Friday, May 29, 2015

The Unsafe building at 102 Fifth Ave

 From: http://thedecaturminute.com

Making a Safer Oakhurst – the Demolition of 102 Fifth Avenue

The building at 102 Fifth Ave. has been in an unsafe condition for a long while. For this reason, the City will be demolishing the building starting on June 1, 2015.

This building has had several uses over the years. Most may know it as the recent home of the Tabernacle of God Missionary Holiness Church. The Church no longer uses the building and no longer has the financial resources to provide proper maintenance. The City became involved last year when it was determined that the structure was abandoned and generally unsafe. The process used to handle situations such as this is known as nuisance abatement. This process has lead to the City’s plan to demolish the building.
read more about it here

photo credit goggle maps

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Twain's Pub Acquires Suburban Bowling Lanes

 

From: http://www.twains.net/
Twain’s is Going BOWLING!


Plans are to provide an entertaining and engaging atmosphere for all ages that includes a modern bowling experience and other social games for all skill levels and interests.

 

GREAT NEWS from Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards:
Twain’s Brewpub & Billiards is happy to announce that we have acquired the former Suburban Lanes, and plan to reopen the space in the fall of 2015 after a much needed remodel in true Twain’s style. The bowling alley has been a longstanding fixture in Decatur and we look forward to carrying it into the next phase of its history as a funky bowling center that recreational bowlers and league enthusiasts will love.

Plans are to provide an entertaining and engaging atmosphere for all ages that includes a modern bowling experience and other social games for all skill levels and interests. We will offer a vibrant food and beverage program featuring craft beers, a full bar, hand tossed pizza, burgers and plates designed for sharing.  As at Twain’s we will be committed to using locally sourced goods whenever it’s possible.

We are excited to be bringing the metro area a new and soon to be favorite place for hanging with friends and family, enjoying the camaraderie, with the great food and beers that you have come to expect from the folks at Twain’s. Come join us in the fall, see the changes, feel the excitement! We look forward to serving you in the fall!

Cheers!

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Summer at The Rock

 Summer at the Rock includes adventure and excitement for every member of the family.

    Photo credit: Flickr member Ron Mayhew

 From: https://www.stonemountainpark.com
From fun-filled attractions to special summer entertainment and the nightly Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision®, it’s the perfect destination for you and your family to unplug and reconnect this summer.
Experience all of Stone Mountain Park’s exciting attractions daily during Summer at the Rock. Challenge yourself on SkyHike, the nation’s largest family adventure course, or cool off and play in the spray on Geyser Towers…the adventures are endless! Plus, there’s entertainment and activities fun for the whole family!
Be sure to stay into the evening for the Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision®, showing nightly during Summer at the Rock, and now with more lights, more lasers and more music! State-of-the-art graphics and awe-inspiring effects create multi-dimensional magic on one of the world's largest outdoor screens - Stone Mountain.
Buy Tickets

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Eye on Decatur - Agnes Scott Dana Fine Arts Building


Doggy Dogg Coming to old Las Brasas Spot


From: http://clatl.com/omnivore
James Hammerl is in the dogg house, or, at least he's 'bout to be. The proprietor of the popular Doggy Dogg weiner carts has a brick-and-mortar hot dog joint in the works.

Hammerl tells CL that after touring Atlanta with his decked out wiener carts for the last four years, he is planning to open the first-ever stationary Doggy Dogg outpost in the former home of shuttered Peruvian chicken rotisserie Las Brasas (310 E. Howard Ave.) in Decatur. (Las Brasas, is in the process of relocating to 614 Church St. and hopes to open in July.) Meanwhile, Hammerl's hot dog carts will continue to make their farmers market appearances.

Doggy Dogg's ingredients are preservative free and sourced locally (most sausages are from the Spotted Trotter). Buns come from Holeman and Finch, including a gluten-free option. Hammerl plans to serve ten or so items such has the signature Doxie, a dog topped with with sauerkraut and a dark-ale German mustard, and the Saigon Slinger with hot pickled vegetables and cilantro mayo.

Doggy Dogg will have take-away lunch six days a week and dinner every night. The late night window will be open Fridays and Saturdays. Projected opening is June. Look for a pretty cool mural by Kyle Brooks (Black Cat Tips) to grace the bright white sides of the building. More information as it becomes available can be found at www.doggydoggatl.com.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

The Decatur Arts Festival Photos

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  Joe Stark of Baby Bee performs at The Decatur Arts Festival on Saturday

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Thursday, May 21, 2015

Kick off the Decatur Arts Festival with Artwalk Friday May 22

 All around Decatur • Free and open to the public

Friday, May 22 • 5-10 pm

 From: decaturartsfestival.com

Beer will be on sale at East Court Square so drop by to visit beer sponsors Red Brick and Starr Hill, plus local brewers Three Taverns, Wild Heaven, Blue Tarp, and Twain’s.


Kick off the Decatur Arts Festival with the city’s largest one-night gallery event – now with a DJ and fire twirler! See exhibits at 20 shops, galleries, and restaurants and enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks.Pick up a free map card at any ArtSpot or see all the locations online here.
more http://decaturartsfestival.com/festival-events/artwalk-2/

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

DISH DIVE Now Open for Lunch

 From: http://www.dishdivekitchen.com/#about
DISH DIVE is a new restaurant located in KIRKWOOD.  Owned and operated by Chef Travis Carroll & Jeff Myers.  We have a 16 seat dining room.  AND, now have 16 additional seats on our patio.  In our kitchen, we have 3 tiny refrigerators.  We start everyday at the market buying fresh food.  Our goal is to sell out every day.  So join us before the line out the door begins.
WE NOW TAKE RESERVATIONS. 
DELIVERY!!!   www.thefastfooddude.com

 DISH DIVE is located at 2233 College Ave. N.E. Atlanta, GA 30317
photo credit : https://www.facebook.com

As David Letterman retires, fans hope Jay Leno will appear on final ‘Late Show’

From: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/fans-hope-jay-leno-show-letterman-article-1.2228100
 SAY IT ain’t nay, Jay!

It remains unclear whether David Letterman’s longtime foil Jay Leno will help the gap-toothed comic sign off for the last time Wednesday night.

You can’t help late-night TV fans — including this critic — for wanting the kind of closure that a Leno appearance would provide.

The late-night warhorses who fought for so long against each other — Leno at “The Tonight Show” from 1992-2014 and Letterman at “The Late Show” from 1993 until Wednesday — don’t hang out. They don’t go for drives in one of Leno’s 700 cars.

But they are forever linked in American entertainment history, like two men who served in the same elite television army unit.

They rose to prominence in the L.A. comedy scene in the late 1970s, reaching the pinnacle of TV acceptance with appearances on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.”

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

This Week-end is the Decatur Arts Festival. - Sat. May 23 -Sun. May 24


From: http://decaturartsfestival.com/festival-events/
Downtown Decatur comes alive on Memorial Day weekend for the annual Decatur Arts Festival. The festival takes over downtown, extending from the Decatur Recreation Center to the downtown square, including East and West Ponce de Leon Avenue, Clairemont Avenue and the Dalton Gallery at Agnes Scott College.




This year’s festival will be bursting with artful opportunities and events — artist market, live musical performances, improvisational and stand-up comedy, a children’s festival and parade, literary events, dance performances and more.


Monday, May 18, 2015

Break in on South Candler between E. Davis St. and Green St.

 One way or another, they were coming in.

 

From Nan Norton on  Oakhurst Neighborhood Association facebook page.
Hi all - just a heads up that my house was broken into last Monday during the day when I was at work.
 I'm on S. Candler between E. Davis and Green St, near the bike path. Same old story - took laptop and tv. In and out very quickly. Pushed in a window from back deck (no glass broken) after unsuccessfully attempting to pry the window up and smash open a french door with a rock.
 One way or another, they were coming in, so I don't have any advice for prevention. However, I will say, if you kinda sorta think you've got your photos or anything you care about on your laptop backed up but aren't really absolutely sure, take a moment and make sure.
 Photo credit:http://blog.monitronics.com

Saturday, May 16, 2015

The Black Sheep Ensemble at The 2015 Decatur Lantern Parade

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Decatur Lantern Parade Photos

The annual Decatur Lantern Parade kicked off at 9:00 PM on the dot at the Color Wheel Studio on E. Howard Ave. with music provided by the Black Sheep Ensemble.
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--The star in this photo is the little girl in orange shirt out front, she was marching to the music. Loved it.

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 To see more photos go here https://www.flickr.com/photos/24391992@N00/sets/72157650682260714

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Kirkwood Spring Fling May 16 - Looks Like Fun

From: http://www.kirkwoodfling.com/
The Spring Fling takes place in Bessie Branham Park in the heart of historic Kirkwood, 2051 Delano Drive.  Check out the music line-up
MARTA

The closest MARTA station is East Lake. The walk from the station to Bessie Branham is about half a mile (15 minutes), or you can ride the bus over to the park.

Parking

Parking is available on the streets around the festival. There are also designated lots located at Israel Baptist Church (2071 Hosea Williams Drive) including the lot behind the church building, as well as the empty grass lot at the corner of Norwood Avenue and Hosea Williams Drive.


Saturday, May 16
10am – 10pm
Bessie Branham Park
2051 Delano Drive NE, 30317

The Atlanta Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center in Tucker is Moving

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Atlanta Dermatology & Laser Surgery in Tucker are Moving to Montreal Road in July. Bottom photos show the new location.

Last week it was reported (see earlier post) that Lavista Office Park in Tucker located at  2175 Northlake Pkwy, was sold and will become a new shopping center, one of the more popular businesses in that office park "The Atlanta Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center" has  anounced where they will relocate, they are moving to 1462 Montreal Rd  just off Lawrenceville Hwy in Tucker in the  DeKalb Medical Physicians building.

see map.
 middle photo credit google map.

Don't forget Decatur Lantern Parade on Friday May 15

Everyone is invited to walk in thecome to a lantern-making workshop where supplies and guidance are provided.
Decatur Lantern Parade!  Your participation is what makes a lantern parade magical.  Let your light shine! Make your masterpiece lantern at home or
Line-up at Color Wheel Studio at 508 E. Howard Avenue after 8pm.  The parade steps off at 9pm led by The Black Sheep Marching Ensemble and parade guru Chantelle Rytter and marches to the Decatur Square.
NEW THIS YEAR! Workshops include Lantern Hats and Master Classes in addition to Bamboo Forms and Globe Lantern Workshops.

From:  https://decatureducationfoundation.org/community-events/decatur-lantern-parade/

For more photos from last year go here:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/24391992@N00/sets/72157644719895412/

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Pea Ridge Kitchen & Bar to Open on Lawrenceville Hwy

From: http://www.tonetoatl.com
 Local entrepreneurs opening neighborhood eatery 

  If all goes well, Pea Ridge hopes to begin serving customers by mid May, possibly as soon as Wednesday May 13th. 


Business partners Brian Hogan, formerly of Shorty’s Pizza in Tucker, and Patrick Dunn, formerly of Leon's Full Service in Decatur, plan to open Pea Ridge Kitchen & Bar.

The restaurant will be located in Decatur on Lawrenceville Highway near its intersection with Frazier Road / McLendon Drive.  The 2,200 square foot freestanding building was most recently home to Country Cafe, a comfort food eatery that closed months ago.  

Dunn, who previously held the role of sous chef at Leon's, will be the culinary head of the restaurant.  The menu at Pea Ridge will likely feature assorted soups, salads and sandwiches as well as rotating and seasonally inspired appetizers and entrees. The menu will rely heavily on locally sourced / seasonally available ingredients, providing guests an alternative to the "static" menus found at many other restaurants. Pea Ridge will also feature a specialized bar program featuring unique cocktails and craft beers.

Pea Ridge hopes to follow in the footsteps of Oak Grove's Sprig, and provide area residents an approachable, family-friendly alternative to chain eateries in the area. 


Pea Ridge is a community home to a growing number of families with both McLendon Elementary and Druid Hills Middle School (fka Shamrock Middle School) nearby.  I, myself, grew up not far away and am a graduate of Shamrock Middle School and am pleased to see the progress the area is making. 


Up Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker, the owners of Local 7 are opening another new restaurant, 572, on Main Street. Down the road, near North DeKalb Mall, Goodwill is building a new store and donation center in place of a long vacant Cub Foods.  With luck, the new Goodwill will lead to further interest and development in the area.

Currently, plans call for the restaurant to be open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, and Sunday for brunch only.  If all goes well, Pea Ridge hopes to begin serving customers by mid May, possibly as soon as Wednesday May 13th. 

The inaugural Pea Ridge Kitchen & Bar menu can be found here. 

City of Atlanta has agreed to pay $20,000 to street performer Baton Bob

From The ajc


The Atlanta City Council’s Public Safety Committee approved the settlement at a 3 p.m. meeting Tuesday. The City Council will get the final vote at an upcoming meeting, but is expected to make the settlement final.

Bob Jamerson, 62, said he was celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end the federal ban on same-sex marriage when he donned a short wedding dress and hit a Midtown street corner on June 26, 2013, his lawsuit stated. But his performance was halted by his arrest, and he was charged with two counts of simple assault and one count of obstruction against the officer, all misdemeanors.
City of Atlanta has agreed to pay $20,000 to street performer Baton Bob to settle a federal lawsuit filed after his 2013 arrest in Midtown, according to a City Council resolution.
more

Saturday, May 9, 2015

$500,000 donation from Porsche for Atlanta BeltLine

Atlanta BeltLine gets $500,000 donation from Porsche

From: http://www.ajc.com
Porsche announced it is donating $500,000 to the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, as the automaker celebrated the opening of its new North America headquarters in Atlanta.

Supervisory board chairman Wolfgang Porsche announced the donation during a grand opening party Thursday evening. Porsche Cars North America moved its headquarters from Sandy Springs to a site near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

“In supporting the BeltLine, we would like to do our part to sustain the beauty and allure of this great city for many years to come,” said Porsche Cars North America CEO Detlev von Platen in a written statement.

Friday, May 8, 2015

MOTHER'S DAY, THE KUDZU WAY!



MOMS LOVE KUDZU
  AND WE LOVE MOMS! 
So...........  give  MOM  something  SHE REALLY WANTS :

A TRIP TO KUDZU!


HAND MADE PLANTERS!
VINTAGE FRENCH KITCHEN JARS!
FAIR-TRADE EARRINGS or  NECKLACE!
A SUCCULENT GARDEN  in a  VINTAGE HUNGARIAN KITCHENWARE POT!
OR...........
 A KUDZU GIFT CERTIFICATE! YARD ART! SCARVES! JEWELRY!             PILLOWS!   A NEW SOFA!    A TRIP TO FRANCE!  
                   ( sorry, no trip to France, but we've got everything else . )

PLUS -  on MOTHER'S DAY SUNDAY Ma y 10th
LIVE MUSIC   (Decatur only) , REFRESHMENTS , and  PRIZES!
Reduce - Reuse -  Repurpose  
GO VINTAGE

----http://www.antiquestoresatlanta.com/kudzuantiques/

Thursday, May 7, 2015

The Danger of using Plastic Gas Cans

LaVista Office Park to become Shopping Center


More retail stores are coming to the Northlake/Tucker area, including Dick’s Sporting Goods.


 From: http://thechampionnewspaper.com/news/local/office-park-to-be-razed-for-shopping-center/

Office Park to be razed for shopping center
Posted by Carla Parker on May 7, 2015 in DeKalb News 
A group attending the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners’ meeting raise their hands to announce their support of the rezoning of LaVista Office Park to redevelop a retail shopping center.
More retail stores are coming to the Northlake/Tucker area, including Dick’s Sporting Goods.

On April 28, the DeKalb County Board of Commissions approved rezoning a portion of the LaVista Office Park within the Northlake Overlay District from single family residential to office institutional to combine with the adjoining property to be redeveloped as a retail shopping center.
 LaVista Office Park is located at the northeast intersection of LaVista Road and Northlake Parkway.

The item passed 4-1, with Commissioner Kathie Gannon voting against it.

“I certainly understand the business outlook on this and their desire to help reinvent Northlake,” Gannon said before the vote. “I’m not in favor of reinventing Northlake as a traditional suburban, hard-oriented single-level retail kind of center. It doesn’t face the street, it’s surrounded by a sea of parking, it’s right near an expressway where you could have that density. I think there are other opportunities to do more with this site. And I think it will affect the zoning of the overlay.”

On April 29, Ben F. Kushner Company confirmed that Dick’s Sporting Good’s will be the first retail store to anchor the new retail development—The Meridian at Tucker—in what is currently the LaVista Office Park.

Built in 1973, LaVista Office Park is a 285,000-square-foot single-story office complex on 25 acres of land.

Kushner representative Jennie Kushner said the current structure will be razed to make room for the new shopping center.

During the April 29 commission meeting, local business owners, such as Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District president Bill Rosenfeld, spoke in favor of the new development.

“Tucker CID just completed a master plan, and we had three public hearings where the public was allowed to interject their comments and some of the comments were they wanted to see more restaurants in Tucker,” Rosenfeld told commissioners. “They wanted better shopping facilities, also newer and better office space. It’s important to us as a community, and you, as a county to support this and move forward.”

Leroy Tanker, a business owner who has a property across the street from the project, said the development is a homerun.

“It will create many jobs, it will create millions of dollars in retail sales and therefore millions of dollars in revenue for DeKalb County,” Tanker said. “It will spur more development, which would bring in more jobs and revenue for DeKalb, and revenue is what DeKalb County needs now.”

Construction on the shopping center is scheduled to begin this summer.

Photo credit: google maps
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 Comment:
Daphne said...
 AND it backs up to a wonderful old forest buffer between the existing office park and Winding Woods subdivsion. This development came in with NO OTHER OPTIONS and shoved it down the throats of the citizens and property owners of the area. Northlake Mall is collapsing. Do we really need another strip mall? Especially across from the fleabag hotel across the street!!!