Castleberry Hill Rocks in Creative Loafing - Best of 2004

CRITICS CHOICE:  Best Sign Of The New South

For a brief second, standing on Peters Street with the glam pizza-and-martinis place on your left, art galleries circling you, and skyscrapers hovering around the bend, you can kinda-sorta almost ask yourself, Chelsea? No, this isn't west Manhattan. It's west Atlanta's CASTLEBERRY HILL. Of all the inner city neighborhoods that have seen a rebirth over the past decade, Castleberry Hill may offer the most cosmopolitan makeover. It's nestled between downtown and West End, and it's home to five art galleries within walking distance, more than a dozen warehouses-turned-lofts, and a growing commercial contingency. We only wish the Castleberry Hill aesthetic was standard in the New South, rather than a hint of what it could become.

CRITICS CHOICE:  Best Intown Gallery

They say change is good, and that certainly is the case with MARCIA WOOD GALLERY, which moved from a cramped Buckhead space to the urban-chic outpost of Castleberry Hill in January, and brought a fresh energy and vision to the space. Solo shows by neo-collagist and social commentator Marcus Kenney, Atlanta painter Katherine Taylor and stitch wizard Kim Ouellette, whose mix of conceptual sewing and wit was a major Wood discovery, proved standouts. And the stunning new gallery space featuring an infusion of space and light, plus a patio and courtyard, injected even more visual appeal.

263 Walker St., 404-827-0030. marciawoodgallery.com

READERS CHOICE:  Best Bartender

Chris Bing (at Slice)
259 Peters St. 404-588-1820
www.sliceatlanta.com

READERS CHOICE:  Best Frou-Frou Martini and Best Signature Cocktail Slice

259 Peters St. 404-588-1820
www.sliceatlanta.com