Ray Lewis acted to shield the true murder of 2 individuals. His brand new full length mink coat, apparently soiled with the victims' blood, was "lost" fleeing the scene of the murders. He might have beat a murder conviction because his co-defendants didn't sing, though HE did after he cut his plea deal with the prosecutors. He testified against the other two defendants and the jury set them free. Apparently no one killed the murder victims, or found Ray's new mink coat. Prince of a guy.

Interesting question,

particularly the part about "gun-toting hip-hop gangster types".

I find that the Buckhead late night scene attracts people that like all genres of music.

I'm a little shocked at the direction this thread has taken. WOW. In my few years of visiting this board, I have always respected the knowledge of the folks that post here. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but some of these generalizations are stereotypical and offensive.

I want to attack (or share my opinion), but will respect the posters in this community.

jasonsl, would love to see a trip report and hear about your experience after your visit to ATL.

I'm confident you will enjoy your visit.

Thanks everyone, got it, no worse than NYC, Miami, Chicago, LA (Sorry D.C. & Detroit, no place is worse ;-).
One more question, what's the better value?
Ritz-Carlton Buckhead $99/nt
JW Marriott $69/nt

OMG! You can get the Ritz Buckhead for $99/ night?! Jump on it!

As for whether the Ritz-Carlton at $99/night or the JW Marriott at $69/night is a better choice, I guess it depends a little on whether you'd prefer to get around town via MARTA or plan to drive around. The Ritz-Carlton's great, and all things being equal, I'd probably take it over the JW Marriott, but the JW Marriott has the advantage of being directly connected to Lenox Square mall and immediately across the street from the Lenox MARTA station. The Ritz-Carlton is across the street from both Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, and a long block farther from the MARTA station than the JW Marriott. Don't really see how you can go wrong with either one.

The JW Marriott is fine but I'd much rather stay at the Ritz, especially for that price!

Have fun!

How are you getting those rates? I've never seen JW less than $140. Clue us in!

The Marriott and the Ritz in Buckhead often offer weekend deals as those hotels cater mostly to weekday business traffic.

I'd stay at the Ritz. The walk to the Marta station is not that far.

BTW, I've been to Buckhead several times a few years ago and it always seemed like a very nice area. I suppose things could have changed, but it never seemed rough to me.

It's sad the way some people believe everything they read/see and seem to take joy in putting down those who have achieved success. Anyone can say what they want on this board, but unless you were there w/Ray Lewis, you don't know what happened. Chill out.

As a New Yorker who has spent a lot of time in Atlanta over the years, I laugh at the "no worse than NYC" comment.

New York, particularly Manhattan, is NOT comparable to Atlanta in terms of crime/safety. Manhattan is extremely "safe," both in feeling and statistically, and I feel comfortable walking in any area (south on 110th Street) at all hours of the day & night.

Not in Atlanta, certainly not in Buckhead (where I've personally witnessed two fights in the past 3 years -- one apparently "cruising" related, one in a bar).

Please, do not compare Atlanta to New York. There is no comparison.

Jason-

This has been the most entertaining thread I have read in a while! I live right across the street from the Ritz in Buckhead and as a pregnant 30 year old walk my dog every night around the area by myself (gasp!) I would take the Ritz over the JW Marriott it is only a 5 min walk to the MARTA and a nicer hotel. In my personal opinion, usually when you here about the neighborhood or area being "dangerous" that is white America's code-word for a higher concentration of African-Americans or Latinos, just trying to spread the fear around a little more I guess.

Gekko, your post sounds rather conceited. Wouldn't you agree that there are parts of NYC (there's a lot more to NYC than Manhattan) that are very high in crime?

scootie, fair is fair. Atlanta always rates in the top ten in crime rates of American cities. It is one of the most dangerous cities in America. Honest.

Ray Lewis pled guilty to covering up the details of two murders committed in his presence, by his friends, if not by his own hand. He also testified against those friends and the jury did not believe the friends committed the murders. Consequently, there's an official court transcript that reflects the details he acknowledged. He or members of his immediate party (all hopping around in Ray's limo) killed two men with a knife. No need to rely on third party accounts or his apologists' blind speculation about Ray's guilt or innocence. But, then again, he's a star athlete.

Ya know people, crime happens even in the best of neigborhoods.

Example: My friend's teenaged son and his friend were carjacked in the heart of Dunwoody (an affluent suburb of Atlanta) in broad daylight almost 6 yrs ago today . The boys, both 16, were forced to drive an hour away. Louis was shot in the head and died. His friend was luckier. He too was shot but lived. These heinous killers were from another part of the metro area, not our safe little town.

My point is, no matter where you are, try to be careful. These kids were just sitting in the car listening to a new CD while they waited for the dog groomer to finish up when a car full of scumbags looking for trouble saw them...

He covered for his buddies - witnesses all stated he was not involved in the altercation. I'm not sure what you have against the guy, but unless you were there you don't really know what happened regardless of what you claim to know to be true. Relax, it's okay, Ray Lewis isn't coming to get you.

Snowrooster: "Covering" up two murders for his buddies is okay? Fact is, you weren't there either (were you?) and display an appalling lack of knowledge of or disregard for the facts on the record. No one was convicted because no one would sing when it counted-they all hung together so no one hung separately.

OneWanderingJew - Small world. The boy that was killed was a very good friend of the son of one of my best friends who lives in Dunwoody. It was one of the incidents I was thinking of when I wrote my initial email that riled some people up. It was very sad.

Hello sk84fungirl,

You wrote:
<Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but some of these generalizations are stereotypical and offensive.>

Which 'generalizations' do you find offensive? I have not read anything racial or sexist or anything similar. What did you read which I missed?

Thanks,

mm

Hello snowrooster,

I am curious about the basis for your vigorous defense of Ray Lewis. Are you a relative or perhaps a member of his defence team?

The plead to obstruction, he acknowedged his presence and participation and his posse is made up of some unsavory characters. Where in that mix do you find a fine upstanding man?

mm