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Best Of Home
Best of Atlanta 2009
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Readers Picks
It’s easy to get caught in Atlanta’s glitzy grip. What with the backdrop of reality TV stars, the glut of luxurious restaurants, the saturation of sublime shopping, and the abundance of cultural hot spots, we certainly aren’t lacking in the fab factor.
But tough economic times over the past year had us reining in the spending. The thought of enjoying our city’s wealth of interesting places and activities may have even been fraught with anxiety — dare we say guilt.
But when your money’s tight, that’s the time to get crafty. Instead of buying a house, maybe you learn to simply enjoy a stroll through a walkable neighborhood. Or you might ditch the expensive eateries for a local specialty store that sells the ingredients for whipping up a dynamite meal at home.
The fact is, there’s no shortage of tools for living richly, whether you’re flush with cash or subsisting on the cheap — it just takes a little extra effort. That’s what this year’s Best of Atlanta is all about: reminding you of the annual standouts that are no doubt worth the money, while uncovering the less costly but just as valuable gems our city has to offer.
And if you won’t take our critics’ word for it, your fellow Atlantans have a few suggestions on what they’d do if they were filthy rich — or dirt poor.
In the meantime, get wrapped up in this delightfully dirty idea: No matter how high your tax bracket or how low your gas tank, living in Atlanta can truly be a Filthy Rich experience.
— T. Chanté LaGon
Extras: Filthy Rich Embed Codes
Did you win an award? Want to flaunt your filthy richness? Use these embed codes to prominently display the badge of a true winner on your website.
Filthy Pick: Best local band that’ll scare your pants off Winner: Hawks
There comes a time during every HAWKS show where you start to fear for your own safety. Maybe it’s in watching singer Mike Keenan strip naked and do the zombie walk through the crowd, kissing and singing to whomever he can get his hands on. Or maybe it’s seeing him stuff the microphone down some unsuspecting audience member’s pants and then finish the song with his face buried in their crotch. You'll likely want to move to the safety of the bar and order a drink, but the cacophonous punk/metal melee unfolding on and off stage is just too awesome to miss. www.myspace.com/hawksisaband.
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Rich Pick: Best local new voice Winner: Boog Brown
The future of hip-hop has a past, and her name is BOOG BROWN. Two years ago, she was just a restless Detroit native and recent college graduate who thought she'd find better opportunity and a good job Down South. So she loaded up her stuff and she moved to "Black Hollywood" — Atlanta, that is. Shopping malls. Music stars. But Brown found herself more at home within the city's underground scene, where she met such collaborators as producer Illastrate. Already, she's proven herself to be that rare gem of an artist who can push a genre forward by taking it back to "The Essence," when, as she raps with a warm, detached flow on her first single, "shit used to be credible/incredible vocab/no amount of swagger hide a wack verse." The irony, of course, is that she unleashed that salvo, from her anticipated Miss Black America mixtape, smack dab in the middle of rap's swag capital. Despite all our fair city has to offer an up-and-coming MC, Atlanta needs Boog Brown more than she needs us. We need to remember how it feels to hang onto the edge of every lyric, to pause in the middle of a verse and rewind, to find ourselves transfixed and transformed by the renewing power of a rhyme. Atlanta should be so fortunate. www.myspace.com/bbrownfbgm.
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Best local overall music act Winner: Gentleman Jesse
Since GENTLEMAN JESSE dropped his debut 7-inch, “I Don’t Wanna Know,” back in ’06, Atlanta’s consummate power-pop innovator has exerted a sweeping influence over the collective consciousness of the city's native rock scenes. The emphasis he places on the art of songwriting, and the quick, concise pop inflections he’s mastered rise above the common vernacular of garage slop and punk-rock jitters. While the rest of the city's other bands have watched and followed, he continues to reach for a higher plane of musicianship. Whether performing as the right-hand man in the new Paul Collins Beat, or wielding a bass guitar in the Carbonas, a local music renaissance has fallen upon Atlanta, and much of it is at the hands of Gentleman Jesse Smith. www.myspace.com/gentlemanjesse.
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Best local new music act Winner: The Balkans
Straight outta high school, the four fresh-faced teens who make up THE BALKANS won the hearts and minds of pretty much everyone who saw them play this year. Equally inspired by the reverb and kerrrang of ’60s surf rock, the energetic Merseybeat pop of the Beatles, and the ’90s inflections of Radiohead, these kids are seasoned beyond their years. But they maintain their youthful abandon by concocting a jittery, fast-paced indie-rock grind so catchy and stylistic that it caught Atlanta by surprise. www.myspace.com/thebalkans.
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Best sign that cock rock is back Winner: Whores
Bearing witness to a WHORES show is like being crushed under the tread of a Panzer tank as it charges into battle. The guitar,-bass-and-drum trio's brand of precision metal summons forth all sorts of macho emotions in such songs as “Daddy's Money” and “Shower Time.” But just when the vulgar display of power becomes too heavy for the faint of heart, drummer Travis Owen throws them a middle finger. He then proceeds to bounce his drumstick on the floor, catch it, twirl and shoot another bird in one fluid motion that would make even Diamond Dave want to play drums. www.myspace.com/whoresmusic.
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Best local down-and-dirty diva Winner: Phillippia
Soul can be so predictable. Especially in Atlanta, where a strong tradition leaves little room for reinvention. Fortunately, PHILLIPPIA always revels in following no path but her own. For 10 years, the Miami native has been grinding it out in Atlanta while showing off her dynamic, jazzy-to-nasty vocal range on too many local stages to name. Tyler Perry even showcased the alto singing a song he'd penned in his ’05 film Madea's Family Reunion. But it's her ability to step onstage and conjure new meaning from well-known material that makes Phillippia the city's underground goddess. At her birthday celebration May 5 — which also doubled as the last jam at the now defunct Sugarhill — she went to chuuch (yes, chuuch) on Soulja Boy's street anthem "Turn My Swag On," twisting it into a grimy, gut-bucket romp that would've made Dade County proud. A few months later at Apache Cafe, she sung behind the beat and lifted a cover of Beyoncé's typically featherweight "Halo" to heights unknown. Indeed, sister-girl is downright dirty — and divine. www.myspace.com/phillippia.
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Best local instrumentalist Winner: Jeffrey Bützer
JEFFREY BÜTZER plays a piano to cinematic affect. His latest CD, The Garden of Scissors, is loaded with nods to Tom Waits, Ennio Morricone and Yann Tiersen via elegant melodies and a soft boom and chang that creates fluttering narrative movements. While his compositions often balance brittle, avant-garde tunes with sweeping, abstract narratives, he never loses sight of the song. He lets the instrument’s natural tendencies inform the mood as much as the music he hears in his head, giving rise to imaginative, astute works that are as fanciful or as far-out as you like them. www.myspace.com/jeffreybutzer.
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Best local rock act Winner: Howlies
With the arrival of its Kim Fowley-produced debut full-length, Trippin’ with Howlies, the Atlanta misfits HOWLIES made it clear that they had straight-up reinvented themselves, moving far beyond the pedestrian, college rock of their previous incarnation, Moresight. Driven by hooks and rich narratives about finding girls, losing girls and getting loaded, songs from Trippin' such as "Sea Level," "Smoke" and "Dirty Woman" exhibit moments of pure pop genius, and the kind of raw rock elation you’d never want your parents and co-workers to find out about. www.howlies.com.
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Best local punk rock act Winner: Predator
PREDATOR pounds every bit of angst and aggression into its songs with the power of a machine driven by three chords and pure, wall-punching fury. Sure, any punk-rock band can organize such disparate pieces into a manly tirade. But the trio of Mike Beavers (bass/vocals), John Necro (drums) and Brannon Greene (guitar/vocals) does it with style by stripping songs to their essentials, then drawing out a steady, aggressive plod with clean, razor-sharp edges that are minimalist by design but saturated with unadulterated catharsis. www.myspace.com/atlpredator.
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Best local metal act Winner: Withered
With Folie Circulaire , black-metal underdogs WITHERED unleashed the bleakest, most constrictive metal opus Atlanta has seen since Mastodon's Leviathan. Every time the group takes the stage, slow, pulverizing grooves grind, bash and build to a climax of machine gun drums, helicopter head-banging and a bestial growl. While Mastodon was busy cracking the Skye, Withered punched a hole through the earth and reached deep into the bowels of hell to summon an epic, labyrinthine roar. www.myspace.com/withered.
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Best local country music act Winner: The Whiskey Gentry
Navigating the clichés engrained in contemporary country music is no easy chore. Nobody recognizes that more than THE WHISKEY GENTRY. The newly evolved project featuring former Missy Gossip and the Secret Keepers lead Lauren Staley pushes the parameters of bucolic country songcraft with elegance and grace. But the group doesn’t trip over its own musical inclinations. Rather, Whiskey Gentry refines them with Southern charm that pays respect to tradition while looking beyond to conjure pop sensibility. www.myspace.com/thewhiskeygentry.
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Best local singer/songwriter Winner: Ben Trickey
The plight of the stark, lo-fi troubadour is not an easy one. In a post-Bright Eyes, post-Mountain Goats world, indie rock has seen just about every riveting trick one lonely man with a guitar can get away with — as well as the ones he can’t. But when BEN TRICKEY strums and sings about the dark, emotional side of life as an imperfect man, you believe him. The characters and narratives in his songs resonate with somber timelessness, scorched tones and dirty production qualities that add depth to his frail and frazzled arrangements. www.bentrickey.com.
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Best local hip-hop act that breaks all the rules Winner: Hollyweerd
Remember that scene from "Chappelle's Show" when Charlie Murphy recalls the time when the late Rick James came to his brother Eddie's pad and started jumping up and down all over the leather sofa with his muddy platform boots on, yelling "Fuck yo' couch, nigga!" Well, that's HOLLYWEERD to the nth degree. Take the lineup: a self-styled savant who goes by "the Dreamer," two full-time tat artists (Tuki Carter and Chris "the Love Crusader" McAdoo) from City of Ink, and a jazz-sax journeyman who calls himself the mythical Stagolee. That ain't no rap group, it's a band of gypsies. Since materializing out of thin air nearly two years ago, the four-man crew has busily crafted its own unruly narrative. The three mixtapes released in the past 12 months showcase the group's penchant for combining sweet indie-pop incarnations with self-indulgent fantasy funk. It's a nutty mix. Yet somehow they've managed to turn their wild inconsistencies — from constantly evolving musical influences including OutKast and the Doors to hit-or-miss live performances — into the main attraction. Like a traveling freak show, Hollyweerd piques our curiosity. No matter how odd, we can't turn away for fear of missing what might happen next. www.myspace.com/hollyweerd.
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Best local MC with a Dirty South mouth Winner: Playboy Tre
There’s something about a rapper who claims he’s doing it for the “have-nots” that just screams Dirty South. With his last two mixtapes, 2008’s stellar Goodbye America and its follow-up Liquor Store Mascot, PLAYBOY TRE's self-deprecating rhymes rival the depth of Killer Mike, the creativity of Bobby Ray (with whom he tours as hype-man), and the self-awareness of Kanye West. Thing is, Tré delivers it in his own countrified voice. It reverberates throughout Mascot on the chilling, rock-infused “Remember Me,” the frustrated “Sideways,” and the title track, on which he pretty much sums up his approach to music and life. With a heart for everyday people, he's a homegrown rebel frustrated by the powers-that-be. So he drinks — a lot — while cursing the status-quo. Beer in hand, rhymes in tow, the East Atlanta-reared Tré is an MC for the times. www.myspace.com/playboytre.
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Best local mixtape Winner: The 808 Experience: vol. 1
Who knew that when SMKA Productions released its debut mixtape, THE 808 EXPERIENCE: VOL. 1 , in December ’08 that it would mark the first wave of the crew's aural assault on Atlanta. Maybe their moniker, Super Market Knife Attack, should've been a dead giveaway. Executive-produced by natives 808 Blake, 7 King and Mike Walbert, The 808 Experience marked a marriage between the Old South's affinity for 808 bass and the New South's retro-ATLien craze. With a hodge-podge of unsigned artists, from the hipster-approved to the most ’hood, it bridged the best of both worlds. www.thesmkaexperience.com.
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Best local jazz act Winner: The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra
Unwilling to settle for restaurant gigs spent politely playing jazz standards, THE 4TH WARD AFRO-KLEZMER ORCHESTRA demonstrates a formidable balance of African-inspired rhythms and Yiddish inflections. The group’s original compositions, under the direction of trumpeter Roger Ruzow, are a barrage of disciplined, baroque big-band numbers that evoke the sights and sounds of South Africa, Israel … and Cabbagetown. That sense of old-world style mixes with humor that's both classy and rollicking to produce an old-world sound, attitude and direction. www.afroklezmermusic.com.
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Best local electronic act Winner: Lyonnais
As a signifier, “electronic music” can encompass everything from Tangerine Dream to Skinny Puppy. LYONNAIS (pronounced LAY-oh-nay) falls somewhere within the nebulous, gray area between drone, avant-garde and indie rock, as the local foursome gives rise to long, sustained tones and slurred notes that tussle and fade into cinematic hues and abstract intentions. The sound is willfully vague, littered with sonic nooks that open up to reveal all sorts of hidden sound dimensions. www.myspace.com/teamlyonnais.
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Best local methadone drone-pop act Winner: Abby Go Go
As relative newcomers to Atlanta’s music scene, ABBY GO GO has done their homework. The group draws from a mixed bag of noisy, drug-addled proto-punk and drone-rock luminaries, including the Velvet Underground, Stereolab, the Jesus and Mary Chain and other staples. But rather than simply imitate their heroes, the foursome stands on the shoulders of giants to offer a distinctly Southern vision of humid, spectral rock ’n' roll that's filled with an elegant, spaced-out plod. www.myspace.com/abbygogorocks.
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Best local art-rock act Winner: Carnivores
Though CARNIVORES is one of the hardest-working bands in Atlanta, it’s also one of the hardest to categorize. Throughout the group's debut full-length, All Night Dead U.S.A., a blizzard of lo-fi tropicalia and contorted rock rhythms tussle in a haze of overdriven pop tones and giddy excitement. The group hones a genuine sense of enthusiasm for exploring the fringes of fun, exotic music, while stepping beyond the clichés of cut-and-dry indie rock. www.myspace.com/carnivoresatl.
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Best local experimental music act Winner: Facehugger
One of the most disconcerting acts to grace Atlanta stages in 2009, FACEHUGGER creates an atmosphere that eclipses the normal exuberance experienced at a live show. Drawing from a palette of proto-industrial noise and pop grooves in the vein of Suicide, Cabaret Voltaire and even Joy Division, the group turns out a surprisingly pleasing sound both antiquated and surreal. But the aggressive, hyper-manic performance of vocalist John Hannah is enough to jar an entire audience out of its comfort zone. www.myspace.com/facehuggeratl.
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Best local folk act Winner: The Wild
The tree-hugging post-hippies of the ’80s stripped folk music of its bite in a way that surely caused Woody Guthrie to do back flips in his grave. Nobody understands that more than the kids in THE WILD. Such jittery, electric/acoustic folk-punk ballads as "We Will Drive These Warlords Out" and "We Shall Overcome" are filled with gritty, ideological tales of hardship and determination, performed with fortitude and finesse. www.myspace.com/thewildatl.
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Best local international music act Winner: Batata Doce
When BATATA DOCE first hit the scene around ’07, the group concocted a hybrid of Appalachian sounds over a traditional Brazilian backbeat. Over time, the group has shifted through varying musical textures of tropicalia, psychedelia and ’60s pop that culminates in a spacey, spicy melting pot of multicultural accents and dance music. www.myspace.com/batatadoce.
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Best local producer Winner: Illastrate
Too many beatmakers. Not enough producers. That's the problem with rap. Fort Wayne, Ind., native ILLASTRATE, however, is part of the solution. Like the scent of empty aerosol paint cans, Illastrate's neck-snapping dirty drums and boom-bap time signatures remind us why we first fell in love with hip-hop. It's fresh, especially at a time when the genre's auto-tuned out with oversaturated electro production techniques. Such collabos as Black Noise starring Aarophat of Youngstown, Ohio, showcase Illa's ability to marry the music with the MC. And his recent hookups with such Atlanta-based MCs as Ozy Reigns, Señor Kaos and Mojo Swagger prove class is back in session among Atlanta's true-school. www.myspace.com/dirtydrumz.
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Best local promoter of Atlanta's rich hip-hop heritage Winner: Shameless Plug
We expected big things when the respective architects behind Art, Beats + Lyrics (Jabari Graham) and Broke $ Boujee (Fadia Kader) linked up with Atlanta music marketer Bem Joiner (Rebelutions) and mega-church marketer Jerald McBride to form a concert promotions team. But the onstage reunion of Goodie Mob? Certainly, no one saw that coming — not even the members of Goodie Mob. Turns out SHAMELESS PLUG approached them, feeling that the time was ripe after rumors persisted for two years that the godfathers of Atlanta hip-hop had finally bonded behind the scenes. Coming on the heels of Vibe magazine's investigative piece documenting the rise and struggles of Southern rap's first family (the Dungeon Family, of which the Mob were founding members), the concert reflected the lifeblood of a subgenre. With so many promoters in the A — from run-of-the-mill to grade A — only a handful recognize their role as cultural curators. Count Shameless Plug among them.
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Best local label Winner: Double Phantom
The face of Atlanta’s indie-rock scene is ever-changing. Over the last year, the Balkans, the N.E.C., and Carnivores have all come to personify the next generation of young, unstoppable local acts, eager to push the envelope and foster their own brand of art-driven rock and experimental sounds. Releases from each of these acts have materialized baring the mark of DOUBLE PHANTOM. The label has become the defining sound of Atlanta rock circa 2009 by following the blueprint of tried-and-true DIY institutions. www.doublephantom.com.
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Best Atlanta-based online music magazine Winner: Pine Magazine
No one in town is on top of the interwebs more than Holly Lang's PINE MAGAZINE. Lang's site is linked to the gills with videos, MP3s and listings for the discerning Atlanta music patron. In light of so much quality independent news, arts, opinion and music coverage she provides, it seems dismissive to relegate her site to the blog ghetto. But Pine sets a higher standard for the local fire starters while placing an emphasis on the art of disseminating information, not attitude. But the real secret weapons giving Pine so much street cred are the free, first Thursday of the month showcases at the Star Bar. Since starting the monthly concert series in January 2008, Pine has hosted more than 100, mostly Atlanta-based acts. If you're looking for a show, an interview, a news bulletin or anything else that might enhance your time in the cubicle, Pine is the most user-friendly URL on the block. www.pinemagazine.com.
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Best local music documentary series Winner: "The Stand on Demand"
Let's face it. Cable is full of reality TV shows that depict the fact and fantasy surrounding music's pop celebs — many of whom reside right here in our city. But none of the shows rep the real like the mini-doc series "THE STAND ON DEMAND." For three years, the Comcast OnDemand series (available under Real City TV) has documented the underground hip-hop talent rarely seen or heard on the boobage tubage, including such local artists as Binkis Recs, DJ Rasta Root and Floyd the Locsmif. A sense of the city's underlying culture emerges with each episode, as artists reveal the love of craft that keeps them committed in spite of their indie struggles. Produced by Eljay Williams, with still photography by his wife, Shari, "The Stand On Demand" is the best reason to re-up on that ovepriced Comcast subscription. www.myspace.com/thestandondemand.
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Best song with a Georgia reference Winner: "Sweet Georgia"
Warning: Do not attempt to ride out while bumping "SWEET GEORGIA" by Konvict/Def Jam signee Cyhi Da Prynce unless you're prepared to spend a grip on gas. That's because shawty gets around like Tupac — especially within the 13th colony. A twanged-out acoustic guitar and bare-bones backbeat (Crown Kingz Productions) make a less than likely pairing with Da Prynce's lazy, lyrical flow. But together they fit like shrimp and grits as the Stone Mountain native guides listeners through his stomping ground — which seemingly covers every speck of red clay south of the Appalachian Trail and north of the Okefenokee Swamp. He makes pit stops through towns (Forest Park, Macon, Dublin), colleges (Georgia Southern, Fort Valley, UGA), Atlanta thoroughfares (Campbellton, Bankhead, Glenwood), and even lock-ups (Hancock in Sparta and DeKalb County Jail). But buried within this veritable state anthem, Da Prynce delivers a winding narrative of his own dope boy travels and travails, as he reminisces from the back of a tour bus. And when he hoarsely sings the hook — "I say ohh-oh-ohh, swee-et Geor-jah" — it's so heartfelt, it'll put Ray Charles on your mind. www.myspace.com/dapryncehoodlum.
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Best local music video with an elegant flair Winner: "Black and White"
The whole year long, Brittany Bosco dripped sweat on stages from Chicago to San Francisco and back promoting Spectrum — her independently released debut EP packaged in gold Bubble Wrap. But her most memorable performance comes in the three minutes and 21 seconds of the BangPop-produced video for "BLACK AND WHITE." A haunting visual display, it highlights Bosco's subtler side and her smoldering, Sarah Vaughan-like vocal textures in a way barely hinted at onstage. Accompanied by naked piano keys, Bosco laments her forlorn lover while the camera taunts and teases her with tightly framed black-and-white shots and soft fades. She pulls off the nod to film noir without any unintended hokeyness, and instead perfectly embodies the era when ladies sang the blues wearing long, white satin gloves. And when she gently caresses her collarbone and lifts her doe eyes to the camera, it appears that the lost art of sophistication is on the come-up once more. www.myspace.com/brittanybosco.
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Best place to hear local music Winner: 529
The variety of acts performing at 529 encompasses noisy, outsider rock, indie hip-hop, new-school soul, straight-up punk, garage rock and hardcore. No other venue in town can stir such an eclectic pot of low-key locals so seamlessly while maintaining such a relaxed atmosphere. It’s a venue made by local musicians for local musicians who have learned from their experiences of playing the best and worst dives throughout the Southeast. The sound is impeccable, the bathrooms don’t stink, and if the opening act sucks, you can take refuge on the patio until the band you came to see takes the stage. 529 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-228-6769. www.529atl.com.
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Best club event Winner: Fuck Yesss
The disco-punk jet set always looks its best come the first Thursday night of the month when FUCK YESSS rolls through the Drunken Unicorn. The scene says it all: Hipsters stand in a line that trails back to the Book House trying to get in on Atlanta's premiere dance party. Le Castle Vania, Treasure Fingers, RRRUMP and hordes of other local talent spin records and click mice as they keep the dance floor grooving to the sounds of indie, electro, hyfy beats and world-class robot rock jams. www.myspace.com/fuckyesssatl.
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Filthy pick: Best bins for bargain-hunting Winner: Nearly New Shop
Not all thrift stores are created equal. Some are basically indoor flea markets with dozens of shoppers picking through crowded racks and overflowing shelves. We like those places, too, but sometimes you want a thrift store that’s more like a boutique, with a quieter vibe and better merchandise. The NEARLY NEW SHOP, operated by the Junior League of Atlanta, is pricier than Goodwill, but where else are you likely to find Kate Spade bags, Ferragamo shoes, Brooks Brothers suits and Thomas Pink dress shirts? Like any thrift store, the stock turns over constantly, but since Nearly New has a highfalutin donor pool, it’s not unusual to walk out with secondhand haute couture for a steal. 1715 Howell Mill Road. 404-355-3547. www.jlatlanta.org/nearlynew.
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Filthy Pick: Best public art Winner: Art Signed the Beltline
Armed with maps, Sharpies and $400 worth of wood, a group of local artists organized by WonderRoot and local do-gooder/merry-maker Angel Poventud ART SIGNED THE BELTLINE in June. Artists and regular folk from around the city gathered to produce more than 100 works to install along 108 points where the Beltline crosses public rights-of-way. The group then tagged the city with its guerilla signage under the cover of night. The effort’s reach is undeniable: From an I-20 overpass in Grant Park to Edgewood Avenue to south Atlanta, the art signs are spunky reminders of Atlanta’s vast expanse and the link the Beltline could offer among its numerous communities. City of Atlanta take note: This is how you do public art.
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Rich Pick: Best overall restaurant Winner: Bacchanalia
Atlanta dining just keeps getting better, but BACCHANALIA still reigns supreme as the standard-bearer for excellence in the city. Chef/owners Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison and executive chef Daniel Porubiansky are turning out extraordinarily refined food that retains the Southern roots of its local, fresh ingredients. In the past year, the wine list has expanded and improved dramatically, and the room remains one of the Southeast’s best examples of luxury without gimmick or pretension. 1198 Howell Mill Road. 404-365-0410. www.starprovisions.com.
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Rich Pick: Best place to commune with nature Winner: Sweetwater Creek State Park
The most beautiful — and predictably, the most tourist-heavy — of the local parks, SWEETWATER CREEK STATE PARK is still best experienced by leaving aside the official trails and activities. With nine miles of hiking, it isn't hard to set your own path. For the athletic, the creek — especially post-rainfall — makes for an excellent kayaking run. For a more peaceful Sweetwater experience, there's usually ducks to feed along the reservoir, not to mention multiple docks for fishing. And while not technically a part of nature, the New Manchester Manufacturing Co., a textile mill burned during the Civil War, connects the site to the area's conflicted history and provides an imposing spot to take photos, have a picnic, or use as a landmark during treks. 1750 Mt. Vernon Road, Lithia Springs. 770-732-5871. www.gastateparks.org/info/sweetwater.
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Filthy Pick: Best recession dining deal Winner: Shaun's Restaurant
SHAUN'S RESTAURANT has been a favorite Inman Park hangout since it opened in 2007. But chef Shaun Doty's recent debut of his family-friendly Sunday night pasta dinners has lured droves of new customers and long-time regulars alike. For a mere $12, diners receive a three-course meal, which includes a family-style salad, a heaping portion of pasta from a handful of choices — the spaghetti and meatballs may be Atlanta's best — and a dessert. Affordable carafes of extremely drinkable wine selections are sold by the half-liter or liter. The rest of the menu is also available, but why bother when you can get such great food on the cheap? 1029 Edgewood Ave. 404-577-4358. www.shaunsrestaurant.com.
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Filthy Pick: Best way to explore the city without spending a dime Winner: Bike culture
Atlanta has always been known as a car-centric city. And with its endless hills, dangerous intersections and crazy drivers, it’s never been a particularly hospitable place for cyclists. Yet, despite all hindrances, BIKE CULTURE persists and even thrives here. And it’s not simply spandex-clad racers or gear-headed mountain bikers taking to the streets. The current two-wheel craze has become a low-tech, egalitarian social movement that embraces all kinds of bikes — three-speeds, fixies, cruisers, road bikes, junkers — for the purpose of riding for recreation and basic transportation. Neighborhood rides have become commonplace all across the city, most notably the monthly Critical Mass gatherings, in which sometimes hundreds of riders take over the streets of downtown Atlanta. Because that’s how we roll.
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Rich pick: Best place to get outfitted for your GQ photo shoot Winner: Sid Mashburn
We mean this literally, since SID MASHBURN and his trio of young haberdashers were featured among GQ’s “Best Dressed Men in America” earlier this year. And if you’ve got the coin, they’ll fix you up, too, with clothing and accessories carefully selected for their timeless, elegant, practical and classic qualities: Irish poplin ties in regimental stripes, chinos with watch pockets, A.P.C. five-pocket raw denim jeans, Mackintosh rainwear, Scottish cashmere sweaters and rugged Filson luggage. If you’re of more modest means, you’re welcome to drop by for a game of pingpong or to listen to the store’s eclectic stash of vintage vinyl as you swap fashion tips or discuss how the in-house tailors can bring your old suits up to date. 1198 Howell Mill Road. 404-350-7135. www.sidmashburn.com.
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Rich Pick: Best theater company Winner: Georgia Shakespeare
The spirit of “the show must go on” is alive and well at GEORGIA SHAKESPEARE. The economic downturn forced the company to cancel its annual open-air Shake at the Lake production in Piedmont Park this year, but rather than wallow in its own slump, the company produced one of its most interesting summer repertories in years. It may not be a surprise that the company could present a madcap version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a grand production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but Georgia Shakespeare gets special credit for its compelling staging of Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare’s most notorious and difficult play. And that’s without mentioning last fall’s musical Antigone or the summer’s family-oriented Alice in Wonderland. One can only hope we’ll catch the company by the lake next year. 4484 Peachtree Road. 404-264-0020. www.gashakespeare.org.
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Best answer to Atlanta's problems that's still decades away Winner: Beltline
Regular CL readers know that we love us some BELTLINE. It’s always Beltline this, Beltline that, Beltline cure for cancer, etc. There’s just one hitch: It doesn’t exactly exist yet — and won’t for years to come. The city recently inked some land deals in the southwest quadrant, but half the Beltline property has yet to be acquired and some of it is still being used for freight traffic. City poobahs say the Beltline will have full-on light-rail transit, but many skeptics believe it simply will be a greenway and bike path. And the financing proposals are more than a little shaky. So, what’s the Beltline ever done for us? Well, it gives us something to hope for and dream about — it gives us a reason to believe that, someday, Atlanta will be a better place.www.beltline.org.
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Best boutique for dropping obscene amounts of cash Winner: Jeffrey Atlanta
Its sister store in Manhattan is such a landmark of trendiness that it’s been lauded by Time Out and lampooned on “SNL,” but JEFFREY ATLANTA is best known for bringing the season’s must-have frocks, shoes and accessories to Atlanta’s well-heeled fashion mavens. Between items by Jil Sander, Bottega Veneta, Dries Van Noten, Prada, Lanvin, Manolo Blahnik, Pierre Hardy and YSL, if you can’t manage to drop a small fortune at this Phipps Plaza mega-boutique, then you haven’t been trying. You may not be able to eat or pay rent after shopping at Jeffrey, but we guarantee you’ll be the best-dressed gal at the shelter. 3500 Peachtree Road. 404-237-9000. www.jeffreynewyork.com.
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Best chef Winner: Linton Hopkins
Restaurant Eugene has been one of Atlanta’s best restaurants since it opened in 2004. But recently chef LINTON HOPKINS has transformed the menu from its standard appetizer/entrée/dessert format to a collection of small plates supplemented by a couple of entrees. This change has brought out the best in what the chef is capable of – a meal at Eugene is now a journey through the best of the season, cooked with love and creativity. Whether it’s the simplicity of a farm-fresh egg served with greens and bacon, or the complex beauty of beet-marinated flounder with orange, jalapeño and crisped rice, Hopkins is cooking with a focus and intensity that puts him at the height of his game. His undying support for local farmers and farm-to-school programs puts a shine on him in our book as well. 2277 Peachtree Road. 404-355-0321. www.restauranteugene.com.
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Best new trend in the arts Winner: Art collectives
The last year witnessed a woeful lot of new trends. We don’t need to remind you about tanking home prices, skyrocketing unemployment, and widespread economic mayhem (oops … sorry). While the big picture crumbled before our very eyes, some small but significant signs of life poked their heads out from under the rubble: community-based ART COLLECTIVES. The likes of Art House Co-op, WonderRoot and MINT Gallery, among others, have blossomed over the past year. All run by young thinkers, doers and lovers of burgeoning local art scenes, these art collectives are answering the call to unite Atlanta’s emerging talent. The trend culminated last June at Gather Atlanta. Held at Eyedrum and presented by MINT, WonderRoot, and local arts blogs BurnAway and ThoughtMarker, the event cultivated a vigorous and much needed dialogue among the various communities. Now that’s a trend worth setting.
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Best new restaurant Winner: La Pietra Cucina
Nothing in Atlanta restaurants has come along in the past year that's made us as excited as chef Bruce Logue's cooking at LA PIETRA CUCINA. From the dreamy pillows of house-made ricotta that accompany the Procuitto de Parma and pineapple mostarda to the outrageous black spaghetti with hot caladrese sausage and rock shrimp to perfect wood-roasted fish, Logue's bold vision of Italian is as thrilling as any genre of food happening in any restaurant in the city. 1545 Peachtree St. 404-888-8709. www.lapietracucina.com.
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Best place to make yourself look rich for cheap Winner: T.J. Maxx
Known for carrying high-end brands at low-end prices, T.J. MAXX should be on every bargain-hunting fashionista’s hit list. The designer-label section is stocked with A-list brands including Miu Miu and Prada, and the markdown on those items is significant. Though you probably won’t be walking out of the store with a Vivienne Tam dress for less than $100, it’s still a steal at $160 — $440 cheaper than retail. What you will find on the super-cheap are $80 Joe’s jeans — that’s half price! — and $60 Coach sandals — a $100 discount! As with all bargain shopping, T.J. Maxx can be hit or miss. But when it’s a hit, it’s a really, really big hit. 1 Buckhead Loop, 404-467-9772; and other metro Atlanta locations. www.tjmaxx.com.
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Best pretentious place in metro Atlanta Winner: Serenbe
Eco-conscious baby products. Free-range fried chicken with locally grown, organic veggies. Rows of pristine townhomes built to EarthCraft specifications. Environmentally sustainable sewers. For some, a visit to SERENBE could be a PC nightmare, with no convenience store or burger joint in sight. But at its best, Serenbe is a meticulously planned, beautifully realized vision of a small-town community within an idyllic rural setting. Most small towns, however, can’t boast two regional destination restaurants; a well-appointed country inn; a thriving organic farm; miles of peaceful walking trails; a collection of upscale boutiques and galleries; and a nonprofit cultural institute that sponsors artists in residence, lectures, monthly film screenings and performances by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. That Serenbe is basically in the middle of nowhere, 40 minutes from downtown, only adds to its showy allure. www.serenbe.com.
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Best visual artist Winner: Danielle Roney
Installation and conceptual artist DANIELLE RONEY was already making thoughtful art that put her in the league of nationally and internationally recognized artists. But Genesis Trial: Johannesburg — Roney’s sprawling, fearless solo exhibition at MOCA-GA last fall — definitely upped the ante. Genesis proved that Roney could not only tackle but master a stunning array of media, while weaving a unified tapestry from disparate strands of the artist’s dreams and obsessions. Through video, sculpture and painting, the show offered a glimpse of the artist’s fascination with the networks of huge urban centers and the ubiquity of digital culture. A follow-up solo show at Kiang Gallery in the winter proved no less incisive. Roney’s already been all over the world; fortunately, we have her art to bring the world back to us. www.danielleroney.com.
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Best artistic stimulus package Winner: Art Papers Live! lecture series
Art Papers is more widely known for its annual art auction blowout, which somehow persuades large swaths of the Atlanta art community to show up in the same place at the same time. Less glitzy is the publication’s ongoing ART PAPERS LIVE! LECTURE SERIES, featuring some of the world’s leading artists, curators and thinkers. Recent installments from MIT-based curator Ute Meta Bauer and rock star-slash-sociologist Saskia Sassen have been thoughtful missives from “out there” in the rest of the art world. Through engaging dialogue, Art Papers Live! drives home the lesson that it takes more than just a fancy new runway at the airport to stay connected to the world. artpapers.org.
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Best designer shoes for a steal Winner: Alexis' Suitcase Consignment Boutique
When you’re a label-lover without the salary of a CEO, finding deals on designer kicks can be a challenge. To help with the dilemmas of your sole, check out ALEXIS’ SUITCASE CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE. Part boutique and part consignment shop, Alexis’ two locations offer dazzling deals on flats, pumps, boots, kitten heels and stilettos, including Prada, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors — at a minimum 25 percent markdown. After 50 days on the shelves, all items are knocked down to half price. But don’t wait too long. Competition can get fierce. 7878-G Roswell Road, 770-390-0010; 5805-I State Bridge Road, 770-813-1883. www.alexissuitcase.com.
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Best down-to-Earth place in Atlanta Winner: Little Five Points
Intown Atlanta's renaissance was a welcome change, but it posed a conundrum for some neighborhoods: As newcomers settled in, the urban villages began the slow brewing process of finding their identity. Thank God that LITTLE FIVE POINTS doesn't care if it has a cohesive one. Though best known as the go-to ’hood for music, brews and tattoos, it’s also one of the most homegrown hamlets in Atlanta: Next to Virginia-Highland, no other intown neighborhood offers more independent businesses (community-owned credit union, anyone?). Through white flight and gentrification, L5P has been a welcome reprieve from the plastic Buckhead and the quick-built Atlantic Station. You can nurse (or pound) a beer at Corner Tavern or the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club, or you can stop by for an impromptu concert at Criminal Records. Undeniably, home prices have gone up, but the well-inked and laissez-faire vibe remains the same. Euclid and Moreland avenues. www.l5p.com.
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Best restaurant trend Winner: Offal
Mmm, livers. Yuumm, tripe. Sweetbreads? Oh, yeah. More and more restaurants are jumping on the OFFAL bandwagon, and that’s just fine with us. While many upscale restaurants (as well as ethnic spots) have been serving organ meats for years, the past year has seen an explosion in whole-animal cooking, most notably at Holeman & Finch Public House and at Abattoir, the new restaurant from Anne Quatrano and Clifford Harrison. The good news is that the public seems to be gobbling it up with gusto, meaning this is a delicious trend that’s not going away anytime soon. Chicken hearts, anyone? Yes, please … .
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Best bizarro local news story Winner: Pamela Graf
Insurance fraud has been around for at least as long as insurance itself, maybe minus a day. Wantonly setting things on fire, however, has been around for even longer. So it's difficult to put a 21st-century twist on one of humankind's most clichéd crimes. But Forsyth County Police say PAMELA GRAF of Cumming found a way. While the 47-year-old was allegedly in Washington, D.C., for President Barack Obama's inauguration, someone torched her home and scrawled "your black boy will die" on her fence. (Before the Jan. 18 fire, Graf had planted two Obama campaign signs in her yard.) The incident enraged and humiliated the community and sparked national headlines. Less than a month later, Graf and her boyfriend were picked up on drug charges. After interviews with the couple, neighbors and acquaintances, and further investigation of the scene of the original fire, police charged the couple with arson, obstruction of justice and giving false statements.
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Best excuse to get all dolled up Winner: PinUp Girl! Cosmetics
You’ll find more than mere makeup at PINUP GIRL! COSMETICS. We’re talking salon services, full-scale makeovers, corsets, nipple tassels — even the means to host a private party and photo shoot. The ’40s bordello-style décor is the perfect setting for a racy soiree, bachelorette or bridal party, complete with champagne and appetizers. And the shop’s in-house cosmetics line, not to mention its glamorous getups, has just enough sparkle to turn you into a rock star. PinUp Girl! also has been known to offer 50 percent off its menu of super-fun, super-girly services. Who said it was hard work to be beautiful? 566-A Boulevard. 404-688-7468. www.myspace.com/pinupgirlcosmetics.
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Best gallery spotlighting local artists Winner: Spruill Gallery
Now that the price of gas has come down, there’s no excuse for ITP-centric Atlantans not to make the trek out to Dunwoody’s SPRUILL GALLERY. Spruill continues to build upon its history of pursuing some of the most risky and stimulating local art, while expanding its vision to include artists working internationally. With artists such as sculptor Ting Ying Han, photographer Jonathan Bouknight and guerilla installation artist Jason Kofke, Emerging Artists 2009 cemented the institution’s reputation for keeping its ear to the ground and digging up the best of what’s right here and right now. 4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road. 770-394-4019. www.spruillarts.org/gallery.htm.
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Best restaurant design Winner: Livingston
The massive redo of the Georgian Terrace hotel gave Atlanta a chic place to stay in the heart of Midtown, but it also gave us one of the most stunningly beautiful new restaurants to come along in years. Design company the Puccini Group gave LIVINGSTON all the old-world glamour of the original space and updated it just enough to make a vintage-modern masterpiece of a dining room. High ceilings, columns, and wrought iron flank the main dining room with its comfortable, modern leather chairs. The stunning bar area is all marble and swanky velvet banquettes. And the patio, facing the Fox Theatre and decked out with fat wicker club chairs and canvas umbrellas, is the height of sophistication. 659 Peachtree St. 404-897-5000. www.livingstonatlanta.com.
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Best art event Winner: Le Flash
Of all things glittery and shiny we witnessed just before the economy officially flew off the rails, nothing was glitterier or shinier than last fall’s LE FLASH in Castleberry Hill. Dozens of artists braved a steady drizzle to pull off a night of light-based art, installation and performance that encompassed the entire gallery-packed neighborhood. Curators Stuart Keeler and Cathy Byrd marshaled an army of volunteers to demonstrate the power of doing a whole lot with very little. What’s more, the festivities spilled over Northside Drive (gasp!) to encompass Cleopas Johnson Park and the John Hope community. And the entire festival was carried off on the slimmest of recession-era budgets. www.leflash-Atlanta.com.
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Best designer bridal gowns you can afford Winner: Le Dress Boutique
If you’ve got anywhere from $200 to $2,000 to drop on a wedding dress, those dollars will go far at LE DRESS BOUTIQUE. Carrying once and never-worn gowns, it’s not unusual to find such jaw-dropping designers as Melissa Sweet, Vera Wang, Rivini and Monique Lhuillier at one-third (or less!) of the original price. Le Dress’ ever-rotating inventory is kept up-to-date online, too, meaning you have a good chance of finding the perfect dress for your big day — without having to claw someone’s eyes out. 3255 Peachtree Road, Suite 6. 404-842-1955. www.ledressboutique.com.
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Best posterchild for grassroots show of community Winner: Kyle Keyser
On Dec. 17, 2008, L5P resident KYLE KEYSER was lying face down in a North Avenue Pizza Hut parking lot, a gun aimed at his head. While picking up takeout as a favor for a friend, he found himself the victim of a mugging. Thanks to chance, the video producer’s life was spared. But Keyser didn’t sit on his hands, and after the January 2009 murder of bartender John Henderson, he and a few friends launched Atlantans Together Against Crime, a nonprofit citizens’ group that quickly attracted more than 6,700 members on Facebook and became the loudest voice to raise awareness about the city’s public safety problem. On Sept. 2, he announced his candidacy for Atlanta mayor. Whether brandishing a bullhorn at monthly rallies around the city or posing questions to the Atlanta Police Department’s top brass at press conferences, Keyser’s been the voice that the city too busy to act sorely needed. www.atlantanstogether.org, www.kyle.tv.
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Best restaurant for late-night dining Winner: Taqueria El Rey Del Taco
Finding something to eat in the wee hours of the morning can be a tough task if greasy spoons aren’t your thing. But Buford Highway has plenty of ethnic options serving food designed to soak up for a belly full of alcohol. TAQUERIA EL REY DEL TACO is one of the best taquerias in Atlanta that just so happens to be open daily from 10 to 5 a.m. Handmade tortillas, an abundance of taco fillings, large seafood cocktails and some stellar salsa with serious kick are just as good at 4 in the morning as they are at lunchtime. And the occasional group of rowdy Latina drag queens only adds to the already colorful scenery. 5288 Buford Highway, Doraville. 770-986-0032.
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Best affordable caterer for impressing your foodie friends Winner: Endive Fine Catering
If you’re looking for a spread that’s beautifully presented and masterfully executed yet doesn’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with ENDIVE FINE CATERING. The menu revolves around elegantly simple dishes, plated in a classy but organic way, that are sure to pass the muster of even the fussiest food snob. Think watermelon-mozzarella-balsamic brochettes, Roqeufort pizza with duck confit and fig preserves, and mini lamb chops with mint pesto — at a price well below comparable competitors. There’s no skimping on service, either. The unpretentious and attentive staff, headed by chef/owner Drew Ihrig, will impress your guests as much as the food will. 1468 Mecaslin St. 404-504-9040. www.endiveatlanta.com.
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Best coffeehouse Winner: Octane
Try as we might, we just can’t find a better coffeehouse than the Westside’s OCTANE. They’ve got it all. Free Wi-Fi? Check. Cool, comfortable digs? Check. Great food? Check (love that house salad; adore that house-made granola). Friendly, community-conscious staff and owners? Check. And most importantly: Great, expertly made, quality coffee? Absolutely. Octane makes all of its brewed coffee from Counter Culture beans fresh in press pots, and the baristas are the best in town. Watch this year for a spreading of the love – Octane has taken over Method near Emory, and there are more locations in the works. 1009-B Marietta St. 404-815-9886. www.octanecoffee.com.
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Best local political figure Winner: Kwanza Hall
Local elected officials — especially in Georgia — usually have to push a resolution proclaiming President Obama the Antichrist if they want to get their constituents’ attention. So give credit to ATLANTA CITY COUNCILMAN KWANZA HALL for reaching out, many times via his Blackberry. Thanks to an ability seemingly to be several places at once — due partly to his 140-character missives to the Twitterverse — the business development director has managed to achieve the unachievable: actually get residents in his district to care and become more engaged. The first-term councilman's been a tireless advocate for his historic and gentrifying district, which includes Poncey-Highland, Auburn Avenue and the eastern edge of Cabbagetown. And as a member of City Council's finance and executive committee, he's on the team that's set to unravel Atlanta's messy budget situation. It's no wonder that Hall, whom city political observers say is destined for higher office, is running unopposed for a second term. apps.atlantaga.gov/citycouncil/bios/2.htm.
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Best orgiastic feast Winner: El Bicho: 2008/2009
The Atlanta art scene might not be the most hospitable place for an Afro-Cuban political dissident who just wants to preach revolution while getting his freak on with an occasional break for Bible study. But that’s precisely the risk Hammonds House Museum took with Tomás Esson’s solo gambit EL BICHO: 2008/2009 earlier this year. And the payoff was sublime. Kevin Sipp’s tightrope curating mixed the right amounts of nasty and nice to spark the transcendence that the born-again Christian artist always points to. Esson’s exhilarating collection of paintings, drawings and installation works was not for the prudish. But then again, revolution seldom is. 503 Peeples St. 404-612-0500. www.hammondshouse.org.
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Best Bentley rental Winner: Wedding Trans
Sure, there are plenty of limousine services in Atlanta offering stretch Lincolns and Cadillacs with uniformed drivers, moon roofs and wet bars. But what if you’re looking for something a little classier, something more evocative of Sean Connery than a debauched bachelor party? Enter WEDDING TRANS. The name, of course, is a bit misleading. You don't have to be tying the knot to ride in one of the company's sweet rides: two vintage Bentleys — one white and one silver — and two white Rolls Royces — a ’64 Cloud III and a ’75 Silvershadow. No matter what the occasion, these are cars that would make James Bond proud. 2702 Old Coach Road. 404-992-4881. weddingtrans.com/pages/home.php.
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Best breakfast Winner: West Egg Café
No one does so consistently well at so many aspects of the day’s first meal as WEST EGG CAFÉ. From hearty, delicious Irish oatmeal to roasted garlic grits to the fluffiest biscuits and pancakes, this Westside hangout has it all. The coffee is strong and fresh, breakfast is served all day, and there’s free Wi-Fi. What more could you want? Kick-ass cupcakes, you say? They have those, too. 1168-A Howell Mill Road. 404-872-3973. www.westeggcafe.com.
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Best peek into an art collector's vault Winner: Mergers & Acquisitions
Curator Stuart Horodner’s 11th-hour tour de force MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center reminded us of the old haberdasher’s saying: “It’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it.” Replacing a show canceled at the last minute, Horodner scoured local private art collections for all things extraordinary, disturbing and worthy of a double-take. The search produced classics such as Salvador Dalí drawings as well as contemporary work by artists with an international reputation such as Radcliffe Bailey and Erwin Wurm. Breathtaking in its scope, the real magic happened when the works were combined in the space with a precise and knowing eye. Mergers & Acquisitions was a high-water mark in the institution’s programming that told a story of art in the local ecology far larger than the sum of its parts. 535 Means St. 404-688-1970. www.thecontemporary.org.
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Best slice of prime-time schadenfreude Winner: "The Real Housewives of Atlanta"
Say what you will about Bravo's "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA" — they've kept the city (or more specifically, Duluth) in the national media spotlight. The housewives — former Xscape singer Kandi Burruss, obligatory-wife-of-an-athlete Lisa Wu Hartwell, socialite NeNe Leakes, divorcee and would-be designer Sheree Whitfield, and "country singer"/wig lover Kim Zolciak — ferry themselves to parties, charity events and restaurants while offering up varying degrees of fabulosity, vanity and over-the-top interpersonal relations. (Burruss, a new addition to the cast and a Grammy-winning songwriter who co-wrote "No Scrubs" for TLC, seems egregiously grounded. Here's hoping she catfights someone in a fountain by season's end.) The franchise is founded on two principles: Shiny things are better when they're expensive, and oblivious people make wonderful television. www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta.
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Best brunch and Best burger Winner: Holeman and Finch Public House
Every night at 10, HOLEMAN AND & FINCH PUBLIC HOUSE begins serving the famous Holeman burger. Only 25 are made each day, and if you get there past, oh say, 10:02, you’re likely to have missed out. People go nuts for this burger, and for good reason – it hints at all the childhood comfort of a regular fast-food burger, but it’s made with the best ingredients, combining the two powerful forces of nostalgia and good taste. Even if you’re no night owl, there’s hope for you to get your hands on one of these beauties – the restaurant serves it in almost unlimited quantities at Sunday brunch, and you can even get one to go from the host. But the burger isn’t the only reason to visit for brunch – other Sunday fare is just as good, including the city’s best (moist, hulking, flavorful) pancakes.
2277 Peachtree Road. 404-948-1175. www.holeman-finch.com.
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Best place to score affordable art Winner: Young Blood Gallery and Boutique
Tucked between Café di Sol and Atlanta Pro Bicycle on North Highland, YOUNG BLOOD GALLERY AND BOUTIQUE has the goods and it has ’em cheap. For less than $100, you can decorate your walls with Jessica Gonacha’s whimsical resin panels ($50), Cabin + Crib’s woodblock burnouts ($16-$32), or a set of three Roll & Tumble Press pop art prints ($70). The shop also hosts regular art openings the first Saturday of every month and the indie-craft market Kraftwork on first Thursdays — think of them as trunk shows for the DIY set. 636 N. Highland Ave. 404-254-4127. www.youngbloodgallery.com.
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Best underrated local athlete Winner: Ilya Kovalchuk
Since being drafted first overall in 2001, hockey player ILYA KOVALCHUK has put together the longest sustained run of excellence — 38 or more goals every season since 2002, exceeding 50 goals twice — by an Atlanta athlete since Greg Maddux and Dominique Wilkins were in their prime. Overshadowed or forced to share the spotlight at various points in his career with superstars Dany Heatley and Marian Hossa, Kovalchuk put together arguably his most impressive campaign last season when he was the team's sole source of offensive firepower, scoring 43 goals and netting a total of 91 points — the second-highest total of his career. Kovalchuk's sustained level of dominance in his sport place him on a tier far above any other current local athlete, including Braves all-star Brian McCann and Falcons star quarterback Matt Ryan. Keep your fingers crossed, though — 2009 was the last year in his contract and it's unknown if he'll renew with the team. thrashers.nhl.com.
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Best approachable bling Winner: Solomon Brothers Fine Jewelry
Anyone who’s ever shopped for diamonds knows about the four C’s: cut, clarity, carat and color. But what about the long-lost fifth C: cost. Can a material girl on a budget ever catch a break? At SOLOMON BROTHERS FINE JEWELRY, the answer is yes. The staid showroom, hidden away on the 17th floor of a Buckhead high-rise, is far from intimidating, and Solomon’s staff is friendly, not pushy. Best of all, you’ll get a quality piece of sparkle for a totally fair price. 3340 Peachtree Road. 404-537-2859. www.solomonbrothers.com.
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Best general manager Winner: Andres Loaiza
The tone of a restaurant, the feel of a room, and the service you receive are usually the doing of that restaurant’s general manager. And at Aria, ANDRES LOAIZA sets a perfect example — warmth complemented by knowledge and professionalism. Need a wine recommendation? Loaiza is helpful without the slightest hint of snootiness. Visit the restaurant once, and two years later he's likely to remember your face, name, what you ordered and how much you liked it. His unmatched attention to detail makes him a master practitioner at the art of true service. 490 E. Paces Ferry Road. 404-233-7673. www.aria-atl.com.
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Best local male actor Winner: Daniel Thomas May
It’s not exactly a surprise when DANIEL THOMAS MAY creates a powerful character or provides a memorable interpretation onstage. He won Creative Loafing’s Critics Pick for Best Actor in 2002 and shared the award with Take Me Out’s ensemble in 2005. May’s known for his solid, commanding performances, such as his vivid, enigmatic portrayal of Brick in Georgia Shakespeare’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof last summer. The past year has seen May stretch in entertaining and productive ways. May made the most of the dual-casting gimmick in Aurora Theatre’s Corpse!, to the point where you expected the actor to walk in on himself. Plus, he showed an unexpected affinity for rootsy religious musicals in Theatrical Outfit’s Tent Meeting and Cotton Patch Gospel, co-produced with Georgia Ensemble Theatre. For the latter, he took Tom Key’s longtime signature role and made it his own, carrying what’s nearly a one-man show (with a live bluegrass band and back-up singers) with his physicality and likeability. Oh yeah, he sings, too.
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Best street character Winner: Prince Daweed
After noticing him for the last few years, you might think the seemingly ubiquitous PRINCE DAWEED is a bit … off. Sure, he’s a fabulous dancer. But what person in his right mind leaps, bounds, gyrates and grooves on such a drab dance floor as Atlanta’s smog-filled street corners? We’ll tell you who: A person who’s at peace with himself, filled with joy, and just plain happy. Weird, huh? But honestly, it makes sense. You’d be in a perpetual good mood, too, if — as Daweed has confessed to CL — you spent all day getting pumped up on the Bee Gees, Hall and Oates, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind and Fire.
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Best $500 spa day Winner: Bliss Spa
Yeah, that’s a lot of money — especially in these bank-account-depleted days. But at BLISS SPA, $500 goes really, really far. The venerable skincare line and beauty outpost, which originated in SoHo and now operates 16 locations worldwide, has two locations in Atlanta (only New York has more). But expansion has hardly left Bliss with stretch marks. In fact, the spa’s signature treatments have never been more fashionable. Start with the triple-oxygen facial to get that youthful glow, follow up with the “fatgirlslim treatment” to improve body tone, continue with the “blissage” massage to melt away anxiety, and finish with a hot cream manicure. Hey, it’s cheaper than plastic surgery! W Atlanta Midtown, 188 14th St.; W Atlanta downtown, 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. 877-862-5477. www.blissworld.com.
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Best bar food Winner: The Porter
With a menu befitting a beer list that includes Blanche de Bruxelles and Franziskaner Dunkelweizen, THE PORTER has sophisticated but approachable noshes, as well as a fair dose of dishes that are suitable to the sloshed. Hush puppies are graced with applewood-smoked bacon and served with a side of Fuji applesauce. Calamari is fried along with lemon slices and jalapenños. The Caesar is served with white anchovies and a poached egg. Plump shrimp and sliced portobello laze on a bed of cheese grits — with a pillow of truffle oil. The best part: Only one item on the menu — the house-made kraut and beer brats — tops $10. 1156 Euclid Ave. 404-223-0393. www.theporterbeerbar.com.
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Best local female actor Winner: Kate Donadio
With a one-line role in last year’s Oscar-nominated The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Atlanta actress KATE DONADIO signaled that she’s poised for big things. Though still young, she’s proven herself to be an increasingly versatile and insightful performer. Two recent plays in particular showcased her diversity. In Theatre in the Square’s Tradin’ Paint, Donadio played the tough yet feminine boss of a stock car pit crew and found an appealing spin on a familiar type. In Actor’s Express’ Suddenly, Last Summer, she took the well-known role of Catharine Holly and turned a frequently victimized character into something of a femme fatale. As daughter of local actors Shannon Eubanks and James Donadio, she disproves the adage that talent skips a generation.
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Best person you love to hate Winner: John Oxendine
We all knew he had goofy hair and was a terrible driver. But until JOHN OXENDINE began running for governor, we didn’t realize just what kind of Christian conservative whack-job our state insurance commissioner seems to be. Since he launched his campaign, Oxendine has publicly opposed Sunday alcohol sales; proposed that MARTA be privatized; made a video in which he promises to run Planned Parenthood out of business; advocated Georgia’s secession from the United States; and plumbed new depths of banality through Twitter. Favorite Ox tweet: “We finished the nursery for baby Jake. The room is Confederate Gray. Reminds me of why I am running.” Were they out of Antebellum Apricot at Pottery Barn Kids? Anyway, with each fresh lunacy, the Ox has become the most entertaining Georgia political figure since former DeKalb CEO Vernon Jones, and is certain to keep us smiling — until we actually have to go to the polls. www.johnoxendine.com.
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Best $25 spa day Winner: JeJu Sauna
If you’re looking to release some tension without releasing the contents of your wallet, the lovely and surreal JEJU SAUNA is the just the space. JeJu’s sprawling, Epcot-esque compound boasts a collection of healing rooms, saunas, mineral pools and spas modeled after a traditional Korean bathhouse — in a setting that’s hands-down the most unusual in the city. The entrance fee will buy you a visit to the Jade Room (for increasing metabolism and improving circulation), the Charcoal Room (for toxin absorption), the Rock Salt Room (for stress release) and the Baked Clay Sauna (for melting muscle tension). In true bathhouse style, parts of JeJu are divided by sex and are clothing-optional. There’s also a food court serving Korean fare, and a menu of spa-styled scrubs and massage. 3555 Gwinnett Place Drive, Duluth. 678-336-7414. www.jejusauna.net.
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Best Chinese Winner: Tasty China
Like many Chinese restaurants, TASTY CHINA has gone through numerous chefs and staff changes — the charmingly abrasive hostess Phuong departed this year under mysterious circumstances. But, like a phoenix, the Marietta Szechuan restaurant manages to rise triumphant from every transition. Skip the "American" menu and go straight for the good stuff — anything made with Sichuan peppercorns. The french fry-like batons of dry-fried eggplant are as crispy and addictive as ever. The "Shan City chicken" — a pile of boneless or bone-in chicken fried to a crisp with toasted peppercorns and dried red chilis — will have your mouth tingling long after you depart. If the heat is too much to bare, dishes such as the "Slice fish and sour cabbage soup” — a silky and tangy broth swimming with tender pieces of white fish — are mild enough for tamer palates without sacrificing any of the wow factor. 585 Franklin Road, Marietta. 770-419-9849.
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Best comedic threesome Winner: Lala Cochran, Don Finney and Shelly McCook
Last fall, Actor’s Express’ production of Paul Rudnick’s The New Century presented a dream team of Atlanta comic talent with LALA COCHRAN, DON FINNEY AND SHELLY MCCOOK. The kind of local comedic treasures who seldom get recognized, the trio hit hilarious heights in The New Century’s successive monologues from, respectively, a Jewish mother of transgender kids, a “too gay” TV host, and an expert in homespun handicrafts. Now, how can we secure them such prominent placement in every theatrical season?
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Best person you hate to love Winner: Shirley Franklin
Sure, she’s become prickly, thin-skinned and defensive in the last year or so, but you gotta say this about our mayor: SHIRLEY FRANKLIN keeps it real. Even when she’s gettin’ all Philly with the press, or community activists (or her online detractors, etc.), the little lady with the big flower on her lapel always calls it like she sees it, unlike countless other politicians we could name. There’s something of an unvarnished air about her, a genuineness that keeps her down-to-earth and relatable — even when you don’t agree with what she’s saying. www.atlantaga.gov/Mayor.
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Best French Winner: Au Rendez Vous
For all the upscale, high-falutin’ French places in town, our favorite is the decidedly homey AU RENDEZ VOUS, tucked into a residential neighborhood in Brookhaven. The cash-only, Vietnamese-owned restaurant serves exactly the kind of food you’d find in a real working-class French neighborhood – traditional recipes cooked with love. You won’t go wrong with any of the crepe appetizers, or rich, hearty meat entrees (try the rabbit cooked with red wine). The diminutive prices and feeling of eating in someone’s jumbled living room only add to the appeal. 1328 Windsor Parkway. 404-343-4983.
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Best new theatrical venue Winner: Southwest Arts Center
The SOUTHWEST ARTS CENTER is the long overdue cultural venue on Atlanta’s southwest side — but the name doesn’t convey just how impressive the 27-acre campus is. It's rolling with greenspace and boasts a spacious yet intimate 375-seat theater with a handsome, earth-toned color scheme. In addition to the center’s many arts-related classes, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company inaugurated the space in the spring with a series of African-American plays, including Pearl Cleage’s Blues for an Alabama Sky. The Southwest Arts Center gives arts fans a reason to drive outside the southern end of the Perimeter. 915 New Hope Road. 404-613-3220. www.fultonarts.org/arts-centers/southwest.
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Best off-the-beaten-path tourist destination Winner: Your DeKalb Farmers Market
Since 1977, YOUR DEKALB FARMERS MARKET has been offering everything from heirloom tomatoes to durians, barracuda to buffalo in its bustling ailes and well-stocked display cases. The noticeably quirky outpost — Check your bags! No right turns! — is a go-to spot for drop-ins hankering for a quick lunch fix or gourmands searching for quality ingredients. If your out-of-towner is fascinated by the inner workings of a farmer's market, you can schedule a tour. If they're enamored by helping the environment, the onsite recycling center — with compost how-tos at its entrance — will make their green heart flutter. 3000 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-377-6400. www.dekalbfarmersmarket.com.
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Best wine shop Winner: Cellar 13
It’s rare to put the terms “wine geek,” “Francophile” and “unpretentious” is the same sentence, but those are the words we’d use to describe CELLAR 13 owner John Passman. In his new shop tucked into the corner of a strip mall on Roswell Road, Passman offers a fantastic and well-rounded selection of French wines, delving far deeper into some regions than many like-minded wine shops bother to go. While the store’s inventory is about 50 percent French, Passman also carries a great selection of Italian, Spanish and domestic wines, as well as gems from Austria, Germany and beyond. 3765 Roswell Road. 404-816-4071. www.cellar13.com.
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Best furniture on a budget Winner: Kudzu Antique Market
With more than 100 dealer stalls and an emphasis on affordability, KUDZU ANTIQUE MARKET is likely to have several versions of whatever it is you’re looking for — from dining tables and easy chairs to bar cabinets and floor lamps. Granted, you’re unlikely to find a Louis XIV bureau or a Chippendale desk, but if you’re willing to settle for an American primitive bookcase or a brushed-steel shelving unit, you’ll probably be in luck. And Kudzu is a good place to find unusual items — we’ve even seen a full-sized Catholic confessional for sale. 2928 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-373-6498. www.kudzuantiques.com.
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Best Japanese and Best sushi Winner: Sushi House Hayakawa
SUSHI HOUSE HAYAKAWA is one of those rare Japanese restaurants that does exceptionally well on two fronts: The sushi and sashimi is expertly cut, fresh and fabulous, and the hard-to-find home-style Japanese dishes and nightly specials elevate Hayakawa to destination-restaurant status. Golden-fried squid legs served with Japanese mayo, crispy croquettes with a creamy center, roasted gingko nuts, seductively slippery seaweed salads and an assortment of noodle dishes are perfect with an ice-cold carafe of sake from the restaurant's small, but excellent selection. 5979 Buford Highway. 770-986-0010. www.atlantasushibar.com.
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Best overall neighborhood Winner: Decatur
Ah, DECATUR. The apple of an urban planner's eye. The most family-friendly of locales that doesn’t involve sitting in traffic on I-75. Homeowners there weren't as hard hit by the recent economic tsunami, the schools are considered top-notch, and a well-staffed police force keeps tabs on goings on in its neighborhoods. City officials' plans to make a pedestrian-friendly square and downtown area have noticeably paid off, allowing residents and visitors to follow fare at such standout restaurants as Watershed and Cakes and & Ale, with choice drinks nearby at Brick Store Pub and the Grange. Can't drive home? Take MARTA, which has a stop below the square. Summer brings a seemingly endless array of public events to entertain the city's estimated 29,000 residents, including the nationally known book festival that's attracted such talents as Rick Bragg and Salman Rushdie. And while the urban ’burb might catch flak from hardened intowners for its sometimes stroller mentality, it's still the kind of place you’d secretly like to call home. Decatur, you marvelous son of a bitch, you win again. www.decaturga.com.
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Best venue for stand-up comedy Winner: The Laughing Skull Lounge
When it came to choosing the best venue for stand-up comedy from the exhaustive list of two full-time comedy clubs actually located in metro Atlanta, new kid on the block THE LAUGHING SKULL LOUNGE got our vote. The club not only provides audiences with nationally known headliners such as Doug Benson and Jennifer Coolidge on a weekly basis, but with a max capacity of 74, it’s also made comedy in Atlanta more intimate. As an added bonus, it shares space with the Midtown Vortex, so even if the comic doesn’t make you laugh, the club can keep you happily fed. 878 Peachtree St. 877-523-3288. www.vortexcomedy.com.
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Best ’hood to find treasure among someone else’s castoffs Winner: Virginia-Highland
In these hard times, yard sales are a great way to inexpensively furnish your house, find a new bike, build your record library or simply get a bunch of cool crap. You’ll see yard sales all over town, but VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND is nearly always worth the drive. It’s got a wonderfully broad range of demographics: a good mix of upscale houses and itinerant apartment-dwellers; a dynamic blend of young hipsters and estate-sale seniors; acquisitive newcomers and eccentric old-timers. Best of all, on a good weekend, it has the highest yard-sale occurrence per capita of any place in Atlanta, so you won’t waste half your time in the car.
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Best dance performance Winner: Dirty Pretty
Atlanta's dance scene teems with modern and contemporary companies vying for recognition, but with each new showcase, Zoetic Dance Ensemble sets the standard. Last fall's DIRTY PRETTY was a mishmash of humor, technical expertise and thoughtful choreography. The production played to all the dancers' strengths: Each kick and leap executed in Dirty Pretty exuded the theatricality Atlanta has come to expect from Melanie Lynch-Blanchard’s modern company. While the performance exercised the recent trend of video and photo projections, the bathtub, silk screens and other quirky choices were pure Zoetic. The melding of gritty movements and set pieces with beautiful music solidified the show as a jewel in Atlanta’s treasure chest of cultural riches. www.zoeticdance.org.
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Best furniture for hip trust-funders Winner: City Issue
If you get ditzy for Danish Modern or go nuts for Knoll, then CITY ISSUE is your one-stop shop for furnishing your loft with a stylish, mid-century vibe. Sectional sofas, teak cocktail cabinets and funky Lucite lamps? Check, check and check. The store, expanded since relocating to Inman Park from Buckhead, also carries colorful vintage rugs, abstract paintings from the ’50s and such vital home accessories as rocket-shaped seltzer bottles and space-age table-top planters. If you’re into names, how about Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames, and a bunch of guys with names like Jens and Hans? There’s something to be said for living in the past. 325 Elizabeth St. 678-999-9075. www.cityissue.com.
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Best Korean Winner: Honey Pig
For many years, Atlantans equated Korean barbecue with beef and only beef. But HONEY PIG changed everything. This Duluth restaurant is all about the pork — especially the belly. The prices may seem high, but don't fret. That price includes a gluttonous amount of food. Instead of a regular grill grate, the servers cook the meat on a sizzling-hot cast iron dome with butter. The meat — which comes with a load of side dishes and wrappers — is followed by bean sprouts tossed with chili paste, mushrooms and fermented cabbage. At the end of the meal, a long piece of octopus is curled around the tip of the dome, and snipped to pieces before being tossed with a large bowl of rice and the remaining bits of meat and vegetables. Best. Fried. Rice. Ever. 3473 Old Norcross Road, Duluth. 770-476-9292.
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Best book event Winner: Decatur Book Festival
For bibliophiles, the DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL is simply impossible to ignore. The largest independent book festival in the country, DBF brings a staggering lineup of authors to the Atlanta suburb every year to participate in a three-day celebration of the written word. The exhaustive list of writers (more than 250 last year) included everyone from political figures (John Dean) to Pulitzer Prize winners (Natasha Trethewey). Getting mystery fans, poetry lovers, and history buffs into the same room isn’t always a simple task (nor does it leave much elbow room — more than 70,000 people attended the 2008 festival), but the festival makes it happen through the use of various Decatur venues such as Java Monkey, Agnes Scott and Eddie’s Attic. Having just completed its fourth year, the fest continues to make its mark as a top shelf Labor Day event. 404-471-6430. www.decaturbookfestival.com.
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Best Mexican Winner: La Oaxaquena Taqueria
Dining at LA OAXAQUENA TAQUERIA used to sometimes be difficult because of the limited seating. But the restaurant has moved to an expansive new location where there’s plenty of seating and parking. The salsa and condiment bar is full of the same pristine choices. The sopes have the requisite qualities of greatness — a crispy crust, soft masa center and fresh toppings. And there are tacos galore. But the restaurant's famous tlayudas — a specialty of Oaxaca resembling a large pizza made with a crunchy tortilla base and topped with chewy strings of Oaxacan cheese — are impossible to pass up. 605 Mt. Zion Road, Jonesboro. 770-960-3010.
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Best place for bargain Berettas and fully loaded Glocks Winner: B&B Outdoors
he Internet says President Obama plans to use one of his Muslim lock-picking prayers to break into the National Archives, Sharpie the Second Amendment out of the original U.S. Constitution, and send ACORN volunteers door-to-door to collect all our guns. In the event that the Internet is exaggerating and guns remain legal, however, we recommend B&B OUTDOORS for your shooting needs. It’s not the biggest gun store in the area, but its well-rounded stock of high-quality handguns and long guns for sport and defense, as well as its approachable, gun-savvy staff, make it an easy shopping experience for both novices and experts. And unlike many area gun shops, B&B isn’t in some grim old strip mall in an out-of-the-way ’burb. It’s in a well-kept shopping center not too far from Perimeter Mall. If you’ve got a Georgia firearms license, you can even get there via MARTA; B&B’s on Bus Route 185. 710 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. 678-352-1720. www.bboutdoors.com.
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Best private-school education for public-school cost Winner: Henry W. Grady High School
It's no surprise why Atlanta parents are always angling to send their child to HENRY W. GRADY HIGH SCHOOL in Midtown. Named after the pioneering Atlanta Constitution editor who urged progress through cooperation after the Civil War, Grady High School prides itself on diversity, educational offerings and a faculty so beloved you'd think parents wanted to adopt the teachers as well. More than 62 percent of its student body is African-American, and 91 of the last school year's 234 graduates came from economically disadvantaged homes. Its well-regarded magnet program hammers the importance and power of communications and journalism, and a health science career academy introduces students to a promising field. And while disparities do exist among students' testing scores, this intown gem is a public-education standout that believes in giving the city's children the tools they need. srt5.atlantapublicschools.us/grady/site/default.asp.
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Best Middle Eastern Winner: Falafel Café
The name might confuse you, so let’s get straight to the point: FALAFEL CAFÉ isn’t really about falafel. Sure, the unassuming space hidden among a jumble of drab strip malls has falafel on the menu. But you didn’t drive to Cobb Parkway for that. Rather, it’s the call of silky, sultry, riotously delicious Persian food that you’re answering. The most seductive of the restaurant’s sirens are the stews, and the standout among them is the fesenjan, a pomegranate-walnut concoction that’s better than any imitator in town. The aash-e jow, a cream-of-barley soup, is the ultimate comfort food. And the warm reception from owner Reza Gharaat and his staff more than makes up for the no-frills ambiance. 950 Cobb Parkway, Marietta. 770-429-8999.
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Best overall radio station Winner: WRAS-FM (88.5)
All the hallmarks of college radio are there: Songs you’ve never heard but want to hear again, monotone DJs, and ubiquitous public-service announcements. And thankfully, WRAS-FM (88.5), "the Student Voice of Georgia State University," is bringing it free of charge to Atlantans. Such specialty shows as "Dot Dash," "Houseworks," "Martinis Con Queso," "Mighty Aphrodite," "The Blue Note" and "Soul Kitchen" play all of the post-punk, house, lounge, new wave, jazz and everything else you won't hear on big-money mainstream stations. And if the trusty Shazam on ye olde iPhone doesn’t recognize the eclectic array of musical selections emanating from your speakers, the spry, young DJs have been known to rehash their setlists via e-mail or phone. 66 Courtland St., University Center, Room 280. 404-413-9727. www.gsu.edu/~www885.
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Best pawnshop Winner: Jason's Pawn Shop
It’s ironic that, at a time when pawnshops have become more popular with the cash-strapped masses, the merchandise they typically carry is less interesting than ever. Not so at JASON'S PAWN SHOP near Emory, where they seem to favor weird and unique items over the usual PlayStations and power drills. It’s a small space, but there’s usually a mix of esoteric stereo equipment, vintage knives, guitar amps, unusual electronic devices and outright antiques. 2104 N. Decatur Road. 404-636-1731.
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Best reason to name-drop Winner: Salman Rushdie
Odds are, you’re not going to run into SALMAN RUSHDIE while having a beer at the Local or getting your car’s emissions checked. During his five-year residence at Emory University, the British-Indian literary superstar spends only part of his time in Atlanta, and otherwise jets off to appear in, say, Scarlett Johansson music videos. But even as a part-time resident, Rushdie raises Atlanta’s literary profile through lectures and other events, such as this year’s live reading from Samuel Beckett’s collected letters with playwright Edward Albee. When his residency ends, we should try to get The Satanic Verses author to hang around Georgia and set a spell, y’hear?
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Best film event Winner: Atlanta Film Festival
Every year, Atlanta stages an intriguing variety of worthy cinematic activities, including the annual Out on Film Festival, monthly Film Love screenings, and the Plaza Theatre’s puckish programs such as Art Opening and a Movie. In its 32nd year, the ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL revealed a graceful ability to showcase films on all sides of the artistic spectrum. While the festival proper recognized small Southern dramas such as Hal Holbrook’s That Evening Sun and unclassifiable quirky indies such as Bill Plympton’s animated fable Idiots and Angels, special screenings like the Fox Theatre anniversary presentations of Gone With the Wind and Do the Right Thing brought cinematic milestones close to home. atlantafilmfestival.com.
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Best local blog Winner: Decatur Metro
Frustrated that metro Atlanta's most walkable burg didn't have its own daily news source, the quasi-anonymous resident behind DECATUR METRO decided to take matters into his own hands. Little did he know that his first post in September 2007 would give birth to the city's most prolific news source. Half community newsletter, half sounding board for city issues, Decatur Metro is hyperlocal to the core. Daily posts — which are really closer to conversations — have probed the enigmatic aroma that wafts through Your DeKalb Farmers Market, protested the strange garbage juice leaking from a downtown Dumpster, and even veered into coverage about the city's school system and annexation proposals. The site has become such a destination that even city officials chime in on discussions and answer questions. For his nose for news, clever writing, and creating a needed community, we raise a glass of the Brick Store’s finest. www.decaturmetro.com.
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Best place for collectors-edition vinyl Winner: Criminal Records
After years of supplying CDs to hipsters, CRIMINAL RECORDS has lived up to its name and become a full-fledged record store. In addition to vintage vinyl and brand-new LPs of the latest albums, Criminal makes it a priority to stock ample supplies of paycheck-siphoning box sets and limited-edition items. Buy the best of Radiohead box set and you’ll find that meeting people is easy. Need a compilation of Norwegian death metal? It can be yours, Lars. Can you afford not to own the deluxe nine-LP Mastodon set on 180-gram vinyl? And you know where to find the Stone Roses 20th anniversary LP/CD/DVD box set. Going anywhere else could be considered criminal. 1154-A Euclid Ave. 404-215-9511.www.criminalatl.com.
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Best soul food Winner: Busy Bee Cafe
The term “soul food” refers to more than just fried chicken and greens. It's the feeling behind the cooking and the pulse of the restaurant. Atlanta has loads of places that make great soul food, but there's a reason BUSY BEE CAFE is always packed with a line out the door. The place has history, heart and damn fine food. Any of the fried items — such as pork chops, chicken and fish — are crackly and full of flavor. A serving of baked chicken with hot gravy and a corn muffin exudes the coziness of your mom's cooking when you can't get the real thing. And the long, long, long list of side dishes provides more than enough choice for the pickiest of folks. Hot cobbler is made with seasonal fruit when it’s available, but the brightly colored slices of homemade cake at the register are a great takeaway for a sugary snack. 810 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. 404-525-9212. www.thebusybeecafe.com.
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Best literary love for Atlanta Winner: Outcasts United
New York Times reporter Warren St. John offered an unconventional kind of underdog sports story with his nonfiction book OUTCASTS UNITED. While profiling Jordanian soccer coach Luma Mufleh and her Clarkston-based team the Fugees — all young refugee immigrants from a cross-section of war-torn countries — Outcasts United presents a larger portrait of a small town undeniably changed by the outside world. Artfully weaving the conflicts of Liberia and Congo into the outskirts of Atlanta, St. John finds a way for his far-reaching story to eventually play out across a couple of small soccer fields. Not everyone has been pleased with the book, including a few outspoken Clarkston residents who like to paint St. John as a meddling city boy. That reaction speaks to the depth of this work — Outcasts United tackles the uncomfortable subjects of xenophobia and racism, turns the ball around, and scores a goal. outcastsunited.com.
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Best muckraker in lean media times Winner: Jim Walls
The prediction is that online “citizen journalists” will one day replace daily newspapers. There could be something to that if there were more free-range Internet scribes like JIM WALLS, the admitted “ink-stained wretch” behind Atlanta Unfiltered. Having overseen the AJC’s investigative reporting unit for 12 years until taking a buyout in 2008, Walls is the master of the public records search. Since launching his site in late March, he’s beaten his old employer on several news stories, including the messy firing of DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton; an illegal attempt by the state Public Service Commission to switch chairmen; and a costly legal malpractice decision against a DeKalb state lawmaker. We’re not sure how Walls makes a living, but having a guy like him on the beat is a benefit to us all. www.atlantaunfiltered.com.
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Best repair shop to get you back on two wheels Winner: No Brakes
Don’t know the difference between a derailleur and a crankset? That’s fine, because NO BRAKES will set you up with a bike that doesn’t have either. Now in its third year and freshly relocated to Grant Park, this stripped-down shop is ground zero for the current fixed-gear craze sweeping intown Atlanta. They’ll work on any kind of bike, but they specialize in lightweight track bikes with a single speed and, as the name suggests, no brakes. You can also have your ride built from the ground up by choosing from a selection of frames, handlebars, wheels and seats made of English leather and brass. Or you can buy a velodrome-ready racing bike. Or you can simply opt to get your old three-speed fixed up to run errands. No judgment here. 586 Woodward Ave. 404-589-9539. www.nobrakesatl.com.
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Best steaks Winner: BLT Steak
When chef Laurent Tourondel's Atlanta outpost of his successful New York restaurant opened, people were skeptical that any Frenchman could make a steak better than our local institutions. But BLT STEAK (short for Bistro Laurent Tourondel) does beef proud. The restaurant's blazing-hot oven broils each steak — the New York strip is tops — until the surface is caramelized and crispy with char. Each steak is served in a sizzling cast iron pan, topped with a round of herbed butter and pierced with a whimsical plastic cow pick indicating its temperature. The long list of sides changes daily, but the gooey perfection of the potato gratin must be ordered when available. Chef Tourondel's signature complimentary Gruyere popovers arrive piping hot from the oven alongside soft butter and an oversized metal salt shaker. 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. (inside the W Atlanta downtown). 404-577-7601. www.bltrestaurants.com.
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Best Thai Winner: Spoon
Whether you’re a lover of smooth red, fiery green or mellow yellow, it’s easy to appreciate the balance of heat — and heart — that goes into each of the curries at SPOON. And while we can gush all day about the addictive qualities of the Kang Dang with tofu or the Panang with shrimp, Spoon’s noodles and specials (most notably the soft shell crabs) manage to live up to the hype that’s hogged by the signature curry dishes. Lucky for the residents of Ormewood Park, Grant Park and East Atlanta, 2009 saw the arrival of Spoon’s Eastside location, meaning they now have to-die-for Massaman within stumbling distance. 768 Marietta St., 404-522-5655; 749 Moreland Ave., 404-624-4713. www.spoonatlanta.com.
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Best vegetarian Winner: Dynamic Dish
A few years ago, there’s no way a vegetarian restaurant would consistently be cited as an overall favorite among Atlanta foodies and critics. But David Sweeney at DYNAMIC DISH has changed all that. The tiny Edgewood Avenue restaurant serves some of the city’s most flavorful, inventive food — it just happens to be meat-free. The soups, salads and sandwiches burst with the bounty of the season; Sweeney uses only the freshest, most seasonal produce he can find. He’s a wiz at unexpected pestos and spreads, such as English pea and almond pâté, respectively. Don’t miss Saturday organic pizza night, but be sure to make a reservation – it seems that half the town is as enamored as we are, and the place is often packed. 427 Edgewood Ave. 404-688-4344. www.dynamicdish.net.
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Best barbecue Winner: Rolling Bones
We’ve always liked ROLLING BONES, but since chef Todd Richards took over, our affections have grown. Richards has updated the ’cue – the sandwiches are less sloppy, the meat has more of the limelight – and is serving some seriously cool new items, including duck barbecue and smoked trout. Sides have also been given special consideration – the creamy potato salad with Benton’s bacon has just the right mix of creaminess, smoke from the bacon and celery crunch, with none of the sugary undertones of lesser potato salads. Don’t miss the duck sandwich with fig preserves. 377 Edgewood Ave. 404-222-2324.www.rollingbonesbbq.com.
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Best ice cream Winner: Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream & Desserts
In the year since opening, MORELLI’S GOURMET ICE CREAM & DESSERTS has gained national attention, being listed in Bon Appetite as one of the top 10 ice cream stores in the country. And for good reason – the constantly rotating list of ice creams, sorbets and now gelatos are as creative as they are delicious. Standard flavors, such as strawberry and chocolate, are fantastic, but look out for the wackier concoctions that come and go. Recent winners have been the chocolate and Guinness ice cream and the peach champagne gelato. 749 Moreland Ave. 404-622-0210.www.morellisicecream.com.
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Best pizza Winner: Pizzeria Fortunato
Pizza is one of the most convenient comfort foods. And like most comfort foods, people's pie loyalties are extremely personal. Consistency, however, is a common expectation. Over the past few years, PIZZERIA FORTUNATO has proven itself as a reliable and excellent New York-style pizza joint. The classic Neapolitan pizza never disappoints. They are massive, which means each person gets that trademark length and girth of a NYC street slice. The crust has the ideal balance of saltiness, sweetness, crunch and tug. The concentrated acid of tomato in the sauce and strings of chewy mozzarella cheese complete the harmony of pizza perfection. And Fortunato's passes the day-after test with flying colors — chilled or room temperature. 5350 United Drive, Smyrna. 770-432-7454. www.pizzeriafortunato.com.
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Best sandwiches Winner: Muss & Turner's
Chefs Todd Mussman and Ryan Turner have managed to do the impossible – get people to drive from intown Atlanta to Smyrna for sandwiches. But the sandwiches at MUSS & TURNER’S are no joke. The chefs use only the best ingredients — always local when possible — and cook them extremely conscientiously. The creations are playful works of art large enough for the heartiest of appetites. You'd think these guys don't take themselves too seriously with sandwich names like "Insult to Philly," but you know they mean business when you see the ingredient list. Shaved Wagyu Kamado roasted beef with an au jus that takes 60 hours to prepare? Sold. Oh, and the "Chocolate Elvis" — griddled chocolate challah bread stuffed with natural peanut butter, premium chocolate and bananas — is both vegetarian- and sweet-fiend friendly. 1675 Cumberland Parkway, Smyrna. 770-434-1114.www.mussandturners.com.
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Best cocktails Winner: Drinkshop
Sasha Petraske's local location of his famous New York bar, DRINKSHOP, was not immediately embraced by Atlantans; it was dismissed by some as just another hotel bar with high prices. But few of those cynics noted that Eric Simpkins — an extraordinary local talent formerly mixing at Trois — is tending bar at the NYC import. Simpkins may be soft-spoken, but he's a master at manipulating boutique liquors into artful cocktails that explode on the palate. While the menu is carefully crafted, your best bet is to place yourself in Simpkins' capable hands. He finds out what you're in the mood for, and then creates a progressive experience where each cocktail builds upon the last. The arm garters, ice cubes designed for certain drinks and old-fashioned stemware only make the bar a more unique destination for cocktail enthusiasts craving a little something different. 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. (inside the W Atlanta downtown). 404-582-5800. www.whotels.com/Atlanta.
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Best place to get champagne out of your silk suit Winner: Modern Specialty Dry Cleaning
Let’s get one thing straight: MODERN SPECIALTY DRY CLEANING is not the place to take your everyday work shirts and barely soiled blouses. Your corner dry cleaner can handle that, for a more reasonable sum. Modern is where you turn when you need damage control — the Mr. Wolfe of laundry services. Red wine sloshed on a wedding gown? Yep. Bourbon splashed on an Armani jacket? Uh-huh. Caviar unceremoniously dumped on pale suede stilettos? Sure. Blood splattered on the white upholstery of your vintage ride? We won’t go there. 3833 Roswell Road. 404-261-1971. modernhandclean.com.
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