Sunday, September 14, 2008
News, Sports, A+E, Food, Life, In this Issue..., Style, Nightlife
The SP 100
Presenting the fourth annual SP 100: The Sunday Paper staff’s thoroughly researched, hotly debated and extremely opinionated list of Atlanta’s finest entertainers, restaurants, philanthropists, nights...
Attractions
Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development
Piedmont Park
Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
Courtesy of the Inn at Serenbe
Courtesy of Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of AtlantaATLANTA’S PARKS
WHY: From the drought-stricken rolling hills of Piedmont, to Screen on the Green’s new home (Centennial Olympic) to 125-year-old Grant, Atlanta’s parks are where it’s at. And let’s not forget the beauty of Chastain, the quaintness of Lenox or the welcoming feel of Inman. Lacking a beach, Atlanta’s parks get all the attention when the sun is out.
WHERE: Expansive green spaces all around the city.
SERENBE
WHY: Namely because the 1,000-acre sustainable, environmentally friendly community inspires us. Serenbe uses only 30 percent of the land, which is divided into private homes; three critically acclaimed restaurants, the Blue Eyed Daisy Bakeshop, the Farmhouse and the Hil; the Inn at Serenbe, a 20-room romantic retreat; Serenbe Farms; a gorgeous setting for weddings; cabins for rent; and did we mention its fab boutiques and art galleries? With Atlanta only a 40-minute drive away, who wouldn’t want to live here?
WHERE: 9226 Selborne Lane, Palmetto. 770-463-2610. www.serenbe.com.
IMAGINE IT! THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF ATLANTA
WHY: Because it makes learning fun. With its interactive exhibits (such as the circus-themed Under the Big Top, which closes Sept. 14), special events and monthly playgroup, Imagine It! provides environments and activities that help young children connect with their imaginations.
WHERE: 275 Centennial Park Drive NW, Atlanta. 404-659-5437.
www.imagineit-cma.org.
THE BELTLINE
WHY: Because we think it’s a great idea that needs championing. It seems like this proposed development has been around forever, but the Beltline Partnership was only formed in 2005. And it’s still a ways off: As of August 2007, the city had acquired about 20 percent of the rights-of-way needed to construct the 22-mile light rail loop around the city center. Once completed, Atlanta’s so-called “emerald necklace” could help alleviate traffic and improve the city’s notoriously bad air quality.
WHERE: www.beltline.org.
THE WILLIAM BREMAN JEWISH HERITAGE MUSEUM
WHY: There’s much more to Atlanta’s Jewish history than meets the eye, and the Breman has taken on the difficult task of retracing that at-times volatile and visceral chronology with its exhibit “The Jews of Atlanta from 1845 to the Present.” It also tells the story of the Holocaust, explores facets of Jewish heritage, houses an impressive research library and hosts the Ida Pearle and Joseph Cuba Community Archives and Genealogy Center, filled with thousands of records, oral histories, photos, manuscripts and more. Every Atlantan looking to learn more about Jewish history and culture should visit this place.
WHERE: 1440 Spring St., Atlanta. 678-222-3700. www.thebreman.org.
OAKLAND CEMETERY
WHY: It’s not as morbid as you may think to spend an afternoon strolling through this scenic repository of the dead. Oakland is one of the best (and most photographed) historic spots in Atlanta, and includes the final resting places of several local celebrities. If that’s not enough to convince you, sign up for one of the guided tours given through Halloween, and you’ll be scared straight in no time.
WHERE: 248 Oakland Ave., Atlanta. 404-688-2107. www.oaklandcemetery.com.
THE FABULOUS FOX THEATRE
WHY: We love this Atlanta landmark. There’s something about this gorgeous, historic venue that takes us away from the daily grind of city life and back to a more elegant time. The Fox is one of the best concert venues in town; it’s definitely the best place to see a movie during the annual Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival. And it hosts an impressive lineup of touring Broadway productions, musicals, plays and high-profile comedians. Mighty Mo is pretty damn cool, too.
WHERE: 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-881-2100. www.foxtheatre.org.