2005-07-19 - 3:10 p.m.
well, its official...i can die happy. i have seen the promised land, or, "ikea," as it is known in neo-yuppie metro sub-circles. foolishly thinking the throngs would have dissipated two weekends after ikea's heralded arrival to atlanta, i headed down 16th street (visiting mother in tow). noah's ark may have had lighter traffic as the animal kingdom jockeyed for vacant space. after being re-routed through one way streets and surrendering $2 to the (cheerful) parking trolls, we were shuttled (literally, there was no room in the ikea lot) to the premesis. and of course there was a touching display of the human spirit triumphing under hardship when one passenger gamely offered his seat to a man attempting to juggle a baby AND balance with no hand rails as there was standing room only. dwarfing even such space hogs as costco and walmart, the building itself could enclose the vatican. and i felt that this was the day i was to break in my gold and espadrille nine west wedges. after finally making it inside the monolith and reading a simple tutorial plastered on an inside wall about shopping at ikea (make a list of each item and pick it up yourself in the warehouse on your way out!! "so lets see...i need two sklornskaard ottomans in aisle 6 and a set of plarme dishware at bin 4...") we braved the showroom. chock full of couches, shelving, chairs, tables, etc. its really quite a spectacular place and i recommend you visit, if not without some kind on hiking gear and perhaps water rations for all invoved. unless you would like to dine al fresco (not really) in the ikea cafeteria. akin to a casino, the cafeteria provides some top notch victuals at around $5 or $6 dollars for say, poached salmon. i think the idea is to get you back out there ready to spend. although the dollar really does go far at this megastore. which is why i'ma' goin' back.hello - cake? and your eating it, too?
