Tag Archive for: downtown atlanta

GLENN HOTEL ATLANTA

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/22/24

Glenn Hotel Atlanta, where there is a lion in every southern heart.  This stunning, ornate boutique hotel began as a 1920s landmark that is “guarded” by 39 lions atop the building. To pay homage, lion artwork is prevalent throughout the entire space from the lobby, in the elevator, and even in the rooms! Warm, inviting, casual yet charming, opulent, manicured while lavish, The Glenn Hotel is an oasis in the heart of downtown and where everyone is welcome. It’s the perfect place for a vacation, staycation, or even a weekender! As the elevator says when you get to the 10th floor, “wow!” 

Lobby Area 

You’re greeted in the lobby with Glenn art deco tilework on the ground and follow it to the left to the large, sweeping bar filled with touches of metal, green velvet, and opulent marble. There is a lounge area around it filled with velvet chairs, booths and a large couch. If you come in from the valet area, you’ll immediately see a beautiful bookcase filled with books, “there is a lion in every southern heart” sign to the right, and to the left the check-in. The check-in just as beautiful with hints of marble, lion artwork, and modern metal. It all ties together into a medley of modern and sleek without overpowering the character and charm of the traditional elements of the building. Did you know that the Glenn Hotel Atlanta was built as an office in 1923 and was named for a former Atlanta Mayor? 

The Room 

THE PENTHOUSE! Not only is it extravagant, but it’s also functional and calming. Inside you’re greeted with a desk and a powder room, yes, a second bathroom! Beyond that you walk into the living space with a large blue velvet couch and round dining table, functional and stylish! In the bedroom suite, the bathroom and bedroom meld into one breathtaking room. Dual vanities, sauna and spa like shower, while the restroom has its own “room” with fun animal print wallpaper. Standing out is the soaker tub positioned in the middle of the room only separated from the bed with a glass wall. On the other side of the glass wall, the large, king bed is gorgeously flanked by two glowing pendant lights and right in the middle of a green accent wall adorned with a gold and black lion mirror. WOW! Plus, throw open all the drapes, because you can’t skip the view! Being on the corner you have the same view as the Skylounge the floor above you, with 180 views or more from Mercedes Benz stadium all the way over to the Westin. 

Glenn’s Kitchen, onsite dining room 

Located in the lobby of the Glenn Hotel Atlanta, it’s a downtown Atlanta destination for sensational dishes like this char-grilled salmon! Light and slightly charred salmon cooked perfectly atop a bright, lemon, creamy risotto that brings out the savory salmon flavor wonderfully! Then, they amped up the flavor with tangy pickled onions to mix in. We paired it with the bright, herbaceous Garden in the sky cocktail filled with cool cucumber and tangy mint. 

Some of our other favorite dishes start with the starters like the Deviled Eggs and Jalapeno Hushpuppies. The Deviled eggs are sharp and tangy, a tasty spicy, sweet savory bacon jam on top. Yum! Speaking of spicy, the Jalapeño hushpuppies start out sweet with corn and honey, then the spicy jalapeño kicks in for a balanced bite! The spicy dipping sauce is icing into her cake. We paired this with Glenn’s Old fashioned a traditional cocktail yet that is boozy and a slight sweetness for balance. 

We also tried one of their salads, the Ahi Tuna Salad, and a handheld, the Short Rib sandwich. The Short rib sandwich is meaty and tender short rib paired with a spicy and creamy horseradish aioli, finished off with slaw on a crunchy ciabatta roll. And the Ahi Tuna Salad is savory and seasoned ahi tuna with a bright spring salad, tangy dressing, and creamy avocado. 

SkyLounge Atlanta: Rooftop Bar at the Glenn Hotel 

Take the special elevator up to the rooftop where you’ll find SkyLounge Atlanta! It is a rooftop oasis with some of the best views of downtown Atlanta. Plus, they have light bites like hummus and fun cocktails, like the Centennial, to celebrate the Glenn building’s 100-year anniversary! The view is a must see! 

FIVE WAYS WORLD OF COCA-COLA IS LIGHTING UP DOWNTOWN ATLANTA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/29/22

The holidays are officially upon us, and today, World of Coca-Cola is kicking off the season by announcing the launch of its annual holiday celebration. Now through early 2023, the Atlanta attraction invites friends and families to experience holiday magic and make memories to last a lifetime with larger-than-life decorations, festive family photo opportunities, seasonal beverages and more. In addition, the iconic Coca-Cola Caravan will visit World of Coca-Cola on Dec. 10 to spread holiday joy over shared experiences and moments of magic.

“Each year, we look forward to bringing people together to make memories and celebrate the holidays with us,” said Christophe Lair, Senior Director Retail Operations and Administration. “Coca-Cola has been a part of seasonal celebrations around the world for generations, and World of Coca-Cola has become a must-visit destination and annual tradition for Atlantans and visitors alike looking to experience the magic of the holiday season.”

To make the most of every magic moment, don’t miss these five festive experiences, including:

  1. Get an Insta-worthy photo with the Coca-Cola Caravan: Since lighting up the small screen in a TV ad that first aired in the mid-1990s, the Coca-Cola Caravan has signaled the start of the festive season for nearly three decades. On Dec. 10 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., the Caravan will park outside World of Coke for a fun-filled day of holiday celebrations. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and former Atlanta Falcons football players DJ Shockley and Harry Douglas will welcome attendees, and guests will enjoy photo ops, festive games and more.
  1. Enjoy Holiday Décor Galore: Throughout World of Coca-Cola and outside on the green, guests are surrounded by trees aglow with thousands of twinkling lights and giant decorative ornaments, setting the scene for guests to take and share photos of their time together. Inside, enormous Coca-Cola bottles deck the halls, merry tunes keep spirits bright and festive surprises are around every corner. A special exhibit, “Coca-Cola Christmas around the World,” features historic, holiday-themed Coca-Cola artifacts that celebrate the season.  
  1. Sip Exclusive Seasonal Samplings: Year-round, the Taste It! beverage experience features selections from different countries around the world, but during the holiday season, it also includes curated seasonal samplings. This year, the exhibit is offering custom limited time Freestyle mixes such as Coca-Cola Vanilla Swirl, Coke Zero Vanilla Swirl and Sprite Vanilla Frost, among others. QR codes are placed throughout the exhibit to share fun facts and details about the origin of each beverage. 
  1. Make Memories with Sundblom Santa Claus: Inside the Pop Culture Gallery, visitors are invited to explore the history of the Sundblom Santa Claus through a collection of paintings on permanent display. They may also take part in the festive “My Coke Story” activation that celebrates joy, laughter and memories that come with the holiday season. Select stories will be displayed at the attraction for visitors to read and enjoy.
  1. Stock Up on Stocking Stuffers: Before leaving the World of Coca-Cola, guests can take a memento of their visit home with them. The Coca-Cola Store offers a variety of apparel, accessories and commemorative items sure to make ideal holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for family and friends. For those who prefer to shop from the comfort of home, CokeStore.com offers even more holiday goodies.

Consumers with questions may call 1-800-676-COKE or visit our website at www.WorldofCocaCola.com to purchase tickets.

DRAGON CON PARADE RETURNS IN 2021 WITH SIGNIFICANT COVID-RELATED CHANGES

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/7/21

Traditionally Open to the Public, This Year’s Parade Will Not Allow Spectators; Only Dragon Con Badge Holders Will Be Allowed on the Parade Route.

Dragon Con Encourages Fans to Tune-In to the Live Broadcast on

CW69, YouTube, and Other Social Media Platforms

 

The famous Dragon Con Parade, perhaps the best-known event at the annual five-day pop culture, fantasy, sci-fi, and gaming convention, will return to Peachtree Street in 2021, but with significant changes made necessary by the current Covid pandemic.

Now in its 35th year, Dragon Con 2021 runs from Thursday, Sept. 2 to Monday, Sept. 6 with events and activities across five host hotels – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Sheraton Atlanta – and AmericasMart Buildings #1 and #2.

Traditionally free and open to the public, the annual Dragon Con Parade usually offers the spectacle of thousands of cosplayers, young and old, dressed as their favorite pop culture characters marching down Peachtree Street. The Dragon Con Parade attracts as many as 75,000 spectators in some years.

This year, however, the Dragon Con Parade will be modified and scaled back. Not only will it be smaller than in past years, with fewer marching participants, spectators will not be allowed on the route.  Only Dragon Con badge holders will be allowed to watch the parade in person.

Instead, CW69 will broadcast the parade (live at 10 a.m., with a rebroadcast ?) with additional feeds available on YouTube and other social media platforms. Fans who purchase a Dragon Con Goes Virtual membership ($10) will also have access to the parade through their subscription platform.

“It was important to bring back the tradition of the Dragon Con Parade as quickly as we could. It’s important to us and our fans, and to the whole city,” said Rachel Reeves, convention co-chair. “But, in the interest of public health, and in consultation with the City of Atlanta, we simply couldn’t allow the kinds of crowds we typically see.”

“We know it will be strange to have the Dragon Con Parade without thousands of kids lining the sidewalks, but the past two years have seen a lot of sensible-yet-disappointing decisions that prioritize public health over sentiment,” Reeves said. “This is just another one of those decisions.”

In addition to a scaled back parade, there will be no Saturday-only badge sales before the convention or during it.  Saturday is always the convention’s busiest day.  In addition, the hours immediately before and immediately after the parade have been the most popular times to purchase Saturday-only memberships, with the effect of swelling convention attendance to its largest numbers of the weekend.

Finally, all five host hotels plus AmericasMart will have stepped up security at all hours to ensure only Dragon Con badge holders will have access to the convention.