Decatur Lantern Parade

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- - The Decatur Lantern Parade started out on E. Howard St and turned right onto N. Candler St. and left on Sycamore St. to the Square.

For more photos click here

North Dekalb Mall to Convert to Open-Air Concept.

From: bizjournals.com

    Staff Atlanta Business Chronicle

Lennar Commercial Investors LLC teamed with Sterling Organization to buy North DeKalb Mall for an undisclosed sum.

The development team, which also includes Atlanta-based Hendon Properties, plans to convert the enclosed portion of the property to an open-air concept. Lennar and Sterling acquired ownership interest in the property and Sterling will manage the center. Timing on the redevelopment has not been set.

The 622,300-square-foot center is just inside Interstate 285 in northeastern Atlanta. It opened in 1965 and is one of the last remaining large-scale infill opportunities in the Decatur/Emory area for retail or mixed-use redevelopment. Anchor tenants include AMC Theatres, Burlington Coat Factory, Macy’s, Marshalls and Ross Dress for Less.

“North DeKalb Mall is extremely well positioned for redevelopment based on its age, proximate location to major employers such as AT&T, Emory University, Cox Communications and Kroger, and easy access to major thoroughfares,” said Mike Cohn, regional president of Lennar Commercial. “In addition, a redevelopment will greatly benefit the high density neighborhoods surrounding the property, including Emory, Druid Hills and Decatur.”

Sixth Annual Springfest at Twain's Saturday May 17th

From http://www.twains.net/

Come out to Twain’s on Saturday May 17th, from1 to 4 pm. Enjoy 5 unique beer and food pairings prepared for you by Decatur’s finest restaurants and breweries, in support of the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  $50 gets you 5 beer and food pairings and a commemorative glass.  Food will be prepared by Twain’s, Pine Street Market, Leon’s, Steinbecks, and Pinewood, while beers will be from our local friends, Three Taverns, Wild Heaven, and Blue Tarp.  This will be a one of a kind event for a great cause featuring the Ralph Roddenbery Duo.
 Please visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/643645 for your ticket now.  All ticket proceeds will go directly to the ACFB, who have been graciously feeding Georgia’s hungry citizens for 25 years.
Music will continue later that night starting at 8 pm featuring Georgia sounds from Hair of the Dog, with Rolling Nowhere ramping it up at 10. $5 cover for nighttime acts. food/beer pairings are only available between 1 and 4 pm, get your ticket for that above.

MARBAR Coastal to Re-open Soon as MARBAR Beachside Cantina

  MARBAR Beachside Cantina to open soon. Location is 314 E. Howard Ave. Decatur, GA

 From: https://www.facebook.com/marcoastal/page_map
To open soon.
Can’t get away to the beach? Come to MARBAR – we’ll make you feel as if you’re relaxing on the beach. No stuffiness here: put on your shorts and flip-flops, and enjoy a casual menu that offers an array of flavorful dishes – coastal tacos + tostadas, cebiche, gallega octopus, tuna tartar, mussels, calamari, tequila shrimp, chamorro, soups + salads…not to mention daily homemade tortillas.

MARBAR offers an extensive tequila list and coastal specialty drinks such as margaritas, mojitos and micheladas, as well as diverse wine and beer lists. Our weekday lunches are perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal, with daily specials under $10 and easy parking.

Modern yet rustic, MAR offers an airy, casual and relaxed environment with indoor dining and a spacious outdoor patio. Atlantans of all ages can come together, unwind and enjoy a little bit of the coast in the city.
Soccer fan? There’s no better place to watch world soccer with a bucket of beer and a tostada. Be ready to join us for World Cup 2014, starting June 12 direct from Brazil.

Alison Lueker Ritter, Owner and Executive Chef of Sun in my Belly, has joined MARBAR to offer her culinary expertise, management and attention to detail. Lueker brings a new style and flair to the dishes you know and love at MARBAR, and adds her New Mexican touch with new items such as mussels borracho, ancho chile-seared tuna steak, and watermelon-chihuahua salad with black pepper-serrano vinaigrette. Created by international restaurateur, Humberto Bermudez, MARBAR is
an extension of his restaurants in Barcelona and Queretaro, Mexico.

Smoke & Glory - Smoked Pork Showdown at Steinbeck's Ale House May 18

Smoke & Glory - Smoked Pork Showdown

Steinbeck's Ale House

We are hosting a smoked pork competition on Sunday, May 18th at noon in our back lot to benefit The Giving Kitchen. Staplehouse, The Brickstore, Kimball House, Leon's, Pine Street Market, Seed Kitchen & Bar, Southbound, Steinbeck's, Twain's, The Hil, & Farm Burger will be competing. The only rule is that their dish include smoked pork butt, otherwise creativity is smiled upon. Judges are from DBA Barbecue, Slopes and Community Q. Tickets are $27.50 at brownpapertickets.com and will get you tastes of all entries and a beer from our sponsor Bells Brewery. Jim Stacy will be our emcee and we will have three bands playing live: Caroline & The Ramblers, Adom, & Dejablue Grass Band.


info from : http://www.steinbecksbar.com/

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/660384

Decatur Lantern Parade This Friday May 16

The parade will be led by The Black Sheep Marching Ensemble! Lantern Workshops! REGISTER NOW! Everyone needs a lantern for the Decatur Lantern Parade! In this workshop you can choose to decorate a paper globe lantern, make a firefly lantern, or construct an original bamboo form. Your lantern can be as simple or fancy as you like! Working with colored paper and light is delightful creative playtime. Walking in the lantern parade with your friends and neighbors and their lanterns is epic creative playtime! Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
decaturlanternparade.com

Upcoming Events at Big Tex

UPCOMING EVENTS BLUEGRASS BrUNCH Join us for Bluegrass Brunch every Sunday starting at 11am, going until 1pm, with live music from great local bluegrass band  Mother's day - may 11 Along with our normal Bluegrass Brunch, featuring The Rhubarbarians, we will off the following special "Momosas" - RHUBARB MANGO GINGER BELLINI (PROSECCO & PEACH PUREE) RUBY RED GRAFEFUIT & HIBISCUS plus our customary bottomless mimosas BRAVES GAME specials Come to BIG TEX to watch the Braves and have the chance to win tickets for upcoming home games,. $3 Sweetwater 420 and $3 Coors Light any time the Braves are on. ROOTs MUSIC W/MOIRA - Every Tuesday in May  Join Moira Nelligan from 6-8pm GBS-cidp event - saturday May 10 5:30-10:00 P.M. at Big Tex Restaurant,  the Greater Atlanta Walk and Roll for GBS, CIDP, and MMN Planning Committee will host the kick-off event for the Greater Atlanta Walk. Information on these rare medical disorders will be available, and speakers on these disorders will be part of the evening’s festivities. Speakers will include patients and former patients. Donations can be made to help this cause PAINT NITE - WEDNESDAY May 21 Come drink creatively. Have fun and carry home a piece of art. This has been a popular event at Big Tex and you need to get in on it. Click here for more info and don't forget to use coupon code "bigtex20" to get $20 off.
info from Big Tex Cantina

Emory Village's Doc Chey's Noodle House to become Dragon Bowl.

  From: http://www.tonetoatl.com

Doc Chey's Dragon Bowl will open later this summer in place of Doc Chey's Noodle House on North Decatur Road at Emory Village.  Dragon Bowl will sport a menu similar to its predecessor but with new proteins like ribeye steak and pork belly.  Dragon Bowl will offer six sauce options, four base options and four protein options.  The menu will also have a variety of rotating specials as well as a few side and beverage options.    Sides will include Kimchi Dumplings while beverage options will include assorted teas, beers, sake and wine. 

Mellow Mushroom Update : Still Closed Due to Interior Problems.

5-8-14 UPDATE: Next Stop...Decatur called the Pizza joint today and the person that answered said "they were closed today due to interior layout problems." no more no less. So stay tuned for a later update.

Updated: Is Decatur's Mellow Mushroom Closing ?

5-8-14 UPDATE: Next Stop...Decatur called the Pizza joint today and the person that answered said "they were closed today due to interior layout problems." no more no less. So stay tuned for a later update. --

From Mellow Mushroom facebook page 
UPDATE: The below Facebook post has been removed from the site but  the above THANK YOU photo is still posted.
Stay tuned to see whats going on over there.

"We regret that as of today, the Mellow Mushroom Decatur location has closed. We appreciate your support and loyalty over the years and we look forward to serving you at one of our many other locations.

    It is never an easy decision to close a restaurant under any circumstances, particularly after many years in a market. Mellow Mushroom remains enthusiastic about the possibilities for another Mellow in the Decatur area at some later date. We look forward to returning to the market and once again serving our customers in the future. Please visit us at www.mellowmushroom.com for new openings and the latest news from Mellow Mushroom."

    Again, thank you for your many years of support and patronage.

 5-8-14 UPDATE: Next Stop...Decatur called the Pizza joint today and the person that answered said "they were closed today  due to interior layout problems." no more no less. So stay tuned for a later update.

Furniture Painting Classes at KUDZU using Chalk Paints-Sandy Springs & Decatur!

Chalk Paint 101
Learn to Paint Furniture Like a Pro Using Amy Howard Chalk Based Paints!
Join us for Kudzu's series of how-to chalk paint and furniture antiquing classes featuring our beautiful line of Amy Howard paint products. Learn how to give tired old pieces of furniture a new life with Amy's chalk based one-step paints, plus waxes, antiquing dust, gilding and more. A great way to get hands on experience while learning from experienced professionals.
Sat, May 10th, 10:00am-12:00 Beginning Class: Decatur
Kudzu Antiques - Decatur: 2928 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Reservation and prepayment required. Please call 404-373-6498.
Wed. May 14th, 10:00am-12:00  Sandy Springs
Kudzu and Company - Sandy Springs: 6450 Roswell Road
Reservation and prepayment required. Please call 404-255-2548.

Ali's Cookies Coming to Emory Village

From: Tomorrows News Today http://www.tonetoatl.com/2014/05/emory-want-cookies.html#more

Ali's Cookies will soon open their third area location, the first inside the Perimeter.  The new Ali's Cookies will open on North Decatur Road at Emory Village.  The cookie shop is taking the place of Tin Drum Asiacafe which closed in January.  Before that, the owners of Tin Drum operated a burger concept in the space known as Wonderful World Burgers Fries.



Emory Village previously had a cookie place, One Hot Cookie & Creamery, but it closed and its space is today home to Bad Dog Taqueria.  If memory serves, One Hot Cookie opened in early 2007 and closed in early 2009.  The shop  allowed customers to customize their cookies with assorted raw dough options and have the cookie made to order.  The shop also offered assorted ice cream as the space had previously been a Cold Stone Creamery. 
read more

Eye on Decatur

The Atlanta Jazz Festival 2014 May 23-25

The Atlanta Jazz Festival 2014 is scheduled for 23rd – 25th May and with an annual attendance of around 150,000 it promises to be one of the best jazz events in Georgia. With a number of outdoor stages showcasing the best performers from around the globe and multiple venues in Atlanta city catering for the evenings entertainment it’s perfect for all the family.

Info from: http://www.festivalarchive.com/event/atlanta-jazz-festival-2014/

Eye on Decatur

The 2014 Decatur Arts Festival Poster Unveiled

 From: decaturartsfestival.com
This year’s Arts Festival poster artwork was created by Lulu Kaufman of Cuthbert, Georgia. Her work, she says, celebrates laughter, love, nature, and life, and embraces the spirit of “girl power.”
After traveling and living all around the globe, Lulu has settled in southwest Georgia. She works in her studio on an antebellum horse farm, painting on recycled roof tin, reclaimed barn wood and old windows. Lulu travels to art shows, galleries and shops across the southeast, she says, “spreading love and sunshine.” She’s also the designer for official Jimmy Buffet tour T-shirts.

Beat the Heat with Derby Days at Leon's

 Things to do this week-end
From the decatur minute
*Beat the Street for Little Feet is Saturday morning and is the annual fundraiser for the Oakhurst Co-operative Preschool

*Leon’s is hosting Derby Days again-A celebration of Southern-ness! Elaborate hats, seersucker suits, and Sunday’s best dress all for the most exhilarating 3 minutes in sports.
Come sip mint juleps and bourbon any way you like at our annual viewing party.  We’ll have TVs indoors and on the patio.  Get the chance to wager a bet (with money raised going to The Giving Kitchen).  Don’t forget to dress the part; we’ll have a fancy hat contest.

* The first Concert on the Square of the month takes place Saturday night from 7-9:30pm on the Square. Bring a picnic and come out to enjoy the sounds of The Mar-Tans, a New Orleans Funk Band
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Photo and info from http://decaturartsalliance.org/blog/join-the-derby-day-celebration-at-leons/
Join your friends at Leon’s Full Service, 131 E. Ponce de Leon Ave. (map) in Decatur, on Saturday, May 3, for a Derby Day celebration featuring a hat contest, mint juleps, horse betting and more, all to benefit the Decatur Arts Alliance. See you then!

Taken 3 Filming in Atlanta this Week

 From:http://www.accessatlanta.com

"Taken 3" is in action in Atlanta this week, and stars Liam Neeson and Forest Whitaker filmed a key scene at Stone Soup Kitchen on Woodward Avenue, just east of downtown, on Tuesday. Crew members spent Monday setting up. Things went mercifully well given the crazy weather Atlanta had earlier in the week.
"We're glad the weather held out," Stone Soup owner Sarah Rick said. "One of the crew members asked, 'What's your tornado plan? I said, 'Tornado plan?' She said, 'I'm going to need one.' I said, 'Well, we'll make one!'"
Rick's husband, John Rick, is a contractor who is working on a home with a sturdy basement close to the restaurant. Tornado plan solved.
"I was really impressed with all the people" who worked on the project, Sarah Rick said. "Hard-working people. It was amazingly organized for having 70-some people descend on this small little place. I don't really know how they picked the location but they started talking to us a couple of months ago."
 "Taken 3" star Liam Neeson on the set this week.
Photo from accessatlanta.com

The Plaza Theatre Rated No. 5 in Best Theatres in World

From: http://www.mensjournal.com

Like many of the country's earliest movie palaces, the Plaza Theatre has gone through a series of incarnations in the 75 years since it opened, from an Art Deco gem in the 1930s to a 1970s porn palace to a restored repertory theater in the 1990s. In 2012, The Plaza – Atlanta's oldest continuously operating cinema – was purchased by a new owner, who has since reverted its programming back to a nice mix of new indie films, contemporary classics, and regular midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Why It Stands Out: In 2012, Michael Furlinger – who previously revamped Charleston's Terrace Theatre – purchased the Plaza Theatre and has been dutifully working to upgrade the facilities (Including giving it plush chairs, gourmet concessions, and digital projection) while keeping popular community events intact.

Read more: http://www.mensjournal.com/expert-advice/the-top-20-movie-theaters-in-the-world-20140415/the-plaza-theatre-atlanta-ga#ixzz30U7PL0d0

Lookout Suburban Plaza Here Comes Wal-Mart

From:http://neighbornewspapers.com


For more than two and a half years, Good Growth DeKalb has been the voice of residents concerned about the proposed redevelopment of Suburban Plaza, especially the decision to include a 149,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter at the intersection of Scott Boulevard, Medlock and North Decatur roads.

The organization’s concerns have been neighbors’ concerns — traffic, safety, emergency vehicles, the environment, good jobs for the community, small business viability and more.

“Faced with increasingly limited legal options, we accepted an invitation to meet with [the developer] Selig Enterprises, owner of Suburban Plaza, on April 17. This was a difficult decision and a difficult process and, while we continue to believe a Wal-Mart is wholly unsuited to this location, our legal battle is now over,” according to a news release.

In exchange for agreeing not to pursue further legal action against DeKalb County over the granting of the Wal-Mart building permit, the organization was able to obtain some relief for the individual plaintiffs whose homes are adjacent to the plaza. The organization also negotiated gains for the community, including a commitment from the developer to contribute a significant amount of money for a sidewalk along Medlock Road between North Decatur Road and Church Street. In addition, the developer will arrange a meeting between the organization and Wal-Mart to discuss issues of importance to the community.

Moreover, as a result of the legal fight, the county has confirmed that it has never staffed or operated the Technical Board Appeals that the county code of ordinances establishes as the review panel for many issues, including building permits.

“It is our hope that this admission will lead to better and more efficient governance and management of our county in the future in accordance with our laws,” according to a news release. “We are especially grateful for the support of our community, who stood with us during this long fight – and for our many donors, large and small, who enabled us to work to make our county and our neighborhoods a better place to live, work and play. We are very proud that, together, we’ve built an organization that is a recognized presence in DeKalb County, a force to be reckoned with, and that we are part of a movement spreading all over the country to encourage smart development, improve our communities and say no to unwanted development.”

The organization is working with other community organizations to ensure the new county zoning code reflects the best in zoning practices as well as community interests. It is gratified to have helped defer a vote on the new code over concerns that it still fails to address the ability of aggrieved parties to appeal unwanted development. The organization said it will continue to work with county officials and other neighborhood groups to resolve this issue before the zoning code next comes up for vote at the board of commissioners meeting May 27.

Information: www.goodgrowthdekalb.org

The Place on Ponce Coming to 315 W Ponce De Leon Ave.

From : http://www.theplaceonponce.com/
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The Place on Ponce is only two blocks from a multitude of retail and restaurants on the Decatur Square, not to mention concert venues, art galleries and the Decatur MARTA Station, which provides a carless commute to the rest of the city.

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h/t Decatur Metro

Introduction party for Le Creuset Stainless at Cook's Wearhouse

Only at The Cook’s Warehouse can you now find the new Le Creuset Stainless line and we’d love for you to join us at our introduction events.
We’ll be serving wine and hors d'oeuvres and this would be an opportunity for you to interview a local chef and our store management for cuisine- and cookware-related stories. As well, Le Creuset representatives will be on hand, for background and comment on cookware.
Please come to the store or date that’s most convenient for you:
· Brookhaven, Thursday, May 1, 5-8 p.m., Chef Christophe Le Matayer of Christophe’s To Go
· East Cobb/Merchant’s Walk, Friday, May 2, 5-8 p.m., Chef Doug Turbush of Seed
· Midtown/Ansley Mall, Saturday, May 3, 12-2 p.m., Chef Julia LeRoy
· Decatur, Saturday, May 3, 3-5 p.m., Chef Adeline Borra
In the Brookhaven store will be Chef Le Matayer, formerly of The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, who runs a successful take-away gourmet shop; at East Cobb, Chef Turbush owns the highly rated and well-known Seed restaurant; at Ansley, Chef LeRoy has worked in two five-star Atlanta restaurants and teaches as well as is a private chef; and in Decatur, Chef Borra teaches and caters from her ma cuisine by adeline business. They’ll all be preparing delicious treats using the new Stainless line.

Underwater Art Work at Decatur's FELLINI'S PIZZA

Very cool art work, looks like something you would see at a swimming pool.

FELLINI'S PIZZA
333 Commerce Dr

Decatur, GA

404  370-0551

See menu here

 

h/t Decatur Metro

Atlanta Motorama at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Continues thru Sunday

Downtown Decatur circa 1927

Drive-Invasion Moves to Turner Field with new Date Saturday Sept. 6th, 2014

From:  https://www.facebook.com/driveinvasion
Dear Drive-Invaders,

The Starlight Six Drive-in Theatre and its wonderful events like Mondo Movie Night, Drive-Invasion and Rock N Roll Monster Bash have always held a special place in my imitation butter soaked heart. Like you, I’ve shared many laughs, made new friends and built lasting memories on that old blacktop. It’s sacred ground that has defined us for a large portion of our lives.

With the studio controlled conversion to digital projection, staging events at The Starlight is now impossible. It stings, but I wish them the best and I’ll continue to buy a ticket to see their movies under the stars. The Starlight Drive-In will always be a magical place and we hope you will continue to support them.

Dusty Booze, Lisa, Amy and I were sickened by the idea of no Drive-Invasion. The thought of Scott Rogers, Suellen Germani and Teri Oldknow’s dream fading into a distant memory like celluloid film… it was depressing.

So we decided to get off our ass and keep the damn party alive! There had to be a way to honor the unselfish labors of past organizers, wildly talented bands and B-movie legends that sweated inside that great landmark.

What could possibly replace the nostalgia of a working Drive-in built in 1949?

How about a view of the Atlanta skyline on the very spot where Hank Aaron beat Babe Ruth’s home run record on April 8th, 1974! Yes, the Green lot at Turner Field. Six times bigger than the Starlight Six and we’re putting the main stage right underneath the monument where Hammerin’ Hank hit that ball 40 years ago! That’s right, we have teamed up with the Atlanta Braves!

So what will change? Other than no camping … not much. Due to a Braves home stand, we have to change the date to the Saturday (September 6th) after Labor Day weekend, but there is no Dragon-Con to compete against and The Great Atlanta Beer Festival is happening inside Turner Field on the same day. There are some really cool additions this year. We’ve enlisted celebrity chef and former Starlight Six manager, Jim Stacy, to hand-pick a food truck midway that is sure to get your lips smacking and belly rumbling. We’re also adding an artist market to the vending area and a kid’s play zone sure to wear out the little ones. There will be all kinds of shenanigans, horseplay, hijinks and tomfoolery announced in the near future.

We’ve gotten an early start so check the website! We’re being respectful of all musical genres. In no way do we wish to alienate anyone who has been involved with past Drive-Invasions. This has all been hush-hush because there were many hurdles we had to jump to get here. If you’re interested in contributing, we’re interested in speaking with you. This is all about Drive-Invaders, community, bands, b-movies and the legend of Scott “Rip Thrillby” Rogers.

Please be sure to like The World Famous Drive-invasion Facebook page at www.facebook.com/driveinvasion and click the dropdown menu for “get notifications”. And PLEASE repost, repost and repost.
Be sure to visit:  http://www.drive-invasion.com/

What's up City of Atlanta, is The Varsity Jr. coming back to Lindbergh Drive or what ?

 Ok, City of Atlanta, What are if any plans to get The Varsity Jr back on Lindbergh Dr. ? It's been almost 4 years since they closed.

Care to make any comments.

The following story is from 2010

From:  http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2010/10/22/Varsity.html?page=all

Lisa R. Schoolcraft

The Varsity Jr. off Lindbergh Drive may be closed, but the project to demolish, rebuild and reopen it may not be dead.
The 45-year-old restaurant, at 1085 Lindbergh Drive, closed in August after Varsity owners and city of Atlanta planning officials could not agree on the new design, including ingress and egress issues.
But since then, both sides have met to discuss the issues.
“The city has reached out to us to try to come to a resolution on the issues that we ran into,” said Gordon Muir, president of The Varsity Inc., which also owns Varsity restaurant locations downtown, and in Alpharetta, Athens, Norcross and Kennesaw.
Even Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed “came down and met with us at The Varsity and wanted to do everything he could to help us,” said Muir, grandson of Varsity founder Frank Gordy.
The problem, Muir said, is his company has already begun construction on a new 4,550-square-foot restaurant in Dawsonville.
“We’re a small family business and we don’t do a lot of projects at one time,” he said. “So it is very much up in the air if we will circle back around to do that Lindbergh project. But it is not completely off the table.”

Atlanta Motorama at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. 4-26 and 4-27

GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING



 



From: www.henryherald.com

HAMPTON — There will be monster trucks, old racing cars, lawnmower racing, and even a car valued at one million dollars at

The two-day event will feature some of the newest and most unique motoring machinery in the industry for car enthusiasts.

One of the featured events will be a 1964 Plymouth at the Petty’s Garage display, which will give event visitors an up-close view of a car raced by Richard Petty out of one of the most successful garages in NASCAR history.

Of Petty’s 200 race victories, all but a handful of them came under the Petty Enterprises banner.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Petty’s first Daytona 500 win in 1964, the same year of his first of seven series championships.

Petty’s car will be part of the Petty’s Garage display at Motorama that will showcase the high-performance speed shop based out of the same famous compound that housed Petty Enterprises through decades of NASCAR victories and championships. Petty Enterprises has amassed a total of 268 NASCAR Sprint Cup victories. While a majority of those wins have come from Richard Petty, other race winners include Lee Petty, Buddy Baker and Marvin Panch.

Another feature at the event will be a restored 1930 Duesenberg Model J valued at $1.2 million, which is owned by Fayetteville’s Jack Miller.

The Duesenberg brand was considered to have produced the fastest and most luxurious cars in America during its prime. The Duesenberg Model J is indeed a rare vehicle, as less than 500 were built between 1929 and 1937. They were driven by the upper echelon of society with the likes of gangster Al Capone, movie star Clark Gable and billionaire Howard Hughes having been known to own Duesenberg Model Js.

The Model J owned by Miller was originally owned by the family of Lew Wallace, a Union Civil War general, who later went into politics and was also the author of “Ben Hur: A Tale Of The Christ.”

Originally purchased in 1998, the car has been restored as close to its original version as possible. That has meant seeking out parts for the car that are both original and authentic — including the car’s eight cylinder, 420 cubic inch engine.

“It’s important to me to do that, but it’s more important to whoever the next owner will be. There are so few Duesenbergs out there,” Miller said. “You only see about three or four of these come on the market each year, so people are going to want them to be authentic as they can be.”
this weekend’s Atlanta Motorama at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
DIRECTIONS

Richard Petty photo from : http://blog.classiccars.com

Should be a lot of fun.

Huddle House Franchise Is Cashing In on Comfort Food

The family-dining franchise chain has been in business for 50 years and was founded in Decatur, GA; they currently have 400-plus stores in 21 states; and there are 178 franchise partners -- a number that continues to grow.

From: www.marketwired.com/
How Huddle House Franchise Is Cashing In on Comfort Food

Huddle House CEO Michael Abt Tells Bloomberg TV That Franchise Owners Know Customer Cravings Drive Business

SANDY SPRINGS, GA--(Marketwired - Apr 22, 2014) - Bloomberg TV's "Taking Stock" recently aired a segment featuring an interview with Huddle House CEO Michael Abt, who told interviewer Pimm Fox why the Huddle House franchise brand is on an upswing.

During the interview, Abt talked about the Huddle House "Any Meal. Any Time." motto of serving whatever customers want around the clock, because most Huddle House franchises are open 24 hours a day. He also talked about how Huddle House is attracting new franchise owners.

"Most of our franchise partners have business experience," Abt told Fox. "Not all of them have restaurant experience. Most of them have a passion for people and a passion for food."

Huddle House franchise partners tend to live in the areas where Huddle House already has restaurants, Abt said, although he noted that the brand recently signed deals to expand into Long Island and New Jersey and is actively seeking franchise partners across the U.S.

When asked about his personal favorites on the menu, Abt mentioned a couple of his old stand-bys, the Philly Cheese Steak Omelet and a golden waffle, as well as a new go-to: a burger with mushrooms, Swiss cheese and onions, part of Huddle House's new Bold Burger line.

Abt said Huddle House is constantly updating its menu while retaining classic items that customers love. "We try to keep things fresh; we're developing new products all the time," he said. "We have a great chef, and we do some work with some outside culinary services to help us, as well."

The short interview segment recapped some Huddle House stats: The family-dining franchise chain has been in business for 50 years and was founded in Decatur, GA; they currently have 400-plus stores in 21 states; and there are 178 franchise partners -- a number that continues to grow.

For more information, visit: huddlehousefranchising.com.

Diesel Filling Station Boycotts Sweetwater

From: http://blogs.ajc.com
 Diesel Filling Station Boycotts Sweetwater
 by btownsend.

It all started with a report in Creative Loafing earlier this month that beer from other Georgia craft breweries had been pushed out of Turner Field by an exclusive sponsorship deal between the Braves and Atlanta’s Sweetwater Brewing Co., which included a bigger presence around the park and the takeover of the former Coors kiosk in the Fan Plaza near the front gates.

Soon after, baseball loving beer geeks were crying foul, noting that beer from Red Brick and Terrapin were missing from the opening day lineup.

Over the weekend, Diesel Filling Station in Virginia-Highland posted a message on its outdoor sign declaring that the bar would boycott Sweetwater and no longer carry its beer.

“It was 420 weekend, so we thought we’d have some fun,” Diesel owner Justin Haynie said today, referring to 420 Fest, the big Sweetwater music and beer festival that was going on Friday-Sunday at Centennial Olympic Park.

“The decision was based on the Turner Field thing,” Haynie said. “We only carry domestic beer and we try to sell mostly local Georgia beers. We have 20 taps that we rotate. When we read that Turner Field was exclusive to Sweetwater we made the decision.”

Sources at Sweetwater claim that their “exclusive craft beer sponsorship” means that they are an official Braves sponsor — not that Sweetwater beers should be the only craft beers sold at the ball park.

Aramark, the national food service company that runs the concessions at Turner, is in charge of ordering beer through its distributors, including United Distributors, the wholesaler for Sweetwater and Terrapin.

Of course, Sweetwater is an Atlanta success story, and as Georgia’s biggest craft brewery recently rose to 19 on the list of the top 50 American craft breweries.

In a business that has grown by fighting David and Goliath battles with the big beer companies, namely Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors, passionate beer geeks often take sides. But the Sweetwater controversy hits much closer to home, highlighting how far craft beer has come in recent times.

What do you think? Is the Sweetwater and Turner Field deal a good thing or a bad thing for local craft beer?

— By Bob Townsend, AJC Food and More blog.
photo from :  ginkandgasoline.com/

Little Shop of Stories Event: He Said / She Said Tour - April 21

He Said / She Said Tour
Monday, April 21st | 7pm
Wendelin Van Draanen, an award-winning author of more than 30 books for children and young adults, including Flipped and the Sammy Keyes mystery series, and her husband, Mark Huntley Parsons, a long-time non-fiction writer, and now the author of Road Rash, a band-on-the-road YA adventure, are taking a Road Trip Tour focusing on Independent Bookstores across the USA! Their presentation will be geared for kids, teens, adults, readers, writers, and dreamers and they’ll discuss books, writing, and how they survive sharing an office. They will also share how they juggled fulltime jobs and raising children as they worked toward publication. Their motto: “Everyone has a dream. We want to remind people that they can come true.”
info from: http://www.littleshopofstories.com/events.php

Easter service at Stone Mountain Park

Easter service at Stone Mountain Park

Back in the spring of 1944, a youth group from Stone Mountain First United Methodist Church trekked to the top of Stone Mountain on Easter morning to see the sunrise. Seven decades later, folks of all ages continue the tradition by hoofing it to the apex of the world’s largest hunk of exposed granite for a nondenominational service.

Although the service doesn’t begin until 7 a.m., park gates swing open at 4 a.m. Summit Skyride, the cable cars that go from the base of the mountain to the top and back again, also begin hauling guests at 4 a.m. It costs $9 for adults and $7 for kids ages 3-11 for a round-trip Skyride ticket or $5.50 one-way.

Those wishing to walk to the top can begin the climb near Confederate Hall, adjacent to the park’s West Gate. The one-mile walk to the top remains free of charge.

Would you rather stay grounded? A simultaneous service takes place at the base of the mountain on Memorial Lawn.

Organizers suggest allowing extra time, because the event typically draws crowds. Don’t forget to bundle up, especially if you opt for tackling the mountain.

7 a.m. April 20. Free. $10 parking per vehicle; free for church vans and buses. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Drive, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com/events/Easter-Sunrise-Service.aspx.

info from: http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/entertainment/easter-events-for-the-whole-family/nfWzQ/

Don't Forget Earth Day at The Garden this Saturday April 19

EARTH DAY PARTY AT THE GARDEN!
April 19, 1-4pm

Why is Earth Day a Pirate’s favorite holiday?
Because it is all about the 3 Rs!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle !

The City of Decatur, in partnership with the Wylde Center, will be holding its annual Decatur Earth Day Festival (DEDF) on Saturday, April 19, 2014, 1-4 p.m. at the Oakhurst Garden at the corner of Oakview and South McDonough, Decatur.
 This celebration of Earth Day is Pirate themed and is a fun and festive way for more than 400 members of the community to come together and pARRRticipate in celebrating the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day at the city’s OFFICIAL EARTH DAY PARTY. Show your support and like our Facebook Page. The celebration will kick off with a pirate led pARRRade that will go from Harmony Park to the Oakhurst GARRRden site, beginning at 12:30 pm. We have an exciting array of events planned for children, youth and adults and include, for example:

• Costume Parade led by the Funk Pirates at 12:30pm
• FREE ARRRTS & Crafts for Kids
• Southeastern Reptile Rescuewill be on site with a exhibit full of a variety of snakes. Snake show and alligator show at 2pm.
• LIVE Music by Opposite of Hee Haw and MoRhythm
• World Famous Cake Contest (pirated themed of course)
• Announcement of our Special Earth Day T-shirt contest winner

Lots of Fun for the Kids
Kids will enjoy the ARRRTS & crafts, scavenger hunts, and festive pirate performers. A pirate ship will be parked in front of the garden and live birds of prey will be on hand to interact with.

all info from : http://wyldecenter.org/decatur-earth-day-festival/
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Here is a video from 2010
 

Throwback Thursday @ Decatur Estate April 17

http://www.decaturestateantiques.com/