My husband and I love to travel, and the long weekend afforded by Labor Day is always incentive to get out of town. We usually make plans to go somewhere a little farther than we would normally travel in a weekend, and before having kids we would fly there (despite my near-paralyzing fear of flight).

Seems the last few years, we are on a losing streak: In 2004, we had plans to fly to Key West to visit friends. Hello, hurricane Frances (at least, I think it was Frances, but maybe it was Ivan, or Charley, or Dennis.) Flights cancelled. Ever game for a road trip, we headed of to Chattanooga for a weekend on their riverfront (along with all the Floridians escaping the hurricane in Florida.) Don’t worry, we still made it to Key West that December, just in time to take our sixteen-month old son to the family-friendly Fantasy Fest. Last year? A little baby we like to call Hurricane M; my daughter was due early last October, preventing any travel for the month of September.

This year, we made plans to visit friends in Charleston. Here we go again, with Ernesto. Sure, we could go anyway, as Ernesto is probably not going to be a big deal, but who wants to drive 6 hours to sit trapped in someone else’s house with four kids under the age of five? Not us.

This begs the question: What is there to do in Atlanta for Labor Day? We almost never stay in town for the holiday weekend, so even though I am a native Atlantan, I don’t really know much about local Labor Day traditions, other than a weekend on Lake Lanier, or shooting the ‘Hooch. Looks like the family and I will be spending the weekend on nearby Lake Sinclair, hopefully with lots of sunshine, and plenty of college football.

What are the locals doing here in town?

Graphic: Weather.com

Some Absolutely EXCELLENT Lightning last night in the NorthWest Territories (Kennesaw). I was in hog heaven. [Side note: I hope there was no damage from this storm. I don’t wish that]

But, as a total weather nut, I was enjoying the atmospheric spectacle. Living near the lake up here, we don’t get too many of the storms as there is some sort of “lake effect” that sends a lot of the storm clouds around my house. I watch the radar and I’m amazed at the movement around the lake area.

Tonight we got it because the storm came up from the SW and not from the W or the NW. Anyway, any of you weather enthusiasts out there hit me up.

The College Board, which oversees SAT testing, released results today for national SAT score state rankings. Last year, Georgia was tied for last with South Carolina; this year, we have risen to a stellar . . . 46th. But hey! We beat out Pennsylvania, Florida, South Carolina, and Hawaii. Evidently, it was our strong(ish) showing on the written portion that propelled us out of last place, but have no fear, we still bring up the rear on the math portion.

I think we have a new slogan here: “We’re not last! We’re not last! We’re not last!”

Seriously, I know that improvement is a good thing, and won’t happen overnight, but I just don’t know that coming in 46th in the nation is something to get too excited about. Not when the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reports that the United States is 24th place Internationally in math. Where does that put Georgia?

The Starlight Drive-In is holding a one-night-only screening of Little Miss Sunshine tonight, and the first 25 VW buses that arrive will get a free gas card. The first 200 passengers in VW-make models of any kind—bugs, buses, Passats, etc.—will receive Little Miss Sunshine schwag. I’m not sure if there are any other requirements for the free stuff. I’ve been wanting to see this flick and wish I’d known about the screening earlier, especially since I haven’t been to the drive-in movies since I was a little kid. Gates open at 8 p.m. and the movie starts at 9. VW owners, let us know if you score some loot!

Yeah, um, sorry for jumping the gun.

just a reminder that early-registration discounts for the ing georgia marathon and half marathon end on thursday. if you want to sign up you can do so here. if you’ve been thinking about lacing up to try out either a half or a full marathon, you might want to give it a shot. it’s not everyday that you get the chance to run an inaugural marathon.

unlike the atlanta marathon, which follows the olympic route, up piedmont, up peachtree industrial and back down peachtree to the finish, the georgia marathon is recognizing the incredible diversity of atlanta and the many eclectic neighborhoods that make thie city what it is. the route for the georgia marathon will go through little 5 points, decatur, virginia-highlands, midtown and others. the mayor is even challenging neighborhood associations to have the best cheering section. go figure.

in fact, i was just looking at the route map and i realize that right before mile 4 we’ll go right past the brewhouse café which begs the question of whether stopping for a chicken and bacon breakfast burrito is a good thing to do during a marathon.

i’ll be there. just need to decide whether it’ll be 13.1 or 26.2 for me.

probably better do it before thursday.

I’ve known that we make wine in Georgia for many years but, my experience with Georgia Wine – or any wine for that matter – has been getting a bottle from my local grocery store shelf. This last weekend, I got a first hand view of what it takes to create the wonderful liquid that fills those bottles (with the pretty labels) and it was amazing.
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Pinecrest Academy, a private school of excellence located in Cumming, is holding its Pinecrest Athletic Club Golf Scramble on Monday, October 9, 2006 at Windermere Golf Club. Proceeds will benefit the school’s Paladin Baseball program. The event is open to all levels of golf ability and includes hors d’oeuvres and beverages delivered and served during play, dinner afterwards, a live auction, and an awards ceremony.
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Not exactly news (I’ve had a link bookmarked on del.icio.us since July), but worth seeing.

Basically, a bunch of guys with inline skates sneaked into White Water in Marietta and filmed themselves and the result is ATL WaterPark Tour 2. Kinda begs the question, where is the Tour 1 video?

It’s better than it sounds.

Honest.

Embedded video after the jump.

[Via Robert]
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A little hole-in-the-wall Korean restaurant in the midst of Buford Highway, 88 Tofu House offers the best no-frills Korean fare in town. We’ve been regulars of this place for over 10 years and they really serve good, fresh food. Situated in a converted stand-alone Arby’s building just inside the perimeter, Tofu 88 (as what people in the know call this place) underwent a major renovation a couple of years ago. Gone are the dank atmosphere and maroon tables. The place is now bright and airy thanks to new hardwood floors and pine-colored wooden tables with barbeque pits in the middle.

Specialties include delicious tofu soup — soft, creamy tofu in broth with choice of meat or seafood and assorted vegetables served boiling hot and available either mild, medium, and insanely hot. The barbequed short ribs (galbi-gui) are finger-lickin’ good and best eaten with the complimentary bowl of steamed white rice or the red rice with red beans. For those wanting a one-dish meal, do try the Bibim Bap: hashed rice topped with meat and assorted veggies such as mushrooms, carrots, and bean spouts and served on a hot stone pot. Each order comes with the customary appetizers served in little plates and bowls and usually consists of kimchi, spicy cucumbers, steamed bean sprouts, sweet boiled potatoes, seaweed salad, and fried fish.

Entrees start at $6. No alcohol served. Open 24 hours a day. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Reservations not taken. Ample parking space.

88 Tofu House
5490 Buford Hwy NE
Doraville, GA 30340-1126
(770) 457-8811