Atlantans are already out in full force enjoying winter's demise, so the Atlanta Preservation Center's Phoenix Flies series couldn't be more perfectly time. More than two weeks of absolutely free tours (through March 24) give an all-access look at the city's famous and lesser-known landmarks. Given that 200 events are up for grabs, the itinerary list can be a little daunting. So we've whittled the list to five don't-miss-'em tours, in no particular order of importance.
5) Ivy Hall. Admit it: You've always wondered what the inside of that looming Victorian mansion at Ponce and Piedmont looks like inside. Prepare to be amazed. SCAD performed a top-notch restoration of what for many years was the Mansion Restaurant, and now serves as the school's writing center.
4) Ponce City Market. The 1926 building formerly known as City Hall East, originally known as Sears, Roebuck & Co., is undergoing an extreme makeover by Jamestown Properties that promises to make it a hub of Eastside liveliness. Dining, retail, offices and apartments will all come together in Atlanta's largest adaptive reuse project, which will hopefully retain just the right amount of grit. It's one before and after you don't want to miss.
3) Unseen Underground. Bashing Underground Atlanta is something of a native past time, but there's some interesting nooks and crannies waiting to be explored beyond the kiosks and "As See on TV" outlets. The city sprung from this very spot; that alone garners a closer look.
2) 1906 Atlanta Race Riot Tour. Not enough Atlantans know about this key historical event that took place in and around downtown one September over a hundred years ago. However, the aftermath touched on everything from housing patterns to public relations.
1) Any of the neighborhood tours. Atlantans love their neighborhoods, and there's a nice selection of them on this year's schedule for an hour or two of gawking. The Parks (Inman, Grant, and Ansley) are well represented, as well as Sweet Auburn and the heart of downtown.
— By Curbed Atlanta contributor Jonathan Carnright
· Decennial Phoenix Flies [Atlanta Preservation Center]
Loading comments...