Design&Build Magazine July/Aug 2015

Southwind
At la n ta ’ s Dekalb
The Arts, Gourmet Lifestyles, Learning and Fun
DDekalb, one of several counties that A
comprise the dynamic Atlanta region, is
a trove of excellence. With highly regarded
Decatur as hub, the surrounding gems
make up a mosaic of universally admired
universities, medical research centers,
and restaurant rows comparable to far
away places noted for advanced cuisine.
“Stone Mountain” painted by Olivia Thomason
with Doc Lawrence
HIGHLY POPULAR URBAN PARK, STUNNING
Stone Mountain is surrounded by a few thousand acres of
manicured land and pristine waters. Each year, more than
five million visitors come to camp, celebrate, dine, attend reunions,
fish and climb the granite monolith. The view from
the summit includes Atlanta’s skyline and the Blue Ridge
Mountains.
The Historic Village of Stone Mountain with its romantic
gazebo, railroad terminal, the African-American village
of Shermantown, includes nationally-heralded Art Station,
which features a theatrical company, performing arts center,
gallery and the state’s finest cabaret. Georgia artists Olivia
Thomason’s mural depicting the city’s legacy rests at the top
of the green grass pavilion.
Decatur, the center of Dekalb’s government, is the home
of Agnes Scott College and abuts Emory University, one of
the world’s heralded medical centers and a top leader in the
arts. The university’s Schwartz Center hosts acclaimed symphonies,
chamber orchestras, and jazz ensembles throughout
the year. Just around the corner, the Michael C. Carlos Museum
houses a collection of ancient Egyptian Mummies, plus
rare collection exhibits bringing the world to local audiences.
Jazz legend Dave Brubeck led a piano demonstration in the
lecture hall.
When the world faced an Ebola epidemic, Emory’s medical
team almost miraculously accomplished its safety mission.
Few neighborhoods in the South compare with majestic
Druid Hills. Originally designed by fabled landscape architect
Frederick Law Olmsted, parks, sidewalks, creeks and ancient
hardwood trees provide backdrops to some of the finest
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JUL/AUG 2015 • DESIGN&BUILD MAGAZINE