Atlanta is overwhelming when you have to be someone’s tour guide -- especially nowadays with all this energy, development, and international recognition we’ve got going on. ATL’s got Donald Glover, Killer Mike, Migos and other rappers continuing to keep the hype alive, along with the movie business coming to town, AND real reasons to actually believe in at least one sports team every year.
There’s just so damn much to do! So what should you be showing off to other people right now, or what should you show your ATL host when you come to town demanding the grand experience? First, grab something to eat and something to drink. Then consult this handy guide, of course.
Drink local beer on the BeltLine
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Old Fourth Ward, West End
You’ve got two solid choices today: New Realm on the Eastside Trail and Monday Night Garage on the Southwest side. Both are highly respected and have award-winning brewers and beers, and both are great places to people-watch, whether you’re rooftopping it with a New Realm Hoplandia IPA, or balcony-peering from the Garage with a Rucksack summer seasonal Hefeweizen.
Old Fourth Ward, West End
You’ve got two solid choices today: New Realm on the Eastside Trail and Monday Night Garage on the Southwest side. Both are highly respected and have award-winning brewers and beers, and both are great places to people-watch, whether you’re rooftopping it with a New Realm Hoplandia IPA, or balcony-peering from the Garage with a Rucksack summer seasonal Hefeweizen.
Watch Atlanta United dominate the field
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Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta United is the defending MLS Cup champs and hottest thing in US soccer. No other MLS team can say it had a home game during the World Cup and more people attended it than two simultaneous matches in Russia. ATL UTD will have home games all the way through October 6.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta United is the defending MLS Cup champs and hottest thing in US soccer. No other MLS team can say it had a home game during the World Cup and more people attended it than two simultaneous matches in Russia. ATL UTD will have home games all the way through October 6.
Be in a movie
Free
Everywhere
Those tax incentives Georgia created for the film industry must be really nice, because you can’t walk down the street anymore without seeing a production crew shooting something. “Y’allywood” is booming, and that means you have a shot at fame and fortune, or at least a check to help with gas, craft services, and wrap party invites. You don’t even have to go hunting and dealing with bogus agencies; the Georgia Department of Economic Development has a list of credible casting companies that hire extras as well as crew members if that’s your thing.
Everywhere
Those tax incentives Georgia created for the film industry must be really nice, because you can’t walk down the street anymore without seeing a production crew shooting something. “Y’allywood” is booming, and that means you have a shot at fame and fortune, or at least a check to help with gas, craft services, and wrap party invites. You don’t even have to go hunting and dealing with bogus agencies; the Georgia Department of Economic Development has a list of credible casting companies that hire extras as well as crew members if that’s your thing.
Blues yourself at Northside Tavern
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West Midtown
That storied little building sitting just south of White Provisions -- among Howell Mill’s cute and trendy shops and eateries -- is pretty much the holy grail of the Atlanta blues music. Local bluesman Mudcat still plays and books outside bands, the bartender still breathes fire, and the pool table still has all sorts of questionable stains. It gets no grittier. (RIP to owner Ellyn Webb; she’d be proud to know the show goes on).
West Midtown
That storied little building sitting just south of White Provisions -- among Howell Mill’s cute and trendy shops and eateries -- is pretty much the holy grail of the Atlanta blues music. Local bluesman Mudcat still plays and books outside bands, the bartender still breathes fire, and the pool table still has all sorts of questionable stains. It gets no grittier. (RIP to owner Ellyn Webb; she’d be proud to know the show goes on).
Find your own nook near the Chattahoochee River
Free
Various
Atlanta’s original Hoochee-Mama is the river that runs through it, and while there are definitely a few parts of the river you’d probably want to avoid, there are places above and below Metro Atlanta with great views, hiking trails, and hangout capabilities, whether you’re in Newnan at Chattahoochee Bend State Park, or Riverside Park up in Roswell.
Various
Atlanta’s original Hoochee-Mama is the river that runs through it, and while there are definitely a few parts of the river you’d probably want to avoid, there are places above and below Metro Atlanta with great views, hiking trails, and hangout capabilities, whether you’re in Newnan at Chattahoochee Bend State Park, or Riverside Park up in Roswell.
Visit Atlanta’s LBGTQA epicenter
Free
Midtown
It doesn’t even matter if you aren’t in need of a cup of Caribou Coffee, a Flying Biscuit, or feel like eating at either TEN or 10th & Piedmont. There’s something worth visiting just to say you walked across at least one of the streets at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street, where Outwrite, an iconic gay bookstore, once stood. If you get lost, just ask for the rainbow crosswalk.
Midtown
It doesn’t even matter if you aren’t in need of a cup of Caribou Coffee, a Flying Biscuit, or feel like eating at either TEN or 10th & Piedmont. There’s something worth visiting just to say you walked across at least one of the streets at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street, where Outwrite, an iconic gay bookstore, once stood. If you get lost, just ask for the rainbow crosswalk.
Hit Downtown Decatur, where everything’s greater
Free
Decatur Square
Since you can walk right out of the MARTA train station and right into some of the area’s most fun restaurants and bars (Leon’s Full Service, Brick Store Pub, The White Bull, Kimball House, The Iberian Pig), it’s a great place to be if you’re unsure of what you should be doing on a day around Atlanta and don’t feel like thinking.
Decatur Square
Since you can walk right out of the MARTA train station and right into some of the area’s most fun restaurants and bars (Leon’s Full Service, Brick Store Pub, The White Bull, Kimball House, The Iberian Pig), it’s a great place to be if you’re unsure of what you should be doing on a day around Atlanta and don’t feel like thinking.
Take a tour of East Lake
Free
The home course of Bobby Jones will let you take a self-guided tour of the clubhouse of the all-time golfing great. They’re always on third Sundays and you can bring 15 friends or less; just email them or call 404-373-5722 for reservations. Or of course you can wait to be invited as a member to have access anytime you want… but maybe it’s best to go ahead and look around today.
The home course of Bobby Jones will let you take a self-guided tour of the clubhouse of the all-time golfing great. They’re always on third Sundays and you can bring 15 friends or less; just email them or call 404-373-5722 for reservations. Or of course you can wait to be invited as a member to have access anytime you want… but maybe it’s best to go ahead and look around today.
Eat BBQ at B’s Cracklin’ Barbecue
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Nothing at all is wrong with Fox Bros. or all the other locally famous barbecue joints in ATL, but we’re now at a point where people are going to ask if you’ve had B’s brisket when you were in town. And though it’s taken a couple years, pitmaster/owner Bryan Furman has turned his food into a legit city landmark.
Nothing at all is wrong with Fox Bros. or all the other locally famous barbecue joints in ATL, but we’re now at a point where people are going to ask if you’ve had B’s brisket when you were in town. And though it’s taken a couple years, pitmaster/owner Bryan Furman has turned his food into a legit city landmark.
Go through the Krog Street Tunnel
Free
One way to find out what Atlanta’s artistic and activist community is doing at any given time is to head east on Dekalb Avenue and check out the graffiti-laced tunnel at the Krog intersection. You’ll see always-changing street art that includes social messages, as well as event flyers in mural format. And it’s all okay with the city, so nobody gets ticketed or harassed for putting a little paint on it for whatever reason.
One way to find out what Atlanta’s artistic and activist community is doing at any given time is to head east on Dekalb Avenue and check out the graffiti-laced tunnel at the Krog intersection. You’ll see always-changing street art that includes social messages, as well as event flyers in mural format. And it’s all okay with the city, so nobody gets ticketed or harassed for putting a little paint on it for whatever reason.
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