Dine-and-Date (and Resist!): Atlanta
Photos by Frances Katz
Atlanta is a perfect place for progressive lovebirds to bond over shared ideals and delicious food. Atlanta has often been called ‘the little blue island in the big red state’ for several good reasons. The city is reliably democratic and a large chuck of the city and adjacent suburbs are represented by civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. There are museums, historic sites and other monuments to civil and intellectual freedom to spark your interest all over the city. Couples can explore the Atlanta’s civil rights legacy then settle in to talk for hours at restaurants that celebrate tradition or herald the future.
Meet over coffee at the Refugee Coffee Company
A friendly place for a socially conscious first date is the Refuge Coffee Company located in the quiet Atlanta suburb of Clarkston. The city has been called the Ellis Island of the South for its welcoming environment for immigrants and refugees. Over the past 30 years the city has resettled about 60,000 refugees, mostly Muslim, and mostly from Africa and more recently, Syria. Shawarma and jerk chicken shops sit next to each other and around the corner from small Asian grocery stores and the local elementary school translates its website into 104 languages. Refugee Coffee is a bright red coffee truck parked in front of a remodeled gas station filled with chairs, couches, desks and tables for customers run and staffed by recently settled refugees. The company provides newcomers with jobs, a living wage, training and mentorship. It provides the rest of Atlanta with fantastic sustainable coffee and baked goods. The morning bun is an excellent selection at any time of day—it’s a fluffy sweet bun with a light touch of sugar glaze. Tip generously; not just to impress your date but also to help these newcomers get a foothold in their new country.
Bond over BBQ and a Commitment to Social Justice
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We live in difficult times. You and your sweetie can take inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an Atlanta native and passionate believer in grassroots organizing and nonviolent resistance to eliminate poverty, racism and violence. In a part of the city called Sweet Auburn, once one of the most vibrant and prosperous African American communities in the South is the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Beginning at the Visitor Center, you can pause at the World Peace Rose Garden, pass the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where generations of the King family were preachers, and visit the graves of Dr. King and his wife Coretta Scott King along with an Eternal Flame and reflecting pool. At Freedom Hall you can learn about the life and work of Dr. King and reserve a ticket to tour his birth home.
A walk around the Historic Site will provide many opportunities to stop and reflect as well as work up an appetite. Head over to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, the oldest market and food hall in the city. Opened in 1924, the market has long been a gathering spot for vendors to sell meat and produce and is now home to 24 independently owned businesses ready to sell you everything you could ever want to eat. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the dining choices here—these are some of the most popular eateries in the city. Vendors include Bell Street Burritos,, one of the city’s favorites, that serves up gigantic burritos definitely big enough for two; Grindhouse Killer Burgers, a favorite local chain that got its start here in the market or Sweet Auburn BBQ, a relative newcomer serving up barbecue with an international twist in a nod to the Atlanta’s many diverse cultures. Owner Howard Hsu brings Asian and Mexican touches to traditional dishes. You could go old school and order a traditional platter of brisket or maybe try the shrimp and grits with a side of jerk-spiced collards or the Auburn taco with Korean pear slaw and pickles.
Civil Rights, Human Rights and The Busy Bee Cafe
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One of the most significant shared experiences you both can have is a visit to the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. Opened in 2014, the Center offers a contemporary, interactive and immersive experience for its visitors. Especially powerful is the vast Wall of Freedom Riders where viewers can listen to first hand accounts and the Sit-In Simulation that allows visitors to ‘take part’ in a sit-in to desegregate lunch counters in the 1960s. On the upper floors is an exhibit devoted to Human Rights around the world. Visitors can follow one of two paths: Oppressor or Victim to better understand the struggle for civil rights around the world. The Center is also home to Morehouse College’s collection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s papers. This exhibit rotates to highlight certain themes, but it’s a moving experience to see these documents, complete with cross outs and handwritten notes in person. Plan to spend some time here, it will be worth it.