If you haven't been fasting for a while, you might not be able to handle the next few days on the Northside.
It starts Thursday night at the annual party that keeps getting bigger. This year's Taste of Alpharetta at Wills Park is expected to be the biggest yet, with a crowd of more than 75,000 showing up to sample goodies from more than 65 restaurants. From 5 to 10 p.m., stop by and see what's cooking with the Bagel Boys, Miller's Ale House, Sage Woodfire Tavern, Ethyl's Diner, Smokejack and Village Tavern, to name just a few.
The Taste will be easier to get to this year. A free shuttle system will leave from Alpharetta's City Hall on South Main Street, the Publix market, old Milton High School and the Alpharetta Community Center on Old Milton Parkway. There's no admission, but samples cost from 50 cents to $3 apiece. Kids activities, live music and more than 14 radio stations will be part of the evening's festivities. Details: www.alpharetta.ga.us; 678-297-6000.
• The food extravaganza continues on Saturday when the Dunwoody Beer Festival rolls into the parking lot of Perimeter Mall. From 2 to 7 p.m., take a sip of more than 150 beers, malt beverages and liquors from around the world while filling up on food from area pubs, including Bat and Ball and Royal Oak. Tickets are $30 in advance; $35 at the gate. And it's just for the grownups: valid ID is required for admission. www.dunwoodybeerfest.com; 770-671-9758.
• Those not making the age 21 cutoff may want to head to the Ice Cream Family Fun-Dae on the lawn at the Concourse in Sandy Springs. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, the grounds at the corner of Peachtree Dunwoody Road and Hammond Drive will be awash with inflatables for the kids, a Radio Disney party, carnival games and all the Blue Bell ice cream you can eat. The fund-raiser for the Children's Wish Foundation International is $5 per person and includes a lunch of a hot dog or hamburger. www.childrenswish.org; 1-800-323-9474.
• You'll have just enough time to digest the afternoon's goodies to make room for the Celebrate Sandy Springs gala on Saturday night. The food bonanza takes place at the Art Institute of Atlanta, 6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, with 17 restaurants serving samples of their cuisine. Meet the folks from Five Seasons Brewing, Blue Plate Roadside Cafe, Food 101, Meehan's Ale House, Nancy G's and more from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 ($250 for the VIP pass) and include food, live jazz, silent and live auctions and performances by the Alliance Theatre. Proceeds benefit Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce and a scholarship to the Art Institute. www.sandysprings.org. 404-255-5351.
• Rib fanatics, this one's for you. Be one of the first 100 people in line at any Shane's Rib Shack on Saturday and you'll score a free half rack of ribs, a large Coke and a "Shaniac" T-shirt with the number of your place in line on the back. Those who don't make the first 100 will be consoled with buy-one, get-one-free certificates. Find the Shane's closest to you by going to www.shanesribshack.com.
Keep Table Talk lively! Send comments and questions to hm_cauley@yahoo.com, or call 404-514-6162.
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