There is a certain area in Atlanta that is known as Midtown which houses an area known as Little Five Points. This is truly the hippie haven of the south – or at least Georgia. In this little portion of town there are many body art and vintage shops, including a favorite of the locals called Groovy Girls. Other odds and ends are sold around here such as African drums, futons, and crystals. .
Just like the goods that are sold here, the people are an assorted mixture as well. New age Flower Children, aging Flower Children, skateboarders, and Rastafarians line the streets daily. Drum circles are common practices here. Little Five Points and the nearby Piedmont Park also host the Pot Festival every year.
I have lived in Atlanta my whole life. Little five Points neighborhood definitely has many progressive, cool people. Many health minded people and hippies. If you have time, you must visit the Lake Claire Land Trust at the end of Arizona Ave. This is the real hippie/alternative center of Atlanta. You will meet many excellent people here and you can relax in the organic gardens.
i live about 45 minutes south of atlanta……we are just a few like-minded souls who found one another despite the mess society has caused down here.
we have good friends and good times and we love to share.
dreadsistah@yahoo.com
Little 5 Points is nice. Definitely a hip, diverse crowd. If you make your way to Little 5, make sure to stop in Little 5 Points Pizza. It’s the best damn pizza on earth and it’s a $1.40 for a 1-topping slice, which is big enough to fill me up. When you’re broke as hell, L5P is heaven. There’s also a lot of really good dining places here and there. Variety Playhouse is host to a lot of shows… recently they had Leftover Salmon, David Allan Coe, Keller Williams… it’s a decent little spot. I go to Little 5 Points almost every weekend. I do outreach for some of the homeless out there, passing out condoms and drug information, refer people to the needle exchange, that sort of stuff. Most of the homeless in that area are drifters, but some of them stay year round, and all of them are really friendly.
I think little 5 is an awesome place to find some hippies, but it’s not just a hippie haven, it’s a counter-culture center. There are a lot of different groups and the last time I visited I found it to be dominated by goths
I lived in Little 5 (Inman Hills apts.)for quite a few years during the early 90’s, and I can only say that after moving away and coming back to Atlanta that I was greatly saddened by the changes. I wish that any younger Atlantians, or new visitors to the area, could have experienced it then; to call it a ‘hippie haven’ now is almost ridiculous, with the exception of the land trust—perhaps the last true hippie haven in the area. If you visit the area, visit the land trust, talk to one of the residents (they live in the surrounding houses and can often be found working in the gardens there)about the history of the area. Ask about even earlier history, no, not the Civil War, although there’s plenty there, too. While it certainly changed a lot over the years, like any neighborhood, the most drastic (yuppified) changes occured around ’95, with a write up in an Atlanta magazine and the passing of ‘noise’ ordinances that banned the drum circles that once took place almost nightly in the square. When I was a resident there was certainly those who did not respect the area, but in general the locals really looked out for each other. Many who would attempt a ‘crime’ ie, hurting someone or stealing hard earned possesions, were more afraid of the very vigilant locals and shopkeepres than they were of the police, with the exception of Officer McFarland–a sometimes pain in the ass, but a good guy, who seemed to care.This started to decline as many local began moving away. No doubt the yuppies feel much safer now; afterall, they have a Starbucks, a brew pub, The Point and Felini’s are gone and those very dangerous trees in the square have all been put in cages.
I am moving to ATL in the fall. So far L5P is the only place I have found (on the internet) that looks interesting. Are there apartments for rent in the area? Can anyone give me some info on this?? Thanks!
I am not sure I will be able to check this board, so place email me at Mitchy1127@aol.com
1257 Euclid Avenue…
…was a towering mansion (sort of) straight out of a Jack Flanders mystery. I lived there when I was 13, in 1972, and remember the maxi skirts, the Zig-Zag patches, and the smell of Patchouli flowing through the neighborhood. Little Five Points was a great influence on my life, even if I didn’t get rich selling flowers there, well at least not monetarily.
I live in Jacksonville,Florida now, and long for the days of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks blaring over the old Zenith Hi-Fi, and the hippie girls rounding-up to go to the Health Dept. for thier VD shots.
Oh yeah, like I even forgot to rate the place.Five Points is like heaven with all the vices, (and a few paisley pigeons to boot!) anyone that disagrees, return fire to rdaniellord@yahoo.com , and no, you can’t get $20.00 bags of columbian from that green house Elmira Pl., anymore
I think some of you folks have a little confusion on the difference between subculture and hippies. Little 5 does have some good shopping, but all the housing is rather expensive due to the fact it is now aimed at yuppies. It is complete with a futon store and a starfucks. Also it is a haven for those damned travelling gutter punks always asking for handouts. Besides some longtime stores such as wax n facts most of the cool folk have moved up the street to east village. Why does all the atlanta neighborhoods have newyork city names? I recommend against atlanta unless you like smoking crack and getting mugged and or a really big gay yuppie community. I am going back to austin myself.
L5P is cool, it’s become tredny but it still retains some of the charm that led it to be called a hippie haven. I love L5P, there is a health food/co-op there called Sevananda, very cool people 🙂
i have lived in Atlanta all of my life and visited Little Five Points numerous times. I have met some wonderful, hip people there but it is more of a diverse crowd nowadays. If you’re visiting it is a neat little place to browse (but expensive)>check out IFO- a cool dead shop. And always a good place to watch interesting charaters. Anyways i encourage all to visit! PEACE!
Athens Georgia is the next best thing…..even better than L5P if you ask me.
Anyone in Georgia, im me. My screen name on aol instant messenger is sexdrugsandrock1. 🙂
I lived in Atlanta most of my life. My Parents started the Land Trust which was mentioned above. I remember seeing this town when it was way more hippy. My parents bought one of the best houses in the city back when it was only $25,000 in 1978. They got 1.5 acres and a house near the hip intown area of little five points. They bought a neighboring 1 acre with neighbors for $27,000. Now doctors, lawyers, and other urban professionals are buying up the homes. Crappier homes are going for like $250,000 and mansions for $600,000 or more.
The problem is of course housing costs. Drives the true artsists and urban homesteaders out. I think Atlanta lost much of its charm. Now folks are having to buy up cheap homes by going into the true ghetto. Where crack dealers are and murders all the time. Things are changing even in the ghetto though. They’re building a death star sized shopping center right in the real ghetto. Intown atlanta never saw anything like it. Gonna be right next to Little Five Points. Very strange location if you ask me.
“Progress” is okay though. The problem is that generally Atlanta is quite like L.A. in architecture: Car City. So in other words all the old walkable neighborhoods are becoming expensive because the suburbs suck. In some other cities the walkable areas are much bigger. Like Chicago,etc.. in Atlanta they drive more than almost anywhere in the world. Many places in the suburbs don’t even have sidewalks.
The climate is awesome though. And the job market is great too compared to cost of living which is reasonable. I just don’t feel connected to people here. Nor do I feel connected to the outside world. People here can be ignorant of things going on elsewhere. I don’t meet many travelers. There are almost no hostels in a city of 4 million because there is no particular reason for someone to visit. I feel it is a little bit of a money vacuum. Meaning people focus a lot on money even though there is plenty here.
Very gay friendly. Lots of blacks and yuppies and gays. Okay with me but I am a young straight single white male age 25. I’m into community and sustainability and art and activism,etc.. This isn’t great place for people my age. Better for career types in their 30’s. There are artists for sure and hippies but this city just doesn’t have that “mojo” that other places can have. This is a fine place to make money for awhile or it might fit for some people. It definitely has its strong points. But for that mojo feeling you get that makes you feel alive, that you can meet people and have a good time and that life has meaning – its hard to find here. And I’ve lived right in the “hippy” area for many years.
The thing is that it is still the conservative south that surrounds Atlanta. Most of the suburbs are still boring backwards people. Given, they are an acceptable and better form of that type of person than would be found in say Alabama. That what Atlanta is: Boring. I think it is OK in other ways and people are pretty nice. But I think it really is just boring if you are really looking for true alternative culture. So, who knows, Atlanta may be right for you. This is just my opinion and the city is too big for me to be an “expert”.
If you want to see a real bohemian town, go to Camden town, London. L5P is just a pathethic little street, with a couple of bars and a few tacky clothes shops.
I didn’t go to Atlanta this year , but I have been to Little Five
Points and I love it . This year , however, I came through
Athens GA a fews miles NE of Atlanta and hung out . It’s not
exactly a ” hippie haven ” but it’s a cool hip town with a
great music scene . After all , Athens is the home of The B’52s,
REM and Widespread Panic . I saw Urge Overkill one night and
another , Ken Stringfellow is co-founder and one half of the
great power pop band The Posies . Ken did a solo gig that night.
Literally . He played only a Kurtzweil keyboard and one electric
guitar and sang . His voice was so fucking good that at one
point he moved away from the mic and sang without
amplification and his voice was still beautiful . Let Mick Jagger
attempt that , huh ? Anyway , I met , and got Ken’s autograph.
A down-to-earth real nice guy with no ego problems that
most musicians seem to have . If you’re hungry on Sundays
and Tuesdays , the Food Not Bombs group serves vegan meals
downtown . ( hi Geoff; hi Jessica , I still haven’t got your email)
Athens is not a bad little town .
everyone keeps reflecting that L5P is this cool hippy mecca! have you all never been outside of Atlanta! L5P is a couple of blocks in diameter, it has about 5 bars/restaurants, a couple of record shops and a couple of homeless drop outs. if you really think that this is the epicenter of cool then you’ll have brain overload in NYC, SFC and london, paris, and any other western city outside of the deep deep boring south!
listen, i’m a londoner and currently living in atlanta, and all i can say is that L5P is nothing special.
Well I have to say you folks are really not from the square as I remember it. I lived on the square for almost two years from 94 to early 96 and things were way cool then. I was sleeping in the cardboard recycling dumpster behind Seven Stages and pretty much eating pizza at Fellini’s and at the white house over on Moreland (I don’t remember but I think it was a food not bombs place). Anywho I remember people like Becky and Jeff and Promethius (asshole) Murdock (you came all the way to NC and saw me) Angel you precious thing and my honees Angie and Michelle. How about Sir Stairway High and Yee ol mayor Paul.And the big black guy with the fork rings.( Dude I am so sorry I forgot your name but I still make some of those rings in your honor). There were others and there will be more who pass this little quaint place on Earth but just remember this folks. It really doesn’t matter the size of the place you are in, it doesn’t matter the size of the crowd and it doesn’t matter how many saw you there. What really matters is that YOU were there! Leave a little bit of yourself in enough places and someone is sure to remember you.Peace my brothers and sisters of L5P I’ll always want to come back. THOMAS
all i have to say is that little five points is being really overated by a few folk from ohio and florida. it only has 5-6 bars/restaurants, 1 record store and a few tacky clothes shops that would be ridiculed in paris of NY!
Miami is the true capital of the south!
L5P was a lot different in the early 90s. However, it was immature and largely ignored by those who like it today, namely intellectuals and liberals who have found the Decatur/Morland area an island in the sea of rampant conservatism in Atlanta. Emory University, while not the only liberal university in Atlanta, is by far the most influential. In fact, it is probably the most influential in Georgia. So L5P is located in a good spot for those who want to do a little shopping for interesting “tobacco” pipes and check out an anti-war demonstration that might get noticed.
I’ve been in Atlanta for about eight months, coming from upstate New York and Little Five points is where I hang out. There is this Duo that plays the local scene, that will put you in a funky hip-notic mood, their vibe is out of control. They are based in Atlanta, but they are all over the country. This is a group that turns every venue into a Hippie Haven.
The group is, Jazzmatic. The website is jazzmatic.com
This is one of those groups that if you haven’t heard of them today, you will hear about them tomarrrow!
Their contact info is on the site and they answer the phone and will talk to you as if your their best friend. I love these guys and you will too.
Don’t forget the website: http://www.jazzmatic.com and see for your self.
anyone know where I can get some pot in atlanta? I have heard that you can get it in L5P; is this true?
In 1985/86 ish there was an awesome band that played L5P area and L5P festival called Jane Doe. I know they recorded with Mitch Easter and they were touted to be the “next big thing”. Around the end of 1986, they disappeared. I figured they had went to the U.K. or New York or L.A. to expand their audience, but they simply vanished. Does anyone know what happened to them, or have a copy of their music?
been to atlanta several times – i just don’t see the appeal in it, sorry. even with the areas folks have mentioned, it seems like a very dry city with very little personality. i’m sure it has plenty of places to hang out, but you pretty much have to drive to all of these. car culture is arguably even more prevalent in atl than in parts of so. cali, where i lived for a long time. even in parts of midtown or virginia highland, street life is virtually nonexistant most of the time. atlanta seems like the kind of city that grew because of a boom in jobs, so a lot of people moved there and subsequently an infrastructure was developed to accomodate these people – as a result there is a lot of new development but it’s primarily soulless, yuppified, suburban, or a mix of all three.
of course there are a couple of blocks of trendy/bohemian stores, but compared to any large city with a true alternative street life, areas like little five points are a joke.