Best Of Atlanta 2011 Consumer Culture Large


Consumer Culture

The term “retail therapy” is dorky and cliché, but there is something to be said for the healing power of shopping. Spending money is a form of catharsis, and we’ve scoured Atlanta’s retail scene for the best places to get it all out.

There weren’t many new places to blow dough this year, but we rustled up plenty of stores that make us proud to shout, “Recession be damned!” and dust the cobwebs off our wallets.

While some of us are buying on a budget and others have the means to splurge, everyone feels good about shopping at locally owned businesses. The Beehive Co-op, in its recently opened retail space, charmed us with its selection of handmade jewelry from local artists and indie crafters. And we love the new ATL apparel company Streetela for making local street art wearable.

Among our other faves are a B&B-slash-urban farm in the heart of the city, a beautiful chocolate shop that makes its confections from scratch and a tattoo parlor that knows how to ink skin of all colors. And for retail therapy in its most literal form, may we suggest the to-die-for luxury mani-pedi at Nouvelle Nail Spa or G Salon’s $40 spa deal?

Sure, it might be time to stop saying “retail therapy,” but indulging in it will never go out of style.

— Gwynedd Stuart and Bobby Feingold

Best Art Exhibit in a Non-Traditional Space BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Streetela
Street art: populist art form, nuisance to society or super cool fashion? Does art have to exist inside a gallery or museum to be legit? The artists collective Streetela has answered the latter question with a decisive “Hell no” by slapping drawings and paintings by local artists on T-shirts andmore...
Street art: populist art form, nuisance to society or super cool fashion? Does art have to exist inside a gallery or museum to be legit? The artists collective Streetela has answered the latter question with a decisive “Hell no” by slapping drawings and paintings by local artists on T-shirts and selling them online. Some of the designs are twee, like a Wayne’s World-inspired shirt and tote by Paper Twins, and others are edgy, like an Ola Bad design that looks like a wheat paste project on your chest. Right now, Streetela is only featuring artists who are participating in the Living Walls Conference, but come November, it’ll be selling shirts by street artists from around the country. streetela.com. less...

Best Wine Shop BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
H&F Bottle Shop

Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Barking Hound Village Inn

Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick

Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Barking Hound Village Buckhead

Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner

Year » 2011
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2011 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick

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