D.B.A. Barbecue owner Matt Coggin posted this poster this morning on Facebook, along with this caption: “Tonight! If I ever donated a gift certificate, food, cash, or time to your charity, school, church, dog shelter, kickball team, walk, school play, then please come support my coworker that needs your help. No red tape just immediate financial relief.”

It’s heartwarming inspiring to see the way a community can rally around a complete stranger…a.k.a. the person who cooks your meal every time you dine at D.B.A.

Plan to dine out tonight – Tuesday, May 1, 2012, and head on over to D.B.A. Barbecue and support George and his daughter and help them rebuild after this tragedy. All proceeds go to George, including raffle proceeds!

WHERE: D.B.A. Barbecue – 1190 Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
404-249-5000

D.B.A. Barbecue on Facebook | D.B.A. Barbecue on Twitter

The Atlanta Ballet and Twyla Tharp's "The Princess & The Goblin" will enchant you - through February 19, 2012.

Last Friday night, my friend Angela and I had a girly girls’ night – we got all dressed up and went to see Atlanta Ballet’s production of Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess & The Goblin.” And we weren’t the only ones. Girls of all ages – from tiny toddlers to their grandmothers and everyone in between – surrounded us in the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for the World Premiere of this enchanting work.

The story of “The Princess & The Goblin” is spun before your eyes in 12 beautiful scenes (there is no intermission – the performances is just under an hour and a half). Adapted from the 19th century fairytale by George MacDonald, Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess and the Goblin” is a story of courage and forgiveness in this family-friendly coming-of-age story. The Princess Irene must save the children of her kingdom from the Goblin King and his cronies and learns important life lessons along the way.

The Princess Irene is beautifully danced by Alessa Rogers and Curdie, Irene’s friend, is danced by Jacob Bush. Husband and wife Atlanta Ballet veterans John Welker and Christine Winkler play the King Papa/King of the Goblin and Great-Great-Grandmother Irene, respectively. Thirteen young students from the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education dance the roles of the children in the ballet, marking the first time Twyla Tharp has worked with children in more than 30 years!

The goblin cast, led by Christian Clark and Jesse Tyler, who dance the roles of Helfer and Podge, are particularly  entertaining. They kind of remind me of a cross between court jesters and the zombies from The Walking Dead. Helfer and Podge provide the ballet’s comic relief – the giggles and laughter from the audience – as well as the huge burst of applause during the curtain call – were proof that I was not alone in my enjoyment of their antics.

Co-commissioned by Atlanta Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Atlanta enjoys the World Premiere of “The Princess & The Goblin” this month and then the ballet moves on to Canada in Fall 2012. The ballet is set to music by Franz Schubert, arranged and orchestrated by composer and Schubert scholar Richard Burke and played live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra.

Tickets start as low as $20. There are also some great ticket deals and packages still available:

• A family four-pack of tickets for $100
• 25% off select performances:
• “The Perfect Pairing” Dinner and Dance Package with South City Kitchen Vinings on Friday and Saturday nights. The package includes:
• One (1) Three-Course Meal at South City Kitchen Vinings
• One (1) Ticket to Atlanta Ballet’s The Princess and the Goblin (Mezzanine only)
• Total: $50 per person

For tickets, call 800-982-2787 or stop by the Cobb Energy Centre box office. To purchase tickets online, visit www.atlantaballet.com.

WHERE: Atlanta Ballet Presents Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess & The Goblin” – February 10-19, 2012 at Cobb Energy Centre

Atlanta Ballet on Facebook | Atlanta Ballet on Twitter

Photo credits: Top photo by Charlie McCullers; bottom two photos by Kim Kenney.
Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet.

Learn to ride like a pro in Alpharetta...and look like one, too!

Those of you who know me would probably not classify me as a biker chick – though the outfits do have a certain bad-girl appeal to them, I’m not so much a wind-in-my-hair, take-my-life-into-my-hands daredevil. But that didn’t stop me from taking a motorcycle class at the Honda Motorcycle Safety Foundation Alpharetta Campus. It was – in a word – pretty darn awesome (okay, that’s three words, but you get it). If you’re looking for a creative, unique gift for a friend or family member or for an incredible day for yourself, you’ve just found it.

The Honda Motorcycle Safety Foundation Alpharetta Campus - the only one of its kind specifically designed for bike training

Funded jointly by major motorcycle manufacturers, like Honda, Harley and Suzuki, for the purpose of promoting safety and awareness, there are three other Motorcycle Safety Foundation training centers across the country (in Texas, California and Ohio), but the Alpharetta campus is the only one of its kind specifically designed for bike training. The facility was built for street bike, dirt bike and ATV (all-terrain vehicle, think 4-wheelers) training and offers classes for all skill levels and almost all ages!

The classes are well worth the (rather small) price tag – for just $100, you get a full day of training. It’s the lowest priced class of its kind in the country’s most expensive facility. The day starts at 7:45 AM and last until 3:30 PM, with lunch provided and ample water breaks throughout. It’s all-inclusive: they provide the gear (complete head-to-toe outfitting, including boots, gloves, shinguards, pads, and of course, helmet), step-by-step training, and supervision throughout the class. Class sizes are small – limited to just six to eight in the adult classes and only four in the children’s classes.

The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau kindly arranged for a class for me and five other (female) bloggers, not only to promote the facility but also to show us a good time that was a wee bit out of our comfort zones. Though our class was an abbreviated version of the full instruction, we still had a good four hours on the bikes. The day begins with getting into your gear – you’ll be completely dressed out, so don’t worry about trying to find appropriate clothing for riding (note: bring thick socks and don’t make plans for afterward – you’ll most likely be dirty, despite being completely covered). Before you start riding, you receive basic safety instruction off the bikes – the rules of the course, things to remember, tips to make you feel more comfortable. And then it’s time to ride!

The classes are all-inclusive, down to your full riding clothes and all safety gear.

Detailed off-bike instruction gives riders a chance to get to know the bike before riding.

As a class, we had varying degrees of comfort once we got on the bikes – a couple of us had ridden before (though it had been 20+ years since I’d ridden behind a cousin on his dirt bike, I think I still felt more comfortable than most). The small class sizes make the training feel almost one-on-one, and the staff is able to pay attention to each person’s progress, encouraging those who have caught on to try the next skill, while making those who need a little more attention feel comfortable – you can truly move at your own pace. By the end of the class, we had all learned basic skills, and every one of us was riding around obstacles, over logs, standing up on the pegs, and speeding around the course (well, it probably felt faster than it actually was!). The full class includes 19 lessons in different skills, riding scenarios and strategies, all in a safe, controlled environment.

Small class sizes ensures that instruction is personalized.

One-on-one attention makes your first ride feel safe and easy.

Besides the DirtBike Basic RiderCourse (the class I took), there are a number of other options available at the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in Alpharetta, including basic classes on motorcycle controls, basic and advanced street bike courses (successful completion may lead to a waiver of the motorcycle license skill test and an insurance discount), advanced dirt bike trail riding (an all-day course limited to 4 students out of the training ring and out on the trails) and more. For a complete list and detailed information, visit the Motorcycle Safety Foundation websit.

Look, ma! I graduated!

We had such a blast in our class – and there are so many ways you can enjoy a day out at MSF. Bring a friend and try something new, plan a girls’ or guys’ weekend, birthday party, a fun day out with the family. With special classes for kids, all-female classes, and more, you can customize your experience and do something new! And of course, you’ll walk away with a graduation certificate, some new skills, and a new respect for riders.

WHERE: Honda Motorcycle Safety Foundation – 1500 Morrison Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30009
770-442-2043

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is in full swing – today is the first official day of the regular festival, which goes until February 29, 2012.

AJFF is teaming up with Atlantic Station to bring you a special Food Truck Friday, in conjunction with a screening of the documentary film, The Apple Pushers.

Movie patrons who hold a ticket to The Apple Pushers will receive a $2.00 voucher to use at the food truck of their choice (good today only, 2/10/12), courtesy of Atlantic Station. The film is screening at Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station at 12:15 PM and includes a very special Q&A session immediately following the film, featuring Caitlin Hagan, CNN Medical Producer; K. Rashid Nuri, Urban Farmer; and Alice Rolls, Executive Director, Georgia Organics.

Tickets to the screening of The Apple Pushers are just $12 and can be purchased online through the AJFF website. Click here to get your tickets! Attendees will receive their food truck vouchers onsite at the screening at Regal Cinemas Atlantic Station.

The Apple Pushers is the uplifting story of immigrant street cart vendors and an urban initiative to bring nutritional food to those who need it most. Attempting to address a lack of access to fresh and affordable produce, New York City launched an experiment in which “Green Carts” bearing fruits and vegetables would be deployed to “food deserts,” low-income neighborhoods where obesity rates are skyrocketing. In the face of entrenched political opposition, immigrant small business owners (including a Russian Jew who fled anti-Semitism) align with health advocates to take on this tough task with dignity and sacrifice, overcoming extraordinary challenges to carve out an economic niche. Narrated by Oscar nominee Edward Norton, The Apple Pushers chronicles public-private efforts to mitigate a national health crisis through the intersection of entrepreneurship and the American Dream.

Five local food trucks will be at Atlantic Station from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM today, Friday, February 10, 2012, for pre- and post-film noshing. The line-up includes: Rolling Reuben’s, Yumbii, Ibiza Bites, Streatery, and Honeysuckle Gelato.

The food trucks will be set up East District Avenue near Z Gallerie and H&M, near Escalator #7.

WHERE: AJFF and Atlantic Station present a special Food Truck Friday - purchase your ticket to The Apple Pushers online here

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival on Facebook | Atlanta Jewish Film Festival on Twitter

I’m a huge fan of Virginia Willis, not just because I love her cookbooks (Bon Appetit, Y’all and Basic to Brilliant, Y’all) and her French Quarter spice rub, but because the few times I’ve met her she’s been everything I think a Southern chef should be: welcoming, hospitable, kind, humble. It only makes sense that she’s a natural choice to team up with two adorable kiddie chefs at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Today – Friday, February 10, 2012 – Virginia Willis is teaming up with 10-year-old Twin Chefs, Audrey and Lilly Andrews from Sonoma, California, to cook up some tasty, family-inspired meals at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Presented as part of a healthy cooking workshop and demonstration for families, it’s sure to be a fun and family-friendly afternoon!

The Twin Chefs began their love for cooking at the young age of four when they spent time in the kitchen helping their mother prepare family meals. It was that special time together that lead to a passion for cooking together and living a healthy lifestyle. The Twin Chefs are in Atlanta to help spread the word about healthy eating habits and to celebrate their recent partnership with Cuties California Clementines and Mandarins as official spokes-chefs.

Chef Willis and the Twin Chefs will present a series of four, 20-minute cooking demonstrations to teach their message of healthy cooking to local children and families. Admission to the cooking demonstration is free with your paid museum ticket ($12). The demonstrations will take place from 12:30 PM until 2:30 PM.

WHERE:  The Children’s Museum of Atlanta - 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 30313

Twyla Tharp with dancer Stella McFall in rehearsal for "The Princess & The Goblin"

In the past two years of 365Atlanta.com, I’ve gotten to know the Atlanta Ballet, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised with each new discovery. From the haunting and breathtaking Moulin Rouge to the energetic and lively new works in Ignition, I have fallen in love with the diversity, variety and beauty that the Atlanta Ballet produces.

That’s why I am so looking forward to tomorrow night – opening night of the World Premiere of Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess & The Goblin.” The first full-length ballet Tharp has created in years and her second world premiere in Atlanta, the ballet is based on the late 19th-century classic of the same name by George MacDonald. Co-commissioned by Atlanta Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Atlanta enjoys the World Premiere this month and then the ballet moves on to Canada in Fall 2012. The ballet is set to music by Franz Schubert, arranged and orchestrated by composer and Schubert scholar Richard Burke and played live by the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. With a cast that includes 13 children handpicked by Tharp from the Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education, the ballet marks the first time she’s worked with children in more than 30 years!

I’m looking forward to seeing “The Princess & The Goblin” tomorrow night (I can’t wait!) - I’ll be posting my impressions afterward, but don’t wait for me to tell you how it is! Tickets start as low as $20. For tickets, call 800-982-2787 or stop by the Cobb Energy Centre box office. To purchase tickets online, visit www.atlantaballet.com.

WHERE: Atlanta Ballet Presents Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess & The Goblin” – February 10-19, 2012 at Cobb Energy Centre

Atlanta Ballet on Facebook | Atlanta Ballet on Twitter

Atlanta Ballet cast and kids in Princess and the Goblin rehearsal. Photo by Charlie McCullers, Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

Dancer Tara Lee. Twyla Tharp Rehearsal. 2011. Photo by Charlie McCullers, Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

Dancer John Welker in Princess and the Goblin rehearsal. Photo by Charlie McCullers, Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

Atlanta Ballet cast in Princess and the Goblin rehearsal. Photo by Charlie McCullers, Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

Atlanta Ballet cast with Twyla Tharp in Rehearsal. Photo by Kim Kenney, Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

I had the immense pleasure of going to see Odysséo: A New Adventure By Cavalia last week, which is showing in Midtown Atlanta through January 29, 2012.

According to the website, “Odysséo is a journey into the imagination, a voyage through space and time, and an exploration of nature’s greatest wonders – deserts, waterfalls, canyons, glaciers and more.” What it really is, is a beautiful symphonic dance with horses and humans on stage together, perfectly choreographed without feeling unnatural. It’s an amazing work that marries performance and trust between these gorgeous, graceful animals and their partners.

The scale of the show is almost unbelievable – the cast includes more than 50 riders, performers, and acrobats (much akin to a Cirque du Soleil performance) and 71 four-legged stars, 26 of which are stallions and the rest are geldings. True to form for Cavalia, the costumes are endless, as are the set changes and surprises. You will be on the edge of your seat throughout the two acts (there is one intermission) as the action is nonstop.

Technically, the show is astounding. The tent in which Odysséo is staged (actually one huge tent with a collection of smaller ones that serve as stables, a VIP area, dressing rooms, and more) is immense and impressive. No doubt you’ve seen it if you’ve driven on the Connector in the past couple of months. The tent’s footprint covers an astounding 100,000 square feet and rises 125 feet in the air. The performance stage is 27,000 square feet – and once you see the horses charging in from off stage, you understand why it is so big! The stage is composed of 6,000 tons of dirt, sand, and stone, and is coupled with projections and visual effects on a huge high definition screen and a live orchestra with a single female vocalist. All in all, it’s truly breathtaking.

For an even more incredible experience, check out the Rendez-Vous Experience, which includes an open bar and buffet dinner before the show, champagne and dessert at intermission, and a tour of the stables and a chance to meet the horses and performers following the show, in addition to a Q&A with the Artistic Director immediately following the show.

Odysséo has been extended through January 29, 2012. Show times are Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM, with matinees on Saturdays at 3:00 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. For ticket prices and seating chart, visit the Cavalia website. You can also buy tickets online – by clicking here.

WHERE: Odysséo, A New Adventure by Cavalia in Midtown Atlanta – see website for details

The Cavalia tent - a impressive presence in Midtown Atlanta and an amazing venue for this show.

The bar in Cavalia's Rendez-Vous experience - enjoy a glass of beer or wine pre-show and at intermission.

The incredible final scene - the stage is flooded with water!

The final curtain call - what an incredible cast of performers!

The VIP experience allows you to tour the stables after the show and meet the horses and performers!

Make a new friend in the stables!

A glimpse into the tack room

Last year, I met someone who I can confidently say is one of my favorite people in Atlanta, Adisa Nickerson; he introduced me to one of our city’s most incredible organizations, the Georgia Boy Choir, for which he serves as Executive Director.

The Georgia Boy Choir, which is comprised of boys from ages four through high school, not only gives these young musicians an opportunity to hone their craft and learn advanced music skills, but also teaches them discipline, teamwork, responsibility and other important life skills. Music education has been proven to be a valuable part of childrens’ education, and the Georgia Boy Choir is providing that opportunity for boys from all around the Metro Atlanta area.

This weekend, the internationally renowned Georgia Boy Choir will kick off the holiday season with the very popular Christmas with the Georgia Boy Choir production on December 16 and 17 in the beautiful sanctuary of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where they are currently serving as the Ensemble-In-Residence. This fantastic concert will feature not only the seasoned Concert Choir, but all five choirs of the Georgia Boy Choir including the Apprentice Choir comprised of boys ages 4 through 7 (how cute are they!), along with a full orchestra performing all of your favorite carols and songs to kick off the holiday season. Quickly becoming a city tradition, the evening includes a fun Christmas party for kids courtesy of Elegant Event Sitters, Atlanta’s largest performance of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” with the audience invited to join in the fun and singing, and lots of homemade Christmas treats. Tickets for Christmas with the Georgia Boy Choir are $12, $20, and $40 and can be purchased by visiting http://georgiaboychoir.ticketleap.com.

Hearing is believing: here is a video of the performance choir recorded at last year’s Christmas concert:

Halfway through their third year, the Georgia Boy Choir is achieving an unprecedented level of success and recognition. This past summer they traveled to Great Britain where they served as the Choir-In-Residence at Oxford Cathedral; the summer before they traveled all the way to China. They will cap off this season with an appearance at the Baltimore Boychoir Festival in May and a Scandinavian tour that will take them to Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Latvia, and Estonia.

WHERE: Christmas with the Georgia Boy Choir at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church –3180 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA

Georgia Boy Choir on Facebook | Georgia Boy Choir on Twitter
Georgia Boy Choir Executive Director, Adisa Nickerson, on Twitter

Photos and video courtesy of Georgia Boy Choir

Thursday night means Grilled Cheese Night at Souper Jenny…and tonight – Thursday, October 27, 2011 – it also means 1/2 price s’mores, if you bring a donation for Trick or Treat for the Troops!

Grilled Cheese Night is one of my favorite times at Souper Jenny – two melty, ooey-gooey grilled cheese choices, as well as soups and salads to choose from. Tonight’s grilled cheese choices are a traditional grilled cheese (for you purists) as well as one with Brie, bacon, caramelized onions and fig jam on multigrain bread. The Brie is calling my name! And did you know…Souper Jenny is BYOB on Grilled Cheese Night! Bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner!

Tabletop do-it-yourself s’mores are also on the menu - and tonight they’re half-price if you support Trick or Treat for the Troops by bringing items for our care packages. This annual event collects donations for care packages for men and women of the U. S. Armed Forces who are deployed and away from their families during the holiday season. Once again, we are collecting toiletries, snacks, playing cards and games, and more. You can download a printable shopping list by clicking here.

If you can’t make it tonight, you can drop off your donations at Souper Jenny during regular hours until Saturday, October 29, 2011.

I hope to see you at Souper Jenny tonight – won’t you join me for dinner or just a little snack? I’ll be there from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, but Souper Jenny is open until 10:00 PM, so please come out, support our troops, and enjoy some deliciousness from Souper Jenny!

WHERE: Half-Price S’mores and Trick or Treat for the Troops at Souper Jenny - 53 East Andrews Drive NW, Atlanta, GA

Souper Jenny on Facebook | Souper Jenny on Twitter

Photo credit: S’more by Christopher Penn on Flickr.com 

Richard Blais – Top Chef alumni, winner of Top Chef All-Stars and the brains behind Atlanta’s & Birmingham’s FLIP Burger restaurants – has, at long last, thrown his culinary weight behind a new restaurant concept in Atlanta, HD1. The main idea of the restaurant is, indeed (as has been widely rumored around the city for months), hot dogs…but it’s also a lot more than that.

"That is the concept of this restaurant, that car pulling up while you're all sitting here. We didn't plan it this way, but we should have." --Richard Blais

My initial doubts about my possible experience (I’m more of a burger girl than a hot dog girl) were quickly erased when I saw the menu. Relieved that there are more than just dogs up for grabs and seeing lots of appealing choices, I settled in for lunch. So if you’ve been thinking that  HD1 is not up your alley because you’re not a big fan of hot dogs, you may want to think again!

Listening to Richard Blais explain the thinking behind HD1 (at a media lunch hosted by Blais, his Executive Chef Jared Lee Pyles, and his business partners Barry Mills and Ron Stewart), I and others at the event got a first-hand look at both the food and beverage of HD1, as well as an icon of what the restaurant represents. As Blais was explaining the fare – “what people in the 70s thought food should be” – a green Volkswagon bus pulled up in the parking lot, complete with curtains in the windows. Blais’s eyes lit up as he pointed to the VW bus: “That is the concept of this restaurant, that car pulling up [while you're all sitting here]. We didn’t plan it this way, but we should have.” His ideal, he said, would be Ashton Kutcher and the cast of That 70s Show walking in, sitting down, and chowing down.

If you’re thinking that HD1 is just the hot dog equivalent to FLIP Burger, think again. Blais wants to be very clear that it’s not just the burger concept, revisited. “The true intent of HD1 is to try to be different than FLIP. If FLIP is the 80s, this is the 70s. If FLIP is bright, this is dark. If FLIP is a new version of a burger restaurant, this is the ‘nose and tail’ version of a hot dog joint.” He also pointed out that at FLIP, the nitrogen (milkshakes, etc.) overshadows the idea of the ingredients; at HD1 the focus is back on the food itself: the local farmers, the in-house meat grinding, the ingredients.

Richard Blais (right) and Executive Chef Jared Lee Pyles talking hot dogs and 70-style food at HD1.

The menu is cheeky, literally: playful treatments of  70s style food is the name of the game. The categories are a play on words, hot dog-style: “Bits”, “Pieces”, and “Stuff” are a nod to what hot dogs really are: bits and pieces stuffed into casing. Under “Bits,” I particularly enjoyed the Popped Sorghum, Housemade Half-Sour Pickles, North African Spiced Boiled Peanuts (a must-try!), and Deviled Ham in Eggs (whimsically served up on a bed of crushed barbecue potato chips). The “Pieces” delivered up Prawn dogs (shrimp fried in grits and served on a stick), Brisket Chili with cool ranch oyster crackers, and Waffled Fries with maple-oy.

The hot dogs are the “Stuff” – and some yummy stuff they are. There’s the Classic hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard for you purists (myself included). For the foodies among you, there’s a chicken-apple sausage with herbed creme fraiche, walnuts and sour grape relish and a merquez dog with red currants, minted cucumber relish and Labne yogurt; for meat-lovers, they’re serving up a kenturkey dog with bacon, mornay, and a tomato pimento marmalade; and for the truly adventurous, there’s the beef pastrami dog with ox tongue and tripe hash and rusky dressing…to name a couple of options. There’s even a vegetarian option: sous vide carrot can be substituted for any dog on the menu. The “Plates” section of the menu is, as Blais described it, “simply prepared, good food without buns” – like bangers & mash and fried chicken livers (yum!) – and will change daily, with 3 to 5 offerings a night. The choices will be limited for awhile, to give the kitchen an opportunity to control the quality and to really deliver; the menu will expand as the restaurant matures.

To wash it all down, there is a full bar, but the emphasis is really on “vintage sodas and good beers”. I was pleased with the beer selection, getting the opportunity to try a few that were new to me. Not being a huge soda drinker, I was still impressed by the array of choices of Nehi sodas, a treat for soda lovers with good taste.

While Blais insists there’s no plan currently in the works for an HD2, HD3, or HD4, it seems like the concept is one that could indeed catch on and necessitate expansion, if FLIP Burger’s success is any indication. However, if they stay true to Blais’s word and stick with just the HD1, it’s sure to become a neighborhood favorite in no time at all.

HD1 is open for lunch and dinner; current hours of operation are 11:30 AM until midnight, seven days a week. Look for the rooftop to open in “Spring-ish 2012.”

WHERE: HD1 – 664 N. Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

HD1 on Facebook | HD1 on Twitter

Popped sorghum, housemade half-sour pickles and North African spiced boiled peanuts

Pigs in the sheets

Which came first? The chicken wings or the deviled ham in eggs. As starters go, get them together and enjoy them both!

Why are we here? For the hot dogs, of course! A selection of doggone goodness at HD1.

Easily one of my favorite menu offerings: the fried chicken livers over mustard greens with hot sauce.

Irish bangers and mash with onion gravy.

A selection from HD1's beer list. Though the restaurant has a full bar, the focus is really on beer and vintage sodas.

Belly up to the (full) bar at HD1 - an impressive selection for a humble hot dog joint.

Warm, dark woods and colors make up the interior of HD1. Says Chef Richard Blais: "If FLIP is the 80s, HD1 is the 70s. If FLIP is bright, HD1 is dark."

Full disclosure: HD1 graciously hosted us for this event and our bill was comped by the house. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Green VW bus photo credit: by tbone_sandwich on Flickr.com