The Set Up

Midtown Atlanta is the cultural heart of town. It's where you go when your Friday night is going to actively contribute to the overall reputation of the city. The happenings in Midtown are Atlanta.

With a focus on the west side, you'll need a few tips, some real world advice, and a little actionable intelligence to keep your night under $100 total. Here's how to do it:

The Game plan

Miller Union: 8:00 p.m., $100 dollars remaining.

You are wise to start a little later. The restaurants are abuzz on a Friday night from the Westside Provisions to King Plow, down Howell Mill to I-75. Meet for an 8 p.m. drink at Miller Union. Two things must occur to make this strategic meet up location successful:

(1) Order a couple of cheap but respectable drinks while simultaneously (2) placing an order for the farm egg. Eleven minutes later? The best $9 you have ever spent will be delivered to you in the form of buttery bread and an egg proudly situated atop a creamy southern concoction that couldn't be more savory. Total bill: $26.00

Hankook Taqueria: 8:45 p.m., $74 dollars remaining.

With cultured taste and sophisticated palate established, head to Hankook Taqueria. It's a combination of Korean and Mexican, but in a classier style of fusion than a combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

Four PBRs, four tacos. Total bill: $24.00

Cafe Antico: 9:30 pm, $50.00 remaining.

Slide over to Cafe Antico (formerly Cafe Gio) in the heart of Giovanni Di Palma's one-man Little Italy on Hemphill. Cafe Antico does dessert by way of Italy. Select from more than fifteen gelato or sorbetto flavors, freshly imported. Ice cream? Bolognese. Cone? Roman. Total bill? $18.00.

Northside Tavern: 10:15 pm $32.00 remaining.

The rest of your night is easy, thanks to Northside Tavern. If you like really cheap beers, pool tables, and that locals-only vibe there isn't a better bar in town. The every-night live blues isn't good; it's straight-up great. If things had turned out a little differently, Northside legend and underrated bluesman Sean Costello might still be putting his home base - that little gas station turned dive bar - on the map.

Six drinks. Total bill? $30.00

The Exit Strategy

Pocket the two dollar balance, and downloaded Lyft. Input the promo code du jour to get five free rides. The rest of your night is on you.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Take a Halloween Hike at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on Friday through Sunday and meet animals along the way. (Courtesy of Chattahoochee Nature Center)

Credit: Photo courtesy of Chattahoochee Nature Center

Featured

The renovation of Jekyll Island's Great Dunes golf course includes nine holes designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s for the members of the Jekyll Island Club. Several holes that were part of the original layout where located along the beach and were bulldozed in the 1950s.(Photo by Austin Kaseman)

Credit: Photo by Austin Kaseman