Not long before we wrapped up this issue of 17th South, I spent two separate weekends playing host to out-of-town guests—first, a longtime college friend who flew to Atlanta for some much-needed catching up, and second, my in-laws.

Both occasions gave us the perfect excuse to get out and explore. My girlfriend and I spent much of our weekend gabbing over cocktails and comfort food—avocado toast and cold smoked trout at Bread & Butterfly, breakfast poutine at Venkman’s, grits and fried green tomatoes at West Egg Cafe—and strolling aimlessly through Ponce City Market, Westside Provisions District and a handful of other spots. The weekend with my in-laws was spent wandering through Oakland Cemetery, playing tourist at the Georgia Aquarium and CNN and, of course, eating. Somewhere between playing Skee-Ball on PCM’s rooftop and snapping photos of Margaret Mitchell’s headstone in Oakland Cemetery, I was reminded what a fun place Atlanta is to live, and how proud I was to give my good friend and my family a tiny taste of all it has to offer. And we barely scratched the surface.

There’s nothing quite like the return of warm weather—or hosting company—to inspire out-of-the-house adventures, and so we’ve dedicated our May issue’s cover story to the dozens of experiences that await in the neighborhoods that we cover. From cheeky latenight spots to those where you can enjoy a breath of fresh air, I’m certain you’ll want to check out at least a few them in the month to come. In fact, I encourage you to hang onto this issue all summer and revisit it when you’re making plans, whether they include out-of-town visitors or not. Enjoy!

Lindsay Lambert Day
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF