Presidents Day closings and a new restaurant opening

Presidents Day arrives Monday. The holiday commemorates George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, both born in February, as well as other presidents.

Washington, the nation's first president and the Revolutionary War leader, was born on Feb. 22, 1732, under the Gregorian or new calendar, or Feb. 11, under the old style Julian calendar used in Britain until 1752, according to About.com.

Lincoln, the president who led the union to victory in the Civil War, was born on Feb. 12, 1809.

In 1971, a law took effect to celebrate both birthdays, and honor all presidents, on the third Monday in February.

Atlanta Public Schools will be closed Monday; and because it's a federal holiday, banks will be closed and mail won't be delivered. City crews will pick up garbage and recycling items as usual on Monday, not taking off for the Presidents Day holiday.

The pickup schedule will remain the same during the week. Residents should place containers for garbage, recycling and yard trimmings on the curb as usual on their scheduled collection day. All other services also will remain on the regular schedule during the week, including bulk pickup, residential street sweeping and other special services.

Most retailers and restaurants will be open on Monday, and one new Midtown restaurant is opening its doors for the first time. Cucina Asellina, a rustic Italian dining concept, arrives at Midtown Atlanta’s “12th & Midtown” development at 1075 Peachtree Street..

On the heels of the December opening of STK Atlanta in Midtown, The ONE Group unveils its second concept to the Atlanta market with Cucina Asellina “featuring simple Italian dishes made from the finest ingredients, in a warm, thoughtfully designed environment,’’ according to the press release. Sardinia, Italy native Marco Porceddu is serving as the executive chef.

Cucina Asellina is adjacent to the Loews Hotel and will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week (dinner-only for the first month). Offering lunch options for $8 to $15 and dinner options for $12 to $30, Cucina Asellina is a two-story, 70-person restaurant that also offers a 20-person outdoor patio.

Cucina Asellina will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. For more information, see here.

And finally, one new restaurant that won’t be open Presidents Day, but is slated to be up and running by next month is J.R. Crickets at Colony Square, located at 1197 Peachtree Street.

What Now Atlanta reported Sunday that the buffalo chicken wing restaurant will be opening its latest establishment in Midtown. The original J.R. Crickets is also in Midtown, located at 631 Spring Street.