Around Town

Museums & Exhibits

Look, it’s okay. If you’ve got three kids, and there’s no way you’re making it to “Jim’s” cookout on the Fourth of July, take the family down to Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta for Stars and Stripes Forever at noon on July 4. Kids celebrate the Fourth of July by making a patriotic picture frame full of stars and stripes. Simple, right? The museum is located at 275 Centennial Olympic Park.

The High Museum of Art presents its “Special Friday Jazz” in conjunction with NBAF. The event features Tyrone Jackson Quartet and Rio Negro on July 18 from 5pm to midnight. The High is located at 1280 Peachtree Street.

Zoo Atlanta presents Family NightCrawler on July 19 from 6pm to 10:30am the next morning, The exhibition allows visitors to experience the Ford African Rain Forest at night while you learn all about rainforests and the monkeys and apes that live in those habitats. Wake up the next morning to a guided tour and more behind-the-scenes fun. Visit zooatlanta.org or call 404-624-WILD for more information and details.

Sporting Event

Monster trucks are cool. Here come some your way. Bigfoot, War Wizard and Gunslinger visit Atlanta Motor Speedway for some good ol’ fashioned destruction on July 6 in the Major League of Monster Trucks. Go to atlantamotorspeedway.com or call 770-946-4211.

Theatre, Film & Performing Arts

The Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fox Theatre will still be going strong through August. Don’t miss a pair of quality shows this month. Screening on July 13 at 2pm will be “Enchanted” with Dr. McSteamy and Amy Adams. We like how every song was nominated for an Oscar because, well, not many movies come out with songs. Later that night, the classic “Ben Hur” with Charlton Heston at 7pm.  For ticket information, go to foxtheatre.org.

Star Bar in Little Five Points will have a free weekend of music to celebrate our sweet, sweet American freedom. On Friday (July 4), the bar will host The Booze, Gentleman Jesse & his Men, The Hiss, El Capitan & thee Scallywags and Club Awesome. On Saturday (July 5), Gringo Star, Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause, Ocha La Rocha, Pink Police, All the Saints and Brass Castle. Shows start at 8pm.

We think Kenny Chesney has run out of high school and dropping-out-of-college songs. It’s time for his beach period. Chesney presents his Poets & Pirates Tour 2008 on July 13 at Turner Field. The tour will feature Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Sammy Hagar, LeAnn Rimes and Gary Allan. Shiftwork tickets are only $20 on ticketmaster.com.

Don’t miss the SunTrust Concerts in the Garden this month at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. On July 11, John Hiatt and the Ageless Beauties will play. Jerry Jeff Walker and The Train Wrecks play July 18, while Lucinda Williams will perform on July 25. All shows are on Fridays at 8pm. Gates open at 7pm. For more information, visit concertsinthegarden.org.

The never-ending supply of free, summer, outdoor movies continues in July. Flicks on Fifth will show “Hairspray” (July 9), “Superbad” (July 16) and “21” (July 23) this month. The screenings take place at nightfall at 5th street between Spring and Williams Street. All shows and popcorn are free.

Improv is always a good thing in our house. Check out “FWD:” at Dad’s Garage opening on July 11. It’s an offbeat satire with puppets. Enjoy. Call 404-523-3141 or visit dadsgarage.com for additional info.

Look, you may not care about this, but you should. Something epic happens on July 18. “The Dark Knight” hits theaters and IMAX that day. We’ll be coming out of our parent’s basement to see it. You should, too. You never know. Maybe Heath Ledger will have a “Brokeback” moment with Maggie Gyllenhaal like he did her brother. Too soon?

“The Amen Corner” opens at the Balzer Theatre on July 16. The drama tells the story of Sister Margaret Alexander and her fight to keep a church united. The theatre is located at 84 Luckie Street. Call 678-528-1500 for more information.

Special Events

If you can survive the heat, the Peachtree Road Race kicks off on July 4 at 7:30am. It’s a 10-kilometer road race, which according to the Atlanta Track Club is the world’s largest. Fun stat. Call 404-231-9064 for more info or visit atlantatrackclub.org.

Prepare yourself. Stock up on glitter and hotpants. Atlanta’s PRIDE is rolling in the Fourth of July weekend. Go support your gay brothers and sisters (or hide if you’re Republican) July 4-6. Due to dying grass at Piedmont Park, the festival has been moved to the Atlanta Civic Center parking lot. Visit atlantapride.org for more information and a list of concert details.

Here’s a good cause and a good night on the town. The Voices for Darfur Concert on July 19 will raise money sent directly to improve conditions in Darfur. The show starts at 7:30pm in the Event Loft of Underground Atlanta and will feature everything from Broadway ballads to pop hits. The Event Loft is located at 50 Upper Alabama Street Suite 007. Information about the concert can be found at savedarfur.org under “Campaigns.”

If you’re too good for simple Inside-the-Perimeter Fourth of July goodness, check out the eighth annual Mall of Georgia's Fabulous Fourth event.  The full schedule is expanded over two days. Activities start at 2pm on July 4 with free concerts in the Village Amphitheatre, continuing into the evening.  Children of all ages can enjoy the Kids' Zone area, which will include bouncy house inflatables, carnival games and other family activities (nominal fee may apply for some activities).  The day will culminate with a fireworks show and a post-fireworks movie, shown on the main screen at the Village Stage. The carnival games, inflatables and family activities will continue on July 5 from 10am-9pm.  The mall will also host a live musical performance from the band Stone Echo as part of its Summer Concert Series at 6:30pm in the Village Amphitheatre.  The Mall of Georgia is located at 3333 Buford Drive in Buford. Call 678-482-8788 for more information.

Here’s a good deal. Come by Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week July 21-27 for a taste of some of the city’s best and tastiest spots. Several restaurants will offer a three-course dinner for only $25 per person. For location and time information, go to atlantadowntown.com.

To Have Your Event Added To The Local Scene Email It To aroundtown@insiteatlanta.com

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