Attention Atlanta-area Polytubbies! (This means you, Siddiqui)

[Guynemer]

My good ladywife shall be attending DragonCon, in order to gleem some ideas for promoting her upcoming novels. I shall be joining here on Saturday.

My question is simple: what the hell is there to do in downtown Atlanta? Good places to eat, etc? I believe we're staying at the Hilton Atlanta, downtown on Courtland St., near Peachtree.

[notyoueither]

Good cover for secret aspirations to dorkdom.

[Theben]

Secret?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Who me?!

Hey, I'll be at DragonCon on Saturday too!

We can meet up if you wish (or not, if you don't have time)

Hilton is, I believe, connected to Peachtree Center. The area is fairly "mall-ish". You can grab a quick bite (mostly fast food) there if you wish. Most of the good dining options close to you are further north in Midtown or Buckhead (and most of those are just right off of Peachtree Rd [the main one]). Easiest way to get there is to take the MARTA (that's the train) or just walk if you feel like it. Midtown is probably the most fun area close by and about a mile north of where you are staying.

What do you feel like eating/drinking?

Also around the area if you feel like a DragonCon break (a little bit of a walk, but not horrid) is the Georgia Aquarium (largest aquarium in the world), World of Coca-Cola, CNN Center, Turner Field (I think the Braves are home this weekend).

[SlowwHand]

I believe we're staying at the Hilton Atlanta, downtown on Courtland St., near Peachtree.

Well hell yes, it's on Peachtree. The only question is, which Peachtree?

[Dinner]

Hey, I'll be at DragonCon on Saturday too!

[Ben Kenobi]

God, nothing like Poly.

[-Jrabbit]

I am so glad to be at a point in life where I have no factual knowledge of exactly what DragonCon is. Not that I don't have a pretty good idea...

[SlowwHand]

I don't want to know. Don't! Don't even go there.

[SpencerH]

The "High Museum of Art" is not too far from where you're staying (its on a MARTA stop). Unfortunately, my favorite Atlanta restaurant is in Alpharetta (way north of downtown). From my experiences, downtown is mostly fast food and high priced steakhouses. That doesnt mean that there arent good restaurants there, merely that I've missed them (I tend to stay "further out" and drive in for downtown events). I can tell you that you can get a DAMN LARGE cold Guinness from the greek place in the CNN center for $8 (which is always welcome after making the walk across from the convention center)

[Imran Siddiqui]

God, nothing like Poly.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The "High Museum of Art" is not too far from where you're staying (its on a MARTA stop).

That's true... and if it's a nice day, it's not too horrible a walk from Peachtree Center area (less than 2 miles) up Peachtree.

Unfortunately, my favorite Atlanta restaurant is in Alpharetta (way north of downtown).

Which one if I may ask? Is it 5 Seasons? (which I've heard is great, but never tried)

From my experiences, downtown is mostly fast food and high priced steakhouses. That doesnt mean that there arent good restaurants there, merely that I've missed them (I tend to stay "further out" and drive in for downtown events)

That's mostly true. I mean there is a "Taco Mac" in CNN Center (damned fine wings), but a lot of the good eats are in Midtown if you are in the area. If you get up there, DEFINITELY try to get to "The Vortex". Best burgers you'll ever have.

[SpencerH]

That's true... and if it's a nice day, it's not too horrible a walk from Peachtree Center area (less than 2 miles) up Peachtree.



Which one if I may ask? Is it 5 Seasons? (which I've heard is great, but never tried)



That's mostly true. I mean there is a "Taco Mac" in CNN Center (damned fine wings), but a lot of the good eats are in Midtown if you are in the area. If you get up there, DEFINITELY try to get to "The Vortex". Best burgers you'll ever have.

I'm usually in Atlanta for volleyball tournaments so we dont hit any "fine dining" while there. We look for good ethnic food though and avoid the overpriced tourist traps and "American" restaurants (Applebees etc) like the plague.

I'm pretty sure I've had a few drinks and eaten at the Vortex while in Atlanta for a meeting. IIRC it has Guiness on tap so thats a good start.

It's the Ippolito's in Alpharetta (12850 Highway 9 N # 250). Its a "real" Italien-American restaurant (kinda like the good Italien-American places in Jersey). For my money its comparable to what you'll find along the coast around Venice. We tried another one on Roswell road. It was OK but not as good as the one in Alpharetta (which I think is the original).

Mellow Mushroom in Brookhaven was quite good for wood-baked pizza and an extensive on-tap beer selection.

I wish I knew some pit BBQ place to recommend in Atlanta but I dont. Guy cant visit the south and not have some real Q.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I can recommend a BBQ place, but you'd probably need a car to reach it (in either East or North directions).

I enjoy Mellow Mushroom. One of the best non-NY/NJ area pizza places I've been to (even though it is a chain).

Oh, and the Vortex has a bit more than just Guiness on tap, Guy, if you were wondering (and Taco Mac has like 50-100 on tap, depending on the location) .

[Patroklos]

What a coincidence, I am driving th ALT tommorrow after work. However, instead of not getting laid at Dragoncon I will be attending the Alabama/VT game at the Georgia Dome.

I also intend to hit up the Georgia aquarium, being a salt water aquarium keeper its been on my radar for years

I enjoy Mellow Mushroom. One of the best non-NY/NJ area pizza places I've been to (even though it is a chain).

We have one here in Charleston too, I will also recomend it, very good pies. I've been to the one in Columbia that wasn't so good.