Atlanta according to Mara Davis
The longtime Atlanta radio personality shares her favorite things about the A
Technically, 12-year Virginia-Highland resident Mara Davis is a professional emcee. But at this point, a title along the lines of “Atlanta media maven” is probably more like it. Davis is the music contributor for Atlanta’s NPR station WABE (90.1-FM) and she also hosts a weekly feature called “Mara’s Music Mix” with WABE “Morning Edition” host Steve Goss that highlights the weekend’s best concerts. She is also a co-host on “Atlanta Eats TV,” a show on Peachtree TV that features local restaurants on Saturday and Sunday mornings. And she’s the host of “Atlanta Eats Radio,” which airs on 640 (WGST-AM). Those are just current gigs. Davis is most known for her radio work at Z93, which became 92.9 Dave FM in 1994, the year she started there. She hosted a show called “Out to Lunch” (which became “Radio Free Lunch”) that featured interviews and a daily music theme. Davis was with Dave FM for nearly 20 years.
I decided to make Atlanta home because [of] a job on the radio at Z93.
Virginia-Highland is my favorite neighborhood.
The first 3 words that come to mind when I think of Atlanta are: Restaurants, Art, Trees.
My front or back porch is my favorite spot in the city to think deep thoughts by myself.
If my foodie friends from out of town came to visit me I’d take them to Gunshow, Aria, or Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q. This question is like picking a favorite child. There are way too many great ones to choose from. No fair.
One thing I think might make Atlanta a little bit better is an ocean.
Emily Saliers from the Indigo Girls and Kristian Bush from Sugarland are my favorite Atlanta musicians.
Variety Playhouse and the Fox Theatre are the best places to see live music in Atlanta.
My favorite independent record store is Criminal Records.
Midtown Art Cinema is my favorite place to go when it is really freakin’ hot.
La Tavola is where I go for a chill, weeknight dinner.
My go-to ladies night out destination is the bar at Highland Tap.
The best advice you could give an Atlanta visitor is: Downtown is fine, but I hate when it’s the only thing people see. Explore neighborhoods like Edgewood, Old Fourth Ward, Virginia-Highland, Little Five Points, Decatur, and so many more. Each has a distinct personality.
Atlanta’s motto should be: Stop calling it Hotlanta!