modern Pink Pig is a 3 1/2-minute ride based on a holiday attraction that appeared a the downtown Atlanta Rich’s store beginning in 1953. Priscilla, the original Pink Pig, was a sales-driving monorail that flew along the department store ceiling, giving kids an overhead view of the dreamy toy department. Another pig, Percival, was added later. Later on, the monorail moved to the roof the department store, and offered up a view of downtown Atlanta and Rich’s …

Continue reading Access Points 19: Macy’s Pink Pig ride at Lenox Square »

Art: Avant Garden discussion, 6-8 p.m., Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta. FREE.

Books: Author Russell S. Bond discusses “War Like the Thunderbolt,” 7:15 p.m., Decatur Library, Decatur. FREE.

For kids: Hanukkah Storytime, 7 p.m., Little Shop of Stories, Decatur. FREE.

Holiday: The Atlanta Concert Ringers Holiday Handbell Concert, 8 p.m., St. Mark United Methodist Church, Atlanta. FREE.

Music: Dashboard Confessional performs, 8 p.m., The Loft, Atlanta.

Music: Star 94’s Jingle Jam showcases The Fray, Jordin Sparks and more, 7 p.m., Gwinnett Arena, Duluth.

Sports: Atlanta Thrashers vs. Dallas Stars, 7 p.m., Philips Arena, Atlanta.

Have an event, venue, restaurant or performance in and around Atlanta? Add it to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.

For instant updates, follow @insideaccess on Twitter.

Continue reading To do list: December 17 »

For the first time in four years and for one night only, Atlanta Ballet will perform "Nutty Nutcracker," a holiday classic spoof to benefit Dancers Resource Fund. The above nutty shot is from 2003. AJC file photo

Happy alm0st-holiday weekend! I suspect there will be tons of shopping going on this weekend, but that’s long past the point of being fun. Why not go do something with the family instead? Everybody will remember a PG-13 “Nutcracker” spoof, a bird-spotting adventure or a live Nativity scene more, anyway. So here’s a list of what’s going on around Atlanta this weekend — check out the Atlanta Music Scene blog or this holiday concert story for more info about live shows. As always, suggestions and ideas for what to do this weekend are welcome in the comments! – Jamie G.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18

Books: Southern Children’s Authors Day book signings, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Eagle Eye Book Shop, Atlanta. FREE.

Comedy: “Chelsea Lately” regular Natasha Leggero performs, 8 p.m., Laughing …

Continue reading Weekend to do list: December 18-20 »

Does this look familiar? Share your guess at what it is in the comments! AJC/Jamie Gumbrecht

UPDATE 12/17: Want to know the answer? Here it is!

Time for this week’s Access Points photo game: share in the comments what’s in this photo and where you’ll find it. There’s a prize for the first person to correctly name in the comments or on Twitter what and where it is!

Continue reading Access Points 19: Do you know what and where this is? »

UPDATE 12/18: Here’s the official announcement from Agnes Scott College, and a blog post (plus a beautiful logo!) from Daren Wang.

“Eddie and Agnes,” a new Decatur concert series expected to be announced this week, will offer audiences  the size and acoustics of Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College and the talent-booking skills of local music man Eddie Owen.

No artists or dates have been announced yet, but organizers hope to have the first show booked for February and to follow up with 10 to 15 more shows throughout the year. At 800 seats, Presser Hall is roughly the size of venues like Variety Playhouse, but expect these shows to feel more like Decatur, less like Little Five Points.

“Eddie and Agnes” director Daren Wang, who is also the AJC Decatur Book Festival co-founder, said they discovered a great model for local entertainment with the Eudora Welty-inspired show by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kate Campbell, Caroline Herring and Claire Holley during the 2009 festival. Tickets …

Continue reading New concert series, ‘Eddie and Agnes,’ to launch in 2010 »

Yara plays in the new dog park at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in November. AJC/Johnny Crawford

If you and your pooch are looking for new place to explore, there are a few new options around Atlanta.

First, an airport dog park opened in November near the new transportation center at Hartsfield-Jackson. It will give four-legged travelers a place to stretch out and play, but unless they’re frequent travelers, I doubt many locals will make this 1,000-square foot park a regular destination. You can see more of it in this video, too.

Another new dog park,  Canine Crossing Dog Park, recently opened behind the South Fulton Government Service Center. It’s five fenced acres split into two sections — one for dogs less than 20 pounds, one for larger dogs — and operated by the Fulton County Parks and Recreation Department. It even has restrooms for humans.

Of course, there are dog parks (and dog-friendly spots) all over metro Atlanta. Here’s a (slightly outdated, but …

Continue reading New Fulton County dog parks open — what’s your favorite? »

For families: “BODIES” continues, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Premier Exhibition Center, Atlanta.

Music: Atlanta Flute Ensemble Christmas Concert, 11 a.m., Northeast/Spruill Oaks Branch Library, Alpharetta. FREE.

Sports: Atlanta Hawks vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 7 p.m., Philips Arena, Atlanta.

Stage: Billy Crystal’s “700 Sundays” opens, 8 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta.

Stage: “Christmas Through the Ages,” 8 p.m., The Cumming Playhouse, Cumming.

Have an event, venue, restaurant or performance in and around Atlanta? Add it to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.

For instant updates, follow @insideaccess on Twitter.

Continue reading To do list: December 16 »