Did You Vote?

Just a quick note to say "I hope you voted!" Regardless of party, every vote counts!

Georgia Capitol Building, "The Gold Dome"

Now get back to watching the election results!

P.S. I love Georgia!

Scarecrows in the Garden...LOTS of Them!

If you didn't see this year's "Scarecrows in the Garden" exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, you missed a great time! Yes, there are a bazillion people like me posting photos of the scarecrows, but the they don't compare to the real thing—and the real thing comes with experiencing them with enthusiastic fellow Garden-goers.

I'm posting a few here, but encourage you to do two things:

1. Go to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page to see lots more photos.

2. Put "Scarecrows in the Garden" on your 2013 calendar immediately. It's every year during the month of October. You'll be glad you did!

Scarecrows in the Garden (2012)

The above scarecrow was really quite lovely. A nod to Mother Earth. 

Scarecrows in the Garden 

The above scarecrows are an obvious nod to "Titanic", the movie. This one was very well done and an example of how intricate and complex a lot of this year's entries were. 

Scarecrows in the Garden (2012)

The above scarecrow was quite clever...a nod to Angelina Jolie at the 84th Academy Awards. 

Scarecrows in the Garden (2012)

The above scarecrow is more of the traditional variety, but it also had a theme...notice how it's partially buried? What do you think is going on here?

Scarecrows in the Garden (2012)

There were approximately 115 scarecrows this year and they came from everywhere! They were submitted by individuals, businesses, non-profits, schools, scouts, and restaurants. Can you guess where the above "Medieval" scarecrow came from?

Scarecrows in the Garden (2012)

I liked the above scarecrows a lot too. It's a nod to "Day of the Dead", a holiday celebrated in Mexico (and other parts of the world) to remember and pray for friends and family who have died. This is a close up of a much larger group in the same display.

Remember, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page to see more photos....

Remember to Look Up

Remember to look up once and a while. You might be surprised at what you see.

The Fox Theatre & Bank of America Plaza

I really like this photo. I'd been at this vantage point a bazillion times before, but never noticed how these two structures fit together like a puzzle, while showing the incredibly wide range of architecture in Atlanta. 

And I only would have noticed it at the exact point where I happened to look up. Remember the Swan House photo I made this summer when the moon was uncovered for just a moment? Again, this was superbly serendipitous.

Just for the record, this is The Fox Theatre (left) and the Bank of America Plaza (right). The Fox is Moorish in design and opened in 1939 and the Bank of America Plaza, Atlanta's tallest building (and the tallest in the Southeast as well as the tallest building in any state capital), is of postmodern design and opened in 1992. Quite a difference to fit together so well, right?

Remember to stop by the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page for more tourist information and lots more photos!

It's a Beautiful Day

Fall Color at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

This weekend is one of the very few unstructured weekends I get in a year's time. I'm a very busy guy. I'd resigned myself to writing and editing photos today. And quite honestly, I could use the dedicated time to do some catching up.

Well, a colleague posted on Facebook early this morning the U2 song, "Beautiful Day". I shared it on my own Timeline and encouraged everyone to make the absolute most of the beautiful day. 

Well, to follow my own advice, I changed lunch plans (that had been made not too long before the Facebook postings) from a favorite comfort food restaurant to my absolute favorite place in the city—the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

I'm so glad I went! 

And the friend who went with me had not been in a number of years, so had not experienced the Hardin Visitor Center, the Canopy Walk, or the Edible Garden. Going with someone who is a newbie, whether to expansions or exhibitions, always makes visiting a little more special.

A blue Dyeing Poison Frog

They've just finished up and are moving out "Independent Visions", a sculpture exhibition, and all the scarecrows from "Scarecrows in the Garden". AND they're in the middle of preparations for "Garden Lights, Holiday Nights". Talk about busy guys!

Surprisingly, there were a lot of people at the Garden today—including a wedding (there's quite a happy bride out there that the weather was absolutely gorgeous today!). I'm so glad that so many others were out enjoying the beautiful day, too.

It was such a delightful visit. 

Edible Garden at ABG

We had lunch at MetroFresh in the Garden, which just had a renovation...it was delicious! We also saw a kid fall in a freezing cold fountain (while we were eating in the courtyard) where she'd been playing on the ledge for at least five minutes. Poor thing. Her family was a few steps away, but I think her beautiful day took another direction. I hope she was able to have some fun after she dried out.

Everything I've had there has been quite good and I love that they recycle and compost. The Garden's overall "Green" efforts are quite impressive and they host a number of organizations specifically interested in "Green" initiatives for special events.

We went through the Fuqua Conservatory, the Fuqua Orchid Center, the Edible Garden, the Conservation Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Southern Seasons Garden, and the Canopy Walk. I don't even have to tell you that the visit doubled as exercise!

Well, "Garden Lights, Holiday Nights" opens to the public two weeks from today! I can't tell you how excited I am! I went 10 times last year—six times to volunteer and four times with different groups of friends. And this year there will be a LOT more lights!

Head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page where you'll find a lot more photos from today's visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Enjoy!

In the Fuqua Orchid Center

Last Days to See "Independent Visions"

"Independent Visions", a brilliant sculpture exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Garden featuring 19 sculptures by nine artists displayed throughout the Garden come to a close this month. You have only a couple of days to see this marvelous exhibition!

"Independent Visions" at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

These are some of the largest sculptures ever displayed at the Atlanta Botanical Garden and are not to be missed! If by chance you do miss the exhibition, wanderlust ATLANTA will feature a photo album on its Facebook Page after the exhibition closes.

Three Amazing Weekday Tours for Zero Dollars

Have a weekday off and think you can't see Atlanta on a zero dollar budget? You'd be wrong...very, very wrong. But, I don't like to call people wrong, so let's just say I'm here to enlighten you to another way of thinking.

I'd like to hereby propose an itinerary of three incredible tours that will cost you only the amount of gas or public transit to get to each location...AND parking and admission are free! 

Here we go...

Georgia Governor's Mansion

Tour #1: The Georgia Governor's Mansion - these tours are fantastic! One of the most unique aspects of the tour of the Georgia Governor's Mansion is that each room has its own docent. That's right. There's enough to know about each room and its artifacts that the information is spread out...making your visit as information rich as you would like.

This is a tour you want to do in the morning. Tours are available throughout the year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., but get there no later than 11:00 a.m. because the Mansion closes at 11:30 a.m. Free parking on the grounds.

I'm also told that on occasion, the Governor and Mrs. Deal will come downstairs to greet visitors.

(previous post)

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Tour #2: Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Monetary Museum - this is a fascinating tour! You get to see first-hand the cash-processing operations where daily there are millions—that's right, "MILLIONS"—of dollars are counted, sorted, or shredded. At the far end of the Museum you even get to see some of the Bank's automated vault and robotic transports.

While that's all cool, the other exhibits on display are state-of-the-art and way beyond anything I was expecting. It promises to impress.

These self-guided tours are offered Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You will have to pass through security and be sure to check the website before going just to make sure they're not closed. Street parking is available, but pay very close attention to the signs.

(previous post)

CDC Museum

Tour #3: David J. Sencer CDC Museum - that's right, the CDC has a Museum. And it's not just any Museum. It's a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum. AND it's incredibly impressive. I'm not sure what I was expecting the first time I went—and yes, I was a little nervous—but I was blown away! The learning, the art, the interactive stations...it's a one-of-a-kind experience!

Tours are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and they have extended hours on Thursdays to 7:00 p.m. Parking is onsite and is free...Security will guide you as to where to park.

(previous post)


So, there are three, what I think are pretty awesome tours...and they don't cost a dime! I think you'll be more impressed after you've toured all of them. Feel free to spread them out or conquer them all in a single day—recommend in the order listed.

Now that you have your free weekday tours on your calendar, head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page to learn about tours and some great photos!

Fox Theatre's Terrace...A Little Known Treasure

The Terrace at the Fox Theatre,
Bank of America Plaza in background

If you've been to a performance at the Fox Theatre, you probably didn't see one of the Theatre's most unique vistas. If you've been to a special event in the Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox, it's possible you still didn't see it, but if you have visited the Grand Salon, either for an event or on a behind-the-scenes tour, then you've probably seen the grandness of The Terrace.

I remember the Terrace when it was merely a roof. I'd heard rumors of creating a rooftop event space, which was finally done following the 1996 fire...a fire that caused $2 million in damages, but might have caused more had Fox resident Joe Patten not been at home. Patten is the former Technical Director who was granted a lifetime lease in an apartment inside the Fox Theatre.

Fortunately, the damage caused to the Grand Salon was corrected and the Terrace is as gorgeous as one would expect at the Fox Theatre. 

The Terrace is modest in size. You can fit quite a few cabaret tables out there and there are some built in benches for seating, but the walls are high, so you don't really get a "skyline" view. But what you do get a view of is far more than a tease...it's fantastic!

The Terrace at the Fox Theatre

From the northeast corner of the Terrace, you can see the "onion" tower on the North Avenue side of the Fox, and you can see two condominium buildings, one modern, but older and one that's architecturally stunning.

Also, you can see the towering Bank of America Plaza--the tallest skyscraper in Atlanta, which is quite remarkable when lit at night! And best seen from the southeast corner, you can see the upper floors of the Georgian Terrace Hotel, where Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable resided while filming "Gone With the Wind." 

All in all, the Terrace at the Fox is a stunning space. I highly recommend spending a few minutes on it taking in the unique opportunity to explore it...should the opportunity arise.

Be sure to head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook Page and check out the other information and photos there. And thank you for stopping here.

The Terrace at the Fox Theatre