BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
460 Rockbridge Rd. NW, Lilburn GA
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is the religious organization responsible for the incredibly elaborate marble and sandstone temple. It is currently under construction. But, it is also already open for visitors, prayer services, special occasions, and events.
While it is quite a distance from the city of Atlanta, it is well worth wandering outside the city to see this beautifully elaborate structure. Aproximately 1,500 craftsman were involved in the building, construction and carvings. 34,000 carved pieces can be found on and around the temple and over 11,000 tons of sandstone, limestone and marble make up the facade and interior pillars. The prayer room is open to visitors from 9:00am-6:00pm and there are 5 prayer times throughout the day. Everyone is welcome to visit and attend prayer. The payer room is an awesome display of craftsmanship. White lights highlight the carvings and pillars. A gentle blue glow greets you as you enter the serene room. Ornate wooden doors enclose the deities between prayers. If you visit between noon and 4:00pm the wooden doors will be closed. So, if you wish to see the deities you must visit for one of the prayer times 9am-noon or 4pm-6pm. Friendly volunteers offer information to guide you through your visit.
And, while you are there, be sure to check out the giftshop. It has a generous array of books, incense and baked goods. The assortment of baked goods range from sweet to savory to spicy. We tried the crispy chickpea chips with masala spices(Papdi Gathia Masala). At the same time crisp and light, almost melting in your mouth as your teeth crunch into them. I’ve never tasted anything more unique or delightful.
5881 Buford Hwy, Doraville 678 887 5200
Sun-Thu 7:30am-11pm; Fri-Sat 7:30am-midnight
Offering an eclectic assortment of breads, pastries, sandwiches and chocolates, this bakery and cafe is situated in a newly-built freestanding building on Buford Highway just outside of the perimeter. The assortment of French-Asian inspired baked goods tend to be delicately sweetened. One particular favorite of ours would be the chestnut bread. Large bits of diced chestnuts dot the rectangular loaves. Many of the filled pastries and cakes incorporate bean paste into the filling. One particularly tasty combination is the bean paste with chopped walnuts. There are also several variations on the French pate au choux, of these the green tea and cheese combination is noteworthy. White Windmill Bakery’s interpretation of the French pastry has a very dense moist center. Is it possible that they add rice flour to the mix? That could be one explanation for the heavier, moist center.
This is one spot that demands another visit…soon!
The second movie of the weekend bares absolutely no resemblance to the first. But, both are examples of what make modern day cinema so amazingly worthwhile. Each film is a journey onto itself. No Country for Old Men is beautifully filmed with a stellar cast. It is a film that takes you into the deserted countryside and tells a different story for each cast member. We hear each character’s voice, glimpse into their lives and watch them live. Each choosing a path that is uniquely their own.
Cloverfield
While currently dropping to fourth in this weekend’s rating estimates, we saw this movie in a jam-packed theater on Saturday night. It was a young and enthusiastic crowd that was clearly there for the monters and gore. And, for that, the movie certainly delivered. The film is viewed through one camera that is passed along from one character to the next at various points. I enjoyed the home-video feel, which for me, added to the fresh and modern take to the standard monster/alien movie. Where Blair Witch was a back-woodsy witch movie, this was all about four young urban professionals making their way through the rubble that used to be Manhattan. And, luckily for us, the video camera holder must have a monster attracting fragrance oozing from his pores. This monster has all of Manhattan to roam, yet, no matter where our four little documenters roam…there it is.
It gets off to a very slow start, but, the viewer is eventually rewarded with plenty of mayhem and destruction. All of which, to me at least, make this movie well worth the price of admission.
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