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Second Helpings

Cool Things To Do in September in Atlanta

September is a great time to be in Atlanta. There are amazing festivals — food and music — Black Pride events and football. It is the perfect time to do a lot of cool things and enjoy life with family and friends — or just by yourself

Strike a Pose

Take your selfie to a new level at the Original Selfie Museum. (Photo courtesy of Original Selfie Museum)

The Original Selfie Museum is perfect for anyone who posts selfies on Instagram. We’re talking about, well, just about everyone. Located in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood, the museum is the first creative space uniquely designed to take your photos and videos to a new level. The lighting is perfect and there are plenty of backgrounds to help create your best look and posts. The museum has even started serving brunch.

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop at Underground Atlanta Pop-up

Veteran producers Jermaine Dupri and Dallas Austin helped curate a pop-up celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop on view at Underground Atlanta through Oct. 23. This particular homage to the musical genre shines a light on hip-hop in Atlanta. If you are a fan, then you won’t want to miss this.

Fundraising for Food

Second Helpings joins Open Hand to fight hunger in Atlanta. (Photo courtesy of Second Helpings)

September is Hunger Action Month, and Atlanta is hosting two fundraisers designed to help those in need. Second Helpings Atlanta is hosting “Feed Atlanta: A Night of Giving & Grooving” on Sept. 21. There will be food trucks, a booze cart, canned cocktails and live music in Second Helping’s warehouse at 970 Jefferson St. NW, where they pack and deliver 2,000 meal kits every week.

Open Hand’s largest fundraiser, Party in the Kitchen, will take place at the American Spirit Works Sept. 28. Hosted by chefs Kevin Rathbun and Peter Kaiser, the event will feature the culinary works of 20 of Atlanta’s finest chefs. In addition to the culinary masterpieces, attendees can also bid on a diverse selection of luxury items, ranging from exclusive travel experiences to entertainment and elegant fine dining packages.

Second Helpings Atlanta is the city’s only nonprofit that rescues fresh, surplus food from grocers, corporate kitchens and stadiums and drives it to the agencies that serve those who need it the most.

Open Hand’s programs provide access to home-delivered, health-promoting meals as well as nutrition education to those living with or disabled by chronic disease, homebound seniors and at-risk youth and families.

Sit a Spell

Enjoy a taste of Tuscany — in Buckhead. (Photo courtesy of Bar Ti Amo)

It’s cooled off a bit and what better way take advantage than to dine on a patio. Why not try the patio at Bar Ti Amo, a new Tuscan restaurant in Buckhead. Find more choices in our Ultimate Guide to Patio Dining in Atlanta and our Top Patios and Rooftops in Downtown Atlanta.

Black Pride

Celebrate the country’s largest Black Pride event with more than 25 events, an influence dinner and awards ceremony, Pure Heat Community Festival, a comedy show, pool party, boat ride and plenty more. Taking place mostly at Piedmont Park over the Labor Day Weekend, Black Pride offers special events for men and for women.

Underground Atlanta Hosts RedBull Unlocked and OYE Fest

Underground Atlanta hosts RedBull Unlocked. (Photo courtesy of RedBull Unlocked)

RedBull Unlocked is bringing a mash-up of Atlanta’s greatest bars, clubs, experiences and artists together on Sept. 9, under one roof, for the ultimate celebration of the city. Taking place at Underground Atlanta in the heart of Downtown, the one-night-only event will re-create the vibe and DNA of unique partners alongside a premium product experience, local and national artists, performers, DJs and much more.

Atlanta’s own Bar Vegan, Slutty Vegan, Clermont Lounge, Future, Magic City, MJQ, Sister Louisa’s Church, Dolo’s Pizza and Peach Museum will join forces, offering event goers a night filled with signature food, drink, live entertainment and plenty of surprises.

Also at Underground Atlanta, OYE Fest occurs from 3 to 11 p.m. on Sept. 17. The Latin arts and music festival promises art, music, food, interactive installations and more. In addition to attending the OYE Fest, don’t forget to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Around Atlanta beginning Sept. 15.

Tap your Toes

Music Midtown, one of the city’s best and biggest music festivals, will be at Piedmont Park Sept. 15-17 with more than 30 artists performing across four stages. There will be rock, hip-hop, pop and electronic tunes along with interactive experiences, a Ferris wheel and some of Atlanta’s best local bites. Want to keep the music going? Then head over to the Old 4th Ward Skatepark for ATL Hip Hop Day Sept. 2-3.

Culinary Extravaganza

Taste, sip, repeat at the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. (Photo courtesy of Atlanta Food & Wine Festival)

The four-day Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 20-24, spotlights the incomparable food, wine, beer and craft spirits of the South and beyond. There will be lots of tasting tents, gourmet gatherings and plenty of fun as attendees and more than 200 of the most celebrated chefs gather to savor, sip and share exceptional regional flavors.

Candler Park Fall Festival

One of the city’s favorite neighborhood get-togethers is the Candler Park Fall Festival, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, that features more than 200 arts and crafts stalls, a tour of homes, a 5K race and food trucks. The two-day event is a fundraiser for the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization and the Mary Lin Elementary School Foundation. The festival has been a hit since the early 2000, so you know it’s special.

Bonjour Buckhead

Francophiles rejoice – the  French Market is back and heading to Buckhead Village on Sept. 9. Buckhead Avenue will transform into a Parisian-inspired, open-air market bringing together regional and locally owned French and French-inspired businesses including Ade by Femi, Lisa’s Creperie, Maison B. Encore, Ché René Macaron, diptyque and Saint Germain Bakery & Cafe, all offering visitors the chance to stroll and shop curated selections of designer goods, art, home furnishings and French fare. This year’s festivities will also include live music, crafts and entertainment for all ages, including performances from The Bonaventure Quartet jazz band, Théâtre du Rêve and the Atlanta Petanque Club. 

The French Market is free and open to the public. A wristband will be required to purchase food and beverages from participating vendors. All event proceeds directly support the Alliance Française of Atlanta, a nonprofit whose mission is to promote the French language and Francophone cultures through educational and cross-cultural program.

Opa!

If you can’t go to Greece, then the lamb dinner (Sept. 7) at Kyma is the next best thing. Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s culinary director Pano Karatassos and executive chef Camron Woods welcome the Greek tradition of roasting a whole lamb. The  lamb cooks for at least seven hours and will be on display for the final hour during a “Toast and Roast” in Kyma’s outdoor garden. Each lamb feeds up to 24 guests so space is limited. Chefs Pano and Camron will be on hand for any questions on recipes, techniques and photos. Tickets include a reception with passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a tasting of traditional Greek spreads, octopus, Greek salad and a tasting of lamb loins, ribs, bellies and legs. Of course, doughnuts and baklava will top off the meal with wine pairings.

Touchdown

Football fever is in full gear and Atlanta’s teams are taking to the gridiron and scoring goals. There’s Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jackets (Don’t forget your Varsity hot dogs), Georgia State’s Panthers and, of course, the Atlanta Falcons who will play the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 9 and the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 17, both games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. If you can’t get tickets, don’t worry. Atlanta is home to plenty of sports bars with the games showing on lots of television sets.

Red Carpet Glamour

See the exhibit about glamour, fashion and fantasy at SCAD. (Photo courtesy of The Blonds)

The Blonds: Glamour, Fashion, Fantasy is the theme at an exhibition at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), now through Feb. 18, 2024. View more than 80 elaborate and show-stopping, high-fashion-meets-costume designs created by The Blonds for the runway, red carpet and stage. Glamour, Fashion, Fantasy features The Blonds’ most iconic looks worn by superstars including Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, Ciara, Dita Von Teese, Nicki Minaj, Billy Porter and more. The exhibition also presents exclusive looks from The Blonds’ 2019 collaboration with Disney, a luxury fashion collection inspired by some of Disney’s most wicked characters including The Evil Queen, Ursula, Cruella de Vil and Maleficent.

Beam Me Up

Labor Day weekend in Atlanta means that Dragon Con is in town. (Photo courtesy of Dragon Con)

Dragon Con, the largest multimedia popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film, returns to Atlanta Aug. 31 through Sept. 4. There will be lots of  creators, writers, artists, actors, illustrators and creative minds available for meet-and-greets as well as workshops. Among the special guests will be Tom Cavanagh, Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Freddie Prinze Jr. and George Takei. The highlight, as always, is Saturday’s parade were conventioneers dress up and parade down Peachtree Street as locals gather and cheer them on.

Soul Food

The Taste of Soul will take place at the intersection of Northside and Martin Luther King Jr. drives Sept. 2-3 with tastings, a kid’s zone, concerts and lots of cocktails and wine made by African American companies including Unle Nearest Whiskey, Nyak cognac, Ebony Wine and Talero. The country’s largest soul and R&B Indie concert will take place on Sept. 2 with headliners J Brown  and Algebra Blessett and artists such as Kid Melodic, Jaree, Havier Daivon and Alise King also on the bill.

Seafood and Music? You bet.

The Atlanta Seafood & Caribbean Music Festival occurs at Piedmont Park Sept. 24 with live music and DJs as well as a more than 100 seafood and Caribbean food truck vendors. Enjoy the bests of Afro, R&B, Southern Soul and house music.

Always keep an eye on our calendar of events for even more things to do in Atlanta.

Journalist Mary Welch writes business and lifestyle stories for local and national publications. 

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