Atlanta, Georgia

Monday is the first day of the closing of Techwood Drive between Tenth and Sixteenth streets as part of the Fourteenth Street Bridge project. Even though GDOT and everyone else has been alerting the public for about a year, don't be surprised if there is a huge traffic backup heading south onto the connector. Even if you're not trying to get to upper Midtown, the resulting mess will keep you from getting through easily to your destination in lower Midtown, Downtown, or beyond. Hopefully in time people will start using the alternate routes or switch to transit, carpooling, or some other way of getting to work.

I received at least two dozen emails at work over the past few months warning of the closure but you can bet that most people are going to hope everyone else makes the changes to their driving habits and that it doesn't affect them. We'll see how well that works out.

Can anyone explain what the huge black cloud was over on the west side this morning? It seemed like it was on 20 just west of 285.

So I just moved to the downtown Decatur area.  I turned on my laptop and saw I had a few wireless internet connections available.  I clicked on my internet browser... and this page popped up.

Decatur Wi-Fi? Looked more into it...  and found this page which talks a little more about it and answers more questions.

And here's a more "official" article thing I found on the City of Decatur Web site (I also pasted it behind the cut).

So, I'm guessing this is VERY new (since the Decatur site says it became "live" this month) and I'm guessing that not many people are doing it yet...?

I'm thinking about doing it, because we haven't hooked our cable and internet up yet and this is VERY cheap compared to everything else I've been looking at.

Is anyone else doing this or thinking about it?  

I'm just wondering if the connection will be good where I live.  I know there's a little map that shows the "hot spots" or whatever, but since I'm dumb and new to this particular area I can't really tell where exactly I'm located on the map.  But since this site popped up when I got online, lol, then I'm guessing I'll get an alright connection? I'm probably gonna try the "2 hours free" thing first and see how that goes.

Yesterday, there were world wide organized mass protests against the Church of Scientology including one in Dunwoody.

The reason I bring this up I found the police presence interesting.

http://picasaweb.google.com/V4KK4R/ScientologyProtest2102008

The story WSB did on the protests yesterday - http://youtube.com/watch?v=TqEf8rcPv9M

Putting aside the reasons for protesting, is 10 - 20 riot cops and a police helicopter circling for several hours the standard reaction to a protest that had 50 - 100 people (depending on who you ask)?

Has anyone ever been to the Faded Rose Tea Garden and Restaurant? I'm thinking about having my bridesmaids' luncheon there, and can't find very many reviews online. Of course I plan on trying it out beforehand, but I'd love to hear what other people think about the place. Thanks! ♥

Pictures of the artwork from Bathory/Pollinate/Lexicon are up on MINT's flickr. Check, check, check it out and give us a holler if you see something you want to purchase.

www.flickr.com/photos/mintgallery

I'm sure you've heard this before, no?

My husband and I are going to North Carolina for a week in mid-July but want to stop in Atlanta for a day or two first on the way.
We want to do touristy stuff, and are considering things like the City Pass but have heard mixed reviews on some of the attractions it's good for.
We're dorky but not into history.
We don't drink and want to stay within a central location since it's only going to be a day or two.
We'd also love some hotel and restaurant recommendations (I'm vegetarian, so no steakhouses :D), please!
Trip Advisor has been somewhat helpful, but I'd like some people actually from Atlanta to help!

So far I'm pretty sure we want to check out the zoo and the aquarium. 

Does anyone know of a bank or credit union that has a self-service coin counter, or will accept unrolled coins for deposit?  I'm contemplating a switch (from Suntrust) and this is something I'd like to consider in my decision.

There's a website out there with a list, but it hasn't been updated since 2004.

I'm not from Atlanta. I'm a law student who will be in Atlanta from May through July and would like to find a sublet somewhere close to the Arts Center.

1) Any help?

2) I see some people subleasing out space at "The Flats" in Atlantic Station. Any thoughts on this place?


Thanks.

Once again there is an attempt being made to allow citizens to decide for themselves if their community should permit alcohol to be purchased at stores on Sundays. According to an article in the AJC, the big block from this bill even getting to be voted on by the legislature is Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.

"At this time, there simply has not been any kind of broad expression of support for a vote on Sunday sales this year from Senate members or from the citizens of our state," said his spokeswoman, Jaillene Hunter.

Since it is word from the public that they want this bill to be passed so we can decide for ourselves is what he feels is lacking, please take a moment to contact the Lt. Governor and let him (well, his staffers that he is insulated behind) know that you feel it is important.

Note that this bill does not force any community to allow Sunday alcohol sales, it only gives the community the ability to put it to a vote so the citizens can decide for themselves instead of having the state prohibit it.

Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Administrative Staff
240 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
TEL: (404) 656-5030
FAX: (404) 656-6739
Email via webform: http://ltgov.georgia.gov/00/ltgov/contact_us/0,2688,2199618_87997337,00.html