#marymacstearoom

ATLANTA

I have visited Atlanta a handful of times before this trip.  Every time I have gone it has felt like I have been to a different city.  The main reason for this is the city is made up of three different districts: Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead.  These districts can easily been seen from Stone Mountain, located thirty minutes east of Atlanta.

But enough on topography.  We will just say Atlanta is a much different city than Nashville.

My friend Bennett lives just north of Atlanta with his wife and puppy Indie…Indy?…Andy….?  He invited us to stay at their place and show us around the city.  It’s always nice to have a local to show you around and I hadn’t seen Bennett since I graduated college, so it was a great opportunity to catch up.

Before we met up with Bennett, Harry and I went to a place called Mary Mac’s Tea Room where we gorged on delicious southern delicacies. Think Thanksgiving at Grandmas but instead of dry turkey you have juicy grilled trout with endless corn bread and yeast rolls or flakey fried catfish with chips and hushpuppies.  

After dinner, I brewed some coffee on my tailgate in a small park Downtown.  Coffee and I took a brief walk through the park to watch the sunset over the Atlanta skyline.  As the last of the sun faded, I looked deep into my mug, thanked Coffee for going on this journey with me.  I gave her a quick sip and we strolled back to the Element to meet Harry and Bennett for a drink.

Bennett had sent me the address to a local speakeasy but not the name.  We headed to the location and found a place called Muss & Turner’s.  Bennett was running a little late so Harry and I walked in and took a look around.  It was a nice place with good looking food, but not a speakeasy by any standard.  But they had alcohol so we hopped in line.  Before we could get to the register, Bennett came through the door and gave me a hug that had five years worth of hugs in it.  It was good to see my friend again.  He pulled us out of the line and brought us to the back of the restaurant where we came upon a walk in freezer door.  Bennett opened the door and we walked into a dark void, turned a corner and was welcomed by a beautiful empty ebony bar.

After a cocktail, a couple Trappist beers and a delightful conversation with our bartender; who had just gotten back from a cross country road trip; Harry, Bennett and I were ready head back to the house and kick back in front of a fire.  We got to the house and was welcomed by the behemoth of a ball of black fluff that is Indie the Black Labrador Retriever.  We played with the pup until we were all worn out and hit the sack.

for the sake of keeping this blog brief…