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Below, you'll have an opportunity to give us your tips for dating in Atlanta, so let us know what you think!
1) An Overview
Hotlanta, the Big Apple of the South, Jewel of the South or whatever sobriquet you give it, Atlanta is a Southern hub and a dynamic, happening town. With around 3,813,000 residents in a 10-county metropolitan area, the city is expected to grow to over 5,500,000 in its 20-county-plus area by 2009. It has a modern highway system, a superb public transportation system consisting of buses and MARTA (the metro system), moderate weather and high employment rates. They say that if you aren’t an Atlantan, you will be after a few visits.
2) Where to Live?
Where you live in Atlanta is not as big a problem as it is in cities of equal size in the North or West. Although Atlanta is rather spread out, covering 131 square miles, most areas are accessible by public transportation. Also, parking is plentiful. And Atlanta is modest in living costs compared to most large cities.
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3) Working in Atlanta
Whether you work in the commercial, financial or technical sectors, or in government or educational fields, this capital city has good-paying jobs available, and they can be found all over the area. Also, workers in the hospitality and medical fields are in particular demand. Driving or taking public transportation to your job is not a problem.
4) Cost
The cost of living/dating in Atlanta is modest compared to that of most cities of its size. The panoply of things to do has wide ranges in price, so you have to check out prices before arranging dates. You don’t want to be embarrassed. Atlanta is very “now,” so most establishments take every type of credit card.
5) Attire
As in most large cities, the work dress code is dictated by your workplace. It can include anything from extremely casual to professional. As a general rule, everything, including dress, is more laid-back in Atlanta. Many businesses have relaxed dress codes on Friday. As for dining out or going to clubs, most establishments expect casual to moderate dress-up attire. However, there are some higher-class places where patrons are expected to wear coats/ties and evening dresses.
6) Some Unusual, Inexpensive Places to Date in Atlanta
If you want a somewhat unconventional or educational location with a modest price tag for a fun date, or a place to meet a prospective date, check out the following:
History: For a taste of Civil War history, go to the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum (located in Grant Park, 800 Cherokee Ave., SE, 404-624-1071, atlcyclorama@atlantaga.gov, admission $7). See the spectacular and informative show that has been running since 1893, then take a shuttle bus to the top of Kennesaw Mountain and view a national battlefield (only $2). Or go to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site and take in the free guided tours (off 75/85, exit 248c, Freedom Hwy. to John Wesley Dobbs Ave., 404-331-6922, www.nps.gov).
Gardens: Wander through the Atlanta Botanical Garden (1345 Piedmont Ave., NE, 404-876-5859, www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org, admission $12 adults/$9 seniors). You can spend many an enjoyable hour with your loved one here, and the scenes change with the seasons.
Aquarium/Zoo: Your date will be really impressed if you suggest two of Atlanta’s most popular places to visit:
The Georgia Aquarium (across from the famous Centennial Olympic Park, on Baker St., 404-581-4444, www.georgiaaquarium.org, $10 parking; admission $27 adults/$22.50 seniors) is the world’s largest aquarium. You and your date are in for hours of enjoyment here.
Zoo Atlanta (off of 75/85, exit 246, Fulton St., 404-624-WILD, www.zooatlanta.org, free parking, admission $17.99) offers an unusually large number of animals and exhibits to take in.
7) Some modestly Priced In-Atlanta-Only Dates
Museums: Another way to wow your date is by showing off your cultural or historical side at one of the following:
Margaret Mitchell House and Museum (Peachtree Street/Peachtree Plaza, 404-249-7015, www.gwtw.org, admission $12). See the Gone With the Wind Movie Museum and apartment where the author composed the novel; memorabilia and collectibles.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History (near Emory University, east of Midtown, 404-929-6300, www.fernbank.edu, admission $15). See the world’s largest dinosaurs and view the five-story IMAX films.
Pop Culture
If your date is part of the Coca-Cola generation, he or she will jump at the chance to go to the World of Coca-Cola (121 Baker St., NW, 404-676-5151, www.woccatlanta.com, parking $10, admission $15 adults/$13 seniors). Enjoy a 4-D movie theater and the world’s largest collection of Coke memorabilia. Also check out the Pop Artists Gallery and the famous Coca-Cola Polar Bear.
Sports: Sporting events are available year-round in Hotlanta. Take in a game among the Atlanta Braves (baseball), Atlanta Falcons (football), Georgia Force (football), Atlanta Hawks (basketball) and Atlanta Thrashers (hockey), as well as sports hosted by local colleges and universities.
8) Sample Atlanta’s Dining Establishments
Underground Atlanta: This is one place that has it all: specialty shops, roaming entertainers, caricature artists and a guided historical tour, not to mention some hot restaurants. Located in what is known as the Heart of Downtown, on 50 Upper Alabama St. (404-523-2311), Underground Atlanta boasts some fine restaurants, most notably the Kenny’s Alley complex and the Irish Bred Pub (404-521-6161). Costs vary from modest to moderately expensive. This is where visitors and Atlantans frequently mix and hop from place to place. Dress is casual.
Restaurant Eugene, with Chef Linton Hopkins, a former “Iron Chef America” Atlanta Challenger, is where to go to impress without spending a fortune (2277 Peachtree Rd., 404-355-0321). Enjoy a metro ambience and well-trained servers who are wine experts. Let your taste buds succumb to an array of delights, from pan-roasted lamb sweetbreads ($15) to seared Hawaiian tuna ($36). Dress up a bit here, but not to the nines.
Agatha’s: A Taste of Mystery (161 Peachtree Center, take 75, south of Midtown, near Freedom Pkwy., 404-584-2255, cost $52.50–$62.50) offers a comedic mystery along with a tasty dinner. There is no stage, as the actors move among the tables during the performance. Cost includes five-course meal, wine and tip.
Fire of Brazil (216 Peachtree St., downtown, 404-525-5255) offers meat (Angus beef, chicken, pork and lamb) prepared on open-flame grills and served by entertaining gauchos. It also offers fixed-priced dining, or “eat your fill.” Medium-priced, casual.
Swan Coach House (on grounds of Atlanta History Center, Buckhead, 3130 Station Dr., near intersection of Paces Ferry Rd., NW, and Roswell Rd., NW, 404-261-0636, www.swancoachhouse.com) is open for lunch only, with complimentary valet parking. Enjoy Southern culture and history, with an unusual environment and a good meal. Your date is bound to be impressed.
Surin of Thailand (810 N. Highland Ave., cross street Greenwood Ave., 404-892-7789) offers spicy menus, especially seafood, served with coconut tofu soup. This authentic restaurant serves up tasty duck, chicken or salmon, for example, with most entrees priced between $15 and $18. Casual dress.
9) Let’s get Ready to Rumble! Atlanta by Night
Atlanta has an amazing number of night spots, including 236 bars, 188 taverns, 133 clubs, 59 sports bars, 55 lounges, 54 pubs, 47 singles bars and 50 live music spots. It is really easy to find something to your liking. Here are a few establishments that guarantee a lively evening:
CosmoLava (45 13th St., NE., 404-873-6189). This house-turned-lounge serves up some top-notch strong drinks in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The large crowd mingles and is flirty, and there are 30 different martinis to choose from. A rather tony, “in” place to go and to be seen. Dress up, but not overly.
Churchill Grounds (3223 Cains Hill Place, NW, 404-233-5633, admission $5–$10). Great live jazz performances. Cigars, strong coffee and a nice wine selection. Pay-parking lot. Cool place, dress accordingly.
10) Boot-Wearing and Sporty Digs
You and your date can’t help but have fun at the following “in” places. All offer modest prices:
Neighbor’s Pub (752 N. Highland Ave., NE., on Highland between John Howell Park and Hwy. 29, 404-872-5440). Get there early enough to find a good table on the outside deck. Come evening, there are many singles bunched together seeking conversation or more. Myriad choices in beers: 13 on tap and 15 bottled. Casual.
Universal Joint (906 Oakview Rd., in Decatur, in the Oakhurst Park/McKay Park area, 404-373-6260). Appropriate name for a nightspot with a different twist. This converted garage offers a laid-back style, with good service and unique servers. It is considered by Atlantans a cozy singles bar. Casual.
Moondogs (3179 Peachtree Rd., NE., cross street Grandview Ave., E, 404-231-4201) is primarily a sports bar, offering a good social scene. It is crowded and trendy, with plenty of dancing. Many after-work patrons as well as the fraternity/sorority crowd (mainly from Georgia Tech, Emory and Georgia State) can be seen here on a regular basis. Good mix of collegiate types and middle-aged partygoers. Enjoy cheap pitchers of beer, along with some jamming drinks.
This is but a small sample of the social/dating fabric that is Atlanta. Whether you want to go to a quiet museum, have a casual lunch or go bar hopping ’til 2 a.m., Atlanta has what you’re looking for and, probably, that special someone you are looking for as well. It is one of the premier cities in America, with a comfortable blend of tradition and forward-thinking style. In Atlanta, you can fall in love for a while or a lifetime.
Have Ideas for Dating in Atlanta? Post them Below!
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