The grande dame of newspapers itself, the New York TImes, took a quick-shot look at Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward in a five-photo set entitled “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Atlanta Neighborhood on the Upswing.” Naturally, prime examples include Grant Henry’s irreverently themed bar Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping-Pong Emporium and Stacey Eames’ Highland Bakery.

Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping-Pong Emporium
Opened in December 2010 by Grant Henry, a former divinity school student, this bar plays with, and spoofs, church culture. Karaoke is performed in choir robes, and walls are decorated with faux-religious pop art. Spiritual Sangria ($8) is the bar’s signature drink.

Highland Bakery
One of the tastiest breakfast spots in town, Highland Bakery is worth the long waits and cramped quarters for sweet potato pancakes ($7.99) and challah French toast ($7.99). Once breakfast has passed, fanciful cakes are a specialty.

Of course, a slideshow travel piece with two-sentence descriptions can’t really do the neighborhood or any of the featured businesses full justice. It doesn’t have room to mention the fun facts that we really love about the affectionately called “Church” (top photo), like that artist Henry is Sister Louisa and creates the art in the bar, that the venue grew out of his fun, irregularly scheduled Sunday art services, or that after opening its doors last year, Church has played host not just to big-hit DJ Vicki Powell patio parties but even Lady Gaga herself.

The Times also doesn’t get to know the growing lesbian pastry empire that is Eames’ bakery (bottom photo). The GA Voice took care of those details last year.

Photos by Rich Addicks for the New York Times