Atlanta

Here I am in Atlanta. I'm here for a conference. I wasn't looking forward to coming down here because I hate the heat and feel like 4 amazing spring Boston days have been stolen from me. (I'm a little crazy, I know.) The last time I was here was in August last year for a training when it was so hot I thought I would melt. I am also finding that when I travel in the U.S., I am increasingly snobby. I actually think to myself, "Why would anyone live here?" Am I serious? Am I that in love with Boston? It was only 4 years ago that I was still bouncing all around the U.S. living anywhere but Boston. Age changes us, I think.

First night here, two of my young colleagues and I went out to get food. We walked about 15 minutes through downtown Atlanta to get to Varsity, a place that was recommended to me. The walk was interesting. I don't think it was all that safe. First of all, it was dark. Secondly, it was through some sort of dodgy-looking areas. Third, my college roommate, who just moved here for work and who I had dinner with the next night said white women should not be walking alone downtown at night. Okay.

We were approached by a significant number of homeless men on the street. They were all friendly. They all said hello first. Some were leering, others were just saying hello. I never felt unsafe, but I was sure annoyed. I am such a Bostonian. I want my homeless people to be as rude as regular Bostonians, and not try to make friends with me while asking me for a dollar. These folks didn't even ask for money. They just chatted with us. Is it because we're in the South and people are just friendly here? I don't really get it.

Shirley Franklin, the mayor here, is working on ending homelessness in Atlanta in the next 10 years. They are apparently tearing down the housing developments and building significant section 8 housing to re-place folks in homes. She is also personally meeting with every graduating senior from the Atlanta public school system. Personally. To discuss their future plans and where they are headed. Wow. She spoke to us yesterday and I was impressed. (And she could actually articulate her words, which is a trait you don't get in a mayor in Boston, at least in the last decade and a half.)

So back to the Varsity. It was established in 1928 and when you walk in, you wonder how the hell to get to the food. It's enormous. We had a debate about how many people could fit inside it. I just looked it up and it can have over 800 people inside and over 600 cars pulled up at any time. (It's a drive-in diner, too.) Holy crap.

We were barraged by the staff at the registers yelling "What'll ya have?" over and over again. It's their tag line. Finally, after wondering what a heavy dog was, I asked. It's a hot dog with extra chili on it. Extra chili? Jeez. I ended up with two cheese dogs (regular hot dogs with cheese sauce on them), fries and a peach pie that I shared with my colleagues. One of them had a burger and the other had chili fries, which were conveniently served with the chili and cheese sauce in separate little dipping cups. The food was fine. Diner food.

Apparently, two miles of hot dogs, a ton of onions, 2500 pounds of potatoes, 5000 fried pies and 300 gallons of chili are made from scratch daily, according to their website. Gross? Delicious? You decide.

It's on the edge of the Georgia Tech campus, and they have 5 other locations. I got a Varsity hat, you know those paper ones that the old-time diner-workers wore? They still wear them and you can take one home.

Not sure there'll be anything else of note to write about Atlanta, but if there is, I'll update.