nancdb

Hello,

A friend of mine and I will be attending the Battle of the Bands at the Georgia Dome the last weekend in Atlanta. We're going to see"Ain't Misbehaving" on Friday evening and will have Saturday morning and Saturday evening free. We will have a car available and are looking for things to do and places to eat--not to fancy or expensive, but fun places. I was in Atlanta some time ago and have seen everything connected with Martin Luther King, but that is about it.

We will be staying at the downtown Fairfield Inn. Can we take mass transportation to the Georgia Dome and are there any good restaurants around there. Is it a safe area in case we decide to walk?

Thanks in advance for your help.l

Nancy

ddcnga

I have not been to the Dome in a while (couple of years), but I don't know how much walking around I would do down there for extended period of time at night, anyway.

Here is a link to the Dome site that gives information about public transport (MARTA):

http://www.gadome.com/directions/marta.html

There is a good map of downtown on the Dome site that you can download into Acrobat that may be helpful to you.

To the best of my recollection it's a little bit of a hike, no matter how you get there, to get into the Dome itself.

My husband and I eat in Midtown a good bit, but as for "fun" places, that is pretty subjective depending on what your definition of fun is: good food, lively crowd, music, sports on every TV, etc.

I opt for good food and a lively crowd and can almost always find that at Baronda on Peachtree the next block down from the Fox. I'm not really sure how close Midtown is from your hotel. Gordon Birsch is also in that area.

Walking around downtown during the day is reasonably safe, Centennial Park is always interesting and the World of Coke is close by also. The Jimmy Carter Center was interesting to me when I moved to Atlanta in the 1980's. The High Museum has many good exhibits, as well.

Buses run all over the entire city of Atlanta, in some places where Marta (rail system) does not go. You have open access to nearly any place you would like to visit, even Buckhead which I believe has a new, "free" mini-bus type service running now--not positive about that as I caught the tail end of a conversation on the radio about it.

Atlanta is a great city and is quite beautiful, to boot! Just use common sense and don't any place you would not want your mom to go! Good luck, have fun, be safe.

DD

bug

These restaurants are in CNN Center which is very close to the Dome. They don't have much character but are okay:

McCormick & Schmick's
Jock's and Jill's
some Mexican place can't remember name
the Omni Hotel restaurant which I can't remember the name of but it has a nice view of Centennial Park.

Sad to say, downtown is still not much of a dining or nightlife scene. You're going to want to go to one of intown neighborhoods for those things:

Midtown
Virginia Highlands
Little Five Points
East Atlanta
Buckhead (if you must)

These have great options and aren't too far from you.

If you give more specifics I can give more suggestions.

nancdb

Hello,

I'd be interested in knowing more about the Virginia Highlands and the Little Five Points neighborhoods and places to eat there. Also are there any good Mexican or Southwestern restaurants in the NE part of Atlanta. We're staying at the downtown Fairfield Inn on Piedmont. Thanks so much!

OneWanderingJew

My favorite Mexican in the city (well, it's really Tex Mex) is a place called Nuevo Laredo which isn't too far a drive from downtown (www.nuevolaredocantina.com) Not expensive, great salsa, guac, killer margaritas (you may not be driving after a pitcher!) and the shrimp fajitas are one of my faves...If you go for dinner, expect to wait. I've never been there when they didn't have a line...

If you want upmarket Southwestern, then Nava would be the place to go. It's in Buckhead--Peachtree and W. Paces Ferry Rd. (www.buckheadrestaurants.com)

VA-Highland is one of my favorite parts of the city. It's an area of several blocks w/some cute shops and a ton of good restaurants. Harvest and dish, Highland Tap are a couple we really like though none I mentioned are Mexican or Southwestern...Mambo has good Cuban food and is 5 min. from VA-HI in Morningside. It's on N.Highland Ave.

L5P is a funky, alternative area and it too has a plenty of dining options. I've heard good things about Pura Vida for tapas but haven't been there yet. Babette's Cafe is always good but isn't right in L5P. It's on N. Highland and Freedom Pkwy.

Someone mentioned Baroanda and we love there brickoven pizzas and salads but you need to know they always have a wait on theater nights. Get there early. Alternatively, there's plenty of other choices a few blocks away on 12th St or 14th Sts.

Have fun!!

starrsville

If you are staying downtown and want TexMex, go to Mama Ninfa's. It's on International about a 1/2 block down the hill from Peachtree. Mama Ninfa created the fajita in her restaurant in Houston, TX. Good food. Great margaritas.

starrsville

I'm not a fan of walking around Downtown, but Midtown has become a vibrant pedestrain friendly part of the city. LOTS of good restaurant options in Midtown. I can include a link to a full listing if you are interested.