I’ll be spending approximately two weeks in Atlanta around the end of the month (Jan). I would appreciate it if local residents could share some Must See and Must Avoid tips.
It’s a trial period for a prospective employer, so a corporate apartment has shelter covered. Having been underemployed for several months, cash is going to be very tight.
[Note to self: Verify internet access from apt…:smack: ]
Anyhow, much obliged for a heads up on Things To Do in Atlanta When You’re Broke ™.
As a 30 resident, I’d have to ask, “What do you like?” I would also have to suggest you not hope for too much from the fabled “Underground”. Underground Atlanta was a bit more interesting when you could see some of the old structures that related to the history, now it’s just a high priced mall.
Of course, if you l-o-o-o-v-e Coca-Cola you are in luck! You can go see a whole museum and shopping center for that very thing!
For an interesting couple of hours that let you see the most of Atlanta on $1.75 (one way) I would recommend the MARTA train. It goes from the airport on the south to the northern suburb of Sandy Springs and takes almost an hour. Tunnels, overpasses and tons of things to see.
Have fun and good luck! It’s a nice place to live.
I found a gay bar that never closes (they have a sign that says they haven’t called “last call” since the late 60s). I think it’s called The Cove, and I have no idea where it is. But it was way fun.
Where will you be staying/working? Midtown, downtown, other?
I did kind of leave that wide open, didn’t I, Terrorcotta?
Lemme see… early 30’s, so bars are probably more of a place to “hang out” than dance. Prefer rock music over pop, although industrial is still good, too. 
Single, hetero, reasonably cultured (any good museums in Atlanta? Besides the History of Coca Cola, I mean)
You touched on a passing interest of mine, the melding of old/new construction. Has the old town been totally buried in modern construction? Any really old buildings that still have the old structure visible?
What else? Oh, not into sports much, what’s the main library like? (I fell in love with the central library in NYC when I visited, but hey, it’s old. :D)
Oh! Where’s the Dave and Busters?? 
More specifics as I think of it, or in response to posters.
Thanks for the MARTA idea, that sounds like it could be interesting!
On preview, I’m sure yet where I’ll be staying, earthpuppy, although if things work out, I’ll be looking for a place to live in a month or so.
If you like museums, the High Museum in Midtown is a must-see.
Ditto on the High Museum of Art.
Underground Atlanta is OK, but we only go there for the praline candy.
CNN Center is a neat tour, as is the World of Coca-Cola.
There are two Dave and Busters (don’t know why you would want to go there–to each his own). One is north on I-85 in Gwinnett County, the other is north on I-75 in Cobb County. Each is close to the interstate.
Let me take over for TerrorCotta, who is busy with important stuff.
High Museum of Art, a definite winner if you like museums. There’s also a very nice museum devoted to Martin Luther King.
The state capitol building has a defacto natural museum in its upper floors and also on the basement. Used to feature things like two headed calves and dioramas of squirrels playing poker. The lower floors had plastic models of dinosaurs of the sort you can buy at KayBee toys, and also model airplanes, also of the sort you can buy at KayBee toys. Infer from this what you will about Georgia politics.
The main library is OK but not great by the standards of other cities. If you like libraries, you’ll like it. Some suburbs like Decatur also have pretty good libraries, others like Decatur have libraries that suck-diddly-uck.
Not much of Atlanta was left after Sherman passed through. I believe there’s one or two remnants – check out the Swann House – but mostly eveyrthing is new by the standards of most cities.
There’s a Dave and Buster’s in Marietta, a northern suburb of Atlanta.
If you like barbecue, you have come to the right city. Also some very nice uptown restaurants in the Buckhead/Lenox Mall area, which is the place to go clubbing. Downtown Atlanta now consists of Underground, Georgia State University and various government offices. There is no “there” there.
Where are they going to keep you? This will have a lot to do with what’s easy for you to get to. Atlanta is a traffic nightmare at rush hour, and rush hour lasts for hours.
Virginia Highlands/Little Five Points is a cool area. Lots of places to eat and drink (the Vortex has great burgers and is “off the wall”), and unusual shops to just browse through for fun.
I lived in Atlanta for 10 years before moving to Augusta. I am originally from New Orleans and comparing the architecture of Atlanta t oNEw Orleans I never was really impressed with the older buildings in ATlanta, but then again Atlanta was leveled during the civil war so it will not have things like St Loius Cathedral.
Some of my favorite places to go have changed somewhat. Buckhead use to be a blast, but has gotten really cheesy and tacky in the last few years. Virginia Highlands has great bars and places to eat. Try the Darkhorse Tavern and Taco Mac. There are two Dave and Busters, one off of I-85 in Gwinett County and the other is up I-75 in Cobb County. You will need a car to get to either one. You really need a vechicle to get around Atlanta, it is very spread out and traffic is the worst I have ever experienced.
The Botanical Gardens is a very cool place to go see. You can also tour the Braves new ballpark.
One of my favorite bars to hit is near Georgia Tech on 10th or 14th street, but I can not remember the name, just know hjow to get there. It has three levels in it, Heaven, Hell and Purgatory. Dancing in Hell, live music in Heaven and just a sit down quite spot in Purgatory. Find this one and you will have a blast.
Oh, and don’t forget The Varsity for a hot dog!!
If you’re looking for Civil War stuff, the Smith Plantation Home is really cool.
It’s in historic Roswell, GA, by the way. Here’s the link.
It’s in historic Roswell, GA, by the way. Here’s the link.
Dammit! Hamsters ate my post, but I now see that the Varsity, the Botanical Garden, the Vortex and Little Five Points have all been mentioned. I endorse these recommendations as well as JackaRoe’s condemnation of Buckhead.
Check out Creative Loafing, Atlanta’s weelky alternative paper, before you go to see what’s happening. Also check the Best of 2003 list to see what the locals like.
My favorite concert venue is the Variety Playhouse, located in Little Five Points. Little Five Points is also the location of the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club - a GREAT bar.
Another GREAT (maybe the best in town) bar is The Brick Store in Decatur. It’s easily accesible by MARTA - just take the train to the Decatur station, and there you are. Also in Decatur are some very nice retaurants all within walking distance of the train station.
The Margaret Mitchell House and Museum is very cool if you’re at all into “Gone With the Wind.” Even if you’re not a GWTW fan, the MMH is also the home of the Center for Southern Literature, where various authors regularly discuss their <a href=“http://get-faster.com?go=books” onmouseover=“window.status = ‘goto: books’;return 1” onmouseout=“window.status=’’”>books</a>. I have never been disappointed by a lecture I’ve attended there.
Llet us know where you’ll be staying, and we can give you specific recommendations based on the part of town you’ll be in.
Hmmm - don’t know where that screwy coding came from, but at least the link to the Center for Southern Literature works.
I no longer live there, but one of my favorite spots to just go hike around & look at old stuff was Oakland Cemetery. It’s easy to get to from MARTA and is an easy way to spend a day - if it’s not too chilly (I don’t know where you’re from, so your definition of chilly could be much different from mine).
Umm, the main library, frankly, sucks. I used to work downtown within walking distance, and I would go by occasionally on my lunch hour to find books, but I was never highly impressed with it (oh, and I’m in school now getting my master’s in library science). There are better ones in the general area, depending on what county you’re in. Just a note, though: when I left, they were doing construction on the main library, and it could be much different now. I’ve been gone since August 2002.
Stone Mountain is not far from Atlanta. If you have time, it’s a good place to visit- right of US Hwy 78. The Atlanta Zoo is also a good place to visit, although it might be kinda cold right now- off I-20.