Last week  I talked about some upcoming holiday cooking classes. If you'd rather let someone else get messy in the kitchen, perhaps you'll be interested in ordering your Thanksgiving feast from one of these local restaurants instead.

Village Tavern Thanksgiving and Christmas Menu To Go
$125 serves four - $250 serves eight
Includes: Clam Chowder, Choice of Roast Turkey Breast or Honey Glazed Spiral Ham, Gravy, Corn Bread Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potato Soufflé, Cranberry Orange Relish, Choice of Pecan, Pumpkin or Apple Pie
Thanksgiving orders must be submitted by Monday, Nov. 23 and picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Christmas orders must be submitted by Monday, Dec. 21 and picked on up Wednesday, Dec. 24 before 3 p.m. Orders can be placed by calling 770.777.6490.

Holidays from Alon's
Alon's offers a variety of holiday catering options with all the classics plus new-school favorites like Turducken. Locations in Virginia-Highlands and Dunwoody.

Star Provisions

Fresh, free-range, organic turkeys are available by the pound and can be purchased ready to cook or already prepared. Star Provisions also offers several delicious complements such as Yukon Gold Potato Puree, Sage and Apple Dressing, Sweet Potato Puree with Marshmallows, Green Beans with Wild Mushroom Cream and Fried Shallots, Braised Local Collard Greens with House Cured Hams and Thyme-Onion Rolls. For a sweet treat, Star Provisions also offers holiday cupcakes, traditional pies and specialty dessert items.

Call 404.365.0410 ext. 131 to place a Thanksgiving order. Thanksgiving orders must be placed by Saturday, November 21 at 5 p.m. Items will be available for pick-up on Wednesday, November 25, and must be picked up by 6 p.m. that day.

The Mercantile
Want to make your own turkey but let someone else worry about the details? The Mercantile has you covered. You can't get a bird to-go, but you can get delicious sides like stuffing, mashed potatoes and squash and apple soup. Don't forget to finish off the night with yummy pies or decadent chocolate cake. The last day for pre-order is Saturday, November 21, 8:00 p.m.. Call 404-378-0096 to order.

Need to brush up on your kitchen skills before guests start pouring in for the holidays? There are several Atlanta area cooking classes coming up that will help you create meals that shine this season.

11/6 - Stress Free Holiday Cocktail Party at Cook's Warehouse Midtown
Do-ahead stress-free ideas including Salted Toffee Almonds, Spicy-Sweet Walnuts, Chile Shrimp Bites, Andouille Sausage Puffs and more. You will also learn to make a couple of time saving party punches and a hot spiced cider that are real crowd pleasers. $45.

11/10 - Southern Favorites at Parish
Learn to make Pimento Cheese, Hickory "Smoked" Deviled Eggs and Curried Country Ham Salad. These fun southern dishes are sure to impress your out of town guests. Class includes a glass of bubbly. $40.

12/8 - Georgia Holiday Cheer at Parish
Make Million Dollar Eggnog, "Melted" Brie and Winter Fruits with Toasts, Creole Shrimp and Crab Dip. $40 for class and bubbly.

This Saturday, November 7, 2009, chili lovers will want to stop by Cabbagetown Chomp and Stomp. The outdoor festival has all the makings of a great fall afternoon - live music, an artists market and plenty of yummy chili to taste. Purchase a spoon and get there early - the best chili runs out quickly! Chili tasting starts at noon.

If you'd rather sip on something more refined, try the Decatur Wine Festival. From 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., stroll around Downtown Decatur and taste over 350 wines from all around the world. Tickets are $30 online and are also available at the Decatur Package Store at 1220 Clairmont Rd.

At 11:25 p.m. with 75% of precincts reporting, the City of Atlanta is anticipating a runoff in the mayoral race. Currently Mary Norwood has 46% of the vote and Kasim Reed has 37% of the vote. A contestant must have over 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff election.

Lisa Borders conceded just after 11 p.m., with only 14% of the vote at the time of this post.

The runoff election, if it happens, will be on December 1, 2009.

Don't forget to stop in to your local polling station and vote for our local elections, including Mayor of Atlanta, this Tuesday, November 3, 2009!

This weekend, October 30 - November 1, 2009, is the annual Atlanta Pride Festival. The celebration of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender lifestyles takes place in Piedmont Park throughout the weekend with music, an artists market, a Halloween party and more. The highlight of the weekend, for many, is Sunday afternoon's parade at 1 p.m.

With just days until Halloween, have you made your plans yet? Atlanta has many spooky, spectacular options for Halloween parties in 2009.

Busy with the kids on Saturday? Celebrate a day early at Fernbank with a special, Halloween-themed Martinis and Imax event. Costumes are encouraged at this adult event which features special cocktails like the Witches Brew. The Silver Scream Spook Show will be entertaining with their monstrous variety show and the movie of the week will be Beetlejuice in Imax.

Remember, you can get in the spirit all week long with haunted adventures at attractions like Netherworld Haunted House or Fright Fest at Six Flags!

Earlier this month, the Clayton County Commission voted to end C-tran, the county's bus service, this coming March. The bus service was run by MARTA and had about 2.1 million rides last year. The decision was met with much protest, as many Clayton Country residents use the service to commute to work each day. Riders are still hopeful that they can get the decision reversed before the March 31, 2010 end date.

The culprit was, as it always is, budget. An AJC study reveals that the county spends about $10 million per year to operate C-Tran, but only collects $2.5 million in revenue.

Clayton County will be conducting its own study to analyze the economic impact of shutting down the service. They are not anticipating finding results that will change the current decision, stating that the only game-changer at this point would be a source of non-county funding.

Need a little spice in your life? Head down to the first annual Virginia Highlands Chili Pepper Festival this Saturday, October 24. Local restaurants The Original El Taco, DBA Barbecue and Mali Thai & Sushi Bar will be there offering chili pepper-loaded foods.

For the real daredevils, there will be a chili pepper-eating contest. Expect live music all afternoon from Delta Moon, My Friend Ian's Band, El Scorcho and Shark Fighter. Cocktails and beer will be available to put out the flames.

The festival will take place at the intersection of North Highland and Amsterdam avenues in the heart of Virginia Highland from 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. this Saturday. Purchase tickets for $5 in advance or $10 at the gate. Tickets do not include the cost of food or alcohol. You must be 21 or older to enter and no dogs are allowed in the festival area.

This Friday, October 23, head to Sandy Springs for the annual Ghostly Gathering on Halloween event from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This Halloween event provides a safe, fun environment for children ages 2-12 to celebrate the season.

Activities provided throughout the night include:

• Halloween crafts
• Ghostly Games
• "Graveyard Stories" by Young Actors Ensemble of Sandy Springs
• Costume parade
• Freaky Food and Scary Sweets
• Famous Thriller Dance Performance by Atlanta Jazz Theater Dance Co.
• Cake Walk
• Fortune-telling
• Face painting
• Magic show
• Live music

Ghostly Gathering will take place on the Entertainment Lawn at Heritage Green, 6110 Bluestone Road, Sandy Springs. It is open to the public and appropriate for children ages 2-12. The cost is $5 per person; ages 2 and under are free. Tickets are sold at the gate on the night of the event. Heritage Sandy Springs Members get in free.