Cityscape
But as many rushed to get out during the mid-20th century, others stayed and focused on making Atlanta, the heart of the sprawling region, better. They pushed for transit to create MARTA, supported affordable housing to make sure people of all incomes could live here, and pushed for justice. They invested in their communities and fought off projects that could have destroyed their homes. They knew that Atlanta had value and it could be better. So they worked toward that goal.
Today, the visionaries in our ranks include a City Hall official who is trying to retrofit the mess previous generations made to cater to commuters. There is a neighborhood activist in West End who is reaching out to young people to give guidance and structure. There is a group of historic preservationists who refuse to allow another beautiful building — in this case, a library — to be forgotten. And there is an annual gathering of people who flock to a truly visionary project to look at lanterns and be around other people.
Atlanta has too often focused on short-term fixes to solve problems. It’s been blind to the long-term problems those fixes can create. But pushing back, and sometimes leading us, are people who can see past the next year or election. To the people who are committed to making the city a better place, we say thanks.
— THOMAS WHEATLEY
Best 30-ish-mile bike ride for novice pedalers in metro Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best (and most unlikely) comeback BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best biblio-building boosters BOA Award Winner
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Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best corner store success story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best critique on the urban bourgeois BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best decision by a sports team that hasn't played single game BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best eco advocate to take a bow BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best foe of the death penalty BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best free thing to do BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best guide to a more livable Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best housing hero BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best light show BOA Award Winner
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Best neighborhood for the arts BOA Award Winner
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Best neighborhood to have it all BOA Award Winner
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Best new publicly accessible rooftop BOA Award Winner
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Best next big development opportunity BOA Award Winner
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Best place to buy a starter home and contribute to a community BOA Award Winner
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Best place to rent BOA Award Winner
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Best secret stash of Victorian architecture BOA Award Winner
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Best show of bipartisanship BOA Award Winner
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Best sloppy wet kiss from the state BOA Award Winner
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Best speed demon BOA Award Winner
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Best sports executive hire BOA Award Winner
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Best thorn in the mayor's side BOA Award Winner
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Best urban evangelist BOA Award Winner
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Best warrior in fight against HIV/AIDS BOA Award Winner
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Best workaround to injustice BOA Award Winner
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Best youth mentor BOA Award Winner
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Best architect BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best bed and breakfast BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best bike lane BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
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Best bus route BOA Award Winner
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Best charity BOA Award Winner
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Best child care center BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best city view BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best coding school BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best college BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best community garden BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best con(vention) BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best country radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best co-working space BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best dog park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best elementary school BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best free annual event BOA Award Winner
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Best free thing to do in Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best Georgia beach retreat BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best Georgia mountain escape BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best group bike ride BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best high school BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best hiking spot BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best hotel BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best internet radio BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best intown park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best jogging path BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best landmark BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best library BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local athlete BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local blog BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local blogger BOA Award Winner
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Best local celebrity BOA Award Winner
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Best local hero BOA Award Winner
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Best local Instagram feed BOA Award Winner
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Best local journalist BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local place to commune with nature BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local podcast BOA Award Winner
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Best local political figure BOA Award Winner
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Best local sports radio show BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local sports team BOA Award Winner
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Best local TV anchor BOA Award Winner
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Best local Twitter feed BOA Award Winner
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Best local weather guy/gal BOA Award Winner
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Best MARTA station BOA Award Winner
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Best middle school BOA Award Winner
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Best morning drive-time radio show BOA Award Winner
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Best neighborhood festival BOA Award Winner
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Best new addition to the cityscape BOA Award Winner
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Best new local startup BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Vesta Movement, 744 Ponce de Leon Ave. N.E. 404-281-1121. www.vastaatl.com.
Urban Tree Cidery, 1465 Howell Mill Road N.W. 404-855-5546. www.urbantreecidery.com.
Best 30-ish-mile bike ride for novice pedalers in metro Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best (and most unlikely) comeback BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best architect BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best bed and breakfast BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best biblio-building boosters BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best bike lane BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best bizarro local news story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best bizarro news story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best bus route BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best charity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best child care center BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best city view BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best coding school BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best college BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best community garden BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best con(vention) BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best corner store success story BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best country radio station BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best co-working space BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best critique on the urban bourgeois BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best decision by a sports team that hasn't played single game BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best dog park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best eco advocate to take a bow BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best elementary school BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best foe of the death penalty BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best free annual event BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best free thing to do BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best free thing to do in Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best Georgia beach retreat BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best Georgia mountain escape BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best group bike ride BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best guide to a more livable Atlanta BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best high school BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best hiking spot BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best hotel BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best housing hero BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best internet radio BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best intown park BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best jogging path BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best landmark BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best library BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best light show BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Critics Pick
Best local athlete BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local blog BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local blogger BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local celebrity BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local hero BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local Instagram feed BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local journalist BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Best local place to commune with nature BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Readers Pick
Trophy Case BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2016 » CityScape » Trophy Case