I'd add that, if you're walking north from the metro, after you pass the Eastern Maket building, take a left. You'll find a few more vendors in the pavilion in front of the public swimming pool, right next to Eastern Market, and these tend to be full-meal type vendors. Options include Indian, Cajun, crepes ... get what you want and take a seat on one of the benches. (I like the Indian best, by the way.)

Thanks!

Thanks for everyone's advice. How about the farmer's market on Peachtree Rd. on Saturday mornings? Would that be any good? It sounds like it's very crowded. Any good tips on parking places?

Thanks again for your help!

I'm coming to Atlanta from DC Memorial Day weekend for a wedding, and I've volunteered to cook for the day-after, college-friends-reunion after-party. I'm really excited about this, and am planning on making a soup and some pissaladiere-like tarts. For one of the tarts, I'd like to do figs-and-caramelized onions, for another mushrooms-with-thyme -- you get the idea.

So, I'm looking for a place with really great produce. (I figure, if I get great produce, I won't have to work as hard to make the tarts terrific.) I'd especially love it if anyone had any leads on the best place to get figs at this time of the year.

Thanks for your help!

These are all such great recommendations! Thanks! I'll definitely check all of these out -- bowling is a great idea -- and if anyone has any more, feel free to keep 'em coming.

Thanks!

I found the perfect place for my husband's 40th birthday party -- Franklin's fountain. However, the owners can only rent out the space on weeknights and, since we'll be coming from DC and his family will be coming from NY, that won't work. So, I was hoping I could describe some of the things I liked about Franklin's, and you might be able to think of similar places:

-- My husband would be pretty uncomfortable with a fancy birthday dinner in his honor -- something casual is much more his style.
-- Someplace where there's something to do (in the case of Franklin's, order another scoop/check out the old-timey candy, etc.) is better than a more traditional sit-down place.
-- He has a big sweet tooth, but savory would be OK too.
-- He's a bit of a history geek
-- Afternoon (lunch/linner/dessert) is better than dinner, mainly for its more casual vibe

Any ideas? Or should I just beg, beg, beg Franklin's fountain to let us have the place on a weekend? The party will be in January, and I'd expect about 20-25 people.

Thanks!

Pete's Diner, at 212 2nd St. SE, is exactly the kind of place you're looking for. They have breakfast #1-4 (or maybe 5), grits, corned beef hash, the whole deal. Plus, it's run by a group of women who are, I think, from Cambodia (?), and they have some interesting specials if you happen not to be in the mood for breakfast one Saturday. Jimmy T's is also good, but I prefer Pete's.

One thing to keep in mind -- it's cash only.