CHARLOTTE'S WEB at The Alliance Theatre FEB 23-M

The Alliance is pleased to present the beloved classic Charlotte’s Web. While remaining true to the story and familiar characters, the Alliance’s version of Charlotte’s Web will uniquely incorporate circus stunts and acrobatics in the production. Charlotte will be performed by a trained aerialist who will glide above the stage on fabric curtains. Other skilled performance elements included are juggling, unicycle riding, tumbling, contortion, clowning – and more! Charlotte’s Web will delight old and new audiences with vivid characters and enduring themes of friendship that inspire in a way that only live theatre can.

The Alliance will also host our annual fundraising event FAMILIES Centerstage on March 2. For one day only, the Woodruff Arts Center Galleria transforms into a family fun fair with live performances, arts, crafts and music for the whole family to enjoy! Confirmed participants for this year’s event include the Center for Puppetry Arts, Zoo Atlanta, and Milton High School’s Cirque Program. Tickets for FAMILIES Centerstage include admission to either the 1:00pm or 4:00pm performance of Charlotte’s Web, with the festival happening from 2:00 – 4:00pm.
Learn more here

Peachtree Corners Dreamland BBQ Damaged by Fire

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  From:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

 By Alexis Stevens

A fire at a popular Gwinnett County restaurant sent flames through the roof Wednesday afternoon.
Pictures from witnesses showed flames and smoke filling the sky above Dreamland Bar-B-Que on Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. No injuries were reported.

The Norcross restaurant is one of two in metro Atlanta for the chain, which started in Alabama.
Click photo to see it on fire.

Other GA. location:
 Dreamland Bar-B-Que Roswell Dreamland Barbeque Restaurant
10730 Alpharetta Highway
Roswell, Georgia 30076

--Dreamland BBQ Fire drive-by

Decatur High School's Original Design from 1964

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- After reading reports of a new front design plan for Decatur High School over at decatur metro.

I found the original design of  Decatur High School from  circa 1964. top photo(click to enlarge).
The round library looks a little different in the original design it looks lower to the ground.
Maybe they could still design some sort of around building like in this original design.
Bottom photo is a favorite of mine,
showing the design of today.

License To Thrill! Retro Plates May Be Returning To California

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LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — It’s true that everything old is new again.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced today that those legacy license plates are coming back!

The plates will feature the looks made popular in the 1950′s (black letters, yellow background), 1960′s (yellow letters, black background) and 1970′s (yellow letters, blue background).

What a great idea, now why can't Georgia do something like this. check out these old tags

Run With the Dogs 2013 is Saturday Morning

  From: accessatlanta.com

Saturday, Jan 12  9:00 AM

Decatur High School on McDonough Street Decatur, GA

A chilly run through the City of Decatur with Decatur Bulldog supporters and their four-legged friends. This race is a qualifying run/walk event in the City of Decatur's Grand Slam Fitness Challenge.

The Clermont Hotel has been Sold

From ajc
 By J. Scott Trubey
 The Clermont Motor Hotel, home to the seedy namesake lounge that attracts celebs and locals alike to gawk at its gallery of aging strippers, has been sold. A team of Nashville and New York developers bought the vacant hotel, which houses the unique strip joint in its basement, “to redevelop as a boutique hotel,” according to a news release issued Wednesday. Ethan Orley, who along with Philip Welker controls Clermont Hotel Partners LLC, said the partners would further detail their plans in coming weeks. A sale price was not disclosed. The hotel, built in the 1920s, fell on hard times despite the Clermont Lounge’s singular appeal. The lodger was foreclosed upon and later ordered closed by health inspectors in late 2009, according to reports in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s archives. Fulton County health officials complained of dirty linen, old bedding and stains from bedbugs, as well as mold and unsanitary plumbing issues. There have been plans over the years to renovate the aging building. A prior owner, Inman Park Properties, tried to sell the Ponce De Leon Avenue hotel a few years ago for $6.5 million but lost control of the property. The hotel is not far from Jamestown Properties’ Ponce City Market, the $200 million redevelopment of the hulking former City Hall East and Sears warehouse into a massive mix of apartments, retail and offices. “We are thrilled to have the chance to reimagine the Clermont as a great hotel,” Welker, the principal of real estate firm BNA Associates and Clermont Hotel Partners, said in the release. The building, he said, “has all the right ingredients to become not only a destination boutique hotel for Atlanta, but for the Southeast.”

Read more about it here.

Arnold's Back in The Last Stand JAN 18

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Peach State Opera's Friday, Jan. 11 at 8pm production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly

Peach State Opera, an artist affiliate of Georgia Perimeter College Clarkston,GA is presenting in English Puccini's Madame Butterfly, Jan. 11 at 8pm in the Cole Auditorium . The heart-wrenching story of Puccini’s beautiful geisha girl and her American naval lieutenant never grows old. The unwavering love of the young Japanese bride as she waits for the return of her husband, the clash of cultures and faiths, and the ultimate betrayal and tragic ending inspires some of opera’s most powerful and beautiful music. Meet the Cast

Ticket prices are:

General Admission Jan 11, 2013 $22.00
Senior Admission Jan 11, 2013 $20.00
Students Jan 11, 2013 $10.00
GPC Students/Faculty Staff, Alumni Jan 11, 2013 $5.00
Groups of 10 or more Jan 11, 2013 $10.00
Buy Tickets here.

You can go to Peach State Opera's website www.peachstateopera.org to purchase
tickets and learn more about the company.

This traveling opera company with local roots is dedicated to bringing opera to communities that might not have the opportunity to see a fully staged opera at reasonable rates. Don't miss the opprotunity to see what should be a memorable production.


Submitted by: Nancy Martin

Gangster Squad Starts Jan 11, 2013

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The Decatur REC Opening Soon

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Pine Lake Fans - This sites for You.

From the Dallas Denny blog. --

Are you a fan of Pine Lake ?
Pine Lake is too precious and quirky a place to remain unblogged. And so here I go, attempting to give vent to my feelings of the moment about living in this tiny (Population under 800) incorporated feels-like-a-summer-camp city in the middle of a megalopolis (Metropolitan Atlanta, population 5,000,000+).

All content © 2012 by Dallas Denny

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Sycamore Street as it looked in the 1940's

This was Sycamore Street as it looked in the 1940's between Church St. and East Court Square. These buildings were all removed and replaced by MARTA Plaza in the late 1970's. Bailey's Shoe Shop, established in 1904 (center) was the oldest Decatur business in continuous operation when it closed its doors. (Circa 1940's) Photo from Mrs. J.O. Bowen, Jr's. collection. (1985~77~2)

Hormel to Buy Skippy Peanut Butter

From: http://apnews.myway.com//article/20130103/DA3J12UG0.html
By CANDICE CHOI and MICHELLE CHAPMAN


NEW YORK (AP) - Hormel Foods apparently has a hankering for a peanut butter and bacon sandwich. The company primarily known for Spam and other cured, smoked and deli meats said Thursday that it's buying Skippy, the country's No. 2 peanut butter brand, in its biggest-ever acquisition.

Skippy, which was introduced in 1932 and is a staple in American pantries, is intended to increase Hormel's presence in the center of the supermarket where nonperishable foods are sold. It also gives the Austin, Minn.-based company a stronger footing in international markets. Skippy is sold in about 30 countries and is the leading peanut butter brand in China, where Hormel has been trying to build up its Spam business for the past several years.

Hormel, which also makes canned chili, sausages and pepperoni, currently gets the vast majority of its sales in the U.S., with only about 4 percent of revenue coming from abroad. Now the company is hoping that Skippy, which it's buying from Unilever for $700 million, will help it expand at home and overseas.

In a conference call with analysts, CEO Jeffrey Ettinger noted that peanuts and peanut oil are popular in China. And although peanut butter is not yet a household staple there, he said it is growing rapidly.

Back at home, Ettinger said peanut butter is already regarded as a convenient and affordable source of protein and that Hormel would apply its innovation skills and "take Skippy out of the jar" for use in other products such as packaged snack foods.
 For example, he noted that the company recently introduced pepperoni sticks as part of a push to grow its snacks business. With Spam, the company is testing shelf-stable, microwavable meals, such as jambalaya made with Spam. It's also considering a variety of macaroni and cheese made with Spam.

"That concept of taking (Skippy) out of the jar echoes a similar concept we're trying with taking Spam out of the can," Ettinger said in an interview.

For now, there are 11 varieties of Skippy in the U.S., including low-fat and natural varieties. Hormel noted that Skippy is the leading brand in the faster-growing subcategory of natural peanut butter. Overall, Skippy has about 17 percent of the U.S. peanut butter market, according to Euromonitor International. Jif, owned by J.M. Smucker Co. (SJM), is the largest brand with about 37 percent of the market.
more

Permits in Place for Suburban Plaza Walmart

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Permits in place for North Decatur Walmart
From: http://www.ajc.com
By April Hunt

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The owner of an aging shopping plaza near Decatur has secured all of the necessary permits to build a Walmart supercenter.

Selig Enterprises needed demolition, land disturbance and building permits to tear down part of Suburban Plaza and anchor it with the retail giant.

A group of residents in the North Decatur neighborhoods banded together, trying to keep Walmart out. However, work is set to begin on the project in early 2013.

Favorite Photos of 2012

--2012 Mountain Moonshine Festival

--Decatur Art Festival

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--Krog Street Tunnel

The REC is Back

 - From: Cheryl Burnette
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Welcome 2013 at Wahoo! Grill

Thousands more recycling in DeKalb

From: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By April Hunt



DeKalb County saw 6,400 new residents sign up for recycling in the first three months after making the service free.

After eliminating the $30 start-up fee, more than 4,000 residents joined the service in the first month after became free in late September. By December, that number had grown to 6,400.

The increase is the equivalent of about 4 percent more customers, added to the 21 percent who had been recycling. The county’s goal is to get 40 percent of its 159,000 customers to recycle in the next four years.
More information/to sign up: 404-294-2900 or www.dekalbrecycles.com.

Remembering The Decatur Theatre at Christmas Time

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 Caption for (above) photo:
Decatur, GA.
reprinted from ajc circa 1964
More than 500 persons turned out to see the first Sunday movie in Decatur in 7 years.
The film was Walt Disney's "So Dear to My Heart." The Decatur City Commission lifted the
ban on Sunday movies more than a week ago, but owner Fred Storey decided to open for
Sunday audiences with the Disney picture. Sunday movies have been prohibited in Decatur
for more than 18 years. For a brief period in 1957 the ban was lifted

--

Be sure to visit The Decatur Theatre Web site for a new found photo.

 Note: I am always looking for pictures of The Decatur Theatre.

For anyone new to Decatur, The Decatur Theatre was located  on N. McDonough St.
where that parking lot is next to Eddie's Attic.

American Flyer Christmas

--American Flyer Christmas--


--American Flyer Christmas--

'Jack Reacher' review: Tom Cruise self-parody

 Photo credit: MCT | Tom Cruise, left, is Reacher and Robert Duvall is Cash in "Jack Reacher," from Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions. (MCT)

By RAFER GUZMÁN  rafer.guzman@newsday.com
There's a fine line between macho wish fulfillment and delusional fantasy, and "Jack Reacher" crosses it. Reacher, played by Tom Cruise in tight jeans and sometimes a shirt, is always the smartest, strongest and fastest, and the only thing slowing him down are all the gorgeous women in his way. When five guys pick a fight with Reacher, he feels only sadness -- for the hellacious beating they're about to receive.

It all gets pretty insufferable, but "Jack Reacher" doesn't seem to realize this. Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie ("The Usual Suspects") is so caught up in his Mickey Spillane world that he can't tell when his movie starts tipping into self-parody. (Answer: Immediately.)
n this story, Reacher, a former military cop turned drifter, begins investigating the case of a Pittsburgh sniper accused of mowing down several innocent citizens. (Images of a nanny clutching a little girl may come too soon after the Sandy Hook shootings for some viewers; Paramount has excised some gunplay from the film's trailer.) Police Detective Emerson (David Oyelowo) already has his man, but Reacher isn't convinced. The suspect's idealistic attorney, Helen Rodin (an ill-used Rosamund Pike), hires Reacher to find out more.
read more
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Eye on Decatur - Suburban Plaza

Happy Holidays from Fernbank

-- ‘Tis the season for celebrations, and there are lots of ways to celebrate at Fernbank! The Museum will be closed Christmas day, but will be open during normal business hours the rest of the holiday weekend. Here are a few highlights: Make Fernbank your “Holly Jolly Headquarters!” Fernbank’s 3rd annual Winter Wonderland features a festive exhibition featuring a variety of culturally-themed trees, special photo opportunities with Fernbank’s holiday mascot, Santa-saurus and train rides aboard the Santa-sausurs Express. Don’t miss the final weeks of Genghis Khan. Experience the amazing, true story of one of the world’s greatest and most misunderstood conquerors. Give a gift they won’t return! Buy a membership and SAVE. Select levels of membership are on sale through December 24 and they come with a year of exhibits, programming days, discounts, and more!

Downtown Decatur - Guess the Year

Comment: Faceman said... Thanks for the picture. My wife and I were at Iberian Pig this past weekend and we were wondering what use to be in those 3 spots.

Comment:

Kerry Lucasse said...

Great website -- I've been looking at all the pics for over an hour!

As for the picture, my guess would be 1999 or 2000?

December 26, 2012 at 11:05 AM

Next Stop...Decatur said...

Sorry for the delay, this photo was taken in 2008. The place next door "Pasta Please" closed sometime in 2008.

February 26, 2013 at 9:23 PM

Eye on Decatur - Greene's Snowman

Victory Sandwich Bar Coming Soon

 Victory Sandwich Bar Coming Soon to 340 Church St. Decatur, GA. This is where Johnny's Pizza and Rocket 88 were once located.
Look for the black letters V I C T O R Y to go up soon.
Here is the website to look at menu : http://www.vicsandwich.com/

Agnes Scott College circa 1908

 Decatur GA.
Photo is circa 1908   shown is Main Hall and Rebekah Scott Hall.
To see a skyline photo of Decatur taken from Main Hall tower building check out decatur metro post from last week.

Big Apple Circus returning to Atlanta in Feb.

-- From ajc
By Howard Pousner
hpousner@ajc.com

Big Apple Circus, which made Atlanta a tour stop for many years but hasn’t been to the city since 2010, plans to return to a new metro area site in February.

Instead of setting up its big top at Stone Mountain Park as usual, the New York-based circus will bring a new show, “Legendarium,” to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta, Feb. 1 to 18.

Celebrating its 35th year, Big Apple is a throwback troupe specializing in an intimate one-ring experience that revels in the artistry of performance — including acrobatics, clowning and juggling — with no seat more than 50 feet from the performers. It doesn’t boast the sorts of big animals presented by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, preferring to present horse and dog stars.

When “Legendarium,” a loose tribute to the roots of circus performance in 19th century Gotham, opened in New York in October, it played to positive notices in the city’s major daily papers. The New York Times called Big Apple “consistently inspired” and said “Legendarium” “isn’t about to break that long, superb streak.”

Through Dec. 31, Big Apple is making a “pre-sale offer,” discounting all weekday tickets 25 percent. Use code ATL12 when calling 1-800-922-3772. More info: www.bigapplecircus.org.

Big Apple’s return means that Atlanta will again be circus central in February, a time of year when troupes typically bring their tours south.

Ringling Bros. will present the show “Dragons” at Philips Arena downtown from Feb. 13 to 18 and at the Arena at Gwinnett in Duluth from Feb. 21 to March 3 (www.ringling.com). And Atlanta-based UniverSoul Circus, celebrating its 20th anniversary, brings its “US” tour to Turner Field’s Green Lot from Feb. 9 to 26 (www.universoulcircus.com)

Eye on Decatur - BIG TEX CANTINA Christmas Beer Dinner Thursday Dec 13

Big Tex Presents A Christmas Bell's Beer Dinner Join us at Big Tex in Decatur on Thursday December 13 at 7 p.m. for a very special Christmas Beer Dinner, featuring beer pairings from Bell's Brewery, Inc. out of Kalamazoo, Mich. Big Tex's own, Chef Rick Watson, will be presenting a bountiful dinner, pairing dishes specially created for this event with a selection of Bell's outstanding products. The price will be $45 (excluding tax and gratuity) for five courses including, full bottles and pints of beer.
 http://www.bigtexdecatur.com/

 308 W Ponce de Leon Ave
Decatur, GA 30030
404 377-3939

1950'S Postcard of Ole Hickory Inn - Decatur, GA

This was located at 3015 Scott Blvd.

Alliance Theatre for the Very Young Presents Waiting for Balloon

From: 

Kathleen Covington

PR Manager

Alliance Theatre

Alliance Theatre for the Very Young Presents Waiting for Balloon

A highly interactive multi-sensory performance for very young children and their grown-ups



ATLANTA, December 10, 2012 — Beginning December 27, the Alliance Theatre for the Very Young will stage Waiting for Balloon written by folk artist TMarq and loosely based on the classic play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett.



Directed by Rosemary Newcott, Sally G. Tomlinson Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth, Waiting for Balloon tells the story of two childlike hobo-clowns waiting near the railroad tracks for “balloon.”  The problem is that neither of them knows exactly what “balloon” is.  Through delightful trial and error, exploration and interaction with the audience, the two piece together what makes a balloon a balloon and celebrate all that is discovered while we “wait!”  Waiting for Balloon is a joyous introduction to gentle clowning and the joy of creating puppets from found objects, designed by the creative mind of Puppeteer Michael Haverty.



Theatre for the Very Young is an artistic experience for children ages 18 months – 5 years that overcomes age, language, and developmental barriers, expanding the consciousness of very young audience members and integrating bi-lingual elements into each show.  Each production nurtures creative thinking, allowing the very young to experience art and culture on their terms.



“Theatre for the Very Young engages both parents and their pre-school children in creative experiences.  The fourth wall is dissolved as young ones willing become part of the experience,” says Director, Rosemary Newcott.



Tickets for Waiting for Balloon are $10 per person, no matter how young or old. Groups of 10 or more receive a discount of 25% off their single tickets. For additional information about Theatre for the Very Young or to purchase tickets, please contact Olivia Aston at 404.733.4702 or olivia.aston@woodruffcenter.org. You can also purchase tickets online at:

http://alliancetheatre.org/Education/theatre-for-the-very-young/Waiting-for-Balloon.aspx



Waiting for Balloon - – Alliance Theatre, 1280 Peachtree St, Atlanta, GA 30309 - Memorial Arts Building, 3rd Floor, Black Box Theatre:

    December 27–30, 2012
        Thursday-Sunday, 9:30am & 11:00am
    January 3–6, 2013
        Thursday-Sunday, 9:30am & 11:00am
    January 12 & 19, 2013
        Saturdays, 9:30am & 11:00am



Calendar Synopsis

Waiting for Balloon


Two childlike hobo-clown characters are waiting near the railroad tracks for “balloon.”  The problem is that neither of them knows exactly what “balloon” is.  Through delightful trial and error, exploration and interaction with the audience, the two clowns piece together what makes a balloon a balloon and celebrate all that is discovered while we “wait!”  An introduction to gentle clowning and the joy of creating puppets from found objects.  For tickets - please contact Olivia Aston at 404.733.4702 or olivia.aston@woodruffcenter.org, also available online at

http://alliancetheatre.org/Education/theatre-for-the-very-young/Waiting-for-Balloon.aspx


Theatre for the Very Young Season Ticket Packages

Season Ticket packages for the two upcoming Theatre for the Very Young productions are available.  When you buy a package for $20, receive tickets to both productions plus season ticket benefits.

    Waiting for Balloon - December 27-30, 2012; January 3-6, 2013; January 12 & 19, 2013
    A Child’s Garden of Verses - March 11-16 & 23; March 29-30, 2013
    Explore the sounds and sensations of nature as you journey through a magical garden.  Children will be actively engaged in this multi-sensory performance as they willingly become a part of the artistic experience.  A “cultural” garden in which children can grow their imaginations, and become gardeners themselves!

Producer Package – $20 (per person, no matter how young or old) –includes a ticket to each TVY production.  In addition to guaranteed seats, all TVY season ticket holders receive:
- 15% off additional single tickets to all Alliance Theatre productions
- 10% off acting classes
- $5 off return tickets to enjoy TVY performances again

For season tickets, contact Olivia Aston at 404.733.4702 or olivia.aston@woodruffcenter.org

Groundbreaking for New Public Works Building

--From Linda Harris

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John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John reunite in Christmas video

From www.nzherald.co.nz
  John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John have an early Christmas present for you - and it's a doozy. The Grease co-stars, who recently announced they had collaborated on a 13-track Christmas album (fantastically cheesy cover alert), have dropped the strangely awkward music video for their up-tempo festive duet, I Think You Might Like It. more

Old Navy's Christmas Vacation Ad

Old Theatre News - The Perry Theatre in Perry Ga. to be Restored

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 From: http://www.bizjournals.coml
Atlanta Business Chronicle by Carla Caldwell, Morning Call Editor
A nonprofit foundation is being formed to purchase, restore and reopen the historic 5,000-square-foot Muse Theatre (Also was called Perry Theatre ) in downtown Perry, Ga., reports the Macon Telegraph.

Billy Milby, of Kathleen, who is among seven people leading the effort to restore the property, said the Muse Theatre Foundation should be fully up and running in two to three months.

Much of the work needed to bring the old theater back to life is expected to be secured through grants, which are often dependent on a showing of community support through funds raised for the project, said Milby, who is president of the new organization, the paper said.

The foundation’s vice-president, Jon Pierce, told The Telegraph he used to go the Muse Theatre with his parents after lunch for a cartoon and a Western movie.
read more


 Top Photo from Flickr member Robb Cobb http://www.flickr.com/photos/southofdixie/4520453756/ -

Small photo courtesy of Back on Tack
From http://roadsidepeek.com
 Learn more at http://www.facebook.com/MuseTheatre

PLEASE HELP RESTORE THIS THEATRE AND DONATE HERE 
Thanks

Back in the Day Santa Arrived in Decatur by Helicopter

This image is based on an old ad for Santa coming to Downtown Decatur by helicopter
to light Decatur's Christmas Tree.( circa 1960's) back then Santa would land over at The old Decatur Federal building parking lot which is now Wells Fargo. The tree that year was located out in front of Decatur Federal bank building.