Falcons-Packers NFC Championship Game + 2:00-3:00 Pre-Game round-table Hiking Seminar

Calling all AOC football fans! ...and we won't mind a few Packer "cheddarheads" showing up to get some friendly banter going with us "rabid" - or "casual," as the case may be - supporters of the Falcons.  We'll gather for the afternoon at "The Grove," a cozy and friendly sports bar & restaurant here in the "Oak Grove" neighborhood of NE metro Atlanta. I encourage you to participate in our 2:00-3:00 "pre-game AOC seminar" and to stay for the duration of the big NFC Championship playoff game, but no problem if you prefer just to drop by as your time permits and according to your own level of interest.  I'll plan to arrive at "The Grove" personally by about 1:00 PM to begin staking out suitable table space and seating for our AOC group.  We'll do our best to hold space for everyone, but please try to arrive no later than 2:00 - otherwise we may have to forfeit your empty chair or stool to another customer.

The main idea of this event is to give our AOC members a fun thing to do together on what is expected to be an unusually wet Sunday afternoon.  I had contemplated leading an actual outdoor "pre-game hike" at nearby Frazier-Rowe Park (just a block from The Grove) but the forecast predicts so much rain that I've decided instead to host an informal indoor "round-table Hiking & Backpacking Seminar" just before the game - think of it perhaps as "Sunday School for the Wilderness Lover's Soul." :>)  I'll bring several of my own favorite compact hiking gear items plus some maps for pointing out a few favorite destinations, + a couple of magnetic compasses, etc.  Let's each be prepared to talk about our individual "wilderness philosophies" - also to discuss helpful tips & recommended venues for hiking novices and for aficionados of backpacking, "carside camping" and other outdoor pursuits.

The NFC Championship game will be televised beginning at 3:05 PM on "Fox 5 Atlanta."  The Grove will show it of course on their numerous big screens and it will likely wrap up by 6:30 or 7:00.  Fox will also air a couple of pre-game NFL programs beginning at 1:00 PM.  Hopefully our Falcons will be "Super-Bowl-bound" again for the first time since their '98 season.  We're esp. proud of QB Matt Ryan for his well-deserved newly awarded title as the pro football writers' "Most Valuable NFL Player."  Go you Dirty Birds!

The Grove Restaurant & Sports Bar is on LaVista Road at its junction with Oak Grove Rd in NE metro Atlanta, 3/4 of a mile east of the LaVista/Clairmont traffic light.  It's easy to reach via I-85's "Clairmont Rd" or "Shallowford Rd" exit - or via I-285's east-side "La Vista Rd" exit.   For a zoomable Google map/ satellite view of The Grove and its surrounding vicinity click the above square blue &green"Event Location icon" near the top of this article

GPS Users can enter this concise Lat/Lon address as your destination in lieu of a spelled-out address: 33.8244,-84.2935

The Grove's street address if you need it is 2761 LaVista Rd, Decatur, GA 30033 and their phone number is 404-321-4448.  Here's their website link with menu info, etc: http://thegrovedecatur.com/