BEST WEDDING VENUE

Park Tavern

THE LOWDOWN: They’re holding hands, gazing into each other’s eyes and saying their vows as the sun sets over the Atlanta skyline. Everything’s perfect—until the thunderstorm rolls in, or a stray Frisbee takes out half of the bridal party. We kid. With its gorgeous view of Piedmont Park and ample patio space for partying down, Park Tavern continues to do a brisk business in weddings—it’s booked almost two years out.
THE BASICS: 500 1oth St. 404-249-0001. www.parktavern.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: Swan Coach House

Spark St. Jude
The Georgia Aquarium

BEST LOCAL ATTRACTION

Georgia Aquarium

THE LOWDOWN: There’s plenty of fish in the sea—or in this case, to see—at this underwater kingdom. Since the aquarium opened in 2005, it has continued to attract visitors from both near and far. They come for a chance to get up close and personal with the beluga whales, hammerhead sharks, sea lions and stingrays that make their home among the facility’s 8 million gallons of water. And they bring their kids to squeal in horrified delight and run away from the alligator exhibit, the latest addition to River Scout—one of the Aquarium’s five galleries, along with Georgia Explorer, Cold Water Quest (where you’ll find penguins), Ocean Voyager and Tropical Diver.
THE BASICS: 225 Baker Street. 404-581-4000. www.georgiaaquarium.org.
THE RUNNERS-UP: World of Coca-Cola (attraction); Zoo Atlanta (attraction for kids)

Spark St. Jude
World of Coca-Cola

BEST QUIRKY ATTRACTION

World of Coca-Cola

THE LOWDOWN: Since this museum, dedicated to the city’s favorite soft drink, moved to a new location adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park, it’s been rediscovered by locals and visitors alike. While the expanded facility includes many more exhibits tracing the history of the world’s favorite soft drink, the opportunity to sample sodas that Coke markets around the world still thrills both kids and adults alike.
THE BASICS: 121 Baker St. NW. 404-676-5151. www.woccatlanta.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: Cyclorama

BEST OUTDOOR ART

KROG ST. TUNNEL

THE LOWDOWN: Probably best known for the artist Totem’s velvety rendering of 50s-era actor Robert Mitchum, the Krog Street Tunnel is a bit like one of those galactic wormholes described by sci-fi writer Douglas Adams: It’s terrifyingly claustrophobic, colorfully unhinged, and when you’re finally out of the thing, feeling dizzy and sick, it dawns on you that it was a fascinating and too-brief journey.
THE BASICS: South off of DeKalb Avenue between Moreland Avenue and Boulevard.
THE RUNNER-UP: Atlanta Botanical Garden

Kristina Ackerman
The Big Chicken

BEST LANDMARK

The Big Chicken

THE LOWDOWN: Believe it or not, the 56-foot-tall Big Chicken, actually a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant sign, was designed by a Georgia Tech architecture student in 1963. Why this continues to be the best landmark in the metro area, we have no idea. We’re not sure, in fact, why so many people would need a landmark to mark the bustling intersection of Cobb Parkway and Roswell Road. But the Chicken is such a fun part of the city’s landscape, we don’t really give a cluck.
THE BASICS: 12 Cobb Pkwy N, Marietta, Ga.
THE RUNNER-UP: Stone Mountain

istockphoto.com
The Westin Peachtree Plaza

BEST SKYSCRAPER

The Westin Peachtree Plaza

THE LOWDOWN: In an Atlanta skyline that boasts the imposing King and Queen buildings and the Bank of America tower, it takes something special to stand out from the crowd. This property’s eye-catching cylindrical shape certainly delivers—and don’t forget the revolving Sun Dial restaurant, which offers a breathtaking view of the city.
THE BASICS: 210 Peachtree St. 404-659-1400. www.starwoodhotels.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: The King and Queen Buildings

Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development

BEST MONUMENT

CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK

THE LOWDOWN: Two people were killed there by a bombing during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games for which the park was built. But now the tragedy has softened; getting drenched in the dancing fountains is a summer staple for metro area kids, and so is the ice-skating rink that operates from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
THE BASICS: 265 Park Ave West NW. 404-222-7275 (PARK). www.centennialpark.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: Stone Mountain

Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Surfing the Internet—a favorite Starbucks pastime

BEST SPOT FOR WI-FI

 Starbucks

THE LOWDOWN: Despite the abundance of towering professional office space in our modern Southern city, many Atlantans choose to set up in one of these corporate coffee houses to get down to business. Perhaps the combination of a freshly inked deal with AT&T for free Wi-Fi incentives, the company’s new daily brew (Pike’s Place Blend) and the see-and-be-seen aspect of working remotely is just too much of a draw for Buckhead’s business elite. Here you can simultaneously (and publicly) show off your mad Microsoft Excel skills, your inclination for free trade coffee and your shiny new iPhone.
THE BASICS: www.starbucks.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: Inman Perk

BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX

Gables Rock Springs

THE LOWDOWN: With a Druid Hills location that defines the word “convenient,” this beautiful apartment community puts you minutes away from Downtown, Buckhead, Midtown and Emory. Not that you’ll be eager to leave your digs—from trendy lofts and garden apartments to inviting town homes, Gables Rock Springs has a floor plan, a price and a lifestyle to fit your needs.
THE BASICS: 550 Rock Springs Court. 404-872-1111. www.gables.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: AMLI Residential properties

BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR SINGLES

Post Properties

THE LOWDOWN: Yep, you read that right. Our readers know that the Post brand promises all the amenities and convenient locations so important to single professionals. And with more than 20 properties to choose from across the metro Atlanta area, situating yourself into one of Atlanta’s most prestigious communities is a snap.
THE BASICS: www.postproperties.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: Post Stratford

BEST NEW SUBDIVISION

Glenwood Park

THE LOWDOWN: Nestled between Grant Park, Ormewood Park, Cabbagetown and East Atlanta Village, Glenwood Park promises a cozy live-work-play community that takes its cues from walkable neighborhoods like Athens, Ga. and Charleston, S.C. And its mix of single-family homes, condos and town homes and eco-friendly public green spaces offers a variety of agreeable lifestyle options.
THE BASICS: www.glenwoodpark.com.
THE RUNNER-UP: Serenbe

BEST LOCAL DEVELOPER

Novare Group

BEST CONDO DEVELOPMENT
TWELVE Hotels and Residences
THE LOWDOWN: Since 1992, the Atlanta-based Novare Group has made a name for itself with an impressive list of mixed-use high-rise properties—none more impressive than the award-winning TWELVE. Mixing a top-notch boutique hotel with upscale high-rise condominium living allows these unique communities—at Atlantic Station and Centennial Olympic Park—to offer plush and a synergistic alliance of luxury amenities and services.
THE BASICS: www.novaregroup.com. www.twelvehotels.com.
THE RUNNERS-UP: Julian Lecraw and Company (developer); Metropolis (condo development)