I hope that during the occasions on which I return to Atlanta I’ll see improvements being made to the city - and I mean to the older structures and neighborhoods that have seen so much change. I hope that the direction will change from building false cities (like Atlantic Station and the one in Edgewood with the Target, Lowes, and a million other retail businesses) to renovating the one that has existed all this time.

I hope that the music scene is revived and more music clubs open so bands don’t have to compete to get into the same five venues. I hope Dad’s Garage stays around and that more gallery spots like Eyedrum open up. I hope a new Mayor comes along and cuts all the crap that makes it impossible to have a small business or night club. Overall all, I hope that “It’s Always an Opening Day in Atlanta” will one day apply to everyone - not just the privileged.

…Until the Manager came around to let us know that dinner time was over and we needed to get up and leave. No, we were not being rowdy, no one was visibly drunk, and we didn’t harass any employees. Supposedly, the Manager had told our friend that she needed the table free for a large party that had reservations at 8. I let her know, as someone with years of restaurant management experience, that this was bullshit.

It is pretty easy to see that 20 people will not be able to eat, drink, and be merry within the span of 1.5 hours. It just doesn’t work that way. Not to mention the fact that she never made the “deal” with our friend that she said she’d made. In any event, we paid and left, convening outside to pick the next spot…which to my chagrin ended up being another bar across the strip mall. A little while later, I walked a friend out to her car and happened to see that there was no one sitting at the table we’d been forced to vacate, and no one was waiting up front. (No I wasn’t stalking them - I really did see this by coincidence.) Perhaps the reservation party didn’t show up, or maybe the Manager just flat-out lied.

Either way, the experience left a really bad taste in my mouth (overriding the rather pleasant taste of the food) and we all vowed never to return. If you want good food in yuppie hell, this is the place. If you want to be treated with respect, don’t waste your time.

A few months ago, I’d heard that there was another temple in the works somewhere else in my area. I wanted to know what was up with that one, so I looked for some info. Today, I found this article related to the plans for this other huge temple. After reading it, I feel that I have yet another reason to be ashamed to live in Gwinnett County.

Basically, the congregation that was trying to get their place of worship built was told that their temple doesn’t go with the scenery. Among the lame-ass reasons the congregation was given, height, general look, and size were major issues. A resident even had the nerve to state that people in the neighborhood have the right to preserve the way the area has looked over the years (which really isn’t that great to begin with). What about the right to purchase land and do whatever the hell you want with it if you can afford to do so? Is Home Depot sexy? Does the hideous orange match with all the neighborhoods in which the stores reside? I could go on and on…

So why am I so irritated? Well…for starters, you can take a look at this monstrosity. Oh, and how about this one? While some people may view these buildings (they look more like compounds to me) with pride because they reflect their personal faith and views, there are others who feel that they’re eyesores. And they cause massive traffic that can last for hours on the weekends. Still - no one would have the nerve to tell Christians that they can’t build their gigantor churches and schools - well, not in Georgia anyway.

To get a view of how other areas of the country handle such issues, check this out.

I can see the positive aspect of increasing the availability of in-the-city living, but it would be great if we could do it here with a bit more foresight. Today, poor Atlantans are being pushed out of the city, further away from MARTA (which you can read more about here), with mixed- and high-income housing is sprouting up everywhere. People who have lived in houses in the same area for decades must now find an apartment in one of the countless apartment communities around town.

I’m also a little concerned about the direction of some of the new development happening here and other places around the South East, such as Louisiana. A friend described to me the new “neighborhoods” that are being built in the Baton Rouge are - places with town homes, some single-family homes (which are very pricey), and a ready-made “downtown,” so you can live and shop and eat right near your house. Obviously, these neighborhoods are much like Atlantic Station, but more suited for the suburbs.

The problem with developments such as these is that, again, they push out low- and even medium-income families before they’re even erected. In addition, business owners who lack the big-time backing and funding of larger businesses are incapable of reaping the rewards of these convenient locations. Yet another issue with it is the lack of authenticity that real cities have. There’s just something missing when you hang out in a place that resulted from so much money-oriented forethought.

So, while it’s nice to know that Atlanta is climbing the charts for desirability (thanks, Karsh for the happy side of related news :-), it’s important to look at the sacrifice of such progress and weigh its worth. You can read more about the consequences of gentrifying Atlanta here and here (and here , if you have a NY Times subscription).

The bottom line is, we think it’s nice that Atlantan authors are informing our community about local politics, sports events, and some cool spots to hang out. We know there are people out there who like to learn what others think about current events and good nightlife. What I’d like is to see people using this site not only for information, but as a means of strengthening a sense of community that is sorely lacking in the world today. So why be a troll?

I was amazed at the collection that the owner had placed in this store. So Rare carries paintings and prints, glasses, wall cabinets, gorgeous costume jewelry, and best of all…authentic vintage dresses. Everything had that wonderful hand-picked sense about it. I could tell that a lot of care was put into selecting each and every piece.

I found kimonos, colorful mini dresses from the 60s, flowing silk pants, and old school sequins 20s-style tops. I actually found 5 dresses that that fit me perfectly and are just right for spring and summer. I was most pleased that the owner had picked dresses that were not cut for Skinny Minnies…such had been my luck at other vintage stores.

Next time you’re on a shopping excursion or you happen to be in Decatur, stop at So Rare. You never know what you’ll find!

So Rare is located at:
407 West Ponce de Leon Ave
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404-377-0102

You can enjoy the low blue glow indoors, or you can breathe the fresh air on their patio. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can chill out to the sounds of world/triphop and electronica music, spun by DJ Preston Craig. I was there last Saturday and stayed for hours, sipping a delicious chocolate martini (one of the best I’ve ever had), and listening to the absolute best selection of downtempo tunes I’ve heard in a long time. The bartender was also incredibly cool and friendly.

If you’re looking for a classy place without the uppity airs, check out Azul. You’ll feel right at home.

There really are no words to describe the music, or to illustrate the immense and unfathomable talent of Gooding. This guy plays two guitars at once. Perfectly. He whips out impossible riffs while singing. Perfectly. The band members had that musical psychic connection that’s built over time, letting them know exactly what to do and when. Sure–practice makes perfect, but this talent went beyond what you can gain from any amount of rehearsal.

It was great to see people who walked in late to see the following bands, with their cynical expressions. Once they heard what was happening on stage and saw that there were only 3 guys up there making all that beautiful noise, they just stood there mesmerized.

The music is a blend of real rock, shake yo’ ass beats, funk, and even a little touch of jazz–but from another planet. You just have to hear it. Go to the website. Buy their CD (they have several, and they’re all amazing). Go to a show when they’re in town or when you’re traveling. This music will make you want to skydive. Or grab the person next to you and play some tonsil hockey. Maybe you’ll be inspired to climb Mount Everest. All I know is: you’ll be inspired.

A few months back, I was “railed” by a reader who found it particularly offensive that I care so much about Atlanta’s nightlife. Well, in my opinion, when politics are going the way they are, we’re at war, life in the U.S. is becoming increasingly more expensive, plants are closing or moving overseas, and the arts are suffering a lack of commitment and nurturing overall, sometimes I just want to be able to go out and have some fun with some cool people at a place with some vibe. Not everyone wants to go to Buckhead or Midtown, or spend 20 bucks to get into a place where all the chicks are wearing the same skimpy outfit and the guys all have the same striped button-up shirt.

But that’s been another problem – I end up at the same bar over and over again, because no matter which new or extant club or bar I visit, it just doesn’t feel right. So Alex and I thought, ‘Well, instead of bitching about it, let’s just open our own place.’ We have ideas for a place that would make people feel relaxed and at home, that wouldn’t be expensive, or a “meat market,” and would offer a variety of treats all under one roof. So we got started on our research, talked with consultants, found someone to help with the business plan, bla, bla, bla. But yesterday I finally got on the phone with someone who would give me the lowdown on what’s going on here, and why more new places aren’t opening.

I learned from someone in the real estate industry that the City Council has made sure that it’s damn near impossible to open a new night spot. They started by passing a law which prevents anyone from having a bar unless it’s also a restaurant. Now, it’s costly enough to get a bar started, but a restaurant is a monumental can of worms and everyone in the business knows that. They’ll tell you: Wanna keep it simple? Open a bar. Forget carrying the overhead cost of food service.

Oh well. Next, the City of Atlanta has made it so that if your bar isn’t built to exact specifications by certain professional builders, you won’t get your liquor license. There are also crazy strict zoning laws that were put into place, among other things on a laundry list of ways to make an entrepreneur’s dreams crumble to dust. The person I spoke to was very professional and very compassionate. He said that it sucks for him because his opportunities to close deals on business spaces have become limited, and that he was telling me all of this so I could properly prepare.

There has been talk around town that these things are being done in order to funnel people (and therefore revenue) into Atlanta Underground, which is purportedly owned by members and/or friends of the City Council. That sounds just a little corrupt to me. And I was wondering why it took somewhere around a year for Graveyard Tavern to open its doors. Could be rumors (I’ve never spoken to the owners), but I keep hearing that the city made it ridiculously hard for them to get everything approved.

Anyway, the kicker came at the end of the conversation when the person said to me, “I mean, do you want me to be blunt?”

“Uh, yes…please.” I said, “I’m tired of getting the runaround from consultants, lenders, and the SBA.”

“Okay,” he said, “here it is. It’ll cost about $300,000 to get a place built out and set up as a bar/restaurant – and that’s not including lease cost or liquor license, etc. AND, if you do get the money, landlords have a way of making it very difficult for you to get into their spaces. You have to be a pro. Basically, unless you have the backing of investors like the Buckhead Life Group, you’re kinda SOL.” I thanked him for his time and closed the door on my great idea right there. I mean, when I could just go somewhere else and open a place, why would I struggle against all this adversity here? So much for the renaissance…

Since 9/11, every time I go to the airport, I am “randomly selected” for extended searches. And I mean every single time. I wonder if that has anything to do with my tannish, medium-toned complexion and dark hair. Perhaps it’s the fact that I often wear robe-like tops with skirt-like pants underneath. Or maybe it’s because the books I take out from the library are related to public concerns such as those mentioned here, and I have been placed on a list of possible suspects for terrorism.

If you don’t already know about the threat to our civil liberties, or are only somewhat informed, I urge you to rent the film Unconstitutional. This is not a movie featuring a bunch of raving Leftists who simply want to hear themselves jabber. The film presents information as it comes directly from the mouths of people within the government, who have witnessed the disturbing occurrences first-hand, and are not happy with what they have seen.

For information about the film, visit this website.