Atlantafi.com is bringing you the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, which has the state of Georgia and the city of Atlanta under a state of emergency.
-
Passersby have always been curious about the Atlanta Diaries development, which sits along a revitalized corridor of Memorial Drive on Atlanta’s east side. Now a new restaurant, Wonderkid, is literally the new kid on the block.
I recently sat down and dined in the establishment, which is a partnership between Big Citizen and King of Pops. The Atlanta restaurant strikes a nice balance between nostalgic diner and contemporary chic.
Wonderkid Review: Atlanta Restaurant’s New Take On Diner
First off, the interior is gorgeous, but looks like it would be something you’d see around the Poncey-Highland area. The decor is artful, yet intentionally dated.
I ordered a cocktail to start things off. The waitress told me that the current beverage menu was limited, but is expected to expand in the coming days.
I ordered a variation of a Moscow Mule, a “Wonderful Mule,” with New Amsterdam Vodka, Ginger, Soda and more. Very tasty.
What’s On Wonderkid’s Menu? Here’s A Look
Wonderkid has all kinds of creatively named dishes on its menu. The thing is, the menu changes on a daily basis, which stresses the creativity of Executive Chef Justin Dixon.
And that’s exactly why Dixon was hired, according to Big Citizen co-founder Eric Simpkins, who talked to me months ago about the place.
“We wanted to do something different, we knew we had to elevate things a little bit and our goal was to really find a chef that could match that spirit of elevation where it’s still very much a diner, approachable and broad, but understands the roll n’ roll feel we bring to it and have a bit more fun and shake things up a bit,” Simpkins said.
Examining the menu, I was struck by the many different dishes they served. That night, they had a number of delicious dishes being offered. Here’s a list:
- Falafel Waffle
- Meatloaf Melt
- Steamed Mussels
- Hand-Cut Beef Tartare
- Roasted Turkey Sandwich
- Heirloom Bean Empanada
- Chef’s Red Chili and more.
What To Eat At Wonderkid In Atlanta
For my entree, I ordered the Fried Catfish, which was expertly seasoned with hot sauce. I also went with Shrimp Grits with Quinoa.
The star of the show, however, was the Mac ‘N Cheese (tinged with blue cheese), which was bomb. Not only was it a huge portion, but I simply couldn’t stop eating it once I tried it for the first time.
The entree was more delicious than you would think, but that’s the whole point that Wonderkid is trying to achieve. They want it to be surprisingly good and the food succeeds.
For dessert, I wanted to give the King of Pops Soft Serve options a try, but the “Just For Now” Cakes & Pies selections kept calling my name.
That night, Wonderkid offered the Eggnog Cream Pie (with brown sugar bourbon whip cream), Brown Sugar Citrus Meringue Pie, Mocha Cream Pie, Caramel Layer Cake (with salted caramel buttercream) and Chocolate Blackout Cake.
I tried the Eggnog Cream Pie, which was a great choice. The sweetness of the pie countered the bourbon quite nicely. I was so full from the entree , I couldn’t finish it though.
I kindly asked the waitress for a to-go container, which she obliged. As I waited for the bill, the restaurant softly throbbed off 1990s hip-hip. I was completely satisfied.
If you want to try something different, fun and delicious, Wonderkid is all that and a side of Mac ‘N Cheese.
Where Is Wonderkid Located In Atlanta?
Wonderkid is located at 777 Memorial Dr. SE, Suite 101A, Atlanta, GA. 30312. Here is a map to help you find it.
Read more: 5 essential soul food spots in Atlanta
The city has some good restaurants in each quadrant of the city: East, West, North, South. All you need to do is think about what you have a taste for. Italian? Soul food? Tex-Mex? Atlanta has it all.
For the latest in metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, stay with Atlantafi.com.
-
Ponko Chicken is set to open at Lenox Square in the mall’s dining pavilion, according to a press release. The new Atlanta restaurant will open in spring 2020.
The Japanese-American restaurant will be in the space formerly occupied by Taziki. Customers can expect Ponko Chicken’s signature dishes like chicken tenders, tacos and sandwiches.
Ponko Chicken Opening At Lenox Mall In Buckhead In 2020
The first Ponko Chicken opened in Chamblee, Georgia in 2017. That’s when founders, Maggie Antoine (Culinary Executive) and Reiko Clark (Brand Executive) team up with Dr. Patrick Sallarulo (Chairman and CEO).
Together, they opened their flagship PONKO Chicken Restaurant in Chamblee, Georgia. Since their debut, the restaurant has garnered a substantial following in the Atlanta community with their unique Asian fusion fare.
“We are thrilled to be joining Atlanta’s premier shopping destination in the start of the new year. As a local brand, it’s an honor to showcase our product and story to busy shoppers and visitors alike,” says PONKO Chicken Chairman and CEO Dr. Patrick Sallarulo.
What’s On The Menu At Ponko Chicken?
The “Ameri-Asian” eatery specializes in Asian fusion foods like crispy chicken and fusion sides made from fresh ingredients.
Ponko Chicken specializes in “Amer-Asian” fare, especially delicious chicken. Mouth-watering tacos will also be on the menu. As the restaurant settles in, you can bet that more great items will be available soon.
Where is Lenox Square located?
Ponko Chicken will be located at Lenox Square mall. Here is a map to help you find it.
Atlanta is having a restaurant renaissance. Hot chicken is the rage in Atlanta’s dining scene right now. But so are chicken and waffles.
Fast-casual is also the dining trend du jour around metro Atlanta restaurants. The concept involves mixing the quick accessibility of fast food with the casual dining experience. Food in Atlanta is also adapting to the various tastes of the migrants that come here to live.
Read more: 5 essential soul food spots in Atlanta
Patrons typically order off a menu board like they would at a burger joint, but the convenience of sitting down to leisurely enjoy their food has made the segment a popular one with the restaurant industry.
For the latest in metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, stay with Atlantafi.com.
-
Lime scooters are going to disappear from Atlanta streets and curbsides as the company has made the decision to cease operations in the city.
“As part of our path to profitability, Lime has made the difficult decision to exit Atlanta and focus our resources on markets that allow us to meet our ambitious goals for 2020,” a company spokesman said in a statement Thursday.
Lime Scooters Leave Atlanta
The move comes months after Atlanta imposed controversial restrictions on scooters, including a night curfew. The city had also began impounding scooters and charging the companies a fee to retrieve them.
In the end, the less-than-ideal environment was too much for Lime.
“We appreciate the partnership we’ve enjoyed with Atlanta and remain hopeful we can reintroduce Lime back into the community when the time is right,” the spokesman was quoted as saying.
Lime Is Leaving These 12 Markets
Atlanta’s not the only city that will be Lime-less. Eleven other markets are losing the scooters. They are:
- Phoenix
- San Diego
- San Antonio
- Linz, Austria
- Bogotá, Buenos Aires,
- Montevideo, Lima,
- Puerto Vallarta, Rio de Janeiro
- and São Paulo in Latin America
The loss of Lime leaves Bird as the most popular scooter option in the city. But it also strands scores of gig workers who had earned extra money by charging Lime scooters.
Metro Atlanta has a hot economy and that means employers are hiring at a rapid pace.If you’re looking to get hired in Atlanta right now, there’s a very real possibility that you can land your dream job.OR -
An eco-friendly beauty salon is coming to Buckhead, according to TonetoAtl, which covers openings and closings.The Water Room comes from beauty blogger Jessica Morse, who’s blog “Bare Beauty,” highlights clean living in beauty and cosmetics.The Water Room Atlanta Coming To Buckhead
The Water Room will reportedly open its doors in the springtime. The business will be housed in Buckhead Court, the shopping center on Roswell Road between Wieca Road and Windsor Parkway.The Water Room will specialize in products that don’t contain hazardous chemicals and other bad ingredients.The original location is in Charleston, South Carolina, where the establishment pledges “we only use nail salon products that are as nontoxic and clean as possible without sacrificing performance. We will never use a product on you that we wouldn’t use on ourselves, or our children. That is our promise.”We look forward to The Water Room. Stay with us for business updates.The Atlanta hair industry is one of the largest in the Southeast, with more than 8 million people getting groomed each month.
But you can do it yourself. All you need are some quality shears and some high-performance clippers to get the job done. Check out these other grooming links to get shaped up in Atlanta.
-
The use of electric vehicles is rising on metro Atlanta streets, roads and freeways. That means people are in need of electric vehicle charging stations in Atlanta.
Electric chargers are a high priority. If you’re looking to charge, you may be wondering where are they in Atlanta? We’ll show you some of the best electric chargers in Atlanta along the Peachtree Road corridor.
Midtown Map: Electric Vehicle Chargers In Atlanta
The increase of EVs may mean that more people are taking advantage of rebates to buy them. Another reason may be that more people are becoming environmentally conscious.
Whatever the case, here are some EV charging stations along the Peachtree Street corridor in and outside downtown Atlanta and into Midtown.
EV Charging Stations In Atlanta Map
If you’re thinking about buying an electric car, you’ll need to know where these charging stations are. You’ll need to look at maps to find out where the EV charging stations are located around town.
Places that typically have charging stations are:
- Shopping malls
- Electric companies
- Colleges and universities
To get a more accurate gauge of where the charging stations are near you, you can go to these resources with EV charger locator tools:
- ChargePoint Map
- Plugshare Map
- U.S. Department of Energy map
Electrical vehicles are clearly becoming a priority by auto manufacturers. Ford, GM and a handful of luxury automakers are focusing on making cars that are sustainable and reduce carbon footprints.
The reason why EV charging stations are increasing is because so many people are moving into the city.
Atlanta has one of the best real estate markets in the country, with affordable housing in every quadrant of the city. Large backyards, manicured parcels and strong neighborhoods with ample dining amenities make it one of the top places for transplants.
Keep up with what’s going on in Atlanta’s real estate scene here.More Articles From AtlantaFi:
-
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but really, why can’t we all be friends? I mean, we all like shiny things, right? But let’s talk about the best diamonds for a minute.
Diamonds are just some of the world’s most beautiful gemstones, but there are others (ruby, sapphire, etc.). What makes diamonds unique is the shine and brilliance it has when light hits it.
Best Diamond Engagement Rings For Sale Online
If you want some jewelry that lasts and you’re getting engaged, diamonds are the way to go. While you can find some good diamonds in your local mall, you can also find them for sale online.
We’re going to show you some of the best diamonds for sale at some great prices. Take a look at these precious stones we’ve dug up from Amazon:
Kobelli Antique Style Moissanite Engagement Ring 1 1/2 CTW 14k White Gold
Buy It
2 Carat 14K White Gold Classic Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring – $3,180
Buy It
2 Carat Round Cut Designer 4-Prong Round Diamond Engagement Ring (I-J Color, SI2-SI3 Clarity) – $3,183
Buy It
1.10 Carat Princess Cut/Shape 14K White Gold Center Stone – $1,517
Buy It
2 Carat Round Cut Designer Four Prong Round Diamond Engagement Ring (I-J Color, SI2-SI3 Clarity)
1 Carat (ctw) 14K White Gold Round Diamond Ladies 5 Five Stone Wedding Anniversary Stackable Ring Band Value Collection – $540 – $1,190
Buy It
BEFORE YOU GO, take a look at all the top deals happening on our Retail Page. Don’t pay full price for things when you can get GREAT VALUE on items for low prices. Don’t want to miss a deal? Sign up for our #ATLHaps list HERE🙂
Looking to shop? Check out the best malls in Atlanta
Here are more articles from AtlantaFi.com you might like:
- Like Rihanna? Here’s where to buy FENTY products in Atlanta
- Here are the best lace front wig shops in Atlanta
- Looking for human hair on sale? Buy lace fronts online here
-
Atlanta real estate is experiencing some of the highest price hikes it has ever seen, especially on the south side. Now a new report says the city will have one of the hottest housing markets of 2020.
Normally, real estate experts drool over West Coast housing markets, like those in California and even Arizona and Nevada, but this year will shape up to be different.
Atlanta Among Hottest Real Estate Markets For 2020
According to a Zillow panel of experts, cities like Austin and Atlanta’s housing market is most expected to outperform the national average.
Home values are expected to grow by 2.8% in 2020, according to more than 100 economists and real estate experts surveyed by Pulsenomics and Zillow panelists.
The panel assigned scores to cities to show where the growth would likely occur. Here is a sample of results.
-
- Austin: 76
- Charlotte: 59
- Atlanta: 51
- Nashville: 49
Unlike the other 24 markets that were analyzed, Charlotte was the only one that no panelist said it would underperform this year.
“Having subjected buyers to a crucible of fierce competition for multiple years, many West Coast markets hit an affordability ceiling that set off declining home values in the most expensive of these,” said Skylar Olsen, Zillow’s director of economic research.
“Indeed, this price correction— a clap back from having appreciated with too much exuberance in the recent past — pushes many previously hot markets to the bottom of our experts’ list. At the top of the list are metros still providing relative affordability and thriving, amenity-rich communities that appeal to younger adults willing to make a move. These features, plus the ability to grow and add housing in the future, are attractive propositions for employers and employees alike.”
Here Are The Hottest Real Estate Markets For 2020
Many panelists expect home values in San Jose and San Francisco to continue falling in 2020, and some expect more markets in California to join them. Sixteen panelists out of the 42 that selected at least one metro said home values will fall in Los Angeles, and twelve said the same about San Diego and Riverside.
U.S.
Metropolitan
AreaShare Expecting
Market to Outperform
National AverageShare Expecting
Market to Perform
About the Same as
National AverageShare Expecting
Market to
Underperform
National AverageNet
ScoreAtlanta
63%
25%
12%
+51
Austin
83%
10%
7%
+76
Charlotte
59%
41%
0%
+59
Cincinnati
12%
42%
46%
-33
Columbus
21%
46%
33%
-12
Dallas
49%
36%
15%
+34
Denver
55%
23%
22%
+33
Houston
32%
46%
22%
+10
Jacksonville
36%
40%
24%
+12
Las Vegas
41%
24%
36%
+5
Los Angeles
20%
25%
55%
-35
Miami
29%
34%
37%
-8
Minneapolis
23%
58%
19%
+4
Nashville
59%
31%
10%
+49
Oklahoma City
18%
48%
34%
-16
Phoenix
46%
42%
12%
+34
Portland
31%
40%
29%
+2
Riverside
21%
32%
47%
-26
Sacramento
21%
28%
52%
-31
San Antonio
44%
44%
12%
+32
San Diego
25%
37%
39%
-14
San Francisco
24%
12%
64%
-40
San Jose
23%
16%
61%
-38
Seattle
40%
21%
40%
0
Tampa
38%
53%
9%
+29
How is The Real Estate Market In Atlanta, Georgia?
The real estate market in Georgia’s largest city is driven largely by a population and economy boom that shows no signs of ending.
Coming out of the Great Recession, Atlanta was a buyer’s market up until around 2015. That’s when it began to show all the signs of a strong seller’s market, meaning that homeowners could would be able to enjoy pricing leverage compared to the inventory.
In 2020, Atlanta is not quite a seller’s market, but is in between buying and selling, which makes for a full-on healthy real estate landscape. Can you still find real estate deals? Yes, but they are becoming less plentiful.
Atlanta has one of the best real estate markets in the country, with affordable housing in every quadrant of the city. Large backyards, manicured parcels and strong neighborhoods with ample dining amenities make it one of the top places for transplants.
Keep up with what’s going on in Atlanta’s real estate scene here.
More Articles From AtlantaFi:
-
-
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore recently posted startling video of a violent crash in front of her home. The former beauty queen’s camera system captured the crash, which took out her mailbox.
Here’s what Moore posted on Instagram:
RHOA Star Films Violent Crash In Front Of Home (VIDEO)
@thebrooklyndaly and I went to the park and came back to find my cement mailbox on the side of the road.
I searched my cameras and saw this!!! We have speed bumps right outside my house. After cutting the roof of the car off the driver was ok.Moore said she was fortunate that her little girl wasn’t outside. “Just to think yesterday I took her out in her new stroller along my street. Thank you God for your protection. 🙏🏾,” she posted.Here is video of the incident from Moore’s Instagram account:Fortunately, the loss of property can be replaced and no pedestrians were injured. It is unclear whether the driver suffered harm.
View this post on InstagramAtlanta reality TV shows showcase the best and worst of the city, but they have a following unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times.
TV executive Mona Scott has created an urban juggernaut that is single-handedly keeping VH1 afloat.
On Bravo, the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” franchise continues to be a perennial winner among millennials. The bottom line is that people want to see Atlanta on TV.
Catch the latest Atlanta reality TV news here
-
Eddie Murphy returned to host Saturday Night Live for the first time in 35 years and he killed it. Eddie Murphy brought a certain riskiness and edge we’ve come to know about SNL back to the show.
One of those particular moments happened during his Mr. Rogers skit, which he brought back along with some timely updates.
Watch Eddie Murphy On SNL
This time Mr. Rogers does an explainer on gentrification and even racism, all tongue in cheek of course. The biggest laugh, though, came when it mentioned Atlanta.
Check out this clip… specially, 1:00 the mark.
Atlanta has become a movie mecca in recent years and Georgia has been a favorite location for TV productions since the state instituted generous tax breaks for film companies that agree to shoot locally. Projects from CBS, NBC, HBO, BET and more are slated to shoot in the metro area in 2018-19 and the foreseeable future.
With more than 700 movie and TV projects just in the last few years, the film industry has generated more than $9 billion for the state of Georgia.There are so many movies filmed in Atlanta these days that it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest movie casting calls, celeb sightings and Atlanta happenings delivered to your inbox.Want to work in Georgia film & TV? Here are the latest Atlanta casting calls
Read more: How to become a screenwriter in Atlanta -
A new restaurant concept between Big Citizen and King of Pops is joining Atlanta’s redevelopment wave along the Memorial Drive corridor. Wonderkid opened its doors on Saturday, December 21.
Wonderkid combines the styles of a traditional diner with that of a modern ice cream parlor. Read our Wonderkid review HERE.
Wonderkid: Concept between Big Citizen and King of Pops coming to Atlanta
The principals, including Darren Carr and Eric Simpkins, both co-founders of Big Citizen, spoke to AtlantaFi.com about Wonderkid and how it came about.
Carr said that Big Citizen had been eyeing the surrounding properties for some time after previously working nearby. “Eric and I came over here two years ago and we loved the building and wanted to be back in the neighborhood.”
We already had a dining concept in the back of our minds that we always wanted to do and this felt like the time and place to do it,” Carr said.
The building’s proprietor first offered them 2,500 square feet, but that wasn’t enough space for what they wanted to do.
“We said, ‘That’s not enough room, there’s not a lot we could do in that space,” Carr said.
“They then said, ‘Well, you’ve got these neighbors, it’s top secret, we’re not allowed to tell you who they are, but they might want to partner with you,” Carr said.
It turned out to be Steven Carse and Nick Carse of King of Pops, who they’ve worked with in the past.
“So it turned out to be a very easy and natural relationship — these were guys who were our friends already — so we said why don’t we blend the two concepts into a bigger space and have some fun with it,” Carr said.
Simpkins said that the early talks between Big Citizen and Kign of Pops centered on how they could blend the two concepts nto something they both liked.
“When we actually saw their mood board that they had and their pitch document, we both had the same picture of this really great coffee house or ice cream shop and some place that just really had this beautiful bar and diner-esque feel,” Simpkins said.
“We knew that there was obviously some natural overlap with classic soda fountains,” he said. “And we all knew that we didn’t want to do the same greasy spoon diner.”
Simpkins also said they didn’t want to do something that didn’t feel original.
“There’s enough small local independent diners up the street who are run by friends of ours and they are doing some amazing things and are neighborhood staples,” he said. “We didn’t want to do the same thing, but we wanted to be there alongside them and not necessarily directly compete.”
And so that’s how Wonderkid was born. The eatery is also a passion project of sorts.
The new Atlanta restaurant will be an inclusive place for the nieghborhoods nearby from Reynoldstown, Cabbagetown and East Atlanta Village, Simpkins said. “We want this place to be a center where those communities can come for breakfast, lunch and dinner and late night.”
What’s On Wonderkid’s Menu?
Patrons can expect traditional diner food, but with a funky twist.
There will be a frozen drink machine that will use the ice cream process that King of Pops uses. Customers can also expect delicious specialties like frozen chocolate bourbon.
The executive chef is Justin Dixon, who is from Atlanta.
“We wanted to do something different, we knew we had to elevate things a little bit and our goal was to really find a chef that could match that spirit of elevation where it’s still very much a diner, approachable and broad, but understands the roll n’ roll feel we bring to it and have a bit more fun and shake things up a bit,” Simpkins said.
Other key players are:
Don Hart, the general manager, who previously worked at Barcelona Wine Bar.
Taylor Blackgrave, beverage director, who comes from The Lawrence in Midtown Atlanta.
Sarah Hagamaker, pastry chef, who previously worked at Proof Bakery, Bon Ton and the Lawrence.
Where is Wonderkid located in Atlanta?
Wonderkid is located at 777 Memorial Dr. SE, Suite 101A, Atlanta, GA. 30312. Here is a map to help you find it.