Atlanta in the Summer: Why a City So Hot Can Be So Cool
If you are coming to Atlanta
for the Romance Writers of America Annual National Conference, you may want to
come early or stay late. Here’s a local’s
guide for everything that is hot and good places to stop.
Atlanta History
Atlanta
has strong ties to all things civil— from the Civil War to the Civil Rights
Movement. One of my favorite spots is the lesser known Stone
Mountain Village just
outside the more widely known Stone
Mountain Park. It’s not your typical shot glass and keychain
tourist experience. When you get ready for more Atlanta history, stop by one of these spots.
Atlanta that was…
Stone Mountain
Park www.stonemountainpark.com
Margaret Mitchell House & Museum http://gwtw.org
Atlanta
History Center
www.atlantahistorycenter.com
Historic
Oakland Cemetery
www.oaklandcemetery.com
The Atlanta
Cyclorama www.bcaatlanta.com/index.php?pid=81
Kings and Presidents…
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm
Jimmy Carter Library and Museum www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov
New ATL
No one calls it Hotlanta anymore. ATL is the home of quaint intown
neighborhoods, night spots, shopping, and eateries galore.
Day Play. You don’t have to wait for the sun to
go down to have fun in Atlanta.
Shopping Paradise. You
know Southern ladies like to shop. It’s
okay to buy a pair of shoes while you’re here.
Keeping it Real
Every time you go on vacation, you wonder where the locals
are. I’ll tell where to see real Atlanta. If you have a few hours to shop, stroll, and eat,
then check out these intown neighborhoods not found on a tourist map.
- Virginia Highlands, also know as “The
Highlands.” This neighborhood’s
epicenter is located at the corner of Virginia Avenue and North Highland Avenue. There are some unique boutiques and eateries. Several of my favorite bars and
restaurants are found along this strip.
Hungry? Try Surin (810 N Highland Ave) for Thai, Murphy’s (997 Virginia Ave) for American, and Sotto
Sotto (313 North Highland
Ave) for Italian.
- Little
Five Points. Atlanta’s
answer to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury
district. Wouldn’t it be cool if you and your critique partners got matching
tattoos that said “RWA 2006?” If
not, then take a stroll with the crunchy, granola, tattooed, pierced, and
avant-garde. I would recommend shopping
at Junkman’s Daughter (464
Euclid Ave) or Abbadabba's (421-B Moreland Ave)
and having fish and chips at the Brewhouse (401 Moreland Ave).
- Decatur. Atlanta’s
first suburb is now considered “intown.” If you make it this far out of
the city you should try the Watershed Restaurant (406 W Ponce De Leon Ave)
or have coffee at Java Monkey (205
E Ponce De Leon Ave). My favorite place just outside of Decatur is the DeKalb
Farmer’s Market (3000 E
Ponce De Leon Ave). This is the best place in Atlanta to see food
and people from 100 countries. If
you want to try the public transportation, take MARTA on the east
line to Decatur,
and you’ll end up in the City
of Decatur Square.
Nightlife in ATL
Appletini Girls:
So, you will never live like those women in Sex in the City, but you can
pretend. Strap on your stilettos and
push-up bras and find other pretty people like you!
The Place to See and
Be Seen: From Bobby Brown to Big Boi, Atlanta
has more than its fair share of entertainment professionals. Wanna know where the cool kids go?
The Devil went Down
to Georgia:
If you know who Gretchen Wilson is, try one of these country and blues hot spots.
Where Things go Bump
in the Atlanta
night: Goth girls, bondage, and vampires haunt these places.
Drop the Drama: You
want to go out at night, but without loud music, skeezy men, and alcohol.
- Café
Intermezzo for coffee and people watching www.cafeintermezzo.com
- Go to Turner
Field, also know as “The Ted,” and catch a Braves game. July 25-30 the
Bravos are at home. On Tuesday July
25 (vs. Florida)
and Friday July 28 (vs. NY Mets), the night games start at 7:35pm. http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com
- The
High Museum of Art Atlanta for Friday Jazz http://high.org
- A
local favorite is Martinis and IMAX at Fernbank Science
Center Friday nights. Get dressed up, sip martinis under the
world’s largest dinosaur, and then watch a flick about Antarctica or Mount Everest.
Educational fun for grown ups! http://www.fernbank.edu/museum/martinis.html
- Fox
Theater “Mamma Mia” July
25-30, 2006 http://foxtheatre.org
A Southern Blessing
I hope you have a wonderful time at RWA. May your pitch be succinct and successful. May your friends comfort you in your
triumphs. May you learn and network and
remember why you love to write. May your
days in Atlanta
be tempered with cool breezes and good memories of Southern fun. See you in
ATL.
