OK, let’s do this thing!

In January, we first learned that the Brick Store Pub had been named the #2 beer bar by Beer Advocate, that Mayor Floyd was 1 of 100 most influential Georgians, that APD messed up the details in the Standard shooting, that the DeKalb Farmer’s Market was no longer accepting ANY returns (enjoy that smelly shrimp!), I worried about the end of newsprint, the city gave up on any large-scale annexation plans for at least 3 years, Daren Wang and friends launched Agnes Writes after cutbacks at Margaret Mitchell, and a fire destroyed Trackside and 5th Earl.

In February, Daren Wang proposed an auction of Leon’s first pint to help Trackside and 5th Earl fire victims and it went for a jaw-dropping $2,650, we celebrated Atlanta Time Machine, we worried about an armed robbery in Oakhurst, we worried about Atlanta’s economic future, we smirked as annexation brought neighborhoods outside Decatur together, we talked about how much trash we put out every week, we had our first of many zombie invasions, I implemented threaded comments on DM, we marvelled at 335 W. Ponce’s plastic bag art, Duany dissed Decatur, and Decatur’s Wi-Fi was “completed“.

In March, we were freaked out by thundersnow, Wordsmith’s Books closed, I rolled my eyes at “Virtual Decatur”, I called BusinessWeek “stupid”, Decatur had a snow party, trees started falling, we got excited about Decatur’s first motorcycle cop, Decatur started talking about urban farming, I was flattered that Decatur blogs were helping teach DHS students about local government, Mayor Floyd contemplated a run for governor, the AJC cut 30% of its staff, CSD leaned towards Renfroe for 4/5 academy, and Agnes Scott turned a bit red-faced about the subject matter of the movies filmed on campus.

In April, Terra McVoy had a big book release party, we complained about the Emory commute, the House legislature screwed MARTA, YDFM recalled some pistachios, trees kept falling, and falling, the AJC closed its DeKalb bureau, John Kessler went on a fictional, mandated fast, Kyle Williams announced his candidacy for city commission, Fred Boykin followed suit, Leon’s drunken bocce (boule?) got too loud for some, we stood up for McKoy Park’s safety, and Patti Garrett announced her commission run.

In May, we debated whether we wanted our kids like our chickens (free-range), we discussed the much-celebrated Rain Shine house, we tried to define Atlanta, CSD had strong words for non-resident students, the Superintendent decided to support 5th Avenue over Renfroe for a 4/5 Academy, Decatur High went under lockdown after a group of teens descended on the school, we rallied to save Paste Magazine, I made up a story about residents dressing up as city employees in anticipation of the city budget, we learned a lot about Health Inspection scores after Taqueria del Sol scored poorly (but then aced), I switched servers and lived to tell the tale, and Midway residents asked to be annexed.

In June, DeVry requested its massive property be annexed into the city, I got testy about Atlanta’s “safest city” ranking, there was a very jarring mugging on Glendale Road, followed by a very odd assault again in northeast Decatur, we speculated who might be moving into the old Tossed space, we got excited about fro-yo, I wanted to paint the streets with bike boxes until Fred Boykin brought me back to earch, the mayor decided not to run for Governor, and a troll tried to derail the James Radford campaign.

In July, DHS got brand new security cameras, we debated Decatur’s favorite park, we debated the importance of the city’s CRCT test scores, a homeless encampment was discovered on the Square, Andisheh got pissed at some squirrels eating his ‘maters, Renfroe misreported student attendance, we debated the value of taking on and developing the DeVry property, we debated where to get Atlanta’s best sandwich, we said good-bye to our really expensive red-light camera, I got tired of walking through leaking dumpster muck, we helped Sydney Rhame win $1,000, we got booted while shopping at the Decatur Farmer’s Market, there was a very unsettling car-jacking in Oakhurst that turned into a discussion on race, which continued on into another thread, I summarized many city department budget priorities, Emory prof accused the DPD of racial profiling, and a Decatur couple celebrated 70 years of marriage.

In August, we discussed the trash we find buried in our yard, there was yet another terrible accident at Ponce & Commerce, we had another Wal-Mart fight, Decatur main-stay By Hand South closed, Lauren Lee at Lampe-Farley gave us a beautiful logo, we pondered a permanently narrowed Church Street, Decatur CD laid into Sugarland for its exclusive Wal-Mart deal, we tamed the trolls, we started Free-For-All Fridays (which became a instant hit), we complained when the national chains started co-opting “local”, the AJC moved to the Perimeter, surveillance cameras on the Square made us uneasy, a McKoy car-jacking suspect was arrested, I implored Iberian Pig to save the “Smith’s Shoe’s” sign (to mixed reviews), dogs continued killing cats in Oakhurst, and a 2nd Avenue home literally fell over.

In September, Beer Festival tickets sold out in just 12 days, during the Decatur Book Festival we experimented with live reporting and resident reports (thanks again!), demolition finally began at Allen Wilson Terrace, we saved an owl on Church Street, complained about airplane noise, it started raining again and the trees kept falling and crawfish took over a baseball field, people got annoyed with the tornado siren being used for flood warnings, we had ourselves some Ark-style flooding, DM won another award, College Heights got a case of trailer fever, Little Azio’s closed, and Saba had a fire at its Emory location.

In October, we tried to decipher the issues surrounding with school property titles, I wondered why we couldn’t raise the money to help put a roof on the city’s oldest building, we announced a first-ever online city commission debate, I got to see the injured Church Street owl get released back into the wild, I released September’s campaign disclosures (to mixed reviews), you were asked to describe Decatur in 6 words, Jill Chambers threatened fellow MARTA board members, a DHS student was killed in a drive-by shooting, a Decatur resident was killed by an angry customer in Tucker, we learned the Grange was being forced to rename itself, Decatur Heights residents debated the neighborhood’s “wellness center”, we held our first-ever online city commission debate, we learned that the owners of 5th Earl had had enough, I called MARTA riders that claimed they wanted fruit “liars”, we conveyed our most disgusting rat stories, and Moey dressed up as Keyboard Cat for Halloween and blew up the internet.

In November, we elected Fred Boykin and Patti Garrett to the city commission and Valerie Wilson and Marc Wisniewski to the school board, I asked for (and received) some great soup recipes, Decatur’s Farm to School program took off, Rob Pope requested a recount, the potential of Farm Burger brought back our unending parking debate, it was clearly stated that blogs brought sexyback to city election, the city asked for feedback on potential changes to two railroad crossings and our arts master plan, we mashed up Decatur businesses, I lunched with John Kessler, the city’s completed historic resources survey identified 13 potential historic districts, the AsianCajuns went to print, I teased “Eddie and Agnes” but couldn’t seal the deal, and DeKalb’s suicide lane bit the dust for a couple days.

And finally in December, we argued violently over some dirty old park toys, fans lined up 99 deep for Neil Gaiman tickets, folks began to question 5th Avenue as the best choice for the city’s 4/5 Academy, the idea of a tunnel under east Atlanta wouldn’t die, Eddie’s and Agnes was officially announced, residents circulated a letter regarding 5th Avenue, Mary Alice Kemp retired from the city commission, we witnessed a great sunset, and we rounded things out by doing a bit more “buy local” debatin’.

Phew!

My favorite post of the year?  Hands down was saving the barred owl.  It was truly an extraordinary effort by the entire community that showed both the city’s compassion and the new, unique abilities of this medium of reporting and discussion.  Oh, the online debate was pretty great too!

Thanks to everyone for reading, commenting and contributing to this site in countless ways!  May we continue to thrive and improve in the new year!  Happy New Year all!