South Kitchen + Bar (via Facebook)

Not only is Big Family Cafe, in Homewood Village, still open, despite being one of Athens' best-kept secrets, but it's recently expanded its hours to offer dinner until 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It also now serves bottled beer, sangria and mimosas. Woop!

South Kitchen + Bar, in the Georgian, downtown, is also adding hours, though in the other direction, instituting lunch as of Aug. 11 (Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.) with options like a fried green tomato BLT, a BBQ chicken sandwich, a cheeseburger, a grilled veggie sandwich, soups and salads. It's also adding Wednesday night "Date Nights," where you get an appetizer, two salads, two entrees and a bottle of wine for $40.

Heirloom Cafe is hosting a "Back to School Bash" on Aug. 19 from 6–9 p.m. with Eventide Brewing from Grant Park (music, beer, no reservations required) and two percentage nights: one on Aug. 21 called Dine Out for Kids (10 percent of sales to Family Connections-Communities In Schools) and one on Aug. 28 (10 percent of sales to Jan Kozak's campaign for Dancing With the Athens Stars/Project Safe).

The Branded Butcher is hosting the next Athens Chefs Dinner on Aug. 18 at 6 p.m., focusing on offal. Chefs from Seabear, The World Famous, 5 & 10, Heirloom Cafe, Cinco y Diez, home.made and the Rooftop at the Georgia Theater will be cooking organ meats, etc. For $75 per person, you get seven courses with booze, and that amount covers tax and tip. For reservations, call 706-850-5152 or email [email protected].

Mama Bird's Granola and Kitchen, in the 909 Broad building, is hosting a free wine and food tasting Aug. 19 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The market also recently added tamales, both vegan and non-, at $1.25 each.