Last week I visited my parents in Peachtree City and headed to Atlanta to have dinner in Little Five Points at The Vortex for burgers. This little urban neighborhood still retains some of the grit of old Atlanta before condos starting growing like wildfire throughout the city.
Little Five is named after the heart of its intersection. Moreland Avenue makes up two points and runs north to South, and another two are formed from Euclid Avenue running northeast to southwest. A fifth point was once Seminole Avenue, but was later converted to a plaza. Some people consider nearby McLendon Avenue the 5th point.
Little Five is east of downtown and lies in the midst of old Victorian homes leading into Inman Park, Edgewood, and Candler Park. But its roots started with an influx of bohemian culture before sprouting up shops, art, venues, pubs, and restaurants. It still retains an eclectic mix of locals, tourists, and wanderers.
Heading over to Wax n’ Facts, I stopped in the record store to take a look at vinyl, CD’s and listen to free music. The newer Criminal Records also has a large selection of music and DVD’s, but lacks some of the old charm of Wax n’ Facts. Psycho Sisters, a consignment boutique with vintage clothes where you can buy, sell or trade. They carry everything from Betsy Johnson to Levis. Check out their website for printable coupons before you go.
Junkman’s Daughter is a good place for kitchy souvenirs, funky clothes, and quirky merchandise. They also have an Athens, GA location called Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother. A longtime staple of the neighborhood, Abadaba’s sells shoes ranging from Vans, Puma, Birkenstock, Doc Martens, and Uggs.
I missed out on tickets to Variety Playhouse, a cozy but popular venue with upcoming performances by Camera Obscura and Sonic Youth. It’s not really a venue for mainstream pop.
The heart of Little Five has managed to keep out chain stores like GAP and Target, although you can find major shopping plazas and retailers heading toward Edgewood. The area is a more mainstream place to visit and shop than when I was growing up , but I hope it can retain some of its flavor and provide an urban oasis in the midst of suburbanized neighborhoods.
Watch a video about Little Five Points…
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