Читать книгу Graphic USA - Ziggy Hanaor - Страница 17

ATLANTA, GEORGIA BY LAURIE FOREHANDAtlanta is situated in the heart of the American South, but unlike the rest of the area, which is known for its laid-back charm and sleepy pace, Atlanta is a proper urban hub, with a diverse music scene, high-end restaurants, designer shopping, buzzing neighborhoods, and highways. It’s not a pedestrian city as such; most areas require the train (MARTA), a car, or at least a bike. However, within the individual neighborhoods, most of the restaurants, cafes, and boutiques are accessible on foot. The key areas to know about are: Midtown Atlanta, Buckhead and Downtown Atlanta. Midtown attracts urban dwellers, who like to be close to the action. Tree-lined streets are filled with beautiful condos and charming homes, and there’s an assortment of good places to eat. The highlight of the area is Piedmont Park, a great place to take a stroll, lie in the grass, play Frisbee or just indulge in some people watching. The neighborhood of Virginia Highlands is particularly worth a visit, and is home to some great bars, shops and restaurants.Just north of Midtown is Buckhead, where I live. It’s known (for better or for worse) as the ‘shopping Mecca of the southeast’, and is a high-end neighborhood, home to beautiful mansions, posh restaurants and designer boutiques. People either love it or hate it, but I fell in love with it as soon as I moved here ten years ago.Finally, a short way southwest of Midtown, Downtown Atlanta is worth a visit. It’s home to CNN, Turner Broadcasting, Philips Arena, Olympic Village, Georgia State University, and Georgia Tech. Its skyscrapers define the city’s distinctive skyline, and it attracts urban dwellers and artists, who live in the funky old industrial buildings that have now been converted to lofts and apartments. It’s also home to some amazing restaurants and hotels, as well as galleries that host some great parties on the monthly arts walk through the Castleberry Hill Arts District of Downtown Atlanta – an event not to miss if you’re in town! 17 Atlanta, GA