Fernbank Science Center

If you're a kid who grew up in Dekalb County then Fernbank is nothing new to you. I mean, nowadays, everyone thinks about that museum with IMAX off Clifton Road. 

I had to educate my daughter about Fernbank Science Center since she loves astrology. Plus it'll take me back to memory lane. I used to come to Fernbank when I was a student at Peachcrest Elementary. We used to come to the Planetarium to be learn about the stars and solar system.

While walking in, you will see that Fernbank has a small museum. Admission is FREE but if you want to donate, you may.

Taken from a different angle. Information desk and where to purchase tickets for the planetarium. 

$7 for adults and $5 for children/students.

Many people do *not* know this but you can stay for the observatory! You can view the sky through a telescope!! I never did either but while doing my research, it's FREE and open on Thursday and Friday nights from 9:00 - 10:30 pm, depending on weather.

More pics.

Displays in the hallway.

A closer look at some of what you'll see.

There are live reptiles too.

A closer look at one of them.

Across from the live reptiles.

Yes, that's live bees.

Closer look.

An old hive for display.

Go down a few steps and you'll see this.

The displays.

Rocks and Minerals located in Georgia.

More displays of rocks and minerals from Georgia, located in the hallway before you enter the library.

Display of Georgia fossils.

Time for Planetarium.

While waiting for the show to start, this is how it looks like. This is what helps with the show. I didn't take any pictures during the show because I wanted to enjoy myself. And besides, probably wouldn't have good pics with my phone.

Observatory from the outside. Taken when first arriving.

Again, it's FREE to go to the observatory. The same person who presented the show in the planetarium guided us to there.

Inside the observatory. Big telescope used. It wasn't working properly that night.

Telescopes that we're used to seeing. There were a few around. One was brought outside for us to use and view. 

Outside of the observatory where we were standing.  Unfortunately, it was a little cloudy but I was excited to walk up to see what is there. I will definitely have to come again.

Fernbank Science Center

156 Heaton Park Dr NE

Atlanta, GA 30303

(678) 874-7102

website

Sarah Donuts

So I was Yelping about local donuts shops because I just wanted that homemade taste. I love me some Krispie Kreme but was looking into more options that are non greasy and less fattening donuts. I didn't want to drive to Midtown for Sublime Doughnuts or Alpharetta for DaVinci's Donuts. Plus I also wanted donuts that weren't piled on with so many toppings and let the donuts speak for themselves. Sarah Donuts got some great reviews on Yelp and thought I'll give it a try. 

Sarah Donuts is located off Jimmy Carter and I-85 between Brook Hollow Parkway & Norcross Tucker Road.

While walking in, you can see it's a small local business. Since it's Korean own, you will see cute interior decorating.

It's cozy and cute.

This pic came out blurry, sorry! On the left hand side is the coffee, free coffee too in the mornings if you buy a donut!

So I checked around and wanted to buy every donut but it was not possible. I did buy a dozen and got all the "regular" donuts. Fancy donuts were a bit more pricier so I didn't get them. So I bought 12 for $8.50 which isn't bad. It rounds off to 71 cents a donut.

These are the fancy donuts. I will get them next time. I cannot wait to try them.

Okay, wait, the ones on the left are considered fancy too. The ones on the right are the original glaze. She ran out of chocolate glaze, darn.

After taking these pics, I just realized that some of the donuts aren't labeled. Darn. Regardless, I bought each one. However, I got two of the original glaze, blueberry, & red velvet.

I picked up the business card and headed home.

Ready to open up the box of goodies.

Where do I start?

So I decided I wanted to try every one of them.

Verdict - my fave is the red velvet cake, follow closely by the original glaze. 

Tip - I learn this after leaving and not paying attention to my Yelp check-in, you get a free donut!

Sarah Donuts

5860 Jimmy Carter Blvd

Ste 155

Norcross, GA 30071

(770) 409-9020

The Palace

Being a fan of Hindi cinema and growing up with it as a little girl is no surprised to most. In the last decade, I became huge fan of Tamil and Telugu cinema too. Atlanta was already one of the few cities several decades ago that offered Bollywood films playing in selected theaters. The very first movie I watched in theater was Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, which I proudly watched it with*out* English subs. But just loving the entertainment side, it wasn't until later I started loving the cuisine.

The first time I tried Indian food was not a good experience but that changed very soon. In 2000, I received a gift certificate from Wownow to try Indian food at The Palace and was told to try the lunch buffet to see what I liked. It's located off Peachtree Parkway in the former Big Cinemas plaza and is the intersection of Holcomb Bridge.

What a great experience! I've been a fan since then. It's 14 years and I still eat at The Palace. Whenever I have a friend who is curious to try Indian food, I take them here. Every experience has been positive.

I copied the following from a previous review I've done on  Yelp

I'm serious when I say that The Palace is my fave Indian restaurant E-V-E-R. I went again over the weekend with a friend who has never had Indian food. It was a great experience. She kept raving how good the food was. She tried EVERYTHING on the buffet. Of course, she didn't like everything but she knew what she liked so she says she will definitely go back again.

Let me re-emphasize how much I love this place.

- Fresh naan brought by waiter, I dislike the naan on the buffet cause it's not fresh, most are hard
- Water always being refilled, never once have I asked for them to refill, my pet peeve at Asian restaurants
- Fresh masala dosa, this is my fave Desi dish!!! I just tell the lady that I want masala dosa, once she's done, she brings it to me
- Fresh Indo China dishes, so you want Chinese dishes made Indian style? You got it here, fresh.
- Pineapple juice in a pretty fountain, no need to order a drink, you get this drink at the buffet
- Samosas, seriously, I cannot believe so many Indian restaurants don't even have this dish on buffet

I love The Palace.

What other Indian restaurant would have North & South Indian cuisine like this? None other. If you find it, please let me know cause I have yet to find one.

Not only have I gone for the lunch buffet but also have been there for dinner. The experience was still great. I rather spend the money on the variety on the lunch buffet though.

Compared to other Indian restaurants, The Palace is more upscale holding events inside the restaurant. Other Indian restaurants I've been to are styrofoam city and isn't as fancy.

Some of the items at the lunch buffet from tandoori chicken to sang paneer to chicken makhani to biryani.

Depending on the event and day you come, the setup for pani puri (also known as gol gappa, depends which movie you got it from, Hindi or Telugu) and masala dosa could vary.

Pani puri all done, you don't have to crack it and do it yourself, they do it for you. (I never knew this when I ordered pani puri elsewhere.)

When you ask for masala dosa or manchuria noodles, it is made fresh and brought to your table when done.

Masala dosa

Macnhuria noodles

Fresh naan brought to your table. When you're done, you could get refills.

Not many restaurants offer samosas or medu vasdu on the buffet. Only a batch is brought out every time. The employees monitor it very well and always refill with fresh ones.

Other extra goodies from chaat to chana masala. 

There's a pineapple fountain too! Sorry, quality sucks. Most of the time I don't order any drink and just drink water. I mean, come on, get your drink on here.

Or get a Mango Lassi.

Depending on the weekend, you may have the option to get gulab jamun. If you don't know what that is, you have to google it. So yummy and full of awesomeness. You'll usually find the fruit salad (in condensed milk) & kheer (rice pudding) for dessert.

Yummy. Eat until you're full (or can no longer walk).

The Palace

6131 Peachtree Parkway

Norcross, GA 30092

(770) 840-7770

website