Donald Trump holds a double-digit lead over his nearest rival in the GOP presidential primary.

From: http://onlineathens.com
Billionaire Donald Trump holds a double-digit lead over his nearest rival in the GOP presidential primary, according to a FOX 5/Morris News Poll.

The real estate mogul and reality TV star received 30 percent, the largest support of 16 Republican candidates, in a survey conducted by OpinionSavvy/InsiderAdvantage this month of 569 likely Republican presidential primary voters.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush came in second with 17 percent.

Neurosurgeon Ben Carson trailed him with 10 percent, followed by former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee with 7 percent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 6 percent, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker with 5 percent.
more at http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2015-08-05/poll-donald-trump-leads-among-georgia-republicans

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photo credit http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-announces-2016-presidential-campaign-make-country/story?id=31799741

Cool Advertisement for Chick-fil-A

Halt and Catch Fire Review

From:  http://variety.com
“Halt and Catch Fire” didn’t stoke many embers ratings-wise, but its second and potentially final season went out, on the show’s understated terms, in a blaze of glory. AMC’s attempt to craft another “Mad Men”-esque period piece from producers behind “Breaking Bad” remained as chilly and emotionally distant as its high-tech setting, but the second-season gambit of dramatically altering the relationships and narrative largely worked, creatively speaking, if not in terms of earning a reboot from the audience. The finale, moreover, deftly left the story open enough to continue while providing appropriate closure if this serves as a full halt.
Blessed with the benefit of hindsight about how computers and digital technology have impacted our world since where this season began 30 years ago, the show remained at its best when exploring those business machinations, and less compelling in its web of relationships. Simply put, watching Gordon (Scoot McNairy) fall apart emotionally while his wife Donna (Kerry Bishe) flourished running the game startup Mutiny had its moments, but never popped as much as this well-informed look into the roots of the tech boom.

Review:‘Halt and Catch Fire,’ Season 2

For that reason, the finale (and SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t watched) came around to a reasonable and logical end point, which felt both true to the characters (mostly) and savvy about allowing viewers to mentally plug in the gaps about what the future likely holds for these fictional pioneers. That culminated with the “California, here we come” finish, and the promise of moving this whole act to the fertile fields of Silicon Valley.

See More:AMC, Channel 4 Renew Sci-Fi Drama ‘Humans’ for Season 2

Still, the show’s dramatic heart remained the slick-talking visionary/salesman Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace), whose adventure trying to settle down personally and professionally – work for an imperious tycoon of a father-in-law (James Cromwell, who tends to class up whatever joint he visits) – seemed doomed from the get-go. Yet the fact that Joe would take what appeared to be his downfall and turn that back into a Phoenix-like rebirth – using Gordon’s genius to embrace the burgeoning possibilities of launching an anti-virus business – reinforced the sense of a guy with nine lives, someone who would always manage to land on his feet, usually at the expense of others.
“Real security is trusting no one,” Joe said, not only tapping into the paranoia that digital technology has unleashed long before the current era of hacking, but also anticipating the slogan for “The X-Files.” The sequence in which he sells the new product by demonstrating what it can do was an example of the show at its very best, displaying Joe’s daredevil streak while exploiting everything we know about computing circa 2015.

See More:Future of ‘Turn,’ ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ Being ‘Assessed,’ AMC Chief Says

As noted, series creators Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers left the door open to proceeding with this story, but that final image of Joe staring out at the glittering landscape spread out before him felt if not like the end, at least an end. And after giving the series a second chance, one could hardly fault AMC — which has renewed Sunday-night companion “Humans” and the ratings-challenged “Turn” — for not beating its head against a wall on another enterprise with passionate but narrow appeal. (AMC has said an official decision on “Halt” will come after the season ends.)
Granted, “Breaking Bad” gradually broke out into an unqualified hit, but despite talk about seeking to broaden “Halt’s” base, even in today’s binge-oriented age that’s a rare exception. On the plus side, the network did provide “Halt” fans a chance to see the series play out long enough to reach a more satisfying finish – on the eve of that digital dawn when the geeks began to inherit the Earth.

photo credit:  http://wegotthiscovered.com

Juice Bar Is Adding a Virginia-Highland Location

From: http://atlanta.eater.com
It will be the third Atlanta-area location.

Juice Bar is taking it's health-conscious snacks and beverages to Virginia-Highland. The juicery, with locations in Suwanee and Druid Hills and another planned for Johns Creek, will open at 1402 North Highland Avenue in September. It's the same development that houses Ron Eyester's The Family Dog.

Juice Bar offers typical healthy fare: smoothies, juices, a variety of shots, and cleanses. The shop will also cary "wellness products" from local purveyors such as wellness products from local purveyors such as Georgia Grinders, Golda Kombucha, Mountain Organics, Popstar Popsicles, Queen of Kale, and Vonnie's Wheatgrass. Juice Bar's parent company, I Love Juice Bar, operates 25 shops in 10 states.
photo credit: http://www.yelp.com/

A Look Back at The Plaza Theatre 29 Years Ago

https://www.flickr.com

 Playing at The Plaza - Robert Redford and Debra Winger in LEGAL EAGLES & Jack Nicholson in HEARTBURN.

Video Friday - Danny and The Juniors- At The Hop

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop Let's go!

From: http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/danny_and_the_juniors/at_the_hop.html
Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!

Well, you can rock it you can roll it
You can slop and you can stroll it at the hop
When the record starts spinnin'
You chalypso* when you chicken at the hop
Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop

Ah, let's go to the hop
Let's go to the hop (oh baby)
Let's go to the hop (oh baby)
Let's go to the hop
Come on, let's go to the hop

Well, you can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
Let's go!

Ah, let's go to the hop
Let's go to the hop (oh baby)
Let's go to the hop (oh baby)
Let's go to the hop
Come on, let's go to the hop
Let's go!

[Instrumental Interlude]

Well, you can rock it you can roll it
You can slop and you can stroll it at the hop
When the record starts spinnin'
You chalypso* when you chicken at the hop
Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop

Well, you can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
Let's go!

Ah, let's go to the hop
Let's go to the hop (oh baby)
Let's go to the hop (oh baby)
Let's go to the hop
Come on, let's go to the hop
Let's go!

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah
Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!

Is it Adiós for Smith's Olde Bar

Marketed as "Morningside Strip Center," the property that includes the iconic Smith's Olde Bar is due to go to auction August 28th.

from :http://www.tonetoatl.com
 The property currently home to Smith's Olde Bar may soon change hands.

Marketed as "Morningside Strip Center," the property that includes the iconic Smith's Olde Bar is due to go to auction August 28th.  According to a "property package" I obtained, the center, on Piedmont Avenue in Piedmont Heights, was built in 1925 and has been owned by the Taylor family since 1927, or 88 consecutive years. 

Although now controlled by a trust, Beverly Anne Taylor owned the property until this past March when she passed away at age 97.  A native Atlantan, Taylor's parents May Garvey and Albert Heery Bailey had a home at the corner of Peachtree and Piedmont Roads until 1956. Notably, in 1939 she attended the premiere of Gone With The Wind and danced with Clark Gable at the ball.  To this native Atlantan, both of these are pretty remarkable.

Also remarkable is the longevity of key tenant Smith's Olde Bar. The bar, restaurant and live music venue occupies 10,511 square feet (over five spaces) of the property's overall 17,767 square feet in retail space.  Smith's has been the center's biggest attraction in recent memory, having opened in 1993. Similar to the likes of The Masquerade and the (original) Roxy Theatre on Roswell Road in Buckhead, Smith's is a great place to see a new, local or up-and-coming band in an intimate setting. 
more

Do You Like the Coca-Cola Freestyle Drink Machines

 I thought it was just me but everything just tastes awful from the freestyle machines. I like Coke, so when I use these freestyle drink machines. My Coke DOES NOT TASTE LIKE A COKE. My drink tasted like, it was part orange and/or grape,diet coke,sprite etc...

I think it's a balance between carbonated water and syrup that is messed up. 

Several fast food drive thru places  use these machines .

Many Theatre's use these and for the price you pay, you should get a drink that taste good.

 Never again will I use these type machines.

Comments welcome.
It's even got a facebook page

-- Comment: Anonymous said... I can't stand Freestyle machines. Besides tasting like other flavors of whatever the person before you had, they also lack in the syrup. All the drinks taste water-down.

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe Coming to Decatur

 From: http://www.tonetoatl.com

Taziki's upcoming Decatur location will opened alongside a new outpost of Highland Bakery at 315 West Ponce de Leon Avenue. 

 

Birmingham, Alabama-based Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe plans to end 2015 with six units in metro Atlanta with the possibility of adding another six in the coming years.  The fast casual chain entered metro Atlanta in 2012 with a location in Sandy Springs at the  "Glenridge Springs" development, near the Haverty's building.   Taziki's added a location on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta in late 2013. Last spring the chain opened in Athens in the Bottleworks on Prince Avenue. 

Today the chain opened its newest location, in Suwanee on Old Peachtree Road.  Here, Taziki's joined Nashville, Tennessee-based I Love Juice Bar in a newly built center just off I-85 and adjacent to an existing Home Depot. 

As I previously announced, Taziki's upcoming Decatur location will opened alongside a new outpost of Highland Bakery at 315 West Ponce de Leon Avenue. While a drive-thru I Love Juice Bar was also proposed for the property, the concept was panned by the city of Decatur and ultimately abandoned.
read more at http://www.tonetoatl.com

photo credit:  http://www.restaurantnews.com

Eye on Decatur - US1 Discounts

http://www.us1discounts.com/

Make it a Day to visit Oakhurst Village

Today is a great day to visit Oakhurst Village

From: thedecaturminute.com
 Not in the mood to go downtown today for Slide the City? Visit the fine restaurants, stores and services in Oakhurst Village instead! They continue to remain open during regular business hours while the Oakhurst streetscape project is underway.

    Bee’s Knees
    Decatur Eye Care
    Family Dollar
    Halo Salon
    Intown Acupuncture
    Intown Auto Care
    Kavarna
    Keller Knapp Real Estate
    Matador Cantina
    Mezcalito’s Cantina
    Mojo Pizza
    New Acropolis
    Oakhurst Cleaners
    Oakhurst Market
    Oakhurst Pediatrics
    One Step At A Time
    Origins Real Estate
    Saba
    Steinbeck’s
    Hop ‘N Shop
    Sugar Moon Bake Shop
    Taj Ma-Hound
    Tessitura
    The Solarium
    Universal Joint

Slide the City will be CLOSED by 1 p.m. Due to Water Main Break

Ticket holders will be contacted by Slide the City in the near future about refunds, etc.

 From: thedecaturminute.com
Slide the City will be CLOSED by 1 p.m.

 Due to the ongoing issues with a DeKalb County water main break the decision has been made to shut down today’s Slide the City event by 1 p.m. Ticket holders will be contacted by Slide the City in the near future about refunds, etc.

Because many buildings are without air conditioning (A/C system requires water),  cooling centers are in the process of being established around the city. As soon as those locations are determined (we want to make sure they have water and functioning restrooms) an update will be posted here.

DeKalb County continues to tweet updates via @ItsInDeKalb.

7 DAYS TO GO

Poster credit: http://screenrant.com/mission-impossible-rogue-nation-trailer-preview-casting/

The Slide the City is finally here! Sat. July 25

From: thedecaturminute.com

 So even if you don’t have tickets to ride the slide, come on out and enjoy the festivities. T.Mac, Ted’s Montana Grill, and Cafe Lily are all planning big patio parties that are open to everyone.

The Slide is finally here!
After months of talk and preparation, tomorrow is the big day for Slide the City! Not only will it be super fun and a cool way to spend a day in Decatur, but it is a big fundraiser for the Decatur Business Association. The DBA hosts so many free community events all year long, these funds really help make that happen. (Concerts on the Square, Blue Sky Concerts, Easter Egg Hunt, the Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast, as well as help fund the MLK Jr Service Project and the 4th of July Fireworks.)

So even if you don’t have tickets to ride the slide, come on out and enjoy the festivities. T.Mac, Ted’s Montana Grill, and Cafe Lily are all planning big patio parties that are open to everyone.

It will be hot so don’t forget to bring sunblock and a water bottle.  And speaking of water bottles, the Environmental Sustainability Board will be out at the event refilling your water bottles for free!

We can’t wait to see you #slidedecatur

Video Friday - The Human League

Eyes on a Decatur Pole - That Way to The Dogg House

Let me point you to the Dogg House ---> it's at  310 E. Howard Ave

Slide the City is this Saturday July 25 - Over 5,000 People Expected

From: thedecaturminute.com
In celebration of the 30^th anniversary of the Decatur Business Association, the DBA along with the City of Decatur has decided to shake up our traditional summer event, the Decatur Beach Party, and make a huge SPLASH this summer. For one day only, there will be a 1000 foot long water slide in the middle of W. Ponce de Leon Ave, stretching from Clairemont down to Ponce de Leon Place.
Here are some important details to note:

• W. Ponce de Leon will be closed between Clairemont Ave and Fairview Ave at 3am on Saturday, July 25^th until midnight that same day.
•  Decatur Police will be present at road closures as well as roaming the event site
• Hours of the event are 10am-9pm. We expect over 4000 people to attend this event
• We have not allowed additonal vendors or foodtrucks to attend this event in the hopes that you, our local businesses will benefit greatly
• There will be music along the Slide for most of the day. We will end the music at 8pm on Saturday evening
• Police located at the barricade at W. Ponce and Fairview will allow local traffic inside the barricade if they are going to a business whose driveway is not blocked by the Slide
• Police will also allow residents who reside in the 315 and 335 buildings to access their buildings

We encourage people to walk, ride bikes, to take Marta to Decatur. If you need to drive, please note the various parking decks on the map
Several of our favorite Decatur businesses will be hosting patio parties and specials on Saturday. Make plans now to hang out at Cafe Lily, T. Mac, and Ted’s Montana Grill-all who have specials planned for the day!
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Other news sites are reporting   5 to 6 thousand people are expected, not all of the 6000 tickets were sold. 

Revival Restaurant Updates Menu

This updated menu just sent in from Emily and Melissa over at Revival .
Thanks Emily and Melissa

KEVIN GILLESPIE’S REVIVAL TO OPEN ON JULY 23 IN DECATUR

Executive Chef Andreas Müller’s Menu of Elevated Southern Fare

Features a Family-Style Spread Suited for Sharing a Meal

 

ATLANTA (July 22, 2015) – Atlanta-based chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Kevin Gillespie is opening his latest dining destination, Revival, in Decatur on Thursday, July 23. The restaurant offers guests a family-style dining experience reminiscent of Gillespie’s own family’s traditions, and executive chef Andreas Müller reinterprets the food from Gillespie’s childhood with a selection of Southern-inspired dishes that will bring guests together at the table.

Müller, who previously worked at Gunshow, shares Gillespie’s enthusiasm for preparing traditional meals with farm-fresh ingredients and uses his own Swedish background to inject both rural and refined culinary influences into the Revival menu. Guests can order dishes à la carte or choose the family-style option ($49 per person), which includes the choice of one entrée for the table and is served with hors d’oeuvre, relishes, trimmings, Gillespie family iron skillet cornbread, the choice of dessert, tea and coffee. The restaurant is opening with dinner service only and will add lunch in several weeks. 

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Menu items for dinner include the following:
 Hors d’oeuvre ($6-$10):
·         Sliced local tomatoes with cucumbers and sweet onion
·         Toasted deviled ham tea sandwiches
·         Local kale salad with old-fashioned boiled dressing
·         Old-fashioned skillet-fried green tomatoes
 Entrées ($11-$18):
·         Country-fried Kobe beef round steak with skillet pan gravy
·         Revival fried chicken
·         Grassfed beef and pork meatloaf wrapped in bacon
·         Wood-grilled Berkshire pork steak
·         Spiced Mississippi catfish in low country tomato gravy
·         Wood-grilled South Carolina quail glazed with roasted honey and garlic
·         Mushroom-stuffed cabbage dumpling with spicy roasted tomato sauce
 Trimmings ($4-$6):
·         Fatback-fried silver queen corn
·         Hickory-smoked local greens
·         Old-fashioned creamed potatoes
·         Fresh field peas and snaps in sweet cream butter and dill
·         Green cabbage with confit ham
·         Revival mac n’ cheese
·         Pan-roasted mushrooms with celery and lemon
·         Local zucchini and summer squash pancake
 Desserts ($7):
·         Geneva’s toasted vanilla pound cake with peach fool
·         Butterscotch trifle with butter pecan cream
·         Lemon icebox pie
·         Rustic peach and nectarine tart à la mode
·         Awesome chocolate cake

Revival seats 100 guests and features a lush garden and a patio space that will house an outdoor bar called Communion in spring 2016. The restaurant is located at 129 Church Street in the former Harbour House Pub site in Decatur. Revival is open for dinner Sunday – Thursday from 5-9 p.m. and Friday – Saturday from 5-10 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not required and can be made by calling the restaurant, 470-225-6770,  or online . For updates, follow Revival on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook . Additional information can be found at www.revivaldecatur.com .

Remembering The Martin's Eastgate / Suburban Plaza Theatre circa 1965

     DECATUR GA
Remember this theatre, it was located at Suburban Plaza Shopping Center. original name was Martin's Eastgate Theatre but later changed name to The Suburban Plaza Theatre.

 The opening movie for the theatre  was  The World Premiere of Walt Disney "Those Calloways".  At the premiere were stars of the film, Brian Keith, Brandon De Wilde and Linda Evans.

Comment from :Stan Malone Built by the Martin Theatre Company in 1964 as the Eastgate. The shopping center and theatre soon underwent a name change to Suburban Plaza, probably because there was already an Eastgate Shopping Center on Columbia Drive near I-20. It opened in January 1965 on the same day as the Village and the Westgate Twin. Premiere feature was “Those Calloways.

Decatur's Newest Restaurant "Revival" releases Menu for Thursday Opening

-----

Dining room photo from https://www.facebook.com/RevivalDecatur/posts/1590900431173841

 According to Decaturish a new UPDATED MENU with lower prices is in the works.

------------------ Menu released on Monday does not reflect new lower prices---------------------

• Hors d'oeuvre ($9-$15)

         Sliced local tomatoes with cucumbers and sweet onion
         Toasted deviled ham tea sandwiches
         Local kale salad with old-fashioned boiled dressing
         Revival relish tray
         Old-fashioned skillet-fried green tomatoes

• Entrées ($18-$26)

Country-fried Kobe beef round steak with skillet pan gravy
Revival fried chicken
Grass-
Creamed Georgia white shrimp and Savannah red rice
Wood-grilled Berkshire pork steak
Spiced Mississippi catfish in low country tomato gravy
Wood-grilled South Carolina quail glazed with roasted honey and garlic
Mushroom-stuffed cabbage dumpling with spicy roasted tomato sauce
fed beef and pork meatloaf wrapped in bacon

• Trimmings ($6-$8)

Fatback-fried silver queen corn
Hickory-smoked local greens
Old-fashioned creamed potatoes
Fresh field peas and snaps in sweet cream butter and dill
Green cabbage with confit ham
Revival mac n’ cheese
Pan-roasted mushrooms with celery and lemon
Local zucchini fritters

• Desserts ($8)

Geneva’s toasted vanilla pound cake with peach fool
Butterscotch trifle with butter pecan cream
Lemon icebox pie
Rustic peach and nectarine tart à la mode
Awesome chocolate cake

-----
 From: Revival facebook: Revival officially opens  Thursday, July 23rd, for dinner. For everyone interested in making reservations you have a couple choices. You can make them online at Seat Me or you can call us directly at 470-225-6770. We look forwarded to sharing the next chapter in our lives with you all very soon!

129 Church St.
Decatur  GA 

Sharknado 3. Oh Hell No ! Wed. July 22

Eye on Decatur - Las Brasas building art work

Bird's-eye View of Decatur circa 1965

This is a 1965  bird's-eye view of downtown Decatur at N. McDonough St & W. Trinity Place.
 Not long after this photo was taken, this corner was all torn down for the building of the New Courthouse.

Comments: 

Frank Thomas: I remember this! My father in law's office was on west trinity place right next to the old post office, a white marble building.

Sandra Wilkins Flournoy:  I went to that Belks so many times. And the theater.....I remember well seeing Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte there. Scared the day lights out of me.

 Laura Peacock Babb: Frank Thomas. I remember that marble building. Sandra Wilkins Flournoy we saw the same movie there too.

Diane Riley Brendel Woodall: We used to go to the Decatur Post Office every Sunday! My grandfather was the Secretary of two Masonic Lodge's. From there we would go to the Dairy Queen at Clairmont and N. Decatur Rd.

 Tom Ball: Parker's filling station. My dad worked for belks for 30 years

Read more comments at:  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200671660551327&set=gm.10153516823947650&type=1&theater

Video Friday- The Go-Go's- Our Lips Are Sealed

Eye on Decatur - Revival One week from Opening

 From: https://www.facebook.com/RevivalDecatur
The sign is up and we are putting the finishing touches on the inside! Information about how to make reservations coming soon!
Top photo credit from Revival 
Bottom photo credit Next Stop...Decatur

129 Church St.
Decatur  GA

Arepa Mia makes Garden & Gun's 50 Dishes You Must Eat Now List

307 East College Ave. Decatur, GA 30030 404-600-3509
 http://www.arepamiaatlanta.com/

Kevin Gillespie is Planning to Open Revival on July 23

The date is tentative, but the Top Chef alum wants to begin service on Thursday, July 23 

From: http://atlanta.eater.com/2015/7/15/8973703/revival-atlanta-opening-date
DECATUR — The wait for Revival, Kevin Gillespie's ode to Southern dining, is almost over. The date is tentative, but the Top Chef alum wants to begin service on Thursday, July 23, the restaurant's PR confirmed. Gillespie, chef and owner of Gunshow in Glenwood Park, has said dinner at Revival will "resemble a classic Southern family-style spread served in your grandmother's home. Revival will be like going to your grandma's on Sunday — except every day." Gunshow alum Andreas Müller will serve as executive chef.

Gillespie has been a busy man lately. He recently traveled to Argentina to film an episode of CNN International's Culinary Journeys, and earlier this week he announced the formation of his own restaurant group.

Your memories of Belvedere Plaza Shopping Center

Looking for your memories.
 Comment: William Riddle : My mother sneaked me into see "Easy Rider" in 1969 at the Belvedere Theatre. I was 8 and the movie of course was rated "R". We got up and left though when Jack Nicholson was getting his head bashed in! LOL! Also, does anyone remember the huge bells on display at Christmas in the mid-late 60's in Rich's front window?

Comment: Thanks William for your memories, great story.
Visit this site for more :  http://belvedereplaza.blogspot.com/

The Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival is August 15, 2015

--
 From: http://www.decaturbbqfestival.com/ Advance Tickets now on Sale! BUY TICKETS Advance tickets are $ 10. Tickets will be $ 20 day of the festival. Children 12 and under are free! The Decatur Barbeque, Blues, & Bluegrass Festival is brought to you by: the Community Center of the South Decatur and the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association. All proceeds of the festival directly into the Decatur community.
 When: Saturday, August 15th, 2015 Time: 12pm – 8pm Location: 630 East Lake Drive & Harmony Park in Oakhurst, south of downtown Decatur Scrumptious Food: BBQ by Fox Brothers, Williamson Bros. BBQ, and Sweet Auburn BBQ Cold Beer: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Rampant Imperial Ale, 1554, and much more from New Belgium Brewing Please note that no outside coolers or personal tents will be permitted on the site.

Infiniti Vacation Commercial with Christie Brinkley

Christie Brinkley, puts a spin on the famous movie scene as the modern day family heads to Walley World.

Krog Street Tunnel Rebound

    File photo.
 From: http://atlanta.curbed.com/
It's been nine months since clandestine swarms of angry locals whitewashed the
Krog Street Tunnel as pushback against a private masquerade that many felt was improperly put together and would cut off access to the area on a Saturday night. With another Krog Masquerade now scheduled for October, it seemed like an opportune time to wander the famed subterranean spray-paint gallery and see what's become of it. The answer: The tunnel is what it's been for years, a bastion of elaborate graffiti pieces, commissioned murals, pasted-up promotional posters, hastily done tags and vulgar doodles. Layers upon layers of all that. But if you look at the fringes, in some places, you'll see that a base of rolled-on gray defiantly remains. see photos here

Market to Table Cooking Class at Souper Jenny

Cooking Class at Souper Jenny
fROM: https://beactivedecatur.wordpress.com/
On Wednesday, July 15, Souper Jenny Executive Chef Jessica Hanners will present a Market to Table cooking class at the Decatur store.

The evening starts at 5:30 with a glass of wine followed by a shopping trip to the Decatur Farmers Market. Participants will return to Souper Jenny’s where Chef Jessica will cook for the group using her market purchases while sharing her insights on how to shop local, what produce to buy in this season and how to use what you’ve purchased in recipes for the home!  A true hands on experience for those looking to shop local & create delicious summer dishes!

Cost of the class is $60. Dinner, wine, and desserts will be served. Everyone will be eligible to win cookbooks. Each guest will receive a $5.00 voucher to use at a future visit to the Decatur Farmers Market.

Call the store to make a reservation – 404.378.1500 – or register online at www.souperjennyatl.com and click “SHOP” on the selection menu.

Video Friday - Modern English- I Melt With You

Rose Squared Changing Name to Decatur Square Gallery & Framing

Rose Squared Gallery & Framing is celebrating 11 years of being Decatur's go-to source for expert framing and original art.

 From JD Isaacs

15th Anniversary in Downtown Decatur!
Rose Squared Gallery & Framing is celebrating 11 years of being Decatur's go-to source for expert framing and original art.
 In keeping with establishing ourselves as a thriving part of the Square in downtown Decatur, we are changing our name to reflect our home.
 Although we are still under the same ownership and management, we are now... As a thank you for our continued success, Decatur Square Gallery & Framing is offering a 20% discount on all framing for the entire month of July, 2015. We've made some cosmetic changes as well.
 Please come by to see us if just to say hello!
Sincerely,
JD Isaacs and Edgar Figueroa

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rose-Squared-Gallery-Framing

A Summer Place

Everyone has that one place. What is your favorite Summer Place to go.?

1930's view of The Varsity on North Avenue in Midtown Atlanta.

Late 1930s view of The Varsity on North Avenue in Midtown Atlanta.
photo credit:  http://atlantahistorycenter.tumblr.com

Waiting for Fireworks and Watching out for Trains

    Decatur  GA
To close for comfort. These firework watchers should have found a better spot.

Eye on Suburban Plaza

Doggy Dogg is now Open at 310 E. Howard Ave.

Doggy Dogg now open at 310 E. Howard Ave. in the old Las Brasas building. learn more at

https://www.facebook.com/doggydoggatl?fref=ts

Decatur 4th of July Fireworks

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More Park Space needed for Decatur

fROM: http://www.ajc.com
The year-old collective Downtown Decatur Neighbors is urging the city to create more park space, particularly around the square, before the land gets scooped up by developers.

The group’s president, George Dusenbury, who was city of Atlanta commissioner for Parks and Recreation from 2010-14, hopes to organize a parks task force. He spoke before Decatur’s commission in May, and plans to meet with City Manager Peggy Merriss early in July.

Dusenbury said studies show that by the end of 2015, 25 percent of all Decatur residents will live downtown, primarily in condos and apartments. The DDN would like to see some of downtown’s parking lots turned into roughly one-acre parks with trees and possibly a combination splash pad/stage.

Only 2.1 percent of Decatur’s land is currently used for parks (or 4.12 percent counting the city cemetery), according to DDN research, compared to 5.2 percent for Atlanta and 8.4 percent nationwide in both medium-high and medium-low density areas.

photo credit:  http://www13.imagesandwallpapers.com

Decatur Street Closures for July 4th

From thedecaturminute.com
Street Closures for July 4th
Here is a list of road and/or lane closures for Saturday, July 4th. Most of these roads will at 8pm 8pm in order to secure the fireworks fallout area-they will be reopened after the fireworks

1.       East Court Square

2.       West Ponce De Leon Ave @ Clairemont Ave  (westbound traffic)

3.       West Ponce De Leon Ave @ Marshall Street

4.       West Ponce De Leon Ave @ Commerce Drive (Eastbound traffic on WPDL Ave and southbound traffic on Commerce Drive)

5.       Parking lot of Chipotle

 6.       Marta Entrance @ Swanton Way Turnaround

7.       Swanton Way @ Ponce De Leon Place

8.       West Trinity Place @ Swanton Way

9.       Commerce Drive @ entrance to Calloway parking lot

10.   Commerce Drive @ West Trinity Place

11.   Commerce Drive @ Robin Street

12.   Commerce Drive @ West Howard Ave (northbound traffic on Commerce Drive)

13.   West Trinity Place @ DeKalb County Parking Deck

14.   West Trinity Place @ entrance to Courthouse small parking lot

15.   Church Street @ E. Trinity Place (westbound traffic on East Trinity Place)

16.   West Trinity Place @ North McDonough Street (westbound traffic on West Trinity Place

This Summer your Mission: Impossible

10 Best Day Trips from Atlanta

   File photo of The Holly Theatre in Dahlonega.
From: http://www.10best.com/destinations/georgia/atlanta/attractions/the-perimeter-beyond/
For those who want to expand their exploration of Atlanta to the perimeter and beyond, 10Best has compiled a list of can't miss things to do and places to see. Heading that list are Stone Mountain Park and Six Flags Over Georgia which are both among our favorites.
10 Callaway Gardens
Located a little more than an hour's drive southwest of Atlanta, Callaway Gardens is a stunning resort. It features a handful of high-end lodging choices, highly regarded Mountain and Lake View golf courses, a world-class tennis facility, a wide array of outdoor activities and plenty of dining possibilities. Of course, many visitors would argue that the resort's lovely gardens are its true attraction. Admission to the gardens allows access to a plethora of options, including Day Butterfly Center, Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl, Sibley Horticultural Center, and numerous nature trails. (706-663-2281, 800-225-5292)

9 Roswell Ghost Tours
Be on the lookout for things spooky and scary on this easy walking tour. See some historical spots along the way. (770-649-9922)

8 Stone Mountain Park
This 3200-acre park surrounds the world's largest granite monolith — you can walk to the top or take a chairlift both ways. A park highlight (and its telltale feature) is a carving on the sheer rock mountainside that honors Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Impressive laser shows are presented during summer months along with special weekend events such as chili cook-offs and ribs festivals. Entry fee is cash only. (770-498-5690, 800-317-2006)

7 Six Flags Over Georgia
This great amusement park offers fun for the entire family. With more than 100 rides and shows, it provides enough distractions for a day or even a whole weekend. The Mind Bender, the world's first triple-loop roller coaster, is a main attraction. Visitors can also test their endurance on the Georgia Cyclone, one of the planet's most popular and top-rated wooden roller coasters. Family-oriented Looney Tunes USA offers rides and activities customized especially to the needs of little ones. Just west of Atlanta. (770-948-9290, 770-739-3400)

6 Lake Lanier Islands
This marvelous cluster of islands in the middle of Lake Lanier is home to Emerald Pointe Resort and Renaissance Pine Isle. Although Atlanta holds a wealth of opportunities, you may want to make the islands your headquarters for fun! Camping, hiking, boating and fishing are all available, along with golf and horseback riding. Lake Lanier Islands also features a busy waterpark, complete with Georgia's largest wave pool, waterslides galore and a mile-long, white-sand beach. (770-932-7233, 800-840-5253)

5 Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
This site near Marietta is where the historic Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought. Over the course of two weeks in the summer of 1864, more than 67,000 men died, were wounded, or were captured during Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. Ultimately, the victory went to the Confederates. Additionally, the site once belonged to the Cherokee Nation, which was forced into exile after making the "Trail of Tears." Today, hikers and bikers enjoy 17-plus miles of wooded trails and observe a variety of historical markers and monuments. Picnicking, horseback riding and bird-watching are also popular. (770-427-4686)

4 Chattahoochee Nature Center
This 127-acre reserve — a natural oasis amid Atlanta's ever-expanding urban landscape — features forest trails for hiking, a river boardwalk that traverses wetland areas, live animal exhibits, a wildlife rehabilitation clinic and educational programs for families, children and groups. Spend an entire afternoon exploring and enjoying all that the center offers. Be sure to allot time for must-dos like the Raptor Aviaries and a stroll around Beaver Pond. (770-992-2055)

3 Dahlonega
Southern Appalachia's charm and culture are just an hour's drive from the heart of Atlanta. Quaint Dahlonega, located just off Highway 409, offers beautiful scenery, fresh air and good hikes. The town itself seems untouched by time thanks to brick walkways, lovely flower beds and friendly people. Locally-owned restaurants and shops offer a good feel for the North Georgia Mountains. In addition, the Crisson and Consolidated Gold Mines, 20 waterfalls, Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and three wineries (Frogtown, Three Sisters and Wolf Mountain) give the town extra year-round appeal. For more information, contact the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center at 800-231-5543.

2 Château Élan Winery and Resort
Look just north of Atlanta for this little gem. A top choice for meetings or getaways that require the utmost in sophistication and elegance, Château Élan Winery and Resort has been entertaining visitors for almost 20 years. The winery offers tastings and tours while the resort delights guests with four golf courses, a tennis center, equestrian facilities, and seven excellent dining options. If you're staying overnight, the hotel has wonderful service, scenic beauty, creature comforts, and access to a full-service health spa. Themed guest rooms include the Gatsby and the Hi-Tech. (678-425-0900, 800-233-9463)

1 Athens
Home of the UGA "Dawgs," launch-pad for bands REM and Widespread Panic, college town par excellence — Athens certainly doesn't suffer from a lack of versatility. Platted around the venerable University of Georgia — whose alumni include former US Senator Phil Gramm and journalist Deborah Norville — the city is as much a draw as the campus is. Shop at its many eclectic boutiques, enjoy the rich array of nightclubs and live music hangouts on Broad Street and beyond, or just explore the surprisingly global (and compact) restaurant scene. You won't go away unhappy. Indeed, Athens is always in season. It's only an hour's drive northeast of Atlanta. For more information, contact the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-653-0603.

Atlanta Street Food Festival 2015

From: http://atlantaeats.com
Atlanta Street Food Festival 2015
For the fourth year, Atlanta’s food truck fanatics will experience a day dedicated to the city’s finest food truck fare as the Atlanta Street Food Festival rolls into Piedmont Park on Saturday, July 11, from noon to 10 p.m. Renowned as Atlanta’s first and only event dedicated to street cuisine, the Festival is proud to announce that, once again, a portion of event proceeds will support the Giving Kitchen, the beloved culinary charity with the unique mission of providing crisis grants to members of Atlanta’s restaurant community facing unanticipated hardship.

More than 50 food trucks, including MIX’d UP, Nectar Food Truck, Ibiza Bites, Yumbii, Genki Sushi Food Truck and Viet-Nomie’s, will gather for the occasion for guests to partake in more food and fun.

 Ticket info here!

Don’t forget to stop by the Atlanta Eats tent to score all types of food prizes!

State rep: Skip Stone Mountain on July 4 — and until Confederate flags come down

Updated : STONE MOUNTAIN SAYS Confederate Flag will stay.
photo credit: civilwartalk.com
From:  http://clatl.com
Stone Mountain Park tends to draw a crowd for Independence Day festivities. But state Rep. LaDawn Jones, D-Atlanta, is urging citizens to skip the attraction’s laser-light show and find another place to view fireworks.

Jones wants people to avoid the mountain, which features three Confederate figures prominently carved into its north face, until the Confederate flags at the bottom of the rock stop flying.

She says the recent killings of nine men and women in a historic black church in Charleston, S.C., "immediately reignited my disdain for the Confederate Flag and all places that it flies over."

Jones says people like Dylann Storm Roof, the accused Charleston shooter, are "empowered" in places that display such a "hateful message." She says The Stone Mountain Memorial Association, the state authority that oversees the park, has yet to respond to her requests to remove the flags. But she thinks the association should be well aware of the stigma surrounding the flag.

“Unless they’re living under a rock, they know what’s going on in the country," she says.

Jones says her opinion doesn't just stem to the recent flag debate: "There is no mistaking the horrible history that comes with that park where the [Ku Klux Klan] was reformed in 1915 and grew from dormancy to millions of members.”

“Due to the large carving… Stone Mountain will always be a memorial to the Confederate soldiers and the Civil War," Jones says. "However, we can stop giving credence to this type of hate by removing the flags that fly at the bottom [of the mountain]."

However, SMMA CEO Bill Stephens tells Creative Loafing that Stone Mountain is protected by state law as a Confederate memorial.
“The law that changed the flag to our current state flag also expressly prohibited changes at Stone Mountain Park,” he says. “Some on both sides of these issues have said that these Confederate symbols belong in a museum. Here in Georgia, Stone Mountain Park serves that purpose.”


Best comment left:  Good!!! More space for me!!!