I'm going down to Atlanta for the very first time next week. I can't wait!

I fly out of SFO Monday night and arrive in Atlanta at around 5:20 the next morning. Then it's three--well, more like 2 & 1/2--days and two nights at the Westin Buckhead hotel. The main purpose of my trip is to see the Black Crowes play at the Fox Theatre on Tuesday night. I recently flew down to Orlando to see them at the Hard Rock Live the last weekend of January; that was my first time in the South. I had to come back to SF the very next day, though, so I barely got to see anything there outside of my hotel room and the venue (not sure I missed much, TBH... ). As with Orlando, my decision to go to Atlanta was relatively spur of the moment, but this time I made sure I'd actually get to take some of in the city. And I'm way more excited about visiting Atlanta than I was about Orlando. That's for damn sure!

Tuesday should be pretty well occupied with pre-show fun at the Vortex and the show itself, so it looks like Wednesday is gonna be my main sight-seeing day. I'm still pretty undecided about where to go/what to do that day, though. Based on all the googling and Citysearch review-reading I've done in preparation for my trip, I do have some ideas: visiting the revolving Sundial Restaurant at the top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel to photograph the view, maybe spend a little time at the Georgia Aquarium, the Botanical Gardens, the Atlanta History Center. OTOH, the World of Coca-Cola and Underground Atlanta look like must-avoids. Do I assume correctly?

Although I'm pretty new to Obner (BTW: Hello everyone!), I have noticed that there seems to be a pretty strong ATL/Georgia contingent here. I thought this might be a good places to ask a few questions. I'm flyin' solo. What are some cool things I should try to see and do while I'm in Atlanta? How has the weather been lately? Any restaurant and/or bar recommendations in Buckhead and the vicinity of the Fox Theatre? Are there any especially good record stores I should try to check out?

Oh, one more thing... Is MARTA safe? In the daytime, I mean. I definitely plan on taking MARTA back to the airport on 3/16 (rather than risk getting caught in traffic hell in a taxi or shuttle), but I'm wondering if I also should use it to travel from the airport to my hotel Tuesday morning. $1.75 to ride MARTA vs. $18.50 for shuttle transportation--what's best? My safety is more important to me than money, obviously; I'm just weighing my options here.

Any tips and suggestions you guys can offer are much appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome, Mama. I don't live in Atlanta anymore, but here are a few pearls of wisdom from my point of view.

Atlanta, you will find out, is quite pedestrian-unfriendly. In fact, I'd go as far to say that it's only friendly to cars. If you've got one, great. If not, mass transit leaves something to be desired. Don't know about cabs since I never take them while there, and in fact, don't think I've ever seen anyone properly hail a cab in Atlanta.

Buckhead is not a cool part of town, and you shouldn't assume all Atlantans are like those that frequent Buckhead. Very frat-boyish with some gangbangers thrown in for good measure. If you want fun, go to Virginia Highlands, or even East Atlanta, where there are some cool bars/restaurants popping up. Midtown has some fun stuff, in the Poncey-Highlands area.

Your assumptions about tourist destinations are correct. I haven't been to the new Aquarium but heard it was nice.

The Fox Theater is considered Midtown, not Buckhead. I couldn't tell you what's there now having not visited in quite some time. Go say hello to my alma mater (Georgia Tech).

MARTA is safe. Don't know how it is during morning rush hour though.

Welcome!!


MARTA = good. The Fox = spectacular. I ushered there in highschool. There is no bad seat, and the ambience is pretty hard to top.

I don't remember what's good nearby, but there should be some good answers from the current residents, when they see this. Fear not.

What she said about Buckhead though there are some good spots mixed in with the shit. Dantana's is awesome.

there is a pretty cool joint just right down a couple doors from the Fox (name is escaping me though) that has tapas/booze etc.

I consider MARTA super safe anytime.

And yeah, the Highlands and East ATL are the cool areas but there is cool shit everywhere. Not that I get there much these days, but the A fucking rocks.

Is that the place we ate at before The Pixies show?

I spent more time driving in ATL a few weekends ago than I ever had (by that I mean: ME behind the wheel, downtown (and half drunk))

Dantana's is tops. The Highlands are better than Buckhead. But since everybody knows that, its getting worse.

Fuck, call Derris and get him to give you a guided tour. That dude is a king hell animal.

There's something incredibly wrong with someone who lives in San Francisco being excited to go to the southeastern portion of the country.

What, are you hosting on the Travel Channel now, big guy?

Thanks for the advice and the welcome!

I should've mentioned that I understand the whole Downtown-Midtown-Buckhead thing. When I was considering my hotel options, it was pretty much either the Westin Peachtree Plaza or the one in Buckhead. The Georgian Terrace Hotel right across the street from the Fox would be the most convenient for the show, obviously, but there way too many bad reviews to book a room there. I stayed at the Westin Grand Bohemian in Orlando and absolutely loved it. It wasn't exactly close to the HRL (~8.5 miles away), but it was such a beautiful place to stay that I'm glad I chose it. Not to mention their aptly-named "Heavenly" bed. What a wonderful sleep! hahaha Anyway... The Westin Peachtree Plaza is a lot closer to the Fox Theatre than the one in Buckhead, but I read *a lot* of bad reviews about that place, too. The one in Buckhead sounded so much nicer and there is a MARTA station a block away and many restaurants within walking distance. Peachtree Plaza didn't seem worth the headache but...


...maybe I was wrong?

Is Buckhead really that bad? It's not too late. I could cancel my Westin reservation and get a room at the Ritz-Carlton (181 Peachtree St., NE) instead. Should I?

Well, I'm glad to hear that MARTA is safe, at least.

yeah, bloor and his "precious" Atlanta

Awesome! The pictures on their website look gorgeous. I'm excited to see it in person. 8)

I've actually got an extra ticket (the seat right next to me, in Row J/Right Center), if anybody wants it. Shit, for free even! I'd hate to see it go to waste.

I think I'd still stay in Buckhead unless you have the balls to stay at my fav hotel in ATL---the Grenada - its the Chelsea of the ATL.

Now that I look, the Westin in Buckhead is the old Swisshotel. Definitely stay there. The Palm is downstairs and Dantannas is like next door. also Lennox Square is right across the street if you wanna shop or just people watch and yeah, the Marta station is real close.

I just stayed at the Westin Buckhead last week, and Dantana's is practically right outside the front door of the hotel---I stopped in there late the night I arrived because the hotel bar had closed (around midnight), and it seemed like a pretty decent bar.

Like you, I didn't have much sight-seeing time, but I did cab it to the new GA Aquarium the next morning, which was OK, but a $25 cab ride each way, so not worth it unless you find other means of transportation.

We hit the Roxy that night for the BRMC show--the rest of the time there was spent in meetings, so I don't have a lot more to offer. The Westin Buckhead is a pretty nice hotel though.

Yeah, I would definitely make the Aquarium a priority. It's apparently the WORLD'S LARGEST. We are actually going soon--been kinda waiting for the crowds to die down, but I have not heard a bad thing about the joint. Not sure what the closest MARTA stop is though--I know you could walk from the GA Dome/Phillips Arena stop but thats a few blocks. Shit, Busty used to live across the street, maybe he can help on a more proper stop (MARTA is the worst designed public transit ever.)

If you like the more heady/cerebral/political shit, the Carter Library kicks ass and it is a fine walk to Little 5 Points where there are some record & hipster stores.

Or go to the King Library and pretend to feel guilty, whitey. We hate your kind.

Yay, more advice! I appreciate it.

OK, I just googled Virginia Highlands and found this map. So it's considered Midtown? What about Little 5 Points? Should I try to check it out, too?

I hope you end up being held for ransom by some Meth cookers. Blech.

The Highlands is a little fratty but has enough cool joints to still maintain some cred.

I cant bag on Little 5 because I got a lotta history there.

East Atlanta Village is still my fav part of Atlanta. It aint much, but I'll always love that area.

i doubt that would happen in portland... however, if it was riverside, ca, then we're talking.

does meth give you super strength? i think i could escape some tweekers though.

unless they tempted you with cakes and pies?

c'mon Rockin' Rod, I be joshin' ya.

maybe swedish fish.

Thank you so much for these posts, Yail Bloor and The Dreaded Marco!

I'm happy to hear some good things about the Westin Buckhead. I'm looking at the lunch menu from Dantanna's right now. Oh boy.

Hmm... I don't know. I think perhaps I will go ahead and switch to Ritz (bonus: it's 60 bucks cheaper per night). It's closer to the Fox (apparently it's their "official hotel") and much more convenient to places I want to visit, like the Georgia Aquarium (1/2 a mile away from the Ritz vs. 8 miles from the Westin). The Aquarium's website said that the lines aren't bad on weekdays, so that'll be good for me. Yeah, even though I was really looking forward to staying at the Westin (and eating at the Palm...and sleeping in that bed! ), I'm a-gonna cancel and make new reservations at the Ritz-Carlton on Peachtree St. I just checked the MARTA maps and the North Ave. station is right there. As far as restaurants go... Dailey's is very nearby and looks good. Has anyone here eaten there before?

I'm really glad I came here to ask for advice. Much better than getting there and finding out I chose wrong. Thank you, fellow Obnerites! You all have been so helpful.


ETA: Done! I'll be at the Ritz. 8)