Billy Dee Williams Approved

So, with a belly full of happiness I left White Bluff, TN and made my way to Atlanta. I have a number of friends here. There's Ed, whom I've been friends with since kindergarten. He's been a long standing member of the "funniest people I've ever met" list. Then there's Kira. She and I met during our days at CNBC and have been close ever since. She's a bit frisky at times but I can't think of a person who is more giving or pure of heart. There's also Dave, or "Big Dave"... who earned his nickname not from his robust stature but rather from a heart that is quite large... he gives love so freely to family and friends. Funny thing, all three are such an important part of my life yet they've never met. This will change

The first stop was Kira's place. I had been on the road eight hours that day and was still dizzy from my afternoon at Carl's Perfect Pig. So after a quick clean up we grabbed a light dinner then hung out at her apartment. In short order I passed out and enjoyed the "sleep of the innocent."

The next day Ed picked me up and we hit the Little Five Points section of Atlanta. There were a few places on my "must do" list and a top priority was The Vortex. This joint rocks! The entrance is an enormous gape-mouthed skull. Inside there is cool stuff everywhere! Old advertising signs, nude paintings on black velvet, model airplanes, a full size skeleton riding a motorcycle, and a sharks head (fake I believe). None of it matches and all of it matches! You couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting something cool to see. Easily my favorite sight was the Colt 45 sign depicting actor Billy Dee Williams... it read "This Establishment Is Billy Dee Williams Approved." Classic 1970's cheese!

Speaking of cheese, it was time for the real treat... a Double Bypass Burger! Twice as big as the Coronary Bypass Burger, my beloved Double Bypass is topped with six slices of American cheese, eight slices of bacon, and two fried eggs! Here's the kicker, instead of a traditional hamburger bun they use... hold on to your hats... two grilled cheese sandwiches!!! Thankfully, vaguely healthful ingredients like lettuce and tomatoes are not present. This is a meat and fat paradise! I even added mayonnaise for a little extra pizzazz. Oh... bliss!!!

It was delicious!

After lunch Ed and I waddled through Little Five Points to check out a few records stores. I scored a pile of scratchy 45's (10 for a buck!) and even found a Christmas record (most readers are familiar with my obsession with holiday tuneage). Hopefully it will be fabulous and make it on to my Al's Christmas Ale CD. Ho Ho Ho!

A bit later we drove to Decatur and checked out Kudzu... a nifty antique market. I found a couple of soul 45's but little else. Ed was kind enough to snap a photo of me and my fat ass as I sifted through records... the creep!

I didn't get to see Big Dave but would do so the next day... sweet!