Hello World! I come today to share with you a goal I plan to achieve before I leave this earth and that is: TRAVEL! I love to get-a-way, it doesn't matter where or even how, as long as I get there! There, is where ever I choose to go. Aside from being able to navigate on my own free will, I like to see what the hype is about and to ensure that my cultural roots are thoroughly soaked. I made this an I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T Woman themed mission because, all to often, we as the nurtures of this world forget to take care of ourselves, simply because we can and should. It doesn't have to always be 'for a reason' that we travel. We too have to see the world and experience what fuels our televisions and radios. I choose to travel this country FIRST, because its where I live, its where I spend my money, its where my child will raise his children. While I have traveled internationally, there are only a few places outside of this country that I want to see. You can call it simply living, in my comfort zone. I plan to see the other places where there is white sands, turquoise and diamond blue waters. The places with rich food, leaning towers, and religious beginnings, I will get there too. As of right now, I want to know whats right here on my own turf! This place is my canvas and I'm painting the picture!
Atlanta, the first stop on the map! I choose ATL because of its promise of growth and prosperity for the African American Community. Its notoriety of being the Gay and Lesbian Mecca. For being the home of Dr. Martin Luther King, the nurturing city of such talented entertainers such as Xscape, Usher, T.I., Jermaine Dupree, and who can forget the Atlanta Housewives. I wanted to visit the restaurants, such as Gladys Knight and Ron Winan's Chicken and Waffles. I wanted to hit up Lenox Mall and TAGS Boutique. Most of these things I did and I am going to give you all the details, what was liked or just over hyped. So, I arrive at the airport and was immediately hailed a cab. It was cold and rainy! The driver was rather friendly, and seemed to be concerned with our safety. He told us, that African guys will stake out the luggage claim area, offer to provide 'Car/taxi service' and then take you away from the airport and rape you! I was like OMG! Really, Mr. Cab driver. He tried to soften the warning, with dry humor that he enjoyed wayyy more than I did. It was funnier laughing at how hard he was laughing at himself. After scaring me silly within the first 10 minutes of my trip, we arrived to the Melia in Buckhead. When we arrived there was a party going on being given by some big promoter from New York. It was called First Fridays Atlanta. I mean the place was crazy packed, however, check in went rather smoothly. The staff was extremely friendly and customer service was great! We stayed on the 17th floor and the room had a balcony. It was a wonderful view of the city. We decided since it was so late, we should just change and enjoy the party right there in the hotel. The bar area was twice as loaded by the time we made it down. Music pumping and the crowd, well they were well dressed young professionals. I was impressed with the effort put into stepping out for a night on the time. The were a few fashion forward trendsetters in the crowd but there were more fashion No-No's! After a few drinks we visited a diner around the corner and called it a night.
*Singing: Its Morrrnnninng...* We wake up super early, because we decide that it costs to much to take a cab. We spent $60 for 3 trips totaling 20 minutes and 15 miles. We rented a car for less than $40, and we were able to move around the city and surrounding cities on a full tank of gas and the freedom to go where we wanted. Did I mention that it was cold and rainy. It was cold and rainy, y'all what was a sister to do? Our first stop on the rental car train ride, was Gladys Knight and Ron Winans' Chicken and Waffles. We waited 10 minutes outside in the cold and rain, and then had to wait another 5 minutes to be seated. The restaurant was adorned with photos of its celebrity patrons and supporters, replicas of Ms. Knights' many awards, framed news paper clippings etc. Mellow, old and new school, neo soul, R and B filled the speakers. Making the quaint and cozy spot feel like home as we waited for our food. The menu offered several brunch options, along with breakfast and lunch items. I ordered Catfish and Grits, and eggs. I was expecting this earth shattering explosion of taste to accompany the environment I was in and the mood I was feeling. I got anything but. The food was rather bland and the fish, tasted....well fishy! The grits were like any others I've tasted. The raisin toast gave it a new flavor that I'd never had, but there was nothing amazing about the food. So that tainted the whole experience. That's all I gotta say about that!
Nothing like a little shopping to get things back on track! Next Stop: The historical Lenox Square Mall. I didn't know what to expect from this place, but I didn't get anything special...except: meeting a beautiful human. Saniyyah Griffin, General Manager of Carol's Daughter. Just walking, by, I decided to stop and look around, see exactly what the store had to offer. I love that its a store dedicated to natural beauty, hair and skin care for women of color. Ms. Griffin, came over to us and immediately begin talking to us. My car club sister was taking pictures and Ms. Griffin wanted to know why. My sister explained to her that we are just traveling for state to state, city to city, chroncling life and culture in other cities. She asked where we were from and we sang in unisom, Houston. She shared with me that Carol's Daughter would be opening a store soon here in Houston and there are some things I may want to share with the world. Connecting and networking, a cultural commonality was more than beautiful to me. It gave me a renewed hope in the way business is done. Other than that single, possibly life altering moment, I got the same thing shopping at Houston's Galleria mall: overcrowded spaces, gut-wrenching traffic, and no stores that I just had to visit, exclusive to Lenox Sqaure. Moving on to the Grand Lauder of shopping for males and females. The rental car train takes us all the way to Smyrna, Georgia, to TAGS, Atlanta Housewife and former Xscape band member, Kandi's boutique. Its nestled off in a shopping center with that modern old towne feel. It's rather cute! The store was certainly a boutique that had more than meets the eye. The staff in the store delivered exemplary customer service. Notably, Ms. Peaches, took great care of me and made me feel as if I was one of the Atlanta Housewives. She brought me varying sizes and styles of clothing. All fitting as if it were made for me. As a thick sister, with more than a few extra pounds, always finding things to fit, can be a challenge. But at TAGS, well let me just say, I bought everything that Ms. Peaches gave me! My experience was like no other, I've ever had. Because of that experience, I will make trips just to shop there! Yes, there is an online store, but it wouldnt do any justice, compared to what I experienced. What puts the icing on the cake, is that Ms. Peaches told me to see what they have new online, or call the store, inquire about its design and fabric, to determine if its a right fit for me. Now if that isnt personable, 5-star customer service, I dont know what is. After a day of train hopping, shopping and sight seeing, we headed back to the Melia, to relax and get ready for a night on the town.
Being an out and proud lesbian, I couldnt wait to see what Atlanta's nightlyfe had in store for me. Did I say it was cold and rainy? Considering that it was cold and rainy, I wasn't sure that I would run into those packed houses, wall to wall club scenes that I hear about, although, it WAS Mardi Gras weekend and certainly, ATL would have some sort of celebration commemorating the religious event. So on the itinerary, I came up with three clubs, one advertised as a Traxx Atlanta venue, the other, MSR event, and the Inferno hosted by LGBT-Atlanta. The goal was to hit all three and see which offered the best experience. Wellll, we first went to TRAXX Atlanta, I dont know if it was just a bad night or if someone else is using their logo, however, the crowd, was not what was expected of a TRAXX event. It was so bad, I never killed the ignition. Moving right along to My Sister's Room, locating the club was a task and once we found it, there was absolutely no where to park, so flabergasted, we went to Inferno, which just happened to be miliminutes from the Melia. We enter the club, which isnt too crowded, and stopped at the bar right in the door. Thoroughly disappointed, I ordered a long island ice tea...and the bar tender pours vodka in a cup of ice adds a coke, and tells me "$5 dollars please!" I looked at her, shook my head and paid her. I move in to the Boom Boom room, which is set up nice and could accomodate just the right amount of people to have the perfect party. There was a fair share of studs in the room, and if I was single, I surely would have been able to mingle, hands down. The DJ (from Cali) spinned a variety of music, ranging from house, old school hip hop to the new tunes burning up the charts. A few times, she lost me with the music but, redeemed herself, playing old and new favorites. After a few more 1 liquor Long Island Iced teas, I was feeling good and the music started to take me. My sis, on the other hand, looked clearly bored, and was ready to go almost as quickly as we arrived. I kept her in as long as I could. Overall, it was a nice outing, the music and drinks were more hospitable than the hosts or patrons. Seeing a new face or two, one should inquire, I would!
Our weekend was filled with sights for sore eyes, hard laughs, relaxing moments, and excellent memories. Overall, I enjoyed myself, but cant help but feel that either I was bamboozled or misguided. Many of the websites set up to guide seemed to be old, outdated, and unmaintained. Did I say it was cold and rainy? The cold and rain could have been a factor in the overall experience. I just know that my eyes are colored with cloud filled stains. I didn't get to have my lesbian filled Atlanta experience, or that Southern taste fest that I wanted, but I did marvel in the escape. If you visit ATL, just to go, I recommend that you definitely visit, Kandi's store, TAGS; stay at the Melia, Ms. Griffin at Carol's Daughter and thoroughly research the nightlyfe. Im sure Atlanta has more to offer, maybe next time I need to be linked up with somebody that's anybody among ATL's elite. Any suggestions?
Check Out my a few of my new favorites:
http://www.tagsatl.com/
http://www.carolsdaughter.com/
http://www.melia.com/
http://www.alamo.com/
"Buzzworthy Cravings, Creatively Satisfied!"
