BANDS DON’T JUST VISIT OUR CITY TO ROCK: THEY ALSO COME TO PLAY. WHERE YOUR FAVORITE ROCKSTARS EAT, SHOP, AND GET HANGOVERS – OUT AND ABOUT IN ATLANTA WITH…GUITARIST HEATH SARACENO OF
M I D T O W N
Compiled by Angeline Vuong and Sara Minton
Heath and the guys in Midtown recorded their forthcoming album, ‘Forget What You Know’ in Atlanta with fellow day-tripper, musician, and all-around kick ass dude, Butch Walker. The album hits stores June 29th on Columbia Records, and the band will be performing in Atlanta at the 2004 Atlantis Music Conference. For more info, check out www.midtownrock.com .
Recording With Butch Walker in Atlanta: "Every memory that we have of Atlanta, from the first time we drove to the recording studio, was great. If you’ve ever seen Ruby Red (Butch Walker’s studio), you know that it’s decorated so nicely, and you feel like you’re at home. It’s so comfortable, and we met some really nice people and made some good friends while we were here. We’d go out and hang out with someone every night. [Recording with Butch] wasn’t like working with a producer – it was like working with a friend. It was such a great vibe down here."
Restaurants You Recommend: "We would pretty much order in a lot because we were in the studio twelve hours a day, but there were several places we would order in from. There’s a place called Little Bangkok . They have really good Pad Thai . My favorite restaurant here is La Fonda because they have the best quesadillas I’ve ever had. I also liked The Local because they have hush puppies . I’d never had them before because they’re a Southern thing, and I would get those all the time. And they had Stella Artois on draft, which is one of my favorites."
Out On the Town: "We went to MJQ a few times. I like the feeling like you’re walking down into a cave. It’s cool because one side is like a hip hop bar, and the other side is a rock bar. A couple of our friends would DJ there, and they have really cheap drinks. Everything here is so much cheaper. We actually spent Rob (drummer)’s birthday at Vinyl. It’s a cool place, and I would hang out here. We came to see Joe Stark play. Afterwards, we got really drunk and went to Lenny’s. We would also try to go see a movie at the Buckhead Backlot every week with Butch. We saw The Last Samurai there, and it was a really strange experience because I had never been able to eat, drink, and see a movie at the same time."
Final Thoughts About the ATL: "I love it here; I would totally move to Atlanta. I just like the atmosphere. Everyone’s really nice and friendly, and even though the traffic’s horrible, everything’s close by. I’ll have to go to a different Blockbuster though. Last time we were here, I rented Wonderland, and I forgot to return the video. I asked Butch’s intern to return it two weeks later, and I’m afraid of the late fees."
IN-DEPTH:
AMC Buckhead Backlot 6
Ah, only in America can you eat dinner in front of the TV. But why stop there? How about having your movie and eating too? Atlanta’s own AMC Buckhead Backlot Cinema, located at Tower Place in Buckhead, is a fun and relaxing place to watch a movie. The restaurant offers a full menu of respectable burgers, fries, wraps, pizza, and most importantly…beer! Tip: Going to a matinee' (all movies before 6pm) will save you a little money. Plus, an early dinner & movie will leave plenty of time in the evening to party it up.
Price range: $6 and up.
Address: 3340 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30326
For more info: 404.467.9611 ll www.amctheatres.com
La Fonda Latina
Looking to add some flair in your normal dining habits? All four locations of La Fonda Latina offer Carribean-influenced Latin cuisine in a colorful, energetic setting. Besides Heath's favorite quesadillas, the restaurant offers killer sandwiches, paella, and more at a great price. Tip: La Fonda has great hours for the day-tripper. Whether you're relaxing, partying, or running errands, you can wrap up your weekend nicely with dinner or a late snack on Sundays, since they are open until 11pm (12am on Fridays and Saturdays).
Price Range: $5.50 and up.
Address: 923 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, 1639 McLendon Avenue NE (East Atlanta), 2813 Peachtree Road NE (Buckhead), 4427 Roswell Road (Chastain)
For more info: 404.607.0665 (Ponce)
Lenny's
Lenny's is nothing new to local hipsters, but for those not in the know, the dive bar located in East Atlanta, was once Dottie's. Once home to the popular KISS dance parties, the bar hosts live local and burgeoning acts. As an added bonus, last call is 4am Monday through Fridays and 3am on Saturday. Tip: Everyone thinks Friday night is the best time to go; Saturday nights are just as cool and much less crowded.
Price Range: Depends. They boast a cheap drink menu.
Address: 307 Memorial Drive SE
For more info: 404.577.7721
