Memorial Day in Atlanta 2011

Atlanta's best BBQ is only available on Monday nights during the summer at P?cheen. Memorial Day, coincidentally, just happens to fall on a Monday. (Lucky us!) Regardless of when you go, there is primo street-side seating right on Highland Avenue.

There has to be a pool mixed into your plans somehow, and not everyone can be a member of Ansley. To find the best public swimming hole in Atlanta, look no further than the new aquatic center at Piedmont Park. Even better, this location doubles as an option for picnicking.

Hey, the holiday is about paying respects, and the Oakland Cemetery is a beautiful plot of land that houses the likes of Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell and some 3,000 Confederate soldiers. Head across the street to Six Feet Under for a pint and bite afterwards.

For the family-Citysearcher that can't take a full-fledged vacation but still wants to get away, we give you Lake Lanier. There's a water park, a beach, golf courses, hiking, horseback riding, a spa and hotel accommodations--everything you need to fool your kids into thinking they're far from home.

Maybe it's the kid in us, but we're partial to popsicles in the summer months. While you can only find the King of Pops at random times around the corner of North and North Highland, you can always find fresh fruit pops at LottaFrutta. Grab a few and make a friend's day.

The artistic-city-that-could (hello, Decatur) hosts the 23rd annual Decatur Arts Festival Friday-Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. Outside of the expected artist markets, art walks, family-friendly exhibits and vendor food, harmonizing sisters Von Grey, perform on Saturday afternoon, among other musical guests. And yes, it's free.

It's proper to eat burgers over Memorial Day weekend, and thanks to the good timing patrol, Farm Burger just happens to be causing quite a stir among the foodies. You can get your grass fed burger topped with the likes of house-cured bacon (or bone marrow), and you can wash it down with a booze-laced milkshake. How awesomely American.

Nothing says summer like a day at the ol? ballpark. This year we have four opportunities to catch the Bravos over Memorial Day weekend. While they welcome the Reds for the first three, we like hitting the Ted on Monday to root `em on against the Padres.

For most of us, summer nights bring back memories of movie dates, playing outside, and playing with, um, others. Relive the good 'ol days at the drive-in, where you can bring in your own food and booze, and its game-on (in all regards).