Later hours and energetic vibe are a plus

There are many times when I've wanted to get a certain record, but it's after 7pm so most of the indie record shops are closed... but not Criminal. Open 'til 9 M-Th, and 'til 10 Fri & Sat, I give them many points for staying open longer. I love their manic selection of so many things in one small space, too... tons of CDs and a now-large selection of vinyl, plus they're the only indie record store in town with a big magazine rack. Sometimes I'll go in for nothing more than that. I like all the listening stations too.

An eternal slice of the South

My favorite part about Mary Mac's is the fact that they call their sweet tea "table wine." Ahh yes, that's how I know I'm in the South! The meat and veggies are wonderful, and I love the items like pot likker you don't see much of anywhere else. The room itself has so much history too, it's like a shrine of past meals and conversations shared.

Great value, great sushi

Ru San's was my entry point into sushi... a friend took me there and helped me navigate the sort of intimidating menu. Now when I go, I see the menu as just having lots of choices, not being intimidating. There are great deals here, always quickly delivered, always tasty. The atmosphere is energetic, even loud, but it's fun. It's my home base for sushi in Atlanta.

The tops for rare vinyl in Atlanta

Among Atlanta record stores, Fantasyland is the most appealing to a pure collector. They're like one of those traveling record shows, only they sit in the same place they've been since 1972. The main clerk has been there longer than some record stores have even been in business, and he always greets you with a smile. Fantasyland is the place I've found the most rare records in Atlanta, even more than Wax 'n Facts or Wuxtry's. You'll pay a price for them, but I find it worth it. I especially love their large selection of 45 singles. I also love the big expansive space... you'll have room to just troll and escape the world with no disturbance.

Fun store with a great name

Any store named after a Captain Beefheart song has a lot going for it! The store reminds me of Decatur CD in that it is CD-heavy (no vinyl, I believe) and seems skewed towards the tastes of the owners a bit, which is great. I've found fun stuff in their regular bins, and also their sale bins. Good location too, near a bookstore and lots of restaurants.

My "home base" for record stores in Atlanta

I shop at all the indie record stores in Atlanta and have done so for about 25 years, and Wax 'n Facts is my home base out of all of them. It's been there as long as any, accessible there in the heart of L5P, and has a great selection of CD's and especially vinyl. Sometimes the staff gives off a whiff of that familiar record store attitude of being bored by my questions, but they know their stuff. The next time you're about to buy a record online or from a big box retailer, go to Wax 'n Facts instead and revel in their selection and in the sheer feel of the place. It's got history and a nice vibe. My 4-1/2 year old son even loves it!

Great store, I just wish they were open more

Full Moon has been a nice alternate to the people-mania of Little 5 Points for some years now. Part of their appeal is the setup of the store itself; it's Atlanta's smallest record store, yet it has a small upstairs! That's where the dollar records are. The owner and employees are especially nice compared to most record store folks. I've found lots of nice vinyl, especially jazz (I feel the need to get a Thelonious Monk LP every time I'm there, beacuse they have almost all of them in new vinyl for about $12.) They also have nice 45's on the wall, which is my true love. The prices are good and the quality is high. Only drawback is they're only open Thursday-Sunday now I believe - call ahead to be sure. Excellent store.

I love this program!

This is our boy's second season with Soccer In The Streets and we've had an excellent experience. It's got everything going for it: great value, a great mix of kids (racially and economically), and a fun-oriented spirit that encourages the kids to have fun with soccer and not worry so much about winning. Our experience has been completely positive.

It's simple but it's satisfying

Out of all of Atlanta's longtime record stores, Records Galore is probably the simplest and the most amazing. It's simple because there's basically nothing on the walls, no rockin' music playing, and the owner is as likely to be quietly cleaning records or listening to the Braves as to have a conversation with you. Which is partly why it's amazing; for at least 20 years it's been there in Clarkston -- not exactly a hub of record buying -- and with no ads, no promotion, and no razzmatazz at the store itself, it has survived. Why? They have a fun supply of great-priced vinyl, lots of great old 45's, and a nice selection of new jazz vinyl. (I recently found a Sun Ra on yellow vinyl there.) All in all, it's worth your support and is a fun place to stop in. It's nice to have a plain-jane experience like this when searching for vinyl gems.

Excellent CD's and new vinyl too

Warren runs a great shop at Decatur CD -- yes, I know him on a first name basis, but so does anyone who shops there regularly. That's the charm of indie record shops like this, compared to anonymous online purchases or big box retail. The CD selection is excellent and seems to be skewed to the owner's taste for rootsy music -- although he does have a hip hop section too! Also of note is the new vinyl he started stocking in 2006. Check out one of his "in-store" events with free live music and beer and you'll be a convert too.