Good bread, good meat...

Every once in a while, I need to wander off on a tangent. Tonight, while driving back from the initial meeting for volunteers at the NHL All-Star Game, I drove by Fat Matt's Rib Shack (and let's not forget the Chicken Shack next door). So... I got to thinking about some of the great places I have been lucky enough to eat at here in Atlanta. I know it isn't about real estate, but we live here... and we have to eat... and if we are going to eat, we should eat well.

I guess I should start with Fat Matt's. This is a legendary stop in Atlanta. Aside from ribs that are known throughout the South, there is live blues seven nights a week. The last time I stopped in, there was a tour bus parked outside. As a blues neophyte, I couldn't tell you who the musician was, but one of my guests was just about beside himself that a legend would bring his bus up from New Orleans for a one night engagement in a rib joint. Don't let the look fool you... this place rocks... er blues... whatever.

The chicken next door is also quite amazing. That would be Fat Matt's Chicken Shack. No live blues (that I know of), but BBQ chicken for lunch is certainly a treat.

The next one on the list is actually gone now. For decades there was a place in Atlanta called Deacon Burton's Soul Food Grill. It was the very definition of Southern Cuisine. Deacon Burton passed away a few years ago, and there was a lot of drama involving the restaurant. Born of the drama is a place called Son's Place. I have not been there, but I hear it is across the street and has faithfully captured the experience. The reviews are good as well.

As long as we are on Southern foods, let's hit another BBQ place. This one is right around the corner from me. Spiced Right Bar-B-Q in Lilburn, GA. It is good sweet BBQ. Again, it isn't fancy, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. They have half a dozen different sauces, and they are all good. On my last visit, I enjoyed the brisket... and some pulled pork... and some chicken. Ok, I had some rolls, too.

Finally, not too far away is a DeKalb County tradition... but it's pretty close to Gwinnett County as well. Matthew's Cafeteria in Tucker is a favorite destination for locals at lunchtime. Like Son's Place, they are a "meat and three" place (for those that aren't familiar, that would be meat and three vegetables or sides). Swinging by around lunch, and the lot is plugged with police cars, while there is a steady stream of traffic from Cofer Bros. Lumber across the street.

If you are an Atlanta local, especially around Gwinnett County, I hope that you have a few new ideas for lunch or dinner in the next couple of weeks. If you don't live in Atlanta, drop in for a visit. Buy a house. I'll even take you to lunch...

Thanksgiving and parades...

I've been watching some of the NBC and CBS coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. My wife is a (semi)reformed band geek, so she wanted to see the parade. Also, since WCC (World's Cutest Child) likes parades, we had a triple reason to tune in (1 for the wife, and 2 for the kid).

So, we tuned in, looking forward to seeing some floats and some bands. But, what do we get? Broadway show tunes and promos for upcoming NBC shows... Maybe CBS will have some of the actual parade... Nope. Instead, the cast of CBS's Daytime programming just "drop by" for a chat... between musicians promoting their new albums.

So, for both of the broadcasts of the parade, all they did was self-promote and show commercial acts. Stephenson High School from Stone Mountain got about 10 seconds on CBS. I think they got almost 20 seconds on NBC... just enough to say who they were... and hear a VERY short clip of music.

I think that both of these networks have forgotten what the parade is about. While one could certainly argue that it isn't a non-commercial event... sponsored and even owned by Macy's... it isn't PURELY a commercial event. It is a Holiday Event. Don't the kids that raised thousands of dollars to travel to the parade to perform, because they thought it would be an honor, deserve more than a passing mention on the way to professional performers that are their to promote their latest product?

One thing that was mentioned on CBS in their short mention of the Stephenson High School Marching Band is that the graduating Seniors have garnered $10,000,000 in musical scholarships for college. If they read the teleprompter right... all I can say is WOW! Congrats to the Stephenson High School Marching Band for getting to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade AND The Rose Parade.

Football Night in America... ok, Lilburn

We just got back from a fun event. Ok, if I were a serious fan of Parkview, it might not have been as fun... but if I were a serious fan of Brookwood, it would have been a hoot. But, I'm not going to actually talk about the game, except in the most circumspect of ways. I want to talk about the event.

Despite our best intentions, we didn't get up to Parkview High School until almost 7:15. Since the game was scheduled to start at 7:30, we thought it would be ok... and if it weren't for the fact that the average fan was parking no closer than Snellville (where everybody is somebody!), that would have been plenty of time. So, we saw people walking a mile away... and I was thinking that with a pregnant wife and a three year old, it wasn't going to be much fun making that hike... twice... second time with me carrying both. But, after a few laps of some churches, other school's parking lots, a soccer field and some side streets, we found a place to plop the ol' minivan. And it was only 7:25...

So, we gathered up the supplies and began the trek. Little G-man could hear the band... and he was excited. As we got closer to the sound, he was asking more questions. After a few miles, we were within sight (ok, we had been walking about 10 minutes). This thing was big... I mean really big. We knew that there was a big rivalry, and we knew that it was the last game of the season before State Championship Playoffs, but this was big. The place was PACKED.

After getting in, we managed to find a seat in what I would describe as the Not Old Enough to be a Student section. I felt old... Gail felt old... Garret even felt old. The girls around us were young enough to give him a third look (note to self: I think the issues will start in about 8 years). So, despite the frantic activity in the kiddie section, there was an interesting football game going on. But, with the "Rush Hour on I-285" traffic in the aisle next to us, we decided to seek other accommodations before half-time. My wife is a "recovering" band geek, so we had to be in a good position for the Halftime Show.

We abandoned the 70 pound crowd and made our way to the fence near the Parkview drum corps while they practiced. There are few things that can hold the attention like a drum corps. If they didn't stop, he would stand there until Bob the Builder walked by and grabbed his attention away... or the Chik-fil-A cow... who just happened to walk by as the drum corps got ready to line up with the band.

My wife wanted a better perch, and we figured there was no better place that the area reserved for the band... they weren't using it. Are you thinking that there was no way we would be able to stay there? Let me tell you, my kid is cute. Aside from the people that walked in front of us constantly, it was a great spot. But, there was still less traffic than in the NOES area. We knew we would have to abandon the area after the band was done on the field, but, the ex-band geek wanted a higher view...

So, we found a perch about halfway up the aisle next to the band. We had watched Brookwood HS's band first, now it was time for Parkview to perform. Since the little guy couldn't see, it was up on the shoulder time. There he sat for the next 13 minutes while the band marched... asking "what are they doing?" about every 30 seconds. "they are marching"... still the answer.

Good time. We really did enjoy the show. Garrett was having a serious ball. And he'd spotted a kid with pompoms. So, after the band finished up, we headed to the concession area... and the bathroom (pregnant wife, remember?) We found different pompoms. And the stand had one of the blue and orange ones left... scored for free for the cute kid. Hurry past the funnel cake booth... ok, we slowed down. the line was long enough that even the three year old didn't want me to wait in it. Now, the search for a new spot, sans middle schoolers.

Woo hoo. We found a spot. This was next to the band, and slightly in front of the Angry Dads Yelling Out Plays to the Coaches section. That really isn't as bad as it sounds. This was great. Short guy was enjoying the band. I could actually see that there was football going on. Wife was also enjoying the band. Short guy was people watching... when he wasn't assaulting the guy in front of us with the pompom. then he got a Parkview football from a passing guy (seriously, the kid scored more than the Panthers...).

We knew that we needed to get out in front of the crowd. Pregnant wife and three year old were not up to sprinting for the minivan... me neither. So, with about 9 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, we made our escape. Ten minutes to get back to the minivan and we were off... after loading up. We just managed to beat the crowd out onto the road.

A quick stop into Bruster's for ice cream... the kid was seriously good during the whole event... and back home.

It was a great night in Lilburn, Georgia. We got to watch two State Championship caliber football teams face off. We got to watch two great marching bands perform. If you want to be in either of these excellent school districts, give me a call. Or drop by my website and take a look at what is available. If you are a Parkview Senior... stay tuned for details about the $1000 scholarship I will be announcing next week.

Atlanta Area Motosports Calendar

We have recently set up a Motorsports Calendar for Atlanta area events. Not only do we have big events like the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor speedway and the NHRA Nationals at Commerce, but we also have local SCCA events, as well as Legends races and other amateur events at various venues around town.

Here is a direct link to the calendar.

If you or your club host an event that you would like included, such as a competition event, show and shine or even a club meeting, please feel free to let us know. We'll happily post your event on our Atlanta area Motorsports Calendar.

Mud Bogs, Drags, Solos, etc. are all welcome to be posted.

We do ask that you send a short blurb about the event, which we will post, along with any relevant contact info, in a link from the calendar entry.

7000 SF Log Home on Lake Lanier

I've been wanting to post about this property for a LONG time. It isn't my listing, but I know the sellers, and it is a fabulous home for the right people.

If you are looking for a unique home on Lake Lanier, this might be it. It is a Hearthstone Log Home, with over 7000 square feet on three levels. It also has several acres and several hundred feet of corps line frontage. It is almost like having your own deep woods lodge on the lake. The dock is nestled into a private cove, and a gentle walk down from the house.

There are 5 bedroom and 5 baths. Not only is the master suite on the main, but there is a guest suite there as well. There is also a nice sitting area between the upstairs bedrooms. The sitting area overlooks the two story great room. Without a doubt, this is a stunning home and property.

It is only a few minutes from Gainesville, and convenient to the northern suburbs. It is quite close to Brown's Bridge.

The home is currently listed for $1,995,000.

If you are interested, please give me a call. As I mentioned, this isn't my listing, but I have been to the house a number of times. I know the sellers, and they had this home custom built and have maintained it to a level that will even amaze your home inspector.

DisneyWorld Bargain Strategy

OK, I've already told everyone that Moab, UT is my happy place. But, there is another place that I really enjoy with my family. DisneyWorld.

I will be the first person to admit that Walt Disney World (WDW) is not a cheap place to take the family for vacation, but that doesn't mean that one can't maximize their value from the experience. Although I'm certainly FAR from being a local, and there are plenty of people that have been there more than we have, I thouth I would pass along a few tips that we've picked up from our WDW travels. Although I don't want to turn this post into a link extravaganza, there will be a few more links coming.

Some of you might be familiar with the DVC or Disney Vacation Club. It is Disney's version of a timeshare. Even though we have thought about buying into it, we haven't, but that doesn't mean that we can't take advantage of it to get a better deal. The way we take advantage of it is to rent points from a DVC member. There is a resource called DISboards that is a great place to find point rental opportunities. DVC members buy points that they can use each year for Disney trips. If they have more points than they can use in a particular time frame, they can rent out those point to third parties. While the points can be used at almost every Disney resort, there are specific properties that are DVC Properties. A DVC member, or point renter will get a lot more bang for the buck at these resorts. Generally, the DVC resorts are on par with Disney's Luxury Resorts. In fact, several are on the same properties. Those are: Animal Kingdom Villas, Beach Club Villas, Boardwalk Villas, Wilderness Lodge Villas. There are also Old Key West and Saratoga Springs, which are primarily DVC properties. You might also notice that these are listed by Disney Travel as "Home away from Home" resorts. All of the DVC properties have a kitchen or kitchenette. Some of the larger ones also have their own laundry facilities, too. There are Studio, One Bedroom, Two Bedroom and Three Bedroom villas available.

But, where is the deal?

On our last trip, we stayed at the Boardwalk Villas. We were in a studio. We went during the Adventure Season, so the room was 9 points per night Sun-Thurs, and 20 points for Fri-Sat. We arrived on Sunday, and left on Saturday, so we used 65 points. We were able to find points for $8 each, so the room for the week was $520 for 6 nights. That averages out to under $87/night. At that time, they were offering Value Resorts (the All-Star Resorts) for $89/night, and the Moderate Resorts were $119/night. Luxury Resorts were starting at $179/night. Had we booked our room through Disney, it would have been $349/night. I think we did OK. Here is a point chart. Last night I ran across points for August for $6ea. That means that one could stay in the same room for $66/night Sun-Thurs, and $156/night Fri or Sat. The only difference that you will notice is that the rooms do not get daily maid service. If you are there less than 4 days, you won't have any maid service. If you are there longer, you will get a maid visit after each four days.

The next strategy is with tickets. If you plan on going again, you might look at No Expiration Tickets. They are a little more, but they are good forever. Additional days don't cost that much, so the more you buy, the cheaper it is per day. I also recommend the Park Hopper Tickets. we like to visit different parks at different times of the day... like the Japanese Pavilion in Epcot for a Sushi Dinner.

Speaking of food... there is a fairly new dining plan available. It only became available for DVC stays since our last visit. Basically, it allows each person to get One Sit Down Meal, One Counter Meal and One Snack per night of stay. They don't have to be used each day. It costs under $40/night/person to add on. While it seems kind of pricey, it isn't that bad compared to paying Disney prices for food, and the Sit Down meal can often be a Character Dining experience. Make reservations and maximize your dining dollars. And remember, the Disney Calories are FREE. I keep telling myself that... and I tend to walk about 15 miles per day while we are there.

Another GREAT source for info is AllEars. Wander around the web, and see what sort of deals you can find. The AllEars Newsletter often has ticket discounts that aren't otherwise available.

Enjoy.

Stone Mountain Park, Animal Planet Summer Adventure

If you haven't made it over to Stone Mountain Park lately, I would recommend a trip. This summer, through August 5th, they are hosting the Animal Planet Summer Adventure. It's pretty cool if you are into animals. My family is definitely an animal family. We packed up and made the seven minute trip (are we there yet?... yes) last Saturday.

Normally we try to avoid going there on the weekend, but because of the show schedules, to see what we wanted we needed to go on the weekend. There are some cool shows, so it was worth it. We saw the Hog Wild Revue (... yep, it's pigs... doing tricks), Animal Encounters (you get to ?pet? a few different types of animals, like an armadillo, snake, hedgehog, etc.), Extreme Parrots (talk about flying low over the seats... keep your mouth shut), and Wonders of Nature (the flying squirrel only performs at the 2:00 and 6:00 shows). We didn't see All the King's Horses, but we had been to Medieval Times a few weeks earlier, and they have a similar demonstration. We also took a lap around the mountain on the train, and took the Skyride to the top of the mountain.

We live pretty close, and manage to go to SMP every week or two, but normally it is to play on the playground, or walk around the mountain. My son also likes watching the DUKWs (pronounced ducks). He's three, but I like to watch them, too. Oddly, I'm a car guy and in 18 years living in the area I've never managed to get to the car museum at the park.

As a little extra info, you can buy the "All Attractions Pass" at Kroger for $20 + tax instead of $24 + tax at the park. Kids are $16 instead of $19 (+ tax on both). The Animal Planet Summer Adventure is included with the AAP.

Have fun!