Junkman’s Daughter
Junkman’s Daughter is difficult not to notice when you drive or pass by Moreland Avenue in Atlanta GA. You have definitely seen the establishment at one point or another — huge, multi-colored store with shimmering and sparkling mannequin displays. The exterior and even the name “Junkman’s Daughter” might just raise more questions than it answers — “what in the world is in there?”
Junkman’s Daughter is a testament to the diversity that Little 5 Points represent, and the interesting part is, this shop is one of the oldest in the community, and yet it is not an antique or vintage shop – well, not entirely at least, it has everything for every generation. It has anything and everything that you may or may not need but you may find it interesting because it simply is or maybe because it is one those things that you encounter very rarely and it would be a treasure to simply have it.
So instead of simply laying out for you what or what not to expect, how about do not expect anything and simply be open to anything that you will find in it.
As overwhelming as the exterior of the store may be, think of it as a preview of what else you could find inside. You can find collectibles, fetish items, novelty items and even some necessities like wardrobes, accessories and stuff that may come in interesting and creative forms.
Prepping for Halloween? Then you have come to the right place for rare and original Halloween costumes. The place becomes jam-packed during the season so if you come in late, you’ll be left with nothing but leftover costumes.
Simply put, open your mind, do not set any expectations, and do not bring a shopping list because remember, Junkman’s Daughter is not a supermarket nor a department store. But it is also more than a gift shop or a junk shop. You can literally find anything in here so just get ready to have your visuals filled with things, novelty or necessities alike, and have fun and take your time strolling through the aisles or perusing through the various items.
Vortex Bar and Grill
Vortex Bar and Grill at Little 5 Points is quite a conspicuous place to begin with. From the massive skull display lingering at the entrance to the somewhat over-the-top colors used in the place’s exterior, it seems like the place is literally inviting you in – and it might be a bad idea not to. Oh, and they are also claiming to have “Atlanta’s Best Burger” — now how can you miss that?
In contrast to the exterior, Vortex’s interior is a bit more laid back. You can either see bricks or blacks inside the bar. The interior may give you the impression that it speaks only to vintage, country and biker crowds. But it really isn’t.
People who come into the place are from all walks of life, regardless of color or job, or whether a local or tourist, the place caters to everyone. The place is spacious and there is a lot of room to move around even when the place is fully packed. Some even take the time to sample new beverages like New Belgium Brewing’s Fat Tire Amber Ale which is both light and good.
The menu is simple and can satisfy anyone’s tastes. They have burger and sides that are cooked the way you want it. The zucchini chips are cooked to perfection – battered up yet crispy, thin sliced, and perfect with or without a ranch dressing. They also serve a plateful of nachos which is very appetizing. Their Ragin’ Cajun burger is indeed raging with spicy pepper sauce, plus the patty is half pound and the sandwich stacks about four inches high, which says a lot about a raging burger. Plus the burger’s price is very reasonable for a burger that juicy and thick. Indeed, they do have a shot for the city’s “best burger” title.
The ambiance is relaxing especially with the live music being played. The guitar performance was decent, not like in some bars where it seemed like the amplifier was right onto your ears. The crew were very accommodating and efficient, especially the bartender who had to tackle about 20 beers in the stack along with the other bottles of liquor in the bar.
Vortex is a place in Little 5 Points that you could not and should not miss especially if you’re looking for a good time with a few bottles of beer, a good burger, and good music and atmosphere.
Aurora Coffee
There is one spot in Little 5 Points (L5P) that has got everyone’s creative juices flowing. And it is not just the drinks that they serve or how they serve it, it is the place itself that brings all creative minds together in one spot.
Aurora Coffee may appear as a typical junkies spot — with all the vibrant colors and graphic wall displays – you may not even think of it is a coffee shop, until you smell the aroma of brewing coffee beans and see the people sipping it from their cups.
Don’t be overwhelmed with Aurora’s exterior design. Remember that you are in L5P – Atlanta’s most artistically diverse and funkiest neighborhood, so exteriors like Aurora’s should not appear foreign to you. It actually invites you in to sit and sip a cup of coffee or tea, take a breather and do your work in a much more inspiring but quieter environment.
Aurora’s interior isn’t as loud as what goes on the outside. They employ a minimalist interior design scheme with a few color splashes here and there on a gray based wall giving life to the place but not to the point of extravagance. The concrete floor is well polished giving an illusion of space and a chic design, so is the ceiling with its state-of-the-art lighting. The fixtures made of aluminum and wood renders the place warm and cozy.
Whether you like your coffee hot or cold, espresso or latte, or if you don’t like caffeine at all but would prefer a tea instead, Aurora’s got it and they have been serving the finest coffee and tea since 1992, so that’s perfection and coffee mastery guaranteed. They also have pastries and breakfast dishes to pack your day.
Come and visit Aurora Coffee in Little 5 Points and also in Virginia Highlands along North Highland Avenue.
Savage Pizza
Contrary to its name, Savage Pizza located in Atlanta’s Little 5 Points district is all about delicious hand-made dough topped with fresh ingredients and smothered up with homemade sauce to come up with the best tasting pizza in this side of Atlanta.
Savage Pizza is a landmark in L5P. It has been said that the pizzeria was spawned by the poet coined the Savage Messiah, thus the name of the place. The place looks very homely with all the comic book icons like Superman and Wonder Woman welcoming you to relax and take a bite.
The crew is very accommodating, always checks up on every customer to follow-up on their orders or to replenish their drinks. But the thing that sets Savage apart is their hand-tossed pizza dough that is always fresh, and so are the salads, sandwiches, calzones and deserts.
They also sell homemade sauces and meat and veggie toppings apart from the pizza so others can create their own Savage Pizza at the comfort of their home. They also offer delivery and catering services – perfect for parties or other small scale occasions.
Savage Pizza is really something that both locals and tourists should come to for a good time and a good slice of pizza. It really is a Little 5 Points treasure.
Front Page News
An upbeat vibe surrounded by warm and casual ambiance. Fun but cozy. Yes, these may seem opposites but there is a spot in Atlanta that combines both. It can even remind you of the relaxing or laid back atmosphere in New Orleans while spending time in sunny Atlanta.
Front Page News. Yes, this place is indeed a news maker among tourists and locals alike for its relaxing feel, located in two lively spots in Atlanta — Midtown and Atlanta’s indie capital, Little Five Points (L5P).
Come here for the view – the patio that is surrounded by the magnificent landscape that includes a fountain and abundant shrubbery to calm everyone’s senses while having a good talk or a drink. Enjoy the best of the patio during spring or summer but you can have just as much fun as during the cold months since the place is heated up.
While Front Page News is makes headlines for the beauty of its front patio, its food is not much of a breaking news though. But the variety of the menu still draws people during the early morning and after work hours. The drinks are well-prepared and reasonably priced, and entertainment mainly comes from the live band playing every night. If you drop by its Midtown location, it has a dance floor so you can strut your stuff to the hits of contemporary and modern dance hits. Indoor, outdoor and bar seating are provided in both Front Page News locations in Midtown and L5P.
Front Page News is a casual bar so there’s no need to suit up or be formally dressed. Come in your casual best self and you’re off to a good time. Parking should not be a problem in both locations if you come in a bit early. In case you’re caught in a “full parking” scenario, there’s a pay parking area in the Midtown branch usually worth $10 a night, just make sure you’re dealing with a uniformed parking attendant.
Come and drop by Front Page News in any of its two locations in Atlanta. In the Midtown nightlife district, it is along Crescent Avenue. In Little Five Points, it is located two blocks down Moreland and Euclid intersections.
A Cappella Books
It is hard to find these days a book shop that will describe a certain town and its people through its novels and other written work. But in Atlanta’s Little 5 Points (L5P) neighborhood, a book shop as such can be found.
Years after Frank Reiss graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens (UGA) he decided to open A Cappella Books in 1989, a book shop that seemed like the embodiment of Little 5 Points’ history, culture, lifestyle and its people through its collection of books and novels. It is L5P’s life and soul.
The shop may not seem as your standard or normal bookstore that sells brand new paper backs or hard covers. A Cappella sells both used and brand new titles. Reiss has also ventured into publishing some out-of-print selections and a new book by Peter Case which showcases his memoirs.
Reiss carefully chooses which books to sell, like Jean Genet’s Querelle or selections about indie music – you see, Little 5 Points is Atlanta’s indie capital. Now how does Reiss know which books would speak best about Little 5 Points? He solicits the help of his neighbors to organize reading events and meet-ups to gather feedback on what’s keeping L5P’s book-loving community hooked or interested at the moment.
Think of A Cappella as Little 5 Points’ local library and Reiss as its librarian, only that the books in this “library” are of course, not free but are all worth spending money on.
Criminal Records
In this digital age where music can be easily streamed and downloaded for cheap yearly or monthly subscriptions or even for free to say the least, you’d think that CDs and vinyl records are dead. But fact of the matter is, it really is a dwindling industry but there are still very few stores that keep that particular industry alive, one of which is Criminal Records.
Don’t let the shop name fool you. This is not a branch of the feds or something like that. Criminal Records is a music and comic book shop situated in Atlanta’s most artistically eclectic neighborhood, Little Five Points. They sell a wide range of physical music formats from CDs, vinyl records (all types – LPs, 7”s, 10”s and 12”s), DVDs, multiple disc sets, box sets and even turntables and accessories perfect for passionate music collectors. They also have an extensive graphic novel collection, posters, magazines and other stuff that are both new and used and even a cozy spot to hold short live performances, but Criminal Records is more known in L5P as one of the very few remaining physical record shops in Georgia and the only one in Atlanta.
The shop sells releases from both mainstream and indie artists, vintage and current, but people come here to sample and buy records that they cannot find in other record shops like Tower Records. They have the most extensive collection of indie albums, especially the hard to find ones and the classics, which is good news for indie artists because Criminal Records paves the way for them to be heard, discovered and make a profit – although meager at times – from their releases. Not only do they have the most extensive collection of the most obscure records that have been ever released, the prices are reasonable too and the staff is as equally as knowledgeable as the customers when it comes to their stuff – they really know their music. If the store doesn’t have what you’re looking for, they’ll either order it in for you or they will suggest a close alternative so you’ll end up still taking home something.
Their website also offers an online shopping option, and while some may find this convenient, some music lovers would personally drop by and take the time to hear samples from their very extensive and constantly updated collection of records, browse over their comic book collection or just hear a band perform in one of their in-store performances, because the experience is golden. Whether these people end up buying something on their way out or not, being in this indie heaven is an experience worth coming back for.
Fox Bros. BBQ
We all know that Texas has the best barbecues in the US – perfectly seasoned and cooked at the right temperature. But not everyone is willing to go down south in pursuit of that perfect barbecue. If you live in the southeast, you can head to Atlanta instead and sample the offerings of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q.
Texan-bred brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox opened this restaurant with the help of other friends out of frustration of not finding any good barbecue restaurants in Atlanta. At present, Fox Bros. boasts of offering a barbecue that “has Texan roots but has a southern influence”. It is the perfect mix of the classic Texan barbecue with a taste and style that southern folks from Atlanta will surely love.
Sample their meats that are smoked with hickory wood nonetheless and are dressed and served with their very own barbecue sauce which they also sell at Whole Foods for only $5. They’ve got baby back ribs which costs barely $20 for a whole serving, smoked chicken which could also be served in purely white meat for an additional $2, the deep brisket for only $14 a pound of serving and pulled pork, for only $12 a pound of serving. Their sides, salads and desserts, and even their kids’ meals are priced a tad lower, of course, than their solo meat offerings.
They also have a separate menu for take-out orders where they have sandwiches and baskets that are each served with a side, meat plate orders that are also each served with a side, a combo plate where you can choose two meats, the “Everything” plate where you can choose up to four meats, the baby back ribs which costs $23 for a whole rack plate of serving and they even have something for the vegans – the veggie plate, which consists of four sides that costs $11. They also have daily lunch and dinner specials.
Among their best sellers are the smoked spicy BBQ wings which customers rave about being meaty and juicy, the “Everything” plate which is a meat lover’s heaven with chicken, pork, ribs and beef brisket that is cooked at the right temperature and seasoned perfectly, while the sides are also garnering positive reviews for its big and full servings especially the mac and cheese, Brunswick stew and baked beans. Fox Bros. even earned the top honors in the 2010 Zagat Restaurant Guide as the top barbecue restaurant in Atlanta. City locals and tourists both enjoy the positive and joyful vibe that the restaurant gives, the wide range of food choices and its affordability, the very accommodating and friendly staff, and its accessibility in terms of location and parking.
Come to Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q and experience what every barbecue lover is raving about. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q is located at the corner of Dekalb Avenue and Elmira at Candler Park. They’re open seven days a week from 11 AM to 10 PM, and until 11 PM on Saturdays.
Variety Playhouse
Little Five Points is known as Atlanta’s most eclectic district. The art galleries, shops, restaurants and theaters really keep this neighborhood both alive and colorful. For those who dig live music both by indie and mainstream acts in a tightly knit and cozy place, kind of like a sound check session, then come by the Variety Playhouse along Euclid Avenue.
Variety Playhouse is both a theater and a nightclub, but used to be a movie house which explains the narrow aisles and the balcony seating. But it also has tables, chairs and a standing area for those who’d like to experience the show up close. Most of those who have been here enjoyed the concert experience despite the size of the venue. It might be small but it creates the intimacy which allows the audiences to be moved by the performers’ raw and personal performance on stage, which is also inspired by the intimate and relaxing vibe of the venue.
Some agree that the venue’s name – Variety Playhouse – truly speaks for what the place represents, variety. Several and various live acts have already graced the stage of the Playhouse, mostly indie acts like The Afghan Wings, Men at Work, Junior Brown, while other indie acts that are scheduled to perform include The New Pornographers, acclaimed artist Dar Williams, Grammy award winning bassist Victor Wooten, the British group Steel Pulse, the eclectic group Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, and the super eccentric funky group Here Come the Mummies, and even mainstream act and Billboard chart topper The Script, to name a few. As you can see, there is also a variety in music genre – from rock, to reflective, reggae, to world music and, funk and dance, Variety Playhouse truly lives up to its name.
Variety Playhouse accepts band submissions and the venue is also open for rentals. For those interested to see a show, please keep in mind that smoking is not allowed inside the venue, sharps and glaring objects are also not allowed inside, disabled guests can be admitted early as long as they arrive 10 minutes before the door opens and dress code is casual. Tickets can be bought from Ticketmaster or from the Variety Playhouse Ticket Club.
The Variety Playhouse is close to downtown hotels and lodging areas, and is also closely situated to several L5P restaurants and shops.
Little 5 Points’ Top 10 Must-sees
Posted by Andrew Shepard on May 31, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Right at the middle of Moreland, Euclid and McLendon Avenues in downtown Atlanta is the city’s “melting pot” of different interests – funky, indie, hippie, eccentric – name it and Little 5 Points (L5P) has it – both for tourists and locals alike.
From food, to books, to novelty shops and lifestyle spots, L5P has it and almost all of these shops are pet-friendly and we will run down which of these top ten shops would welcome your four-legged loved ones at least on their front porch.
If you just feel like sitting down and watch people walk by or do their thing, you can order a cup of latte from the very efficient baristas of Aurora Coffee or you can go straight and gulp on an ice-cold bottle of beer at Corner Tavern. Both places are pet friendly.
If you are in the mood to peruse through a variety of books – new or used – then you should drop by A Cappella Books. They also buy or sell books so if you are looking for cheap books, or want to trade books and would want to earn a few bucks then this is the place to be.
Criminal Records is not what you think it is so don’t get all nervous. Despite the name, the store is actually a big vault of collectors’ stuff like vinyl records, comic books, CDs and all those things which most guys will be up for. Now for the gals, you might want to drop by nearby Psycho Sisters to shop for hip and funky bargain apparel, hardly used and some brand new wardrobe and accessories. Both of these places are pet friendly.
Now on to some novelty and gift shops – L5P has got a handful of those. There’s glass store 42 Degrees South where they sell anything that’s made of glass by hand. But they also have other fancy items like jewelry, candles and the like. Another related shop is Crystal Blue where they sell hip and gypsy items like crystals, tarot cards, incense and the like. Then there’s Junkman’s Daughter which by the looks of the store, is clearly more than a junkshop or a simple novelty shop. Anything from funny and interesting rare finds to Halloween costumes can be found here, in fact you’ll have so much fun looking through all the stuff in here you might realize there’s not enough time. All shops are pet friendly.
For those who’d like to take the L5P experience a notch higher, then go get a tattoo from Sacred Heart Tattoo and after all the pain from all the pricking artwork, and all the shopping and sight-seeing, go get a massage or a spa treatment from Sweetgrass Salon & Day Spa.
So go now and experience the true meaning of fun and diversity in these places to go and see in Little 5 Points, Atlanta’s up and coming community.
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