By Rosey Sumrall. If you’re in need of a good laugh, one comedy club is soon to be the most talked about comedy venue in Atlanta. In fact, at its previous location in the Warren City Club, it won the award for Best Comedy Show in Atlanta in 2008 by Atlanta Magazine. Comedy Gold is the name, and Sidelounge is the place. Every weekend you can see some of Atlanta’s best up and coming comedians, along with others from all over the country. Some of the regulars include Gilbert Lawland, Patton Smith, and Karen Hilton.

By Summer Stanley. Thieves’ final performance and CD release party was at Kavarna Coffee Shop in Oakhurst [editor: area in Atlanta, GA] on Friday, January 15, 2009. The all-girl group, comprised of Jessie Calmes on vocals and guitar, Meta Gary on violin and vocals, Rene Lambert on bass and mandolin, and Khalilah Karim on backup vocals and accordion have come a long way to develop their sound of lilting, poetic folk. Directly after the post-show cigarette break, I gathered the band for some giggle-ridden girl talk, where they recalled their worst show ever, performing with the legendary Desk Ark, as well as a possible comeback.

By Summer Stanley. Everybody knows you have to belt the blues. And when the lights grow dimmer, and the mood becomes softer, you have to croon them. Sue G. Wilkinson, along with her eight member band gets you high when you feel low, and when you’re low they get down with you.

A veteran musician, Sue G. Wilkinson tackles the keys at the Five Spot in a rousing performance, with a spunk equal to any barroom brawl. But the Five Spot is no saloon, and this band is far from dive-ey. Rather, they’re lively. When joined with the bass, guitar, drums, trumpet, saxophone, not to mention the diva-licious backup babes, The Sue G. Wilkinson Band is an experience in jumpin’ and jivin’.

By Rachael Rene. When hunger strikes in the late hours of the night, you have a few choices of places to eat at in Atlanta. At 3:00 a.m. your choices usually include: Waffle House, IHOP, and McDonalds. After a possibly long night, coming to these few places may not be your first choice. These choices may not be seen by everybody as very healthy, full of quality, and may not be the tastiest ones either. If only there was a more appealing options. Off Peachtree Road a unique restaurant by the name of R Thomas Deluxe Grill is present.

By Dee Corley. Eight O’clock on Sunday night, I sat with a group at The Punchline for my first time. It’s a small, comfortable place in a quaint little strip mall type setting, centered amongst a group of establishments that are specifically there for a fun night out. The neon sign above the door that portrays Groucho Marx is very welcoming and so fitting. The people who work there made us feel welcome from the time we walked in the door.

By Summer Stanley. Call me Ebeneezer Scrooge, but this particular holiday not even Mariah Carey’s Christmas album on loop was contagious enough for this grinch to catch the merry bug buzzing around the block. Vagina Jenkins, Atlanta’s premiere prima donna and Creative Loafing’s “Best Burlesque Dancer” finally launched me into the spirit of the season. The Big Freeze: A Holiday Spectacular, starring the Lady Miss Jenkins herself and local playwright Johnny Drago, is a blitz (bling+glitz) of local talent at the Eyedrum, the non-profit performance art space located just south of downtown.

By Rachael Rene. Start year 2010 with some great ideas for fun things to do in Atlanta. Ghosts of Atlanta Walking Tour, Hip Hop Jam Session at the Apache Café, free salsa lessons, live salsa and meringue music, Downtown Artswalk, Christian Finnegan at The Punchline, Dweezil Zappa at the Variety Playhouse, etc.

By Summer Stanley. Kudos to Author’s Apology, truly a band of bleeding hearts, for displaying good form and sweeping their opening act last Tuesday. Aside from the emo blend and sappy sound, the songs resemble more a prayer booth confession than an apology. Nevertheless, the boys deserve praise for their enthusiastic performance and their oft-expressed gratitude for sharing the stage with such esteemed acts as forgetters and Gentlemen Jesse and His Men.

Rachael Rene picks again the fun things to do next week – December 21th to 27th. Not only her picks are the funnest but she always managed to find those free entry to hours of live music deals, $5 bargains, etc. Don’t miss her suggestions every week. Hot Jam’s Swing Dance, Atomic Rockets and Psycho Devilles at The Red Light Café, The Soul Shakers at Blind Willie’s, Day Before Christmas Eve Jam at The Five Spot, Cavalia in Atlantic Station, Matzo Ball at Halo Lounge, Dan Mengini at The Laughing Skull Lounge.

By Rachael Rene. Established in 1939, The Plaza Theatre is the most sustained, continuously-operating independent theater in Atlanta. Though, in the 70s it was an x-rated adult cinema, that phase has ended. It is located on Ponce De Leon Avenue, and home to many film festivals throughout the year. The remodeled marquee alone has a lot of personality describing the theater originality and class. The Plaza shows a lot of independent films and classics, surely to make a memorable night. For a decade now, they have been presenting The Rocky Horror Picture show.