Eating my way through the Atlanta metro

Well, my "getting to know Atlanta" stage continues with a few more cool places to tell you about! We are really amazed at the number of good restaurants, interesting things to do, etc. that are here in this metro area.

I had lunch at our friends' restaurant (Jennifer Hicks-Tiberia and her husband Tony) called Sprig. If you are in Atlanta, you should really try it! It's farm-to-table, delicious southern influenced food; all scratch-made in their kitchen. The decor is lovely with lots of antiques that have been "sprig-ified" by Jen herself. It has a really nice bar that you'd love to sit at and chill.

http://www.sprigrestaurant.com/

We went out of town for my dad's memorial party and needed to board our dogs. This is always stressful for me because a) they are like children to me and b) Sammy has occasional seizures so I need to be confident that the place they are staying will know what to do to help him if something happens.

Enter Atlanta Dogworks - http://atlantadogworks.com/

It is practically in Chattanooga (OK, not really but it takes us 50 minutes each direction) but it is a really great place and I love the kennel manager, Laura. The owners live on site and Laura lives in an apartment that is attached to the kennel. They have luxury suites and regular indoor/outdoor runs. Yes, you know which one my pups were in. They had their own flat screen TVs and were turned out 6 times per day, and walked every day. Laura promised me she knew what do for Sammy if need be, she didn't flinch at our lengthy "services" list for the boys, and she even told me that if it thundered she'd bring the boys into her apartment with her since Shanahan is really afraid of storms. They have a lovely swimming pool for recreation and dock diving (they train competitive dogs there) and it's on 15 or so acres with a pond and tiny ponies! It seemed as if the boys had a good time and I was able to relax and not worry about them. (OK, maybe I worried a little but that's just what I do)

After Dad's party, my friend Caroline was able to stay an extra day so we went to a daytime movie, a luxury neither of us usually has time to enjoy. We opted for "The Help" but wanted to eat lunch too. It needed to be at a specific time so she could catch the train to the airport and near a MARTA station.

Well, hello Buckhead's "Fork and Screen"!! You are pretty cool!

http://dinein.amctheatres.com/Locations/Buckhead

We parked in a convenient garage adjacent to the theatre and parking was validated. The theatre was clean and well-decorated and had a nice bar (that we didn't partake in since it was 11am but I could see myself ordering something there another time) The tickets during the day were super cheap - like $6 per person! I had a really great BLT that came with roasted red pepper soup and fries. Under $10 and the servers were fast and unobtrusive. I didn't feel like they were in the way at all. Would definitely go back!

We were introduced to a wonderful Italian restaurant by Brian's business associate Peter Velardi and his lovely wife Janine.

La Pietra Cucina - http://www.lapietracucina.com/

Located in Midtown, this restaurant was outstanding and the service was excellent. It's nicely decorated, sleek but still low-key enough that you could come dressed casually and be OK. They have a decent late 1800s refurbished Steinway piano in the entry and a good pianist was playing that night (and I'm picky). The noise level was moderate and the piano didn't interfere with conversation. My world was changed that night because I ate a fried olive with tomato marmellata. Seriously, heaven in a tiny, briny little package. Black spaghetti with shrimp, duck salad, grilled scallops, calamari in a tomato broth, fresh made gelato, and a couple of bottles of Amarone made for a fabulous evening!

We've joined the Michigan State University Alumni Association and the club here in Atlanta is very active. They have a lot of activities (mainly sports related and at bars - but that's OK) and we went to the first one of the year last weekend. It was held at the Hudson Grille in Midtown.

http://metrocafes.com/hudsongrille/Home.aspx

Probably 150 or so Spartans on the top floor private dining room. Free keg until it ran dry, free tee shirts, decorated with green and white balloons, pom pons on the tables, etc. 20 or so flat screens (also showing the Detroit Tigers - thank you!) and one HUGE projection screen to watch our fair Spartans barely beat Youngstown State. Even the bathrooms have TVs so you don't miss a minute! Menu was upscale bar food and they ran some pretty good drink specials.

We went to the Decatur Book Festival to hear a presentation by our friend Nicole Chamberlain and her Atlanta Opera co-horts/collaborators/colleagues on their upcoming children's opera based on "Br'er Rabbit" called "Rabbit Tales". Great talk, nice singing, and we can't wait to hear the whole thing in October. The festival itself was huge and although there were lots of things to see, we pretty much just watched her presentation and did a big circle around the event. Did notice that it had the same vibe as a Renaissance Festival...if you know what I mean.

http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2011/index.php

Found two great year-round farmers markets that were simply eye-popping to both of us. The Dekalb Farmers Market and the Buford Highway Farmers Market.

http://www.dekalbfarmersmarket.com/

http://aofwc.com/index.aspx

Amazing produce, lots of stuff I'd never seen or heard of before, many things I'm sure I will never eat and many that I will. Aisles upon aisles of food from other countries, a huge meat market, and lots of fish with the heads still on. I don't like that. I don't want my food looking at me as I pick it out. But at least you know it's fresh, eh? And the languages being spoken there made me feel like I was at the UN. Good prices, more interesting than Publix or Kroger. We're definitely going back there too.

Lastly, yet another Mexican restaurant was discovered. My friend Richard took me to lunch at La Parilla at The Forum.

http://www.laparrilla.com/

It was delicious but not terribly "authentic". I have yet to find a place warms my heart like El Azteco in good old East Lansing Michigan does. Any suggestions, my Atlanta peeps?

That's all I have for now but we have our sites on some Indian, some Ethiopian, and some Carribbean for the near future!

See ya!