Atlanta- Oyster shots and Imperial Collections.

My most recent stint in Atlanta, once again working at the Georgia Aquarium, was filled with highs and lows. There was more than the usual bar going on this trip due to the company I was with. This caused me to come across some very interesting things that I would normally not have experienced. Every day we had lunch at The Righteous Room, a nice little bar on Ponce de Leon, we also frequented the Millyard Tavern in Cabbage Town and a very special place called Six Feet Under across from the Oakland Cemetery on Memorial Road. Six Feet Under became my favorite of all the spots. At Six Feet Under you can order great sea food and get a variety of booze, they even have a list of oyster shots which is, yes, a shot of booze, tabasco and an oyster at the bottom of the glass!

Table at Six Feet Under with Firecracker oyster shots and a sea food steamer basket.

Abraham Mignon" Flowers with Dragonfly"
My normal pilgrimage to theHigh Museum of Art was also very satisfying. I took in a still life exhibition and a very interesting exhibition of art and artifacts from the Vienna Imperial Collection.

The Vienna Imperial Collection had everything, from medieval suits of armor to fine art, with a few unexpected surprises between.

Jost Bürgi, a clockmaker and scientific instrument maker, is responsible for this (below) instrument for drawing perspective. I was shocked to read that this man was responsible for inventing the algorithm among other mathematical tools. He improved clocks to the level that they could be used as scientific instruments for tracking the movement of stars. This device was made ca. 1604

The next surprise was "The Alchemical Medallion of Emperor Leopold the First" This artifact created by alchemist Wenzel Spiler von Reinburs is wrapped up in magic and economics ( that is all I will say).

A funny little side note there are three paintings in this exhibition depicting Jupiter (or Zeus if you like) seducing women in different disguises. This made for an interesting museum experience as I looked at the painting of Jupiter and Danaē simultaneously with a group of young students on tour of the exhibit. As they studied the painting of the god appearing to seduce Danaē as a "shower of gold" snickers and suppressed laughter moved through the crowd. I imagined what Titian, who painted the beautiful canvas, would have thought. I imagined him being pleased.

Jupiter and Antiope painted by Bartholomeus Spranger