Over on her AJC food blog, Meredith Ford Goldman reports that the Iberian Pig will officially open to the populace next Monday, September 28th.

Her post teases us with a couple of menu items and mentions this interesting feature…

The drinks sound winning too: a tempered ice block will rest on the bar for hand-chipped ice in the cocktails.

Wow.  Now that should be a sight to see!

P.S. Once the Pig has settled in a bit I’m thinking we should set up a “Thanks for Saving the Smith’s Shoe’s Sign” night when we can all show our patronage in thanks.  What’s everyone think about that?

OK, enough with the grandstanding, I’ve got filtering to do!  Here are all the Decatur winners.  Looks like the city of Decatur beat out the Brick Store for the most overall awards with 4 (vs. 3).

Cityscape

Critics Picks

Best Neighborhood – Decatur  (Choice quote: “Decatur, you marvelous son of a bitch, you win again.”)

Best Local Blog – Decatur Metro

Readers Picks

Best down-to-earth-place in Atlanta – Decatur

Best neighborhood to live in – Decatur

Best suburb – Decatur

Poets, Artists & Madmen

Critics Picks

Best Book Event – Decatur Book Festival

Best Literary Love for Atlanta – Outcasts United

Reader’s Picks

Best Emerging Visual Artist – John D. Weiss

Best Local Poet (tie) – Kodac Harrison

Best Place to Hear the Spoken Word – Java Monkey

Best Book Event – Decatur Book Festival

Best Acoustic Music Club – Eddie’s Attic

Best Pool Hall – Twain’s

Best Neighborhood Bar – Brick Store Pub

Oral Pleasures

Reader’s Picks

Best Patio Dining – Wahoo! Grill

Best Tacos – Taqueria de Sol

Best Fried Chicken – Watershed

Best Veggie Meal at a Non-Vegetarian Restaurant – Watershed

Best Brew Pub – Brick Store Pub

Best Beer Selection – Brick Store Pub

Consumer Culture

Reader’s Choice

Best Jewelry – Worthmore Jewelry

Best Nail Salon – Jazmin Spa

Best Kids Clothing – Wiggle

Congrats to all the winners!  I hope I got ‘em all.  Let me know what I may have missed!

I’m tearing up over here.  From Creative Loafing’s Best of ATL ’09…

Critics Pick

Best local blog: Decatur Metro

Frustrated that metro Atlanta’s most walkable burg didn’t have its own daily news source, the quasi-anonymous resident behind DECATUR METRO decided to take matters into his own hands. Little did he know that his first post in September 2007 would give birth to the city’s most prolific news source. Half community newsletter, half sounding board for city issues, Decatur Metro is hyperlocal to the core. Daily posts — which are really closer to conversations — have probed the enigmatic aroma that wafts through Your DeKalb Farmers Market, protested the strange garbage juice leaking from a downtown Dumpster, and even veered into coverage about the city’s school system and annexation proposals. The site has become such a destination that even city officials chime in on discussions and answer questions. For his nose for news, clever writing, and creating a needed community, we raise a glass of the Brick Store’s finest. www.decaturmetro.com.

Thanks CL!  While my ego undeniably loves the attention, what really makes me grin is that you guys get it.

Cheers!

A 1924 pic of Decatur’s first police car over on Next Stop…Decatur is must see.

Also, Dennis has a 1957 pic of East Courthouse Square on his Flickr page that is quite interesting; mostly because the block is nearly unrecognizable.