Customer Reviews

I Rode the Pink Pig: Atlanta's Favorite Christmas Tradition

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If you're an Atlantan--a true, old-line Atlantan, that is--you'll love this book! Riding the Pink Pig was THE way to get into the Christmas spirit for anyone who grew up in the 1950s or 1960s (although the ride continues to the present day). This book is packed with so many memories, pictures of Santa's Secret Shop, recipes from the old Magnolia Room downtown (remember the frozen chicken salad), it just about made this old fool cry. Although the Rich's name is not going to be around too much longer--which is a crying shame itself!--the Pink Pig Flyer continues and this book is a must-have celebration of something uniquely Atlanta and too rapidly disappearing.

If you're a native Atlantan there are a few things that you will hold dear to your heart--the swan-shaped cream puffs at the Swan Coach House at the Atlanta Historical Society, the Ladies Lounge at the Fox Theatre, the frozen chicken salas at Rich's Magnolia Room, the old magnolia tree at the old Ponce de Leon Ball Park, Mary Mac's pimento cheese, and--at the top of the list--Priscilla the Pink Pig Flyer at Rich's. It's just the most unique thing about Christmas in the city. We might not have snow or ice skating, but we have Priscilla!!! This book is just adorable. The book has a scrapbook section in the back so I printed out photos of my daughters on Santa's knee (in 1964!)and the photos we took of my grandbabies Kylie, Josh, and Paige at the Pink Pig last year (the 50th anniversary)and gave copies to each of those grandchildren. They just though it was so "cool" to see their mommies at their age--in a Mini-skirt kilt and saddle shoes and horn-rimmed glasses! This book is such a blessing and a treasure!

Being a native of Atlanta born in 1962, reading "I Rode The Pink Pig,"
brought back many cherished holiday memories spent at Rich's downtown.
Pictures with Santa in my best velvet dresses; The green Christmas tree shaped candy for sitting in his lap; Being a proud shopper at Santa's
Secret Shop using my own allowance money; Breakfast with Santa, including
my favorite, rice crispies mixed with vanilla icecream; The "Great Tree" with ornaments so large it created a sense of awe; But most of all,
the anticipation and joy of riding the "Pink Pig" around the roof of Rich's dept. store overlooking the city. I still have a white, satin badge
with Priscilla's smiling face, declaring "I Rode The Pink Pig," to prove it. This book is filled with nostalgic, "home grown" traditions, that continue living on in the hearts of children young and old!

Thanks for the memories,

Sharon Posey
Dunwoody, GA