The CheckerBoard

First of all, a few weeks back I called you a "lefty" and got you stirred up a bit. I apologized a few lines later, but I wanted to do it again. You're one of the few posters on the board that I "follow." Seriously, I was only kidding.

Now for my questions:

1. Have you ever eaten at Bones Steakhouse? One of my favorites in the ATL!
2. Red or White? Sweet or dry?
3. In your opinion, does Hart have a very good idea at this moment of who the next coach is going to be at UT? Who is that going to be?

I'll throw out a few questions:

1. Buckhead: overrated or as great as people claim?

2. Is there anyone in Atlanta who can get reliable cell service downtown (i.e. the Peachtree Center area)?

3. Little Five points: is it as "eccentric" as people claim?

Buckhead is horribly overrated. I worked up there for a year and hated it. My wife managed a business up there and hated it worse. The traffic sucks, even by Atlanta standards and there's nothing that great up there that you can't find in Midtown ATL or elsewhere, IMO.

I work in Peachtree Center now and my Verizon works pretty well. You may have been victimized when you were here by DragonCon and busy sports weekend cell tower overload.

L5P is very eccentric, and is IMO a lot more fun than Buckhead. It has more fun bars and music venues and even a great little theatre or two. It is NOT all gay as some allege. It is young, fun and somewhat crazy.

I travel quite a bit in my job and I like finding small breweries and checking them out. I found a great one in Gainesville, Fla., that severel of the locals I met didn't even know about.

Great business! I wish you well.

Will do!

I don't get to Knoxville nearly as often as the old days -- only a few times a year now. I was up there for Thanksgiving, though and ate in my sister in law's dining room.

I like to go to the last remaining Sam and Andy's out in Farragut. The old original on the Strip was one of my favorite haunts. I really want to get back to Ye Old Steakhouse too. I loved it back when I lived in Ktown. Calhoun's is OK but it isn't that different from a bunch of similar places in countless other towns.

What to do up there? Go to a game. I did pass on Kentucky when I was up there, though. Had to catch it on the big screen.

It had to be the crowds. Never neard anyone who works down here complain much, except in some buildings with blind spots.

Followup question:

You mentioned working at Peachtree Center. Have you tried that sushi place downstairs? I tried it as DC and was impressed.

Yami Yami. Yeah, it's good.

The Chinese buffet up the street, the Manderin House, also has great sushi.

Next year when you come back, try the pan seared chicken wrap at a place called GLC in that same food court. It is to die for, its hige, and it's just $4.99.

That's such a good idea I think we should do it either way. Wes can wait another week for his return.

I loved the old Sam and Andy's on the strip until they changed it to something else, especially the arcade next door which I wore out as a kid when my family would go there on game days. Really, the only old place I can think of that is still around down there is Gus's.

What's your opinion of the Vortex in midtown? I've only been there once after a show at the Valarium, but I only vaguely remember really enjoying it due to fatigue/imbibement and have been considering visiting again on the next trip down.

I have never been there, so no clue, other than old buzz that it was a hot place at that time. Sorry fox. Maybe another Atlantan will pipe up.

Thanks! It was fun.

Good night, folks. And Go Vols!