Hotlanta for One, Please (cont.)

A walk through history at The King Center

After another day and a half of conference sessions, I was ready to do a little more sight-seeing before flying home. The last conference event ended around lunch time. After a quick walk, I found Alma Cocina and settled in for a bite. I had the fried squid tacos with rice and beans. Quick, reasonable, and delicious. This place was hopping! Very busy, but the servers were quick and turned the tables expertly.

Which was important, because I had a place to get to - The King Center. It's a sprawling complex that includes a museum, the crypt of both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, King's birthplace and boyhood home, the church where both King and his father once preached, and more. The center had been on my list for a while, but I hadn't been able to get to it. I was eager to explore, and I had a lovely day in which to do it! 

I started at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center. It's full of moving exhibits about King's early years, civil rights advocacy, and impact on American history. They have the wagon that carried his casket on display, as well as a moving, walk-through reproduction of the Selma march. There's also a section that explores the relationship between King and Jimmy Carter, both Georgians and both advocates for civil rights. 

The wagon that carried King's casket

Outside, I stopped to smell the flowers at the International World Peace Rose Garden, then popped into the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where both King and his father once preached. A few steps away is the eternal flame, the reflecting pool, and the crypts of both King and his wife. It's a wonderful, meaningful place to stop and think a bit.

Lastly, I was fortunate to get a free, timed ticket to walk through Kind's childhood home, which is only a few blocks away. Though these tickets are free, they are limited and run out quickly. I recommend booking ahead if possible. The tour is brief (about an hour), but you get to see the house that built a man who shaped our nation. No photos are allowed inside.

Vivid color at the High Museum of Art

Afterward, I had a little bit of time left to poke through Freedom Hall, where some of the personal effects of both King and his wife are on display. By then, the center was beginning to shut down, so I practically closed the place!

Not to worry, though. It was the one night a week that the High Museum of Art was open late, and I was meeting Atlee, a local friend, there for dinner and perusing. A quick car ride later, I was settling in at Twelve Eighty - the on-site restaurant - for cocktails, nibbles, and catching up. Atlee relocated to Atlanta several years ago, and it was so good to see her again! We originally met as part of a moms' group, but our friendship deepened through shared political views and a love of New York City. She was a sight for sore eyes!

We chatted over drinks, calamari, and pasta, trading anecdotes about our kids, our lives, and how old we've gotten!! Then, we had 2-3 hours to explore the art before the museum closed at 9 p.m. I love going to museums with Atlee. She was an art history minor, and she can always explain the pieces (particularly the modern ones) that stump me. We spent significant time in the contemporary wing, chatting, observing, and admiring. We loved some of the more interactive pieces. We left when they threw us out, with hugs and promises to not let it wait so long again!

Meeting old friends . . . !

The next morning marked my last full day in Atlanta. I breakfasted at the hotel, then caught a car to the Center for Puppetry Arts. Just after college, I was a puppeteer for a local artist who did shows for schoolchildren throughout Mississippi. It was such fun work, and I had (and have) immense respect for him as an artist. On several occasions, he mentioned this place, so I was interested to see it.

It was wonderful! I started in the Worlds of Puppetry galleries. So much to see! Puppets from all over the globe are on display, and so many of them are intricate works of art. You can also see some of your old Jim Henson favorites in these galleries - Miss Piggy, Kermit, Fozzie Bear, Bert and Ernie, the Fraggles. Even Big Bird!! It was like meeting old friends. They also had masks from the Broadway production of The Lion King and famous figurines like Gumby and Pokey. Such fun!

I'd bought an entry ticket that also included admission to a puppet show. That morning's show was Charlotte's Web, and I was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I was seated at the very back of the theatre. The theatre door was to my right as I faced the stage, and one of the main avenues for seating traversed directly in front of me. Needless to say, with a full house of children, someone was constantly going in and out of the door and walking between me and the production. If I had it to do over, I would have skipped the show and saved a few dollars, as I didn't really get to see it.

Brunch perfection at Bread and Butterfly

After the show, I went to a special exhibit that the center had on display. It was all about the movie Labyrinth! I loved the movie as a child, and it was delightful to see the props, some of the puppets, and the costumes up close. If I'd only known, I might have dressed up!!

Once I had my fill of puppets, I caught an Uber to Bread and Butterfly for lunch. It was a Saturday, and they seated me on the open-air terrace, where I could watch passersby going about their shopping. For lunch, I selected the avocado toast, served with a perfectly poached egg on top. Delicious, delicious. A hot cup of coffee and a small baked dessert rounded out the meal. Service was friendly and prompt, and the ambience here is lovely. Worth a visit.

My hunger sated, I walked to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. I'd only ever been to one other presidential library (Bill Clinton's in Little Rock, Arkansas), so I was interested to see what Carter's would be like. I started in a long hall, which stepped me through Carter's life chronologically. I learned about his early years, his marriage, his service in the navy. Then, his political career, starting in Georgia and growing into an unlikely presidential campaign.

I took in Carter's Oval Office, while a recording of him speaking about his priorities as president played. Then, a large, open atrium allowed you to experience one day in Carter's presidency via a multimedia exhibit. There was a nice section on the Camp David Accords and a large collection of gifts of state on display. The last part of the museum revolved around Carter's current charitable work, Nobel Peace Prize, and other distinctions. I finished the day on the lovely grounds and gardens.

Walking out of Carter's library, I resolved to visit more presidential libraries during my travels. It's fascinating to view the presidency through the lens of one individual this way, and I really enjoyed the visit.

Jonesing for a steak my last night in town, I stumbled upon Max Lager's Wodd-Fired Grill and Brewery. I was seated at the bar immediately, and my steak came out exactly as I'd ordered it. (The red wine wasn't bad, either.) The bartenders were fun, and the other diners at the bar were good company. I headed back to the hotel, ready for a good night's sleep and an uneventful flight home the next morning.

Shame on me for taking so long to re-visit Atlanta! I've been using it only as a place for connecting flights for far too long! There's plenty to do, see, and eat, and I'm looking forward to a return trip!