Best Of Atlanta 2007 Cityscape Large


Cityscape

The past year hasn’t been awful. Meteors didn’t pummel the 17th Street bridge to dust. Locusts didn’t swarm the samosa tray at Your DeKalb Farmers Market. Mounted Mongol invaders didn’t sack Grant Park and eat Mei Lan. Yet.

But a spike in crime, a dip in the housing market, careless missteps by police and city leaders, and, well, Michael Vick have turned our civic mood ring from blue to gray.

What better time, then, to seek solace by reflecting on some of the things old and new, trendy and timeless, that we love about our town — whether it’s the diversity of Buford Highway or the charm of our distinctive intown neighborhoods.

Maddening though it can be sometimes (witness the last session of the General Assembly), Atlanta is a profoundly interesting place to live. In a generation, it’s morphed from a provincial podunk to a behemoth of international business and a cultural mecca.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a hipster in an ironic tee, a scenester clubbing in designer duds, a company foot soldier producing stacks of TPS reports or a refugee fleeing an African war zone. Atlanta has a job for you, a place to live and a bar for you to hang out with your friends.

— Andisheh Nouraee

Best Bizarro Local News Story BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
1819 Second Ave.
Driving east on Glenwood Avenue away from the city, you take a right on Second Avenue, just shy of the East Lake Golf Club. You notice a warning on your right, painted in 3-foot-tall letters on a cement wall: “Wake Up!”

Best Book Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Books Again
Traditional used bookstores - the kind with a mix of recent hardcovers, classic fiction and obscure old tomes with gotta-have titles such as I Was a Soviet Worker - are going the way of the 8-track, thanks to the Internet. That’s why BOOKS AGAIN is so refreshing. It carries Southern literature, mysteries,more...
Traditional used bookstores - the kind with a mix of recent hardcovers, classic fiction and obscure old tomes with gotta-have titles such as I Was a Soviet Worker - are going the way of the 8-track, thanks to the Internet. That’s why BOOKS AGAIN is so refreshing. It carries Southern literature, mysteries, first editions, signed novels, children’s books and so forth, ranging in age from last year to the late 19th century. And its downtown Decatur location is appropriate, given that our most progressive suburb has become a literary center with its own annual book festival, an antiquarian book fair and more than its share of independent bookstores. Books Again reminds us of why we like used bookstores in the first place: You never know what you’ll find. less...

Best Car Wash BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Do It Right
There are more than 115 car washes in the metro - not including the free-wash-with-fill-up gas stations that do little beyond taking the dust off. When it comes to the best car wash, a sudsy handjob is a given. What’s more, no amount of buffing can surpass a thorough inside job. DO IT RIGHT does justmore...
There are more than 115 car washes in the metro - not including the free-wash-with-fill-up gas stations that do little beyond taking the dust off. When it comes to the best car wash, a sudsy handjob is a given. What’s more, no amount of buffing can surpass a thorough inside job. DO IT RIGHT does just that. It’s a small but hard-working crew that stays busy with regulars out on its checkered lot. There’s no fancy waiting room, but the Georgia Aquarium (and the mini one at Luckie Charm Lounge) are nearby. Or Do It Right will pick up your car from anywhere in Fulton. It always rains the day after you wash your car, right? Problem solved. If it rains within 48 hours of your visit, Do It Right will wash your car again for free. less...

Best CD Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Criminal Records
The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into CRIMINAL RECORDS is that the high-set counters make the staff tower over you like gods of musical knowledge ... either that, or tatted-up pharmacists. Instead of handing out Prozac, however, they’ll prescribe you the latest from Peter Bjorn and Johnmore...
The first thing you’ll notice when you walk into CRIMINAL RECORDS is that the high-set counters make the staff tower over you like gods of musical knowledge ... either that, or tatted-up pharmacists. Instead of handing out Prozac, however, they’ll prescribe you the latest from Peter Bjorn and John or the Polyphonic Spree. Tucked between Junkman’s Daughter and Aurora Coffee, this L5P staple doubles as a comic-book shop, a magazine stand, a toy store and, sometimes, a concert venue. It’s got plenty of vinyl, material from local bands, concert DVDs and rare EPs from the likes of Death Cab and Kings of Leon. Plus, its ridiculously wide selection of graphic novels (it has more than most stores that just sell comics) means you can satisfy penchants for Brian Eno and Brian Michael Bendis simultaneously. less...

Best Clothing Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Wish Atlanta
Putting a hipster clothing boutique in a stately old library building on Moreland Avenue was a stroke of genius when WISH opened a dozen or so years back. Now, several owners and inventory changes later, the shop has reached its full potential with a spectacular renovation that would feel like a SoHomore...
Putting a hipster clothing boutique in a stately old library building on Moreland Avenue was a stroke of genius when WISH opened a dozen or so years back. Now, several owners and inventory changes later, the shop has reached its full potential with a spectacular renovation that would feel like a SoHo art gallery - if you weren’t so consumed with browsing through its racks of Nice Collective, True Religion and Martin Margiela. The clean lines, black-and-white palette and stark furnishings of the main floor are made less imposing by the use of lowly materials such as bare plywood for wall paneling and construction nails for accessory hooks. Downstairs, the dim, book-lined shoe vault, where specialty kicks rest dramatically on glowing white boxes, is an equally captivating space. And the brilliant ad campaign - shots of local musicians wearing Wish’s wares - only complements the store’s hot new look. less...

Best DVD/Video Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Videodrome
Don’t let some nationwide chain - or your Netflix queue - dictate which films you check out next. If you really want to broaden your horizons, head to VIDEODROME. Like some kind of bizarro-world version of Blockbuster, here it’s the “mainstream”

Best Farmer’s Market BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Your Dekalb Farmer’S Market
Covering 140,000 square feet of well-air-conditioned space, YOUR DEKALB FARMER’S MARKET isn’t a farmer’s market in the traditional sense. That is, it doesn’t carry goods that come solely from Georgia farmers - though it does have a ridiculously massive selection of local and international produce,more...
Covering 140,000 square feet of well-air-conditioned space, YOUR DEKALB FARMER’S MARKET isn’t a farmer’s market in the traditional sense. That is, it doesn’t carry goods that come solely from Georgia farmers - though it does have a ridiculously massive selection of local and international produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, dry goods, wine and beer, and prepared foods, all at ridiculously low prices (even for the impressive selection of organic options). We recently found sushi-grade tuna for $10.99 per pound, 89-cent heads of escarole and hearty bundles of herbs for about a buck each. That’s about half the price of most competitors. Putting these values to the test, we’ve found that it’s possible to throw a four-course, 10-person dinner party for around $100. Why would you ever grocery-shop anywhere else? less...

Best Garden Shop BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Urban Gardener
From the extensive line of organic and natural fertilizers and pest control to the earthy, knowledgeable and helpful staff to the sprawling community garden that supplanted an abandoned lot, THE URBAN GARDENER is obviously a labor of love. The grounds of the gardening shop and adjoining garden are asmore...
From the extensive line of organic and natural fertilizers and pest control to the earthy, knowledgeable and helpful staff to the sprawling community garden that supplanted an abandoned lot, THE URBAN GARDENER is obviously a labor of love. The grounds of the gardening shop and adjoining garden are as beautiful as any yard you could hope to create - which makes its location a block off Interstate 20 all the more encouraging. If they grow all that beauty in a smoke-choked city without the intervention of harmful chemicals, it gives us all hope. Just ask the staff about which perennials, shade trees, native plants and ground cover might work best for you (or have their landscaping team design a formal plan) and watch as your own grounds become an urban oasis. less...

Best Gym BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Urban Body Fitness
Located right off Ponce in Va-Hi in a two-level loft, URBAN BODY FITNESS is out to give you a more personal fitness experience than you’ll find hanging around those muscle-bound meatheads and White Goodman wannabes at your local Gold’s. And if you doubt it, just ask any one of the fiercely loyalmore...
Located right off Ponce in Va-Hi in a two-level loft, URBAN BODY FITNESS is out to give you a more personal fitness experience than you’ll find hanging around those muscle-bound meatheads and White Goodman wannabes at your local Gold’s. And if you doubt it, just ask any one of the fiercely loyal members. The gym has the newest machines for cardio and strength training; an extensive schedule of yoga, Pilates and spinning classes taught by some of the best and most experienced instructors in the city; fresh-brewed gourmet coffee and tea; and even an in-house chiropractor for all your cracking needs. Its “try before you buy” less...

Best Gym BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Kettlebell Training At Studio Lotus
Move over, yoga and Pilates. A long-ignored form of Russian strength training is making a comeback, and disciples swear that two months of the exercise does more to lift the derriere (and improve balance and agility) than a year’s worth of sun salutations. KETTLEBELL TRAINING AT STUDIO LOTUS offersmore...
Move over, yoga and Pilates. A long-ignored form of Russian strength training is making a comeback, and disciples swear that two months of the exercise does more to lift the derriere (and improve balance and agility) than a year’s worth of sun salutations. KETTLEBELL TRAINING AT STUDIO LOTUS offers a departure from the mat classes and private instruction that are typically offered at the Morningside Pilates studio. Attendees of any of the seven weekly Kettlebell classes ($185 for a once-a-week, eight-week series) will be greeted with a cast-iron, bell-shaped weight with a handle on top, which is swung using both arms in various arcs and loops. In less than an hour, the low-impact exercise burns fat, sculpts muscles and offers a rigorous cardio workout. Expect to be sore - to the point of not being able to sit. less...

Best Hair Salon BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Roosters Men’s Grooming Center
If Ernest Hemingway’s reanimated corpse somehow found itself shambling down Powers Ferry Road in desperate need of a shave and haircut, it would surely stumble into ROOSTER’S, where old-school collides with new-school in an explosion of manly awesomeness. Decked out like some hunting lodge from themore...
If Ernest Hemingway’s reanimated corpse somehow found itself shambling down Powers Ferry Road in desperate need of a shave and haircut, it would surely stumble into ROOSTER’S, where old-school collides with new-school in an explosion of manly awesomeness. Decked out like some hunting lodge from the 1920s, this boy’s club oozes enough machismo to make Papa Hemingway plenty proud. Antique golf clubs, stuffed deer heads and ducks adorn the walls alongside flat-screen TVs, and there’s a table full of lad-mag reading material from Maxim to Details - and, fittingly, the forever-quotable screenplay of Caddyshack. If all that isn’t enough to get you there for your next trim, here are two important words: Free. Beer. less...

Best Hair Salon BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Salon Red - Candler Park
Actually, SALON RED AND SPA in Candler Park is probably the only place to get waxed by a winner of CL’s annual Lust List. In addition to being nominated by readers earlier this year as one of the city’s hottest service-industry workers, Kristen Standish has the skills to match. Expertise, efficiency,more...
Actually, SALON RED AND SPA in Candler Park is probably the only place to get waxed by a winner of CL’s annual Lust List. In addition to being nominated by readers earlier this year as one of the city’s hottest service-industry workers, Kristen Standish has the skills to match. Expertise, efficiency, a calm demeanor and steady handwork are wonders for novice spa-goers, and informed advice about avoiding ingrowns and cooling down that telltale redness is refreshing to the more experienced among us. You won’t feel pressured to buy any products, and the salon’s overall vibe is laid-back. So relax, sip some cool water, breathe and let Kristen and her colleagues Kaci Chandler and Anissa Jones do their thing - for a reasonable $30. We just hope the guy or gal who nominated Kristen won’t be too disappointed that she became officially committed to her lady love in August. less...

Best Hair Salon BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Adore Hair Studio & Shoppe
It’s barely a year old, but Inman Park’s ADORE HAIR STUDIO & SHOPPE has attracted a - dare we say it? - adoring clientele, and deservedly so. The handsome, minimalist loft space, decorated in shades of chocolate with leather armchairs serving as the styling seats, has drawn talent from some of themore...
It’s barely a year old, but Inman Park’s ADORE HAIR STUDIO & SHOPPE has attracted a - dare we say it? - adoring clientele, and deservedly so. The handsome, minimalist loft space, decorated in shades of chocolate with leather armchairs serving as the styling seats, has drawn talent from some of the city’s most popular salons, Many former clients of those salons have followed suit. Adore carries the coveted Bumble and bumble product line - a sign of its chops - and several stylists trained at the prestigious Bb University in New York City. Stylist Brenton Anderson has been featured on two episodes of Fox’s “Ambush Makeover,” less...

Best Head Shop BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
42 Degrees South
There are plenty of enticing and exotic wares in the front of the store to distract you, from handcrafted jewelry to billowing glass sculptures to primitive masks to a sleek waterfall. But the real treasures at 42 DEGREES SOUTH can be found inside the massive, U-shaped cases in the back. Swirling, blown-glassmore...
There are plenty of enticing and exotic wares in the front of the store to distract you, from handcrafted jewelry to billowing glass sculptures to primitive masks to a sleek waterfall. But the real treasures at 42 DEGREES SOUTH can be found inside the massive, U-shaped cases in the back. Swirling, blown-glass pipes of every size, shape and color create a rainbow of options, ranging from $10 for sleek and slender one-hitters to well more than $100 for tall, elegant water pipes. The laid-back and superfriendly staff is happy to guide you through the rather daunting process of wading through hundreds of options to find the pipe that’s right for you. less...

Best Kitchen Tools BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Restore
Georgia nonprofit Habitat for Humanity does more than build homes for the needy. It also offers donated home-renovation supplies to the public - at a fraction of their retail cost - through a Grant Park outpost called RESTORE. ReStore, which recently expanded to 4,000 square feet of warehouse space,more...
Georgia nonprofit Habitat for Humanity does more than build homes for the needy. It also offers donated home-renovation supplies to the public - at a fraction of their retail cost - through a Grant Park outpost called RESTORE. ReStore, which recently expanded to 4,000 square feet of warehouse space, offers brand-new stainless-steel appliances, cabinets, sinks, countertops, flooring, windows and light fixtures. There’s even high-end dishes and silverware. If you’re looking beyond the kitchen, ReStore also offers indoor and outdoor furniture, Jacuzzi tubs, area rugs, and just about anything you might need to spruce up your home. The best part: All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity, which means someone else gets the home they deserve, too. less...

Best Kitchen Tools BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Star Provisions
So you want to invite your new beau to your place for dinner, but there’s just one teensy problem: You don’t know the difference between bouillon and bouillabaisse, a skillet and a grill pan, chardonnay and Viognier. Let STAR PROVISIONS come to the rescue. The upscale market flanks Bacchanalia, onemore...
So you want to invite your new beau to your place for dinner, but there’s just one teensy problem: You don’t know the difference between bouillon and bouillabaisse, a skillet and a grill pan, chardonnay and Viognier. Let STAR PROVISIONS come to the rescue. The upscale market flanks Bacchanalia, one of the city’s finest restaurants, and offers plenty of options for piecing together the perfect, premade dinner-to-go. A meal of flank steak and arugula, with a side of risotto, a simple starter of French baguette and chevre, a dessert of Valrhona chocolate cake, and a heady cabernet to wash it down won’t come cheap, but all you have to do is follow the reheating instructions. You do know how to turn on the oven, right? less...

Best Lingerie Shop BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
O’Clair de Lune
A few years back, French-born-and-raised Lamia Aouassi was in the business of importing vegetables. Though she’s still in the import industry, it’s taken a bit of a turn - to European lingerie. Her online and appointment-only boutique, O’CLAIR DE LUNE, is stocked with sultry unmentionables frommore...
A few years back, French-born-and-raised Lamia Aouassi was in the business of importing vegetables. Though she’s still in the import industry, it’s taken a bit of a turn - to European lingerie. Her online and appointment-only boutique, O’CLAIR DE LUNE, is stocked with sultry unmentionables from prominent French and Italian lines. With lacy brassieres, satin undies, classy camis and frilly nighties, the collections are indulgent. Armed with champagne and gourmet chocolates, Aouassi hosts lingerie parties and will gladly assist men in selecting the perfect panties for their special lady, all out of the comfort of her live/work space in Castleberry Hill. less...

Best Men’s Clothing Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Bill Hallman
It’s unusual to stay relevant in fashion as long as BILL HALLMAN has, but somehow, this venerable store seems to have the freshest, cheekiest looks to help you stay ahead of the crowd. And now occupying an expansive 6,000-square-foot space, it has enough room to be twice as good. BH has always beenmore...
It’s unusual to stay relevant in fashion as long as BILL HALLMAN has, but somehow, this venerable store seems to have the freshest, cheekiest looks to help you stay ahead of the crowd. And now occupying an expansive 6,000-square-foot space, it has enough room to be twice as good. BH has always been about more than trendy denim and hipster T-shirts, but the addition of such men’s brands as Paul Smith and John Varvatos has upped the sophistication quotient. The women’s side, meanwhile, is off the hook, with more bags, accessories and even a carefully selected vintage selection. less...

Best Clothes You Can’t Afford BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Luxe
The coveted spring 2007 Stella McCartney dress - a silk, strapless A-line mini - still, months later, haunts our dreams. And those Sergio Rossi stilettos? Don’t even get us started. It’s hard being a broke girl with a rich girl’s wants. But at LUXE, let the nightmares be gone. The well-appointedmore...
The coveted spring 2007 Stella McCartney dress - a silk, strapless A-line mini - still, months later, haunts our dreams. And those Sergio Rossi stilettos? Don’t even get us started. It’s hard being a broke girl with a rich girl’s wants. But at LUXE, let the nightmares be gone. The well-appointed boutique recently has reopened its doors, this time on Marietta Street in of-the-moment West Midtown. Owner Jenn Ripley scours the land in search of recent seasons’ hot designs and sells them for 50 percent to 70 percent off retail. The above-mentioned dress, at $649, might not be cheap - but compared with its original tag of $2,700, it’s a steal. And so be it if we’re a season off. We can rest easy knowing the fashion of our dreams really can come true. less...

Best Pet Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Highland Pet Supply
Whether you’re looking for a $170 dog bed, a $325 kitty jungle gym, $60 doggie booties or cat kibble labeled duck or salmon “a la veg,”

Best Place for Fashion Bargains BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Fantastic Finds
Despite its location in a drab strip shopping center off the beaten path in the suburban jumble of Sandy Springs, FANTASTIC FINDS delivers the goods, fashion-wise. The modestly appointed consignment shop is filled with pre-owned jackets, skirts and little black dresses from such hot labels as Marc Jacobs,more...
Despite its location in a drab strip shopping center off the beaten path in the suburban jumble of Sandy Springs, FANTASTIC FINDS delivers the goods, fashion-wise. The modestly appointed consignment shop is filled with pre-owned jackets, skirts and little black dresses from such hot labels as Marc Jacobs, Manolo Blahnik, Bebe and Chloe, as well as samples and close-outs from top designers and high-end stores. On a good day, you might walk out with a Stella McCartney top or a Chanel bag, or find a gem on the $5 rack. Fantastic, yes? less...

Best Place for Fashion Bargains BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Intown Boutique Warehouse Sale
The Big Apple has the fabled semiannual Barney’s Warehouse Sale; we’ve got the locally renowned INTOWN BOUTIQUE WAREHOUSE SALE, where bargain hunters can score seriously marked-down duds from Bill Hallman, P. Valentine, Veruca, Laced Up, Mitzi & Romano, Wish and other merchants of edgy attire. Dealsmore...
The Big Apple has the fabled semiannual Barney’s Warehouse Sale; we’ve got the locally renowned INTOWN BOUTIQUE WAREHOUSE SALE, where bargain hunters can score seriously marked-down duds from Bill Hallman, P. Valentine, Veruca, Laced Up, Mitzi & Romano, Wish and other merchants of edgy attire. Deals are especially strong on jeans from such makers as Evisu, Acne and Seven, but there also are T-shirts, sweaters, dresses and shoes out the wazoo. The two-day fashion free-for-all takes place in a windowless, cement-floored stockroom a half-mile from the Carter Center. The only question is, can you wait until February (or July) for the next sale? less...

BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Cayenne
Pack a lunch; we’re taking a road trip. Believe it or not, the most fashionable kids’ clothes are found OTP ... in Duluth. CAYENNE carries such hip grown-up labels as Da Nang, Joe’s and Antik Denim - as well as haute lines that include Lola et Moi, Petit Bateau and Nutmeg. Co-owner Kevin Paynemore...
Pack a lunch; we’re taking a road trip. Believe it or not, the most fashionable kids’ clothes are found OTP ... in Duluth. CAYENNE carries such hip grown-up labels as Da Nang, Joe’s and Antik Denim - as well as haute lines that include Lola et Moi, Petit Bateau and Nutmeg. Co-owner Kevin Payne gets inspiration from his own 4-year-old daughter, who we’re sure will continue to inspire him well into her teens. (The store stocks clothing for babies and children up to age 16.) Cayenne is a tad on the pricey side, with cashmere frocks and “rockstar jeans” less...

Best Furniture Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Context
In addition to providing a new drooling venue for contemporary-furniture enthusiasts, CONTEXT has taken the pioneering step of opening its spacious downtown showroom in a historic 1930s building that originally housed a car dealership serving nearby Sweet Auburn. The store specializes in monochromaticmore...
In addition to providing a new drooling venue for contemporary-furniture enthusiasts, CONTEXT has taken the pioneering step of opening its spacious downtown showroom in a historic 1930s building that originally housed a car dealership serving nearby Sweet Auburn. The store specializes in monochromatic modernist pieces - such as a series of overlapping drawers that looks like a bright-red, free-standing spiral staircase - as well as designs that make innovative use of natural fibers and organic materials, as with floor fans fashioned from chrome and woven rattan. Just in is a line of exquisitely restored vintage chairs from such masters as Marcel Breuer and Eero Saarinen, proving everything old is new again. less...

Best Record Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Low Yo Yo Stuff
Former Athens music staple LOW YO YO STUFF, well-known for its tight quarters and unwieldy selection, relocated two blocks ITP in April 2006. The shop didn’t set up camp in some hip intown neighborhood filled with artsy types and trendy bars. Instead, the Low Yo Yo dudes chose a tiny and deterioratingmore...
Former Athens music staple LOW YO YO STUFF, well-known for its tight quarters and unwieldy selection, relocated two blocks ITP in April 2006. The shop didn’t set up camp in some hip intown neighborhood filled with artsy types and trendy bars. Instead, the Low Yo Yo dudes chose a tiny and deteriorating strip mall behind a towering office building off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. The cave of a store finally has enough space for both people and LPs. Records galore fill table after table and range in price from $5 to $100 or more, depending on how serious you are. The real fun is sitting on the floor searching through the old vinyl, priced from $1 to $2, and gawking at garish ’70s album covers. Be advised: The store is only open Fridays and Saturdays, from noon-6 p.m. less...

BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Phipps Plaza
It’s part of every guidebook to Atlanta. It’s heralded as the premiere shopping destination of the South. Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Versace all reside here. Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom are nothing to balk at, either. And let us not forget Jeffrey Kalinsky, who in 1994 introduced Atlanta to high-endmore...
It’s part of every guidebook to Atlanta. It’s heralded as the premiere shopping destination of the South. Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Versace all reside here. Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom are nothing to balk at, either. And let us not forget Jeffrey Kalinsky, who in 1994 introduced Atlanta to high-end fashion by opening Jeffrey alongside his already successful shoe boutique Bob Ellis (now part of Jeffrey). Walking through PHIPPS PLAZA, one can imagine what life must be like for the rich and fabulous. With the addition of such boutiques as New York staple Barney’s Co-op, trendy chain Intermix and classic line Theory, we paupers are still breaking the bank - and perhaps considering a second mortgage. less...

BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Melrose On Ponce
Merchandise spills out into the parking lot from MELROSE ON PONCE’s loaded front porch. Weathered benches, plant stands and peculiar lamp bases hint at what awaits inside the quirky bungalow-style home-decor store. The shop is a maze of hallways and rooms littered with new, antique and vintage housewares,more...
Merchandise spills out into the parking lot from MELROSE ON PONCE’s loaded front porch. Weathered benches, plant stands and peculiar lamp bases hint at what awaits inside the quirky bungalow-style home-decor store. The shop is a maze of hallways and rooms littered with new, antique and vintage housewares, as well as local arts and crafts. Make grandma proud with a dainty wood bedside table, painted black with mismatched knobs and skinny legs, on sale for $20, or create a patchwork wall with worn wooden picture frames at $7 a pop. less...

Best Taxi/Rideshare Service BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Flexcar
For those who’d like to give up their cars full-time - with the option of having some wheels to borrow for grocery shopping, picking up furniture or making a quick day trip - FLEXCAR can make that dream a reality. For as little as $6 per hour, you can rent one of 64 fully insured vehicles (includingmore...
For those who’d like to give up their cars full-time - with the option of having some wheels to borrow for grocery shopping, picking up furniture or making a quick day trip - FLEXCAR can make that dream a reality. For as little as $6 per hour, you can rent one of 64 fully insured vehicles (including hybrids, SUVs, pickup trucks and even a Mini convertible) from locations across the city and return it when you’re done. There’s none of the hassle that comes with the lines and paperwork at a traditional car-rental place. What’s more, Flexcar’s $35 annual membership fee is waived in subsequent years if you use the service just twice in 12 months. And because Flexcar’s fleet averages 30 miles per gallon, and because all of its cars are Ultra Low Emission Vehicles, borrowing from Flexcar is good for Atlanta’s crummy air, too. less...

Best Vintage Clothing Store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Stefan’s Vintage Clothing
You could haunt Goodwill like a ghost and never find vintage items as choice as those at STEFAN’S. From ’50s bowling shirts and fur-trimmed swing coats to wool fedoras and over-the-top evening wear, this 30-year-old L5P shop stocks pristine items that look and wear like brand-new. It also carriesmore...
You could haunt Goodwill like a ghost and never find vintage items as choice as those at STEFAN’S. From ’50s bowling shirts and fur-trimmed swing coats to wool fedoras and over-the-top evening wear, this 30-year-old L5P shop stocks pristine items that look and wear like brand-new. It also carries cuff links, eyeglasses and even space-age curtains in a store that’s meticulously organized despite being crammed with merchandise. The attention to detail extends to the elaborate window displays, which are among the most inventive and inviting in town. less...

Best Wine Shop BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Ansley Mall Kroger
We would never have guessed that our hunt for a bottle of 1921 Chateau Caillou Sauternes would have led us to the ANSLEY MALL KROGER. But there it was, enclosed in glass, tucked into the store’s temperature-controlled wine cellar with a price tag of $999. The selection of wine at the Ansley Mall storemore...
We would never have guessed that our hunt for a bottle of 1921 Chateau Caillou Sauternes would have led us to the ANSLEY MALL KROGER. But there it was, enclosed in glass, tucked into the store’s temperature-controlled wine cellar with a price tag of $999. The selection of wine at the Ansley Mall store is vast; from rich ports to sweet dessert wines, the handpicked inventory spans the globe. Just as important, though, is the wine staff. On a recent visit, Steve, the French wine aficionado, gave an approving nod to the rose we chose for a light dinner of Mediterranean fare. He also pointed out that a standout was coming in the next week, which spurred a conversation about roses, which got us talking about the best wines for hot summer nights, which led to ... well, let’s just say they know their stuff. less...

Best women’s clothing store BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Blue Genes
Though we swore we’d never do it, we caved liked everyone else. We had no idea how many wildly expensive skinny choices we’d have: Chip & Pepper, Habitual, Hudson, J Brand, Joe’s, Rock and Republic, Seven - the list goes on. Lying on the dressing-room floor at BLUE GENES, trying to get the skinnymore...
Though we swore we’d never do it, we caved liked everyone else. We had no idea how many wildly expensive skinny choices we’d have: Chip & Pepper, Habitual, Hudson, J Brand, Joe’s, Rock and Republic, Seven - the list goes on. Lying on the dressing-room floor at BLUE GENES, trying to get the skinny zipper up, we got sucked into the long-running trend. And once we were finally able to stand up and get a glimpse of our skinny legs in the mirror, we were sold. Before we knew it, we were forking over $200 and shimmying our skinny self out the door, vowing never to eat again. less...

Categories No Longer in Use BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Quiktrip
It might only be a penny cheaper by the gallon compared with its closest competitor, but Atlanta’s four QUIKTRIP stations offer something more than cheap gas: consistent prices. When we compared gas-by-the-gallon rates at www.atlantagasprices.com, we found that QuikTrip was the only station in themore...
It might only be a penny cheaper by the gallon compared with its closest competitor, but Atlanta’s four QUIKTRIP stations offer something more than cheap gas: consistent prices. When we compared gas-by-the-gallon rates at www.atlantagasprices.com, we found that QuikTrip was the only station in the city that had the same regular-grade price at all of its locations: $2.79. Prices at five of Atlanta’s BP stations, on the other hand, ranged from $2.80 to a whopping $3.19. QuikTrip also has some of the lowest prices in the burbs, where gas prices can be significantly lower than in town. Here’s to QuikTrip, for keeping gas prices low no matter where in the city you fill ‘er up. less...
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Best Radio DJ/Personality BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Mara Davis, Dave FM
WZGC-FM (92.9)

Best Rock Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Project 96.1 (WKLS-FM)

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Traffic

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Trees

Best Street Character BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Baton Bob

Best suburb BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Decatur

Best Tourist Trap BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Georgia Aquarium

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Trees

Best Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
95.5 The Beat

Best Advocate for the Environment BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Laura Turner Seydel

Best Advocate for the Environment BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Sally Bethea

Best Bike Ride / Urban BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Stone Mountain Park

Best Bizarro Local News Story BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Chris Benoit murdering his wife and child then taking his own life

Best Columnist/Journalist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Hollis Gillespie

Best Columnist/Journalist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Hollis Gillespie

Best Columnist/Journalist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Monica Pearson

Best Country Music Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Kicks 101.5

Best Free Annual Event BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Atlanta Pride Festival

Best Georgia Beach Retreat BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Destin, Fla

Best Georgia Mountain Retreat BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Blue Ridge Mountains

Best Golf Course BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
East Lake Country Club

Best Intown Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Piedmont Park

Best Jazz Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
107.5 WJZZ

Best Jogging Path BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Freedom Park PATH

Best Local Athlete BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Jeff Francoeur

Best Local Blog/Zine BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Access Atlanta website

Best Local Blog/Zine BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Neal Boortz’s website

Best Local Blogger BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Cable & Tweed

Best Local Blogger BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Preston Craig

Best Local Blogger BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Atlanta Braves website

Best Local Celebrity BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Baton Bob

Best Local Do-Gooder BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Clark Howard

Best Local Hero BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Baton Bob

Best Local Hero BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Shirley Franklin

Best Local Podcast BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Paste Culture Club

Best Local Political Figure BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Shirley Franklin

Best Local Political Figure BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Shirley Franklin

Best Local Rabble-Rouser/Activist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Brandon Bond

Best local sports radio show BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Two Live Stews

Best Local TV News BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Monica Pearson

Best Loft Project BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Atlantic Station

Best Morning Drive-Time Radio Show BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Bert Weiss and the Bert Show on Q100 (100.5)

Best Neighborhood Festival BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Inman Park Festival

Best Neighborhood to Buy a House Cheap BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
East Atlanta Village

Best New Addition to the Cityscape BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
1180 Peachtree

Best New Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Georgia Aquarium

Best Non-Commercial Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
88.5 The Album

Best OTP Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Stone Mountain Park

Best Overall Neighborhood BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
East Atlanta Village

Best OverRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Underground Atlanta

Best Columnist/Journalist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Monica Pearson

Best YouTube BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Willy Terry story
A film by Dan Resnick

Best Morning Drive-Time Radio Show BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Q100 - All The Hits

Best Morning Drive-Time Radio Show BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Q100 - All The Hits

Best Georgia Mountain Retreat BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Blue Ridge Mountains

Best Neighborhood to Have It All BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
East Atlanta Village

Best Neighborhood Festival BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Inman Park Festival
To avoid the stifling heat of summer, Atlanta crams a full six months of outdoor civic togetherness into the three spring months. The festival season’s two biggies, Dogwood and Gay Pride at Piedmont Park, are justifiably well-regarded. But for those looking for a real neighborhoody festivalmore...
To avoid the stifling heat of summer, Atlanta crams a full six months of outdoor civic togetherness into the three spring months. The festival season’s two biggies, Dogwood and Gay Pride at Piedmont Park, are justifiably well-regarded. But for those looking for a real neighborhoody festival experience, the INMAN PARK FESTIVAL can’t be beat. Some of the event’s charm is just lucky geography — it’s fun to meander through the ’hood’s winding, shady streets. But the organizers deserve credit — by controlling the quality of the arts, entertainment and even the food, they’ve deftly grown it into a huge festival while avoiding corporate-carnival blandness. less...

Best Neighborhood Festival BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Inman Park Festival

Best Loft Project BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Atlantic Station

Best New Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Georgia Aquarium

Best Non-Commercial Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
WRAS 88.5

Best Contribution to Atlanta’s Urban Design BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Atlanta Beltline Inc
Just when it seemed Atlanta was as likely to issue free personal jet packs to every resident as it was to make progress on THE BELTLINE, the city worked behind the scenes to team with a group of private investors to buy the proposed 22-mile loop’s northeast quadrant from Gwinnett developer Waynemore...

Just when it seemed Atlanta was as likely to issue free personal jet packs to every resident as it was to make progress on THE BELTLINE, the city worked behind the scenes to team with a group of private investors to buy the proposed 22-mile loop’s northeast quadrant from Gwinnett developer Wayne Mason, who tried but failed to get approval for two huge condo towers on the Beltline overlooking Piedmont Park. Few details are known, but it appears Atlanta will get its transit right-of-way and parks, developers will get to put swank homes and retail on some of the city’s most desirable land, and Mason will make an eight-figure profit just for sitting on the land for three years.


www.beltline.org

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Best OTP Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Stone Mountain Park

Best Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
WREK Atlanta 91.1 FM, Georgia Tech Student Radio
Engineers are strange, in a good way. Though we never quite know how, they help us manage the banality of everyday life. So it sorta makes sense that Georgia Tech’s student-run radio station, WREK-FM (91.1) is the same: strange in a good way. The station’s format is noncommercial andmore...
Engineers are strange, in a good way. Though we never quite know how, they help us manage the banality of everyday life. So it sorta makes sense that Georgia Tech’s student-run radio station, WREK-FM (91.1) is the same: strange in a good way. The station’s format is noncommercial and nonconforming. Few stations in the city can compete with WREK’s eclectic playlist as it moves without missing a beat from the street-conscious rap of Lupe Fiasco’s “Just Might Be OK” to the mind-numbing rock of Japan’s Solar Anus. It’s as if the daily sound blocks are programmed to project moods instead of genres. The station’s website even provides a detailed blueprint of WREK’s mission statement for the next three years. How efficient. less...

Best Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
92.9 Dave FM

Best OverRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Underground Atlanta

Best Festivals BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Little Five Points Halloween Parade
The Inman Park Festival parade is best-known as home turf for the incredibly entertaining Kelly’s Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band. The quirky Pride Parade in Midtown is Atlanta’s most honest celebration of freedom. We love them both. But Atlanta’s most original, entertainingmore...

The Inman Park Festival parade is best-known as home turf for the incredibly entertaining Kelly’s Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band. The quirky Pride Parade in Midtown is Atlanta’s most honest celebration of freedom. We love them both. But Atlanta’s most original, entertaining and downright bizarre street march is the LITTLE FIVE POINTS HALLOWEEN PARADE. Where else does a 7-foot-penis swagger by a wholesome family in broad daylight, or a snarling, bare-chested madman gnaw on his bone and lunge at the crowd only to have his collar jerked by his masterful mistress?


www.l5phalloween.com.

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Best Person You Hate to Love BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Mei Lan
We might just prefer to have fresh bamboo shoots driven under our fingernails than be forced to read another story about MEI LAN, the baby panda. After the wall-to-wall press coverage, the billboards, the nightly gushing and cooing by local TV anchors, the ads for panda posters in the AJC and the frickin’more...

We might just prefer to have fresh bamboo shoots driven under our fingernails than be forced to read another story about MEI LAN, the baby panda. After the wall-to-wall press coverage, the billboards, the nightly gushing and cooing by local TV anchors, the ads for panda posters in the AJC and the frickin’ panda cam, for God’s sake, we’re sick of hearing about the little beast. But, um, have you been over to the zoo to check her out? She’s actually pretty adorable in person, lounging on her log or playing with her mother. We don’t need to read any more about Mei Lan. Can we just take her home instead?


800 Cherokee Ave. 404-624-5600. www.zooatlanta.org

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Best Person You Hate to Love BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Neal Boortz

Best Person You Love to Hate BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Michael Vick
Pro sports stars can get away with a lot without losing the fans’ love: cheat on their wives, drive drunk, consort with hookers, make lousy rap records, etc. But for many people, abusing and torturing animals is on par with child molestation. The things MICHAEL VICK did to dogs are so disgustingmore...
Pro sports stars can get away with a lot without losing the fans’ love: cheat on their wives, drive drunk, consort with hookers, make lousy rap records, etc. But for many people, abusing and torturing animals is on par with child molestation. The things MICHAEL VICK did to dogs are so disgusting and sordid that it’s impossible to look at the guy the same way we used to. Vick has failed his Falcons teammates, effectively wasted our entire football season and deeply embarrassed his adopted city. less...

Best Person You Love to Hate BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Neal Boortz

Best Spot to Commune with Nature/Best Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Atlanta may not be the city in a forest anymore, but there are still forests in the city. Scores of wooded acres endure in scattered patches, but the undeveloped fringes of the Hooch are the most dramatic. The CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA is a collection of preserved tracts along themore...
Atlanta may not be the city in a forest anymore, but there are still forests in the city. Scores of wooded acres endure in scattered patches, but the undeveloped fringes of the Hooch are the most dramatic. The CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA is a collection of preserved tracts along the banks of Georgia’s aquatic aorta from Buford Dam to Atlanta, with ITP sections near Sandy Springs and Vinings. Year-round hiking, fishing, rafting, canoeing and kayaking are all copacetic during daylight hours, and alcohol without glass is, too. It would be wise to enjoy the river sooner rather than later, as our mushrooming metropolis is chugging it down and polluting it up faster than the Appalachian springs in northeast Georgia can trickle it out. less...

Best Bar to Hook Up BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Gwinnett is Great
On the water tower that hovers over I-85 is the declaration: GWINNETT IS GREAT. What’s Gwinnett great at? For one thing, producing otherwise unremarkable young women whose lapses in judgment — combined with their wholesome suburban-ness and vaguely attractive whiteness — accidentallymore...
On the water tower that hovers over I-85 is the declaration: GWINNETT IS GREAT. What’s Gwinnett great at? For one thing, producing otherwise unremarkable young women whose lapses in judgment — combined with their wholesome suburban-ness and vaguely attractive whiteness — accidentally propel them into the national news spotlight. In ’05, it was Jennifer “Runaway Bride” Wilbanks. This year, it’s Ashley Miller and Heather Johnston, aka the Barbie Bandits, who briefly captured the country’s imagination by looking a lot prettier on Bank of America security-camera footage than they do in real life. After they were arrested and news producers figured out they weren’t actually hot, they largely vanished. Before her guilty plea, Johnston worked as a telemarketer. Miller is, of all things, working as a babysitter as she awaits trial. less...

Best Spot to Commune with Nature/Best Park BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Ormewood Park
The problem with neighborhoods is, once they become the Place to Be, you can no longer afford to move there. You’ve got to catch them on the upswing, somewhere between semisqualor and universal respectability. That pretty well describes ORMEWOOD PARK, where it’s still possible to findmore...
The problem with neighborhoods is, once they become the Place to Be, you can no longer afford to move there. You’ve got to catch them on the upswing, somewhere between semisqualor and universal respectability. That pretty well describes ORMEWOOD PARK, where it’s still possible to find affordable bungalows and rehab projects for DIYers on shady, tree-lined streets. Ormewood is close to I-20, and benefits from the recent openings of nearby restaurants and bars in the Glenwood Park development and in East Atlanta Village. A final selling point for those who think long-term: when the Beltline is finished, you’ll be able to take your grandkids to Piedmont Park on the trolley. less...

Best Georgia Mountain Retreat BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Stone Mountain Park

Best place to ride your bike BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Freedom Parkway

Best place for Celebrity Sighting BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Anyplace Except Atlanta
Atlanta’s kinda like the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding who thinks everything is Greek. Celebs with tenuous or long-ago links to the metro area are still referred to in the local press as Atlantans. Julia Roberts, Ryan Seacrest, Holly Hunter and John Mayer haven’t lived here formore...
Atlanta’s kinda like the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding who thinks everything is Greek. Celebs with tenuous or long-ago links to the metro area are still referred to in the local press as Atlantans. Julia Roberts, Ryan Seacrest, Holly Hunter and John Mayer haven’t lived here for years, but we still call them Atlantans. So what if Sir Elton John spends most of his time in one of his four European homes. He owns a condo in Buckhead, so he’s an Atlantan. Forget about the athletes and hip-hop moguls shopping and supping in Phipps and Justin’s. The best place to find A-list Atlanta celebs is ANYPLACE EXCEPT ATLANTA. less...

Best place for Celebrity Sighting BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Lenox Square

Best Playground BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
John C Howell Park

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Booze and Bottomless Dancers
We don’t have a harbor, casinos or a pleasant climate in the summer. But Atlanta still ranks as a major convention destination, in large part because it’s one of the few cities in the country whose strip clubs feature BOOZE AND BOTTOMLESS DANCERS. Even residents who aren’tmore...
We don’t have a harbor, casinos or a pleasant climate in the summer. But Atlanta still ranks as a major convention destination, in large part because it’s one of the few cities in the country whose strip clubs feature BOOZE AND BOTTOMLESS DANCERS. Even residents who aren’t patrons of the ecdysiastic arts appreciate the importance of the convention trade to the city’s economy. And for those who do partake in the occasional table dance, you already know what a bummer it would be if that G-string never came off. Or if you had to drink wheatgrass milk all night long instead of your customary Courvoisier-and-Red-Bull shooters. less...

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Traffic

Best Radio DJ/Personality BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Mara Davis, Dave FM
WZGC-FM (92.9)

Best Non-Commercial Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
WABE-FM (90.1)
Some parts of the country only have to contend with right-wing, know-nothing blowhards dominating their radios. In Georgia, know-nothing blowhards don’t just dominate the radio, they dominate our politics. That’s why WABE-FM (90.1) is such a treasure. In a desert of loudmouths, it’smore...
Some parts of the country only have to contend with right-wing, know-nothing blowhards dominating their radios. In Georgia, know-nothing blowhards don’t just dominate the radio, they dominate our politics. That’s why WABE-FM (90.1) is such a treasure. In a desert of loudmouths, it’s an oasis of thoughtfulness and quiet sanity. NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “All Things Considered,” as well as PRI’s “The World,” air locally on WABE, and are far and away the best broadcast news programs available in our city. And such talk shows as “Fresh Air” and “This American Life” are cultural lifelines, reminding us daily that there are parts of America where people don’t turn the bumpers of their cars into shrines for dead NASCAR drivers. less...

Best Rock Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
WRAS 88.5
The collective knowledge of Pitchfork’s contributors is an invaluable tool for finding new and interesting rock; on the other hand, the mag is marred by bad writers who frequently confuse opacity with profundity. The rock programming at ALBUM 88, WRAS-FM (88.5) is Pitchfork’s encyclopedicmore...
The collective knowledge of Pitchfork’s contributors is an invaluable tool for finding new and interesting rock; on the other hand, the mag is marred by bad writers who frequently confuse opacity with profundity. The rock programming at ALBUM 88, WRAS-FM (88.5) is Pitchfork’s encyclopedic equal. Only, instead of writing about the music, Georgia State’s student-run station plays you the music. And instead of being pompous, the student DJs are smart people who play interesting music because they think you might like it. You won’t like all of it. But if you like discovering new rock, it’s your best bet, short of stealing cool people’s iPods. less...

Best Rock Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Project 96.1 (WKLS-FM)

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Buford Highway
BUFORD HIGHWAY is Atlanta’s Chinatown. It’s also our Koreatown, our Vietnamtown, our Mexicotown and many more. To some, Buford Highway is just a shopping and restaurant district — a place to get a bowl of pho on a Friday night, or a place to pick up stalks of fresh lemongrassmore...
BUFORD HIGHWAY is Atlanta’s Chinatown. It’s also our Koreatown, our Vietnamtown, our Mexicotown and many more. To some, Buford Highway is just a shopping and restaurant district — a place to get a bowl of pho on a Friday night, or a place to pick up stalks of fresh lemongrass for a Thai recipe you’re making at home. Buford Highway’s much more than food and shopping, though. It’s the living, breathing fulfillment of Atlanta’s oft-stated desire to be an international city instead of just a provincial capital. less...

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Our Destiny is in Our Hands
L.A. has earthquakes and wildfires. New York and D.C. have terrorism. Houston and Florida have hurricanes. For a large city and commercial hub, Atlanta is remarkably safe from external mortal threats. The biggest threat to Atlanta is itself. It means OUR DESTINY IS IN OUR HANDS. All the things we bitchmore...
L.A. has earthquakes and wildfires. New York and D.C. have terrorism. Houston and Florida have hurricanes. For a large city and commercial hub, Atlanta is remarkably safe from external mortal threats. The biggest threat to Atlanta is itself. It means OUR DESTINY IS IN OUR HANDS. All the things we bitch about (traffic, sprawl, crime, filthy air, etc.) are our own doing — the result of decades of electing state and local politicians who are better at bickering than leading. Believe it or not, that’s good news. L.A. can’t make earthquakes go away. But we can stop doing stupid shit. less...

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Traffic

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Trees

Best Local Rabble-Rouser/Activist BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Alexis White
When an Atlanta police narcotics squad killed 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston last November after bursting into her home with a bogus search warrant, police tried to excuse the killing by telling reporters a confidential informant had recently purchased drugs from Johnston’s home. That’smore...
When an Atlanta police narcotics squad killed 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston last November after bursting into her home with a bogus search warrant, police tried to excuse the killing by telling reporters a confidential informant had recently purchased drugs from Johnston’s home. That’s when 24-year-old ALEXIS WHITE stepped up to prove himself a different sort of local hero. Police, he later said, were pressuring him to say he was the drug buyer. Fortunately, White stood his ground — and snitched. White called 911 and told authorities he was being asked to lie. His truth-telling thwarted an attempted cover-up and helped send two dirty cops, Greg Junnier and J.R. Smith, to prison for manslaughter. less...

Best Street Character BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Baton Bob

Best Street Character BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Willy Terry, aka Bicycle Shorts Man
With his paid gigs and his slick website, “street character” is no longer an apt title for Baton Bob. He’s a full-fledged local celeb now. For God’s sake, the man has a better Wikipedia entry than Creative Loafing does. Of Bob’s street-character colleagues,more...
With his paid gigs and his slick website, “street character” is no longer an apt title for Baton Bob. He’s a full-fledged local celeb now. For God’s sake, the man has a better Wikipedia entry than Creative Loafing does. Of Bob’s street-character colleagues, none is more notorious, long-lived or as apparently well-endowed as WILLY TERRY, AKA BICYCLE SHORTS MAN. For 16 years, he has stood at the intersection of Briarcliff and Ponce, greeting passers-by with a smile, a wave and a glimpse of what appears to be an enormous penis visible through tight bicycle shorts. He’ll probably never be Baton Bob-famous, but last year, Terry appeared in an online documentary short (filmed by an Emory student named Dan Resnick) viewed more than 60,000 times. He’s putting the tube back in YouTube. less...

Best suburb BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Decatur
Because it’s closer to intown Atlanta’s coolest neighborhoods than most of the rest of intown Atlanta, people tend not to think of DECATUR as a suburb. But a suburb it is. The DeKalb County seat is home to 18,000 people who enjoy many of the benefits of suburban living (more green space,more...
Because it’s closer to intown Atlanta’s coolest neighborhoods than most of the rest of intown Atlanta, people tend not to think of DECATUR as a suburb. But a suburb it is. The DeKalb County seat is home to 18,000 people who enjoy many of the benefits of suburban living (more green space, a slightly slower pace of life than the city, decent public schools and an accessible local government) with few of the drawbacks. It has public transit, and plenty of places within walking distance of each other, including charming shops, great restaurants, bars and an increasing number of mid-rise condominiums. This fall, it’s even slated to get a free municipal Wi-Fi network that will cover much of the city. Top that, Alpharetta. less...

Best suburb BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Decatur

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
There’s Culture in Atlanta
Yes, Virginia, THERE’S CULTURE IN ATLANTA. Sure, it’s not a New York City or San Francisco or Chicago, where finding “culture” is a matter of walking a couple blocks or catching a quick train. But Atlanta teems with artistic vision of all varieties if you’remore...
Yes, Virginia, THERE’S CULTURE IN ATLANTA. Sure, it’s not a New York City or San Francisco or Chicago, where finding “culture” is a matter of walking a couple blocks or catching a quick train. But Atlanta teems with artistic vision of all varieties if you’re willing to go find it. It has Lenny’s and Eyedrum, the Fay Gold Gallery and the Decatur Social Club. There are thriving arts, music and literary scenes. There’s theater, opera, art cinema, major-league sports, quirky shops and cutting-edge restaurants. Atlanta is not only a city with culture, it is a city with soul. It is a city of tradition that constantly reinvents itself. less...

Best Tourist Trap BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Georgia Aquarium
After a charmed debut year when it welcomed (and collected admission charges from) more than 3 million visitors, the GEORGIA AQUARIUM has experienced a bit of a sophomore slump. This year, two of its largest animals, whale sharks Ralph and Norton, went belly-up. The deaths drew scrutiny to the aquarium’smore...

After a charmed debut year when it welcomed (and collected admission charges from) more than 3 million visitors, the GEORGIA AQUARIUM has experienced a bit of a sophomore slump. This year, two of its largest animals, whale sharks Ralph and Norton, went belly-up. The deaths drew scrutiny to the aquarium’s animal-care practices, as well as prompted questions about the wisdom of bringing enormous ocean creatures to Atlanta just for our viewing pleasure. Despite those setbacks, the Home Depot Memorial Fish Tank is and will likely remain the city’s finest tourist attraction. Its size, breathtaking visual presentation and novelty make it a no-brainer for entertaining out-of-town guests. It’s our Disneyland.


225 Baker St. 404-581-4000. www.georgiaaquarium.org

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Best Tourist Trap BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Georgia Aquarium

Best UnderRated Thing About Atlanta BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Trees

Best Urban/ Contemporary Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
103.3 (WVEE-FM)
Personalities are the lifeblood of commercial stations. And V-103, WVEE-FM (103.3) has a killer lineup: Frank Ski, Wanda Smith and Miss Sophia (mornings), Porsche Foxx (midday), Ryan Cameron (afternoon drive), Greg Street (evenings) and Joyce Littel (late night). It’s not only the music (pop-hop/R&B)more...
Personalities are the lifeblood of commercial stations. And V-103, WVEE-FM (103.3) has a killer lineup: Frank Ski, Wanda Smith and Miss Sophia (mornings), Porsche Foxx (midday), Ryan Cameron (afternoon drive), Greg Street (evenings) and Joyce Littel (late night). It’s not only the music (pop-hop/R&B) their listeners tune in to hear; it’s also the hosts. More than those at any other station, V-103’s on-air personalities have worked to create a familial bond with their listeners that transcends their ’hood fame. less...

Best Radio Station BOA Award Winner

Year » 2007
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2007 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
95.5 The Beat


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