dangerousdave
11-04-2009, 11:09
Weather & Traffic
For those of you that have not been to Atlanta (http://www.atlanta.net/) be advised that the temperature and conditions can change very quickly here. I suggest that you bring a light jacket and perhaps a compact umbrella with you. Yesterday we had storms spawning some tornadoes (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/04/10/atlanta_weather.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab) moving through the Metro Atlanta area. The forecast (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/30313?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared) for the Championship Thu-Sat ranges from a high of 70 to a low of 46F.
Some here have already mentioned this but for those with allergies (http://www.atlantaallergy.com/pollenCount.aspx) be aware that we are nearing the end of the heaviest pollen season. Right now everything outside is coated in green & yellow pollen. The count yesterday was 1655.
For those of you that will be traveling (http://www.dot.state.ga.us/travelingingeorgia/Pages/default.aspx) on the Atlanta interstates a fantastic website to inquire about Atlanta traffic is Georgia Navigator (http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta). Free traffic info with a live person, can be found via your cell phone in the Atlanta area. Verizon and Sprint PCS customers can dial toll free *DOT (*368) and AT&T customers can dial #DOT (#368) or call 1-888-635-8287. You can also call 511 from any phone for prerecorded road information.
Food
Everybody that has been here before knows that inside the CNN Center is a wide variety of sit down and fast food restaurants. Avoid the high prices and limited menu at the GA Dome and eat here (http://www.cnncenterretail.com/). Be aware that you usually can not take any food or drink into the GA Dome, at least if the security guard sees it. ;)
Here (http://atlanta.diningguide.com/dl1dt.htm) are some other downtown restaurants.
Places To Go Near The GA Dome
Most folks know about the GA Aquarium (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/) (the worlds largest) which is within walking distance of First events. Be advised that this year they have a Titanic Aquatic (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/visitus/titanicaquatic.aspx) adventure with authentic artifacts and hands-on interactive experiences. There is an extra charge for this exhibit. Be sure to obtain your First discounted (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/first.aspx) aquarium pass for $13 on Friday night 6-10PM that others have mentioned here and is only available online. This is a great experience and admission is about half price.
Some have also mentioned here that a lot of people also enjoy the World of Coca-Cola (http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/) which is also very close by First events.
A very short ride away and making it's North American debut is the Tutankhamun (http://www.kingtut.org/about_the_exhibition) exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1+Georgia+Dome+Dr+NW,+Atlanta,+GA+30313+(Geo rgia+Dome)&daddr=395+Piedmont+Ave+NE+30308&hl=en&geocode=CUSVn9Tn7qRZFWgVAwIdnCT4-iHB27VOoFbcpg%3B&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=33.757504,-84.392721&sspn=0.026367,0.038624&ie=UTF8&ll=33.760846,-84.392467&spn=0.026366,0.038624&z=15). The exhibition features 50 objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun. The exhibit is heading to Indianapolis on June 29th. You can also ride the MARTA (http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm) rail to the Civic Center station.
For the sports fans...
The Atlanta Hawks (http://www.nba.com/hawks/LandingPage_041009.html) (basketball) have a playoff game at Philips arena (right next to the dome) on Sat or Sun (as yet undetermined).
The Atlanta Braves (http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=atl) (baseball) are only in town Tue-Thu however, for those that might be staying off of I-85 in Gwinnett county (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1+Georgia+Dome+Dr+SW,+Atlanta,+GA+30313+(Geo rgia+Dome)&daddr=134+S+Clayton+St,+Lawrenceville,+GA+30045+(L awrenceville+Shopping+Center)&hl=en&geocode=Cf9-KlSgE7peFZUUAwIdxh34-iEYEAuMzj896g%3BFRcgBgIdiHD--iH96NrktE0LGg&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=33.859583,-84.195786&sspn=0.407687,0.617981&ie=UTF8&ll=33.861863,-84.195786&spn=0.42136,0.617981&z=11), our new AAA baseball team, the Gwinnett Braves (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t431) (formerly Richmond) are in town Fri-Sun.
Also in that same area of Gwinnett is our minor league hockey team the Gwinnett Gladiators (http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/schedule/schedule.asp) who will have some playoff games against Florida Thu-Sun.
Amusement Park
About a 30 minute ride (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1+Georgia+Dome+Dr+NW,+Atlanta,+GA+30313+(Geo rgia+Dome)&daddr=Six+Flags+over+Georgia&hl=en&geocode=FWgVAwIdnCT4-iHB27VOoFbcpg%3BCfMXE2QlpJIAFX1LAwId5tj1-iFmG7o2wRIWYA&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=33.763442,-84.476223&sspn=0.210923,0.30899&ie=UTF8&z=13) away is Six Flags Over Georgia (http://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia/) for those that want to ride some roller coasters. They are open on Saturday & Sunday.
I hope this is helpful to some of you coming to Atlanta and Atlanta is looking forward to hosting the First Championship event for the 6th year in a row and we hope everyone has a great and safe time while they are here.
Dave
For those of you that have not been to Atlanta (http://www.atlanta.net/) be advised that the temperature and conditions can change very quickly here. I suggest that you bring a light jacket and perhaps a compact umbrella with you. Yesterday we had storms spawning some tornadoes (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/04/10/atlanta_weather.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab) moving through the Metro Atlanta area. The forecast (http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/30313?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared) for the Championship Thu-Sat ranges from a high of 70 to a low of 46F.
Some here have already mentioned this but for those with allergies (http://www.atlantaallergy.com/pollenCount.aspx) be aware that we are nearing the end of the heaviest pollen season. Right now everything outside is coated in green & yellow pollen. The count yesterday was 1655.
For those of you that will be traveling (http://www.dot.state.ga.us/travelingingeorgia/Pages/default.aspx) on the Atlanta interstates a fantastic website to inquire about Atlanta traffic is Georgia Navigator (http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta). Free traffic info with a live person, can be found via your cell phone in the Atlanta area. Verizon and Sprint PCS customers can dial toll free *DOT (*368) and AT&T customers can dial #DOT (#368) or call 1-888-635-8287. You can also call 511 from any phone for prerecorded road information.
Food
Everybody that has been here before knows that inside the CNN Center is a wide variety of sit down and fast food restaurants. Avoid the high prices and limited menu at the GA Dome and eat here (http://www.cnncenterretail.com/). Be aware that you usually can not take any food or drink into the GA Dome, at least if the security guard sees it. ;)
Here (http://atlanta.diningguide.com/dl1dt.htm) are some other downtown restaurants.
Places To Go Near The GA Dome
Most folks know about the GA Aquarium (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/) (the worlds largest) which is within walking distance of First events. Be advised that this year they have a Titanic Aquatic (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/visitus/titanicaquatic.aspx) adventure with authentic artifacts and hands-on interactive experiences. There is an extra charge for this exhibit. Be sure to obtain your First discounted (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/first.aspx) aquarium pass for $13 on Friday night 6-10PM that others have mentioned here and is only available online. This is a great experience and admission is about half price.
Some have also mentioned here that a lot of people also enjoy the World of Coca-Cola (http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/) which is also very close by First events.
A very short ride away and making it's North American debut is the Tutankhamun (http://www.kingtut.org/about_the_exhibition) exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1+Georgia+Dome+Dr+NW,+Atlanta,+GA+30313+(Geo rgia+Dome)&daddr=395+Piedmont+Ave+NE+30308&hl=en&geocode=CUSVn9Tn7qRZFWgVAwIdnCT4-iHB27VOoFbcpg%3B&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=33.757504,-84.392721&sspn=0.026367,0.038624&ie=UTF8&ll=33.760846,-84.392467&spn=0.026366,0.038624&z=15). The exhibition features 50 objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun. The exhibit is heading to Indianapolis on June 29th. You can also ride the MARTA (http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index-rail.htm) rail to the Civic Center station.
For the sports fans...
The Atlanta Hawks (http://www.nba.com/hawks/LandingPage_041009.html) (basketball) have a playoff game at Philips arena (right next to the dome) on Sat or Sun (as yet undetermined).
The Atlanta Braves (http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=atl) (baseball) are only in town Tue-Thu however, for those that might be staying off of I-85 in Gwinnett county (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1+Georgia+Dome+Dr+SW,+Atlanta,+GA+30313+(Geo rgia+Dome)&daddr=134+S+Clayton+St,+Lawrenceville,+GA+30045+(L awrenceville+Shopping+Center)&hl=en&geocode=Cf9-KlSgE7peFZUUAwIdxh34-iEYEAuMzj896g%3BFRcgBgIdiHD--iH96NrktE0LGg&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=33.859583,-84.195786&sspn=0.407687,0.617981&ie=UTF8&ll=33.861863,-84.195786&spn=0.42136,0.617981&z=11), our new AAA baseball team, the Gwinnett Braves (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t431) (formerly Richmond) are in town Fri-Sun.
Also in that same area of Gwinnett is our minor league hockey team the Gwinnett Gladiators (http://www.gwinnettgladiators.com/schedule/schedule.asp) who will have some playoff games against Florida Thu-Sun.
Amusement Park
About a 30 minute ride (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1+Georgia+Dome+Dr+NW,+Atlanta,+GA+30313+(Geo rgia+Dome)&daddr=Six+Flags+over+Georgia&hl=en&geocode=FWgVAwIdnCT4-iHB27VOoFbcpg%3BCfMXE2QlpJIAFX1LAwId5tj1-iFmG7o2wRIWYA&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=33.763442,-84.476223&sspn=0.210923,0.30899&ie=UTF8&z=13) away is Six Flags Over Georgia (http://www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia/) for those that want to ride some roller coasters. They are open on Saturday & Sunday.
I hope this is helpful to some of you coming to Atlanta and Atlanta is looking forward to hosting the First Championship event for the 6th year in a row and we hope everyone has a great and safe time while they are here.
Dave