I've lived in Atlanta my whole life. I was there for the opening weekend of Underground Atlanta. The day 400 opened my dad took us for a joy ride from top to bottom, gleefully tossing his $50 cents in the toll. We attended almost every Olympic event possible, and we spent time in the Olympic Village and the brand spanking new Centennial Olympic Park. My friends and I went to Phipps Plaza as soon as it opened and then became regulars at the movie theater. When Kevin Gillespie returned from Top Chef and took his place back at Woodfire Grill, I had reservations the first week. I rejoiced at the opening of Atlantic Station and took my family down to stroll the avenues and check out the shops. I support the local festivals, and we make an annual trek to Chomp and Stomp and the Piedmont Park Arts Festival. I was one of the first to learn about what was The Streets of Buckhead and had a front row seat as they finally built Buckhead Atlanta. I'm a member of the High Museum of Art and Zoo Atlanta, and I go to the Botanical Gardens Night of Lights every year...
I love Atlanta. It's in my blood. I cheer for her success. I always believe in the spirit of Atlanta and that her next big break is around the corner... unless it's actually here...
The opening of the Atlanta Beltline, Krog Street Market and Ponce City Market is the truest representation of Atlanta Spirit I've ever seen. The sense of community is palpable. People are meeting and walking and enjoying each other and their community. We go almost every weekend, and there is always something new and exciting happening. We saw our favorites, The Whiskey Gentry in the park, and the next night we accidentally got caught in the lantern parade. We ate burgers at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall and sampled beers at Hop City Beer. We go for margaritas and tacos at Superica and walk over to Jeni's for ice cream.
Last weekend my family and I went to Ponce City Market to have lunch and do some browsing. We sat at the counter of Holman & Finch and ate their signature burgers with fries. We marveled at the line at Hops Chicken and vowed to return. We went to the Anthropologie and oogled the displays, and we took my dad and stepmother to Onward Reserve and watched them browse. We walked past the Frye Store and applauded the decor. It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon.
If you are looking for something to do with your family or friends or have people coming in from out of town, I highly recommend strolling the Beltline from Ponce City Market to Krog Street and witnessing the best of the spirit of Atlanta.
Photos from Ponce City Market - 9/27/15*
Hops Chicken - Chef Linton Hopkins (Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House)
El Super Pan - Opening Fall 2015- Chef Hector Santiago
H & F Burger - Chef Chef Linton Hopkins (Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House)
For a complete listing of restraunts currently open and opening soon, please see the Central Food Hall at PCM website
For a complete list of the shops at Ponce City Market, please check the website.
Thank you for reading. Please check out Ponce City Market, and let me know if you like it as much as I do.
*All photos taken with an iPhone