UPDATE II: Next Stop has now posted some exclusive pics of Leon’s interior and says the owners are planning on opening to the public in the next week or so. Since I believe the “soft opening” on Wednesday is probably by invitation only, I’m changing the post title back to the original, since it was kind of misleading.

UPDATE: Freakanomic gives us the answer in the comments section.

At first it was supposed to open in November 2008, but various things that I’m not privy to have pushed off the opening of the much-anticipated Leon’s Full Service up until now.

And I’m still unclear as to when exactly it will be opening.

Leon’s official website currently says “January 2009″ and not much else (unless you’re looking for an employment application). And isn’t today January 31st? Not much time left to get ‘er open this month! Does any BSP insider have the scoop?

Until someone clues us in, check out this Omnivore’s Atlanta article from earlier this month that details some of Leon’s planned offerings (scroll down to the fourth paragraph).

Luba at Mudfire Pottery sends along an announcement about the 2nd Annual Rail Arts District Art Studio Cruise next Saturday, February 7th.

With 12  studios between Decatur and Avondale along the four-stop route…

“Visitors will be able to create their own jewelry with casting processes or shop the elegant displays just in time for Valentine’s Day. Lumps of clay will magically transform on the potters wheel into elegant forms. Just down the tracks a tightly coordinated team of glass blowers will work in the high heat with liquid glass. Canvases will come to life with color and movement, and sparks will fly as raw metal is worked into whimsical sculptures. Magicians and improve actors will circulate amidst a temporary artists market.

At each stop of the cruise there will be music and conversation, food and drink, amusement and information, wonder and awe. Alongside the artists in action will be finished works for viewing and sale, with artwork in all media and many styles and price points. The makers will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate their techniques.

According to the release, over 1,000 people attended last year’s event.  Click the map below for locations and times.

And for lots more examples of featured artwork and activities, jump over to the official Rail Arts District “Studio Cruise” webpage.

In response to another post, Rusty Diamond comments on the great turnout at Parker’s yesterday for the 5th Earl fundraiser.

David has some pics over at InDecatur to prove it.

Throw this tidbit into the mix, as we try to determine the direction of Decatur’s real estate market.

From an AJC article on the 27% drop in DeKalb home prices since last year…

[Real estate agent Tal] Kramer noted that there were pockets in metro Atlanta that fared much better than average, with one area – the Cobb County school district that includes highly sought-after Walton High School – even seeing a slight gain in price, of 4.4 percent. Some parts of DeKalb also were up for the year as well, such as the city of Decatur, which also has a highly regarded school system and had an increase in average price of 1.4 percent [vs. year-ago].

You may continue to call me overly optimistic, but when your county is down 27% overall and the city manages a slight increase in its real estate prices that’s not a bad sign.