Springtime in Atlanta

Tracy in front of the Olympic Park Fountains.
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I lived in Atlanta for two and a half years. This is my second visit back as a 'tourist'. I like to go in April. The weather has been so crappy here in California; it was great to be in the sunshine. The trees are in full bloom this time of year and the Dogwood Festival was in full swing for the three days of my trip.

The primary purpose of my visit was to check in on the condo I still own there and meet my realtor and hopefully soon to be buyer. But mom's spring break also began this weekend and she flew down to join me and we packed Saturday and Sunday with activities.

it was great to be in the sunshine

In front of the fishes at the Georgia Aquarium.
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I also had an opportunity to catch up with a few old friends. I met Clifton for lunch on Friday, Sarah for dinner, and Tricia and Uwe joined us for the Bodies Exhibit.

Sarah took me to Atlantic Station. This is a new live, work, play area of Atlanta across the freeway from my old workplace. To demonstrate how quickly midtown Atlanta is growing, this place didn't even exist when I was here last year. It's kind of like Santana Row here in San Jose, but not as upscale. Housing, hotels, movie theaters, restaurants and retail intermix in a modern interpretation of fabricated city living. The parking is underground, with subway station-like entrances.

The sign for the historic Georgia Terrace with the fabulous Fox Theater in the background.
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Mom arrived late Friday night. A terrible storm blew in overnight with tornados causing damage in the suburbs of Atlanta. Cloudy skies threatened rain Saturday morning, but we were only troubled by a few sprinkles. Once the sun came out again in the afternoon, it remained until we departed.

We started Saturday with Brunch at Einstein's on Juniper. (We weren't willing to wait for a table at the Flying Biscuit.)

After brunch, we set out to pick up our tickets and begin the Midtown Tour of Homes. This year's tour showcased the ecclectic housing options in the midtown area. From Victorian farmhouses to modern glass condos in the sky, we got a glimpse into thirteen homes. We walked the entire route, stopping for a break at the Grape for wine tasting.

The Dogwoods, in full bloom.
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The afternoon was spent at the Dogwood Festival, where a plethora of artisans showcase their wares and live bands perform on three different stages.

Unsure which of Atlanta's fine restaurants to go to for dinner, we decided to take a chance on a new restaurant, The Globe. By the time we left, the large space was packed and people were waiting for a table.

Sunday morning we walked to the Civic Center for The Bodies Exhibit. Mom and Kim had a chance to see the exhibit in New York, and I'm glad mom was willing to go again so I had a chance to see it for myself. Tricia and her boyfriend, Uwe, joined us for an innovative tour of real bodies. Apparently the difference between this exhibit and the one in NY was that the fetal development section wasn't as robust. (Given that we were in the conservative south, I wasn't surprised.) We left with an appreciation for the complexity and brilliance of our bodies.

In the oversized beach chairs at the Hotel Indigo.
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From there, mom and I walked to Olympic Park where the new Georgia Aquarium sits. Our tickets weren't until 3PM so we stopped for lunch on the patio of Ruth Chris' Steakhouse overlooking the park. We then took a quick stroll through the park and enjoyed watching the people playing in the interactive fountain.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a big fan of aquariums. The Georgia Aquarium did not disappoint. Our tickets weren't until 3, but the nice girl behind the ticket counter let us in early so that we wouldn't be rushed before my flight home. The place was absolutely packed. We moved around like sardines to the five exhibit areas: Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, River Scout and Georgia Explorer. Highlights were the huge Ocean Voyager tank and the Beluga whales.

Tracy
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On the walk home, we stopped at the Georgian Terrace terrace for refreshments, watching the pedestrian and vehicular traffic flow down Peachtree.

Since I've recently changed jobs, and now have a long commute for the first time in about 12 years, one of the things I appreciated most about my trip was that we didn't drive anywhere. Mom and I were able to walk to all of our activities and I took MARTA to and from the airport. It was good to be out in the sunshine!