Joe’s on Juniper is a casual bar and restaurant located between 11th and 12th streets northeast.  Joe’s is just past Einsteins going south on Juniper (the only way you can go on this one way street).  Joe’s on Juniper is a very casual neighborhood bar and grill, serving brunch on the weekends and various events during the week, such as Trivia, Crazy B!tch Bingo (which is not for the easily offended – don’t bring your mom), daily drink specials, movies at dusk and 80′s night.  Restaurant seating is basically on the patio only.
The inside of Joe’s on Juniper is a dark, crowded bar with no seating other than at the bar.  This is not a trendy looking date spot, but more of an everyday neighborhood hang-out bar with great food and drinks.  Joe’s on Juniper is gay friendly, and the staff describes itself as “sassy”.

Located in Atlantic Station, in West Midtown, Atlanta, Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro restaurant has parking at meters and also in the large garage below Atlantic Station. CCB can be found near the center of Atlantic Station, on West District Avenue, across from the green, next to California Pizza Kitchen.  The restaurant provides casual family dining featuring cheesecake desserts and Louisiana Cajun style cooking.

Aja Asian Restaurant and bar is located in Buckhead, Atlanta area. The restaurant and bar is on the ground floor of the Alliance Center across from Phipps Plaza. A parking garage is located in the Monarch Center, which is next to the Alliance Center, accessed through the same drive, the Alliance Center Drive.  There is also complimentary valet parking at the front door.  Aja serves  Pan-Asian‎, Sushi‎, and Dim Sum ‎Asian food. The full bar has late night dancing and entertainment.

Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant is located at the first floor of building 1010 Midtown, on the corner of 11th Street NE and Crescent Avenue. Parking is available at several garages, lots and at street meters located within walking distance of Ra Sushi, as well as many other restaurants, bars and night clubs on this block.  Ra Sushi is at the end of the block, facing away from the busier area on Crescent Avenue.

Atlanta Nightlife restaurant reviews of One Midtown Kitchen, which is located near Piedmont Park, off from Monroe Avenue, between 10th Street and Piedmont in Midtown, Atlanta.

A group of girlfriends went for an upscale birthday celebration.  Here’s what one of them said about One Midtown Kitchen.  The atmosphere and the food was nice.  Its an impressive looking place to take a date.  I liked the food, but other people did not.  However they were trying weird things like chocolate pasta.

Atlanta Nightlife: Restaurant Review: Authentic Mexican food, Atlanta Mexican Restaurant at a casual, festive restaurant just northwest of Midtown, in what is referred to as West Midtown.

This restaurant is one of those “Atlanta best kept secrets” types of places… an out of the way little family run restaurant with outstanding food.  We went on a sunny day in February.  It was very busy, and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table.  You can wait for your table inside if there are any seats near the entrance, at the bar or in nice weather, outside on the front patio.

The Bar at Nuevo Laredo Cantina, Atlanta, Georgia

With no available tables, there were people waiting at the bar mixed in with some who were eating or just drinking at the bar.  The bar was pretty much at capacity at that time, with several people deep before you can reach the bar itself.  We each tried a margarita while waiting.  The margaritas were made from sweet and sour mix, a little heavy on the mix. So the drinks are nothing special, but the food definitely is.  This would not be an Atlanta bar where you would go out at night, but might be an interesting happy hour if you work in the neighborhood.

We enjoyed our drinks outside on the patio, where things were a little less crowded and we were able to find a couple open seats.

The Food at Nuevo Laredo Cantina, Atlanta Restaurant

The chimichanga was great.  It looked and smelled so good, I just started eating before remembering to take a photo.  Deep fried just a touch to give it the crispy outside.  Served with beans, rice and and a little tortilla with diced peppers, tomatoes and onions in it. The beans have that slightly beefy or fatty flavor you get in authentic cooked Mexican food.  I can’t say much for presentation, but the food is cooked perfectly, served hot and fresh, and spot on authentic Mexican.

Ambiance at Nuevo Laredo Cantina, Mexican Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia

Looking around the restaurant, you notice the colorful Mexican decorations and personal framed photographs that give the place a very personal, family owned feeling.  The restaurant is decorated the way someone might decorate their basement recreation room. Checkered oil cloth (similar to vinyl) table clothes, and painted wood chairs add to the impression of a Mexican diner. Obviously not professionally decorated, you feel like you are in someone’s home away from home.

Live jazz in the Robinson Atrium at the Atlanta High Museum of Art every 3rd Friday of the month… what to expect?

It’s a top notch live jazz performance, played to a well dressed 30 and up crowd.  Despite the two bars serving a short range of mixed drinks, beer and wine, it is a very well behaved atmosphere.  It’s still an art museum, and not a jazz night club.  However, I will say this.  If you have been curious to check out the High Museum of Art, but timid about visiting an uptight, sober museum for fun, the live music and slight buzz helps create a good mood for browsing artwork.

I went for the July, 2010 Friday Night Jazz.  Here’s some background about the jazz band playing that night. Credit for jazz musicians background goes to this Atlanta Meetup group posting.  I took the images and movie clip with my Droid phone.

Melvin Jones: Melvin began his professional musical journey in 1998 while enrolled at Morehouse College when he made an appearance on TLC’s triple-platinum album Fanmail. That same year Melvin, together with Kevin Johnson and Broderick Santiago, formed Rio Negro, one of the most popular Latin Jazz ensembles in the Southeast. Earning a great deal of success and popularity, the ensemble recorded three albums while also touring nationally. Since the creation of Rio Negro, this Memphis, Tennessee, native has worked with numerous musical icons including Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Erykah Badu, Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Michael McDonald, Bill Cosby, and British pop sensation Omar, to name a few.

I took this video of the band and people attending to give you an idea of the mood, venue, what to wear, one of the bars and maybe even the music, if you can make it out.

Melvin graduated with honors from Atlanta’s Morehouse College in 2001 and, in the fall of 2004, slowed the pace of his performance career to serve as the Interim Director of Bands and Instrumental Studies for his alma mater. Having joined the faculty at age 24, “Mr. Jones” officially became the youngest collegiate band director in the college’s history (and in the nation at that time). The Morehouse Band Program experienced such phenomenal growth under Melvin’s leadership that his temporary appointment grew into a more permanent situation that spanned nearly six years.

Early 2010 signaled the beginning of a new chapter in Melvin’s career, as he resigned from his position at Morehouse to resume his performance endeavors full-time. This refocusing was marked by the opportunity to tour with Tyler Perry’s company on his latest production, Madea’s Big Happy Family, which is slated to run through the end of spring 2011. Currently, Melvin is preparing to record his long-delayed solo project. He continues to pursue a rigorous performance schedule and presents lectures and clinics across the country. He sits on the board of directors for the Atlanta Jazz Society and occasionally serves as a panelist for the Fulton County Council of the Arts.

Georgia Aquarium, in downtown Atlanta, boasted as the biggest aquarium in the world, this summer tries to make fish watching cooler with the Jazz Journey.

During the daytime, as far as entertainment goes, this one’s pretty much for the kids.  Sure it’s one hell of a fish tank, though not a huge thrill.  Though, it may make a cute place for a wholesome date.  Especially if you want to appeal to maternal instincts.  You’ll see just as many kids as you do fish.  The “Finding Nemo” wanna-be mascot also makes a questionable first impression, but the kids don’t know the difference.

So does the Jazz Journey transform the Georgia Aquarium into an exciting experience for adults?

Jazz at Georgia Aquarium First Hand Experience

The difference is there are no kids to trip over.  So you can more quickly go through the exhibits, without the crowds.  I guess if you really like jazz and really like looking at the fish, its a must see.  The exhibits are kind of cool to see.  Otherwise, its not really a jazz club experience that you may be hoping to find.  We were overdressed.

When we went, there was the token lone dancer burning up the floor, but unlike most clubs, the rest of the crowd doesn’t shelter him from view when a good song comes on, or when the night gets going.  Its just a little awkward… and stays that way.

Atlanta Georgia Aquarium Discount Tickets and Coupons

There are a couple places to get discounts for the Georgia Aquarium.  Regular price is $26.  We got a discount ticket for the Georgia Aquarium from a local Atlanta meetup group.  Another place you can try is RetailMeNot Georgia Aquarium.  If don’t need to go right this second, you can follow them on Twitter for Georgia Aquarium coupon codes or get discount tickets for Georgia Aquarium by becoming a facebook fan.

Atlanta Georgia Aquarium Reviews

What did you think of the Jazz at the Georgia Aquarium?  How did you get a discount?