May 29th, 2008
Watch an 11th century-style tournament, complete with jousting at Medieval Times, a dinner and entertainment attraction in Lawrenceville, which is just outside of Atlanta. The four-course dinner features entertainment including, hand-to-hand combat, sword-fighting and horsemanship. For romantics like me, there’s also a bit of chivalry and romance.
So what are you eating while all of that fighting, jousting and romance is in progress? The banquet includes mashed potatoes, spare ribs, roasted chicken, tomato bisque soup, garlic bread, drinks, and pastry.
Yes. A vegetarian meal is available. All of you vegetarians out there will have a stuffed mushroom (stuffed with whole grain rice) a large skewer of roasted veggies, tomato bisque soup, garlic bread, pita chips and pastry.
Historically, members of royalty invited family and friends to a feast to watch their best knights compete on horseback. Medieval Times has been around for 25 years in North America. The founders first launched this unique dinner and entertainment venue in Majorca, a Spanish island, in 1973.
Nearly all of the horses used in Medieval Times are raised from birth on a ranch in Texas. There they learn how to jump, and lunge on cue, performing amazing feats for audiences.
The Castle is located at:
5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043
For reservations call 1-888-Wejoust
Tickets $47.95 for adults and $35.95 for children 12 and under.
Note: Medieval Times has a summer special going on. For every show through July 6, 2008, one child can eat free with a paying adult.
Photo Credit: Medieval Times, used with permission
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By Claudine -- 1 comment
May 28th, 2008
While driving along Cobb Parkway in Marietta, I happened along a bike show. Well, first I saw the bikers on the road, which isn’t out of the ordinary, especially when the weather is nice. Then I saw the bike show on the side of the road. Bikers are pretty common in metro Atlanta. There are many different cliques. I remember in one season of Bad Girls, a VH1 show, there was a girl biker who was from Atlanta. Here’s what I saw at the bike show. Which bikes do you think are hot? Hey, can anyone remember the name of the biker chick (she was also a stripper) from Bad Girls? I can’t remember for the life of me, and I think it’d be more fun to get responses than to do a Google search!
Photo Credit: Claudine Williams
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By Claudine -- 1 comment
May 28th, 2008
T is for tasty hot dogs! Eating hot dogs at the Varsity should be a mandatory experience, if you like hot dogs, that is. The Varsity is both a tourist attraction and a tradition in Atlanta. The hot dogs are said to be the best in the city. Yes. They are good, and addictive, so be careful. I think, however, that the car hops and servers make the Varsity what it is.
“What’d have? What’d you have,” they shout. “Everybody please step down so that we can get you out of here.”
They are funny, gritty, and no nonsense. It’s sort of like eating at your favorite greasy spoon, if you know what I mean. The Varsity is actually the World’s Largest Drive-In restaurant. The downtown location can accommodate 600 cars and 800 people inside the store. That location is at:
61 North Avenue
Atlanta GA 30308
You can get various types of hot dog-dog combinations with chili, slaw and cheese. Over two miles worth of hot dogs are sold every day at the Varsity. The hot dogs range from a plain hot dog to a chili-slaw hot dog. Of course the following hot dogs are also sold:
- plain
- chili
- cheese dogs
- chili-cheese dogs
You can go heavy on the chili if you want to. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, frosted drinks, chocolate shakes, sweet tea (gotta love it) and soft drinks are also sold at the Varsity.
One thing about it, unless you are going to sit in your car and let a car hop serve you, you can’t be shy at the Varsity. It’s loud, brassy, and fun. The original location opened in downtown Atlanta in 1928. There are now several locations to choose from.
Hours for the downtown location of the Varsity are:
Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-11:30pm
Friday-Saturday 10:00am-12:30am
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Christmas Eve hours 10:00am-9:00pm
Other metro Atlanta locations for the Varsity are:
Alpharetta
1000 West Broad Street
Athens GA 30606
Athens
11556 Rainwater Drive
Alpharetta GA 30004
Atlanta (This is a Varsity Junior, not the original)
1085 Lindbergh Drive
Atlanta GA 30324
Norcross
6045 Dawson Blvd.
Norcross GA 30093
Kennesaw
2790 Town Center Drive
Kennesaw GA 30144
Photo Credit : Afroswede, Flickr Creative Commons License
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By Claudine -- 11 comments
May 26th, 2008
One of my favorite stores in Stone Mountain, Georgia which is located in metro Atlanta, is the Cranky Princess. This boutique, located in a wood-frame home has items that will lighten up even the crankiest mood. Candles, bath and body supplies, home decor items, jewelry, stationary, and tea party items are stocked in this quaint, comfortable store, located on Main Street.
This is a store that makes you want to relax and browse. Cute little mugs with sayings like “stress is normal,” will make you smile to yourself. You are sure to find something that reflects your mood, even if it’s a bit cranky. Yes. The cute logo items, colorful, girlie stationary and princess crowns for tea parties will make you smile.
I love the fact that my favorite bath and body product line, Carol’s Daughter is also sold in the Cranky Princess. Carol’s Daughter is a line of homemade, mostly natural delicious-smelling salt scrubs, body butter, soaps, perfumes, and hair products (just to give you a brief run-down). The company is based in New York and products from the Carol’s Daughter line are sold in a very limited number of locations in the United States. I actually discovered the Cranky Princess while searching for Carol’s Daughter products. I realized that the store had so much more to offer than my favorite product line. I’m so glad that I discovered the Cranky Princess.
The Cranky Princess
988 Main St
Stone Mountain, GA
30083
www.thecrankyprincess.com
(770)879-3553
or Toll Free 1-866-488-1533
Photo Credit: Claudine Williams
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By Claudine -- 1 comment
May 23rd, 2008
The Westin Peachtree Hotel at 210 Peachtree Street is one of Atlanta’s most popular hotels, due to its revolving rooftop restaurant called the SunDial restaurant. Located on the top of the hotel, the SunDial restaurant actually spins (very slowly) so you get brilliant views of the city below. The restaurant is suitable for both fine dining and casual dining.
This 73-story Westin Peachtree hotel has floor to glass windows in all rooms. The rooms also have the famous Heavenly Beds, which is made up of down blankets, goose down pillows, a boudoir pillow, and a pillow-top mattress for extra comfort. Suites have a separate sitting area, a sofa bed, wet bar, and a larger bath. Standard rooms are about $230 per night. Prices vary according to season, length of stay, bedding needs and other factors. This summer (2008) the hotel is offering a $25 gas credit which will be applied to your bill after checkout. In essence, you will receive $25 off of your bill. The Westin Peachtree hotel often has special offers for weekend getaways or special occasions. Fitness buffs or people like me who are struggling to stay healthy will be happy to learn that the Westin Peachtree has a workout room, that is fitness equipment in your reserved room. The room comes complete with a spinning cycle, DVD player, and a Pilates machine. The Westin Peachtree, of course, also has a traditional workout facility in the hotel. Massages are available by appointment. Other hotel amenities include a pool and a business center with fax services, copying, paper and cell phone rentals, help with shipping and computers.
The Westin Peachtree is located near Zoo Atlanta, the New World of Coca-Cola, and the Georgia Aquarium. Call 866-716-8128 for reservations.
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By Claudine -- 0 comments
May 23rd, 2008
This is actually a preview to a review that I will write on the Memorial Day holiday. This holiday I plan to spend time relaxing and maybe doing my doggy paddle thing in the pool at the Four Seasons. Apparently, the Four Seasons has a saline pool, which is probably healthier than the chlorine pools that we are used to. I plan to give the pool a try and maybe have a little food poolside, so I’ll be sure to tell you about my experience and if the saline pool is worth the visit.
The Four Seasons is a luxury hotel, located at 75 Fourteenth Street in Atlanta. There are 244 guest rooms and 18 suites. Rates vary but start at around $330 per nigh for a standard room from May to December on weekends. The rates go up to $930 per night for a one bedroom suite for that time frame at the Four Seasons. For weekdays, rates start at $490 per night for a standard room and go up to $930 per night for a suite.
Standard rooms have living rooms, marble bathrooms, deep tubs and brass fixtures. The rooms have either one king or two twin beds.
One bedroom suites have a living room with a separate bedroom. The sitting area has a television, CD player and stereo, and a wet bar. The rooms also have beautiful views of the Atlanta skyline.
Take your visit to the next level by getting services at the spa at the Four Seasons Hotel. Massages, Swedish, aromatherapy, deep massages, tai, destress, and couple massages are offered. Rates range from $70 for a 25-minute destress massage to $350 for an 80-minute couples massage.
I visited the Four Seasons in London, and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I can’t wait to try out the saline pool. What has your experience been like at the Four Seasons? Have you ever swam in a saline pool? What was it like? Tell me in a comment!
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By Claudine -- 0 comments
May 20th, 2008
Acworth Beach, north of Atlanta off of I-75 is a popular beach for the holidays. If the weather holds up, I’m sure that there will be plenty of families out at the beach.
I’m not sure if the fishing will be very good off of the dock at Lake Acworth
After the beach, it’s good to do a little shopping in this quaint town.
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By Claudine -- 3 comments
May 20th, 2008
Watch a Shakespeare inspired play and have dinner at the Shakespeare Tavern, a quaint playhouse on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. The Shakespeare Tavern is the perfect place to go if you enjoy plays, love Shakespeare, and want to do something a little different. I like the fact that you can eat as the play is performed. Just make sure that you get to the Shakespeare Tavern early (far before the play starts) so that you can be seated and order your meal. The menu is available an hour and 15 minutes before the performance, but food services ends five minutes before the show. Here is a menu. Dessert is available during intermission. Prepare for long lines, though. You have to wait in line to get the treats and it seems like everyone in the entire theater gets up to get into line.
Ease up and wait in line just before intermission. In fact, when you first get to the Tavern, be sure to check the time for intermission. If you are late for the beginning of the play, you may have to wait for a hostess to seat you. There are some moments when entry is prohibited. I visited the Shakespeare Tavern to view Tom Stoppard’s, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. I enjoyed the puns in the play and laughed a lot. I thought that the acting was superb. The actors come out into the audience, which is a treat if you are on the floor. It was a good adult play. Go see this play and enjoy a little intellectual humor. Yes. There are some silly parts in the play, that you don’t have to think too much about. If you are into Shakespearean plays, you can expect to laugh out loud. The play runs until June 1.
Parking
Please don’t follow my example and park in the hospital lot near the corner of Peachtree and North Avenue, which is about four blocks away from the theater. The parking there is $13 for two hours. Park in the Crawford Long Hospital Deck which is directly across the street from the theater. The parking is regularly $7 but you can pay $4 with your ticket stub. Just in case you miss the dinner, the theater is near Gladys Knight and Ron Winans’ Chicken and Waffles. Here are some directions to get to the Shakespeare Tavern.
l-r: Nick Faircloth, Paul McClain (Hamlet), Paul Hester
Photo by Jeff Watkins, Used with permission
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By Claudine -- 0 comments
May 20th, 2008
Every weekend there is another celebrity performance in Atlanta. Last month, Ashanti performed at the Compound, which I am trying to get to this summer. Have you been to the Compound? What was this club like? Do you think that it’s worth all of the hype?
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By Claudine -- 0 comments
May 18th, 2008
You can experience some of the best attractions in Atlanta all for one price by purchasing CityPass for $69. The pass includes the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Inside the CNN Center, Fernbank Museum, High Museum of Art, or the Atlanta History Center. The pass is good for nine days and for one general admission to the attractions.
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By Claudine -- 0 comments
Watch an 11th century-style tournament, complete with jousting at Medieval Times, a dinner and entertainment attraction in Lawrenceville, which is just outside of Atlanta. The four-course dinner features entertainment including, hand-to-hand combat, sword-fighting and horsemanship. For romantics like me, there’s also a bit of chivalry and romance.
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