Top Ten {Tuesday}: Why I Love My Town

Sometimes the weeks just fly by without me thinking about things in lists of ten for this Top Ten {Tuesday} feature, which is odd given that I am such an OCD list-functioning person!

To keep things simple, I am going to bring it back to the basics today for you, laying out exactly WHY I love my fair neighborhood of Buckhead. I celebrated my three-year anniversary of residency this summer, and I still wake up and go to bed happy with my choice of home :) 

For those of you wondering why this fab neighborhood of 100,000 people isn't actually a city of it's own, there is good reasoning. Beyond the usual political battles over voters and districts and demographics, there is actually already a town called Buckhead in Georgia. Word on the street is that it's 233 residents won't give up the name :) 

Top Ten {Tuesday}: Why I Love Buckhead

1. Name association. No one living in Buckhead will deny actually enjoying this part. It doesn't matter if you are living in a cheap one-bedroom apartment for rent, or own a mansion on West Paces Ferry. When you say you live in Buckhead, people familiar with the area know it means something. You are living right in the heart of the action.

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2. Walkability. We walk to five-star dining destinations, grocery stores and the hair salon. Midtown and other neighborhoods have some similar walking destinations, but only Buckhead boasts sidewalks leading right to Phipps and Lenox Malls. Oh how my wallet aches! This comes into major play around the holiday season when the crowds gridlock the roads.

3. Tavern at Phipps. For a Friday evening Happy Hour, it doesn't get much more old-school than visiting this "gentleman's tavern" complete with bar maids and paper napkin-throwing for ladies walking through the door. Bonus for the gals: they save the best bar seats especially for you. Dress cute and the staff might just buy your dinner, too. 

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4. Hotels. A huge draw for tourists, the highrise hotels in Buckhead also boast some fantastic bars and restaurants. Whiskey Blue at the W and The St. Regis Bar are some of the top-attended by celebrities and locals alike. The local hotels also frequently run great promotional rates, making it easy for family and friends to stay nearby.

5. Oh right, Celebrities. I haven't had the chance to see them, sadly, but Katherine Heigel, LeBron James, Jermaine Dupri, Ashton and Demi, and Josh Duhamel all have been Buckhead regulars at one point or another while in town filming or for an event.

6. The Peachtree Road Race. One of my very favorite Atlanta traditions, over 4 of this race's 6.2 miles go through the heart of Buckhead, all the way from the malls to the neighborhood districts. It's a great way to see the neighborhood in all it's glory, with streets lined with people cheering you on. If you didn't get a bib number this year, try again next year until you do -- it's seriously worth the early morning wake-up on the Fourth, I promise!

The Peachtree Road Race starts in the heart of the Buckhead shopping and hotel district. Image Source

7. Lazy Weekend Mornings. You can't drive through Buckhead on a weekend morning without seeing people out running, biking or enjoying a coffee at the neighborhood coffee joints. My favorite spots are the Flying Biscuit's bar seating (always goes faster than waiting for a table!), the Peachtree Road Farmer's Market during the summer and the neighborhood roads nearby while out on a jog. Ultimately, what stands out for us is the quiet that occurs at this time -- other neighborhoods get this a lot, but we treasure it that much more since the din of traffic usually fills the air on other mornings.

8. The skyline. When the sun rises and sets in Buckhead, it glints over all of the buildings and is absolutely beautiful. LOVE. We like trying to pick out which highrise is which.

Oh hi, modest home on West Paces. Are you mine?

9. West Paces Ferry Road. Our own little Millionaire's Row, West Paces is a multi-mile corridor across historic Buckhead full of the. most. gorgeous. homes. EVER. I pretend to drive through there as if I was driving to my own home. I can dream, right?

10. City Living. Our Publix is a condensed version of the sprawling suburb stores, making grocery shopping extra speedy. A cab fare down the road is just a few dollars. MARTA is right across the street in case we are headed to another part of town or the airport. Concierge services and doormen abound. Love, love and more love.

There you have it! A glimpse into MY town. I hope you enjoyed the mini tour. If you are ever visiting the area, hit me up for my suggestions on what to do and where to go - or of course, just keep following along here on Buckhead Betty and I will keep you updated :)

I want to know more about your area, too! What do you love most about your town or neighborhood?