my favorite place in atlanta is shakespeare's tavern. good theater, fun people, great beer, totally laid back, and vegetarian shepherd's pie for crying out loud!

besides, shakespeare gives feminists a lot to talk about.

http://www.shakespearetavern.com/

btw, napw is a great organization, have a good conference!

Not completely sure of your tastes, but Little 5 Points is a 3-block area somewhat near the Carter Center, might want to check it out: http://www.atlanta-midtown.com/business/l5p/

Also Virginia-Highland is a neighborhood nearby with a couple brew pubs, bunch of restaurants, some pricey.

If you have a couple extra hours, seeing the beluga whales at the Georgia Aquarium is pretty cool (world's largest aquarium).

Have fun!

If your tastes run to the classics of theater, you might want to see the Shakespeare Tavern's current production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. This is probably as close to feminism as Shakespeare got!

http://www.shakespearetavern.com/

Love the Merry Wives. Love them, love them, love them. Best Sh. comedy ever.

I've only been to Atlanta once, to visit an ex-boyfriend, but he took me to a really cool place called, I think, the Sun Dial. It's a tall tall building in downtown Atlanta that has a rotating restaurant/bar at the top. You sit there and you can see the whole city as the floor slowly moves underneath you. Pretty cool -- not the absolute best drinks or food in the world, but not bad, and you're there for the view anyway.

Will you be in Atlanta proper or in one of the suburbs?

Check out Decatur square. Birdie's and the Brick Store Pub (http://www.brickstorepub.com) are both low key and very yum, and the Brick is veg-friendly, if that matters. If you like music, you might also check out Eddie's Attic (http://www.eddiesattic.com/), also in Decatur.

Love your site!

There's a Trader Vic's in the Atlanta Hilton. And across the street from the Hyatt Regency (main entrance) is a great little coffeeshop/bakery.

My familiarity with ATL is limited to the area around the Dragon*Con hotels.

BTW, thanks to the folks who recommended Shakespeare's Tavern! I'm going to Atlanta for a work-related conference in March, so I'm looking for other things to do while I'm there. Maybe I'll catch Love's Labours Lost!

I was a college student in Atlanta, and my favourite hang out spot was the Disco Diner, which I am told has closed. So sad. :(

I believe the Sun Dial is at the top of the Westin tower. One of the girls on my floor took her visiting boyfriend there, and she declared it overpriced, despite the view... I don't know. Personally, if I want to look at a cityscape, I'll go to Toronto or New York, but not really Atlanta.

Anyway, my boyfriend is from Atlanta. I'll ask him what non-Disco-Diner stuff he liked to do. (Apparently my friends and I were the only ones who liked it, which I guess is why it closed.)

Whenever I go someplace new, I check out the boards at chowhound.com where people will give pretty reliable recommendations for food and drink. It's also a good haunt if you're obsessed with food.

I was in Atlanta twice for conferences last year, and I really enjoyed The Pleasant Peasant. It's small, with great food, and even better atmosphere. I can't remember exactly where it is, but I know it was near my downtown hotels.

The Flying Biscuit is a don't miss. I prefer the Candler Park location for "ambiance," but they're both yummy. French toast, Love cakes, or both.

http://www.flyingbiscuit.com

Oooops, almost forgot. La Fonda is pretty good, too. I think there are three of them, but I usuaally go to the one on Euclid near Little 5 Points.

Although now everyone will know that my taste in restaurants is more fun and funky than high-class.

Ok, so he's not back yet, but I was thinking about it, and there's a few recommendations I can make.

-Fellini's. I like the Sicilian pizza, and it's CHEAP. There's a few locations, and I think there's beer.
-Cafe Sunflower. Veggie, and tasty.
-Places along Buford Highway for Chinese or Vietnamese
-Apres Diem is pretty chill for drinks/desserts, but it's really all about the patio.
-There's a brazilian steakhouse called Boi Na Braza. As I recall, you like meat.

The new Atlantic Station area downtown is on of my favorites.

http://www.atlanticstation.com/concept.php

There are lots of great restaurants and bars, and tons to do. Have a fabulous trip to my favorite city!!

you guys rock; thanks!

I live in midtown, about 5-10 minutes from everything. I second little Five Points and Virginia Highlands depending on your mood.

Little Five is very edgy,and interesting. It's also home to the infamous Feminist Bookstore: Chablis. Good place to stop in.
VA Highlands is more mainstream, I'd say. Some good bars.

Some Random Highlights:

1. R. Thomas: off Peachtree St. (Main artery for city). It is a 24 hour organic restuarant that is delicious!
2. The Graveyard: Great for drinks with friends. Gets live music (had blues maestro Sean Costello for New Years and rocked)
3. The Jungle: If you want to experience a very decadent gay club in Atlanta this seems to be the spot.
4. Club Eleven 50: Snoody but tasteful interior for drinks and DJ.
5. Fogo de Chao: Someone mentioned the Brazilian steakhouse which I will be going to in a week for the first time--heard good things. At Fogo, what they do is give each person a card with one green and one red side. Men, dressed up like pirates or shipmen (what I think anyway) come around with big slabs of meat (they are everywhere)--if your card is on green they cut a slice off onto your plate and keep moving. There are fifteen different kinds of meats I think. It's fun. Pricey though!

Virginia Highlands, Doc Shey's (a noodle resteraunt), the Vortex bar and grill (for biker bar / hamburgers) in midtown or Little 5 Points, Flying Biscuit (I think its owned by the Dixie Chicks...), the Varsity (if you want a heart attack... but seriously, its an INSTITUTION in Atlanta), if you want super fancy there's the Sun Dial that is a rotating resteraunt on top of the Westin hotel tower, Jake's ice cream...

I definitely agree with Little Five Points!

Also, I'm surprised no one has suggested the OK Cafe, which is my personal favorite restaurant when I go back home. It's Southern-style cooking (world's best macaroni and cheese, I swear) and fairly well-priced for the West Paces Ferry neighborhood.

Definitely a MUST.

Java Monkey on Church st. was always my favorite hangout.. they have coffee, wine/beer, etc, and usually have music or impressive open mics.

I'm suprised no one mentioned Manuel's. It's between the Carter Center and Va.-Highlands, a wonderful bar. Very old (by Atlanta's standards) and an institution. Another one is Six Feet Under, across from Oakland Cemetery (ergo "Six Feet Under"). They have good fried seafood and a fairly nice selection of beer. A friend said they made the best Long Islands.

R. Thomas is a must, they seem to have their finger on the pulse of healthy dieting. Fogao de Gaucho is also very good. A lot of people will say go to Buckhead, but it's a little flashy for me, but a good traditional line of bars in that area. The best Italian in the city is Sotto Sotto in the Highlands, right next to Blind Willis (excellent blues and named after the bluesman from my hometown!) and Limerick Junction (Irish pub).

As far as food that's indigineous to Atlanta...the Silver Skillet on 14th serves great southern food. My family still lives around and the food they serve is strangely very similar to what my grandmother makes. Also, Fat Matt's is a great BBQ joint, some of the best blues in town. Also, there's Daddy D'z BBQ which is slightly better food, but there's no atmosphere to speak of.

It's too bad you're coming down right now, Drag Idol just ended its season over at Wet Bar. I think Charlie Brown still does shows on Friday there, though.

Jessica,

Thanks for soliciting these responses. I'll be at the conference too and am really looking forward to meeting you and all the other feminist bloggers, all the great panels, and getting out a little in Atlanta.

See you tomorrow!