Free-For-All Friday 5/21/10

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here in the past week.

Comments close Monday.

47 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 5/21/10”


  2. I just moved into the neighborhood (Sycamore Dr) and I have a drainage pipe that goes from the street and empties into my backyard. It floods the back half of my backyard but the water usually goes away within a couple of hours. Does anyone know if there is a drain back there because if there is it’s covered up and I can’t find it. Is this normal? Do I need to call someone? The water doesn’t come close to my house and I’m not really worried about it except it being muddy with no grass all the time. That and the mosquitoes.

    Sorry this is my first house and I’m clueless 🙂

    Thanks

    1. Julie Gyuricza is the city’s storm water engineer. I bet she could help you out, or steer you in the right direction at least. City email protocol is like this: [email protected]

      1. Julie should’ve stop by College Heights ECLC this AM. Whew, the driveway turns into a most unforgiving moat.

  4. I don’t know if that’s a disclosure the sellers should have made, but if the pipe was visible and so on, maybe it it’s a “should have guessed” issue.

    That said, think raingarden! See http://www.raingardens.org/
    A raingarden simply works with the problem at hand: you do some area prep and plant species (usually natives) that flourish in these temporary flood sorts of conditions.

    The nice thing is that in the end, you have an asset, a nicely landscaped and planned area vs. mud and angst.

  6. I just moved into Decatur and I’m looking to buy a used truck, suv or minivan. Can anybody recommend a good used car lot that’s not going to screw me over and give me honest answers about the vehicles mechanical condition? Or better yet, has all of their vehicles checked over by an honest, reputable mechanic and won’t sell a vehicle that’s not in good mechanical condition?

    And can anybody recommend a good mechanic to take a vehicle to to be checked out before buying?

    Thanks!

    1. If it is an import I highly recommend Quantum Mechanics. http://www.qmauto.com/
      They are honest and do a great job.

    2. There is a clean, nice looking Toyota minivan for sale on the corner of Avery and Kirk in Winnona Park.
      And yes, Quantum is the place to go.

    3. I really like Intown AutoCare in Oakhurst. The owner, Brian, is really really nice and honest and very pro used cars.

  8. Which online sites do people go to find the best (accurate and most up to date) house sales data for Decatur/metro area? I’m sure there is some site I’m not aware of…

    1. Zillow and Trulia are the most popular. If you have a license, FMLS is probably the most accurate/up to date. GeorgiaMLS is pretty good also.

      1. Get with a realtor. TRULIA and ZILLOW are very skewed and I wouldn’t use those figures for anything other than “for fun”.

          1. I agree as far as the estimates go, but the recently sold information is usually pretty accurate. All of that is public info and can be verified on the web at the county tax commissioner website.

    2. Terry Michel and I did a full scale analysis on Decatur and presented it in March. I’d be happy to hsare that data with you.

      Are you looking big picture or for a specific property? Feel free to shoot me an email if you have a specific question.

  10. I know this comes up at least once a month, but any word on 5th Earl? The Moat is just calling to me today.

    1. And speaking of mysteries, what’s the word on TASTE, no signs of life for months.

      1. Can’t say on the blog because it will be moderated but go to some of the stores around Taste and strike up a conversation on the topic. Sad story for sure. .

        1. Do you know if it will be re-opening at all? Taste was my #1 store for all my gift buying.

    2. Something is going into the old Moxie Java place near Avellino’s. There is activity in there everyday. Anyone heard what it is?

  12. A really good source for technical information on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: http://www.theoildrum.com … lots of ?s and technical answers there in the
    comments section at the bottom of each report/update.

  14. Sammiches n Stuff. Anyobody been to this new spot on the Square? I went there last Saturday and had a terrible experience with my family and want to warn others. Scenario is as follows: Wife and one child get pre made items, myself and second chiled get sandwiches. The place is generally not crowded. After ordering we sit to eat and wife and youngest start to eat their premade items. 15 minutes later, they are done and our sandwiches have not come. Go to the counter and ask, and they say “oh yeah” and just start making sandwiches. 5 minutes later, sandwiches come out. Low and behold, they screwed up the sandwiches, wrong bread on both and other issues. Alert them and they offer to remake, to which I clearly say no. No offer for money back or understanding that they just lost any repeat business.

    1. Haven’t had that experience . . . I enjoy them every time. Contact David or Rob to let them know about your experience.

    2. I sure was impressed with how terrific they were during the whole Taste of Decatur debacle. They went out of their way to smile & greet & serve up samples to all the befuddled folks out searching for the non event. They earned their Decatur stripes on that hospitality alone!

      (Do share this info with the owners though. One employee’s off performance shouldn’t be allowed to take them off your Kid Friendly places. And they need the feedback.)

    3. Hi,

      We are very sorry to hear about your experience. Would you please call us at 404-378-8778 to discuss this? We would like the opportunity to correct the team and properly correct any disappointment you had. Had we not had Google Alerts turned on we never would have known that you had a problem.

      Thanks

      Rob & David

    4. I had a great experience at Sammitches–a wonderful BLT brought to my table and an extremely friendly manager behind the counter kept everyone laughing. Loved my sandwich and felt very welcome…

  16. To Dave…Quantum Mechanics on Talley St is the best. Not sure about where to buy a car though. http://www.qmauto.com

  18. Anyone tested out the Mosquito Delet-o or anything similar for mosquito control? We have a horrible mosquito problem in our yard. Our super-friendly tech at Skyline Pest Control gave us some very labor-intensive advice like pull up all our ivy (which we hate anyway), but also said that spraying the yard doesn’t really work because they just fly over from elsewhere. Until we can gear up to yank out all the invasive growth, we are hoping we can find something that will help besides bathing our kids in DEET.

    1. We’ve tried it, to varying degrees of success. First, we got the table top-sized one, which worked OK unless it was an evening after a heavy rain– mugginess seems to mute the effect of the carbon dioxide-mimicking “vapors” the propane puts out to draw the skeeters into the trap. We throught it would work better if we got the large one (supposed to cover a half-acre area), but it was frankly about the same. And they really suck down the propane, so you might find the expense isn’t worth the amount of protection they afford. We didn’t even bother using them last year– we just went the old-school route with citronelle oil-filled tiki torches, and a few of those Off! Lanterns. Together, they worked about as well as the Mosquito Deletos…YMMV, though.

    2. I used to have a horrible mosquito problem at a rental house, and discovered my sagging gutters were holding water. Did you eliminate all sources of standing water? I.E., are your gutters clear and not holding water? Any other water sources?

      Also, if you could hang up some bat houses, bats eat mosquitoes.

      1. I had always heard this about bats. Then I checked.
        (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito#Natural_predators)

        Sounds like guppies are a better deterrent.
        And, dragonflies are pretty freakishly fascinating.
        Wonder how to attract them.

  20. does anyone know someone or a business that makes curtains or window (roman) shades?
    Had some made a few years back by a lady in decatur, but not sure if she is still around!

  22. Our power went out last night for a while. I’ve noticed since I’ve been in Decatur that the power rarely goes out in a storm, as I’m used to in previous cities, but will go out briefly and seemingly at random. Just out and then back on. Then go reset the clocks. Why would this happen?

      1. Heh! I knew someone would offer up a response that had “zombies” in it! 😀

  24. I love Quantum Mechanics also. Brilliant guys! Very honest and competant. I also have a minivan for sale. 1998 Town & Country, older but well maintained. Post if you want my contact info. (DM you have my permission to forward my email, if apropriate.)

    An awesome mechanic that works on domestic as well as imports is Randies Auto Care. Further away but worth the drive.

  26. DM, I’m glad your events calendar is there or else I never would have known that I’m performing with Maggie tonight at Eddie’s Attic. This could be embarrassing, because I don’t know many complete songs. Maggie, we should probably get together beforehand.

  28. I’m asking this kind of late for FFAF, but I hope someone can help me out (or maybe I’ll try reposting next week). Can anyone recommend a place that has a private room to rent for parties? We just need a small room for our son’s 1st birthday this summer (not many kids will be attending). We live in a condo, so not much room here. Thanks!

    2. have you thought about reserving a park? it’s only $40 for two hours. http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_rec_parks.aspx

  30. Sun in My Belly has a very festive side room; Carpe Diem also has private room(s).

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