AllTrails is a helpful app that lists and rates available hikes in your area, including helpful reviews from hikers. This week, Trailheads attacked Elwyn John Wildlife Sanctuary. One review of this hike from September 2023 caught our attention: “Lots of people and trash on the trail. Saw a man urinating.”
How had Trailheads missed this trail? It sounds like our kind of place. We packed our trash (we assumed they were referring to refuse, not trollops and ne'er-do-wells) and loaded our bladders to “burst,” preparing to explore.
George is still in Bend hiking the gorgeous Oregon trails, and Roy was getting settled from his return trip from Washington, D.C. We think he may be contemplating a political career. Roy said he’d join us for lunch––probably with his campaign materials, talking points, and muscle to shake us down to fund his campaign.
So, who was Elwyn John, the dude this wildlife sanctuary is named after? We fired up Trailheads AI, posed the question, and in milliseconds, our technological breakthrough spat out the answer: a shrug emoji.
Digging deeper with ChatGPT, we learned that native-born Atlantan Elwyn John was dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural habitats of local wildlife by removing exotic and invasive vegetation, managing ecosystems, and planting native bird-friendly plant species. He founded his Wildlife Sanctuary in 1995 and passed away in 2010––a do-gooder until the end.
This trail is a hidden gem off Druid Hills Road, past the Kittridge Magnet School next to Adams Stadium. Guy, Patrick, Brad, and Steve gathered to explore this virgin territory to our boots.
While AllTrails listed this hike as “Easy,” we think it’s wrong (or maybe we’re just wimps). The trail has lots of elevation. Your feet must negotiate exposed roots, jagged rocks, and narrow paths. Elwyn neglected to remove those. That said, it’s a terrific trail.
Because it’s a short trail—1.2 miles—Trail Master Guy said we’d make it longer by exploring all the offshoots butting up to the surrounding neighborhoods, and as he led us down areas off the trail through vegetation, Brad questioned, “Are you sure this is right?”
Guy stopped, struck a heroic pose, and declared, “No hike is a mistake.” His wisdom was jaw-droppingly profound. A formation of bald eagles flew overhead as wolves howled in the distance. The woodland creatures gathered and hugged one another. Brad shrugged (he designed Trailheads AI).
Trailheads’ mission statement is, On the path to truth and barbecue. With Trail Master’s wise declaration, we had discovered truth, but would we die of hunger following fearless leader into the great unknown? More importantly, would we find barbecue? We were starved.
As we continued our meandering exploratory journey, we viewed the beauty of a snaking creek beneath fallen trees and a lush canopy. We marveled that this slice of paradise existed in the shadows of the big city. Some of us imagined how well another mixed-use community or two could fit nicely in this green space. We were shocked this pristine land remains undeveloped and protected.
One section of the trail had a couple of marble slabs. This was our first encounter with marble in the great outdoors, and we wondered if perhaps Michelangelo had come this way, or we had stumbled upon an abandoned cemetery, or Elwyn John was putting on airs. Whatever, the marble was a nice touch. We felt classy.
We climbed stairs, crossed bridges, fought dragons, and slayed wildebeests, pursuing our noble journey into the unknown. Maybe we ain’t wimps after all!
Then, we came to a spot of paradise: a clearing with a tree swing and a chair. Patrick reverted into a little boy (more immature than usual) and plopped into the swing. Brad stood behind and pushed him as the dogs went nuts, unsure what was happening. Patrick and Guy recalled fun childhood memories of their swing sets. They waxed poetic about their sepia-toned recollections while Steve and Brad inspected fingernails and yawned.
Onward, we marched. Despite the cranky AllTrails review, we didn’t see trash or many people on the trail. And other than us, no trollops and ne'er-do-wells either. Yes, we did witness men peeing off in the distance, but they looked a lot like us.
We met a few people walking their dogs, and Elvis and Fio enjoyed making new friends. We chatted as the dogs swapped business cards and promised to “touch base soon.” Dogs are such liars, they ghost each other constantly.
We talked with a woman walking two adorable Cavachons, a mix of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Bichon Frise. The dogs looked like stuffed animals brought to life. They had gentle dispositions and seemed chill and obedient. Elvis and Fio seethed with jealousy.
“Those dogs look like they couldn’t cut being Trailheads,” they said. “They look soft. Probably need batteries. Let’s keep going, guys. There’s no need to window shop. You’ve got the best of the canine corps right here.”
We descended a hill into a beautiful meadow and spied a box turtle. Trailheads raced to catch up, then crouched to snap pics of the turtle, who looked up and asked, “Have you guys seen the hare? I’m going to beat his ass.”
Wrapping up our hike, we called Roy and told him our lunch plans. Then, we saddled the vehicles and headed to Dixie Q in Brookhaven, a joint we hadn’t frequented since June 2023 (read about that visit here).
Dixie Q is a beautiful restaurant opened in late 2017 by acclaimed James Beard-recognized Chef Scott Sherpas. The chef describes his fare as a traditional Southern BBQ with New Orleans roots, to which we say, “Laissez les bons temps rouler”––let the good times roll.
There’s a spacious patio area with umbrellas to block the blaring sun, which likes to roast our pasty skin like a rotisserie chicken. We sat at a table and reviewed the menu–it all looked good.
Our friendly server, Jennifer, came and took our drink orders. The dogs requested Hendricks and Schweppes, and when she asked for their IDs, they cried.
“We forgot our wallets,” the mutts whined.
“Sorry,” she said. “But I‘ll bring you some water.”
“With bourbon chasers?” they asked with begging puppy eyes.
She shook her head. “Nice try.”
Steve had stickers encouraging people to be kind. The idea is to perform random acts of kindness for 30 days. Roy took a sticker, and the rest of us threatened to beat up Steve if he got anywhere near us with his kindness crap.
We ordered and sipped our Arnold Palmers while the dogs slurped their water and grumbled. Our food arrived, and it was every bit as good as we remembered.
Steve said the pulled pork sandwich was terrific. “It’s a generous portion of smoked meat on a toasted bun.” He loved the spicy barbecue sauce that spiked its flavor nicely. The original barbecue sauce is also a winner.
Guy, Brad, and Roy all had the spareribs. While we generally prefer baby back ribs because they are leaner, these Dixie Q ribs were meaty, smoky, and delicious, especially after a shellacking of sauce.
Patrick had the two-meat platter with pulled pork and chopped brisket. Both meats were flavorful, and he was a good boy saving most of the beef brisket to take home as a treat for his Texas wife, who would sit on her 1400 lbs Longhorn and fire two six-shooters into the air while shouting, “Yee-ha!” Their ceilings are a real mess, and you must be very cautious when upstairs. It’s dangerous up yonder.
Let’s get to the sides. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts are the bomb. Do not visit here without trying them. They are cooked in a savory sauce with a mule’s kick, and these glazed veggies are incredible. The flavor is perfectly delectable.
The coleslaw also received rave reviews. Resident Slawman Roy declared the Cajun version of the cabbage classic a winner. Trust us, you’re going to like the Creole Coleslaw.
Brad swooned for the Collard Greens. “They’ve got a nice flavor with lots of pork.” Need we say more? Eat your greens!
We even liked Dixie Q’s Texas Toast. It’s toasted on both sides, and the char adds a nice pop of flavor.
Trailheads also enjoyed a family-size portion of the homemade chips. They’re thinly sliced taters, fried crisp to a golden brown, then dusted with spices that’ll wake up your tongue.
We ate like our mouths were Hoover vacuums cleaning, loosened our belts, and were asked to please keep our pants on. We talked and yammered our silliness and called it a good day.
As we left, we noticed construction workers and Audi dudes in their uniforms, and we had our Trailheads uniforms. Dixie Q appeals to all. No matter what you wear.
We said goodbye to Jennifer. Those beers she held looked good, but we didn’t try and take them.
On our way out the door, Angelo recognized us from our visit long ago and came to thank us. We thanked him for tolerating our presence and not calling the cops.
Trailheads left, as Angelo and Jennifer probably counted the silverware. We have a reputation, and it’s not good.
Rating: Four Ribs*
Dixie Q
2524 Caldwell Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
*About Our Barbecue Rating System
Trailheads do not claim to be food experts, epicureans, or sophisticated palates. We are hungry hikers who attack a selected barbecue venue and ravage our way through whatever smoked fare and fixings they're dishing out.
Our reviews feature what we believe are the highlights of the menu we sampled. So our intent is not to trash talk the saintly folks who tend to smoldering smokers on hot, humid summer days. They are sacrificing themselves in the noble art of smoking meats and feeding the drooling masses. Many are independent entrepreneurs who are the backbone of this humming American economy.
Now that you know our standards, you may wonder why every barbecue place gets a four-ribs rating. The answer is easy: our group has acclaimed designers, and they think the ribs graphic looks cool.
Who are we to argue? Enjoy.
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