Lamonlifestyle in Atlanta

Welcome to Atlanta, Home of the OG House Wives, and Lenox Mall, where the local street vendor wears a suit to sell lemonade. I've visited Atlanta many times before, and the first thing that comes to mind is how much I'm not too fond of the traffic and how the aggressive driver jumps out at you. I know we have all heard it one time or another that Atlanta traffic isn't noting to play with, and they mean it. Something that is probably five mins away will take you close to twenty mins to commute. So planning was vital. We drove in from Charlotte and touched down first of many traffic jams; that was how we knew we were getting close.

My first stop anytime I come to Atlanta is Ponce city market. I stumbled upon this place about four years ago, and I've loved it ever since. The Ponce city market is a refurbished factory for textiles. Some of the rooms are now workspace for designers and entrepreneurs, but the real treat of the Market is the three floors of craft stores and unique eats in every nook and cranny of the warehouse. The tap on Ponce is one of the first spots I go to when I come to Atlanta; it features craft wines and beers from all over the world. Upon arrival, the giant menu greets you, with 56 features on rotation: a craft Wine and Beers dream. Once I left The Tap on Ponce, I went to a new spot called The Gateway Bar by King of Pops. I tried the "Slushy Tails," which featured Bacardi. Yum! It was delicious, friendly, sweet, and strong without being overpowering, which I love when it comes to a "day drinking cocktail. "I don't need it to knock me out in the first round, but I do need it to keep; the ride moving along! Modern Mystic Shop is also a favorite of mine when I visit the ponce city market. It's a fantastic shop for all these Mystical. They are home to some more exotic and valuable gems, stones, candles, and books on how to practice using gemstones and spells. Great spot if you are into those things. For me, it's one of my favorite places to visit when I come to the Ponce Market. Next up, we have some places that, honestly, it was my first time experiencing, like Larayias Bodega. This place is something I would consider a hidden gem of the Market for many reasons, one being the location. You can have to walk down a random pathway filled with tea and coffee shops, and tucked right in the corner is this beautiful spot. You're welcome to the warm sound of your childhood, at least for me. Playing the Old school R&B classical and all the classic Oldies, they are generally authentic through and through, with vintage vinyl, modern classics, and drinks named after too heavy hitters in the black music culture. The drinks enrich your health while being packed and filled with super refreshing flavors.

Another great place for a while to create authentic beverages would be the Vietvana Pho Noodle House. My friend ordered their signature bubble tea, which features Vietnamese black tea sweetened with condensed milk for flavor and milkiness. Of course, what is bubble tea without the iconic black tapioca pearls? The bubble tea itself looked amazing, I did try a tad bit of it, and I will say for those who didn't know already but yeah, commercial food and authentically made food taste different! Although I like teas, and this drink was a traditional tea drink, the aromatics of the tea itself were present from the time it appeared to the very first sip. Once you have filled up on the wonders of the Ponce City Market, please take a little walk a block up the street to their local liquor store to keep the good time rolling. At least we did. We went to the Greenway, which was honestly a mix between a bodega and a liquor store. I was in love cause, honestly, this is one of my favorite travel hacks, especially if/when I am traveling on a budget or have a lot of places I want to try food wise and I would like to make that dollar work; for me! However, if you are more hungry than thirsty at this point in our adventure, don't worry. I've got you covered. We intended to go to The Bando, and honestly, we were sad they were closed when we came to visit; however, this is a MUST TRY.

Especially for the wing lovers out there! They offer while flavor options, and who doesn't love a themed foodie spot? Everything is named and theme off of the Atlanta Bando concept! These wings and the Trap Museum is the best combo out! So if wings are what you are after and you would rather have a meal leaving you needed that afternoon nap, then I have the spot for you. We went to A1 Soul food, and the line walking in was at the door, so you know the food was terrific! I went with the Oxtail Plate, rice and gravy, and a side of Mac and cheese, and my friend ordered the Fried Pork-chop Plate, which comes with two Pork Chops, and so, of course, being the major foodie that he is, he decided to get one fried and one smothered in gravy, on a bed of rice, fried cabbage, and Mac and cheese. The nap after the meal was the next on our itinerary. Again, everything on our plates was good. My only negative comment and this is a personal thing. However, the Mac and cheese could have used some salt, but Overall, A1 Soul Food did what We needed it to do, and the portion sizes were so significant that we had enough for the last ride back home to Charlotte.

All in all, Atlanta owns me nothing like always, I hate driving into Atlanta, but once I am there, I never want to leave. The atmosphere and environment as a whole make each visit a memorable one. I always enjoy myself, and I hope after reading this, you will go on your journey to the home of the Trap House, Atlanta, Ga.