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1. LICKING THE SNOW: For just under two bucks, you can’t beat the big-kid sno-cones at Cajun restaurant Just Loaf’n to battle southern summer heat. www.justloafn.net. 2. HIDING OUT AT THE CHOP HOUSE: The best place to be if you want to chill out with a drink during a Braves game. But get there early, because once the outside temp hits 90 degrees, the place fills up fast. www.braves.mlb.com. 3. VISITING THE FROZEN TUNDRA: Fernbank’s IMAX theatre lets you choose between screenings of “Antarctica” (pictured) or “Alaska: Spirit of the Wild” all summer long. Air conditioning included in ticket price. www.fernbankmuseum.org. 4. SAMPLING INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS: Scoops of the tasty Limoncello and Green Tea gelatos at Paolo’s Gelatos sure hit the spot—and watching the irrepressible Paolo Dalla Zorza in action is a treat in itself. www.paolosgelato.com. As old-school “Original Gangsta” Ice-T and Atlanta’s Soulja Boy (pictured) have traded barbs online earlier this week, it's been hard to know who to feel worse for: The 17-year-old “Crank That” phenom, clearly out of his league, giggling at his own jabs at Ice-T’s age, or the 50-year-old “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star, lowering himself to a rambling, nearly eight-minute diatribe aimed at a teenager. Of course, it was Ice’s assertion on a recent mix tape that Soulja Boy is killing hip-hop that started the whole thing. Neither performer has come out of this "feud" looking very good, and neither has Atlanta-born Grammy winner Kanye West, who took Soulja Boy's side in the debate. (Since you've been dying to know, I'm more inclined to take Ice-T's position, as he's clearly an artist who's proven his talent and longevity. Except that "Crank That" doesn't, strictly speaking, strike me as hip-hop: It's just a dissonant, slurred pop novelty, and attacking it as "garbage" inflates the song's pop-cultural status beyond what it deserves. It’d have been better for everyone involved had the Iceberg taken a cue from NBA superstar LeBron James, who back in March dismissed an insult from Washington Wizard DeShawn Stevenson, saying that to respond would be like Jay-Z acknowledging a diss from … Soulja Boy. When tragedy strikes, we huddle around our TVs, our radios and our computers, trying to get more information, shaking our heads in disbelief and wishing there was something we could do. This was the feeling we all shared when Meredith Emerson was kidnapped from the North Georgia mountains on New Year's Day and then subsequently found murdered on January 7. This Wednesday, June 25, Atlantans have an opportunity to honor and remember Meredith Emerson by dining out at any Atlanta and North Georgia Applebee's location anytime during store hours. The restaurant chain will donate 15 percent of diners' total bills to Right to Hike, Inc. However, you must present this invitation to their servers in order for your efforts to count. Right to Hike, Inc. was founded in memoriam of Meredith with plans to support causes close to Meredith's heart, including hiking safety. June 25 is five days after what would have been Meredith's 25th birthday. There are 40 Applebee's in metro Atlanta. Find the one closest to you here. WGCL reporter Fred Powers has died after a long battle with cancer. Powers was well known in Atlanta for his willingness to place himself in harm's way; I still remember the night I watched him get Tasered, just to show viewers what it's like. It was for these pieces, which he always tackled with good cheer, that he was affectionately known as the human pinata. Although he hadn't been on the air in some time (save for reporting on the tornado that struck the Cotton Mill Lofts back in March), he was always, to me, one of the indelible faces of CBS-46. SP's condolences go out to his family, co-workers and friends. He will be missed. UPDATE: Powers' memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, at Saint Mark's United Methodist Church, 781 Peachtree Street. Do you miss Leslie Fram yet? The longtime figurehead of once-mighty alt-rock station 99X (pictured) is moving on to program a new rock station in the Big Apple... If you enjoyed his Emmy-winning turn on “Will & Grace” or his one-man show “Like a Dog on Linoleum,” you’ll definitely want to see LESLIE JORDAN in person at Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse as the pocket-sized funny man reads from and signs his new memoir, “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet.” The book details his humble beginnings, his struggles with addiction, celebrity encounters and more. Event starts at 7:30m p.m. Admission is free with purchase of the book. 404-607-0082. www.outwritebooks.com. Spice Girls belt out, "Spice up your life." Executive chef and owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Spice Market (the new restaurant in the W Hotel Midtown) can do just that. I dined there for lunch this past week with SP contributor Hope Philbrick, and I was excited to see it was more than just a market. When Americans hear "market," they think "store." But Vongerichten grew up visiting real street markets around the globe and has translated some of his favorite vendor treats into gourmet fare for you and me. Lunch guests can be in and out quickly with the "Bento Box," a 20-minute express lunch offered between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for $15, which includes fragrant miso soup, shrimp dumplings and herbs; avocado and radish salad with Chinese mustard and tempura onions; a choice between beef satay, chicken skewers or pork satay; cod with Malaysian chili sauce and Thai basil; a choice of brown or Jasmine rice; and a choice of ice cream or sorbet. But Hope and I weren't trying to make it quick. We wanted to take our time enjoying our first experience of Spice Market, and that we did. We started with three appetizers: black-pepper shrimp served over sundried pineapple squares, chicken skewers with a lime-dipping sauce and Vietnamese spring rolls, which we wrapped in arugula lettuce leaves. The dishes were small and perfect for lunch-size sharing. Hope and I agreed that the shrimp was by far our fave out of the apps, but I was impressed with the meat provided on the chicken skewers. Next we moved on to cod with Malaysian chili sauce and Thai basil, an entree we shared. The white circle of fish was ensconced in a vivid red halo, which was surrounded by an outer layer of lime green (the basil sauce, I imagine). The dish was mildly spicy, by our standards, which we both thoroughly enjoyed. We paired it with a side of baby corn and broccoli with lemongrass and chili--a completely unexpected twist to veggies and a pleasant surprise. Dessert was a medley of deliciousness: strawberry green tea cake with lychee sorbet, spiced peach tatin with ginger ice cream, Vietnamese coffee ice cream and the Thai jewels and fruits made with crushed coconut ice. The sampling of offerings at Spice was a luxurious way to spend a lunch hour (or two) and get to know the global personality of Jean-Georges. Spice Market is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Valet parking at the W Hotel costs only $6 when your ticket is validated at the restaurant. www.spicemarketatlanta.com. Cold drinks, live music, a beautiful environment to enjoy them in—these are the promises offered by the SMIRNOFF ICE LIGHT MIDSUMMER MUSIC FEST, which gets underway at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, June 21, at Candler Park. The event, which doubles as an 11th birthday bash for local sports talk station 790 the Zone, also features a 5K run at 9 a.m., but the highlight is a live music roster including the Cazanovas, Swami, the Taj Motel Trio, Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ and headliners Blues Traveler. For more information, visit www.790thezone.com. Enjoy live entertainment, video games, prizes and more at the REGULAR GUYS ALL-NIGHTER, kicking off at 11 p.m. tonight at the StarTime Entertainment complex in Roswell. Guests get access to the staff of Rock 100.5’s “Regular Guys,” a $50 game card for arcade games, live-band hard rock karaoke courtesy of Metalsome, a DJ and dancing, shooter girls and screenings of “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” For more information, call 770-817-4242 or visit www.regularguys.com. Shoulder pads, Dr. Ruth and “Dynasty” are just a few artifacts from the ’80s unlikely to make a comeback anytime soon. Certain classics, however, will always remain timeless—and E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL is one of them. Head out to Centennial Olympic Park tonight for an evening of nostalgia with Screen on the Green’s showing of this classic family film. Show up at 7 p.m. to kick back and enjoy the sounds of local pop/rock artist Bria Kam. Admission is free (but don’t bring any glass containers, alcohol, grills or pets, please). 404-575-7888. www.peachtreetv.com. |