| Much interaction in my chronicle is set in Little Five Point, Atlanta. This is a very attractive place for storytellers to have many of their settings since its always much people on the run and tourists taking photographs of everything they see. The entire area could be threated as some sort of a free zone from the Hierarchy. They 'archies working there don't want any trouble so much will slip trough with just a warning and sometimes not even that. So far the players have started to haunt a little cafe situated in a fictious little plaza called Jeffersons Plaza, named after the statue of Jefferson Davis on the plaza. More details on the plaza, the small shops and restaurants will be published later. |
Funk it up in Little Five Points Written by Matt Konigsmark
It's the closest Atlanta comes to New York City's East Village, San Francisco's South of Market or Seattle's Capital Hill. Little Five Points is the scruffy yet thriving epicenter of alternative Atlanta or "a festival from hell," as one bumper sticker claims. The usual cliches come to mind when talking about this small neighborhood and shopping district: dynamic, bohemian, seedy, laid-back, funky and tragically hip.
Euclid Avenue Yacht Club: A revered Little Five Points tradition since '87. Plastered with nautical memorabilia, signs and the unusual, including a Georgia State Patrol car door, this neighborhood beer and wine bar draws an eclectic crowd. No credit cards.
Crystal Blue: A kind of incense-steeped mini-mall for the head-in-the-clouds crowd. This New Age shop sells chimes, crystals, music, jewelry, bumper stickers, candles and books on magic, dreams, astrology and natural healing.
Boomerang: Cool, repainted and retooled retro furniture and eclectic housewares for your digs.
Texanne: One-of-a-kind, vintage-style western wear. Located inside Boomerang.
Identified Flying Objects: Catch air and get high -- legally. This store specializes in anything that flies, sails or glides through the air: Kites, juggling supplies, darts and frisbees. It's also THE place for Grateful Dead stickers.
Pink Flamingo: Cramped store laden with new clothes, shoes, postcards, jewelry, neckties and the unusual, such as The Simpsons chess set and Hello Kitty goodies.
Aunt Teeks: More of the same but with a large-selection of T-shirts.
Stephan's: Retrofit your wardrobe with mint-condition vintage clothing and accessories for men and women.
Days Gone By: New and vintage clothing and accessories for women.
Major Furniture: Often pricey used furniture and cool knicknacks in a crowded, junk store setting. Look for collectibles such as ceramic gargoyles and angels and Elvis clocks and busts.
Clothing Warehouse: Used Levis, new shoes and vintage goods. The best of a thrift store, pulled out, cleaned up and hung for presentation.
Renee Renee: Chic, designer duds. Hip clothes for mainstream 20-something women. Nice designs but some claim they're poorly made. Pricey for the neighborhood.
Throb: Tragically hip club and fetish gear such as masks, whips and chains. Accessories, bongs (er... make that water pipes for tobacco use), wild hats, watches and jewelry. The place for rubber and vinyl.
Bazaar: A maze of individual stalls. You never know exactly what you'll find but check for incense, psychic readings and brass jewelry.
Stratosphere: Skateboards, snowboards and stylewear. Need we say more.
A Cappella Books: Friendly community bookstore specializing in new, used, out-of-print and rare tomes. They buy sell, sell and trade. Will conduct searches and place special orders.
Urban Tribe: a.k.a. Suburban Tribe. Offering hipsterish club wear; piercings, jewelry, tattoos and techno records. It's a magnet for trendy, suburban wannabes.
Outback Outfitters: Bikes, backpacks, boots, camping gear and outdoor magazines. Nice selection of mountain bikes and bike service. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Bulletin board for used goods.
Sevananda: Environmentally conscious, health-food grocery. This cooperative also includes a bakery, deli, salad bar and recycling facilities.
Seven Stages Theatre: Avant-garde, cutting-edge theater and performance art. It's the most non-mainstream of Atlanta's more established theaters and just completed a major renovation.
Variety Playhouse: 1,000-person-capacity old theater lives up to its name, hosting everything from New Age to alternative-rock.
Horizon Theatre: Contemporary theater housed in a former school. Often produces new plays and offers many premieres. Relatively high production values and a strong ensemble of core actors.
Austin Ave. Buffet: Beer and eggs anyone? Located on Austin Avenue off Euclid Avenue, this bar and eatery begins serving both sometime at 6 a.m. Trimmed in hard-core Southern decor and memorabilia, this neigborhood blue-collar beer joint has been pouring since 1941 and hasn't changed much since. Local redneck and country bands play from time to time on weekends, when the bar stays open an hour or so later until 11 p.m.
Aurora: One of our favorite coffee houses for satisfying those java blues.
Criminal Records: It's not just a music store; it's a comic book command center. Also new and used CDs, magazines, videos, etc.
Junkman's Daughter: A one-stop shop on the way from suburbia to hipster heaven. Drenched in incense and beads, this Little Five Points mainstay carries everything from bongs to shoes to candles, clocks, cards and cigars. It's an emporium of the tacky, groovy and ultra hip. Thin-skinned shoppers beware: This cavernous store is run by heavily pierced, tattooed and dyed clerks with attitude.
Tornado Tattoo: Wanna get inked? Local dyed-in-the-flesh ink junkies recommend this needle house.
Sacred Heart: More needle-mania. Also performs piercing and tattooing.
Wish: Techno outfitters for today's Mod Squad. Club gear and used Levis displayed in an ultrahip, clubby setting. Also holds monthly performance art openings in conjunction with 800 East and sponsors DJs at local clubs.
Satellite: Hip-hop vinyl joint housed in the basement of Wish.
Loco: Used Levis, cords and leather. Wild Ts with slogans like "I love Satan" and "Stewed, screwed and tattooed." Also shoes, dresses, everyday duds and accessories.
DIG IT: Vintage clothes, knicknacks and collectibles in a cramped space. Has such fun offerings as Mr. Potatohead, '70s lunchboxes and boardgames.
Abbadabbas: Shoe central, specializing in Doc Martens, Vans, Air Walk,
Birkenstocks, Converse and Tevas. A Little Five Points institution since '81.
Cotton Casuals: Women's clothing. Unusual prints, organic clothing and jewelry. Pricey for the neighborhood.
Wax 'n Facts: Music, music and more music. This venerable music store has served L5P for almost 20 years. It's great for the hard to find, offers lots of vinyl in addition to new and used CDs and cassettes. Also posters, stickers and T-shirts. Snotty clerk alert.
Star Bar: The home of Bubbapalooza and much, much more. Check out the Grace vault (as in Graceland, Bubba), chug a Pabst Blue Ribbon and shuffle your feet under the mirrored disco ball. Often packed, sweaty and smoky, this music venue features country, garage, pop, swing, lounge, rockabilly and everything in between. There's a go-go party on Mondays and Romeo Cologne cooks up a Funk Dance disco party on Tuesdays. If you need to escape the crowds or the music, wander downstairs to the Little Vinyl Lounge.
Charis Books and More: Feminist bookstore that has been a mainstay since the '70s.
Good Ol' Days: Bar and restaurant gone wrong. They have outdoor seating, pool tables and live music, but something just doesn't feel right. Maybe it's the heavily suburban crowd soaking up liquid courage before venturing deeper into neighborhood.
The Point: Grungy neighborhood music venue/bar and eatery that's as comfortable and smelly as an old shoe. Has a separate bar and darts pit. Mix of national and local alternative, indie rock and country bands. Sunday is disco night. Snotty bartender alert.
Tete-a-tete Cafe: Dig that bohemian scene. Cappucino, expresso and desserts served indoors and out so you can see and be seen. Good ice cream. |