Access Atlanta > The Newcomer
Take me to your Big Chicken: Georgia’s roadside attractions.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is a chicken, a big one, appropriately named “The Big Chicken.”
It’s the kind of thing the AJC puts on intern scavenger hunts on their first day of work, the unmistakable sorts of landmark used for giving directions — “Turn right two streets after The Big Chicken.” — that inspires its own hatching public art projects.
Kitschy roadside attractions are the kind of in-jokes a newcomer ought to learn when planning to make this a home. They’re gaudy, an endangered species and really: where else has a 65-foot fish leaping overhead?
I can (and have) spent hours perusing Roadside America, which lists among its Georgia favorites: a Statue of Liberty replica in McRae and Babyland General Hospital (birthplace of Cabbage Patch Dolls!!!!) in Cleveland and the World’s Largest Peanut in Ashburn. Apparently, there is a rival peanut in Durant, Oklahoma.
The Big Chicken gets its own entry on the site, but apparently isn’t a favorite. (For more Big Chicken history, check out this Marietta-approved site.)
Big fan of the Big Chicken. (Big! Ha! See?! I’m in on the joke! Oh wow. Need to stop now.)
What other roadside crack-ups, tourist attraction or highway exit? Share!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Your MARTA-riding tips, published.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With the help of a few lovely Newcomer readers, here it is: The Beginner’s Guide to MARTA.
It’s a pretty basic guide, especially considering that ridership is up 15 percent. Plenty of people tacked on tips (and the requisite sneers and grumbling) at the bottom.
Another tip I’d like to add: Consider adding MARTA police to your contacts list, just in case. The number is 404-848-4911, or #MPD on an AT&T, Verizon or Spring phone. Blackberry users can dial #673.
Feel free to add more tips here, and those for other public transit systems in the area. I’d like to get a nice guide up on the site full-time.
And remember: if you have other questions, about just about anything Atlanta-ish, leave ‘em in the comments or email me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com. We’re back to our regularly scheduled Friday Q&A this week.
Permalink | Comments (36) | Post your comment | Categories: Getting Around
Q&A, v. 8: A look at Google Street View in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
View Larger Map
This view? Google Atlanta’s offices in Midtown.
Reader had half-panicked, half-thrilled questions about Google Street View. It took a few weeks to get answers, but here they are…kind of.
More questions about being new and curious in Atlanta? Drop them in the comments or write to me at jgumbrecht@ajc.com. I’ll do my best to get them answered for Friday’s Q&A.
How did Google collect Street View images? They just drive cars that gather GPS data coordinated with 360-degree images collected with rooftop cameras. Earlier imagery was provided by a third party, but it’s all in-house now.
Why isn’t my neighborhood included? Elaine Filadelfo, a spokeswoman for Google, says they don’t drive on private property and private roads; that might keep them from collecting some neighborhoods. But when I asked about neighborhoods like Candler Park, which is quite public, but not covered by Street View, she said, “There may be no specific reason,” and added “It’s nice to hear people want it.”
Are they still collecting Street View information in Atlanta? Are images updated? She didn’t know specifically whether they were still gathering information in Atlanta, but said their primary focus is on expanding into other cities. They’d like to update images, too, but again, the priority now is on expansion. “It’s like a time capsule,” she said.
How can I report an inappropriate image? Google has handy-dandy directions right here. They’ll remove an inappropriate image on your property, or blur faces that were missed, but don’t expect them to erase the image of the guys walking into the strip club…
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Questions & Answers
Panic at the Starbucks? Maybe not for Atlanta’s other coffee shops.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yes, about 600 Starbucks stores are going to close. No, we don’t know which ones. (You can find a list of the types of stores likely to close, though.)
Call it oversaturation or a sign of Suze Orman’s dominance. Call it an unfortunate possible loss of jobs for lots of employees…er, partners.
Call it annoying to have to travel another two blocks! For coffee! Jeeeez.
But as I interviewed Starbucks regulars yesterday, I wondered if we can call it all that bad?
Maybe, several said, it would give local coffee shops a chance. Even an under-performing Starbucks will get a lot of business, relatively speaking. It becomes a routine, it introduces people to coffee and it has a mighty marketing team.
And when it closes, coffee drinkers will look for a similar product conveniently located on the same path: Doug Bond, the owner of Atlanta-based San Francisco Coffee said when the North Highland Starbucks closed, his stores saw 30-40 more customers per day at his two nearby stores. (SF just opened a third in Candler Park, too.)
For those that call coffee “Starbucks,” the way most of us call any frozen treat on a stick a Popsicle with a capital, trademarked “P,” it could be rough. Of course, chances are high another Starbucks is somewhere very nearby.
But least two coffee drinkers I spoke to yesterday said they like a good local coffee house — they just weren’t as easy to find. One described it as a “shortage” in the city.
I stumble into a Starbucks every so often, but I just happen to live around a lot of local places. (If only they knew how many AJC stories have been produced at their tables.) I had no idea what was coming in the cup on my first visit, but it has all tasted fine so far. (And one serves ice cream. Nevermind the coffee — I’ll have the chilled, creamy scoop of peanut butter cup in a sugar cone, thanks.) And would I have found them if I didn’t live across the street? Hm…maybe not.
I’m writing with four months of coffeehouse experience here. What’s your drink, where does it come from and do you think Atlanta’s coffee house culture is what it should be?
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Yum!
Finding Atlanta’s favorite fireworks.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The random, late-night cracks and whistles lately remind me that July 4 celebrations are near, but what’s the best place to see, hear, smell, enjoy a real fireworks display? As in, the real ones, not the kind set off with a plastic lighter by someone likely to lose a finger.
The AJC created this handy list and map of July 4 events.
Better yet, a compendium of helpful fours: fireworks displays, events that don’t necessarily involve fireworks, fireworks you can legally use in Georgia (yea sparklers!) and safety tips.
All that said, it appears that fireworks will be exploding all over Atlanta on Friday. If you’ve got a favorite, a fireworks tradition, or a lead on a great spot to watch them, share down in the comments!
Latest comments
I have to agree, MARTA Evangelist; I’ve been using public transportation almost every day since I moved here, and I’ve had one negative experience, but it could’ve happened just as easily on the street. I understand that... read the full comment by Jamie Gumbrecht | Comment on Your MARTA-riding tips, published. Read Your MARTA-riding tips, published.
“Just So You Know”…actually MARTA does tell you the 50 cent Breeze tickets are reusable for 90 days. It clearly states that when you buy the ticket at the Breeze machine. As is the case with every one of these blogs, it is so... read the full comment by MARTA Evangelist | Comment on Your MARTA-riding tips, published. Read Your MARTA-riding tips, published.
MARTA won’t tell you, but the .50 paper Breeze cards CAN BE RELOADED and are good for use for up to three months. Most folks spend the extra .50 each time they buy a round trip. KEEP the paper card for the next round trip and simply add the cost... read the full comment by Just So You Know | Comment on Your MARTA-riding tips, published. Read Your MARTA-riding tips, published.
By West Cobb Dad@10:54 AM stupidly said: They need a rail that goes around the perimeter and rail that goes 20 miles out the interstate spokes. But that makes too much sense. No WCD, it costs too much money. Instead of putting money into mass... read the full comment by GaLiberal | Comment on Your MARTA-riding tips, published. Read Your MARTA-riding tips, published.