Since every big city (and, unfortunately, small town) has a McBurger King and Starf*cks on every corner, we’ve decided to give you some cool and independent alternatives while staying in Atlanta and Decatur (or while visiting Athens). We’re gonna tell you where to go to get the local coffee, where to go thrift store shopping, where the mom and pop record stores are and of, course, direct you to the best lil’ feminist bookstore in town—basically everything that the AAA Tour Books don’t tell you. We even found you a great, centrally located, affordable hotel to stay!

So, sit back and check out the goods!

place to stay

The Highland Inn ~ 644 N Highland Ave ~ Atlanta, GA 30306

For reservations: (404) 874-5756
Reservation code word for the weekend of October 10-13: Ladyfest South

Located in the safe, residential neighborhood of Virginia Highlands section of the city (see more information about that below), affordable, comfortable rooms. Free, off street, parking. Within walking distance to most Ladyfest venues (5-10 minute drive to the rest), restaurants, coffee shops and a grocery store! The best thing is that they don’t mind if you share rooms--they won’t charge for extra people! Rooms are limited however (only about 45) so make your reservation now!

It's no secret that public transportation is lacking in Atlanta. But lucky for y'all, all of our events are on MARTA train and bus routes! We'll have schedule and route information available, but you can get the info now at the website.

We're also working on getting some cabbies available to get y'all around town. More details soon.

If you’re interested, Atlanta’s History is here.

Atlanta is basically broken up into residential neighborhoods and a downtown business/tourist district and can be an affordable place to visit if you know where to go. The neighborhoods we think you should check out are: Little Five Points, East Atlanta, Virginia Highlands, Decatur, Cabbagetown/Grant Park, Buckhead, and Midtown.
All have a distinct personality!

LITTLE FIVE POINTS

Young, hip, skaters, piercing, tattoos, cheap food, a natural foods CO-OP and permanent hangout for the local, um, characters. It’s indie culture at its finest.

Little Five Points Pizza
Savage Pizza (legendary local pizza)
Teaspace
La Fonda (fantastic paella)
Morrocan Palace
The Vortex (the best burgers)
El Myr

The Sevananda Co-op (vitamins, tofu, organic fruit and veggies, take out sandwiches and salads, bulk granola, dr. bronner’s soap, etc…)

Aurora (one of 3 locations) – just ignore the new Starbucks they installed 5 feet away! Ugh!

Criminal Records (zines and mags too!), Wax n Facts (vinyl and hard to find CDs), Satelitte Records (Lots of vinyl for spinnin’)

KITSCHY CLOTHES AND STUFF: Junkman’s Daughter (Atlanta's first choice for quirky gifts and funky fashions), Throb, Identified Flying Objects
VINTAGE: Stefan’s Clothing Warehouse, Psycho Sisters, Soul Kiss (jewelry & imports)
SHOES: Abbadabba’s (one of two Atlanta locations)
CAMPING GEAR: Mountain Ventures
NEW AGE: Crystal Blue (crystals, zodiac books, incense, chimes, etc) Coyote Trading Company (great Native American store with jewelry)

Charis, our beloved feminist bookstore! Make sure you stop in and say hi to Linda, Beth, Shari and all the great women who volunteer their time to keep Charis running. The best selection of women’s music, books, magazines, gifts and cards. We’ll also be holding workshops here.

PLUS--- 3 tattoo/piercing parlors, a skate shop, a flea market bazaar, a huge bicycle store, a mom and pop drug store, a post office, salon, and lots more…

LADYFEST LITTLE FIVE POINTS VENUES:

Variety Playhouse ~ 1099 Euclid Avenue ~ 404.524.7354

Charis Books ~ 1189 Euclid Avenue ~ 404.524.0304

Little 5 Points Community Center

7 Stages

VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS – PONCEY HIGHLANDS

College folks, artists, young families and the self employed. Lots of successful, sometimes upscale but mostly ALL independently owned businesses here (except for the friggin’ Starbucks they wedged in there…)!!

The Righteous Room (well named, great jukebox)
Surin (great thai)
Harry and Sons (best sushi in town)
Fellini’s (also legendary local pizza)
EATS (Cheap. Good. Food. Period.)
Tortillas (burritos as big as your head for $3.00)
Mambo’s (cuban)
Highland Bagel
Java Jive (yummy brunch)
Dark Horse Tavern
Soul Vegetarian (vegan collard greens, black eyed peas, soy ice cream, whole grain veggie burgers)
Doc Chey’s Noodle House
La Tavola (great italian)
The Majestic Diner (they finally cleaned the grill!)
Ben & Jerry's
Market One (cutsie food market)
Kroger (grocery store)

San Francisco Coffee Company (2 of 3 locations in Virginia Highlands!)
Aurora Coffee (another one of 3 locations)

Corner Compact Disc

CLOTHES: Bill Hallman (designer, trendy, club clothes), Joker’s Wild
GIFTS: Metropolitan Deluxe, Back To Square One (folk art & garden stuff), Planetarian (wonderful jewelry, great clothes, beautiful antique imports)
MISC.: Key Lime Pie (Aveda products), Wired & Fired (paint-your-own pottery)

PLUS--- two indie hardware stores, a tobacco store, art galleries, a liquor store, flower shops, an art film/independent film movie theater, a feminist strip club, a laundrymat, a day spa and two salons...

LADYFEST VIRGNIA HIGHLANDS VENUES:

Blind Willie’s ~ 828 N. Highland Ave NE ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.873.2583

San Francisco Coffee ~ 1192 N. Highland Ave NE ~ 404.876.8816

Right Brain Gallery ~ 664 N. Highland Ave ~ 404.872.2696

DECATUR

A residential mix of young and old families, musicians/artists, independent business owners, and artistic folks!

coffee

Eddie's Attic (food & music)
Raging Burrito (cheap, fat burritos full of good stuff like cajun shrimp, tofu, broccoli, squash, and of course beans and cheese)
Watershed (owned by Emily Sailers of the Indigo Girls)
Cafe Lily
Levi's Keywest Fishouse
Johnny's New York Style Pizza
Crescent Moon
Our Way Cafe (damn good southern cookin')

Javamonkey
San Francisco Coffee Company

CD store

CLOTHES:Squash Blossom Boutique
GIFTS & ART: Square Roots (folk art), That Pottery Place (paint-your-own pottery), Dragonfly Gallery, Domestic Instincts, Rue de Leon, So Rare (great 2nd hand place)
MISC.: Gardentopia, Jaunt Salon & Day Spa

PLUS--- an indie hardware store, Gazebo & outdoor seating/hangout area in downtown, several parks, and lots of art galleries.

LADYFEST DECATUR VENUES:

Java monkey~ 205 East Ponce De Leon Avenue ~ Decatur GA ~ 404.378.5002

Sweet Melissa's~ 127 East Court Square ~ Decatur GA ~ 404.370.1111

Azul~ 141 Sycamore St. ~ Decatur GA ~ 404.373.3311

Raging Burrito~ 141 Sycamore Street ~ Decatur GA ~ 404.377.3311

EAST ATLANTA

A residential mix of artistic people and families.

coffee

coming soon..

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PLUS.. more coming soon..

LADYFEST EAST ATLANTA VENUES:

The Echo Lounge~ 551 Flat Shoals Ave SE ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.681.3600

The Earl~ 488 Flat Shoals Ave SE ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.522.3950

Sacred Grounds Coffee~ 508 Flat Shoals Avenue SE ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.584.2253

Mary's~ 1287 Glenwood Ave ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.624.4411

Fountainhead~ 485 Flat Shaols Ave SE ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.522.7841

Earthshaking Music~ 1287 Glenwood Avenue SE ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.622.0707

Grant Park/Cabbagetown

An upscale neighborhood...

coffee

coming soon..

coming soon..

coming soon..

coming soon..

PLUS.. more coming soon..

LADYFEST GRANT PARK/CABBAGETOWN VENUES:

MIDTOWN

A gay-friendly neighborhood right in the heart of the city.

coffee

Red Chair, Flying Biscuit (just like the one in Candler Park- yummy biscuits), R.Thomas Deluxe Grill, Cafe Sunflower

Aurora Coffee, Java Jive

Ed's Gourmet Records

New York Village, Intaglia, Ichiyo Arts Center, Earwax Records, Funk Shop

PLUS.. Outwrite Bookstore- the South's premiere gay and lesbian community bookstore

LADYFEST MIDTOWN VENUES:

Red Light Cafe~ 553 Am sterdam Ave. ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.874.7828

Red Chair~ 550-C Amsterdam Ave ~ Atlanta GA ~ 404.870.0532

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