Let’s Get Political! How To Register and Vote in Atlanta
We Got Work To Do, Atlanta
Toph Miller
September 11, 2024
If we’re going to put a woman in the White House, we need to get busy. That’s right, we’re working to nominate Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States of America. Oh, you’re surprised that a lifestyle publication left in the hands of a guy named Toph is endorsing Kamala? Of course you’re not!!
Like every election, this one is the most important of our lives. If you don’t like dictatorships, jailing opponents, mass deportations, and basically destroying the fabric of our nation, then you already know the assignment.
Register to Vote
The last day to register to vote is October 7th, but don’t wait. Go to Georgia.gov to register or check your registration.
Make a Plan
You don’t have to wait until election day to vote, but it’s way more fun. Make sure you know where your polling location is and get there early. Bring water with you, because it could be a long day. Be kind to the people volunteering and the other voters. You may not agree with them, but we’re all exercising our rights.
Why Am I Voting Kamala?
Great question! Mainly, because I value a leader who hasn’t been convicted of a felony, committed sexual assault, or incited an insurrection. But also, because I believe tax cuts on middle class will help our economy more than cuts for the wealthy. I believe that women have the right to choose. That people should be free to marry whomever they wish. I believe in investing in small businesses and entrepreneurs. And, I’ve got kids approaching college, so let’s get those costs down while we’re at it. I believe Kamala provides us with the best opportunity to achieve these goals. Also, I’m not embarrassed by her, which is important to me.
And, look, I wrote this before the debate. Before I thought he’d bring up immigrants eating people’s pets, performing transgender surgeries on illegals in prisons, and even before the incredible Taylor Swift endorsement.
ATLiens, it’s time to get to work!
There’s even more you can do. Volunteer with Vote Save America to help save our democracy. You can donate, knock on doors, and phone bank for candidates. Join up and help fight the good fight!
A Note About the Photo and Photographer, Haiyun Jiang
I’m a big fan of Haiyun Jiang, a photographer based out of DC. She photographs for the New York Times and she has an unparalleled way of telling amazing stories through her lens. I highly recommend you give her a follow on Instagram. This photo was from Kamala Harris’ surprise appearance on night one of the DNC.
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Tour de Pasha – 4 Stops For a Great Day in Dallas
Take the Tour de Pasha, The Best Day You'll Have in Dallas
If you’ve never had a chance to meet Pasha, surely someone you know has casually dropped his name into a conversation. It usually goes something like this: “Oh, do you know Pasha? Such a good dude. Have you been to _______? Yeah, he owns that place.”
And they’re right. Pasha is such a good dude and chances are that he does own that place.
So, who is Pasha? Well, Pasha Heidari comes from a family of Dallas restauranteurs. Starting with the Kennedy Room in 2013, Pasha and his brother Sina are reshaping the hospitality landscape in Dallas. Now, Pasha and Sina—the two handsome guys with great hair and even better suits—have either knowingly or unknowingly created the perfect Dallas day. Or, as we have affectionately come to call it, The Tour de Pasha.
Brunch at Las Palmas
Las Palmas is what I imagine Dallas felt like in the ’80s. Maybe it did? I was 7 and don’t remember, but Las Palmas hits on that perceived nostalgia. It’s Tex-Mex with the highest quality ingredients, and they have great margaritas and classic cocktails. Las Palmas opens at 11, which technically qualifies it as brunch-enough. If there’s one thing the Tour de Pasha includes, it’s drinking, and Las Palmas’ cocktails are the perfect kick-start to your day. Whether you’re sitting at the bar or out on the patio, I highly recommend starting with a Fiero Spritz. There’s nothing more brunch than a spritz! Eat your heart out, you’re going to need to build a base for the day. My go-to starter is the Pizza Vaquero (a Taco Bell Mexican pizza done right), then I’m on an entrée rotation of either chicken fajitas, carne asada, or chile relleno.
Cocktails at Bowen House
If you’re anything like me, you have definitely overstayed your welcome at Las Palmas and Sina is ready for you to go. The good news is it’s 4 o’clock and Bowen House is opening up. Bowen House feels like all of Dallas rolled into one. It has a great patio, arguably the best bartenders in Dallas making the best cocktails the city offers, a secret cloud room in the back, a terrific food menu, a door guy with an iPad, you’ll inevitably run into someone you know, oh, and of course, it’s haunted.
Dinner at St. Martin
Hopefully, you just stuck to cocktails at Bowen and worked up another appetite. It’s time to go full romance and pop into St. Martin. Pasha and Sina reopened St. Martin in March of this year (and if you’re reading in the future, it’s 2024), resurrecting one of Dallas’ most romantic restaurants. With an expansive wine list, the French restaurant nails the escargots perfectly (so does Bowen House, so don’t sleep on them there either), and both the Sole a la Meunière and Rack of Lamb are spot on. If you’re not feeling wine you can’t go wrong with their French 75. Le magnifique!
Mike’s Gemini Twin
I’m not gonna lie to y’all. It has been a chore not to just tell you to go Mike’s Gemini in the Cedars. But, here we are, it’s late and it’s time to party till 2 am. Welcome to my home away from home. I could write a novel about Mike’s. The bartenders are the best people I’ve ever met, and honestly, there’s nothing better than making meaningful eye contact with Chase while eating the best hot dog this town has ever seen. My go-to drink is a La Gritona and soda, which magically tastes better at Mike’s than anywhere else in the world. Time stands still at Mike’s, where your best friends will always drop what they’re doing to meet you there. Play a game of pool, throw some darts, and convince yourself that Eric’s photo behind the cash register is staring at you like Vigo the Carpathian. And when you’re done, call an Uber, because you’ve had a hell of a day!
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It’s Friday, I’ll Be At These 5 Atlanta Bars
Y'all It's Friday and We Have Some Drinking to Do!
Happy Friday, Atlanta! We did it; we got here, so naturally, we should celebrate this accomplishment by ducking out of work early and having some drinks.
Today, I was asked how I planned to spend my night celebrating the miracle of the weekend, and I quickly ran down my list of typical haunts. That’s when I realized that Localite didn’t have a list of dive bars! Feels like quite a miss to me, but then again, people are real possessive of their dive bars. And, to that end, what even is a dive bar anymore? So, I’m going to mix it up a bit. This is not a definitive guide to Atlanta dive bars. No, not at all. If you want that, then go elsewhere. This is just a list of where you might find me sitting and chatting with a bartender at some point tonight. So, if you happen to pop into one of these bars and see me, then feel free to say hey! I’ll buy you a shot of tequila.
97 Estoria
It’s easy to get your drinking started at 97 Estoria, because chances are they’re open and they’re ready for you. Plus, if you start here, you could just work your way up the Beltline and make life a little easy on yourself.
Ticonderoga Club
Perhaps at this point in the evening, you’re already hungry, in which case, I’ve got great news: Ticonderoga Club has great food! For me, I don’t have time for that, what I do have time for are the Ticonderoga Club bartenders, who are all excellent. They have made several mezcal cocktails that have made me walk out of there a little sideways.
Ranger Station
My next stop is Ranger Station, because there’s almost nothing I like more than feeling like I’m in my grandma’s basement. Look, obviously, the secret is out about Ranger Station. It’s not really a hidden gem anymore, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great bar. Find your way up the stairs, grab a seat at the bar, and listen to some vinyl while meeting your next best friend.
Bully Boy
This is generally around the time I’ll start to get hungry, and Bully Boy is a perfect spot to grab a chair at the bar, mix it up with the bartenders, eat relatively clean, and drink relatively heavily. The staff at Bully Boy is as good as the food, and always has the best recommendations. If you haven’t been, it’s a Kaiseki style menu, heavy on the fish. With lots of vegan and low carb options, it’s a great place to eat while keeping the buzz going and not die out. We have more work to do tonight, so we can’t eat heavy!
Little Spirit
Little Spirit makes for a great after-dinner spot. Their cocktails are great and their bartenders are better. The crowd inside Little Spirit is always on point. It’s the place I go into alone and walk out of with a group of new best friends all headed to the Clermont.
That’s just the way of life in Atlanta. Or is it just me? Hope to see y’all out tonight!
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