DEF Boil 2014 LIve Auction - PREVIEW of Paradise

DEF Boil 2014 Live Auction - PREVIEW of Paradise
From : Gail at decatureducationfoundation.org

What will you find at the Boil 2014 Live Auction?

Paradise...

Bid on a 7-night stay at Las Ventanas del Mar in Costa Rica

 

Enjoy a SEVEN night stay in a beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 ½ bath townhome that sleeps 6 in Playa Carrillo on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.  

This townhome is located in the Las Ventanas del Mar community which has more to offer than just breath taking views.  Featuring a 9,000 square foot infinity pool perfect for watching the sunset or listening to the waves crash just below you.  Once you're here you will never want to leave! 

Find some friends who may want to  bid with you on this item as a syndicate 

(a group of like-minded bidders)!

The Boil 2014 LIve Auction will feature 9 fantastic packages you won't find anywhere else.  Keep an eye out for more preview blasts in the days to come.

Purchase Boil 2014 Tickets Here!

Fund-a-Need Challenge: 10k in 10 minutes

The Boil is a great party but it is also a key fundraiser for the Decatur Education Foundation which supports kids across Decatur.  We will challenge the guests at Boil 2014 to help us raise $10,000 in 10 minutes to fund Teacher Innovation Grants that change students' lives!

Fund-A-Need Levels

$1,000 

$500 

$250 

$100 

$50

Lets Dance - Dance Hall Decatur Oct 9

From: http://www.dekalbhistory.org/dekalb_history_center_events-programs.htm

Help us with some fun fundraising! Tickets are available at our offices, online through the PayPal link below or at the event. $10 per ticket, light snacks included. Drink tickets available at event. Grab dinner and Hustle over to the Historic Courthouse for a night of dancing! Get Down to Decatur and Swim your way up to the second floor of the Courthouse. Using a special Time Warp we’ll Slide our way through the best dance music from the 1970s to the present. Don’t miss it! Moonwalk, Creep or Break your way to downtown Decatur for a night of fun. Our DJ for the evening is Trey Caples from Soul Spin Studios. Thursday, October 9 7:30 - 11:00 p.m. Historic DeKalb Courthouse, Second Floor 101 E. Court Sq., Decatur, GA 30030 $10 per person - tickets purchased online will be available at the door the night of the event

To buy tickets Go to: http://www.dekalbhistory.org/dekalb_history_center_events-programs.htm

Oakhurst Arts Music Festival Sat. Oct 11

Get your ART on this year at The Oakhurst Arts Run 5K!

This year, Decatur Education Foundation and the Decatur Arts Alliance are partnering on the run and proceeds will support art grants (in our schools and community) as well as the Mary Miller Decatur Youth Fund which provides scholarships for low-income students to participate in city programs.

REGISTER ONLINE by September 26th to guarantee your t-shirt 

For a paper registration form click here

Start your day with the 5K and then stay and enjoy the Oakhurst Arts and Music Festival.  

Race starts and ends at One Step at a Time running store 

650 East Lake Drive, Decatur, GA 30030. 

NEW THIS YEAR! Tie-dye your race t-shirt after the run!

Walkers, strollers and leashed dogs are welcome 

but should line up in the back of the pack.  

Special registration rate of $20 for City of Decatur and 

City Schools of Decatur employees. Call 404-377-0641 or email info@decatureducationfoundation.org to get your promo code. 

Event shirt only guaranteed for registration by September 26, 2014.

Oakhurst Arts Run is part of the Team Decatur Grand Slam Fitness Challenge.  Click  here for more information.

Zesto Drive-In on Ponce de Leon Ave Closed after 60 Years

 From: zestoatlanta.com

The owners of the Zesto Drive-In restaurant at 544 Ponce de Leon Avenue announce the closing of their longstanding restaurant as of September 20, 2014.
 This neighborhood institution began by selling only ice cream on this spot in 1954. The small original walk-up building was razed and rebuilt in 1991, a showpiece bearing the porcelain, chrome, neon, coved ceilings, and tiled floors and walls of a classic diner.
 The building earned the Atlanta Urban Design Commission’s Award for Architectural Excellence in 1991, and has been seen in many TV shows and commercials and feature movies since. The property has been sold to an undisclosed buyer.  
The other five Zesto locations around metro Atlanta remain alive and well and customers will find the same ice cream treats and hot menu items, friendly service and truly original Zesto experience at the remaining locations. The Livaditis family continues to own and operate the other Zestos in this 65th anniversary of the first store opening in Atlanta by John Livaditis in 1949.

SALE at Kudzu!

Don't miss our Annual Fall Sale! Over 50,000 sf of fabulous finds from every time period and style. Special SOFA SALE! 40% off MSRP! (average retail) We have  Atlanta's best prices on Norwalk, Rowe and Robin Bruce Upholstery.

Amy Howard Chalk Paint classes are back!

Learn to paint furniture like a pro

AMY HOWARD CHALK PAINT 101  painting, waxing, distressing. PRIVATE GROUP CLASSES AVAILABLE - BRING YOUR FRIENDS! (special free class - Vision Boards to Create the Home You Want. Fun!)   Check Class Schedules!

And thank you Atlanta for voting us best of Atlanta once again!

Kudzu. Like no other place.

All you need to know about Music Midtown 2014

 From:http://music.blog.ajc.com/

All you need to know about Music Midtown 2014 – from schedules to transportation to food
There are those who continue to miss the Music Midtowns of the past — and, sure enough, they were amazing productions, with dozens of stages and acts ranging from Courtney Love to Tony Bennett.

But to dismiss what Music Midtown has presented since its return in 2011 is a disservice to what fans will experience Friday and Saturday at Piedmont Park.

You want new music? Expect to see plenty of high school and college-age fans flocking to the fest’s three stages for Iggy Azalea, Lorde, Bastille, Banks and B.o.B.

Veteran acts? Yeah, there are some of those, too, in the form of Gregg Allman, Run-D.M.C. and — gulp — Third Eye Blind.

And how about the headliners? Friday gives you the option of the sticky fuzz-rock of Jack White or the radio-friendly guitar wailing of John Mayer. On Saturday, if you aren’t into the fluid rap of Eminem, then head to the other headliner stage for a Southern rock-country gumbo with the Zac Brown Band.
more

 http://www.musicmidtown.com/

Dine Out for "Go Eat Give" at Souper Jenny Decatur on Thursday, September 25

From: www.prlog.org/

 -- Souper Jenny (http://www.souperjennyatl.com ) located at 1 West Court Square, Decatur, Georgia 30030 will host an all-day fundraiser on Thursday, September 25 to benefit Atlanta based nonprofit, Go Eat Give. Ten percent of all proceeds from sales will directly benefit Go Eat Give’s cultural education programming, both locally and abroad. The cozy neighborhood restaurant changes its menu of soups, sandwiches, and salads daily while offering gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and other options for the health conscious. Favorites include the My Dad's Turkey Chili, Chicken Tortilla, Souper Power Green, Ripe Avocado Pita, The Club, Big Greek Salad and Chef Jessica's Broccoli Slaw.

Beginning Sept 18th, Souper Jenny Decatur will be hosting Give Back Thursdays – a Grilled Cheese Night everyThursday night, where they will donate a percentage of sales back to a local non-profit.  “We are so happy to work with Go Eat Give, which brings awareness to different cultures through food, travel, and community service - three ideas that are also dear to Jenny and her staff. At Souper Jenny we strive each day to accomplish all that Go Eat Give has achieved, creating positive interactions and sharing great food with all people in our community,” says Keith Yager, general manager. The event is open to the public from 11am to 9pm on Thursday, September 25th. There will be live music, free drinks and S’mores served from 5-9pm.

With the goal of providing opportunities to showcase international culture and diverse ethnic communities living in Atlanta, Go Eat Give organizes monthly cultural educational events that connect people with their neighbors, build bridges, and eliminate stereotypes. Since it’s inception in 2012, Go Eat Give has hosted over twenty-five Destination Dinners in Atlanta, and eight Volunteer Vacation trips to Kenya, Spain, Indonesia, Cuba, and India, reaching over 1,500 people.

Go Eat Give’s upcoming events include Destination Thailand on October 16, volunteer trips  to Cuba and India in November, and First Annual Golf Fundraiser on November 10.  More information can be found on Go Eat Give’s website (http://www.goeatgive.com/).

For more questions about Souper Jenny contact Keith Yaeger at k_yaeger@yahoo.com or 404.536.2973, and for Go Eat Give contact Kelly Parry at 404.403.7799 or kelly@goeatgive.com.
Dine Out for Go Eat Give at Souper Jenny Decatur on Thursday, September 25 from 11am-9pm.

Zesto on Ponce is Closing

Cook-Out replacing Zesto on Ponce de Leon Avenue.
 From: Tomorrows News Today 

 North Carolina-based Cook-Out is the previously "undisclosed buyer" of the Zesto on Ponce de Leon Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward. I surmised they might be the buyer in my earlier post, and have now received confirmation. Zesto is due to close this Saturday, September 20th, and renovations should begin shortly thereafter. The Zesto building, which earned the Atlanta Urban Design Commission’s Award for Architectural Excellence in 1991, will be retrofitted to suit Cook-Out's needs. more

Steve & Vikki are Back in Podcast Form

click to hear Steve, Vikki and Tom

Houndstooth Road Closing Decatur Location

 Sign on store reads
“Friends we are moving this month, more to come.”

 https://www.facebook.com/HoundstoothRoad

AMC has Approved Season 2 for "Halt And Catch Fire"

From: http://www.kdramastars.com

AMC has finally approved the 'Halt And Catch Fire' renewal less than a month after the show's season one finale last month, according to Deadline.
Although the show, which stars Lee Pace, Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy, struggled with ratings in its first season, it still managed to attract quite a few fans.

The show debuted to only 1.2 million viewers in the 18-49 demographic on June 1, earning a 0.3 rating, according to TV Series Finale. Viewership increased to 1.4 million by the second week but fell to about 700,000 in the next week. It plummeted to 550,000 viewers as the weeks wore on.

Despite the dismal numbers, however, producers of the show still remained positive, and it looks like AMC has also seen the show's potential and promptly ordered a 'Halt And Catch Fire' renewal.

"This is a show about invention, experimentation, and the inherent risks in trying to break new ground - themes that really resonate with us as a network and attracted a passionate audience," AMC President Charlie Collier said, regarding the show renewal.

"We have a history of demonstrating patience through the early seasons of new shows, betting on talent and building audience over time," Collier continued.

He also added, "We see that opportunity here and look forward to a second season of 'Halt and Catch Fire' from creators Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers, and showrunner Jonathan Lisco."

'Halt And Catch Fire' season two is expected to air in the summer of 2015.

Photo credit  www.spoilertv.com

Just 2 Weeks until the Madison Ave Soapbox Derby (9-27-14)

Let's hope for a sunny day this year.
Here is a link to last years photos

Fresh to Order to Open Soon

Fresh to Order to open soon in the old HOLA! location.(Church St & E. Ponce de Leon Ave.)
Their website says to open late summer....
Here is  F2O's menu

Decatur's Dairy Queen since 1954 No More

Decatur's Dairy Queen since 1954 was torn down this week to make way for the Trinity Triangle Project to begin.. Maybe they will save the old Dairy Queen signs (seen here) and use them on the new Dairy Queen that will be included in the new Trinity Triangle Project.

Decatur Holiday Ornament Unveiling Sept. 30

From:
www.decaturga.com

The Decatur Tourism Bureau
and the Decatur Arts Alliance
invite the community to the
official unveiling of the 2014
Decatur Holiday Ornament on Tuesday,
Sept. 30, 6:30-8 p.m. at Decatur Glass
blowing, a working glass studio and
showroom at 250 Freeman St.
The 2014 ornament is the third in a
series of handcrafted ornaments commis
sioned by the Tourism Bureau and the
Arts Alliance. Visit visitdecaturgeorgia.
com or decaturartsalliance.org for more info.

Atlanta taxicab drivers sue Uber ride-sharing service

Atlanta taxicab drivers sue Uber ride-sharing service
From:  ajc By Christopher Seward

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta taxicab drivers are suing Uber, a popular ride-sharing service that connects passengers with drivers through a smartphone app, claiming the company is operating as a taxicab service without a city of Atlanta license.

In the suit filed recently in Fulton County Superior Court, the drivers say Uber is in violation of a city ordinance that makes it illegal for a taxicab to operate without a certificate of public necessity and convenience, or “medallion.”

“Uber has been operating in Atlanta with little concern about the safety of their passengers and zero concern for the laws that protect them,” Scott McCandliss, one of 13 cabbies and owners who filed the suit, said in a statement. “Our incomes have steadily dropped since Uber started and legally licensed drivers are leaving the business.”

An Uber spokesman said the San Francisco-based company will fight the suit.
more

WATCH JAPANESE KNIFE FORGING AT THE COOK’S WAREHOUSE Sept. 14

WATCH JAPANESE KNIFE FORGING AT THE COOK’S WAREHOUSE!

 

ATLANTA , Sept. 8, 2014 – The Japanese Culinary Arts Network (JCAN), of which The Cook’s Warehouse ( www.cookswarehouse.com ) is a member, is bringing master knife craftsmen to the United States for a tour demonstrating traditional Japanese knife making, including a stop in Decatur.

 

The master craftsmen will forge knives and show how a handle is attached during “The Art of Japanese Knifemaking” at The Cook’s Warehouse Decatur store, 180 West Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Decatur .

 

The event will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14 .

 

LINK TO REGISTER FOR CLASS :  http://bit.ly/OftRBB

 

This is an incredible opportunity for culinary professionals and consumers alike, showcasing these time-honored knife making methods across the United States.

 

The traditional process of forging steel into knives dates back more than 1,000 years in Japan.  These methods are still practiced today by a handful of skilled craftsmen using artisan methods to produce blades by hand that are among the best in the world.

 

In addition to Atlanta, this tour includes forging and engraving events across the country, stopping in Chicago; San Mateo and St. Helena, CA; San Francisco; Hyde Park and Brooklyn, NY, and Princeton, NJ.

 

The tour will feature three craftsmen from Sakai City who will forge knives at the events.  Sakai City has been known for its samurai swords for centuries and has now become Japan’s center for fine kitchen cutlery. 

 

In partnership with Kikuichi Knives , known for its distinguished history crafting Samurai swords, the public will be able to see this craft in action and learn about the entire process from raw iron to finished blade.  One of the craftsmen, Mr. Oe, will hand-engrave knives for customers.

 

The knife masters – Tadashi Enami, Noboru Morinaga and Akimasa Oe – will have an interpreter to explain each step to the audience.

 

2nd Annual Avondale Estates Garden Club Tree Walk

2nd Annual Avondale Estates Garden Club Tree Walk
From Nancy Martin

Mother Nature will reveal the newest colors in her fall collection during the second annual Avondale Tree Walk on Saturday, October 25th from 10:00 am- Noon. Sponsored by the Avondale Estates Garden Club as a conservation project, this year’s walk will include beautiful specimens chosen by the Tree Walk Committee to strut on the catwalk of Avondale Estates.

Local arborists who will lead the walk include Mark Livingston, Arborguard; Gretchen Musser, Elements of Landscape Design; Neil Norton, ISA Certified Arborist; Gary Peiffer, Dekalb Co. Extension Agent; Steve Sanchez, HGOR; and Joan Scales, U.S. Forestry Commission.

Tree Walk Guides will point out the enormous benefits trees add to the urban environment, such as:
• For every ton of new wood that grows, about 1.8 tons of carbon dioxide is removed from the air and 1 .3 tons of oxygen is produced;
• One recent study reported that urban trees could be about 10 times as effective as forest trees for lowering carbon dioxide in cities;
• Trees provide climate control & moderate the “heat island” effect of the urban setting;
• Trees protect soil and water quality.

To take part in this free event, meet in the parking lot of the Avondale Community Club at 59 Lakeshore Drive at 10:00 am. A new feature of this year’s walk will be the opportunity to ask a panel of experts about any concerns homeowners have with trees in their landscapes. The Avondale Estates Garden Club is a member club of The DeKalb County Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., The Garden Club of Georgia, Inc., the Redbud District of GCG, and the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

DRIVE-INVASION 2014

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To see more photos go here

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Jett Bryant of  BIGFOOT

 BIGFOOT

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- - - Cletis & His City Cousins

 ---- To see these and more Drive-Invasion 2014 photos click here.

Fernbank Fall Plant Sale Sept. 20

h/t clairmontheights.org

Robin Williams Tribute at The Plaza Theatre Sept. 5-11

From: http://plazaatlanta.com

Robin Williams Tribute – 9/5 to 9/11
The Birdcage (R)
Fri – Sun: 7:00 PM
Tue & Wed: 7:00 PM

Jumanji (PG)
Sat & Sun: 4:00 PM
Wed: 7:00 PM

Hook (PG)
Sat & Sun: 4:15 PM

The Fisher King (NR)
Fri – Mon: 7:00 PM

Could Cabela's be in Buford's Future ?

 Tomorrow's News Today is having a vision of a Cabela's in the soon to close BrandsMart USA store in Buford, GA.
That would be a ideal location as Mall of Georgia is at that exit.

    New Cabela's in Acworth GA

Here is the Tomorrows News Today article>
From: tonetoatl.com
 Could big box retailer give way to a growing outdoors company?

Hollywood, Florida-based BrandsMart USA will soon close its 118,000 square foot store on Buford Drive near the Mall of Georgia. 


Nebraska-based Cabela's entered Georgia earlier this year with a 42,000 square foot store in Augusta.  Earlier this month, Cabela's entered the the Atlanta market with a 100,000 square foot store in Acworth.  Plans call a 72,000 store to open in Fort Oglethorpe late next year. 


While modifications would obviously need to be made to the building, its existing size and surrounding amenities and demographics would seem to make it ideal. 

Aside from the building's proximity to Mall of Georgia, it's also a stone's throw from the 10,000 seat Coolray Field, home to the Gwinnett Braves.  The Gwinnett Braves are the AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and often the place to see the next great player and also see rehabbing stars. Similar to the major league team, the Gwinnett Braves attracts fans from the southern region and not just the local area. 

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Cabela's closest competitor, has a location at Sugarloaf Mills. R.E.I. and Sports Authority both have  locations near Mall of Georgia while Dick's Sporting Goods has a location in Mall of Georgia. 

Readers of this site suggested that a Whole Foods Market would be a good replacement.  A Whole Foods seems great and all, but the idea that they would open in such a large space away from compatible co-tenants makes little sense. Additionally, there is basically no chance Whole Foods would take on that entire space in any city, let alone Buford. In case you have not been there, a Waffle House opened earlier this year in an outparcel of the BrandsMart and is only accessible through the retailer's parking lot.  I don't know that there is much crossover traffic between Waffle House and Whole Foods.

"Bond 24" Looking for Iconic Bad Guy and Bond Girl

We are looking to follow in the tradition of JAWS and ODDJOB in finding an iconic baddy.

From: www.christiantoday.com
The next 007 film won't hit theaters for yet another 14 months, but there is high anticipation of what the 24th installment of the long-standing Bond franchise would present. Currently, the team behind what is now simply dubbed as "Bond 24" is hard at work finding the suitable Bond girl, a formidable foe, and the right location.

MI6, a website dedicated to everything Bond, named several ladies being considered to play the lead female role opposite Daniel Craig. The list includes Norwegian actress Synnove Macody Lund, Danish actress Birgitte Hjort Sorensen, Norwegian actress Ingrid Bolso Berdal, and Swedish actresses Disa Östrand and Ida Engvoll. While these ladies are being considered, agent Anne Lindberg said that no casting decisions have been made.

Craig, the sixth actor to play the character on film over a span of 50 years, was joined by Bérénice Marlohe in the last movie, Skyfall.

There are also high expectations on the type of villain the fictional British secret service agent would face. The casting call revealed in James Bond Radio would perhaps give the audience an idea of what 007 will be up against.

The casting call says:
ADVERTISEMENT

We are looking to follow in the tradition of JAWS and ODDJOB in finding an iconic baddy.

Hinx (Male, 30 – 45)

Ideally over 6′ 2″. Hinx is the main henchman/assassin. We are looking for an imposing extremely physically fit actor. He has several fights with Bond and will have to have stunt training. He has to drive. We are looking for someone very unusual, possibly from a sports background.

Height: 180cm – 195cm

In another article, MI6 reports that the next Bond film would shoot in Obertilliach, Austria instead of Norway, although this has yet to be confirmed.

Bond 24 is scheduled to hit UK theaters on Oct. 23, 2015 and in the US on Nov. 6, 2015.


 Photo credit: http://celebhistory.com

Tucker CID Welcomes Northlake Businesses, Changes Name

From: thechampionnewspaper.com
Tucker CID welcomes Northlake businesses, changes name
Posted by Carla Parker


The Tucker CID is now the Tucker-Northlake CID.

This week the Tucker Community Improvement District voted to change its name to the Tucker-Northlake CID. According to CID officials, the new name reflects the CID’s focus on economic development and infrastructure improvements for the communities to the east and west of the I-285/LaVista Road interchange. Along with downtown Tucker, the CID boundaries extend down Lavista, Henderson Mill, and Northlake Parkway through the Northlake shopping district and the Montreal industrial corridor.

“We certainly believe there is strength in numbers, which is why a CID is so appealing to community business leaders,” said Ann Rosenthal, president of the Tucker-Northlake CID. “Commercial property owners within the CID pay a self-imposed tax, and the funds are used within the CID area for transportation and infrastructure improvements, public safety, economic development and quality of life improvements.”

“Even though the Tucker-Northlake CID is only a year old, we have already improved the I-285/LaVista Road intersection and are preparing to kick off a major master planning process for the area,” Rosenthal added.

In May, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved the Tucker CID’s request to annex the Northlake commercial properties. The expansion adds over $110 million in property value.

The Tucker-Northlake CID now includes more than 166 commercial property owners, representing approximately $157 million in property value.

More than 67 Northlake commercial properties into the organization Aug. 7. were welcomed.
In addition to renaming the CID, the organization elected two new board members to serve with the existing board for 2014-2015. The new board members are Frank Goulding of Newell Recycling and Peggy Berg of the Hampton Inn. Existing board members returning for 2014-2015 are CID chairman Bill Rosenfeld of Rosenfeld Jewelry, vice chairman John Martin of John Martin State Farm, treasurer Annie Gibson-Ervin of Kaiser Permanente, secretary Michelle Weston of Bank of North Georgia, Louis Brown of Trust Associates and Barry Schrenk of Taggart’s Driving School.

Currently, there are 18 Community Improvement Districts in metropolitan Atlanta, including Dunwoody and Stone Mountain. CIDs are public-private partnerships that allow commercial districts to self-fund major infrastructure, security, transportation, and quality-of-life improvements through a special tax paid only by the non-residential, commercial property owners within the district.

These funds are further leverage for multi-million dollar state and federal grants applied to massive re-engineering projects. Funds raised by CIDs remain in the districts and use of those funds are determined by the CID board of directors elected from the consenting commercial property owners. Representatives of the cities and counties where CIDs are formed also sit on CID boards.

photo credit: http://dwig.lmc.gatech.edu/studio/?p=126

The Equalizer Coming Soon

Dragon Con Parade 2014

Be Sure to Visit Mingei World Arts at The Decatur Book Festival in Booth #527

Labor Day means....

The Decatur Book Festival! Come visit Mingei in Booth #527,  near the corner of   Ponce de Leon and Church  Street Fair Hours? Saturday, August 30, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, August 31, noon to 6:00 p.m.

Look for the Spiral logo below to find our booth!

We will be featuring: books, bargain books from Mingei Book Club selections,  hand-made journals, bags and baskets for toting your books, miscellaneous small treasures, and  hand-carved Mexican reading figures which help support a library in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico

Our next opening on New Street: Saturday, September 20, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday, September 21, 12- 5:00 p.m. Want to shop online? Vintage items in our Etsy Shop. Now featuring an assortment of Day of the Dead and Mexican craft on our website. Hope to see you soon!

Babylon (Live) - David Gray

Events this Weekend

From:www.accessatlanta.com

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival. Opens 8 p.m. Aug. 29 with the keynote speech by novelist Joyce Carol Oates and ends 6 p.m. Aug. 31. It takes place at more than 20 locations throughout downtown Decatur, both indoors and outdoors. Free. For information: 404-471-5769, decaturbookfestival.com. For more from the AJC about the festival, go here.
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Dragon Con. The annual parade takes place at 10 a.m. Aug. 30. (For more about the parade and which stars will be at Dragon Con this year, see the AJC story.) During the convention, “memberships” can be purchased in the Georgia Ballroom at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel (165 Courtland St.) in four-day ($130, Friday-Monday), three-day ($100, Saturday-Monday), two-day ($60, Sunday-Monday) and single-day increments.

Four-day passes are available for purchase on Aug. 28 and 29 only (starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 28); three-day passes on Aug. 30 only; and two-day passes on Aug. 31 only.

Single-day Friday ($40), single-day Saturday ($50) and single-day Sunday ($40) can be purchased in the Capital and Georgia ballrooms at the Sheraton beginning at 8 a.m. on the respective day only.  www.dragoncon.org.


Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival. Opens 8 p.m. Aug. 29 with the keynote speech by novelist Joyce Carol Oates and ends 6 p.m. Aug. 31. It takes place at more than 20 locations throughout downtown Decatur, both indoors and outdoors. Free. For information: 404-471-5769, decaturbookfestival.com. For more from the AJC about the festival, go here.
--
Dragon Con. The annual parade takes place at 10 a.m. Aug. 30. (For more about the parade and which stars will be at Dragon Con this year, see the AJC story.) During the convention, “memberships” can be purchased in the Georgia Ballroom at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel (165 Courtland St.) in four-day ($130, Friday-Monday), three-day ($100, Saturday-Monday), two-day ($60, Sunday-Monday) and single-day increments.

Four-day passes are available for purchase on Aug. 28 and 29 only (starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 28); three-day passes on Aug. 30 only; and two-day passes on Aug. 31 only.

Single-day Friday ($40), single-day Saturday ($50) and single-day Sunday ($40) can be purchased in the Capital and Georgia ballrooms at the Sheraton beginning at 8 a.m. on the respective day only.  www.dragoncon.org.

--
To see a full list go to: From:www.accessatlanta.com

Street Closings for The Decatur Book Festival

From: The Decatur Minute
In order to prepare for the country’s largest independent Book Festival this weekend, several streets will be closed from Friday morning through Sunday night.

The 9th annual AJC Decatur Book  Festival will be held on Saturday, August 30th from 10am until 6 pm and Sunday, August 31st from noon until 6:00 pm.  All events associated with this festival are FREE to the public. We encourage patrons to walk, bike, or ride Marta to the Square. If you drive, please consider parking at the DeKalb County parking deck, which is free on nights and weekends. Other parking deck information can be found here

Street Closings:

*N. McDonough Street will be closed at 3 am on Friday morning, August 29th until Sunday, August 30th at midnight.
*East Court Square will be closed on Friday, August 29 from 3am until Sunday, August 31st at midnight.
*Ponce de Leon will be closed from Church Street to Commerce on Friday, August 30 from 3pm until Sunday, August 31st at midnight.
*Clairemont Avenue will be closed from Commerce Drive to Ponce de Leon on Friday, August 30 from 3pm until Sunday, August 31st at midnight.

https://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2014/index.php

The Decatur Arts Alliance Announces Four $500 Seed Grants for Artists

From: http://decaturartsalliance.org/blog/daa-announces-new-500-seed-grants-for-artists/
The Decatur Arts Alliance  Announces Four $500 Seed Grants for Artists
Decatur Artist Grants Available – Apply by Aug. 31

The Decatur Arts Alliance awards four seed grants – each worth $500 – to local artists. Submit your application by Aug. 31 for consideration. Only one submission per person.

Your one-page application must include:
Project description (150 words)
How will the project impact Decatur? (35 words)
How will the project be experienced? (35 words)

Deadlines:
Submit grant application by Aug. 31 (Only the first 50 submissions will be considered)
All projects must be completed by Dec. 30, 2014
Summary report with images and written statement due Jan. 15, 2015

Submit applications to seedgrant@decaturartsalliance.org

The Decatur Arts Alliance is a nonprofit partnership of artists, business owners, residents and government dedicated to supporting and enhancing the arts in the city of Decatur. The DAA sponsors annual festivals as well as special art events for members only. It also provides a collaborative environment to coordinate the interests of artists, gallery owners, theater groups, dance groups and performance venues within Decatur and to develop the city as a strong arts community. To learn more, visit the website or call 404-371-9583.

Burger King to Buy Doughnut Burger maker Tim Hortons

-- From:marketwatch.com
What does the news about Burger King’s potential acquisition of Tim Hortons really mean? Forget the dollars-and-cents aspects or the cross-cultural implications of an American fast-food giant moving into Canada. For some crazed gastronomes, it’s about something altogether different.

Namely, the potential for the doughnut burger to go mainstream. Never heard of the doughnut burger? Obviously, you’re not a fan of Luther Vandross. The late R&B singer loved the idea so much it’s often called a “Luther” in his honor. Nor have you spent any time on the state fair circuit, where the doughnut burger is becoming the new must-have outrageous treat — the 2014 answer to the fried Oreo. Who came up with the idea for stuffing a burger between two halves of a glazed doughnut in the first place? Well, Vandross is often credited with the concept. But Paula Deen, the controversial kitchen diva, has claimed ownership. Food fanatics also say Mulligan’s, a bar in Decatur, Ga., had a hand in the whole thing, too.

 Whatever the case, the doughnut burger is probably not as much of a stretch as it may seem. After all, Americans have increasingly embraced the idea of oddball food combos — so much so that there’s now a whole TV show, “Frankenfood”, devoted to them. And the doughnut burger is nothing more than an affirmation that sweet and salty go together like, well, bread and butter. Think kettle corn, another fair favorite, or sprinkling salt on a melon, a culinary trick that has been proven scientifically to make sense. (Suffice it to say, salt is an easy “get” — we perceive its taste quickly. And thus, it serves as something of a boost for sweet, which is a more complex taste.)

Cozy Burger Town to Close and Starbucks will Open at Suburban Plaza

From: http://www.tonetoatl.com
Selig Enterprises is looking to add a Starbucks Coffee to Suburban Plaza.  Sadly though, for some Decatur residents, the Starbucks will open on land currently occupied by Cozy Burger Town, a restaurant with a seemingly cult-like following.  A second Cozy Burger Town opened last summer in Northlake Mall's food court, but clearly it would not be an alternative for most in Decatur. 

A 1750 square foot Starbucks with a drive-thru has been proposed for the site in Suburban Plaza, but has not yet been approved by all involved.  While it's doubtful the neighborhood will stand up and speak out so vocally about the demise of Cozy Burger Town as they did with Walmart, I have no doubt there will be at least some debate. 
 Signage posted on Cozy Burger Town indicates the restaurant will be closed today Monday August 25th through Monday September 1st, with plans to reopen for lunch on Tuesday the 2nd.  One would-be customer I spoke with at the restaurant today was sad to see her go-to burger joint closed.  I informed her it was to be replaced by a Starbucks and she was not thrilled.  I also informed her (somehow ,this was still news) that a Walmart Supercenter was coming and that news was met with great excitement. 

Cozy Burger Town opened in early 2010, replacing the short-lived One Love Diner, in a "hut" that originally housed Pizza Hut. 
 more here