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Great NeighborhoodsMidtown Atlanta - the heart of Gay Atlanta?Unlike many cities, it's hard to pinpoint the exact hub of the gay community in Atlanta as it's spread over many different areas. However, if there is one area that stands out, it would be Midtown, or more specifically, the intersection of Piedmont and 10th Street. This is where you will find Blake's, Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeeshop, a slew of gay/gay friendly eateries within a couple of blocks such as Einstein's and Joe's on Juniper, the epicenter of the Atlanta Pride Parade, and the general center of gay Atlanta life. There are, however, many other gay hubs around the city. One such area is Ansley Square where you can find bars such as Burkhart's Pub, Oscars, and Felix's, as well as many gay shops, such as Brushstrokes. But there are many other areas, such as Lindbergh where you will find Woof's Bar and the Ponce de Leon area where you will find The Eagle (doesn't every city has one of these). So, is Midtown the heart of Gay Atlanta? It's very hard to say, as the area is becoming more mixed as people from the suburbs move in to be closer to town. However, Midtown is central to most of the other areas and a good starting place for a night out on the town or a home in the middle of it all. The bonus to having the gay areas of Atlanta so spread out is that there are many options for finding the perfect area/home to move to. DecaturDecatur has been a favorite location of the gay community for years. At the heart of Decatur is a lovely town square with lots of shops and restaurants. While there are no strictly gay bars, most businesses are extremely gay friendly in this area. It's not uncommon to see couples holding hands while walking around the square. Decatur is at the heart of the resurrgence of many of the intown communities, such as East Lake, Kirkwood, Belvedere Park, North Lake, and many others. There are many options for beautiful new homes, homes in need of renovation that can be had at a steal of a price, and stylish condos that are convenient to everything Decatur has to offer . On top of that, Decatur is convenient to Midtown/Downtown Atlanta's gay areas. There is a MARTA rail station right in the square that can take you right to Underground Atlanta. You also have the option of getting on the North Bound line that will take you within walking distance of several other gay bars, such as Woofs. So be sure and check out Decatur and the areas around it when you're looking for your new home. It has a laid-back quiet atmosphere without being far from the action. Atlantic StationAtlantic Station is a HUGE new development just on the other side of I-75/85 (the Connector) from Midtown. This is not just a condo or townhome project, but a whole live/work/play area with multiple condo/loft projects (Twelve Atlantic Station, ATLofts, and Art Foundry to name a few). There is a huge amount of shopping available including Dillards, Pier 1, Bath & Body Works and many others. You will also find many dining and entertainment opportunities such as, Regal Cinema 16, The Athletic Club, Rosa Mexicano, PJs Wine and Coffee Bar, and more. This is a great location for venturing out to the gay/gay-friendly areas of the city. You're just across the 17th street bridge from Midtown where you will find a wealth of gay life. You're also within easy reach of Lindbergh, Downtown, Piedmont Park, and Buckhead. As the whole area of Atlantic Station is essentially new, it is exciting to see it developing as it is going to be HUGE. Now is the time to get your stake in one of the communities going up in this area before they are all gone. OakhurstOakhurst is nestled in between Kirkwood and East Lake. This is becoming a hot area as more and more of the bungalows are being renovated and snatched up by people moving back in town from the suburbs. At the heart of Oakhurst is Oakhurst Village, a thriving small town business district full of shops and restaurants. The Village is anchored by the historic Scottish Rite Children's hospital which has been renovated and being turned into shops, such as the current Art Gallery, The Seen, that occupies one of the old buildings. You'll also find Universal Joint, a popular eatery that has an active outdoor area during the Spring and Summer months. In addition to Universal Joint, you'll find Mojo's Pizza, video rental and a unique coffee shop. Although, there isn't a gay bar, you will find Mulligan's, a popular bar with live bands and pool tables that is gay-friendly and packed with golf fans during the PGA Championships at East Lake Golf Club. There are still plenty of early 20th century bungalows as well as pockets of new construction to be had in this area. Couple that with the close proximity to a MARTA Rail station and the Decatur downtown area and you have the perfect small town neighborhood. Kirkwood and East LakeKirkwood and East Lake are quickly becoming the hot areas where people interested in living in town are buying houses and renovating them. You can still find affordable properties in these 2 neighborhoods that are in need of a little "loving care". However, if you are looking for a home that is move in ready, you can find those here, too. The heart of this area is the East Lake Golf Club, which is now home to a PGA Championship game. This is a lovely club that has recently been restored to it's former grandeur of the early 1900s. A lot of homes in this area are of the Craftsman Bungalow/Cottage design anywhere from the 20s to the 50s. On top of that, there is new construction going on in various pockets wherever there is vacant land. These new homes reflect the craftsman, style, and tradition of the existing homes in the area. One highly popular new home development in this area is Hawthorn Park. These are lovely Craftsman style homes that have really taken off in value since the area was completed. Although, they are sold out, you can find re-sales in this neighborhood. Also, there are still many homes of this style being built in other little pockets in the area just waiting for you to find them (with my help of course). Of course, with it's in town location, both Kirkwood and East Lake are popular among gay and gay-friendly people. There are still some rough edges in this area, but they are quickly disappearing as home values go up. Be sure to check out this area when looking for an in town location where you can still find affordable properties. Grant ParkGrant Park is just outside of Downtown Atlanta and south of I-20. This is a lovely neighborhood of older homes that are, like most other intown Atlanta areas, being renovated. There is also a lot of new construction, such as East Village Park and Glenwood Park, going on in pockets in this area. Being a once rundown intown area full of younger "pioneers", it is an extremely gay-friendly area. The namesake and centerpiece of this neighborhood is the beautiful Grant Park which also contains the Atlanta Zoo and the Cyclorama, which retells the battle of Atlanta. This is definitely a very historic area and the perfect place to find a new home. They have a very active Neighborhood Association that is helping to improve the area. Needless to say, with it's close-in location, you can get to anywhere else in the city with relative ease. So, if you're looking for a neighborhood full of history with a great park and lovely turn-of-the-century and mid-century homes, look no further than Grant Park. Inman ParkInman Park is located just outside of the Downtown Atlanta area. This is a very historic neighborhood with many older homes that have been renovated. The biggest yearly event for Inman Park is their Arts Festival and Tour of Homes that occurs each Spring and is one of the best and biggest Arts Festivals in the city. Inman Park has attracted a large following of gay people due to it's friendly atmosphere and closeness to the city. Although, homes here can be pricey, there are still opportunities to find a "fixer upper" and make it your own. Aside from being close to Downtown, Inman Park also has it's own MARTA Rail station making traveling to the Airport, Buckhead, or Midtown extremely convenient. Nearby to Inman Park, you'll find the quirky shopping/restaurant area of Little 5 Points, a fun district to find unusual items, live music, or interesting theater. Coming very soon to the area is the Edgewood Retail District, which will be home to retailers such as Lowe's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Barnes and Noble, Office Depot and Target. This is going to be a great development that will bring in shops normally only seen outside the Perimeter (I-285) but still have that intown feel. There are many neighborhoods around this area that are gay-friendly and waiting for you. NorthlakeNorthlake is a quiet community of 60s and 70s style ranch homes in Northeast Atlanta. The area is roughly bound by I-85, I-285, LaVista Rd, and Clairmont Road. A lot of the homes in this area have been renovated in recent years and are really something to see. This area has a heavy gay population thanks to the relative close proximity to the intown Atlanta gay areas/bars/restaurants, yet far enough away for some peace and quiet. However, there are still plenty of shopping opportunities within easy reach, such as Northlake Mall, which recently added the popular Crescent Moon Restaurant. Also, you'll find plenty of restaurants either on LaVista Road or Buford Highway (featuring a more international fare). It's just a quick jump down I-85 to reach Midtown Atlanta and all the action of the city. Northlake is such a welcome area to gays, that there is even a very active organization called NAGS (Northlake Alliance of Gays/Lesbians and Straights). They have a monthly potluck that is always heavily attended at one of the member's homes. The hosting house is always different so you can check out someone else's home for decorating/renovating ideas. If you are looking for a quieter lifestyle, yet near to the action, look no farther than Northlake. You will definitely get a lot more home/land for your money, but remember you are still inside the Perimeter so you can expect home prices to start at $200,000 and work there way up very quickly. The Lindbergh AreaNot far from Cheshire Bridge (see post from last week) is the Lindbergh area. Although there is only one gay bar in the immediate area, Woofs, you're still within a couple of miles of the many other Atlanta area bars. This whole area is currently experiencing a reanaissance, as the old Lindbergh Plaza has been razed to make room for a whole new shopping experience that will be much larger. Although, there will be some "big box" retailers in the development, concessions have been made to the community to retain a more urban feel such as wide sidewalks and street-side shops (hiding the parking lots and "big boxes" in back). This area has it's own MARTA Rail station right next to it, so it is convenient to almost every area in the city, including the Atlanta Airport. Also, you're not far from the upscale Buckhead area, with it's many shopping such as the Lenox and Phipps malls. Also, you'll find some of Atlanta's trendiest restaurants just a quick drive away, such as Atlanta Fish Market and Nava. With it's exciting location, convenience to many areas of Atlanta, gay-friendly intown area, and easy access to trendy restaurants and shopping, the Lindbergh is a great option when looking for your new home. Cheshire Bridge RoadAlthough not a very long road, Cheshire Bridge Road is considered one of the main drags (no pun intended) in the Gay Atlanta scene. There are several bars along this road, including The Heretic, Opus, Jungle and Buddies. You'll also find the requisite collection of gay-owned/friendly restaurants representing almost every type of food you could want, Roxx being one of the more popular gay spots. Also, just a couple of miles further down, you'll find two of Atlanta's best Malls, Lenox and Phipps Plaza. These are two full malls right across the street from each other (Phipps has higher end stores such as Tiffany's, Barneys, and Gucci). Cheshire Bridge is experiencing a renaissance of sorts and many improvements are starting to be made. Construction is currently under way on Cheshire Place II, a collection of 32 condos right in the heart of Cheshire Bridge. This new construction is only a first step, as just down the road there is another condo project starting to take shape. However, don't think that Cheshire Bridge is only about bars, eating and fancy new condos because there are also several well-established neighborhoods just off Cheshire Bridge with classic home designs from the 1940s and 50s with mature tree-lined streets. One of these neighborhoods is Woodland Hills. This neighborhood is hidden in the trees just beyond the Cheshire Bridge strip. Many of these homes are being renovated and there is even new construction going on in pockets. Considering the close proximity to Midtown Atlanta, these charming homes are extremely affordable (at least compared to the immediate surrounding area). Ansley Park/MorningsideThe heart of Ansley Park is the intersection of Piedmont and Monroe near Piedmont Park (the heart of the Atlanta Pride Festival). This area holds several gay bars, such as Burkhart's and Oscars. It also has a Publix and a Kroger (extremely gay-friendly) side-by-side, so you have your pick of grocery stores. You'll also find a huge assortment of gay friendly and gay-owned eating establishments, such as Agnes & Muriels (a funkily decorated restaurant that serves food "you wish your Mom cooked") and Cowtippers (a great steak restaurant with a huge outdoor patio perfect for people watching). This area is surrounded by some lovely neighborhoods, such as Morningside/Lenox Park, which contains a lovely mix of tudor and craftsman style homes. Most of the homes in this whole area have been lovingly restored to their early 20th century glory. These homes are truly jewels in their quiet tree-lined streets, yet close enough to all the action and excitement of Piedmont Park and the shops and restaurants of Ansley Park. Be sure to check out this area if you're moving to Atlanta. East AtlantaIf you're looking for quiet neighborhoods and a village with many gay-owned/gay-friendly businesses, look no further that East Atlanta. East Atlanta is home to a friendly, sometimes overlooked gay bar, Mary's, and a terrific gay-owned store full of trendy/quirky items, Traders. Also, it is extremely convenient to Downtown Atlanta and Little Five Points. Sometime over the next year, a new shopping area will be opening just north of East Atlanta featuring stores such as Lowe's Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and several others. There are many homes in this area that are still affordable, some of which could be great investments if you're willing to put the time and energy into renovating them. There is also a lot of new building going on around here, including Glenwood Park, a huge development including condos, homes and a town square reminiscent of some Savannah neighborhoods. So, be sure to check out the areas around East Atlanta when looking for a new home. Memorial Industrial CorridorOnce a sketchy area, the Memorial Industrial corridor (just east of Downtown) is turning into a jewel in the rough. There are many loft projects that are taking shape here, such as the A&P Lofts, Ezell Lofts, a former used motorcycle parts storage warehouse and Urban Lofts. Just across the freeway, you'll find the exciting and huge development of Glenwood Park which is partly modeled on Savannah. There are also plenty of eating opportunities around such as Six Feet Under and Agave, both popular with the gay and gay-friendly population. As far as shopping goes, you are a quick drive away to the funky shops (and more restaurants) of East Atlanta Village and Little Five Points. If you're looking for a little mainstream shopping such as Target, Lowe's, Best Buy, etc, you won't have to go very far either as these stores are now opening up in Edgewood which is just down Memorial. As all transitional areas are in most big cities, this is a gay-friendly area which is surrounded by many other gay and gay friendly neighborhoods. With it's close proximity to Downtown/Midtown, you will be a quick ride away to most of the bars in the area. Be sure to check out the overlooked Memorial Corridor when your are shopping for a new home as this area is ready to take off.
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