Sunday, September 27, 2009
Life, Atlanta
SP100: The City
Atlanta’s It List 2009
Courtesy of Atlanta History Center
Margaret Mitchell House
Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images
Read special works by Salman Rushdie and other luminaries at Emory University
Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Learn about ’roos at the Kangaroo Conservation Center.
Spark St. Jude
Peachtree Road Race
Ga. Dept. of Industry, Trade and Tourism
The King Center
Ga. Dept. of Industry, Trade and Tourism
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Courtesy of Atlanta History Center
Atlanta History Center Swan House FountainTHE MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE
WHY: The spot where Mitchell wrote “Gone With the Wind” currently serves as a major hub of Atlanta’s literary scene, hosting speeches by nationally known authors, in addition to its status as one of the city’s premier tourist attractions.
WHERE: 990 Peachtree St. 404-249-7015. www.margaretmitchellhouse.com.
THE REVITALIZATION OF MIDTOWN
WHY: After 30 years of work, the dream of the Midtown Alliance to revitalize the heart of Atlanta has come true. Midtown is the epitome of urban renewal gone right. Piedmont Park, the Midtown Mile shopping district, awesome cultural and entertainment venues, top restaurants and classy condos make us proud.
WHERE: www.midtownalliance.org.
PEACHTREE ROAD RACE
WHY: Fast Kenyans, slow novices, high temperatures and enough sweat to float an ambulance. What’s not to love?
WHERE: Atlanta Track Club, 3097 E. Shadowlawn Ave. 404-231-9064. www.atlantatrackclub.org
THE KING CENTER
WHY: No matter how badly it’s managed or how well it’s pillaged, Martin Luther King Jr.’s central mission remains unshakably present in the center’s exhibits, which are among the most moving in the country. Go.
WHERE: 449 Auburn Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-526-8900. www.thekingcenter.org.
HARTSFIELD-JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
WHY: It’s hard to grasp how amazing Hartsfield is until you’ve schlepped through most other airports. No rickety “Dahlonega Mine Train” (Dallas-Ft. Worth), mean, nasty security guards (bonjour, Charles de Gaulle), lack of any visible security at all (Madrid) or non-English-speaking counter help (hola, Miami!).
WHERE: www.atlanta-airport.com.
EMORY UNIVERSITY MANUSCRIPT, ARCHIVES AND RARE BOOK LIBRARY
WHY: You have to have special permission to see the special collections, but that only adds to the mystery and majesty of the experience. To see British poet laureate Ted Hughes’ actual notes to his wife, legendary poet Sylvia Plath, is gasp-inducing. There’s also Flannery O’Connor, Salman Rushdie, Seamus Heaney and more.
WHERE: 10th floor of the Robert W. Woodruff Library, Emory University. 404-727-6887. www.marble.libary.emory.edu.
INMAN PARK
WHY: This charming community provides its residents with the warmth of a small-town atmosphere in the midst of city living. Lovingly restored antique homes provide eye candy for the thousands of visitors who are drawn to this neighborhood during the yearly Spring Festival and Tour of Homes.
WHERE: Two miles east of Downtown. www.inmanpark.org.
ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER
Why: AHC makes the past come alive through interactive historical experiences like Tullie Smith Farmhouse and more traditional exhibits like the Atlanta History Museum and Centennial Olympic Games Museum.
WHERE: 130 West Paces Ferry Road. 404-814-4000. www.atlantahistorycenter.com.
FREE OUTDOOR MOVIES
WHY: One word: free. And if you can’t find one, you could be blind: Georgia Tech’s Flicks on 5th. Screen on the Green at Centennial Park. Movies Under the Stars at the Mall of Georgia. Dive-In Movies at the pool of the W Atlanta-Perimeter. Movies & the Market at Atlantic Station, which recently extended their movie series through the end of October.
WHERE: 111 Perimeter Center West. 770-396-6800. www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels. Atlantic Station at Central Park. www.atlanticstation.com.
YELLOW RIVER GAME RANCH & KANGAROO CONSERVATION CENTER
WHY: These two places are an animal oasis. The Game Ranch has white-tailed deer, black bears and the largest buffalo herd east of the Mississippi. It lets the public feed the animals, too. The Kangaroo Center brings the Aussie animals to Georgia for children—and adults—to learn about the special creatures. Both of these destinations are within an hour’s drive.
WHERE: 4525 Highway 78, Lilburn. 770-972-6643. www.yellowrivergameranch.com. Bailey-Waters Road, Dawsonville. 706-265-6100. www.kangaroocenter.com.