He might be retiring from "Live! With Regis and Kelly," but don't expect him to just fade away. Regis Philbin will be in Atlanta just two days after his final appearance on that long-running talk show to talk about his memoir, "How I Got This Way." It's part of the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

FRIDAY
Holiday: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Lake Lanier as the Magical Nights of Lights spectacular gets going this weekend, for those who like to start their holiday activities a little early. The display happens nightly beginning tonight and running through Jan. 1

Dance, holiday: Ballethnic Dance Company’s “Urban Nutcracker” might be the earliest “Nutcracker” of the season, but it’s definitely the most Atlanta- centric. The annual production relocates “The Nutcracker” to Atlanta’s own Sweet Auburn Avenue in the 1940s. Performances takes place at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center for the Arts Nov. 18-20.

Comedy: Former “News …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Nov. 18-20 »

Staff photo

It’s almost that time of year again, when we deck the halls, light the candles and, in some places, drape miles and miles of lights in trees and work them into festive and flashy displays.

But who does it best? It might be a neighborhood or an area that goes all out for the Christmas season, competing to see who can shine the brightest; or it could be one of the professionally designed mega-watt displays that you’d swear can be seen from space. It’s all up to you, and it’s a great way to let us all know about those hidden gems that might not be familiar to everyone.

To some of us, it might seem a little early to be thinking about Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa (though many have probably started with the shopping and decorating already), but we’re starting now so we can have our list of winners just a few days after Thanksgiving.

Tell us about your favorite holiday light display and what makes it stand out.

Continue reading Best place to view a holiday light show »

Everybody loves Yukon Cornelius, the bearded prospector from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." See Yukon, Rudolph, Santa, Hermey and the rest of the gang at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Photo: Clay Walker / Center for Puppetry Arts

FRIDAY
Stage: The beloved Rankin-Bass cartoon “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” comes to life in this puppet-tastic version from Jon Ludwig at the Center for Puppetry Arts. The show continues through Dec. 31.

Stage: “Sex and the Second City” takes a look at relationships in the age of social networking. This production from the acclaimed Second City comedy theatre opens Nov. 11 and runs through Dec. 18 at the Alliance Theatre.

Stage: “The Super Villain Monologues” is a collection of the most powerful, beautiful, diabolical and stupid monologues in the history of masked villainy, as performed by humans and puppets through Dec. 3 at Dad’s Garage in Atlanta.

Stage: Theater Emory offers a new adaptation of Austen’s final novel …

Continue reading Weekend best bets: Nov. 11-13 »

It’s time to vote. Just click the vote button on the left and choose your favorite among the top nominees for best ribs in and around Atlanta.

Continue reading Best ribs »