Locating Inman Park and Little Five Points:
This historic neighborhood, rich in Victorian architecture and home to many gay and lesbian residents, is about 2 miles due east of downtown Atlanta. Its approximate boundaries are Freedom Parkway and Highland Avenue to the north, Moreland Avenue to the east, I-20 to the south, and Boulevard Southeast to the west. The historic Sweet Auburn district, associated with Martin Luther King, lies a bit west, and the funky, countercultural Little Five Points section forms the northeastern boundary of the Inman Park neighborhood.
Inman Park's History:
Inman Park was Atlanta's first planned suburb, laid out in the late 19th century and anchored by leafy Springvale Park. Numerous elaborate Victorian painted ladies and handsome cottages and bungalows were built here during the neighborhood's heyday, which lasted until the 1940s. Like many urban areas, it fell into an increasingly gloomy state following World War II and the advent of urban exodus, but the neighborhood has experienced a steady rebirth and gentrification since the 1970s. It's now a bustling, trendy district with quite a few gay-friendly shops and restaurants, plus three top-notch theaters.
Gay-Friendly Inman Park and Little Five Points Shopping and Dining:
You'll find a number of inviting cafes, restaurants, galleries, and shops in Inman Park and adjoining Little Five Points. Here are a few highlights:
Shopping:
Charis Books and More (excellent Women's/Feminist bookstore).Junkman's Daughter (a retro-kitstch superstore).
Dining
Babette's Cafe (rustic European-bistro fare).Parrish (artful New Southern food with a sumptuous vibe).
Rathbun's (snazzy place, inventive Mod-American cooking).
Savage Pizza (not your ordinary pies - very creative toppings here).
Sotto Sotto & Fritti (upscale Italian).
Wisteria (superb, creative contemporary Southern fare).
Inman Park and Little Five Points Resources:
The Inman Park Neighborhood Association produces an extensive website and a monthly newsletter viewable as a pdf file.
Visiting Inman Park:
Inman Park is largely a residential district in eastern Atlanta, rife with fine historic homes that have been beautifully preserved. These include a handful of B&Bs, including the extremely gay-friendly King-Keith House. It's a wonderful neighborhood for a walking tour or a jog, and there are also a slew of interesting shops and cafes along the more commercial streets.
Right in the heart of the neighborhood, Edgewood Avenue has a handful of galleries and eateries. You'll find additional businesses worth checking out along North Highland Avenue, and also along Euclid Avenue as you head east toward Little Five Points. Here you'll find a bounty of funky places to eat and shop at the five-way intersection of Euclid, McLendon, and Moreland avenues.
