GAK points out that Atlanta has ranked among National Geographic’s global list of 50 “Places of a Lifetime”.  In other words, it’s their 50 cities to visit before you die.

How can Atlanta compete with the likes of Vienna, Chicago and Paris?

NatGeo actually does a pretty good job of hitting the high points: trees, architecture, neighborhoods, food, shopping, arts.  (Emory prof does an even better job in a related Atlanta essay.) The big tourist spots like World of Coke, the aquarium and Turner Field are also mentioned in passing, but isn’t it interesting how most these “must visit” attributes really aren’t things you can buy tickets to, but must experience collectively?

Interesting.

Lalah alerts us to the coming Pine Lake Lakefest from our artistic Pine Lake neighbors out US78 to the east.

Though I used to live very close to Pine Lake, I’ve never ventured out to this city.  I’m always amazed at how many interesting enclaves there are tucked into the forested landscape of metro Atlanta.

Click the poster below to enlarge.

Eye-catching title, eh?

It was announced this morning that former VP of Atlantic Station, Brian Leary – who has commented here amidst my many semi-rational rants against the massive mixed-use in the past – has been hired as the Beltline’s new CEO.

According to his AS bio, Leary has spent more than a decade living and breathing Atlantic Station, and before that even wrote his master’s thesis on the redevelopment of the old brownfield site.

Leary’s new task, The Beltline, is a monumentally different challenge.

Instead of building a mini-city based on New Urbanist principles from the ground up, Leary will now be tasked with using those same principles to reconnect existing neighborhoods.

And while Atlantic Station had its fair share of hurdles (parking mandates, GDOT, etc) to work around to achieve its current mixed-use state, it will be nothing compared to the zoning, property and transportation challenges facing the much more intrusive Beltline.

Yes my friends, I’m talking about a planner’s greatest fear of all: the dreaded NIMBY.

According to one farmer, we put our money where our mouth is…unlike some OTHER markets.

See this Atlanta Magazine video…[h/t InDecatur]

I say we challenge Morningside to a farmer’s market spending contest.  Whoever spends more on average per person gets the coveted Saturday slot.

Decatur has certainly become a destination for all authors in recent years.  But there’s something about this city that children’s authors can’t get enough of…even the most popular of the bunch!

Dave over at the Little Shop blog crows modestly about the murder of children’s book authors that have flocked into the city limits in the past couple years, beckoned by our self-described “little” bookshop.  It’s an impressive list.

In the category of picture books, we have hosted Greg Mortenson (#1), Jon Scieszka (#10), and Loren Long (also #10) this year. Greg was here in January after the release of Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and “Three Cups of Tea.” Jon was here in 2008 and just back for the Decatur Book Festival. He is the author of Truckery Rhymes, co-illustrated by Loren Long, who lead this year’s DBF children’s parade.

As for chapter books, Maggie Stiefvater, author of Shiver (#6), was in for DBF. We hosted the great Sarah Dessen (Along for the Ride is at #9) a couple of years ago.

Think he’s finished?  He’s just gettin’ started.