Summer deepens and children prepare to return to school. Hot and muggy, the weather is a topic of conversation-with few kind words attached. But it is summer and one of the most pleasurable ways to escape the heat is taking a moment to enjoy a dish of ice cream. Ice cream in the U.S. is $15 billion retail industry, with over 15 billion gallons of ice cream created per year. That translates to each American consuming 22 quarts of ice cream a year.
Saturday, July 25
This weekend, the cool glory of ice cream will be celebrated at the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival on Saturday, July 25, in Piedmont Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. But it's not all about indulgence in the sweet treat. In addition to vendors selling artisan-crafted ice creams and national favorites, the festival also offers music, health tips, yoga classes, and demonstrations of Falun Dafa, Chinese exercises. There's also an ice cream eating competition, sponsored by Bruster's Real Ice Cream, beginning at 3 p.m.
Admission is free.
The weeklong BB&T Atlanta Open, an ATP World Tour 250 event and Atlanta's only professional tennis tournament, opens Saturday, July 25, with a concert at 9 p.m. featuring the Commodores at Atlantic Station, 1380 Atlantic Drive Northwest, Atlanta. The tournament runs through Aug. 2, and features men's top world single and double tennis players, including returning champion John Isner and the 2014 US Open Men's Doubles Champions, Mike and Bob Bryan. There will also be an exhibition match with Andy Roddick, a free post-match concert Wednesday night, and fireworks follow Friday night's match. Tickets start as low as $15. For more information, visit the event website at http://www.bbtatlantaopen.com/.
"Home," a Dreamworks animated movie, will be featured at the Georgia Aquarium's "Dive In Movie," Saturday, July 25, 222 Baker St. NW, Atlanta. The film is shown under the stars on the rooftop of the parking deck, with family-oriented activities and character appearances beginning at 8 p.m. Admission is included in the cost of the aquarium's "Total Ticket," $35.95 for adults, 13-64; $29.95 for children, 3-12; and $31.95 for seniors, 65 and older. RSVPs are required and space is limited. For further information or to purchase tickets, visit the aquarium web site at http://www.georgiaaquarium.org.
The 8th Annual Summer Splash at the Chattahoochee River will be held Saturday, July 25 at the Chattahoochee River Morgan Falls Dam, 200 Morgan Falls Rd., Sandy Springs. Sponsored by the Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism board, the National Park Service and the City of Sandy Springs, the event takes place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with boats launching between 8:30 a.m. and noon. Guests can bring their own kayak, canoe or raft, or rent one from a local outfitter. No paddle boats or tubes allowed. Following the float, there will be food, music, kid's activities, wildlife programs, exhibitors and more at Powers Island. For more information and to register, visit the web site at http://www.visitsandysprings.org/summer-splash-registration/.
For the sixth year in a row, Atlanta's longest-running Zombie Pub Crawl returns to the Virginia Highlands at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 25. Hosted by Diesel Filling Station, 870 North Highland Ave NE, Atlanta, the crawl features tents where participants can have their make-up done, costume costumes, and zombie-inspired drinks. General Admission is $30; VIP admission is $45; and drink tickets-one shot per pub-are $20. To purchase tickets or for more information, http://www.zombiecrawlatlanta.com/
