Get in the holiday spirit with wine tastings, a Mariah Carey brunch and a Christmas market.
Antipasti class
Head to Bella Cucina to learn how to curate the perfect charcuterie and cheese board for your guests with Caroline Boone of lifestyle and culinary brand CC Boone. The $125 ticket will include an olive wood cheese board and knife for attendees to take home, as well as light bites and champagne.
6-8 p.m. Dec. 7. $125 per person. 270 Buckhead Ave., Atlanta. bellacucina.com, 678-539-8442.
Bask Bourbon Tasting
Spend the evening at Bask Steakhouse in Roswell for a guided bourbon tasting paired with light bites. The tasting will include four bourbon selections from Kentucky distillery Castle & Key with an array of light snacks to complement the bourbon. Tickets are $65 per guest and reservations can be made online.
5-6 p.m. Dec. 6. $65. 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. 770-693-1024, basksteak.com/happenings/.
Dessert Wars National Championship
For those looking to satiate their sweet tooth, the Dessert Wars are coming to the Cobb Galleria Centre where 48 dessert vendors from around the country will compete to win the title of the Judge’s Champion. Attendees will have the chance to sample a variety of desserts, including ice cream, cookies and cakes, and vote for their favorite vendor to win the People’s Choice Award.
Tickets can be purchased online with options of a VIP ticket that includes early admission and 50 dessert samples or a general admission ticket that includes 30 samples.
3-7 p.m. Dec. 2. $80 for VIP, $60 for general admission. 2 Galleria Parkway SE, Atlanta. dessert-wars.com.
Dinner and a movie
Head to Tara Theatre on Cheshire Bridge Road to catch the latest Studio Ghibli movie, The Boy and The Heron, while dining on a bento box from Nakato Japanese Restaurant. Nakato will be bringing bento boxes to the theater for attendees to enjoy during the film. The boxes will include rainbow rolls, seafood rolls, the house salad with ginger dressing, fried chicken “karaage,” fried shrimp “shumai” dumplings and steak, shrimp, scallop and chicken skewers over veggie fried rice.
7 p.m. Dec. 18. $15 for tickets, $25 for bento box. 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road NE, Atlanta. 470-567-1968, taraatlanta.com/movie/the-boy-and-the-heron-dub-with-nakato.
Feast of the Seven Fishes
Every Sunday in December, Italian restaurant Double Zero will offer a festive menu in honor of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian American Christmas Eve celebration where dishes of fish and seafood are served. Diners can either order the full feast for the table at $150, or choose individual dishes from the feast to order a la carte. Featured menu items include gamberi con limone, arancini di granchio, insalata di calamari and whole branzino. Reservations can be made online at OpenTable.
5-9 p.m. Dec. 3, 10, 17 and 24. 1577 N. Decatur Road, Atlanta. 404-991-3666, doublezeroatl.com.
German Christkindl Market
Experience German festivities in Atlanta at this free Christmas market in Buckhead Village. Shop for handmade items while enjoying German treats like mulled wine, hot chocolate, cider, pretzels, schnitzel and brats. The market is open now through Sunday, Dec. 24, and there will be pictures with Santa on some weekends.
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday and 3-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday. 290 East Paces Ferry Road NE, Atlanta. christkindlmarket.org, chrisgaevent@mailbox.org.
Hampton + Hudson’s brunch with Santa
Snap a photo with Santa on the Hampton + Hudson patio from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, then enjoy a hot chocolate bar complete with marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint candy and sprinkles. For those 21 and older, sip on an adult hot chocolate with rumchata, hot chocolate and whipped cream, or try The Loopy Snoopy with rum, hot cider, holiday spice and whipped cream. In addition to festive drinks, the restaurant will serve brunch items like pancakes, biscuits and gravy and a plate of baked cookies.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 10. 299 N. Highland Ave. NE. 404-948-2123, hamptonandhudson.com.
Hop City Beer holiday wine tasting
Head to Hop City’s West End location on Dec. 5 or the Krog District location on Dec. 14 to sample 16 wines while enjoying heavy hors d’oeuvres at this beer and wine shop.
6-8 p.m. Dec. 5 and 14. $40 per person. Multiple locations. 404-350-9998, hopcitybeer.com.
Introduction to Amaro 101
Learn all about the culture of amaro, an Italian liqueur, during this 80-minute class at Bellina Alimentari. During the class, guests will taste eight different amari while learning about the history and flavors. The class includes focaccia, butter and an amaro-based cocktail. Tickets are $45 with a limited number of seats remaining.
5:30-6:50 p.m. Dec. 20. $45 per person. 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 800-123-1234, mercatodibellina.com.
Marcus & Friends
Head to the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood for a holiday-themed Marcus & Friends block party at Marcus Bar & Grille. On Sunday, Dec. 10, enjoy specialty cocktails, hot chocolate, a cider bar and barbecue with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. Don’t forget to bring a kids winter coat to donate to Atlanta Mission, a nonprofit that serves Atlanta’s homeless population.
4:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 10. 525 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta. 470-890-1700, instagram.com/marcusbarandgrille.
Mariah Carey holiday drag brunch
Get in the holiday spirit with a Mariah Carey-inspired drag brunch at City Winery. Catch performances by Willow Pill, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nicole Paige Brooks, Brigitte Bidet and more. Tickets for the performance are available online for people 21 and older. Brunch is not included in the ticket price.
1 p.m. Dec. 3. $25-$30, brunch not included. 650 North Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-946-3791, citywinery.com.
Pines and Pints fundraiser
Head to SweetWater Brewing to give back this holiday season with the Pines and Pints fundraiser. SweetWater Brewing and Big John’s Christmas Trees will hold a pop-up Christmas tree lot with a portion of each tree sale going toward The Giving Kitchen, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides emergency support for food service workers in crisis. In addition to the pop-up tree lot, there will be live music and beer for attendees to enjoy.
11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 9 and Dec. 10. 195 Ottley Dr. NE, Atlanta. 404-691-2537, sweetwaterbrew.com.
Punk Foodie at Ponce
Ponce City Market’s Punk Foodie at Ponce is kicking off a series of guest chef events on Monday, Dec. 4. Parnass Savang, executive chef and co-owner of Talat Market, and Corban Irby, chef and owner of Ok Yaki, will each create one dish. Savang will serve khao kha mu, or five-spiced pork over rice, and Irby will serve mentaiko pasta, a dish of spaghetti coated with brined spicy cod roe. The event has limited supplies, so order ahead online to reserve a dish.
5-8:30 p.m. Dec. 4. 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE. 404-981-3458, instagram.com/punkfoodieatponce.
Wine tasting with Saint Germain Bakery
Head to The Veranda in Buckhead Village for a four-course winter wine tasting paired with desserts. Led by Saint Germain Bakery founder Mathieu Jourdan-Gassin, tickets are $65 per person and can be purchased online.
6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 17. 217 Buckhead Ave. NE, Atlanta. 770-952-4161, stgermainatl.com.
Holiday pop-up bars
A slew of bars and restaurants around Atlanta transform into winter wonderlands and festive retreats for the month of December, like Hamp & Harry’s Grinch-themed pop-up, Live! at the Battery’s Tinsel Tavern and Pachengo’s Feliz Navidad pop-up. Find the full list here.
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