Oak Grove Elementary students donate quarter-ton of pennies

RICH ADDICKS / raddicks@ajc.com
Riley Hendrix, 6, a student at the Atlanta Montessori International School, holds up some of the pennies she and her classmates have collected for ‘Pennies for Peace,’ a fund-raising effort that helps fund a school-building effort in the remote regions of northern Pakistan.


Oak Grove Elementary students donate quarter-ton of pennies

By BO EMERSON

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


When it comes to charity, the kids at Oak Grove Elementary school in DeKalb County are heavy contributors.

Heavy, as in hundreds of pounds. They’ve donated at least a quarter-ton of pennies to help children in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“You should have seen this container,” said Oak Grove dad Martin Belson, a co-pilot of the school’s “Pennies for Peace” fund drive. “You couldn’t get four people to pick it up. It got so heavy they had to reinforce the table.”

Oak Grove is one of 3,200 schools to participate in the program, which was created by humanitarian Greg Mortenson, mountaineer and co-author of “Three Cups of Tea” (Penguin, $15), which has been on the New York Times Best Sellers list for 103 weeks. Mortenson’s book details his quixotic quest to build a school in a remote village in the Karakoram mountains of northwestern Pakistan, starting in 1993, and the ensuing literacy campaign that has swept around the globe.
AJC full story

First Look Inside Leon's Full Service Pub

Leon's Full Service plans to open in about 7 to 8 days according to Dave of Leon's Full Service. He was kind enough to let me walk through and take some pictures today.
He said they still had some electrical issues to work out.

I got to meet Dave Blanchard and Chef Eric Ottensmeyer while I was there.
Thanks guys.


This week the Bamboo gets planted outside.
Still some touch-up painting to do.
This place looks very nice.

The Best Gym in Decatur...Snap Fitness Open 24/7

The Best Gym in Decatur, GA is NOW OPEN!!! BE SURE TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!! We have the latest free weight, cardio, and tanning equipment available, and we are open 24/7 365!! Please be sure to check the staffed hours.

LOCATION: 317 West Hill Street Decatur, GA 30030. We are located in the Historic Scottish Rite Complex in the center of Oakhurst. We are across the street from Universal Joint, and next door to The Solarium. If you are on West Hill St facing the Solarium, our building is the stucco/brick building next door (to the right) and our entrance is on the side of the building facing The Solarium.

Decatur Snap Fitness Center
317 West Hill St.
Decatur, GA.

David Gray Babylon

Career Awareness Week at Decatur High

Our Career and Technology Department has spent a lot of time and energy educating our students about the careers and experiences that await them after high school. Next week, the department is hosting our annual Career Awareness Week. Many parents and community members will take part in the events, explaining their career and the training it took to accomplish success in their given field. Please see the events below. The community is welcome to participate, and is in fact, critical to the success of this experience. Please contact Mr. Duane Sprull at dsprull@csdecatur.org if you are able to participate.

At the very least, expect to see our students Monday afternoon scouring the city for businesses who are participating in a Scavenger Hunt. If you see teenagers who look lost, please offer your guidance!

Career Awareness Week

Read more at Bloggin Bulldogs here.

h/t indecatur

DeKalb home prices fall 27%

DeKalb home prices fall 27%

By KIRSTEN TAGAMI, TY TAGAMI

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Average home prices in DeKalb County plummeted 27 percent last month, compared with December 2007, largely because of a growing number of foreclosures.

The average sales price for single family homes declined from $208,671 in December 2007 to $151,935 last month, according to a report by the DeKalb Association of Realtors.
We have had a lot of investors out there grabbing foreclosures,” said Sharon Nelson, the association’s president.

DeKalb’s price decline is worse than the overall metro Atlanta drop of about 13 percent last year. Home prices in the county were dragged down by a rash of foreclosures in south DeKalb, said Tal Kramer, a real estate agent with ReMax Communities.

“It has one of the highest percentages of foreclosures going on,” Kramer said.

The part of DeKalb that saw the biggest drop in average price for the entire year, almost 45 percent, was near the Scottdale area, in the 30079 zip code. Belvedere Park, the 30032 zip code near Avondale Estates, had the second-biggest drop in value for the year, of almost 40 percent, said Kramer, who analyzed sales activity in all areas of DeKalb.

AJC full story

Candlelight Cafeteria - circa 1969 Better know as Pizza by Candlelight

If you are a long time Decatur resident you will remember this.

Comments:

Anonymous said:
I remember Pizza By Candlelite
very well.

January 31, 2009 8:34 AM

Next Stop...Decatur said...

Yes it was Pizza By Candlelite, it's probably remembered better by that.
I'm not sure when they changed names,
maybe someone else can. I think it was in the late 60's or early 70's
the photo came from a 1969 school year book and the ad from a 1967 school year book.
Note: Also their was a Pizza By Candlelite at
Candler and College.
Were these two a chain/related ? That I'm not sure.

3 Movies & One Man with No Name.

Watch All Three Today
Starting at 5:30PM on AMC

Sat., Jan. 31 @ 5:30PM | 4:30C

Watch all three movies in the Man With No Name series: Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, andThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly.



By the time Sergio Leone made this film, Italians had already produced about 20 films ironically labelled "spaghetti westerns." Leone approached the genre with great love and humor. Although the plot was admittedly borrowed from Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo (1961), Leone managed to create a work of his own that would serve as a model for many films to come. Clint Eastwood plays a cynical gunfighter who comes to a small border town and offers his services to two rivaling gangs. Neither gang is aware of his double play, and each thinks it is using him, but the stranger will outwit them both. The picture was the first installment in a cycle commonly known as the "Dollars" trilogy. Later, United Artists, who distributed it in the U.S., coined another term for it: the "Man With No Name" trilogy. While not as impressive as its follow-ups For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), A Fistful of Dollars contains all of Leone's eventual trademarks: taciturn characters, precise framing, extreme close-ups, and the haunting music of Ennio Morricone. Not released in the U.S. until 1967 due to copyright problems, the film was decisive in both Clint Eastwood's career and the recognition of the Italian western.

— Yuri German, All Movie Guide

Snow for Groundhog Day? Maybe

Snow for Groundhog Day? Maybe

By MARCUS K. GARNER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution



Planning to mob a nearby grocery store for bread and toilet paper because you heard there might be snow next week?

The National Weather Service suggests you hold off for now.

It’s way too early to know if it’s going to be a problem in the Atlanta area,” forecaster Terry Murphy said Thursday evening.

In the wake of nasty East Coast and Midwest winter storms, weather officials said a storm system with the potential for dropping a wintry mix in Metro Atlanta is just that — potential.

“We might have a chance of seeing some winter precipitation Monday night or Tuesday,” Murphy said. “But the ground’s going to be warm, so it will take a lot.”

Forecasts call for relatively warm weather through the weekend, with high temperatures in the 50s, the weather service said.

Friday will be sunny and windy, with a wind advisory predicting gusts of up to 35 mph.

Saturday should be less windy with plenty of sun and a high of 54, while the mercury on Sunday will climb to 56 degrees with partly sunny skies.

“It’s probably going to start as rain,” Murphy said of Monday’s possible winter weather. “If it gets cold enough, [snow] will be on Tuesday.”

This Weekend at Eddie's Attic

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30th JACKSON COUNTY LINE / ANGEL TAYLOR
Show time: 8:00 pm / Doors open: 6:30 pm Individual tickets: $10 / Tables of 4: $50 Mellow yet soulful JACKSON COUNTY LINE delivers solid folk pop with guitar, cello, mandolin, trumpet, bass and drums. They are currently playing in support of their debut CD release Jackson County Line. Paste Magazine raves, "this is a gently moving and disquieting debut album.
ANGEL TAYLOR is a California girl whose songs are reminiscent of her friend, Colbie Caillat. Her pop/folk driven debut release, "Love Travels" will be available in the spring.
tickets





SATURDAY, JANUARY 31st - AFTERNOON CHILDREN'S SHOW GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD'S MELLOW SENSATION
Show time: 2:00 pm / Doors open: 1:30 pm Individual children's tickets: $8 / Adult Tickets: $10 / Tables of 4: $50 GUSTAFER YELLOWGOLD's MELLOW SENSATION concerts are a unique blend of live music and moving image. The minimally animated illustrations are accompanied by illustrator/songwriter Morgan Taylor's catchy and original story-songs for a truly different multimedia experience that is entrancing children, teens and adults. The character of Gustafer is a friendly creature who came to Earth from the sun and has an unusual magnetism for making friends with some of Earth's odder creatures. The New York Times said, "The show is a cross between "Yellow Submarine" and Dr. Seuss." Entertainment Weekly praised "...The most infectious original songs. It's like tapping into some pleasure center in the brain--both adult and kid...absurdly appealing. Grade: A+ New York Magazine named Morgan Taylor "Best Kids' Performer" in its 2008 "Best of New York" issue. "Mint Green Bee" from Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World is the Session I Grand Prize Winner in the children's category of the John Lennon Songwriting Competion, while "The Bluebird Tree" from Gustafer Yellowgold's "Have You Never Been Yellow?" is also a finalist.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31st - EVENING SHOW SUNDOWN / JESSICA URICK
Show time: 8:00 pm / Doors open: 6:30 pm Individual tickets: $10 / Tables of 4: $50 SUNDOWN (formerly Sun Sets East) is a unique blend of rock and country that is reshaping country music boundaries. They are a modern-classic country rock band pulling influences from Little Big Town and Keith Urban all the way back to The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac.

Georgia's own country rocker JESSICA URICK has some impressive credits to her 22 years: performances at Nashville's acclaimed Bluebird Cafe, singing the national anthem at a professional sporting event, appearances on Good Day Atlanta, and a finalist on the TV show "Nashville Star." And it doesn't stop there. She was Atlanta's runner-up for teh Next Big Star Contest for Kenny Chesney, the winner of Nissan's Battle of the Bands and has opened for T. Graham Brown, Diana DeGarmo, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, and Luke Bryan.

Tickets

What's Your Signature Snack for the Super Bowl?

What's Your Signature Snack for the Super Bowl?

Posted by WickedGoodDinner, January 21, 2009 at 9:56 PM

What are you cookin' up this year for your Super Bowl party—your signature, go-to snack, or are you trying something new? How adventurous will you get to please the crowd? read all the comments here

Decatur start up aims to find the best blogs

Decatur start up aims to find the best blogs
Regator mines most interesting posts



MIKKI K. HARRIS / mkharris@ajc.com
Scott Lockhart (from left), Kimberly Turner and Chris Turner, founders of blog aggregator Regator.com, often hold meetings around the kitchen table.


By JAMIE GUMBRECHT

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Google.com has an algorithm. Regator.com has Kimberly Turner.
She’s 33, an Atlanta magazine writer, and curator of blogs on the young, Decatur-born aggregating Web site. On an Internet increasingly filled with noise and fluff, she sifts through hardly updated, long-forgotten, navel-gazing diatribes to find good writing and interesting discussions. She shuffles the best into categories on Regator, making it easier for users to find quality posts sorted by topic.

Since the site launched in August, she’s added more than 9,000 blogs to Regator categories, building each for quality, not quantity. Usually, she hunts blogs quietly, on the couch at home. For one week every month, she opens the site to nominations, and gets up to 400 suggestions per day.

Her rejection rate: about 75 percent.

Time consuming? Yes. But it also makes them different, says Turner, who launched Regator with her husband, Scott Lockhart, the site’s designer and business mind, and her younger brother, Chris Turner, the site’s techno-geek.

It was supposed to be a real estate blog aggregator (RE-gator, get it?), a side project for Lockhart and Chris Turner. But once Chris had written the code, well, “it kind of seemed silly,” Chris Turner says. “It wasn’t that much harder.” Topics range from parenting to hipsters to animal rights to cricket to gadgets to, yes, real estate.

AJC full story

Regator is a great place to find interesting blogs.

Here is their blog.

Here is their web site.

Chick-fil-A ‘blessed’ with increased sales

Chick-fil-A ‘blessed’ with increased sales
CEO credits affordable new menu and God for double-digit sales growth

By JOE GUY COLLIER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Chick-fil-A credited a loyal customer base, affordable prices and menu upgrades for helping it increase sales in 2008. God’s blessing didn’t hurt, either, a company executive says.

The Atlanta-based chicken chain reported Thursday system-wide sales for last year of $2.96 billion, up 12 percent from 2007. The company has increased sales every year since the first Chick-fil-A opened in Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall in 1967. It was the 16th straight year of double-digit sales growth.

AJC full story

Fundraiser for 5th Earl Market @ Parkers on Friday

Decatur Metro reports on a Fundraiser this Friday for the employees of 5th Earl Market will be held at Parker's on Ponce
5th Earl Market had heavy damage from the fire at Trackside Tavern.

Last Game in the Decatur Rec is scheduled for February 13th!

Sherri Breunig sends this over.

You're Invited!


Last Game in the Decatur Rec is scheduled for February 13th!

After 50 years of playing in "The Rec", Decatur High School has scheduled their last basketball game in the Decatur Recreation Center for Friday, February 13, 2009 against Blessed Trinity. Next season, the basketball games will be played on campus in the new athletic complex. To celebrate the final game, players and coaches of the girl's and boy's basketball teams who played in "The Rec" over the years are invited to come to the game for a time to remember and reminisce. There will be a reception in a hospitality room and between the girl's and boy's game, there will be a recognition ceremony for all former players and coaches in attendance. The girl's game will start at 5:00pm and the boy's game will start following the ceremony. If there are any former players or coaches who are interested in attending, please contact Brent Eickhoff at Decatur High School. His email address is beickhoff@csdecatur.net and his phone number is 404-643-0669. Please give your name and year of graduation. When you arrive, there will be a sign-in table in the lobby of "The Rec".

Slow Down, You Move To Fast

Homemade slow down signs have become very popular in Decatur, these have a string of lights attached to them that go from one side of the street to the other.

Starbucks to close 300 more stores

Let's hope Decatur's Starbuck is safe.

Starbucks to close 300 more stores, cut 6,000 jobs
Coffee chain’s profits fall 69 percent; company says Atlanta market ‘will be impacted’

By MELISSA ALLISON

The Seattle Times

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Starbucks will cut 6,000 positions as it closes 300 stores worldwide over the next eight months and will eliminate about 700 non-store workers by mid-February as it cuts costs to stem its eroding profits.

The immediate layoffs include about 350 employees at its Seattle headquarters, about 11 percent of the 3,200 people who work there. The 300 store closures will include 200 U.S. shops.

“Though we do know the Atlanta market will be impacted, we do not at this time have specific details about numbers of or locations of stores that will be impacted by these announcements,” the company said in a statement.

AJC full story here.

What's going on with this building at East Lake

Does anyone know what's going on with this building in Oakhurst ?

Comment:
Anonymous said...

I heard that a church was moving into the space and a dance studio next to it?

January 28, 2009 9:11 AM

Life in a Northern Town - Dream Academy and Sugarland

Here is Dream Academy's original Music video:



This is Sugarland's version.

Which one do you like ?

Life in a Northern Town

A Salvation Army band played
And the children drank lemonade
And the morning lasted all day,
All day
And through an open window came
Like Sinatra in a younger day,
Pushing the town away
Ah -

(Chant)
Ah hey ma ma ma
Life in a northern town.

They sat on the stoney ground
And he took a cigarette out
And everyone else came down
To listen.
He said "In winter 1963
It felt like the world would freeze
With John F. Kennedy
And the Beatles."

(Chant)
Ah hey ma ma ma
Life in a northern town.
Ah hey ma ma ma
All the work shut down.

The evening had turned to rain
Watch the water roll down the drain,
As we followed him down
To the station
And though he never would wave goodbye,
You could see it written in his eyes
As the train rolled out of sight
Bye-bye.

(Chant)
Ah hey ma ma ma
Life in a northern town.
Ah hey ma ma ma
Life in a northern town.

Mortgage market clouds who owns woman’s house

How can something like this happen ? answer: The system is broken.

Mortgage market clouds who owns woman’s house

By CARRIE TEEGARDIN

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution



Twenty years ago, Zella Mae Green bought a modest brick ranch house in DeKalb County with an American ideal in mind. The single mother of four, who raised her children working low-wage jobs, wanted to own something someday. And she wanted to pass something on.
“I was thinking that if anything would ever happen to me, the children would have a place they could come and stay,” said Green, a seamstress who is 68. “Their father passed away when they were young.”
reen says she has done her part, making payments on the house she bought for $40,000 to the series of lenders who have managed her mortgage over two decades.

But Citigroup and Wells Fargo say Green has failed miserably as a homeowner and is nine years behind on her payments. And they want to take the house.

“Nine years? There ain’t no way,” Green said. “Ain’t no way you can stay someplace for nine years without paying anything.”

AJC full story here

Update on Decatur Fire Station no. 2

Trackside Tavern Fire Damage Photos

The Decatur Fire Dept. secure boards on backside of the Trackside Tavern.


An employee assistance fund has been established at Decatur First Bank. Those wishing to contribute can make checks payable to Trackside Employee Fund and mail it or drop it by the bank, and address it to the attention of Ann Berg at 1120 Commerce Drive, in Decatur.

H/T indecatur

Zucca Bar & Pizzeria Opened on Saturday

A sign posted on Zucca Bar & Pizzeria front door Saturday read "We will open at 5:00 PM today.
Menu here.
Located on the Square next door to the Brick Store Pub

Update on Decatur High School Auditorium

Atlanta claims nation’s first ‘carbon-neutral zone’

JASON GETZ / jgetz@ajc.com /Staff
Antje Kingma, owner of Eco-Bella, stands in front of her business next to the green and purple carbon neutral site certified sticker on Highland Avenue in Atlanta.


Virginia-Highland businesses band together to help environment

By JIM AUCHMUTEY

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution



Think of it as the intersection of good times and good intentions.

A new sign at the corner of Virginia and North Highland avenues proclaims the intown Atlanta shopping and dining district a “carbon-neutral zone.” What it doesn’t say is that Virginia-Highland also claims to be the nation’s first such zone.

While this could be seen as the latest chapter in the annals of green marketing — another emission in all the talk about global warming — there’s actually substance behind the boast.

The carbon-free zone is the result of a pilot project engineered by a local environmental company — an intricate transaction linking 18 merchants, a trading exchange in Chicago, a charitable foundation in Atlanta and thousands of acres of forest in rural Georgia.

“I’m sure most of us don’t understand exactly how it works,” says Andy Kurlansky of Everybody’s Pizza, one of the Virginia-Highland businesses that paid to be part of the venture. “But I still thought it was worthwhile.”
AJC Full story here.

Live Young......Troy Donahue

Love Story - Taylor Swift

see her original music video

Paste Releases Indie Rock Alphabet Book, Party This Sunday in Decatur

Click on photo to link back to original post over at the atlanta music blog.
Paste Releases Indie Rock Alphabet Book, Party This Sunday in Decatur

So you're having a baby. Or maybe you already have one. And it's getting to that time when you've got to teach your wee one the basics of the English language. But you're cool and hip, and don't want to do the usual "A is for Apple" routine. So what do you do?

Well never fear, Paste is here, ready to put your hipster worries to rest. The "Signs of Life in Music and Culture" magazine has just released An Indie Rock Alphabet Book. With entries like the above one for V - Vampire Weekend - you can rest assured that your toddler will grow up wearing skinny jeans and sporting an ironic mustache.

Paste is also hosting a party at Decatur children's bookstore Little Shop of Stories this Sunday, January 25 at 3 p.m. - for more information click here.

Story and photo from http://www.atlantamusicblog.com/
Check them out, nice blog.

A bit of inaugural fun created by Paste Magazine

A bit of inaugural fun created by Paste Magazine

The longest election season in memory is now over, and we wanted to help you unwind and express yourself as we head into the new era.

Make your own "Obamicon" — your image in a style inspired by Shepard Fairey's iconic poster.
Regardless of your candidate of choice in the 2008 election, here's your chance to sound-off.

Take your picture with a webcam or upload a photo, choose your own message, and submit to the gallery.

Try it here and it's free

Russ Marshalek leaving Wordsmith's

Russ sent this over from Wordsmith's Books for me to post.


Associates, colleagues and friends:



With a heavy heart and a look to the future, I’m writing to inform you that, as a result of the recent heavy economic downturn, my position as Marketing and Publicity Director at Wordsmiths Books will be eliminated effective as of March 2009. During my time in this role, I’ve found your support essential in facilitating my approach to publicity and marketing in regards to authors, books and book events, and I have the utmost gratitude for the fun, massive rock-and-roll blowouts you’ve allowed me to turn author events into.



Upon my termination from my Marketing/Publicity position at Wordsmiths at the end of March, I will be relocating from Decatur, GA to New York to pursue other opportunities. I will continue to operate as a freelance writer/publicist as RussCommunications (russcommunications@gmail.com), and under that name I will serve as head of publicity for, amongst other projects, Zach Steele’s forthcoming novel Anointed, to be published in February by Mercury Retrograde Press, as well as the massive new media campaign being launched in conjunction with the book’s publication. I am, and shall continue to, entertain any and all New York-based full-time opportunities within my realms of experience in new media, publicity and marketing, as well as any freelance opportunities, and ask that I’m kept in mind should such arise. I can be contacted on a personal basis at (russ.marshalek@gmail.com).



All of that said, my time at Wordsmiths has been a simply incredible few years, and I am capping off my work here with a full February author line-up including local gay lifestyle writer Topher Payne, non-fiction writer David Hajdu and comedic fiction legend Christopher Moore, as well as the launch of the aforementioned Anointed. I look forward to, for the next month, working with your authors, publicists, writers and reporters in my capacity at Wordsmiths, and then continuing to work with you upon my relocation to New York.

Thanks, genuinely and sincerely

-Russ Marshalek


-----------

Russ Marshalek
Marketing/Publicity Director
Wordsmiths Books
545 N McDonough
Decatur, GA 30030
(404)378-7166

Trackside Tavern Fire Video

Champion Newspaper video

Read about a Fund established for employees of Trackside Tavern at Champion Newspaper

h/t indecatur

Come to Twain's for Super Bowl Sunday.

The Super Bowl
Come to Twain's for Super Bowl Sunday.

* 1/2 price off on all appetizers (including our awesome wings)
* $1 off 20 oz. Twain's Ales after 5:00

Having a party at home?
Bring Twain's wings and more to the party!
Specials on Super Bowl Platters available.
Ccontact: emily@twains.net

New at Twains!

Dark beer lovers unite! Twain's is now pouring two wonderful winterish delights. Three Lies Cocoa Stout has returned, and Thirty Days Belgian Black Ale has debuted. Check out the brewery page for full descriptions, then get down here and taste'em!

Telegram is playing at Twain's on January 24th, a rare Saturday show for this reunion show! We are very excited to be hosting these boys, and anticipate a very special night of music.

Sunday, January 25th at 5:00, get your fill of the genuine stuff as the New York Corned Beef Society returns to Twain's. Don't be late, we anticipate a big crowd for this mid-winter deli-fest!


Twain's is located at 211 E Trinity Pl
Decatur, GA 30030 (Cross Street: Church Street)

"DHS Buddies Luncheon" March 21, 2009

Jerry Andrews sends this in.

It's that time again. Our next "dhs buddies luncheon" is March 21, 2009. We will meet at the Universal Joint(see address below). We hope the weather will allow us to be outside. Pass the word and invite Decatur High Alumni. Information is also on Facebook.

Look forward to seeing a lot of classmates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When: March 21, 2009
Where: Universal Joint
906 Oakview Rd
Decatur, GA 30030
Cross Street: East Lake Drive
Time: NOON
Who: Any Decatur High Alumni


Go BULLDOGS!!!!!!

More on Trackside Tavern

JOHN SPINK / jspink@ajc.com

The Trackside Tavern, a favorite watering hole for Agnes Scott students and other young Decatur residents, was destroyed by fire. • Story | Photo


Fire destroys Trackside Tavern in Decatur
Neighboring 5th Earl Market damaged

By APRIL HUNT

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Trackside Tavern, the Decatur watering hole that helped launched the Indigo Girls and other local acoustic acts, is no more for now.

The tavern was boarded up Wednesday, a day after it was consumed by a fire in the small commercial strip at East College Avenue and South Candler Street. A sandwich shop next door, the 5th Earl Market, suffered smoke damage.

There were no serious injuries.

Trackside opened in 1982 and, along with the Freight Room and Eddie’s Attic, became the epicenter of an acoustic music scene that flourished in Decatur.

In recent years, Trackside earned a loyal following for its laid-back vibe and late-night hours.

Some patrons have gathered on Facebook, looking for ways to help the pub rebuild. One group gathered Tuesday night at the Corner Pub, another Decatur bar that suffered a fire several years ago and re-opened with community support.

A “Soup-er Bowl” soup-off planned at Trackside this weekend will instead be held at the Corner Pub. The event begins at 3 p.m. at the bar in East Decatur Station on East College Avenue.

The Decatur Fire Department is still looking into the cause of the blaze. The owner of the 5th Earl Market vowed on the Decatur Metro blog to bring back his shop “better than ever.”

Update on the fire at Trackside & 5th Earl Market

This is posted on 5th Earl Market web site.


To Our Many Loyal Customers and Friends,

As some of you may now know, the restaurant was severely damaged on Tuesday, January 20 by a major fire that started next door at Trackside Tavern and spread into our space. Thankfully, nobody was injured in the fire; however, the damage is extensive.

Due to the condition of the building, 5th Earl Market will be closed for business until further notice.

We have already received many calls and e-mails offering support and encouragement and we wish to extend our thanks for all of these. It is our plan to re-open. We do not know when, but do know that we want nothing more than to keep serving our many wonderful customers.

See fire damage photos here.

Thank you.

The 5th Earl Market Team


No word yet on Trackside's future
I hope they come back.

Vintage Decatur Federal Katy ad

Were You Lucky Enough to see Elvis in Concert?

Enjoy.

James Blunt - You're Beautiful (Live)

Satellite Image of Inaugural Celebration at the Capitol

AP Photo/GeoEye Satellite Image

This satellite image, taken through high, whispy white clouds, shows the masses of people attending the inaugural celebration at the Capitol.

Trackside Tavern Damaged by Fire this Morning.

This is very sad news to learn.
I just took this picture last week.
See photo of damage over at Indecatur

read more about it over at Decatur Metro

see more photo at Ali Laipple's Photos facebook


Here is AJC Story
Fire destroys Trackside Tavern in Decatur
Neighboring 5th Earl Market damaged

By TY TAGAMI

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A fire consumed a business and shut down traffic along a thoroughfare through Decatur Tuesday, but caused no serious injury.

The Decatur Fire Department responded at 5:25 a.m. to a blaze at East College Avenue and South Candler Street, and closed the intersection as the fire consumed the roof of a bar in the low-slung commercial strip.

“We had heavy fire coming through the roof when the first engine pulled up,” said Fire Chief Jerry Malone. The intersection remained closed Tuesday morningas commuters tried to get into or around Decatur.

One business, the Trackside Tavern, was destroyed. A sandwich shop next door, the 5th Earl Market, suffered smoke damage, he said. Investigators were still looking into the cause of the fire Tuesday afternoon. One firefighter bruised his arm and leg when he slipped on ice from the fire hoses in the bitter cold, but the injuries were not serious enough for hospital treatment, Malone said.

Get Your Valentine Candy at Greene's Fine Foods & Candy

Inauguration Concert 2009

The 44th Presidential Inauguration

Close Up program at Decatur High School going to Inauguration.

DECATUR, Ga. -- Students from across Georgia are getting ready to go to Washington for the Obama Inauguration, with their families, and with school and church groups.

Thirty-three of them are with the Close Up program at Decatur High School. They're actually looking forward to the cold, the crowds and even controversial demonstrations and protests.

"It's a really historic election with Obama winning, and I'm really excited to see what's going to happen," said one of the girls going on the trip.

The students will remember the year they came of age, politically -- arguiing and debating with each other about the Presidential campaign.

"There was extreme adulation for Obama," one boy said, not approvingly.

They're still debating each other -- about whether Obama's going to be able to cut it as President.

11 alive
Full story and video

h/t Decatur Metro

Update on Leon's Full Service Pub.

A new fence is being built close to the sidewalk.
Each week it looks better, I can't wait until it opens.

Church St. & E. Ponce de Leon Ave.