Atlanta Dispatch: Why “The City in the Forest” May Be the Best City in America

I Don’t Make the Rules

Piedmont Park > Central Park
Biscuits > Any baked bread situation
Actual diversity EVERYWHERE.

As America’s 8th largest Metropolitan area Atlanta is IT! It’s time we look at places for where they are and how they are dealing with their history rather than limiting them by it.

Atlanta is like your relative you only heard about when you were a kid that family said was weird and odd, but when you grow up and engaged with them yourself you’re like oh no, she’s actually real and awesome and wise and honest and sincere and fun and interesting and cool and so basically where it’s at. That’s Atlanta. (That’s also the power of travel and seeing for yourself cuz all places have amazing people and good things that change you for the better and improve your life journey! [Like I’ve found with Phoenix.] But I digress..)

Black bougie people everywhere like I’ve never seen anywhere in the Western world? Arguably the best food in America (and nicest service!)?! Sky and trees and charming houses all over the city? Arts and history and culture at every step and in every conversation.

You guys. America needs to be like Atlanta and yes, northerners, I know what I just said. And yes I said what I said.

Let me expliquez.

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Atlanta: The City in the Forest

It’s Called The City in the Forest. That’s Honestly Enough.

It’s known as the City in the Forest and it is still that way – (though middle men developers are trying to stop this so we gotta act fast! Growth is natural but soul sucking buildings not at human scale replacing sky with gray steel and human connection is not.)

For the nickname alone it could be the best big city in America (cuz nature rules.)

In the heart of the city, and all around it, you will find charming, unique homes of stone and brick and wood all around that make you feel like you must be in some suburbs of NY or Boston. (Not those all the same homes that suck creativity and uniqueness and beauty out of our world.)

Atlantas house filled city neighborhoods are also along tree lined streets and feature charming main street gathering spots – Virginia Highland, Old 4th Ward, Inman Park, Piedmont Heights, Poncey-Highland…they even have cute names!

And when I say trees, I mean huge trees all over that coat the city in a smell of greenery and canopy of dappled sky (which is beautiful but also super practical because omg that sun here is for reals.)

You feel nature in this thriving metropolis. How amazing is that?

There are mini parks all over. Oh, and many of these trees bloom at various times of the year – and there’s fall foliage! You actually smell flowers and greenery when walking about. (Central Park could never lol.)

That’s just for start. I’m setting the scene. You guys!

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Culture, History, and the Missed Narrative

There’s the architecture, the food, the culture, the people, the arts, the actual diversity, the sky, the openly discussed history (!), the museums, the nature.

Museums that remind me of France in terms of their beauty, style and creativity (You must visit SCAD!) Plays that could be (should be!) on Broadway (Hi The Covenant.)

And people so loving, creative, cool and nature-neighbor driven that I was like, how is Atlanta not talked about for all this awesomeness and why is this not the rep cuz like, do the people not know?

What in the bad media, false narratives and all out lies is this missed magic?!

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Growth, Development, and the Red Alert

And since many high rises are popping up – alarmingly so – I’m like, ok corporate America and businessmen are noticing (read: bogarting), so how do we keep Atlanta charming and local and humane without it becoming a NYC tall building behemoth?

Yes, this article is to give you tips to visit but also a red alert so that building can be done more consciously with quality of life and nature being taken into consideration AND NOT SOME CORPORATE EARNINGS CHART THAT IS LACKING ANYTHING THAT MATTERS TO HUMAN LIFE.

Traffic and cars are too much and an issue here. Public transit needs to be built and expanded. (How about they learn from Copenhagen? Seems like a good pairing up – sister city learning opportunity?!)

Let’s get to it.

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Diversity That Is Actually Lived

You walk in Piedmont Park and statues tell of the terrible history honestly. Like super in your face. How about that, rest of America?

But what makes it the promise that no other American city delivers?

It’s where you actually see the melting pot in action.

High Museum? As many Black bougie arty people as white.
A random nice Thai restaurant? Same.
A random coffee shop? Same.
A random grocery store? Same.

ITS ACTUALLY DIVERSE ALL OVER AND IN MANY OF THE WAYS AND OMFG.

The city in the forest is actually like a forest: it’s diverse and varied and all working together.

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The Nature and the Trees All Over the City

But back to the city’s greenery, delicious food, historic buildings, blue sky and lovely weather (whatever, summers everywhere are hard lol.)

Oh, it’s fall? Foliage is here.
Music festivals? All over town and many free.
Botanical Garden? Amazing and one of America’s best.
Airport proximity to the city? Fabu. (Ignoring the airport experience cuz yeah.)

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My Atlanta Tips

I say definitely walk the city. The architecture is wow and the trees and greenery are just calling to be enjoyed at human scale.

Public transit here is not great – it’s not varied and reliable. Taxis are great though.

The Botanical Garden here is excellent. Wonderful exhibits, light shows, open evenings. (And yes I want to throw a party here cuz omg the city view is amazing.)

There’s also Inman Park (so nice) and an area called Sherwood Forest lol. They get it.

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Food: Biscuits and Way More

OMFG. Biscuits.

Yes the southern foods are incredible, but there is so much delicious cheffing happening. I had food from all over the world in some of the most charming places with delightful staff.

Alon’s Bakery

Are you kidding me? The raspberry Danish thing is beyond and also the cheese thing I had. I want to get a sandwich so if you do, tell me. It’s a pickup kind of spot though some tables but def come here and get provisions. They had a Christmas tree-shaped croissant with raspberry and one with pistachio that was not only delish but gorgeous. Best bakery in America? It could be, easily.

Bread and Butterfly

Another must-go. Um, it’s one of the best French bistros/brasseries including France on looks and food, wow. Every egg and salad dish looks wow. Tables full of all kinds – dates, friends of all ages, people typing away (like me) – and the floors and tin ceiling had me like, um, sadly France could never. The playlist. Like my dream spot. A must-go. Like not an option. We support small businesses esp delicious ones with Black head chefs. (And double especially when they have a pancakes and plantains like that lol.)

Dancing Goats Coffee Shop

This chain in the area has great coffee and an amazing space to work inside/outside at its Ponce Market location. Great coffee and an amazing space to work and/or catch up with friends. It’s my fav location of them all due to the space.

For the Five

This NYC-started coffee shop is expanding across America and the delicious coffee and amazing space at the base of the Google building (I know but what are we gonna do) had me coming back. It was the most expensive coffee (I blame Google lol) but it was also sooo good. Great staff too, and a gorgeous space – like seriously omg industrial big building was done very right, you’ll enjoy it if in Midtown and want to work/meet up.

Folk Art

Delicious food, charming space that felt like I could be in any Southern restaurant in any town in the best possible way. A neighborhood spot that will have you coming daily – even from across town like me. The staff was so nice and just omfg I had their unique take on grits with their homemade jam and wow.

Bantam and Biddy

A Southern diner. Everything is delicious but the biscuit with egg and cheese was my daily lol. Also the fried chicken. A charming spot with a varied menu and also the bourbon caramel latte was delish. Get.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room

I came for the historic spot deliciousness and it didn’t disappoint. Pro tips: I got the smothered chicken and recommend it. (But next time imma get two portions of that mac and cheese cuz omfg. Also get the banana pudding. Also get the sweet tea.)

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Arts, Books, Museums, and Must-Sees

Virginia-Highland Bookstore

This charming bookshop is a local staple and so for that you must go and support. (They also had the cutest tote bag I want next time.)

SCAD

My new favorite American museum with one of the best exhibits I’ve ever seen, on André Leon Talley. The space is ridiculously gorgeous and while I’m not usually a modern museum gal, this will be always visited cuz wow. From the space itself to the curation to the wonderful university students who give tours and answer questions, I was beyond impressed. (Also these students deftly and elegantly handle seriously loaded questions – on sexuality, weight, race, and more – in a way that would make any debate team lose. And they have the most chic and cool store that I want to get campus swag too.) They also use tech in the best way Ive seen outside of France so kudos to them. André would be proud. If you know of a kid who is into design send them here cuz like, wow.

The Alliance Theatre

Yes, I am a theatre nerd – literal theatre camp kid here – so this black-box-ish intimate theatre had me rethinking my life path and thinking it a tragically rare American gem. I saw The Covenant while here and it was not only an amazing play – go see it if you can – but the space reminded me of those in Boston and NYC. It happens to be in the building that also holds the Symphony in a space – the Woodruff Arts Center – and the High Museum. So lots more to enjoy nearby but do hit this gem if you can. And heads up, it’s downstairs so don’t wait in the lobby and almost miss curtain like me (ooooof!) Enjoy.

MLK Sites

Civil Rights Museum

Civil Rights Museum
A must-go. The modern space holding everything from buses from boycotts to a lunch counter of protest will change you in the best possible way. You will be awed by those whose names we will never know who died for change, and by those who still fight today. The international exhibit and context is just wow and shows how the struggle for justice everywhere is the same. (My own visit was a personal kick in the behind to finish a difficult article on my own University’s complicit relationship with supporters of Pinochet and other current dictators.)

MLK – Ebenezer Baptist Church, his resting place, his birth home, etc.
His resting place with Mrs. King is another must-see. It’s right next to his church, the Ebenezer Baptist Church, which is another wow and must visit. I have visited the church both when there was a lecture and when there wasn’t, and both were equally amazing. Though I do think hearing his voice giving serum when you walk in is a spiritual experience all must have. His birthplace is another must-see and a block away, and as the neighborhood is also a time capsule it’s to be walked and enjoyed. You could easily spend half a day here so leave yourself time to be.

The BeltLine

Walk or take a bike ride around this reclaimed space that circles a great deal of Atlanta. Think New York’s High Line but goes for miles and miles and miles and is part of the city already. Yep. So cool.

Margaret Mitchell Museum

Must-go. You do not know her. Don’t judge a person’s beginning by their end. Such a story of changing in times that did not require it. Now THIS is an America story to tell. (And yes I’m available for hire to tell it lol.) Amazing.

Phoenix and Dragon Bookstore

This bookstore has all kinds of spiritual books and tarot cards and stones and events. It’s so big, I mean L.A. wishes lol. Go and support!

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