The Porter Beer Bar

1156 Euclid Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 30307

404-223-0393

In their lovably scruffy Little Five Points digs, husband-and-wife owners Nick Rutherford and Molly Gunn preside over the city’s largest selection of beer.

Website: http://theporterbeerbar.com/

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Holeman and Finch Public House

2277 Peachtree Road, Suite B, Atlanta, GA, 30319

404-948-1175

There is, of course, that famous burger, served at 10 p.m. and at Sunday brunch. But at its essence, Holeman and Finch exists to serve you pork.

Website: http://holeman-finch.com/

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Georgia Shakespeare

4484 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30319

404-504-1473

Even in the toughest economic times, Georgia Shakespeare has never sacrificed artistic credibility. But this year, the company tried a summer without Shakespeare—and it didn’t play very well. People complained. The theater listened.

Website: http://gashakespeare.org

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Karaoke Melody

5979 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA, 30340

770-986-8881

Karaoke Melody, with two locations on Buford Highway, features individual rooms small enough for duets or large enough for a dozen.

Website: http://www.karaokemelody.com/

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Wabi Sabi

1695 Marietta Boulevard, Atlanta, GA, 30318

404-873-5811

Named after a Japanese worldview that cherishes nature, this new offshoot of the Atlanta Ballet has found a fitting home in the greenspaces of the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Website: http://www.atlantaballet.com/

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DragonCon

Downtown Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, 30303

Every parade has bands and politicians, but this Labor Day extravaganza has bagpipers in steampunk gear and ruling-class representatives from Doctor Who and Game of Thrones.

Website: http://dragoncon.org/

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Aurora Theatre

128 East Pike Street, Lawrenceville, GA, 30045

678-226-6222

This Lawrenceville company has always excelled at Broadway classics. But this year, the ensemble scored one for the ages with the epic Les Misérables. The show was a breakthrough for young Atlanta director Justin Anderson, who is suddenly working all over town.

Website: http://auroratheatre.com

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Atlanta Contemporary Art Center

535 Means Street, Atlanta, GA, 30318

404-688-1970

A recent Andy Warhol Foundation grant is boosting the mission of this non-collecting institution, which also offers educational programs and subsidized studios for fourteen resident artists.

Website: http://thecontemporary.org

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Fay Gold

760 Tenth Street, Atlanta, GA, 30318

404-625-9094

Gold closed her gallery in 2009 but returned this summer with a new space in the Westside Cultural Arts Center, the exterior of which showcases a commissioned mural by HENSE and the 3,000-square-foot interior of which carries a mix of established and emerging talents.

Website: http://faygoldgallery.com

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AMC Parkway Pointe 15

3101 Cobb Parkway, Suite 201, Atlanta, GA, 30339

770-937-0730

Parkway Pointe has all the comforts we’ve come to expect from the modern multiplex, but the little things set this theater apart.

Website: https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/amc-parkway-pointe-15

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Shucks

705 Town Brookhaven, Atlanta, GA, 30319

404-846-1777

Most customers come here to slurp a dozen raw oysters, sourced from the Gulf and both coasts, and follow with a thick grilled cheese sandwich in a dozen variations.

Website: http://h2sr.com/shucks

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Stem Wine Bar

1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA, 30068

678-214-6888

Doug Turbush, along with chef de cuisine Brendan Keenan and manager/sommelier Jason Raymond, has done it again with this sophisticated wine bar.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/StemWineBar

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Zoo Atlanta’s Panda Twins

800 Cherokee Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 30315

404-624-5600

Since their surprise arrival on July 15, the panda cubs have entranced millions worldwide via the zoo’s PandaCam. A visit to see them will provide an ideal moment to teach the values of preservation and conservation.

Website: http://zooatlanta.org/

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Historic Fourth Ward Park

665 North Ave, Atlanta, GA, 30312

404-590-7275

The latest in equipment offers kids hours of entertainment, and the compact layout makes it easy for parents to keep a watchful eye.

Website: http://www.h4wpc.com/

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Mother

447 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 30312

404-524-4605

While the top floor of this two-story renovated brownstone in the Old Fourth Ward serves mostly as a dance club, the dim bar below draws its own crowd for righteous pub grub and easygoing cocktails.

Website: http://mother447.wordpress.com/

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Kimball House

303 East Howard Avenue, Decatur, GA, 30030

404-378-3502

Before slurping through a platter of oysters on ice, order a cocktail from an ace team of bartenders.

Website: http://cargocollective.com/kimballhouse

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Georgia Museum of Art

90 Carlton Street, Athens, GA, 30602

706-542-4662

As the official state museum of art, the Georgia Museum houses a notable permanent collection and hosts significant exhibitions.

Website: http://georgiamuseum.org/

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