Atlanta: Capital of the South

By Jennifer Garrett and Kristi Casey Sanders

Watch for:

The Georgia Aquarium will undergo a $110 million expansion to add an interactive dolphin exhibit, scheduled to open in winter 2010.
The Sheraton Gateway Atlanta Airport Hotel completed a $6 million renovation to add corporate- friendly amenities such as wireless Internet, expansive ballrooms and LCD technology.
W Midtown Atlanta opened with 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a Bliss Spa, a Whiskey Park nightclub and Spice Market restaurant.
The Sheraton Atlanta became 100 percent smoke-free, deep-cleaning soft goods, surfaces and air conditioning units to remove allergens from former smoking rooms.
Construction plans for a new, $1.6 billion international terminal has been approved by the Atlanta City Council. The terminal is projected to open in three years with 12 new gates, a new parking garage and a dedicated exit off I-75.
A new 360-room Hilton may be coming to Buckhead. Details to come…
Planners now can take a virtual tour of Turner Field’s 755 Club.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar is offering free video conferencing for meetings until August 2008.
The Mansion on Peachtree, a Rosewood Hotel and Residence has opened NEO, a new upscale Italian restaurant. Giuseppe Napoli was named chef de cuisine.
A 242-room Hilton Garden Inn opened near World of Coke and the Georgia Aquarium.
A 26-story St. Regis Hotel is scheduled to open in spring 2009 with 150 guest rooms and a 9,200-sq.ft. ballroom.
The W Buckhead Hotel is scheduled to open in October 2008 with 291 guest rooms and 7,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights is scheduled to open in 2010 with exhibits on the contributions of Georgians to the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Meeting space for corporate and educational events will be available.
AmericasMart is undergoing a 70,000-sq. ft. expansion to add a two-story ballroom and event facility by fall 2008.
The Atlanta Marriott Marquis just completed a $138 million renovation. Upgrades include a new 25,000 sq. ft. ballroom, new meeting and breakout rooms,160,000 square feet of renovated meeting space, and a pool deck with a retractable deck that can hold up to 100 people reception-style.
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is undergoing a “green” expansion plan to add new gardens and amenities to be complete by 2010. Changes include a new LEED certified visitor center with a green roof, a 95,000-gallon cistern to aid in water conservation, a canopy walk and an edible garden.
The Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel Conference Center, formerly the Buckhead Hotel Atlanta, opened 150 of its renovated rooms, featuring Marriott Revive bedding, reading lights, sofa sleepers and complimentary WiFi. The terrace level meeting space has 6,000 square feet of new meeting space including board rooms, a junior ballroom, break outs and a business center.
An InterContinental Hotel is scheduled to open as part of the 1400 Peachtree project in 2010.
Fado Irish Pub now has an Event Planning Service led by Event Manager Kim Rector.

Downtown

Want to meet green?

The new World of Coca-Cola is a U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold-certified facility; venues include the 160,000-sq. ft. Green Space, a tasting room, a banquet area and a theater. Theatrical Outfit’s Balzer Theater at Herren’s is a LEED Silver-certified building with a 199-seat theater, dressing and green rooms, prefunction space and a rehearsal hall available for rentals. Elite Green Car Atlanta is Atlanta’s only eco-friendly chauffeured transportation company; its fuel-efficient, ultra-low emission fleet includes luxury hybrid vehicles. The Georgia World Congress Center is working to reduce energy use by 20 percent and landfill waste by 80 percent in order to become LEED-certified. For a list of best practices and recommended service providers, visit AtlantaGreenMeetings.com.

Want creative venues?

Centennial Olympic Park has many special facilities within walking distance of the Georgia World Congress Center and AmericasMart. The Tabernacle was built in 1911 as a Baptist church and has been converted into a concert hall; it can accommodate up to 1,500 people for meetings, banquets or special events. The ballroom at the Georgia Aquarium has beluga whale and aquarium viewing panels; specialty drinks and décor to emphasize aquatic themes also are available. CNN Center tours of the 24-hour news network’s headquarters are one of the top convention attractions; planners can create “Prime Time Events” in its Control Room Theater, atrium, terrace or 50-ft. globe. Centennial Olympic Park can host private outdoor events and concerts. Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta has interactive gallery space for receptions and private events.

Want group dining?

Several downtown restaurants have private dining facilities. No Más! Cantina has a stunning patio with fountains and lush greenery, and serves wicked margaritas and tasty upscale Mexican food in the middle of the historic Castleberry Hill district. STATS, a sports-themed venture from Concentrics Restaurants, offers multiple spaces including the living room-style Fight Room, the spacious Adidas Room and a rooftop deck with a retractable awning. Ruth’s Chris is a first-rate steakhouse by Centennial Park. Luckie Food Lounge, housed in a former auto parts warehouse, combines club chic with nouvelle American cuisine, and is within walking distance of the Rialto and Balzer theaters. FAB is an atmospheric French-American brasserie with indoor/outdoor dining areas. Convention dining staples include Hsu’s, McCormick and Schmick’s, Dailey’s Downtown, which has a downstairs jazz café, and the “Gone With the Wind”-themed Pittypat’s Porch (considered to have the best mint juleps in town).

Want to pamper attendees?

Spa Sydell (multiple Atlanta locations) offers mobile spa services that can bring an oasis of calm to meetings and tradeshow floors. Each spa location has a corporate accounts manager to put together on-site spa day escapes and spa parties. Two penthouse-level hotel restaurants — Nikolai’s Roof and the Sundial — have stellar views and world-class cuisine. Nikolai’s specializes in Russian-Continental dishes. The Sundial serves contemporary American in a revolving dining room.

Want catering and design services?

Chef Eric Catering & Events‘ head chef Eric LeVine was named the International Caterers Association’s 2008 Chef of the Year; hallmarks of his work include bite-sized dishes and inventive presentations. Tony Conway’s A Legendary Event was the recipient of a 2008 Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence (CATIE) Award from the International Caterers Association; the company provides event design and florals as well as full-service catering services. Fabulous Creations Catering is a family-run business that also operates a full-service special events facility in Dunwoody; custom corporate, reception and kosher menus are available. EventScapes specializes in floral and event design for corporate and social events. Other recommended full-service caterers include Bold American Catering, which operates a special events facility at King Plow Arts Center, and Affairs to Remember, which has an impressive showroom on Defoor Hills Road.

Want to meet in a place with history?

Sweet Auburn was once the richest black neighborhood in the world; today, it is best known as the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who preached at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. The National Park Service, in partnership with the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the King Center, operate several facilities within the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, including the outdoor Peace Plaza, gallery space and Firestation No. 6. Much of the original city center of Atlanta was paved over and preserved as Underground Atlanta, now a collection of shops, nightclubs with event space and restaurants. The Event Loft at Underground Atlanta is an upscale venue with a dance floor, a balcony overlooking Underground’s Kenny’s Alley and an exterior veranda with a view of the downtown skyline.

Want artistic settings?

Monthly Castleberry Hill Art Strolls wind through Atlanta’s top avant-garde galleries; create a dine-around or progressive event through the neighborhood’s funky restaurants and alternative art spaces. Turner First Thursdays spotlight Downtown galleries; many strolls end with cocktails in the Sun Dial’s stunning revolving bar. The Rialto Center for the Performing Arts, the Ferst Center for the Arts and the Balzer Theater at Herren’s host world-class productions from local and international troupes, and are available for private functions.

Want sports-themed events?

Turner Field offers meeting and event space year-round in its spacious 755 Club, which has exhibit space, private banquet areas, VIP seating and a bar. It offers some of the best seats in the house on game days. Group tours of the Braves locker room and stadium, and access to the interactive Scout’s Alley and Braves Museum also are available. Burgess Amusements has an impressive inventory of virtual reality simulators ranging from alpine skiing to racing to golf, carnival games, inflatable team-building equipment and Brooks Lake, a facility for outdoor corporate events 25 miles east of Atlanta. Create a sports bar anywhere with PortaParty, a portable hospitality venue available for corporate shows and special events.

Want to meet somewhere wild?

Lions and tigers and panda bears, oh my! Zoo Atlanta encourages groups to go wild with meeting packages that include scavenger hunts, animal encounters and “zoofari” tours. Zoo Atlanta also offers team-building programs through Drum Café Atlanta and catering through Culinary Sol. Trader Vic’s can create Tongo Hiti parties featuring entertainment from the phenomenally talented crooner Mike Geier and Dames A’Flame burlesque dancers.

Southside/Airport

What you should know…

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world’s busiest passenger airport, and a 10-year, $5.4 billion development program to modernize and expand facilities is underway. Nearly 80 percent of the U.S. population can fly in to Atlanta in two hours or less.

What will surprise you…

Sophisticated convention facilities are available at the Georgia International Convention Center and the Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree (formerly the Aberdeen Woods Conference Center). Convention hotels include Westin, Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Sheraton and Renaissance properties.

Want to break out of the boardroom?

Bring your group to Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree’s secluded 40-acre campus. Residential-style accommodations and meeting rooms with natural lighting are the tip of the iceberg. Other amenities include common areas for networking and team building, 90 miles of paved hiking/biking paths, Canongate Championship golf courses, evening entertainment and lakeside dining.

Want Southern-themed events?

The Historic Green Manor in Union City is a plantation home with indoor banquet/reception space and outdoor event space surrounded by azaleas, magnolias, pecans, pansies and camellias.

Want group dining?

The Pecan serves Southern fusion cuisine at its Main Street location and can cater off-site events. The restaurant is available for private dining on Mondays, Sunday nights and Saturday afternoons. The Feed Store offers group dining and catering for groups of up to 250. Spondivits serves seafood and steaks in a casual, family friendly atmosphere. Ted’s Montana Grill is the brainchild of local icon Ted Turner; menus feature blue-plate classics, and all-natural beef, bison and chicken.

Want to rev things up?

Rent out the track or road course at Atlanta Motor Speedway for a team-building adventure. Meeting and banquet rooms also are available.

Midtown

What you should know…

Atlanta’s cultural center is in Midtown, home to the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre, Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the breathtaking Fox Theatre and the world-renowned High Museum of Art. A flurry of development has added retail and dining districts in the form of Atlantic Station and the in-development Midtown Mile, a stretch of high-end designer shopping, comparable to Chicago’s Magnificent Mile or New York’s Madison Avenue, scheduled to open in 2012.

Want to put attendees in touch with nature?

Roll out the green carpet for attendees at The Atlanta Botanical Garden, which has several venues, including Day Hall (capacity: 500), Mershon Hall (capacity: 100) and the Georgia-Pacific Classroom (capacity: 50). Outdoor banquet space and eco-friendly catering options also are available. Piedmont Park has a lakeside gazebo, spacious lawns, softball fields, jungle gyms and indoor/outdoor event space within walking distance to hotels such as the new W Midtown and the The Four Seasons .

Want to pamper attendees?

The most anticipated new property is the W Hotel-Midtown with its Bliss spa and chic Whiskey Park lounge. The Four Seasons offers luxurious accommodations and meeting space. For an elegant dining experience, take groups to Veni Vedi Vici, which serves seasonal Italian dishes and hand-made pastas. The Atlanta Event Center at Opera is one of the hottest special event facilities in town; the 1920s opera house-cum-dance club has a dramatic main lounge/dance floor area flanked by balconies, a patio and other gathering areas.

Want to roll out the red carpet?

The historic Georgian Terrace Hotel has seen the likes of Calvin Coolidge, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Clark Gable; amenities include grand ballrooms, banquet halls, patio dining and multi-bedroom suites. Across the street is Atlanta’s theatrical treasure, The Fox Theatre, an atmospheric theater with a private stairway to its Egyptian Ballroom and Grand Salon event spaces, and an expansive marble entryway to its 5,600-seat theater. Inside the auditorium, designed to resemble a Moorish castle courtyard, stars twinkle and clouds swirl by; tours are available.

Want to surround your group with culture?

The High Museum is halfway through a groundbreaking three-year partnership with Paris’ Museé du Louvre, displaying treasures from the Louvre’s collection of antiquities. Dramatic gallery, lobby and atrium spaces, designed by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano, are popular venues for banquets and receptions. Other venues include theater and classroom space.

Want group dining?

Concentrics Restaurants, the group behind hot midtown restaurants One.Midtown Kitchen, Two.Urban Licks, Trois and Tap, have private dining areas at each location. Atlantic Station restaurants, such as Geisha House, Fox Sports Grill and Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro, can accommodate large groups. Shout, by the Woodruff Arts Center, is a popular local hangout with a hopping patio. Also, check out the stretch of restaurants and clubs along Crescent Avenue (South City Kitchen, Sutra Lounge, Fuego) and Juniper Avenue (Mitra, Avra Greek Tavern). For fine Asian cuisine, check out Nan and Silk.

Westside

What you should know…

The neighborhood west of midtown is known as the Westside. Once an industrial park, it now is home to artist studios; boutique shops; outlet furniture, design and clothing stores; and restaurants like JCT and Bacchanalia, which have garnered national attention. Event spaces are a quick shuttle ride (5-7 minutes) from downtown and midtown hotels.

Want to break out of the boardroom?

The Defoor Centre has a café/bar, a book market, art exhibits, and multiple meeting and event venues (Forum, Gatsby Room, Rhombus Room and Executive Board Room). The Forum is an octagonal gallery space with 30-ft. ceilings and a stage; the Gatsby Room can be configured for seminars, meetings or receptions; the Rhombus Room has a dedicated bar and is configured for networking and breakout sessions; and the Executive Board Room has seating for 10. Atlanta Contemporary Art (also called The Contemporary) has gallery space, artist studios, a lobby reception area, classroom space, a 5,000-sq. ft. courtyard and a 3,500-sq. ft. courtyard.

Want to meet in a place with history?

The King Plow Arts Center is a renovated plow factory that now houses several special facilities, including The View, a tri-level, 5,000-sq. ft. space; The Event Gallery, an art gallery/banquet area operated by Bold American Catering; and Actor’s Express, the city’s premier cutting-edge theater. The Foundry at Puritan Mill used to be a storehouse for Puritan soap and cleaning products; today, it’s a multi-use facility accommodating up to 1,200 people reception-style and 800 people for a seated banquet.

Want spousal activities?

Create a shopping tour. Clothes boutiques include Demure Clothing, Sprout, Sid Mashburn and G. Gilbert, and Atlantic Station is nearby. This is a great area to explore home décor and antiques at shops such as 14th St. Antiques Market, The Big Chandelier, IKEA, Savvy Snoot and Retromodern. Art galleries include the Watson Gallery, O’Karma Gallery, The Contemporary and Abstein Gallery. Among the winding streets of the Chattahoochee Industrial District are cavernous warehouses devoted to imported goods, Oriental rugs, discount clothing and shoes, and other specialty items.

Buckhead

What you should know…

Buckhead is synonymous with luxury dining, shopping and four-star accommodations. The old Buckhead Village is gone. In its place, will be Streets of Buckhead, a row of Rodeo Drive-style boutiques, boutique hotels and residences, expected to open in fall 2009. The buc is a free shuttle connecting Buckhead’s malls, hotels and MARTA stations.

Want to shake up a meal function?

Sports-themed restaurant ESPNZone has several meeting spaces, including the Screening Room, which has 12 monitors and leather recliners; the Sports Grill, which has room for receptions of 300; private, semi-private and patio dining spaces; the Sports Arena, which has more than 10,000 interactive games for team building and entertainment; and a VIP dining/viewing area. Get things shaking with dinner at the exotic Imperial Fez, which has nightly bellydancing shows, or sexy sister restaurant Ibiza, which has nightly flamenco shows and private curtained-off booths (Janet Jackson is a big fan). Create a teambuilding cooking experience or a progressive dinner at the Insperience Studio, a Whirlpool showroom with multiple kitchen set-ups and a small exhibit/reception area.

Want to meet in a place with history?

Built in 1904, Rhodes Hall is literally a castle on Peachtree Street. The first floor of the mansion can be set up for special events, receptions or meetings, and outdoor event space is available. The Atlanta History Center has multiple options for meeting space, including two historic homes, a grand ballroom, theaters, gallery space and classrooms.

Want spa packages?

Spa Sydell has gentlemen’s services, and can either arrange on-site corporate spa parties or bring a mobile spa to hotels and events. The Spa on Paces has been pampering Atlantans for more than 10 years. Entebello is a full-service spa and apothecary with group programs and a men-only floor with special services, such as a hot shave.

Want group dining?

The Buckhead Life Restaurant Group is known for its excellent food and service; restaurants include dedicated special events facility 103 West (Continental), Pano’s and Paul’s (Continental), Buckhead Diner (American), Kyma (Greek), Bluepointe (Asian fusion/sushi), Atlanta Fish Market (seafood), Pricci (Italian), Chops (steaks) and Nava (Southwestern). Ruth’s Chris Steak House is less than a mile from Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, and has a private dining room for 150. Brio Tuscan Grille has private rooms and patio space, and serves Tuscan-style Italian cuisine. Fadó is an Irish pub and restaurant with several themed dining areas and a rooftop patio. Other Buckhead favorites include Restaurant Eugene and Joël.

Want spousal programs?

Buckhead is home to two of the best malls in the Southeast (Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza), which sit kitty-corner from each other; 40 percent of the malls’ shoppers travel more than 100 miles to get there. Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus anchor Lenox Square; shops include Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade. Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue anchor Phipps Plaza; stores include Versace and Armani. The free buc (Buckhead Uptown Connection) shuttle runs between the two malls regularly, and the surrounding area is home to several upscale boutiques like Sebastian’s Closet and Y3.

Little Five Points and Inman Park

What you should know…

These two, eclectic neighborhoods are slightly east of Atlanta. Little Five Points is home to funky boutiques, live music clubs, theaters and casual eateries. Inman Park is its grown-up, slightly more sophisticated sibling, with high-end restaurants and new residential and retail spaces. The area also is connected by the PATH bicycle trail to midtown and Stone Mountain, and has green space in the form of several parks.

Want to meet in a place with history?

Known for hosting leaders and speakers from around the world, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Center and Museum has flexible indoor/outdoor meeting and event space in venues ranging from an executive boardroom and a theater to a Japanese garden. Jimmy Carter likes to attend events if he’s in town.

Want group dining?

Chef Kevin Rathbun operates three stellar restaurants in the renovated Stoveworks factory building on Krog Street. Rathbun’s Restaurant has a private dining/reception space in its Wine Room (capacity: 40 seated), patio (capacity: 65 seated) and lobby (capacity: 75 seated). The Krog Bar is known for its tapas and wine selections; groups may buy out the entire restaurant. Kevin Rathbun Steak has private dining in its Cookbook Library, a 100-year-old renovated wine cellar, and its banquet room (capacity: 20 seated). Wisteria serves Southern fusion cuisine and can accommodate groups of up to 120 people. More casual dining options are available at the Vortex Bar & Grill, Italian restaurants Sotto Sotto and Fritti, soul food legend Son’s Place, and the Flying Biscuit Café, famous for its all-day breakfast menu. Looking for something a little different? Il Localino brings a bit of Little Italy to Atlanta; diners are given hats to wear and treated to spontaneous opera singing, Italian dinner music and disco lights (the food’s good, too).

Want to team build?

Dad’s Garage has a full roster of home shows ranging from puppet slams to B-movie musicals to improvised comedy and children’s shows. Its team of improvisers also travels to lead custom corporate shows, private classes and team-building workshops.

Want to break out of the boardroom?

Horizon Theatre produces high-quality work and can help planners create pre- or post-show receptions and post-show discussions with the artists. Variety Playhouse, a combination theater and nightclub, can be rented for a show, meeting or special event. 7 Stages, Atlanta’s premier international theater, has a mainstage and back stage theater available for private group functions.

Virginia-Highland

What you should know…

Seven districts make up this neighborhood named for the central intersection of Virginia and Highland avenues. Famed for its trendy boutiques, charming cafes, innovative restaurants and eclectic mix of specialty shops, Virginia-Highland is a $5 cab ride from downtown and down the street from Little Five Points.

Want group dining?

Private dining is available at Eclipse di Sol and Food 101. Pura Vida, Surin of Thailand and Vine all offer customizable menus for private group functions.

Want to be surrounded by the arts?

One of the most photographed locations in Atlanta, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is a Gothic-Tudor style mansion built in the 1920s. In addition to regular music and dance concerts, the mansion has indoor and outdoor event space, educational arts programs and classroom space.

Decatur

What you should know…

Located 15 minutes from downtown, Decatur is its own city, with an arty, intellectual vibe. Home to Emory University, the Columbia Theological Seminary and Agnes Scott College, Decatur is a center of research and a good source for educational speakers and seminar leaders. The highest concentration of shops and dining is clustered around the stunning Decatur Square, home to many outdoor events.

Want to meet in a place with history?

The historic 1898 Old Courthouse has space for private events in its Old Superior Courtroom, Harrison Room and lobby; pre- or post-function events can spill out onto the Decatur Square. Depeaux, a lively Cajun and Creole restaurant with two dining areas, is housed in a historic train depot. Green planners note: The restaurant offsets its carbon footprint with the purchase of renewable wind energy credits.

Want to break out of the boardroom?

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History has several venues, including a private banquet room, a patio, a dramatic atrium (complete with dinosaur skeleton), an IMAX theater and the Star Gallery, an oval room with a fiber-optic ceiling displaying the constellations. The Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University has the largest collection of ancient art in the Southeast, including objects ranging from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome to the Americas; meeting/event facilities include a reception hall, café space and a 30-person boardroom.

Want group dining?

Twain’s Billiards & Tap has two pool table areas, darts, shuffleboard and a menu of beers brewed on-site. Sage on Sycamore is an upscale yet casual restaurant with a private dining room for 50 on Decatur Square. Watershed, helmed by Chef Scott Peacock and a favorite of the Indigo Girls, can create custom wine dinners for groups. Wahoo! Grill has a tented and climate-controlled patio that can accommodate up to 200 guests. By Emory, Floataway Café serves fresh, seasonal cuisine with French, Mediterranean and Italian accents. Dusty’s BBQ can cater off-site functions.

Additional reporting on Atlanta sections provided by Jennifer Garrett.

Plan Your Meetings