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Affairs to Remember has moved to an elegant midtown location.

Affairs to Remember. The catering company's first event was a bar mitzvah. Now, 30 years later, the two-person company consisting of founders Ron Lazarus and Scott Ardolino has grown to a staff of 50 that increases to several hundred during peak seasons. Gladly handling some 25 events a week, the company is not just about catering; its services also include dcor, lighting and tenting. To celebrate its 30 successful years and accommodate its growth, the company recently moved into swanky new digs in midtown. The 23,000-square-foot facility contains a state-of-the-art kitchen, sales offices and preview rooms sure to make potential clients feel their event is in capable hands. A recent preview breakfast at the new location on DeFoor Hills Road was a testament as to why Affairs has been in business for 30 years — the food, including deli trays, smoked salmon and bagels, and French toast martinis was scrumptious, and the staff was welcoming and accommodating. The kitchen was immaculate despite the flurry of activity. To mark the event, the company buried a time capsule including menus from 1977, 1992 and this year. The menu from 1977 included the likes of franks in a blanket, Miss Yetta's chopped liver and cubed cheese trees. The 1992 menu included mushroom caps with Oriental spinach (the owners note that in 1992 they called it "Asian" spinach because of the political correctness of that time), wild herb chicken and a dessert bruschetta bar. The menu from this year includes a mashed potato "martini" bar, a grilled watermelon platter and dessert "shots." It would be fascinating to look into the future to see the menu 30 years from now, as Affairs to Remember is sure to still be around. 2316 DeFoor Hills Road; (404) 872-7859; www.affairs.com.

Ray's on the River. The ultimate Chattahoochee River dining experience just got an upgrade in elegance, thanks to the extensive renovations at Ray's on the River in far-western Sandy Springs. The VIP grand reopening in late July brought an official end to a half-year closure that left a void on the local seafood scene. It was a big enough event to bring out celebrities Lucille Ball, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley (or better-than-reasonable facsimiles) to celebrate with Jewish owner Ray Schoenbaum of Shoney's fame. The interior now boasts a contemporary look reminiscent of the finest steakhouses, including lots of dark wood and wine walls lining the lobby. The changes aren't gaudy but classy. Adding to the refined looks are improved acoustics, so that even amid the hustle and bustle of a private party of 200 people, you can sit at a table and carry on a conversation in a normal voice. That's assuming you aren't struck dumb by the beautiful view of the river available throughout the restaurant. New landscaping with native plants has enhanced that view. All of that ambience would be meaningless if not for the food, which remains excellent under new executive chef Tom McEachern, formerly with the Horseradish Grill. Be warned that if you make even the pretense of keeping kosher, Ray's and its seafood-dominated menu are not for you. It's a place for the biggest shrimp you'll ever see, the perfect parmesan scallop and a steak Tartar that will make you forget every health warning about eating raw meat. Ray's was always a good place to hold a business meeting by day or a family celebration by night; now it's even better. 6700 Powers Ferry Road; (770) 955-1187; www.raysrestaurants.com.