<p>The grits at the South City Kitchen were wonderful. My cousin recommended The Flying Biscuit too. Maybe tomorrow…</p>
<p>KKs are not good for you.
They are terrible cold.</p>
<p>The Highland Bakery [Highland</a> Bakery – Atlanta, GA – Home](<a href=“http://www.highlandbakery.com/]Highland”>http://www.highlandbakery.com/) or the Thumbs Up Diner [Thumbs</a> Up Diner - Where Breakfast Is Always Served. Thumbs Up Diner: A Great Franchise Opportunity.](<a href=“http://thumbsupdiner.com/]Thumbs”>http://thumbsupdiner.com/) are probably better than Flying Biscuit, IMO</p>
<p>I haven’t been to Atlanta in years, but when I was younger, I made a point to climb Stone Mountain. </p>
<p>I am hoping to go to Atlanta just to go to the Aquarium. It has whale sharks, which are the largest fish. These are beautiful creatures, and I would not miss an opportunity to see them.</p>
<p>The Aquarium is not to be missed. They have an awesome Beluga Whale exhibit. Truly one of the best I’ve seen.</p>
<p>I second The Varsity - we live about 2 hours from Atlanta and go there a half-dozen times a year and last summer my son and I went to The Varsity for the first time. The burgers aren’t that exciting but it’s a cool experience.</p>
<p>High museum is also great - they often have traveling exhibits. We saw the Chinese Terra Cotta army there a couple of summers ago. </p>
<p>It’s been a very mild winter here in the South so far. You should get some great weather.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Wow. Killjoy much, longprime? Nobody ever said they were health food!! And I agree about them not being great cold. But, fresh hot Krispy Kreme’s are, IMO, EXACTLY what heaven will smell/taste like! :)</p>
<p>Recently, I have learned to savor and enjoy just one. Only occasionally, with my 2 year old grandson. Such a joy!</p>
<p>Mathmom, go to Stone Mountain! Today is absolutely beautiful!!!</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>Jym: thank you. I have trouble imagining grits better than those at the Flying Biscuit, but I’m a dang Yankee 
Since I’m hoping to be in Atlanta in mid March (if I get Springsteen tickets) I am making a note to try the Highland Bakery or Thumbs Up Diner.</p>
<p>OOh, totally forgot about the Varsity. Nipsy Russell worked there before he was a comedian. His photo is on the wall.</p>
<p>RobD-
Let me know when you are in town. If you want to go to the Highland Bakery, go EARLY or be prepared to wait. At thumbs up, IIRC they are cash only, so be prepared. The portions are HUGE!!</p>
<p>And agree that Krispy Kremes are absolutely DIVINE hot off the rack, but they are still seriously yummy even at room temp. If you drive by a KK and the red donut sign in the window is lit, GO IN. That means the donuts are being made and you can buy hot off the rack. HEAVEN. Worry about calories later.</p>
<p>jym: If I don’t make it there for Springsteen, I’ve promised the girls we can go to Dragon Con this year…</p>
<p>and that’s pretty cool about Nipsey Russell :)</p>
<p>FWIW, a room temperature glazed KK donut can be resuscitated to near off the rack conditions with 10 seconds on high in the microwave.</p>
<p>Dragon Con is a true experience. </p>
<p>BTW, if you see kids selling boxes of KKs on the side of the road, buy them too. They are fundraising and the donuts are cheap. And fresh!</p>
<p>And oh swell, don’t need to know how to make 'em hot off the rack-like .</p>
<p>LOL. I have no problem eating the occasional donut, though I have to admit in terms of eating I can’t eat what we did this weekend too often! </p>
<p>Didn’t make it to Stone Mountain, but I was there years ago, so I don’t feel too guilty. </p>
<p>Instead we ate grits at the Flying Biscuit today. They were yummy too, but I actually liked the South City Kitchen ones better. Sounds like a return trip is in order to sample grits in a few more places. :)</p>
<p>I would have been happy to go to the Varsity, but it’s hard to get dh to go eat hotdogs. (And we have the best hotdogs in the world right here in Westchester: <a href=“http://www.waltershotdogs.com/[/url]”>http://www.waltershotdogs.com/</a>)</p>
<p>We didn’t have a lot of time today, so we just ended up walking off our meal by going around Piedmont Park today. Saw a lot of birds and I was a bit surprised to see daffodils blooming like it was spring.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip on the beluga whale exhibit. We went to Shedds while in Chicago and could have spent hours with the belugas. Looks like we’ll definitely be heading to Atlanta for a trip.</p>
<p>Yeah, we definitely have daffodils about to bloom in our yard, as well as a yoshino cherry tree beginning to blossom…it’s been a crazy winter!</p>
<p>Question on hotels & the Metro: D & I are going to see Springsteen on Sunday night at Phillips Arena; I’m going to hotwire a hotel & I’ve had luck getting great places in the Buckhead area. Since I’m assuming that parking by the Phillips Arena will be a nightmare, I’m planning on taking the Metro in (which 2 displaced Atlanta Thrashers fans I met this weekend assured me pretty much dropped you at the Arena & is safe to take after an event.)</p>
<p>Any suggestions for where I should be looking for a hotel? I’ll be driving out 20 west Monday morning if that should affect my decision in anyway.</p>
<p>And I’ve reminded myself about Highland Bakery & Thumbs Up Diner ;)</p>
<p>I think you mean the Marta- and yes there is a station right at Phillips Arena. The Buckhead area is served by several marta stations so if you stay around that area that will work. You can see the Marta stations at this link
[MARTA</a> - Schedules & Maps](<a href=“http://www.itsmarta.com/rail-map.aspx]MARTA”>MARTA)</p>
<p>Yes, I meant the MARTA. Thank you! (I’m planning a college road trip for a few weeks from now & I’m getting my modes of transportation mixed up </p>
<p>Would it be dicey to have to walk a few blocks from the MARTA station to a hotel at around midnight in Buckhead?</p>
<p>Yes, Mathmom, Atlanta has changed a bit since 1979. Came in 1982, left and lived here continuously since 1989. Downtown has little to offer but you will be near the Georgia Aquarium, which is the best tourist attraction in town. Unlike New York city, Atlanta is more of a city in which to live, not visit. Atlanta has great restaurants but they are spread all over the city. Few are Downtown although I might suggest the French American Brasserie; in Midtown (short cab ride from Downtown), try Nan Thai Fine Dining; The Buckhead Life Restaurants are all good; Floataway Cafe is near Emory University but in a light industrial area that will find you questioning the sanity of anyone who sends you there until you arrive and have dinner. Great Place.<br>
Lennox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza are a Marta ride from downtown. Together, they represent the largest shopping area in the SouthEast.<br>
If the weather is nice, try the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.<br>
Not many tourist attractions here but there are things to keep you busy.</p>
<p>Yes, MARTA will be fine. But don’t stay anywhere along I-20. Buckhead is a nice choice.</p>
<p>Lenox and Phipps are across the street from each other, though I wouldnt call Peachtreee St the easiest to cross there. Traffic is a bit crazy.</p>
<p>If you stay at the JW Marriott at Lenox you will be right by the MARTA station.
And CONGRATS on getting Springsteen tix!</p>
<p>Is The Abbey still a good restaurant?</p>
<p>Thanks Jym! I got them for the Meadowlands too (which coincides nicely with where I was going to be anyway during the college tour.) I’m finally getting to be one of those people who follows someone on tour LOL.</p>