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I arrived in Atlanta at 8:30 this morning sight unseen. I am staying in Midtown for a few days and will be starting school at GT next week.
So far I am really enjoying it. I walked all over the midtown area up to the Botanical gardens and down to Tech Square area as well as walking around GT campus.
Some things I noticed so far:
- This part of town is really walkable. I know people on this forums say how spread out the city is in general, but this area is a breeze to get around on foot not really any different than Boston.
- The drivers are very aggressive however. A lot of drivers turning right will just pull out in front of pedestrians with a cross sign.. I'm used to that in Boston aswell but if anything it seems worse down here.
- Didn't really feel any hotter than New England at this time of year. Maybe it's a couple of degrees warmer but there's so many trees and shade I walked around in jeans for hours today and was comfortable.
- Food around here is amazing. I'm not going to run out of restaurants to try any time soon and the couple places I checked out today were great. There seems to be a good mix of affordable places and of course a ton of high end spots also.
- People who live here don't seem to like it... I only talked to a handful of people in passing but everyone who lived here said they wanted out. The biggest complaints were "it's overbuilt" "people are two faced" and they seemed pretty adamant about those points "Don't make too many friends and pick them carefully" type of thing.
-Scooters. Yea we don't really have these back home LOL it's so weird to see them just sitting in the middle of the sidewalk. There must be some kind of e-lock feature cause it looks like anyone could just walk up and take them
Tomorrow I'm gonna check out the High Museum and the Botanical Gardens, and get my MARTA pass. I've got a few free days now before school starts - any suggestions of where to check out during this time?
Thanks
Glad you have a good first impression. Today actually marks 1 year in ATL for my family, and so far so good. Coming from the north I've found the 4 season weather very pleasant, the personalities a little more laid back, and the southern hospitality is real. The roads are a little windy and crazy, but I also noticed how polite the drivers are. It's like the tough roads have cultivated a "let's work together" attitude. People always letting others in, that type of stuff.
I think every city has its group that always laments the bad and "want's out," thinks the grass is greener. I found it all depends on what your expectations, motive, and budget are.
The scooters have gotten a bit out of hand. After the third death, these are currently on the chopping block, be interesting to see what happens
A few suggestions (sounds like you don't have a car? I picked areas near GT for you):
Grab some match soft serve and high end coffee at Momo's cafe
Walk around Piedmont Park
Grab some dinner in Inman Quarter area
Goat farm park
Sign up to be a paid extra in a movie (wife does this all the time for fun)
Do a little shopping in Westside Provisions
Glad you have a good first impression. Today actually marks 1 year in ATL for my family, and so far so good. Coming from the north I've found the 4 season weather very pleasant, the personalities a little more laid back, and the southern hospitality is real. The roads are a little windy and crazy, but I also noticed how polite the drivers are. It's like the tough roads have cultivated a "let's work together" attitude. People always letting others in, that type of stuff.
I think every city has its group that always laments the bad and "want's out," thinks the grass is greener. I found it all depends on what your expectations, motive, and budget are.
The scooters have gotten a bit out of hand. After the third death, these are currently on the chopping block, be interesting to see what happens
A few suggestions (sounds like you don't have a car? I picked areas near GT for you):
Grab some match soft serve and high end coffee at Momo's cafe
Walk around Piedmont Park
Grab some dinner in Inman Quarter area
Goat farm park
Sign up to be a paid extra in a movie (wife does this all the time for fun)
Do a little shopping in Westside Provisions
All the best to you!
I totally disagree on these points and especially the second. Atlanta drivers are the worst they will try to fight with you no matter what if you try to get in front of them. They are the worst I have ever seen and coming from the northeast that means something. With how many people here carry guns it makes it even scarier how people get so angry on the roads. I'm glad I can take marta everyday to work and not have to deal with that ordeal on the roads. As far as southern hospitality it definitely isn't in Metro Altanta. I have been here over 20 years and find Atlanta to have the rudest people in the United States. Maybe if you live far far out in the suburbs there is some Souther Hospitality but I never run upon it. I do agree with people saying people here are two face and also lots of people are just fake and like to be front as they are well off living down here were it is cheaper than other parts of the USA. I do like how they have built up inner neighborhoods even though it has the bad affect of displacing minorities and the poor in the city. Atlanta was due for a makeover and starting with the belt line it has really pushed forward and made the city a lot more interesting and fun. Overall if you can avoid the traffic and the rude people Atlanta isn't bad with its pleasant weather and more active developing inner city scene.
Welcome, Space League! Atlanta has its pros/cons just like Boston, but I think you'll love it overall. I live out in the burbs with my family, but we go into town often as there is so much to see/do.
One word of advice if you're a Pats fan, keep the Brady jersey at home Falcons fans are still not over that lol
The roads are a little windy and crazy, but I also noticed how polite the drivers are. It's like the tough roads have cultivated a "let's work together" attitude. People always letting others in, that type of stuff.
Wait...are you sure you're talking about Atlanta? The land of "I put my blinker on and the guys sped up and cut me off"?
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rdbass
As far as southern hospitality it definitely isn't in Metro Altanta. I have been here over 20 years and find Atlanta to have the rudest people in the United States.
Welcome to Atlanta and great review. As far as picking friends that is pretty much everywhere, but among the black community, Atlanta reputation is pretty much in the dumps, as having a lot of men that are on the DL, and heterosexual women have a better chance of finding a romantic relationship in another city.
Yea I'm white but the people I talked to were black and a few were specifically were talking about the black community from their "specific word choice" and talk about how you're treated if "if you didn't go to a HBCU". I'm pretty sure some of those guys were gay or at least talk that way as-well. I hope I can still meet women here however
Quote:
Originally Posted by seussie
I find that experiences of a city while in college tend to be totally different than those of a professional. My graduate school days in Boston were something!
If I were headed back into grad school with a few days to run around, I'd probably be looking for all kinds of un-purchased and discounted home goods products. Since you're romping on a short cultural tour and will be at Botanical Gardens, why don't you just hop on to a scooter and follow downwards on the Beltline to the Old Fourth Ward?
I hope I have enough free time to enjoy once school starts How do you rent a scooter?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Citykid3785
Glad you have a good first impression. Today actually marks 1 year in ATL for my family, and so far so good. Coming from the north I've found the 4 season weather very pleasant, the personalities a little more laid back, and the southern hospitality is real. The roads are a little windy and crazy, but I also noticed how polite the drivers are. It's like the tough roads have cultivated a "let's work together" attitude. People always letting others in, that type of stuff.
I think every city has its group that always laments the bad and "want's out," thinks the grass is greener. I found it all depends on what your expectations, motive, and budget are.
The scooters have gotten a bit out of hand. After the third death, these are currently on the chopping block, be interesting to see what happens
A few suggestions (sounds like you don't have a car? I picked areas near GT for you):
Grab some match soft serve and high end coffee at Momo's cafe
Walk around Piedmont Park
Grab some dinner in Inman Quarter area
Goat farm park
Sign up to be a paid extra in a movie (wife does this all the time for fun)
Do a little shopping in Westside Provisions
All the best to you!
Yea I left the car at home. Mainly because the inspection is due in December and I didn't want to waste my holidays driving back and forth across the country for that. I will check out some of those spots you suggested but I disagree about the drivers. From a pedestrian standpoint they seem rather aggressive
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rdbass
I totally disagree on these points and especially the second. Atlanta drivers are the worst they will try to fight with you no matter what if you try to get in front of them. They are the worst I have ever seen and coming from the northeast that means something. With how many people here carry guns it makes it even scarier how people get so angry on the roads. I'm glad I can take marta everyday to work and not have to deal with that ordeal on the roads. As far as southern hospitality it definitely isn't in Metro Altanta. I have been here over 20 years and find Atlanta to have the rudest people in the United States. Maybe if you live far far out in the suburbs there is some Souther Hospitality but I never run upon it. I do agree with people saying people here are two face and also lots of people are just fake and like to be front as they are well off living down here were it is cheaper than other parts of the USA. I do like how they have built up inner neighborhoods even though it has the bad affect of displacing minorities and the poor in the city. Atlanta was due for a makeover and starting with the belt line it has really pushed forward and made the city a lot more interesting and fun. Overall if you can avoid the traffic and the rude people Atlanta isn't bad with its pleasant weather and more active developing inner city scene.
Yea I would agree the drivers are somewhat more aggressive than Northeast from a pedestrian standpoint. I'm not sure if that carries over onto the freeway etc. People don't seem that rude yet.. it's been easy to make conversation with randoms to whatever extent I wanted to so far
I think drivers are bad and rude here in the metro atlanta area as many if not most seem to not be from here, lots from up north, no offense. Not sure if your a big football fan but GT just got a new head coach so could be exciting as well! Definitely tons of good restaurant options, and many right by Tech area, I live very close to the campus by west peachtree and you have the publix for shopping, and marlows tavern is good too right next to it!
Welcome to the city of Trees!
We aren't natives but transferred here 5 years ago.
If you facebook, make sure to check out events and things to do around here.
You will love the upcoming fall season.
Good luck with your studies.
I totally disagree on these points and especially the second. Atlanta drivers are the worst they will try to fight with you no matter what if you try to get in front of them. They are the worst I have ever seen and coming from the northeast that means something. With how many people here carry guns it makes it even scarier how people get so angry on the roads. I'm glad I can take marta everyday to work and not have to deal with that ordeal on the roads. As far as southern hospitality it definitely isn't in Metro Altanta. I have been here over 20 years and find Atlanta to have the rudest people in the United States. Maybe if you live far far out in the suburbs there is some Souther Hospitality but I never run upon it. I do agree with people saying people here are two face and also lots of people are just fake and like to be front as they are well off living down here were it is cheaper than other parts of the USA. I do like how they have built up inner neighborhoods even though it has the bad affect of displacing minorities and the poor in the city. Atlanta was due for a makeover and starting with the belt line it has really pushed forward and made the city a lot more interesting and fun. Overall if you can avoid the traffic and the rude people Atlanta isn't bad with its pleasant weather and more active developing inner city scene.
Wow!
You must have been the person the OP ran into!
Atlanta is the friendliest big city in the country.
The drivers here are courteous to the point of being dangerous (stopping with right of way to let someone in from a side street). Maybe Atlanta has more than its share of "super-jerks" on the road, but the vast majority are very friendly.
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I am staying in Midtown for a few days and will be starting school at GT next week. 
