John Kessler is all over the restaurant news in his ‘hood today.

Just hours after revealing that Chef Joe Truex of Repast would take over at Watershed for Scott Peacock, he drops another culinary bombshell on his Decatur community.

A source at Feast in Decatur has confirmed that Ryan Stewart will be the new chef at Farmstead 303 — the new, soon-to-open venture across the street that replaces the defunct Depeaux. Stewart, who is currently finishing up a gig at Mac McGee’s Irish Pub, earned a fan base for his work at the Glennwood in East Atlanta.

What else ya got up your sleeve, John?

Scott sends in this pic of the Decatur Diner’s new retro mural facing Leon’s bocce (or boule) court…

It’s already got one fan on Twitter.

From John Kessler’s Food and More blog…

Today Watershed restaurant in Decatur announces the appointment of chef Joe Truex as its new chef and operating partner. He replaces Scott Peacock, who left the restaurant in February after 11 years, to pursue a documentary film project and begin working on a memoir. Truex, who has run Repast restaurant with his wife, Mihoko Obunai-Truex for the past four years, will assume the position June 1.

Both Truex, who currently resides in Decatur, and managing partner Emily Saliers relay to Kessler that changing up the menu more frequently will be a key component of evolving the restaurant in a post-Peacock era.

Watershed has an official press release on their website.

For even more info on Truex check out his now former restaurant Repast’s menu HERE.  Additionally, Kessler wrote an extensive profile of Truex for the AJC just this past March, after traveling with the chef to his hometown in Louisiana.

For those who love that gritty, salt sea air, living in a landlocked city can be challenging.  Certainly not challenging compared to being in a city with abnormally high unemployment or rampant crime, but you know, everyone needs to relax now and then.

For those Atlantans that need a beach chair and a crisp paperback embedded with sand to really kickback, it takes a good 4 hour travel commitment – be it by car or air – to hear waves crashing on the sand.

But of course, there are other, smaller bodies of water out there amongst the forests, hills and sprawl that can help quench that  desire for watery bliss.  For some, they may not be equivalent to the seaside (or Seaside for that matter), but sometimes a little white-water noise can go a long way.

All this tedious set-up is just a roundabout way of asking:  When you’re in need of a water fix and can’t afford to take a couple days off to head to a coast, where do you go?

Rivers, lakes, streams, ponds (I suppose) are all fair game.

Photo of Sweetwater Creek above courtesy of Georgia State Parks website.

Emily sends along this note about the rescheduled “Recycle Your Life” event at First Baptist on June 5th, from the editor of Southeast Green…

Remember that event where you could basically recycle almost everything you ever wanted to? And then it snowed. Well I dare it to snow on June 5th : ) In fact if it does, we will never plan it again ; ) We’ve brought in some new vendors and are waiting on a couple more to get back to us so make sure you check the list so you know what we are taking.

We are also looking for some volunteers if you feel like you can help. Decatur is helping with traffic support because they are expecting such a large turnout : )

For further details, including a list of what will and won’t be accepted for “recycling” at the event, click on over to the “Recycle Your Life” website.