Since Coca-Cola has its headquarters in Atlanta, it is appropriate that there is something called the "World of Coca-Cola" here.

What exactly is the World of Coke?  From their website:

The NEW World of Coca­Cola is the only place where visitors can explore the complete story—past, present and future—of the world's best-known brand! For over 120 years, we've been putting our secret formula into bottles. Now, we've put it all in one amazing place—the NEW World of Coca­Cola.

With 62,000 square feet of guest areas, the NEW World of Coca­Cola is approximately twice the size of the previous World of Coca­Cola.

We will feature more than 1,200 artifacts from around the world that have never been displayed to the public before. In fact, only about 50 artifacts from the previous World of Coca­Cola will be showcased at the NEW World of Coca­Cola.

This past weekend, we decided to explore the NEW World of Coke.  Overall, it is a nice experience for visitors to Atlanta and a HUGE improvement over the OLD World of Coke.  The best parts are the Tasting Experience with over 70 Coke products from around the World that you can taste.  Some are really good...some, not so much.  The 4D Theater is also kind of fun.

There are some changes they could make though

• The waiting area for entering the movie should have more paraphernalia  and displays.  It's kind of a boring (although nice) area where you are forced to wait.
• The walk-through bottling area is congested (and it wasn't even busy when we were there).  There needs to be some way to keep the people moving.
• The Happiness Factory Theater Movie was fun/entertaining.  However, it could have been a lot better with some Animatronics.  Yeah...I'm a Disney Nut, but the characters in the movie would really lend themselves well to Animatronic form.
• The Hub is just kind of there.  It's nice, but so EMPTY.
• The Pre-Show area has an audio portion which is really hard to understand because it switches gears so many times and bounces around to a myriad of speakers.  It's an interesting effect, but poorly executed.

I currently use Sharper Agent for my drip e-mail campaigns and to generally keep in touch.  While it has been a good service, I have found their interface to be kind of clunky.  I keep hoping for a major upgrade, but have seen nothing forcoming.

After looking around, I stumbled across Polite Mail.  It looks like a good service and I have downloaded and installed the trial version.  Looks pretty good and since it integrates with Outlook the interface seems good.  Is anyone else using this service for drip campaigns?

I know Constant Contact is a big player in the e-mail marketing arena, but I am looking for a new/fresh service.  I hope Polite Mail is what I've been looking for.

Downtown Atlanta has really blossomed into a real tourist destination.  Aside from having the always popular CNN Studio Tour where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at CNN, there is also the very popular Centennial Olympic Park that hosts concerts, fireworks, and an array of activities throughout the year.  Add to this the recently opened Georgia Aquarium (on of the world's largest) and the NEW World of Coke, and you've got a great way to spend a couple of days.

Just a few miles down the road, you have the Fabulous Fox Theater for a show and the High Museum of Art in Midtown Atlanta.  Why not finish off your tour of Atlanta at Atlantic Station for some shopping and great restaurants?

Plan to spend a full day at Stone Mountain, just outside of Atlanta (be sure to catch the fireworks/laser show). 

There is so much to do in Atlanta and it seems as if more is being added all the time.  In addition to that, Georgia has 15 of the Fortune 500 Headquarters (Metro Atlanta placed third on the Fortune 500 list).

Great Shopping, Great Restaurants, Fun Tourist Attractions, and excellent employment opportunities are all a part of the ATL. 

Atlanta is a great place to live and work.  Below are just a few things that should help you get around our city. 

A few of my favorite Restaurants:

Violette - A hidden gem for affordable French/American food in a laid back atmosphere. You can sit near the piano and request your favorite tunes.

Atkins Park - One of our favorite places to celebrate special occasions. Rich, dark wood interiors located in Virginia-Highland. Quiet enough to have a conversation across the table without yelling. GREAT Food. Also, has a nice bar next door.

Six Feet Under - Across the street from Atlanta's oldest cemetary, hence the name. This is a very casual (sometimes loud) atmosphere, but has some great seafood.

Thai Sushi - Never so crowded that you have to wait long for a table (even on a weekend), yet the food is scrumptious. Located in East Atlanta, there are a lot of funky shops to enjoy before or after your meal.

Blue Ribbon Grill - Home style favorites. Make sure you order the potato chips with blue cheese.

Universal Joint - Great place for a burger and a beer with a nice outdoor area for watching the people go by in Oakhurst. This is definitely a place "where everyone knows your name".

The Varsity - What'll ya have? The World's largest drive in can accommodate 600 cars outside and 800 people inside. This is an Atlanta institution to be experienced.

Don't think that all there is to do in Atlanta is eat, though. There is a wealth of cultural attractions and fun to be had:

Georgia Aquarium - Now open with over 8 million gallons of water and over 100,000 animals. This is one of the largest aquariums in the world and a real jewel for Atlanta.

Stone Mountain - A must see while in the Atlanta area. There are many things to do here for the entire family, including a great fireworks and laser show during the summer.

World of Coca-Cola - What else would you expect in the city that is headquarters for Coca Cola? A great tribute to Coke, but it gets even better as they are building a new one next to the Georgia Aquarium.

Centennial Olympic Park - Concerts, Fireworks, Christmas, and, of course, the gathering place and legacy of the 1996 Olympic games. There is always something going on.

Finally, a few terms to help you get around Atlanta:

The Perimeter - The informal name for Interstate 285 (the loop around Atlanta).

Spaghetti Junction - The I-85/I-285 interchange in the Northeast part of the city. You'll understand once you see it.

Sweet Tea - Don't be surprised when you order iced tea if you're asked if you want sweet or unsweet. This is a southern tradition. You can get your tea pre-sweetened in almost every restaurant in Georgia and a couple of other states.

Peachtree Street/Drive/Blvd/Rd/etc - There are many, many roads in the Atlanta area that begin with "Peachtree" which can sometimes make for confusing directions.

Hotlanta - I'm sure you've heard this term associated with Atlanta. Well, just make sure you never use it when you are in Atlanta as it has become outdated.  We are not the "ATL"

Buckhead - Used to be the bar/party district, but that has all changed.  It is now becoming the "Rodeo Drive of the South" with high-end retailers and restaurants.

Underground Atlanta and the Peach Drop - Downtown mall built over a part of Old Atlanta. You've heard of the New Years' Eve ball drop in New York. Well, this is where they hold the "Peach Drop" for the New Year. That's right, they lower a giant peach to celebrate the entry into the New Year.

5 Points or Little 5 Points - These are two different places that even locals sometimes confuse. 5 Points is the MARTA Rail station. Little 5 Points is an intersection of 5 streets with a host of quirky, eclectic shopping and eating.

We have bought a lot of self-promotion items over the years.  Everything from calendars to  pens and greeting cards to t-shirts.  Here are a few we have had good experiences with.

• Magnet Street - for everything magnetic, this is the place to go. This is where we usually get our yearly supply of magnetic fridge calendars from.  We have used them for 3 years now and they have always turned out a great product promptly.
• 4 Imprint - They will put your logo/message on just about anything.  They will even send you a free sample (such as a shirt).  They have loads of different products.
• The Gallery Collection - Christmas and other Greeting Cards.  We just received our Christmas (Holiday) cards for this year.  They look GREAT!  We ordered early and got a huge discount.
• Pens.com - The place to go for what else, pens.  We have ordered through them several times and love their products.  Plus, they are always sending free samples of new items.
• Cafe Press - If you already have a logo/design and want to get it on a t-shirt quickly, this is the place to go.  All you have to do is upload your graphic and then order it.  Pretty easy.  You can order any quantity (even just one).

With the hundreds (thousands?) of companies out their doing self-promotion items, it helps to get a couple of recommendations.  I researched all the above pretty heavily and have been happy with everything I have ordered through them.  They have always been prompt and put out really nice looking items.

Decatur, GA is located just a handful of miles from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Atlanta, but it couldn't be further away in terms of having a more small town, intimate, laid-back feel.  It feels like the type of place where everyone really does "know your name".

The centerpiece of Decatur, is the historic Downtown area.  Full of quaint restaurant and shops, you will find few chains here (although, there are a few).   Some of the restaurants we enjoy include:

• Cafe Alsace - a wonderful, intimate French Bistro.  The tables are kind of close, but that only adds to the ambiance.  The food is incredible and a change of pace from the normal chain food.  A real experience.
• Brick Store Pub - The happening place on the Square.  This place is full of character and serves your typical pub fare.  It can get crowded and noisy on weekend nights, but it's a great place to stop and have a drink and some lunch during the day.
• Chocolate Bar - A new entry in the Decatur dining experience.  This place is all about chocolate.  Don't expect to get a full meal here, but it is a great place to stop after dinner for a little indulgence in a chocolate martini, truffles, or a slew of other chocolate filled desserts.  DECADENT!
• Jake's Ice Cream - If you are ever looking for an unusual flavor of ice cream, this is the place to go.  I am a fan of cinnamon ice cream, but it is hard to find - not at Jake's though.  Of course, with flavors like Blueberry Piescream, Chocolate Slap Yo Mama, Kiss of the Leprechaun, and Mexican Hot Chocolate, Cinnamon is probably one of the tamer flavors.
• Sage on Sycamore - a more upscale restaurant, this is one of our "special occasion" places.  It's not that it's really all that pricey, it's just nicer than some of the more laid back places on the Square.  Definitely worth checking out one on of those special nights.

This really only scratches the surface of some of the great restaurants you will find in Decatur.  Don't forget to stop in some of the great shops, like Rue De Leon, after your meal.

There are a growing number of companies out there who will create and host your Real Estate website.  When we first started in Real Estate over 3 years ago, I researched a number of different options.  However, most of the ones out there were just too similar looking, not customizable enough, or too expensive.

The first website we put up was hosted with Point2Agent - they were free, had a different look, and most importantly, it was really a customizable website.  It looks like they have gone through a lot of changes over the past couple of years and I know of a lot of agents who use them who are generally quite pleased.  Of course, as with all the hosting companies, they do have options to upgrade your website with added features for a fee.  Still, it looks like Point2Agent is a great place to start up your website

The next place we moved our website to was Agent Image.  This is a great service - really customizable and a great, professional look to the websites they put together.  Their support department was always very responsive.  However, this all came with a cost - they are kind of expensive to get started with.  I feel it is worth the cost to get a professional website up and running.  I got a lot of comments on how nice my website was.

After three years, I got tired of not being able to control my own website and make immediate changes and customizations.  I finally decided to buy a copy of Dreamweaver and make my own website.  After a lot of trial and error, I think I ended up with something pretty good - GETATL.com.  It's hosted at Lunar Pages which has some cheap hosting plans.  Designing and constructing your own website is not for the faint of heart.  It takes a lot of time and energy just to maintain it.  However, I love being in total control of everything on my website.

Having a website is a must in today's Real Estate market.  A blog is almost becoming a must and I use Typepad for a couple of my blogs (atlagentintown.com and homeinatl.com).  Typepad is a great service even for the novice.

I just recently ran across Active Rain and think it is a great supplement to my other online activities.  In today's world, you really need to have multiple online presences.   

Midtown is an Atlanta neighborhood that has undergone a significant revitalization over the past decade and continues forward into an unparalleled future for an Atlanta neighborhood.  Defined as the area between Ralph McGill Blvd. and where I-85 crosses under Peachtree Street, one can see where the old neighborhoods are mixing with the newly developing skyline. 

Midtown is home to the Margaret Mitchell Center, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, The High Museum, The Fox Theatre and the newly developing "Midtown Mile" see www.midtownmile.com for more information about how the stretch of Peachtree Street from North Avenue to 16th street is redefining Midtown as "location - destination".  With a spur of new high-rise condos that include mixed-use spaces (offices,retail, and restaurants) and not to mention the architecturally inspiring atmosphere, Midtown is certainly drawing a new, young professional crowd calling and making it home.

A few of the new condo developments going up in Midtown include:  Aqua, Trump Towers, Onyx, 1010 Midtown, and Viewpoint - to name just a very few of the larger ones.