Daffodil Days at Oakland

Happening now at Historic Oakland Cemetery, Daffodil Days is absolutely beautiful and it's a vibrant signal that spring is well on its way to Atlanta!

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

This year's Daffodil Days runs from February 20 to March 15, but don't worry if you don't make it by the 15th. There are still a number of daffodils in bloom and yet-to-bloom, so you have a little extra time, but not much. Don't wait too long and totally miss this celebration of the daffodil.

When you enter the main gate, look for a sign that has a QR Code to a map that shows the largest concentrations of daffodils. Some smartphone cameras are automatically QR Code readers, but if you have to download one you can do so for free. The map is also available on Oakland's website.

Oakland is 48-acres, but a map isn't absolutely necessary, unless you're here to see the daffodils and only the daffodils. My visits to Oakland are never for just one thing. Personally, I love exploring for fascinating architecture, interesting grave-marker designs, and read the epitaphs which are sometimes humorous...on purpose. I love reading the names, too. And let's certainly not forget the gorgeous stained-glass windows in some of the mausoleums.  

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

If you can, and you're wanting make photographs, come by during the Golden Hour, which is about an hour before sunset (or an hour before sunrise). I find this time and date website an accurate resource. If you're seeking out that fabulous Golden Hour light, you might want to plan multiple trips...this particular light, as beautiful as it is, is fleeting.

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

There are approximately 70 varieties of daffodils planted here! Look for as many as you can possibly find. They come in a variety of whites, oranges, and yellows, not to mention the vast array of shapes they proudly show off.

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Not only is Oakland historic, so are many of its daffodils. Look on the map I mentioned earlier. Daffodil blooms mark where you'll find signage that shares the some of the history behind some of Oakland's beautiful yellow and white daffodils. You've heard of rescue dogs and rescue cats. Well, Oakland has rescue daffodils!

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Be sure to check out the Cemetery's blog where you'll learn more about daffodils as well as an incredibly wide array of topics relative Oakland. It's truly fascinating!

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

Did you know that Historic Oakland Cemetery is one of the few historic cemeteries that has a giftshop (currently open only online). It's in the Bell Tower which also serves as the Welcome Center for cemetery visitors.

Don't let that weird you out. In fact, cemeteries were basically the first public parks in the United States. While today we have many beautiful parks across Atlanta, Oakland has continued to be a place of gathering, many of its events being fundraisers that bring in funds to help care for and restore the cemetery grounds, and many of the events are also educational.

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

If you'd like to do a little celebrity-spotting while you're here, check out the Famous Residents page on Oakland's website. There are dozens of former Atlanta Mayors, former governors, civic leaders, famous golfer Bobby Jones, and Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell, to name a few.

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

There's a lot more in bloom here than just daffodils, including other bulbs, other flowers, and flowering plants and trees! Of practically every color! It's truly a beautiful time to visit Oakland. I'll include more of the other flowers in bloom on the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page.

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

There are benches on some of the gravesites for families of the deceased to use when visiting, but there are additional ones on pathways and gardens for general public use, including this one gifted to Oakland by the Piedmont Garden Club, which was founded in 1931...90 years ago!

You'll see a lot of rosemary throughout the garden, also in bloom right now. While many of us use rosemary in our cooking, it's also a symbol of remembrance, thus the reason you'll see it in so many cemeteries.

Daffodil Days at Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis Swann Taylor

If you'd like to learn more about the harbingers of spring, the beautiful daffodil, please visit the Georgia Daffodil Society's website. Founded in 1954, this is an excellent daffodil resource for our growing region.

Make your way to Historic Oakland Cemetery soon so you don't miss this year's Daffodil Days. As always, this event is self-guided and free, as is (limited) nearby parking. See you there!

Oakland Cemetery Photography Workshop

My first published photograph was in my senior year in high school in the largest newspaper in the state, on the other side of the state where I lived. I'd moved away from home on the East Coast and finished high school in Wyoming. Other than what my art teacher, Duane, taught me about photography when I was on yearbook staff, I've never had an actual photography class. I've picked up tips from others, learned a lot on my own, and have taken a webinar or workshop from time to time, but that's it.

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

These photos are from a Photography Workshop I went on not too long ago at Historic Oakland Cemetery, a stunning, picturesque example of a "rural garden" cemetery in the 19th century. 

Some think it's creepy to host events in a cemetery. I think they've watched too many zombie movies. There was a time when the only public land in small towns was the local cemetery, so it became a gathering place where citizens would socialize and honor their dearly departed. Nothing creepy about that! 

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

There's another Photography Workshop coming up at Oakland Cemetery later this month! Sunset is the BEST for beautifully dramatic photos. The golden hour, it's called.

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Oakland Cemetery dates to 1850 and started with only six acres. Today, it's 48 acres and is home to approximately 70,000 "residents", about the same number of spectators you'll see at an Atlanta United game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium!

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Among it's 70,000 residents, Oakland Cemetery is the final resting place of a few famous personalities and notable citizens, including Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind; Bobby Jones, golf legend; and Maynard Jackson, the first African-American mayor of the City of Atlanta.

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

There are many different tours of Oakland Cemetery. You could go all year and not take the same tour twice! To name a couple, there are the Sites, Symbols, and Stories tours and the Music Makers tours!

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

And there are many different annual events at Oakland Cemetery, including Tunes from the Tombs, Malts & Vaults of Oakland, and the Run Like Hell 5K, to name a few.

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

It's also a lovely setting for an evening stroll, camera or not, before or after dinner, perhaps. There are numerous nearby dining destinations, many flanking the cemetery including Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House, Tin Lizzy's Cantina, and Agave.

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Locals love Oakland Cemetery for its beauty and events and visitors love it for its beauty and its celebrity residents. It's a magnificent piece of historical significance and it's a celebrated icon. I for one hope the art, architecture, history and gardens at Oakland will be around eons.

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

That first published photograph was of a toy drive for Toys for Tots. It was published in Wyoming's largest newspaper in Cheyenne, where I'd never even been. It was a journalistic shot, a career path I did not pursue, however, in Corporate Communications, my eventual career path, photography has become a cornerstone in what I do.

Photography Workshop at Historic Oakland Cemetery | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

After high school graduation, I returned to the East Coast, but a month later I moved back to Wyoming to live with my art teacher and his wife, Pip, for the summer. On their goat ranch, we'd get up every morning at 5:30am to milk their 40 goats, I learned how to bake, I jogged a lot getting ready for boot camp in the U.S. Navy, enjoyed an ample amount of MTV in its infancy, and there were many more photographs. 

I am ever grateful to Duane and Pip for their hospitality and for their generous contributions in shaping my future.

Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers" - Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House

This month Nikki and I visited the Grant Park location of Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House. We'd both been here before, and to its location West Midtown, but it was a wholly new experience dining here for our "By the Numbers" series.

Welcome back to our Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", a monthly series by wanderlust ATLANTA and super-popular food Instagramer atlantafoodie! Our sixth stop on this 10 restaurant tour was Six Feet Under, at its Grant Park location across the street from Historic Oakland Cemetery.

What we believe is a unique spin on 'Top 10' lists, we're not counting down, but instead we're showcasing some of Atlanta's restaurants with numbers in their names! Some we've been to before and others will be a first-time experience. We're going to make all of them FUN!

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

We started with house specialty cocktails, many of them cleverly themed after Historic Oakland Cemetery, across the street, and some of its "residents".

I had the Tombstone Tea, made with vodka, gin, rum, triple sec, black raspberry liquor (the ingredient that drew me to this one) and sweet and sour. Like a traditional Long Island Iced Tea, this one goes down easy, but it has a delightful sweetness. I'd totally have this again!

It was exciting to rediscover Six Feet Under. I had stuck in my mind that it was a pub that offered almost exclusively fried or deep fried foods. There's nothing wrong with that, in moderation, but I like variety.  

It turns out that Six Feet Under has quite a varied menu! Yes, there are fried foods, but they also offer raw bar options, steamed shellfish, baked dishes, awesome appetizers, salads, platters, vegetarian options, gluten-free options, and some decadent fish dishes, just to name a few! There's something for everyone! We were too full to make it to dessert, but next time...    

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: atlantafoodie

There's an extensive appetizer menu, but we were immediately drawn to the...

Sweet Mouse Toes - Baked sweet peppers wrapped in crispy bacon. Comes with a side of bacon vinaigrette. 

Spicy Rat Toes - Baked jalapenos stuffed with shrimp and wrapped in crispy bacon! Comes with a side of cooling Ranch Dressing.

Extra Spicy Dragon Toes - Baked habaneros stuffed with scallops and wrapped with crispy bacon! Comes with a side of cooling Ranch Dressing.

We ultimately opted for the Toe Jam, which is one each of the above named Toes! Delicious all around! You've never had so much fun eating toes!

Next time I'm sure I'll have a second order of the Toe Jam or maybe an extra order of the Extra Spicy Dragon Toes!

Nikki had wanted their Specialty Oysters, but they'd temporarily run out. Must have been really, really good! Those are next on her Six Feet Under list. Our server told us that her favorite is the Oysters Rockefeller. 

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nikki started with the Pushin' Up Daisies made with Deep Eddy Ruby Red Vodka, simple syrup, fresh basil, club soda and lime over cucumber ice cubes. Nikki said that the cucumber ice cubes made this house special cocktail a unique experience...you can't miss that fresh cucumber taste!

I don't know what it is about their veggie-infused giant ice cubes, but next time I'm going to have a libation with those...they just look like so much fun! I was definitely feeling ice cube envy!

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I wanted an appetizer, but then found their Gumbo on the soups menu. This sausage, shrimp and chicken gumbo has an excellent flavor! I added hot sauce to mine to turn up the heat...I love dishes that are big on flavor and spicy at the same time!

The gumbo is accompanied with whole fried okra—took me back to my childhood when I loved my mother's fried okra—and a totally delicious Jalapeno Hush Puppy! Have you ever wondered why they're called hush puppies?

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

There are mermaids EVERYWHERE! 

At first, I was like, "What's with the weird fascination with mermaids?" Then my brain kicked on. "Pub & Fish House"...you get the fish from the waters where mermaids live! I'm sure most people will not be as dense as I was on that particular feature in this restaurant. Even before I made the connection, I was already enjoying them. Having served in the U.S. Navy, of course I have an interest in sea creatures, mermaids included! 

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: atlantafoodie

Nikki enjoyed a trio of tacos as her entree...look at how wonderfully over-stuffed they are! 

Nikki "almost" couldn't finish the whole dish, but those of us who know and love her know that there's rarely a plate she can't conquer. Food waste should be criminal, right?!

Their are four tacos to choose from or you can get the Taco Combo, which is what Nikki did. She had the:

Fried Calamari Taco - made with cotija cheese, fresh spinach, cucumber, sweet onion relish, fried jalapenos and ranch dressing.

Catfish Taco - made with grilled basa, mixed cheese, jalapeno, tomatoes, cabbage and a drizzle of cucumber-wasabi sauce.

Blackened Shrimp Taco - made with fresh spinach, cucumber, sweet onion relish, mixed cheese, a drizzle of cucumber-wasabi sauce and topped with fried leeks!

All the tacos come with a side of salsa verde.

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

Nikki got a side of Whole Fried Okra with her tacos. Yum! Yum! That's not a side dish you see very often, which is a shame because these were perfectly crispy and seriously delicious! Try them with a side of Ranch Dressing to add even another layer of flavor!

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

The Southerner in me drew me directly to the Blackened Shrimp n' Grits.

Composed with cotija cheese, asparagus, red pepper, fried leeks, scallions and drizzled with a sweet n' spicy vinaigrette, this dish is generous, but disappeared much too quickly...I hope no one was watching! I loved the bounty of ingredients...every bite was different but had some of the perfected creamy grits!   

If you're visiting the South for the first time and want to try grits for the first time, these are a delicious and memorable way to enjoy that first-time experience! Many Southern cooks have their own favorite grits recipe. I make mine with lots of butter and lots of black pepper, diced jalapeno, and a generous portion of sharp cheddar cheese! Always serve hot! 

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

I know the word "Pub" is in this destination's name, but we were having great fun with the house specialty cocktails and stuck with them for our second libation. 

I had the Bobby Jones (foreground) made with Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka and Six Feet Under's homemade lemonade. If you like a boozy Arnold Palmer beverage, I think you're going to love this one! I sure did! That we were sitting within view of where the great golf legend from Atlanta was laid to rest added a certain coolness to the beverage. 

Cheers to Bobby Jones and the prestige he bought to Georgia through the game of golf!

Nikki had the Georgia Peach Martini (background). Did you know that Nikki is a Georgia Peach herself? That's right, born and raised not far from Atlanta! 

The restaurant's Georgia Peach Martini is made with Deep Eddy peach vodka, white peach puree, a splash of Sprite and a peach slice. Nikki asked for club soda instead of Sprite, to cut some of the sweetness.

If you're a beer person, they have practically everything—local and not-so-local—so we think you'll be happy there, too! And, of course, they have a wine selection. There's a libation for everyone!

Six Feet Under | "By the Numbers" | Photo: Travis S. Taylor

We were very impressed with the service. China was very pleasant and was the one who seated us. We weren't her table, though...turns out the servers help each other. We were impressed, especially given that they were pretty busy. 

Our server Sheriah (I hope I spelled that right!) was beyond amazing! She was very attentive, laughed with us, knows the menu like an expert...she took excellent care of us! "Thank you, Sheriah!"

There are any number of things you'll enjoy about your Six Feet Under experience, some of which might include, stunning views of the Atlanta skyline and gorgeous, serene views of Historic Oakland Cemetery; the nostalgia of the early Atlanta decor; the rooftop, dining room or sports bar dining options; as well as their delicious, varied menu. 

It's a relaxed, casual pub, but it's so much more! It's a unique experience, not to be missed.

THINGS TO KNOW before going to Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House:

• There is free parking behind Six Feet Under, but the lot fills quickly. If parking in the neighborhood, be mindful of signs designating parking times or no parking.
• On the rooftop dining and bar area, there are sections of it that are covered, handy for when we might have an afternoon pop-up rain shower.
• Immediately across the street, Historic Oakland Cemetery, a beautiful example of the "rural garden" cemetery movement of the 19the Century, offers tours, events and even a lovely stroll, ideal for pre- or post-dinner excursions. 
• Most days, Six Feet Under is open until 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m., but the kitchen closes at midnight.

OF NOTE: Check out this Atlanta Eats video about Six Feet Under to get a good feel for this casual, fun, delicious dining destination!

Here's our planned Top 10 Atlanta Restaurants "By the Numbers", one per month in 2017:

ONE midtown kitchen
599 Dutch Valley Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

TWO urban licks
820 Ralph McGill Boulevard, NE, Atlanta, GA 30306

Local Three Kitchen & Bar
3290 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

Bar Margot at Four Seasons
75 14th Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

5Church Atlanta
1197 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30361

Six Feet Under
437 Memorial Drive, SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Seven Lamps
3400 Around Lenox Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30326

Eight Sushi Lounge
930 Howell Mill Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Nine Mile Station
675 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30308

10th & Piedmont
991 Piedmont Avenue, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Disclaimer: If you live in Atlanta or visit on a regular basis, you know how quickly the Atlanta restaurant scene can change. Our lineup is subject to change based on the Atlanta restaurant landscape over the first 10 months of 2017. Also, all opinions are our own and not at all influenced by the restaurant owners, staff or PR firms, whether we treated ourselves or were hosted by the said restaurant.

If you're enjoying this series, please follow:

atlantafoodie on Instagram
wanderlust ATLANTA on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Thank you for coming along on what we think will be a FUN food journey over 10 months in 2017. Our selection of restaurants is a subjective choice of what we think will be an exciting new way to experience Atlanta restaurants: "By the Numbers". Please, tell your friends and family what we're doing and invite them to also come along for the taste tour!

The Confederate Lion of Atlanta

The Confederate Lion of Atlanta—often referred to as simply The Lion of Atlanta—stands at the resting place of approximately 3,000 unknown Confederate soldiers at Historic Oakland Cemetery, of which most were lost during the Atlanta Campaign.

Underneath the Lion itself are boxes containing amputated limbs of Confederate soldiers. I know it sounds morbid, but we are talking about war and we're talking about a cemetery, albeit a beautiful cemetery. 

The Confederate Lion of Atlanta, Historic Oakland Cemetery

This memorial to the "Unknown Confederate Dead" was sculpted in 1894 by T. M. Brady of nearby Canton, Georgia, and it was sculpted from the largest piece of quarried Georgia marble as of that time...not a small feat!

Brady was lauded for his beautiful work, save for a few who claimed it to seem too similar to the Lion of Lucerne, which also depicts a dying lion in a very similar position. Their lion monument was for the Swiss Guard who died protecting the French Monarchy—King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette—during the French Revolution.

The Confederate Lion of Atlanta, Historic Oakland Cemetery

The sculpture was unveiled on Confederate Memorial Day in 1894—April 26 to be exact. There has been much speculation on the symbolism of the sculpture...the bottom line, as fascinating as all the speculation is though, is that it signifies the end of an era. It was given by The Atlanta Ladies Memorial Association.

The Confederate Lion of Atlanta,
Historic Oakland Cemetery

The Confederate Lion of Atlanta at Historic Oakland Cemetery is a must-see for any and all tourists. While you can see it for free, I highly recommend taking one of the guided tours...they don't cost very much and are highly informative...you've have to read at least a dozen book to get all the information imparted during one of their docent-led tours!

Historic Oakland Cemetery...Honoring Life

Historic Oakland Cemetery

When you drop names like Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, and Maynard Jackson in the same conversation, most Atlantans will immediately know you must be talking about Historic Oakland Cemetery, one of the most remarkable Victorian Rural Garden Cemeteries in the country.

What started as an answer to an outgrown municipal graveyard in downtown Atlanta, has grown from an original six acres to its current 48 acres. Historic Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta's oldest landmark in continuous use and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the Cemetery, established in 1850, is home to approximately 70,000 dead, including 7,000 Civil War soldiers...and Oakland still holds approximately 15 burials per year.

However, the Cemetery is touted as "much more for the living than the dead." While it—the Oakland Historic Foundation—absolutely respects the dead, its mission is "to cultivate resources to assist the City of Atlanta in the preservation, restoration and beautification of Historic Oakland Cemetery and to promote it as a local cultural resource and as an historic site of national importance."

Embracing that spirit, I've long wanted to visit Historic Oakland Cemetery, but (embarrassingly) just recently made it there. I'm so glad I did!

I had the great fortune of a friend knowing one of the tour guides, Kimberly, who gave our group of eight a captivating, detailed, and engaging walking tour of the Cemetery. The Cemetery is open to the public 365 days a year, but I highly recommend a Guided Walking Tour, at least to initially get oriented to the Cemetery for subsequent visits.

Usually, when a tour concludes, I have a mental list of about a bazillion questions I want answers to...not the case with Kimberly's tour. Our brains were saturated with names, dates, facts, factoids, and a new passion for what a Cemetery of this kind has to offer. She was brilliant!

Here are a few photos of highlights and other things I found of interest...

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
Neal Monument

If I remember correctly, the Neal Monument is one of the most photographed grave sites in the Cemetery. And a LOT of symbolism was explained, including the open book, closed book, laurel wreath, palm branch, and Celtic cross (that one being "eternal life, faith and redemption"). There truly is a lot of symbolism throughout the Cemetery...a LOT!

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
The Lion of Atlanta

A very popular Atlanta icon is "The Lion of Atlanta", a memorial erected by the Atlanta Ladies Memorial Association to honor approximately 3,000 unknown Confederate dead. Many of the Confederate graves are unmarked because the materials used to mark them have since degraded.

Of note, this monument is so popular and written about, when I blogged about the lions perched in front of the Marriott Marquis, it had taken months of research before I learned that they bear practically the same name, but in French—Les Lions d'Atlanta! And for quite a different reason.

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
Golf Legend Bobby Jones

Atlanta-born, World Golf Hall of Famer, Bobby Jones was laid to rest at Historic Oakland Cemetery in 1975. His plot is a golfing green and if you look closely enough, you can see a hole that visitors use for putting to honor Jones. Fans also very often leave golf balls and other golf memorabilia at the site.

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
the Jewish Section

For many reasons, too numerous to explain here, the Jewish section of the Cemetery is separate from the vast majority of the rest of the Cemetery. And it's stunning. There is also an earlier Jewish section, apart from the one pictured here, that more closely resembles non-Jewish grave sites. Learn more on the tour!

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
Atlanta Skyline

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
Atlanta Skyline

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
Atlanta Skyline

I'd have to write a book to tell the tales of all there is to see in Historic Oakland Cemetery. Again, I highly recommend a Guided Walking Tour...you'll be amazed at how much you learn about Atlanta—and yes, that goes for you local tourists, too!

Head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for more photos of my visit to Historic Oakland Cemetery. 

Historic Oakland Cemetery,
at Sunset