It’s been a busy summer at work, but I was able escape Orlando this week and head back up to Atlanta! So the time has come for me to make a public confession. I, Billy, am a Fanilow! Barry Manilow is doing a few shows here in the US over the next few months and I wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to see him, and with Atlanta only being an hour flight from home it would have been rude not to fly up and pay a visit!
Atlanta is a great city and I was charmed once again this time around. I took the first flight in the morning out of Orlando and was treated to a beautiful sunrise on take off!
During my previous visit I was with a friend who is a very picky eater. So this time I took advantage of being on my own, and decided to make my first stop the Thumbs Up Diner. From the MARTA station I found myself wandering, with the assistance of Google Maps, down Edgewood Ave. It appeared to me to be an “up and coming” part of town with lots of great murals on the buildings. There little shops, salons, restaurants, and a couple of bars. Breakfast was great and the service wonderful. Thumbs Up has a great simple menu, and I decided to try the in-house smoked turkey as a side instead of the normal bacon or sausage. I was not disappointed. They are a cash only establishment so bring cash! There is an ATM in the restaurant in case your forget. I think Edgewood has tons of potential and will eventually blossom into one of the great districts of Atlanta.
After breakfast I went downtown and checked into my hotel before doing a little wandering. I chose the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown. The location is perfect and the hotel was great. The room was lovely with a bit of 1960’s flair, paying homage to the buildings origins as the Americana Motor Hotel. One of the things I love best about staying at a Hilton property is that the front desk agents check in with you via text message throughout your stay. I think this is a great way to communicate with guests using modern technology, and it adds a bit of a personal touch.
I wandered around Downtown for a little while and payed a visit to my two favorite hotel lobbies. The Atlanta Marriott Marquis and the Hyatt. The lobby of the Marriott just fascinates me, I can’t get enough of it. I’m perfectly content grabbing a coffee and sitting there, just looking up in awe of it’s grandeur.
Before heading off for the big show I decided to having dinner at Ray’s In The City. Last summer my friend Tammy suggested we dine there and we didn’t, so I made it a priority this time. Ray’s is top notch from the food, to the service, to the presentation. I’ve eaten a lot of oysters in my day, but I’ve never seen them served like this. They used dry ice to form a fog effect that was out of this world! For my main course I chose the Kansas City Strip which was superb. For dessert I spoiled myself to Ray’s Signature Praline Basket filled with fresh fruit, vanilla ice cream, pecans, and caramel sauce! A great big thank you to my friend Tammy for this recommendation, I will definetly be back!
The Fox Theater was where Barry Manilow performed and what an amazing theater this is! The theater opened in 1929 is spectacular and is the heart of the Fox Theater District! Barry of course was amazing, but that goes without saying! Barry completed what he said would be his last world tour in 2016. During the show he said that with all the anger and hate in the world right now he felt we needed his music, so back on the road he goes! I couldn’t agree more Barry Manilow and thank you for your music!
Before heading back to Orlando I visited the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. The walk from the MARTA station winds through a beautiful neighborhood with lovely parks.
The museum is very educational and I learned quite a bit about Jimmy Carter as a person and his presidency. He and his wife continue do so much good work it’s inspiring! You can find more information about the amazing work he and Rosalynn are doing by visiting The Carter Center page.
After leaving the museum I noticed a little district on the map not far away, so I decided to take a stroll through on my way back to the train. It’s called the Little Five Points district. It is full of unique shops, bars, and restaurants with cuisines from all over the world. Being from Los Angeles is reminded me of a quaint version of Melrose Ave.
Once again Atlanta has wowed me! I can’t wait to return again to explore more of what this great city has to offer!
Billy's Travel Adventures 