Table of Contents Welcome message Atlanta alumni organizations + resources Apartment hunting tools Major neighborhoods in Atlanta Must eat/drink Places Fitness + outdoor activities Things to do in Atlanta Helpful apps General tips + tricks Welcome Dear 2017 grad and new member of Generation Orange, Welcome to Atlanta and the Forever Orange family! Whether you’re from Atlanta or just moving here, we’re excited to extend a warm greeting and some southern hospitality. You may be wondering, “What is Generation Orange?” Gen O grads are Syracuse University alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years—and are now establishing their roots as young leaders and professionals. There are almost 300 Generation Orange alumni in Atlanta… and more than 3,000 Syracuse alumni in the metro area. We’re in the Peach State, but we still bleed Orange! We’re sure you’re excited—and also a little nervous—as you embark on this next chapter of your life. Have no fear! We’ve put together this guide for you featuring tips, tricks, and advice to help you as you transition to life in Atlanta. No clue how to start the apartment hunt? We’ve got you covered! Feel like going on an adventure? No problem! Need a new Instagram foodie picture? We have plenty of suggestions on where to eat! So take a moment and skim through the pages that follow. We’re sure you’ll find something worth your while. Best of luck on your endeavors and as always, GO ORANGE! - The Generation Orange Leadership Council This guide was curated with the help of the following alumni in Atlanta: Samantha Bresnahan, Newhouse ’09 (Broadcast and Digital Journalism) - Currently: CNN Producer - Email: [email protected] Jonathan Leon, A&S/Maxwell ’11 (Political Science and African American Studies) - Currently: Regional Director - Leadership for Educational Equity - Email: [email protected] Kimberly R. Williams, VPA ’16 (School of Design - Environmental Design) - Currently: Freelance Designer - Email: [email protected] Danielle Reed , A& S ’16 (Spanish and African American Studies) - Currently: Allconnect - Email: [email protected] Ethan Minier, Engineering ’12 (Aerospace Engineering) - Currently: ASDL Researcher at Georgia Tech; CFO/Chief Engineer at ProTek Manufacturing - Email: [email protected] Nicole Osborne , A&S/Maxwell ’15 (Policy Studies) - Currently: Customer Success Advocate at Crescerance - Email: [email protected] Atlanta Alumni Resources ● The Syracuse University Alumni Club of Atlanta - The club hosts various events throughout the year. Check out what’s coming up and sign up for their mailing list here. ● Keep up with the latest and greatest news and happenings of SU in ATL on Facebook and Instagram! Apartment Hunting Tools Resources to Find Apartments • Ask your employer – There may be an internal message board or they may have some suggestions, perhaps even on people looking for roommates. • Promove - They have a very simple process and have a great feel for the city. • Consider taking a ride around different neighborhoods. Atlanta has a ton of hidden gems for housing; taking an afternoon to discover them is also a great use of time. • Grab an Airbnb for the first two weeks after moving instead of jumping into an apartment right away. • Reach out to any friends and family you have in Atlanta. • Research college student housing for apartments and Atlanta college areas for more affordable apartments. • Consider using a real estate agent to find a privately owned rental property or invest in homeownership yourself if you're ready! Things You’ll Need Before You Go Apartment Hunting • In Atlanta, location is EVERYTHING. Plot out traffic routes and even make a test run during the time you'd be driving to and from work, if there's an apartment or house you're thinking about. • Letter of Employment or Proof of Income Letter that states the length of work and annual salary. Ask for this on your first day/orientation session at your job. • Your two most recent pay stubs. If you don’t have pay stubs yet, explain that to your leasing office and the Letter of Employment should suffice. • Latest bank statements. • Copy of your photo ID or passport. • Reference letter from previous landlords are great if you can get them, but not mandatory. • At least $2000.00 in your bank account (preferably more for security deposit, one month’s rent, utilities, and furniture too!) Common Things To Know When Looking For An Apartment • Air conditioning is a must down here; most, if not all, apartment complexes have it. • Secure parking is important. • (This can’t be overstated…) TRAFFIC! Think seriously about what your commute will look like. Are you going with or against traffic? Is MARTA an option? • If you don't have a vehicle, find a place close to the MARTA lines. Bike life is the best life in Atlanta. • Ask about maintenance requests, extra discounts and benefits. Don't make hasty decisions. Don't let them talk you into putting any money down the first day unless YOU know you want it. If you can get someone to go with you to view apartments, it's a lot more enjoyable. Some of Our Favorite Neighborhoods in Atlanta Here’s what your alumni authors had to say! • “The West side” • “Places along the Beltline” • “I love the culture of Southwest Atlanta” • “East Atlanta is great, and there is also something to do.” • “If you want the feel of the city, Midtown and Buckhead are centrally located, close to parks and MARTA accessible.” • “West midtown is rapidly developing and has some housing gems in addition to artistic hipsters, great coffee shops, and a unique urban art scene.” • “Freedom Parkway, Vinings, and Riverside are all great.” • “I’d choose Chamblee, Dunwoody, or Doraville because they aren't too far out of the metro Atlanta area and these are diverse areas with great food options.” • “Inman Park has an upscale hipster community, great eateries, central to everything” • “Decatur has a cool urban art scene, traditional hipster, the square is where it's at BUT it’s further out from the heart of Atlanta.” Must Eat/Drink Places Go-To Brunch Spots • West Egg • Flying Biscuits (the white cheddar grits will change your life) • BQE • The Lawrence • Poor Calvins • Folk Art • Sun in My Belly • Bread and Butterfly • South City Kitchen • Home Grown • Others would include Java Jive, Einsteins (the patio is where it is at), Murphy's (the pastries are heaven), The General Muir (also one of the best burgers in Atlanta) • And… if you don’t do brunch, you can't go wrong with the occasional Waffle House run at 2 a.m. Lunch/Dinner with friends, maybe more casual places • South City Kitchen • Ponce City Market • Ormsby’s • Yeah Burger • Bocado • 6 Feet Under • Republic • Takorea • Atwoods • Krog St Market • Barcelona • Heirloom BBQ Market • True Food Kitchen Lunch/Dinner for a special occasion, perhaps a little more upscale • Sundial • Polaris • Ecco • Paces & Vine • Figo de Chao • 246 • Iberian Pig in Decatur Sweet Tooth • Jeni’s Ice Cream • Cafe Intermezzo • Sublime Doughnuts • Kupcakerie • Butter and Cream For A Drink or Two • Ormsby’s • Any of the local breweries, which are huge in ATL ○ Monday Night ○ Sweetwater ○ Scofflaw ○ Eventide ○ Red Brick ○ Torched Hop ○ Wild Heaven ○ 3 Taverns - very intimate setting ○ Orpheus • Hop City • Hudson Grill • Dantanna’s • There are great bars in Midtown and Edgewood too. Syracuse “Affiliated” Bars • Hudson Grille Sandy Springs is the official game watching location • Siracusa’s Pizzeria in Smyrna Fitness + Outdoor Activities Gyms • LA Fitness • X3 • Planet Fitness • YMCAs Yoga • There are so many free community yoga sessions to attend, most of these are offered weekly: ○ King of Pops Yoga in the Park ○ Wellness Wednesday at Colony Square ○ Piedmont Park, sometimes some in Grant Park too. Running/Hiking Trails • The Silver Comet Trail is a long stretch that is relatively flat for running. • Beltline....but it's so hot (and sometimes crowded) to run on • Downtown is beautiful at night • Morningside Nature Preserve, especially if you want to take your dog to the beach! Hiking within 40 minutes of the city: • Cochran Mill Park • Arabia Mountain • Sweetwater Creek • Palisades (East and West) • Powers Ferry • Soap Creek • Kennesaw Mountain • Cascade Springs Nature Preserve • Sawnee Mountain • Vickery Creek Trail in Roswell • Jones Bridge Park There are a lot of outdoor activities explore. Just be careful during allergy and pollen season. Atlanta Social Sports is also an option if you’re interested in joining recreational leagues. Things to Do in Atlanta Big Events • Birthday Bash, the biggest hip-hop concert sponsored by V103 in Atlanta every summer • Fernbank After Dark • Summer Sunset Series at Park Tavern (FREE) • Jazz Festival (FREE) • Music Midtown in September Cultural Institutions Free • Atlanta Contemporary Art Center • Grant Park • Chastain Park • The King Center • Auburn Avenue $$ • Catch a show at the Fox Theater - it is an Atlanta institution! • The Atlanta History Center • National Center for Civil and Human Rights • MODA • Woodruff Arts Center • The Georgia Conservancy has amazing events every month • Jazz Fridays at the High Museum • Sips Under the Sea at the Georgia Aquarium Free Events • There's always a festival or networking event going on or a free class or lecture going on at Atlanta City Studio and other various places. • For design professionals, Green Drinks is a monthly networking event. • Network Under 40 event is also every month. • Events are hosted in Centennial Olympic Park and Piedmont Park • To stay up to date on events, Facebook is the go to for things going on in Atlanta. • Also, check out Atlantaplanit.com Helpful Apps Entertainment & Activity Apps • Creative Loafing • Gametime Food • Postmates • Door Dash • Uber Eats Transit/Navigation • MARTA • Waze • Lyft.