Friendly, charming and sociable, Atlanta is the epitome of Southern grace. As spring turns into summer in this gorgeous, hospitable city set in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, grab a friend, pull up a barstool and slowly sip a drink in one of the 10 best bars in Atlanta.

The Northside Tavern
Why: This laid-back jazz and blues club epitomizes everything wonderful about the South: friendliness, comfort – and plentiful beer. Sure, the place is a hole in the wall and has generally lousy restrooms, but the people are fun, drinks are affordable and there’s live music. What more do you need?
What to Drink: This bar is one of the few places you’ll find PBR (Pabst Blue Ribbon) tallboys, so drink up and enjoy your minimal tab at the end of the night.

Brick Store Pub
Why: For good beer on tap and delicious bar grub, visit this bar in the eclectic city of Decatur (just east of Atlanta). Beers here are often high-octane, and true beer connoisseurs will appreciate that beers are served in appropriate glasses. Upstairs, there’s a separate bar that serves only Belgian beers.
What to Drink: When in a Belgian pub, drink Belgian beer – on tap, if you can. High alcohol-content beers include Terrapin Monks Revenge, Malheur12 and the rich, dark Gulden Draak.

Krog Bar
Why: Meet other Atlantans as you sit in the communal setting at Krog Bar, a one-room bar with a heated patio. This bar is renowned chef Kevin Rathbun’s baby, born from his desire to create an intimate wine bar with tapas after he returned from a visit to Spain.
What to Drink: Drink Spanish wine, of course. Choose from La Rioja, Cava, Denominacion Jumilla and Sherry-Jerez.

East Point Corner Tavern
Why: With a “Cheers”-esque neighborhood bar feel, East Point Corner Tavern serves the East Point, College Park and Hapeville areas of south Atlanta. Pool tables, darts, trivia nights, table games and the patio will make you stay, and good pub grub, cheap drinks and a welcoming staff will keep you coming back for more.
What to Drink: Order one of the specialty beers on tap, especially if it’s from Sweetwater Brewery, which is located in Atlanta.

Limerick Junction
Why: For a friendly, warm Irish bar (complete with local Irish music), pull up a barstool at Limerick Junction. Crowds are plentiful, pints are full and the popcorn is free, plus some of the Irish musicians take requests.
What to Drink: To liven up your group, order a round of the shooter Irish Quaalade, a mix of Irish whiskey, Bailey’s Irish Crème and Frangelica, or a 20 oz. Magner’s Irish Cider.

Elliott Street Deli and Pub
Why: For the ultimate in Atlanta dive bars, visit the Elliott Street Deli and Pub, a sandwich spot, bar and jazz club. The owners love to cook and socialize, so they make sure everyone has a good time.
What to Drink: Drink the IPA beer for $3 a glass, which is on the honor system. And be good – once you meet the owners, you won’t want to make them mad.

Smith’s Olde Bar
Why: If you’re looking for a place to have a drink, listen to live music, play pool or darts and watch the game, Smith’s Olde Bar is the place for you. Smith’s has a good beer selection and lots of drink specials, plus the intimate upstairs music venue allows you to see the stage no matter where you sit or stand.
What to Drink: If you visit on a Wednesday (when you’ll find the weekly singer-songwriter showcase), order the $3 Budweisers in the bowling pin-shaped bottles.

Whiskey Blue
Why: If you’re the type who likes to see and be seen, visit the sky-high Whiskey Blue bar atop the W Hotel in the affluent Buckhead neighborhood. Cocktails aren’t cheap, but they’re interesting, and so is the crowd, composed of the Atlanta professional elite (or wannabe elite) in their 20s and 30s. The adjoining rooftop deck provides glorious views of the Atlanta nighttime skyline.
What to Drink: For refreshment from the Atlanta heat, try the Pure Silk cocktail, which has vodka, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice and basil; or the Clementine Crush, made of Svedka Clementine Vodka, orange juice, ginger root, tonic and sugar. Drinks change seasonally.

East Andrews
Why: A mini-mall of bars with a fountain in the center, East Andrews is the bar for Atlanta 20-somethings where the male patrons outnumber the females 3-to-1. Try Cellar 56 for affordable, delicious tapas and wine ($3 for half glasses and $6 for full glasses), and stay to enjoy the Top 40 hits playing in the indoor atrium or live music in one of the upstairs bars.
What to Drink: Take shots of SoCo and lime, and follow them up with draft beer.

Noon/Midtown Café and Bar
Why: You can find cheap drinks anywhere, but for truly handcrafted drinks, sit at the bar manned by bartender/mixologist Reggie Weekes at Noon/Midtown Café and Bar. Fresh, high-quality ingredients and classic techniques mean you’ll savor every sip of your beverage. Drinks are typically Spanish/Caribbean.
What to Drink: Sip the Painless Brazilian, whose addition of pineapple juice softens the traditional Caprihina, or the Pancho Villa, a tequila-based drink with lime, Cointreau and rosemary.

In the South, college football is king, and the city of Atlanta is a melting pot of college football fans. Of course, Atlanta area teams – the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the University of Georgia Bulldogs – are local favorites, but where are you to watch the game if you’re an Auburn, Clemson or Alabama fan? What about if your alma mater is farther away, say Penn State or Michigan? Have no fear; Atlanta has plenty of college-specific bars to help you get through the big game, for the times when it’s not playing on your apartment TV. When you want to be surrounded by hundreds of similarly minded fans either celebrating or lamenting over the action on TV, you can find a bar that honors your college, right outside the door of Atlanta apartments.

University of Alabama
Where: Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324
Neighborhood: Midtown

Auburn University
Where: Bucket Shop, 3475 Lenox Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
Neighborhood: Buckhead

Clemson University
Where: Tavern 99, 128 East Andrews Dr., Atlanta, GA 30305
Neighborhood: Buckhead

University of Florida
Where: Sidebar, 79 Poplar St., Atlanta, GA 30303
Neighborhood: Downtown

Florida State University
Where: Tin Lizzy’s (Buckhead), 3639 Piedmont Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30305; and Mellow Mushroom (Brookhaven), 4058 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, GA, 30319
Neighborhood: Buckhead-Grant Park and Brookhaven

University of Kentucky
Where: Stout Irish Pub, 56 East Andrews Dr., Suite 16, Atlanta, GA 30305
Neighborhood: Buckhead

Louisiana State University
Where: Front Page News, 351 Moreland Ave., Atlanta, GA 30307
Neighborhood: Little Five Points

Michigan State University
Where: STATS, 300 Marietta St., Atlanta, GA 30313
Neighborhood: Downtown

University of North Carolina
Where: Hudson Grille, 942 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Neighborhood: Midtown

University of Notre Dame
Where: RiRa, 1080 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
Neighborhood: Midtown

Ohio State University
Where: Cocktail Cove, 5840 Roswell Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30328
Neighborhood: Buckhead

Pennsylvania State University and Boston College
Where: Famous Pub, 2947 North Druid Hills Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329
Neighborhood: North Druid Hills

University of South Carolina
Where: Carolyn’s Gourmet Café, 1151 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30309
Neighborhood: Midtown

University of Texas
Where: Black Bear Tavern, 1931 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Neighborhood: Buckhead

Vanderbilt University
Where: Hudson Grille (Brookhaven), 4046 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319
Neighborhood: Brookhaven

If you start the lease for an Atlanta apartment or rental house anytime except the very first day of the month, you’ll pay prorated rent. Prorated rent is a good thing; it means you only pay for the days that the lease is actually in your name rather than for the entire month.

As a renter, you need to know how to prorate rent so you can budget accordingly. This calculation is not to be used for when you move into an apartment or rental house, only when you actually have possession of the Atlanta apartment. Often, your lease begins before you can actually move your stuff into your apartment. If your lease term begins on the first of the month, but you choose to move in later, you’ll still owe rent for the entire month. When you signed the lease, you agreed to pay a full month’s rent in return for a full month’s use of the Atlanta apartment.

To prorate rent, you need your lease start date, which you and your landlord will agree on. Then:

1. Determine how many days are in the month in which your lease begins. For instance, if your lease starts in June, there are 30 days in June.
2. Divide your monthly rental payment by the number of days in the month to find the cost of rent per day. If your rent is $600 per month and your lease starts in June, for example, divide $600 by 30 days ($600/30 = $20 per day).
3. Determine your lease start date. For example, say that it’s June 14, which means that for the month of June, you will pay rent for 17 days (June 14-30). At $20 per day, you will pay $340 for the month of June ($20 per day x 17 days = $340).

Or, visit Mr. Landlord for a prorated rent calculator.

Keep in mind that in some cases, particularly if your credit isn’t good or if the landlord has never rented before, the landlord may choose to prorate the second month’s rent rather than the first. From a landlord’s perspective, it may be best to receive a full month’s rent and deposit upon move-in and then prorate the second month’s rent, unless the tenant has extremely good credit and references. In other words, in some landlords’ eyes, if a tenant can afford the full amount up front, the tenant is more likely to continue paying rent.

Photo by: AndreasReh

Go Back to School
It’s no secret that college graduates earn significantly more over a lifetime than those who didn’t graduate from college. Invest in yourself and advance your education since you won’t have the added expense of rent.
Top Earning 2 Year Degrees

• Dental Hygienist- employed in dental offices and responsible for cleaning and polishing the teeth and giving guidance regarding healthy oral care.
• Computer Specialist- Offer technical support, provide network assistance and network security.
• Paralegal-often employed by legal firms to help and assist lawyers prepare for trials, hearings, consultations and more

Photo by: Sisoje

Travel
That vacation you’ve been dreaming of taking for so long could be a reality if you don’t have to pay rent for an entire year! If you’re interested in the road less traveled, check out some of these vacation spots across the globe.

Pay Some Bills
The average American has a sizable amount of debt and with the economic situation we’re facing, many of us continue to increase that debt. In ApartmentGuide.com’s newest sweepstakes, you might have the opportunity to take care of some of your debt. You won’t have to pay rent for a year because the grand prize winner will receive 15,000 to cover their rent for the year. How great would that be?

Photo by: coreay

Other things you could spend the extra cash on….

• Save for a Rainy Day
• Buy a Greener Car
• Upgrade my rental to luxury apartment living with all the amenities

Photo By: Inspired N 07

Garden Events
I bet you didn’t know you do more than just tour the flower gardens here. Cocktails in the Garden is an on-going event beginning in the spring and continuing into the fall. Enjoy the DJ who will be playing music while visitors enjoy signature cocktails that correspond to specific plant exhibits. Another popular event is the Children’s Garden Storybook time.

Photo By: Jennandjon

Classes at the Gardens
In addition to the gorgeous botanical exhibits and the fun events throughout the year, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens offer a variety of classes. Some classes like Kitchen Herb Gardening and Orchid Care clinics are favorites. But, there are also classes you wouldn’t expect like Tai Chi in the Garden and Advanced Flower Photography.

Photo by: K8Lynn2007

1. Set realistic goals – If you have made 5 New Year’s resolutions, you are doomed for failure. Be realistic and pick one thing you really want to do and be specific. Don’t say just “lose weight”, change that to “lose 10 pounds by May 1st.”

2. Break it down – If your goal is to lose 10 pounds or exercise 3 days a week, break it down even further. Write down monthly, weekly and daily goals that will help you get to your long-term goal. It is really hard to lose weight, exercise, save money or stop smoking if you don’t know what steps you are going to take to get there.

3. Tell everyone! – You need a support system to help you stay on track. Tell your family and friends what your goals are, and even better, see if you can find a buddy to do it with you. It is great to have someone you are accountable to, and who can share your discouragements and your triumphs.

4. Reward yourself – Give yourself a weekly and monthly reward. Now don’t be discouraged by set backs, but if you have a great week, you accomplished your goals, then celebrate! Put a picture on your refrigerator of something you really want for your reward WHEN you reach your final goal. It will motivate you every day!

5. Keep a journal – write down your long-term goal, and break it down into monthly and weekly goals. Then everyday, keep track of what you accomplished or did not accomplish for that day to measure your success. Don’t beat yourself up if you messed up, but you may see a pattern of things that may help you or hurt you accomplish your goals.

Look at your New Years resolutions, and put these tips into practice if you have not already. It takes 21 days to create a habit and 6 months for it to become part of your daily life. If you mess up today, remember tomorrow is a new day. You have only failed if you quit…so be realistic, reward yourself for baby steps, and keep on keeping on!

Photo by: Allison

You can assemble these do-it-yourself Christmas gifts in your Atlanta apartment with very little effort and just a little creativeness. Just pick the recipes that you want to use, decide what type of container you want to put it in, and then shop for the ingredients and containers that you need.

Cinnamon Vanilla Nut Cappuccino Mix

• 1 (8 oz) jar instant coffee granules
• 2 (8 oz) jars vanilla nut-flavored nondairy creamer
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, spoon into jar or plastic bag. Attach a recipe card with the following instructions.

1. Place 2 Tbsp of mix into a mug.
2. Add 6 to 8 oz of boiling water.
3. Stir and enjoy!

Hot Spiced Tea Mix

• 2/3 cup instant tea with lemon
• 1/3 cup instant orange breakfast drink mix
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp crushed cloves
• 2 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring well. Spoon into jar or plastic bag. Attach a recipe card with following instructions.

1. Place 2 tsp of mix into a cup.
2. Add 8 oz boiling water.
3. Stir and enjoy!

Photo by: melanie cook

Banana Nut Bread Mix

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup whole wheat flour
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup chopped walnuts

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients. Spoon into a 1-pint jar, tapping jar to settle ingredients. Attach a recipe card with the following instructions.

1. Banana Nut Bread Mix
2. 3 large bananas, mashed
3. ½ cup butter, softened
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla
5. 2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×5x3 inch loaf pan. Place mix in a largebowl. Add butter, eggs, mashed bananas, and vanilla. Beat well with an electric mixer.Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Invert bread onto wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips

In a 1-quart jar, layer ingredients in the order given, combining flour, baking soda, and salt. Attach a recipe card with the following instructions.

1. hocolate Chip Cookie Mix
2. ½ Tbsp vanilla
3. ¾ cup shortening
4. ½ tsp butter flavoring
5. 2 Tbsp milk
6. 1 egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, empty mix, stirring to combine. Add shortening, milk, vanilla, butter flavoring, and egg. Beat with a spoon or electric mixer until well blended. Drop by rounded Tbsp 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until light brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet before removing to a
wire rack. Enjoy!

Photo by: Curtis McCormick

Dressing Up Your Gifts

For the drink mixes, you may use a 1 pint jar, or you may put enough in a plastic bag for 5 or 6 servings and tuck it inside a nice holiday mug or tea cup. You may even use an empty potato chip canister or oatmeal box for packaging, put the ingredients in a plastic bag inside the container and cover the container with Christmas wrapping paper.

There are some great sheer fabric bags that are also available. And finally, don’t forget to handwrite or type out the instructions on a tag and attach with some colorful raffia or holiday ribbon. Have a merry, gift making evening in your Atlanta apartment assembling these tasty homemade gifts!

For more holiday gift ideas and jar mix recipes, check out the following sites.

• Gifts from the Kitchen
• Gift in a Jar Mixes

Photo by: Josh Hallett

History of the Pink Pig

The Pink Pig began as a child-size monorail that circled the toy department in the old downtown Atlanta Rich’s. After a number of years, it was moved to the rooftop of the old building. The front car of the train had the pink pig’s face, and the last car had a curly tail. The original train featured Priscilla the Pig, and a second train was later added to the track named Percival.

After the closing of the downtown store, the Pink Pig was set up at the Festival of Trees at the World Congress Center in Atlanta. During the Rich’s-Macy’s era, a new and improved Pink Pig was created. However, the monorail was replaced with a child-sized train. The train was set up on the upper-level of the parking deck at Lenox Square Mall under an enormous pink tent. The original Pink Pig monorail cars were restored in Sugar Hill Georgia and can now be found at the Atlanta History Center where they are exhibited.

Where to Find the Pink Pig in 2008

This year the ride will take place below the large tent at the Lenox Square Mall. The ride travels along train tracks to carry children and parents through a life-sized storybook that includes the original Pink Pig and her friends. Macy’s is encouraging Atlantans to celebrate family memories this holiday season along with Priscilla, an Atlanta holiday tradition. So get out of your Atlanta apartment and visit the Pink Pig and create a new holiday tradition. Children and adults are sure to have a fun, festive time.

The Macy’s Pink Pig will ride until January 4th at Lenox Square located at 3393 Peachtree Rd in Buckhead. Tickets are available for $3 at the Pink Pig kiosk inside Lenox Square. A portion of the ride’s proceeds will benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Photo by: FrenchKheldar

The Atlanta Thrashers

The Thrashers NHL franchise started in 1999. Before that, Atlanta had been without an NHL team since 1980 when the Atlanta Flames left the city for Calgary, Canada. In 2007, the Thrashers clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The team ended up losing to the Rangers in the quarterfinals, but won their first division championship ever.

• Atlanta Thrashers 2008-2009 Schedule – Check out this season’s schedule so you don’t miss a game.
• Thrashers Team Roster – Get stats and info on your favorite players.
• Thrashers Game Ticket Information – Check out special ticket packages, season tickets, Chick-fil-a Family Nights and All You Can Eat Tickets at Phillips Arena.

Photo by: FrenchKheldar

Gwinnett Gladiators

If Phillips Arena is too far away from your metro Atlanta home or you prefer to keep up with minor league hockey, consider heading down to the Arena at Gwinnett Center to cheer on the Gwinnett Gladiators. The team originated in Alabama as the Mobile Mysticks and moved to north Atlanta in 2003. Since their move to Atlanta, they have appeared in ECHL playoffs every season. In 2006 they even made it to the Kelly Cup Finals, but ended up losing to the Alaska Aces.

• Gwinnett Gladiators Roster – Learn more about the team and its players.
• Gladiator Ticket Information – Check out ticket packages, theme nights, group discounts and individual game tickets. Tickets start at $11.
• 2008-09 Gladiator Schedule – Take a look at the schedule to plan your next trip to a game.

Amateur Atlanta Hockey

If you’d rather play than sit in the stands and watch, check out the Atlanta Amateur Hockey League. You have to be at least 18 or older to play in the open league and member dues required for registration are around $400. If you’re under the age of 18, you can play with parental permission in the recreational league. And, if you’d like to try the sport but don’t have any experience, try the beginner league to get a feel for the ice.

Photo by: Wendy

What Women Think…

In general, high-heeled shoes give the illusion of longer, skinnier, toned legs. Walking around on 4-inch stiletto heels engages your leg muscles and can even make your calf muscles more defined. Plain and simple, women want to look taller and they want to look slender. High heels do both.

High heels have been proven to cause foot pain and injury. Many women admit to regularly wearing shoes that are painful and uncomfortable to walk in. So why is it that high-heeled shoes are a wardrobe staple for so many?

What Doctors Think…

High-heeled shoes force the foot into a painful position. Slanted forward, weight is concentrated on the ball of the foot instead of distributed across the arch. Toes are bent upwards and crunched together. And, the raised position of the heel causes the Achilles tendon to shorten. This causes a whole host of problems, not only in your foot, but throughout your body.

Common Problems From High Heels…

• Shortened, tighter and more painful Achilles tendon
• Metatarsalgia- joint pain in the ball of the foot
• Morton’s Neuroma- nerve and sensation problems
• Foot deformities like hammertoes, corns and bunions
• Altered posture and back pain
• Knee osteoarthritis

If You Just Can’t Live Without High Heel Shoes

When you go shoe shopping, you should focus on fit. This can be difficult because shoe sizes can vary greatly depending on the style of the high heel and depending on the manufacturer. So start with the shoe sizers in the stores, and take into account the width of the shoe as compared to your foot, the thickness of the heel and the shape of the toe.

• Wear shorter heels, 1 ½ to 2 inches, reduces the severity of pain and stress on your body.
• Wear high heels to events where you will be seated or not on your feet for long periods of time.
• Bring extra, more comfortable, shoes with you when you wear heels so you can change shoes if necessary.
• When possible, put comfort insoles and cushions in your high-heeled footwear.

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