Me and a group of five girlfriends are going on a short shopping getaway to the Atlanta suburbs Mall of Georgia, Lennox, Gwinnett. At night what is there for us to do. We are in late 20's. We want something fun - but we are all married and do not want a meat market bar. Is there anything in these areas or do we have to go to downtown Atlanta? Also my uncle who lives in this area told me that he didn't recommend for us to go there at night because it wouldn't we safe. Is he just being overprotective or is this true? Any good ways to find out if there are any good plays or concerts?

Buckhead is a very in area. You can walk around and go from bar to bar. You should go there. Lenox has great shopping. The Lenox Inn is a good place to stay ($69).

There's (sadly) no reason to go to downtown Atlanta. Most everything shuts up after 5:00. Areas you'll find fun:

Buckhead - centered around Lenox, there are hundreds of bars (most are, as you say, meat-market, but some are very nice - ask your concierge) and lots of good (but expensive) restaurants. A wonderfully affordable French restaurant in Buckhead is Anis - Provencial French in an old house back in the residential part of the neighborhood. For a little more action and the chance to see someone famous try Fusebox - Asian fusion in a high-energy atmosphere - one of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever been to. It has been picked as one of the 24 best new restaurants in the country by Esquire Mag.

Virginia Highlands - a residential neighborhood closer into town with numerous shops/bars/restaurants in a less commercial area than Buckhead. Good Restaurants include Harvest - new southern in a renovated house (reservations essential), Terra Cotta - less atmosphere than Harvest but better food and easier to get reservations. Dish - current hot spot in a renovated old gas station - I haven't been yet as it seems impossible to get in.

For plays, etc. try www.accessatlanta.com or http://web.cln.com/

Welcome to Atlanta.

Go see the laser show at Stone Mountain!! It's a lot of fun, and is really well done.

Christie

The Mall of Georgia and Gwinnett Mall are not near Lenox Square. They are much further in the suburbs. Staying near Lenox Square, while more expensive, will place you in an area where there is quite a bit to do. For shopping in addition to Lenox, just across the street is Phipps Plaza(another very upscale mall). If you are interested in shopping for home furnishings-Miami Circle-about a mile from Lenox off Piedmont Rd.-offers a wide variety of places. There is a fun restaurant there called Eclipse de Luna-which has mostly sandwiches and salads at lunch and tapas in the evening-there is usually live music at night and a lively crowd. West Buckhead Village off Roswell Rd and E. Andrews Dr. has some nice boutiques, gift shops and galleries.
Another suggestion for places to stay is the Embassy Suites Buckhead which should be good for a group-it's about 1/4 mile from Lenox and near the Buckhead Marta Station.

Anyone know of any comedy clubs in the Buckhead area. Or any other safe areas?

In addition to Buckhead and the Virginia Highlands, I'd also recommend the Midtown area near South City Kitchen restaurant. There are several other restaurants and bars within walking distance (Vickery's, Martini Club, Leopard Lounge, Front Page News and others).

The restaurants recommended by the previous posters are great, but be aware that some of these are pretty expensive. If you are looking for less expensive in a more casual atmosphere, I'd recommend Cafe Tu Tu Tango in Buckhead, which serves appetizer-size portions so you can try several different things. It has a late 20s/early 30s crowd and has artists painting, fortune tellers, etc. to give it an artsy feel.

For a group of young married women looking for some fun but wanting to avoid the "meat market" atmosphere, I'd recommend Jellyroll's in Buckhead. It's a sing-along/dueling pianos place that's popular for bachelorette parties, and it's good, silly fun.

I don't know of any comedy clubs in Buckhead, but the Punchline in Sandy Springs (about 5 miles north of Buckhead) is a popular comedy club in a safe area. There's also the Whole World Theatre improv comedy club in midtown (404-817-PLAY) that I've never been to, but heard from several people that it's a lot of fun.

A couple of other resources: For plays and concerts, go to the Ticketmaster website. For restaurants, I'd recommend the Zagats website, where you can generate a list of restaurants based on factors you decide.

Hope that helps.

That Whole World Theatre place is fantastic. You've got to see it to believe it. They whip the crowd into a frenzy. They have 2 shows on Friday and Saturday. Be sure to get reservations and get there early to hang out at their cool little bar.

Thanks everyone for the imput. We booked the Embassy in Buckhead. We are interested in the Whole World Comedy Club. You mentioned midtown and I've seen other things about "midtown". Where is this at from Buckhead and is
Midtown a safe area? Is there parking around this area or are you better off
taking MARTA?

Good choice of hotel. You should be able to walk over to Lenox in good weather.

Midtown in right inbetween Buckhead and downtown. It goes Buckhead, Midtown, Downtown going north to south.

Midtown consists of striking highrise office buildings, historic residential neighborhoods, Piedmont Park and some desolate warehouse-type areas (that are rapidly being gentrified). You may feel uncomfortable in the desolate areas (West Peachtree Street, Spring Street) mainly because there's no one else around except some street people. This is where the Whole World Theatre is, so you wouldn't want to take MARTA. But there is a well lit, manned parking lot right across the street (costs $5-$6 I think) and you'll be with the hundred or so other people seeing the show, so it's perfectly safe. It's not cheap, $15 per person I think, but well worth it.

Welcome to Atlanta.