Atlanta Botanical Garden (Chihuly Edition--April 30 - October 30, 2017)

Hello all!

I'm back and I'm here to write about the Atlanta Botanical Garden. In particular the Dale Chihuly in the Garden exhibit. For those who don't know, and I will admit, I didn't know until I started-full disclosure-volunteering at the garden in December 2015.

I'm not being paid nor reimbursed to talk about the Chihuly exhibit. I just think on a personal level that his custom designed, glassblowing artwork is amazing and really complements the garden as a whole.


Overall, there are 21 installations; 2 that are permanent and 19 which are new! The artwork is sprinkled throughout the garden, including the Fuqua Conservatory/Orchid center.

There's also a great Chihuly gift shop. Be warned, like much of his work it can be expensive. However, there are also T-shirts, reusable shopping bags,limited edition prints, etc. that are much easier on your (and my) wallet.

There's also, if it gets too hot, starts to rain, or if you want more information, a theatre located in the Hardin Visitor Center, that shows a Chihuly documentary on a loop.






Just an FYI. The Chihuly exhibit is normally open Wednesday - Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Then reopens for Chihuly Nights on Wednesday- Sunday, 6 p.m. -10 p.m. when all the artwork is lit up. HOWEVER, you cannot use you day tickets for the night time, you have to repurchase.









Honestly, if you have to choose, I recommend at night. Breathtaking.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Serenbe Playhouse-Miss Saigon Wed Aug 3, 2016 8:00PM

This (Miss Saigon) is the second production that I have seen at the Serenbe Playhouse. The first was A Streetcar Named Desire last year. Overall, I preferred Streetcar, mainly because I am a huge Tennessee Williams fan! ;)  It's located just outside the Atlanta Metro area in Palmetto County. http://www.serenbeplayhouse.com/

The actual playhouse is an outdoor field, where the productions are staged. The company created a real sense of place (Saigon, Vietnam) and feeling (the 70s during the Vietnam war) with Miss Saigon by having the actors be in character as you checked in (by a young Viet Cong soldier)...

or bought a drink at the bar (from young American soldiers).

There was also a real helicopter flying overhead in the final act. Both productions (set in Saigon and Louisiana, respectively) that I saw really fit the slightly, humid nighttime of Georgia. Well staged and solid productions, especially considering they often use recycled or reclaimed materials (a shipping container for Streetcar, for example).

 I would advise dressy casual, no cargo shorts or Daisy Dukes, but a pair of Chinos or a sundress would be appropriate. Also, I suggest wearing flats due to having to walk a little ways and it was a little muddy on the night that we went due to rain earlier. 

Overall, this is a great way to see some theatre, in nature, just outside the Metro Atlanta area!