My sister and I created this tradition, kind of on accident, but every once in awhile we meet up in a city and call it a "sister-city weekend." Basically, we just hang out together in a city. Sometimes that city is where we live, otherwise it's someplace new or an old-school favorite, like Chicago, which kind of started the whole thing unbeknown to us.
When we were young adults (and our parents still lived in Illinois) we realized that it was so easy and cheap to take the train up to Chicago. Why hadn't we been doing this all the time. Our shared love for Chicago and then cities in general helped started this sister-city tradition.
The first one we officially called a sister-city trip was when we went to Kansas City back in 2013. We were both living in Kansas at the time and baby Malakai came with us. (It was a pretty short trip and mostly I remember how anxious both of us were. We are on a lot better medication now thankfully). Since that trip, we've gotten a lot better at traveling together and have had sister-city trips in Raleigh, Wichita, Chicago, Sarasota and now, Atlanta.
Like a true sister-city weekend, our time in Atlanta was dreamy with stellar weather, cool neighborhoods and walkability to basically everything we needed (except the airport). Our Airbnb was nestled on the neighborhood edges of Grant Park, Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown. Cabbagetown especially was cool because it was very artsy - as in there was street art everywhere. There was even this tunnel called Krog Street tunnel that is filled with graffiti (and people are welcome to paint down there whenever they want). It was so cool.
Our time, like most sister-city adventures, could be summed up by town activities - walking and eating good food.
We arrived Friday morning (after a very early start from Charlottesville). But since we had a direct flight, we arrived in Atlanta pretty early in the day, figured out the Marta (Atlanta's public transport) and found a coffee shop down town to chill at before we took an Uber to our airbnb. (We decided just to take the train as far as we could before we'd have to transfer to buses and opt for a ride share service instead).
We chilled at a very small place called Cafe Lucia for a while before it was finally time to go to our Airbnb.
After a late morning nap, we went out on the town (meaning we went on a walk). We found the Krog street tunnel and then strolled along the belt line, which was an old train line that goes around the city that was made into a pedestrian walk way. We found popsicles and looked at sculptures and murals lining the area.
Shortly after, it was time for a snack. We needed up at Jen Chan's for cold drinks and potstickers.
After our break, we walked to the nearby cemetery (which was really old and historical). Before long (and after another break at the house) we headed for supper at Carroll Street Cafe. We had the best crab cakes of my life there as well as a fattoush salad that had these perfect, slow roasted eggplant pieces on it. Unbelievably good.
The next day, we brunch at Wonderkid, a 70s inspired diner. We had the most amazing brunch there that I will think about for many years to come. (I had a breakfast bowl full of my favorite things - cheese grits, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy and sausage. Leah had "eggs in hell" with grilled cheese and I would go back to Atlanta just to order that for myself. omg).
Later that morning, we stopped and got coffee at a coffee bar (I had a captn crunch infused oatmilk latte. CAN YOU EVEN BELIVE IT. It was so good), before we walked to a park to read for a bit.
The neighborhood park was really just a small block in a very quiet neighbor. It was odd how quiet it was. There were people out and about but no cars. It was dreamy.
Later that day, we had supper at Dan Chuy's before heading to the Johnnyswim concert. The venue was in the same area as Wonderkid, so we went back to have a drink and share a brownie awhile we waited. It was great. I loved that place. (We even had the same waiter). The concert was wonderful, as we knew it would be. I, however, really struggled with anxiety the whole time because of how many were in door together unmasked. We had to show proof of a negative covid test and/or our vaxx card but I still felt nervous. (I ended up wearing my mask). So stupid anxiety again ruins the day. I am glad we went though.
On Sunday, we had time to have an Easter brunch at a French restaurant Petit Chou before we had to check out of our Airbnb.
Since we had time to kill after we checked out of our Airbnb and before we needed to head to the airport. Leah and I went to another restaurant we had our eye on, Muchacho. It was very much worth it. We mostly chilled and read/journal there but we also enjoyed frozen drinks (yay day drinks), queso and chips, and then later tostadas and tres leche cake.
It was maybe the best sister-city yet. It was so delicious and green and creative and fun. Atlanta is so cool. And when I arrived back to Kansas later that evening, I cried a little bit. I went from full city color to brown and empty. I need to be in a place that inspires me. The prairie does not do it for me. This is not what this post is about. But it is important to note how much cities give me life.
Here's to another wonderful sister-city adventure. I wonder where we'll go next.
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