Tag: Love Letter

Manuel's Tavern is a political watering hole, attracting politicians such as Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. During big political events, Manuel’s is one of the hottest spots in town. Customers fill tables inside and out to wait for election results and cheer or jeer at debates. There’s no music playing, ever—just a couple of muted TVs.

Chamblee’s Antique Row began in the 1970s when antique shops specializing in collectibles transformed downtown into a destination for bargain hunters. Although rising costs and changing generations led many longtime stores to close, several longtime businesses remain, preserving the district’s legacy as a hub for antique lovers.

Walking the grounds as an adult, I recognized little of today’s Chattahoochee Nature Center, which turns 50 this year. But that’s a good thing. The center has evolved, and the investment, time, and care that have been put into it over the decades ensure that it will be around for another 50 years.

Some may call The Varsity a tourist trap, its food a gut bomb. Sure, you likely won’t spot it on any list of best Atlanta eateries, and the Michelin crowd probably won’t be found bellying up to the counter for a peach pie. But we locals consider it part of the fabric of our city. An Atlanta institution.

Now that it’s April, I am thrilled about our annual spring yellowing, even if it conjures allergies and practically mandates car washes. The pollen that coats our outdoor furniture and floats on our lakes and pools is nature’s way of reminding us that Atlanta is the city in the forest. It’s the small—albeit annoying—price we pay for our verdant tree canopy, vibrant azaleas, and temperate spring.

The first time I wandered into Intown Hardware in Virginia-Highland was by accident. Suffering from dreary winter blues, I had decided to brighten my apartment with some indoor plants, and happened to drive past the store. They might have plants there, I thought. The easy parking won me over, beating congested big-box parking lots by a landslide.

If I haven’t already told you to download Libby, you should download Libby. It seriously changed my life. The app, which is available nationwide through most library systems, gives you access to your library’s entire catalogue of e-books and audiobooks. It’s like a whole digital library, right on your phone!

Chow Club is the best of Atlanta. The monthly pop-up dinner series, cofounded by Amanda Plumb and Yohana Solomon, is a foodie's paradise, featuring home cooks and professional chefs with international roots. Guests sit at communal tables, arriving as strangers and leaving as friends.

On August 20, 2025, Brent Hinds, the original lead guitarist of Mastodon, died after his motorcycle collided with an SUV at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Boulevard. When Hinds passed away, Atlanta said goodbye to more than a legendary guitarist; we Gen Xers and elder millennials lost the mascot of our collective memories.

Once a month, the sprawling parking lots and two buildings at the Atlanta Exposition Centers are transformed into a treasure trove of collectibles, antiques, and oddities. It’s home to Scott Antique Market, or “Scott’s,” as locals call it. Scott’s is a magical place brimming with vintage lighting, colorful artwork, exquisite furniture, Persian rugs, gleaming pieces of silver, and anything else you might be looking for—or never imagined buying.