Atlanta: The Chris Guide

I have turned into a really lazy mo-fo. At one point in my life I did nothing better than web design. Every page I made was obscenly packed with little annimations and scripted tricks. Now I don't give a damn what anything looks like. If it functions, that's fine with me. Each entry has three texts; the first is a description, the second is the directons from Tech's North Avenue, and the third are my recommendations. And now, without further ado... my guide:

Areas
[ Decatur | Little Five Points | Virginia Highlands | East Atlanta | Buckhead ]

(A quick note on Atlanta driving. With a few exceptions, most of the interesting places in Atlanta are either on or near Peachtree or Ponce/North Avenue. Peachtree generally runs North and South while Ponce De Leon and North Avenue run parallel to each other only a block apart for quite a bit of their existence. Peachtree crosses Ponce & North only a few blocks away from Tech. North runs right by Tech.)

Decatur:

Smalltownish. Nice place. Home of Agnes Scott and a lot of local musicians.

Take North Avenue to Peachtree Street. Make a left into the right lane. You’ll turn almost immediately onto Ponce De Leon. Drive down Ponce for a long time. It’ll split twice. Watch the road signs. You’ll notice that Ponce veers to the left at the first split and to the left (which is really straight) at the second one. Eventually you’ll find yourself in a downtown area of some place. Make a right onto Church Street. The Java Monkey will be on your left and MARTA on your right.

Java Monkey, Eddie’s Attic, Raging Burrito, Agnes Scott

Little Five Points:

The hippie part of town. What more is there to say?

Take North Avenue over quite a few hills and past a few lights until you get to Moreland Avenue (first big one after North Highland). Make a right. Stay in the right lane and watch your right. Eventually you’ll see some really strange stores. Find parking. This is little five.

teaspace, The Vortex, Olive Bistro, Seven-stages Theater, Variety Playhouse

Virginia Highlands:

Where well-to-do 23-35 year old people go to eat and drink. And shop. At very expensive places.

Take North Avenue down to North Highland (one before Moreland Avenue). Make a left. You’ll go through a few lights and, after passing a grocery store with a huge mural on your left, you’ll start seeing a strip of stores on your right and left. You don’t necessarily have to stop here. There’s at least three strips to Virginia Highlands on North Highland, each separated by a mile or so of residential property (houses).

Dark Horse Tavern, Doc Chey’s, Ben & Jerry’s, a few Gelato places, the Majestic is almost in the area

East Atlanta:

Perhaps one of the hippest parts of town. It’s a neighborhood and so it has restaurants and stuff but the area is mostly known for its bars.

Take Moreland (see Little Five Points) to Little Five. But don’t stop there. Stay on Moreland until you’re passing the interstate on-ramp. After you pass over I-20, watch your left for a sign that says East Atlanta. Make a left and then make a right.

Sacred Grounds, The Fountainhead, The Echo Lounge

Buckhead:

Do I really need to say anything?

Take North Avenue to Peachtree Street. Make a left. Go a long way. Eventually you’ll be there.

The Majestic:

The all night hangout. Open 24 hours. In my opinion one of the most entertaining places in town. Gets a little smoky at times but who cares compared to the environment.

Stay on North till ya hit Peachtree St. Make a left and stay in the right lane, it’ll be a turn only lane and should take you onto Ponce De Leon. The Majestic is on your right on this street. You’ll pass the Spaghetti Factory & the Krispie Kream doughnut shop. You’ll go over a few more hills and go another mile or two after them. Eventually the Majestic will be on your right. It’s in a plaza with an Indie-movie theater.

teaspace:

This place is pretty cool but closes way too early (for CS majors, it’s actually open pretty late most nights). Also pretty new. If you’re a fan of green tea, black tea, chai tea, bubble tea, any sort of tea… go here. You’ll love it. When it starts being better known it’ll be an excellent place to meet people cause of forced proximity to the people next to ya.

The catch is that it’s pretty damned hard to find. Go to little five points and walk over to the main strip (Euclid Ave). Find the bookstore. See the alley to the left of it? Walk down it. Yes, walk down it. teaspace will be on your right close to the end.

Java Monkey:

Kinda Yuppie but stays open till midnight even on Sundays, has an excellent environment to read or study, makes a good Mocha, can be easily reached on Marta, and is completely different from any sort of place around Tech. (But then again so is almost any place on this list.) Note: this is the main coffee shop for an all-girls college town. Warning: this is the main coffee shop…. (You’ll see what I mean.)

Driving:
Take Ponce into Decatur, take a right onto Church St. It’ll be immediately on your left beside the Bread Company. You can find free parking if you make the first left off of Church St. (between the shops and a church) and then make the first left again onto a one way side-street. I’ve never been ticketed there. But don’t hold me responsible if you do eh?
Taking Marta:
Take the rail to what I think is the end of the line; either way it’s Decatur. There’s two exits from the station. Go out the one that’s NOT to the buses. It’ll be across the street a few shops on your left.

R. Thomas’:

Definitely in the running for the best veggie/vegan food in town. And it’s open till 6 A.M. during the week, 24 hours on the weekend.

Across the street from Intermezzo and next door to the beignet place. These will be the directions for all three places: Head north on Peachtree St. (the Fox will be on your left). After a little over 4 or 5 miles and a ton of curves, you’ll see three restaurants in a row on your left ending with a Wendy’s and a bar and art gallery on your right. Look for parking either behind Intermezzo (on the right side of the street) or behind R. Thomas. This place would be a big hassle to get to by walking. But you would have stuff to do all night if you did. And there’s always the Marta bus option till 1….

Intermezzo:

If you’re reading this list, I’ve sent it to you; if I’ve sent this list to you, you’ve been here. Best coffee in town. Best deserts in town. Tad bit pretentious, but in a good way. Perfect for a first date. Also… they’re open till at least 3 A.M. but the kitchen closes early.

See R. Thomas’ for directions. (If yer going on a date and you don’t have a car, get a cab… if the girl’s cool though, take Marta; if she’s a snob… find something closer to Tech.)