The Decatur Arts Festival Poster Unveiling Tonight

The Decatur Arts Festival Poster by James Dean (Pete the Cat)
will be unveiled tonight on the square. 5-7 PM
Don't miss the Poster Unveiling for the 22nd Annual Decatur Arts Festival. The poster artist for the 2010 Decatur Arts Festival is James Dean, known for his Pete the Cat series. This event is free and open to public.

http://www.decaturartsalliance.org/

Batteries Stolen from Dekalb School Buses

Thieves are after the batteries, lots of batteries,
wsbtv reports on this new problem for Dekalb County

"Birdemic: Shock and Terror" to Become a Cult Classic

Watch CBS News Videos Online


The Worst Movie Ever Made?

After studying every Hitchcock film, computer software salesman James Nguyen set out to make homage to his favorite auteur of thrillers by making the instant cult classic film "Birdemic: Shock and Terror" which has audiences laughing in their seats instead of cowering in fear.

Decatur Art Festival Poster Unveiling May 6, 2010

tHE bONAVENTURE qUARTET Saturday May 8th Concerts on the Square

Not One but Two Decatur Farmers Markets

Decatur Farmers Market adds second location

By April Hunt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The grand opening event runs from 9 a.m. to noon on May 15 with live music, a children's area and breakfast foods at the corner of Trinity Place and North McDonough Street in downtown Decatur.

The original farmers market, open year-round from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday at Commerce Drive and Church Street, will remain.

http://www.decaturfarmersmarket.com./

Renewal Wins Three Awards for Projects in Decatur

Renewal Wins Three Awards for Projects in Decatur


May 3, 2010 - Decatur’s Renewal Design-Build has been recognized as a regional winner of the seventeenth annual Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence. The prestigious awards program recognizes the nation’s best work in residential remodeling. Renewal has been honored with multiple regional awards, including: Best Kitchen Remodel in the $50-$75k category, Best Bathroom Remodel $40-$60k, and Best Green Remodeling Project over $250k. All three winning projects are in Decatur.
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“Winning these awards is a testament to the style and beauty of Decatur homes,” says Renewal’s CEO, Peter Michelson. “We’re proud to win these awards for Decatur.”



Judged by editors and writers of publications like Better Homes & Gardens, Woman’s Day, and Southern Living, the winners were selected from hundreds of entries and judged on overall design, creative use of space and materials, and the degree to which the project enhanced the original structure. The Chrysalis Awards are open to any professional remodeler or design professional in the United States.
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Renewal Design-Build, 124 S. Columbia Dr. in Decatur, provides complete solutions for renovations, additions, kitchens, baths, porches, decks, small projects and repairs.

For information, call 404.378.6962, or visit www.RenewalDesignBuild.com.
Kelly Cheek

Marketing Manager
Renewal Design-Build


t. 404-378-6962
f. 404-378-6963

124 S. Columbia Dr., Decatur, GA 30030
Kelly@RenewalDesignBuild.com
http://www.RenewalDesignBuild.com

The Old Decatur Court House circa 1930's

Other News : Actor Luke Wilson Visits Turner Field

From AJC'S Atlanta Braves with David O'Brian

After meeting Chipper Jones he said: “If somebody was going to play a baseball player in a movie, it should be Chipper.”

by Carroll Rogers for ajc

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Actor Luke Wilson visited Turner Field Friday as a guest of broadcaster Joe Simpson.

He watched batting practice, met Chipper Jones and manager Bobby Cox and got a little tongue-in-cheek from Braves president John Schuerholz.

After someone suggested Schuerholz might have Wilson throw a bullpen session, Schuerholz shook his head no and quipped: “Can you hit?”

Wilson, who dates Simpson’s daughter Meg, grew up in Dallas and pulls for the Texas Rangers but said he’s been a Braves fan as well from their years on TBS and pulled for them in the 1990s.

ajc story

The Decatur Green Fest also Starts Today May 1st

Starts Today (May Day) Saturday, May 1, 2010 3:00 - 9:30pm
Decatur Courthouse Square
The Decatur Green Fest, hosted by Dogwood Alliance (previously the Dogwood Alliance Earth Day Festival) will kick off the 2010 Decatur Business Association's Concert on the Square series.

This event will include:
* Live Music from 3pm - 10pm
* Green tasting of local organic produce and food by Five Seasons, Leon's Full Service, and many more
* Beer provided by Athens' microbrewery Terrapin Beer
* Exciting new organic beverages provided by Bionade
* Showcase of Equal Exchange and other fair traded products
* Green organizations and vendors presenting information and products. (2009 : 58 exhibitors)
* Showing of artists who work with recycled materials
* KidZone - Children's activity area

Concerts on the Square Starts Saturday May 1st

http://www.thedecaturminute.com/

Is Closing 12 more Schools the Answer ?

Dekalb will close 12 schools over 2 years

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

DeKalb County remains committed to closing a dozen schools over the next two years, the school board chairman said Wednesday night.

Former DeKalb Superintendent Crawford Lewis said two months ago that he planned to close as many as 10 to 12 schools. In the past few weeks, however, school board members have wavered on whether it is necessary to close schools.

On Wednesday, school board Chairman Tom Bowen confirmed that schools will be closed and the list is not isolated to the schools identified by the Citizens Planning Task Force.

“We have 11,000 empty seats. We will have a total of 12 schools -- elementary, middle and high -- that will close,” Bowen said. “Just because your school was removed from the list doesn’t mean it won’t be closed.”

ajc story

Decatur Screenprint Now Open

Let them make your t-shirts


Decatur Screenprint
340 W. Ponce de Leon Ave (Upstairs)
www.decaturscreenprint.com

Who is the Next Decatur Idol ?

Andrea Berry from elife magazine sends this in.


This Friday at The Decatur High School Auditorium
at 7 pm

The Decatur Library wants you to design a Library Card

For the first time ever, DeKalb County Public Library will use designs from DeKalb County residents for its library cards. The Library is holding a Design-a-Library-Card art contest this spring and summer, with the winning designs to be featured on limited edition library cards. The new cards will be available to the public beginning in September 2010. September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month.

Designs will be accepted from DeKalb residents between Tuesday, April 13 and Tuesday, June 1, 2010 in three age groups—children (5-12 years old), teens (13-17) and adults (18 and older). Click here for more information.

DeKalb County Public Library
215 Sycamore Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030
404-370-8450

Derby Day @ Leon's Full Service May 1st 2010

Painting by LeRoy Neiman

If you like to watch The Kentucky Derby why not watch it at Leon's Full Service Saturday May 1st, 2010. They are bring in extra TV'S so you won't miss it.

They will even have a Hat Contest

DERBY DAY @ Leon's Full Service
Celebrate the Kentucky Derby at Leon's
on May 1st

What Happened To Taste of Decatur ?

Did Taste of Decatur Take Place ??
Read Dave's post over at his indecatur site.

Taste of Decatur

Taste of Decatur
Will Call for Tickets 4/24/10 from 11am-6pm
Rockit
145 Sycamore Street
Decatur, GA 30030-3358
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100 Best Movie Lines in 200 Seconds

TWAIN'S Billiards and Tap The Early Years

-- TWAIN'S as it Looks Today in 2010 --

Decatur, GA


Decatur, GA
-- TWAIN'S- The Early Years. circa 2001 --

Winnona Park Yard Sale for April 24th is Canceled due to Expected Rain

Anne-Christine Armstrong sends this in.
It will be rescheduled Look for more info soon.


The Winnona Park Yard sale scheduled on this saturday April 24th is canceled due to rain coming and will be hold on May 15th. Look for more info soon....

The ART of Books: A Literary Auction & Social in support of DEF Literacy Programs

This sent in by gail@decatureducationfoundation.org
The ART of Books:
A Literary Auction & Social
in support of DEF Literacy Programs

When: Friday, May 28 7:30-10:30pm
Where: Little Shop of Stories
Why: Because Decatur LOVES Books!

Join us for a fun-filled night of art, books, beverages and food to support the literacy programs of Decatur Education Foundation.

We will be auctioning off signed artwork and books by beloved children's authors & illustrators:

Doreen Cronen
Tony DiTerlizzi
Neil Gaiman
Jarett Krosoczka
Judy Schachner
Rosemary Wells
and others

AND...an original painting of Pete the Cat from Decatur's own James Dean!

Food provided by Cakes & Ale
and other wonderful Decatur restaurants.

Tickets: $20 - Purchase online or at Little Shop of Stories starting May 1. If you purchase online be sure to indicate ART of Books in the notes section.

Earth Day 2010 Vulture Fun in Oakhurst

Winnona Park Yard Sale , Scheduled for Saturday, April 24th will be Rescheduled

UPDATE: The Winnona Park Yard sale scheduled for this saturday April 24th is canceled due to rain coming and will be hold on May 15th. Look for more info soon....

@ WINNONA PARK

Anne-Christine Armstrong sends this in.

Join us from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Saturday, April 24th.

Winnona Park is located near Agnes Scott College and the Columbia Seminary in Decatur, GA. The primary bordering streets of our community are S. Columbia Drive, E. College Ave., S. Candler Street, and Midway Road. (East/North/West/South). Look for signs on these roads directing you to the sites.

It will be helpful to note that the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA has soccer games for young children in the park of the elementary school from 9 AM to 1 PM. Please, then, be careful of young children as you drive through the neighborhood. Also, the games bring a lot of vehicles on the streets adjacent to the school. For the Yard Sale, please attempt to park on streets other than the streets adjacent to the school (see map).

Thanks and enjoy a nice walk in the neighborhood, as well as a fun sale -

For more infos, please call 678-327-5374 or 404-775-6530

Link to the sale map : http://tinyurl.com/WPyardsale

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GRAPHIC Magazine a Publication Created by Students at Decatur High School

This was sent in by:

Ben Lambeth

Business Manager & Webmaster, GRAPHIC. Magazine

"There are a lot of Decatur students putting hard work into this that deserve some kind of recognition and publicity"

GRAPHIC. Magazine is an independent publication created by students from Decatur High School. Featuring student-created comics and artwork, GRAPHIC. has been working to entertain the Decatur student body and community since January 2009.

We invite the community to visit our website, http://graphicmag.net/ where we upload the full content of each issue. Read all four issues, the latest of which was just released last Tuesday, for free!

If you like what you see online, please consider supporting us by purchasing something from our online store or making a donation. Your support ensures we can continue to distribute freely to Decatur High School students.

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Decatur Girl Scout sets record for caring

By Gracie Bonds Staples

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Michelle Gillig is 17 and a junior at Decatur High School, who has lived in the same house with her mom, dad and big brother since birth.
When she wants to brush her teeth, all she needs to do is go to the bathroom. If she needs soap to bathe or shampoo to wash her hair, it’s in there.

What Gillig might not know is there are nearly 2,000 DeKalb county school children -- some in her own school -- for whom this is not the case.

For those children and thousands of metro Atlanta teens, home doesn’t have an address and toiletries can seem like luxuries.
AJC story

Earth Day in Decatur - APRIL 18, 2010

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Decatur, GA - Sydney Rhame performs at Earth Day in Oakhurst
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Click on pictures to enlarge.


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Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool's Auction Jubilee Sunday April 18th

THIS SUNDAY! From 3PM to 6PM at the historic Solarium in Oakhurst Village - Decatur, GA.


Title: Oakhurst Cooperative Preschool's Auction Jubilee THIS SUNDAY!
Roxie Watson plays this FREE family-friendly event! Something for the entire family - Music, kids' activities and art, auctions, beer and wine! Get unique gifts or pamper yourself with original art, handmade crafts and clothing, sumptuous food, luxuries, and travel...Sunday, April 18th, from 3pm to 6pm at the historic Solarium in Oakhurst Village - Decatur, GA. For more info, visit www.oakhurstcoop.com.

Sammiches N' Stuff Now Open Weekends

Sammiches N' Stuff now open on Weekends.
see menu here

Sammiches N' Stuff
515 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, GA 30030

This was sent in by Rob Bruner of Sammiches N' Stuff

We absolutely are opening on weekends from 8am to 4pm. We'll extend the hours for special events in Decatur too. With plenty of parking on our side of the square there's every reason to stop by!

We've updated the menu so check it out at www.sammichesnstuff.com where you can also get a 10% discount for Web Orders. Check our reviews on Urban Spoon while you're visiting our site.

Here is just a sample of what's for breakfast.

Check out the new updated menu.

Breakfast
We have a wide variety of Breakfast Sammiches, Plates, and Bowls!

Stop by for some of the creamiest grits in the south. We don't mess around with grits, we get right to the money on 'em.

Fresh scrambled or shell eggs to order are on the menu with all your favorite breakfast meats including bacon, sausage, or turkey sausage.

Choose from a variety of delivered daily breads, bagels, delicious croissants or heartwarming biscuits.

Whether you dine in or take it to go you can choose from a full meal, a sammich, or a breakfast bowl - try a different one every day!

Photo from Sammiches N' Stuff

Big Week-end for Atlanta means Traffic Nightmare

By Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Close to 300,000 people could gather in Atlanta this weekend due to the long list of events planned for this weekend. From the revival of Freaknik, to Braves games, the Hawks play-offs and the Dogwood festival, the metro area will be packed with people from the north to the east.

An additional plus, this weekend's weather should cooperate – for the most part. Friday's forecast is expected to be sunny with a high near 80. Saturday: A slight chance of showers Saturday afternoon with highs in the mid- to upper 70s. And Sunday: Cooler weather with highs in the low 70s after morning lows near 50 degrees.
AJC story

74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival this Week-end

http://entertainment.accessatlanta.com

Friday, Apr 16 12:00p to 9:00p

at Piedmont Park, Atlanta, GA

The 74th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival takes place in Atlanta’s beautiful Piedmont Park. On April 16, 17 and 18, 2010, attendees will enjoy fine art, live entertainment ranging from music to comedy, a variety of food offerings and the fantastic Atlanta spring weather at the city’s favorite free festival. read more

Earth Day is This Week-end

From oakhurstgarden.org
Sunday, April 18, 2010

Join us for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and a great chance for members of the community to come together and participate at the city’s OFFICIAL Earth Day Party!
The celebration will kick off with a parade that will go from Harmony Park to the Community Garden site, beginning at 12:30 pm.
To learn more about this
visit oakhurstgarden.org

Decatur Concerts on the Square

Cheryl over at The Decatur Minute notes that the Decatur Concerts on the Square starts in May



Seeing this poster with Elvis on it reminded me of this movie where Elvis is pulled up on stage to sing in a small town square ( like Decatur) was back in the day.

Conan O’Brien Signs Deal with TBS

photo from http://morningcup.files.wordpress.com
ajc
April 12, 2010, by Rodney Ho
“We made it happen in 72 hours,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks in an interview Monday afternoon. “He’s a transformative personality who could be on our network for the next decade and beyond.” He also confirmed O’Brien will remain in Los Angeles to shoot the show.
Full story ajc

SHAMROCK PLAZA SIGN RESTORED TO FORMER GLORY

Decatur, GA

---Flickr member THE MOVER has great video.


Shamrock Plaza Shopping center is located across the street from North Dekalb Mall.

Cozy Burger Town Grand Opening

Decatur, GA

Located in Surburban Plaza Shopping Center
Cozy Burger Town
2641 N.Decatur Rd.
Decatur, GA
404-687-8484

REVIEW from: www.yelp.com
Karen from Decatur:
My five year old insists upon calling it "Crazy Burger Town" but indeed, it is rather cozy. "Fast Casual" burgers and sides taking over the prior One Love Diner/former Pizza Hut location. Okay, so it's obvious they are working with the "5 Guys" kind of burger model, but it was a pleasant surprise to find out that they have multiple vegetarian/semi-vegetarian options and kids menu (inlcuding salmon, veggie and mushroom burgers). Most burgers are $3.49-$3.99 and you can 'make it a combo' for the price of $5.99-$6.49. Kids combos are $3.49. 5 of us ate quite well with drinks and sides for just under $30. All the burger toppings are free and include all condiments and lettuce, tomato, sweet onion, jalapenos and pickles. The fries were fine, nothing super special but they did have a variety of toppings including Old Bay (yeah, I'm from Maryland) for sprinkling. The very pleasant proprieter brought a pile of extra napkins to our table. There was a flat screen T.V wall mounted, in case you forgot your ipad (har!) and the food was delivered fairly promptly. It's cooked to order, so a bit longer than fast food, but both kids and our friend from out of town thought the veggie burgers were very good. They also have chili and onion rings and apparently "pankcakes" for breakfast. Okay, so apparently no one proofread their menu, but that's the kind of stuff I just love when I go out to eat. We'll be back and I saw someone pick up a to-go order while we were there. Not sure if I'll be doing a lot of lounging on the straight back white chairs on the 'porch', but once they get some rockers, I will be gettin' cozy outside, as well as in.

NO SPEEDING IN DECATUR

Decatur, GA

Decatur Police stop speeder entering Decatur on Church St.

MacArthur Park - Richard Harris

Great song written by Jimmy Webb
recorded by Richard Harris.
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Someone once asked Elvis Presley what he sought about MacArthur Park, and he said: If I had that song in my hands and no one had touched it, I would be in the studio recording it today.

Decatur Downpour

Decatur, GA

TWICE THE ICE To Open Location at Patel Plaza

Decatur, GA



Decatur, GA

Not sure how this will way of buying ice will work.
Most people just stop at a convenience store and buy a bag of ice.


About Ice House America- Twice the Ice

Ice Vending



Ice House America is proud to introduce you to a new revolutionary approach to ice vending sales that is forever changing the way bagged and bulk ice is sold. The concept is simple: Deliver a convenient, fresh ice cube product at a better price.

Ice House America Ice Vending Units are patented (U.S. Patent Numbers 6,932,124 , 7,104,291 and 7,426,945), free standing ice vending units that automatically dispense, at a press of a button, 16 pounds bagged or 20 pounds bulk chipped ice to a customer in about 8 seconds.

Public Input Session @ The Decatur Recreation Center April 12

Linda Harris(Linda Harris ) sends this in.

--For more info visit http://www.decaturga.com

This is from elife Magazine

Cultural Arts Planning: City of Decatur from eLIFE Magazine on Vimeo.

JAZZ NIGHTS @ Historic Scottish Rite

Decatur, GA. - click on photo for more info.

FREE JAZZ! Last four Thursdays in April 7:00PM - 9:00PM

Also SUMMER DANCE CAMP info

Belvedere Plaza Shopping Center in 1955

Decatur, GA - visit the Belvedere Plaza site

This is Belvedere Plaza Shopping Center in 1955, notice that Memorial Dr. was just a
a two-lane street. My how it's changed.

DOG WALKING IN DECATUR

Decatur, GA

The weather this past weekend was perfect for taking a walk.

FARMSTEAD 303 Opening Soon in the Old Decatur Depot

Decatur, GA
Farmstead 303 is moving in as The Depeaux moves out.

The owners of Feast located on E. Howard are opening another restaurant called Farmstead 303 just across the street in the old Decatur Train Depot.
Word on the street: It will be comfort food. They plan on opening mid-May
What is the address of this place you say: Well it's 303 E. Howard St. of course.