Marvelous Madison, Georgia Dressing Your Home

June 19th, 2011 by Gabriel Hanslow

Marvelous Madison, Georgia

Wouldn’t you love to explore Madison, Georgia, like a true design insider? Jimmy Stanton, owner of popular Atlanta shop Stanton Home Furnishings and subject of a special double feature in our May issue (which you can read here at AtlantaHomesMag.com), has given us the inside scoop on all the things you can do while in town for this Friday and Saturday’s Madison in May Spring Tour of Homes, which will also feature the home of Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts proprietors Dan Belman and Randy Korando. Find out why Atlanta design giants love to get away to the serenity of this fabled Southern town. We encourage you to stay a night at a charming inn—or better still, at the home of a good friend—to get the full experience, but even a day’s excursion is an opportunity for many lovely adventures to unfold. Per Stanton himself: “There are so many wonderful things to see and experience in Madison; here is a list of my favorites. . . . Most are within walking distance from the downtown square.”

TOUR Heritage Hall 277 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-9627; www.friendsofheritagehall.org

Madison Morgan Cultural Center 434 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-4743; www.mmcc-arts.org

Rogers House/Rose Cottage 179 E. Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 343-0190

Madison’s Historic Graveyard

STAY The James Madison Inn 260 W. Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7040; www.jamesmadisoninn.com

Farmhouse Inn 1051 Meadow Lane, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7933; www.thefarmhouseinn.com

EAT Town 220 220 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 752-1445; www.town220.com

The Icehouse Restaurant 271 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 343-0040; www.icehouserest.com

Madison Chop House Grill 202 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-9009

Amici’s Italian Cafe 113 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0000; www.amici-cafe.com

The Madison Gift Mart & Cafe 140 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-9940 Order the chicken salad and the Gentleman Jim’s Tea

Claudia’s European Coffee Shop 142 Academy Street, Madison, GA 30650. (404) 293-0338

Adrian’s Place 342 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-1600 Best Fried Chicken and fresh vegetables. This is local secret.

Tequila Express 270 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0729

Perk Avenue Cafe 111 West Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-2562

Antique Sweets 132 East Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0034 Known for the “Bulldog Bites”

Scoops 123-B West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-3002

Ella’s Sweet Shoppe 191 West Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7544; www.ellassweetshoppe.com Old-time candy shop; this carries items you haven’t seen in years.

SHOP Madison Markets 144 Academy Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-8795; www.madisonmarkets.com Multiple antique dealers display their wares in this high-end market

Le Petite Jardin 281 Hancock Street, Madison, GA 30650 770-262-1177 A must-see for plants, flowers and gifts

Belles Beaux & Gifts 115 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-3311; www.bellesbeauxandgifts.com Antiques and gifts

Godfrey Cox 127 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-2229

Amelia’s & Barkin Dogs Shoe Company 172 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-2986 for Amelia’s and (706) 342-2929 for Barkin Dogs www.barkindogsshoeco.com

J & K Fleas An’Tiques 184 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-3009

Laughing Moon 183 South Main Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-8008

In High Cotton 158 West Jefferson Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-7777

Madison Hardware 174 West Washington Street, Madison, GA 30650. (706) 342-0217 The star of the store is Tulip, the Jack Russel mix that sleeps in a cardboard box. She goes home around lunchtime to play so you have to see her early in the day.

NOT SO FAR AWAY The Ritz Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation/Lake Oconee (approx. 25-30 min drive from Madison) One Lake Oconee Trail, Greensboro, GA 30642. (706) 467-0600; www.ritzcarlton.com/reynolds Eat at Gaby’s on the Water (great food with an amazing view)

Blue Willow Inn at Social Circle 294 North Cherokee Road, Social Circle, GA 30025. (770) 464-2131; www.bluewillowinn.com Traditional Southern cooking. . . . I highly suggest reservations.

Dressing Your Home