Eye on Atlanta near Decatur

Sugarland’s Kristian Bush and Eddie's Attic

 Kristian Bush with fans at The Decatur Book Festival 2009
-- From : countryweekly.com

For Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, his annual Thanksgiving weekend solo shows at Eddie’s Attic—the Decatur, Ga., club where he got his start—have become as traditional as turkey and gravy. With only a guitar and a catalogue of songs, both old and new, Kristian kicks off the holiday season with an evening of off-the-cuff performances. This year’s two shows, on Sunday, Nov. 25, have already sold out, necessitating the addition of a third on Nov. 26.
read more

E College Ave & S. Candler Rd in 2009

OAKHURST ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL OCT 13

For more info visit: http://oakhurstartsandmusicfestival.com/

Silver Scream Spookshow this Month at The Plaza Theatre

Decorate Decatur Halloween Contest

-- Katie over at The Decatur Minute reminds us about the Decorate Decatur Halloween contest: Time to go up into the attic and down to the basement and drag out all of your spookiest, scariest, most haunted of decorations and start getting ready for the 3rd annual Decorate Decatur, Halloween edition. Residents and businesses are invited to decorate and submit a photo to specialevents@decaturga.com by noon on Monday, October 29th. Please include your name and address. Judges will make their decision Monday evening and the winners will be posted on the City of Decatur website, the DowntownDecatur Facebook page, and on www.thedecaturminute.com blog. Winners will receive a special yard sign to display throughout the week and one stand-out location will win the coveted Commissioner’s Cauldron trophy to keep on display for the entire year. Congratulations to Amanda Owens Brown, winner of last year’s Commissioners’ Cauldron. If you have questions or need more information email katie.abel@decaturga.com or call 678-553-6573.

Photo credit Next Stop...Decatur.
Amanda Owens Brown's Scarecrow Army last year's Winner

50 Years of Bond and The Beatles

Exclusive Look inside Ponce City Market

--- From: http://www.atlantamagazine.com On August 2, 1926, Sears threw a party and 30,000 Atlantans showed up, frantic to peek inside the new 750,000-square-foot retail center on Ponce de Leon Avenue, where all of the 35,000 items in the iconic Sears Roebuck catalog were on display. “If ever there was a doubt in the minds of Atlantans that the company actually kept in stock the thousands upon thousands of articles . . . that doubt was erased after a tour through the building,” enthused an Atlanta Constitution reporter. It was built in a record six months by more than 2,000 workers, and Sears pumped $2 million into the construction job market. That’d be $26 million today; no wonder Mayor Walter Sims was on hand to hoist a flag atop the 232-foot tower. Read more info : http://www.atlantamagazine.com/groundbreakers2012/2012/07/23/ponce-city-market

TAKEN 2 Starts Today

Adele's New Bond Song "Skyfall" Leaks to Strong Reception

--

East Lake success a model for other troubled areas

From
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Jeremiah McWilliams
They used to call East Lake a shooting gallery, a poverty trap and worse. The neighborhood’s massive public housing project was so violent it earned the nickname “little Vietnam.”

Times and reputations have changed for East Lake, now a mix of single-family homes with leafy tree cover and tidy apartment complexes surrounded by golf courses.

This week, more than 200 educators and community advocates are gathering in Atlanta to discuss East Lake’s successes — more people working or in training, higher literacy rates, rising incomes and falling crime.

Their focus: duplicating it in places like New Orleans, Cleveland and California.
Greg Giornelli, president of Purpose Built Communities, says he believes that can happen. The Atlanta nonprofit, which bills itself as a sort of coach and coordinator that brings professionals together in Atlanta and other cities to craft holistic solutions to poverty, is backed by Warren Buffett, Atlanta developer Tom Cousins and Julian Robertson Jr., co-founder of one of the world’s largest hedge funds.

“You have to break up the concentration of poverty,” Giornelli said. “There aren’t a lot of places in America where the middle class and the working poor live side by side. The fact of the matter is, there should be.”

Once feared as a drug and gang haven, the neighborhood five miles east of downtown Atlanta is now being held up as a national model for providing cradle-to-college education, high-quality mixed-income housing, safer streets and a web of support for low-income families.

East Lake has a farmers market and an urban garden, but it’s not Mayberry just yet. Residents cheered the opening of a new coffee shop, but much of the main drag on Memorial is still populated by hair salons, sign stores and auto shops. It’s been difficult to attract more upscale businesses. Car break-ins and thefts of lawnmowers are not uncommon.
read more

Park Renewal Day is Nov 3, 2012

 From parkrenewalday.com

Saturday, Nov. 3 • 8 am to 1 pm

Dearborn Park • Deerwood Drive at Midway Road • Decatur, Georgia

Registration is from 8 to 8:30 am. Food and live music follow the work session.
Your group can win major cash sponsored by Renewal Design-Build

• First Prize: $1,000
• Second Prize: $500
• Third Prize: $300
• All other teams will receive a participation prize!

Sign Up And Tell Your Friends

Click here to download the registration form and important information about the 2012 Park Renewal Day.

Decatur Library Oct. Events

From Decatur Patch

October Festival of Writers

 Friday, October 5
Jasper Fforde. International bestselling author Jasper Fforde makes his first visit to the Center for the Book with a literary thriller that just might be his best book yet: The Woman Who Died a Lot: A Thursday Next Novel. Fforde’s Thursday Next books, in the author’s words, “are a series based upon the notion that what we read in books is just a small part of a larger Book World that exists behind the page.” His books skillfully and playfully combine doses of reality with plenty of fantasy and sci-fi, and they have sold millions of copies all around the world. His event is free; no reservations required. The doors to the church will open at 6:00 p.m. for early seating. 7:00 p.m. First Baptist Church Decatur, 308 Clairemont Avenue Decatur, GA 30030.
read more to see other events

MADISON AVE. Has a Need for Speed

--

Faster than a speeding bullet, More powerful than a locomotive, Able to fly down Madison Ave  in a single bound, Look out here comes Bullet Bill racing down Madison Ave in Decatur GA. 

Hundreds of fans turned out for The 2nd Annual Madison Ave Soapbox Derby event today.

-

-

--

- To see more  go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24391992@N00/sets/72157631654760229/

2nd Annual Madison Ave Soapbox Derby events for Saturday Sept 29

--Photo from last years event
From Madison Ave Soapbox Derby Facebook page.
 Rough Schedule Of Events:
  WHEN: Saturday, September 29th, 2012 - Madison Ave in Oakhurst
 12:00 participants & teams arrive, check in & park 12:15 STAR judges begin on creative
1:00 - 3:00ish races begin (18 & up goes 1st) (7-17) (6 & under)
 3:15 "The Bitteroots" take the stage!!! www.facebook.com/TheBitteroots
 4:00 all racers to winner’s circle for announcements
 *Food provided by the Universal Joint & Steinbecks! Popsicles provided by King of Pops!

T-shirts will be on sale: Adult $15 & Youth $12 -limited supply! Come out, join the fun, and together lets raise money for Our House!

Let me tell you , this is a lot of fun to watch.

Changes for Downtown Avondale Estates

From Decatur Patch
story by Ralph Ellis
photo credit Next Stop...Decatur

There's a new plan for the old section of downtown Avondale Estates.
On Wednesday afternoon, the city government held a ribbon cutting for the block of Tudor-style building that comprises the bulk of downtown.
There's really nothing new there, except for new owners with a new attitude.
The new owners, Oakhurst Realty Partners of Decatur, hope to turn Avondale Estates into a more walkable community with downtown restaurants, bars and shops.
In July, longtime owner Newburger-Andes sold all of the downtown property it owns to Oakhurst Realty Partners of Decatur. The property stretches from the old movie theater at one end to the Trilogy shop at the other.
See more photos at Decatur Patch

Agnes Scott College 1960'S

1960'S Postcard of Agnes Scott College.
This is the way I remember it.

Bicycle South to Host Bike Ride and Cookout OCT. 7

--

From: http://clairmontheights.org
Event Date and Time:
10/07/2012 - 9:00am - 2:00pm
-

From Bike South owner and city of Decatur commissioner Fred Boykin via the Decatur Heights neighborhood: Hi All, I wanted to pass this on as some folks in the neighborhoods have enjoyed our Bicycle South shop rides to Stone Mountain in the past. The shop is hosting a special ride and cookout on Sunday, October 7th. The ride (our usual Stone Mountain route) starts at 9 AM and then we’re doing a cookout with the Southern Bicycle League (SBL) from noon to two. It’s an easy, relaxed no-drop ride out to the mountain and back. Suitable for beginners, families and kids on bikes with a 24” wheel or bigger. You can join us for the ride, join us for the food or both!

The ride is in support of the SBL’s I Bike Decatur chapter; we’re co-sponsoring the chapter. New Belgium Beer is also sponsoring the event. I’ll be cooking on the grill and we’ll have plenty of good food from the Mediterranean Grill too! Food and drinks are no charge to all SBL members; 10 bucks for non-members, but if you join at the event, everything is no charge too. We’re going to raffle off a nice indoor trainer and there will be other prizes as well. The event helps support the SBL’s many efforts on behalf of the cycling community.

For more information, visit either Bicycle South http://www.bicyclesouth.com/ or the Southern Bicycle League http://www.bikesbl.org/

We’re trying for a head count – if you plan to come, please send an email to info@bicyclesouth.com  with RSVP in the subject line.

Hope you can join us; please feel free to pass this on. Apologies for any cross postings.

Fred Boykin

128 Vidal Blvd.

Eye on Decatur @ MOJO PIZZA & PUB

From :  mojopizzanpub.com/
Click HERE to order online!

Mojo Pizza N Pub is located at 657 E Lake Dr in the Oakhurst square in Decatur, GA. View Map

404-373-1999

Store hours:

7 days a week from  11:15 am – 10:00 pm

Delivery Hours:

Monday- Friday after 4 pm

Saturday and Sunday after 11:30 am

$10 minimum delivery order – $1.50 delivery charge

Since 1956 Few Changes for Downtown Avondale Estates

Avondale Estates, GA  -  Now & Then

NOW & THEN - The theatre changed it's name from Avon Theatre to Towne Cinema. Check out the window air conditions in both photos. Top photo taken in 1956 and bottom photo Sept. 2012 Very few changes in 56 years.

 History of Avondale Estates Info from: www.avondaleestates.org

 The City of Avondale Estates was founded by George Francis Willis in 1924. The plans for his City were inspired by the trip he and his wife, Lottie, had taken to Stratford-upon-Avon. He aspired to recreate the majestic Tudor-Revival style architecture found at the birthplace of William Shakespeare in England. With the guidance of internationally known city planners, Willis proceeded to develop what would later be known as the only documented example of a “planned” city in the Southeast. Today it is named on the National Registrar of Historic Places.


---
Tags: Next Stop...Decatur Time Machine

Fall Electronics Recycling Day is Saturday Sept. 29

New Date for  Fall Electronics Recycling Day  Saturday, Sept. 29, 9 am-1 pm  From Linda Harris- City of Decatur SAME NEW(ish) LOCATION: Decatur Public Works, 2635 Talley St. [MAP]  Bring your old cell phones, cameras, PC components, and other outdated electronic equipment for recycling. Electronics dropped off will be sorted and broken down into raw materials and sent to recyclers for reuse. In addition to electronics, you may drop off batteries of any type, mercury thermometers and thermostats. TVs may also be recycled for a $10 cash-only fee per TV with exact change. There is no charge to recycle other items. Recyclables must be dropped off during the hours of the event. Early drop-offs are not possible. Almost anything with an electrical cord can be recycled except microwave ovens. Note: We are not taking Styrofoam as part of this event. Check the Decatur Focus newsletter and TheDecaturMinute.com often for announcements about upcoming Styrofoam recycling and paper shredding events. For information and last-minute updates, contact: Sean Woodson, 404-377-5571 sean.woodson@decaturga.com www.decaturga.com/electronicsrecycling Recycle these items at no charge:

Adding machines Answering machines Batteries, any kind Cable converter boxes Cables Calculators Component parts Copiers Desktop computers Digital cameras Digital projectors DVD players Electric lawn mowers Fax machines Garden equipment GPS receivers Hubs Game controllers Keyboards Label makers Laptop computers Main frames Mice Mini-towers Monitors Pagers PDAs Portable CD players Portable game players Printer cartridges Printers Radios Remote controls Routers Scanners Servers Speakers Stereo equipment Telephones Telephony equipment 3-in-1 devices Typewriters UPS units VCRs Workstations Zip drives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Linda Harris
The City of Decatur

Eye on Decatur @ 524 Oakview Rd

--

New home construction at 524 Oakview Rd. Decatur, GA
--

The architect is Staffan Svenson of Dencity (www.dencity.us).

Tap into Taste - Again & Again at The Beer Growler

 The Beer Growler
404-228-1463
38A North Avondale Road
Avondale Estates GA 30002
Mon – Thurs: 11am - 9pm
Fri & Sat: 10am - 10pm
Sunday: 12:30pm - 6pm
 404-228-1463
Learn how it works here

Odd but True - Radio Flyer Wagon on Roof of Decatur Home.

Strange site, a Radio Flyer Wagon on roof of Decatur GA. home.

This is very odd, I have noticed this Radio Flyer Wagon on this roof of a home on West Hill St. in Decatur for a couple of years now, I decided it was time to take a picture of it. Maybe someone knows something about this strange site and will comment on it............. Believe It or Not!

Madison Ave Soapbox Derby Events for Sept 29

From Madison Ave Soapbox Derby Facebook page.
 Rough Schedule Of Events:
  WHEN: Saturday, September 29th, 2012 - Madison Ave in Oakhurst
 12:00 participants & teams arrive, check in & park 12:15 STAR judges begin on creative
1:00 - 3:00ish races begin (18 & up goes 1st) (7-17) (6 & under)
 3:15 "The Bitteroots" take the stage!!! www.facebook.com/TheBitteroots
 4:00 all racers to winner’s circle for announcements
 *Food provided by the Universal Joint & Steinbecks! Popsicles provided by King of Pops!

T-shirts will be on sale: Adult $15 & Youth $12 -limited supply! Come out, join the fun, and together lets raise money for Our House!

Let me tell you , this is a lot of fun to watch.

FESTIVAL on PONCE this Weekend

http://festivalonponce.com/

Eye on Decatur - Zaxby's Near North Dekalb Mall

Decatur’s third Zaxby’s restaurant has opened in Decatur

. The new Zaxby's restaurant is located at 3809 N. Druid Hills Road, next to the North DeKalb Mall. A Southeast favorite for chicken fingers and Buffalo wings, Zaxby’s will operate from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

 ZAXBY'S locations in Decatur, GA

	3490 MEMORIAL DRIVE
	DECATUR   GA   30032
	404-289-2386
	Online ordering available only at select locations.
	3809 NORTH DRUID HILLS RD
	DECATUR   GA   30033
	404-320-7500
	Online ordering available only at select locations.
	4805 FLAT SHOALS PARKWAY
	DECATUR   GA   30034
	678-518-0836
	Online ordering available only at select locations.

5 Tips to Save $100 at Grocery Store.

From :http://www.ajc.com

Would you like an extra $100 a month?  How about $200?  Perhaps you could use it to pay off a credit card quicker, save for a vacation, or help support your favorite charity?  For most Americans, finding an extra $100 a month is as easy as making some small changes in your grocery shopping habits.

Make a grocery list

Grocery stores spend a lot of money creating an environment that encourages you to make impulse purchases.  Fight the urge to pick up those expensive end cap items by making a grocery list before you go to the store and sticking to it while you shop.
Use cash only

Leave those debit and credit cards at home and bring cash to the grocery store.  You can't go over budget if you only have $75 to spend each week.  Using cash forces you to stick to your list and stay under budget.

Stay away from convenience foods

 They might be convenient, but they are usually two to three times more expensive than the whole foods version of the same thing.  Make your own pancake mix, oatmeal packets, and cut your own fruit and veggies to save more at the supermarket.

Stock up on loss leaders

Every week grocery stores sell a few items at a loss to get shoppers in the store.  They know that most shoppers will buy one loss leader and ten other items at regular price.  Use your store's circular to identify the weekly loss leaders and stock up so you won't have to purchase that item again until it is on sale.

Use coupons

You don't even need the Sunday paper to use coupons anymore.  You can print grocery coupons right from your computer!  Match coupons with sale items to maximize your grocery savings.
f these small changes seem overwhelming at first, start with making a list.  Each week add another strategy until you've outsmarted the grocery marketers.  Before you know it you'll be saving a hundred dollars a month or more at the grocery store.

The Happy Housewife, where she blogs about practical ways to live well, save more and have fun. Toni  is a military wife and stay-at-home (schooling) mom to seven kids. She is also a Savings.com DealPro and teaches Savings Nation workshops that help people learn how to save up to 50% off their grocery bills.
---

 Bonus tip:   Always make sure you get strong plastic bags.

Sean Connery Enjoying U. S. Open

Rare sighting for Sean Connery aka Jame Bond
 From :http://tennis.si.com-see more photos here

Eye on Decatur

Rain Drops Keep Falling on my Head in Decatur GA.

Atlanta's Lenox Square to Have New Look

--

--Above is Lenox Square's Front Entrance Today.-- Below is the New Planned Front Entrance.

 New Lenox Square Entrance Coming Soon.
 From: http://www.buckheadview.com
 Lenox Square is going to get a facelift to go along with the new parkway improvements to Peachtree Road at its front door. The plans have been drawn, but there is no announced timeline for the work to be done.

Representatives for Simon Property Group (owners of the mall property) and Shelby Morris, Beck Design/ RTKL met with the Development Review Committee for Special Public Interest District 12 (SPI-12) this month and presented proposed changes to Lenox Square’s façade and more.

The changes as outlined would include:
·         A pedestrian connection to Peachtree Road
·         A roundabout where the Peachtree Road entrance interfaces with the internal “ring road.”
·         A proposed water feature in the middle of the roundabout
·         Landscaped area adjacent to the outdoor seating
·         Additional 5’ sidewalks on the Neiman Marcus (western) facade
·         Reconfiguration of the existing road serving the porte cochere
·         New drop off zone and curb cut for new mall entry
·         Recladding of the facades
·         Display cases along western façade -

-- The representatives also presented changes to the rear food court which included: · “Enclosing” the outdoor patio area to create formal outdoor seating area. · Incorporation of planters with bamboo to screen area from parking · Addition of patio doors to connect the food court to the new patio area. The whole series of architectural renderings presented to the DRC in seeking a variance for the façade changes can be viewed by clicking here. --

Photos from: http://livablebuckhead.com

Jagger's Closes and Pizza Bella Coming Soon to Sage Hill Shopping Center

 Photo credit: whatatlantaeats.blogspot.com
Tomorrows New Today reports
Jagger's Closes and New Concept Coming Soon


Jagger's Pizza on Briarcliff Road in the Sage Hill Shopping Center has closed.  The 30 plus year Emory favorite featuring square pies closed earlier this week and will reopen next Tuesday as Pizza Bella.  The new pizzeria will be under new ownership and will feature round pies rather than square.

Comment:
 Anonymous said...
The new pizza bell at Emory is really good! Same number as jagger's. Www.pizzabellaemory.com

First Waffle House gets Historical Marker

--

--

--From :http://blogs.ajc.com
Waffle House’s roots run deep in metro Atlanta, so deep that a historical marker is being ordered up along with pecan waffles, grits, eggs, bacon, hash browns and orange juice to commemorate the first one built nearly six decades ago.
The Georgia Historical Society will place a marker at the site of the first Waffle House on East College Avenue near Avondale Estates on Sept. 8. The chain, which has grown to 1,600 locations nationwide, was started by Avondale Estates neighbors Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forkner in 1955.
“In the beginning, we thought we would open about 10 locations and then go fishing,” Rogers said in a statement from the historical society.
Since its opening, waitresses at the 24-hour, seven-day-a-week restaurant have greeted many a late-night visitor with “What can I get for ya, hon’?” before firing off a rapid succession of orders to a cook who is already flipping, chopping, pressing, scraping and scooping up food from a large sizzling surface to slide  onto plates.
The original building is now a museum at 2719 E. College Ave., which is where the marker will be erected.  But if you have a craving for something scattered, smothered and covered after visiting the museum, you’ll find the chain’s trademark black and yellow sign just up the street at  2850 E. College Ave.
What’s your most memorable Waffle House experience?

Renewal Design Can Help with your Remodel

Remodeling can be a confusing process. Have you been thinking about a project but not sure where to begin? Do you need questions answered before taking the first step? If you have a home improvement project in mind, bring a list of your most head scratching questions to this one-of-a-kind Q & A session on September 13.
for more info: http://renewaldesignbuild.com/

Waffle House and It's Historic Marker Sept 8th

2719 East College Avenue in Avondale Estates http://www.wafflehouse.com/our-story/waffle-house-museum

Eye on Decatur - Houndstooth Road

--

Houndstooth Road Bike Shop
316 Church St.
Decatur, GA

Facebook page for Houndstooth Road

The Square Pub's 2nd Annual Green Chile Roast is Sept 15

--- Here is a video from last year's event.
Here is Square Pub  menu

check out square pub blog here

The Plaza Theatre to show Die Hard Sept. 5

-- See the action classic DIE HARD in an explosive (and increasingly rare) 35mm presentation! This could be your last chance to see this movie as it was meant to be seen – on film and with a crowd! DIE HARD is one of the best action movies from the 80s, and also one seriously awesome Christmas movie about family, so we’re presenting it in a special Christmas-in-September, 35mm presentation at the Plaza Theatre! Those who show up in the Christmas spirit will have a shot at some specially-wrapped door prizes. Yippie Ki-Yay -------------------- Info from : http://plazaatlanta.com/COMING_SOON.html ---