By Shawn V. Branch
It’s now been about six years since I moved to Atlanta and wrote New City, New way of working; as I look back at that post, I’m amazed at how much Atlanta has become home and how much I still love it.
I get asked the following questions a lot: “Do you like Atlanta? Will this be your forever city?” The short answers are I love Atlanta and for that now, I don’t plan on moving. Of course, it’s not really that simple so I will share a few reasons for my decision.
The reasons I still love Atlanta:
Weather. I am an East Coast man, but there is one thing I dislike about the East Coast and that is the snow. I was the youngest of five and therefore I was always doing the shoveling of the snow at the house and I really hated it. I can deal with cold weather but not snow. Atlanta gives me all the seasons with very little snow, and I love it. The few times it snowed, the city basically shut down for 1-2 inches and I got to stay home.
Convenience in location. Atlanta has the busiest airport in the country, and I am able to get non-stop flights on Delta to anywhere. Pro-tip: I’ve learned never to travel out of Hartsfield on Mondays and to book flights before or after rush hour.
My Tribe. One of the reasons I moved to Atlanta was because one of my besties lives here. Before I moved, I would visit Atlanta at least once a month to see him. Through those trips, he introduced me to his circle of friends. They are a great bunch of guys. We would have dinner together, do a lot of happy hours and a few would host at their homes. There was always good food and great conversation.
In 2019 I made the leap and moved to a high-rise in Downtown Atlanta. I never imagined living in a high-rise, but I couldn’t resist the location and the price. When the pandemic hit, I didn’t know what I was going to do and more importantly who was I going to hang out with. I met three guys in my building, and we instantly clicked and became friends. We spent many days and nights together; me mostly hosting and preparing meals with drinks and great conversations. During the pandemic, my out-of-town friends would always want to know what I was doing with the “Building Men.” We have shared a lot with each other, and I am thankful for their friendship.
These friends have become my chosen family in a lot of ways and are a major reason why I continue to love this city so much.
Food. It’s no secret that people in Atlanta love Southern cooking, from shrimp and grits and macaroni and cheese, to lamb chops and fried catfish, and much, much more. Trust me, there is no shortage of any of those delicacies in Atlanta. In the last six years, I have tried many restaurants and there are more opening every month. Whether you are a local or a visitor, there is something here to eat for everyone.
Let me share a few of my favorites with you:
Apt 4B – If you follow me on social, this happens to be my favorite spot. You can usually find me here on Wednesday evenings or Sunday Funday. It is a place full of good energy, good food and good service. I am friends with one of the owners and they get it right. Their other places are Ms. Icey’s Kitchen and Bar and Belle & Lily’s Caribbean Brunch House. All three give you good food and with a different atmosphere in each location.
Being from Baltimore, I am a true seafood lover, so I am always on the hunt for good seafood. I recommend BeetleCat for oysters and lobster rolls. Alici Oyster Bar is fairly new and the oysters here are good as well. The Optimist is good for oysters and lobster rolls; they also have a really good dinner menu. It’s a family affair when it comes to my favorite sushi and ramen spots, Eight Sushi Lounge and E Ramen Atlanta. I have never had a bad meal at either place and the service is always spot on. The owners are super nice and treat me to shots and wine tastings. I love that Atlanta is home to many Black-owned restaurants and lounges that I often frequent. Some of my other favorites are The James Room, Fellaship.ATL, T’s Brunch Bar and Toast On Lennox just to name a few.
Culture & Entertainment – If you love music, sporting events, plays, festivals and museums, Atlanta is the place for it all. The amount of culture and entertainment opportunities in Atlanta can satisfy all appetites. I am a sucker for smaller venues like https://www.citywinery.com which has become one of my favorite places to see some phenomenal entertainers. Atlanta also has a number of larger venues to enjoy. The High Museum of Art (Welcome to the High Museum – High Museum of Art) has become a hot spot for High Frequency Fridays of Friday Jazz. It is a great opportunity to tour the museum for great art and also dance to DJs or sit back and enjoy live jazz. It’s all here in Atlanta and waiting for you.
When I moved to Atlanta, I had lived on the West Coast for 5 ½ years and I did not like it. I did 3 ½ years in Sacramento and 2 years in LA. After my first year in LA, I knew it wasn’t the place for me. I found a therapist because I felt stuck and needed a little guidance to make sure I was not giving up too soon. After several sessions, it was clear that I had to move. The only thing I knew was that I did not want to go back to any place that I had lived before. Atlanta offered me everything that I was missing and longed for. So yes, I am still loving my decision to move to Atlanta. However, like most things, there are a few things that I don’t like about Atlanta: maybe that’s for my next blog.
On the Cover: Shawn, Jerrico, Jon and Todd
