Gourmet writer Pableaux Johnson envies us.

He doesn’t know the half of it.

A few notes from around the city…

• According to the Decatur Minute, Leon’s Full Service is now open for lunch daily at 11:30a (except Monday).
• Also from the Minute, Greene’s is offering 40% off all in-store purchases today in honor of one of the owners birthdays.
• As was noted in a recent post, Cafe Cliche is now open for business in the old Indie Coffee & Books space and is serving Button Cakes Bakery cupcakes.
• Next Stop notes that Bistro in a Box will have weekly food and wine tastings on Saturday from 12p-6p.  “Some of our usual offerings include basil crusted chicken, peppercorn flank steak, hummus, a cheese display, spinach and artichoke dip, and other menu items that we are developing. It is all free and open to anyone.”
• According to Daily Candy, The Cookie Studio has new weekend hours (Sat 12p-5p)
• Tastings will be featuring live music on Saturday nights from 8:30p-10:30p.  This Saturday Jeff Soileau will be playing ambient instrumental acoustic guitar.

Anything else?

An True Anomaly: An Empty Leon's (AJC pic)

For those of you who comfort yourselves during those hours when Leon’s is closed by flipping through the seemingly endless reviews of your favorite “sustainapub”, here’s another by the AJC.  This time by Meredith Ford Goldman.

The appetizers, beer, and bocce all get a shout out.

Oh, and in case you hadn’t heard: no more rabbit fingers.

I’m giving this comment its own thread because it’s a great example of the ongoing balancing act required to create and manage a successful city.

Sab writes in…

I wish I could like Leon’s. Unfortunately, I live across from it. Not that long ago, I enjoyed sipping tea on my balcony as the sun set over downtown, and falling asleep with cool breeze in from the open windows. Then Leon’s.

Now, I listen to drunk and exceptionally loud people whistle, scream, and cheer every time they throw a ball at that outside game. I’m sure it’s fun, and it looks like a hip, interesting place. But it is SOOOO loud, and it’s open until 1am every single weeknight. I try and try to just ignore it, and tell myself I should just get used to the sounds of people having a good time. But while loud conversation from an outside-seating restaurant can fade into background noise, the sudden screams and hoots from the game played outside are too sporadic. It’s like having a sporting event with drunk college kids going on outside your bedroom window every single night until 1. I had to buy earplugs, and I am not exaggerating when I say it might just cause me to move.

Only in Decatur.  Where else in Georgia are people being kept up at night by drunken bocce players?!

Ultimately I think its in Sab’s best interest to talk with the owners or if he/she wants, the city, about this issue. I may be wrong, but I think this issue is easily resolved.  The folks at Leon’s could just take the bocce balls in at 10pm.  Its not like people come to Leon’s purely for some late night bocce action.

This morning, AJC’s Bob Townsend profiled the Brick Store boys successful sophomore effort.  You know the place.

More importantly (ha!), the article gives me an opening to ask a question that’s been fermenting (yes, of course the pun is intended) in my head for a few weeks:  Among all the elements and people that contributed to Decatur’s revival in the last 15-20 years, where do the Brick Store boys rank?

Here are a few other influential people/trends/things to consider:  smart growth strategy, Atlanta’s growth, the Olympics, individuals in city government, MARTA, Emory, etc…

According to a press release from Angie at the Atlanta Food Bank, Leon’s Full Service will host the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s monthly Supper Club on Tuesday, April 14th.

From the release… “Supper Club is a monthly event that allows diners the convenience of enjoying a meal at some of Atlanta’s hottest restaurants while supporting their community. Each month, a different restaurant serves as host, and 20 percent of the evening’s proceeds benefit Atlanta’s Table, the prepared food rescue project of the Food Bank.”

…for being so awesome.

Creative Loafing’s Besha Rodell does a full review of Leon’s Full Service and determines that “Decatur gets what it deserves.”

Cliff Bostock’s full Leon’s Full Service food review is now online.

Sounds like he enjoyed the entrees more than the appetizers, and just being in Decatur more than anything else.

Can’t argue with him on that last point.

This morning’s Daily Candy features Leon’s and gives a little inside scoop (with weird punctuation)…

In addition to a master beer selection (duh), there’s a whistle-wetting, seasonal cocktail menu. Yeah, we’ve heard about the appley Whiskey Pie and Belgian Champale. But what’s not on the menu is Carl’s Screwball – inspired by the owners’ fave back-in-the-day Carl’s candy and made with biscotti liqueur – and K. Chocolat’s by-request-only chocolate flights.

Thanks to my wife, Carl and Brooke for forwarding!

Over on CL, Cliff Bostock gives a preview of his upcoming full review of the gastropub.  (Haven’t heard much from DM readers yet…what’s been your impression of Leon’s thus far?)

And probably most importantly for those who have yet to make it over to the corner of Church and Ponce…both the food and drink menus are now online!

Marshall Davis Drinks Up - Photo Pilfered From the AJC

UPDATE: OK.  So things are a bit more complex than first reported.  The first pint was indeed purchased by U-Joint and Steinbecks’ Marc and Shelby, but also their partner Marshall Davis, who got to take the first sip at Leon’s (of Terrapin India Brown Ale), according to the AJC’s John Kessler.  The article also reveals that it was Village Vets doc Will Draper, who went back and forth with Marc and Shelby in the final 10 minutes of bidding and raised the price of the pint by $1000.

First on DM…

As told by Daren, the first pint pulled at Leon’s will be served to Shelby Brennan, wife of Marc Brennan, who owns U-Joint, Steinbecks and a variety of other pubs/bars around Atlanta and elsewhere!

Shelby and Marc won the rights to the first pint by bidding $2,650 for it in a furious last minute back-and-forth in the recent eBay auction.

As Daren understands it, though they both made the purchase, Shelby will get to do the honors (and presumably get to have the commemorative drink named after her – good ring to it!).

Congrats Shelby and Marc!  I’m sure all the Trackside and 5th Earl employees are very grateful for your generosity!