Enjoy Driving Slow on Ponce - Former Atlanta Highlands Church of Christ

When I'm driving Ponce de Leon these days, I'm going slow, I'm people watching, I'm architecture touring. You too?

Ponce is now a destination rather than a place you just want to get through, a good thing I think. This is how to enjoy your slow Ponce drives.

On Monday night this church conversion caught my eye so I stopped for some pictures. It's the  former Atlanta Highlands Church of Christ at 985 Ponce de Leon. Though I've seen it a thousand times, I liked it Monday night.



It's a condo conversion across the street from the Ponce Library.  See the curvy track lights through the left window? Can you imagine this as the balcony lobby?



I don't know anything about the church, whether it still exists, the building, or the condo conversion but I'd like to.



If Atlanta had a church street, it would be Ponce Leon. Within two blocks are Druid Hills Presbyterian, Druid Hills Baptist, and Druid Hills Methodist. And 18 more churches between the Varsity and Decatur.



Lot's of classical ideas here. Engaged portico with open pediment and giant order columns in antes, lancet windows. Dutch Bond brick pattern.



Got Gothic arches.



Capstone on the shoulders.



Think there was stained glass?



Pretty nice.



Notice the cottage court behind on Blue Ridge on the west wall of Publix?

This is how to enjoy your slow Ponce drives.

How to Explore Inman Park Edges While Getting a Hairdo Pt. 2 of 2 The Wisteria Block

When I'm lucky, I get to take JoAnn to the salon. While she gets her "do" done, I explore.
 
I was a bit anxious about leaving JoAnn hanging, and didn't realize my phone was on mute. So I decided to chance it and do Part 2. It was about 4:45.

Part 2: The four restaurants at the corner of  North Highland Avenue at Colquitt: Folk Art, Il Localino, North Highland Pub, and Wisteria. The Wisteria block. (See Part 1: How to Explore Inman Park Edges While Getting a Hairdo Pt. 1 of 2 Fallen Arrows and The Dickey)



In order: Wisteria, North Highland Pub, Il Localino, Folk Art. Unless you are on foot, this is the way we see them. I'd never even walked the sidewalk, time for the Architecture Tourist to spring into action.



Why would you put four restaurants in two attached buildings? It was a mystery from my smallish town youth. Then I discovered food courts.




Folk Art is on the corner of Colquitt, has this nice sign with breakfast all day and lunch and dinner.



Folk Art is a squarish space divided into comfortable niches with a view. Lots of ways to sit. It even has some counter seats right behind me.

Cute. I want to eat there, every day.



Then Il Localino. Honestly I didn't even know it was there. It's a narrow front, can't see into the windows. It had just opened for dinner.



Good grief, it's a total red-themed, white table-clothed, attentive-waiters-in-black, Italian restaurant with three (3) dining rooms. This picture is the main dining room looking from the bar toward the front door.

Cute. I want to eat here every day too.



North Highland Pub is an 11am to 3am joint. There are always folks in there when I drive by.


It's deeper than it is wide with tall metal tiled ceiling, brick floor with plenty of standing and elbow room.



Here's the giant Loews Grand Gone With the Wind Premier mural.

Cute, I'll have a beer and bar food every day.



Wisteria is the northern most.



It's what's for dinner.



Communal inline tables, breathing room.



I'd like to sit in this window, watch folks on the sidewalk, see everybody that enters and leaves.



Wow, an un-tagged wall.



Now you know.

Thanks for joining me. Let's eat.


(See Part 1: How to Explore Inman Park Edges While Getting a Hairdo Pt. 1 of 2 Fallen Arrows and The Dickey)

How to Explore Inman Park Edges While Getting a Hairdo Pt. 1 of 2 Fallen Arrows and The Dickey

When I'm lucky, I get to take JoAnn to the salon. While she gets her "do" done, I explore.

I know what you are thinking: It's way easier to wait in the car, listen to sports talk, and do Instagram. But I am the Architecture Tourst after all and I can't do three things at once anyway. (See Part 2:
How to Explore Inman Park Edges While Getting a Hairdo Pt. 2 of 2 The Wisteria Block)



On Wednesday it was "The Dickey" / Fallen Arrows block and then the four restaurants at the corner of  North Highland Avenue at Colquitt: Folk Art, Il Localino, North Highland Pub, and Wisteria. The restaurants be in part 2 of 2.



What is The Dickey? They are rehabbing a warehouse at 900 Dekalb, making a place for office lofts and restaurants, yoga, and the like. The Giving Kitchen and UrbanTrans are already there. Looks cool but who is Dickey?

Delta, Edgwood, Waverly, and Dekalb Avenue make an interesting block. Edgewood is one of the finest streets in Atlanta. DeKalb is a warehouse row that fronts Hulsey Yard and a hair-raising speedway of a street.



Fallen Arrows in on Waverly.



Right here.



In here.




Here's The Dickey. They've removed some brick to open the place up leaving some mural parts behind.


GregMike mural part on the left.


Mural parts.




This is the view from Dekalb traveling West.



Mild mannered sign at 900 Dekalb.



Tag bonanza.



Mural on the wall with diamond windows.



I think this may be a restaurant area with a view.



UrbanTrans has been working out of here for a year or so.




With a stimulating working environment.



This room is big.



I don't know what that says.


They cut the brick away, put in some nice steel to hold it up.  There's a covered walkway then the glass fronted rooms. I think this one may have do Yoga.

That's my bit on the Dickey and Fallen Arrows.

See Part 2: How to Explore Inman Park Edges While Getting a Hairdo Pt. 2 of 2 The Wisteria Block