If you are coming to HIMSS, here are a few fun facts to prepare you for your trip to my home town:
There are approximately 55 streets with the name “Peachtree” in Georgia. Peachtree Street, “main street” for downtown Atlanta has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with Peachtree Circle, Peachtree Place, Peachtree Battle or Peachtree Corners.
Atlanta is the home of Coca Cola. That’s all we drink here, so don’t ask for any other soft drink... unless it’s made by Coca Cola. Yet, most southerners call any soda COKE. The Varsity Restaurant has earned the distinction of serving the highest volume of Coca-Cola anywhere. It dispenses nearly 3 million servings of Coca-Cola annually.
In Atlanta, the 8 a.m. rush hour is from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. The 5:00 p.m. rush hour is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday’s rush hour starts Thursday morning and lasts through 2:00 a.m. Saturday. So if you are staying on the North Side, be prepared!!!!
The world’s largest cable-supported dome stadium is the Georgia Dome and it is next to the convention center. The Dome hosted the 2000 Super Bowl, and gymnastics, basketball and handball in 1996 Olympic Games
Ted’s on Peachtree is, of course, Ted Turner’s restaurant. His penthouse is above the restaurant. If you see flags flying outside the penthouse, that means Ted is at home.
The influx of other cultural influences has provides a unique dining scene. Great restaurants flourish throughout the metro area, serving everything from biscuits and gravy to empanadas, sushi, and churrasco. And without fail, sweet tea flows by the gallon, an addiction cultivated in native sons and daughters since birth.
According to internet folk lore, in Atlanta, GA, it is illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp.
Metro Atlanta is a thriving high tech business community with more fiber optic cable than any other city in the United States.
Atlanta, is headquarters to more HIT companies than any other US city. To many we are known as the “Silicon Valley of HIT”. With Georgia Tech and Emory collaborating to provide a strong foundation of research and education, Atlanta has launched many biotechnology and information technology companies.
Georgia has a distinguished track record in HIMSS leadership, with a high number of Board Members and Officers coming from this state.
