With tough economic times during a recession, shrinking wallet sizes obviously have an impact on our everyday lives and behavior. For many, that translates into less discretionary income to spend on those “expendable” things we hate to give up - concert tickets, movies, shopping trips, vacations, nights on the town and my personal weak point, dining out.

Luckily, one piece of advice for you who are watching your budget. Atlanta’s fully stocked dining scene offers more value-driven options than you can imagine. I’ve discovered, thanks to my favorite dining buddies I might note, that many of these establishments are the off the beaten path, more ethnic cuisine focused jems. Here’s my best of that will be sure to leave extra room (and no hunger) in your budget.

Those who have yet to venture to Buford Highway are missing a serious opportunity for delicious meals at unbelievably low prices. Two of my favorites showcase dim sum, the Chinese brunch tradition of seemingly never-ending carts of food served by the plate. Yes, many of your servers may not understand English perfectly but the experience of smelling the grub on the carts as they pass by and picking as many as you chose (or can finish) is unbeatable. I can honestly say I’ve never paid more than $12-$15 on a dim sum adventure here in Atlanta, perfect for groups. Oriental Pearl is a haven for families around the area and sure to be packed on Sunday for brunch. I’ve particularly enjoyed their seafood dishes, especially shrimp dumplings and soups. Canton House, a long-standing favorite, offers a more intimate setting with some of the most delicious pork buns and Chinese-style broccoli I’ve had. All in all, you can’t lose with these two establishments.

A little bit closer to the city but still on the Buford stretch of ethnic paradise, you can find some of Atlanta’s best Bangladeshi and Indian food at Panahar. The wait staff was in fantastic spirits over the course of our meal and loved throwing us for a loop with experimenting with different dishes. I was obsessed with the curry and tandoori dishes, plus got my garlic naan and condiment fix - all big and cheap enough to share and try multiple. Plus, unless rules have changed, the restaurant is ”bring your own” alcohol for a small cork charge. Another money saver if you’re in the area, Panahar features an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet Tuesday through Sunday, a great idea for a low-key brunch on the weekend.

My love of Latin food is exemplified in everything that is Havana Restaurant (technically the old sandwich shop but renamed when the old location burned down). This Cuban fast casual restaurant features all of my favorites: jumbo sized Cuban sandwiches, arroz con pollo, tamales, black bean soup and yes, probably the best plantains I’ve had in the city. An incredible amount of food for a under $10 can’t be beat.

Finally, if you’re feeling adventurous, the Clairmont/Briarcliff neighborhood has a number of Ethiopian restaurants that will fit any budget for money and taste purposes. The cuisine is packed with flavor and punch - served with no utensils with a spongy, wheat-like bread called injera that’s used as utensils (only ask for a fork if you dare!) to scoop up loads of salads, vegetarian condiments and beef/chicken/fish tibs (or curries and stews). Desta off Briarcliff has been one of the top ones that I’ve visited for everything from appetizers to main meals to desserts with a friendly staff who aims to educate clientele.

Overall, why avoid dining out when you can find places such as these where flavorful food is served in endless quantities at a fraction of the price? Hope to see you out and about finding your own budget-friendly treasures!

As Jonathan reiterates, it’s that wonderful time of year where the Spring weather reminds us exactly why we chose to live in Atlanta. The air is fresh, humidity is low and the sun is (finally) shining - of course, if you decide to forgo the pollen count.

I’ve decided to spend some time writing up this month’s top outdoor festivals to check out. What better excuse than to spend an April weekend in the open air?

Fri, 4/15 - Sun, 4/17: Dogwood Festival (http://www.dogwood.org/) takes place at Piedmont Park and is definitely the spring kick off in the area. Visitors can enjoy local arts and craft stands, food carts, live music and plenty of drink options with no admission. For those venturing to spend a little extra dough, the festival also offers an international wine tasting and other special entertainment events. I hear there’s even a disc tournament for everyone who has dogs. All in all, a great idea for a leisurely stroll with your friends, family or even by yourself to get some fresh air.

Fri, 4/15 - Sun, 4/17: Sweetwater 420 Fest (http://www.sweetwater420fest.com/) is one of those events that everyone must go to at least once (or multiple years in a row) when living in Atlanta. Our favorite local brewery puts on a weekend long festival full of live music and beer drinking around the notorious holiday in Candler Park. Admission is free unless you’re going to drink, which requires $5 for a wrist-band (plus, the cost of however many Sweetwater IPA, Blue and Georgia Browns you plan to consume). As with most of these festivals, delicious grub stands and artsy booths are available for browsing all day long. Plus, MARTA is just a short walk away, so no issue on trying to find parking in the area. Bring a blanket and pretend to be a “hippie” for a day - at least from Sweetwater’s perspective.

Sat, 4/30 - Sun 5/01: Inman Park Festival (http://inmanparkfestival.org) is a unique festival in one of Atlanta’s fastest growing neighborhoods. In addition to the usual browsing amongst vendors, attendees can view a dance festival, parades and even historic homes in the area. It’s a great idea for those who are unfamiliar with Inman Park or are just history buffs at heart! With the many Inman Park restaurants close by and open for business while the festival runs, I’d recommend snacking on a funnel cake but dining elsewhere if you can hold off your hunger.

Remember that Cinco de Mayo (and the ever-famous Cinco de Spiral) is just around the corner, so keep it on your calendar. In the meantime, Happy April to all!

Normally, it takes quite an effort to impress this beer festival afficionado. Living it Atlanta six or seven years, I’ve pretty much been there, done that for the vast majority of these April through October beer focused festivals.

So, when I say that the relatively new player Winter Beer Carnival is now officially on my top 3 list, I’d hope you trust my credibility. In only its second year standing, I hope to prove in the next few paragraphs exactly why this festival should be one of your favorites as well.

First of all, the concept - imagine a grown-up carnival with the same games (bowling, life-sized Operation, etc.), foods (did I smell Funnel Cake?), live music and yes, miniature rides (a small Snow Slide and Fun House) that you loved as a child, combined with an all-day drinking festival. Paradise much? The tents this year were spread out so you could wander around the premise while avoiding the majority of the crowds. Plus, games were well interspersed with the beer lines, making it a requirement to re-fill your mini tasting glass before playing. Oh and don’t forget about the sweet trinkets that you get for winning!

Secondly, the location and wide variety of drinks available are two key components to a great beer festival. This year’s location was much approved - moving to a parking lot by 8th and Spring in Midtown walking distance to the Midtown MARTA stop (instead of last year’s spot by Tech, harder to get to). Of course, it also helped that we had an unseasonably warm “Spring” day in February to add to the atmosphere. I was also very impressed by the variety of beers - even a few breweries as a beer connoisseur that I had never heard of. Also, for those who don’t enjoy suds, mixed liquor tastings were also available for consumption.

Finally, and most importantly, the crowd in attendance at this year’s event was unbeatable. You could tell from the moment you got in the long (but fast moving) line that this beer festival attracted a fun group. I’m sure the location and weather had a lot to do with the appeal but in general, meeting new and old faces made for a great few hours of outdoor drinking.

My complaints were few (mostly upset that the lines for beer didn’t have labels for what you were in line for and as always, the fact that tables started running out of drinks by the end) but all in all, highly recommend trying this beer festival next season to unleash your inner child. Cheers to drinking games, literally!