Greenbuild 2019: Atlanta

I am so excited to welcome y’all “to the city of…Atlanta” (in the voice of IOC President announcing the 1996 Olympics)! While I love fall in NYC, I am definitely looking forward to the beauty that is Atlanta in November. The current weather forecast promises lots of opportunities to get outside for some vitamin E and to check out a few of my favorite local spots.

But first, food.

The Dekalb Farmers Market is the most wonderful food retail/education experience you will ever have. There are produce, breads, meats, cheeses, wines and spices from around the globe, and it is all very reasonably priced. It is my favorite place to stock up on turmeric, matcha, chia seeds and dark chocolate covered espresso beans, and the TSA agents and I alway have an interesting conversation about the assortment of goodies stashed in my carry on bag. If you want to spend some time people-watching while you are there, they sell hot coffee and prepared foods, and offer a small dining area. Pro tip: don’t go on the weekend or in the evening and bring cash (credit cards are not accepted).

You will not find many healthy options at Waffle House or The Varsity, but they are delicious and filling, and you will thank me for introducing you to such fine Atlanta-based establishments. And here are a few of my favorite options: Highland Bakery (two locations near the conference), Fox Brother’s BBQ, Fat Matt’s, Daddy D’z and Krog Street Market.

Now that your belly is happy, take a walk or rent a Relay bike (use a helmet!) to explore Centennial Olympic Park, which is right outside of the Greenbuild conference. Just around the corner is the Georgia Aquarium, which is the largest aquarium in the WORLD. Unfortunately Yoga by the Water is sold out, but you can still check out the largest fish in the sea! The World of Coke is also just a few steps away, and provides a history of the behemoth company (spoiler alert: coke is aptly named) and offers you the ability to drink Coke products from around the world (the tiny cups contain <30 grams of sugar).

When you are ready to venture outside of downtown, you must explore the Atlanta Beltline. This repurposed rail line circumnavigates the city center and also offers tours, fitness classes and art along the way. It is also one of Atlanta’s largest economic development efforts.

You will need to hop on Marta Streetcar or ride your bike to visit The King Center, Ebenezer Baptist Church and MLK’s childhood home, which are located just across 75/85 from the convention center. And a short walk south is Oakland Cemetery, where Margarett Mitchell and Julia Collier Harris, as well as many other famous residents are buried. The cemetery offers inexpensive private tours, but you should schedule it soon since Oakland is very popular this time of year - everyone is dying to get in (hahaha).

You can take a long walk, run or bike ride westward to Freedom Park to visit the Carter Center, and the Library and Museum. For even more political history, stop by Manuel’s Tavern. And for some awesome people watching, check out Little Five Points. This neighborhood offers an eclectic gathering of bars and restaurants, shopping, live entertainment and tattoo/piercing parlors. It is also home to the delicious Zesto ice cream.

A little north of the convention center is The Fabulous Fox Theatre, a local landmark, which was almost demolished in the 70s, but thanks to local citizens, the historic landmark averted destruction and is now preserved on the National Register of Historic Places. The Avett Brothers are playing Thursday and Friday nights, in case anyone wants to join me.

A couple other fun places to visit - especially if you brought your children with you - are Fernbank Museum of Natural History and Zoo Atlanta, where the legend of Willie B lives on.

There will also be a few Georgia Tech games happening next week too: Basketball on Wednesday @ 7pm, Football on Thursday @ 8pm, Volleyball on Friday @ 7pm. Obviously you would have more fun at a UGA game, but Athens is a bit of a drive. Go Dawgs.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t offer a few tips for communicating with the locals:

• “Atlanta” is pronounced “Atlana” (do not pronounce the second t)
• Everyone smiles and/or greets each other with eye contact; there is no need for concern, they are just being polite
• “Y’all” means “you”
• “All y’all” means “you (plural)”
• When someone says “bless your heart,” it is likely not a compliment
• “Hotlanta” is climatically insensitive and you should not use that term

Enjoy your time down south and y’all come back now ya hear!