Activities in Alpharetta

Breaking Down the BeltLine Part 1: Eastside Trail

The BeltLine is an ongoing project Atlanta is proudly creating to bring energy, creativity and community to its citizens. This progressive city connection spans over thirty-three miles through the city’s most eclectic and naturally beautiful spaces. The BeltLine is broken down into four main trails, all of which are ready for exploration. Arguably the liveliest sector of the BeltLine, the Eastside trail runs from Piedmont Park on 10th and Monroe, down to Old Forth Ward and Inman Park. The smooth, 2.25 mile-long path encourages walking, jogging, bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading and more. The trail itself is filled with children, pets and Atlantans of all types. From students reading their favorite books on one of the many trailside benches, to young families sharing the experience of the BeltLine with their loved ones, the Eastside trail welcomes all walks of life. In addition to simply enjoying the beautiful outdoors, the BeltLine offers several unique experiences along the Eastside trail. A great way to start a day at the BeltLine is by renting a bicycle at Atlanta Beltline Bicycle in Old Forth Ward. At only $15 per bike for the day, the price can’t be beat; plus, it’s located right at the southern end of the Eastside trail, making it a great starting spot. (Be sure to ask for a bike lock in case you want to stop to eat and/or shop.) Starting from the southern tip, the trail begins with an art installation that flows with the wind, creating beautiful color patterns. A series of vertical strings hold together several multi-colored triangle pieces, creating the illusion of floating ‘colors of the wind’. The Eastside trail of the BeltLine boasts several more art instillations along its path. Continuing north reveals several housing complexes with lovely balconies studded along the trail. One can only imagine the spacious, yet cozy loft space that must exist inside. On Sundays, The BeltLine Shed at Ponce City Market (a large retail, office and resident space opening in 2014) hosts Food Cart Sundays. With a great selection of different types of foods and drinks, including delicious iced coffee, this stop along the BeltLine is a great choice to please everyone in your group. If you’re more of the sit-down type, just around the corner is Inman Park. Right off the BeltLine, this lovely neighborhood has tons to offer, including Fritti, an Italian restaurant, well-known for its pizza, and Pure Taqueria, an Atlanta couple’s “sophisticated and fun” take on the authentic Mexican taqueria. For a quick treat, an incredibly popular choice is the local favorite, King of Pops. There are three places along the 2.25 mile-long stretch of the Eastside BeltLine to buy the creatively flavored popsicles, but if you’re looking for the most flavor options, head to their headquarters in Inman Park. Just a few feet off the BeltLine, this place offers almost all (due to limited quantities, some flavors sell out) of their tasty flavors from blackberry mojito to banana pudding and sea salt chocolate. Finally, for shopping, stop by Paris on Ponce for a well-curated warehouse space filled with over 30 unique boutique shops featuring local creators of all types. Find a home décor steal at the Parisian inspired Objet booth or get crafty with Terraria and make your very own terrarium. Paris on Ponce carries all kinds of items—from furniture and antiques to clothing and gifts—the variety is exceptional with its hodgepodge of beautiful, one of a kind goods. Overall, the Eastside trail of the BeltLine is a wonderful way to spend a leisurely, yet lively day taking advantage of wonderful local establishments. With ample eats, treats, and goods, the 2.25-mile span from Old Forth Ward & Inman Park to Monroe & 10th is a fun trip with lots of opportunities for friendly encounters. Photos by Johnny Cheng Photography | Explore more things to do in Atlanta

Where Atlanta Meets Italy: Atlanta Pizzerias

It is rare to find something in this world that is virtually universally loved. A few things come to mind: laughing, love, happiness. But there’s something that can arguably be added to that list: pizza. There’s something just so irresistible about the simple, yet ingenious combination of bread and cheese. Pizza is a food variety that has been mastered in Italy and vehemently attempted in the United States. But some local Atlanta pizza restaurants offer up the real deal. Crispy Crust: Jack’s Pizza and Wings Walking into Jack’s feels like deja vu from college days. The cool, laid back joint has arcade games, graffiti, and even old school lunch boxes used as décor. Jack’s Pizza and Wings is very well known in Atlanta for their wings, but for many, it’s the pizza that keeps them coming back for more. Jack’s Pizza is the perfect balance of generous toppings, melty cheese and crispy crust. The crust isn’t paper thin, like you’d find in some NYC pizzerias; the crust is thick enough to support the toppings of their many specialty pizzas (including mac & cheese!), yet remains perfectly crisp on the bottom. Traditional Pizza: Fellini’s If you’re looking for a well-made, fresh pizza, then head over to Fellini’s. Their no-gimmick, no-fuss approach to pizza is one that’s sure to please. Their philosophy is simple: they use fresh ingredients, dynamite recipes and thoughtful care to create a little slice of cheesy heaven for each and every customer. Their signature neon lettering and twinkling light décor, combined with their lovely outdoor seating make the whole experience of dining at Fellini’s special. Authentic Neapolitan Pizza: Antico Antico is a local go-to for any pizza lover. With its unbelievably fresh ingredients and imported Italian ovens, it’s tough to compare any pizza in Atlanta to Antico. The unique atmosphere is open and inviting with large tables open for parties to share. This traditional Neapolitan pizza is as authentic as it gets in the Atlanta area. The thin, fluffy crust complements the robust flavors of the buffalo mozzarella and other mouth-watering toppings in a way that makes it clear why this pizza establishment has been around since 1889. Creative Toppings: Shorty’s Located in the Northern area of Atlanta, Shorty’s Pizza offers a fun, creative spin on pizza. In traditional Italian sit-down restaurant style, the thin crust cooked in a wood fired brick oven is enough to draw in a crowd, but the unique topping options make this pizza joint one of a kind. Unconventional foods like potatoes, fried eggs, avocado and taco seasoned ground beef are all available for toppings, making for some interesting combinations. Local Favorite: Varasano’s Pizzeria With tons of awards under their belt, including one of the 'Elite 8' Pizzerias in the US by Every Day with Rachael Ray, Varasano’s has quickly become a local favorite in Atlanta. Located in the Buckhead neighborhood, this pizzeria serves a delicious take on Neapolitan pizza. The flimsy crust made of sourdough bread just begs to be folded for the perfect bite. And in the unlikely event you have room for desert after one of their signature pizza pies, Varasano’s offers decadent Italian style doughnuts. As if their savory pizza wasn’t enough to keep business booming, the crystalized sugarcoated fried confections are the perfect cherry on top of one satisfying meal. All photos by Johnny Cheng Photography

Date Night in Virginia Highland

The work week can be pretty hectic and one of the best ways to slow down and reconnect with a loved one is to relax and plan a date night. A bit of shopping, a drink or two, a nice meal and a sweet ending can be just what the doctor ordered. In a car-centric city such as Atlanta, it can be easy to forget that the city has an abundance of neighborhoods that can be explored by foot, and the Virginia Highland neighborhood has been attracting visitors since the early 1900s. The epicenter of the neighborhood, located at the corner of Virginia and Highland Avenues near Midtown, hosts a number of restaurants, bars, and shops perfect for a night on the town. After parking your car, you won’t be needing it for the rest of the evening, take a stroll through the shops that line North Highland Avenue. Half Moon Outfitters offers a wide range of outdoor clothing and gear in an intimate environment and personal attention not found at your typical big box store. Stanton Home Furnishings, in its new location in the former Bella Cucina space, carries a selection of housewares, furniture and books. If you’re looking for gifts made by local artisans, boutiques Festivity and Urban Cottage have you covered. Following your shopping excursion, step into La Tavola Trattoria on Virginia Avenue, a neighborhood Italian restaurant with a small dining room and just a couple of seats at the bar( less than 10 seats) . The kitchen is partially open so you're able to see in - especially from the bar area. It’s likely that you’ll be greeted at the bar by long time barkeep Alli Royce Soble who would be happy to guide you through the restaurant’s wine list or create a cocktail to start off your evening on the right foot. In addition to being a master mixologist, she’s also a talented photographer and has exhibited work in Atlanta’s galleries. She can also help guide you to an appetizer or two, perhaps selected choices from their house cured meats, bruschetta, grilled calamari or feel free to choose an appetizer portion of any of their pastas. Just a few doors away, check out Genki Noodles & Sushi for the main event. You’ll certainly find hot sake on the menu, however I’d recommend the selection of premium sakes available that are served cold & are perfect for sharing on a date night. Try the Zipang, a fun sparkling sake from Japan, or the Rock Sake, a surprisingly refreshing sake from Oregon. Genki serves a variety of sashimi & sushi, noodle bowls and tuna dishes on their expansive menu. Start off with miso soup or salad, and then dive right into the Yokohama lobster, made with tempura fried Maine lobster tail with a tomato ginger sauce. Large enough to share, one of the best items on the menu is their chirashi don bowl. The dish includes an assortment of sashimi including tuna, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, escolar, shrimp, squid, egg cake and octopus over a bed of sushi rice. Finish off your Virginia Highland excursion with a nightcap at chocolate emporium Cacao Atlanta. Take your pick of coffee with beans by local roaster Batdorf & Bronson or try their own sipping chocolate in their gleaming white café or outside on the sidewalk patio. Owner Kristen Hard often makes trips to source the best chocolate used in her creations. A visit wouldn’t be complete without their acclaimed house made truffles. For more date night ideas, explore other things to do in Atlanta

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Daniel Farms

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Breaking Down the BeltLine Part 1: Eastside Trail

Where Atlanta Meets Italy: Atlanta Pizzerias

Date Night in Virginia Highland

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