New feature alert! In The Pop Traveler, Pop Candy readers name their city's top pop-culture hot spots/events. If you'd like to write something about your town, holler at popcandy@usatoday.com.

By Rachael Mason, Special Correspondent for Pop Candy

Though I grew up in the Atlanta suburbs, it wasn't until I moved to the city 10 years ago that I truly began to appreciate everything this Southern city has to offer. While I don't party with rap stars (I'm confident that could still happen) or hang out with the many celebrities in town filming movies and TV shows, I still really enjoy my life here.

I've made a list of 10 things that I really love about Atlanta. It's presented in alphabetical order -- Atlanta residents love the alphabet, because it places us first in almost everything (unless Albuquerque and Anchorage are involved).

1. Atlanta authors and bookstores. For people like me who love to read, Atlanta is a great place to be. Notable authors often come to town for events and signings presented by the Georgia Center for the Book and local bookstores, like A Cappella Books and the Little Shop of Stories. The Decatur Book Festival, held every Labor Day weekend, is another literary highlight.

The city is also home to amazing authors that we're quite proud of—from Margaret Mitchell (in case you somehow don't know, she wrote Gone With the Wind) to contemporary writers working in a variety of genres. I'd especially recommend Thomas Mullen (The Revisionists), whose thought-provoking novels aren't quite like anything else I've ever read, and Karin Slaughter (Fallen, Blindsighted), whose thrillers set in and around Atlanta always leave me wanting more.

2. The Center for Puppetry Arts. While I am an equal-opportunity puppet fan, I love the Muppets in particular. It thrills me to think of Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of this puppet center in 1978 (sadly, I was not actually there). Plus, Henson creations, like Pigs in Space and Dark Crystal characters, are on display here. And keep your fingers crossed, because The Center for Puppetry Arts could also become the permanent home for the majority of Henson's collection.

Of course, the center also presents a full schedule of puppet performances for kids and some adults-only shows, as well as puppet-making workshops.

3. DragonCon. What I enjoy most during this Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2012) sci-fi and comic convention is people-watching. Attendees put a lot of effort into their costumes to amazing effect.

In years past, I've spotted almost every pop culture incarnation imaginable, from steampunk Boba Fett and a Cookie Monster-Michael Jackson mashup to the '80s cartoon singer Jem and the Yip-Yips from Sesame Street. Though people dress up throughout the con, the must-see parade (held the Saturday before Labor Day) brings them all together for a march down Peachtree Street.

4. The Fox Theatre. Over the years, I've see a lot of shows at this Peachtree Street theater, which hosts touring Broadway productions, concerts and a summer movie series. Still, I'm fascinated by the historic building, from the classic marquee outside to the stars that shine brightly on the ceiling of the auditorium. The building was once a Shriners temple and Arabian-themed details can still be seen throughout it.

5. The King of Pops. It gets awfully hot in Atlanta, so this frozen pop company (which made its debut in 2010) has been a welcome addition to the city. The King of Pops sets up carts at several intersections across the city, as well as at festivals and weekly food truck events all over town. My favorite flavors include chocolate sea salt, raspberry lime and cantaloupe basil, but, really, I like them all.

6. Netherworld Haunted House. Even though it's been months since Halloween, just thinking of this haunted house gives me chill bumps. But it's fun to be scared, right? Yes, as long as you can see the clearly marked exit signs that dot the twisting dark hallways of this fantastic haunted house, which excels in bringing your fears to life.

I haven't had to walk out early yet, but I've heard that it happens. In fact, I'm still waiting for an acquaintance of mine to crawl through the tunneled entrance of Netherworld, circa 2010. I thought she was right behind me, but apparently, she turned around and went right out the door.

7. Starlight Six Drive In. This drive-in movie theater, located a few miles from downtown Atlanta, shows double features daily -- two movies for $7 per person ($1 for kids ages 3 to 9). It's a great relic of midcentury America, which is an era I truly love.

You can grab popcorn and other classic movie snacks from the snack bar or bring your own food and drinks. In addition to playing first-run films, the Starlight Six also hosts special events, like the annual Drive Invasion, to celebrate movies from the past.

8. Stonehenge radio show on WREK. Among the many great shows on the Georgia Institute of Technology's WREK (91.1), my absolute favorite is the Stonehenge classic rock show. Don't let the classic rock label fool you, though, because you're not going to hear those same 40 songs that every station across America plays. Instead, the hosts, who seem to know nearly everything about late-'60s and '70s rock, dig deep into their record collections to showcase bands you might not even know.

Stonehenge airs every Friday night from 8 p.m. to midnight (unless it's preempted by sports broadcasts) and more than once, I have left a party early to catch the last part of the show. Bonus: On WREK's website, you can also listen to two weeks' worth of archived shows.

9. The Varsity. The Varsity is a classic Atlanta fast food restaurant where the counter staff asks, "What'll ya have? What'll ya have?" at a breakneck pace. If you don't want to leave your car and go in, pull up outside and get your order delivered on a tray right to your window.

Though most customers love the chili dogs and onion rings, my favorite meal is a burger topped with pimento cheese and a Frosted Orange -- the Varsity's signature frozen drink, which tastes like a Creamsicle (only better).

10. Zombies.The Walking Dead is filmed here, of course, but Atlanta's zombie scene extends far beyond the sets of the show. Hordes of undead enthusiasts turn out for the annual Atlanta Zombie Walk and other zombie parties during the Halloween season and beyond. In May 2011, even the Atlanta-based CDC got in on the zombie action with its guide to being prepared for a zombie apocalypse.

I hosted a Zombie Santa party at a local bar in December and am planning to put on a Zombie Love party for Valentine's Day. I'm also looking forward to being a zombie during Run for Your Lives, a 5K race and zombie obstacle course, on March 3.

Rachael Mason is an Atlanta-based writer and editor who covers books, movies, TV, restaurants and bars. Follow her on Twitter at @rachatl.