The Atlanta History Center is a wonderful look at Atlanta’s past but it’s so much more than just that. It’s also a general history of the south, its people and how we lived, worked, fought and created. The exhibits are detailed, stimulating and often interactive so it’s a perfect museum for history nerds like us. Having said that, there is nothing stuffy about the Atlanta History Center’s exhibitions and it’s a fun place to spend the day bonding with the kids while growing your brain.
Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta GA 30305
You only thought hardware stores were cold buildings full of nails and screws and old guys in flannel shirts and suspenders looking for a washer for the lawn mower. Sure, you’ll find all of that stuff at Intown Ace Hardware in Decatur but you’ll also find oh, so much more. Yes, you can buy a grill, but not only that, you can buy one of the best damn grills ever made. Need some spices and rubs for your grilling entrees? Yeah, they’ve got that stuff too. Including every little grill accessory and gadget you never knew existed. Speaking of gadgets, MacGyver himself would gasm over the amount of kitchen stuff they have there. You’ll also find so many soaps, oils, incense, sport team merch, clothes and gifts, you can spend an entire weekend in there and never even once see a lag bolt. Their garden section is as big as the entire main store so, it doesn’t matter what you like to do on your weekends, Intown Ace Hardware can equip you. Our advice: book a hotel room nearby so you can hang out for a few days.
Intown Ace Hardware, 1404 Scott Blvd., Decatur, GA 30030
If you don’t like burgers we don’t want you listening to our podcast. You’re obviously some kind of anti-human and you need to be separated from the rest of the normal, decent, burger-eating population. Wait, you don’t eat burgers because you are vegetarian? Ah. Grab a bench, PETA-breath, and let me tell you a story. It’s 2019. Delicious, flame-grilled, bleeding flesh is no longer just for Ted Nugent. Here at Grindhouse Killer Burgers, they’ve figured out how to make veggies bleed and taste like a cow without actually harming a single cow. It’s called The Impossible Burger and Grindhouse makes them so good you’ll feel like you’re being bad. But you aren’t, so have two. Now, leave the room because we’re going to discuss burgers with people who don’t mind harming cows. These burgers are the real thing. Real flesh, seared in fire, like your weapon-wielding ancestors used to eat. Only better because these have cheese. And whatever else you choose to pile on top that may or may not lead to an early death (hey, the science isn’t really clear). These will be your all-time-favorite burgers and you’re going to be thankful they have six juicy, sizzling, motherfreaking locations where you can go slip into a comfortable burger coma. Also— and I’m only going to say this once— “Boozy Shakes”. Don’t ask questions, just get a big-hole straw and start sucking. Seriously. Now, stop reading, dumbass, and go get a Grindhouse Killer Burger!!
Grindhouse Killer Burgers, 433 North McDonough Street, Decatur, GA 30030 (and 5 other locations)
There is no better proof that Atlanta can throw a huge-ass, lively and thrilling party than the Atlanta Pride Parade. This parade covers several blocks of Atlanta midtown streets and it brings out thousands and thousands of rainbow-clad spectators. The music, dancing and candy-tossing drag queens make Atlanta’s Pride Parade one of the must-see events of the year. If you’ve never been to a Pride Parade, let me say that it probably won’t be what you think it is. Then again, there will be some of exactly what you think it is. Think of it as one big event telling you it’s okay to be who you are. And it’s that atmosphere of love and validation that makes you want to give everyone at the parade a close hug. All 300,000+ of them. If nothing else, you’ll become one of the smiling faces greeting everyone with “Happy Pride” just like wishing them “Merry Christmas.” If you want to see Atlanta at it best and human beings at their pinnacle, you only need to show up at Atlanta Pride Parade.
49th Annual Atlanta Pride Festival, October 11-13 2019
There is no excuse to do anything in Atlanta without finishing it off by making a stop at Butter & Cream for homemade ice cream. Classic to unique flavors await to reward you for a life success moment or to cheer you up from a crappy day. There are even a few ‘special diet” options for those who don’t do regular butter or cream. One of the best things you can do in your life is make your mouth happy and Butter & Cream is where your mouth would tell you to go to make it happy if it wasn’t already full and not able to speak because it was eating Butter & Cream ice cream. Did that make sense? Well, we still think it should be their tag line.
Butter & Cream, 416 Church Street, Decatur, GA 30030
There are those people who like to have the bejesus scared out of them on a continual basis and our Cheri is one of them. She’s been to many haunted attractions in her lifetime but she reports that Netherworld is one of the best Halloween events she’s been to. And we’re too scared not to believe her. I mean, how many haunted attractions are so good they actually do a Christmas haunt as well? In fact, they just announced they are doing a Valentine event in 2019! Let’s just hope they don’t discover the zombie possibilities in the Easter story. If you are in the Atlanta area and are looking for a good scare, make sure you visit Netherworld. Bring an extra pair of pants.
Netherworld, 2076 West Park Place Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30087
I’ll let you in on a secret. You can get Chicken Fried Tofu at other Whole Food locations but you aren’t going to get any better than the Chicken Fried Tofu at the Whole Foods on Ponce de Leon in Atlanta. Imagine Paul McCartney ends up in Mayberry and his car breaks down and Gomer has to repair it but he finds a little baggie of something green in the glove compartment and so Paul has to spend a couple nights in jail with Otis. Well, Paul doesn’t eat chicken so this is the Chicken Fried Tofu Aunt Bea would make for him. Are you tasting it now? This stuff is so good, it’s rare that I don’t have to wait on them to bring out a fresh batch and fight off a line of other tofu-lovers trying to steal my delicious, deep-fried, golden nuggets. You know, my grandmother used to make some incredible fried chicken but I have to say this tofu is as good as any chicken she ever made. If she could hear me saying that, she’d make me go outside and pick my own switch. But I’d gladly take the whippin’ for this tofu. Sorry Granny.
Whole Foods, 650 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30308
Grant Park is Cheri’s neighborhood and she’s dang proud of it. And who can blame her? Almost anything you could need to do in Atlanta is right there. It’s one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, yet it’s still developing and “up and coming.” It’s a great place to hang out and even better place to live so we can’t help but be a bit jealous of Cheri walking her dog to the farmer’s market and visiting the zoo and lounging at the park. Some people have it made, even if they are a disaster.
Grant Park Neighborhood Association, Atlanta GA
If you like to eat and, when you eat, you like for it to be excellent food, whoa, we need to tell you about this restaurant! Murphy’s Restaurant in the Virginia Highlands is some of the tastiest food we’ve had in Atlanta. The restaurant is in a quaint location that makes you feel like you are kicking back in a historic southern home, only without all of the pesky mosquitoes and noisy cicadas.. Cheri enjoyed dinner here and I loved the brunch, so we can recommend the entire experience! And don’t forget, when you’re all full, you can pack up a doggie bag and do a little shopping in the Virginia Highlands. The best of all worlds!
Murphy’s Restaurant, 997 Virginia Avenue NE, Atlanta GA 30306
There are many live music events in Atlanta and Cheri’s favorite this year was seeing Erasure at The Tabernacle. The band, which rose to prominence in the 80s is still performing tight, energetic shows and Atlanta’s Tabernacle was the perfect showcase for the duo to perform. Rumor has it that the band may be spending extended time in Atlanta so maybe there will be more opportunities to see them perform here in the future?
Erasure at The Tabernacle,152 Luckie Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
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