Tag Archives: Inman Park

Inman Park + Atlanta Beltline, Atlanta

A month ago, I was sent to Atlanta for a work conference.  With no plans except a list of recommendations from my Facebook friends, I hopped on the Marta and set out for Inman Park.

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Inman park was planned by Joel Hurt in the late 1880s, and the suburb was connected to the city by Atlanta’s first electric streetcar. Hurt named the neighborhood for his friend and business partner, Samuel M. Inman. The neighborhood was created as a segregated community.

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Inman Park was mentioned in the 1896 Atlanta constitution as a suburb “high up above the city, where the purest breezes and the brightest sunshine drove away the germs of disease, and where nature had lavished her best gifts.”

I wandered through this hipstoric neighborhood, passed the pretty houses with swings on their wrap-around porches, and stopped into Julianna’s Creperie for a sweet treat.

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Julianna’s specializes in Hungarian crepes called palacsinta, and they use local, fresh ingredients for both sweet and savory crepes. The crepe recipes have been passed down for generations, and the fillings are typical of what you’d find in rural Hungarian kitchens or cafes. I tried the cinnamon baked apple (sans whipped cream) which was perfect in every way.

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I strolled by Krog Street Market. Krog Street Market is a hip and trendy marketplace with unique food counters located in an old Atlanta Stove Works factory building from the late 1880s. The building was also once home to Tyler Perry Studios, and the space was used to make 16 movies, 14 stage plays, and 5 TV programs.

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Down the street from Krog Street Market, I turned right after the adorable Jake’s Ice Cream Shop, founded by Jake Rothschild as a second location to his successful shop in the Historic Old Fourth Ward. The shop was lovingly built in the skeleton of an old refrigeration and air conditioning repair place (which was also a warehouse, an art gallery, and an underground rave space).

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I continued around the corner from Jake’s and stumbled into Atlanta Beltline Bicycle. The warehouse was packed with bicycles from floor to ceiling, and a friendly boxer pup was curled up in the corner.

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The Frenchman behind the desk checked me in and wheeled over single-speed, back-pedal-brake cruiser, and I rolled out the back door right onto the Atlanta Beltline Bike Path.

Beltline Art 780

The Atlanta Beltline is a 22-mile cycling and walking path built along a historic railroad corridor. The path circles downtown Atlanta and connects many of the city’s most important neighborhoods. The project began as a senior thesis for Georgia Tech architect major Ryan Gravel in 1999, and the first trail opened in 2008.

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I pedaled around the Historic Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta on the Beltline on my way to Piedmont Park, stopping every few feet to read about and photograph the crazy-cool urban art installations. Lining the Beltline is a constantly-evolving art exhibit featuring sculptures and other installations by local visual artists. (Learn More)

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I particularly loved this sculpture called A 24/7 Timestar Lives by Charlie Smith (see below), placed on the pathway so that the sun casts shadows on the ground, creating a reflection place for citizens of Atlanta.

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I continued on the Beltline and caught my first glimpse of Ponce City Market, a massive brick structure looks almost like an old train depot but once housed the Sears Roebuck + Co. retail store and offices in the 1920s. Read about my adventures at Ponce City Market HERE


Suggestions for more hipstorical places in Atlanta? Email me and help me build my archives!

Ponce City Market, Atlanta

The place that inspired the blog.

New Beltline 780

On a recent work trip to Atlanta, I took a spin around the Beltline Bike Path got my first glimpse of Ponce City Market, which is accessible from the Beltline bike path. Originally a retail store and the regional offices of Sears Roebuck + Co. from 1926–1987, this massive brick structure looks almost like an old train depot.

New Ponce Exterior 780

The building is now home to apartments and offices on the higher floors and a bustling city market on the main floor– filled with one hip food shop, clothing store, or specialty boutique after another. I didn’t have time to stop in on my bike ride, but returned a few days later after my conference ended for dinner.

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The Central Food Hall has everything from H&F‘s burgers to fried chicken at Hop’s Chicken, and fresh food from Farm to Ladle to the “coming soon” Biltong Bar, featuring “beef jerky and booze.” I decided on W.H. Stiles Fish Camp, lovingly referred to by those who know it at “Dub’s,” for my first bite.

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I wandered past the aquariums of fresh shellfish and fish-nets hanging from the ceiling and chose a stool at the old-fashioned diner counter. I’m not much of an oyster fan, and I couldn’t bring myself to order a lobster roll as a Boston-dweller. So I asked the waitress about the one thing on the menu I hadn’t heard of: the crab beignets.

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The waitress paused when I asked and sort of smiled–clearly I was not a southerner. She described them as a “savory crab donut,” which sounded weird to me, so I obviously said “I’ll take it.”

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The beignets were delicious– sort of like a deep-fried crab cake– and my ginger, lime, and honey seltzer was the perfect pairing. I settled the bill and headed over to my next stop: Bellina Alimentari.

Pasta 780

At Bellina Alimentari, the pasta is handmade daily, and local ingredients are selected seasonally based on what’s fresh. They are committed to eco-friendly and ethical business practices, and their food is delicious! Order at the counter from the old-school-apron-clad wait staff and find a seat, or sit at the bar and sip on a house-made soda while you wait. I tried the pappardelle al ragù with a pomegranate and balsamic soda. Fantastic.

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After dinner I browsed the shops, stopping in Anthropologie (I can never resist), Goorin Bros. Hat Shop, and West Elm before discovering Karoo, an eyeglass shop. A chandelier of multicolored eyeglasses hung from the ceiling, and a pair of avocado-colored cat eye glasses beckoned from the shelf. With just five minutes before the store was supposed to close, I bought them! Fourth in my beloved collection of cat glasses, these were the perfect souvenir for a perfect weekend of hipstorical inspiration.


Ponce City Market defines hipstorical; it’s the perfect blend of history and hip. The market has given new life to an old beauty, preserving the original integrity of the building with a modern twist.

Ponce Nigth 780

If you’re planning to visit Atlanta, don’t miss Ponce City Market! If you’re not planning to visit Atlanta– plan to visit Atlanta! It’s a vibrant and diverse city with lots of hipstory and so many fantastic tourist sites for the whole family. I arrived with zero expectations and left on a wanderlust high. I can’t wait to go back!


I’m not the only one who thinks Ponce City Market is a top Hipstorical spot. Kayak agrees! Check out their list of historical hot spots: CLICK HERE.

Suggestions for more hipstorical places in Atlanta? Email me and help me build my archives!