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.

The Decatur McDonald’s wants you to try its newest burger.  (Note the Town Center building in the background.)

Big thanks to Clark for providing us with a much-needed laugh.

I submit this question to the masses.

Sam writes in…

Do you know a good way of finding out how safe the bike racks at the Marta stations are? Particularly the East Lake Station? I wouldn’t leave my bike overnight, and I would use a chain on both wheels. Anything else I should do? Thanks.

I inquired with Asst. Superintendent Thomas van Soelen about the extent of flooding at CSD facilities.  Bottomline is that while there were a couple issues, overall CSD is grateful to the city for its stormwater management planning.

Here’s Thomas’ response…

No official flooding.

Summary of leaks that have been rectified:

* Winnona Park: 2 rooms and cafeteria, debris washed down onto the drainage covers (even though we wash them every day)

* Oakhurst: slight amount of water at cafeteria

Kudos to the city of Decatur for their fine work in stormwater management. Their planning and foresight prevented flooding in our facilities.

CSD’s Maria Lewis makes the announcement to the community…

City Schools of Decatur is excited to announce the opening of Decatur High School’s new gymnasium and auditorium. Doors will be open to the public on Sunday, October 11th from 2-4 p.m. Please come join us in the celebration!

While his highways flooded, Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood managed to stay dry yesterday inside the 5 Points MARTA station, where he announced the distribution of $100 million in nationwide “clean-transport” grants distributed across 43 local transit agencies.

MARTA came out a big “winner” in this disbursement, getting over $10 million of the total money to build Georgia’s largest solar-panel installation at the Larado Bus Facility, just east of Decatur.

A bit more detail from Streetsblog…

Georgia: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, $10,800,000. Laredo Bus Facility Solar Canopies: Provide shade structures with integrated, grid tied photovoltaic cells to be erected on the bus storage lot at the Laredo Bus Maintenance Facility. PV canopies will produce power and reduce temperatures underneath canopies. MARTA anticipates that the power produced by these photovoltaic panels will be sold to Georgia Power under their Distributed Generation Contract Program. The largest PV installation in Georgia.

Thanks to Ridgelandistan for the Streetsblog link!

DBA President Ann Berg writes in….

The Decatur Business Association monthly membership meeting WILL take place tonight rain or shine at East Decatur Station in the place that was formerly Mocha Match, up front next to Avenue Realty. Treats will be provided by Ducks Cosmic Kitchen, The Corner Pub, Thinking Mans Tavern, The Cookie Studio, Figo Pasta and others, showcasing this eclectic community. The networking reception starts at 5:15 and the announcements will take place at 6pm. DBA members are free and non-members are charged $10. You can visit the DBA website at www.decaturdba.com for more details about membership.