Give some and then start the weekend fun

When you take your child shopping for school supplies, why not set an exemplary example, do a generous deed, and show a little love, all at the same time? Through its Backpacks For Kids initiative, Vinings Church is collecting school supplies for families who are struggling to provide them for their kids, in our community and beyond. From 8 a.m. to noon every Friday in July, volunteers are on duty to collect school supplies from generous people like you. Please donate a new backpack filled with notebook paper, three-ring half-inch binder, 10-pack of pencils, pencil carrier and a plastic pencil sharpener. Many drop-off locations are scattered throughout our Smyrna-Vinings community, including some Chick-fil-A restaurants and elementary schools, so check the Vinings Church website for a convenient spot near you.

We have an awesome alfresco concert happening right in our own backyard Saturday night. Entrance price? Nada. Paying for parking? Negative. Bring a picnic, some cool beverages, and even the kids and settle down for a music-laden evening of Sol Junky at the Smyrna Market Village as part of Smyrna’s Concert Series. Beginning at 7 p.m., Sol Junky will break out their contagious rock and roll with “a northern Mississippi twist.” Accomplished musicians all, these guys know how to improvise, jam and rock. Slide guitar, banjo, and mandolin figure heavily into the Sol Junky sound, which features bluesy country and bluegrass in addition to rock. Having played with Drivin’ N Cryin’, Guster, Rehab, Rusted Root, Charlie Daniels Band, Sonia Leigh, Mother's Finest and many more, Sol Junky’s pedigree alone is informative of their talent. But check them out in person and they will seriously prove it. For more information call 770-434-6600 or see here.

Any excuse for a party! Those fun folks at take this saying to heart, always having something going on. This Saturday, Zucca’s invites you to celebrate the official opening of their re-created patio with a Patio Birthday Bash and fun for all. Live music? Check. Specials on frosty adult beverages? Check. Goldfish Races with the Red Stripe Girls? Check! Beginning at 5:30 p.m., guitarist and singer Chris Lozado will perform on the patio. At 10 p.m., the omnipresent DJ Suspense takes over as the “Club Zucca’ cranks into high gear. Until the wee hours enjoy $4 Red Stripes, $4 10-oz frozen drinks, $5 Long Island Iced Tea and dancing galore.

The newly opened and very popular Buckhead Pizza Company in the Galleria is kicking off its grand opening with lots of fun specials. All of July, you can head to Margaritaville for a bargain with $4 Herradura Tequila Margaritas and $5 Herradura Texas Margaritas. Making this deal even sweeter is the happy hour deal Buckhead Pizza offers three times a week. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, all appetizers are half-price from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. To us that sounds like an after-work invitation to unwind and chow down on calamari, artichoke dip, mussels, stone ground garlic shrimp and more. Offering much more variety than the pizza its name advertises, Buckhead Pizza Co turns out delicious flatbreads, fresh salads, seafood and pastas. On the weekends, delectable drink deals abound: $15 Corona and Corona Light Buckets on Fridays and $3 Sam Adams and Keep the Pint glass on Saturdays. Although this establishment doesn’t serve brunch, you won’t be disappointed with the carafes of Bloody Marys and Mimosas mixed up on Sundays, either. 

If you were to somehow be able to witness Billy Joel and Elton John battle it out in an epic struggle with pianos as weapons, who do you think would be the victor? Doubtless, both sides would have their diehard fanatics and it would be a close one. Perhaps not quite on par with the Piano Man and Sir Elton, but we bet the on Tuesday night will be some kind of crazy fun! From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Ty Reynolds and friends will humorously tickle the ivories into the stratosphere, taking all requests and no breaks. Yeah, that’s right. So go ahead, try to stump them by suggesting a choice tune by Celine Dion or “Bohemian Rhapsody.” We dare you.