Cityscape
Cities are more than a mere collection of people and buildings. Sprawling in all directions from a modest downtown, Atlanta is a city of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own history and continually developing character. Atlanta is also a city of public and private institutions; of landmarks; of gathering places; of media of all stripes; and of events both popular and underground — all of which helps determine who we are.
As Atlantans, we are drawn together by our common stories, from the scandalous (state House leaders stepping aside due to sexcapades) to the absurd (African wildlife running loose on the Downtown Connector) to the inspirational (a local kid who slugs a three-run homer the first time he steps up to bat in Turner Field).
With Cityscape, we celebrate those stories, those political shifts, those public spaces — the shared experiences that define the place we call home.
— Scott Henry
Best amenity-laden hotel BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best annual release of aggression BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best barely ITP park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best bet for next hot 'hood BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best display of the power of the MSM BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best evidence of social progress BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best hometown Internet sensation BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best hope for Atlanta gridlock BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best intown hipster hootenanny BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best intro to Atlanta history BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best kids' radio show for non-kids BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best local athlete you've never heard of BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best local blogger BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best local celebrity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
What's red and bushy, has fancy W Hotel parties thrown in its honor, can be spotted at local joints including Morelli's Ice Cream and the "Ghetto" Kroger and boasts nearly 8,000 Facebook fans? That would be KEVIN GILLESPIE'S BEARD. Kevin Gillespie might be a "Top Chef" finalist and James Beard semifinalist who can create a transcendent meal as easily with pork belly and veal chop as with a bundle of farm-fresh veggies, but it's his Yukon Cornelius-inspired facial hair that's earned him the national fame he deserves. Oh, and if you're angling for a KGB sighting, your best bet is the dining room at Woodfire Grill. The best tables offer an unobstructed view of the open kitchen - and the chef's lustrous beard.
Editor's note: This blurb has been modified to correctly reflect Gillespie's recognition from the James Beard Foundation.
Best local sports romance BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best neighborhood for after-hours BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best new park for catching air BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best noncommercial radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best organic farm BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best OTP park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best overall neighborhood BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best overlooked tourist spot BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best person you love to hate BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best place to people-watch BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best recession-proof neighborhood BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best rooftop view of lower Midtown BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best sign that gay media is still alive BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best underestimated suburb BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best validation of the big-city daily BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best volunteer program BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best way to deal with historic properties BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best way to see the city in a new way BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best affordable day care BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
And other metro Atlanta locations.
Runner-up: Primrose School
1197 Peachtree St., Suite 554, 404-745-9797, and other metro Atlanta locations.
Best annual event BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best charity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Habitat for Humanity
519 Memorial Drive, 404-223-5180, and other metro Atlanta locations. www.habitat.org.
Best country music radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best diverse college BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Emory University
Best dog park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: ParkGrounds
142 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., 678-528-9901, www.parkgrounds.com
Best free thing to do in Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave. W., 404-222-7275, www.centennialpark.com
Best Georgia beach retreat BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best Georgia mountain escape BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best hiking spot BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Kennesaw Mountain
900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw, 770-427-4686, www.kennesawmountain.areaparks.com
Best hotel BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: The Georgian Terrace Hotel
659 Peachtree St., 404-897-1991, www.thegeorgianterrace.com
Best intown park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Grant Park
840 Cherokee Ave., 404-624-0697, www.gpconservancy.org
Best jazz radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best jogging path BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Silver Comet Trail
Cooper Lake Road at Mayell Road, 404-875-7284, www.pathfoundation.org
Best landmark BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St., 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org
Best local athlete BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local blog/blogger BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local blogger BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local celebrity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local hero BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
clarkhoward.com
Runner-up: Jimmy Carter
Best local personality to follow on Twitter BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local place to commune with nature BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Best local political figure BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local sports radio show host BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local sports team BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Atlanta Falcons
Best local TV anchor BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local TV, magazine, or newspaper reporter BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local YouTube video BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best morning drive-time radio show BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood festival BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood for nightlife BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood for yard sales BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood to get a house for a steal BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood to live in without a car BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best new thing about Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best non-commercial radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best off-the-beaten-path tourist destination BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Little Five Points
littlefivepoints.net
Best OTP park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Kennesaw Mountain Park
900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw, 770-427-4686, www.kennesaw.com
Best overall neighborhood BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best overall radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best overrated thing about Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best party school BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best person you hate to love BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Neil Boortz
Best person you love to hate BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best picnic spot BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Stone Mountain Park
1000 Robert E. Lee Drive, 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com
Best place to people-watch BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best place to ride your bike BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Freedom Park
Corner of Moreland Avenue and E. Freedom Parkway, 404-817-6813, www.freedompark.org
Best playground BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: John Howell Park
801 Virginia Ave., 404-222-8244, www.atlanta-midtown.com
Best power couple BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Arthur and Stephanie Blank
Best affordable day care BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
And other metro Atlanta locations.
Runner-up: Primrose School
1197 Peachtree St., Suite 554, 404-745-9797, and other metro Atlanta locations.
Best amenity-laden hotel BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best annual event BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best annual release of aggression BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best barely ITP park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best bet for next hot 'hood BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best charity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Habitat for Humanity
519 Memorial Drive, 404-223-5180, and other metro Atlanta locations. www.habitat.org.
Best country music radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best display of the power of the MSM BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best diverse college BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Emory University
Best dog park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: ParkGrounds
142 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., 678-528-9901, www.parkgrounds.com
Best evidence of social progress BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best free thing to do in Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Centennial Olympic Park
265 Park Ave. W., 404-222-7275, www.centennialpark.com
Best Georgia beach retreat BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best Georgia mountain escape BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best hiking spot BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Kennesaw Mountain
900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw, 770-427-4686, www.kennesawmountain.areaparks.com
Best hometown Internet sensation BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best hope for Atlanta gridlock BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best hotel BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: The Georgian Terrace Hotel
659 Peachtree St., 404-897-1991, www.thegeorgianterrace.com
Best intown hipster hootenanny BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best intown park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Grant Park
840 Cherokee Ave., 404-624-0697, www.gpconservancy.org
Best intro to Atlanta history BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best jazz radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best jogging path BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Silver Comet Trail
Cooper Lake Road at Mayell Road, 404-875-7284, www.pathfoundation.org
Best kids' radio show for non-kids BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best landmark BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St., 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org
Best local athlete BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local athlete you've never heard of BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best local blog/blogger BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local blogger BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best local blogger BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local celebrity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
What's red and bushy, has fancy W Hotel parties thrown in its honor, can be spotted at local joints including Morelli's Ice Cream and the "Ghetto" Kroger and boasts nearly 8,000 Facebook fans? That would be KEVIN GILLESPIE'S BEARD. Kevin Gillespie might be a "Top Chef" finalist and James Beard semifinalist who can create a transcendent meal as easily with pork belly and veal chop as with a bundle of farm-fresh veggies, but it's his Yukon Cornelius-inspired facial hair that's earned him the national fame he deserves. Oh, and if you're angling for a KGB sighting, your best bet is the dining room at Woodfire Grill. The best tables offer an unobstructed view of the open kitchen - and the chef's lustrous beard.
Editor's note: This blurb has been modified to correctly reflect Gillespie's recognition from the James Beard Foundation.
Best local celebrity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local hero BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
clarkhoward.com
Runner-up: Jimmy Carter
Best local personality to follow on Twitter BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local place to commune with nature BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
Best local political figure BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local sports radio show host BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local sports romance BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best local sports team BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Runner-up: Atlanta Falcons
Best local TV anchor BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local TV, magazine, or newspaper reporter BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best local YouTube video BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best morning drive-time radio show BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood festival BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood for after-hours BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Critics Pick
Best neighborhood for nightlife BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick
Best neighborhood for yard sales BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2010 » Cityscape » Readers Pick