Museums

Atlanta Botanical Gardens - Lovely flowers.

Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum. A very large circular civil war painting. Pretty interesting and only $5. Information: (404) 624-1071.

Atlanta History Museum - Lots of history including a Gone With the Wind exhibit and a 1996 Olympics exhibit.

Center for Puppetry Arts - A wonderfully fun museum in downtown Atlanta with shows, exhibits, classes and is lots of fun. Say hi to Susan and Vince.

The Fernbank Science Center - While I haven't been to the natural science museum yet, I have seen two movies at the IMAX: "Everest" and "The Seven Greatest Places. Everest wasn't great, just an hour of people shivering in tents. On the contrary, The Seven Greatest Places was visually stunning.

High Museum of Art - Actually I haven't been there yet, but it is on my must see list.

Nexus Contemporary Art Center - A small art gallery near Georgia Tech.

08/03/99 - Discussion Panel: The Sex Worker as Artist, Activist, & Catalyst.

SciTrek- A hands-on science and technology center. Interesting but better for the children.

Stone Mountain Park - includes a civil war war museum, a giant granite rock with gondola, Confederate Memorial Carving and a 3200-acre park with excellent natural and historical events. For my first visit we took the gondola to the top for a great view and we saw a fantastic LASAR show. The second time we climbed the rock and wore ourselves out.

World of Coca-Cola - Free samples and cool history, What could be better?

Zoo Atlanta - It is a little strange to see black and red Zebras and Giraffes that are mostly red, but that's what you get when you build a zoo on Georgia red clay. It is a nice zoo never the less. I enjoyed seeing the famous Willie B. The train and Ben & Jerry's ice cream really complete the event.

Events/Festivals

Atlanta Dogwood Festival - "A springtime celebration dedicated to the enhancement of the environment through education, awareness and community involvement." In other words free concerts in Piedmont park with arts booths, beer, and food.

4/99 - Grove Schrivenor [0], Cowboy Envy [], Christian Durand [], Bill Ward [], Don Conoscenti [], Andy Offutt Irwin [], Tammy Fowler [ ], and Michelle Malone []

Black College Spring Break or "Freaknick" - It is suppose to be a week of fun, instead I saw a bunch of drunks being stupid. I watched an attempted rape live on TV, someone hit my car with a bottle, and the streets and highways were backed up for miles. NOT my idea of college fun. Atlanta is considering canceling it.

DragonCon - A 4-day science fiction convention complete with panel discussions, gaming, celebrities, costume contests, and music concerts. See my 1999 Recap and Gallery or 1998 Review for more info.

World Horror Con 99 - A horror convention with Authors signing autographs, seminars, Art for sale (Paintings, sculpture, and photographs), musical concerts, and performance art courtesy of the Secret Room) and PURGE. It was broadcast live on Live On the Net

5/5/99 - Order of the Dying Knights [], The Changelings []

5/6/99 - D.C. Moon and Red Giant [], Godhead []

Georgia Renaissance Festival - Jousting, sword fighting, magic, Wow it was fun. The Dead Bob Show would have been more fun if I hadn't been "BOBMOTIZED." We also enjoyed the music of Andy Offutt Irwin. Well worth going back again and again. The shops and food were really cool. Ask me how I blew $224.

Hot & Spicy Festival - The annual Festival at Dobbins Air Force Base/ Naval Air Station Atlanta. Cheap Trick, Georgia Satellites, and Wil's Drama were the bands: 40 restaurants provided the food. It was a lot of fun. I'll remember a lawn chair next year.

Powers' Crossroads Country Arts Festival - It was fun, but pretty much the same as all the other arts and crafts fairs. I'm not sure it was worth the 45 minute drive.

Virginia-Highland Summerfest - This interesting street-fair is named after the intersection of two Atlanta streets that anchor an eclectic neighborhood. About 200 artists had booths, especially popular were paintings, photos, and bird-houses. I was mostly interested in the concert in the park.

1998 - Wild West Picture Show (Rebel Rock)

1999 - Heidi Polyea & Doug Morton, De De Vogt, Delta Moon

Georgia Shakespeare Festival - I've love Shakespearean plays. I saw Henry IV at Oglethorpe University (6-10-98).

Sites/Land Marks

The Big Chicken - 50ft of KFC action.

Little Five Points (L5P) - Artsy-Fartsy-Cool part of town

Centennial Olympic Park - Went for the July 4th (1998) festival but was disappointed. Too few booths and only hot dogs for food. Saw the parade too: not impressive. What a waste.

Helen, GA - A Bavarian styled tourist trap.

Restaurants

The Brewhouse - We went for Octoberfest - good food, good beer, horrible service (Sorry Elena)

Babbets Overpriced and pretentious. But good food if you like that scene.

Bridgetown Grill - Just plain nice.

Carlos O'Brians - Yup, it's Mexican food

Cripple Creek Tap House - Food is very good, But very expensive

The Dark Horse Tavern (Will move to Music later) - Nikki was cool, but the food wasn't special. Still, I plan to check out the band venue soon.

Champ's Bar-B-Q - Real southern pork in Smyrna.

Chateau Elan's - Winery, restaurant, and conference center. It was quite a drive (I-85 exit 48) But the food and service were outstanding. Ask to sit at Charles' table.

Euclid Ave Yacht Club - Excellent pub in L5P with boiled peanuts and great philly cheese steaks.

Fat Matt's - Really good ribs in Midtown. Blues music too, sometimes: skip the chicken.

Harry Bissett's (279 Broad St. Athens Ga.) - Good New Orleans style cuisine. Be prepared, it's mostly seafood and not cheap, but you'll really enjoy it.

The Highlander - It's biggest draw is that it's open really late. Not much on the menu and the A/C was broke the night we went. Nice eagle tattoo on the waitress though.

John Harvard's Brew House - Home made beer, friendly, good food

Mick's - Poor selection and pricey.

Manuel's - Very Smokey but pleasant and fun. Historic Atlanta

Phoenix Brewing Company [Closed 3/99] - Home made beer, friendly, really good food. I'm sorry it's gone.

Pasta Pulcinella A long wait and poor service. (otherwise good and cheap)

Planet Hollywood Really expensive hamburgers, poor service, and second rate decorations. (See Tourist Trap)

Raging Buritto - Very good greasey spoon type place.

Rio Grande - Food was good.

Rio Bravo - Expensive Taco Bell.

Rock Bottom Brewery - The beer was good, but the food wasn't that great.

R.Thomas - Open 24 hours, but skip the expensive and stupid juices

Savage Pizza - Designer pizza with attitude. Why bother?

Tamarind - Good Thai food on 14th street, but a little expensive and hard to park.

The Vortex - Too much fun for just one visit, in L5P [let me know if this link ever works]

Web

Creative Loafing A weekly entertainment guide.

Atlanta Capital Visitors Bureau A guide to events and conventions.

Access Atlanta - News and information

Y'All - Covering the South like Kudzu

MARTA plug here

Updated Apr 8, 2010 spunbystefan@yahoo.com © 2010 Stefan Oestreicher