Weekend work on major interchange

From ajc

The Georgia Department of Transportation will close the bridge at 9 p.m. Friday to allow crews to mark the roadway and install signals. Road work is expected to be completed by 5 a.m. Monday. Pedestrian traffic will not be allowed for another month as crews construct a protected walkway in the bridge median.

Motorists this weekend will still have access to the interchange, but northbound and southbound traffic on Ashford-Dunwoody Road will be detoured through Hammond Drive to Perimeter Center Parkway Bridge, then to Perimeter Summit Parkway.
read more.

The Bourne Legacy Trailer

Coldplay Live From Japan

A Ban on Big Soft Drinks

Some suspicious of school budget and cuts

From ajc
Those are among the sentiments of parents, teachers and taxpayers in DeKalb County who learned in recent days just how financially damaged their school system is.

While hard times have hit most school systems in metro Atlanta, none has been hit quite as hard as DeKalb. Most districts could turn to cash reserves to cushion the blow of declining tax revenues and increasing costs. In DeKalb though, officials expect to finish this fiscal year in debt. The dire situation and the resulting deep cuts have left many feeling that mismanagement, is to blame.

"It's ridiculous how much money does not make it into the classroom," said Bill Armstrong, a parent at a public Montessori school who expects to see teachers eliminated as part of the cuts.

Armstrong was among the lucky dozens who got a chance to speak Wednesday night at the DeKalb County School District's second and final public hearing on the fiscal 2013 budget. Such hearings are usually quiet affairs that attract some staffers and a few gadflies, but this one drew a spillover crowd of over 200.
read more

Peachtree Hills Festival of the Arts - Free Event - June 9-10

 From : Kathy Fox

I wanted to take this the time to thank you for posting information about our past art festival event and to share with you some information about our award winning Peachtree Hills Festival of the Arts – Celebrate Summer in Style! on June 9-10, 2012. There is plenty to see and do with 150 artists and artisans lining the festival route, plus children’s area, gourmet foods and local acoustic music. The event is easy to find from Peachtree Rd. or Lindberg Marta Station. There is plenty of parking, and is free to attend.

Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, children’s area, Street Market and local food and beverage concessions including “gourmet” food trucks. There is plenty of parking and local sites, and best of all; it’s free to attend. This event is organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and volunteer artists to benefit the local community.

Location: 285 Peachtree Hills Rd., Atlanta, GA 30305

Times: Sat., June 9, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Sun., June 10, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Music: Acoustic music only
Admission: Free to attend
For more info:  peachtreehillsfestival.com

Decatur McDonald's Drive Thru Window

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At the Downtown Decatur McDonald's Restaurant  Drive Thru, Ronald McDonald keeps his eye on Decatur's Fidelity Bank.

Decatur Scene in the Round

Laurel & Hardy dance Santana

Easy Living Pedicabs get you to where you are going.

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--  Decatur Art Festival-goers take advantage of Easy Living Pedicabs.
A great way to get around Decatur, check out their web site.

below is info from website.

Look for our bright yellow pedicabs next time you're in downtown Decatur and Oakhurst Village. It's the affordable, fun and environmentally-friendly way to get around. We are out most evenings and at local festivals. We are always available by appointment. Let us take you from here to there – from the east side to the west side, from the north side to the south side – and back again.

froyolo FROZEN YOGURT to Open Next Week

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Post card given out at Decatur Arts Festival reads: Come celebrate our Grand Opening. 14 delicious daily flavors. over 40 toppings available come and create your own masterpiece. It's simple as.. 1. grab a cup 2. fill 3. create 4. weigh 5 pay and enjoy LOCATED ON THE SQUARE.

The Decatur Arts Festival Today and Tomorrow

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Do You Like the new Georgia License Plate ?

From city-data.com

Comment from vince217

I've seen some cars on the road with the new plates. it doesn't look too bad

but it sure looks cheap because the characters aren't raised anymore.

Will the specialty plates (save wildlife, uga, gt, breast cancer, educators, etc) be replaced with the new design within a few years too?

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlanta/1362363-your-new-georgia-license-plate-8.html#ixzz1vplloYve

DeKalb History Center exhibits during The Decatur Arts Festival

From: clairmontheights.org

New Exhibits during the Decatur Arts Festival

Highlights from the Guy Hayes Collection:  Food, Fun & Fashion in the Modern Era This exhibit represents a small selection of black and white photographs from the Hayes collection and provides a unique view of food trends, clothing styles and recreational diversions of the 1950s and 1960s. Guy Hayes was a professional freelance photographer from 1944 - 1983. He graduated from Clarkston High School and served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he settled in Avondale Estates. Hayes was a regular contributor to The Atlanta Journal, The Atlanta Constitution and The DeKalb News/Sun. Over 11,000 of his original negatives were donated to the History Center in 1984. A grant from the Decatur Beer Festival helped us to begin digitization of these negatives in 2010. Although very little documentation accompanied this collection, Hayes' artistic work reveals a prolific talent with an incisive eye. read more . ------------------------- All of our exhibits are located on the main floor of the Historic DeKalb Courthouse at 101 E. Court Square, Decatur GA 30030. They are open to the public free of charge. Our regular gallery hours are Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We are closed on Federal holidays.   Special Hours during the Arts Festival: Saturday, May 26, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 27, Noon - 5:00 p.m.

 

Did You Say Beach Party ? Yeah... June 15th

From The Decatur Minute:
It’s almost time for the annual Decatur Beach Party!
Friday, June 15th on the Square in downtown Decatur
5:00-11:00pm
$10 adults, $5 children (includes all games and activities), Kids under 2 free. Online presale tickets are $7.00 adults, buy online here

The Beach Party welcomes headliner Yacht Rock Schooner to help Beach Partiers “get smooth” and slip into a gentle groove for dancing and relaxing on the plaza. And don’t forget all that SAND on Decatur Beach!!

 photo from  McDonough Street Market 2008

Decatur Art Walk!

Some images to tempt you-- --

Decatur Art Walk!
From: Mingei World Arts
Dear Mingei friends--

Please join us Friday evening,

May 25, from 5-10pm,

for our annual spring Art Walk!

This year, our featured artist is Arturo Salome Huali, a third-generation Peruvian gourd artist, now living in metro Atlanta.  He will be here with his brother, Necker,
 showing and selling their beautiful work,
and demonstrating their craft.
Drop by for refreshments and a visit!

We'll be open Saturday from 10am-9pm and Sunday 12-6pm, but Mingei will closed on Monday, May 28th, while we are at home resting with our families.
Enjoy your holiday weekend!

From : Mingei World Arts

Family Dollar to Open in Oakhurst mid-summer

From decaturpatch.com
Family Dollar store will open in mid-summer in a retail space being renovated in Oakhurst, a spokesman for the retail chain said.
The store will operate out of the small shopping center at 630 East Lake Drive, where the Big H store used to be.
Oakhurst Church now occupies the middle section of the building. The other end of the building, where Mulligan's Restaurant and Sports Bar used to be, is empty.
The Oakhurst store will be part of a companywide expansion, Family Dollar spokesman Josh Braverman said Friday.
Family Dollar will open about 500 new stores this year, with several  in the Atlanta area. The Charlotte, N.C.-based company has about 7,200 stores in 45 states.
Family Dollar picked Decatur because it looked like a good market, Braverman said.
"Our model is to put stores where people live," he said.
Family Dollar stores typically employ eight to 10 people, Braverman said. The Oakhurst location will be about 7,700 square feet in size.
Family Dollar stores sell food, clothing and assorted household products. Though not everything costs a dollar, the price point is never very high.
Braverman said Family Dollar stores typically open on a Thursday with kind of a grand opening on the following Saturday.

MEN IN BLACK 3 - MAY 25, 2012

Click on photo

Dekalb Day of Play

fROM: accessatlanta.com
Saturday, May 19 10:00a to 3:00p
at Exchange Park and Recreation Center

2771 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA, 30034

Price: Free
Age Suitability: All Ages
Stepp Stewart, Producer of The Atlanta Fit Fest, will host The Dekalb County Day of Play, presented by Stepp It Up Kids. Mr. Stewart is best known as the on air personality & Dance Fitness Guru for The Dr. Oz Show. This FREE event focuses on children and indoor/outdoor fun, and physical activities that they can do everyday. Featuring free Cardio Dance taught by Stepp Stewart, line dancing for all ages, Jamie Duke's Chachersize, Zumba, and football drills with former NFL player David McMillian.

Saturday, May 19 10:00a to 3:00p

at Exchange Park and Recreation Center, Decatur, GA

Street Scene

The Little Wine Shop in Avondale

The Solarium 9th Annual Patio Party Fundraiser June 3rd

 Over at The Decatur Minute Catherine reminds us of The Solarium 9th Annual Patio Party Fundraiser that takes place on June 3rd . 5pm to 8pm


From:https: www.xorbia.com A lively auction featuring birdhouses, mailboxes, yard art and found art for the home custom-crafted or decorated by local artists and famous Decatur personalities. The bidding will be hot for these one-of-a kind masterpieces lead by our local favorite emcee! Other highlights include a raffle, kids' activities center and live music by Jeff Holt. Guests will also enjoy wine, beer and fabulous food showcasing The Solarium's preferred caterers. Have a great time with your neighbors and friends while supporting the mission of the Community Center of South Decatur and The Solarium, which help suppport programs and events within the Decatur community. For more information visit www.thesolarium.com or email us at contact@thesolarium.com. See you there!

You scream, I scream for Ice Cream ... but not in DeKalb

 Photo credit: flickriver.com
From ajc 

By April Hunt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What would summer be without the tinny jangle of the ice-cream truck? Answer: DeKalb County.
No, county leaders don’t hate cool treats. Or children. It’s just that county code makes it illegal to sell any food – ice cream is specifically listed – from any cart or vehicle on county streets.

Not that anyone seemed to know until one ice-cream truck driver complained to commissioners  last week that police had cited him twice for daring to offer Nutty Buddys, Push Up Pops and Screwballs (there’s a gumball at the bottom!).

Said Commissioner Larry Johnson, “Is that why I never see the ice-cream truck anymore?"

In a word, yes. And although County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to take up the cause – and also consider allowing food trucks while they’re at it – it will be officially summer by the time things are sorted out.
full story at ajc

AMC Theatre at Phipps Plaza to get $1 Million Renovation

From whatnowatlanta.com
Movie theatre slated for $1.2 Million facelift.

AMC Phipps Plaza 14 is undergoing a $1.2 Million renovation, according to an application for a building permit filed with City of Atlanta on April 25.

The movie theatre located on the third floor of the luxury Buckhead mall announced its plans for the renovations in a press release Wednesday.

“For the last several years we’ve worked to bring our guests a number of different moviegoing improvements to help get people excited about coming to the movies, and we’ve had great success with a variety of enhancements at locations around the country,” Mark McDonald, executive vice president of Global Development at AMC, said in the release.

When finished, the theatre will feature stadium-style seating instead of the current sloped floors, according to the release. The seats will be converted into “power recliners with footrests.”

In addition, AMC plans to install a MacGuffins bar (named after a term coined by famed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock) allowing guests to order a beer, wine or cocktail at the theatre.

AMC’s concession stand will be remodeled into The Marketplace. Instead of waiting in lines to order, the concessions are laid out at convenient stations, allowing guests to choose what they want, before proceeding to the checkout area.

Other modifications to the theatre include a renovation of the theatre’s restrooms, as well as changes to the box office and lobby area.

“These innovative renovations to AMC Phipps Plaza are going to take moviegoing in Atlanta to an entirely new level,” Dewayne Herbert, mall manager at Phipps Plaza, said in the release. “We are thrilled with this announcement, as it complements other recent additions to the mall — such as the opening of LEGOLAND Discovery Center — in establishing Phipps Plaza as an entertainment destination.”

Construction will begin at AMC Phipps Plaza this summer and the theatre will remain open during the renovations, which should be complete by the end of 2012.

Kudza Antiques to Open 2nd Location in Roswell

From : http://www.tonetoatl.com
Kudzu Antiques is opening a second  location in Sandy Springs on Roswell Road.  Kudzu will open a 29,000 s/f  store later this fall in the former Red Baron Antiques.  Having been in Decatur for more than 30 years, Kudzu is a local favorite for hard to find antiques, folk art and even movie props.  The store moved from its original Decatur location at N. Arcadia  and East Ponce Avenues a few years ago and its former property is now a Progressive Insurance office. Kudzu's current location is 25,000 s/f and is open 7 days a week. 

h/t decatur metro

Decatur Arts Festival, Meals on Wheels Looking for Volunteers

From the decatur patch
http://decatur.patch.com/articles/volunteers-needed-for-arts-fest-meals-on-wheels
Volunteers Needed For Arts Fest, Meals on Wheels
Lee Ann Harvey, the volunteer coordinator for the City of Decatur, says these opportunities are now available.

Decatur Arts Festival – Memorial Weekend

There are still volunteer opportunities available set up and close down of the Artists Market, Artists Helpers, Kids & Teens Arts Festival, Silent Auction, and Theater & Literary Arts.

Volunteers receive a Decatur Arts Festival T-shirt. The deadline to choose your T-shirt size for volunteering at the festival is Wednesday, May 9. After that date, you will receive a T-shirt but size choice is not guaranteed.  We especially could use lots more volunteers for Close Down on Sunday evening. Close Down volunteers will receive a special thank you gift in addition to the volunteer T-shirt. Visit http://decaturartsfestival.com for more information.

To obtain a volunteer signup form or details about volunteer opportunities, contact LeeAnn Harvey, volunteer coordinator at the City of Decatur, at leeann.harvey@decaturga.com or call 678-553-6548.
read full story : decatur.patch.com

Decatur Street Scene

Fire Hydrant Tests

From decaturga.com
photo credit: Nextstopdecatur.com 

Fire departments across the country are required to service fire hydrants twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and ISO (Insurance Services Office) require that this inspection be done to ensure the hydrants have proper water pressure and operate as they are designed.

The Decatur Fire Department will test fire hydrants in April, May and June.
Please Note: During the pressure-testing and flowing of the hydrants household water can become cloudy due to disturbance within the water pipes. This condition is temporary and usually clears up quickly.

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Question: Does the cap painted green mean something special ??????
Answer: Yep it does mean something.
Update:
 
Do you ever wonder why fire hydrants are painted the colors they are?  The lower part of fire hydrants a reflective silver to assist the Fire Department in locating them, especially at night. The tops of the hydrants were color coded based on the flow of the hydrant under normal operating conditions expressed in gallons per minute.
  The National standard for the body colors of the hydrants is a chrome yellow; however, silver is still recognized as a standard color. Therefore, municipal hydrant body color will continue to be silver. The tops or caps of the hydrants are going to change and will be painted according to flow on the hydrant at 20 pounds per square inch of pressure (psi).


I like when the fire hydrants are painted all silver or all Yellow.  The one above is in front of Greenes Fine Foods 

The 2012 Decatur Arts Festival Poster

 From: decaturartsfestival.com
This year’s Decatur Arts Festival poster design is by Lonnie Selph, a sophomore studying graphic design and illustration at the Art Institute Atlanta-Decatur.
Lonnie is a United States Marine from Griffin,Georgia, who served two years in Iraq and is currently serving with the reserves. He was a finalist in the competition held for the poster design at AIA-Decatur and worked with the Decatur Arts Alliance board committee to create this year’s vibrant image of celebration and creativity.

Trinity Mercantile & Design

Trinity Mercantile & Design
As their web site says:  Fun Fabulous retail store in downtown Decatur Georgia. We can help! If you need design services, or you just want to come in and pick out your own style! Designer resource to the trade...if you know what we mean. We have tons of resources for custom upholstery, casegoods, lighting, rugs, carpeting, window treatments, accessories, gifts! If you are high style, traditionalist or somewhere in between, we have it covered.
http://www.houzz.com/pro/131trinity/trinity-mercantile-design

Contact:

Lisa,Wallace & Mike

Type:

Interior Designers

Address:

131 East Trinity Place, Decatur,
Georgia, United States, 30030

Phone:

404-378-0197

Website:

www.131trinity.com

Bike Valet Service for Decatur Arts Festival May 26 and 27

From: decaturartsfestival.com

New this year is a free bike valet service. A valet attendant remains on duty to park and monitor bikes during the event.
Park your bike and enjoy the festival knowing that it will remain secure. Look for signs to direct you to the bike valet area.
The Decatur Arts Festival worked with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to provide this service. We hope to reduce the event’s impact on traffic congestion and carbon emissions by supporting the bicycle transportation alternative. The bike valet service is sponsored by Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and Bicycle South.

Kentucky Derby Favorites

--  From: www.kentucky-derby-online-betting.com

For this running of the Kentucky Derby sit back with this classic Bourbon made in Kentucky to help get you in the mood. This way, no matter how much you bet, you will be calm as a cucumber while watching the races and drunk off of fine Kentucky bourbon.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations

-- Cinco de Mayo celebrations
from: ajc
by Jon Watson
Every year on the 5th of May, in honor of the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, revelers flood the streets of America in droves in search of cheap margaritas and bottles of lime-stuffed beer. And, fortunately for most of us, this year Cinco de Mayo falls on a Saturday, leaving us with plenty of celebrations to choose from. Here is a roundup of some of Atlanta’s best Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Here is the list from:  http://blogs.ajc.com/food-and-more/2012/04/27/cinco-de-mayo-celebrations/

The 2012 Decatur Arts Festival Poster Unveiling May 3

  From : decaturartsfestival.com

Be the first to see this year’s poster for the festival. Enjoy drinks and small bites before and after the poster is unveiled.

Where: The Old Courthouse on the Square
When:  May 3 at 5 pm

Read about the 2012 artist for poster @ http://decaturartsfestival.com

Big Tex Cantina Review

Big Tex Cantina Review
 From: www.examiner.com
by  Alyson Runnels


Sunday at Big Tex in Decatur

Texas Born Southern Made Cooking
Now Open In Downtown Decatur!
308 W Ponce de Leon Ave
Decatur, GA 30030
404 377-3939

I saw the picture on creative loafing and decided to hop in my car and head on out to Decatur to see if the comfort food advertised in the creative loafing magazine really existed.

As I drove up to the location, I saw a few people outside relaxing and enjoying the day.  When I entered the inside of the location, around 3pm on Sunday afternoon, I was greeted by a friendly host and server which made me feel right at home.
read full review @ examiner.com

We Didn't Start The Fire - Billy Joel

Sent in by Jerry Andrews.

Something I got from John Dean, thought everyone would like it. J

This has been around before, but worth watching again.

 

---   This song & its title was the answer to a recent Final Jeopardy - only one person got it right - question was (paraphrased)   "What 1980's song do history teachers praise for its educational  value."   Not many people could understand all the references on Billy Joel's   song - fortunately, with this VIDEO, given the picture(s), now we can  "see" what our "ears" couldn't   hear.

 

Anyway, checked to see purpose behind the song. Apparently, it's Joel's homage to the 40-years of historical headlines since his birth   (1949).  Wish we could have appreciated the depths of this song when it was released rather than just the catchy tune.  Twenty+ years later, it's amazing what Joel was able to put into music and lyrics lasting only a few minutes.

 

Here it is, set to pictures. It's a neat flashback through the past half century.  Turn up volume, sit back and enjoy an over-view of 50  years of history in less than 3 minutes! Thanks to Billy Joel and some guy from the University of Chicago with a lot of spare time, Wikipedia,and   Google.

 

Top left gives you full screen - top right lets you pause.    Bottom left shows the year.  The older you are, the more pictures you will recognize.  Anyone over age 65 should remember over 90% of what they see. But it's great at any age.

 

      Click   Here:     We Didn't Start The Fire

 

 

“Atlanta’s Ponce de Leon Avenue,” Book Signing May 1st

From AJC
By April Hunt



The history and significance of a main thoroughfare from Atlanta to Decatur will be the focus of a book signing and lecture Tuesday at the DeKalb History Center.
Sharon Foster Jones, author of “Atlanta’s Ponce de Leon Avenue,” will discuss highlights of the main street, including how it got its name and a special look at the DeKalb section.

The lecture begins at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Courthouse on the Square in downtown Decatur. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, but the event itself is free.

Read more at:  http://sharonfosterjones.webs.com/poncedeleonavenue.htm

Fox Bros. to open Rib Joint on Scott Blvd.

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-- Photo of Maddy's taken a couple years ago.
click photo to enlarge.
  From:  clatl.com

Fox Brothers is poised to open their third concept - and their second in the Decatur area. Fox Bros. Rib Joint will take over the shuttered Maddy's on Scott Boulevard. While you may think the original Fox Bros. BBQ has the rib thing covered, this one will be a bit different. It is being billed as a fast-casual, with "quick service and a relaxed atmosphere." There will be both indoor and outdoor seating.

The new rib joint will open this summer. Fox Bros. currently operates their original location, Fox Bros. BBQ, and the more recently opened Big Tex Cantina, located near the Decatur Square.

Open House Airshow May 12 @ Dekalb P'tree Airport

h/t clairmontheights.org

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From pdkairshow.com
This year’s airshow sponsor, the Jim Ellis Automotive Group Atlanta, has gone over-the-top to provide you with what will truly be the Best Civilian Airshow in the country. Committals to this year’s airshow includes: Team AeroShell, world renowned Gary Ward in the MX2, U.S. Aerobatic Champion Skip Stewart in his super-charged biplane, superb formation flying by Team RV, Circus Maximus flying team, Neal Darnell in the Flash Fire Jet Truck, single-plane acts including Greg Koontz in the Super Decathlon, Greg Connell flying the Super Pits Special. This is an airshow you don’t want to miss. It will be our best airshow ever!

Sebastian Maniscalco on The Tonight Show

Oh, to be at Mingei

Dear Mingeisters-

Peonies are blooming early, our sea shipment from Thailand is coming late, and festival season is approaching quickly!  We are all stocked up with glorious little treats for your spring gifting-- remember Mom and all those grads!   Goodies from our latest buying trip in Thailand promise to arrive in early June. so stay tuned for news of that arrival.  There are lovely pieces on board you won't want to miss!

When you can't come to Mingei in person, you can now visit us virtually!  Click the link here.http://www.google.com/maps?q=mingei+world+arts&ll=33.774688,-84.294169&spn=0.004513,0.006899&sll=33.775221,-84.294815&layer=c&cid=1144470774775800779&panoid=CYoPLg6YUAdrXItv4zLKbA&cbp=13,79.81,,0,0&hq=mingei+world+arts&t=m&z=17&cbll=33.775104,-84.294788.

Mingei in the media--

On FFriday, April 27, the television crew of Necessary Roughness

will be filming at Javamonkey and in front of Mingei.  We WILL be open!  Come on over to see us that day, and take a few mninutes to watch the cast and crew at work!

Atlanta's Sublime Donut shop named America's best Bakery

-- Sublime Donuts named America's best bakery A small Atlanta donut shop is getting national attention. From 11 Alive

Valley Girl to help The Plaza Theatre

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-- The Plaza Theatre ---- -- Modern English 2011 I Melt With You TheBackstageBeat.com Smiths Olde Bar Atlanta, Georgia

Your DeKalb Farmers' Market in Decatur want to expand

 From WSBTV

DECATUR, Ga. —

Documents show owners of the popular Your DeKalb Farmers' Market in Decatur want to expand their business to include more than 1 million additional square feet of retail and warehouse space.

The Atlanta Regional Commission confirms it received documents detailing parts of the expansion plans.

DeKalb County officials said the proposed project is so large, the ARC would have to sign off on it before it could move forward.
Full story @ wsbtv.com

Touch -a Truck Event is now April 21 Maybe , depending on the weather

Update from decaturpatch.com:

Dekalb County is postponing this weekend's Earth Day activities because of the possibility of bad weather.

Patch checked with the City of Decatur to see what they're planning to do.

Cheryl Burnette of the Active Living Department said Thursday morning that nothing has been postponed. In an email, she said,

I am still hoping for good weather. Earth Day and Touch A Truck are still on at this time. We will cancel Touch a Truck sometime Friday morning if it looks bad for Saturday, and Earth Day will go on unless there is lightning and thunder. Maybe we can dance in the rain and celebrate the rain that gives our earth plants and life.

From the site ,www.decaturga.com Come on out to the annual Touch A Truck event Saturday April 21


This event is for children of all ages. It gives them a chance to touch, and see up close their favorite truck or vehicle. The City of Decatur and DeKalb County will have fire trucks, dump trucks, tractors, police cars and motorcycles, bicycles and many other vehicles on display.

New this year: Ride your bicycle to the event. Decatur Police will be on hand to register your bicycle. In the event that it is lost or stolen, registration will aid in its safe return.

This event will be held in the Callaway Parking Lot, 120 West Trinity Place from 10am until 1pm. The event is free to the community.

Watershed announces reopening plans

From ajc

Watershed announces reopening plans

by Jenny Turknett
When is Watershed reopening?”

That’s one of the questions we’ve heard most since Watershed closed its Decatur location last August. Now, we have an answer. Last night, the restaurant sent a teaser to its email subscribers with the message “opening soon.” I spoke with Managing Partner Ross Jones this morning, who told me that Watershed, now called Watershed on Peachtree, is slated to open May 24, barring delays.

Jones calls the restaurant’s new location, 1820 Peachtree Road, their “new house,” with Decatur being their first. She says, “Decatur was awesome, but our new, bigger house has more of the features we were looking for, like outdoor and private dining and a large bar area.”
The restaurant will feature two distinct spaces: a large bar area Jones describes as “cool and casual” and a separate, more quiet dining area. Most of the extra seating will be found in the bar area and on the patio overlooking Peachtree Road.

According to Jones, designer Smith Hanes is using natural woods in the restaurant, but not the blonde woods that were associated with the Decatur location. She says that they are adapting the design to the current space.

You’ll also find a new menu at Watershed on Peachtree. Jones confirmed that chef Joe Truex remains at the helm and “has been working on the menu all winter long.” She says that they are not completely reinventing the menu, but that they’ve opened the door for creativity. The menu will change more frequently and will be more inventive than traditional — not as “old-school Southern.” Yet Jones says, “it will resonate with what we’ve always done.”

Some of your old favorites from Watershed’s menu may rotate through as specials. Watershed’s famous fried chicken nights will return, but on Wednesdays at this location.

Watershed on Peachtree is currently hiring for most positions, but says they are bringing back some key employees from the Decatur location.

–by Jenny Turknett, Food and More blog

Colbeh Persian Kitchen & Bar Opens in old Zucca Space

From: atlanta.eater.com

123 E Court Sq., Decatur
Phone 404-373-1226
Status: Certified Open

Over the weekend, Colbeh Kitchen, a new Persian restaurant in Decatur in the former Zucca space, officially opened to the public. Owned by a pair of Iranian brothers, Colbeh serves specialties like lamb shank, marinated beef kabobs, chickpea and eggplant dips, and stews like Khoresht Badenjan and Ghormeh Sabzi.

Also, it's sexy as all get out and there are plenty of brown liquored signature cocktails to sample at the long mahogany bar and a back lounge outfitted with ship windows. Check it out and make sure to send all early word—both the good and the bad—to the Eater tipline.

--

Photo credits: http://www.thrillist.com

As Seen in Decatur

Car of Tomorrow

Spend Your Weekend at W Atlanta - Midtown

click to enlarge

Time to get festive with a weekend full of happenings in the city. April 20 brings the Dogwood Festival to Piedmont Park and SweetWater Brewery’s annual 420 Festival to Candler Park. Spend the weekend with us just steps away from Piedmont Park and a short distance from Candler Park, giving you easy access to all the action.

• Wonderful Room
• Welcome amenity: 6-pack of SweetWater Microbrews delivered to your room
• Two limited edition W Atlanta - Midtown “wayfarer” style neon sunglasses
• 20% off all purchases in the W Store
• Complimentary valet
• Valid April 20 – 22
• 
  
• W Atlanta - Midtown info
  

This Tuesday - Dine Out for Lake Claire

Dine Out for Lake Claire Wahoos!

Dine out at Wahoo! Grill on Tuesday, April 17, and support the Lake Claire Swim Team, the Wahoos!

From 5 to 8:30 p.m. guests can enjoy our eclectic, creative menu, and we’ll support our “little fishes” and donate 20% of each person’s check to the swim team.

Make your reservations today by calling 404.373.3331 or visiting us online.

Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite

Fill ‘er up: Beer growlers weighed in 2 cities

From:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By David Ibata

Two cities are moving toward allowing sales of beer in large jugs called growlers, Channel 2 Action News reported.
The practice, in which fresh draft beer is poured into a reusable glass jug that’s taken home by the customer, was to be discussed in Dunwoody on Monday night and Alpharetta on Tuesday night.

“We see it as basically an OK product. It’s certainly a growing trend. And we have had some interest expressed in business that would like to do that in our downtown area especially,” James Drinkard, assistant city administrator in Alpharetta, told Channel 2.

According to the AJC’s “Drink: A Beer, Wine and Spirits Blog,” growlers arrived in metro Atlanta in April 2011 at Hop City on the west side, followed in May by Ale Yeah in Decatur.

Last summer, growler stations opened in Whole Foods store on Ponce de Leon Avenue in the city of Atlanta and in the Merchant’s Walk shopping center in east Cobb County.

After first opening in Athens earlier in the year, the Beer Growler arrived in the metro area in August, when it opened a store with 40 taps in Avondale Estates.

Roswell and Forsyth County already have ordinances allowing growlers, Channel 2 reported.

A Derby Party to Benefit DeKalb Communities on May 5, 2012

From: Alison Murphy
Celebrate the Run for the Roses at A Derby Party in DeKalb County

and support nutrition and obesity initiatives in your community

PUBLIC WELCOME



DECATUR, Ga. – Get your tickets now for A Derby Party on May 5, 2012 at the Historic Mary Gay House in Decatur. From 5pm – 9pm A Derby Party will rock with a live band, red carpet photos, a best hat contest, a silent auction, and more. Of course, it wouldn't be a Derby Party without a live viewing of the Kentucky Derby! Tickets are $25 if purchased in advance http://www.jldekalb.org or $30 at the door.



All proceeds from the event will go in their entirety to support Improving Nutrition and Combating Obesity in DeKalb County, the Junior League of DeKalb County’s community impact area. The Junior League of DeKalb County is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.



If you would like to be a sponsor for A Derby Party please click http://bit.ly/Hz2oBs to learn more about those benefits. If you would like to donate to Silent Auction and have your business listed on our website and in our program, please contact Jocelyn Mills at Jocelynmm@hotmail.com.



Get out your favorite sundress, heels, and hat to celebrate the most exciting seconds in sports while also benefiting your community.

Homes for Sale Near Winnona Park Elementary School

From: http://decatur.patch.com
To see photos click above link.
Winnona Park is an old neighborhood in the Southeast part of Decatur close to Agnes Scott College and Columbia Theological Seminary. Life often revolves around the elementary school. For history and information about Winnona Park, go to the Winnona Park Neighborhood Association page.

Here are some houses in the neighborhood that are for sale:

225 Shadowmoor Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

Features: Three bedrooms, three baths, 2,032 square feet.

Price: $479,900.
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526 Kirk Road, Decatur, GA 30030

Features: Four bedrooms, four baths, 3,400 square feet.

Price: $679,000.
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540 Kirk Road, Decatur, GA 30030

Features: Four bedrooms, four baths, 2,340 square feet.

Price: $419,900.
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708 Avery St., Decatur, GA 30030

Features: Five bedrooms, four baths.

Price: $659,900
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142 Avery St., Decatur, GA 30030

Features: Five bedrooms, five baths.

Price: $649,900.
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217 Shadowmoor Drive, Decatur, GA 30030

Features: Three bedrooms, two baths, 1,993 square feet.

Price: $399,900.

Source: AOL Real Estate

(Please note that all property details, including pricing, are confirmed as of press time but are also subject to change.)
About this column: Looking for a home? Patch will compile listings each week around a theme, whether an open house or just listed. If you're an agent, please send your listings.

“East of Eden,” Screening at Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library April 13

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From : http://www.crossroadsnews.com
“East of Eden,” the romantic drama starring James Dean, will be screened April 13 at the Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library in Decatur.

The 2-hour, 35-minute film, which was released in 1955, is being screened as part of the DeKalb Library’s mix of new releases and old favorites series.

The film is about a wayward young man who, while seeking his own identity, vies for the affection of his deeply religious father against his favored brother, thus retelling the story of Cain and Able.

The screening begins at 1:30 p.m.

Toco Hill-Avis G. Williams Library is at 1282 McConnell Drive.

For more information, call 404-679-4404.

Decatur's Neighborhood Cleanup Days Start Saturday In Oakhurst

From the decatur patch
The City of Decatur is starting its annual Neighborhood Cleanup Days on Saturday in a section of Oakhurst.

Public works crews will will collect yard trimmings, building materials (as long as they're not from private contractors), tires, appliances (unless they Freon) and trash that would not normally be placed in pay-as-you-throw bags.

Some things will not be collected: Liquids, dirt, bricks, blocks, stone, rocks, concrete and motor vehicle batteries or parts.

The city website says crews will visit these spots in Oakhurst on Saturday, April 7: Maxwell Street; Third Avenue (Eastlake to Northern); Oakview Road (East Lake Drive to Second Avenue, south side from Second Avenue to 1736 Oakview Road); Second Avenue (East Lake to Northern); Fourth Avenue; North Fourth Avenue; Fifth Avenue (Oakview to Northern); Gordon Street; Northern Avenue (north side only) and First Avenue.

The cleanup days will happen Saturdays through June 23.

Crews will visit other Oakhurst neighborhoods the following three weekends. Check the schedule on the Decatur city website to see when your neighborhood will be visited.

Through June 23, city crews will pick up yard trimmings, tires, appliances -- all kinds of stuff.

Local Farmer picked up by Williams Sonoma