Atlanta Streets Alive

I love the concept of this. I enjoy walking for exercise so this makes it so easy for me to get out and be active. Also, since it is in my neighborhood, it is very convenient. I understand it is meant for all types of transport, but the cyclists can really make it difficult. I feel like I am dodging this way and that trying to avoid being hit by them. I also wish that people would walk in the direction of traffic. It is kind of a mess and makes things worse. Also, I wish that more of the businesses would take advantage of the event and do more outside to connect with the crowd. I am very grateful for the focus on alternative transportation and hope they continue this event. I just wish they would make some improvements.

Streets Alive should become the norm for Sundays in Atlanta.
For this incarnation of Streets Alive, from around W. Peachtree in the north to Mitchell Street in the south, the city’s «Main Street» was closed to traffic, with the exception of a few major intersections being kept open for cross-​town traffic and controlled by signaling cops.
When all was said and done, I’d managed to walk most of the closed portion of Peachtree (around 3 miles total), noticed several businesses, buildings and art fixtures that I’d not previously noticed, and spent a total of $ 0 (despite temptation everywhere — and I don’t mean of the red-​light district variety) before I had to rush back into the shadows of Five Points station like Darkman after 4 – 5 hours on the surface to avoid my skin becoming but a giant freckle under the oppressive sunlight. Then it was back to suburbia to burn my clothes and wash the MARTA-​station funk out of my hair.
This should be a weekly ritual here, at least during the summer. Honestly, why should Peachtree Street be open to motor vehicles on Sundays (or Saturdays, for that matter)?
I can’t recall the last time I was on this stretch of Peachtree (except the High Museum) during the daylight hours — even in a car. I put no planning into the venture and still have no idea what events and activities I missed out on, but it was a great way to while those hours, even without indulging in the offerings of restaurants and food trucks or in a game of cornhole (not to be confused with the very different popular Midtown activity known by the same name in Georgia’s non-​metro counties).
One note to cyclists: Despite what you may have read or heard, pedestrians are not ethereal constructs that exist only visually and possess no corporeal solidity, so maybe try not to ride through them.
Note to hipsters playing Giant Jenga across from SunTrust Plaza: No, despite your giddy delight at each successful move and frequent high-​fiving, you are not Jenga grandmasters. Use one hand next time.
Note to cop transfixed by hipsters playing Giant Jenga: Do your job.
Special note to that dude walking around with his infant daughter strapped into some torture harness that made her look like Kuato poking out of his belly and seemed oblivious that half her face was constantly flattened against the nylon strap: Stop.

I hate to pull the insufferable hipster card, but I remember Atlanta Streets Alive back in the day. OK, «back in the day» is only like 3 years ago but still. That first one was held on Edgewood Avenue, and, though it was sparsely attended, it was pretty dope. I missed last year’s version, but this year had me curiously excited. (I think I’ve been spending too much time indoors and subconsciously needed some vitamin D.)
Oh, how you’ve grown Atlanta Streets Alive. From the down and dirty Edgewood (whut, whut) to the heart of the Highlands and future darling, the Eastside (Beltline) Trail. Seriously, my wife and baby walked all five miles of it. For those of you are familiar with either a baby’s level of patience and/​or my proclivity for walking (Spoiler Alert: neither exists) then you’d know how unusual this is. But unlike, say, the countless summer Arts Festivals, there’s room to breath, calming everyone and bringing out grins that remind you why you live in town. Doing this in October helps; it’s hard to be pissy when the air is cool and leaves are just on the al dente side of crunchy.
So food (yay for Pura Vida’s grilled Peruvian chicken hearts) and beer and margaritas and belly dancers and martial arts demonstrations and people in costumes on bikes and live music and cool, Autumn days and introducing people to the Beltline. Sounds like 5 stars to me.

Local food + great weather + walking in the street = Win for all!
This event needs to happen more often. It was nice seeing all sorts of folks walking up and down N Highland. We tried Mac the cheese food truck and stopped by Pura Vida and nommed on some of Chef Hector’s grilled meats!
The intersections that were closed off had police officers on guard, which was awesome b/​c there were folks trying to run fools over on N Highland. Lots of vendors setting up shop, lots of activites to watch (breakdancers in VaHi), lots of cool people on bikes and boards.
This event was very well executed. Good job organizers of this event!