MARK YOUR CALENDAR You can easily plan your visit around any of the great events taking place in the district, but no matter when you arrive, there’s likely something happening. Catch Hapeville’s Downtown Live concert series (including a chili cook-off, seafood night and more), summer outdoor movies, College Park’s annual Kids Fest , or the monthly Coffee & Chrome car and motorcycle show (April–Sept.). There are also themed events scheduled around several holidays, so if you’re here during a day with “Day” (or “Día”) in its name, watch out for a parade. Cycling enthusiasts can look forward to Spin the District , an annual cycling series that brings multiple races and festivals to the downtown city streets. Locals turn out in droves to celebrate and cheer on the cycling world’s top talent from around the globe. DELTA FLIGHT MUSEUM GASTRO WITH GUSTO From Virginia Avenue to Main Street, a litany of memorable food and drink experiences satisfy every craving and curiosity. Options range from down-home Southern comfort food to dazzling international fare. Parking is easy (a perk of venturing outside the city center), and alternatively, the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will take you just about everywhere. Thirsty? Treat yourself to a highbrow happy hour at Volare Wine & Bistro in Hapeville, or kick back with a cold one, enjoyed straight from the source at Arches Brewing or al fresco on Beer Girl ’s cozy courtyard patio. Come Sunday, start the morning right—and remember, weekend “mornings” technically last until at least 2 p.m.—with a low and lazy brunch. College Park’s downtown strip comes alive from Johnny’s World Famous Chicken & Waffles and Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar to The Real Milk & Honey , with indulgent breakfast foods and bottomless mimosas every Sunday. DOWNTOWN COLLEGE PARK RESTAURANT ROW SEE WHAT’S ON Lovers of the performing arts shouldn’t miss the Academy Theatre , which has the distinction of being the first integrated theater in the South and the longest-running theater company in the Southeast. (It also claims Samuel L. Jackson as an alum.) This talented troupe offers a robust rotation of plays and performances, plus a Sunday Variety Series that showcases visiting acts of all kinds. Looking for something even more exhilarating? The Gateway Center Arena has balls in the air 12 months out of the year, thanks to the Atlanta Dream (WNBA) and College Park Skyhawks (G-League), whose seasons are perfectly offset. Best of all, you can reach the arena via the 24-hour ATL SkyTrain, a free people mover that connects the airport to the Gateway Center. (And you can get to the airport from just about anywhere via MARTA.) ATLANTA DREAM AT THE GATEWAY CENTER ARENA atldistrict.com | 404-334-7500
Official State Travel Guide 2023 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 69
