Atlanta: Home of the 1996 Olympic Games, Largest Civil War Museum, and Margaret Mitchell

As promised, I have more to tell you about my days down in Atlanta, Georgia. If you missed my previous post on CNN Center and the World of Coca-Cola, be sure to read that post first!

As my friend took her midterm exams and handed in papers, I continued to explore the city on my own. On my third day there, I decided to learn more about the history of Atlanta. I took the MARTA and then a bus to get to the Atlanta History Center out past Peachtree. I felt a bit out of place walking on the side of the road with all of the BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Audi cars driving by me. After passing a few swanky bridal shops and hotels, I made it to my destination. 

First, I headed into the Centennial Olympic Games Museum. There I absorbed as much information as I possible could on the general history of the Olympic Games, Atlanta's bid to host, and what happened in each event during those 17 days in July 1996. I loved seeing how the number of athletes and events increased with each round of Olympic Games. It was also pretty cool to see each of the mascots and the cultural reasoning behind them all. I most definitely do not remember Izzy (aka Whatizit)! Most interesting of all though, was seeing how political tension between countries can change and even cancel the infamous international sporting event.

Examples of the Olympic medals handed out to athletes in 1996.

The flame was flown from Greece and then transported by train!

Next, I wandered through Turning Point: The American Civil War exhibit. One of the nation's largest and most complete exhibits, Turning Point boasts more than 1,500 artifacts, from both sides of the Civil War. Walking through the rooms, I learned about the complications and intricacies of firearms, what both Confederate and Union soldiers wore and carried with them, the importance of the Postal Service, and even how bank notes worked back in the 19th century. I easily spent two hours in that exhibit, soaking up as much American history as I possible could.

Old Civil War letters

Confederate bank notes

Largest collection of Civil War mortars

Oldest standing wagon from the Civil War

Next, I headed outside to wander the grounds. I walked through the old Smith family farm, which was built in the 1840s. The house was originally located outside of Atlanta, but was moved to its current spot in the 1970s. Surprisingly, unlike the rest of the city, the house survived both the Civil War and the Reconstruction era.

Original slave home from the Smith family farm

Modernity peeks out from behind an old well on the Smith family farm.

Spring is here!

Peace statue

I took my time following the little trail around the 22 acres of land the Atlanta History Center owns. I saved the Swan House for last. Edward Inman was the heir to a large cotton brokerage fortune in the post-Civil War era. After acquiring land in Buckhead, he hired the firm of Hentz, Reid, and Adler to design a home for his family. Philip Trammel Shutze designed the home and adapted Italian and English classical styles (which are quite apparent when you walk through the place.) There are swans throughout the home, as well as eagles, one of Mr. Inman's favorite animals. The Inmans moved into the house in 1928; sadly, just three years later, Mrs. Inman was left alone in the large house after her husband suffered from a heart attack. She lived in the house until 1965. The Atlanta Historical Society purchased the house, land, and furnishings a year later.

The Swan House

Hello lovely!

Walking up the back entrance

Tacky as anything!

Mrs. Inman's bathroom, which is covered with fake marble because she wasn't pleased with the real marble! 

Another tacky bedroom!

After a long walk through the gardens, I made my back to the bus stop and then back to Midtown. My ticket to enter the Atlanta History Center included entrance to Margaret Mitchell's old apartment which was located a convenient block or so from where I was staying. I just made it in time to catch the last tour of the day. Author of the classic Southern love novel, Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell was born and raised in Atlanta. A feisty little lady, Margaret claimed that Scarlett was in no way based off of her own life; however, my tour guide was sure to point out quite a few similarities. Supposedly, she had read all of the books in the local library that her husband told her it was time she wrote her own. Whenever company arrived unexpectedly, she would throw a towel over the typewriter to hide what she was working on; however, people talk and most of Atlanta knew she was up to something spectacular.

Margaret Mitchell lived on the first floor.

Mitchell's old apartment complex

After checking out Margaret's house and watching a short documentary on the trials and tribulations of making Gone With The Wind into a movie, I headed over to Piedmont Park. There I wandered the paths and stumbled across an odd-looking family of ducks. My phone conveniently died right around the time I was supposed to meet with my friend, but luckily I was able to plug my phone in at the Georgia Tech bookstore.

Atlanta has odd ducklings!

View from the park

I found my friend and we headed off to grab a quick bite to eat before seeing Aziz Ansari at the Fox Theater. Aziz admitted to being in a relationship during his show, which was extremely unexpected given his comedy shows usually revolve around the single, childless life. His jokes were just as hilarious as usual, but it was still a bit mind boggling to accept the now taken Aziz as reality. By the end of the night, my friend thought her spleen had burst;I was rubbing my cheeks because they hurt so much from laughing.

I loved the Middle Eastern decorations.

Inside the Fox Theater

This guy

He made me cry from laughter.

I must shamefully admit that I was unable to make it to the Martin Luther King Jr. historical site before it closed, but now I have an excuse to return back to this lovely city in the future.

The next morning we left bright and early for my favorite Southern city, New Orleans. I could not wait to revisit the Big Easy and see how far she had come since I last helped out as the JMU May ASB group leader. Tune in next week for my posts on New Orleans and the recent Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

Bonne fin de journée!

La petite pamplemousse

Sing Along Sunday: Alive and Active in April

Good afternoon,

I hope you're all enjoying your day and making the most of this much warmer weather! I am more than excited to see the sun stay up longer each day, especially after working the night shift last year. (Going to bed at 4 pm was not fun.) While a friend and I have been doing a great job of taking walks on Sundays, I'm hoping to switch completely out of the elliptical/treadmill mode and go explore the great outdoors now that running in a park no longer requires three or more layers!

Speaking of running, back in January I (like everyone else each New Year) vowed to take better care of myself. I realized that dancing 2-3 times a week wasn't enough for me. I also noticed that my eating habits weren't as consistently healthy as I thought. So I asked my super(fit)woman sister for some advice on where to start. She suggested starting with the 100 by VDay Challenge by the girls at Tone It Up. Not only did I stick to the routine, I completed more than 150 miles by February 14th. Like anyone who completes a goal, short or long term, I felt more determined, more confident, and more energetic as a result. I'm super excited to join their next challenge, the Bikini Series, and continue getting myself into tip top shape for summer.

On that note, this month's playlist revolves around being active and alive. The first ten songs I listen to when warming up. The middle ten or so songs I run to and are mostly comprised of club mixes to get my heart rate up. The remaining songs are used for a cool down or when I just want to get my dance on around my apartment. As always, you can subscribe to this particular playlist by going here, or you can follow me on Spotify by clicking on this link. You can also search for these songs on YouTube if you're not a fan/member of Spotify. Please note that two of these songs are not found on Spotify, so you'll have to click on the link below to have a listen!

Get ready to sweat your Sunday away!

1. "Never Go Back" by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals: I love doing a combination of 90s-style side steps and stretching to this song. 
2. "Shameless" by Lissie: Lissie has amazing lyrics, an incredible voice, and one heck of a kick ass attitude.
3. "I Follow Rivers" by Lykke Li: I'm anxiously awaiting Lykke Li's new album, I Never Learn, which is due to release on May 6th. She is by far one of my favorite Swedish artists who never fails to entertain with her lyrics, beats, or dance moves.
4. "Beat (Healthy, Life, and Fire)" by Thao with The Get Down Stay Down: When I listen to this song I imagine biking down a country road with flowers in my hair. In said daydream, I also imagine kicking my bike to the curb to jump (by tire swing) into a lake.
5. "Riptide" by Vance Joy: Gosh I love how he stresses the word "green." Despite the upbeat tempo, this song is quite depressing when you listen carefully to the lyrics. But hey, pass me a tambourine and let's go skipping around to this song in a field anyways! 
6. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest: Every time I listen to this song, I do the twist and imagine what my life would have been like if I lived in the 1950s. 
7. "Disparate Youth" by Santigold: I love the music video for this song! I've been a fan of Santigold ever since I saw her open for T.I. & Jay-Z back in 2007. If I ever go into urban belly dancing, I've decided this will be my first solo song. 
8. "Clap Your Hands" by Sia: Who doesn't get excited by a song asking you to clap your hands? 
9. "Carry Me" by Bombay Bicycle Club: For some reason my mind imagines the Blue Man Group banging their drums to this song, paint splattering everywhere. 
10. "Big Hoops (Bigger The Better)" by Nelly Furtado: This lady gets me. I always want to fly like a bird and definitely prefer big hoops to small ones.
11. "Black & Blue" by Miike Snow: I forgot about this song until I took a road trip to New Orleans with my best friend. We got a little too into harmonizing/air instrument playing during that drive, but seriously, why wouldn't you want to goof around to this song?
12. "La Réalité" by Amadou & Miriam: My Swedish friend turned me onto this song back in 2006. I remember this being one of our many closing shop songs, vodka and Redbull in hand. 
13. "Waves of Change (Kaskade Remix)" by Samantha James: This is a great song to listen to if you need a consistent beat to get through that one mile mark. 
14. "Blessed - Avicii Mix" by Tom Hangs: A great song to jump around to, especially when out in the club.
15. "Silhouettes" by Avicii: This song gets me up those hills! 
16. "Calinda" by Laurent Wolf: Can you feel the sunshine pouring through your eardrums? I sure can.
17. "Paris (Aeroplane Remix)" by Friendly Fires: This was my theme song in 2010. I applied to become a teaching assistant in France and played this song nonstop while waiting to see if I was accepted, hoping that my dream to live in France would come true. I still can't believe I've accomplished that dream already!
18. "You've Got The Love (XX Remix)" by Florence & The Machine:  This is my favorite song to do sprints to when outside. Just wait for the xylophone crescendo. Ah, music porn.
19. "As3ad Wa7da" by Elissa : I became obsessed with this song when I was in Tunisia for a wedding. Elissa's voice makes me want to pack up my stuff, run away, and fall in love with a stranger on the other side of the world. You can find the English translation here. 
20. "My Feelings For You" by Avicii, Sebastien Drums: I first heard this song in a club in France. Lots of posing involved when you dance along to the beat, but it also has a great tempo for running. 
21. "Something Good Can Work" by Two Door Cinema Club: I love this band and often listen to them to get pumped up for the weekend. Here's a remix of one of their most popular songs. Keep running!
22. "Lover to Lover" by Florence & The Machine: If I could belt this out while running, that would be something! But, typically you can find me twirling, clapping, and jumping around to this while cleaning or getting my weights out for my toning work out.
23. "Dancin' (KRONO Remix)" by Aaron Smith: He knows exactly how I feel about dance.
24. "Dedication To My Ex (Miss That)" by Lloyd, Andre 300, Lil' Wayne: Despite the dirty language, I can't help but love this song. Plus any song featuring Andre 3000 is golden in my humble opinion.
25. "Luv Back" by Jazmine Sullivan: This gal can sing and boy does she do a great job belting out her frustration with men! I dig the reggae vibe on this track.
26. "Nothing To Worry About" by Peter Bjorn and John: You might know have heard of these guys back when their hit, "Young Folks," was big. Their most recent albums have a more bizarre feel to them. Go ahead and clap the stress away with this song; you shouldn't worry about anything!
27. "Mamma Knows Best" by Jessie J: "Do It Like A Dude" is a classic work out song for me, however, I couldn't resist the temptation to add this to the list. The girl can rock it!
28. "Bumaye" by Major Lazer, Busy Signal: Oh how I love to get low to this song! (How can you not shake it when you hear that beat?) I go nuts when this comes on, whether at Zumba, in the club, or just at home. Be sure to check out the music video for some hard core Caribbean dance moves.
29. "Feel" by Bombay Bicycle Club: Here's another band that's got me in an obsessed daze. Their music videos are always so creative and this one takes the cake. I love how they always incorporate dancing no matter the tempo. 
30. "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin: This song makes me feel like I could burst from happiness. You could use this for running, for driving, or even a little interpretive dancing/air guitar. 
31. "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac: For some crazy reason, I think this song would be great for a dance duet, Dirty Dancing style.
32. "Like A Mighty River" by St. Paul & The Broken Bones: I was just recently introduced to this group. All I've got to say is sweet Jesus, that voice. 

I hope you enjoy this month's playlist. If you have any go-to running, dancing, or iron pumping songs, please let me know! I'm always looking for new tunes.

Enjoy your week and à très bientôt!

La petite pamplemousse

Atlanta: Home of CNN and Coca-Cola

Two weeks ago, I flew down to Atlanta, Georgia to visit a dear friend of mine. As I passed through security I came to realize that I hadn't been to a new city all on my own in over two years (when I still lived in Lyon, France and would regularly hop on a train or a plane to check out a new city once a month.) Much to my surprise, I learned that Atlanta is the world's busiest airport.

I was psyched to introduce my five senses to what Atlanta had to offer. I decided not to plan anything ahead of time, just where and when to meet my friend once I got off the MARTA. I didn't realize how much I missed being out in the unknown all alone.

I followed my friend to one of her urban planning classes at Georgia Tech once we met up. Sitting in on a class really made me miss school and realize that my current position does not push me as much as I need. It's funny to think about how much you complain about deadlines and work your entire time as a student, but once that's gone from your life, your desire for reading assignments, papers, and tests takes over your being. (Well, at least for me anyways). 

After her class we headed out to Lawrenceville where she works as an intern. I wandered the little town on my own for a few hours. I came across quite a few antique shops and a lovely sweets shop called Blue Rooster Bakery. I enjoyed an enormous chocolate chip whoopie cookie and free sweet tea as I revisited old stories I wrote during college. To say the least, I was finally motivated and inspired again. 

This picture does not do justice to the glorious sweets available at Blue Rooster.

NOM

Church

Civil War memorial

That night we met a high school friend at Takorea, a Korean-Mexican restaurant with quite nifty interior decorations. The food was delicious, but I, once again, didn't think to ask for sauce on the side. My tongue was on fire and I could barely get a word into the conversation because I was slurping down so much water. 

The following day I headed off to Five Points to check out the few main attractions Atlanta has to offer visitors. I first explored CNN Center. I got a bite to eat at the enormous food court as I waited for my tour to start. At the end of the tour, the guide asked me if I was grading her presentation as I walked out the door. "No, I'm just a mere editor interested in how things work on the TV side of things." She looked a bit relieved but still suspicious of all my note taking during the hour long tour. 

A few fun facts I learned:

• CNN started broadcasting in 1980; CNN.com launched in 1995; CNN en espagnol started in 1997.
• Prior to being their headquarters, CNN Center was formerly an enclosed theme park. The escalator going through the mini globe is the tallest escalator in the US, reaching 198 feet. The blue tiles on the floor of the food court make up the 7 continents. There are gold stars signifying where the main studios are located.
• Their main US studio offices are located in Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., but they have a total of 45 bureaus worldwide, including ones in London, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi.
• HLN used to be called CNN2. It was launched in 1982. 
• HLN focuses more on entertainment, sports, and opinion shows. It is a domestic only channel which airs Monday through Friday. Weekend episodes are pre-recorded.
• The camera in Studio 7 is worth $300,000 and, understandably, only one person has permission to use it.

Looking up from the food court

Love all the flags!

Outside of the headquarters

CNN newsroom

HLN newsroom

After I explored CNN Center, I wandered through Olympic Park to get to the World of Coca-Cola. There was a very cheery tour guide who started everything off with a quick introduction and brief film on the infamous polar bear family. Then, we were off to explore on our own. I took my time walking through the museum, intrigued by the ridicuously successful advertisement and marketing strategies Coca-Cola has maintained over so many years. I also jotted down a few facts during my self-guided tour.

• Did you know that during its first year, Coca-Cola sales averaged a mere 9 drinks a day?
• When the fizzy drink came to the market, the most popular flavors for fountain drinks were lemon, orange, vanilla, pineapple, strawberry, cherry, and chocolate. 
• In 1916, Coca-Cola introduced its contour bottle to assure customers that they were getting the real deal. A lot of bottling companies tried to recreate and sell their own versions, so clearly Coca-Cola had to do something about the knock-offs. 
• A WWII Russian general allegedly ordered clear Coca-Cola, as he "wouldn't be seen drinking an 'American' drink."
• Asa Griggs Candler bought the company for a mere $550.
• Candler also launched the marketing strategy which would transform the drink, adding the logo to everyday household items like serving trays and glasses. He also introduced the first widespread use of sampling coupons. By 1920, one in nine Americans had tried the drink for free!
• By 1930, there were 64 bottling plants in 27 countries. Each state had its own way of identifying where the drink had been bottled (usually by way of a stamp on the bottom of the bottle). 
• Today more than 70% of the company's revenue comes from outside of the United States.
• Did you know that Coca-Cola tried to change its formula in 1985? That move didn't go as well as planned and they quickly returned to the original recipe.
• The first mention of the infamous polar bear occurred in a French ad in 1922 (see below).
• Coca-Cola started sponsoring the Olympic Games in 1928. They currently have torches on display from a few of the most recent games, including one from this year's Sochi Games.
• Today, The Coca-Cola Company makes approximately 500 different drinks.

One of the original dispensers

First mention of the polar bear

Tasting room

 National Center for Civil and Human Rights soon to open across from the World of Coca-Cola

After my tour, I took my time walking back to my friend's apartment. I took in the sunshine, people watched, and got lost on purpose. Later that night we headed to Brick Store, which was absolutely fabulous. I felt like I was back in my favorite little bar in Lyon. The exposed brick, wood booths, delicious beers, and generally relaxed atmosphere fed my philosophical state-of-mind with more hunger to explore a variety of new topics spinning around up in that brain of mine.

One of the two main skylines

Don't worry, that's not all folks! I have a second exploration of Atlanta coming soon. (I simply have too many pictures for one post!) Stay tuned for Margaret Mitchell, the 1996 Olympic Games, Aziz Ansari, and the Civil War's impact on the "most Northern city of the South."

If you're in need of some musical inspiration until Sunday's Sing Along post, do check out my go to gal, Banks. I cannot wait to see her in concert this June.

Until then, cheers to the freakin' weekend!

Besos,

La petite pamplemousse