Feeling romantic? Rekindle the passion (or fire up a new flame) with a love story, a glass of wine and the luxurious Fox Theatre for a great midsummer date. The COCA-COLA SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL hosts a screening of ATONEMENT Saturday evening, June 8, at 7 p.m., preceded by a 5 p.m. wine tasting, a 1930’s-inspired sing-along organ performance and a vintage cartoon. Film tickets are $7 and wine tasting tickets are $10. 404-881-2100. www.foxtheatre.org.

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We know your shame. You long to walk amongst others who enjoy dressing up as Klingons as much as you do, to discuss “Heroes” and Harry Potter lore in a safe setting, to chat with comic book artists, authors, actors and filmmakers who share your interests. Well, cheer up—SCI-FI SUMMER CON is here for you. Enjoy gaming, film screenings, discussion panels and even live music, tonight through Sunday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marietta. For information on tickets and other information, visit www.sfscon.net.


PARTY FOR A CAUSE: Eat, drink and be the cause of merriment at the LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY BENEFIT at Five Seasons Brewing in Sandy Springs tonight at 7:30 p.m. A $20 wristband scores you unlimited rounds of local brews, in addition to tasty bites from the kitchen. The event includes a silent auction and a raffle to win a deluxe Braves ticket package. 404-255-5911. www.5seasonsbrewing.com.

COMEDY CAMPAIGN: Fans of radio and television talk-show host GLENN BECK, and especially subscribers to his magazine Fusion, are familiar with the commentator’s comedic side. The rest of us might be surprised to learn that Beck crisscrosses the country on a comedy tour each summer. His current tour focuses on (what else?) politics, promising nonpartisan insight. It comes tonight at 7:30 p.m. to the John A. Williams Theatre at the Cobb Energy Centre. Tickets range from $35-$90. 404-249-6400. www.cobbenergycentre.com.

A FAR CRY FROM HOTEL RWANDA: The High Museum kicks off its CLOSE UP—DON CHEADLE film festival tonight at 8 p.m. with a screening of “Talk to Me” at The Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Theatre. This film finds the Golden Globe Award-winning actor in the role of ’60s Washington, D.C. radio DJ “Petey” Greene, alongside Cedric the Entertainer and Vondie Curtis Hall. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for students. 404-733-5000. www.high.org.

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COCKTAILS FOR CHILDREN: Well, not in a literal sense, but having a drink tonight at the Q100 BENEFIT FOR THE CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA CHILDREN'S GARDEN could have some interesting side effects. “Bert Show” host Bert Weiss hosts a silent auction from 7-9 p.m., with goodies from George Clooney, Justin Timberlake, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky and Miley Cyrus up for grabs. Nibbles from Fritti are provided, and the entirety of the $12 admission fee (along with bar and auction proceeds) benefits special projects and programs for kids at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Cheers! 404-876-5859. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

DOWN-HOME DESIGN: We know what you’re thinking, and no, we’re not talking about deep-fried lawnmowers (like “Sweet Fried” at the Defoor Center) or explorations in taxidermy (think “Yes No Maybe So” by Marcus Kenney). The ultra-futuristic MADE IN GEORGIA exhibit opening tonight at the Museum of Design-Atlanta, showcases the present and future of Southern product design. The show runs through Oct. 18. A $5 donation is suggested. 404-521-9311. www.museumofdesign.org.

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A FEAST FOR THE SENSES: Got a yen to sip a dry-ice cocktail, savor wines from across the globe or win free round-trip tickets on Delta? Sample cuisine from top local restaurants at Taste of Atlanta’s CULINAIRE, a night of international flavors at the New World of Coca-Cola/ Participate in a silent auction including celebrity-designed and autographed platters to benefit the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames des d’Escoffier. A portion of the evening’s proceeds goes to the Hospitality Education Foundation of Georgia. For more information: www.tasteofatlanta.net/culinaire.

IN THE FLESH: Trust the author of “Choke,” “Fight Club” and “Haunted” to write a novel about an aging porn queen determined to go out with, er, a bang. CHUCK PALAHNIUK discusses his latest, “Snuff,” tonight at 7:15 p.m. at the Clarkston Campus of Georgia Perimeter Campus. (We know, we know, but trust us—it’s worth the drive.) All books are pre-autographed; only the first 150 attendees will be able to get their books personalized. No memorabilia will be signed. For other signing rules, visit www.chuckpalahniuk.net. 404-370-8450, ext. 225. www.georgiacenterforthebook.org.

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The ever-quirky Plaza Theatre tweaks the traditional dinner-and-a-movie template with “Art Opening and a Movie,” featuring WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY alongside THE ART OF LAEL PASTORE tonight at 8 p.m. The glittery, over-the-top works by this local artist probably make more sense when paired up with snozzberries. Who are we to judge? Tickets to the sugar-coated affair are $7.50 for adults, $6 for students. 404-873-1939. www.plazaatlanta.com.

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There’s never a shortage of quality comedy in Atlanta, but this week brings two marquis comics worth noting. “Saturday Night Live” and “Uptown Comedy Club” vet JIM BREUER rolls into the Funny Farm from Thursday, June 5 through Sunday, June 8. Known for blending comedy and heavy metal (backed by a full band), the man behind SNL’s famous Goat Boy delivers a manic blend of family-man observations and hard-rock fanaticism. Tickets are $25. For show schedules and other information, call 770-817-4242 or visit www.funnyfarmcomedyclub.com.

Funny lady MARGARET CHO also hits town Friday, as her “Beautiful Tour” stops at the Tabernacle for an 8 p.m. show to tackle issues of image and beauty. As if Cho’s trademark biting wit and her inclination to shove controversy into the spotlight weren’t enough, YouTube favorite Liam Sullivan (of “OMG, Shoes” fame) also appears. Tickets range from $28.50 to $45.50—if you can find them; the show is sold out. 404-249-6400. www.livenation.com.

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Time to get out the picnic blanket and bug spray—Park Tavern’s UNPLUGGED IN THE PARK is back again for a sixth season, kicking off the first night of the free concert series with musicians SHANNON MCNALLY AND KEN WILL MORTON tonight at 7 p.m. (Should it rain, don’t pack it in—Park Tavern’s $1 drafts are a fantastic backup plan.) 404-249-0001. www.parktavern.com. (Full article and comments)

Come on in, the water’s fine—as long as you don’t mind a few sharp teeth. Catch Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster JAWS at Screen on the Green tonight at Centennial Olympic Park. The series, which continues on Thursdays through June 26, was moved from Piedmont Park due to the drought. The event begins at 6 p.m., with the movie to start around sunset. Admission is free. No alcoholic beverages may be taken into the park. www.peachtreetv.com/community.

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Already seen “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and hankering for more archaeological derring-do? How about the next best thing—a chat with fantasy and action-adventure novelist JAMES ROLLINS, author of the official novelization of the film? Rollins, known for such thrillers as “Black Order” and “The Judas Strain,” discusses and signs the “Crystal Skull” adaptation at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Wordsmiths Books in Decatur. 404-378-7166. www.wordsmithsbooks.com.

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Writer RICK BRAGG (“All Over But the Shoutin’,” “Ava’s Man”) hits town tonight to discuss his latest memoir, “The Prince of Frogtown,” about Bragg’s relationships with his father and, later, with his 10-year-old stepson. 7 p.m. at the Carter Library. Admission is $10 or free with the purchase of the book ($24) from A Cappella books. 404-681-5123. www.acappellabooks.com.

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