Taste of Atlanta – 80 restaurants, discount for readers
The variety and quality of food at the is stunning – seafood, ribs, fried chicken, desserts, vegies. One of Atlanta’s premier events, this year it was selected in an Oprah Magazine article as one of “Six Food Festivals That are Worth the Trip.”
Already a chance to sample cuisine from many of the city’s great restaurants, this year there is an expanded locavore section called “Farm to Festival” – where you can buy locally grown fruits, vegetables, 
Georgia-made cheese and other products, as well as try dishes from local sustainable restaurants. Chefs from some of Atlanta’s top-notch restaurants will demonstrate, including Jay Swift of , Linton Hopkins of , Antonio Abizanda of and many, many others. Some farm-to-restaurant farmers will have displays. Carla Hall of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” fame will be on the main cooking stage.
The event has moved to Technology Square and will take up eight blocks (.)
Cost: Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of, which gets you a wristband and 15 taste coupons. You can buy more coupons (and you’ll need them) at 
a rate of 10 for $10. Buy tickets at , by phone (877-725-8849) or in person at , , CD Warehouse, Decatur CD and Fantasyland Records. There’s a VIP package available for $65 which gets you 20 taste coupons and admission into the . Discount: Save $5 off the cost of your advance tickets by using promo code: USA. Offer valid for online or phone purchases only and expires Oct. 9. (Thanks to for the discount.)
Getting there: Parking will scarce within walking distance. You can take MARTA and exit at either North Avenue or Midtown, then walk towards Spring St. and Fifth St. The is the official hotel, and they have a $99 rate for the event. (Photos courtesy Taste of Atlanta, used with permission.)
