(Photo) Truett’s Luau.

Piece 1: Fayetteville GA. Located about 40 minutes south of downtown Atlanta is Fayetteville GA.

Driving into the town on Veterans Parkway, we got a glimpse of the 24 soundstages at Trilith Studios, a large film and television production complex that has been used for some of the Marvel (superhero) movies.

We stopped for lunch at Truett’s Luau (600 Lanier Avenue West), a Chick-fil-A restaurant that features Hawaiian-inspired decor and menu items.

The restaurant has a full-service side and a quick service side; we opted for the quick service and had the chicken pineapple and grilled mahi tacos. For dessert, we shared a really delicious Hawaiian bread pudding.

Truett’s Luau is a unique place with a great menu, and some cool souvenirs and t-shirts available for purchase.

Field View at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Piece 2: Sports Experiences. Atlanta GA has several professional sports franchises, including the Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Falcons of the National Football League (NFL).

About every ten years, around a milestone birthday for me, we get a room at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center (located in the heart of downtown), attend a Hawks game in the adjacent State Farm Arena and a Falcons game in the nearby (just under a half mile walk from the hotel) Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Getting from our room at the Omni to the basketball game was very easy. We exited the hotel elevator on the lobby level, rode down an escalator to the CNN Center (a large atrium space with retail stores and a food court) and walked directly into the arena.

State Farm Arena opened in 1999, seats just under 17,000 for NBA games, and can be expanded to accommodate a crowd of 21,000+ for concerts. The facility has undergone some renovations that make the fan experience even better; including a larger video board suspended over center court that features pyrotechnics during home team player introductions.

The game we attended was very competitive, going into overtime, and the Hawks won!

The next day, we took a short stroll from the hotel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a Falcons game.

This facility, which replaced the Georgia Dome, features lots of clear polymer (glass) in its exterior that allows plenty of natural light and provides a nice view of the Atlanta skyline.

Below the stadium’s retractable roof is a circular video board called a “Halo” that provides any seat in the place a clear view of pre-recorded content and replays.

The venue is (like many contemporary stadiums) a beautiful piece of public art. Fans are greeted at the entrance by one of the largest bird sculptures in the world; a massive stainless steel falcon grasping a football with its talons.

In addition to serving as the Falcons home field, the stadium hosts a number of prominent college football games, including the Southeastern Conference Championship.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is an impressive place; maybe the best “sports-watching” experience we’ve ever had, and the Falcons won!

Curved Wood inside The Coca-Cola Stage

Piece 3: The Alliance Theater. The Alliance Theater is part of the Woodruff Arts Center in midtown Atlanta (1280 Peachtree Street NE), sharing space there with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the High Museum of Art.

The Alliance’s performance space is the recently renovated Coca-Cola Stage. The $32 million transformation included aesthetically pleasing curved wood installed around the seating area, and changes to improve the visual and acoustic experience of the audience.

The Alliance offers ten productions annually, and we got tickets to its presentation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.

The sets utilized a revolving center floor to seamlessly move from scene to scene; supporting wonderful performances by a diverse cast.

One of the best adaptations of this classic play we have seen. A great way to get into the holiday spirit!

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