Attractions

• Stone Mountain Park http://www.stonemountainpark.com/newsite/default.asp
• Zoo Atlanta http://www.zooatlanta.org/
• Atlanta Botanical Garden http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/
• CNN Center http://www.cnn.com/StudioTour/
• Six Flags Amusement Park http://www.sixflags.com/

Cultural

• High Museum of Art http://www.high.org/index_flash.html
• Atlanta Symphony Orchestra http://www.atlantasymphony.org/
• The Fox Theatre http://www.foxtheatre.org/
• Atlanta Ballet http://www.atlantaballet.com/
• Atlanta Opera http://www.atlantaopera.org/
• Alliance Theater http://www.alliancetheatre.org/

Educational

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Center http://www.thekingcenter.com/
• Jimmy Carter Library and Museum http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/
• Fernbank Museum of Natural History http://www.fernbank.edu/museum/

Entertainment

Music

• Specifically for indie-rock, punk rock, etc. music: http://www.atlantashows.org/
• For medium-small indie rock bands, check out The Earl in East Atlanta.

• IMAX : Really, really big-screen movies about nature and history. Also, on Fridays they have "Martinis and IMAX", a dressy affair with drinks and dancing in the beautiful Fernbank Museum atrium, followed by an IMAX movie.   The Graduate Student Council often sends out announcements for discount tickets to this event. Do it! 
• There are the big ones, such as the AMC 16 in North Dekalb Mall.  I also like the smaller, artsier ones like Tara (Chesire Bridge and La Vista) and Le Font (corner of Ponce and Moreland).  For great info and showtimes, go to http://www.hollywood.com/movies/.
• Rentals : my favorite place is Movies Worth Seeing (1409 North Highland Ave, from North highland, turn at the light with University. Turn immediately into the parking lot on your right, just behind the little strip of shops). They organize by director, and the staff knows exactly where everything is.

• Shakespeare Tavern
• Dad's Garage
• Agatha's - Dinner Mystery Theatre
• Alliance Theatre
• 14th Street Playhouse
• Atlanta Opera (one hour before the performance with a student I.D. you can get a ticket for $10)

• The Graduate Student Council periodically sends out emails for discounted tickets to fun events in Atlanta, including: Martinis at the IMAX, The Shakespeare Tavern, operas, theatre and visiting events like Cirque du Soleil. To get these offers and hear about fun GSC events (free food and drink!) you MUST subscribe to the GSC mailing list.

Housing

• Emory off-campus housing listings
• Atlanta Craigslist - Housing section in Atlanta online classifieds.
• Creative Loafing is a fun local magazine listing all sorts of events around the city. Be sure to pick up at various street corners and cafes.  They also have real estate listings for apartments, etc. to rent.  Go to http://www.atlanta.creativeloafing.com, click on "Classifieds", then  look under "Real Estate".
• With the Promove service, you go meet with a representative and tell him/her what you're looking for. They tell you what apartments fit your description and give you a map with addresses. http://www.promove.com
• Tips:
  • You can use various web services like Mapquest.com to locate Emory University and your apartment. For a university address, use 1510 Clifton Rd, Atlanta GA 30322.  That's the Rollins Research Center on campus.
  • Emory is in the city of Atlanta, Dekalb county.  Many apartments will list themselves as "Emory area"; other desirable locations nearby (with approx. driving time):  Decatur (0-5 mins), Toco Hills (5 mins), Little Five Points (5 mins), Virginia Highlands (5 mins), Midtown (8 mins), Buckhead (10 mins), Avondale (10 mins). 
  • Some students live in Stone Mountain, which is a beautiful place, but about 20 - 30 minutes away.

Professional Sports

• Atlanta Braves http://www.atlantabraves.com/
• Atlanta Falcons http://www.atlantafalcons.com/
• Atlanta Hawks http://www.atlantahawks.com/
• Atlanta Silverbacks http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/
• Atlanta Thrashers http://www.atlantathrashers.com/

Restaurants

Atlanta is a haven for fabulous restaurants. Some of the Entertainment websites listed above also list restaurants. Definitely check out Creative Loafing's Best Of guide, too. By the way, I'm vegetarian, so that influences my choices a bit.

Here are some local favorites:

• Thai: Top Spice (Thai and Malaysian); Chitlada (corner of LaVista and Cheshire Bridge); Thai Chili (corner of LaVista and Briarcliff); Siam (downtown Decatur).
• Indian: Madras Saravana Bhavan (aka MSB) on the north corner of North Druid Hills and Lawrenceville Hwy. When it first opened, it was the best Indian my friends and I had EVER had. In the two years since, the quality has fluctuated between amazing and good. Second choice: Udipi on Scott Blvd (I block south of MSB).
• Pizza: Everybody's (Emory Village); Mellow Mushroom (on LaVista near corner with Briarcliff, another location in Decatur). Savage Pizza in Little 5. Adam's Garden of Eatin' on Scott Blvd.
• Chinese: HarmonyVegetarian (4897 Buford Hwy), Pung Mie ( 5145 Buford Hwy) these are the only 2 I can recommend. The rest to me are really so-so.
• Malasian: Penang (Buford Highway) Top Spice (Thai and Malaysian)
• Korean: I heard there's a fantastic Korean barbeque place up Buford, but I haven't been there yet.
• Japanese and Sushi: RuSaan's on Monroe. It's not the best sushi, but it's the best bargain, with a loud and fun atmosphere and a very creative menu. Sushi Avenue (Decatur), Satsuki ( 3043 Buford Hwy, 1 block from corner with N. Druid Hills)
• Burritos: Willy's on North Decatur and Clairmont. Chipotle in the Toco Hills shopping center (North Druid Hills by Clairmont). Burrito Art (Emory Village); Raging Burrito; Tortillas (774 Ponce de Leon Avenue (Midtown)).
• Mexican: Nuevo Laredo is supposed to be amazing, but it's far away - 1495 Chattahoochee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30318. I also like Tijuana Garage in Little 5, and Casa Grande on Peachtree. A lot of people like Taqueria Del Sol in Decatur and Gringos on Dekalb Ave, but I've never been impressed with either. Oh! it's a bit more expensive, but Agave in Cabbagetown is Wonderful!
• Ethiopian: One on the corner of N. Druid Hills and Briarcliff, and one in the shopping center on the corner of Lavista and Cheshire Bridge.
• Turkish: Istanbul Cafe on Scott. Wow! Yes, the eggplant is so good, the Imam fainted.
• Lebanese: You MUST go to Mezza on LaVista.
• Eclectic: Watershed (Decatur) - co-owned by Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls.

Shopping

Food and Grocery

• Of course there's the regular Kroger, Publix, Wholefoods grocery stores, but you absolutely must visit the Dekalb Farmer's Market at 3000 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. (check out mapquest for directions).  A block away from Your Dekalb Farmer's market is First Oriental Market. The women who work there are very friendly and will help you find stuff. They have good vegetarian faux meats (esp. the shrimp and salmon). For a more expansive Asian shopping experience, drive up Buford Highway and try one of the many grocery stores there. Particularly the Buford Highway Farmer's market in the shopping center with Burlington Coat Factory. Vegetarians and Natural Food connoisseurs check out Return to Eden in the shopping strip at the corner of La Vista and Cheshire Bridge Road.  For a really *fancy* food shopping experience, try eatZi's at 3221 Peachtree Rd.

• Go North on GA 400 for about 30 mins. You'll reach a stop light and see on your left, the Premium Outlets.  They have Off Saks Fifth, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Versace, etc. There are also some on 75 North and 85 North about 45 mins to 1 hr North of here.

• Don't forget to check out the many yard sales in Atlanta.  Either drive around and look for signs, or check for listings in the local paper.  You can search the Atlanta Journal Constitution classifieds online for listings.
• Atlanta Craigslist - Furniture section in Atlanta online classifieds.  

• Psycho Sisters (on Moreland in Little 5 Points, just south of the Vortex (big skull)
• Last Chance (on Church Street, between the intersections of North Decatur and Scott)
• Value Village (on Moreland way south, down by the DMV. WARNING: they have no fitting rooms, so wear tight clothing if you want to try things on)
• The Clothing Warehouse (one in little 5 points, another on the corner of N. Decatur and Clairmont)
• Plato's Closet (corner of Briarcliff and N. Druid Hills)
• Marshall's (on Piedmont)
• TJ Maxx (3495 Buckhead Loop NE Ste 200)
• All the Malls Don't forget about our plethra of malls: Perimeter, Cumberland, Northlake, North Dekalb, Lenox and Phipps, to name a few.  FYI, Phipps is the most upscale of all (Versace, Saks 5th, etc.)  

Outdoor Activities

• PATH Foundation - Biking/walking trails in metro Atlanta http://www.pathfoundation.org/
• The Appalachian Trail http://www.nps.gov/appa/
• Georgia State Parks http://www.gastateparks.org/
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park http://www.nps.gov/grsm/
• The Beach http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/photogallery/thumbnails/beach.htm
• North Georgia Mts http://www.theblueridgehighlander.com/communities/north_georgia/

Other Activities

• Volunteer with Hands On Atlanta - This organization makes available to you hundred of different volunteer opportunities, from working with pets, planting trees and teaching children to use computers.
• Outdoors Emory Organization - join fellow students hiking, backpacking, canoeing, skydiving, etc.