Free-For-All Friday 6/4/10
Decatur Metro | June 4, 2010 | 8:16 amFeel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here in the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here in the past week.
Comments close on Monday.
Steve
FHR
At Home in Decatur
Deanne
spreak
fifi
Bobby
At Home in Decatur
G Buck
spreak
At Home in Decatur
smalltowngal
At Home in Decatur
Marty
Ren
I love the new hanging flower baskets around downtown. Beautiful!
And I am deeply honored to be the first poster on FFAF this week. Another life goal attained.
Lol. Cross that one off the bucket list, eh?
Does anyone know around what time the Trash Amnesty pickup usually is?
i believe the stuff should be out by the street by 7am although it isn’t always picked up that early…years past it has been late in the afternoon but this year they were bright and early at 7:30 so it’s good to have it out there ready to go…
In unincorporated Dekalb its EVERY day.
I like the new header here. It reminds me of Ansel Adams and Twin Peaks.
LOVED Twin Peaks… and now I’m gonna want pie every time I click on DM!
Just ran through Glenlake Park. Looks like the tennis court resurfacing is in full swing.
anyone here ever been to toronto? what should i do/see / avoid there?
I used to live there, though it’s been several years. There should be A LOT going on this time of year — outdoor festivals and what-not. At some point in the summer, the various ethnic neighborhoods coordinate to sponsor an outdoor festival spread out around town. I remember a one-act theater festival (Darren — looking for a new project?). There was an international firework competition at the lake. Queen St is fun — funky shops and restaurants. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Lots of broadway-type productions. Find whatever the local version of Creative Loafing is online. Toronto is a great city. Have fun.
The winners to last week’s free month of Kick in the Fit were…
Sharon Scalese
Carol Davis
Kat I
Michael Leo Owens
Apologies for the delay on getting these names out to ya!
Going back to the hamburger discussion from a few FFAF’s ago, I just want to thank whoever brought up the burger at Watershed. Finally made it over there this week and, good lawd, I never knew a burger could taste so good. And the onion rings are no slouch, either.
Did anyone see the article in the AJC this morning about the melee in Piedmont Park at last night’s Screen on the Green? I’m just disgusted– I’ve been going as long as it’s been going on, and nothing like that has ever happened before. I sure wish Decatur could put on its own SOTG series. It would certainly be smaller in scale, but then, that would probably be a good thing.
Agnes Scott does Screen on the Green on its quad a few times a year.
Yeah, but I’m thinking something more City-sponsored, at one of the City parks…on a slightly larger scale than Agnes, but not so large as TBS/Piedmont’s ‘do.
There have been movies on the Square occasionally. Agnes Scott is actually better suited because there is more open space and less light interference. I can’t think of a City park that’s better suited. I think they are be commended for supporting the community in that way
Dekalb Medical sponsored a series of movies on the square back in 2005-2006 or thereabouts.
It rained hard on every single one of them, and they decided that sponsoring a spiffy book festival was a better choice.
I thought there was a movies on the square series? I recall going last year (maybe the year before) but it got rained out. Kids movies, though, on an inflatable screen.
Just a friendly reminder that donations can still be made to help out Officer Amy Hall, who lost her house in a fire recently. Decatur First is managing the fund.
Decatur First Bank
ATTN: Ann Berg
1120 Commerce Drive
Decatur, GA 30030
DFB cannot accept online donations, but has a night depository box outside the front door at the main branch. The main branch is open 8:30 to 4 Monday thru Friday. The branch inside Kroger at 720 Commerce Drive is open Monday thru Friday 11:30 to 6:30 Saturday 10 to 3. Ann Berg at 404-373-1000 is the contact.
So Memorial Day last Monday and the 66th anniversary of D-Day this Sunday got me to pondering…thanks to the thousands of brave soldiers who struggled up those beaches in France, eventually making their way to the concentration camps to save some of my forebears (although too late to save some others). You have my everlasting gratitude.
And to my grandfather, who flew a P-38 Lightning in the south Pacific; may you always be remembered.
Finally, to all the soldiers and veterans, know that your sacrifices will forever be appreciated. I wish my command of the English language were strong enough for me to convey the true depth of my gratitude.
Indeed. Did you watch HBO’s The Pacific? Not nearly as good as Band of Brothers, IMO, but many of the battle scenes nevertheless powerfully communicated what those guys went through. Pure hell, basically.
Hear, hear, Token. Well and truly said.
And I would like to also thank both my grandfathers–who served in the Air Force during WWII–for producing my parents. Without them, I mean, where would I be?
Anyone around here involved in 4-H?
I am in desperate need of some landscaping help! I need someone to do installation and maintenance. The guy I had hired has just dissapeared – won’t return calls or email, and my lawn is a complete disaster. Anyone have some recommendations? Thanks!
Rebecca, I’ve been trying to get somebody to do some landscaping and general cleanup and it’s like pulling teeth. Either they come over and present all these ideas and then you never hear from them again, or they stand you up for appointments, or they just don’t return you calls. Must be nice to be able to turn away paying customers.
Seriously! I am so glad these folks are getting so much business, but I don’t appreciate just being dropped as a customer – no reasons, no communications, no nothing.
Not sure the legality of posting business names here, but go to kudzu and look up 911 lawn service. Their name first caught my eye but their kudzu reviews are also amazing. Great crew-I don’t use them regularly but they cleaned up quite a mess of a yard very quickly and for a good price, and they are great users of technology for keeping in contact.
Thanks for the post What-What. I’ll give them a try.
Boy, do I feel you. For a while there I was thinking I had some kind of yard plague–I just couldn’t keep yard folks, and I DO pay them the minute they finish the work. However, I no longer wander the yard wilderness: Melissa Schiltz and her husband Hu do fantastic work, came highly recommended, and I believe she is a Decatur native. They’ll do general yard work if you want, but will also do landscaping and planning if you’re interested. (770) 560-2998. Good folks, and I’m not just saying that because I no longer live at Boo Radley’s house =)
Probably lighting a bag of crap on fire and leaving it on the doorstep here, but anyone got any recommendations on child care around Decatur? There’s a Prince of Belvedere Park now, and he needs some place to rule while we’re at work.
Congratulations on the prince. The Phoenix school is excellent, and probably has a waiting list, particularly for the youngest children.
The trick with child-care waiting lists is to get on the list and call back frequently enough to let them know you’re still interested, but not frequently enough to be a bother. The waiting lists are often much shorter than they seem.
For an infant, you might be best off finding a woman who does care in her home.
When a child reaches about 2, that’s when a good child-care facility is truly worth it’s money, IMHO.
This place is just outside of Decatur. My sister and a friend in her mommy circle are quite happy with it:
Sala Learning & Development Centers Inc.
2939 Midway Rd, Decatur, GA 30030
(404) 288-6853
Reports and data from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning:
http://decal.ga.gov/ProviderSearch/SiteDetail.aspx?id=E0PHRXKUIQCH
We love the phoenix school. They have a lottery every Feb, but I discovered with these daycares that it was more about calling and stopping by than about the official lotteries and wait lists they tell you about when you first call. E.g. a woman just called the phoenix school a couple of weeks ago about a place for her 2-yr old and they said “bring her in to start June 1st”. The mom was amazed
We also considered College Heights and the Frasier Center at the High School.
And if we were looking at in-home daycare, we would probably start with the lady called Lynette who lives on the corner of East Lake and Spring
I can’t get my iPhone to stay on non-mobile mode, so this post is out of order, and is intended as a reply to Rebecca about landscaper. I highly recommend Brannon Landscapes, a husband and wife team. Bev does the plans, Frank does the landscape. http://www.brannonlandscapes.com and Frank can be reached at 404.867.2395
The thread on Movies on the Square brought this up for me so I might as well rant while I can.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the square had a real stage facing more or less one direction rather than that ridiculous, dis-functional pavilion? The Saturday night concerts are nice other than you can’t hear the band clearly, the band can’t hear themselves clearly, there is only about 15 feet of open space directly in front of the band, more than half of the pavilion is cut off by railings and a wheelchair ramp, there is a giant phallus directly in the center front of the band and giant ground level spot lights blinding everyone sitting behind the phallus where they can hear both sets of speakers.
It’s a nice looking building and all but it is not useful for what it is used for and it is in exactly the wrong place.
During Earth Day a couple of years ago they brought in a stage and put it on the west end of the square for the bluegrass bands. It was much much better than anything I’ve seen in the pavilion.
Not that I expect it will be changed at all.
ch
That gazebo was controversial from the get go, for all the reasons you mentioned. Pre-gazebo, concerts on the square were on a stage set up on the east end of the square. It was much better.
Completely agree. That “bandstand” is awful and should be torn down. Move concerts to the top of the beautiful new MARTA plaza.
For the record, the MARTA plaza did not exist when the bandstand was built.
The success of Decatur’s events has exceeded everyone’s imaginations! That’s a good thing!
It’d be cool if the Gazebo could be relocated to one of our pretty park settings. It’d be great for smaller gatherings– and perfect for weddings!
I like where the bands were set up during this year’s Green Fest. Everyone enjoyed the music, yet it didn’t overwhelm the businesses around the square. It’d be wonderful to have a permanent stage placed there so that all types of performing arts groups could use it.
* The City’s very receptive to ideas– and now’s definitely the time to be heard! You can still participate in the online version of the City’s Strategic Plan at decaturnext.com.
Hi everyone – Just wanted to drop a note to say that this Sunday from 5-8pm is The 7th Annual Solarium Patio Party at the Solarium in ‘downtown’ Oakhurst. This year featuring live music from the Dammages, terrific catered food, cold beer and wine, kids’ activities and refreshments, our best raffle ever, and an exciting live auction of one-of-a-kind rain barrels, mailboxes, and birdhouses. Have a good time with your neighbors and friends, and support the Solarium. If you haven’t purchased tickets yet, don’t forget you can save $5/person if you buy in advance. ($15 now, $20 at the door, kids under 12 admitted free).
You can get tix at the door or at http://xorbia.com/tickets/patioparty/
Hope to see you there –
The Solarium
321 West Hill Street
Decatur, GA 30030
Did anyone see the new signage for the Saturday Farmer’s Market? It reads, “Farmer’s Market, Saturday’s from….”. Come on Decatur!
Jane, I’m afraid that many people will never learn the proper use of apostrophes. I’ve gotten to the point that I just ignore the mistakes. Of course, I guess it is possible that only one farmer sells produce at this market, and a person or thing named Saturday is somehow involved . . .
On Memorial Day, I saw a chalkboard sign in front of a store (not in Decatur) that said: “Many Thanks” to our veterans.
I almost walked in an explained that random quote marks in that context denotes sarcasm.
I would suggest that it connotes sarcasm.
Speaking of the Farmer’s Market, I regret to report that the produce at the Saturday Market was outrageously expensive. There wasn’t a lot of it; there appeared to be more specialty type items than actual vegetables, so I can’t say how that stuff was priced. But I wanted to buy a small bag of greens, smaller than the bags of organic greens at the Dekalb Farmer’s Market, and it was nine dollars!! I wound up buying three average sized zucchini, and even those were almost seven dollars.
I know, locally grown, organic, yadda yadda. Decatur Mom has more disposable income these days, but I cannot justify paying that much for vegetables.
Nor should you. I prefer local/organic food to the extent I can get them, but paying exorbitant prices for them just goes against my grain– especially since the organic vs. conventionally-grown debate regarding safety, nutrition is nowhere near settled.
I haven’t been to the Saturday market yet, but everytime I go to the Wednesday market (at the Bank of America lot) I always leave disappointed and wondering why I can’t find the vegetables that I’m looking for that I know are both local AND seasonal. I understand and am willing to pay a lot more for local and organic products, but my frustration is that I can almost never find what I’m looking for and leave empty handed headed to either the YDFM or Publix.
Go to the Morningside Market on Saturday mornings. They are the only market I’ve ever been to with a consistent product. If it is local and seasonal you will find it there. I’ve also heard that the Peachtree market at the Episcopal Church south of Buckhead is also very good.
thanks for the info, Decatur Mom. I guess at this point I just have to wait for an email telling me my download is ready.
I’ve been meaning to post on this for weeks, but never got around to it…mainly because the site confused me.
We’ll do a post tomorrow and hopefully sort things out. It’s definitely a double-edged sword in that it’s easily available. Both to you (yay!) and to everyone else in the county with a library card and access to a computer (boo!).
I look forward to seeing that, DM. I’m still not entirely sure if I’ve really got these books ordered or if I’ll be able to listen on my phone. But I love the the nature of the new program and think It will be another great service of our library.
College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center has YMCA run daycare for kids three and under. Check out the CSD website for more info. We did not use it, but several families we know loved it.
Can anyone tell me when and where the next electronics recycling day is? Thanks!
The First Baptist Church Recycle Your Life is tomorrow:
http://www.southeastgreen.com/index.php?view=details&id=633%3Arecycle-your-life&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=10
The next City electronics recycling event will probably be in October.
What timing! Thanks, Steve!
A while back I thought I read something about a recycling event tomorrow at 1st Baptist Church but know I can’t find the details.. Anyone know any more about that ?
I’m playing hooky from work on Monday. What should I do that doesn’t involve leaving Decatur? Is there a fun Monday in Decatur activity that I don’t know about because I’m always at work?!
No there is not.
I recommend sleeping late then heading to the Brick Store for an early lunch and a couple of pints
Hope these suggestions are not too late for you but here goes.
Check out the renovations at Glenlake Park. While there, tour the cemetery–nice to go there when it’s not for a sad event.
There are several walking tours of the city posted on the city’s website, check those out.
Visit the little museum in the Old Courthouse.
How about this? Hire the pedicab guy to tour you around.
Have you ever visited the Agnes Scott campus? It’s beautiful.
Review the window displays of the downtown businesses participating in the competition associated with the Beach Party. Vote for your favorite.
Ryan Gainey’s garden now appears to welcome drop-in visitors with a donation. It would be pleasant to see it without the crowds you find on an organized tour.
Bring your camera with you and turn your day into a photo safari. Post it all on Flickr.
I’d combine one or more of those ideas with Rus’s excellent suggestion, above.
Anybody else besides me eat at Garlic Thai and Sushi yet?
We really enjoyed it (the sushi and the curry…. and the unfiltered sake)!
They seem under-advertised… they need more business if the old Azio building is to remain non-vacant!
We’ve liked the soft shell crabs, Thai barbecue chicken, and spicey seafood special. They do seem to have little buzz on this blog given that they’re pretty darn good.
I have, and enjoyed it. I had a yellow curry, and the person I was with had Pad Thai. Both good, and excellent value. Patio is pleasant, although maybe a little stark if I was to level any criticism.
Yes, my Friday lunch group visited shortly after it opened. Very tasty, very fresh tasting. Sat on the patio as it was a beautiful day. We all chose from the Thai items so I have no comment on the sushi. I hope to return soon.
Sushi was ok but there are better options in town. Will return soon for the Thai food.
What’s the deal with bad pun’s for Thai resturants? “Thai me up” , ” Thai-coon”, etc. I know there are more…..
I don’t know, No. I have wondered as well if it reveals something about a national character. Thai One On, Thai Stick, and then there is the mysteriously named (but delicious!) E@t Squared Thai.
I saw a Vietnamese restaurant in Gwinnett the other day called “What the Pho.” That made me laugh.
Yellow Curry dish at Garlic is delicious. And the owners are super nice.
I like the name Thai One On… I guess the name “Thai Die” wouldn’t be so great for business? BTW, before I get pulled up, I know it’s really dye, and not die…
Thai Die! That’s great, Flaka.
Thai Cobb. For Asian salads with a baseball motif.
Quick, before the grammer police can correct- there should be no apostrophe in puns above.
Thai Dye would be awesome, a hippy take on Thai food… Let your imagination run wild. BTW saw a Vietnamese rest. called Pho Que Hung- pronounced ( qway), but still funny upon first pondering it.
Has anyone enrolled in the new service at the library that allows you to download audiobooks? How’s it working for you? I’ve downloaded the application and browsed the collection, now I think I’m supposed to wait until I get an email to tell me that me selections are available for checkout…Not so good at waiting. I’m very excited about this new service.
I have. My oldest son loves audiobooks, so I went looking for something he’d be interested in. There are several titles that are listed, but are either in use or not yet on the system, so we are waiting to get those. However, the one title we found, we were able to download and transfer to his iPod with no problems at all. The last audiobook service the library had, NetLibrary, was extremely difficult to use, so I have high hopes for this service when they start making more titles available to download.
Thanks, Decatur Mom. I’m simultaneously learning to use a new computer and trying to learn the library’s system, so I’m never sure if there’s pilot error involved. Did you choose to download directly to the iPod? I picked the download to the computer option, thinking I’d prefer to browse the catalogue via my laptop, then move the audiobook to my mobile device. Hoping that was a smart decision. Also, I haven’t figured out how the “wish list” differs from the “hold” request. I wonder why they don’t simply use itunes, unless it’s a licensing issue. Like your son, I, too, love audiobooks. In fact, I think it’s that pleasure of being read to, like a child, that audiobooks satisfy. A yummy indulgence.
My impression re: wish list v. hold is that “wish list” is perhaps books that are not in the downloadable catalog yet, whereas “hold” is for books that are in the catalog but someone else has downloaded. I’m not sure why multiple downloads of the same book are not possible; licensing issues, maybe?
I think we did download directly to the iPod. I don’t remember. I know that iTunes did not open automatically when the download was done so I don’t guess the book went there at all (like it does with Audible.com downloads).
Parker Cross, are you sure your not from the land of 10,000 smiles? How bout “Thai me a river” : jazz and blues club. I could go on and on.
Thank you, No. May I call you No? Actually, I’m from, like, the land of 10,000 similes. We could do a southern seafood place and call it Thai Bee.
Thai soul food at Thai-Rone’s?
Does anyone know if a veteran of the D-Day invasion is buried in the Decatur Cemetery? Over the years, I have found several markers dedicated to soldiers killed during W.W.II. Does anyone have a complete list?
Try the Decatur Preservation Alliance for information about the cemetery. They and at least one local veterans group put out flags for Veterans Day.
DM : what is the record number of comments for one posting? Just curious. One more: Thai-no-mite!
The Pre-K to Clairemont post had 151 comments a week or so back. If that isn’t the record, it’s close. A bunch of the FFAFs also have 100+.
Love that one!
Well just one more for Free For All “Monday”. a question really.
Has anyone tried out the new tire shop on Dekalb Industrial across from the Devry property?
What did you think?
Does anyone have a tree removal company/person that could recommend? Unfortunately, I need to take down a nearly-dead 30-40 foot mimosa tree from my backyard. Thanks.