Eye on Decatur -- New Homes

--Check out these new homes on West Hill St. Decatur, GA..info on above house here

 All of these homes are just one block from Oakhurst Village.    For info on these homes go here

Decatur Book Festival Event Map

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Click to enlarge

Map from  http://www.decaturbookfestival.com

Peach State Opera will be performing Mozart’s beloved The Marriage of Figaro

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From Nancy Martin

I wanted to let you know about Peach State Opera, an emerging opera company who is an artist affiliate of Georgia Perimeter College in Clarkston, Ga. On September 14 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday September 16 at a 3:00 p.m. matinee, they will be performing Mozart’s beloved The Marriage of Figaro in English at the Cole Auditorium. Both will have a pre-opera talk one hour prior to the performance by Carter Joseph who does them for The Atlanta Opera, and is famous for his Opera 101 which is part of Emory’s Continuing Education Program. Many of their singers also sing with The Atlanta Opera and have fabulous voices and acting ability. You can go to Peach State Opera’s website to buy tickets http://www.peachstateopera.org/, or get them at the door the day of the performance. If you need more information call Nancy Martin at 404-373-8165. Better still, check out her blog on the Decatur-Avondale Estates Patch under the byline of Operaddict. http://decatur.patch.com/users/nancy-martin-operaddict/blogpost posts. Here she chronicles her efforts to develop an audience base for Peach State Opera. Those of us in the arts need to support each other's efforts at every opportunity. Pass this information along to your friends, and hopefully we can pay it forward for our fellow artists.

The Edge of Glory - LADY GAGA

THE EDGE OF GLORY - LADY GAGA from jncamez on Vimeo.

Original Waffle House to get Historical Marker

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

Visit the Old Court House to see The Guy Hayes Photo Collection

 While at the Decatur Book Festival why not visit the Guy Hayes photo collection at The Old Court House....and it's FREE

This exhibit showcases a small selection of black and white photographs from the Guy Hayes collection and provides a unique view of food trends, clothing styles and recreational diversions from the 1950s and 60s. Hayes was a professional freelance photographer from 1944 to 1983. He graduated from Clarkston High School and served in the Navy during World War II. After the war he settled in Avondale Estates. Hayes was a regular contributor to The Atlanta Journal, The Atlanta Constitution and The DeKalb News/Sun. More than 11,000 of his original negatives were donated to the History Center in 1984, and although very little documentation accompanies the collection, Hayes’ artistic works reveal a prolific talent with an incisive eye.
info from:  http://www.atlantaplanit.com

The 2012 Decatur Book Festival is this Weekend

 For more info visit decaturbookfestival.com

Fall Festival on Ponce Coming up Sept 15-16

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Sent in by Kathy Fox.
 I wanted to take this the time to thank you for posting information about our past art festival event and to share with you some information about our award winning Fall Festival on Ponce: Frederic Olmsted Would Be Proud! on September 15-16, 2012.

 “Fall Festival on Ponce” will host up to 175 (mostly) local artists and crafters September 15-16, 2012 in the chain of parks along Ponce de Leon Ave. This is second year the famed Olmsted parks will be feted with art. Visitors will appreciate the extensive renovations and maintenance accomplished by the Olmsted Linear Park Alliance (http://www.atlantaolmstedpark.org/). The parks on Ponce are just down the street from the Fernbank Museum (at Boulevard and Ponce de Leon), and designed by Frederick Olmsted, Sr. with total enjoyment in mind. What an ideal location for one of the most enjoyable art shows of the year! What will this festival be like?

 Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, a children’s area, Street Market and local food and beverage concessions including “gourmet” food trucks. This event is organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and volunteer artists to benefit the local community including the Olmsted Linear Park Alliance and the Paideia School. Location: 1451 Ponce de Leon Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307 Olmsted chain of Parks Times: Sat., September 15, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Sun., September 16, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Music: Acoustic music only Admission: Free to attend CONTACT INFORMATION Festival on Ponce www.festivalonponce.com www.affps.com

Eye on Decatur

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Boutique Karma & Raging Taco --->   (see menu)- Decatur GA

Decatur Recreation Center Update Photo

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Decatur Recreation Center
231 Sycamore St.
Decatur, GA 30030 --

Eye on Decatur

Updated above  photo from 9-8-12 

-- It appears that the yet to open Victory Sandwich Bar is building what looks like a small to medium patio area next to the wall painting on the side of building at 340 Church St.

  

MAR Costal Mexican Fare Coming to Decatur

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On a tip from Decatur Metro, MAR Costal Mexican Fare is moving into the old Feast Restaurant building across from the train depot.

 Mandy said...

I can't wait!!!

New Lawn on the Decatur Square Update

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This area will be fenced off during the Decatur Book Festival. --

007 / NEW SKYFALL INTERNATIONAL TRAILER / 007

Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

This Week-end is Grant Park Summer Shade Festival

http://www.summershadefestival.org/

Fall plant sale at Fernbank Sept 22

From  clairmontheights.org

Fall plant sale at Fernbank

Event Date and Time: 

09/22/2012 - 8:00am - 3:00pm

From Fernbank via Laurel Ridge neighborhood newsletter:  Quality trees, shrubs, perennials, and other native plants will be for sale at reasonable prices. There is also an informative exhibit on invasive plants so you can learn what NOT to plant in your garden.  All proceeds support Fernbank Science Center's educational programs. There is plenty of free parking, and as always, admission to the science center exhibit hall and composting demonstration garden is free.
Saturday Sept.22, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
156 Heaton Park Drive
(directly across the street from Fernbank Elementary School)
For more information: http://www.fernbank.edu

Fernbank Science Center
156 Heaton Park Drive
Atlanta, GA 30307
P:678-874-7102 F:678-874-7110
Site Map

1955 Downtown Decatur Jacobs Drug Store & Fulton National Bank

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In this 1955 photo of the Pythagoras Masonic Temple shows a Jacobs Drug Store taking up the corner, and on the right of front entrance The Fulton National Bank had a branch.

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The Pythagoras Masonic Temple
108 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur, Ga.

This building is on The National Historic Register.

also you can see The Watkins Building, at the time I took this photo (below) (1983) The Paper Chase made this their home.
Photo (right) is a  1955 Jacobs Drug Store Christmas ad.

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 Also see Atlanta Time Machine
 This 1942 photo is from Special Collection Dept. Ga State collection
it shows a better view of Jacobs Drug Store. Clairemont Rd
   and East Ponce de Leon Ave.
Decatur Ga.

 - Bryan says: Nice pics! I think The Paper Chase was the store that I knew as Cantrell's Books & Things. Do you have any photos, interior or exterior, of Clark Music, 115 Sycamore Street, Decatur? They were in business from 1945-1990 and the place was very important to me during the 70s. I bought many a record and tape there! Thanks, Bryan ( shellackophile.blogspot.com ) August 22, 2012 Next Stop Decatur says: Bryan, Here is a photo of Clark Music Store --

Book the Brick

From the decatureducationfoundation.org

http://auctions.readysetauction.com/decaturbookfestival/catalog/view

JD Isaacs of Rose Squared has released a New Children's Book "Cinder Elephant"

From JD Isaacs of Decatur's Rose Squared Gallery

Hello Rose Squared friends and customers... I have just released my first fully illustrated children's book on Amazon.com ebooks...Cinder Elephant. Please take a look and see how I take an old classic and bring it up to today's standards with new messages and a brand new outcome... thanks, JD Isaacs of Rose Squared Gallery & Framing.
Buy at Amazon below.
 http://www.amazon.com/Cinder-Elephant-ebook/dp/B008PJWGKUCinder Elephantwritten and illustrated byJD Isaacs

On Her Majesty's Secret Service Opening

On Her Majesty's Secret Service performed by the John Barry Orchestra

Arnold Schwarzenegger to film "Breacher" in Atlanta

 From: blogs.ajc.com

 He'll be back: Arnold Schwarzenegger, shown here in 2010 with the Woodruff Foundation's Russ Hardin, left, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, will shoot a movie in Atlanta later this year. Photo by Denis Reggie
 by Jennifer Brett
Arnold Schwarzenegger will film a movie called “Breacher” in Atlanta later this year. The Hollywood Reporter describes the project as a thriller about “10 DEA agents who pull off a heist during an enforcement operation, then start dying one by one” and notes that Terrence Howard and Dawn Olivieri have been in talks about signing on.
read more

Trethewey's Book Festival Keynote Address Tickets

Trethewey Tickets Now Available for AJC Decatur Book Festival
From VAHI.PATCH.COM
Free tickets − limited to two per person— are available for Trethewey's keynote address at the 2012 AJC Decatur Book Festival.
Want a chance to hear U.S. Poet Laureate and Emory University professor Natasha Trethewey read at Emory?

Free tickets − limited to two per person— are available for Trethewey's keynote address at the 2012 AJC Decatur Book Festival.

Trethewey, the Charles Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory and incoming director of Emory's Creative Writing Program, will deliver the festival’s keynote at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.

This is her first public reading since being named the 19th U.S. Poet Laureate in June. The address will launch her newest collection of poems, “Thrall.”

A Decatur resident, Trethewey is the first Southerner since Robert Penn Warren to be named Poet Laureate and the first local author to deliver the book festival's keynote remarks. She received the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for her collection, "Native Guard."

The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for admission and should be picked up in advance.
read more

FOX BROS. Bar-B-Q Update

from:  http://blogs.ajc.com
UPDATE, 8/5/12 10:45 a.m.: Fox Bros. posted an announcement on its Facebook page this morning with the news that it will begin offering full service again today but will have limited indoor seating at this point.
UPDATE, 8/3/12 6:30 p.m.: Fox Bros. will reopen for to-go orders only. In an online update, owners said, “You are welcome to sit down outside and enjoy it, but we won’t be offering full service just yet!” The restaurant is working on permitting issues to proceed with reconstruction.
UPDATE, 8/3/12 1:15 p.m.: Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q posted a statement on its website with an update indicated that the restaurant’s “main structure, kitchen and smoke house are still very much intact.” Fox Bros. will be serving its pulled pork today at Big Tex Decatur (308 W. Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur).

2ND Annual Madison Ave Soapbox Derby is Sept 29th

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Entry Form click here
more info at www.madisonavesoapboxderby.org --

Here is a photo from last year's event. (Team Wildcats 2011 Champs)

We're About to Lose 1,000 Small Theaters That Can't Convert to Digital.

We're About to Lose 1,000 Small Theaters That Can't Convert to Digital. Does It Matter?
Small theatres like The Pal in Louisville GA.could be a thing of the past.

From indiewire.com
Michael Hurley owns the Colonial Theatre in Belfast, Maine as well as the Temple Theatre in Houlton, Maine. He runs a website for movie theater owners and is a member of the National Association of Theatre Owners. And he's desperate.

Like many theater owners, Hurley sees a very real possibility that nearly 20% of all theaters in North America will disappear because they can't afford digital projection -- but what he doesn't see is anyone talking about it. He wrote Indiewire recently and asked if we could help and we're hoping that this editorial will be a start.

We also want to know what you think. In a VOD world, does it matter if we lose up to 1,000 theaters? And if it does matter, we're in also in a Kickstarter world  -- so what could be done to change it?  -- Indiewire Editors
read more

Missing sweet dog, in Oakhurst, Her name is Molly

 UPDATE: FOUND AND IS HOME SAFE AND SOUND.

Missing sweet dog, in Oakhurst, Molly - Looks like a small version of a golden retriver.

 Sent in by Kerri.
Our dog, Molly got out (without her collar on, unfortunately) at about 5:30PM 8/3. She is a very sweet, friendly, non-aggressive dog, but is very scared of storms. She will come if called.

We live on 2nd Avenue in Decatur (inside the city limits) but are right at the border with Eastlake and Kirkwood (we live one block north of the Hosea Williams/2nd Ave. intersection), so neighbors in Eastlake and Kirkwood, please be on the lookout for Molly, too.

Molly's description:

25-lb., very blonde color, medium length hair. Looks like a small version of a golden retriever. Has a scar near her right eye that is in the process of healing.

She is microchipped and the contact information is current.

If you find Molly, please contact Kerri as soon as possible:

Kerri: 404-307-1069!

Thank you very much!

 FOUND

 Kristin Ebersold says:
August 4, 2012
Yeah….home safe & sound thanks to some great neighbors in Oakhurst!!!

Storm Damage at Fox Bros Bar-B-Q

 FROM FOX5ATLANTA
(photo by Julia Reynolds/MyFoxAtlanta).
Fox Bros Bar-B-Q on DeKalb Avenue tweeted a picture of a downed tree in their restaurant.

"It's not good, it's not good. The two dining rooms are going to have to be rebuilt," said Justin Fox.

The tree fell over at dinner time. No one was injured.

"Fortunately, they saw it happening and were able to get out before the tree came down," said Fox.

UPDATE:
 Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Walmart at Suburban Plaza Protest Planned for Aug 10

from http: neighbornewspapers.com
Good Growth DeKalb is organizing the last of its summer rallies at the six-way intersection at North Decatur Road, Scott Boulevard and Medlock Road Aug. 10 to protest the planned construction of a Walmart at Suburban Plaza shopping center, in unincorporated DeKalb County near Decatur.

Based on a recent meeting between developers and a contingent of residents, the furor raised by the plans does not appear to be dying down.

The July 13 sit-down involved representatives from Selig Enterprises, the development firm handling the project, and multiple grassroots organizations advocating local residents’ interests.

Read more: NeighborNewspapers.com - Walmart at Suburban Plaza issue heats up

TAKEN 2 OCT 5

The Art of Japanese Knife Making at The Cooks Warehouse

From Cook's Warehouse

The Art of Japanese Knife Making
8/15/2012	Decatur
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM		Tadashi Enami, Akimasa Oe, and Yuzo Tani		$35
Join us as we host three Japanese knife masters from Sakai city - Tadashi Enami, Akimasa Oe, and Yuzo Tani - for a special event that will allow you to observe the art of Japanese Knife making, first hand. You’ll see a live demonstration of steel knife forging, assembling, sharpening and engraving, then sit down to enjoy a sampling of Japanese hors d’oeuvres and sake tasting hosted by Mary Moore and Don Hackett. You’ll have an opportunity to talk with the knife masters and learn first-hand about the centuries old tradition of knife and sword making. We’ll have special offers on Kikuichi knives and you can have yours engraved on the spot by the engraving master. Register today for this unique opportunity to meet these knife masters and witness the time honored art of Japanese knife forging.

Sally Kellerman performing at Jerry Farber's Side Door

Special/Alan Mercer
From  accessatlanta.com

Sally Kellerman will be here this weekend, performing her cabaret act at Jerry Farber's Side Door in Buckhead and talking about her Academy Award-nominated role in "M*A*S*H" at a screening of the influential Robert Altman movie Sunday morning at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema.
See full story

Changes for Downtown Avondale Estates

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Decatur Firm Buys Downtown Avondale Estates

 From Decatur Patch

Oakhurst Realty Partners of Decatur purchased 26,000 square feet of retail space. 

People have been wondering for years when something would happen to change the rundown look and feel of downtown Avondale Estates.
It may have happened, with landowner Newburger-Andes selling all of the downtown property it owns to Oakhurst Realty Partners of Decatur, according to the commercial real estate website Bisnow.
David Andes, chief investment officer and owner of Newburger/Andes, said the sale includes virtually all of the Tudor-designed downtown Avondale Estates. Many of those stores have been vacant for years.
read more at the Patch 
more here

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Maybe they will restore the Theatre to show movies. Below is my vision of how it might look.

Tom Jones sings Thunderball theme song for James Bond's 50th Anniversary

Jayne Mansfields Car Official Trailer

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Remember some of this was filmed  in Decatur.

12 Annual BBQ Blues & Bluegrass Festival AUG 18

From: decaturbbqfestival.com.
Mark your calendar for August 18, 2012, and don’t miss the 12th Annual Decatur Barbeque, Blues, & Bluegrass Festival, at Harmony Park in Decatur. The gates open at 4:00pm and there will be live music until 10:00pm. Kids 10 and under admitted free.

Please note that no outside coolers will be permitted on the site.

Decatur’s 12th Annual Decatur Barbeque, Blues, & Bluegrass Festival is brought to you by three non-profit groups: the Community Center of South Decatur, the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association and Decatur Active Living. All proceeds of the festival will be invested directly into the Decatur community.
When: Saturday, August 18 – 4pm-10pm
Location: Harmony Park in Oakhurst, south of downtown Decatur
Scrumptious Food: BBQ by Fox Brothers and Black Tie BBQ
Cold Beer: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Somersault Ale and Shift Pale Lager

Entry Fee:
21 & up – $10 (‘Day Of’ ticket price)
Under 21 – FREE!

Japanese Band Plays Sing Sing Sing

Crazy Car Crash Caught On Red Light Camera

Latest on Suburban Plaza Redevelopment

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From : www.medlockpark.org

from Theresa Same, MANA Zoning Chair

Our cross-neighborhood committee met with Selig on June 27th for our first design and redevelopment meeting. As a result, I have some new design concepts to share with you as well as some general updates on the project.

Design – Selig has hired Associated Space Design (ASD) to design the redevelopment of Suburban Plaza (SP). ASD recently designed the Shops Around Lennox near Lennox Mall. The redevelopment at SP will have some similar design concepts that you see at the Shops Around Lenox and yet will have a unique look as they attempt to blend the many different architectural styles found in the Decatur area.  ASD began this design process by studying the architecture of the surrounding areas (which varies greatly). They identified the following as dominant styles in the area: Modern-retro Industrial, American Traditional, Modern Deco, Urban Chic, and Italianate Classical. ASD then began creating a plan for SP that attempts to incorporate design elements from all of these styles. The attached renderings are preliminary design concepts for the façade renovation at SP.  The design process is always mutable, and changes should be expected as the plans are further refined.

read more

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This stop Walmart sign can be seen all around surrounding neighborhoods near Suburban Plaza.

Farm to School Symposium

From:oakhurstgarden.org All those interested in are invited to attend (teachers, educators, parents, businesses, etc.) to learn more about farm to school, share lessons learned, and meet others who share the same ideals to enhance future collaborations. Register today!

Neighborhood Watch Coming Soon

Krog Street Tunnel

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The Krog Street Tunnel is a tunnel at Dekalb Ave and Krog St. known for it's Street Art.
I still have not seen what I would call great painting since the Robert Mitchum painting several years ago.