Braves Fan from NYC - Heading to ATL for the first time. Help out!
by dank7 on Jul 28, 2010 2:12 PM EDT
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PrintSo I have been a Braves fan for as long as I can remember. I was born and raised in Queens, NY (15 min away from Shea and with an older brother who loves and remembers '86) but it was always TBS and 'The Chop' for me.
I have never gotten a chance to get down to Atlanta before, never had a chance to see the Braves play at the Ted (or Fulton County Stadium) before. Since it seems that this season might be the last for a couple of the best Braves ever (both Bobby and Chipper) and the J-Hey Kid is here, I want to get down to see some games.
I am here asking tips, tricks and general advice on making this trip more awesome than awesome.
A friend of mine and I have picked the last homestand of the season to go down Oct 1-3 against the Phillies which should be great. We want to go to the whole series, from start to finish and enjoy the games and nightlife, the food and the city.
- Where should we stay? (I figure close(r) to the Ted would be best?) or Buckhead?
- Where should we buy tickets from? --- (Stubhub vs. Braves site)
- Where do you recommend sitting?
- Places to go eat the good down home, ATL style
- Where to go out? (Someone told me about Buckhead)
- Things to do during the days (aside from the games)
- Will we need to rent a car?
Both 25 years old, so no need for the fanciest shiz, but want to have a great time.
Thanks a lot for your help. Go Braves!
This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.
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Coming from a 24-year-old in ATL...
This should help you out a bit:
1. Any hotel in the downtown Atlanta area would really be fine. If you’re looking for close to the Ted, try the Comfort Inn at Turner Field (http://www.turnerfielddowntowninn.com/)
2. Ticket prices are generally going to be the same across the board. You could try Craigslist and get them from a broker. If you want to get them ahead of time, a safe bet would be to buy them on the Braves.com site and pick them up at Will Call (no extra charge).
3. If you’re looking to save some money on tickets, I’d recommend the Upper Box. Section 401 and 402 are my favorite. Right behind home plate, but in the upper deck. They’ll run you anywhere between $10-16 a ticket. You can see the whole field, and the jumbotron screen is right in front of you like a massive HDTV.
4. Good Atlanta food? Try Vortex Bar & Grill, either location (http://thevortexbarandgrill.com/), Fat Mat’s Bar-B-Q (http://www.fatmattsribshack.com/), or Fox Brox. Bar-B-Q (http://www.foxbrosbbq.com/).
5. If you’re going out, definitely go to the Virginia-Highlands area. Lots of bars, restaurants, and clubs. Very young, hip area. (http://virginiahighland.com/)
6. I would DEFINITELY recommend renting a car. The public transportation system, MARTA, is going to take you 3 times as long to get anywhere, and it seriously limits where you can go. There should be plenty of parking wherever you go, so I’d recommend a car.
Jesus. I should be a travel agent or something. Hope this helps!
by Ace_of_Braves on Jul 28, 2010 2:41 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Good stuff here Ace
Decatur is a great spot with some cool bars/restaurants/shops, and has the Brickstore, one of the best places in the country to get a beer.
Watershed has some great down home food
http://www.watershedrestaurant.com/
There’s also Gladys and Ron’s Chicken and Waffles
I’d also recommend East Atlanta or Little 5 Points for hanging out.
Also
depending on how much time you have, the Sweetwater Brewery tour is great.
http://www.sweetwaterbrew.com/
Blind Willies in Virginia Highlands is a great place to catch some live blues.
The Gyro Wrap at the CNN Center has shockingly good beer deals, though the best Gyro in town is downtown at Nick’s Food to Go.
If you’re feeling like a big timer, the steak at Kevin Rathbun Steak is fan-f’ing-tastic.
As for nightlife, it sort of depends on your taste. Buckhead has changed a lot recently, and wouldn’t appeal to you if you’re more of the indie/hipster/not a giant doosh type. Virginia High is a bit preppy but still very cool. Little 5 is punker/counter-culture/cooler-than-thou-attitude while East Atlanta is laid back hipster/indie rocker.
If you give us a bit more insight to your tastes and/or spending preferences, we could probably give you much more specific tips.
You picked a good series- Bobby's farewell
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
~Earl Wilson
Ace of Braves gave good advice
For car rental and hotel you should go through hotwire.com. We just rented a hybrid going to DC and we only paid $60 for 4 day and we filled up only 3 times coming and going which was awesome.
Also if you call the ticket people off the Braves site you can get better deals by talking with an agent. Last year I got my friend from Boston and I tickets in the golden moon all-u-can eat area for $40 a piece.
No disrespect to you.
but there have been a lot of these posts lately. Maybe what we can to is to make a Welcome to Turner Field guide or something and have it posted somewhere on the site as a reference for anyone coming down. I’ll help out, though I’ve only been there once
by eaheckman10 on Jul 28, 2010 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
True
But that’s more of a Turner Field guide (obviously) than a “coming to Atlanta to see the Braves for the first time in my life” guide. That kind of guide should include hotels, restaurants, hangouts/nightclubs/attractions, transportation/parking info, tickets, and of course the Turner field stuff.
For food, go to The Varsity. You have not lived until you’ve eaten their fries. It’s a legend in Atlanta
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Jul 28, 2010 4:50 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
absolutly!
i too live in NYC and when i get down to ATL i go to the varsity every time.
Boo on the fries...
onion rings, and a frosted orange. Chilli cheese burger or dog depending on preference (or both).
by Mr. Sanchez on Jul 28, 2010 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
the onion rings rule too
"Tony Gwynn made sacrifices. Cal Ripken made sacrifices. I'm not sure Derek Jeter made sacrifices given the ungodly deep pockets the Yankees have." - Chipper Jones
by MBL1 on Jul 28, 2010 6:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Since you're coming down for Bobby or Chip
I’d sit as close to third base or the dugout as possible (if you are in a spending mood). My favorite (reasonably priced) seat is in the outfield behind the new kid…some guy named Heyward. The fans are ecstatic over there and its also close to the bullpen. Also easier to see the ball off the bat IMO.
Enjoy! My first time was top 5 experiences of my sports life.
Tangentially related
A couple buddies and I are coming down from Tennessee in about two weeks for a game. we’ve learned not to follow 75 in to the downtown connector- is the traffic any better if we take the 285 loop around to 20 and come in to the stadium from the West side? we’re planning to park on That end anyway, and are trying to shave off as much time as possible, since we’re already looking at 12 hours round trip.
by J-Freak on Jul 28, 2010 6:03 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Traffic is definitely better on I-20...
But I can’t speak for 285.
"If I had a little humility, I would be perfect" - Ted Turner
...
You’re stalking me, aren’t you?
I’m from Memphis, but I’m going with some college buds. Our school is in Jackson, TN, which is an hour East (or, as I’d rather think of it, an hour closer to Atlanta).
I know the only place in TN that’s 12 hours away is possibly Memphis. I’m from there too. Its easier to take 78 S to B-Ham and then 20 E into ATL but that’s if you don’t have to go through Jackson and Nash to pick up your buds.
Union?
Yes, Union. The guys I’m going with are from Henderson, but we’re all meeting up in Jackson to head out. Me and one of them went down for Opening Day and made the mistake of following 75 all the way in. This time we’re hoping cutting around 285/20 and never crossing the connector will save us heaps of time.
you know Sean Evans?
old buddy of mine from grad school
Very well, what with him being my advisor and all.
by J-Freak on Jul 30, 2010 4:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You are one fortunate man
He is a good man. You’re not a the J is your username must stand for Political Science
If you're getting there around gametime
I’d suggest avoiding 285.
I’ve tried tons of different routes this year (I live in north Atlanta) and have found the 75/85 connector to consistently be the fastest way to Turner Field. Just my two cents.
"Look out Atlanta. Jason Heyward is going to wow you."
-Chipper
People have answered most of these pretty well...
…but I’d like to throw my opinion on a few into the mix.
Places to go eat the good down home, ATL style
-Merry Mac’s is good for the good Southern food, as is the Silver Grill (both are excellent for a good meat and two). Daddy D’s for BBQ, though Fat Matts has better ribs, IMO. Go to The Vortex for the best burger you’ve ever had (The Vortex is my favorite place to eat in Atlanta). The Varsity isn’t so much a place to eat as it is an experience. Manuel’s Tavern is a great bar with lots of history, great food, and is a generally calm place. I’d equate it to the Cheers of Atlanta.
Where to go out? (Someone told me about Buckhead)
-Depends what you’re into, really. Buckhead ain’t what it used to be, but there are a few clubs left. Virginia Highland is a little more low-key for several good bars. East Atlanta Village if you’re into more of an eclectic crowd, plenty of good bars and restaurants. Little 5 Points is an interesting place with a lot of good restaurants, bars, and (albeit overpriced) shops. Lots of personality there.
Things to do during the days (aside from the games)
-Atlanta kinda sucks for this stuff, to be honest. The Aquarium is the only really, really cool thing to see, and is absolutely awesome and worth it. The Coke museum is next door and is entertaining, but you feel like a whore for even being there. Centennial Park is across the street, but there’s not really anything to DO there.
"Baseball is the only major sport that appears backwards in a mirror." ~George Carlin
There are a few things you could do during the day.
1. Sweetwater Brewery “Tour” – I put tour in quotation marks because no one really goes to this for the tour. You pay eight dollars and get six coupons for beer. They give you a glass and you get it filled about 3/4 full (so you’re coming out to around four beers). It lasts for two hours on Saturdays, from 2:30 to 4:30. Get there a little early, because it will fill up quickly. They have inside and outside areas, with live music played outside. It’s a good time.
2. Fernbank Museum – If you’re into science/nature, you’ll like Fernbank.
3. Aquarium (World’s Largest). Doesn’t need much of an explanation. I will say that it’s very cool, but personally, I wasn’t amazed.
4. There are more things to do, including the World of Coke, Atlanta Zoo, High Museum of Art, etc.
5. The last possibility (and something southern) would be going somewhere (a bar or bar & grill) to watch a football game. Both Georgia and Georgia Tech have away games that day, and since Georgia’s is against Colorado at 4:30 (and the Braves game isn’t until 7) that’s a possibility if you want to do something other than tailgate for the game. Surely there will be a large crowd of people to watch the game at most any sports bar.
I would be careful down south
but don’t worry, we give our famous hospitality as long as you don’t say anything offensive, then you’re messing with the wrong crowd and that may put you in a hospital. Just to give you a little warning, but have fun
Beware Newyorkers, Jason Heyward has arrived, he will rob A-rod of 100 homeruns, and will bring at least 5 world series trophies to the great city of Atlanta
that's ridiculous and offensive
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
THANKS!
Amazing and awesome feedback guys, I really appreciate it.
To give a bit more insight to my tastes and/or spending preferences, I would say that since my friend and I are going down for the weekend and for the first time/last home series, we will be a above economical and little bit below balling. I figure it’s good to spend extra dinero on sitting close to Bobby, and Chip, et al, so we might do the dugout seating and an outfield night (JHEY) as well.
If we don’t get a car is that a really bad situation? I think we’d like to remove ourselves from the driving/hanging/drinking aspect of the fun times. Maybe we’ll do a ZipCar if we really need to get a car last minute or something. Coming from NY it’s so hard to wrap my head around needing one to get around and having parking available.
I love the Georgia/GT football idea and will definitely make that happen.
So anywhere in Downtown Atlanta would be pretty much perfect for a hotel I assume?
Maybe we can do a meet up/bar/tribute for the last homestand/Bobby.
Hotel advice
The W or Peachtree Plaza downtown would probably excellent options if you’re between “economical” and “balling.”
Being a native as well as someone who’s lived in a few places (incl. NYC)… I can forewarn you of one main complaint about Atlanta – that downtown becomes a ghost town on nights and weekends. Not quite that bad, but if you want to be closer to the action, you may want to choose a place in Midtown (W Midtown is right off 14th and a block from nightclubs and bars off Crescent and right off Piedmont Park). That location is also 5-10 minutes from the Highlands, which another posted appropriately gave a shout to and about a 10 minute ride from Turner Field.
Midtown and Highlands are probably your best source of fun unless you feel like driving some more – then I’d recommend some parts of Buckhead (Fado’s is cougarrific; St. Andrews; Whisky Bar @ W Buckhead) and Decatur Village (more laid back scene)…
And, of course, if you really want to blow some money, there’s the airport hanger of strip clubs, Pink Pony.
I also realize there’s a serious “W” theme going on. I do not work there – they just seemed to have cornered the great nightspots in ATL.
Have fun!
bought 'em, got 'em, making it happen!
thanks all for the advice and help i booked my trip and I am super STOKED..
Going for the last series of the season, against the Phillies
staying in W Midtown
Game 1 doing the All you can Eat (and drink?) in the Golden Moon
Game 2 Bobby Tribute, sitting behind the dugout
Game 3 Afternoon game sitting in the Right Outfield and cheering on Heyward.
When it gets closer to the date, i’ll have to ask for specific nightlife options from all y’all
thanks for your help again!
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