BEST MUSIC VENUE
ONE OF MY earliest memories of visiting Atlanta was when my grandmother took me to the Fox Theatre around Christmas to see The Nutcracker. It wasn’t the dancing or the music that mesmerized me but the building itself. The facade, adorned with arabesque patterns and pointed arches, was unlike anything I’d seen growing up in Savannah. We passed through the lavishly decorated lobby—with its marble columns, opulent gold leaf, and intricate mosaics—into the grand auditorium. I took in the large stage flanked by two towering minarets and the ceiling that shimmered like a starry night sky thanks to nearly 100 tiny crystal lights. When I eventually moved to Atlanta in 1987 to study architecture at Georgia Tech, the Fox Theatre was still every bit as enchanting to me.
It was originally designed to serve as a Yaarab Shriners temple, but the money ran dry. In a fateful turn of events, the auditorium was leased by William Fox’s production company and converted into one of the most distinctive theaters of all time. Its crown jewel is one of the biggest Möller organs in the world, dubbed “Mighty Mo,” which accompanies sing-alongs before showings in the summer. In 1929, the Fox opened its doors on Christmas Day with a screening of Steamboat Willie, offering a beacon of hope after the stock market crash.
For decades, it was the place to go for movies, concerts, and fine art performances. But by the 1960s, the Fox was suffering as the downtown area declined and suburban theaters became more popular. Locals, however, refused to let it fade into obscurity. In 1974, concerned citizens rallied and organized a group that was committed to preserving its architectural and historical significance. Through their massive fund- raising efforts, the Fox was reborn and restored to its former glory. As the venue prepares for its upcoming centennial, this work continues with projects like fixing the turquoise onion dome on the roof.
Over the years, I’ve attended concerts ranging from Erykah Badu to Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, and each one was made more special because it happened there. Ask any Atlantan, and they’ll tell you the same. The Fox Theatre is an integral part of the city’s history and identity, and as long as its legacy lives on, it will illuminate the cultural landscape for generations to come.
—Steven Satterfield
COURTESY FOX THEATRE
BEST TEAROOM
DELICATE CHINA PLATES and slender-handled cups gleam atop tables as the tea service begins at Château Élan Winery & Resort. Waiters offer hot pours of the amber-hued beverage as well as miniature egg salad sandwiches and decadent pastries like cakes and scones to guests sitting in the sunny atrium of the resort’s Versailles Restaurant. Each group has come to experience a taste of elegance at Georgia’s most popular afternoon tea, which is served from 2 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday. Château Élan is set in the rolling hills in the town of Braselton, and its 3,500- acre property features several restaurants, including a cafe with a breezy patio, a lively Irish pub, a speakeasy-style bourbon bar, and a steak- house with a seasonal menu. Across its grounds, rows of grapevines stretch to the horizon. While the vineyards produce more than 30 wines and offer tastings and private tours, one of the resort’s most beloved happenings is their afternoon tea, which is open to the public and welcomes children. Be sure to make plans in advance, because reservations are required.
—Caroline Rogers
BEST BBQ JOINT
In 2007, Texas-born twin brothers Justin and Jonathan Fox opened their restaurant and introduced Atlanta to the barbecue style of their native state. They won over locals with slow-smoked brisket and jalapeño-Cheddar hot links. Four locations (plus an outpost at Truist Park) are now scattered around the city, but the original storefront on DeKalb Street is where you’ll find the broadest array of creative culinary mash-ups like “chicken-fried” ribs with white sauce and The Tomminator (potatoes smothered in Brunswick stew).
—Robert Moss
2. Sprayberry’s Bar-B-Que Newnan 3. Southern Soul Barbeque St. Simons Island 4. Savannah Smokehouse BBQ & Brew Savannah 5. Fresh Air Barbeque Jackson and Macon 6. Fat Matt’s Rib Shack Atlanta 7. Fincher’s Bar-B-Q Macon 8. Heirloom Market BBQ Atlanta 9. Old Brick Pit Barbeque Atlanta 10. Socks’ Love Barbecue Cumming
