Atlanta

The ATL, THE DIRRRRTTTYY, HOTLANTA, aka the best city in the southeast is now my hometown. The traffic is pretty much the most awful thing on this planet, but just about everything else is amazing including the fact that it is just 60 miles from Athens, home of my beloved Bulldogs. Atlanta is much like L.A. in the sense that it is very spread out. For those that live on the north side, they very rarely travel to the southside and vice versa. Same goes for those that live on the east side or the west side. Each of the Atlanta suburbs is its own little city and has just about everything you need within a short drive. There are several highlights for anyone visiting the area including Turner Field, the Georgia Dome, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Zoo, Six Flags, White Water and for those that like to shop Buckhead (Lenox and Phipps Plaza). Turner Field is a nice stadium, one of the first along with Camden and Jacobs field. It opened in 1997 in a game against the Yankees ( I was there). They offer something like 21 different kinds of hot dog and now offer all you can eat and drink seats (a new favorite of mine). A trip to Turner Field is not complete unless you hit up the artery clogger restaurants known as the Varsity or the "V". The food is as greasy as possible, but its damn good. The Chili Cheese Dogs is heaven with a peach pie and Varsity Orange. Chili burgers are also mighty tasty along with the Onion Rings. I don't eat the Onion Rings, but am recommending them by word of mouth. For those looking for a little more upscale restaurant, Two Urban Licks off of Somerset is top notch. Its set in an old warehouse district with a fantastic skyline view of downtown. In the summer, there is a nice patio to sit on and enjoy the view. The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere can't be beat. My dish of choice is the Pork Shoulder with New York Macaroni. Its in a word, awesome. I have yet to find something that I have tried that I have not absolutely loved. The Big Ass Cheeseburger is good and is in fact big. The calamari is one of the more unique dishes that I have as it has a sweet and sour taste. Steaks and seafood are also good. The menu is printed daily and reservations are pretty much required. There are a couple of breweries on the northside of town, one in Buckhead and the other in Sandy Springs. Rock Bottom, in Buckhead, is your typical franchised brewery with good food and good beer. It's the same owner as Big River in Chattanooga and Nashville. I really like the 375 IPA. 5 Seasons, in Sandy Springs, is a more upscale brewery with meals that range from $25-$40. The beers are excellent, but the food is a little too pricey for me when I just want to have some beers. There is also a Gordon Biersch in the Midtown area. The Buckhead area was forever known as the bar scene in Atlanta, however, due to recent real estate transactions, that has changed. Approximately 10-15 bars were shutdown in June of last year to make way for new mixed use developments with high end retail and apartments. In my opinion, a terrible idea, but unfortunately, I am not the one with billions of dollars to spend on a project like that. The East Andrews corridor was not touched and still has several hot spots including East Andrews, McDuff, 5 Paces, Churchills and several others. There is also Moondogs, a place where most of the college kids hangout. It's the upstairs of Peachtree Tavern and Hole in the Wall, a place where girls completely lose there inhibitions. Midtown has increased in popularity over the past several years with Cosmo/Lava, Twisted Taco and several other trendy bar/club types. For a late night food stop and one of, if not the best burger in town, hit up The Vortex with a location in Little 5 Points and another one in Midtown. They also have tots. All in all, Atlanta is a delightful place. If you are in the area, give me a shout, I have a couple of spare bedrooms.