The Atlanta Traveler » marietta

Learn about the Leo Frank case before the exhibit ends this year.

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:45:10 +0000

Nothing to do with the holidays but ending December 31 is the Breman Museum’s exhibition, “Seeking Justice: The Leo Frank Case Revisited.”

This is the truly tragic story of a murder that happened in 1913 that had a tremendous effect on Georgia and the nation. Very briefly, Leo Frank was a manager at a pencil factory and was accused of murdering 13-year-old Mary Phagan in the basement of the factory. The eye-witness was an African-American janitor. It was a very racially charged and sensational story, but was built on and used by politicians and competing city newspapers to inflame people even more. Then-Governor Slaton bravely commuted Frank’s death sentence (there were many doubts, even at that time.) The governor and his wife had to flee the state. Meanwhile, Frank was taken from jail by an angry mob and driven to Marietta, where he was hanged.

The exhibit will be leaving for New York at the end of the year. Much has been written about this story, movies made (and even a musical.) It is a powerful exhibit and worth a visit. The Breman is located at 1440 Spring St. NW in Atlanta. Admission is $10 adults, $6 seniors, 4 students and $2 children. It is open Mon-Thur 10 – 5, Fri. 10 -3 and Sunday 1 -5. For more information, call 678-222-3700 or see the website, www.thebreman.org.

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Cafe Life

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:38:56 +0000

Café Life is a small restaurant adjacent to a co-op grocery store, Life Grocery. All of the food in the café is vegetarian, and the salad offerings are organic

The café caters to health conscience people or those who strive to be. The most unique preparations are the raw foods, which are uncooked, natural whole foods that are prepared with the pretense that cooking destroys enzymes and nutrients in dishes. Gourmet raw or living food consists of marinated vegetables, ground nuts that taste like meat and wraps created from ground flax seeds and spices. All of the raw salad dressings are made from scratch and are dairy-free.

Expect to spend about $6 for an entrée. An 8-ounce smoothie is $4 and up.

The café is normally busy on the weekend; there may be a short wait (around 5-10 minutes) for a smoothie to be prepared. Most people choose dishes from the buffet.

Life Café is a vegetarian’s dream. It’s one of the few restaurants in metro Atlanta, serving sprouts, organic salads, and vegan desserts. It’s also near the Great Adventures Amusement park, which is convenient if you happen to be visiting and you are looking for health-conscience meals.

Although pricey, I can’t resist the smoothies. Made with organic fruits and natural sweeteners (honey or agave) they are scrumptious. I love the berry blast, which tastes like a strawberry daiquiri, without the alcohol.

I also like the living burrito wrap, made from ground sunflower seeds of all things. The wrap is created from flax seeds. Whenever I visit, I have to buy a slice of vegan key lime pie, which isn’t always offered. If you must have meat, you won’t love the restaurant, but you may be able to tolerate it. I took a meat-loving friend to Life and she said that she liked her vegetable wrap, but prefers conventional meals.

Life Grocery is located at

1453 Roswell Road

Marietta, GA

770-977-9583

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Marietta, Where it’s Better

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:21:43 +0000

Marietta, where it’s better? Anyway, that’s what folk who live in Marietta, Ga. say.

Marietta is considered part of the Atlanta metro area. I didn’t know that when I first considered moving to Atlanta. A friend of mine had been bragging about Atlanta for months, and I decided to move to the area too. Well, she gave me the directions, and I found out that she actually lived in Marietta, not Atlanta. I felt short changed! Then I learned the hard way that the 120 loop is actually a loop. And it is possible to drive around and around that loop for an hour or more.

Ah, yes. The good ole days. I was directionally challenged even then. When I finally found Marietta Square, I was hooked. If you have ever seen Back to the Future, Marietta Square has that same look, in my opinion. I don’t think that there’s a clock tower, though.

Anyway, you’ll find bars, antiques stores, costume stores, restaurants, and a small theater on the square. In fact, there are over 30 places to eat on the square.

Parking is usually easier to come by on Sundays, it’s possible to find a free space on Saturdays, too.

Staying in Marietta can be an alternative to securing a hotel in Atlanta. It’s really a short drive from Marietta to Atlanta. A large number of Atlanta commuters live in Marietta or Cobb County.

Directions from Atlanta

Take I-75 North to exit 265. Turn left. You will end up on North Marietta Parkway, which is also the 120 Loop. Turn left onto Whitlock Avenue.

Here are some Marietta hotels to consider:

Best Western
Courtyard by Marriott
Day’s Inn
Crowne Plaza
Marietta Conference Center and Resort has golf courses and two restaurants
Ramada Limited Suites, has kitchens and accepts pets
Stanley House Bed and Breakfast, very close to Marietta Square
Whitlock Inn Bed and Breakfast

Photo credit: Claudine

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler