ATL: Just Peachy (Part 2)

On our first full day in Atlanta, the weather was less than ideal.  The 40 degree weather reminded us of home!  Nonetheless, we had a full day of activities planned and were anxious to get started. 

The first item on our agenda was a visit to meet another one of our cousins who attends Emory University.  Emory is located in the Druid Hills section of Atlanta and has a nice little area of shops and dining options known as Emory Village, near the University's Haygood-Hopkins main gate. 

We met at the Steady Hand Pour House (which I wish had a website so I could give you the link), a small yet impressive coffee shop just steps from the Emory gate.  The atmosphere inside was cool, featuring nattily attired baristas in bow ties and vintage-modern decor.  You quickly realize that this is not your average cup of joe when you notice many coffees being brewed in what looks like lab equipment- in actuality specialty coffee brewing systems.  Chemex www.chemexcoffeemaker.com is one method and siphon another (siphoning is not proprietary but I learned a bit at www.coffeegeek.com/guides/siphoncoffee ).  I have to admit, I was overwhelmed and went with my typical soy latte.  Cousin and hubby were purists, ordering a siphon brew and an Americano respectively.  The drinks were pricey but I have to say my latte was the best I've ever had, complete with a pretty design in the foam. 

Suitably caffeinated, we were ready for the nickel tour of Emory University www.emory.edu . We began at the bookstore which is multi-storied and modern, housing everything from textbooks to giftware to plush stuffed microbes (I had to stop myself from buying the flesh-eating bacteria one- he even had a knife and fork embroidered on his fuzzy exterior!).  Emory has a rich and varied history and its campus is home to beautiful architecture, museums, libraries, and a myriad of landscaped seating areas that would be great to explore on a warm, sunny day.  Being a bit chilly, we walked cousin to class, bought some souvenirs, and headed on our way.

By this time, we were ready for a snack and found that we were just a short drive away from a juice bar.  Arden's Garden www.ardensgarden.com looked great online so we decided to make our way to the Virginia Highlands neighborhood.  The drive was quick but enjoyable as we passed so many great homes and neighborhoods along the way.  We arrived and easily found Arden's Garden in a small strip mall.  The location is clean and bright inside, with many pre-packaged juices available if you are in a hurry, as well as many healthy snack options.  I chose the grand slam (a shot each of wheatgrass, lemon, ginger, and cranberry), as well as an OJ.  Hubby had a delicious custom blended smoothie.  The drinks were all delicious and a perfect remedy to my post-flight hypochondria.  We grabbed a raw kale salad that was amazing, and some avocado oil potato chips (just to make sure we weren't TOO healthy)- awesome.  I definitely wish we had Arden's Garden in NY!

Another leisurely drive brought us back to Decatur where we hit up Big Peach Running Company www.bigpeachrunningco.com .  I was in need of some new running shoes and did some advance research, and Big Peach Running Co. did not disappoint.  The shop is bright and jam packed full of running gear that I always see in magazines but never in stores.  Craig, the associate who helped us, was enthusiastic, polite, knowledgeable, and patient.  He scanned my feet for pressure points, then had me try on a neutral shoe.  Off to the treadmill we went, where my gait was analyzed by video.  Several pairs later, I found the perfect shoe!  (For you runners, the Brooks pure cadence 2, available at www.brooksrunning.com )  Shopaholic that I am, of course I had to purchase a running shirt and headband as well.  Prices were fair, and the service was exceptional.  Never again will I buy my shoes online!

A quick stop at the house and we were off to an important date: Community Circle at Winnona Park Elementary School.  City Schools of Decatur www.csdecatur.net are touted as some of the best, and we were looking forward to seeing our little cousin's class in action.   Community Circle is held weekly and showcases the topics students have been working on that week.  We were incredibly impressed- the school was spotless and had amenities one would expect from a private school, including a koi pond and gardens.  The kids were enthusiastic and engaged, and the circle is led by energetic teachers with assistance from parents and volunteers (many wielding instruments).  Decatur definitely has something to be proud of here!

Back at the house we had a quick snack, then loaded into the Denali to head to dinner.  We took the scenic route and made a pit stop in the Little Five Points district of Atlanta.  This is often described as the Haight-Ashbury of Atlanta, and rightfully so.  It has a bohemian feel and many interesting shops and resturants.  We were on a schedule so we decided to pop into Sevananda Natural Foods Market www.sevananda.coop .  As you may have guessed from the website, this is a food co-op, and the largest one I have been in.  Their selection is huge!  There is a large and varied bulk section, as well as salad bar, hot bar, and soup selections.  Since we were on our way to dinner, we stuck to beverages (I was thrilled to find Arden's Gardens prepackaged juices).  We made a mental note to stop back on the way to the airport for healthy snacks.

Dinner was at Napoleon's Grill www.napoleonsgrill.com .  Napoleon's has a great, varied menu that really does have something for everyone.  Once you step inside it has a cozy, country feel replete with a large bar and a stage for live music.  The place was packed when we got there, and there was a bit of a wait for our party (there were 7 of us).  Time passed quickly as I caught up with my aunt, and we were soon seated.  Napoleon's has a great beer selection, including my favorite, Fat Tire lager by New Belgium brewing company.  The service was prompt and pleasant, and the food was outstanding.  I enjoyed the thai tofu tacos, which were served with black beans and tortilla chips.  The tacos were spicy but flavorful and the portion size more than ample.  We finished the evening with a shared slice of key lime pie, which was to delicious, and headed back to Decatur.

Once back home, we briefly debated going out, but that was short-lived as we were all tired. We put the kids to bed, grabbed our beverages of choice, built a fire, and settled in to watch The Blair Witch Project...oldie but goodie and gets me every time.  There's something to be said for sticking with what you know, and watching a movie that you know the plot (and some of the lines) by heart.  As the fire blazed, we intermittently chatted about old times until we were all falling asleep.

Stay tuned for ATL: Saturday (Oooh! Oooh!) (Part 3)