ATLRetro

Monday, July 1

The Plaza Theatre launches its 50 Years of Bond monthlong series with Sean Connery in DR. NO (1962). Swing back to the golden age of jazz at Café 290 every first and third Monday of the month for Big Band Night with Joe Gransden and his amazing 16-piece orchestra. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam featuring blues and southern soul singer Lola Gulley. Enjoy your BBQ with a side of Pead Boy & the Pork Bellies at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Tuesday, July 2

The Plaza Theatre continues its 50 Years of Bond monthlong series with Sean Connery in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963). Hey Kittens! New Orleans Jon is hosting a Ladies Night & Burly Blitz at Atlantic Seafood Co., in Alpharetta. On the menu are $5 sangria, cocktail specials, two ceviche specials and live music by George Martini (6:30-8:30). Cyndi Lauper just wants to have fun, performing every song off her SHE’S SO UNUSUAL (1983) album at Symphony Hall. The Georgia Crackers hillbilly it up ’20s style at Steve’s Live Music. JAWS (1975) swims into Northlake Festival Movie Tavern,  as the June retro cinema classic series of Classic Summer Blockbusters continues! Learn to swing dance or show off your moves at Gatsby’s Weekly Swing Dance Night w/ DJ Alan White; doors at 6 p.m./lessons start at 8 p.m. Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations during Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern. Grab your horn and head over to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session. Blues it down with Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers at Northside Tavern. J.T. Speed brings the blues to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Steve’s Live Music in Sandy Springs hosts a weekly Bluegrass & Hootenanny Jam led by Jason Koornick & Hank Weisman. Ursula Undress teaches Beginner’s Burlesque at Studio Burlesque at 8:30 p.m

Wednesday, July 3

The Plaza Theatre continues its 50 Years of Bond monthlong series with Sean Connery in GOLDFINGER (1964). Black Juju channels Alice Cooper Shane Morton-style with The Pinups and the Southeast’s premiere Doors tribute band  When You’re Strange at Smith’s Olde Bar. Get schooled by two of Atlanta’s burlesque finest, last week’s Kool Kat Katherine Lashe or Talloolah Love in Beginning Burlesque classes at Studio Burlesque. Old enough to feel Retro? It’s Ladies Night at Johnny’s Hideaway which plays hits from Sinatra to Madonna for a generally mature crowd. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck brings the Piedmont blues to Northside Tavern, and The Hollidays deliver some soul to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Greet the day  with an 11:30 a.m. matinee  of JAWS (1975) at  Northlake Festival Movie Tavern’s Retro Cinema series this week!

Tongo Hiti.

Thursday, July 4, Independence Day

Nothing’s more Retro than fireworks, right?! See them explode at Lenox Square, Centennial Olympic Park, Six Flags Over Georgia, Stone Mountain Park Lasershow, Mall of Georgia, Decatur Courthouse Square and more. Fireworks may be exploding across Atlanta, but The Plaza Theatre continues its 50 Years of Bond monthlong series with Sean Connery in the explosive THUNDERBALL (1964). Relax with a cocktail while listening to the groovy island sounds of Tongo Hiti, featuring Big Mike Geier, the lovely Dames Aflame Hula brigade at vintage tiki bar, Trader Vic’s. Go to Northside Tavern to hear the classic 50s Chicago-style blues of The Breeze Kings. Get on over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack to hear the honkytonkin’ blues of  Chickenshack. It’s a special patriotic 80s/90s Retro Video Night with free drinks ’til 10 at The Shelter.  Red Light Cafe‘s weekly Bluegrass Thursday takes the week off.  Studio Burlesque is closed July 4-7, but Beginning Burlesque with Ursula Undress resumes Thursday July 11 at 6:30 p.m. And it’s your last chance to freak out to JAWS (1975) at Northlake Festival Movie Tavern!

Friday, July 5

The Fireworks may be over but Monstrosity Championship Wrestling is back at The Famous Pub culminating in a Great American Monster Mash battle royal to determine the number one contender to Phantom’s MCW Championship. The festivities also include a live performance by the Casket Creatures, celebrating the release of their new CD, SEX, BLOOD AND ROCK N ROLL. Be sure to read our Kool Kat of the Week interview with the Casket Creatures. The Plaza Theatre continues its 50 Years of Bond monthlong series with Sean Connery in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967). Delta Moon brings blues, rock and roots to an early 7:30 show at Eddie’s Attic, followed by funk and soul from Mike Hicks and Jason Eskridge at 10. During Matthew Kaminski’s Latin Boogaloo, the Atlanta Braves‘ organist fuses the worlds of salsa, funk, R&B, and jazz to get you groovin’ under the dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. John Sosebee delivers down and dirty juke joint blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Lola Gulley brings the blues and Southern soul to Northside Tavern and Empress of the Blues Sandra Hall makes you bow down to the blues at Blind Willie’s.

Saturday, July 6

Live your life Stranger Than Fiction at the latest solo art opening of monsterific skateboard and punk rock art by Urbnpop’s Chris Hamer, one certified Kool Kat well known also for his eclectic comics work, at Rev Coffee in Smyrna. There’ll also be punk rock by Rob Huddleston (Ann Beretta/Foundation). The Plaza Theatre continues its 50 Years of Bond monthlong series as Agent 007 George Lazenby marries the gorgeous Diana Rigg in ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1969). Be sure to check out our Retro Review to see why this Bond may be the best!  Annie Selleck & The Hot Club of Nashville gypsy-jazz up Eddie’s Attic. Beverly “Guitar” Watkinsbrings the blues to Northside Tavern, and Luther “Houserocker” Johnson & The Shadows fire up the blues at Blind Willie’s. The Tone Prophets preach the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Frank Barham swings into Big Tex. And as always, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours of the night.

Sunday, July 7

Whether you like to get your super-hero on or check out the newest indies, the Atlanta Comic Convention is a swell way to spend a Sunday. Guests include some of Atlanta’s finest pop artists such as Urbnpop’s Chris Hamer and Jason Flowers, as well as actor Daniel Thomas May (Allen, THE WALKING DEAD); from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marriott Hotel-Century Center. DBA serves up a honktonk brunch at Big Tex starting at noon. Tag Team shakes up The Earl‘s anniversary dunch starting at 1 p.m. The Plaza Theatre continues its 50 Years of Bond monthlong series as Sean Connery returns for his last mission as 007 in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971). Jez Graham Trio jazzes up The Family Dog with Gwen Hughes. Cineprov  pokes fun at a to-be-determined Retro classic movie also at The Plaza Theater. Fatback Deluxe bring on the blues 40s-60s style at Fatt Matt’s  Rib Shack. Sample a spoonful of blues courtesy of Uncle Sugar at Northside Tavern.  

Ongoing

Johannes Vermeer’s GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING visits The High Museum of Art, along with other Dutch masterpieces, through Sept. 29.

EXTREME MAMMALS from sabertooth tiger skulls and wooly mammoth fur to contemporary creatures such as the duck-billed platypus invade Fernbank Museum of Natural History through August 18.

Learn about  a different side to the third American president and Constitution author in the Really Retro special exhibition Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: How the Word is Passed Down at the Atlanta History Center through July 7.

Every Tuesday night, Wednesday morning and Thursday night is Retro Cinema at Movie Tavern.