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he said...
patrick dempsey's favorite atlanta pit stops
lodging
barnsley gardens resort, very expensive,
(770) 773-7480,
www.barnsleyresort.com
château élan winery
& resort, expensive,
(800) 233-9463
attractions
panoz racing school, (770) 967-1220
road atlanta,
(770) 967-6143
we said...
our favorite atlanta pit stops
lodging
emory inn, moderate, (404) 712-6700. located on
the campus of emory university, this three-story motor inn is a
pleasant alternative to its neighboring sister hotel, the emory
conference center. the rooms are cheaper, yet guests have full
access to the center's first-rate fitness complex and on-campus
spots, including an indoor track, lighted tennis courts, and a
heated indoor lap pool.
hotel indigo, moderate, (404) 874-9200. slide your card key, step
into your room, and you'll be welcomed by rich colors and soothing
tunes at this trendy midtown hotel. you'll love, too, the
european-style touches, although that also translates to slightly
less square footage, particularly in the bathroom.
dining
agnes & muriel's, moderate, (404) 885-1000. it looks
like the '50s exploded at agnes & muriel's, but the kooky decor
only complements the equally fun food, be it the crumbly buttermilk
chicken, flaky fried green tomatoes, or creamy banana pudding.
calypso cafe, inexpensive, (404) 589-0024. this
popular downtown spot packs 'em in for jamaican specialties like
curried goat and fresh conch fritters. we'd tell you what they
taste like, but we never order anything but the jerk chicken, which
is the most potent we've ever had, in the caribbean or
elsewhere.
istanbul cafe, (404) 320-0054. a meal here truly
transports you. it could be the tempting turkish dishes, the
pillowed seating, the roving belly dancer, or the flavorful fumes
from the hookah pipes. whatever it is, it makes this tiny decatur
dining room one of our area favorites.