Fairlie Poplar

Music and theater take center stage in this trendy Atlanta neighborhood

Fairlie-Poplar is the place to be in downtown Atlanta for the arts and local flavor. The home of performing arts venues such as The Tabernacle and the Rialto Center for the Arts, Fairlie Poplar is a neighborhood where there’s always something going on. Take a stroll around to admire the historic buildings and grab a bite at a beloved local business, including one of the storefronts on Broad Street.

Tucked inside downtown Atlanta, the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District is a trendy neighborhood, revitalized with artist studios, galleries, restaurants and nightlife. The Balzer Theater at Herren’s produces standing-ovation-worthy independent plays from Theatrical Outfit.  Take a walk in the district and discover street art adorning the sides of buildings around every corner.

Regional and national talent flocks to the area, too. Check out an award-winning performance at the Rialto Center for the Arts as it amps up the night with national and international jazz, world music and dance. For concerts, check the schedule at The Tabernacle, a renovated church-turned-concert-venue that attracts some of the most popular acts in the country. Business gets done in Fairlie-Poplar as well. Historically Atlanta’s central business district, the area was further developed during Atlanta’s emergence as the commercial hub for the Southeast. Part of Georgia State University occupies the neighborhood, and the streets bustle with students. With this life and energy came dining, art and nightlife. From strolling down the streets for a look at some of Atlanta’s best street art or listening for the sounds of live music during the weekly lunchtime concert series, you’ll find plenty of things to do near Georgia State University.

Did you know…

• Fairlie-Poplar was known as “Atlanta’s new modern fireproof business district” when it was rebuilt after the Civil War. This is because building materials consisted of brick, stone and cast iron.
• Fairlie-Poplar is full of interesting architecture, including the Flatiron building. It was completed five years prior to New York’s Flatiron Building, which shares the prominent shape. Though Atlanta’s Flatiron Building stands only 11 stories tall, it is one of the most iconic structures in Atlanta.