What makes Atlanta Unique? (Marietta, Kingston: smog, transplants, showing)

[abrown17]

I've been visiting Atlanta for the past couple weks. So far, I haven't been able to get a real feel for the city in order to form an overall opinion. Atlanta doesn't seem to be culturally distinct in any way. Meaning, there's nothing I've seen that is unique to the place, nothing to make me go "Yeah, I'm definately in Atlanta."

It's weird because I've never experienced this before. Every place I've lived in or visited has given me some impression, whether good or bad. So far I've been to Midtown, Downtown, Little Five Points, Inman Park, the High Museum, Buckhead and the Perimeter area.


Is there anywhere else here that I should visit to get the real Atlanta experience?

[martarider]

Heheh... it sounds like HAVE had the real Atlanta experience. Sorry

[BravoFan]

What exactly are you expecting from this city. On a side note I just saw them talking about that show about the Atlanta houswives. Back to the topic, were you expecting a flashy type of city?

[abrown17]

Originally Posted by BravoFan

What exactly are you expecting from this city. On a side note I just saw them talking about that show about the Atlanta houswives. Back to the topic, were you expecting a flashy type of city?

Oh no, I wasn't expecting anything flashy. I guess I was expecting it to have a Southern feeling. But it doesn't have any feeling.

For example, when you are in New York City, you could never mistake it for anywhere else. Same with Miami, San Francisco, London, Kingston, etc. People in those places dress and speak a certain way, there is distinctive architecture and landscape, local cuisine, etc.

I don't really see that in Atlanta, and I was wondering if I just hadn't found it yet. I feel like if I was just dropped off in Atlanta, I'd have no idea what city I was in. I'm not criticizing though, just trying to find the heart and soul of this city.

[martarider]

Atlanta is full of transplants from all over the place. It does not have anything integral to it's own character as a different place. Maybe after a few generations have been born and raised here it will take on it's own identity.

[atlantagreg30127]

You have discovered Atlanta's dirty little secret... that the word "unique" has never been used to describe it.

I suppose if you stretch it, you could say there are certain civil rights landmarks here, but none that announce, "You are in Atlanta!", the moment you step off the plane. Atlanta has always been accused of having a bit of a cultural Identity crisis, more often than not comparing themselves to others than developing their own "culture" so to speak.

Back in the '80s when I moved here a big ad campaign was on postcards and in ads all over - showing a red haired Southern woman in a tight sweater (and nothing else implied) holding a peach with a caption saying, "Move over Big Apple"... some saying, "Atlanta - the New York of the South!". Later as traffic and smog increased we became known as the "L.A. of the East", but that's not exactly something they advertise on postcards. Even the archway they're building at Atlantic Station looks vaguely familiar... hmmm.. from where....

I'd be happy if they put a 300 foot tall golden hotdog in the middle of downtown to be honest - something that I.D.s the place as completely different from all others. Maybe being downtown a "Bum on a stick" would be a more appropriate symbol, but really, anything would work so long as it doesn't involve Apples, L.A., or French architecture.

[martarider]

Wait, we have the big chicken. Just google search for "big chicken" and marietta dominates the first page. Sweet!

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by martarider

Wait, we have the big chicken. Just google search for "big chicken" and marietta dominates the first page. Sweet!

I don't think Marietta is willing to give up the chicken to Atlanta yet.

[Dignan]

Hmmmm. Cyclorama? World of Coke Museum?

I know, I'm stretching here. I'm a native. To me, being in city neighborhoods that are well forested makes me feel like I'm in Atlanta, but I can't imagine that an outsider would see it the same way. From an outsider's point of view, I can't think of anything that screams Atlanta.

Maybe the Varsity?

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by abrown17

I've been visiting Atlanta for the past couple weks. So far, I haven't been able to get a real feel for the city in order to form an overall opinion. Atlanta doesn't seem to be culturally distinct in any way. Meaning, there's nothing I've seen that is unique to the place, nothing to make me go "Yeah, I'm definately in Atlanta."

It's weird because I've never experienced this before. Every place I've lived in or visited has given me some impression, whether good or bad. So far I've been to Midtown, Downtown, Little Five Points, Inman Park, the High Museum, Buckhead and the Perimeter area.


Is there anywhere else here that I should visit to get the real Atlanta experience?

The Trees/Urban-Suburban Forest. You will not find another major world city that has the trees and urban forestry that Atlanta does.




Too bad the "powers that be" don't know how to capitalize on Atlanta's signature feature. Sigh.