Labor Day weekend in Atlanta brings out both the bros and the geeks. As Dragon Con descends on the city and the fall football season kicks off, you can celebrate both with drink specials, viewing parties and more. Not interested in pigskin or sci-fi? There are plenty of other options, including cocktails for a cause, a new ramen pop-up, burger deals galore and Midtown Restaurant Week, featuring prix fixe menus from over 40 local restaurants.
Wednesday, September 2
Sunshine Margartias
11:00 a.m. at all metro area Tin Lizzy's Cantina locations. Who doesn't love a margarita? Now you can drink one with a clear conscience. Tin Lizzy's has teamed up with Sunshine On A Ranney Day, a local non-profit based that creates dream room and home make-overs for children with long-term illnesses, to create the "Sunshine Margarita." 10% of proceeds from the drink--$6.95 per glass and $26.95 per pitcher--will go to the charity. www.sunshineonaranneyday.com and www.tinlizzyscantina.com
Thursday, September 3
Ramen Crush A.T.L.
6:00 p.m. at Ration & Dram. Andy Tran, Executive Sous Chef at Lusca, launches his new weekly Thursday night ramen pop-up called Ramen Crush A.T.L. at the Kirkwood hotspot. The menu, ranging from $6 to $12, will feature two ramen bowls – one of which will be vegetarian – plus a selection of small plates. Ration & Dram will be doing a special cocktail menu designed to pair well with the ramen. Seating is limited, so get there early. It's first come, first served throughout the night.
Friday, September 4
7th Annual Buckhead Bar Bash - A Kickoff Weekend Block Party
7:00 p.m. at Big Sky. Celebrate the kickoff of college football seasons with a 12 bar Buckhead bar crawl. Tickets range from $5-$25 and include some complimentary drinks and shots, drink specials, bands and DJs, food specials and free cover to participating venues, including Big Sky, 5 Paces Inn and Churchill's Pub. www.atlantabartours.com/events/event/buckhead-kickoff-bar-bash/
Saturday, September 5
Monk's Mead at Meehan's
11:30 a.m. at Meehan's Public House (downtown location only). In honor of Dragon Con, Meehan's downtown is serving up Monk's Mead, a local sparkling elixir made with fermented honey. Grab a glass ($10 for 10 ounces) or two before hitting the parade route.
Buds, Burgers and Bellies
12:00 p.m. at Smokebelly BBQ. Watch the Auburn-Louisville game and the rest of the action on more than a dozen big screen TVs with your fellow pigskin fans at Smokebelly in Buckhead. Food and drink specials include 20 wings for $15; a bucket of Budweiser or Bud Light for $15; the 50/50 Burger served with choice of side and a Bud or Bud Light for $9.99; $6 Jack and Coke cocktails; $5 Goose Island IPA Tall Boys and $5 Shock Top aluminum bottles. Challenge your friends to outdoor games ranging from cornhole and ladder ball to darts and Bud Light table basketball.
Cheese, Bourbon and Jazz
3:00 p.m. at The Cockentrice. Cheese. Bourbon. Jazz. Get all three with certified cheese professionals and self-proclaimed jazz lovers Hannah Thompson and Tim Gaddis. Their two-hour, jazz-infused class will feature a welcome cocktail, plus 12 cheese and bourbon pairings. Attendees will also leave with a CD of the jazz music featured throughout the class, a pairing guide and a greater understanding of how food and music influence each other. Tickets are $65 per person. cheeseandbourbon.brownpapertickets.com
Midtown Restaurant Week
Times, restaurants vary. Dine out for a steal! More than 40 Midtown restaurants--including 4th & Swift, Cooks & Soldiers and Ecco--are offering $15, $25 and $35 prix fixe brunch, lunch and/or dinner menus for the 10th anniversary Midtown Restaurant Week. www.mrwatlanta.com
Sunday, September 6
Speakeasy at Eat Me Speak Me
7:00 p.m. at Gato. Bartenders Matt Welch and Jeff Banks of The Luminary and Kirk Gibson of the Pinewood are hosting a speakeasy at the popular pop-up Eat Me Speak Me. Eat, drink and be merry knowing that 25% of all speakeasy profits will be donated to The Giving Kitchen. eatmespeakme.com
Monday, September 7
Burger Monday
5:00 p.m. at Oak Steakhouse. Start your week off right with Burger Mondays. Get an 8 oz. CAB burger and frites alongside your choice of draft beer or bourbon for just $12. Available Mondays at the bar only.
Tuesday, September 8
Bantam + Biddy Avalon Slider Night
5:00 p.m. at Bantam + Biddy, Avalon location. The restaurant's popular $3 slider night comes to the Alpharetta outpost. This week's offerings include white truffle chicken salad with pickled egg, fried mozzarella with ghost pepper salsa and chicken ropa vieja. bantamandbiddy.com
