City living vs. the burbs

By Jennifer Crouse
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/02/08

Metro Atlanta can be defined by two lifestyles, urban and suburban, as separated and delineated by the asphalt ring of I-285. Many people believe they can describe their lives simply by stating where they live: inside or outside the Perimeter.

We asked four metro Atlanta residents to sum up what they like best about where they live, and how that geography affects their lives.

INSIDE THE PERIMETER

Reena Mattupurath

KIRKWOOD

1. Location, location

"The best reason for living in the city is you're never more than 10, 15 minutes away from anything. My fiance and I have friends all over the city and outside the Perimeter. Whether we're meeting friends out or having a get-together at our house, we're centrally and conveniently located, so it is hassle-free."

2. Commute

"I live in Kirkwood and work in the Virginia-Highland area. My commute is 15, 20 minutes one way, and when on average most Atlantans spend 50 minutes on the road, I'm already home."

3. The arts

"There are so many different ways you can enjoy the arts in the city —- the High Museum of Art, Fox Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony and Fernbank, to name a few. The city is also rich with local establishments for independent movies and plays."

4. Restaurants

"Atlanta has so many great, unique restaurants. . . . I live a mile from Ann's Snack Bar, best burgers in town; five minutes to Decatur Square, where you'll find the best selection of beers at the Brick Store, and 10 minutes from MF Sushibar for delicious sushi and a great vibe."

5. Diversity

"Being of Asian Indian background, diversity is very important to me. In my neighborhood, I live among people of all races, economic standing and lifestyle. When I have children, I want to expose them to many different experiences and broaden their horizons."

6. Parks

"The city is surrounded by many parks. ... In addition, the city parks and neighborhoods host a variety of art festivals, art strolls and home viewings."

7. MARTA

"We use MARTA to go to sporting events at Philips Arena, the airport, the museum and Decatur Square. Not only is it convenient, but taking MARTA also saves on parking and avoids any concern over driving safely after a couple of drinks."

Melanie Rabb

CANDLER PARK

1. Porch sitting

"I like hanging out on my porch, watching people walk to the restaurants and stores at the end of my street. [On our wedding anniversary,] we spent the evening on the porch. We ... let our friends know we'd just be hanging out if they wanted to stop by."

2. Less traffic

"Living in town allows me to be close to all my jobs —- I have four or five —- so I don't have to deal with traffic. Traffic is such a waste of my time."

3. Going out

"I think intown people go out more. There is always something to go do or see that's just minutes away —- or a $5 cab ride away."

4. Restaurants

"I love the great restaurants and bars. You find more owner-operated neighborhood establishments. ... Chain restaurants are so vanilla, so expected."

5. Intown neighborhoods

"It's not a cookie-cutter city. Being a Realtor that mainly shows intown properties, I get to see all the character and history in these neighborhoods. ... And I love the festivals, like the Inman Park festival and the wine crawl in Oakhurst."

6. Shopping

"I like shopping at the small neighborhood shops and boutiques rather than going to the mall. I very rarely go to the mall because that means traffic! Shop locally and you are supporting your neighborhood."

7. Diversity

"I take pride raising my children in a city that is so diverse. There is no other city in the South like Atlanta. I love it!"

OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER

Eric Sledge

LAWRENCEVILLE

1. Convenience

"Since I work outside the Perimeter, it is more convenient for me to live OTP and be closer to where I work. It's so convenient that I often go home to eat lunch."

2. Quiet

"Little to no traffic, buffer areas between living and industrial zones and plenty of parks and other green spaces contribute to a quiet, almost bucolic living environment. This will not appeal to those seeking bright lights and nightlife."

3. Housing value

"Living OTP usually provides more living space per dollar. This allows me to pursue and exploit my hobbies and avocations. For instance, it allows me to entertain in my full-size bar and spacious home cinema."

4. Cheaper

"Where I live, the tax base is strong, resulting in lower taxes and better services. The lower taxes and cost of doing business has a ripple effect on other aspects of life —- gasoline is invariably cheaper OTP than in the city."

5. Security

"Many [OTP] law enforcement personnel live in the communities they patrol, whereas city officers tend to commute to their precincts and patrol areas in which they have little social or cultural connections."

6. Better schools

"Lower taxes and cost of living outside the Perimeter attracts an affluent demographic that places a high value on education. A strong tax base combined with an emphasis on education results in better schools, which ultimately impact property values. So, even though I do not have any children, the positive effect on property values is a desirable benefit."

7. Better "fit" for my personality

"Having been to 27 countries and visited virtually every premier city in the world, I have determined the city lifestyle and the things it offers are of little value to me. Hallmarks of city life, such as performing arts, fine dining and nightclubs, are of moderate value to me. They certainly don't warrant the expenditure and reduction in quality of life it would require for me to be close to them."

Marshall Benveniste

ALPHARETTA

1. A more tranquil environment

"We love that open feeling. We see green pastures and grasslands, a horse stable and a working mill all within a few miles from where we live. ... Living OTP allows you to connect to nature better. ITP, you're connecting with concrete and steel."

2. Simplicity

"There are fewer day-to-day hassles living OTP. Parking is easier and it's almost always free. Not to mention with less streets with Peachtree in the name, it's easier to find your way around!"

3. More economical

"Taxes are lower where we live. We have more house for our family, for way less dough than anything you could get ITP. My wife, Michelle, has made our home really attractive and comfortable, perfect for our lifestyle —- and we have plenty of room for our girls, Ava, 4, and Rayna, 2."

4. Location

"We live close to Lake Lanier, abundant parks and other recreational opportunities. The country fair is awesome! Alpharetta is a gateway to the great outdoors. The North Georgia mountains, Helen and Dahlonega are not far away, and yet we're still just up the road from Atlanta."

5. Restaurants

"Intown folks might not believe it, but we have super eateries from country cookin' to fancy dining."

6. Good schools

"The school system is great. I'm biased, of course, as Michelle is a teacher here, but truly, as parents, we want the best for our girls. They need a quality education, and I'm not sure you can get that in town without private schooling."

7. Total convenience

"Everything you need is right here. Doctors, hospitals, entertainment, shopping, culture, professional services. The only need to go ITP right now is to visit family and friends."

High cost of fuel driving more to public transportation

Tips for MARTA rookies

Published on: 07/02/08

Hello, MARTA rookies. Maybe it was $4 gas prices that pushed you through the proverbial turnstile (train ridership is reportedly up 15 percent year-over-year) but we're glad you're along for the ride. However, there are a few things to know, so some of us MARTA regulars compiled a few tips. Enjoy.
Remember: It's "public" transit. That means the public, in all its rich, unending variation, will be on the train with you. If you can't deal with the occasional oddball, loudmouth or panhandler, you're out of luck. So stick your nose in a book or an iPod in your ears and repeat to yourself: At least I'm not stuck in traffic. At least I'm not broke from filling up.

On the other hand ... If something really annoys you, and it will — dirty cars, broken escalators, rude operators — let MARTA know: Customer service is at 404-848-5000, or e-mail custserv@itsmarta.com.

Ride for a discount. Check out your workplace for underwriting. Lots of companies and institutions subsidize monthly MARTA passes good for unlimited rides. Also, check www.commuterrewards.com for programs that will pay you money for your new commuting decision.

Some rules of the ride. You want to get on the train? Wait until all the folks exiting are done before entering. Are you really in that big a hurry to get to work?

• Remember musical chairs? Bone up. Indecision could cost you a) a seat alone, or b) a seat. Especially at Five Points, where large numbers of people will flood into a mostly empty train. If you see a seat, sit down.
Despite what their body language might indicate, the great majority of folks who take up more than one seat or sit on an aisle with the window seat empty will make room when asked. Just ask politely.

• Chivalry is not entirely dead on MARTA. Younger, stronger riders have been known to offer up their seats to the older and less hardy. Just don't count on it happening every time. Displaying a weary look or audibly struggling with your packages just might get their attention, though.

• Yes, yes, yes — talking for your entire trip on your cell phone is rude. And you'd be surprised at the lack of awareness among those involved in clearly private phone calls. But, between us, dead spots east-west basically hit at tunnels near Decatur, Avondale and Kensington stations. North-south, the cell is pretty much out between Five Points and Arts Center, with a brief reprieve at Civic Center.

• Some advice from a reader, Tamyra Ramsey: Hold on tight when moving, but do not wrap your whole body around the pole on the train. "All of us standing need to get a hand on that pole," says the Midtown resident, "so stand back and let us get a hand in there."

Learn to be efficient. MARTA veterans ride the car that will eventually stop nearest their departure station exit.

• Experience will teach you that, over time, you will wait an average of five minutes per train during peak hours, i.e., your commute. However, on Friday evenings after a hard week, you will undoubtedly arrive on the platform to see your train leaving the station and will wait 10 minutes (or longer) for the next one.

• If you hate crowded trains, wait a few minutes during peak service. Some trains, like the Candler Park-Bankhead train, travel a shorter route with fewer riders.

A few survival tips. An umbrella can come in handy when trying to make it onboard as the doors are closing. (MARTA, of course, says this is not so smarta. If the door won't close after you, service will stop, you'll have to get off and wait for a replacement train and your fellow travelers will not be happy with you.)

• If you wear an ID badge for work, put your Breeze card in the plastic sleeve with it. The turnstile scanners will pick up the pass through the plastic. It's far easier than fishing around for you card in your wallet.

• Place tickets flush to the turnstile scanner for best results. Don't rush it to catch an approaching train. That will almost always backfire.

• People aren't supposed to panhandle. Some do. People aren't supposed to play their music loud. Some will. The AC is supposed to work in the summer and the heat in the winter. They sometimes won't. But again, keep repeating: Gas is $4 a gallon, gas is $4 a gallon ...

• Another reader, another tip — this time from Jeff Delp: Fill up your Breeze card before you hop on the bus. If a lot of riders are digging in their pockets and paying with cash, it slows down the commute for everybody.

• It's tough to be spontaneous or punctual with public transit, but there's something to be said for planning ahead. Try A-Train, the trip planner at trip.atltransit.com, or Google's transit planner at www.google.com/transit.

Leisure, bikes and guns. Don't forget weekends. Chamblee station is on the doorstep of that town's antiques district. Going to Piedmont Park? 10th Street. The High, the Alliance, the ASO? Arts Center. Shopping at Lenox or Phipps? Lenox station. Eddie's Attic, Taqueria del Sol, Watershed on your menu? Decatur.

• You can bring your bike on board. You may have to wrestle it through the gates; a MARTA employee may open the emergency gate for you. There are elevators, or you can carry it up and down the stairs (do us all a favor, don't use the escalator). Except during the peak of rush hour, you'll probably find space for you and your ride at the front or rear of most cars.

• And remember: Starting July 1, it's legal for MARTA riders (with proper permits, of course) to carry concealed weapons. (Our advice: review the tips about on-board courtesy above.)

Last but not least. Don't take our word for it. Give us your MARTA tips or observations in the commenting area below.

– Compiled by Mike Benzie, Mark Davis, Michael Gray, Jamie Gumbrecht and some helpful ajc.com readers.
Photo: D. Whitefield

The Decatur Theatre

Decatur Theatre Flyer circa 1965

Decatur Theatre picture is circa 1941.
For more comments about the Decatur Theatre click here.

Travel Hint: Always map out where you are going.

Money-Saving Travel Tips - Save on Summer Travel

How to Save on Summer Travel - With Rising Gas and Air Prices Find Ways Save!

Summer is quickly approaching so before you load the kids into the car to escape town, there are few money-saving tips you might want to consider.

"Whether you are traveling internationally, by car or just for the weekend, costs are going up and it is important to save on the small things," said ASTA President and CEO Cheryl Hudak, CTC. "An ASTA travel agent is your best resource for finding ways to save while you travel this summer."

full story here.

Kids' books for a summer journey

Couple keeps things rolling at 1939 movie house

Taking some chances, couple keeps things rolling at 1939 movie house

By Drew Jubera
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/26/08
Photo by: D. Whitefield
Another photo here.

They heard the venerably frumpy Plaza Theatre was up for sale two years ago and did what a lot of diehard Atlanta moviegoers did: half-joked about buying it.

But the more they talked, the less Jonathan and Gayle Rej (pronounced Ray) laughed about owning the two-screen, art-deco art house built in a Poncey-Highland strip mall in 1939.

"It hit us: It'd be cool to try to keep that place open," Jonathan said. "So we called and said, 'How much you want for that place?' I don't know why. We just did it."

They met with a broker, looked at the books, stopped by a bank.

Jonathan: "Finally we said: 'Wow. I guess we can actually do this.' "

The joking stopped. Asking price for the business: $100,000.

"I totally remember sitting at the dining room table going: 'You want to do it? Are you sure we can do this? Maybe we shouldn't do this,' " Gayle recalled.

Jonathan's tiebreaker: "It came down to: 'I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Let's just do it.' "

So like a hipster remake of an old MGM musical, the Rejs did it. Almost two years later, they remain unlikely saviors of Atlanta's oldest continuously operating movie house. For how much longer remains an open question.

He's 35, a former skateboarding punk rocker who runs a film production company. She's 39, a former Star Bar band booker (including the Drive-By Truckers, "before they got huge") and high school drama teacher.

The torch-passing from George Lefont, Atlanta's pioneering art house entrepreneur, was greeted with both relief and awe among film buffs.

The Plaza is a financial high-wire act. Its ups and downs largely mirror the uneasy future faced by art and revival houses everywhere in an age of 34-screen multiplexes, Netflix, DVD-watching airplane passengers and Turner Classic Movies.

The Rejs' uneven answer so far: second-run independent films, movies paired with art openings in the lobby gallery and monthly throw-back events like matinee horror flicks (kids free) and '80s-style splatter movies for adults.

They've also held "Grease" singalongs and a "Summer Camp" series —- campy classics like "Barbarella" (starring Jane Fonda, whose daughter, Vanessa Vadim, showed up for the first screening) and "Some Like It Hot."

"The people running the Plaza are doing something heroic," said Linda Dubler, curator of media arts at the High Museum. "They're going out on a limb to keep that experience alive. It's a very risky enterprise."

Told he'd been called heroic, Jonathan —- whose four tattoos include the Creature from the Black Lagoon and a band his brother played in called Dead Elvis —- shook his head.

"That's a good way of saying: 'Thanks for doing that. Glad it's not me that bought this place.' "

Advent of urban blight

The Plaza's original single screen looked out on 1,000 seats, including a balcony. While the theater never achieved the cache of the 4,000-seat Fox or the long-gone Lowe's Grand (where "Gone With the Wind" premiered), the Plaza's fun-house deco marquee signaled decades of moviegoing good times.

That ended in the 1970s, with the advent of urban blight and twin-screen suburban competitors. The Plaza survived as a porn house until it was rescued in 1983 by Lefont, who converted the balcony into a 200-seat second theater.

Yet running a combo art and revival house became increasingly tricky with the steroidlike multiscreening of theaters, even for someone like Lefont. His empire once included movie houses in Ansley Mall, Toco Hill, Garden Hills —- all closed.

"It was a labor of love, owning [the Plaza] as many years as I did," said Lefont, who now runs the eight-screen Lefont Sandy Springs.

The Rejs were Plaza regulars, as much lovers of local color as film enthusiasts, often approaching a night at the movies the way gourmands hunt for locally grown produce. Their first "not-date," as Gayle called it, was the French movie "Amelie" at the Garden Hills Cinema.

Growing up in Columbia, S.C., Jonathan always figured he'd wind up in Atlanta. He floundered in school at everything but art ("If I got a C in math, we were going out to dinner; it was celebration time") and took up film and video at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

He got editing jobs with CNN's documentary unit and then at the Cartoon Network. He hung out with artists and musicians —- he played in a band called the Mouthbreathers —- and his production company made music videos for groups like Man or Astroman? and Mastadon.

He met Gayle while she worked at the Star Bar. She had master's degrees in theater and English education but spent years managing multiplexes and booking bands. She finally tired of "being the only sober person in the bar at 3 a.m." and landed a job running the drama department at Stockbridge High School.

They got together the same way they bought the Plaza.

"People ask, 'When was the moment?' " Gayle said. "It just sort of happened."

A friend called Jonathan in 2003 about an apartment in Malibu. He grabbed his bike, computer and not much else. He worked on a few reality shows, hated it and ended up "just surfing every day."

He and Gayle kept up a long-distance relationship.

That lasted two years. Jonathan moved back to Atlanta and married Gayle.

Then the whole Plaza thing came up.

'Huh, that's my theater'

It hasn't been easy. Indie films no one else in Atlanta will show, and that the Rejs thought would be their sweet spot, have too often bombed. Events —- kiddie matinees, splatter flicks —- have been hits. The result, said Jonathan: "We're making enough to keep going. It's good I have a production job. We wouldn't be living off this."

Yet despite the monthly roller coaster, the daily headaches, the lost vacations, the Rejs say they're glad they saved, as Dubler put it, "one of those rare relics in Atlanta, which is a place that prides itself on obliterating the past."

Gayle talks about driving by the marquee some nights and thinking, "Huh, that's my theater."

"Sometimes during a spook show, there'll be 300 people in there, and we'll get some popcorn and sit with everybody else. And we'll look at each other and go: 'This is so cool. This would not exist if we hadn't bought it —- these people just had an experience that would not exist.' "

The Plaza Theatre is just short drive from Decatur
on Ponce de Leon Ave.

The Campus Grill, Decatur, GA. circa 1956

Photos from The 1956 School book called The INDECATUR.

Maddy's Rib & Blues Joint . Decatur, GA.

Editorial Review for Maddy's Rib & Blues Joint
The Scene
A cut above the side-of-the-road barbecue shack, this Medlock Park restaurant aims to please neighbors and blues enthusiasts alike. Diners are greeted with friendly counter service, varnished wooden tables and sturdy patio chairs. Regulars know nightly music reigns over conversation. Albums from legends Ray Charles and BB King line the red cinderblock walls. A signature wall next to the stage pays homage to 500-plus current performers.

The Food
The menu offers textbook Southern barbecue fare with slices of white bread. Meaty pork ribs in full slab, half slab or a sandwich are lightly seasoned; a side of thick, orange sauce gives it a vinegary twang. Half and quarter portions of chicken are pit-smoked, so tender they nearly fall off the bone. For sides, a hint of bacon adds a smoky flavor to the potato salad and baked beans are sweetened with rum. Coleslaw, Brunswick stew and chips round out the options.
Review by : Patricia-Anne Tom



Maddy's Rib & Blues Joint
1479 Scott Blvd
Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: (404) 377-0301

Comment from Monkey Flinging Poo:
We LOVE this place. I don't really consider myself a food snob, but I haven't had better ribs in this city. The sauce they serve is perfect.

Turnaround artist takes chance on Jocks & Jills

A Decatur location might work good. ???



By CHRIS MEGERIAN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/08

Photo: Frank Niemeir/AJC

Phil Hickey and Jeff Trent had nothing on their minds besides the basketball game on TV when Craig Sager approached them at the Jocks & Jills restaurant in the Galleria mall three months ago.

Sager, a longtime Turner Broadcasting sportscaster and co-founder of the chain of sports bars, wanted the career restaurant executives to buy and operate the troubled company.
Hickey wasn't interested. Jocks & Jills had gone bankrupt a year before in the midst of a protracted sexual harassment suit. And he was enjoying working part time as a consultant after selling the Atlanta-based restaurant company Rare Hospitality for $1.19 billion last fall.

But Trent offered to do the brunt of the work as chief operator, and Hickey became convinced that the restaurant's brand had potential.

So nine days after having no interest in owning Jocks & Jills, Hickey purchased the company.

It was an unlikely career move for a man who has been called one of the best CEOs in the business. Eight months after he left a job running a company with 330 restaurants and 20,000 employees, he has become the co-owner of a company with four restaurants, 160 employees and allegations of mismanagement at the highest level.

Now Hickey and Trent must restore profitability to the company in a time of $4 gas, consumer insecurity and high food prices.

"If anybody can do it, it would be Phil Hickey," said Mark Newton, program director of the hotel, restaurant, tourism management program at Gwinnett Tech.

Rise and fall

Jocks & Jills was founded in 1987 by Sager and two Atlanta Hawks players. The company enjoyed early success and eventually there were 10 restaurants and a catering company.

The company's downward slide started with a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in 2000 by one of its managers. The manager, Tracey Tomczyk, lost initially, but on appeal she won a $2.25 million award.

In the 2006 ruling, Jocks & Jills was ordered to pay $1.25 million, and the company filed for bankruptcy protection on March 19, 2007.

Former company chairman Joseph Rollins, who was ordered to pay $1 million to Tomczyk, has appealed, and a third trial is pending.

The sexual harassment suit was not the only factor driving the company toward Chapter 11. A document filed on April 28, 2008, alleged that Rollins' actions — including profane interactions with important landlords and payment of more than $1.8 million in unauthorized "management fees" — had imperiled Jocks & Jills. Rollins' attorney, Denise Dotson with Atlanta firm Jones & Walden, declined comment.

The company closed some of its most visible and profitable locations at the CNN Center, in the Brookhaven neighborhood and its original restaurant on 10th Street in Midtown. Two company-owned restaurants, at the Galleria Mall and in Charlotte, N.C.; a franchise in Canton; and a licensed location in Macon continue to operate.

The company had been so devalued, Hickey was able to purchase its assets from bankruptcy court on April 2 for $373,500. (Sager, who is still a co-owner of the company, put up another $41,500.)

Decatur's Mellow Mushroom Pizza

Mellow Mushroom Decatur is located two blocks west of the Square in Downtown Decatur, Georgia. We are in the CVS shopping center.

click here

It's time for Fourth decorations

By JON WATERHOUSE
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/28/08

Photos:Jon Waterhouse
The Patriotic Stars Wreath, available at 17 Steps in Decatur, features a bundle of tree branches fashioned in a swirl.

The staff at Taste in Decatur suggests serving Fourth of July guests a tea-infused libation from one of its patriotic Leifheit pitchers.


The snap, crackle and pop of the Fourth of July is just days away, and you've yet to prep for your holiday soiree. Here are several ideas from storefront and online retailers to help you march to that celebratory drum. You'll find similar items at specialty stores in your area, and big-box retailers also carry festive items.

River Street Sweets

3500 Peachtree Road, Suite 2069, Atlanta. 404-364-0810, www.riverstreetsweets.com. Multiple locations.

This flag-waving sweet spot can be found inside Phipps Plaza. A confectionery specialist with roots in Savannah, River Street Sweets makes most of its goodies on site, with the exception of truffles and sugar-free chocolates.

It sells holiday-themed gift boxes, tins and baskets. Offer them as part of a buffet spread or give one away as a host or hostess gift. The boxes include a red, white and blue cardboard sleeve done up with stars. Tins are available in red or blue. Customers purchase a box ($2) or a tin ($5) and can fill them with any of the goodies at the store. The pralines are arguably the most popular, and each container holds about 1 pound. (Pralines sell for $15.95 per pound.)

Red wicker gift baskets with strips of blue paper lining range from $20 to $50. Items including pralines, glazed pecans and bear claws serve as filler.

Taste

416 Church St., Decatur. 404-370-1863.

Fun and festivity rule at this intimate home and kitchenware spot. Husband and wife duo Steve and Leslie Girard carry high-end and quirky items to enhance entertaining.

Try pouring a holiday beverage from a patriotically colored pitcher. Leifheit offers 1-liter pitchers in red, silver or blue ($29.95 each). The casual German design has a plastic exterior with an insulated glass interior to keep things cool. Three plastic nubs on the bottom give support.

Leslie suggests giving Fourth of July guests a taste of lemonade with natural cucumber. This powdered mixture from Urban Accents ($5.95) makes 2 quarts. Simply add water and maybe spike it with a liquor of choice. The back of the package includes recipes for martinis, daiquiris and mojitos.

Younger guests might get a kick out of rocket-shaped frozen treats. Taste sells Tovolo rocket molds ($15.95) in sets of six. The molds, made of dishwasher-safe plastic, can be frozen together or separately, so you don' t have to commit to an entire batch. The cookbook "Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone" by Krystina Castella (Quirk Books, $15.95) packs its pages with recipes and designs.

Love Street Gift & Garden

1295 Concord Road, Smyrna. 770-434-8578, www.lovestreetonline.com.

Start the celebration before your guests walk through the door with themed yard stakes.

This cozy and colorful home and garden shop in an old house carries a selection of holiday stakes from the Round Top Collection.

Each is made of painted metal and has Round Top's slightly folk art, Americana feel. Bottle rocket and fire cracker stakes ($10-$12) come in two sizes. The smaller ones measure about 3 feet in height and the larger ones are 4 to 5 inches taller.

An American flag stake done in rickrack style runs $24. And an Uncle Sam-esque top hat ($28.50) can be stuck in the ground or inside a flowerpot, or hung on a door or wall.

17 Steps

235 Ponce de Leon Place, Suite M, Decatur. 404-377-7564.

Step into this gift shop, and the first thing you see is an explosion of Fourth of July decor. A table display brims with handheld American flags, Uncle Sam candles, paper plates and more.

17 Steps carries an assortment of products by Tag, a manufacturer specializing in decor and entertaining supplies for independent retailers. Wipe watermelon off the chin with a pack of 20 star-emblazoned buffet napkins ($6). These three-ply paper dabbers are printed with environmentally safe, water-based inks.

The Patriotic Stars Wreath ($28.50) features a bundle of tree branches fashioned in a swirl and decorated with small red, white and blue metal stars.

Tag's patriotic Coir Mat ($24.50) is a 1-inch thick, 18- by-30-inch doormat. The red mat's design boasts four big, colorful stars. According to Tag, 40 coconuts are required to make each biodegradable mat. Piña coladas not included.

The WordSmith's Books building in 1911

In 1911 at Rogers' store, (now WordSmith's Books) corner of Sycamore & McDonough Streets
Decatur, GA. Merry Widow Flour, which was a grocery store special sold for twelve pounds for .50 cents
photo circa 1911 photo from Sybil Rogers Herren (DEK~413~85)

Parade &Fireworks in downtown Decatur

The City Commissioners will lead the parade in the mini-firetruck. Neighborhoods and organizations are encouraged to make floats and join the fun.
www.decaturga.com/

DeKalb candidates attack, defend CEO

By Sierra Brown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/27/08

The main subject of Thursday night's forum for candidates who want to be the next DeKalb County chief executive officer was a person who didn't show up and isn't even running: current CEO Vernon Jones.

With the exception of Ann Kimbrough, his chief of staff, the contenders criticized Jones' record on everything from the water supply to public safety. And they promised change.

Kimbrough defended the administration's record and said she would build on it.

The other candidates are: Joe Bembry, an automotive towing business owner; county Commissioner Burrell Ellis; former state Sen. Steen Miles (D-Decatur); and state Rep. Stan Watson (D-Decatur). Watson did not attend.

Bembry described a recent encounter with a police officer who told him there were seven officers on his shift when there should have been 18. "I feel like this county is on the course of deterioration," the candidate said.

Ellis criticized the way the county handled the loss of water pressure Sunday after the power went out at the main water treatment plant. He said every phone number he dialed, including the expensive new 311 information line, went unanswered.

"I spent an hour and a half trying to find out what was going on," Ellis said.

Miles slammed the Jones administration's handling of taxpayer dollars as highlighted in recent audits. She said that her administation "won't steal, won't lie. We will be good stewards of your tax dollars."

Kimbrough said Jones had run a "lean, mean government." She said Ellis should have helped resolve Sunday's crisis and added that she called Georgia Power Co. and asked it to restore electric service.

She said she supports a multimillion-dollar proposal by police Chief Terrell Bolton to expand the police force and that "the foundation has been laid for a great county."

All the candidates are Democrats, so the outcome of the election will be decided by the July 15 primary or by a runoff three weeks later.

The forum, at the old courthouse in Decatur, was sponsored by the Champion newspaper and the DeKalb History Center.

—- Staff writer Ty Tagami contributed to this article.

Shop Decatur

Forget about driving out to the mall, hunting for a parking space and trudging through the same old places! Instead, head for the City of Decatur – your "mallternative" for shopping, dining and nightlife. You'll find more than 200 storefront shops, restaurants, galleries, services and performance venues set along tree-lined streets all around downtown and in Oakhurst village, just south of the square.

Choose from our critically acclaimed restaurants and pubs for a romantic dinner or a special night out with friends. From American to Vietnamese, Mexican to French, dessert to after-dinner drinks, you'll find something for every appetite.

Art galleries continue to spring up around Decatur, bringing a mix of fine art, shopping and nightlife, with openings, exhibitions, and collectible works for sale in a variety of media.

Shopping is an adventure in our charming storefront shops where merchants welcome you with one-of-a-kind finds and personalized service.

Discover Decatur for yourself – come for a lunchtime or a lifetime! We're inside I-285, just minutes east of Atlanta and minutes west of Stone Mountain. There's plenty of parking and easy MARTA access. Decatur is home to many fine professional and service businesses.


For additional information, please contact the Decatur Downtown Development Authority at info@decaturga.com for a free copy of our Shopping, Dining & Services Guide or the Decatur Business Association Directory.

"The Wild One" A great movie to watch.

Funtown Friday Entertainment Video No. 5

This is the fifth in a series of video's, each Friday I will post a video for your entertainment. I will call Funtown Friday Video.
Enjoy.

Great spots for great bites.

Decatur High students who can't wait for football games.

circa 1965

North McDonough St. in front of Decatur High School

This was a Decatur High School Homecoming Parade 1963.
Photo from the 1964 Indecatur.

The Getaway.

DECATUR: City approves new firehouse

By April Hunt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/26/08


The current station on West Hill Street in Oakhurst will be demolished and replaced with an energy-saving building.

One of Decatur's single largest improvements to its buildings and services has begun.

The city commission on Monday approved spending $1.6 million for a new fire station in the Oakhurst neighborhood. The project calls for demolishing the current Station No. 2 and rebuilding on the same site on West Hill Street. The expanded station will be the city's first building to meet tougher green-building standards designed to save energy costs.

"We are ready to move forward quickly," said Deputy City Manager Hugh Saxon.

Plans call for demolition of the current firehouse in the next month and for the new station to come online by May 2009.

During construction, the one firefighter company will work out of the city's main fire station downtown. The move could affect response times, though some residents shrug off the move.

"It's literally a matter of seconds," said Michael Gaertner, who has lived in Oakhurst for eight years. "To lose a fire station for a small amount of time is a big step toward the advantage of getting a better, larger station for many years."

The city will pay for the project out of a $16 million bond program that voters approved in 2006. Other large projects planned for that money include new sidewalks, greenspace initiatives citywide and an expansion of the Decatur cemetery.

Have your artwork seen by thousands of people design The 2008 Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival logo.

The 2008 Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival

Call for Festival Logo Entries

Have you ever hoped to have your artwork seen by thousands of people? Here is your opportunity. The Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival is looking for a logo for the 2008 festival. The selected logo will be used on the souvenir t-shirt, the tasting glass and the festival poster.

Guidelines:
Artwork must be in a medium adaptable to graphic reproduction.
Include the following in your design: The Great Decatur Beer Tasting Festival 2008
The City of Decatur logo should not be included in your design.
Only one submission per person.

Deadline:
Submit artwork, along with the completed entry form by July 15, 2008 to:

Cheryl Burnette
Decatur Development Authority
509 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030

Winner receives:
$300
2 admissions to the beer festival, two festival –t-shirts

Notification:
Notification will be made by the end of July.

For more information, please contact Cheryl Burnette 404-371-8386 or cheryl.burnette@decaturga.com
To get logo contest entry form go here.

Get those Decatur License plates at Whit's End also.

Whit's End wants everyone to know that they carry those Decatur license plates along with other City of Decatur items, below is his email to me.
thanks Jeff I will post this info.
I checked out your blog
You are on the right track,
the more you blog the better you get.
Best Wishes from Next Stop...Decatur.


Hi, It’s Jeff from Whit’s End,

I enjoy following your blog, and read it often, and appreciate the support. I too carry City of Decatur items……license plates, tee shirts, mugs, beer bottle openers, and Decatur Dad tees, Decatur dog bandanas, and Decatur Mom,Dad,Boy,Girl Christmas ornaments, and also photos of local Decatur landmarks.

Thanks,

Jeff

Whit's End, LLC
431 W. Ponce DeLeon Ave, #2
Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 377-3310

Note: Jeff & Greg have started a blog check it out here.
Welcome to the world of Blogging.

Flashback to the 70's

Remember these ?
This was Decatur's Chris Motors' VW courtesy bus.
photo from thesamba.com

BBQ, Blues & Bluegrass Festival Saturday Aug. 16, 2008

Mark your calendar for August 16, 2008, and don’t miss the 8th Annual Decatur Barbeque Blues & Bluegrass Festival, at Harmony Park in Decatur. The gates open at 4:00pm and there will be live music until 10:00pm. Tickets are $5 per person with kids 10 and under admitted free. Please note that no outside coolers will be permitted on the site.
Click here for all the info you need and a short video.
I know this will be a fun day & night.

Celebrate July 4th with Parade, Concert and Fireworks

Join Decatur's July 4th Pied Piper Parade as it winds through downtown Decatur. Decorate your wagon, ride your bike, skate, or walk in this event.

The City Commissioners will lead the parade in the mini-firetruck. Neighborhoods and organizations are encouraged to make floats and join the fun.

Parade line-up is at the First Baptist Church of Decatur at 5:30 p.m. The parade begins at 6 p.m. It ends at the Community Bandstand on the square with a presentation of colors and the Star Spangled Banner.

Anyone may participate in the parade but those with vehicles must register by completing the July 4th Pied Piper Parade Guidelines form.

The concert, featuring the Callanwolde Concert Band, begins at 7 p.m. in the Community Bandstand. Fireworks begin at dark (approximately 9 p.m.) and are shot from the top of the DeKalb County parking deck.

For information call 404-371-8386
Guidelines for parade here.

Family launches major remodel of Decatur home

Six month, 800-square-feet addition requires move to a temporary residence

By LORI JOHNSTON
For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/24/2008

The decisions seemed endless.

Hire a contractor. Arrange financing. Find a temporary home. Choose what stays and what goes. Switch the utilities. On and on.
t took months of preparations for Mike and Kim Pascale to reach the point of beginning the remodel of their 60-year-old Decatur home. The couple and daughters Miller, 7, and Ella, 6, moved out of their 2,000-square-foot house last month. They will live in a townhome in Glenwood Park for a year, while they wait for a renovated kitchen and a new family room, bedroom, laundry room and wet bar.

"Honestly, we do feel a little displaced," Mike said. "But the timing of it with school ending, I think, has helped a little bit. We're not shuttling kids to school. It's a cool place to live — it wasn't depressing moving out."

The couple bought their three-bedroom, two-bath home as newlyweds in 1998, not realizing that it was close to a strong elementary school, Fernbank, and near family-friendly amenities like the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and Venetian Pools. Two kids later, they set out to find a bigger house and were disappointed to find what Kim labeled "re-muddled" houses that had updated, but odd, floor plans, or others that needed hundreds of thousands of dollars of work. They figured, "Why not go ahead and renovate what we have?"
to read full story click here.

Decatur Book Festival / A three-day event Aug. 29-31

Decatur Book Festival expanding
Three-day event includes speakers, poetry, parade

By PHIL KLOER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/23/2008

The third annual Decatur Book Festival will expand its schedule again, featuring former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, a Harry Potter quiz for kids, and authors ranging from Eric Jerome Dickey to football coach Bill Curry.

The festival, which runs Aug. 29-31 at venues scattered throughout Decatur, has its author and event list online at http://www.decaturbookfestival.com.
The festival, which is co-sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, offers more than 150 authors, live music, cooking events, poetry slams and a parade.

Among the highlights for the 2008 festival, announced Monday in Decatur:

• The world premiere of the first "Madeline" children's book in 50 years, read by author John Bemelmans Marciano, grandson of original author Ludwig Bemelmans.

• A wide range of authors reading and signing their books, including former Nixon White House counsel John Dean, Decatur native Roy Blount Jr., novelists Clyde Edgerton, Jill McCorkle and Lee Smith, pop-up book king Robert Sabuda, and underground comix legend Skip Williamson.

• "How Well Do You Know Harry?," a competitive quiz for children hosted by Cheryl Klein, the continuity editor for the last four Potter books.

• The Escape, a space set aside for teens, with open mic participation and popular young adult authors like Sara Shepard, author of the "Pretty Little Liars" series.

• Local authors, including Karen Abbott, Mary Kay Andrews, Mark Bauerlein, Pearl Cleage, Evelyn Coleman, Hollis Gillespie, Emily Griffin, Patti Callahan Henry, Joshilyn Jackson, Ferrol Sams, Karin Slaughter and Natasha Trethewey.

• A workshop on obituary writing by AJC obit writer Kay Powell.

The 2007 DBF attracted about 60,000 attendees, and several events were so popular that people were unable to get in. Most events are free; some evening musical performances are ticketed.

Close up of The New Decatur High School Auditorium & Gymnasium

Someone has asked me about the large DHS concrete letters, if these will be the original ones from the old auditorium.
Well to answer that question, yes they are suppose to be, unless they were damaged when removed , if so I am sure they can be duplicated.
Another item to be used from the old auditorium is the original Decatur High School emblem from the wooden floor that was embeded on the basketball court.

Gymnasium to be completed by May 2009 and auditorium early 2010

Click pictures to enlarge to see better.

Click here to see Decatur High School Master Plan.

Decatur stright ahead.

Antiquing Guide for Motoring Around Decatur

Click here to see Map of antique stores around Decatur.

Decatur license plates found at Ace Hardware.

Call before you drive over there because they may be out. This story is 6 months old.
But they did have them last Christmas.
this info is from Decatur GA-tor

If you’ve been wondering where you can get one of these snazzy Decatur license plates then look no further than Smith Ace Hardware on College Ave near Commerce/Columbia. The plates are pricier than I thought they would be ($10 each) but apparently you gotta have one if you live in the city ;)

At first I looked online for these babies and couldn’t find them (just happened to see them at Ace). It’s surprising that there isn’t a non-profit of some kind selling city of Decatur license plates, sweatshirts, flags, etc. online (or offline for that matte). If you know where to get the goods, clue me in - it is the Christmas giving season after all!

ART -B- QUE

Photo's from today's ART-B- QUE will be on my flicker site soon.
Click here to see more photos.

Shop WIGGLE, where their focus is on fun designs for fun kids.

This is the place to come for style that's a little different, a little funky, and all around fun – just like your child!
click here for their web site.
I added their blog to my blogroll.

This will be the new Decatur High School Gymnasium & Auditorium

This is what we can expect the new Gymnasium & Auditorium to look like.
As you can see (click on picture to enlarge) they will use the DHS letters in the new design.

I think it will look great.
What do you think?

How will you spend your summer ? Why not "Go Outside."

Update: The Decatur High School Stadium looks like they might be behind schedule

Will it be ready for this years football season ?
I hope so.

GO DECATUR !

Even the McDonough Street Market Uptown Girl was ready for The Beach Party

Decatur throws a Big Beach Party

They had it all, sand & water..well bottled water and food, plenty of food and entertainment.

More pictures will be posted on my flickr site soon.
Click here to see more photos.

Don't forget Decatur's Beach Party 5 till midnight and maybe you can try Slicin' Sand

Why not go to the movies and see GET SMART.

Get Smart starts today at a theatre near you.
Click here for trailer.

Funtown Friday Entertainmant video No. 4

This is the fourth in a series of video's each Friday I will post a video for your entertainment. I will call Funtown Friday Video.
Enjoy.

Vintage Agnes Scott College postcard circa 1956

FESTIVALS: Sandy fun, artful BBQ

Here is more info on The Beach Party and Saturday's Art-B-Que for this weekend.


By April Hunt
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/19/08

On Sunday, you can rest.

But if you're in central DeKalb County on Friday or Saturday, be ready to party.

Decatur is hauling in 60 tons of sand to its town square Friday night for the annual Decatur Beach Party. Sleep in Saturday morning, then head over to Avondale Estates in the afternoon, where more than 50 artists and musicians are holding an "Art-B-Que" picnic to highlight the city's emerging hipster scene.

"We're just right down the road from each other, so everyone can hit both," said Bart Webb, a sculptor who had hoped simply to party with a handful of fellow artists and ended up organizing the Avondale event, a fund-raiser for Jewish Family and Career Services.

A recent informal census by Avondale's Downtown Development Authority revealed that the city of about 2,800 people has 97 artists ranging from painters, sculptors and musicians to writers. Webb's Franklin Street studio alone is in a building that features four other artists, two galleries, a recording and video studio and band rehearsal space.

"It's astonishing the art that has popped up here," said development authority member Allan Kirwan. "It's important, because artists bring something unique to your town."

The barbecue will feature original artwork in a street festival. Ten percent of the day's sales and the $5 cover for bands performing after 8 p.m. will be donated to the Jewish Family and Career Services senior artist program. The rest of the program is free.

The beach party, which shuts down Ponce de Leon Avenue to set up a boardwalk and concert stage across the sandy expanse, serves as a fund-raiser for the Decatur Business Association.

Tickets for those over age 12 are $5 in advance and $10 on the day of the event, and help cover the business association's other events throughout the year, said Decatur spokeswoman Linda Harris.

"It's always a big hit with everyone," Harris said. "You have to see it to believe it."

After the party ends at midnight, residents are allowed to truck away the sand to their own homes. City crews take any leftover sand to city parks Monday morning, when the Decatur square turns back into a retail hub.

IF YOU GO:

Decatur Beach Party, 5 p.m.-midnight on the square Friday. $5 in advance, $10 day of event for adults; children under 12 free (limit two per paying adult). For more information, visit www.decaturga.com.

Art-B-Que free art show and street festival begins at 2846 Franklin St., Avondale Estates, at 2 p.m. Saturday. Evening concerts begin at 8 p.m., $5. For more information, visit http://bartwebbstudios.com.

Welcome to House Hunters Decatur style.

Newlyweds find place to call home in Decatur

Our house hunters:

When newlyweds Juergen Meyer and Anne Johnston Meyer moved into Juergen's Midtown condo, its considerable amenities couldn't disguise its size. "It was a bit tight," Juergen smiles. German-born Juergen works with a management consulting firm, and Dalton native Anne is the interim youth director at an Atlanta church. Although their backgrounds couldn't be more different, the couple definitely agreed on their future, and that included moving to Decatur.
House photos by:Leonard Thibadeau

Choice #1: Charming cottage



Choice #2: Thoughtful renovation



Choice #3: Fantastic kitchen


House hunters Juergen Meyer and Anne Johnston Meyer.


The process:

Anne and Juergen found Leonard Thibadeau of Thibadeau Co. through a friend. They quickly found that Thibadeau had knowledge of Decatur that was both intricate and insightful. "When we were looking at the houses, Leonard also helped us see not just where we are now, but also reminded us to consider where we'll be in the future," Juergen explains, adding, "He and his connections took care of us, and we very quickly felt part of the community."

Choice #1: A 1927 Winnona Park English cottage, this three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home listed at $429,000. Juergen and Anne appreciated its character and charm, which included lovely period details, a fireplace, beautiful great room and a big backyard.

Choice #2: This Winnona Park bungalow listed at $489,900 and looked like many similar Decatur houses. But once inside, the couple found that the previous owner had taken the classic 1947 details and incorporated them into a thoughtful renovation. The four-bedroom, two-bath result kept the home's original living spaces, and added an open floor plan that paid homage to the period.

Choice #3: Juergen and Anne love to cook together, so the new gourmet kitchen this four-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath renovated 1947 Westchester Hills traditional was a big plus. "The kitchen was fantastic, very modern with top-of-the-line appliances," Anne says. Listed at $499,900, its second floor addition gave it a spacious, airy feel.

Which home did they choose? Which house did they choose? Hands down: No. 2. Everything worked. Anne especially appreciates the period charm, and the addition that gives them both the open floor plan and a large master suite with two closets. Was Decatur the right choice, too? Absolutely, they say. "Decatur has the small-town character and community mind-set, but the culture and amenities of a large city," Juergen adds. They're home.


MARCIA KILLINGSWORTH
AJC




Showcase Realtor

Decatur Beach Party is tomorrow.

Beach Party
Friday June 20, 2008 from 5 p.m. to midnight
Decatur brings in 60 tons of sand and turns the square into a beach for this annual event. Dance in the streets to the beach music from the live band performing from the stage that stretches across Ponce de Leon Avenue. Activities include children's boardwalk games, a special beach movie on the giant inflatable screen, face painting, wading pools in the sand and more. Adults $5; Children 12 and under, free. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser benefit downtown improvement projects.

to see last year photos click here.

Wordsmiths Books invites you to celebrate Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn at The Black And Red Prom, August 1 2008

Thanks Russ, I will post it.

For Immediate Release from Russ at wordsmith

Contact: Wordsmiths Books director ofMarketing, Russ Marshalek 404-378-7166 / russ@wordsmithsbooks.com



Wordsmiths Books in Decatur, GA announcescelebration of Midnight Sale of Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn with TheBlack And Red Prom, August 1, 2008, 10 PM





Wordsmiths Books, the largest independent bookstore in theflourishing literary community of Decatur, GA, invites those on both sides ofthe Edward/Jacob split to join in a night of festively awkward high-schoolmerriment and ghoulishly macabre fun in celebration of the release of thefourth book in Stephenie Meyer’s acclaimed and beloved Twilight Series, Breaking Dawn, with The Black And Red Prom. Beginning at10 P.M. on Friday, August 1 and lasting ‘til the Witching Hour, WordsmithsBooks will be transformed into a gothic fantasy wonderland prom setting, deckedout entirely in black and red. Themed food treats and drinks suitable for allages (teens and their equally-awkward parents!) will be readily available(including cookies for fans on both sides of the vampire/werewolf split, andthe in-house invented “crepuscular cookie” oozing red filling),games, activities and giveaways will be plentiful, and awkward high-school promdancing will be encouraged. For the latter, suitably appropriate, danceablegoth music will be spun by the Your Twilight Moms Deejay Collective, and livelocal band The Wayne Fishell Experiment will be re-inventing themselves as FeroshaAkoustika for a special live set of fun-indie-folk-goth-pop leading up to themidnight on-sale of Breaking Dawn,the most hotly anticipated book of the year.

Black and red attire is requested of those attendingWordsmiths Books Black And Red Prom, and entry to the event is free. RSVPs arerequested, though, by emailing number of attendees to prom@wordsmithsbooks.com.

Decatur educators return from China trip

By KRISTINA TORRES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/18/08

Photo : A group shot at the gate of Sichuan Normal University Attached Experimental School in Chengdu.

Six Decatur educators on a visit to Chengdu, China, returned home last night after more than two weeks abroad.

The trip to Sichuan Normal University Attached Experimental School in Chengdu is the first time Decatur has sent teachers to the school, with which it began a new exchange program last year.
t also came in the wake of a May 12 earthquake that devastated Sichuan province and killed tens of thousands. The elite Sichuan school — located near the city's core — was relatively undamaged. The 3,000 students from the school escaped injury.

The Decatur group arrived back from Shanghai just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. They are expected to spend the next couple of days re-adjusting from the 12-hour time difference.

You can see and read more on the teachers' trip at their blog, acopp.edublogs.org. Among some of the group's memories, according to separately e-mailed updates:

ON THE EARTHQUAKE

• "There are tents erected everywhere. No one is really using them any more. They were erected and used immediately after the quake hit and everyone has left them up just in case. No one quite knows what to expect because they say they've never had an earthquake in this area before."

• "All of our hosts have told us that the experience of the earthquake has changed their lives. They are more committed now to making the most of each day — to enjoy life, to love their family and concentrate on the things that are most important in their lives — because one doesn't know what tomorrow will bring."
See photos of their trip here.

Decatur rehires deputy city manager

By APRIL HUNT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/17/08

Decatur has rehired its deputy city manager for another two years - 31 years into his tenure at the city.

The city commission on Monday agreed to renew a two-year contract with Hugh Saxon, beginning July 1. Saxon oversees the city's $16 million of capital improvement projects, such as a new fire station and upgrades to other city buildings.
Saxon will earn $117,000 a year under the new contract. Commissioner Jim Baskett described the salary as a value, noting Saxon's role saves the city from having to hire a construction management firm to keep the various projects on track.

Saxon has worked for the city in varying capacities for three decades. He reports to city manager Peggy Merriss.

Wordsmith had their one year anniversary this past week-end.

To see some video clips visit David's inDECATUR site.

He also has other video clips of things going on in Decatur.

Act like a tourist --- you'll have great time

Things to do this summer.
Here is something everyone should try. Be a Tourist.

By Tony Minella
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/16/08

I am a resident of Midtown, not someone who comments on this city and then drives home to the burbs.

I recently had some visitors in town, one who had never been to Atlanta, celebrating their 40th birthdays. They wanted to do something fun and different.

Our weekend started Friday at the Georgia Aquarium. The team members, as they call them at the aquarium, were topnotch at what they did, whether telling us about the aquarium life or serving us coffee. My friends were thrilled, to say the least.

Following that we decided to go to the New World of Coke. Again, another outstanding display of service, and everyone was extremely polite. After these two events, one of my guests said, "Now I know why they call it Southern hospitality!"

Friday evening we went to the Westin hotel downtown to have some appetizers and drinks at the top. The views were spectacular, and again, the service was outstanding. My guest could not believe how beautiful our city was and how much more it was than what she had heard.

On Saturday we did the ultimate in tourism and took the Segway tour out of Underground Atlanta. We got a tour guide who majored in history and took us for a 2 1/2-hour tour of our city's historic sites many of us probably don't even know about.

Of course, there were homeless people, but we live in tough times and we generally care less about our fellow man these days. But no fear or apologies were conveyed from our tour guide. He was a native Georgian and was proud to be doing what he was doing and was proud of Georgia and Atlanta. It was the best time I have had in Atlanta in 10 years, and I will take my next guests on this tour.

A fine dinner at Taurus restaurant rounded out the evening.

On Sunday it was off to the airport, and as I dropped my guests off, one turned to me and said, "I'm so glad I came; this is a great city and nothing like what you hear. I can't wait to come back!"

We hear so much negativity about out city. Take a weekend and discover what is under your feet.