Woodruff Arts Center

A nice facility. Going to see the Tenors tonight. I can’t wait until they complete the multi-​million dollar revolution.

Going to Woodruff always floods me with fond memories. We enjoyed living in Atlanta very much, and Woodruff has hosted us for many a concert, including ones I went to with my Dad, one in which our son played, and one last year front row with Mr Joshua Bell. This time around, it’s for Yes — my third time seeing the band. (If you’re interested in my review of that, send me a private message.) The one weird thing was — they let you bring in drink AND food to this concert, and they made sure they let you know ahead of time. Kind of messes up a nice concert hall, even if I didn’t personally witness any accident. I swear Woodruff seems smaller every time I go — am I putting on weight? («Bulk, Paul, bulk:!» — to which say, «No doubt — in my midriff) Seriously, Woodruff has a little more legroom than many other venues I’ve been to. Average-​size person can let average-​size person slide by without having to stand up (although a gentleman should anyway) — only problem is, average-​size people are harder and harder to come by!

They have a multitude of events here, one of my favorite places in Atlanta

There are a lot of cities that wish they could duplicate an arts center like the WAC. Aside from the world-​class performances and art you can find here, the campus and architecture itself are something to be admired. The Margaret Mitchell House, a treasure that was nearly lost several times, sits next to the modern buildings in an oddly fascinating juxtaposition of new and old. The WAC campus includes several outdoor art exhibits. Lobbies are clean and beautiful, and your experience will begin well before you take your seats for the show.
A MARTA station is right next door, so parking isn’t even a worry. This is such a unique venue, and I hope Atlanta natives truly appreciate what they have here.

if u study at GT, or your spouse, check the 20 dollar season ticket you can get — gets you in to almost every show/​concert!

Love this place, mostly because its our own little piece of culture right on 17^th street in Atlanta.
Whether its an play or musical, I’ve even seen the symphony here, and, beyond being way to high brow for my lowbrow tastes, it really was an experience. So nice.

What started as a museum in the house of one of the cities early art partrons has become a great arts complex that includes Symphony Hall, the Hertz Stage, The High Museum, a few other galleries, Table 1280, and the Atlanta campus of SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). I’ve been to several events at the WAC over the years, primarily the Symphony and the High, and all in all, I think Atlanta is lucky to have such a complex.
Logistically speaking, there are several bathrooms with plenty of stalls, which keep the lines moving during intermission. They set up catering stations throughout the lobby with selections of the usual slightly overpriced food and decent but not preferred wine. Bring cash for said treats — there is an ATM, but like at a gas station, there’s a hefty fee on it. There is available parking in the deck, and valet out front, but remember that these events have hundreds of attendees, so there will be quite a line for the valet when you’re leaving. (We always park in the Trump Tower lot that just across W. Peachtree from the Arts Center Marta Station for $ 5).
I love that there’s art on the Palazzo, the most memorable pieces being a copy of Rodin’s L’Ombré to commemorate the loss of a huge portion of Atlanta’s art community in a plane crash on a visit to Paris, and a tromp l’oeil house that looks bigger and smaller from different angles.
Table 1280 is also a great spot for a nicer glass of wine and food, if you’ve got time before or after the performances. We’ve never eaten dinner here, but we have enjoyed some small plates to go with the large pours of interesting wines. And it blends seemlessly with the rest of the complex, particularly with its artful installations and clean lines.
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There’s a lot going on here and the campus spans several city blocks. Technically, it also includes the 14^th Street Playhouse, but that’s probably more for trivia than relevant to this review.
Concerts at the Atlanta Symphony sound amazing because of the acoustics. Plays and events at the Alliance Theatre are unique and comfortable to watch. Then, there’s the High Museum of Art, one of the world’s premier museums.
Oh, and then there’s Table 1280. Fabulous food, drinks, and service.
They’re good neighbors and I appreciate that. Hundreds (if not thousands) of people flock to the attraction here every weekend and despite that there isn’t a major disruption to life.
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