I spend far too much time thinking about and aquiring chocolate.  I love it more than wine or caffeine.  Hence I fancy myself a bit of an expert when it comes to the ultimate expression of all that is chocolate:  The Truffle.  I've sampled Atlanta's offerings over the years and have been less than overjoyed.  Then The Chocolate Bar appeared.  Whatever magic pastry chef Aaron Russell is performing back in the kitchen with his dark Tanzanian chocolate must be powerful. Each glossy, gorgeous truffle snaps with proper perfection giving way to hedonistic filings such as Southern Comfort and lime, Porto, peanut butter and of course my personal favorite...dark chocolate.  He changes up the menu daily, so I try not to get too attached to any one truffle, but it's hard.  Of course you can order from the extensive menu complete with sweet and savory options, but in a pinch, when you demand the best bite of chocolate in the ATL, just pop in and order a dozen to go.  The price can't be beat: $1.50 a piece.  Walk across the street and grab a bottle of Champagne from Sherlock's well-stocked selection and you're set.

Sherlocks Wine Merchant www.sherlocks.com, 180 W Ponce De Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030, 404-377-4005

Indeed, that scion of southern cooking (Linton Hopkins) is sharing even more of his talent with the rest of us in the newly minted Holeman and Finch. Adjacent to his wildly popular Restaurant Eugene, this public house is all about small bites savored in a relaxed, casual setting.  The crunchy gentleman is just about the most amazing ham sandwich with melted cheese I've ever eaten.  But that's just the beginning: consider the farm egg and pancetta carbonara, griddled hen of the woods mushrooms with polenta and parmesan or just the platter of house cured meats.  Wines are reasonably priced, desserts keep up the good work and I'm only thankful that this place is 15 minutes away or I'd be popping in far too often for my wee budget.

Tired of the same old same old?  In Atlanta there's no excuse for dining in the same restaurant twice.  Here''s my list of new and worth a try:  Cuerno, Peasant Bistro, Spice Market, Taverna Fiorentina, Little Alley, Cakes and Ale, Zaya, Parish, FAB's rooftop (okay, it's not new, but it's so sexy) and of course Holman and Finch Public House.  Any other suggestions are welcome!

Check out Camp Destiny (usually offered at Oglethorpe University).  A warm, welcoming camp run by the Atlanta Workshop Players.  The focus is on being yourself, gaining confidence in front of an audience and having fun with theatre....with a bit of juggling and stage combat thrown in.  My son loved his one-week session so much he wanted to go for the overnight one this year.  At the end of camp scouts visit and interview kids who may be interested acting opportunities that pay (read: television)  Regardless, this camp is a refreshing alternative to the endless array of sports camps. 

I know there is great debate about just exactly how old your daughter should be to own an American Girl Doll...believe me, my 4 year-old has a firm opinion about this.  But, whether or not you are in the market, you should check out these events this spring/summer:

Be Your Best Workshop---all about taking care or yourself

Gor For It---hour-long program dedicated to activities that build confidence in young girls

A Smart Girls Guide To Manners---Can I bring my son! 

These are beign offered at the North Point Mall store, call 888-777-0100 for info

Whenever we hike as a family water must be involved.  Not the kind you sip necessarily, but the kind you can swim, fish and explore in.  My kids love the water feature and it makes a fine carrot to dangle out there as a reward for finishing the hike without whining.  Hard Labor Creek State Park not only has water, they have a boat ramp, dock and the lovely 275 acre Rutledge Lake.  We hiked the two 1-mile loops (Brantley and Beaverpond).  The woods are quiet and lovely here, absent are the swarms of people vyiing to see everything. The gentle topography was easily manageable for our 4 year old.  Afterwards we drove to the lake nearby and fished a bit while the kids hunted for freshwater clams.  Expect a 45 minute drive from downtown Atlanta.  Stop in the Caboose for a sandwich and a Coke in historic (but very small) Rutledge.

Yesterday I spent the better part of my morning crouched on my hands and knees feverishly trying to locate my son’s AWOL hamster. Things are all the more urgent because my cat has been lurking around all morning looking hungry. As the dust bunnies spiraled in front of me, I began to have…a Date Night Flashback. Date Night is good for many things and one of them is to provide fond memories to recall during ridiculous crises such as my current Code Red Hamster Rescue Mission.

And suddenly there we are (my husband and I, not the hamster), on the patio at Ecco in Midtown, sipping a gorgeous Mediterranean wine that I’ve never heard of before while the breeze gently blows. We love this place with its casual elegance and tasteful menu of simple but delicious food. I’m a big fan of the unique wine selection (there are so many unusual varieties by the glass). Often just the cheese platter and a bite of dessert suffice for a meal. Afterwards we take a spin around Midtown to see what new buildings have popped up. Then it's time to stop for a night cap at the Four Seasons lounge (where I feel compelled to order a plate of the ahi tuna, crab cake and Kobe beef sliders to go with my yummy glass of Moillard (a Pinot Noir from France). We have a running list of romantic/chic last stops for Date Night: The Globe, the rooftop at F.A.B., Octane Coffee Bar and of course the Bar at Trois. But I always need more material, so feel free to share!

I'm sure I'll continue to find dozens more affordable Holiday happenings, but for now let me add this one as well: Theatre Works The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  At the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe Univeristy in Brookhaven.  Tickets are $7 with a maximum charge of $25 per family, now that's a deal.  Enjoy!

After making a few phone calls to various popular venues around town (which will remain unnamed) trying to find a fun family Christmas concert/show to attend I determined that there must be places in the ATL that offer traditional holiday programs at a palatable price point.  Surely I can take my sweet daughter to a showing of the Nutcracker for less than $50 a ticket?  I'm all about taking the family to see professional performances of the Messiah, A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker, but my kids are still young enough to get bored and restless.  We need less formal options. 

Alas, one appeared.  The Nutcracker in a Nutshell at Pace Academy. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 5 -10 and $5 for ages 2 -4.  The performance is a truncated version of the original with additional holiday songs and such at the end.  Sounds like a winner.  Dec. 8th, 3 - 5 pm. Call Dance South Studio at 404-321-4474 or visit info@dancesouth.net  Ho! Ho! Ho! You might also try Theatre in the Square in Marietta. This year's performance is Christmas at Sweet Apple, tickets range from $20 -$35, call 770-422-8369 or visit www.theatreinthesquare.com

If taking the kids out to dinner sounds as appealing as chewing aluminum foil, you have not taken them to the restaurant at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel. The menu is a round up of the usual suspects: pasta, steak and seafood…but the runway view is like none other in the ATL. The two story windows in the lounge look out over two of Hartsfield-Jackson’s main runways. So while you sip on your cosmopolitan, the kiddies can gawks at the jumbo jets in full roar headed for the skies. I must admit, I too spent most of the meal staring out the window, but I did enjoy every bite of shrimp meuniere and my beef carpaccio with a tickle of truffle oil.

Most visitors to Atlanta these days make tracks for the Georgia Aquarium. I highly recommend it, my children enthusiastically recommend it, but let’s talk about a few important details before you go.

Please go EARLY. The exhibits are gorgeous, stunning, and enormous. You’ll want lots of time to oodle the fishies and stand in awe as the whale sharks swim above your head. But then, if it’s crowded, you’ll be shuffled along and miss the photo op of a massive grouper staring eyeball to eyeball with your toddler. Going early ensures lots of space to move around at your pace. I might also warn parents about the "OMG, where is my child?" factor---when crowded, kids tend to sneak in front of the masses of adults for a better look…which means if you turn your back for second they can literally disappear. This is not good for any mommy. Going early ensures that there will NOT be huddled masses in front of every exhibit.

Some of the exhibits are dark and it makes keeping up with kids a challenge. Set rules and arrange a meeting point if you do get waylaid by a sea of people, believe me it’s like a Who concert in there sometimes. Fortunately all of the exhibits are spokes around the center of the aquarium. We pick a spot in near the touch tank (ultra cool marine petting zoo) to reconnoiter.

DO NOT MISS the leafy sea dragons and Japanese spider crabs…two of the most extraordinary (and just plain weird) sea creatures in the place. 

Eat at Ted’s Montana Grill afterwards---just a short hop across the park (you should walk) the food is a sure bet for any group (bison burgers, chicken and of course Edy’s Dreamsicle milkshakes).

While we are on the subject of parks, (Stone Mountain qualifying as one really BIG park), I'd like to take a minute to ramble on about my favorite free parks in the ATL. Of course I've always been a big fan of Centennial Olympic Park...complete with groovy fountain that kids can stroll through and all of those personalized bricks for some light reading while your kids get soaked.  Another sure bet is the city park just off Main St. in Lilburn. Outfitted with lots of climbing options and the usual goods: monkey bars, swings, the best feature here is the CSX line that runs through town. Seeing an actual train is a gamble, but when they do come along kids go bananas and run across the open grassy field to get a closer look (no need to worry about anyone getting in danger, the track is fenced off from the park.) 

We often hit the park at Chastain for a nice shaded play experience....and posh play equipment to boot. Naturally I also use this opportunity to swing by a few of my favorite Buckhead spots such as The Corner Bakery (at Piedmont and East Paces Rd), for a loaf of gorgeous hand crafted bread and a killer brownie, which can make the drive home so much more pleasant. I'm always game for a new place to play with my brood, if anyone has a best kept park secret out there, do share!

As if watching my yard shrivel and turning off all the cool fountains in town isn't enough, Stone Mountain has decided to cancel plans for the snow park this winter (if we even get a winter). Truly understandable, it was going to use over a million gallons of water, but honestly, I was so excited about giving my kids an honest-to-goodness (although slightly artificial) snow experience.  Three football fields of snow, tubing, snow angels...oh the fun of it all!  And only a few minutes from downtown...perfect!  Flying to Aspen for skiing isn't an option with three kids, so Stone Mountain's snow gig was big news in this house. I know my kids would be willing to skip showering for months in order to perserve water for the snow machine---any other ideas?

Regardless, I do appreciate the efforts of the folks at Stone Mountain to make the park a year-round destination. Our favorite activity in the fall is hiking around the lake and of course up the mountain.  The laser show is on our family calendar for next week (we've never been because the darn thing starts so late but now my kids are finally at a point where bedtime is fluid). Update to follow.