Decatur Bank and Trust Company circa 1926

--

Decatur, GA circa 1926
--- Corner of N.McDonough St & Sycamore St.

Knight and Day Sneak Preview Saturday Night

Next Installment of Fast and Furious to Film in Atlanta

An industry source tells us that it looks like the latest installment in the “Fast and Furious” empire will do some filming in the metro Atlanta area.

Fans of the fast-paced flicks have been sharing tidbits about the movie for a while now. Variety reported earlier this year, for example, that stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, director Justin Lin and producer Neal Moritz have signed on for the fifth version of “The Fast and the Furious.”

The Filmofilia site reported that the plot will involve Dom (Diesel) and Brian (Walker) as “fugitives being pursued by legendary lawmen.” Hmm. Intriguing.

From ajc The Buzz

Beach Party is Friday June 18

The McDonough St. Market Window Display is from 2008
Decatur, GA


Beach Party
June 18 • 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. Activities include children's boardwalk games, face painting, wading pools in the sand and more. Adults $6.50 in advance, available for online purchase here, and $10 at the gate; children 12 and under, free (limit two children per paying adult). No coolers, glass or pets allowed. Sponsored by Decatur Business Association. Proceeds from this annual fundraiser benefit downtown improvement projects.
From: decaturdba.com

At The Plaza Theatre this week: Five Easy Pieces

Classic Diner scene
You can see this classic movie at The Plaza Theatre
June 17th - 24th. Presented by AM1690.

40th Anniversary newly restored 35mm print!

Retail Project Back on in Avondale

By April Hunt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A project that will remake the bulk of downtown Avondale Estates -- and give it its sole grocery store -- is back on.

A proposal to bring condos, shops and a Publix grocery store to a four-block area of the small DeKalb County town has been stalled since 2009, when the developer was unable to get funding for the work.

Century Retail recently told city leaders it has obtained the required re-financing and will present a timeline of the work later this summer.

full ajc story

Pam Grier Will Sign Her New Book @ Outwrite Books

Photo credit www.perfectpeople.net

From atlantaintown
By Collin Kelley

Pam Grier, hailed by Quentin Tarantino as cinema’s first female action hero, will sign her new memoir, Foxy: My Life in Three Acts, on Wednesday, June 16, at 5 p.m. at Outwrite Books in Midtown. From hiding guns in her giant afro in Foxy Brown to her GLBT-friendly portrayal of Kit Porter on the Showtime hit The L Word, Grier’s eclectic career is by design.

“The actor acts,” Grier said, quoting pioneering actor and director Constantin Stanislavski. “The actor works in all mediums, and I want to explore every one of them.”


Along with recollections of her 40 years in film and television, Grier also writes about her tumultuous love affairs with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Freddie Prinze and Richard Pryor and her battle with cancer.
Full story

ART "B" QUE 2010

This free slideshow design personalized with Smilebox

World Cup at Twain's

World Cup at Twain's

June 11th, through the first week of July

World Cup HeadquartersTwain's will be opening at 9:30 am throughout the tournament whenever there is a 10:00 game, offering our full brunch menu each morning. Share the excitement at Decatur's World Cup headquarters!

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together for a Great Movie !

---


This will be one of the Big Summer Movie Hits.
I give it FIVE STARS.

The GM Plant - To Be or Not to Be

A Florida developer’s bid to remake the GM plant in Doraville, declared dead just the night before, showed a flicker of life Tuesday.
DeKalb County officials insisted they are repairing a broken contract between GM and developer New Broad Street, and that the $36-million redevelopment project at GM's shuttered Doraville plant is still moving forward.

But county commissioners and Doraville officials, who must approve the project, say they are not willing to support a tax increase to fund the project, especially when they have been left out of the loop in its planning.
AJC story

Avondale's Art B Que 2010 June 11-13

Franklin, St. Avondale Estates, GA 30002 (Get directions) e: info@artbque.com

Food Vendors: Avondale Pizza Cafe | Fox Brothers Bar-B-Q| Farmstead 303 | Farm Burger | Local Boys a Cookin' | Mitch Miller | Smoker and the Bandit

This sounds Awesome

Cook’s Warehouse founder Mary S. Moore @ The White House

Mary S. Moore and Barbara Petit

Mary Moore visits The White House

For “Chefs Move to Schools”

ATLANTA, June 9, 2010 – Mary S. Moore, founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse, Friday (June 4) joined chefs from Atlanta and around the country on the South Lawn of the White House to launch the “Chefs Move to Schools” program of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign.

The aim of Let’s Move! is to end childhood obesity within a generation. The Chefs Move to Schools program is an outreach opportunity for chefs around the country to adopt a local school to help solve the childhood obesity epidemic.

Moore traveled to the capital with a group of 31 chefs representing 12 U.S. chapters and Canada from Les Dames d'Escoffier International, including:

· Virginia Willis, renowned chef and author of “Bon Appétit, Y’all”

· Cathy Conway, owner of Avalon Catering

· Barbara Petit, director of the local food initiative of Georgia Organics

· Gina Hopkins and Linton Hopkins, owners of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House, and

· Former Atlantan Nathalie Dupree, now living in Charleston, SC, but still immersed in the culinary industry

Les Dames is a worldwide philanthropic society of professional woman leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. Moore is the current treasurer of the international organization and incoming first vice president in October of this year.

Moore said, “Our day at the White House was extremely motivating. To be in the presence of so many other chefs committed to this initiative and to have the First Lady support our efforts was profoundly moving. I know together we can mitigate childhood obesity.”

The Cook’s Warehouse has a long history of supporting the farm-to-school movement through community gardens and cooking classes. In November of 2009 it expanded its commitment with a daylong seminar for Decatur City Schools’ cafeteria staff, demonstrating fresh-food cooking skills and talking about farm-to-school opportunities. The second class in this series is later this month.

Mrs. Obama addressed the assembled chefs and thanked them for coming to Washington. Among her remarks:

“We are going to need everyone’s time and talent to solve the childhood obesity epidemic and our nation’s chefs have tremendous power as leaders on this issue because of their deep knowledge of food and nutrition and their standing in the community. I want to thank them for joining the Let’s Move! campaign.

“Chefs Move to Schools will pair chefs with schools in their communities to bring fun to fruits and vegetables, and teach kids about food, nutrition and cooking in an engaging way. And by working with school food-service employees, administrators and teachers, chefs can help deliver these messages from the cafeteria to the classroom. After hearing fifth graders cheer for broccoli, I know firsthand that chefs can have a huge impact on kids’ health and well being.

“You know the joy of cooking for others, that passion that you get, the sense of camaraderie, the understanding and fulfillment that comes with seeing folks gathering around a dinner table, not just enjoying a meal, but enjoying fellowship. That is power.

“You know the central role that food plays in the moments that make us happiest. Food is always there, whether it’s at a birthday party, or Thanksgiving dinner, or quiet moments with friends. Food is at the core of what makes life wonderful.”

The Chefs Move to Schools is led by Sam Kass, White House sous chef and the food initiative coordinator. He oversaw the groundbreaking of the White House Kitchen Garden more than a year ago where local students have spent time on the South Lawn planting seeds, harvesting vegetables and learning about health and nutrition along the way.

“Through the garden, the First Lady started a discussion on the role food plays in living a healthy life. The discussion grew into the Let’s Move! campaign and like the garden, we just keep on growing.

“Today, I’m excited to announce the Chefs Move to Schools program – an opportunity for chefs around the country to adopt a local school to help solve the childhood obesity epidemic,” said Kass.

Chefs and schools that are interested in participating can sign up through www.LetsMove.gov.

The Cook’s Warehouse ( www.cookswarehouse.com ) is greater Atlanta’s premier gourmet cookware store and cooking school with three locations in Midtown, Decatur and Brookhaven. It offers more than 15,000 products for the kitchen and operates the largest avocational cooking school in the Southeast, conducting more than 600 classes yearly, often taught by local chefs, and has a large web-based delivery-by-post site.

Owned and operated by founder Mary S. Moore, The Cook’s Warehouse also retails high-end appliances; conducts private cooking classes for unique celebrations and corporate events, and is a pro bono partner with virtually every major cooking event and gourmet association in Atlanta.

From Jim Brams

Storytelling activities return to DeKalb History Center

By April Hunt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A storytelling series about pioneer life, including children’s chores and entertainment, will return to the DeKalb History Center this month and next.

Fran Frantz will weave the stories and offer frontier crafts every Wednesday between June 16 and July 28. The events run from 10 – 11:30 a.m. at the historic Biffle Cabin, 720 W. Trinity Place.

The programs, for children ages 6 and 12, are $6 per session. For more information or reservations, call 404-373-1088, ext. 20 or send an e-mail dhs@dekalbhistory.org.

The new Glenlake Tennis Center

The new Glenlake Tennis Center

Decatur Beach Party Window Display Contest

To see how the voting is going click here www.decaturga.com


Here are just a few of the many Beach Party themed windows.
Listed below is a list of the Participating shops and restaurants:


GREENE'S FINE FOODS


WILD OATS & BILLY GOATS


THE SEEN GALLERY

June 4-18
People's Choice! Text to Vote for your favorite shop window.

Visit the following shops and restaurants and check out their Beach Party themed windows. If you like a particular window design, text the code found on the window sign to 80672.

Participating shops and restaurants:
>Boogaloos Boutique
>Cook's Warehouse/ Sherlock's Wine Merchants
>Greene's Fine Foods
>Mingei World Arts
>Peggy's Boutique
>Salon Red Kids
>Squash Blossom
>Steinbeck's
>The Seen Gallery
>Universal Joint
>Wild Oats and Billy Goats
>Worthmore Jewelers

Text to Vote is free, however normal text charges from your carrier may apply. Limited to one vote per hour from a single number. The winning window will be announced at the Decatur Beach Party on Friday, June 18.
visit http:thedecaturminute.com for more info.

Art Contest @ Relics & Rarities

Also visit us online at www.relicsmuseum.com!

---Relics & Rarities is holding a Art Contest and it's very simple
just draw your favorite automoblie and enter.
Entry deadline is June 30,2010 Prizes awarded July 10, 2010 @1 pm

Warren Pickard of Relics & Rarities in his 1974 Bricklin



Relics & Rarities
409 N. McDonough St.
Decatur, GA.
Across from Decatur High School

Yard Sale 2010 Promo---- Are You Ready ?

h/t indecatur

Swing Band next Friday night June 11th @ Decatur High

The Decatur High School class of 1955 invites DHS alumni, family members, and friends to an evening of live entertainment by the Roswell New Horizons Band.

Plan to join us at the Decatur High School Performing Arts Center on

Friday, June 11, 2010, 8-10pm,

for an evening of swing and big band tunes by the Jazz Band and vocalist.

If you love music you will want to make this event!

Tickets are just $3.00 (payable at the door).

You can learn more about the Roswell New Horizons Band at www.roswellnewhorizonsband.net

Decatur High Alumni,



Above is a reminder of the 'Swing Band Concert' being held a week from today, Friday, June 11 th at the new Decatur High Performing Arts Center (aka the new DHS Gym and Auditorium). Tickets are available at the door for only $3.00. Take your honey out to dinner and then dancing! How's that for a cheap date! Invite your friends and neighbors and come sing and swing with us!



There is ample and free parking located behind what we remember as 'Girls' High'. Drive down Commerce Street until you pass the new football field and stadium on your left. Parking lot entrance is immediately on your left.

This was sent in by Jerry Andrews

Thanks Jerry

Decatur Ga Beer & Ale Coasters

Set of 4 neoprene rubber drink coasters.
Coasters are 4 inches in diameter and approx ¼ inch thick..
100% Original and exclusive design.
Coins are for display only and are not included.



Buy a 4-pack on ebay

Starting Friday You can Vote on your Favorite Window

From the Decatur Minute:


The Decatur Downtown Development Authority and Decatur Business Association are hosting the first ever Decatur Window Decorating Contest starting this Friday, June 4.

Participating shops will decorate their windows with a Beach Party theme, and shoppers can vote for their favorite windows using a text to vote service during the next two weeks leading up to the Beach Party.

more here

Be James Bond for $ 5 Million

Sean Connery standing next to the famous Aston Martin DB5.
Where's my Bentley? - It's had its day, I'm afraid. - But it's never let me down. - M's orders, 007. ...

LONDON (Reuters) - James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5, dubbed by auto auctioneers RM Auctions on Tuesday as the "world's most famous car," will go under the hammer in London in October and is expected to fetch over $5 million.


It is the first time the distinctive silver-colored car has been available to the public to buy.

It is one of two, and the sole remaining, of the original "007" DB5s that appeared on screen with Sean Connery behind the wheel in "Goldfinger" and " Thunderball ," RM Auctions said in a statement.

The model comes complete with its "Q-Branch" gadgets including machine guns, bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates, tracking device, removable roof panel, oil slick sprayer, nail spreader and smoke screen.

Several of the gadgets are fully operational, although the machine guns are not real.

The car is being sold by U.S. radio broadcaster Jerry Lee, who convinced the Aston Martin Lagonda factory to sell it for $12,000 in 1969, becoming its first and only ex-factory owner.

It has remained in his possession and has rarely been seen publicly over the past 40 or so years. Lee plans to use the proceeds from the sale for the Jerry Lee Foundation.

It will be auctioned on October 27.


(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Patricia Reaney)
http://movies.yahoo.com/news/movies.reuters.com/most-famous-car-bonds-aston-martin-sale-reuters

- 007 - 007 - 007 - 007 - 007 - 007-

Side note: Back in 1965 when Goldfinger was released they had the famous Bond car on tour.
My brother and I went to see the car at Briarcliff Village Shopping Center that mall was an open air mall like the original Lenox Square Mall. The guy who was there was the stuntman who crashed the car into a wall in Goldfinger.

Wells Fargo plans hiring 200 in metro Atlanta

By Péralte C. Paul

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Wells Fargo & Co., which acquired Wachovia Corp. little more than a year ago, has added 300 jobs statewide in recent months -- 200 of them in metro Atlanta -- as part of strategy to grow and improve service.

The San Francisco-based bank, which plans to continue hiring, has focused on beefing up its teller ranks, but it also is increasing the number of branch managers and specialists such as loan officers, Jerome Byers II, Wells Fargo's Atlanta regional president, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

ajc story

Look for a name change on Decatur's Wachovia buildings to Wells Fargo in Oct.

along with nearly 280 Wachovia banks in Georgia.

Avondale to host Movies @ The Park this Weekend

Avondale Estates will host an outdoor movie this Saturday night in Willis Park.

The movie this Saturday is “Night at the Museum” this will be the first one in a summer series of movies and concerts co-hosted by the Avondale Estates Business Association and the Avondale Community Club.
The first 100 families will receive a reusable bag full of promotional material from Avondale Estates Businesses. Everyone is welcome. Willis Park is located on Dartmouth Avenue, right next to the Avondale Swim and Tennis Club. Please check the website for more details.

Movie begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at the park, location is Dartmouth Avenue. It's free.
more info @ http://avondaleestatesbiz.com/

A Memorial Day Tribute by the Decatur Civic Chorus

From Andrea Berry of elifemagazine.net



Click to see video

Blue Elephant Book Shop has a new location.

Blue Elephant Book Shop has a new location. They have moved to 407 W Ponce de Leon Avenue, in downtown Decatur. Which is across the street from Watershed Restaurant.

The store will be open for business at the new location on June 1. They will be holding the grand opening party on Saturday, June 5, so please join them.

Decatur Arts Festival 2010 Photos

This free slideshow made with Smilebox

Turn on your speakers.

Have a Great Weekend - OH BEHAVE , BABY !

OH BEHAVE ! YEAH BABY!

Groovy! Austin Powers is set to return to the big screen sometime in the future. Director Jay Roach confirmed this during an interview with MTV News.

“Mike [Myers] is working on ideas for it, people are definitely talking about it and I'm all good for it,” Roach said. He said that Austin would be going “somewhere you haven’t thought of” in the next film.

This comes after years of speculation that Powers would be returning to the big screen. Three years ago Myers said at the Shrek The Third premiere that the movie was in development. The last news on the project came in July of 2008 when Myers did an interview saying that he was working on the script for the fourth installment and the movie was “really about Dr. Evil and his son.

fRoM : http://thecelebritycafe.com

GRAPHIC. Magazine Releases Fifth Issue

From Ben Lambeth of GRAPHIC. Magazine

-GRAPHIC. Magazine is an independent publication created by students from Decatur High School. Pick up a copy at the Art Festival this weekend.

GRAPHIC. Magazine would like to announce the release of its fifth issue, which made its appearance Monday morning in select Decatur locations. The full content of the magazine has been uploaded to GRAPHIC.'s website, http://graphicmag.net. Pick up a physical copy at the Decatur Arts Festival this weekend!

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 five issues for free! That's a total of 200 pages of Decatur's own comics and art, completely 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.

----

Feel free to contact me with further question.

Thank you very much,

Ben

--
Ben Lambeth
Business Manager & Webmaster, GRAPHIC. Magazine
http://www.graphicmag.net

Recycled Art Project @ ROSE Squared Gallery

ROSE Squared Gallery

111 Clairemont Avenue, Downtown Decatur, Georgia

presents a world premiere event featuring works of art created by using recycled materials and objects.

Please stop by the gallery during the Decatur Arts Festival Art Walk on Friday, May 28 from 5pm to 10pm or during the daytime hours

during the Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

Artists included: Fran Davis, Lucinda Patterson, Ivan Bailey, Edgar Figueroa, JD Isaacs, Richard Bulman...

A sneek preview of what you will see...

'Reclamation I'
with Violin
by JD Isaacs
created from broken violin and other recycled materials.
26" x 36"

Birds Eye View

ArtWalk Starts at 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Friday May 28

Friday, May 28 • 5-10 pm • All around Decatur • Free

From thedecaturminute.com

Local shops, retailers and restaurants host Decatur's largest, single-night art experience with city-wide art show openings and receptions that are free and open to the public.

ArtWalk Participants

Agnes Scott College
Fine Arts Exhibition
Dalton Gallery, Dana Fine Arts Building
141 E. College Ave.

Alexia Gallery
335 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-373-1969

Art Institute of Atlanta
1 W. Court Square, Suite 110
404-924-1800
Beacon Hill Arts Center
410 W. Trinity Place
404-377-2929

Boogaloos Boutique
246 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-373-3237

Decatur CD
356 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-371-9090

Heliotrope
248 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-371-0100

Lenz Inc.
119 E. Court Square
404-373-2021

Little Shop of Stories
133 E. Court Square
404-373-6300

Mingei World Arts
427 Church St.
404-371-0101

Parker’s on Ponce
116 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-867-4007

Rose Squared Gallery and Frame Shop
111 Clairemont Ave.
404-377-1414

Sawicki’s Meat Seafood Food and More
250 W. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-377-0992


The Seen Gallery
415 Church St.
404-377-0733

Speak . . . Easy!
Old Courthouse on the Square

Squash Blossom
113 E. Court Square
404-373-1864

Sycamore Place Gallery and Studio
120 Sycamore Place
404-377-7747

www.sycamoreplacegallery.net Vivid Boutique
133 E. Court Square
404-371-5181

Wild Oats and Billy Goats
112 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
404-378-4088

Worthmore Jewelers
117 E. Court Square
404-370-3979

Old Sears building could draw Major Anchor Tenant

By Rachel Tobin Ramos

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The former Sears, Roebuck and Co. complex on Ponce de Leon Avenue, more recently known as City Hall East, cleared a hurdle Tuesday night that would allow it to again hum with commerce

Atlanta’s Zoning Review Board voted to approve new conditions for the site that would allow a major anchor tenant -- such as a Target or REI -- to occupy a portion of the mammoth building.

The vote allows an anchor tenant to occupy up to 150,000 square feet and changes green-space requirements. Two neighborhood groups attended the meeting to support the proposal, which was introduced by Councilman Kwanza Hall.

ajc full story

``````````````````````

CAN YOU SAY WAL-MART

Book Sale @ The Decatur Library this Saturday May 29, 2010

The Friends of the Decatur Library Book Sale
Saturday May 29, 2010
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Front Lawn - Rain or Shine

Decatur Library
215 Sycamore Street
Decatur, Ga. 30038
404-370-3070

Decatur RADIO & TELEVISION circa 1977

Decatur, GA.

Decatur RADIO & TELEVISION was located on Church St.
More than 5,000.00 sets were checked or reparied each year.
Neat little fact: President Jimmy Carter's mother Lillian, always took her TV there to have it repaired.

The Art of Books Event is now Free

From Decatur Education Foundation:

NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CHANGED AND NO LONGER REQUIRES TICKETS.

COME BY LITTLE SHOP OF STORIES DURING ARTWALK ON FRIDAY, MAY 28 BETWEEN 5-10PM FOR A GLASS OF WINE, YUMMY SNACKS FROM SUN IN MY BELLY AND CAKES & ALE AND BID ON GREAT ARTWORK AND SIGNED BOOKS BY YOUR FAVORITE CHILDREN'S AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS. YOUR CHANCE TO BID ON AN ORIGINAL PETE THE CAT PAINTING BY DECATUR'S OWN JAMES DEAN! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE AND REMEMBER - NO TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED!!! ALL DONATIONS AND PROCEEDS RAISED FROM THE AUCTION SUPPORT THE DEF BOOK FUND WHICH ENSURES THAT ALL CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY BOOKS AT HOME. VISIT WWW.DECATUREDUCATIONFOUNDATION.ORG FOR MORE INFO.

Moo Cow Bikers visit Relics and Rarities

---

Decatur, GA
Moo Cow Bikers visit Relics and Rarities


-----

RECYCLE ART PROJECT @ ROSE Squared

--

'Cello Reclaimed' ( a much larger piece, 26"x48")


'Lute Reclaimed'



'Reclamation' by JD Isaacs...
13"x36" a violin that was beyond repair and use as a musical instrument was 'reclaimed' by nature in this piece. The background was also recycled from packing materials overpainted with acrylic paint and satin varnish. Polymer clay was used to create the vines and leaves.

RECYCLE ART PROJECT


ROSE Squared is transforming the gallery into a showing of artworks using recycled materials and objects for the Decatur Arts Festival. Please come and bring your friends to the Art Walk on Friday, May 28. There are magical works of art to behold made from ordinary and extraordinary materials... Sculpture from melted down metal car parts turned into sophisticated sea turtles and birds in flight, by reknowned metal artist, Ivan Bailey. Whimsical ornaments made from old postcards and advertisements by artist Lucinda Patterson. Edgar Figueroa created table center pieces from broken cello parts. And I am making use of broken musical instruments donated by Emil Baran's Music Showroom, as shown below. And a a special treat for the kids and kids at heart, you will be greeted at the door by a flock of grinning sheep made entirely of packing cardboard.

Come out to see us during the festival!

Be sure to stop by Rose Squared. If you have not been there you need to take the time to visit.

ROSE Squared
111 Clairemont Ave
Decatur, GA 30030
ph: 404 377-1414

Great job on all of these JD.

Hawaii Five-O Returns this Fall on CBS

--

Window Shopping at Mingei World Arts

Mingei World Arts Decatur, GA

Decatur's most unusual gift shop and gallery!

427 Church Street
next to Javamonkey
just south of Ponce de Leon
one block off the square

Downtown Macy's to reveal its latest incarnation

photo http://alt.coxnewsweb.com

Davison’s, later Macy’s, will become event facility, have restaurants

By Bo Emerson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When Davison’s, that “Cathedral of Commerce” on Peachtree Street, opened in 1927, it was reportedly the first department store south of Philadelphia to have air conditioning. Many tourists came from around the region just to ride the escalators.

By 2003, most shoppers had fled to suburban malls. The Davison’s building (rechristened Macy’s in the 1980s), went dark.

Today, workmen are busy completing a $16 million renovation at the massive downtown landmark. Of the 26 or so investors in the project, 25 are native Atlantans.

Many of them were around when Davison’s represented the acme of Atlanta’s glamour and glitz. That nostalgia didn’t lure them into an emotional investment. But it didn’t hurt.

“We’re not in the preservation business,” said Robert Patterson, the Chastain Park-raised, Ivy-educated president of 200 Peachtree. “This is a business investment. We’re not trying to say this is a philanthropy. This a group of people that remember Davison’s and what that building meant to downtown. There is a desire to see that come back.”

ajc story

Thieves steal historic half-ton bell from church

By Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A copper bell that has been with a local church since its founding in 1868 has gone missing.

The large copper bell, weighing anywhere between 600 and 1,000 lbs, belongs to Antioch African Methodist Episcopal Church. It was discovered missing sometime around April 19 or 20, James Simon, church administrator, told the AJC.

“Some actually cried when we discovered it was gone,” Simon said. “It feels like a part of the church’s personality is gone.”

The bell had been sitting on a pallet in the back of the church since they moved to their current location on S. Hairston Road in 1995. Plans had been to have it remounted at the new location.

“When we moved here from Decatur we had to pay someone to move it,” Simon said. “That’s just how heavy it is.”

ajc story

The Many Lives of Lakewood Fairgrounds

By Jamie Gumbrecht

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Over the last 100 years, even as Atlanta’s borders swelled and its population exploded, the old Lakewood Fairgrounds escaped a sea of cement and a wave of condos and shopping centers.

Always, there were other ideas: a weekend getaway for the city’s elite, an agricultural fairground, a race track for horses, a race track for cars, a monthly antique market, a concert venue, a movie set, even housing for 1996 Olympics security personnel.

On the list of could-have-but-weren’ts: a Ford Mustang museum, a zoo, a city cemetery, a mixed-use development complete with its own charter school.

Indeed, a film studio planned for the old fairgrounds is the latest in a long line of ideas, schemes and plans laid out for the 110-acre parcel of land on Atlanta’s Southside.

On Monday, the city council welcomed the newest plan, approving a multi-million dollar, 50-year lease for the Lakewood Fairgrounds to be used as film studios and sound stages. EUE/Screen Gems will pay $250,000 per year in rent until it jumps to $600,000 per year in 10 years.

City leaders hope it will create more than 1,000 jobs.

ajc full story

Farm Burger Review

Farm Burger
410 B West Ponce de Leon, Decatur

By Meridith Ford Goldman

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Every Wednesday night, Farm 255 in Athens hosts “Primal Night,” an evening when one of the cows from this restaurant’s cattle farm, Full Moon Farm, is, well, eaten.

Many of the prime cuts, dry aged for up to three weeks, are kept for Primal Night, while some of the beef is sent to Farm Burger, the restaurant’s new eco-friendly sister in Decatur. To keep up with demand, Farm Burger also sources some of its meat through cooperatives across the Southeast -- but mostly farms in Georgia such as Riverview Farms and White Oak Pastures, which, like Full Moon, feed their cows only grass.

Without getting off on too much of a tangent, let’s just say that grass-fed beef is the latest craze in the movement toward eating sustainably. Food 101 for those of you who skipped class: Cows are ruminants; they eat grass. They do not eat corn, unless of course they are forced to. Eating corn is actually not good for cows -- it’s difficult for them to digest.

accessatlanta.com full STORY

The 24 hr Decatur Diner Opening Soon

The Decatur Diner side door.


Inside The Decatur Diner