Georgia! Georgia on my mind! Remote Lyfe in Atlanta was motivated by getting out of the Detroit cold for a month – and into the Atlanta cold (it was 16 degrees some of our days there!)!!! Atlanta does not have any big lakes or rivers going through its downtown, which was notable, but it did not disappoint with its vibrancy as a cosmopolitan city in the South. We thought we would be hanging out with Luda or Usher immediately upon arrival but we did enjoy the local friendliness and having our Airbnb close to Grant Park.
I loved visiting the Ron Clark Academy which is a Disneyworld esque-Harry Potter themed school for 4th-8th graders, majority of whom are low-income. You enter the school through castle gates with a huge dragon above you and leave by getting “slide” certified. I was able to observe the founder, Ron Clark, teach a math lesson that looked like a Shin Lim magic show, set to dramatic Hip Hop Music, and with him and students walking on top of desks. The students were all 100% engaged and were empowered to speak and connect with the class in ways that were trusting and powerful methods of teaching. I loved how playfulness was a shared quality of all the adult staff and that the kids seemed to truly love being there. The building was inspiring of the imagination of what is possible for education re-design, as most of my experiences teaching in cities like Detroit have been walking into the most uninspiring, prison-like buildings in the world. This is what is possible when we actually value youth and education and I loved that teachers from all over the world were coming to Ron Clark Academy to learn about how to transform education.
We also enjoyed the National Center for Civic and Human Rights to celebrate MLK day, the Atlanta zoo, the Coca Cola museum, and the Carter Center. Rosalynn Carter in particular was inspiring to me with her advocacy for mental health over five decades ago! Atlanta is rich in its cultural offerings and significant history in the civil rights movement. Despite the cold weather, we found so much to go do and see everyday in a city that is a nexus of social change and innovation being home to a ton of Fortune 500 companies. Also, with the Beltline, a 20+ mile biking and walking path, it was a joy to be a part of an incredibly active community, and we enjoyed hanging out at the Ponce City Market (especially the views from the Rooftop!)
Heading into Atlanta, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. Unless you’re from there or have spent a lot of time there, you don’t really have an idea.
We were aiming for a mild winter there in order to maybe walk to our local coffeeshops and be in the sun, but joke was on us as the winter wrapped us in the vortex of frigid temperatures & storms. We had to lean on driving more than expected as Atlanta had lesser of a public transportation system than some of our other larger destinations, but we still ventured out for the best cup of speciality coffee.
Overall, Atlanta surprised me with some of the best coffees I have personally tried and harnessed quite a bit of the coffeeshop vibes making it very easy to remote work. There is definitely a larger market of remote workers in Atlanta and I did find it more difficult to find seating as the morning progresses. So just be sure to know the early workers get the seats.
Some of Pidge’s favorite Atlanta Coffee Shop Locations:
Inman Perk Coffee-240 North Highland Avenue Northeast H
Coffeeshop with breakfast options that has a bar for the mid afternoon transition. Easy parking and a quiet hotspot for workers, but could always find seating.
Urban Grind-962 Marietta St NW
Staff at this one were stellar. Shop itself was definitely a hotspot for the college students looking for a study day, but not super crowded. Some eclectic furniture that really brought together a great environment.
Howdy ATL-753 Cherokee Ave SE
One of our favorites right next to Grant Park with amazing full cafe menu including great lattes. Always plenty of seating with lots of windows and very sweet staff.
Drip- 928 Garrett St B
One of the first ones we tried with a customizable breakfast sandwich. Solid coffee, but a little small.
Grant Park-337 Georgia Ave SE
This was a favorite of David due to comfortable seating and a more open coworking vibe with reservable meeting rooms. Full cafe menu.
Little Tart Bakeshop-68 Georgia Ave SE
As a sucker for baked goods, this one landed on my top list for the interesting and delectable treats. Not the best seating for long term working due to small seating and no plugs, but it still is great for a shorter work session with lots of windows.
Honorable Mention* Hodge Podge (no longer open)-720 Moreland Ave SE
Have to mention this one as it was closing the first week we arrived because it would have been our favorite. Very inviting for all identities with amazing seating options.
