Halloween is here, and if you still don't have plans for the holiday, below is a list of Halloween-themed events to check out this weekend.  Some are them are family-friendly, and they include live music, theatre, film screenings, and even an art exhibit featuring decorated coffins!

Just click on the names of the events below for more info:


Scary Ride! at Emory's Schwartz Center for the Arts
Mummies and Milkshakes on the Quadrangle at the Michael C. Carlos Museum
A Tour of Southern Ghosts at Stone Mountain Park
Boo at the Zoo at Zoo Atlanta
Scream on the Green at Centennial Olympic Park
The Halloweenus Wangdoodle at Dad's Garage Theatre Company
The Ghastly Dreadfuls: Handbook of Practical Hauntings and Other Phantasmagoria at Center for Puppetry Arts
Night of the Living Monkeys at Academy Theatre
Halloweekendz Movies at The Strand Theatre
The Day of the Dead Show at Eyedrum
Scarecrows in the Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Have a Happy Halloween!

Halloween is still a week away, but Atlanta's spooky season is certainly in full swing.  Below is a list of just some of the Halloween-themed events that you can take advantage of around town this weekend.  Some are family-friendly, and some are more for the young at heart, but all of them should be great to help get you in the spirit.

Just click on the names of the events below for more info!

Bugs, Bats & Bones Day at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Capturing the Spirit of Oakland - 2009 Halloween Tours at Oakland Cemetery
Goblins in the Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Halloween Magical Musical Toybox with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Halloweekendz Movies at The Strand Theatre
Boo at the Zoo at Zoo Atlanta
"The Ghastley Dreadfuls II: Handbook of Practical Hauntings and Other Phantasmagoria" at the Center for Puppetry Arts
A Tour of Southern Ghosts at Stone Mountain Park

Get out there and have some Halloween fun!  And be sure to check out my blog next week for Halloween Happenings - Volume 2...

I don't have kids (...yet), but if I did, I'd probably be on the lookout for free things to do to entertain the family.  This weekend, there are a number of festivals and free events that offer opportunities for families to hang together, without breaking the bank.

Below is a list of some events and attractions that I suggest you check out if you're looking for some inexpensive entertainment.  Click on the name of the event to find out more info.

Target Free Family Day at the Woodruff Arts Center - All the divisions at the Woodruff offer free performances, demonstrations and tours at this annual event.

Brookhaven Arts Festival - Highlights of this festival include artwork from more than 100 artists, live music, and (for the kids) a children's market and bouncy castle.

Little 5 Points Halloween Festival & Parade - Take your kids to visit the children's area to decorate pumpkins and take part in a costume contest. And don't miss the parade at 4 p.m. on Saturday. (Warning: Some costumes in the parade can be a little risque...)

South Fulton Tour de 29 Festival - On Saturday, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert at Tri-Cities High School as part of this festival.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic Site - Free tours of Dr. King's boyhood home run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Hope you have a safe, fun (and cheap) weekend!

Got plans this weekend?  If not, I'd like to suggest that you check out some new art exhibits in town.  It's the perfect opportunity to get out there and see some of the dynamic visual art that's on display in the city, and most galleries have free admission, so it's cheap too!

Below is a list of galleries with exhibit openings this weekend.  Just click on the name to find out more info.

Also tonight, the Castleberry Hill Art district is hosting its monthly art stroll called the 2nd Friday Art Stroll.  If you're looking for something to do, go grab some dinner and check it out.

Galleries with exhibit openings include:
Art House
Beep Beep Gallery
Decorative Arts Collection Museum
MudFire Pottery Center
The Seen Gallery

The High Museum of Art at the Woodruff Arts Center is going to host a free preview of the museum's new exhibit, Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius, next Monday, October 5 from 12 to 7 p.m.!!

They're not taking advance reservations, and the last ticket will be handed out at 6 p.m., so get in line early to make sure you get in.

If you aren't able to make it on Monday, here's another tip - Admission to the High is free to Fulton County residents on the first Saturday of each month.

But if you are able to make it in on Monday, let me know what you think!

This Saturday, nine museums in the Atlanta area are offering free admission as part of Smithsonian Magazine's Free Museum Day!  They include art museums, science museums and a few local historic landmarks.

This is an awesome opportunity to cheaply check these out with your family and friends, so definitely don't miss it.

Here's the list of participating museums:
Archibald Smith Plantation Home
Barrington Hall
Bulloch Hall
CDC's Global Health Odyssey Museum
Center for Puppetry Arts
Hammonds House Museum
High Museum of Art
Marietta Museum of History
Museum of Design Atlanta

To receive free admission, you must present a Museum Day Admission Card. Click here to get your card.

If you're going to be in the West Midtown area this weekend, or you have an empty space on your wall that's just desperate to be filled, be sure to check out the Westside Artwalk this Saturday.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., an alliance of commercial galleries and non-profit art spaces located in West Midtown keep their doors open so that folks can check out some of the most dynamic and exciting high-quality visual art in the city. Art talks are also scheduled to encourage people to learn more about the artwork and curating exhibitions.

This walk is held on the third Saturday of each month.  Here's a list of the galleries that are participating this Saturday:

Atlanta Contemporary Art Center
Bobbe Gillis Gallery
Emily Amy Gallery
Get This! Gallery
Kiang Gallery
Octane Coffee
SALTWORKS
Sandler Hudson Gallery

Click here to view a map of the galleries.

This Sunday, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre will open its doors for Overture to the Arts, a public arts festival that offers a preview of the upcoming arts season in Atlanta.  The event starts at 11 a.m. and is totally free! 

There will be dance, music and theatre performances on stage throughout the day, and local arts organizations will bring all of their season info too.

It'll be a great opportunity to find out what shows you won't want to miss next season, and lots of organizations with have info about their subscriptions packages and memberships, which usually mean big savings over single ticket prices.

Here a quick list of some of the organizations that will be there on Sunday:

Atlanta Ballet
Center for Puppetry Arts
Emory University
Ferst Center for the Arts
Several Dancers Core
Synchronicity Theatre
The Atlanta Opera

If nothing sounds better to you than curling up on the couch with a good book, then you better not miss the Decatur Book Festival this weekend in downtown Decatur.

But even if the majority of your weekend plans involve watching college football, I still suggest that you check out at least a few of the events.

Author readings, kids' activities, live music and a wrestling match (?!) are just some of the things that'll be going on at the festival, and virtually all of the events are free.

And since I'm a self-proclaimed book nerd...Please let me know if you run across any books you think are a must-read!!

If this morning's mess is any indication of this weekend's weather, I'm going to be looking to things to do inside.  But if (here's hoping!) the weather improves, and we get some sun, I wouldn't mind getting outside to enjoy the last days of summer either!

Luckily there are three festivals happening this weekend, both indoor and outdoor, that offer some choices.

If you're looking to stay inside, check out:
Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fabulous Fox Theater - "Public Enemies" with Johnny Depp is playing tonight, and you can see "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" on Saturday. "Transformers" ends the festival on Sunday.
Atlanta Underground Film Festival - Taking place at various venues around town, including Midtown Art Cinema and the Carter Center, this festival features more than 100 independent films including documentaries and animated films.

But if you're more of a glass half full kind of person and want to get outside, check out:
Summer Shade Festival in Grant Park - At this annual festival in the city's oldest park, folks enjoy live music, an artist market and the Corks & Forks food and wine event.

Have fun and stay dry!

If you've never checked out local theatre in Atlanta, you've really been missing out!  But this weekend there are lots of chances to get out there and see some great shows.  Below is a list of some local shows that are closing this weekend and a list of a few one-night-only shows.  Ticket prices for some of the shows are very inexpensive, so even if you're on a budget, don't let that stop you!

Just click on the links for each show for more information and ticket prices.  And enjoy the shows!

Closing this weekend!

- Crimes Against Nature at Sketchworks Theatre - Closing Saturday, August 22

- A Cool Drink A Water at Horizon Theatre - Closing Sunday, August 23

- Dora the Explorer Live! at the Fabulous Fox Theatre - Closing Sunday, August 23

One-Night-Only shows!

- Del Shores: My Sordid Life at Onstage Atlanta - Saturday, August 22

- Welcome Back Comedy Show at Georgia State University's Rialto Center - Saturday, August 22

- A Little Bit County, A Little Bit Rock n Roll at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center - Sunday, August 23

- Marietta Magic Comedy Illusion Show at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre - Sunday, August 23

Ok, so did you know that one of the Southeast's premier art museums is located on Emory's campus?  I think a lot of folks probably don't, but I would encourage you to check out the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory.  They have collections of classical, ancient Egyptian, near Eastern, ancient American, African and Asian art, and works on paper from the Renaissance to the present day.

They actually have a new exhibition opening this Saturday, Aug. 15 called "Old Master Highlights of the Works on Paper Collection."  Probably the most well known artist featured in the exhibit is Albrecht Durer. (Anyone remember "The Praying Hands"?)

Admission is only $7 and they're open on weekends.  If you go, park in visitor parking in the Fishburne or Peavine decks because they're closest.  Enjoy! 

For those of you who might be wondering where you can go in Atlanta this weekend to find one-of-a-kind art pieces, here's a list of some outdoor markets that will let you explore just what the local arts and crafts scene has to offer.  These markets are scattered throughout the city, and most are open on Saturday and Sunday, so click here for a full listing and schedule.

- Decatur Market and Gallery
- Atlantic Station Friday Night Art Market & Art & Antique Market (Sat. and Sun.)
- Virginia Highland Market
- Sweet Apple Village Market
- Market at Pemberton Place (Right outside of the World of Coca-Cola)

Hope you're able to check one out, and happy hunting!

The 21st annual National Black Arts Festival kicks off an exciting weekend today with a jam-packed schedule of events at the Woodruff Arts Center.  Music, theatre, kids programs, artist markets - there really is something for everyone, so check it out!  Many of the events are free, so it's a great option for entertainment on a tight budget too.  Click here for a full schedule of events (both at the Woodruff and at other venues around town).

Here's a quick breakdown of what's happening at the Woodruff:

Music
- National Black Arts Festival Mainstage Concerts
- A tribute to Nina Simone at Symphony Hall  

Theatre
- "Mirandy and the Brother Wind" at 14th St. Playhouse (Theatre)
- "The Night Writers" at Alliance Theatre's Hertz Stage (Theatre)

Kid's Programs
- Growing the Dream at the 2009 Children's Education Village - featuring a child-sized replica of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s boyhood home
- Family Film Fest - Part of the Pan African Film Festival (see below)

Visual Arts
- Interational Marketplace - crafts and arts-inspired merchandise for sale

Film & Literature
- Pan African Film Festival - featuring films created by filmmakers of color throughout African and the African Diaspora
- Literary Salon - featuring author talks, panel discussions and book signings